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MONDAY, JUNE 7, 2021 / SHAWWAL 26, 1442 AH emergency number 112 NO. 17707 16 PAGES 150 FILS Health OKs flights; DGCA owns loss

Variant-ready? Opinion By Saeed Mahmoud Saleh Arab Times Staff KUWAIT CITY, June ‘Musailima’, ‘Sajah’ are among us, ‘ISIS’, ‘Hezbollah’, 6: The Health and So- cial Affairs Committee met on Sunday in the ‘Brotherhood’ are killing Muslims: What fate awaits us? presence of Minister of Health Dr Basel Al-Sa- bah and senior officials By Ahmed Al-Jarallah 1,331 new cases of the ministry. Editor-in-Chief, the Arab Times Rapporteur of the commit- THE Muslim Brotherhood Group, Al-Qaeda, tee MP Saadoun Hammad ISIS, the Dawa Party, Hezbollah and all such revealed they talked about the groups among us can be regarded as the best ex- Health Ministry’s readiness amples of the apostasy wars that we are experi- ‘Indian’ variant to deal with the Indian variant encing. They did not end with the rooting off by the Caliph Abu Bakr Al-Siddiq (may Allah be of Covid-19 and procedures pleased with him); rather, they began even before for passengers coming from the death of Prophet Muhammad (PBUH), and countries with high number they continue in various forms. curfew possible of corona cases. Unfortunately, when we try to fi gure out who He also asked the minister is responsible for it, we realize that its blood is about the losses that Kuwait Air- divided among sects, tribes, parties, and even per- By Khaled Al-Hajri ways Corporation (KAC) incurred sonal tendencies. Al-Seyassah Staff and Agencies due to the suspension of flights, When Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) began to disclosing the minister said the invite people to Islam, his tribe – the Quraysh – KUWAIT CITY, June 6: The spectre of a partial curfew has resurfaced DGCA issued this decision and objected to his call in order to keep the leader- less than a month after it was lifted, due to the Indian COVID-19 vari- should own the loss and added that ship in Makkah. They used the worst adjectives ant, which has been described as more contagious, deadly and vaccine- his ministry has recommended the to describe him. When he triumphed over them resistant by the World Health Organization (WHO). resumption of flights. with the truth, they resorted to kind words, and In this regard, informed sources from the health sector reassured He confirmed the committee the response of the Prophet was tolerance and citizens and residents of Kuwait that the number of cases of infection also tackled the paper exams for kind words. This is because he had the upper hand with the Indian COVID-19 vari- grade 12 students; indicating the on the situation, as well as the divine support, let ant in Kuwait is still very limited minister informed the commit- alone the fact that his call was to all humanity, not and under control. Imposing a tee that 27,000 out of 50,000 to a particular tribe or community. Newswatch partial curfew again is a possible students were vaccinated against However, some of them broke their vows after option in case of an increase in corona 48 hours before the date his death as they were under the illusion that Islam the spread of this mutation dur- of the exams. He also quoted the ended with the departure of the Messenger of Al- ing the next two weeks. minister as saying that some stu- lah (PBUH). In fact, some among them invented a SANTA BARBARA: The second They revealed that the cases dents refused to take the vaccine. new religion such as Musailima (the liar) and his baby for the Duke and Duch- of infection with the Indian CO- The committee asked the min- wife Sajah who assumed that they have the upper ess of Sussex is offi cially here: VID-19 variant were discovered ister about the steps taken regard- hand in matters after their marriage. Meghan gave birth to a healthy in Kuwait among people who ar- ing these students, but the latter girl on Friday. merely pointed out that this is un- One of the strangest things they did in the A spokesperson for Prince rived from India and Bahrain. morning after their wedding night was that they Regarding the controversy sur- der the jurisdiction his education Harry and Meghan said Sunday counterpart. It seems every minis- cancelled the “Fajr” (morning) prayer, and re- the couple welcomed their child rounding the available shipment duced the rate of zakat from their followers. Lilibet “Lili” Diana Mountbat- of the Oxford-AstraZeneca vac- ter is putting the responsibility on It was not limited to these two, but there were ten-Windsor at 11:40 a.m. Their cine, the sources clarified that the other’s shoulders, he asserted. others. However, all of them did not look at the daughter weighed in at 7 lbs, 11 the efficacy test results of the He affirmed that the commit- nascent state that the Prophet had established in oz. samples will reach the country tee stressed the need to conduct Medinah, and its growing power within a few Her fi rst name, Lilibet, is a on Tuesday. If the tests prove online exams unless all the stu- years, which forced the Romans and Persians, nod to Her Majesty The Queen’s that the vaccine samples are safe dents get vaccinated before the the two largest empires at the time, to recognize nickname. Her middle name is and usable, the ministry will start exams. it. in honor of her grandmother sending text messages to the citi- Meanwhile, National Assem- Rather, the fever of leadership and judgment and Harry’s mother. The baby is zens and residents who received bly Speaker Marzouq Al-Ghanim seized them, even if it was the end of the sword the eighth in line to the British the first dose and instruct them to invited the MPs and government or sedition. throne. (AP) go to the vaccination center for to the ordinary session slated for After the era of the fi rst three Rightly-Guid- ❑ ❑ ❑ the second dose. However, if the Tuesday. ed Caliphs, the vision of some Muslim leaders LONDON: European Union and results are below expectations, Agenda changed with regard to the form of government, British regulators opened dual the Pfizer vaccine is the alterna- so the fourth Caliph Ali bin Abi Talib (may Al- antitrust investigations Friday tive. Items on the agenda of the ses- lah be pleased with him) sought to complete the into whether Facebook distorts They went on to say there sion include deliberations on sev- course of the state on the path left by Prophet Mu- competition in the classifi ed ad- are 500,000 doses of the Pfizer eral grilling motions as follows: hammad (PBUH), Abu Bakr Al-Siddiq, Omar bin vertising market by using data vaccine already available in the four for HH the Prime Minister Al-Khattab, and Uthman bin Affan (may Allah be to compete unfairly against rival country and ready for use, adding Sheikh Sabah Al-Khaled, one for pleased with them). services. that the number of individuals Minister of Health Dr Basel Al- Concerning Muawiyah bin Abi Sufyan (may German offi cials, meanwhile, who received the vaccine is ex- Sabah, one for Minister of Foreign Allah be pleased with him) whose mandate was launched a fresh investigation of pected to increase to three and a Affairs and Minister of State for on the borders of the Roman state, he saw that the Google using stepped up powers half million in the month of July. Cabinet Affairs Sheikh Ahmad to scrutinize digital giants. Regarding the year-end exams Nasser Al-Mohammad, one for ruling should be in the form that it is in the enemy The multiple probes represent neighbor, that is ruling of the states politically and of the 12th grade students that is Minister of Finance and Minister Jannat, 4, poses for a photo in a school being used as a shelter for fami- the latest escalation by European of State for Economic and Invest- not religiously. regulators in their battle to rein due to start in the middle of this The outcome of such a shift was the great war of lies who lost their homes during an 11-day war between Gaza’s Hamas week, and the health preparations ment Affairs Khalifa Hamada, and rulers and Israel, June 5, in Gaza City. (AP) in the dominance of big Ameri- two for Minister of Interior Sheikh Siffi n, which was the start of the current sectarian can tech companies. The focus taken to prevent the spread of division. It was in fact the greatest setback in Is- of the EU and UK investigations COVID-19 infection, the sources Thamer Ali Al-Sabah. lamic history because of its negative consequences. highlights a longstanding con- affirmed that inspectors from All the grilling motions filed Even the Umayyad and Abbasid Empire, de- cern that the data the companies the Ministry of Health will tour against HH the Prime Minister spite their strength and geographical scope, were collect from people or businesses schools during the exams, and if were postponed until the end of not spared from the wars of political apostasy, as Power use record with their platforms is used to get they notice any slackness by any the second round of the current extremist groups were breeding like mushrooms an advantage over competitors, exam committee in implement- parliamentary term according to on the sidelines of every battle. which could include those same ing the procedures and measures, the result of voting on the pro- Unfortunately, all this did not constitute any businesses. (AP) they will recommend suspending posal of the premier to postpone lesson for the current elites – political and non- amid stifl ing temps ❑ ❑ ❑ the exam. the grilling motions during the political, ruling and opposition, but it seems that The sources indicated that the March 30 session. DOHA: Secretary General of the On April 12, a number of MPs they circle around the Arabs in a vicious circle, Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) Ministry of Health did not pro- KUWAIT CITY, June 6, (Agen- vide the Ministry of Education submitted a proposal to nullify retrieving history and not benefi ting from it. cies): The Kuwaiti Ministry of Dr Nayef Al-Hajraf held talks Therefore, we saw the wars of political apos- on Sunday with Qatar’s Deputy with a letter of approval to con- the decision to postpone these tasy in the modern era, such as in Egypt in 1952 Electricity, Water and Renewable Amir congratulates Prime Minister and Minister of duct the paper-based exams, but grilling motions but it was reject- from which the fashion of coups began, then in Energy announced on Sunday that Foreign Affairs Sheikh Mo- had instead only provided it a list ed as 32 MPs voted against and Iraq in 1958, Libya and other Arab countries, as the electrical loads reached a re- KUWAIT CITY, June 6, (KUNA): hammad Bin Abdulrahman of mandatory requirements like 28 voted in favor. well as Islamic countries, such as the Mullahs’ cord high of 15,070 megawatts, His Highness the Amir Sheikh Nawaf Al-Thani addressing the GCC with health clubs, cinemas, and However, the opposition MPs coup against the Shah in 1979. There were also amid soaring summer heat hitting Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah has “march.” commercial complexes. remain firm in their stand to pre- The offi cial Qatari news agen- vent holding ordinary sessions civil wars such as in Lebanon in 1975, leading it 50 degrees. cabled Dr. Hussein Ali Al-Musallam Positive to be disintegrated into areas dominated by gangs The Ministry said in a press on his appointment as chairman of cy said the two sides exchanged unless HH the Prime Minister FINA, the international swimming views regarding the council Kuwait said 1,331 people agrees to stand on the grilling and militias and are currently controlled by the statement that the highest electrical march in addition to regional is- Hezbollah gang, which prevents any rapproche- loads last year reached 16.8 mega- federation (officially in French “Fed- tested positive for coronavirus podium. Considering these MPs eration Internationale De Natation.”) sues. while seven related deaths were and HH the Prime Minister will ment between the two parties. watts, noting that the rate of reserve GCC countries’ leaders often This reality left the people of the nation wor- His Highness the Amir expressed reported on Saturday, taking the not change their stance, the oppo- electrical power in the network is heartfelt felicitations to Dr. Al-Mus- hold talks on the council march total up to 315,900 and 1,794, sition MPs are expected to boy- ried about their future. After the so-called “Arab 15 percent. (achievements since its establish- Spring”, they discovered the extent of the fragility allam after he was picked by FINA’s respectively, according to the cott Tuesday’s session. The ministry predicted that the ment and other topics). (KUNA) health ministry. The agenda also includes the of the institutions of governance, and the legiti- general assembly, wishing him suc- ❑ ❑ ❑ electrical loads will keep rising in cess for serving Kuwait at the region- Another 1,310 people were following: mate absence of the state. the upcoming days due to increas- ■ Development in these countries was nothing al and international sports quarters. SANAA: A ballistic missile fi red cured of the virus, raising the Voting on the proposals to but a shining false rhetoric, and unlike the rest ing high temperatures. His Highness the Crown Prince by Yemen’s Houthi rebels on total of those to have overcome amend Audio-Visual Law No. of the world that went through existential crises The ministry called on citizens Sheikh Meshaal Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Saturday killed at least 17 people the disease to 299,795, ministry 61/2007 and Publishing and which enabled them to overcome through sus- and residents to reduce electric- Al-Sabah addressed a cable of identi- in a government-held city, in- spokesperson Dr. Abdullah Al- Printing Law number 3/2006 in ity consumption after registering cal content to Dr. Al-Musallam. cluding a 5-year-old girl, offi cials Sanad told a press conference. their second readings, tainable development, as seen in many Western said, as a US envoy to the coun- ■ countries that currently occupy the top ranks in a high record on electrical loads, For his part, His Highness the The number of people hospi- Amendment of Law No. Prime Minister Sheikh Sabah Khaled try accused the rebels of failing talized with the virus currently 21/1964 on boycotting Israel, all fi elds. which puts great pressure on the to try to reach peace in the war- ■ When it comes to us, I mean the Arab and Is- electrical system in the country. Al-Hamad Al-Sabah sent a similar stands at 14,311, with 149 of Report of the Legal and Legis- cable to him. wrecked nation. them in intensive care units, he lative Affairs Committee on the lamic worlds, we still live with the mentality of In an undesirable aspect, Kuwait The missile hit a gas station “Dahis and Ghabra” war in the governments and added, revealing that some 9,350 proposal to amend Penal Code has surpassed all countries in the in the Rawdha neighborhood in No. 17/ 1960, states, because our adventurous hotheads still the central city of Marib, ac- swabs were conducted over the world, by ranking first on the list watts, Sweden with 7.6 kilowatts, last day out of a total of 2.66 mil- ■ Report of the Human Resourc- have power and strength. of countries that consume the most and New Zealand with 7.4 kilo- cording to Ali al-Ghulisi, the There is no doubt that this matter costs the Ar- provincial governor’s press sec- lion. es Committee about the appoint- electricity in homes. watts. He went on to urge nationals ments in the public sector, abs and Muslims a lot. They will not get out of the According to a recent report is- In addition, a study published retary. (AP) ■ tunnel until they are convinced that nations do not ❑ ❑ ❑ and residents alike that abiding Reports of the relevant com- sued by the World Energy Council, by the “Journal of Electrical Inter- mittees on bills regarding the develop without awareness, and they stop relying by health precautions, mainly, Kuwait tops the list of countries in connection” of the Gulf Electricity JERUSALEM: Israeli border po- elections and Kuwait Fund for on myths. Man is the one who works miracles following social distancing rules, electricity consumption in homes, Interconnection Authority revealed lice forcefully detained a veteran Arab Economic Development if he changes his backward reality and benefi ts is the only way to halt the spread with an average consumption of that the Gulf countries are trying to correspondent for the Al Jazeera of the virus. (KFAED). from the data of his time, and works to address satellite channel while she was Also, the Financial and Eco- his negatives instead of cursing the darkness and 40.4 kilowatts annually. It is fol- balance between keeping the cost The Ministry of Health has de- lowed by Qatar with 31.8 kilowatts, of consumption down, and reduc- reporting from an embattled Je- nied what has been reported that nomic Affairs Committee met on surrendering. rusalem neighborhood where Sunday in the presence of Gov- This would increase the attribute of beheading then Saudi Arabia with 24 kilo- ing waste through a thoughtful re- the “Pfizer” and “Oxford” vac- dozens of Palestinian families cines are sold in Egypt after they ernor and Board Chairman of the practiced by ISIS, Al-Qaeda, Al-Dawa, and Hez- watts, and the United Arab Emir- view of prices. are slated for eviction by Jewish ates with 17.6 kilowatts. However, they are not compro- settlers. were smuggled out of Kuwait by Central Bank of Kuwait (CBK) bollah, as it will become the dominant force due to some vested interests, reports Al- Muhammad Al-Hashel, and rep- the absence of the essence of a state. The Gulf countries, which are mising on the subsidies enjoyed Givara Budeiri was released late Saturday, several hours after Jarida daily. resentatives of the Capital Mar- Email: [email protected] famous for their hot summers, are by the Gulf citizens, even though The ministry clarified on its kets Authority and Public Loans struggling to come up with solu- numerous international studies and border police detained her in the Follow me on: Sheikh Jarrah neighborhood, website saying there is a tight Unit in the Ministry of Finance. tions to rationalize their energy reports show that the per capita where she had been wearing body control through an electronic Committee Chairman MP consumption. consumption of electricity in the armor marked “press.” link and daily inventory of the Ahmed Al-Hamad disclosed that Norway ranked fourth with 15.3 Arabian Gulf states is higher than Al Jazeera said police also received and used doses of “Co- they discussed the Sukouk Bill, [email protected] kilowatts, the United States with in Europe and the United States, destroyed equipment belonging vid-19” vaccines, and that the consisting of 38 articles, which 12.3 kilowatts, Canada with 11.1 which is due to the cheap prices of to a cameraman for the channel. ministry has not detected any the government submitted to the kilowatts, Finland with 8 kilo- electricity. (AP) discrepancy in its inventory. previous Assembly. ARAB TIMES, MONDAY, JUNE 7, 2021 2

Weather Expected weather for the next light to moderate north westerly Jahra 50 35 Prayer Timings 24 hours: wind with speeds of 12-32 km/h. Failaka Island - - Fajr ...... 03:14 Asr ...... 15:21 By Day: Very hot with light to Station Max Exp Min Rec Salmiyah 47 34 Sunrise .. 04:48 Maghrib .. 18:45 moderate freshening at times Kuwait City 50 35 Ahmadi 44 36 Zohr ...... 11:47 Isha ...... 20:16 north westerly wind to northerly Kuwait Airport 50 33 Nuwaisib 50 33 wind with speeds of 15-40 km/h. Abdaly 50 31 Wafra 49 32 By Night: Hot to rather hot with Bubyan - - Salmy 49 31

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

Agility gains 6 fi ls, Humansoft Holding drops Kuwait equities plod higher in range bound trading By John Mathews fi ls each before settling at 710 fi ls and 136 fi ls percent, the steepest decliner of the day and Ahli CO Medical stood pat at 500 fi ls. United Projects Arab Times Staff respectively. United Bank BSC topped the volume with 48.5 Co tripped 1 fi l. ▲ UUS$/KDS$/KD 0.30080/900.30080/90 Zain fell 2 fi ls to 594 fi ls after trading 1.2 fi ls. Adavnced Technology dropped 5 fi ls to 490 KUWAIT CITY, June 6: Kuwait stocks plodded million shares and Ooredoo eased 1 fi l to 639 Despite the day’s feeble gains, the losers fi ls and OSOS Holding Group was up 3.5 fi ls ▲ Euro/KD 0.3669 higher on Sunday extending the gains to fourth fi ls. stc climbed 5 fi ls to 854 fi ls and logistics outnumbered the winners. 50 stocks advanced at 92.5 fi ls. Combined Group Contracting Co straight session. The All Shares Index kicked off major Agility darted 6 fi ls to 942 fi ls. Human- whereas 70 closed lower. Of the 138 counters slipped 5 fi ls to 347 fi ls and Automated Sys- ■ Yen/KD 0.0027 the week with a 4.73 pts rise to 6,261.48 points soft Holding slid 11 fi ls to KD 3.605 and Mez- active on Sunday, 18 closed fl at. 10.533 deals tems Co gained 6.1 fi ls. Kuwait and Gulf Links in a range bound trading even as the overall sen- zan Holding took in 1 fi l. Boursa Kuwait Securi- worth KD 53.93 million were transacted during Transport Co inched 1 fi l up to 55.5 fi ls and ▲ British £/KD 0.4269 timent remained tepid. ties galloped 25 fi ls to KD 1.250. the session. ACICO Industries dialed up 2 fi ls. Educational The Premier Market climbed 5.10 points to National Industries Group rose 3 fi ls to 230 In the banking sector, Gulf Bank fell 3 fi ls to Holding Co shed 10 fi ls. ■ Indian Rs/KD 0.0041 6,808.51 pts while Main Market added 4 points. fi ls on back of 3.7 million shares whereas Gulf 236 fi ls after pushing 18 million shares whereas KIPCO and Al Imtiaz Investment paused a The BK Main 50 scaled 6 pts to close at 5,432.41 Cable gave up 5 fi ls. Boubyan Petrochemical Kuwait International Bank held ground at 217 155 fi ls and 128 fi ls respectively whereas Ku- points. The volume turnover meanwhile shrank ■ Philippines Peso/KD 0.0063 following the two-day rise. Over 309 million Co dropped 11 fi ls to 899 fi ls with a volume fi ls. Burgan Bank inched 1 fi l higher to 237 fi ls wait Investment Co closed 3 fi ls in red. Interna- shares changed hands – a 25 pct dip from Thurs- of 2.4 million while Al Qurain Petrochemical and Boubyan Bank added 2 fi ls. tional Financial Advisors and Kuwait Financial ▲ FTSE +4.69 pts at closing June 04 day. Co dialed down 2 fi ls. Jazeera Airways paced 3 Warba Bank took in 2 fi ls and Ahli United Centre (Markaz) trimmed 1 fi ls each whereas The sectors closed mixed. Technology out- fi ls while ALAFCO stood pat at 229 fi ls. Eqypt Bank BSC followed suit with brisk trading. Arzan Financial Group was up 3 fi ls at 143 fi ls Kuwait Holding climbed 7 fi ls to 304 fi ls. Commercial Bank was unchanged at 500 fi ls on back of 18.4 million shares. paced the rest with 6.17 percent gain whereas ▼ Nikkei -116.59 pts at closing June 04 Basic Materials shed 0.81 percent, the biggest The market opened fi rm and ticked up in with thin trading whreas Al Ahli Bank dialed up Bayan Investment Co inched 0.7 fi ls higher to lose of the day. Volume wise, Financial Services early trade. The main index fl ipped and fell 1 fi l. Ahli United Bank Kuwait erased 4 fi ls after 52 fi ls whereas Aayan Leasing and Investment topped with 108.3 million shares while Banking sharply to plumb the day’s lowest level of 6,249 moving 1.6 million shares. added 2 fi ls. Gulf Investment House and Os- ▼ Gold $1869.55 per oz (London) sector continued to dominate in value with KD pts almost an hour into the session. It drifted Kuwait Cement Co fell 2 fi ls to 255 fi ls oul Investment stood pat at 236 fi ls and 85 fi ls sideways and headed north amid moderate buy- whereas Kuwait Portland Cement gained 6 fi ls. respectively whereas KFIC dialed down 1 fi ls. 21.6 million. NYMEX crude In the individual shares, sector bellwether ing in some of the counters and peaked at 6,262 Metal and Recycling Co dropped 15 fi ls to 164 KAMCO was up 1.2 fi ls at 96.4 fi ls. ▲ $69.42 per barrel National Bank of Kuwait took in 1 fi l on back points. It dipped again in the fi nal minutes before fi ls and Shuaiba Industrial shed 16 fi ls. Edu- The market was largely upbeat during the of 2.8 million shares whereas Kuwait Finance clawing back into green turf at close. cational Holding Co slipped 10 fi ls to 635 fi ls previous week. The main index closed higher in ▲ Brent crude $71.82 per barrel House gave up 2 fi ls to close at 746 fi ls. National Top gainer of the day, NIH sprinted 8.6 per- whereas Automated Systems Co scaled 6.1 fi ls. four of the fi ve sessions scaling 49 points week- Investment Co slipped 4 fi ls to 180 fi ls whereas cent to 101 fi ls and Thuraya scaled 7.72 pct to Burgan Company For Well Drilling paced 5 fi ls on-week. It has gained 41 points from start of LIBOR rate 0.12825% Mabanee Co and Kuwait Real Estate Co added 3 stand next. Kuwait Real Estate Co skidded 9.43 on back of over 3 million shares whereas YIA- the month and is up 712 points year-to-date. Long wait to ‘ruling’ could pile agony on ‘60s’ expats Demography confusion in higher echelons

By Faris Al-Abdan decision to prevent the renewal of these people has been Al-Seyassah Staff implemented since the beginning of this year and the work permits for some of them are about to expire, the KUWAIT CITY, June 6: It’s about fi ve daily received mixed opinions from a number of jurists months the decision has been issued to stop and specialists, who confirmed that the decision remains tainted, some of them labeling the decision as “not renewing work permits for expatriates who respectful of human aspects, in a country famous for are 60 years and above, the Public Author- being a global center for humanity.” ity for Manpower (PAM) has not issued The head of the Kuwaiti Human Rights Society, any statistics confi rming its justifi cations Khaled Al- Humaidi, told Al-Seyassah daily that the decision of PAM regarding non-renewal of work permits when announcing the decision, which is for those aged 60 and above “targeted a specific segment ‘dormant’ in the domain of the Minister of of migrant workers with a high school qualifications or Commerce and Industry who does not give less, and the category noting that the decision does not it the slightest attention. include migrant workers who hold a post-secondary The minister remains unmoved or not interested in diploma or higher qualifications. Al-Humaidi stressed the Kuwaiti government’s respon- what has been suggested by the Chamber of Com- sibility to observe and promote human rights in its legis- merce and Industry, and the private sector which is lation, including administrative decisions, including KUNA photo the most affected because the decision will empty the Administrative Decision 520/2020 prohibiting the issu- Kuwait’s Foreign Minister and Minister of State for Cabinet Affairs Sheikh Dr Ahmad Nasser Al-Mohammad Al- nation of expertise, in addition the decision will put ance of work permits for those aged 60 years and over for Sabah meets his Saudi counterpart Prince Faisal Bin Farhan on the sidelines of the Kuwait-Saudi Coordination Kuwait in an embarrassing situation with humanitarian holders of a secondary school certificate or less and its Council meeting . – See Also Page 3 organizations, according to the agreements Kuwait has equivalent certificates. signed with these organizations. The head of the Kuwaiti Transparency Society, Majed The PAM, after a meeting with several governmen- Al-Mutairi, described the decision as confusion and tal and specialized agencies, including the Ministry of shows government’s inability to balance the demographic Ease on travel restrictions eyed Interior, the Kuwait Chamber of Commerce and structure and the labor market, especially since it did not Industry (KCCI) the Trade Union issued a decision to clarify any real study on the extent of this segment to be raise the annual work permit renewal fee for those who removed from the country. ‘No jab , no entry’ reached 60 years to 2,000 dinars, in addition to health Al-Mutairi told Al-Seyassah daily the decision did not ‘Back in Sept’ insurance, and the decision was submitted to the take into account the role of these workers and their eco- Chairman of the Board of Directors and decision was nomic contribution and what they have done to enrich the KUWAIT CITY, June 6: The persons in charge at Kuwait submitted to the Minister of Commerce, Dr. Abdullah local labor market, pointing out that the decision is con- 684 schools ready for International Airport are currently studying the possibility Al-Salman, about two months ago, but he has yet to sidered a disclaimer after the criticism directed at the of easing travel restrictions in view of the resumption of decide on it. authority, and its previous decisions that caused a disrup- airport traffi c in many countries after easing procedures This is in addition to the “comprehensive health insur- tion to the demographic structure. reopening – minister for passengers and this could lead to an increase in the op- ance” which is expected to be not less than 500 dinars, He said Kuwait lacks professional labor in the labor erational capacity of Kuwait’s airport this month, reports which may deepen the tragedy of those 60 years and market, especially construction, in light of urban expan- Al-Rai daily quoting reliable sources from the Directorate KUWAIT CITY, June 6: Minister of Education Dr Ali Al- above. sion and infrastructure projects, and the legislature has General of Civil Aviation (DGCA). And because the file is thorny and needs a clear deci- not yet developed any radical and logical solutions to Mudhaf has affi rmed the readiness of 684 schools in three Sources affi rmed the epidemiological index in the coun- educational stages for the reopening of schools in Septem- try continues to stabilize, so intensive meetings with the sion from the concerned authorities, especially since the these problems. ber, reports Al-Jarida daily. concerned authorities are being held in a bid to lay down In response to the query of MP Abdulaziz Al-Saqabi, the a comprehensive vision that will pave way for the submis- minister disclosed that the total capacity of these schools sion of the fi nal report on preparations for receiving pas- is 380,000 and the number of registered students reached sengers to the Council of Ministers. ‘PCR, 2 doses must for France travel’ 377,069; so the number of students in each class will be lim- ited to 25 to ensure compliance with the precautionary meas- Sources disclosed the suggestions include increasing the capacity from 10 percent to 30 percent for depart- By Shawki Mahmoud ures aimed at curbing the spread of coronavirus. He added Al-Seyassah Staff the total number of students in 202 kindergartens reached ing and arriving passengers, and allowing the entry of 41,006; hence, there are only 20 students in each class. expatriates provided they are fully vaccinated with any KUWAIT CITY, June 6: The French He explained the opening of schools is scheduled with of the vaccines approved in Kuwait and they hold valid embassy in Kuwait clarifi ed that Ku- an interval of one week between the educational levels. residency permits. wait has been placed on the amber He revealed that classes for kindergartens, fi rst and second Sources also unveiled a plan to set the quota for arriving (orange) list. grades will start on Sept 19; while the rest of the primary passengers under strict conditions – the most important of The embassy said those who have grades will start the following day. He added the intermedi- which is being fully vaccinated with any of the vaccines been immunized against the Cov- ate level classes will start on Sept 26 and Oct 3 for second- approved and offi cially recognized in Kuwait as follows: id-19 pandemic will be allowed to ary level; indicating the teachers will report for work on Pfi zer, AstraZeneca-Oxford, Moderna and Johnson & enter France from next Wednesday, Sept 12. Johnson. June 9, 2021, provided they produce He confi rmed an action plan has been laid down to ensure Sources said the arriving passengers will be required a negative ‘PCR’ test issued 72 hours the safety of everyone, in coordination with the ministries to undergo PCR test within three days of arrival in the before travel, or a genetic test issued of Health and Interior. He said the health guidelines pre- country and the quarantine period ends once the test re- sult come out negative. Sources pointed out this is the ‘48 hours’ before travel. pared by the Ministry of Health have been distributed to all As for those who are not immunized schools, which include ways to deal with corona cases in same procedure currently applied on citizens entering the country, indicating the arriving passengers who got only and wish to travel for a compelling schools. He stressed no school will be allowed to open un- reason, must in addition to the previ- less they meet all the conditions. one dose of any of the approved vaccines are required to He went on to say that the plan includes the allocation of undergo institutional quarantine for one week and home ous condition, spend a 7-day isolation period and may be subject to ‘condi- two public schools in each educational district to serve as quarantine for another week. 246 vehicles and bikes were impounded by the traffi c patrols. headquarters for those without the equipment required for Sources clarifi ed the country bans the entry of unvac- tions’ upon their arrival in France. distance learning. cinated individuals as part of the intensifi ed measures to The French Ambassador to Ku- ❑ ❑ ❑ curb the spread of corona. wait, HE Anne-Claire Legendre, will Crackdown in curfew Sources added Kuwait’s airport is currently witnessing hold a press conference on Tuesday Twelve companies and factories have, since 2015 until an increase in the number of citizens who are traveling for at the embassy to clarify the latest From May 22 to May 28, dur- cycles were towed to the minis- date, failed to repay industrial loans to the Industrial Bank of study and tourism purposes, while some expatriates are travel developments to her country Kuwait (IBK) believed to be in the amount of 58.5 million ing the partial curfew, personnel try’s detention garage, 7 wanted traveling to their countries which they have not been able and the issuance of visas, in addition from the General Traffi c Depart- dinars, reports Al-Anba daily quoting reliable sources. persons were arrested and four to do for more than a year due to the pandemic. to the development of relations be- ment (GTD) has issued more cases of possessing drugs and The sources stated the faltering clients vary between in- tween the two countries and regional than 33,000 citations, referred 53 vestors, contractors, electrical equipment industry, food and ❑ ❑ ❑ intoxicating substances were re- and international issues. violators to the Traffi c courts for ferred to the concerned authority, beverage industries, and the manufacturers of shoes and fur- Ministry of Health’s mobile vaccination units are plan- ❑ ❑ ❑ committing serious violations, 16 reports Al-Anba daily. niture. ning to vaccinate the workers of Mubarakiya, Safat and were caught for driving without a The campaigns were spread The daily added, the biggest defaulter in the investment Report denied: Souk Al-Kabeer markets this week as part of the comple- The Directorate- license, 246 vehicles and motor- over in all the governorates. sector which owns the bank a debt of 14.4 million dinars, tion of the third phase of the vaccination campaign for the General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) followed by the factory sector 13.9 million dinars including groups most in contact with the public, reports Aljarida denied point blank reports in social one of the factories specialized in the chemical materials and daily quoting sources from the health sector. media that a plane that was to take rected for everyone, and the plane ber 2022. He indicated the expected then the products sector with a debt of 11.89 million (metal They revealed that the fi eld vaccination teams will work off for Bahrain was delayed at the took off to Bahrain without any prob- time period for the implementation of industries sector). in two shifts - morning and evening - to carry out this mis- Kuwait International Airport because lem. the contract -- construction, comple- ❑ ❑ ❑ sion in those markets. the authorities had allegedly stamped ❑ ❑ ❑ tion and development of roads and in- The sources explained that the mobile fi eld unit service the passports of the departing pas- tersections to serve the residential city The recent increase in the prices of construction materi- The project engineer for the de- als led to a crisis for contractors who fi nalized construction comes within the framework of the ministry’s keenness to sengers with the wrong date, reports of Al-Mutla’a -- is 36 months. accelerate the pace of COVID-19 vaccination with the aim Al-Jarida daily. velopment and maintenance of roads Al-Qazwini explained the goal of contracts ahead of the unexpected price hike, reports Al-Rai serving the residential city of Al- daily. of achieving community immunity. The sources told the daily the in- the project is to facilitate traffi c, re- Contractors informed the daily that the recent price hike Last week, these units vaccinated the workers of the cident happened yesterday and the Mutla’a at the Public Authority for duce traffi c accidents, raise the level of increased the construction cost by about 70 percent to 80 vegetable market “Al-Shubra”. A few days before, they passport employee allegedly instead Roads and Transportation (PART) security and safety, and link the Abdali percent; indicating the construction cost for each plot in- completed the vaccination of 3,000 employees of salons of June 6 had stamped the passports Ali Al-Qazwini expects the comple- roads in the west to the city of Subbiya creased from KD150,000 to KD210,000. This means the for women and men, and of 8,000 employees of Kuwait with May 4 and that the mistake was tion of the fi rst phase of the project in the east. The length of the road -- 3 price hike crisis eliminated their profi t margin and caused International Airport and airline offi ce companies, as part discovered by the security personnel at the end of 2021, says Al-Seyassah. lanes in each direction -- is 33 km, with them heavy losses, prompting them to fi nd a way to compen- of the third phase of the mobile vaccination campaign for at the Kuwait airport before the plane He pointed out the completion of the possibility of increasing another sate for the high construction cost. the segments most in contact with the public. took off, the departure date was cor- the second phase is slate for Septem- lane in each direction in future. ARAB TIMES, MONDAY, JUNE 7, 2021 LOCAL 3 diwaniya A DIGEST OF PUBLIC OPINION ‘Time for citizens to shift the mantle in era of political absurdity’ “THE observer of political situation in my country suffers from pain. The ob- Also: for Al-Jarida daily. server is saddened by what he sees in terms of the political absurdities which “By the grace of God, our country is not as bad as some bloggers and activ- “Kuwait is currently facing big economic challenges. In front of the geo- can neither be balanced nor digested. The behavior of the MPs and ministers ists, or even the parliamentarians depict. If we look at our situation, we fi nd economic realities and the fact that any economic development must be based makes even a novice politician ashamed of the situation because they are not that our country is better than others, even among the neighboring countries,” on the optimal investment in oil -- the only strategic commodity of the State, it committed to the work entrusted to them that is to manage the affairs of their columnist Talal Al-Saeed wrote for Al-Seyassah daily. is necessary for us in Kuwait to think differently. country and people. The least we can call this scenario is ‘absurdity’ at the “It is enough for us to breathe the air of freedom day and night, so we sleep “We have to change our economic policies that have governed the State’s height of political action,” columnist Mohammad Al-Ruwaihel wrote for Al- with peace of mind in our home, not afraid of the intelligence knocking at our resources over the last 60 years. This starts with the assessment of the oil sec- Jarida daily. doors at dawn. tor’s performance based on the quantity of oil and gas exports, followed by “There is no doubt that corruption and tampering “The minister and the guard meet in one offi ce, and we do not know the adopting optimal and modern oil investments to move towards the advanced with the constitution are the causes of this absurdity social differences within this scope which make some us dominate over others. oil industries to propel Kuwait’s transformation from a rentier economy that that we see and live today but then what makes the “Here in Kuwait, we live a comfortable life, our closest relatives may envy depends on the export of raw national wealth to an industrial country par excel- matter confusing is when the wise men and politi- us, to the point that the school guard criticizes the minister and talks about lence, which bases its industrial renaissance on the latest oil industries consist- cians keep mum to what is happening, and when the public affairs, and then criticizes anyone to his liking. ing of a wide range of related industries. statesmen turn a blind eye to this absurdity as if it “This is a blessing that only one who misses it knows, so if he loses safety, “It is no longer useful to evaluate the performance of the oil sector based on does not concern them or that what they see is of no there is no prayer in a mosque or, no walking the street, no comfort in a dwell- the number of oil barrels and gas exported, especially with the fl uctuation of value although it has devastating and catastrophic ef- ing, no bed, and no taste for food or drink. oil prices and big economic challenges such as the global conditions related to fect on the country and the people. “Likewise, there is no creativity without stability, but our problem is with corona and renewable energy fi elds. These challenges exhaust the oil energy, “What the government and the National Assembly those who raise problems from day to day, in search of personal, partisan, or while the supply and demand concepts which govern this single commodity are doing cannot be included in the system of politics or even tribal gains, that have nothing to do with the public interest, and por- put us at the mercy of others who need the only commodity we are producing.” political action, not even in managing a state and look- Al-Ruwaihel tray the country as very bad, to the point of creating a frustrating atmosphere ❑ ❑ ❑ ing after the interests of people. among the people that make the most optimistic people look pessimistic. “Today, the country is going through the most diffi cult and most dangerous “On the other hand, there is a government that does not know how to market “The State’s experience regarding democracy since its inception till date political stage since the beginning of the constitution and the country walking itself among the citizens or, does not defend its point of view, and does not has proven that it does not want real practice in legislation and oversight. For the democratic path. solve the problems of the citizens. the infl uential people, they want democracy according to their whims, so it is “The contemplator of the political scene is absolutely certain that we “The government also lacks the ability to take vital decisions and this gov- benefi cial for a few infl uential persons, not the nation,” columnist Hamed Al- are living in a state of tension and congestion far from the wisdom and ernment character makes a citizen feel he/she has to climb a mountain to get Saif wrote for Annahar daily. eloquence as a result of the futility of several years when corruption ruled things done. The absence of the decision-making process is the mother of all “This is clearly manifested in the State’s several attempts to have all kinds the roost and the interests of the country and people found the backseat at a problems to the point everyone is waiting for the departure of the government. of elected assemblies -- whether the majority is for the legislature or against it. time when everyone must have assumed their national and moral responsi- “The government is no longer popular among the citizens because the oppo- “It is following the same non-reformative path for the country. It does not bilities towards the homeland and people without looking for temporary or nents have succeeded in luring the street to go against it, while the government want to create a better atmosphere matching the aspirations of the new era in personal losses, especially in light of these exceptional circumstances and failed in its attempt to woo the street in its favor against the poor performance of starting the comprehensive reform that all categories of Kuwaiti people have the unprecedented absurdity and epidemic that has spread like wild fire all some MPs. We have politicians but they know nothing about politics; we have a been thirsting for. This is the last chance to form a government consisting of over the world. government that has all the tools at its disposal but unable to exploit them; and we experts or national competencies loyal to their country. “Everyone must bear his/her national and historical responsibility during have a people who are still looking for a strong symbol to rally around.” “This is the opportunity of a lifetime -- to choose a government that could these diffi cult times that the country is going through in terms of the political, ❑ ❑ ❑ lead us to the future, instead of successive governments consisting of ministers economic and social crises that arose due to the continuous political absurdity who do not have the required competencies. Such practice has delayed the of politicians who do not realize the serious crises we are going through, in “In our article last week, we discussed the importance of transforming Ku- country’s progress and put it on the verge of economic, scientifi c, cultural and light of a deadly epidemic and suffocating crises while all they seek is political wait into the oil capital of the world. In this article, we continue to talk about service bankruptcy.” revenge and personal grudges and private agendas which do not realize the it and the importance of Kuwait’s transformation from a rentier State to an ad- citizen’s dream or bring stability to the country.” vanced industrial State,” columnist Dr Hamad Mohammad Al-Matar wrote — Compiled by Ahmad Al-Shazli

Other Voices Kuwait-Saudi Coordination Council The last wall of defense holds meeting, discuss boost in ties By Ahmad alsarraf tries, Kuwait still represents the only country which is warming to or re- he attitudes of the majority – if not mains reassuring to religious extremist Economy, investments, security on agenda Tall – of the so-called ‘opposition’ movements. The strength and activity are not only strange but also frighten- of the two movements – tribal and sec- ing for the future of this country and tarian– is also increasing, with the in- KUWAIT CITY, June 6, (KUNA): Foreign its children. ■ crease in the frequency of polarization Minister and Minister of State for Cabinet These people will return to their and the continued absence of govern- roots from ment resolution. Affairs Sheikh Dr. Ahmad Nasser Al-Mo- where they be- hammad Al-Sabah on Sunday wrapped up gan with the fi rst By observing the course of events, disagreement and the cat-and-mouse game between a visit to Saudi Arabia heading back home. over sharing the the government and some MPs, I found The minister had chaired the State of Kuwait cake when they that there are disagreements on both Delegation at the first meeting of the Kuwaiti-Saudi succeed in get- sides, and I also found that the orienta- Coordination Council. ting rid of either tions of the majority – if not all – of He was seen off at the airport by his Saudi counterpart, or both of the those who are called ‘the opposition’ Prince Faisal bin Farhan, and senior officials. two presidents. are strange, sometimes even frighten- The Foreign Minister Sheikh Dr. Ahmad Nasser ■ Kuwait, ing, for the future of this country and Al-Mohammad Al-Sabah on Sunday headed the State of since its found- its children. Kuwait delegation partaking in the first meeting of the ing, is a civil alsarraf Despite some doubt about the govern- Kuwaiti-Saudi Coordination Council, hosted by the Kingdom. state and this is ment’s intentions, and a lot of conviction The Saudi delegation was headed by the Kingdom Foreign enshrined in the Constitution of Abdul- about its almost complete inability to Minister Prince Faisal Bin Farhan. lah Al-Salem, which if he looks back at carry out radical reforms that have noth- The meeting was held in line with guidelines by the late the faces of the so-called opposition, he ing to do with the National Assembly, Amir (of the State of Kuwait) His Highness Sheikh Sabah would have returned sad to his grave. and the weakness of the government Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah, with blessing by His Highness ■ I issue a call to stick to Presi- team, it is almost impossible to accept the (current) Amir Sheikh Nawaf Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber dent Marzouq Al-Ghanim, not for his the demands of the so-called opposition Al-Sabah, as well Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King person but for what he represents in or to be convinced of all their positions Salman bin Abdulaziz -- depicting the deep-rooted ties the continuity of the state’s civility. on the civil state, either their sectarian or between the two brotherly countries and peoples. Today, he is the only wall of defense tribal tendencies. All of them will return The Council, establishment minutes of which was inked in and his loss means a return to the to their roots from where they came with July 1981, aims at working out a joint vision for rendering the nightmare. the fi rst disagreement of how to share the relations between the two countries stronger and sustainable in Because of the state of doubt about slice of the cake when and if they suc- tandem with the GCC objectives, boosting the GCC integrated what is written, I fi nd it necessary to ceed in getting rid of either or both of the economic system, finding solutions for optimum use of clarify that I have no personal or mate- two presidents! national resources, consolidating cooperation and integration rial relationship with Mr. Marzouq Al- Therefore, I call for sticking to Presi- among the member states in all spheres, ensuring effective Ghanim and I do not remember having dent Marzouq Al-Ghanim, not for his execution for the cooperation and partnership, promoting the KUNA photos met him. Thus what I will write here is person, but for what he represents in two states’ status in the economic, human resources develop- Top: A view of the fi rst meeting of the Kuwaiti-Saudi Coordination Council. Above: my conviction. the continuity of the “civil state.” To- ment, integration at the security and political levels and others. Signing of agreements. Participants in the meeting explored various key coopera- ❑ ❑ ❑ day, he is perhaps the only defense wall against the incursion of sectarian tion spheres bonding the two brotherly countries, namely in Military offi ces role lauded I contemplate MP Obaid Al-Wasmi, and tribal extremism and even the mob the economic, investment, security and development sectors. They discussed in particular means of boosting the coordina- who is leading the National Assembly mentality. Kuwait’s Deputy Foreign Minister Majdi Al-Dhefeeri was accompanied by from the Speaker’s seat, after the last There is no doubt that there are those tion at these levels. The council embodies desire of the Kuwaiti and Saudi lead- Al-Dhefeeri Sunday underlined impor- Ambassador Abdulaziz Al-Sharekh, session was adjourned due to the gov- who have the same capabilities as the tance of coordination between Military Director General of the Institute, and ernment’s absence from the session. Speaker or even better than him, but ers to lay the multilateral action by the two sides within an institutionalized framework that contributes to the approach Offi ces abroad and countries they were Assistant Foreign Minister for the Dep- I imagined the scenario that would today he is in the forefront and his loss based in. uty Foreign Minister’s Offi ce Ayham Al- be the situation if the coup succeeded or removal from the presidency auto- toward progress and prosperity. Al-Dhefeeri made the remarks while Omar. and Speaker Marzouk was removed matically means we have reached the Session visiting Sheikh Saud Nasser Al-Sabah Kuwait Deputy Foreign Minister Ma- from his position, and MP Obaid Al- last stage of the erosion of the state’s Diplomatic Institute, which was offering jdi Al-Dhefeeri met Sunday with UAE’s Wasmi or any MP becomes the Speak- The Kuwaiti foreign minister addressed the session, a training course for heads of military Ambassador in Kuwait Dr. Matar Al- civility and a return to the nightmare expressing gratitude for the warm hospitality, noting that the er of the National Assembly, and this is represented by the image I referred to offi ces at Kuwait’s diplomatic missions Neyadi and discussed bilateral ties, as of course a legitimate ambition as the meeting was held, for the first time at this level, upon instruc- abroad. well as regional and international de- at the beginning of the article. tions by His Highness the Amir Sheikh Nawaf and King seat is not anyone’s monopoly of one ❑ ❑ ❑ He also visited another training velopments. The meeting was attended class without the other... BUT! Salman bin Abdulaziz. course of the diplomatic attaches, urg- by Assistant Foreign Minister for the Unlike all Arab and Muslim coun- e-mail: [email protected] He shed light on the historic ties between Kuwait and Saudi ing them to have maximum benefi ts Deputy Foreign Minister’s Offi ce Ayham Arabia, noting that this relationship is unique worldwide, from the training. Al-Omar. (KUNA) affirming that the session was held in line with the mutual desire to elevate the relations to higher and wider scopes; also for sake of consolidating the integration on diverse arenas as News in Brief well as for devising an objective mechanism to measure the aspired progress at the economic and investments levels. He noted that the meeting was held following the visit, paid by His Highness the Crown Prince Sheikh Mishal Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah to the Kingdom on June 1. He noted that ‘Flower-seller’ kid dies: A 12-year- family from the house they lived in and this prompted the child to sell fl owers to during the visit, the Crown Prince held cordial talks with old bedoun child who was selling roses Prince Mohammad bin Salman, the Kingdom Crown Prince, on Damascus Street died after being run help his family meets the ends. ❑ ❑ ❑ Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Defense. The two over by a motorist, reports Al-Seyassah sides had affirmed necessity of joint action for consolidating daily. Fire destroys rest room: The Min- the bilateral relations in the economic and investment spheres. The daily added, the victim was istry of Health said a limited fi re de- Sheikh Dr. Ahmad noted the 30th anniversary of the liberation rushed to the Amiri Hospital but he was stroyed the doctors’ rest room on the of the State of Kuwait from the flagrant Iraqi occupation, recall- declared dead upon arrival. His remains ground fl oor of the Mubarak Al-Kabeer ing that the Kingdom had played a pivotal role in freeing the have been referred to Forensics. Hospital this morning, reports Al-Rai country and reinstating the legitimacy. The Kingdom, he contin- According to a security source, the daily. ued, had put all its potentials at the disposal of liberating the State victim was selling fl owers at a traffi c The ministry also said the fi re did of Kuwait. Aalso in this respect, he brought into recolleations the signal and was hit by a vehicle. The not affect the work at the hospital. In a leading role of the late Saudi King Fahad bin Abdulaziz. case has been registered as an accident. statement, the hospital administration He also underscored the role, during the occupation, of the In a related context, Dr. Maitham said an investigation has been opened Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques, who had been serving, Hussein said on his Twitter account af- into the incident to determine the caus- at the crisis time, as the Prince of Riyadh City. ter the child was hit by the car, “I and a es, which was controlled by fi refi ghting The Kuwaiti foreign minister praised the great achieve- young Kuwaiti woman tried to resusci- teams in record time without disrupting ments in the Kingdom in various spheres, lauding success of tate the child, but unfortunately he died the service in any of the hospital facili- the G20 Summit that had been chaired by the Kingdom. He of his injuries at the Amiri Hospital dur- ties. also lauded the Saudi “green initiative and the green Middle ing the second attempt at resuscitation. The Public Relations and Media De- East initiative,” as pioneering solutions to face climatic change I wonder for how long the bedoun have partment of the General Fire Services at the regional and international levels, in addition to the chain to suffer in the country of humanity.” Directorate (DGFD)said in a statement of accomplishments for attaining the promising Kingdom Dr. Hussein with a heavy heart add- the fi refi ghting teams were able to con- Vision 2030. “We also praise the Kingdom balanced role for ed in the child’s pocket there were 8 trol the fi re without causing any human stability of oil prices and maintaining energy supplies to the dinars, the proceeds from the fl owers casualties. world,” he stated. Sheikh Dr. Ahmad Nasser Al-Mohammad which he had sold. The administration explained the fi re Al-Sabah held discussions with his Saudi counterpart Prince A person close to the child said that was put out by fi re engines from Ha- Faisal Bin Farhan in the Kingdom. the owner of the house had expelled the walli, Salmiya and Al-Shuhada. The talks dealt with the solid brotherly ties bonding the two countries and the Kuwaiti-Saudi cooperation at various levels. ARAB TIMES, MONDAY, JUNE 7, 2021 LOCAL 4 ‘Overestimation’ of MoH’s need for face masks leads to surplus ‘Ministry lacked vision in managing health crisis’

KUWAIT CITY, June 6: Accord- as lack of interest in supporting local activi- ing to informed sources, the Min- ties related to primary medical supplies, lack Council has made many of transparency in import procedures as per istry of Health’s need for medical regulatory reports, bills without details of the masks under normal circumstanc- achievements since ’18 number of imported masks and the cost of es is about 400,000 per month. As- shipping, and incurring from the public funds By Abdel Nasser Al-Aslami the fees of shipping line agents, flooring fees KUNA photo suming that the ministry needs ten Al-Seyassah Staff HH the Amir (right) with HH the Crown Prince Sheikh Meshaal Al-Ahmad. times this quantity during the time and container clearance, transportation and KUWAIT CITY, June 6: Municipal Council unloading fees. of crisis, it would mean four million (MC) member Engr Maha Al-Baghli said During the first months of the COVID-19 HH Amir receives top State offi cials masks per month, which is equiva- since the beginning of work in 2018, the pandemic in Kuwait, the Ministry of lent to 48 million masks annually Council has made many achievements and Commerce and Industry and the Public His Highness the Amir Sheikh Nawaf ness the Prime Minister Sheikh Sabah completed projects during the past three Authority for Industry provided the necessary Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah received Al-Khaled Al-Hamad Al-Sabah. if the crisis continues, reports Al- years, most notably the issuance of new Sunday at Seif Palace His Highness the His Highness also received Deputy licenses to establish four mask-manufacturing Crown Prince Sheikh Meshaal Al-Ahmad Prime Minister and Minister of Defense Qabas daily. regulations for “exhibitions, event tents, factories by facilitating the process of bring- and mobile vehicles.” Al-Jaber Al-Sabah. Sheikh Hamad Jaber Al-Ali Al-Sabah and Such a fi gure means that the Ministry of ing in equipment, manufacturing machines His Highness the Amir also received Deputy Prime Minister, Minister of Justice Health would need almost 13.5 years to use Al-Baghli told the Al-Seyassah daily the achievements of the “2018-2022” Coun- and raw materials from outside Kuwait. the Speaker of the National Assembly and Minister of State for Nazaha Enhance- these masks, assuming that the lifespan of a Marzouq Ali Al-Ghanim and His High- ment, Abdullah Youssef Al-Roumi. (KUNA) cil includes allocating These factories covered part of the needs of mask is permanent, and not just three years sites for overseas pri- the local market during the crisis, and also from the date of manufacture. However, vate universities and helped a major mask factory to increase its National Day greetings sent about more than a year has passed since the sites for the Public Au- production capacity by contributing to the date of manufacture and import of the masks, thority for Housing Wel- transfer of a new production line from abroad. which means the remaining validity period fare allocating, in ad- The masks and products of most of these new does not exceed two years. dition to Kuwait Health factories have been approved by the Ministry HH Amir cables Denmark’s In the event that the crisis ends within two City and amending of Health as being suitable for “surgical” and years and the mask consumption returns to other regulations to suit modern developments traditional medical use. the normal level of 400,000 masks, the and the citizen’s need, Delay Queen and King of Sweden Ministry of Health will need 4.8 million in addition to the activ- masks annually. This means the quantity it Engr Al-Baghli ity of the Environmen- Medical sources said, “How could a gov- KUWAIT CITY, June 6, (KUNA): His His Highness the Prime Minister Sheikh Sa- imported is sufficient for 125 years to use just tal Affairs Committee ernment agency make the regulatory authori- Highness the Amir Sheikh Nawaf Al- bah Khaled Al-Hamad Al-Sabah also sent 600 million masks, with an estimate that its with regards to waste management fi le in ties rush in importing medical supplies such Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah sent on Sun- similar cables. medical cadres will use 50 million masks dur- cooperation with the various relevant state as masks when one of the shipments remained day a cable of congratulations to Queen Also, His Highness the Amir on Sunday ing the COVID-19 crisis. institutions. in the port for up to 30 days until the ministry of Denmark Margrethe II on her country’s sent a cable of congratulations to the King She pointed out that, during the last re- cleared it and referred it to its warehouses? National Day, wishing her all the best and of Sweden Carl XVI Gustaf on his coun- Logic maining year of the council’s life, the focus This led to the state budget incurring addi- more prosperity for her country. try’s National Day. His Highness the Crown Based on this logic, the contracts of the will be on the project to support recycling tional sums as a result of the delay in trans- His Highness the Crown Prince Sheikh Prince and His Highness the Prime Minister Ministry of Health reveal the lack of strategic factories, develop the Sulaibikhat beach, Meshaal Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah and also sent similar cables. follow up the maintenance of municipal- porting the shipment.” planning in government agencies, especially ity toilets, and follow up on the response The Ministry of Health addressed the State in times of crises. Its success in a specific file of the executive body to the questions and Audit Bureau on April 6, 2020 with a letter does not mean it has to be silent about its proposals submitted by Council members indicating that the departments’ need for exaggeration in wasting tens of millions of during the past three years, in addition to medical masks during the month of March dinars with little returns to the country and its following up on the adoption of the fourth 2020 was 145 million medical masks. people. structural plan and the adoption of the However, the State Audit Bureau, after Sources from the health sector revealed that building regulations and the amendment of verification, discovered that the monthly con- the Ministry of Health spent such a large contracts and hygiene regulations. sumption rate is much lower than the minis- amount on a single product. This is evidence try’s estimate. The bureau described this esti- of the lack of prudent plans for crisis manage- absence of general plans and policies for mate as an exaggeration and highlighted the ment, as an amount of approximately KD 80 inaccuracy in estimating the need, which led million would guarantee the establishment of managing crises and disasters, failure to ben- to charging the state budget with huge sums the largest factory in the Middle East for efit from the capabilities available in the that could have been avoided if it had verified manufacturing medical masks and other relat- country, and taking decisions without involv- the estimates and matched it with the actual ed products. ing the largest number of specialists and need for masks. It is known that running such industries is concerned authorities to benefit from their In summary, the ministry overestimated the not complicated, and Kuwait had succeeded expertise. need for masks and other necessities. It lacked in establishing four mask-manufacturing fac- Other negative effects are incurring huge vision in managing the health crisis and tories during the crisis. expenses using the public money at a time of ordered quantities without estimating their The mask file has emerged as a model for budget deficit without conducting sufficient expiry time. The cost of the imported quantity the lack of accurate assessment in the pur- feasibility studies on the government needs, was enough to build the largest factory for its chases of some government agencies. This and violation of the rules for implementing production locally. The budget was exhausted reveals several negative aspects such as the budgets of government agencies, as well by buying unnecessary quantities. Violations in public places, public transportation to be monitored Instant fi ne of KD 50 against violators of Ambassador Sibi George with Mrs Sibi planting the mango sapling. Indian envoy marks World Environment Day health measures including wearing mask Ambassador of India to Kuwait, H.E. vironment Day (June 5) at the em- Sibi George accompanied by Mrs bassy premises by planting a mango By Raed Yousef reconciliation clause in view of pertain to deliberately spreading to the executive regulations. Joice Sibi celebrated the World En- sapling. Al-Seyassah Staff the severe penalties, which is a the pandemic. In its report, the committee fi ne of KD 5,000 and imprison- It stressed that “reconciliation” said it legalized granting the sta- KUWAIT CITY, June 6: The ment for three months, due to will reduce pressure on the judici- tus of judicial police, and kept it Registration for Kuwaitis seeking jobs Health Affairs Committee has de- which the committee imposed a ary and achieve the desired deter- for the employees of the Ministry cided to impose an immediate fi ne KUWAIT CITY, June 6: The Civil Service tration phases have been set to accommo- fi ne. rence. of Health in the places affi liated Commission has announced the schedule date all job seekers including the gradu- of KD 50 on anyone who does not The report highlighted that, as The report indicated that the with the ministry, or subject to its comply with the health require- for the year 2021 for registering citizens ates of the second and summer semesters per the amendment, violations in committee had reservations about control and supervision. It refused who are looking for work. The schedule is from Kuwait University and the Public ments including wearing a mask. public places, gatherings, taxis granting the Minister of Interior to grant the Minister of Health the divided into three phases. The fi rst phase Authority for Applied Education and In its report on the amendment and public transportation will be the power to determine the cases authority to delegate people from is in the month of June, and those wish- Training. of the Health Precautions Law to monitored, and immediate fi ne in which reconciliation is not per- other parties, without prejudice to ing to register can do so through the CSC The 75th registration phase is from June prevent communicable diseases, will be imposed on violators in missible in order to reduce any the judicial scrutiny established website, reports Aljarida daily. 11 to June 25, the 76th is from August 20 the committee stated that the law cases other than those mentioned arbitrariness and achieve legisla- for the members of the police In a press release issued earlier this to September 3, and the 77th is from Octo- currently in force is devoid of a in Article 3 and Article 17 that tive stability, as this task was left force. week, CSC explained that the new regis- ber 22 to November 5. Bid to cut veg prices 6 out of 76 co-ops committed to direct purchase agreement KUWAIT CITY, June 6: Kuwait Farmers Union Chairman Abdullah Al-Dammak revealed that only six out of 76 coop- erative societies are committed to the direct purchase agree- ment, reports Al-Rai daily. This came after one week of implementing the ministerial decision on supporting local agricultural products through an agreement with cooperative societies to purchase directly from approved outlets -- Wafi r Company and the union. Al-Dammak told the daily that most cooperative socie- ties are not committed to the agreement, which is aimed at reducing the prices of vegetables and fruits in cooperatives. He pointed out the agreement stipulates selling local agricul- tural products in cooperatives without a mediator. He explained that cooperatives are obligated to purchase local agricultural products in the daily auction -- not less than 75 percent of their needs depending on the available supply. He said the purchase should be refl ected in system- ized invoices and it should be through the approved sales outlets. He added the Ministry of Social Affairs formed a com- mittee tasked to implement the decision and monitor coop- eratives, while attributing the cooperatives’ reluctance to abide by the agreement to the lack of coordination with the committee whose members are from the Consumer Protec- tion and Competition units at the Ministry of Commerce, the Public Authority for Agricultural Affairs and Fish Resources (PAAAFR) which is responsible for securing and marketing local agricultural products, and the Ministry of Social Affairs whose functions include activating the role of the fi nancial and administrative controllers in each cooperative society. ‘Need to protect Bedoun kids’ KUWAIT CITY, June 6: The Kuwait National Child Pro- tection Program (KNCPP) urged the need to address the suffering of the Bedoun residents, and for parents not to expose their children to dangers, reports Aljarida daily. In a press statement, KNCPP said it received with great sorrow the news of the death of a Bedoun child who was run over at a traffi c light where he used to sell fl owers to passersby. It called on all parties concerned with the care of chil- dren and families in need to address the suffering of the Bedoun community. ARAB TIMES, MONDAY, JUNE 7, 2021 LOCAL 5

Other Voices Use of force in Nagorno-Karabakh cannot bring lasting peace in region By Embassy of Republic of force. On the highest official levels, and ensuring security. continue their illegal presence in the Any action, with the use or threat this oppression. Armenia they constantly kept on making state- The above-mentioned article, how- Syunik and Gegharkunik provinces of of force cannot lead to sustainable There should be no illusion that the ments full of hatred and clear manifes- ever, has a totally distorted picture and the Republic of Armenia in violation peace and security. The current situa- results of the use of force, accompa- n 28-29 May 2021, an article tations of genocidal intent against the comments of the points of the state- of the sovereignty and territorial integ- tion in Nagorno-Karabakh is the nied by war crimes and violations of Otitled “Republic of Azerbaijan Armenian people. Moreover, they ment, which expose the subsequent rity of Armenia. This encroachment of result of a flagrant violation by international humanitarian law, can marks 103rd anniversary of its would cynically claim that “interna- steps of Azerbaijan in blatant violation the Azerbaijani armed forces into the Azerbaijan of several core principles ever become the basis for a lasting and Republic Day” was published in tional law does not work in the world of the provisions of the trilateral state- sovereign territory of Armenia, in fla- of International law, namely, refrain- sustainable peace in any region. Arab Times. today, and international treaties are ment. grant violation of international law, ing from the threat or use of force, Durable and sustainable peace can just a piece of paper, having no value.” Despite the fact that Article 9 of the One would normally assume such poses a serious threat to security and peaceful settlement of disputes, equal only be achieved through a compre- articles are about the celebration of a During the 44-day war, Azerbaijan, trilateral statement clearly stipulates stability in the region and beyond. The rights and self-determination of peo- in clear defiance of their international that all prisoners of war should have hensive settlement of the Nagorno- festive day for a country. It did not, Armenian Government is trying to ples, and respect for human rights and obligations and commitments and been released immediately after the resolve the situation peacefully to fundamental freedoms. Being refused Karabakh conflict, which must include however, serve the purpose of the writ- despite three ceasefire agreements bro- cessation of hostilities and despite defining the status of Nagorno- ers. Their main goal, apparently, turned avoid further escalation and casualties. of their basic rights to equality, dig- kered by Russia, France and the United numerous calls from the international However, the restraint of the Armenian nity, self-determination and peaceful Karabakh based on the realization of to be attacking Armenia and Nagorno- States, continued the offensive using community, Azerbaijan continues to the inalienable right of its people to Karabakh with baseless allegations, as side should not be seen as a sign of life in their homeland, the people of prohibited cluster and white phospho- use Armenian prisoners of war as a tolerance towards attempts to seize its Nagorno-Karabakh are subjected to self-determination; ensuring the safe well as hidden and unacceptable territo- rus munitions. tool against Armenia and Nagorno- sovereign territory. The Azerbaijani similar sufferings as the people of and dignified return of the displaced rial claims towards Armenia. Amnesty International’s crisis Karabakh. Moreover, Azerbaijan ini- troops must unconditionally withdraw Palestine. It is therefore lawful for population to their homes; and preser- We are not going to comment on the response experts identified Israeli- tiated against them fabricated crimi- from the territory of Armenia to their both peoples to count on the support vation of the region’s cultural and reli- obvious falsifications of history in the made M095 DPICM cluster muni- nal cases thereby openly violating initial positions. of international community in ending gious heritage. article, but it is mandatory to present tions, used by the Azerbaijani armed both the norms of international the reader with the true picture and the forces. The Cultural Centre of Shushi, humanitarian law and its obligations reality about the Nagorno-Karabakh as well as several cultural, religious, under the trilateral statement of 9 conflict, particularly the recent war and numerous civilian infrastructures November 2020. and its aftermath. were reportedly destroyed by Israeli- Furthermore, the armed forces of From 27 September to 9 November made LORA long-range quasi-ballistic Azerbaijan have violated the state bor- 2020, Azerbaijan launched a 44-day- missiles. der of the Republic of Armenia in the long full-scale war of aggression On 9 November 2020, the Prime Syunik province on 12 May 2021 against Nagorno-Karabakh with full Minister of Armenia joined the state- under the pretext of “demarcation and support of Turkey and the involvement ment of the Presidents of the Russian delimitation”, thus infiltrating into the of foreign terrorist fighters relocated Federation and Azerbaijan on the ces- sovereign territory of Armenia up to from Syria and elsewhere. For many sation of hostilities and the deploy- 3.5 kilometres. Similar incursions took years, Azerbaijan did not even hide ment of Russian peacekeeping forces place into the Gegharkunik province that its strategic goal was to resolve in Nagorno-Karabakh. The document of Armenia. the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict by was aimed at establishing a ceasefire To this date, the Azerbaijani troops KISR seeks to limit use of pesticides on agriculture Institute seeks healthy, safe food

KUWAIT CITY, June 6, (KUNA): The Environment and Life Sciences Research Center at the Kuwait Institute for Scientific Research announ- ced the completion of a project ‘Deve- loping Sustainable and Environm- entally Safe Strat- egies to Reduce Excessive Use of Toxic Pesticides on Invasive Agricult- ural Pests’ with the support of the Kuwait Foundation for the Advan- cement of Sciences. The institute said in a press statement that the project is among the important projects in the field of sustainable agriculture and would contribute to maintain- ing the safety of the environment in the long term and producing Inter-Council Networking event healthy and safe food in Kuwait. This project was super- Inter-Council Networking event vised by a group of research- ers from the Environment and Life Sciences Research aims to foster new relationships Center, Dr. Muhammad Al-Bahouh, Dr. Mustafa KUWAIT CITY, June 6: ABCK- BBF – British Business Forum Kuwait: Gallo and Benson Thomas. AmCham Kuwait, Australian Business Continuously supporting British Business Group Kuwait, British Business Forum interests in Kuwait for over 30 years the Kuwait, Canadian Business Council, BBF is a volunteer body supporting its German Business Council- Kuwait, and individual and corporate membership base Portuguese Business Council – Kuwait in Kuwait under the auspices of the British held their first Inter-Council networking Embassy. It is a non-profit organization event for 2021, to foster new relationships which supports through networking, spe- among member companies throughout the cial interest group and its member data- network of Chambers and Councils in the base the development of British -Kuwait State of Kuwait. business enterprises and relationships. The Inter-Council Networking event The BBF is also a strong supporter and facilitated fast-moving networking ses- fundraiser for UK based charities through sions for business owners and executives. its membership events and activities. For Attendees were placed into rooms with a more information contact our administra- few other individuals, and each attendee tion +965 5055 4114 got to interact with several professionals ❑ ❑ ❑ in the State of Kuwait, as they shared their The German Business Council own business profiles with other attend- Kuwait: The German Business Council ees. Kuwait is a non-profit organization and The Councils/Forums and Chambers business platform, founded in 2005, in represent together over 1,000 member order to promote and cultivate relations companies and millions of dollars of for- between German speaking individuals and eign investment in the State of Kuwait. companies with their counterparts from They are the go-to organizations in the the host country and the region. Monthly country for anything trade-related. business events and gatherings serve to As partners for their respective coun- increase the profile of the German- tries, the Councils and Chambers are speaking economic presence and provide devoted to supporting the development regular opportunities for networking and of commercial relations between exchange of information. The GBCK is Kuwait and their representative coun- conducting its operations in close and tries, but also focus heavily on net- trusting cooperation with the German working Kuwait’s business community Embassy in Kuwait and other German through unique events and programs authorities, as well as institutions from the year-round. German, Austrian and Swiss economies. ❑ ❑ ❑ PBCK- Portuguese Business Council Kuwait: At the Portuguese Business ABCK-AmCham Kuwait: Is a non-profit Council Kuwait we assist our members organization operating since 1985 and is entering the Kuwaiti market, doing busi- composed of 500 corporations, small and ness in Kuwait, and exporting to Kuwait. medium sized companies, and prominent We are also working with Kuwaiti busi- business leaders and entrepreneurs, both nesses to find products, technologies, ser- American and Kuwaiti. ABCK-AmCham vices, and partners from Portugal. We play Kuwait has acted as an advocate for an important role as advisors to Kuwaiti American interest in the state of Kuwait. companies on the different aspects of For More Information, please visit our investing and/or doing business in Portugal. website at www.amchamkuwait.org or Portugal offers Kuwait companies’ an follow us on social media channels at @ excellent opportunity to have a presence abck1985 in the European Union, a market with 445 ❑ ❑ ❑ million potential consumers. ARAB TIMES, MONDAY, JUNE 7, 2021 LOCAL 6

‘Delegation actual embodiment of distinguished bilateral relations between two countries’ Cuban medical delegation leaves Kuwait Monday, says ambassador KUWAIT CITY, June 6: The Cuban concluded between the two countries. Ambassador to Kuwait HE José Luis He explained -- in a statement to Al- Noriega disclosed the Cuban medical Anba -- the remaining members of the ‘Dhaman’ discusses health cooperation with Sudanese embassy delegation that came to Kuwait in June delegation (60 2020 to contribute to the fi ght against the doctors and nurs- KUWAIT CITY, June 6: Offi cials dor Al-Amin referred to the role of Al-Qena’i pointed out “as part of the an integrated health care system that Covid-19 pandemic will leave Kuwait, es) will leave for of the Health Insurance Hospitals Dhaman Company in employing continued application of international includes insurance programs as well Monday, June 7, reports Al-Anba daily. Cuba Monday. Company ‘Dhaman’ visited the Su- Sudanese medical staff, adding that standards in the healthcare sector, Dha- as building and operating a primary He explained the delegation of 298 He thanked danese embassy in Kuwait to discuss Sudan is looking forward to a greater man pays great attention to compre- health care system centers and hospi- doctors and nurses that arrived in Ku- the Kuwaiti au- opportunities for health cooperation contribution to the health care sector. hensive coordination, high effi ciency tals that cover all regions in Kuwait. wait worked on the front lines with thorities for the and a number of topics of common Acting CEO of Dhaman Company, and progress in the stage of preparing The meeting was attended by the their fellow Kuwaiti doctors. support provided interest, reports Al-Seyassah daily. Dr. Muhammad Al-Qena’i, said this the transfer of benefi ciaries from the Deputy Head of Mission at the embas- He noted some members of the del- to the delegation In a press statement yesterday, visit aims to enhance communication Ministry of Health to the company.” sy, Dr. Muhammad Ali, and from Dha- egation have returned to Cuba in two in carrying out Dhaman said the Sudanese Ambas- with various authorities, including He pointed out Dhaman was high- man, the acting director of the Medical batches, in August last year and Janu- their mission, sador, Abdel Moneim Al-Amin, ex- embassies and diplomatic institutions lighted as the fi rst public-private part- Services Department, Dr. Fatima bin ary of this year, and another batch of Noriega pointing out that pressed his appreciation to Kuwait to explain the role and objectives of nership (PPP) in Kuwait and the fi rst Dhafari, the Director of the Human Cuban doctors were brought into the this delegation for its efforts in providing integrated Dhaman Company, leading to inte- company in the Gulf to provide its Resources Department Ahmed Boure- country at the request of the Kuwaiti is an actual embodiment of the distin- health care services to residents and grated coordination between all par- services on the basis of the Healthcare sli, and the Director of the Public Rela- health authorities based on medical guished bilateral relations between the all members of society. ties, especially the benefi ciaries of the Maintenance Organization (HMO) tions and Institutional Communication cooperation agreement that has been two countries. The statement added Ambassa- company’s services. model through the establishment of Department Ali Al-Hamad. Minister stresses on importance of supporting local labor market ‘High and homogeneous academic inputs’

KUWAIT CITY, June 6, (Agencies): Minister of Oil and setting up the necessary controls and procedures to ensure quality education is achieved that meet international standards. Minister of Higher Education Dr. Muhammad Al-Fares He added the authority is working to improve quality higher education and as- stressed on Sunday the importance of supporting the lo- sess its qualitative level in addition to ensuring its effectiveness and supporting cal labor market with “high and homogeneous” academic local higher education institutions to acquire a leadership position at the regional level and to identify quality institutions of higher education outside the State of inputs, whether from inside or outside Kuwait, to enhance Kuwait. its global competitiveness. He praised the keenness of the former board members of the National Authority for Academic Accreditation and Education Quality Control and members of the Speaking during the 17th meeting of the Board of Directors of the Na- committees working in the authority for their sincere efforts, which had a great im- tional Authority for Academic Accreditation and Education Quality As- pact in formulating and implementing its policies and wished the current council surance, Minister Al-Fares praised the efforts of the authority and its keen- and the State of Kuwait continued progress and prosperity. ness to support the local labor market in line with Kuwait 2035 vision. For his part, Director-General of the Authority, Dr. Hamad Al-Adwani, said He explained the quality and the requirements of sound educational require after the meeting of the Board of Directors of the Authority that several topics were discussed, the most important of which were the developments of aca- Relations constantly developing: Feruta demic standards, evaluation controls KUNA photos and lists of accredited universities in Minister of Oil and Minister of Higher Education Dr Muhammad Al-Fares some countries. chairs the 17th meeting of the Board of Directors of the National Authority ‘Romania keen to enhance cooperation with Kuwait’ Al-Adwani added, the latest studies for Academic Accreditation to ensure the quality of education. and recommendations issued by the VIENNA, June 6, (KUNA): Romanian many fields. competent committees on the issue of State Secretary for Global Affairs and For his part, Ambassador Al-Hajri updating the lists of higher education Diplomatic Strategies Cornel Feruta told KUNA in a phone call that they institutions in the Cooperation Council stressed Sunday his country’s keen- discussed issues of common interest, Countries and the Arab nations were ness to enhance cooperation with Ku- in addition to the latest developments presented, and the authority took the wait in various fi elds. regarding the case of Kuwaiti citizen appropriate decisions in this regard. This came during his meeting with Mohammad Al-Baghli, who has been He stated that two memoranda of Kuwait Ambassador to Romania Talal missing in Romania since August understanding were also signed be- Al-Hajri. 2015, and urged the relevant Roma- KUNA photo tween the National Authority and the Following a letter received from nian authorities to exert more efforts to Quality Assurance Authority in Higher Minister of Foreign Affairs and Kuwait Ambassador to Roma- revel his fate. nia Talal Al-Hajri with Romanian Education in the United Kingdom Minister of State for Cabinet Af- Businessman Mohammad Al-Bagh- (QAA) and the Education and Train- fairs Sheikh Dr Ahmad Nasser Al- State Secretary for Global Affairs li, disappeared in mysterious circum- and Diplomatic Strategies Cornel ing Evaluation Authority in the King- Mohammad Al-Sabah to Romanian Feruta. stances in Kiya village in the Brahova dom of Saudi Arabia (ETEA), which Foreign Minister Bogdan Aurescu, district, north of the capital Bucharest will be used in the fi eld of training on Feruta said relations between Ku- wait are constantly developing in in 2015. academic accreditation processes for employees of the authority and other educational institutions in the country using the means of training and educa- tion through virtual workshops, and a certifi cate of training quality reference or training quality practitioner will be granted. He spoke of the possibility of provid- ing external arbitrators through the mem- orandum of understanding between the national authority and QAA in Higher Education in the United Kingdom and the Education and Training Evaluation Commission in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia for evaluation. He praised the “constructive and fruit- The Guest Show poster ful” cooperation and continuous coor- dination between the Authority and the TGS features Dr Carlo Piraino Ministry of Higher Education, which has greatly contributed to the continuous This Thursday, The Guest Show travelling for work to different coun- improvement of academic outputs in line will feature Dr Carlo Piraino, RN, tries, and spending his life in ser- with Kuwait’s vision of quality education DNP Chief Nursing Officer at Taiba vice of his patients. Here, on The to serve the labor market. Hospital. Apart from his work in Guest Show, Dr Piraino speaks of Graduate nursing, Dr Carlo is also actively in- his experience in nursing, discuss- volved in charity and philanthropy. es the qualifications and standards Last week, Minister Al-Fares has Dr Carlo has had an interesting life. of nursing in the US, the difference called on the concerned authorities to He started off his career in the US that nurses make to their patient’s increase the number of seats available Navy, travelled the world, gained lives, the challenges that nurses at the external missions and higher ed- his nursing degrees before entering are facing in the current pandemic ucation institutions inside the country civilian life. And since then, it has and his active and relentless role in more than the number of Kuwaiti stu- been another round of adventure, charity and philanthropy. dents expected to graduate from high school in the academic year 2021-2022 from the public and private schools. Burgan Bank announces names of daily The minister who chaired the meet- ing said this in his address to represen- lucky winners of ‘Yawmi’ account draw tatives of higher education institutions KUWAIT CITY, June 6: Burgan Bank minimum amount of KD 500 in their ac- in the presence of the Undersecretary announced today the names of the dai- count for two months prior to the draw of the Ministry of Higher Education, ly draw winners of its Yawmi account date. Additionally, every KD 10 in the the Undersecretary of the Ministry of draw, each taking home a cash-prize of account will entitle customers to one Education, the Secretary General of KD 5,000. chance of winning. If the account balance the Council of Private Universities, the The lucky winners are: is KD 500and above, the account holder Deans of Admission and Registration 1. HASSAN SALAH EL- will be qualifi ed for both the quarterly at the Kuwait University and the Pub- SADEK and daily draws. lic Authority for Applied Education 2. ALI SAYED ALI Burgan Bank encourages everyone and Training. 3. AHMAD RAMZI MO- to open a Yawmi account and/or in- Minister Al-Fares said the mecha- HAMMAD crease their deposit to maximize their nism for determining the number of 4. AMER ABDULQADER chances of becoming a winner. The students belongs to each educational ALAWADHI higher the level of the deposit, the institution according to its capacity. 5. BASHAYER MOHAMAD higher the likelihood to win. He explained those willing to join ALSHATTI For more information on opening what he called the ‘external and in- In addition to the daily draw, Burgan a Yawmi account, the new quarterly ternal missions’ will happen between Bank also offers a Quarterly Draw with draw or on any of the bank’s products June 19 and July 5, while applications more chances to win higher rewards, of- and services, customers are urged to at the Kuwait University will be from fering the chance to one lucky customer visit their nearest Burgan Bank branch, July 4 to July 14, while at the Public to win KD 125,000 every three months. or simply call the bank’s Call Center at Authority for Applied Education and The Yawmi Account offers Daily and 1804080. Customers can also log on to Training is from July 3 to July 29. Quarterly Draws, wherein the Quarterly Burgan Bank’s www.burgan.com for He assured the Kuwaiti male and fe- Draw requires customers to maintain a further information. male students -- high school graduates -- to review and coordinate admission plans in higher education institutions and internal and external missions for the academic year 2021-2022. The minister stated the main objective of this annual meeting, which comes be- fore the expected announcement of the results of exams of high school students on June 28, 2021 is for the Ministry of Education, to review the number of Ku- waiti students expected to graduate from the general secondary school, in both the scientifi c and literary streams from the public and private schools, and “to ensure the availability of suffi cient seats for our students in higher education institutions.” Minister Al-Fares noted that the Ministry’s goal is to take care of all Kuwaiti students academically and to prepare distinguished graduates who are able to compete in the local and global labor market to achieve Ku- wait’s vision 2035. ARAB TIMES, MONDAY, JUNE 7, 2021 INTERNATIONAL 7

America America

Bid to seize control of Congress ‘Divisions to deepen’ Manchin says will Trump’s ‘grievances’ ‘vote’ against bill WASHINGTON, June 6, (AP): cloud GOP’s agenda A key Democratic senator says he will not vote for the largest RALEIGH, June 6, (AP): Repub- biggest challenges if given the overhaul of licans are fi ghting to seize control chance. U.S. election of Congress. Just don’t ask what Party leaders acknowledge it law in at least they’d do if they win. could be another year or more be- a generation, Look no further for evidence fore Republicans develop a clear defying his of the GOP’s muddled governing governing agenda. In the mean- party and the agenda than battleground North time, Trump, who is focused on White House Carolina, where party leaders the past far more than the future, and virtually packed into a convention hall Sat- plans to become a regular cam- guaranteeing urday night to cheer former presi- paign fi xture again. Building on the failure of dent Donald Saturday’s North Carolina appear- the legislation Manchin Trump. Even ance, his advisers are eying poten- after a near with a high- tial rallies in states with top Sen- party-line approval in the House. stakes US ate races in 2020, including Ohio, “Voting and election reform Senate elec- Florida, Alabama and Georgia. that is done in a partisan man- tion looming, In an interview, Florida Sen ner will all but ensure partisan the Repub- Rick Scott, who leads the Senate Former US President Donald Trump speaks at the North Carolina Republican Convention, June 5, in Greenville, divisions continue to deepen,’’ licans there Republican political arm, offered N.C. (AP) Sen. t of West Virginia wrote were united a lukewarm response when asked in a home-state newspaper, the not by any about Trump’s role in the upcom- Charleston Gazette-Mail. consistent set ing campaign. He said that failure to bring of conserva- “We both want to take back the News in Brief together both parties on voting Meckler tive policies majority in 2022. I tell him what legislation would “risk further or principles, I’m doing, and I’d love to get his dividing and destroying the re- but by Trump’s groundless griev- support,” Scott said of Trump. Pope voices ‘pain’: Pope Francis on hospital in the town of Phulra. tie Parker declared victory Saturday as public we swore to protect and ances about the 2020 election and He balked when asked whether Sunday expressed his pain over the dis- Deadly accidents are common in Paki- the next mayor of Fort Worth, Texas, defend as elected offi cials.” his attacks against critics in both Trump should serve as the face of covery in Canada of the remains of 215 stan due to poor road infrastructure and keeping it one of America’s biggest cit- Restrict parties. the Republican Party for the mid- Indigenous students of church-run boarding disregard for traffic laws and safety stan- ies with a GOP mayor. terms, when control of the House, schools and pressed religious and political dards. The 37-year-old Parker was in a runoff The bill would restrict partisan The lack of a forward-looking Last week, a passenger bus fell into with Deborah Peoples, a former Democratic gerrymandering of congressional agenda stands in stark contrast to Senate and dozens of governor- authorities to shed light on “this sad affair.” ships are at stake. But he didn’t offer the apology sought by Jehlum River near Muzaffarabad, the county chairwoman who would have been districts, strike down hurdles to successful midterm elections of the Canadian prime minister. capital of Pakistani-controlled Kashmir, the city’s first Black mayor. Peoples con- voting and bring transparency to past years, particularly 1994 and Race Francis, in remarks to faithful gathered killing 10 people and injuring 15. (AP) ceded defeat as Parker had more than 53% a murky campaign fi nance sys- 2010, when Republicans swept “The face of the party is each in St Peter’s Square, also called on the au- ❑ ❑ ❑ of the vote with ballots still being counted. tem that allows donors to anony- into power after staking clear thorities to foster healing but made no refer- Parker will succeed her former boss, mously bankroll political causes. individual race,” Scott said, not- 11 killed in roadside bombing: A positions on health care, federal ing that there will be hundreds of ence to Prime Minister Justin Trudeau’s outgoing Fort Worth Mayor Betsy Price, Among dozens of other provisions, spending and crime, among other insistence, two days earlier, that the Vatican minivan carrying civilian passengers in a Republican who is retiring after 10 Republican candidates on midterm northwest Afghanistan was hit by a road- it would require states to offer 15 issues. Without such a strategy ballots. “The party is those people, apologize and take responsibility. years and was the longest-serving mayor days of early voting and allow no- heading into 2022, Republicans on From the 19th century until the 1970s, side bomb, leaving at least 11 passengers of the booming city that is closing in on 1 it’s not one person, it’s not one dead, including three children, an Af- excuse absentee balloting. the ballot risk allowing themselves more than 150,000 Indigenous children million residents. Senate Majority Leader Chuck person’s agenda.” ghan official said Sunday. Although the election was officially to be wholly defi ned by Trump, For now, when Republicans were forced to attend state-funded Chris- Schumer, D-N.Y., told colleagues tian schools, the majority of them run by The minivan fell into a valley with nonpartisan, it resembled a Texas battle- who lost his last election by 7 mil- are not aligning themselves with the wave of the explosion Saturday, said that he would bring the elections lion votes nationally and has seen Roman Catholic missionary congrega- ground race: Republican Gov. Greg Ab- Trump, they’re focusing much Badghis provincial Gov. Hesamuddin bott endorsed Parker and county GOP measure to a vote the week of June his popularity slide further, even tions, in a campaign to assimilate them 21, in effect testing where senators of their energy on culture wars into Canadian society. Shams, adding that rescuers were still officials brought in activists from around among some Republicans, since and railing against President Joe searching for bodies in the valley. the state to stop Democrats who craved a stand. But without Manchin’s sup- leaving offi ce in January. The Canadian government has admit- Biden’s agenda. Biden, backed by ted that physical and sexual abuse was No one immediately claimed responsi- high-profile win in Texas after a letdown port, the bill is unlikely to garner “I’m unaware of a GOP agenda. I narrow Democratic majorities in rampant in the schools, with students bility for the explosion but the provincial in 2020. (AP) even a majority. Republicans are would love to see one,” said Texas- the House and Senate, has already beaten for speaking their native languag- government accuses the Taliban of plac- ❑ ❑ ❑ united against it. based conservative activist and for- adopted a $1.9 trillion pandemic es. (AP) ing the bomb to target security forces. Manchin said lawmakers mer tea party leader Mark Meckler. relief package that was widely ❑ ❑ ❑ There was no immediate response from Protest erupts again: Protesters should instead focus their ener- “Nobody knows what they’re popular among voters. Now, he’s the Taleban. (AP) faced off with officers in Minneapolis gies on revitalizing the landmark about,” he said of today’s Repub- pushing a massive infrastructure Van falls into river, kills 7: A mini- ❑ ❑ ❑ early Saturday over the shooting death of Voting Rights Act, which was van fell from a mountain road into a river a Black man by members of a US Mar- licans. “They do this at their own package that polls suggest could Mattie Parker is next mayor: Mat- weakened by a Supreme Court peril.” be equally popular. Sunday in northwestern Pakistan, killing shals task force. decision in 2013. Republican The GOP’s embrace of Trump’s seven people and injuring three others, a Photos from the scene following a Sen. Lisa Murkowski of Alaska Gov Larry Hogan, R-Md., vigil for Winston Boogie Smith Jr, 32, self-serving priorities has almost worries that Republicans could rescue official said. has joined him in calling for that completely consumed the party’s Ahmed Faizi, spokesman for Paki- showed dumpster fires in the street and squander built-in advantages in stan’s rescue service, said the van fell a line of officers standing guard. It was approach. long-standing commitment to fi s- their quest to win back control of into Siren River in the district of Man- the second night of protests in response Manchin’s opposition to the cal discipline, free markets and Congress and expand their advan- sehra in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province. to the fatal shooting Thursday in Minne- broader elections bill is just the even the rule of law. That leaves tage with governorships. In recent He said the fall apparently happened be- apolis’ Uptown neighborhood. latest challenge facing Demo- Republican candidates from North history, the party out of the White cause the van was speeding when it made Police said 27 people were arrested crats as they enter the summer Carolina to North Dakota unwill- House has almost always made a sharp turn without slowing down. in the protest, with 26 accused of riot- work period under rising pres- ing or unable to tell voters how signifi cant gains in the fi rst mid- Faizi said the bodies of two women, ing and one facing a weapons charge. No sure to deliver on their promises they would address the nation’s term election of a new presidency. a boy and four men were recovered and injuries were reported. Some businesses to voters. three injured children were taken to a Trudeau Parker sustained damage, police said. (AP) Normandy commemorates D-Day COLLEVILLE-SUR-MER, France, erty to regain a foothold on the European actly 77 years since the dawn invasion. June 6, (AP): When the sun rises over continent, and who in the days and weeks For the second year in a row, anni- Omaha Beach, revealing vast stretches of that followed lifted the shackles of tyran- versary commemorations are marked wet sand extending toward distant cliffs, ny, hedgerow by Normandy hedgerow, by virus travel restrictions that pre- one starts to grasp the immensity of the mile by bloody mile,” Britain’s ambas- vented veterans or families of fallen task faced by Allied soldiers on June 6, sador to France, Lord Edward Llewelyn, soldiers from the U.S., Britain, Canada 1944, landing on the Nazi-occupied Nor- said at the inauguration of a new British and other Allied countries from mak- mandy shore. Several ceremonies were monument to D-Day’s heroes. ing the trip to France. Only a few of- being held Sunday to commemorate the On D-Day, more than 150,000 Al- fi cials were allowed exceptions. 77th anniversary of the decisive assault lied troops landed on the beaches code- At the U.K. ceremony near the vil- that led to the liberation of France and named Omaha, Utah, Juno, Sword and lage of Ver-sur-Mer, bagpipes played western Europe from Nazi control, and Gold, carried by 7,000 boats. This year memorial tunes and warplanes zipped honor those who fell. on June 6, the beaches stood vast and overhead trailing red-white-and-blue “These are the men who enabled lib- nearly empty as the sun emerged, ex- smoke. Etsy to buy Depop, a used clothing app popular with Gen Z

Etsy said that it will buy Depop, known for selling handmade pers looking for unique items demic. And big brands, such an app that’s popular among soaps and jewelry, a bigger to wear that costs less than as Levi’s and Patagonia, are This file photo young people looking to buy chunk of the vintage clothing new ones and keeps the old reselling used jeans and fleece shows an Etsy and sell used clothing and vin- market and access to millions stuff from heading to the land- jackets on their own sites. mobile credit tage fashions from the early of Gen Z shoppers - the gen- fill. The total secondhand mar- card reader, in 2000s. eration born between the late Several sites and apps ket, currently worth roughly New York. New York-based Etsy said it 1990s and about 2016. About have made it easier to trade $30 billion, is expected to more (AP) will pay $1.6 billion for Depop 90% of Depop’s users are used clothing. than double to $64 billion by and plans to run it as a stand- under the age of 26. Online resellers ThredUp 2024, according to GlobalData. alone company in London, Secondhand clothing has and Poshmark, both of which Etsy said it expects the deal where it is currently based. become popular in recent went public this year, have to close before the end of The deal gives Etsy, best years, sought out by shop- thrived even during the pan- September. (AP)

Market Movements 04-06-2021 Change Closing pts Change Closing pts SAUDI - Tadawul +41.49 10,698.30 JAPAN - Nikkei -116.59 28,941.52 UK - FTSE 100 +4.69 7,069.04 UAE - DFM -15.10 2,824.04 EUROPE - Euro Stoxx 50 +10.14 4,089.38 EGYPT - EGX 30 -66.14 10,054.81 PHILIPPINES - PSEi +4.47 6,796.34 INDIA - Sensex -132.38 52,100.05 PAKISTAN - KSE 100 +118.17 48,211.70 SINGAPORE - Straits Times STI -13.96 3,151.04 Business Burgan Bank holds its 55th AGM Shareholders approve cash dividend of 5 fils and 5% stock dividend

KUWAIT CITY, June 6: Burgan Bank held its 55th ‘Step in the right direction’ Ordinary Annual General Assembly meeting on Sunday, 6th June 2021 at Biden halts oil, gas leases KIPCO Tower, with a quo- rum of 84.5%. in Alaska’s ‘Arctic refuge’ The Board of Directors of the bank submitted to its shareholders the financial WASHINGTON, June 6, (AP): The square kilometers). However, the issu- results achieved for the past year ending on Biden administration suspended oil ance of the leases was not announced December 31, 2020, which reflected the and gas leases in Alaska’s Arctic publicly until Jan. 19, former President bank’s ability to maintain resilient reve- National Wildlife Refuge, reversing a Donald Trump’s last full day in office. nues while delivering on its strategic initia- drilling program approved by the Biden has opposed drilling in the tives despite the unprecedented challenges. Trump administration and reviving a region, and environmental groups The bank’s shareholders approved the dis- political fight over a remote region have been pushing for permanent pro- tribution of dividend of 5 fils per share and that is home to polar bears and other tections, which Biden called for during 5% stock dividend. During the General wildlife - and a rich reserve of oil. the presidential campaign. Assembly, two non-independent Board The order by Interior Secretary Deb The administration’s action to sus- Members were elected for this year, Ms. Haaland follows a temporary moratori- pend the leases comes after officials Entisar Al Suwaidi and Mr. Abdullah Masoud M.J. Hayat, Vice-Chairman and Group CEO of Burgan Bank Group, Majed Essa Al Ajeel, Chairman of Burgan Bank Group, and Raed Al-Haqhaq, Deputy Group Chief Executive Officer & CEO-Kuwait. um on oil and gas lease activities disappointed environmental groups last Mohammed Al-Mansour imposed by President Joe Biden on his week by defending a Trump administra- During the meeting, Majed Essa first day in office. Biden’s Jan. 20 execu- tion decision to approve a major oil Al-Ajeel, Burgan Bank’s Chairman tive order suggested a new environmen- project on Alaska’s North Slope. Critics highlighted that the bank has proved tal review was needed to address possi- say the action flies in the face of Biden’s its resilience throughout these diffi- ble legal flaws in a drilling program pledges to address climate change. cult times. The bank posted FY’20 approved by the Trump administration The Justice Department said in a Revenues of KD 212.8mn with sta- under a 2017 law enacted by Congress. court filing that opponents of the ble levels of Non-Interest Income of After conducting a required review, Willow project in the National KD 72.8mn, and expenses of KD Interior said it “identified defects in Petroleum Reserve-Alaska were seek- 97.2mn falling by 5% and leading to the underlying record of decision sup- ing to stop development by “cherry- Operating Profit of KD 115.5mn. porting the leases, including the lack picking” the records of federal agen- Customer Loans and Advances grew of analysis of a reasonable range of cies to claim environmental review by 1.4% to KD 4.3bn and Customer alternatives’’ required under the law violations. The filing defends the Deposits grew by 2.5% to KD 4.1bn. National Environmental Policy Act, a reviews underpinning last fall’s deci- He also highlighted the Q4 success- bedrock environmental law. sion approving project plans. ful issue of USD 500mn Tier 2 The remote, 19.6 million-acre ref- Kristen Miller, acting executive direc- Capital securities, further strength- uge is home to polar bears, caribou, tor of the Alaska Wilderness League, ening the bank’s Capital Adequacy snowy owls and other wildlife, includ- hailed suspension of the Arctic leasing Ratio to 18.3%. ing migrating birds from six conti- program, which she said was the result In a year of unprecedented change, nents. Republicans and the oil industry of a flawed legal process under Trump. Al-Ajeel touched upon Burgan Bank’s have long been trying to open up the “Suspending these leases is a step in efforts to actively support its customers, oil-rich refuge, which is considered the right direction, and we commend employees and the community through a sacred by the Indigenous Gwich’in, the Biden administration for commit- host of measures. These included post- A section of the attendees during the AGM for drilling. Democrats, environmental ting to a new program analysis that ponement of loan installments for 6 groups and some Alaska Native tribes prioritizes sound science and adequate months for retail clients and SME cli- and Group CEO, highlighted the bank’s concentrated on reinforcing and empow- Burgan pursued its efforts to boost the have been trying to block it. tribal consultation,’’ she said. ents, deferral of interest servicing for strategic key pillars which include ering our talent pool by providing spe- Cybersecurity Framework given the Environmental groups and More action is needed, Miller said, corporate and private banking customers human development, sustainability, digi- cialized learning and development increased usage of online channels, Democrats cheered the Interior calling for a permanent cancellation of on a case-by-case basis and a smooth tal transformation, and asset realloca- opportunities. and to enhance the user access man- Department order, while Alaska’s all- the leases and repeal of the 2017 law functioning of all client channels includ- tion. He stressed on the bank’s long-term Raed Al-Haqhaq, Deputy Group agement with threat intelligence and Republican congressional delegation mandating drilling in the refuge’s ing 24/7 access to contact centers. sustainability efforts and pointed out Chief Executive Officer & CEO-Kuwait monitoring. The bank has also slammed it as misguided and illegal. coastal plain. Burgan has also established and commit- how the past year emphasized the utmost of Burgan Bank, continued to highlight launched the first of its kind merchant- The U.S. Bureau of Land The drilling mandate was included in ted to the highest level of health and importance of sustainability in the way the bank’s strategic initiatives by focus- only application in the region – Management, an Interior agency, held a massive tax cut approved by congres- safety standards throughout its network we do business. In implementing these ing on its digital transformation journey. Tijarati, and a new improved a lease sale for the refuge’s coastal sional Republicans during Trump’s first of branches, ATMs and offices. goals, we have prioritized the focus on During 2020, Burgan’s online portal WhatsApp business service. Moving plain on Jan. 6, two weeks before year in office. Republicans said it could Commenting on the bank’s focus on developing our human element that we and mobile banking application under- forward, many more important mile- Biden took office. Eight days later the generate an estimated $1 billion over 10 its strategy throughout 2020, Masoud M. consider the main pillar in putting our went a major upgrade that was received stones are planned this year for our agency signed leases for nine tracts years, a figure Democrats call preposter- J. Hayat, Burgan Bank’s Vice Chairman strategy in practice. We have therefore with very positive clients’ feedback. digital journey. totaling nearly 685 square miles (1,770 ously overstated. Optimistic outlook for 2021 Hope for US boost pushes the luxury goods recovery MILAN, June 6, (AP): Luxury brands are already cashing in on promises of a 21st-century version of the “Roaring ‘20s” in the United States, where hefty stimulus packages and an advanced vaccine campaign are accelerating post-pandemic recovery in high-end sales, according to a new study by Bain & Co. consultancy released on Monday. The rapidly rebounding U.S. economy together with China - already on an established growth trajectory - could push the global market for personal luxury goods back to or even beyond pre-pandemic sales levels as early as this year, Bain partner Claudia D’Arpizio said. “We expect a very positive cycle that is just starting in the United States, where luxury brands can really take advan- tage,’’ D’Arpizio told The Associated Press, citing the stimulus and positive stock market reaction. “This together with the fact that probably consumers are already back to normal in terms of traveling, is pushing the recovery of luxury goods.” In its most optimistic outlook, Bain forecasts a full recov- ery and even growth to as much as 295 billion euros ($358 billion) as soon as this year. A more cautions scenario puts recovery to 2019 levels off until 2022. Sales of luxury apparel, jewelry, leather goods and beauty prod- ucts plunged to 217 billion euros in the pandemic year of 2020, from 281 billion euros in 2019, shedding six years of growth. Europe remains the laggard, with tourism flows from abroad still suppressed by a vaccine campaign that is behind that of the U.S. Other bright spots include the Middle East, in particular Dubai, which attracted high net worth individuals during the pandemic. “They did vaccinations very quickly and many wealthy people during the winter moved to working remote- ly from Dubai,’’ D’Arpizio said. The pandemic is proving to be an accelerator in trends that were already happening, including more e-commerce, an emphasis on greater inclusivity, a push toward sustain- ability and embrace of the second-hand market, she noted. E-commerce grew to 23% percent of sales in 2020 from 12% in 2019, a bit more than a decade into the phenomenon. It is expected to reach 30% by 2025. The result is likely to be a rethink of retail footprints, with some reductions, but also emphasis on customer experience to support the on-line presence, both in terms of social media and retailing,’ D’Arpizio said. The second-hand market helps brands emphasize the lon- gevity and value of their products, she noted, qualities that are especially attractive for younger consumers who are starting to power the market. Collectible sneakers, vintage bags by such brands as Prada or Hermes and even second- hand watches are developing a cachet all their own. “There is a brand equity element,’’ D’Arpizio said. “This is a space where some brands were skeptical and scared, but now they are trying to understand the consumer dynamic and partner with players or develop second-hand platforms themselves.” ARAB TIMES, MONDAY, JUNE 7, 2021 BUSINESS 9

US extends deadline letting Chevron stay in Venezuela This fi le photo shows The Biden administration on Tuesday berger, until Dec. 1 to carry out essential est oil reserves, yet its political upheaval oil drills in Maracaibo gave Chevron Corp. and several other work on oil wells that preserves its as- and economic crunch have led more Lake in Venezuela’s American companies six more months sets and employment levels in the South than 5 million people in recent years to oil rich Zulia state. to wind down their operations in Ven- American nation. It leaves unchanged a fl ee their country, where many lack basic The Biden administra- ezuela. ban in place since last year prohibiting services like running water, electricity, tion on June 1, gave The special license exempting the the companies from producing or export- gasoline and functioning hospitals. Chevron Corp. and companies from U.S. sanctions comes ing oil. The earlier license, also for six Like the Trump administration, the several other Ameri- as the Biden administration reviews the months, was set to expire June 3. Biden White House has harshly de- can companies six U.S. policy that seek to starve President California-based Chevron is the last nounced Maduro as a “dictator” and con- more months to wind Nicolás Maduro’s socialist government major U.S. oil company to do business tinues to press for free and fair elections down their operations of badly needed oil revenue. in crisis-wracked Venezuela, having fi rst after the opposition sat out the 2018 vote in Venezuela. (AP) It allows Chevron and other compa- invested in the country in the 1920s. when several candidates were barred nies, including Halliburton and Schlum- Venezuela sits atop the world’s larg- from running. (AP)

Nearly 5 bln doses needed for the region of almost 3 billion people Asia-Pacifi c trade ministers mull vaccine access, supply BANGKOK, June 6, (AP): Improved countries. These are “extraordinary times,” access to coronavirus vaccines and While some countries at times O’Connor said. “We believe if there other tools needed to fi ght the pan- have limited exports of vaccines, clearly are barriers to the rollout demic are vital to crushing the pan- chemicals needed to make them or of of vaccines caused by IP, then we demic and hastening a recovery, protective equipment such as surgi- should seek a waiver.” offi cials said Saturday in an online cal masks, it’s unclear whether tariffs “We’re actually really encouraged meeting of Pacifi c Rim economies. and other trade barriers have been the to see more WTO members come The unprecedented crisis brought main problem since countries like Ja- forth with proposals on what they on by COVID-19 requires a coor- pan and New Zealand imposed oner- can support at the WTO with respect dinated, cooperative response, said ous approval requirements that have to the intellectual property rules of New Zealand’s Trade and Export slowed inoculations. the WTO and how they apply to the Growth Minister Damien O’Connor, The average tariff on vaccines is COVID vaccine,” said US Trade who hosted the meeting. The a low 0.8%, according to the APEC Representative Katherine Tai. 21-member APEC gathers econo- Secretariat. But duties on some other She said the US was carefully re- mies all along the Pacifi c Rim, from products such as freezing equipment, viewing proposals on the issue and tiny Brunei to the United States to vials and alcohol solutions can be as hoping to move toward “text-based Chile and New Zealand. One of its high as 30% for some countries. negotiations.” At a vaccine summit long-term aims is to promote a free Control of patents for the vaccines last month, the head of the WTO said trade area of the Asia-Pacifi c region. is a contentious issue. The US has it was also crucial to diversify manu- The focus Saturday was on “the urged countries and pharmaceutical facturing and have more jabs pro- most pressing problem our region companies to waive COVID-19 pat- duced in Africa and Latin America. faces, getting people vaccinated ents to help increase supplies, and Much is at stake. Beyond potential against COVID-19 as quickly as offi cials said they expected to dis- lives saved or lost, trade in vaccines possible,” O’Connor said, adding cuss that issue during their talks this and related supplies and equipment he would be asking his counterparts weekend. was estimated at $418.5 billion in how they could speed up trade in vac- But some say such intellectual 2019, according to the latest avail- cines and other needed goods. In this fi le photo, containers are loaded onto a ship for export at Lyttelton Port near Christchurch, New Zealand. property rights are crucial for boost- able data, and likely surged in 2020. “The successful distribution of Trade ministers from the Pacifi c rim were discussing ways to build back better from the pandemic in an online ing vaccine production and should The APEC meeting additionally vaccines across our region will be meeting Saturday, June 5, 2021, hosted by New Zealand. (AP) not be waived. A broad waiver of focused on “building back better” critical to our recovery,” he said. such rights requires a consensus un- by reallocating resources to improve APEC has long focused on dis- In much of the Asia-Pacifi c region, among the worst among all devel- doses of surplus vaccine overseas der World Trade Organization rules, health care, education and social mantling trade barriers, and many of the share of people vaccinated so far oped nations in vaccinating their through the United Nations-backed O’Connor said. safety nets. Even with the region still its members are still struggling to ob- is in the low single digits. That in- people for COVID-19, below some COVAX program, promising infu- “We’re very mindful that the de- staggering from the pandemic and tain and deploy enough COVID-19 cludes places like Thailand and Tai- developing countries such as Brazil sions for Asia, South and Central velopment of the intellectual property tourism still paralyzed by quaran- vaccines to vanquish coronavirus wan that initially managed to avoid and India. Australia is also perform- America, Africa and others. is what’s enabled us to very quickly tines and border restrictions, Pacifi c fl are-ups. initial massive outbreaks but have ing comparatively poorly. That would be a substantial and get vaccines developed, in a time we Rim economies are forecast to regain Nearly 5 billion doses are still seen cases rebound recently. This week, President Joe Biden immediate boost to the lagging CO- previously haven’t seen across the momentum this year, with growth needed for the region of almost 3 bil- APEC members Japan, South announced the US will swiftly do- VAX effort, which to date has shared globe,” he said. “We have to respect rebounding to more than 6% from a lion people, O’Connor noted. Korea and New Zealand are ranked nate an initial allotment of 25 million just 76 million doses with needy that intellectual property.” 1.9% contraction in 2020. US businesses struggle to fi ll jobs even as hiring ‘picks up’

Employers added 559,000 jobs in May

WASHINGTON, June 6, (AP): Hiring in the United States picked up in May yet was slowed again by the struggles of many companies to fi nd enough workers to keep up with the economy’s swift recovery from the pandemic recession. US employers added 559,000 jobs last month, the Labor Department said Friday, an improvement from April’s sluggish increase of 278,000. Yet the gain fell well short of employers’ need for labor. The unemploy- ment rate fell to 5.8% from 6.1%. The speed of the rebound, fueled by substan- tial federal aid and rising vaccinations, has cre- ated a disconnect between businesses and the unemployed: While companies are rushing to add workers immediately, many of the unemployed are still holding back. Some of the jobless are likely seeking better positions than they had be- fore the pandemic triggered widespread layoffs. Or they still lack affordable child care. A man walks into 5th Avenue Deli and Grill, Friday, June 4, 2021, in Mayfi eld Heights, Ohio. Others still worry about contracting COV- Hiring in the United States picked up in May yet was slowed again by the struggles of many ID-19 or have decided to retire early. And a tem- companies to fi nd enough workers to keep up with the economy’s swift recovery from the porary $300-a-week federal unemployment ben- pandemic recession. (AP) efi t, on top of regular state jobless aid, has likely led many unemployed Americans to take time to He’s been getting by on unemployment ben- maintenance workers. Yet the 2,700-person com- consider their options. efi ts, boosted by the $300-a-week federal sup- pany still has 300 positions open nationwide. That mismatch between employers and job plement. But Georgia is eliminating the federal Nationally last month, the bulk of the job seekers resulted in the sharp slowdown in hiring benefi t on June 26. Nearly half the states - all led growth was at hotels, restaurant and bars, which in April, when businesses added far fewer jobs by Republican governors - will cut off the extra gained 220,000 positions. Retailers lost jobs for than economists had forecast and many fewer aid starting this month. Many businesses have a second straight month. And despite a hot hous- than had been hired in March. The disconnect blamed the federal benefi t for discouraging some ing market, the construction industry shed 20,000 eased somewhat in May. But economists say it of the jobless from taking work. jobs, its second straight month of cuts, likely re- will likely persist until early fall, when schools “It’s really going to be a hardship,’’ Rowe said, fl ecting supply shortages and soaring costs for reopen, COVID-19 fades further and federal un- noting that he’s already dropped cable television building materials. service to save money. employment benefi ts end. Raised “There is a gap between the economy and la- Labor Secretary Marty Walsh said Friday that bor market,” said Nela Richardson, chief econo- the complaints from businesses about the federal The economy expanded last quarter at a ro- mist at the payroll processing fi rm ADP. May’s jobless aid is “a distraction” and noted that the bust 6.4% annual rate, and economists envi- job gains, she said, are “more lackluster than one number of people applying for unemployment aid sion growth in the current quarter reaching a would expect given the strong state of economic is falling steadily. sizzling pace of 9% or more. All that growth, growth.” Eric Winograd, an economist at AllianceBern- driven by higher spending, has raised inflation The May jobs report offered a number of signs stein, an investment management fi rm, said there fears. But for now, it has mainly propelled de- that companies are trying harder to fi nd work- are still about 7 million people not searching for mand for labor. ers. They’re offering more money, for one thing. work – and so aren’t counted as unemployed – Though the economy still has 7.6 million fewer Average hourly pay jumped for a second straight but who say in government surveys that they want jobs than it did before the pandemic struck, job month, especially in the leisure and hospitality a job. That’s about 50% higher than before the postings in late May were nearly 26% above pre- industry, which includes restaurants, bars, hotels pandemic. pandemic levels, according to the employment and amusement parks. Hourly wages for all work- “That is compelling evidence that there is a website Indeed. Government data shows that ers in that industry, except managers, were 6.4% large pool of workers who will return to work posted jobs have reached their highest level on higher in May compared with pre-pandemic lev- when they feel that it is safe or when they are able record dating back to 2000. els - a substantial gain. to sort out child care,” Winograd said. Consumers are opening their wallets. In April, For now, many large chains, including Ama- they increased their spending after a huge gain Declined zon, Walmart, Costco, and Chipotle, have raised in March that was fueled by the distribution of And the number of unemployed who say their starting pay to try to attract more applicants. And $1,400 stimulus checks. With more Americans jobs are permanently lost declined in May by the the average work week remained elevated last feeling comfortable about staying in hotels and most in fi ve months. That’s an encouraging sign week, which suggests that businesses, struggling visiting entertainment venues, spending on ser- that companies are going beyond just recalling to hire, are working their current staffs for longer vices jumped. workers they had laid off in the pandemic. hours. Becky Frankiewicz, president of the temporary Yet many of those jobs are still low-paying and Some smaller companies have also boosted staffi ng fi rm Manpower Group’s North American not appealing to many Americans – people like pay and taken other steps to fi ll jobs, but are still division, said many of the fi rm’s clients are rais- Marcellus Rowe, who has been unemployed since looking for more workers. National Church Resi- ing pay and benefi ts to try to attract more appli- he lost his $16-an-hour job at the Metropolitan dences, a provider of senior living centers based cants. Some of these companies, particularly in Atlanta Rapid Transit Agency in November 2019. in Columbus, Ohio, with 340 locations around manufacturing and warehousing, are also trying Rowe, 29, says the only jobs he sees being ad- the country, steadily raised its minimum wage other tactics, like paying their workers weekly or vertised for someone like him pay scarcely more to $14.50 an hour over several years before the even daily, rather than every two weeks. Man- than $9 or $10 for work in restaurants and small pandemic. power is also encouraging its clients to make job shops. That isn’t enough to cover his $1,000 Danielle Willis, senior vice president of human offers the same day as an interview rather than monthly rent. resources at the company, said those increases waiting. “I’m going to continue to look for suitable have helped attract staff. The company also pro- About 60% of Manpower’s temporary place- work,’’ Rowe said. “I know it’s going to come vides health care and a 5% matching payment ments are leaving their jobs before a temporary eventually. What I cannot do is settle for an un- into a retirement plan for its full-time employees, assignment ends, Frankiewicz said, mostly be- suitable job that pays low wages.’’ including nurse aides, property managers and cause they are receiving better offers. ARAB TIMES, MONDAY, JUNE 7, 2021 BUSINESS 10

Walmart aims to empower workers with own devices, new app

Walmart is coming out with a new app for its president of people operations. Up until now, most Walmart store work- store workers’ phones that allows them to The moves, announced, come as Walmart ers had to share company handheld de- do a variety of tasks from digitally clocking and other rivals aim to free up store workers vices, with only about 10% having their own In this fi le photo, into work to helping locate merchandise and from menial tasks to better serve customers. company device, Holler said. But Walmart a woman pushes answering customers’ questions. The new features go beyond the Walmart’s did allow workers to download the work app a shopping cart to It also has a push-to-talk feature to previous suite of apps that allowed workers directly to personal phones and use it on the enter a Walmart in let them communicate directly with col- to check inventory and prices, scan prod- job. Rolling Meadows, leagues. ucts and review sales data. Walmart says employees will only be able Illinois. (AP) As part of the launch, the nation’s largest In the next few months, the new app will to gain access to the app’s work features private employer and largest retailer says it allow workers to help speed up the time while they are on the clock. But employees plans to offer more than 740,000 store work- it takes its stockers to get items from the can also use the smartphone as their own ers a new Samsung smartphone for free by backroom to the sales fl oor. Using an aug- personal device if they want outside of work year-end. mented reality feature, workers will be able and during breaks when they’re on the job. That’s nearly half of its total U.S. work- to highlight the boxes as they’re ready to go, Holler said Walmart will not have access to force, according to Drew Holler, senior vice instead of scanning each box individually. any personal data. (AP) US economy sends mixed signals

Plenty of growth, not enough workers or supplies

WASHINGTON, June 6, (AP): The U.S. economy is sparking confusion and whip- lash almost as fast as it’s adding jobs. Barely more than a year after the coronavirus caused the steepest economic fall and job losses on record, the speed of the rebound has been so unexpectedly swift that many companies can’t fi ll jobs or acquire enough supplies to meet a pent-up burst of customer demand. “Things exploded - it was like a light switch,” said Kirby Mallon, president of Elmer Schultz Services, a family-owned Philadelphia fi rm that repairs and maintains kitchen equip- ment for restaurants and other clients. “The labor market is just out of control. We literally cannot hire technicians ... We ramped up so quickly, the supply chain wasn’t ready for it.’’ Economic forecasters, with little historical precedent to In this photo, a sign for workers hangs in the window of guide them through the aftermath of a global pandemic, are a shop along Main Street in Deadwood, South Dakota. pondering questions they can’t answer with any confi dence: (AP) Does robust consumer spending refl ect economic strength and resiliency? Or has it been temporarily propped up by federal stimulus checks? Was an April run-up in consumer prices a temporary blip? AMC to keep in closer Or an ominous sign of accelerating infl ation? Are two months of middling job growth the result of too much of a good thing - employers want to hire more than contact with investors they can? Or a hint that the labor market isn’t as strong as NEW YORK, June 6, (AP): AMC Entertainment is economists think? looking to keep in closer contact with some of its In many ways, the news has been cause to cheer: The newer investors, as the movie theater chain embraces economy grew from January through March at a red-hot its meme stock popularity. 6.4% annual pace. And in the current quarter, that pace is AMC said that it’s launching AMC Investor Con- thought to be accelerating to nearly double-digits. nect, an initiative that will put the company in direct Yet the full portrait of the U.S. economy is a rather more communication with its individual shareholders to nuanced one. Here is a closer look at fi ve vital signs: keep them up to date about important company infor- Jobs mation and provide them with special offers. AMC’s Employers last month added 559,000 jobs on top of retail shareholder base has grown to more than 3 mil- 278,000 in April. Those would ordinarily be seen as quite lion owners over the last several months. healthy numbers. Yet against the backdrop of record-high AMC President and CEO Adam Aron said in a job openings and free-spending consumers, forecasters had written statement that Leawood, Kansas-based com- expected much more hiring. Some economists had envi- pany’s retail investor shareholder base owns more sioned the recovery from the pandemic recession driving than 80% of AMC. monthly job growth of 800,000, 900,000, even 1 million or The announcement comes a day after AMC said more. that it is raising $230.5 million through an 8.5 million What explains the shortfall? share sale, cashing in on the meme stock frenzy that Economists point mainly to what they call a short-term has sent its stock price up more than 1,100% this year. mismatch: Companies are posting job openings faster than AMC is part of a Wall Street phenomenon that be- applicants can respond. After all, many Americans are con- gan this year pitting larger, institutional hedge funds tending with considerable tumult at home - health issues re- against a cadre of online investors. Companies like lated to COVID-19, child-care problems with schools slow GameStop and AMC have been shorted by hedge to reopen, career uncertainty after many jobs permanently funds and other big investors, a bet that stock in the vanished over the past 15 months. And some people, earning company will fall. more from federal and state jobless aid than they did when Smaller investors have instigated a “short squeeze” they worked, are taking their time before pursuing another against those funds, pouring money into shares of job. those companies until larger funds are forced to sell Some say the labor shortage is nothing that can’t be off shares to cover money borrowed to buy them. solved the old-fashioned way: By raising pay and offering AMC said its Investor Connect initiative will more generous benefi ts and working conditions. In fact, that launch in conjunction with the preliminary proxy process appears to have begun: Average hourly wages rose statement for its July 29 annual shareholders meeting, solidly in April and May. which is expected to be fi led publicly on Thursday. Consider Gina Schaefer, who owns 13 Ace hardware To sign up for AMC Investor Connect, an investor stores in Maryland, Virginia and Washington, D.C., and who must be or enroll as an AMC Stubs member, which has been rapidly staffi ng up for the spring and summer, when includes AMC Stubs Insider, AMC Stubs Premiere her sales typically hit highs. and AMC Stubs A-List. AMC Stubs Insider is free to Schaefer has hired nearly 120 people since March, both join and includes additional perks and rewards includ- seasonal workers and long-delayed replacements for people ing invitations to special screenings. who left last year when COVID ravaged the economy. Her company pays a minimum of $15.50 an hour, to compete with larger chains that now pay $15, and provides health in- surance, paid vacation, sick leave and a 401(k) plan after employees have been on the job for about six months. “We fi rmly believe that better workplaces do not have a problem fi nding employees,” she said. Consumers After months cooped up at home, millions of consumers have rushed back out again, in buoyant spirits and eager to spend, their fi nances bolstered by $1,400 federal stimulus payments earlier this year. Among the affl uent, sharp gains in home and stock market equity have further emboldened their impulse to spend. Consumer confi dence is high. And Americans stepped up their spending again in April after a powerful gain in March fueled by $1,400 stimulus checks to most individuals. That said, Rubeela Farooqi, chief U.S. economist at High Frequency Economics, sees cautionary signs. Confi dence and spending, though still healthy, have trended lower. And retail sales were fl at in April after having surged in March, suggesting that the positive effect of the stimulus checks might have faded. Similar trends occurred late last year after the effects of earlier federal stimulus money began to wear off. In addition, a monthly survey of consumer confi dence by the Conference Board found that expectations for the next six months actually fell in May. “I’m not sure how this is going to pan out,’’ Farooqi says. Infl ation Financial markets endured an unwelcome jolt last month when the Labor Department reported that consumer prices had jumped 0.8% from March to April and 4.2% from 12 months earlier - the largest year-over-year increase since 2008. Some leading critics, including former Treasury Secre- tary Larry Summers, have been warning that President Joe Biden’s trillions of dollars in federal stimulus money risk igniting infl ation and forcing the Federal Reserve to resort to interest rate hikes, which could derail the economic re- covery. But Fed Chair Jerome Powell and many economists say they think the infl ation surge will prove short-lived. They say it refl ects mainly temporary supply-chain bottlenecks that have forced up prices but that should ease over time. For now, though, shortages of lumber, computer chips and other materials have contributed to infl ation pressures. Mallon at Elmer Schultz Services in Philadelphia said supply shortages are so severe in his industry that members of the the Commercial Food Service Equipment Association trade group are sharing inventory. “I can go to a friend if he has a part in stock,’’ he said. “In my 30 years in the business, no, I’ve never seen anything like it.’’ Housing The housing market has served as a source of economic strength and resilience during the pandemic, supported by ultra-low mortgage rates and the desire of many locked- down families to move to more spacious digs to accommo- date work-from-home needs. But with prices having risen beyond the reach of many and with the supply of homes for sale severely limited, the housing boom has lately shown signs of fatigue. Home con- struction tumbled 9.5% in April - a drop that economists attributed, at least in part, to builders postponing projects because of accelerating costs for lumber and other supplies that have contributed to swelling home prices. ARAB TIMES, MONDAY, JUNE 7, 2021 SCIENCE 11

Health

Testing interrupted COVID has derailed ‘battle against HIV’ NEW YORK, June 6, (AP): Some researchers believe COV- ID-19 has derailed the fi ght against HIV, siphoning away health workers and other resources and setting back a US cam- paign to decimate the AIDS epidemic by 2030. Saturday marked the 40th anniversary of the fi rst report that brought AIDS to the attention of the public. For a time, the battle against HIV — the virus that causes AIDS — was go- ing well. But experts believe the US could soon see its fi rst increase in infections in years. Internationally, recent strides could also be undone because of COVID-19’s interruption of HIV testing and care. “COVID was a huge setback,” said Jeffrey Crowley, a former director of the White House Offi ce of National AIDS Policy who is now at Georgetown University. COVID-19 has killed nearly 600,000 Americans in 16 months, approaching the 700,000 Americans that AIDS killed over 40 years. Before COVID-19, health offi cials were celebrating how new medicines and other developments had gradually tamed HIV, prompting then-President Donald Trump to announce in 2019 a campaign to “eliminate” the US epi- demic by 2030. But now, US health offi cials are gathering data on exactly how much Walensky COVID-19 affected HIV infections and deaths, including how well testing, pre- vention and treatment kept up in the pandemic. There are signs of a backslide. Dr. Katherine Gergen Barnett, Program Director of Family Medicine Residency at Boston Medical Center, June 3, 2021. States, such as Massachusetts, with high Samuel Jenness, an Emory University researcher, used vaccination rates are reporting plunging COVID-19 cases, multiple days without deaths and health care workers who’ve gone weeks without treating a patient. (AP) Atlanta-area data and statistical modeling to project major increases in some sexually transmitted diseases, including HIV. At the least, COVID-19 halted recent declines in new HIV Coronavirus infections, Jenness said. “At the worst, it potentially brought us an increase of cases for at least the next couple of years,” he added. Limited data collected by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention suggests there were large drop-offs in HIV US region with high vaccinated rates sees fall in cases testing and other services. The CDC looked at data from a lab that handles about a quarter of the nation’s HIV tests, comparing the numbers from March 13 through September 30 last year with the same period New England could be a model the year before. The agency found there were 670,000 fewer HIV screening tests, and about 4,900 fewer HIV diagnoses than normal. BOSTON, June 6, (AP): For Dr. Jer- emy Faust, the moment he realized Infection the pandemic no longer dominated his United Kingdom urges ‘commitment’ There also was a 21% national decline in prescriptions for workday came over Memorial Day pre-exposure prophylaxis, or PrEP. a kind of medicine people weekend, when he didn’t see a single at risk for HIV take to prevent them from catching the virus coronavirus case over two shifts in to vaccinate the world by end of 2022 through sex or injection drug use. the emergency room at Brigham and Why the declines? Women’s Hospital in Boston. LONDON, June 6, (AP): British from the pandemic. Prime Minister Boris Johnson will Britain’s government pledged in Most US health departments and community organiza- Kerry LaBarbera, an ER nurse a use the Group of Seven wealthy February to give most of the coun- tions had to scale back HIV testing, the first step in put- few miles away at Boston Medical democracies’ summit next week try’s surplus vaccine supply to CO- ting people with the virus on medicine that can keep them Center, had a similar realization that to urge world leaders to commit to VAX, the United Nations-backed from spreading it. Also, health department workers who did In this May 8, 2003, file photo, a north- same weekend, when just two pa- vaccinating the global population program aiming to supply poorer the contact tracing to stop HIV outbreaks were shifted to ern spotted owl flies after an elusive tients with COVID-19 came through by the end of 2022. countries with jabs. COVID-19. mouse jumping off the end of a stick her unit, one of the busiest in New Johnson is expected to stress the But the UK has not yet put a Even where HIV clinics were open, some people did not in the Deschutes National Forest near England. importance of a global vaccination figure on how many doses it will want to come in because of fear of catching the coronavirus. Camp Sherman, Ore. The Biden ad- “The past year and a half has been drive when he meets with fellow donate. The country, with a popu- There may be another reason: less sex. ministration said June 4, it is cancel- like going through a tornado or some- world leaders on Friday in Corn- lation of about 70 million, has or- Surveys suggest that at least during the initial months of the ing or reviewing a host of actions by wall, on the coast of southwestern dered some 400 million doses of the Trump administration to roll back thing terrible,” she said. “You’re pandemic, many adults at higher risk for HIV infection had sex holding on for dear life, and then you England, for the first face-to-face vaccines. Health Secretary Matt on fewer occasions and with fewer sexual partners. protections for endangered or threat- G-7 summit since the pandemic hit. Hancock has said that the UK does ened species, with a goal of strength- get past it and it’s like, ‘What just “The world is looking to us to rise not have any excess doses at the But there also are signs that many people resumed their nor- happened?’” mal levels of sexual activity by summer, said Jenness, whose ening a landmark law while address- to the greatest challenge of the moment and that “we’re just getting ing climate change. Under Trump, Massachusetts and the rest of New postwar era: defeating COVID and them into arms as quickly as pos- research focused on gay and bisexual men — a group that for officials rolled back protections for the England — the most heavily vaccinat- years has had the highest HIV infection rates. leading a global recovery driven sible.” northern spotted owl, gray wolves and ed region in the US — are giving the by our shared values,” he said in The Sunday Times reported that “People’s sexual behavior changed for only three months,” other species, actions that President rest of the country a possible glimpse a statement Sunday. “Vaccinating Johnson is set to announce at the but prevention, testing and care disruptions are still going on, Joe Biden has vowed to review. (AP) the world by the end of next year summit that the UK will pledge to he said. of the future if more Americans get their shots. would be the single greatest feat in donate over 2 billion pounds’ worth What does that mean for the national goals? medical history.” of jabs this year, with further dona- Data released this week showed the number of new infec- COVID-19 cases, hospitalizations and deaths in the region have been US President Joe Boden and tions in 2022. tions declining for years, dropping to about 35,000 in 2019. Discovery leaders of Canada, France, Italy The US has said it plans to share After Trump made his announcement in 2019, federal health steadily dropping as more than 60% and Japan will arrive in Cornwall 80 million doses of its surplus vac- offi cials clarifi ed that the actual goal was a huge reduction in of residents in all six states have re- from Friday for three days of talks cine globally by the end of June, new infections over the next 10 years — down to fewer than Tern eggs abandoned: Some 3,000 ceived at least one dose of the vac- focusing on the global recovery most through COVAX. 3,000 a year. elegant tern eggs were abandoned at a cine. But Jenness and his fellow researchers predicted that the Southern California nesting island after a The Deep South states of Alabama, Atlanta area alone will see about 900 more HIV cases than drone crashed and scared off the birds, a Louisiana and Mississippi, in com- parison, are the least vaccinated at chairs the epidemiology department Even with cases down dramati- normal over the next fi ve years among gay and bisexual men. newspaper reported. at the Yale School of Public Health in cally, New England hospitals are in Another bad omen: Drug overdoses are still rising, and Two drones were fl own illegally over around 35%, and new cases relative to the population are generally running New Haven, Connecticut. many ways busier than ever, as pa- shared needles are one way people spread HIV, noted Dr Ro- the Bolsa Chica Ecological Reserve in That parts of the region were chelle Walensky, the CDC’s director. Huntington Beach in May and one of higher there than in most of New Eng- tients return in droves after postpon- Recent surges in HIV infections in West Virginia have them went down in the wetlands, The Or- land. Nationally, about 50% of Amer- among the hardest hit in the early days ing medical care for more than a year. been tied to intravenous drug use, part of an ongoing shift in ange County Register said. icans have received at least one shot. of the outbreak also played a signifi - Dr. Katherine Gergen Barnett, how the virus is spreading there. In 2014, 1 in 8 West Vir- Fearing an attack from a predator, In Massachusetts, health offi cials cant role. head of the family medicine depart- ginia HIV cases was attributed to injected drugs. By 2019, several thousand terns abandoned their this past week determined that none of “We really went through it in those ment at Boston Medical Center, said nearly 2 out of 3 were, according to state health department ground nests, according to the state De- the state’s cities and towns are at high early moments,” Ko said. “That’s left it has been “energizing” to reconnect data. partment of Fish and Wildlife. a big imprint on the population gener- with regular patients but also taxing, Now, during the month when the white risk for the spread of COVID-19 for All of this suggests that the 90% reduction goal will not be the fi rst time since they started issuing ally.” as many have a year’s worth of men- birds would be overseeing their eggs as To be sure, some of the improve- met, several experts said, though health offi cials have not yet weekly assessments last August. tal trauma to work through, on top of they begin to hatch, the sand is littered ments in COVID-19 numbers can be their neglected physical ailments. abandoned that objective. with egg shells. In Rhode Island, coronavirus hos- “We’re still working towards that goal,” said Kevin Dela- attributed to warmer weather that is “There’s defi nitely a little bit of It’s one of the largest-scale abandon- pitalizations have hit their lowest allowing New Englanders to socially ney, a CDC HIV/AIDS researcher. “If we are missing millions ment of eggs ever at the coastal site about levels in about eight months. New exhale happening,” she said. “We ran of HIV screening tests from 2020, there will need to be an distance outdoors more, experts say. that marathon, but now there’s this 100 miles (160 km) north of San Diego, Hampshire is averaging about a death States such as California and Ne- investment made to make those up. But the targets have not according to reserve manager Melissa a week after peaking at about 12 a day other long race ahead of us in terms of been changed.” Loebl. braska are also doing as well as if not getting people back to healthy.” during the virus’s winter surge. And better than some New England states Walensky, a noted HIV researcher before she became CDC With the pandemic driving more and Vermont, the most heavily vaccinated Paul Murphy, an emergency depart- director, said it will be diffi cult. more people to outdoor spaces, last year when it comes to new cases relative ment nurse at Brigham and Women’s, state in the US at more than 70%, to population. And racial disparities “Do I think it’s doable? Absolutely,” she said. “Do I think saw about 100,000 visitors to the Bolsa went more than two weeks without a said some of his colleagues are feel- we have the resources now to do it? I don’t think so yet.” Chica reserve — up from about 60,000 in vaccinations persist in the region, ing tired and burned out as frustrated the previous year, Loebl said told the single reported coronavirus death. as they do in many other corners of Worldwide, offi cials say there were about 38 million peo- “It’s an incredible change over such patients can face wait times lasting ple with HIV/AIDS in 2019. An estimated 1.7 million peo- newspaper. (AP) the country. ❑ ❑ ❑ a short period of time,” said Dr. Tim hours these days. A hospital spokes- ple caught HIV in 2019, a 23% decline in new HIV infections Vaccination person stressed the median wait time since 2010. Lahey, an infectious disease physi- ‘Restore species protections’: The cian at the University of Vermont In a series of tweets last weekend, is an hour or less. But COVID-19 interfered with testing and other health ser- Biden administration says it is cance- Still, the 54-year-old Warwick, vices globally, too. In Africa, one of the continents hardest hit Medical Center in Burlington. Dr. Ashish Jha, dean of Brown Uni- ling or reviewing a host of actions by Public health experts say the rest of versity’s School of Public Health in Rhode Island, resident said it has been by AIDS, experts noted interruptions in programs that check the Trump administration to roll back refreshing to step away from the work pregnant women for HIV and that provide male circumcision the country could take some cues from Providence, Rhode Island, contrasted protections for endangered or threatened New England as President Joe Biden grind as the region comes back to life. to reduce their risk of catching the virus. species, with a goal of strengthening a the relatively low vaccination rates UNAIDS, the United Nations effort to stem HIV and AIDS, pushes to get at least one vaccine dose in Springfi eld, Massachusetts, one of Gone are the 50-hour-plus workweeks landmark law while addressing climate into 70% of American adults by July of the pandemic, with time now for previously set goals to get certain proportions of infected peo- change. the region’s largest, poorest and most ple diagnosed and treated by 2020. This week, the organiza- 4, dangling the promise of free beer racially diverse cities, with the near- his children’s sports practices and The reviews by the US Fish and Wild- other commitments, Murphy said. tion said dozens of countries have hit the goals — “evidence life Service and National Marine Fisher- and other goodies. complete vaccination of Newton, an that the targets were not just aspirational but achievable.” The ies Service are aimed at fi ve Endangered One thing the region appears to affl uent, largely white Boston suburb. Faust, the emergency physician at agency has set even more ambitious goals for 2025. Species Act regulations fi nalized by the have done right: It was generally “So if you are in a high vaccination Brigham, said he clocked in nearly an But it will be diffi cult for the whole world to hit such targets, Trump administration, including critical slower than other parts of the country state, your job is not done,” Jha wrote. entire day of guilt-free sleep recently, said Dr. Kevin De Cock, a Kenya-based global health expert. habitat designations and rules defi ning the to expand vaccine eligibility and in- “Because across America, there are too something he couldn’t have dreamed scope of federal actions on endangered stead concentrated more on reaching many people and communities for whom of during the throes of the pandemic. Also: species. The Fish and Wildlife Service vulnerable groups of people, said Dr. vaccines still remain out of reach.” But like other health experts, he BRUSSELS: The European Union Friday submitted a proposal also said Friday it will reinstate the so- Thomas Frieden, a former Centers for Nationwide, new coronavirus cases worries that the slowing pace of vac- seeking the commitment of World Trade Organization (WTO) called “blanket rule,” which mandates Disease Control and Prevention direc- are down to about 15,000 per day on cinations could leave the nation vul- members for a multilateral trade action plan to expand the additional protections for species that are tor under President Barack Obama. average, while deaths have plum- nerable to newer, stronger virus muta- production of COVID-19 vaccines and treatments, and ensure newly classifi ed as threatened. Under for- New England leaders for the most tions. Donald Trump meted to around 430 a day — levels universal and fair access. mer president , those pro- part also embraced the recommenda- not seen since late March 2020, dur- “We’re playing roulette if we con- With this proposal to the WTO, the EU underlines the tections were removed. Habitat designations for threatened or tions of public health experts over ing the very early stages of the crisis. tinue to let the virus infect so many WTO’s central role in the response to the COVID-19 pan- endangered species can result in limita- economic priorities throughout the The overall US death toll is just short people,” Faust said. “That’s what demic and urges fellow WTO members to agree on a set of tions on energy development such as pandemic, said Dr. Albert Ko, who of 600,000. keeps me up at night now.” commitments, including on intellectual property rights, noted mining or oil drilling that could disturb a an EU statement. vulnerable species, while the scoping rule The EU proposal urges vaccine producers to expand their helps determine how far the government production, while ensuring that those countries most in need may go to protect imperiled species. of vaccines receive them at an affordable price. Under Trump, offi cials rolled back pro- In this regard, the EU welcomed the commitment of com- tections for the northern spotted owl, gray Trump administration policy and could automakers as states and federal offi cials panies such as BioNTech and Pfi zer, Johnson & Johnson and wolves and other species, actions that Presi- help usher in stricter emissions standards seek a climate-friendly agreement on Moderna, which have already committed to delivering 1.3 bil- dent Joe Biden has vowed to review. (AP) emissions standards. ❑ ❑ ❑ for new passenger vehicles nationwide. lion doses this year to low-income countries at no profi t and to The Biden administration has said it At least 13 states and the District of middle-income countries at lower cost. will withdrew Trump-era restrictions Columbia have signed on to California’s The EU is also tabling a report on intellectual property to ‘Set car-emissions standard’: Of- fi cials from California, New York and on state tailpipe emission rules and has vehicle standards, which were established the WTO body in charge of implementing the Agreement on decades ago under a special waiver that Trade-Related Aspects of Intellectual Property Rights (TRIPS other states urged the Environmental moved to grant California permission to Council). Protection Agency to allow California to set more stringent pollution standards for the Trump administration revoked in set its own automobile tailpipe pollution cars and SUVs. That would give Califor- 2019. Collectively they represent 36 per- standards, an action that would reverse a nia greater leverage in discussions with Trump Biden cent of the US auto market. (AP) MONDAY, JUNE 7, 2021 FFeatureseatures Music “NCIS.” (AP) Secretary,” “Mastersof...”and roles on“Nashville,”“Madam 1988. Ontelevision,she’shad “Cocktail” with “Cocktail” actor ring roles in“GoneGirl”star- movies, includingsupporting numerous televisionshowsand have beenannounced. hit-and-run victim,andnoarrests injuries.” ingside hospitalfor“substantial ing treatedatMountSinaiMorn- to TheAssociatedPress. David Williams School, heralmamater,manager on thewaytovisitJulliard crossing AmsterdamAvenue on Fridayeveningasshewas Manhattan cle intheUpperWestSideof either ascooterormotorcy- manager said. accident inNewYorkCity,her being injuredinahit-and-run condition Saturdaynightafter remained hospitalizedincritical fulltime jobatanoptician’sshop.Afterbeingfurloughedandfi to acrowdthataveraged70. The pairplayedaseriesoffoursociallydistancedshowsinthreedays East EndofLondonwith36-year-oldFrancescoPerinionkeyboards. M-R-M. Visionary,” wasreleasedunderhissoloprojectM!R!M-pronounced less thantwomonthsbeforeBritain’sfi name isIacopoBertelli,putouthisthirdalbuminlateJanuary2020, to small,sociallydistancedcrowds. reopening wasclear. duced tozeroduringthepandemicbutreturnedonceroadmapfor London’s manymusiciansandsongwritersafter14monthsofsilence. Rolling StonestotheSpiceGirlsisreignitingcreativityofsome music undernewpublicguidelines. many musiciansaregettingbacktoworkandpreparingperformnew LONDON, June6,(AP):Stepbystep-andnoteLondon’s oflivemusictoLondoninspiresReturn artists GREENWOOD, Miss: NEW YORK: and talkedabout the JuneBugsheldaceremony the societycallingthemselves wealth reportedthatmembersof lahatchie bridge. life whenhejumpedofftheTal- hit songhadit—heendedhis McAllister where—asthe1967 remember thefi on asleepy,dustyDeltadayto of Mississippiresidentsgathered never had alickofsense,’ butI ter asifhehadbeen real. speaking ofthefi Greenwood. who livedpartofherlifein and recordedby Flats. at aspotcalledtheTallahatchie governor asaDemocrat. who onceranforMississippi an attorneyandbluesclubowner Roger Wicker included Republican if theyknewhim.Thegroup This imagereleasedbyLionsgateshowsRyanReynolds,(fromleft),SalmaHayekandSamuelL.Jacksoninascenefrom‘TheHitma Banes hasappearedin Police declinedtonamethe Williams saidBaneswasbe- Banes, 65,wasstruckby The GreenwoodCommon- “People said,‘Billy Joe Wicker quotedfrom thelyrics, “Ode toBillyJoe”waswritten They unveiledatombstone Perini, likeMilwaukeeisanItalianbasedinLondon,alsohasa Milwaukee performedlastweekonstageattheMothClubin Milwaukee, a31-year-oldItalianmulti-instrumentalistwhosereal Working artistsstartedplayingagainacrossLondononMay17,but Jack Milwaukeesayshisinspirationtocreatenewmusicwasre- The returnoflivemusicinthecitythatproducedbandsfrom Ben Affl ❑ nearLincolnCenter eck “GoneGirl”and ctional BillyJoe and Tom Cruise ctional charac- saidinanemail Bobbie Gentry Lisa in2014and Billy Joe BillLuckett US

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in , , (AP) leaping intotheTallahatchie. including takinghis ownlifeby Billy Joecommittedsomesins, spoke aboutthepossibilitythat tor said. never believedthat,”thesena- Luckett dressedasapopeand rst coronaviruslockdown.“The and intellectually. There is literally nowhere to hide on and intellectually.Thereisliterallynowheretohideon to tellastoryoffamilythatwillchallengeusphysically the game,withactorsItrulyadmire,inaplaythatasksus thon: Threeactorsdoing185roles. End bow.TheEnglish-languageversionisamara- went ontohaveanoff-BroadwayrunandthenaWest Theatre in2018.Buthisscheduleneverfi play fi nally askedtobepartofthetrioactorswhen to work.” need tohavemore.Iamreallylookingforwardgetting rity, until—yearslateritisdrivensimplybythe “Their capitalismisatfi does ‘enough’become‘toomuch,’”saidLester. grow inwealthandstatus,butwehavetoask,when their WallStreetinstitutionfi single familyintothefi of westerncapitalismbyfollowingthefortunesa hours, “TheLehmanTrilogy”illustratesthetrajectory come again.” and soknowledgeable,ofcourse.AndIhopethey’ll “Audiences werejustsoalivetoeverytwistandturn oversees theaterprojectsatNealStreetProduction. ter thananybody,”saidproducerCaroNewling,who heaven. They’velivedthatstory.Theyknowitbet- go onsaleJune9. Sept. 25reopeningattheNederlanderTheatre.Tickets Beale andAdamGodley.Producersareaimingfora er, replacingBenMiles,andjoiningSimonRussell and directedbySamMendes—willaddAdrianLest- lapse ofLehmanBrothers—adaptedbyBenPower cial giant’sdownfallwithanewcastmember. plans toreturntellthestoryofanAmericanfi Broadway beforethepandemicshutitsdoors.Nowit was abletomakeonlyfourpreviewperformanceson NEW YORK,June6,(AP):“TheLehmanTrilogy” ‘Lehman Trilogy’ plotsitsB’wayreturn “I’ll be going into this with one of the best directors in “I’ll begoingintothiswithoneofthebestdirectorsin For Lester,it’safull-circlemoment.Hewasorigi- “As wewatchtheplayunfold,seefamily Spanning 150yearsandrunningthreeahalf “The antennaoftheNewYorkaudienceisjust Stefano Massini’splayaboutwhatledtothecol- Variety ❑ ❑ rst arrivedattheNationalTheatre’sLyttelton Universal MusicattractstheattentionofUSbillionaire rstdrivenbyfearandinsecu- nancial crashof2008,when nding led forbankruptcy. Stage a dealthatwouldvaluetherecordlabelatabout$40billion. Ukraine andTurkey. in countrieswhereM!R!M’ssuccessisgrowing,suchasRussia, Germany, AustriaandFrance.He’llalsogetthechancetoperform scheduled toputhimonstageinvenuesacrosstheCzechRepublic, don, MilwaukeecanlookforwardtoaEuropeantour,whichis has startedtowriteandrecordhisfourthalbum. splitting histimeasasoundtechnicianatvenuesaroundLondon,he his fi Fosse’s ‘Dancin’’ planstoglidebackBroadway The burstofcreativityevenledtohisfi Meanwhile, UniversalMusicGroupisintalkstosella10%stake And withlockdownmeasuresprogressivelybeingeasedinLon- Milwaukee’s songwritingabilityalsocamebackstrong.Besides back toaregulardailyroutine. writing andrecording,hasbeenahugereliefintermsofgettinghim ideas intomusic.Hesaystheprocess,spendinguptoeighthoursaday member ofItalianpsychedelicrockbandTheHaciendaturnedsome solace fromalcohol. himself athomewithtoomuchfreetime,hesaysstartedseeking ae Affleck Banes rst solosingles. But duringthesecondpartof2020,experiencedmusicianand t. Theplay nan- in theUSonJune16.(AP) sit onthestageandinstudioanywherewithhim “He’s suchanincredibleartistanditwashonorto It’s mind-blowingandit’ssoexciting,”Cilentosaid. back ontheboardsBroadwayin21stcentury. chance tohelmtherevivalanhonor. lifetime onBroadway,“BigDeal.”Cilentocallsthe “Dancin’” andalsowasinFosse’slastshowhis Wayne Cilento,whowasintheoriginalcompanyof told TheAssociatedPress. of TheVerdonFosseLegacydancetrainingprogram, celebrate, right?”NicoleFosse,theartisticdirector And comingoutofthispandemic,wehavecauseto choreographer’s daughter. to producer Broadway bowduringthe2022-23season,according Fosse dancer. return toBroadwayundertheguidanceofaveteran the artofdance—ishopingtomakeitssleekandsexy “Dancin’” —choreographer “I gettheopportunitytorepresentBobandputhim The revivalwillbedirectedbyTonyAward-winner “What Ireallyloveaboutitisit’ssocelebratory. A newproductionofthemusicalisaimingfora on,” shesaid. the wires,we’llbeabletowalkinandswitchlights ty. Andaslongthemicehaven’tchewedthrough and seethesetagain. to whatwe’restilltryingunderstandnow.” ently, butweknowhowcentralitisinsomanyways all livedwiththefalloutofit.Weunderstanditdiffer- around theworld.Ofcourse,it’syourstory.Butwe Angeles nextyear. hopes togetproductionsintoSanFranciscoandLos the 1995Londonrevivalof“Company.” movie “PrimaryColors”andearnedanOlivierAwardin be atourbest,”saidLester,whostarredinMikeNichols’ that stage.Ineverymomentofshowwehaveto Creativity “We leftitthere.It’slockeduplikeSleepingBeau- For now,shecan’twaittogetbackintothetheater “It’s astorythatIthinkwillbeendlesslyfascinating Newling, speakingbyphonefromLondon,saidshe WASHINGTON: that users havelongasked tion servicewilloffer features subscribers. perks likeanundobuttonfor and service, startingin rolling outasubscription The “TwitterBlue” subscrip- Joey Parnes Australia rst soloproject,Pearz,and ❑ , thatoffers and Twitter is Canada NicoleFosse Bob Fosse

’s tributeto n’s Wife’sBodyguard.’‘TheHitman’sBodyguard’releases , thelate color themes. and customizable appiconsand threaded tweetseasier toread; a “readermode”that makes sent tweetbefore itappears; users 30secondstocancela “Undo tweet”featurethatgives organizing savedcontent;an includes bookmarkfoldersfor for -butstillnoeditbutton.It acquired UniversalMusicsharestoitsstockholdersatthatpoint. dam laterthisyearandPershingsaidFridaythatitwoulddistributethe conglomerate aswell. of themusiccompanyandVivendihasbeenintalkswithChinese to itsstockholdersaspartofanyspinoff.Tencentownsa20%stake liam Ackman about $4billionlastyear.PershingSquareisrunbybillionaireWil- acquisitions andthenseekoutacquisitiontargets. Pershing confi neled throughaspecial-purposeacquisitioncompany,Vivendiand the adaptationofmusicstreamingacrossnumerousplatforms. Dylan’s entirecatalog. Lady Gaga,aswelltheBeatles.ThecompanylastyearacquiredBob might spinoffthelabelthatishometoTaylorSwift,BillieEilish, SE, theFrenchmediaconglomeratethatownsUniversal,saidit A SPACistypicallyagroupoflargerinvestorswhoraisemoneyfor Vivendi planstolistsharesofUniversalMusiconEuronextAmster- Vivendi hastalkedofdistributing60%UniversalMusicshares Pershing Square’sSPAC,calledSquareTontine,raised The 10%stakewouldgoforaround$4billionandbefun- Universal, withitsmassiveportfolioofartists,hasbenefi Confi rmation FridayofthosetalksarrivefourmonthsafterVivendi just watchinghisartistry.” Fosse aTonyforchoreography. Awards, includingbestnewmusical,anditearned 1,774 performances.ItwasnominatedforsevenTony Reinking alsointhecastandended1982after bastian Bach to asoundtrackthatincludessuchartistsasJohann Fosse tuckedinside. with perhapssomeneworchestrationsandatributeto no plot,butyou’retakingonaveryspecifi sical revue.I’vealwaysdisagreedwiththat.Thereis although Iknowbackinthe‘70sitwaslabeledamu- Verdon. “Idon’teverthinkofitasamusicalrevue, ride,” saidNicoleFosse,thechildofFosseandGwen ence getsonthemagiccarpetandyou’retakenfora Dandy” to The songsinclude sues andthehumancondition,sothatwillcontinue.” edge, withhisfi Nicole Fossesaid.“Bobwasalwaysonthecutting pulse ofthepeople—thatdoesn’tgooutstyle,” and two-dimensional. so-called “Fossestyle”growsstagnant,overlyposed Over theyears,shealsowatchedwithdismayas ther’s vastdancework,whichwasbroadandeclectic. doesn’t seeitasanadequaterepresentationofherfa- go” haschoreographyinspiredbyFosse,NicoleFosse Jazz” andthedarkpunchoffi ing “Chicago,”thebrutallyautobiographical“AllThat movements andbowlerhatsofthecelebrity-skewer- morless,” shesaid. is there.Overtheyears,Fossehasbecomesortofhu- and thesubtletiesnuanceshumorthat breathe backtheoriginalintentionintomovement “Dancin’” openedonBroadwayin1978withAnn The show marries high-intensity, varied dancing styles The showmarrieshigh-intensity,varieddancingstyles The newversionwillbefaithfultotheoriginal “I reallyseeitasamagiccarpetride.Theaudi- “He was so in touch with the human heart and the “He wassointouchwiththehumanheartand While thesoon-to-berelaunchedrevivalof“Chica- Her fatherwastheexactingmindbehindangular “I believethisreproductionof‘Dancing’’will rmed Friday. Cat Stevens , Neil Diamond ngers onthehotbuttonsofdays’is- George M.Cohan other countries. (AP) for rollingoutthe servicein lars ($3.45).There’s notimeline month and4.50Australian dol- Canadian dollars ($2.89) a tention fasterthanotherusers. issues theyreportcouldgetat- cated customersupport,meaning ’ “WasDogaDoughnut.” The subscriptioncosts3.50 Subscribers willalsogetdedi- and lm “Cabaret.” Carole BayerSager ’s “Yankee Doodle ’s “YankeeDoodle c journey.” ted from ted Se- . ARAB TIMES, MONDAY, JUNE 7, 2021 NEWS/FEATURES 13

People & Places

This image released by Samuel Goldwyn Films shows Dominic Monaghan in a scene from ‘Edge of the World,’ which releases in the US on June 21. (AP) People Music ‘Smartless is just fun’ From Beatles to Elton John: World’s longest-working DJ Arnett dusts off his dad jokes for Lego Masters Cordeiro: Oldest DJ’s storied career

NEW YORK, June 6, (AP): Will Arnett’s playful sar- HONG KONG, June 6, (AP): Ray terward. “I don’t think I have to actually casm is serving him well these days as both the host of Cordeiro considers himself the lucki- The Beatles had become wildly pop- think about it, the answer is yes,” he Fox’s “Lego Masters,” where his “dad jokes” kill, and est radio DJ in the world. ular and Cordeiro wanted to interview said. In a storied career spanning over them the most. Armed with a notebook on his podcast, ”Smartless,” where he banters with Also: pals Jason Bateman and Sean Hayes. 70 years in Hong Kong, Cordeiro has and a pen, he went to the offices of the Teasing comes naturally to the actor, as does work- interviewed superstars including the band’s record label, EMI, to ask for an ATLANTIC CITY, N.J.: Welcome ing with Legos. He’s been the voice of Batman in Beatles and Elton John, and even re- interview with the group. (back) to the jungle: Guns N’ Roses “The Lego Movie” franchise and is hosting and execu- ceived an MBE - an order of the Brit- By a stroke of luck, he was told to is playing an Atlantic City casino this tive producing season two of “Lego Masters,” a reality ish empire for outstanding achieve- return the next day for an interview, year. brick building competition that premiered last week. ment or service to the community with EMI loaning him a tape recorder The iconic hard rock band has With access to 5 million Legos, budding amateur ar- - from Queen Elizabeth. for it. He bought a magazine with a booked two dates at the Hard Rock chitects put skills and creativity to the test, building Melissa Barrera arrives at a screening Cordeiro, who holds the Guinness picture of the Beatles on the cover and casino Sept 11 and 12 in the clearest motorized mini parade floats, an earthquake tower and of ‘In the Heights’ during the Los Ange- world record for the world’s longest- took it with him to the interview, and sign yet that big-name entertainment is demolition derby, while vying for a $100,000 prize. les Latino International Film Festival at working DJ, retired last month at the got all the members to autograph it. returning to the seaside gambling re- “Smartless” features Arnett, Bateman and Hayes, TCL Chinese Theatre on June 4, in Los age of 96. “Altogether I have some 26 signa- sort as it emerges from the coronavirus who are friends in real life and Angeles. (AP) “I’ve been talking all my life about tures of all the Beatles, and it’s prob- pandemic. decided to take their love of music and all, and I’d never thought ably worth a fortune,” he said. The band’s current lineup includes poking fun at each other public that I would retire. I never thought that The interview was short because he its biggest stars, lead singer Axl Rose with a conversational podcast I was getting older,” he said. didn’t have a lot of tape in the tape re- and guitarist Slash. Opening the shows that features surprise guest Cordeiro was born in 1924 in Hong corder, but Cordeiro managed to spend will be Mammoth WVH, the band led stars like Kamala Harris and Kong and is of Portuguese descent. time with each member of the Beatles. by Van Halen bassist Wolfgang Van Gwyneth Paltrow. The acting His musical tastes as a child were in- He said John Lennon recounted the Halen, son of the late guitar legend trio launched it during the pan- fluenced by his brother who was 10 Beatles’ early days in Hamburg, Ger- Eddie Van Halen. demic and it’s been a hit with years older and collected records from many, where they lived in relative pov- The band says the Hard Rock shows listeners. groups like the Mills Brothers and the erty and played in clubs. will be the “most intimate” of their Arnett, a father to three boys, Andrews Sisters. tour, which normally plays huge sports says he often feels like a big Back then records were breakable, Interviews stadiums. The casino’s Etess Arena kid, “in pursuit of having fun” Cordeiro said. He later interviewed the Beatles has about 6,000 seats. Arnett with his latest gigs. In a recent “When he’s not home and I played again when they visited Hong Kong. “Without question, we believe that interview with The Associated Press, he talks about Moody Edwards his records, I had to be very, very care- The interviews shot him to fame, and entertainment is ready to come back,” his humor, visiting the “Lego Masters” set with his ful, because if I broke it he would get he quickly became Hong Kong’s top said Joe Lupo, Hard Rock’s president. sons, and one of his favorite podcast guests. awfully angry,” Cordeiro said. “I grew DJ, armed with interviews he had con- “The artists and their management AP: Does the “Lego Masters” set put you in the up with his music.” ducted in London with the popular mu- have been hungry for the past couple mood to host? Variety In his youth, Cordeiro worked as a sic groups at the time. months as we waited for capacity re- Arnett: It’s like being on this like crazy Lego space- warden at a local prison and a clerk “I had a career before that, because strictions to lift and vaccinations to in- ship, destination: have fun! We’re on this amazing set at an HSBC bank. His love for music I was interviewing local pop stars, but crease. We’re looking to bring fans in where you have all these building tables or these huge CENTREVILLE, Miss: A new marker eventually led him to pursue a career when you compare them to the Beatles here and make a statement.” bins filled with 5 million Lego pieces. It’s absurd, in has been unveiled on the Mississippi in radio, where he joined public broad- it is something quite different,” he Tickets are on sale, although fan the best way. It’s so fun and definitely puts me in the Writers Trail to honor the late author and caster Radio Hong Kong, now known said. club and other presales will begin be- mood. You feel just like a giant kid in the candy store. civil rights activist Anne Moody. as Radio Television Hong Kong. As the city’s most recognizable DJ, fore that. AP: Do you ad-lib a lot on the show? Moody, who was Black, was part of It was during a three-month study he also got to know other stars such as Other big-name acts are due to play Arnett: I just got to be myself and kind of goof an integrated group of Tougaloo Col- course in London with the BBC in Elton John and Tony Bennett. Atlantic City this summer and fall, around. And I make mistakes and I make jokes and I lege students who staged at sit-in at the segregated Woolworth’s lunch counter 1964 that Cordeiro landed the inter- Known for his deep, calm voice, some of which were rescheduled from say stuff that is dumb. My kids call them ‘dad jokes,’ I in downtown Jackson in 1963. A violent view that kickstarted his career — with flat cap and easy listening repertoire, last year when the pandemic forced the call them ‘bad jokes,’ and I just try to go out there and white mob poured ketchup, mustard and the Beatles, the biggest band in the Cordeiro garnered a loyal following casinos to close for 3 1/2 months, and have fun. We do have something scripted. We have a sugar on their heads and beat one of the world at the time. of listeners who would tune in to his to operate at reduced capacity even af- really funny writer who helps me... but I just want to men. He had some free time after the end weekday radio show “All the Way ter they opened. get out there and make people feel comfortable. Moody recounted that and other activi- of the course before he had to return with Ray,” which ran from 1970 until Those restrictions, since lifted, AP: Have your older boys visited the set? ties in her memoir “Coming of Age in to Hong Kong and didn’t want to “sit last month. made it impossible to book A-list acts Arnett: My 10-year-old is nuts for it, so they come Mississippi.” around for two weeks doing nothing.” “I fulfilled my work as a DJ, did because only a small percentage of to set all the time. They can’t believe it. And you’ve “The book has been widely assigned “So I said, why don’t I grab the what I had to do and the audience seats could be sold. got to remember, they’ve been around a lot of Lego in universities because of its eloquent chance of finding some peeps, some followed me, grew up with me, and This year’s scheduled shows include stuff because I’ve done a lot of Lego stuff over the and bracing truth about the experience pop groups or singers that I can inter- they’re all over the world now,” he Kiss, Toby Keith, Dierks Bentley and years. You’d think that their interests would have of growing up in a society profoundly view and bring back (tapes) to Hong said. “They’re all over and they still Pitbull, all at Hard Rock; Phish on the waned. It has not! You walk out on that set and if shaped, or misshaped, by white suprem- Michael Buble acy,” Mississippi Humanities Council Kong,” he said. listened to me on the internet.” beach; at Boardwalk you’re somebody who’s into Lego, it’s like, ‘Oh my During those two weeks, Cordeiro Asked if he were to do it all over Hall; Jerry Seinfeld at the Borgata, and God!’ because Lego does stir up that sort of creative executive director Stuart Rockoff said during the unveiling ceremony, accord- traveled to venues where groups were again if he would pick being a DJ as a the Beach Boys and Alice Cooper in juice in people. And when you get on that set, you performing and interviewed them af- career, Cordeiro doesn’t hesitate. separate shows at the Ocean casino. think ‘I could build anything!’ And so my kids are su- ing to a news release from the Anne Moody History Project. per into it, and I will say, we watch it at home. Rockoff said Moody grew up in a AP: Sounds like you’re having fun with the guests society that was “predicated on the idea achieve the goal of creating a self- will consistently push the bounds of news release. (AP) on the “Smartless” podcast. that white lives matter more.” Arnett: There is no premise to the show. We start re- sustaining studio in greater New Orleans puppetry, animation and storytelling,” ❑ ❑ ❑ Moody died in 2015 in Gloster, by enabling us to bring in the high-level Swaybox co-founder and Co-CEO The- cording the moment we log on. We’ve never once discussed not far from where she grew up in Cen- talent that we need to create content that resa Andersson said in the governor’s VENTURA, Calif: A woman from what we’re going to talk about, ever. And the guest is truly a treville. Ventura was reunited with a wallet she surprise to the two of us, to Jason, Sean and me. So we have Felicia Williams, a Centreville lost 46 years ago after an employee a lot of fun doing it. Having like Maya Rudolph, who is one alderwoman, said during Wednesday’s working on remodeling Southern Califor- of my favorite people on the planet, having her come on and ceremony that Moody was a heroine of nia’s historic Majestic Ventura Theater talk to Maya for an hour and laugh until you can’t breathe. I the civil rights movement. (AP) discovered it inside a crawl space. mean, it’s just… so much fun. ❑ ❑ ❑ “I would have never imagined,” said Tom Stevens Also: NEW ORLEANS: A New Orleans-area after locating the wallet animation studio will add six permanent among old candy bar wrappers, ticket NEW YORK: Musical luminaries including Nas, LL jobs in a planned expansion, Gov John stubs and soda cans. Cool J, and Fat Joe recently came out to the birthplace Bel Edwards’ offi ce has said. Stevens told the Ventura County of hip-hop for a ground-breaking ceremony to launch the Swaybox Studios in Jefferson Parish Star he then went on social media to capital campaign for the new Universal Hip Hop Mu- will add six new permanent jobs with an try to locate the owner based on clues seum. average annual salary of $62,800 plus in the wallet, including old photos, a They joined a slew of politicians in the Bronx, benefi ts. 1973 Grateful Dead concert ticket and where the now-global cultural force that is hip-hop The state says Swaybox is taking a California driver’s license for Colleen has its roots. “Hip hop made me believe that anything advantage of the 2017 Entertainment Job Distin that expired in 1976. There was no was possible,” said LL Cool J. “This was like the first Creation Program, which is also called money in the wallet. time where I felt like, ‘Wow, it’s possible to be power- the Quality Entertainment Company “Does anyone know Colleen Distin?” ful. It’s possible to be somebody. It’s possible to have program. he asked on the theater’s Facebook page. meaning in this world.’” According to the governor’s offi ce, the “While doing some maintenance we have The museum is part of a $349 million mixed-use program enables an employer to claim found her wallet. There are a bunch of project along the waterfront in the South Bronx. a 15% payroll tax credit for jobs paying pictures of people, and they are super $45,000 or more annually, and a 20% cool from that era also. Someone may The first phase of the development, called Bronx want them. So if you are, or if you know Point, will provide affordable housing and public open payroll tax credit for new jobs paying more than $66,000 a year. Colleen, drop us a line and we will have space. It also is slated to include cultural and commu- Swaybox was founded in Shreveport it here for you!” nity-focused programming, including the permanent in 2013 and moved to Jefferson Parish Ray Cordeiro, Hong Kong’s oldest DJ shows the copies of his Beatles’ auto- Stevens’ boss, Loanne Wullaert, sug- home of the Universal Hip Hop Museum. in 2018. graphs as the originals are kept with the lawyer, at his home in Hong Kong, May gested posting the information on social “The QEC program will help us 27. Cordeiro considers himself the luckiest radio DJ in the world. (AP) media. (AP) ARAB TIMES, MONDAY, JUNE 7, 2021 SPORTS 14 Pérez wins Azerbaijan GP after Verstappen crashes from lead Vettel gives Aston Martin its first ever F1 podium

BAKU, Azerbaijan, June 6, (AP): Sergio Pérez won the Verstappen was four laps away from a second consecutive victory Azerbaijan Grand Prix in a two-lap shootout after cham- Sunday when his Red Bull suddenly slammed hard into the wall with a puncture to his left rear tire. The Dutchman climbed from his car, inspect- pionship leader Max Verstappen crashed while leading ed the tire and kicked it in anger before stomping off in disgust over the with a tire failure and Lewis Hamilton went off course race-changing failure. trying to seize the win on the standing restart. “Is he OK?” radioed rival and seven-time champion Hamilton. Verstappen was fine but Red Bull was furious over a second Pirelli fail- ure asked for a race stoppage to allow tire changes for safety reasons. Lance Stroll had crashed earlier after his own unexpected tire failure. Red Bull driver Sergio Perez of Mexico holds his trophy on the podium Formula One red-flagged the race after winning the Formula One Grand Prix at the Baku Formula One city and brought the field to pit lane, then circuit in Baku, Azerbaijan, on June 6. (AP) decided to resume with a standing start for a two-lap sprint to the finish. Pérez was the leader but Hamilton Gibbs finishes third shot past him in his attempt to win the race and reclaim the points lead from Verstappen. But he failed to brake in Allmendinger leads 1-2 finish the first corner and his Mercedes slid off track. Hamilton dropped to 15th, snapping a streak of 54 consecutive for Kaulig Racing at Mid-Ohio races of earning a points position fin- ish. LEXINGTON, Ohio, June 6, (AP): A.J. Allmendinger rallied from a pen- alty, benefitted from a late caution and Florida St rallies to MOTOR RACING used a sweeping three-wide pass for the lead to win the Xfinity Series race ‘eliminate’ Arizona at Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course. OKLAHOMA CITY, June 6, (AP): Four-time champion Sebastian Victory was Allmendinger’s second Florida State rallied to beat Arizona Vettel took second to give Aston Martin of the season and came on what Kaulig 4-3 in a Women’s College World its first ever F1 podium in an an impres- Racing considers its home track. Team Series elimination game. sive drive after qualifying 11th. It was owner Matt Kaulig is from Akron, The Seminoles advanced to play Vettel’s highest finish since 2019. roughly 90 minutes away, and he No. 5 seed Oklahoma State in an elim- Pierre Gasly was third for AlphaTauri jumped off the pit wall to hug ination game. as all three drivers made their first trip Allmendinger after the win. With the score tied at three heading to the podium this season. into the bottom of the seventh, Florida The red-flag Sunday was the second State’s Kaley Mudge led off with a sin- Essential Quality (2), with jockey Luis Saez (up), crosses the finish line ahead of Hot Rod Charlie (4), with jockey of the season following a crash CAR RACING gle. She advanced to second on a field- Flavien Prat (up), to win the 153rd running of the Belmont Stakes horse race, on June 5, at Belmont Park in between Valtteri Bottas and George Elmont, N.Y. Inset: Jockey Luis Saez, (right), holds up the August Belmont Trophy with Brad Cox. (AP) er’s choice and third on a throwing error Russell at Imola in April, and the lon- by Arizona second baseman Reyna gest suspension since Romain Kaulig then sought out Justin Haley Carranco. Mudge scored the winner on a Grosjean’s fiery crash in Bahrain last and kissed him on the cheek in appre- sacrifice fly by Cassidy Davis. Hot Rod Charlie finishes 2nd, Rombauer 3rd November caused a stoppage of more ciation of the 1-2 finish for the race than an hour. team. It was the second career win for “This is Matt Kaulig’s Super Bowl,” SOFTBALL Pérez, who is in his first season with a breathless Allmendinger said. Essential Quality wins Belmont Stakes Red Bull. It somewhat salvaged the Kaulig was joined on the pit stand race for the team that had been headed Saturday by Indianapolis 500-winning Arizona’s Malia Martinez opened NEW YORK, June 6, (AP): Favorite toward a 1-2 finish before Verstappen’s team owner Michael Shank, another Essential Quality won the Belmont the scoring with a solo homer in the tire failed. Verstappen retained a four- Ohio native who has a long relation- third inning. Dejah Mulipola scored on Stakes to give trainer Brad Cox his first Oliveira captures 1st MotoGP point lead over Hamilton in the stand- ship with Allmendinger. Shank has victory in a Triple Crown race – maybe. a sacrifice fly by Carlie Scupin in the ings; Pérez climbed to third. used Allmendinger as his endurance fourth to push the Wildcats’ lead to 2-0. Cox could get another from The 2016 Spanish Grand Prix was driver in sports car racing for 15 years, Mandaloun in the Kentucky Derby if Arizona starter Alyssa Denham victory of season in Catalonia the last time the top two drivers in the and Allmendinger anchored Shank’s threw 3 2/3 shutout innings before Bob Baffert-trained Medina Spirit is championship standings failed to score breakthrough 24 Hours of Daytona disqualified. But Cox was able to Mariah Lopez replaced her. MONTMELÓ, Spain, June 6, (AP): points. victory in 2012. enjoy this one with Essential Quality Lopez struggled with control, and it Miguel Oliveira won the Catalonia GP Charles Leclerc started on the pole “We’re at Matt Kaulig’s home race, being Hot Rod Charlie by 1 1/4 for his first MotoGP victory of the finally caught up with her in the sixth, for Ferrari but couldn’t replicate his we’ve got three Ohio sponsors on the lengths. season on Sunday in front of nearly when she walked a batter and hit a bat- qualifying pace and was quickly car, we got Mike Shank here - ter. Dani Morgan then took one of her 20,000 fans, the biggest crowd for any Indianapolis 500-winning team - and event in Spain since the start of the passed by Hamilton and both Red Bull pitches just over the left field fence to he came here to see me,” Allmendinger HORSE RACING coronavirus pandemic. cars. A slow pit stop for Hamilton - give Florida State a 3-2 lead. It was The crowd of 19,352 at the held up by the team because Gasly was said. “It’s just such a big deal. I always Seminoles’ only hit of the inning. Barcelona-Catalunya Circuit sur- passing his pit box - allowed want to win, but here I put a lot more Verstappen and Pérez to both come pressure on myself.” Essential Quality, who went off as passed the nearly 15,000 that attended near the end of the second stage. He the 6-5 favorite, passed early leader Spain’s friendly soccer match against out ahead of Hamilton. Allmendinger had to rally after a pit-road penalty dropped him to 19th had worked his way up to third but still Hot Rod Charlie around the final turn Portugal on Friday at the Wanda trailed reigning Xfinity Series cham- and held on to win the 1 1/2-mile $1 Metropolitano Stadium in Madrid. pion Austin Cindric by 13.2 seconds million race. Only smaller crowds had been allowed when he got a lucky break with seven “That was a long way around there a at events across Spain, which was one laps remaining. mile a half but it was exciting,” Cox of the European countries hardest-hit Jeb Burton spun and got his car said. “It looked like the horse on the by the pandemic. stuck in gravel to bring out a caution inside, he still had run left. I knew it Fans were divided among eight dif- and bunch the field back up. Cindric was going to be a battle down the line.” ferent sectors around the track near chose to restart on the outside with Ty Preakness winner Rombauer was Portugal’s Miguel Oliveira of KTM Barcelona, with a maximum of 3,000 holds the trophy from the podium Gibbs on his inside, and Allmendinger third and Known Agenda fourth. after winning the Catalunya people in each. lined up in third one row back. The striking gray finished fourth as a Motorcycle Grand Prix at the “Amazing to have the fans here,” Allmendinger dove inside on the beaten favorite in the Kentucky Derby Barcelona Catalunya racetrack in said Oliveira, the Portuguese rider for restart with four laps remaining and because of a rough trip. Essential Montmelo, near Barcelona, Spain, Red Bull KTM who finished ahead of easily cleared both Cindric and Gibbs Quality showed in the Belmont why he on June 6. (AP) Johann Zarco and Jack Miller. in a three-wide pass. has long been considered one of the top Miller earned the final podium spot Cindric was bounced around like a 3-year-olds in the country. Belmont. after pole-sitter Fabio Quartararo was pinball, knocked off course and fell to Backdooring his way to becoming Essential Quality had plenty of handed a three-second penalty for cut- 26th. One more caution set up a two- the first Louisville-born trainer to win stamina to beat a tough field of seven ting corners, dropping him to fourth lap overtime shootout and Cindric ral- the Kentucky Derby didn’t allow Cox other horses. place. lied to a 14th-place finish. the same joy of victory as the Belmont, Quartararo, who started from pole Jockey Luis Saez won a Triple “K.” he tweeted after the race. which the up-and-coming star will for the fifth straight time this season, Gibbs finished third and also wasn’t likely remember as his first true Triple Crown race for the first time. He was exchanged the lead with Oliveira a pleased, tweeting: “I want a redo.” Crown triumph. aboard Maximum Security when they few times before the Frenchman start- They both fared better than Noah And Cox saw this coming. He pre- crossed the finish line first in the 2019 ed to struggle as his racing suit began A.J. Allmendinger celebrates in Victory Lane after winning the B&L Gragson, who wrecked out of the race dicted last summer that Essential Derby, but was disqualified for imped- to open and he lost his chest protec- Transport 170 NASCAR Xfinity Series auto race at Mid-Ohio Sports Car entering the very first turn seconds Quality would be his horse for the ing other horses. tor. Course on June 5, in Lexington, Ohio. (AP) after the green flag flew. ARAB TIMES, MONDAY, JUNE 7, 2021 SPORTS 15

Albies, Almonte power Braves past Dodgers in 6-4 victory Red Sox top Yankees for MLB-leading 20th comeback win NEW YORK, June 6, (AP): Kiké Hernández snapped an 0-for-27 skid MLB Results/Standings with a tiebreaking double in the eighth inning and the Boston Red Sox com- pleted their major league-best 20th come-from-behind victory, beating the WASHINGTON, June 6, (AP): Re- sults and standings from the MLB Barzal scores late, Islanders New York Yankees 5-3. games on Saturday. Hernández got his fi rst RBI since Detroit 4 Chic. White Sox 3 May 20 by roping a two-out fastball Toronto 6 Houston 2 Minnesota 5 Kansas City 4 from Chad Green (0-4) to the wall in Tampa Bay 3 Texas 0 left, scoring Rafael Devers from fi rst. Cleveland 10 Baltimore 4 Christian Vázquez scored Hernán- Boston 7 NY Yankees 3 dez a batter later with a grounder that Oakland 6 Colorado 3 beat Bruins 4-1 to tie series LA Angels 12 Seattle 5 skipped over the fi rst-base bag, and Cincinnati 5 St Louis 2 Bobby Dalbec followed with a two-run Philadelphia 5 Washington 2 homer. Milwaukee 7 Arizona 5 Kucherov, Stamkos shine, lift Lightning over Hurricanes 6-4 Former Yankees minor leaguer Gar- Pittsburgh 8 Miami (12 inn) 7 San Francisco 4 Chic. Cubs 3 rett Whitlock (1-1) was credited with Atlanta 6 LA Dodgers 4 his fi rst major league win. Closer Matt NY Mets 4 San Diego 0 UNIONDALE, N.Y, June 6, Barnes earned his 14th save. American League (AP): Mathew Barzal broke a East Division Gleyber Torres hit a two-run homer W L Pct GB tie late in the third period and for New York and added a sacrifi ce fl y. Tampa Bay 37 23 .617 _ the New York Islanders beat Giants 4, Cubs 3 Boston 35 23 .603 1 In San Francisco, Unbeaten Kevin Toronto 30 26 .536 5 the Boston Bruins 4-1 to even New York 31 28 .525 5-1/2 Gausman struck out 10 in seven in- Baltimore 20 38 .345 16 the second-round playoff se- nings, Alex Dickerson homered for Central Division ries at two games apiece. the second consecutive game and San W L Pct GB Kyle Palmieri, Casey Cizikas Francisco beat Chicago. Chicago 35 23 .603 _ Cleveland 31 25 .554 3 and Jean-Gabriel Pageau also San Francisco won its third straight Kansas City 29 27 .518 5 scored for New York and Semyon over the Cubs. The Giants have won Detroit 24 34 .414 11 nine of 11 overall and are a majors-best Minnesota 23 35 .397 12 Varlamov stopped 28 shots. 37-21. West Division David Krejci scored for Boston and W L Pct GB Tuukka Rask fi nished with 30 saves. Patrick Wisdom hit his fi fth home Oakland 35 25 .583 _ run in 12 games for Chicago. The Cubs Houston 32 26 .552 2 Game 5 is Monday night in Boston, have dropped three straight. Seattle 29 31 .483 6 with Game 6 back at Nassau Coliseum Gausman (7-0) allowed two hits and Los Angeles 27 31 .466 7 on Wednesday night. Texas 23 37 .383 12 The Islanders took the lead when a pair of unearned runs, lowering his National League ERA to 1.27, for his fi rst victory in four East Division Scott Mayfi eld’s point shot was redi- W L Pct GB rected and defl ected off Charlie McA- career appearances against the Cubs. New York 28 23 .549 _ Kohl Stewart (1-1) allowed seven voy in front and Barzal batted the Atlanta 27 29 .482 3-1/2 puck out of the air and past Rask with hits and three runs in 3 2/3 innings. Philadelphia 27 30 .474 4 Braves 6, Dodgers 4 Washington 24 31 .436 6 6:57 left. Barzal scored for the second In Atlanta, Ozzie Albies drove in the Miami 24 33 .421 7 straight game after going scoreless for Central Division the fi rst eight games of the postseason. go-ahead run in a fi ve-run third inning W L Pct GB off Clayton Kershaw, Abraham Al- Chicago 32 26 .552 _ monte got a pinch-hit homer off Blake Milwaukee 32 26 .552 _ St Louis 31 28 .525 1-1/2 ICE HOCKEY Treinen in the seventh, and Atlanta Cincinnati 27 29 .482 4 topped Los Angeles. Pittsburgh 23 34 .404 8-1/2 West Division Boston pulled Rask for an extra skat- W L Pct GB er with 1:12 left. Cizikas - who had the BASEBALL San Francisco 37 21 .638 _ Carolina Hurricanes goaltender Petr Mrazek (34) stops a shot by Tampa Bay Lightning left wing Ross Colton (79) overtime goal in Game 2 - sealed it with San Diego 36 24 .600 2 an empty-netter nine seconds later, and during the second period in Game 4 of an NHL hockey Stanley Cup second-round playoff series, on June 5, in Los Angeles 34 24 .586 3 Pageau added one with three seconds Braves starter Charlie Morton (5-2) Colorado 23 36 .390 14-1/2 Tampa, Florida. (AP) Arizona 20 40 .333 18 to go. didn’t allow a hit until Cody Bellinger Lightning 6, Hurricanes 4 had the fi rst of four consecutive singles In Tampa, Florida, Nikita Kucherov to begin the fourth. Morton gave up drive deep to left for his 18th homer. and Steven Stamkos each had two goals four hits, four runs - two earned - with Guerrero fi nished with three hits, Sun use big run to rout Liberty 85-64 and an assist and Tampa Bay beat Caro- one walk and fi ve strikeouts in fi ve in- raising his batting average to .338. lina to take a 3-1 series lead. nings. Ross Stripling pitched fi ve innings UNCASVILLE, Conn., June 6, (AP): and open the second quarter that left in the third quarter. Andrei Vasilevskiy made 21 saves Kershaw (7-5) allowed fi ve runs, of one-run ball for the Blue Jays, who Jonquel Jones scored 31 points on gave the Sun a 52-37 lead and New Rebecca Allen led New York, to help the defending Stanley Cup eight hits and one walk and striking out improved to 3-1 at their temporary 12-of-16 shooting and grabbed 13 York (5-4) trailed by at least nine the which has lost three in a row, with champion Lightning improve to 10-0 in nine in six innings. home in Buffalo. Stripling (2-3) al- rebounds to help the Connecticut rest of the way. The Liberty, who 14 points. Betnijah Laney, who av- games following a playoff loss over the Will Smith earned his 10th save in lowed seven hits, struck out four and Sun beat the New York Liberty 85- were held to their fewest points in eraged a career-best 17.2 points past two postseasons. Game 5 is Tues- 10 chances by striking out the side in walked one. 64. and was named the WNBA most day night at Carolina. the ninth. Carlos Correa had three hits and Brionna Jones had 14 points, improved player last season, fi n- Each team scored four goals in the Los Angeles, which dropped to 34- Myles Straw drove in two runs for the eight rebounds and two steals and BASKETBALL ished with eight points on 4-of-12 second, with the Lightning turning a 24, had won three of four and 16 of 22. Astros. DeWanna Bonner scored 13 points shooting. The 27-year old had 4-2 defi cit into a 5-4 lead. Stamkos and The Braves, who had lost fi ve of seven, Urquidy (4-3) was tagged for a for Connecticut (8-2). a game this season, were scoreless scored at least 20 points in every Kucherov scored on the power play and improved to 27-29. season-high six runs in 4 1/3 innings. Jonquel Jones scored 10 points for nearly six minutes before Sabri- game this season - her fi rst with the Tyler Johnson also beat Petr Mrazek in Mets 4, Padres 0 He allowed two or fewer earned runs in a 15-0 run to close the fi rst half na Ionescu hit a 3-pointer with 5:39 Liberty. the fi nal 5:22 of the period. In San Diego, Jacob deGrom kept up in seven of his previous nine starts this his dominance of major league hitters, season. striking out 11 over seven innings and Rays 3, Rangers 0 Howard and by Ranger Suárez (1-0), streak that started after the Reds lost 14th save in as many chances. got three outs for his eighth save. pitching New York past San Diego. In Arlington, Texas, Rich Hill who won by pitching three hitless in- their opener against the Cardinals. Josh Rojas hit two home runs for Ar- Angels 12, Mariners 5 Francisco Lindor homered and dou- pitched another fi ve scoreless innings nings. Tigers 4, White Sox 3 izona. Joakim Soria (0-2) took the loss. In Anaheim, California, Shohei bled to back the latest brilliant per- as Tampa Bay blanked Texas. Rhys Hoskins had an RBI for Phila- In Chicago, Tarik Skubal struck Athletics 6, Rockies 3 Ohtani hit his 16th homer of the season, formance by deGrom (5-2). The Mets The 41-year-old Hill (5-2) struck delphia, which won for just the second out a career-high 11 to win consecu- In Denver, Cole Irvin pitched six Taylor Ward hit the go-ahead drive and ended San Diego’s team-record 12- out three and allowed two hits while time in the last six games. tive starts for the fi rst time in his ma- strong innings, Matt Olson and Chad Los Angeles rallied past Seattle. game home winning streak that began throwing 59 pitches. Diego Castillo, Josh Bell went deep for the Nation- jor league career, Eric Haase homered Pinder backed him with home runs and The Angels came back after Seat- a month ago on May 5. the fourth Rays reliever, struck out the als. twice and Detroit beat Chicago. Oakland doubled up Colorado. tle starter Yusei Kikuchi was hit in the DeGrom allowed just three hits and side in the ninth for his ninth save in Connor Brogdon pitched a 1-2-3 Chicago manager Tony La Russa Mark Canha added three hits, in- right knee by David Fletcher’s come- walked one. His only downfall: He 11 chances and to cap the team’s fi fth ninth for his fi rst save since 2019 at remained tied with John McGraw on cluding an RBI single for the Athletics, backer in the fi fth inning. Kikuchi fell went 0 for 3 at the plate, lowering his shutout victory this season. Texas, Double-A. the career manager wins list at 2,763, who earned their fi fth win in seven in- to the ground writhing in pain and ex- batting average to a still-lofty .391. which had four hits, was held scoreless Joe Ross (2-6) gave up four runs - all behind only Connie Mack at 3,731. terleague games this season. ited with a bruise. Joe Musgrove (4-5) struck out 10 for the seventh time. unearned - and three hits in six innings. Miguel Cabrera also homered for the Brendan Rodgers, pinch-hitting for Drew Steckenrider (2-2) took the in fi ve-plus innings. He gave up three Austin Meadows had a two-run Pirates 8, Marlins 7, 12 Innings Tigers. José Cisnero pitched a perfect Rockies reliever Jhoulys Chacin, hit loss. runs on eight hits. single off Kolby Allard (1-2). Manuel In Pittsburgh, Jacob Stallings hit a ninth for his fi rst career save. his fi rst major league home run, a two- Max Stassi also homered for the An- Blue Jays 6, Astros 2 Margot hit a solo homer in the eighth game-ending single in the 12th inning Nick Madrigal and Yoán Moncada run drive off reliever Jesús Luzardo in gels, who have won fi ve of their last In Buffalo, N.Y., Vladimir Guerrero for the AL-leading Rays (37-23). that lifted Pittsburgh over Miami and had two hits apiece for the White Sox, the seventh. Charlie Blackmon had a seven. Jr. and Joe Panik homered, and Toron- Indians 10, Orioles 4 extended the Marlins’ longest losing who struck out a season-high 16 times, pair of hits, including an RBI single. Los Angeles trailed 5-1 in the fourth to beat Houston. In Baltimore, Cesar Hernandez and streak in six years to eight games. their 25th game in double digits. Irvin (4-7) allowed six hits and one inning after Jake Fraley hit his fi rst Panik’s tiebreaking three-run shot Harold Ramirez homered off Balti- Automatic runner Adam Frazier ad- Twins 5, Royals 4 run in snapping a career high-tying career grand slam. The Angels then off José Urquidy gave Toronto a 4-1 more ace John Means, who exited in vanced to third on Ke’Bryan Hayes’ In Kansas City, Mo., Ryan Jeffers, four-game losing streak. He walked scored in fi ve straight innings, capped lead in the fourth inning. Guerrero con- the fi rst inning with shoulder fatigue, fl yout leading off the 12th against Kyle Garlick and Miguel Sanó homer- one and struck out fi ve. Lou Trivino by a fi ve-run eighth. nected in the fi fth, sending a two-run as Cleveland beat the Orioles. Adam Cimber (1-2). Bryan Reynolds ed, and Minnesota turned a game-end- Cedric Mullins homered twice as was intentionally walked, and Stallings ing double play with the potential tying part of his second career fi ve-hit out- lined a single to center. run at third base to beat Kansas and ing for Baltimore, which saw its Clay Holmes (2-0) pitched a perfect stop a four-game losing streak. three-game winning streak end. Ryan 12th. José Berríos (6-2) gave up four runs Mountcastle hit a solo shot in the sixth. Cardinals 5, Reds 2 and six hits in six innings. Hansel Ro- Yu Chang also homered to help Aar- In St. Louis, Yadier Molina left bles picked up his fi fth save in seven on Civale (8-2) tie for the major league the game in the fourth inning with a chances. lead in victories. Cleveland has won bruised knee, and St. Louis lost to Cin- Nelson Cruz had two hits, a walk three of its last four. cinnati, the Cardinals’ fourth straight and his fi rst stolen base since 2018. Means (4-2) surrendered a leadoff setback. Minnesota homered for the 16th con- homer to Hernandez and a solo drive The 38-year-old Molina took a foul secutive game, tying the longest streak to Ramirez with two outs. After Eddie tip off the bat of Kyle Farmer off his in club history. Rosario followed with a single, Means left knee in the fourth inning, Andrew Mike Minor (4-3) allowed fi ve runs exited the game. Knizner pinch hit in the bottom half for and seven hits in seven innings. Phillies 5, Nationals 2 Molina and made a run-scoring throw- Brewers 7, Diamondbcks 5 In Philadelphia, Bryce Harper hit ing error in the seventh. In Milwaukee, Christian Yelich and a run-scoring single that stopped an Jonathan India and Eugenio Suárez Omar Narváez hit back-to-back hom- 0-for-18 skid in his return from the homered for the Reds to back Tyler ers in the eighth inning and Milwau- Atlanta Braves’ Charlie Morton at- injured list, Andrew McCutchen hit a Mahle (5-2), who allowed two runs kee dealt Arizona its team-record 16th tempts to bunt in the fourth inning three-run homer and Philadelphia de- and fi ve hits in seven innings with eight straight road loss. of a baseball game against the Los feated Washington. strikeouts. Devin Williams (2-0) pitched a Boston Red Sox starting pitcher Eduardo Rodriguez delivers a pitch to a Angeles Dodgers, on June 5, in At- Washington’s Josh Harrison was hit Cincinnati has won three in a row for scoreless eighth and Josh Hader retired New York Yankees batter during the fi rst inning of a baseball game, on lanta. (AP) by pitches twice, by starter Spencer the fi rst time since a six-game winning the side in order in the ninth for his June 5, in New York. (AP) Chiefs beat Rebels 36-26 to Mikulak’s long reign ends end Super Rugby 4th round Malone wins fi rst US gymnastics title, with Tokyo in sight SYDNEY, June 6, (AP): The Hamil- teams were level, 19-19, at halftime. FORT WORTH, Texas, June 6, (AP): “(The fall) was the kick in the butt I er, he came off the pommel horse in the ton-based Chiefs started and fi nished The Chiefs stretched away again Brody Malone deleted Instagram from needed,” Malone said. middle of his routine. It would be his strongly to beat the Melbourne Rebels with the fi rst two tries of the second his phone after racing to the lead at the Yul Moldauer overcame another only major misstep, a positive develop- 36-26 Sunday and wrap up the fourth half, to Tiatia and Trask. Again, the U.S. Gymnastics Championships, an miscue on pommel horse to fi nish sec- ment for the lone constant in the U.S. round of the Australia-New Zealand Rebels stuck back with a try to replace- attempt to cut out distractions as he ond. Moldauer won a national title in men’s program since he made his fi rst Super Rugby tournament. ment Andrew Kellalway which cut the eyed his fi rst national title. 2017 while Mikulak was recovering Olympic team in 2012. Mikulak saved The match was the second involv- lead to 31-26. Consider it good practice. If the from injury. He called Malone’s victo- his best moment for last, sticking the ing the Rebels to be played in Sydney Tiatia’s second try in the 65th minute 21-year-old keeps performing like this, ry evidence that the next wave is com- dismount on his high bar routine before because of a community outbreak of clinched the match for the Chiefs but the distractions around him are only ing for a program that’s spent most of roaring while pumping his fi sts. COVID-19 in Austalia’s second-larg- they fell short of the bonus point that going to increase heading to Tokyo. the last decade being led by Mikulak. “How do you have fun? I was try- est city. Travel between Melbourne might have given them the faintest of Confi dent from start to fi nish, Malone “Brody winning, that’s awesome,” ing to ask that question,” Mikulak said. and New Zealand currently is sus- chances of reaching the tournament overcame a nervous mistake on parallel Moldauer said. “That shows that there “When does this get fun? Well, you pended. fi nal. bars to post a two-day total of 170.700 have to put on a performance.” Center Anton Lienert-Brown, full- and stamp himself as the new standard- Something Mikulak has done with back Kaleb Trask and replacement bearer for the men’s program with the GLYMNASTICS stunning regularity for the last nine center Chase Tiatia scored two tries RUGBY Summer Games just seven weeks away. years. His time, however, is coming to each as the Chiefs held out the Rebels The victory ended six-time national are younger guys in this country that an end. He’s engaged and ready to get in a see-sawing match at Sydney’s The fourth of the tournament’s fi ve champion and two-time Olympian Sam Brody Malone competes in the are able to be the top dog right now and on with the next chapter of his life. The Leichardt Oval. rounds complicated rather than clari- Mikulak’s long reign. While Mikulak vault during the U.S. Gymnastics when that happens it drives everyone to decision to not push toward 2024 has Lienert-Brown’s double and fi ed the contest for fi nals places. rebounded from seventh to third, the Championships, on June 5, in Fort get better and better.” freed him in a way. The rust now hope- Trask’s fi rst try gave the Chiefs a 19-0 The Auckland-based Blues lead 29-year-old believes he saw a changing Worth, Texas. (AP) Mikulak spent Friday in a long discus- fully gone, Mikulak is eager to attack lead after 25 minutes. On each occa- the tournament with 19 points and of the guard. sion with his sports psychologist after an the fi nal months of his long career. sion, the Chiefs played the Rebels’ an unbeaten record, a point ahead of “That kid is the future,” Mikulak mance, the nerves returned. He ap- uncharacteristically off night on Thurs- The Olympic selection committee defense like a concertina, drawing the Dunedin-based Highlanders and said. “I’m just this old guy trying to peared ready to have his advantage slip day that left him far behind Malone. is relying strictly on the performance them wide, then working the ball back Christchurch-based Crusaders. keep up with him now.” away after ending up on the mat in the Competing for the fi rst time in nearly 15 at the trials to determine the fi ve-man infi eld. The Wellington-based Hurri- Malone admitted he wasn’t nervous middle of his parallel bars set, his fi rst months, Mikulak surprisingly ran out of team. Malone has spent the last fi ve The Rebels rallied strongly with two canes blew their chance to seal a fi - during the opening round on Thursday, event during fi nals. gas during his fi nal two events. An ex- months making a pretty compelling tries to backrower Isi Naisarani and nal place when they lost 12-10 to the saying he felt far more pressure while No matter. He responded by drill- tended chat with his sports psychologist argument. He helped the Cardinal cap- another to center Stacy Ili after fl yhalf ACT Brumbies on Saturday and they competing for Stanford in the NCAA ing his high bars set, where his 15.050 on Friday helped him hit reset. ture the NCAA team title in April and Carter Gordon had recovered his own dropped back to fourth place, three Championships in April. Staked to a score was the best of the meet and the He came out fl ying, drilling his fl oor added an all-around title to bookend the kick behind the Chiefs’ defense. The points behind the Blues. sizable lead after a polished perfor- second-highest on any event. exercise to start the fi nals. Minutes lat- one he earned as a freshman in 2019. ARAB TIMES, MONDAY, JUNE 7, 2021 16

Los Angeles Angels relief pitcher Alex Claudio (58) throws during the ninth inning of a baseball game against the Seattle Mariners in Ana- heim, Calif. Angels won 12-5. (AP) — See Page 15 Sports Latest sports scores at — http://sports.arabtimesonline.com South Korea dominate Turkmenistan in WC qualifier Saudi Arabia move 5 pts clear of Uzbekistan Harden ‘hurt’ as Nets SEOUL, South Korea, June 6, (AP): D with a 3-0 win over Yemen in Riyadh. South Korea resumed their World Cup All the goals came in the fi rst half. Sa- qualifying campaign after 19 months lem Al-Dawsari opened the scoring after with a 5-0 win over Turkmenistan to four minutes and then two goals from move within sight of the third round. Fahad Al-Muwallad sealed the victory. edge Bucks in opener Bordeaux striker Hwang Ui-jo There are 13 games on Monday with opened the scoring in Goyang after 10 China playing their fi rst in the United minutes and Nam Tae-hee netted late Arab Emirates. The team routed Guam in the fi rst half to send the hosts on 7-0 on May 30 in front of 40,000 fans KD, Irving combine for 54 pts their way to 10 points from four games in Suzhou but with Group A opponents in Group H. Maldives and Syria struggling to gain NEW YORK, June 6, (AP): Kevin Durant 14 rebounds from Blake Griffi n. entry into China due to COVID-19 re- And they got a solid defensive effort despite giving up strictions, the Asian Football Confed- knew something was wrong when the Brook- SOCCER plenty of size, limiting the Bucks to 13 points below their eration (AFC) switched the group to lyn Nets were trying to run NBA-leading average. Sharjah. a play and James Harden Durant grabbed 10 rebounds and Irving had eight assists, Kim Young-gwon, Kwon Chang- If China fail to defeat the Philippines, throwing some spectacular passes as the Nets moved the ball hoon and a second from Hwang com- then fi nishing fi rst will be impossible wasn’t in the right spot. around quickly and had the Bucks a step or more behind all night. pleted the comprehensive victory for with Syria moving eight points clear on Moments later, Harden wasn’t Game 2 is Monday night. South Korea, looking to qualify for a South Korea’s Son Heung-min Friday after a 4-0 win over Maldives. 10th successive World Cup. dribbles the ball during their Asian Japan, in action against even in the game, forced to leave Group H is the only one of the eight Zone Group H qualifying soccer Tajikistan,are the only team already with a right hamstring injury less BASKETBALL groups in the second round with four match for the FIFA World Cup sure of a place in the third round and than a minute into the Eastern Con- teams instead of fi ve after North Korea Qatar 2022 at Goyang Stadium in could be joined by Australia. ference semifinals. Goyang, South Korea. (AP) “Our guys got to execute defensively regardless of who’s withdrew in May, citing concerns over After defeating host Kuwait 3-0 on Durant and Kyrie Irving made sure it on the court, execute offensively regardless of who’s on the COVID-19. Thursday, Australia will progress with wasn’t a knockout blow. scored twice in the fi rst half along Durant court,” Bucks coach Mike Budenholzer said. “We’ve got to Only the group winners progress to the with Mohammed Kdouh to put Leba- a win over Taiwan if Jordan, currently Durant scored 29 points, Irving had be better. We’ll be better Monday.” third round automatically, along with the fi ve points behind in Group B, fail to 25 and the two superstars carried Brooklyn to a 115-107 vic- Antetokounmpo had 34 points and 11 rebounds, but the Bucks four best second-placed teams. The de- non in control and though Razeek en- defeat Nepal. tory over the Milwaukee Bucks on Saturday night in Game sured a tight fi nish with his second on were just 6 for 30 from 3-point range and lost for the fi rst time feat ends Turkmenistan’s chances. “I think this team can shock the 1. in the playoffs after storming past Miami in a fi rst-round sweep. Lebanon are second, level on points the hour, Sri Lanka slipped to a fi fth world and this group, we’ve got tal- Harden’s injury is the same one that forced him to miss Brook Lopez scored 19 points for the Bucks and Jrue with Korea, after a 3-2 win over straight defeat. ent, the talent just needs to be given an two losses to the Bucks in May. Holiday had 17 points and nine rebounds. Khris Middleton Sri Lanka, which went ahead early In other qualifi er, Saudi Arabia moved opportunity and in the past it hasn’t,” But the Nets beat Milwaukee when it mattered most with- fi nished with 13 points and 13 rebounds but was 6 for 23, through Ahmed Razeek. Joan Oumari fi ve points clear of Uzbekistan in Group Australia coach Graham Arnold said. out him, getting 19 points from Joe Harris and 18 points and missing all fi ve 3-pointers. Canada rout Aruba, Trinidad eliminated BRADENTON, Fla., June 6, (AP): Lu- cas Cavallini scored twice and Alphonso Davies, Cyle Larin and Jonathan David added late goals to lead Canada over Aruba 7-0 in a World Cup qualifi er Sat- urday night, setting up a matchup against Suriname for a berth in the second round. In a game moved to the IMG Acad- emy, Canada coach John Herdman rested his front-line players for Tues- day’s match against Suriname at Brid- geview, Illinois. SOCCER

No. 70 Canada (3-0 with a plus-22 goal difference) needs only to draw No. 136 Suriname (3-0 and plus-15) to win Group B and advance to the second round on Panama’s Armando Cooper, (right), June 12 and 15 against the Group E win- celebrates with teammate Omar ner, Nicaragua, Haiti or Belize. Cordova, after scoring his first goal The second-round winners advance against Anguilla, during a FIFA to the eight-team fi nal round of the World Cup Qatar 2022 qualifying North and Central American and Ca- soccer match, in Panama City. (AP) ribbean region, which includes the United States, Mexico, Costa Rica, against 205th-ranked Aruba. Larin and Honduras and Jamaica. Milan Borjan also did not start. Cavallini scored in the 17th minute, David and Davies combined for Junior Hoilett doubled the lead with a Canada’s fi fth goal in the 78th min- penalty kick in the 20th and Cavallini ute with the 21-year-old David play- got the third goal in the second minute ing provider, sending the ball to the of stoppage time, Zachary Brault-Guil- 20-year-old Davies whose hard shot lard made it 4-0 in the 49th. from a tight angle went off a defender Brooklyn Nets forward Blake Griffin (2) and Milwaukee Bucks forward Giannis Antetokounmpo scramble for the ball during the first half of Game 1 of an Davies and David entered in the en route to the goal. It was Davies’ NBA basketball second-round playoff series in New York. (AP) 66th minute, with Canada ahead 4-0 eighth goal in 20 games for Canada. Todd Frazier shines Pavlyuchenkova’s back in quarters US qualify for Olympics Serena loses at French Open; Federer withdraws PORT ST. LUCIE, Fla. June 6, (AP): Venezuela loaded the based with PARIS, June 6, (AP): Serena Williams The United States qualifi ed for the one out in the fi rst before Oakland Ath- turns 40 in September. Roger Federer Olympic baseball tournament on their letics minor leaguer Carlos Pérez hit a hits that milestone the month before. Hassan beats world record by more than 10 seconds second try, beating Venezuela 4-2 grounder to third, where Frazier started No one knows how many more French Saturday night behind Todd Frazier’s an inning-ending 5-4-3 double play. Open appearances each will make, and HENGELO, Netherlands, June 6, in the 10,000 last October, shaved the perfect confi rmation of the hard home run, four hits and two RBIs. Brandon Dickson, who wasted a ninth- this year’s tournament ended for both (AP): Sifan Hassan set a world record more than 10 seconds off the previ- work we’ve put in getting ready for The U.S., managed by Mike Scios- inning lead against Mexico in November on Sunday. by running the 10,000 meters in 29 ous world-best mark of 29:17.45 set Tokyo. I am so happy to share this cia, fi nished 4-0 to win the Americas 2019 when the U.S. was three outs from Williams fell way behind and could minutes, 6.82 seconds at the Fanny by Ethiopia’s Almaz Ayana at the record in front of my Dutch fans. I qualifying tournament and joined Ja- qualifying at the Premier12 tourna- not put together a comeback against Blankers-Koen Games on Sunday. 2016 Olympics in Rio de Janeiro. am so happy!” pan, Israel, Mexico and South Korea ment, escaped two-on trouble in the fi fth a much younger and less-experienced The 28-year-old Dutch athlete, “To run this world record here to- Hassan also holds world records at Olympic baseball, to be played in when Juniel Querecuto grounded to Fra- opponent in the fourth round at Roland back in the same stadium where she day in Hengelo is something I could in the mile, one-hour event and Japan from July 28 to Aug. 7 in Fuku- zier, then allowed an RBI double in the Garros, losing 6-3, 7-5 to Elena Ry- set her European record of 29:36.67 only dream of,” Hassan said. “It’s 5-kilometer road race. shima and Yokohama. sixth to Washington Nationals prospect bakina - who wasn’t even born when Edwin Jackson Ramón Flores that cut the lead to 3-2. the American made her tournament got the win in the Liberatore, in his second start of the debut in 1998. Williams smiled ruefully and leaned Wimbledon in mind. year by beating 12th-seeded Spaniard clincher and fel- tournament, allowed one run and four Williams has won 23 Grand Slam over, resting and propping herself up Federer is giving himself a chance to Pablo Carreno Busta 6-3, 6-2, 7-5. low former big hits in 4 2/3 innings titles and Federer has won 20. They with her racket. Ten years later, Anasta- recover after a tough third-round match Tsitsipas, who lost in the semifi nals leaguer David are two of the sport’s greatest and most sia Pavlyuchenkova is back in the quar- that lasted about 3 1/2 hours on Saturday to top-ranked Novak Djokovic at last Robertson earned popular players, so it was quite a blow terfi nals of the French Open after beating night and ended close to 1 a.m. year’s tournament, is a favorite among a save. BASEBALL to the tournament, its TV partners and 2013 semifi nalist Victoria Azarenka 5-7, The tournament announced his fans for his entertaining approach. Venezuela tennis fans to see both gone from the 6-3, 6-2 on Sunday. withdrawal and the 2009 French Open She faces Rybakina next. advanced to a Jackson, a 37-year-old veteran of a fi eld one after the other - and a week Former Wimbledon champion Mar- champion explained in a statement that The former top-ranked Azarenka fi nal qualifying record 14 major league teams, pitched after Naomi Osaka pulled out, citing a ion Bartoli, who was doing the court- he is protecting his body after two op- saved two break points before clinching tournament from two hitless innings for the win. San- need for a mental health break. side interview, congratulated her. erations on his right knee. the fi rst set on a sunny Court Philippe- June 22-26 in chez took the loss. Williams has won the French Open There was disappointment for Stefanos Tsitsipas is still looking for Chatrier, where the crowd was subdued. Puebla, Mexico, Frazier Robertson, who last pitched in the three times. But the American hasn’t French Open fans elsewhere, though, his fi rst major fi nal, anywhere. Azarenka got a telling off, too, of which will deter- major leagues for Philadelphia in 2019, been past the fourth round in Paris with 20-time Grand Slam champion The fi fth-seeded Greek advanced to sorts: a time violation warning for taking mine one more qualifi er from a fi eld struck out two in a hitless ninth around since she was the runner-up in 2016. Roger Federer pulling out. He has the last eight for the second straight too long to serve in the third game of the that also includes Australia, the Do- a walk for his second save of the tour- Rybakina is a 21-year-old from Ka- deciding set - which, coincidentally, hap- minican Republic, Netherlands and nament. He retired pinch-hitter Alexan- zakhstan who is ranked 22nd. This was pened just as the wind was picking up. Taiwan. der Palma, a Milwaukee prospect, on a just the seventh Grand Slam appearance Tamara Zidansek, meanwhile, be- Frazier, a 35-year-old two-time All- grounder to Frazier for the fi nal out. for Rybakina - and the fi rst time she ever came the fi rst Slovenian woman to Star, singled leading off the fourth Pérez had three hits of Venezuela’s made it so much as past the second round. reach the quarterfi nals of a major. against Aníbal Sánchez and scored on seven hits. She won 7-6 (4), 6-1 against Roma- Eric Filia’s two-run homer onto the right Japan, which are stopping the Cen- nian Sorana Cirstea after saving a set fi eld berm. Frazier hit an RBI double in tral and Pacifi c League seasons to TENNIS point in a tight fi rst set between the un- the fi fth for a 3-1 lead off Danny Rondon make their top players available, are seeded players. and homered in the seventh against Erick considered the Olympic favorites. Ma- Against Williams, whose right thigh The 23-year-old Zidansek dropped to Leal, a drive off the facing of the bar be- jor League Baseball doesn’t allowed carried a heavy tape job, Rybakina hit her knees and held her head in her hands hind the left-fi eld wall. Frazier was 3 for its big league players to participate and big, fl at serves. She dealt with, but man- after winning on her fi rst match point. 35 for Pittsburgh this season before he MLB general managers often discour- aged to steady, her nerves. She even Zidansek’s run is even more impres- was released on May 13. age the use of top eligible prospects. produced the occasional return winner sive, considering the former snow- Venezuela went ahead in the on Teams can change their roster be- off Williams’ speedy and spectacularly board enthusiast had never beaten a top a third-inning home run by Hernán fore heading to Japan. gifted serve, breaking her fi ve times, in- 10-ranked player before this tournament Pérez, who signed a minor league Baseball is returning to the Olym- cluding in the next-to-last game. or been past the fi rst round here. contract with Milwaukee last month pics after being dropped for 2012 and In the next game, Williams gave away No. 33 Paula Badosa of Spain joined after he was released by Washington. 2016. Cuba won the gold medal in the opening point when, near the base- Stefanos Tsitsipas of Greece plays a return to Spain’s Pablo Carreno Bus- her in the last eight for the fi rst time Pérez’s home run came off Cardinals 1992, 1996 and 2004, the United States line, she failed to get out of the way of a ta during their fourth round match on day 8, of the French Open tennis at any major, beating No. 20 Marketa prospect Matthew Liberatore. in 2000 and South Korea in 2008. shot from Rybakina that was fl ying long. tournament at Roland Garros in Paris, France. (AP) Vondrousova 6-4, 3-6, 6-2.

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