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THE FIRST ENGLISH LANGUAGE DAILY IN FREE KUWAIT figure skating Established in 1977 / www.arabtimesonline.com

FRIDAY-SATURDAY, MARCH 26-27, 2021 / SHABAAN 13-14, 1442 AH emergency number 112 NO. 17647 16 PAGES 150 FILS

JOBS IN PLAY MANY OTHERS DON’T WANT ... CAN’T DO Opinion Second look rumoured on Congratulations to Arabs over Netanyahu’s victory demographics bean-count By Ahmed Al-Jarallah Editor-in-Chief, the Arab Times Sixties, seventyish ... not so bad ACCORDING to the results of the fourth parliamentary elections in Israel, the victory of the current Prime Minister Benjamin Ne- tanyahu was a source of joy, both in secret and in public, for many Faris Al-Abdan and Najeh Bilal and renew residence permits. people in the Middle East. This is because they consider Israel as Al-Seyassah Staff a natural ally to repel the Iranian terrorist aggression that has con- Al-Seyassah daily quoting sources indicated the Higher Advisory Com- tinued for four decades. mittee for Labor Affairs will consider next Sunday amending the decision There is no doubt that the failure to achieve a stable government KUWAIT CITY, March 25: Informed sources at the Pub- banning the issuance of a work permit for this segment of employees. in the past two years was due to the fact that Israel was paying the lic Authority for Manpower (PAM) said a breakthrough is The same sources told the daily there is a tendency to amend and add some new price for all its deferred crises caused by the administration of for- looming on the horizon for those who have reached the age conditions, which give the decision flexibility in work and exclude some of those mer US president Barack Obama when it had worked through the covered by it, excluding at the same time the cancellation of the decision. nuclear agreement to strengthen the claws and fangs of the Iranian of 60 and above, and are holding high school certificates and The sources explained among the proposals, is the development of private health monster in the region. It had also contributed to provoking internal below, or the equivalent certificates, to obtain a work permit insurance, different from the current one and at a higher cost for this category, in crises in more than one Arab country under the slogan of “the Arab Spring”, which hindered the comprehensive normalization project addition to an increase in the resi- with Israel. dence fees in general. Meanwhile, the Trump administration worked for four years to The sources emphasized that remove the negative influences left behind by the democratic ad- the aim of reviewing the decision ministration. is to benefit from the existing ex- During the era of Trump’s rule and his alliance with Netanyahu, periences, especially the employ- we saw how the train of normalization began quickly. Given that ment of workers who employers the rest of the Arab countries will end up joining sooner or later, cling to and refuse to leave be- the issue of strategic stability is strongly emerging. It is the com- cause of their great experiences, mon denominator between the Arab countries and Israel, which noting that raising the residence existentially needs to bring down the Iranian military nuclear proj- fees and stipulating health in- ect and ballistic missiles, perhaps more than the Arab countries, surance will keep only eligible despite the risks Israel faces in this regard. workers who can bear this cost. Therefore, the presence of Netanyahu in power now means con- The sources stated the commit- tinuation of the path that started about three years ago in terms tee’s meeting on Sunday will be of normalizing ties with the Arab countries and neutralizing the attended by the Public Authority Iranian threat, so that the region can enjoy the peace that it had for Manpower, the Chamber of missed for 70 years. There were no Arab or Israeli leadership ex- Commerce and Industry, the Gen- cept for the late Anwar Sadat who dared to abort the dangers of war eral Federation of Kuwait Work- through peace, something that Netanyahu has been insisting for ers, the Ministry of Commerce years and has worked for since he came to power in 1996. and Industry, the Ministry of Inte- Throughout the past decade, Israel has been the catalyst for rior, and some other bodies. suppressing Iranian movements both in Lebanon and Syria. This Meanwhile, the Public Author- crystallized in the military neutralization operations of the Revo- ity for Manpower denied what is lutionary Guard in Syria, which helped a lot to stem the Iranian being circulated in social media expansion in the region and encircle it through harmony in con- regarding the decision not to re- frontation, either in Yemen or Iraq or Syria. new the residence permit of those There is also a great benefit in the Arab alliance with Israel, who are 60 years and hold only which is deepening the partnership with the Western ally, as it is high school certificates and below true that there are several Arab countries that are allies of the Unit- has been amended, reports Al- ed States, but historically Israel is considered as the strongest ally. Anba daily quoting PAM sources. It has enormous political power in Washington, and is a strong de- The PAM source said the de- fense against the Iranian plan, which does not accept any peace or cision has been in effect since stability in the region before achieving its dark expansionist goals. Jan 1, 2021 without any excep- This fact assumes the existence of a strong ally with the ability tion or amendment, and all that to confront. We have experienced Israel on more than one occasion is rumored is completely untrue, in the region, especially when it bombed the Iraqi military nuclear In this photo released by the Suez Canal Authority, a boat navigates in front of a cargo ship, Ever Given, March 24, 2021, after stressing that any decision or reactor. While there was no retaliation to this matter, the experi- it became wedged across Egypt’s Suez Canal and blocked all traffic in the vital waterway. An Egyptian official warned it could amendment related to regulating ment could be repeated if Tel Aviv found it necessary to stop the take at least two days to clear the ship. (AP) the labor market and employ- Iranian nuclear program. ment is issued by the authority At that point, the whole world will be on its side, and the region and published through the au- as well as the world will enjoy peace, not just the Arab countries, Oops! thority’s official websites. which continue to endure the behavior of the Mullahs regime. Dissatisfaction Email: [email protected] Maritime navigation in the Suez canal will be “temporarily” The ship, operated by the shipping company Evergreen, suspended until a giant container ship, which recently ran was bound northwards to the Mediterranean, on its way to A number of specialists and Follow me on: aground, is moved, Egyptian authorities said on Thursday. the Netherlands’ port city of Rotterdam from China. academics have expressed their Huge efforts are continuing to refloat the Panama-flagged The Suez canal, which connects the Red Sea to the Medi- dissatisfaction with the Public ship, Ever Given, which is carrying a combined weight of terranean, is a chosen route for around 12 percent of all Authority for Manpower deci- 224,000 tonnes. But, moving the 400m-long (1,312ft) vessel global trade. sion which prevents the renewal [email protected] will take days, due to its sheer size and heavy load. “We are determined to keep on working hard to resolve of residence permits for expa- A total eight large tugboats are taking part in the tiresome this situation as soon as possible,” Shoei Kisen Kaisha Ltd. triates who have reached the efforts to nudge the boat, which became lodged sideways said. “We would like to apologize to all parties affected by this age of 60 years and do not hold in the waterway after having been run aground, the canal’s incident, including the ships travelling and planning to travel university degrees or who have authority chief Lt Gen Osama Rabie said. through Suez canal.” (Agencies) reached the age of seventy years, in general, but are experienced Newswatch and are competent and difficult to replace. Speaking to Al-Seyassah dai- ERBIL: At least 27 members of the so-called Islamic State (IS) Experts urge caution after ly, they say, the decisions will were killed in a military operation launched southeast of Mosul, harm many citizens, including the Iraqi military said in a statement Wednesday. private school owners and the The Iraqi forces, backed by the US-led international coalition real estate, and deprive business and Iraq’s aircraft, launched the military operation on March 9 and owners of the experiences of continued over 14 days in the Makhmour mountain in southeast of many expatriates. Nineveh’s provincial capital Mosul, it added. India detects new variant Head of the Kuwaiti Contract- The operation, included 312 airstrikes, destroyed 120 caves and ing Companies Federation, D sites of the militants, killing some of them, it noted. Salah Bursli said the recent de- It was carried out in coordination with the federal security forces NEW DELHI, March 25, (AP): A new and potentially troublesome The Health Ministry said in a statement that the variant was found variant of the coronavirus has been detected in India, as have vari- in 15%-20% of the samples sequenced from Maharashtra state. The cisions regarding non-renewal and the Kurdish Peshmerga forces, it stated. (KUNA) of residence for 60-year-old and ❑ ❑ ❑ ants first detected in the United Kingdom, South Africa and Brazil, state, which is home to India’s financial capital, has been worst hit by health officials said Wednesday. the recent surge and accounts for over 60% of all active cases in India. above expatriates who do not have university degrees will af- RABAT: Moroccan authorities declared on Thursday security per- Health Ministry officials and experts, however, cautioned In Maharashtra’s Nagpur city, the infections caused by this new sonnel cracked down on a “terrorist cell,” affi liated with the so- fect the urban movement in the against linking the variants with an ongoing surge in new infec- variant were in those parts of the city that had, so far, been least country as most contracting com- called Islamic State (DAESH) in the northeastern town of Oujda. tions in India. affected, said Dr. Sujeet Singh, the chief of the National Centre for The ministry of interior, in a statement carried by the Moroccan panies depend on a lot on people Cases in India had been plummeting since September and life Disease Control in New Delhi. with experience in construction. News Agency (MAP), said the busted cell was composed of four was returning to normal. But cases began spiking last month and militants who planned to join IS camps in Al-Sahel region adding “The susceptible pool of population ... was substantially large,” He said the random decisions that they would be tasked with carrying out terrorist schemes in more than 47,000 new infections were detected in the past 24 Singh added. will empty the country of experi- Morocco. hours, along with 275 deaths – the highest one-day death toll in Meanwhile, health officials admitted that they were worried enced people who can be relied Morocco has clamped down on 200 terrorist cells since 2003, at more than four months. about upcoming festivals, many of which mark the advent of the upon for their expertise, knowl- a rate of one busted cell a month. (KUNA) The virus has been mutating throughout the pandemic. Most mu- spring. India’s government has written to states to consider impos- edge, and knowledge of everything ❑ ❑ ❑ tations are trivial, but scientists have been investigating which ones ing restrictions, but many celebrants have defied distancing and new in the science of construction. might make the virus spread more easily or make people sicker. virus protocols. Dr. Bursli mentioned the real ERBIL: Kuwait has provided Kurdistan with laboratory sample The three variants first detected in South Africa, Britain and bags to help the Iraqi region in facing the impacts of the deadly Also: estate sector in Kuwait will suf- Brazil are considered the most worrisome and have been desig- fer most from the negative im- coronavirus pandemic, the World Health Organisation revealed on KUWAIT CITY: A total of 40 doctors recently issued a statement Thursday. nated “variants of concern.” The three variants were found in 7% pact due to the non-renewal of The region is home to hundreds of thousands of Iraqi and Syrian of the nearly 11,000 samples that India sequenced since Dec 30. titled “Yes to Vaccination” in which they pledged to fight false in- residence for this category of refugees, who will benefi t from the WHO-administered assistance, The most widespread of these was the more contagious variant that formation related to COVID-19 vaccines, reports Al-Nahar daily. people, especially that the in- the organisation said in a statement. was detected in the UK last year. They called on the official authorities to play their role in sup- vestment sector suffers from a It comes after Kuwait, last month, provided 13 tonnes of medical The new variant found in India has two mutations in the spiky porting initiatives and volunteers and responding to misinforma- massive recession, and if this un- assistance for healthcare workers, worth $1 million, and contribut- protein that the virus uses to fasten itself to cells, said Dr Rakesh tion concerning the COVID-19 pandemic. natural decision continues, it will ed to delivering six ambulances and 22 tonnes of health equipment Mishra, the director of the Centre for Cellular and Molecular Biol- The doctors affirmed that the false information related to the lead to citizens bearing the con- to the region in August. ogy, one of the 10 research institutes sequencing the virus. vaccination led to COVID-19 patients refusing to enter hospitals sequences, especially since they WHO expressed its gratitude to the Kuwaiti government for pro- He added that these genetic tweaks could be of concern since and receive treatment, which caused negative outcomes and led have developed their businesses viding the funds for the lifesaving support. (KUNA) they might help the virus spread more easily and escape the im- them to be admitted in the intensive care units (ICU) while some with bank loans and have to pay mune system, but he cautioned against linking it to the surge. succumbed to the disease. monthly installments.

Gulf keen on ties ... with China RIYADH, March 25, (KUNA): GCC states are looking forward to enhancing coop- eration and good ties with China to achieve common goals, said the GCC Secretary- General Dr Nayef Al-Hajraf on Wednesday. During his meeting with State Counselor and Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi, Al-Hajraf discussed the latest regional and international developments. The two sides welcomed Saudi Arabia’s initiative to end the crisis in Yemen to reach a comprehensive political agreement that includes a ceasefire under the UN supervi- sion. Moreover, both sides discussed the outcomes of the fourth strategic dialogue held between the two parties on November 9. They also stressed the importance of investing in the opportunities that resulted from the coronavirus pandemic in the fields of the digital economy, artificial intelligence, the fourth industrial revolution, and e-commerce, as well as the Chinese Belt and Road Initiative projects in a way that serves the common strategic interests between the two sides. ARAB TIMES, FRIDAY-SATURDAY, MARCH 26-27, 2021 2

Weather Expected weather for the next moderate freshening at times Bubyan - - Prayer Timings 24 hours: north westerly wind to northerly Jahra 34 23 By Day: Rather hot with mod- wind with speeds of 12-40 km/h Failaka Island - - Fajr ...... 04:26 Asr ...... 15:23 erate to fresh north westerly wind with a chance for haze. Salmiyah 30 22 Sunrise .. 05:46 Maghrib .. 18:02 Zohr ...... 11:54 Isha ...... 19:19 with speeds of 20-45 km/h caus- Station Max Exp Min Rec Ahmadi 30 21 ing rising dust and some scat- Kuwait City 32 23 Nuwaisib 35 24 tered clouds will appear. Kuwait Airport 33 23 Wafra 43 24 By Night: Fair with light to Abdaly 32 22 Salmy 33 20

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

National Bank of Kuwait dips 7 fi ls, Mabanee Co ticks up Kuwait index winds up week in red turf after volatile session By John Mathews Arab Times Staff ■ UUS/KDS/KD 00.30205/15.30205/15 KUWAIT CITY, March 25: Kuwait stocks ▼ Euro/KD 0.3567 headed south on Thursday to wrap up the week on a sour note. The All Shares Index ▼ Yen/KD 0.0027 dropped 11.44 pts in a volatile session to 5,771 points dragged mostly by blue chips. ▼ British £/KD 0.4135 The Premier Market slipped 16.98 points to 6321.91 pts paring the month’s gains to ▼ Indian Rs/KD 0.0041 164 points while Main Market ticked 1.19 points higher to 4676.61 pts. The volume turnover meanwhile fell further to hit a ■ Philippines Peso/KD 0.0062 fresh month’s low. Over 166 million shares changed hands – down 6 percent from the ▲ FTSE +0.23 pts at 12:40 hr, March 25 day before. The sectors closed mixed. Utilities out- paced the rest with 0.39 pct gain whereas ▲ Nikkei +324.36 pts at closing March 25 Consumer Discretionary shed 0.47 percent, the worst performer of the day. Volume wise, Financial Services topped with 68.4 ▼ Gold 1734.05 per oz (London) percent gain while Banking sector dominat- ed the value with KD 10.29 million. ▲ NYMEX crude $59.94 per barrel Among the day’s losers, sector bellweth- er National Bank of Kuwait dropped 7 fi ls ▲ Brent crude $63.36 per barrel to 800 fi ls after trading 4.5 million shares whereas Boubyan Bank gave up 2 fi ls to LIBOR rate 0.20063% close at 605 fi ls. KIPCO fell 3 fi ls to 158 fi ls while Al Imtiaz Investment and National Industries Group clipped 2 fi ls each to end scaled 7 fi ls whereas Kuwait Cement Co at 110 fi ls and 185 fi ls respectively. was unchanged at 225 fi ls. Zain eased 1 fi l to 635 fi ls after push- Jazeera Airways dialed up 2 fi ls taking ing over 3 million shares whereas Ooredoo the months gains to 67 fi ls and ALAFCO tripped 1 fi l with thin volume. stc slipped 7 held ground at 206 fi ls. Shuaiba Industrial fi ls to 911 fi ls whereas logistic major Agil- gave up 8 fi ls with thin trading and Kuwait ity was down 8 fi ls at 728 fi ls with a vol- Foundry Co closed 5 fi ls in red. ACICO In- ume of 2.4 million shares. Boursa Kuwait dustries was fl at at 86 fi ls whereas Equip- Securities Co climbed 4 fi ls to KD 1.135. ment Holding Co and Metal and Recycling Humansoft Holding was unchanged Co took in1 fi l each to close at 29.5 fi l and at KD 3.700 and Mezzan Holding too did 119 fi ls respectively. not budge from its earlier close of 570 fi ls. In the banking sector, Kuwait Finance Mabanee Co added 3 fi ls. Kuwait National House dialed up 2 fi ls on back of over 4 mil- KUNA photo Cinema Co slid 25 fi ls to 725 fi ls and OSOS lion shares whereas Kuwait International Minister of Interior Sheikh Thamer Ali Sabah Al-Salem Al-Sabah receives the Iraqi Ambassador to Kuwait Al-Manhal Al-Safi . Holding was down 10 fi ls at 87 fi ls. Bank and Burgan Bank added 1 fi l each to The market opened fi rm and edged high- settle at 200 fi ls and 221 fi ls respectively. er in early trade. The main index pulled low- Gulf Bank tripped 1 fi l after pushing 3.6 Kuwait’s efforts to maintain regional peace lauded er and charted a volatile course before peak- million shares. ing at 5785 pts well past the mid-session. It Ahli United Bank BSC stood pat at 215 Kuwait’s Minister of Interior Sheikh Thamer During the meeting, the minister stressed porting and enhancing security cooperation retreated again amid selling spurt in some of fi ls after pushing 6.9 million shares and Ali Sabah Al-Salem Al-Sabah and Iraqi Am- the depth of relations between the two coun- between the two countries, it added. the counters to close with small loss. Commercial Bank too did not budge from bassador to Kuwait Al-Manhal Al-Safi on tries, the Ministry’s security media and public Meanwhile, the Iraqi envoy voiced appre- Top gainer of the day, QIC skidded 13.57 its earlier close of 500 fi ls. Al Ahli Bank Wednesday discussed topics of common relations department said in a press statement. ciation to Kuwait for its efforts to maintain the percent to 77 fi ls while Injazzat sprinted and Ahli United Bank Kuwait dialed up 1 concern. The two sides discussed means of sup- region’s security and stability. (KUNA) 9.99 percent to stand next. Gulf Investment fi l each. House skidded 17 pct, the steepest declin- Kuwait Investment Co and Tamdeen In- er of the day and Kuwait Real Estate Co vestment Co were unchanged at 126 fi ls topped the volume with 24.2 million shares. and 214 fi ls respectively whereas Bayan In- Mirroring the day’s losses, the losers out- vestment trimmed 0.7 fi ls. KFIC and KAM- numbered the winners. 53 stocks advanced CO eased 0.2 fi ls each whereas KMEFIC Visa must for stranded expats while 63 closed lower. Of the 134 counters gained 5 fi ls. Kuwait Financial Centre ( active on Thursday, 18 closed fl at. 8154 Markaz) gave up 2.5 fi ls and International deals worth KD 29.23 million were trans- Financial Advisers took in 1 fi l. Kuwaiti woman can sponsor expat husband, kids acted during the session. The market has been largely downbeat Boubyan Petrochemical Co slipped 4 fi ls during the week. The main index closed to 839 fi ls and Al Qurain Petrochemical Co lower in three of the fi ve sessions, shedding KUWAIT CITY, March 25: The trimmed 1 fi l. Gulf Cable rose 4 fi ls to 844 94 points week-on-week. It has gained 116 fi ls while Integrated Holding and Aznour points from the start of the month and is up Ministry of Interior affi rmed that Kuwaiti pharmacists number falls took in 1 fi l each. Kuwait Portland Cement 199 points year-to-date. a Kuwaiti woman when married to a expatriate man has the right to sponsor her husband and children, KPA affi rms belief in integrity provided none of them work for a public or private institution, and provided that this Kuwaiti woman of Kuwaiti judiciary, verdicts had not acquired the Kuwaiti citi- zenship through a marriage to a By Marwa Al-Bahrawi Kuwaiti man. This is in addition Al-Seyassah Staff ‘Stick to rules’ to a non-Kuwaiti wife and non- KUWAIT CITY, March 25: The Kuwaiti Phar- Kuwaiti children have the right to maceutical Association (KPA) affi rmed its full belief in the integrity of the Kuwaiti judiciary Check on eateries obtain a residence permit. and respecting its verdicts. In its response to an article which was pub- Responding to the Constitutional Court’s rul- KUWAIT CITY, March 25: Many restau- lished by Al-Qabas on January 20, 2021, the ing that it was unconstitutional to close phar- rants were found to have not obtained per- Ministry said that the Residence Affairs Sec- macies inside the cooperative societies which mits to render delivery service in the first tor appreciates and values the role played by allow them to practice their work before the four hours of the partial curfew on the sec- the various visual, audio and print media out- law was issued, the president of the Kuwaiti ond day of implementing the Cabinet’s deci- lets in presenting ideas, visions, proposals and Pharmacist Society, Walid Al-Shimmari, said sion to allow these establishments to deliver criticisms related to security issues and topics this ruling applies to pharmacies of cooperative orders to homes from 6:00 pm to 10:00 pm, of concern to the homeland and citizens. societies before the issuance of the 1996 law, reports Al-Qabas daily. Meanwhile, the ministry said a domestic work- and does not apply to associations and what is When the daily’s staff visited restaurants er whose residence has expired when he/she was more, Law 30/2016 enables a Kuwaiti pharma- in Farwaniya, Ardiya Al-Sinaiyah, Khaitan outside the country, it is considered invalid by the cist to manage the pharmacy himself. and Al-Raqi; they found many establish- force of law, and in the event he/she wishes to Al-Shimmari pointed to the decrease in the ments remained closed. People stocking up on foodstuff at one of the co-ops. enter the country again, he/she must apply for the number of Kuwaiti pharmacists benefi ting from The Ministry of Interior has also intensi- fied security presence in several areas near entry visas and follow all new procedures. The the 30/2016 Law after the recent ruling of the ‘Some co-op booths open in curfew’ same applies for workers who are stranded out- the restaurants to ensure strict compliance side. However, the worker must have the approv- Constitutional Court, as the pharmacies belong- with health regulations and that the restau- al of the Ministerial Committee for Corona ing to the era before the 1996 law were more rants offer delivery service only. Cooperative societies violated the The ministry had received notifi ca- Emergencies in the Council of Ministers. than 50 percent in the cooperative societies in On the other hand, food delivery traffic in Cabinet’s decisions and allowed some tions from observers about four cooper- The sources added with regard to foreign chil- Kuwait, but he emphasized at the same time restaurants that obtained permits to deliver “booths” to operate during the partial ative societies allowing “booths” to work dren residing in the country and if their residence that all legal means were taken into considera- orders during the partial curfew hours has curfew, reports Al-Qabas daily. during partial curfew hours. Accord- permit expired when their father was outside the tion to protect the rights and earnings of phar- witnessed an accelerated pace. According to sources, the Ministry of ingly, necessary legal measures were country, they are served until the father enters the macists. Social Affairs represented by the Co- taken in coordination with the Health country, and then are allowed to adjust their status Secretary-General of the Kuwaiti Pharma- operative Society Sector informed the Requirements Committee. or leave the country if the father fails to return. cist Association, Ali Hadi, said the Kuwaiti Court, Hadi called on the Ministry of Social Health Requirements Committee and In the same context, the Health Re- Pharmaceutical Society adheres to the acquired Affairs to complete the application of the new the Kuwait Municipality of Ahmadi and quirements Committee in Farwaniya Visas Mubarak Al-Kabeer governorates to Governorate issued citations against rights of pharmacists approved by the Consti- pharmacy law and enable the Kuwaiti pharma- take legal measures against the vio- ten facilities that violated the curfew de- All new visas issued to workers, including tutional Court, thus preserving the right of spe- cist to manage pharmacies in cooperative socie- lating cooperative societies and close cision, as well as a cafe that was caught domestic workers require the approval of the cialists among pharmacists to practice the pro- ties. down the “booths” that operate during serving shisha and was immediately Corona Emergency Ministerial Committee in the fession and manage pharmacies, indicating that He pointed out that the pharmacy sector in the partial curfew period. closed. Council of Ministers. the Society has spared no effort in working to Kuwait is promising and budding with national Regarding foreign residents whose sponsor has implement the law and protect it in the National workforce who have scientifi c and practical died, they must adjust their status in the country, Assembly and the administrative courts down experience in managing pharmacies and have ‘Expat workers fl ed country’ obtain residence permit in accordance with the procedures followed in this regard, or leave the to the Constitutional Court. presented impressive models in managing co- country if they do not obtain the residence permit. According to the ruling of the Constitutional operative societies’ pharmacies. Meanwhile, the official spokesperson of the ‘Give jobs to Kuwaiti engineers’ Directorate General for Civil Aviation (DGCA) Elaborating on the excluded groups, Eng. fresh north westerly wind with speed of 20-45 Eng. Saad Al-Otaibi says the Cabinet has decided Al-Otaibi said the health authorities have exclud- km/h and some scattered clouds will appear. By Faris Al-Abdan Corona crisis, while the competent national to exempt those who received the COVID-19 vac- ed Kuwaiti students and children of Kuwaiti The lowest temperature is 20 to 22 Celsius with Al-Seyassah Staff workforce (Kuwaiti youth operated all in- cine approved by Kuwait from institutional quar- women studying abroad and those of similar sta- light to moderate sea waves between two to six feet. stallations and projects, whether existing antine upon arrival at Kuwait International tus from institutional quarantine. However, they Tonight’s weather will be slightly cold and KUWAIT CITY, March 25: The head of the or new, to the fullest and with the highest Airport from overseas. However, they must must submit a letter issued by the Kuwaiti Cultural partly cloudy with northwesterly light to moderate National Petroleum Company’s Workers Un- degree of global competence). adhere to home quarantine for a period of seven Attaché, stating that the student is enrolled in a winds between 15 to 40 km per hour. ion, Muhammad Al-Hajri, called on the head Al-Hajri called for expediting the ap- days, and then undergo a PCR test of the seventh foreign university. Otherwise, they can also sub- Friday and Saturday will be slightly hot and of the Kuwait Petroleum Corporation and the pointment of all those who passed the day from the date of arrival. This is based on the mit proof of their enrollment in universities, insti- partly cloudy with north-easterly light to moderate heads of oil companies to accept all Kuwaiti tests, especially since they are citizens and health recommendation, reports Aljarida daily. tutes or schools and of their attendance there. winds, with light to moderate sea waves. (KUNA) engineers who currently pass the tests to fi ll deserve to be appointed because they hold In a press statement, Eng. Al-Otaibi affirmed He highlighted that there is an exception for ❑ ❑ ❑ vacancies in various oil sector companies. graduation certifi cates from Kuwait Univer- that the Cabinet’s decision to prevent non- diplomatic missions accredited to Kuwait and Al-Hajri said in a press statement these sity or prestigious international universities. Kuwaitis from entering the country is still in their family members as well as visiting official ‘Longest vacation’: With the Ministry of Edu- engineers, whom he called the sons of Ku- He explained the real national investment effect until further notice, adding, “Therefore, the delegations from registering on the “Kuwait cation’s announcement that students will return wait, have been without work for 3 years, is investment in the human element, and decision to exempt those who received the vac- Traveler” app, with the need to present a PCR test to schools gradually starting from September; waiting for an opening in the oil sector, in added, “We are in an oil-producing country, cine is limited to Kuwaitis and those who are certificate with negative result of less than 72-hour this year’s summer vacation will be the longest light of the incapacitating condition that and it but necessary that we are self-suffi - excluded from entering the country.” validity as well as undergo another PCR test upon in the history of education for students, especially prevented them from applying for appoint- cient with skilled national workers to such Regarding the groups exempted from institu- entry in the country. the high school students who are expected to start ment in the oil sector, and called for the abo- an extent that we should be in a position to tional quarantine, he explained that those who ❑ ❑ ❑ their vacation on May 20 and return to school on lition of this condition. export them to the neighboring countries.” received two doses of the COVID-19 vaccine and Oct 3, reports Al-Anba daily. He added that this incapacitating condi- He added, “We will continue to support completed more than two weeks since the second Weather report: Kuwait Control and Meteoro- The kindergarten, primary, and fi rst and second tion prevents these distinguished competent the appointment of national competencies, dose are exempted. Also those who received the logical Center confi rmed the weather was slightly grade students will return on Sept 19; while the Kuwaiti engineers from playing their role in the sons of this country, until they are all first dose of the vaccine and completed five weeks hot in the morning and would be moderately cold rest of the elementary students and those in middle building our homeland. accepted in the various facilities of the oil thereafter are also exempted. The third category at night, with active northwest dusty winds. school on Sept 20 and those in intermediate school Al-Hajri recalled how low-qualifi ed for- sector and its companies, because they are includes those who recovered from COVID-19 In a statement to KUNA on Thursday, weather on Sept 26. Therefore, the summer vacation for all eign workers hit the interests of Kuwait and the most deserving and worthy of preserv- infection, received the first dose of the vaccine and forecast supervisor Abdulaziz Al-Qarawi said educational levels will not be less than four full fl ed the country with the beginning of the ing the nation’s capabilities and wealth.” completed more than two weeks thereafter. today’s weather is slightly hot with moderate to months. ARAB TIMES, FRIDAY-SATURDAY, MARCH 26-27, 2021 LOCAL 3 DIWANIYA A DIGEST OF PUBLIC OPINION How can the government restore confidence of the people? “NO ONE denies government’s failures over the years in fi ghting corruption, of its relations with a pivotal country such as Egypt, and announced that Ankara been circulated or announced including the public debt law are temporary rem- the state’s economic collapse, the decline in the level of education, the exacer- does not encourage coup organizations in the region, citing its rejection of the edies. If the treatment procedures are limited to them alone, the problem of the bation of housing demands and the decline in global indicators in various fi elds coup attempt in Armenia despite the existing disagreement between the two budget deficit will definitely grow year after year to the extent that it would that resulted in the street losing confi dence in the government in the absence of countries, and the practical and actual application of the new policy that does burden the public finances and would be more difficult to deal with, especially concrete achievements on the ground and a solution to the accumulated prob- not allow interference in the affairs of other countries, especially as it has been in light of the current conditions of the country in financing the recovery and lems over the years,” columnist Tarek Al-Dirbas wrote for Al-Anba daily. proven that interference in the affairs of the countries of the region led to their economic stimulus programs. “There is no doubt that the Kuwaiti people, in the midst of the Corona crisis, destruction rather than their development. “The truth is that treating deficits and correcting and sustaining public finances need to see improvement in any of the accumulation of uncompleted work or “I think tourism to Turkey from Kuwait and the Gulf this summer will in- does not need genius, as the solutions have been on the table for years and studies matters needing to be dealt with in order that the government would regain the crease several fold if Turkey’s relations with the Arab and Gulf countries con- have been available for decades. All that is required is clarity of vision, commit- street’s confi dence. tinue to improve.” ment to the required policies, speed and boldness of decisions, and the certainty that “In fact, restoring confi dence cannot be done with the click ❑ ❑ ❑ addressing deficits and reforming public finances cannot be achieved without the of a button but rather it will come in stages according to seri- state’s commitment to a comprehensive financial and economic reform program, as ous and decisive steps which the citizens can feel and in order “According to official data, the actual deficit in this year’s budget amounted the deficit can only be addressed on this basis. to regain that confi dence, the government must not justify to about KD 5 billion. The government is seeking to cover this with various “The experience of the past few decades shows that politics was overwhelm- linking executive reform to the parliament or political escala- tools and means, including recovering the profits of state-owned companies ing the economy despite repeated national calls for financial and economic re- tion as it can start and work according to what is available to it topped by the Kuwait Petroleum Corporation”, columnist Engr Adel Musaed form, lest we not reach the conditions we are in now. However, politics has today which does not require legislative amendments. Al-Jarallah Al-Kharafi wrote for Al-Nahar daily. unfortunately diverted us from the path, and calls for reform were confronted “In order to reap the fruit, I believe the government “It goes without saying that all the remedies of the deficit problem that have with an ear of clay and an ear of dough. We got to what we do not want, so is must focus on 3 of the main issues that the citizens and been circulated or announced including the public debt law are temporary rem- there anyone who would pay attention? the government suffer from, and strive to reform them edies. If the treatment procedures are limited to them alone, the problem of the “The sad truth is that most careful readings of the spending aspects of the radically through resolute and clear decisions. budget deficit will definitely grow year after year to the extent that it would 2021/2022 budget indicate that the general budget was prepared in the same “The fi le of reforming the state’s public fi nances and Tarek Al-Dirbas burden the public finances and would be more difficult to deal with, especially manner, thought and mentality. All of them do not keep pace with the require- its impact on revitalizing the economy, eliminating unem- in light of the current conditions of the country in financing the recovery and ments of the financial reform. Waste, ambiguity and lack of clarity of goals ployment and increasing the domestic product are among the important issues economic stimulus programs. marred a number of spending items. that must be focused on fi rst. The fi le of education reform and development and “The truth is that treating deficits and correcting and sustaining public fi- “In my estimation, a firm and decisive stance on corruption, stopping waste, its impact on building the future of Kuwait, the fi le of restructuring the govern- nances does not need genius, as the solutions have been on the table for years governance of the government administration, justice in applying the law, put- ment sector, improving its performance and eliminating bureaucracy. and studies have been available for decades. All that is required is clarity of ting the right person in the right place, and rational management of public fi- “These are among the important fi les that must be solved with practical and vision, commitment to the required policies, speed and boldness of decisions, nances and the economy constitute the appropriate entry point for implement- tangible steps that the citizen must feel. and the certainty that addressing deficits and reforming public finances cannot ing a financial and economic reform program that will have the support and “Striving to put serious steps in these fi les in particular, and focusing on the be achieved without the state’s commitment to a comprehensive financial and confidence of the Kuwaiti citizens as well as sacrifices, if necessary, for the media and raising awareness on them will contribute to restoring part of the economic reform program, as the deficit can only be addressed on this basis. sake of the sustainability of the economy and the state. May Allah grant us government’s popular confi dence. “The experience of the past few decades shows that politics was overwhelm- success.” “We also cannot ignore the political fi les that cause political tension in the ing the economy despite repeated national calls for financial and economic re- ❑ ❑ ❑ Kuwaiti street, including the amnesty fi le which must be resolved so that calm form, lest we not reach the conditions we are in now. However, politics has prevails and focus on reforming important issues that are vital to the citizens.” unfortunately diverted us from the path, and calls for reform were confronted “From time to time, we hear news on the issuance of a judicial decision to Also: with an ear of clay and an ear of dough. We got to what we do not want, so is cancel administrative appointments in government agencies! The administra- there anyone who would pay attention? tive judiciary has become a refuge for many employees whose appointment in “Switzerland, like many other countries, did not close its schools because “The sad truth is that most careful readings of the spending aspects of the administrative positions or the new appointments were superseded by admin- of ‘Corona’ but gave priority to vaccinating teachers, and imposed masks on 2021/2022 budget indicate that the general budget was prepared in the same istrative decisions that did not take into account the employee’s eligibility and young students while giving them -- from time to time -- the opportunity to manner, thought and mentality. All of them do not keep pace with the require- violated the law,” columnist Adel Al-Ebrahim wrote for Al-Anba daily. remove masks in open spaces, and I do not know personally why we will enter ments of the financial reform. Waste, ambiguity and lack of clarity of goals “Hence, we have the right to say that despite the existence of legal adminis- the second year while the young students remain at home and parents are not marred a number of spending items. trations in all government agencies and legal expertise must be the trusted advi- qualifi ed to teach, and we have not taken measures like the Swiss and others, “In my estimation, a firm and decisive stance on corruption, stopping waste, sor to the senior officials in these authorities, abuses occur and the law which unless we have someone who feels we are better than them,” columnist Sami governance of the government administration, justice in applying the law, put- is supposed to be the course that their work follows is not applied. In light of Al-Nisf wrote for Annahar daily. ting the right person in the right place, and rational management of public fi- many judicial rulings that set aside administrative decisions which wronged the “Yesterday morning, in the offi ce of Brother Imad Bukhamseen, I met the nances and the economy constitute the appropriate entry point for implement- employee, we wonder how these legal bodies work! Do they work according to distinguished Turkish ambassador to Kuwait, Ayse Koytak, and she mentioned ing a financial and economic reform program that will have the support and the whims of the official keen on remaining in office and incur costs and losses that Turkey has allowed 17 million students to study in schools, and 20 million confidence of the Kuwaiti citizens as well as sacrifices, if necessary, for the such as compensation, for example !? tourists to enter without a ban, and also divided the country into 4 regions based sake of the sustainability of the economy and the state. May Allah grant us “Or is the reason the failure to abide by laws and to give incomplete advice on the extent of the epidemic along with putting in place measures according success.” to the official, so the result is a legal mistake for which the employee pays?! to the rate of the infections so that the citizens know their responsibility for the ❑ ❑ ❑ measures that befall them. “The articles of the law are clear. Legal advice must be consistent with the “In fact the small and few regions of Kuwait are thousands of times easier “According to official data, the actual deficit in this year’s budget amounted essence of the law and administrative decisions must be studied before their than Turkey by knowing the geographical distribution of infections and impos- to about KD 5 billion. The government is seeking to cover this with various issuance. We want a successful government administration, away from ‘wasta’ ing measures according to the extent of commitment or recklessness so that the tools and means, including recovering the profits of state-owned companies (influence). We wish the employee receives his right without resorting to the innocent does not pay the price for the mistakes of the reckless. topped by the Kuwait Petroleum Corporation”, columnist Engr Adel Musaed judiciary in order to lessen pressure on the judicial system which should be a “We heard from the distinguished ambassador a speech about good intentions Al-Jarallah Al-Kharafi wrote for Al-Nahar daily. haven for the oppressed.” of Turkey towards the countries of the region, especially with the improvement “It goes without saying that all the remedies of the deficit problem that have — Compiled by Ahmad Al-Shazli

Municipal Council is studying plan to Other Voices set up nurseries for female staff kids ‘Abu Zarafah’ and Corona By Ahmad alsarraf nually at a hundred billion dollars, and its decisions are considered independent and ‘Deal with Hawally area complaints’ here is no doubt that the Corona epi- not subject to the approval of the president Tdemic has benefited many, ruined the or any other person in the executive or homes of most and caused bankruptcies legislative branches of government, and it By Abdul Nasser Al-Aslami during a major session of the Municipal Council for and the closure of does not receive funding from Congress. Al-Seyassah Staff profitable activities The motivation behind its unique position a vote after taking into account the technicality and forever. Among its was the desire to provide it with maximum KUWAIT CITY, March 25: Member of the Munici- legality, suitable for all concerned parties, in order to advantages is that fl exibility to address any banking panic, act- it silenced the voice ing as a central bank, balancing private inter- pal Council, Eng Maha Al-Baghli, said the Municipal facilitate the implementation of this proposal. that was constantly ests of banks with government responsibility, Council held a special workshop to discuss the issue Eng Al-Baghli said a press statement, the proposal to amend the claiming knowl- protecting the rights of depositors, managing of nurseries for children at work centers and govern- edge and predicting the state’s money supply through monetary municipality’s regulations to allow the establishment of nurseries for the unseen, and his policy to achieve sometimes confl icting goals, ment departments and the issue will also be discussed children at work centers if the number of female employees exceeds claims hurt many. imposing stable rates, including preventing 50 or the number of em- He was the only infl ation or defl ation, and setting interest mod- one who stood with erate long-term rates, fi nancial system stabil- ployees in the establish- the re-election of ment exceeds 200. alsarraf ity, containment of systemic risks in fi nancial ‘Trump’ as presi- markets, provision of fi nancial services to She explained the pro- dent, and that he would declare war on China depository institutions and the United States posal came to support the before the US elections, specifi cally in Octo- government and foreign offi cial institutions, idea of women staying on ber 2020, to win the presidency. The accoun- and other important and dangerous tasks. top of their work, achiev- tant, or thinker, doctor and economist then Then someone who accepts to be de- ing the principle of equal- became silent after it became clear that all scribed as “the thinker, the doctor and the ity and equal opportunities his predictions as well as his titles were false. economist” comes to say that the president in the workplace, and pro- The Federal Reserve System in the United of the US Federal Reserve stated (he did not States is made up of several layers, governed mention of course his name or the date of the moting family stability and by a president-appointed board of governors, child safety. A number of statement) that after the closure of the fi nan- which includes 12 Federal Reserve banks lo- cial markets in the world, he would receive women’s public benefit as- cated in major cities, and oversees the banks a statement containing currency rates against sociations participated in of their region. Their combined role is to de- the dollar, setting their prices for the next day this workshop, including the termine monetary policy. as he desires, then goes to sleep. Women’s Cultural Associa- There are also various advisory boards. This, of course, is empty talk that should tion, the National Associa- Consequently, the Federal Reserve System not have been issued by a sane person. tion for Family Security, contains public and private components, and The purpose of this is not to reveal the the Business and Profes- has a unique structure among central banks. truth about this man. Corona has taken Nevertheless, it does not have the right to care of silencing him. Rather, the purpose sional Women’s Network, print and issue currency, as this is the task of the ‘Surptmist’ Society for of it is not to deceive the holders of the the Treasury. The federal government fi xes titles, and not to believe everything we Community Development, governors’ salaries and receives all annual hear but rather we must exert a little effort the ‘Birth Kuwait’ Asso- dividends to the federal banking system after in research and questioning can protect us ciation, and among govern- paying statutory shares of the member banks’ from the risk of falling into big mistakes. ment agencies, the Ministry capital investment. ❑ ❑ ❑ of Social Affairs, the Minis- It is reported that the net profi ts of the try of Planning, and the Ku- Federal Reserve Bank are estimated an- e-mail: [email protected] wait Municipality. Photo by Rizk Tawfiq Al-Baghli said, “We Salah Al-Farhan and Mishaal Al-Enezi supervising the campaign. discussed the details of this proposal and how to implement it on the Abandoned vehicles ‘confiscated’ ground in terms of techni- cal and legislative terms, The Capital Governorate Munici- ports Al-Seyassah daily. for some time on both sides of the and whether it needs a pality team launched a campaign The Cleaning Control Team of the street and in the squares. The cam- change in the building against abandoned and neglected Municipality lifted a number of vehi- paign was supervised by Salah Ibra- cars on the Al-Sahafa Street, re- cles and trucks that had been parked him Al-Farhan and Meshaal Al-Enezi. regulation or a legislative amendment in the list of nurseries in the Ministry of Social Affairs, as we News in Brief also discussed the idea of adding a commercial activity for nurseries to the commercial activities Ramadan begins April 14: Ku- and what was decided by the Istanbul vent crowding at the center. in the Ministry of Com- waiti astronomer Adel Al-Saadoun conference in 1978 and 2016. According to the source, there was He mentioned among those condi- a day that the center, which operates merce. said the holy month of Ramadan is ❑ ❑ ❑ expected to begin on Wednesday, tions is that the moon should be in until 7:00 pm, received more than April 14. conjunction with the sun, and this 21,000 people who registered for vac- happens every month, as the moon cination. ‘Deal with complaints’: He came to the conclusion after Head of the Central Emer- studying the circumstances of the revolves one cycle around the earth in The source said the Ministry of Health invited 24,000 people to be gency Team of Hawally sighting of the Ramadan crescent approximately 29 and a half days. ❑ ❑ ❑ vaccinated in one day. Municipality Rashid Al- since it became clear that sighting the The source added that in line with Bader issued direct or- blessed Ramadan crescent will be im- Massive turnout seen: Kuwait the ministry’s plan to accelerate the ders to the municipality possible to see on Monday April 12 in Vaccination Center recently wit- pace of vaccination to achieve com- any Arab Gulf country. inspectors to head to Ha- nessed the massive turnout of citizens munity immunity as soon as possible; wally area and deal with Al-Saadoun said in a statement and expatriates who booked appoint- it is now studying a number of mea- to Kuwait News Agency (KUNA), ments to get vaccinated against CO- sures, such as the issuance of a vac- the complaints that were Wednesday that seeing the crescent VID-19, reports Al-Qabas daily. cination certificate which will be re- received regarding the op- with the naked eye or with close-up A source from the medical sector quired for expatriates to travel in and eration of restaurants, and binoculars has conditions that have revealed that they had to re-schedule out of the country, as well as for enter- their non-compliance with been set from two visors over the ages the vaccination of some people to pre- ing some vital facilities. the health requirements, reports Al-Rai daily. ARAB TIMES, FRIDAY-SATURDAY, MARCH 26-27, 2021 LOCAL 4 HH the Amir congratulates Greek Discontent over poor services president on Independence Day KUWAIT CITY, March 25, (KUNA): president well, and her country, progress His Highness the Amir Sheikh Nawaf and prosperity. Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah congratu- Their Highnesses the Crown Prince ‘offered’ by tourism company lated Greece on its Independence Day, in Sheikh Meshaal Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber a letter addressed to its President Katerina Al-Sabah and the Prime Minister Sheikh Sakellaropoulou on Thursday. Sabah Khaled Al-Hamad Al-Mubarak Co’s strategy lacks methodology in developing projects: SAB His Highness the Amir wished the Al-Sabah both sent similar messages.

KUWAIT CITY, March 25: The State Audit Bureau gave its observations on the project of the Distinguished Ser- vices Company for Airport Manage- ment, which was established by the Tourism Projects Company with other government agencies with a capi-

tal of one million KUNA photo dinars to establish FM with the outgoing Indonesian ambassador. a VIP hall for VIP visitors, based on FM receives outgoing Indonesian envoy the decision of the KUNA photo Kuwait’s Foreign Minister Sheikh Dr Ah- end of his tenure in offi ce. Ambassador Matar Al-Neyadi presenting his credentials. Council of Minis- mad Nasser Al-Mohammad Al-Sabah During a meeting, the minister ters, and said the met the departing Indonesian Ambas- praised the ambassador’s contributions FM receives credentials of new UAE ambassador company will bear sador Tri Tharyat on Thursday at the to boosting bilateral relations. (KUNA) 26 million dinars Kuwait’s Foreign Minister Sheikh Ambassador Matar Al-Neyadi on his new role. He also hoped for the Dr Ahmad Nasser Al-Mohammad Thursday. two countries’ solid and close-knit losses, reports An- Co-ops sector to meet PAAAFR Al-Sabah received the creden- During a meeting, the minister relations to witness further growth nahar daily. tials of the newly-appointed UAE wished the ambassador success in and prosperity. (KUNA) In its remarks which falls within the responses Mechanism eyed for delivering of the Minister of Finance ‘Clock is ticking’ and Minister of State for Economic Affairs and In- local produce to co-operatives vestment, Khalifa Hama- deh, to a parliamentary KUWAIT CITY, March 25: A meeting in the cooperative societies. MoH celebrates World Tuberculosis Day query, the bureau stated will be held soon between the Cooperative Among the mechanisms that will be Around the world more than 10 mil- carried out in coordination between the that there is discontent Society Sector of the Ministry of Social discussed include direct dealings between By Marwa Al-Bahrawi Affairs and the Public Authority for the ministry and PAAAFR in its capacity Al-Seyassah Staff lion infections in 2019, caused about various bodies working in the fi eld of among citizens about the 1.4 million deaths. The ministry added tuberculosis control so that these plans poor services of the Tour- Agricultural Affairs and Fish Resources as the governmental body responsible for KUWAIT CITY, March 25: The Min- in a press statement on World Tuber- are periodically updated and developed ism Projects Company (PAAAFR) to discuss the mechanism for agricultural products, in a way that guar- istry of Health (MoH) said Kuwait has culosis Day, this year’s celebrations in accordance with It corresponds to in- supplying agricultural produce such as antees the marketing the products of and the modesty of its vegetables and fruits to cooperative soci- Kuwaiti farmers, and working to increase made a great achievement in combat- are held under the slogan ‘The clock ternational data and national indicators. achievements, and that ing tuberculosis (TB) over more than is ticking’, this is an expression of the The ministry pointed out that the eties, reports Aljarida daily quoting the production capacity of farms, as well seven decades, pointing out that the importance of the time factor in com- provision of preventive services for tu- the company has con- informed sources. as ending the suffering of the owners of establishment of a program to combat bating this disease. berculosis has been expanded by open- cluded advisory contracts They explained that the protocol local companies from delayed cheques. this disease since the 1950s has con- The World Health Organization has ing additional clinics to combat the worth 14 million dinars in signed by the ministry with the Union The sources revealed that UCCS sub- tributed to reducing infections from adopted March 24 of each year the disease in both the Capital Health Dis- 4 years without tangible of Consumer Cooperative Societies mitted a proposal to the ministry to create 350 TB cases per hundred thousand World Tuberculosis Day, which is the trict and the Ahmadi Health District, results. (UCCS) and farmers to promote and its own headquarters from where local people in 1965 to just 22 in 2019. date of the discovery of the microbe equipped with modern digital X-ray The completion rates of market the local agricultural produce agricultural products would be marketed “Tuberculosis” is one of the most that causes this disease and one of the machines to provide early detection its projects did not exceed within cooperative societies was can- and delivered to the supermarkets in common diseases in the world, and offi cial days of the United Nations. services for “tuberculosis”. 1%, adding there are pro- celed due to the expiry of the specified exchange for a percentage of the profits. its eradication is one of the sustain- The Ministry of Health reviewed the The ministry indicated that the par- jects whose achievements date without implementing its clauses They affirmed that this proposal would able development goals set by the achievements of the public health sec- ticipation of the countries of the world in did not exceed 0.03% per- represented in the establishment of a guarantee setting of prices and perma- United Nations, because of its great tor in combating tuberculosis, through celebrating the World Tuberculosis Day cent. farmers union and a joint-stock com- nently eliminating the disparity currently importance in terms of the nature of the provision of distinguished health came with the aim of raising awareness The bureau pointed out pany to promote and market the local occurring within the cooperative societ- its infectious spread, pointing out that services, represented by examination of the magnitude of the problem locally that the company, despite agricultural produce. The ministry is ies. The sources added that the proposal the number of its infections is of the centers, human and in-kind resources, and internationally, and identifying ways raising its capital from utmost importance. and strategies and action plans that are to prevent the disease. now seeking to find an appropriate is currently being studied by the Ministry 15 to 50 million dinars in mechanism for supplying and market- of Social Affairs and the Cooperative 2010, did not implement ing the local agricultural produce with- Work Development Committee. its development projects, and to add insult to injury signed a contract with an- 6 vital bills on March 30 session’s agenda other company to prepare its strategy despite the company having a compe- tent management. Panel fi nalizes report on proposal to The remarks of the bu- reau indicated that the company’s strategy lacks ‘amend’ Assembly Election Law: MP methodology in develop- By Saeed Mahmoud Saleh employee to engage in his own commer- ing projects, adding that Arab Times Staff cial, industrial or vocational businesses the company concluded provided he obtains permission from the contracts worth 1.4 million KUWAIT CITY, March 25: Items in the institution where he works. dinars despite the lack of agenda of the parliamentary session slated MP Mubarak Al-Arow submitted a pro- approval by the Kuwait In- for March 30 include six important bills as posal for the Ministry of Justice to establish vestment Authority follows: general amnesty, financial support an e-file for each lawsuit. The e-file will On the other hand, Ham- for small and medium enterprises (SMEs), consist of copies of all documents related to adeh stated that the govern- postponing the collection of installments the lawsuit and minutes of court sessions, ment tourism facilities that for citizens’ loans, cancellation of remand which will be made available to the disput- were managed by the Tour- in relation to opinion cases, amendment of ing parties. Every e-file will have a user- ism Projects Company on the Audio-Visual Law and amendment of name and password that will be handed over Failaka Island are still idle the Publishing and Printing Law. to the disputing parties who will have the and unused since 1991. The reports on these bills will be com- right to enter the e-file and obtain all infor- pleted soon and then referred to the National mation without the need to visit the court. Assembly for voting. MP Ali Al-Qattan submitted a bill on MP Marzouq Al-Khalifa confirmed that granting civil rights to Bedouns; stipulating Huge number of the Interior and Defense Affairs Committee that the title ‘unidentified nationality’ will has finalized its report on the proposal to be written in the blank space allotted for blood donors in amend the National Assembly Election nationality for every individual registered curfew time: CBB Law in order to cancel the disqualification at the Central System for Remedying the of candidates convicted of offending oth- Status of Illegal residents (CSRSIR) and KUWAIT CITY, March 25: ers. He said all that remains to be done is Higher Committee for Kuwaiti Citizenship The Central Blood Bank the signature of Committee Chairman MP at the Council of Ministers. (CBB) has been receiving a Mubarak Al-Ajmi, indicating they called The beneficiaries will then be granted per- large number of blood donors him but his mobile phone was switched off. manent residency, civil identification card during partial curfew hours in He pointed out Al-Ajmi will be held valid for five years, right to register their mar- response to its announcement responsible for the delay, which will lead to riage and divorce certificates, right to access on the need for donors of exclusion of the proposal from the agenda free education and treatment, right to obtain blood types A and O, reports of the upcoming session. passports, right to get a driving license and Al-Qabas daily. On the other hand, MP Fayez Al-Jumhour personal status rights. Those with disabilities It called on citizens and submitted a bill to amend Civil Service will receive social allowance. expatriates who have been Law number 15/1979 in order to increase On the other hand, 33 MPs issued a state- vaccinated against corona to the annual leave days granted to public sec- ment supporting MP Badr A- Dahoum. They apply for blood donation. It tor employees to 40 days; excluding the warned against instructing the National explained that “those who regular days off and official holidays. It Assembly Security from using force to pre- received the Pfi zer vaccine stipulates increasing the annual leave days vent Al-Dahoum from entering the Assembly can donate blood immediately to 55 for employees with more than 10 building. They clarified that they are not after vaccination, while those years in service, while the leave days taken supporting Al-Dahoum on personal basis as who received the Oxford vac- by an employee to take care of or accom- their aim is to protect the nation’s will. They cine must wait for 14 days.” pany a sick relative will not be deducted pointed out all constitutional options are on The bank operates through- from his annual vacation entitlement. the table and their plan will be announced out the day during weekdays to receive donors - for a period The bill also allows a public sector after their meeting on Sunday. of 13 hours starting from 7:00 am to 8:00 pm. Those who want to donate can book an appointment and obtain a secu- Many restaurants unable to deliver rity clearance. The bank is also open from 1:00 pm to 7:00 pm from 6pm to 10pm due to no permit on Fridays and from 7:00 am to 7:00 pm on Saturdays KUWAIT CITY, March 25: On the first issue these permits due to the COVID-19 When the daily’s staff vis- day of the easing of curfew restrictions pandemic. Firstly, the worker must carry a ited the bank during curfew on restaurants in order for them to con- work permit registered under the facility as hours recently, they saw at tinue delivering food to their customers well as a health card so that the work permit least 30 citizens and expatri- until 10:00 pm, many restaurants and could be issued. ates who donated blood with- cafes were closed and did not operate Also, the mechanism for issuing permits by in one hour - from 5:00 pm to past the curfew timing as they were the relevant authorities is unclear. The owners 6:00 pm. unable to obtain permits that would allow of restaurants and cafes have not yet been Asked about the reason for their employees to work during the cur- informed about how the permits are issued. donating blood, the donors said they responded to an- few period, reports Al-Qabas daily. Meanwhile, a team from the daily toured a nouncements posted on social Head of the Union of Restaurants, Cafes number of areas and discovered that only two media by some patients in in- and Catering Companies Fahad Al-Arbash out of 40 restaurants and cafes were operating tensive care units. The donors explained that delivery companies and res- during the period from 6:00 pm to 10:00 pm. pointed out that community taurants were unable to obtain permits for When they were asked how their workers solidarity, brotherhood and their workers and vehicles to deliver orders obtained permits at a time when the rest of generosity are among the to homes. the restaurants were closed, the two restau- strongest factors for giving, This hindered the return of such activities rants revealed that they obtained the permits especially for people with in the restaurants during the partial curfew since the beginning of the partial curfew, as whom you have no connec- hours between 6:00pm and 10:00 pm. they are registered with food companies and tion other than humanity. There are conditions to be met in order to were allowed to practice activity. ARAB TIMES, FRIDAY-SATURDAY, MARCH 26-27, 2021 LOCAL 5

Adhere to and abide by the regulations and procedures announced by Kuwaiti authorities: Ambassador George Indian Embassy holds Open House under ‘COVID-19’ vaccines theme KUWAIT CITY, March 25: The Embassy premises for vaccine regis- medical treatment or legal assistance, “Let me also brief you on the politi- Indian Ambassador to Kuwait HE Sibi tration and advised those wishing to the Embassy is there to extend full cal developments in our relations with George in his opening remarks during avail the services at these counters. support in deserving cases. Kuwait. Foreign Minister of Kuwait the Open House which was held at the Please do not take the matter lightly. “You could also walk in and drop HE Sheikh Dr. Ahmed Nasser Al Embassy Auditorium, taking all pre- We have seen people dying. We need your requests for support from ICWF Mohammed Al Sabah visited India last cautionary measures such as wearing to be extremely careful and cautious. in the boxes kept at the Embassy and week, March 17-18. We have agreed masks and social distancing, lamented The Open House main theme was at our three passport offices. We are to establish an annual Joint Ministerial the closure of the public service at the ‘COVID-19 vaccines’ which was the continuing our lunch program for all Commission (JCM) to further strength- chancery premises for ten days, though single most important issue that the laborers visiting the Embassy through- en our relationship in multiple areas the emergency services were provided. world and the entire Indian community out the week. Please contact the including in healthcare, education, The Indian envoy in his address to a face today, he said. Embassy or the ICSG or any of the manpower etc. few office bearers of various associa- He said the situation is getting out associations registered with the “They also discussed issues related tions said, “There were a few cases of of control and called on each one Embassy for any requirements or sup- to the community including the wel- COVID-19 at the Embassy, and I am attending the Open House to register port, he said. fare of facing difficulties due to Covid happy that all have recovered and we for the vaccination. “I urge you to 19 pandemic. We will celebrate the are now back to normal working make sure that every Indian whom you History 60th anniversary of establishment of hours, and the embassy has also know also registers for the vaccine. Another important issue for the diplomatic relations between India and cleared the backlog. Please continue to “I urge all associations, groups, vol- Embassy is the examinations. For the Kuwait starting this month. We are use the multi-lingual feedback forms unteers and social workers to start a first time in the history of Kuwait, we launching the two yearlong celebra- at the Embassy and at the three campaign to register. I have seen that held JEE examinations in Kuwait this tions of the 75th anniversary of our Passport Centers. These feedback some associations have already taken year. This is continuing. We also have Independence at a function on March forms make a difference for us to keep the initiative to launch the campaign to now Kuwait as center for NEET and 31. We will also release the logo of the monitoring the quality of services. We reach out to all Indians in all parts of NATA examinations. I am sure that celebrations of the 60th anniversary on are also resuming the Legal Help Desk Indian envoy addressing the Open House. the country to register. I urge those this will help many students during that occasion,” the Indian said. from this Saturday from 10 am till 12 without Civil IDs or without proper these difficult times. The Ambassador took this opportu- noon.” low all the precautionary measures and ing by extending telephone consulta- documents also to come forward and On the CBSE examinations, “we are nity to bid farewell to two officers -- He added, COVID-19 situation con- guidelines issued by the authorities tions. register with the Embassy. We will in regular touch with CBSE authorities Deputy Chief of Mission Raj Gopal tinues to be worrisome in Kuwait and and as a matter of fact all Indians are The ambassador requests all Indians work with the authorities to ensure that and the Kuwaiti authorities. I urge you Singh who is superannuating from “We need to be cautious. I appeal all to urged to take all necessary precautions in Kuwait to register for COVID-19 all Indians get vaccinated.” to be in constant touch with the school government service this month and to adhere to and abide by the regulations in this regard and that includes avoid- vaccines. “We need all Indians to reg- At the same time, Ambassador authorities here. Your principals are Sibi U.S., Second Secretary (Labor) and procedures announced by the ing social gatherings. ister for vaccines. No Indian can be George reminded everyone that the the nodal points, Embassy officers are and wished them and their families all Kuwaiti authorities, including the cur- He reminded that last month the left behind; we need to reach out to all Embassy, the Indian Community in real time contact with all stakehold- the best. few timings.” Indian embassy had received an over- Indians including domestic workers, Support Group (ICSG) and all our ers. We will do everything we can do Fahad Suri, First Secretary and The ambassador disclosed, there are whelming response to the symposium drivers, one and all. associations are ready to provide all to ensure that children will not lose an Spokesperson of the Embassy then a few cases of deportation (people who organized by Indian Doctors Forum “Everyone above sixteen years support to those who are in need. “I academic year and also to ensure the gave a brief presentation on what the were caught for violating the curfew). (IDF) and disclosed during the Covid needs to register. Vaccine is the only continue to meet the community in health and safety of all concerned embassy did during February 2021. The Kuwaiti government has consis- 19 crisis last year IDF was in the fore- way to get back to a normal situation. small groups. Whether it is the air including children and our teachers are This was followed by comments and tently emphasized on the need to fol- front of support to community includ- We have opened two counters at the tickets, or foodstuff or emergency not compromised. question-answer session. Digital innovation helps revive Kuwait travel, aviation sectors Platforms aim to make Kuwait one of safest airports globally

By Chaitali B Roy Special to the Arab Times KUWAIT CITY, March Indian Ambassador with Dr Al-Salman. 25: Hassan El-Houry, Indian envoy meets Dr Al-Salman Group CEO of National Aviation Services (NAS), in The Ambassador of India to Kuwait discussed bilateral relations, ways an article for the World HE Sibi George called on Dr. of further strengthening bilateral Economic Forum, notes Abdullah Issa Abbas Ali Salman Al ties and further enhancing and Salman, Minister of Commerce and diversifying bilateral trade and that the reopening of air Industry. investments, in addition to mutual travel will depend on devel- During the meeting both sides interests of benefit to both sides. oping digital solutions to manage transparent test- ing and vaccine data. Virtual conference set In Kuwait, three tech solutions that integrate different elements within the aviation ecosystem is ‘Kuwait strong partner in being used. The Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) in Kuwait has introduced bid to resolve Syria crisis’ KuwaitMosafer and Belsalamah as BRUSSELS, March 25, ditions for Syrian refugees and digital solutions that generate new Scene at Kuwait International Airport. (Agencies): Kuwait has been at the their host communities in neigh- streams to support decision mak- forefront in organizing conferenc- boring countries. ing and passenger information es on Syria and remains a strong Last week, artillery shells fired strengthening infection control and partner of the European Union in from government areas hit a major ongoing efforts to resolve the hospital in a rebel-controlled town building confidence. 10-year-old Syrian conflict, a in northwestern Syria, killing at COVID-19 has hit tourism hard. senior EU official said in Brussels. least six patients, including a child, According to the IATA, COVID-19 has “Kuwait remains a strong part- wounding medical staff and forc- decimated air connectivity and the eco- ner with whom we have regular ing the facility to shut its doors, nomic benefits it generates. The airline conversations on aid as well as on rescuers, an aid group and activists industry is virtually grounded, and the overall political situation and is reported. recovery has been challenging in most part of the international consensus The shells landed at the entrance markets due to travel restrictions. The to back the efforts of the UN in and in the courtyard of the hospital aviation industry is struck with unprece- solving the conflict,” said the offi- in Atareb, a town in rural western dented losses as international passengers cial in an online press briefing Aleppo, according to the Britain- traffic dropped by about 90% putting 46 ahead of the fifth Syrian confer- based Syrian Observatory for million aviation-related jobs at risk. ence in Brussels next week. Human Rights. The hospital is Track Kuwait has played a leading located underground, a tactic used part in organizing pleading confer- by the opposition to avoid target- The Kuwaiti aviation industry itself ences on Syria (in 2013, 2014, and ing in the conflict-prone area. has suffered losses exceeding $1 bil- 2015), said the EU official speak- lion. With the availability of vaccines, ing on condition of anonymity. Strikes increasing innovation, and digital transformation, a gradual recovery is Kuwait was also the co-chair of The Syrian American Medical Filipino domestic workers getting their details verified. the Brussels I conference on Syria, Society, the aid group which sup- anticipated in the second half of the he recalled. ports the hospital, said three artil- year. Greater use of data and digital Kuwait, Al-Kheziem notes, “The travel plished as soon as possible, so our life tional carriers. By ensuring that work- Sixty countries have been invit- lery strikes early Sunday caused technology ensures better management industry has already reopened, albeit can go back to normal, which is the ers who board the flight are COVID- ed to the Brussels conference extensive damage to the hospital, of the risk of transmission and corona- the progress has been slow. It is a fact main aim of all the hard work being 19 free, Besalamah.com helps protect including the key actors in the including destroying the orthope- virus resurgence. “As everyone knows, that recovery of global air travel is done by each official entity in the the health of other passengers, airport digital advancements have helped us Gulf, as well as several regional dic clinic and knocking out the closely tied to restoring stakeholder Government of Kuwait.” staff and the Kuwaiti population. It and UN agencies. electric generators on the roof of all around the world from the start of the COVID-19 Pandemic,” says confidence which includes govern- Commenting on public and private also assists the fulfilment of COVID- The European Union together the hospital. ments, passengers and airlines. In sector collaboration on facilitating trav- 19 travel requirements with reduced with the UN is organizing the fifth “The hospital has been evacu- Abdullah Aljaraisi, Emergency Management Coordinator at the Kuwait, we are working closely with el in the pandemic, Mr Mansour waiting time and disruption. An online Brussels Conference on ated for the moment,” said Fadi the Kuwait Ministry of Health (MOH), Al-Kheziem says, “Kuwait is a great payment mechanism eliminates the “Supporting the future of Syria Hakim, spokesman for the Syrian Kuwait Directorate General of Civil Aviation. “Applications and websites Directorate General of Civil Aviation example of how PPP can drive develop- possibility of any human trafficking by and the region” on March 29-30. American Medical Society, who (DGCA), Central Agency for IT ment. Since the suspension of flights in matching employers with the employ- In view of Covid-19 restric- added that the emergency room have helped us stay on track with the process of people travelling and arriv- (CAIT), Ministry of Interior (MOI), Kuwait, NAS has been working closely ee and confirming consent. tions, the conference will take has also sustained damage. The other government agencies and national with government entities to develop BelSalamah is linked to place in virtual format. The aid group said 17 people, includ- ing in Kuwait. These applications lower the risk of COVID-19 transmis- airlines to develop solutions to digitise different solutions to facilitate travel KuwaitMosafer, a digital platform for Ministerial Conference will take ing five medical staff, were health data and facilitate safe travel.” leading to safer and simpler processes all travellers departing from and arriv- place on March 30. injured. Four have been evacuated sion and spread social awareness.” Kuwait’s aviation sector is witness- The Kuwait DGCA recently for passengers and efficient data captur- ing in Kuwait. With KuwaitMosafer, to Turkey for emergency treat- announced that people arriving from ing and verification for government passengers can book PCR appoint- Society ment. ing a successful public and private sector partnership in managing digital 16 countries listed on MUNA should bodies. Such collaborations will ensure ments, upload PCR results, remotely On March 29, the Day of Among those killed were a child do their PCR tests in a lab included in the road to travel recovery is smoother sign government declarations, book Dialogue will allow pursuing dia- and a woman, according to the transformation. DGCA and NAS have collaborated on providing digital strat- MUNA. Medical Utility Network as the airport opens up.” services (such as lounges, baggage logue between civil society, refu- Syrian Civil Defense volunteers, Accreditor (MUNA) is a patented delivery, travel insurance) and report gee-hosting countries, the EU, and known as the White Helmets. A egies and solutions for the revival of Collaboration Kuwait’s aviation sector.”NAS has blockchain technology that connects unsanitary conditions on the premises. the UN. video posted on the local health labs in more than 40 cities (all consid- BelSalamah is an instance of close They can also reduce waiting time in The first objective of the confer- directorate’s Facebook page developed three digital solutions, including Medical Utility Network ered high risk) with direct flights to public and private collaboration. With queues at check-in by organising time ence is to support a political solu- showed debris and blood stains at Kuwait. The MUNA network will new visas being issued for Filipino slots and counters. “The platform also tion and to ensure the implementa- the entrance of the hospital. Accreditor (MUNA), Kuwait Mosafer and BelSalamah. All three platforms soon include all passengers flying into domestic workers and Indian house- integrates the Kuwait Ministry of tion of UN resolutions. The second “The medical staff was in a state the country. Linked to MUNA is maids expected to follow suit, Health vaccination data, so passengers objective is to raise pledges, to of panic,” said Omar Halaq, the are inter-linked and aim to make Kuwait one of the safest airports in the KuwaitMosafer and BelSalamah, two BelSalamah as a digital tool gains generate a QR code (valid only for 10 raise humanitarian support for the director of the hospital in Atareb, groundbreaking digital platforms that importance. “ NAS developed mins) to share or view their records as Syrians inside and outside Syria. also known as the Cave. world,” says Mansour Al-Kheziem, General Manager, and NAS. help reduce infection risk and build BelSalamah.com in cooperation with required,” adds Mansour Al-Kheziem. The objectives of the Brussels Attacks on hospitals are com- new levels of operational responsive- the Kuwait Directorate General for “All Covid testing labs in Kuwait are conferences have been unchanged mon in the Syrian conflict, and are Sharing his observations on the reopening of the travel industry in ness. KuwaitMosafer is a web plat- Civil Aviation (DGCA) and the connected through KuwaitMosafer to since 2017. These conferences are mostly blamed on government and form for passengers travelling through Kuwait Ministry of Health to help the Kuwait airport check-in process. here to remind the world of the its allied forces. Kuwait International Airport that pro- facilitate the return of Article 20 work- This helps verify test certificates and unity of the international commu- Government forces knew about vides contactless processes and shorter ers back to Kuwait simply, direct and instils confidence in airlines and other nity behind the efforts that are the hospital location, because the queues. BelSalamah is a web platform more cost-effectively,” says Mansour countries that passengers from Kuwait being made by the UN, said the Syrian American Medical Society that facilitates the return of Article 20 Al-Kheziem. Sponsors have to register are Covid free on departure.” official. had shared its coordinates through domestic workers from high-risk online and provide a few basic details Technology and digital transforma- The 15th of March marked the the United Nations notification countries directly to Kuwait. It is also to book a package. The BelSalamah. tion will play an increasingly critical 10th anniversary of the Syrian cri- system, said partner aid organiza- the safest method with three PCR tests com package costs KD 270 for those role in the revival of Kuwait’s travel sis. The conflict is still ongoing, tion, the International Rescue and a 14-day institutional quarantine. with valid residencies and KD 275 for sector by providing business intelli- the situation in Syria and the Committee. Speaking of digital innovations intro- those with new visas, making it easier gence and restoring passenger confi- region remains highly critical, “Health facilities are protected duced by Kuwait’s aviation sector, for sponsors to fly their workers back. dence. Apart from digital platforms with the consequences of the under international law and should Abdullah Aljaraisi of DGCA says, The package includes accommodation like BelSalamah, KuwaitMosafer and COVID-19 pandemic and the dete- be safe havens in times of crisis, “These applications and websites save for 14 days as per the Ministry of MUNA, which allows passenger, air- rioration of the economies across but after 10 years of war this is not time and money for government enti- Health regulations, transportation, port operators and other stakeholders the region over the last year further the case in Syria,” said Rehana ties allowing them to focus on fighting meals, and the three PCR tests. Airline to minimise risk, data sharing between exacerbating the dire humanitarian Zawar, IRC Country Director for this disease and stay committed to that fares vary according to the location, airlines and airports, government and situation inside Syria and the con- northwest Syria. focus. Finding a solution is something with chartered flights organised in other stakeholders will also help adapt Mansour Al-Kheziem that everyone wants to be accom- cooperation with national and interna- to a challenging and fluid situation. ARAB TIMES, FRIDAY-SATURDAY, MARCH 26-27, 2021

6

Group photos of newly-admitted students engaging in open conversation with Student Life during orientation day. University provides safe, enriching and rewarding experience for everyone American University of Kuwait kicks off Spring eLearning Semester

KUWAIT CITY, March 25: American of the Wolfpack community. So wel- facilitated an array of online Zoom University of Kuwait (AUK) com- come!” Upon showing the students a sessions throughout welcome week menced the spring 2021 online semes- live view of the University’s campus, to support new students, creating a ter by welcoming new and returning she concluded her speech by wishing friendly and collaborative space for students, staff, and faculty through everyone a great semester. everyone to meet one another. There multiple virtual meetings, engaging ac- In order to get the students well- were numerous competitions, interac- tivities, and orientations. The Univer- accustomed to their campus, footage tive games, raffle draws, and prizes sity’s various services, departments, of events previously held at AUK was given out during these events. online networks and new platforms displayed alongside departmental pre- The Student Life Department con- were all showcased and introduced to sentations that provided information tinuously encouraged students to re- the campus community. about scholarship and financial aid, main active by joining campus clubs Dr Hanan Muzaffar, Vice-President IT services, library, the Writing and and organizations. “Being involved for Student Affairs, initiated AUK’s Tutoring Center, and the Counseling in a club develops your leadership orientation meeting by greeting all Center. skills while creating an impact in the newcomers directly from AUK’s cam- Towards the end of the orientation, community around you and beyond,” pus, saying, “I personally can’t wait students were divided into several chat stated Student Life director, Shirley to get to know every one of you and I rooms where they introduced them- Sullivan. will be reaching out to you throughout selves and played ice-breaker games. A safe online learning environment your time at AUK.” She also expressed This exchange of conversation granted with continued virtual connections be- her enthusiasm towards starting a fresh students the opportunity to engage tween students, staff, and faculty will semester with the newly admitted stu- each other as diverse members of the be ensured and provided in AUK’s dents, “We are all very excited to be- same community. spring 2021 semester, creating an en- gin a new year with you, even if vir- The University’s Student Life De- riching and rewarding experience for tually at this point. You are now part partment, Division of Student Affairs, everyone.

A collage of photos from the event. Virtual Musical Fiesta mesmerizes parents and students FAIPS Kindergarten concludes academic year KUWAIT CITY, March 25: Strug- was followed by the beautiful Power- left speechless and were filled with im- gling to provide the essential educa- Point presentation which was named mense pride in their hearts. And their tional necessities to tiny tots during the as, “The Shining Stars”, in which each eyes with tears of joy which showed a triumphant journey of the Covid-19, slide included pictures of the student in great appreciation that paid off all the the academic year has come to an end different moods. The teachers spoke to efforts taken by all the teachers. successfully with a virtual musical fi- their students regarding their academic The mesmerizing event - a special esta organized by FAIPS Kindergarten performances, bringing smiles to the day for the LKG students, was remark- on March 10. kids’ faces. They were bubbling and ably executed by the KG team under The event commenced at 4 pm and bursting with joy. It was a wonderful the visionary leadership of Mr. Ravi began with a melodious music, there- and a remarkable moment. Ayanoli, Principal, FAIPS(DPS), Ku- after the LKG teachers addressed their The Musical Fiesta began with the wait. His endeavors and farsighted class students and the parents with stunning performances which included vision has transformed the virtual a warm welcome note. This time, to poems, rhymes, and songs in English classrooms into happy classrooms! He make a difference UKG teachers were as well as other languages too. Other congratulated the entire team of Kin- the Guests of Honourand were wel- items which kept the audience en- dergarten, especially the Head mistress Photos from the event. comed by each class with lots of ex- thralled included instrument playing as Mrs. Bharti Tiwari, for her able guid- citement. The guest congratulated the well as some dances. ance to the team of amazing teachers kids for completing their academic With heavy hearts filled with great and organizing the spectacular event. Children share their favorite book characters year and encouraged them for their pride and joy, it was time to say good- The program concluded with an on- future endeavours. Later the program bye to the little ones. The parents were line class photo shoot. KNES Early Years students hold Character Day KUWAIT CITY, March 25: The of literature. topics and stories shared by them and youngest children of Kuwait National We are very proud of our children’s their classmates! They fully partici- English School had an exciting day ability to imagine through pictures and pated and showed great initiative to be last week. They shared with their also their amazing ability to read more able to engage while online. classmates, their favourite book. They complex books as each week passes. The children, by choosing the books were able to explain why they liked We feel strongly that Early Years chil- they want to share themselves, create the book and talk about the characters dren should be given the tools and abil- a great diversity of literature. That di- in the book. They even dressed up as ity to read as soon as possible. Books versity of literature helps build their some of their favourite book charac- at this age expands their ability to un- own personal aspect of Global Citizen- ters. derstand and also to be creative, this ship. The books come from a variety Even online the children are able in turn causes a lifelong passion for of cultural and ethnic backgrounds and to expand their imagination and reading. therefore exposes the children to vari- communicate how books make them Although our children in KG and ous interpretations of citizenship and feel. As their confidence and ability Reception are learning online this has global connectiveness. grows, they are more and more able not prevented them from becoming COVID-19 or not, our children have to engross themselves into the world visibly excited and interested in the overcome! Weekend Islamic School starts in April IMA Children Circles felicitates ‘students’ A photo from the event. By Mohammed Ilyas Shaik Weekend Islamic Classes detail over PowerPoint which are going to start on KUWAIT CITY, March 25: Indian April 2021. I too had an opportunity Association to continue with its noble work Muslim Association conducted a to address the children and parents on program upon completion of Islamic values of Islamic education. classes on Feb 6 morning between 10- General Secretary of IMA conclud- 12 noon on Zoom. More than hundred ed the program with vote of thanks. Blood Bank Kuwait honors PSA, Pakistani expats children along with their parents par- Our young smart conveyor was Master ticipated in the online session. Younus Habeeb Khan. KUWAIT CITY, March 25: The Pakistan Sports Association Kuwait true image of Pakistan. IMA in coordination with Zahratul May Allah’s Mercy be upon all the management of Central Blood Bank and Pakistani community in Kuwait for PSA is consistently organizing Jannah Children Circle had arranged children who took this task to the suc- Kuwait honored Pakistan Sports As- their successful blood donation drive on blood donation drives every year and Islamic classes for 4 months from Oc- cessful end and have an ambition for a sociation and Pakistani community in Feb 12, at Central Blood Bank Jabriya contributing in noble cause of blood tober 2020 to January 2021. As usual new beginning again towards another Kuwait for their generous support and in such a difficult situation of Covid19 donation and the activities like blood subjects taught were Hifz, Seerah, goal. Excellent coordination of Mrs remarkable, effective and continuous in the country and helping blood bank donation is promoting kind image of Tafseer and Emaniyat. About 100 chil- Tabassum Farouq along with dedicat- effort in organizing blood donation in noble cause of blood donation. PSA Pakistan in the State of Kuwait. They dren attended the classes. ed teachers has brought this result and drives and contributing to noble cause Founder and Director General Muham- said blood is a precious gift that saves So many children took part in multi- last but not the least a technical support of blood donation. PSA Vice President mad Irfan Adil, President Maqbool human lives and blood donation is a ple events like speeches, Islamic songs of Mrs. Jafar Sadiq gained one more Muhammad Younas Shahid received Ahmed, Vice President Muhammad most remarkable noble act of service to and puzzle games and same time soft milestone for IMA. certificate of appreciation recently in Younas Shahid congratulate team PSA humanity. Pakistan Sports Association copies of certificates were displayed. IMA is going to start Weekend Is- Central Blood Bank Jabriya. and Pakistani community in Kuwait for Kuwait will keep on organizing blood IMA President’s speech was an ex- lamic School on Zoom from 3rd April Dr. Asmaa Raafat from Central Blood such honor and achievement. They stat- donation drives in future in coordina- cellant piece of the program. Janab 2021, for details and registration please Bank Jabriya State of Kuwait, appreci- ed it is a great honor indeed for Pakistani tion with Central Blood Bank Jabriya, Nisar Sahib presented the future IMA A flyer of the IMA classes log on to www.imakuwait.org/school ated and conveyed sincere gratitude to community and team PSA and it reflects Kuwait. ARAB TIMES, FRIDAY-SATURDAY, MARCH 26-27, 2021 INTERNATIONAL 7

Asia

‘Launch a message to US’ N. Korea test-fires 2 ballistic missiles SEOUL, South Korea, March 25, (AP): North Korea on Thurs- day test-fi red its fi rst ballistic missiles since President Joe Biden took offi ce, as it expands its military capabilities and increases pressure on Washington while nuclear negotiations remain stalled. Japanese Prime Minister Yoshihide Suga said the launches threaten “peace and safety in Japan and the region,” and that Tokyo will closely coordinate with Washington and Seoul on the North’s testing activities. South Korean Foreign Minister Chung Eui-yong, after meeting his Russian counterpart in Seoul, expressed “deep concern” over the launches and urged the North to uphold its commitments for peace. Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov called for a swift resumption of dialogue to resolve the standoff with North Korea. South Korea’s Joint Chiefs of Staff said the two short-range missiles were fi red at 7:06 a.m. and 7:25 a.m. from an area on the North’s eastern coast and fl ew 450 kilometers (279 miles) on an apogee of 60 kilometers (37 miles) be- fore landing in the sea. “This activity highlights the threat that North Korea’s illicit weapons pro- gram poses to its neighbors and the in- ternational community,” said US Indo- Suga Pacifi c Command spokesperson Capt. Mike Kafka. The launches came a day after US and South Korean offi - cials said the North fi red short-range weapons presumed to be cruise missiles into its western sea over the weekend. President Joe Biden holds a face mask as he speaks during an event to mark Equal Pay Day in the South Court Auditorium in the Eisenhower Executive Offi ce North Korea has a history of testing new US administrations Building on the White House Campus Wednesday, March 24, in Washington. The White House is hoping to use Biden’s fi rst news conference since taking offi ce to with missile launches and other provocations aimed at forcing celebrate passage of the giant COVID-19 relief package. (AP) the Americans back to the negotiating table. Still, Thursday’s launches were a measured provocation compared to the nuclear and intercontinental missile tests in America 2017 that inspired war fears before the North shifted toward diplomacy with the Trump administration in 2018. Analysts say that the North would gradually dial up its weapons displays to increase its bargaining power as it angles to get back into stalled talks aimed at leveraging nuclear weap- Shooting suspect to make 1st court appearance ons for badly needed economic benefi ts. North Korea has so far ignored the Biden administration’s efforts to reach out, saying it won’t engage in meaningful talks unless Washington abandons its “hostile” policies. Biden holds 1st news conference Policy WASHINGTON, March 25, (AP): “The press conference serves an im- his aides have tried to avoid, and, in It’s unclear how the Biden administration would respond President Joe Biden held off on hold- portant purpose: It presents the press a pandemic silver lining, were largely before it completes its policy review on North Korea in the ing his first news conference so he an extended opportunity to hold a able to dodge during the campaign be- coming weeks. could use it to celebrate passage of a leader accountable for decisions,” said cause the virus kept Biden home for The missile launches followed a trip by Secretary of State defining legislative achievement, his Kathleen Hall Jamieson, presidential months and limited the potential for Antony Blinken and Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin to Japan giant COVID-19 relief package. But scholar and professor of communica- public mistakes. and South Korea last week as Washington pushes to restore its he’s sure to be pressed at Thursday’s tion at the University of Pennsylvania. Firmly pledging his belief in free- alliances in Asia in the face of challenges from North Korea question-and-answer session about “A question I ask: What is the pub- dom of the press, Biden has rebuked and China. all sorts of other challenges that have lic going to learn in this venue that it his predecessor’s incendiary rhetoric During the trip, Blinken sternly criticized North Korea’s cropped up along the way. couldn’t learn elsewhere? And why toward the media, including Donald nuclear program and human rights record and pressed China Britain’s Prince Charles, (left), and his A pair of mass shootings, rising in- does it matter? The answer: The presi- Trump’s references to reporters as “the to use its “tremendous infl uence” to convince the North to de- wife Camilla, the Duchess of Cornwall ternational tensions, early signs of in- dent speaks for the nation.” enemy of the people.” Biden restored nuclearize. attend parade in front of the Greek traparty divisions and increasing num- Biden will stand behind a lectern the daily press briefing, which had North Korean state media said Tuesday that leader Kim Parliament in Athens, Thursday, bers of migrants crossing the southern emblazoned with the presidential seal gone extinct under Trump, opening a Jong Un reaffi rmed his country’s traditional alliance with Chi- March 25. Greece celebrates the bi- border are all confronting a West Wing and point to a surge in vaccine dis- window into the workings of the White na while exchanging messages with Chinese President Xi Jin- centenary of the start of the country’s known for its message discipline. tribution, encouraging signs in the House. And he sat for a national inter- ping in an apparent response to Biden’s efforts to coordinate war of independence against the Ot- Biden is the first chief executive economy and the benefits Americans view with ABC News last week. action on North Korea with his allies. toman Empire. (AP) in four decades to reach this point in will receive from the sweeping stimu- Biden has also delivered a series The negotiations over the North’s nuclear program faltered his term without holding a formal lus package. But plenty of challenges of well-received speeches, including after the collapse of Kim’s second summit with President Don- question-and-answer session. He’ll abound. his inaugural address, and has shown ald Trump in February 2019, when the Americans rejected meet with reporters for the nationally His appearance will come just a day that he can effectively communicate North Korean demands for major sanctions relief in exchange televised afternoon event in the East after he appointed Vice President Ka- beyond news conferences, according for a partial surrender of their nuclear capabilities. Room of the White House. mala Harris to lead the government’s to Frank Sesno, former head of George Since Trump’s fi rst meeting with Kim in 2018, the North “It’s an opportunity for him to speak response to the situation at the US- Washington University’s school of has not conducted nuclear or long-range missile tests, although to the American people, obviously di- Mexico border, where the adminis- media. analysts believe they have pressed ahead with their programs rectly through the coverage, directly tration faces a growing humanitarian “His strongest communication is on both. through all of you,” White House and political challenge that threatens not extemporaneous. He can ramble The North has continued short- and medium range missile press secretary Jen Psaki told report- to overshadow Biden’s legislative or stumble into a famous Biden gaffe,” testing during its suspension of nuclear and long-range tests, ers aboard Air Force One on Tuesday. agenda. said Sesno in a recent interview. “But expanding its ability to strike targets in South Korea and Japan, “And so I think he’s thinking about Pressure to this point, he and his team have been including US bases there. what he wants to say, what he wants very disciplined with the message of Kim Dong-yub, an analyst from South Korea’s Institute for Lorenzana Patel to convey, where he can provide up- In less than a week, two mass shoot- the day and in hitting the words of the Far Eastern Studies, said the fl ight data released by South Ko- dates, and, you know, looking forward ings have rattled the nation and pres- day.” sure has mounted on the White House rea’s military suggests the North possibly tested a new solid- to the opportunity to engage with a free Also: fuel system modeled after Russia’s 9K720 Iskander mobile In Brief press.” to back tougher gun measures. The ballistic missiles. While Biden has been on pace with White House has struggled to blunt a BOULDER, Colo.: Hundreds of The low-fl ying missiles, which analysts see as potentially his predecessors in taking questions nationwide effort by Republican leg- mourners gathered Wednesday night at nuclear capable, are designed to be maneuverable so they have UK ‘plan’ draws criticism: The British from the press in other formats, he islatures to tighten election laws. A a candlelight vigil to remember the 10 a better chance at evading missile defense systems. government said Wednesday it will tough- tends to field just one or two informal pair of Democratic senators briefly people gunned down at a supermarket Kim said it was also possible that the North tested its new en immigration rules to make it harder for inquiries at a time, usually in a hurried threatened to hold up the confirmation in a Colorado college town, while the multiple rocket launchers or another solid-fuel ballistic system people who arrive by unauthorized routes setting at the end of an event or in front of Biden appointees due to a lack of 21-year-old man suspected of carrying that outwardly resembles the US MGM-140 Army Tactical such as small boats and truck stowaways to of a whirring helicopter. Asian-American representation in the out the rampage prepared for his first Missile System. be given asylum. Pressure had mounted on Biden to Cabinet. And both North Korea and court appearance Thursday morning. The North had conducted at least 16 launches of the new Home Secretary Priti Patel said asylum- hold a formal session, which allows re- Russia have unleashed provocative ac- Ahmad Al Aliwi Alissa has been seekers who come to Britain through or- tions to test a new commander in chief. jailed for investigation of murder since short-range weapons since they were fi rst revealed in 2019. ganized, sponsored routes, will have their porters to have an extended back-and- Trump had been accused of giving North Korea room to refugee claims considered promptly and forth with the president on the issues In a sharp contrast with the previous he was arrested inside the King Soop- advance its weaponry by repeatedly dismissing its short-range will be given support to settle. Those who of the day. Biden’s conservative critics administration, the Biden White House ers supermarket in Boulder on Mon- missile tests despite the threat they posed to South Korea and sneak into the country will only be given have pointed to the delay to suggest has exerted extreme message disci- day and treated at a hospital for a leg Japan. temporary permission to stay, will receive that Biden was being shielded by his pline, empowering staff to speak but wound. He was to hear the pending If Biden takes a different approach by imposing additional sanc- limited benefits and will be “regularly reas- staff. doing so with caution. The new White charges he faces and his rights as a de- tions over short-range missile launches, the North may use it as sessed for removal from the U.K.” West Wing aides have dismissed House team has carefully managed the fendant, and he would not be asked for an excuse for more provocative tests, including those involving Patel said the system would be “fair but the questions about a news conference president’s appearances, which serves a plea until later in the judicial process. submarine-launched ballistic missile systems, said Cheong Seong- firm.” as a Washington obsession, point- Biden’s purposes but denies the me- Alissa was last seen handcuffed and Chang, an analyst at South Korea’s Sejong Institute. “People are dying at sea, in lorries and in ing to Biden’s high approval ratings dia opportunities to directly press him being led out of the supermarket by Kim Jong Un’s powerful sister last week berated the United shipping containers,” she said. “To stop the while suggesting that the general pub- on major policy issues and to engage police. He had removed all clothing States over its latest round of combined military exercises with deaths we must stop the trade in people that lic is not concerned about the event. in the kind of back-and-forth that can except shorts before being taken into South Korea that ended earlier this month, describing the drills cause them.” The president himself, when asked draw out information and thoughts that custody. A rifle, a green tactical vest as an invasion rehearsal and warned Washington to “refrain Refugee groups and immigration lawyers Wednesday if he were ready for the go beyond curated talking points. and a handgun were recovered inside from causing a stink” if it wants to “sleep in peace” for the say the plan unfairly discriminates against press conference, joked, “What press Having overcome a childhood stut- the grocery store, according to an ar- next four years. refugees based on the way they got to the U.K. conference?” ter and famously long-winded, Biden rest affidavit. South Korea’s Defense Ministry said the North’s short- “The proposals effectively create an un- Behind the scenes, though, aides has long enjoyed interplay with report- While most Colorado court proceed- range tests on Sunday were its fi rst missile fi rings since April fair two-tiered system, whereby someone’s have taken the event seriously enough ers and has defied aides’ requests to ings have been conducted by video 2020. Biden played down those launches, telling reporters, case and the support they receive is judged to hold a mock session with the presi- ignore questions from the press. He during the pandemic, District Judge “There’s no new wrinkle in what they did.” on how they entered the country and not on dent earlier this week. And there is has been prone to gaffes throughout Thomas Francis Mulvahill ordered Also: their need for protection,” said Mike Ad- some concern that Biden, a self-pro- his long political career and, as presi- Alissa to appear before him in court amson, chief executive of the British Red claimed “gaffe machine,” could go off dent, has occasionally struggled with unless Alissa waives his right to ap- BEIJING: China’s ruling Communist Party is lashing out at Cross. “This is inhumane.” (AP) message and generate a series of un- off-the-cuff remarks. pear in person in writing. The court- H&M and other clothing and footwear brands as it retaliates ❑ ❑ ❑ flattering news cycles. Those are the types of distractions room will be closed to the public. for Western sanctions on Chinese offi cials accused of human rights abuses in the Xinjiang region. Manila deploys patrol ships: The Phil- The attacks began when the party’s Youth League on ippine military has ordered more navy ships ing the Philippines in the new feud with Bei- security in the region.” nese vessels converged in the area to avoid Wednesday called attention on its social media account to an to be deployed for “sovereignty patrols” in jing and accused China of using “maritime The Philippines has filed a diplomatic rough waters. The US, however, said (AP) H&M statement in March 2020 that it would stop buying cot- the South China Sea, where a Chinese flo- militia to intimidate, provoke, and threaten protest but China insisted it owns the reef, ❑ ❑ ❑ ton from Xinjiang in China’s northwest. The Swedish retailer, tilla has swarmed around a disputed reef and other nations, which undermines peace and which it calls Niué Jiao, and said the Chi- in words also used by some other brands, said it was “deeply ignored Manila’s demand to leave the area. Thai protesters hold rally: Thai pro- concerned” about reports of forced labor there. Philippine Defense Secretary Delfin democracy protesters who last year broke On Thursday, a party newspaper, the Global Times, cited Lorenzana has asked about 200 Chinese a long-standing taboo by publicly criticiz- vessels he described as militia boats to im- ing the country’s monarchy returned to the Burberry, Adidas, Nike and New Balance as having made mediately leave Whitsun Reef, a shallow streets Wednesday to defiantly repeat their “cutting remarks” about Xinjiang cotton as early as two years coral region about 175 nautical miles (324 calls for reform of the royal institution. ago. A separate Global Times report cited what it said was a kilometers) west of Bataraza town in the The rally in the middle of a Bangkok statement by Zara that it had a “zero-tolerance approach to- western Philippine province of Palawan. shopping district was called by the United wards forced labor.” China ignored the call, insisting it owns the Front of Thammasat and Demonstration, Celebrities including Wang Yibo, a popular singer and ac- offshore territory and that the vessels were a faction of a broader protest movement tor, announced they were breaking endorsement contracts with sheltering from rough seas. that started last year and has three core de- H&M and Nike. Military chief Gen Cirilito Sobejana or- mands: the resignation of Prime Minister Beijing often attacks foreign clothing, auto, travel and other dered the deployment of additional navy Prayuth Chan-ocha and his government, for brands for actions by their governments or to pressure compa- ships to beef up the country’s “maritime the constitution to be amended to make it nies to conform to its offi cial positions on Taiwan, Tibet and sovereignty patrols” in the disputed waters, more democratic and the monarchy to be re- other sensitive issues. the military said Thursday. formed to make it more accountable. Companies usually apologize and change websites or ad- It did not say how close the Philippine It is the latter demand that has rattled vertising to maintain access to China’s populous market. But navy ships would maneuver from the Chi- Thailand’s traditional establishment, which Xinjiang is an unusually thorny issue. Western brands face nese vessels, whose presence Lorenzana has is fiercely opposed to change, especially pressure at home to distance themselves from possible abuses. called an “incursion” and “provocative ac- with regard to the monarchy. More than 1 million people in Xinjiang, most of them from tion of militarizing the area.” Several activists involved with the protests “By the increased naval presence in the have already been jailed as they await trial on predominantly Muslim ethnic groups, have been confi ned to area, we seek to reassure our people of the charges of violating Thailand’s lese majeste work camps, according to foreign researchers and govern- Armed Forces of the Philippines’ strong law, which makes criticizing, insulting or de- ments. Beijing denies mistreating them and says it is trying and unwavering commitment to protect faming the king or other key royals punishable to promote economic development and stamp out radicalism. and defend them from harassment and en- by up to 15 years’ imprisonment. On Monday, the 27-nation European Union, the United sure that they can enjoy their rights over A photo showing North Korea’s missile launch is displayed at the Unifi cation Ob- One of those facing charges, Patsara- States, Britain and Canada jointly announced travel and fi - the country’s rich fishing ground,” military servation Post in Paju, near the border with North Korea, South Korea, Wednes- valee Tanakitvibulpon, gave a fiery speech nancial sanctions on four senior Chinese offi cials blamed for spokesman Maj Gen Edgard Arevalo said in day, March 24. North Korea fi red short-range missiles this past weekend, just Wednesday from a small stage on which abuses in Xinjiang. a statement. days after the sister of Kim Jong Un threatened the United States and South was hung a large black banner saying “Re- The United States said Tuesday it’s back- Korea for holding joint military exercises. (AP) form the Monarchy.” (AP) GameStop weighing stock offering to fund transformation

GameStop is considering selling some of its to help pay for a multiyear business trans- stock’s “extreme” volatility this year, noting shares, a move that would enable the video- formation plan. GameStop didn’t offer any the price run up has often been “unrelated or In this game retailer to capitalize on the massive other specifi cs about the potential timing or disproportionate” to the company’s operat- fi le photo, a surge in its stock price this year. size of a stock sale. ing performance. GameStop warned inves- pedestrian In a fi ling with the Securities and Ex- GameStop shares vaulted 1,625% in Jan- tors that its shares may continue to fl uctuate passes by a change Commission late Tuesday, the uary as bands of smaller and novice inves- widely. The SEC fi ling followed the release GameStop company noted that it has been evaluating tors communicating on social media hyped of GameStop’s fi scal fourth-quarter results, storefront in since January whether to increase a $100 up the retailer’s stock in hopes of making big which fell short of Wall Street’s expectations. Dallas. (AP) million stock offering program it established returns at the expense of hedge funds bet- The company has been permanently clos- through Jeffries LLC in December. ting the shares would head lower. The stock ing stores and working to expand its e-com- The Grapevine, Texas, company said it was down 17% in midday trading Wednes- merce business as it adapts to the growing has yet to sell any shares via the offering day. It’s still up about 700% this year. popularity of mobile gaming and video-game program, but is weighing doing so in order In the fi ling, GameStop acknowledged the downloading. (AP)

Market Movements 25-03-2020 Change Closing pts Change Closing pts AUSTRALIA - All Ordinaries +8.77 7,022.62 INDIA - Sensex -740.19 48,440.12 JAPAN - Nikkei +324.36 28,729.88 CHINA - Shanghai SE -3.47 3,363.59 S. KOREA - KRX 100 +19.09 6,478.15 PHILIPPINES - PSEi +83.99 6,581.00 PAKISTAN - KSE 100 +181.97 45,726.16 Business

Pandemic forces Americans hunkered down at home to consume more power Damage from virus: Utility bills overwhelm some households SAN RAMON, California, March 25, in those states had past-due balances on (AP): Millions of U.S. households their electricity bills as of January, with are facing heavy past-due utility bills, the average amount owed nearly $850 - which have escalated in the year since a 67% jump from the end of 2019. the pandemic forced Americans hun- Even bigger past-due bills have been US orders for manufactured kered down at home to consume more emerging in New Jersey, said Kathy power. Kerr, director of utility assistance And now, government moratoriums for the Affordable Housing Alliance. that for months had barred utilities Before the pandemic, people who ap- from turning off the power of their de- proached the organization seeking linquent customers are starting to ex- help typically had past-due balances of pire in most states. As result, up to 37 $800 to $1,000. Now, she said, it’s not goods tumble 1.1 pct in Feb million customers - representing nearly uncommon to see past-due balances one-third of all households - will soon ranging between $2,000 to $3,000, have to reckon with their overdue pow- refl ecting a crisis that cast millions of er bills at a time when many of them people out of jobs, especially at restau- Orders for autos and auto parts slump 8.7% are struggling with lost jobs or income. rants, gyms, concert venues and small A study done by Arcadia, which businesses and left them consuming runs a service that helps households more electricity at home. WASHINGTON, March lower utility bills, found that the av- “People are at a crossroads,” Kerr 25, (AP): Orders to U.S. erage past-due amount by those in its said. “Do I pay rent? Do I pay bills?” network was roughly $850. Moratoriums on shutting off power factories for big-tick- The crisis has emerged as one of for past-due households had existed in et manufactured goods the repercussions of the recession that at least 35 states at some point during slumped 1.1% in February was touched off by the viral pandemic. the pandemic. In response, some strug- Though the economy has achieved gling consumers chose to funnel their with demand in a key sec- considerable gains in recent months, money toward housing, food and other tor that tracks business in- about 9.5 million jobs remain lost. And obligations because they knew they vestment also dropping. many people have lost income even wouldn’t lose their electricity or natu- while remaining employed, leaving ral gas even if they skipped their utility Orders had been rising for nine them unable to buy food, pay rent or payments. consecutive months, including a siz- afford utility bills. able 3.5% jump in January, accord- President Joe Biden’s $1.9 trillion Lockdowns ing to the Commerce Department. rescue aid package, enacted into law Compounding the problem, Ameri- The size of the drop surprised econ- this month, will provide some sup- can households have been using, on av- omists, though it is likely that there port. It includes $5 billion earmarked erage, 10% more electricity during the was signifi cant disruption from severe for people who need help with power pandemic lockdowns, which have kept winter storms that hit much of the and water bills. Combined with other them home more hours, with comput- country last month, on top of ongoing government financing allotted for en- ers and other electronic devices, along supply-chain problems. ergy aid since the pandemic began, with heat or air conditioning, swelling The category that covers business the total available to help struggling utility bills. investment dropped 0.8% in February households pay utility bills is about Now, the power shut-offs are begin- following solid gains of 0.6% in Janu- $9.1 billion. ning to lift, forcing customers to reckon ary and 1.5% in December. But all that assistance represents just with their piled-up bills. More than 30 The volatile transportation sector a fraction of the $27 billion in past-due states - including New York, Pennsyl- fell 1.6% with demand for commercial balances of U.S. households, accord- vania, Michigan and Wisconsin - are aircraft, a sector plagued by the huge ing to the National Energy Assistance ending shutoff moratoriums in March drop in air travel during the pandemic, Directors Association, which helps and April, according to the National shooting up 103%. Contributing was low-income consumers. The aid will Energy Assistance Directors Associa- beleaguered manufacturer Boeing, be distributed through the Low Income tion. California and New Jersey will do which for the fi rst time since Decem- Home Energy Assistance Program. so at the end of June. ber 2019 booked positive net orders. Caught in the squeeze are people like Some customers now facing outsize But orders for autos and auto parts In this fi le photo former Fed Chair Janet Yellen speaks with FOX Business Network guest anchor Jon Hilsenrath in Paula Desper, who lives in Lancaster, utility bills might have been lulled into slumped 8.7% with numerous plants the Fox Washington bureau in Washington. Yellen said Wednesday, March 24, 2021, that the US government has Pennsylvania, with her husband and the belief that they wouldn’t have to more room to borrow, but also said higher taxes would likely be required in the long run to fi nance future spending the youngest two of their fi ve children, pay for many additional months. shutdown due to a global shortage of increases. (AP) semiconductors, a critical component ages 7 and 10. Desper worries about “There’s a moratorium,” said Tracey used in cars and trucks. how her family will manage once the Capers, executive vice president of the The 0.8% decline in demand for Treasury chief opens door to tax hike utility shutoff moratorium lifts soon in Bedford Stuyvesant Restoration Cor- nondefense capital goods excluding Pennsylvania. poration, a Brooklyn-based non-profi t aircraft, the category that serves as a “It’s come to the point where I look that offers fi nancial aid and counseling. proxy for business investment plans, at a bill, and either I’m going to pay “It doesn’t mean you never have to was blamed on weather disruptions. a bill or I’m going to buy food,” said pay. That’s the concern that we have Economists predicted a rebound in Yellen sees room for US to borrow Desper, 45. “I’ve got two little chil- for people.” coming moths as businesses boost WASHINGTON, March 25, (AP): Responding to a question from Sen. ond day before a congressional panel dren. I will go without food. My chil- Among them is Mikel Haye, who their investment spending in response Treasury Janet Yellen believes the Richard Shelby, R-Ala., Yellen said Wednesday, as part of congressional dren will not.” was forced into performing a fi nancial to falling virus cases and President Joe U.S. government has more room to the persistence of low interest rates oversight of last year’s $2 trillion After the pandemic erupted, Des- triage after he lost all three of his part- Biden’s $1.9 trillion support package. borrow, but said higher taxes would have changed her views on federal emergency aid package. per’s weekly hours and income were time jobs after the pandemic struck. “With the weather returning to likely be required in the long run to debt. Lower rates have made it easier Powell reiterated that the recent reduced by half. Her husband’s work Suddenly, he was scrambling to pay seasonal norms and the next fi scal for the federal government to cover jump in the yield on the 10-year Treas- hours were cut, too. Unable to afford the bills on a Brooklyn apartment he fi nance future spending increases. his car payments, he lost his vehicle. shares with his unemployed mother stimulus payments already being dis- Yellen appeared Wednesday before the interest costs on the debt, she said. ury, which soared from less than 1% tributed, orders likely will rebound in and two brothers while deciding how the Senate Banking Committee with In fact, the government’s interest pay- at the beginning of the year to 1.6% Reduced to spend whatever money was left: For March,” said Andrew Hunter, senior the Biden administration considering ments as a proportion of the economy Wednesday, was mostly a sign of U.S. economist at Capital Econom- With their sharply reduced income, food? Car insurance? The phone bill? up to $3 trillion in additional spend- are unchanged since 2007, when the confi dence among investors that the Desper and her husband fell nearly The utility bill often went unpaid, ics. “With corporate borrowing costs debt was equal to just 35% of output, economy is improving. still close to historic lows ... we expect ing on infrastructure, green energy, $700 behind on energy bills and more leaving him at one point with a past- and education. That “Build Back Bet- Yellen said. “That has been an orderly process,” than $1,100 behind on mortgage pay- due balance of $500. investment to continue expanding at a “I think that’s a more meaningful he said. “I would be concerned if it robust pace over the coming months.” ter” plan would follow the $1.9 trillion ments. In the meantime, she worries “We took a risk, thinking that hope- economic relief package approved metric of the burden of the debt on were not an orderly process” or if rates about being exposed to COVID at fully they will extend more leniency Hunter expects an annualized gain society and on the federal fi nances,” went high enough to limit borrowing in business equipment investment of earlier this month. work, particularly because her 10-year- when it came to paying that bill,” said Yellen said her views on borrow- she said. “And so I do believe we and spending and slow the economy. old daughter has asthma. Haye, 24. 10% to 15% in the fi rst quarter. have more fi scal space, but it certainly Under questioning from Sen. The report Wednesday showed that ing have changed since 2017, when “I always wanted to do better for In the end, things did work out for she expressed concerns about a fed- doesn’t mean that anything goes.” Chris Van Hollen, D-Md., Yellen my children, and I feel guilty,” Desper him. With the help of the Bedford excluding transportation, orders would Yellen said that she supports bor- said Congress should allot more still have fallen by 0.9% in February. eral debt that was equal to about 75% said. “I have my moments where I cry Stuyvesant organization, he managed rowing to fi nance the $1.9 trillion money to the IRS so the tax collec- because I feel hopeless. I feel like I did to pay his electricity bill. Demand for primary metals such as steel of the U.S. economy’s output at the aid package because it is temporary tion agency could reduce tax eva- slipped 0.5% while orders for machinery time. That ratio has since increased to something wrong, even though I know Not as fortunate, thus far, is Yomaira spending in response to a crisis. sion. The amount of uncollected it wasn’t my fault.” Romelina Heredia Melo, who was a fell 0.6%. Demand for computers and re- slightly above 100%. “But longer run, we do have to raise taxes is referred to as the “tax gap” lated products declined 1.9%. Offi cials at agencies involved in fi - hotel supervisor until she lost her job revenue to support permanent spend- and the issue received more atten- nancial aid for energy customers say in the pandemic. Though she’s man- ing,” she said. tion this week after the release of the problem has become an urgent one. aged to stay current on her utility bill, The Biden administration is consid- research showing that the richest 1% “We have never had debts of this she has fallen $10,000 behind on her ering a bump in the corporate tax rate of Americans may be sheltering up to size before,” said Mark Wolfe, ex- Brooklyn rent. A mother of two, Melo to 28%, up from the current 21%, after 20% of their income from taxation. ecutive director for the National En- worries about being able to continue the Trump administration cut it from “The tax gap is huge,” Yellen said, ergy Assistance Directors Association, paying her bills while her husband 35%. Tax increases on higher-income “and I think we would have a fairer tax which estimates that the total amount is stuck in the Dominican Republic Americans are also being considered. system and collect more tax revenue due has soared from roughly $11 bil- awaiting clearance from immigration Yellen and Federal Reserve Chair without the need to raise (tax) rates if lion, owed by nearly 20 million U.S. offi cials to return. Jerome Powell testifi ed for a sec- we resourced the IRS properly.” households at the end of 2019, to the Utilities are sometimes willing to more than $27 billion now. negotiate repayment plans with de- Those fi ndings mirror the study of linquent customers rather than cut off electricity bills in 13 states and the Dis- their power. Still, a more comprehen- Treasury sends out another trict of Columbia by Arcadia, which sive solution is urgently needed, said helps households fi nd renewable en- Sen. Edward Markey, a Massachusetts ergy sources to lower their utility costs. Democrat, who notes that Black and 37 million ‘relief payments’ It found that one-quarter of the house- Hispanic households are disproportion- holds belonging to Arcadia’s network ately vulnerable. WASHINGTON, March 25, (AP): bank accounts totaling $38 billion and The Treasury Department said that it nearly 15 million paper checks with a has sent out another 37 million eco- total value of nearly $34 billion. In nomic impact payments, bringing the addition, 5 million prepaid debit cards total disbursed in the past two weeks were mailed out in the second batch In this fi le photo, a passer-by walks past stoves on display at a Home De- to $325 billion. with a total value of around $11 bil- pot location, in Boston. The Commerce Department reported Wednesday, The second batch of payments sent lion. March 24, 2021, that orders for durable goods declined last month for the out this week followed an initial 90 No action is needed for most tax- fi rst time after nine consecutive monthly gains including a sizable 3.5% rise in January. (AP) million payments made in the week payers to receive the payments, after President Joe Biden signed the which will be automatic and similar $1.9 trillion COVID relief measure on to how people received their first March 11. and second rounds of economic OPEC basket dips to $62.27 pb Treasury said the plan is to keep impact statements beginning in the rolling out payments in batches over spring of last year. VIENNA, March 25, (KUNA): Dealers in the oil market said that the coming weeks. Like the first round The payments, which are being The price of OPEC basket of 13 the recent OPEC Plus agreement to of payments, this latest group includ- made to cushion the blow of the coro- crudes went down by 95 cents to maintain low production, contrib- ed direct deposits, as well as paper navirus pandemic, started with $1,200 USD 62.27 per barrel (pb) on Tues- uted in supporting global market checks and debit cards mailed to payments to individuals last spring day compared to USD 63.22 the prices above USD 60.00 pb. households. followed by $600 payments in a The first group of 90 million pay- December relief bill totaling $900 bil- day before, said OPEC Secretariat The General Secretariat estimat- ments totaled $242 billion. The sec- lion. calculations on Wednesday. ed the demand for OPEC raw mate- ond batch of 37 million payments The $1.9 trillion relief measure Mikel Haye poses for a portrait on his stoop, Friday, March 12, 2021, in OPEC bulletin stated that the rials would reach 27.3 million this totals about $83 billion. signed earlier this month includes the Brooklyn borough of New York. Haye, who was forced into performing annual rate of the basket price last year, which is about 4.9 million Of the second amount, 17 million payments to qualifying individuals of a fi nancial triage after he lost all three of his part-time jobs shortly after the year was at USD 41.47 pb. barrels per day compared to 2020. payments were direct deposits into up to $1,400. pandemic struck. (AP) ARAB TIMES, FRIDAY-SATURDAY, MARCH 26-27, 2021 BUSINESS 9

Japan’s Toyota, Isuzu, Hino join in truck technology tie up

Japanese automakers Toyota, Motors is Toyota’s truck division The cooperation among Toy- “And so we just have to give Isuzu and Hino said they are and had been Isuzu’s rival. ota, Isuzu and Hino is designed it a try, and then try again. It is From left, Hino Motors setting up a partnership in The three companies com- to reduce emissions by building through that process of repeti- President Yoshio Shimo, commercial vehicles to work bined control 80% of the Japa- hydrogen infrastructure, and to tion Toyota has achieved what Toyota Motor Corp Presi- together in electric, hydrogen, nese truck market. help solve the nation’s shortage it has.” dent Akio Toyoda and connected and autonomous Toyota, which makes the of drivers by sharing information The three companies plan Isuzu Motors President driving technologies. Camry sedan, Prius hybrid and online and making deliveries to develop electric vehicles, Masanori Katayama pose Under the deal, Toyota Motor Lexus luxury models, sold off in more effi cient. fuel cell vehicles, autonomous for a photo in Tokyo, Corp, Japan’s top automaker, 2018 a 5.9% stake in Isuzu that “These days, it is hard to dis- driving and electronic platforms March 24. (AP) and truckmaker Isuzu Motors it had bought in 2006. Earlier, cern what is the correct way,” for trucks, allowing them to cut will each take a 4.6% stake in Isuzu had a capital tie-up with Toyota President Akio Toyoda costs, promote ecological in- each other, the three companies US automaker General Motors said in a news conference that frastructure and boost traffi c said in a joint statement. Hino Co. streamed online. safety. (AP)

‘Offi cers acted as a proxy for RCMP’ Justice lawyer says it was OK Asian markets mixed to border screen Huawei exec VANCOUVER, British Columbia, March 25, (AP): The Canadian Border Services Agency did not participate in a conspiracy involving the FBI or the Air travelers Royal Canadian Mounted Police when they detained a senior executive for Chinese communications giant Hua- top ‘1.5 mln’ wei Technologies, a Canadian justice department lawyer told an extradition WASHINGTON, March 25, (AP): hearing Wednesday. More than 1.5 million people streamed Canada arrested Meng Wanzhou, through US airport security check- Huawei’s chief fi nancial offi cer who points , the largest number since the is also the daughter of the company’s pandemic tightened its grip on the founder, at the Vancouver airport on United States more than a year ago. Dec 1, 2018, at the request of the US, It marked the 11th straight day that which wants her extradited to face fraud the Transportation Security Adminis- charges. The arrest infuriated Beijing, tration screened more than 1 million which sees her case as a political move people, likely from a combination of designed to prevent China’s rise. spring break travel and more people The US accuses Huawei of using a becoming vaccinated against COV- Hong Kong shell company called Sky- ID-19. com to sell equipment to Iran in vio- Airline executives say they have lation of US sanctions. It says Meng seen an increase in bookings during committed fraud by misleading the the last few weeks. HSBC bank about the company’s busi- However, passenger traffi c remains ness dealings in Iran. Meng’s lawyers claim her extrac- far below 2019 levels. tion should be halted because border offi cers detained and questioned her Majzub said the CBSA not telling without a lawyer, asked questions Meng she faced an arrest warrant “is that benefi ted US authorities, seized not evidence of abuse of process” and her electronic devices, and put them the three-hour delay before the RCMP in special bags to prevent wiping, and arrested her “was not unreasonable.” compelled her to give up the passcodes Meng attended the hearing wearing before her offi cial arrest. an electronic monitoring device on her The defense also alleges the bor- ankle. She followed the proceedings der offi cers acted as a proxy for the through an translator. RCMP. Meng’s lawyers will be back in Justice department lawyer Diba Ma- court next week arguing that the US is jzub said the Canada Border Services exceeding the limits of its jurisdiction Currency traders watch monitors at the foreign exchange dealing room of the KEB Hana Bank headquarters in Seoul, South Korea on March 25. (AP) Agency acted within its jurisdiction by prosecuting a foreign citizen for when intercepting Meng at the airport. actions that took place in Hong Kong “It wasn’t the FBI talking to the and that Canada was misled by the US Chinese benchmarks stall on concerns over companies losing listings CBSA,” Majzub told Associate Chief about the strength of its case. The ex- Justice Heather Holmes. “It was a tradition case could take years. CBSA decision.” Soon after Meng’s arrest, China ar- BANGKOK, March 25, E-commerce giant Alibaba’s shares at 27,919.59. The Shanghai Composite prices, prompting some to shift money The RCMP understood the CBSA rested Canadians Michael Spavor and (AP): Shares were mixed in lost 3.7%; Tencent Holdings’ shed index also was flat, at 3,366.54. South out of stocks. had priority and were content to wait Michael Kovrig in apparent retaliation 3.7%; search engine company Baidu Korea’s Kospi picked up 0.4% to While rising interest rates are a key before arresting Meng, said Majzub. and charged them with spying. Both Asia on Thursday, as Chi- declined 8.6% and cell phone maker 3,008.33 and Sydney’s S&P/ASX 200 concern, the pandemic remains a domi- “The RCMP did not ask the CBSA have remained in custody with limited nese benchmarks stalled Xiaomi dropped 4.8%. edged 0.2% higher, to 6,790.60. nant topic for investors. Stocks fell on to conduct an examination,” he said. access to visits by Canadian consular on concerns over big com- “Tech giants from Tencent and India’s Sensex lost 1.8% and shares Tuesday after Germany, Europe’s big- “The RCMP did not suggest lines of offi cials. Alibaba hit the plunge pool after U.S. were higher in Taiwan and most of gest economy, and the Netherlands questioning or ask the electronics be The two made closed-door court panies that might lose their regulators rekindled threats to toss Southeast Asia apart from Jakarta. imposed new travel and business curbs examined. It is impossible to describe appearances over the last week. Ca- listings on U.S. exchanges. China’s most prominent corporations In Europe,Germany’s DAX lost in response to spikes in infection. That a nefarious motive for the RCMP ... nadian consular offi cials were barred Tokyo’s Nikkei 225 index off U.S. bourses, compounding con- 0.2% to 14,590.11 and the CAC 40 in followed similar moves earlier by Italy when they didn’t seek to gain anything from attending the proceedings and no cerns of a widening domestic antitrust Paris gave up 0.3% to 5,929.03. and France. from the process.” verdicts were announced. jumped 1.1% and Seoul and Syd- crackdown,” Stephen Innes of Axi said Britain’s FTSE 100 gained 0.1% to Bank stocks, which took a beating on ney logged modest gains. Hong in a commentary. 6,716.79. Tuesday, were among the best perform- Kong and Shanghai were fl at. Investors are keeping an eye on On Wednesday, the S&P 500 gave ers. Banks have been volatile the last Oil prices fell back after surging 6% efforts to combat the economic impact up 0.5% to 3,889.14, its second loss in couple of weeks as investors try to gauge on Wednesday on concerns over dis- of the coronavirus pandemic. The Biden a row, while the tech-heavy Nasdaq the impact of higher interest rates on the ruptions to shipping from a skyscraper- administration is considering up to $3 dropped 2% to 12,961.89. U.S. economy. Higher interest rates can sized cargo ship wedged across Egypt’s trillion in additional spending on infra- Technology and communication ser- slow economic momentum, but they Suez Canal. structure, green energy, and education. vices companies accounted for the also allow banks to charge more for Efforts continue to free the Ever Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen told heaviest selling, outweighing gains in loans. JPMorgan Chase added 0.8%. Given, a Panama-flagged ship that car- the Senate she believes the U.S. gov- financial, energy and industrial stocks. GameStop sank 33.8% after report- ries cargo between Asia and Europe ernment has more room to borrow, but Apple fell 2%, while Facebook lost ing results that missed Wall Street’s that ran aground Tuesday in the narrow, said higher taxes would likely be 2.9%. forecasts, though the stock is still up man-made canal dividing continental required in the long run to finance The Dow Jones Industrial Average more than six-fold since the beginning Africa from the Sinai Peninsula. future spending increases. That spooked slipped less than 0.1% to 32,420.06, of the year after it became a social media The U.S. Securities and Exchange some investors. after a 364-point gain vanished by late darling for a swarm of online investors. Commission said Wednesday it was Meanwhile, Federal Reserve Chair afternoon. Benchmark U.S. crude oil lost $1.14 adopting an interim rule that some for- Jerome Powell reiterated that a recent Smaller company stocks fared worse to $60.04 per barrel in electronic trad- eign companies must provide docu- jump in the yield on the 10-year U.S. than the broader market. The Russell ing on the New York Mercantile mentation to show they are not owned Treasury, which soared from less than 2000 index lost 2.4% to 2,134.27. Exchange. Brent crude, the internation- or controlled by a government entity. 1% at the beginning of the year to Bond yields have risen this year as al standard for pricing oil, lost $1.06 to The requirement mainly is expected to 1.63% Thursday, was mostly a sign of traders have been watching the poten- $63.19 per barrel. affect Chinese companies listed on U.S. confidence among investors that the tial for inflation pressures to pick up The U.S. dollar rose to 108.97 exchanges and the SEC statement trig- economy is improving. after struggling economies were flood- Japanese yen from 108.73 yen on Chief Financial Offi cer of Huawei, Meng Wanzhou leaves her home gered selling of such companies in The Nikkei climbed to 28,729.88 and ed with credit and government spend- Wednesday. The euro strengthened to in Vancouver, British Columbia on March 24, to go to B.C. Supreme Hong Kong. the Hang Seng in Hong Kong was flat ing. That has depressed U.S. bond $1.1819 from $1.1813. Court. (AP)

58% cutting back spending on ‘wants’ 5 fi nancial habits worth keeping By Kimberly Palmer that income returns, it would be an continue in 2021 was cutting back on NerdWallet amazing opportunity to keep expenses travel spending. the same but save all of that new in- “One reason we saw our clients s the pandemic shut down the come.” enjoy lower expenses (during the pan- Aworld around her, Ashli Smith Natalie Slagle, founding partner at demic) is because they didn’t go on , an Atlanta resident and mom to a Fyooz Financial Planning and a CFP their planned vacations,” Slagle says. newborn, says she set up autopay for based in Rochester, Minnesota says, “Not only did that cut expenses, but her recurring bills to help her stay “For those who were furloughed or they also have fl ight vouchers and un- organized and avoid late payments. laid off, the No. 1 priority is replen- used travel miles to spend.” “With everything going on, plus be- ishing savings.” For those who got As travel begins to start again, Sla- ing a mom, I don’t want to forget to used to spending less, she says, “we gle says she’s helping clients plan on pay something or someone,” she says. encourage them to sustain that habit using some of those savings and cred- While the pandemic caused incred- so their cash fl ow can go toward its on their next trip to avoid over- ible fi nancial stress and uncertainty, it building up their emergency fund at spending. also led many consumers like Smith to a higher rate than what was possible 4. Earn extra income form new fi nancial habits worth keep- before the pandemic.” That way, it’s Based on the study, among those ing, including saving more and spend- easier to handle the next crisis, wheth- who developed new fi nancial habits, ing less. A NerdWallet survey found er it’s income loss or an unexpected just over a quarter said they picked up that most people who formed new expense, without taking on more debt. a side hustle or extra work to make fi nancial habits plan to continue them 2. Stick with a budget money. Kevin Mahoney - a CFP and into 2021. In the NerdWallet survey, 39% of founder of Illumint , a fi nancial plan- Here are fi ve habits to consider those who adopted new habits that they ning fi rm for millennials based in sticking with even as life starts to re- plan to carry into 2021 said that one of Washington, D.C. - says earning a turn to normal: those habits was sticking to a budget. side income can help provide fi nan- 1. Spend less, save more “So many people have looked at cial stability during uncertain times, For many Americans, spending less their budgeting and spending dur- which is why he encourages his cli- amid the pandemic came naturally be- ing (the pandemic), often for the fi rst ents to consider it. cause of income loss or fewer spend- time,” Simonson says. “It’s important “Supplemental income mimics an ing options after restaurants and travel to stick with this post-pandemic, since emergency savings fund. People who largely shut down. NerdWallet’s sur- keeping a budget is part of a healthy can consistently generate self-income vey found that among those who said fi nancial plan.” are better prepared to withstand fi nan- they picked up new fi nancial habits Many people turned to budgeting to cial volatility,” he says. during the pandemic that they plan to help regain a sense of control that the 5. Use autopay for bills carry into 2021, 58% said they were pandemic took from them, he adds. As for Smith, who tweets about cutting back spending on “wants” “The fi nancial habits you’ve been personal fi nance from the handle @ and 36% said they were cutting back forced to learn and adopt have the badgirlfi nances, she says she plans spending on “needs.” power to create huge, positive, last- to continue using autopay for bills, “If your job was eliminated or your ing change if you stick with them,” even when the pandemic is long over. pay was reduced, then you’ve prob- Simonson adds. Continuing to budget In some cases, autopay comes with a ably decreased spending and gotten makes it easier to generate long-term small discount, too. used to a lower monthly budget,” says savings and avoid debt, for example. “It helps me stay organized because Eric Simonson, certifi ed fi nancial 3. Minimize travel expenses I know on a certain date, money has planner and owner of Minneapolis Among survey respondents, 40% to come out to pay the bills,” she says. fi rm Abundo Wealth . “As soon as said one of the new habits they plan to (AP) ARAB TIMES, FRIDAY-SATURDAY, MARCH 26-27, 2021 BUSINESS 10

Special Report

ARA Consumer Confi dence Index – February 2021 Level of consumption practically at a standstill

n account of its interest for Omonitoring the economic situ- ation in Kuwait, “ARA Research & Consultancy” issues a monthly Consumer Confi dence Index, in col- laboration with the “Arab Times” newspaper and under the sponsor- ship of the “Lexus” trademark. The Consumer Confi dence Index is con- sidered as the only indicator that measures the Consumers’ psycho- logical factors, based on people’s opinions and their prospects about the current economic situation and its future as well as their expecta- tions regarding their fi nancial con- ditions, and how that refl ects on their purchasing power. The Consumer Confi dence Index is issued the fi rst Sunday of each month, and is based on quantitative research on a sample of 500 people, the vast expenditures imposed by increased by 15 points, and Al- distributed among Kuwaitis and the repercussions of the epidemic. Ahmadi Governorate’s ratio by 14 Arab residents in different Gover- ● Therefore, it is imperative to points, while the rate decreased by norates. maintain the fi nancial balance and 26 points in Al-Farwaniya Gover- The study was conducted by tel- ensure that confi dence is sustained norate, refl ecting some disparity ephone through a random call se- within acceptable margins. It is also among regions. lection, taking into account that the imperative to launch a strategic pro- Stability of the Personal In- distribution of the sample should be gram centered on the development, come Ratios representative of the population in modernization and diversifi cation The Current Personal Income In- Kuwait. of the economic structure and ad- dex recorded 77 points, stable at its the diffi cult transitional phase the The general Consumer Confi - ministrative framework and focus- previous monthly level and lagging labor market is going through. dence Index is based on six indices ing on concerted economic efforts 16 points on an annual basis. The consumption activity is at which the researchers at ARA use to in the various available formats. Whereas, the Expected Personal a standstill measure the level of the consumer ● Encouraging the work of small Income Index stood at 101 points, The Purchase of Durable Goods satisfaction and optimism. These and medium sized enterprises on equal to its previous monthly bal- Index scored 106 points, adding 1 are: the basis of a scientifi c evaluation ance and lagging one point com- ● Current Economic Situation point to its monthly level. of their previous experience. pared to February 2020. This rate stability does not refl ect Index ● Increasing the level of effec- This stability in ratios refl ects ● Expected Economic Situation tiveness and productivity, whether the stability of personal incomes, the convictions of all research par- Index at the various levels of departments especially for national employees ticipants who had confl icting opin- ● Current Personal Income Index and companies, or at the level of and workforce, in addition to some ions between ready to buy and re- ● Expected Personal Income In- employees and workers of govern- expatriate workers employed by the frain from buying. dex ment institutions. government sector and some com- Arab residents increased their ● Current Employment Opportu- The holistic, integrated, scientifi c panies and establishments in the ratio balance by 40 points during nities Index and programmed implementation of private sector who have maintained a month, while on the opposite ● Purchase of Durables Index this strategic direction, will expand their jobs and the pre-pandemic lev- side the level of consumption in- The indices’ results in a month and diversify the state’s resources els of their salaries. Except for some tent among citizens declined by 18 basis measure the psychologi- and increase the size of the national categories of expat workers who points. cal state of consumers in Kuwait, income. It will also resolve the issue have been subject to unemployment The prominent decline was in which equal 100 points. This re- of securing meaningful and produc- or drop in their incomes. Mubarak Al-Kabeer Governorate sult (100 points) draws the line tive work for the generations of Ku- Note that Kuwait was able to rate by 68 points and in the Capital between optimism and pessimism waiti youth. maintain its monetary strength and 3 points, while on the opposite side among consumers. The more the The direction to develop and di- the purchasing power of the dinar, Al-Ahmadi Governorate added 39 index surpasses this point, the versify the Kuwaiti economy is in as well as controlling the level of points within a month. more the psychological state of line with the needs of global trade, monetary infl ation within the previ- The discrepancy between some consumers in Kuwait is considered ensures competitiveness, as well as ous rates. components of the research in case to be inclined towards optimism. fi nancial balance. It meets the vi- Remarkable in the research data of consumption refl ects the convic- The more the index declines below sion of international institutions, in- is the discrepancy between the Cur- tions, desires and fi nancial capabili- this point, the more pessimistic the cluding the International Monetary rent Personal Income Index of 77 ties of consumers. outlook. Fund, which encouraged Kuwait to points and the Expected Personal Noting that spending among Consumer Confi dence Stability adopt and implement a structural re- Income Index of 101 points. citizens and residents decreased by & Recovery Demand Develop- form of the national economy. This disparity highlights consum- 17% during 2020. This decline oc- ment of the Economic Structure Increased Confi dence in the er confi dence in future expectations, curred despite the rise in the volume The General Index of consumer Current Economic Situation In- while at the economic level, refl ects of loans to their highest levels, in- confi dence in Kuwait registered a dex the tendency to raise the rate of the cluding consumer and residential rate of 96 points in February 2021, The ARA Current Economic current economy’s situation at the loans, which reached 752 million dropping one point in a month and Situation index has registered 92 expense of the expected economic dinars. losing three points from its annual points, boosting its previous month- situation. Consumption remained fl at com- balance. ly balance by 5 points and declining There is no doubt that the cur- pared to January. This indicates that the level of 7 points on an annual basis. rent phase is still hazy and requires consumer confi dence in Kuwait The increase in consumer confi - continuous follow-up on data in the moved within narrow margins dur- dence in the Current Economic Sit- coming months. ing a year of facing challenges uation is primarily due to the 69% Young people and those with and repercussions imposed by the increase in oil prices compared to lower education complain about pandemic at various fi nancial, eco- the lowest price recorded previous- the lack of work nomic and social levels, as well as ly. The state’s support of citizens The Current Employment Op- the negative effects of low oil prices and residents’ affairs also played an portunities Index decreased by ten during the past months. Whereby important role to face the fi nancial, points, as a natural consequence the estimated fi nancial resources health and social repercussions. of the spread of the pandemic and for 2021/2022 decreased to about Noting that the youth confi dence the tough precautionary measures 16 billion dinars, and these expec- rate increased by ten points within it entailed, which led to the closure tations are negatively and positively a month. of some economic sectors and the correlated with oil prices and the At the regions level, the rate of contraction of others. These meas- level of export controlled by the Al-Ahmadi rose by 15 points and ures have created an imbalance in global oil market. the Capital by 7 points. the labor market whereby demand The current stability of oil prices As for the Expected Economic has increased and the available job can bridge the gap and the existing Situation Index, the results of the opportunities in the market have de- defi cit between fi nancial resources research differed from the previous creased. and the size of the budget and ex- ones, whereby the respondents ex- In this context, the conditions and penditures, noting that these expen- pressed their lack of confi dence in level of confi dence varied among ditures are approximately 50% of future expectations, and only gave different categories of the work- the national income. the index a ratio of 97 points, repre- force. The consumer confi dence Under these circumstances, Fitch senting a monthly decline of seven study showed that young people International affi rmed the classifi ca- points. gave the index a ratio of 126 points, tion of the Kuwaiti economy A +, This fact indicates that consumers losing 23 points from the previous but changed the future outlook from are not reassured about the upcom- monthly balance. stable to negative. ing economic situation. This could Similarly the rate of those with This shift is caused by several be due to the negative consequences below intermediate education also negative factors, including: and repercussions of the pandemic declined, losing 29 points. ● The decline in oil prices during that led to an economic downturn in As for regions, the rates of some the past months. many sectors, and possible doubts governorates decreased; Mubarak ● The high ratio of the budget about the stability of current oil Al-Kabeer 26 points, Hawalli 17 defi cit. prices. points and Al-Farwaniya 15 points. ● The economic downturn and Note that the Capital’s ratio This monthly decline indicates ARAB TIMES, FRIDAY-SATURDAY, MARCH 26-27, 2021 SCIENCE 11

Coronavirus

HK halts Pfi zer shot use AZ confi rms strong jab protection after US rift

NEW YORK, March 25, (AP): AstraZeneca insisted Wednes- day that its COVID-19 vaccine is strongly effective even after counting additional illnesses in its disputed US study, the latest in an extraordinary public rift with American offi cials. In a late-night press release, AstraZeneca said it had recal- culated data from that study and concluded the vaccine is 76% effective in preventing symptomatic COVID-19, instead of the 79% it had claimed earlier in the week. Just a day earlier, an independent panel that oversees the study had accused AstraZeneca of cherry-picking data to tout the protection offered by its vaccine. The panel, in a harsh let- ter to the company and to US health leaders, said the company had left out some COVID-19 cases that occurred in the study, a move that could erode trust in the science. Data disputes during ongoing studies usually remain confi dential but in an unusual step, the National Institutes of Health publicly called on AstraZeneca to fi x the discrepancy. AstraZeneca had been counting on fi ndings from a predominantly US study of 32,000 people to help rebuild confi dence in a vaccine that, despite be- ing widely used in Britain, Europe and other countries, has had a troubled roll- out. Previous studies have turned up in- Fauci consistent data about its effectiveness, and then last week a scare about blood clots had some countries temporarily pausing inoculations. Now the question is whether the company’s newest calcula- tions end the tension. Earlier Wednesday, Dr. Anthony Fauci, the top US infec- In this Feb. 19, 2021 file photo, a pharmacist prepares a syringe from a vial of the AstraZeneca coronavirus vaccine during preparations at the Vaccine Village in tious disease expert, told reporters he hoped that when all the Antwerp, Belgium. AstraZeneca’s release of encouraging data about its coronavirus vaccine from its US trial raised hopes that the drug company could bury doubts data was publicly vetted by federal regulators, it would dispel about the shot and put a troubled rollout behind it. But just hours later, US officials released an unusual statement expressing concerns AstraZeneca had included any hesitancy caused by the spat. He predicted it would “turn ‘outdated information’ from its study and that it may have provided ‘an incomplete view of the efficacy data.’ (AP) out to be a good vaccine.” AstraZeneca’s newest calculations were based on 190 COV- ID-19 cases that occurred during the study, 49 more than it had included earlier in the week. The vaccine appears especially Coronavirus protective against the worst outcomes, with no severe illnesses or hospitalizations among vaccinated study volunteers com- pared to eight severe cases among those given dummy shots, the company said. It didn’t provide a breakdown of the rest of the cases. One report, four theories Effective European authorities had questioned how protective the vaccine is in older adults. In the US study, it was 85% effec- Experts mull clues on virus’ origin tive in volunteers 65 and older, the company said. The study didn’t turn up safety concerns. GENEVA, March 25, (AP): A team of The updated information “confi rms that our COVID-19 vac- international and Chinese scientists is cine is highly effective in adults, including those aged 65 years poised to report on its joint search for the and over,” AstraZeneca research chief Mene Pangalos said in origins of the coronavirus that sparked a Can I take painkillers before a statement. He said the company looks forward to “the rollout pandemic after it was fi rst detected in of millions of doses across America.” China over a year ago - with four theo- The study hasn’t ended so additional COVID-19 cases can ries being considered, and one the clear or after a COVID-19 vaccine? accrue. AstraZeneca cautioned that 14 additional possible frontrunner, according to experts. cases already are being examined, which could lead to further The lengthy report is being published NEW YORK, March 25, (AP): Can Other research has found that changes in the data. after months of wrangling, notably be- I take painkillers before or after a painkillers might dampen the re- The company intends to seek Food and Drug Administra- In this file photo dated Feb 6, 2021, COVID-19 vaccine? sponse to some childhood vac- a worker in protectively overalls and tween US and Chinese governments, tion clearance of the vaccine within a few weeks. The FDA over how the outbreak emerged, while Don’t take them before a shot to cines, so many pediatricians rec- carrying disinfecting equipment walks try to prevent symptoms, but if your ommend that parents avoid giving will publicly debate all the evidence with its outside advisers outside the Wuhan Central Hospital scientists try to keep their focus on a before making a decision. so-far fruitless search for the origin of a doctor agrees, it’s OK to use them children the medicines before a where Li Wenliang, the whistleblower afterward if needed. shot and only if needed afterward, In another development, the European Union is moving doctor who sounded the alarm and microbe that has killed over 2.7 million toward stricter export controls to ensure that there are more The concern about painkillers is said Dr. William Schaffner, an in- was reprimanded by local police for it people and stifl ed economies world- that they might curb the very im- fectious disease expert at Vander- COVID-19 shot supplies for the bloc which should boost its in the early days of Wuhan’s pandem- wide. fl agging vaccine drive at a time of another surge of the corona- ic, worked in Wuhan in central China. mune system response that a vac- bilt University. It wasn’t immediately clear when the cine aims to spur. Vaccines work The — Centers for Disease virus pandemic on the continent. A lengthy written report published report will be released after its publica- The EU’s executive body said Wednesday on the eve of a Thursday March 25, from a team of by tricking the body into thinking it Control and Prevention recently tion was delayed earlier this month. By has a virus and mounting a defense updated its guidance to recom- summit of the 27 leaders that it has a plan ready to guarantee international and Chinese scientists many accounts, the report could offer that more vaccines produced in the bloc are available for its on a joint mission to Wuhan aims to against it. That may cause tempo- mend against painkillers before a few concrete answers, and may raise rary arm soreness, fever, muscle COVID-19 shot. It says they can be own citizens before they can be shipped for exports. help unearth the origins of the coro- further questions. EU nations have been specifi cally stung by the United navirus since it was first detected in aches or other symptoms of inflam- taken afterward for symptoms if you China more than a year ago. (AP) mation - signs the vaccine is doing have no other medical conditions Kingdom, which has received some 10 million doses from EU Safety its job. precluding their use, but to talk to plants while they say nothing came back from Britain. The EU It will offer a fi rst glance in writing Some research suggests that your doctor. now insists on reciprocity as it sees vaccination rates in Britain from 10 international epidemiologists, certain painkillers including ibu- If you’re already taking one of racing upwards, while the bloc proceeds at a crawl. data scientists, veterinary, lab and food profen (Advil, Motrin and other those medications for a health con- “We have secured more than enough doses for the entire safety experts who visited China and brands) might diminish the im- dition, you should not stop before population. But we have to ensure timely and suffi cient vac- the city of Wuhan - where a market was mune system’s response. A study you get the vaccine - at least not cine deliveries to EU citizens,” European Commission Presi- seen as the initial epicenter - earlier this on mice suggests these drugs without asking your doctor, said dent Ursula von der Leyen said. “Every day counts.” year to work with Chinese counterparts might lower production of antibod- Jonathan Watanabe, a pharmacist The EU has been specifi cally irked by Anglo-Swedish com- who pulled up the bulk of early data. ies, which block the virus from in- at the University of California, Ir- pany AstraZeneca. Last week, the European Union’s chief ex- Critics have raised questions about fecting cells. vine. ecutive warned that the EU would not hesitate to take action the objectivity of the team, insisting against third-party nations. that China’s government had a pivotal of research at the St. Petersburg Pas- later found. European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen said say over its composition. Defenders of the EU has approved the export of some 41 million vaccine teur Institute in Russia, summarized “In general, all the conditions for the Warthin Gianforte the World Health Organization, which the four main leads fi rst laid out at a spread of infection were present at this doses to 33 countries in the last six weeks and believes that it assembled the team, say it can’t simply market,” Dedkov said in an interview. stands at the forefront of international vaccine-sharing efforts. parachute in experts to tell a country marathon news conference in China Under a less stringent export control system in force so far, what to do - let alone one as powerful last month about the suspected origins “Therefore, most likely, there was a only one shipment in 381 has been barred. Discovery as China. of the fi rst infection in humans. They mass infection of people who were con- The U.K. has been a specific target and British Prime “I expect that this report will only be were, in order of likelihood: from a nected by location.” Minister Boris Johnson has sought to ease tensions, speak- a fi rst step into investigating the origins bat through an intermediary animal; “At this point, there are no facts sug- ing by phone in the past few days to European leaders in- straight from a bat; via contaminated gesting that there was a leak” from a lab, Crowds fl ock to volcano: The erup- of the virus and that the WHO secre- cluding von der Leyen and French President Emmanuel tariat will probably say this,” said Mat- frozen food products; from a leak from Dedkov said. “If suddenly scientifi c facts Macron. tion of a long-dormant volcano in south- western Iceland has drawn large crowds thew Kavanagh, director of Georgetown a laboratory like the Wuhan Institute appear from somewhere, then according- “We’re all fi ghting the same pandemic across the whole of of visitors eager to get close to the lava University’s Global Health Policy and of Virology. ly, the priority of the version will change. the European continent,” Johnson told a news conference on But, at this particular moment, no.” fl ows. Governance Initiative at the O’Neill In- Promoted Tuesday evening. “Vaccines are an international operation,” Many have trekked to the volcano on stitute. “And I expect some to criticize Suspicions about political meddling he said, adding that the U.K. would “continue to work with the Reykjanes Peninsula, near Iceland’s this as insuffi cient.” Offi cials in China, as well as Chinese have dogged the mission, and the interna- European partners to deliver the vaccine rollout. capital Reykjavik, since it fl ared to life The Wuhan trip is billed as Phase 1 team leader Liang Wannian, have pro- tional team leader - the WHO’s Peter Ben “We in this country don’t believe in blockades of any kind Friday night after tens of thousands of in a vast undertaking to fl esh out the ori- moted the third theory - the cold-chain Embarek - acknowledged in interviews of vaccines or vaccine materials,” he said. earthquakes were recorded in the area in gins of the virus. one — while the — administration un- last week that unspecifi ed “pressures” Still, the EU has been insisting that two AstraZeneca plants the past three weeks. It was the area’s fi rst The WHO has bristled at depictions der President Donald Trump played up might weigh on its members. Liang, in in Britain should also be part of the EU deliveries. volcanic eruption in nearly 800 years. of the mission as an “investigation” the fourth one, of the lab leak. But Ded- a Chinese newspaper interview, also be- Also: On Tuesday, Iceland’s civil protection - saying that smacks of an invasive fo- kov said those two hypothesis were far moaned political pressure on the team. offi cials were seen gesturing to dozens of rensic probe that wasn’t called for under down the list of likely sources. Delays in deploying the international HONG KONG: Hong Kong suspended use of the Pfi zer vaccine people to move away from lava just me- the resolution adopted unanimously by He suggested frozen products on team to China, repeated slippage in the Wednesday after its Chinese distributor informed the city that ters behind them to ensure visitors do not which the virus was found were most timing of publication of the report, and get hurt. One of the offi cials said a visitor the agency’s member states in May that one batch had defective bottle lids. paved the way for the collaboration. The likely contaminated by infected people. rejiggering of the plans for it - an initial The city’s government said the suspension was immediate tried to cook bacon and eggs on the lava - but the pan melted in the heat. WHO and China later ironed out the An infected person also likely brought summary of fi ndings was jettisoned as while the matter is investigated by distributor Fosun Pharma ground rules. and spread the virus at the Wuhan mar- an idea - have only fanned speculation and BioNTech, the German company that created the vaccine Italian photographer Vincenzo Mazza, who lives in Iceland, was one of those Team member Vladimir Dedkov, ket associated with the outbreak, where that the scientists have been steered by with American pharmaceutical fi rm Pfi zer. an epidemiologist and deputy director some of the contaminated products were political authorities or others. BioNTech and Fosun Pharma have not found any reason who got a close look at the slow-fl owing to believe the product is unsafe, according to the statement. lava. “I’ve been waiting for many years to However, vaccinations will be halted as a preventive and safe- News of the governor’s violation anforte could soon receive bills for possi- ty measure. see an eruption in Iceland,” he said. “I last century. saw some eruptions in Italy, like Etna comes as lawmakers in Montana and ble signing into law that would allow un- Just weeks after taking offi ce, Gian- The defective lids were found on vaccines from batch num- and Stromboli, but this is absolutely dif- Idaho have been considering proposals to limited hunting of wolves and payments forte trapped and shot the male wolf on ber 210102. A separate batch of vaccines, 210104, will also be ferent.” make it much easier to kill wolves in a bid for dead wolves akin to the bounties that Feb. 15 about 10 miles (16 kilometers) not be administered. “I can’t say ‘this is more beautiful than to drive down the predators’ numbers. Gi- exterminated them across most of the US north of the park, on a ranch owned by The semi-autonomous territory of Macao also said Wednes- that’ because they are very different, but Robert E. Smith, director for the conserv- day that its residents will not receive the Pfi zer shots from the this lava glowing just so close to us, it’s ative Sinclair Broadcasting Group and a same batch. insane,” Mazza said. Gianforte campaign donor, according to The vaccines from the batch comprise a total of 585,000 The glow from the lava could be seen The Mountain West News Bureau, which doses, with the other batch number 210104 holding 758,000 from the outskirts of Iceland’s capital, fi rst reported the violation. doses, according to Hong Kong’s Director of Health Con- Reykjavík, about 32 kilometers (20 miles) Offi cials determined Gianforte had stance Chan. away. broken the trapping certifi cation rule a Although about 150,000 doses from the batch 210102 Icelandic offi cials said they did not an- day later, when the Republican governor have been administered in the city so far, officials said ticipate evacuations because the volcano brought the animal’s remains to a state during a press briefing Wednesday that the vaccines were is in a remote area, about 2.5 kilometers game warden in Helena to report the kill safe to use despite the packaging defects, and that sus- (1.5 miles) from the nearest road. (AP) as regulations require, Lemon said. pending the vaccination was a precautionary measure. ❑ ❑ ❑ “In situations like this, we use it as an Batch number 210104 remains in the warehouse and has education opportunity and issued a writ- Mont gov gets warning: Montana ten warning,” Lemon said. “Everything not been used. Gov Greg Gianforte received a warn- Chan said that there were over 40 instances when medical related to the harvest was done right.” ing from wildlife offi cials after killing Gianforte “immediately rectifi ed the personnel found defective packaging, such as cracks on the a radio-collared wolf near Yellowstone mistake” and enrolled in a wolf-trap- vaccine bottles or leakages when the vaccine was diluted with National Park without fi rst taking a man- ping certifi cation course scheduled for saline before being administered. dated trapper education course — a viola- Wednesday, Gianforte spokesperson None of these vaccines was given to residents and they were tion of state hunting regulations, offi cials Brooke Stroyke said. He was allowed to thrown away, offi cials said. said Tuesday. keep the animal’s skull and hide. “Fosun has promised to carry out an immediate investiga- It’s legal to kill wolves in Montana The male wolf was 6 to 7 years old and tion so they are going to approach the manufacturer in Ger- with a license, but trappers must fi rst had been born in Yellowstone National many to look into their plant,” Chan said. “When the vac- complete a three-hour online course that Park. It was fi tted with a radio collar to cines arrive in Hong Kong, they will have a review of the includes instruction on how to take the track its movements in 2018, park spokes- whole logistics chain to see if that’s the cause of the current animals ethically and lawfully. person Morgan Warthin said. The ani- situation.” Gianforte had a valid wolf license, Fulton County Department of Public Health RN, Rosalie Pringle prepares doz- mal was a member of the park’s Wapiti Montana Fish, Wildlife and Parks spokes- ens of Pfizer COVID-19 vaccinations at Mercedes-Benz Stadium, March 24, in Lake and 8 Mile packs, then went off on man Greg Lemon said. Atlanta. (AP) its own to fi nd a mate. (AP) Film FRIDAY-SATURDAY, MARCH 26-27, 2021 FFeatureseatures “deeply bruised.”(AP) low-follower accountsthatshe’s experienced somanyattacksfrom moments onsocialmedia. cized herforputtingsuchpainful of theirsonwonpraise,somecriti- over abundlecradledinherarms. showed herandLegendgrieving her inthehospital.Anotherimage site, postingananguishedpictureof heartbreak ofamiscarriageonthe just not.” the strongclapbackgirlbutI’m me. I’vealwaysbeenportrayedas feel whenIdon’tistoomuchfor happy,” shewrote.“ThepainI cookbook authorwrote. who shereallyis,themodeland who criticizedher. for thoseshedisagreedwithor assorted topicsandfi the site,funnyobservationsabout children, theirplayfulbanteron husband for itsmixofjokesabouther the righttimetocallsomething.” me negatively,andIthinkthat’s serves measpositivelyit to saygoodbye.Thisnolonger Wednesday night.“Butit’stime wrote toher13.7millionfollowers have beenmyworld,”Teigen plays apositiveroleinherlife. account, sayingthesitenolonger has deletedherpopularTwitter as such.” fi about oroutraged about, butit’sa There arethingsyoucanbeupset keep somethinglikethatgoing. said. “Ittakesalotofenergyto or yelledat. feel likethey’rebeinglecturedto said shedidn’twantlistenersto nearly 200radiostations,Loesch month. had beforehisdeathofcancerlast show inthetimeslotLimbaugh will continueanearlyafternoon new multi-yearcontractwhereshe a formerNRAspokeswoman,to Tuesday thatithadsignedLoesch, she doesn’tlike“angryradio.” Rush Limbaugh alities seekingsomeofthelate of theconservativeradioperson- nite resourceandshould bespent NEW YORK: LOS ANGELES: cepting theawardinatapedmessage. community andwhatconnectsus,”saidproducerPeterSpears,ac- and moviesfeltsovital,weareproudtohaveproducedafi honor, whichhastraditionallygonetolarger-scaleproductions. professional actors,isanunusuallylow-budgetwinnerforthePGA to doso,againafterBigelow. director. Ifshedoeswin,wouldonlythesecondfemaledirector ture awardfordrama.Zhao,too,isconsideredthefavoritebest that mantle,it’s“Nomadland,”winneroftheGoldenGlobebestpic- clear front-runnerhasbeenchallenging.Butifanyfi along duringthepandemicwithlittleofusualpomp,declaringa Locker” in2010. of amotionpicture.TheotherwasKathrynBigelow’s“TheHurt win theproducers’DarrylF.Zanuckawardforoutstandingproducer the AmericanWest,isonlysecondfi at the32ndannualProducersGuildofAmericaAwards. ed itsOscarfront-runnerstatusWednesday,winningthetopaward NEW YORK,March25,(AP):ChloéZhao’s“Nomadland”cement- ‘Nomadland’ winsPGAAward, cementingfront-runner status She wroteWednesdaythatshe’s While hercandorabouttheloss Last year,Teigensharedthe “My lifegoalistomakepeople That reputationisatoddswith Teigen’s accountwaspopular “For over10yearsyouguys She joinsfi “I don’tlikeangryradio,”she On hershow,whichairsin Radio Americaannounced “In ayearwherewehavebeenallleadingsuchisolatedlives “Nomadland,” madeforlessthan$5millionandwithmanynon- In adelayed,virtualandverylongawardsseasonthathasmarched “Nomadland,” Zhao’srecession-eraportraitofitinerantpeoplein John Legend ❑ gures like Dana Loesch Chrissy Teigen ’s audience,says erce retorts andtheir Dan , one

since Limbaugh’s death. (AP) ed ahandfulofstations forLoesch the latestar. guest hostsandarchivedaudioof day thatitwouldcontinuewith Limbaugh’s syndicator,saidMon- old audience.PremiereNetworks, are seekingsomeofLimbaugh’s Bongino Radio Americasaysithasadd- talgically shotinacolorfulseasidelocale,which if alittleunderwhelming.It’shandsomelyandnos- to Germany. the girlsinmiddleofnightandsendthemback the shoreand,later,Milleroverhearsaplantoevacuate get moreurgentwhenWheatley’sbodywashesupon gate theschoolandWheatley’sdisappearance.Things working alongsidetheBritishSecretServicetoinvesti- broadcasts andleads“siegheil”chants. man instructorIlse(CarlaJuri)—wholistenstoNazi about thepropaganda-yinstructionofschool’sGer- girls butalsostartsnoticingmoreandoddities the language.Hequicklyendearshimselftomostof ter shelearnsthathisfatherwasGermanandhespeaks of Miller’sjourneymanresumebutgiveshimashotaf- headmistress, MissRocholl(JudiDench)isalittlewary teacher, Mr.Wheatley(NigelLindsay),disappears.The the schooltointerviewforapositionafterprevious dard, playsthepartofThomasMiller,whocomesto (who alsoactsinthefi war breaksout. cret plottogetthegirlsoutofEnglandbefore with inventedmurders,intrigue,cops,spiesandase- the excitementaroundAugusta-VictoriaCollege Minutes toMidnight,”adecentthrillerthatdialsup German sentimentwasquitehigh.Theresultis“Six institution thatoperatedinplainsightwhenanti- her onayearslongjourneyresearchingthepeculiar ten chapterinhistorywasintriguingenoughtoset the ideaofthisschoolandseeminglyunderwrit- of Bexhill,althoughshewasborninthe1960s.But years agoatalocalmuseum.Izzardisalsoproduct union jackandaswastika. Germany close.Patchesontheiruniformsdisplayeda toms andwaspartofastrategytokeepEngland was toeducatethegirlsinlanguageandBritishcus- Nazi offi goddaughters ofimportantGermansandhighranking catered toaveryspecifi I A pre-WWII thriller in‘SixMinutes’ College, agirls’boardingschoolinBexhill-on-Sea, n theyearsbeforeWorldWarII,Augusta-Victoria lmdirectedbyawomanto “Six MinutestoMidnight”isentertainingenough Miller, wediscover,hasanagendaaswell.He’s Izzard, whoco-wrotethescriptwithCelynJones It’s thispatchthatcaughttheeyeofEddieIzzard ❑ ❑ Variety and cials. Itisbelievedthattheintentofschool Erick Erickson lmcouldclaim Elton JohnopenshisOscarnightpartytoallthisyear By LindseyBahr Carla Juri,(left),andJudiDenchappearinascenefrom‘SixMinutestoMidnight.’(AP) lm about c audience:The daughters and lm) anddirectorAndyGod- who Disney shifts‘BlackWidow,’ doublesdownonstreaming Film ment inproducing.” cee EllisRosssaidoftheshow:“This,inanditself,isanexperi- invite-only audience.Openingtheceremony,“Black-ish”actorTra- Octopus Teacher”fordocumentary. Academy Award. Big Short”toppedtheproducers’awardsand“Spotlight”won PGA and“Moonlight”wontheOscar;in2016,when“The crowned “Parasite”;in2017,when“LaLaLand”triumphedwiththe differed lastyear,whentheguildchose“1917”andacademy egory, thetwogroupshavepickedsamewinnereighttimes.They The awardsWednesdaywereheldvirtuallyandpre-tapedforan Other awardswenttoPixar’s“Soul”foranimatedfi In the11yearssinceOscarsexpandedbest-picturecat- egnLoesch Teigen that landedtheOscarnomination:“TheFather.” Night inMiami,”“MaRainey’sBlackBottom”)whileskippingone passed overforbestpicture(“BoratSubsequentMoviefi er. Thisyear,theproducersnominatedafewmoviesacademy academy, andtheirbest-picturefi wether. Theproducersusethesamepreferentialballotasfi The PGAAwardsarewatchedespeciallycloselyasanOscarbell- covery. Whilebiggerandfi announcement wasablowtohopesofanimminentre- punishing monthsofclosureduetothepandemic, for a$30early-accessfee. simultaneously onthecompany’sstreamingplatform May 7.ItwillinsteadpremiereJuly9.Anditdoso had beensettokickoffthesummermovieseasonon they arriveintheaters. Widow,” amongothertitles,toDisney+thesametime some ofitsbiggestfi hauled itsupcomingfi NEW YORK: For theaters,whicharebeginningtoreopenafter “Black Widow,”onceplannedtodebutinMay2020, time: 102minutes.Twoandahalfstarsoutoffour. Association ofAmericafor“someviolence.”Running theaters Friday,isratedPG-13bytheMotionPicture can eatpopcornto. night,” forbetterorworse,isdefi wanted togetrighttheaction.“SixMinutesMid- her ownjokesaboutquietandsubtleBritishfi the climax. hard tofeelmuchofanythingforthemortheirfateby other vaguemystery)ortheimpendingwar.Itmakesit feel aboutthings:Theirheritage,theirparents,Ilse(an- man teeninSussex1939.Wedon’tknowwhatthey everything orgetasenseofwhatitwasliketobeGer- to knoworcareabouttheteenagegirlsatcenterof ting. Thefi extra minutesofcharacterdevelopmentandsceneset- to Midnight”probablywouldhavebenefi ever wishforsomethingtobelonger,but“SixMinutes terested inthedetailsofitsownstory.Rarelydoyou affable busdriver. and JimBroadbentaddsabitoflifejoyasan James D’Arcyeatsuphisscenesasanarrogantcop; role afterthe“Cats”and“ArtemisFowl”disasters; and compelling;Denchgetsaproperrespectable has likableactorsthroughout:Izzardisempathetic script (andcliches)foraclassicalspythriller.Andit “Downton Abbey”creditstohisname.Itfollowsthe shouldn’t besurprisingconsideringGoddardalsohas Expanded “Six MinutestoMidnight,”anIFCFilmsreleasein Perhaps Izzardwassimplywaryoffallingvictimto But thefi court tothecount, whichsays pleaded guiltyThursday infederal Missouri of dollars,federalprosecutorsfor audience membersofthousands ity forfosterchildrentobilkhis court thathecreatedafakechar- count ofwirefraud,admittingin performer haspleadedguiltytoa SPRINGFIELD, Mo: James PatrickGarrett TheWaltDisneyCo.onTuesdayover- elds oftennearlymirror eachoth- lm doesn’tleaveanybreathingroomtoget lm isalsoratherrushedandseemsdisin- said. lms andshiftingMarvel’s “Black lm releaseplans,postponing Also: A lm and“My Branson lms haveturnedto , 65, nitely somethingyou lm,” “One lm,”

tted from30 Party,” Johnsaidinastatement. we hopeeveryonejoinsusforthisspecialoneofakindOscarPre- living withHIVgloballywhoneedourcare,loveandsupportso not overrideanother,andwecannotforgetthe38millionpeople 400,000 ticketbuyersareallowedaccess. and eachwillaccommodate100,000viewers,meaningatotalof pre-show willbeavailabletoticketbuyers. ded Oscarviewingshow,withadinnerandanauction.Thistime, tions intheworld.Oneofitsfundraisinghighlightsisstar-stud- with HIVallovertheworld. Ticketmaster. Proceedswillgotoyoungpeopleatriskandliving Harris long, virtualpre-showOscarpartyspecialhostedby go —ifyouhave$20. party hasalwaysbeenoneofthehardestticketstoget.Nowyoucan lm LOS ANGELES: a memberofitsboard ofdirec- making himselfthe presidentand named DiamondJym Ranch, in 2012bycreating acompany said Garrettdevisedthescheme son IMAXtheater.Authorities John Denver news release. several years,prosecutorssaidina he stolemorethan$85,000over “Now morethanever,weneedtoensurethatonepandemicdoes The specialwillbehostedfourtimesindifferenttimezones The foundationisoneoftheleadingindependentAIDSorganiza- Tickets fortheApril25eventare$19.99andavailablevia The EltonJohnAIDSFoundationisinvitingeveryonetoanhour- Garrett foryearsperformedthe lms and lms andwithaperformanceby theaters. (AP) neously onitsstreamingplatform,HBOMax,andin screen. Warner’sentire2021slateisdebutingsimulta- the choiceofpayingforamovieathomeoronbig like Disneywillwith“BlackWidow,”givesviewers Place PartII”fromSeptembertoMay28. their biggestfi (from Sept.17toFebruary2022). (from Aug.20toDec.22);and“DeathontheNile” ter” (fromAug.13toJanuary2022);“TheKing’sMan” of theTenRings”(fromJuly9toAug.3);“DeepWa- (From May21toAug13);“Shang-ChiandtheLegend movies. animated series,and15live-action,Pixar Wars” andMarvelseriesbut15live-action,Pixar miere directlyonDisney+notjustanarmadaof“Star would regularlybehometoPixar,amongotherbrands. ing programming,thecompanysuggestedthatDisney+ cember whenannouncinganambitiousarrayofstream- On June18,itwilldebutexclusivelyonDisney+.InDe- lies aroundtheworld.” Company’s unparalleledstorytellingtofansandfami- employ thebestoptionstodeliverTheWaltDisney recover fromtheglobalpandemic,wewillcontinueto strategy inadynamicmarketplacethatisbeginningto distribution chief.“Byleveragingafl ences ofaudiences,”said ing consumerchoiceandservingtheevolvingprefer- mance “successful.” and theLastDragon”butonTuesdaycalleditsperfor- release of“RayaandtheLastDragon.” same hybridapproachthestudiotookwithrecent premiere inboththeatersandonDisney+for$30—the “101 Dalmatians”spinoffwith ella” onitspreviouslyscheduleddate,May28.The offi Marvel moviesareHollywood’smostbankablebox- streaming andpremium-on-demandinrecentmonths, TributeattheBran- Warner Bros.earliersetareleaseplanfor2021that, Some studioshavebeguntomoveup,notpostpone, The studioalsopostponedthereleasesof“FreeGuy” Over thenextfewyears,Disneyisplanningtopre- The Pixarfi “Today’s announcementrefl Disney hasnotannouncedviewingdataon“Raya Disney willinsteadlaunchitssummerwith“Cru- ce behemoths. Attending lms. ParamountPicturesmoved“AQuiet lm “Luca”willbypasstheatersentirely. Elton John Also: Dua Lipa rent andtaxes.(AP) out, payoffcredit cards andpay used themoneycollected toeat shows todonatethecharity. end ofeachhissix-day-a-week asked audiencemembersatthe homeless children,andGarrett and otherneedstodisplacedor provide housing,education,food tors. Theenterprisepurportedto ’s long-runningOscar-night Prosecutors saidGarrett instead Kareem Daniel ects ourfocusonprovid- Emma Stone . exible distribution Neil Patrick , Disney’s will also ARAB TIMES, FRIDAY-SATURDAY, MARCH 26-27, 2021 NEWS/FEATURES 13

People & Places

Music

Del Rey shifts gaze Smith sings of hope, resilience, devotion

By Steven Wine

he Fray,’ John Smith (Thirty Tigers) ‘T Handclaps break out during the fi rst song on John Smith’s new album, as if to applaud the senti- ments to come. “The Fray” is the British singer-songwriter’s re- sponse to the year just past, and he offers 12 tunes of resilience, devotion and hope, with determination in the lyrics and buoyancy in the music. “It has been a crazy year; where do I begin?” Smith sings, his sandpaper tenor a voice of recovery. There’s a comforting sway to the album’s melodic folk-pop, built on Smith’s sub- tle guitar work (he includes his tunings in the liner notes). And he has excellent help: Bill Fri- sell provides an elegant guitar solo on “The Best of Me,” and lovely vocal support comes courtesy of Sarah Jarosz, Lisa Hannigan and the Milk Carton Kids. The arrangements benefi t from a pleasant variety. “To Smith the Shore” swings like a shan- ty, the title cut is elevated by gospel piano, and “Just As You Are” is a waltz for This image released by PBS shows choreographer Twyla Tharp from the documentary, ‘American Masters: Twyla Moves,’ premiering on March 26. (AP) healing. “Hold On” serves as the set’s centerpiece. With horns, angelic backing vocals and a smart guitar riff, it’s good music, and good advice. ❑ ❑ ❑ Television Lana Del Rey, “Chemtrails Over The Country Club” (Interscope Records and Polydor Records) Decay and decadence coexist in the world created by Lana Del Rey in “Chemtrails Over The Country ‘We’re all trying to keep up with her’ Club.” At fi rst listen, her intimate follow-up to critically- acclaimed “Norman (Expletive) Rockwell” may seem less urgent. Rather than deconstructing the American Tharp, nearing 80, not slowing down myth, Del Rey shifts her gaze inward. But in the quiet, she disassembles a different pain, one felt in the unfor- NEW YORK, March 25, (AP): The she says. “I like feeling what I call ‘on a biography. She wanted a lot more giving glow of the limelight. new PBS documentary on dancer- the bone,’ literally very close to the present tense in there. “Often when Whispering opener “White Dress” immediately choreographer Twyla Tharp is called bone. For one thing the feet have suf- you’re dealing with something that has sets “Chemtrails Over The Country Club” apart from “Twyla Moves.” In retrospect, that fered a certain amount of abuse, and I as much history as I do or backlog, you “Norman (Expletive) Rockwell,” her breathiness al- sounds a bit weak. like to keep as much weight as possible can get lost in the past,” she says. “One This cover image released by Thirty Ti- It really should be called “Twyla out of them.” of my conditions was that I’d be doing most jarring. gers shows ‘The Fray’ by John Smith. She works with the same producer, Jack Antonoff, (AP) Moves And Won’t Stop As Long As It’s shocking she hasn’t permanent- new work.” whose credits are also seen on Taylor Swift’s 2020 She Has a Detectable Pulse,” a title ly damaged those feet. To say Tharp’s So we watch her creating a new albums “evermore” and “folklore.” There are echoes that might perhaps begin to capture choreography is merely athletic is Zoom version of her work “The Prin- of Swift’s production on Del Rey’s new album with the fi erceness with which Tharp, who to understate the way in which it has cess and the Goblin,” with several songs like the gentle “Yosemite” leaning in the folk turns 80 this year, approaches both stretched her artists and herself to the prominent dancers handpicked for direction. work and life. limits. Billy Joel, who collaborated the film, including Misty Copeland Del Rey has perfected the art of creating album It’s a fi erceness that led her at one with Tharp on the 2002 Broadway hit of American Ballet Theatre, Maria capsules. Each record emanates its own aesthetic with point to take boxing lessons with Ted- “Movin’ Out,” set to his music, speaks Khoreva of the Mariinsky Ballet in songs cross-referencing one another within the album. dy Atlas, who trained Mike Tyson, to of being in rehearsal and watching Russia, Herman Cornejo of ABT, Del Rey gives cohesion to albums in a way that is un- get in the best possible condition for a dancers “throwing themselves around and Charlie Hodges, a longtime matched by most other artists. piece she was doing. “I eventually had the stage - I was worried about peo- Tharp dancer. “Part of the mission In “Dance Till We Die,” she sings of Joni Mitchell to stop boxing because I got hit and ple getting injured! I felt like, ‘Take here was that dance is always about covers before launching into her own cover of Mitch- broke my nose,” she recalled in an in- it easy! Watch out for the end of the getting the job done, that even under ell’s “For Free.” “Yosemite,” too, seems to call to her terview this week. “I said, ‘OK, your stage!’ They were risking life and limb the most difficult of situations - no boxing days are over.’” every night.” physical contact, good luck with that closing cover. “We did it for fun/ We did it for free,” Johnson Prince she croons. “We did it for the right reasons.” It’s also a fi erceness that greets you if your’e a dancer! - we can still de- Paralleling the juxtaposition in the title, Del Rey’s the minute you begin a phone conver- Training liver something, because we’re danc- seventh album explores the yin and yang of fame, sation with Tharp, whose words tum- Musician David Byrne, with whom ers. We’ll do it!” fortune and creativity. On the surface are glittering Variety ble out with striking speed and rarely she worked on an earlier show, “The But the jewel is her archive, which images: jewels in a country club pool and bars that a second of hesitation. She doesn’t Catherine Wheel” in 1981, felt the spans her career, beginning with her stay open “just for us.” Ringing underneath is a mel- need long to formulate fully devel- same. ”These were top-notch dancers experiments in modern dance from ancholy emptiness perforated by isolation and desire. MINNEAPOLIS: Paisley Park offi cials oped thoughts — nor does she seem to and she was pushing them to the limits the ‘60s. She’s shown dancing with Album-standout “Dark But Just A Game” encapsu- are marking the fi fth anniversary of enjoy wasting time. In a recent Zoom of what they could do physically,” he Mikhail Baryshnikov, or working with lates these feelings. Del Rey paints a picture of some- Prince’s death by offering fans free group event, she was asked why she says in the fi lm. him on “White Nights” with Gregory one who sees those who have fallen before her. “Their admission to pay their respects at the hadn’t done more movies. She pro- Tharp explains it simply: “Part of Hines. There are snippets from gems stories all end tragically,” she sings, bringing to mind suburban Minnesota compound, where ceeded to quickly list those she’d done the adventure for me has always been a like the hugely popular “In the Upper artists like Judy Garland and Amy Winehouse. “The his ashes will be on display in the atrium. — “Hair,” “White Nights” and “Ama- physical challenge.” She notes matter- Room,” a ballet set to the propulsive best ones lost their minds.” A custom-made ceramic urn shaped deus” among them — with just a hint of-factly that at one point in her weight music of Philip Glass. Tharp began Other songs create the same illustration. “The cam- like Paisley Park with Prince’s sym- of impatience. training, she could lift 227 pounds, videotaping her work in 1968. “I have eras have fl ashes, they cause the car crashes,” Del Rey bol on top was originally placed in the Given all that, it would seem obvi- “and I am 108 pounds, so that’s twice many many many thousands of hours sings in the Americana-tinged “Wild At Heart,” refer- middle of the atrium when the legend’s ous that something like a global pan- my body weight. I go for records and of tape thoroughly documenting every 65,000-square-foot studio in Chanhas- demic wouldn’t force Tharp off course, that’s what I do. I think anybody who piece I’ve ever made,” she says, “be- encing the catastrophic death of Princess Diana. sen fi rst opened as a museum in October “Chemtrails Over The Country Club” has all Del 2016. At the request of Prince’s family, or keep her on the sofa binge-watching works with me expects that same chal- cause I am an art historian.” Rey’s staples — angelic layered vocals, bridges that the ashes were moved to a less promi- Netfl ix. On a recent afternoon, Tharp lenge.” There’s nowhere near enough time bring a second dimension to tracks and tongue-in- nent spot in the atrium and eventually began a conversation by explain- Needless to say, Tharp doesn’t seem to include her vast repertoire. About cheek lyrics. removed entirely from public view, ing why she’d had to postpone a few to care a lot about physical comfort - or half the show is on the Zoom project ❑ ❑ ❑ disappointing his legions of fans. hours: Since 4 a.m. that morning she’d comfort of any kind. Ask, for example, — 41 minutes, she notes with a cho- A total of 1,400 people fortunate been choreographing a new work with whether she was comfortable being the reographer’s precision — “and that Aaron Lee Tasjan, “Tasjan! Tasjan! Tasjan!” enough to get reservations at paisleypark. ballet dancers in Düsseldorf, Germany. subject of a documentary, and she says leaves you with 20 from when you (New West Records) com will be allowed inside on April 21 Choreography via Zoom, she noted, drily: “I’m not sure what you mean by were born to grew up and you’re not Aaron Lee Tasjan is a one-man music encyclo- for 30-minute visits to the atrium. There “is very strenuous - very limited from comfortable.” Enjoyable? Nah. “It’s not quite dead yet, then another 20 for pedia who can enthrall audiences with a New York will be 70 time slots available, with 20 a sensory point of view.” work, like anything else. I don’t attach 150 works and four books...” Dolls cover or 10-minute talking blues. The former people per slot. There will be no regular And perhaps especially for a cho- to it commodities like comfort or en- And she’s not near done. Asked in glam band guitarist recently could be heard on Outlaw tours that day, the Minneapolis Star reographer like Tharp, who doesn’t joyment.” the fi lm whether she’s achieved her Country radio extolling the virtues of obscure acts in Tribune reported. simply sit and instruct dancers - she Indeed, the theme itself is work. mission, she says: “Not quite.” Asked Nashville, where he now lives. “We celebrate his life and legacy teaches by showing, even now. To In one old clip, TV host Dick Cavett by this reporter when that might be, So where does the needle drop on his new album? every day at Paisley Park, a place that be in that kind of shape approaching asks Tharp what she does to relax after she offered: “When I die?” In his sweet spot. Prince wanted to share with the world,” one’s ninth decade on earth is a chal- a long period of work. “Work more,” “There’s nothing that could hold Alan Tasjan’s previous albums seemed like explorations Paisley Park Executive Director lenge that would elude most of us. Part she replies. You believe her. Twyla back from creating - it feeds that didn’t quite fi nd a destination, and “Tasjan! Tas- Seiffert said in a statement. “So, on this day especially, we acknowledge the of Tharp’s physical regimen involves Tharp didn’t want the fi lm, direct- her,” says Copeland in the fi lm. jan! Tasjan!” is his best yet, a delight from start to fi n- sticking to 1,200 calories a day. ed by Steven Cantor and part of the “We’re all trying to keep up with her, ish. It’s tuneful, hook-fi lled power pop that references incredible force and inspiration Prince is in people’s lives and open up our doors “I don’t like carrying extra weight,” American Masters series, to feel like is the moral of the story.” the past while sounding entirely fresh, handsomely for them to pay their respects.” crafted but loose enough to avoid artifi ce. The 11 Prince was 57 when he died of an shimmering songs are built on layered vocals, catchy accidental fentanyl overdose on April 21, house. “With the perfect image of a little rent and former palm oil workers in Indo- grooves, synth washes and a range of smart guitar MADISON, Wis: Two investigative re- 2016. (AP) boy playing with his superhero doll, porters at The Associated Press won the nesia and Malaysia and captured stories work, from fi ngerpicked acoustic to psychedelic solos ❑ ❑ ❑ of vulnerable people producing one of on electric. a nurse sporting the international Red 2021 Anthony Shadid Award for Journal- Cross, he perfectly captured the essence ism Ethics for a series on palm oil labor the most widespread commodities on the Echoes across the decades, from the Beatles to the LONDON: A Banksy painting honoring planet. Mason and McDowell chronicled Britain of this moment in time.” abuses, the University of Wisconsin- Raspberries to ELO to Elliott Smith, frame Tasjan’s ’s health workers in the pandemic instances of rape, traffi cking, slavery, sanguine assessments of 2021s uncertainties and anxi- has sold for a record 16.8 million pounds The sale came on the day Britain held Madison’s Center for Journalism Ethics ($23.2 million), auction house Christie’s a minute’s silence to mark one year since child labor and routine exposure to eties. He pines for a dream girl on “Sunday Women,” announced Tuesday. toxic agrochemicals. Using supply chain bridges gender on “Feminine Walk” and offers life said Tuesday. Proceeds from the sale will Prime Minister Boris Johnson ordered The center said Margie Mason and be used to fund health organizations and the fi rst national lockdown. (AP) tracking, they also traced the abuses back counsel on “Don’t Overthink It,” all with charming Robin McDowell went to extraordinary to some of the biggest names in food charities across the UK, it said. ❑ ❑ ❑ lengths to interview more than 130 cur- humor and candor. The work by the mystery street artist, and cosmetics and to banks funding the ❑ ❑ ❑ titled “Game Changer,” fi rst appeared on industry. a wall at Southampton General Hospital “These journalists brought to light the “Whispers and Sighs,” David Olney and Anana rampant injustices undergirding the $65 Kaye (Schoolkids Records) in southern England in May, during the fi rst wave of the pandemic. The black-and- billion palm oil industry,” said Lucas There’s a poignancy to these 11 swan songs, es- white picture depicts a young boy sitting Graves, judging chair and professor of pecially with such titles as “My Favorite Goodbye,” on the fl oor playing with a nurse superhero journalism and mass communication. “My Last Dream Of You” and “The Great Manzini toy, as Batman and Spiderman toy fi gures ”Their investigation is a masterclass (Disappearing Act).” lie in a wastepaper basket next to him. in ethics and integrity, and shows how Finality is a recurring theme on “Whispers and At the time it went up, the hospital conscientious reporting can make a tre- Sighs,” and during the mixing of the album early last said Banksy left a note for workers there mendous difference in the world.” year, singer-songwriter David Olney died on stage at saying: “Thanks for all you’re doing. I The winners will be presented with a Florida music festival at age 71. hope this brightens the place up a bit, the award in an online ceremony in May. A master of his craft, Olney always chased his muse even if it’s only black and white.” The award is named for a graduate of the rather than hits, and his reputation is burnished by this Christie’s said the sale price was a university and former Associated Press unlikely collaboration with Anana Kaye, a young world auction record for Banksy. The reporter and editor who died in 2012 singer-songwriter from the country of Georgia who is auction house said it will donate a “sig- while reporting in Syria for The New now based in Nashville. nifi cant portion” of the buyer’s premium York Times. These original songs about love, longing and imper- to health organizations. “For so many of us, Anthony Shad- manence are set more than a century ago, perhaps in A reproduction of the picture will stay id was a role model of journalistic am- at the hospital for patients, visitors and bition and integrity. So it is especially Europe, their dreamy beauty magnifi ed by marvelous meaningful that this impactful work by singing. Kaye’s arresting alto echoes Broadway and staff, Christie’s added. “Banksy is an extraordinary artist who Margie, Robin and their AP colleagues the Caucasus Mountains, while Olney makes like an is a constant barometer of nationwide Frances McDormand, (left), and Swankie appear in a scene from ‘Nomadland.’ be recognized with this year’s award Americana Burl Ives. They both sound wise and well- sentiment,” said Katharine Arnold, Chloé Zhao’s ‘Nomadland’ cemented its Oscar front-runner status Wednesday, in his name,” said Brian Carovillano, traveled. (AP) who heads the European post-war and winning the top award at the 32nd annual Producers Guild of America Awards. vice president and managing editor of contemporary art division at the auction (AP) — Details on Page 12 the AP. (AP) ARAB TIMES, FRIDAY-SATURDAY, MARCH 26-27, 2021 SPORTS 14

Organizers will stop or re-route relay if crowding becomes a problem Torch relay for Tokyo Olympics kicks off its 121-day journey TOKYO, March 25, (AP): The torch public because of the fear of spreading people stood on the roadside and were from today is a valuable opportunity now put offi cially at $15.4 billion. Sev- ties the Olympics and Paralympics will relay for the postponed Tokyo Olym- COVID-19 but was streamed live. safely spread out. for the people to get a real sense of the eral audits suggest it’s twice that much present with 15,400 athletes entering pics began its 121-day journey across “The torch of Tokyo 2020 will be- “At fi rst I didn’t think much of it,” Olympics and Paralympics that are ap- and a University of Oxford study says Japan, along with thousands of other Japan on Thursday and is headed to- come a bright light for hope for Japa- said 20-year-old Takumu Kimura. proaching,” Suga told reporters. these are the most expensive Olympics offi cials, judges, VIPs, media, and ward the opening ceremony in Tokyo nese citizens and citizens in the world “But when I actually saw it, it felt like: Organizers confi rmed a bit of bad on record. broadcasters. on July 23. and a light at the end of the tunnel,” yes, it’s the Olympics.” luck: the fl ame in the torch was blown The relay is a big test for the upcoming Athletes will be kept in a “bubble” The relay began in northeastern Fuku- said Seiko Hashimoto, the president of Setsuko Hashimoto, a 63-year-old out during one leg of the relay. As has Olympics with fear among the public that like atmosphere in Tokyo and will be shima prefecture, the area that was dev- the local organizing committee and a local resident, was emotional as the happened in other Olympics, it was re- the event could spread the virus to rural limited to the Athletes Village on To- astated by the 2011 earthquake, tsunami former Olympian. torch passed. lit by a back-up lantern that also carries and more isolated parts of the country. kyo Bay, the competition venues and and the meltdown of three nuclear reac- Homare Sawa, the biggest star on the fl ame that was kindled in Greece Vaccinations have not been rolled out training areas. Most others will be out- tors. About 18,000 died in the tragedy, the 2011 team, missed the ceremony. more than a year ago. yet in Japan to the general public. About side the bubble and will be kept at a The fi rst runner with the torch was She is being treated for a condition af- OLYMPICS Local organizers and the Interna- 9,000 deaths in the country have been at- distance from the athletes. Azusa Iwashimizu, a key player in fecting her inner ear and had to with- tional Olympic Committee hope the tributed to COVID-19. Organizers announced a few days the Japan team that won the Women’s draw from the event. “Ten years ago there was a nuclear ac- relay will turn public opinion in Japan About 10,000 runners are expected ago that fans from abroad will be World Cup in 2011. Fans were told to social-distance along cident so (seeing the torch) it felt like I in favor of the Olympics. Sentiments to take part, with the relay touching Ja- banned from attending the Olympics Wearing a white track suit, she car- the roadside as the torch passes, and they could really look forward to something expressed in polls in Japan so far are pan’s 47 prefectures. and Paralympics. Most volunteers ried the torch out of the J-Village in- were to refrain from loud cheering. Orga- and live,” she said. “When you become overwhelmingly negative with about After the postponement a year ago, from abroad have also been ruled out. door soccer training center and was nizers have said they will stop or re-route my age, this is the last Tokyo Olympics 80% suggesting another delay or can- there was early talk of eliminating the Organizers are to announce the venue surrounded by 14 other members of the relay if crowding becomes a problem and it’s here. It was very touching.” cellation. relay to save money. However, that capacities in April. Ticket revenue for the that 2011 World Cup squad and coach during the four-month parade. Prime Minister Yoshihide Suga The relay and the Olympics both stir idea was quickly dropped with the re- Olympics was to be $800 million but will Norio Sasaki at the rear. They were Spectators cooperated in Naraha chimed in from Tokyo with a state- fear that the events could spread the lay heavily sponsored by Coca-Cola be severely reduced by the lack of fans. also decked out in white track suits. Town, just down the road from where ment. virus. There is also opposition to the and Toyota. Japanese government entities will have to The ceremony was closed to the the torch started its trip. A few hundred “The Olympic torch relay starting soaring cost of staging the Olympics, The relay is a prelude to the diffi cul- make up the shortfall.

Nissanka scores ton on debut Sri Lanka take control of 1st Test against Windies

NORTH POINT, Antigua, March 25, Joseph down the leg side, directly to (AP): Pathum Nissanka scored a cen- wicketkeeper Joshua Da Silva but the tury on debut and Niroshan Dickwella only appeal from the West Indies was a fell four runs short of a maiden century half-hearted one from the bowler. Wednesday as Sri Lanka took control Dickwella surpassed his previous of the fi rst cricket Test against the highest test score of 92 with a four off West Indies on the fourth day. Roach. Five balls later, he was struck a Starting 102 runs behind on the fi rst glancing blow on the helmet by Roach innings, Sri Lanka reached 476 in its and the ball dropped and spun back, second innings for a lead of 374. hitting the stumps without removing Sri Lanka then made an impor- the bails. tant breakthrough in 20 overs before Nissanka reached his 100 with an stumps, dismissing John Campbell outside edge wide of slips, from 240 (11) to leave the West Indies 34-1, still deliveries and with only six fours in 340 runs behind. a particularly watchful innings which Captain Kraigg steadily built Sri Lanka’s advantage. Brathwaite was He is the fourth Sri Lankan to make 8 not out and a century on Test debut and the fi rst to Nkrumah Bon- do so outside Sri Lanka. ner 15. The day began with promise for CRICKET the West Indies, who handed the “I wasn’t aware of those records,” second new ball Nissanka said. “With the state of the to Alzarri Joseph game, the team needed me to per- instead of Ke- Nissanka form and I’m glad to perform for the mar Roach. Jo- team. seph repaid the decision with a wicket “The discussion (with Dickwella) from the fi fth ball of the day, bowling was mainly that we have to try and Dhananjaya de Silva who resumed on drag it out for as long as possible to get 46 and had just posted his eighth test a big score and make sure the bowlers half century. have enough runs to bowl at. Nissanka and Dickwella came to- “If the bowlers keep the ball in the gether at that point and batted through right area, there’s still a chance of almost all of the fi rst and second ses- bowling the West Indies out. I think Azusa Iwashimizu with other members of ‘Nadeshiko Japan,’ Japan’s women’s national soccer team, leads the torch relay in Naraha, Fukushima prefec- sions in a partnership which produced we have a good chance.” ture, northeastern Japan, on March 25. (AP) 179 runs for the sixth wicket. Nissanka was out in the second over The 22-year-old Nissanka was pa- after tea, playing an uncharacteristic tient and careful in his shot selection, slog sweep as he tried to lift the run reaching his half century from 126 rate, only to be caught at deep back- balls with fi ve boundaries. Dickwella’s ward square by Kemar Roach from the Russia’s champ Shcherbakova wins 50 came from 103 balls and included bowling of Rahkeem Cornwall. three boundaries. Dickwella looked sure to go onto his Dickwella lived dangerously later in fi rst Test century. But at 96 he played his innings. He was dropped by Bon- a lazy shot to a wide ball from Roach, ner at gully from Jason Holder’s bowl- looking to dab the ball down to third women’s ‘short program’ at worlds ing when he was 44, chasing a short man. Instead, he dragged it back onto and wide delivery. His cut shot went his own stumps. directly to Bonner at waist height but While Roach loudly celebrated the the fi eldsman, off balance, dropped a wicket, Dickwella looked stunned, Boikova and Kozlovskii take pairs event simple chance. leaning on his bat before slowly trudg- On 74, Dickwella nicked a ball from ing back to the pavilion. STOCKHOLM, Sweden, it, actually. I think I really let myself down there.” Angry about tennis politics March 25, (AP): The ex- Trusova, coached by 2006 Olym- pected was seeing two pic champion Evgeni Plushenko, Russians and a Japanese seemed nervous and rushing through Pospisil stages tirade in Miami woman in the top three af- her program. She only attempted a double axel, but more signifi cant was MIAMI, March 25, (AP): Angry about ter the short program at a major error on her jump combina- tennis politics, Vasek Pospisil of Can- the World Figure Skating tion, stepping out of her triple lutz ada staged a tantrum and was docked a Championships. and failing to complete the combo. key point in his opening-round loss at It was a surprisingly weak show- the Miami Open. Less predictable was the two Pospisil, who has been trying to set American skaters, helped by the ing for a Russian woman - they have dominated the sport in the past seven up a new group to represent men’s struggles of other contenders, put- years - and dropped Trusova to 12th. professional players, was beaten by ting the United States in range of qualifi er Mackenzie McDonald 6-3, “I think I didn’t manage with my 4-6, 6-3. the maximum three berths at next nerves; lately I feel very nervous at year’s Olympics. During a changeover after his melt- the competitions,” she said. down in the fi rst set, Pospisil used a Anna Shcherbakova, Russia’s The women’s free skate is Friday. three-time national champion, won profanity to describe ATP Chairman There are no fans at the Ericsson Andrea Gaudenzi, and complained the free skate Wednesday. Shcherba- Globe for worlds, which were can- about a meeting they both attended kova’s balletic performance fl owed celed in Montreal last year because Tuesday night. in a way none of the other competi- of the COVID-19 pandemic. Pospisil told the chair umpire Gaud- tors managed. Her triple lutz-triple Shcherbakova was thrilled to sim- enzi was “screaming at me in a player Tommy Paul returns to Marcos Gi- loop combination was the most diffi - ply be competing at a world cham- meeting for trying to unite the players - ron during the Miami Open tennis cult of any tried, and she wore a huge tournament, on March 24, in Miami pionship. for an an hour and a half. ... If you want Gardens, Fla. (AP) smile leaving the ice. “The best moment is that we’re here, to default me, I’ll gladly sue this whole “I am most satisfi ed with my com- because it’s the fi rst international com- organization.” French Open in September. Against bination, it was the hardest jump in petition this year,” she noted. “I was Hours later, Pospisil tweeted an Dodin, Stephens fell behind after she my program and the most important very sad when the previous interna- apology for his behavior during the failed to convert two sets in the open- one,” Shcherbakova said. tional competitions were canceled.” match. ing set, but she pulled away in the fi nal Her 81.00 points placed her nearly France’s Maé-Bérénice Méité “I disrespected the game I love, and set. two points ahead of Japan’s Rika Ki- withdrew after tearing her left Achil- for that I am truly sorry,” he wrote. “By Stephens, ranked 49th, is among hira, whose score was damaged by les tendon during her program. way of explanation, I felt deeply un- six former champions in the women’s two under-rotated jumps, including a With an exquisite short program nerved during a meeting between play- draw. triple axel that only one other skater ers and ATP executives last night, and Wild-card Ana Konjuh of Croatia to “Merry Go Round Of Life,” Alek- I underestimated the toll those emo- hit in the short program. sandra Boikova and Dmitrii Ko- won her fi rst main-draw match in a tions took on me until I stepped onto WTA event since 2018 when she beat zlovskii of Russia took the short pro- the court. I am sorry for my on-court gram by 2.54 points over two-time Katerina Siniakova 7-6 (3), 7-5. Kon- FIGURE SKATING behavior and the language I used.” juh’s career has been slowed by four world winners Sui Wenjing and Han elbow surgeries. Cong of China. TENNIS Sara Sorribes Tormo of Spain That was Russia’s Elizaveta Tuk- Russia’s other two pairs were overcame two match points and a tamysheva, whose last appearance third and fourth: Anastasia Mishina 5-1 deficit in the final set to overtake at worlds came when she won it in and Aleksandr Galliamov, followed Pospisil and No. 1-ranked Novak Bernarda Pera 6-2, 2-6, 7-5. Ameri- 2015. by Evgenia Tarasova and Vladimir Djokovic have been trying to set up can Danielle Collins swept Kristina “A lot has happened in these past Morozov heading into Thursday’s a group to represent tennis players, Mladenovic 6-3, 6-3, and Jelena Os- six years,” she said, “but I think dur- free skate. who have never have had a union, un- tapenko defeated Xiyu Wang 6-4, ing these past few years I have be- The U.S. tandems are not in con- like athletes in North American team 6-7 (4), 6-1. sports. On the first day of men’s play, come way more confi dent in this (tri- Russian pair skaters Aleksandra Boikova and Dmitrii Kozlovskii in action tention for the podium against the ple axel) and today’s performance I Russians and Chinese, but fared very The ATP didn’t respond to a request Alexei Popyrin built on his recent during a training session prior to the ISU World Figure Skating Champion- for comment on Pospisil’s tirade. He consider to be a little better than the ships at the Globe Arena in Stockholm, Sweden, on March 23. (AP) well. National runners-up Ashley momentum by beating Feliciano Lo- one six years ago.” Cain-Gribble and Timothy LeDuc angrily launched a ball out of the court pez 6-4, 7-6 (4). Popyrin, a 21-year- Several medal threats, including said after coming in fourth with a titles, was energetic but fl awed in were sixth, followed by U.S. cham- and smashed two rackets in the fi rst old Australian who won his first Russia’s other dynamo, Alexandra personal best 74.40. “I’ve yet to pions Alexa Knierim and Brandon set. Serving while facing a set point, ATP Tour title late last month in winding up seventh. he was penalized for verbal abuse to Trusova, struggled with falls and in- show that at Skate America or na- “I think my timing was just a bit Frazier in seventh. No American pair Singapore, will next play big-serv- complete combinations. For the U.S. lose the set. ing American Reilly Opelka, who is tionals, so I feel like this is the time. off,” Tennell admitted. “It’s very has won a world medal since 2002. A former top-25 player, Pospisil is seeded 30th. to get three spots in the women’s “I’m really happy with how my strange because my (triple) lutz “It’s very exciting to be back now ranked 67th. Lopez, 39, was the oldest player in fi eld at the Beijing Games, Bradie performance went. I gave it my all.” combo is one of my most solid jumps amongst all of the other international In women’s play, American Sloane the men’s draw. Tennell and Karen Chen must fi nish Chen was the bronze medalist at so I’m pretty disappointed with that athletes,” said Knierim, who went Stephens earned her fi rst victory of the Pierre-Hugues Herbert of France, a combined 13th or better. nationals but was placed on the U.S. skate. I’ve been skating a clean short to the 2018 Olympics with husband year by rallying past qualifi er Oceane runner-up at the recent Open 13 in Right now, they have a total of team ahead of runner-up Amber program every single day since na- Chris, now retired. “This is our fi rst Dodin of 6-7 (6), 6-4, 6-2. Marseille, France, beat Pedro Sousa 11th place. Glenn because of her international tionals, so to come here and put out competition like this as a pair, so Stephens, who won the tournament 6-1, 6-3. Herbert will next face No. “I want to deliver the free skate experience. a program like that is very surprising we’re just learning as we go and en- in 2018, had been 0-4 previously this 11-seeded Felix Auger-Aliassime of that I know I’m capable of,” Chen Tennell, who has won two U.S. to me and I’m pretty unhappy with joying it together.” year and hadn’t won a match since the Canada. ARAB TIMES, FRIDAY-SATURDAY, MARCH 26-27, 2021 SPORTS 15 Penguins push Sabres’ winless streak to 15

Spurgeon scores twice as Wild edge Ducks 3-2 for 2-game sweep

PITTSBURGH, March 25, (AP): Sidney Crosby picked up his 13th goal of the season, Tristan Jarry stopped 26 shots and the Pittsburgh Penguins push Buffalo’s winless streak to 15 games and counting with a 5-2 victory. Evan Rodrigues, Kris Letang, John Marino and Zach Aston-Reese scored also for the Penguins, who recovered from a sluggish three-game set against New Jersey in which they managed just one vic- tory by pouncing on the undermanned and overmatched Sabres. Buffalo goalie Dustin Tokarski, making his first NHL start in more than five years with Carter Hutton out due to a lower-body injury, finished with 37 saves and kept the Sabres in it until late in the second period, when Marino and Aston-Reese scored just over 2 minutes apart to give the Penguins all the cushion required. Rasmus Dahlin scored his second goal of the season and Victor Olofsson beat Jarry on a penalty shot in the third period, but the NHL’s worst team remained in a tailspin. Buffalo’s 15-game winless streak (0-13-2) is a record for futility since the shootout was introduced during the 2005-06 season, and the league’s longest stretch without a victory since Arizona went 15 games between wins from Feb. 21-March 21, 2004. The Sabres have been outscored 63-30 during their slide.

ICE HOCKEY

The Penguins haven’t exactly been rolling of late, with forwards Evgeni Malkin, Brandon Tanev, Teddy Blueger and Jason Zucker out with injuries. Head coach Mike Sullivan is tinkering to see how the rest of the pieces fit, and three games against New Jersey provided little clarity. There might not be much to glean from the performance given the current state of the Pittsburgh Penguins’ Jared McCann (19) chases after Buffalo Sabres’ Jeff Skinner (53) for the puck during the first period of an NHL hockey game, on March 24, in Pittsburgh. (AP) Sabres, but the Penguins wasted little time taking control. 10th straight home win. Ryan Suter had two Suter. Rodrigues finished off a pretty end-to-end assists for Minnesota, becoming the fifth active On the first goal, Suter passed from near rush by tapping home a cross-ice feed from NHL defenseman to reach 600 career points. the top of the faceoff circle to the middle, Texas advances with win over UCLA Sam Lafferty 7:36 into the first to put Derek Grant and Max Comtois scored for where Spurgeon redirected the puck past Pittsburgh in front. Letang make it 2-0 when the Ducks, who have lost seven of eight. Ryan Miller. The second, giving Minnesota a 2-1 a centering pass by Crosby from behind the Miller made 23 saves in his sixth straight start lead, was a tip in the middle of the zone after Maryland overwhelms Alabama; Buffalo net deflected off Sabres defenseman with John Gibson out for his fifth game with Suter’s point shot. Colin Miller right to Letang. a lower-body injury. Grant’s second goal of the season came just Wild 3, Ducks 2 Sturm scored his fourth goal of the season 24 seconds after Spurgeon’s first as Anaheim dangerous Terps into Sweet 16 In St. Paul, Minnesota, Jared Spurgeon had after a mistake by Miller. A dump-in from answered quickly. Another quick goal from two goals, and Nico Sturm scored the tiebreaker Nick Bjugstad went on goal. Miller tried to Comtois tied the game just 22 seconds into SAN ANTONIO, March 25, (AP): Maryland reach its first Sweet 16 since 2013. as the Minnesota Wild beat the Anaheim Ducks cover the puck, but it slid away, right to the second period. and its offensive juggernaut are rolling fast Louisville 62, Northwestern 53 and easy into the Sweet 16, getting 19 points and swept the teams’ two-game set. Sturm for an easy tap-in. Comtois, who was a healthy scratch for the Kianna Smith scored 16 points and No. 2 Cam Talbot made 28 saves for the Wild, Spurgeon’s two goals, giving him three this first time this season in Monday’s game from Angel Reese and overwhelming Alabama 100-64. seed Louisville advanced to the Sweet 16 by who extended a franchise record with their season, came off deflections on passes from between the teams, has 10 goals to lead the rallying from an early 18-point deficit to beat Ducks. The second-seeded Terrapins (27-2) came into the women’s NCAA Tournament with the seventh-seeded Northwestern. Senators 3, Flames 1 nation’s highest-scoring offense and have yet The Cardinals (25-3) got off to another In Ottawa, Ontario, rookie Filip Gustavsson to take their foot off the gas. The Terps are rough start, trailing 25-7 late in the first quar- made 28 saves, Chris Tierney broke a third- averaging 99 points in their two tournament ter. Louisville slowly started to chip away on period tie and Ottawa beat Calgary. wins after scoring 91.3 per game in the regular offense and played stellar defense. The deficit Gustavsson beat the Flames 2-1 on Monday season. was 40-28 midway through the third quarter night in his first NHL start. Last in the all- Maryland hit the 100-point mark for the before the Cardinals scored 17 straight points. Canadan North Division at 12-20-3, the seventh time this season. The Terps also The Wildcats (16-9) closed to 53-50 on Senators have earned a least a point in five played aggressive, suffocating defense against Jordan Hamilton’s 3-pointer with 3:26 left. straight games (3-0-2), and are 5-2 against the seventh-seeded Crimson Tide. They had a chance to move closer, but Calgary this season. Maryland advanced to play No. 6 Texas in Veronica Burton missed two free throws 30 Rookie Josh Norris tied it with at 4:48 of the Hemisfair Region. seconds later. the third with his third goal in four games, Jasmine Walker led Alabama (17-10) with Hamilton scored 17 points for Northwestern. Tierney gave Ottawa the lead with 7:59 left, 23 points. Indiana 70, Belmont 48 and Nikita Zaitsev added an empty-netter. Texas 71, UCLA 62 Grace Berger scored 17 points and Indiana Mark Giordano scored for Calgary, and Celeste Taylor scored 24 points and Kyra used another suffocating defensive effort to Jacob Markstrom made 28 saves. Lambert added 17, leading Texas to the vic- beat Belmont, sending the fourth-seeded Sharks 4, Kings 2 tory. Hoosiers to the program’s first Sweet 16. Belmont was the first Ohio Valley In San Jose, California, Martin Jones made The start of the game was delayed about 25 minutes because Iowa State and Texas A&M Conference team to win a tournament game 42 saves for San Jose to stymie Los Angeles since 1990, but its chances of becoming the for a second straight game. went into overtime on the court on the other side of the Alamodome. fifth No. 12 seed to advance to the regional Jones followed up a 41-save performance semifinals were smothered by the Hoosiers’ in a 2-1 win Monday with another sharp effort defense and the Bruins’ own dismal 3-point to become the first Sharks goalie with at least BASKETBALL shooting through the first three quarters. 40 saves in consecutive games since Arturs Indiana (20-5) was just as efficient on Vancouver Canucks’ Bo Horvat (53) is checked by Winnipeg Jets’ Neal Pionk (4) as he Irbe in 1993, according to SportRadar. attempts to control the puck in front of Winnipeg goalie Connor Hellebuyck (37) during the offense as four Hoosiers scored in double fig- After getting pulled five times in his first ures. Indiana advances to play North Carolina second period of an NHL hockey game on March 24, in Vancouver, British Columbia. (AP) 15 starts this year, Jones has allowed just five The long wait didn’t seem to bother Texas (20-9), which outscored the Bruins 22-6 in the State, the No. 1 seed in the Mercado Region. goals on 147 shots in his past four. second to go up 35-14 at halftime. That includ- Destinee Wells scored 16 points to lead Evander Kane scored twice, and Rudolfs ing holding UCLA (17-6) scoreless for nearly Belmont (21-6). NHL Results/Standings Balcers and Tomas Hertl also scored to give 6:30 minutes during a 12-0 run. the Sharks a sweep of the two-game series. Arizona 52, BYU 46 Michaela Onyenwere had 21 points for Aari McDonald had 17 points with 11 Alex Iafallo and Adrian Kempe scored for third-seeded UCLA. the Kings, and Cal Petersen made 24 saves. rebounds and Arizona outlasted BYU, advanc- WASHINGTON, March 25, (AP): Results and standings from the NHL games on Wednesday. Los Angeles has lost five of seven. Missouri St 64, Wright St 39 ing to the Sweet 16 for the first time since coach Adia Barnes was a player for the Ottawa 3 Calgary 1 Winnipeg 5 Vancouver 1 Jets 5, Canucks 1 Elle Ruffridge had a career-high 20 points Minnesota 3 Anaheim 2 San Jose 4 Los Angeles 2 with five 3-pointers, Jasmine Franklin had a Wildcats in 1998. Pittsburgh 5 Buffalo 2 In Vancouver, British Columbia, Andrew The third-seeded Wildcats (18-5) finally East Division West Division double-double and fifth-seeded Missouri State Copp scored four goals to carry Winnipeg is going to its second consecutive Sweet 16 went ahead to stay on a 3-pointer by Sam GP W L OT Pts GF GA GP W L OT Pts GF GA past Vancouver. Copp had a pair of power- Thomas with 3:47 left, not long after NY Islanders 33 21 8 4 46 98 73 Vegas 30 22 7 1 45 100 67 after knocking off Wright State. Washington 31 20 7 4 44 106 92 Colorado 31 20 8 3 43 106 71 play goals in the second period and two more The Lady Bears (23-2) pulled away in the McDonald’s 3 cut their deficit to one. BYU Pittsburgh 33 20 11 2 42 105 90 Minnesota 31 20 10 1 41 92 78 goals in the third to give the Jets (20-11-2) second half when Ruffridge had 17 of her (19-6) had matched its biggest lead of the Boston 28 16 8 4 36 77 66 St Louis 32 16 11 5 37 97 104 their second straight win over the Canucks. Philadelphia 31 15 12 4 34 97 111 points. Franklin had 11 points and 11 game - four points - on a layup by Shaylee Arizona 33 14 14 5 33 83 101 Mark Scheifele also scored for Winnipeg, Gonzales with just over five minutes left. NY Rangers 31 14 13 4 32 94 82 Los Angeles 32 13 13 6 32 91 90 rebounds. New Jersey 30 12 14 4 28 75 93 San Jose 31 13 14 4 30 89 106 and Connor Hellebuyck stopped 38 shots. Ruffridge and Franklin are among nine cur- McDonald, a second-team All-American Buffalo 31 6 21 4 16 66 111 Anaheim 34 9 19 6 24 74 115 Nils Hoglander scored late and Thatcher rent Lady Bears who were also part of the and the Pac-12 player of the year, sealed the Central Division North Division Demko made 31 saves for the Canucks (16- Sweet 16 team two years ago that lost to game when she stole the ball from Gonzales, GP W L OT Pts GF GA 18-3). the co-West Coast Conference player of the Tampa Bay 32 24 6 2 50 117 74 GP W L OT Pts GF GA Stanford, the same team they will play in the Carolina 31 21 7 3 45 104 78 Toronto 32 20 10 2 42 107 83 Alamo Region semifinal Sunday. year, and drove for a layup with 3 seconds left. Florida 32 20 8 4 44 107 91 Winnipeg 33 20 11 2 42 109 92 Missouri State went ahead on two tiebreak- The Wildcats moved on to face Texas A&M. Chicago 33 15 13 5 35 98 108 Edmonton 34 21 13 0 42 116 97 ing free throws by Brice Calip with 2 minutes Texas native Cate Reese had 12 points for Columbus 33 13 13 7 33 86 106 Montreal 31 14 8 9 37 100 87 Nashville 33 15 17 1 31 79 103 Vancouver 37 16 18 3 35 100 120 left in the second quarter before Mya Bhinhar Arizona, and Trinity Baptiste had 11 rebounds Dallas 29 10 11 8 28 81 77 Calgary 34 15 16 3 33 89 102 swished a 3-pointer for a 24-19 halftime lead. before fouling out. Detroit 33 10 19 4 24 71 106 Ottawa 35 12 20 3 27 92 132 Sydney Manning’s 3-pointer capped a 12-3 Gonzales had 16 points for BYU. Tegan Note: Two points for a win one point for overtime loss. The top four teams in each division will Graham had 13. qualify for playoffs under this season’s temporary realignment. run to start the second half. That trio was also on the last Sweet 16 team. Texas A&M 84, Iowa St 82, OT Angel Baker and Shamarre Hale each had 10 points for the 13th-seeded Raiders (19-8), Jordan Nixon banked in a short jump shot at Edwards named most valuable player who got outscored 40-20 after halftime. the buzzer in overtime, giving her a career- high 35 points and lifting No. 2 Texas A&M Oregon 57, Georgia 50 past seventh-seeded Iowa State. Sedona Prince scored 22 points, Nyara Nixon scored seven of A&M’s nine points Sabally took over late and sixth-seeded in OT, pushing the Aggies (25-2) into the Polk carries Pepperdine over Oregon beat No. 3 Georgia to advance to its Sweet 16 for the third straight time. She also fourth straight Sweet 16. led the rally in the fourth quarter, scoring the Sabally scored six straight points - includ- last four points of regulation. Coastal Carolina for CBI title ing a putback of her own missed shot - to A 3 by Lexi Donarski put the Cyclones up break open a tie game and give the Ducks a by two with two minutes left in overtime, and DAYTONA BEACH, Florida, March 25, player after scoring 22 points in the first 54-48 lead with less than a minute to go. She Nixon tied it with a layup a few seconds later. (AP): Darryl Polk Jr. had 19 points and five round, and securing 28 points, seven finished with 15 points, including 10 in the Ciera Johnson blocked a layup by Ashley steals, and Pepperdine romped past Coastal rebounds, five blocks and three steals in the second half, and nine rebounds. Joens with 3 seconds left before Nixon drove Carolina 84-61 for the College Basketball semifinals. Oregon (15-8) is in the tournament for the into the lane and threw up the game-winner. Invitational championship. 16th time overall, but this Ducks team came in The dramatic finish comes after the Aggies Victor Ohia Obioha added 16 points for BASKETBALL Maryland forward Angel Reese, (rear), less heralded than those led by Sabrina Ionescu, narrowly escaped an upset bid by No. 15 seed the Waves (15-12). Colbey Ross had 15 blocks a shot attempt by Alabama’s Myra who missed out on her final chance at a national Troy in the first round. points and seven assists, and Jade’ Smith Gordon (15) during the first half of a college title last year because of the pandemic. Louisville Joens had 32 points and 18 rebounds for the scored 11. Kessler Edwards had nine points, Deanthony Tipler had 16 points for the basketball game in the second round of the awaits Oregon in the regional semifinals. Cyclones (17-11), who went 16 for 30 from six rebounds and four blocks. Chanticleers (18-8). Essam Mostafa added 15 women’s NCAA tournament at the Greehey Jenna Staiti had 18 points and nine rebounds 3-point range. Donarski finished with 18 Edwards was named the most valuable points. Arena in San Antonio on March 24. (AP) for Georgia (21-7), which was looking to points. ARAB TIMES, FRIDAY-SATURDAY, MARCH 26-27, 2021 16

Mexico’s goalkeeper Luis Malagon kicks the ball ahead of United States’ Sebastian Saucedo during a Concacaf Men’s Olympic Qualifying championship soccer match in Guadalajara, Mexico, March 24. (AP) Sports Latest sports scores at — http://sports.arabtimesonline.com

Antuna scores Mexico edge US France draw, Dutch lose at ‘start’ in Oly qualifying GUADALAJARA, March 25, (AP): Sebastian Soto’s sloppy giveaway cost the United States in a 1-0 loss to Mexico. of World Cup qualifying in Europe Now comes the winner-take- all semifinal Sunday night against Honduras or Canada for a trip to the men’s Olympic soc- Belgium win cer tournament. “Ultimately difficult to lose the game on an individual PARIS, March 25, (AP): error,” U.S. coach Jason Kreis The road to Qatar for the said after Soto gifted Uriel Antuna a 45th-minute goal at 2022 World Cup began for Guadalajara on Wednesday European teams with a night. “The most important slip-up by France to open game is coming, so we need to move forward very quickly and its title defense, a big loss prepare ourselves for that.” for the Netherlands. Both the U.S. and Mexico The French were held 1-1 by were assured of advancing from Ukraine inside an empty Stade de Group A to semifinal berths. France outside Paris as an own- Mexico, the 2012 Olympic goal by defender Presnel champions, won their 14th Kimpembe canceled out Antoine straight Olympic qualifier dat- ing to 2008 and finished first in Griezmann’s 19th-minute opener Group A at 3-0. for the hosts. Semifinal winners from the A hat trick by 35-year-old striker North and Central American Burak Yilmaz earned Turkey a 4-2 and Caribbean region get the win over the Netherlands, whose final two places in the 16-nation qualifying record for major interna- field for the Olympics, to be tional tournaments has been sketchy played from July 21 to Aug. 7 in recent years. in Tokyo, Kashima, Miyagi, The Dutch failed to make it to Euro Saitama, Sapporo and 2016 or the 2018 World Cup in Yokohama. Russia, and haven’t shown great form under new coach Frank de Boer, who has just two wins in seven matches SOCCER since replacing Ronald Koeman. They are in a tricky Group G that also includes Norway, which beat “We wanted to win the game Gibraltar 3-0 There were wins for to be at the top of our group,” top-ranked Belgium, 3-1 over Wales, American defender Mauricio and reigning European champions Pineda said. “We came short of Portugal, 1-0 over Azerbaijan. that, but we’re still in the semi- Portugal are one of the teams playing final, and I think we’re going to their opening qualifiers in neutral ter- have to flip the page quick.” ritory - in their case, the Italian city of Antuna, a 23-year-old Chivas Turin - because of coronavirus travel Teun Koopmeiners of The Netherlands, (left), in action against George Ganea of Romania, during the European Under-21 Championship Romania – winger who spent 2019 on loan to restrictions. Netherlands soccer match in the Bozsik Stadium in Budapest, Hungary, March 24. (AP) the LA Galaxy from Manchester Griezmann moved level with David City, picked up a loose ball about Trezeguet in fourth place on France’s 35 yards from goal that Soto mis- scoring list, on 34 goals, after curling NBA Results/Standings Magic end Suns road winning streak hit a casual back-pass following a a left-footed shot into the far corner feed upfield from Henry Kessler. from the right edge of the penalty Antuna took several touches to area. keep space from Kessler and However, fellow forwards Olivier WASHINGTON, March 25, (AP): Pineda as he cut to the edge of the NBA results and standings on Giroud and Kylian Mbappe struggled Wednesday. Jazz rout short-handed Nets arc, then beat goalkeeper David Indiana 116 Detroit 111 to get into the game and Ukraine SALT LAKE CITY, March 25, (AP): Ochoa with a right-footed shot for fought back, even if there was an ele- Toronto 135 Denver 111 his second goal of the tournament. Milwaukee 121 Boston 119 Donovan Mitchell scored 27 points ment of fortune about the equalizer in Memphis 116 Oklahoma City 107 and the NBA-leading Utah Jazz routed “It’s a game of small details and the 57th. Cleveland 103 Chicago 94 getting all those right, and against Orlando 112 Phoenix 111 the short-handed Brooklyn Nets 118- the best teams you’re going to get Dallas 128 Minnesota 108 88 on Wednesday night. punished if you make even the Charlotte 122 Houston 97 Bojan Bogdanovic broke out of a SOCCER LA Clippers 134 San Antonio 101 smallest of mistakes,” Pineda said. Sacramento 110 Atlanta 108 3-for-25 3-point shooting slump to “So today we were punished for Utah 118 Brooklyn 88 made 4 of 6 and score 18 points for the that, and I think we have to start Eastern Conference Jazz. They have won four of five. Sergii Sydorchuk’s shot was head- Atlantic Division punishing teams on the other side W L Pct GB The matchup was a mismatch after of the field, as well.” ing off target before it clipped Philadelphia 31 13 .705 - the Nets scratched James Harden Kreis faulted Soto’s deci- Kimpembe as he went to close the Brooklyn 30 15 .667 1-1/2 because of a sore neck. He joined star midfielder down, and the ball wrong- New York 22 22 .500 9 teammates Kevin Durant (left ham- sion-making. Boston 21 23 .477 10 “Ultimately the goal came footed goalkeeper Hugo Lloris before Toronto 18 26 .409 13 string strain) and Kyrie Irving (per- rolling slowly over the line. from their press: a forward that Southeast Division sonal reasons) on the injured list. Also in Group D, Bosnia- Alize Johnson, who was signed to a dropped down and instead of W L Pct GB controlling the ball and taking Herzegovina scored in the 84th min- Charlotte 22 21 .512 - 10-day contract Monday, had a career- two touches,” the coach said. ute to secure a 2-2 draw away against Miami 22 22 .500 -1/2 high 23 points and 15 rebounds for “He had all kinds of time. He Finland, whose goals came from Atlanta 22 22 .500 -1/2 Brooklyn. Washington 15 27 .357 6-1/2 tried to play a first-time pass Teemu Pukki. Orlando 15 29 .341 7-1/2 Bucks 121, Celtics 119 and got intercepted.” A Netherlands defense missing Central Division The U.S. men failed to quali- their captain and mainstay, the injured In Milwaukee, Khris Middleton had Utah Jazz center Rudy Gobert (27) and Brooklyn Nets guard Tyler W L Pct GB 27 points and 13 rebounds and Johnson (10) reach for a rebound during the second half of an NBA bas- fy for the 2012 and 2016 Virgil van Dijk, couldn’t handle Milwaukee 29 14 .674 - Olympics, a trend that was fol- Yilmaz, who has been in good form Indiana 20 23 .465 9 Milwaukee held off Boston for its ketball game on March 24, in Salt Lake City. (AP) lowed by the failure of the for French title contenders Lille this Chicago 19 24 .442 10 eighth consecutive victory. senior national team to qualify season. Cleveland 17 27 .386 12-1/2 Milwaukee led by 25, but only touched the ball. coach Nate McMillan. Detroit 12 31 .279 17 secured the win when Boston’s Daniel for the 2018 World Cup. The striker struck twice before the Western Conference Marcus Morris added 20 points, Cavaliers 103, Bulls 94 Theis missed a wide-open corner Paul George had 17 points, and Lou Clubs do not have to release break and again late in the second half Southwest Division In Chicago, Darius Garland had 22 players for Olympic qualifying to secure the win in Group G just as 3-point attempt in the final seconds. Williams 16. DeMar DeRozan led San W L Pct GB The Bucks have won 13 of their last 14 Antonio with 19 points, and Patty points and nine assists, Jarrett Allen or the Olympics, denying most the Dutch were threatening a come- Dallas 23 19 .548 - added 19 points and nine rebounds, San Antonio 22 19 .537 -1/2 games – a stretch that started after a Mills added 16. of the best-known players from back after goals by substitutes Davy and Cleveland beat Chicago without tournament teams Memphis 21 20 .512 1-1/2 five-game skid. Raptors 135, Nuggets 111 Klaassen and Luuk de Jong. New Orleans 19 24 .442 4-1/2 After trailing 90-65 midway through scoring leader Collin Sexton. Because of the delay caused AC Milan midfielder Hakan Houston 12 31 .279 11-1/2 In Tampa, Fla, Pascal Siakam Sexton sat out after he experienced by the novel coronavirus pan- the third quarter, the Celtics cut the Calhanoglu netted the other goal at Northwest Division margin to two on Jaylen Brown’s scored 27 points and Toronto routed right hamstring soreness in the morn- demic, FIFA kept eligibility to Ataturk Olympic Stadium for Turkey, W L Pct GB ing shootaround. Coach J.B. players born Jan. 1, 2007, or 3-pointer with 1:32 left. Theis then Denver to end a nine-game losing which have not qualified for a World Utah 32 11 .744 - streak. Bickerstaff said the injury wasn’t seri- later. Each Olympic team can Denver 26 18 .591 6-1/2 drew an offensive foul on Giannis Cup since finishing third in 2002. Portland 25 18 .581 7 Antetokounmpo, and the Celtics had ous. use three wild-card players over Gibraltar managed to keep Zach LaVine led Chicago with 22 the age limit. Oklahoma City 19 25 .432 13-1/2 multiple opportunities to tie the game Norway’s Borussia Dortmund star, Minnesota 10 34 .227 22-1/2 or go in front the rest of the way. BASKETBALL points. Outside back Julian Araujo, Erling Haaland, quiet but still con- Pacific Division Pineda in central defense, and Antetokounmpo scored 13 points – Hornets 122, Rockets 97 ceded goals to Alexander Sorloth, W L Pct GB midfielders Andrés Perea, his second-lowest total of the season In Houston, Terry Rozier scored 25 Kristian Thorstvedt and Jonass Phoenix 29 14 .674 - – but also had eight rebounds and Toronto built a 24-point lead in the Johnny Cardoso and Sebastian Svensson. LA Clippers 29 16 .644 1 points, Devonte’ Graham added 21 Saucedo also started the 4-0 LA Lakers 28 16 .636 1-1/2 seven assists. Brown led Boston with first half and shot 50% (24 of 48) on and Charlotte beat Houston. victory over the Dominican Montenegro beat Latvia 2-1 in Golden State 22 22 .500 7-1/2 24 points. 3-pointers overall to win for the first The Rockets quickly returned to the Riga in the group’s other game. Sacramento 19 25 .432 10-1/2 Republic. Magic 112, Suns 111 time since Feb. 26. loss column after snapping a 20-game A long-range stunner by Kevin De Nikola Jokic and Jamal Murray losing streak Monday night. It was the See Also Page 14 Bruyne and two defensive errors In Orlando, Fla, Evan Fournier scored 20 points apiece for Denver. The Portugal star remains stuck on scored the last of his 21 points on a NBA’s longest skid since allowed Belgium to end a four-match Pacers 116, Pistons 111 Philadelphia’s record-setting 28-game winless run against Wales stretching 102 goals, though - seven behind driving layup over Phoenix center record holder Ali Daei, the former Deandre Ayton with 6.4 seconds left In Indianapolis, Caris LeVert scored rut across the 2014-15 and 2015-16 back to 2013 and which included a seasons. quarterfinal loss at Euro 2016. Iran striker - after a fruitless evening and Orlando beat the Suns. 28 points and Indiana beat Detroit to against Azerbaijan where he only Suns star Devin Booker made two snap a six-game home losing streak. Charlotte won in Houston for the Wales took the lead through a well- first time since Dec. 22, 2004. worked team move that was finished came close off a couple of free kicks. free throws with 19.4 seconds left to LeVert surpassed 20 points in seven off by Harry Wilson but De Bruyne Portugal instead relied on an own- give Phoenix a one-point lead, but starts with the Pacers since being Grizzlies 116, Thunder 107 equalized by taking a touch before goal in the 36th minute, when missed a reverse layup attempt just acquired in a three-team trade. Edmond In Oklahoma City, Dillon Brooks smashing a swerving shot into the Azerbaijan goalkeeper Shahruddin before the horn. The loss ended Sumner added 18 points, and Malcolm matched a season high with 25 points corner from 25 meters. Mahammadaliyev tried to punch the Phoenix’s road winning streak at Brogden had 16. and Memphis beat Oklahoma City. Thorgan Hazard took advantage of a ball out of the area only for it to rico- seven, its longest since 2006-07. Jerami Grant led East-worst Detroit Grayson Allen scored 20 points, and slip by Wales defender Connor Roberts chet into the net off captain Maksim Nikola Vucevic had 27 points and with 29 points. Jonas Valanciunas added 16 points to head in Thomas Meunier’s cross for Medvedev. 14 rebounds for Orlando, and rookie Kings 110, Hawks 108 and 15 rebounds for the Grizzlies. 2-1 before Romelu Lukaku converted In Group A’s other game, substi- Chuma Okeke made all six of his shots They have won four of five to move a en route to a career-best 17 points. In Sacramento, Calif, De’Aaron Fox from the penalty spot after Chris tute Aleksandar Mitrovic scored scored 37 points, Tyrese Haliburton game above .500. Mepham’s wild hack on Dries Mertens. twice as Serbia came from behind to Clippers 134, Spurs 101 made two free throws with 36.6 sec- Moses Brown had 19 points and 12 rebounds for the Thunder. A hat trick from free-scoring West beat Ireland 3-2 in Belgrade. In San Antonio: Former Spurs star onds remaining and Sacramento beat Ham midfielder Tomas Soucek The runners-up to France at the Kawhi Leonard had 25 points and Los Atlanta. Mavericks 128, Timberwolves 108 France’s Adrien Rabiot, (left), fights helped the Czech Republic thrash 2018 World Cup, Croatia lost its Angeles never trailed in beating San Haliburton had 17 points and seven for the ball with Ukraine’s Ilya Estonia 6-2. opening match of qualifying for the Antonio. assists, Buddy Hield scored 14 points, In Minneapolis, Kristaps Porzingis Zabarnyi during the World Cup The Belgians travel to the Czech 2022 tournament as Slovenia secured Spurs fans still have not forgiven and Richaun Holmes had 16 points had 29 points to help Dallas rout 2022 Group D qualifying soccer Republic on Saturday in Group E. a surprise 1-0 win in Ljubljana thanks Leonard for his trade demand and sub- and eight rebounds. Minnesota. match between France and Ukraine Cristiano Ronaldo could become to Sandi Lovric 15th-minute goal. sequent departure to Toronto follow- Clint Capella had 25 points and 17 Tim Hardaway Jr added 21 points. at the Start de de France Stadium, the all-time top scorer in men’s inter- Also in Group H, Russia won 3-1 at ing his injury-riddled 2018 season. He rebounds for the Hawks. They have and Luka Doncic finished with 15. in Saint Denis, north of Paris, national soccer by the end of qualify- Malta while Cyprus and Slovakia was booed during pregame introduc- have lost back-to-back games after Rookie guard Anthony Edwards led March 24. (AP) ing. drew 0-0. tions and subsequently each time he winning their first eight under interim Minnesota with 29 points.

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