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MONDAY, APRIL 5, 2021 / SHABAAN 23, 1442 AH emergency number 112 NO. 17655 16 PAGES 150 FILS

Hotline ... legal consultation for private sector workers Leadership urges humanitarian initiatives

KUWAIT CITY, April 4: Khaled Al-Hamidi, Chairman of the Kuwait Society for Legal support will also be provided to workers whose cases have been transferred Human Rights, announced that the Kuwait Society for Human Rights has signed a to labor courts and who cannot bear the burdens and costs of attorneys-at-law. partnership agreement with the U.S.-Middle East Partnership Initiative (MEPI) to Hussein Al-Otaibi, Secretary General of the Society, said that the Kuwait So- cooperate in educating migrant workers in Kuwait of their rights guaranteed by law. ciety for Human Rights aspires, through the agreement, to continue its civil ac- Al-Hamidi said: The agreement resulted in educating workers about their tivities in bearing its responsibility in order to create a culture and legal aware- rights by providing legal consultation service to workers in the private sector ness among migrant workers in Kuwait by providing them with legal advice and those who are subject to the Kuwaiti Labor Law No. (6) of 2010, or work- and direct support for their cases in courts. ers in the domestic sector who are subject to the Domestic Workers Law No. Al-Otaibi pointed out that the agreement was signed in implementation of the (68) of 2015. Workers in the two sectors can call the hotline 22215150 or enter directives of the high leadership urging Kuwaitis to lead humanitarian service the electronic platform and obtain any legal advice directly in five different initiatives that give the State of Kuwait its status and consideration, as a global languages: English, Arabic, Filipino, Hindi and Urdu. humanitarian center. According to Al-Hamidi, during the period of the 16-month agreement, psy- The project is being implemented as a third phase of the “Together” project chological and social support will be provided to those wishing to obtain it. on educating migrant workers about their rights in Kuwait, which was imple- The Society has appointed a psychosocial expert to provide psychological and mented for the first time in cooperation with the Dutch embassy in Kuwait, social counseling. Periodic reports will be issued related to monitoring labor while it was implemented for the second time in cooperation with the Swiss market variables in Kuwait. Agency for Development and Cooperation.

Opinion From Hammurabi to Iranian King Abdullah backed occupation ... Iraq, history of blood, promising opportunity over security incident Arrests made By Ahmed Al-Jarallah of the most heinous invasions and crimes Editor-in-Chief, the Arab Times against humanity in modern history. Saddam’s crime took Iraq into the IRAQ, since the Hammurabi rule corridors of the international sanctions KUWAIT CITY, April 4, about 22 centuries ago, rarely enjoyed and hunger, and increased Baathist re- (KUNA): The Kuwaiti Foreign stability. It was either enduring fights pression. After the fall of his regime in Ministry on Saturday expressed among its states and emirates, or fall- 2003, hundreds of mass graves of op- the country’s standing side by ing prey to foreign invasions. It seems ponents and dissidents were revealed. side with the Hashemite King- that Iraq witnessed relative stability It revived the social rift and the trend dom of Jordan. only three times throughout its history of playing on partisan and sectarian Kuwait supports Jordan in all meas- of over 2,200 years. contradictions that led to Iran’s loyal- ures and decisions taken by King The first time was when the Babylo- ists taking control of Iraq after the in- Abdullah Bin Al-Hussein and Crown nian king, Hammurabi, united his con- vasion of the US. Prince Al-Hussein Bin Abdullah to flicting states, worked to repel foreign Iraq is ruled by Iranian puppets who maintain security and stability of the invasions, and codified the laws of sought to take revenge on the rest of the religious and sectarian components Kingdom, the ministry said in a state- Sumeria and Mesopotamia, the most ment. important legislation that is still a ref- in order to establish hegemony based Stability and security of Jordan are an erence point to this day. on the well-known rule of “divide and integrated part of Kuwait’s security and The second time was during the conquer”. stability, the statement noted. reign of the fifth Umayyad King Ab- After 18 years of Iranian control, The US, meanwhile, said Saturday it is dul-Malik bin Marwan, who ruled Iraq does not look better than it did “closely” following recent reports in Jor- the country with iron and fire through in the past. Rather, it is closer to be- dan and that King Abdullah Bin Al-Husse- his governor Al-Hajjaj bin Yusuf Al- ing a failed state, mired in creedal and in has “our full support.” Thaqafi, the author of the famous say- sectarian divisions. The systematic “We are closely following the reports ing - “O people of Iraq ... O people of looting of public wealth by Tehran’s and in touch with Jordanian officials,” agents has reached about $300 billion In this Dec 10, 2020 photo, released by the Royal Hashemite Court, Jordan’s King Abdullah II gives State Department Spokesperson Ned Price discord and hypocrisy…” a speech during the inauguration of the 19th Parliament’s non-ordinary session, in Amman, Jordan. said in a statement. The third time was during the reign with the aim of supporting its econo- my, while the Iraqis are starving. Jordan’s army chief of staff says the half-brother of King Abdullah II was asked to ‘stop some move- “King Abdullah is a key partner of the of the fifth Abbasid King Haroun ments and activities that are being used to target Jordan’s security and stability.’ The army chief of United States, and he has our full support,” Al-Rashid, but it did not last for Indeed, Iraq needs a just dicta- staff denied reports, April 3, 2021, that Prince Hamzah was arrested. He said an investigation is still he affirmed. long, as the Mongols invaded and tor who can work on dismantling the ongoing and its results will be made public ‘in a transparent and clear form.’ ( AP) The General Secretariat of the Council conquered it during the reign of Al- system of corruption and criminality of Arab Interior Ministers affirmed its full Musta’simBillah, the 37th and last that Iran has established, as with its stand and support for all measures taken by king of the Abbasid Caliphate. gangs in Lebanon and Yemen, to work the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan in order After that, the country was plunged on rescuing Mesopotamia from the to preserve its security and stability in the into wars, intrigues and coups, even clutches of the Persian beast, and to ‘Double-dip’ bill extends private country. when the modern state was declared in restore its Arab identity. In a statement, the secretariat said, Sunday, That is why the Gulf people par- that it is monitoring with great concern the 1921. King Faisal I tried to rescue it current events, expressing its confidence in out of the tunnel of fighting and chaos, ticularly the Iraqis have pinned their hopes on Prime Minister Mustafa sector rights to public Kuwaitis the wisdom of the wise Jordanian leadership and he succeeded but only for a while and the efficiency of its security apparatus in despite some rebellions. Al-Kazemi, who has taken important By Saeed Mahmoud Saleh steps since taking office for reform ei- maintaining the security of the Kingdom and That state ended with the “July Arab Times Staff facing any attempts to undermine it. Revolution” in 1958 when a group of ther internally or in his Gulf and Arab The Secretariat highly praised Jordan relations. KUWAIT CITY, April 4: MPs Hassan Jawhar, Hamad Newswatch role in supporting and strengthening the royal soldiers toppled the monarchy, For this reason, observers view his and committed one of the most hei- Rouhaldeen, Mehalhal Al-Mudaf, Muhannad Al-Sayer joint Arab security work system, wishing recent visit to the Kingdom of Saudi and Abdullah Al-Mudaf submitted a bill on amending for continued security and stability under nous massacres after dragging people Arabia as a correction of the compass on the streets. Civil Service Law No. 15/1979 in a bid to allow Ku- KUWAIT CITY: His Highness the Amir the leadership of King Abdullah II and the that has been facing the wrong direc- waitis working in the public sector to engage in private Sheikh Nawaf Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Crown Prince. Following that, coups - either peace- tion for the past two decades. ful or bloody - occured on a regu- business and work in the private sector, in addition to Al-Sabah sent a cable to Egyptian Presi- Measures Perhaps this is the last promising their current job. dent Abdulfattah Al-Sisi Sunday to lar basis. This culminated in what is opportunity for a country between the congratulate him on relocation of royal The Cairo-based Arab League also ex- known as the Ba’ath Party Purge of According to the bill, these employees must inform pressed full solidarity with all measures two rivers. If the Iraqis lose it, this their current employers if they want to work in the pri- mummies from the Egyptian Museum in 1979, when Saddam Hussein ordered means that they have no salvation. Ei- Tahrir Square to the National Museum of taken by the Jordanian leadership to pre- the execution of dozens of officials of vate sector; in addition to their present job. In another Egyptian Civilization in Al-Fustat area. serve the Kingdom’s security and stability. ther they will keep swimming in their development, MP Hamdan Al-Azmi unveiled his plan to In a statement, the League’s Secretary the state and the Baath Party in a bid blood in civil wars, or they will harm His Highness the Amir commended to secure his rule. Despite his success submit a proposal to rectify the error in the decision to the huge preparations and efforts carried General Ahmad Abu Al-Gheit affirmed his their neighbors ... In both cases they suspend the grilling motions filed and which will be filed out by the Egyptian government to bring confidence in the wisdom of the Jordanian in that, barely a year passed before he are the losers. against HH the Prime Minister Sheikh Sabah Al-Khalid sparked an eight-year war with Iran. about success for this event. (KUNA) leadership and its keenness on safeguard- Email: [email protected] as it has been proven that the decision was manipulated. ❑ ❑ ❑ ing the country in parallel with respecting It is true that this period witnessed He also intends to push for inclusion of the grilling the law and constitution. internal stability, but the country was Follow me on: JEDDAH: The Joint Forces Command motion that he and MP Muhammad Al-Mutair filed of the Coalition to Restore Legitimacy King Abdullah II has a great status facing a series of crises as a result of against HH the Prime Minister in the agenda of the next among Jordanians and on the Arab level as the futile war on the borders. This led to in Yemen said its naval forces spotted session. an attempt by the terrorist Houthi mili- well, as all know his loyalty and big role Saddam escaping from facing his inter- Meanwhile, MP Badr Al-Humaidi forwarded queries in serving Arab causes, Abu Al-Gheit said. [email protected] tia to carry out a hostile act in southern nal problems by invading Kuwait - one to Minister of Foreign Affairs and Minister of State for Red Sea using a bomb-laden unmanned The League’s Chief stressed the neces- Cabinet Affairs Sheikh Ahmed Nasser Al-Muhammad surface vehicles (USV) launched from sity of standing against any attempts aim- regarding rumors spread on social media that almost Hodeida Governorate. ing to destabilize interior situations and KD4 million was transferred on Aug 18, 2011 to the The USV posed a threat to regional weaken countries. Kuwaiti delegation in an international organization. and international security as well as the Meanwhile, President of the Arab Parlia- Iran ‘no’ to drip-feed lift of sanctions Al-Humaidi asked if this is true. If yes, he wants to maritime communication and interna- ment Adel Al-Assoumi affirmed full stand- tional shipping, so was timely destroyed ing with Jordan in all measures and deci- TEHRAN, April 4, (Agencies): Iran on next week aimed at trying to salvage a know the legal basis for the Amiri Diwan to transfer on Saturday evening, the Saudi Press sions taken by King Abdullah to preserve Saturday said the lifting of US-imposed global accord curbing the Iranian nuclear such amount to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. He Agency reported, citing a Coalition state- security and stability of the Kingdom. sanctions on the Islamic Republic should program. inquired if the laws governing the Amiri Diwan allow ment on its Twitter account. (KUNA) He confirmed that Jordan’s security and such money transfer without mentioning the beneficiary ❑ ❑ ❑ stability are main pillars of the joint Arab not be a “step by step” process, state Diplomats from Britain, China, France, entity, if it is allowed to transfer money to a certain indi- broadcaster Press TV reported. Germany, Russia and Iran will take part ADEN: One child was killed and fi ve action. vidual, if it received a report showing where the money Secretary General of the Gulf Coop- “As has been clearly stated many in Tuesday’s EU-brokered talks in Vien- was spent. other persons were wounded by a rocket launched by the Houthi militias on a high eration Council (GCC) Nayef Al-Hajraf times, no step-by-step plan is be- na. Those six countries have remained in On the other hand, MP Saleh Ziab Al-Mutairi dis- on Saturday affirmed that the GCC backs ing considered,” semi-official Fars the accord, known as the Joint Compre- density residential district of the dis- closed that he will submit a proposal to form a parlia- placed people in Marib, Yemeni offi cial the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan in all news agency quoted Foreign Ministry hensive Plan of Action, which bound Iran mentary fact-finding committee to investigate money sources said on Saturday. measures taken to maintain its security and spokesman Saeed Khatibzadeh as say- to nuclear restrictions in return for relief transfers to the bank accounts of some MPs and their Two of the wounded are in critical stability. ing, stressing Tehran’s “definitive pol- from U.S. and international sanctions. first-degree relatives. This is in light of rumors that a condition, Yemen news agency quoted a In a statement, Al-Hajraf said that the icy” of the immediate lifting of all US French Foreign Minister Jean-Yves Le number of MPs received money in exchange for adopt- local authority source as saying, adding Kingdom’s security and stability is an in- sanctions. Drian spoke Saturday with Iranian For- ing specific political opinion. that the shelling caused damage to two tegrated part of the Council’s security and Tehran and Washington said on Friday eign Minister Jawad Zarif to prepare for MPs Thamer Al-Suwait and Khalid Al-Otaibi sub- houses and other properties in the dis- stability based on close and deep-rooted mitted a bill to amend the National Assembly Law in trict. (KUNA) bonds between the GCC and Jordan. they would hold indirect talks in Vienna the talks. ❑ ❑ ❑ Earlier, Jordan’s security apparatuses next week in a bid to rekindle the 2015 “I encouraged Iran to be constructive,” order to prevent the government from voting on grilling motions, as well as requests to discuss public issues and carried out comprehensive investigations nuclear deal between Iran and global Le Drian said in a statement. “I called on DUBAI: Police in Dubai arrested a group that led to a detention campaign of some powers, with the US State Department Iran to abstain from any further violation those related to the monitoring role of the Assembly. of people on charges of public debauch- ery, authorities said, over a widely shared persons who targeted the country’s security saying the focus would be on the “nucle- of its current commitments in the nuclear The bill bans ministers from voting on postponing and stability, Jordan news agency (Petra) grilling motions, referring these motions to the parlia- video that showed naked women posing ar steps” Iran needs to take to re-comply domain that could threaten the movement on a balcony in the city. reported on Saturday. mentary Legal and Legislative Affairs Committee, and The arrests, which came after a close with the pact. toward resumed discussions.” removing these motions from the agenda of legislative Violations of the public decency law in Former US president Donald Trump Iran insists it is not seeking to make the United Arab Emirates, including for security follow-up, included “Hassan bin sessions. Zaid, Basem Ibrahim Awadallah and oth- pulled out of the deal in 2018, causing nuclear bombs. The MPs pointed out the bill is in line with the Con- nudity and other “lewd behavior,” carry Iran to breach some nuclear restrictions President Joe Biden came into office penalties of up to six months in prison and ers,” the agency said, explaining that the stitution, which stipulates the importance of preventing a 5,000 dirham ($1,360) fi ne. The sharing arrests were made for “security reasons.” agreed on under the pact. saying that getting back into the nuclear conflict of interests while its Article 117 mandates the of pornographic material is also punish- Meanwhile, Chairman of Jordan’s Joint France’s top diplomat spoke with his accord and getting Iran’s nuclear program Assembly to specify the monitoring tool principles. able with prison time and hefty fi nes un- Chiefs of Staff Maj. Gen. Yousef Huneiti Iranian counterpart Saturday and urged back under international restrictions was Furthermore, Assembly Speaker Marzouq Al- der the country’s laws, which are based on denied claims about the arrest of Prince Iran to be “constructive” and avoid fur- a priority for his U.S. administration. Iran Ghanim sent a cable to his Senegalese counterpart con- Islamic law, or Shariah. (AP) Hamza bin Al-Hussein, the agency report- ther nuclear escalation ahead of talks wants sanctions to be lifted first. gratulating him on the National Day of Senegal. ed, citing him. ARAB TIMES, MONDAY, APRIL 5, 2021 2

‘Worsening kidney function can be slowed or stopped if caught early’ Most people with kidney disease don’t know they have it idney disease is common, but worsening of kidney function can be slow or stop progression if they keep their blood sugar and blood pressure About Cleveland Clinic Kslowed or stopped if caught early and appropriately managed, says under control, eat a healthy diet, stop smoking, do regular exercise, and Cleveland Clinic is a nonprofit multispecialty academic medical center an expert at a top American hospital, Cleveland Clinic, ahead of World stay at a healthy weight. “Patients should also stay up to date on cancer that integrates clinical and hospital care with research and education. Lo- Kidney Day on Thursday, 11 March. screenings and vaccines, as other illnesses and treatments for other dis- cated in Cleveland, Ohio, it was founded in 1921 by four renowned physi- Dr. Cassandra Kovach, in the Department of Nephrology and Hyper- eases could impact the kidneys,” added Dr. Kovach. cians with a vision of providing outstanding patient care based upon the tension at Cleveland Clinic, said: “Many people worldwide are at risk for One of the more promising developments in treatment is Sodium-glu- principles of cooperation, compassion and innovation. Cleveland Clinic developing kidney disease, and most people with kidney disease do not cose co-transporter-2 (SGLT2) inhibitors, which help the kidneys to re- has pioneered many medical breakthroughs, including coronary artery by- know they have it. It is detected through simple blood and urine tests, move sugar through the urine. SGLT2 inhibitors are primarily used to help pass surgery and the first face transplant in the United States. but because most people with early stages of kidney disease do not have people with type 2 diabetes lower their blood sugar, but benefits are also U.S. News & World Report consistently names Cleveland Clinic as symptoms, it often goes undiagnosed.” being seen for people with kidney disease. one of the nation’s best hospitals in its annual “America’s Best Hospi- Worldwide, kidney disease affects about 850 million people, with These SGLT2 inhibitors can complement existing medications such as tals” survey. Among Cleveland Clinic’s 67,554 employees worldwide are one in three adults in the United States at risk of kidney disease, ac- angiotensin-converting-enzyme (ACE) inhibitors and angiotensin recep- more than 4,520 salaried physicians and researchers, and 17,000 regis- cording to the International Society of Nephrology and the Internation- tor blockers (ARBs). Both ACE inhibitors and ARB medications can treat tered nurses and advanced practice providers, representing 140 medical al Federation of Kidney Foundations, which jointly organize World high blood pressure and help slow progression of kidney disease in certain specialties and subspecialties. Cleveland Clinic is a 6,026-bed health sys- Kidney Day. patients. tem that includes a 165-acre main campus near downtown Cleveland, 19 Kidney disease occurs when a person’s kidneys are not functioning While kidney disease can happen to anyone, patients with diabetes, hy- hospitals, more than 220 outpatient facilities, and locations in southeast properly, and kidney function can deteriorate over time. The severity is pertension (high blood pressure), heart disease, or a family history of kid- Florida; Las Vegas, Nevada; Toronto, Canada; Abu Dhabi, UAE; and based on a 5-stage scale: Stage 1 is mild damage and Stage 5 is close to ney disease are at greater risk. Worldwide, people with African, Latino, London, England. In 2019, there were 9.8 million total outpatient visits, failure or failure, which may require kidney dialysis or a kidney trans- Native American, or South Asian heritage are at higher risk for kidney 309,000 hospital admissions and observations, and 255,000 surgical cases plant. disease. throughout Cleveland Clinic’s health system. Patients came for treatment World Kidney Day 2021’s theme is “Living Well with Kidney Dis- “If any of these risk factors apply to you, talk to your doctor about get- from every state and 185 countries. Visit us at clevelandclinic.org. Follow ease,” focusing on effective symptom management, patient empower- ting tested for kidney disease” said Dr Kovach. “Despite patients’ fears, us at twitter.com/ClevelandClinic. News and resources available at news- ment, and life participation. People with kidney disease can potentially kidney disease is treatable, especially if caught early.” room.clevelandclinic.org.

Sound therapy

Relax … rejuvenate Wellness activities amidst the wonders of AlUla

lUla, home to picturesque natural wonders, civilizations long forgot- place of extraordinary natural and human heritage. The vast area, covering Aten, and a land of significant human heritage located in the north west- 22,561km?, includes a lush oasis valley, towering sandstone mountains ern part of the Kingdom, highlights health and wellness with a range of and ancient cultural heritage sites dating back thousands of years to when spiritually enticing outdoor activities this March. the Lihyan and Nabataean kingdoms reigned. The destination’s majestic atmosphere allows for an unmatched healthy The most well-known and recognised site in AlUla is Hegra, Saudi experience, where participants relax and rejuvenate while enjoying group Arabia’s first UNESCO World Heritage Site. A 52-hectare ancient city, activities amongst the natural wonders of AlUla, secluded from crowds Hegra was the principal southern city of the Nabataean Kingdom and is and away from distractions. comprised of more than 100 well preserved tombs with elaborate facades One of the top highlighted wellness activities in AlUla this winter is cut out of the sandstone outcrops surrounding the walled urban settlement. The Sadu Escape, located at the foot of the mountain in an isolated area Current research also suggests Hegra was the most southern outpost of of rock and sand, blending with the surrounding terrains. Walk around, the Roman Empire after conquering the Nabataeans in 106 CE. discover the mountains, feel the aura of the winds around, and unwind In addition to Hegra, AlUla is home to a fascinating historical and ar- while sitting in a spacious tent beside Camel Rock listening to alluring chaeological sites such as: Ancient Dadan, the capital of the Dadan and musical performances. Inside the tent, you can play a game of chess with a Lihyan Kingdoms, which is considered one of the most developed 1st- friend, indulge in drinks from the bar or fine finger foods, watch the starry millennium BCE cities of the Arabian Peninsula; thousands of ancient sky from the moon beds, or warm yourself next to the bonfire amongst rock art sites and inscriptions at Jabal Ikmah; Old Town, a labyrinth of kindred spirits. Drumming experience more than 900 mudbrick homes developed from at least the 12th century, Another activity available for wellness seekers is the Sound Bath. Oper- and Hijaz Railway and Hegra Fort, key sites in the story and conquests of ated by Retreat and Jupiter Eclipse, it is an immersive, full-body listening greenery and fresh air, wear comfortable clothing, bring along your yoga Lawrence of Arabia. experience that uses sound to induce therapeutic and restorative effects mat, loosen up, and breathe in the abundance of nature. About Royal Commission for AlUla to mind and body. During the sessions, participants will be guided by a Visitors can participate in a tribal drumming experience against the The Royal Commission for AlUla (RCU) was established by royal certified sound therapist using different sound healing instruments such as stunning natural backdrop of AlUla in Al Wadi Park. Operated also by decree in July 2017 to protect and safeguard AlUla, a region of out- gongs, singing bowls, drums, tuning forks, shruti box and much more, to Retreat and Jupiter Eclipse, everyone handling their own drums, a profes- standing natural and cultural significance in North-West Saudi Arabia. take one from sound into the beautiful silence of AlUla. The event hap- sional facilitator will guide participants to work collectively and create a RCU is embarking on a long-term plan to develop and deliver a sensi- pens 3 times a day on Thursday, Fridays and Saturdays where you can rhythmic melody. A lovely way to release stress, this interactive drum- tive, sustainable transformation of the region, reaffirming it as one of the participate in the Sunshine class (morning time), Afternoon Restorative ming experience encourages unity and pumps up group energy. The expe- country’s most important archaeological and cultural destinations and Sound Journey (afternoon time), or Stars & Bliss Sound Journey (even- rience runs every day in the evening from Tuesday to Saturday. preparing it to welcome visitors from around the world. RCU’s devel- ing time). You can participate also in the morning and evening classes on Outdoor wellness activities are now open for bookings, to learn more opment work in AlUla encompasses a broad range of initiatives across Tuesday and Wednesdays. and book your sessions visit www.experiencealula.com archaeology, tourism, culture, education and the arts, reflecting the am- In Shilal farm or AlUla Fresh Farm, you can book a meditative yoga About AlUla bitious commitment to cultivate tourism and leisure in Saudi Arabia, session in the most ideal location one could wish for. Surrounded by Located 1,100 km from Riyadh, in North-West Saudi Arabia, AlUla is a outlined in Vision 2030.

editor’s choice ARAB TIMES, MONDAY, APRIL 5, 2021 3

Weather Expected weather for the next By Night: Rather cold with light Kuwait Airport 30 17 Prayer Timings 24 hours: to moderate north westerly wind Abdaly 29 11 Fajr ...... 04:13 Asr ...... 15:23 By Day: Rather hot with light to with speeds of 12-35 km/h and Jahra 30 15 Sunrise .. 05:34 Maghrib ...18:08 moderate freshening at times some scattered clouds will Salmiyah 28 18 Zohr ...... 11:51 Isha ...... 19:26 north westerly wind with speeds Ahmadi 29 19 of 15-45 km/h causing rising dust appear. Nuwaisib 33 14 over open areas and some scat- Station Max Exp Min Rec Wafra 30 15 tered clouds will appear. Kuwait City 28 17 Salmy 28 11

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

Photo by Bassam Abu Shanab Recreation mood: People out over the weekend at the Abul Hasaniya beachfront. A few hours before the curfew starts at 6 pm (which is going to be from 7pm to 5 am on April 8) the public goes out for a brisk walk or to the beach or even the closed market places to pass the time. KFH climbs 6 fils, Mabanee dips New vaccines push shots pace Kuwait’s stock index ekes modest gains, volume flat ‘Bird flu’ blamed for shortage of eggs By John Mathews Arab Times Staff ▼ UUS$/KDS$/KD 0.30215/250.30215/25 By Marwa Al-Bahrawi a period of six months, an increase of 20% over the KUWAIT CITY, April 4: Kuwait stocks ▲ Euro/KD 0.3560 Al-Seyassah Staff and Agencies previous cost. eked modest gains on Sunday after charting The Al-Seyassah daily has learned from well-informed health sources that a mixed course in the previous week. The ■ Yen/KD 0.0027 All Shares Index, after a tame start, climbed KUWAIT CITY, April 4: The Ministry of Health has the extension of the contract is attributed to the time frame since next con- 23.52 points to 5,835.96 points paced by ▲ British £/KD 0.4187 extended the contract of air ambulance and medical tract ends next September and it will take time to float the new tender for the some of the mid-caps and blue chips. provision of air ambulance and evacuation services. evacuation services to six months at a cost of $7.452 The Premier Market rose 13.98 points to ■ Indian Rs/KD 0.0041 On the other hand, well-informed health sources revealed that second 6,385.20 pts after scaling 267 pts during million dollars, equivalent to 2.262 million dinars, for batch of ‘AstraZeneca’ vaccine – about 150,000 doses – has arrived from whole of March while Main Index sprinted ■ Philippines Peso/KD Russia on board the 46.74 points. The BK Main 50 rallied 50.25 0.0062 Emirates Airlines. points to 4,941.22 pts. The volume turnover The same sources said, meanwhile ticked slightly up extending the ▲ FTSE +23.67 pts at closing April 02 the vaccines will be distrib- three-day rise. Over 255 million shares uted to various vaccination changed hands – up 2 pct from Thursday. centers in health areas this The sectors closed mostly in the green ▲ Nikkei +465.13 pts at closing April 02 week, and another similar turf. Financial Services outshone the rest batch is expected to arrive with 1.74 pct whereas Insurance sank 1.42 ▲ within 10 days, pointing out percent, the worst performer of the day. Gold 1715.85 per oz (London) that the Ministry of Health Banking sector topped in both volume and will increase the number of value with 28.9 million shares traded for ▲ NYMEX crude $61.33 per barrel vaccination centers to 7 in KD 12.91 million. each health region this week. Among the prime movers, Kuwait ▲ Brent crude $64.65 per barrel The sources stated that Finance House rallied 6 fils to 780 fils on the eleventh batch of the back of 9.3 million shares and Commercial LIBOR rate 0.19975% ‘Pfizer-Biontech’ vaccine Bank jumped 20 fils to 520 fils. Kuwait will arrive this afternoon, Real Estate Co paced 2 fils after pushing from Belgium, also on 11.8 million shares and Humansoft Holding advanced whereas 47 closed lower. Of the board the Emirates dashed 24 fils up. YIACO Medical soared 130 counters active on Sunday, 11 closed Airlines. 52 fils to 576 fils. flat. 9,517 deals worth KD 35.8 million The sources revealed the Zain eased 1 fil to 604 fils with a volume were transacted during the session. Ministry has limited the of 1.7 million and Ooredoo dialed up 2 fils. In the banking sector, National Bank of working hours to 12 at the stc darted 12 fils to 949 fils extending last Kuwait eased 3 fils to 812 fils partly eras- Kuwait Vaccination Center session’s robust gains while logistics major ing Thursday’s gains while Gulf Bank and at the Mishref Fairgrounds Agility was up 5 fils at 731 fils after gain- Burgan Bank trimmed 1 fil each to close at during the holy month of ing 66 fils during March. Mezzan Holding 218 fils and 220 fils respectively. Kuwait Ramadan, saying the center rose 4 fils to 570 fils on back of over 1 International Bank was unchanged at 203 will receive people from million shares and Boursa Kuwait fils after trading 3.3 million shares whereas 10:00 am to 10:00 pm. Securities scaled 8 fils. Mabanee Co Boubyan Bank dialed down 1 fil. Restore slipped 7 fils to 732 fils. Ahli United Bank BSC added 2 fils on National Industries Group was unchanged back of 8.4 million shares while Warba The ministry affirmed at 187 fils after moving 1.6 million shares Bank took in 1 fil. Al Ahli Bank tripped fils that it will continue to whereas Gulf Cable paced 7 fils. Boubyan whereas Ahli United Bank Kuwait closed 2 restore a balance in the An unidentified orphan receives a bicycle as a gift from the charity. Petrochemical Co dialed down 2 fils where- fils up at 310 fils. immunization movement as 847 fils while Al Qurain Petrochemical KIPCO and National Investment Co against “Covid-19” inside Co climbed 6 fils to 402 fils. Integrated paused at 164 fils and 170 fils respectively ‘Tanmia Charity’ reiterates support for orphans the country, by raising the Holding eased 1 fil to 412 fils and Aznour whereas Al Imtiaz Investment took in 2 fils pace of vaccination and clipped 1 fils. Jazeera Airways slipped 6 fils on back of 4.2 million shares. Kuwait Deputy Chairman and Director-General of the to the adults and children alike, and leaves a beautiful catching with the pace of to 716 fils extending last session’s pullback Investment Co inched 1 fil up whereas International Charitable Association for Development impression on them particular the orphans. global immunization by and ALAFCO added 4 fils. International Financial Advisors held Dr. Nasser Al-Ajmi, said the orphan sponsorship proj- He pointed out fulfilling an orphan’s wish makes the vaccinating a quarter of The market opened firm and edged higher ground at 112 fils. ect is one of the priorities of Tanmia Charity, reports donor proud and the orphan feels the warmth of par- Kuwait’s population during in early trade. The main index sagged Bayan Investment tripped 0.8 fils where- Al-Seyassah daily. the month of Ramadan. enthood, adding that orphans, like other children, often slightly before rising sharply again amid as Kuwait Financial Centre (Markaz) ticked He indicated the charity has contacted orphans who The sources stated the buying spurt in some of the counters and 0.9 fils into green. Gulf Investment House are sponsored by it to find out their various needs and have simple wishes to own a bicycle, a new bed, sports existing doses are intended clothes, or a mattress or a wardrobe. scaled the day’s highest level of 5,845 pts paced 7 fils and Aayan Leasing gained 5 satisfy their wishes, with generous support provided by to be the second for those past the mid-session. It retreated thereafter fils. KFIC rose 4.5 fils on back of 2.2 mil- the General Secretariat of Awqaf. He added the Tanmia Charity since its establishment who have received the first, Al-Ajmi said in a press statement gifts give pleasure has sought to give comprehensive care for orphans. and traded flat in the final minutes before lion shares and KAMCO crept 0.8 fils high- and those registered on the closing with modest gains. er. Noor Financial Investment darted 7 fils Ministry’s website will Top gainer of the day, YIACO Medical to 208 fils whereas Tamdeen Investment Colonel Passot shares experience in ME resume receiving doses galloped 9.9 pct to 576 fils and EK Holding slipped 9 fils. from today. climbed 9.78 percent to stand close behind. The market was mixed during the previ- In the global immuniza- Al Rai Media Group skidded 9.51 percent, ous week. The main index closed higher in tion indicators, Kuwait the steepest decliner of the day and Arzan two of the five sessions scaling 41 pts week- French role in Kuwait’s liberation discussed ranks 44th and fourth in the topped the voume with 23.8 million shares. on-week. It has gained 127 points during Gulf out of 159 countries KUWAIT CITY, April 4 : The Reflecting the day’s upswing, the win- whole of March and is up 264 points year- around the world. ners outnumbered the losers. 72 stocks to-date. Humanities and Social Sciences Poultry farms production Department hosted Colonel Olivier Govt agencies cut bonus amounts decreased from 2.7 million Passot, the French Defense Attaché to eggs per day to 700,000 Kuwait, who gave a seminar on the KUWAIT CITY, April 4: Several majority, if not all of the employ- according to a reliable importance of the French military in government agencies decided to ees, achieved the required num- source, reports Al-Rai daily. celebration of the 30th anniversary of reduce the amount of excellent ber of working days to receive Informed sources said a Kuwait’s performance bonus for deserving the bonus. large number of poultry Liberation. The employees after noticing a remark- As reported earlier by the daily, farms in Kuwait have event titled, “The able increase in the number of the employees exempted from the stopped producing eggs Role of the beneficiaries for fiscal 2020/2021 required number of working days recently, due to the spread French Army” compared to the previous years, are not affected as such exemption of bird flu after a big num- was also a part of reports Al-Qabas daily quoting a does not mean cancellation of enti- ber of eggs laying chicks GUST’s annual reliable source. tlement to the bonus. were culled which means a Francophone The source explained that the The source emphasized that the loss of about three quarters Week, which cel- increase in the number of period of work disruption is part of of the supplied quantity of ebrates French employees entitled to the bonus the flexible working hours system local eggs. language and cul- is due to many factors reasons; adopted by public entities due to The sources pointed out ture. Passot that “the daily local con- Colonel Passot the most important of which is the corona pandemic in 2020. sumption of eggs is about discussed at length about the French 72,000 cartons (2.16 million Armies contribution during Operation eggs) per day during this Desert Shield, which was a UN coali- French, Dr. Manal El-Kady, said, “We future Francophone Days.” period.” tion that included 35 member states, led are very pleased to be hosting Francophone Week is an annual The sources indicated by the United States, to liberate Kuwait Francophone Day once again. A year event held at GUST during March, “the concerned authorities from the Iraqi occupation. He explained after the pandemic forced us not to hosted by the Humanities and Social have worked during the past to the young audience that this division hold it, showing our commitment to Sciences department that offers talks days to study solutions to was deployed in Saudi Arabia to help bringing a different culture to the com- and seminars about French language the crisis,” noting that “the Kuwait during the occupation. The munity and encouraging students to and culture. The event falls under the Ministry of Commerce and Colonel also talked about his experi- learn about the French language, cul- internationally recognized Industry has moved, under ence in the Middle East carrying out ture, and history. More importantly, it Francophone Day, which falls on the direction of Minister Dr. many missions over his career. The talk felt like a great opportunity to cele- March 20. This year, they also hosted Abdullah Al-Salman, to was moderated by GUST’s very own brate the 30th anniversary of Kuwait’s a “Regional Roundtable” with students take prompt solutions, Dr. Saleh Al-Nafisi, Assistant Professor Liberation by bringing in a specialist from the Middle East who speak including stopping exports of Political Science. discussing France’s involvement and French and a lecture with the Global and communicating with Head of Humanities and Social relating France to Kuwait. We hope to Studies Center given by Dr. Phillip the main egg suppliers to Sciences and Assistant Professor of bring many more talks like these in Lane. double their quotas locally. ARAB TIMES, MONDAY, APRIL 5, 2021 LOCAL 4 ‘Change working hours of school administrations during Ramadan’ List of public schools’ needs eyed in bid to resume classes

KUWAIT CITY, April 4: During a meeting held with the directors of the educational zones, a rec- ommendation was made KUNA photo to the Minister of Educa- HH the Amir with HH the Crown Prince. tion Dr Ali Al-Mudhaf to HH the Amir receives State offi cials determine the working hours of school adminis- His Highness the Amir Sheikh Nawaf Meanwhile, His Highness the trations during the month Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah re- Amir received His Highness the ceived at Bayan Palace on Sunday Prime Minister Sheikh Sabah of Ramadan, and that it His Highness the Crown Prince Khaled Al-Hamad Al-Sabah. should start from 9:30 am Sheikh Meshaal Al-Ahmad Al-Sabah. Also, His Highness the Amir re- for all educational stages His Highness the Amir also re- ceived Minister of State for Integrity except the elementary ceived National Assembly Speaker Promotion Abdullah Yousef Al-Rou- stage, which will start at Marzouq Ali Al-Ghanim. mi. (KUNA) 12 noon, reports Al-Qabas daily. National Day greetings According to informed educa- tional sources, the meeting was presided over by the Assistant HH Amir congratulates Senegal Undersecretary for Public Edu- KUWAIT CITY, April 4, (KUNA): His and to the country thrive and prosper- cation Affairs Osama Al-Sul- Highness the Amir Sheikh Nawaf Al- ity. tan. During the meeting, it was Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah sent on Sun- His Highness the Crown Prince Photo by Mahmoud Jadeed agreed that all school employees day a congratulatory cable to Senegal’s Sheikh Meshaal Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber would work online from home, President Macky Sall on his country’s Al-Sabah and His Highness the Prime Sheikh Hamad Jaber Al-Ali meeting with DGCA offi cials. except for the principal and as- National Day. Minister Sheikh Sabah Al-Khaled Al- sistant principal, who will be His Highness the Amir wished Pres- Hamad Al-Sabah sent similar cables on Defense minister meets offi cials of DGCA present in the school on rotation ident Sall good health and well-being, the occasion. basis. The directors of the edu- cational zones submitted a report ‘Big task on hand to protect citizens, residents’ on the preparations for the high school exams, which will start By Mohammad Ghanem posed as a result of the increase in Sheikh Hamad Jaber Al-Ali on May 30. Al-Seyassah Staff the numbers of coronavirus infec- stressed, the DGCA sector is one The names of the work commit- tions during the second wave of the of the strategic sectors that contrib- KUWAIT CITY, April 4: Deputy tees for the examinations were pandemic, as “we reached frighten- ute to the success of development also submitted to the assistant Prime Minister and Minister of De- ing numbers of about 1,700 infec- plans and building a strong national fense Sheikh Hamad Jaber Al-Ali undersecretary based on the sys- tions per day and the rate of infec- economy that supports the future vi- tems and regulations in force in said he expects the partial ban to con- tions has increased compared to the sion aimed at diversifying sources tinue during the next stage until the this aspect. number of swabs which reached of income. Meanwhile, Assistant number of infections decrease. about 20 percent, so we had a big He said, this sector creates new He added, “We are on the verge Undersecretary for Financial task on hand to protect citizens and job opportunities for young people Affairs at the Ministry of of the month of Ramadan where residents, so we suggested to the through the development and ex- customs and gatherings in the holy minister of health to implement the pansion as the government plans to Education Youssef Al-Najjar has month can lead to an increase in the current partial curfew, and thanks to enhance the capabilities of this im- instructed the Public Education rate of infections with the coronavi- God, we reaped the fruit.” portant and vital sector by opening Sector to submit a list of the public rus, so our recommendations to the He went on to say, “We hope the terminal building (T4) and the new schools’ needs as part of prepara- Council of Ministers is to continue rate of infections will decrease espe- Kuwait International Airport (T2) tions for the resumption of classes with the partial curfew but with re- cially since the medical staff has giv- building. in the next school year, reports duction in the duration of the cur- en all the best and look tired because He added all these projects will Al-Anba daily. few.” they have been working without va- contribute to enhancing the prestig- Re-opening This came in a statement to jour- cation or holidays.” ious position and vital economic role The daily obtained a copy of nalists, after his meeting with offi - He revealed the project to trans- of Kuwait, which in turn will support Al-Najjar’s letter to his public Photo by Rizk Taufi q cials of the Directorate-General of form the DGCA into an independent the efforts of the DGCA to overcome education counterpart, in which Civil Aviation (DGCA) at Kuwait body is currently on the table of the various obstacles that may hinder the The management and staff of the Luxury Collection Hotel and Four Points he stressed the need for the by Sheraton Kuwait extended their sincerest congratulations and felicita- Airport, where he confi rmed that Economic Committee in the Council progress of expansion, development Financial Affairs Sector to tions to the Arab Times newspaper on the occasion of the ‘44th Establish- the recent partial curfew was im- of Ministers. and upgrading. receive the aforementioned list ment Day Anniversary’. in preparation for the next aca- demic year and in view of the gradual re-opening of schools. “We have to know the needs of Other Voices students in public schools in terms of equipment and supplies required for the implementation of health regulations. This is an important and urgent matter,” he added. Juma ... Robespierre Meanwhile, Assistant Undersecretary for Public Education Affairs Osama Al-Sultan forwarded the letter to of Kuwaiti revolution the educational districts; urging By Ahmad alsarraf task of importing, storing, pricing, them to respond immediately. distributing and selling, and this In the meantime, the State video clip of a malevolent will turn us into a communist state Audit Bureau (SAB) presented Acitizen, fi nancially and mor- par excellence. its opinions on 2,941 issues in ally bankrupt, went viral where he As the government is not quali- describes himself as a journalist in fi ed to undertake the task of search- fiscal year 2020/2021 and the which he declared to the Kuwaitis amount involved is estimated at ing for food and other items in that their opponent and enemy are dozens of countries of the world KD3.1 billion, reports Al-Jarida the merchants class, as they are daily. and negotiating with thousands of the ones who have infl uence and manufacturers and suppliers, con- Auditor at the Pre-Supervision ‘grab’ the Department for Economic Affairs tracting with them to import prod- tenders and ucts, clear them, ship them, store Fatima Al-Fahd disclosed in a agencies, them, price them, transfer them to statement to the bureau that prior adding that sales outlets and collect their price control works resulted in direct if the people and other complex tasks, those who savings estimated at KD80 million of Kuwait believed Robespierre will discover for the State treasury. want their their mistake, and the government She added that about 13 percent freedom, and will be forced to hand over the mat- of the total value of the issues they have the ter of providing the citizens’ needs raised during the above-mentioned will, then to individuals or companies to carry fiscal year are related to contracts they must out the task, and the merchant class rush to the will return to the front again under on combating the repercussions of houses of alsarraf coronavirus and are estimated at different names, and we will be merchants, back to square one. KD 409 million — about 255 and hold a popular trial for each of issues. It was not supposed to heed them in front of his home. Robespierre’s absurd suggestion at The words of Juma Robespierre all, were it not for the amount of of the Kuwaiti revolution are clear comments in support of his talk on Al-Ansari gives but he needs some arrangement for Twitter, some of them by people his plan to succeed. of minds. This fi rst reminded me nod to students, We must fi rst agree on how to of the notorious Saddam Hussein form the popular committees, and who used to execute merchants af- who chooses them, determine those ter holding responsible for the de- trainees at inst who are actually merchants, not ac- cline in exchange rate of the Iraqi cording to the terms of Juma, know KUWAIT CITY, April 4: The dinar. their home addresses, address the It also reminded me of the story Acting Director General of the problem of those who have more of a British Lord who had hired a Public Authority for Applied Edu- than one wife and house, and form butler, but the latter made a condi- cation and Training, Dr Jassem judicial teams to try merchants, tion that his weekly day off be on Al-Ansari, endorsed results of ac- who monopolize tenders and the Wednesday, as it is the day when he ceptance of students and trainees bloodsuckers who are the owners of meets with his comrades from the in the faculties and institutes of the agencies, and determine the method members of the Communist Party. authority and its special training for choosing them to be tasked with After a while, the Lord noticed courses in the vacancy plan for the issuing martial judgments against that the butler stopped going to the merchants, and sending them to the Wednesday meeting, so he asked academic year 2020-2021, reports guillotine of the revolution that will Al-Seyassah daily. him about the reason and he said take place at the ‘Friday Market’ that the party secretariat had, at The Dean of Admission and square. Registration, Dr Meshaal Al- the last meeting, put forward the The merchant class will disap- idea of a coup d’état and assuming Mansouri, announced in a press pear and the people will feel hap- power, confi scating all the wealth statement, the acceptance of all py for a few hours, then everyone of merchants and the rich, and re- Kuwaiti students and children of will discover that they have been distributing it equally among the Kuwaiti women and the children deceived by Robespierre, as food people. of martyrs and diplomats who and sanitary items have disap- The general secretary’s fi gures meet the admission requirements peared from the markets and co- revealed that the share of each Brit- in addition to the rest of the groups operative societies’ shelves after on would be 20 thousand pounds based on the regulations approved the merchants, the owners of the and since the balance of his account vampire of agencies and bidders in the bank is 26 thousand pounds, by the authority for the academic are executed. The government year 2020-2021. this means that he will be less rich, will find itself faced with two op- or poorer under the new communist Dr Al-Mansouri stated that the tions: accepted students were distributed regime. That is why he stopped go- Either the confi scation of all the ing to the Wednesday meetings. according to the approved budget, property of the convicted merchants ❑ ❑ ❑ the minimum rates for admission, including their warehouses or what and in an orderly manner at the is left of them in their agencies. The email: [email protected]. Authority’s colleges and institutes popular committees undertake the kw and their training courses. ARAB TIMES, MONDAY, APRIL 5, 2021 LOCAL 5 REMEMBER WHEN

Local Architecture

Local masons at work applying a coat of gypsum to a newly- water cistern stood. In daytime, there would be plenty of built house. The square tower at the top of the house is to sunshine throughout the house. Invariably, a few stairs led to Photograph courtesy catch the cool north breeze and direct it to the sitting room the roof, a much preferred place for sleeping during hot sum- below. mer nights. Close to the house stood the diwaniya, or men’s of The Center for Re- The architecture in old Kuwait is characterized by its suc- meeting place, with its private entrance and coffee-hearth in search and Studies on cess in “transforming the local values and way of life into ar- the center. It was there that the men of the house would en- chitectural terms,” as stated by a contemporary architect of tertain their guests. Kuwait and the work Kuwait. The Kuwaiti master builder, known locally as ustad, In nearby villages, however, houses were less sophisti- of Dr Yacoub Al- drew no plans on papers; he fi gured the proportions and made cated and blended beautifully with the surrounding environ- the plan in his mind. His success, however, in using traditional ment. Some were fi shermen’s homes; others, such as the Hijji in the book Old- techniques with locally available materials such as mud, gyp- romantic kubar, were retreats that belonged to city dwellers. Kuwait: Memories sum, coral and mangrove poles, is all too evident. They resided there in the spring when the desert bloomed A house or a mosque in old Kuwait was always built after the winter rains. (From the book ‘Old Kuwait: Memo- in Photographs fi rst around a courtyard where a brackish water well or a fresh- ries in Photographs’) published in 1996. Courtesy of The Center for Research and Studies on Kuwait diwaniya A DIGEST OF PUBLIC OPINION ‘Refute, deal objectively with the rights report, providing evidence’ “MORE than fi ve decades have passed since the issuance of the Universal Declara- tions and reactions. long period or even your request to postpone the interrogations. tion of Human Rights by the United Nations, and despite the multiplicity of inter- “The study of this report must be carried out by the various bodies related to “Your Highness, interpellation is a clear parliamentary tool and removing this national and regional organizations, bodies and covenants related to human rights, it, which were dealt with in the report. It is certain that these bodies have special- tool from the hands of members of Parliament may have a reaction that may affect including Arab conventions, the annual report issued by the US State Department ized cadres and can deal wisely, expertly and rationally with such storms. It is the performance of your ministerial team. on human rights in world countries has very special inter- also fortunate that we have an independent offi ce for human rights, a civil society, “Your Highness, the request to postpone the interrogations seems to many of ests because its source is the largest and most powerful public benefi t associations, free press, and activists in all fi elds who should be you supporters to be unconvincing, let us say it in a different way that a majority country in the world,” columnist Hind Al-Shoumer wrote invited to deal objectively with the American annual human rights report and the that supports and sympathizes with you did not understand the signifi cance of post- for Al-Anba daily . observations it contained on human rights in Kuwait in various fi elds, which must poning the interrogations directed at you while leaving the door open for question- “This report touches on many policies, procedures, leg- be refuted and objectively answered with evidence and arguments not only by elo- ing of the rest of the ministers. islation and different areas of life whether it is national leg- quent terms. “Is there - God forbid - an intention to sacrifi ce one or more ministers? Are there islation, the right to express opinion, the rights of minori- “We must not forget that human rights have become words of truth that are some ministers who will be used as sacrifi cial ‘goats’? ties and vulnerable groups, the right to health, the right to intended otherwise in foreign policies, and they fi nd echoes and exciting reactions “Are you convinced that the group facing you will be satisfi ed with a certain knowledge, or the right to education. in different circles sometimes to embarrass states and blackmail them in different number of ministers or will they interrogate all ministers to defer your request to “Had the source of the report not been the largest coun- situations if they do not initiate objective positions regarding these reports.” postpone the interrogations which will lead to wasting more time and effort in a lot try in the world, the reactions would have been unpredict- Also: of futile arguments? able or its repercussions in terms of protests, whether from “Your Highness, the Prime Minister! There is a large group of people against “Yes, Your Highness! The interrogation tool has been misused many times, and national authorities that do not accept prejudice to their it has sometimes become a waste of time of ministers and deputies but it is a culture Hind Al-Shoumer absurd interrogations ... against personal interrogations ... against indulgent inter- sovereignty and such reports are considered interference in rogations ... a large group against repeated interrogations ... A large group is against of parliament and we lack many parliamentary practices and cultures, but this is internal affairs and a violation of sovereignty and national wasting your time, the time of ministers, and the time of the National Assembly the path of democracy that we have accepted, a path that some loved and hated by dignity, but the issuance of the report that was published with complete transpar- with such interrogations,” columnist Jassem Al-Taneeb wrote for Al-Rai daily. others. In order to preserve this path, we must not reduce the role of Parliament, it ency, and its summary has become publicly available to all, the logical interaction “However, this group - which supported you and sympathized with you - fi nds is the supervisory and legislative authority that we have accepted.” with this report is to study its content wisely and objectively and away from emo- that there is no justifi cation for your request to postpone the interrogations for this — Compiled by Ahmad Al-Shazli Gang fi ght erupts as some violate curfew Security tightened in Saad Al-Abdullah

By Munif Nayef Al-Seyassah Staff and Agencies KUWAIT CITY, April 4: A security source told Al-Seyas- sah daily that the security sec- tor will tighten the curfew in Work underway to bring down the bridge. Saad Al-Abdullah after it was noticed that people are delib- ‘Traffi c back to normal in 24 hours’ erately leaving their homes and as a result of which quar- rels often happen in the area. Bridge on 7th Ring Road intersection demolished The security source pointed secu- rity men recently witnessed a quar- By Muhammad Ghanem rel between groups of more than 30 Al-Seyassah Staff Plan to hike vaccination centers young people fi ghting in one of the KUWAIT CITY, April 4: The Direc- squares in the Saad Al-Abdullah tor-General of the Public Authority for area, indicating that with the arrival Land and Roads Transport Eng Soha Imams, Muezzins to get COVID shots of the police patrols, the fi ghters dis- Ashkanani announced last Thursday KUWAIT CITY, April 4: The creasing the rate of COVID-19 vac- persed and three of them were taken the Highways Administration has de- Ministry of Health will conduct cinations during the coming period. into custody. molished the bridge at the intersection corona vaccinations for all workers After the arrival of the AstraZen- The sources said the security sector of the Seventh Ring Road with the Fa- in mosques, including Imams and eca vaccine, the vaccination centers MoH helicopter is used to airlift the injured person. will intensify security presence in the haheel Expressway (30) as part of the Muezzins, before the holy month in all the health zones will be open area and will take necessary action to contract for the development of the G- of Ramadan, reports Al-Jarida daily from Sunday to Thursday during the Cousins perish in accident deter violators of the law. Ring Road, Phase One. quoting reliable sources. evening shift and on Saturdays dur- ❑ ❑ ❑ Al-Ashkanani confi rmed all em- Starting this week, the ministry ing the morning and evening shifts. the vehicle ran out of control and ployees in the executive and advisory will assign teams to vaccinate these Regarding the fi eld vaccination By Munif Nayef Kuwaiti dies: A Kuwaiti who is be- Al-Seyassah Staff overturned, allegedly due to speed, apparatus and all other service agen- workers in their respective places or units, the sources indicated that killing the two men and injuring an- lieved to be in his thirties died, while cies were present at the site as the dem- work sites; and it is expected that they will also start their work after Two Kuwaitis, believed to be cous- other. his companion was seriously injured olition of the bridge was completed in all these workers will be vaccinated the arrival of the second batch of ins, died in a traffi c accident on a The injured man was taken to the when their vehicle overturned and 24 hours, what she called in record before Ramadan, sources disclosed. AstraZeneca vaccine, as it aims to road in Abdali. hospital by air ambulance. No more went up in fl ames on the Sixth Ring time and the rubble and waste were re- Sources clarifi ed this is the sec- vaccinate the largest segment in all According to security sources, details are available. Road in front of Messilah at dawn yes- moved from the site within two hours. ond wave of the epidemic and the the governorates including the work- terday. This in addition to restoring traffi c virus is spreading rapidly; hence, the ers of cooperative societies, airports, According to a security source, the to normalcy on the King Abdulaziz need to speed up vaccination. malls and markets. Nod to tire recycling fi rms Ministry of Interior operations room re- Road, Fahaheel Road with the Seventh Sources said the epidemic contin- They revealed that two health ceived a report on the accident, and im- Ring intersection in the direction of ues to claim lives, while the number centers will be specifi ed in each mediately the security men, paramedics Al-Ahmadi and the opposite direction of corona patients in intensive care health zone to serve as the launch Cassation rules Al-Duwailah innocent and fi refi ghters went to the site and put units (ICU) keeps on increasing. pad for the fi eld vaccination units. out the fi re and recovered the charred and Fahaheel Road towards Kuwait City. Sources disclosed many patients in- Director of Funeral Affairs De- KUWAIT CITY, April 4: The Court of cling factories in the region, says remains of the Kuwaiti. His friend alleg- fected with the virus have been dis- partment at Kuwait Municipality Dr Appeal, headed by Counselor Nasr Al-Seyassah. edly climbed out of the vehicle and was On the other hand, the authority charged from hospitals; indicating Faisal Al-Awadi issued a circular on Salem Al Haid, upheld the verdict of He pointed out that there are two taken to the Farwaniya Hospital. The announced the opening of the traffi c most of these patients were found to the burial timings during the holy the lower court and declared former companies currently operating at the source pointed out an investigation has diversion between Interchange No. 2 be suffering from heart, kidney and month of Ramadan as follows: from MP Mubarak Al-Duwailah ‘innocent’, Arhiya site, and they are fully commit- been opened into the accident. and Interchange No. 3 with a length of other diseases. Sources added this 9:00 am to 5:00 pm, reports Al Rai reports Al-Anba daily. ted to the terms of the agreement con- ❑ ❑ ❑ approximately 4 km from km 67 to 71 necessitates strict compliance with daily. Al-Duwailah was accused of broad- cluded with them, which will allow the km on Nuwaiseeb Road to complete preventive and precautionary meas- Al-Awadi also indicated in the casting false news and insulting work to be completed on time and the Citizen safe: In response to reports the road works at dawn yesterday, Sat- ures; as well as health regulations, circular that the cemeteries will con- Kuwaiti-Saudi relations through land will be handed over to the Public circulating on social media and other urday. including wearing mask, social dis- tinue to open for visitors from 10:00 tweets concerning what was known as Authority for Housing Welfare media platforms regarding the disrup- On the other hand, the offi cial tancing and avoiding gatherings or am to 2:00 pm; while the partici- ‘Gaddafi tent meetings’ and misuse (PAHW) in August. tion of communication between a Ku- spokesperson for the Ministry of Pub- crowds. pants in a funeral must not exceed social media. He said 4 companies were signed to waiti citizen in London and his family, lic Works, Eng Abdullah Al-Ajmi, The decision to increase the num- 20 relatives of the deceased, and Al-Duwailah had denied the accusa- do this work and each was directed to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs issued said the ministry has completed laying ber of COVID-19 vaccination cent- they must wear masks and maintain tions against him. Meanwhile, lawyer transfer 10 million tires from Arhiya to a statement to clarify that the Embas- one million square meters of asphalt, ers in all governorates will be taken social distancing. Mu’aath Al-Duwailah asserted the Al-Salmi, saying approximately there sy of Kuwait in London has contacted equivalent to 142 kilometers long. after the arrival of the second batch The Directorate-General of Civil maliciousness of the accusation. are 35 to 45 million tires in the region, this citizen and confi rmed that he is Meanwhile, the Minister of Awqaf of the AstraZeneca vaccine, which is Aviation (DGCA) has issued a cir- Director-General of the Environment pointing out that there are other compa- fi ne and in good health, reports Al- and Islamic Affairs, Chairman of the scheduled to arrive soon, reports Al- cular according to which airlines Public Authority (EPA), Sheikh nies that have shown interest in this Qabas daily. Council of Endowments Affairs, Issa Anba daily quoting reliable sources cabin crew can enter the country Abdullah Al-Ahmad was quoted as work. He stressed that the transfer of The ministry highlighted its keen- Al-Kandari, chaired the fi rst meetings from the health sector. after the fl ight lands at Kuwait Inter- saying the EPA has done what is nec- tires did not cost the state budget any ness to follow up the welfare of the of the Endowment Affairs Council for They explained that seven vac- national Airport without the need to essary to qualify the companies to money, but rather it is carried out with citizens who are abroad, and to take the 2021, at the headquarters of the cination centers will be approved in produce the PCR certifi cate, reports transfer tires from Arhiya to Al-Salmi the full cooperation of the private sec- care of their interests through its dip- General Secretariat of Endowments, each health zone with the aim of in- Al-Rai daily. and to obtain permits to build recy- tor. lomatic missions. reports Al-Seyassah daily. ARAB TIMES, MONDAY, APRIL 5, 2021 LOCAL 6

Inspiring female leaders discuss what they are constantly doing to break the glass ceiling AmCham-Kuwait organizes panel discussion on ‘Women in Leadership’ By Chaitali B Roy Special to the Arab Times KUWAIT CITY, April 4: AmCham- Kuwait’s Women in Business Focus Group organised an insightful panel discussion titled ‘Women in Leadership: Secrets to Success’ on March 31 at 5 pm. Moderated by Dr Arezou Harraf, CEO, Learn & Evolve LLC, the discussion featured an impressive panel of businesswomen and leaders including HE Alena Romanowski, US Ambassador, Eaman Al Roudhan, CEO, Zain Kuwait, Dr Abeer Al Omar, Corporate Communications, Equate and Khadija Oubala, Group CEO, Sultan Centre Group. What followed was thought- HE Alina Romanowski, US Amba- Eaman Al Roudhan, CEO, Zain Dr Abeer Al Omar, Equate Khadija Oubala, Group CEO Sultan Dr Arezou Harraf provoking insights from a panel of ssador Centre inspiring female leaders as they dis- cussed the challenges they encoun- In the current Fortune 500 companies, communities. The AmCham webinar wellbeing of women in the workforce equality between men and women. need to take on more significant roles tered and what they are constantly only five per cent of CEOs are women. presented leadership experiences from and explore opportunities to help close Dr Harraf, the moderator for the and advance their careers. Dr Abeer doing to break the glass ceiling. The panel discussion tried to seek out four role models paving the way for the gap in leadership for women. event, deftly directed the narrative, Al Omar, Corporate Communications, According to the United Nations, in answers on female leadership from the future female leaders. AmCham-Kuwait’s Women in which offered an overview of the key Equate, spoke of being inspired by 2020, only 47% of working-age experience of women leaders who AmCham’s Women in Business Business Focus Group are a signatory lessons learned by these achievers. In enthusiasm and good energy. She also women participated in the workforce, have successfully shattered glass ceil- Focus Group, in alignment with to women’s empowerment principles her welcome note, Dr Harraf remarked paid tribute to the role played by her and a handful of these women made it ings. Strong leadership comes from Kuwait Vision 2035, aims to advocate of the United Nations Global Compact, on global data that indicates the impor- mother and grandmother in her life. “I to the top management of companies. the top echelons of institutions and for women in business, the overall expressing their support to advance tance of women’s economic participa- come not from just a family of capable tion with a far-reaching impact on and independent women, but from the employment rates, alleviation of pov- culture that built these women,” she erty, economic diversification and said, referring to the time when health. Kuwaiti women took over responsi- Alina Romanowski, the US bilities for months when the men went Kuwaiti charity institutions intensify Ambassador in her introductory out to sea. “For them being strong was address, spoke of the role that not an option; it was a must. What was AmCham plays as a valuable source an option for them was to be kind and connecting American companies in loving during those difficult times, and Kuwait and sharing industry-driven that, for me, is the true meaning of relief work as Ramadan approaches solutions for trade and investment success. issues critical to both US and Kuwaiti businesses. Commenting on the estab- Support lishment of the Women in Business That is why my mother is my num- Bid to alleviate suffering of displaced in Yemen Focus Group, she said, “The Women ber one inspiration.” Ambassador in Business Focus Group will serve as Alina Romanowski drew attention to an important platform to discuss and the role that male members of families KUWAIT CITY, April 4, address the challenges that women play as mentors. “Mothers are critical, (KUNA): With the face doing business in Kuwait.” The but what is also important is to get approach of the blessed Ambassador also referred to a ‘new support from one’s father. It is tough era of female leadership at the highest when your father and male members month of Ramadan, the levels of the US government and of your family are not supportive. I Kuwaiti institutions inten- across corporate America’. She high- give great kudos to both my family sified their activities in the lighted the US embassy’s role in sup- and my spouse, who have been very porting Kuwait’s progress towards supportive. I don’t think I could have relief and humanitarian gender equality, advancing women’s achieved my success without their fields, as part of their rights, and the various outreach pro- 100% support in making me as suc- efforts to relieve all those gram organised, including media and cessful as they could be,” she said. political campaign training for female Elaborating on the meaning of suc- in need and try to make leaders and supporting women in the cess, Eaman Al Roudhan said, “suc- this month a time of good- economic arena through workshops cess has different interpretations for ness for everyone. and seminars. each person. To me, success is being In this context, the week ending Career happy, empowered and satisfied and helping others to feel the same.” When Friday witnessed many activities Speaking of the most significant that included Kuwaiti contribu- asked about the most significant fac- barriers in her career and how she tors that contributed to her success, Al navigated the challenges, Eaman Al tions, which were focused in par- Roudhan said, “I think finding the time ticular on Yemen, to help alleviate Roudhan, CEO of Zain, said, “I think the main challenge most women face to listen to others more than having the suffering of its people. others to listen to you is a great way to The local authority in the gover- in big organisations is a lack of train- ing. Honestly, most organisations do ensure success.” Success, she said, is norate Yemeni of Ma’arib launched, not expect their women employees to built on failures. “Sometimes, the big- Tuesday, March 30, the urgent reach the top executive posts, so they gest failures lead to success. If you are relief project for displaced families, do not give women the training they persistent after each disappointment, which included food aid for 1,261 would give their male employees.” Al you will hit that bigger success if you families with the support of the Roudhan also spoke of the perceived continue with the same level of enthu- International Islamic Charitable incompatibility between behaviours siasm and persistence. One needs to be Organization of the State of Kuwait considered more feminine, such as patient and realistic. I am realistic, but empathy and kindness, and behaviours at the same time, I am a dreamer. I under the slogan ‘Kuwait By Your don’t see why I cannot realise my Side) campaign. associated with leaders such as self- confidence and assertiveness, leading dream no matter whatever the target or Gratitude to a distortion of expectations of a aspiration.” female leader. “It is essential for The discussion also touched on The Undersecretary of (Ma’arib) work-life balance, which many pun- Governorate, Dr Abd Rabbo women to protect their personality. They should not copy anyone else, dits regard as a moving target. Khadija KUNA photo Moftah, stated in a press statement Oubala considers it an outdated con- The relief distribution to hundreds of displaced families in Yemen. whether it is a man or a woman. The during the inauguration ceremony, challenge is to retain one’s feminine cept that may have worked for earlier his deep thanks and gratitude to the personality in a male-dominated pro- generations when technology did not State of Kuwait, the Amir, the gov- fession.” She also spoke of the need to define the workday. “The word bal- ernment and the people for their be approachable and flexible. “As a ance is a tricky one,” she said. humanitarian support provided to businesswoman, I should be very deci- “Because ‘balance’ means you have to hundreds of families who were sive and tough, but I am very caring, give the exact amount of attention and recently displaced as a result of the and that’s the challenge.” focus to every single aspect of your Houthi militia’s escalation and When asked to define success, life, and that’s not possible,” Oubala Khadija Oubala, Group CEO, Sultan mentions taking one day at a time. bombing of camps for the dis- Women, she said, are good at prioritis- placed. Centre, referred to it as a ‘moving tar- get that evolves with time. “What ing. “The most important thing is not The key to the generous humani- defined success for me when I was to get overwhelmed when you have a tarian support was provided by the younger is very different from what I busy schedule. Just believe you are Charitable Organization through its see it as today.” Success is defined not doing the best you can do.” In her local partner Basmat Foundation only in terms of career but also in fam- advice to the next generation of lead- for Development to these families ily relationships and community ers, Oubala says, “My advice to every who fled to Ma’arib after they were engagement. “Success for me is also single young woman is to have confi- forced to flee their homes for the not to have regrets but ‘to believe deep dence in herself and aim very high. third time as a result of the Houthi down that you have done the best that And as they get to the top, make room bombing of their camps. you were capable of doing.” for other women. If we do that in every Moftah said that this support Mentors are critical to women in the single company, we will collectively workplace. Mentors help gain per- disrupt the social bias around what a contributes to relieving pressure on spectives and connections women woman leader should be.” the local authority and the con- cerned authorities in Ma’arib, which is home to more than 3 mil- Al-Shuhoumi voices pride lion displaced people, who are hud- dled in over 140 camps, some of which, were bombed on Bahrain’s top lawmaker highlights Wednesday, March 31. Society deep-rooted relations with Kuwait The Ministry of Awqaf and MANAMA, April 4, (KUNA): Zainal has also extolled joint parlia- Islamic Affairs in the State of Speaker of the Bahraini Council of mentary cooperation with Kuwait’s Kuwait provided an integrated Representative Fawzia Zainal on National Assembly, and coordination computer lab of 11 devices to the Thursday affirmed the depth of in regional and international parlia- University of Taiz - Soil Branch in Kuwaiti-Bahraini relations in all mentary forums. fields. The Bahraini top lawmaker noted Yemen, through the Arab World This came while Zainal’s reception Committee of the Society for the that this strengthens the role of Gulf of Deputy Speaker of Kuwait’s parliamentary diplomacy, and sharing Revival of Islamic Heritage. National Assembly Ahmad experiences and visits between MPs The Yemeni Al-Hikma Al-Shuhoumi, Bahrain News Agency Association, Taiz Branch, imple- (BNA) said. and secretariats of both parliaments. menting the project, explained in a Zainal said these ties mirror histori- Meanwhile, Al-Shuhoumi voiced press release that the devices were cal and fraternal deep-rooted bonds pride over bilateral ties, commending devoted to establishing an integrat- under the leaderships of Bahrain’s the two leaders’ care for promoting ed computer lab with its annexes to King Hamad Bin Issa Al-Khalifa and coordination and cooperation in all the Islamic Studies Department at His Highness the Amir of Kuwait fields. the university in order to help stu- Sheikh Nawaf Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber The two sides reviewed latest par- dents, scholars and researchers to Al-Sabah. liamentary issues of common concern. integrate the educational .process in its theoretical and applied aspects. In this context, the Vice-President of (Taiz, Soil Branch), Dr. Ahmad Al-Rabbasi, expressed in a press statement his deep thanks and appreciation to the State of Kuwait, the Kuwaiti Ministry of Awqaf and Islamic Affairs, the Islamic Heritage Revival Society, and their partners in the Al-Hikma Society for this important support aimed at helping students. The charity targets the displaced and the poor in areas far from the access of humanitarian organiza- tions and is part of a series of con- KUNA photo crete humanitarian actions in the Speaker of the Bahraini Council of Representative Fawzia Zainal with State of Kuwait and also in Yemen. Deputy Speaker of Kuwait’s National Assembly Ahmad Al-Shuhoumi. ARAB TIMES, MONDAY, APRIL 5, 2021 INTERNATIONAL 7

Asia

Suga to visit US Japan PM aims to calm China-Taiwan ‘tension’ TOKYO, April 4, (AP): Japanese Prime Minister Yoshihide Suga on Sunday said Taiwan’s peace and stability is key to the region and that Japan will cooperate with the United States to calm rising ten- sions between China and Taiwan. Suga is set to meet with President Joe Biden in Washington next week, the US leader’s fi rst in-per- son summit since taking offi ce in January. Tokyo considers its US alliance to be the cornerstone of its diplomatic and security policies, and is eager to develop close relations with the new US adminis- tration. Taiwan is expected to be on the agenda as the leaders seek ways to deal with China’s growing se- curity threat in the region. Chinese warplanes are increasingly entering Tai- wanese airspace, and China has protested an agreement to bolster cooperation be- tween the US and Taiwan- ese coast guards that fol- lowed Washington’s new sales of arms equipment to Taipei. “It is important for Japan and the United States to co- operate and use deterrence Suga to create an environment where Taiwan and China can fi nd a peaceful solution,” Suga said on a television talk show Sunday. Acting chief of the US Capitol Police Yogananda Pittman listens during a news conference after a car crashed into a barrier on Capitol Hill near the Senate side of the US China claims Taiwan as its own territory, to be Capitol in Washington, Friday, April 2. (AP) brought under Beijing’s control by force if neces- sary, and it has worked to internationally isolate the island. America Japan considers China’s growing activity to be a security threat and opposes Beijing’s claim to the Japanese-controlled Senkaku Islands, called Diaoyu in China, in the East China Sea and its increased ac- tivity in the disputed area. China also claims owner- Man with pole trashes Asian-owned convenience store ship over virtually the entire South China Sea and has built military installations on reefs and atolls by covering them with sand and concrete. China has denied it is expansionist and has said it Suspect in Capitol attack suffered delusions is only defending its territorial rights. Suga also hopes to advance a vision of a “free WASHINGTON, April 4, (AP): The man “To be honest these past few years while Senate Majority Leader Chuck The attack occurred Tuesday at a store and open Indo-Pacifi c” to promote rules-based who rammed a car into two offi cers at a have been tough, and these past few Schumer said he was “heartbroken.” Pelo- called Plaza Sundries that is downtown order in the region and discuss ways to cooperate barricade outside the US Capitol, killing months have been tougher,” he wrote in si and Schumer both spoke Friday with near Charlotte’s main transit hub. And it on policy toward North Korea. The ongoing fi ght one of them before he was shot to death by late March. “I have been tried with some members of Evans’ family. falls in the wake of an attack on a woman against the pandemic and climate change are also police, had been suffering from delusions, of the biggest, unimaginable tests in my President Joe Biden said in a statement of Asian descent in New York City and among key issues. paranoia and suicidal thoughts, a US of- life. I am currently now unemployed af- that he and his wife were heartbroken to the fatal shooting of eight people at three Suga, who has set a goal of achieving a carbon fi cial told The Associated Press. Investi- ter I left my job partly due to afflictions, learn of the attack and expressed condo- Atlanta-area massage businesses. Six of neutral society by 2050, said he hoped to closely gators believe it was an isolated incident but ultimately, in search of a spiritual lences to Evans’ family. He directed fl ags those victims were women of Asian de- cooperate with Biden to jointly lead international from a disturbed young man. journey.” at the White House to be lowered to half- scent. efforts to tackle the pressing issue when the U.S. Video of the Friday afternoon at- It was the second line-of-duty death this staff. Despite the increase in attention on leader hosts a virtual climate change summit just a tack shows the driver emerging from year for the US Capitol Police, still strug- In 2013, offi cers with the Capitol Police such attacks, the violence and racially week after their meeting. the crashed car with a knife in his hand gling to heal from the Jan. 6 insurrection. and Secret Service fatally shot a woman charged language was nothing new, said “I hope to fully exchange our views when I meet and starting to run at the pair of offi cers, The attack underscored that the building inside her car after she led them on a high- Mark Sung, whose parents own the store, with (Biden) so that we can lead (global) efforts Capitol Police acting Chief Yogananda and campus - and the offi cers charged with speed chase that began outside the White and his wife Grace Lee Sung. together,(asterisk) Suga said. Pittman told reporters. Police shot the sus- protecting them - remain potential targets House. Miriam Carey’s family said she “When my husband got the call (about ❑ ❑ ❑ pect, 25-year-old Noah Green, who died for violence. suffered from postpartum depression with the attack), it was like a routine,” Lee at a hospital. Authorities installed a giant fence psychosis but was not dangerous. Sung said. “He was like, ”Okay, check the Chinese vessels urged to leave: An annoyed Phil- Investigators are increasingly focused around the Capitol perimeter and for Friday’s crash and shooting happened mess. See the surveillance. File the (po- ippine defense chief renewed a demand on Satur- on Green’s mental health as they work to months restricted traffi c along the roads at a security checkpoint near the Capitol lice) report.” day for dozens of Chinese vessels to leave a Ma- identify any motive for the attack, said the closest to the building, but they had be- typically used by senators and staff on The pandemic has fueled the tension, nila-claimed reef in the South China Sea, and said offi cial, who was not authorized to speak gun pulling back some of the emergency weekdays, though most were away from the couple said, with some people blam- he would not be fooled by Chinese assertions that publicly about an ongoing investigation measures. And the most recent incident the building for the current recess. The ing the coronavirus on the store’s owners. the vessels were taking shelter from bad weather. and spoke to the AP on Saturday on con- could delay the gradual reopening of the attack occurred about 100 yards (meters) They have lived in the US for decades The Chinese Embassy shot back at what it called dition of anonymity. The offi cial said in- building’s grounds to the public. from the entrance of the building on the since moving from South Korea. a “perplexing statement” by Defense Secretary vestigators had talked to Green’s family, “I just ask that the public continue to Senate side of the Capitol. “It’s like, ‘Hey, you’re different,’” Lee Delfi n Lorenzana and insisted that the vessels had who spoke of his increasingly delusional keep US Capitol Police and their fami- Sung said, offering a sanitized summary the right to take shelter in what it said was Chinese thoughts. lies in your prayers,” Pittman said. “This Also: of the insults. “’You obviously can’t be territory. “Nobody has the right to make wanton re- In online posts since removed, Green has been an extremely diffi cult time for NEW YORK: An Asian-owned conveni- from around here. Go back to your coun- marks on such activities,” it said. described being under government US Capitol Police after the events of Jan. ence store in Charlotte, North Carolina, try.’” The unusually hostile public exchange stemmed thought control and said he was being 6 and now the events that have occurred was trashed by a man who wielded a metal But the owners have experienced a dif- from the sighting early last month by the Philip- watched. He described himself as a fol- here today. post and yelled racial slurs, according to ferent sentiment in the days since the at- pine coast guard of more than 200 Chinese vessels, lower of the Nation of Islam and its long- Police identifi ed the slain offi cer as police and a son of the store’s owners. tack: A woman arrived at the store and which Lorenzana called “militias,” at the Whitsun time leader, Louis Farrakhan, and spoke William “Billy” Evans, an 18-year veter- Surveillance footage shows a man pull- gave the owners soup. A pizza delivery- Reef. The Philippines fi led a diplomatic protest, of going through a diffi cult time when he an who was a member of the department’s ing a merchandise rack to the fl oor and man showed up with fi ve pies. A local saying the reef, which it calls Julian Felipe, lies leaned on his faith. Some of the messages fi rst responders unit. swinging a street sign post into the glass doctor dropped off a check. More than within an internationally recognized offshore zone, were captured by the group SITE, which House Speaker Nancy Pelosi hailed of the refrigerators. A man who appears $30,000 has been raised through Go- where it has the exclusive right to exploit fi sheries, tracks online activity. Evans as a “martyr for our democracy,” to a friend of the attacker cheers him on. FundMe to cover the store’s damage. oil, gas and other resources. China ignored Manila’s demand for the Chinese vessels to leave the area, which it calls Niu’e Jiao and claims as Chinese territory. The Chinese Em- Britain Johnson’s offi ce at 10 Downing Street. couraging them to move so we can reopen the “This misrepresentation risks undermining bassy in Manila said the vessels were taking shelter London’s Metropolitan Police said the ma- roads,” it said. The protests were taking place the purpose of the report – understanding and at the reef from rough sea conditions. jority of people “have tried to adhere to social over the long Easter holiday weekend, includ- addressing the causes of inequality in the UK “The Chinese ambassador has a lot of explain- Hundreds protest legislation: Hundreds distancing” but that a ”small minority” had ing in the Welsh capital of Cardiff and in the – and any of the positive work that results from ing to do,” Lorenzana said in a statement Saturday, of people marched Saturday through central blocked the road at Parliament Square. northern England cities of Liverpool, Man- it,” the commission said in a statement. adding that the latest Philippine military surveil- London and other cities across England and “Offi cers are on scene engaging and en- chester and Newcastle. (AP) The government denied any link between lance showed 44 Chinese vessels were still moored Wales to protest the British government’s ❑ ❑ ❑ the departure of Samuel Kasumu and the at the reef. plan to hand the police new powers to tackle much-criticized report, which activists and demonstrations. Authors defend UK racism report: The academics have accused of ignoring the expe- “I am no fool. The weather has been good so far, commission behind a report that concluded so they have no other reason to stay there. These Protesters walked past Buckingham Palace riences of ethnic-minority Britons. towards Parliament Square, just outside the that Britain doesn’t have a systemic problem The prime minister’s offi ce said Kasumu vessels should be on their way out. You should get Houses of Parliament. A ring of offi cers po- with racism has defended itself against critics, would leave his job as a special adviser for out of there,” Lorenzana said Saturday. sitioned themselves around the statue of war- some of whom have argued that it downplayed civil society and communities in May, as had The Chinese Embassy responded anew by re- time prime minister Winston Churchill in Par- the country’s historic role in slavery. “been his plan for several months.” peating that the vessels were taking cover in what it liament Square. The statue had been defaced In a response late Friday, the Commission It denied the resignation was related to called Chinese waters. during anti-racism protests last year. on Race and Ethnic Disparities said disagree- Wednesday’s publication of a report by the “It is completely normal for Chinese fi shing ves- Protesters, including many who carried ment with the government-backed review had government-appointed Commission on Race sels to fi sh in the waters and take shelter near the anti-sexism placards and chanted “Women “tipped into misrepresentation” and it took and Ethnic Disparities, which concluded that reef during rough sea conditions,” the embassy scared everywhere, police and government particular umbrage at accusations that it put a Britain is not an institutionally racist country. said. do not care!” passed by Prime Minister Boris Johnson Kasumu positive spin on slavery. (AP) “We hope that authorities concerned would make constructive efforts and avoid any unprofessional remarks which may further fan irrational emo- tions,” the embassy said. It added that “China is committed to safeguarding peace and stability in the waters.” ❑ ❑ ❑ SKorea, China ministers meet: South Korea’s foreign minister met his Chinese counterpart in the southern Chinese city of Xiamen on Satur- day, as Seoul seeks to improve ties with its top trading partner even as US-China relations re- main strained. Ahead of the trip, South Korea’s newly appoint- ed Foreign Minister Chung Eui-yong told reporters that he expected North Korea to be a key issue in talks with Wang Yi. In his opening statement, Wang said China and South Korea will “seek a process for a political res- olution of the Korean Peninsula issue,” as part of pursuing policies for permanent peace amid North Korea’s nuclear standoff with Washington. Chung said both China and South Korea share the goal of “complete denuclearization” of the Ko- rean Peninsula. He said South Korea asks China “to continue serving a constructive role in the stable manage- ment of the situation on the Korean Peninsula and achieving substantial progress in the Korean Penin- sula peace process.” South Korea’s Foreign Ministry said in a state- ment the top diplomats also agreed to push for a visit to South Korea by Chinese President Xi Jin- ping once the coronavirus pandemic is stabilized, and acknowledged the need for three-way coopera- tion with Japan while pushing for a trilateral sum- mit between the countries. South Korea’s JoongAng Ilbo newspaper specu- lated that China’s decision to host Chung in Xia- men, a city close to the self-ruled island of Taiwan, was intended to send a message to Washington against attempting to shore up a US-led “anti-China coalition.” Frontier Airlines hopes IPO rides wave of travel recovery

In this file photo, a Frontier Airlines is betting that at $18.61, then bumped up to The IPO timing is interesting, people with a lot of money in Frontier Airlines jet the budding recovery in leisure $19.06 before dipping back coming just as Americans are their pockets and with a burn- heads down a run- travel is for real. down to $18.54. starting to fly in numbers not ing desire to get out of their way for take off Shares of the discount carri- CEO Barry Biffle said seen since the coronavirus house and get back to living. I from Denver er began public trading Frontier will remain focused on pandemic hit. United Airlines think there will be plenty of International Thursday, edging lower in mid- the leisure-travel market, CEO Scott Kirby said this week demand. It’s a great time.” Airport as travelers day trading. The Denver-based unlike bigger airlines that that demand for domestic lei- Frontier faces obstacles. deal with the airline and its private owners depend on high-paying busi- sure travel “has almost entirely Despite the growing crowds at effects of the new sought to raise $570 million ness travelers. recovered,” while business and airports, air travel is still down coronavirus in before costs from the IPO after “It’s not going to change how international travel remain nearly half from this time in Denver. (AP) pricing 30 million shares at we run the business,” Biffle deeply depressed. 2019. There is tough and grow- $19, the low end of a $19 to said in an interview. “The strat- Biffle said after a year of ing competition for leisure trav- $21 target. The stock opened egy is the same.” lockdowns, there are “lots of elers. (AP)

Market Movements 02-04-2021 Change Closing pts Change Closing pts AUSTRALIA - All Ordinaries +47.21 7,064.20 PHILIPPINES - PSEi -102.46 6,443.09 JAPAN - Nikkei +465.13 29,854.00 PAKISTAN - KSE 100 -127.15 44,300.95 GERMANY - DAX +98.83 15,107.17 FRANCE - CAC 40 +35.73 6,102.96 EUROPE - Euro Stoxx 50 +26.75 3,945.96 S. KOREA - KRX 100 +62.72 6,721.04 INDIA - Sensex +520.68 50,029.83 Business Shifting tides remain mostly beneath the market’s surface Risky investments soared at start of 2021 NEW YORK, April 4, raise more alarm bells that a danger- to offices and planes flying to vaca- my primed to snap back, some ous bubble may be forming. Here’s tion spots. investors are expecting prices at (AP): Who needs safety a look at some of the winners and cash registers across the country to when the world’s about losers of the first quarter: Small Change pick up after years of very modest Smaller companies tend to have gains. That would mean the fixed to get back to normal? Banking On A Revival Risky stocks seen as nearly thinner financial cushions to carry payments bonds make in the future Bank stocks soared during the them through downturns, and that’s won’t be able to purchase as much. untouchable a year ago burst to quarter for several reasons, each why smaller stocks were particular- The drops in bond prices sent the the market’s best performances tied to expectations for a stronger ly hard hit during last year’s sell- average intermediate-term core during the first three months of economy. off. bond fund down 2.9% in the first 2021, headlining a fourth With more people getting jobs During the first quarter, though, quarter, as of Tuesday, according to straight quarter of gains for the and businesses reopening, the hope they soared. With the economy set Morningstar. is that banks will see fewer borrow- to rebound, companies can get back S&P 500. Stocks of airlines, oil Tech Time Out producers and banks soared on ers fall behind on their loans. They to growing again instead of merely expectations that COVID-19 also may net bigger profits on new trying to survive. The Russell 2000 One of the most surprisingly safe vaccinations and massive spend- loans, as longer-term interest rates index of smaller stocks roughly - and powerful - investments from have climbed since last autumn. doubled the gain of their larger earlier in the pandemic suddenly ran ing by the U.S. government are The yield on the 10-year Treasury rivals in the S&P 500 index during out of momentum. setting the stage for a roaring has jumped above 1.70% after start- the first quarter. Technology stocks carried the economic recovery this year. ing the year close to 0.90%, lifted market higher for much of last They’re part of a flip-flop for the by optimism for the economy and Bond Blues year on expectations that they can market’s leaderboard, as invest- expectations for a possible increase Bond funds are supposed to be continue to grow, even in a stay- ments seen as the safest and most of inflation. the ballast in any investors’ portfo- at-home economy. Investors were reliable earlier in the pandemic sud- It’s a sharp turnaround from lio, largely holding steady while also willing to pay higher prices denly fell to the back of the pack. March of last year, when bank other investments swing up and for stocks of companies where big The tumbling around within the stocks were plummeting on uncer- down. profit growth seemed possible market has sometimes been chaotic tainty about how many of their But many bond funds turned in many years in the future, because - witness the sudden surge for loans would go bad as the pandemic losses during the first quarter as ultralow interest rates on bonds GameStop in January, as a band of shut down economies worldwide Treasury yields climbed. One factor meant they weren’t giving up smaller-pocketed investors pumped and interest rates tumbled. weighing on prices for Treasury much of a return in the meantime up the struggling video-game retail- notes and bonds, and thus across the to wait that long. er’s stock to levels way beyond Energized Returns corporate bond market, was the rise But investors now are turning what analysts thought was rational. Energy stocks had an even more in optimism for the economy. When their focus back to companies But to a casual observer, the shift- violent snapback, soaring to the that happens, fewer buyers are look- whose profits are set to jump the ing tides have remained mostly S&P 500’s biggest gains last quarter ing for safe investments. most along with a reawakening beneath the market’s surface. after plunging last year. The price Worries are also rising that one economy. Higher interest rates are The S&P 500 logged its mildest of oil rose roughly 25% through the the worst enemies of bond inves- adding more pressure on high- quarterly swing since the summer of quarter, as of Tuesday. tors, inflation, may be set to return. growth stocks, which were often 2019, even as prices for risky If people start traveling again, With so much U.S. government lagging the market during the first investments climb high enough to that would mean more cars driving spending on the way and an econo- quarter. MENA economies face rapid accumulation of public debt Cost of pandemic estimated to top $227bn by end of 2021: World Bank

WASHINGTON, April 4, 30-year loan edges up 3.18% (KUNA): Economies of the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region are US mortgage rates remain steady facing a rapid accumula- tion of public debt due to NEW YORK, April 4, (AP): market,” said Sam Khater, now 0.5% behind where they Mortgage rates were virtually Freddie Mac’s chief econo- were last year after eight challenges and repercus- unchanged this week, but mist. “In fact, homebuyer straight months of year-over- sions caused by the corona- signs indicate that the housing demand has gone from 25% year gains. virus (COVID-19), the market is constrained by high- above pre-COVID levels at In January, US home prices World Bank (WB) said er prices and low inventory. the start of the year, when increased at the fastest pace in Friday. Mortgage buyer Freddie mortgage rates hit record seven years, according to the The accumulated cost of the Mac reported Thursday that lows, to 8% above pre-COV- S&P CoreLogic Case-Shiller pandemic estimated to top USD the benchmark 30-year loan ID levels today.” 20-city home price index. The 227 billion by end of 2021, the rate was 3.18% this week, up While mortgage rates pandemic has fueled demand WB added in its report. from 3.17% last week. A year remain historically low, strong for single-family houses even Challenges in the MENA ago, the rate was 3.33%. demand for homes has led to as the supply for such homes region have aggravated due to The 15-year loan, popular low inventory and higher pric- shrinks. the pandemic, which contributed among those who refinance es. Economists have expected to a rise in poverty, a deteriora- their mortgages, was Wednesday, the National modest increases in home- tion of public finances, an unchanged from last week at Association of Realtors’ index loan rates this year, though increase in debt vulnerabilities, 2.45%. A year ago it was of pending home sales tum- they likely will remain low and a further erosion of trust in 2.82%. bled 10.6% to 110.3 in while the Federal Reserve government, it noted. “Although mortgage rates February, its lowest level keeps interest rates near zero The substantial borrowing that remain low, we are beginning since May of last year. until the economy recovers MENA governments incurred to to see a pullback by those Combined with a 2.4% dip in from the coronavirus pandem- finance health and social protec- looking to enter the housing January, contract signings are ic. tion measures increased govern- ment debt, it pointed out. The report shows that the region’s economies are estimated Regulatory panel to look at to have contracted by 3.8 percent in 2020, which is 1.3 percentage 2020 market turmoil: Yellen points above the World Bank forecasts in October 2020; how- WASHINGTON, April 4, (AP): Last Congress and by the regulations year’s coronavirus-triggered market passed in response to the 2008 finan- ever, the regional growth esti- turmoil exposed vulnerable areas in cial crisis. mate is 6.4 percentage points the U.S. economy that need to be “But the fact that extreme policy lower than the pre-pandemic addressed by the nation’s top-level interventions were still required to growth forecast published in financial supervisory group, says support market functioning should October 2019. Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen. serve as a clear reminder: We have to The region’s economies are Yellen told members of the do more to address vulnerabilities in expected to recover only partial- Financial Stability Oversight Council the financial system,” Yellen said. ly in 2021, by 2.2 percent, but that she wants the panel to examine Her comments marked a change in what needs to be done to better pro- tone from the Trump administration. that recovery is, in part, depen- tect the financial system from further Then-Treasury Secretary Steven dent on an equitable rollout of turmoil. It should also study the Mnuchin and other panel members vaccines. impact of climate change on the sta- searched for ways to lessen the burden According to the report, the bility of financial institutions, she of financial regulations that had been substantial borrowing that said. imposed by the Dodd-Frank Act MENA governments had to incur “Almost exactly one year ago, the passed in response to the 2008 finan- to finance essential health and pandemic’s outbreak caused signifi- cial crisis. cant stress in the economy and in the The stability panel, which was social protection measures financial system,” Yellen told the created by the Dodd-Frank law to increased government debt dra- panel during its public session. “In address failures to coordinate over- matically: the average public response to the deep uncertainty, sight, includes the heads of govern- debt in MENA countries is investors sought safety in the form of ment regulatory agencies including expected to rise 8 percentage cash and sort-term government secu- Treasury, the Federal Reserve, the points, from about 46 percent of rities. Bond markets became illiq- Office of the Comptroller of the GDP in 2019 to 54 percent in uid.” Currency and the Securities and 2021. Yellen said that the country is now Exchange Commission. “digging out of a deep hole,” but she While Wednesday’s session was Notably, debt among MENA said the hole could have been even Yellen’s first as chair of the panel, she oil importers is expected to aver- deeper if not for swift rescue actions had served as a member for the four age about 93 percent of GDP in by the Federal Reserve, Treasury and years she served as chair of the Fed. 2021, the report concluded. ARAB TIMES, MONDAY, APRIL 5, 2021 BUSINESS 9 Chinese loan terms hamper debt talks: report Banks insist on being repaid ahead of other creditors

BEIJING, April 4, (AP): China’s loans to poor coun- tries in Africa and Asia im- China factory pose unusual secrecy and repayment terms that are output jumps hurting their ability to re- BEIJING, April 4, (AP): China’s fac- negotiate debts after the tory activity rebounded in March from a three-month slowdown as export or- pandemic, a group of US ders rose, a survey showed Wednesday. and German researchers A monthly index of manufacturing said in a report Wednesday. issued by the China’s statistics agency It adds to warnings about prob- and an industry group rose to 51.9 from February’s 50.6 on a 100-point lems from Chinese lending, which scale on which numbers above 50 surged after Beijing launched its show activity expanding. Belt and Road Initiative in 2012 to Chinese manufacturing has re- expand trade with Asia, Africa and bounded to above pre-pandemic levels the Middle East by building rail- in most industries but consumer and ways and other infrastructure. export demand have been slower to China has become one of the big- recover. gest lenders, especially to developing In March, a measure of new export countries, as the ruling Communist orders rebounded to growth, register- Party tries to expand its global influ- ing 51.2, up from February’s 48.8, ence to match the country’s status as according to the China Federation of the second-biggest economy. Logistics & Purchasing. The index State-owned Chinese banks, unlike of total new orders rose to 53.6 from most official lenders, require foreign 51.5. borrowers to keep terms and some- “We see this rebound as a fragile one,” said Iris Pang of ING in a re- times even the existence of loans port. She pointed to risks including US secret, according to the researchers at sanctions on Chinese technology com- the College of William and Mary in panies and renewed anti-virus meas- Virginia, Germany’s Kiel Institute ures abroad. for the World Economy and the Peterson Institute for International Economics and the Center for Global debt manageable. Wednesday’s Development in Washington. report noted, however, that Ecuador In this fi le photo, a Chinese construction worker stands on the land that loans to poor countries in Africa and Asia impose unusual secrecy and was reminded by Chinese bankers Chinese banks insist on being was reclaimed from the Indian Ocean for the Colombo Port City project, repayment terms that are hurting their ability to renegotiate debts after the repaid ahead of other creditors, about its secrecy terms and told future that was initiated as part of China’s ambitious One Belt One Road initia- coronavirus pandemic, a group of US and German researchers said in a lending might be jeopardized follow- which can disrupt debt talks with tive on the Galle Face sea promenade in Colombo, Sri Lanka. China’s report on March 31, 2021. (AP) groups of lenders, their report said. It ing leaks of loan details. said borrowers are required to put oil locked in talks with bondholders who Export-Import Bank of China or the whether secrecy and other restric- tive was understood.” Researchers led by AidData or other revenue into foreign refuse to negotiate until they know its China Development Bank. tions are needed, Parks said. He said China’s official secretiveness has released their first report in 2013 accounts that can be seized in the Chinese debts, according to the report. The researchers posted copies of they hope borrowers “get smart on fueled complaints its aid and lending focusing on Chinese financing to event of default. “The stakes are quite high,” Parks contracts online for the public to the need to do their homework before might prop up corrupt regimes or Africa. The pandemic “sapped the repay- said. “If China is not at the table when read. they sign these contracts.” undercut environmental and human In 2017, a report found China was ment capacity of many borrowers,” these countries are trying to renegoti- Leaders of poor countries wel- Chinese officials received a copy rights standards Western donors are close to matching the United States but creditors are “reluctant to renego- ate, it is very difficult for countries in come Beijing’s lending, but Belt and of the report before its release and trying to enforce. as a source of official grants and tiate” without knowing what is owed repayment distress to get out of that Road has led to complaints they are responded with “detailed written Officials in charge of Belt and loans but said much of that served to Beijing, said one of the authors, situation.” left with too much debt. Kenyan fill- comments” that emphasized their Road say the initiative benefits all Beijing’s economic interests instead Bradley C. Parks, executive director The researchers looked at 100 con- ing station operators went on strike need to “mitigate risk” in lending to countries involved and lending is on of those of the recipients. A 2018 of AidData, a laboratory at the tracts between Chinese lenders and in 2018 after a fuel tax was imposed weak economies, Parks said. commercial terms, not aid. report found Chinese-financed rail- College of William and Mary in government borrowers in 24 coun- to repay Chinese loans for a railway. “There were no requests that we Chinese leaders have forgiven ways in Africa and Asia were help- Virginia. tries worth a total of $36.6 billion. The researchers hope to encourage change anything,” he said. “They interest owed by some Belt and Road ing to reduce economic inequality Zambia in southern Africa is dead- The lenders for 84 of those were the “soul-searching” by Beijing about wanted to make sure their perspec- borrowers and say they want to keep between regions within countries. Eastern Caribbean cenbank creates its ‘digital’ currency

SAN JUAN, Puerto Rico, April 4, (AP): The Eastern Car- ibbean has created its own form of digital currency meant to help speed transactions and serve people without bank accounts. The Eastern Caribbean Central Bank said its “DCash” is the fi rst such blockchain-based currency introduced by any of the world’s currency unions, though some individual na- tions have similar existing systems. It became available Wednesday in four island nations under a yearlong pilot program: St. Lucia, Grenada, Anti- gua and Barbuda, and St. Kitts and Nevis. “(It) is a milestone in the history of monetary instru- ments,” said Bitt CEO Brian Popelka during a press con- ference broadcast online. DCash was created by Barbados-based fi ntech company Bitt in partnership with the central bank. Unlike cryptocur- rencies, it is issued by an offi cial central bank and has a fi xed value, tied to the existing Eastern Caribbean dollar used across much of the region. The system allows users even without bank accounts - but with a smartphone - to use a downloaded app and make payments via a QR code. Those without bank accounts would go to a previously approved agent or nonbanking fi nancial institution who would verify a person’s informa- tion and then approve a “DCash” wallet. That person would then go to a supermarket or other store and give the cash- ier physical cash which would then be deposited as digital currency in their wallet, Bitt spokesman Chris Burnett told The Associated Press. In addition, there are limits on the amount of money people can send via DCash, there are no plans for now of integrating credit cards and interest does not apply to the digital currency. While many in the Eastern Caribbean cheered the histor- ic move, some experts worry that digital currency issued by smaller countries could end up being used as a conduit for illicit activities, including terrorism fi nancing and money laundering, said Eswar Prasad, a trade policy professor at Cornell University. “That skepticism is waning as more central banks get into the act, and as central banks around the world face the inevitability of the declining use of physical cash,” he said. He noted that the Bahamas last year became the fi rst country to roll out its digital currency nationwide, and that the Marshall Islands is considering its own cryptocurrency. For smaller countries, “there is more at stake” in part be- cause many people remain unbanked, he said. “That’s why I think small countries are being more ag- gressive about this, simply because they need to,” Prasad said. Offi cials said that by September at the latest, the digital currency will be available in Anguilla, Dominica, Montser- rat and St. Vincent and the Grenadines, which form part of the eight island economies under the Eastern Caribbean Central Bank. The project aims to see a 50% reduction in the use of physical cash by 2025, said Sharmyn Powell, chairperson of the bank’s fi ntech working group. “It’s safer, faster and cheaper,” Powell said. Central Bank Governor Timothy N.J. Antoine said he envisions farmers, fi shermen, small business owners, sin- gle mothers and people without bank accounts, among oth- ers, using the digital currency. “Payments are still too slow and too expensive,” Antoine said of the current system. “We heard you, and we have delivered.” Antoine said it is harder to steal digital cash and said it’s a safe way to make payments while avoiding contact dur- ing the pandemic. One Eastern Caribbean dollar is currently equivalent to 37 US cents. All Eastern Caribbean notes feature Queen Elizabeth II of England as head of the Commonwealth. The project comes more than two months after the Eu- ropean Central Bank, the Bank of Japan, the Bank of Can- ada, the Bank of England, the Swedish Riksbank and the Swiss National Bank created a group to study whether they should issue digital currencies. The Swedish central bank already has commissioned a pilot program. Meanwhile, China rolled out a digital cur- rency in four cities in April 2020 as part of a pilot program that has since expanded to more than two dozen cities. However, Lee Rainers, a fi ntech law and policy profes- sor at Duke University, said it remains to be seen whether central bank digital currency is the future. “I approach it with a sense of skepticism because this technology has been around for over 10 years now but has not taken off as a broad medium of exchange,” he said. Delta joins other US airlines in ending empty middle seats

In this file photo, a Delta Air Lines, the last U.S. airline still The airline industry was divided over the campaign to reassure travelers about the passenger wears blocking middle seats, will end that policy in utility of blocking middle seats to reduce safety of flights as long as everyone wears a face mask she May as air travel recovers and more people the risk of spreading COVID-19 on a flight. a mask - that’s now a federal requirement. travels on a Delta become vaccinated against COVID-19. Airlines including Delta, Southwest, Alaska They paid for a Harvard University report that Air Lines flight The decision announced Wednesday re- and JetBlue limited seating for months, concluded the risk of spreading the virus dur- after taking off from versed a policy that had been in place since while United Airlines never did and Ameri- ing a flight is low in part because of strong Hartsfield-Jackson last April, and which Delta’s CEO had re- can did so only briefly. ventilation and high-grade air filters on most International peatedly cited as raising trust in the airline. Social-distancing is hard if not impossi- planes. Air travel in the United States is re- Airport in Atlanta. CEO Ed Bastian said Wednesday that ble on an airplane, even with middle seats covering from pandemic lows. More than 1 (AP) nearly 65% of people who flew on Delta last empty - a point that United CEO Scott Kirby million travelers have gone through US air- year expect to have at least one dose of the made many times to explain his airline’s re- ports for each of the last 20 days, although new vaccines by May 1. That, he said, gave sistance to seat-blocking. March traffic remains down nearly half from Delta the assurance to end seating limits. All the airlines mounted an aggressive the same month in 2019. (AP)

‘Lighting a fuse’ Anticipation is building for a Amazon vote may ‘spark’ more union pushes in US

ALABAMA, April 4, (AP): What happens inside a ware- house in Bessemer, Alabama, could have major implications not just for the country’s second-largest employer but the labor movement at large. ‘boom’ in US hiring this year Organizers are pushing for some 6,000 Amazon workers there to join the Retail, Wholesale and Department Store Union on the promise it will lead to better working condi- tions, better pay and more respect. Amazon is pushing back, ‘It’s hard to keep up with the economic strength’ arguing that it already offers more than twice the minimum wage in Alabama and workers get such benefits as health- care, vision and dental insurance without paying union dues. WASHINGTON, April 4, Karen Fichuk, CEO of Randstad North The two sides are fully aware that it’s not just the Bes- (AP): With hopes rising for America, a recruiting firm, said the com- semer warehouse on the line. Organizers hope what happens pany is seeking to fill 38% more permanent there will inspire thousands of workers nationwide – and not a powerful rebound in hiring jobs than it was at the end of last year. De- just at Amazon – to consider unionizing and revive a labor this year, Friday’s jobs report mand for workers is particularly strong in movement that has been waning for decades. for March will provide crucial manufacturing, information technology, lo- “This is lighting a fuse, which I believe is going to spark gistics, and health care. an explosion of union organizing across the country, regard- insight into whether those rosy “We are definitely starting to see the eco- less of the results,” says RWDSU president Stuart Appel- expectations may prove true. nomic recovery reach a turning point, including baum. The most optimistic economists are in the hardest hit industries, such as hospitality,” The union push could spread to other parts of Amazon and predicting that the government will re- Fichuk said. “We can hardly keep up.” threaten the company’s profits, which soared 84% last year port that as many as 1 million jobs were Job listings on the website Indeed.com to $21 billion. At a time when many companies were cutting jumped in the last week of March, with jobs, Amazon was one of the few still hiring, bringing on added in March - a blistering gain that available jobs now 13.5% above pre-pan- would help recover a decent chunk of board 500,000 people last year alone to keep up with a surge demic levels. Jed Kolko, Indeed’s chief of online orders. the 9.5 million jobs that remain lost to economist, said that job postings in higher- Bessemer workers finished casting their votes on Monday. the pandemic. Still, the increase might paid sectors, such as financial services and The counting begins on Tuesday, which could take days or not be quite that large: Overall, econo- technology, have accelerated in the past longer depending on how many votes are received and how mists surveyed by data provider FactSet couple of months. much time it takes for each side to review. The process is have forecast an increase of 615,000. That increase is “a sign of longer-term being overseen by the National Labor Relations Board and a After a year of epic job losses, waves of economic confidence,” Kolko said, because majority of the votes will decide the final outcome. coronavirus infections, and small business employers typically don’t advertise such po- What that outcome will be is anyone’s guess. Appelbaum closures, numerous trends are brightening sitions until they’re confident that the pros- thinks workers who voted early likely rejected the union the outlook. Consumer confidence in March pects for growth are sustainable. because Amazon’s messaging got to them first. He says reached its highest level since the pandemic A roadside banner beckons potential employees outside Channel Control Merchants Robust job growth in March, however, momentum changed in March as organizers talked to more intensified. Americans have increased their LLC, an extreme value retailer and exporter of brand sensitive secondary market will raise an important question: Can it con- workers and heard from basketball players and high-profile spending as the latest stimulus checks have inventories, in Hattiesburg, Mississippi on March 27, 2021. (AP) tinue at the same pace? elected officials, including President Joe Biden. been distributed. More states and cities are Besides the 9.5 million fewer jobs that economic strength.” the Transportation Services Administration. now exist in the US economy than just be- Higher easing restrictions on restaurants, bars and Lower-income Americans responded That was roughly eight times the figure of a indoor gatherings. Vaccinations are being fore the virus struck, an additional 2 million For Amazon, which employs more than 950,000 full- and with particular vigor, with spending among year ago, although it was still down sharply increasingly administered, although new or so jobs would have been added in the part-time workers in the US and nearly 1.3 million world- confirmed infections have risen from lower cardholders earning under $50,000 soaring from 2.5 million on the same day in 2019. past year under normal circumstances. That wide, a union could lead to higher wages that would eat into levels in recent weeks. 69% compared with pre-pandemic levels. The transportation analytics firm Inrix means the US economy still needs roughly its profits. Higher wages would also mean higher costs to get The $1,400 checks in President Joe More than 127 million of the stimulus pay- has calculated that daily car trips returned to 11.5 million more jobs to regain something packages to shoppers’ doorsteps, which may prompt Ama- Biden’s $1.9 trillion economic relief plan ments, worth $325 billion, have been dis- pre-pandemic levels late last month. Many close to full health. zon to raise prices, says Erik Gordon, a professor at the Uni- have sharply increased consumer spending, tributed. of those trips have likely been to restaurants, Louise Sheiner, a senior fellow at the versity of Michigan’s Ross School of Business. according to Bank of America’s tracking of Spending had begun to rise in March even where the volume of seated diners was just Brookings Institution and formerly an econo- In a statement, Amazon says it encouraged all its employ- its debit and credit cards. Spending jumped before the stimulus checks arrived as viral 25% below pre-pandemic levels, on aver- mist at the Federal Reserve, estimates that ees to vote and that “their voices will be heard in the days 23% in the third week of March compared case counts have tumbled from their heights age, in the last week of March, according to hiring could average between 700,000 and 1 ahead.” with pre-pandemic levels, the bank said. in January. Americans are increasingly will- OpenTable, a restaurant software provider. million a month for the rest of the year, if the Any push to unionize is considered a long shot, since la- “We’re seeing a powerful response to ing to venture out from home to travel and That’s up from 50% below pre-pandemic economy expands at the 6.5% pace that the bor laws tend to favor employers. Alabama itself is a “right- stimulus payments from the consumer,” eat out, though not yet at their pre-pandemic traffic just six weeks earlier. Fed and many economists expect. That would to-work” state, which allows workers in unionized shops to said Michelle Meyer, an economist at Bank pace. Roughly 1.5 million people traveled The burgeoning economic activity is leave total job growth for 2021 at somewhere opt out of paying union dues even as they retain the benefits of America. “It’s hard to keep up with the through airports on March 28, according to showing signs of translating into more jobs. between 7 million and 10 million. and job protection negotiated by the union. Kent Wong, the director of the UCLA Labor Center, says companies in the past have closed stores, warehouses or plants after workers have voted to unionize. “There’s a history of companies going to great lengths to avoid recognizing the union,” he says. Walmart, the nation’s largest retailer and biggest private em- ployer, has successfully fought off organizing efforts over the years. In 2000, it got rid of butchers in 180 of its stores after they voted to form a union. Walmart said it cut the jobs because people preferred pre-packaged meat. Five years later, it closed a store in Canada where some 200 workers were close to winning a union contract. At the time, Walmart said demands from union negotia- tors made it impossible for the store to sustain itself. The only other time Amazon came up against a union vote was in 2014, when the majority of the 30 workers at a Dela- ware warehouse turned it down. This time around, Amazon has been hanging anti-union signs throughout the Bessemer warehouse, including inside bathroom stalls, and holding mandatory meetings to con- vince workers why the union is a bad idea, according to one worker who recently testified at a Senate hearing. It has also created a website for employees that tells them they’ll have to pay $500 in union dues a month, taking away money that could go to dinners and school supplies. Amazon’s hardball tactics extend beyond squashing union efforts. Last year, it fired a worker who organized a walk- out at a New York warehouse to demand greater protection against coronavirus, saying the employee himself flouted distancing rules. When Seattle, the home of its headquarters, passed a new tax on big companies in 2018, Amazon protest- ed by stopping construction of a new high-rise building in the city; the tax was repealed four weeks later. And in 2019, Amazon ditched plans to build a $2.5 billion headquarters for 25,000 workers in New York after pushback from pro- gressive politicians and unions. Peak Beyond Amazon is an anti-union culture that dominates the South. And unions have lost ground nationally for de- cades since their peak in the decades following World War II. In 1970, almost a third of the US workforce belonged to a union. In 2020, that figure was 10.8%, according to the US Bureau of Labor Statistics. Private sector workers now account for less than half of the 14.3 million union members across the country. Advocates say a victory would signal a shift in the nar- rative about unions, helping refute the typical arguments from companies, including Amazon, that workers can win adequate compensation and conditions by dealing with man- agement directly. “It is because of unions that we have a five-day work week. It is because of unions that we have safer conditions in our places of work. It is because of unions that we have benefits,” says Rep Terri Sewell, whose congressional dis- trict includes the Amazon facility. “Workers should have the right to choose whether they organize or not.” Union leaders are circumspect about specific organiz- ing plans after the Bessemer vote, and Appelbaum says he doesn’t want to tip off Amazon to any future efforts. But there is broad consensus that a win would spur workers at some of the 230 other Amazon warehouses to mount a simi- lar union campaign. It’s less clear whether any ripple effects would reach other prime targets like Walmart and the expansive auto industry that has burgeoned across the South in recent decades. Both have largely succeeded at keeping unions at bay. The auto workers union has had some of the largest union pushes of the last decade, but their most intense and publi- cized efforts ended in failure. In 2017, a years-long cam- paign to unionize a Nissan plant in Canton, Mississippi, end- ed with a decisive 2,244-1,307 rejection of the union – the kind of margin that would be devastating in Bessemer. Two years later, however, Volkswagen workers in Tennessee had a much more evenly split vote, with 776 workers supporting unionization and 833 voting against it. Besides the number of Amazon workers involved, the Ala- bama campaign has stood out because of how explicitly many advocates have linked the effort to the civil rights movement of the 20th century. The RWDSU estimates that more than 80% of the warehouse workers in Bessemer are Black. Robert Korstad, a Duke Emeritus professor and labor his- tory expert, says those dynamics could help in Bessemer. “The history of the Black struggle in Alabama is pretty deeply entrenched in the social, political and religious insti- tutions there,” he says. “We’re starting to see people rise up again. So this Amazon struggle is part of a larger struggle that’s gone on a long time.”

ARAB TIMES, MONDAY, APRIL 5, 2021 SCIENCE 12

Coronavirus

AZ jab safe: UK regulator Some dying of virus while awaiting shot

NEW YORK, April 4, (AP): After months of hoping to receive a COVID-19 immunization and then weeks of fi ghting the ill- ness after one never came, Air Force veteran Diane Drewes was down to her last few breaths at a hospice center in Ohio when the phone rang. It was a health care worker, calling to schedule her fi rst appointment for a coronavirus shot. Drewes’ daughter Laura Brown was stunned by the timing of the call in January but didn’t lash out over the phone or even explain that her 75-year-old mom was at the point of death. There just wasn’t any point, she said. “But me and my sister were upset that it came too late,” Brown said. “It seemed like the fi nal insult.” More than 247,000 people have died of COVID-19 in the US since vaccines fi rst became available mid-December. Offi cials had warned that dispensing enough vaccines to reach herd immunity would take months. And with the initial vac- cine supply extremely limited and the virus running rampant across the nation over the winter, it was a sad reality that some would contract COVID-19 and die before they could be inoculated. With surveys showing a large per- centage of the US population leery of vaccines, it’s impossible to say exactly how many of the dead would have even wanted an immunization. But Brown Drewes said her mother wanted one - desper- ately. Other families have similar, wrenching stories of loved ones being infected after months of staying safe and then dying A convoy of vehicles transporting royal mummies is seen in Cairo, Egypt, April 3. Egypt held a parade celebrating the transport of 22 of its prized royal mummies before they could get a dose. from Egyptian Museum to the newly-opened National Museum of Egyptian Civilization. (AP) Charlotte Crawford, who has spent 40 years working in the microbiology laboratory at Parkland Hospital in Dallas, was fully immunized in January after receiving two doses of the Moderna vaccine because of her work. Yet she then endured the agony of watching her husband and two adult children con- Antiquities tract COVID-19 and die before they could get shots. Henry Royce Crawford, 65, had an appointment for a vac- cine when he fell ill, his widow said. Their children, Roycie Crawford, 33, and Natalia Crawford, 38, also wanted the shot but had yet to fi nd one when they got sick and died, Crawford A show of Pharaonic heritage said. Population The days since their deaths in late February and early March Egypt parades royal mummies seem like a jumble to Crawford; she is still trying to sort out what happened as she pleads with anyone who will listen to get a vaccine as soon as possible. CAIRO, April 4, (AP): Egypt held a “All I know is I did three funerals in three weeks,” said gala parade on Saturday celebrating Crawford, of Forney, Texas. the transport of 22 of its prized royal Ancient coins may solve mystery While more than 96 million people in the US have received mummies from central Cairo to their at least one dose of vaccine, only 53 million are fully vacci- new resting place in a massive new nated, or roughly 16% of the nation’s population, according to museum further south in the capital. of the murderous pirate of 1600s the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. A 17th century Arabian silver coin that The ceremony, designed to show- With doses now more widely available, shots are proceed- research shows was struck in 1693 case the country’s rich heritage, in Yemen, rests against a piece of snaked along the Nile corniche from WARWICK, R.I., April 4, (AP): A assumed was either Spanish or ing at a quickened pace. More than a dozen states have opened 17th century broken pottery featuring handful of coins unearthed from a money minted by the Massachu- vaccine eligibility to all adults amid an increase in virus cases. the Egyptian Museum overlooking pick-your-own-fruit orchard in rural setts Bay Colony. a likeness of Queen Mary, on a table Tahrir Square to the newly-opened Only the Johnson & Johnson shot is complete after one in Warwick, R.I., March 11, 2021. The Rhode Island and other random Peering closer, the Arabic text dose, so the wait time between the fi rst and second shot of ei- coin was found at a farm, in Middle- National Museum of Egyptian Civi- corners of New England may help on the coin got his pulse racing. “I ther the Pfi zer and Moderna vaccines leaves a period of weeks town, R.I., in 2014 by metal detecto- lization in the Fustat neighborhood, solve one of the planet’s oldest cold thought, ‘Oh my God,’” he said. when a recipient remains vulnerable and subject to infection. rist Jim Bailey, who contends it was where Egypt’s first Islamic capital was cases. Research confirmed the exotic The wait for a second shot proved too long for Richard Ras- plundered by English pirate Henry Ev- located. The villain in this tale: a murder- coin was minted in 1693 in Yemen. mussen of Las Vegas, said daughter Julie Rasmussen. ery in 1695 from Muslim pilgrims sail- The mummies were being transport- ous English pirate who became That immediately raised ques- Richard Rasmussen, 73, fervently believed in wearing face ing home to India after a pilgrimage to ed in climate-controlled cases loaded the world’s most-wanted criminal tions, Bailey said, since there’s no masks for protection and had his fi rst dose of the Pfi zer vac- Makkah. (AP) onto trucks decorated with wings and after plundering a ship carrying evidence that American colonists cine in early January. “He was very excited to get his vaccine,” pharaonic design for the hour-long Muslim pilgrims home to India from struggling to eke out a living in the she said. journey from their previous home in Makkah, then eluded capture by New World traveled to anywhere in Yet Rasmussen tested positive for the virus 10 days later and the older Egyptian Museum. The ve- posing as a slave trader. the Middle East to trade until de- died Feb. 19 before receiving a second dose, Julie Rasmussen Discovery hicles were designed to appear like the “It’s a new history of a nearly cades later. said. His fi nal decline was stunning for its speed, she said. ancient boats used to carry deceased perfect crime,” said Jim Bailey, an Since then, other detectorists pharaohs to their tombs. amateur historian and metal detec- have unearthed 15 additional Ara- “And now I am alone,” Rasmussen said in an email inter- torist who found the first intact 17th- bian coins from the same era - 10 view. “He was my best friend. We texted everyday, all day. I Most of the mummies belong to the US pesticide use falls: American New Kingdom, which ruled Egypt be- century Arabian coin in a meadow in Massachusetts, three in Rhode have no siblings. No husband/boyfriend. He was single. I am farmers are using smaller amounts of bet- in Middletown. Island and two in Connecticut. An- all alone navigating the legal system and packing his house.” ter targeted pesticides, but these are harm- tween 1539 B.C. to 1075 BC, accord- That ancient pocket change — other was found in North Carolina, The same day Rasmussen died, Deidre Love Sullens, of ing pollinators, aquatic insects and some ing to the Ministry of Antiquities. among the oldest ever found in where records show some of Ev- Oklahoma City, was standing in the icy, snow-covered park- plants far more than decades ago, a new Tradition North America — could explain ery’s men first came ashore. ing lot of a vaccine clinic amid the grief of losing both her study fi nds. how pirate Capt Henry Every van- “It seems like some of his crew mother, Catherine Douglas, 65, and stepfather, Asa Bartlett Toxicity levels have more than doubled They include Ramses II, one of the ished into the wind. were able to settle in New England Douglas, 58, to COVID-19 in a span of 16 days before they since 2005 for important species, includ- most famous pharaohs, and Queen On Sept. 7, 1695, the pirate ship and integrate,” said Sarah Sport- could get shots. ing honeybees, mayfl ies and buttercup Hatshepsut, Egypt’s only woman Pha- Fancy, commanded by Every, am- man, state archaeologist for Con- “They, and I, looked at the vaccine as the single life-chang- fl owers, as the country switched to a new raoh - who wore a false beard to over- bushed and captured the Ganj-i- necticut, where one of the coins ing factor that would allow us to see one another in person generation of pesticides. But dangerous come tradition requiring women to Sawai, a royal vessel owned by In- was found in 2018 at the ongoing again. It was our goal. We all aimed to get the vaccine so we chemical levels in birds and mammals play only secondary roles in the royal dian emperor Aurangzeb, then one excavation of a 17th-century farm could gather again, so my mother could play with my daugh- have plummeted at the same time, ac- hierarchy. of the world’s most powerful men. site. ter again, so we could maybe visit my grandma in the nursing cording to a paper in Thursday’s journal The mummies - 18 pharaohs and Aboard were not only the worship- “It was almost like a money laun- home and not be restricted to window visits,” Sullens said in Science. four other royals - were originally bur- ers returning from their pilgrimage, dering scheme,” she said. “The bottom line is that these pesti- ied around 3,000 years ago in secret but tens of millions of dollars’ worth Although it sounds unthink- an interview conducted by email. of gold and silver. able now, Every was able to hide On that cold February day, with some doses to spare be- cides, once believed to be relatively be- tombs in the Valley of Kings and the nign and so short-lived that they would nearby Deir el-Bahri site. Both areas What followed was one of the in plain sight by posing as a slave cause foul weather kept others from making appointments, a most lucrative and heinous robber- trader - an emerging profession in worker called Sullens in to the clinic to be immunized. Sullens not damage ecosystems, are anything are near the southern city of Luxor. but,” said Dr Lynn Goldman, a former The tombs were first excavated in the ies of all time. 1690s New England. On his way to said she was overcome by tears and a “surreal feeling of dis- US Environmental Protection Agency as- Historical accounts say his band the Bahamas, he even stopped at belief” as she entered. 19th century. tortured and killed the men aboard the French island of Reunion to get sistant administrator for toxic substances After excavation, the mummies “My mind was thinking, ‘If only my parents could have held who wasn’t part of the study and is now the Indian ship and raped the wom- some Black captives so he’d look out an extra two months ... they’d be here getting the vaccine were taken to Cairo by boats that sailed en before escaping to the Baha- the part, Bailey said. dean of George Washington University’s the Nile. Some were showcased in too. They’d be alive. They’d be here with me’,” she said. school of public health mas, a haven for pirates. But word Obscure records show a ship glass cases, while others were stored. quickly spread of their crimes, and called the Sea Flower, used by Also: German scientists examined 381 pesti- cides used in the United States between The remains of Ramses II were taken English King William III — under the pirates after they ditched the LONDON: Britain’s medicines regulator is urging people to 1992 and 2016, combining EPA data that to Paris in 1976 for intensive restora- enormous pressure from a scandal- Fancy, sailed along the Eastern continue taking the AstraZeneca coronavirus vaccine, despite calculates toxic dosage effects for eight tion work by French scientists. ized India and the East India Com- seaboard. It arrived with nearly four revealing that seven people in the UK have died from rare types of animals and plants with U.S. The made-for-TV parade was part of pany trading giant — put a large dozen slaves in 1696 in Newport, blood clots after getting the jab. Geological Survey data on how much of Egypt’s efforts to attract foreign tour- bounty on their heads. Rhode Island, which became a ma- The Medicines and Healthcare Regulatory Agency, or the chemicals were used year by year for ists by publicizing its ancient artifacts. “If you Google ‘first worldwide jor hub of the North American slave MHRA, said it wasn’t clear if the shots are causing the clots, dozens of agricultural crops. The scien- The tourism industry has been reeling manhunt,’ it comes up as Every,” trade in the 18th century. and that its “rigorous review into the UK reports of rare and tists calculated a new measurement they from political turmoil following the Bailey said. “Everybody was look- “There’s extensive primary call total applied toxicity for the eight 2011 popular uprising that toppled ing for these guys.” source documentation to show the specifi c types of blood clots is ongoing.” Until now, historians only knew American colonies were bases of Though the agency said late Friday that seven people had groupings of species and trends over time. longtime autocrat Hosni Mubarak, and “Very often politicians, media, scien- more recently, the coronavirus pan- that Every eventually sailed to Ire- operation for pirates,” said Bailey, died as a result of developing blood clots, it didn’t disclose any land in 1696, where the trail went 53, who holds a degree in anthro- information about their ages or health conditions. tists just talk about amounts. They always demic. argue ‘OK, the amount pesticides we use cold. But Bailey says the coins pology from the University of Rhode In total, MHRA said had identifi ed 30 cases of rare blood “This parade is a unique global he and others have found are Island and worked as an archaeo- clot events out of 18.1 million AstraZeneca doses administered is reduced so things are getting better’ event that will not be repeated,” de- and this is not necessarily true,” said lead evidence the notorious pirate first logical assistant on explorations of up to and including March 24. The risk associated with this clared Tourism and Antiquities Minis- made his way to the American colo- the Wydah Gally pirate ship wreck type of blood clot is “very small,” it added. author Ralf Schulz, a professor of envi- ter Khaled el-Anany. ronmental sciences at the University of nies, where he and his crew used off Cape Cod in the late 1980s. Security was tight in the capital, with the plunder for day-to-day expens- Bailey, whose day job is analyz- “The benefi ts of COVID-19 vaccine AstraZeneca in pre- Kolenz-Landau. “It’s sometimes true, but venting COVID-19 infection and its complications continue authorities closing off major streets es while on the run. ing security at the state’s prison not always,” and intersections along the route for The first complete coin surfaced complex, has published his findings to outweigh any risks and the public should continue to get Industry keeps developing new pes- their vaccine when invited to do so,” said Dr June Raine, the the slow-moving vehicles. Guards on in 2014 at Sweet Berry Farm in in a research journal of the Ameri- ticides and “very often these new com- Middletown, a spot that had piqued can Numismatic Society, an organi- agency’s chief executive. pounds are more toxic,” Schulz said. horses and Egyptian celebrities and Concerns over the AstraZeneca vaccine has already prompt- signers followed the motorcade. Bailey’s curiosity two years earlier zation devoted to the study of coins They include neonicotinoids, which have after he found old colonial coins, and medals. ed some countries including Canada, France, Germany and been connected to one of the many causes “Again, Egypt dazzles the world The Netherlands to restrict its use to older people. The UK, with an unrivalled event,” said movie an 18th-century shoe buckle and Archaeologists and historians of dwindling honeybee numbers. (AP) some musket balls. familiar with but not involved in which has rolled out coronavirus vaccines faster than other ❑ ❑ ❑ star Hussein Fahmy in an official pro- motional video. Waving a metal detector over Bailey’s work say they’re intrigued, European nations, is particularly reliant on the AstraZeneca the soil, he got a signal, dug down and believe it’s shedding new light vaccine, which was developed by scientists at the University Right whales births up: North Atlan- The event started in the late after- tic right whales gave birth over the winter noon and was broadcast live on the and hit literal paydirt: a darkened, on one of the world’s most enduring of Oxford. dime-sized silver coin he initially criminal mysteries. MHRA’s view about the relative benefi ts of the vaccine is in greater numbers than scientists have country’s state-run television and other shared by the European Medicines Agency. It has said a causal seen since 2015, an encouraging sign for satellite stations. The Tourism and An- link between unusual blood clots in people who have had the researchers who became alarmed three tiquities Ministry also live-streamed it years ago when the critically endangered on social media platforms. famous square. of this unique civilization that extends vaccine is “not proven, but is possible,” and that the benefi ts species produced no known offspring at Egypt’s President Abdel Fattah el- into the depths of history.” of the vaccine outweigh the risks of side effects. The World The “Pharaohs’ Golden Parade” all. circled Tahrir square, where authori- Sissi, who will welcome the mummies Once at the new museum, 20 of the Health Organization has also urged countries to continue us- Survey teams spotted 17 newborn right at the new museum, tweeted: “This mummies will be displayed, while the ing the jab. ties officially unveiled an obelisk and whale calves swimming with their moth- four sphinxes to decorate Cairo’s most majestic scene is a new evidence of the remaining two will be stored, accord- Adam Finn, a professor of pediatrics at the University ers offshore between Florida and North greatness of this people, the guarding ing to the ministry. of Bristol, said the “extreme rarity” of the blood-clotting Carolina from December through March. events in the context of the millions of jabs administered One of those calves soon died after being in the UK makes the decision facing people very straight- hit a boat, a reminder of the high death forward. rate for right whales that experts fear is “Receiving the vaccine is by far the safest choice in terms of outpacing births. minimizing individual risk of serious illness or death,” he said. The overall calf count equals the com- will be the beginning of an upward climb eastern US to give birth. Trained spotters A more detailed look at the MHRA’s fi ndings show that of bined total for the previous three years. in calving that’s going to continue for fl y over the coastline almost daily during the 30 cases, 22 related to cerebral venous sinus thrombosis, That includes the dismal 2018 calving the next few years,” said Clay George, the calving season, scanning the water for which stops blood draining from the brain properly, and eight season, when scientists saw zero right a wildlife biologist who oversees right mothers with newborns. were connected with other thrombosis events with low plate- whale births for the fi rst time in three dec- whale surveys for the Georgia Depart- Survey fl ights over Georgia and Flor- lets. ades. Still, researchers say greater num- ment of Natural Resources. “They need ida ended Wednesday on the last day of It said there were no reports of any blood-clotting events bers are needed in the coming years for to be producing about two dozen calves March, typically the season’s end. Spot- around the Pfi zer/BioNTech vaccine, which has also been North Atlantic right whales to rebound per year for the population to stabilize and ters will monitor waters off the Carolinas widely rolled out in the UK. from an estimated population that’s dwin- continue to grow again.” through April 15, hoping to pick up any dled to about 360. Right whales migrate each winter to overlooked newborns as the whales head “What we are seeing is what we hope the warmer Atlantic waters off the South- Goldman George north to their feeding grounds. (AP) Television MONDAY, APRIL 5, 2021 FFeatureseatures released froma Mossimo Giannulli Lompoc near in custodyatafederalprison brand untilrecently,hadbeen clothing hadlongbeenaTarget AP onconditionofanonymity. matter publiclyandspoketothe The personcouldnotdiscussthe sentence athome,thepersonsaid. to servetheremainderofhis Associated Press.Heisexpected familiar withthemattertoldThe confi credentials. rigged testscoresorbogusathletic deserving teensintoschoolswith involved heftybribestogetun- the scheme,whichauthoritiessay high-profi behind bars. ber afterspendingtwomonths Prisons facilityin the supervisionofaBureau short natureofhissentence. the ordinary,inpartbecauseof in Giannulli’scaseisnotoutof scheduled tobereleasedinApril. reported inNovemberandwas from aprisonin California. Loughlinwasreleased into theUniversityofSouthern dollars togettheirtwodaughters last yeartopayinghalfamillion Loughlin former “FullHouse”star familiar withthematter. ery scheme,accordingtoaperson role inacollegeadmissionsbrib- following hisimprisonmentfor and isunderhomeconfi ment. (AP) who aregrantedhomeconfi and fi have raisedconcernsaboutracial virus hotspots.Butadvocates security prisons—startingwith ity forthoseatlow-ormedium- Bureau ofPrisons—withprior- release ofeligibleinmatesbythe confi ordered theincreaseduseofhome confi say hewillbereleasedfromhome home confi well asinmateswhoareunder that managesahalfwayhouseas LOS ANGELES: called thatanecessityfor“OrganizedCrime,”withMeloni’sStabler emotion” andwithadifferent“rhythm”thanhehas,Wolfsaid.He is oneofthem.” last 30yearsthere’sveryfewtrulylandmarkshows,but‘TheLWord’ and “TheHandmaid’sTale.” groundbreaking “TheLWord,”whichfeaturedLGBTQcharacters, er tothefranchise’sranks,IleneChaiken,whosecreditsinclude complete ‘blackhats,’thatcanbemorenuanced.” haven’t hadachancetoexploreyet,includingantagoniststhataren’t term story,”hetoldTheAssociatedPress.Thatallowsforoptions“we and thethirdeightepisodesare‘Scarface.’” ‘The Godfather,’thesecondeightepisodesare‘AmericanGangster’ crossover episodewith“Law&Order:SVU”at9p.m.EDT. in multi-episodearcs.ItdebutedThursdayat10p.m.EDT,paireda relatives, thenewdramashiftsfromonecriminalsyndicatetoanother 2011 on“Law&Order:SpecialVictimsUnit.” as NewYorkpolicedetectiveElliotStabler,theroleheplayeduntil producer DickWolfsayshe’sswitchingupthestorytelling. Order” franchisehasafamiliarfaceplayingcharacter,but LOS ANGELES,April4,(AP):Thelatestmemberofthe“Law& New breed ‘Law&Order’ bringsbackNYPDdetectiveStabler Giannulli, whoseMossimo Giannulli wasreleasedtohome The twowereamongthemost Records showheisunder A releasetohomeconfi Giannulli, 57,ismarriedto The JusticeDepartmenthas Chaiken is“notonlyskilled,she’sincrediblyinsightfulabouthuman “I’ve knownherbyreputationforalongtime,”Wolfsaid.“Overthe “Law &Order:OrganizedCrime”alsobringsanewwriter-produc- “You havemajorantagonistsaroundtobuildareallygood,longer- Think ofitthisway,Wolfsuggested:“Ifthefi Unlike thelargelyself-containedepisodesofits“Law&Order” NBC’s “Law&Order:OrganizedCrime”starsChristopherMeloni nement onFriday,aperson nement andtheexpedited nement onApril17. nancial inequitiesinthose ❑ ❑ le parentschargedin . Theypleadedguilty nement. Therecords Santa Barbara California Dublin Fashion designer Long Beach has been nement inDecem- Lori nement prison ne- . 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Vivelecinéma! scraper smashingtosatisfymostloversofgigantic the requisiteexplosions,inaneplottwistsandsky- rock ‘em-sock’emmonster-movierevivalwithall ture featuretodarewidereleaseinsometime,isa demic year.“Godzillavs.Kong,”theonlycrea- has beeninhibernationformuchofthepastpan- equally toweringscreens.Thatkindofmoviegoing spectacles ofmassdestructionmadetobeseenon symbolizes andstillholdssomedominionover:big tle bitthesameforkindofmoviesKingKong showering inanearbywaterfall.It’s,maybe,lit- slowly inthemorningsunfromslumberbefore template hadKongmeetingFrankenstein.) fore theJapanesestudiogotinvolved,original mashed togethermonstersbothEastandWest.(Be- T Once more untothebreach in‘Godzilla’ rst billingbackthen),theTohoStudiosfi “Godzilla vs.Kong,”directedbyAdamWingard, This time,theultra-heavyweightprizefi slowing wakingonamountainside.Herouses here isKingKong,colossusofthebigscreen, Variety rst eightepisodesare rst meeting,aballetofbattleshipsonthe Hulu to produce, release ‘1619 Project’ documentary series Hulu toproduce,release‘1619Project’documentary , aformerNew This imagereleasedbyWarnerBros.Entertainmentshowsascenefrom‘Godzillavs.Kong.’(AP) By JakeCoyle Netfl Film in whichtheywerereleased,mostmonthlysections. ies,” whichaddsParistothemix.Wolfownsallbooksinformat can appearinanyoftheothers,”hesaid,excepting‘ATaleTwoCit- explaining howhisapproachcomparestothatoftheBritishnovelist. produced byWolfEntertainmentandUniversalTelevision. recent announcementof“FBI:International”fornextseason.Allare spinoffs, andCBS’“FBI”itsabout-to-betwowiththe empire occupies,includingNBC’s“ChicagoFire”anditspairof Mariska Hargitay. and theenduring“Law&Order:SVU,”nowinits22ndseasonwith ly anAmericanstandard,giventheoriginalshow’subiquityinreruns century ariaandits30iterations.The“Law&Order”tuneispractical- calls yetanother“GoldbergVariations”—areferencetoBach’s19th- “People wouldlineupforsixhours”thenextinstallment,he “It’s Dickens’London:Anybodywhoappearsinanyofthebooks He citesCharlesDickensasinspirationforhisintertwinedshows, The newseriesisjustpartoftheexpansiveTVrealestateWolf’s The franchise’sthememusicwillbefeatured,withwhathefondly oglnGiannulli Loughlin that’s he’snotadinosaur,”Wolfsaid.“Notaneasythingtodo.” change himinabelievablemannerthatgotintothepresent,so — thesortofcharacterthatTVonceroutinelycelebratedasheroic. play bytherules,suchasinformingapersonunderarrestoftheirrights among themost”pre-Mirandacopsontelevision.” escapadesanda “What shehadtodowaskeepthatcharacterintact,butsoftenand In otherwords,thesortoflawenforcementoffi ix lands‘KnivesOut’sequelsinhigh-priceddeal rst squared rst ght be- ght lm that lm guy inasuit,haveswelledsomuchdesignand Kong, borninstop-motion,andGodzilla,oncea movie issoakedintheglossysheenofCGI.King vanced technicalwizardry. vs. Kong”issomuchatotemtothepowersofad- ades. It’salsoasomewhatironicone.“Godzilla cycled throughcountlessmetaphorsoverthedec- not justapredictablefoeforthekaijus,whohave do: atthehandsofamelomaniactechCEO.It’s mately fallbackwheresomanyactionblockbusters of theEarth.Itcoversalotmileageonlytoulti- Kong” makesitsway,viaAntarctica,tothecenter Hong Kongpleading,“Please,no.” turn ametropolisintoruinsthatyoucanalmosthear a schemesoobviouslydestinedtorunafouland proponent NathanLind(AlexanderSkarsgård).It’s world realmtheorizedtoexistby“hollowEarth” his powersource—anundiscoveredcenter-of-the- Godzilla tothesurfaceandthentrack Bichir), aplanishatchedtouseKonglure ics companyruledbyWalterSimmons(Demián unprompted attackonApex,ahigh-techcybernet- (Kaylee Hottle).WhenGodzillamakesaseemingly becca Hall)andherdeafadopteddaughterJia watched overtenderlybyDr.IleneAndrews(Re- an enclosedhabitatforthelocked-upape,who’s Shot withalustrousglowbyBenSeresin,the With adebtowedtoJulesVerne,“Godzillavs. That sunnymorningwaterfall,itturnsout,is more humblehome. Empire StateBuilding-climbingbeast,it’sanew, why thebigmonkeywassoangry.Formighty home, withafi streaming simultaneouslyonHBOMax.Isawitat debuted Wednesday,isplayingintheatersand or asalamander-sizedone.“Godzillavs.Kong,” fi Franchise lm immediatelyoneitheraGodzilla-sizedscreen And it’shomeheseeksin“Godzillavs.Kong.” One differencethisgoaround:Youcanseethe fl Crusaders. between theHighlandersand the SuperRugbyAotearoamatch pan referenced theperformanceof calling Himeno“leally impres- the Highlandersfor thefi Himeno yhalf Speaking withHighlanders Wheeler’s comments included internationalfl ve-year-oldinthenextroomasking Mitchell Hunt whostartedamatch for Power cer whodidn’tliketo anker , Wheeler rst time. Kazuki Ja- arrival inthethen-Britishcolonyof Hannah-Jones its currentincarnation.” Black peoplearestillfi contributions ofBlackAmericans.Andthisisn’tjustaboutthepast— be understoodwithoutacknowledgingbothsystemicracismandthe Williams said.“Ourmostcherishedidealsandachievementscannot ner, tent. Theywillalsobeproducers,alongwithWilliams’businesspart- 1619 Project”intoaportfoliooffi mer bytheTimes,Lionsgateand announced Thursday. fi from Africa. acy ofslaveryinAmericadatingfromthearrivalfi 1619 Project,”storiesinTheNewYorkTimesthatexaminedtheleg- NEW YORK: lm“MusicbyPrudence,”willoverseeandproducetheseries,itwas The PulitzerPrize-winningnewspaperseries,fromwriter “‘The 1619Project’isanessentialreframingofAmericanhistory.” The announcementwasanoutgrowthofadealannouncedlastsum- Roger RossWilliams hours,” Wolfsaid. author andthepublicwanted. said. And,likeTVandunlikefi Geoff Martz not thestandardexpected ofthe crew. and theHighlanders andourSky Himeno) andapologizedtohim said. “I’vespokenwith(Kazuki Twitter. social media. sive,” triggeringswiftprotestson “A movieexistsfor110minutes.Asuccessfulshow “I absolutelyaccept thisis “Tonight Istuffedup!”he Wheeler laterapologizedon ination forbestoriginalscreenplay.(AP) sales andlandedJohnsonanAcademyAwardnom- Out” grossed$311.4millioninworldwideticket single-picture deal.Madefor$40million,“Knives dia RightsCableanddistributedbyLionsgateona sible becausethe2019fi land “KnivesOut,”somethingthatwasevenpos- Deadline, whichfi iel Craig gin thissummer. and producedbyhimRamBergman,istobe- on thesecond“KnivesOut,”writtenbyJohnson ditional studioshavelongdependedon.Production sought: thekindofmajorfi — acquisitions. one ofNetfl price wouldapproach$450million—makingit for thefi “Knives Out.” to Wednesday ithasreachedadealfortwosequels will beforNetfl NEW YORK: Netfl It alsolandsNetfl Netfl Hulu willproduceadocumentaryseriesbasedon“The utes. Twoandahalfstarsoutoffour. hem andcreatureviolence.Runningtime:113min- America forintensesequencesofdestruction,may- rated PG-13bytheMotionPictureAssociationof let Konghitthesnooze. fantasies ofdestruction.Nexttime,someoneshould ing againandfromthedepthstoplayoutour can blamethem?They’relikelytiredfromemerg- gins. Bytheyend,appearexhausted,andwho stars whohavemovedonfromtheirB-movieori- texture thattheynowappearlikeveteranmovie Rian Johnson , beganappearingonthe400thanniversaryofship’s “Godzilla vs.Kong,”aWarnerBros.release,is ix outbidseveralotherstreamingservicesto ix declinedtosayhowmuchitwaspaying . lms, whichJohnsonwilldirectwith returningasinspectorBenoitBlanc.But ghting againstboththelegacyofthisracismand ix’s largest—andmostsweater-clad Detective , anAcademyAward-winningdirectorforhis ix. Thestreamingcompanysaid rst reportedthedeal,said ’s acclaimed2019whodunit, Also: lms, televisionseriesandothercon- ix somethingithasdearly Also: lms, thestorycouldgoonaslong Oprah Winfrey Virginia Benoit Blanc lm wasproducedbyMe- lm franchisesthattra- to anyemployment sanction.(AP) to Himenobutmade noreference ated thatWheeler had apologized four yearsforSuntorySungoliath. landers andplayedinJapanfor for boththeCrusadersandHigh- committed todoingbetter.” to doobviously,butI’mabsolutely sideline team.I’vegotsomework . A SkySportstatement reiter- Wheeler playedSuperRugby ’s nextcases todevelop“The rst slaveship Dan- Nikole ARAB TIMES, MONDAY, APRIL 5, 2021 SPORTS 14

‘It’s a great start for us’ No. 1 Barty repeats as Miami champ when Andreescu retires MIAMI, April 4, (AP): Ash Barty pushed a forehand winner into the open court as her opponent, Bianca Andreescu, laid on her back in the far corner, injured yet again. With that, the Miami Open fi nal was Reds top Cards for decided. Andreescu limped through 11 more points before she retired, crying, shak- ing her head and trailing 6-3, 4-0. The No. 1-ranked Barty won her second successive Miami title, and the Australian was already in control fi rst win of season of the match when Andreescu turned her right foot while hitting a forehand and sprawled to the hard court. Barty hit one more shot to win the point, and play continued. But during the ensuing changeover, a trainer taped Andreescu’s foot, and after another game the injury-plagued Canadian reluctantly called it quits. Ashleigh Barty of Australia poses with the trophy after winning her match “I really do feel for Bianca,” Barty against Bianca Andreescu of Canada during the fi nals at the Miami Open said. “She has had such a rough trot tennis tournament, on April 3, in Miami Gardens, Florida. (AP) with injuries in the past.” Kuwaiti fi gure skating girls team to TENNIS participate in World Championship Andreescu was again tearful at the KUWAIT CITY, April 4, (KUNA): virtual, thus a skater will perform start of her postmatch news confer- The Kuwaiti Winter Games Club in her country and the judging ence, when she explained that her announced Sunday the National committees will follow the per- trainer convinced her to retire rather Skating Team fi gure skating formances through direct trans- than risk further injury. “I didn’t want girls will participate in the World mission. to stop,” she said. “I trusted him, and I He added that eight players will represent the national team knew it was the best decision.” in this big tournament: Hessa The tournament was the fi rst in the FIGURE SKATING Al-Saraawi, Lulwa Al-Dharman, United States for the 20-year-old An- Sarah Al-Laho, Khairiyah Al- dreescu since she won the 2019 US Championship in Bucharest, Kanderi, Lara Al-Barrak, Hajar Open. She sat out 2020 because of Romania, on 8-10 of May, an Al-Kanderi, Norah Qutainah, injuries and the coronavirus pandemic event expected to witness inter- Ru’a Al-Qartas, Salma Al-Sakka and now faces another possible layoff. national participation. and Elizabeth Frank. “I’m going to see what’s up with my The president of the club Salem He indicated that the club will foot, and start visualizing the healing Al-Ajmi said in a statement to set up a camp for players from process if it’s something bad,” An- Kuwait News Agency (KUNA) the 16th to the 30th April to pre- dreescu said. that the tournament will be held pare for the tournament. On Sunday, 19-year-old Italian Jannik Sinner will try to become the very privileged to be mentioned in that It did. Barty was one point from youngest men’s champion in tour- sentence.” defeat in her opening match against nament history when he plays No. The match between Barty and An- Kristina Kucova, but she gained mo- 26-seeded Hubert Hurkacz of Poland. dreescu was their fi rst, and a potential mentum from there and will keep her Each is seeking the biggest title of his friendly rivalry looms. Barty dominat- No. 1 ranking next week. career. Barty made her own break- ed from the start of the fi nal with her With the pandemic limiting travel, through by winning the 2019 Miami strong serve and all-court game. the 2019 French Open champion heads championship. The tournament was “She doesn’t play like a lot of the into the clay court season expecting to canceled last year at the start of the players on tour,” Andreescu said. “She remain away from home for months. coronavirus pandemic. likes to mix it up, like me. That’s not “It’s a great start for us,” Barty Five other women have earned fun to play against. I guess I’m getting said. “I’m looking forward to what St Louis Cardinals’ Adam Wainwright throws during the fi rst inning of a baseball game against the Cincinnati Reds consecutive Miami titles: Stefanie a taste of my own medicine.” will hopefully be a big season for us, in Cincinnati, on April 3. (AP) Graf, Monica Seles, Arantxa Sánchez- Barty was playing outside of Aus- and hopefully we can play some really Vicario, Venus Williams and Serena tralia for the fi rst time since February good tennis.” Because the pandemic Williams. 2020, and she arrived in Miami after a reduced tournament revenue and se- Álvarez hits 3-run homer as Astros beat A’s again “I shouldn’t belong with that trip that took 45 hours because of two verely limited attendance, the champi- group,” Barty said with a smile. “I canceled fl ights. on received $300,110, compared with haven’t earned the right to be on a list “I said to my coach when we got the $1.35 million Barty won in 2019. CINCINNATI, April 4, Loaisiga (1-0) pitched two innings, and prior to the game, then gave up just one with those champions. They’re genu- Chad Green got a four-out save in the run and six hits. The 35-year-old right- here, it can only get better from here,” Only 750 fans were allowed on the (AP): Nick Castellanos absence of Aroldis Chapman, who com- hander struck out fi ve and walked one. ine champions and legends, and I feel she said. grounds per session. stood over, fl exed and pleted a two-game suspension for throw- Javier Báez singled twice, drove in a run jawed at St Louis pitcher ing near the head of Tampa Bay’s Mike and scored one. He also stole two bases. Jake Woodford after scor- Brousseau last Sept 1. Phillies 4, Braves 0 ing, setting off a series of Orioles 4, Red Sox 2 In Philadelphia, Zack Wheeler al- In Boston, Maikel Franco drove in lowed only one hit and struck out 10 in scuffl es that included re- two runs after a Boston error, Pedro Sev- seven innings and had two hits and two lievers shoving in the out- erino had his second two-hit game in a RBIs at the plate to lead Philadelphia row and Matt Harvey made his Orioles over Atlanta. fi eld as the Cincinnati Reds debut in a win over the Red Sox. Wheeler retired the fi nal 17 Atlanta beat the Cardinals 9-6. Franco’s single came after Red Sox hitters he faced after a one-out single by St. Louis starter Adam Wain- third baseman Rafael Devers made a Travis d’Arnaud in the second. wright was knocked around for six diving stop on Austin Hays’ grounder Archie Bradley and Hector Neris re- runs and chased in the third. The but sailed the throw to second. The Ori- tired all six hitters in the fi nal two in- next inning, the teams started tag- oles also took advantage of a Boston nings. Overall, the Braves struck out 14 error for a two-run inning in Friday’s times out of 28 at-bats. ging each other. opener, a 3-0 win. Castellanos, who homered on open- Marlins 12, Rays 7 ing day and hopped out of the box Harvey missed his chance at the win when he was pulled with two outs in the In Miami, Starling Marte had four hits before tossing his bat, was plunked and Miami beat Tampa Bay at home for by Woodford with two outs and none fi fth after giving up two singles and a the fi rst time since 2018. on in the fourth. Castellanos retrieved walk in the inning. Adam Plutko (1-0) Garrett Cooper homered and drove in the ball and offered to toss it back to relieved him and went 2-1/3 innings, al- three runs for the Marlins, and pinch-hit- Woodford before flipping it out of lowing one hit and striking out two. ter Adam Duvall also went deep. Marte play. Tigers 5, Indians 2 and leadoff man Miguel Rojas each A wild pitch soon sent Castellanos In Detroit, Julio Teheran pitched scored three times. scampering home from third and he through trouble in his Detroit debut, Tampa Bay, the reigning American scored with a headfi rst slide for a 7-2 leading the Tigers to a win over Cleve- League champion, won 11 of the previ- lead as he bumped into Woodford, who land. ous 12 matchups between the Sunshine In this photo taken by underwater camera, Japanese swimmer Rikako Ikee competes on way to winning the wom- took the throw from catcher Yadier Mo- For a second straight game, Detroit State rivals over the past three years. Mi- en’s 100-meter butterfl y at the Japan’s national championships at Tokyo Aquatics Centre in Tokyo, on April 4. (AP) lina at the plate. scored two runs in the fi rst and led the ami was 0-7 against the Rays at home As Castellanos began walking away, rest of the way. Willi Castro hit an RBI since a 3-0 victory on July 4, 2018 - in- Molina rushed up and tapped him from cluding losses in the fi rst two games this behind, and the benches and bullpens season. Ikee qualifi es for Tokyo Oly after leukemia emptied in a wild scene. Padres 7, Diamondbacks 0 There was more pushing and shoving BASEBALL TOKYO, April 4, (AP): Japanese swim- before order seemed to be restored. But In San Diego, Joe Musgrove was bril- mer Rikako Ikee on Sunday qualifi ed as relief pitchers for both teams were liant in his debut for his hometown Pa- Australian women break ODI for the Tokyo Olympics just two years triple off Zach Plesac (0-1) and came dres, Manny Machado homered for his after she was diagnosed with leukemia. heading back to their bullpens, they tan- home on Miguel Cabrera’s groundout. gled in the outfi eld. fi rst hit of 2021 and Wil Myers drove in She swam a time of 57.77 seconds The Tigers added three runs in the sev- three runs on two doubles as San Diego in the 100-meter butterfl y at Japan’s Twins 2, Brewers 0 enth. record for ‘consecutive’ wins beat Arizona. MOUNT MAUNGANUI, New toss and elected to bowl first in the open- national championships held at the new In Milwaukee, José Berríos and three Royals 11, Rangers 4 With his parents and other family swimming venue for the Tokyo Olym- Minnesota relievers combined on a one- members in the stands, Musgrove (1-0) Zealand, April 4, (AP): The Australian ing game of a three-match series. pics. That qualifi ed her for a place in the In Kansas City, Michael A. Taylor women’s cricket team won its 22nd Alyssa Healy (65), Ellyse Perry (56 hitter with 17 strikeouts to outduel Mil- homered and drove in three for the sec- held the Diamondbacks to three hits in medley relay. waukee’s Corbin Burnes. six innings while striking out eight and consecutive match and surpassed not out) and Ashleigh Gardner (53 not She was overcome with tears in the ond straight game, leading Kansas City Ricky Ponting’s 2003 side to set a new out) then struck impressive half centu- The Twins held Milwaukee hitless over Texas. walking none. After allowing a one-out water after the race, and could barely until Omar Narváez delivered a one-out single in the fi rst, he retired 11 straight, one-day international record in a six- ries to make easy work of the chase speak out of the water later, sniffl ing and Released by Washington after hitting wicket victory against New Zealand with 69 balls to spare and lift the cur- single off reliever Tyler Duffey in the .196 last season, Taylor is off to a sensa- seven by strikeout. crying at the same time. She slammed eighth inning. Neither team had a hit or on Sunday. rent world champions past Ponting’s tional start for Kansas City. After getting her left arm against the water when she walk until Minnesota’s Byron Buxton Dodgers 6, Rockies 5 star-studded 2003 team with a 22nd three hits and throwing out two runners realized she’d won. led off the seventh with a homer against In Denver, Zach McKinstry hustled straight victory. “I was not expecting to win the 100 Burnes (0-1). at the plate from center fi eld in a 14-10 for a go-ahead, inside-the-park homer CRICKET “It’s a great achievement from this win on opening day, Taylor came back meters at all, and I was feeling far less Buxton’s homer came on the 87th in the eighth inning when left fi elder group over a long period of time,” confi dent than during the Olympic qual- and fi nal pitch from Burnes, who had 11 with a home run and double as the Roy- Raimel Tapia reached over the fence Lanning said after the match. “Those als improved to 2-0. ifi ers fi ve years ago,” she said. strikeouts. Berríos (1-0) struck out 12, to bring the ball back, only to have it The tourists were rarely troubled at wins have come over three years, “I thought I wouldn’t be able to win hit a batter and didn’t walk anybody in Cubs 5, Pirates 1 bounce out of his glove and roll away, Mount Maunganui with player of the which I think just shows how consis- for a long time. But I trained hard to six innings but left after 84 pitches. In Chicago, Jake Arrieta pitched six helping Los Angeles beat Colorado. match Megan Schutt taking 4 wickets to tent we’ve been at this format.” win. And, in the end, I came into the Astros 9, Athletics 1 solid innings in a triumphant return to Kenley Jansen got fi ve outs to earn restrict New Zealand to 212 all out after The Southern Stars have not lost an race telling myself I’m back. And so the save. Australia captain Meg Lanning won the ODI since October 2017. I feel that, even if you go through suf- In Oakland, California, Yordan Álva- the Cubs, Kris Bryant and Jason Hey- ward homered, and Chicago beat Pitts- McKinstry lined a fastball from My- fering and pain, your hard work will al- rez hit a three-run homer and Houston chal Givens (0-1) that resulted in his fi rst ways be rewarded.” kept thriving through all the boos, slug- burgh. Arrieta (1-0) got a warm reception major league homer. It was the fi rst in- ging its way to a third straight win over side-the-park homer by a Dodgers player MLB Results/Standings Oakland. since Chris Taylor on Sept 18, 2017, at SWIMMING Houston has outscored Oakland 26-7 Philadelphia. in three games against the defending AL Angels 5, White Sox 3 West champion A’s, who were elimi- WASHINGTON, April 4, (AP): Results and standings from the MLB games on Saturday. The 20-year-old Ikee returned to the nated by the Astros in a four-game AL In Anaheim, California, Justin Up- Baltimore 4 Boston 2 LA Angels 5 Chic W. Sox 3 Detroit 5 Cleveland 2 Astros 9 Oakland 1 pool about a year ago but had said her Division Series last fall. ton’s homer capped a three-run rally goal was only to prepare for the 2024 in the eighth inning and Los Angeles, NY Yankees 5 Toronto 3 Chic Cubs 5 Pittsburgh 1 Lance McCullers Jr (1-0) did his part. KC Chiefs 11 Texas 4 Phillies 4 Atlanta 0 Olympics in Paris. She had downplayed The Houston right-hander struck out helped by a fl yball that bounced off the Miami 12 TB Rays 7 Cincinnati 9 St Louis 6 her chances for her home Olympics. seven and walked three in fi ve innings, head of White Sox center fi elder Luis Twins 2 Milwaukee 0 SD Padres 7 Arizona 0 Seattle 4 SF Giants 0 LA Dodgers 6 Colorado 5 She would have been among the allowing two hits and one run. Robert, beat hot-hitting Yermín Mer- favorites in several Olympic races in cedes and Chicago. East Division East Division Yankees 5, Blue Jays 3 W L Pct GB W L Pct GB Tokyo races if she had not fallen ill Mercedes homered, doubled and sin- Baltimore 2 0 1.000 _ Philadelphia 2 0 1.000 _ and faced setbacks. “I wanted to try to In New York, Gary Sánchez joined gled to become the fi rst player since at TB Rays 2 1 .667 -1/2 New York 0 0 .000 1 Elston Howard in 1963 as the only feel true happiness just being here,” she least 1900 to begin a season with eight New York 1 1 .500 1 Washington 0 0 .000 1 added. “My teammates cheered me on, Yankees catchers to homer in each of straight hits. The 28-year-old rookie Toronto 1 1 .500 1 Miami 1 2 .333 1-1/2 the fi rst two games of a season and Jay Boston 0 2 .000 2 Atlanta 0 2 .000 2 sending me off (to the race). And so I Bruce blooped a two-run single in the Mariners 4, Giants 0 Central Division Central Division am now fi lled with happiness.” W L Pct GB W L Pct GB Ikee won six gold medals in 2018 at the seventh for his fi rst hit with his new team In Seattle, Chris Flexen returned to Detroit 2 0 1.000 _ Chicago 1 1 .500 _ in New York’s win over Toronto. the majors with a win after a year in Kansas City 2 0 1.000 _ Cincinnati 1 1 .500 _ Asian Games in Jakarta, Indonesia, which Two-time Cy Young Award winner South Korea, and Seattle got home runs Twins 1 1 .500 1 Milwaukee 1 1 .500 _ included the 50 and 100-meter freestyle, Corey Kluber, limited by injuries to from Mitch Haniger and Ty France Chicago 1 2 .333 1-1/2 Pittsburgh 1 1 .500 _ and the 50 and 100-meter butterfl y. She Cleveland 0 2 .000 2 St Louis 1 1 .500 _ also won gold in two relays, and added one inning in the previous two seasons, while shutting out San Francisco. West Division West Division pitched around control problems to al- Flexen (1-0) struck out six and al- W L Pct GB W L Pct GB two silvers. Her time in winning the low one earned run over four innings in Los Angeles Angels’ David Fletcher lowed four hits in fi ve sharp innings to Houston 2 0 1.000 _ San Diego 3 0 1.000 _ 100-meter butterfl y in Jakarta was 56.08 his Yankees debut. (22) singles during the third inning help the Mariners take their fi rst series of Los Angeles 2 1 .667 -1/2 Los Angeles 2 1 .667 1 seconds, the fastest of the season. She Seattle 2 1 .667 -1/2 Colorado 1 2 .333 2 was closing in on the world record held Left-hander Lucas Luetge also de- of a baseball game against the Chi- the year. The 26-year-old right-hander Oakland 0 2 .000 2 SF Giants 1 2 .333 2 buted for the Yankees in his fi rst major cago White Sox, on April 3, in Ana- spent 2020 with the Doosan Bears of the Texas 0 2 .000 2 Arizona 0 3 .000 3 by Sarah Sjostrom of Sweden of 55.48. It league appearance in six years. Jonathan heim, California. (AP) Korea Baseball Organization. remains the world-record time. ARAB TIMES, MONDAY, APRIL 5, 2021 SPORTS 15

Essential Quality stays unbeaten; Bourbonic pulls huge upset Rock Your World rocks win in Santa Anita Derby; Baffert 2nd ARCADIA, California, April 4, (AP): Rock Your World won the $750,000 Santa Anita Derby by 4-1/4 lengths show. over 4-5 favorite Medina Spirit, preventing Hall of Fame trainer Bob Baffert from earning his 10th win in the West Baffert’s other entry, Defunded, fi nished fourth. Sadler’s other entry, Back Ring Luck, was eighth in the nine- Coast’s prep for the Kentucky Derby. horse fi eld. Ridden by Umberto Rispoli, Rock Your World ran 1-1/8 miles in 1:49.17 and paid $12.40, $4.60 and $3.40 at 5-1 Baffert had been planning to run Life Is Good, who was the early favorite for the Kentucky Derby but has been odds. It was the 3-year-old colt’s dirt debut; he won his fi rst two starts on turf for trainer John Sadler. sidelined by injury. “There’s a lot of different ways to hunt and I chose to lay in the weeds,” Sadler said. “We started this horse off on Rock Your World earned 100 qualifying points for the Kentucky Derby and moved into sixth on the leaderboard. turf. It’s a nice way to kind of develop a horse a little bit. Everybody’s got a different plan. This is my plan this year The top 20 earn spots in the May 1 race. and it worked, so I look smart for about an hour. See me tomorrow.” “If you want to go to the Derby you’ve got to get the points, so this is the time to take a shot in your own back- Medina Spirit returned $2.80 and $2.20. Dream Shake was another 2-1/4 lengths back in third and paid $2.80 to yard,” Sadler said. “You know if you ran 1-2, you’d have enough points to get in.” Rock Your World ran on the lead most of the way in front of limited Burroughs out fans, who created the kind of noise that had been missing at Santa Anita for a year because of the coronavi- Dake off to rus pandemic. Medina Spirit moved into second approaching the fi nal turn, but couldn’t threaten the lead- ‘Tokyo Oly’ er in the stretch. A spirited Rispoli yelled as he FORT WORTH, Texas, April 4, crossed the fi nish line, and the Ital- (AP): Kyle Dake ended Jordan ian jockey later did a fl ying dis- Burroughs’ decade of dominance mount in the winner’s circle. He in American wrestling, making the earned his fi rst Grade 1 dirt victory Olympics for the fi rst time with a sweep in the men’s freestyle 74-kil- in the US. ogram fi nals at the U.S. trials. Dake posted 3-0 and 3-2 de- HORSE RACING cisions over the 2012 Olympic gold medalist and four-time world champion The victory, worth $450,000, in- who became creased Rock Your World’s career the face of the earnings to $546,600. sport in this In other Kentucky Derby preps: country. As time ran Undefeated Essential Qual- out in their ity won the $800,000 Blue Grass second bout, Stakes by a neck at Keeneland. The Dake pat- gray colt, last year’s Breeders’ Cup ted a stunned Juvenile champion, held off Highly Burroughs on Motivated to earn 100 qualifying the shoulders points for the Derby. Ridden by Dake and chest and Luis Saez, Essential Quality ran put his arm 1-1/8 miles in 1:48.50 and paid $3 around his neck. Kyle Snyder will defend his to win. Rombauer was third. gold medal at 97 kilograms in At New York’s Aqueduct, 72-1 men’s freestyle after 10-0 and 5-1 longshot Bourbonic staged a furi- decisions over Kollin Moore. As ous rally on the outside to edge a 20-year-old in 2016, Snyder be- 15-1 stablemate Dynamic One came the youngest American wres- by a head in the $750,000 Wood tler to win Olympic gold. Memorial. Both colts are trained Helen Maroulis, the fi rst Ameri- by Todd Pletcher, whose 55 Ken- can woman to win gold in wres- tucky Derby starters are a record. tling, made a second straight Olympics with a hard-earned win Bourbonic ran 1 1/8 miles in over Jenna Burkert at 57 kilo- In a photo provided by Benoit Photo, Going Global and jockey Flavien Prat, (outside) hold off Closing Remarks, with Umberto Rispoli, to win the Grade III, 1:54.49 to earn 100 Derby quali- grams. They split the fi rst two $100,000 Providencia Stakes horse race, on April 3, at Santa Anita in Arcadia, California. (AP) fying points. bouts and Maroulis got a quick pin in the third. Five-time world champion Ade- NHL Results/Standings WRESTLING WASHINGTON, April 4, (AP): Results Gambrell scores, Sharks beat line Gray beat 17-year-old Kylie and standings from the NHL games Welker at 76 kilograms and will be on Saturday. Tampa Bay 2 Detroit 1 in her second straight Olympics. Boston 7 Pittsburgh 5 Welker made a surprising run to Nashville 3 Chicago 0 the fi nals as the 14th-seeded wres- Dallas 3 Carolina 2 tler in the challenge tournament. Florida 5 Columbus 2 NY Islanders 3 Philadelphia SO 2 Kings for 4th straight victory Burroughs, 32, had represented Buffalo 3 NY Rangers SO 2 the U.S. at the world champion- Ottawa 6 Montreal 3 ships or Olympics every year since Minnesota 2 Vegas 1 Colorado 2 St Louis 1 2011. San Jose 3 Los Angeles 2 Marchand shines as Bruins top Penguins 7-5 Burroughs gave no indication he East Division planned to retire. GP W L OT Pts GF GA Dake was in control throughout Washington 37 24 9 4 52 127 113 LOS ANGELES, April NY Islanders 38 24 10 4 52 117 90 both matches. When Burroughs Pittsburgh 38 24 12 2 50 126 102 4, (AP): Dylan Gambrell took a shot in the fi rst bout, Dake Boston 34 19 10 5 43 96 86 denied him and scored a takedown Philadelphia 36 17 14 5 39 109 132 scored in the third period, of his own. Dake led 3-0 in the NY Rangers 37 17 15 5 39 117 99 and the San Jose Sharks New Jersey 35 13 16 6 32 84 108 second period of the second bout Buffalo 37 8 23 6 22 82 128 beat the Los Angeles Kings before being penalized a point for Central Division passivity and Burroughs scored on GP W L OT Pts GF GA 3-2 for their fourth straight a late force-out. Tampa Bay 37 26 9 2 54 129 88 victory. Burroughs had been 7-1 against Florida 38 25 9 4 54 127 103 Carolina 36 24 9 3 51 119 92 Kevin Labanc and Evander Dake, beating him in best-of-three Nashville 39 20 18 1 41 99 113 Kane each had a goal and an assist fi nals in the U.S. world trials in Chicago 39 17 17 5 39 109 122 for the Sharks, who have won six 2013, ‘15 and ’17. Dake had won Dallas 35 13 12 10 36 98 94 of eight overall to climb back into the fi rst bout in the 2017 world tri- Columbus 39 14 17 8 36 98 126 Detroit 39 12 22 5 29 83 124 playoff contention. als before Burroughs came back to West Division earn the spot on the American team. San Jose goaltender Martin Jones GP W L OT Pts GF GA stopped 35 shots after he made 30 saves Dake moved up to 79 kilograms Colorado 37 25 8 4 54 132 83 Vegas 36 24 10 2 50 113 84 in Friday night’s 3-0 win at Los Ange- to win world championships in 2018 les. and ‘19, but Saturday marked the Minnesota 36 23 11 2 48 104 89 Arizona 37 17 15 5 39 99 114 Dustin Brown and Trevor Moore biggest breakthrough of his career. St Louis 37 16 15 6 38 103 118 scored for the Kings, who have lost fi ve Gable Steveson, co-winner of San Jose 37 17 16 4 38 105 122 Los Angeles 36 14 16 6 34 98 102 of six. Jonathan Quick made 20 saves. the 2021 Dan Hodge Trophy as Bruins 7, Penguins 5 the outstanding college wrestler, Anaheim 38 11 21 6 28 85 127 North Division In Boston, Brad Marchand scored will go to the Olympics for the GP W L OT Pts GF GA two of his three goals during Boston’s fi rst time after outscoring two- Toronto 37 24 10 3 51 121 93 fi ve-goal second period, and the Bruins time world bronze medalist Nick Edmonton 38 23 14 1 47 125 109 rebounded from a lackluster effort. Gwiazdowski a combined 20-4 at Winnipeg 38 22 13 3 47 121 104 Montreal 34 16 9 9 41 111 94 David Pastrnak had two goals and 125 kilograms in men’s freestyle. Vancouver 37 16 18 3 35 100 120 an assist for Boston, which lost 4-1 to With the crowd chanting “Back- Calgary 38 16 19 3 35 98 115 Pittsburgh on Thursday night. David fl ip! Backfl ip!,” Steveson exited Ottawa 38 13 21 4 30 101 142 Krejci added a goal and an assist, and the mat with a handspring and Note: Two points for a win one point for overtime loss. The top four teams Patrice Bergeron also scored. backfl ip just as he did two weeks in each division will qualify for play- Sidney Crosby and Jake Guentzel ago when he won the NCAA heav- offs under this season’s temporary San Jose Sharks center Tomas Hertl (right), tries to get a shot past Los Angeles Kings goaltender Jonathan Quick, yweight title for Minnesota. realignment. (left), as center Gabriel Vilardi defends during the fi rst period of an NHL hockey game, on April 3, in Los Angeles. (AP) ICE HOCKEY for Vegas. Marc-Andre Fleury made 25 for the fi rst time since the opening week The Blackhawks lost for the fourth saves. of the season. time in fi ve games. Kevin Lankinen San Diego’s 39-game run snap each had a goal and two assists for the Avalanche 2, Blues 1 Andrew Cogliano and Jamie Benn made 18 saves. Penguins. Mark Jankowski had a goal In Denver, Cale Makar scored with also scored for Dallas, which won 4-1 Sabres 3, Rangers 2, SO and an assist, and Jared McCann and 40 seconds left to lift the Avalanche to at Nashville on Thursday night. Mark In Buffalo, N.Y., Victor Olofsson Cody Ceci also scored. Pysyk recorded his fi rst two assists of tied the game with 3:41 left in the third Austin Peay knocks off unbeaten Casey DeSmith had 21 saves for their fourth consecutive victory. Nathan MacKinnon also scored and the season, and Jake Oettinger made 41 period, and Buffalo’s Tage Thompson Pittsburgh, which had won fi ve in a saves. scored the only goal in a shootout. row. Philipp Grubauer stopped 27 shots for Murray State with late fi eld goal Colorado. The Avalanche improved to The Stars last had a winning streak Thompson beat Rangers goalie Igor Wild 2, Golden Knights 1 when they won their fi rst four games of Shesterkin with a low snap shot in the CLARKSVILLE, Tenn, April 4, (AP): Jalen Staples stretched the Wildcats’ In Las Vegas, Joel Eriksson Ek 12-0-2 over their last 14 games. Ryan O’Reilly scored for St. Louis the year. second round of the tiebreaker. Buffalo Grant Paulette kicked a 33-yard fi eld lead to 28-10 late in the third quarter. snapped a tie in the third period and Islanders 3, Flyers 2, SO goalie Linus Ullmark denied Artemi goal with two seconds remaining as Aus- The Toreros pulled to 28-25 with 8:30 Cam Talbot made 27 saves, sending and Ville Husso had 32 saves. The Blues have dropped fi ve straight (0-4-1). In Uniondale, N.Y., Mathew Barzal Panarin, Mika Zibanejad and Kaapo tin Peay clipped previously undefeated remaining, but Caden Bonoffski kicked Minnesota to the win. scored in the shootout, and the Islanders Kakko. and 14th-ranked Murray State 34-31. a 27-yard fi eld goal with 2:25 left that The Wild became the fi rst team to The game appeared headed to over- continued their dominant play at home. Lightning 2, Red Wings 1 Paulette kicked two fi eld goals – his capped a 13-play drive. sweep a two-game series in Las Vegas time when Makar’s shot from the Barzal scored in the fourth round In Tampa, Florida, Andrei Vasilevs- fi rst attempts of the spring season. He Morehead St 35, Butler 14 this season. The Golden Knights (0-2- right point went through traffi c and by of the tiebreaker after Islanders goal- kiy made 25 stops, and Tampa Bay was 3-for-4 last fall. In Indianapolis, Mark Pappas threw 1) are mired in their fi rst three-game Husso. tender Ilya Sorokin denied Flyers cap- earned its sec- In those fi nal ticks, Murray State two touchdown passes and ran for an- skid of the season. Stars 3, Hurricanes 2 tain Claude Giroux’s chance to win ond straight win. wideout LaMartez Brooks, as he was other score to lead Morehead State to a Kirill Kaprizov also scored for Min- In Raleigh, N.C., Tanner Kero the game. After Barzal scored, Sorokin Vasilevskiy being tackled, 35-14 victory over Butler. nesota in the third. snapped a tie 2:52 into the third period, then stopped Jakub Voracek to seal the improved to attempted a Pappas completed 29 of 44 passes Tomas Nosek scored the lone goal and Dallas posted consecutive victories win. 12-0 in his ca- lateral to Ma- for 382 yards, and he threw a 26-yard Sorokin made 30 saves in 65 minutes reer against De- lik Honeycutt. touchdown pass to Thomas Campbell- of play and improved to 9-3-1 on the troit. Ross Col- Honeycutt raced Clay and a 24-yard score to BJ Byrd. season. ton and Brayden down the left Pappas’s 10-yard touchdown run mid- Panthers 5, Blue Jackets 2 Point scored for sideline to the In Sunrise, Florida, Alex Wennberg the Lightning. end zone while scored three times for his fi rst career hat Tampa Bay Austin Peay FOOTBALL trick, leading Florida to its season-high has won 17 con- players and fi fth straight win. Marchand secutive home coaches charged way through the third quarter stretched MacKenzie Weegar and Frank games against onto the fi eld in the Eagles’ lead to 28-7. Vatrano each had a goal and an assist the Red Wings and improved to 20-1- celebration as Paulette Issiah Aguero had a 1-yard TD run for the Panthers. Sergei Bobrovsky 1 in the last 22 meetings overall. The the referees had in early in the second quarter for More- stopped 44 shots. teams meet again Sunday. signaled Brooks was down by contact head State (2-3, 2-2 Pioneer Football Oliver Bjorkstrand and Zach We- Senators 6, Canadiens 3 before getting rid of the ball. League). Cameron Barrett returned an renski scored for Columbus. Elvis In Montreal, Evgenii Dadonov Davidson 31, San Diego 25 interception 75 yards into the end zone Merzlikins made 22 saves through two scored twice and Artem Anisimov had In San Diego, Tyler Phelps threw in the fourth. periods but was replaced by Joonas three assists, leading the Senators to the three touchdown passes to lead David- Weber St 19, S. Utah 16 Korpisalo, who stopped 12 shots in the victory. son to a 31-25 victory over San Diego, In Cedar City, Utah, Dontae McMil- third. Anton Forsberg fi nished with 35 ending the Toreros’ 39-game league lan ran 13 times for 138 yards and a Predators 3, Blackhawks 0 saves for Ottawa. winning streak. touchdown, and Weber State rallied for In Nashville,, Tenn., Juuse Saros Montreal entered the game riding San Diego (3-1, 2-1 Pioneer Football a 19-16 win over Southern Utah. made 41 saves, leading Nashville to the a three-game win streak sandwiched League) would have broken the Foot- McMillan’s fi rst carry came late in victory. around a nine-day hiatus due to COV- ball Championship Subdivision record the third quarter after starter Josh Davis Minnesota Wild defenseman Jared Spurgeon (46) skates around Vegas Eeli Tolvanen, Colton Sissons and ID-19 protocols. Ottawa had lost two with a win against Davidson (4-1, 3-0). left the game due to an apparent left leg Golden Knights left wing Max Pacioretty (67) during the second period of Luke Kunin scored for the Predators, straight, including a 4-1 decision Phelps’ 27-yard touchdown pass to injury. an NHL hockey game, on April 3, in Las Vegas. (AP) winners of seven of eight. against the Canadiens on Thursday. ARAB TIMES, MONDAY, APRIL 5, 2021 16

Bayern’s Eric Maxim Choupo-Moting, (left) vies for the ball with Leipzig’s Willi Orban during the German Bundesliga soccer match between RB Leipzig and Bayern Munich, in Leipzig, Germany. Bayern won 1-0 to extend their lead. (AP) Sports Latest sports scores at — http://sports.arabtimesonline.com

Real Sociedad players celebrate with the cup after winning the fi nal of the 2020 Copa del Rey, or King’s Cup, soccer match between Athletic Bilbao and Real Sociedad at Estadio de La Cartuja in Sevilla, Spain. (AP) Sociedad win Copa del Rey

Real Sociedad beat fi erce Basque scored the game’s only goal from The match had been postponed But with coronavirus still forcing del Rey twice previously in their times since they last won the tour- rivals Athletic Bilbao 1-0 in the de- the penalty spot in the 63rd minute since the end of last season in the strict limits on social gatherings in history, in 1909 and in 1987, their nament in 1984. layed fi nal of the 2020 Copa del after Iñigo Martínez fouled Portu hope that the coronavirus pandemic Spain, offi cials said it was impossi- last major trophy. Bilbao, however, will have anoth- Rey, giving the winners their fi rst Portugués. Mikel Merino set up would improve enough to allow fans ble for spectators to be allowed in Bilbao, whose 23 cup titles are er shot in just two weeks, when they title in more than three decades. the scoring chance with a perfectly to attend the highly anticipated clash at Seville’s La Cartuja Stadium. second to Barcelona’s record of play Barcelona in the 2021 edition of Spain striker Mikel Oyarzabal weighted pass for Portu. between the two regional rivals. Sociedad had only won the Copa 30, have now lost the cup fi nal four the Copa del Rey fi nal. (AP) Suggs hits winner as Zags edge UCLA

Baylor reaches title game Jazz set record for 3s in half INDIANAPOLIS, April 4, (AP): Jalen Suggs took the inbounds pass and saw Embiid scores 24 pts in return, 76ers beat T-wolves nothing but clear sailing. PHILADELPHIA, April 4, (AP): Joel scored a season-high 33 points to go Jalen Brunson scored 19 points 22 points, had four 3-pointers apiece in Three dribbles. Past the Embiid had 24 points and eight re- with 11 assists and seven rebounds, and and Boban Marjanovic posted his the fi rst as New York put it away early. half-court line. A little stut- bounds in his return to Philadelphia’s the Milwaukee Bucks overcame the third double-double of the season The Knicks stopped a three-game slide, lineup, and Tobias Harris scored 32 absence of Giannis Antetokounmpo to with 15 points and 12 rebounds. Tim returning to .500 at 25-25. ter-step. to lead the 76ers to a 122-113 victory beat the Sacramento Kings 129-128. Hardaway Jr had 16 points and Dorian RJ Barrett scored 14 points for New And straight into history. over the Minnesota Timberwolves on Brook Lopez had 26 points and Donte Finney-Smith added 11. York, and Immanuel Quickley had 12. The Gonzaga freshman banked Saturday night. DiVincenzo added 12 points, seven as- Russell Westbrook had 26 points Elfrid Payton and Taj Gibson added 11 in a shot at the buzzer from near Ben Simmons added 14 points, eight sists and a season-best 14 rebounds for and 14 rebounds as the Wizards posted apiece. the Final Four logo for a 93-90 rebounds and six assists for Philadel- Milwaukee. The Bucks have won three a season-low point total. Washington Jerami Grant scored 16 points for overtime win over UCLA on Sat- phia (34-15), which pulled even with straight following consecutive losses to has dropped three straight and 11 of 14 Detroit, and Hamidou Diallo had 14. urday night that vaulted the Bull- idle Brooklyn for the best record in the the Celtics, Knicks and Clippers. since the All-Star break. Pistons rookie Killian Hayes re- dogs to within one win of an unde- Eastern Conference. Trail Blazers 133, Thunder 85 Heat 115, Cavaliers 101 turned after missing 41 games with feated season and the national title. Embiid missed the previous 10 a hip injury. The No. 7 pick out of In Portland, Ore, CJ McCollum In Miami, Duncan Robinson scored France was scoreless in 20 minutes, Talk about a perfect fi nish! games due to a bone bruise in his left scored 20 points to lead eight Trail This thriller in the national semifi nal knee. The four-time All-Star and MVP grabbing fi ve rebounds and dishing out Blazers in double fi gures and Portland three assists. was the best game of the tournament, candidate entered averaging 29.9 routed the Oklahoma City Thunder BASKETBALL and, considering the stakes, it served points and 11.5 rebounds in 31 games 133-85. Pacers 139, Spurs 133 OT up possibly the best ending in the his- this season. Damian Lillard and Anfernee Si- 18 points on 6-for-9 shooting on 3-point- In San Antonio, Caris LeVert tory of March Madness — a kiss off Miami Heat guard Goran Dragic (7) Jazz s137, Magic 91 mons each added 16 points for the ers and the Miami Heat continued their scored 26 points and the short-handed the glass from near midcourt to keep a defends against Cleveland Cava- In Salt Lake City, Donovan Mitchell Blazers, who sent their starters to the home dominance over the Cleveland Indiana Pacers snapped a three-game perfect season alive. liers guard Matthew Dellavedova scored 22 points and the Utah Jazz set bench before Portland took a 104-59 Cavaliers with a 1105-101 victory . losing streak with a 139-133 overtime After the shot went in, Suggs ran (18) during the fi rst half of an NBA an NBA record for 3-pointers in a half lead into the fi nal quarter. Bam Adebayo fi nished with 18 victory over the San Antonio Spurs. to the mostly empty press row, jumped basketball game Saturday in Mi- in a 137-91 win over the short-handed Portland led by as many as 52 points points and 11 rebounds, Trevor Ariza Aaron Holiday, Myles Turner and up on the table, pumped his fi sts and ami. (AP) Orlando Magic on Saturday night, ex- and the fi nal margin was the largest scored 15 points and Jimmy Butler T.J. McConnell each had 18 points for let out a huge yell to the crowd of tending their franchise-best home win- ever for the team at the Moda Center. added 15 points and 11 assists as the Indiana. McConnell and Turner com- 8,000-or-so socially distanced fans. ning streak to 22. Heat won their 20th straight against bined for 11 points in overtime for the The refs checked to make sure he got Mavericks 109 , Wizards 87 Pacers, who were without Domantas The Jazz made 18 3-pointers in the In Washington, Luka Doncic scored the Cavaliers in Miami. the shot off before the buzzer sounded. fi rst half, setting an NBA record in a Sabonis, Malcolm Brogdon and Jer- He did, and the Bulldogs moved to 26 points and the Dallas Mavericks Knicks 125 , Pistons 81 emy Lamb. season where the Jazz are obliterat- beat the Washington Wizards 109-87 . In Detroit, Julius Randle scored 20 31-0 and into Monday night’s fi nal, ing all previous franchise long-range where they’ll play Baylor for the title. Doncic shot 12 of 24 and had eight of his 29 points in the fi rst quarter, and shooting marks. rebounds and six assists as Dallas has the New York Knicks pounded the De- Bucks 129 , Kings 128 won four straight and completed a troit Pistons 125-81. NBA Results/Standings BASKETBALL In Sacramento, Calif, Jrue Holiday fi ve-game roadtrip at 4-1. Randle and Reggie Bullock, who had

They are the fi rst team to bring an WASHINGTON, April 4, (AP): NBA re- undefeated record into the champion- Liverpool close in on Chelsea sults and standings on Saturday. ship game since Larry Bird and Indi- Dallas 109 Washington 87 ana State in 1979. Bird lost that game New York 125 Detroit 81 to Magic Johnson and Michigan State. Miami 115 Cleveland 101 It means Gonzaga could become the Philadelphia 122 Minnesota 113 fi rst team since the 1976 Indiana Hoo- Man City running away with title Utah 137 Orlando 91 Indiana 139 San Antonio OT 133 siers to go undefeated. Portland 133 Oklahoma City 85 Even without Suggs’ shot, it LEICESTER, England, April 4, (AP): Without all the inju- two bookings in the fi rst 29 minutes. Then Matheus Pereira Milwaukee 129 Sacramento 128 would’ve been hard to beat this game ries, perhaps Liverpool would not be surrendering the Pre- scored twice in two minutes in fi rst-half stoppage time to Eastern Conference for pure excitement — a welcome re- mier League title so easily to Manchester City. send West Brom into the lead. Atlantic Division lief in a tournament that has produced Liverpool’s 3-0 victory over Arsenal was a reminder of Pulisic came back out for the second half but walked off W L Pct GB mostly blowouts and duds, sort of like the quality that saw the champions still leading the standings the fi eld before play had started with an apparent leg injury. Philadelphia 34 15 .694 - Baylor’s 78-59 snoozer over Houston Gonzaga forward Corey Kispert in December before imploding. With the international break Callum Robinson extended West Brom’s advantage by Brooklyn 34 15 .694 - earlier in the evening. celebrates during the second half over, the runaway leaders started the Premier League title sweeping in a cross from Darnell Furlong in the 63rd minute. New York 25 25 .500 9-1/2 The nightcap featured 15 ties and run-in with a 2-0 victory over Leicester. Boston 24 25 .490 10 of a men’s Final Four NCAA col- Mbaye Diagne sent Sam Allardyce’s visitors, who are next- Toronto 19 30 .388 15 19 lead changes and an 11th-seeded lege basketball tournament semi- It means the win at the Emirates Stadium, secured by Di- from-last in the standings, into an improbable 4-1 lead. Southeast Division UCLA team that simply wouldn’t give fi nal game against UCLA at Lucas ogo Jota’s double and Mohamed Salah’s strike, only pushed Although Mason Mount tapped in from close range, the W L Pct GB in. Even though they lost, the Bruins Oil Stadium in Indianapolis. (AP) Liverpool up to fi fth place. defi cit wasn’t reduced for long as Robinson clipped the ball Charlotte 25 23 .521 - snapped a streak of 27 straight double- Catching Chelsea to qualify for the Champions League plagued basketball program at Baylor, over goalkeeper Edouard Mendy to compete the win. Miami 26 24 .520 - digit wins by Few’s juggernaut. became more attainable in the fi nal eight games of the sea- After not scoring in his opening 39 league games for Man- Atlanta 25 24 .510 -1/2 UCLA (22-10) was the fi rst team to explaining to his father that there was son thanks to Thomas Tuchel’s 14-match unbeaten start as Washington 17 31 .354 8 nowhere for the Bears to go but up. chester City, backup left back Benjamin Mendy has now Orlando 17 32 .347 8-1/2 lead Gonzaga in the second half over scored twice in his last six as Pep Guardiola’s side closes in fi ve games of tournament play and, in Now, they’re one win away from Central Division the top. SOCCER on a third title in four seasons. The Frenchman curled in a W L Pct GB fact, had a chance to win at the end of low shot in the 58th minute. regulation. Led by Jared Butler and the rest of Milwaukee 32 17 .653 - A defense-splitting throughball from Kevin De Bruyne Indiana 22 26 .458 9-1/2 With the game tied at 81, Johnny Ju- their brilliant backcourt, a defense that manager surprisingly ending. Chelsea’s 5-2 loss to relega- refused to give Houston an inch and a created City’s second. Gabriel Jesus passed to Raheem Ster- Chicago 19 28 .404 12 zang was taking it hard to the hoop in tion-threatened West Bromwich Albion enabled Liverpool Cleveland 17 32 .347 15 the fi nal seconds, when Zags forward coach intent on making the most of his to close the gap on fourth to two points. ling, who returned the ball for the forward to fi nish rather than shooting himself. Detroit 14 35 .286 18 Drew Timme, playing with four fouls, fi rst trip to the Final Four, the Bears First place is far out of sight with Liverpool 25 points be- Western Conference stepped into the paint, planted his feet roared to a 78-59 victory Saturday hind City after winning the title by 18 points last season. Southwest Division and took a charge. night in their fi rst appearance in the While Arsenal seem set for a midtable fi nish, Liverpool W L Pct GB Juzang had 29 points for the Bruins, NCAA Tournament semifi nals in 71 can look up again. Dallas 27 21 .563 - including a 15-footer with 1:27 left in long years. And while Trent Alexander-Arnold was overlooked for San Antonio 24 23 .511 2-1/2 regulation that helped them claw back Butler scored all 17 of his points in the recent England World Cup qualifi ers, he provided a re- Memphis 23 23 .500 3 the fi rst half, but just about everyone New Orleans 21 27 .438 6 from seven down to tie it at 79. minder of his enduring value to Liverpool at least. Houston 13 35 .271 14 Jamie Jaquez Jr. was also unin- from Baylor (27-2) got into the act, It was the right back’s cross that substitute Diogo Jota Northwest Division timidated by Gonzaga. He handled with fi ve players scoring in double fi g- headed past Arsenal goalkeeper Bernd Leno in the 64th W L Pct GB Timme’s inside pressure all night, ures. They doubled up Houston after minute at the Emirates Stadium. After Mohamed Salah Utah 38 11 .776 - scoring 19 points. Jaquez’s two free 10 minutes, built a 45-20 lead by half- played the ball through Leno’s legs for the second, Jota Denver 30 18 .625 7-1/2 throws tied it at 81 with 43 seconds time and coasted the rest of the way in struck again in the 82nd minute. Portland 30 19 .612 8 left. the fi rst Final Four showdown between Should Liverpool fi nd a way into fourth, the six-time Eu- Oklahoma City 20 29 .408 18 It looked like it would be Timme’s schools from the Lone Star State. ropean champions won’t be relying on winning the Cham- Minnesota 12 38 .240 26-1/2 Marcus Sasser had 20 points and Pacifi c Division overtime. He dipped and ducked for pions League to qualify for next season’s competition. Real W L Pct GB Gonzaga’s fi rst six points of the extra Quentin Grimes scored 13 for the cold- Madrid await in the quarterfi nals next week. Phoenix 34 14 .708 - session and an 87-83 lead that felt like shooting Cougars (28-4), whose dream Chelsea lost to West Brom at Stamford Bridge for the fi rst Manchester City’s Gabriel Jesus, (left), and challenge LA Clippers 32 18 .640 3 breathing room in this one. path to their fi rst Final Four since 1984 time since 1978 after they had all started so well with Chris- for the ball Leicester’s Wesley Fofana during the Eng- LA Lakers 31 18 .633 3-1/2 Nearly two decades ago, Scott Drew — they faced teams seeded 15th, 10th, tian Pulisic ending his four-month goal drought. lish Premier League soccer match between Leicester Golden State 23 26 .469 11-1/2 decided to leave his comfort zone 11th and 12th along the way — ended The roots of Chelsea’s collapse came when defender City and Manchester City at the King Power Stadium in Sacramento 22 28 .440 13 at tiny Valparaiso for the scandal- with a whimper. Thiago Silva’s return from injury ended after he received Leicester, England. (AP)

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