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THE FIRST ENGLISH LANGUAGE DAILY IN FREE KUWAIT ice hockey Established in 1977 / www.arabtimesonline.com markets

THURSDAY, JANUARY 28, 2021 / JUMADA AL THANI 15, 1442 AH emergency number 112 NO. 17599 16 PAGES 150 FILS MINNOW TEL AVIV BROWBEATS BIDEN OVER IRAN N-DEAL Israel preps unilateral attack on Iran US back with Palestine Other Voices TEL AVIV, Jan 27, (AP): Israel’s mili- tary chief has warned the Biden admin- Corruption heavy enough to be carried by trucks istration against rejoining the 2015 Iran nuclear deal, even if it toughens its terms, adding he’s ordered his forces to step up By Ali Ahmed Al-Baghli egory, to surprise us with desperate deci- preparations for possible offensive action Former Minister of Oil sions and suggestions. against Iran during the coming year. A few days ago, the Interior and De- The comments by Lt. Gen. Aviv Kohavi came as EVERYONE talks about administrative fense Committee refused to lift the im- munity of an MP who won membership Israel and Iran both seek to put pressure on Presi- corruption and its heroes among the em- dent Joe Biden ahead of his expected announcement ployees of our rational government. The through legally criminalized by-elections corruption in Kuwait Municipality is so under the pretext that there is no evidence on his approach for dealing with the Iranian nuclear much rampant and is present in a very of committing the crime except the in- program. In Iran, leaders said they would not wait shameful way. It is the corruption that our vestigations of the detectives. We, our indefinitely for Biden to act. late Amir Sheikh Sabah Al-Ahmad (May rational government and the whole world The 2015 deal put curbs on Iran’s nuclear program in God rest his soul) had described as “Mu- watched him in exchange for the easing of crippling economic sanctions. nicipality corruption cannot be carried by both audio and vi- Israel strongly opposed the deal, saying it did not include camels”. To that I add, “O Bu Nasser, the sual form receiv- sufficient safeguards to prevent Iran from developing a corruption of our government employees ing congratulations nuclear weapon. It welcomed the Trump administration’s cannot be carried even by trucks, not just for his criminal- withdrawal from the agreement in 2018. camels”. ized victory, which Biden has said he will seek to revive the deal, with some The problem is that the top officials in means the crime changes. the government, starting from His High- was documented In his address to the Institute for National Security ness the Prime Minister to the ministers, in the act. So how Studies, Kohavi said a return to the deal, even with some undersecretaries and senior employees to were the members improvements, “is bad operationally and it is bad strategi- whom independent organizations with of that committee cally.” He said allowing Iran to proceed with a nuclear budgets of millions have recently been not convinced of program would be “an unacceptable threat and will lead to nuclear proliferation across the region.” Iran says its assigned, watch corruption as if it is hap- Al-Baghli his committing that pening in other places. illegal act? nuclear program is for peaceful purposes only. In other words, it seems the matter does Five MPs belonging to the two funda- Kohavi said that given the threat posed by Iran, Israel’s not concern them. The evidence of that is mentalist parties – Muslim Brotherhood military would be prepared to attack on its own if needed. that no senior official is behind bars so Group and Salafi Movement – have sug- Plans far, except in some rare cases. The tan- gested increasing the reward for Kuwaiti muezzins and imams. Such an increase “I instructed the army to prepare a number of opera- gible evidence is the number of rare cases tional plans in addition to the existing ones,” he said. “We that the Kuwait Anti-Corruption Author- is meaningless in light of the financial are taking care of these plans and will develop them during ity has dealt with or that it just chooses deficit that the government had been re- the coming year. Those who decide on carrying them out, to watch corruption – no difference. It in- peatedly talking about day and night. In of course, are the political leaders. But these plans have to formed us about the number of corruption addition to that, it is assumed that these be on the table.” stories which are less than the few it has young people are graduates from the un- Just hours before Kohavi spoke against a deal, Iran dealt with since its inception until now. necessary College of Sharia and Islamic prodded Biden to rejoin the atomic accord. “The window That is why we were enthusiastic on Studies and are supposed to take over the of opportunity will not be open for long,” said Iran’s Cabi- December 5 to go to the elections and work in mosques as muezzins and imams net spokesman Ali Rabiei. choose those who would represent us in in pursuit of pleasing Allah. So how do Israeli officials, including Kohavi, say that Iran is in a terms of oversight and legislation, hoping these huge rewards meet that noble goal? much weaker position than in 2015 after years of sanc- that the wheel of corruption would per- This came from some of the MPs dur- tions by the Trump administration. They say that any new haps stop turning. However, it seems our ing the parliamentary session held after a deal should eliminate “sunset” provisions that phase out hopes turned into vapors and our dreams month and a half of their membership in certain limits on Iran’s nuclear activities, address Iran’s into ashes. the Legislative and Supervisory Council. long-range missile program and its military involvement The people we elected on that day have It proves that they are as far as the earth’s and support for Israel’s enemies across the region. not yet held a single productive session distance from the sky when it comes to Tensions around Iran have steadily increased. During due to the government’s absence in light legislation and oversight, but are efficient Trump’s final days as president, Tehran seized a South of the threat to His Highness the Prime in increasing corruption such that trucks Korean oil tanker and begun enriching uranium closer to Minister to be grilled by the majority of cannot carry them, as I had earlier de- weapons-grade levels, while the U.S. has sent B-52 bomb- the MPs. We looked at the members of scribed. ers, the USS Nimitz aircraft carrier and a nuclear subma- the committees, in which the government ❑ ❑ ❑ rine into the region. participated in terms of selecting some of Iran has also increased its military drills, including fir- their members from the “Yes, Sir” cat- [email protected] ing cruise missiles as part of a naval drill in the Gulf of His Highness the Prime Minister Sheikh Sabah Khaled Al-Hamad Al-Sabah with the Deputy Editor-in-Chief of Al Seyassah and the Arab Times Sulaiman Abdulaziz Al- Oman this month. Jarallah, during a meeting on Jan 27 with the editors-in-chief of local newspapers. Iran has missile capability of up to 2,000 kilometers (1,250 miles), far enough to reach Israel and U.S. military bases in the region. Newswatch PM meets editors Biden’s administration announced Tuesday it was re- storing relations with the Palestinians and renewing aid to Palestinian refugees, a reversal of the Trump administra- tion’s cutoff and a key element of its new support for a KUWAIT CITY: The Central Bank of Ku- lomat took the helm of the State Depart- two-state solution to the decades-old conflict between Is- wait has instructed banks to monitor the ment on Wednesday with a vow to rebuild Your tool ... Grill at will raelis and Palestinians. the ranks of the foreign service and rely on accounts of 28 individuals and entities, Acting U.S. Ambassador Richard Mills made the an- including a former lawmaker sentenced to its expertise as the Biden administration tries to restore US global standing. By Sulaiman Al-Jarallah nouncement of Biden’s approach to a high-level virtual jail for involvement in money laundering Security Council meeting, saying the new U.S. administra- and real estate fraud cases; as well as key On his fi rst full day in the job, Antony and Agencies offi cials in various companies including a Blinken told a coronavirus-limited audi- tion believes this “remains the best way to ensure Israel’s future as a democratic and Jewish state while upholding well-known offi cial implicated in real es- ence of employees in the department’s KUWAIT CITY, Jan 27: His Highness the Day by Day tate fraud cases and currently serving his main lobby that he values their work and the Palestinians’ legitimate aspirations for a state of their Prime Minister Sheikh Sabah Khaled Al- own and to live with dignity and security.” prison sentence, reports Al-Rai daily quot- commitment. He also said that they have a Hamad Al-Sabah affirmed on Wednesday hard road ahead with the world watching Trump’s administration provided unprecedented sup- ing sources. the right of any parliament member to use the Sources explained this entails monitor- how they will pursue foreign policy after Garden of Eden port to Israel, recognizing Jerusalem as Israel’s capital, four years of former president Donald grilling tool. moving the U.S. Embassy from Tel Aviv, slashing finan- ing funds deposited and withdrawn from In a speech during his meeting with the the accounts, their trends and sources; in Trump’s “America First” doctrine. CONSTRUCTION of the new Kuwait cial assistance for the Palestinians and reversing course on addition to determining the balance at the President Joe Biden has vowed to re- editors-in-chief of local newspapers, His airport will be completed in August the illegitimacy of Israeli settlements on land claimed by beginning and last period accounted for verse Trump’s approach, which had alien- Highness the premier mentioned that he wel- 2022, and will accommodate 25 million the Palestinians. as these steps are necessary in assessing ated many traditional US allies who per- comed any questioning within the Constitu- passengers, while there are eighty mil- whether the movement of funds is natural ceived it as a hardline unilateral approach tion and law. lion passengers who use Dubai Airport Far-fl ung or there have been signifi cant leaps. that left no room for negotiation. Blinken He added that during his presiding of the for years, and its duty-free markets gen- Israel captured east Jerusalem and the West Bank in the Sources disclosed the period covered said that after four years, the United States Ministers Council in the government of the erate 40 billion dirhams annually. Dubai 1967 war. The international community considers both ar- for monitoring extends to more than four would again engage with allies on a recip- 15th legislative term of the National Assem- issues visitor visas to everyone without eas to be occupied territory, and the Palestinians seek them years ago, indicating the regulatory au- rocal, rather than a purely transactional, bly, he referred to the four nos, which are nei- exception or conditions. as parts of a future independent state. Israel has built a thority inquired if the banks notifi ed the basis. (AP) ther to refer the grilling to the Constitutional The new Kuwait airport could in- far-flung network of settlements that house nearly 700,000 Financial Intelligence Unit about any of ❑ ❑ ❑ Court, nor to refer to the Parliamentary Leg- crease its capacity four times if passen- Jewish settlers in the West Bank and Jerusalem since their the 28 clients mentioned in the investiga- islative and Legal Affairs Committee, nor to gers used it frequently and its duty-free capture in 1967. tion report or not. THE HAGUE: Law enforcement au- income could be in billions. thorities in several countries have joined request an extension of the time, nor to dis- The peace plan unveiled by Trump a year ago envisions ❑ ❑ ❑ cuss the interrogation in a secret session. All this remains theoretical, as long as forces to disrupt what they call one of the our government forbids visiting the Gar- a disjointed Palestinian state that turns over key parts of KUWAIT CITY: Results of Reuters’ quar- world’s most dangerous pieces of mal- His Highness the Prime Minister affirms den of Eden in Kuwait, especially young the West Bank to Israel, siding with Israel on key conten- terly survey on the opinions of economic ware, one that allowed criminal gangs to his pride in the trust shown to him by His men and women under the age of forty, tious issues including borders and the status of Jerusalem analysts showed that growth expectations install ransomware and steal data from Highness the Amir Sheikh Nawaf Al-Ahmad and this means that the new airport will and Jewish settlements. It was vehemently rejected by the for 2021 have shrunk for all countries in computer users. Al-Jaber Al-Sabah in appointing him as the only benefit the elderly of the world as Palestinians. the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) at European Union police and judi- Prime Minister of the State of Kuwait and en- we continue to spend huge sums of Mills made clear the Biden administration’s more even- varying degrees, reports Al-Qabas daily. cial agencies Europol and Eurojust said trusting him with the responsibility of form- money from the Future Generations handed approach to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. Decline in GDP growth estimates for Wednesday that investigators took control ing the government. Fund for its services. “Under the new administration, the policy of the United the United Arab Emirates (UAE), Ku- of infrastructure behind a botnet called He said, “I look forward to holding meetings ... Yet tomorrow is another day. States will be to support a mutually agreed two-state solu- wait and Oman was the steepest, while EMOTET. A botnet is a network of hi- with the members of the National Assembly to Zahed Matar tion, one in which Israel lives in peace and security along- growth expectations for Saudi Arabia jacked computers used to carry out cyber- discuss the formation of the new government, side a viable Palestinian state,” he said. and Qatar remained the highest among attacks. (AP) Mills said peace can’t be imposed on either side and countries in the region. ❑ ❑ ❑ its work program and a number of laws. “The government has submitted to Nazaha priority for the government. When I was as- stressed that progress and an ultimate solution require the According to the survey, the Kuwaiti signed to head the Council of Ministers, I re- economy is expected to grow by 2.2 per- NEW YORK: The Cannes Film Festival, a total of 87 reports related to mishandling of participation and agreement of Israelis and Palestinians. cent this year, down from 2.5 percent canceled altogether last year by the pan- public funds, and 44 of them were referred to ceived direct guidance from His Highness the “In order to advance these objectives, the Biden admin- growth in the previous estimates as the demic, is postponing this year’s edition the Public Prosecution. The government also Amir of the country about the need to com- istration will restore credible U.S. engagement with Pales- Kuwaiti economy was expected to shrink from May to July in hopes of having an referred 1,691 cases of encroachment on state plete all requirements to eliminate corruption. tinians as well as Israelis,” he said. by 7.3 percent in 2020 and to grow by 2.7 in-person festival. properties and 82 cases of residency trading. “We are faced with an imbalance in the “This will involve renewing U.S. relations with the Pal- percent the following year. Cannes organizers announced Wednes- We support the medical personnel that are economy in light of the circumstances due estinian leadership and Palestinian people,” Mills said. ❑ ❑ ❑ day that this year’s festival will now take fighting the COVID-19 pandemic with effi- to the COVID-19 crisis. In return, we have “President Biden has been clear that he intends to restore place July 6-17, about two months after ciency. It is our responsibility to support them excellent financial solvency in the event that U.S. assistance programs that support economic develop- its typical period. The French Riviera fes- KUWAIT CITY: For 60 years or more, and stand by them, and provide them with ev- this imbalance continues without reform- ment programs and humanitarian aid to the Palestinian the government has been supporting the tival, which had run for nearly 75 years erything they need to perform their tasks. ing and restructuring the Kuwaiti economy, people, and to take steps to reopen diplomatic relations that industrial sector by providing industrial with few interruptions, is currently hoping were closed by the last U.S. administration,” Mills said. lands worth billions of dinars, not to men- the coronavirus recedes enough by sum- “I affirm that combating corruption is a which will affect this solvency. tion the services provided by the state mertime. (AP) such as customs exemptions, provision ❑ ❑ ❑ of electricity, water and fuel at very low prices, such that the value of government CUPERTINO: Apple is urging iPhone and Bloomberg ‘Sandvine’ censorship report queried support has reached more than half a bil- iPad users to update their devices to fi x lion dinars, reports Al-Shahid daily. security fl aws that might have been “ac- Despite all this support, the Kuwaiti tively exploited” by hackers. By Saeed Mahmoud Saleh recent report of Bloomberg that Kuwait was one of several countries which industrial sector did not achieve the ambi- Apple made the software upgrades Arab Times Staff ordered internet censorship technology from Sandvine – a company based tion and the desired goals expected from available Tuesday, adding a rare note sug- in the United States of America. it, as the participation rate of the industrial gesting it was a serious threat. KUWAIT CITY, Jan 27: National Assembly Speaker Marzouq Al-Ghanim If the report is true, he wants to know the reasons for bringing such tech- sector does not exceed fi ve percent of Ku- The company credited anonymous received Inter Parliamentary Union President Duarte Pacheco who arrived nology to Kuwait, if the necessary legal procedures were taken before tak- wait’s GDP. This means what this sector researchers for pointing out the vulner- in Kuwait on Tuesday on a four-day official visit. ing the decision to buy the technology, and if this decision is based on the provides is almost equal to the support ability but provided little details about the Secretary General of the Assembly Allam Al-Kandari and MP Saleh recommendation of a certain committee. If yes, he demanded for a copy of provided by the government. nature of the threat. the committee’s report in this regard. The company said one of the vulnerabil- Ziab Al-Mutairi were present at the reception, during which the two parties ❑ ❑ ❑ exchanged pleasantries and discussed issues of mutual concern. MP Abdulkareem Al-Kandari forwarded queries to interim Minister of ities affects the “kernel,” the nerve center Public Works and State Minister for Municipality Affairs Dr Rana Al-Fares WASHINGTON: America’s new top dip- of Apple’s operating system, iOS. (AP) On the other hand, MP Mehalhal Al-Mudaf asked interim Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Interior Sheikh Thamer Ali Al-Sabah to clarify a Continued on Page 4 ARAB TIMES, THURSDAY, JANUARY 28, 2021 2

hile travel to Paris may be difficult not just his ability to capture the light and atmo- Wthis winter, masterpieces of the Musée sphere of a moment (mirroring our own current d’Orsay and the Bibliothèque nationale de social media habits), but also show subtle France – both lending museums from the changes in his brushstroke. Between 1890 and France Muséums network – have arrived at 1891, the artist embarked on a series of ap- Louvre Abu Dhabi. Joining these loans will proximately 25 paintings with the haystacks as be Charing Cross Bridge by Claude Monet, his sole subject. With these plus the loan from a on loan from a UAE private collection. Newly UAE private collection, Charing Cross Bridge, unveiled acquisitions and loans, many on view Louvre Abu Dhabi now offers visitors three for the first time in the region, offer new expe- magnificent artworks by Claude Monet. All riences to attract both first-time and returning portray Monet’s scientific precision in capturing visitors to the museum. From 28th century the effects of light on colour and visibility. In BCE Mesopotamia to the height of Impres- Charing Cross Bridge, Monet explores the at- sionism, new stories of cultural connections mospheric conditions created by the movement can be found at every turn throughout Louvre of light though the density of fog. Abu Dhabi’s ‘museum city’, a modern marvel Osman Hamdi Bey’s Old Man in front of designed like an Arabian Medina by globally Children’s Tombs is displayed next to Louvre renowned architect Jean Nouvel. Abu Dhabi’s renowned Young Emir Study- HE Mohamed Khalifa Al Mubarak, Chair- ing by the same artist. Though the subjects man of the Department of Culture and Tour- could not be more different (one passive and ism - Abu Dhabi, said: “Abu Dhabi is a cross- languorous, the other full of emotion), both roads, a place in which to experience art and works have a common point— created by a culture from all over the world. The artworks, Turkish artist trained in France, who endeav- the stories of the artists, and the journey that oured to portray truth and precision through each loan and acquisition has taken represent delicate details. the rich diversity of geographies, cultures Vincent Van Gogh’s Caravans, Gypsy and histories that ultimately brought each to Camp near Arles is now hanging next to Louvre Abu Dhabi. Fostering opportunities for Louvre Abu Dhabi’s own The Bohemian by cross-cultural understanding is more important Édouard Manet. Van Gogh was struck by the than ever. We are proud to have this signifi- light and the harsh landscape during his travels cant loan from a private collection on view through the Camargue in the south of France, alongside works from museum collections where many Romani pilgrims also passed of renown. We look forward to safely and through at that time. The adventure and excite- open-heartedly welcoming visitors once again ment of leaving the studio, painting in nature, to experience the emirate’s cultural sites and expressing emotions through colour, and the treasures, including these masterpieces now on encounters that resulted are felt in both works. view at Louvre Abu Dhabi.” In parallel, this year’s selection of works Louvre Abu Dhabi’s Director, Manuel on loan also includes a number of maps along Rabaté, commented: “The generosity of our with sacred and scientific texts from the lending partners, through the France Muséums Bibliothèque Nationale de France. Displayed network of museums and from the UAE, will in Louvre Abu Dhabi’s Universal Religions allow visitors to experience masterpieces gallery, the sacred texts are foundational to rarely seen in this region, on view side-by- the three Abrahamic religions – Judaism, side. Likewise, the acquisitions the museum Christianity and Islam. In this rotation, they has made to its permanent collection enrich are displayed alongside a Hindu horoscope. the stories of cultural connections we bring The sacred texts are: to life. The four significant works included Quran (Egypt, 800-1400) here reveal, together, new insights into ritual, Pentateuch in Hebrew copied by Abraham representation and symbols from Central Asia ben Jacob (France, dated 1303) to India and the Arab World.” Collection of texts in Syriac: acts of the “A museum should always first be for its Apostles, general epistles and Epistles of Paul neighbourhood, aspiring to be a critical part (Syria, 1398) of the cultural life of its community,” said Dr. Janmapatra, horoscope with personification Souraya Noujaim, Scientific, Curatorial and of the planets (Gujarat, North India, 1700-1800) Collections Management Director at Louvre Other artworks on loan, displayed in the Abu Dhabi. “Through the new works on museum’s earlier gallery chapters, include: display, we give returning visitors to Louvre Jeong-ri-ui-gwe, construction and inaugura- Abu Dhabi an opportunity to re-engage with tion of Suwon Fortress (Korea, 1796) pieces in our permanent collection, to see them Rawzat al-safa, Timur and his companions anew through stories of cultural connections. determine the fate of Amir Husayn by Mir We are thrilled to have been able to carry out Khwand (Iran, 1601 – 1604) this season’s new rotation of loaned master- Map of the different lands and states of works, bringing here for the first time pieces America by Denis Gobert Chambon (France, that are considered priceless treasures by their 1754) respective museums. The success of these new Navigation Chart (portolan) of the Indian loans speaks to the strength, solidarity, and Ocean by Johannes Blaeu (Netherlands, 1665) cooperation of our partners – the lenders in our The new displays in Louvre Abu Dhabi’s network, for whom we are grateful.” permanent galleries coincided with the third Old Man in Front of Children’s Tombs. © Department of Culture and Tourism - Abu Dhabi New acquisitions anniversary of the museum, which also Louvre Abu Dhabi’s new acquisitions included the premiere of the museum’s first include: short film, The Pulse of Time, and a three- Female figure praying (Iraq, 2800- 2550 BCE) day symposium, Reframing Museums (16-18 Kneeling figure (Ancient Egypt, 400 – 300 November), which brought industry leaders BCE) together to discuss the future of art museums Artworks from Claude Standing Jina figure (Tamil Nadu, India, in our current global context. Monet. His masterpiece 1000 – 1100) Louvre Abu Dhabi is open Tuesday – ‘Charing Cross Bridge,’ on Feline-shaped Incense Burner (Eastern Iran Sunday from 10 am – 6:30 pm and closed on loan from a UAE private or Central Asia, 1000 – 1100) Mondays. Pre-purchased tickets are required collection. Each of these objects adds to the theme of to visit the museum. E-tickets can be reserved varied religious beliefs, practices, and rituals via the museum’s website. across time and geography, and their similari- About Louvre Abu Dhabi ties and differences. Female figure praying Created by an exceptional agreement is particularly rare, as statues of worship- between the governments of Abu Dhabi and pers from this time were nearly always male. France, Louvre Abu Dhabi was designed by Likewise, Feline-shaped Incense Burner tells Jean Nouvel and opened on Saadiyat Island us that the feline form had many meanings in November 2017. The museum is inspired tures: through stories of human creativity that across cultures that we are only now beginning by traditional Islamic architecture and its transcend civilisations, geographies and times. to interpret. This work is presented next to monumental dome creates a rain of light effect The museum’s growing collection is unpar- Louvre Abu Dhabi’s Aquamanile in the form and a unique social space that brings people alleled in the region and spans thousands of Masterpieces of a lion from early 13th century Germany. together. years of human history, including prehistoric Bestiary (the depiction of animals) was a com- Louvre Abu Dhabi celebrates the universal tools, artefacts, religious texts, iconic paintings mon language, with the feline form generally creativity of mankind and invites audiences and contemporary artworks. The permanent associated with power. to see humanity in a new light. Through its collection is supplemented by rotating loans New works on loan innovative curatorial approach, the museum from 13 French partner institutions, regional The loans from the Musée d’Orsay include focuses on building understanding across cul- and international museums. just next door some of the most iconic paintings from the Modern-Impressionist period, as well as pho- tographs from the 19th century. Edgar Degas, The Bellelli family, France, 1858 – 1869 Pierre-Auguste Renoir, Railway Bridge in Chatou, France, 1881 Claude Monet, In the Norwegian, France, circa 1887 Vincent Van Gogh, Caravans, Gypsy Camp near Arles, France, 1888 Claude Monet, Haystacks, End of Summer, France, 1891 Osman Hamdi Bey, Old Man in front of Children’s Tombs, Turkey, 1903 Eugène Louis Gillot, The Arrival of the “La Fayette” in New York, France, 1921 Pierre Bonnard, Southern Landscape, France, 1928 Félix Nadar, Alexandre Dumas father, writer, France, 1854 – 1860 Eadweard Muybridge, Deer, running and jumping, United States, 1887 G. N. Barnard, Rebel Works in front of Atlanta, Georgia, no. 1, United States, 1864 The 19th century was marked by societal changes as well as technical advancements. Through these new loans by the Musée d’Orsay, viewers will be able to follow the many ways in which the Industrial Revolution transformed the world forever, as captured in the paintings by Monet, Van Gogh, and their Jeong-ri-ui-gwe, construction and inauguration of Suwon Fortress. contemporaries. Claude Monet’s In the Norwe- gian and Haystacks, End of Summer highlight

Feline-shaped incense burner.

editor’s choice ARAB TIMES, THURSDAY, JANUARY 28, 2021 3

Weather Expected weather for the next 24 partly cloudy with light to moderate Bubyan 21 09 Prayer Timings hours: freshening at times south easterly Jahra 24 09 Fajr ...... 05:18 Asr ...... 15:01 By Day: Warm and partly cloudy wind with speeds of 12-40 km/h. Failaka Island - - Sunrise ...... 06:40 Maghrib ...... 17:22 with light to moderate freshening at Station Max Exp Min Rec Salmiyah 20 14 Zohr ...... 12:01 Isha ...... 18:41 times south easterly wind with speeds Kuwait City 22 12 Ahmadi 18 14 of 15-45 km/h and a chance for rising Kuwait Airport 23 05 Nuwaisib 21 08 dust over open areas. Abdaly 26 06 Wafra 23 07 By Night: Rather cold to cold and Salmy 22 08

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

National Bank of Kuwait rallies 10 fi ls, Mabanee drops Kuwait’s bourse resumes ascent, volume turnover ebbs By John Mathews million shares. Al Ahleia Insurance Co jumped counters active on Wednesday, 21 closed fl at. Holding Co tripped 1 fi l whereas Aznour took in Arab Times Staff 19 fi ls to 464 fi ls whereas Mabanee Co shed 10 13,902 deals worth KD 64.24 million were trans- 1 fi l. ■ UUS$/KDS$/KD 0.30265/750.30265/75 fi ls before settling at 707 fi ls and is up 50 fi ls so acted during the session. Jazeera Airways fell 2 fi ls to 705 fi ls whereas KUWAIT CITY, Jan 27: Kuwait stocks swung far during the month. Kuwait National Cinema In the Banking Sector, Gulf Bank took in 1 fi l ALAFCO paced 4 fi ls on back of 5.6 million ▼ Euro/KD 0.3666 higher on Wednesday as it resumed its ascent Co jumped 32 fi ls. on back of 14.6 million shares and Burgan Bank shares. United Projects Co erased 7 fi ls while following last session’s slight pullback. The All Trading followed suit to end at 219 fi ls. Kuwait Interna- OSOS Holding Group and Gulf Petroleum In- ■ Yen/KD 0.0029 Shares Index, after a shaky start, climbed 25.71 tional Bank clipped 1 fi l while Boubyan Bank vestment held ground at 89.8 fi ls and 20.3 fi ls pts to 5,752.78 points led by some of the heavy- Zain was unchanged at 632 fi ls after trading gave up 5 fi ls after pushing 4.4 million shares. respectively. PAPCO trimmed 1 fi l and Mashaer ▼ British £/KD 0.4146 weights and mid-caps. 4.9 million shares while Ooredoo added 3 fi ls to Ahli United Bank added 3 fi ls whereas Warba Holding dialed up 1.5 fi ls with a volume of 25.3 The Premier Market jumped 33.39 points to close at 688 fi ls. stc eased 1 fi l to 910 fi ls whereas Bank stood pat at 248 fi ls. million. Agility skidded 8 fi ls to 758 fi ls with a volume of ■ Indian Rs/KD 0.0041 6,289.88 pts taking the month’s gains to 239 pts KIPCO inched 1 fi l higher to 168 fi ls on back Clipped while Main Market paced 9.93 points. The BK 2.9 million. Humansoft Holding dropped 14 fi ls of 4.5 million shares while KAMCO crawled 0.1 Main 50 was up 10.11 points at 4,867.91 pts. The to KD 3.630 extending last session’s losses and fi l into green. International Financial Advisors Kuwait Cement Co eased 1 fi l to 240 fi ls and ▲ Philippines Peso/KD 0.0063 volume turnover meanwhile receded slightly after Boursa Kuwait Securities rose 4 fi ls. added 3.9 fi ls on back of 25.6 million shares and Kuwait Portland Cement added 2 fi ls. Gulf Cable The market opened gap up and edged higher fell 3 fi ls to 771 fi ls whereas Metal and Recycling hitting a 4-month high on Tuesday. Over 480 mil- Kuwait Investment Co took in 1 fi l. ▼ FTSE lion shares changed hand - down 3 pct from the in early trade. The main index pivoted south to National Investment Co dialed up 2 fils Co gave up 4.7 fi ls. ACICO Industries dialed up -86.64 pts at closing Jan 27 day before. plumb the day’s lowest level of 5,732 points and whereas Bayan Investment Co eased 1 fil to 1.7 fi ls and Educational Holding Co was down 4 The sectors closed mostly in green turf. Ba- rebounded in choppy session amid buying spurt fi ls at 330 fi ls. 40.3 fils. Kuwait Financial Centre (Markaz) ▲ Nikkei +89 pts at closing Jan 27 sic Materials outshone the rest with over 1 pct in some of the counters. It peaked at 5,757 pts was unchanged at 82.5 fils and KMEFIC dialed Burgan Company For Well Drilling whittled gain whereas Real Estate shed 0.51 percent, the in the fi nal minutes before giving up some of the down 2 fils. Noor Financial Investment slipped down 4 fils whereas IFA Hotels and Resorts gains at close. added 2 fils. Kuwait and Gulf Links Transport worst performer of the day. Volume wise, Finan- 3 fils to 183 fils while Tamdeen Investment ▼ Gold 1853.20 per oz (London) cial Services continued to top with 274.5 million Top gainer of the day, Shuaiba Industrial shed 14 fils. Co and Automated Systems Co took in 0.1 fil spiked 14.67 percent to 172 fi ls while IFA Hotels each while Combined Group Contracting Co shares whereas the Banking Sector dominated the Budge value with KD 31.4 million. and Resorts scaled 7.58 pct to stand next. Al Ma- stood pat at 215 fils. Hayat Communications ▼ NYMEX crude $52.56 per barrel nar shed 6.39 percent, the steepest decliner of the National Industries Group paused at 191 fi ls Co clipped 2 fils. Shares day and Arzan Financial topped the volume with after moving 3.8 million shares and Mezzan The market has been largely buoyant so far ▼ Brent crude $55.91 per barrel Among the prime movers, sector bellwether over 51 million shares. Holding too did not budge from its earlier close during the week gaining 64 points in last four National Bank of Kuwait rallied 10 fi ls to 874 fi ls Refl ecting the day’s gains, the market spread of 584 fi ls. Boubyan Petrochemical scaled 7 fi ls sessions. It has rallied 205 points from start of LIBOR rate 0.21850% on back of over 12 million shares while Kuwait was skewed towards the winners. 68 stocks ad- before ending at 662 fi ls while Al Qurain Petro- the month after shedding 736 points during whole Finance House scaled 8 fi ls after pushing 11.7 vanced whereas 47 closed lower. Of the 136 chemical Co was up 4 fi ls at 364 fi ls. Integrated of 2020. Kuwait tops ‘shots’ drive KD 30 for PCR

KUWAIT CITY, Jan 27, (Agencies): His Highness the Prime Minister Sheikh Sabah Khaled Al-Hamad Al-Sabah on Wednes- day said the State of Kuwait was the fi rst among nations for securing vaccination against COVID-19 for all. The international community has chosen the logo, “vaccine for all,” depicting the desire for an interna- tional partnership for securing the vaccines for nations of the human race, said the prime minister, during a meeting with the local chief editors. Schedule Immunization in Kuwait is a process conducted accord- ing to a timetable and a schedule. “We have vaccinated up to 35,000 citizens and residents so far,” he revealed. “Shipments of the jabs have stopped throughout the world because suppliers are re-examining the needs, “and we hope to receive the new shipment of the vaccines by February 15,” he added. Kuwait has begun injecting people with Pfi zer, he said, indicating that there was high demand for the approved British vaccine. Meanwhile, the Ministry of Health said the PCR test KUNA photo for corona virus is set at 30 dinars for government and His Highness the Amir Sheikh Nawaf Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah received at Bayan Palace, Wednesday, in the presence of the National Assembly Speaker, met Secretary private hospitals and private medical centers, while at General of the Inter-Parliamentary Union (IPU) Duarte Pacheco and the accompanying delegation. Senior offi cials at the Amiri Diwan and offi ce of His Highness the Amir the same time announcing the formation of an investi- attended the meeting. (KUNA) gation committee to exclude some of those who do not meet the vaccination requirements for taking the vac- cine, pointing out that the Minister of Health Sheikh Dr. ‘Clean towels, apron’ Basil Al-Sabah has stressed on the necessity of inform- ing of submitting him the report as soon as possible, says Al-Seyassah. The ministry spokesman Dr. Abdullah Al-Sanad con- Some to get IDs pronto fi rmed no virus infection has been detected among persons Voting Record KUWAIT CITY, Jan 27: The Public Authority for Civil In- who have received the second dose of the vaccine saying formation (PACI) is working hard to expedite the issuance the possibility of infection after the vaccination is taken is ■ Grilling motion against Al-Mubarak in 2014 – ap- of new civil IDs to a number of categories, reports Al-Rai very low – as low as 95 percent. Minister of Education and proved daily quoting a reliable source. He pointed out that the corona-related occupancy rate Higher Education Dr Saud ■ Discussing the tape re- The source affi rmed that PACI has taken several measures in intensive care wards increased by 2% during the past Sa’adoun Hammad Al-Otaibi Al-Harbi in September 2020 – cording issue behind closed to speed up work procedures amid the measures being taken weeks due to what he called ‘wrong practices’, pointing Sunni abstained doors – approved to curb the spread of coronavirus. to the rearrangement of appointments for new registrants Third Constituency ■ Grilling motion against ■ No confidence motion The source said Director General of PACI Mesaed Al- at the vaccination centers according to the availability of Deputy Prime Minister and against Minister of Finance Asousi is fully aware of the complaints that reached the vaccinations, indicating that each category has a daily vac- SA’ADOUN HAMMAD AL- Minister of Interior Anas Al- Muhammad Al-Abdullah in authority; so he instructed the concerned sectors in the au- cination quota and that messages for vaccination are sent Saleh in September 2020 – 2013 – rejected OTAIBI was born in 1959. He ob- ■ thority to issue civil IDs within 24 hours for fi ve catego- based on the availability. rejected Forming a fact-finding ries -- citizens, Gulf workers, domestic workers (Article 20 tained Bachelor of Law from Kuwait ■ Grilling motion against committee to investigate the Instructions University and worked as a lawyer. Deputy Prime Minister bank deposits of MPs in 2013 visa), expatriates working in the government sector (Article He contested for the par- and Minister of Interior – abstained 17 visa), and children below fi ve years old. Meanwhile, Director of the Health Licensing Depart- liamentary elections for the Anas Al-Saleh in Au- ■ Referring the grilling mo- Meanwhile, Head of the Irregularities Removal Depart- ment, Suad Abel, has sent instructions to hospitals and first time in 1990, during gust 2020 – rejected tion against Deputy Prime ment at the Kuwait Municipality branch in the Capital Gov- private centers, dental centers, and all other treatment cent- which he won 932 votes ■ Grilling motion Minister and Minister of Inte- ernorate Abdullah Jaber said salon owners should educate ers indicating that the price of PCR examination for the and ranked second in the against Minister of rior Ahmed Al-Homoud to the their employees on the importance of using hair cut aprons “Covid-19” is set at 30 dinars. 21st Constituency. Education and Higher parliamentary Legal and Leg- and towels only once to prevent transmission of coronavi- She indicated that the Medical Licensing Committee De- He lost in the 1992, Education Dr Saud Al- islative Affairs Committee in rus between customers, as well as the regular sterilization of cision No. 1 of 2021, issued on Jan 23 has given the nod to 1996,1999 and 2003 elec- Harbi in August 2020 2013 – rejected shaving materials for the safety and good health of custom- fi x the price for PCR test at 30 dinars. – abstained ■ First reading on the pro- The number of frontline workers dealing with corona tions. ■ ers, reports Al-Qabas daily. He warned that in case a salon Grilling motion posed writing off loan interest owner does not provide clean hair cut towel, a citation of pandemic in the Ministry of Electricity and Water reached He won in the 2006 against Minister of Fi- in 2013 – approved elections with 6,882 votes ■ violation will be issued to the license holder. If necessary, 11,000 and all of them have been classifi ed under the Al-Otaibi nance Barrak Al-Shi- Law on combating money which put him in first place tan in 2020 – rejected laundering and financing ter- there will be an immediate order to close the salon that does second category, reports Al-Qabas daily quoting reliable in the 21st Constituency; ■ Grilling motion rorism in 2013 – approved not comply with health regulations, he asserted. sources. in the 2008 elections with 10,914 against Minister of Commerce ■ Postponing the grilling of votes which put him in eighth and Industry Khalid Al-Raw- Minister of Finance Mustafa place in the Fifth Constituency; dan in 2019 – rejected Al-Shamali in 2013 – rejected in the 2009 elections with 15,647 ■ Grilling motion against ■ Postponing o the grilling Dutch birds votes which put him in second Minister of Information and of State Minister for Housing place in the Fifth Constituency; in State Minister for Youth Affairs Affairs Salem Al-Ozaina in meat barred Muhammad Al-Jabri in 2019 – 2013 – rejected the December 2012 elections with ■ KUWAIT CITY, Jan 2,195 votes which put him in fifth rejected One man one vote in 27, (KUNA): The ■ Grilling motion against 2013 – approved place in the Third Constituency; ■ Public Authority for Minister of Finance Naif Al- Cancelling the grilling Food and Nutrition on in the 2013 elections with 1,645 Hajraf in 2019 – rejected motion filed by MPs Ahmed votes which put him in ninth place ■ Wednesday declared a Grilling motion against Al-Saadoun and Abdulrah- ban on imports of all in the Fifth Constituency; and in Minister of Social Affairs and man Al-Anjari against HH the the 2016 elections with 3,444 votes forms of bird meat and Labor and State Minister for Prime Minister Sheikh Nass- eggs from Holland due which put him in second place in Economic Affairs Hind Al-Sa- er Al-Muhammad in 2011 – to spread of a highly the Third Constituency. beeh in 2018 – approved approved ■ ■ contagious strain of He was an independent MP in Grilling motion against No cooperation motion bird fl u. 2007. In the 2009 Assembly, he was Minister of Electricity and Wa- against HH the Prime Minister Adel Al-Suwait, the among the MPs investigated by the ter Bekeet Al-Rashedi in 2018 Sheikh Nasser Al-Muhammad secretary general of the – rejected in June 2011 – rejected Public Prosecution for the suspicious ■ ■ authority supreme com- swelling of their bank accounts. Disqualifying candidates No cooperation motion mittee, said in a press convicted in offending law- against HH the Prime Minister In the 2020 elections, he won suits in 2016 – approved Sheikh Nasser Al-Muhammad statement bird meat 2,979 votes and ranked eighth in the ■ DNA Law in 2015 – ap- in January 2011 – rejected thermally treated at 70 Third Constituency. proved ■ Writing off loan interest in degrees is exempted Statement ■ Cybercrimes Law in 2015 2010 – approved from the ban. – approved ■ No confidence motion The ban is also appli- In 2016, Hammad called on Dep- ■ Partnership Enterprises against the government in cable on such imports uty Prime Minister and Interior Min- Law in 2014 – approved 2009 – rejected from Richmond - Nr ister Sheikh Muhammad Al-Khalid ■ Amending the Constitu- ■ No confidence motion Hawes regions in Brit- to expedite the deportation of Ethi- tional Court Law in 2014 – ap- against Minister of Education ain for the same reason. opians due to the rising number of proved and Higher Education Nouriya The committee recom- killings committed by Ethiopian do- ■ Cancelling points in the Al-Sabeeh in 2008 – approved mended lifting the ban mestic workers. He said such crimes grilling motion against HH the ■ Writing off loan interest in on bird meat imports Prime Minister Sheikh Jaber 2006 – approved from all Russian re- are linked with this nationality due gions due to recession to certain religions and rituals. of the epidemic. ARAB TIMES, THURSDAY, JANUARY 28, 2021 LOCAL 4

His Highness Sheikh Nawaf receives offi cials HH Amir congratulates Ugandan president on re-election KUWAIT CITY, Jan 27, (KUNA): His Highness the Amir wished bah Khaled Al-Hamad Al-Sabah Speaker of the National Assembly His Highness the Amir Sheikh the African leader and his people sent similar cables. Marzouq Al-Ghanim. Nawaf Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sa- evermore progress and develop- Meanwhile, His Highness the His Highness the Amir Sheikh bah sent on Wednesday a cable of ment. His Highness the Crown Amir received at Bayan Palace, Nawaf also met today with His congratulations to the President of Prince Sheikh Meshaal Al-Ahmad Wednesday, His Highness the Highness the Prime Minister Uganda Yoweri Museveni on his Al-Jaber Al-Sabah and His High- Crown Prince Sheikh Meshaal Sheikh Sabah Khaled Al-Hamad recent re-election. ness the Prime Minister Sheikh Sa- Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah and Al-Sabah. Exempt ‘stranded Kuwaitis’ from decision to allow less passengers Total of 1,365 passengers arrived, while 3,635 departed

KUWAIT CITY, Jan 27: The con- cerned offi cials at the Directorate Gen- eral of Civil Avia- KUNA photo tion (DGCA) recent- HH the Amir with HH the Crown Prince. ly issued a directive to airlines operat- enues Bloomberg ‘Sandvine’ ■ 50 percent from the annual revenues ing at Kuwait In- of EPA, Public Institution for Social Se- ternational Airport Continued from Page 1 curity (PIFSS) and Kuwait Fund for Arab to exempt Kuwaiti Economic Development (KFAED) about the same issue, particularly the ■ families, elderly and comments of the State Audit Bureau Revenues and profits of the mutual fund students stranded (SAB) on the infrastructure and techni- ■ cal support contract that the Communica- Donations from individuals and enti- abroad and in tran- ties tion and Information Technology Regu- ■ KUNA photo KUNA photo sit destinations from latory Authority (CITRA) signed with Compensation that some people pay HH the PM meets IPU president. FM with IPU president. the decision to re- Sandvine. He asked if there is any other to seek forgiveness from God for obtain- contract signed by the two parties, if they ing money illegally duce the number The bill stipulates that the fund will PM receives IPU president FM meets IPU president of arriving passen- signed a contract for monitoring sociaal media and the internet, and the strategy grant financial support to needy families and interest-free loans to retirees. His Highness the Prime Minister Sheikh Sabah Kuwaiti Foreign Minister Sheikh Dr Ahmad Nasser Al- gers daily and allow of CITRA in intensifying cyber security. Khaled Al-Hamad Al-Sabah, on Wednesday, received Mohammad Al-Sabah received at the General Offi ce of them to immediately MP Badr Al-Humaidi submitted ques- MP Abdullah Al-Turaiji has proposed President of Inter-Parliamentary Union (IPU) Duarte the Foreign Affairs Ministry on Wednesday, the visiting tions to interim Minister of Commerce amendment of Law No. 2/2016 on the return to Kuwait establishment of Kuwait Anti-Corruption Pacheco on the occasion of his offi cial visit to the President of the International Parliamentary Union (IPU) on humanitarian and Industry and State Minister for Eco- country. Duarte Pacheco, and his accompanying delegation. nomic Affairs Faisal Al-Medlej about Authority (Nazaha) in order to put Naz- MP Dr Saleh Theyab Al-Mutairi attended the meet- The meeting was attended by Foreign Minister Assis- grounds, reports Al- the request of the Environment Public aha under the Supreme Judiciary Coun- ing. tant for his Offi ce Affairs Ambassador Saleh Al-Lougha- Qabas daily quoting Authority (EPA) to transfer supervision cil. The proposal states that Nazaha will Earlier on Tuesday, Pacheco arrived in Kuwait for an ni, Assistant Foreign Affairs Minister for Development be headed by a seven-member Board of offi cial four-day visit. and International Plenipotentiary Minister Nasser Al- a reliable source. of rainwater drainage systems under it, on grounds that such facilities are ille- Trustees nominated by the relevant min- Upon arrival, Pacheco was received by National As- Subaih, Deputy Assistant Minister for Foreign Minis- Speaking to the daily, ister and upon approval of the council’s sembly Speaker Marzouq Al-Ghanim, Head of the Hon- ter’s Offi ce Affairs, Counselor Ahmad Al-Shuraim, and the source revealed the gally used for other purposes. He wants to know if the request of EPA is legal and chairman. orary Mission Saleh Al-Mutairi, and National Assembly a number of senior offi cials in the Foreign Affairs Min- proposed excluded cases According to the proposal, the mem- Secretary General Allam Al-Kanderi. (KUNA) istry. (KUNA) will be studied and con- if this is part of its functions as per Law No. 42/2014. bers and chairman of the Board of Trus- sidered separately based MP Osama Al-Shaheen forwarded tees will work full time at Nazaha so they on the statement of the queries to interim Minister of Finance will be required to give up their other airlines; taking into con- Khalifa Hamada about the decision that jobs. They will occupy their posts for one sideration the health regu- the former minister Barrak Al-Shitan term nonrenewable. They should have a lations and their current issued on Aug 24, 2020 on offering good reputation with minimum experi- destinations. The source partnership enterprises for public sub- ence of 15 years in investigating money affi rmed there will be scription in accordance with the Islamic laundering and financing terrorism cases. fl exibility and easing pro- Sharia. He asked if this decision will be MPs Ali Al-Qattan, Fares Al-Otaibi, cedures for Kuwaiti fami- implemented, companies covered by the Mubarak Al-Arow, Muhammad Al-Ra- lies and elderly stranded decision, and the situation of companies jhi and Ahmed Al-Hamad submitted a abroad including those in which were established prior to the issu- bill on ensuring job security for citizens transit. ance of the decision. working in the private sector. The source urged every- In another development, MP Muham- The bill mandates PIFSS to establish a one to refrain from travel- mad Hadi Al-Hewaila submitted a pro- fund which will pay the salaries of citi- ing at the moment due to the posal to establish a permanent health zens in case they lose their private sec- spread of the new strain of center at Kuwait International Airport tor jobs – 65 percent of the last salary coronavirus, explaining that to conduct the required medical tests for received before being fired from work the decision to reduce the returning expatriate workers and those and the reason for dismissal should not number of arriving passen- coming to Kuwait for the first time. He be a court decision on a disqualifying gers is aimed at preserving said it usually takes many days for expa- criminal offense. They must have worked the health system and it will triate workers to complete the necessary for at least six months before losing their continue until Feb 6. medical tests due to the small number of jobs and are registered at the Manpower On the flights which were centers allocated for this purpose; hence, and Government Restructuring Program canceled due to the decision the transmission of infectious diseases to (MGRP) as job seekers. Payment of the to reduce the number of citizens. He proposed that the sponsors – salary is stopped once the beneficiary re- passengers arriving in individuals or companies – will shoulder fuses to enroll in training courses which Kuwait, the source asserted the expenses for the return of expatriate will qualify them for a new job and if Arab Open University virtual conference. the instructions of the con- workers to their home countries once they refuse a job offered by MGRP. cerned DGCA officials are proven that the workers have infectious Moreover, MP Osama Al-Menawer ‘Education is the tributary of development’ clear in this regard; as the diseases. criticized the statements of interim Min- tourism and travel compa- MP Fares Al-Otaibi has proposed ister of Finance Khalifa Hamada that the nies are obligated to recover obligating Kuwait National Petroleum State budget is in a critical situation and the value of the ticket in line Corporation (KNPC) to regularly pub- the deficit has reached KD 12 billion. AOU celebrates International Day of Education with the directives. lish advertisements for the recruitment He argued the real issue is the wrong Reduce of Kuwaiti engineers. He called for eas- enforcement of Article 140 of the Con- KUWAIT CITY, Jan 27: The Arab resenting Microsoft, the President of the For his part, Prof. Nayef Bajad Al- ing the conditions for appointing Kuwaiti stitution, which mandates “the State to Open University (AOU) celebrated the Arab Open University, Prof. Muhammad Mutairi, Vice-President for Academic Meanwhile, Director of engineers, such as reducing the minimum prepare the comprehensive annual budget International Day of Education at its Al-Zakri, the university’s senior manage- Affairs and Scientifi c Research, referred Air Transport Department scheme of its revenues and expenditure premises in Kuwait via a virtual cel- ment and a number of its students. to the university’s efforts to ensure the at the Directorate General rating in the graduation certificates to ebration under the title “Education is the Nasser Al-Qahtani, Executive Di- continuation of the educational process ‘good’, increase the maximum number and submit it to the National Assembly at of Civil Aviation (DGCA) least two months before the close of the tributary of development”, reports Al- rector of the Arab Gulf Program AG- for all its students in Kuwait and the Abdullah Al-Rajhi dis- of years since the issuance of gradua- Seyassah daily. FUND, who attended the ceremony on Arab world in light of the corona pan- closed that after the deci- tion certificates from two to four years, fiscal year for examination and ratifica- The event was held under the patron- behalf of the Chairman of the Board of demic. sion to reduce the number accepting applicants after passing a spe- tion.” age of the Chairman of its Board of Trustees of the Program, congratulated Omar Al-Jarrah, Vice-President for of passengers arriving at cial training course instead of interview- He pointed out the successive gov- Trustees in the Arab World Prince Ab- Prince Abdulaziz bin Talal on the occa- Planning and Development, speaking on Kuwait International ing them, and increase the maximum age ernments have been submitting budgets dulaziz bin Talal bin Abdulaziz. sion of the International Day of Educa- the most important praised the technical Airport, 32 flights arrived to 30 years old in consideration of those focusing more on expenditures than rev- Participating in the event were Acting tion, praising him for his contribution to solutions provided by the university to and 33 departed recently, who graduated from foreign institutes enues. He said only 37 percent of the total Director of the UNESCO Regional Offi ce achieving the requirements of sustain- overcome learning diffi culties during reports Al-Anba daily. where the educational system requires revenues of the State goes to the public in the Arab World, Hamad Al-Sai, rep- able development. this global pandemic. Confirming the full coop- longer years for completing the degree. treasury which gives a wrong impression eration of all companies MP Badr Al-Humaidi submitted a and shows ‘fake’ deficit. He urged the in- ‘Education is the tributary of development’ operating at the airport to bill for the Ministry of Social Affairs to terim government to rectify this mistake ensure proper implementa- establish a mutual fund for supporting and implement Article 140 of the Constitu- tion of the decision, citizens with an initial capital of KD 50 tion properly, away from partial solutions Al-Rajhi said a total of million which will be taken from the fol- such as resorting to borrowing and impos- AOU celebrates International Day of Education 1,365 passengers arrived in lowing sources: ing tax. He affirmed none of the MPs will the country; while the num- ■ 25 percent from the annual oil rev- approve the proposal to impose tax. KUWAIT CITY, Jan 27: The Arab ber of departures to various Open University (AOU) celebrated the destinations reached 3,635. International Day of Education at its He said about 600 domes- premises in Kuwait via a virtual cel- tic workers with valid resi- ebration under the title “Education is dency permits enter Kuwait the tributary of development”, reports daily; affirming the corre- Al-Seyassah daily. sponding fees are borne by The event was held under the pa- the sponsors as per the tronage of the Chairman of its Board agreement with the compa- of Trustees in the Arab World Prince nies that provide ground Abdulaziz bin Talal bin Abdulaziz. services and such fees Participating in the event were Act- should not increase. ing Director of the UNESCO Regional He explained an arriving Offi ce in the Arab World, Hamad domestic worker is received Al-Sai, representing Microsoft, the President of the Arab Open Univer- from the airplane door sity, Prof. Muhammad Al-Zakri, the through the interior and university’s senior management and a customs procedures until number of its students. arrival at the quarantine Nasser Al-Qahtani, Executive center in cooperation with Director of the Arab Gulf Program the Ministry of Health. He added the concerned com- AGFUND, who attended the cer- Ambassador Sibi George with the minister of defence. emony on behalf of the Chairman of pany conducts the first, sec- the Board of Trustees of the Program, ond and third examination congratulated Prince Abdulaziz bin Envoy calls on defence min procedures; as well as pro- Talal on the occasion of the Interna- vide meals and other ser- tional Day of Education, praising him vices. The Indian Ambassador to Kuwait, Both sides discussed bilateral ties, He added that about for his contribution to achieving the H.E. Sibi George called on His Excel- ways of enhancing cooperation in all requirements of sustainable develop- lency Sheikh Hamad Jaber Al-Ali Al- matters especially defence and securi- 3,100 domestic workers ment. Sabah, the Minister of Defence. ty and other matters of mutual interest. have arrived in Kuwait so For his part, Prof. Nayef Bajad Al- far, confirming full commit- Mutairi, Vice-President for Academic ment to health regulations Affairs and Scientifi c Research, re- wait and the Arab world in light of the on the most important praised the tech- in order to prevent trans- ferred to the university’s efforts to corona pandemic. nical solutions provided by the univer- mission of coronavirus ensure the continuation of the educa- Omar Al-Jarrah, Vice-President for sity to overcome learning diffi culties from the workers to their tional process for all its students in Ku- Planning and Development, speaking during this global pandemic. sponsors. ARAB TIMES, THURSDAY, JANUARY 28, 2021 LOCAL 5

Other Voices ‘Cast aside differences, pull out Kuwait from gradual decay’ “I never doubt the sincere intentions of all Kuwaitis, as well as the case of all Also: actual ability to lead, accomplish and revive the nation. parties to the political conflict. There is no doubt that they love Kuwait, but “When we watch our old plays, and compare the problems that the citizen “In conclusion, I believe we urgently need to reform our malfunctioning from a different perspective, whether this perspective has its social, interest, suffered from we become certain that we have been suffering from the same system, not its consequences.” scientific, logical or ideological dimensions, and here each person may take a problems for many decades, with different times, data and leaderships. We are ❑ ❑ ❑ different stand on a specific issue, and the war for positions may turn into a war still debating about them and we are in the same labyrinth and we have not and of persons. The difference of views between the parties has often led to a war “In the Sultanate of Oman, 16 percent of the total expatriate workers left the will not reach a conclusion,” columnist Tariq Al-Darbas wrote for Al-Anba country so far. The rope is on the tractor, meaning that the departure of expatri- and conflict that extend for many years,” columnist Dr Anwar Al-Shrai’an daily. wrote for Al-Shahed daily. ate workers continues batch by batch. It is expected that the percentage will “Our political struggles are as they are, the scene has been heating up over reach 1/3rd during the first quarter of this year,” Talal Al-Saeed wrote for “There is no winner and no loser in continuing conflicts between the people those decades, and the government apparatus is still flabby and unable to Al-Seyassah daily. of one country, sometimes the beneficiary is a third party who is happy with resolve the outstanding issues for a long time, and the reason is that “the sys- “Even if the 1/3rd expatriate population leaves, it does not mean the number everything that harms Kuwait and impedes its progress. tems are idle”. By the system, I mean a malfunction, which is our democratic becomes very less, as the number of expats remaining is very large. At the “Yes, there is competition between people, whether members of the ruling system based on individual work and not collective action according to work same time, life there has not stopped and the service sector has not been family or others to play bigger roles but the congestion that we have reached programs. affected. In fact, the vision is almost clearer for the decision-maker, after the today is a result of the transformation of differences of “Even when our democratic system makes a simple achievement and elimi- trend has become replacement of expatriates with nationals. positions and ideas and conflicts of interest sometimes nates the by-elections at a time which is one of the negative aspects of our “All of this is happening in complete silence and calm, far from any external into a war of people, a war that has lasted for years and electoral system over the past decades, the system was changed and political interference and pressure. There is no immigration minister who interferes, or will not reap any benefits but turn everything to ashes. currents were dismantled to return to square one. a foreign minister who visits Oman. They all know the red lines that they are “Kuwait today needs everyone to be convinced that “It is natural that a parliamentarian who won the elections with a few votes forbidden to cross either from near or from afar. This has been the Sultanate’s we all love our country, and we owe allegiance to His will seek to clear transactions to ensure a return to his parliamentary seat and policy since the time of Sultan Qaboos until now. Highness the Amir and His Highness the Crown Prince, for political escalation against the government in order to win the people’s “Here in Kuwait, we have not had the same number of expats leaving the and are committed to the Constitution as an approach to satisfaction, and it is a legitimate right for a parliamentarian under a sterile country like in Oman. The pressure on us is continuing; we are still taking one managing the state and the specificity of our Kuwaiti electoral system in which the leadership is in the hands of the street. step forward and two steps back in the matter of modifying the demographic system that mixes between the presidential system and “In our current electoral system, the fate of a representative who cooperates structure. According to an official statement, the demographic structure of the the parliamentary system, after that we must deal with with the government for reform and rational work shall be catastrophic failure country should become 30 percent expatriates compared to 70 percent citizens!” and downfall in the subsequent elections and the results of the 2016 Assembly each other according to the principle of issues, so we Dr Al-Shrai’an ❑ ❑ ❑ struggle about the case and its details. Who is my oppo- is an example, and the evidences are many. nent in this case? “Under the current system, a representative cannot lay down reform laws “Since the liberation of Kuwait from the brutal and unjust Iraqi invasion, we “Kuwaitis are not machines, their condition is the condition of human that achieve sustainability of resources but rather seeks popular laws that have been remembering the “lesson and sermon” several times a year. We beings, you will not find someone who agrees with you 100% except in two achieve the sustainability of the parliamentary seat. As for the government, we remember it on August 2 every year, and on January 17 as well as on February sometimes find that there are diligent ministers, but when they are on a colli- 26”, columnist Waleed Jassem Al-Jassem wrote for Al-Rai daily. cases, either you disabled your mind and started listening to his thoughts with sion course with senior officials in the ministry (the deep state), they lose their your heart, or he did so, because every person has his thoughts, beliefs, infor- “Thirty years have passed, and we celebrate the memory several times every ministerial positions at first sight. year. In these past years, we have breathed a lot from our anger, pain, and mation, experiences, personality and way of thinking that is unique to anyone “What is worse than that is if it is necessary to make important and sustain- else, even if they are identical twins. shock, but do we hold ourselves accountable? Where were we? Where did they able decisions and legislate solutions, those decisions may face the specter of get? Where will we be? “This is a fact that cannot be rejected, and therefore it must be applied to their unpopularity and the result will be a clash with the street, a conflict with everyone around us, whether near or far, an enemy or a friend, and we must “During the months of the invasion, many of our faults and the faults of oth- the Assembly losing the ministerial seat, so that another person comes trying ers were revealed to us, just as many of our positives and the positives of others also acknowledge that God Almighty created us and we commit sins, we are to keep the issue as it is and here we can say a minister is the weakest link in not angels, so whoever searches for a person without mistakes will die looking crystallized before us. However, did we benefit from that? Have we overcome this sterile political system. our faults and fixed them? Have we strengthened our advantages and strengths? for faults, perhaps he will find them in the Garden of Eternity after we forfeit “I think all that we are experiencing in terms of crisis and what we see in “I know the answer exactly, just as everyone who reads these words knows our desires. terms of practices are the superficial results of a problem that has its deep it. I cannot help but call again to take notice of what happened, and to start “To sum it up, Kuwait today needs to cast aside the differences and accept foundation in malfunction. The problem is not with the representatives and it again. We know that the opportunity that seldom comes will return, and as long the others opinions and sit with opponents at the tables of dialogue and find is not with the diligent ministers, but rather the democratic system. as there is a new opportunity, there is hope for a new beginning? Should we do solutions to extricate Kuwait out of this dangerous retreat at all levels, save the “Real reform begins by reforming the core of the problem in an electoral that or will we end up wasting another 30 years?” future for our children, rebuild our economy again, fight corruption and corrupt system based on collective action, and through proportional lists through which people, and reform the state’s flabby organizational structure.” the government is formed in order to maintain its stability and strength and the — Compiled by Ahmad Al-Shazli

Other Voices

Better than thousand men By Ahmad Alsarraf Chancellor, and the leader of 80 mil- lion people, including 40 million ngela is a woman and a wife and men. This did not carp Germany, but, Adoes not complain of any male under her leadership, to this day, symptoms. She is full of femininity Germany is the best country in every- and is proud of that. She fears, like thing. This woman enjoyed good rela- most women, many things such as tions with American presidents and dogs and mice. Despite she was born President Putin and she set a record to a pastor, she for attending eleven world summits. grew up in a The New York Times described radical political Angela as “the last defender of the atmosphere in liberal West” and “the leader of the East Germany free world”, and she is a female, and in 1954, under no country or other leaders carp. Communist In 1977 Angela married physics stu- rule, and fol- dent Ulrich Merkel, from whom she lowed her took the family name. The marriage father’s ended in divorce and she remarried Protestant reli- professor of quantum physics, Joachim gion, despite alsarraf Sauer. She had no children from both being a mem- experiences, but the sober German ber of secular youth organizations. “Der Spiegel” described her as the She mastered the Russian language mother of Germany. This woman and mathematics, studied physics, topped Forbes magazine’s list of the and obtained a Doctorate in chemis- 100 most powerful women for the try, and she has many research papers. years 2006, 2007, 2008, 2009, 2011, Shortly before the fall of the Berlin 2012, 2013, 2014, 2015 and 2016. She Wall, she subsequently saw the unifi- was also named by Statesman maga- cation of Germany, Angela worked zine in 2010 the 50 most influential hard persistently and became a figures in the world, and she was Member of Parliament (Bundestag) in awarded the highest titles, honors and Photo by Mahmoud Jadeed 1990. She was successful six times in honorary doctorates from the most All kinds of fish on display at a counter in the Souq Sharq fish market. the federal elections. In 1994 she prestigious scientific bodies. became the Federal Minister for Merkel is the first female German ‘Zubaidi scarce ... rate manipulation will not be allowed’ Women and Youth in the Chancellor chancellor - who grew up in the for- Helmut Kohl’s Ministry, and her mer East Germany, the youngest chan- Ministry of Commerce and affirmed the availability of all try explained that every day fishing season of Zubaidi fish, as political life did not stop developing cellor since World War II, the first for the better. Industry says all types of fish are types of fish at affordable prices, between five tons to 40 tons of well as the sizes that are allowed female chancellor born after World available in the market, including the Silver Pomfret (Zubaidi) fish imported fish and four tons to six to be traded in the market. In 2000 she became the first War II, and the first female chancellor woman, I repeat a woman, the leader the local and the imported ones. is subject to scarcity and lack of tons of local fish enter the market. In addition, the ministry closed with a doctorate in natural sciences. They include about 12 to 13 vari- supply in addition to the season- Fishing Zubaidi fish depends on a company through administra- of a major German party of hundreds As for this woman - how worse our of men under her command and in eties, and their prices are afford- ality of the fishery, but the minis- the decisions of the Public tive closure after discovering that view of women is - is the one who able for everyone, reports try stressed that it will not allow Authority for Agricultural Affairs the company violated the law one of the world’s greatest prestigious opened the borders of her country to and economic countries, respectful Al-Qabas daily. any unjustified price increase. and Fish Resources (PAAAFR) to pertaining to regulations of fish more than a million Arab refugees Even though the ministry In a press statement, the minis- determine the start and end of the auction markets. and strong. fleeing our male countries, and gave Angela strengthened her position them safety, warmth and nationality, through economic and social reform which we all failed to provide. plans, more supportive of the *** European Union, and sought to Is this wonderful biography of a change the German labor law, remove Duo jailed, fined KD 128 million great head of state not enough in barriers to layoffs and increase the everything, and tens of thousands of permissible number of working hours other examples, for many of our back- per week, and got rid of laws that ward people to change their view of Fraud victims sold elusive real estate limited the ability of the German women, and that she is already fully economy to compete, because compa- qualified to be a mother, wife, sister, nies cannot easily control labor costs leader and head of state? KUWAIT CITY, Jan 27: ment of 250 lawyers in the Fatwa when business is slow. ❑ ❑ ❑ and Legislation Department, consid- In November 2005, Angela, or Mrs. In a case related to real- ering their appointment as violation Merkel became ‘All-German’ email: [email protected] estate fraud and money of the relevant law, after the passing laundering, the Criminal mark of the written test scores were reduced from 12 to 10, reports Court sentenced an Iraqi Al-Rai daily. expatriate to seven-year According to the case files, the News in Brief imprisonment and a plaintiff petitioned the appointment decision after his name did not Kuwaiti citizen to two- appear on the list of the applicants year imprisonment with who passed the personal interview 200 kg drugs seized: Two persons Authority for Minors Affairs and receives and written test. a net salary of KD 970. hard labor, fined them who attempted to smuggle a large amount He argued that some of those of narcotics into the country were He had borrowed some money from the jointly a sum of KD 128 defendant bank, and accordingly his sala- who were appointed got less marks detained, the Ministry of Interior said than he did and were even under- Wednesday. ry was transferred to the bank. However, million, and ordered According to a ministry statement, he was surprised that the bank had deduct- them to pay compensa- qualified, and that the department some 200 kilograms of hashish were ed his entire salary for the payment of the tion of KD 5,001 to each that issued the list failed to address found in their possession. debt, and he had nothing left in his bal- his inquiries in this regard, The detainees, who dumped the shipment ance to sustain himself with. of their victims, reports The Public Relations Department at the Kuwait Municipality announced prompting him to file a legal law- in sea, were along with confiscated goods, Lawyer Al-Tuwaitan invoked article 2 Al-Anba daily. the Public Cleaning and Road Works Department of the Hawalli suit. referred to relevant authorities, pending of decree-law No. The Public Prosecution had Governorate Municipality branch, during a field tour of Al-Shaab The court faulted the process by legal action, noted the statement. (KUNA) 15/1979 regarding Marine Park lifted 10 vehicles and 10 boats which were abandoned in which the written tests were marked, ❑ ❑ ❑ the civil service referred the defendants to trial the vicinity of the park, reports Al-Seyassah daily. The Director of the stating that the marking officers which states that, “It on charges related to money Public Cleaning and Road Works Department at the Capital were able to view the civil ID num- Procedure nullified: The Court of is not permissible to laundering of KD 64 million and Governorate Municipality Branch, Muhammad Al-Jaba’a, said in a ber and the name of the applicant, Appeals overturned the verdict issued by make a deduction or 294,000 which were collected press statement the aim of the intensive field campaigns is to monitor which is against the principles of a lower court and nullified the procedure impose seizure of violators and take all legal measures. transparency implemented in such taken by a bank to deduct the entire salary the amounts payable from the victims for the purpose of investing in the real estate settings. of a citizen as the value of the monthly by the government fraudulent methods by deluding the the accusation against the defen- installment of a loan - deduction that to the employee in field through the two defen- The court’s ruling considered the exceeded 40 percent of the plaintiff’s sal- any capacity except dants’ companies. Later, the victims about the existence of a false dants and their criminal intent were fact that the administration sent a ary, thus cancelling the entire procedure for the fulfillment of project and creating hope for a false proven through them committing an letter to the Kuwait Institute for money was transferred to the profit by announcing in the media act of fraud and deceiving the vic- Judicial Studies. and its repercussions, most notably what the alimony decid- Al-Tuwaitan was deducted in excess, says Al-Seyassah. ed by the judiciary defendants’ accounts with the outlets the opening of the door to tims in order to make them surren- It stated that the reduction of the According to the case file, the citizen’s or the required of the government from purpose of disguising and con- invest in real estate with their com- der their money. acceptance mark “undermines the counsel Lawyer Jassim Al-Tuwaitan the employee due to a reason related to his cealing their source. panies through the sale and purchase ❑ ❑ ❑ principle of transparency and impar- explained that his client works as a secu- job or to recover what was disbursed to The two defendants were accused of chalets. tiality” and its absence raises fears rity and safety inspector at the Public him unlawfully. of fraud and misappropriation of The counsel to some of the plain- Decision revoked: The Admin- of infiltration practices that violate KD 3 million and 379,000 using tiffs Lawyer Ali Al-Ali affirmed that istration Court revoked the appoint- legitimacy. ARAB TIMES, THURSDAY, JANUARY 28, 2021 LOCAL/GULF 6

CPR courses organized for ‘TGS’ presents Dr Davenport KUWAIT CITY, Jan 27: The next episode of The Guest Show physicians & nursing staff on Radio Kuwait International English Service Presents Dr Lavinia Davenport. Dr Davenport is a YouTuber, a doc- Training ups first aid skills umentary filmmaker, writer and a podcaster. In Kuwait, she co- founded and co-hosted At My By Marwa Al-Bahrawi Kuwaiti Table, a unique podcast Al-Seyassah Staff set around the Kuwaiti meal table featuring Kuwait based KUWAIT CITY, Jan 27: women achievers. What makes Dr Davenport The Farwaniya Health special is her warmth, authentic- District is organizing Card- ity and earthiness – her Infectious iopulmonary Resuscitation energy and liveliness. A fierce and loyal friend, she touches (CPR) courses for nursing lives wherever she goes. In this staff and physicians in episode of The Guest Show, Dr cooperation with the Lavinia Davenport speaks of her life journey, her various adven- Medical Emergency Depar- tures as a YouTuber, podcaster tment at Al-Omarah and filmmaker and her take- aways from her years in Kuwait. Family Medicine Health The Guest Show poster Center. The Director of the Medical Emergency Department at the Cooperation between Kuwait and Qatar praised Ministry of Health, Munther Al-Jalahma, said the Training Center in Farwaniya Health Zone is the fourth that the Ministry of Qatar graduates 10 Kuwaiti pilots Health has established for training in first aid and special courses in DOHA, Jan 27, (KUNA): Al Zaeem cooperation with the American (Leader) Mohamed Bin Abdullah Al Heart Association, noting its Attiyah Air College held earlier on importance for all medical sectors Wednesday the graduation ceremonies of ten Kuwaiti officers from the to contribute to saving the lives Kuwaiti Army and Kuwait National and raising the skills of providing Guards (KNG), of the eighth batch of first aid and medical treatments in student officers’ air force pilots, and case of heart failures. supporting majors including 85 gradu- Al-Jalahma announced there is ten- ates. dency to increase the number of train- The Kuwaiti military attache at the ing centers in all health districts, point- CPR course in progress. Kuwaiti Embassy in Qatar Colonel ing out that the four centers which are Nasser Al-Hujaili said in remarks to affiliated to the Ministry of Health are KUNA on the sidelines of the ceremo- located in the Capital, Ahmadi, nies that the graduating Kuwaitis Al-Sabah and Al-Farwaniya health Ministry of Health accused include four from the Kuwaiti Army regions. and six from the KNG. After the training is completed the The Kuwaiti graduates fulfilled all participant is given certificate by the of ‘double standard’ policy the major requirements during their American Heart Association and is studies of air sciences, he said. internationally and regionally accred- By Abdul Rahman Al-Shimmari Ministry of Health. The private for- Kuwaiti cadet officer Shamlan ited. He noted the ministry coordinat- Al-Seyassah Staff eign schools are said to have given Abdulaziz Al-Khaldi from the Kuwaiti ed with the American Heart their commitment to social distancing Army won the first place at the major Association to train the medical staff KUWAIT CITY, Jan 27: Foreign pri- and adhering to other health require- of fighters director, as the graduation online on CPR courses, due to the vate schools began organizing paper ments. ceremonies included honoring the outbreak of the Corona pandemic. tests for students inside schools after The sources clarified that the batch’s top ten. obtaining the approval of the health Ministry of Education had earlier sub- A total of 16 students officers from authorities, while the Ministry of mitted several requests to the Ministry the Kuwaiti Army will celebrate their Health is strictly adhering to its rules of Health to approve paper-based tests graduation from Ahmad bin Adhere to ‘health’ and regulations to continue distance for students in public schools, but its Mohammed Military College in Qatar, education for public schools in what request was rejected under the pretext he said. rules: Municipality looks like a clear case of double stan- of health status and the inability to He praised the distinguished coop- By Abdel Nasser Al-Aslami dard in dealing with students of private fulfill health requirements, explaining eration between Kuwait and Qatar at Al-Seyassah Staff schools and public schools. that the ministry presented an inte- all levels, especially in the military Education sources said the Ministry grated plan for returning to traditional training the development. KUWAIT CITY, Jan 27: The of Education has received an official education and set up a mechanism The political leaderships at both Head of the Violation Removal letter from some foreign schools call- including all requirements, but it did nations are working to boost such Department in the Capital ing for paper-based tests and that it not succeed in convincing the Ministry cooperation, a matter noticed in the Governorate Branch, Engr would adhere to all the necessary of Health, while it appears the foreign increasing number of Kuwaiti gradu- Abdullah Jaber, said if the health requirements, explaining that schools have succeeded in convincing ated from various military faculties at salon owners do not comply the Ministry of Education confirmed the Ministry of Health to hold paper Qatar, he affirmed. with proper health regulations, the decision has the approval of the tests. The military cooperation between KUNA photos both countries include all kinds if Graduation ceremonies of ten Kuwaiti officers from the Kuwaiti Army and a direct violation will be issued armed forces, including the air force in Kuwait National Guards. and in case of serious violation order to exchange expertise and boos a salon may be shut down. military capabilities, and conducting Kuwaiti Ambassador to Qatar Hafith the Kuwaiti Of KNG, Associate He added salons that are joint military trainings, he said. Mohammad Al-Ajmi, and the head of Operations and Training assistant, issued citations due to non- The graduation was attended by the the General Presidency delegation of Major General Faleh Shujaa’ Faleh. compliance with health requirements will be moni- tored by the municipality Central Bank of Kuwait highlights financial awareness inspectors, and the materials used in salons must be con- stantly sterilized so that the ‘Diraya’ launches inaugural video on role of banks epidemic does not spread KUWAIT CITY, Jan 27: The “Be among its customers. Aware” campaign,”Diraya” in Arabic, Foreign schools students taking paper exams. launched its inaugural video, introduc- ing banks, their role and the impor- tance of the various services they pro- vide. This effort is part of the Central Bank of Kuwait’s (CBK) drive to increase the financial awareness of various segments of society, its direc- tion for Kuwaiti banks towards expanding and strengthening the role of the Kuwaiti banking sector in social responsibility, and within the scope of the activities of the banking awareness campaign “Diraya”. The campaign was launched by the CBK in collabo- ration with Kuwaiti banks and man- ‘Diraya’ campaign aged by the Kuwait Banking Association (KBA). It aims to spread whose primary function is to accept great means to educate customers of and increase financial awareness to a deposits for use in banking operations, their rights and protection dictated by wider segment of society. like granting loans, advances, issuing the CBK through its instructions to The CBK stated that the banking and collecting checks, trading in for- the banking sector. awareness campaign “Diraya” covers eign currencies and precious metals, More information on the Diraya cam- diverse topics, including the role of and other credit operations”. paign and its objectives, as well as banks as financial intermediaries. The CBK also stressed the impor- campaign content, is available through Banks are defined as “institutions tance of such campaigns which are a its official website: www.dirayakw.com Two sides agree on amending timetable GCC, Jordan okay cooperation in various sectors AMMAN, Jan 27, (KUNA): Jordan these countries. visit is to confirm this strategic rela- and the GCC agreed on Tuesday on The Royal Court said in a statement tionship. the prior bases for future cooperation that the monarch, during a meeting Regarding his visit to the Kingdom, in the sectors of health, agriculture, with the GCC Secretary General, Al-Hajraf said that the visit is follow- food security, transports, trade and Nayef Al-Hajraf, welcomed outcome ing Al-Ula summit in the Kingdom of investments. of Al-Ula summit, adding that talks Saudi Arabia on the fifth of January, The understanding was reached dur- between the two sides dealt with Arab 2021, and its statement, which speaks ing a meeting that grouped the GCC and regional issues, namely the in one of its articles about cooperation Secretary General with the Jordanian Palestinian cause, where the monarch between GCC countries and Jordan, Foreign Minister Ayman Al-Safadi. re-affirmed necessity of finding a just and the council’s keenness on the The Jordanian Foreign Ministry said settlement to the cause on the two security and stability of Jordan and in a statement the two sides agreed on states’ basis. supporting development efforts in it, amending the timetable of the joint King Abdullah also emphasized for the benefit of both sides. cooperation action (2013-2018) setting necessity of unifying the Arabs’ ranks And on the meetings he had with the time frame at 2021-2025. They also and boosting joint action. Jordan’s King Abdullah II bin agreed on resuming meetings of the joint Separately, Al-Hjraf met with Prime Al-Hussein, Prime Minister Dr. Bicher teams at dates to be discussed later. Minister Bisher Al-Khasawneh who Al-Khasawneh and the talks held with Moreover, the two sides discussed underlined the brotherly relations Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign activation of the strategic dialogue, as between Jordan and the GCC countries. Minister Ayman Safadi, Al-Hajraf underlined by Al-Ula summit, noting Al-Hajraf noted necessity of the 15 said the meetings showed the impor- that the strategic dialogue would be joint committees that cover various tance of the strategic relations between examined by the foreign ministers at a forms of cooperation between Jordan GCC and Jordan and the existence of a future meeting. and the GCC. Secretary General of the sincere desire to push this relationship Al-Hajraf and Al-Safadi, moreover, Cooperation Council (GCC) Nayef forward. examined some of the resolutions that Al-Hajraf, stressed Tuesday, the impor- The meeting of senior officials in the had been taken at Al-Ula summit with tance of the strategic relationship that Council and Jordan that was held yes- respect of boosting stability and devel- links GCC system with Jordan and the terday had completed with number of opment in Jordan. sincere desire to push cooperation steps aimed at activating the common King Abdullah II of Jordan on efforts for benefit of both sides. teams between the two parties, he said, Tuesday affirmed keenness on boost- In a statement to KUNA, at the con- as it also focused on some priority ing cooperation with the GCC coun- clusion of a one-day visit to Jordan, issues, especially after covid-19 pan- tries and bolstering further “the solid Al-Hajraf said that Jordan is very demic, such as health and food security, partnership” between Amman and important to the GCC system, as this agricultural, economic, and transport. ARAB TIMES, THURSDAY, JANUARY 28, 2021 INTERNATIONAL 7

China

‘Probe US military lab’ China ‘sows doubts’ on virus origin, jabs TAIPEI, Taiwan, Jan 27, (AP): Chinese state media have stoked concerns about Pfi zer’s COVID-19 vaccine, despite rigorous trials indicating it is safe. A government spokesper- son has raised the unsubstantiated theory that the coronavirus could have emerged from a US military lab, giving it more credence in China. As the ruling Communist Party faces growing question- ing about China’s vaccines and renewed criticism of its early COVID-19 response, it is hitting back by encouraging con- spiracy theories that some experts say could cause harm. State media and offi cials are sowing doubts about Western vaccines and the origin of the coronavirus in an apparent bid to defl ect the attacks. Both issues are in the spotlight because of the rollout of vaccines globally and the recent arrival of a World Health Organization team in Wuhan, China, to investi- gate the origins of the virus. Some of these conspiracy theories fi nd a receptive audience at home. The social media hashtag “American’s Ft. Detrick,” started by the Communist Youth League, was viewed at least 1.4 billion times last week after a Foreign Ministry spokesperson called for a WHO investigation of the biological weapons lab in Maryland. “It’s purpose is to shift the blame from mishandling by (the) Chinese Gao government in the pandemic’s early days to conspiracy by the US,” said Fang Shimin, a now-US-based writer known for exposing faked degrees and other fraud in Chinese science. “The tactic is quite successful because of widespread anti-American senti- In this Jan 26 photo, President Joe Biden holds his face mask as he speaks on COVID-19, in the State Dining Room of the White House in Washington. Biden is ment in China.” dispatching the nation’s top scientists and public health experts to regularly brief the American public about the pandemic. Beginning Jan 27, the experts will host Yuan Zeng, an expert on Chinese media at the University of briefi ngs three times a week on the state of the outbreak and efforts to control it. (AP) Leeds in Great Britain, said the government’s stories spread so widely that even well-educated Chinese friends have asked her whether they might be true. Infl aming doubts and spreading conspiracy theories might America add to public health risks as governments try to dispel unease about vaccines, she said, saying, “That is super, super danger- ous.” In the latest volley, state media called for an investigation Govt to reopen ‘Obamacare’ markets for COVID-19 relief into the deaths of 23 elderly people in Norway after they re- ceived the Pfi zer vaccine. An anchor at CGTN, the English- language station of state broadcaster CCTV, and the Global Times newspaper accused Western media of ignoring the Biden calling up pros for virus briefi ngs news. WASHINGTON, Jan 27, (AP): For how safe it is and how it can protect From the briefi ng room, Trump Vaccination nearly a year it was the Trump show. against the disease but also slow trans- shared his skepticism about face cov- Health experts say deaths unrelated to the vaccine are possi- Now President Joe Biden is calling up mission is really important,” he said. erings, despite the widespread conclu- ble during mass vaccination campaigns, and a WHO panel has the nation’s top scientists and public The stakes for Biden, whose presi- sions of scientists that wearing a mask concluded that the vaccine did not play a “contributory role” health experts to regularly brief the dency hinges on his handling of the helps prevent the spread of the virus. in the Norway deaths. American public about the pandemic pandemic and the largest vaccination He wondered aloud if Americans The state media coverage followed a report by researchers that has claimed more than 425,000 campaign in global history, could could ingest toxic bleach to kill the in Brazil who found the effectiveness of a Chinese vaccine US lives. hardly be higher. virus like cleaning a surface. He en- lower than previously announced. Researchers initially said Beginning Wednesday, administra- Biden is pushing a weary populace couraged governors to “reopen” their Sinovac’s vaccine is 78% effective, but the scientists revised tion experts will host briefi ngs three to recommit to social distancing meas- states, even as cases surged. that to 50.4% after including mildly symptomatic cases. Myanmar leader Aung San Suu Kyi times a week on the state of the out- ures and mask-wearing, pointing to Wednesday’s briefi ng will be con- After the Brazil news, researchers at the Australian Strategic inspects and watches the vaccina- break, efforts to control it and the race scientifi c models that suggest the prac- ducted virtually, rather than in per- Policy Institute, a government-supported think tank, reported tion processes to health workers at to deliver vaccines and therapeutics to tices could save 50,000 lives over the son at the White House, to allow for seeing an increase in Chinese media disinformation about vac- a hospital Wednesday, Jan. 27, in end it. coming months. He has insisted mem- questions from health journalists and cines. Naypyitaw, Myanmar. Health workers Expect a sharp contrast from the bers of his administration model best to maintain a set timing no matter the Dozens of online articles on popular health and science in Myanmar on Wednesday became last administration’s briefi ngs, when behaviors for the country. schedule in the West Wing. It will blogs and elsewhere have explored questions about the effec- the country’s fi rst people to get vac- public health offi cials were repeatedly Those messages found few cham- feature Jeff Zients, the Biden admin- tiveness of the Pfi zer vaccine at length, drawing on an op-ed cinated against COVID-19, just fi ve undermined by a president who shared pions in the former administration, as istration’s coordinator for pandemic published this month in the British Medical Journal that raised days after the fi rst vaccine supply was his unproven ideas without hesitation. Trump openly fl outed science-based response; his deputy, Andy Slavitt; questions about its clinical trial data. delivered from India. (AP) “We’re bringing back the pros to guidance from his own administra- Fauci; Dr. Marcella Nunez-Smith, the “It’s very embarrassing” for the government, Fang said in talk about COVID in an unvarnished tion. Face coverings were sparse at his chair of Biden’s COVID-19 equality an email. As a result, China is trying to raise doubts about the way,” Biden told reporters Tuesday. reelection rallies and social distancing task force; and Dr. Rochelle Walen- Pfi zer vaccine to save face and promote its vaccines, he said. “Any questions you have, that’s how nearly nonexistent. sky, the director of the CDC. Senior Chinese government offi cials have not been shy in we’ll handle them because we’re let- It comes as government scientists, voicing concerns about the mRNA vaccines developed by ting science speak again.” Leading led by Fauci, have been making regu- Western drug companies. They use a newer technology than The new briefi ngs, beginning just a In the weeks leading up to Biden’s lar media appearances to share their the more traditional approach of the Chinese vaccines cur- week into Biden’s tenure, are meant inauguration, the US set records in expertise in television and podcast rently in use. as an explicit rejection of his prede- new cases and reported deaths almost In December, the director of the Chinese Centers for Dis- interviews. Last week, Fauci called cessor’s approach to the coronavirus by the day, as many states reimposed his current circumstances “liberating” ease Control, Gao Fu, said he can’t rule out negative side ef- outbreak. President Donald Trump costly restrictions to slow the spread fects from the mRNA vaccines. Noting this is the fi rst time and offered that “one of the new things claimed center stage and muddled of the virus. Even so, Trump restricted in this administration is, if you don’t they are being given to healthy people, he said, “there are the message of the nation’s top public media appearances by his top scientists safety concerns.” know the answer, don’t guess.” health experts in the critical early days and public health offi cials and contin- ❑ ❑ ❑ The Pfi zer mRNA vaccine and another one developed by Prayuth Bundit of the virus and eventually largely ued to spread misinformation. Moderna have passed both animal and human trials in which muzzled them as the pandemic’s mor- Asked by CNN last week if the lack Fulfi lling a campaign promise, Pres- they were tested on more than 70,000 people. tal toll grew steeper. of candor from the Trump administra- ident Joe Biden plans to reopen the The arrival of the WHO mission has brought back persistent The new briefi ngs are part of Biden’s tion about the virus had cost lives, Dr. HealthCare.gov insurance markets for criticism that China allowed the virus to spread globally by Asia attempt to rebuild public confi dence in Anthony Fauci, the nation’s top in- a special sign-up opportunity geared to reacting too slowly in the beginning, even reprimanding doc- institutions, particularly the federal fectious disease expert, replied, “You people needing coverage in the coro- tors who tried to warn the public. The visiting researchers will Court acquits 80-yr-old writer: An government, with a commitment to know, it very likely did.” navirus pandemic. begin fi eld work this week after being released from a 14-day share the bad news with the good. The Trump administration ended the Biden is expected to sign an execu- quarantine. 80-year-old writer accused of defaming Thailand’s monarchy in 2015 because “I’ll always level with you about practice of regular scientifi c briefi ngs tive order Thursday, said two people The Communist Party sees the WHO investigation as a po- the state of affairs,” he said Tuesday, early on in the pandemic, after Trump familiar with the plan, whose details litical risk because it focuses attention on China’s response, of comments he made at a public semi- nar about the constitution was acquitted repeating a central pledge of his inau- expressed anger over the dire warn- were still being fi nalized. They spoke said Jacob Wallis, a senior analyst at the Australian Strategic gural address. ings of Centers for Disease Control on the condition of anonymity because Policy Institute. Tuesday by the Criminal Court. The court ruled that Bundit Aneeya It’s a message that helped carry and Prevention Dr. Nancy Messonnier they were not authorized to discuss the The party wants to “distract domestic and international au- Biden to the White House. As a can- in February about the threat from the pending order ahead of a formal an- diences by pre-emptively distorting the narrative on where had not violated the lese majeste law be- cause he had not specifi cally referred to didate he warned that the nation faced virus. nouncement. responsibility lies for the emergence of COVID-19,” Wallis Trump later told journalist Bob Although the number of uninsured said. royalty and had not used rude language. a surge of coronavirus cases in what The punishment for violating the law is would be a “dark winter”; Trump, for Woodward that he had been “playing Americans has grown because of job Evidence three to 15 years’ imprisonment on each his part, falsely claimed the worst of it down” to avoid creating panic about losses due to the economic hit of COV- Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Hua Chunying got the ball count. the virus was over. the virus. Aides said he also was try- ID-19, the Trump administration resisted rolling last week by reviving earlier Chinese calls for a WHO The court last week gave a record sen- Dr. David Hamer, a professor of ing to protect the economy to boost his calls to authorize a “special enrollment investigation of the US military lab. tence of 43 1/2 years under the law to a global health and medicine at Boston reelection prospects. period” for people uninsured in the State media have referenced past scandals at the lab, but woman arrested six years ago who posted University’s School of Public Health, As the pandemic took hold in the US pandemic. Failure to repeal and replace China has given no reliable evidence to support the corona- audio clips online deemed critical of the said having briefi ngs from health of- last spring, Trump adopted the position “Obamacare” as he repeatedly vowed to virus theory. monarchy. The former civil servant had fi cials that are “based on serious sci- of a “wartime president,” holding ex- do was one of former president Donald Trump’s “If America respects the truth, then please open up Ft. her nominal sentence of 87 years halved ence” would go a long way toward tended briefi ngs at the White House, most bitter disappointments. Detrick and make public more information about the 200 or because she pleaded guilty. improving public perceptions of the where he - not science - was the star. His administration continued trying to more bio-labs outside of the US, and please allow the WHO In the past two months, the authorities vaccine. Trump pointed to the strong television fi nd ways to limit the program or unravel expert group to go to the US to investigate the origins,” Hua have pursued lese majeste cases against at “There’s a certain amount of vac- ratings for his early appearances and it entirely. A Supreme Court decision on said. least 54 people, according to the legal aid cine hesitancy, and so educating peo- timed the sessions to overtake the na- Trump’s fi nal legal challenge to the Af- Her comments, publicized by state media, became one of group Thai Lawyers for Human Rights. ple about the vaccine, how it works, tional evening news. fordable Care Act is expected this year. the most popular topics on China’s Twitter-like Sina Weibo. They acted after growing public criti- China isn’t the only government to point fi ngers. Former cism of the monarchy, once virtually US President Donald Trump, trying to defl ect blame for his feet) in diameter sitting atop the primary explosion, the report said. to prevent reactor damage never worked, unknown, by a youth-led pro-democracy and that safety measures and equipment government’s handling of the pandemic, said last year he had movement. The protest movement seeks containment vessel, is coated with high The experts measured radiation levels seen evidence the virus came from a Wuhan laboratory. While levels of radioactive Cesium 137. at multiple locations inside the three reac- designs still need to be examined. (AP) reform of the monarchy, which it says is ❑ ❑ ❑ that theory has not been defi nitively ruled out, many experts unaccountable and has excessive power The No. 1 reactor lid was less contami- tor buildings, and examined how radioac- think it is unlikely. in what is supposed to be a democratic nated, presumably because the plug was tive materials moved and safety equip- Hackers sought cyber research: Also: constitutional monarchy. slightly knocked out of place and disfi g- ment functioned during the accident. Google says it believes hackers backed After King Maha Vajralongkorn took ured due to the impact of the hydrogen They also said venting attempt at Unit 2 by the North Korean government have BEIJING: The Chinese government said Wednesday that ac- the throne in 2016 following his father’s been posing as computer security blog- tions like its warplanes fl ying near Taiwan last weekend are a death, he informed the government that gers and using fake accounts on social warning against both foreign interference in Taiwan and any he did not wish to see the lese majeste media while attempting to steal informa- independence moves by the island. law used. But as the protests grew last tion from researchers in the fi eld. Asked about the fl ights, Zhu Fenglian, a spokesperson for year and criticism of the monarchy got Google didn’t specify how successful China’s Taiwan Affairs Offi ce, said China’s military drills are harsher, Prime Minister Prayuth Chan- the hackers were or what kind of infor- to show the nation’s resolution to protect its national sover- o-cha warned a line had been crossed and mation could have been compromised. eignty and territorial integrity. the law would be used. (AP) Experts say the attacks refl ect North Ko- “They are a stern warning against external interference and rean efforts to improve its cyber skills and provocation from separatist forces advocating for Taiwan in- ❑ ❑ ❑ be able to breach widely used computer dependence,” she said at a regular briefi ng, giving the Chinese products, such as Google’s Chrome inter- government’s fi rst offi cial comment on the recent fl ights. Contamination may delay cleanup: net browser and Microsoft’s Windows 10 China sent eight bombers and four fi ghter jets into Taiwan’s A draft investigation report into the 2011 operating system. air defense identifi cation zone on Saturday, according to Tai- Fukushima nuclear meltdown, adopted While the country has denied involve- wan’s Defense Ministry. Taiwan scrambled fi ghters to monitor by Japanese nuclear regulators Wednes- ment, North Korea has been linked to ma- the activity. day, says it has detected dangerously high jor cyberattacks, including a 2013 cam- The US State Department later issued a statement urging levels of radioactive contamination at two paign that paralyzed the servers of South China “to cease its military, diplomatic, and economic pres- of the three reactors, adding to concerns Korean fi nancial institutions, the 2014 sure against Taiwan” following China’s sizeable show of about decommissioning challenges. hacking of Sony Pictures, and the Wan- force. The interim report said data collected naCry malware attack of 2017. China then sent 16 military aircraft into the same area on by investigators showed that the sealing The UN Security Council in 2019 es- Sunday, Taiwan said. plugs sitting atop the No. 2 and 3 reac- timated North Korea earned as much as Taiwan is a self-governing island about 160 kilometers (100 tor containment vessels were as fatally $2 billion over several years through il- miles) off China’s east coast. The Chinese government regards contaminated as nuclear fuel debris that licit cyber operations targeting crypto- it as a renegade province that should be united with mainland had melted and fell to the bottom of the This Nov. 24, 2020, fi le photo Linda Thomas-Greenfi eld speaking at The Queen currency exchanges and other fi nancial China. reactors following the March 2011 tsuna- theater in Wilmington, Del. Thomas-Greenfi eld, President Joe Biden’s pick to transactions, generating income that is Zhu said that China would not renounce the use of force to mi and earthquake. The experts said the be America’s ambassador to the United Nations, says if she’s confi rmed by the harder to trace and offsets capital lost to guard against separatist moves and foreign interference. bottom of the sealed plug, a triple-layered Senate she’ll vigorously counter China’s authoritarian agenda and engage in US-led economic sanctions over its nu- concrete disc-shaped lid 12 meters (39 ‘people-to-people diplomacy.’ (AP) clear weapons program. (AP) Boeing posts $8.4 billion loss on weaker demand for planes In this Jan 25, 2020 file photo, a Boeing 777X airplane takes off on its first flight with the Boeing lost $8.4 billion in the fourth quarter planes to airline customers. Boeing’s newest problem involves the Olympic Mountains in the on weaker demand for planes during the Orders for new Boeing jets have 777X, a larger version of the long-range background at Paine Field pandemic and another setback to a new tanked in the past two years, first from 777 that will feature new engines and com- in Everett, Wash. Boeing is large plane designed for long-haul flights. the worldwide grounding of the Max after posite wings that fold near the wingtips to reporting another huge loss, In the past two years, Boeing has posted two crashes that killed 346 people, then accommodate the space at airport gates. this one because of a setback huge losses mostly because of the crisis from a pandemic that devastated the The company said Wednesday that to its 777X widebody jetliner. around two deadly crashes involving its airline industry. In the last few months, the first 777X delivery will occur in Boeing said Wednesday, Jan 737 Max. However, the biggest piece of production flaws have halted deliveries late 2023, a year later than previously 27, 2021, it lost $8.4 billion in the fourth-quarter loss reported Wednes- of a larger plane, the 787, which Boeing planned. Boeing cited new, tougher the fourth quarter on weaker day was a pretax charge of $6.5 billion tied calls the Dreamliner. standards for certifying planes - an out- demand for planes during the to a different plane, the bigger 777X. Boeing delivered 59 commercial growth of the Max crisis - and the dam- pandemic. (AP) Revenue fell 15% to $15.3 billion, as planes in the fourth quarter, compared age that the pandemic is doing to de- the Chicago company delivered fewer with 225 for European rival Airbus. mand for international travel. (AP)

Market Movements 27-01-2021 Change Closing pts Change Closing pts JAPAN - Nikkei +89.03 28,635.21 AUSTRALIA - All Ordinaries -51.23 7,060.16 PAKISTAN - KSE 100 +170.75 46,458.13 GERMANY - DAX -250.53 13,620.46 CHINA - Shanghai SE +3.91 3,573.34 FRANCE - CAC 40 -63.90 5,459.62 EUROPE - Euro Stoxx 50 -56.45 3,536.38 S. KOREA - KRX 100 -40.40 6,756.15 PHILIPPINES - PSEi -113.55 6,863.61 INDIA - Sensex -937.66 47,409.93 Business US durable goods orders show modest 0.2% December gain Home prices rise at fastest pace in more than 6 years

WASHINGTON, Jan 27, (AP): US the home prices jumped in November bottomline at the fastest pace in more than six years, fueled by demand for more BERLIN: Oil and gas giant Shell is buy- living space as Americans stick Kuwait oil prices to reach around ing ubitricity, a major provider of electric closer to home during the pan- vehicle charging points in Europe. demic. Shell said Monday that it would buy a Home prices soared 9.1% in No- 100% stake in the Berlin-based startup, vember compared with 12 months without disclosing the price. ago, according to Tuesday’s re- $60 pb in 2nd half of ’21 – expert “The move represents a further step in Shell’s efforts to support drivers as they port on the S&P CoreLogic Case- switch to lower-carbon transport,” the Shiller 20-city home price index. company said. That is the largest increase since The deal, which is subject to regulato- May 2014. Kuwait oil undersecretary discusses cooperation with OAPEC chief ry approval, will give Shell ownership of Low borrowing costs are also con- the biggest public EV charging network tributing to rising home sales, which in Britain with more than 2,700 charge have sharply reduced the number KUWAIT CITY, Jan 27, points. of dwellings available. The limited (KUNA): An oil expert Ubitricity also has smaller public net- works in Germany and France, and has inventory of homes is pushing up anticipated Kuwait oil installed over 1,500 charge points for home prices. Sales of existing homes prices to increase to USD fleet customers across Europe. rose in December and home sales for 60 per barrel (pb) in the The company’s focus has been to in- all of 2020 rose to the highest level tegrate charge points into existing street in 14 years. second half of this year as infrastructure such as lamp posts, to re- Phoenix posted the largest price the world is projected to duce the cost of laying new power lines gain in November from a year earlier witness stability following down streets. for the 18th straight month, with a Experts say easier access to charging 13.8% increase. Seattle’s 12.7% gain coronavirus pandemic with facilities is key to the successful rollout provision of vaccines thus of electric vehicles. (AP) was the second-highest, followed by ❑ ❑ ❑ San Diego at 12.3%. return of normal life. All 19 cities reported larger year- NEW YORK: Jeans maker Levi Strauss Mohammad Al-Shatti, address- & Co. is deepening its partnership with over-year price gains in November ing a virtual seminar about hori- than in October. Detroit wasn’t able Target Corp. by launching its first-ever zons of global economy and crude home collection at the discount chain. to fully report its home sales data be- Levi’s limited time only 100-item cause of delays related to a coronavi- oil prices for 2021, organized by Kuwait Oil Ministry, said return of collection of denim-inspired tableware, rus lockdown. quilts, pillows and other items will be Home sales may slow in the com- normal aviation operations would launched on Target’s website and most ing months, consistent with de- also help improve prices. Target stores on Feb. 28. clining sales in the winter, but are He said prices between USD 70-80 Target started selling low-price brand expected to remain elevated. The pb were “relatively desirable” for the Denizen from Levi’s in 2011 and then be- Arabian Gulf countries and achieve gan carrying its premium Red Tab brand number of people who signed con- some balances in their budgets. in 2019. It will be expanding the Red Tab tracts to purchase homes fell in No- Improvement of oil prices, added brand to 500 stores by fall of this year. vember compared with October, but Al-Shatti, would primarily benefit the The move is yet another blow to depart- was at a record high for November. budgets of Arab Gulf countries which ment stores, which have been struggling Contract signings are usually fol- largely depend on oil as a major source even more during the pandemic. lowed by a completed sale within of income. Target CEO Brian Cornell and Levi’s two months. He therefore called for diversifica- CEO Chip Bergh told The Associated Meanwhile, orders to U.S. fac- tion of income and execution of imme- Press they believe the Levi products, tories for big-ticket manufactured Vice President Kamala Harris participates in a swearing-in ceremony with Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen and diate reforms because oil prices were which also include some clothing, will Yellen’s husband George Akerlof, Tuesday, Jan 26, 2021, at the White House in Washington. The Treasury build- affected by global political and health be collectors’ items. goods rose a modest 0.2% in De- ing stands behind. (AP) For Target, it’s the latest strategic part- cember, held back by a big drop in conditions. nership with a major brand and comes the volatile aircraft sector. A key Al-Shatti anticipated global econo- as Target extends its strong sales streak category that tracks business invest- Yellen sworn in as first woman Treasury secretary my to recover by over four percent in through the pandemic. The Minneapolis- ment decisions slowed. the second half of 2021, triggered by based discounter signed a deal late last year The rise in orders for durable availability of Covid-19 vaccines. with beauty chain Ulta to open more than goods, items expected to last at Treasury to help nation reeling from virus Recovery of economy, he added, 100 beauty shops by middle of this year. In would encourage return of oil and gas 2019, it forged a partnership with Disney least three years, followed much investment coupled with optimism & Co to open Disney-branded shops at its stronger increases of 1.2% No- WASHINGTON, Jan 27, (AP): Janet built on wealth while certain segments such areas as raising taxes on corpora- Yellen, sworn in Tuesday as the na- of the population fell further and fur- tions and the wealthy, but believed it driven by a new US Administration. stores. Cornell said that strategic partner- vember and 1.8% in October, the Initial estimates show that global oil ships “have been key to Target’s success” Commerce Department reported tion’s 78th Treasury secretary and the ther behind.” was important to allow Biden to as- fi rst woman to hold the offi ce, said in Treasury said that Yellen spent her semble his economic team quickly. stocks dropped by two million barrels and has set it apart from rivals. (AP) Wednesday. ❑ ❑ ❑ a message to the department’s 84,000 fi rst day on the job meeting virtually At her confi rmation hearing before per day (bpd) in December 2020, how- Orders for commercial aircraft, ever it remained 11 percent higher than employees that they would play a ma- with her advisers and career employ- the Finance Committee last week, Yel- NEW YORK: Walgreens said Tuesday hard hit because of the sharp drop jor role in addressing the country’s ees as well as getting an update on len argued that without prompt action 2019, he said. it has tapped Starbucks executive Roz in air travel during the pandemic biggest economic challenges. President Joe Biden’s $1.9 trillion CO- the nation faced the threat of a “longer, Future of oil markets will depend on Brewer as its new CEO, which will make fell 51.8% in December. Separate- “In addition to the pandemic, the coun- VID-19 relief plan. more painful recession.” She urged quick reaching an effective Covid-19 cure her the only Black woman leading a For- ly, Boeing reported Wednesday try is also facing a climate crisis, a crisis Yellen became the third of Biden’s action on the relief package that would by mid-2021, recovery of economy tune 500 company. by over four percent, an increase of that it lost $8.4 billion in the fourth of systemic racism and an economic cri- Cabinet nominees to win Senate ap- provide an additional $1,400 in payments Starbucks announced Tuesday that quarter, capping a record loss for industrial and economic operations, Brewer was departing after a little more sis that has been building for fi fty years,” proval on a vote of 84-15 late Monday. to individuals making below $75,000 commitment of OPEC+ in markets’ all of 2020. Yellen said in her message. “I believe our All of the no votes came from Repub- annually as well as providing expanded than three years as its chief operating offi- stability and continuous drop of oil cer. Walgreens later confirmed that Brewer A category that covers business department can play a major role in ad- lican senators. unemployment benefi ts, further aid for investment plans rose 0.6% follow- stocks, he said, which would transform will take over as its CEO on March 15. dressing each of these crises.” The administration has emphasized small businesses and support for cities the surplus into a deficit thus pushing Brewer succeeds Stefano Pessina, who ing bigger gains of 1% in November She was sworn in by Vice President the need to get its nominees approved and states to prevent layoffs. prices to USD 60 pb. served as CEO for six years following and 1.7% in December. Kamala Harris, the fi rst woman elected quickly given the threats facing the The plan also provides more support Kuwait Oil Undersecretary Sheikh the merger between Walgreens and Al- Economists had expected total or- to the position, at a ceremony performed country from a global pandemic and a for vaccine production and distribution. Dr. Nimr Fahad Al-Malek Al-Sabah liance Boots in 2014. Pessina will transi- ders would post a stronger advance outside on the East Wing entrance to the slumping economy. But many GOP senators have held talks on Wednesday with Sec- tion to executive chairman of Walgreens of around 1% in December but noted White House in view of the department Yellen is expected to play a key role pushed back on the proposal. Sen. retary General of the Organization of Boots Alliance Inc.’s board. that the overall gain was held back Yellen will now lead. Yellen’s husband, in gaining congressional approval of Charles Grassley, R-Iowa, told Yellen Arab Petroleum Exporting Countries Pessina praised Brewer’s expertise in by the big drop in aircraft orders. George Akerlof, winner of the 2001 Biden’s relief package, which is running that Biden’s plan represented a “laun- (OAPEC) Ali bin Sabt on boosting operations, customer relations, talent de- Nobel prize in economics, and their son into stiff opposition from Republicans dry list of liberal structural economic velopment and digital innovation. Excluding transportation orders, to- cooperaion. “She is a distinguished and experi- tal orders rose 0.7% in December, Robert, also an economist, were present who believe the price tag is too high. reforms.” The ministry said in a statement the for the brief ceremony. Speaking on the Senate fl oor before As Treasury secretary, Yellen, 74, enced executive who has led organiza- and that followed a 0.8% rise in No- two sides examined most significant tions globally through periods of chang- vember. In her message to Treasury employ- Monday’s vote, Democratic Majority will occupy a pivotal role in shap- actitvities carried out by the organiza- ing consumer behavior by applying Even with the slowdown, total or- ees, Yellen said she would be conduct- Leader Chuck Schumer noted the for- ing and directing Biden’s economic tion at present. innovation that elevates customer experi- ders are close to their pre-pandemic ing a virtual listening tour in the next mer Federal Reserve chairwoman had policies. She enters the Treasury job Sheikh Nimer held the talks with ences,” Pessina said. levels. Orders for motor vehicles few weeks to meet with employees to bipartisan support. after many years serving in other top the OAPEC secretary general during a At Starbucks, Brewer revamped get their views on how the department Schumer said Yellen has a “breath- economic jobs, including as the fi rst rose 1.4% in December while de- visit to the organization headquarters – stores, taking out clutter and cutting can do a better job of addressing the taking range of experience” and sup- woman to serve as chair of the Federal accompanied by the ministry director down on administrative work so employ- mand for defense aircraft jumped crises facing the country. port for her nomination refl ected “just Reserve from 2014 to 2018. of public relations Sheikha Tamador ees could focus on customers and speed 5%. “We must help the American people how well suited she is to manage the An economist by training who was a Khaled Al-Ahmad Al-Sabah. up service. She helped grow Starbucks’ “The manufacturing sector is endure the fi nal months of this pan- economic challenges of our time ... professor at the University of Califor- The statement indicated that the rewards program and pushed for more fairing fairly well even as virus demic by making sure they have roofs particularly during this moment of nia at Berkeley, Yellen will represent two sides also examined steps that had diversity in its ranks. (AP) cases have surged,” said Rubeela over their head and food on the table,” economic crisis.” the Biden administration in global fi - been taken to link up the ministry web- ❑ ❑ ❑ Farooqi, chief U.S. economist at Yellen said. “Then, we must assist Before the approval by the full Sen- nancial affairs and lead a sprawling de- site with OAPEC’s library. NEW YORK: A big jump in prescription High Frequency Economics. “The them in getting back to work safely.” ate, Yellen had received unanimous partment whose responsibilities cover drug sales boosted fourth-quarter rev- December data are signaling still Yellen said it will be important to backing from the Senate Finance Com- overseeing IRS tax collections, mak- enue at Johnson & Johnson, despite the strong but slower growth in both then turn to addressing what she called mittee. Republicans on the panel said ing policy on banking regulations and Germany cuts ’21 coronavirus pandemic cutting into sales business investment and equip- a K-shaped economy where some peo- they had policy disagreements with serving as the administration’s contact of products from contact lenses to surgi- ment spending.” ple have done very well with “wealth Yellen and the Biden administration in with Wall Street. cal equipment and other medical devices outlook to 3 pct used in procedures at hospitals swamped BERLIN, Jan 27, (AP): The German with COVID-19 patients. government on Wednesday cut its growth Profits dove 57% due to higher re- search spending, plus litigation and other In GameStop saga on Wall St, 2 Goliaths fall forecast for this year to 3% as Europe’s one-time charges totaling $2.4 billion, biggest economy faces persistent head- but the results still cruised past Wall NEW YORK, Jan 27, (AP): In the Da- “We move on. Nothing has ogy, have spiked well over 1000%. winds from the coronavirus pandemic. Street expectations. J&J shares added vid and Goliath saga surrounding the changed with GameStop except Shares are up another 100% at the In late October, the government had $5.18, or 3.1%, to hit $171.16 in early struggling retail chain GameStop, Go- the stock price,” Left said. He did opening bell Wednesday. forecast growth of 4.4% this year. The afternoon trading Tuesday. liath has fallen. acknowledge that Citron is taking That has created titanic losses for country started a partial shutdown shortly The world’s biggest maker of health Two Goliaths, actually. a fresh look at how it bets against major Wall Street players who have afterward and deepened it in mid-Decem- care products reported net income of A pair of professional investment companies, in light of the GameStop “shorted” the stock, which means they ber. That lockdown, Germany’s second, $1.74 billion, or 65 cents per share, down firms that placed big bets that money- campaign. borrowed shares and sold them, hop- is still in place. Official data released ear- from $4.01 billion, or $1.50 per share, a losing video game retailer GameStop’s Melvin Capital is also exiting ing to buy them back at a cheaper price lier this month showed that the economy year earlier. stock will crash have largely aban- GameStop, with manager Gabe Plot- and pocket the difference. shrank by 5% last year, ending a decade Adjusted net income came to $4.97 doned their positions. The victors: an kin telling CNBC that the hedge And the phenomenon does not ap- of growth. That was still a smaller drop billion, or $1.86 per share, easily topping army of smaller investors who have fund was taking a significant loss. In this file photo, a woman wears pear to by fading. than many had expected. the $1.81 Wall Street analysts expected. been rallying online to support Game- He denied rumors that the hedge a face mask as she walks past a AMC Entertainment Holdings Inc., Economy Minister Peter Altmaier said Quarterly revenue totaled $22.48 bil- Stop’s stock and beat back the profes- fund will fail. GameStop store in Des Plaines, Il- the theater chain that has been ravaged that “while industry is still robust at pres- lion, up 8.3% from $20.75 billion. Ana- linois. (AP) lysts had expected $21.62 billion. sionals. The size of the losses taken by Cit- by the pandemic, posted a quarterly ent, the services sector is badly hit.” J&J’s single-shot vaccine can be One of the two major investors that ron and Melvin are unknown. loss this month exceeding $900 mil- “We are currently seeing a flattening stored at standard refrigeration tempera- surrendered, Citron Research, ac- The Wall Street frenzy over There is no overriding reason why lion. of the infection figures, which gives us tures, while the Pfizer and Moderna two- knowledged Wednesday in a YouTube GameStop began when an army of GameStop has attracted those smaller It appears, however, that AMC has hope,” he said in a statement. “But the dose vaccines must be kept frozen at very video that it unwound the majority of smaller-pocketed investors on Red- investors, but there is a distinct com- become the next battleground in the situation is still serious and the danger cold temperatures. its bet that GameStop stock would fall. dit started throwing dollars and buy ponent of revenge against Wall Street fight between smaller, retail investors, from the virus mutation not yet over.” Sales of consumer health products Andrew Left, who runs Citron, said it orders at the stock - in direct oppo- in communications online. and Wall Street. Germany had a relatively successful such as Tylenol edged up 1.4% to $3.62 took “a loss, 100%” to do so, but that sition to a group of wealthy inves- Over the past three months, shares Shares of AMC spiked 260% first phase of the pandemic, but saw billion. Meanwhile, sales for the medi- does not change his view that Game- tors who were counting on the stock of GameStop Corp., which has been when trading began Wednesday and infections shoot up during the fall and cal devices and diagnostics unit dipped Stop is a loser. price to plunge. buffeted by a shift in gaming technol- #SaveAMC is rending on Twitter. winter months. nearly 1%, to $6.59 billion. (AP) ARAB TIMES, THURSDAY, JANUARY 28, 2021 BUSINESS 9

Walmart to build more robot-filled warehouses at stores

Walmart is enlisting the help of tion has started at stores cars. Both options became placed at some locations so robots to keep up with a surge in Lewisville, Texas; Plano, increasingly popular as virus- shoppers can watch the ro- in online orders. Texas; American Fork, Utah; weary shoppers avoid going bots work. The company said Wednes- and Bentonville, Arkansas, inside stores. At the start of the The wheeled robots carry In this fi le photo, signage day that it plans to build ware- where Walmart’s corporate pandemic last year, Walmart crates of apple juice, cereal is pictured at a Walmart houses at its stores where offi ces are based. A test site said delivery and pickup sales and other small goods to store in Oklahoma City. self-driving robots will fetch was opened more than a year grew 300%. Walmart workers, who then (AP) groceries and have them ago at a store in Salem, New The company said the ro- bag them for shoppers. Rival ready for shoppers to pick up Hampshire. bots won’t roam store aisles. Amazon uses similar technol- in an hour or less. Walmart hopes the ware- Instead, they’ll stay inside ogy in its warehouses, with ro- Walmart declined to say houses will speed up curbside warehouses built in separate bots bringing books, vitamins how many of the warehous- pickups, where orders are areas, either within a store and other small items to work- es it will build, but construc- brought outside to shoppers’ or next to it. Windows will be ers to box and ship. (AP)

Raimondo voices tough line on China Biden Commerce pick stresses investment in COVID-19 recovery WASHINGTON, Jan 27, (AP): Presi- dent Joe Biden’s pick to oversee the Commerce Department says invest- ments across the country are needed to provide Americans with a pathway to a good job as the nation recovers from the economic damage caused by the COVID-19 pandemic. Rhode Island Governor Gina Rai- mondo, a former venture capitalist, ap- peared before a Senate panel Tuesday during a confi rmation hearing. If con- fi rmed, she would be responsible for promoting opportunities for economic growth domestically and overseas. “If confi rmed as Commerce sec- retary, I look forward to scaling and deploying additional resources to busi- nesses and workers - with a focus on regions and communities that have often been left behind - to help them bounce back and grow stronger than ever,” Raimondo said in her prepared remarks. Raimondo was elected governor in 2014 and won reelection in 2018. She’s expected to handily win a confi r- mation vote, but it’s unclear when that vote will occur. Nominations pertain- ing to national security generally take precedent. The vote may also have to wait on President Donald Trump’s im- peachment trial, which will dominate the Senate’s attention starting the week of Feb. 8. Raimondo, 49, is the fi rst woman elected governor of Rhode Island. She is a Rhodes Scholar and graduate of Yale Law School who recalls her fa- ther losing his job at a Bulova watch factory in Providence to connect with those worried about jobs in the U.S. being moved to other countries. She will tell the panel the country needs to invest in technology and ag- gressively combat unfair trade prac- tices from China and other counties, a topic that the previous administration seized upon to gain support in commu- nities that have seen extensive manu- facturing job losses in recent decades. She will also emphasize tackling cli- mate change, saying that as governor she oversaw construction of the na- tion’s fi rst offshore wind farm. In this photo provided by the New York Stock Exchange, traders John Panin (left), and Fred DeMarco work on the fl oor. (AP) “Like President Biden, I know the climate crisis poses an existential threat to our economic security, and More payments under investigation we must meet this challenge by creat- ing millions of good, union jobs that US indices drop sharply, power a more sustainable economy,” Raimondo said in her prepared re- Criminal rings loot billions marks. The Commerce Department is com- prised of a dozen separate bureaus and in jobless funds: California led lower by tech stocks agencies, ranging from the National Weather Service to the U.S. Cen- LOS ANGELES, Jan 27, (AP): So- Offi cials noted the fraud prob- sus Bureau to the Minority Business phisticated hackers, identity thieves lems were widespread in the U.S. Development Agency. If confi rmed, and overseas criminal rings stole Washington state was among the World shares turn lower on pandemic concerns, ahead of Fed she’ll oversee the work of more than over $11 billion in unemployment fi rst hit with fraudulent unemploy- 40,000 employees. benefi ts from California last year, ment claims believed to be tied to a NEW YORK, Jan 27, (AP): Raimondo took a tough line on but the extent of the fraud might West African fraud ring using iden- China in her confi rmation hearing Stocks were broadly lower Tuesday, though she stopped short of grow far larger: billions more in tities stolen in prior data breaches, in late-morning trading Pension funds to divest singling out which Chinese companies payments are under investigation. such as the massive 2017 Equifax should remain on a list that limits their California Labor Secretary Julie breach. More than 122,000 fraudu- Wednesday, as investors access to advanced U.S. technology. Su told reporters in a conference lent claims made in the state si- focus on the Federal Re- $4 bln from fossil fuels “COVID has shined a light on the call Monday that of the $114 billion phoned $600 million. serve’s policy meeting and inequities in our economy,” Raimondo the state has paid in unemployment Washington was able to recov- the outlook for the econo- NEW YORK, Jan 27, (AP): New for divestment soon. said. “The president has been very claims, about 10% - or $11.4 billion er $357 million as a result of the York City officials announced this “Fossil fuels are not only bad for clear, we’re going to build back better - have been confi rmed as fraudulent. state’s collaboration with federal my as the coronavirus pan- week that two pension funds for our planet and our frontline com- and more equitably, and I strongly sup- Nearly $20 billion more - another law enforcement and fi nancial insti- demic rages on. city workers will pull an estimated munities, they are a bad invest- port that.” 17% - is considered suspicious, and tutions across the country. The S&P 500 was down 1.7% as $4 billion in investments from fos- ment,” de Blasio said in announc- She would inherit a department that a large part of that could be found to Prosecutors around the state have of 11:49 a.m. ET, dragged lower sil fuel companies in order to pro- ing the pension funds’ actions. took actions during the Trump admin- be fraud, she said. been targeting unemployment ben- by technology stocks like Amazon mote clean energy use. De Blasio and Stringer, both istration that heightened tensions with “There is no sugarcoating the re- efi ts fraud in recent months. On and Facebook as well as materials “The divestment from fossil fu- Democrats, set a goal to divest China, namely through tariffs and the ality,” Su said. “California did not Monday, Orange County District els is possible and necessary,” said city pension funds from the fossil blacklisting of companies by placing and energy stocks. The Dow Jones City Comptroller Scott Stringer, fuel industry - which includes oil, them on the U.S. government’s so- have suffi cient security measures in Attorney Todd Spitzer announced Industrial Average was down who joined Mayor Bill de Blasio gas and coal companies - in 2018. called Entity List. U.S. companies place to prevent this level of fraud, charges against two business own- 1.4%, while the Nasdaq composite at a video briefing on Tuesday. Environmentalist and author Bill need to get a license to sell sophisti- and criminals took advantage of the ers who opened up a storefront was down 1.7%. “Smart investment policy and McKibben said he knew then that cated technology to companies on the situation.” in Garden Grove, California, for Investors are waiting to hear from smart climate solutions go hand in New York City’s push to divest list. Nearly all of the fraudulent the sole purpose of fi ling false un- the Federal Reserve at around 2 p.m. hand. And we are putting our mon- would have an impact. “China’s actions have been anti- claims were made through the fed- employment claims. He also an- Eastern Time today. The Fed is ey where our mouth is.” “What I said at the time was, I competitive, hurtful to American erally supported Pandemic Unem- nounced the prosecution of eight expected to keep its extremely sup- Several dozen universities have thought this was particularly signifi- workers and businesses, coercive, and, ployment Assistance program. The people, including six state prison- portive policy stance unchanged given already stopped investing, at least cant because of the signal it sent if as you point out, they’re culpable for program was approved by Con- ers, involved in two other unem- the slow progress in vanquishing the partially, in fossil fuels, often under the financial center of the world had atrocious human rights abuses,” Rai- gress to provide unemployment ployment fraud schemes. pandemic, analysts said. pressure from students. gotten this message,” said McKib- mondo said in response to a question benefi ts to people during the coro- Also Monday, House Speaker Along with the Fed, this is the busi- De Blasio and Stringer an- ben, who joined Tuesday’s video from Sen. Ted Cruz, R-Texas. “So navirus pandemic who are usually Nancy Pelosi and California Sens. est week so far of quarterly earnings nounced Monday that the boards call. “And I said New York’s actions whether it’s the entities list, or tariffs, ineligible to receive them, such as reporting season for U.S. companies. of the New York City Employees’ would be heard loud and clear.” or countervailing duties, I intend to use Dianne Feinstein and Alex Padilla, Apple and Facebook will report their Retirement System, worth $91.4 New York state Comptroller all those tools to the fullest extent pos- independent contractors. But, of- all Democrats, urged President Joe quarterly results after Wednesday’s billion, and the New York City Thomas DiNapoli announced last sible to level the playing fi eld for the fi cials say, its broad eligibility re- Biden to create a federal task force closing bell. Teachers’ Retirement System, month that the state’s $226 billion American worker.” quirements made it an easy target to help states deter organized crimi- More than 100 companies in the worth $77.4 billion, had voted to pension fund would drop many of When Cruz pressed Raimondo on of criminals, including from Nige- nal fraud in jobless claims. S&P 500 are scheduled to tell inves- approve fossil fuel divestment. A its fossil fuel stocks in the next five whether certain companies would re- ria and Russia. “California and many other states tors this week how they fared during third pension fund, the New York years and sell its shares in other main on the Entity List, Raimondo said While conceding the state was are experiencing fraud at a much the last three months of 2020. As a City Board of Education Retire- companies that contribute to global she would consult with lawmakers, in- unprepared, Su also faulted the greater rate than previously under- whole, analysts expect S&P 500 com- ment System, is expected to vote warming by 2040. dustry and allies and “make an assess- Trump administration for failing to stood, perpetrated by international panies to say their fourth-quarter prof- ment as to what’s best for American provide the state with the guidance and interstate criminal organiza- it fell 5% from a year earlier. That’s a national and economic security.” and support needed to foil sophisti- tions moving from state to state,” milder drop than the 9.4% they were Shares of GameStop soared 141%, as look for the economy as the coronavi- Much of her hearing was focused forecasting earlier this month, accord- the video game retailer remains caught in rus pandemic rages on. cated fraud rings. She said an array they wrote in a letter. a tug-of-war between Wall Street institu- European indexes lost early gains on regional issues, with lawmakers of safeguards put in place last year ing to FactSet. from coastal states focused on pro- tions and an activist community of most- after a mixed session in Asia. had blocked billions of dollars in ly online investors. The online investors Tokyo’s Nikkei 225 index added tecting valuable fi shing industries and potential fraud schemes. lawmakers for rural states calling for have bet that hedge funds have put too 0.3% to 28,635.21, while the Hang enhanced access to broadband. She Su described an agency strug- much money betting against the stock, a Seng in Hong Kong slipped 0.3% to confi rmed her interest in working with gling to keep up with a fl ood of concept known as selling “short.” A pair 29,297.53. them on those issues and emphasized new jobless claims as the pandemic of professional investment firms that The Kospi in South Korea sank the need to tackle climate change. She shuttered businesses and sent un- placed big bets that GameStop’s stock 0.6% to 3,122.56, while the Shanghai noted as governor that she oversaw employment rates soaring. And that would crash have largely abandoned Composite index edged 0.1% higher to construction of the nation’s fi rst off- reservoir of new money was also a their positions. 3,573.34. In Australia, the S&P/ASX shore wind farm. lure for criminal enterprises. Boeing shares dropped 2.7% after 200 lost 0.7% to 6,780.60. “Like President Biden, I know the “It should be no surprise that the aircraft manufacturer posted its Germany’s DAX fell 1.18% to climate crisis poses an existential EDD was overwhelmed, just like largest annual loss in the company’s 13,620.46, France’s CAC 40 dropped threat to our economic security, and the rest of the nation’s unemploy- history, mostly due to the grounding of 1.16% to 5,459.26. Britain’s FTSE 100 we must meet this challenge by creat- ment agencies,” Su said. “As mil- Boeing’s 737-MAX fleet. fell 1.30% to 6,567.37 ing millions of good, union jobs that lions of Californians applied for Markets have meandered since last In other trading, benchmark U.S. power a more sustainable economy,” help, international and national week as investors weighed solid cor- crude oil dropped 1 cent to $52.60 per Raimondo said. porate earnings results against barrel in electronic trading on the New The Commerce Department com- criminal rings were at work behind renewed worries that troubles with York Mercantile Exchange. It gave up prises a dozen bureaus and agen- the scenes working relentlessly to COVID-19 vaccine rollouts and the 16 cents on Tuesday. Brent crude, the cies, including the National Weather steal unemployment benefi ts using spread of new variants of coronavi- international standard, added 9 cents to Service, the U.S. Census Bureau and sophisticated methods of identity rus might delay a recovery from the $55.73 per barrel. the Minority Business Development theft.” pandemic. The dollar was trading at 103.83 Agency. If confi rmed, Raimondo The state also has been trying to A woman walks by an electronic stock board of a securities fi rm in Tokyo, Stock markets are down Wednesday Japanese yen, up from 103.62 yen late would oversee the work of more than clear a persistent backlog of claims Wednesday, Jan 27, 2021. Stocks were mixed in Asia on Wednesday after as investors focus on the Federal Tuesday. The euro slipped to $1.2115 40,000 employees. - more than 940,000 as of Jan. 20. a lackluster session on Wall Street. (AP) Reserve’s policy meeting and the out- from $1.2163. department store chain Belk filing for Chapter 11 bankruptcy

Belk, the North Carolina- server reported. $450 million of debt. store in Monroe, North Caro- based department store Sycamore Partners said it “We’re confident that this lina, by William Henry Belk in In this Nov 25, 2011 file chain which has catered to expects to emerge from bank- agreement puts us on the 1888. Three generations of the photo, shoppers line up generations of shoppers for ruptcy by the end of February. right long-term path toward Belk family led the company outside a Belk store in Vicks- nearly 190 years, announced It will retain majority control of significantly reducing our to become the biggest family- burg, Mississippi, early in the Tuesday that it will file for Belk, according to an agree- debt and providing us with owned department store chain morning for their Black Friday Chapter 11 bankruptcy. ment it reached with some of greater financial flexibility in the country by 2015, when sales. (AP) The chain’s owner, private Belk’s creditors. A group of the to meet our obligations and the family sold it for $3 billion. equity firm Sycamore Partners, department store’s creditors, to continue investing in our The sale to Sycamore said in a news release that led by the private equity firms business,” Belk CEO Lisa loaded the chain with over $2 Belk will continue with “normal KKR and Blackstone, will get a Harper said in a statement. billion in debt at a time when operations” as it goes through minority stake. The bankruptcy The 133-year-old chain department stores were los- bankruptcy, The Charlotte Ob- plan will help Belk shed about grew from the opening of a ing popularity. (AP) Business PPluslus ‘Cooperation is the only correct choice for both sides’ Under Biden, China faces renewed trade pressure

important gesture,” Leering said. Trump’s opening shot in 2017 was a tax hike on $360 billion worth of Chinese imports. Beijing retaliated with tariff hikes and suspended soy- bean imports, hitting farm states that voted for Trump in 2016. The U.S. trade defi cit with China narrowed by by 19% in 2019 over a year earlier and by 15% in the fi rst nine months of 2020. That failed to achieve Trump’s goal of moving jobs to the United States. Importers shifted instead to Taiwan, Mexico and other suppliers. The total U.S. trade defi cit dipped slightly in 2019, then rose nearly 14% through November last year. Meanwhile, the Congressional Budget Offi ce estimates tariff hikes cost the average U.S. household nearly $1,300 last year. Businesses postponed investments, undoing some of the benefi ts of Trump’s 2017 corporate tax cut. A study by the U.S.-China Business Council and Oxford Economics found the U.S. economy lost 245,000 jobs due to the tariffs. It said even a mod- est reduction would create 145,000 jobs by 2025. Trump stepped up pressure by cutting off access to U.S. technology for telecom equipment giant Huawei Technologies Ltd. and other compa- nies seen by American offi cials as possible security risks and a threat to U.S. industrial leadership. Americans were ordered to sell shares in Chinese companies Washington says have links to the military. The Communist Party responded by vowing to accelerate its two-decade- old campaign to make China a self- reliant “technology power.” Psaki, the White House spokes- woman, said Biden also was review- Automated vehicles move shipping containers in a container port in Qingdao in eastern China’s Shandong Province, on Jan 12. The US-Chinese trade war isn’t going away under President Joe Biden. Biden won’t confront Beijing right away, economists say, because he needs to focus on the coronavirus and the economy. However, Biden looks set to renew pressure over trade and ing those issues but gave no indication technology complaints that prompted President Donald Trump to hike tariffs on Chinese imports in 2017. (AP) of possible changes. Biden wants to hold Beijing ac- By Joe McDonald and Paul Wise- Psaki said. down on Hong Kong, reports of abuses trading partners - the status of po- countable for “unfair and illegal man A Chinese foreign ministry spokes- against ethnic Muslims and accusations litically favored state companies that practices” and make sure American man, Zhao Lijian, appealed to Washing- of technology theft and spying. dominate industries from banking to technology doesn’t facilitate its mili- he U.S.-Chinese trade war isn’t go- ton to learn from Trump’s “erroneous “The ground has shifted in a signifi - oil to telecoms. tary buildup, Psaki said. Ting away under President Joe Biden. policies” and adopt a “constructive at- cant way,” said Nathan Sheets, a former Europe, Japan and other governments Zhao, the Chinese spokesman, Biden won’t confront Beijing right titude” but gave no indication of possible Treasury undersecretary for international criticized Trump’s tactics but echo com- called on Washington not to “po- away, economists say, because he changes by Beijing. affairs in the Obama administration. plaints that Beijing steals technology liticize or weaponize” science and wants to focus on the coronavirus “Cooperation is the only correct Katherine Tai, Biden’s choice to and breaks market-opening promises technology and to avoid “groundless and the economy. But he looks set choice for both sides,” Zhao said succeed U.S. Trade Representative by subsidizing and shielding companies accusations to smear China.” to renew pressure over trade and Tuesday. Robert Lighthizer, sounded a hawkish from competition. Biden’s envoys have the option technology grievances that prompted Trump acted on complaints that are note on China in a speech this month. Those complaints strike at the heart of fi ne-tuning Trump’s penalties by President Donald Trump to hike tar- shared by Europe and other traders, but “We face stiffening competi- of a state-led development model dropping some in exchange for Chi- iffs on Chinese imports in 2017. Washington has little to show for its tion from a growing and ambitious Communist Party leaders see as the nese policy changes, said Kuijs. But Negotiators might tone down bruising war. It brought President Xi China,’’ said Tai. “A China whose basis of China’s success. he and other economists say rolling The president is com- Trump’s focus on narrowing China’s Jinping’s government to the bargain- economy is directed by central They are building up “national back tariffs and curbs on access to ‘ multibillion-dollar trade surplus with the ing table but roiled global trade, raised planners who are not subject to the champions” including PetroChina technology and fi nancial markets is mitted to stopping United States and push harder to open consumer prices and wiped out jobs. pressures of political pluralism, demo- Ltd., Asia’s biggest oil producer, and unlikely to be a priority. its state-dominated economy, which The last major development was a cratic elections or popular opinion.’’ China Mobile Ltd., the world’s big- “It is diffi cult to see a U.S. reversal China’s economic matters more in the long run, economists year ago, when Beiing promised in That means China has to make gest phone carrier by subscribers. The of the recent hawkish trends in China say. But no abrupt tariff cuts or other big the “Phase One” agreement of January changes if wants to make progress, party in 2013 declared state industry policy,” Sylvia Sheng of JP Morgan abuses changes are expected. 2020 to buy more soybeans and other said Raoul Leering, global trade ana- the “core of the economy.” Asset Management said in a report. “I think Biden will focus more on U.S. exports and stop pressuring com- lyst for ING. He said that while many Outside the state sector, the party is Tech curbs are unlikely to be eased ’ trying to extract structural reforms,” panies to hand over technology. of Trump’s statements were “close nurturing competitors in solar power, because Washington “regards China said Louis Kuijs of Oxford Econom- China fell short on those purchases. to nonsense,” he was right that China electric cars, next-generation telecoms as a competitor,” said Tu Xinquan, di- ics. “It’s going to take some time Amid the coronavirus turmoil, it has more trade barriers and offi cial and other fi elds. rector of the Institute for WTO Stud- before we get any shift or explicit bought about 55% of what it prom- intervention in the economy than the Beijing could offer to drop its claim ies at the University of International announcements.” ised. As for tech policy, some econo- United States. to being a developing economy, a sta- Business and Economics in Beijing. Biden is evaluating tariffs on Chinese mists say those changes matter but “It will depend on China, the speed tus it insists on despite having become Tariff cuts look like the only short- goods and wants to coordinate future question whether it counts as a win. at which they reform and change one of the biggest manufacturers and a term option, Tu said. He said Biden steps with allies, White House spokes- They say Beijing might have made policies, to see whether Biden will roll middle-income society, Leering said. could defend getting rid of taxes the woman Jen Psaki said Monday. She them anyway to suit its own plans. back trade barriers,” he said. Under WTO rules, that allows the World Trade Organization says were gave no indication of possible changes. China faces more opposition than ever After 2 1/2 years and 13 rounds of Communist Party to protect industries improperly imposed. “The president is committed to in Washington due to its trade record, talks, negotiators have yet to tackle and intervene more in the economy. “In that case, he wouldn’t lose stopping China’s economic abuses,” territorial disputes with neighbors, crack- one of the biggest irritants for China’s Giving that up “would be a very face,” said Tu. (AP) Lenders tighten approval standards during pandemic How to make good on your resolution to pay off debt

By Jackie Veling ships with creditors and can negotiate can save money, they also free up on your behalf. Services are typically your credit cards for more spending. NerdWallet free for those experiencing fi nancial “It might make mathematical f you have high-interest consumer diffi culties due to COVID-19. sense to consolidate your loans, but Idebt, getting control of your money Consider consolidating the math is meaningless if we don’t in the new year might sound over- If you have multiple types of debt, account for our behavior and end up whelming. such as loans, credit cards and medi- almost doubling our debt,” he says. Most Americans say the COVID-19 cal bills, you may want to take out an Pick a strategy and stick to it outbreak has caused fi nancial stress, unsecured personal loan to consolidate If you choose not to consolidate, according to a survey released in Oc- it into one monthly payment. there are two common methods for tober by the National Endowment for A consolidation loan is a good idea approaching debt payoff: the snowball Financial Education, with 30% listing only if you can qualify for a lower or avalanche. Debt is an emotional debt as their top stressor. interest rate than those on your current With the snowball method, you pay Despite the pandemic, you can still debts. Some lenders have tightened off your smallest debt fi rst, while mak- ‘ pay down your debt with the right their approval standards in the pan- ing minimum payments on the others, burden, but a lot of plan. Here’s how. demic, but borrowers with good to then move to the second smallest and Confront your debt In this July 18, 2012 file photo, a pedestrian passes credit card logos post- excellent credit (690 FICO or higher) so on. The avalanche method uses the times that overwhelm The fi rst step is simple, but it can ed on a downtown storefront in Atlanta. Many consumers want to pay off should have a good shot. same strategy, but you start with the be the hardest: You have to face the their debt in 2021 but are unsure how to navigate the COVID-19 economy. Look for a lender that specializes debt that has the highest interest rate. goes away once you problem. Experts recommend listing all your debts and contacting each lender to in debt consolidation and offers perks According to Herron, the avalanche Angela Moore, a Miami-based see if it will reduce your interest rate, lower your monthly payment or waive like direct payments to creditors or rate method may get you to the fi nish line have clarity certifi ed fi nancial planner and founder late fees. (AP) discounts for automated payments. faster since the money you save on of Modern Money Advisor, which of- If you have credit card debt, you interest can be applied to other debts, ’ fers virtual advising and education for goes away once you have clarity.” Wealth Advisors. could apply for a balance transfer but it’s more important to pick the consumers, says it’s common for her Communicate with your lenders “It doesn’t hurt to say, ‘I’m still card. Though these cards typically method that motivates you the most. clients to know they’re in debt but not After listing your debt, it’s time to trying to do the right thing, I’m still charge a 3% to 5% fee, they offer an Break the cycle know how much. get on the phone with your creditors. trying to make payments. Where can introductory 0% interest period, so all As you make your way out of debt, She recommends compiling your Ask for a temporarily lowered we meet in the middle?’” he says. payments go toward your principal, start to automate your fi nances. debt onto one document or spread- interest rate, reduced monthly pay- Any break you get, take that money which helps you pay off debt faster. Moore has her clients set up sheet, listing all balances, minimum ment or waived late fees. Make sure and apply it to your debt. You’ll likely need good credit to automatic bill payments and savings payments and interest rates. Though to explain how the pandemic has If you need help negotiating, qualify. contributions, so the money is put the task is daunting, most of her cli- infl uenced your fi nances. contact a credit counselor at a Charles Ho, a California-based aside without having to think about it. ents feel relief once it’s fi nished. Most creditors will be willing to reputable nonprofi t organization, like CFP and founder of Legacy Builders If fi nances are tight in the pandemic, “Debt is an emotional burden,” she work with you, says Dan Herron, a the National Foundation for Credit Financial, urges caution for some con- build toward a $500 emergency fund. says, “but a lot of times that overwhelm California-based CFP at Elemental Counseling. Counselors have relation- sumers. Though consolidation tools (AP) ARAB TIMES, THURSDAY, JANUARY 28, 2021 SCIENCE 11

COVID-19

Complaints of shortage US boosting virus vaccine deliveries NEW YORK, Jan 27, (AP): Answering growing frustration over vaccine shortages, President Joe Biden announced that the US is ramping up deliveries to hard-pressed states over the next three weeks and expects to provide enough doses to vaccinate 300 million Americans by the end of the summer or early fall. Biden, calling the push a “wartime effort,” said Tuesday the administration was working to buy an additional 100 million doses of each of the two approved coronavirus vaccines. He acknowledged that states in recent weeks have been left guess- ing how much vaccine they will have from one week to the next. Shortages have been so severe that some vaccination sites around the US had to cancel tens of thousands of ap- pointments with people seeking their fi rst shot. “This is unacceptable,” Biden said. “Lives are at stake.” He promised a roughly 16% boost in deliveries to states over the next three weeks. The administration said it plans to buy another 100 million doses each Biden from drugmakers Pfi zer and Moderna to ensure it has enough vaccine for the long term. Even more vaccine could be available if federal scientists approve a sin- gle-dose shot from Johnson & Johnson, which is expected to seek emergency authorization in the coming weeks. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reported that the government plans to make about 10.1 million fi rst and second doses available next week, up from this week’s allotment of 8.6 million. The fi gures represent doses of both the Pfi zer and Moderna vaccines. It was not immediately clear how long the surge of doses could be sustained. AstraZeneca/Oxford University vaccine is seen on a cooler before it is administered to health workers at Teaching Hospital in Kathmandu, Nepal, Jan 27. Thousands Governors and top health offi cials have been increasingly of health workers lined up across Nepal to get the coronavirus vaccine Wednesday as the Himalayan nation began its campaign to get the population vaccinated raising the alarm about inadequate supplies and the need for within three months. Neighboring India gifted Nepal 1 million doses of the vaccine manufactured under license by the Serum Institute of India. (AP) earlier and more reliable estimates of how much vaccine is on the way so that they can plan. Biden’s team held its fi rst virus-related call with the nation’s governors on Tuesday and pledged to provide states with fi rm COVID-19 vaccine allocations three weeks ahead of delivery. Promised Biden’s announcement came a day after he grew more bull- France’s Sanofi to make rival vaccine ish about exceeding his vaccine pledge to deliver 100 million injections in his fi rst 100 days in offi ce, suggesting that a rate of 1.5 million doses per day could soon be achieved. The administration has also promised more openness and Studies extend hopes for antibody drugs said it will hold news briefi ngs three times a week, beginning Wednesday, about the outbreak that has killed over 420,000 NEW YORK, Jan 27, (AP): New re- Americans. sults extend hopes for drugs that sup- “We appreciate the administration stating that it will provide ply antibodies to fi ght COVID-19, sug- UK eyes traveler quarantine as virus states with slightly higher allocations for the next few weeks, gesting they can help keep patients out but we are going to need much more supply,” said Maryland of the hospital and possibly prevent Gov. Larry Hogan, a Republican. illness in some uninfected people. pandemic death toll passes 100,000 The setup inherited from the Trump administration has been Eli Lilly said Tuesday that a two- marked by miscommunication and unexplained bottlenecks, antibody combo reduced the risk of LONDON, Jan 27, (AP): Britain’s to minimize suffering in what has hospitalizations or death by 70% in official death toll in the corona- been a very, very difficult stage and with shortages reported in some places even as vaccine doses virus pandemic passed 100,000 a very, very difficult crisis for our remain on the shelf. newly diagnosed, non-hospitalized on Tuesday, a dreaded milestone country,” he said. Offi cials in West Virginia, which has had one of the best COVID-19 patients at high risk of se- A person holds a small bottle con- reached as the government con- British authorities are banking on rates of administering vaccine, said they have fewer than rious illness because of age or other sidered imposing hotel quaran- a successful vaccination program taining Moderna’s active ingredient health conditions. All 10 deaths that 11,000 fi rst doses on hand even after this week’s shipment. for a Corona vaccination at the vac- tines on international travelers to to help the country suppress the “I’m screaming my head off” for more, Republican Gov. cination centre in Eberswalde, Ger- occurred in the study were among stop new virus variants reaching outbreak and ease the lockdown. Jim Justice said. many, Jan 27. (AP) those receiving placebo rather than the the country. So far more than 6.8 million people California, which has faced criticism over a slow vaccine antibodies. The government said 100,162 have received the first of two doses rollout, announced Tuesday that it is centralizing its hodge- Separately, Regeneron Pharmaceu- people have died in the pandemic of a vaccine, and the government podge of county systems and streamlining appointment sign- ticals Inc. said partial results from an after testing positive for the virus, aims to give 15 million people, in- up, notifi cation and eligibility. Residents have been baffl ed by ongoing study suggest its drug combo including 1,631 new deaths report- cluding everyone over 70, a jab by the varying rules in different counties. Discovery completely prevented symptomatic ed Tuesday. Feb. 15. And in Colorado, Democratic Gov. Jared Polis said that infections in housemates of someone “it is hard to compute the sorrow Johnson has promised a public the limited supply of vaccine from the federal government is with COVID-19. Importantly, the drug contained in that grim statistic,” a inquiry into Britain’s handling of the prompting the state to repurpose second doses as fi rst doses, Merapi unleashes lava: Indonesia’s was given as multiple shots rather than somber Prime Minister Boris John- outbreak - but not until the crisis is most active volcano erupted Wednesday through an IV. The need for an infu- son said. “The years of life lost, the over. though he expects that people scheduled for their second shot family gatherings not attended and, “We will make sure we learn the will still be able to keep their appointments. with a river of lava and searing gas clouds sion has greatly limited the use of anti- fl owing 1,600 meters (5,250 feet) down for so many relatives, the missed lessons and reflect and prepare,” The weekly allocation cycle for fi rst doses begins on Mon- body drugs in the pandemic because of chance even to say goodbye.” he said. day nights, when federal offi cials review data on vaccine avail- its slopes. health care shortages. Britain is the fifth country in the Vaccines Minister Nadhim Za- ability from manufacturers to determine how much each state It was Mount Merapi’s biggest lava None of the new results have been world to record 100,000 virus-relat- hawi said there would be an an- can have. Allocations are based on each jurisdiction’s popula- fl ow since authorities raised its danger published or reviewed by other sci- ed deaths, after the United States, nouncement Tuesday on plans for tion of people 18 and older. level in November, said Hanik Humaida, entists, and the Regeneron ones were Brazil, India and Mexico, and by far tighter border measures. The BBC States are notifi ed on Tuesdays of their allocations through the head of Yogyakarta’s Volcanology based on only one quarter of patients in the smallest. The US has record- reported that U.K. citizens and resi- and Geological Hazard Mitigation Center. its study and were not a planned early ed more than 400,000 COVID-19 dents arriving from most of south- a computer network called Tiberius and other channels, after After morning rain, ashfall turned into which they can specify where they want doses shipped. Deliv- analysis. deaths, the world’s highest total, ern Africa and South America, as muck in several villages, where the sound but its population of about 330 mil- well as Portugal, will have to self- eries start the following Monday. of eruption could be heard 30 kilometers Effective A similar but separate process for ordering second doses, lion is about five times the size of isolate in a hotel for 10 days at their (18 away). Police and rescue services told Antibodies are proteins that attach Britain’s 67 million. own expense. which must be given three to four weeks after the fi rst, begins miners to cease work along rivers but no each week on Sunday night. to a virus and block it from infecting As in other countries, the real toll Quarantine hotels have been one was evacuated. is likely even higher. UK statistics used to limit virus transmissions in As of Tuesday afternoon, the CDC reported that just Authorities in November had evacu- cells, but it takes several weeks after infection or vaccination for the most agencies say that the number of countries including Australia, New over half of the 44 million doses distributed to states have ated nearly 2,000 people living on the deaths registered that mention CO- Zealand, China, India and Singa- been put in people’s arms. That is well short of the hun- mountain in Magelang and Sleman dis- effective ones to form. The drugs aim to help right away, by supplying con- VID-19 on the death certificate is pore but the practice has not been dreds of millions of doses that experts say will need to be tricts on Java Island but most have since more than 108,000. widely adopted in Europe. administered to achieve herd immunity and conquer the returned. centrated doses of one or two antibod- ies that worked best against the coro- Opposition politicians and public Current lockdown rules bar Brit- outbreak. The alert was being maintained at the health officials accuse Johnson’s ons from taking foreign holidays, second-highest level and authorities told navirus in lab tests. Conservative government of being although essential travel is al- Administered people to stay out of the existing 5-kilom- US regulators have allowed emer- slow to act throughout the outbreak lowed. People arriving from over- The US ranks fi fth in the world in the number of doses ad- eter (3-mile) danger zone around the cra- gency use of some Lilly and Regen- when it has come to lockdowns and seas are already required to self- ministered relative to the country’s population, behind No. 1 ter as the local administrations in Central eron antibodies for mild or moderate travel restrictions. A more trans- isolate in Britain, but enforcement Israel, United Arab Emirates, Britain and Bahrain, according Java and Yogyakarta provinces closely COVID-19 cases that do not require missible new variant identified in is patchy. to the University of Oxford. monitor the situation. hospitalization while studies of them southeast England late last year Nick Thomas-Symonds, law- The reason more of the available shots in the US haven’t The 2,968-meter (9,737-foot) volcano continued. also helped push infections to new and-order spokesman for Britain’s been dispensed isn’t entirely clear. But many vaccination sites is on the densely populated island of Java The drugs are also being tested to highs and plunged the country into opposition Labour Party, said only are apparently holding large quantities of vaccine in reserve and near the ancient city of Yogyakarta. prevent infection in those at high risk its third lockdown. a “comprehensive hotel quarantine It is the most active of dozens of Indone- of it. That’s called “passive vaccina- Johnson said at a televised news system” would be strong enough to to make sure people who have already gotten their fi rst shot sian volcanoes and has repeatedly erupted receive the required second one on schedule. tion” because it supplies antibodies conference that he took “full re- keep new strains of the virus from with lava and gas clouds recently. rather than prompts the body to make sponsibility for everything that the spreading in the UK. Also, some state officials have complained of a lag be- Merapi’s last major eruption in 2010 government has done.” “It cannot be restricted to only a tween when they report their vaccination numbers to the them. Both companies are asking regu- killed 347 people. (AP) lators to expand authorization of their “What I can tell you is that we handful of countries, leaving gaping government and when the figures are posted on the CDC ❑ ❑ ❑ truly did everything we could, and holes in our defenses against dif- website. drugs based on the new fi ndings. Regeneron’s results were on the fi rst continue to do everything that we ferent strains of the virus emerging In the New Orleans area, Ochsner Health said Monday that ‘Full environmental review’: A fed- can, to minimize loss of life and around the world,” he said. inadequate supply forced the cancellation last week of 21,400 eral appeals court on Tuesday upheld the 409 people in a study that has enrolled fi rst-dose appointments but that second-dose appointments ruling of a district judge who ordered a more than 2,000 so far. All tested neg- aren’t affected. full environmental impact review of the ative for the virus but live with some- Also: earlier vaccine doses are available, the In North Carolina, Greensboro-based Cone Health an- Dakota Access pipeline. one who has COVID-19. more lives can potentially be saved,” Following a complaint by the Stand- There were roughly half as many PARIS: French drug maker Sanofi said nounced it is canceling fi rst-dose appointments for 10,000 Wednesday it will help manufacture Sanofi CEO Paul Hudson said in the people and moving them to a waiting list because of supply ing Rock Sioux Tribe, US District Judge infections among those given the James Boasberg said in April 2020 that 125 million doses of the coronavirus statement. problems. drug versus a placebo, and none on a more extensive review was necessary vaccine developed by rivals Pfi zer and Sanofi and British partner Glaxo- Jesse Williams, 81, of Reidsville, North Carolina, said his the drug developed any symptoms. than the one already conducted by the US Infections also were shorter and the BioNTech, while its own vaccine can- SmithKline will start a new phase-2 appointment Thursday with Cone Health was scratched, and Army Corps of Engineers. trial of their COVID-19 vaccine next he is waiting to hear when it might be rescheduled. The for- amount of virus lower among those didate faces delays. The $3.8 billion, 1,172-mile (1,886 kil- given the drug. The Germany-based BioNTech will month, Sanofi said. The two compa- mer volunteer fi refi ghter had hoped the vaccine would en- ometer) pipeline crosses beneath the Mis- nies said last month that their vaccine able him to resume attending church, playing golf and seeing Lilly’s new results were from a initially produce the vaccines at Sanofi souri River, just north of the the Standing study of 1,035 non-hospitalized pa- facilities in Frankfurt, starting in the won’t be ready until late 2021 because friends. Rock Sioux Reservation that straddles the shot’s effectiveness in older people “It’s just a frustration that we were expecting to be having tients recently diagnosed with COV- summer, according to a Sanofi state- the North Dakota-South Dakota border. ment. The company did not reveal fi - needed to be improved. our shots and being a little more resilient to COVID-19,” he The tribe, which draws its water from the ID-19. About 2% on the drug were later hospitalized or died versus 7% of nancial details of the agreement. The European Union has been said. river, says it fears pollution. widely criticized for its slow rollout The vaccine rollout across the 27-nation European Union Tuesday’s ruling by the US Court of the placebo group. The French government has been Appeals for the DC Circuit does not re- Last week, Lilly said one of the pressing Sanofi to use its facilities to of a mass vaccination program. The has also run into roadblocks and has likewise been criti- bloc has approved using vaccines from cized as too slow. Pfizer is delaying deliveries while it up- quire the pipeline to stop operating or be two antibodies helped prevent illness help make vaccines from its rivals, emptied of oil. among residents and staff of nursing given high demand and problems with Pfi zer and Moderna, and its regulatory grades its plant in Belgium to increase capacity. And As- agency on Friday was to consider ap- traZeneca disclosed that its initial shipment will be smaller The Dakota Access pipeline was the homes in a different study. The four supplies of the few vaccines that are than expected. subject of months of sometimes violent deaths that occurred in that study were already available. proval for the vaccine made by Astra- The EU, with 450 million citizens, is demanding that the protests in 2016 and 2017 during its all among those given placebo. “We are very conscious that the Zeneca and Oxford University. pharmaceutical companies meet their commitments on sched- construction. The tribe continued its le- gal challenges against the pipeline even ule. after it began carrying oil from North The US recorded 147,254 new coronavirus cases and 1,758 Dakota across South Dakota and Iowa virUS-related deaths in the past 34 hours, according to Johns to a shipping point in Illinois in June Hopkins University. 2017. (AP) fected with a variant that has been circu- heart medication, and receiving an anti- The tally showed that the confi rmed cases nationwide ❑ ❑ ❑ lating in California and is believed to be body treatment — a therapy to block the reached 25,293,201 and at least 420,972 deaths. more contagious than other strains, the virus from infecting cells, San Diego Zoo Furthermore, 109,936 people are currently hospitalized with Ape recovers from virus: A troop safari park said in a statement. Safari Park executive director Lisa Peter- coronavirus in the US according to the COVID Tracking Pro- of gorillas at the San Diego Zoo Safari Some gorillas showed symptoms in- son said in a statement. ject. Park is recovering from the coronavirus, cluding mild coughing, congestion, and “We’re not seeing any of that lethargy. Meanwhile, at least 22,734,243 vaccine shots have been ad- including a 49-year-old silverback who intermittent lethargy. No coughing, no runny noses anymore,” ministered across the nation, according to the US Centers for received antibody therapy in what is be- The silverback named Winston, had Peterson said, adding that their fecal mat- Disease Control and Prevention. lieved to be the fi rst known cases among pneumonia, likely caused by the virus, as ter is no longer testing positive for the vi- such primates. well as heart disease. He has been more rus. “It feels to us like we’ve turned the The western lowland gorillas were in- active since being put on antibiotics and Boasberg Peterson corner.” (AP) Film THURSDAY, JANUARY 28, 2021 FFeatureseatures averaged 1.1 million viewers. (AP) averaged 1.1millionviewers.(AP) Television andTelemundoeach vision had1.2million,whileIon million, NBChad2.5Uni- ABC had3.4million,Fox2.7 averaging 10.4millionviewers. easily wontheweekinratings, beat Buffalo. 41.8 millionwatchedKansasCity qualify fortheSuperBowl,while Brady said 44.8millionpeoplesaw in bignumbersSunday.Nielsen gathered peoplearoundtelevisions conference championshipgames viewership forTrump. was down77%fromthenetwork’s of offi News’ audienceforBiden’soath Nielsen said.Meanwhile,Fox network forinauguralviewers, fi watched exceeded the30.6millionwho television ratingsclosely:Biden former presidentknowntowatch 37.8 million,Nielsensaid. Obama’s 2009inauguralreached drew 41.8millionviewers,and and 4pmlastWednesday. evision networksbetween10am, Biden’s inaugurationover17tel- that 33.8millionpeoplewatched viewers overthepast40years. in popularityamongtelevision only onestoexceed 45-year careerinjournalism. that he’sbeeninvolved induringhis recounted aseriesof “epic”stories the journalisttoawideraudience. Catholic Churchandintroduced the Globe’sinvestigationof 2015 movie“Spotlight”about Schreiber Miami Heraldbeforethat. editing theBostonGlobeand the Post’snewsroomin2012after ism executives,Barontookover end ofFebruary. Tuesday thathewillretireatthe resurgence inrecentyears,said who hasledthenewspaperona Executive Editor gan tions ofpresidents ce in2017,Nielsensaid. NEW YORK: NEW YORK: This imagereleasedbyFocusFeaturesshowsSidneyFlaniganinascenefrom‘NeverRarelySometimesAlways.’Thefi lm wasnomin most diversefi to createwhat’sintendedbeoneofthelargest,mostaccessibleand its ownschool,saysithasinvestedmillionsofdollarsintechnology help otheryoungpeoplefi hard-won theaterpartstoeventualHollywoodstardom.“Howdowe son oftomatofarmers,beforelaunchingacareerthatwentfromsmall, of theactor,whowasborninMiamiandraisedBahamas, projects heworkedon,thewaysinwhichadvancedhislife.” his creativeenergy,dynamism,drive,ambition,thekindsof stand for,”Crowsaidinanearlierinterview.“WithSidneyPoitier,it’s president oftheuniversity. all thingsthathiscareerhasreallystoodfor,”saidMichaelM.Crow, lence anddrivepassionwithsocialpurposeoutcomes, his verypersonthatwhichwestrivetobe—thematchingofexcel- more thanhisachievementsandlegacy,butbecausehe“embodiesin was unveiledatavirtualceremonyonMonday. fi ary actorandfi He becamethefi zona, “LiliesoftheField.”Theperformanceledtoahugemilestone: NEW YORK,Jan27,(AP):In1963,SidneyPoitiermadeafi Latest honorforSidneyPoitier:Afi lmschoolafterhim.TheSidneyPoitierNewAmericanFilmSchool With the prime-time game, CBS With theprime-timegame,CBS Meanwhile, theprofootball CNN wasthemostpopular Perhaps mostimportanttoa Reagan’s festivitiesin1981 The Nielsencompanysaid “The experiencehas been In anotetothePost’sstaff,Baron One ofthenation’stopjournal- “Look athislife:It’sastoryofpersonwhofoundway,”hesaid “You’re lookingforanicon,apersonthatembodieseverythingyou The decisiontonametheschoolafterPoitier,93,isaboutmuch Now, Arizonaisthesiteofanothercareermilestoneforlegend- The university,whichisexpandingitsexistingfi and ce andinauguraladdress andhisTampaBayBucs Barack Obama Donald Trump ❑ portrayedBaroninthe Washington Post Thefi lmmaker —ArizonaStateUniversityhasnameditsnew lm schools.Crowsaidthatmuchlikethebroaderuni- Marty Baron rst Blackwinnerofalead-actingOscar. Ronald Rea- rst inaugura- Joe Biden takeof- werethe Liev nd theirway?” Tom ’s , transformation and grownthe managed anawesome digital areas, inspiredgreat reporting, nifi Fred Ryan to moveon.” he wrote.“Atage66,Ifeelready professional andabetterperson,” colleagues whomademeabetter deeply meaningful,enrichedby The Post’spublisherandCEO, cantly expandedour coverage Glynn Turman. stars of“MaRainey,”werealsonominated,aswas Black Bottom.”ViolaDavisandBoseman,thetwo C. Wolfe’sAugustWilsonadaptation“MaRainey’s and bestsupportingmaleforOrionLee)George Reichardt’s “FirstCow”(alsoupforbestdirector McDormand. best feature,directorandfemaleleadfor Frances McDormand,scoredfivenods,including jung Youn.ChloeZhoe’s“Nomadland,”starring Yeun andsupportingnodsforYeriHanYuh- ture film,bestdirector,maleleadforSteven “Minari,” withsixnominationsincludingbestfea- Isaac Chung’sKoreanimmigrantfamilydrama Sidney Flanigan.ItwasfollowedcloselybyLee ture film,bestdirectorandfemaleleadfor an abortion,rackedupnominationsforbestfea- ways,” aPennsylvania’steen’sodysseyingetting presentation streamedonYouTube. Josh Welsh,presidentofFilmIndependent,inthe ity towatchsomanygreatfi ous lifelinethesepastfewmonthshasbeentheabil- Awards. on IFCApril22,threedaysbeforetheAcademy cars, havebeenpostponedtoaprimetimebroadcast Monica, California,beachthedaybeforeOs- awards, usuallyheldinamassivetentontheSanta joined byhisdog,ChaunceyWang-Jenkins.The Wilde, LaverneCoxandBarryJenkins—whowas nounced virtually,withtapedmessagesfromOlivia fi shows duringthepandemic,areadjustingtodif- Awards nominationsannouncedTuesday. best directorcategoryintheFilmIndependentSpirit posthumously nominatedandwomendominatedthe ing sevennominations,ChadwickBosemanwas “Never RarelySometimesAlways”landedalead- NEW YORK,Jan27,(AP):Theteenabortiondrama ‘Never Rarely’ topsSpiritAwards noms cult circumstances.Tuesday’snomineeswerean- The othernomineesforbestfeaturewereKelly ElizaHittman’s“NeverRarelySometimesAl- “2020 wasobviouslyhellonearthbutoneglori- The 36thannualSpiritAwards,likemostawards Variety , saidBaronhad“sig- lm programinto New milestone for legendary actorandfi New milestoneforlegendary lm inAri- ‘Soul,’ ‘MaRainey’s’ among AFI’s top10fi Film lms andshows,”said the twomostimportantthingstoherfatherasshegrewupwereeduca- who’s calledtotelltheirstorylearnhowdothat.” their stories.Ithinkit’simperativetocastawidenetandallowanyone sion buttohavediversity,andgivepeopletheopportunitytell like herfatherafi the foundationofwhoheisandwhatstandsfor,”saidAnikaPoitier, aligned withtheirfather’slong-heldideals. interviews howthefi namesake ofthenewfi well andenjoyinghisfamily,”considereditanhonortobethe Poitier-Henderson toldTheAssociatedPressherfatherwas“doing eye forsometime,availableaninterview.HisdaughterBeverly Sydney PoitierHeartsong,theactor’syoungestdaughter,notedthat “If ithasmyDad’snameonit,tobeinclusive,becausethat’s Poitier-Henderson andtwoofPoitier’sotherdaughtersdescribedin The universitydidnotmakePoitier,whohasbeenoutofthepublic rm Biden Trump will alsooccupytheuniversity’snewcenterinLosAngeles. town Mesa,Arizona,7milesfromtheuniversity’sTempeCampus.It teaching themskillsthatgofarbeyondtraditionalmoviemaking. tions likeonlinestudy,ithopestoenrollthousandsmorestudents, inclusivity. versity, thefi The schoolwillmoveinthefallof2022toanewfacilitydown- By expandingbothitsphysicalresourcesandfl lm schoolwillmeasuresuccessnotbyexclusivitybut lmmaker. “Andit’simportanttonotonlyhaveinclu- lm school’semphasisoninclusivityandaccess lm school. best feature.(AP) fi a fi Gourav (“WhiteTiger”)andRobMorgan(“Bull”). were joinedbyAhmed(“SoundofMetal”),Adarsh In thebestmaleleadcategory,YeunandBoseman (“Juneteenth”) andJuliaGarner(“TheAssistant”). with Davis,Flanigan,McDormand,NicoleBeharie among thenomineesforbestfemalelead,along 16 nominations. acting awards.Thisyear,Netfl Gems”) andRenéeZellweger(“Judy”)tookthetop well” wonbestfeature,whileAdamSandler(“Uncut $22.5 million.Lastyear,LuluWang’s“TheFare- nominees arelimitedtofi lm directorialdebut“OneNightinMiami...,”a The Spirits’RobertAltmanAward,anhonorfor Mulligan, starofFennell’srevengedrama,was At theSpirits,pre-eminentindiefi Inclusivity lm’s ensemble,willgotoRegina King’sfeature white male. nominees forbestfeaturefi women and37%werepeopleofcolor.Nonethe nees werenotablydiverse:42%ofnominees for “PromisingYoungWoman.”Overall,thenomi- en: Reichardt,Zhao,HittmanandEmeraldFennell, Riz Ahmed(“SoundofMetal”). Carey Mulligan(“PromisingYoungWoman”)and “Time” forbestdocumentaryandactingawards York, alsoincluded“Soul”forbestanimatedfi normally holdsafl long-running organizationoffi for directingandbestensemble.Otherpicksbythe 5 Bloods,”namingitbestfi gave aboosttoSpikeLee’sVietnamWardrama“Da on Monday. Film Instituteannounceditsbest10fi Gotham Awardsearlierthismonth.TheAmerican erated lately.“Nomadland”tooktophonorsatthe in apandemic-marredawardsseasonthathasaccel- Those fi Four outoffi Also onTuesday,theNationalBoardofReview bushes. her bodywasfound inroadside ruled ahomicidetwo monthsafter ston socialmedia star hasbeen HOUSTON: v fi ve Prizes duringhistenure.(AP) to unprecedentedlevels.” number ofreadersandsubscribers The paperhaswon10Pulitzer ❑ ve nomineesfordirectingwerewom- lms havebeenregularlycelebrated Pre-eminent The deathofaHou- ashy galaforwinnersinNew lms madeforlessthan exible learningop- lm schoolinhisname ix ledallstudioswith lm weredirectedbya lm alongwithawards lm enthusiasts,which lmmaker lm soiree, lm lms of2020 ated forsevenIndependentFilmSpiritAwardsincludingone the nightbefore. apartment. Shewas lastseenalive miles (4.83kilometers) fromher inault’s bodyonNov 28,about3 Sciences saidinastatement. Harris CountyInstituteofForensic were visibleonherbody,the strangulation, thoughnowounds looking forwardtoseeingwhocomesoutofit.” you’ve gottobetrueyourself.It’saverypowerfulthing,andI’m tell theirstoriesregardlessoffi when hewascomingupinhiscareer,”saidPoitier-Henderson,“and up themantleofresponsibilitywayourfathertook there, butthatnumberisexpectedtodoubleoverthreefi Steven Tepper,deanoftheHerbergerInstituteforDesignandArts Not thewayworldworkstoday.“ with himiftheydon’thaveaccesstothesetoolsandeducations. he wantedotherstobeuptherewithhim.Well,can’t of hisbiggestcomplaintswasthat“hetheonlyoneupthere,and would wanttobeapartof.” out themeanstogothem.Thatisantithesisofwhatmyfather schools excludepeopleofcolordisproportionately--andwith- come torecognizethatfromasocioeconomicstandpoint,lotof(elite) added thatthenewschoolhadspecialresonanceinatimewhen“we’ve people ofcolor.” He wantedtopassthatonallyoungpeoplebutspecifi part tohiskids,”shesaid.“Theartswerealsoaformofeducation. what hehascontributedanddefi tion andthearts. Police offi A cityemployeefoundRob- Alexis Robinault lms oftheyear “I justhopethatthestudentsatSidneyPoitierFilmSchooltake The ASUfi And shenotedthatinPoitier’sheyday,whenhewonhisOscar,one Poitier Heartsong,whofollowedherfather’sfootstepsintoacting, “Those arethetwotracksthatrunthroughouthislife,defi lm, streaming onYouTubeandtheAFIwebsite. orees, AFIwillholdavirtualbenedictiononFeb.26 a specialcitationfor“Hamilton.” TV+’s “TedLasso.” ney+ phenomenon“TheMandalorian”andApple Johnson including Netfl the SundanceFilmFestivalonFeb.1. the BlackMessiah”whichwillhaveitspremiereat Warner Bros.’BlackPantherPartyfi ven Yeun out inthecomingweeks,aswas“Minari,”with named anhonoreeinadvanceofitstheatricalroll- madland” with “Sound ofMetal,”with zon, too,gottwospotswiththehearinglossdrama Aaron Sorkin Fincher took upfourpositionsonthelistincluding King Netfl Vietnam drama“Da5Bloods,”bothofwhichare tion “MaRainey’sBlackBottom”and Boseman Pixar’s jazzthemed“Soul”andtwoof day announceditstop10fi LOS ANGELES: In lieuoftheannualluncheoncelebratinghon- The selectionjuryincludedfi The AFIalsonameditstop10televisionshows, Chloé Zhao Netfl cials saidthe investi- Unknown PeriodofTime”and“QuoVadis,Aida?” of theKings,”“PreparationstobeTogetherforan tional fi “Time” and“TheMoleAgent.”Upforbestinterna- lective,” “CripCamp,”“DickJohnsonIsDead,” Ali, MalcolmX,SamCookeandJimBrown. fi ctional accountofa1960smeetingMuhammad ix fi ’s “OneNightinMiami...”. The nomineesforbestdocumentaryare:“Col- ix featuredheavilyintheAFI’slist,which lm productionprogramsnowenroll700students,said lms. ’s “CitizenKane”originstory“Mank”and and ’s fi , whichopensFeb.12.AFIalsoselected diedby lm are:“Bacurau,”“TheDisciple,”“Night nal fi nal Lulu Wang ix’s“TheQueen’sGambit,”theDis- ’s “TheTrialoftheChicago7.”Ama- ’s awardsandfestivalfavorite“No- The AmericanFilmInstituteonMon- Frances McDormand lms: the lms: Also: nances, whichiseasyforustosay.But ned whathefeltwasimportanttoim- lms oftheyear,including Riz Ahmed . Thegroupalsoincluded and skincare products.(AP) marketing company thatsellshair herself asa“mentor” forMonat,a off beautyproducts. Sheidentifi Instagram following byshowing name Sharkey,garneredasizeable reported alsowentbyhermarried ing totheHoustonChronicle. no arrestshavebeenmade,accord- gation intoherdeathcontinuesand August Wilson Robinault, who the Chronicle Robinault, whotheChronicle lmmakers lm “Judasand and Spike Lee wasalso Chadwick adapta- Regina David Rian Ste- cally young cally ve years. ’s ed ed ne ARAB TIMES, THURSDAY, JANUARY 28, 2021 NEWS/FEATURES 13

People & Places

Music

‘We need mature voices’ D Smoke takes patient walk to ‘Grammy nod’ By Jonathan Landrum Jr.

hen D Smoke was teaching high schoolers in WSouthern California, the rapper still pursued his dreams of breaking through as a hip-hop artist while leaning on the encouraging phrase: “There’s no expiration on realness.” D Smoke maintained that mindset as a mo- tivator before he made a splash on Netflix’s music reality TV series “Rhythm + Flow” in 2019. He won the competition, impressing judges Cardi B, T.I. and Chance the Rapper with his ability as a multi- instrumentalist and bilin- gual rapper who could eas- ily switch from English to Spanish in his rhymes. Last year, D Smoke rode the momentum from the show’s success, perform- ing alongside boxer Deontay Wilder before a heavyweight championship bout and re- leasing his debut album D Smoke “Black Habits,” which this year earned him a Grammy nomination for best rap album. He’s also up for best new artist against Megan Thee Stallion, Doja Cat, Ingrid Andress, Phoebe Bridgers, Chika, Noah Cyrus and Kaytranada. It’s been a long road toward Grammy recogni- tion for D Smoke, but the 35-year-old had other milestones along the way. He’s a UCLA graduate who taught Spanish and musical theory at Ingle- wood High School. He’s also penned songs for The Pussycat Dolls, Ginuwine, Joe and Jaheim, some of which he co-wrote with his brother, R&B singer In this Jan 16, 2013, file photo, South Korean alternative hip-hop group Epik High poses for photographers as they arrive on the red carpet ahead of the 27th Golden Disk Awards at Sepang International Circuit in Sepang, Malaysia. Popular South Korean hip-hop trio Epik High was working on a song called ‘End of the World’ SiR, who is signed to Kendrick Lamar’s Top Dawg before the pandemic hit in 2020. Now, the band’s frontman Tablo says, ‘I wish that this song is not relevant.’ (AP) Entertainment. In a recent interview with The Associated Press, D Smoke talked about the pressure of fi nding suc- cess outside “Rhythm + Flow,” how being a teacher matured his lyrics and his thoughts on why Gram- Music my voters nominated him and other 35-and-up rap- pers in the best rap album category. AP: You were in your 30s with a decade of teaching under your belt, so did you ever think you were past your prime to pursue a music career? Virus scuttles Glastonbury Festival D Smoke: I always tell people that there’s no expiration on realness. People need incredible art. Anytime you spend pursuing whatever level of suc- cess and see yourself achieving, it’s time to get bet- Epik High endures with new album ter. Always getting better. It didn’t matter if I got SEOUL, Jan 27, (AP): Popular South Their music was different, with an reer. His father, whose health had dete- a (Grammy nom) when I was 40. It’s just going to Korean hip-hop trio Epik High was experimental mix of genres, poetic riorated from the stress of the scandal, be that season. working on a song called “End of the lyrics skillfully weaving English and died in 2012. AP: What compelled you to learn Spanish? World” before the pandemic hit last Korean, punchlines abounding with “The problem is … I lost someone D Smoke: I went to a middle school that was year. Now, the band’s frontman Tablo homonyms, and dense rhymes. The that is irreplaceable,” he said. “I lost predominantly Latino and all my friends spoke says, “I wish that this song is not rel- band has a knack for making songs my dad … as a direct result of what it. That’s when I told myself that I must be fluent evant.” about touchy subjects in South Korea, people did … for no reason.” in this. You’re not going to switch languages and His group had 2020 all planned out, from its white-collar work culture, Tablo says he’s still haunted by the I’m left out. I took Spanish one, two and three at from a Coachella performance to a overly competitive educational system scandal. “It’s been a long time, yes, Inglewood High. While everybody was doing it world tour. Then early last year, Tablo to religion - highlighted on their “Les- but it’s not something that I can ever to get a grade, I was already like, “I’m learning said he and bandmates Mithra Jin and son ” series. be OK with and that will affect every- this.” Then finally, when I went to UCLA, I just A detail from Sandro Botticelli’s paint- DJ Tukutz saw their plans “completely By 2010, the trio had topped domes- thing I do,” he said. “There is a hole kept going. ing ‘Young Man Holding a Roundel’ is becoming dust.” tic music charts and received multiple that can’t be fi lled.” AP: Was rapping in English and Spanish in front seen at Sotheby’s in New York, Jan. With the world sharing their feelings accolades. Tablo married well-known Despite bittersweet lyrics, Tablo of Cardi B - who is also bilingual — your strategy 22. This painting which is estimated to of “fear, confusion and trepidation,” the actress Kang Hye-jung and was ex- said the name of the new album - to win “Rhythm + Flow”? bring more than 80 million dollars to group stayed home to document the mo- pecting a baby. “Epik High is Here” - represents his D Smoke: Everything I did on the show was stra- be auctioned off on Jan 28. (AP) ment in songs, crafting a new double al- Then, his career came to a halt with wishes to live in the present. bum called “Epik High Is Here.” the spread of online rumors that he’d tegic. That’s how you approach a fi ght with strategy Also: because just being tough or trying to outdo some- The just-released fi rst half is a col- lied about graduating from Stanford. body will get you hurt. I’m using a fi ght metaphor. lection of 10 songs featuring a diverse At the time, South Korea was reeling LONDON: Britain’s Glastonbury music I knew there were lyricists on the show. I knew roster of artists including K-pop heav- from fake diplomas scandals involving festival has fallen victim to the coronavirus they could rap their (explicit) off. But the goal was yweight CL, rising rapper Woo and government offi cials and celebrities. pandemic for the second year in a row. to distinguish myself. I knew that was going to be Kim Sawol, the South Korean folk and Recognized (cross head) Organizers Michael Eavis and memorable. By going into the later rounds, they rock singer-songwriter. As rumors started making headlines, Emily Eavis said Thursday that “In Tablo said one of his favorite songs in more than 200,000 people signed up spite of our efforts to move heaven & would be like, “There he goes. That’s the dude who the album is “Rosario,” one of two lead for an online group titled “TaJinYo,” earth, it has become clear that we sim- can speak Spanish.” They were going to remember tracks, which refl ects duality in his inner a Korean acronym for “We Request ply will not be able to make the Festi- me from that one performance. I knew they were world - and perhaps this moment in the the Truth from Tablo.” South Koreans val happen this year.” going to remember that until the end. pandemic. “I have some demons that I started fl ooding the inboxes of Stan- “We are so sorry to let you all AP: What was the strategy to ride the momen- can’t shake off,” he said. “But at the ford professors asking if Tablo had re- down,” they said in a statement. tum after the show? Songz Giannulli same time, I’m very optimistic.” ally graduated. He had. They said everyone who had put D Smoke: We knew that we had a limited win- He said the trio had given lots of Tablo said his family started getting down a deposit on tickets for the 2020 dow of converting all of these Netfl ix fans into mu- thought to the fl ow of the album, bal- death threats. Strangers knocked on the festival, which also was canceled, sic fans and people who respect the craft and fol- Variety ancing it with a mix of “dark and very family home and work places. In the would be able to attend in 2022. low the journey outside of Netfl ix, because it’s far hard-hitting” songs and those that give street, he was recognized and insulted. The festival has been held almost longer before than what people realize. There was “a moment to breathe.” The ups and Even close friends turned their backs. annually since 1970, drawing up to pressure to show that. If you look at the trajectory BOSTON: Fashion designer Mossimo downs refl ect the band’s career. To clear his name, he returned to his 150,000 people to the Eavis’ Worthy of artists who come off shows, their biggest success Giannulli’s request to serve the remain- Epik High has had an unusually long alma mater with a camera crew in tow Farm in southwest England. is the show. ...That was our goal to go ahead and ing three months of his prison term in career spanning almost two decades in as he toured the school and revisited Last year’s 50th anniversary event, transition from the Netfl ix star that people viewed the college admissions bribery scheme at a competitive South Korean entertain- professors and friends. It was a turning which had been due to feature Tay- me as to an artist. home was denied Tuesday by a federal ment scene. They didn’t gain fame im- point that fi nally cleared his name. lor Swift, Kendrick Lamar, the Pet AP: In the best rap album category, each Gram- judge. Giannulli argued he should be mediately upon their offi cial debut in Tablo describes the three years of Shop Boys and Paul McCartney, was my nominee is 35-years-old and up (Nas is the old- released to home confi nement for the rest 2003, but soon the trio uprooted South online and offl ine harassments and canceled in March as the virus began est at 47). What are voters trying to say? of his fi ve-month sentence because he Korea’s nascent hip-hop scene. lawsuits as “the lowest point” in his ca- to sweep the UK. D Smoke: It opens a conversation of what our spent eight weeks under “extreme” con- ditions in solitary confi nement because of culture needs and wants. I think all the things that the coronavirus pandemic after reporting happened in the past year are really sobering. I Songz was jailed overnight after he scuf- ship game in Kansas City, police said day while an investigation continues, to prison in November. fl ed with police offi cers during his arrest Monday. Jackson County Sheriff’s spokesman think people are requiring, at this moment more But US District Judge Nathaniel LeVanden Darks said. No charges than ever, music that speaks to them at a deeper for not following coronavirus protocols Songz, 36, whose name is Tremaine Gorton said Giannulli failed to demon- and other rules at the AFC champion- Aldon Neverson, was released Mon- have been fi led. level. strate an “’extraordinary and compelling’ Songz’s representative, Sydney Mar- AP: Can you elaborate a little more? reason warranting his release,” though getson, declined to comment Monday. D Smoke: We need mature voices in rap. We he noted that the quarantine was “longer Songz is a three-time Grammy-nom- need them to be at the forefront. Of course, we’re than anticipated.” inated singer. He earned his third No. 1 going to listen to the kids, because we need to hear An email seeking comment was sent to on Billboard’s Top R&B Albums chart them out so they feel understood. But everybody lawyers for Giannulli. with “Back Home” last year. His other Giannulli, who reported to prison on two chart-topping albums are “Trigga” stops to listen to a voice of reason, the voice of ex- Nov 19, believed he would only be held perience and wisdom. ...I’m experienced but I’m and “Tremaine The Album.” He has in quarantine for a short time before also appeared in fi lms including “Texas speaking from a place of when I was 17, acting up testing negative for the coronavirus, his Chainshaw 3D,” “Baggage Claim” and and wild. I’m still wild, but I’m smart enough to go lawyers said in court documents. Instead, he starred in “Blood Brother” in 2018. about my business a certain way. he spent 56 days isolated in a small cell In October, Songz posted on Ins- AP: Did being a high school teacher help the ma- at California’s USP Lompoc before tagram that he had tested positive for turity in your music? being transferred to a minimum security COVID-19. He said he was taking the D Smoke: Absolutely. I was a teacher who got to camp on Jan 13, they said. disease very seriously and urged his fans know my students. You can’t really reach nobody “Mr Giannulli spent almost 40% of to do the same. his total sentence confi ned in solitary Kansas City police said in a statement if you’re not concerned about who they are. It’s an quarantine, despite testing negative for exchange. I would ask, “What are you listen to? Put COVID-19 at least ten times and despite that fans at the game between the Kansas me up on what’s going on.” Some of it I hate, but his counsel’s multiple requests that (the City Chiefs and Buffalo Bills complained Bureau of Prisons) release him from about a man who was not following some I would be surprised and say, “That’s dope.” COVID-19-related protocols and other In that exchange, you learn how music effects peo- quarantine,” his lawyers wrote in a mo- tion fi led earlier this month. code of conduct rules for fans, which ple. include not being disruptive, intoxicated, AP: Is your music infl uenced by other West “The toll on Mr Giannulli’s mental, physical, and emotional well-being has or using obscene language. Coast rappers like Tupac, Kendrick Lamar and been signifi cant,” they wrote. The statement did not identify the man Nipsey Hussle? All incoming federal inmates are as Songz and did not say exactly which D Smoke: I for sure borrow from them more held in quarantine for at least 14 days to rules he was breaking. than any other West Coast artist. Of course, I must limit the spread of the virus. Giannulli’s Police said the man refused to follow mention Snoop (Dogg). I look up to him so much, quarantine was supposed to end on Dec orders from private security guards at because he’s an elder in the game and still as rele- 7, but on that day, several other inmates Arrowhead Stadium and was asked to in his quarantine unit tested positive for President Barack Obama presents the 2009 Presidential Medal of Freedom to leave. When he refused, offi cers from the vant as ever. That’s beautiful. That’s another exam- Kansas City police and Jackson County ple of these experienced voices still being present the virus, the judge wrote. (AP) Sidney Poitier during ceremonies in the East Room at the White House in Wash- ❑ ❑ ❑ ington on Aug. 12, 2009. Arizona State University has named its new film school sheriff’s offi ce were called and he was in the culture. (AP) after Poitier. The Sidney Poitier New American Film School will be unveiled at a told he would be arrested if he didn’t KANSAS CITY, Mo: R&B artist Trey ceremony on, Jan 25. (AP) — See Page 12 comply, police said. (AP) ARAB TIMES, THURSDAY, JANUARY 28, 2021 SPORTS 14 Slalom leader Schwarz gets 2nd win Noel fi nishes second, Pinturault third SCHLADMING, Austria, Jan 27, (AP): Right after fi nishing his second run and taking the lead in the race, Marco Schwarz held up one fi nger. There were still fi ve more racers to come down at the World Cup night slalom, but the Austrian held on to his No. 1 position. Schwarz improved from sixth after the opening run to win by a big mar- gin, 0.68 seconds ahead of Clément Noël. Another French skier, Alexis Pinturault, was 0.82 behind in third. “It’s amazing, it’s the classic to win,” Schwarz said. “Schladming was Austria’s Marco Schwarz, (center), on top of my wish list. To win here was winner of an alpine ski, men’s World a big dream.” Cup slalom, poses on the podium The night slalom at the resort of the with second placed France’s Clem- 2013 world championships is usually ent Noel, (left), and third placed attended by tens of thousands of spec- France’s Alexis Pinturault, in Schlad- tators lining up along both sides of the ming, Austria, on Jan 26. (AP) course, but no visitors were allowed this time amid strict anti-coronavirus measures in Austria. Villarreal advance “Normally there are 45,000 people, this year is a little bit different, but the win feels amazing,” said Schwarz, Betis beat Sociedad, reach Copa quarters SKIING MADRID, Jan 27, (AP): Real Betis came from behind to beat Real So- who earned his sixth podium result in ciedad 3-1 in extra time, reaching the seven slaloms this season. Copa del Rey quarterfi nals for the sec- Manchester City’s Aymeric Laporte, (right), duels for the ball with West Bromwich Albion’s Hal Robson-Kanu during the English Premier League soccer Schwarz, who extended his lead in ond time in three seasons. match between West Bromwich Albion and Manchester City at the Hawthorns Stadium in West Bromwich, England, on Jan 26. (AP) the discipline standings, previously Forward Borja Iglesias scored twice won in Adelboden, Switzerland, and in extra time after Sergio Canales became the fi rst to win two slaloms equalized late in regulation in a round Soucek nets twice as West Ham pip Crystal Palace 3-2 this season, after the fi rst six races pro- of 16 match played under heavy fog in duced as many different winners. Seville. “Second run I had to full attack. It Iglesias netted with a left-footed went pretty good the second run, so shot from close range six minutes into I’m really happy,” Schwarz said. extra time and then sealed the victory Gundogan helps Man City thrash West Brom His Austrian teammate Manuel with a header in the 111th minute of Feller held a commanding lead after the game. LONDON, Jan 27, (AP): Fueled by the opening run but skied out after only Mikel Oyarzabal had put the visitors a sparkling attacking display, Man- six gates into his fi nal run. ahead after a breakaway in the 13th chester City’s players powered to Best and worst of Zlatan as Milan lose at Inter Feller’s mishap resembled and Canales made it 1-1 in the 78th 5-0 win over West Bromwich Al- Schwarz’s fate in last year’s race, when with a low shot from outside the area. bion. MILAN, Jan 27, (AP): The best and Milan started the brighter of the for a tackle on Kolarov and sent off, Both teams fi nished with 10 men worst of Zlatan Ibrahimović was on teams and almost immediately leaving his side down to 10 men. he led after the opening run but failed In a comical exhibit for VAR’s show as he scored and later was went in front when Rafael Leão And Inter was level 13 minutes to fi nish his second. Another Austrian as Sociedad’s Asier Illarramendi was ever-lengthening highlights reel, sent off in AC Milan’s 2-1 loss at fi red just past the left post. later. Leão brought down Nicolò who did well in the opening run, third- sent off in the 48th and Betis’ Antonio West Bromwich Albion’s defend- city rival Inter Milan in the quarterfi - It did take the lead in the 31st Barella and, after viewing the inci- ranked Michael Matt, straddled a gate Sanabria got a red card in the 76th. ers virtually stopped in their tracks nals of the Italian Cup. minute when Ibrahimović con- dent again on the pitchside moni- and also failed to fi nish. Sebastian Betis was eliminated in the round of and looked on as Joao Cancelo Ibrahimović clashed with former trolled the ball on the edge of the tor, the referee pointed to the spot. Foss-Solevåg of Norway dropped from 32 of the Copa in three of the last four curled a shot into the top corner for teammate Romelu Lukaku at the area before placing an angled drive Lukaku slammed the penalty into second to fourth after a problem with seasons but made it to the semifi nals in the second of City’s goals in the end of the fi rst half, and he was between the legs of Inter defender the top left corner. his goggles midway through his fi nal 2019, when it lost to eventual cham- ejected for a second booking in the Aleksandar Kolarov. It went in off The match had a lengthy delay run when the lens came off. pion Valencia. rout. 58th minute. the base of the far post. as referee Paolo Valeri received After all, the assistant referee had With the best skiers from the open- Sociedad made it to last season’s Lukaku converted a penalty for There was a huge argument be- treatment for a thigh injury and was ing run struggling, Pinturault used the fi nal against Basque Country rival raised the fl ag for offside moments the equalizer and Christian Eriksen tween Ibrahimović and Lukaku on eventually replaced by the fourth Athletic Bilbao. The fi nal has been earlier but City, unlike West Brom, opportunity to gain eight places by scored the winner deep in stop- the stroke of halftime and both were offi cial. posting the fastest time in the fi nal run. postponed because of the coronavirus played on as Bernardo Silva col- page time. booked. The spat between the for- Milan goalkeeper Ciprian “It was a good performance. I won pandemic and is yet to be rescheduled lected the ball and fed Cancelo, who Inter will play Juventus or Spal mer Manchester United teammates Ttruşanu pulled off a number as offi cials try to wait for fans to be al- in the semifi nals. They meet on continued after the halftime whistle of saves but it wasn’t enough. Just the second run but I was also lucky. - unchallenged - picked his spot from What happened to Sebastian is incred- lowed to return to stadiums. the edge of the area. Wednesday. and a visibly furious Lukaku had to as the match appeared to be head- The two Milan clubs are also be pulled back. ing into extra time, Eriksen curled ible,” said Pinturault, who extended Yéremi Pino scored a 19th-minute A video review showed Silva was fi ghting it out in the league, with the That was to prove costly for a free kick into the top left corner his overall lead over runner-up Marco winner as Villarreal beat second-divi- actually onside and the goal was al- Rossoneri leading second-place In- Ibrahimović as he was shown a in the seventh minute of stoppage Odermatt to 253 points. The Swiss sion club Girona 1-0 to reach the quar- lowed to stand. City was on course ter by two points. second yellow card after the break time. skier doesn’t compete in slalom. terfi nals for the second straight season. to match its biggest league win of the season and, on the evidence of this game and the last couple of months, ing form is Tomas Soucek, who net- “The most beautiful feeling in Pep Guardiola’s team is going to be ted twice for West Ham in its 3-2 football is when you realize you hard to stop. win at Crystal Palace that lifted the have helped your team,” Soucek team to fourth place. wrote. “But this time I want to dedi- The Czech Republic international cate the win and my two goals to my SOCCER is proving a solid source of goals wife. It’s really tough time for her as for West Ham, having scored seven she can’t see anyone from the fam- times in his last 13 league matches. ily. Thank you for taking care of me “Now, with VAR in these situa- In a tweet, he dedicated his double and our daughter!” tions, we have to follow the actions to his wife. Arsenal avenged a defeat to until the end because you never Southampton in the FA Cup at the know what is going to happen,” weekend by beating the Saints 3-1 in Guardiola said. “Is the goal allowed the league. or disallowed? Nobody knows. So Arsenal came from behind to win you have to continue until the end of for the fi rst time in a Premier League the action.” game this season, having trailed after Make it seven straight wins in the three minutes. Nicolas Pepe and Bu- league - and 11 in all competitions - kayo Saka replied before halftime, for City in an ominous run of results. and Alexandre Lacazette made sure City became the ninth side to fi nish of the points with a third in the 72nd. a day in fi rst place this season, the The win moved Mikel Arteta’s most within a single top-fl ight cam- side above Southampton and up to paign since 1986-87. eighth in the standings. Even if Manchester United re- Newcastle’s winless run extended claims the lead on Wednesday by to 11 games in all competitions with KUNA photo beating Sheffi eld United, City - on a 2-1 home defeat to Leeds, pil- Photo taken during the Kuwait’s fi rst women’s weightlifting tournament closing ceremony. its longest winning run in more than ing the pressure on manager Steve three years - looks to be the team to Bruce. Jack Harrison clinched three Women’s fi rst weightlifting tournament concludes beat. points with a swerving 61st-minute Ilkay Gundogan netted twice to strike with the outside of his left foot, Kuwait’s fi rst women’s weightlifting tournament con- tournaments,” he added. make it seven goals in the last eight four minutes after Miguel Almiron cluded on Tuesday its competitions that took place at “Kuwait has many talents and the national team league games for a midfi elder who canceled out Raphinha’s fi rst-half Al-Tadamun SC over the course of three days. includes a lot of star players not only locally but also has never been a prolifi c scorer in his Crystal Palace’s Andros Townsend, opener for Leeds. This tournament was held to serve the purpose of regionally, and the association supports those players career but has hit a rich vein of form. (left), and West Ham’s Declan Rice Leeds ended its three-game losing improving player-lifting abilities. in order to represent Kuwait and achieve goals interna- fi ght for the ball during the English Chief of Kuwait Weightlifting Association Talal Al- tionally,” he noted. Riyad Mahrez and Raheem Sterling Premier League soccer match be- streak in all competitions. Jassar said to KUNA, that the tournament witnessed Al-Jassar mentioned that a lot players have achieved set each other up for the fi nal two tween Crystal Palace and West Newcastle has taken only two the participation of 34 players in different weight cat- fi rst places and honored on the podium in different goals. Ham in London, England, on Jan points from the last 27 in the league egories. “The goal behind this tournament is prepping weight categories such as 49kg, 55kg, 59kg, 71kg, Another central midfi elder in scor- 26. (AP) and has dropped to 16th. and scouting for lifters to represent Kuwait in future 76kg ,81kg and 87kg. (KUNA) ARAB TIMES, THURSDAY, JANUARY 28, 2021 SPORTS 15

US Olympic swim trials split into 2 meets because of COVID IOC, Tokyo Olympics to unveil rule book on beating pandemic TOKYO, Jan 27, (AP): Remember the word: Playbook. Duke snaps skid This is the rule book that the IOC and Tokyo organizers are set to roll out next week to explain how 15,400 Cooper lifts Auburn Olympic and Paralympic athletes and tens of thousands of others will try to over No. 12 Missouri safely enter Japan when the Olympics AUBURN, Alabama, Jan 27, (AP): open in just under six months. Sharife Cooper had 28 points, eight Organizers and the International rebounds and seven assists to lead Olympic Committee are finally going Auburn to an 88-82 win over No. 12 public with their planning, hoping to Missouri. push back Cooper, a freshman point guard who against reports missed Auburn’s first 11 contests this the Olympics season, had his fourth 20-point outing will be canceled in six career games. Bruce Pearl’s with Tokyo and young Tigers, which also got 23 com- much of Japan bined points from freshmen forwards still under a JT Thor and Chris Moore, are now 4-2 state of emer- since Cooper was ruled eligible by the gency with NCAA. COVID-19 Auburn (10-7, 4-5 Southeastern cases rising. Conference) raced out to a 14-point The rollout at lead early, thanks in large part to some Olympic head- Hashimoto tenacious defense and rebounding. quarters in Switzerland is planned for Feb. 4, with Duke 75, Georgia Tech 68 Tokyo likely to present on Feb. 5. In Durham, N.C., DJ Steward “We created four different scenari- scored 19 points, Jalen Johnson added os, one that had travel restrictions, 18 and Duke snapped a three-game clusters - to one where the pandemic losing streak pulling away from was nearly gone,” Lucia Montanarella, Georgia Tech 75-68. head of IOC media operations, Duke (6-5, 4-3 Atlantic Coast explained Tuesday for a panel discus- Conference) made 7 of 10 foul shots in sion held by the International Sports the last 79 seconds after Khalid Press Association. Moore’s layup with 1:40 left pulled “The present scenario is very much Georgia Tech into a tie at 68. like one of those that we’d created, with the pandemic still among us, and some countries being able to contain it, BASKETBALL some not.” The playbook will be about creating safe bubbles in Tokyo, and will be Hurt scored 17 points and Jordan Florida Panthers forward Alex Wennberg (right), of Sweden, controls the puck in front of Columbus Blue Jackets forward Cam Atkinson during the first updated with changing protocols as the Goldwire had 11 for Duke. period of an NHL hockey game in Columbus, Ohio, on Jan 26. (AP) July 23 opening gets closer. The Jose Alvarado scored 26 points on Paralympics are schedule to open on 10-for-15 shooting for Georgia Tech Aug. 24. (7-5, 3-3). Moses Wright added 12 points with 14 rebounds. Georgia Tech hasn’t won at OLYMPICS Cameron Indoor Stadium since 2004. Hornqvist nets SO winner as LSU 78, Texas A&M 66 Athletes and those traveling to In College station, Texas, Cameron Japan - coaches, judges, media, broad- Thomas finished with 28 points and casters, VIPS - are likely to face some LSU scored the final 18 points of the self-quarantine period before they game to beat Texas A&M 78-66. leave home. This will be followed by Texas A&M led 66-60 with 8:50 Panthers edge Blue Jackets tests at the airport, tests arriving in remaining and then missed its last 15 Japan, and frequent testing for those field goals plus a free throw. staying in the Athletes Village along- Ja’Vonte Smart scored 19 points side Tokyo Bay. and had a season-high nine assists for Montanarella said “we know that the Tigers, who ended a two-game Stars keep hot start going with 2-1 OT win over Red Wings we are facing a huge challenge, this is stretch of double-digits losses, each to create a bubble for all athletes. One against Alabama and Kentucky. COLUMBUS, Ohio, Jan Kevin Stenlund, Alexandre Texier scored, and Calvin Peterson made 32 thing is to create a bubble for 200 ath- Trendon Watford added 13 points and and Cam Atkinson scored, and Joonas saves as the Los Angeles Kings held letes in just one sport, and a very dif- Darius Days had 11. 27, (AP): Patric Hornqvist Korpisalo - formerly Bobrovsky’s on to beat the Minnesota Wild 2-1. ferent thing is to create a bubble for Jay Jay Chandler matched a career scored the tying goal with 3 backup - had 28 saves. For the third time in three games thousands of athletes of different high with 21 points to lead Texas sports.” seconds left in regulation Stars 2, Red Wings 1, OT between the teams, Los Angeles A&M (7-7, 2-6). Savion Flagg added squandered a third-period lead. But A major unanswered questions 17 points. and had the game winner In Dallas, Jason Dickinson scored this time, the Kings bounced back and involves fans. How many fans will be Ohio 81, W. Michigan 58 in a shootout as the Florida 1:32 into overtime and the Dallas Stars earned the win after two losses at allowed into venues? Will fans from won a third straight home game to start abroad be permitted? In Athens, Ohio, Mark Sears had a home to start the season. Panthers beat the their delayed season, beating the Olympic Minister Seiko Hashimoto season-high 21 points as Ohio romped Grundstrom skated from the side Columbus Blue Jackets Detroit Red Wings 2-1. boards to the middle of the offensive said Tuesday that the decision will be past Western Michigan 81-58. The Red Wings controlled the puck announced “by the spring.” Fewer fans Dwight Wilson III had 19 points 4-3. zone and wristed a quick shot past for the first minute-plus of the 3-on-3 Kaapo Kahkonen’s glove for his sec- means more costs for Japan. The local and eight rebounds for Ohio (9-6, 5-4 Hornqvist beat Joonas Korpisalo period before the Stars gained control ond goal in as many games. Los organizing committee expected to Mid-American Conference). Lunden in the fifth round of the shootout to and moved into the offensive zone. receive $800 million from ticket sales. McDay and Ben Vander Plas added 11 end it after Columbus’ Mikhail John Klingberg, who scored the other Angeles has won three of four after starting the season 0-2-1. Any shortfall will have to be made up points apiece. Jason Preston had six Grigorenko’s try went into the Dallas goal, passed up a couple of by Japanese government entities. points and 10 rebounds. pads of Panthers’ stopper Sergei opportunities to shoot and sent the Bruins 3, Penguin 2, OT Craig Spence, a spokesman for the Greg Lee had 17 points and seven puck to Dickinson, who beat Thomas In Boston, Craig Smith scored with International Paralympic Committee, said rebounds for the Broncos (2-10, 1-6), Bobrovsky. Hornqvist, the veteran who joined Greiss from the high slot. 11 seconds left in overtime, and the organizers must get the support of the who have now lost six consecutive Boston Bruins recovered after blowing Japanese public amid polls that show games. the Panthers in the offseason, had Blues 5, Golden Knights 4, SO tapped in the tiebreaker from the door- In Las Vegas, David Perron and Washington Capitals left wing Carl a two-goal lead to beat the Pittsburgh 80% of those surveyed think the Olympics B. Artis White, the Broncos’ lead- Penguins 3-2. should be canceled or postponed. ing scorer coming into the matchup at step late during a 6-on-5 scramble Brayden Schenn scored in a shootout Hagelin (62) and New York after the Panthers had played from to lift the St. Louis Blues over the Islanders defenseman Adam Brad Marchand had a short-handed IOC President Thomas Bach, who 15 points per game, shot only 20 per- goal and assisted on Nick Ritchie’s has said vaccines are not “obligatory,” cent (1 of 5). behind for most of the third period. Vegas Golden Knights 5-4. Pelech (3) collide along the boards Carter Verhaeghe and Aleksander during the second period of an NHL goal to help the Bruins earn their third is still pushing for all participants to be Portland St. 69, St. Martin’s 60 Barkov also scored in regulation, and hockey game, on Jan 26, in straight victory. Tuukka Rask stopped vaccinated. The World Health InPortland, Oregon, Amari McCray Bobrovsky, the former Blue Jacket, ICE HOCKEY Washington. (AP) 28 shots, giving up both Pittsburgh Organization said earlier this week had a career-high 22 points as Portland stopped 19 shots for Florida. The goals after he injured himself midway that Olympic athletes should not be a State defeated St. Martin’s 69-60. Panthers stayed unbeaten in their third Max Pacioretty got his seventh out in four starts, Danton Heinen through the third period. priority ahead of health care workers, Paris Dawson had 12 points for game of the season after having two career hat trick for the Golden Knights, scored and the Anaheim Ducks beat Sabres over Rangers 3-2 the elderly and the vulnerable. Portland State (4-8). James Scott series canceled because of COVID-19 who were missing their entire coach- the Arizona Coyotes 1-0. The IOC has had its high-profile Heinen scored his first goal of the In Buffalo, New York, Buffalo cap- members speaking publicly. added 10 points. Khalid Thomas had issues with the other teams. ing staff because of COVID-19 con- tain Jack Eichel’s first goal of the three blocks. cerns. General manager Kelly season in the opening period and IOC member Sebastian Coe was on Gibson was sharp all night for his 21st season gave him some relief and pro- Japanese television on Wednesday, and McCrimmon took over head coaching vided a lift for the Sabres. duties and was assisted by staff from career shutout. Gibson stopped 34 IOC member Dick Pound suggested shots in a shutout against Minnesota Eichel, Dylan Cozens and Tobias last week the “most realistic way of the team’s minor league affiliate in the Rieder scored for Buffalo, which ral- AHL, the Henderson Silver Knights. on Jan. 18. going ahead” was prioritizing athletes. lied for a 3-2 win over the New York He received strong opposition. Maple Leafs 4, Flames 3 Predators 3, Blackhawks 2, OT Rangers. The IOC receives almost 75% of its In Calgary, Alberta, Mitch Marner’s In Nashville, Tennessee, Roman Eichel’s power-play goal snapped a income from selling broadcast rights. goal midway through the third period Josi scored at 2:57 of overtime to give 2-all tie and gave Buffalo the lead at Tokyo could be worth $2 billion to $3 was the winner, and the Toronto Maple the Nashville Predators a 3-2 victory 7:31 of the second period. billion in rights income, making Leafs beat the Calgary Flames 4-3. over the Chicago Blackhawks. Capitals 3, Islanders 2 Japan’s games a financial imperative Yakov Trenin and Mikael Granlund - even if it becomes a primarily televi- Marner scored Toronto’s fourth In Washington, Justin Schultz goal at 12:14 of the third period. With had the other goals for Nashville, sion-only event. which snapped a three-game losing scored the go-ahead goal with 26.4 Japan has more than 5,000 deaths his assist on an Auston Matthews’ seconds left, Vitek Vanecek made 32 goal, Marner has two goals and four streak. attributed to COVID-19, but its health Dylan Strome and Mattias Janmark saves and the Washington Capitals care system is under stress with deaths assists in his last four games. beat the New York Islanders 3-2 Avalanche 7, Sharks 3 scored for the Blackhawks, who won and new cases rising. A vaccine rollout their previous two games. despite another injury to a key player. is expected next month, but later in In Denver, Brandon Saad scored Schultz’s goal allowed the Capitals Jets 6, Oilers 4 spring for much of the general public. twice, one in a three-goal flurry at the to narrowly avoid a fifth consecutive The president of the Japan Medical end of the first period, and the In Winnipeg, Manitoba, Nikolaj overtime game, which has never hap- Association sounded a warning last Colorado Avalanche beat the San Jose Ehlers had a goal and three assists and pened in franchise history. week when asked about the Olympics Sharks 7-3. the Winnipeg Jets rallied from a two- Flyers 5, Devils 3 and possible patients from abroad. Mikko Rantanen scored a goal for goal deficit and beat the Edmonton Auburn guard Allen Flanigan (22) drives past Missouri guard Mark Smith In Newark, New Jersey, Nolan Meanwhile, the U.S. Olympic (13) during the first half of an NCAA college basketball game, on Jan 26, the sixth straight game to tie an Oilers 6-4. swimming trials will be split into two Avalanche record, and Valeri Andrew Copp added two goals, Patrick, Joel Farabee and Ivan in Auburn, Alabama. (AP) Provorov scored third-period goals, meets, a striking change designed to Nichushkin added a short-handed goal including one into an empty net, and provide safer conditions on the pool and an assist in the rout. had two assists. Adam Lowry scored and the Philadelphia Flyers beat the New Jersey Devils 5-3 for their first deck in the midst of the coronavirus Ryan Donato and Logan Couture had and set up two others for Winnipeg pandemic. NHL Results/Standings a goal and an assist each for the Sharks. (5-2-0). road win. James van Riemsdyk scored two USA Swimming announced Ducks 1, Coyotes 0 Kings 2, Wild 2-1 power-play goals and Brian Elliott made Tuesday that a Wave I meet of lower- In Glendale, Arizona, John Gibson In St. Paul, Minnesota, Carl 23 saves as the Flyers came back to win ranked swimmers qualifying for the WASHINGTON, Jan 27, (AP): Results and standings from the NHL games on stopped 31 shots for his second shut- Grundstrom and Kurtis MacDermid after blowing an early two-goal lead. trials will be held on June 4-7. Tuesday. Buffalo 3 NY Rangers 2 Nashville 3 Chicago OT 2 Philadelphia 5 New Jersey 3 Dallas 2 Detroit OT 1 Washington 3 NY Islanders 2 Toronto 4 Calgary 3 Florida 4 Columbus SO 3 Anaheim 1 Arizona 0 Louisville survives Miami (Florida) Boston 3 Pittsburgh OT 2 Colorado 7 San Jose 3 Winnipeg 6 Edmonton 4 St Louis 5 Vegas SO 4 LOUISVILLE, Kentucky, Jan 27, to give the Cardinals just enough Los Angeles 2 Minnesota 1 (AP): Louisville hasn’t had it easy as space. East Division West Division No. 1, but what’s important is that the The senior All-American’s last four GP W L OT Pts GF GA GP W L OT Pts GF GA Cardinals have answered the challeng- from the line were particularly huge, Washington 7 4 0 3 11 25 23 Vegas 7 5 1 1 11 23 17 es. with the first two with 13.8 seconds Boston 6 4 1 1 9 18 12 St Louis 7 4 2 1 9 22 27 Having the ball in Dana Evans’ left giving Louisville a 77-71 cushion Philadelphia 7 4 2 1 9 25 25 Colorado 7 4 3 0 8 25 18 Pittsburgh 7 4 2 1 9 23 26 Los Angeles 7 3 2 2 8 22 21 hands has certainly helped. that offset Kelsey Marshall’s 3-pointer New Jersey 6 3 2 1 7 14 16 Anaheim 7 3 2 2 8 12 14 Evans scored 20 points, including Buffalo 7 3 3 1 7 21 21 Minnesota 7 4 3 0 8 19 17 Louisville’s final 12 capped by two NY Islanders 6 3 3 0 6 11 11 San Jose 7 3 4 0 6 22 28 NY Rangers 6 1 4 1 3 15 18 free throws with 6.5 seconds remain- BASKETBALL Arizona 7 2 4 1 5 17 20 Central Division ing, helping the top-ranked Cardinals North Division survive Miami (Florida) 79-76. GP W L OT Pts GF GA Columbus 7 2 2 3 7 18 22 GP W L OT Pts GF GA Louisville (15-0, 8-0 Atlantic Coast five seconds later. Evans was fouled Dallas 3 3 0 0 6 12 3 Toronto 8 6 2 0 12 26 22 Conference) led throughout in win- after inbounding the ball and made Florida 3 3 0 0 6 14 9 Montreal 6 4 0 2 10 29 18 ning their third consecutive game as two more to make it 79-74, a safe mar- Tampa Bay 4 3 1 0 6 15 10 Winnipeg 7 5 2 0 10 28 21 Nashville 6 3 3 0 6 15 19 Edmonton 8 3 5 0 6 23 29 the No. 1 women’s team, but had to gin to withstand Taylor Mason’s layup Chicago 7 2 3 2 6 21 26 Vancouver 8 3 5 0 6 27 34 hold off a furious late rally by the at the buzzer. Detroit 7 2 4 1 5 13 22 Calgary 5 2 2 1 5 16 13 Hurricanes. For Evans, the finish came two days Carolina 3 2 1 0 4 9 6 Ottawa 6 1 4 1 3 15 27 Evans took over for the final nine after her three-point play in the final Louisville guard Dana Evans, (left), drives around Wake Forest guard Gina Note: Two points for a win one point for overtime loss. The top four teams in each Conti (5) in the first quarter of an NCAA women’s college basketball game division will qualify for playoffs under this season’s temporary realignment. minutes, making all eight free throw seconds rallied Louisville past Wake attempts around a couple of baskets Forest 65-63. in Winston-Salem, North Carolina, on Jan 24. (AP) ARAB TIMES, THURSDAY, JANUARY 28, 2021 16

Inter Milan’s Christian Eriksen scores his team second goal during an Italian Cup round of 8 soccer match between Inter Milan and AC Milan at the San Siro Stadium, in Milan, Italy, on Jan 26. (AP) – See Page 14 Sports Latest sports scores at — http://sports.arabtimesonline.com Hosts lead SA by 88 runs with 2 wickets remaining Alam century leads Pakistan to 308-8 vs South Africa KARACHI, Pakistan, Jan 27, (AP): by Keshav Maharaj off a no-ball late because the pitch looks like quite slow tury, 11 years after his fi rst, against Fawad Alam’s third Test century put in the day, was unbeaten on 11. and double-paced.” New Zealand last month. Pakistan in charge on the second day Alam, who bats in an unorthodox Pakistan was in trouble overnight On Wednesday, Alam shared of the fi rst Test against South Africa style and exposes all three stumps to on 33-4 after South Africa had been a 94-run, fi fth-wicket stand with on Wednesday. the bowler, was out in the last ses- skittled out for 220 on an eventful fi rst Azhar Ali (51) before his partner The 35-year-old Alam hit nine sion when he fl icked a ball from day when 14 wickets fell on an uneven was caught behind off left-arm spin- fours and two sixes in a patient 109 Lungi Ngidi (2-55) straight to mid- wicket. But Alam showed lots of de- ner Maharaj (2-71). off 245 balls, compiled in just under wicket. termination to keep the Proteas at bay. Mohammad Rizwan then made 33 six hours, to help his team reach 308- The home team went close to dismiss- until he was removed by Ngidi. 8 at stumps. ing him for 35 just before lunch when Alam reached his century by loft- Faheem Ashraf also scored a CRICKET Dean Elgar failed to hold onto a sharp ing Maharaj, who shared the new fl uent 64 off 84 balls as Pakistan low catch in the slips. ball with Kagiso Rabada (2-45), over opened up a fi rst-innings lead of 88 “I am feeling out of this world at the Alam had long been ignored by long on for his second six. runs on a slow wicket. He and Alam moment, it was a very good innings Pakistan after scoring a debut Test Ashraf, who smashed Rabada for shared a stand of 102 for the seventh because the team needed it the most,” hundred against Sri Lanka in 2009. two boundaries in an over with the wicket. Alam said. “I think we can put South He fi nally got his chance against new ball, was dismissed when he Debutant Nauman Ali was 6 not Africa under more pressure if we man- England last year and the left-handed dragged a full delivery from Anrich out and Hasan Ali, who was bowled age to add 20-30 more runs tomorrow batsman made his second test cen- Nortje (2-84) onto the stumps. Pakistan’s Faheem Ashraf plays a shot during the second day of the first cricket Test match between Pakistan and South Africa at the National Sta- dium, in Karachi, Pakistan, on Jan 27. (AP)

Wall, Rockets rout Wizards NBA Results/Standings

WASHINGTON, Jan 27, (AP): Results and standings from the NBA games on Tuesday. Atlanta 108 LA Clippers 99 Utah 108 New York 94 Houston 107 Washington 88 Eastern Conference Western Conference Atlantic Division Southwest Division W L Pct GB W L Pct GB Philadelphia 12 6 .667 - Memphis 7 6 .538 - Boston 10 6 .625 1 San Antonio 9 8 .529 - Brooklyn 11 8 .579 1-1/2 Dallas 8 9 .471 1 New York 8 11 .421 4-1/2 Houston 7 9 .438 1-1/2 Toronto 7 10 .412 4-1/2 New Orleans 5 10 .333 3 Southeast Division Northwest Division W L Pct GB W L Pct GB Atlanta 9 8 .529 - Utah 13 4 .765 - Orlando 8 10 .444 1-1/2 Denver 10 7 .588 3 Charlotte 7 10 .412 2 Portland 9 7 .563 3-1/2 Miami 6 10 .375 2-1/2 Oklahoma City 7 9 .438 5-1/2 Washington 3 10 .231 4 Minnesota 4 12 .250 8-1/2 Central Division Pacific Division W L Pct GB W L Pct GB Milwaukee 10 6 .625 - LA Lakers 14 4 .778 - Indiana 10 7 .588 -1/2 LA Clippers 13 5 .722 1 Cleveland 8 9 .471 2-1/2 Phoenix 8 7 .533 4-1/2 Chicago 7 10 .412 3-1/2 Golden State 9 8 .529 4-1/2 Detroit 4 13 .235 6-1/2 Sacramento 6 10 .375 7

FIFA probes African soccer leader European clubs’ head Agnelli fears pandemic ‘losses’ of up to $10 bln LONDON, Jan 27, (AP): Euro- pean football teams face losing up to $10 billion due to disruption caused by the coronavirus pan- demic, according to the latest fore- cast of the umbrella organization for clubs on the continent. Supporters have been kept out of stadiums in Europe’s main leagues longer than anticipated as the second wave of COVID-19 cases has devastated the continent. Andrea Agnelli, the Juventus chairman who leads the European Club Association, said it would be In this July 19, 2019 file photo, “extremely diffi cult” to see spec- the then Confederation of Afri- tators being allowed back in this can Football President Ahmad season. There have also been re- Ahmad of Madagascar looks bates to broadcasters and sponsors on during the African Cup of due to the pandemic after some Nations final soccer match be- leagues, including France, were tween Algeria and Senegal in abandoned last season and others Cairo International Stadium in Houston Rockets’ Sterling Brown drives past Washington Wizards’ Alex Len during the fourth quarter of an NBA basketball game, on Jan 26, in paused for up to three months. Cairo. (AP) Houston. (AP) “When I look at the best infor- mation I’ve had so far, we’re look- FIFA said Constant Omari ing at a bottom-line loss for the failed an integrity and eligibil- Antetokounmpo scores 27 points, Bucks beat Hawks 129-115 industry in the region of 6.5 billion ity check because of “an ongoing euros ($7.9 billion) to 8.5 billion formal investigation by the FIFA euros ($10.3 billion) for the com- ethics committee.” HOUSTON, Jan 27, (AP): Bradley Beal made a 3-pointer with fi nishing two shy of a triple-double. for Okongwu didn’t help as the Bucks bined two years,” Agnelli said on a Details of the case were not John Wall scored 24 points about 3½ minutes left to trim Hous- Bobby Portis added 21 points, and quickly extended the lead to 10 points News Tank Football virtual event given in a letter to the Confedera- ton’s lead to 10, but Wall hit a 3 sec- Khris Middleton had 19 for Milwaukee. at 16-6. on Wednesday. tion of African Football from a FI- in his first game against his onds later and Cousins added two free De’Andre Hunter led Atlanta with Milwaukee’s lead was 24 points at Italy - like England - had brought a FA-appointed offi cial overseeing former team, leading the throws to make it 99-84. a career-high 33 points. John Collins 58-36 in the second quarter. small number of fans back into some integrity checks. The letter was Houston Rockets to a 107- Oladipo and Eric Gordon added 20 had 30 points, but the short-handed The Hawks narrowed the defi cit in stadiums but had to prohibit access reported by African media and points apiece to help the Rockets to Hawks saw their three-game winning the third period. again as part of a national effort to confi rmed by FIFA as authentic. 88 victory over the Wash- their third straight win. streak end. Okongwu’s block of a shot by Bob- contain the resurgence of coronavi- Omari is president of the Congo ington Wizards. Beal scored 33 points to give him at The Hawks were without two key by Portis set up Hunter’s apparent 46- rus cases. There are concerns about soccer federation and has been an least 25 in each of his 12 games this foot 3-pointer as the buzzer sounded Wall was selected by Washing- starters, leading scorer Trae Young the fi nancial impact on the value of African delegate on the FIFA Coun- season, extending a franchise record. (back spasms) and center Clint Ca- to end the third period. Following a broadcast rights to games. cil since 2015. The position is paid ton with the No. 1 overall pick in Westbrook, who spent just one season pela (sore right hand). Rajon Rondo lengthy review, offi cials ruled the shot $250,000 annually by FIFA. the 2010 draft and spent his entire “About 360 clubs (in Europe) in Houston, had 19 points, 11 assists replaced Young in the starting lineup. came after time expired, leaving the will need cash injections, whether Omari stepped up to lead CAF career with the Wizards before he and seven rebounds. Rookie center Onyeka Okongwu made Bucks with a 94-83 lead entering the it’s debt or equity within those two when previous president Ahmad Ah- was traded to Houston in Decem- Bucks 129, Hawks 115 his fi rst career start. fourth quarter. years, for an amount of 6 billion mad was banned by FIFA in Novem- ber for Russell Westbrook and a In Milwaukee, Giannis Antetok- The Bucks outscored the Hawks in Jazz 108, Knicks 94 euros ($7.2 billion),” Agnelli said. ber for fi nancial wrongdoing. Ahmad, future first-round pick. ounmpo had 27 points and 14 re- the paint 60-30 and had a 51-38 advan- In Salt Lake City, Rudy Gobert Just as the ECA is in talks from Madagascar, and Omari were Wall had 15 points and four assists bounds and the Milwaukee Bucks beat tage in rebounds. had 18 points, 19 rebounds and four with UEFA about the distribution among three African offi cials barred by halftime, including a left-handed la- the Atlanta Hawks 129-115 to snap a Hawks coach Lloyd Pierce called blocked shots, and the Utah Jazz beat of Champions League revenue, as candidates for FIFA positions at yup that came after a nifty behind the two-game losing streak. a timeout after Milwaukee took a 9-2 the New York Knicks 108-94 for their Agnelli is painting a gloomier pic- CAF elections on March 12. back move and put Houston up 53-45 Antetokounmpo had eight assists, lead. The substitution of Solomon Hill ninth consecutive win. ture of the state of club fi nances The FIFA governance and re- in the second quarter. He cooled off Royce O’Neale scored 20 points, than Deloitte. The accountancy view committee carries out man- in the third, but got going again in the helping Utah overcome a quiet night for fi rm reported this week that the top datory checks on candidates as fourth to put the game away in his sec- Donovan Mitchell. Mike Conley had 19 20 revenue-generating clubs lost part of reforms introduced in fall- ond game back after missing fi ve with points, seven rebounds, and fi ve assists. around 1.1 billion euros ($1.3 bil- out from fi nancial and election a sore left knee. Mitchell fi nished with nine points lion) last season and their turnover scandals in the past decade. Omari Houston was leading by six when on 3-for-15 shooting. could drop by 2 billion euros ($2.4 has reportedly been investigated Wall re-entered the game with about Austin Rivers scored 25 points for billion) in this campaign. for suspected fi nancial wrongdo- seven minutes left. He scored fi ve New York - all in the fi rst half. Ju- “The revenue that’s been ing linked to CAF commercial quick points before fi nding Victor Ola- lius Randle had 18 points and 10 re- missed out on is driven by the lack contracts while he was vice presi- dipo in the corner near the Washington bounds, and R.J. Barrett scored 17 in of fans in the stadium, the lack of dent under Ahmad’s leadership. bench for a 3-pointer to make it 93-79. the Knicks’ third straight loss. interaction on a match day - fans Turmoil at CAF in 2019 led to The Jazz trailed by as many 15 spending in the club shop and buy- FIFA sending its secretary general, points in the fi rst half, but they grabbed ing food and drink - and there is an Fatma Samoura of Senegal, to run BASKETBALL the lead for good when they opened element that relates to revenue that the organization for six months. A the fourth quarter with a 20-3 run. broadcasters have either clawed forensic audit detailed fi nancial ir- The Wizards called a timeout after O’Neale punctuated the run with three back (or deferred) to next year,” regularities. that, and Wall yelled and jumped as he straight baskets, giving Utah a 100-84 said Tim Bridge of Deloitte. The 54-nation African soccer looked at the opposing bench before lead with 5:19 remaining. Meanwhile, the interim president body is due to elect a president, bounding back to the Houston side. Utah endured a cold spell on of- of the African soccer confederation some of its six other FIFA Council Wall and Westbrook were both giv- fense during the fi rst quarter. The Jazz is under investigation by FIFA and delegates and members of its own en technical fouls soon after that when missed 12 of their fi rst 14 shots and was barred Wednesday from an elec- executive committee. The election they jawed at each other as Westbrook Atlanta Hawks guard Trae Young (11) drives against Los Angeles Clippers shot 2 of 13 from the perimeter during tion to retain his seat on the govern- meeting is scheduled to be held in prepared to shoot free throws after be- guard Reggie Jackson (1) in the second half of an NBA basketball game, the period. They made only six baskets ing body’s ruling council. Rabat, Morocco. ing fouled by DeMarcus Cousins. on Jan 26, in Atlanta. (AP) in the fi rst 12 minutes.

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