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FRIDAY-SATURDAY, APRIL 30-MAY 1, 2021 / RAMADAN 18-19 1442 AH emergency number 112 NO. 17677 16 PAGES 150 FILS KUWAIT FM, U.S. NAT’L SECURITY ADVISOR DISCUSS BILATERAL TIES US eyes near-full sanctions rollback

Regret over leak

WASHINGTON, April 29, (AP): The Biden administration is considering a near whole- return to compliance with the accord. Because of the complex nature of the sanctions architecture, that could include non-nuclear sanctions, such as those tied to terrorism, missile development and human rights. sale rollback of some of the most stringent Trump-era sanctions imposed on Iran in a Biden administration officials say this is necessary because of what they describe as a deliberate attempt by the Trump admin- bid to get the Islamic Republic to return to compliance with a landmark 2015 nuclear istration to stymie any return to the deal. Under the 2015 agreement, the United States was required to lift sanctions tied to Iran’s accord, according to current and former US officials and others familiar with the matter. nuclear program, but not non-nuclear sanctions. As indirect talks continue this week in Vienna to explore the possibility of reviving the nuclear deal, American Administration officials deny they will remove all non-nuclear sanctions, but have declined to identify those which they be- officials have become increasingly expansive about what they might be prepared to offer Iran, which has been lieve Trump improperly imposed on terrorism and other grounds. driving a hard line on sanctions relief, demanding that all US penalties be removed, according to these people. “Any return to the JCPOA would require sanctions relief, but we are considering removing only those sanctions that are American officials have refused to discuss which sanctions are being considered for removal. But they have said they are inconsistent with the JCPOA,” said State Department spokesman Ned Price. “Even if we rejoin the JCPOA – which remains a open to lifting any sanctions that are inconsistent with the nuclear deal or that deny Iran the relief it would be entitled to should it hypothetical – we would retain and continue to implement sanctions on Iran for activities not covered by the JCPOA, including Iran’s missile proliferation, support for ter- rorism, and human rights abuses.” When president Donald Trump re-im- posed sanctions after withdrawing from the Opinion deal in 2018, he not only put the nuclear sanctions back in but also added layers of terrorism and other sanctions on many of the same entities. In addition, the Trump ad- ministration imposed an array of new sanc- Mohammed bin Salman ... passionate to achieve and tions on previously unsanctioned entities. This has put the current administration in an awkward position: Iran is demanding the removal of all sanctions. If the US doesn’t persistent in liberation from all forms of ‘retardation’ lift at least some of them, Iran says it won’t agree to halt its nuclear activities barred by the deal known as the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action, or JCPOA. By Ahmed Al-Jarallah understand the meaning of diver- But if the Biden administration makes Editor-in-Chief, the Arab Times sifi cation of sources of income. It concessions that go beyond the nuclear- is no longer a rhetoric, but rather a specific sanctions, Republican critics and FEW are the leaders who review behavior entrenched in the minds others, including Israel and Gulf Arab what they have accomplished states, are likely to seize on them as proof in their long-term projects, and of every offi cial. This is because the interest of the leadership and that the administration is caving to Iran. evaluate and correct the faults Former Secretary of State Mike Pompeo they fi nd in their work. Among the people is to detach from de- has led the charge among Trump alumni to these leaders is the Saudi Crown pendence on oil. The growth of denounce any easing of sanctions. Prince Mohammad bin Salman the Saudi nation and citizen satis- Former Trump administration officials who, in his televised interview faction is an essential task for the say all the sanctions are legitimate. Ga- with Saudi journalist Abdullah country’s leaders. briel Noronha, a former State Department Al-Mudaifer, had elaborated what Based on this, we say – What senior adviser on Iran, said all the Trump- has been achieved and what is be- has been achieved in the past few era sanctions had been approved by career ing worked on. years is a revolution of the aware- Justice Department lawyers and would have been rejected if they weren’t legiti- The interview contained many ness and salvation that Saudi Ara- mate. messages directed locally and in- bia has waited for a long time un- ternationally, charting a future that til it got the leadership that could Negotiations Saudi Arabia seeks steadily within liberate it from the rigid molds But a senior State Department official the “Vision 2030” while preserv- previously set by the frameworks involved in the negotiations said officials ing its legitimate and national con- of corruption, and made it rampant now “have to go through every sanction to stants without any procrastination. for decades in state institutions. look at whether they were legitimately or The Deputy Prime Minister Therefore, the beginning hap- not legitimately imposed.” of Saudi Arabia had pinpointed The official, who like the others spoke pened by dismantling those molds on condition of anonymity to discuss the everything concerning the Gulf and practices of the corrupt hands, and Arab people, particularly his private talks, also said the US would be people. He highlighted the role either by princes or ordinary citi- prepared to lift sanctions that would oth- of the kingdom in the region and zens, through a historic decision erwise deny Iran the benefits of the deal. the world, reassuring that the that stopped the wastage of tril- Those sanctions could include restrictions lions of riyals since 1980, and re- on Iran’s ability to access the international negative image entrenched in the President Joe Biden on the North Lawn of the White House, April 27, in Washington. (AP) financial system, including dealing in dol- minds of people due to the previ- turned more than $100 billion to the State Treasury. lar-based transactions. ous policies based on closure and “There are sanctions that are inconsis- fear of the future has today be- Given that the confi dence in More to come tent with the JCPOA and as we have said, come a thing of the past. national capabilities is very high, if Iran resumes its compliance with the What has been achieved in fi ve Prince Mohammed bin Salman did nuclear deal ... we would be prepared to years is much greater than what not turn to Western media to ad- lift those sanctions that are inconsistent was expected. The fears over dress the world. He instead chose with the JCPOA,” Price said last week. Saudi Arabia, which had been the the local media, to be the platform Expat terminations in thousands He declined to elaborate on what might be obsession of every Saudi, Gulf and from which it appears, setting the “inconsistent” with the deal. Arab individual, faded with this Saudi constants within which it is KUWAIT CITY, April 29: The Civil Those comments suggest that sanctions determination to shake off the dust imposed on Iran’s Central Bank, its na- possible to walk in good neighbor- Service Commission (CSC) has ter- tional oil and shipping companies, its man- of the past. ly relations, be it with Iran, which minated 6,127 non-Kuwaitis work- In general, the interview was ufacturing, construction and financial sec- “at the end of the day, Iran is a ing in government agencies as part Newswatch tors are on the block. Deal critics briefed the summary of what has been neighboring country, but our prob- of the ‘Kuwaitization’ plan and this on aspects of the Vienna negotiations say achieved since the start of the lem with it is its negative behavior number is expected to increase to they suspect that is indeed the case. “Saudi 2030 project”. The Crown and its support for militias on our 7,970 by the end of this year, reports That’s because the bank, oil, shipping Prince announced that there is NEW DELHI: Kuwait Ambassador to India Jassim Al-Najim borders.” Al-Rai daily. revealed on Thursday that the fi rst emergency aid from Kuwait to and other sanctions, all ostensibly imposed a second stage “Vision 2040,” There is no doubt that Saudi Director of the Job Arrangement India will arrive on Saturday onboard a special military aircraft. by the Trump administration for terrorism, which means that the awakening In a statement to KUNA, Ambassador Al-Najim said that ballistic missile and human rights con- process is based on clear and sci- Arabia is proceeding through an Department at the CSC Aisha Al- Mutawa told the daily that 6,127 non- the emergency aid is coming as a noble initiative of Kuwait in cerns, also affect nuclear sanctions relief. entifi c plans and continuous work. important stage of modernization, order to join the efforts to mitigate the massive impact of the Current officials say no decisions have This kind of march needs an which is if it links its economy Kuwaiti employees in government spread of a new mutated variant of coronavirus, which led to a yet been made and nothing will be agreed official who is a believer, and with the countries of the Gulf agencies were terminated during the record number of deaths and infections. in Vienna until everything regarding sanc- is passionate about performing Cooperation Council, through an first three years of the replacement The Ambassador underlined that this is a token of Kuwait’s com- tions relief and Iran’s return to compliance his duties and accomplishing his integrated industrial structure, plan approved in 2017. She added a mitment to lessening the suffering of the Indian people due to this with the nuclear deal has been settled. total of 1,840 non-Kuwaiti employ- health disaster at this unprecedented time India is passing through. But critics of the nuclear deal fear the mission in whatever position or then the gross national product of The aid consists of oxygen concentrators, ventilators, oxygen location he is, and all that is sup- these countries will have a global ees will be terminated in the fourth administration will go beyond even what cylinders of various sizes, and other medical supplies meant to has been suggested by the administration’s posed to be achieved by main- infl uence, but rather a lever for an year (current year) of implementing meet the shortage at Indian hospitals in the fi ght against the the plan. oblique comments. They suspect that taining and preserving social Arab world, which is desperately deadly coronavirus, Ambassador Al-Najim saidDuring a tel- sanctions on people, companies, govern- constants. needed to get out of the tunnel of Al-Mutawa disclosed the number ephonic conversation with Indian External Affairs Minister Dr Subrahmanyam Jaishankar, Foreign Minister and Min- ment agencies or other entities identified In fact, this does not mean the stalemate. of Kuwaiti employees in government for nuclear sanctions relief in the 2015 agencies affiliated with the CSC – ister of State for Cabinet Affairs of Kuwait Sheikh Dr Ahmad end of the day because there is Based on this fact, the first ini- Nasser Al-Mohammed Al-Ahmed Al-Jaber Al-Sabah had deal will be cleared; even if they were sub- still much to be done at various tiative came through the Green excluding the military, judiciary and pledged solidarity of Kuwait’s leadership, government, and sequently penalized on other grounds. levels and to continue the work Middle East Project, launched by oil sectors – is about 308,000 while people with India at this tough time. (KUNA) “The administration is looking to al- to achieve the goals of Saudi Ara- the Saudi Crown Prince, Prince the non-Kuwaitis are about 71,000 ❑ ❑ ❑ low tens of billions of dollars into the cof- bia’s vision as hoped and desired. Mohammed bin Salman to plant including 31,000 medical staff in the fers of the regime even if it means lifting Indeed, it is an integrated revo- KUWAIT CITY: Kuwait’s Ministry of Health has announced sanctions on major entities blacklisted for 50 billion trees, of which ten bil- Ministry of Health; 24,000 teaching recording 1,464 new coronavirus infections and 11 related lution based on the full realization staff the Ministry of Education; and terrorism and missile proliferation,” said lion are in the kingdom alone, deaths in the past 24 hours. Mark Dubowitz. that there is no renaissance without 6,000 service workers and those with The new fi gures take the total cases in the country up to 271,145 full awareness of a person in terms which will be a solid founda- tion for a good environment and simple jobs such as messengers, man- and deaths to 1,546 respectively, noted the ministry’s spokesman Also: of his natural role in the national doubs (company representatives) or Dr Abdullah Al-Sanad in a press statement on Wednesday. KUWAIT CITY: building process. a source of self-sufficiency in He pointed out that some 1,535 more people had been cured Foreign Minister and food. drivers. of the virus over the past day, raising the total of those who Minister of State for Cabinet Affairs Dr From here comes the confi rma- She added that only 9,000 out of Sheikh Ahmad Nasser Al-Mohammad tion of the head of the Saudi Eco- This young and ambitious stat- have overcome the disease to 254,423. (KUNA) the 71,000 non-Kuwaiti employees ❑ ❑ ❑ Al-Sabah, on Wednesday, received a nomic Affairs Council who said, ure presented an integrated work telephone call from US National Security program, with a simple speech that have remained and they are dis- “Education today is not bad. The tributed to 16 job categories like KUWAIT CITY: The new British ambassador to Kuwait, Be- Advisor Jake Sullivan. vision aims for three universities reaches all people, without being linda Lewis, has arrived in the country. She succeeds Michael During the telephone conversation, the overly concerned. The man of his engineering, legal, accounting and Davenport, reports Al-Seyassah daily. to be ranked among the best 200 science jobs. She affirmed the re- two sides reviewed the close ties between universities worldwide. quality feels the pulse of his peo- The daily said the ambassador, with her husband Anthony kuwait and the US and the frameworks of placement policy also applies to Galvin and their two sons will be in home quarantine for 14 The educational resources ple and his family in Saudi Arabia enhancing cooperation. them; stressing that these 9,000 em- days, in compliance with the health procedures, before pre- have become open, and the focus and the region, and he answered senting offi cial credentials to His Highness the Amir Sheikh They also discussed the most outstand- will be on plans to build skills ployees constitute only three percent ing developments on both the regional all the questions which might have of the total number of Kuwaiti em- Nawaf Al-Ahmad preceded by a copy to the Minister of For- that would enhance the strength been looming in the atmosphere of eign Affairs Sheikh Dr Ahmed Al-Nasser. and international arenas, and all matters ployees in government agencies af- aiming to boost security and stability in of the Saudi identity and develop many. ❑ ❑ ❑ openness. filiated with the CSC. the region Email: [email protected] She revealed the number of KUWAIT CITY: Kuwait is close to achieving community im- ❑ ❑ ❑ People with a weak identity are munity as it will most likely complete the vaccination of 70 the ones who are worried about Follow me on: Kuwaitis employed in the CSC percent of the target population within two months, provided TEHRAN: Iran’s top diplomat expressed being open to the world... Saudis reached 917 compared to 37 non- more doses of approved vaccines will arrive in the country, regret Wednesday that a recording leaked may be worried, but they are not Kuwaitis, indicating only four Ku- reports Al-Qabas daily. out of him making frank comments about afraid.” waiti consultants are employed to Health authorities have gone a long way in controlling the the limits of his power in the Islamic Re- Through this information, we [email protected] carry out studies and research that epidemic as their efforts resulted in a decline in the worrying public, with the country’s president de- CSC needs. indicators and an increase in positive indicators. This signals scribing the incident as a means to derail the probability of gradually opening establishments which ongoing talks with world powers over Two days ago, the CSC released have been closed for a long period. the list of required and unwanted Tehran’s tattered nuclear deal. Ramadan Timings The rate of recovery from the virus compared to the number Posting to his Instagram account, Mo- specializations. Certain specializa- of daily infections reached 93.8 percent on April 27, compared hammad Javad Zarif offered his first pub- Iftar ...... Friday...... 18:24 tions are registered in the CSC’s to 93 percent on March 27, 93.8 percent in February, 95.6 per- lic comments about the recording, which system and the same applies to the cent by the end of January, 97.5 percent by the end of Decem- Imsak ...... Saturday ...... 03:30 ber 2020 and 95.4 percent by the end of November 2020. caused a political firestorm across Iran Iftar ...... Saturday ...... 18:25 Ministry of Education, she con- ahead of the country’s June 18 presidential Imsak ...... Sunday ...... 03:29 cluded. election. ARAB TIMES, FRIDAY-SATURDAY, APRIL 30-MAY 1, 2021 2

Hugs by Mohammed Ahmed Ibrahim at Terra — The Sustainablity Pavilion Thought-provoking pieces include sculptural, conceptual and digital installations Artists put striking take on environment

ive thought-provoking art installations by four local said: “We are thrilled to have been part of the journey sqkm site adjacent to Al Maktoum International Airport Fand regional contemporary artists are now on display of bringing these artworks to life. They will not only in Dubai South in Terra — The Sustainability Pavilion, with each dem- enhance the experience of the visitors to Expo 2020 but ■ Built with a long-term legacy in mind, the Expo site onstrating a specifically Middle Eastern response to the will also be an important legacy for the city of Dubai is an example of innovation in action and will transform issues of sustainability. as they enrich the cultural fabric of the city in years to into District 2020, a blueprint for human-centric, smart Specially commissioned by Expo 2020 in collabora- come.” and sustainable cities of the future, after Expo 2020 clos- tion with Art Dubai, the artworks from the four, who In addition to the five pieces already in place in the es its doors represent the cream of Emirati and regional contempo- pavilion, one final artwork will be installed in the com- How to cover Expo 2020 Dubai in person at event time rary art talent, add an extra layer of engagement to the ing months. The piece, designed by an internationally or report on the event remotely Sustainability Pavilion as it tells the story of humans’ re- To attend Expo 2020 or cover Expo 2020 remotely us- lationship to the planet and challenges visitors to live in ing content and assets generated by Expo, you must be balance with the natural world. accredited. Marjan Faraidooni, Chief Experience Officer, Expo To kick off your journey with Expo 2020, please en- 2020 Dubai said: “We are very excited to be showcas- sure that you: ing such a wonderful array of installations by some of 1. Register to access our Media Information System, the most talented and visionary artists from the UAE and Tawassul at https://media.expo2020dubai.com. the region. The five pieces help to articulate our sustain- Tawassul is regularly updated, providing the latest ability messages in uniquely visual and inspiring ways, content assets, including press releases, photographs, further empowering people to make changes towards a audio and video, the electronic media kit, and informa- cleaner, safer, healthier future.” renowned artist, will be situated in the inner core of the tion on broadcast and photography operations. It also The four artists and the five artworks are: pavilion, at the heart of the building. provides you with important information and updates on ■ Zeinab Alhashemi (UAE) — Takween All artworks will live on as permanent installations facilities and services such as media accreditation, visa ■ Mohammed Ahmed Ibrahim (UAE) — Hugs during and after Expo 2020, when, as part of plans to information for international accredited media, and per- ■ Mohammed Kazem (UAE) — Directions (Expo create a meaningful and measurable long-term legacy, mits. Access to other media-related systems (Media As- 2020) and Measuring Terra — The Sustainability Pavilion will transform into a set Management System and Media Bookings System), ■ Ayman Zedani (Saudi Arabia) — Terrapolis Children’s Science Centre within District 2020, a model which will be launched in Q2 2021, will only be permit- Zeinab Alhashemi’s work explores the hidden con- global community that will rethink the cities of the future ted to accredited media (see below). Information about nections and geometry found in nature as a universal and repurpose more than 80 per cent of Expo’s built en- these systems can be found on Tawassul. language. Takween examines how the responsibility of vironment. 2. Once registered, submit an Expo 2020 Media Ac- humans and our planet are interdependent, with the two Running from 1 October 2021 until 31 March 2022, creditation expression of interest. halves of the piece merging together to become one — Expo 2020 Dubai will welcome more than 200 partici- Within this expression of interest, please appoint an what appears to be separate are in fact parts of the same, pants, as well as millions of visitors, to join the making of Accreditation Liaison Officer (ALO) from within your suggesting that man and nature thrive together. a new world, as it brings together the planet in one place organisation who will act as the single point of contact Among the UAE’s first generation of contemporary to reimagine tomorrow. with Expo 2020 for media accreditation. Following this, artists, Mohammed Ahmed Ibrahim hails from Khor- About Expo 2020 Dubai approved media organisations will be provided login de- fakkan, a coastal city in the UAE surrounded by rocky tails and instructions for the accreditation system to en- mountains, and his deep connection with the environment From 1 October 2021 to 31 March 2022, Expo 2020 able them to submit applications. is evident in his work. Hugs is an interactive installation Dubai will bring the world together in a spirit of hope About World Expos forming reflective walk-through space where visitors are and optimism and with a shared purpose towards solving In 1851 the Crystal Palace was the centrepiece of some of our greatest challenges. asked to examine how their values impact their decisions, ■ London’s Great Exhibition — the first World Expo. It especially when it comes to big questions such as the en- It will showcase the greatest innovations, break- celebrated the man-made industrial wonders of a rapid- vironment. Do we remember what is important? Or do throughs and ideas from around the planet, enabling ac- ly changing world. Architecture, contents and a theme, we push aside our values for the sake of convenience and Directions, Expo 2020 by Mohammed Kazem at Terra tion towards a better world under its theme of ‘Connect- ‘Industry of All Nations’, were combined to create a big comfort? — The Sustainability Pavilion ing Minds, Creating the Future’ idea of nations meeting nations in shared technological ■ Expo 2020 will be an endless journey of discovery Mohammed Kazem combines technological and tra- our place in our environment, and how we value it. and commercial progress. In more recent years, partici- ditional methodologies in an ongoing exploration of his as more than 200 participants — including nations, mul- pants in World Expos, including governments, interna- Ayman Zedani is a visual artist from Saudi Arabia tilateral organisations, businesses, and educational insti- environment, whether social, political or natural. His first whose work sits at the crossroads between installation, tional organisations and companies, have gathered to find piece for the Sustainability Pavilion, Directions (Expo tutions, as well as millions of visitors — harness their solutions to universal challenges and to promote their 2020), represents the geographic coordinates of world- sound, photography, video and science and attempts to collective power to change the world for the better achievements, products, ideas, innovations, their national wide visitors to the Expo site. Kazem’s work inspires renegotiate the relationship between human and more- ■ Expo 2020’s sub-themes of Opportunity, Mobility brand, and their nations as destinations for tourism, trade them to think about and create innovative solutions for a than-human in regard to the future of the planet and, and Sustainability will inspire visitors to make a con- and investment. more sustainable future. more specifically, the future of the Gulf. His new piece, scious effort to think and live differently World Expos are held under the auspices of the Bureau Kazem’s second piece, Measuring, challenges com- Terrapolis, is a digital monument to all the contributors ■ An entertaining global celebration with something International des Expositions (BIE), the intergovernmen- mon architectural norms of understanding a space. His to the Sustainability Pavilion. It uses a designed digital for everyone, Expo 2020 will wow visitors with daily tal organisation responsible for overseeing and regulating perception of the space, influenced by both memory and algorithm to transform their identities into digital or- events, showcasing the best of technology, creativity international exhibitions (‘Expos’) and for fostering their mood, determine its dimensions, satirising the presumed ganic entities that live in a simulation that reflects life and culture, while F&B outlets will feature cuisine from core values of Education, Innovation and Cooperation. accuracy of any spatial relationship. The work invites from a parallel reality, blurring the distinction between around the world Today, four types of Expos are organised under the BIE’s viewers to reflect on the shifting nature of something as life forms. ■ The first World Expo to take place in the Middle auspices: World Expos, Specialised Expos, Horticultural rational as ‘measurement,’ making us aware of both of Benedetta Ghione, Executive Director of Art Dubai, East, Africa and South Asia (MEASA), located on a 4.38 Expos and the Triennale di Milano.

editor’s choice ARAB TIMES, FRIDAY-SATURDAY, APRIL 30-MAY 1, 2021 3

Weather Expected weather for the next light to moderate north westerly Jahra 41 25 Prayer Timings 24 hours: wind with speeds of 10-32 km/h. Failaka Island - - Fajr ...... 03:42 Asr ...... 15:21 By Day: Hot with light to mod- Station Max Exp Min Rec Salmiyah 36 26 Sunrise .. 05:08 Maghrib .. 18:23 erate freshening at times north Kuwait City 38 26 Ahmadi 34 26 Zohr ...... 11:45 Isha ...... 19:47 westerly wind with speeds of 12- Kuwait Airport 39 24 Nuwaisib 42 22 40 km/h. Abdaly 41 19 Wafra 41 20 By Night: Rather hot to fair with Bubyan - - Salmy 41 20

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

Agility skids 32 fi ls, Mezzan Holding gains Kuwait veers south, volume hits fresh multi-month high By John Mathews fi ls after pushing 7.6 million shares and Kuwait soared 18.52 percent to 25 fi ls while Massaleh Securities House ticked 0.8 fi ls up to 54.5 fi ls. Arab Times Staff Finance House was down 6 fi ls a 723 fi ls with jumped 15.11 pct to stand next. KSHC skidded Kuwait Financial Centre (Markaz) took in 2 ▼ UUS$/KDS$/KD 0.30095/050.30095/05 a volume of 7.4 million. KIPCO extends last 13 percent, the steepest decliner of the day and fi ls on back of 2.5 million shares and KMEFIC KUWAIT CITY, April 29: Kuwait stocks session’s downtick with a 2 fi ls drop to 157 fi ls. Gulf Petroleum Investment topped the volume was up 3 fi ls at 138 fi ls. Bayan Investment gave ▲ Euro/KD 0.3648 veered south on Thursday to wrap up the month NAPESCO gave up 20 fi ls to end at 980 fi ls. with 77 million shares. up 1.3 fi ls after moving over 26 million shares on a tepid note. The All Shares Index snapped Zain fell 2 fi ls to 603 fi ls after moving 2.3 whereas Gulf Investment House gained 5 fi ls. ▼ Yen/KD 0.0027 the three-day gains to close 17.54 points down million shares and Ooredoo followed suit to Drop Ayan Leasing fell 3 fi ls to 166 fi ls with brisk at 6,113.60 pts after a volatile sessioneven as close at 639 fi ls. stc climbed 5 fi ls to 890 fi ls and Despite the day’s drop, the winners edged out trading and KFIC dialed up 1 fi ls. ▲ British £/KD 0.4196 the broader sentiment remained mixed. logistics major Agility skidded 32 fi ls to 948 the losers. 66 stocks advanced whereas 58 closed KAMCO crept 1.1 fi ls higher and Al Ma- The Premier Market dipped 34.97 pts to fi ls. Humansoft Holding took in 1 fi l and Mez- lower. Of the 140 counters active on Thursday, 16 dar Finance gained 10 fi ls. Al Deera Holding ■ Indian Rs/KD 0.0040 6,623.17 points paring the month’s gains to zan Holding scaled 9 fi ls. Boursa Kuwait Secu- closed fl at.18,232 deals worth KD 82.88 million slipped 8 fi ls. Noor Financial Investment eased 299 points while Main Market scaled 22.69 pts. rities sprinted 12 fi ls to KD 1.147. Educational were transacted during the session. 1 fi l to 254 fi ls whereas Tamdeeen Investment ■ Philippines Peso/KD 0.0062 BK Main 50 was up 13.13 points at 5,303.39 Holding jumped 55 fi ls. In the banking sector, Gulf Bank rose 3 fi ls added 2 fi ls. Kuwait Insurance Co dialed down pts. The volume turnover meanwhile swelled National Industries Group was unchanged at on back of 13.53 million shares while Kuwait 2 fi ls whereas Gulf Insurance Group scaled 9 past the 600 million mark to touch a fresh mul- 217 fi ls with a volume of 2.5 million shares and International Bank took in 1 fi l. Burgan Bank fi ls to end at at 662 fi ls. ▲ FTSE +51.73 pts at 13:10 hr, April 29 ti-month high. Over 605 million shares changed Gulf Cable dialed down 2 fi lss. Boubyan Petro- clipped 2 fi ls after pushing 4.5 million shares hands – a 9 percent rise from the day before. chemical Co darted 13 fi ls to 925 fi ls whereas and Boubyan Bank was unchanged at 655 fi ls. Unchanged ▲ Nikkei +62.08 pts at closing April 29 Gain Al Qurain Petrochemical Co held ground at Warba Bank inched 1 fi l higher to 253 fi ls NREC was unchanged at 182 fi ls with heavy 430 fi ls. Jazeera Airways stalled at 613 fi ls and whereas Ahli United Bank BSC tripped 1 fi ls trading whereas Salhia Real Estate shed 15 fi ls. The sectors closed mostly in green. The ALAFCO added 2 fi ls before settling at 215 fi ls. with a volume of 18.8 million. Al Ahli Bank Tamdeen Investment took in 1 fi l and Ajial Real ▼ Gold 1764.15 per oz (London) Consumer Discretionary outshone the rest with The market opened fi rm and slipped into red climbed 5 fi ls to 205 fi ls whereas Ahli United Estate added 4 fi ls before settling at 224 fi ls. 3.66 percent gain whereas Insurance slid 1.28 in volatile session. The main index pulled up Bank Kuwait trimmed 1 fi l. Kuwait Cement Co rose 4 fi ls to 232 fi ls and pct, the worst performer of the session. Volume to scale the day’s highest level of 6,141 points National Investment Co eased 1 fi ls to 191 Kuwait Portland Cement was up 5 fi ls. ▲ NYMEX crude $64.34 per barrel wise, Real Estate topped in volume with 220 and headed south again in multi-wave pattern fi ls and Al Imtiaz Investment closed 3 fi ls in The market was largely upbeat during the million shares and the sector also ahead in value to bottom at 6,122 points. It clawed back into green. Kuwait Investment Co rose 4 fi ls to 187 week. The main index closed higher in three ▲ Brent crude $67.29 per barrel with KD 22.86 million. green and slipped again before closing with fi ls whereas Arzan Finanial Group paused at of the fi ve sessions gaining 85 points week-on- Among the day’s losers, sector bellwether small losses. 112 fi ls. International Financial Advisors dialed week. It has rallied 337 points from start of the LIBOR rate 0.17713% National Bank of Kuwait slipped 5 fi ls to 823 Top gainer of the day, The Sultan Centre down 1 fi l with a volume of over 3 million. The month and is up 567 points year-to-date COVID cost hits almost KD 800m Other Voices The epic of Al-Surrah villa By Ahmad alsarraf of Finance in order to obtain a license to start restoration work, as requested he interest of Human Friendship by the Municipality, we were informed TSociety in obtaining a temporary in writing of the decision to cancel the headquarters began at an early stage, villa rental contract under the pretext thanks to Dr. Farida Al-Habib, when that the Kuwait Municipality objected she was the secretary-general of the to the validity of the villa for use and society and sought state property for this contradicts the truth, the consultant that purpose. engineer’s report and all engineering After that, I examinations of the building. completed the It would have been better if the endeavors and state property had informed us of that after hardship, from day one, not to sign a contract visits, corre- to give the villa to us, and obligating spondence and us to pay the annual rent for it, and the intervention to spend other large sums of money of ministers and that would have been disbursed for undersecretaries, the needy. a villa of state The Human Friendship Society is property was an extraordinary charity association allocated for alsarraf as it does not deduct any percent- the use of the ages from the donations it receives Society and we for the benefi t of those in charge of it, signed a usufruct contract after the con- and this of course does not suit some sultant engineer of the Society exam- people, and perhaps was a reason for ined it and made sure of the suitability revenge which led to the cancellation of its structure in all respects for use. of the contract. Then, for months, we sought to The Minister of Finance may be connect electricity and water to the behind this arbitrary decision though Photo by Bassam Abu Shanab villa, regain all its lost fi les and pay I was promised that the matter would Vaccination campaign has gained momentum as Kuwaitis and expatriates race to get their shots at the Mishref Fairgrounds. The fl ow is continu- fees for cable and meters and other ous as the vaccination process is very smooth and takes just a few minutes. be settled in our interest, and that the high expenses. We put forth a project relevant committee would meet and for its restoration through a tender approve that and after giving us prom- awarded to a well-known company ises week after week the matter ended Vaccination campaign speeds up but the contractor and the consultant with the cancellation of the contract engineer found out the necessity of re- without a real or convincing reason. opening the back door of the villa lo- order to face any future crisis, get out of them The issue is not personal and did KUWAIT CITY, April 29: Chair- cated on a large yard belonged to the not harm the board of directors. Rath- man of the Supreme Advisory with the least risks and costs, and develop state property for the purpose of tem- CSC says to create jobs them in the future in line with the actual real- er, it will harm those dependent on the Committee for the Coronavirus ity of the state. porary storage and parking for the So- aid of the Society which will have to Pandemic, Dr Khaled Al-Jarallah, 4 - Study the possibility of establishing a ciety’s cars, but the neighbor of that pay tens of thousands of dinars annu- special cash fund for emergencies that the space objected to the project to open ally in rents from funds allocated for for ‘Kuwaiti engineers’ said the national vaccination cam- the back door, arguing that the land paign speeds up enabling govern- country goes through in order to manage vari- charity work at a time when there is a KUWAIT CITY, April 29: The Civil Service Commission ous crises. It must be funded annually from was designated for him as a garden. villa in the state that has not been used (CSC) has vowed to create job opportunities for Kuwaiti en- ment departments to increase the state revenues to facilitate disbursement pro- Because of our insistence on our for more than twenty years. gineering graduates registered in the Central Employment number of employees in all depart- cedures, without negatively affecting the position, the neighbor of that land The decision was issued arbitrarily System as soon as possible, reports Al-Jarida daily. ments, reports Al-Rai daily. state’s budget and its annual plan. assigned a lawyer to stop the resto- and without justifi cation, and there- Director of the Job Arrangement Department at CSC Ai- Al-Jarallah said effective vaccines, dos- 5 - Activate the framework agreements for col- ration work and withdrew the villa fore we appeal to His Highness the sha Al-Mutawa affi rmed that the commission will provide lective purchase of government agencies, in order from us and sent several warnings to Prime Minister to intervene to redress ing stages, the distribution of vaccination to provide similar basic needs between agencies job opportunities for 2,670 engineers with various speciali- sites and the stability of supply will the Municipality, state property and the charity society from the injustice zations as per the regulations. She disclosed those who such as medicines, medical supplies, etc. to the Society but our legal advisor increase the frequency of vaccination, 6 - Establish and support local industries it has suffered just because it is distin- registered in the system include 924 mechanical engineers, confi rmed the integrity of our position guished in its work. warning that negligence in adhering to and products of primary medical supplies and and asked us not to give the warning 740 industrial and systems engineers, 417 electrical engi- food items in accordance with the interna- ❑ ❑ ❑ neers, 258 chemical engineers, 224 petroleum engineering preventive precautions prolongs the dura- any importance. tion of the crisis and its repercussions. tional standards adopted to meet the basic researchers and 107 civil engineers. needs of the state. After too many visits to the Ministry e-mail: [email protected] She explained the CSC’s statement on the manpower Expenditures 7 - Reconsider the regulations related to needs of the labor market in terms of specializations is re- The State Audit Bureau revealed that the relying on the private meetings of the procure- lated to the manpower needs in the next fi ve years as per the total expenditures of ministries and govern- ment committees through modern means of studies on the educational outputs and labor market needs. ment departments for confronting the COVID- communication in order to avoid preventing ‘Orphans are entitled to full aid’ She said the CSC has asked the educational institutions, such them from convening, and thus taking deci- 19 crisis reached KD 796.7 million so far, KUWAIT CITY, April 29: The Minister of its value, says Al-Seyassah. as Kuwait University, Public Authority for Applied Educa- reports Al-Qabas daily. sions without the participation of the largest tion and Training (PAAET), and the private universities, to In a report submitted to the National number of specialists in the relevant decision. Electricity, Water and Renewable Energy, In a press release the minister said ac- consult the commission before introducing any specializa- Assembly, the State Audit Bureau indicated 8 - Continue to hold remote meetings the Kuwaiti Minister of Social Affairs and cording to the text of Ministerial Resolution Community Development, Dr Misha’an No. 30A of 2021, “the orphan shall be given tion in order to study the fi nancial degree and job title in that the expenditures of the authorities to buy between regulatory agencies and government masks of various kinds reached KD 79 mil- agencies, as well as between government Al-Otaibi, has issued a ministerial decision the full assistance prescribed by law, even if preparation for employment in the government sector. saying an orphan is entitled to the full value he is residing with his mother or others, re- Meanwhile, acting Director of Kuwait University Dr lion, and for sanitizers KD 2 million. agencies, because of their importance in facili- As per the report, the State Audit Bureau tating procedures, reducing the red tapes and of the aid stipulated in the Social Aid Law gardless of their income when they are not Fayez Al-Dhafi ri said the university takes into consideration tightening control. and not to deduct the mother’s income from benefi ting from social assistance.” the fact that the CSC determines the actual manpower needs monitored a number of observations on the government’s expenditures and measures for In a preemptive step initiated by the possi- of the labor market. He added the university focuses on in- facing the COVID-19 crisis. The variation in bility of continued delays in the arrival of the creasing the admission rate for specializations that the labor the prices for purchasing supplies burdened third batch of the AstraZeneca-Oxford vaccine market needs as per the recommendation of the CSC. the public funds with large sums of money. to the country, the Ministry of Health is plan- Specializations The report touched on the lack of a mecha- ning to provide some primary healthcare cen- nism of government contracts during the cri- ters, which are designated to administer He went on to say that “the University Council takes into sis, and the lack of prioritization of disburse- COVID-19 vaccinations, with special refrig- account the importance of specializations presented by the ment in the various agencies, which caused the erators to store the Pfizer vaccine under spe- CSC, especially the scientifi c courses. It is also keen on lim- deviation from the goal of disbursement and cific cool temperatures to ensure the pace of iting the introduction of unnecessary specializations based an increase in the amounts spent. vaccination is not hampered, reports Al-Qabas on the unemployment rate among those specialized in such The inspections resulted in supply to the daily quoting informed sources. fi elds.” stores of the Ministry of Health masks that are They explained that the ministry is preparing There are no vacancies in the Kuwait Oil Company for valid for a period not exceeding three years to provide Musaed Al-Saleh in Shaab, Al-Siddiq, refrigeration and air conditioning technology at present from the date of their production. Al-Masayel, Al-Naseem and Mutab Al-Shalahi in Ishbiliya health centers with refrigerators for therefore, the company did not announce any jobs in these As per the monthly consumption rate during the pandemic, what will be consumed within storing the Pfizer vaccine. specialties for recent graduates who hold diplomas, reports three years will not exceed 238 million masks. Al-Anba daily quoting a senior offi cial. Therefore 412 million masks will expire, Process He pointed out that the Kuwait Oil Company follows which is a value of approximately KD 45.5 This is aimed to resume the vaccination the unifi ed mechanism for employment in the oil sector ap- million, thereby exposing the state to these process in the health centers, which was proved by the Kuwait Petroleum Corporation based on em- losses. stopped for days due to the delay in the arrival ployment announcements that are published, whether for At the end of its report, the State Audit of the third batch of the Oxford vaccine. The fresh graduates or those with experience, according to which Bureau recommended the following: second batch of Oxford vaccine will be admin- Kuwaitis are appointed in the company regardless of their 1 - Take all necessary legal measures istered to some of the people who received the qualifi cations and scientifi c specializations. regarding the observations made by the first dose a few months ago. It is likely that He mentioned the total number of workers who hold a di- bureau, both in this report and those included they will start administering the vaccine in the ploma in the fi eld of refrigeration and air conditioning tech- in the annual reports regarding the expenses first week of May. nology at the Kuwait Oil Company is 37, of whom only one for the COVID-19 crisis. The sources revealed that the resumption of worker is non-Kuwaiti, because he is highly experienced and 2 - Reconsider previous legislation issued to vaccination using the Pfizer vaccine in the five confront disasters and crises, and make use of health centers will relieve the pressure on the his services are required to training his Kuwaiti counterparts. the experiences and information gathered Kuwait Vaccination Center at the international In the meantime the Cabinet has approved the request of through the management of the COVID-19 fairgrounds, and will contribute to accelerating Minister of Awqaf and Islamic Affairs Issa Al-Kandari for pandemic. the pace of vaccinations, which has currently the return of 179 ministry workers who are stranded out- 3 - Set general plans and policies for man- reached about 28 percent of the total population. side the country, with a commitment not to allow residents aging crises and disasters, harness the capa- They said the Pfizer vaccination process is from India to directly enter the country according to Cabinet bilities available in the state, and form a ongoing while the ministry is awaiting the arriv- Resolution 454 issued on April 23. supreme committee to manage contracts in al of the third batch of the Oxford vaccine. ARAB TIMES, FRIDAY-SATURDAY, APRIL 30-MAY 1, 2021 LOCAL 4 Co-ops need to install CCTVs at all entrances, exits: Fadhli Move aims at increasing security in area

KUWAIT CITY, April 29: Head of the Labor Syndicate their work with the aim of increasing security in the area, of Cooperative Societies Sector Jamal Al-Fadhli affi rmed deterring recklessness, and uncovering crimes committed his support for the cooperative societies in all parts of Ku- by unknown individuals, reports Al-Rai daily. wait to install security cameras at the entrances and exits In a press statement, Al-Fadhli indicated that this step is based on the of their areas, and in vital installations within the scope of Cabinet’s decision issued in 2020 to oblige cooperative societies to in- Ambassador addressing the meet. stall security cameras inside their headquarters and in the facilities affi liated to them such as catering units, food stores and others in order to monitor and protect them from theft and vandalism. He said, “Nowadays in the developed countries, it is difficult to find any street without a surveil- lance camera linked to the internal affairs sector with the aim of pre- serving security and protecting properties. The presence of the sur- veillance cameras deters violators and facilitates the police in uncov- ering unsolved crimes. They are also used to determine the cause of accidents and find out who is at fault.They also assist the police and reduce their burden in terms of covering every street in the coun- Participants in the virtual event. try, and being present in times of accidents.” Al-Fadhli wished the coopera- Embassy, IBN & APEDA organize event tive societies would implement this vital project as part of their goals and community activities. In this regard, head of the Virtual buyer-seller meet Shamiya and Shuwaikh Cooperative Society Abdullah Al-Othman KUNA photo Al-Rashed explained that the coop- held on Indian mangoes Kuwaiti Ambassador to Jordan Al-Daihani during the delivery of food parcels to needy families. erative society, as part of its social activities, launched an initiative to KUWAIT CITY, April 29: The Em- and Konkan regions including Goa Kuwaiti Embassy in Italy gives Ramadan meals to poor securing the entrances and exits of bassy of India in Kuwait and the In- and is known for its sweet fl avor, it all the facilities of the cooperative dian Business Network (IBN) in asso- is one of the largest selling variety of society and of the area with cameras ciation with Agricultural & Processed mangoes in India - which are highly in order to protect the public and Food Products Export Development in demand in Kuwait. India is the Kuwait Awqaf launches Iftar campaign in Jordan private properties, and ensuring the Authority (APEDA) organized the largest producer of mangoes, pro- cameras are linked to the central ‘Virtual Buyer-Seller Meet’ for In- ducing more than half of the world’s AMMAN, April 29, (KUNA): The within a series of charitable programs dan iftar initiative. operations room of the Ministry of dian mangoes at the Indian Embassy mangoes. Kuwaiti Awqaf General Secretariat, that Kuwait is keen to implement Embassy Charge d’Affairs Amira auditorium. India has the largest number of va- in cooperation with Kuwait Embassy abroad under the directions of the po- Al-Dashti and political researcher in Interior with the cooperation of Zain in Jordan, started Wednesday the Iftar litical leadership. charge of charitable work Dhari Edh- Communications and Bass compa- The Ambassador of India to Ku- rieties of mangoes anywhere in the campaign for needy families and refu- For her part, the head of Nasaem bayah both delivered the meals to rep- nies for camera installation. wait HE Sibi George in a keynote world. India produced around 21 mil- gees. Al-Akha Charity Association, Dina Al- resentatives of four mosques in Rome This initiative cost about KD address paid tributes to all those af- lion metric tons of mangoes in 2019- In a statement to KUNA, Kuwaiti Yaseen, affi rmed that the association in at the headquarters of the Islamic Cul- 100,000. The contract has been fected by the Covid-19 pandemic; M. 2020, while around 50,000 metric Ambassador to Jordan Aziz Al- cooperation with the Kuwaiti embassy, tural Center and the Great Mosque of signed, and the installation of the Angamuthu, Chairman, APEDA pre- tons were exported globally. Daihani stressed the embassy’s keen- will distribute 1,000 food baskets to Rome, who undertook the meal prepa- cameras will soon be completed at sented an overview of the market and Kuwait is one of the top markets ness to follow up the aid delivery and benefi t about 5,000 people in all re- rations. all the entrances and exits of the vast diversity of Indian mangoes was for Indian mangoes. Last year, Kuwait to supervise the operation with the gions of Jordan. Al-Dashti said that this humanitar- area. highlighted by Bidyut Kumar Baruah, imported 1170 MT of Indian mangoes local charitable societies accredited Meanwhile, Kuwait Embassy in ian initiative, under the patronage of He appreciated the efforts exert- AGM, APEDA. Ashok Kalra, Advi- worth $2.22 million. The ambassador by the Kuwaiti Ministry of Foreign Rome distributed Tuesday hundreds of Kuwaiti Ministry of Foreign Affairs, ed by the members of the previous sor to Indian Business Network (IBN) urged the participants in the virtual Affairs. meals, in cooperation with the General will provide a total 3,000 meals, with and current boards of directors, the also spoke during the meet and the meet to work towards doubling the Al-Daihani added that the project Secretariat of Endowments, to poor a daily distribution of 400 during the mayor of Shamiya area Ibrahim representatives of exporters from In- volume in 2021-22, ensuring that a fi nanced by the Kuwaiti Awqaf comes Muslims in Italy, as a part of a Rama- holy month. Al-Mishal, and Head of the dia and importers from Kuwait shared box of Indian mango reaches every Shamiya Police Station Faisal their experiences on the regulatory home in Kuwait, during the year of Al-Khalidi for their cooperation in framework for export and import of 60th anniversary of diplomatic rela- launching this initiative. mangoes. tions between India and Kuwait. Benefi t The focus of the meeting was to The event witnessed enthusiastic ensure sourcing of quality mangoes response with over hundred exporters Al-Rashed added that the from India, especially quality Al- from India especially from Maharash- Ministry of Interior requested the phonso mangoes - the famous Al- tra, Gujarat, Andhra Pradesh and im- Union of Consumer Cooperative phonso mango or Hapus is produced porters from Kuwait who participated Societies to circulate the idea to all in Maharashtra’s Ratnagiri, Raigad, virtually. cooperative societies to benefit from it in maintaining security and quickly reporting any violations. ABCK-AmCham Kuwait commits support Meanwhile, Chairman of the Qairawan Cooperative Society Falah Al-Mutairi explained that the to UN’s Women Empowerment Principles project to place security cameras at KUWAIT CITY, April 29: ABCK- the entrances and exits of the area AmCham Kuwait has become one of is a state project. The Ministry of the signatories for the United Nations’ Interior is supposed to take up the (UN) Women Empowerment Princi- installation, operation and mainte- ples (WEPs), supported by its Women nance of the project in all areas of in Business Focus Group, chaired by Kuwait because of its importance Dr. Arezou Harraf. ABCK-AmCham in establishing security and protect- Kuwait joins almost 4,800+ global ing lives and properties as well as signatory companies, and 30 signa- helping to uncover crimes that tory companies in the state of Kuwait, occur without finding a way of which are part of supporting and ad- identifying the culprit(s). vancing the WEPs. He revealed that the cooperative The WEPs are a group of principles Frank Belonus society studied the project and developed in 2010, which offer a ho- decided to reject it for several rea- listic framework to organizations and Focus Group aligns with Kuwait’s Vi- sons, including its high cost and the businesses on how to promote gender sion 2035, which includes achieving lack of the desired benefit from equality and women’s empowerment gender equality and empowerment for monitoring cars at the entrances in the workplace, marketplace, and women, as the role of women in the and exits of the area because this is community. The 7 WEPs principles workforce and economic development the prerogative of the Ministry of are an initiative established by the UN is crucial for the economic develop- Interior. Global Compact and UN Women, and ment and diversifi cation of any coun- Al-Mutairi stressed that most of these principles encourage companies try.By signing the Women Empower- the quarrels occur near homes and and their leadership to improve gen- ment Principles by the United Nations public facilities, indicating that the der equality, as well as other facets Global Compact, we step in the right sums spent on this project should to advance gender equality in their direction as an organization, as we ex- be spent on other projects that workforce, supply chains, and com- press our support in advancing gender directly serve the shareholders and munities. equality by using the 7 principles of the people of the area. Frank Belonus, Chairman of the the WEPs as guiding points in benefi t He affirmed that the Al-Qairawan Board of AmCham Kuwait said: to our society.” Cooperative Society building and “ABCK- AmCham Kuwait is proud ABCK-AmCham Kuwait is proud its supply branch have surveillance to be one of many globally signing the to commit to work collaboratively cameras linked to the Central Women Empowerment Principles by with multi-stakeholder networks such Operations Department of the the United Nations Global Compact. as their own Corporate Members to Ministry of Interior and the Last year, ABCK-AmCham Kuwait foster business practices that empower Ministry of Commerce and Industry launched a Women in Business (WIB) women. to monitor the market and its visi- Focus Group, as we saw a need for a To learn more about the WEPS and tors in terms of crowding and social group that helps and empowers wom- sign the CEO statement, please visit distancing, or in the event of quar- en in the workforce within our own www.empowerwomen.org/en/weps/ rels or thefts, etc. membership and in Kuwait. Our WIB about Nursing administration activates online service ‘IMMUNE’ app launched to obtain COVID-19 vaccine certifi cate KUWAIT CITY, April 29: The In- media body against ‘Corona’, reports witness the vaccination of factory formation Systems Department of Al-Jarida daily. workers, food companies and restau- the Ministry of Health has launched The daily said a comprehensive rants. the “IMMUNE” app for viewing and campaign was organized to vaccinate ❑ ❑ ❑ downloading COVID-19 vaccination workers in all government and private The Director of the Nursing Ser- certifi cates, reports Aljarida daily. media institutions. vices Department at the Ministry On its Twitter account, the ministry The workers in this sector received of Health, Sana’a Al-Takadum an- affi rmed that it is possible through this vaccinations at the Mishref Fair- nounced the electronic reservation app to download vaccination certifi - grounds which witnessed a remark- service to visit the department will be cates and view the vaccination status able demand for vaccination. activated as of Sunday, May 2, 2021. of vaccine recipients using the fol- The health sources told the daily Al-Takadum said the link: is https:// lowing links -IOS download - https:// that the vaccinations of the media peo- eservices.moh.gov.kw/SPCMS/Nurs- apps.apple.com/us/app/immune. ple comprised those who had not been ingappointmentRequestar.aspx, stress- Google Play Store download - vaccinated. ing that the visitors will not be received https://play.google.com/store/apps/ The sources added, the ministry is in the department without a prior ap- details?id=com.mohkuwait.immune. continuing efforts to expand vaccinat- pointment, in order to preserve the Meanwhile, the Ministry of Health ing segments and groups with various safety of employees and visitors, and in completed the vaccination of the local jobs, and that the next few days will compliance with health requirements. ARAB TIMES, FRIDAY-SATURDAY, APRIL 30-MAY 1, 2021 LOCAL 5 REMEMBER WHEN

Wildlife in Kuwait The Fennec fox shown above is a spe- became thick with locusts. They were cies once found in the Arabian desert caught by the thousands, cooked and but is rarely found today. Its recent eaten; even animals seemed to delight sightings have occurred only in Kuwait in eating dried locusts. Photograph courtesy desert. The Fennec fox is a small ani- As for wild animals, the desert of mal with a sharp muzzle and pointed north Arabia as a whole was a dwelling of The Center for Re- ears. It can satisfy all of its water needs place for antelope, wolves, foxes, wild search and Studies on from a diet of insects, lizards and ro- cats and lizards, as well as many types Kuwait and the work dents. of snakes and insects. Snakes, for the The desert outside the city wall used most part, were non-poisonous, but the of Dr Yacoub Al- to teem with wildlife. Thousands of cobra was known south of Kuwait. Al- Hijji in the book Old- migrating birds visited Kuwait each though birds and animals were hunted, spring, including bustards, Persian they did not become scarce until the Kuwait: Memories doves, falcons and swallows. Moreo- advent of the automobile, when they in Photographs fi rst ver, swarms of fl ying grasshoppers were displaced. Today only a fraction occasionally entered Kuwait, destroy- of the early wildlife exists. (From the published in 1996. ing the grass that sheep and other ani- book ‘Old Kuwait: Memories in Pho- mals depended on. Sometimes the sky tographs’) Courtesy of The Center for Research and Studies on Kuwait diwaniya A DIGEST OF PUBLIC OPINION ‘Political, economic, social systems threatened by destructive chaos’ “CONSTRUCTIVE chaos is the creation of a political situation or social and their tasks and achieve the desired goals behind the creative chaos. Chaos and sanitary supplies such as gloves, masks, protective clothing, sterilizers, medi- economic conditions out of chaos and instability and a deliberate chain of uncertainty became prevalent in political, economic and social laws and sys- cines, medical devices and others. events that leads to the building of a new political, social and economic system tems. “Compared to the world as a whole, until last week, the infections in Kuwait that provides freedom, security, stability, growth, development and renova- “It is funny that we do not properly manage the creative chaos, so it has reached 256,404 cases, and the number of deaths from Corona reached 1,511, tion,” Dr Mohammad Al-Duwaihees wrote for become a destructive chaos. There is neither a developed educational system, while the number of infections in the world reached 147 million and the num- Al-Shahed daily. nor an active economic system, nor a National Assembly that represents the ber of deaths more than three million people. “Some believe that constructive chaos has other goals people and fulfills their wishes and aspirations. The destructive chaos and “In addition, the number of those who received the vaccine in Kuwait did not in the interest of those who plan, implement and work to deterioration of the political, economic and social systems continued year after exceed one million people, while that number reached more than one billion create them. Constructive chaos means, in short, spread- year.” vaccinations in the world. ing fear, suspicion and doubt in the existing laws and Also: “Is it possible to explain how the process of disbursing 800 million dinars regulations to the citizens and reaching the maximum during 195 days from March 2020 until September 2020? And for what was it levels of chaos and instability that make citizens desire “Kuwait is a country whose area is 17,818 sq km, population is 4.5 million, spent? change because reality has become difficult to coexist the number of Kuwaitis is 1.3 million, the time in question is March 1, 2020 “The question is directed to the honorable brother, head of the Audit with in light of current and future circumstances and until September 15, 2020, number of days is 195, total expenses for combat- Bureau, Mr. Faisal Al-Shaya because if I directed it to His Highness the data, so it becomes possible to build a new society with ing Corona approximately 800 million dinars and the source of such report is Prime Minister, the Minister of Finance, the Minister of Health or any other a new identity that serves everyone’s interests. the State Audit Bureau,” columnist Dr Naji Al-Zaid wrote for Al-Anba minister, none of them would dare to give me a logical answer because they “A follower of political, economic, social and edu- Al-Duwaihees daily. may also be really ignorant of the aspects of this spending on a ghost called cational events sees that there is chaos, but this chaos “This is what Kuwait spent on combating Corona, and this does not include Corona.” is not creative chaos or constructive chaos, rather it is almost certain that it the general budget or even the front-line bonus or any economic compensation is destructive chaos as the creative chaos planners were unable to carry out for those affected. Perhaps this cost was related to the purchase of medical and — Compiled by Ahmad Al-Shazli ‘Organized drug smuggling rife in Gulf and Arab states’ ‘Political crises threaten youths’

By Marwa Al-Bahrawi Al-Seyassah Staff Newspaper editor fined KUWAIT CITY, April 29: President of the Arab ‘Royal’ gets 2 years in battery case Union for the Prevention of Addiction, Dr Ahmad Abu By Jaber Al-Hamoud inside the hospital at the time also Al-Seyassah Staff became involved. Al-Azayem (Cairo) and the Representing the victims was Secretary-General of the KUWAIT CITY, April 29: The Lawyer Abdul Mohsen Al-Qattan Criminal Court sentenced a ruling who said the ruling family mem- Union, Dr Khaled Al-Saleh family member to two-year impris- ber and his accomplice assaulted (Kuwait) expressed the onment with hard labor, and his clients and humiliated them union’s concern reports of imposed a fine of KD 500. The for performing their duties. court also sentenced his friend to According to the investigation increasing organized drug one-year imprisonment with hard conducted in this regard, medical smuggling activities in the labor. The two were convicted of reports described the injuries sus- Gulf states and Arab coun- assaulting health workers of the tained by the several victims who Ministry of Health at Adan were retaliating in self-defense tries undertaken by well- Hospital. against the aggression of the known people. The court acquitted the health accused. The Arab countries are plagued by workers and patients who had ❑ ❑ ❑ political crises, which constitute a dan- retaliated against the assault of the gerous focus in our Arab world that two suspects. Editor fined: The Criminal Court works to destroy our promising youth According to the case file, the fined the Editor-in-Chief of in the Gulf Cooperation Council coun- accused and his accomplice Al-Seyassah newspaper, 50,000 tries, as well as the rest of the Arab assaulted the health workers after dinars for contempt of the Ja’afari countries. the accused demanded them to sect and insulting religious sym- The union affirmed that the issue of refer his son into surgery without bols and references, reports Al-Rai drug abuse is one of the biggest chal- following proper protocols. When daily. lenges threatening the development in they refused, he became violent Two attorneys Jalil Al-Tabbakh the Arab countries, especially as it is towards the workers, insulted them and Ibrahim Al-Bahrani had filed specifically directed at young people and assaulted them. lawsuits accusing of despising a who are the source of fuel and hope for The accused and his accomplice group of Kuwaiti society (who fol- the future, pointing out that the studies also insulted a police officer who low the Shiite sect) publicly on published about drugs in the Arab was called to maintain order and Twitter and by publishing images world have revealed a significant disperse the scuffle in which two that contain contempt for a sect of increase in consumption of hallucina- members of the public who were society. tion pills and also the spread of other toxins that are directed at rich nations. The union stated that the studies tries, which constitutes great harm to January 2020 to April 2021, attempts also linked the increase in the phenom- the youth of those countries. were made to smuggle more than five enon of violence and crime to the The union added the studies have million narcotic pills stuffed into expansion of drug smuggling and its proven that the largest state in which pomegranate fruits and more than 25 distribution within societies. corona deaths occurred in the United million pills in boxes of grapes. The union pointed out studies have States of America is the state of South ❑ ❑ ❑ also revealed that there is an increase Dakota, which is the state with the in the use of these drugs in groups that largest number of drug users, and this The Administrative Court postpon- were in the past semi-protected, name- also constitutes an additional burden ed until Wednesday the hearing on a ly women and children under sixteen, as a result of the spread of the drug and petition to cancel the paper exams of and these increase raises the concern it is difficult for health systems to 12th grade students in order to listen to of those in charge of the union because work in Arab countries to confront the the argument of the defense panel for young people are exploited and Covid pandemic. the government, says Al-Seyassah. recruited by terrorist groups after The union demanded the necessity The lawyer of a parent demanded introducing them to the menace of of holding an emergency meeting of for the cancellation of the decision due drugs – consumption and trafficking – the concerned ministers within the to the fear of risking the health of stu- the motive of which is to spread crime Arab League in order to discuss the dents. He argued this is considered an and violence in Arab societies. phenomenon of expanding smuggling imminent danger, hence, the need to The union revealed the absence of and those behind it, and take collective prevent the spread of coronavirus stable governments in some Arab action to reduce this phenomenon to among students who could infect their countries that are plagued by econom- protect the Arab security. families. He pointed out there are safer ic crises and this prompted some to The statement indicated that the list alternatives to the paper exams. allow or condone the cultivation of of seizures that attempted to enter the This came after the Education cannabis for many reasons, and this Kingdom of Saudi Arabia from Committee at the Cabinet approved the has greatly contributed to the expan- Lebanon reflects the seriousness of the Ministry of Education’s request to hold sion of drug cultivation and the situation and the organized attack to paper exams for grade 12th students attempts to export it to stable coun- destroy the region’s youth. Between while adhering to preventive measures. ARAB TIMES, FRIDAY-SATURDAY, APRIL 30-MAY 1, 2021

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Officials discuss institutional advancements of American education US Ambassador Romanowski, Cultural Offi cer Wen visit AUK campus KUWAIT CITY, April 29: Presi- dent engagement in areas of teaching, with a tour of AUK’s campus and its dent of the American University of research, and community outreach op- new academic building which houses Kuwait (AUK), Dr Rawda Awwad portunities. Another focal point of the the brand-new state-of-the-art com- welcomed United States Ambassa- meeting was AUK’s online operations munication and media center, art and dor, Her Excellency, Ms Alina Ro- and management of civic participation graphic design classrooms, and the manowski, and Cultural Officer, Nel- through the enhancement of academic, latest open computer laboratories. The son Wen to the University’s campus physical, and digital infrastructure. new Center for Continuing Education to discuss institutional advancements Dr Rawda outlined the value of (CCE) offices and the University li- of American education and founda- AUK’s partnership with the Embassy brary were also part of this tour. tional developments of the liberal of the United States and its impor- AUK’s partnership with the Embas- arts systems in Kuwait. tance, “Our close ties with the Embas- sy of the United States has been sub- Dr Rawda Awwad, Ambassador sy of the United States are significant stantially secure since the beginning of Alina Romanowski, and Nelson Wen to our institutional mission and remain its inception in 2004. Over the years, discussed the current global circum- strategic in advancing American style AUK has been working closely with stances whereby the adaptation of quality education in Kuwait. AUK is embassy partners, and future meetings academic institutions and development grateful to Ambassador Romanowski combined with regular follow ups sus- of online operations are imperative. and her team and looks forward to a tain this relationship to support and re- There was emphasis on collaborative continued association.” spond to the needs of AUK’s students, initiatives related to faculty and stu- The Ambassador was provided faculty, and staff. Program aims to enrich intellectual life of the university AUK launches Faculty Speaker Series

KUWAIT CITY, April 29: The Amer- President, Dr Rawda Awwad, “Our Ambassador Alina Romanowski receiving a gift from AUK President, Dr Rawda Awwad. ican University of Kuwait (AUK) re- faculty’s scholarly pursuits are cen- cently launched the Faculty Speaker tral to teaching excellence and ser- Series whereby faculty’s expertise vice to the profession. The Series will be showcased through their re- is an opportunity for our academic search and scholarly discourse to both community at AUK and our broader the AUK community and the broader constituents to engage with our fac- public. The new initiative serves as a ulty experts on matters of research platform for faculty who have received that is of significance and that con- local or international grants to share tributes toward constructive progress their findings, discuss their most recent and change,” she said. research interests, and review current Through experienced faculty dis- topics within the academic circles. cussing and sharing interdisciplinary Professor Fatima Shibly and Pro- research, audiences inside and outside fessor Salime Smadi, the organizing of the AUK community can engage in faculty of this series, discuss what discussions and exchange knowledge they hope to achieve through this In her talk, Hennessey discussed the in multiple areas of interest. program as they explain in a joint thought-provoking achievements of To receive the Zoom link to attend Exchange of conversation between AUK President, Dr AUK President, Dr Rawda Awwad providing a tour for statement, “The aim of the series is contemporary theater-makers from our this lecture, please sign up by send- Rawda Awwad, Ambassador Alina Romanowski, and Ambassador Alina Romanowski and Cultural Officer, to enrich the intellectual life of the region. Focusing on the socio-political ing an email to Facultyspeakerseries@ Cultural Officer, Nelson Wen on institutional and aca- Nelson Wen. University and to provide a platform content of three recent plays from Ku- auk.edu.kw. demic advancements. for university-community dialog and wait, the United Arab Emirates, and The American University of Ku- debate. Through this initiative, we Yemen, this presentation explored wait (AUK) is an independent, private, hope that the wider community will how and why theater matters in the equal opportunity, and coeducational engage in the conversation, and we Arabian Peninsula. liberal arts institution of higher edu- will be able to foster a sense of unity This series is not only an oppor- cation. The educational, cultural and and shared learning.” tunity for students to further engage administrative structure, methods and The first session of the AUK Faculty with their professors and learn more standards of AUK are based on the Speaker Series was held on the 26th of about their discipline through these American model of higher learning. April, 2021 at 6pm by AUK assistant sessions, but is also a chance for The language of instruction is English. professor of English and National En- anyone wanting to learn more about More information on the American dowment for the Humanities Research a particular field in which they are University of Kuwait can be found at Fellow, Dr. Katherine Hennessey. interested in; as expressed by AUK www.auk.edu.kw Group does noble work during Ramadan BDK organizes blood donation camp KUWAIT CITY, April 29: BDK-Ku- wait Chapter organized an emergency blood donation camp in partnership with the Central Blood Bank during the holy month of Ramadan. The blood donation camp was organized at Adan Blood Bank on the special request of the Central Blood Bank of Kuwait in view of the scarcity of blood donors due to the spread of COVID-19. It was the 7th consecutive blood donation camp, successfully executed in the current year, organized by the BDK Kuwait Team, with the support of various organizations and institu- tions. The camp was led by a team of about 25 medical personnel, including doctors and paramedics from the Cen- tral Blood Bank. The camp, which was held on Fri- day, April 23, from 9 am to 1 pm, received an unprecedented response from the expatriate community. 121 donors, including men and women who were fasting, had registered and 106 people successfully donated blood. Employees from certain organi- zations like 3B General Trading , came Photos from the event. collectively and donated blood in the camp. The camp was formally inaugurated Forum members develop beautiful garden by Abdul Aziz Hamad Al Haddad, a renowned Kuwaiti violinist and well known among the expatriate commu- nity. After the inauguration, he do- Pakistan Women’s Forum marks Earth Day nated blood with the expatriates com- Photos from the event. munity, despite him being fasting. He KUWAIT CITY, April 29: Earth Day highlighted the incessant support given ering, and Surendramohan thanked Those who are interested in partic- is an International event celebrated to Kuwait by the expatriate community the participants and blood donors. ipating in blood donation activities every year on April 22nd around the during times of crisis. BDK Kuwait Nalinakshan, Jithin Jose and Deepu- world to pledge support for environ- such as blood donation camps and Patron Manoj Mavelikkarahonoured Chandran coordinated the camp activi- awareness classes, in collaboration mental protection. the special guest. ties and a team of volunteers led by with the Central Blood Bank, and This year Pakistan Women’s Fo- BDK Kuwait Advisory Board Mem- Praveen, SarathKattoor, Thomas John, rum, Kuwait demonstrated and ber RajanThottathil greeted the gather- Rajesh Lal, Freddy, Binil, Liny Jayan, who are in need of free blood donor showed gratitude towards Mother ing, while BDK chapter president Unnikrishnan, Sreekumar, and Beena services can contact BDK Kuwait Earth by developing a beautiful garden Reghubal presided over the function. worked relentlessly to a flawless con- helpline numbers 6999 7588 or 5151 with immense support from Dr Ahmad NimishKavalam welcomed the gath- clusion of the camp. 0076. Al-Shatti, Director of Sabah Area and Dr Huda Ali Al-Rasheedi. The activity was held in the nursery, founded by Ahmed Al-Rasheedi (Abu Parents briefed on online etiquettes Talal) within the vicinity of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation Hospital. A big area was prepared by Abu Ta- lal’s team for PWF to conduct the ac- FAIPS (DPS) holds KG ‘virtual orientation’ tivity. Members of the PWF Executive Team, Mrs.Nighat Tariq, Mrs Romina KUWAIT CITY, April 29: Elementary Sarwar(Advisory), Mrs.Rabiah Bur- education is a holistic experience which ney (Treasurer) and a few members nurtures, develops and evolves with a planted trees in the designated area. close cooperation between the school and After planning out the layout of the the home, specifically a close contact be- garden, PWF Team decided to plant tween the teacher and the parent. With this evergreen trees and a variety of roses. vision, the FAIPS – DPS Kindergarten Evergreen plants and ceramic tiles sur- organized an “Orientation” for the parents rounded the boundary of the garden, cre- of newly admitted children on Sunday, ating a scenic effect. At the end, they had March 28 and Monday, March 29 with a a tour of the nursery by the founder. Supervised by Mrs.Nighat Tariq view to orient the parents in guiding their (Vice President - PWF) on behalf of children a smooth entry and enjoyable Ms.Hina Saleem(President-PWF), learning at FAIPS. During the orientation the event was attended by Sheikha session, the parents were warmly wel- Basmah Al-Sabah, Sheikha Aneesa comed and introduced about the usage of Al-Sabah, Dr Amaal Al-Yahia (Head MS teams. Then, the children were intro- of Healthy Cities office), Hessa Al- duced to their respective classmates and Balool (Head of Down Association), teachers. A photo from the event. and Dr Sarah Al-Duwaisan. A video on online etiquettes was shown PWF Team extends their sincere to the parents which stated several points labus and the weekly schedule/work. Fur- parents’ role as partners in education. appreciation to all those who attended - how to use the online tools, the presenta- ther, the class timings, core and elective Children are not things to be molded, and especially acknowledges the en- IMA Youth Wing – Kuwait invites you to attend the Online Talk on ‘Stay tion of the students during their classes, the subjects for each grade were also shared but are talents to be unfolded…the couragement and support from Dr. Healthy and Prepare Yourself for Jannah’, on April 30, Friday, 01:00 PM dos and don’ts which have to be followed with the parents. teachers laid the foundations of engag- Ahmad Al-Rasheedi and Dr Huda Al- via Zoom App. Zoom meeting details: Meeting ID: 869 9067 7784 and Pass during the online classes, etc. Parents were The Orientation Program helped to ing them with lots of joy, enthusiasm Rasheedi throughout the event. word: 272300 briefed about the monthly newsletter/syl- outline and reaffirm the teachers’ and and energy! ARAB TIMES, FRIDAY-SATURDAY, APRIL 30-MAY 1, 2021 INTERNATIONAL 7

America

Fed programs expansion President Biden says US democracy is rising anew WASHINGTON, April 29, ies – the autocrats of the world (AP): President Joe Biden – are betting it can’t. They declared that “America is rising believe we are too full of anger anew” as he called for an expan- and division and rage. They sion of federal programs to look at the images of the mob drive the economy past the that assaulted this Capitol as coronavirus pandemic and proof that the sun is setting on broadly extend the social safety American democracy. They are net on a scale not seen in wrong. And we have to prove decades. them wrong.” Biden’s Biden repeatedly hammered nationally home that his plans would put televised Americans back to work, restor- address to ing the millions of jobs lost to Congress, the virus. He laid out an exten- his first, sive proposal for universal pre- raised the school, two years of free com- stakes for munity college, $225 billion for his ability child care and monthly pay- to sell his ments of at least $250 to par- plans to McConnell ents. His ideas target frailties voters of that were uncovered by the pan- both parties, even if Republican demic, and he argues that eco- lawmakers prove resistant. The nomic growth will best come President Joe Biden arrives to address a joint session of Congress, Wednesday, April 28, 2021, in the House Chamber at the US Capitol in Washington, Democratic president is follow- from taxing the rich to help the as Vice-President Kamala Harris and House Speaker Nancy Pelosi of Calif., stand and applaud. (AP) ing Wednesday night’s speech middle class and the poor. by pushing his plans in person, Biden’s speech also provided beginning in Georgia on an update on combating the America Thursday and then on to COVID-19 crisis he was elected Pennsylvania and Virginia in to tame, showcasing hundreds the days ahead. of millions of vaccinations and In the address, Biden pointed relief checks delivered to help ‘This administration inherited a tide’ optimistically to the nation’s offset the devastation wrought emergence from the coronavirus scourge as a moment for by a virus that has killed more America to prove that its democ- than 573,000 people in the racy can still work and maintain United States. He also champi- Dems use race as political weapon: Scott primacy in the world. oned his $2.3 trillion infrastruc- Speaking in highly personal ture plan, a staggering figure to WASHINGTON, April 29, (AP): Sen. Tim Scott closer together. But three months in, the actions of idency that’s seen Republicans repeatedly accuse be financed by higher taxes on accused Democrats on Wednesday of dividing the the president and his party are pulling us further him of abandoning his campaign pledge to seek terms while demanding massive country and suggested they’re wielding race as “a apart.” bipartisan compromises. While Biden cited a rosy structural changes, the president corporations. His appeals were often emo- political weapon,” using the official Republican But the Senate’s only Black Republican saved roster of accomplishments and goals in his own marked his first 100 days in response to President Joe Biden’s maiden speech some of his sharpest comments for the fraught speech - “America is on the move again,” he said office by proposing a $1.8 tril- tive and personal, talking about Americans needing food and to Congress to credit the GOP for leading the subject of race. Scott recounted his rise from a - Scott said it was Republicans who had bolstered lion investment in children, country out of its pandemic struggles and toward low-income family and “the pain” of repeatedly the economy and began to tame the pandemic. families and education to help rental assistance. He also spoke to members of Congress as a a hopeful future. being pulled over by police while driving but said, “This should be a joyful springtime for our rebuild an economy devastated Scott, R-S.C., in his nationally televised rebut- “Hear me clearly: America is not a racist coun- nation,” said Scott, citing the Trump administra- by the virus and compete with peer as much as a president, tal of Biden’s address, belittled the new presi- try.” tion’s role in helping spur vaccine development rising global competitors. singling out Sen Mitch dent’s initial priorities - aimed at combating the Biden and other Democrats have cited institu- and beginning a revival of the staggered economy. His speech represented both McConnell, the Republicans’ deadly virus and spurring the economy - as waste- tional racism as a major national problem. “This administration inherited a tide that had an audacious vision and a con- leader, to praise him and speak- ful expansions of big government. While acknowledging that “our healing is not already turned. The coronavirus is on the run!” siderable gamble. He is govern- ing as one at a professional “We should be expanding options and opportu- finished,” Scott suggested that Democrats and The address also came as Scott, a 10-year vet- ing with the most slender of homecoming. nities for all families,” said Scott, who preaches a liberals have turned the race issue upside down. eran of Congress who usually keeps a low profile, majorities in Congress, and Goals message of optimism while remaining a loyal “It’s backwards to fight discrimination with dif- has found a spotlight leading his party in a bipar- even some in his own party have supporter of former President Donald Trump, “not ferent discrimination,” he said, without providing tisan effort to overhaul police procedures. That blanched at the price tag of his The GOP members in the throwing money at certain issues because examples of what he meant. “And it’s wrong to try drive was prompted by last May’s slaying of proposals. chamber largely stayed silent, Democrats think they know best.” to use our painful past to dishonestly shut down George Floyd, a Black man, and energized anew At the same time, the speech even refusing to clap for seem- Citing the partisan battle over Biden’s $1.9 tril- debates in the present.” by this month’s conviction of a white former highlighted Biden’s fundamen- ingly universal goals like reduc- lion COVID-19 relief bill, which Congress He added, “Race is not a political weapon to Minneapolis police officer for the killing. tal belief in the power of gov- ing childhood poverty. Sen Tim approved over unanimous GOP opposition, Scott settle every issue the way one side wants.” “I’m still working. I’m still hopeful,” he said of ernment as a force for good, Scott of South Carolina said, in said: “We need policies and progress that bring us Biden’s address came three months into a pres- the talks. even at a time when it is so often the Republicans’ designated the object of scorn. response, that Biden was more “I can report to the nation: rhetoric than action. America is on the move again,” “Our president seems like a News in Brief he said. “Turning peril into pos- good man,” Scott said. “But our sibility. Crisis into opportunity. nation is starving for more than Setback into strength.” empty platitudes.” Terrorist turns himself in: An Ital- While the ceremonial setting The president spoke against a ian national convicted of left-wing of the Capitol was the same as backdrop of the weakening but domestic terrorism decades ago turned usual, the visual images were still lethal pandemic, stagger- himself in to authorities in Paris on ing unemployment and a roil- Thursday, French prosecutors said. unlike any previous presidential Luigi Bergamin voluntarily presented address. Members of Congress ing debate about police vio- himself to the Paris courthouse, accord- wore masks and were seated lence against Blacks. He also ing to the prosecutors’ office. apart because of pandemic used his address to touch on the The move is part of a broader police restrictions. Outside the grounds broader national reckoning operation that saw seven Italians arrested were still surrounded by fencing over race in America, urging at their homes in France on Wednesday. after insurrectionists in January legislation be passed by the They had been convicted of crimes in the anniversary of George Floyd’s 1970s and 1980s and included several protesting Biden’s election former members of the Red Brigades,. stormed to the doors of the death next month, and to call BergaTmin was among three people House chamber where he gave on Congress to act on the still being sought by police. his address. thorny issues of prescription He was a member of the Armed “America is ready for takeoff. drug pricing, gun control and Proletarians for Communism, a far-left We are working again. modernizing the nation’s immi- group created in 1976 and disbanded Dreaming again. Discovering gration system. three years later that was accused of hav- again. Leading the world again. ing committed several attacks and mur- In his first three months in ders during Italy’s “Years of Lead.” We have shown each other and office, Biden has signed a $1.9 The arrests followed negotiation and the world: There is no quit in trillion COVID-19 relief bill – agreement between Italy and France America,” Biden said. passed without a single GOP after decades during which Paris refused This year’s scene at the front vote – and has shepherded direct to act on many of the arrest warrants of the House chamber also had a payments of $1,400 per person issued by Italy for convicted left-wing historic look: For the first time, to more than 160 million house- terrorists. The individuals had fled Italy a female vice-president, Kamala holds. Hundreds of billions of and sought refuge abroad before they Harris, was seated behind the could be imprisoned to serve their sen- dollars in aid will soon arrive tences. (AP) chief executive. And she was for state and local governments, ❑ ❑ ❑ next to another woman, House enough money that overall US Speaker Nancy Pelosi. growth this year could eclipse Royal couple mark ’versary: The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge marked Greeted 6% – a level not seen since their 10th wedding anniversary Thursday 1984. Administration officials The first ovation came as by releasing photographs showing the are betting that it will be enough couple snuggling in happy embrace, a Biden greeted “Madam Vice- to bring back all 8.4 million jobs President.” He added, “No pres- contrast to the ten- lost to the pandemic by next sions that have ident has ever said those words gripped Britain’s from this podium, and it’s about year. A significant amount pro- royal family in time.” recent weeks. The chamber was so sparsely posed just Wednesday would The images populated that individual claps ensure that eligible families show Prince could be heard echoing off the receive at least $250 monthly William, second- walls. per child through 2025, extend- in-line to the Yet Biden said, “I have never ing the enhanced tax credit that throne, and the for- was part of Biden’s COVID-19 mer Kate been more confident or more Middleton in com- optimistic about America. We aid. There would be more than Middleton plementary shades have stared into an abyss of $400 billion for subsidized child of blue. One image insurrection and autocracy – of care and free preschool for all is reminiscent of pandemic and pain – and ‘We 3- and 4-year-olds. their engagement photo. the People’ did not flinch.” Another combined $425 bil- William married his former university lion would go to permanently flatmate on April 29, 2011, at At times, the president plainly Westminster Abbey in a ceremony tele- made his case for democracy reduce health insurance premi- ums for people who receive vised globally. They have three children: itself. Prince George, 7, Princess Charlotte, 5, Biden demanded that the gov- coverage through the Affordable and Prince Louis, 3. The traditional gift ernment take care of its own as Care Act, as well a national paid for a 10th wedding anniversary is tin, a a powerful symbol to the world family and medical leave pro- symbol of durability. of an America willing to force- gram. Further spending would The celebration comes 12 days after fully follow its ideals and peo- be directed toward Pell Grants, the funeral of Prince Philip, William’s historically Black and tribal grandfather, who died April 9 at the age ple. He confronted an issue of 99. (AP) rarely faced by an American institutions and to allow people ❑ ❑ ❑ president, namely that in order to attend community college to compete with autocracies like tuition-free for two years. 4 people killed in hospital: Four China, the nation needs “to Funding all of this would be a people were found dead at a hospital in prove that democracy still series of tax increases on the the eastern city of Potsdam late Wednesday and a woman was detained, works” after his predecessor’s wealthy that would raise about police said. baseless claims of election fraud $1.5 trillion over a decade. A spokesman for Brandenburg state and the ensuing attack on the Republican lawmakers in police said officers were called to the US Capitol. Congress so far have balked at Oberlin Clinic shortly before 9 p.m. They “Can our democracy over- the price tags of Biden’s plans, found the four dead people and a fifth come the lies, anger, hate and complicating the chances of person who was seriously injured, he said. fears that have pulled us apart?” passage in a deeply divided “The victims showed signs of signifi- cant external violence,” police spokes- he asked. “America’s adversar- Washington. man Thorsten Herbst told The Associated Press. (AP) Apple profit soars in latest quarter on higher iPhone sales

Demand for the iPhone and polled by FactSet expected holiday-season quarter when ise higher speeds but are still other Apple products drove 99 cents per share on $77.1 iPhone sales jumped 17%. being built out. Apple is trying profits to more than double billion in sales. Some analysts believe the to goose sales even more In this file photo, an Apple in the January-March period The iPhone, Apple’s crown popularity of the iPhone 12 during the current quarter logo adorns the facade of the as the tech giant continued jewel, hadn’t sold quite as could lead to the device’s big- with a new purple iPhone 12. downtown Brooklyn Apple to capitalize on smartphone well as usual over the past gest sales year since 2014, Apple’s other products and store in New York. (AP) addiction. few years as people held on when the iPhone 6 came services - it has music and Profits came to $23.6 bil- to their current phones for out. It was a big hit because TV streaming services, just lion, or $1.40 per share, longer. But the release of four Apple enlarged the device’s announced a new key- and while revenue climbed 54% iPhone 12 models last fall screen. backpack-tracking device to $89.6 billion in the fiscal has unleashed purchases, The iPhone 12 is the first called AirTags, and comput- second quarter, the company and iPhone sales rose 66% model that can connect to 5G ers and tablets - are also said Wednesday. Analysts to $47.9 billion on top of a wireless networks that prom- growing. (AP)

Market Movements 29-04-2021 Change Closing pts Change Closing pts AUSTRALIA - All Ordinaries +26.02 7,346.03 S. KOREA - KRX 100 -21.00 6,725.11 JAPAN - Nikkei +62.08 29,053.97 PAKISTAN - KSE 100 -196.01 44,863.11 PHILIPPINES - PSEi +18.37 6,487.51 INDIA - Sensex +32.10 49,765.94 CHINA - Shanghai SE +17.83 3,474.90 Business Proposal part of Biden’s plan to tax the rich to pay for govt programs Capital gains tax hike targets wealthy investors NEW YORK, April 29, (AP): After massive U.S. govern- ment spending helped send the stock market back to record heights, with even more potentially on the way, the bill may be coming due for the nation’s wealthiest investors. President Joe Biden on Wednesday proposed to nearly double the tax rate that the highest-earning Americans pay Fed keeps key rate near zero on profits made from stocks and other investments. It would force millionaires to pay similar tax rates on their investment gains as upper-middle class households pay on their salaries, after years of enjoying lower rates. Central bank sees inflation as ‘transitory’ The increase in the capital gains rate is part of Biden’s plan to tax wealthy individuals and corporations to pay for WASHINGTON, April 29, expensive supplies. They include the con- programs to help lower-income families and children. sumer products giants Procter & Gamble Even though the proposal has been telegraphed for a (AP): The U.S. economy is and 3M as well as Honeywell, which makes long time, reports of its pending unveiling shook up the quickly strengthening, infla- industrial and consumer goods. stock market, with the S&P 500 falling to a nearly 1% loss tion is showing signs of picking Powell, however, downplayed concerns that on Thursday. Stocks have since set more records, but the these trends could trigger sustained high infla- kneejerk reaction shows how much investors care about po- up and the nation is making tion. He said he expects supply bottlenecks to tential changes in tax rates. progress toward defeating the cause only temporary price increases. What is the capital gains tax? viral pandemic. “An episode of one-time price increases The capital gains tax must be paid on profits made from as the economy reopens is not likely to lead an investment, such as a stock or a Bitcoin. But it only takes But on Wednesday, Chair Jerome Pow- to persistent year-over-year inflation into the effect after a sale locks in the gain. So if you bought a share ell made clear that the Federal Reserve future,” he said. of Tesla at $200 early last year and are sitting on a profit of isn’t even close to beginning a pullback in Clogged supply chains won’t affect Fed more than $500, you won’t owe anything unless you sell. its ultra-low interest rate policies. policy, Powell said, because “they’re tem- If you do sell, and you are one of the highest-earning In a statement after its latest policy meet- porary and expected to resolve themselves.” Americans, current law says you’d pay a 23.8% tax on a ing, the Fed said it would keep its bench- Under a new framework the Fed adopted $500 profit, or $119. That includes the 20% tax on invest- mark short-term rate near zero, where it’s last summer, it will no longer raise rates in ments held for more than a year, known as a “long-term been pinned since the pandemic erupted anticipation of high inflation, which had capital gains” tax. It also includes an extra 3.8% tax on in- nearly a year ago. The goal is to help keep been its policy for decades. Powell and other vestments for high earners that’s been around since 2013 to loan rates down, for individuals and busi- Fed officials have made clear they want to help pay for the Affordable Care Act. nesses, to encourage borrowing and spend- see inflation actually exceed their 2% annual What is Biden looking to change? ing. The Fed also said it would keep buying inflation target - and not just briefly - before The tax rate on long-term capital gains. And he’s likely $120 billion in bonds each month to try to they’d consider raising rates. looking to raise it only on Americans who make more than $1 million in a year. For them, he wants the rate to rise to keep longer-term borrowing rates low, too. In this photo provided by the New York Stock Exchange, traders work on the floor. They’ve set that goal so that inflation At a news conference, Powell stressed that would average 2% over time, to offset the 39.6% from 20%. With the additional 3.8% tax, the highest- The U.S. economy has been showing unexpected strength in recent weeks, with earning Americans could be paying a total tax rate of 43.4% the Fed would need to see more evidence of barometers of hiring, spending and manufacturing all surging. (AP) fact that it has been stuck below 2% for sustained and substantial improvements in the nearly the entire past decade. Fed policy- on profits from long-term investments. That rate would be the highest since the 1920s, according job market and the overall economy before it tors of economic activity and employment rising and Americans spending their stimu- makers favor price gains at that level as a would consider reducing its bond purchases. In cushion against deflation - a prolonged drop to the Tax Foundation, and the proposal would make the rate have strengthened,” the chairman said. lus-boosted savings. on investment gains similar to the rate on income made from the past, Powell has said that the Fed’s eventual “Household spending on goods has risen In March, employers added nearly 1 mil- in prices and wages that typically makes pullback in its economic support would start people and companies reluctant to spend. working. robustly.” lion jobs - an unheard-of figure before the The top tax rate that workers pay on salaries and wages with a reduction in its bond buying and only He also highlighted the striking progress pandemic. And in April, consumer confi- One reason Powell has said he thinks the after that in a potential rate hike. inflation pressures building in the U.S. econ- now is 37%. Biden is considering moving the top tax rate on the nation has made against the pandemic - a dence jumped to its highest level since the work income up to 39.6%. “We’re just going to need to see more key point given that the chairman has often pandemic flattened the economy in March omy will prove temporary is that, for now, data,” Powell said. “It’s not more compli- most Americans don’t expect prices to rise One reason tax rates have been lower on long-term capital cated than that.” said that the economic recovery depends on of last year. much in the long run. gains is that supporters say it encourages long-term invest- Paul Ashworth, an economist at Capital the virus being brought under control. The quickening pace of growth, on top At his news conference, Powell was ment and helps the economy. Economics, noted that “although it took a more “Continued vaccinations,” Powell said, of additional large spending packages pro- asked how the Fed would respond if infla- Are there other related changes? upbeat tone on the economic outlook and ac- “should allow for a return to more normal posed by President Joe Biden, have raised tion expectations were to increase before the Biden is asking Congress to wipe out a preferential tax knowledged that inflation has risen, the Fed of- economic conditions later this year.” fears among some analysts that inflation, economy had achieved something approxi- treatment for private-equity executives and other money fered no hints that it was considering slowing The U.S. economy has been posting unex- long quiescent, could rise uncomfortably mating full employment. managers earning millions of dollars annually, something the pace of its asset purchases, let alone think- pectedly strong gains in recent weeks, with fast. Raw materials and parts, from lumber “For inflation to move up in a persistent referred to as “carried interest.” ing about raising interest rates.” barometers of hiring, spending and manu- to copper to semiconductors, have spiked in way that moves inflation expectations up,” For years they’ve been paying only 23.8% in federal tax Powell did highlight the economy’s im- facturing all surging. Most economists say price as demand has outstripped the ability the chairman said, “that would take some because much of their compensation was treated as a long- provement in recent months but said much they detect the early stages of what could be of suppliers and shippers to keep up. time, and you would think it would be quite term capital gain. The industry says such tax treatment en- more progress was necessary. a robust and sustained recovery, with coro- Some companies have recently said they likely we would be in very strong labor mar- courages private-equity firms to take risks as entrepreneurs “Since the beginning of the year, indica- navirus case counts declining, vaccinations plan to raise prices to offset the cost of more kets for that to be happening.” and to continue investing in companies. U.S. tax law has treated carried interest as a capital gain since 1913, accord- ing to the American Investment Council, an industry group. Because of it, many wealthy private-equity managers pay a lower rate than what households with married people filing their taxes jointly were paying on income above $171,050. So a change would hit very, very few people? Yes. Only the top 0.3% of taxpayers may be affected, or about 500,000 households across the country, according to Brian Deese, director of the White House National Econom- ic Council. Then why does the market care so much? The wealthiest households are very, very rich, and own a lot of stock. The wealthiest U.S. households are collectively sitting on $1 trillion to $1.5 trillion in gains on stocks that they will have to pay taxes on whenever they sell, according to a Goldman Sachs analysis of data from the Federal Reserve. That’s roughly 3% of the entire U.S. stock market’s total value. The concerns are that those rich investors will dump their stocks before the rate is increased, and that would-be inves- tors would be discouraged from buying stocks because of the higher rate. Are those concerns valid? The last time Washington raised capital-gains tax rates in 2013, the wealthiest households sold 1% of their stock hold- ings in the three months before the new rate went into effect, Goldman Sachs strategists say. However, the selling was short-lived and the S&P 500 rose 30% for the year. Stocks tend to go up over the long term. So, a sale today would mean an investor would be losing out on all the gains that may be coming in future years. Also, many on Wall Street are expecting Democrats and Republicans to try for a compromise rate that’s lower than 43.4%. US expands ‘refinancing’ options for homeowners WASHINGTON, April 29, (AP): The Federal Housing Fi- nance Agency on Wednesday announced a new refinance option for certain low-income borrowers, helping them take advantage of low interest rates and save money each month. “Last year saw a spike in refinances, but more than 2 mil- lion low-income families did not take advantage of the re- cord low mortgage rates by refinancing,” said FHFA Direc- tor Mark Calabria. “This new refinance option is designed to help eligible borrowers who have not already refinanced save between $1,200 and $3,000 a year on their mortgage payment.” To qualify, borrowers must have a Fannie Mae or Freddie Mac backed loan, for a single family home that they reside in. Their income must be at or below 80% of the median income for their area. And their loan needs to be in generally good standing - with no missed a payment in the past six months and no more than one missed payment in the past 12 months. While there are other requirements for the credit profile, it is designed to ease the process to allow more borrowers qualify. The cost and credit requirements can keep some lower-income borrowers from seeking refinancing. This new option will ease some of the cost, such as a credit worth up to $500 for an appraisal. FHFA, which oversees Fannie and Freddie, estimates the refinancing option could save borrowers an average of $100 to $250 a month. The new refinance option will be available to eligible borrowers beginning this summer. ARAB TIMES, FRIDAY-SATURDAY, APRIL 30-MAY 1, 2021 BUSINESS 9

Caterpillar 1Q sales rise as dealers boost inventory levels Excavator booms, adorned with the Caterpillar’s sales rose in the first quarter Investment Research expected. housing demand in many areas, as peo- Caterpillar Inc. ‘CAT’ as market conditions for the machinery Sales for the construction industries ple working from home continue to hunt logo are displayed at company begin to improve and dealers segment rose 27%. North American sales for homes that can accommodate their the Milton CAT deal- increase their inventory levels. climbed slightly, with higher end-user needs. ership in Londonderry, Revenue climbed to $11.89 billion from demand driven mostly by residential con- Sales of new homes surged 20.7% in N.H., Feb. 20, 2020. $10.64 billion thanks to increased sales struction. March to the highest level since 2006, the Caterpillar’s sales volume driven by higher end-user demand The construction industry has been Commerce Department reported last rose in the first quar- and changes in dealer inventories. dragged down by the global spread of week. While sales of existing homes fell ter as market condi- Dealers boosted inventories by $700 mil- COVID-19, particularly in the U.S., but last month, it was because there are so tions for the machin- lion during the first quarter compared with increasing vaccinations and loosening of few on the market and prices jumped ery company begin to $100 million in the prior-year period. restrictions is helping various business 17.2% due to intense competition among improve and dealers The performance easily beat the $11.05 sectors get back on their feet. buyers, the National Association of increase their invento- billion in revenue analysts polled by Zacks The pandemic has also led to strong Realtors said. (AP) ry levels. (AP) Asia, US futures climb after Biden speech Bond yields hold steady, oil prices advance

TOKYO, April 29, (AP): Asian shares rose Thursday the and U.S. futures also were bottomline higher after President Joe Biden delivered a speech to SEATTLE: Boeing Co. reported a wider said the second quarter should be the low Congress outlining ambi- than expected first-quarter loss on point for the chip shortage, but it proba- Wednesday and took another charge on bly will last into next year. The situation tious plans for jobs-creat- its program to build two new Air Force will improve in the second half, but Ford ing spending on early edu- One presidential planes after firing a still will see production fall 10% over contractor it hired to help perform the original plans, he said. That means Ford cation, child care and other work. won’t be able to make up for any lost public services. The company did not provide a time- production this year. But CEO Jim Investors have stayed on the table for fixing the latest problem with its Farley said Ford will work to limit the sidelines ahead of the release later 737 Max jet, an electrical issue that has 10% cut. in the day of U.S. growth data for forced airlines to park about 100 of the The company expects to lose factory planes. output of 1.1 million vehicles for the the January-March quarter. The The combination of self-inflicted year, up from an earlier estimate of gross domestic product reading, damage and a coronavirus pandemic that 200,000 to 400,000. That will mean could top 5% and accelerate even has depressed demand for new planes fewer vehicles to sell, but thus far it’s more to 10% or even more in the pushed Boeing to its sixth straight quar- brought higher prices because demand is current April-June quarter as pent- terly loss. However, CEO David Calhoun strong. (AP) up demand fuels spending. said the company is at an “inflection ❑ ❑ ❑ point,” with an increase in vaccinations Shares rose in Hong Kong, against COVID-19 raising hopes for a NEW YORK: The bounce back for Shanghai, Seoul and Sydney. Bond rapid recovery in air travel that could McDonald’s as restrictions were lifted yields held steady while oil prices translate to aircraft orders. across the U.S. was so strong in the first advanced. Boeing lost $561 million - $537 mil- quarter that the company surpassed sales Benchmarks on Wall Street lion attributable to shareholders. during the same period even in 2019, Revenue was roughly in line with Wall long before the pandemic broadsided the slipped Wednesday after the Federal country. Reserve said it is leaving its key Street forecasts as the company generat- ed cash by delivering more new airliners McDonald’s revenue jumped 9% to interest rate unchanged near zero, than it did a year ago. $5.1 billion for the January-March peri- while noting recent improvement in People walk by an electronic stock board of a securities firm in Tokyo, Wednesday, April 28, 2021. Asian shares After the quarter ended, Boeing suf- od, better than most had expected. the economy. rose Thursday and US futures also were higher after President Joe Biden delivered a speech to Congress outlin- fered a new setback with its 737 Max Last year at this time stores were clos- In his speech Wednesday eve- ing ambitious plans for jobs-creating spending on early education, child care and other public services. (AP) jetliners, the grounding of dozens of the ing globally and the world sheltered from ning, the president ticked off details planes because of issues around electri- spiking COVID-19 infections, so an month to try to keep longer-term The expectations for a strong Investors punished several other cal grounding of some parts. Boeing improvement in sales during the same of some of his plan for $1.8 trillion stretch this year was expected. How eas- in spending to expand preschool, borrowing rates low. rebound and rising prices for oil, companies whose results came up continues to say that the fix is simple and will take three or four days per plane ily it topped 2019’s first-quarter sales of create a national family and medical The yield on the 10-year lumber and other commodities have short. Boeing slipped 2.9%, while $4.95 billion, however, was not. Treasury, which influences interest also spurred concerns over inflation Spotify sank 12.3% after the music once the leave program, distribute child care Facebook reports soaring quarterly ad U.S. same-store sales, or sales at loca- subsidies and more. rates on mortgages and other con- and the prospects for higher interest streaming company announced that revenue, stock jumps. (AP) tions open at least a year, rose 13.6% in The plan comes on top of his sumer loans, eased following the rates. Those worries pushed bond subscriber growth had slowed more ❑ ❑ ❑ the January-March period. Fewer diners proposal for $2.3 trillion in spend- Fed’s statement, slipping to 1.61% yields higher. than expected. visited, and many dining rooms remain ing to rebuild roads and bridges, from 1.62% late Tuesday. In its remarks, the Fed noted that Biotechnology company Amgen NEW YORK: Facebook’s stock jumped closed. But those who did visit ordered Stocks initially got a bump fol- the economy and job market have was among the biggest losers. It fell Wednesday into record territory after the more. McDonald’s said new products, expand broadband access and social media giant reported stronger- including a crispy chicken sandwich and launch other infrastructure projects. lowing the 2 p.m. Eastern release of “strengthened.” And, while it 7.2% after its first-quarter profits than-expected results for the first quarter spicy nuggets, helped draw customers. The future for the Dow industri- the Fed’s statement. acknowledged that inflation has and revenue fell short of analysts’ thanks to soaring ad revenue. (AP) als rose 0.4% while that for the S&P The S&P 500 dropped 3.54 points risen, the central bank said it sees forecasts. CEO Mark Zuckerberg said the extra ❑ ❑ ❑ to 4,183.18. The benchmark index the increase as transitory. Fed offi- Facebook rose 5.5% in after- money means the company will invest 500 climbed 0.6%. KENILWORTH, NJ: Merck’s first- In Asian trading, markets in hit an all-time high on Monday. The cials have said they want to see hours trading following the release more in new areas of potential growth - including augmented and virtual reality, quarter profit dipped 1% as people con- Japan were closed for a holiday. Dow Jones Industrial Average lost inflation exceed their 2% annual of its latest earnings after the clos- tinued to put off doctor and hospital vis- 0.5%, to 33,820.38. The tech-heavy inflation target before they’d con- ing bell. Apple added 3.3% in commerce, business messaging and con- Hong Kong’s Hang Seng rose tent creators, such as people who make its early this year due to the COVID-19 0.6% to 29,245.26 and the Nasdaq gave up 0.3% to 14,051.03. sider raising rates. extended trading after the compa- videos, write newsletters and host pod- pandemic, and it spent more on research Shanghai Composite index picked Smaller company stocks fared Investors also focused ny’s profit soared in its latest quar- casts. and production. up 0.3% to 3,465.98. In Seoul, the better than the bigger companies. Wednesday on corporate earnings, ter on higher iPhone sales. Facebook is also expanding its e-com- While it fell short of Wall Street prof- Kospi gained 0.1% to 3,184.78. The Russell 2000 index rose 0.1%, with dozens of companies reporting In other trading Thursday, merce offerings and the use of its mes- it expectations, Merck maintained its saging services for businesses. As for the profit forecast for the year. Australia’s S&P/ASX 200 added to 2,304.16. their quarterly results. benchmark U.S. crude oil rose 18 The maker of cancer blockbuster Wall Street has been mostly Google’s parent company, cents to $64.04 per barrel in elec- creator economy, the company is getting 0.4% to 7,082.80. into audio, podcasts and independent Keytruda and Januvia diabetes pills said In its latest policy update, the grinding higher in recent weeks, Alphabet, rose 3% after it said its tronic trading on the New York publishing similar to Substack. (AP) Thursday that net income was $3.18 bil- U.S. central bank left its bench- pushing stock indexes to record profits doubled from a year earlier. Mercantile Exchange. It gained 92 ❑ ❑ ❑ lion, or $1.25 per share, down from mark short-term rate near zero, highs, as the rollout of COVID-19 Visa rose 1.5% after reporting solid cents to $63.86 on Wednesday. $3.22 billion, or $1.26 per share, a year where it’s been since the pan- vaccinations, massive support from financial results. Brent crude, the international DETROIT: Ford Motor Co. posted a earlier. demic erupted nearly a year ago, the U.S. government and the Fed, Google’s solid gains helped send standard, advanced 19 cents to surprising $3.26 billion first-quarter net Excluding one-time gains and costs, profit on Wednesday, but the company adjusted earnings came to $3.56 billion, to help keep loan rates down to and a string of encouraging eco- communications stocks higher. Oil $66.97 per barrel. said a worsening global computer chip or $1.40 per share. Wall Street was encourage borrowing and spend- nomic data fuel expectations for a prices rose and boosted energy The U.S. dollar was flat at 108.61 shortage could cut its production in half expecting $1.63 per share, according to a ing. It also said that it would keep stronger economy and solid corpo- company stocks, while technology Japanese yen. The euro rose to during the current quarter. survey by Zacks Investment Research. buying $120 billion in bonds each rate profit growth this year. and health care companies declined. $1.2135 from $1.2128. Chief Financial Officer John Lawler (AP) ARAB TIMES, FRIDAY-SATURDAY, APRIL 30-MAY 1, 2021 BUSINESS 10

Special Report ARA Consumer Confi dence Index – March 2021 Key consumer gauge sees gradual decline

n account of its interest for mon- Oitoring the economic situation in Kuwait, “ARA Research & Consul- tancy” issues a monthly Consumer Confidence Index, in collaboration with the “Arab Times” newspaper and under the sponsorship of the “Lexus” trademark. The Consumer Confidence Index is considered as the only indicator that measures the Consumers’ psychological factors, based on people’s opinions and their prospects about the current econom- ic situation and its future as well as their expectations regarding their fi- nancial conditions, and how that re- flects on their purchasing power. The Consumer Confi dence Index is issued the fi rst Sunday of each month, and is based on quantitative research on a sample of 500 people, distributed the pandemic in terms of health, pre- Within these climates, citizens gave among Kuwaitis and Arab residents in vention, support and financial stimu- the Current Economic Situation index different Governorates. lation for large social groups. In ad- 86 points with a loss of seven points The study was conducted by tele- dition to the losses resulting from the from their monthly balance, and Arab phone through a random call selection, lockdowns, which led to the total or residents gave only 77 points with a taking into account that the distribution partial shutdown of many economic decrease of 12 points. Capital increased its ratio by 16 points of the sample should be representative segments in various sectors of in- At the level of governorates, they and Hawalli Governorate by 6 points. of the population in Kuwait. dustry, transport, trade and services. all expressed their worry about the Whereas Al-Jahra Governorate de- The general Consumer Confi dence Furthermore, the losses incurred by Current Economic Situation, and the clined by 20 points and Al-Farwaniya Index is based on six indices which the the oil exporting countries due to the numbers ranged from minus 2 points Governorate by 14 points. researchers at ARA use to measure the contraction of the global economic to minus 14 points. level of the consumer satisfaction and activity that has disrupted the supply The prevention and vaccination Stability of the Expected Personal optimism. These are: and demand balance in the oil mar- campaign organized by the authorities Income Index • Current Economic Situation Index kets, resulting in an unprecedented in Kuwait, aimed at securing immunity The Expected Personal Income In- • Expected Economic Situation In- decline in oil prices in general and in and protection for the largest possible dex stabilized at its previous level, dex 2020 in particular. All this, in addi- number of people, may accelerate the registering 100 points. The fi nancial • Current Personal Income Index tion to the negative downturn in the return of various economic sectors to support granted to small and medium- • Expected Personal Income Index consumer psyche in general as a re- their normal activity and thus ensure sized enterprises, and the various fa- • Current Employment Opportuni- sult of the prevention measures taken greater confi dence in the economic cilities offered to them by the banks, ties Index by the authorities to counter the epi- situation. which approached 50% of the capital • Purchase of Durables demic. The economy is expected to grow upon incorporation, as well as con- Index Within these forms of developments by 2.7% sumer loans, have somewhat affected The indices’ results in a month ba- and negative facts at all levels, the rel- positively the level of consumption sis measure the psychological state ative stability of consumer confi dence The Expected Economic Situation and purchasing power. of consumers in Kuwait, which equal in Kuwait is an achievement that gov- Index increased to 104 points, boost- Those with a high monthly income 100 points. This result (100 points) ernment measures and aid have con- ing its previous monthly balance by 7 of more than KD 2,250 per month draws the line between optimism and tributed to on the one hand, and the points. increased their Expected Personal In- pessimism among consumers. The psychological resilience of citizens This positive tendency among re- come Index to 117 points by adding 29 more the index surpasses this point, and residents on the other hand. spondents towards future expectations points within a month. the more the psychological state of Within these climates, Hawalli is based on a number of facts, includ- Despite the increase of the index in consumers in Kuwait is considered Governorate registered a ratio of 95 ing: some segments, the Expected Personal to be inclined towards optimism. points for the General Index, adding The fi nancial and economic expen- Income Index maintained its previous The more the index declines below two points, while the rates of other ditures and repercussions associated stability, in contrast to the signifi cant this point, the more pessimistic the governorates dropped between 1 and with the spread of the epidemic have increase in expectations for the future outlook. 7 points. led to an unexpected rise in the level economic level. of fi scal budgets around the world, i.e. Gradual decline of the General Remarkably, those with the highest Young people increase their confi - Index Ratio monthly salaries as well as workers defi cit has become a common factor dence in Employment Opportunities with below intermediate level of edu- among countries. Accordingly, the leg- ARA Research & Consultancy has cation expressed lack of confi dence, islative and executive branches have The Index for Current Employment released its Consumer Confi dence respectively 23 and 15 points. This worked together to establish a program Opportunities available in the market Index in Kuwait for March 2021, in could be due to current labor market that determines the method, sources has abandoned its high level of 120 collaboration with Arab Times News- needs. and timing of addressing the budget points recorded during February, to paper and under the sponsorship of defi cit gap. return to its previous levels, register- Lexus. Diffi culties facing the Current ing 108 points, a decline of 12 points Economic Situation Moreover, majority of specialized The General Index registered 93 international institutions expect Ku- within a month. points, dropping 3 points in a month The Current Economic Situation wait to achieve 2.7% annual growth It should be noted that some eco- and 9 points on an annual basis. Index scored 82 points, decreasing in 2021. nomic sectors, such as industry and Based on these data, the ratio’s tra- 9 points in a month and dropping construction, have recovered, but they jectory within a year can be observed 16 points compared to the results of Females are dissatisfi ed with suffer from shortage in expat workers, as from two angles; a negative one be- March 2020. Personal Income large numbers of workers have returned cause the rates sometimes decline, al- The research data indicates that The Current Personal Income In- home during the spread of the pandemic, beit slowly and gradually, and a sec- there is an almost unanimous lack of dex dropped to 74 points, losing three which poses a challenge in launching level, registering 105 points. points from its previous monthly bal- 12 points and Mubarak Al-Kabeer ond angle to evaluate the data that are confi dence in the current economic production at the usual level. Governorate by 22 points. Preventive measures have curbed considered positive due to the relative ance. situation among the different catego- Youth increased their confi dence ra- It is natural for the labor market to the level of consumption and increased stability of consumer confi dence levels ries of the research components. It is Females confi rmed their lack of tio in the Current Employment Oppor- be impacted positively when the risks the savings of citizens in banks to KD despite the force majeure imposed by possible to refer to some examples in optimism by registering a ratio of 89 tunities Index to 136 points by adding from the epidemic are diminished and the pandemic. the economic sectors that have faced points, down 13 points within a month. 10 points within a month. 37.3 billion, as a result of the decline the economic activity in Kuwait is re- in travel, transportation and entertain- The decline of 9 points within a and are facing the repercussions of the Note that infl ation is under control Regarding the regions, the ratio sumed. year is considered a positive step due pandemic to face this decline. For ex- and did not exceed previous norms, of the Capital decreased by 5 points, ment spending. to a number of reasons pressuring ample, but not limited to, 50% of the and the value or purchasing power of Al-Ahmadi Governorate by 15 points, Consumption growth is ex- Following up the consumption pat- the overall climate. Perhaps the most coffee shops and restaurants sector the dinar has maintained its levels and Hawalli Governorate by 25 points, pected in the second half of the tern and monitoring the diversity of notable one is the direct expenditures stopped working, and there has been a stability. Hence, the foundations for and Al-Farwaniya Governorate by 33 methods to overcome the epidemic, incurred by the Kuwaiti authorities signifi cant contraction in the air trans- the stability of monthly personal in- points. year both confi rm the expectation for similar to the rest of the world, albeit port sector, hotels as well as the retail come are available. On the other hand Al-Farwaniya The Purchase of Durable Goods In- growth in the level of consumption in varying proportions, to confront sector. While at the regional level, the Governorate confi dence increased by dex stabilized at its previous monthly during the second half of this year. ARAB TIMES, FRIDAY-SATURDAY, APRIL 30-MAY 1, 2021 SCIENCE 11

Coronavirus

Tries to vaccinate more India ‘grieves’ 200K dead with many more uncounted

NEW DELHI, April 29, (AP): Three days after his coronavi- rus symptoms appeared, Rajendra Karan struggled to breathe. Instead of waiting for an ambulance, his son drove him to a government hospital in Lucknow, the capital of India’s larg- est state. But the hospital wouldn’t let him in without a registration slip from the district’s chief medical offi cer. By the time the son got it, his father had died in the car, just outside the hos- pital doors. “My father would have been alive today if the hospital had just admitted him instead of waiting for a piece of paper,” Ro- hitas Karan said. Stories of deaths tangled in bureaucracy and breakdowns have become dismally common in India, where deaths on Wednesday offi cially surged past 200,000. But the true death toll is believed to be far higher. In India, mortality data was poor even before the pandemic, with most people dying at home and their deaths often going unregistered. The practice is particularly prevalent in rural areas, where the virus is now spreading fast. This is partly why this nation of nearly 1.4 billion has recorded fewer deaths than Brazil and Mexico, which have smaller populations and fewer confi rmed COVID-19 cases. Modi While determining exact numbers in a pandemic is diffi cult, experts say an overreliance on offi cial data that didn’t refl ect the true extent of infections contributed to authorities being blindsided by a huge surge in recent weeks. India had thought the worst was over when cases ebbed in In this June 19, 2019 file photo, astronaut Michael Collins attends the JFK Space Summit at the John F. Kennedy Presidential Library in Boston. Collins, who piloted September. But infections began increasing in February, and the ship from which Neil Armstrong and Buzz Aldrin left to make their historic first steps on the moon in 1969, died April 28, of cancer, his family said. He was 90. (AP) on Wednesday, 362,757 new confi rmed cases, a global record, pushed the country’s total past 17.9 million, second only to the US. Local media have reported discrepancies between offi cial Obituary state tallies of the dead and actual numbers of bodies in crema- toriums and burial grounds. Many crematoriums have spilled over into parking lots and other empty spaces as blazing fu- neral pyres light up the night sky. ‘His legacy will always be as one of the leaders’ Resources India’s daily deaths, which have nearly tripled in the past three weeks, also refl ect a shattered and underfunded health care system. Hospitals are scrambling for more oxygen, beds, Apollo 11 pilot Collins dead of cancer ventilators and ambulances, while families marshal their own resources in the absence of a functioning system. NEW YORK, April 29, (AP): Apollo been stuck on the moon’s surface - a as hell, both of them, competent and Jitender Singh Shunty runs an ambulance service in New 11 astronaut Michael Collins, who or- real fear - Collins would have returned experienced, each in his own way.” Delhi transporting COVID-19 victims’ bodies to a temporary bited the moon alone while Neil Arm- to Earth alone. Still, Collins called the group “ami- crematorium in a parking lot. He said those who die at home strong and Buzz Aldrin made their Though he was frequently asked if able strangers” because the trio never are generally unaccounted for in state tallies, while the number historic fi rst steps on the lunar surface, he regretted not landing on the moon, developed as intense a bond as other of bodies has increased from 10 to nearly 50 daily. died Wednesday. He was 90. that was never an option for Collins, crews. In southern Telangana state too, doctors and activists are Collins died of cancer in Naples, at least not on Apollo 11. Collins’ spe- “We were all business. We were all contesting the offi cial death counts. Florida. “Mike always faced the chal- cialty was as a command module pilot, hard work. And we felt the weight of the On April 23, the state said 33 people had died of COVID-19. lenges of life with grace and humility, a job he compared to being the base- world upon us,” Collins said in 2019. But between 80 to 100 people died in just two hospitals in the and faced this, his fi nal challenge, in camp operator on a mountain climb- Of the three, Collins was the ac- state’s capital, Hyderabad, the day before. It is unclear whether the same way,” his family said in a ing expedition. As a result, it meant he knowledged jokester. Aldrin called him all were due to the virus, but experts say COVID-19 deaths This photo provided by the Egyptian statement. wasn’t considered to take part in the the “easygoing guy who brought lev- across India aren’t being listed as such. Tourism and Antiquities Ministry on Collins was part of the three-man July 20, 1969, landing. ity into things.” In summarizing Ken- Instead, many are attributed to underlying conditions de- April 27, shows an ancient burial tomb Apollo 11 crew that in 1969 effective- “I know that I would be a liar or a nedy’s famous challenge to go to the spite national guidelines asking states to record all suspected unearthed recently with human re- ly ended the space race between the fool if I said that I have the best of the moon, for example, Collins later said: COVID-19 deaths, even if the patient wasn’t tested for the vi- mains, in the Koum el-Khulgan archeo- United States and Russia and fulfi lled three Apollo 11 seats, but I can say “It was beautiful in its simplicity. Do rus. logical site, in the Nile Delta province President John F. Kennedy’s challenge with truth and equanimity that I am what? Moon. When? End of decade.” For instance, New Delhi offi cially recorded 4,000 COV- of Dakahlia, around 150 kilometers (93 to reach the moon by the end of the perfectly satisfi ed with the one I have,” The Apollo 11 crew trained for just miles) northeast of Cairo, Egypt. Arche- 1960s. he wrote in his 1974 autobiography, six months before launching on July ID-19 deaths by Aug. 31, but this didn’t include suspected ologists unearthed 110 burial tombs in deaths, according to data accessed by The Associated Press the ancient site in a Nile Delta province, Though he traveled some 238,000 “Carrying the Fire.” “This venture has 16, 1969, from Florida’s Kennedy under a right-to-information request. Fatalities have since the Tourism and Antiquities Ministry miles to the moon and came within 69 been structured for three men, and I Space Center. The mission insignia - more than tripled to over 14,500. Offi cials didn’t respond to said on Tuesday. (AP) miles, Collins never set foot on the lu- consider my third to be as necessary as an eagle landing on the moon with an queries on whether suspected deaths are now being included. nar surface like his crewmates Aldrin either of the other two.” olive branch in its talons - was largely In Lucknow, offi cials said 39 people died of the virus in the and Armstrong, who died in 2012. Collins’ creation. city on Tuesday. But Suresh Chandra, who operates its Bhai- None of the men fl ew in space after the Future Collins said one of the things that sakhund electric crematorium, said his team had cremated 58 Apollo 11 mission. Aldrin, the remaining Apollo 11 struck him most was the way the Earth COVID-19 bodies by Tuesday evening, and 28 more were cre- “It’s human nature to stretch, to go, astronaut, tweeted a picture Wednes- looked from space - peaceful and se- mated at a nearby crematorium the same day. to see, to understand,” Collins said day of the three crewmates laughing, rene but also delicate. Last year, the Indian government used low death and case on the 10th anniversary of the moon saying: “Dear Mike, Wherever you “As I look back on Apollo 11, I counts to declare victory against the coronavirus. In October, landing in 1979. “Exploration is not a have been or will be, you will always more and more am attracted to my a month after cases started to ebb, Prime Minister Narendra choice really - it’s an imperative, and have the Fire to Carry us deftly to new recollection, not of the moon, but of Modi said India was saving more lives than richer countries. In it’s simply a matter of timing as to heights and to the future.” the Earth. Tiny, little Earth in its little January he boasted at the World Economic Forum that India’s when the option is exercised.” Collins was born in Rome on Hal- black velvet background,” Collins said success was incomparable. Collins was later the director of the loween 1930. His parents were Vir- while marking the mission’s 50th an- At the heart of these statements was dubious data that National Air and Space Museum in ginia Collins and U.S. Army Maj. niversary in 2019. shaped policy decisions. Xi Jinping Dick Washington. Gen. James L. Collins. After graduat- In contrast, he said the moon Information about where people were getting infected and “Michael Collins wrote and helped ing from the US Military Academy in seemed almost hostile. In fact, it was dying could have helped India better prepare for the current tell the story of our nation’s remark- 1952, a year behind Aldrin, Collins considered so hostile that on their re- surge, said Dr. Prabhat Jha, an epidemiologist at the University able accomplishments in space,” said joined the Air Force, where he became turn, Collins, Armstrong and Aldrin of Toronto who has studied deaths in India. Space President Joe Biden in a statement, a fi ghter pilot and test pilot. all spent several days in a quarantine Accurate data would have allowed experts to map the virus noting that Collins “demanded that John Glenn’s 1962 fl ight making trailer. They received visitors, includ- more clearly, identifying hotspots, driving vaccinations and everyone call him, simply, Mike.” him the fi rst American to orbit the ing President Richard Nixon, staring strengthening public health resources, he said. China launches core module: China Collins spent the eight-day Apollo Earth persuaded Collins to apply to through a window. “You can’t walk out of a pandemic without data,” he said. on Thursday launched the main module 11 mission piloting the command NASA. He was accepted on his second When the group was fi nally deemed But even when reliable data is available, it hasn’t always of its fi rst permanent space station that module. While Armstrong and Aldrin try, in 1963, as part of the third group safe, they went on a world tour, visiting been heeded. With infections already rising in March, Health will host astronauts long term, the latest descended to the moon’s surface in the of astronauts selected. Collins’ fi rst 25 countries in just over fi ve weeks. Minister Harsh Vardhan declared India was nearing the “end- success for a program that has realized a lunar lander, Eagle, Collins remained mission was 1966s Gemini 10, one of “Whether his work was behind the game.” When daily cases were in the hundreds of thousands, number of its growing ambitions in recent alone in the command module, Colum- the two-man missions made in prepa- scenes or on full view, his legacy will Modi’s Bharatiya Janata Party and other political parties were years. bia. ration for fl ights to the moon. always be as one of the leaders who holding massive election rallies, drawing thousands of mask- The Tianhe, or “Heavenly Harmony,” “I guess you’re about the only per- Along with John Young, Collins took America’s fi rst steps into the less supporters. module blasted into space atop a Long son around that doesn’t have TV cov- practiced maneuvers necessary for a cosmos,” acting NASA administrator The government also allowed a Hindu festival drawing March 5B rocket from the Wenchang erage of the scene,” Mission Control moon landing and performed a space- Steve Jurczyk said in a statement. hundreds of thousands to the banks of the Ganges River to go Launch Center on the southern island prov- radioed Collins after the landing. walk during the three-day mission. Collins is survived by two daughters ahead despite warnings from experts that a devastating surge ince of Hainan, marking another major ad- “That’s all right. I don’t mind a bit,” During the spacewalk, he famously and grandchildren. He died on the 64th was starting. vance for the country’s space exploration. lost a camera, which is frequently cited The launch begins the fi rst of 11 mis- he responded. anniversary of his wedding to Patricia Collins was alone for nearly 28 hours as one of the items of “space junk” or- Finnegan Collins, who died in 2014. Respond sions necessary to complete, supply and crew the station by the end of next year. before Armstrong and Aldrin fi nished biting Earth. Along with his autobiography, Col- Many were already convinced COVID-19 wasn’t very le- China’s space program has also recent- their tasks on the moon’s surface and On Jan. 9, 1969, NASA announced lins wrote a book on his experience for thal since the death toll seemed low. ly brought back the fi rst new lunar sam- lifted off in the lunar lander. Collins that Collins, Armstrong and Aldrin younger readers, “Flying to the Moon: India’s health ministry did not respond to queries from AP, ples in more than 40 years and expects to was responsible for re-docking the two would be on the crew of Apollo 11, An Astronaut’s Story.” In a 1994 pref- and ministers from Modi’s party defl ected questions about land a probe and rover on the surface of spacecraft before the men could begin the United States’ fi rst moon landing ace to the book, Collins urged more death counts. Mars later next month. heading back to Earth. Had something attempt. Of his fellow Apollo 11 astro- spending on space exploration and on Manohar Lal Khattar, chief minister of Haryana state, Minutes after the launch, the fairing gone wrong and Aldrin and Armstrong nauts, Collins said they were: “Smart an astronaut mission to Mars. told reporters Monday that the dead will never come back opened to expose the Tianhe atop the core and that “there was no point in a debate over the number stage of the rocket, with the characters for of deaths.” “China Manned Space” emblazoned on its exterior. Soon after, it separated from further investigation. keeps a risk list of more than 1,000 such ters. While such events are rare, scientists The Indian Medical Association in February said 734 doc- More than 900,000 asteroids have been objects that are closely tracked. say there are large numbers of such ob- tors had died of COVID-19 since the pandemic began. Days the rocket, which will orbit for about a week before falling to Earth, and minutes catalogued in the Solar System and about A meteor that crashed near Chely- jects in space that haven’t been detected later, India’s health ministry put the number at 313. 25,000 have an orbit that brings them close abinsk, Russia, in 2013, caused hundreds and could cause signifi cant damage if “This is criminal,” said Dr. Harjit Singh Bhatti, president of after that, opened its solar arrays to pro- vide a steady energy source. to Earth. The European Space Agency of injuries due to fl ying glass and splin- they struck populated areas. (AP) the Progressive Medicos and Scientists Forum. “The govern- ❑ ❑ ❑ ment lied about the deaths of health workers fi rst, and now The space program is a source of huge national pride, and Premier Li Keqiang No space junk threat: SpaceX’s four they are lying about deaths of ordinary citizens.” and other top civilian and military leaders Meanwhile, India set another global record in new virus astronauts had barely settled into orbit last watched the launch live from the control Friday when they were ordered back into cases Thursday, with another 375,000 people infected, as the center in Beijing. A message of congratu- country gears up to open its vaccination rollout to all adults their spacesuits because of a potential col- lations from state leader and head of the lision with orbiting junk. Saturday. ruling Communist Party Xi Jinping was It now has reported more than 18.3 million cases, behind It turns out there was no object and no also read to staff at the Wenchang Launch threat, the US Space Command acknowl- only the United States. The health ministry also reported Center. (AP) 3,645 deaths in the last 24-hour period, bringing India’s total edged Monday. The false alarm is under ❑ ❑ ❑ review. to 204,832, according to the health ministry. Experts believe Lt Col Erin Dick, a spokeswoman for both fi gures are an undercount, but it’s unclear by how much. Europe tests asteroid spotters: Scientists said Tuesday they have Space Command, said it was believed at India has set a global record for daily new cases for seven of the time that an object was going to come the past eight days. switched on a new telescope at the Euro- pean Southern Observatory as part of an close to the newly launched SpaceX cap- Starting Wednesday, all Indians 18 and older were allowed effort to create an automated network for sule carrying a crew to the International to register on a government app for vaccinations, but social spotting asteroids that might pose a risk Space Station. media were fl ooded with complaints the app had crashed due to Earth. “However, we quickly realized this to high use, and once it was working again, no appointments The 56-centimeter telescope that’s now was a reporting error,” she wrote in an were available. seen “fi rst light” at the La Silla Observa- email, “and that there was never a colli- The mass vaccination drive for the nation of nearly 1.4 bil- tory in Chile, known as TBT2, will work sion threat because there was no object at lion people began in January and has crawled along since. together with a twin in Cebreros, Spain, risk of colliding with the capsule.” Nearly 10% of people have received one jab, but only around to test whether the same object in space She declined to comment further, say- 1.5% have received both required doses. The latest effort to can be detected with one device and then ing additional information should be vaccinate those between ages 18 and 44 is expected to face tracked by another. available later this week once they under- problems, including whether states even have enough supplies. The tests are a precursor to a planned stand what happened. On Wednesday, the health minister in hard-hit Maharashtra network of automated telescopes being Astronauts typically get a fair amount state promised free vaccines for that age group but clarifi ed developed by ESO and the European of advance notice of potential close calls, the state didn’t have enough stock to start giving the vaccines Space Agency. The project, called Fly- In this image taken from undated video footage run by China’s CCTV via AP with enough time to even dodge out of the on Saturday. eye, will survey the night sky for fast- Video, a rendering of a module of a Chinese space station is shown. China has way, if necessary. Friday’s situation, how- moving objects and fl ag those that could launched the core module on April 29, for its first permanent space station that ever, popped up quickly — the astronauts become a threat to human researchers for will host astronauts long-term. (AP) got barely a half-hour heads-up. (AP) Film FRIDAY-SATURDAY, APRIL 30-MAY 1, 2021 FFeatureseatures reality television.(AP) will recognizethebestmomentsin SCRIPTED onMay17.Theshow gural Movie&TVAwards:UN- Awards, MTVwillairtheinau- each scoredfournominations. Paris” andAmazon’s“TheBoys” nominations. Netfl sion” leadstheawardswithfi that DisneyPlusseries“WandaVi- Hart Johnson, TiffanyHaddish,Kevin hosts include the BETAwardsin2017. Amazon Prime.Shealsohosted 2 America,”whichisstreamingon Sweep” andappearedin“Coming producer ofABC’s“Supermarket currently thehostandexecutive and televisionoverthepastyear. ebrates thebestmomentsinmovies Los Angeles.Theawardsshowcel- which willairliveonMay16from day thatJoneswillhosttheawards, Awards nextmonth. as hostoftheMTVMovie&TV Leslie Jones adaptation of miniseries. “Normal People,”an eight nominations including best with asexualassault,whichhas drama aboutawomandealing former “I MayDestroyYou,”writer-per- garet Prince Philip performances as Carter emy TelevisionAwards. Wednesday fortheBritishAcad- 1980s, received15nominationson community fromthe1960sto ences ofLondon’sWestIndian of dramasexploringtheexperi- Shaun Parkes,MalachiKirby for ries, andthereareactingnominations director nominationfortheBBCse- maker SteveMcQueenhasabest- Menzies series. the Emmys,includingbestdrama awards, Britain’sequivalentof nominated in10categoriesforthe nominated forbestminiseries. Micheal Ward LONDON: LOS ANGELES: said she’sencouragedbytheinclusionatthisyear’sceremony:“No- Tennessee, bybuildinghomes. community forhomelesstransgenderwomenofcolorinMemphis, ice skating,”Gadotsaid. skill …thatisfamiliarorwithwhitepeopledoingit,which empower them. troit whohasdedicatedherlifetocoachingyounggirlsofcolor we’re goingtobuildaconceptaroundthestory,”Gadotsaid. director RyanPallottaaboutadancerfromthefavelasinBrazil. ducer ontheseries,watchedashortdocumentaryfrommusicvideo Woman.” my fameandsocialmedia”afterthesuccessof2017’s“Wonder with GalGadot”grewfromherquestto“dosomethinggood discrimination andnaturaldisasters. impact ontheircommunitiesdespitedealingwithpoverty,violence, new documentaryseriesthatfollowssixwomenwhomadeapositive power tospotlightremarkablewomenfromaroundtheworld. NEW YORK,April29,(AP):GalGadotisusingherHollywoodstar Gal Gadotspotlightswomen’s storiesinnewdocuseries A dayaftertheMovie&TV Last week,MTVannounced Previous Movie&TVAwards The Emmy-nominatedLeslieis The networkannouncedWednes- Other leading contenders include Other leadingcontendersinclude Academy Award-winningfi Royal drama“TheCrown”is The seriesdebutedApril26,adayaftertheAcademyAwards.Gadot Another episodetellsthestoryofKayla,whohelpscreateasafe “She’s notonlyshe’sempoweringthem,butgivingthema The fi “We completelyfellinlovewiththestory,andwedecidedthat She andherhusbandYaronVarsano,whoisalsoanexecutivepro- The 35-year-oldsays“NationalGeographicPresentsIMPACT The “WonderWoman”actorishostandexecutiveproducerofa John Boyega, Letitia Wright, John Boyega,LetitiaWright, and intheNetfl Josh O’Connor,Tobias haveactingnodsfortheir Michaela Coel rst episodefollowsayoungBlackfi ❑ and Adam DeVine. “SmallAxe,”aseries Dwayne “The Rock” Dwayne “TheRock” will takethestage Sally Rooney Helena Bonham and . “Small Axe” is also . “SmallAxe”isalso ix series. Prince Charles, Comedian-actor ix’s “Emilyin Princess Mar- ’s powerful ’s powerful ’s best- lm- ve and and Kodak Black FLORENCE, S.C.: televised eventonJune6.(AP) on May24andtherestduringa at twoceremonies:craftcategories Irish lovers,hassevennominations. selling novelaboutstar-crossed at Bard?”asksa(snobby)friend.No,hereplies, history, buthe’sfoundateachingjobupstate.“Oh, to make:NotonlyhashecompletedhisPh.Dinart you knowheworksonit—hasanannouncement with thekindoftousledhairthatlooksbreezybut ter, Franny.George—handsomeandchiseled, are celebratingthefourthbirthdayoftheirdaugh- apartment. GeorgeandwifeCatherine(Seyfried) obvious somethingterriblehashappened. snowy roadtohisisolatedhome.Immediately,it’s turbed-looking GeorgeClaire(Norton)drivesupa in thestory—maybeevenaseanceortwo. (tsk tsk),thisshouldalertyoutoaspectralinfl So evenifyou’veskippedyourtheologyhomework en aremorerealthanthingsthatintheworld.” with aSwedenborgquote:“Thingsthatareinheav- Cease toAppear”byElizabethBrundage,begins you: Ghosts! body. Forthefi spiritual world,pasttheexpirationoftheirphysical uation oflife—andthatpeoplelivedon,inthe (among otherthings)thatdeathwasjustacontin- Norton. ous thrillerstarringAmandaSeyfriedandJames often entertainingbutcampyandsometimesobvi- ing into“ThingsHeard&Seen,”awell-castand man, bywhichwemeantoGooglehim,beforediv- and thusit’snotabadideatoreadupbitonthe Swedish mysticEmanuelSwedenborg. thrillers arebasedonthetheologyof18th-century dozen. LesscommoniswhenthoseHollywood homes andexperiencescarythingsareadime H The awardswillbehandedout Campy thrillerin‘ThingsHeard &Seen’ Flashback tothespringbefore,inaManhattan We begininthewinterof1980,whenaper- In factthefi What you’lllearnisthatSwedenborgbelieved But hereweare—aSwedenborgianthriller ❑ Variety gure skatingcoachinDe- tractive cityfolkmovetocreakyoldcountry ollywood thrillersinwhichsophisticated,at- wassentenced This imagereleasedbyNetfl Rapper lm, basedonthenovel“AllThings lm’s purposes,we’llboilitdownfor By JocelynNoveck Helen Mirrenfi Film bought aringlightforZooms,balancingherlaptopontwodictionar- demic. gender andequalityallofthat.Wehavetodothistogether.” women andmeninordertoreachthisplacethatwealwaystalkabout and greatjustlikemen,”shesaid.“So,forme,it’seducatingboth for boystoadmireaswellandunderstandthatwomencanbestrong doing theseamazingthingsasgirls.Butalso,itgivesthemarolemodel to accomplishforanewgeneration. LONDON: Working fromhome?“Muchmoreconvenient,”shesaid.She “The girlscangoandbeinspiredbythegirlimaginethemselves She saidthat’swhatherDCcinematicuniversesuperherowasable can justempowerthewomenandnoteducatemen.” change canonlyhappenwhenweincludethemen.It’sneverlikeyou norm, almost.Youknow,youseeitwiththeOscars,”shesaid. passionate aboutandthattheycarenowit’sbecominga ing totheothersideofcameraanddevelopingstoriesthatthey’re be nominatedforbestdirector. tor EmeraldFennellbecameonlythesixthandseventhwomeneverto madland” directorChloéZhaoand“PromisingYoungWoman”direc- oe Boyega Jones “There’s agreatchange.Butatthesametime,Igottosaythat “Women thatareusedtobeonlyinfrontofthecameranowgo- ix showsAmandaSeyfriedinascenefrom‘ThingsHeardAndSeen.’(AP)

Helen Mirren nds brightsideduringthepandemic Seyfried lendsgrounding presence uence home thanmeetstheeye. more tothesebrothersandtheirconnectionthe offer todooddjobs.Aswesuspectearlyon,there’s brothers, EddyandCole,wholivenextdoor F. MurrayAbraham.) Inness (DeBeersisplayedbyadeliciouslyaugust infl has afascinationnotonlywithSwedenborgbuthis ment, includingthechairman,FloydDeBeers,who curry favorwithcolleaguesinhisarthistorydepart- George, who’sspendingmostofhistimetryingto home, suggestingpasttrauma. There arealsohistoricalhintssprinkledthroughthe noises andstrangevoicesdodgyelectricity. happens inhauntedhousemovies,therearestrange becomes clearthefamilyisnotentirelyalone.As Catherine launchesintothejob.Soon,however,it farm, ishugeandcreakyneedswork,but hasbeenfi Generation Catherine alsodevelopsanaffectionfortwo Catherine ismuchmoreattunedtothesethan The houseGeorgehasfound,onanolddairy Catherine bulimic,forexample?) sometimes they’reredherrings.Maybe?Whyis unabashedly telegraphedinthisfi ominously called…Chosen.(Certainthingsare tion oftheplace)andtheirchosentown,whichis ert Pulcinidrawoutboththecharmandisola- (writer-directors ShariSpringerBermanandRob- and full-timerednecks.” live inaplacefi friend warnsCatherineshe’sgivingupalottogo — hiswealthyparentshavefi one thing,shetellsafriend,theyneedthemoney storer, feelstheneedtosupportherhusband.For ing nodesiretoleavehercovetedjobasanartre- a placecalledSaginaw. uence onprominentlandscapepainterGeorge But movetheydo,tobeautifulHudsonValley Nobody isimpressed,butCatherine,despitehav- Also: nding thebrightsideofpan- prison sentence. Hewon’thave Kapri at theFlorenceCounty courthouse. pleaded guiltytofi with rape,butacceptedadealand Carolina saulting ateenagegirlin to probationWednesdayforas- Black, whoselegal nameis Black wasoriginallycharged , facesa10-yearsuspended lled with “richhorseyweekenders hotelroom. Dodgy rst-degree assault nally cuthimoff.The South lm. Thenagain, Bill said. always sortofrathersurprisedormovedaffectedbythat,”Mirren can walkonstageanddoShakespeareabsolutelyfl ter, actorfriendsofminewhohavequiteaseverestutteroff-stageand raising galainNewYork. has beenanadvocateandambassadorforyears,hostingSAY’sfund- documentary examinestheirtimeatCampSAY. their confi due tohowtheyspeak,andlooksatthecharityhelpsthemwith profi tiful Stutter,”whichlooksattheworkof normal person.” on planes,goinghere,there....Soit’sbeenfabulousjusttobea table eachnightandhaddinnertogether.Normallywe’regetting first timeinallofour30yearstogetherthatwe’vesatdownatthe of normaleverydayway,whichhasbeenfantastic.Itisactuallythe fornia’s LakeTahoe Hackford. to stickwithus.” ies. “Iloveit...Ihopeelementsofourquarantinelockdownaregoing posted that thevictimjustwanted forward,” hesaid. and I’mhopefulwe canallmove to her.“Iapologize thishappened, the pleaonline,andBlackspoke probation, mediaoutletsreported. long ashecompletes18monthsof to goprisononthechargeas “I haveknownpeoplewho,aswesayin “It’s givenmetheopportunitytobewithmyhusbandinasort Mirren wasintroducedtothecharitybyfriend The Discovery+fi The 75-year-oldBritishstarisbackingthedocumentary“MyBeau- She’s savoringslowdinnerswithherhusband,thedirector Later onhisTwitter feed,Black The victiminthecasewatched t groupSAY:TheStutteringAssociationfortheYoung. fi Joe Penna,whopreviouslydirectedthesurvival on theship.Thefi liftoff, discoverastowaway( ers onatwo-yearmissiontoMarswho,shortlyafter debuted lastFridayonNetfl space isasolidrecipeforanyfi fatalities ofthegame.(AP) ers andonHBOMax,aimstohonorthegruesome which WarnerBros.releasedlastFridayintheat- brings brutalitybackto“MortalKombat.”Thefi Quoid ent inthepopularvideogame:blood. to notethatitwaslargelymissingonemainingredi- adaptation wasreleasedin1995,gamerswerequick lm “Arctic,”with LOS ANGELES: Meanwhile, whenthefi dence. Thechildrenmeetotherswhostutter,andmuchofthe four. ica. Runningtime:119minutes.Twostarsoutof rated bytheMotionPictureAssociationofAmer- to askEmanuelSwedenborg. bad thing.Ifyouwanttoknowwhy,may get theirmoment,too.Butthat’snotnecessarilya sion, andyoucanbetthoseaforementionedghosts throb nailstheAmericanacademicvibe. serves, orsomethingworse.Also,thisBritishheart- social striverwithdesignsonmorethanhistalentde- dering (forabit)whetherhe’ssimplygood-looking As forNorton,hedoesanicejobkeepinguswon- presence andawonderfullyempatheticperformer. defi each otheraswelltheythought.Well… between CatherineandGeorge,whomaynotknow motives andimpendingdoom.It’stherelationship sometimes ridiculousplottwistsandhintsofdark They’vebeenlivingtogetherinthemountainsnear “Things Heard&Seen,”aNetfl It allcomeshurtlingtowardastrenuousconclu- What’s mostinteresting,though,isnotallthe nitely don’t. Seyfried in particular is a grounding nitely don’t.Seyfriedinparticularisagrounding ’s R-ratedrebootofthefi lm followsfi formuchofthelastyear.

Anna Kendrick,ToniCollette lm isdirectedandco-writtenby Mads Mikkelsen Also: rst “MortalKombat”fi ve childrenwhohavebeenbullied ix, theyplayresearch- authorities said.(AP) even aftershetold himtostop, neck andbreast continuing after theshow,biting heronthe rapper attackedher atahotelroom a performance.Thegirlsaidthe when Blackwasin ain’t havetocomeoffnomoney.” to getthecaseoverwith,and“I Shamier Anderson lm. In“Stowaway,” The assaulthappenedin2016 lm series,though, New YorkCity England . ixrelease,isun- Simon Mc- Kelli O’Hara uently. AndIwas , stammerorstut- Florence lm, and lm -based non- ) Taylor Cali- , and for ARAB TIMES, FRIDAY-SATURDAY, APRIL 30-MAY 1, 2021 NEWS/FEATURES 13

People & Places

This image released by the Lyric Opera of Chicago shows 2,880 battery-powered candles arrayed in an underground parking garage in this scene from Lyric Opera’s ‘Twilight: Gods,’ an adaptation of Wagner’s ‘Göttertdäm- merung’ in Chicago. (AP)

Stage Obituary

Drive-thru opera ‘A respected extraordinary individual’ Chicago stages Wagner Grammy winning engineer Schmitt dead in underground garage NEW YORK, April 29, (AP): Twen- Sinatra’s fi nal studio recordings, ists and musicians were doing. He has CHICAGO, April 29, (AP): Amid signs pointing “To ty-time Grammy winner Al Schmitt, “Duets” and “Duets II,” and Charles’ an unlimited horizon.” Elevator” and advising drivers to “Take Parking Ticket whose extraordinary career as a re- fi nal album, “Genius Loves Com- He moved to Los Angeles in the late With You,” the Rhinemaidens lament the theft of their cording engineer and producer includ- pany,” which won Grammys in 2003 1950s and became a staff engineer for gold, Siegfried is murdered, and Brünnhilde drives off in ed albums by Bob Dylan, Ray Charles, for best album and for best record, RCA Records. Schmitt received his a red Mustang convertible to redeem the world. Frank Sinatra and many other of the the Charles-Norah Jones duet “Here fi rst Grammy for engineering Man- Welcome to opera in an underground parking ga- top performers of the past 60 years, has We Go Again.” Years earlier, he en- cini’s “Hatari” and was still winning rage. died at age 91. gineered the duet album “Ray Charles them in his 80s, including one for Mc- A year after Lyric Opera’s production of Richard Schmitt’s family announced on Fa- and Betty Carter,” a personal favorite Cartney’s “Kisses On the Bottom” and Wagner’s complete “Ring” cy- cebook that he died Monday, without despite Charles’ struggles with heroin another for a concert version of McCa- cle was scuttled by the pandem- identifying a specifi c cause. Schmitt addiction. rtney’s record, “Live Kisses.” ic, the company has brought a lived in the Los Angeles area. A rela- “At that point, Ray was having a His memoir “Al Schmitt On the bit of the epic back to life. But Recording and mix engineer Al Schmitt poses with his star during tive, who did not want to be identifi ed, major drug problem,” he told Billboard Record,” published in 2018, included instead of walking into the op- confi rmed Schmitt’s death to The As- in 2018. “So every time (there was) a tributes from Dylan, Young (“Al is the era house and taking their seats, the ceremony honoring him with a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame sociated Press. 10-minute break, they would take him master,” he wrote, “I love it when he spectators drive down into the on Aug 13, 2015, in Los Angeles. “The world has lost a much loved off into the bathroom, and God knows gets pissed off”), Streisand and the Air- garage and stay in their cars. Schmitt, one of the world’s most hon- and respected extraordinary individu- what happened, what went on. It was plane’s Jorma Kaukonen, who remem- “Twilight: Gods,” as the pro- ored musical producers and engi- al, who led an extraordinary life,” the sad to see that, but when he opened bered Schmitt’s skill and patience with duction is called, is the brain- neers has died. The Grammy winner, Facebook posting reads in part. “The his mouth and sang, and (with) Betty, “this bunch of musical anarchists.” child of Yuval Sharon, who who worked with everyone from Sam most honored and awarded record- I mean, I got goosebumps. It was just Schmitt had his own stories to tell. premiered it last November in Cooke to Steely Dan to Frank Sinatra, ing producer/engineer of all time, his unbelievable.” He became close to Cooke and dined Sharon Detroit, where he had just been was 91. (AP) parting words at any speaking engage- Schmitt was married twice, and had with him just hours before the singer named artistic director of Michi- ment were, ‘Please be kind to all living fi ve children, eight grandchildren, and was shot and killed in 1964 at a Los gan Opera Theater. things.’” fi ve great grandchildren. Angeles motel. He remembered Na- It’s a reimagining of “Götterdämmerung,” the fi nal in- He won his fi rst Grammy in 1963, talie Cole crying in the studio while stallment in Wagner’s four-part saga of gold, greed and then collected 19 more competitive Sensitive making “Unforgettable” as she worked the downfall of the gods. Using his own English transla- awards and the honorary Recording Born in Brooklyn, he was the on “duets” with her father, the late tion, Sharon has distilled the four-hour-plus opera down Academy Trustees Award, in 2006. nephew of recording engineer Harry Nat “King Cole,” whose vocals were to six episodes lasting just over an hour all together. Schmitt worked on more than 150 gold Smith and as a boy would take the joined to hers thanks in part to the stu- “He came to me with this amazing, wonderful, records, in a wide range of styles. He subway into Manhattan and head for dio tricks of Schmitt. crazy idea,” said Anthony Freund, Lyric’s general engineered Henry Mancini’s “Moon his uncle’s studio, where anyone from He learned to work with, and work director. “The cancellation of our ‘Ring’ … certainly River” and Sam Cooke’s “Another Sinatra to Art Tatum might be in ses- around, the musicians, whether the made it seem particularly appropriate. There’s great Saturday Night,” Steely Dan’s “Aja” sion. After serving in the Navy, he Airplane’s indulgence of drugs and excitement around it.” and Madonna’s “This Used to be My found work through his uncle at Apex sonic effects or Sinatra’s request that So much so that all three performances, April 28- Playground.” He engineered Natalie Studios, where one of his fi rst assign- he sing in front of the studio band and May 2, sold out almost immediately, as had all the Baranski Jackman ments was recording Duke Ellington. Detroit shows. Still, the total audience for “Twilight: Cole’s blockbuster “Unforgettable” al- not in the recording booth, despite He would also soon befriend Tom Gods” will be a fraction of the number who could bum and Barbra Streisand’s “The Way such enticements as cigarettes and a watch a single performance in the Lyric Opera House, We Were.” He produced “Volunteers” Dowd, who as an engineer for Atlantic bottle of Jack Daniels. He got to work which has a seating capacity of 3,276. Variety and several other Jefferson Airplane Records later worked on classic songs with the singer through his friendship But for now, the house remains closed to live opera, albums, helped produce Neil Young’s by Aretha Franklin, Eric Clapton and with “Duets” producer Phil Ramone. as do other major houses in the US, including New “On the Beach” and more recently Dy- many others. “I did an interview with a magazine York’s Metropolitan Opera. Many companies have NEW YORK: Christine Baranski wants lan’s “Shadows in the Night” and Paul “Al was an obvious music enthusi- where they asked me if I had any re- instead reached out to audiences by streaming new your help cleaning out her closet. McCartney’s “Kisses on the Bottom.” ast,” Dowd told Billboard in 2002. “He grets in my career,” he wrote in his content and videos of past performances or presenting The Emmy- and Tony-winning actor Brian Wilson, whose album of Ger- liked a lot of records and a lot of artists memoir. “I answered that I had one opera in outdoor venues. is donating three custom-made Bob shwin songs was remixed by Schmitt, - not just popular artists but the ‘bub- regret: that I hadn’t worked with Frank For “Twilight: Gods,” nine cars at a time, each pay- Mackie gowns for an online charity was among those Wednesday offering bling under’ artists too-and was sensi- Sinatra. Three weeks later, I got the ing an entry fee of $125, enter the Millennium Lake- auction on Wednesday and she’s tapped tributes, tweeting “Al was an industry tive to music, whether it was jazz or call from Phil Ramone. side Parking Garage, a 13-acre underground structure a starry group of A-listers to follow her giant and a great engineer who worked gospel or blues or pop. “That happened with Paul McCa- lead with hundreds of items. near the shore of Lake Michigan. Spectators watch the with some of the greatest artists ever, “He had quick hands and quick rtney, too; somebody asked me who The eye-popping haul includes a and I’m honored to have worked with ears. They ran through the song once, I hadn’t worked with that I’d like to, action through their windshields and listen to the mu- Wolverine jacket from Hugh Jackman’s sic on their car radios. him on my Gershwin album.” Michael maybe twice, and he had it down in his I said, ‘Paul,’ and shortly after that it closet, a banjo signed by Steve Martin, Bublé, Journey’s Steve Perry and Mi- mind and in his hands and was able to happened - I did a record with Paul! When the fi rst group of cars has fi nished a scene, they boots, jeans and a T-shirt from Bruce drive to the next location - the speed limit is 3 mph - and chael Bolton also praised him. fl y with it right away. His endeavor, at Bob Dylan, too; I’ve pretty much got- Springsteen and a dress from Dolly Par- Schmitt’s other credits included the outset, was to capture what the art- ten my bucket list done now.” another nine enter. This continues until 14 groups of cars ton that comes with its own mannequin. have cycled through the whole show, requiring the sing- A portion of proceeds from every item ers to perform their scenes 14 times each day. sold will benefi t The Actors Fund. In Detroit, Sharon used the company’s own parking “Those of us lucky enough to have had this, purging themselves of stuff,” she LONDON: Novels that explore forgotten ($42,000) Women’s Prize for fi ction. structure, which is above ground and allowed scenes successful careers are well aware of how says. “Wouldn’t it be a great thing for an and neglected communities in Britain, the The six-book shortlist includes Ameri- to be played on ascending levels open to the air at badly our performing arts community auction?” AP) US and the Caribbean were named fi nal- can author Brit Bennett’s tale of twins the sides. By contrast, in Chicago the action all takes has been hit,” says Baranski. “It’s a great ❑ ❑ ❑ ists on Wednesday for the 30,000 pound who take different paths, “The Vanishing place on the same subterranean level. way and it’s a fun way to help. Half,” US writer Patricia Lockwood’s so- “It’s likely to have a much more labyrinthian feel- The gowns she’s donated were ones cial media satire “No One is Talking About ing, a sense of being kind of lost in the space,” Sharon she wore for appearances at the Golden This” and “Transcendent Kingdom,” a said. “It’s very appropriate for where we are now as Globes, Emmys and Kennedy Center story of African immigrants in Alabama a society, as we feel our way to where we are going Honors in the 1990s. Each is very glam by Ghanaian-American writer Yaa Gyasi. next.” — she calls them “over the top” — and Also in the running are Barbadian her daughters aren’t interested in wearing writer Cherie Jones’ story of gritty life And, indeed, at Monday’s dress rehearsal, winding any. on a beautiful island, “How the One- in the dark through vast stretches of empty parking “I have a feeling whoever bids on it Armed Sister Sweeps Her House,” and spaces from scene to scene created a disorienting sen- will do it hopefully with a feeling of two books by British writers: Susanna sation. This feeling was heightened after Siegfried’s affection and maybe that I’ve given them Clarke’s literary fantasy “Piranesi” and death when the procession of cars was directed to some joy. That would be nice,” she says. Claire Fuller’s rural family saga “Unset- snake through a section where 2,880 battery-powered The slate available at Doyle Auc- tled Ground.” candles burned on the fl oor, while his funeral march tioneers & Appraisers includes a key Booker Prize-winning novelist played in an arrangement for jazz combo. prop from the worldwide smash musical Bernardine Evaristo, who is chairing The cast is largely the same as in Detroit, headlined “The Phantom of the Opera,” a Burberry the judging panel, said several of the by soprano Christine Goerke as Brünnhilde - the role trench coat and a pair of Swarovski novels depicted “communities that aren’t she was to have sung in Lyric’s full production - and encrusted shoes from Cher and signed really written about in fi ction” and tough tenor Sean Panikkar as Siegfried. One key difference posters of “All in the Family” signed by subjects such as domestic violence, ad- is the narrator who connects the segments. Norman Lear. diction and depression. In Detroit, Marsha Music, a local Black writer and Baranski helped organize the event “But they’re not miserable books,” cultural historian, portrayed Erda, the mother of the and worked to get many of the items, she said. “They’re all really beautifully universe, who appears in two earlier “Ring” operas. writing personal emails to each celebrity. crafted stories. … They’re not light- For Chicago, Sharon chose avery r. young, a Chicago- She spent the fi rst weeks of the pandemic weight, but they are a thrilling read.” born Black poet, composer and activist. He portrays cleaning her closet and realized it could Founded in 1996, the prize is open to all three of the Norns, the daughters of Erda who fore- help others. female English-language writers from “As I’m coming out of my closet, I This image shows the three Rhinemaidens in a scene from Lyric Opera of Chi- around the world. Previous winners tell destiny. thought, ’Gosh, there’s probably a lot of cago’s ‘Twilight: Gods’an adaptation of Wagner’s ‘Götterdämmerung’ staged in include Zadie Smith, Tayari Jones and actresses like myself who might be doing an underground parking garage in Chicago. (AP) Maggie O’Farrell. ARAB TIMES, FRIDAY-SATURDAY, APRIL 30-MAY 1, 2021 SPORTS 14 Dodgers blank Reds, stop 3-game skid

Cards top Phillies MLB Results/Standings

LOS ANGELES, April 29, WASHINGTON, April 29, (AP): Re- (AP): Clayton Kershaw sults and standings from the MLB yielded four hits over sev- games on Wednesday. Minnesota 10 Cleveland 2 en innings, Justin Turner Boston 1 NY Mets 0 NY Yankees 7 Baltimore 0 homered and the Los An- Tampa Bay 2 Oakland 0 Washington 8 Toronto 2 geles Dodgers ended their Kansas City 9 Pittsburgh 6 three-game losing streak LA Angels 4 Texas 3 Houston 7 Seattle 5 with an 8-0 victory over the Miami 6 Milwaukee 2 LA Dodgers 8 Cincinnati 0 Cincinnati Reds. Atlanta 10 Chicago Cubs 0 Kershaw (4-2) struck out eight Philadelphia 5 St Louis 3 San Diego 12 Arizona 3 and walked one never allowing San Francisco 7 Colorado 3 Cincinnati to get a runner to third American League East Division base. W L Pct GB Matt Beaty drove in two runs with a Boston 16 9 .640 _ pinch single on his 28th birthday dur- Tampa Bay 13 12 .520 3 Toronto 11 12 .478 4 ing a six-run eighth. New York 11 13 .458 4-1/2 Nick Senzel matched his career high Baltimore 10 14 .417 5-1/2 with four hits as the Reds were shut out Central Division for the fourth time. W L Pct GB Kansas City 15 8 .652 _ Sonny Gray (0-2) pitched four-hit Chicago 12 10 .545 2-1/2 ball into the sixth while striking out 11 Cleveland 11 12 .478 4 and allowing four hits and three walks. Minnesota 8 15 .348 7 Detroit 8 16 .333 7-1/2 Cardinals 5, Phillies 3 West Division In St. Louis, Andrew McCutchen W L Pct GB Oakland 15 10 .600 _ returned to the lineup and drove in the Houston 13 11 .542 1-1/2 go-ahead run, helping Philadelphia Los Angeles 12 11 .522 2 beat St. Louis after Bryce Harper was Seattle 13 12 .520 2 hit in the face by a pitch. Texas 10 15 .400 5 National League East Division W L Pct GB BASEBALL Atlanta 12 12 .500 _ Philadelphia 12 12 .500 _ New York 9 10 .474 -1/2 Harper left the game in the sixth in- Miami 11 13 .458 1 ning after getting hit in his left cheek Washington 9 12 .429 1-1/2 on a 96.9 mph fastball from left-hand- Central Division ed reliever Génesis Cabrera (0-1). Los Angeles Dodgers starting pitcher Clayton Kershaw throws to the Cincinnati Reds during the first inning of a baseball game, on April 28, in W L Pct GB Los Angeles. (AP) Milwaukee 14 10 .583 _ Cabrera hit the next batter, Didi Pittsburgh 12 12 .500 2 Gregorius, with a 94 mph fastball. St Louis 12 12 .500 2 Cincinnati 11 13 .458 3 Phillies manager Joe Girardi came out Chicago 10 14 .417 4 of the dugout to argue with plate um- Chennai back on top of IPL after beating Hyderabad West Division pire Chris Segal and was ejected. W L Pct GB Los Angeles 16 9 .640 _ Giants 7, Rockies 3 NEW DELHI, April 29, (AP): Chennai Super Kings ace leg-spinner Rashid Khan (3-36) and left-arm spin- over with de Plessis getting trapped leg before wicket San Francisco16 9 .640 _ In San Francisco, Mike Tauchman returned to the top of the Indian Premier League with ner Jagadeesha Suchith, who conceded 45 runs off his and Moeen Ali (15) holing out in the deep before San Diego 14 12 .538 2-1/2 their fi fth successive win as they beat Sunrisers Hy- three overs. Suresh Raina (15 not out) sealed the game by hitting Arizona 12 12 .500 3-1/2 had three hits in his fi rst game with Colorado 9 15 .375 6-1/2 San Francisco, Alex Wood struck out derabad by seven wickets. With their fi fth loss in six games, Hyderabad are at Sandeep Sharma through the cover boundary. nine over six innings and the Giants Chennai’s opening pair of Ruturaj Gaikwad (75) and the bottom of the table with only two points. Chennai Earlier, Pandey scored more freely than Warner as beat Colorado. Faf du Plessis (56) featured in an attractive century-stand lead the table with 10 points on a better net run-rate Chennai kept both batsmen in check. South African Tauchman, acquired from the Yan- to cruise their team to 173-3 with nine balls to spare. than Royal Challengers Bangalore, which also have fast bowler Lungi Ngidi removed both batsmen in his kees on Tuesday, started in center fi eld Hyderabad, which won the toss and elected to bat, 10 points after playing six games. last over when Warner holed out at sweeper cover and went 3 for 4 with a run and an RBI. made 171-3 with Manish Pandey (61) and captain and du Plessis neatly caught Pandey at wide long on. A backup in New York’s star-studded David Warner (57) consuming too many balls for a CRICKET Kane Williamson (26 off 10 balls) hit Shardul outfi eld, the 30-year-old Tauchman is 106-run second wicket-stand. Thakur for three fours and a six in the penultimate hoping to establish himself as an ev- “The batting performance was superb, but that over and Kedar Jadhav smashed Sam Curran for 10 eryday player. doesn’t mean the bowling was not good,” Chennai Khan fi nally broke through the rollicking 129-run runs off the last two balls which lifted Hyderabad’s Wood (3-0) held the Rockies hitless skipper Mahendra Singh Dhoni said. “It was a sur- fi rst wicket stand off 78 balls when he had Gaikwad total in the end. through 5 2/3 innings and won his third prisingly good Delhi wicket, there was no dew.” clean bowled off a delivery which spun away from Warner took the responsibility for consuming too consecutive start to begin his Giants Gaikwad’s dominance against the spin saw him the right-hander. many balls -- 55 deliveries -- for his team’s yet an- career. He allowed two runs, four hits smashing 10 of his 12 boundaries against Afghanistan’s Khan went on to claim two more wickets in his last other defeat in the tournament. and two walks. Padres 12, Diamondbacks 3 base in the fi rst four innings against Marlins 6, Brewers 2 $150 million, six-year deal this offsea- up fi ve hits in seven innings, dealing In Phoenix, Manny Machado hit a Arizona emergency starter Riley Smith In Milwaukee, Jesús Aguilar hom- son, went 0 for 4. The World Series Oakland its third loss in four games af- bases-loaded triple during a six-run (1-1). ered for the fi fth time in six games, MVP when Houston won its fi rst title ter a 13-game winning streak. fi fth inning, Fernando Tatis Jr. and Kim and Tatis had RBI singles in a tiebreaking three-run shot off Eric in 2017 missed time in spring training Diego Castillo got two outs for his Kim Ha-Seong each had two hits and the fi fth, Kim had his fi rst career two- Yardley in the fourth. and the start of the season because of a sixth save. two RBIs, and San Diego overcame RBI game and Jake Cronenworth hit Sandy Alcantara (1-2) gave up two strained oblique and later due to a right Mike Zunino hit his fi fth homer in San Francisco Giants shortstop starter Ryan Weathers’ early injury in a pinch-homer for San Diego, which runs and fi ve hits in seven innings. quadriceps strain. the two-run fi fth off Cole Irvin (2-3), Brandon Crawford throws to first a win over Arizona. broke an 11-game losing streak at Zack Godley (0-1) walked fi ve, when Manuel Margot singled in a run. base after forcing out Colorado Red Sox 1, Mets 0 Rockies’ Yonathan Daza (2) at sec- Machado’s triple capped a string of Chase Field. Jorge Mateo added a two- threw two wild pitches, committed In New York, Christian Vázquez Braves 10, Cubs 0 a balk and hit a batter in an eventful ond base on a double play hit into seven straight hits for the Padres, who run homer in the ninth, his fi rst in the hit an early RBI double, producing the In Atlanta, Marcell Ozuna homered by Josh Fuentes during the sev- got only one runner as far as second majors. Brewers debut. He was charged with only run required for the Boston Red in a four-run fi rst inning, and Huascar enth inning of a baseball game in four runs, three earned. Sox to beat Jacob deGrom (2-2). Ynoa (2-1) gave up four hits and struck San Francisco, on April 28. (AP) Twins 10, Indians 2 Nick Pivetta (3-0) and three reliev- out nine in 5 1/3 innings. Ynoa also hit In Cleveland, Byron Buxton hom- ers combined on a two-hitter as the his fi rst big league home run, helping three runs and six hits, including two- ered on the second pitch from Logan surprising AL East leaders swept a Atlanta win its third straight. out RBI singles by Nate Lowe and Allen (1-4) and went 5 for 5, Mitch two-game interleague series at Citi Chicago was shut out for the second Willie Calhoun. The 22-year-old right- Garver homered twice and the Twins Field. consecutive night and has lost fi ve in a hander walked none and allowed only connected six times to end a four-game Yankees 7, Orioles 0 row. a one-out single to Adolis García, his skid and win for the second time in 10 In Baltimore, Domingo Germán Royals 9, Pirates 6 fi nal batter in the sixth inning. games.. (2-2) won his second straight start al- In Pittsburgh, Jorge Soler had two Astros 7, Mariners 5 Buxton’s AL-leading eighth homer lowing three hits in seven innings and doubles among his three hits and drove In Houston, Pinch-hitter Jason Cas- triggered a three-homer barrage in the combining with Michael King on a in three runs as Kansas City improved tro drew a bases-loaded walk to put fi rst off Allen. Buxton added two dou- four-hitter. to a major league-best 15-8. Houston in front during an eighth-in- bles, two singles and stole a base while Mike Ford put the Yankees ahead Soler’s doubles sparked three-run ning rally past Seattle. pushing his average to .438. in the second inning with his second rallies in the fi rst and sixth innings. Houston has won six of its last sev- Nationals 8, Blue Jays 2 home run in 16 at-bats this season, and Kyle Zimmer (2-0) got the last two en and handed Seattle its third straight In Dunedin, Florida, Erick Fedde Gio Urshela made it 5-0 with a three- outs of the fi fth, and Josh Staumont re- loss. (2-2) allowed one run and two hits run homer in the four-run third. Clint tired four straight batters for third save. The Astros scored four times in the in six innings and Josh Harrison hit a Frazier hit his fi rst home run in 69 Angels 4, Rangers 3 eighth without an extra-base hit. Kyle three-run homer as Washington won plate appearances this season. In Arlington, Texas, Rookie Chris Tucker and Yuli Gurriel had back-to- in George Springer’s Blue Jays debut. New York has won fi ve of seven and Rodriguez pitched 3 1/3 shutout in- back singles against Rafael Montero Harrison got his third homer in 16 at 11-13 is two games .under .500 for the nings for the win, and Anthony Rendon (2-1) with one out. at-bats against Steven Matz (4-1), a fi rst time since the Yankees were 5-7. and Jose Iglesias hit two-run singles in An error by fi rst baseman Evan St. Louis Cardinals’ Tyler O’Neill hits a two-run home-run during the second three-run shot in the fourth that made Rays 2, Athletics 0 the fi rst off Dane Dunning (1-1). White allowed Tucker to score on a inning of the team’s baseball game against the Philadelphia Phillies on it 6-0. In St. Petersburg, Florida, Tyler Rodriguez (2-0) entered to begin the fi elder’s choice, and Aledmys Diaz April 28, in St. Louis. (AP) Springer, who signed a team-record Glasnow (3-1) struck out 10 and gave third inning after Alex Cobb allowed singled to score Gurriel. ARAB TIMES, FRIDAY-SATURDAY, APRIL 30-MAY 1, 2021 SPORTS 15 Thomas caps Blues’ rally in win over Wild

Uresti into PGA Championship Park takes one-stroke lead at LPGA’s Singapore event SINGAPORE, April 29, (AP): the final round at the PGA Golf Inbee Park birdied two of her final Club. He finished at 11-under 276 three holes in a bogey-free round for a three-shot victory over Frank Thursday for an 8-under 64 and a Bensel Jr. one-stroke lead at the LPGA Tour’s The top 20 earned spots at HSBC Women’s World Kiawah Island for the PGA Championship at Sentosa Golf Championship on May 20-23. That Club. wasn’t decided until a sudden-death Hee Young Park holed out from playoff among five players for the the fairway for an eagle to start her final four spots. back nine and birdied three of her The odd man out was Cody final five holes and was a stroke Haughton, who missed an 8-foot behind her world No. 2-ranked par putt on the first extra hole at No. compatriot. 10. Haughton closed with a 76 that “I hit a lot of featured a pair of double bogeys. greens and fair- Uresti, a life member of the PGA ways, today, I of America who lives in Austin, left myself a lot Texas, won the Professional of opportuni- ties,” Inbee Park said. “A great GOLF day.” Five players National Championship for the sec- were three ond time in the last four attempts. It strokes behind was canceled last year because of and tied for third Uresti with 67s, includ- the pandemic. ing Women’s British Open cham- Bensel started the final round 10 pion Sophia Popov. shots out of the lead and pulled Lydia Ko of New Zealand, whose within two shots with a birdie on win in Hawaii a week ago moved the 10th hole. He made three bogeys her up to No. 7, shot 69. World No. and three birdies the rest of the way for a 68. Uresti, who shot 40 on the 1 Jin Young Ko had a 71 and No. 5 Minnesota Wild defenseman Matt Dumba (24) and center Nico Sturm, (center), and St. Louis Blues center Ryan O’Reilly try to control the puck during the Danielle Kang of the U.S. shot 72. front nine, steadied himself on the second period of an NHL hockey game, on April 28, in St. Paul, Minnesota. (AP) ANA Inspiration winner Patty back nine. Tavatanakit shot 70. The 21-year The best round belonged to Stuart old from Bangkok, who played col- Smith, who recorded eight birdies lege golf at UCLA, won the first in his round of 65 to move into the Maple Leafs beat Canadiens 4-1 to clinch playoff spot major championship of the year in top 20 and earn a trip to the second her rookie season on tour. major of the year. Former Women’s PGA champion In Carrollton, Texas, Savannah ST. PAUL, Minn., April Hannah Green of Australia shot 71 Barker and Alexa Saldana won the 29, (AP): Robert Thomas and now has 13 consecutive rounds U.S. Women’s Amateur Four-ball tracked down a skipping Zverev begins bid for 3rd Munich Open title under par. Green was one of only Championship, surviving a 20-hole puck and snapped it into MUNICH, April 29, (AP): opponent. three players who shot in the 60s all match in the semifinals and then the top of the net with 23 four rounds in Los Angeles last pulling away late in the final at Alexander Zverev began his The sixth-ranked German week in a tournament won by Maridoe Golf Club. seconds left, capping a bid for a third Munich Open will next face Ilya Ivashka in Canadian Brooke Henderson, who Barker and Saldana won six of three-goal third-period ral- title by beating Ricardas Be- the quarterfi nals. is not playing here. the last eight holes, finishing with a ly by the St. Louis Blues for rankis 6-2, 6-4 in the second The 107th-ranked player from The defending champion from birdie on the par-3 14th hole for a a 4-3 victory over Minneso- round. Belarus overcame American 2019, Sung-hyun Park, had a for- 5-and-4 victory over Jillian qualifi er Mackenzie McDonald gettable day, shooting 78. Bourdage and Casey Weidenfeld. ta to stop the Wild’s seven- game winning streak. TENNIS 6-7 (7), 6-1, 6-2. McDonald had There ís limited spectator access Bourdage and Weidenfeld also upset sixth-seeded Dusan Lajo- to the course due to COVID-19 lost in the championship match two Mike Hoffman’s second power pandemic concerns. Singapore has years ago. play goal of the game, both as- vic on Tuesday. had only 30 deaths attributed to Barker and Savannah, the 26th sisted by David Perron, brought The top-seeded Zverev, who Also, second-seeded Casper COVID-19 and most of the current seed out of 32 teams that made it the Blues within one early in the Alexander Zverev from Germany won the tournament in 2017 Ruud defeated Pablo Cuevas virus cases are those who have through medal qualifying, never third period. Jordan Kyrou tied the returns the ball to Ricardas Berank- and 2018, hit six aces, saved 6-3, 6-2 and John Millman pro- arrived from overseas and are in had to go more than 15 holes in game about four minutes later. Jor- is of Lithuania during their second three of the fi ve break points gressed after opponent Guido round tennis match at the ATP ten- quarantine. their first three matches. dan Binnington made 25 saves as he faced and converted fi ve of Pella retired with injury while Players had to undergo COVID- nis tournament in Munich, Germa- But in the semifinals Wednesday St. Louis won its third straight. ny, on April 28. (AP) his own against his 89th-ranked trailing 6-4, 2-0. 19 testing before they left for morning, they lost a 3-up lead Marcus Foligno had a goal and an Singapore and once they arrived. through 10 holes and had to go assist, Jonas Brodin and Joel Eriksson The tour moves to outside overtime against Gianna Clemente Ek also scored and Jordan Greenway Bangkok next week for the Honda had two assists for the Wild. Cam NHL Results/Standings and Avery Zweig, winning with a Talbot, who stopped 28 shots, had his LPGA Thailand at Chonburi. A birdie on the second extra hole. third tournament in China planned fi ve-start winning streak snapped. Bourdage and Weidenfeld lost a for the following week was can- Maple Leafs 4, Canadiens 1 4-up lead after 11 holes in their WASHINGTON, April 29, (AP): Results and standings from the NHL games on Wednesday. celed due to COVID-19 restric- In Montreal, Auston Matthews got tions. semifinal match against Paris Ottawa 6 Vancouver 3 Vegas 5 Colorado 2 Hilinski and Alexa Pano, prevailing his NHL-best 35th goal of the season St Louis 4 Minnesota 3 Anaheim 3 Los Angeles 2 Current plans are to have the and Toronto clinched a playoff spot. Toronto 4 Montreal 1 San Jose 4 Arizona 2 LPGA return to Asia later this year on the 20th hole with a birdie. William Nylander, Jake Muzzin and Edmonton 3 Winnipeg 1 - from mid-October to early In the championship match, Adam Brooks also scored for Toronto, East Division West Division November - for four tournaments in Bourdage and Weidenfeld birdied and Morgan Rielly and Jason Spezza GP W L OT Pts GF GA GP W L OT Pts GF GA Shanghai, Busan, South Korea, the opening hole and still were 1 up each had two assists. Jack Campbell Washington 49 32 13 4 68 171 144 x-Vegas 48 35 11 2 72 165 105 Taipei, Taiwan and Shiga, Japan. through six holes when it all fell had 32 saves as the North Division- Pittsburgh 50 32 15 3 67 170 138 x-Colorado 47 31 12 4 66 164 117 leading Maple Leafs beat the Cana- NY Islanders 49 29 15 5 63 136 114 x-Minnesota 48 31 14 3 65 154 127 All four tournaments were last apart. Boston 48 28 14 6 62 139 119 St Louis 47 22 19 6 50 139 146 played during the same period in Barker and Saldana won the next diens for the fi fth time in seven meet- NY Rangers 50 26 18 6 58 167 132 Arizona 50 21 24 5 47 134 160 two holes with pars to take the lead. ings this season. Philadelphia 49 22 20 7 51 140 177 San Jose 49 20 24 5 45 135 169 2019. New Jersey 49 15 27 7 37 127 174 Los Angeles 47 18 23 6 42 126 140 In Port St. Lucie, Florida, Omar They won the final three holes of Buffalo 50 13 30 7 33 122 174 Anaheim 50 15 28 7 37 109 162 Uresti built such a big lead that the match with two pars and a bird- Central Division North Division even a 4-over 76 didn’t keep him ie on the 14th. ICE HOCKEY GP W L OT Pts GF GA GP W L OT Pts GF GA from winning the Professional It was the shortest championship x-Carolina 49 32 10 7 71 161 119 match since the U.S. Women’s x-Florida 51 32 14 5 69 166 141 x-Toronto 49 31 13 5 67 163 131 National Championship and earn Spezza is now tied with Canadiens x-Tampa Bay 49 33 14 2 68 167 129 Edmonton 47 29 16 2 60 153 127 another trip to the PGA Amateur Four-ball began in 2015. legend Maurice (Rocket) Richard for Nashville 51 27 22 2 56 141 146 Winnipeg 49 27 19 3 57 150 138 Championship. The USGA event was canceled last 99th on the NHL’s all-time scoring list Dallas 49 21 16 12 54 140 129 Montreal 48 21 18 9 51 137 140 Chicago 49 22 22 5 49 139 158 Calgary 48 21 24 3 45 128 139 Uresti, a former PGA Tour play- year because of the COVID-19 pan- with 966 points. Joe Thornton helped Detroit 51 17 25 9 43 115 159 Ottawa 50 19 27 4 42 139 174 er, had a seven-shot lead going into demic. set up Muzzin’s goal to become just Columbus 51 16 25 10 42 122 170 Vancouver 43 19 21 3 41 117 138 the seventh player in league history to Note: Two points for a win one point for overtime loss. The top four teams in each division will qualify for playoffs under this register 1,100 career assists. season’s temporary realignment. Nick Suzuki scored for Montreal x-clinched playoff spot y-clinched division and Jake Allen stopped 25 shots. Golden Knights 5, Avalanche 2 with 1:01 remaining and Anaheim In Las Vegas, Max Pacioretty scored ended a fi ve-game losing streak. twice to lead Vegas to its franchise- Sam Carrick and Sam Steel also best 10th straight win. scored and John Gibson made 28 saves The Golden Knights now lead Colo- for the Ducks. rado by six points, with the Avalanche Gabriel Vilardi and Adrian Kempe having a game in hand. Vegas has had a goal for the Kings, who have outscored teams 45-17 during its win lost three of four. Cal Petersen made streak. William Karlsson, Mark Stone, 19 saves. and Jonathan Marchessault also scored Fowler scored on a wrist shot at for Vegas. Marc-Andre Fleury, who 18:59 of the third period to cap a rally has won fi ve in a row, made 35 saves after falling behind 2-0 in the second. while improving to 15-8-2 lifetime Oilers 3, Jets 1 against Colorado. Devon Toews and Ryan Graves In Winnipeg, Manitoba, Tyson Bar- scored for Colorado, which is 11-4-0 rie and Ryan Nugent-Hopkins each after a loss this season, and has now had a goal and an assist as Edmonton Inbee Park tees off at the second hole during the fi nal round of the LPGA’s lost three straight. Devan Dubnyk, beat Winnipeg. Hugel-Air Premia LA Open golf tournament at Wilshire Country Club, on who came in 4-3-2 with a 2.54 goals- Leon Draisaitl added a late empty- April 24, in Los Angeles. (AP) against average and .924 save percent- netter, and Connor McDavid had as- age against Vegas, made 21 saves. sists on all three goals for the Oilers, who have won four of their last fi ve Sharks 4, Coyotes 2 games. Mikko Koskinen stopped 29 F1’s Canadian GPrix replaced In San Jose, California, Evander shots for his 11th win of the season. Kane reached the 20-goal mark for Blake Wheeler scored for Winni- the sixth straight season, Josef Kore- peg, and Connor Hellebuyck had 24 by Turkish GP amid pandemic nar made 28 saves to win his second saves. The Jets lost their fi fth straight. straight start and San Jose beat Ari- Edmonton won seven of nine in the MONTREAL, April 29, (AP): GP will be held on that date zona. season series and sits in second place Formula One’s Canadian Grand instead. Fans will get refunds or Kane’s goal started a three-goal in the North Division - seven points barrage for San Jose in the fi rst pe- behind Toronto. Winnipeg is third, Prix has been canceled for the can transfer their tickets to next riod with Rudolfs Balcers and Kevin second year in a row amid coro- year’s race in Montreal. three points behind the Oilers. Labanc following up to help San Jose Senators 6, Canucks 3 navirus restrictions and will be Turkey returned to F1’s sweep the two-game series against replaced by a race in Turkey, reshaped calendar last year and Arizona. Tomas Hertl sealed the game In Ottawa, Ontario, Brady Tkachuk hosted a race for the first time with an empty-net goal for San Jose. had a goal and an assist to lead Ottawa since 2011. Mercedes driver Phil Kessel and Johan Larsson scored, to a victory over Vancouver. and Darcy Kuemper made 27 saves for Josh Norris, Victor Mete, Chris MOTOR RACING Lewis Hamilton sealed his Arizona. With the back-to-back losses Tierney, Thomas Chabot and Colin record-equaling seventh F1 title the Coyotes fell three points behind St. White also scored for Ottawa. Marcus in Istanbul. Hamilton leads Red Louis for the fi nal playoff spot in the Hogberg fi nished with 16 saves. organizers said. Bull star Max Verstappen by one West Division with the Blues holding Tyler Myers, Jake Virtanen and F1 said it is impossible to hold point after two races this year, three games in hand. Arizona has lost Brandon Sutter scored for Vancou- nine of 11 games overall. ver, which needed a strong game from the June 13 race in Canada this with both winning one each. Thatcher Demko to keep the score Montreal Canadiens’ Josh Anderson (17) checks Toronto Maple Leafs’ year because of a mandatory The next race is the Portuguese Ducks 3, Kings 2 from ballooning. Morgan Rielly (44) during the second period of an NHL hockey game, on 14-day quarantine, and a Turkish GP in Portimao on Sunday. In Los Angeles, Cam Fowler scored Ottawa outshot Vancouver 33-22. April 28, in Montreal. (AP) ARAB TIMES, FRIDAY-SATURDAY, APRIL 30-MAY 1, 2021 16

America goalkeeper Guillermo Ochoa, (right), steps a shot by Portland Timbers forward Dairon Asprilla, (rear right), as América’s Bruno Valdez (18) defends, during the second half of a CONCACAF Cham- pions League soccer match in Portland, Ore. The match ended in a 1-1 draw. (AP) Sports Latest sports scores at — http://sports.arabtimesonline.com Timbers ‘draw’ 1-1 with Club America PORTLAND, Ore., April 29, (AP): Felipe More scored on a penalty kick in stoppage time to pull the Portland Timbers into a 1-1 draw with Club America on Wednesday night in the fi rst leg of their CONCACAF Cham- pions League quarterfi nal. Club America, which are second to Cruz Azul in Liga MX, took the lead on Roger Martinez’s penalty kick in fi rst-half stoppage time. Portland peppered Club America goalkeeper Guillermo Ochoa with a fl urry of second-half shots, espe- cially in the fi nal 20 minutes, but was unable to break through until Mora’s penalty.

SOCCER

The Timbers were among an un- precedented fi ve Major League Soc- cer teams in the quarterfi nals of the tournament. CONCACAF is the con- federation for North America, Central America and the Caribbean. Club America have won the event twice in the past decade and have sev- en titles overall. Clubs from Mexico have won the tournament every year since 2008. The teams meet for the second leg next Wednesday at Azteca Stadium in Mexico City. The winners will face the winners of the quarterfi nal between Atlanta United and the Phila- delphia Union. The Timbers were missing two top playmakers, Jeremy Ebobisse and Se- bastian Blanco, because of injuries. Ebobisse could be back for the second leg. Meanwhile, Jose Alvarado scored in stoppage time to give Monterrey a 2-2 draw with the Columbus Crew. Ake Loba scored against the de- fending MLS Cup champions in the ninth minute. Monterrey, which have lost three straight Liga MX games, were without key players Vincent Janssen, Maxi Meza and Ponchito Manchester City’s Kyle Walker, (right), challenges PSG’s Leandro Paredes during the Champions League semifi nal fi rst leg soccer match between Paris Saint Germain and Manchester City at González. the Parc des Princes Stadium, in Paris, France. (AP) Spoelstra gets win No. 600 as Heat top Spurs Man City in 76ers, Suns clinch playoff berths

PHILADELPHIA, April 29, (AP): furious rally by the Pelicans, who cut Seth Curry scored 20 points, Tobias NBA Results/Standings the lead to 114-112 with 9.9 seconds Harris and Joel Embiid each added remaining. Williamson was going in 17 and the Philadelphia 76ers built a for a dunk when Jokic knocked the driving seat big early lead and cruised to a 127- ball away. 83 victory over the Atlanta Hawks on WASHINGTON, April 29, (AP): NBA results and standings. Wizards 116, Lakers 107 Wednesday night to clinch an Eastern Orlando 109 Cleveland 104 Miami 116 San Antonio 111 In Washington, still missing LeBron Conference playoff berth. Philadelphia 127 Atlanta 83 Denver 114 New Orleans 112 James, the Los Angeles Lakers lost for PSG under pressure New York 113 Chicago 94 Portland 130 Memphis 109 Shake Milton and Furkan Korkmaz Boston 120 Charlotte 111 Phoenix 109 LA Clippers 101 the fourth time in their past fi ve games, scored 12 apiece and Tyrese Maxey Washington 116 LA Lakers 107 Utah 154 Sacramento 105 beaten 116-107 by the Washington PARIS, April 29, (AP): added 11 for the Sixers, who became Eastern Conference Western Conference Wizards, who got league scoring lead- the second team in the Eastern Confer- Atlantic Division Southwest Division er Bradley Beal’s 27 points and Rus- Paris Saint-Germain lost ence to secure a postseason spot. The W L Pct GB W L Pct GB sell Westbrook’s 13th triple-double in x-Brooklyn 42 20 .677 - Dallas 34 27 .557 - their composure and the Sixers are currently second in the East, x-Philadelphia 41 21 .661 1 Memphis 31 30 .508 3 April. match as Manchester City a game behind Brooklyn and 2 1/2 New York 35 28 .556 7-1/2 San Antonio 31 30 .508 3 Washington has won nine of 10 games ahead of third-place Milwaukee Boston 33 30 .524 9-1/2 New Orleans 27 35 .435 7-1/2 games, led by its dynamic duo of Beal rallied to win 2-1 away Toronto 26 36 .419 16 Houston 15 47 .242 19-1/2 with 10 games to play. Southeast Division Northwest Division and Westbrook, who fi nished with 18 from home in the fi rst leg Both the Nets and Bucks were off W L Pct GB W L Pct GB points, 18 rebounds and 14 assists. of their Champions League Wednesday. Atlanta 34 29 .540 - x-Utah 45 17 .726 - That extends his NBA record for most Atlanta was missing star guard Trae Miami 33 30 .524 1 Denver 41 21 .661 4 triple-doubles in a month and gives semifi nal. Charlotte 30 32 .484 3-1/2 Portland 34 28 .548 11 Young, who missed his fourth game Washington 28 34 .452 5-1/2 Oklahoma City21 41 .339 24 him 30 for the season and 176 for his PSG led 1-0 through captain since spraining his left ankle on April Orlando 19 43 .306 14-1/2 Minnesota 19 44 .302 26-1/2 career, just fi ve away from Oscar Rob- Marquinhos’ early header from 21 against New York. John Collins Central Division Pacifi c Division ertson’s career mark. a corner, but City skipper Kevin scored 21 points and Solomon Hill W L Pct GB W L Pct GB Celtics 120, Hornets 111 Milwaukee 38 23 .623 - x-Phoenix 44 18 .710 - De Bruyne equalized in the 64th added 14 for Atlanta. Indiana 29 32 .475 9 LA Clippers 43 21 .672 2 In Boston, Jaylen Brown scored 38 minute when goalkeeper Keylor Chicago 26 36 .419 12-1/2 LA Lakers 36 26 .581 8 points, Jayson Tatum added 35, and Navas misread his dipping cross Cleveland 21 41 .339 17-1/2 Golden State 31 31 .500 13 the Boston Celtics rebounded from an BASKETBALL Detroit 19 43 .306 19-1/2 Sacramento 25 37 .403 19 embarrassing loss a night earlier with and it bounced inside his post. x denotes clinched playoff spot Riyad Mahrez’s free kick - through a a 120-111 victory over the Charlotte wall that jumped early and left an invit- Young did pick up a technical foul Hornets . ing gap for the Algeria winger - put the in the fourth quarter for yelling at of- secutive losses and set a franchise coach in NBA history to win that many Brown has reached 30 points in visitors ahead in the 71st. Manchester City’s Phil Foden controls fi cials from the Hawks bench follow- scoring record in a 154-105 win over and just the sixth coach to do so with three of his last fi ve games. “We deserved the lead, but in the the ball during the Champions League ing an incident where teammate Kris the Sacramento Kings . one franchise. He thanked Heat Presi- Knicks 113, Bulls 94 second half they were better than us. semifinal first leg soccer match be- Dunn picked up an unsportsmanlike Rudy Gobert had 12 points and 10 dent Pat Riley and managing general In New York, the New York Knicks Physically they were a little bit more tween Paris Saint Germain and Man- technical for getting in the middle of rebounds, Jordan Clarkson scored 23 partner Micky Arison for the opportu- made sure their loss to Phoenix was aggressive, it was diffi cult for us to re- chester City at the Parc des Princes a post-play celebration between Milton points and Georges Niang scored 19 nity. just a temporary bump in the road. cover the ball,” PSG coach Mauricio Stadium, in Paris, France. (AP) and Matisse Thybulle. with fi ve 3s for Utah. Nuggets 114, Pelicans 112 Julius Randle scored 34 points and Pochettino said. “We’re very disap- quinhos timed his run well to meet Philadelphia never trailed, jumping Heat 116, Spurs 111 In Denver, Nikola Jokic scored 32 the Knicks beat the Chicago Bulls 113- out to a 37-17 lead at the end of the pointed with the two goals. It’s dif- Angel Di Maria’s corner near the front In Miami, Erik Spoelstra got a mile- points and blocked Zion Williamson’s 94 for their 10th win in 11 games. fi rst quarter thanks in large part to Cur- RJ Barrett added 22 points as New fi cult to accept that this happened in post and head in the 15th-minute open- stone win, and it didn’t come easily. shot from behind with 2.2 seconds re- the semifi nal, it’s really painful.” After ry’s 13 points on 5-of-7 from the fl oor. Jimmy Butler scored 29 points, Bam maining as the Denver Nuggets keep York bounced back from its loss Mon- er. Atlanta shot just 33.8% from the day that snapped a nine-game winning City’s quick 1-2 punch, PSG’s compo- It was another important goal from Adebayo scored 21 and the Miami rolling even without standout point sure soon crumbled, as has often been fl oor, its second-worst mark of the sea- Heat went on a 17-0 run in the second guard Jamal Murray, holding off the streak. Immanuel Quickley and Reg- the Brazilian, after netting a last-gasp son, and 32% from beyond the 3-point gie Bullock each scored 13 points as the case in recent seasons when under equalizer in the quarterfi nals and then half before hanging on late to beat the New Orleans Pelicans 114-112 . line. The 83 points for the Hawks were San Antonio Spurs 116-111. Leading by nine points with 52.8 the Knicks regained sole possession of pressure. Pochettino’s side fi nished the scoring in the semis last season. a season low, coming on the heels It was the 600th regular-season win seconds remaining, the suddenly fourth place in the Eastern Conference. game with 10 players as midfi elder Id- Di Maria was causing problems for rissa Gueye was shown a red card in of an 86-point performance in a loss for Spoelstra, making him the 27th turnover-prone Nuggets withstood a Trail Blazers 130, Grizzlies 109 City’s defense with his runs from the Monday night at Detroit. In Memphis, Tenn., CJ McCollum the 77th minute for a dangerous tackle right fl ank, while both Neymar and on midfi elder Ilkay Gundogan. Philadelphia’s starters didn’t play in had 26 points and six assists, and Nor- Marco Verratti were opening City up the fourth quarter. Ben Simmons, who man Powell added 24 points, helping with their passing. was limited to 15 minutes by foul trou- the Portland Trail Blazers solidify their SOCCER With City now playing on the break, ble and the game’s lopsided nature, hold on seventh place in the West with Foden wasted a good chance near the scored eight points and dished out six a 130-109 victory over the Memphis City could have taken a bigger lead break when he shot straight at Navas assists. Grizzlies . into the return leg next Tuesday, but from just inside the penalty area, after Suns 109, Clippers 101 Damian Lillard fi nished with 23 winger Phil Foden shot straight at Na- being set up by Bernardo Silva’s pass In Phoenix, Chris Paul scored 28 points and Carmelo Anthony scored 18 vas after a brilliant jinking run through from the right. points, Devin Booker added 21 and as Portland moved two games ahead PSG’s fl agging defense. PSG threatened early in the second the Phoenix Suns beat the Los Angeles of Memphis and San Antonio, which “In football you need to believe,” half, when Di Maria’s superb pass Clippers 109-101 to clinch a spot in the lost 116-111 at Miami on Wednesday Pochettino said. “Of course we are un- over the midfi eld put Kylian Mbappe playoffs for the fi rst time in 11 years. night. der a little bit of pressure, but in foot- into space down the right. He twisted The Suns fi nally fi gured out a way Magic 109, Cavaliers 104 ball you need to try.” City coach Pep inside and out, putting two City de- to beat the Clippers, who won the fi rst In Cleveland, Cole Anthony made Guardiola wants his players to stay fenders on the fl oor, but his fi zzing two games of the season series. Phoe- the tiebreaking layup with 45 seconds relaxed for the return leg, rather than cross was too strong and eluded his nix didn’t trail the entire game but left, and the Orlando Magic squan- thinking about reaching the fi nal for the teammates. needed a fourth-quarter push to turn dered a 23-point lead before edging the fi rst time in the club’s history. De Bruyne set up City’s late winner back a Los Angeles rally. Cleveland Cavaliers 109-104 to snap a City made a bright start, stretch- in the League Cup fi nal last Sunday six-game losing streak. ing PSG with their quick passing and and again took time to exert his infl u- Jazz 154, Kings 105 The Magic went up 86-63 on R.J. imposing themselves in midfi eld with ence after a brief spell out injured. The In Sacramento, Calif., Bojan Hampton’s runner with 10:42 remain- some hefty challenges. Belgium star went close with a shot on Bogdanovic scored 24 points, Utah Phoenix Suns guard Devin Booker (1) drives as Los Angeles Clippers ing, but Cleveland responded with a But PSG had the fi rst sights on goal the turn that went just over on the hour made 24 3-pointers, and the short- guard Rajon Rondo (4) defends during the fi rst half of an NBA basketball 41-18 run to tie the score at 104 on a and, after Neymar went close, Mar- mark. handed Jazz bounced back from con- game in Phoenix. (AP) 3-pointer by Kevin Love.

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