markets

soccer THE FIRST ENGLISH LANGUAGE DAILY IN FREE KUWAIT Pages 14 & 16 Established in 1977 / www.arabtimesonline.com Page 9

THURSDAY, JUNE 24, 2021 / ZUL-QAADAH 14, 1442 AH emergency number 112 NO. 17722 16 PAGES 150 FILS

‘We found them’ ... ID, closure on 8 Kuwaiti missing ICRC chairs search Other Voices Two Kuwaitis off ‘terror’ list BAGHDAD, June 23: At the 51st Tripartite Commission (TC) Committee. meeting yesterday, held under the auspices of the International Since their establishment in 1991 and 1994, the Tripartite Com- KUWAIT CITY, June 23: The Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC), it was announced that the mission and its Technical Sub-Committee, respectively, continue Committee for the Implementa- cases of ten missing persons and Prisoners of War (PoW) from the to do their utmost to bring answers to the families of missing per- Kuwait different, tion of Security Council Resolu- 1990-1991 Gulf War were formally closed. sons from 1990-1991 Gulf War. tions on Financing and Combating Terrorism has decided to remove Nine of the ten cases (8 Kuwaitis and 1 Saudi national) were The commission is committed to bring as many answers as pos- the names of Kuwaitis from its closed based on DNA analyses conducted at the Kuwaiti Depart- sible to families who want their loved ones identified and buried but for the worst list, reports Al-Qabas daily. ment of Forensic Evidence. regardless of how much time has already passed. The burial of a The list contains the names The other case is an Iraqi soldier, whose remains were found in loved one is essential in bringing closure to bereaved families left By Ali Ahmed Al-Baghli of persons who are accused of Bubiyan Island, north of Kuwait, in February 2021. They were re- behind. Former Minister of Oil financing and supporting terror- patriated from the State of Kuwait to the Republic of Iraq in March The Tripartite Commission and its Technical Sub-Committee is ism. The Kuwaitis whose names 2021. chaired by the ICRC, and composed of representatives of the Re- ONE of the wise government’s geniuses — a were removed from the list are senior offi cial at the General Secretariat for Plan- Adel Aqel Salem Roisan Al- The nine mortal remains in question were found at a burial public of Iraq, the State of Kuwait, the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, ning that turned into the authority of confusion Dhafiri, and Muhammad Abdul site in Iraq’s Samawa district in March 2019, thanks to the joint the United States of America, the United Kingdom and the Repub- recently — said with enviable courage: “Kuwait Razzaq Muhammad Obaid Jad- efforts of the Iraqi and Kuwaiti authorities assisted by experts lic of France. is different !” oua Kardoush Al-Anzi. from the ICRC within the framework of the Technical Sub- The UNAMI joined in 2014, as an observer. We say to him: You are right. Kuwait is re- ally different. When it failed to stay in front, it became different, as it is now at the back of ranks in many aspects! Education, culture, arts, literature, integrity, infrastructure, govern- ment administration with its majority, and even the Parliament, have become among the most Dem base support dents shameful things. This Parliament — for which we dragged our legs on Dec 5, 2020 to elect those who represent us in legisla- tion and oversight — be- came a shameful thing for us. It joined the rest of the bipartisan bow to Israel failure bodies and institu- tions which we see wher- ever we turn our faces. The Parliament has had no Al-Baghli achievement for six months now, which is unprecedented in the whole world; even if Robespierre or Jean- Jacques Rousseau — the spiritual fathers of old and current parliaments — came out. Parliamentary representation after the demise of the absolute monarchy with the outbreak of the French Revolution came to absolve you of what you are doing in your Parliament … This is just the tip of the iceberg of what we are expe- riencing these days with our general conditions in the executive and legislative authorities. Nevertheless, the one who deserves to win the title of the ‘greatest creator’ that we failed to achieve months ago is our Minister of Health — the young Sheikh, considering his decisions. He puts more pressure on the citizens and ex- patriates — whether quarantine or something else. It is diffi cult to travel. It is diffi cult to interact ‘selectively and hatefully’ with other people… We see infections and deaths increas- ing day after day despite all his decisions that are stamped by members of the rational gov- ernment, for which God has not sent down any other authority! He did not vaccinate the domestic workers who are in our houses and whom we interact with daily more than the infant interacts with the mother. A brother means his brothers, and a friend means his friends! An Asian worker in my house moved to God’s mercy due to the complications of the corona epidemic and the lack of vaccination. She left behind several hungry mouths in her home coun- try. They need every penny she was earning with her sweat here to support them. The minister’s latest ‘useless and worthless‘ decision is to prevent people who have not been In this June 19, 2021 file photo, Palestinian demonstrators wave the Palestinian flag during a protest in Damascus Gate just outside Jerusalem’s Old City. A new poll on US vaccinated against corona from entering restau- attitudes toward a core conflict in the Middle East finds about half of Democrats want the country to do more to support the Palestinians. (AP) rants, cafés, major complexes, salons and health clubs although the turn of thousands who reg- istered for vaccination has yet to come. They adhered to government decisions just to be ‘re- More say US too supportive of Tel Aviv warded’ with such punishment. The young Sheikh did not tell us how to feed those who serve in restaurants, cafés, complexes, WASHINGTON, June 23, (AP): A new poll on American atti- The poll from The Associated Press-NORC Center for Public Affairs Research salons and health clubs — the expatriates; yet he tudes toward a core conflict in the Middle East finds about half finds differences within both the Democratic and the Republican parties on the US forbids the entry of those who have not been vac- of Democrats want the US to do more to support the Palestinians, approach toward Israel and the Palestinians, with liberal Democrats wanting more cinated to these places! support for the Palestinians and conservative Republicans seeking even greater A few days ago, New York and Texas cel- showing that a growing rift among Democratic lawmakers is also support for the Israelis. ebrated the end of the curfew and wearing reflected in the party’s base. The survey also examined Americans’ opinions on the Biden administration’s handling of the masks. Britain and France announced the Israel-Palestinian conflict. The survey was conducted about three same. Conditions have returned to almost nor- weeks into a cease-fire following a devastating 11-day war last mal among our brothers in the Kingdom of month between Israel and the Gaza Strip’s Hamas militant rulers. Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates and Newswatch ‘Sink funds The fighting killed at least 254 Palestinians and 13 people in Israel. The poll shows Americans overall are divided over US others; except Kuwait … because Kuwait, as policy toward Israel and the Palestinians. It also shows more one of our planning geniuses said, is different Americans disapprove of President Joe Biden’s approach to … but such difference is for the worst in our KUWAIT CITY: Kuwait’s Public connected to a biodiesel fraud into Salmi’ the conflict than approve of it. point of view! Institution for Social Security’s scheme run by Utah polygamists Among Democrats, 51% say the US is not supportive By Saeed Mahmoud Saleh [email protected] (PIFSS) assets rose to KD 6.3 bil- Jacob and Isaiah Kingston and enough of the Palestinians. The sentiment jumps to 62% lion (USD 20.9 billion) in March, gas station owner Lev Dermen to Arab Times Staff among Democrats who describe themselves as liberal. On the the highest fi gure in the pension defraud the the US Treasury by fi l- other hand, 49% of Republicans say the US is not supportive fund’s history, driven by the fi nan- ing false claims for over $1 billion KUWAIT CITY, June 23: enough of the Israelis, a number that rises to 61% among those cial market’s robust performance in refundable renewable fuel tax MP Marzouq Al-Khalifa has who say they’re conservative. Al-Ghanim arrives last year. credits. (AP) submitted a proposal to de- Paul Spelce, a 26-year-old Democratic-leaning independent The gain in assets amounted to ❑ ❑ ❑ velop Salmi Road. He said voter and supporter of Palestinian statehood, is a member of a a 20.9 percent increase from last UNITED NATIONS: Russia’s for- this road has become impor- heavily religious Texas Republican family whose support for year’s fi gure, subsequently ratchet- tant and it is the longest road in Brussels for talks ing up investment by 16.5 percent, eign minister says Moscow disa- Israel is ingrained with their Christian faith. Spelce, of Austin, PIFSS Director General Mishal Al- grees that there is no alternative to in Kuwait — about 120 kilo- says he followed news of last month’s Gaza war and the US deliver humanitarian aid to Syria’s meters long. response closely on the radio as he helped deliver mail. KUWAIT CITY, June 23, (KUNA): National Assem- Othman said in a statement. He attributed the pension fund’s rebel-held northwest except from He suggested adding one “I started paying a lot more attention,” said Spelce, who said bly Speaker Marzouq Al-Ghanim arrived Wednes- “record gains” to the diligence of a Turkey as the U.N. and many lane to the existing two lanes, he disapproved of Biden’s handling of the conflict and thinks day at the Belgian capital, Brussels, for a two-day national workforce that is “committed Western nations maintain, insisting the United States is too supportive of Israelis and not support- deliveries are possible across con- as well as establishing a visit; during which he will meet as a representative to sustainable and long-term growth,” mosque, rest areas, markets and ive enough of the Palestinians. of Arab parliaments, European Parliament Presi- which includes proper asset manage- fl ict lines within the country. “I don’t think Biden’s word was that strong,” Spelce said. ment, added the offi cial. (KUNA) He hinted that Russia will block coffee shops to serve those ply- “And I don’t think, you know, this administration ... can actu- dent David Sassoli and Belgian Parliament Speaker U.N. renewal of the one remaining ing through this road. Eliane Tello. ❑ ❑ ❑ ally do anything” regarding the conflict. border crossing whose mandate ex- He also suggested installing Overall, the poll shows that 29% of Americans say the US Al-Ghanim’s meetings with senior officials in the Eu- SALT LAKE CITY: A Turkish busi- pires July 10. (AP) a fence on both sides of the nessman has been arrested by the is too supportive of the Israelis, 30% say it’s not supportive ropean Parliament and the Belgian Parliament came as a ❑ ❑ ❑ road in order to prevent acci- enough and 36% say it’s about right. In its approach toward the representative of the Arab geopolitical group to discuss US Justice Department in connec- tion with what authorities say was JEDDAH: The coalition for sup- dents resulting from animals Palestinians, 25% say the US is too supportive, 32% say it’s developments in the occupied Palestinian territories in porting legitimacy in Yemen crossing the road, in addition not supportive enough and 37% say it’s about right. the wake of the recent attacks by the occupation forces a biodiesel fraud scheme operated by a Utah business that stole nearly claimed intercepting a booby- to the maintenance of street Also: on Jerusalem, Gaza and the rest of the Palestinian ter- $500 million in government funds. trapped drone unleashed by the lights. ritories, said Dustoor news network. Sezgin Baran Korkmaz was ar- Houthi militias in direction of the On the other hand, MP Hes- JERUSALEM: Israel’s Supreme Court on Wednesday upheld Al-Ghanim will also meet the Chairman of the For- rested in Austria on Saturday on southern Saudi city of Khamis ham Al-Saleh forwarded que- the decision to destroy the family home of a detained Palestin- eign Affairs Committee in the European Parliament, suspicion of laundering over $133 Mshait. ries to Minister of Finance and ian accused of a deadly shooting. It rejected a petition by his David McAllister, in addition to another meeting with million through bank accounts that Offi cial Saudi Press Agency estranged wife, who lives in the house with their children and authorities contend he controlled quoted a statement by the coalition Minister of State for Economic says she knew nothing about the attack. the Arabian Peninsula Relations Head in the European in Turkey and Luxembourg, fed- command as saying that the militias and Investment Affairs Khalifa The case drew attention to Israel’s policy of demolish- Parliament, Hannah Neumann. eral prosecutors said in a statement are continuously launching attacks Hamada about the achieve- ing the family homes of attackers after they have been killed At Al-Ghanim’s reception was State of Kuwait Am- Monday. on civilians and civil targets in the ments of Touristic Enterprises or arrested. Israeli officials say the demolitions deter future bassador to Belgium, as well as its delegate to the EU Prosecutors said Korkmaz was kingdom. (KUNA) Company (TEC) since 2010 till attacks, while rights groups view it as a form of collective and NATO Jassem Al-Budaiwi. date. punishment. ARAB TIMES, THURSDAY, JUNE 24, 2021 2

Weather Expected weather for the next with light to moderate north west- Jahra 49 34 Prayer Timings 24 hours: erly wind to northerly wind with Salmiyah 42 33 Fajr ...... 03:14 Asr ...... 15:24 By Day: Very hot with moder- speeds of 12-35 km/h. Ahmadi 44 36 Sunrise .. 04:50 Maghrib .. 18:51 ate to fresh north westerly wind to Station Max Exp Min Rec Nuwaisib 52 30 Zohr ...... 11:50 Isha ...... 20:23 northerly wind with speeds of 20-50 Kuwait City 47 33 Wafra 48 31 km/h with a chance for rising dust. Kuwait Airport 48 34 Salmy 46 31 By Night: Hot to rather hot Abdaly 48 30 Jal Aliyah 47 30

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

Humansoft Holding jumps 89 fils, Agility slips Kuwait bourse notches modest gains in choppy trade By John Mathews ■ UUS$/KDS$/KD 0.30100/100.30100/10 Arab Times Staff KUWAIT CITY, June 23: Kuwait stocks pulled higher on ▲ Euro/KD 0.3599 Wednesday as it continued its ascent to 17th straight ses- sion. The All Shares Index climbed 17.83 points in choppy ■ Yen/KD 0.0027 session to 6,463.63 pts even as the trading fl oor sentiment turned cautiously positive. ▲ British £/KD 0.4209 The Premier Market rose 12.43 points to 7,018.44 pts taking the month’s gains to 278 points while Main Market ■ Indian Rs/KD 0.0040 rallied 31.11 pts. The BK Main 50 was up 22.87 points at 5,643.80 pts. The volume turnover meanwhile pulled back ■ Philippines Peso/KD following last session’s surge. Over 372 million shares 0.0062 changed hands – a 21 percent drop from the day before. The sectors closed mostly in green turf. Healthcare ▲ FTSE +30.19 pts at 18:50 hrs June 23 outshone the rest with 2.44 pct gain whereas Utilities shed 0.85 pct, the worst performer of the day. Volume wise, Financial Services topped with 163.9 million ▼ Nikkei -9.24 pts at closing June 23 shares and the sector also dominated in value with KD 20.92 million shares. ▼ In the individual shares, sector bellwether National Bank Gold $1782.90 per oz (London) of Kuwait rose 3 fi ls to 850 fi ls on back of 5.2 million shares while Boubyan Bank and National Investment Co scaled ▲ NYMEX crude $74.16 per barrel 6 fi ls each to close at 726 fi ls and 178 fi ls respectively. Mabanee Co added 3 fi ls and is trading 27 fi ls higher month- ▲ Brent crude $75.92 per barrel to-date while Humansoft Holding extended last session’s ro- bust gains with a 89 fi ls jump to KD 3.791. LIBOR rate 0.13375% Zain rebounded 5 fi ls to 587 fi ls on back of 2.4 million shares and Ooredoo followed suit to end at 640 fi ls. stc was up 3 fi ls at 847 fi ls whereas logistics major Agility gave of 9.5 million shares. up 5 fi ls after pushing 5.6 million shares. Mezzan Holding Warba Bank eased 1 fi l to 259 fi ls whereas Ahli United KUNA photo slipped 4 fi ls to 647 fi ls and Boursa Kuwait Securities Co Bank BSC paused at 239 fi ls after moving 14.5 million His Highness the Crown Prince Sheikh Mishal Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah received at Bayan Palace National shed 13 fi ls. Advanced Technology bounced 62 fi ls to 543 shares. Ahli United Bank Kuwait was unchanged at 300 fi ls Assembly Speaker Marzouq Al-Ghanim. fi ls from Tuesday’s trough. and Al Ahli Bank dialed up 1 fi l. National Industries Group dialed up 2 fi ls on back of KIPCO inched 1 fi l higher to 164 fi ls while Kuwait In- HH Crown Prince meets Speaker, PM 10.5 million shares to close at 234 fi ls and Gulf Cable add- vestment Co paced 10 fi ls on back of 9.2 million shares. In- ed 3 fi ls. Boubyan Petrochemical Co dropped 8 fi ls to 931 ternational Financial Advisors added 2 fi ls with brisk trading fi ls while Al Qurain Petrochemical Co tripped 1 fi l after and Kuwait Financial Center ( Markaz) gained 5 fi ls. His Highness the Crown Prince on Wednesday National Assembly then received His Highness the moving over 1 million shares. Jazeera Airways saw 6 fi ls Noor Financial Investment Co added 3 fi ls and Tamdeen Sheikh Mishal Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Speaker Marzouq Al-Ghanim. Prime Minister Sheikh Sabah Khaled lift to 646 fi ls whereas ALAFCO gave up 2 fi ls. Indepen- Al-Sabah received at Bayan Palace His Highness the Crown Prince Al-Hamad Al-Sabah. (KUNA) Investment Co climbed 10 fi ls to 270 fi ls. Gulf Investment dent Petroleum Group sprinted 28 fi ls to 628 fi ls with House dropped 8 fi ls to 294 fi ls whereas Osoul Investment razor thin volume. The market opened slightly gap up and pulled higher dialed up 1.9 fi ls. Bayan Investment crept 1.4 fi ls into green Akbar’s killer nears capital punishment in early trade. The main index fl ipped and fell briefl y into while KAMCO took in 1 fi l. red to plumb the day’s lowest level of 6,457 pts before Kuwait Cement Co fell 2 fi ls to 251 fi lls whereas Kuwait heading north. It peaked at 6,474 points ahead of mid- Portland Cement crept 2 fi ls into green. Metal and Recycling Case postponed till final plea of victim’s family session and drifted lower in choppy trade to close with Co paced 16 fi ls and ACICO Industries inched 1 fi l higher modest gains. to 118 fi ls. Kuwait Foundry Co was unchanged at 389 fi ls By Jaber Al-Hamoud fi rst-degree murder. March 13, 2021 from her location in Top gainer of the day, Sanam Real Estate Co galloped 18 while Shuaiba Industrial climbed 4 fi ls to 172 fi ls. In the recent session, the defense Zahra area and taken to another place percent to 59 fi ls while Advanced Technology darted 12.89 United Projects Co rose 4 fi ls to 304 fi ls whereas Com- Al-Seyassah Staff team presented a portfolio of docu- in that area, all by force. He had de- pct to stand next. Injazzat slipped 3.5 percent, the steepest bined Group Contracting Co clipped 1 fi l. Mashaer Holding KUWAIT CITY, June 23: The Crimi- ments to the court and requested a liberately planted a tracking device in decliner of the day, while National Real Estate topped the inched 0.5 fi ls into green. HEISC eased 1 fi l to 519 fi ls and nal Court rejected the request to sum- delay in order to summon the offi cer the victim’s vehicle that enabled him volume with over 33 million shares. NICBM dialed down 2 fi ls. Educational Holding Co paced mon an offi cer in charge of the second in charge of the incident, but the com- to track his victim’s movements. Refl ecting the day’s gains, the winners outnumbered the 8 fi ls. case fi led against the Kuwaiti citizen mission refused. It is worth mentioning that Lawyer losers. 69 stocks advanced whereas 50 closed lower. Of the Kuwait and Gulf Links Transport Co ticked 0.6 fi ls higher Farah Akbar’s murderer who is ac- The defense team representing Al-Qattan demanded the imposition of 139 counters active on Wednesday, 20 closed fl at. 13,855 to 58 fi ls and Kuwait National Cinema Co gained 5 fi ls. Au- cused of kidnapping and spying on the the victim’s family, Lawyer Abdul the maximum penalty stipulated under deals worth KD 67.7 million were transacted during the ses- tomated Systems Co took in 2 fi ls whereas Burgan Company victim using a tracking device. The Mohsen Al-Qattan, affi rmed to the the articles of punishment, and obli- sion. For Well Drilling gave up 3 fi ls. court postponed it to the fi nal plead- court that his defense is ready for plea. gating the accused to pay the victim’s In the banking sector, Kuwait Finance House eased 1 fi l to The market has been upbeat so far during the week gain- ing by the victim’s family on July 5. Through the second case, the Public family temporary compensation worth 776 fi ls after pushing 3.6 million shares and Burgan Bank ing 68 points in the last four sessions. It has rallied 241 Another court circuit will hear the fi - Prosecution had charged the accused KD 5,001 for the moral and psycho- followed suit to end at 229 fi ls. Kuwait International Bank points from start of the month and is up 901 points year- nal argument related to the charges of that the victim was kidnapped on logical damages they incurred. stood pat at 226 fi ls whereas Gulf Bank took in 1 fi l on back to-date. CSC ends exemptions, biometrics back again ‘Covid-era’ restrictions to ease

By Faris Al-Abdan Al-Seyassah Staff and Agencies KUWAIT CITY, June 23: On her first working day, the President of the Civil Service Commission (CSC), Maryam Al-Aqeel, has re- introduced the fingerprint attendance system which was suspended after the out- break of the Covid-19 pan- demic, reports Al-Rai daily. The decision of Al-Aqeel makes The Complaints and Grievances Committee of the Kuwait Society for Hu- the CSC first government insti- man Rights during the meeting. tution to restore the fingerprint system, based after getting the Suicides spike raises KSHR concern go-ahead from the health techni- cal side, which indicated that the The Complaints and Grievances tions to this concerning issue related use of hand and face fingerprint Committee of the Kuwait Society to behaviors such as violence, bully- devices does not conflict with the for Human Rights (KSHR) held its ing and economic problems. current health requirements, in second meeting to discuss the He revealed that the commit- significant increase in the rate of tee held a meeting on Tuesday at dealing with the pandemic. suicide cases during the COVID-19 the headquarters of the society to In the meantime, senior govern- pandemic, reports Al-Rai daily. discuss the causes and solutions ment sources told the daily other gov- In a statement issued on Tuesday for the increase suicide rate. The ernment institutions are expected to after the meeting, Head of the com- meeting was attended by repre- follow the example of the CSC from mittee Lawyer Ali Al-Baghli said the sentatives of the Deanship of the July 2021 and restore the fi ngerprint committee is in the process of re- College of Social Sciences, the system for their employees, especially viewing the efforts of the concerned Office of Social Development, the since the Cabinet has issued a decision authorities in dealing with these General Department of Criminal to raise the percentage of workers in cases, and finding out the reasons Evidences, the General Depart- ministries, government agencies and behind the recent increase in the ment of Criminal Investigation, the institutions to 60 percent. number of suicide cases, in order to Ministry of Health, and the Central The circular issued by Al-Aqeel in- finish preparing an integrated report Status for Remedying the Status of cluded several procedures, most nota- with recommendations and solu- Illegal Residents. bly to do away with what was called ‘exempted from work’, with the ex- ception of the pregnant employees Boushahri leaves as travel ban lifted (who did not receive two doses of the Corona vaccine), the physically chal- KUWAIT CITY, June 23: After in- his Snapchat account. lenged, and employees suffering from vestigations which lasted more than a In the meantime, legal sources either heart, kidney failure and can- year, the Public Prosecution has de- confirmed told the daily that the cer diseases, provided the concerned cided to lift the travel ban on Yaqoub money laundering charge against Al- employees submit a certifi cate from a Boushahri and unfreeze his bank ac- Boushari was not proven, but rather competent medical authority to prove count, reports Al-Seyassah daily. he faces ‘misdemeanor’ charges re- their sicknesses. Al-Boushahri, who is considered garding of publishing adverts with- The circular also does away with to be one of the social media celebri- out a licence. what was called the ‘fl exible working ties, allegedly headed straight to the The Public Prosecution had sum- hours’ and the rotation system, and Kuwait International Airport after the moned Al-Boushahri to interrogate stipulated that work at the CSC should Public Prosecution decision and left him about his ‘inflated’ assets and on return to full force and attendance and the country to an unknown destination charges of money laundering and had departure must be recorded by the fi n- according to what was published on released him on 20,000 dinars bail. gerprint. The circular also restores the usual who worked in various committees dur- depending on the position of the ben- offi cial working hours (seven) from ing the supplementary elections of the efi ciaries as follows: KD1,500 for the 7:30 am until 2:30 pm. The circular National Assembly in the Fifth Con- undersecretary and assistant undersec- comes into effect from Sunday, July stituency in May, report Al-Anba daily retary; KD1,000 for the administration 25, 2021. The daily obtained a copy of the director, school principal and his as- Meanwhile, the Ministry of Educa- decision issued by Minister of Edu- sistant; KD400 for the supervisor and tion has started the procedures for dis- cation Dr Ali Al-Mudhaf specifying department head; and KD250 for the bursing the fi nancial reward for those the amount of the fi nancial reward engineer and ordinary employee. ARAB TIMES, THURSDAY, JUNE 24, 2021 LOCAL 3 diwaniya A DIGEST OF PUBLIC OPINION ‘Eyes on new Iran leader and his relations with Muslim neighbors’

“IT WAS declared in Iran that the President-elect Ibrahim Raisi who is 61 years who are currently looking for peace, security, good life, reciprocal respect and Mubarak who followed the same method, or rather worse than Nasser and this old won the presidential elections. He is said to have polled 61.95 percent of the sovereignty. was obvious through bankruptcy, corruption and failure that befell the coun- votes to become the eighth president for the Islamic Republic of Iran since the “Apart from the above, we say fighting terrorism is a popular demand for try’s Reserve Fund. Iranian Revolution of 1979,” columnist Dali Al-Khumsan wrote for Al-Anba all of the peoples in the region in addition to the security. We shall guarantee “Moreover, the government failed to diversify the sources income and in the daily. luxury and the good standard of living for all of the people in this part of the midst of all this, the embezzlers of public money managed to escape from the “Raisi is a cleric and judge and is currently the chief of the Judiciary in his world under peaceful co-existence and respect for sovereignty of their respec- country to the UK with people’s money and all this happened during the reign country. During his election campaign his slogan was tive countries. of the said government while the country suffers from poor educational and fighting poverty and corruption and pledged to bring “In conclusion, we hereby appreciate the election of the Iranian President health systems in addition to a poor infrastructure. about what he called essential change in his country’s Ibrahim Raisi and wish him prosperity, goodness and rightness so that all peo- “Given the above, we should strive to surmount the mistakes of 2012. I do administration in addition to put an end to smuggling. ple in the region can live in peace, tranquility and goodness.” not doubt the intentions of the then opposition MPs, but I am sure the strategic He had also promised to increase the export of non-oil mistake was committed because following the resignation of the former prime related products in addition to building four million Also: minister Nasser Al-Mohammad and failure to draw a new method for his suc- housing units and creating one million job opportunities “It is observed that all Kuwaitis are calling for change. It is observed that the cessor to initiate reforms and plug loopholes that encouraged corruption. per annum. demanded changes differ from one person to another,” columnist Abdulaziz “The reign of Jaber Al-Mubarak was worse than that of his predecessors, hence, “The cleric Ibrahim Raisi Al-Sadati, who is known Bu Mejdad wrote for Al-Shahed daily. the real objective which we as people strive to achieve, should be represented by only as Ibrahim Raisi was born in the city of Mashhad “In other words some people call for change in prime minister, while others creating a parliamentary opposition capable to changing the method and end cor- of Iran. He has the confidence of leader of the Iranian call for ousting the speaker of the National Assembly, while yet others call for ruption and the corrupt people who had a free hand during previous times. Revolution and the supreme spiritual leader Al-Sayed doing away with the prime minister and the speaker. On the other hand, we find “This can be done only through a radical change to keep in check the govern- Ali Khamenei. Al-Khumsan some people say thanks God ‘We live a proper lives, with everything found. ment practices and work on the basis of the Constitution and this means our “In his first statement after his victory in the presiden- They hope the situation will remain as it is. Constitution also needs to be revised, particularly since we know that the issues tial election, Raisi, was quoted as saying ‘I hope to enjoy “Apart from the above, there are some other sectarian denominations who of nationality, for instance, should not be at the ‘mercy’ of a single government the confidence of the Iranian people who have elected me and I will cooperate seek better life for their sect only without paying attention to the homeland even official. The political decisions should be issued by politicians, provided they with the government of President Hassan Rouhani by holding meetings with if it means their own interest at the expense of the public interest. are in public interest. ministers to familiarize myself with their experiment’. He went on to say, ‘I “It is needless to say I am not talking about these denominations; rather my “In other words, this decision should not come from the merchants and the will invite all local thinkers to submit their viewpoints over the management concern is towards those who call for change, as such, I wonder what exactly influential people who are looking for their selfish interests. Likewise, the of the country’. they want to see in terms of change. National Assembly should be an independent institution and eventually play “However, the most important thing for us is the foreign policy with the “However, if we go back to the so-called move of 2012 and related MPs, its legislative power to control the government performance -- the executive Muslim countries neighboring Iran and its readiness to develop its relation- then we will find that the latter’s ambitions to get rid of the then prime min- power.” ship with the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) member states and their peoples ister Nasser Al-Mohammad, but his resignation opened the door for Jaber Al- — Compiled by Zaki Taleb

Ministry fails to capitalize on cafes Other Voices in country as ‘vital’ income source ‘Behavior reveals intentions’ By Ahmad alsarraf their leaders and those belonging to the Muslim Brotherhood in particular The old Kuwaiti proverb says: were handed over the management Call for measures to develop, protect heritage ‘A wolf does not run in vain’! portfolios as a reward for supporting ❑ ❑ ❑ the government during the era of the arliamentarians Osama Al-Sha- 1986 National Assembly. KUWAIT CITY, June 23: The state, rep- Pheen, Abdul-Aziz Al-Saqabi and However, these people did not resented by the Ministry of Social Affairs Hamad Al-Matar, who represent the hesitate to stab the government in the local branch of the global organiza- back whenever they felt it will serve and other relevant authorities, failed to tion of the Muslim Brotherhood, have their interest because they are not utilize the popular cafes in an optimal submitted a bill to add a paragraph to trustworthy. way that would create a strong financial Law No. 46 of 2006 regarding Za- In a previous article I had asked the kat and the contribution of public reason for the insistence of handing source for the State Treasury, particu- and closed joint stock companies to over the administration of the ‘En- larly the ministry, reports Aljarida daily. the state budget, stipulating that the dowment Authority’ to those affi li- Although Article 6 of the Decree No. 50/2017 Ministry of Finance transfers these ated with the religious trend, know- delegates to the Ministry of Social Affairs the role amounts to the Zakat House. ing that it is a department that mainly of oversight of cafes, and grants it administrative Since the law specializes in developing endowment and organizational authority, this authority can be deducting 1% funds. Also, some of those appointed deemed as inadequate and inefficient to achieve the of the net prof- to manage it, and some of the Broth- desired goal, and ensure the use of mechanisms and its of joint stock erhood, did not hesitate to abuse its volume of work within it. It is not performing its companies was sanctity. recognized role since its inception, which include issued 15 years The Zakat House has large (bank) providing traditional drinks such as tea and coffee, ago, no party balances, and perhaps it does not organizing simple folk games, and providing deli- or individual need hundreds of millions of them. cious and popular food items and others, in addition has noticed Despite what is rumored about it to providing modern services such as Wi-Fi and the benefi ts is its increasing role, for example, that have been before any parliamentary elections, modern games. deducted, and there is no evidence to prove such al- This ineffective and inadequate oversight has led nothing has legations and this does not mean that the ministry to lose control over the cafés in financial alsarraf changed. The the one percent should be given to it and administrative aspects, especially in light of not amount remains with the Ministry instead of the Ministry of Finance. being included in the organizational structure of the Fire, thick smoke bellows from the burning transformer. and no one knows, to my knowl- The defect is not in the receiving ministry. This created a kind of imbalance, making edge, where it was spent or it may them outside the civil service system, not covered by party but in what is used, including still be accumulating in the coffers the money collected from joint stock the state’s oversight bodies such as the accounting and of the Ministry of Finance. Power cut as transformer on fi re civil service bureaus, and the financial auditors. It thus companies and also including my These deputies should have de- money. poses a threat to its future, and makes it vulnerable to manded the activation of a paragraph The fire resulted in power cut to sev- manipulation and profiteering, especially since there The government’s position on the By Munif Nayef in that law that would allow joint proposal submitted by the ‘Three Al-Seyassah Staff eral parts in the area. An investigation is a social fund for cafes, which the ministry must has been opened to find out the cause of stock companies to direct the deduct- Brotherhood Knights’ is the indica- maintain to ensure its revenues are increased and not ed percentage of their profi ts to the Acting on information firefighting engines the fire, which are likely to be the summer lost. tion of the direction of its compass. from Mangaf and Fahaheel rushed to heat and overload. parties they believe are most worthy If the government votes with their Block 1, Al-Sabahiya and put out fire to a No injuries have been reported among Among the most prominent of these cafés are Qi- of receiving their donations, with a bla, the Popular Café in Sharq, Salmiya, Abu Halifa, proposal, it will mean that it does power transformer. firemen. list of those entities, so that the mat- not want to get out of their pocket. Sulaibikhat, Youm Al-Bahar, and Suleiman Al- ter is not abused or in the fi rst place Shammari,all of which are in vital geographical loca- And if the government stands on the to demand an end to this unjustifi ed sidelines, this means that it wants to tions of great importance. deduction. However, the state, represented by the Ministry of keep its future cooperation with ‘this News in Brief The Zakat House is the offi cial group’ intact. Social Affairs and other relevant authorities, failed to body competent to receive Zakat -- capitalize on them in a manner that may represent it But if the government rejects their gifts and donations -- from associa- proposal, this is an indication that a in the future as an important source that develops its tions, companies and individuals and New Egyptian envoy: Following the in the benefi ciaries’ bills. revenues against its expenses and compensates, even a honeymoon that lasted for more than ❑ ❑ ❑ spend it in their legitimate banks, half a century has ended with them. end of the 4-year tenure of the Egyptian small part, the millions it gives monthly to the groups however its management consists Ambassador to Kuwait HE Tariq Al-Qo- benefiting from its services. Conclusion: These three deputies Hunt for missing boy: Personnel from mostly of affi liations, or at least sym- would not have put forward such ni, the Al-Seyassah daily has learned that the Khaitan Criminal Investigation De- On the contrary, it has been neglected without strict Ambassador Osama Shaltout is expected pathizers with one of the two major a proposal if the matter were not in partment (CID), have intensifi ed their control that guarantees tightening of financial control political and religious parties and this to succeed the outgoing ambassador. search for a 9-year-old Egyptian boy, their interest and the interest of their The Egyptian Offi cial Gazette is ex- over its revenues and expenses, in the absence of prior is known to everyone. who was reported missing Monday even- or subsequent control over its contracts, and the ab- party. They made a great mistake in pected soon to announce the name of the ing while he was playing in front of the The Zakat House, the Endowment not asking for a non-Brotherhood new Egyptian envoy to Kuwait. sence of an administrative documentary cycle regulat- Authority, and other government building where he lived with his parents, ing its work. deputy to join them, so their behavior Ambassador Shaltout has earlier reports Al-Rai daily. agencies were established by the worked at the Egyptian Embassy in Ku- In addition to the above, cafes suffer from the ab- revealed their intentions. The daily added, when the boy failed government based on proposals or ❑ ❑ ❑ wait and is currently the Assistant Foreign to return home, his panicked mother went sence of statistics on their operating rates, fixed data for Minister for Sudan Affairs in the Egyptian requests from religious parties, and looking for him and raised an alarm and maintenance and cleaning contracts, monthly rent col- it was therefore not surprising that email: [email protected] Ministry of Foreign Affairs and before called her husband when she could not lection notices for the investment shops, or investment that he has served as his country’s ambas- fi nd him in the neighborhood. notices, in addition to the absence of archival statistics sador to Khartoum. The child’s father then fi led a complaint ❑ ❑ ❑ for public administration, employees, sites and invest- with the Khaitan Police Station. ments, as well as ministerial and administrative deci- Palace sold for KD60mn: The Palace ❑ ❑ ❑ sions and council records, minutes, correspondence and in Zahra, Block 2, which belongs to the Man held with drugs: Jahra Security official memos. heirs of Sheikh Jaber Al-Ahmad has been patrolmen have arrested a Kuwaiti for In order to preserve what remains of the history of sold in an auction for an initial price of consuming drugs and possessing suspect- coffee shops, which enjoy a privileged position within 60 million dinars, reports Al-Qabas daily. ed narcotic substance. The palace was bought by businessman the conscience of the public, and to stop their decline However, the security sources told the further, there are urgent measures that the Minister of Ibrahim Al-Asfour after three other bid- Al-Seyassah daily that seized items have ders who had shown the interest to partici- been referred to the competent authority Social Affairs must take immediately, represented in pate in the auction withdrew. for analysis. the necessity of including them in the organizational The sources reported the palace, de- The same sources told the daily the Ku- structure of the ministry, and appending them to any signed in the form of an island has a total waiti was arrested for reckless driving and of its sectors, for example financial, administrative or area of 63,000 square meters, and is built while issuing a citation the offi cer discov- social development sector, as well as the need to reha- on a high plateau fenced with palm trees. ered the man was in an abnormal condition. bilitate them financially, administratively and profes- ❑ ❑ ❑ ❑ ❑ ❑ sionally. 140 citizens benefi t: Citizens par- Just to meet girlfriend: Personnel ticipating in ‘Ahsmha’ — a program for from the Criminal Investigation Depart- granting incentives to consumers who con- ment (CID) have arrested a Kuwaiti for tribute to rationalizing electricity or water entering a hotel to meet his girlfriend, Al- consumption and those using photovoltaic Rai daily reported recently. energy system in private housing — have A security source said the arrest came started to reap the fruits of their participa- after the well-known hotel in the Capital tion in this project, which was launched by Governorate informed police that a suspi- the Ministry of Electricity and Water in cious looking ‘woman’ had entered the December last year, reports Al-Rai daily hotel premises. quoting reliable sources from the ministry. When police went to the hotel with per- Sources revealed to the daily that 140 mission from the concerned authority to citizens have so far benefi ted from the check the hotel room which was booked incentives provided by the project to its in the name of the man’s alleged girlfriend subscribers. Sources said the savings (believed to be a Kuwaiti) adjacent to her from rationalizing consumption have been room where she stayed with her children, transferred to the concerned citizens’ ac- they found the lover boy who had entered counts in the ministry, indicating the in- the hotel disguised as woman — wearing centive is deducted from the amount due an abaya and niqab. A cafe in Jahra. ARAB TIMES, THURSDAY, JUNE 24, 2021 LOCAL 4

HH in reply expresses heartfelt gratitude for the sincere sentiments Amir receives condolences from Spanish king, Afghan president KUWAIT CITY, June 23, (KUNA): His High- message to the Spanish King expressing heart- In the cable, President Ghani expressed ness the Amir Sheikh Nawaf Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber felt gratitude for the sincere sentiments of sol- deepest condolences to His Highness the Amir Al-Sabah received on Wednesday a condolences ace on the painful event. on the sad occasion, asking Almighty Allah to letter from Spanish King Filipe VI, expressing Meanwhile, His Highness the Amir received bestow mercy on the deceased’s soul. sincere condolences on demise of Sheikh Man- Wednesday a cable from Afghan President In a reply cable, His Highness the Amir ex- sour Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Mubarak Al-Sabah. Ashraf Ghani on the demise of Sheikh Man- pressed appreciation for the sincere sentiments, His Highness the Amir addressed a reply sour Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah. wishing good health and wellness to the president. Cashing balance leave of govt sector staff still under ‘Finance’ discussion ‘Pandemic doubles need to implement proposal’

KUWAIT CITY,

June 23: The issue of KUNA photo government employ- HH the Crown Prince Sheikh Meshaal Al-Ahmad. ees cashing their bal- Audiences of HH the Amir ance leave days is on the table of the Min- His Highness the Amir Sheikh Nawaf Al- His Highness the Amir also received Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah received earlier the Speaker of the National Assembly istry of Finance and on Wednesday His Highness the Crown Marzouq Ali Al-Ghanem, and His High- is believed to be still Prince Sheikh Meshaal Al-Ahmad Al- ness the Prime Minister Sheikh Sabah under discussion, Jaber Al-Sabah at Bayan Palace. Al-Khaled Al-Hamad Al-Sabah. (KUNA) stressing that there is National Day greetings sent almost an agreement to give the go-ahead for the proposal that HH the Amir ‘congratulates’ has been submitted by the Civil Service Commission which Grand Duke of Luxembourg is awaiting the final KUWAIT CITY, June 23, (KUNA): His His Highness the Crown Prince Sheikh approval, reports Highness the Amir Sheikh Nawaf Al-Ah- Meshaal Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah mad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah sent a cable of con- and His Highness the Prime Minister Al-Rai daily quoting gratulations Wednesday to Henri the Grand Sheikh Sabah Khaled Al-Hamad Al- a reliable source. Duke of Luxembourg on occasion of his Sabah sent similar cables to the Grand country’s National Day. Duke. KUNA photo The source said the The launch of Kuwaiti humanitarian aid from Jordan to the Gaza Strip within the popular campaign (Fazaa al- proposal enables the em- Aqsa) supervised by the Kuwait Relief Society. ployee to cash his bal- ance leave during ser- E-advertising launched on Kuwait Mobile ID app vice, stressing that there is a tendency from the Council of Ministers to SJC chief continues achievements in developing approve it, but there are reservations from the judicial institutions & keeping pace with e-govt Ministry of Finance re- KUWAIT CITY, June 23: Su- The electronic advertisement litigation system in courts to pro- garding the possibility of preme Judicial Council Chairman was launched on Feb 1; increas- tect the rights of litigants. providing the necessary Judge Ahmed Al-Ajeel continues ing the number of advertisements In view of the high quality of liquidity for its imple- his achievements in developing associated with individuals and administrative organization of mentation. the judicial institution and keep- companies from that date until electronic advertising that pro- The source indicated that ing pace with the e-government June 21 to 76,864, according to tects the rights of all litigants – in- the corona pandemic dou- through electronic advertising on statistics obtained by the daily. dividuals and companies, sources bled the need to implement Kuwait Mobile ID app in order to This is considered a remark- confi rmed to the daily that it has the proposal due to the in- The Indian ambassador with Assistant FM Al-Hein. improve the judicial work envi- able achievement on the part of exceeded expectations in terms of ability of many employees ronment and announce disputing Al-Ajeel and the judicial body, the percentage of advertisers at to go on leave, either be- Indian envoy meets Asst FM Al-Hein parties through the information as it is within the framework of the level of litigation services and cause they were considered system of the Justice Ministry, modernizing the judicial entity in this has positively impacted the frontline workers in the The Indian Ambassador to Kuwait HE Sibi zations, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Kuwait reports Al-Rai daily. line with the development of the judicial work environment. George met Nasser Al-Hein, Assistant and discussed bilateral relations, coopera- medical or security fi eld Foreign Minister for International Organi- tion and issues of mutual interest. and had to keep the work ‘Youngsters’ to be included in new BoD going without taking a va- cation. Queries from stranded Indians in focus He added that there are Radical change expected in forming KIA’s new board also parliamentary propos- Indian Embassy in ‘Registration Drive’ KUWAIT CITY, June 23: The ‘youngsters’ who have proven cal differences have infected even als in this regard, meaning term of the Board of Directors their effi ciency in managing and the formation of the new board of that the proposal has the KUWAIT CITY, June 23: The Indian Em- COVID-19 vaccination certifi cate related (BoD) of the Kuwait Investment ensuring the stability of the Kuwait directors. government-parliament bassy citing queries from Indians stranded travel issues and for necessary coordina- Authority (KIA) expired two sovereign fund, which owns huge It is noteworthy to mention support. abroad and are seeking clarifi cation on tion and follow-up with the concerned months ago and the fi le contain- investments around the world. here the KIA is managed by a The source indicated the various aspects including return to Kuwait, authorities in Kuwait to facilitate smooth Council of Ministers is ful- COVID-19 vaccination and the registra- travel to Kuwait starting Aug 1, 2021 (in ing new names are expected to According to the Bloomberg board of directors headed by the tion process of vaccine certifi cates with the accordance with the decision issued by the be submitted to the political lead- news agency the KIA, whose Minister of Finance. The board ly aware of the importance of putting in place alterna- concerned authorities in the State of Ku- Kuwait Council of Ministers, dated June ership, reports Al-Qabas daily assets the agency put at around members are the minister of oil, wait and travel formalities, has launched 17, 2021). quoting informed sources. $600 billion, has been a victim the undersecretary of the ministry tives for employees who a new ‘Registration Drive’, says a press Any offi cial update on this matter will The same sources said radical of a confl ict between the execu- of fi nance, the governor of the were unable to benefi t from release issued by the embassy. be shared by the embassy on its website changes are expected in the forma- tive and legislative authorities Central Bank and fi ve others – their periodic vacations due These Indians must register online and social media handles -- (www.indemb- tion of the new board of directors since the expiry of the term of Kuwaitis who specialize in vari- to the Covid-19 crisis and in the Google Form (https://forms.gle/ kwt.gov.in) and Twitter: @indembkwt, because the new names include its board of directors two months ous investment fi elds and don’t this situation has necessi- ZgRpFBTFV5V24Vqb8). The purpose is Facebook: @indianembassykuwait) For some what the sources called ago, pointing out that the politi- hold any public offi ce. tated cashing balance leave. to gather updated information regarding queries, write to [email protected]. ‘Maintain public safety’ 281 firms in violation of decision to ban working under direct sun KUWAIT CITY, June 23: Director of the Public Relations and Media Department and offi cial spokesperson of the Public Authority for Manpower (PAM) Aseel Al-Mazyed confi rmed that the inspection team tasked to monitor the implementation of the decision to ban working under the direct heat of the sun from 11:00 am to 4:00 pm during summer at the National Center for Occupational Health and Safety started working on the day the decision took effect, reports Al-Anba daily. In a special statement to the daily, Al-Mazyed revealed that the team inspected 377 sites from June 1-17; resulting in the arrest of 439 workers, discovery of 281 companies that violated the decision, and issuance of warnings to avoid repeating the violation. She added that during the re-inspection of some sites; the team found 135 companies have complied with the decision, while one has yet to rectify the violation. She said 22 reports about violating the decision were re- ceived through electronic media. She called on the employers to adhere to the decision to guarantee the safety of workers and avoid legal accountabil- ity; stressing that the goal of the decision is to maintain pub- lic safety without disrupting any operation as the employees can work in the evening. Kuwait discovers nine oil wells, 8 large oil reservoirs in 3 years KUWAIT CITY, June 23: Since 2018 Kuwait has discov- ered nine oil wells and 8 large oil reservoirs and that two wells were already transferred to the Asset Management sector in March 2021, reports Al-Anba daily quoting high- ranking oil sources. The same sources said during fi scal 2019/2020, 6 new wells were discovered -- Al-Manaqeesh in the Yabbeth fi eld, the Heth reservoir in the Al-Rawdatain fi eld, the Lower Al-Marat in the Kahlulah fi eld, Al-Marat in Al-Qasha’aniya, Al-Marat in Homa and the Najma Sargelo well in the Kabd fi eld. The sources pointed out when any new oil reservoir is discovered, it goes through a series of stages until it moves from the exploration stage to the production stage, which begins with the stage of determining the location of potential oil through geological studies, and then moving to the pro- duction stage, where it is handed over to the development of fi elds sector, and then begins production down to the maxi- mum rates required. ARAB TIMES, THURSDAY, JUNE 24, 2021 LOCAL 5

‘National Council on US-Arab Relations honored to welcome Tim Lenderking’ National Council, Reconnaissance Research to host US Special Envoy for Yemen KUWAIT CITY, June 23: The Na- tional Council on US-Arab Relations, and Reconnaissance Research, have announced they will host an exclusive AUK signs agreement with Ministry of Defense briefing program with US Special En- voy for Yemen Tim Lenderking, US- AID Assistant to the Administrator KUWAIT CITY, June 23: The ing setting criteria and categories in Sarah Charles and U.N. Resident Co- American University of Kuwait which these scholarships will be of- ordinator in Yemen David Gressly on (AUK) signed an agreement with the fered. Thursday, 24 June 2021, from 10a.m. Ministry of Defense — the Military To ensure ease of coordination, Washington, D.C. time / Eastern Stan- Education that ensures the coopera- ambassadors will be appointed from dard Time and 4p.m. - Kuwait City tion between both parties in future both sides to form a joint committee time / Arabia Standard Time. academic collaborations. that ensures the coordination and ex- The event will be broadcast on the Through this contract, academic ecution of the signed agreement and National Council’s YouTube channel, cooperation within the legal frame- any necessary follow-ups that will on social media, and on the Council’s work will be established between be required. website. AUK and the Ministry of Defense. Signed by Major General Fahad Timothy A. Lenderking is the US It allows the Ministry to benefit Al-Turaiji, head of the Military Edu- Special Envoy for Yemen (February 4, 2021 - Present); Former US Depart- from the experiences, specialties, cation Sector, and AUK president ment of State Bureau of Near Eastern scientific and technological pro- Dr. Rawda Awwad, the contract Affairs Deputy Assistant Secretary for grams that AUK offers, whether in between AUK and the Ministry of Arabian Peninsula Affairs; Former US establishing training courses, pre- Defense is valid for 5 years and is re- Department of State Deputy Chief of paring academic syllabi, or consul- newable for the same period of time. Mission at the US Embassy in Riyadh, tations. Supported by this agreement, the Saudi Arabia to speak about his important new role Both parties are set to plan an- Ministry can utilize AUK’s unique Sarah Charles is the US Agency for as the focal point of US diplomacy en- nual joint activities to implement liberal arts model of education for a International Development Bureau for gaged in ending the fighting and suf- this agreement in terms of finances Major General Fahad Al-Turaiji, head of the Military Education Sector, and holistic and valuable academic expe- Humanitarian Assistance Assistant to fering in Yemen. He is a talented and and scholarship preparations, includ- AUK President Dr Rawda Awwad. rience. the Administrator; Former Internation- experienced diplomat who has been al Rescue Committee Senior Direc- engaged in the Arab region, the Middle tor for Policy and Advocacy; Former East, and the Islamic world for a long White House National Security Coun- time.” cil Director for Humanitarian Affairs, Multiple armed conflicts for over a and Director and Acting Senior Direc- decade have eroded governance in Ye- tor for Strategic Planning. men and created what is now consid- UNRWA Chief Lazzarini to visit David Gressly is the United Na- ered the world’s worst humanitarian tions Resident Coordinator in Yemen crisis. In addition to the humanitarian (February 15, 2021 - Present); Former suffering, the conflict has killed tens of Deputy Special Representative of the thousands and damaged the infrastruc- Secretary-General for Protection and ture of what has long been considered Operations for the United Nations Or- the most impoverished Arab country. Kuwait, seeks ‘stronger co-op’ ganization Stabilization Mission in the One US- and European-funded orga- Democratic Republic of the Congo. nization, the Armed Conflict Loca- The event will be moderated by Col tion & Event Data Project, estimated (Ret.) Abbas Dahouk, former USA that 130,000 people have died from ‘Many challenges UN agency is confronted with’ Defense and Army Attache to the the violence in Yemen since 2015, in- Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and Military cluding over 13,000 civilians killed in Advisor to the Bureau of Near East Af- targeted attacks. A recent report from By Nawab Khan fairs at the USA Department of State. four United Nations agencies projected In announcing the upcoming Na- that nearly 2.3 million children under BRUSSELS, June 23, tional Council and Reconnaissance the age of five in Yemen will suffer (KUNA): The Commis- Research program, Council Found- from acute malnutrition in 2021, with sioner General of the UN ing President & CEO Dr. John Duke 400,000 of those expected to suffer Anthony said that, “the Council is from severe acute malnutrition who Relief and Works Agency honored to welcome Tim Lenderking could die without urgent treatment. for Palestine Refugees in the Near East (UNRWA), Philippe Lazzarini, is to visit Kuwait soon with the aim to strengthen the partnership for the benefit of Palestinian refugees. “I will soon be visiting Kuwait. I am in discussions with Kuwaiti au- thorities for an offi cial visit, which will take place this summer or be- ginning of the fall,” he told Kuwait News Agency (KUNA) in an inter- view in Brussels Wednesday. “I look forward to discuss more in details the partnership between Kuwait and UNRWA. I know that in Kuwait there is a lot of support for the Pales- tinian refugees and I hope this will be translated also into a continuous partner- Defense Minister with UK and North Ireland Ambassador to Kuwait. ship with UNRWA,” he said. Commenting on Kuwait’s initiative to promote vaccination among Palestin- ian refugees in Lebanon, he said “the initiative to promote vaccination among the refugees is definitely a welcomed initiative. As we know in the region the vaccination rate is still lagging behind. So any effort to increase vaccination rate is more than welcome.” On March 18, 2020, Lazzarini, a Swiss-Italian national, was appointed Undersecretary General and Commis- Chamber of Commerce building illuminated with the flag of the State of Kuwait in gratitude and appreciation for sioner General of UNRWA by UN its humanitarian role. Secretary General Antonio Guterres. On the current situation of UNRWA, he told KUNA that there are many challenges the UN agency is confront- ed with. Contribution “One of them is the financial situa- KUNA photos tion. The Agency has been in financial Defense Minister with the Ambassador of the Vatican crisis for many years because there has been a discrepancy on what the Agency is supposed to deliver for the Palestinian Defense minister meets envoys refugees and what the voluntary con- tribution of certain member states have been, which has led to constant cash- Kuwaiti Deputy Prime Minister and Defense in a press statement. flow crisis,” he said. Minister of Defense Sheikh Hamad The meeting was attended by Jaber Al-Ali Al-Sabah received British military attache to the coun- This has been highly unsettling for Wednesday the new UK and North try, Col. Paul Mulvaney. Palestinian refugees and for our 28,000 Ireland Ambassador to Kuwait, Be- The Defense Minister, separately, staff and for the countries hosting the linda Lewis on the occasion of her then met the newly appointed ambas- refugees, he noted. new appointment. sador of the Vatican Eugene Martin For this reason, UNRWA together During the reception, both sides Nugent, discussing issues of mutual with a number of supporter countries discussed issues of common inter- concern. Both receptions were at- have decided to organise an interna- est and ways to enhance bilateral tended by Army Chief-of-Staff Lieu tional conference by the end of this cooperation, said the Ministry of Gen Khaled Saleh Al-Sabah. (KUNA) October, during which the Agency will be presenting a blueprint in terms of what is expected from it in services delivery. KD 5 mln total value “The idea behind this is to promote better predictability so that UNRWA becomes a predictable partner in the Kuwait Ports awards three tenders region,” he said. The decision on the venue of this conference will be taken KUWAIT CITY, June 23, (KUNA): by Jordan and Sweden as co-hosts in The Kuwait Ports Corporation an- ‘Security’ July. nounced on Wednesday the award of He noted that on Monday, June 21st, three tenders for development projects UNRWA launched a USD-164-mil- that fall under the projects of the “New Kuwait, the Vatican lion humanitarian and early recovery KUNA photos Kuwait 2035” development plan, with appeal following the Israeli bombard- Laying of the foundation stone for housing the families of children with cancer. a total value of about 5 million Kuwaiti tackle ‘cooperation’ ments of Gaza in May. dinars (about 16.6 million USD). The 11-day Israeli air strikes have The Corporation said in a press KUWAIT CITY, June 23, caused substantial damage to physical ‘Gratitude for Kuwait’s humanitarian role’ statement that the first project deals (KUNA): Minister of Interior infrastructure, including homes and with the study and design of the Shu- Sheikh Thamer Ali Sabah Al- UNRWA installations, as well as wa- waikh Port Development project with Salem Al-Sabah held talks on ter and sanitation networks in refugee Bosnia illuminates commerce chamber with Kuwaiti fl ag a total value of about 1,480 million Wednesday with the Vatican camps, he pointed out. dinars (about $5 million). She added Ambassador to Kuwait Eugene Commenting on his current visit to that the second tender is a study and Martin Nugent. Brussels, Lazzarini said he is meeting VIENNA, June 23, (KUNA): The and various countries of the world. Children’s Cancer Center, which design of the project Naqaat Fintas - The two sides tackled several with members of the European Parlia- Bosnian city of Tuzla lit the Cham- Hodzic stressed that Kuwait has is intended for their families who Marinas Fintas with a total value of issues of common interest, espe- ment and European Commission officials. ber of Commerce building in Free- always been a pioneer in support- come from distant regions to be about 2.3 million Kuwaiti dinars, ap- cially related to security coopera- dom Square on Wednesday with ing the needy wherever they are, near their children, adding that proximately 7.6 million dollars, not- tion and ways to enhance it with- the Kuwaiti fl ag, in gratitude for which reaffi rms its great humani- many families from different re- ing that the third tender is a study in the deep relations between the Kuwait’s humanitarian role. tarian role. gions in Bosnia will benefi t from and design of Naqaat al-Mahboula State of Kuwait and the Vatican. This came on the occasion of lay- For his part, Kuwaiti charge this humanitarian project. project, with a value of up to approxi- On his part, Ambassador Nu- gent expressed gratitude to the ing the foundation stone for hous- d’affaires in Sarajevo Hamad Bin He pointed out that the building mately 1,250 million dinars (about 1.4 ing the families of children with Eidan told KUNA through the will be equipped with all necessi- million USD). Kuwaiti minister for his hospital- The Corporation explained that ity, assuring the importance of cancer, with a donation from the phone that various Kuwaiti charita- ties to provide maximum comfort the tenders for these projects, which topics they have discussed. General Secretariat of Kuwaiti En- ble efforts come as a result of the for the families. are being approved by the competent dowments. lofty directives of His Highness Kuwaiti offi cial institutions and regulatory authorities, come within 12 During the event, the Prime Min- the Amir Sheikh Nawaf Al-Ahmad charities have; and are implement- development projects that contribute to expand its Shuaiba port, and the proj- ister of Tuzla Province, Kadrija Hod- Al-Jaber Al-Sabah and the political ing many educational, developmen- supporting the basic pillars to achieve ect to implement works to modernize zic, praised in his speech the great leadership. tal, humanitarian, health and social the standards of the development plan, and develop infrastructure and elec- KUNA photo charitable role played by the State of Bin Eidan said that the project projects in Bosnia and the Balkan which are the project to develop and tricity works in the port. Philippe Lazzarini, UNRWA Chief Kuwait in Bosnia and Herzegovina consists of a residence near the countries. ARAB TIMES, THURSDAY, JUNE 24, 2021 LOCAL 6

UNHRC 47th session held via video-conference Kuwait expresses concern over Islamophobia, hate speech, discrimination GENEVA, June 23, (KUNA): Ku- ference, as part of an interactive dia- tive dialogue to protect those rights is hardly moving in some parts of UNHRC resolutions, he affi rmed. sist UNHRC, highly appreciating the wait expressed on Tuesday before the logue with United Nations High Com- based on the communities’ right in our region, not only because of the “The latest Israeli aggression on efforts exerted to spread human right United Nations Human Rights Council missioner for Human Rights, Michelle choosing the appropriate values, spread of the Coronavirus (Cov- Gaza Strip and the blatant violations worldwide, he said. (UNHRC), its concern of the spread- Bachelet. principles and concepts that suit id-19), but also due to the series of of Palestinians’ human rights are part The Annual report issued by ing phenomenon of Islamophobia, hate Islamophobia is undermining peace- their people, he said. armed conflicts that put lives at risk, of many crimes committed against the UNHRC highlighted the challenges speech, and discrimination. ful societies, and requires the interna- Kuwait also “rejects the attempts of and violate human rights, resulting unarmed people of Palestine, with in- countering the human rights, especial- This came during a speech given tional community’s fi rm measures to some communities to impose their cul- in displacement of large number of ternational failure of questioning the ly following the spread of Covid-19, by Kuwait’s Permanent Envoy to the counter it, in order to spread peace and ture on others, justifying such an ac- people,” he said. Israeli authorities over their apartheid and the negative impact it left om those United Nations and international orga- tranquillity worldwide, he said. tion by globalizing the human rights,” Kuwait strongly condemns the Is- crimes,” he added. rights, the Ambassador added. nizations in Geneva Ambassador Ja- He also called for protecting the he said. raeli forces’ occupation of the Pales- Kuwait hopes that the international Kuwait will always be of a great mal Al-Ghunaim, before the UNHRC individuals from the acts of violence, “We cannot accept any values that tinian territories, and committing fl a- community provide further fi nancial support to the United Nations Human 47th session held between June 21 and discrimination and hatred crimes. contradict with our culture and religion grant violations against the unarmed aid to UNHRC, to allow it practicing Rights Council and its work in serv- July 13 in Geneva, Switzerland. Kuwait expressed its deep convic- of Islam,” he affi rmed. Palestinian people, totally ignoring the its work actively, said Al-Ghunaim. ing human rights all over the world, The session is held via video-con- tion in human rights and construc- “The sustainable development international humanitarian law, and Kuwait is keen on continuing to as- he said. Kuwait, UAE among fastest-growing mkts for UK services: London mayor Investments seen more toward green finance and fintech

By Khaled Al-Daihani waiti investors. “We look forward to continuing to work with them in the years ahead and see a LONDON, July 23, (KUNA): Kuwait and the UAE are bright future for our ongoing trade relationship”, the Lord Mayor said. He estimates current investments from the GCC nations, namely from Kuwait, among the fastest-growing markets for UK services glob- Bahrain, Saudi Arabia, Qatar, and the UAE greater than 140bn Sterling (USD 195 ally, the Lord Mayor of the City of London William Rus- billion- current exchange rate), adding that the City continues to welcome these sell has confirmed. investments into green infrastructure programs. Accordingly, future investments seem to be heading more toward green fi nance KUNA photo Russell told Kuwait News Agency (KUNA) that British innovation in and fi ntech. Russell recently held discussions with senior fi gures in Kuwait and Kuwait’s Deputy Foreign Minister Majdi Al-Thifeeri receives French Ambas- green and digital are huge opportunities for further collaboration for Ku- elsewhere in the Gulf on an array of topics, but mainly in terms of green invest- sador to Kuwait Anne-Claire Legendre. ment in the lead-up to COP26, which will take place here in the UK next Deputy FM receives French envoy November. Unsurprisingly, he considers the Kuwait’s Deputy Foreign Minister were discussed. prospect of an eventual trade deal with Majdi Al-Thifeeri received Wednes- The meeting was attended by As- the GCC, which would collectively day French Ambassador to Kuwait sistant Foreign Minister for the Dep- make it a bigger trading partner for the Anne-Claire Legendre, whereas uty Foreign Minister’s office Ambas- UK than China as a giant step forward. regional and international affairs sador Ayham Al-Omar. (KUNA) On Kuwaiti investment, Russell ex- pressed his delight Kuwait Investment Authority (KIA) remains committed to ‘Mubarak Al-Abdullah College’ and London where it has established itself as the world’s oldest sovereign wealth fund back in 1953. British Defense Academy ink MoU Infrastructure KUWAIT CITY, June 23, leaders through a developed He explained that Kuwaiti invest- (KUNA): Mubarak Al-Abdul- and distinguished educational ments in UK infrastructure include lah College of Joint Command environment. 20% stakes in London City Airport, and Staff announced that it The Kuwaiti side was rep- Associated British Ports, Thames Wa- has signed with the British resented in the signing by ter, and several signifi cant properties Defense Academy (Shriven- in and around the Square Mile and Ca- the commander of Mubarak ham College) through video- Al-Abdullah College of Com- nary Wharf. conference, the executive On Brexit and Covid-19 pandemic ef- mand and Joint Staff Major fects, the Lord Mayor of the City of Lon- procedures between the two General Talib Al-Fulaij, and don played down any long-term negative colleges on the basis of mili- tary cooperation and within from the British side by the impact, saying that the City will continue commander of Shrevenham to be a vital global center for business, the framework of the Memo- heritage, and culture while continuing randum of Understanding for College, Major General An- confi dence from investors and businesses cooperation in the educational drew Rowe. is shown by the amount of development and academic fields between currently underway. the two sides. “London’s fundamental strengths such as its vast international reach, prag- Cooperation matism, and spirit of innovation have not Mubarak Al-Abdullah Col- been lost, and I am confi dent that our lege said in a press statement unique city will continue to thrive for Wednesday that the signed ex- decades to come. We have been through ecutive procedures are derived tough times before and we will come through this period as well.” from the Memorandum of Un- derstanding for joint coopera- Major General Talib Al-Fulaij, As a result, the Mayor concludes Commander of Mubarak Al- that the City of London and the UK tion in the educational and aca- Abdullah College of Command government should now focus on an demic fi eld, which was signed and Joint Staff. ambitious vision for the future and in 1992 and aims to enhance KUNA photo lead in growth markets such as green cooperation, exchange experi- National Assembly Speaker Marzouq Al-Ghanim heads Wednesday to the Belgian capital, Brussels. fi nance, fi ntech, and other fast-grow- ences, and educational and aca- ing areas to enable the sector to retain demic visits between the two Palestine on agenda in talks with EU counterparts its position on the world stage. colleges. The college affi rmed its keenness on the quality of dis- Speaker Al-Ghanim to Brussels for 2-day visit tinguished education in military sciences and the art of leader- KUWAIT CITY, June 23, (KUNA): Al-Ghanim’s meeting with senior Palestinian territories, said Dustoor ship and management to qual- National Assembly Speaker Marzouq officials in the European Parliament news network. ify the leading offi cers in the Al-Ghanim headed Wednesday to the and the Belgian Parliament came as Al-Ghanim will also meet the Chair- Kuwaiti army, other military Belgian capital, Brussels, for a two- a representative of the Arab geo- man of the Foreign Affairs Committee day visit, during which he will meet political group to discuss develop- in the European Parliament, David institutions and brotherly and KUNA photos as a representative of the Arab parlia- ments in the occupied Palestinian McAllister, in addition to another friendly countries through its Major General Andrew Rowe, ments, European Parliament President territories in the wake of the recent meeting with the Arabian Peninsula KUNA photo scientifi c and professional cad- Commander of Shrevenham David Sassoli and Belgian Parliament attacks by the occupation forces on Relations Head in the European Parlia- William Russell, Lord Mayor of the res to prepare highly qualifi ed College. Speaker Eliane Tello. Jerusalem, Gaza and the rest of the ment, Hannah Neumann. City of London. ‘The Guest Show’ features equine therapist, scientific illustrator Noelle Al Yaqout KUWAIT CITY, June 23: Our guest this Thursday is Noelle Al Yaqout. Noelle is a very special woman who has touched the lives of many differently-abled children in Kuwait. Born in Switzerland, Noelle arrived in the country with her Ku- waiti husband. She began her career as a scientifi c illustrator at Kuwait University where she worked for more than two decades. Passionate about horses from her childhood, Noelle took up horse riding at the Hunting & Equestrian Club. Soon she became an expert horsewoman. Willing to share her love for horses with others, she began a unique riding program for autistic children which ran from 2003-2020. Throughout her journey as an equine therapist, Noelle touched many lives by empowering them. One of her specially-abled children, went on to become a champion. On The Guest Show (TGS), Noelle looks back at her life in Switzerland, her early years in Kuwait, her years as an illustrator when she captured on paper Kuwait’s fl ora and fauna, about her magic horse ‘Ginelli’, and her new horse ‘Masahallah’, a racehorse who refuses to race, about her award-winning experience at endurance racing and about her life as an artist.

The Guest Show poster ARAB TIMES, THURSDAY, JUNE 24, 2021 INTERNATIONAL 7

Brexit

5 years after vote Divided Britain still feeling shockwaves

LONDON, June 23, (AP): Five years is from Brexit. ago Wednesday, Britons voted in a Jonathan Portes, professor of eco- referendum that was meant to bring nomics at King’s College London, certainty to the UK’s unsettled rela- said Brexit will be “a signifi cant but tionship with its European neighbors. not catastrophic” drag on UK eco- Fat chance. nomic growth for many years. Voters’ decision on June 23, 2016 “Not a blowout, but a slow punc- was narrow but clear: By 52% to ture,” he said. 48%, they chose to leave the Euro- The referendum ended the career pean Union. It took over four years to of then-Prime Minister David Cam- actually make the break and the for- eron, who had championed staying mer partners are still bickering, like in the EU and quit soon after. His many divorced couples, over money successor, Theresa May, tried and and trust. failed to strike a divorce deal that And fi ve both the EU and Britain’s Parlia- years after ment would accept and resigned in a fractious 2019. referendum campaign that Mixed sparked family The two most prominent Brexit arguments and champions have had mixed fortunes. neighborhood Former UK Independence Party Britain’s Prince Charles and Camilla, Duchess of Cornwall visit the Theatre Royal Drury Lane, central London, with Lord Andrew Lloyd Webber, disputes, Brit- leader Nigel Farage arguably did (left), on Wednesday, June 23, 2021. (AP) ain is still as more than anyone to make Brexit Johnson split over Eu- happen, but never won a seat in Par- rope as ever. liament despite repeated attempts. America “Britain is still signifi cantly di- He founded, and then left, the Brexit vided over the merits of Brexit,” said Party, and remained in the public eye polling expert John Curtice of the as Britain’s most vocal supporter of University of Strathclyde. He says Donald Trump. He is currently out of voters are split almost exactly 50- frontline politics. ‘Progressives losing patience’ 50 between “remain” and “leave” Johnson, who led the offi cial “Vote supporters, and relatively few have Leave” campaign, became prime changed their minds since 2016. minister in 2019 by promising to “get “Over four in fi ve people still say Brexit done” after years of wrangling. Biden faces pressure from left that they would vote exactly in the He succeeded in leading Britain out same way as they did fi ve years ago,” of the EU — and straight into another WASHINGTON, June 23, (AP): arguing Democrats are pushing rector of Indivisible, a progres- Curtice said. crisis, the coronavirus pandemic. When New York Democratic an unnecessary federal takeover sive grassroots group, said it’s He leads a nation divided over Rep. Mondaire Jones was at the of elections now run by state and been nowhere near the level of Split more than just Brexit. Far from White House for the signing of county offi cials. advocacy the public has seen on The country is also split on bringing the UK together, Brexit has In this June 18 fi le photo, Presi- the proclamation making Ju- Biden spent much of the month the infrastructure bill. dent Joe Biden speaks in the neteenth a national holiday last focused on foreign policy dur- “The president has been on the whether Brexit has been a suc- frayed the bonds between the differ- State Dining Room of the White week, he told President Joe Biden ing a trip to Europe, encouraging sidelines. He has issued statements cess. In 2016, Brexit campaigners ent parts of the United Kingdom. House in Washington. (AP) their party needed him more in- Americans to get vaccinated and of support, he’s maybe included claimed leaving the EU would not It has increased support for inde- volved in passing voting legisla- selling his infrastructure plan to a line or two in a speech here or only restore British sovereignty, pendence in Scotland, which voted tion on the Hill. the American public. He tasked there, but there has been nothing but save the country money. Noto- in 2016 to remain in the EU but had News in Brief In response? Biden “just sort of Harris with taking the lead on on the scale of his public advocacy riously, campaigners emblazoned a to leave the bloc when the rest of stared at me,” Jones said, describ- the issue, and she spent last week for recovery for COVID relief, for double-decker bus with the claim the UK did. It also has destabilized ing an “awkward silence” that largely engaged in private meet- roads and bridges,” Levin said. that Brexit would give the UK an Northern Ireland, which borders EU Sarkozy faces jail term: The trial passed between the two. ings with voting rights advocates “We think this is a crisis at the extra 350 million pounds ($486 member Ireland, by imposing new of former French President Nicolas For Jones, the moment was em- as she traveled for a vaccination same level as crumbling roads million) a week to spend on its be- trade barriers between it and the Sarkozy concluded Tuesday in Paris, blematic of what he and a growing tour around the nation. and bridges, and if we agree on loved national health service. The rest of the UK that have angered after a month during which the court number of Democratic activists de- Those efforts haven’t ap- that, the question is, why is the sought to determine whether he broke scribe as a lackluster engagement peased some activists, who argue president on the sidelines?” U.K.’s net contribution to the EU Northern Ireland’s pro-British un- laws on campaign fi nancing in his un- was actually about half that much. ionist community. from Biden and Vice President Ka- that state laws tightening elec- White House aides push back successful 2012 re-election bid. mala Harris on an issue they con- tion laws are designed to make against any suggestion the presi- Prime Minister Boris Johnson’s As for the divorced couple itself, The verdict is to be delivered on Sep- Conservative government insists that Britain and the EU are squabbling, sider urgent and necessary for the it harder for Black, young and dent and vice president haven’t tember 30. Prosecutors have requested health of the democracy. been engaged on the issue, and Brexit is bringing new economic op- with Britain urging the bloc to show a six-month prison term, as well as a infrequent voters to cast ballots. six-month suspended sentence and a Although the White House has The best way to counter the state say his laissez-faire approach to portunities. Britain recently signed its fl exibility and the EU threatening le- characterized the issue as “the laws is with federal legislation, the negotiations is based partly on fi rst full post-Brexit trade deal, with gal action unless the UK sticks to the fi ne of 3,750 euros ($4,468). Sarkozy, France’s president from fi ght of his presidency,” Biden they say, and Biden ought to his experience as a senator and his Australia, and has applied to join a Brexit agreement. has prioritized his economic ini- come out for a change in the Sen- belief that his involvement risks trade partnership of Pacifi c-rim coun- British Brexit minister David 2007 to 2012, denies wrongdoing. He is accused of having spent almost tiatives, measures more likely to ate fi libuster rules that require 60 undermining a deal before it’s cut. tries. Frost, who led negotiations for the twice the maximum legal amount of win Republican support in the votes to advance most legislation. But in private, White House But Britain’s trade with the EU, UK side, said Tuesday that many 22.5 million euros ($27.5 million) on Senate. And he’s shown little advisers see infrastructure as which before Brexit accounted for Brexit supporters like him were sur- the re-election bid that he lost to So- interest thus far in diving into a Unifying the bigger political winner for about half of all imports and exports, prised at how rocky the relationship cialist Francois Hollande. messy debate over changing Sen- “Progressives are losing pa- Biden because it’s widely popu- plummeted by 20% after the UK had become. The trial comes after Sarkozy, 66, ate rules to pass the legislation on tience, and I think particularly lar among voters of both parties, made a full economic break at the end “It’s not something that we want,” was found guilty on March 1 of corrup- Democratic votes alone. African American Democrats are a White House offi cial said. Pass- of 2020, although the disruption from he said. “The sooner we can move tion and infl uence peddling in another But as Democrats’ massive elec- losing patience,” said Democratic ing a major infrastructure bill is the coronavirus pandemic makes it beyond the settling-down process the case. He has appealed that verdict. tion legislation was blocked by strategist Joel Payne, a longtime seen within the White House as hard to tell how much of that impact better.” In their conclusions last week, Republicans on Tuesday, progres- aide to former Senate Majority going further towards helping prosecutors said Sarkozy knew weeks sives argued Biden could not avoid Leader Harry Reid. “They feel like Democrats win in the 2022 mid- before the 2012 election that his cam- that fi ght much longer and must they have done the kind of good terms and beyond than taking on paign fi nancing — strictly limited un- use all his leverage to fi nd a path Democrat thing over the last year- massive voting overhaul that had der French law — was getting close to forward. The criticism suggested plus, going back to when Biden got a slim chance of passage without the legal maximum. They accused him the nomination, unifying support of having ignored two notes from his the voting debate may prove to be a debate over fi libuster rules, said accountants warning against racking among Biden’s fi rst major, public around Biden, turning out, show- the offi cial, who requested ano- up additional expenses. rifts with the left of his presidency. ing up on Election Day.” nymity to discuss internal talks. Instead, he gave instructions that “President Obama, for his part, “Progressives feel like, ’Hey, Embracing fi libuster changes, led to more money being spent and did has been doing more to salvage we did our part.’ And now when in particular, risks undermining not put in place a supervision system, our ailing democracy than the it’s time for the bill to be paid, so Biden’s profi le as a bipartisan prosecutors said. (AP) current president of the United to speak, I think some progres- dealmaker and could poison the ❑ ❑ ❑ States of America,” Mondaire sives feel like, ’OK, well, how delicate negotiations around in- said, referring to a recent inter- long do we have to wait?’” frastructure, where the White Bombing kills 3 in Lahore: A view in which the former presi- Still, there could be a silver House insists it still sees oppor- powerful car bomb went off near the dent pushed for the legislation. lining for Democrats in the on- tunity for bipartisan compromise. residence of a jailed anti-India militant The White House argues that going battle over voting rights: “He does have to preserve leader in the eastern city of Lahore on both Biden and Harris have been The issue is a major motivator some negotiating power, and his Wednesday, killing at least three peo- in frequent touch with Demo- for progressives and may serve brand probably does not com- ple and wounding 15 others, police and rescue offi cials said. cratic leadership and key advo- to drive enthusiasm among Black pute with being at the tip of the The blast happened in the Johar cacy groups as the legislation voters as well, potentially driving spear on reforming the fi libuster,” Town neighborhood, provincial police — dubbed the For the People engagement in a midterm year Payne acknowledged. chief Inam Ghani told reporters. He Act — moved through Congress. where Democrats are certain to Still, other Democrats say it’s said offi cers were still trying to deter- Biden spoke out forcefully at face a tough political climate. time for Biden to get out front on mine whether it was a suicide bombing times, declaring a new Georgia Harris is expected to continue the issue. Rep. Colin Allred, D- or the bomb was remotely detonated. law backed by Republicans is an to meet with voting rights activ- Texas, said the proposals Repub- Ghani said some police offi cers were “atrocity” and using a speech in ists, business leaders and groups licans are looking to pass in his also among the wounded persons. Tulsa, Oklahoma, to say he was working on the issue in the states, home state are “more explicit and He confi rmed that the bombing hap- going to “fi ght like heck” for and will speak out publicly on the more dangerous than anything pened near the residence of anti-India Democrats’ federal answer, but issue aiming to raise awareness of I’ve ever come across.” militant leader Hafi z Seed, who has been he left negotiations on the pro- new voting laws and to pressure Allred said that the voting fi ght designated a terrorist by the US Jus- posal to Hill leaders. Republicans to get on board with increases pressure on Biden to tice Department and has a $10 million On Monday, in advance of the federal legislation. take the leadership on the fi libus- bounty on his head. Saeed is the founder vote, Biden met with Sen. Joe She watched the legislation fail ter fi ght. of an outlawed Lashkar-e-Taiba group, Manchin, D-W.Va., at the White to advance to debate on Tuesday, “We do need President Biden which was blamed for the 2008 Mumbai House to discuss both voting in her role as president of the Sen- to make that a priority, because attacks that killed 166 people. rights and infrastructure. ate, and coming off the fl oor told if you’re going to talk about sup- TV footage showed badly damaged But Biden didn’t use his clout reporters that she and Biden still porting the underlying legisla- homes, and many residents said it was a bomb attack. Doctors say some of to work Republicans, who have support voting legislation and tion, it really doesn’t matter if the wounded were in critical condi- expressed staunch and unifi ed op- “the fi ght is not over.” we don’t have way to get past the tion. (AP) position to any voting legislation, Ezra Levin, co-executive di- fi libuster,” he said. ❑ ❑ ❑ Nine pardoned walk free: Nine English, “Freedom Catalonia,” as well derdale. The second body was found not been able to confi rm her identity be- Catalan separatists pardoned by the as a Catalan fl ag. They addressed their just before 9 p.m., not far from where cause the family had not been notifi ed. Spanish government walked out of supporters in the Catalan language. the fi rst body was located. After the fi rst body was found, de- prison on Wednesday to the cheers The Catalan regional president, Police said no parents had come for- tectives walked the length of the canal of supporters, leaving behind their Pere Aragonès, and the speaker of the ward to say their child was missing by that runs behind the Habitat II Con- lengthy terms for organizing a bid Catalan parliament, Laura Borràs, also late Tuesday night. At fi rst, authorities dominiums, but did not fi nd anything for an independent Catalonia republic went to the prison for the separatists’ did not suspect foul play because the else, Santiago said. Then, at 8:45 p.m., nearly four years ago. release. fi rst girl showed no signs of trauma. police received a 911 call from some- Spain’s Cabinet pardoned them The pardon canceled the remainder The second girl’s body was still in the one who spotted the second child’s Tuesday in the hope of starting what of prison terms ranging from nine to water late Tuesday night as detectives body. (AP) Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez called 13 years over sedition and misuse of continued their investigation. ❑ ❑ ❑ a much-needed reconciliation in the public funds linked to the 2017 banned “It’s a very complicated case with country’s restive northeastern region, referendum and a short-lived Catalo- a lot of moving parts,” Lauderhill po- Taliban take key district: Taliban although fervent local support for the nia independence declaration. But the lice Lt. Michael Santiago said during a fi ghters took control of a key district pardoned separatists indicated the separatists won’t be able to hold pub- news conference. in Afghanistan’s northern Kunduz problem won’t go away anytime soon. lic offi ce until the end of their sentenc- He said investigators believe they province Monday and encircled the Former Catalan vice president Oriol es and they could go back to prison if have identifi ed the fi rst child, but have provincial capital, police said, as the Junqueras, fi ve fellow Cabinet mem- they break Spanish law again, the de- insurgent group added to its recent bers, the former regional parliament’s cree said. (AP) battlefi eld victories while peace talks speaker and two pro-independence ac- ❑ ❑ ❑ have stalemated. tivists walked free shortly after noon. The Taliban’s gains came as the They had spent between three-and-a- 2 bodies pulled from canal: The Pentagon reaffi rmed the U.S. troop half and four years behind bars. bodies of two young girls were found, withdrawal was still on pace to con- Spain’s offi cial gazette on Wednes- hours apart, in a South Florida canal, clude by early September. day published the government decree and investigators are treating the case Fighting around Imam Sahib dis- pardoning them. as a homicide. trict began late Sunday and by mid- The freed separatists were met by The body of the fi rst girl, who de- day Monday the Taliban had overrun dozens of cheering, clapping support- tectives said was between the ages of the district headquarters and were in ers and relatives who had gathered in 10 and 13, was spotted Tuesday after- control of police headquarters, said the rain. The men, released in a group, noon outside a condominium complex Inamuddin Rahmani, provincial police held up a small banner that said, in in Lauderhill, which is near Fort Lau- Sanchez Sarkozy spokesman said. (AP) longtime Southwest CEO will step down next year

Southwest Airlines said 2026. grammer and financial ana- out the airline’s website and Wednesday that longtime Speculation about Kelly’s lyst for computer maker frequent-flyer program, a key CEO Gary Kelly will step successor had sometimes Hewlett-Packard before join- source of revenue. In this file photo, Southwest down in February and be focused on Tom Nealon, ing Southwest in 1988. He During the pandemic, airlines jets are seen stored succeeded by another vet- who was named president held jobs in accounting and when air travel dropped to at Sky Harbor International eran at the nation’s fourth- in January 2017, and Mike overseeing technology. How- levels not seen during the jet Airport in Phoenix. (AP) largest airline. Van de Ven, the chief oper- ever, he has taken on a larg- era, Jordan played a key part The new CEO will be Rob- ating officer, Both men have er strategic role at Southwest in shaping programs to en- ert Jordan, the executive vice played more prominent in recent years. courage employees to take president of corporate ser- roles in key events such Jordan ran AirTran Air- voluntary leave or buyouts as vices. Southwest said Kelly, as quarterly calls with Wall ways after Southwest bought Southwest took emergency 66, plans to remain executive Street analysts. the rival low-cost carrier in measures to slash costs. chairman at least through Jordan, 60, was a pro- 2011 and led projects to build (AP)

Market Movements 23-06-2021 Change Closing pts Change Closing pts SAUDI - Tadawul +2.56 10,894.20 JAPAN - Nikkei -9.24 28,874.89 UAE - DFM +11.52 2,867.91 EUROPE - Euro Stoxx 50 -47.19 4,075.94 EGYPT - EGX 30 +66.48 10,272.72 INDIA - Sensex -282.63 52,306.08 PHILIPPINES - All Shares +48.00 6,918.41 PAKISTAN - KSE 100 -86.44 47,900.70 SINGAPORE - Straits Times STI +9.42 3,118.62 UK - FTSE 100 -15.95 7,074.06 Business High US inflation temporary, will wane, Fed’s Powell says ‘Price gains mostly reflect temporary supply bottlenecks’

WASHINGTON, June 23, (AP): Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell has In this file photo, Lina Khan, speaks during a Senate Committee on Com- responded to concerns merce, Science, and Transportation confirmation hearing on Capitol Hill in from Republican lawmak- Washington. (AP) ers about spiking inflation by reiterating his view that Industry under intense pressure current price increases will likely prove temporary. Biden picks energetic critic Consumer prices jumped 5% in May compared with a year earlier, the largest increase in 13 years. of Big Tech as top regulator Republican House members have sought to blame higher inflation on WASHINGTON, June 23, (AP): Presi- also an academic expert on antitrust dent Joe Biden on Tuesday installed an and industry critic, as a special assis- President Joe Biden’s $1.9 trillion energetic critic of Big Tech as a top tant to the president for technology and economic relief package, approved federal regulator at a time when the competition policy within the National in March, in an effort to retake the industry is under intense pressure from Economic Council. Wu, like Khan a House next year. Congress, regulators and state attor- Columbia law professor, has been a “The Biden infl ation agenda of too neys general. senior adviser to the FTC and a senior much money chasing too few goods The selection of legal scholar Lina enforcement attorney in the New York is causing major harm to hardworking Khan to head the Federal Trade Com- attorney general’s offi ce. families,” said Louisiana Rep. Steve mission is seen as signaling a tough The tech industry, once lionized by Scalise, the second-ranking Republi- stance toward tech giants Facebook, lawmakers and presidents as an engine Sold signs stand in front of new homes under construction Monday, March 15, 2021, in Houston. Sales of new can House leader. Google, Amazon and Apple. Khan of innovation and jobs, has seen its po- homes fell a bigger-than-expected 5.9% in April, a drop that analysts blamed in part on soaring home prices. (AP) Powell avoided participating in such was sworn in as FTC chair just hours litical fortunes eroded in recent years. policy debates, despite attempts from after the Senate confi rmed her as one Calls have been rising to break up the Prices hit record high both Democrats and Republicans to of fi ve members of the commission on Silicon Valley giants. draw him in. a 69-28 vote. Lawmakers of both parties cham- But he said in testimony before a Khan has been a professor at Colum- pion stronger oversight of the tech congressional oversight panel that re- bia University Law School and burst industry, arguing that its massive mar- Surprise 5.9% drop in new home sales cent price gains mostly refl ected tem- onto the antitrust scene with her massive ket power is out of control, crushing porary supply bottlenecks, and the fact scholarly work in 2017 as a Yale law smaller competitors and endanger- WASHINGTON, June 23, (AP): Sales pared with $368,700 a year ago. The inventory of new homes for sale that prices fell sharply last spring at student, “Amazon’s Antitrust Paradox.” ing consumers’ privacy. They say the of new homes fell unexpectedly in A shortage of homes on the market increased to 330,000 in May, up 4.8% the onset of the pandemic, which make May and the 5.9% retreat was the sec- and rising costs for materials like lum- from the end of April. That would She helped lay the foundation for a new companies hide behind a legal shield infl ation fi gures now, compared with a way of looking at antitrust law beyond to allow false information to fl ourish ond consecutive monthly decline even ber, and also labor, is fueling the up- represent a 5.1 months supply of new year ago, look much larger. as the median price hit an all-time high. ward momentum. The surge in lumber homes at last month’s sales pace. the impact of big-company market domi- on their social media networks or to Most of the price gains have oc- nance on consumer prices. As counsel entrench bias. The May sales decline pushed sales prices that began this year has started Rubeela Farooqi, chief U.S. econo- curred in categories such as used cars, to a seasonally adjusted annual rate of to unwind and that could help slow mist at High Frequency Economics, to a House Judiciary antitrust panel in Last fall the Trump Justice Depart- airplane tickets, and hotel rooms, Pow- 2019 and 2020, she played a key role in ment, joined by states, fi led a ground- 769,000, the Commerce Department surging housing costs, but the shortage said “supply constraints appear to be ell said, where demand has soared as reported Wednesday. That followed a of homes to buy is still creating a very easing somewhat” but she predicted a sweeping bipartisan investigation of the breaking antitrust lawsuit against the economy has quickly reopened, market power of the tech giants. Google, accusing the search giant of 7.8% sales decline in April, a fi gure that high bar for potential buyers. that rising home prices would continue catching many companies fl at-footed. was revised lower from what was ini- “What we need to take the edge off to be a headwind for sales. At 32, she is believed to be the abusing its market dominance to stifl e “Those are things that we would youngest chair in the history of the competition. That was followed in De- tially thought to be a drop of only 5.9%. double-digit housing price gains is Sales of existing homes fell for the look to, to stop going up and ultimately The median price of a new home sold more houses and the builder backlog fourth consecutive month in May, the FTC, which polices competition and cember by another big antitrust suit to start to decline as these situations re- consumer protection in industry gener- against Facebook, brought by the FTC in May jumped to $374,400, up 18.1% and the strong permits rate show more National Association of Realtors said solve themselves,” Powell said. “They from a year ago when the median price new homes are coming,” said Robert this week, even as the median price ally as well as digital privacy. and an array of states. don’t speak to a broadly tight economy “Lina brings deep knowledge and Amazon and Apple are under scru- stood at $317,100. The average home Frick, corporate economist at Navy soared 23.6% from a year ago and - the kind of thing that has led to high price also rose in May to $420,600, com- Federal Credit Union. breached $350,000 for the fi rst time. expertise to this role and will be a fear- tiny by antitrust enforcers at the Jus- infl ation over time.” less champion for consumers,” Sen. tice Department, now in Biden’s pur- Powell acknowledged that “these ef- Elizabeth Warren, D-Mass., who has view, and the independent, bipartisan fects have been larger than we expect- called for tech industry breakups, said FTC. Twitter has joined Facebook and German Cabinet OKs 2022 budget plan ed and they may turn out to be more in a statement. “Giant tech companies Google in facing frequent run-ins with persistent than we expected.” But he deserve the growing scrutiny they are lawmakers over its policies for moder- BERLIN, June 23, (AP): Germany’s Cabinet on Wednesday ap- Sept. 26 election. added that “the incoming data are very facing, and consolidation is chok- ating content on its platform. proved plans for a 2022 budget that foresee an increase in new It’s hard to predict what combination of parties will form much consistent with the view that ing off competition across American A bipartisan group of House law- debt as spending on health and fi ghting climate change rises. the next governing coalition. Center-right Chancellor An- these are factors that will wane over industries. With Chair Khan at the makers, animated by the results of the The government plans to spend 443 billion euros ($528 bil- gela Merkel is not seeking re-election. Scholz, a center-left time and then infl ation will then move helm, we have a huge opportunity to Judiciary panel investigation of Face- lion) next year, down from 547.7 billion euros this year but high- Social Democrat, is one of the candidates to replace her. down toward our goals.” make big, structural change by reviv- book, Google, Amazon and Apple, er than the 419.8 billion euros planned in a fi rst draft in March. After six years in the black, Germany resorted to running The Fed chair did not specify which ing antitrust enforcement and fi ghting proposed sweeping legislation Friday Finance Minister Olaf Scholz’s latest plan calls for new up new debt in 2020 to help cover the cost of support and data he was referring to, but the prices monopolies that threaten our economy, to rein in Big Tech, possibly forcing borrowing of 99.7 billion euros next year. That’s down from stimulus packages in the pandemic and an expected shortfall of many commodities, such as lumber our society and our democracy.” the giants to break up their businesses 240.2 billion euros this year, but more than the 81.5 billion in tax revenue. and copper, which had risen sharply Khan also was a legal adviser to Ro- while making it harder for them to ac- euros originally foreseen. The country’s so-called debt brake was suspended to al- during the pandemic, have tumbled in hit Chopra, an FTC commissioner, and quire others. Those kinds of mandated Scholz said Germany is investing strongly in “social co- low up to 217.8 billion euros in new borrowing last year. recent weeks. was previously legal director of the breakups through a legislative over- hesion” and “a strong, future-oriented and climate-friendly Eventually, Germany borrowed only 130.5 billion euros. Powell’s comments come at a time Open Markets Institute, an organiza- haul would be a radical step for Con- economy.” The economy suffered less badly than expected, contracting when fi nancial markets are struggling tion that advocates against corporate gress to take and could be a bridge too The budget plan may change again, though, since it will by 4.9% - still a better outcome than in several other Euro- to interpret the Federal Reserve’s re- concentration. far for some Republican lawmakers. need approval from the new parliament that emerges from a pean countries. cent moves. Last week Fed offi cials “It is a tremendous honor to have Some Republican lawmakers have signaled that they may increase the been selected by President Biden to denounced the new school of antitrust central bank’s benchmark interest rate lead the Federal Trade Commission,” thought, championed by Khan and Wu twice in 2023, an earlier time frame Khan said in a statement. “I look for- and gaining currency among Demo- than they set out in March, when no ward to working with my colleagues crats, that looks beyond the impact of rate hike was expected until after that to protect the public from corporate big-company market dominance on year. Changes to the Fed’s benchmark abuse.” consumer prices to its broader effects rate affect a wide range of consumer Biden said as a presidential can- on industries, employees and commu- borrowing costs, such as mortgages, didate that dismantling the big tech nities. credit cards, and student loans. companies should be considered. He The school is called “hipster anti- Powell also said last week that the Fed also has said he wants to see quickly trust” by its detractors. With this ap- had formally begun discussing when and crimped the social media companies’ proach, Democrats are seeking to use how the central bank might reduce the long-held legal protections for speech antitrust law not to promote competi- current $120 billion a month of Trea- on their platforms. tion but to advance social or environ- surys and mortgage-backed bonds that Biden in March appointed Tim Wu, mental goals, the Republicans contend. the Fed is purchasing. Those purchases are intended to keep longer-term interest rates lower to encourage more borrowing and spending. Both moves were seen as evidence US airports will get $8b that the Fed wanted to indicate it was prepared to keep infl ation in check without initially taking any steps to in pandemic relief: FAA pull back on its efforts to stimulate the economy. WASHINGTON, June 23, (AP): sure that President Joe Biden Some Fed offi cials are not fully Airports around the country will signed in March. The Biden ad- convinced that infl ation is temporary. share $8 billion in federal grants ministration said the grants would St. Louis Fed President James Bull- to help them recover from the pan- protect airport jobs and construc- ard said Monday that the economy is demic, which caused a steep drop tion projects as travel recovers. in unprecedented territory, making it in air travel and a loss of revenue The FAA said several hundred hard to know where infl ation will go that airports expect from airlines airports will get grant money, in- next. But he added that, “we have to be and passengers. cluding $175.7 million for Seattle- ready for the idea that there are upside Most of the money will go to Tacoma International, $115 mil- risks to infl ation, (it) could go higher” big airports with commercial air- lion for Philadelphia International, than the 2.5% rate he has forecast for line service. They will share $6.5 $74.3 million for Daniel K. Inouye next year. billion based on the number of International in Honolulu, $56.2 Yet other offi cials echoed Powell’s passenger boardings, plus another million for St. Louis Lambert In- views. Also on Monday, New York $800 million to offer rent relief ternational, and $50.6 million for Federal Reserve Bank President John to companies that operate conces- Raleigh-Durham International in Williams, who also serves as vice chair sions such as food and retail out- North Carolina. of the Fed’s policymaking committee, lets in terminals. There are nearly 500 commer- said that currently high infl ation is Airports must keep at least 90% cial airports in the U.S., accord- likely transitory. of the workers they had before the ing to an industry group, Air- “I expect that as price reversals and pandemic to receive one of the ports Council International-North short-run imbalances from the econo- grants, which will handled by the America, and the group projects my reopening play out, infl ation will Federal Aviation Administration. that they will lose more than $40 come down from around 3% this year Congress approved the money billion from the pandemic by next to close to 2% next year and in 2023,” as part of a pandemic-relief mea- March. Williams said. ARAB TIMES, THURSDAY, JUNE 24, 2021 BUSINESS 9

Czech CB hikes key rate court OKs McAfee’s extradition In this fi le photo, founder The Czech Republic’s central bank has increased its key Spain’s National Court has charged 75-year-old McAfee of the fi rst commercial interest rate by a quarter-point to 0.5% in efforts to tame in- approved the extradition of with evading taxes after failing anti-virus program that fl ation as the economy recovers from the coronavirus pan- detained antivirus software to report income made from bore his name, John demic. Several members of the bank’s board had earlier entrepreneur John McAfee to promoting cryptocurrencies McAfee listens during the indicated that Wednesday’s move might be coming, as the the United States, where he is while he did consultancy work, 4th China Internet Secu- bank was not ready to tolerate high infl ation. wanted on tax-related criminal as well as income from speak- rity Conference (ISC) in It was also predicted by analysts who expect the rate charges that carry a prison sen- ing engagements and selling Beijing. Spain’s National Court has approved the to further grow later in the year. Infl ation reached 2.9% in tence of up to 30 years. the rights to his life story for a extradition of detained an- May, above the bank’s 2% target. The decision can be ap- documentary. tivirus software entrepre- The last time the bank changed its rates was in May pealed and the fi nal extradition The charges refer to the three neur John McAfee to the 2000 when it lowered its key interest rate from 1% to 0.25% will need to be approved by the fi scal years from 2016 to 2018, United States. (AP) to help reduce the impact of the coronavirus pandemic on Spanish Cabinet. according to the Spanish court’s the economy. (AP) Tennessee prosecutors ruling on Wednesday. (AP) Wall St erases early gains, trades mixed Investors still trying to parse emerging signs of inflation

NEW YORK, June 23, (AP):A morning gain on Wall Street was fading USVI ‘refi nery’ away at midday Wednes- day, leaving major indexes to close down mixed. Investors are still SAN JUAN, Puerto Rico, June 23, trying to parse emerging (AP): A huge oil refi nery in the U.S. Virgin Islands that contaminated the signs of infl ation and judge environment in a series of events that whether they will be transi- sickened dozens of people and forced tory, as the Federal Reserve schools to close announced Monday that it would remain shuttered indefi - thinks they will. nitely. The S&P 500 remains slightly Limetree Bay Energy said it would below the record high it set more lay off more than 270 workers by than a week ago. The benchmark September because it faced “extreme index has recovered all its losses fi nancial constraints” after the U.S. from last week, when the Fed’s Environmental Protection Agency sus- comments on eventually tapering pended its petroleum refi ning and pro- its support for the economy raised cessing operations last month. anxiety levels in the markets. “This was an extremely diffi cult de- cision for us,” CEO Jeff Rinker said in The S&P 500 was little changed as a statement. “Unfortunately, this is our of 11:44 a.m. Eastern time. The Dow only option.” Jones Industrial Average fell 9 The EPA paused the company’s points, or less than 0.1%, to 33,941 operations last month as part of a 60- points and the Nasdaq rose 0.2%. day emergency order after noting that Exxon Mobil, Chevron and other Limetree had signifi cant air pollutant energy companies were among the and oil releases since February. The biggest gainers helping to push the incidents, which the agency called “to- market higher as crude oil prices rose tally unacceptable,” include exceeding 1%. Cruise lines, hotels and casinos the emissions limit of sulfur dioxide, were among some of the companies which can harm a person’s respiratory that rely on direct consumer spend- system. ing also making solid gains. “Each had an immediate and signifi - There is still a lot of churn within cant health impact on people and their the broader market. Slightly more property,” the EPA said. stocks were rising than falling with- The announcement of the indefi nite in the S&P 500. Health care compa- In this photo provided by the New York Stock Exchange, Gregory Rowe, center, talks with a fellow trader on the NYSE trading fl oor, Wednesday, June closure comes a month after a group of nies were among the sectors sliding 23, 2021. A morning gain on Wall Street was fading away at midday Wednesday, leaving major indexes mixed. Investors are still trying to parse emerging people fi led a class action suit accusing signs of infl ation and judge whether they will be transitory, as the Federal Reserve thinks they will. (AP) Limetree of routinely emitting danger- lower. ous airborne chemicals. Judith Enck, On Tuesday, Fed Chair Jerome yield on the 10-year Treasury rose to Fed chairman Jerome Powell said activity weakened this month amid lead central bankers to cut short that a former EPA regional administrator, Powell said the central bank still 1.49% from 1.47% late Tuesday. inflation is mostly in areas that suffer shortages of processor chips and support. said in a phone interview that the con- believes the current increases in infla- Homebuilders slipped following a supply shortages. He said inflation anti-coronavirus restrictions. Markets are close to record highs, tamination led to the hospitalization tion will prove to be temporary. Prices report that showed sales of new that hit 5% over a year earlier in May Measures of production, output and but that masks churning below the of dozens of people, the temporary for commodities, cars, and a range of homes in May fell short of econo- is likely to subside as economic export orders all declined. surface after the Fed said last week it closure of schools and even forced a other goods have been rising as mists forecasts. Lennar fell 1.4% and activity revives. On Wall Street, the S&P 500 might consider raising short-term COVID-19 vaccine site to shut down demand outpaces supply amid a D.R. Horton fell 1.1%. Powell “affirmed a more balanced climbed to 4,246.44 on Wednesday interest rates by late 2013, earlier for a day. quickly recovering economy. The European markets were mostly policy stance to some recent hawkish after Powell acknowledged prices for than expected. “Limetree caused tremendous dam- central bank has said that will eventu- lower. The DAX in Germany slipped Fed rhetoric,” Anderson Alves of used cars, airline tickets and some In cryptocurrencies, Bitcoin was age on St. Croix,” she said, adding ally level off and ease rising inflation. 0.9%, the CAC 40 in France fell ActivTrades said in a report. other goods were higher than antici- trading at just under $34,000 a day that while people can breathe easier Investors are concerned that if the 0.8%. The FTSE 100 in London rose The Shanghai Composite Index pated by the Fed but said the increas- after falling below $30,000. for now, much work remains. “There Fed is wrong and higher inflation is 0.1%. Asian markets were mixed. rose 0.4% to 3,571.25 and Tokyo’s es would be temporary. Prices of cryptocurrencies plunged is a legacy of toxic contamination at longer lasting, the central bank will Asian stock markets followed Nikkei 225 gained less than 0.1% to “The incoming data are very much after Chinese banks said Monday the property that needs to be cleaned then have to ease up on its support Wall Street higher on Wednesday 28,902.53. The Hang Seng in Hong consistent with the view that these they would step up enforcement of a up.” for the economy, which include after the Federal Reserve chairman Kong advanced 1.5% to 28,731.21. are factors that will wane over time,” government ban on trading. Enck added that it would take dec- slowing its $120 billion of monthly The Kospi in Seoul was 0.4% at Powell said in an appearance before In energy markets, benchmark ades to do so: “This is probably go- said a U.S. inflation spike probably is ing to be a long, drawn-out fi ght over bond purchases, which are helping to temporary, helping to calm fears cen- 3,277.17 while Sydney’s S&P-ASX Congress. U.S. crude gained 32 cents to $73.17 hundreds of millions of dollars. This keep mortgages and other longer- tral bankers might feel pressure to 200 shed 0.6% to 7,300.00. Most major central banks have per barrel in electronic trading on the cleanup is not going to be cheap.” term borrowing cheap. roll back economic stimulus. India’s Sensex opened down less kept interest rates near record lows New York Mercantile Exchange. Hours after Limetree made its an- Investors will get another piece of Market benchmarks in Shanghai, than 0.1% at 52,565.08. Jakarta over the past year, helping to propel Brent crude, used to price interna- nouncement, David Bond, a professor data on Friday to gauge rising infla- Tokyo, Hong Kong and Seoul declined while New Zealand and other a stock market rebound. Investors tional oils, advanced 43 cents in at Bennington College in Vermont, tion when the Commerce Department advanced. Sydney declined. Southeast Asian markets advanced. have wavered between optimism London to $74.51 per barrel. stood outside a grocery store in the releases its personal income and Overnight, Wall Street’s bench- Also Wednesday, the preliminary about the rollout of coronavirus vac- The dollar rose to 110.81 yen from U.S. territory as he continued to sur- spending report for May. mark S&P 500 index rose 0.5% to version of a monthly survey of cines and unease that rising inflation Tuesday’s 110.63 yen. The euro vey people about how the refi nery has Bond yields edged higher. The near last week’s all-time high after Japanese manufacturers showed as economic activity revives might declined to $1.1928 from $1.1936. affected their health. Cuts could average 50 to 60 fl ights a day American Airlines plans to reduce fl ights DALLAS, June 23, (AP): American Airlines will cut hundreds of fl ights over the next three weeks to avoid overloading its operation as demand for summer air travel rises faster than once expected. Spokeswoman Sarah Jantz said Tuesday that the cuts could average 50 to 60 fl ights a day the rest of June and between 50 and 80 a day in the fi rst half of July. That is potentially more than 1% of American’s schedule. On Tuesday, the airline had scrubbed about 130 fl ights by late afternoon Central time, according to tracking service FlightAware. Jantz said up to 40 were due to bad weather. Jantz said the cuts are “building in additional resilience and certainty to our operation.” She said American is making the most cuts on routes where it has multiple fl ights to provide op- This fi le photo shows an American Airlines aircraft at Ronald Reagan tions for rebooking passengers. Washington National Airport in Arlington, Va. American Airlines is cutting The union representing American’s fl ights to protect its network from getting overloaded as summer travel sea- pilots said company management son arrives. (AP) failed to move quickly enough to re- train 1,600 pilots who were temporar- affected by labor shortages at vendors security checkpoints Sunday and again ily sidelined last year or replace some that provide catering drivers and peo- Monday, with Sunday’s crowds mark- of the 1,000 who took early retirement. ple who push wheelchairs. ing the highest number in 15 months, American and other U.S. airlines The cutbacks come as leisure travel although still below 2019 levels. have been barred from furloughing is picking up. With more Americans American had scheduled around workers during the pandemic as a vaccinated against COVID-19 and 5,800 fl ights a day through July, about condition of billions they received states easing travel restrictions, airports 87% of its schedule for the same period in federal aid to help cover payroll. are busy again. More than 2 million in 2019, according to data from avia- American and United furloughed travelers passed through U.S. airport tion researcher Cirium. thousands of workers in October, when the aid and the ban on furloughs expired, then brought them back in December when Congress renewed the pandemic relief. Northleaf taps Shane Feeney American’s management “did not maintain its own infrastructure in prep- TORONTO, June 23, (Agencies): of Private Equity at CPP Investments, aration for our industry’s recovery,” Northleaf Capital Partners (Northleaf) one of the world’s largest institutional said Eric Ferguson, president of the announced that Shane Feeney has investors with $497.2 billion in assets Allied Pilots Association. The union joined the fi rm as Global Head of Sec- under management as of March 31, has since found ways to fi x “the pilot ondaries, based in Toronto. 2021. In this role, Feeney led the teams training and staffi ng shortfalls that the In this role, Feeney will oversee responsible for CPP Investments’ di- airline now faces,” he said. all aspects of Northleaf’s secondar- rect private equity, Asia private equity, Jantz said American has reserve ies program, building on the fi rm’s private equity funds and secondaries employees it can use, but stormy sum- highly successful 18-year track record investments. Under Feeney’s leader- mer weather in places like Dallas-Fort in global secondary investing and en- ship, CPP Investments’ private equity Worth International Airport and Char- hancing existing team capabilities as program assets under management lotte Douglas International Airport in the secondaries market continues to grew by approximately $73.6 billion. North Carolina can cause crews to ex- expand rapidly. In fi scal 2021, CPP Investments’ pri- ceed federal limits on how long they Feeney most recently served as Sen- vate equity program generated a net can work. She said the airline is also ior Managing Director & Global Head return of 36.3%. German lawmakers fault finance minister, auditor on Wirecard

German lawmakers present- edly held in trust accounts in act, criminal breach of trust center-left Social Democrats’ ing a report Tuesday into the the Philippines probably didn’t (and) especially serious case candidate to replace Merkel in collapse of the payment pro- exist. of fraud.” the Sept. 26 vote. cessing company Wirecard The company’s former chief The nine-month parliamen- “Finance Minister Olaf In this fi le photo, the logo accused the country’s fi nance executive, Markus Braun, is tary probe that concluded this Scholz and the leadership of payment company minister and auditors Ernst & being investigated on suspi- week immediately weighed of the Finance Ministry bear Wirecard is pictured at the Young of numerous oversight cion of criminal fraud. Interpol headquarters in Munich, upon Germany’s upcoming political responsibility for the Germany. (AP) failings. has issued a red notice for election, with both opposition Wirecard scandal,” Union bloc Wirecard fi led for protection Wirecard’s former chief op- parties and Chancellor Angela lawmaker Matthias Hauer told from creditors through insol- erating offi cer, Jan Marsalek, Merkel’s Union bloc heavily reporters. “Mr. Scholz pre- vency proceedings last year on allegations of “violations of criticizing the role played by sented himself as a silent min- after admitting that 1.9 billion the German duty on securities Finance Minister Olaf Scholz ister with implausible lapses of euros ($2.3 billion) suppos- act and the securities trading in the affair. Scholz is the memory.” (AP)

Move comes weeks after Bill & Melinda announce their divorce Plan’s success faces hurdles Spain hopes to jumpstart Buffett resigns from Gates Foundation EV industry with EU funds NEW YORK, June 23, (AP): Warren Buffett resigned 2014-2018. BARCELONA, Spain, June 23, (AP): Daniel Sánchez is Wednesday as trustee of the Bill and Melinda Gates Foun- He said Wednesday he currently holds about $100 billion one of the luckier electric car owners in Spain. With a free dation, which says it will announce plans in July to answer in shares of Berkshire Hathaway and that the $41 billion he recharging station less than a kilometer from his home just questions raised about its leadership structure as it deals with has previously donated in shares has saved him only $0.40 north of Barcelona, he can keep his Tesla ready to roll. the divorce of its two founders. in taxes per $1,000 given. “That’s because I have relatively “I cannot imagine stopping at a gas station ever again,” The announcement from Buffett comes weeks after Bill little income,” he said. “My wealth remains almost entirely the 41-year-old transport company owner said. “We feel and Melinda Gates revealed that they were divorcing after deployed in tax-paying businesses that I own through my like those people who got off a horse-drawn carriage and 27 years of marriage but would continue to jointly run the Berkshire stockholdings, and Berkshire regularly reinvests climbed into a car. There is no going back.” foundation, one of the largest charitable foundations in the earnings to further grow its output, employment and earn- Other Spaniards are considerably less enthusiastic. The world. Buffett is one of three members of the foundation’s ings.” dearth of places to plug in, compared to western and north- board, the others are Bill and Melinda Gates. But, he did not address growing questions raised about the ern Europe, and the price of electric cars have left Spain lag- “For years I have been a trustee - an inactive trustee structure of the foundation’s leadership after reports of Bill ging as the continent races to get greener. at that - of only one recipient of my funds, the Bill and Gates’ behavior in the workplace. It was recently revealed Now the government wants to usher the entire country Melinda Gates Foundation (BMG). I am now resigning that board members at Microsoft Corp. made a decision in into this new paradigm. from that post, just as I have done at all corporate boards 2020 that it wasn’t appropriate for Gates, the company’s co- The ruling left-wing coalition plans to use a chunk of the other than Berkshire’s,” Buffett said in a prepared state- founder, to sit on its board as they investigated the billion- 140 billion euros ($166 billion) Spain is set to receive from ment Wednesday. “The CEO of BMG is Mark Suzman, an In this fi le photo Warren Buffett, Chairman and CEO of aire’s prior romantic relationship with a female Microsoft the European Union’s pandemic recovery plan to kickstart outstanding recent selection who has my full support. My Berkshire Hathaway, smiles as he plays bridge follow- employee that was deemed inappropriate. its electric car industry. goals are 100% in sync with those of the foundation, and ing the annual Berkshire Hathaway shareholders meet- The Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation has said that it European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen my physical participation is in no way needed to achieve ing in Omaha, Nebraska. (AP) is not investigating the allegations in the media, as the re- visited Madrid on Wednesday, at the start of her tour of these goals.” ported incident involving one of the world’s largest, most member states to endorse their plans to deploy the massive Buffett, the chairman and chief executive of Berkshire Bill and Melinda Gates said in separate statements infl uential nonprofi ts was made by “an anonymous former windfall designed to erase the economic pain of the pan- Hathaway, also said Wednesday that he is halfway to reach- Wednesday that they were grateful for Buffett’s leadership, employee.” demic. Final approval from Brussels is expected in coming ing his goal of giving away the entirety of his shares in the generosity and friendship. “His wisdom has been a guiding Buffett, now 90, has in recent years resigned from all weeks. conglomerate and that he’s donating another $4.1 billion in light through our foundation’s second decade, and the things other corporate boards outside of Berkshire Hathaway, but Von der Leyen met with Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez, shares to fi ve foundations. More than $3.2 billion went to we’ve learned from him will continue to help us chart a way he has said he has no plans to step down from his role as who has compared the EU Next Generation funds to a “new the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, bringing his total forward,” said Melinda Gates. CEO of Berkshire. Earlier this year, Berkshire identifi ed the Marshall Plan.” giving to the foundation to nearly $33 billion, Suzman said Buffett had faced criticism after ProPublica reported ear- executive who will one day take over as the company’s CEO Spain’s Secretary of State for Industry Raül Blanco told in a statement. lier this month that some of the country’s wealthiest people when Buffett is gone, but he isn’t retiring. The Associated Press that the government is aiming at There have been calls in philanthropy circles to diversify have paid no income tax, or nearly none, in some years. Us- Buffett said Wednesday while he still loves his job, “I’m spending around 5 billion euros ($6 billion) over the next the foundation’s board, and bring in more people to guide ing perfectly legal tax strategies, the report said Buffett paid clearly playing in a game that, for me, has moved past the three years on its electric vehicle initiative. its direction. less than 10 cents for every $100 he added to his wealth from fourth quarter and into overtime.” Spain produced 2.2 million cars and trucks in 2020, sec- ond only to Germany in Europe. But only 140,000 of these were electric or hybrids, according to ANFAC, the Spanish Association of Automobile and Truck Manufacturers. “What we are doing is accelerating a change that is al- ready taking place,” Blanco said. “This is a unique opportu- nity. The automakers are on board, and there are resources to carry out the investments.” Roads A leader in highspeed electric trains, Spain wants to put 250,000 more electric vehicles on its roads within two years, adding to the current 96,000. The push for electric cars should reduce CO2 emissions by 450,000 tons, according to government projections as Spain aims to completely convert to renewable energy by 2050, in line with EU targets. “Spain can carry out these industrial activities with green energy,” Blanco said. “Compared to other countries of cen- tral and eastern Europe that still rely on fossil fuels, or other countries which use nuclear, Spain can rely on renewable energies since it has wind and solar.” The environmental group Greenpeace supported the push for electric vehicles but argued that the EU funds should not be used to keep clogging cities with cars. “It is vital that the aid is prioritized to help rural popula- tions that have poorer access to other modes of alternative transport,” the group said. Spain is counting on its robust car industry, and the depos- its of lithium — key to battery production for electric vehi- cles — that it shares with Portugal. The goal is to establish a supply chain by encouraging private investment to build a battery factory, along with assembly plants and software de- sign, all with the goal of driving more climate-friendly cars off production lines. The plan’s success, however, faces hurdles. Spain has fewer than 2 public plug-in points per 100,000 square kilometers, compared to over 10 in Germany, Bel- gium and the Netherlands, according to a 2020 report by the European Court of Auditors. “It is a snake that bites its own tail,” said Salvador Ejarque, president of Spain’s Association of Electric Car Users, or AUVE. “People don’t buy cars because they can’t charge them, and those who can invest don’t do it quickly enough because the bureaucracy is complex and slow going,” Boost The government wants to boost the total number of recharg- ing points nationwide from 11,500 to 100,000 in three years. ANFAC, the carmakers’ group, said more may be needed. In this fi le photo, Caroline Styne, owner and wine director at The Lucques Group, standing under umbrella, welcomes back regular customers, Chris Anokute with his wife “We must overcome the ‘autonomy anxiety’ of drivers by Jasmine and their 9-month-old son, Phoenix, at the A.O.C. Brentwood restaurant in Los Angeles. Styne has turned away dozens of customers at the company’s A.O.C. West assuring them that charging their car is as easy as fi lling up Hollywood restaurant because she doesn’t have the staff to serve them, leaving seats empty. (AP) with gas,” spokesman José López-Tafall told the AP. “It is necessary to set up a calendar with set goals to reach 340,000 charging points by 2030.” Help wanted: ‘Hiring is a nightmare’ Price, too, matters. The average annual income in Spain is 15,000 euros ($18,100) below the EU mean. Luxury cars are a rare sight in Spanish cities, where economy models and motorbikes reign. So while electric vehicles can lure more Labor crisis plagues US restaurant industry affl uent Europeans, they give many Spaniards sticker shock. To overcome this, the government has already dedicated 400 million euros ($484 million) for rebates of up to 7,000 By Michael R. Blood never, showed up. for bigger paydays elsewhere. The hours can be long, ben- euros ($8,400) on purchases of electric and hybrid vehicles. “We are having extreme diffi culties,” he said. efi ts scarce and the pay low, sometimes reliant on tips. It must also convince carmakers that Spain is their best herry Villanueva’s family of Santa Barbara restaurants Sam Toia, CEO of the Illinois Restaurant Association, said Styne, Villanueva and other industry experts see a web of employed 350 people before the pandemic took hold and investment bet, while Germany and France have the advan- S he’s started talking with federal lawmakers about the pos- factors conspiring to create the scarcity of job applicants. tage of having major manufacturers based in their countries. darkened dining rooms across California. Now, with the sibility of expanding worker visa programs for the restaurant state’s economy offi cially reopened, about 250 workers are Among them: California’s population dropped by 182,000 Spanish carmaker SEAT, a member of the Volkswagen industry to open a new pipeline of labor. last year as the pandemic ravaged the economy, scattering group, has committed to producing an electric car in the back on the job. And without enough workers to fi ll shifts, restaurants are Villanueva would hire 100 more if she could - but she workers around the country as many businesses closed. 20,000-25,000 euro range that Blanco believes will hit the warning customers to expect longer-than-typical waits for Some workers are hesitant to come back, either over linger- price points for domestic shoppers. can’t fi nd people to take the openings. their meals, Toia said. “We are in the midst of a very severe labor shortage,” said ing fear of the virus or because of frayed nerves after strug- Ford’s president for Europe, Stuart Rowley, spoke with The California Restaurant Association earlier estimated as Prime Minister Sánchez in April about “Ford’s battery sourc- Villanueva, owner and managing partner of Acme Hospi- many as one-third of the state’s restaurants would not make gling through on-and-off lockdowns, home isolation and tality, which operates eight eateries in the popular seaside shifting health regulations. ing strategy and the importance of support from the Spanish it through the pandemic. For those that survived, the employ- Government in the framework of the EU Next Generation destination, though two remain closed. With staffs stretched ment gap is a “full-blown crisis,” said Jot Condie, who heads Extended federal unemployment benefi ts have provided a paper-napkin thin, the employees “are doing the job of two cushion to stay home - about 2 million people are still re- funds,” the company said in a statement provided to the AP. the organization. Renault has also reaffi rmed its focus on making hybrids at people.” Democratic Gov. Gavin Newsom is fond of saying that Cal- ceiving checks. In other cases, there’s a child care problem California fully reopened its economy on June 15 and its Spanish plants. ifornia’s economy is roaring back. Indeed, employment fi g- with schools closed or in recess for summer. And after a long Labor unions have welcomed the huge public investment did away with limits on capacity at restaurants, retail stores ures released Friday showed the state added over 100,000 jobs break from work to ponder the future, others took on a new in an industry that provides 10% of Spain’s GDP and 9% of and other businesses. People are eager to return to sporting in May, the fourth consecutive month of gains after 2.7 million career path. its employment. events and amusement parks and enjoy a meal out. jobs vanished during the early months of the pandemic. Restaurants and hotels have been “ground zero” for the But instead of full dining rooms, many restaurants are be- But in the state’s battered restaurant industry, the return labor shortage, but other sectors have been struggling to fi ll ing forced to cut operating hours or leave tables open. Vil- toward normalcy is being slowed by the struggle to fi nd jobs, including non-union construction and home health care, lanueva’s company is offering cash bonuses to workers who an adequate number of cooks, bartenders, food servers and said Michael Bernick, a former director of the California recruit new employees. kitchen staff. Since May 2020, restaurants and hotels have Employment Development Department and an attorney with The worker shortage is also affecting restaurants across added 420,400 jobs - the most of any sector - but the industry the Duane Morris law fi rm. the U.S. remains about 450,000 jobs below its pre-pandemic level. For ailing restaurants, a turning point may not come un- The National Restaurant Association has reported the In Los Angeles, Caroline Styne, owner and wine director til late summer, when enhanced federal benefi ts end and eating and drinking industry shed 2.5 million jobs in 2020. at The Lucques Group, has turned away dozens of custom- Federal data show nearly 1.4 million job openings in the res- schools reopen. Even then, wages might need to rise to at- ers because she didn’t have the staff to serve them, leaving tract workers. taurant and hotel sector in April. seats empty. At the Served Global Dining restaurant in Henderson, Ne- “If you can’t fi ll your seats ... multiple times per evening, On Saturday, Alec Nedelman was enjoying an early Fa- vada, a Las Vegas suburb, chef-owner Matthew Meyer said the fi nancial structure of the restaurant doesn’t work,” Styne ther’s Day celebration with his family at one of Styne’s he needs a dozen or more people to fi ll positions across the said. A.O.C. restaurants in Los Angeles. The attorney said he has board, including cooks and bartenders. “Hiring is a nightmare,” she added. “I’ve never been in a just started to return to restaurants since dining rooms be- Plans for a seafood raw bar, to-go kits and a chef’s table situation like this.” gan to reopen, and also was looking forward to having them to serve special tasting menus are on hold because he can’t The sector is notoriously volatile and restaurant employ- available for business meetings. fi nd enough workers. Meanwhile, his labor costs are up by ees can be a transient lot - students who drop in-and-out of “It’s still a mixed feeling. You are still a little cautious and A man charges his electric car at an electrical charging a third because he has to offer more money to lure appli- shifts as time allows, aspiring actors and musicians looking concerned,” Nedelman said. But “I’m looking forward to be- point in Rivas Vaciamadrid, Spain, Tuesday, June 15, cants. Even then, the last two he had scheduled for interviews to supplement their income, kitchen staffers who move on ing able to be social again.” (AP) 2021. (AP) ARAB TIMES, THURSDAY, JUNE 24, 2021 SCIENCE 11

Health

4 in 10 had COVID-19 Nursing home deaths soared by 32% in 2020 WASHINGTON, June 23, (AP): Deaths among Medicare patients in nursing homes soared by 32% last year, with two devastating spikes eight months apart, a government watchdog reported Tuesday in the most comprehensive look yet at the ravages of COVID-19 among its most vulnerable victims. The report from the inspector general of the Department of Health and Human Services found that about 4 in 10 Medicare recipients in nursing homes had or likely had COVID-19 in 2020, and that deaths overall jumped by 169,291 from the pre- vious year, before the coronavirus appeared. “We knew this was going to be bad, but I don’t think even those of us who work in this area thought it was going to be this bad,” said Harvard health policy professor David Grabowski, a nationally recognized expert on long-term care, who reviewed the report for The Associated Press. “This was not individuals who were going to die anyway,” Grabowski add- ed. “We are talking about a really big number of excess deaths.” Investigators used a generally ac- cepted method of estimating “excess” deaths in a group of people after a ca- lamitous event. It did not involve ex- amining individual death certifi cates of Medicare patients but comparing overall deaths among those in nursing homes to levels recorded the previous Grabowski year. The technique was used to esti- mate deaths in Puerto Rico after Hur- ricane Maria in 2017 and in New York City after the fi rst coro- navirus surge last spring. It does not attribute a cause of death but is seen as a barometer of impact. Death rates were higher in every month last year when compared with 2019. The report documented two spikes with particular implications for government policy and for protect- ing the most vulnerable in future outbreaks of life-threatening Antonia Torres, 15, is given a first dose of the Pfizer vaccine for COVID-19 at the Teleton Institute, a clinic that specializes in treating chronically ill children in San- illnesses. In April of last year, a total of 81,484 Medicare pa- tiago, Chile, June 22, on the first day the government started vaccinating youths between ages 12 and 17 who have chronic illnesses. (AP) tients in nursing homes died. Then eight months later, after lockdowns and frantic efforts to expand testing — but before vaccines became widely available — nursing home patients accounted for a staggering 74,299 deaths in December. Coronavirus Vulnerable “This is happening long after it was clear that nursing homes were particularly vulnerable,” said Nancy Harrison, a deputy regional inspector general who worked on the report. “We re- WHO, UNESECO back ‘new standards’ on student health ally have to look at that. Why did they remain so vulnerable?” Federal investigators are still drilling down to try to document the chain of causes and effects. Responding to the report, the Centers for Medicare and Biden pushes shots for young adults Medicaid Services said that nearly 80% of nursing home res- idents and more than 55% of staff are now vaccinated, and WASHINGTON, June 23, (Agencies): the agency is working to protect health and safety. CMS sets The US government is stepping up ef- standards for nursing homes. forts to get younger Americans vacci- Duterte threatens to ‘arrest’ Filipinos Tuesday’s report was the most comprehensive yet from the nated for COVID-19 as concerns grow government because it included statistics for the early part of about the spread of a new variant that last year, during the initial coronavirus surge. Medicare did not threatens to set the country back in the who refuse vaccination against COVID require nursing homes to report COVID-19 cases and deaths months ahead. occurring before May 8, more than four months into the pan- The push is underway as the delta MANILA, Philippines, June 23, list of defiant residents. demic year. variant, fi rst identifi ed in India, has (AP): The Philippine president has Justice Secretary Menardo Gue- In another new fi nding, the report showed that cases and threatened to order the arrest of Fil- varra acknowledged on Tuesday come to represent more than 20% of ipinos who refuse COVID-19 vac- that there was no Philippine law deaths among Asian American patients tracked with the more Commuters wearing protective face coronavirus infections in the US in the masks wait for public transport in cination and told them to leave the criminalizing refusal to get vacci- severe impacts seen among Blacks and Latinos. Indeed, Asian last two weeks, the Centers for Disease country if they would not cooperate nated against the coronavirus. Medicare enrollees in nursing homes saw the highest increase Wellington, New Zealand, June, 23. After enjoying nearly four months Control and Prevention reported Tues- with efforts to end a public health “I believe that the president in death rates, with 27% dying in 2020 compared to 17% the day. That’s double what it was when emergency. merely used strong words to drive previous year. For whites, the death rate grew to 24% in 2020 without any community transmission of the coronavirus, New Zealand- the CDC last reported on the variant’s President Rodrigo Duterte, who home the need for us to get vacci- from 18% in 2019, a signifi cant increase but not as pronounced. ers were on edge Wednesday after prevalence. is known for his public outbursts nated and reach herd immunity as Death rates for Hispanic and Black patients were 23% last health authorities said an infectious “The delta variant is currently the and brash rhetoric, said in televised soon as possible,” Guevarra said. year, up from 15% in 2019. traveler from Australia had visited greatest threat in the US to our attempt remarks Monday night that he has A human rights lawyer, Edre Ola- The inspector general’s offi ce based its analysis on Medi- over the weekend. (AP) to eliminate COVID-19,” Dr. Anthony become exasperated with people lia, raised concerns over Duterte’s care billing data. It also included patients in Medicare Advan- Fauci, the nation’s top infectious dis- who refuse to get immunized amid threat, saying the president could tage plans sold by private insurers. Although Medicare does ease expert, said at a White House a health crisis then help spread the not order the arrest of anybody not cover long-term care, the vast majority of nursing home briefi ng on the virus. “Good news: Our coronavirus. who has not clearly committed any patients are elderly, and Medicare does cover their medical vaccines are effective against the delta “Don’t get me wrong. There is a crime. needs. The report included both patients who live in nursing variant.” crisis being faced in this country. Duterte and his administration homes as well as those temporarily at a facility for rehabilita- He added: “We have the tools. So There is a national emergency. If have faced criticism over a vac- tion. let’s use them, and crush the outbreak.” you don’t want to get vaccinated, cination campaign that has been Health economist Tamara Konetzka of the University of I’ll have you arrested and I’ll inject saddled with supply problems and The White House acknowledged the vaccine in your butt,” Duterte public hesitancy. After repeated de- Chicago, who also reviewed the report for AP, said building an Tuesday that President Joe Biden will said. lays, vaccinations started in March, estimate from individual death certifi cates would have faced fall short of reaching his goal of vac- “If you will not agree to be vacci- but many still opted to wait for another set of challenges. Especially in the fi rst wave of the cinating 70% of all American adults nated, leave the Philippines. Go to Western vaccines, prompting some pandemic, many who died would not necessarily have been with at least one shot by Independence India if you want or somewhere, to cities to offer snacks and store dis- tested for COVID-19, for example. Day. But it said he had reached that America,” he said, adding he would counts to encourage people to get “By looking at excess deaths you can get away from some Xi Nie threshold for those aged 30 and older order village leaders to compile a immunized with any vaccine. of the measurement issues and say how much worse things and expects to meet it for those age 27 were in 2020 than in 2019,” explained Konetzka, who has tes- or older by the July 4 holiday. tifi ed before Congress on the impact of COVID-19 in nursing Administration offi cials said they Jeff Zients projected it will take sev- “Where the country has more work homes. Space were redoubling their focus on vacci- eral more weeks to hit that number. On to do is particularly with 18 to 26 year The inspector general’s fi ndings about Asians highlight a nating younger Americans age 18-26, Monday, the US crossed 150 million olds,” Zients said. riddle for researchers, said Konetzka. The reasons for higher who have proved to be least likely to fully vaccinated. Zients and government experts said cases and deaths among Blacks, Hispanics and Asians may not Xi congratulates astronauts: Chi- get a vaccine when it’s available for The White House said meeting the rise of the delta variant should mo- necessarily be tied to race and ethnicity. Instead, minority pa- nese President Xi Jinping spoke with them. Biden’s vaccination goals is less im- tivate younger Americans to get vac- tients may be clustered in homes located in communities with three astronauts who are making the The nationwide rate of new vacci- portant than the pace of the nation’s cinated. more severe outbreaks. country’s space station their home for the nations has dropped off precipitously reopening, which is exceeding even The report also found that low-income nursing home pa- next three months, and called their mis- over the past month even as shots have its own internal projections as the Also: tients covered by Medicare and Medicaid together were much sion an important milestone in China’s become more available, with fewer overwhelming majority of the nation’s GENEVA: The World Health Organi- more likely to have gotten COVID-19. The infection rate for space industry. than 300,000 Americans now getting most vulnerable people are fully vacci- zation (WHO) and the UN’s cultural that group reached 56%, and 26% died. The crew consisting of former air force their fi rst dose per day on average - a nated and cases and deaths are at their agency UNESCO have set “new stand- Some states suffered worse impacts. By the end of Decem- pilots Nie Haisheng, Liu Boming and pace that, if sustained, will have the Tang Hongbo arrived at the Tianhe space lowest rates since the earliest days of ards” that focus on student health more ber more than half of the Medicare patients in nursing homes station last week. Throughout their stay, US not reaching Biden’s 70% goal un- the pandemic, averaging about 11,000 than a year after the COVID pandemic in Connecticut, Illinois, Louisiana and New Jersey had or like- they will carry out science experiments til late July at the earliest. new infections and fewer than 300 forced more than a billion children out ly had COVID-19. and maintenance, space walks and pre- Offi cials are also increasingly. con- deaths per day. More states are open- of school. Across the US, the coronavirus found ideal conditions to pare the station for receiving two addi- cerned about regional variations in the ing back up, with Michigan on Tues- “Schools play a vital role in the spread among frail nursing home patients living in close quar- tional modules next year. vaccination program. day becoming the latest to do away well-being of students, families and ters. Many researchers believe it’s likely staffers unwittingly Xi asked Wednesday morning after More than 16 states and the District with a mask mandate and virus restric- their communities, and the link be- brought the virus in from surrounding communities. their health and living situation aboard of Columbia have vaccinated 70% of tions. The state had the nation’s worst tween education and health has never Although facilities locked down in March of last year, gov- the station. their adult population. But others - par- outbreak this spring. been more evident,” said WHO chief ernment efforts to help were haphazard. The industry com- The astronauts, standing ramrod ticularly in the South and Midwest - “We have succeeded beyond our Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus in a plained of chronic shortages of protective gear, including ba- straight in a row, answered in the affi rma- are lagging substantially behind, with highest expectations,” Zeints said. statement on Tuesday. sics like masks and gowns. tive. four not having yet reached 50% vac- Americans at highest risk for com- The new standards aim to ensure The Trump administration initially delegated responsibility “We are all very happy to see you cination rates. plications from COVID-19 are over- “all schools promote life skills, cog- for testing to states before belatedly marshaling more federal are in good shape and the work is going Biden is also on track to miss a whelmingly vaccinated, according to nitive and socio-emotional skills and resources. HHS later laid the groundwork for vaccinations un- well,” Xi said, speaking from the Beijing second goal - fully vaccinating 165 CDC data, but only 53% aged 25-39 healthy lifestyles for all learners,” der the Trump administration, and the Biden administration Aerospace Control Center. “The build- million adult Americans by July 4. have received one dose. Among those said a statement by the global health followed through. As vaccination rates rose, nursing home ing of the space station is an important White House COVID-19 coordinator 18-24, it’s 47%. body. cases plummeted, allowing facilities to again permit family milestone in China’s space industry and it visits. will make a pioneering contribution to the peaceful use of the space by mankind.” Also: “We in Beijing await your triumphant ing away tons of dirty clothes every year, Gamble Co to fi gure out how best to clean The Cincinnati company announced return,” he added. stuffi ng them in the trash to burn up in astronauts’ clothes in space so they can be LONDON: A public inquiry into Britain’s contaminated blood Tuesday that it will send a pair of Tide de- The three gave a military salute be- the atmosphere aboard discarded cargo reused for months or even years, just like tergent and stain removal experiments to scandal, which led to the deaths of more than 2,000 people fore waving goodbye. Nie, Liu and ships. So it’s teamed up with Procter & on Earth. in the 1970s and ’80s, began hearing evidence Monday from the space station later this year and next, Tang are carrying out China’s longest all part of the galactic battle against soiled former students at a disabled children’s school where dozens crewed space mission by far. Three and sweaty clothes. died after being given blood products tainted with HIV and more crewed missions to the station are It’s no small problem, especially as the hepatitis. being planned. US and other countries look to establish Former students and parents from Treloar’s College, an The main section of the Tianhe, or bases on the moon and Mars. English boarding school, were testifying to the Infected Blood Heavenly Harmony, station was launched Rocket cargo space is tight and expen- Inquiry because the school’s health center gave children in- into orbit on April 29. Cargo spacecraft sive, according to NASA, so why waste fected blood products such as plasma to treat their haemophil- sent up last month carried fuel, food and it on new outfi ts if their clothes could be ia, a condition that impairs the body’s ability to make blood equipment to the station in preparation for kept looking and smelling fresh? When clots. the crewed mission. you fi gure an astronaut needs 150 pounds Some 89 former students were infected with HIV or hepa- The space agency plans a total of 11 (68 kilograms) of clothes in space per titis as a result and less than a quarter of them are still alive. launches through the end of next year to year, that quickly adds up, especially on a Gary Webster, one of several former students giving evi- deliver two laboratory modules to expand three-year Mars mission, said Mark Sivik, dence this week, recalled the day the school informed him that the 70-ton station, along with supplies and a chemist specializing in fabric and home crew members. The current mission is the care technology for P&G. he was infected. He was told “the outlook’s not good, we can’t third of 11 launches. (AP) There’s also the health — and ick — guarantee you will be alive in a couple of years,” he said. “That ❑ ❑ ❑ was it, really.” factors. “I am angry because of what’s happened, because I think NASA, Tide tackle challenge: How Space station astronauts exercise it was avoidable. When they told us afterwards, ‘Oh it was do astronauts do laundry in space? They two hours every day to counter the just an accident,’ I just think what could have been,” he don’t. muscle- and bone-withering effects of added. They wear their underwear, gym weightlessness, quickly leaving their The inquiry into what happened at the school is part of a clothes and everything else until they workout clothes sweaty, smelly and larger investigation into what’s been called the worst treatment can’t take the fi lth and stink anymore, stiff. Their T-shirts, shorts and socks disaster in the history of Britain’s revered public health care then junk them. end up so foul that they run through a system. NASA wants to change that — if not pair every week, according to Leland at the International Space Station, then A food delivery driver is inoculated with China’s Sinovac COVID-19 vaccine at a Melvin, a former NASA astronaut and the moon and Mars — and stop throw- drive-thru vaccination center in Manila, Philippines, June 22. (AP) NFL player. (AP) Television THURSDAY, JUNE 24, 2021 FFeatureseatures Norah O’Donnell million. the “CBSEveningNews”had4.7 Nightly News”had6.3millionand viewers lastweek.The“NBC competition, averaging7.7million led theeveningnewsratings and HGTVhad1.15million. million, MSNBChad1.19million had 2.14million,ESPN1.65 lion viewers.FoxNewsChannel works withanaverageof3.49mil- Telemundo had950,000. Ion Televisionhad1millionand million, Univisionhad1.3 had 2.67million,Fox1.45 CBS had2.7millionviewers,ABC an averageof3.2millionviewers. work lastweekinprime-time,with that hasalowvaccinationrate. athletes andothersintothecountry combined willbringnearly100,000 The OlympicsandtheParalympics public andmedicalcommunity. spread concernsfromtheJapanese held July23toAug8despitewide- because ofCOVID-19,willbeheld outlet oncableorbroadcast. make TNTthemost-watched ular showslastweekandhelped for alion’sshareofthemostpop- have overlappedwiththetrials. time theNBAandNHLevents one potentialreason:It’sthefi Basketball andhockeyplayoffsare pic trialsin2016onthenetwork. viewership forcomparableOlym- to dateisdown26%compared fi the top20,accordingtoNielsen won enoughviewerstoedgeinto short ofgold-medalratingsbut that airedSundayonNBCfell swimming andtrackfi in thesummergames. early indicationsofviewerinterest during thepandemic,thereare ity ofholdingtheTokyoOlympics back-and-forth aboutthefeasibil- Theatre des Champs-Elysees. this weekforastarring roleatthe at Paris’mainairport afterarriving searched andheld in adarkroom tained byFrenchauthorities, strip Pretty Yende gures releasedTuesday. PARIS: LOS ANGELES: conventional commercials. It’s aquick-hitadversusthesustained15-to30-secondhardsellof er. Butthecharactersquicklypivotbacktoplot-forwardingdialogue. like therandomepisodeaboutTampaBayWatchDiscoveryCent- tourism arm. roughly amilliondollarstocreate,splitbetweenthecityandstate’s ing alocalproductioncompany,directorandactors.Theseriescost Don CeSarhotelwhilerebuildinghislife. loses hismoneyandusestravelrewardspointstostayattheposh,pink episode showisbasedonacharmingyetcavalierwealthmanagerwho area’s sugarsandbeaches. scripted TVseries,seekingtodrawquarantine-wearytouriststhe were hopingtocapitalizeonwhentheycommissionedanoriginal, actly whattravelmarketersinSt.PetersburgandClearwater,Florida, woods ofSenoia,Georgia,from“TheWalkingDead.”Andthat’sex- like Wilmington,NorthCarolina,from“Dawson’sCreek”andthe ing “GameofThrones?” Or thatsenseofwanderlustfortheseasidecliffsIrelandafterwatch- favorite NewYorkhauntsanddrinkcosmopolitansatthesamebars? you feltafteranepisodeof“SexandtheCity”toshopatcharacters’ FORT LAUDERDALE,Fla.,June23,(AP):Rememberthatlonging Florida beachtownwritesAmazonTVseriestolure tourists “CBS EveningNews”hostis ABC’s “WorldNewsTonight” TNT handilyledthecablenet- NBC wasthemost-watchednet- The Olympics,delayedbyayear The NBAplayoffsaccounted NBC’s coverageofthetrials US At othertimes,thesettingsfeelnatural,likenightclubBlurora Some ofthe“ad”spotswoventhroughoutdialogueareobvious, Each episodeisonlyeightto14minuteslong,andwasfi “Life’s Rewards”airedonAmazonPrimelastmonth.Theeight- Hollywood’s fl Olympicteamtrialsin South Africanoperastar ❑ saidshewasde- Amidallthe . (AP) attering spotlighthasputsmalltownsonthemap, eld rst This imagereleasedbyUniversalPicturesshowsNathalieEmmanuel,(left),andVinDieselinascenefrom‘F9:TheFastSaga.’ city onMonday whereshe said she the Paristheatreand fl is starringin“LaSonnambula” at Charles deGaulleAirport. day aftertheencounteratParis’ social mediapostTuesday,a Yende, whoisBlack,saidina someone wholookslikeme,” while waitinguntilthepandemicwasmoreblock- just becauseitsatontheshelfforpastyear gas. There’sabitofhangoverto“F9,”andnot time, itfeelsmorelikeafranchiserunninglowon healthy amountofthemovie’s145-minuterunning Bridges) inarocket-fueledPontiacFiero.Butfor man (TyreseGibson)andTej(Chris“Ludacris” tually, courtesyofacomic,cosmicforaybyRo- that good,oldstupidfun.“F9,”getsthereeven- day intheaters,Iwaslookingforwardtosomeof everywhere. unexplainable traction.Carshere,carsthere. plausible roadsforgravity-defyingmayhemand outrageousness, thefranchisehashuntednew,im- space. Asifalwayssearchingforanothergearof ing aroundtheglobeand,fi Five,” theseriesgrewevermoreexpansive,reach- But, particularlybythetimeofJustinLin’s“Fast on theroad-racingstreetsofSouthernCalifornia. “The FastandtheFurious”),beganmorehumbly where alongtheway(thefi their originalarticlesfl ous” movies,whichhavemovedsospeedilythat in therearview. osity —forsteppingonthegasandleavinglogic movies’ whiz-bangcapacityforludicrousgrandi- stupid. Morethanfamilyorcars,they’reaboutthe airplanes, thatattheirbestaretherightkindof ballets, withcarsshootingoutofskyscrapersand melodrama, thesemoviesareridiculousbig-screen realms ofabsurdity.Ifyoucanstomachthemacho ies arereallyaboutreachingnewnitro-injected clan, Imustdisagree.The“FastandFurious”mov- ally, trulyaboutfamily. I In ‘F9,’fi Yende, anacclaimed soprano, “Police brutalityisrealfor So whenIsatdownfor“F9,”whichopensFri- It wasn’talwayslikethis.The“FastandFuri- With allduerespecttoVinDiesel’sToretto series hasrelentlesslyinsistedthatitssagaisre- n 20yearsand10moviesthe“FastFurious” Variety ‘Life’s Rewards’drawsviewersintotheshowandalsoplaces ew intothe By JakeCoyle lmed us- lmed ew outthewindowsome- Film rst entrywas2001’s marketing fi andra Delf,executivevicepresidentforLondon-basedGrifco,atravel ism boom.Ithinkit’smoreimportantthaniteverhasbeen,”saidAlex- more pressureondestinationstomarketoutsidethebox. towns areeagertoseizeonthenewwillingnesstravel.That’sput even howwidelyitwasviewed. where youwanttogothroughandhitthefast-forwardbutton.” to visit,’andit’sinthebackground,”saidHayes.“It’snotfront nding newgearforridiculousness Latest moviefeelslikefranchiserunninglowongas nally, by“F9,”into ’onl Yende O’Donnell Movie- andTV-inspiredtravelissopopularthatthefi “Every singledestinationintheworldisnowlookingforthattour- The hospitalityindustrywashithardbythepandemic,andtourist It’s toosoontogaugewhethertheserieshasimpactedtourism,or “You starttobuild,‘Hey,thislookslikeareallycoolplaceIwant or coffeeshops. to everydestinationinthescenebyname.Therewerenofakedivebars favorite show,“Yellowstone.” wife frequentlytalkedaboutvisitingWyomingwhilewatchingtheir Hayes, presidentofVisitSt.PeteClearwater,whonotedthatheandhis the storyline,butalsoplacesI’mseeinginfrontofme,”saidSteve mostly feelbelievable. featuring ascavengerhunt.Eventhecountlessgratuitousbeachshots tour ofthecolorfulWhimzeyLand“bowlingballhouse”inanepisode While sometimesawkward,thecharactersin“Life’sRewards”refer “I’m watchingsomethingandI’mdrawnintotheshowbecauseof rm. Helen Mirrendoes,inastopoverLondon.Best movie’s velocity.Whatgives“F9”aboost?Well, often-returned-to backstorythatsapssomeofthe don’t openthemovieuptomuchfun,nordoes nearby. magnifi reminder thatifyouwantgas-guzzlingaction,the whose presenceinthesemoviesmostlyservesasa ers. It’salimitingpositionforthepotentTheron, box captivewho’sneverthelesssureofherpow- villain fromthelastonereturnedhereasaglass- Part ofthoseplansisCipher(CharlizeTheron),a small potatoesintheworldof“FastandFurious.”) his older,estrangedbrother.(Familydramasaren’t signs ontakingovertheworldinordertoshowup Both therock-jawedCenaandasteelyTheron Years later,Jakob(Cena)turnsouttohavede- fate drivesthemapart. brother tojailandtheiracrimonyoverfather’s ity offoulplayisthere,andthefalloutsendsone speedway whenhediesinafi are teenagersworkingwiththeirracingfatherata younger brother(JohnCenalater,FinnColehere) absorbing VinnieBennettwhenyounger)andhis 1989 andDominicToretto(Dieselasanadult, Daniel Caseyreturntothroughoutthefi But fi and Furious”swingthroughthejunglelikeTarzan. touring toCentralAmericalettheautosof“Fast ing newonesand,withinthefi promptly setsaboutrekindlingoldbeefs,introduc- son Statham,in“HobbsandShaw.” bles ledtoaspinoffforDwayneJohnson,withJa- in thedeathofPaulWalkerandoff-screensquab- run, whenreal-lifetragedyaddedanechoofpathos the mostdramaticchapterin“FastandFurious” after aseven-yearbreakfromthefranchise,follows buster-ready. “F9,”inwhichLinreturnsasdirector Impacted But ifitfeelslikethedusthassettled,“F9” cent “MadMax:FuryRoad”isstillidling rst wehaveafl ment. by TheAssociated Pressforcom- could notimmediately bereached Tuesday evening,andheragent offensive racialcomments.” and psychologicaltorturevery outrageous racialdiscrimination was subjectedto“ill-treatmentand In her posts on Facebook and In herposts onFacebookand Yende, whowasperforming Action ashback thatLinandco-writer rm isusing ery crash.Apossibil- rst half-an-hour,de- l. It’s lm. hanger, soasequelisstillpossible. tional advertising,shesaid.TheFloridaTVseriesendedwithacliff- for OdysseyStudios. our destination,”saidBrianneMaciejowski,directoroffi show onstreamingorTV,butwe’reprovidingapositivecontextfor lost inthestorylineandgetinvestedcharacterslikeanyother promotes tourismoutsideoftheUnitedStates. a full-lengthmovieforBrandUSA,tourismmarketinggroupthat in talkstoshootsomeforothercitiesthestate.They’realsomaking shows areanewgenrefortravelmarketing,andthatthey’realready relaxation,” saidDelf.“Itgivesthemsomethingtolookforwardto.” more aspirational. nearby, includingRobbStark’sbattlecampand“RedWedding.” Donard ResortandSpatouttourswherenotablesceneswerefi The GainsboroughBathSpa.“GameofThrones”packagesatSlieve ads notethatscenesfromNetfl pandemic bingeshowstopromoteitsbiggestclients.Promotional in ourfuture.” this entertainment-fi “Part ofourbusinessmodelistohelpdestinationsfi Consumers retainfarmorefrombrandedcontentcomparedtotradi- “We don’twantpeopletofeelmarketedto.Wethem The productioncompanybehindtheFloridashowsaidscripted “A lotofwhatwedointravelmarketingissellingthatdream With travelhaltedduringthepandemic,scenicdestinationsfelteven friends on apieceofpaper. “Itwas phone numbersof familyand dark roomandtold towritedown said. Shewasthen leftaloneina like acriminaloffender,”Yende to a“retentioncell”intheairport. including hercellphoneandtook police confi Instagram, Yendesaidthatairport “I wasstrippedandsearched out offour.(AP) Running time:145minutes.Twoandahalfstars for sequencesofviolenceandaction,language. 13 bytheMotionPictureAssociationofAmerica contract willonedayrunout. joy rideprobablycan’tlastforever.VinDiesel’s how preposterousthataddictionis?Eitherway,the through ourcars?Oranacknowledgementofjust pabilities ofautomobiles,ourpropensitytolive fl change. Will“FastandFurious”seemlikeare- or thatarelivingwithmoredireeffectsofclimate moved beyondthecar,atleastgasolinevariety, erations —possiblygenerationsthatwillhave wonder howthesemovieswilllooktofuturegen- wheelers wassoaringthroughtheair,Istartedto furious butkindoffoolish. ous” moviesarebestwhenthey’reneitherfastnor speeches aboutfamilyanyday.The“FastandFuri- full-on cartoon,butI’dtakethatoverthesolemn be lessenthusedabout“Fast&Furious”turning takes fl and Romanreachzerogravity,themoviefi an oddlyprominentroleformagnets.ButwhenTaj car chases,alotoffl is kindofaslog.Therearesomenotverydynamic lite —butIlovedeveryminuteofit.Much“F9” into space—somethingaboutdestroyingasatel- sible vehicle.Idon’tknowwhyexactlytheyshoot traveling DeLoreanlooklikeacomparativelysen- orbit inacar/rocketshipthatmakesDoc’stime- we’ll befi reality: “Aslongasweobeythelawsofphysics, lines forafranchisethatneverbrakesscientifi ness. It’sTajwhosaysoneofthemostdefi else, lend“F9”amuch-neededwinkofself-aware- are LudacrisandGibson,who,morethananyone ection ofourdubiousbeliefinthelimitless ca- “F9,” aUniversalPicturesrelease,isratedPG- At somepoint,whencombinationoffour- They’re atthatmomentpreparingtolaunchinto scated her belongings, scated herbelongings, ight withgoofygrandeur.Some,surely,will rstworld,”saidMaciejowski.“There’salotmore ne.” (AP) ashbacks, ho-humvillainsand ix’s “Bridgerton”werefi ing. (AP) his toneasharshand condescend- your phone,’”she said, describing to mecarefully,you willnothave could borrowacharger. battery wasdyingandaskedifshe the beginning.” cold inthere,therewasnolight The offi She toldanoffi cer toldher,“‘Listen nd avoicein lm andvideo cer herphone nally le near lmed ning c lmed ARAB TIMES, THURSDAY, JUNE 24, 2021 NEWS/FEATURES 13

People & Places

Pets

‘Petnup’ helpful Divorce laws: Pets aren’t people too

NEW YORK, June 23, (AP): In the eyes of the law, pets are property when it comes to divorce, but new ways of working out custody of the dog, cat or parrot have sprung up with special mediators and “petnups” to avoid courtroom disputes. Alaska, California and Illinois are among states that have enacted laws giving judges leeway to consider the best interests of pets, not unlike what they do for children. A bill is pending in New York state to take the same approach. “Someone’s cat or someone’s dog is a part of their family and should not be treated like a piece of furni- ture or their Honda Civic,” said Sen. James Skoufi s, chief sponsor of the New York measure and proud dad to a cat named Ruth, for the late Ruth Bader Ginsburg. Some judges around the country have been taking the approach on a case-by-case basis, Skoufi s and matrimonial attorneys said. But couples are left to the whims of whichever judges they’re assigned should they choose to go to trial. Adam Citron, a New York lawyer who has handled dozens Skoufi s of divorces, said pets are “con- stantly an issue.” He’s among lawyer who’ve sometimes see the worst in people in divorce court and advocates for prenups covering pets. A “petnup” is especially helpful for animals acquired during the marriage. More laws specifi cally addressing the interests of pets are needed, he said, because custody issues over furry, feathered or scaled loved ones are far more emotional and diffi cult to resolve than claims over a set of china or the wedding silver. This image released by HBO shows David Byrne, (foreground), in a scene from ‘David Byrne’s American Utopia.’ The American Theatre Wing and the Broadway In states that haven’t taken the new approach, Cit- League announced Tuesday that ‘David Byrne’s American Utopia’ will receive a Special Tony Award. (AP) ron suggests agreeing at the time a pet is acquired dur- ing a marriage whose name will appear alone on regis- tration or adoption papers. That person should pay any costs out of a separate bank account. Such measures Awards are especially helpful if one party is trying to weap- onize a pet in exchange for other coveted property. While some mediators work to settle pet disputes through joint custody, others said that’s not always Zimbabwe’s Dangarembga wins prestigious German prize best for the animal, particularly dogs. Dogs are most often at the center of pet custody disputes. Unsupervised Special Tony Awards given to 2 shows Memphis divorce lawyer Miles Mason Sr. has seen the worst-case scenario writ large. Several years ago, a NEW YORK, June 23, (AP): The The Tony Awards are set for Sept. 26. tion that gender, a social and political couple went to war over their two German shepherds. Tony Awards may be months away, ❑ ❑ ❑ construct, is no longer a criterion that The wife had taken training to handle the dogs, while but three groups can already celebrate: we follow to distinguish between per- the husband had not. The Broadway Advocacy Coalition, The Screen Actors Guild Awards formances,” the festival director, José Before the divorce, while on a walk with the hus- are returning to a two-hour format for band, one of the dogs bit and killed another dog. The “David Byrne’s American Utopia” and Luis Rebordinos, said. “The criterion Lin-Manuel Miranda’s ”Freestyle Love its 2022 edition, which will air the last for the jury will be to distinguish be- wife claimed it was because the husband failed to give weekend in February. the “stand down” command in German as the dog was Supreme” are getting special awards. tween good and bad performances.” The American Theatre Wing and the The SAG Awards adopted a one- Organizers say they are confi dent trained. During a divorce proceeding, he sought visita- hour, completely virtual format for tion rights. A judge barred him from unsupervised time Zimbabwean author Tsitsi Dan- Broadway League announced Tuesday the festival will be run along lines garembga poses for a photograph, at that the three groups will win Special this year’s show, which saw “Trial of more similar to those in place before with the dogs outside the wife’s home, but reserved the her home in Harare, Tuesday, June 22. the Chicago 7” crowned the top fi lm right to reconsider if he took the schutzhund training. Tony Awards, given to productions or the COVID-19 pandemic. The Peace Prize of the German Book organizations that don’t fi t in competi- ensemble and television acting honors While some restrictions are likely “We believe the judge had experience with German Trade, which is endowed with 25,000 going to the casts of “The Crown” for shepherds because he understood the concerns with tive categories. to continue, the festival intends to in- euros ($29,700), has been awarded The Broadway Advocacy Coalition drama and “Schitt’s Creek” for com- crease the number of screenings and highly trained and disciplined dogs,” Mason said. edy. since 1950. Dangarembga will receive is an arts-based advocacy nonprofi t the seating capacity in cinemas com- Karis Nafte has been an animal behaviorist for near- it in Frankfurt on Oct 24. (AP) ly 26 years. Two years ago, she started working as a dedicated to building the capacity of Ceremony pared to last year, as well as to recoup pet custody specialist for couples seeking divorces individuals, organizations and com- The show’s Feb. 27 airdate origi- some red carpet glamour. through pre-trial mediation. munities to use storytelling to disman- nally belonged to the Oscars, which The 69th San Sebastián Internation- Nafte is usually brought in at the recommendation tle the systems that perpetuate racism. has pushed its 2022 ceremony back to al Film Festival runs from Sept. 17 to of lawyers, mediators or divorce coaches. It was founded in 2016 by Jackie Bell, March 27. 25 in northern Spain. Amber Iman, Cameron J. Ross, Britton “Part of what I try to help people understand is that The SAG Awards honor the best Also: even if a dog feels like a child in your heart, it isn’t, Smith, Adrienne Warren and Christian performances in television and fi lm and if you’re treating it like a child, it’s actually a Dante White. and its ensemble award is often a reli- BERLIN: Zimbabwean writer and fi lm- disservice to the dog,” she said. “Having that voice, In a statement, the American Thea- able Oscar harbinger, though this year maker Tsitsi Dangarembga has been that kind of expert eye on the situation, calms things tre Wing and the Broadway League “Nomadland” took home the best pic- awarded a prestigious German prize down. A lot of times, people just don’t know what to said the coalition “has provided an ture Academy Award. All SAG Award for a body of work that has made her a do. They just don’t want to say goodbye to their dog.” unparalleled platform for marginalized fi lm winners this year were actors of prominent African literary voice. Visitation schedules or shared custody, Nafte said, members of our theatre community color, but that feat was not repeated at Dangarembga, 62, was announced can be far more stressful for a dog than a goodbye for- and tools to help us all do better as we the Oscars. on Monday as this year’s winner of ever. The back and forth between two homes and the Britney James strive for equity.” Hollywood’s 2021 awards season the Peace Prize of the German Book emotions attached to each reunion can lead to behav- Two high profi le shows from the was delayed, and upended, by the coro- Trade, which is endowed with 25,000 ioral problems, she said. pandemic-shortened season - “Free- navirus pandemic. The 2022 season euros ($29,700) and has been awarded Nafte suggested putting pet custody at the top of di- Variety style Love Supreme” and “David By- has already been shaken up by NBC’s since 1950. Dangarembga will receive vorce negotiations. It can make the rest of the process rne’s American Utopia” will also get decision not to air the Golden Globe it in Frankfurt on Oct. 24. run more smoothly. So can couples therapy for some. special Tonys. They did not provide Awards in January due to that organiza- The jury said Dangarembga, who is Marriage therapist Sharon O’Neill has helped LOS ANGELES: In the most antici- free tickets for Tony voters and weren’t tion’s response to an LA Times investi- the fi rst Black woman to win the prize, couples through divorce in New York’s Westchester pated hearing in the case in years, Britney eligible for competitive awards. gation that revealed among its fi ndings is “not just one of her country’s most County for more than 20 years. In one case, during Spears was expected to address a judge “Freestyle Love Supreme” was cre- that the Hollywood Foreign Press As- important artists but also a widely au- a joint therapy session, a wife was adamant that she overseeing the conservatorship that has ated by Miranda, Thomas Kail and An- sociation had no Black members. dible voice of Africa in contemporary keep the dog, while the husband didn’t believe she controlled the pop star’s money and affairs thony Veneziale. It features a comedic Meanwhile, Spain’s San Sebastián literature.” It also pointed to her com- cared enough to take responsibility. since 2008. improvisational musical structure and International Film Festival announced mitment to promoting culture in her “In working with her alone, I came to understand If Los Angeles Superior Court Judge a rotating cast of Broadway perform- Tuesday that its acting awards will this country and opening it up for women, that it had more to do with hurting her husband be- Brenda Penny does not make a last-minute ers. Byrne’s acclaimed stage show in- year be gender neutral for the fi rst time. and to her fi ght for rights and political decision Wednesday to seal the proceed- corporates Talking Heads classics and change in Zimbabwe. cause she truly believed he loved the dog more than ings, Spears’ words will be heard in open The Silver Shell for best actor and he had ever been capable of loving her,” O’Neill said. court for the fi rst time in the 13-year other songs; Spike Lee made a fi lm of best actress are to be replaced by the Her works include the bestselling “We managed to get to the practical truth that it would conservatorship. it for HBO. Silver Shell for best leading perfor- novel, “Nervous Conditions” and its be a responsibility she really preferred to live without. The hearing has been eagerly awaited by The American Theatre Wing and mance and for best supporting perfor- sequel, “This Mournable Body.” We found something else she could ask for in lieu of the fans in the so-called #FreeBritney move- the Broadway League said both shows mance at the event in September, the Last July, Dangarembga was arrest- getting the dog: several pieces of beautiful furniture ment, who feel she is being controlled un- “take theatre to the next level, deliv- organizers said. ed and spent a night in detention for that she didn’t want to split up with her husband. They fairly against her will and are likely to gather ering outside-of-the-box presentations The move follows a similar step tak- standing by a road in the Zimbabwean both agreed.” outside the courthouse in large numbers. that have gone beyond the stage and en by the Berlin Film Festival, held last capital, Harare, and holding up a plac- Cristina Stella, a managing attorney for the advo- Spears, who was scheduled to take part brought theatre into the homes of mil- March, and is part of a growing trend. ard that said “We Want Better. Reform cacy nonprofi t the Animal Legal Defense Fund, said remotely, asked for the hearing so she lions of people around the world,” “The change arises from the convic- Our Institutions.” more laws empowering judges to consider the emo- could address the court directly. tional needs of pets are needed. Her court-appointed attorney, Samuel “What we would like to see is to have animals con- Ingham III, made the request at an April parency from the court since then, and Penny she has emphasized in documents that she ited it with saving her from fi nancial ruin sidered in the most holistic way possible,” she said. 28 hearing. He gave no indication of what has allowed far more to remain public. reserves the right to do so at any time. and keeping her a top fl ight pop star. (AP) “Who is the animal bonded to? Who can provide for the the 39-year-old pop star wants to say. The singer has never asked the court to It was put in place as she underwent a ❑ ❑ ❑ animal’s overall health and well-being going forward?” But in recent court fi lings, Spears has end the conservatorship entirely, though mental health crisis in 2008. She has cred- Philip Tedeschi, director emeritus of the Institute sought a greater say over who runs the con- PROVIDENCE, RI: Auto repair shops in for Human-Animal Connection at the University of servatorship, and has asked that her father, Rhode Island are reporting an odd situa- Denver, said that while dogs are still seen as property who had extensive power over her life and tion with vehicle inspection stickers: they money for most of its existence, be removed. don’t stick. legally speaking, they have complex emotions and Spears said through Ingham that she The stickers applied to the lower right cognition in their interactions with humans. fears her father James Spears, and would interior corner of the windsheld after a Also: not end a 2 1/2-year pause on her career as successful safety and emissions test are long as he has control over it. peeling off, according to The Providence BARNEGAT, N.J.: A golden retriever who had been The judge declined to remove James Journal, which was alerted to the issue by a missing for two weeks was rescued Tuesday from a Spears entirely, though he now plays a former reporter whose sticker fell off after bay in New Jersey. smaller role. He serves as co-conservator of he left an inspection station. Authorities say that New Jersey State Police troop- her fi nances along with estate management The state Department of Revenue, which ers Ryan Koehler and Vincent Ferdinandi, of Point fi rm the Bessemer Trust, and in 2019 re- oversees the Department of Motor Vehi- Pleasant Station, responded to the report of a dog linquished his role as conservator over his cles, confi rmed the problem. swimming in Barnegat Bay and were able to bring daughter’s life choices to a court-appointed “We are aware of the issue with the the 3-year-old named Chunk safely ashore. professional. inspection sticker adhesive and are work- Two joggers recognized Chunk from posters and Last week, Britney Spears said on Ins- ing with our vendor, Opus Inspection, to reported seeing him jump into the water near Man- tagram that she wasn’t sure if she will ever replace this product,” agency spokesperson toloking Bridge around 7 a.m., WABC-TV reported. perform live again. Paul Grimaldi said in a statement. Jim Mathis was fi shing nearby and said Chunk “I have no idea,” she said, answering a Reapplication can be handled at the Opus kept backing away from his boat when he tried to get fan who asked when she planned to take offi ce in Warwick or at the DMV’s Safety close but swam to shore when he backed away. the stage. “I’m having fun right now. I’m and Emissions Offi ce in Providence, he said. “We positioned our boat, got (the) line ready, acted in a transition in my life and I’m enjoying “The adhesive, along with instructions as a leash,” Koehler said. “Line around dog and guide myself. So that’s it.” for applying it, will be mailed to any vehi- Britney Spears has spoken in court in the cle owner who does not wish to travel to him up to the docks.” conservatorship before, but the courtroom either of these locations,” Grimaldi said. Chunk’s owner, Marie Zangara, said that he had was always cleared and transcripts sealed. This photo shows pet custody specialist Karis Nafte with her dogs Sam, (left), Ed Barbosa of Barbosa & Son Auto Re- some matted fur and was covered in ticks, but was The last time she was known to have ad- and Jax in Cape Town, South Africa, on June 12. Nafte helps couples settle pair in East Providence and Daniel Coren otherwise healthy. dressed the judge was in May 2019. disputes over their pets as more states move to make it easier for judges to of Narragansett Auto in West Warwick Spears has since requested greater trans- consider the best interests of companion animals in divorce. (AP) said two-sided tape works. (AP) ARAB TIMES, THURSDAY, JUNE 24, 2021 SPORTS 14 Habs top Vegas, one win away from Final Price makes 26 saves

LAS VEGAS, June 23, in opposite directions by the midway (AP): Carey Price made point of the second period, and the Canadiens feeding off momentum on 26 saves to lead Montreal a power play, another Vegas turn- to 4-1 victory over the Ve- over ended up in transition with gas Golden Knights, put- Corey Perry darting in on a would-be breakaway before shuffling the puck ting the Canadiens one win cross-ice to Caufield, who one-timed away from the Stanley Cup a snap shot up top to extend Final. Montreal’s lead to 3-0. The Canadiens lead Vegas 3-2 in Pacioretty got Vegas on the board the their best-of-seven series, with after he whiffed on an initial shot Game 6 scheduled for historic Bell near the top of the circle, then fol- Centre in Montreal on Thursday. lowed up with a wrist shot over Montreal’s 11th playoff victory is Price’s blocker to cut the deficit to the franchise’s most in one postsea- two, at 3-1. son since the Canadiens won the Cup It was all the Golden Knights in 1993, also the last time a Canadian- would get, as Price stopped the final based team won the title. nine shots he saw, and Suzuki - who Jesperi Kotkaniemi, Eric Staal, never got to suit up for one regular- Cole Caufield and Nick Suzuki season game with the Golden scored for the Canadiens, who have Knights - made an empty-net goal to made an NHL-record 34 Stanley provide the final margin Cup Final appearances. Meanwhile, Lou Lamoriello of the Max Pacioretty scored for Vegas. New York Islanders has won the Jim Marc-Andre Fleury, the league’s Gregory gener- active leader in playoff wins (90) and al manager of games played (162), made 22 stops the year award in front of an announced crowd of for the second straight year. The league ICE HOCKEY announced Tuesday night 17,969 that were left stunned with that Lamoriello the Golden Knights now on the brink finished ahead of elimination. of fellow final- Outside of Pacioretty’s third-peri- Lamoriello ists Marc Montreal Canadiens left wing Artturi Lehkonen (62) shoots against Vegas Golden Knights goaltender Marc-Andre Fleury (29) as defenseman Alex Pietran- od goal, the storyline remained the Bergevin of the gelo (7) defends during the second period in Game 5 of an NHL hockey Stanley Cup semifi nal playoff series, on June 22, in Las Vegas. (AP) same with Vegas struggling to find Montreal Canadiens and Bill Zito of its offense against Montreal’s suffo- the Florida Panthers. Colorado’s Joe cating tactics, in limiting space and Sakic was fourth and Vegas’ Kelly Lloyd makes US soccer team for her 4th Olympics dominating the neutral zone. McCrimmon fifth in voting by GMs, The Golden Knights, who have league executives and media mem- scored 11 goals in the series, have bers after the second round of the gotten just four from their forwards. playoffs. Yang banned again, misses Tokyo Games Montreal, meanwhile, had no trou- Lamoriello’s Islanders are in the ble scoring with its forwards, who semifinals of the Stanley Cup LAUSANNE, Switzerland, June Tobin Heath joins Lloyd in heading produced all four goals. Playoffs for the second straight year, 23, (AP): Chinese swimmer star to her fourth Olympics. Kotkaniemi was the beneficiary bolstered by the trade-deadline Sun Yang was banned for more than At the 2008 Beijing Games, of strong defensive play in Vegas’ acquisitions of forwards Kyle four years for breaking anti-doping Kuwait’s Qabazard cruises into 16th Lloyd scored in overtime for a 1-0 offensive zone, as Montreal defen- Palmieri and Travis Zajac. Palmieri, rules after a retrial at the Court of victory against Brazil in the fi nal. semen Jeff Petry and Jon Merrill who had two goals and two assists in Arbitration for Sport. round in future int’l tennis tourneys Four years later, she scored both create a turnover to push the puck 17 games after his trade from New Jersey, has seven goals and two The court’s verdict ends Sun’s TUNIS, June 23, (KUNA): Kuwait’s Federation’s ranking after beating goals in the gold-medal match in transition. At the other end, it hopes of defending his Olympic national tennis player Issa Qa- Al-Abdullah. against Japan at Wembley Stadium, was Josh Anderson streaking past assists in 17 postseason games. title in the 200 meters freestyle in bazard has qualifi ed for the 16th He noted that the number of to- becoming the only player to score Vegas defenseman Zach The 78-year-old Lamoriello, in his Tokyo next month. The ban is back- round as part of the M15 future tal players in the current qualifi ers winning goals in consecutive Olym- Whitecloud and pulling Fleury to third season in charge of the Islanders dated to February 2020, meaning championships’ series held in Tu- are 64, indicating that the country’s pic fi nals. his far right with a backhand that following three years with the Sun could return for the 2024 Paris nisia after beating his compatriot team including him, Al-Abdullah and Lloyd, who will turn 39 before the was stuffed. But the rebound float- Toronto Maple Leafs, is the first Olympics when he would be 32. Bader Al-Abdullah 6-5,3-6,4-6. Ali Al-Shatti are taking part in some Tokyo Games, is the oldest national ed to the left, where Kotkaniemi two-time winner of the award that The judges found Sun “to have Speaking to KUNA after the vic- future competitions that include fi ve beat Vegas blueliner Nick Holden was first handed out in 2010. tory, Qabazard said that he won a consecutive championships and will team Olympian, besting Christie acted recklessly” when he refused Rampone, who was 37 when she and backhanded the puck into a New York has made the playoffs fi rst point in the International Tennis end on July 25 in Tunisia. each year under Lamoriello and to let anti-doping offi cials leave his played at the 2012 London Games. wide-open net to give Montreal a coach Barry Trotz, and won at least home with a sample of his blood. Heath did not play in the na- 1-0 lead. Sun’s original eight-year ban im- Suzuki, who was dealt to Montreal one series each time after totaling tional team’s recent Summer Series one series win in the previous 25 posed last year was overturned on in Texas because of a knee injury. in the trade that sent Pacioretty to appeal to Switzerland’s supreme Vegas, set the Canadiens up for a years. Julie Ertz is also recovering from an The Islanders, pursuing their first court which ordered a fresh pros- injury but should be ready when the two-goal lead in the second period ecution. with a perfectly timed backcheck on title since winning four in a row in United States opens the Olympics Jonathan Marchessault to the right of the early 1980s, trail the Tampa Bay Federal judges ruled the fi rst on July 21 against Sweden. guilty verdict unsafe because the Price. At the other end, Suzuki’s 3-2 heading into Game 6 of the Becky Sauerbrunn, Kelley semifinals at home on Wednesday chairman of the three-judge panel patience paid off, as he waited until O’Hara, Alex Morgan and Megan night. If they go on to win the Cup, at CAS showed anti-Chinese bias in the precise moment to feed Staal Rapinoe will be playing in their it’ll be a fourth title for Lamoriello, social media comments. between the hashmarks for a wrist third Olympics. shot that beat Fleury top shelf. who won three times with New The retrial was heard by three Abby Dahlkemper, Tierna David- With the confidence level headed Jersey. new judges by video link over three son, Emily Sonnett, Rose Lavelle days last month and fast-tracked and goalkeeper Adrianna Franch ahead of the Tokyo Olympics open- are fi rst-time Olympians, as are sis- ing on July 23. ters Samantha and Kristie Mewis. Kristie Mewis is the only player on the roster who was not on the OLYMPICS 2019 World Cup-winning team. She and Samantha are the fi rst sisters to The case was about a failed at- play for the senior national team in tempt to take blood and urine from In this July 25, 2019 fi le photo, China’s Sun Yang swims during a warm a world championship. Sun by a sample collection team up session at the World Swimming Championships in Gwangju, South Ko- Also who made an unannounced visit rea. Chinese swimmer star Sun Yang has been banned for more than four to his home in China in September years for breaking anti-doping rules. (AP) WELLINGTON: Women’s rugby sev- 2018. ens captain Sarah Hirini and two- It turned confrontational and led time Olympic rowing gold medalist to Sun’s entourage ordering a secu- Hamish Bond will carry the New rity guard to smash the casing of a Zealand fl ag at the opening cer- blood vial with a hammer. emony of the Tokyo Games. The World Anti-Doping Agency Hirini was a member of the New appealed to CAS when a tribunal Zealand team that won a silver appointed by swimming’s gov- medal at the 2016 Rio de Janiero erning body, FINA, only warned Games, where rugby sevens made the three-time Olympic champion its Olympic debut, and has since led about his conduct. the team to a gold medal at the 2018 WADA requested a ban of two to Commonwealth Games and to the eight years for a second doping con- World Sevens Series title last year. viction. Sun served a three-month Bond combined with Eric Mur- ban in 2014 imposed by Chinese ray in the coxless pair which was authorities after testing positive for unbeaten over four years and won a stimulant that was banned at the gold medals at the London and Rio time. The ban was not announced Olympics. until after it ended. After the 2016 Games, Bond Sun’s second ban was imposed switched to cycling, winning a after a rare CAS hearing held in bronze medal in the road time trial open court and streamed live on- U.S. forward Carli Lloyd (10) slides on the turf after scoring in the fi rst at the Commonwealth Games on line. It lasted more than 10 hours in minute against Jamaica during the fi rst half of their 2021 WNT Summer Australia’s Gold Coast and setting a November 2019 at a special court Series soccer match, on June 13, in Houston. (AP) New Zealand record on the track in session in Montreux, Switzerland. the 4,000-meters individual pursuit. Sun denied wrongdoing. Tokyo before stepping away from was by no means a slam dunk for He has returned to rowing as a Meanwhile, Carli Lloyd is head- the sport. But then the games were Lloyd, who scored three goals in crew member of the New Zealand ed to her fourth Olympics after all. pushed back a year because of the the opening 16 minutes of the 2015 eight for Tokyo. The 38-year-old Lloyd had vowed coronavirus, and Lloyd needed sur- World Cup fi nal in Canada. The Olympics are set to open on after the 2019 World Cup that she gery on her knee. Vlatko Andonovski announced July 23 under heavy restrictions be- would push to make the team for So making the 18-player roster his Olympic squad on Wednesday. cause of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Orlando player Daryl Dike, (left), leaps to head the ball beside San Jose Peshawar beats Islamabad, qualifi es for 4th PSL fi nal player O. Alanis, (right), during a MSL soccer match in Orlando, Florida, on June 22. (AP) ABU DHABI, June 23, (AP): In- to the final but it’s a great feel- featured six fours and four towering boundaries against Ali. form Afghanistan opener Hazratul- ing,” Peshawar skipper Wahab sixes. Earlier, Islamabad struggled to Dike, Michel each score 2 goals, lah Zazai and Jonathan Wells pro- Riaz said. “We gave away some Ali could have dismissed Zazai score after their in-form opener Us- pelled Peshawar Zalmi to its fourth runs in the last in the third over, but wicketkeeper man Khawaja was run out in the fi rst Pakistan Super League fi nal with a few overs but Muhammad Akhlaq dropped a low over. Colin Munro’s (44) straight Orlando City blank Earthquakes thumping eight-wicket victory over the way we catch that cost Islamabad dearly in drive hit the stumps at the non-strik- ORLANDO, Florida, June 23, (AP): through ball and getting around goal- Islamabad United in the playoffs. responded was the end. er’s end after fl icking the boot of Daryl Dike and Benji Michel each keeper James Marcinkowski for a Left-handed Zazai, dropped on 7, great to see.” Zazai added a match-winning 126 Malik as Khawaja was left stranded scored two goals, and Nani had a shot from a diffi cult angle. smashed 66 off 44 balls and Wells, Peshawar out of the crease. goal and two assists as Orlando City Dike headed in Nani’s free kick playing his fi rst PSL game, made an will face Mul- CRICKET Riaz (2-35) and Umaid Asif (2- beat the San Jose Earthquakes 5-0. in the 49th for a 4-0 lead and Michel unbeaten 55 as Peshawar romped to tan Sultans in 44) picked up wickets with regular Orlando (5-1-3) won for the fi fth capped it in the 90th, beating Mar- 177-2 with more than three overs to the fi nal on intervals as Islamabad reeled at 110- time in seven games - with a draw. spare. Thursday. off just 81 balls with Wells before 8 in the 16th over. San Jose (3-6-1) has lost fi ve during Islamabad earlier got the mo- Zazai made Shoaib Malik scored 32 off just But Ali smashed Asif for 22 in the a six-match winless stretch. SOCCER mentum back through Hasan Ali’s a blistering 77 Zazai 10 balls to fi nish off the game in 17th over before Riaz went for 18 Nani opened the scoring in the blistering 45 off just 16 balls to post to knock out 16.5 overs. Malik smashed captain off his last over as Islamabad scored seventh minute with a penalty kick cinkowski inside the near post. what looked a challenging total of defending champion Karachi Kings Shadab Khan (0-55) for two fours 64 runs off the last four before the and Michel made it 2-0 nine min- The game was delayed in the 40th 174-9. on Monday and continued his rich and a six in one over before raising two-time champion crashed out of utes later. Dike scored in the 31st by minute for about an hour due to light- “It was a difficult route we took form with another half century that the victory with three consecutive the tournament. running past the defense for Nani’s ening in the area. ARAB TIMES, THURSDAY, JUNE 24, 2021 SPORTS 15

Texas extends CWS stay, knocks out Volunteers with 8-4 victory Clark, Mississippi State rally for CWS win over Virginia

OMAHA, Nebraska, June 23, (AP): MLB Results/Standings Kellum Clark’s eighth-inning homer ended Griff McGarry’s bid for a no- hitter, and Logan Tanner went deep WASHINGTON, June 23, (AP): Re- three batters later to lead Mississippi sults and standings from the MLB State past Virginia 6-5 at the College games on Tuesday. World Series. Cincinnati 10 Minnesota 7 Toronto 2 Miami 1 The sudden turnaround gave the Pittsburgh 6 Chic. White Sox 3 Bulldogs (47-16) control of their Houston 3 Baltimore 1 Detroit 8 St Louis 2 bracket and left them one win away Kansas City 6 NY Yankees 5 from reaching the best-of-three fi nals Chicago Cubs 7 Cleveland 1 next week. Oakland 13 Texas 6 Boston 9 Tampa Bay (11 inn) 5 McGarry, who was trying for the San Francisco 5 LA Angels 0 fi rst CWS no-hitter since 1960, walked Seattle 2 Colorado 1 Scotty Dubrule leading off the eighth Atlanta 3 NY Mets 0 Washington 3 Philadelphia 2 before Clark drove a 93-mph fastball Milwaukee 5 Arizona 0 into the right-fi eld bullpen. San Diego 3 LA Dodgers 2 Clark’s fourth homer of the season American League East Division ended a 22-inning shutout streak for W L Pct GB Virginia (36-26) along with McGar- Boston 44 29 .603 _ Tampa Bay 43 31 .581 1-1/2 ry’s night - and marked the start of the New York 38 34 .528 5-1/2 Bulldogs’ offensive push. Toronto 36 35 .507 7 Zach Messinger came on and sur- Baltimore 23 50 .315 21 Central Division rendered a pinch-hit single to Josh W L Pct GB Hatcher before Rowdey Jordan dou- Chicago 43 30 .589 _ Cleveland 40 31 .563 2 bled to the wall in left-center. Kansas City 33 38 .465 9 Hatcher, who hadn’t been in a game Detroit 31 42 .425 12 since May 27, inexplicably stopped at Minnesota 31 42 .425 12 West Division third when he could have scored eas- W L Pct GB ily. Jordan was forced to stop halfway Houston 45 28 .616 _ Oakland 45 30 .600 1 to third, put his arms up in frustration, Seattle 39 36 .520 7 and then was able to make it back to Los Angeles 36 37 .493 9 second base. Texas 26 47 .356 19 National League Hatcher’s baserunning error didn’t East Division matter. Stephen Schoch (4-2) relieved, W L Pct GB and Allen sent his second pitch into New York 37 31 .544 _ Atlanta 35 37 .486 4 nearly the same spot in the right-fi eld Philadelphia 34 36 .486 4 bullpen for a 5-4 lead. Washington 34 36 .486 4 Boston Red Sox’s J.D. Martinez connects for a two-run double off Tampa Bay Rays pitcher Ryan Yarbrough during the third inning of a baseball game, Dubrule added an RBI single off Miami 31 41 .431 8 on June 22, in St. Petersburg, Florida. (AP) Central Division Nate Savino for an insurance run that W L Pct GB stood up after Virginia’s Chris Newell Chicago 41 33 .554 _ Milwaukee 41 33 .554 _ homered in the bottom half. Cincinnati 36 36 .500 4 Cade Smith (3-0) pitched an inning St Louis 36 37 .493 4-1/2 for the win and Landon Sims got four Pittsburgh 26 45 .366 13-1/2 West Division Miffed Scherzer stares down outs for his 12th save. W L Pct GB McGarry, who was relegated to the San Francisco 47 26 .644 _ Los Angeles 44 29 .603 3 bullpen amid struggles with his con- San Diego 44 32 .579 4-1/2 trol and returned to the rotation for the Colorado 30 44 .405 17-1/2 NCAA Tournament, took a no-hitter Arizona 21 54 .280 27 into the seventh inning in his super- Girardi as Nats edge Phillies regional start against Dallas Baptist. Sun snap skid The senior right-hander again had good command of his fastball, work- Rays fall to Red Sox, Astros extend win streak ing both sides of the plate and up in the Charles, Mystics strike zone, and he effectively mixed in his curve and changeup. He walked PHILADELPHIA, June A three-run homer by pinch-hitter end Storm’s run Yasmani Grandal in the top of the sev- two, hit a batter and struck out eight in 23, (AP): Max Scherzer enth put the White Sox ahead 3-2 after his 98-pitch outing. EVERETT, Washington, June 23, threw his glove and hat to they were held scoreless on two hits (AP): Tina Charles had 34 points, the grass, then stared down through six innings. BASEBALL 16 rebounds and fi ve assists, and the But the Pirates answered in the bot- short-handed Washington Mystics Phillies manager Joe Gi- tom half against rookie reliever Garrett made 16 3-pointers in an 87-83 victory rardi after getting checked Crochet (2-4), who was charged with Until Newell’s homer, fi ve MSU re- over the Seattle Storm. for a third time by um- four runs without getting an out. lievers had held the Cavaliers scoreless Charles rebounded a miss by Bre- Tigers 8, Cardinals 2 after Christian MacLeod allowed four anna Stewart and got it to Leilani pires for sticky stuff as the In Detroit, Jonathan Schoop and runs in 1-1/3 innings in his shortest Mitchell, who made two free throws Washington Nationals beat Jake Rogers each drove in three runs, outing in 22 career starts. with 4.3 seconds left for a four-point Philadelphia 3-2. leading Detroit over St. Louis. Meanwhile, freshman Tanner Witt advantage. After a timeout, Seattle was Scherzer (6-4) looked sharp in Schoop homered and Rogers hit a pitched 5 2/3 innings of shutout relief, two-run double in Detroit’s six-run off on a 3-pointer at the buzzer. his return to the rotation after miss- Silas Ardoin hit a tie-breaking, two- Charles, who fi nished two points fourth inning. run single, and Texas eliminated Ten- shy of tying a career high, became ing a start due to a groin injury, Tigers starter Tarik Skubal allowed nessee from the College World Series the fi rst player in WNBA history with striking out eight in fi ve innings. two runs on four hits and four walks in 30-plus points and 15-plus rebounds Girardi apparently didn’t like what 4 2/3 innings. Kyle Funkhouser (1-0) with an 8-4 victory. in back-to-back games. Charles also he saw. was credited with the win after 1 1/3 The No. 2 national seed Longhorns passed Lisa Leslie for eighth on the In the fourth, Scherzer threw high scoreless innings of relief. (48-16) picked up their fi rst win in league’s career scoring list. and inside to Alec Bohm, sending him Athletics 13, Rangers 6 Omaha since 2014 while No. 3 Ten- sprawling to the ground before strik- In Arlington, Texas, Matt Chapman nessee (50-18) went two-and-out in its ing him out. Prior to the next batter, and Ramon Laureano hit two-run home fi rst appearance since 2005. BASKETBALL Girardi asked the umpires to check runs in the first two innings and Cole Witt (5-0) allowed only three sin- Scherzer. Irvin earned his second straight win as gles, walked none and struck out two Mitchell fi nished with 19 points Scherzer already had been checked Oakland raced to an early nine-run lead in his longest outing of the season. and seven assists for Washington (7- by second-base umpire Alfonso in a win over Texas. He pitched three 1-2-3 innings and no Laureano, Mark Canha and former 6), which won its third straight. Ariel Marquez after the first and third inning. Tennessee runners made it past fi rst So, when he was approached for a third Rangers All-Star Elvis Andrus had Atkins and Theresa Plaisance each base after the fourth inning. added 10 points. Washington only time, this time at Girardi’s request, three hits apiece. had eight healthy players because of Scherzer threw his glove and hat to the Irvin (5-7) cruised through four Peyton Manning – the Tennessee a wave of injuries. They were missing ground, unbuckled his belt and scoreless innings on 40 pitches before sports star whose “Omaha!” yell at the Natasha Cloud and Myisha Hines-Al- appeared ready to take his pants off. allowing four runs on four hits and a line of scrimmage remains his calling len - the latest two to get injured last Yan Gomes had a pair of RBI sin- Washington Nationals’ Max Scherzer pitches during the fi rst inning of a base- hit batter in the fifth. card fi ve years after he retired from week. gles for the Nationals, who have won ball game against the Philadelphia Phillies, on June 22, in Philadelphia. (AP) Giants 5, Angels 0 football – watched from the stands in three straight and eight of nine. In Anaheim, California, Anthony They still had Charles though, who Cubs 7, Indians 1 including three this year. He held the his orange polo and white ballcap. has had a stellar fi rst season with Scherzer allowed two hits and two DeSclafani allowed three hits in seven The Volunteers gave him something runs, one of them unearned. In Chicago, Kyle Hendricks domi- Dodgers to four hits while striking out sharp innings, Wilmer Flores homered Washington. She had 17 points and nated over six scoreless innings to win five and walking three. to cheer when Jordan Beck’s two-run fi ve rebounds in the fi rst half to help Bryce Harper and Rhys Hoskins hit during a four-run first and San single put them ahead in the second home runs for Philadelphia, which has his eighth straight start, Kris Bryant Mark Melancon pitched the ninth for Francisco defeated Los Angeles. Washington build a 43-36 lead. She homered and Chicago avoided a two- his 22nd save. inning. The lead was short-lived. Eric added 12 points in the third quarter, lost five of seven. DeSclafani (8-2) struck out nine in Phillies starter Zack Wheeler (5-4) game sweep by beating Cleveland. Astros 3, Orioles 1 winning his fourth straight start. The Kennedy’s three-run homer off the making all fi ve of her shots. Willson In Baltimore, Zack Greinke took a back wall of the right-fi eld bullpen put Jewell Loyd led Seattle (12-3) with lasted just three innings in his worst right-hander did not permit a hit after start of the season. The right-hander Contreras and four-hitter into the eighth inning, the second inning and retired 18 of the Texas up 3-2 in the bottom half. 23 points and nine assists. Stewart Patrick Wisdom Myles Straw homered and drove in two had 17 points and eight rebounds and allowed three runs on six hits with four last 19 batters he faced. Ardoin’s single into right center strikeouts and a walk. also went deep, runs, and Houston defeated Baltimore Mariners 2, Rockies 1 broke a 4-4 tie in Texas’ three-run Mercedes Russell and Candice Dupree and the Cubs for its ninth straight win. each scored 10 for the Storm, who Red Sox 9, Rays 5, 11 Innings In Seattle, Shed Long Jr. hit a solo fourth, and the Longhorns were up 8-4 In St. Petersburg, Florida, Wander won for only the homer with one out in the eighth inning when Kennedy scored on a wild pitch had their fi ve-game winning streak third time in snapped. Franco hit a three-run homer and dou- BASEBALL that lifted Seattle past Colorado, the in the sixth. bled in his big league debut for Tampa nine games. Mariners’ fifth straight victory. Dupree moved into fourth on the Hendricks Sean Hunley (7-5), who relieved WNBA career scoring list, passing Bay, which lost its seventh straight in Long drove a 1-1 pitch from Tennessee starter Blade Tidwell in falling to Boston. (10-4) scattered Greinke (8-2) allowed one run and Colorado’s Tyler Kinley (1-2) to Cappie Pondexter, and Loyd reached four hits and five hits with four strikeouts and a the fourth, took the loss after allowing 3,000 career points. The 20-year-old Franco, considered straightaway center field. the best prospect in the minor leagues, struck out five walk over 7 1/3 innings. Brooks Raley Brewers 5, Diamondbacks 0 three runs in two-thirds of an inning. Sun 80, Wings 70 without a walk. Greinke got two strikeouts in the eighth and Both teams argued balls and strikes In Uncasville, Conn., Brionna Jones connected in the fifth off Eduardo In Phoenix, Burly slugger Daniel Rodriguez. He doubled in the seventh He also tied Ryan Pressly finished for his 11th save Vogelbach hobbled home on one leg from their dugouts, and Tennessee had a career-high 26 points, DeWanna Cleveland’s Aaron Civale for the in 12 tries. Bonner scored 14 of her 25 points in and finished 2 for 4 with a walk. when Arizona’s defense fell asleep, volunteer assistant Ross Kivett was Darwinzon Hernandez (2-2) earned major league lead in wins. Right-hander Jorge López (2-9) gave and the Diamondbacks dropped back ejected when Hunley walked Douglas the third quarter, and the Connecticut Blue Jays 2, Marlins 1 up two runs and five hits over 6 1/3 Sun beat the Dallas Wings 80-70 to the win. Pete Fairbanks (1-3) took the into a rut with a loss to Milwaukee. Hodo III on four pitches in the bottom loss. In Miami, Cavan Biggio and innings but was outdone by Greinke. A day after ending a 17-game losing of the fourth. snap a three-game losing streak. Lourdes Gurriel Jr. doubled on con- Pirates 6, White Sox 3 Connecticut (9-5) won for the fi rst Hunter Renfroe homered for the AL streak, the Diamondbacks were behind Kivett pounded his fi st on the rail East-leading Red Sox. secutive pitches to break a ninth-inning In Pittsburgh, Pinch-hitter Erik from the start. Kolten Wong led off time this season without Jonquel tie, and Toronto beat Miami. of the fi rst-base dugout, causing the Jones, who is playing for Bosnia and Royals 6, Yankees 5 Gonzalez’s two-run single highlighted with a home run and that was plenty papers in his binder to go fl ying, and In New York, Gerrit Cole’s strike- The hits came with one out against a four-run rally in the seventh inning as for Freddy Peralta and the Brewers Herzegovina in the FIBA European Yimi García (3-6), who entered the third-base umpire Mike Morris jogged Championships. outs and spin rate dropped as he Pittsburgh beat skidding Chicago. bullpen in a combined two-hitter. pitched for the first time since MLB’S game after Sandy Alcantara stymied in to throw out Kivett. Bonner also had 13 rebounds and the Blue Jays while throwing only 86 six assists. Kaila Charles recorded her crackdown on sticky substances, and Ryan O’Hearn and Kansas City rallied pitches in eight innings. fi rst double-double with 12 points and MLB RBIs leader Vladimir Guerrero a career-high 12 rebounds, and Jas- for four runs in the eighth inning. Cole allowed two runs and three hits Jr. singled home the Blue Jays’ first mine Thomas scored 11 for the Sun. in seven innings, showing his usual run in the sixth. velocity but without his explosive Reds 10, Twins 7 strikeout pitches. In Minneapolis, Tyler Naquin went Luke Voit homered and tripled in his 4 for 4 with a three-run home run that return from the injured list and DJ broke a ninth-inning tie after the LeMahieu hit a two-run homer for the Cincinnati bullpen lost a five-run lead, Yankees. and the Reds stopped a five-game los- Braves 3, Mets 0 ing streak. In New York, Charlie Morton struck Amir Garrett got his fourth save in out 11 in seven innings of one-hit ball six attempts with a scoreless ninth. for his 100th major league win, and Max Kepler hit a two-run homer, Atlanta recorded its second straight Trevor Larnach added a solo shot and shutout against New York. Alex Kirilloff had the tying two-run Dansby Swanson hit a three-run double off Tejay Antone (2-0), but the homer in the third for the Braves, who right-hander in his first game back have won two of three in the four-game from the injured list recovered to series. record the last two outs of the inning. The Mets managed only two hits — Padres 3, Dodgers 2 an infield single by pinch-hitting pitch- In San Diego, Jake Cronenworth and Connecticut Sun guard Natisha er Jerad Eickhoff in the fifth and a rookie Kim Ha-seong homered off Hiedeman commits the foul on Dal- two-out double by James McCann in Clayton Kershaw, Blake Snell pitched las Wings guard Arike Ogunbowale the ninth. five scoreless innings and San Diego during a WNBA basketball game, Morton (7-3) became the 19th active won its third straight over Los Angeles. on June 22, at Mohegan Sun Arena pitcher to reach 100 wins and the 630th Snell (3-3) got his first victory in Texas infi elder Mitchell Daly (19) forces out Tennessee’s Jordan Beck (27) to end the game during an NCAA college in Uncasville, Conn. (AP) to do so in big league history. four career starts against the Dodgers, baseball game in the College World Series, on June 22, at TD Ameritrade Park in Omaha, Nebraska. (AP) ARAB TIMES, THURSDAY, JUNE 24, 2021 16

Croatia’s Luka Modric, (right), celebrates after scoring his side’s second goal during the Euro 2020 soccer champion- ship Group D match between Croatia and Scotland at the Hampden Park Stadium in Glasgow. (AP) Sports Latest sports scores at — http://sports.arabtimesonline.com Modric leads the way as Croatia beat Scotland to qualify Sweden, Spain advance to round of 16; Poland exit SEVILLE, June 23, (AP): A bizarre been eliminated. class and why he won the Ballon d’Or own-goal by the goalkeeper put Spain Lewandowski scored in the 61st and in 2018 - the same year he helped his on the way to a 5-0 victory over Slo- 84th minutes. Emil Forsberg scored team reach the World Cup fi nal. vakia and gave the team a spot in the twice for Sweden before that. He fell to his knees at the fi nal whis- round of 16 of the European Champi- Croatia 3, Scotland 1 tle for about a minute before rising to onship. In Glasgow, Luka Modrić lurked on his feet and pumping his fi sts in cel- Martin Dúbravka saved an early the edge of the area, waiting for the ebration. He then went over with a big penalty kick from Álvaro Morata but ball to come to him before perfectly smile on his face to hug Croatia coach then clumsily knocked the ball into stroking it into the top corner with the Zlatko Dalić. his own net a few minutes later after outside of his boot. Modric is now the youngest and it ricocheted high into the air off a shot At 35, this may well be the Croatia oldest player to score for Croatia by Pablo Sarabia. at the European Championship. He Dúbravka struggled to get into posi- scored when he was 22 years, 273 days tion as the ball started to come down. SOCCER against Austria in 2008. He jumped to swat the ball away but On Tuesday, he was 35 years, 286 it instead rolled off his hand and into captain’s last European Champion- days. the net. ship, and he doesn’t want to go home England 1, Czech Republic 0 Aymeric Laporte added to Spain’s just yet. In London, at least England now lead before halftime and Sarabia, Fer- Modrić’s majestic goal in the 62nd know they can rely on Raheem Ster- ran Torres and another own-goal in the minute helped Croatia beat Scotland ling for goals. second half made it fi ve. 3-1 on Tuesday and give the team a The scoring touch missing at his last Sweden 3, Poland 2 spot in the round of 16 at Euro 2020 by three tournaments has been rediscov- In Russia, two goals from Robert fi nishing second in Group D. Croatia ered on home territory, and it gave his Lewandowski couldn’t stop Poland will face the runners-up from Group E team fi rst place in their group. from exiting the European Champion- on Monday in Copenhagen. It was Sterling’s second goal at ship. Modrić, who also picked up an assist Euro 2020 and it secured a 1-0 victory Poland’s Karol Swiderski, (right), challenges Sweden’s Mikael Lustig during the Euro 2020 soccer championship Viktor Claesson scored in stoppage- on Croatia’s third goal, had a quiet fi rst over the Czech Republic in a match at group B match between Sweden and Poland at Saint Petersburg stadium in St. Petersburg, Russia. (AP ) time to give Sweden a 3-2 victory over two group matches, with the midfi elder Wembley Stadium between two teams Poland and fi rst place in Group E. forced into deeper positions and Croa- that were already assured of their plac- Grealish’s cross in the 12th minute will be a potential quarterfi nal match help Sterling, who grew up in the shad- Sweden will play a third-place fi n- tia facing criticism for lacking spark in es in the round of 16. moved England onto a path where in Rome. ow of the Wembley arch and is prov- isher in the round of 16. Poland have attack. But the playmaker showed his The header at the far-post from Jack their only game away from Wembley Home comforts should certainly ing to be England’s game-changer.

Houston gets No. 2 pick Ayton soars for last second Detroit ‘receives’ No. 1 pick, chance to take Cunningham

WASHINGTON, June 23, (AP): Newly selected Basketball Hall alley-oop, Suns extend lead of Famer Ben Wallace tapped his fi st on the table a few times, then clapped his hands and pointed one fi nger skyward. After one of the worst seasons in franchise history, Detroit has something to celebrate. The Pistons won the NBA draft lottery on Tuesday night, meaning they’ll have the No. 1 pick on July 29 — and, presumably, the chance to take Oklahoma State guard

BASKETBALL

Cade Cunningham. “We get to add another young Iowa’s Joe Wieskamp partici- pates in the NBA Draft Combine player to the restoration process,” at Wintrust Arena in Chicago. Pistons general manager Troy (AP) Weaver said. “We’re excited to be in this position. But it means at No. 13. that we’ve got a lot of work to do. The lottery — 14 ping-pong We’re going to be diligent about balls, all numbered 1 through 14, it, but it always helps to be able to placed into a hopper — techni- add a No. 1 pick from a talented cally only determines the fi rst four group of players to choose from.” picks. The rest then default to a Houston — which basically had pre-established order of fi nish; 50-50 odds of picking in the top Golden State, for example, had four — got the No. 2 pick. Cleve- only a 2.4% chance of its own pick land will pick No. 3 and Toronto being anything other than the No. will pick No. 4, after both of those 14 selection. franchises got some lottery luck to And form held through the fi rst move up in the order. six picks that were unveiled. The But the big winners were the No. 8 pick, which was slotted to Pistons, with Weaver saying the Chicago, winds up with the Magic team will take a look at fi ve play- as part of the Nikola Vucevic trade ers before deciding on the No. 1 from this season. That’s when selection. Unless Detroit moves the fi rst signifi cant buck-the-odds the pick, it will be picking No. 1 move happened, when Toronto’s Phoenix Suns center Deandre Ayton, (right), scores over Los Angeles Clippers center Ivica Zubac during the second half of Game 2 of the NBA basketball overall for the fi rst time since tak- 31.9% chance of cashing into a Western Conference Finals in Phoenix. (AP) ing Bob Lanier in 1970. top-four slot delivered. And, as if there was any doubt, The Thunder will have three fi rst- Weaver said Cunningham — just round picks, but none higher than Clippers’ George misses two free throws with 8.2 seconds remaining the fourth player to win Big 12 No. 6. That’s good news for them, Player and Freshman of the Year and really good news for Houston. honors in the same season, after The Rockets had a 52% chance PHOENIX, June 23, (AP): ing to beat the Mavericks and Jazz. But there was a lot more action left. cord nine straight in the playoffs. averaging 20.2 points per game in of winning a top-four pick. The Devin Booker sat in a chair The Crowder-to-Ayton connection George - and 85% career free throw The Suns were led by Cameron his lone collegiate season — is at worst Houston could do was the negated a Clippers rally that was led by shooter - missed two free throws with Payne, who was brilliant while sub- the “top of the list.” No. 5 selection, and that truly was with a crooked and swollen Paul George, who had 26 points. 8.2 seconds remaining and the Suns bing for All-Star Chris Paul. He fi n- Orlando will get the No. 5 and a worst-case scenario because if nose, complete with tape had a chance to win, but it looked as if ished with a career-high 29 points. No. 8 selections, with Oklahoma the Rockets were outside of the over three fresh stitches. it wouldn’t happen when Mikal Bridg- Ayton had 24 points and 14 rebounds, City picking No. 6 and Golden top four the pick would convey BASKETBALL es missed a corner 3-pointer and the while Booker added 20 points. State also with two lottery slots — to Oklahoma City as part of the He also had a big smile on his ball was defl ected out of bounds. Payne repeatedly carved through the No. 7, as part of a trade with Min- compensation for the Russell face, remembering Jae Crowder’s George made a layup with 31 sec- Instead, it set up Crowder’s heave to Clippers defense, making tough buck- nesota, and the Warriors’ own pick Westbrook-Chris Paul trade be- pass, Deandre Ayton’s tip-in dunk onds left to give the Clippers a 101- Ayton, who was dominant in the paint ets at the rim with pretty left-handed at No. 14. tween those teams in 2019. In that and a play that will live in Phoenix 100 lead for their fi rst advantage since all game long. Even with his big late fi nishes. He made what looked like a The rest of the lottery results: scenario, if Houston had gotten the Suns lore for a long, long time. early in the third quarter. He added a shot-making, George’s missed free crucial layup with about 90 seconds Sacramento picks No. 9, New No. 5 pick, it would have gone to Ayton jammed an alley-oop pass from 22-footer on their next offensive pos- throws loomed large. left, fi nishing high off the glass to give Orleans No. 10, Charlotte No. 11, the Thunder in exchange for the Crowder with 0.7 seconds left, lifting the session for a 103-102 lead. The Suns have won a franchise-re- the Suns a 100-95 lead. San Antonio at No. 12, and Indiana No. 18 pick. Suns to a 104-103 win over the Los An- geles Clippers on Tuesday night in Game 2 of the Western Conference fi nals. It was a game that looked as if it was Kaymer, McDowell picked as vice captains all but over, but Booker’s Suns were not going to be denied. A soaring Ayton came down the VIRGINIA WATER, England, June proached me, I was trying to make things I learned were how to handle lane and stuffed it through the net over 23, (AP): Martin Kaymer and Grae- the team as a player and I still do players, how to communicate with L.A.’s Ivica Zubac as the crowd roared me McDowell, players who have want to do that,” said the 36-year-old players, which players require a lot in disbelief. Booker - playing with a holed decisive putts for Europe at Ry- German, who is ranked No. 99, “but of communication, and which players stitched up nose following a collision der Cups, were appointed Wednesday you feel honored and it tells you a lot you just wind them up and let them with Clippers guard Patrick Beverley - as vice captains for the team for the about what the captain and the whole go,” McDowell said. had a key screen on Zubac on the fi nal 2021 edition at Whistling Straits in team behind him think about you and Harrington said McDowell “is a play, which helped free Ayton. September. how they value you.” The referees spent about a minute They joined Luke Donald and Rob- Harrington said Kaymer was GOLF reviewing the play before ruling the ert Karlsson as assistants to captain “somebody who will help with the at- basket was good and Booker spent Padraig Harrington as Europe looks mosphere, put an arm around a player some time jawing with Clippers players to retain the biggest prize in team or two and bring that level of author- strong infl uence and the players look Rajon Rondo and Demarcus Cousins in golf. ity and belief that we may need dur- up to him.” the aftermath. The Clippers couldn’t get Kaymer, who secured the point ing the week.” “When he speaks, people listen, a shot off in the fi nal 0.7 seconds. which completed the comeback now McDowell, who claimed the win- but he doesn’t speak unless he’s The Suns now have a 2-0 lead in the often referred to as the “Miracle at ning point at Celtic Manor in 2010, got something to say,” Harrington series heading to Los Angeles for Game Los Angeles Clippers guard Paul George (left), is defended by Phoenix Medinah” in 2012, will take on the was also a vice captain under Thomas added. “I definitely saw that when 3 on Thursday night. The Clippers will Suns guard Devin Booker (middle), and forward Cameron Johnson (23) role for the fi rst time after four ap- Bjorn for Europe’s victory at Le Golf he was vice-captain previously — be fi ghting from a 2-0 defi cit for the during the second half of Game 2 of the NBA basketball Western Confer- pearances as a player. National outside Paris in 2018. players pay attention and follow third time in these playoffs after rally- ence Finals in Phoenix. (AP) “Obviously before Padraig ap- “In 2018, some of the biggest him.”

THE FIRST ENGLISH LANGUAGE DAILY IN FREE KUWAIT Published by: Arab Times Publishing House

Editor-in-Chief Editorial Office: Telephone: 24813566 & 24849144 Advertising: Tel: 55633481 Annual Subscriptions: Airport Road, Shuwaikh Fax: 24818267 Fax: 24911307 Individuals KD 45/- Companies and Offi cial Tel: 24849144 AHMED AL JARALLAH Departments KD 75 Airmail charges extra for Fax: 24839487 P.O. Box 2270, 13023 Safat, Kuwait E-mail: [email protected] E-mail: [email protected] overseas