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MONDAY, MARCH 15, 2021 / SHABAAN 2, 1442 AH emergency number 112 NO. 17637 16 PAGES 150 FILS Constitutional Court annuls MP membership

Action on expat rentals

By Saeed Mahmoud Saleh houses in residential areas should be for Arab Times Staff and Agencies families only. Doubt on AstraZeneca On the other hand, MP Ahmed Al-Ha- KUWAIT CITY, March 14: Kuwait’s Con- mad called on the government to prepare an stitutional Court Sunday annulled mem- economic catalyst for addressing the nega- bership of MP Bader Zayed Al-Dahoum tive consequences of coronavirus. Kuwait to continue use paving way for by-elections in the Fifth He said most countries around the world Constituency to fill in his vacant seat, a have taken such action, citing as an ex- court ruling said. ample the United States of America which KUWAIT CITY, March 14, (Agencies): Officials in takes reports of possible harmful effects from vaccines “very, very The court, chaired by justice Moham- allocated almost $2 trillion for this purpose several European countries pushed back against de- seriously,” both the European Medicines Agency and Germany’s mad bin Naji, ruled in favor of a law suit while the Kuwaiti government has offered own vaccine oversight body have said they have no evidence of an contesting parliamentary membership of nothing so far. cisions by others to pause use of AstraZeneca’s coro- increase in dangerous blood clots in connection with the shots. Al-Dahoum and thus annulled his member- Meanwhile, MP Muhannad Al-Sayer navirus vaccine following sporadic reports of blood “I regret that on the basis of the knowledge, as of Friday morning, some ship as a representative of the Fifth Con- said that despite the importance of the gen- clots, despite a lack of evidence the shot was respon- countries in the European Union have suspended vaccinations with Astra- eral amnesty issue; it is not the only matter Zeneca,” Spahn told reporters in Berlin. stituency. demanding attention. He pointed out the Earlier, several citizens filed an appeal sible. Denmark was the first to temporarily halt use of the AstraZeneca vaccine MPs have submitted more than 450 bills German Health Minister Jens Spahn said that while the country Thursday after reports of blood clots in some people. The Nordic nation’s against the parliamentary membership of and proposals, which means there are many Al-Dahoum on grounds that he was previ- health authority said the decision was important issues besides general amnesty. “based on a precautionary principle” and ously convicted of offending His Highness The lawmaker added that defending the the Amir. that one person who developed a blood former MPs and citizens who were con- clot after vaccination had died. In another development, MP Osama Al- victed in political opinion cases is part of Shaheen submitted a proposal for Kuwait Norway, Iceland and Bulgaria fol- the principles aimed at achieving national lowed suit and suspended use of the An- Municipality to take legal action against reconciliation, indicating this is an urgent glo-Swedish company’s vaccine, which citizens who rented their houses to expatri- step for the country to overcome the politi- was developed with the University of ate bachelors in Dasma and other residen- cal crisis. Oxford. tial areas. Also, MP Muhammad Al-Mutair dis- “Until all doubts are dispelled and ex- According to the lawmaker, he received closed many countries collapsed when perts guarantee that it holds no risk for several complaints from citizens residing the judiciary got involved in politics and people, we are stopping immunization in Dasma about the increasing number of dragged it into political disputes. He warned using that vaccine,” Bulgarian Prime expatriate bachelors and laborers in the the executive authority against putting the Minister Boyko Borissov told a Cabinet area. He pointed out that renting private judiciary in such a dark tunnel as it will de- meeting. He said that the suspension will houses to bachelors contravenes Law No. molish the most prominent pillar of the na- last until the European Medicines Agency 125/1992 which stipulates the renting of tion. He asserted: “Do not play with fire.” issues a written statement that it is safe. The regulator has said it is looking into the reports - but that vaccinations should continue in the meantime. Thailand and Congo have also delayed Opinion use of the vaccine, pending an investiga- tion, while Italy and Romania stopped using shots from one particular batch. Austria has also halted use of doses from a single, but different, batch. Mullahs regime enemy of Complication That decision followed the death from blood clots of a 49-year-old 10 days after Arabs in religion, world she had been vaccinated, and the hospital- ization of a 35-year-old woman. Experts concluded neither complication was relat- ed to the vaccine, and Austria’s chancel- By Ahmed Al-Jarallah cial relationship with the Islamic state lor said Friday that he, himself, would be Editor-in-Chief, the Arab Times in that region. willing to receive the shot “to show that I Why be more royal than king? have trust in this vaccine.” FOR the past six years, Iran has been Weren’t the Palestinians themselves “Experts here have a clear opinion and hiding behind its fi ngers in its open the fi rst to take the path of negotiating this vaccine is being used in many coun- terrorist war against the Kingdom of with Tel Aviv and establishing rela- tries around the world, and it is already Saudi Arabia, claiming that the sabo- tions with it such that it reached the being used by tens of millions,” Sebastian point of security cooperation? Kurz said. tage attacks launched by the Houthi In fact, nearly every country that issued forces to confront what it calls the ag- Rather, weren’t the Palestinians the ones who built Israeli settlements? a suspension acknowledged that it had gression against Yemen. Given that no evidence the vaccine had caused the lies have short legs, the Iranian Quds That is why normalization with Tel Aviv, which is currently a supportive A protester throws stones towards the central bank building in Beirut, Lebanon, on March 13. Riot blood clots. Health experts have pointed Force Commander Ismail Qaani admit- police fired tear-gas to disperse scores of people who protested near parliament building in central out that the people most likely to current- ted, “Our allied forces, in less than ten force for the Arabs in the confl ict with ly be receiving COVID-19 vaccinations their historic enemy Iran, is no longer Beirut, Saturday amid deteriorating economic and financial conditions and as the local currency hit days, launched 18 accurate operations new low levels. (AP) are also more likely to have other health against Saudi Arabia”. shameful or disgraceful. problems, which could put them at higher His statement affi rmed his country’s While the peacock vanity regime risk for blood clots. continued interference in Yemen’s in- seeks to spread Shiism in the region, Protests on pound crash France, Poland and Nigeria, mean- ternal affairs, and its threat against the disguising its alliances with some Arab while, said they would continue using the United States, saying, “The sound of powers with the mantle of resistance Lebanon’s currency plummeted to a new re- sive material used in fertilizers, killed 211 and AstraZeneca shot even as national regula- the crushing of America’s bones will that has proven false for four decades, cord low on Saturday, continuing its crash amid wounded more than 6,000. tors investigate. be heard at the appropriate time”. the Jews, based on their geographical a worsening economic crisis that has triggered In addition to Beirut, there were also protests “At this stage, the benefit of vaccina- We all know that these words are for and demographical reality, will not near-daily protests throughout the tiny Mediter- in other cities such as Tripoli, Sidon and Tyre, tion is judged superior to the risk,” said France’s health minister, Olivier Veran. local satisfaction, as Iran will not dare be able to judaize 400 million Arabs. ranean country. as well as road closures in different parts of Rather, they seek to be an effective Among the Saturday afternoon protests was lebanon. The suspensions were the latest trouble touch an American soldier. a small one near parliament, where riot police The Lebanese currency hit a new record low for AstraZeneca, which had a public spat Irrespective of the language that member in the region economically and scientifi cally, and live in peace with the fired tear gas to disperse scores of young men on Saturday, reaching about 12,500 pounds to with the European Union earlier this year these terrorists speak, there is a com- throwing stones at security forces. The protest- the U.S. dollar on the black market. The official over supply delays and which also faced Arabs. ers also tried to break through a metal gate rate remains at about 1,500 pounds against the mon denominator between them, which Even on the military level, Israel concerns about its efficacy in older adults. is their endeavor to dominate the region leading to the legislature. greenback. Commodities and consumer goods While EU regulators approved it for use has possessed the nuclear bomb since Lebanon’s worst economic crisis in decades are mostly imports and prices have thus soared. and change its beliefs. the 1960s. Despite all the wars it has in all adults, some countries have set age For 41 years, the Mullahs regime has began in October 2019 and worsened with the Lebanon’s economic and financial crisis has restrictions - though many are now lifting fought, it has not used this weapon of spread of coronavirus and a massive explosion become worse in recent weeks as political bick- proven that it is the enemy of Arabs in in Beirut in August. The blast of nearly 3,000 ering between rival groups has delayed the for- those. The trouble also comes as many mass destruction. On the other hand, EU countries have struggled to quickly the aspect of religion, and of the world. Iran continues to threaten us with this tons of ammonium nitrate, a highly explo- mation of a new Cabinet. (AP) It will not hesitate even for a moment to ramp up vaccinations. type of weapon. Despite the bumpy rollout, the vaccine use all illegal and internationally-repre- Iran has surpassed international hensible means for the sake of achiev- is still expected to be critical to the global warnings and started enriching ura- inoculation program because it’s cheaper ing its expansionist goals. The Arabs nium at very high rates. The promises have to assert themselves, get out of the Newswatch and easier to store than many others - and and pledges made by its leaders of not because the global initiative to get vac- circle of the past in which they impris- building a nuclear weapon are no long- cines to poorer countries known as CO- oned themselves, and look at their real- er suffi cient. VAX relies heavily on the vaccine. ity and their future through an alliance There is no doubt that Qaani’s ad- WASHINGTON: The Biden administration is London. with Israel. not planning to step up government surveillance Zaghari-Ratcliffe, 42, was sentenced to fi ve Campaign mission of the continuation of Iran’s years in jail after being convicted of plotting the Firstly before anything else, we have war on Saudi Arabia not only exposes of the US internet even as state-backed foreign The Kuwait Ministry of Health con- to admit that Palestine, for four thou- hackers and cybercriminals increasingly use it to overthrow of Iran’s government, a charge that the excuse that the Houthis are fi ght- she, her supporters and rights groups vigorously firmed it will continue to administer the sand years since the time of the Prophet evade detection, a senior administration offi cial ‘AstraZeneca-Oxford’ vaccine as part ing that war, but also forces everyone said Friday. deny. While employed at the Thomson Reuters Abraham (peace be upon him), was to know for sure that there is no solu- Foundation, the charitable arm of the news agen- of the vaccination campaign against the never an independent entity. Before it The offi cial said the administration, mindful ‘COVID-19’ virus, pointing out no un- tion with this pernicious regime except of the privacy and civil liberties implications cy, she was taken into custody at the airport as emerged from an occupation, it fell un- by eradicating it from its roots. This she was returning home to Britain after visiting expected side effects have been detected that could arise, is not currently seeking addi- for all those who have received the As- der another fi st. must happen quickly with cooperation tional authority to monitor US-based networks. family in the capital of Tehran in 2016. Even when the Crusaders occupied Instead, the administration will focus on tighter Zaghari-Ratcliffe’s yearslong case has sparked traZeneca vaccine in Kuwait, reports Al- between the Arabs and Israel; other- Seyassah daily. it, it was done with the cooperation wise, the threat of terrorism will remain partnerships and improved information-sharing international outrage and strained ties between of some of the people of Acre at that with the private-sector companies that already Britain and Iran. Her supporters have described A working team that monitors the a sword that will reach the Arabs and her as collateral in a long-running dispute over a side effects of COVID-19 vaccines in time. They did not leave it except after the Jews until the disappearance of this have broad visibility into the domestic internet, said the offi cial, who spoke to reporters on con- debt of some 400 million pounds ($530 million) the Ministry of Health confirmed it is a reconciliation between Salah-ad-Din cancerous tumor. owed to Iran by London, a payment the late Ira- constantly following up on all local and Yusuf ibn-Ayyub and Richardthe Li- dition of anonymity. The comment was an acknowledgement of nian Shah Mohammad Reza Pahlavi made for international developments related to the onheart. Email: [email protected] Chieftain tanks that were never delivered. The the fraught political debate surrounding domes- safety of Covid-19 vaccines. In addition to that, historically, the Follow me on: shah abandoned the throne in 1979 and the Is- Kuwait Ministry of Health said Sat- tic government surveillance - nearly eight years lamic Revolution installed the clerically overseen Jews were allies of the Arabs. We have after former National Security Agency contrac- urday nine persons died of coronavirus the best example of what they were system that endures today. (AP) tor Edward Snowden triggered a scandal with ❑ ❑ ❑ while 1,211 people tested positive of the subjected to from the crusade abuse in leaked agency documents - and a recognition of contagious disease in the past 24 hours. Andalusia/Spain, because of their spe- [email protected] the challenges in balancing the growing cyber ANKARA: Turkish President Recep Tayyip The new deaths increased overall fa- defense imperative against privacy concerns that Erdogan has toned down his anti-Western and talities to 1,165 and registered infections come with stepped-up monitoring. (AP) anti-US rhetoric in an apparent effort to reset the rose to 208,460, MoH spokesman Dr. ❑ ❑ ❑ rocky relationship with his NATO allies, but so Abdullah Al-Sanad told KUNA. Violators with drug pills nabbed far he’s been met by silence from US President The Ministry of Health has requested DUBAI: A trial to present fresh charges against Joe Biden. the directors of all health zones, hospi- a British-Iranian woman detained for fi ve years Nearly two months into his presidency, Biden in Iran convened Sunday, her supporters said, tals and specialized centers to seek the still hasn’t called Erdogan, which some in Tur- assistance of recently-graduated doctors casting uncertainty over her future following her key see as a worrying sign. By contrast, former release from prison. from the departments of general surgery, 123 violate curfew in 6 days President Donald Trump and Erdogan spoke specialized surgeries and dermatology Nazanin Zaghari-Ratcliffe appeared in court just days after the 2016 election. Meanwhile, personnel from the Criminal in Tehran to face new charges of spreading Ties between Ankara and Washington - departments to support the internal, inten- By Munif Nayef sive care and emergency departments in Investigation Department have arrested six “propaganda against Iran,” wrote Tulip Siddiq, which once considered each other as strategic a member of the British Parliament who repre- dealing with the COVID-19 cases in hos- people in three governorates for violating partners - have steadily deteriorated in recent KUWAIT CITY, March 14: Statistics is- sents her area of London and campaigned for years over differences on Syria, Turkey’s co- pitals and wards due to the recent increase sued by the Ministry of the Interior shown the curfew, reports Al-Anba daily. her release. A verdict was expected next week, operation with Russia and more recently on in cases, reports Aljarida daily. the number of those arrested since the be- The daily said four men were arrested Siddiq added. Zaghari-Ratcliffe’s lawyer did not Turkish naval interventions in the eastern Medi- In a circular issued by the Undersec- ginning of the partial curfew has reached in Hawalli and one each in the Capital and immediately respond to requests for comment. terranean, which US offi cials have described as retary of Ministry of Health Dr. Mustafa 123 people in 6 days. Ahmadi Governorates. The new trial came a week after Zaghari-Rat- destabilizing. Redha, the ministry called for coordina- The Ministry announced that it arrested The securitymen have seized from the cliffe completed her prison sentence on widely Despite tensions, many within Erdogan’s gov- tion with the Technical Department of the refuted spying charges. Although she was al- ernment were hoping for four more years of the ministry, via the heads of the COVID-19 6 people on Friday for violating the ban men drug pills, four bottles of imported al- lowed to remove her ankle monitor and leave administration led by Trump, who had a personal teams, to provide medical teams in or- including a well-known tweeter who was cohol and a pistol and referred the men to house arrest when her sentence formally ended, rapport with Erdogan and didn’t give him any lec- der to help in coping with the increasing seized in Khairan and handed over to the the Personnel from the General Department she remains unable to fl y home to her family in tures about Turkey’s human rights record. (AP) number of COVID-19 cases in the past concerned authority. for Drugs Control (GDDC). few weeks. ARAB TIMES, MONDAY, MARCH 15, 2021 2

‘Hostile environment is like living in the South Pole’ Elon Musk plan for life on Mars a ‘dangerous delusion’

strophysicist Lord Martin Rees has branded entrepreneur Elon Pole or the tip of Mount Everest.” face-level images back to scientists on Earth. AMusk’s plans to send humans to Mars a “dangerous delusion” dur- Dr Tyson added: “To ship a billion people to another planet to help The mission will spend two years revealing new information about ing this year’s World Government Summit. them survive a catastrophe on earth seems unrealistic. If you want to call Mars’ weather, atmosphere and changing seasons, positioning the UAE Lord Rees — who has been the UK’s Astronomer Royal since 1995 Mars home, you need to terraform Mars, turn it into Earth. It is so much as the fi fth country in the world to reach the seventh-largest planet in the and holds fellowships of several prestigious societies — said that hous- easier to make Earth return to Earth again rather than terraforming Mars. solar system. ing populations in “glass domes” on the Red Planet would be comparable “There is no force on Earth as potent as the exploration of space that During the same World Government Summit panel, Dr Tyson — who to living in hostile environments like the South Pole or Mount Everest. impacts our thoughts and ambitions. Thinking about the future is half of is best known for his space-focused books and television appearances Speaking alongside astrophysicist Dr Neil DeGrasse Tyson at a WGS what drives the future. Space will always remain as an inspiration for — remarked that inter-planetary exploration is essential since the solar Dialogues panel on the global space race, the renowned scientist played young people and it is an area we need to support. system is the “world’s backyard”. down suggestions that humans could live on Mars long-term– in sharp “The next generation has a broader view of the world. They think He said: “Space is for everyone and the Solar System is the world’s contrast to SpaceX CEO Musk’s predictions that a million people will globally and have embraced technology like never before. I cannot backyard. So, it’s great to see that collaborations are becoming important soon live on the Red Planet. wait for them to take over the Earth and fi x the problems of this world. in space exploration and countries are coming together to share knowl- Lord Rees said: “The only reason for humans to go to space would be The edge of the Earth is space and with resources available and the edge and resources.” for adventure. To live on Mars is not going to be easy. Mars has a hostile spirit adventure, I have high hopes of all that the next generation will The World Government Summit — held annually in Dubai — ex- environment. bring us.” plores the agenda of the next generation of governments, focusing on “So, the idea of Elon Musk to have a million people settle on Mars is a It comes after the United Arab Emirates’ Hope Probe last month suc- harnessing innovation and technology to solve universal challenges fac- dangerous delusion. Living on Mars is no better than living on the South cessfully entered orbit around the Red Planet and beamed its fi rst sur- ing humanity.

Top right: Astrophysicist Lort Martin Rees. Top left: Dr Neil DeGrasse Tyson

Her Excellency Sarah Al Amiri (left) and moderator Corinne Iozzio Private sector role encouraged UAE on track to expanding space ecosystem

er Excellency Sarah bint Yousef Al Amiri, Minister of State for space missions enable us to expand the breadth of our knowledge, and novation. She identifi ed two basic areas of cooperation in the aerospace HAdvanced Technology and chairwoman of the UAE Space Agency, better understand the neighboring planets and the solar system, as well fi eld that could engage the private sector - the fi rst is the provision of a today confi rmed that the success of the fi rst Arab interplanetary space as the myriad cosmic phenomena surrounding us. The insights gained comprehensive and vital ecosystem to enable investors and innovators mission of its kind – the launch of the UAE’s Hope Probe to Mars, un- through such initiatives simultaneously serve as a window on the past to contribute to the development of the sector. The second focuses on derscored the country’s vision to develop the skills of the future, and to and as a vision for the future, and contribute to improving our daily lives developing the capabilities and expertise required in various disciplines invest in young national talent to further strengthen their capabilities in through space industry innovations.” that are also crucial for the national space sector. the fi elds of advanced science, technology, engineering, and scientifi c She added that the success of the Hope Probe’s mission will positively Challenges of the Hope Probe Launch and Reaching Orbit research. impact national plans over the next decade and help prepare a new cadre The Minister said that the Emirates Mars Mission team was confi - During her participation in a session titled ‘Space Exploration in 2021 of national experts that have contributed to the planning, designing, and dent about completing the necessary preparations and ensuring the Hope and Lessons Learnt’, on Day 2 of the World Government Summit Dia- executing the launch of Probe over the six years of the project. Probe’s readiness to enter the capture orbit around the Red Planet, the logues, moderated by Corinne Iozzio, Editor-in-Chief of Popular Sci- Scientifi c Missions Offer a Comprehensive Picture of the Red culmination of years of preparation and millions of working hours. Dur- ence magazine, Her Excellency Sarah Al Amiri stated that the UAE is Planet ing a blind phase that spanned 27 minutes, the Probe carried out a chal- keen to promote science, technology and innovation, and will continue The Minister of State for Advanced Technology touched upon the lenging maneuver as it approached Mars, and reduced its speed from to initiate pioneering projects aimed at transferring knowledge and pro- scientifi c tasks that the Hope Probe will carry out in studying climate 121,000 kmph to 18,000 kmph, through leveraging the spaceship’s six viding skilled engineers, researchers, and scientists with the necessary phenomena and the seasons on Mars for an entire year, indicating that reverse propulsion engines in order to enter the capture orbit success- expertise to enable them to further advance this vital sector. the data from the Probe will go a long way in enhancing knowledge fully. The remarkable mission made the UAE only the fi fth country to Her Excellency added that the Emirates Mars Mission will place all about this planet through offering a comprehensive picture of weather reach Mars and the third in the world to reach the planet’s orbit on the the data collected by the Hope Probe from the atmosphere of the Red conditions in the lower layer of Martian atmosphere, as well as of dust fi rst attempt. Planet at the disposal of the global scientifi c community, to facilitate particles, clouds, and gases that can explain the absence of hydrogen and She emphasized that the COVID-19 pandemic and its impact present- research efforts and contribute to further understanding the planet. In oxygen. A bigger purpose of these fi ndings is to inform the scientifi c ed new challenges to the UAE’s space ambition prior to the success- doing so, the country is also set to boost international collaborations in community about the challenges of climate change on Earth with a view ful launch of the Hope Probe in July 2020. Despite the roadblocks, the the fi eld of space exploration in the years to come. to overcoming them. EMM team remained confi dent and resolute and continued to study the Expanding Human Knowledge and Preparing a Generation of Her Excellency stressed the importance of building and strengthen- shifting data and changing scenarios that included the re-evaluation of Scientists ing partnerships with the private sector in the fi eld of space exploration, the tests taken in order of priority, and the restructuring of operational Her Excellency Sarah Al Amiri said: “Space exploration research and and of expanding the application of 4IR technologies to accelerate in- teams.

editor’s choice ARAB TIMES, MONDAY, MARCH 15, 2021 3

Weather Expected weather for next 24 hrs: with light to moderate north west- Bubyan 23 15 Prayer Timings By Day: Warm with light to mod- erly wind to light variable wind Jahra 25 10 Fajr ...... 04:40 Asr ...... 15:22 erate north westerly wind to light with speeds of 08-30 km/h. Salmiyah 23 15 Sunrise .. 05:59 Maghrib .. 17:55 wind with speeds of 08-30 km/h and Station Max Exp Min Rec Ahmadi 22 14 Zohr ...... 11:57 Isha ...... 19:12 some clouds will appear later on. Kuwait City 24 14 Nuwaisib 24 09 By Night: Rather cold to cold Kuwait Airport 25 08 Wafra 25 09 and clouds will increase gradually Abdaly 26 07 Salmy 25 08

VACCINE REGISTRATION WEBSITE: https://cov19vaccine.moh.gov.kw/SPCMS/CVD_19_Vaccine_Registration.aspx

Photo by Bassam Abu Shanab Making the most during the time before the curfew starts ... people visit the recreation spots with family and children. Above: Maintaining the social distancing public out for a stroll on the beach near Kuwait City. NBK gains 10 fils, KIPCO slips Kuwait’s index inches up in Kids incited to commit suicide volatile trade, volume rises By John Mathews ▼ UUS$/KDS$/KD 0.30190/000.30190/00 Sinking boat with 7 people on board salvaged Arab Times Staff KUWAIT CITY, March 14: Kuwait stocks ▲ 0.3624 By Munif Nayef crept higher on Sunday as it kicked off the Al-Seyassah Staff and Agencies week on a fi ckle note. The All Shares In- ■ Yen/KD 0.0028 dex rose 7.71 points in volatile session to KUWAIT CITY, March 14: Personnel 5,749.18 pts helped by some of the heavy- ▲ British £/KD 0.4220 from the Criminal Investigation Depart- weights even as the broader sentiment re- mained soggy. ■ Indian Rs/KD 0.0041 ment (CID) have summoned an unidenti- The Premier Market climbed 18.60 points fied Kuwaiti for inciting children, through to 6,296.14 pts taking the month’s gains ■ Philippines Peso/KD 0.0062 the social media means, to commit suicide. to 139 points while Main Market gave up 17.57 points. The BK Main 50 was down The security sources said a case has been filed 11.72 points at 4,854.46 pts. The volume ▲ FTSE +24.51 pts at March 12 at closing against him and referred to the competent authority on turnover, meanwhile, saw a modest bounce the background of posting a clip on his social media following last session’s drop. Over 225 mil- account showing him throwing his cell phone from a lion shares changed hands – down 17 pct ▲ Nikkei +506.19 pts at closing March 12 high place in his home. from Wednesday. The sectors closed mixed. Insurance out- The Ministry of Interior said in a statement that, based ▲ Gold 1736.35 per oz (London) on a clip circulating on some social media sites, showing performed the rest with 0.70 percent where- someone throwing his mobile phone from a high place in a as Oil and Gas shed 2 pct, the biggest loser Body of the victim is carried to the grave for burial. live broadcast on his personal account, ‘Instagram’, incited of the day. Volume wise, Financial Services ▲ NYMEX crude $65.57 per barrel children to commit suicide. topped with 74.9 million shares and Bank- Covid kills MoI top official After identifying the person he was summoned by the CID ing continued to dominate in value with KD ▲ Brent crude $69.17 per barrel men, interrogated and handed over to the competent author- 28.59 million. Minister of Interior Sheikh Thamer Al-Ali and for Support Services Affairs, Major General ity to take legal measures against him. Among the notable movers, sector bell- LIBOR rate 0.18950% senior officials of the Ministry of Interior took Khaled Al-Deen, who passed away yes- In the meantime, the Ministry of Interior has called upon wether National Bank of Kuwait rallied 10 part in the funeral ceremony of Assistant terday. He became the latest victim of the parents to report any suspected behavior of their children. fi ls to 860 fi ls on back of 7.2 million shares Undersecretary of the Ministry of Interior Covid-19 pandemic, reports Al-Anba daily. On the other hand, a large number of the tweeters have while Boubyan Bank scaled 6 fi ls to end at 5 percent to stand next. HEISC skidded 7 criticized the Interior Ministry for summoning the citizen, 583 fi ls. National Investment Co took in 2 percent, the steepest decliner of the day and and said he did not incite children to commit suicide and fi ls with a volume of 3.6 fi ls whereas in- Ahli United Bank BSC topped the volume that throwing his phone from a high place does not mean he vestment major KIPCO slipped 3 fi ls to 166 with over 18 million shares. Other Voices incited children to throw themselves from a high place. fi ls. Despite the day’s uptick, the losers out- Meanwhile, the Public Relations and Information Depart- Zain rose 2 fils to 618 fils on back of numbered the winners. 45 stocks advanced ment at the General Fire Brigade said that the Maritime Fire 2.4 million shares while Ooredoo inched whereas 66 closed lower. Of the 131 coun- Brigade rescued a picnic boat which sank at Kuwait Bay in 1 fil into green. stc was down 10 fils at ters active on Sunday, 20 closed fl at. 9,552 front of Al-Sepia, reports Al-Jarida daily. 910 fils and logistics major scaled 5 fils deals worth KD 46.86 million were trans- ‘Let it be more than saying’ The department disclosed that the Firefi ghting Operations before closing at 677 fils. Humansoft acted during the session. Room dispatched a rescue squad from Shuwaikh Maritime Holding tripped 1 fil whereas Boursa Ku- In the banking sector, Gulf Bank took By Youssef Mubarak Al-Mubaraki such as “bedoun-fi le”, “reform of Pris- Firefi ghting Center to rescue a 31-foot boat with seven wait Securities added 3 fils before clos- in 1 fil on back of 13.6 million shares ons” and “prevention of human traf- people on board when seawater leaked inside. The squad ing at KD 1.148. Mabanee Co eased 1 fil whereas Kuwait International Bank and n the year 2012, the US Congress fi cking”. And furthermore to “cancel saved the people and led the boat towards safety without any to 724 fils. National Industries Group inched 1 fi l Kuwait Finance House stood pat at ‘Iwith the approval of 92 Senates the laws that restrict freedoms “which injuries. 201 fils and 750 fils respectively. Bur- against the Rejection of 4 Senates are incompatible with Kuwaiti Con- The Public Relations and Media Department at the Gen- higher to 192 fi ls whereas Gulf Cable shed 8 fi ls. Boubyan Petrochemical Co held gan Bank clipped 1 fil and Warba Bank only, passed a stitution, whereas the Tweet in Twitter eral Fire Brigade advised sea-goers to ensure the stability of closed 5 fils in red. law, under the became “ a crime“, and such bad leg- weather conditions and to take all security and safety mea- ground at 830 fi ls and Al Qurain Petro- chemical closed 3 fi ls in green. Jazeera Ahli United Bank BSC and Al Ahli Bank name “Mag- islation did lead to increase the number sures before sailing such as checking the hull of the boat, dialed down 2 fi ls each whereas Commer- netsky law”, af- of The Prisoners of Opinion to incon- safety of engines, electrical installations, operation of navi- Airways climbed 4 fi ls to 650 fi ls whereas ALAFCO paused at 203 fi ls. Integrated cial Bank was unchanged at 500 fi ls. Ahli ter the name of a ceivable number which exceeded 104, gation devices, backup water pumps and communication de- United Bank Kuwait added 2 fi ls. and the total sentences of imprisonment vices to guarantee their safety. Holding and Aznour were unchanged at Russian tax ac- 413 fi ls and 259 fi ls respectively. Kuwait Investment Co eased 1 fi l to 124 countant Sergey reached 821 years, while the legal cases fi ls whereas International Financial Advi- fi led due to the Visual and Audio means The market opened on firm and pulled Magnetsky who higher in early trade. The main index sors rose 3 fi ls to 118 fi ls. Kuwait Financial died in prison in law became more than one hundred Centre (Markaz) gave up 1.2 fi ls and Bayan twenty thousand. Customs officers seize scaled the day’s highest level of 5,768 Moscow in mys- points amid buying spurt in some of the Investment erased 2.8 fi ls. “This situation led the international The market was upbeat during the previ- terious circum- organizations to focus on Kuwait and blue chips. It retreated sharply to bot- stances. Al-Mubaraki on its agendas, such as the agenda of almost 4.5m drug pills tom at 5733 pts past the mid-session and ous week. The main index closed higher in “President the British House of Lords in its session clawed back before drifting sideways to all four sessions rallying 88 points week- Obama approved it in the same year, dated 30/10/2018 which was allocated By Munif Nayef close with small gains. on-week. It has gained 91 points from the and after it had been ratifi ed, the US to State of Kuwait in order to discuss Al-Seyassah Staff Top gainer of the day, AQAR sprinted start of the month and is up 175 points government accordingly became au- 6.29 pct to 65.9 fi ls and Al Manar climbed year-to-date. all aspects of the fi le of legal rights, and KUWAIT CITY, March 14: Customs offi cers at the Shuwaikh thorized to impose sanctions on the the laws that did wrong to our country. “Human Rights violators” around the Also, they mentioned by names some Port have seized almost four-and-half million Captagon pills. world, sanctions such as freezing their prisoners of opinion such as the Par- The contraband arrived at the port from Syria inside a con- fi nancial assets , and prohibiting their liament Member Musallam Al-Barrak, tainer. The General Administration of Customs announced entry into the United States of America, the activist Rania Al-Sa’ad , Ibtihal Al- in a statement that it is the fruit of the concerted efforts of besides other sanctions. Shallal and others. customs offi cers. “This law is a powerful addition to “The qualitative shift, in which the The daily added, four containers arrived from Syria and “human rights” fi le. It’s aim is to to world is going through, especially by no one came to clear the goods for more than 90 days. restrict violators of “human rights” in social media, such as “Twitter”, enabled It appears the owner of the consignment chickened out the whole world, and to urge some the transmitting of the events to be fast- at the last minute and abandoned the containers for fear of countries, such as Britain, Canada and er than the media did traditionally, so being caught following which in implementation of customs other countries, to pass similar legisla- some Arab countries are fi ghting against laws, customs inspectors opened the containers, as it became tions. By this way, this law would be- it, while forgetting in the same time clear two of them were empty while the third had incuba- come a serious deterrent that haunts the such serious law as “Magnetsky” law. tors for hatching eggs, and packed inside it were packets of violators of “human rights” who do not “The oppressed people, all around the Captagon pills, while the fourth was fi lled with counterfeit respect the dignity of human being that world, gave a sigh of relief when Joseph goods, in addition to the banned tobacco substance. God has honored. Biden became the President of United The General Administration of Customs thanked the Gen- “It is well known that there is a “Uni- States, who is following personally the eral Fire Brigade for helping customs authorities to break versal Declaration of Human Rights” fi le of human rights, and which was open the sealed compartments inside the container. signed by the Member States of the crowned by the release of the activist Meanwhile, the Ahmadi police have arrested an uniden- General Assembly of the United Na- Lugen Al-Hathloul. tifi ed Kuwaiti police impersonator, reports Al-Anba daily. tions in 1948, as well as the Paris Prin- Now, the first step of reform could According to the security sources, the suspect was wanted ciples, which called for governments to address the file of prisoners of opin- by law in connection with thefts -- forcefully robbing ex- establish independent local bodies that ion, for example, it ought to begin by patriates of their money, cell phones and anything valuable concerned with “human rights”, and complete amnesty without any condi- with the help of a ferocious looking dog. turned to be the core activity of non- tion. The security sources said the man presented himself as a de- governmental organizations, such as “A resolution of this kind will miti- tective and prior to robbing the expatriates he accused them of “Amnesty International” based in Lon- gate the suffering of people, and lighten peddling in drugs. He would rob his victims especially towards don - and “Human Rights Watch” based the pressure of the international human the beginning of the curfew hours in residential areas. in New York, and other relevant large rights bodies on the State of Kuwait, The arrest came after the Criminal Investigation Depart- organizations which have a signifi cant and make it “a country of humanity” as ment (CID) received three complaints from expatriates that infl uence due to their credibility. a fact, not just a mere saying.” they had been robbed by a man. “And since the State of Kuwait is a ❑ ❑ ❑ Director of Al-Ahmadi Security, Major General Saleh country of humanity, it is urgent and Matar dispatched patrols and threw a security cordon in the necessary now to revise pending fi les email: [email protected] area where the thefts took place and arrested the suspect. During investigation he admitted to robbing the expatriates. ARAB TIMES, MONDAY, MARCH 15, 2021 LOCAL 4 Who benefited from the money Kuwaitis spend for their travel? Large part of amount said directed to local spending

KUWAIT CITY, March 14: More than a National Assembly Speaker Al-Ghanim year has passed since the COVID-19 out- break and the subse- quent travel restric- tions and disruption of overseas tourism plans for many citizens. Amid these restrictions imposed around the world and the reluc- tance to travel, a ques- tion that comes to one’s mind is -- Where did the Kuwaitis spend the billions they normally spend on traveling?, reports Al-Qabas daily. KUNA photos According to economic HH the PM Sheikh Sabah Al-Khaled sources, the amount spent by Kuwaitis on foreign travel, HH Deputy Amir receives senior officials either for tourism, treatment or study purposes, before the His Highness the Deputy Amir and Prime Minister Sheikh Sabah Khaled pandemic was estimated at Crown Prince Sheikh Meshaal Al-Hamad Al-Sabah. Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah received He also received at the same about $16 billion annually. at Seif Palace on Sunday National venue Deputy Prime Minister and With the spread of the pan- Assembly Speaker Marzouq Ali Minister of Justice and Minister of demic and the disruption of Al-Ghanim. State for Integrity Enhancement travel movement, a large part His Highness the Deputy Amir host- Abdullah Youssef Al-Roumi. KUNA photo ed at Seif Palace His Highness the (KUNA) Part of the Minister of Social Affairs tour to inspect the procedures for examining recent arrivals to the country. of this amount was directed to local spending or kept aside as savings. Local sectors and Prices to be reviewed every 6 months Closure of vaccination centers during holidays criticized activities have recovered because of the money that was pumped into the local ‘Covid-19 vaccines used in Kuwait highly safe’ economy. New prices for home internet Retail sales, specifically luxu- KUWAIT CITY, March 14: Minister reports Al-Qabas daily. down, but under the condition that the ry goods stores in the country, of Health, Sheikh Dr Basil Al-Sabah Observers stressed the need to take companies contracted to supply vac- had a large share of this money, subscription in Kuwait: PACIT said all Covid-19 vaccinations used in advantage of the time factor to acceler- cines do so as per the scheduled dates, as many citizens preferred to KUWAIT CITY, March 14: The bytes 58 dinars, 6 MB 60 dinars, 7 MB 70 Kuwait are highly safe, with reassur- ate the pace of vaccinations to work to reports Al-Rai daily quoting sources spend their money on buying. Chairman of the Board of Directors of dinars, 8 megabytes 76 dinars, 10 MB 78 ing results, and their resistance to the contain the epidemic, whose numbers from the health sector. This was evident when the malls the Public Authority for dinars, 12 MB 83 dinars, 14 MB 79 epidemic is confirmed, reports have increased dramatically during the They said, “A large quantity of and commercial markets opened Communications and Information dinars, 16 MB 113 dinars, 18 MB 128 Al-Anba daily. past few days. doses is expected to arrive during the their doors at the beginning of Technology (PACIT) Eng Salem dinars, 20 MB 139 dinars, 22 MB 155 He praised God for the good results Observers said the ministry currently coming period”, indicating that the the second phase of the plan for Muthaib Al-Athaina, has issued a deci- dinars, 24 MB 172 dinars, 30 MB 185 and added, “I advise everyone to take has thousands of doses, including the Minister of Health Sheikh Dr Basel return to normal life, as long sion listing the rates for home internet dinars, 40 MB 212 dinars, 50 MB 239 the initiative to register for vaccina- “Pfizer” vaccines which are expected to Al-Sabah held a virtual meeting queues were in front of such subscriptions for individuals in Kuwait, dinars, 60 MB 263 dinars, 70 MB 285 tion, to protect them and to contribute arrive Sunday, so it is illogical to close recently with officials of the manufac- stores. Also, online retail sales reports Al-Anba daily. dinars, 80 MB 304 dinars, 90 MB 314 to increase community immunity.” vaccination centers during holidays, as turers to discuss the arrival dates of the turned out to be one among the The decision No. 36 of 2021, a copy of dinars, 100 MB 322 dinars. Meanwhile, at a time when the it is necessary to operate them con- vaccine batches during the coming biggest winners during the time which has been obtained by the daily, In its second article, the decision states country needs to increase anti-corona stantly to attain herd immunity. period. of the pandemic, because they will be published in the Official Gazette that home internet service providers are virus vaccines, the closure of the In the meantime, by the end of the The sources revealed the strength of witnessed unprecedented sales (Kuwait Alyoum) today March 14, states prohibited from exceeding the maximum Kuwait Vaccination Center at the month of Ramadan, the pace of Covid- the health system and its high capa- with an increase of more than 30 that it has decided to reduce the subscrip- value for home subscriptions stipulated Mishref Fairgrounds and other 15 cen- 19 vaccination campaign might reach bilities to vaccinate more than 300,000 percent. tion fees for home fixed, lined and wire- above, and in the third article of the deci- ters spread all over the country during desired levels, rendering ineffective people per month, provided that vac- Seriousness less internet subscriptions in Kuwait. The sion says it is not permissible to impose a the holidays was highly criticized, measures such as curfews and lock- cines are available. maximum annual tariff is as for annual fair use policy in providing home internet The sectors of luxury goods, subscription is as follows: services. electronics and furniture in the The annual subscription for 1 MB is of Subscription prices will be reviewed country witnessed a great turnout 20 dinars; for 2 megabytes 33 dinars, 3 periodically every 6 months and when- by citizens. Since many of the MB 43 dinars, 4 MB 52 dinars, 5 mega- ever necessary. stores in these sectors were phys- ically closed and travel move- ment was suspended, they Traffic congestion to be discussed showed more seriousness in offering their products and ser- vices via the Internet with the aim of reaching the largest pos- Govt to review today reports of sible number of customers. Regarding whether the local tourism sector received a share Corona Emergency Committee of the amount that Kuwaitis nor- mally spend for travel purposes, KUWAIT CITY, March 14: His Highness taxi and they may face difficulties in the sources indicated that the the Prime Minister Sheikh Sabah obtaining an exit permit for the driver absence of real tourism projects Al-Khalid will chair the regular session because he does not have an appointment and the scarcity of recreational of the Council of Ministers on Monday, for vaccination, which leads to the appli- facilities have made this sector during which the council will review the cation of the penalty for breaking the cur- unattractive to many citizens, reports of the Corona Emergency few. They also called for allowing restau- especially with the closure of Committee which met last Wednesday rants to deliver during curfew hours. many facilities, such as the under the chairmanship of Deputy Prime Sources added the government will entertainment city, parks, the Minister and Minister of Defense Sheikh clearly define its priority projects in prep- ice-skating rink, and others, in Hamad Jaber Al-Ali, reports Al-Anba aration for the next parliamentary ses- addition to the absence of new daily quoting sources. sion, affirming the government’s serious- tourism ideas in Kuwait com- Sources revealed the committee’s ness in fulfilling its promises to coordi- pared to some countries in the reports include the results of implement- nate and follow up all the proposed files region. ing partial curfew, confirming they are and complete the legislation in prepara- The sources stressed that, convinced about the importance of con- tion for the upcoming parliamentary ses- despite the significant increase in tinuing the partial curfew. Sources point- sion on March 30. the value of gold in 2020, many ed out the traffic congestion during peak In response to a question about sup- women, especially the elderly, hours is because the employees in public porting the owners of small and medium continue to buy gold as well as and private sectors go out of their work- enterprises (SMEs), sources confirmed diamond sets. places at the same time. there is a package of economic measures They added, “The real estate If it is not possible to delay the start of in front of the council to help SMEs dam- sector did not receive a share of the curfew, sources suggested setting a aged by the corona pandemic. the amount, as the value of real schedule such that government sector Among the procedures for the affected estate in the country is high, and employees leave their workplaces one companies could be an extension of six the money that the citizens saved hour earlier than those in the private sec- months to a year to hand over government during the crisis would not be tor in order to prevent traffic congestion projects for which they have been given enough to buy a house, chalet or and guarantee smooth flow of traffic on approvals to work during the curfew, and farm. the main streets and roads, reduce work- the possibility of direct compensation. The sector that flourished and ers in the Ministry of Interior and reduce Sources revealed the Ministry of benefited from the citizens’ the number of curfew violators. Health is preparing to implement a pro- money is a sector related to leas- The sources also demanded for opening posal to open sports stadiums in the gov- ing and not buying, as the coun- vaccination centers for the expatriates ernorates for Tarawih prayers during the try witnessed a boom in the rent- before curfew, especially since some of holy month of Ramadan, along with the ing of chalets, farms, and live- them cannot go to the centers without a big mosques. stock pens. The car sector and its financ- ing received a large share too, as KD 809m difference some citizens preferred to buy new cars, and others worked on paying the remaining install- ments of their cars”. KPC okays cut in estimated Most agencies capital cost of drilling wells submit lists for KUWAIT CITY, March 14: Kuwait With regard to the accounting project Petroleum Corporation (KPC) has between KPC and the Ministry of approved the reduction of the estimated Finance, sources confirmed that the cor- frontline reward capital cost of drilling wells from poration suffers from a growing deficit in KUWAIT CITY, March 14: KD1.804 billion to KD995 million - a its cash flows due to the current method Most government agencies have difference of about KD809 million or a of accounting with the ministry as KPC submitted lists of employees reduction of 45 percent of the budget for finances KOC projects amounting to eligible for the coronavirus drilling wells only despite the increase in about KD2 billion annually from its own frontline workers reward, the number of wells to be drilled, reports revenues, while the ministry pays these except six entities that are still Al-Rai daily quoting high-ranking oil sums to KPC over a period of 25 years; amending their lists, reports sector sources. noting that all oil sales revenues are Al-Rai daily quoting sources Sources added the capital spending in transferred directly to the ministry. from the Civil Service the five-year plan of Kuwait Oil Company The sources pointed out that the deficit Commission (CSC). (KOC), amounting to KD24.75 billion, in financial flows with KPC has become Sources disclosed the CSC has been reduced to KD12.7 billion with- inevitable, especially after using most of has submitted the lists to the out affecting the production capacity or its funds to finance the projects of KOC Ministerial Committee after oil reserves through the postponement of and to fill the deficit in its cash flows. being reviewed once again by some capital programs and a 40 percent The corporation has resorted to borrow- the concerned staff in the reduction in electrical energy usage. ing for refining and petrochemical proj- CSC. Sources said this is in Most of the building projects are also ects, which requires immediate treatment; preparation for determining postponed - around 72 percent, provided otherwise, the production capacity of oil the date for the payment of the that optimum use of operations facilities will decrease, while gas and State reve- reward. is achieved at 30 percent. nues are declining. ARAB TIMES, MONDAY, MARCH 15, 2021 LOCAL 5 REMEMBER WHEN

Local Mosques There was nothing more graceful in and effi cient design refl ected the the old mosques of Kuwait than the values of the community it served. evening prayers performed just af- However, new architectural ideas ter sunset. This photograph shows from Persia and Iraq infl uenced the Photograph courtesy the faithful as they begin to leave later designs of mosques in Kuwait. of The Center for Re- the mosque after their prayers. The once humble minaret of early The mosque was one of the more mosques was replaced by a tall one search and Studies on prominent features of any fi reege which rose majestically above its Kuwait and the work or quarter in the old city. The en- surroundings. tire male population assembled The blessings of these mosques of Dr Yacoub Al- there fi ve times daily for prayers. A continue, for had it not been for their Hijji in the book Old- mosque was also a resting place for survival, young Kuwaitis would not Kuwait: Memories a traveler or a poor man in need of be able to locate their fi reege or know shelter for a short time. where their parents’ houses once in Photographs fi rst Mosques were built of locally stood. (From the book ‘Old Kuwait: published in 1996. available materials and their simple Memories in Photographs’)

Courtesy of The Center for Research and Studies on Kuwait

© N.M.M. diwaniya A DIGEST OF PUBLIC OPINION ‘Govt entangled in multiple crises, selfish groups remains clueless’ “THE government is facing a thorny package of political difficulties and complica- middle class -- is dissatisfied with the performance of the MPs and the govern- cent, young man, adult, the elderly, and even immigrants they will not be able tions, in addition to the grinding global and local economic crisis, as well as popular ment and the recent government formation, for MPs are busy supporting each to count what Kuwait is suffering from in terms of decline in everything. The frustration and resentment due to the country’s retreat to the bottom of the Gulf’s other and strengthening their positions before their constituents in matters that collapse of oil prices and Corona were nothing but water that cleaned the eyes ranking at various levels, deepened by the imbalance of the demographics and class do not concern the citizen and the homeland, such as the country’s delay and to see what is around. Do they see?” division of society,” columnist Dr Ali Al-Huwail wrote for Al-Rai daily. its retreat in the Gulf and internationally, and its exit from some of the most ❑ ❑ ❑ “Popular anger is due to historical reasons that kept important global performance measures and standards.” “With my utmost appreciation and respect for the brave members of the pace with the beginnings of the democratic experience, Also: the most important of which is the policy of political White Army including the doctors, nurses, technicians and administrators who rapprochement of one or more components of Kuwaiti “The heated political debates in Kuwait for more than four months have been con- have been dealing with COVID-19 patients day and night for more than a year society, to stand by the government when the dispute fined to the struggle over the amnesty mechanism and about who is to be pardoned, now, these heroes are unfortunately the victims of government confusion from between it and the other components escalated, includ- and most of the Parliament’s real discontent with Marzouq Al-Ghanim is only be- their minister and their leaders up to the Cabinet due to the failure to address the ing the reward with political naturalization. cause of the issue of amnesty, and the conflict is now moved to His Highness Sheikh situation in an integrated manner and to limit its impact,” columnist Mubarak “The state is currently going through the difficulties Sabah Al-Khaled,” Dr Anwar Al-Shari’an wrote for Al-Shahed daily. Abdul Hadi wrote for Aljarida daily. in managing the Covid-19 file, the financial crisis, the “The pardon file is miles ahead of the other issues despite the emergence of some “When proper planning is absent, the mind goes with it, and the peacock global and local economic crisis, and the state’s aban- marginal issues that preoccupy the political or popular arena, or some attempts by feathers rise; we thus become lost in the vortex of so-and-so who lost us be- donment of its role in relieving citizens during crises a few MPs and officials to present some solutions that may solve some problems. cause of the lining that has no concern except for how to collect donations, such as the consumer credit indebtedness. “The issue of citizens abroad will end sooner or later with a special or a positions and other great services. “They turned into prisons for the people who obeyed their orders and ful- “Among the most prominent factions of the current Dr. Ali Al-Huwail general pardon, and I personally wish to close this file and the nationality file opposition, the 1+6 group whose voices are the loud- according to a national reconciliation under the auspices of His Highness the filled their requirements in the hope that this pandemic would end. However, est among the current opponents, called the Barcode group, in a sarcastic Amir Sheikh Nawaf Al-Ahmad, may God protect him and return safe to Kuwait as soon as we breathed a sigh of relief, we returned to square one, but more reference to its position during the Parliament Speaker elections, and most and his Crown Prince, Sheikh Meshaal, may God protect him, to close these intensely after the high rate of infections. of its demands are limited to issues of their own largely personal, related to files and so that we can start anew. “Governmental justifications presented to everyone’s eyes and ears was that the some of its members, such as their refusal to accept the verdict of the Con- “Personally, I know that the ongoing dispute in the arena is in fact a conflict of reason for such a high rate of COVID-19 cases is the various gatherings, events and stitutional Court to consider the integrity of membership of one of them three groups -- each group brings together common interests, files and hopes. Kuwait other things. However, the real culprit was not held accountable, especially since and similar issues and personal rivalries. has suffered greatly from the effects of three wars or four persons, each of whom is they have the power to implement the law in holding the violators accountable. “Despite the few supporters of the Barcode group, it receives support from allied with groups and uses tools to achieve his goals, but unfortunately what we “The violations happened before the eyes and ears of the government, which deals some personalities, and some of the middle class who disagree with it in gen- have learned from history shows that these goals only pass through bone-breaking on the basis of reactions as usual, threatens, declares, and bangs the drums of war. eral, see it as a good tool to motivate the government that has not provided battles and public opinion preoccupation, and decision-makers sometimes in battles However, the situation on the ground is different. All measures were followed, all solutions to the existing problems, while others hold it responsible for causing and side issues, as if the future will only pass through resolving this file. methods were taken, and all means were implemented by the people. So where are the current political crisis and disrupting work of the Parliament. “The amnesty whether it was general or special or no pardon, the remaining the loopholes, dear health experts? What is the cause for this outbreak? Why don’t the “The efforts of some political Islam groups and some former dissenting fact is that this dispute is a collective punishment for Kuwait and the Kuwaiti Minister of Health, his leaders, and his advisers come out to explain the real reasons opposition leaders continue to try to contain and lead the political scene and people, disrupting the future and hammering new nails into the coffin of what instead of their boring daily press conferences that continue along the same lines? achieve whatever gains they can by putting pressure on the government by remains of the Kuwaiti economy. “Why aren’t strict citations issued against anyone who holds an event or strengthening its bargaining position, and wanting to impose a comprehensive “I don’t know what will take for these people to realize that they have all violates a health requirement? Where is the law that we hear about but never amnesty for their leaders residing in Turkey. turned into destructive axes to Kuwait, whether in good faith, stupidity or na- see implemented on the ground?” “The public opinion in general -- and specifically the wider class namely, the ivety. If we asked the least knowledgeable and cultured Kuwaiti child, adoles- — Compiled by Ahmad Al-Shazli ‘Vaccinate salon workers’ ‘Check on customers number’

KUWAIT CITY, March 14: The field team tasked with fol- lowing up and moni- toring health require- ments in women’s activities today carried out an inspection cam- paign that included all Kuwait Governorates -- salons and clubs to ensure that appoint- ments, social distanc- ing, and other health requirements are ad- hered to including the number of people pres- The all female team ready for the campaign against beauty salons and health clubs. ent inside salons and clubs according to the requirements in order Curfew checkpoints lifted in sandstorm to continue with these KUWAIT CITY, March 14: All security and expatriates do not leave their homes activities operating, re- checkpoints, which were established for and at the same time to protect their ports Al-Anba daily. the implementation of partial curfew, were staff from traffi c accidents which might canceled recently due to low visibility occur due to low visibility. In this context, the head of caused by the strong sandstorm that hit Sources clarifi ed the security offi cials the team Lieutenant-General the country, reports Al-Rai daily quoting issued the above-mentioned directives due Hanan Al-Muhammad said sources from the security sector. to the bad weather conditions, particularly in a press statement, that the Sources disclosed all sectors in the the low visibility caused by the heavy committee has issued, since Ministry of Interior were instructed to sandstorm; reiterating that security teams the beginning of its work, guarantee the safety of their employees, were deployed throughout the country and 422 violations to commer- cancel all checkpoints, and assign pub- were asked to patrol their respective areas cial establishments for vio- lic security, traffi c, rescue and investi- of assignment on foot to ensure that people lating health requirements. gation offi cers to patrol on foot in the do not leave their homes and to provide as- Al-Muhammad added that internal streets to ensure that citizens sistance in case of emergency. the committee, with the re- turn of the activities of salons, sports and health institutes, cludes inspectors from PAM of non-compliance during re- norates on a daily basis, and intensified its campaigns, af- and the Ministry of Com- inspection, a citation is issued that the distribution is done ter it came to the knowledge merce and Kuwait Munici- and is issued. in areas based on the num- of the committee that these pality, with the support of the Regarding the number of ber of salons and spas. places had become crowded, women’s police in the Minis- people inside the salons, Engr Engr Fatima added, because especially in the afternoon, try of Interior. Fatima explained the number of the specified time and hours and accordingly it warned Engr Fatma added, during in the salon is according to its of the ban, some salons receive that health requirements a tour of 11 salons in Jabriya, area, and “we stress that the a large number in a short time, should be adhered to. the team issued three cita- number of workers is small and this “we follow up and Engr Fatima Abdel-Malek, tions, while warning others to and commensurate with the we are keen to see it does not from the Department of Oc- adhere to the instructions of number of customers, and it happen again with a commit- cupational Safety at the Pub- the Council of Minister. is between one worker and an- ment to the numbers and time lic Authority for Manpower, She added, every authority other 10 square meters and be- to avoid penalty. “We hope said on the sidelines of the is authorized to take action in tween one person and another the salon owners will urge the tour, in a special statement relation to non-compliance, waiting person is two meters. workers to take vaccination in to the daily, that the team in- which begins by issuing a She emphasized that the order to avoid the spread of the notification, and in the event inspection covers all gover- virus,” she said. ARAB TIMES, MONDAY, MARCH 15, 2021 LOCAL 6

CART has recommended that travelers should not be vaccinated for international travel Updated ICAO recommendations seen to support industry restart MONTREAL, March 14: The Inter- craft used in freighter operations CEO. for securely creating digital versions restart of international flying: support of the industry, ICAO has national Air Transport Association ■ A new mechanism for reporting Urgency to Implement and the future incorporation of vacci- ● Prioritizing access to vaccination taken the position to replace exist- (IATA) welcomed the International extended regulatory alleviations “One of the most important recom- nation certificates were agreed. These for aircrews: The CART recommenda- ing alleviations with specific actions. Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) “This is a major piece of work by mendations from this work is the call recommendations are now included tion follows the guidance provided by It is supporting this with a Targeted Council’s approval of the latest recom- states and aviation stakeholders under for national authorities to ensure that in theICAO Manual on Testing and the World Health Organization with Exemptions (TE) system enabling mendations from its Aviation Recov- the leadership of ICAO and with the CART delivers results in national Cross-Border Risk Management Mea- a framework on what states should states to post and access a registry of ery Task Force (CART). full support of the industry. Of course, decision-making. We all know how sures. take into consideration when decid- actions taken to maintain the valid- Key outputs include: these recommendations, guidelines important aviation is to the economy. From the perspective of preparing ing vaccination priority groups. Crew ity of their certificates, licenses, and ■ Recommendations for and tools are only meaningful if they And the harmonized implementation for an industry restart, this is one of vaccination will help enable sufficient other approvals during the COVID-19 ● Temporary liberalization of cargo are adopted universally. It is crucial of these guidelines is what will put the most significant outputs of CART. “ready-to-fly” aircrew to maintain crit- pandemic. flights that states implement this guidance, people back in jobs by getting the in- Public opinion also reflects this with a ical supply chains, especially related ❑ ❑ ❑ ● Considering priority vaccination particularly as they plan for the restart dustry moving again. As ICAO tracks recent IATA poll reporting that 89% of to the transportation of vaccines and of air crew of international aviation when bor- implementation, it is also critical to respondents believe that governments other medical supplies. The ICAO CART was established ● Increased cooperation among ders are able to open. As we have said track the impact of latest develop- must standardize vaccination and test- ● Traveler vaccination: CART has in the early days of the pandemic, and governments to implement CART rec- many times, it was easy to shut down ments in COVID-19 on risk manage- ing certificates. It will be a critical ele- recommended that travelers should not the Council of ICAO adopted the task ommendations and guidance aviation with individual decisions. Re- ment frameworks, especially as we ment for maximizing the benefit of the be vaccinated for international travel. force’s first set of COVID-19 response ■ Updated or new guidance for starting and maintaining operations to learn more about the effectiveness of IATA Travel Pass and other technolo- Regulatory Alleviations and recovery guidelines for interna- ● Testing certificates deliver economically and socially vital vaccines against transmission,” said de gies being developed to manage digital Regulators have had the challenge tional air transport in June 2020. As ● COVID-19 risk management in- connectivity can only happen if all par- Juniac. travel credentials. of maintaining high safety levels with the pandemic is constantly evolving, cluding vaccination and its interdepen- ties work together. The CART recom- Harmonizing Testing Certificates Vaccination and Travel sufficient regulatory alleviations to so too are the guidelines, with Phase dencies mendations are the building blocks for The requirements for globally ac- CART supported two major policy adjust for the extraordinary situation II recommendations being issued last ● Dangerous goods guidelines for that cooperation,” said Alexandre de cepted COVID-19 test certificates recommendations related to vaccina- of an industry that has been largely November and Phase III being formal- the carriage of cargo on passenger air- Juniac, IATA’s Director General and including the technology framework tions that will be critical to an efficient grounded for a year now. With the ized today.

‘Ambitious’ programs, initiatives Govt Center for Inspection one of Kuwait hails ‘progress’ of youth amid greater engagement plans most important sectors: Al-Enezi KUWAIT CITY, March 14, told KUNA. With the coronavirus (KUNA): Kuwait on Saturday said pandemic turning daily life upside increasing contributions on the part down across the globe and confi ning of youngsters have led to national people indoors amid extensive lock- Sector keen to develop, update performance gains in recent years, highlighting downs, he said the Kuwaiti youth more plans across state bodies to body relied on online platforms to connect with the country’s youth. reach out to spirited youngsters and By Muhammad Ghanem most important technical sectors not only at the ministry Greater youth engagement, in the give them an opportunity to make Al-Seyassah Staff level, but also at the state level. form of “ambitious” programs and their voices heard. The youth train- Al-Enezi said the center was established more than six decades and is initiatives, allows youngsters the ing programs run the gamut from KUWAIT CITY, March 14: Assistant Undersecretary for seen as one of the constant technical pillars to support the various sectors chance to hone their skills and bring science and arts to sports, added the of the ministry, other state projects, the private sector and citizens. common aspirations to fruition, offi cial, emphasizing the aim of em- the Government Center for Inspection, Quality Control the Youth Public Authority’s act- powering youngsters from all walks and Research and Assistant Undersecretary for Major He told the Al-Seyassah daily during a tour of the center that the task of the sector is to examine, test the materials used in construction of facilities, ing chief Shafi q Al-Sayyed Omar of life. Projects at the Ministry of Public Works, Engr Abdul be it road works, sewage or rain projects to ensure their suitability, and verify Mohsen Khaled Al-Enezi, said the sector is one of the their conformity with the Kuwaiti, international and technical standards of the Ministry of Public Works, in addition to examining the existing installa- 65% Kuwait professionals prefer tions and the material used for build- ing the roads. The sector’s activity to be self-employed, says survey also covers projects of the Ministry of Public Works, ministries, govern- By Bayt.com ment institutions, the private sector and citizens. KUWAIT CITY, March 14: A Al-Enezi stressed on the keenness of the sector to develop and update the new survey conducted by Bayt. performance within the center through com, the Middle East’s #1 job ambitious plans and strategies that aim site, and market research agency, in their entirety to achieve local and YouGov, entitled ‘Entrepreneur- regional leadership in examinations ship in the Middle East and North by upgrading the human element and Africa 2021’has found that al- laboratories in the area of specifica- most two-thirds (65%) of Kuwait tions and checks on construction ma- residents prefer to be self-em- terials to enhance quality and safety ployed/have their own business with the support of the Minister of if given the choice. Public Works and the Minister of State The survey found that free- for Communications and Technology dom to choose work-life bal- Information Dr. Rana Al-Fares, who ance (54%) and personal gives the center a top priority as one of fulfillment (48%) emerge as the important governmental technical the top reasons for preferring Ola Haddad expertise houses. to be self-employed. This is National cadres inside the center. Expertise followed by building a busi- the business, while another 28% ness their children can inherit Al-Enezi indicated there is a mecha- say that their business is estab- (48%) and higher monetary lished but not performing well. nism for seeking help from the center’s gains (41%). expertise by the authorities, as requests On the other hand, 15% say their Those who have already started business is well established and are submitted by these authorities to their business seem to have similar study them and take the necessary ac- performing well. reasoning. When asked about the The top concern of Kuwait re- tions. Among the institutions with reasons MENA professionals have which the center coordinates and pro- spondents while setting up their vides consultations are the Public Au- for starting their own business, the own business, would be procur- thority for Housing Welfare, the Public top three reasons were: ‘wanted to ing finances to start (59%) and Authority for Industry, the Laborato- do what I love’ (29%), ‘having a uncertainty of profit/ income ries of the Ministry of Defense, Kuwait great business idea’ (28%) and ‘to (40%). University, the Public Authority for achieve a better work-life balance’ The most appealing indus- Applied Education and Training, the (24%). tries for entrepreneurship are Ministry of Oil, some private labora- Of those who prefer to seek considered to be IT/ Internet/ tories and companies of a construction employment in a company in Ku- E-commerce (12%), Commerce/ nature, such as the Kuwait Cement wait, the main reasons for their Trade/ Retail (12%)and Con- Company, and “in the same context preference are:regular income sumer Goods/ FMCG (10%), we would like to point out that in line (44%), stability of employment/ followed by Real Estate/ Con- with the KPI and MMM plans and the job security (41%) and learning struction/ Property Develop- new skills (41%). New Kuwait Development Plan 2035, ment (8%). there will be cooperation between the “Wealth creation is not the center and the Kuwait Oil Company to only driver for MENA entrepre- Mentoring and Support conduct soil research and the ability to neurs, who increasingly tend to The survey shows even great- use it in construction operations being be aspirational in other ways. er benefits of entrepreneurship an important national resource with dis- Our survey aims to understand for societies and the economy. Conducting examinations and taking samples inside the center. tinctive characteristics. the views of entrepreneurs as The perceived image of entre- Al-Enezi added among the impor- a way to maximize impact and preneurs in the region is very tant aspects of cooperation and coor- drive growth and innovation in positive – Kuwait respondents dination are those between the Center the economy,” said Ola Haddad, perceive entrepreneurs to be and the Ministry of Justice, which Director of Human Resources uses the sector laboratories as it is a opportunity-driven (87%) and at Bayt.com. “As part of our re- they help in creating new jobs neutral third party to provide techni- search strategy, Bayt.com will cal opinion in disputes. (77%). continue to research topics that The best pieces of advice of- Effi cient provide professionals in the en- fered to budding entrepreneurs He added, even the GCC and Arab trepreneurial ecosystem with by respondents in the MENA countries use of the sector’s laborato- credible data to make informed region is to not be afraid of ries since it is equipped with qualified decisions.” failure (45%).In addition, 3 in technical personnel manning highly Kuwait Entrepreneurial 10 respondents believe that in- efficient state-of-the-art and equip- Ecosystem novation is the key to success ment to test exclusive materials such Entrepreneurship continues to as an entrepreneur, followed as iron, manhole covers and cement. be a growing trend in Kuwait. by employing the right people Among the development plans at (25%) and access to funding the short level are the follow-up of Despite the given challenges of setting up a business, the survey (18%). the annual KPI plan, measuring it Zafar Shah, Research Di- monthly, following up on the sector’s indicates that entrepreneurship has become more popular than rector at YouGov said: “The goals and initiatives, raising the level positive attitudes about entre- Photos by Mohamed Morsi of human cadres by providing ap- ever before. When it comes to Right: Abdul Mohsen Al-Enezi speaking to Al-Seyassah daily. Left: Abdul Jalil Al-Sarraf explains the examination propriate training courses, as well as those who are currently em- preneurship that we see in the mechanism to Muhammad Ghanem speeding up the mechanism of having ployed, 62% are currently think- MENA region are an encourag- an electronic archive between depart- ing of starting their own busi- ing sign. It indicates that there ments and the administrative unit ness,23% of respondents have is both a supply of potential Program to fit current sanitary restrictions and activating electronic messaging tried to start their own business entrepreneurs and those who (pending linking the center with the in the past, while only5%never may support their efforts. The Ministry and the provision of an In- thought of starting their own ideas and innovations born in ternet), in addition to activating the business. small companies and startups 2021 Francophonie week launched in Kuwait automatic linking of laboratories with Many entrepreneurs are look- create a stronger economy, of- KUWAIT CITY, March 14: The the French Institute of Kuwait are tak- week in Kuwait, the singer Omrani the Ministry’s projects and the Roads ing to grow their startups and fering greater opportunities for Council for the promotion of Fran- ing part in this film festival. will give a concert. This out of the and Land Transport Authority within establish business. Over a third upward mobility.” cophonie in Kuwait is pleased to an- ■ A quiz (in French, English and Ara- ordinary event with no public will be the BIM program, for example to re- (37%)of MENA respondents Data for the Entrepreneur- nounce the launch of the annual Fran- bic) will be open during the week. The broadcasted live on the French Insti- ceive accreditation or results immedi- have personal ambitions to grow ship in the Middle East and cophonie week celebrations. This event registration link will be posted to the tute of Kuwait’s social media pages. ately after completion and save them their business further in their North Africa Survey was col- launched on Sunday, March 14th and Council’s members social media pages ■ On the 22nd, 23rd and 24th of for use later in evaluating the perfor- country of residence, followed lected online from January will reach its peak on the 20th during at the beginning of the week. At the end March, the Gulf University for Sci- mance of projects and contractors. by 27% who aim to become a 13to February 3, 2021. Results the International Francophonie Day. A of the celebrations, the winners will be ence and Technology will hold 3 talks Al-Enezi indicated that the sec- major international group. In are based on a sample of 1,763 rich program that has been adapted to announced during the closing ceremony. with different speakers around Fran- tor’s plans for solutions and propos- fact, with growth in mind, al- respondents from the following fit the current sanitary restrictions will ■ A drawing competition for chil- cophonie and the advantages of learn- als (long-term) include converting most 6 in 10 of Kuwait respon- countries: UAE, KSA, Kuwait, be put in place to celebrate this shared dren around the theme of Dis-moi Dix ing French for non-native speakers. the documentary cycle from paper ■ dents are planning to hire for Oman, Qatar, Bahrain, Leba- language and its many cultures: mots will be held remotely. The terms On the 24th of March, Kuwait to fully electronic, with the aim of non, Jordan, Iraq, Palestine, ■ achieving the state’s vision into a their business in the next year. All through the week, links to will be shared on the Council’s mem- University will be hosting its Fran- Out of those who are self- Syria, Egypt, Morocco, Alge- francophone films will be shared on bers social media pages at the beginning cophonie day online. Many activities new Kuwait, and a fully electronic the Council’s members social media of the week and the winners will be an- such as a film about the French lan- government administration that keeps employed in the MENA region, ria, Tunisia, Libya, and Sudan pages. The embassies of Canada, Mo- nounced during the closing ceremony. guage department and its actions, as pace with the universality of manage- 38% are at the startup stage of among others. rocco, Romania and Tunisia, as well as ■ To close off the Francophonie well as conferences will be held. ment systems within 5 years. ARAB TIMES, MONDAY, MARCH 15, 2021 INTERNATIONAL 7

Myanmar

Darkest moment Civilian leader pledges revolution against junta

MANDALAY, Myanmar, March 14, (AP): The ci- vilian leader of Myanmar’s government in hiding vowed to continue supporting a “revolution” to oust the military that seized power in last month’s coup, as security forces again met protesters with lethal forces, killing at least seven. Mahn Win Khaing Than, who was named the act- ing vice president by Myanmar’s ousted lawmakers and is a member of deposed leader Aung San Suu Kyi’s party, addressed the public on Saturday for the fi rst time since the Feb 1 military takeover. “This is the darkest moment of the nation and the moment that the dawn is close,” he said in a video posted on the shadow government’s website and so- cial media. “In order to form a federal democracy, which all ethnic brothers who have been suffering various kinds of oppressions from the dictatorship for dec- ades really desired, this revolution is the chance for us to put our efforts together,” he said. He added: “We will never give up to an unjust military but we will carve our future together with our united power. Our mission must be accomplished.” At the end of the message he fl ashed a three-fi nger salute that has become a symbol of resistance to the military rule. Earlier Saturday, security forces opened fi re at demon- strators, killing four in Man- dalay, the second biggest city, Members of the Philippine community arrive to take part in a Pope’s Mass to mark 500 years of Christianity in the Philippines, at the Vatican on March 14. (AP) two in Pyay in south-central Myanmar, and one in Twante, a suburb of Yangon, Myan- Suu Kyi mar’s largest city. Details of all seven deaths were posted on multiple social media Immigration accounts, some accompanied by photos of the vic- tims. The actual death toll is likely to be higher, as po- Biden ends Trump-era practice of expelling immigrant kids lice apparently seized some bodies, and some of the victims suffered serious gunshot wounds that doctors and nurses working at makeshift clinics will be hard- pressed to treat. Many hospitals are occupied by se- curity forces, and as a result are boycotted by medical FEMA to help manage unaccompanied minors at border personnel and shunned by protesters. The independent UN human rights expert for My- WILMINGTON, Del, March 14, (AP): The kas said Saturday. But more children are being held longer lodging.” anmar, Tom Andrews, said last week that credible re- Biden administration is turning to the Feder- Government fi gures show a growing cri- at Border Patrol facilities that weren’t de- “Our goal is to ensure that unaccom- ports indicated at least 70 people had died so far, and al Emergency Management Agency for help sis at the border as hundreds of children il- signed with their care in mind because panied children are transferred to HHS as cited growing evidence of crimes against humanity managing and caring for record numbers of legally enter the US from Mexico daily and long-term shelters run by the Department quickly as possible, consistent with legal by the military. unaccompanied immigrant children who are are taken into custody. of Health and Human Services have next to requirements and in the best interest of the Other unoffi cial but carefully compiled tallies put streaming into the United States by illegally The Homeland Security Department is no capacity to accommodate them. Children children,” Mayorkas said. the number of deaths since the coup at around 90. crossing the border with Mexico. supposed to process and transfer unaccom- are being apprehended daily at far higher During an record infl ux of unaccompa- FEMA will support a government wide panied minor children to the Department rates than HHS can release them to parents nied minors in 2014, the Obama adminis- Faze effort over the next three months to safely of Health and Human Services within three or sponsors. tration also turned to FEMA for help co- Saturday’s killings did not faze demonstrators in receive, shelter and transfer minor children days so that they can be placed with a parent Mayorkas said FEMA is working with the ordinating the government wide response. Yangon who crowded a downtown commercial area who arrive alone at the US southwest bor- already living in the United States, or other Health and Human Services Department to During that crisis, FEMA helped stand up past the offi cial 8 p.m. curfew to hold a mass can- der, without a parent or other adult, Home- suitable sponsor, until their immigration “look at every available option to quickly temporary shelters and processing stations dlelight vigil and sing about their cause. The mostly land Security Secretary Alejandro Mayor- cases can be resolved. expand physical capacity for appropriate on military bases. young protesters rallied at an intersection where they usually gather for daytime protests. After-dark rallies was also held in Mandalay and elsewhere. Reports on social media also said three people were shot dead Friday night in Yangon, where resi- dents for the past week have been defying the curfew to come out onto the streets. The nighttime protests may refl ect a more aggres- sive approach to self-defense that has been advocated by some protesters. Police had been aggressively patrolling residential neighborhoods at night, fi ring into the air and setting off stun grenades as part of in- timidation. They have also been carrying out targeted raids, taking people from their homes with minimal resistance. In at least two known cases, the detainees died in custody within hours of being hauled away. Another possible indication of heightened resist- ance emerged Saturday with photos posted online of a railway bridge said to have been damaged by an explosive charge. The bridge was described as connecting the rail line from Mandalay to Myitkyina, the capital of the northern state of Kachin. The photos show damage to part of a concrete support. No one took responsibility for the action, which could be seen as support for the nationwide strike of state railway workers, part of the civil disobedience movement against the coup. At the same time, it could also disrupt military re- inforcements in Kachin, where ethnic guerrillas have been fi ghting the central government. The prospect of sabotage has been openly dis- cussed by some protesters, who warn they could blow up a pipeline supplying natural gas to China, seen as the junta’s main supporter. In Washington on Friday, the Biden administration announced it is offering temporary legal residency to people from Myanmar, citing the coup and deadly force against civilians. Meanwhile, a court in Myanmar extended on Fri- day the pretrial detention of an Associated Press jour- nalist who was arrested while covering demonstra- tions against a coup. He is facing a charge that could send him to prison for three years. Thein Zaw, 32, was one of nine media workers taken into custody during a protest on Feb. 27 in Yangon, the country’s largest city, and has been held without bail. His next hearing at the Kamayut Town- ship court will be on March 24. Friday’s hearing, which Thein Zaw attended via videoconference, came at the end of his initial re- mand period. Thein Zaw and at least six other members of the media have been charged with violating a public order law, according to his lawyer, Tin Zar Oo, and the independent Assistance Association for Political Prisoners. Separate hearings were held Friday for the other detained journalists. Tin Zar Oo and one of Thein Zaw’s brothers were allowed into the courtroom to take part in the 10-minute videoconference. Tin Zar Oo said she was able to submit documents giving her power of attor- ney for the case, but only at the next hearing might be allowed to submit a bail application. Also: GUWAHATI, India: Four Indian states bordering Myanmar have stepped up measures to prevent refu- gees from entering India through a porous border fol- lowing last month’s military coup in the Southeast Asian country, a government offi cial said Saturday. India’s Home Ministry asked the states to deal with such people strictly on a case-to-case basis on humanitarian grounds. “I am aware of the Home Ministry directive,” Ku- mar Abhishek, a government administrator in Ser- chhip district in Mizoram state, told reporters. The directive cautioned that the four states were not authorized to accord refugee status to anyone en- tering India from Myanmar, as India is not a signa- tory to the UN Refugee Convention of 1951 and its 1967 Protocol. India’s Mizoram, Manipur, Nagaland and Arunachal Pradesh states border Myanmar. The government directive came after scores of people, including some police offi cers, entered Mizo- ram after the Feb. 1 coup in Myanmar. Honda of America plans to sell 2 fully electric SUVs in 2024

Honda has plans to sell two a California ban on sales of nership with General Motors, probably be one or two addi- all-electric SUVs in the U.S. new internal-combustion ve- while the tops would be made tions that he would not iden- for the 2024 model year, and it hicles by 2035. by Honda, he said. tify. This fi le photo shows a soon will offer hybrid gas-elec- Honda of America sales As part of Honda’s efforts to He conceded that Honda Honda logo at the 2019 tric versions of its top-selling chief Dave Gardner told re- meet stricter emissions stand- isn’t leading the race to elec- Pittsburgh International models. porters one of the electric ards, it will reduce emissions tric vehicles and wouldn’t say Auto Show in Pittsburgh. The announcements SUVs will be from the Honda (AP) from its internal combustion when it will go all-electric. Thursday come as the au- brand, while the other will be vehicles, Gardner said. Al- Honda is focused on being tomaker acknowledges it has an Acura. Honda will offer ready the company has a hy- carbon-neutral by 2050 and work to do to comply with more details later this year, he brid called the Insight, as well is aware that President Joe emissions-reduction targets said. as hybrid versions of its Ac- Biden is focused on zero that will be coming from the Underpinnings of the new cord midsize car, CR-V small emissions, not just reducing Biden administration, and vehicles will come from a part- SUV. Gardner said there will them, he said. (AP)

Market Movements 12-03-2021 Change Closing pts Change Closing pts AUSTRALIA - All Ordinaries +61.69 7,014.61 GERMANY - DAX -67.00 14,502.39 JAPAN - Nikkei +506.19 29,717.83 EUROPE - Euro Stoxx 50 -12.28 3,833.36 FRANCE - CAC 40 +12.79 6,046.55 INDIA - Sensex -487.43 50,792.08 S. KOREA - KRX 100 +77.58 6,620.88 PHILIPPINES - PSEi +9.37 6,728.55 PAKISTAN - KSE 100 +1,008.32 43,788.08 CHINA - Shanghai SE +16.25 3,453.08 Business

Food costs jump 1.3% Spiking energy leads US wholesale prices up 0.5% in Feb WASHINGTON, March 14, (AP): will inevitably heat up amid a healthi- Energy prices continued to rocket er, fi scally stimulated economy ... we higher in February, though overall believe infl ation is unlikely to spiral wholesale prices moderated after a out of control,” said Mahir Rasheed, record jump in January. a senior economist with Oxford Eco- Lagging the US, Europe speeds The Labor Department’s producer nomics. “The Fed should therefore price index, which measures infl a- look through the transitory spike and tion before it reaches consumers. in- stick to a very dovish policy.” creased by 0.5% last month follow- Fed policymakers meet next week ing a record jump of 1.3% the month and the expectation is that they will before. keep their benchmark policy rate up help for ‘virus-hit’ economy Price increases slowed despite a unchanged at a record low of zero to 6% surge in energy last month, which 0.25%. followed a 5.1% jump in January, the Fears of higher infl ation have Move to prevent a premature rise in borrowing costs Labor Department said Friday. driven interest rates on bonds high- Over the past year, wholesale er in recent weeks but Fed offi cials prices are up 2.8%, the largest including Chairman Jerome Powell FRANKFURT, Germany, 12-month gain at the wholesale lev- have insisted that while infl ation may March 14, (AP): The Euro- el in more than two years. Core in- jump temporarily this spring as the pean Central Bank said it fl ation, which excludes volatile food economy re-opens, they see no signs would step up its bond-pur- and energy, rose 2.5% over the past of sustained price increases. chase stimulus to support an 12 months. For February, food costs at the economy whose recovery is Both readings are above the Fed- wholesale level rose 1.3%, the big- eral Reserve’s 2% target for infl a- gest monthly gain since September. expected to lag a year behind tion. Some economists fear that A total of 40% of the rise in goods the rebound in the U.S., held infl ation, which has been dormant prices in February was attributed to a back by slow vaccine rollouts over the past decade, could begin to 13.1% jump in gasoline prices. and less relief spending by rise under the extra demand gener- The jump in food costs was driven governments. ated by the government’s new $1.9 by higher prices for beef and eggs The central bank for the 19 coun- trillion stimulus package signed into while the cost of fresh and dry veg- tries that use the euro said Thursday law Thursday. etables fell by 16.7%. that over the next quarter the pur- Others disagree, pointing out that Earlier this week, the U.S. report- chases would be conducted “at a there are 9.5 million fewer jobs in the ed that consumer prices rose 0.4% signifi cantly higher pace than dur- American economy than there were in February, the biggest gain in six ing the fi rst months of the year.” before the pandemic hit a year ago, months, also because of rising en- The move is aimed at preventing a and argue that unemployment will ergy prices. However, core infl ation premature rise in borrowing costs while keep a lid on infl ation. at the consumer level posted a much businesses are still struggling with “While underlying price pressures smaller 0.1% gain. coronavirus restrictions like curfews and shutdowns. Yields on long-term government bonds have risen by about 0.3% since the start of the year in the eurozone. That is not much, and rates remain low. But economists say it is too early for the eurozone to withstand higher rates, usually associated with re- A man walks past the Euro sculpture in Frankfurt, Germany, Thursday, March 11, 2021. The European Central covering growth and infl ation. Bank will have a meeting of the governing council on Thursday. (AP) The rise in longer-term borrowing rates is regarded as a spillover from and lower levels of government relief ion’s 750 billion-euro recovery fund nomic impact of government restric- the U.S., where the economic recovery spending compared with the U.S. The which is aimed at supporting govern- tions on public life. is expected to be faster. The eurozone U.S. Congress on Wednesday approved ment spending over the next several Lagarde didn’t specify an amount is still in a double-dip recession and a wide-ranging $1.9 trillion relief pack- years. She said that the “massive” $1.9 for the accelerated bond purchases. The is seen by economists as not ready for age pushed by new President Joe Biden, trillion relief package passed Wednes- ECB bought 59.9 billion euros worth of rising rates. Output shrank 0.6% in the coming on top of previous relief legisla- day in the U.S., a key trade partner, bonds in February and 53 billion euros last three months of 2020 and probably tion under predecessor Donald Trump. would boost demand from outside the in January. The purchases ran as high as declined again in the fi rst quarter of this ECB President Christine Lagarde eurozone. 120 billion in June 2020. year, say economists. told a news conference that the rise The bond purchases have the effect The purchases will come out of the China was the only major economy in market borrowing rates, “if left un- of pushing down bond yields, which total of 1.85 trillion-euro set aside for to grow last year, and the U.S. is ex- checked, could translate into a prema- are used as benchmarks for borrowing the program; almost 1 trillion euros of pected to reach pre-pandemic levels of ture tightening of fi nancial conditions across the region. So the ECB’s move that has yet to be used. The ECB says it In this fi le photo, amid concerns of the spread of COVID-19, a shopper wears output by the middle of this year. for all sectors of the economy. This is would in theory help keep credit cheap will continue the purchases until at least a mask as she looks over meat products at a grocery store in Dallas. The By contrast, the eurozone economy is undesirable.” for companies who need to invest or the end of March 2022, and in any case rise in wholesale prices moderated a bit in February after a record increase in not expected to recover until mid-2022, Lagarde urged European leaders to borrow to get through the pandemic. until it judges that the pandemic crisis January with both months being hit with higher energy prices. (AP) held back by a slow vaccine rollout promptly implement the European Un- Businesses are reeling from the eco- phase is over.

Clean-energy is top priority ‘Report on oil and gas sale ban due by summer in US’ BILLINGS, Montana, March 14, (AP): The Biden adminis- tration said that it will deliver an interim report on its sus- pension of oil and gas sales from federal lands and waters by summer, but offi cials declined to state how long the morato- rium could remain in place. A long-term ban on lease sales from the nation’s vast, publicly-owned oil and gas reserves to address climate change would fulfi ll a campaign pledge from Democratic President Joe Biden. The prospect has rankled Republicans and petroleum in- dustry representatives, who have said that Biden is putting tens of thousands of jobs at risk as the economy reels from the pandemic. Oil and gas from federal reserves in western states and the Gulf of Mexico make up about a quarter of U.S. production. Lease sales to companies for drilling have been a frequent target of lawsuits from environmentalists who contend offi - cials have ignored the oil and gas program’s climate impact. Biden announced a temporary suspension of new sales one week after he took offi ce. Tuesday’s announcement offered the fi rst details of a re- view of the Interior Department program that offi cials said will examine climate issues and whether taxpayers are get- ting a fair return on sales of energy leases to private com- panies. Last month, the administration postponed lease sales in the Gulf and four states - Colorado, Montana, Utah and Wyoming. “The federal oil and gas program is not serving the Ameri- can public well,” Interior Department Principal Deputy As- sistant Secretary Laura Daniel-Davis said in a statement. “It’s time to take a close look at how to best manage our nation’s natural resources with current and future genera- tions in mind.” The administration has pledged to spend billions to as- sist in the transition away from fossil fuels such as oil, gas and coal. Biden has said creating clean-energy jobs is a top priority. There is no estimate on how long the review could take, agency spokeswoman Melissa Schwartz said. Even a short-lived suspension on leasing will quickly af- fect companies, tying their hands as they seek to make drill- ing plans for coming years, said Erik Milito of the National Ocean Industries Association, which represents oil compa- nies operating offshore. “We will begin seeing companies starting to make deci- sions that will shift investments and jobs out of the U.S..” Milito said. The longer a suspension goes, he added, the more susceptible the administration will be to legal chal- lenge. Democrats, environmentalists and left-leaning policy groups said the leasing program has remained unchanged for decades and needed to be reformed in the face of climate change. ARAB TIMES, MONDAY, MARCH 15, 2021 BUSINESS 9

Unilever to remove ‘normal’ from beauty products packaging Bridgestone offers employees $100 to vaccinate

Consumer goods conglomerate Unile- of advertisements featuring people from “harmful norms and stereotypes” and Bridgestone said it will offer its 33,000 U.S. and development centers, and 2,200 com- ver said it will no longer use the word diverse groups, and that it will not “digi- shape a “far more inclusive defi nition employees $100 payments to get vacci- pany-owned tire and automotive service “normal” to advertise and package its tally alter a person’s body shape, size, of beauty.” “We know that removing nated against COVID-19, joining a group of centers. beauty and personal care products and proportion or skin colour in its brand ‘normal’ from our products and pack- large companies offering incentives for the Bridgestone said it is providing the pay- will ban the excessive photoshopping of advertising.” Many skincare and hair aging will not fi x the problem alone, shots. ments to make it easier for employees to models as part of its inclusivity policy. products use phrases such as “for nor- but it is an important step forward,” The tire company is also exploring the get vaccinated but is not requiring they be The company, which owns skin- mal skin” or “normal hair,” and Unilever Jain said in a statement. possibility of similar programs for employ- vaccinated. care brands like Dove and Simple says its global research suggests that The company renamed its skin-light- ees in Canada and Latin America, accord- “Bridgestone is providing the $100 sup- and haircare brands like TreSemme using “normal” as a descriptor “makes ening brand in India last year from Fair ing to a news release. port payment to remove barriers for employ- and TIGI, said the word “normal” will most people feel excluded.” & Lovely to Glow & Lovely after facing Bridgestone has its Americas headquar- ees who choose to get the vaccine, such be removed from the packaging of at Sunny Jain, who leads Unilever’s anger from customers who said Unile- ters in Nashville, Tennessee, with employ- as missing work, child care, transportation least 200 products within a year. beauty and personal care division, ver was perpetuating negative stereo- ees spread around the country at its tire and costs, or other potential obstacles,” the It also said it will increase the number said the company wanted to tackle types about darker skin tones. (AP) retread manufacturing facilities, research news release states. (AP)

Business restrictions ease as the pace of viral infections ebbs From job cuts to online commerce, virus reshaped US economy

WASHINGTON, March 14, (AP): At fi rst, it was expected to be brief. At least that was the hope. Instead, a once-in-a-century pandemic has ground on for a year, throwing millions out of work and upending wide swathes of the American economy. Delivery services thrived while restau- rants suffered. Home offi ces replaced downtown offi ces. Travel and entertainment spending dried up. The job losses were swift and harsh. But they hardly fell equally across the economy. Black and Hispanic workers fared worse than others. And many women, mostly mothers, felt compelled to quit the workforce to care for children being schooled online from home. Despite the job cuts, Americans as a whole socked away a record level of savings, buoyed by government aid to the unemployed and income that higher-paid workers, hunkered down at home, managed to squirrel away. After a year of ghostly airports, empty sports stadiums and constant Zoom meetings, growing signs suggest that the economy is strengthening. Hiring picked up in February. Business restric- tions have eased as the pace of viral infections has ebbed. Yet the economy remains far from normal. Here’s where things stand at the one-year mark: Job market reshaped After a flood of layoffs last spring when the economy shut down, more than half the job losses have been regained. Yet hiring since the summer has slowed. The economy still has 9.5 time to fi ll and free trading apps on their phones, likely prove temporary. million fewer jobs than before the pandemic played a role, too. Savings soar - more than were lost in the entire 2008-2009 Critics warned that stocks have become too ex- Much of the fi nancial aid from the government Great Recession. pensive, particularly when measured against the has ended up not as consumer spending but as Nearly every industry has been hurt but some quarterly profi ts that companies have managed to savings in Americans’ bank accounts, setting up a far more than others. Restaurants, airlines and produce. Those fears have been magnifi ed by a potential spending boom that could, in turn, speed hotels have been devastated. The music industry, recent surge in longer-term interest rates, which economic growth. too, has taken a beating, with concert halls closed could erase support for stock prices. The distribution of $600 stimulus checks in from New York to Nashville. The fi lm industry Entertainment shrivels January, along with $300 in supplemental unem- has shed a huge proportion of jobs. Salons and dry Movie theaters, concert halls, and sports stadi- ployment benefi t aid, helped balloon Americans’ cleaners have had to lay off many. ums stood largely empty last spring and summer stockpile of cash saved to $3.9 trillion in January. As more Americans have ordered dinners, in an initial attempt to help quell the pandemic. That’s triple the pre-pandemic level. groceries and household goods online, delivery The absence of paying attendees cost the jobs of Poorer households have been spending more of drivers have emerged as the biggest source of job ticket-takers, concession-stand workers and light- their aid. When $1,200 checks were distributed growth in the pandemic. Online retail has also cre- ing and sound technicians. last spring, along with $600 in weekly federal job- ated more work, mostly by boosting warehouse Performers were hurt in other ways, too: For less aid, Americans in the poorest one-quarter of jobs. musicians who made money performing at wed- households initially saved a portion of it. But by For small businesses, a fi ght to survive dings or other private events, those side gigs also October, these households had spent most of it, The “For Rent” signs on storefronts and of- dried up. according to research by the JPMorgan Chase In- fi ces around the world provided a sad illustration Even as movie theaters have slowly reopened, stitute, suggesting that they needed the money for of COVID’s ruinous effect on small businesses. often at limited capacity, their revenue remains rent, food and other necessities. With government restrictions and fear of infection deeply depressed, with many Americans still re- Higher-earning families, by contrast, cut back keeping consumers out of stores and restaurants, luctant to spend two hours indoors with strangers. spending on travel, entertainment, gym member- businesses that operate on narrow revenue streams Online food delivery, retail save consumers ships and other services, leaving their level of sav- struggled over the past year. Or they vanished al- The pandemic emptied malls and restaurants ings consistently higher last year. together, putting millions out of work. and accelerated a trend toward online ordering Working from home “It’s not known how many U.S. businesses have and delivery. It’s far from clear that shoppers and For years, experts predicted that faster broad- permanently closed, but estimates from economists diners will ever fully return to their old habits. band internet connections, video conferencing and the online review site Yelp suggest hundreds of U.S. e-commerce sales have grown 22.5% fast- software and cloud computing would free many thousands. Many more may still fail.” er than overall retail sales since the pandemic, ac- employees from the confi nes of an offi ce and en- Womply, a provider of fi nancial and other ser- cording to Retail Metrics Inc. That’s up from 6% able them to work from anywhere. It took a pan- vices to businesses, estimates that one-third to in the decade before the coronavirus. demic for that vision to become reality. one-half of all bars remain closed in many states, Online services like curbside pickup, already Before the pandemic, just 7% of Americans along with at least a quarter of restaurants and a embraced by discounters like Target and Walmart, were doing their jobs from home, according a La- third of health and beauty businesses. were adopted by more stores, including Macy’s bor Department survey. By last month, about 23% Travel industries hammered and Kohl’s. At the same time, U.S. demand for of employees were working remotely because of Most travel-related industries suffered a hor- restaurant meal delivery jumped 137% last year, the pandemic, the government found. (That fi gure rendous 2020. Planes and airports were left all according to NPD Group. JustEatTakeaway.com, excluded people who had been telecommuting but empty. On April 14, the Transportation Se- a leading platform in Europe, said its delivery or- before.) curity Administration screened just 87,000 pas- ders more than doubled last year. Remote work seems sure to become more com- sengers at U.S. airports - down a stunning 96% Experts say traffi c to stores and restaurants mon after the pandemic. Many companies, mostly from the same day in 2019. Even early this month, won’t likely fully return - a trend that could have tech fi rms like Salesforce and Spotify, have said screened passengers were still down 43% from a dire consequences for workers in those industries. they will continue to allow remote work. Others, year earlier. Despite surging sales, for example, Best Buy last such as Goldman Sachs, expect a full return to the It’s not clear when - or whether - travel will month laid off 5,000 full-time store workers as it offi ce. fully recover. Southwest Airlines CEO Gary Kel- focuses more on its online sales. A report by PwC found that while most em- ly said in December that business travel, a major Goverment opens money spigot ployers have found remote work to be productive, source of airline revenue, was still down 90%. Far With jobs decimated and many households’ in- nearly nine in 10 expect at least half their workers fewer people need hotel rooms, too. In late Feb- comes plunging, the federal government has stepped to be back in the offi ce by October. That’s a faster ruary, U.S. hotel occupancy was just 48%, down in with a fl ood of fi nancial relief. That assistance return than employees expect. one-quarter from a year earlier, according to the has included over $1 trillion in direct checks and Pandemic worsens inequality market data company STR. stepped-up unemployment aid, according to the Job losses during the pandemic recession have Markets defy pandemic woes Committee for a Responsible Federal Budget. fallen heavily on Black and Hispanic workers as Wall Street soared through much of the pan- In a series of legislative packages that have well as on low-income Americans. The proportion demic after righting itself from its initial terrify- doled out just over $4 trillion, the government has of white Americans, ages 25 through 54, with jobs ing plunge. Now, nearly a year after its rocket also provided forgivable loans to small business, declined to 77% in January from 81% in Febru- ride began in late March 2020, many fear that rental assistance and support for health care pro- ary 2020, before the pandemic erupted. (Econo- stock market gains might have gone too far, too viders. An additional $1.9 trillion is on the way mists often focus on the 25-to-54 group because it fast. with President Joe Biden’s economic rescue bill isn’t much affected by young people returning to Give much of the credit - or blame - for the mar- having just won congressional approval. school or older workers retiring.) ket’s rally to the Federal Reserve, which slashed About $550 billion was spent in support of For Black Americans, the drop was slightly interest rates to record lows to help support the those out of work in 2020, more than triple the larger, to 71% from 76%. And for Hispanics, the economy and fi nancial markets. Ultra-low bond total spent in 2010, when the unemployment rate decline was even worse, to 71%, from 78%. yields lifted hopes for corporate profi ts and fueled topped 9% for the entire year. (By contrast, unem- The differences refl ect inequalities that pre- interest in stocks, especially the shares of the larg- ployment has stayed below 7% for the past fi ve date the pandemic: Black and Hispanic workers est tech companies. months.) are more likely to work at restaurants, hotels, bars, Some have dubbed the stampede into stocks the Some economists fear that as the virus recedes casinos and other industries that were hardest hit “There Is No Alternative,” or TINA, trade, where- and consumers ramp up spending, the gusher of by the recession. by investors felt that with bond yields so low, they cash will accelerate infl ation, potentially forcing Job losses have also been far worse for the poor- had no choice but to load up on stocks. Surging the Fed to raise interest rates and limit the eco- est one-quarter of workers, whose unemployment enthusiasm for stocks among a new generation of nomic recovery. But Fed Chair Jerome Powell has rate has topped 20%. For the wealthiest one-fi fth, investors, some of whom were stuck at home with suggested that any signifi cant rise in prices would the jobless rate has barely risen and is at just 5%.

In this fi le photo, a lone traveler wears a face covering while hurrying through a near-empty check-in counter area in the main terminal of Denver International Airport, in Denver. After a year of ghostly airports, empty sports stadiums and constant Zoom meetings, growing evidence suggests that the economy is strengthening. Hiring picked up in February 2021. Business restrictions have eased as the pace of viral infections has ebbed. Yet the economy remains far from normal. (AP) ARAB TIMES, MONDAY, MARCH 15, 2021 BUSINESS 10

Japan Post, Rakuten tie-up in digital delivery, cashless pay

Japan’s postal system is in- dent Hiroya Masuda said Friday sides said. is one of the biggest banking in- vesting 150 billion yen ($1.4 that the deal brought together The post offi ce will gain stitutions in the country, holding billion) in an 8% stake in the “the digital and the real.” technology advice and person- more than 181 trillion yen ($1.7 Japan Post Holdings e-commerce venture Rakuten The cooperation between nel from Rakuten. In return, trillion) in individual savings. President Hiroya Masuda to strengthen a partnership in the old-style analog mail and Rakuten can use the post of- The shift to digital has been (right), and Rakuten deliveries, fi ntech and other Rakuten, founded in 1997 and fi ce’s network throughout the relatively slow in Japan com- President Hiroshi Mikitani areas. having 70 digital businesses, nation to sell its mobile service pared to some Western na- (left), pose together dur- ing a press conference, Rakuten’s shares shot up was announced earlier. It in- at real-life counters. Up to now tions, but it is picking up. March 12, in Tokyo. (AP) 8.6% in Tokyo trading Friday cludes delivery services that subscriptions were mostly tak- Introducing more digital on news of the tie-up with Ja- allow people to make online en online. technologies will help the post pan Post. Japan Post’s gained reservations to pick up pack- Cashless payments are an- offi ce deal with the labor short- 4.9%. ages and mail in various loca- other area for possible coopera- ages that plague many Japa- Japan Post Holdings Presi- tions whenever they want, both tion. The Japanese post offi ce nese businesses. (AP)

Gig economy shifts Spain government classifi es US long-term mortgage rates delivery riders as employees MADRID, March 14, (AP): The the gig economy. Last month, Brit- Spanish government on Thursday ain’s top court ruled that Uber driv- rise again; 30-yr at 3.05 pct announced legislation that classifi es ers should be classed as “workers” food delivery riders as employees of and not self-employed, in what was the digital platforms they work for, seen as a major setback for the ride- not self-employed, in a legal change hailing giant. Rates remain near historic lows that could have far-reaching conse- The Spanish government agreed quences for Spanish businesses. on the new law with the country’s WASHINGTON, March 14, The legislation also includes a main business groups and trade un- (AP): US long-term mortgage groundbreaking requirement for ion confederations. companies operating the platforms, But the law, which is expected to rates again rose modestly this such as Glovo and Deliveroo, to come into force within months, was week against the backdrop of hand over to their workers’ legal rep- quickly contested by an association an improving economy and resentatives information about how of digital platforms providing food further distribution of coro- their algorithms and artifi cial intel- delivery services and by some rid- navirus vaccines. Rates re- ligence systems function in assign- ers who prefer the fl exibility of being main near historic lows, how- ing jobs and assessing performance, self-employed. among other aspects. The Association of Service Plat- ever. The Minister for Labor, Yolanda forms said that the rule on disclos- The benchmark 30-year loan Díaz, said the new law is “pioneer- ing algorithms is “a measure which stayed above the 3% mark, a level ing” and is part of “a modernization undoubtedly will have a very nega- it breached last week for the fi rst of the labor market” in Spain, updat- tive effect on the development of the time since July 2020. ing regulations in accordance with digital economy in Spain.” Mortgage buyer Freddie Mac technological developments to en- The rule is “an assault on the most reported Thursday that the average sure workers’ rights are upheld. basic principles of the freedom to rate on the 30-year fixed-rate home She described the rule on disclos- do business and intellectual prop- loan rose to 3.05% from 3.02% last ing how the digital systems work as erty rights,” the association said in a week. By contrast, the benchmark rate stood at 3.36% a year ago. “epic,” saying it “neutralizes algo- statement. The average rate on 15-year fixed- rithmic punishments.” The legislation was drawn up af- rate loans, popular among those seek- The legal changes are the latest ter Spain’s Supreme Court ruled last ing to refinance their mortgages, affecting companies and workers in September that food delivery riders increased to 2.38% from 2.34% last are employees, not self-employed week. workers, in a case brought by a for- President Joe Biden signed into law mer rider for Glovo. Thursday the long-awaited $1.9 tril- London-based Deliveroo urged lion relief package targeted to help the Spanish government to think the US defeat the coronavirus. The again, warning in a statement that the prospect of the massive stimulus has measures “will lead to less work for helped lift uncertainty about the eco- Information signs are displayed at a Chicago New Star and further distribution of coronavirus vaccines. Rates riders, will hurt the restaurant sector nomic recovery. Realty offi ce in Northbrook, Ill., Saturday, March 13, remain near historic lows, however. The benchmark 30- and will restrict the areas where plat- The government reported that the 2021. US long-term mortgage rates again rose modestly year loan stayed above the 3% mark, a level it breached forms can operate.” number of Americans applying for this week against the backdrop of an improving economy last week for the fi rst time since July 2020. (AP) Uber, which operates the Uber Eats unemployment benefits fell last week service, said it is “fully committed to to 712,000, the lowest total since raising the standard of work and giv- early November, evidence that fewer Authorities step up anti-monopoly scrutiny ing independent workers more ben- employers are cutting jobs amid a efi ts while preserving fl exibility and decline in confirmed virus infections control.” An Uber statement noted and signs of a healing economy. Still, In this March 3, 2021 fi le photo, that thousands of couriers had recently many businesses remain under pres- delivery riders gather to protest protested across Spain to demand they sure and 9.6 million jobs remain lost China regulator fi nes 12 fi rms outside the Spanish parliament in be allowed to remain independent. to the pandemic that flattened the Madrid. (AP) economy one year ago. HONG KONG, March 14, (AP): China’s market regulator said Fri- day that it fi ned a dozen companies, including games company Tencent Holdings and Chinese search engine fi rm Baidu Inc., for not disclosing past deals as authorities step up an- ti-monopoly scrutiny in the internet sector. The companies, which included other fi rms such as ride-hailing com- pany Didi Mobility and Softbank, were fi ned 500,000 yuan ($77,000) each for not disclosing previous investments, acquisitions or joint ventures, according to a statement by China’s State Administration for Market Regulation. China in February released an- ti-monopoly guidelines aimed at clamping down on anti-competitive In this fi le photo, an attendee walks past a display at the 2018 Baidu World practices in the internet industry, conference in Beijing. (AP) such as signing exclusive agree- laws even though the deals did not did not immediately comment. ments with merchants and the use restrict competition. Internet companies in the United of subsidies to squeeze out com- Tencent said in an emailed state- States face similar scrutiny. Leg- petitors. ment that it would “continue to adapt islators and regulators are looking Tencent Holdings was fi ned over to changes in the regulatory environ- at whether Facebook, Google and its investment in online education ment, and will seek to ensure full other companies improperly hamper app Yuanfudao in 2018, while Baidu compliance.” competition in advertising and other was fi ned for taking over consumer Similarly, Didi Mobility, a unit areas. electronics fi rm Ainemo Inc. last of Didi Chuxing, and Softbank China’s market regulator last De- year. were censured over not seeking cember fi ned Tencent-backed online The regulator said that neither had approval before setting up a joint publisher China Literature, Alibaba sought prior approval for the deals, venture. and other companies for not seeking thereby violating the anti-monopoly Baidu, Didi Mobility and Softbank approval over several deals. Deal worth more than $30 billion GE, AerCap join air leasing businesses

NEW YORK, March 14, (AP): General 2008 fi nancial crisis. leasers in the world with more than Electric is combining its aircraft leasing “Today marks GE’s transformation 2,500 aircraft between them. The com- business with Ireland’s AerCap Hold- to a more focused, simpler, and strong- panies lease commercial aircraft to ings in a deal valued at more than $30 er industrial company,” Chairman and hundreds of airlines around the world. billion, a big step in what has become a CEO Larry Culp said in a prepared The global pandemic sent shock- six year odyssey to reshape the one-time statement Wednesday. waves through the entire air travel in- sprawling, global conglomerate. AerCap will pay about $24 billion dustry, and the deal announced Wednes- By pushing GE Capital Aviation in cash for GCAS, and GE will take an day could have extensive ramifi cations. Services, or GCAS, into a separate approximately 46% ownership stake in It could mean more pressure on plane business, GE is essentially closing the the combined company, and $1 billion manufacturers like Boeing and Airbus books on GE Capital, the fi nancial paid in AerCap notes or cash at closing. if beleaguered airlines chose not to buy wing of of General Electric that nearly GE’s Capital Aviation Services and planes. It could also mean some breath- sank the entire company during the AerCap are two of the biggest aircraft ing room for airlines that are reeling from plunging air travel, if they can cut near-term costs through leases. A combined company would in all likelihood be able to lower its own costs, and extend them to customers. As for GE, it said Wednesday that it will be able to lower its debt by about $30 billion, bringing total debt reduc- tion since the end of 2018 to more than $70 billion. In 2015, GE announced a radical transformation of the company, vow- ing to shed billions in assets to better focus on the company’s industrial core, namely power, aviation, renewable en- ergy and healthcare. With the new company formed with GCAS, the largest remaining operation in GE Capital, General Electric has largely excised what many industry analysts viewed as a risk. That belief existed before the fi nancial crises that In this fi le photo the logo for General Electric appears above a trading post almost brought Wall Street to its knees on the fl oor of the New York Stock Exchange. (AP) more than a decade ago. ARAB TIMES, MONDAY, MARCH 15, 2021 SCIENCE 11

Coronavirus

Millions struggle Vaccine seekers hit by ‘tech obstacles’ PROVIDENCE, R.I., March 14, (AP): The road to a COV- ID-19 shot often leads through a maze of scheduling systems: Some vaccine seekers spend days or weeks trying to book on- line appointments. Those who get a coveted slot can still be stymied by pages of forms or websites that slow to a crawl and crash. The technological obstacles are familiar to L. Shapley Bas- sen, a 74-year-old retired English teacher and editor in East Greenwich, Rhode Island. She lost track of the hours she spent making phone calls and navigating websites to get appoint- ments for herself and her 75-year-old husband, Michael. “A lot of us don’t sleep at night worrying about whether or not we’ll be able to get in,” Bassen said. Technological shortcomings across the nation’s fragmented public health system have frustrated millions of Americans trying to get shots and left offi cials without a full picture of who has been vaccinated. “We’re creating an unnecessary amount of human suffering. This could have been avoidable, and we could have done better,” said Tinglong Dai, a professor who studies health care op- erations at Johns Hopkins University’s Carey Business School. The White House promised improve- ments, pledging to establish a new web- site and an 800-number by May 1 to Biden help people fi nd nearby locations with vaccines. “No more searching day and night for an appointment for Dr John Thayer, (left), gives the fi rst dose of the Pfi zer COVID-19 vaccine to Aisha Al-Main, (right), March 13 on the fi rst day of operations at a mass vaccination you and your loved ones,” President Joe Biden said Thursday site at the Lumen Field Events Center in Seattle, which adjoins the fi eld where the NFL football Seattle Seahawks and the MLS soccer Seattle Sounders play their in a prime-time address to the nation. games. The site, which is the largest civilian-run vaccination site in the country, will operate only a few days a week until city and county offi cials can get more doses The administration also promised to send technical teams to of the vaccine. (AP) states that need help improving their websites. The bottleneck in vaccine demand seems to be easing in some locations, and on Friday the US was approaching 100 Coronavirus million vaccinations. But vaccine slots are sometimes still so hard to obtain that people resort to vaccine hunter Facebook groups and bots that scan sites for open appointments. Vaccine seekers who are not accustomed to those methods and don’t have anyone to help are at a steep disadvantage. China to vaccinate 70-80% of population by mid-2022 Schedule Bassen fi nally landed a slot at a pharmacy near home for her husband. The website even offered to schedule the second US, allies ‘spar’ over vaccine supply dose, but when she clicked on it, nothing happened. WASHINGTON, March 14, (AP): the schedule so as to complete the vac- would be “soon.” Figuring it was a glitch, they printed out the appointment- President Joe Biden’s administration is cination campaigns,” EU commission The European Union, amid its own confi rmation email. When he arrived, he was rejected. They stockpiling tens of millions of doses of chief spokesman Eric Mamer said. stumbling vaccine rollout, appears told him he had to schedule the second shot at the same time a COVID-19 vaccine whose authori- Well over 10 million doses of Astra- increasingly resigned to the Biden ad- as the fi rst. Zeneca’s vaccine are stockpiled in the The rejection sent Bassen back down into the rabbit hole zation in the US remains uncertain, ministration retaining control of the US for use here. of state, local government and pharmacy websites and phone frustrating US allies who say those U.S. doses. numbers. She likened it to a game of musical chairs. doses should be used now to save lives “We want to be oversupplied and The EU is at odds with AstraZeneca, “From the point of view of the patient, the consumer, there overseas. overprepared,” White House press sec- too, because the company is delivering seemed to be no continuity amongst these three entities,” Bas- The standoff is part of a growing retary Jen Psaki said Friday, so Ameri- far fewer doses to the bloc than it had A member of the Army National Guard global debate over who should have cans can still be swiftly vaccinated in promised. Of the initial order for 80 mil- sen said. takes the temperatures of teachers ar- The confusion isn’t surprising. An investigation by The As- access to hundreds of millions of the event of unforeseen issues with the lion in the fi rst quarter this year, the com- riving at the Northwest Tri-County In- existing production timeline. sociated Press and Kaiser Health News found that since 2010, termediate Unit 5 in Edinboro, Pa, for doses of vaccine that pharmaceutical pany will be struggling to deliver half. spending for state public health departments has dropped by a COVID-19 vaccine clinic on March companies are churning out in the US. “We have not provided doses from Despite shortages at home and often 16% per capita, and spending for local health departments has 13. The clinic is for pre-K through 12th Besides generating ill will, Biden’s the US government to anyone,” she being accused of vaccine protectionism fallen by 18%. Little money was left for investing in technol- grade teachers and staff from Erie, insistence on an excess supply for said. itself, the 27-nation bloc has allowed the ogy. Crawford, and Warren counties. (AP) America is potentially creating new Asked about the stockpiled vaccine, export of well over 34 million doses of To help states prepare for the rollout of COVID-19 shots, openings for geopolitical rivals Russia White House COVID-19 coordina- COVID-19 vaccines in past weeks, in- the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention began building and China. tor Jeff Zients said, “We have a small cluding 953,723 to the United States. a vaccine-management system known as VAMS. A two-dose vaccine from AstraZen- inventory of AstraZeneca so, if ap- Meanwhile, Russia and China have Many states were hesitant to commit because it takes time eca has received emergency clearance proved, we can g et that inventory out used their domestically produced vac- for employees to learn new programs, and new systems often from the European Union and World to the American people as quickly as cines for strategic leverage. have kinks. Few state health departments adopted the CDC Health Organization but not from the possible.” He said the US was follow- China has pledged roughly half a program, and at least one has since decided to drop it. US. Now America’s partners are prod- ing the same procedure it used for the billion doses to more than 45 coun- In New Hampshire, offi cials planned to switch to their own ding Biden to release his supply, not- already-authorized vaccines. tries, according to a country-by-coun- program after thousands of people were unable to schedule ing that the administration has lined up Received try tally by The Associated Press. Four second shots within the recommended time frame. Others had enough doses of three already-author- of China’s many vaccine makers are their appointments canceled after the system mistakenly al- ized vaccines to cover every American Drug manufacturers that received claiming they will be able to produce lowed them to book slots for which they were not eligible. adult by the end of May and the entire federal assistance in developing or ex- at least 2.6 billion doses this year. Coming up with a national program that worked well every- US population by the end of July. panding vaccine manufacturing were Russia has sent millions of doses where was never likely to happen, especially given the unprec- AstraZeneca says that the US-pro- required to sell their fi rst doses to the of its Sputnik V vaccine to countries edented scale of tracking COVID-19 vaccinations, said Claire Hopkins Glover duced vaccines are “owned” by the US. In the case of AstraZeneca, whose around the world, even as it vacci- Hannan, executive director of the Association of Immuniza- US government and that sending them vaccine was initially expected to be nates its own population. Analysts say tion Managers. overseas would require White House the fi rst to receive federal emergency a goal of this vaccine diplomacy is to Prior to the pandemic, local vaccine registries around the approval. authorization, the government or- bolster Russia’s image as a scientifi c, country were used mostly to track childhood vaccines. Some Space “We understand other governments dered 300 million doses - enough for technological and benevolent power, are decades old and were never meant to be used to schedule may have reached out to the US gov- 150 million Americans - before issues especially as other countries encoun- appointments. ernment about donation of AstraZen- with the vaccine’s clinical trial held up ter shortages of COVID-19 vaccines “A lot of them are just sort of that spaghetti bowl of code, Spacewalkers take ‘precautions’: eca doses, and we’ve asked the U.S. clearance.. because richer nations are scooping up where you just keep adding on,” said Rebecca Coyle, execu- Spacewalking astronauts had to take extra government to give thoughtful con- The company said this month it be- the Western-made versions. tive director of the American Immunization Registry Associa- safety precautions Saturday after possibly sideration to these requests,” Gonzalo lieves it will have roughly 30 million tion. getting toxic ammonia on their suits from Viña, a spokesman for AstraZeneca, doses available to the US government Also: Many vaccine providers such as smaller pharmacies also the International Space Station’s external said in a statement. by the end of March, and an additional BEIJING: China is aiming to vaccinate were not hooked up to the registries before the pandemic be- cooling system. Even though the 27-nation Europe- 20 million by the end of April. 70-80% of its population by the end of cause of the time and cost of doing so - including the required Victor Glover and Mike Hopkins had an Union is eager to relaunch a more As foreign regulators have moved this year or mid-2022, the head of the maintenance, which involves constantly uploading data and no trouble removing and venting a cou- fruitful trans-Atlantic relationship af- ahead with the shot, the US has not country’s Center for Disease Control ensuring it’s properly stored and shared. ple of old jumper cables to remove any ter the bruising Trump presidency, the dropped its contractual claim on the said Saturday. “There’s always been this perception that you build it and ammonia still lingering in the lines. But vaccine issue is proving to be a thorny initial doses produced in America. With four approved vaccines, China you’re done,” Coyle said. so much ammonia spewed out of the fi rst topic, with some in Europe seeing it That policy has also come under criti- will vaccinate 900 million to 1 billion Many states have concluded that they need a single, easy- hose that Mission Control worried some as a continuation of former President cism from US neighbors Canada and people, Gao Fu, the CDC head, said to-access “front door” for scheduling shots, Dr. Deidre Gif- of the frozen white fl akes might have got- Donald Trump’s “America First” fo- Mexico, which have been forced to seek in an interview with Chinese state me- ford, acting commissioner of Connecticut’s health department, ten on their suits. cus. vaccine manufactured on a different dia broadcaster CGTN. “We hope that noted during a recent CDC forum. Hopkins was surprised at the amount EU member states’ ambassadors continent, rather than across the border. China can take the lead in achieving The best system, Dai said, would be to send everyone to reg- of ammonia unleashed into the vacuum discussed the challenge this week. The Meanwhile, the Biden administration herd immunity in the world,” he said. ister in a central location and, based on supply, give each per- of space. “Oh yeah, look at that go. Did German government said on Friday it has purchased enough doses of Mod- Herd immunity occurs when enough son a reasonable estimate for receiving a vaccine. That could you see that?” he asked fl ight controllers. was in contact with U.S. offi cials about erna, Pfi zer and Johnson & Johnson to of the population has immunity, either be a few weeks or months away, but managing expectations “There’s more than I thought.” vaccine supplies but stressed that the inoculate 150 million more people than from vaccination or past infection, to would ease some anxiety. Even though the stream of ammonia European Commission has the lead the US population by the end of the year. stop the uncontrolled spread of an in- was directed away from the astronauts when it comes to procuring shots for The US has also ordered 110 million fectious disease like COVID-19. Confi dence and the space station, Hopkins said some member states. doses of vaccine from Novavax, which China had administered 52.5 million “The core idea is to give people the confi dence, give people icy crystals may have contacted his hel- Biden and European Commission is expected to fi le for emergency au- vaccine doses through the end of Feb- reassurance,” Dai said. met. As a result, Mission Control said it President Ursula von der Leyen have thorization as soon as next month. ruary. It has been slower in its vaccina- West Virginia has nearly done that with a one-stop statewide was going to “be conservative” and re- directed representatives to discuss sup- AstraZeneca’s 30,000-person US tion campaign than many other coun- preregistration system that uses crisis-management software quire inspections. ply chains in the vaccine production. trial didn’t complete enrollment until tries, including the US, government to collect every person’s demographic and contact informa- The astronauts’ fi rst suit check found “Hopefully, we will be in a position January. The company hasn’t given health experts have acknowledged. tion, as well as details such as occupation, so certain critical nothing amiss. “Looks clean,” Hopkins on both sides of the Atlantic to ensure any hints of when initial results might China has committed roughly 10 times workers can be targeted. Then, they get a text or phone call to called down. that suffi cient quantities of vaccine be ready beyond an executive telling more doses abroad than it has distrib- book a slot when vaccine doses are available in their county, NASA did not want any ammonia get- doses are distributed out in line with Congress last month he expected it uted at home. said Krista D. Capehart, who coordinates the state’s pharmacy ting inside the space station and contami- response. nating the cabin atmosphere. The astro- Other states have struggled with their vaccine websites, or nauts used long tools to vent the hoses race to the moon, made satellite TV and race barriers in the Navy, in California said. designed sites that give some help, but make people do a lot and stayed clear of the nozzles, to reduce radio possible and helped NASA com- housing and on the newspaper comics Kelly was awarded more than a dozen of work to fi nd available shots. The Massachusetts site was the risk of ammonia contact. municate with Mars rovers and search for pages. patents for innovations in radar and an- so overwhelmed that it crashed. Washington state’s site lets Once the ammonia hoses were emp- extraterrestrials, has died. Kelly had Parkinson’s disease before tenna technology, work that appears in people print a piece of paper saying they are eligible, but fi nd- tied, the astronauts moved one of them The 92-year-old also worked to erase his death on Feb 27, his son Ron Kelly peer-reviewed journals from 1955-1999. ing and booking an appointment is still left to the individual. to a more central location near the NASA His early work at Hughes Aircraft helped Maryland established a preregistration portal, but people hatch, in case it’s needed on the opposite create guided missile systems and the still need to go to other websites to fi nd a slot. Dai said even he end of the station. The ammonia jumper ground satellites that tracked the Apollo has struggled after becoming eligible and preregistering with cables were added years ago following a space missions, he said in an oral history his county. When he was invited to schedule an appointment, cooling system leak. As the nearly seven- recorded by his family. the link did not work. hour spacewalk drew to a close, Mission His two-way antenna designs at Rantec “By the end of yesterday, I had received fi ve links, but none Control said the astronauts had already Microwave Systems enabled consumers of them worked,” he said Thursday. He ended up booking on spent enough time in the sunlight to bake to have DirecTV and Sirius XM connec- his own at Walgreens. off any ammonia residue from their suits. tions, and are featured in the massive Mo- Given the confusion, many worry about what will happen Indeed, once Glover and Hopkins were jave Desert radiotelescopes that search when eligibility opens to an even broader population. People back inside, their crewmates said they for signs of life in space, his son and JPL could fi nd it so diffi cult and time consuming to score a shot could smell no ammonia but still wore colleagues said. that they simply give up. gloves while handling the suits. After many years working on deep “The situation will be even worse,” Dai said. The hose work should have been com- space missions through NASA subcon- The disease detectives who monitor the pandemic are also pleted during a spacewalk a week ago, tractors, Kelly worked directly for JPL concerned about the lack of consistent data on vaccinations. but was put off along with other odd jobs from 1999 until retiring in 2002, helping “If we don’t have good systems to track the number and the when power upgrades took longer than to design robotic antennas for the Mars type of people that are getting the vaccine, we may not actually expected. Saturday’s other chores includ- rovers Spirit and Opportunity, according be as effi cient and effective as possible with the limited re- ed: replacing an antenna for helmet cam- to Joseph Vacchione, who manages the source that we have,” said Janet Hamilton, executive director eras, rerouting ethernet cables, tightening JPL’s antenna test range. of the Council of State and Territorial Epidemiologists. connections on a European experiment Kelly appeared in an Associated Press Race and ethnicity data is only available for a little over half platform, and installing a metal ring on article in 1962 after he moved his family of the people who have received vaccines so far. That could be the hatch thermal cover. (AP) into Gardena, a middle-class suburb that because vaccine recipients are not providing the information ❑ ❑ ❑ had excluded Black people. To overcome Former Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva, (left), shows his vaccina- a racist covenant and the repeated refus- or because the places where they receive the shot are not col- tion document after getting a shot of the the Sinovac COVID-19 vaccine at a lecting it, not entering it or entering it too slowly. Space engineer Kelly dies: Kenneth als of real estate agents, he had to ask a C. Kelly, a Black electronics engineer drive-thru site in Sao Bernardo do Campo, Sao Paulo state, Brazil, on Saturday, white colleague at Hughes to make the whose antenna designs contributed to the March 13. (AP) purchase on his behalf. (AP) Film MONDAY, MARCH 15, 2021 FFeatureseatures Vanity Fairmagazine.(AP) after theylandedonthecoverof nickname “J-Rod”threeyearsago had split. was thefi through somethings.” representatives. “Weareworking to TheAssociatedPressby “from JenniferandAlex,”emailed said thejointstatementSaturday started datinginearly2017. two-year engagement.Thecouple baseball greathadcalledofftheir the popstar-actorandformer based onanonymoussourcessaid they areworkingthingsthrough. of theirsplitareinaccurate,and riguez are stillJ-Rod. Mike Winkelmann artwork atauction. rency hasbeenusedtopayforan well asthefi guarantee ofitsauthenticity,as with anon-fungibletokenas has offeredadigital-onlyartwork fi Christie’s saidviaTwitter. three mostvaluablelivingartists,” “positioning himamongthetop $69.4 millioninanonlineauction, The First5,000Days,”soldfor many betterknownartists. money thanphysicalworksby a digitalartworkthatfetchedmore million, inanunprecedentedsaleof artist named auctioned offadigitalcollagebyan Beeple created— one eachday— pictures stitchedtogether that consists of5,000individual digital the buyerofartwork,which chapter inarthistory,digitalart.” nessing thebeginningofnext now changed.Ibelievewearewit- Christie’s. “WithNFT’sthathas said inastatementreleasedby truly ownandcollectit,”Beeple but therewasneverarealwayto internet forthelast20+years artwork anddistributeitonthe hardware andsoftwaretocreate Twitter. the saleresultwithanexpletiveon LONDON: LOS ANGELES: States decadesafterbeingchargedwithrapinga13-year-oldgirlin walkouts. fi director RomanPolanskireceivedbestawardfor“AnOf- into vulgarityatthe46thCesarAwards. commenters onsocialmediadenouncedwhattheysaidwasadescent Castex: “Giveusbackart,Jean.”Theaudienceapplauded,butsome message onherbackwasaddressedtoFrenchPrimeMinisterJean her body.Thewordsonfrontread,“Noculture,nofuture.” Marleau,” thentookoffthedressandexposedmessageswrittenon blood-soaked dressandannouncing“Ihavealastone.” before removingthedonkeycostumetorevealwhatlookedlikea costume awardwearingadonkeysuitandtamponsasearrings. ued closureofcinemasandtheaters. actor strippingnakedonstagetomakeastatementaboutthecontin- cluded aloudcryforcultureintheageofcoronavirus,withone of thisyear’sCesarAwards,France’sequivalenttheOscars,in- FRANCE, March14,(AP):Theceremonyannouncingthewinners French actorstripsforculture duringCesarAwards ceremony rst timeamajorauctionhouse cer and a Spy” amid protests by women’s groups and some boos and cer andaSpy”amidprotestsbywomen’sgroupssomeboos The couplewasgiventhe The NewYorkPost’sPageSix “All thereportsareinaccurate,” A dayearlier,multiplereports Jennifer Lopez Beeple, whoserealnameis Christie’s saiditalsomarksthe The piece,titled“Everydays: Christie’s didnotidentify “Artists havebeenusing Polanski, whodidnotattendtheevent,iswantedinUnited The #MeToomovementrousedlastyear’sceremony,wherefamed Masiero, 57,theoffbeatstarofpopulardetectiveseries“Capitaine “Is thattootrash?”Masieroaskedthesociallydistancedaudience Corinne MasierocameonstageFridaynighttopresentthebest saidSaturdaythatreports rst toreportthatthepair ❑ Christie’s says it has Christie’s saysithas rst time cryptocur- Beeple

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that anitemisone ofakindand currencies. They’re usedtoprove an offshootofthe boom incrypto- online collectingworldrecently, chain. Thetokenshavesweptthe digital ledgerknownasablock- real byrecordingthedetailsona confi as NFTs,areelectronicidentifi since May2007. Chandra Wilson,(right),appearswithEllenPompeoinascenefrom‘Grey’sAnatomy.’Season17airsThursdaysonABC.(AP) Non-fungible tokens,known where theyareinmedschooloror,youknow,just people inspiredtopursuemedicalcareers. runner —“Grey’sAnatomy’’hasreceivedmailfrom Shonda Rimes—KristaVernoffisthecurrentshow- options forviewers. the infl as Bailey—andoftenadirectorontheshowis you, that’syouMa.’” my daughter’sperspective,shewouldsay,‘nothat’s what wesaytopeople,”explainsWilson.“Butfrom for somanyreasons,thewaywetalk,howthink, Wilson andhercharacter,Dr.MirandaBailey. chance topassverdictonthesimilaritiesbetween whole bingingthing.” seasons in16days,”shelaughs.“I’mnewtothis — withherdaughter. this trendandhasbeenviewingoldepisodesherself older seasons. cuss love,lifeordeathplotlinesfromrecentandmore time. Viewershavegatheredonsocialmediatodis- stuck inside,re-watchingordiscoveringitforthefi whether it’sanemotionaloutletorcareerguidance. hospital —hasprovidedlifesupportforitsaudience, nounced whethertherewillbeaseason18. and resumesseason17thisweek.Ithasnotbeenan- season todateamongyoungadultsonThursdaynight life. Meredith, “Grey’sAnatomy”isnotfi LONDON, March14,(AP):Unlikeleadcharacter ‘Grey’s’ returnhasconnected viewers sense fromanyone. has copedwithmentalhealthissuesyettakesnonon- rming adigitalcollectibleis “They tellusaboutwheretheyareinresidencyor Since thefi Something thathasn’tchangedduringher16years “I alwayssaythatwejustreallyaredifferentpeople Watching oldepisodeshasgivenherdaughterthe “If itwasuptoher,we’dhavebeendonewith16 Chandra Wilson,anoriginalcastmember,noticed During thepandemic,italsoentertainedpeople The series—whichfollowsthestaffofaSeattle It isthemost-watchedentertainmentseriesfor This fi Bailey isasuccessfulBlackfemalesurgeon,who Variety uence ofhercharacter. ctional characterhasprovidedreallifecareer rstseasonoftheABCseriescreatedby Lack of diversity in Hollywood costs industry $10b Lack ofdiversityinHollywoodcostsindustry ers ‘Kim’s Convenience’ toendwith5thseasonfi Television award wenttoSamiBouajilafor“Fils”(“Son”)andLaureCalamy ing bestfi for thechildshegaveupatage15,scoopedsevenawards,includ- Bye Morons”),themadcapadventureofadyinghairdresserlooking As fortheawardsthemselves,onefi epeLopez Beeple reports. Vie enRose,”willnotbecomingout,accordingtoFrenchmedia representing dogfeces.Theminister’sentouragesaidthebook,“La forting thingstogetthroughthiscrisis.” noted theminister’splannedbookcontainingrecipes,”littlecom- jokes. Theceremony’stheemcee,actorandcomedianMarinaFois, Odeon Theater,todemandmoregovernmenthelp. occupying severaltheatersaroundFrance,includingParis’famed ing France’sdormantculturalscene.Part-timeactorsarecurrently allegations. in 1975hisSwisschaletwhenshewas18.Polanskideniedthe but fl 1977. Hepleadedguiltytounlawfulsexualintercoursewithaminor “I’m losingconfi Culture MinisterRoselyneBachelotwasthesubjectofnumerous Most ofthepoliticalviewsexpressedthisyearwereaboutreviv- ed theUS.In2019,awomanaccusedPolanskiofrapingher ghting forits lm andbestdirectorforAlbertDupontel.Theactor rst dence inyou,”Foissaid,holdingaplasticbag Pompeo’s MeredithGreywasonaventilatorfi to cry’.” cry yet.ThankyouforgivingmeaplaceIcouldgo ‘this happenedtomeandIhaven’thadachance should bealotoffanfare. the belovedcharactersinaworldbeyondCOVID-19. long-running storylinesandsayapropergoodbyeto “Grey’s Anatomy”willsurvivelongenoughtotieup year? be ill. Knight) —onabeach. (Patrick Dempsey)andDr.GeorgeO’Malley(T.R. ters —includingherhusband,Dr.DerekShepherd to adreamstate,whereshe’smetlongdeadcharac- the coronavirus.LosingconsciousnesshasledGrey When theshowwentonhiatusinDecember,Ellen “So theresponsethatwegotrightawaywas, Wilson saysthatifitwasthefi Pompeo’s contractisupandthere’snowordonif Could theykilloffMeredithandendtheseriesthis As itpicksupthisweek,it’sexpectedshe’llstill as acountry,community.”saysWilson. grieving yet.Wehadn’treallybeenabletomournyet lost hermom,wehadn’thadlikeanationaldayof loss aftershestruggledtokeepherparentssafe. across thefi patients, healthworkersandthepublicinstorylines cal drama,demonstratedthetollofCOVID-19on trayal ofthepandemic. amazing,” sheadds. these seasons,thenwewilltakeit,becauseit’sjust tioners andnurses. of thatformyself.” randa Baileyontelevision,thatIhadn’teventhought women ofcolorthatletmeknowbeforeIsawaMi- that thisdoorhasopenedupforthem,butparticularly Awards “At thetimethatepisodeairedwhereMiranda “Grey’s Anatomy,”morethanotherUSmedi- An addedresponsibilityin2020-2021isthepor- “If that’stheservicethatwehaveprovidedwithall Letters havebeensentbysurgeons,generalpracti- lm, “AdieulesCons”(“Bye rst halfofseason17.Baileydealtwith placed online. highest priceforany winningbid online-only auctionandthe fetched thehighestpriceinan duplicated. that canbeeasilyandendlessly to claimownershipofsomething central todigitalcollectibles:how are aimedatsolvingaproblem Some 22 million people tuned Some 22millionpeople tuned Christie’s saidtheartwork Response nal season, there fi industry loses$10billion,or7%,everyyearbyundervaluingBlack line. Theconsultingfi ity shapestheindustryandhowmuchitultimatelycostsitsbottom mates justhowmuchHollywoodisleavingonthetable:$10billion. ness. Anewstudybytheconsultingfi lywood fi and study’s authors: often earninghigherrelativereturnsthanotherproperties,”wrotethe jects havebeenconsistentlyunderfundedandundervalued,despite NEW YORK: lms, fi The McKinseyreport,releasedThursday,analyzeshowinequal- “Fewer Black-ledstoriesgettold,andwhentheyare,thesepro- ghting youth tofollowtheirdreams. most promisingactressfor“Mignonnes”(“Cuties”),toldaspiring in histhankyouspeech.Fourteen-year-oldFathiaYoussouff,chosen role in“Toutsimplementnoir”(“SimplyBlack”),promotedequality Lover, andI.” was chosenbestactressforherperformancein“”MyDonkey,My Ammanuel Zegeye Jean-Pascal Zadi,whowasnamedmostpromisingactorforhis lmmakers andexecutives. the proceeds to charity. Rock band the proceedstocharity. 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News Mediasaid. tract shehassignedwiththestreamingservice,Fox ment willcontinueaspartofanewmulti-yearcon- ries,” thatissimulcastonFoxNation.Thatarrange- Wanted Overtime.” streaming serviceonanewshow,“America’sMost episode ends,GracewilldiscussitontheFoxNation Elizabeth Vargas on theFoxbroadcastingnetworknextMonday,with turn of“America’sMostWanted.” host aweeklyprogramonFoxNationtiedtothere- set tocloseupshopafteritsfi sode ofthecurrentseason.ItairsonNetfl ries willcometoanendonApril13withthefi and CanadianBroadcastingCorporationin family whorunacornerstoreinToronto. and the show’steamhadaccomplished. fans ”deservedbetter,”hewasproudofeverything character’s journeywascutshort. was ”heartbroken”bythedecision,sayinghefelthis and theLegendofTenRings,”tweetedthathe additional seasonsattheCBC. in early2020whenthecomedywasrenewedfortwo jects. It’safullseasonshorterthanwhatwasplanned two oftheshow’sco-creatorslefttopursueotherpro- they couldn’tmoveforwardwithanotherseasonafter NEW YORK: TORONTO: nale inApril For years,researchershavesaidalackofdiversityinHol- Grace alsofrequentlyappearsonFoxNewsChan- Grace alsohostsaSiriusXMseries,“CrimeSto- The long-runningcrimeseriesstartsanewseason The show’sproducerssaidMondaythepopularse- He wrotethatwhilehefelt“Kim’sConvenience” Liu, whowillleadMarvel’supcoming“Shang-Chi The producerssaidinastatementthattheydecided “Kim’s Convenience”stars biggest celebration,end,fi puthisfi Simu Liu “I thinkafter17seasons,ourshowdeservesthe Jonathan Dunn,SheldonLyn,NonyOnyeador rmdeducedthatthe$148billionfi rst ever tweet — rst evertweet— Canadian sitcom“Kim’sConvenience”is Veteran newsanchor . asmembersofaKorean-Canadian ❑ ashost.Immediatelyaftereach Also: Also: Jack Jack ect demographics,it’sbadbusi- rm McKinsey&Companyesti- nal seasonever,”shesaid. fth season. Paul Sun-HyungLee by thetokens.(AP) to sellvirtualsports cardsbacked sociation isteaming upinaventure token. TheNationalBasketballAs- sion onsalethroughanon-fungible burned itandthenputadigitalver- of workbyBritishartistBanksy, chain companyboughtapiece that comewithextras.Ablock- of theirlatestalbumwiththetokens Kings ofLeonisofferingaversion Nancy Grace ix in the Canada nal epi- lmandTV will US .

ARAB TIMES, MONDAY, MARCH 15, 2021 NEWS/FEATURES 13

People & Places

Music

‘We’re live rock band’ Sis trio HAIM makes ‘rock ‘n’ roll’ history NEW YORK, March 14, (AP): Este Haim’s birth- day will look different this year from last. Her 34th birthday fell on Los Angeles’ first day of quarantine and she was alone in her apartment eat- ing a sugar free cupcake. This year, she’ll be finding out if she and her sis- ters, who make up the pop-rock trio HAIM, were to be taking home their first Grammy Award. “Whether we win or lose, there will be a lot of tequila happening,” said 29-year-old Alana Haim, the youngest of the three. HAIM were to make histo- ry at Sunday’s show - the group is the first all-female rock band nominated for the Grammy’s top prize, album of the year, pitting them against heavyweights like Taylor Swift, Coldplay, Post Malone, Dua Lipa and more. They also join an all-female ensemble with their nomination for best Haim rock performance, where nominees include Fiona Apple, Brittany Howard, Grace Potter, Phoebe Bridgers and Big Thief, the alternative band led by Adrianne Lenker. “(It’s) surreal and I also feel like it’s a long time coming,” Este Haim said of the female representa- tion at the Grammys. HAIM’s Grammy nominations and performance at the awards show cap out an album experience Sisters, (from left), Este, Alana and Danielle Haim of the band HAIM pose together for a portrait in Los Angeles on Feb 22. (AP) they weren’t expecting. They say that first and foremost, they are a live rock band. So when they recorded “Women In Music Pt. III” - their third album released during the pandemic last June - they weren’t just thinking Music about how the music would sound on speakers and headphones, they were thinking about how it would sound live. Erivo on near-EGOT status “I mean, my body is ready to go on tour and to play live and to play these songs,” Alana Haim said. “We had a whole tour booked,” added Danielle Haim, 32. “It was bittersweet to bring the record out into the world when we couldn’t actually go out and ‘I’m just going to keep working’ tour it.” NEW YORK, March 14, (AP): “The That tune is now competing for a Unable to engage fans from the stage, they’ve Also: Color Purple” turned into Grammy, Grammy on Sunday. RENO, Nev.: Drummers and dancers made do by connecting online. Tony and Emmy gold for Cynthia Erivo said the nomination validates from the Pyramid Lake Paiute Tribe in Stressful Erivo. her songwriting prowess. The performer’s brilliant perfor- “(It’s) a tap on the shoulder for writ- northern Nevada are among more than The band’s Instagram page includes posts like mance in the Broadway revival won ing, which is what I want to be able to two dozen artists worldwide who a dance in hats, a satirical holiday music video her the 2016 Tony for best actress in a do,” said the singer, who is currently appear in a music video remake of a featuring Grammy-winning musician Thundercat musical. She performed songs from recording her debut album. “It’s like song rock musician Peter Gabriel (whom Este Haim, as a fellow bassist, has a “not the play on the “Today” show, earning the seal of approval: ‘Well done. You first recorded four decades ago pro- so secret” crush on) and even one post that scared the Daytime Emmy for outstanding can do this.’” testing racism. their mother. music performance in a daytime pro- Her song is nominated for best song Gabriel recently re-released the “The only time that it gets stressful is when our gram. And the show’s soundtrack won written for visual media - a stacked 1980 song, “Biko,” which the Rock & mom calls us and she’s like, ‘What were you doing best musical theater album at the 2017 category including nominees like Roll Hall of Famer originally wrote as Actress Cynthia Erivo poses for a on the internet today? I saw your undergarment. Did Grammys. Taylor Swift, Andrew Lloyd Webber, a tribute to South African anti-apart- you know that?’” said Este Haim. portrait during the Toronto heid activist Steve Biko, who was International Film Festival in Toronto “I guess I didn’t expect to be this Kristen Anderson-Lopez and Robert “’It’s art, Mom,’” she joked in response. on Sept 10, 2019. Erivo portrays close this soon,” Erivo told The Lopez, Billie Eilish and Brandi Carlile. killed in police custody in 1977. While the three singers are mostly aiming to have Associated Press of her almost-EGOT “For us to be included in this proj- Aretha Franklin in the National Brilliant fun on social media, they also try to keep it real - Geographic miniseries ‘Genius: status. “I’m just going to keep work- ect, it’s such an honor,” tribal like when Este Haim, who has Type 1 diabetes, Aretha.’ (AP) ing. If it happens, it happens. It’s not “It’s wild. Those people are brilliant Chairwoman Janet Davis told the shows her insulin pump in photoshoots or in tweets. the thing I’m chasing. I’m chasing writers,” Erivo exclaimed. “Andrew Reno Gazette-Journal. “This song is “I wear my pump like it’s a part of me,” said Este good work, good projects and good Lloyd Webber’s been writing since I still very relevant. People all around Haim. “I think that it’s important to raise awareness stories. Hopefully that’s what ends up don’t even know when. That’s crazy. the world are still oppressed and the and normalize apparatuses that people with chronic happening as a result of those things.” The Lopezs, as a theater kid, well, you racism that once was hidden has come illness have to wear.” Others have won a Tony, Grammy know the deal there. They wrote back to the surface. We have a long Social media may have kept them partially enter- and Emmy in a single run like Erivo ‘Frozen.’ way to go.” tained during the pandemic, but they were also busy did, including Ben Platt and Rachel “I’ve listened to Billie Eilish’s The video features dancers dressed at work creating music. They admit that the ease of Bay Jones of “Dear Evan Hansen” music since she came out. She’s an in traditional Paiute regalia stepping to collaboration improved. fame and Katrina Lenk and Ari’el incredible writer. The pen to paper is the beat of the drum, being pounded by Following the release of “Women In Music Pt. Stachel from “The Band’s Visit.” The sublime,” she continued. “To be in and a local drum group. The scenes were III,” HAIM dropped an extended version last month Daytime Emmy the five stars received among those people is really awe- filmed at the powwow grounds at Big with remixed songs featuring Swift and Thundercat. is now defunct and was last handed out some.” Bend Ranch in Wadsworth, about 30 “We’ve jumped on a lot of people’s songs during in 2019. Erivo’s other credits include the minutes east of Reno. Harrison Roberson HBO series “The Outsider” and the our career, and it was always in person because Honest Others who appear on the video there wasn’t a pandemic,” said Alana Haim. “It’s film “Widows.” She will play Aretha include world-renowned cellist Yo-Yo actually kind of exciting because I feel like we all, “When I came to do the show on Franklin in the National Geographic Ma, the Cape Town Ensemble, as musicians, kind of had to figure out all of our Variety Broadway, I had no idea that it was series, “Genius: Aretha,” which debuts Beninese vocalist and activist even a thing,” Erivo said of winning March 21. Angélique Kidjo, Sebastian home studios pretty quickly.” multiple major awards from one show. The British entertainer said she Robertson, and bassist Meshell This allowed for faster collaborations. After HOUSTON: Residents from Houston’s “It was enough to be on Broadway. placed no limitations on her goals as a working with Thundercat on “3 AM,” Este Haim Third Ward are mourning the shooting Let’s be honest - I was just this little child and always dared to dream. Ndegeocello as part of Playing for says they texted Swift, whom the group had opened death of Xavier Roberson, a rapper who girl who had done some stuff in “I knew I wanted to sing. I knew Change’s Songs Around the World for in 2015, and she responded immediately saying used his music as a vehicle to highlight London. I’d done some West End. I’d that I wanted to act. I was looking at initiative. she’d record vocals for “Gasoline” from home the systemic racism and police brutality. done some theater. Didn’t know what stars like Brandy and thinking, ‘Oh, I Tribal member Dayann Harrison, next day. Rapping under the moniker Obe Noir, Broadway was going to be like. It’s hope I can do that one day.’ Then who has been dancing since before she “She just added such an amazing new facet to the Roberson, 31, was fatally shot on March 8, not something that’s a usual thing. you’re looking at Whitney Houston, can remember, said she was in awe of song and it really is like a remix,” said Este Haim. the Houston Chronicle reported. “The fact that I got to be on the you’re thinking, ‘Oh, I hope I can do the video. It seamlessly weaved “She really brought a whole new layer of imagery to Witnesses say they heard gunfire around stage with this show was like, ‘What is that one day.’ I was a kid that was together so many different types of the song as well.” 3:40 am before spotting him running down dance and song, from Japanese drum- the street. A vehicle drove around the block happening? Oh my God.’ Then this obsessed with Barbra Streisand. I HAIM also appears on Swift’s “no body, no started happening: The Tony hap- would look at her shows and watch her ming to bagpipe to her own traditional “as if chasing Roberson,” opened fire and Paiute style of dancing. crime” - from Swift’s second surprise 2020 album fled, according to police. pened. Then the Grammy and the films and be like, ‘My goodness, I “evermore.” The murder mystery track marks Roberson, a good friend to George Emmy. I was just like, ‘This is so hope I can do that one day.’ “It made me feel really proud. HAIM’s first entry on the Billboard Hot 100 chart, Floyd, had marched the streets of Houston wild,’” she continued. “I don’t know that I knew that I There’s a lot of focus on the larger peaking at No. 34, and the song even reached No. 2 and Washington DC after Floyd’s death. Erivo, 34, earned two Oscar nomi- would be here right now. I just knew tribes in the country, not just in the on the country music chart. He was planning to honor Floyd by forming nations last year - one for her perfor- that I would be singing and acting, news but in history books,” said HAIM could see the popularity of remote record- a nonprofit to help people in the Third mance as Harriet Tubman in “Harriet” somehow,” she continued. “That’s Harrison, who is seen dancing in a teal ing staying after the pandemic. Ward. and another for co-writing “Stand what I wanted, and well, I got my and purple dress. “This is a reminder “It really did make it easy to collaborate with Cal Wayne, a Houston rapper who also Up,” a song from the film’s soundtrack. wish.” that we’re still here.” people that maybe usually were on tour,” said Alana grew up with Floyd in Cuney Homes, said Haim. “Maybe in the future, this is just what’s going Roberson stuck out among other aspiring to come out of it - more collaborations because rappers “because of his vocabulary — how Lake Street going to look like?” he asked. because of coronavirus restrictions. fluent he was. How much he could articu- LOS ANGELES: Chris Harrison will not we’ve figured out how to create.” late a story on any topic.” “Bryant-Lake Bowl is a staple in the com- Christensen and Gunn said they were just host the upcoming season of “The Also: Roberson also played professional bas- munity, and not having it be that way didn’t having fun putting the film together this Bachelorette” following controversy over ketball in multiple countries overseas, sit well with me.” month and never expected all the attention. racially insensitive comments, and will NEW YORK: The Recording Academy is partnering including Colombia, where local news He approached the bowling alley’s (AP) instead be replaced with two former contes- tants, ABC Entertainment and Warner with Berklee College of Music and Arizona State reports about his death hailed him as a owner, who let them shoot after-hours ❑ ❑ ❑ University to complete a study focused on women’s “great figure” on the team, Titanes de Horizon said in a statement. representation in the music industry. Barranquilla. (AP) Tayshia Adams and Kaitlyn Bristowe The academy, which puts on the annual Grammy ❑ ❑ ❑ will pick up hosting duties for the show’s Awards, said the lack of female creators in music is next season, the statement issued late Friday MINNEAPOLIS: A video taken by a cam- said. “one of the most urgent issues in the industry era-equipped drone buzzing through the Harrison stepped down from hosting for today.” The organization says the data it collects nooks and crannies of a historic Minneapolis “The Bachelor” in February following the “will be utilized to develop and empower the next bowling alley has attracted hundreds of controversy connected to an interview with generation of women music creators.” thousands of views online. “Extra.” He had defended “Bachelor” con- The Grammys have been criticized over the years The drone in the 1 1/2-minute video at testant Rachael Kirkconnell after she was for awarding and nominating more men than Bryant-Lake Bowl follows bowling balls accused of racially insensitive past behav- women. Part of that is because the awards show down the alley and takes viewers behind the ior. honors not just performers, but also producers and alley’s reset mechanism, back out onto the Past photos of her resurfaced in which engineers — positions dominated by men. floor and into the bar. she is dressed in costume as a Native The academy revealed that among the 853 nomi- The video is the work of 25-year-old American and at an antebellum plantation nees across all 84 categories at this year’s show, 198 cinematographer Jay Christensen, pro- themed ball. duced by Minneapolis-based Rally Studios Harrison had defended Kirkconnell — 23% — identify as women. and directed by Anthony Jaska, the Star against what he called the “woke police” on In 2019, the organization said it planned to double Tribune reported. social media during the interview. He later the nominees of female voters by 2025; the academy “Guardians of the Galaxy” filmmaker apologized for his comments, saying in a reported that it had reached 33% of its goal by add- James Gunn tweeted the clip to his statement: “By excusing historical racism, I ing 831 women to its voting membership. In the 800,000-plus followers, saying he wanted defended it.” same year, the academy launched a new initiative the filmmakers “to come with us to London “We support Chris in the work that he is asking musicians, record labels and others to con- later this year when we shoot Guardians of committed to doing,” ABC and Warner sider at least two female producers or engineers the Galaxy Vol. 3.” Horizon said Friday’s statement. “As we when working on a project, whether it’s a song or an Christensen, who lives near the bowling continue the dialogue around achieving album. alley, was struck by the destruction and In this Jan 12, 2020 file photo, Eddie Murphy accepts the lifetime achievement greater equity and inclusion within ‘The The study is expected to be completed by and rebuilding along Lake Street following last award at the 25th annual Critics’ Choice Awards in Santa Monica, Calif. Murphy Bachelor’ franchise, we are dedicated to year’s rioting after the death of George will be inducted into the NAACP Image Awards Hall of Fame this month. The improving the BIPOC (Black, Indigenous released in early 2022. Floyd at the hands of Minneapolis police. NAACP announced March 11, that Murphy will be inducted during the March 27 and people of color) representation of our “It made me think, what’s the future of ceremony, which will air on CBS. (AP) crew.” (AP) ARAB TIMES, MONDAY, MARCH 15, 2021 SPORTS 14

Basilashvili downs Bautista Agut to win Qatar Open Muguruza ends long wait, beats Krejcikova in Dubai fi nal

DUBAI, United Arab Emirates, March 14, seven of the nine break points she faced to gles title, including two Grand Slam titles at ATP title. “I had zero expectations, for sure, to win (AP): Garbiñe Muguruza ended her almost beat Czech doubles specialist Krejcikova. Roland Garros in 2016 and Wimbledon in The Georgian earned the fi rst two break (the) tournament,” said Basilashvili, who has two-year wait for a title with a 7-6 (6), 6-3 It’s the 27-year-old Spanish player’s 2017. points at 3-2 in the second set, and he took now won his last four fi nals. win against Barbora Krejcikova in the fi nal first title since winning in Monterrey in Krejcikova’s only previous singles fi nal his chance before going on to close out the Bautista Agut ended Andrey Rublev’s title of the Dubai Championships. April 2019. Muguruza lost the Qatar Open was a 2017 loss to Kiki Bertens in Nurem- match in 90 minutes. “It means a lot,” the ninth-seeded Mugu- final last week to Petra Kvitova and the berg, Germany. Basilashvili had only won two matches defense in the semifi nals. ruza said, “it’s never easy to win.” Yarra Valley Classic final last month to In Doha, Qatar, Nikoloz Basilashvili from his previous 16 going into the tourna- “Hopefully I come back next year and try In her third attempt at a title this season, Ash Barty. downed Roberto Bautista Agut 7-6 (5), 6-2 ment, but he saved a match point to defeat to get the title again,” the 13th-ranked Span- the former No. 1 hit seven aces and saved Overall, it’s Muguruza’s eighth career sin- in the fi nal of the Qatar Open for his fourth Roger Federer in the quarterfi nals. ish player said. Cindric holds on in final restart, Boxing great Hagler dies Estrada pips Chocolatito by wins again at Phoenix Raceway split decision for unifi cation

DALLAS, March 14, (AP): Juan Francisco Estrada beat Román “Chocolatito” González by split decision in a thrilling title unification fight Saturday night, defending his WBC super flyweight belt and claiming González’s WBA 115-pound belt. Estrada (42-3) avenged his loss to González in November 2012 by triumphing on two judg- es’ scorecards in a back-and-forth rematch. Es- trada hung on despite a phenomenal finish in the 12th round by González (50-3), who buck- led Estrada’s knees with a combination. Judge David Sutherland scored it 115-113 for Estrada, and Carlos Sucre favored Estrada 117-111. Judge Jesse Reyes scored the bout 115-113 for González. Some fans at the American Airlines Center booed Mexico’s Estrada as he celebrated a vic- tory over Nicaragua’s González. Estrada called for a third bout with González in his post-fight interview. Both fighters started at a high level and never let up during an intense matchup between two of the top lighter-weight fighters of recent years. With high-volume punching and impres- sive mid-fight strategy adjustments, Estrada and González kept up the entertainment until the final bell. In this June 1981 file photo, middleweight champion Marvin Hagler holds the champi- BOXING onship belt over his head after he defeated Vito Antuofermo in the fifth round of a box- ing bout at Boston Garden in Boston. (AP) When the fighters met eight years and four months ago, González retained his light fly- ing 62-3-2 with 52 knockouts. weight title with a unanimous decision victory. “If they cut my bald head open, they will Both have moved up two weight classes in the find one big boxing glove,’’ Hagler once said. interim. “That’s all I am. I live it.” Estrada improved to 16-1 since that loss to Hagler was unmistakable in the ring, fight- González. He claimed two flyweight belts in ing out of a southpaw stance with his bald head Daniel Hemric (18) and Harrison Burton (20) drive through Turn 4 during a NASCAR Xfinity Series auto race at Phoenix Raceway, on his very next fight, and he won the WBC super glistening in the lights. He was relentless and March 13, in Avondale, Arizona. (AP) flyweight belt in 2019 with a victory over Sri- he was vicious, stopping opponent after oppo- saket Sor Rungvisai, the only man to beat him nent during an eight year run that began with a since 2012. disputed draw against Vito Antuofermo in 1979 Hemric settles for 2nd, Brown finishes 3rd Rungvisai also beat Chocolatito twice during that he later avenged. that stretch. The Thai veteran has rebounded He fought with a proverbial chip on his from his loss to Estrada with three straight shoulder, convinced that boxing fans and pro- wins, including a stoppage of Kwanthai Sith- moters alike didn’t give him his proper due. He AVONDALE, Arizona, March for the pass, but he got too close to the wall, 22-year-old was dominant in the fi rst stage, morseng after three rounds this weekend. was so upset that he wasn’t introduced before a 14, (AP): Austin Cindric used lost traction and Cindric was able to shoot leading all 45 laps. Rungvisai has said he would welcome a third 1982 fight by his nickname of Marvelous that by and win with room to spare. Allgaier fell Hemric started on the pole after fi nishing fight with the winner of the González-Estrada he went to court to legally change his name. a dominant performance and a to eighth, which was his fi rst top 10 of the in second at Las Vegas last weekend. He rematch. “He was certainly one of the greatest middle- good restart with two laps left season. had a good pit stop after the fi rst stage that Meanwhile, marvelous Marvin Hagler weights ever but one of the greatest people that for his second straight victory at “He just got a really great launch,” Cindric pushed him into the front of the fi eld and he stopped Thomas Hearns in a fight that lasted I’ve ever been around and promoted,’’ promot- Phoenix . said about Allgaier. “I think he anticipated parlayed that momentum into a second stage less than eight minutes yet was so epic that it er Bob Arum said. “He was a real man, loyal the restart really well and got to my outside. victory. still lives in boxing lore. Two years later he was and just fantastic person.’’ Cindric won again on the track where he Any doubts Hagler wasn’t indeed Marvel- He faked low and went high and had the mo- But Hemric’s Toyota got caught in traffi c so disgusted after losing a decision to Sugar captured his first NASCAR Xfinity Series mentum that was hard to block. I was trying Ray Leonard - stolen, he claimed, by the judges ous were erased on a spring night in 1985. He championship in November. on the fi nal restart and faded to 23th. He’s - that he never fought again. and Hearns met in one of the era’s big middle- to defend the bottom, middle and top. I got still looking for his fi rst Xfi nity series vic- He led 119 of 200 laps in the No. 22 Ford the air sucked off my door a little bit. It was One of the great middleweights in boxing weight clashes outdoors at Caesars Palace in and was never far from the front of the fi eld, tory. history, Hagler died Saturday at the age of Las Vegas and when the opening bell rang they just hard racing a little bit there.” Brandon Brown fi nished a third, a career but he had to survive a chaotic restart with a Cindric started third but jumped into the 66. His wife, Kay, announced his death on the traded punches for three minutes in an opening couple laps left for his second victory of the best and just his second career top fi ve. Riley Facebook page for Hagler’s fans. round many consider the best in boxing history. lead almost immediately, moving past pole Herbst was fourth. “I am sorry to make a very sad announce- Hagler would go on to stop Hearns in the season. sitter Daniel Hemric on the opening lap. The “They never come easy,” Cindric said. There were 11 cautions for 64 laps. ment,” she wrote. “Today unfortunately my be- third round, crumpling him to the canvas with “This is a really important track this season Brandon Jones was running up front with loved husband Marvelous Marvin passed away a barrage of punches even as blood poured and I am pumped for this team. Hopefully we the leaders in the fi rst stage but was penal- unexpectedly at his home here in New Hamp- out of a large gash on his forehead that nearly shire. Our family requests that you respect our caused the referee to stop the fight earlier in put on a great show there. We were ruining ized for speeding on pit road and had to start the second stage at the back of the fi eld. He privacy during this difficult time.” the round. each other there at the end.” Hagler fought on boxing’s biggest stages “When they stopped the fight to look at the Ty Gibbs, the 18-year-old who won in his made it back to the front of the fi eld but against its biggest names, as he, Leonard, cut, I realized they might be playing games and fi rst Xfi nity start on the road course at Day- crashed with about 30 laps left after getting Hearns and Roberto Duran dominated the mid- I wasn’t going to let them take the title away,” tona last month, was second after starting bumped from behind by AJ Allmendinger on dleweight classes during a golden time for box- Hagler said later. “It was a scary feeling. I the backstretch. ing in the 1980s. Quiet with a brooding public thought, ‘Why are they stopping this fight?’ I CAR RACING The crash denied Jones a fourth straight persona, Hagler fought 67 times over 14 years didn’t realize I was bleeding. It wasn’t in my top-fi ve fi nish. as a pro out of Brockton, Massachusetts, finish- eyes. Then I knew I had to destroy this guy.’’ 27th. Gibbs - who is the grandson of three- time Super Bowl winner Joe Gibbs and part of Joe Gibbs Racing - also won the ARCA race in Phoenix on Friday night. Blues pound Highlanders in Super Rugby Aotearoa Gibbs worked his way into the top 10 by the end of the fi rst stage and then moved into AUCKLAND, New Zealand, March 14, (AP): to flyhalf Josh Ioane before Black’s try, which Blues’ lead to 14-3. Winger Rieko Ioane again the top fi ve late in the race. He took advan- Flyhalf Otere Black scored a try among 19 he also converted, gave the Blues a lead they was involved in the move from an attacking points as the Auckland-based Blues beat the didn’t surrender. scrum. tage of the fi nal tense restart - which included Dunedin-based Highlanders 39-17 Sunday in Ioane put up a high kick on the his own 22 A penalty to Black completed scoring in the a stretch of fi ve-wide racing for a few sec- Super Rugby Aotearoa. and the Highlanders weren’t able to recover first half after which the Blues led 17-3. onds - to push into second place. The Blues took a bonus point from the five possession. The Blues attacked down the left Replacement Emoni Narawa came off the Once Gibbs got clear of the chaos in the tries to two win to stay unbeaten after three bench to score the first try of the second half restart, he set his sights on Cindric, but matches in the New Zealand domestic tourna- RUGBY with his first touch of the football, put into couldn’t catch up. ment while the Highlanders are now 2-1 after space by Stephen Perofeta. “I just didn’t have enough time,” Gibbs three games. Hooker Kurt Eklund dived over from a roll- said. “We were closing on him but we got a Austin Cindric celebrates in Victory Lane Poor discipline cost the Highlanders who flank through Rieko Ioane who passed infield ing maul in the 50th minute to make the lead little tight.” after winning a NASCAR Xfinity Series auto were repeatedly penalized at the offside line to Black who scored. 29-3 after Black’s conversion. Justin Allgaier gave Cindric a hard run race at Phoenix Raceway, on March 13, in and at scrums. All Blacks winger Caleb Clark scored from The Blues now face unbeaten and the de- on the fi nal restart, pulling to the outside Avondale, Arizona. (AP) The Highlanders scored first with a penalty a set piece in the 17th minute to extend the fending champion Crusaders in the next round. ARAB TIMES, MONDAY, MARCH 15, 2021 SPORTS 15 Lightning ‘raise’ championship banner for fans, top Predators

Panarin returns as Rangers down Boston Bruins

TAMPA, Florida, March 14, (AP): Playing in front of their home fans for the first time this season, the Tampa Bay Light- Baylor center Queen Egbo (25) blocks a ning raised their 2020 Stanley shot by Texas guard Audrey Warren (31) Cup banner and beat the Nash- during the first half of an NCAA college basketball game in the semifinal round of ville Predators 6-3. the Big 12 Conference tournament in Kan- Tyler Johnson and Blake Coleman each sas City, Mo, on March 13. (AP) had a goal and an assist for the Lightning. Alex Killorn, Brayden Point, Mathieu Hornets bag SWAC title Joseph and Anthony Cirelli also scored. Erik Cernak and Ondrej Palat had two as- Baylor women topple sists apiece. Andrei Vasilevskiy stopped 28 shots to earn his NHL-leading 17th win. Texas in Big 12 semis Erik Haula, Alexandre Carrier and Yakov KANSAS CITY, Mo., March 14, (AP): Na- Trenin scored for the Predators, who fell to Lyssa Smith had 21 points and 14 rebounds, 1-5-1 in their past seven games. Pekka Rinne and No. 6 Baylor topped Texas 66-55 in the made 21 saves. Big 12 Tournament semifinals. Rangers 4, Bruins 0 After trailing by 14 in the fourth quarter, the In Boston, Chris Kreider scored his team- Longhorns (18-9) got within five. But Smith leading 14th goal, Artemi Panarin had an assist drilled a 3-pointer in the closing minute to help in his fi rst game back since leaving the team, the Lady Bears hold on. and the Rangers halted a three-game losing Maryland 104, Iowa 84 streak. In Indianapolis, Chloe Bibby scored 21 Panarin left Feb. 22 after a Russian tabloid points and Mimi Collins had 17, leading Mary- printed allegations from a former coach that he land to a second consecutive Big Ten Tourna- attacked a woman in Latvia almost a decade ment championship. ago, which he denies. His return clearly pro- The Terrapins (24-2) shot 51% from the vided a lift for New York. field in their 13th straight win. Diamond Mill- Keith Kinkaid stopped 18 shots for his fi rst er had 15 points and seven assists, and Katie shutout since 2018. Ryan Strome, Pavel Bu- Benzan finished with 14 points and six assists. chnevich and K’Andre Miller also scored for New York, which lost 4-0 in Boston on Thurs- W. Virginia 59, Okla. State 50 day. In Kansas City, Mo., Esmery Martinez had 19 points and 15 rebounds, powering West Capitals 5, Flyers 4 Virginia into the Big 12 Tournament final. In Philadelphia, Alex Ovechkin scored and Kysre Gondrezick scored 17 points for West Carl Hagelin had a goal and an assist, leading Virginia (21-5). Kirsten Deans had 11. the Capitals to their fourth straight win. Tampa Bay Lightning goalie Andrei Vasilevskiy (88) and teammate Barclay Goodrow (19) defend against Nashville Predators’ Ben Harpur Nick Jensen, Daniel Sprong and Nic Dowd during the first period of an NHL hockey game, on March 13, in Tampa, Florida. (AP) Jackson St 67, Alabama St 66 also scored for Washington, which has won In Birmingham, Ala., Cherelle Jones made eight of nine. two free throws with 13.9 seconds left and top- Nolan Patrick, James van Riemsdyk, Shayne seeded Jackson State earned its first NCAA Gostisbehere and Claude Giroux scored for NHL Results/Standings Georgia Tech claims 1st ACC crown Tournament in 13 years with a win over sec- the Flyers, who have lost four of fi ve and were ond seed Alabama State in the championship swept in three home games against Washing- game of the Southwestern Athletic Conference ton this week. Tournament. WASHINGTON, March 14, (AP): Results Texas beats Oklahoma St for and standings from the NHL games on Sat- Rogan led the Tigers (18-5) to their fifth urday. NCAA Tournament with 25 points. Jones ICE HOCKEY NY Rangers 4 Boston 0 scored 13, going 7 of 9 from the foul line, and Columbus 4 Dallas OT 3 NY Islanders 3 New Jersey 2 first ‘Big 12 Tournament’ title grabbed nine rebounds. Williams added 11 Ovechkin pulled within one of tying Phil Washington 5 Philadelphia 4 points, 13 rebounds and six blocks. Esposito for sixth on the NHL’s career goals Pittsburgh 3 Buffalo 0 KANSAS CITY, Mo., March 14, (AP): Matt tournament trophy since winning the old South- list when he scored on the power play to make Calgary 3 Montreal 1 C. Michigan 77, Bowling Green 72 Tampa Bay 6 Nashville 3 Coleman scored a career-high 30 points, Jericho west Conference title in 1995. In Cleveland, Micaela Kelly scored 29 it 4-2 with 6:50 left in the second. It was the Florida 4 Chicago 2 Simms added a career-best 21 and No. 13 Texas Cade Cunningham had 29 points for the fi fth- points, Molly Davis added 23 and second- 716th goal for Ovechkin. Winnipeg 5 Toronto 2 was poised at the foul line down the stretch in seeded Cowboys (20-8), including a pair of Vegas 5 St Louis 1 beating No. 12 Oklahoma State 91-86 to give the 3-pointers in the fi nal minute, the last getting seeded Central Michigan edged top-seeded Islanders 3, Devils 2 San Jose 3 Anaheim 1 Bowling Green for the Mid-American Confer- In Newark, N.J., Kieffer Bellows scored his Vancouver 2 Edmonton 1 Longhorns their fi rst Big 12 Tournament title. them within 89-86 with 6 seconds to go. ence Tournament championship and the Chip- fi rst two goals of the season early in the third East Division Kai Jones and Andrew Jones added 13 points GP W L OT Pts GF GA Georgia Tech 80, FSU 75 pewas’ sixth trip to the NCAA Tournament. period, and the Islanders earned their eighth apiece for third-seeded Texas (19-7), which In Greensboro, N.C., Jose Alvarado couldn’t NY Islanders 28 18 6 4 40 83 62 edged No. 20 Texas Tech in the quarterfi nals be- straight victory. Washington 27 17 6 4 38 94 87 contain his emotions as the horn sounded, col- BASKETBALL Oliver Wahlstrom also scored and Semyon Pittsburgh 27 17 9 1 35 89 79 fore advancing to the fi nals when Kansas had to lapsing in disbelief as his Georgia Tech team- Varlamov made 26 saves to help the East-lead- Boston 25 14 7 4 32 70 60 withdraw due to a positive COVID-19 test. mates mobbed each other near midcourt. Philadelphia 25 13 9 3 29 83 83 The title was the fi rst for the Longhorns in ing Islanders extend their points streak to 11 NY Rangers 26 11 12 3 25 72 71 He quickly ran to the celebration that included Maddy Watters added 11 points for the games at 10-0-1. New Jersey 24 8 13 3 19 60 79 seven frustrating appearances in the Big 12 coach Josh Pastner - still sporting that can’t- Chippewas (18-8), who last went to the NCAA The winning streak is the longest for the Is- Buffalo 26 6 16 4 16 58 88 championship game, and their fi rst conference Central Division miss-it clear face shield. Tournament in 2019 after the previous team landers since they won 10 in a row last season. GP W L OT Pts GF GA The Yellow Jackets have their fi rst Atlantic made the Sweet 16 when Kelly and Watters The team record is 15 in early 1982. Tampa Bay 26 19 5 2 40 97 60 Coast Conference Tournament title in nearly were freshmen. Florida 27 18 5 4 40 93 78 two decades after beating No. 15 Florida State Panthers 4, Blackhawks 2 Carolina 26 19 6 1 39 93 67 Cal Baptist 78, GCU 60 In Sunrise, Florida, Aleksander Barkov had Chicago 29 14 10 5 33 89 92 championship game. Just as importantly, they’ve In Las Vegas, Tiena Neale scored 21 points two goals and an assist, and Florida earned its Columbus 29 11 12 6 28 79 97 secured an automatic NCAA Tournament berth Nashville 28 11 16 1 23 67 96 to end an 11-year drought. and California Baptist, the nation’s lone unde- third straight win. Dallas 23 8 9 6 22 67 63 feated Division-I women’s team, beat Grand Carter Verhaeghe had a goal and an assist Detroit 28 8 16 4 20 63 95 Oregon St 70, Colorado 68 Canyon in the Western Athletic Conference for the Panthers. Frank Vatrano also scored, West Division In Las Vegas, Maurice Calloo gave Oregon Tournament title game - but its Utah Valley GP W L OT Pts GF GA and Anthony Duclair had two assists in his fi rst Vegas 25 18 6 1 37 83 56 State an unexpected lift with 15 points and the that is headed for the NCAAs for the first time. game since Feb. 27. Minnesota 25 16 8 1 33 79 63 Beavers won their fi rst conference tournament Sydney Palma added 15 points and Caitlyn Brandon Hagel and Adam Boqvist scored St Louis 28 14 9 5 33 88 92 title, holding off No. 23 Colorado in the Pac-12 Harper 10 points with nine rebounds while for the Blackhawks, which lost to the Panthers Colorado 25 15 8 2 32 74 59 Los Angeles 26 11 9 6 28 78 74 championship game. Britney Thomas grabbed 12 rebounds to go for the third time this season. Kevin Lankinen Arizona 27 12 11 4 28 69 81 Needing three wins in three days to end a four- with eight points for California Baptist. had 31 saves. San Jose 25 11 11 3 25 75 89 year NCAA Tournament drought, the Beavers Anaheim 29 8 15 6 22 63 95 NC A&T 59, Howard 57 Penguins 3, Sabres 0 North Division (17-12) built confi dence with each step along In Norfolk, Va., Deja Winters hit a 3-point- In Buffalo, N.Y., Casey DeSmith stopped GP W L OT Pts GF GA The Strip. er from the left corner with 3 seconds to play, 24 shots, and Pittsburgh handed Buffalo its Toronto 29 19 8 2 40 99 75 Winnipeg 27 17 8 2 36 91 78 San Diego St. 68, Utah St. 57 lifting North Carolina A&M into the NCAA 10th straight loss. Edmonton 30 18 12 0 36 100 87 In Las Vegas, Matt Mitchell scored 14 points Tournament with a win over Howard in the Jake Guentzel scored the go-ahead goal by bat- Montreal 27 12 8 7 31 86 74 to lead No. 19 San Diego State to a victory over Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference champion- ting in his own rebound with 3:23 remaining in Calgary 28 13 12 3 29 76 82 Utah State in the Mountain West Tournament Vancouver 31 13 16 2 28 86 100 ship game. the second period. The power-play goal was set Ottawa 30 9 20 1 19 79 121 championship game. Jayla Jones-Pack scored 16 points and Win- up by Evgeni Malkin, who has three goals and Note: Two points for a win one point for The Aggies had beaten San Diego State in ters 15 for North Carolina A&T (14-2), which seven assists in a seven-game point streak. overtime loss. The top four teams in each Abilene Christian forward Joe Pleasant, each of the last two tournament championship won the MEAC South and claimed its first The Sabres dropped to 0-8-2 in their past 10. division will qualify for playoffs under this season’s temporary realignment. (left), and Nicholls State forward Najee games. The Aztecs, who also won the regular- NCAA bid since 2018. Scott had 12 points and The winless streak matches the fourth-worst in Garvin, (right), go for a rebound during the season championship, had lost six of their previ- 11 rebounds. team history. second half of an NCAA college basketball ous seven title game appearances. Marist 69, Saint Peter’s 30 Blue Jackets 4, Stars 3, OT Golden Knights 5, Blues 1 game for the Southland Conference men’s Buckeyes 68, Michigan 67 In Atlanta City, N.J., Willow Duffell scored In Columbus, Ohio, Zach Werenski In St. Louis, Mark Stone scored twice for tournament championship, on March 13, in Katy, Texas. (AP) In Indianapolis, Duane Washington Jr. scored 20 points with 13 rebounds and a career-high scored 4:55 into overtime and Elvis Merz- Vegas, and Marc-Andre Fleury made 34 saves. 24 points and E.J. Liddell added 18 and No. 9 six blocks as top seed Marist beat third-seeded likins made 27 saves, leading Columbus to Shea Theodore, Max Pacioretty and Alex Ohio State fended off a frantic fi nish from No. 4 Saint Peter’s to win the Metro Atlantic Athlet- the victory. Tuch also scored for Vegas, which had not of the third period, leading Winnipeg to the win. Michigan for a victory and a chance to play for ic Conference Tournament championship and Werenski scored his fi rst goal since Jan. 23. beaten St. Louis in regulation in their previous Lowry added an assist, and Mark Scheifele the Big Ten Tournament title. advance to the NCAA Tournament. Max Domi added a goal and an assist as Co- 11 meetings dating to 2017. and Mason Appleton also each had a goal and an Caitlin Weimar added 12 points and nine lumbus snapped a three-game losing streak. Fleury made his 15th start in Vegas’ last 16 assist to help the Jets take the three-game series BASKETBALL rebounds and combined with Duffell to shoot Cam Atkinson and Nick Foligno also scored, games. 2-1. Paul Stastny and Nikolaj Ehlers also scored, 15 of 25, neither taking a shot beyond the arc, and Jack Roslovic fi nished with three assists. and Laurent Brossoit made 20 saves. as Marist dominated on the boards 41-32 and Andrew Cogliano, Andrej Sekera and Denis Jets 5, Maple Leafs 2 William Nylander and Jake Muzzin scored for The Buckeyes (21-8) will play their fourth points in the paint 42-10. Gurianov scored for Dallas. In Toronto, Adam Lowry broke a tie at 7:39 North-leading Toronto, and Frederik Andersen game in four days against either No. 3 Illinois or made 27 saves. No. 5 Iowa on Sunday. Ohio State has won four Prairie View A&M holds off Grambling State 17-10 Flames 3, Canadiens 1 tourney crowns, its most recent coming in 2013. In Calgary, Alberta, Sean Monahan scored Michigan (20-4) was led by Hunter Dickinson twice, Jacob Markstrom made 24 saves and the with 21 points and eight rebounds and managed Flames beat the Canadiens to sweep the two- to cut a 13-point defi cit to one in the fi nal 4 1/2 Barriere throws 5 TDs, rallies Eagles past Bengals game series. minutes. But after a third consecutive Buckeyes Darryl Sutter coached his second game for the turnover in the fi nal 90 seconds, Mike Smith’s POCATELLO, Idaho, March 14, (AP): Eric Bar- Northwestern State. Cam Miller capped a 13-play, 84-yard drive Flames after returning to the team when Geoff long jumper with 2 seconds left bounced off the riere threw a career-high fi ve touchdowns and his Quarterback Cole Kelly had an 8-yard touch- with a 6-yard scramble for a touchdown to Ward was fi red March 4. back of the rim and time expired in the scramble 6-yard touchdown pass to Andrew Boston with down reception on a reverse-pass from Terrell clinch North Dakota State’s win over Illi- Monahan scored his 200th and 201st goals. for the loose ball. 25 seconds left capped Eastern Washington’s 46- Carter, threw a 9-yard TD pass to Matt DeBlaiso, nois State. Mikael Backlund also scored for Calgary. The Alabama 73, Tennessee 68 42 comeback win over Idaho State. and scored on a 1-yard run to trim Southeastern Miller fi nished 5 of 7 for 61 yards with 11 Flames improved to 13-12-3, winning consecu- In Nashville, Tenn., Herbert Jones had 21 Barriere also set a career high with 455 Louisiana’s defi cit to 24-21 early in the fourth rushes for a team-high 57 yards. tive games for the fi rst time in a month. points and No. 6 Alabama rallied from a 15-point yards passing in 34 completions. Boston quarter. CJ Turner had nine receptions for 127 The Redbirds (0-3, 0-3) got back in the defi cit in the second half to beat Tennessee in caught 10 of those passes for 143 yards and yards, including back-to-back catches of 18 and game on a Bryce Jefferson 4-yard pass to Tan- Sharks 3, Ducks 1 In Anaheim, California, Evander Kane scored the Southeastern Conference Tournament semi- had two touchdowns. 26 yards to set up Rengifo’s winner. ner Taula midway through the third quarter. fi nals. Tyler Vander Waal threw for a career-high Then Tyler Pennington capped an 80-yard for the third straight game, Martin Jones stopped Southern Utah 34, Cal Poly 24 26 shots and San Jose won its third straight for Jahvon Quinerly added 19 points, including 409 yards and two touchdowns and ran for two In San Luis Obispo, drive with a 1-yard plunge but the PAT was two free throws with 15.5 seconds left, to help blocked by Spencer Waege. the fi rst time this season, more for Idaho State. Calif., Justin Miller com- Kevin Labanc and Dylan Gambrell also the Crimson Tide hang on. Eastern Washington (2-1, 2-1 Big Sky Confer- pleted 21-of-28 passes scored for the Sharks. Their win streak includes Top-seeded Alabama (23-6) faces the LSU-Ar- ence) now has won 12 straight over the Bengals for 241 yards and three FOOTBALL victories on consecutive nights during which kansas winner in Sunday’s championship in search (1-2, 1-2) and owns a 30-9 all-time series lead. touchdowns, and South- they have outscored the Ducks 9-1. of its fi rst SEC Tournament title since 1991. The Eagles moved their record to 32-30 all- ern Utah scored 24 unan- time when playing in a dome stadium. Lafayette 24, Colgate 10 Canucks 2, Oilers 1 LSU 78, Arkansas 71 swered points in the fi rst In Easton, Pa., Steven Stilianos caught two In Vancouver, British Columbia, Tyler Myers In Nashville, Tenn., Cameron Thomas scored Prairie View 17, Grambling St 10 half to cruise past Cal touchdown passes, Jaden Sutton ran for a score scored midway through the third period, leading 21 points and third-seeded LSU upset eighth- In Arlington, Texas, Chris Johnson had Poly for its fi rst win of and Lafayette beat Colgate in the season open- Vancouver to its fi fth win in seven games. ranked Arkansas to reach the Southeastern Con- three catches for 108 yards and a touchdown the spring season. er for both teams. Bo Horvat also scored for the Canucks, shov- ference Tournament championship for the fi rst and Prairie View A&M held off a late drive to Southern Utah (1-2, Cole Northrup’s 12-yard touchdown pass to eling the puck in on a power play in the second time since 1993. beat Grambling State in the State Fair Classic. 1-2 Big Sky Conference) Barriere Stilianos capped a 10-play, 75-yard drive drive period. Thatcher Demko stopped 34 shots. The Tigers (18-8) will play No. 6 Alabama, a SE Louisiana 27, Northwestern St. 24 spoiled coach Beau Bald- that stretched the lead to 21-10 with 6:44 re- Leon Draisaitl scored for the for the Oilers for 73-68 winner over Tennessee in the other semi- In Hammond, La., Felando Jordan had two win’s debut with Cal Poly, after he spent three maining. On the ensuing Colgate possession, his 16th goal of the season. Mikko Koskinen had fi nal, on Sunday looking to improve their NCAA of Southeastern Louisiana’s three blocked seasons as the offensive coordinator at California. DaRon Gilbert picked off a Grant Breneman 26 saves for Edmonton, which snapped a four- Tournament seeding even more by knocking off fi eld goals, Mateo Rengifo made a 21-yarder ND State 21, Illinois State 13 pass and Jeffrey Kordenbrock kicked a 25- game winning streak and slipped to third place the SEC’s regular-season champ. LSU has won with two seconds to play and the Lions beat In Fargo, N.D., freshman quarterback yard fi eld goal four plays later. in the North Division. this tournament only once - back in 1980. ARAB TIMES, MONDAY, MARCH 15, 2021 16

Burnley’s Chris Wood, (cen- tre), heads the ball during the English Premier League soc- cer match between Everton and Burnley at Goodison Park in Liverpool, England, March 13. (AP) Sports Latest sports scores at — http://sports.arabtimesonline.com Burnley stun Everton to take a step closer to safety Man City move closer to title; Chelsea held in top-4 bid LONDON, March 14, (AP): Manch- “Now we have three weeks I think ester City only need to win five of until the next Premier League game, their remaining eight games to secure now we have two ‘finals’ in the the Premier League trophy. Champions League and FA Cup, but Everton were previously in the title the team is ready to try it.” Burnley mix but a 2-1 home loss to Burnley took a step closer to safety by denting was the latest setback in their attempt Carlo Ancelotti’s bid for a top-four to make the top four. finish. It’s Chelsea in the fourth Champions Dwight McNeil curled a superb left- League spot even after a 0-0 draw with footed effort into the top corner in the Leeds. 24th minute after Chris Wood’s open- City are set to make it three titles in er to clinch the win that took Burnley four seasons by dethroning defending seven points clear of the relegation champions Liverpool. zone. After beating Liverpool last week, Johann Berg Gudmundsson hit a Fulham held off City for 47 minutes until John Stones tapped into the back of the net from a ball sent into the box SOCCER by Joao Cancelo. A fortunate rebound allowed City to extend their lead in the 56th minute. post as Burnley looked to make it three Joachim Andersen cleared the ball into before Dominic Calvert-Lewin pulled Fulham teammate Ivan Cavaleiro, and one back in the 32nd minute. it rebounded behind the home backline “It is a big disappointment but what and into the path of Gabriel Jesus. He can we do, we can’t give up,” Ancelotti had enough time and space to round said. “We want to still fight for the goalkeeper Alphonse Areola before position in Europe.” Chelsea extended putting the ball in the back of the net their unbeaten start under Thomas Tuchel to 10 Premier League games The third goal came on the hour after with the draw at Leeds. former City defender Tosin Leeds, which are in 12th place in Adarabioyo pushed Ferran Torres in their first season back in the top divi- the box and referee Andre Marriner sion after 16 years, made Chelsea pointed immediately to the penalty work for their point. spot. Sergio Aguero then fired the ball Both sides struck the crossbar in a into the corner of the goal for his first frenetic first half and both goalkeepers Premier League goal in 14 months. were forced into decisive saves. “I’m so satisfied,” Guardiola said. It was also another clean sheet for Tuchel’s team, which have conceded only two goals since he replaced Frank Lampard in late January and are unbeaten in 12 matches in all competi- tions. Wilfried Zaha became the first Manchester City’s Gabriel Jesus, (centre), scores his side’s second goal during an English Premier League soccer match between Fulham and Premier League player not to take a Manchester City at the Craven Cottage Stadium in London, England, March 13. (AP) knee before his Crystal Palace team beat West Bromwich Albion 1-0. It was secured by Luka Milivojevic’s first-half penalty which Zaha had won. Zaha, who is Black, was back in the starting XI after an injury and it gave him the chance to stand at kickoff. Nets roll past Pistons “There is no right or wrong deci- sion, but for me personally I feel kneeling has just become a part of the pre-match routine and at the moment it Bucks edge short-handed Wizards Bremen’s Omer Toprak vies for the doesn’t matter whether we kneel or ball with Bayern’s Robert stand, some of us still continue to Lewandowski, (left), during the receive abuse,” he said. NEW YORK, March 14, German Bundesliga soccer match Zaha had already indicated that he NBA Results/Standings between Werder Bremen and thought taking a knee has lost meaning (AP): James Harden scored Bayern Munich in Bremen, after being brought in by the Premier 12 of his 24 points in the Germany, March 13. Bayern won League in June as an anti-racism mes- 3-1. (AP) fourth quarter and had his sage when football resumed. WASHINGTON, March 14, (AP): ninth triple-double with NBA results and standings on the Nets to help Brooklyn Saturday. New York 119 Oklahoma City 97 beat the Detroit Pistons Brooklyn 100 Detroit 95 Benzema scores a brace Milwaukee 125 Washington 119 100-95 on Saturday night. Charlotte 114 Toronto 104 Harden also had 10 rebounds Atlanta 121 Sacramento 106 Portland 125 Minnesota 121 and 10 assists in his 55th triple- Indiana 122 Phoenix 111 double as Brooklyn improved to Dallas 116 Denver 103 Real ‘gain’ ground 26-13 with its 12th win in its last Eastern Conference 16 games. Atlantic Division W L Pct GB Kyrie Irving added 18 points, and Philadelphia 26 12 .684 - Landry Shamet had 15 off the Brooklyn 26 13 .667 -1/2 on leaders Atlético bench. DeAndre Jordan chipped in Boston 19 18 .514 6-1/2 New York 20 19 .513 6-1/2 BARCELONA, Spain, March 14, them for Madrid’s upcoming with 14, and Joe Harris contributed Toronto 17 21 .447 9 (AP): For the second time in a Champions League match against 10 points. Brooklyn Nets guard Kyrie Irving (11) shoots next to Detroit Pistons guard Southeast Division week, Karim Benzema scored in Atalanta. Jerami Grant scored 22 points as Josh Jackson (20) during the first half of an NBA basketball game, March W L Pct GB the final minutes as Real Madrid But after Calvo’s opener, the Detroit fell to 10-28. Saddiq Bey 13, in New York. (AP) Miami 20 18 .526 - gained ground on Atlético Madrid two playmakers went on and had a Charlotte 19 18 .514 -1/2 and Delon Wright each finished Atlanta 18 20 .474 2 in the Spanish league title race. quick impact. Modric took a pass with 13. Washington 14 23 .378 5-1/2 Benzema’s late brace earned from Kroos before he floated a Bucks 125, Wizards 119 Orlando 13 25 .342 7 Madrid a 2-1 win over Elche , cut- cross to the far post for Benzema Central Division ting into Atlético’s lead at the top to jump over his marker and nod In Washington, Giannis Anteto- W L Pct GB after they were held 0-0 at 10-man the ball home. kounmpo had 33 points, 11 assists Milwaukee 24 14 .632 - Getafe. Indiana 17 20 .459 6-1/2 Elche retreated into its area as and 11 rebounds for his sixth triple- Chicago 16 20 .444 7 Madrid closed the gap with Madrid pressed for a second double of the season in Milwaukee’s Cleveland 14 23 .378 9-1/2 their crosstown rivals to six points goal. Casemiro had already victory over short-handed Washi- Detroit 10 28 .263 14 with 11 rounds remaining. threatened twice before Benzema ngton. Western Conference Barcelona were left one point exchanged passes with substi- Southwest Division behind Madrid in third place tute Rodrygo and blasted a left- W L Pct GB before they host Huesca on San Antonio 19 15 .559 - footed shot from the left side of BASKETBALL Dallas 20 17 .541 -1/2 Monday. the area beyond the reach of Memphis 17 17 .500 2 goalkeeper Edgar Badía. Jrue Holiday added 10 of his 18 New Orleans 16 22 .421 5 “The players who came on gave Houston 11 25 .306 9 SOCCER points during the fourth quarter for Northwest Division us a different look. My second the third-place Bucks. They have goal was pretty and worth three W L Pct GB Benzema’s brace came six days won eight of nine. Utah 28 9 .757 - points, so I am as happy as can Portland 22 15 .595 6 after his 88th-minute goal sal- be,” Benzema said. Russell Westbrook scored 42 Denver 22 16 .579 6-1/2 vaged a 1-1 draw with Atlético. points - including 15 of Washi- Dallas Mavericks guard Luka Doncic (center), is defended by Denver Oklahoma City 16 22 .421 12-1/2 Elche defender Dani Calvo ngton’s last 18 - and added 10 Nuggets guard Facundo Campazzo (left), and guard Jamal Murray during Minnesota 8 30 .211 20-1/2 headed the visitors in front in the rebounds and 12 assists for his the first half of an NBA basketball game, March 13, in Denver. (AP) Pacific Division 61st minute at Alfredo Di Stéfano NBA-leading 11th triple-double. W L Pct GB Stadium. Randle had 26 points, 12 Mavericks 116, Nuggets103 Phoenix 25 12 .676 - Pacers 122, Suns 111 LA Lakers 25 13 .658 -1/2 But Benzema responded with a rebounds and 12 assists to became In Denver, Luka Doncic had 21 LA Clippers 25 14 .641 1 73rd-minute equalizer and added In Phoenix, Malcolm Brogden the first Knicks player with two tri- Golden State 19 19 .500 6-1/2 points and 12 assists, and Kristaps Sacramento 15 23 .395 10-1/2 an exquisite half-volley from the scored 25 points and Domantas ple-doubles in a same season since side of the area for the injury-time Sabonis had a triple-double with 22 Porzingis scored 25 points in Mark Jackson in 1988-89. Dallas’ victory over Denver. winner. points, 13 rebounds and 10 assists assists in Portland’s victory over “It wasn’t an easy game against Al Horford had 16 points for Nikola Jokic had 26 points, 11 to lead Indiana past Phoenix. Oklahoma City. Minnesota. a team that was well organized. Doug McDermott also had 22 assists and nine rebounds for the We know that we have to make an Nuggets. They had won five Karl-Anthony Towns led Min- points for Indiana. Caris LeVert Hornets 114, Raptors 104 nesota with 34 points and 10 extra effort to get to the top of the straight. made his much-anticipated Indi- In Charlotte, N.C.,LaMelo Ball rebounds. The Timberwolves have table,” Benzema said after taking The Mavericks led by seven early his team-high tally to 20 goals in ana debut following surgery to had 23 points and nine rebounds lost 14 of 16 and are 1-6 under new remove a mass on his kidney. He and Charlotte beat short-handed in the third and pulled away from coach Chris Finch. all competitions this season. long range. Dallas was 9 of 18 on Showing no sense of urgency, started and had 13 points in 27 Toronto in the Hornets’ first game Hawks121, Kings106 Madrid looked set to pay for their minutes. of the seasons with the general pub- 3-pointers in the period and took just In Atlanta, Trae Young scored 17 complacency against an Elche Devin Booker had 20 points for lic allowed to attend. six shots from inside the arc. Josh side whose goal is to avoid relega- the Suns. They had their five-game Richardson hit all three of his 3-point of 28 points in the third quarter, Devonte Graham and Terry Clint Capela had 18 of his 24 in the tion. Elche won their fair share of winning streak snapped and fell to Rozier each added 17 points for the attempts and Maxi Kleber made both of his, including one at the end of the first half and Atlanta beat possession and limited Madrid to Atletico Madrid’s Luis Suarez 25-12. Hornets, who seemed to feed off a tame shot by Isco - until period that made it 93-73. Sacramento for its fourth straight jumps for the ball during the Knicks 119, Thunder 97 having fans - about 3,000 of them - Benzema worked his heroics with Spanish La Liga soccer match victory. In Oklahoma City, RJ Barrett in attendance for the first time in Trail Blazers 125, the team’s title hopes at risk. between Getafe and Atletico Timberwolves 121 Capela also had 14 rebounds to Coach Zinedine Zidane had left Madrid at the Alfonso Perez scored a career-high 32 points, and more than a year due to the corona- help the Hawks improve to 4-0 midfielders Luka Modric and Stadium in Getafe, Spain, Julius Randle had a triple-double to virus pandemic. In Minneapolis, Carmelo Anth- under interim coach Nate McMillan. Toni Kroos on the bench to rest March 13. (AP) lead New York past the Oklahoma Kyle Lowry finished with 19 ony scored 26 points and Damian De’Aaron Fox led the Kings with City. points and eight assists for Toronto. Lillard added 25 points and 10 32 points.

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