Al-Seyassah’: We Observe the Scene and Give One Chance After Another POSITIVE ENTITLEMENTS WILL CEMENT SECURITY, STABILITY, REVERENCE for STATE

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YOUR TRUST IN MY HANDS ... WILL NOT BE BETRAYED Amir to ‘Al-Seyassah’: We observe the scene and give one chance after another POSITIVE ENTITLEMENTS WILL CEMENT SECURITY, STABILITY, REVERENCE FOR STATE

System based on the Constitution

By Saud Al-Samaka and at a defi ning moment in the march of Kuwait and the region. Its content serves as a road-map and a compass that Al-Seyassah Staff the nation needs to navigate towards the path of safety. The interview began with me asking His Highness the Amir about those who are trying to aggravate and deliberately KUWAIT CITY, June 22: Two days ago I had the honor of meeting and interviewing tamper with the state system and its practices, them unfortunately being the members of the National Assembly. His Highness the Amir of Kuwait Sheikh Nawaf Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah. I hereby His Highness the Amir replied, “We are observing the scene carefully and deliberately, and we give one chance after another... But when it comes to the point of harming Kuwait and its people, we stand fi rm and ask them to review their convey the details of the interview to the esteemed readers, but within the limits ap- stances. proved by the Council of Ministers’ General Secretariat (CMGS). “We remind them that the trust of Kuwait and its people is in my hands. I will never allow anyone to violate or offend This is the fi rst interview of His Highness the Amir to a Kuwaiti newspaper. It comes at a decisive and timely period, that trust. We also affi rm to them that we have measures and options that keep everyone in check. “We believe in our democratic system and we are proud of it. We will not allow anyone to tamper with this system, as it is based on a clear constitution, the articles of which Opinion clearly outline the rights and duties through authorities that cooperate with each other. In case of disagreement, there is a Constitutional Court responsible for interpreting such articles of the subject of the dispute, and everyone must respect its provisions. From Andalusian kings to Iraq, “Kuwait and its people represent the red line that I will not allow anyone to cross. Our choice is positive democ- this is how monarchs have fallen racy that stems from the Constitution. We will not allow it to be used as a tampering tool.” Regarding the current media situation and the growing role of the media, His Highness the Amir said, “I am happy By Ahmed Al-Jarallah After her death, disputes erupted that we have media elements who write based on their con- Editor-in-Chief, the Arab Times on the throne again. Each of the in- science that is keen about the wellbeing of Kuwait and its volved parties took an ally either EXISTENCE of feuds among the people. There is no harm in criticism that stems from a sin- from inside or outside the state. cere and impartial patriotic spirit.” members of the ruling family is a Thus, Charles I came to power clear indication that the state has His Highness the Amir reiterated the fact that the po- while being weak and shackled litical leadership is carefully observing the political scene. lost its direction. Unless a savior by his alliances. It resulted in the rescues it from further degen- He said, “We have positive entitlements that Kuwait will parliamentarian revolution led witness for its advancement at all levels, especially those eration, the state will continue to by Oliver Cromwell who led the crack under the weight of feuds related to security, stability and the reverence of the state.” overthrow of the monarchy by ex- In conclusion, I extended my gratitude and appreciation among the members of the ruling ecuting the king in 1649. family. to His Highness the Amir for his warm welcome, and for However, it did not take long for his patience during the interview. This was what happened with people to realize that the republi- the Andalusian Arab kingdoms, cans are not revolutionaries seek- and even in the Arabian Peninsula ing to achieve social justice and more than one hundred years ago. respect for people’s rights; rather, Confl icts between the ruling fami- they covet the wealth of the state Newswatch lies led to the downfall of king- at the expense of entrenching the doms and emirates. They were misery of the poor. brought to an end by a historic In this regard, going back to his- GENEVA: Kuwait expressed on Tuesday before the Unit- leader, King Abdulaziz bin Saud, tory is a necessity, because those ed Nations Human Rights Council (UNHRC), its concern who established this great king- who do not learn from the experi- of the spreading phenomenon of Islamophobia, hatred dom that continues on the path of ences of others may end up drown- speech, and discrimination. stability and development even to ing in their illusions. The prowl- This came during a speech given by Kuwait’s Perma- this day. ers, enemies and opportunists of nent Envoy to the United Nations and international or- In Kuwait at the end of the 19th all kinds cover their speech with ganizations in Geneva Ambassador Jamal Al-Ghunaim, century, Sheikh Mubarak Al-Ka- before the UNHRC 47th session held between June 21 glamorous slogans that tickle peo- and July 13 in Geneva, Switzerland. beer was able to lay the founda- ple’s feelings. However, their only tions of an independent emirate, The session is held via videoconference, as part of an concern is to achieve their objec- interactive dialogue with United Nations High Commis- despite the great powers’ pressure tives at the expense of innocent sioner for Human Rights, Michelle Bachelet. (KUNA) on it at that time, thanks to his de- people irrespective of the cost. ❑ ❑ ❑ cision to unify the ruling family. The weakness of the Iraqi ruling Prior to that, the Egypt of Mu- HH the Amir Sheikh Nawaf Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah. WASHINGTON: Biden administration offi cials are insist- family had led to its fall into the Iran hammad Ali Pasha - the pioneer abyss of murder, blood and drudg- ing that the election of a hard-liner as ’s president of modernity in that great coun- won’t affect prospects for reviving the faltering 2015 nu- ery, because the members of the clear deal with Tehran. But there are already signs that try - had degenerated due to the ruling house opened doors to con- Expenditure at $76bn their goal of locking in a deal just got tougher. confl icts that broke out among his fl icts. Narrow-minded settlements Optimism that a deal was imminent faded as the latest grandchildren during the reign of led to the existence of a weak king talks ended Sunday without tangible indications of sig- King Farouk, which led it to its and a weaker crown prince, and he nifi cant progress. And on Monday, in his fi rst public com- collapse. The same happened in entrusted the ruling order to the MPs nod to State budget ments since the vote, incoming Iranian President Ebra- Libya. Prime Minister Nouri Al-Saeed. him Raisi rejected a key Biden goal of expanding on the The English experience is per- nuclear deal if negotiators are able to salvage the old one. Evidently, this prime minister, By Saeed Mahmoud Saleh At the same time, Raisi is likely to raise Iran’s demands haps more evident in this regard. throughout his existence in power, Between the 16th and 17th centu- Arab Times Staff and Agencies for sanctions relief in return for Iranian compliance with played over the contradictions in the deal, as he himself is already subject to US human ries, England witnessed a wave of order to be the one who has the fi - KUWAIT CITY, June 22: Kuwait’s parlia- Premier chairs rights penalties. (AP) unrest due to the disputes within nal say in managing the country. ment approved during a session on Tuesday ❑ ❑ ❑ the ruling house that led to the ex- It led the state to live through dec- the 2021-2022 state budget, with a projected ecution of Queen Mary in 1558. ades of repression, killing, abuse, expenditure of USD 76 billion for the fiscal Cabinet session MANAMA: Bahrain’s Civil Aviation Authority on Tues- However, after her sister Elizabeth year that started on April 1, the country’s fi- day declared updating entry regulations via Bahrain Inter- deterioration of economic and liv- national Airport as of June 25 (Friday). I ascended to the throne, she im- ing standards, corruption, and the nance minister said. KUWAIT CITY, June 22, (KUNA): The Ku- mediately embarked on uniting The authority said in a statement that all incoming pas- looting of tens of billions of dol- The approval of the 2021-2022 state bud- waiti Cabinet on Monday held its weekly ses- sengers, vaccinated or not and aged six and above, must the family, and putting down the lars. get, which shows an estimated revenue of sion at Seif Palace, under the chairmanship of present an accredited PCR test certifi cate bearing the opposition movements that were USD 36 billion is a “monumental event” with His Highness the Prime Minister Sheikh Sa- Email: [email protected] Code QR before ascending to the plane — 38 hours from empowered by some princes. She major implications for citizens and the na- bah Khaled Al-Hamad Al-Sabah. the departure time from the “red zone” countries and 72 dedicated herself to her country, Follow me on: tional economy, Khalifa Hamada was cited as At the beginning, the Cabinet listened to hours from countries that are not listed in this category. choosing not to get married and saying in a statement. a presentation made by representative of His According to the updated regulations, incoming pas- thus earning the title “The Virgin Some 71.6 percent of expenditure is allo- Highness the Amir Sheikh Nawaf Al-Ahmad sengers must be subjected to PCR tests against covid-19 Queen”, and ended up ruling for cated for job support, the minister revealed, Al-Jaber Al-Sabah, Minister of Oil and Min- upon arrival from all countries, along with maintaining 49 years. [email protected] while some 15 percent of total spending ister of Higher Education Mohammad Al- the test on the 10th day after arrival. Costs of the tests can would go towards development projects, Fares, on the outcomes of his partaking in be paid via the application “aware society” in addition to chief among them infrastructure and residen- the second Islamic summit for sciences and payment with banking and visa cards. (KUNA) tial ones. technology last Wednesday. ❑ ❑ ❑ MoH launches 4th mobile vac phase The budget shows a marked increase in Foreign Minister and Minister of State for RABAT: Moroccan authorities declared Tuesday the arrest workers’ compensation, worth USD 630 mil- Cabinet Affairs Sheikh Dr. Ahmad Nasser of a terrorist cell, composed of four personnel, allied with lion, which would give way to an increase in Al-Mohammad Al-Sabah made a presenta- the so-called Islamic State (IS) and active in Marrakesh. healthcare and education spending, respec- tion on the results of his participation in the The general directorate for national security mentioned in 1,962 new COVID cases reported tively, added the minister. consultative meeting of Arab foreign minis- a statement that “search operations resulted in concrete data On a “timely” approval of the state budget, ters and the Arab League ministerial coun- about the terrorist projects arranged by the leader of the cell, KUWAIT CITY, June 22, (KUNA): distancing, as well as avoid gather- which was supported by 32 out of 63 law- cil’s gathering in its extraordinary session who was planning on executing international terrorist groups’ Kuwait’s Ministry of Health on Tues- ings. makers, he said the measure was needed to on the developments of the Grand Ethiopian agendas by attacking targets and projects in Morocco.” keep development projects afloat, thanking Renaissance Dam (GERD) held in Doha last The statement said the cell was also planning to target day said that 1,962 people have tested It further urged the public to follow vital institutions and security buildings, and assassination positive for the novel coronavirus up official accounts of the ministry parliament for its contributions towards the Tuesday. endeavor. The minister briefed the Cabinet on the attempts. (KUNA) (COVID-19) over the past 24 hours, and the state’s bodies to be briefed ❑ ❑ ❑ Out of 63 legislators present at the session; outcomes of his participation in the GCC for- taking the caseload to 342,929. on guidelines and recommendations 32 voted in favor of the bill, 30 abstained and The number of total recoveries rose in order to control the spread of the eign ministers’ meeting held in Riyadh last CAIRO: Up to 40 people were injured in a crash of a tractor one rejected. This voting covered the budgets Wednesday on backing the GCC path in all and a train carriage at Alexandria railway station west of to 322,897 after confirming 1,604 in virus. of 16 independent institutions and 20 subsid- fields and the topics relating to the current de- Cairo on Tuesday, the health ministry spokesperson said. the same period, the Ministry said in a The Kuwaiti Ministry of Health iaries. velopments in the region. Dr. Khaled Mujahed said in a statement that the in- statement on Twitter. announced on Monday launch of the The session witnessed a heated scenario He also informed the Cabinet about the jured, including some suffering from bone fracture, were The death toll from the virus fourth phase of mobile vaccinations due to the opposing views of the government outcomes of his participation in the Antalya admitted at the nearest hospitals. climbed to 1,888 after registering 11 for consumer services personnel, and several MPs who consider the approval of Diplomatic Forum in Turkey held last Friday Up to 27 mobile ambulances raced to the scene of the mortalities in the corresponding pe- workers of fuel stations, security com- the budget as the only way to pay for salaries, and Saturday. accident to aid the injured. (KUNA) riod, it stated. panies, guards and workers in the pub- continue the provision of various services and Meanwhile, Minister of Health Sheikh Dr. ❑ ❑ ❑ It noted that 18,144 patients are hos- lic transportation. finance development enterprises. Basel Al-Sabah briefed the Cabinet on the lat- ROME: The United Nations World Food Programme pitalized, in addition to 238 cases at Dr. Dina Al-Bbaib, the director of On the other hand, 31 MPs believe that est coronavirus developments, saying that the (WFP) warned on Tuesday that famine could become a intensive care units. the central department for primary approval of the KD23. 5 billion budget is a country is witnessing a noticeable instability reality for millions of people around the world, without Medical swabs conducted in 24 health care and head of the mobile vac- ‘carte blanche’ for His Highness the Prime over the last period due to growing numbers urgent funding to stave off a catastrophe, and without ac- Minister Sheikh Sabah Al-Khaled who pro- of coronavirus cases and deaths, Sheikh Ah- cess to families cut-off by confl ict. hours hit 13,869, bringing the total to cination unit, said in a statement that tected himself from the grilling motions. mad Nasser Al-Mohammad said after the “I want to emphasize just how bad it is out there. To- 2.864 million, it stated, indicating that the ministry has also begun adminster- Before the session, a number of MPs oc- Cabinet’s meeting. day, 41 million people are literally knocking on famine’s the ratio between recoveries to swabs ing the first jab to house workers. cupied the seats allocated for the ministers. Dr. Bassel noted that the vaccination door. The price tag to reach them is about USD six bil- is 14.15 percent today. Moreover, the ministry had launched Nevertheless, Minister of State for National would lead to the herd immunity, affirming lion. We need funding and we need it now,” said WFP’s The ministry renewed its call for the registration platform for breast- Assembly Affairs Mubarak Al-Harees at- the efficacy and effectiveness of the vaccines Executive Director David Beasley addressing WFP’s Ex- both citizens and residents to abide feeding mothers, the pregant and other tended the session as the government’s rep- accredited in Kuwait, Sheikh Ahmad Nasser ecutive Board. (KUNA) by health precautions and physical females desiring to be vaccinated. resentative. added. ARAB TIMES, WEDNESDAY, JUNE 23, 2021 2

Weather Expected weather for the next light to moderate north westerly Failaka Island - - Prayer Timings 24 hours: wind with speeds of 12-35 km/h. Salmiyah 42 34 Fajr ...... 03:14 Asr ...... 15:24 By Day: Very hot with moder- Station Max Exp Min Rec Ahmadi 42 32 Sunrise .. 04:49 Maghrib .. 18:51 ate to fresh north westerly wind Kuwait City 47 35 Nuwaisib 49 28 Zohr ...... 11:50 Isha ...... 20:23 with speeds of 20-55 km/h with a Kuwait Airport 49 29 Wafra 47 27 chance for rising dust. Abdaly 48 28 Salmy 47 29 By Night: Hot to rather hot with Jahra 49 32 Jal Aliyah 48 30

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

Humansoft Holding jumps 52 ﬁ ls, Zain slips Kuwait heads north, Premier Market breaches 7K mark

By John Mathews Arab Times Staff ▼ UUS$/KDS$/KD 0.30100/100.30100/10 KUWAIT CITY, June 22: Kuwait stocks headed north on ▼ Euro/KD 0.3587 Tuesday even as the winning streak rolled on to the 16th day. The Main Market climbed 26.95 points to 6445.80 pts paced ■ Yen/KD 0.0027 by heavyweights and some of the mid-caps. The Premier Market meanwhile breached the 7000 points ■ British £/KD 0.4192 market with a 34.6 points jump to 7006 pts while Main Mar- ket gained 9 points. The BK Main 50 rallied 40.53 points ▼ Indian Rs/KD 0.0040 to 5620.93 pts. The volume turnover meanwhile rebounded past the 400 million mark. Over 470 million shares changed ■ Philippines Peso/KD 0.0062 hands – a 30 pct surge from the day before. The sectors closed mixed. Real Estate outshone the rest with 1.35 percent gain whereas Technology dipped 5.98 ▲ FTSE +18.01 pts at 18:50 June 22 percent, the worst performer of the day. Volume wise, Fi- nancial Services continued to top with 223 million share and the sector was also ahead in value with KD 25.57 million. ▲ Nikkei +873.20 pts at closing June 22 Among the standout performers, sector bellwether Na- tional Bank of Kuwait rose 3 fi ls to 847 fi ls on back of 3.2 ▼ Gold million shares taking the month’s gains to 17 fi ls while Gulf 1779.10 per oz (London) Bank scaled 4 fi ls after pushing 10.3 million shares. Bou- byan Bank too added 4 fi ls before settling at 720 fi ls and ▲ NYMEX crude $73.29 per barrel Humansoft Holding soared 52 fi ls. Kuwait Investment Co paced 9 fi ls after moving 9.7 million shares. ▲ Brent crude $74.97 per barrel Zain slipped 4 fi ls to 582 fi ls with a volume of 5.5 million whereas Ooredoo took in 1 fi l. stc eased 1 fi l to 844 fi ls LIBOR rate 0.13788% and logistics major Agility sprinted 25 fi ls to 967 fi ls extend- ing last session’s gains. KIPCO was unchanged at 163 fi ls and Mabanee Co too did not budge from its earlier close of KUNA photo respectively. National Assembly Speaker Marzouq Al-Ghanim in talks with the Ambassador of the European Union to Kuwait. 734 fi ls. National Investment Co inched 1 fi l higher to 172 fi ls National Industries Group climbed 6 fi ls to 232 fi ls on whereas Al Imtiaz Investment tripped 1 fi l. International Fi- back of 20.9 million shares and Gulf Cable paced 8 fi ls. Bou- nancial Advisors gained 6 fi ls on back of 23.3 million shares Speaker’s upcoming Brussels trip discussed byan Petrochemical Co gained 12 fi ls whereas Al Qurain and Arzan Financial Group dialed up 2 fi ls. Kuwait Finan- Petrochemical Co gave up 3 fi ls before settling at 388 fi ls. cial Centre (Markaz) climbed 7 fi ls to 150 fi ls. National Assembly Speaker Mar- discussed the Al-Ghanim’s upcom- work reported. Jazeera Airways continued to stall for second day in a row Noor Financial Investment Co rose 6 fi ls to 229 fi ls zouq Al-Ghanim received at his of- ing visit to Belgium capital, Brus- Al-Ghanim’s meeting with the and ALAFCO to did not budge from its earlier close of 229 whereas Tamdeen Investment erased 10 fi ls. Bayan Invest- fi ce Monday the Ambassador of the sels, at the end of this month where top European lawmaker would fo- fi ls. Advanced Technology Co slid 48 fi ls to 481 fi ls. ment ticked 0.5 fi l higher to 55.3 fi ls while Osoul Investment European Union to Kuwait Cristian he is expected to meet with the cus on issues of mutual concern The market opened fi rm and headed north in early trade. and KAMCO added 3 fi ls each. KFIC took in 2.4 fi ls and Tudor. President of the European Union mainly the situation in Palestine. The main index continued to climb amid a bout of broad Gulf Investment House paced 10 fi ls on back of 5.6 million During the meeting, both sides David Sassoli, Dustoor news net- (KUNA) buying and scaled the day’s highest level of 6451 points shares. past the mid-session. It see sawed narrowly thereafter before Kuwait Cement Co fell 2 fi ls to 253 fi ls and Kuwait Port- closing with modest gains. land Cement was down 7 fi ls at 868 fi ls. Metal and Re- Top gainer of the day, Tamdeen Real Estate Co sprinted cycling Co shed 8 fi ls with thin trading whereas Kuwait All eligible for 2nd dose of ‘Astra’ vaccinated 6.42 pct to 282 fi ls while Al Tijaria climbed 5.77 percent to Foundry Co scaled 12 fi ls to close at 389 fi ls. HEISC rose stand next. Advanced Technology Co skidded 9 percent, the 5 fi ls to 520 fi ls whereas ACICO Industries clipped 2 fi ls. By Marwa Al-Bahrawi vaccinate workers in fuel companies who are scattered steepest decliner of the day and NCCI topped the volume NAPESCO dropped 9 fi ls to 905 fi ls while United Pro- Al-Seyassah Staff over all the regions of Kuwait, as well those working for with 48.7 million. jects Co and YIACO Medical gave up 4 fi ls each. Sultan security and guard companies and workers in consumer Mirroring the day’s gains, the winners outnumbered the Centre was up 5 fi ls at 216 fi ls while Burgan Company For KUWAIT CITY, June 22: The Ministry of Health has companies. losers. 65 stocks advanced whereas 57 closed lower. Of the Well Drilling added 4 fi ls. Combined Group Contracting Co fi nished vaccinating all those who were eligible to re- She indicated the start of vaccinating pregnant and lac- 140 counters active on Tuesday, 18 closed fl at. 14,611 deals dialed up 2 fi ls. Mezzan Holding was fl at at 651 fi ls. ceive the second dose of the ‘AstraZeneca Oxford’ vac- tating women, in addition to the start of giving the fi rst worth KD 79.69 million were transacted during the session. Kuwait and Gulf Links Transport Co inched 0.9 fi l higher cine while at the same time announcing the launch of the dose to domestic workers in parallel with other groups in In the banking sector, Kuwait Finance House was un- to 57.4 fi ls whereas Kuwait National Cinema Co shed 19 fourth phase of the mobile vaccination units against the society. She said during the next phase all people work- changed at 777 fi ls whereas Kuwait International Bank and fi ls. Educational Holding Co slipped 8 fi ls to 712 fi ls and Covid-19 pandemic. ing in restaurants and involved in consumer services will Burgan Bank took in 2 fi ls each to close at 226 fi ls and 230 Independent Petroleum Group skidded 30 fi ls. Integrated The Director of the Central Department for Primary be vaccinated. fi ls respectively. Holding Co gave up 5 fi ls. Health Care at the Ministry of Health, Dr. Dina Al-Dhu- Meanwhile, informed sources told the Al-Seyassah dai- Warba Bank added 2 fi ls on back of 4.2 million shares The market has been upbeat so far during the week gain- baib said during the fourth phase all employees of the ly that the fourth batch of the ‘Oxford’ -- estimated to be while Ahli United Bank gained 3 fi ls with brisk trading. ing 51 points in the last three sessions. It has rallied 224 Kuwaiti Public Transport Company, who number about more than 260,000 doses – has arrived from Russia and Commercial Bank eased 1 fi l to 500 fi ls whereas Al Ahli points from the start of the month and is up 894 points 2,000 drivers, have been vaccinated. will be distributed to vaccination centers in primary care Bank and Ahli United Bank paused at 214 fi ls and 300 fi ls year-to-date. She explained during this stage the MoH also plans to health care and the Kuwait Vaccination Center in Mishref. Airlines seek hike in quota of passengers Sharp rise expected in July arrivals

KUWAIT CITY, June 22: The daily share of Ku- wait Airways Corporation (KAC) in the operating capacity of return fl ights to the country is 1,500 passengers (30 percent of the total operating capacity at the airport – about 5,000 arrival passengers per day), reports Al-Anba daily quoting sources from KAC. Sources disclosed the number of passengers in each arrival fl ight ranges from 35 to 80. Sources pointed out that the decision to limit the number of arrivals daily is the main reason behind the signifi cant increase in ticket prices. Sources said Drug pills found in possession of two persons. the prices of tickets for return fl ights increased remarkably due to the lim- Duo held with 21,000 drug pills ited seats on each fl ight. Sources cited another reason for the The Ministry of Interior said the that after the GDDC received a tip- ticket price hike – the high demand as Criminal Security Sector of the Gen- off that the two men were traffi ck- many are now planning to travel due to eral Department for Drugs Control ing in drugs the issue was handed the Cabinet’s decision to allow the re- (GDDC) have arrested two people over to the CID men who intensifi ed turn of expatriates starting from Aug 1. and seized from them 21,000 psy- their investigations and after verify- Sources added that KAC decided choactive drug ‘Lyrica pills’, and ing the information got a search to merge some of its incoming fl ights a quantity of cash believed to be and arrest warrant from the Public in order to maintain its capacity share proceeds from the sale of the pills, Prosecution and raided the hideout and achieve the highest commercial reports Al-Seyassah daily. of the suspects and seized the con- return. The corporation specifi ed 60 to The Directorate-General of traband 2,340 dinars in cash. 70 passengers for a fl ight coming from Public Relations and the Security During interrogation the suspects Turkey, 60 for Dubai, 35 for other Gulf Media Department of the Interior admitted to the charge of traffi cking countries and 80 for all countries in Ministry said a press statement in drugs. Europe, sources revealed. Sources went on to say that with the full operation of summer fl ights by Rewards for exam papers delivery mid-July; it will be very diffi cult to ad- here to the specifi ed number of 1,500 KUWAIT CITY, June 22: According to per day, reports Al-Rai daily. passengers per day. Accordingly, KAC sources in the education sector, rewards They said, “The number of individu- will ask the Directorate General of worth KD 186,000 will be disbursed by als responsible for transporting the ques- Civil Aviation (DGCA) to increase the the Ministry of Education to those in tion papers is about 930 in all examina- number of passengers. charge of transporting examination pation committees, distributed among 310 On the other hand, sources said the pers at the end of the current academic military vehicles. One military vehicle is Council of Ministers sent a letter to year. As soon as the fi nal report in this allocated to each committee that com- DGCA stating the decision it took in regard reaches the fi nance sector, KD prises three individuals - two from the its extraordinary session last Thursday 200 will be disbursed to each driver, Ministry of Defense and one employee to allow the return fl ights for expatri- carrier and escort. The reward is KD 20 from the educational district”. ates from the beginning of August. The DGCA will soon start preparing, arranging and determining operating Jan 1, 2021 until June 17, through an those who are required to submit the mechanism for this, sources confi rmed. automated link with the Civil Service rest of the documents. ❑ ❑ ❑ Commission, reports Al-Rai daily. It is reported that the system comes In a statement to the General De- within the framework of the security The Ministry of Interior announced, partment of Public Relations and Secu- institution’s strategy to speed up work, on Monday, that the Identifi cation De- rity Media, CED indicated that the pro- save effort and time of citizens and partment (ID) of Criminal Evidences ject enables the applicants to complete speed up the completion of transac- Department (CED) completed 24,164 their transactions without going to the tions, explaining that a number of state transactions to issue rap (Record of CED, with the exception of those who institutions and ministries are part of Arrests and Prosecutions) sheets from do not have a fi ngerprint record and the automated link project. ARAB TIMES, WEDNESDAY, JUNE 23, 2021 LOCAL 3 diwaniya A DIGEST OF PUBLIC OPINION ‘Global money plays role in evaluation of education institutions’ “OVER the recent years we have been witnesses to the spread of the so-called achieve its targeted scientific objectives, is indeed a significant demand, pro- the education sector is at the bottom of the global ranking, tourism has been in ‘Evaluation and Referendum Institutions and the Local, Arab and International vided that this should be realized, away from becoming a prey for illusive deep slumber for years, and other government agencies and institutions are Researches Centers’ phenomenon,” which have reached about ten in number,” websites and institutions which are striving to make money by blackmailing losing the least degree of success and hard work needed to raise the name of columnist Owaied Al-Sulaili wrote for Al-Shahed daily. the Gulf states through illusively and unrealistically raising the classification of the country! “These institutions are currently involved in the evaluation and referendum the relevant states. “There is a common factor in the failures that we all witness ... It is the poor activities covering all aspects of life in the State of Kuwait, be it in the media, “In the meantime, we suggest that our local newspapers, should refrain from choice of management. Since the government is unwilling to change the economy, political and communal issues and so on, as such the local media has publishing these classifications.” administrations that have caused these losses over the years, I suggest the need become captive of these evaluations and subject to its secret agendas. Not just to privatize institutions and bodies in order to save its face, especially those that that certainly the reports of all these institutions and Also: failed to keep pace with the modern development in the world, including centers are published in the local newspapers without “The former secretary-general of the United Nations (UN) Kofi Annan, was sports. verifying their credibility and neutrality. once quoted as saying ‘if corruption is a disease then transparency is part of the “The government should start privatizing Kuwaiti sports clubs so that these “However, the appearance of these institutions (and treatment’,” columnist Dr. Mohammad Hussein Al-Dallal wrote for clubs can become joint stock companies that meet the conditions of public they are plenty) actually coincided with a rivalry for Al-Qabas daily. subscription for the citizens and the investors, especially since we have experi- holding packed referendums are seemingly designed to “In other words, ambiguity and secrecy is a mistaken method which brings ence in successful privatization of gas and energy stations. In addition, privati- give some politicians and prominent personalities and severe consequences, because obviousness, the overt attitude and transparency zation will reduce the large expenses paid by the state to the sports sector and big firms some privileges. This happens while we know which shed light on rights and duties eventually give everybody his/her rights. thus reduce the burdens on the state budget. nothing about its method of work or the extent of the “As a matter fact, transparency is one of the constituents of justice and ratio- “The world around us is turning into an effective and successful economy honesty of these institutions which currently promote nal administration which is recognized by the international charters related to based on profit and not on losses and silence about them. the outcome of their activities without real control by transparency and anti corruption. Such being the case, we conclude that trans- “The state must immediately work with all its strength to privatize, convert the state apparatuses. parency is the pedestrian bridge that must be crossed to reach rational deci- expenditures into revenues, and contribute to finding other alternatives for “Since a few days ago, the former minister of educa- Al-Sulaili sions. It is transparency that represents the first stumbling block to achieve revenues. I know that the government and its advisors, when they read this tion and the minister of higher education Dr. Bader justice and both the social and the political stability. article, would already know all these advantages of privatization, especially the Al-Issa had issued a statement saying he is not convinced about what the piece “This means the nontransparent practices in the work and while taking deci- privatization of the losers, but it does not want that? And the perplexing ques- of news that had been published by the local dailies over the evaluation that had sions, shall conduce to the absence of the necessary confidence among the tion is - why?” been conducted by a foreign institution which he doesn’t know its scientific senior officials. ❑ ❑ ❑ position, its location nor the authority which affiliated to. “Likewise, shortage of transparency shall help create an atmosphere of “However, the evaluation that was conducted by the institution in ques- negative turmoil and eventually give boost the idea that the relevant official “Which government is this? Which National Assembly is this?” columnist tion shows that the scientific level of the Kuwait University (KU) has conceals something to achieve his interests or maybe he closes an eye to some Dr Naji Saoud Al-Zaid wrote for Al-Jarida daily. retreated to the third position among the local universities, adding that two financial and administrative violations, and this shortage represents an indica- “We are still waiting for regular sessions of the Assembly. Whoever does not local private universities have proved they are ahead of the KU in spite of tor of poor performance of the relevant official.” want such sessions among the lawmakers or the Council of Ministers, let him having just two or three colleges, let alone these universities have no ❑ ❑ ❑ resign, because democracy in its current form is a game and not an exercise in Master nor PhD programs, while the KU at the moment boasts of 14 col- control, legislation and implementation!! leges and programs for higher studies in most of the scientific specializa- “It is painful to witness the low rate of achievements of sports in the country, “Stop in vain with the concept of true democracy as what is happening at all tions and this seems strange. especially after enjoying and leaving us with a legacy full of successes in the levels is nothing but a naive farce that does not present solutions to problems, “Anyway, the most important aspect in the statement of minister Al-Issa is previous eras and times that have become history”, columnist Dr. Adel but rather seeks to exacerbate them!! what he said when he was minister that one of these institutions had asked Al-Roumi wrote for Al-Nahar daily. “No musical chairs and insisting on them ... or the government’s absence him to pay $50 thousand to raise the classification of the KU at both the Arab “The situation today with the successive failures borne by the administration from the sessions ... or the meetings of the mock Assembly committees. and international universities levels, hinting that he in turn, had rejected this in the first place because it is at the top of the sports pyramid cannot be toler- “All of these manifestations will not restore the honest and sincere spirit to offer. ated. The administration is the one that leads the institutions to success through the political atmosphere, as what is prevalent now is complete chaos, not a “Given the above, we conclude that all these institutions are commercial in their strategies, plans and decisions, but they have unfortunately brought about logical and convincing confrontation! nature and exploit the topic of evaluation to blackmail and earn money without the level that we witness today in the sports sector. “Corruption is still going on, while positions and promotions are still distrib- conducting any realistic or real evaluation. “I do not know why the boards of directors of institutions and government uted as gifts. They are not based on competence and experience.” “As a matter of fact, boosting KU’s level and handling all the negativities in agencies are not held accountable immediately and strongly for the great fail- addition to providing the necessary budget that may be required to enable it to ures that occur in our country. Today, the sports sector is in its weakest form, — Compiled by Zaki Taleb Other Voices MPW plans to increase number What’s holding our progress? vated them to follow their example. of workers in complaints spike By Ahmad alsarraf The Jews were a minority in n most democracies, two or more “Palestine” until the 1940s, yet they had Iparties struggle to win power, and a a unified authority and after their estab- ‘Female staff to be employed in morning shift’ few countries have more than four, for lishment they had the strongest army in example. As for Israel, there are more the region, the best universities and inter- than 30 parties, and they are in con- national scientific and research centers, stant union and division, and it is dif- the highest level of education and the KUWAIT CITY, June 22: Due to the large ficult for any of them to form a gov- highest average income per capita in the number of complaints from road users ernment without a coalition with oth- region and their number reached 9.5 mil- and the desire to achieve a qualitative leap ers despite differences and contradic- lion, including 7.5 million Jews. in dealing with the public quickly, the tions among them. Since its inception, Israel has set an Colleague and academician example one after another in the area of Ministry of Public Works launched Hotline Mohammad Al-Rumaihi says in a dis- progress, expansion, learning, reclama- No. 150 to immediately deal with com- tinguished article on the Middle East tion of deserts, establishing the most plaints and follow up procedures in its (19-6-2021), that this scattered political complex industries and nuclear arma- mixture clearly expresses the true nature ments and attracting millions to them sectors, reports Al-Qabas daily quoting an of the Israeli society which is made up while we are looking at them with open official source from the ministry. of different mouths, unable to do anything as if we According to the source, Public Works Minister racial, ethnic and are possessed. A new Israeli government was formed a Rana Al-Faris formed a committee tasked to evaluate cultural minori- the performance of the hotline and to determine the ties, some of few days ago with the support of an Arab which view each party affiliated to the Muslim Brotherhood. actual number of employees assigned to it; as the min- other as inferior. The government has 9 female ministers ister found out that a large number of employees are Al-Rumaihi and this is an unprecedented phenomenon involved in this work - approximately 60 employees logical question in our ‘masculine’ countries. from different sectors. is: What is the The appointment of the nine women The source disclosed that the committee decided to ministers constitutes a blow to some of secret of the reduce the number of employees to one third and KUNA photo existence of a our customs and traditions, especially after reading their biography and how retain the others to their respective sectors; thereby, Deputy Foreign Minister Majdi Al-Dhefeeri holds talks with the US Ambassador to state with such saving public money as it is no longer necessary to Kuwait Alina Romanowski. scientific and alsarraf five of them are from two Arab coun- military strength tries, Morocco and Iraq, and among pay allowances to the latter. that appears cohesive on the outside and them is the one who holds the rank of The source stated that the hotline is now under the Deputy FM meets US envoy is so discordant from within? major-general in the army, and she is Maintenance Engineering Sector, instead of the Public He says the matter lies in two factors the Minister of Economy and her name Relations Department at the Minister’s Office. Kuwait’s Deputy Foreign Minister Majdi The meeting was attended by – the first depends on the ideology of does not matter here. The source also unveiled a plan to assign some Al-Dhefeeri held talks Monday with US Assistant Foreign Minister for the Deputy investment in fear on the one hand, and The second woman holds a Master’s female employees in the morning shift, while the rest Ambassador in Kuwait Alina Foreign Minister’s office Ayham the presence of state institutions that degree from the University of Haifa in Romanowski on bilateral relations, and Al-Omar, the ministry added in a state- business administration, a former sol- will work in the evening shift. regional and international affairs. ment. (KUNA) impose respect for the law on everyone ❑ ❑ ❑ on the other hand and these two factors dier in the army. balance societal fragmentation. As for the Minister of Interior in the new government, who was born 45 Ruling suspended: The Cassation Court headed by This is true to some extent despite the Counselor Abdullah Al-Jassem decided to suspend the Police probe young woman’s death fact that the fear of their hostile sur- years ago in Tel Aviv from an Iraqi father is an accountant who migrated enforcement of the prison verdict issued against two By Munif Nayef woman to the Adan Hospital, where she was roundings and the fear of returning to declared dead upon arrival. the tragedies of the Diaspora unite them from Iraq in the 1950s (imagine in the officers with the rank of colonel in the State Security Al-Seyassah Staff and Agencies fifties, and his daughter takes over the apparatus, Nasser Al-Ghaith and Sheikh Faisal The source added the woman’s corpse but there is a third factor that is no less KUWAIT CITY, June 22: A young Syrian has been referred to Forensics. Investigation important and lies in the depth and real Ministry of the Interior). Al-Sabah, who were found guilty of leaking reports I will not break your heart in recounting about the ‘Malaysian Fund’, reports Al-Qabas daily. woman, believed to be 24 years old allegedly is underway to find out why she committed awareness of these two factors, and this jumped to her death from the third floor of a ‘suicide’. would not have been achieved if the the biography of the rest of the ministers, The court then set Sept 13, 2021, to consider the for among them are paralyzed and seri- residential building in Mahboula area. Meanwhile, a Kuwaiti has filed a com- Israeli society had not been well edu- case. The Court of Appeals had earlier acquitted the A security source said when the cated, otherwise, the past seven decades ously ill and other matters whose impor- plaint with the police accusing his neigh- tance is difficult for us to comprehend. two suspects and overturned the verdict of the Criminal Operations Room of the Ministry of Interior bor’s son of breaking into his vehicle and would have been enough to domesticate Court which had sentenced the men to 7 years impris- them and push them to adapt and to Their society, which we hate, and I do received a report on the incident police and stealing his Smartphone and personal forget the persecution of their ancestors not demand that we fall in love with it, onment. paramedics rushed to the spot and took the belongings, reports Al-Rai daily. for this is the nature of human beings. deserves to learn something from it and If we apply the fear factor to Kuwait at least an iota of tolerance among one which is most qualified to be afraid of another, and some love of science, and some order, and some justice, and some Man gets four years in its surroundings and its future and the respect the law, and something of equal- possibility of a return to hardship and ity between men and women, and some- extreme poverty, we will find that this thing and something and something. jail for forging 100 fils double factor has never received nation- Israeli citizens of the first generation al attention because of the poor culture and the immigrants to Israel occupy the By Jaber Al-Hamoud and low education of Kuwaiti society highest political and military positions Al-Seyassah Staff compared to the Israeli one. in the state as well as the most sensitive The only exception may be found such as state security without anyone KUWAIT CITY, June 22: The Criminal Court sen- among the tribal and sectarian minori- asking them about loyalty because it is a tenced a person, who was accused of counterfeiting ties, where fear often pushes them to foregone conclusion in a state that and smuggling 20,000 pieces of the 100 fils denomi- choose the most extreme representative believes in equality and justice which nation, valued at KD 2,000 with the cooperation of a regarding their issues. we do not possess much. Mr. Al-Rumaihi mentioned that, on Chinese agent outside the country, to four-year Then we come to our countries and imprisonment with hard labor. the other hand, we find that despite the shed tears over our conditions. The similarity of the Palestinian society in fourth generation who came to Kuwait According to the case file, which is the first of its many things, compared to the Israeli hundreds of years ago cannot be trusted kind as it relates to an attempt to smuggle and pump society, it failed to build inclusive and until today, banned from working in counterfeit Kuwaiti 100 fils coin into the local mar- impregnable institutions and did not specific government agencies because ket, the Director General of the General Customs uphold the rule of law, so the unified of outdated matters but their effects fragmented society is versus the unity of Department issued directives to seize the counterfeit remain in the souls. currencies worth KD 2000, contact the security ser- the fragmented Israelis. The state demands them to prove that The Jews have neighbored us in they are trustworthy before it allows them vices and finance sector of the state in order to almost every country for thousands of to work in all state facilities like others notify them about the smuggling of counterfeit coins, years, and if we focus on the neighbor- while the other side asks the state to give and take the necessary legal and criminal measures. hood of the Palestinians to them espe- them confidence, and they will prove The customs warehouse men at the Air Customs cially in the last hundred years, we will afterwards that they are worthy of it. find that the Palestinians and we are not were suspicious of the content of a parcel weighing Until the two parties agree, we will 127 kilograms that came from an Asian country better than them, did not learn much from remain where we are. that neighborhood, and their presence, or ❑ ❑ ❑ through a shipping company. When they opened the their overwhelming scientific progress parcel, they saw that it contained counterfeit 100 fils did not constitute fear for them or moti- e-mail: [email protected] coins which seemed very difficult to be detected by non-specialists. ARAB TIMES, WEDNESDAY, JUNE 23, 2021 LOCAL 4 Request for multi-storey car park to be built at builder’s expense okayed

Construction of building in Murgab to fulﬁ ll needs of motorists

By Abdel Nasser Al-Aslami who will be working in Department. space allocated for the parking area Al-Seyassah Staff The building will be handed exceeds 200 percent of the entire the commercial complex over upon completion of its im- area of the property inside the city, KUWAIT CITY, June to be built on Plot No. 127 plementation to the State Proper- and the required parking spaces 22: The Kuwait Munici- in the same area, reports ties Department provided a traf- are not provided for the building, Al-Seyassah daily. fic study is submitted showing the owner may, after the approval pality has approved a the number of required parking of the concerned authorities in the special real estate request In a letter addressed to the lots, entrances and exits, the im- Municipality use of state-owned KUNA photo regarding the allocation Municipal Council, the Munici- pact of the building on the road lands surrounding the real estate in HH the Amir with Sheikh Nasser Al-Mohammed. pality stipulated that the afore- network in the region as a whole, building basements or multi-storey of state land in the Mur- mentioned car parking building and prove that the building is ar- buildings to be used to supplement HH the Amir receives HH Sheikh Nasser gab area (Plot No. 3), to (which will be for public use) be chitecturally compatible with the the car parking required for the build the multi-storey car built at the expense of the appli- surrounding buildings, with the building. His Highness the Amir Sheikh on Tuesday, His Highness Sheikh use of the latest technologies. The Municipality also agreed to Nawaf Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al- Nasser Al-Mohammed Al-Ahmed parks, on an area meas- cant and the latter commitment Sabah, received at Bayan Palace Al-Sabah. (KUNA) to maintain the building for at The Municipality noted what the allocate a multi-storey car park in uring 2,702.1 square me- building system stipulates for the Hawally Plot No. 189 with an area least two years, a clause that ters, to meet the demand requirements and speciﬁ cations for of 10,721 square meters, provided will be stipulated in the main- the buildings of commercial com- that the requirements of the Sub- DWDM technology to strengthen for car parking to fulﬁ ll tenance contract that the builder plexes outside and inside Kuwait Committee for Public Utilities and the needs of motorists signs with the State Property City, that “in the event that the Services are adhered to. infrastructure for high-speed Net KUWAIT CITY, June 22: Ministry of State for Communications and Information Technology has emphasized on the importance of the Network Operations Center (DWDM -- Dense Wavelength Division Multiplexing an optical multiplexing technology used to increase bandwidth over existing fiber networks and works by combining and transmitting multiple signals simultaneously at different wavelengths on the same fiber) project in strengthening the infrastructure to provide high-speed Internet services to users without inter- ruption, reports Al-Seyassah daily. The ministry said in a press statement on the occasion of the inauguration of the first phase of the network operations center project at the South Sabahiya exchange, in the presence of the Undersecretary of the Ministry of Communications Eng. Kholoud Al-Shehab that the project aims to link telephone exchanges, border posts, institutions, government agencies and the private sector. She explained this project will serve the infrastructure at high speeds needed by border posts, state institutions, government agencies and the private sector. It will also develop and activate a GPS service to locate tracks for cables and optical fibers when they fail. She stated the duration of the contract for the completion of the project is three years, and work began in 2019 in the South Sabahiya sector, through a special control room, instrument rooms, and provision of training rooms.

KUNA photo His Highness the Crown Prince Sheikh Meshaal Al- Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah, received at Bayan Palace Tuesday morning, His Highness Sheikh Nasser Al-Mo- hammed Al-Ahmad Al-Sabah. Need to pass test Shimmari announces unifi ed Arab exam for ‘pharmacists’ By Marwa Al-Bahrawi Al-Seyassah Staff KUWAIT CITY, June 22: The head of the Kuwaiti Pharma- ceutical Society, Pharmacist Walid Al-Shimmari, announced the unifi ed Arab exam will be held for the pharmacists under the umbrella of the Arab Pharmacists Union which will allow those who pass the test to obtain a licence to practice the profession in any of the Arab countries. Al-Shimmari said in a press statement yesterday said he hopes many pharmacists will join this program and disclosed the modalities of coordination with Kuwait’s Ministry of Health has been worked out. He called this the ‘standardized Arab test’ to practice the profession. He pointed out three pharmacists from Kuwait have taken this test which includes the specialized scientifi c subjects of the pharmacy. He explained the Kuwaiti Pharmaceutical Society always coordinates with the pharmaceutical unions and societies in the Arab countries that are members of the Arab Pharmacists Union. He pointed out the test was held the day before yesterday at the headquarters of the Pharmaceutical Society and qualifi es the participants to enter the fi nal exam who are then eligible to enter the scientifi c test organized by the Arab Board of Pharmacists. Al-Shimmari called this is the culmination and the fruit of the efforts of the Board of Directors of the Kuwaiti Pharmaceutical Society with the Union of Arab Pharmacists since the beginning of the launch of the Arab Board of Pharmacists, which includes specialized scientifi c materials for many specializations in pharmacy. Minister’s approval needed to hire, transfer leaders in PADA KUWAIT CITY, June 22: In a letter sent offi cially to the Director of the Public Authority for the Disabled Affairs (PADA) Dr. Shafi qa Al-Awadhi, the Minister of Electric- ity, Water and Renewable Energy and Minister of Social Af- fairs and Community Development Dr Mishaan Al-Otaibi stressed the need not to issue any decisions related to the transfer, assignment or nomination of supervisory positions, including directors, supervisors, and department heads, without submission and approval, reports Aljarida daily. The minister said, “With reference to authorization No. 5/2021, it is imperative that none of those in the supervisory and leadership positions in the authority be referred to investigation or subjected to administrative penalties without the approval of the minister’’. In this regard, informed sources revealed that offi cials of PADA were surprised by the minister’s directives, consider- ing them tantamount to withdrawing the powers of the authority’s director. They wondered about the reason behind this measure, asking, “Were there administrative irregularities in the decisions for the transfer, assignment or appointment of supervisory positions that urged the minister to send such a directive?” The sources said, “All decisions related to transfer, assignment or placement of supervisory jobs are not valid or approved until after they are submitted to the Civil Service Commission (CSC), which studies them carefully to determine whether or not employees are entitled to them. ARAB TIMES, WEDNESDAY, JUNE 23, 2021 LOCAL 5

Media campaign launched to educate children about communication and technology Arab Council for Childhood warns of Internet dangers to Arab children CAIRO, June 22, (KUNA): The under the slogan “Safe Internet for world that belongs to them”. its impact on the cultural life of chil- secure accounts.”, she said. National Council for Child Welfare Arab Council for Childhood and De- Our Children”. For her part, the Assistant Secre- dren, is the goal of this campaign, not- Meanwhile, the head of the cur- in Sudan, Amira Al-Azhari, stressed velopment warned on Tuesday from Al-Bilawi said that digital trans- tary-General and Head of the Social ing that it is a broad and complex topic rent session of the Arab Childhood that the dangers of the Internet on the dangers and challenges that the formation and the rapid spread of in- Affairs Sector at the Arab League, in an era in which the role of technol- Committee, Secretary-General of the children are increasingly prevalent, Internet poses to children, stressing formation and communication tech- Ambassador Haifa Abu-Ghazalah, ogy is no longer limited to transfer- Jordanian Ministry of Social Devel- including the growth of the elec- the need to protect the Arab child nology have changed the world and said “this campaign is the fruit of ring data and information, but rather opment, Dr. Barq Saleh Al-Damour, tronic sexual industry that targets and take a preventive and awareness shaped our daily lives and behaviors joint work and continuous coopera- touches all areas of life. stressed that children are among the children through various websites of measures for them. at different age groups, including tion between the Arab League and “We seek to send awareness mes- most victims of modern means of the network. This came in a speech by the Coun- children. the Arab Council for Childhood and sages to children to confront electronic communication, including the un- The campaign aims to introduce the cil’s Secretary General, Dr. Hassan He called for focus on beneﬁ ting Development.” bullying, verify rumors, maintain pri- safe Internet, due to electronic bul- risks of modern digital technology and Al-Bilawi, during the launch of the from the advantages of the internet She added that educating and pro- vacy and personal data on the Internet, lying they are exposed to. educate parents and children about the media campaign to educate children and reducing its negative effects “by tecting children through communica- with the need to browse according to For her part, the director of the importance of the safe use of modern about communication and technology preparing our children for this new tion and technology, and highlighting protection and security settings, and Child Protection Department at the digital technology. Kuwaiti Dinar widely regarded as ‘world’s most powerful currency’

UN acknowledges legality of around 180 currencies

KUWAIT CITY, June 22: lar. The most popular Cayman Islands last few years, so it has such a foot- shore accounts, as it is one of the KUNA photo The United Nations ac- Dollar exchange rate is the USD to hold in the world market. As a lot of world’s strongest currencies. This is Ambassador Ahmad Al-Baker, Kuwait’s Permanent Envoy to the Arab KYD rate. Many people are unaware countries are members of this union, the world’s only currency that is not League knowledges the legality of that the Cayman Island Dollar is one it is functional throughout the vast impacted by inflation. around 180 currencies, re- of the most powerful Caribbean cur- majority of European countries. Also, Position 10: US Dollar ports Al-Qabas daily. rencies. The Cayman Island Dollar, it is included in the list of the high- The US Dollar is the world’s most Forum kicks off According to the ‘Good Returns’ which has been in circulation since est currency in the world in 2018 and important reserve currency. No cur- website, the value of currencies 1972, is also one of the world’s new- 2019. rency will ever be able to replace the around the world fl uctuates regu- est currencies. Position 9: Swiss Franc US Dollar as the most traded cur- Kuwait-Chinese strategic larly. Some currencies are thought Position 8: European Euro Switzerland is one of the world’s rencies. It is a worldwide currency to be more powerful than others. The Euro was approved as the Eu- wealthiest countries with a long his- backed by the United States’ global ropean Union’s principal currency on tory in banking and fi nance. political and economic power. De- There are certain countries where Jan 1, 1999. With some of the world’s tough- spite being in high demand when it partnership ‘vital’: envoy the highest currency is not more It is the world’s second most valu- est monetary policies and lowest comes to conversion, the US Dollar than $20, while others have cur- able currency and the offi cial cur- debt levels, many investors regard is far below the list of the world’s CAIRO, June 22, (KUNA): Kuwait’s He also noted that this virtual meet- rencies whose value ranges from rency of 19 of the European Union’s the Swiss Franc as a ‘Safe Bet’, strongest currencies. The US Dollar is Permanent Envoy to the Arab League ing reminds every one of the repercus- $10,000 to $100,000. 28 member countries. In addition, opting to put some of their capital one of the most widely used curren- Ambassador Ahmad Al-Baker sions of the coronavirus pandemic on Many individuals feel that the US this currency has the highest currency in the country’s official currency. cies in the world, although it is ranked affirmed on Tuesday Kuwait’s interest life as it is considered on one of the dollar and the British pound are the in creating Kuwaiti-Chinese strategic most difficult challenges witnessed in exchange rate in the globe. This cur- Swiss Franc is often utilised in bank tenth among the world’s most valu- world’s strongest currencies, with sig- rency has been strengthening over the deposits where money is sent to off- able currencies. partnership. the modern age. The Kuwaiti official nifi cant infl uence over other curren- This came in his speech in the 17th stressed on the benefits of this crisis cies. This is not the case, as there are session of the China-Arab States that showed the importance of enhanc- several currencies with much higher Cooperation Forum (CASCF), which ing cooperation on various levels such conversion rates than the Dollar and kicked off Tuesday via videoconfer- as health, education, technology, food the Pound. encing, at the level of ranking offi- and cyber security. Position 1: Kuwaiti Dinar (KWD) cials. Al-Baker stressed on the strong and Al-Baker pointed out the historic historical ties between Arab Nations The Kuwaiti Dinar (KWD) is Ku- visit of His Highness the late Amir and China, and the must to strengthen- wait’s offi cial currency. The name di- Sheikh Sabah Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber ing cooperation on the international nar comes from the Roman denarius. Al-Sabah to China and co-opening the and regional levels. KWD is divided into 1,000 fi ls — a 8th meeting of the Forum in Beijing in The ambassador thanked China for coin that is used in many Arab coun- 2018, in which both sides strengthened its support to ceasefire in the tries. The Kuwaiti Dinar is widely re- cooperation and stressed on the impor- Palestinian lands and its remarkable garded as the world’s most powerful tance of the forum. stands in achieving peace in the area. currency. Kuwaiti Dinar, abbreviated as KWD, is widely used in oil-related transactions in the Middle East. The Kuwaiti dinar is the strongest circulat- Trucks get green light ing currency as of May 2021, with one Kuwaiti dinar equaling 3.32 US Dol- lars (USD). Kuwait has no taxes and Kuwait’s humanitarian aid convoy it has a relatively low unemployment rate. The Kuwaiti Dinar was introduced departs from Jordan to Gaza Strip in 1961 as a replacement for the Gulf AMMAN, June 22, (KUNA): A the Jordanian army to the Gaza rupee. The Gulf rupee was a currency Kuwaiti humanitarian aid convoy Strip. tied to the Indian rupee. The Gulf ru- departed from Jordan to the Gaza He explained that the association pee, issued by the Indian government Strip on Tuesday, as part of the is awaiting the issuance of the nec- in 1959, was intended for use outside popular campaign ‘Fazaa al-Aqsa’ essary approvals for the other part India, primarily in the Arab Gulf re- supervised by the Kuwait Relief of the relief aid, which includes a gion. The Gulf rupee, like the Indian Society after obtaining the neces- truck of medical materials desig- rupee, was pegged to the British ster- sary approvals to cross from the nated for Al-Makassed Hospital in ling pound (GBP). Israeli occupation authorities. Jerusalem. Position 2: Bahraini Dinar The Jordanian Hashemite Chari- A Kuwaiti military transport plane As of May 2021, the Bahraini Di- Rescue operation in progress table Organization, with which the carrying 40 tons of food and medi- nar is the second most valuable cir- Kuwait Relief Society cooperates, cal supplies landed in Amman on the culating currency, with one Bahraini drove two trucks of food from its ninth of this month as a gift from the dinar equaling USD2.65, slightly be- Sea-goers urged to carry out periodic maintenance of boats warehouses in Zarqa Governorate Kuwait Society for Relief to the Pal- hind the Kuwaiti dinar. Bahrain is an towards the King Hussein cross- estinian People. The aid comes with- island nation in the Arabian Gulf with ing that links Jordan with the West in the framework of the campaign a population of slightly over one mil- Bank in preparation for their deliv- with the participation of 33 Kuwaiti lion. Its primary source of revenue, Family of 10 rescued near Kubbar Island ery to the benefi ciary parties in the charities, which was launched in like Kuwait’s, is global gas and petro- besieged sector. May under the auspices of the Ku- leum export. Surprisingly, the Saudi KUWAIT CITY, June 22: The Fire The Director-General of the So- waiti government, following the Riyal, along with the Bahraini Dinar, and Marine Rescue Department, in ciety, Abdul Aziz Al-Obeid, told Israeli occupation’s attacks on Pal- is offi cially recognised as legal money cooperation with the Coast Guard, ‘Citizens seek their just rights’ Kuwait News Agency (KUNA) estinians in Jerusalem and the Gaza in Bahrain. Their exchange rate is also rescued a family of 10 people aboard that the two food trucks are from Strip. The campaign collected dona- set with 1 Bahraini Dinar equaling 10 40-foot yacht that had developed the relief aid that the Society sent tions of about 2,330 million Kuwaiti Saudi Riyals. trouble and water had begun to seep Workers in ‘private oil’ sector to Jordan two weeks ago via a Ku- dinars from about 59,000 donors. Position 3: Omani Rial in off Kubbar Island, reports Al- waiti military plane to support the The Kuwait Relief Society con- The Oman Rial is the national cur- Seyassah daily. brothers in the occupied territories. fi rmed earlier this month the con- rency of Oman, which is located on the The Public Relations and Media to organize sit-in Wednesday Al-Obeid added that the Israeli tinuation of the transportation of Arabian Peninsula. It is currently ranked Department of Directorate-General occupation authorities agreed to relief aid to the Palestinian people third among the world’s most valuable of Fire Department (DGFD) stated KUWAIT CITY, June 22: The of the Kuwait Petroleum Corpo- pass two trucks of foodstuffs as via the air bridge within the frame- currencies. Before 1940, Oman’s local head of the volunteer team for ration (KPC) in granting workers part of an aid convoy run by the work of the popular campaign ‘Fa- the Fire and Maritime Rescue De- currency was the Indian rupee (INR), partment dealt with several reports workers in the ‘private oil’ sec- their just and legitimate rights in Jordanian Hashemite Charitable zaa al-Aqsa’ in which 33 Kuwaiti which was quickly replaced by a more tor, Salem Al-Ajmi, announced accordance with the provisions Organization in cooperation with charities participate. of such incidents in cooperation with powerful currency. Oman’s economy is the Coast Guard. the workers in the private oil of the civil and oil labor laws, based mostly on its oil reserves, which The daily said the Coast Guard sector, Wednesday will organize stressing that what is stipulated are located on the southeastern coast of succeeded in plugging the leak and a sit-in at the headquarters of the in these laws is the minimum that Noelle Al Yaqout on TGS the Arabian Peninsula. The Omani rial towed the family to safety. Petroleum Workers and Petro- cannot be waived. is tied to the US dollar. chemical Industry Workers Un- Al-Ajmi said that citizens Position 4: Jordanian Dinar The department in a report said it Our guest this Thursday is Noelle autistic children which ran from 2003- dealt with accidents in Kuwait Bay, ion in Ahmadi, in the presence working in the private oil sector Al Yaqout. Noelle is a very special 2020. Throughout her journey as Jordan’s offi cial currency is the of parliamentarians and other are not advocates of aggravation woman who has touched the lives an equine therapist, Noelle touched Jordanian Dinar (JOD). It is an Arabic Kubbar Islands and Umm Al-Mara- of many differently-abled children in many lives by empowering them. dem, and pointed out no serious inju- trade unions, reports Al-Anba but only seek their just rights. He country on the Jordan River. Jordan’s daily. pointed out at the same time that Kuwait. Born in Switzerland, Noelle One of her specially-abled children, government maintains stable ex- ries were reported. arrived in the country with her Kuwaiti went on to become a champion. On change rates, which is one of the main The DGFD has called on sea-go- Al-Ajmi said in a press state- they have moved the sit-in site husband. She began her career as a The Guest Show (TGS), Noelle looks reasons behind the currency’s high ers to carry out periodic maintenance ment the workers of the private from in front of the KPC to the scientifi c illustrator at Kuwait Univer- back at her life in Switzerland, her value. Jordan, unlike its neighbors, of their boats before they embark on oil sector have reached a dead ‘Workers’ Home’, which is the sity where she worked for more than early years in Kuwait, her years as end in light of the intransigence Oil Workers Union. two decades. Passionate about hors- an illustrator when she captured on is not overly reliant on oil exports, a trip. es from her childhood, Noelle took up paper Kuwait’s fl ora and fauna, about which is a positive thing because its horse riding at the Hunting & Eques- her magic horse ‘Ginelli’, and her new economy is diverse across several trian Club. Soon she became an ex- horse ‘Masahallah’, a racehorse who sectors. Kuwaiti charity arranges 2,500 food pert horsewoman. Willing to share refuses to race, about her award-win- The Jordanian Dinar, which was in- aid handouts to displaced Yemenis her love for horses with others, she ning experience at endurance racing troduced in 1949 to replace the Pales- began a unique riding program for and about her life as an artist. tinian pound, has been tied to the US ADAN, June 22, (KUNA): Kuwait Society for Relief com- Dollar for the past two decades. pleted a campaign which delivered 2,500 food aid packages Position 5: British Sterling Pound to displaced families in Yemen’s Governorate of Taez. The United Kingdom’s national cur- A statement by the Yemeni organization carrying out the rency, the British Sterling Pound, is project said the packs were handed out in fi ve districts in ranked fi fth among the world’s most Taiz. This package aims to relief the suffering of the families valuable currencies. The Sterling Pound and those affected by the war. is frequently regarded as the world’s The aid comes as part of a larger campaign which has thus strongest currency; yet, it is behind four far seen 24,000 food packs, provided by the Kuwait Soci- Arabian currencies in terms of strength. ety for Relief, distributed amongst 10 provinces throughout Position 6: Gibraltar Pound Yemen since Ramadan in mid-May. Gibraltar’s currency is the Gibral- On Monday, fi fteen Yemeni families have been handed tar Pound. It is tied to the British Ster- the responsibility of running economic ventures in Taiz, ling Pound at par value and can be funded by the International Charitable Society for Develop- exchanged for it. The government of ment in Kuwait as part of the Basma Foundation efforts to Gibraltar mints and prints Gibraltar improve their quality of life. Pound coins and banknotes. A statement by Head Assistant of the Ministry of Social Position 7: Cayman Islands Dol- and Labor Affairs in Taiz, Foud Al-Faqih gravely thanked lar the state of Kuwait for such ventures supporting efforts in The Cayman Islands are a British assisting a better quality of life for its people. territory in the Caribbean that is well- On his part, Suhail Al-Thabhani who is in charge for im- known as one of the best tax havens plementing these ventures also said that Basma’s goals in in the world. A number of the world’s this project is to realistically better the lives of the families largest banks, hedge funds, and insur- through bettering the economy to develop quality of life and ance fi rms rely on them for banking health. licenses. The Cayman Islands are a He also added, in this fi nal stage of the foundations project group of islands in the Caribbean. The the goal is to hand over small businesses for a consistent The Guest Show poster Cayman Islands’ currency is the dol- income to create some form of stable domestic economy. ARAB TIMES, WEDNESDAY, JUNE 23, 2021 LOCAL 6

Second batch minted due to high demand on two commemorative coins CBK issues commemorative coins marking currency, GCC anniversaries

KUWAIT CITY, June 22, (KUNA): the 40th anniversary of the establish- Dinar pegged to an undisclosed spe- geopolitical headwinds throughout The Central Bank of Kuwait has is- ment of the Gulf Cooperation Coun- cial weighted basket of currencies the last decades, and to honor the sued the second batch of commemo- cil (GCC). of countries that share signifi cant founding leaders and their roles in rative coins marking the 60th anni- A second batch was minted due economic and trade relations with the Council’s success story. versary of the national currency and to the high demand on the two com- the State of Kuwait, and, ultimate- In conclusion, CBK expressed its the 40th anniversary of establishing memorative coins upon their previ- ly, supports the country’s monetary pride in such coins that mark deeply the Gulf Cooperation Council for the ous release. stability; itself an integral pillar of felt occasions and important histori- Arab States of the Gulf. The press statement highlighted fi nancial stability. cal events, pointing out that the two The Central Bank of Kuwait the special occasion of the 60th an- Likewise, the CBK issued a com- commemorative coins are made of (CBK), in a statement issued on niversary of the issuance and circu- memorative coin to mark the 40th gold-plated fi ne silver in line with Tuesday, announced the release of lation of the national currency and its anniversary of the establishment of the world standard specifi cations. the second batch of commemorative stability and strength. the Gulf Cooperation Council, and Those wishing to acquire the coins coins marking the 60th anniversary It also marks the CBK’s concert- to recognize the GCC’s vital role may visit the CBK’s Banking Hall of the issuance and circulation of the ed efforts over decades and deliber- and efforts towards stability and de- by booking an appointment through Kuwait national currency, as well as ate exchange that kept the Kuwaiti velopment in the region despite the the “Meta” App.

MoCI monitors market to control KUNA photo The second batch of commemorative coins marking the 40th anniversary prices of construction materials of establishing the GCC.

Bid to protect consumers from deliberate price hikes

By Salem Al-Methen KUWAIT CITY, June 22, (KUNA): Kuwait’s Ministry of Commerce and Industry is monitoring the market to control prices of construction materials, which have been soaring globally. The ministry issued a number of resolutions to maintain prices of construction materials, including banning export and re-export of Deputy Foreign Minister with United Kingdom and Northern Ireland Ambas- cement, lumber and iron but allow- sador to the State of Kuwait ing citizens to import construction materials for personal use. The ministry also sent teams to monitor the market and fi ne construction shops which increase prices. The ministry “supports commercial and economic activities, and make sure goods, construction materials and services in local market are meeting Gulf and international standards, as well as protecting consumers from any deliberate rise of prices,” Mohammad Al-Enezi, Ministry’s Assistant Undersecretary for Technical and Trade Development, said. Prices of construction materials have risen generally since December KUNA photo Part of the Kuwaiti aid for refugees. Kuwait Red Crescent Society (KRCS) called for supporting refugees around 2020, he acknowledged, but the min- the world, providing them with protection, health, educational and social care. istry was keeping a close eye on shops violating prices-related regulations and has indeed refered 29 shops to prosecutor’s offi ce since January. Kuwait vows to protect whistleblowers amid anti-corruption push The ministry, on the other hand, ad- Deputy Foreign Minister with Chinese Ambassador dressed obstacles facing local factories. KUWAIT CITY, June 22, practices, in addition to protect- towards a national strategy to Cheapest (KUNA): Kuwait’s anti-corrup- ing public funds worth millions root out corruption, according to tion body vowed on Tuesday to of Kuwaiti dinars, said Moham- a statement released by the body. Al-Enezi, speaking to KUNA, said a ton of iron was sold with 248 Ku- protect whistleblowers in a bid to mad Buwazir, the anti-corruption On a day where the world cel- waiti Dinars (KD) (USD 815) and KD give impetus to a sweeping anti- body’s deputy director general. ebrates “Whistleblowing Day,” he 1.05-1.2 for a cement bag, the cheapest corruption crusade, the watchdog Protecting whistleblowers, who said the role of these individuals among neighboring countries. said. are often the target of abuse on the is crucial to the success of any A price increase was caused by halt The efforts of whistleblowers part of those involved in nefarious anti-corruption campaign, thank- in sea freight, he added, and said surge in Kuwait have been largely in- actions, is among the watchdog’s ing them for their signifi cant con- in coronavirus cases and deaths in In- strumental in uncovering corrupt priorities given its signifi cance tributions. dia for example forced goods to remain in ports for more than 90 days. Dalal Al-Shemmeri, Director of the Ministry’s Supply Department, said the ministry was subsidizing construction materials like iron, cement and ready- mix concrete, insulating white and black bricks, and air conditioning units. Speaking to KUNA, Al-Shemmeri said 750 people benefi ted from subsidizing materials in May with a value of KD 13.7 million (USD 45 million). Dr. Nayef Al-Shemmeri, professor of economics at Kuwait University, said prices were subjected to supply not demand. KUNA photos Demand, he added, was “very lim- Deputy Foreign Minister with outgoing Qatari Ambassador Bandar Al-Attiah ited.” He said domestic production of cement was around nine million tons Deputy FM meets ambassadors per year but demand was at six million tons. Raw materials were imported to Kuwait’s Deputy Foreign Minister identical topics. manufcture iron with an annual capaci- Ambassador Majdi Al-Dhefeeri on He also received the outgoing ty of 1.5 million tons, however, market Tuesday held talks with the United Qatari Ambassador Bandar Al-Atti- needs were 1.2-1.5 million tons. Kingdom and North Ireland Ambas- ah, expressing good wishes to him Al-Shemmeri said opening doors for sador to the State of Kuwait, Be- on end of his tenure. neighboring markets as well as lower- linda Lewis, on bilateral relations, The three meetings were at- ing custom duties and administrative regional and international issues. tended by Ambassador Ayham Al- fees would contribute to less prices. The Deputy Foreign Minister, Omar, Assistant Foreign Minister He also proposed setting up ware- separately, met the Chinese Am- for Deputy Foreign Minister Offi ce. houses for storage with affordable prices. bassador, Li Minggang, discussing (KUNA)

‘Reconnaissance Research founder created a very well-respected think tank’ Al-Anjeri to represent Kuwait at Paris conference

KUWAIT CITY, June 22: The French Embassy in Kuwait announced Tuesday that the Founder & CEO of Reconnaissance Research, Abdulaziz Al-Anjeri received a special invitation to represent Kuwait at the 1st Middle-East Session, organized by IHEDN - Institut Des Hautes Etudes De Défense Nationale. The session will be 7 days long, and will focus on: “How does France contribute to stability and security in the Middle East ?” Created in 2005, the event brings Her Excellency Anne-Claire Legend- Abdulaziz Al-Anjeri, Founder & re, French Ambassador to Kuwait CEO of Reconnaissance Research to Paris about forty high-level rep- resentatives, politicians, military institutes from countries in Asia and Abdulaziz created a very well-re- personnel and directors of research the Middle East including Saudi spected think tank, in a short period Arabia, Qatar, Bahrain, Jordan, Iraq of time said French Ambassador to and Palestine. It also includes re- Kuwait, Her Excellency Anne-Claire gional French organizations such as Legendre, continued: “He will be an The Directorate of Security and De- added value throughout his partici- fence Cooperation - DSDC and The pation and a great refl ection on Ku- French Institute of Geopolitics IFG. wait’s future thinkers.” The conferences and discussions In a statement Al-Anjeri said: this year will focus on many topics “I’m honored to attend this event. such as: I believe Kuwait and France enjoy 1. Defense relations and strategy very strong relations with ample 2. International cooperation room to expand them further in vari- 3. The fi ght against terrorism ous fi elds, specially through collabo- 4. Migrations rating with policy institute, think- 5. Supporting post-crisis countries tanks and French scholars.” ARAB TIMES, WEDNESDAY, JUNE 23, 2021

INTERNATIONAL 7

‘Senate showdown’ GOP ready to block elections bill WASHINGTON, June 22, (AP): The Democrats’ expansive elections and voting bill is all but certain to be Paid in full? rejected in a key test vote in the Sen- ate, providing a dramatic example of Republicans’ use of the fi libuster Biden, GOP struggle over infrastructure costs to block legislation and forcing hard questions for Democrats over next WASHINGTON, June 22, (AP): ing the user fee that has traditionally nifi cant progress,” said Sen. Susan steps. Congressional negotiators and the funded road and bridge construction, Collins, R-Maine. Sen. Jon Tester, D- The far-reaching proposal, at White House appear open to strik- the federal gas tax, even if the increase Mont., said they were “very close” to nearly 900 pages, is viewed by ing a roughly $1 trillion deal on in- is just allowing it to rise at the rate of having a full proposal from the biparti- backers as the civil rights issue of frastructure. But they are struggling infl ation from its current level of 18.4 san group as soon as Tuesday. the era, legislation that is suddenly with the hard part - how to pay for it. cents per gallon. The federal gas tax One idea under consideration is re- of the highest priority after the 2020 As President Joe Biden jumps back has not increased since 1993. allocating money already approved John Garrod, of Arvada, stands holding a blue line fl ag at the beginning of a election as states impose restrictive into the talks this week, the question “The president’s pledge was not to as part of COVID-19 relief meas- line of about 30 police cars lined up for a procession in honor of the offi cer who new laws that could make it more of where the money will come from raise taxes on Americans making less ures. Sen. Rob Portman, R-Ohio, said was fatally shot in Arvada, Colorado, June 21. A gunfi ght between two men and diffi cult to vote. In the evenly split looms large. And time is running than $400,000 a year, and the pro- Sunday that they’re looking at repur- police offi cers at a shopping district in a Denver suburb left an offi cer and one of Senate, Republicans are united in short to solve it. posed gas tax or vehicle mileage tax posing more than $100 billion from the suspects dead, authorities said Monday. (AP) opposition, seeing the bill as federal Biden wants to increase taxes for would do exactly that,” said White COVID-19 relief to help pay for infra- overreach and denying Democrats corporations and those households House press secretary Jen Psaki. “So structure. He put the onus on the White the 60 votes that would be needed making more than $400,000 a year. that is a nonstarter for him. I’d also House to put forward other ideas, since Police fatally shoot suspect to overcome the fi libuster and begin Republicans have ruled that out, put- note for the mathematicians in the Democrats are balking at indexing the debate. ting forward alternatives that Demo- room that only raises $40 billion, gas tax to infl ation or creating a user fee “Are you afraid to debate?” Sen- crats fi nd unacceptable. Both sides which is a fraction of what this pro- for electric vehicles. ate Majority Leader Chuck Schum- have said the infrastructure spending posal would cost.” “The administration, therefore, 3 killed in Denver shooting er said Monday ahead of the vote. should be paid for and not add to the will need to come forward with some “We’re about to fi nd out.” national debt. Encouraged other ideas without raising taxes,” ARVADA, Colorado, June 22, (AP): A miles (10 kilometers) northwest of down- It’s a long-standing challenge with Biden hosted two key Democratic Portman said on NBC’s “Meet the gunman is believed to have shot and town Denver. Showdown no easy solution, one that puts the bi- senators, Joe Manchin of West Vir- Press.” “What we don’t want to do is killed an officer and another person in a It comes three months after a gunman Months in the making, Tuesday’s partisan agreement around infrastruc- ginia and Kyrsten Sinema of Arizo- hurt the economy right now as we’re shopping district in a Denver suburb opened fire and killed 10 people, includ- showdown over the For the People ture in tension with the nettlesome na, at the White House on Monday. coming out of this pandemic by rais- Monday before being fatally shot by ing a police officer, at a supermarket in Act, as it is called, is hardly the end realities of governing. It’s a problem He told them he was encouraged by ing taxes on working families.” police, authorities said. Boulder, about 20 miles (32 kilometers) of the road but the start of long cam- that has thwarted previous attempts at the plans that were taking shape but With the gas tax likely out, other An officer responded to a call at 1:15 northwest of Arvada. paign ahead. President Joe Biden an infrastructure bill, including dur- still had questions about the policy ideas include raising revenue from p.m. about a suspicious incident near the The Arvada officer’s death, just the has vowed what the White House ing the Trump administration, and and the fi nancing for the proposal, a communication spectrum leases and library in the city of Arvada, and about 15 third in Police Department history, was calls the “fi ght of his presidency” their ability to solve it now is likely White House offi cial said. Biden also both parties are eyeing funds that minutes later, a 911 call came in about especially painful after the mass shooting over ensuring Americans’ access to to determine whether a bipartisan ac- said he was focused on budget resolu- could be raised by going after tax shots fired and the officer hit, Deputy in nearby Boulder, Arvada Mayor Marc the polls. At stake is not only elec- cord is possible. tion discussions. dodgers. The Republicans estimate Chief Ed Brady said at a news confer- Williams said. Arvada police helped tion rules that make it easier to vote Senate Republican leader Mitch Mc- The two senators were among a about $63 billion could be raised by ence. The officer who was killed has been respond and investigate that attack, he but also Democrats’ own ability to Connell has said user fees are the way group huddling late Monday at the beefi ng up enforcement by the Inter- identified as Gordon Beesley, a 19-year said. confront the limits of bipartisanship to go. But the White House and key Capitol, some emerging upbeat that a nal Revenue Service. Democrats say Arvada department veteran, police said “This is by far the saddest day for our and decide whether or not the fi li- Democratic lawmakers oppose increas- bipartisan deal was within reach. “Sig- the amount could be even higher. later Monday, according to The Denver Police Department,” Williams said. buster rules should change. Post. The mayor said he was in his car in the Republican leader Mitch McCo- Manchin, a moderate West Virginia some areas and expand others, add- they would likely reject any legisla- Another person believed to have been area shortly before 2 p.m. “when literally nnell blasted the legislation ahead Democrat, said he couldn’t support ing provisions for a national voter tion that expands the federal govern- shot by the gunman was taken to a hospi- I saw 11 police cars with their flashing of the debate as a “disastrous pro- the bill without changes he wanted ID requirement, which is anathema ment’s role in elections. tal and died, police said. The attacker also lights and sirens on race past me. I knew posal” that will get “no quarter” in as a way to draw Republican support. to many Democrats, and drop- “I keep thinking there’s a few who was shot and killed. something serious had happened. I didn’t the Senate. The party that controls Manchin remained a holdout late ping a proposed public fi nancing of want to,” Jeff Merkley, D-Ore., who Authorities didn’t immediately know how serious.” Washington has been preparing for Monday following a meeting with campaigns. The proposed Manchin authored the legislation in the Senate, describe the circumstances of the shoot- Arvada resident Brady Turner said he this moment for months, even as Biden at the White House, where the changes were largely well received, said during a conference call Monday ing but said no one else is believed to was pulling into the Army and Navy store lawmakers faced their own internal two discussed voting rights. The sen- welcomed by Biden’s administration night with the group Our Revolution. have been involved. in the area when he noticed police cars divisions over the sprawling bill, ator would not say whether he would as a “step forward,” while earning “But when McConnell lowered the Earlier, police said there were two driving in behind him and a person on a which would remove hurdles to vot- vote with his party in trying to ad- the nod of approval from one of the boom,” he continued, “we couldn’t suspects. stretcher being put into an ambulance in ing erected in the name of election vance the bill, explaining he was still party’s key voting rights advocates, get a single Republican to join us.” The shooting occurred in Olde Town between the parking lot and the store. He security, curtail the infl uence of big reviewing the fi nal version. “I have to former Georgia governor’s race can- The rock-solid opposition from the Arvada, the city’s downtown district with said he took off in his car. money in politics and reduce parti- see the rest of it tonight,” he said at didate Stacey Abrams. GOP senators brings to a head ques- shops, restaurants, breweries and other “I just got out of there,” Turner said. san infl uence over the drawing of the Capitol. It did little, however, to garner tions over the fi libuster, the decades- businesses. It’s listed on the National About five minutes later, he heard gun- congressional districts. Manchin proposed his own chang- the bipartisan support Manchin was old Senate rule that requires 60 votes Register of Historic Places and is about 7 shots near the library about a block away. As recently as last week, Sen. Joe es last week as he tried to trim back hoping for. Senate Republicans said for most bills to advance. Nissan CEO promises turnaround for disgruntled shareholders

Nissan Chief Executive Makoto annual regular shareholders’ saying the problem should arrest shocked Japan and Uchida pleaded for patience meeting. have been solved internally raised serious questions about A man walks past from disgruntled shareholders Attendance was limited at instead being handed over to leadership at the maker of the Nissan Motor Tuesday and promised a turn- the meeting, which was also prosecutors. Leaf electric car, Z sportscar Co.’s global head- around at the Japanese auto- relayed online due to pandemic Nissan Motor Co., based in and Infiniti luxury brand. quarters in maker, which is projecting a precautions. the port city of Yokohama, has “We are sorry to have caused Yokohama, near third year of losses as it strug- One shareholder got up and been struggling in recent years. such worries. We are doing our Tokyo, June 22. gles to distance itself from a demanded a detailed disclosure Its brand image was battered best to recover your trust. I (AP) scandal over its former chair- of Ghosn’s alleged wrongdoing, by the 2018 arrest of Ghosn have not forgotten this for a man, Carlos Ghosn. saying questions about gover- over various financial miscon- moment,” said Uchida. “What we have worked on nance remained unanswered. duct allegations. All shareholders remained during years of hardship will Another shareholder also Ghosn jumped bail and fled anonymous and were identified bear fruit,” Uchida said at the addressed the Ghosn scandal, to Lebanon in late 2019. But his with numbers. (AP)

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Some Fed officials favor lifting rates in 2022 Powell says economy growing rapidly, inflation up ‘notably’ WASHINGTON, June 22, (AP): The economy is growing at a healthy clip, and that has accelerated inflation, Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell says in written testimony to be delivered Tuesday at a congressional over- US existing home sales sight hearing. Still, Powell reiterated his view that inflation’s recent jump to a 13-year high would prove temporary. “Inflation has increased notably in recent months,” Powell said in the fall for 4th straight mth prepared remarks. He blamed the rise on several factors, including sharp price declines last year at the onset of the pandemic, which make inflation Prices continue to soar figures now, compared with a year ago, look much larger. Higher gas prices, and rapid increases in consum- WASHINGTON, June 22, (AP): Sales of er spending as the economy reopens, previously-occupied homes fell for the coupled with supply bottlenecks, have also contributed to rising costs. Federal Reserve Chairman Jerome Powell, (right), testifies before the fourth straight month in May as soaring “As these transitory supply effects Senate Banking Committee on Capitol Hill in Washington, Dec 1, 2020. prices and a limited number of available abate, inflation is expected to drop (AP) properties discouraged many would-be back toward our longer-run goal,” Powell said, referring to the 2% infla- that the Fed wanted to signal it was make stocks less attractive to investors buyers. tion rate the Fed typically targets. prepared to keep inflation in check and make bonds a more appealing Existing home sales dropped 0.9% last month from Currently, however, the Fed is seeking without initially taking any steps to investment. April to a seasonally-adjusted annual rate of 5.8 mil- to push inflation slightly above 2% to pull back on its efforts to stimulate the But on Monday, New York Federal lion units, the National Association of Realtors said make up for the roughly nine years economy. Reserve Bank President John Tuesday. The string of sales declines comes after that it has come in below that level. Powell will testify Tuesday before a Williams, who also serves as vice sharp gains last fall and through the winter, as many Powell’s remarks follow a meeting of congressional oversight panel about chair of the Fed’s policymaking com- Americans sought more living space during the pan- the Fed’s policymaking committee last the Fed’s unprecedented steps last year mittee, said that while the economy is demic. Sales are up nearly 45% from last May, when week, when central bank officials sig- to provide extraordinary support to rapidly improving, “conditions have In this file photo, a real estate brokerage sign stands in financial markets at the outset of the not progressed enough for the (Fed) to purchases fell to their lowest point of the COVID-19 naled they now may increase the Fed’s outbreak. front of a house in Norwood, Massachusetts. (AP) benchmark interest rate twice in 2023. pandemic, including the first purchas- shift its monetary policy stance of es of corporate bonds in the Fed’s strong support for the economic recov- The drop in sales suggests that the hot housing market That’s earlier than the time frame they Prices rose so quickly that by May, roughly half of all set out in March, when no rate hike was history. ery.” is cooling a bit, even as hiring is steady and the economy expected until after 2023. Separately, some Fed officials are “I expect that as price reversals and is recovering rapidly from the pandemic recession. Home homes sold were purchased for more than their asking Powell also said the Fed had for- also making it clear that they are ready short-run imbalances from the econo- sales boomed last year as many Americans sought more price, according to real estate brokerage Redfin. Two mally begun discussing when and how to lift interest rates even earlier. On my reopening play out, inflation will living space during the pandemic. That lowered the num- years earlier, before the pandemic, just one-quarter of the central bank might reduce the cur- Friday, St. Louis Federal Reserve come down from around 3% this year ber of homes available and caused prices to spike. sales were above the asking price. rent $120 billion a month of Treasurys President James Bullard said he to close to 2% next year and in 2023,” That increase has likely frustrated many would-be home Historically low mortgage rates have helped fuel sales and mortgage-backed bonds that the favored lifting rates in 2022. Williams said. buyers, particularly first-time buyers, and led them to post- by making monthly payments more affordable. The aver- Fed is purchasing each month. That caused a sharp stock market U.S. stocks recovered most of their pone a home purchase. The median sales price topped age interest rate on a 30-year mortgage fell to 2.93% last Both moves were seen as evidence sell-off. Higher interest rates generally Friday losses on Monday. $350,000 last month, the NAR said, a record high. week, according to mortgage buyer Freddie Mac. Regulators seek to rein in US giant’s market power EU investigates Google’s conduct in ‘digital advertising’ tech sector LONDON, June 22, (AP): European sonalized based on an internet user’s Commission to answer their questions Union regulators have launched a browsing history. Search ads, in con- and demonstrate the benefits of our fresh antitrust investigation of Google, trast, appear alongside search engine products to European businesses and this time over whether the U.S. tech results and are based on keywords that consumers.” giant is stifling competition in digital users are looking for. The investigation signals a renewed advertising technology. The commission, the EU’s execu- effort by Margrethe Vestager, the EU The European Commission said tive arm and the bloc’s top antitrust commission’s competition chief and Tuesday that it has opened a formal enforcer, is looking in particular at executive vice president for digital, to investigation into whether Google vio- whether Google is distorting competi- rein in Google’s market power. She lated the bloc’s competition rules by tion by restricting access by third par- has already slapped Google with a favoring its own online display adver- ties to user data for ad purposes on total of 8.2 billion euros (now $9.7 bil- tising technology services at the websites and apps. lion) worth of fines in three separate expense of rival publishers, advertisers Google said competition in online antitrust cases. There was criticism, and advertising technology services. ads has made them more affordable however, that the investigations took The investigation underscores and relevant, cut fees and and expand- too long and the fines were not much European concerns about Google’s ed options for publishers and advertis- of a deterrent because the company dominance in the online advertising ers. could easily afford them. industry and whether it’s exploiting its “Thousands of European businesses “Online advertising services are at data advantage to cement its position use our advertising products to reach the heart of how Google and publish- in the display ad market, which the EU new customers and fund their websites ers monetize their online services,” estimates is worth 20 billion euros every single day,” Google said in a Vestager said. Google collects data to Britain’s Foreign Secretary Dominic Raab, (left), and Vietnamese Foreign Minister Bui Thanh Son greet with an elbow ($24 billion) annually. prepared statement. “They choose be used for targeted advertising while bump in Hanoi, Vietnam, Tuesday, June 22, 2021. The Britain’s top diplomat is on a three-nation visit in Southeast Online display ads are the banners them because they’re competitive and it also sells advertising space and acts Asia to promote closer ties and Trade with the region following the U.K.’s exit from the European Union. (AP) and text that show up on websites such effective. We will continue to engage as a middleman between online adver- as newspaper home pages and are per- constructively with the European tisers and publishers, she said. Britain strengthen its strategic interests in Asia UK pushes Pacific trade talks BANGKOK, June 22, (AP): The U.K. low for Asia-Pacific security with the Britain said joining the CPTPP launched negotiations Tuesday to join a International Institute for Strategic would open new access to fast-grow- trans-Pacific trade bloc as it looks to Studies’ office in Singapore. ing economies across Asia-Pacific and explore new opportunities following its For Britain to be taken seriously it the Americas, including Mexico, departure from the European Union and needs to show that it’s prepared to be Malaysia and Vietnam. Other coun- strengthen its strategic interests in Asia. engaged for the long-term, he said. tries in the pact include Australia, New The start of talks to join the “It’s no good just saying you’re Zealand and Canada, but Britain Comprehensive and Progressive engaged from the safety of London, would be the first European country if Agreement for Trans-Pacific even in a pandemic you have to com- it succeeds in joining. Partnership, made up of 11 counties mit to face time in the region,” he said. Britain singled out digital, services with a combined half billion people, Beyond trade, Britain earlier this and finance as sectors that stand to came as Foreign Secretary Dominic year dispatched a strike group led by gain from a trade deal, which it said Raab met with his counterpart and the Royal Navy’s flagship aircraft car- should mean tariff-free trade for 99.9% other Vietnamese officials during his rier the HMS Queen Elizabeth on a of exports. fifth visit to Southeast Asia in his cur- 28-week deployment to Asia. It is also “Membership of the CPTTP free- rent job. expected to announce the forward trade partnership would open up Britain is also looking to attain “dia- deployment of smaller Royal Navy unparalleled opportunities for British logue partnership” status with the vessels to the Indo-Pacific, Graham businesses and consumers in the fast- 10-country Association of Southeast said. growing Indo-Pacific,” Prime Minister Asian Nations, or ASEAN, as it pursues “That would be noticed in the Boris Johnson said. “It’s an exciting a “tilt” toward the Indo-Pacific region in region,” he said. “It won’t change the opportunity to build on this country’s response to China’s growing influence balance of power, but it does demon- entrepreneurial spirit and free-trading on the world stage that was recom- strate to China and others that this is history to bring economic benefits mended by a recent British government not only a U.S.-China bilateral dynam- across the whole of the U.K.” review of defense and foreign policy. ic,” The CPTTP is a much looser “The U.K. is committed to strength- Whether the diplomatic, economic arrangement than the European Union, ening our friendship across the Indo- and military outreach will succeed, which the U.K. formally left last year, Pacific,” Raab said ahead of the trip. however, will take time. as it does not include any political “We are demonstrating this through “I think they can maintain their integration. our commitment to join CPTPP, part- ambitions over a four-year timeframe, After the conclusion of a transition ner with ASEAN and invest more and that might be enough to develop period that was intended to smooth the energy, time and effort in our bilateral the momentum that they need,” U.K.’s departure, the country is now relations in the region.” Graham said, adding that closer ties to able to negotiate its own trade deals. The push comes as the region’s the region are probably more impor- Last week, the British government countries are looking for “options and tant for the Britain than vice versa. negotiated the broad outlines of a trade alternatives” to China as their main Following Vietnam, Raab was to deal with Australia that will see tariffs source of capital and trading opportu- visit Cambodia and then end his trip to on a range of goods eliminated over nities, said Euan Graham, senior fel- the region in Singapore. coming years. ARAB TIMES, WEDNESDAY, JUNE 23, 2021 BUSINESS 9

Special Report ARA Consumer Conﬁ dence Index – June 2021 Rise in key index shows high consumer optimism

n account of its interest in moni- Otoring the economic situation in Kuwait, “ARA Research & Consul- tancy” issues a monthly Consumer Confidence Index, in collaboration with the “Arab Times” newspaper and under the sponsorship of the “Lexus” trademark. The Consumer Confidence Index is considered as the only indicator that measures consumers’ psychological factors, based on people’s opinions and their prospects about the current economic situation and its future as well as their expectations regarding their financial conditions, and how that reflects on their purchasing power. The Consumer Confi dence Index is issued the fi rst Sunday of each month, and is based on quantitative The rise in Consumer Confi dence stabilized and remained at the previ- research on a sample of 500 peo- has not come out of the blue, but was ous month level. ple, distributed among Kuwaitis and the result of several factors, includ- Among the workforce, the second- Arab residents in different Governo- ing: ary level ratio increased by 25 points rates. The favorable atmosphere in sev- and among the diploma-carrying The study was conducted by tel- eral countries, including the United workforce decreased by 11 points. ephone through a random call se- States, China and European coun- This gap in confi dence in the eco- lection, taking into account that the tries, for fi nancial stimulus and tak- nomic conditions is linked to several distribution of the sample should be ing all measures to raise the level of other factors, including occupation, representative of the population in economic growth. This has a posi- economic sector and personal quali- Kuwait. tive impact on global trade, includ- fi cations. ries. He affi rmed the solidity of the The general Consumer Confi - ing and specifi cally oil markets. The Capital is conservative re- fi nancial situation in Kuwait and dence Index is based on six indices The rise in oil prices over the past garding the Economic Expecta- noted that the State initiated the ra- which the researchers at ARA use to months on the basis of high demand tions tionalization of expenditures and the measure the level of the consumer on the one hand and the regulation of The Expected Economic Situation diversifi cation of income sources. satisfaction and optimism. These oil production level by OPEC on the Index recorded a ratio of 103 points, Note that the Kuwaiti Dinar main- are: other. These measures ensured the by adding two points in a month, and tained its value, as the monetary in- • Current Economic Situation In- balance of supply and demand. still lagging by 11 points on an an- fl ation did not exceed 2.5% annually. dex Noting that expectations indicate nual basis. Thus, the value of Personal Incomes • Expected Economic Situation that the price of a barrel of oil could It is worth noting that the Capital remained at previous level. Index rise in the second half of this year to and other categories of the research The existing organic relationship • Current Personal Income Index exceed 80 dollars a barrel. components have reservations about in Kuwait between national income, • Expected Personal Income Index The improved performance of Ku- the Expected Economic Situation, especially oil based, and economic • Current Employment Opportuni- wait Stock Exchange as it grabbed with a decline of 16 points in the activity on the one hand and per- ties Index the lead in the Gulf in April. Capital’s ratio and 14 points in Ha- sonal incomes, salaries and wages • Purchase of Durables Index Optimistic expectations for the walli Governorate. on the other hand, will ensure the The indices’ results in a month ba- Kuwaiti economy with a potential The main factors for the reserva- stability of the incomes’ purchasing sis measure the psychological state growth of 3.7% in the current year. tion may be the uncertainty about the power and their gradual increase in of consumers in Kuwait, which equal Within this environment, citizens future of oil prices, which is related the future relative to fi nancial and 100 points. This result (100 points) awarded the General Index a ratio of to the success of global production economic developments. draws the line between optimism and 99 points; an increase of 4 points. and trade growth on the one hand, Labor Market Movement Regis- pessimism among consumers. The At the regional level, all the six and the limiting of the epidemic tered a Leap more the index surpasses this point, governorates increased the level of spread and the entailed expenditures Almost all countries in the world the more the psychological state of confi dence in the General Index, related to the spread of the epidemic have suffered from the spread of the consumers in Kuwait is considered varying from 16 points to one point and its fi nancial repercussions on the epidemic and the disadvantages of to be inclined towards optimism. within a month. other hand. the pandemic, with the suspension of The more the index declines below Divergence in position on Eco- The other most prominent factor is many sectors, and a signifi cant con- this point, the more pessimistic the nomic Issues the budget defi cits in the vast major- traction in the work volumes of other outlook. The Economic Situation Index re- ity of countries, which has been the sectors. This phenomenon has led to Enhancing the Ratios of all In- corded a ratio of 87 points in May, focus of attention and concern due the displacement of large categories dexes Increases the Consumer adding 3 points to its previous bal- to its alarming escalation in the last of expatriate workers from Kuwait Confi dence ance, and dropping 4 points on an year, exceeding acceptable limits in and other Gulf countries. ARA Research & Consultancy has annual basis. the United States, European coun- Now, after the gradual return of the released its Consumer Confi dence It is important to note that the tries and various other countries. economic activity and limiting of the Index in Kuwait, for May 2021 transitional phase that Kuwait is fac- Moreover, oil and gas producing Coronavirus spread in most countries in collaboration with Arab Times ing is characterized by the pursuit to countries, including Kuwait, fear a including Kuwait, we note that the ra- Newspaper and under the sponsor- overcome the pandemic and limit its drop in oil prices due to emergen- tio of the Current Employment Oppor- ship of Lexus. repercussions on the one hand, and cies, as has happened in the past two tunities Index in the market increased The General Index ratios for to work on a deliberate launch of the years. Thus, caution remains logical signifi cantly as expressed by the vari- May have been characterized by the economic activity, coupled with the among the respondents. ous research components. boosting of previous ratios by all re- endorsement and the start to com- A slight Increase in the two Per- In this atmosphere, the Employment search components, across various plete some important and strategic sonal Income Index Ratios Opportunity Index for May 2021 re- points and Al-Jahra Governorate by 2. Displacement of a part of expa- areas and social groups in different investment projects. In May 2021, the Current and corded a ratio of 132 points, adding 27 41 points, similarly all other Gover- triate workers. governorates, albeit some of them In this context, there have been some Expected Personal Income Indexes points within a month, exceeding the norates ratios increased. 3. The drop in oil prices at that only in small proportions. Nonethe- differences among the social and re- were almost stable. ratio of May 2020, by 23 points. This consensus refl ects the launch stage. less, all of them bare a positive indi- gional components of the research on The fi rst index registered 85 It is remarkable in the research size of the Labor Market Movement 4. The negative psychological im- cation of the high level of Consumer assessing the current economic situa- points by adding one point, while the data, the joint positive assessment of in Kuwait. pact of the pandemic and lockdowns. Confi dence. tion. This discrepancy is understand- Expected Personal Income Index in- the job opportunities volume, which Launch of Consumer Markets Comparing the data of the fi rst The General Index recorded a ra- able due to the inconsistency in the creased to 102 points by adding one was almost unanimously confi rmed The data confi rmed that the value quarter of the year on the consumer tio of 99 points, by adding 4 points interim results of various sectors. point as well to its previous ratio. by all the research components; cat- of spending by citizens and residents level, with what is revealed by the on a monthly basis, and 3 points On the regional level, as an ex- It seems that the State of Kuwait egorical and regional. in Kuwait during the fi rst quarter of Purchase of Durable Goods Index in compared to May 2020. ample of the discrepancy: the Capi- was able to protect the level of wag- For example, the various working this year, reached KD 5.4 billion, a May 2021, indicates a launch in the These data refl ect the general opti- tal confi rmed its optimism towards es and salaries in facing the epidemic groups increased their ratios at unprec- decrease of 3.4% compared to the re- consumer markets activity. mism among consumers, the begin- the Current Economic Situation by and its repercussions and expendi- edented rates. The unqualifi ed labor sults of the fi rst quarter of 2020 Whereby, the index recorded a ra- ning of a new phase in facing the adding ten points within a month, tures at various fi nancial, economic, category added 86 points on their pre- This decline in consumption level tio of 108 points, increasing its level epidemic, reducing its spread and its Al-Ahmadi Governorate 8 points health and social levels. vious monthly ratio, followed by the reveals several factors that led to this by 5 additional points. repercussions, and launching gradu- and Al-Jahra Governorate 3 points, His Excellency the Minister of Fi- intermediate education level category recession. We refer to some headlines; Noting that the ratio of May 2020 al programs to develop the economic while on the other hand Al-Farwani- nance has announced that no direct with an increase of 72 points. 1. Total and/or partial market for this index scored only 52 points. activity in most countries around the ya Governorate ratios decreased by taxes will be imposed on citizens, At the regional level, the Capital lockdowns as a precautionary meas- This confi rms the markets’ recov- world, including Kuwait. fi ve points and Hawalli Governorate and there are no worries about sala- increased its previous ratio by 42 ure for the epidemic. ery, which may exceed expectations. ARAB TIMES, WEDNESDAY, JUNE 23, 2021 BUSINESS 10

Philip Morris to move headquarters Oshkosh Defense to build Postal vehicles

Tobacco company Philip Mor- “Connecticut offers a valua- fi ces in Switzerland and em- Oshkosh Defense will make Gov. Henry McMaster said Some of the vehicles will be ris will relocate its corporate ble mix of technological know- ploys more than 71,000 people new delivery vehicles for the Oshkosh will invest $155 million powered by batteries, while oth- headquarters from New York how, future-forward thinking, around the world. U.S. Postal Service in Spartan- in Spartanburg County. ers will have internal combustion City to southwest Connecticut, and an open-minded approach Philip Morris, the maker of burg County, South Carolina, In February, Oshkosh De- engines. The exact mix has not bringing 200 jobs, offi cials said to problem-solving,” said Jacek Marlboro cigarettes, has been creating 1,000 new jobs. fense won the multi-billion-dol- been decided yet. Production in Tuesday. Olczak, CEO of Philip Morris shifting to non-combustible The Wisconsin company on lar contract to build the Postal South Carolina is expected to The company said in a news International. “We consider it products that it says are not release that the move was fa- an ideal location for our new free of health risks but offer an Tuesday said that it will recon- Service’s next generation deliv- begin in the summer of 2023, cilitated by the offi ce of Gov. U.S. head offi ce, where we alternative to continued smok- fi gure a warehouse with fea- ery vehicle. The company will the company said Tuesday. Ned Lamont, a Democrat, and will be working to more quickly ing. It aims to be a majority tures needed to do large-scale build 50,000 to 165,000 van- Oshkosh Defense, which the new headquarters is ex- achieve our vision of a smoke- smoke-free company in terms manufacturing. Parts supply like vehicles during the next 10 mainly builds military vehicles, pected to open by next sum- free future.” of net revenues by the end of companies are expected to cre- years, replacing a fl eet that is is a wholly owned subsidiary of mer. The company also has of- 2025. (AP) ate more jobs in the area. up to three-decades old. the Oshkosh Corporation. (AP) US stocks rise ahead of Powell testimony

Investors remain focused on the issue of inflation GameStop raises NEW YORK, June 22, almost $1.13 bln (AP): Stocks are rising on NEW YORK, June 22, (AP): Wall Street Tuesday as GameStop raised more than $1 billion traders wait for more clues in its latest stock sale, capitalizing on on the Federal Reserve’s a newly arrived and fervent army of thinking on infl ation. online investors. The S&P 500 index rose 0.3% The video game retailer has taken center stage among a handful of com- as of 11:37 a.m. Eastern. The Dow panies that have come to be known Jones Industrial Average rose 24 this year as meme stocks. The phe- points, or 0.1%, to 33,905 and the nomenon has pitted smaller investors Nasdaq rose 0.4%. who snap up shares of beleaguered Technology companies were the companies, against large, institutional biggest gainers. A mix of companies investors who have shorted shares of that rely on direct consumer spend- those companies, or bet that shares in ing, including Home Depot and Best those companies will fall. Buy, were also making solid gains. So far, it’s the smaller investors that Stocks rebounded on Wall Street are taking home big gains, though cer- Monday, clawing back most of tainly larger and more sophisticated their sharp loss from last week, as investors have since jumped aboard the initial jolt passes from the for the ride. Federal Reserve’s reminder that it Shares of GameStop Corp., based in will eventually offer less help for Grapevine, Texas, just outside of Dal- markets. las, are up more than 1,000% this year. The S&P 500 snapped 58.34 points Another meme stock, the movie chain higher, or 1.4%, to 4,224.79 and AMC Entertainment, is up 2,300% recovered nearly three-quarters of its this year. worst weekly loss since February. Oil Before becoming stars in Reddit producers, banks and other compa- retail investor chatrooms, both com- nies that were hit particularly hard panies were under severe pressure, but last week led the way. for different reasons. Fed Chair Jerome Powell will tes- AMC, already wrestling with thin tify before Congress later Tuesday on margins, was hammered by a global the central bank’s response to the pandemic that shut down its theaters coronavirus pandemic. Investors and fl ipped the switch on incoming remain focused on the issue of infla- revenue almost overnight. Problems tion and will be listening closely to at GameStop run deeper because tech- Powell’s comments on this issue. The nological shifts in gaming have threat- U.S. economy is recovering from the ened to turn it into a relic like another pandemic quickly as vaccines have once ubiquitous chain, Blockbuster Video. rolled out, but it’s caused prices for People wearing face masks walk past a bank’s electronic board showing the Hong Kong share index in Hong Kong, June 22. Asian shares have rebounded basic materials to rise noticeably in But GameStop is taking full advan- recent months. from their retreat a day earlier, tracking Wall Street’s recovery from the Federal Reserve’s reminder it will eventually provide less support to markets. (AP) tage its surging stock price to raise In prepared remarks, Powell reaf- desperately needed cash. The compa- firmed the Fed’s position that while $60,000 in mid- Southeast Asia. U.S. futures also case of India, Indonesia and some ening economy and threat of higher ny said Tuesday that it sold 5 million inflation has accelerated recently, the France’s CAC 40 shed 0.1% in edged higher. other countries in Southeast Asia, are inflation. shares in the at-the-market offering, or Fed expect the effects to be transito- early trading to 6,594.02, while Federal Reserve Chair Jerome the most severe yet,” said The market’s immediate reaction to every share it said that it might put on ry. Germany’s DAX slipped 0.3% to Powell says the economy is growing Venkateswaran Lavanya at Mizuho last week’s Fed news was to send the market. Powell’s remarks follow a meeting 15,550.99. Britain’s FTSE 100 added at a healthy clip, and that has acceler- Bank in Singapore. stocks lower and interest rates higher. It was the second cash haul for of the Fed policymakers last week, 0.3% to 7,079.95. The future for the ated inflation. In written testimony to In energy trading, benchmark U.S. Higher rates would make stock prices, GameStop this year during the run-up when central bank officials signaled Dow industrials was almost be delivered at a congressional over- crude oil lost 53 cents to $72.59 in which have been climbing faster than in its stock price. In April the company they were prepared to raise rates ear- unchanged while that for the S&P 500 sight hearing Tuesday, Powell reiter- electronic trading on the New York corporate profits, look even more said that it would sell up to 3.5 million lier than they had previously sug- inched down less than 0.1%. ated his view that inflation’s recent Mercantile Exchange. It jumped expensive than they do already. shares in a separate offering. That of- gested. Asian shares were mostly higher on jump to a 13-year high will prove $1.83 to $73.12 on Monday. Brent But it’s not like the Fed said it will fering also sold out and it raised about Bond prices didn’t move much. Tuesday, with most benchmarks temporary. crude, the international standard, fell hike rates from their record low of $551 million. The yield on the 10-year Treasury tracking Wall Street’s recovery from Powell’s remarks follow a meeting 46 cents to $74.44 a barrel. nearly zero anytime soon. Shares of GameStop, which could note edged up to 1.49%. the Federal Reserve’s reminder that it of the Fed’s policymaking committee In currency trading, the U.S. dollar “If markets are worried about a be had for about $20 early this year, GameStop rose 6.4% after the eventually will provide less support to last week, when central bank officials rose to 110.48 Japanese yen from march back to more normal mone- were selling for close to $220 Tuesday company announced it had raised $1 markets. signaled they were prepared to raise 110.31 yen. The euro fell to $1.1886 tary and fiscal policy as the economy after rising another 9% at the opening billion in selling new shares to inves- Japan’s benchmark Nikkei 225 rates earlier than they had previously from $1.1914. recovers, it will be a very long bell on word of the capital raise. tors. jumped 3.1% in afternoon trading to suggested. Investors are still figuring all the march,” Barings chief global strate- GameStop, in addition to raising The price of Bitcoin continued to 28,883.46. Australia’s S&P/ASX 200 But despite the reassurance from ramifications of the Fed’s forecast gist Christopher Smart said in a note. capital, is also shifting direction in fall, adding to its losses from the surged 1.5% to 7,342.20. South Powell, renewed coronavirus out- that may start raising short-term inter- In the meantime, support from both a bid to catch up to the changing previous couple of weeks. The digital Korea’s Kospi rose 0.8% to 3,265.00. breaks are clouding the outlook in est rates by late 2023. That’s earlier the Federal Reserve and the U.S. technology that threatened the com- currency is trading under $30,000, Hong Kong’s Hang Seng fell 0.2% to much of Asia. than previously thought. The Fed also government should continue to help pany’s existence, namely that gam- according to Coindesk, about where 28,419.58, while the Shanghai “Much of the region is dealing with began talks about slowing programs stock prices, even if they do look ers are downloading games rather it started the year. It traded above Composite gained 0.5% to 3,547.10. renewed waves of COVID-19 infec- meant to keep longer-term rates low, expensive compared with history, he than buying discs from places like Shares rose in India, Taiwan and tions. These waves, especially in the an acknowledgment of the strength- said. GameStop. Schlumberger eyes net ‘zero emission’ by 2050 HOUSTON, June 22, (Agencies): Schlumberger announced its commitment to achieve net-zero greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions by 2050. Guided by climate science, Schlumberger has spent 18 months conducting extensive analysis and working with experts to produce a decarbonization plan. With minimal reliance on offsets, the plan is focused on reducing Scope 1, 2 and 3 emissions across the oil and gas value chain-including the introduction of its Transition Technologies portfolio to assist its customers and the wider industry in their decarbonization commit- ments. Schlumberger is committed to getting to net zero, using 2019 as a baseline year, supported by a comprehensive near- term emission reduction roadmap and interim targets: By 2025, a 30% reduction in Scopes 1 and 2 By 2030, a 50% reduction in Scopes 1 and 2; 30% reduction in Scope 3 By 2050, Net Zero, with minimal reliance on offsets Along this journey to net zero, Schlumberger will ensure transparency in alignment with the Task Force on Climate-related Financial Disclosures (TCFD) and Sustainability Account- ing Boards (SASB) frameworks. In this context, Schlum- berger is working with the Science-Based Target initiative for formal external validation of its 2030 target. “There is a new industry imperative to address climate change while meeting the demand for energy both today and in the long term, sustainably. We have a 2050 net-zero carbon emissions ambition which I believe is unique in our industry due to our capabilities as a technology company and our culture grounded in science. This reinforces our commitment to unlocking access to energy, for the benefi t of all,” said Olivier Le Peuch, chief executive offi cer, Schlumberger. “Our net-zero target is inclusive of total Scope 3 emissions; this is a fi rst in the energy services industry.” “Our decarbonization plans are based upon climate science and focused on three key areas: operational emissions; customer emissions; and carbon-negative actions,” said Katharina Beumelburg, chief strategy and sustainability offi cer, Schlumberger. “75% of Schlumberger’s baseline GHG footprint comes from the technologies our customers use. To address this, Schlumberger has introduced our Transition Technologies portfolio, which is designed to help customers reduce their Scope 1 and 2 emissions, while simultaneously enabling us to meet our Scope 3 emissions target.” The Transition Technologies portfolio will address fugi- tive emissions, fl aring reduction, electrifi cation, well construction emissions, and full fi eld development solutions. Comprised of proprietary technologies and solutions, these will help to reduce direct and indirect emissions along with other environmental attributes, while simultaneously driving effi ciency, reliability, and performance. To quantify the impact of these technologies, Schlumberger has developed a robust framework that enables standardization of meas- urement, benchmarking through net-footprint comparisons, and ultimately better-informed technology selection during planning. ARAB TIMES, WEDNESDAY, JUNE 23, 2021 SCIENCE 11

Ecology

‘Bio-indicators’ In Iraq’s marshes, a quest for otters

CHIBAISH, Iraq, June 22, (AP): “Don’t move a muscle.” His command cut across the reeds rustling in the wind. On a moonlit embankment several kilometers from shore in Iraq’s celebrated southern Marshes, everyone stood still. Omar al-Sheikhly shined a fl ashlight across a muddy patch. “Nothing,” he said, shaking his head. His team of fi ve exhaled in unison. The environmentalist spearheaded this midnight expedition through the Marshes of Chibaish. It is the latest in a quixotic mission that has spanned nearly two decades: to fi nd any sign of Maxwell’s smooth-coated otter, a severely endangered species endemic to Iraq whose precarious existence is vital to the iconic wetlands. Most of al-Sheikhly’s pursuits have been in vain; the quick- witted otter has always been one step ahead. But as climate change looms, fi nding evidence they still exist as- sumes new importance. Al-Sheikhly is among the conservationists issuing a stark warning: Without quick action to protect the otters, the delicate underwa- ter ecology of the UNESCO protected site will be disrupted, and could all but wither away, putting at risk the centuries-old Iraqi marsh communities that depend on it. al-Sheikhly At stake is everything: “We stand to lose our Iraqi heritage,” said al-Sheikh- ly, who is the technical director at Iraqi Green Climate Or- ganization. Studies indicate there are between 200-900 smooth-coated otters left in the marshlands. Dangerously unpredictable water levels, illegal fi shing and neglect are driving their demise. This year, Iraq is set to face an insufferable summer, with Turkish dam projects on the Tigris and Euphrates rivers com- pounding a year of low rainfall. “There is a real crisis,” Wa- ter Resources Minister Mahdi Rasheed al-Hamdani said this Environmentalist Omar al-Sheikhly leads a team into the marshes in search of endangered animals, in Chibayish, Iraq, May, 1, 2021. Deep within Iraq’s celebrated marsh lands, conservationists are sounding alarm bells and issuing a stark warning: Without quick action, the UNESCO protected site could all but wither away. (AP) month. Water rates from both rivers are half what they were last year, he said. The Associated Press accompanied al-Sheikhly and his team on a 12-hour mission over two days in early May. At 8 Coronavirus a.m. on the second morning, al-Sheikhly was off again. Evasive In long wooden canoes — called mashuf — they traversed narrow waterways lined with dense reedbeds crisscrossing the Biden outlines vaccine plan heart of the wetlands. Jumping fi sh left ripples in their wake. Water buffalos lan- guidly chewed grass. A kingfi sher dove headfi rst to catch un- suspecting prey. US hits positive milestones on virus As dragonfl ies chased his water-borne convoy, al-Sheikhly named whatever animal crossed his path as though they were NEW YORK, June 22, (AP): COV- acquaintances. “Marbled duck,” he pointed. “Squacco heron.” ID-19 deaths in the US have dipped He has been studying them for 18 years. below 300 a day for the fi rst time since Finding the evasive smooth-coated otter is the equivalent of the early days of the disaster in March First-ever vaccine tech transfer winning the lottery. Since their discovery in 1956 by Scottish 2020, while the drive to put shots in naturalist Gavin Maxwell, the otter, distinguished by its sleek arms approached another encouraging dark fur and fl attened tail, has only been photographed twice: milestone Monday: 150 million Amer- center to open in South Africa when it was fi rst found, and 60 years later, by al-Sheikhly. icans fully vaccinated. Locals had tipped him off that otters were seen in the part of The coronavirus was the third lead- JOHANNESBURG, June 22, (AP): tries having the ability to produce the Marshes close to the Iran border. There, on the remnants ing cause of death in the US in 2020, The World Health Organization is vaccines, lamented Lara Dovifat, a of an old military road forged by Saddam Hussein during the behind heart disease and cancer, ac- in talks to create the first-ever tech- campaign and advocacy adviser for Iran-Iraq war, he waited for six hours. He saw the otter for only Lab manager Randall Scarborough cording to the Centers for Disease Con- nology transfer hub for coronavirus Doctors Without Borders. looks at a squid in Honolulu on June vaccines in South Africa, a move to “The faster companies share the a few seconds. trol and Prevention. But now, as the boost supply to the continent that’s know-how, the faster we can put an Because research efforts are so poorly funded and otters 11, 2021. Dozens of baby squid from Hawaii are in space for study. The outbreak loosens its grip, it has fallen desperately in need of COVID-19 end to this pandemic,” she said in a themselves are so hard to fi nd, studies about the species have baby Hawaiian bobtail squid were down the list of the biggest killers. shots, the head of the UN agency statement. relied on their dead skins for signs of life. raised at the University of Hawaii’s CDC data suggests that more Amer- announced. Numerous factories in Canada, In January 2006, the fresh skin of an adult male was ob- Kewalo Marine Laboratory and were icans are dying every day from acci- The new consortium will include Bangladesh, Denmark and else- tained from a local fi sherman — it was among the fi rst indica- blasted into space earlier this month dents, chronic lower respiratory dis- drug makers Biovac and Afrigen where have previously called for tions that the otter still thrived. on a SpaceX resupply mission to the eases, strokes or Alzheimer’s disease Biologics and Vaccines, a network companies to immediately share On this mission al-Sheikhly watched for signs they leave International Space Station. (AP) than from COVID-19. of universities and the Africa Cen- their technology, saying their idle behind: footprints, discarded fi sh heads, local sightings. He The US death toll stands at more tres for Disease Control and Pre- production lines could be churning goes to areas they prefer, such as lakes lined with reedbeds than 600,000, while the worldwide vention. They will develop training out millions of doses if they weren’t and muddy shores. count is close to 3.9 million, though facilities for other vaccine makers hampered by intellectual property In the central Marshes of Dhi Qar province, his team hap- Discovery the real fi gures in both cases are be- to make shots that use a genetic and other restrictions. pened upon two fi shermen unloading the day’s catch. Al- lieved to be markedly higher. code of the spike protein, known as More than 1 billion coronavirus Sheikhly stopped and asked them when they had last seen an About 45% of the US population has mRNA vaccines. vaccines have been administered “We are now in discussions with globally, but fewer than 1% have otter - local observations are a main part of survey efforts. NASA sends squid into space: Doz- been fully vaccinated, according to the CDC. Over 53% of Americans have re- several companies that have in- been in poor countries. “Maybe one year ago,” said one, piling mullets, catfi sh and ens of baby squid from Hawaii are in dicated interest in providing their South Africa accounts for nearly carp onto a pickup. space for study. ceived at least one dose of vaccine. But mRNA technology,” said WHO 40% of Africa’s total recorded CO- Al-Sheikhly furrowed his brow. The baby Hawaiian bobtail squid were US demand for shots has slumped, to the director-general Tedros Adhanom VID-19 infections and is currently “That is a big concern, if the local community sees them raised at the University of Hawaii’s Ke- disappointment of public health experts. Ghebreysus at a virtual press brief- suffering a rapid surge, but vac- rarely it means something has happened,” he explained. walo Marine Laboratory and were blasted New cases are running at about ing on Monday. That technology is cine rollout has been slow, marked Their importance can’t be underestimated. To environmen- into space earlier this month on a SpaceX 11,400 a day on average, down from used in the Pfizer-BioNTech and by delayed deliveries among other talists, otters are known as “bio-indicators,” species used to as- resupply mission to the International over a quarter-million per day in early Moderna vaccines. factors. sess the health of an entire ecosystem. Because they are on top Space Station. January. Average deaths per day are Africa will soon be able to “take South Africa currently does not of the food chain in Iraq’s Marshes, eating fi sh and sometimes Researcher Jamie Foster, who com- down to about 293, according to Johns responsibility for the health of our manufacture any COVID-19 vac- birds, their presence ensures balance. pleted her doctorate at the University of Hopkins University, after topping out people,” as a result of the new WHO- cines from scratch, but its Aspen Hawaii, is studying how spacefl ight af- backed technology transfer hub, Pharmacare assembles the John- There was a time when the otters were abundant. fects the squid in hopes of bolstering hu- at over 3,400 in mid-January. British explorer Wilfred Thesiger, a contemporary of Max- South African President Cyril Rama- son & Johnson shot by blending man health during long space missions, Supplies phosa said in the press briefing. large batches of the ingredients well, wrote in his travel book Marsh Arabs about one occa- the Honolulu Star-Advertiser reported sion when he spotted two otters playing a hundred yards away. In New York, which suffered might- It is “just not equitable and not sent by J&J and then putting the Monday. fair” that some people are denied product in vials and packaging “They appeared upright in the water, eyeing us for a few sec- The squid have a symbiotic relation- ily in the spring of 2020, Gov Andrew onds, before they dived and disappeared.” Cuomo tweeted on Monday that the state access to COVID-19 vaccines be- them, a process known as fill and ship with natural bacteria that help regu- cause of where they live, Rama- finish. Earlier this month the com- In that moment, his Iraqi escort reached for a gun. “Their late their bioluminescence. had 10 new deaths. At the height of the outbreak in the state, nearly 800 people phosa said. pany had to discard 2 million doses skins were worth a dinar a piece,” he wrote. The durable otter When astronauts are in low gravity Poor countries in Africa and else- because they had ingredients pro- skins were popular among smugglers who used them to trans- their body’s relationship with microbes a day were dying from the coronavirus. where are facing dire shortages of duced in the US in a factory under port illicit goods. changes, said University of Hawaii pro- Some states are faring worse than COVID-19 jabs despite some coun- suspect conditions. Hunting is on the decline, but electric pulse fi shing, illegal fessor Margaret McFall-Ngai, who Fos- others. Missouri leads the nation in but widely practiced in the south, is partly to blame. The elec- ter studied under in the 1990s. per-capita COVID-19 cases and is “We have found that the symbiosis of tric pulse paralyzes the otter. Most die. fourth behind California, Florida and have been delayed due to US and the to date — fi ve times more than any other The fi shermen who were questioned earlier each had elec- humans with their microbes is perturbed Texas in the number of new cases per in microgravity, and Jamie has shown that recipient countries’ legal, logistical country — more than Russia and China, trocution devices on their boats, visible despite attempts to dis- day over the past week despite its sig- and regulatory requirements. which have donated 15 million doses.” is true in squid,” said McFall-Ngai. “And, nifi cantly smaller population. guise them with carpets. because it’s a simple system, she can get “What we’ve found to be the biggest Earlier this month, Biden announced Meanwhile, because of regulatory challenge is not actually the supply - that on top of the 80 million, the US Threat to the bottom of what’s going wrong.” hurdles and other factors, President Joe Foster is now a Florida professor and we have plenty of doses to share with was purchasing 500 million doses Al-Sheikhly said this might account for why otters are hard principal investigator for a NASA pro- Biden is expected to fall short of his the world - but this is a Herculean lo- from Pfi zer to donate globally over the to spot. “Otters are smart, they know they are under threat and gram that researches how microgravity commitment to share 80 million vac- gistical challenge,” said White House coming year, with the fi rst deliveries change their behaviors.” affects the interactions between animals cine doses with the rest of the world by press secretary Jen Psaki. expected in August. Adaptability served them well throughout Iraq’s tumultuous and microbes. the end of June, offi cials said Monday. Psaki said shipments will go out as Biden initially committed to provid- history. The otters were feared extinct when Saddam drained “As astronauts spend more and more President Joe Biden is expected to soon as countries are ready to receive ing other nations with all 60 million the Marshes in the 1990s to fl ush out hiding Shiite rebels. time in space, their immune systems fall short of his commitment to shipping the doses and the administration sorts US-produced doses of the AstraZen- Since 2003, they have had to navigate a new Iraq where grow- become what’s called dysregulated. It 80 million COVID-19 vaccine doses out logistical complexities, including eca vaccine, which has yet to be au- ing urban sprawl and industrialization has taken precedence. doesn’t function as well,” Foster said. abroad by the end of June because of vaccination supplies like syringes and thorized for use in the US but is widely As a result, Iraqi marsh communities are increasingly losing “Their immune systems don’t recognize regulatory and other hurdles, offi cials bacteria as easily. They sometimes get alcohol prep pads, cold-storage for the approved around the world. The As- touch with the wetlands they dwell in. said as they announced new plans Mon- doses, customs procedures and even traZeneca doses have been held up for On an island grazing ground for water buffalos, a marsh sick.” day for sharing the shots globally. Foster said understanding what hap- language barriers. export by a weekslong safety review Arab boy tended to the animals. In the background, oil fl ares The White House announced the fi nal Psaki said she was not aware of how by the Food and Drug Administration. shot plumes of acrid smoke into the air — a ubiquitous sight in pens to the squid in space could help solve allocations for the doses, with 60 mil- health problems that astronauts face. many doses would be shipped by the Given declining domestic demand, crude-rich southern Iraq. lion shots going to the global COVAX end of the month. Biden was expected to be able to meet “There are aspects of the immune sys- vaccine-sharing alliance and 20 million But the greatest enemy to Iraq’s endemic otter species is an tem that just don’t work properly under The excess doses are not needed in the full 80 million commitment with- incalculable one: Water. being directed to specifi c partners. But the US, where demand for vaccina- out the AstraZeneca doses. The White long-duration spacefl ights,” she said. “If fewer than 10 million doses have been Cruising through a wide waterway, al-Sheikhly said that just humans want to spend time on the moon tions has plummeted in recent weeks House unveiled plans earlier this last year the entire channel had been dry. Flooding re-fi lled it, or Mars, we have to solve health problems shipped around the world, including 2.5 as more than 177 million Americans month for the fi rst 25 million doses but little rainfall this year threatens levels again. Experts said to get them there safely.” million doses delivered to Taiwan over have received at least one shot. for export from existing federal stock- it is already decreasing by one centimeter a day. The Kewalo Marine Laboratory breeds the weekend, and about 1 million doses On May 17, Biden announced that piles of Pfi zer, Moderna and Johnson One local woman, Um Muntadhar, said when the water the squid for research projects around the delivered to Mexico, Canada and South “over the next six weeks, the United & Johnson vaccines and some have dries up, the birds migrate and her livestock dies. “It is not world. The tiny animals are plentiful in Korea earlier this month. States of America will send 80 million already begun shipping. livable here anymore,” she said. Hawaiian waters and are about 3 inches Offi cials said that while the US- doses overseas. This will be more vac- On Monday, it revealed plans for 55 The UN estimates at least 250 square kilometers (96 square (7.6 centimeters) long as adults. produced doses are ready, deliveries cines than any country has actually shared million more shots. miles) of fertile land in Iraq is lost annually to desertifi cation. The squid will come back to Earth in Rising salinity will likely drive out if not wipe away endemic July. (AP) species. ❑ ❑ ❑ Iraqis largely blame Turkey’s Ilisu dam project for short- Artifacts returned to Italy: Nearly ages. Turkish offi cials said Iraq’s request that Ankara release a 800 illegally exported ancient artifacts, set amount of water per year is impossible in the age of climate valued at some 11 million euros ($13 mil- from pre-Roman times in southeastern ettes. According to experts, the pieces change. lion) and held by a private collector near Italy. date to between the 6th and 3rd centuries “So much is unpredictable, we suffer,” said one Turkish of- Antwerp, have been returned to Italy after They ascertained that a fragment of the B.C. Many were plundered from ancient fi cial, who spoke on condition of anonymity. several years of investigation, Italian po- same slab was held in a museum in the tombs in Puglia, the Carabinieri said. In an open lake at the cusp of the Hammar Marshes, al- lice said Monday. region of Puglia, and therefore the entire The police say they found the stele that Sheikhly halted the boat and quickly removed his shoes. The Carabinieri paramilitary police’s piece had been excavated there. originally caught the experts’ eye in the He appeared from a distance like a marshland messiah: specialized art squad said the probe began Italian law forbids export of cultural home of a collector in a town near Ant- knee-deep in water, curly hair dancing in the wind, anchored in 2017 after Italian experts noticed in a artifacts found in Italian territory. werp. Carabinieri said numerous legal ap- by a wooden stick. catalog for a show in a Geneva museum The probe eventually led to the discov- peals by the collector to keep the artifacts about the ancient peoples of Italy a photo ery of 781 other artifacts, including am- were ultimately rebuffed by Belgian judi- of a stele, or tall commemorative slab, phorae and other vases, steles and statu- Foster Ngai cial authorities. (AP) Film WEDNESDAY, JUNE 23, 2021 FFeatureseatures L. Young of theEndangeredSpeciesAct. cessful lawsuitallegingviolations stemming fromthegroup’ssuc- than $700,000inattorney’sfees cal TreatmentofAnimalsmore ex-wife topayPeoplefortheEthi- of aIndianawildlifecenterandhis has orderedtheformerproprietor and expensesrelated totheanimal $734,000 tocover attorneyfees Lane Stark 1994. (AP) pole, allofwhichwereacquiredin Deising ing twoscreenprintsby works byHaidaartists,includ- museum in1956. of themwerepurchasedbythe and bentwoodboxes.Nearlyall including severalspoons,baskets items aspartofitscollection art, accordingtoitswebsite. Columbian, andNativeAmerican European, American,African,Pre- has extensivecollectionsofAsian, with alllaws,”hesaid. ate ethicallyandinaccordance Boettcher said. into the items maynothavebeenbrought ing globalcollectionswhere apply tofutureclaims,includ- the NativeAmericangroupswill museum tosendpiecesback to theart. or legalclaimunderfederallaw” no longerhada“amoral,ethical told thecouncilthatmuseum museum, spective tribes.Thedirectorofthe American culturalitemstothere- federal fundstoreturnNative requires institutionswhichreceive of piecesundera1990lawthat tribes, WBHMreported. turn itemstotheTlingitandHaida Birmingham MuseumofArttore- Council clearedthewayfor they wereacquiredforcollections. items backin2017,decadesafter American tribesthatrequestedthe of arttotwoAlaskanNative owned museumwillreturnworks CHARLESTOWN, Ind: BIRMINGHAM, Ala: In thisimageprovidedbyPBS,directorCJHuntappearsinascenefrom‘TheNeutralGround.’Thefeature-lengthdocumentarypr make multiplefeaturefi Netfl onymous withbig-screenenchantment,hassetanewdeal NEW YORK,June22,(AP):StevenSpielberg,afi Spielberg’s Amblintomakeseveralfi fi family atUniversalandourotherpartners,willbeincrediblyful- fi ways,” Spielbergsaidinastatement.“Thisnewavenueforour portunity totellnewstoriestogetherandreachaudiencesin partnership, itwasabundantlyclearthatwehadanamazingop- thing wedo,andfromtheminuteTedIstarteddiscussinga theatrical releases. Studios. AmblinhasaseparatedealwithUniversalPicturesfor lease “WestSideStory”theatricallywithDisney’s20thCentury movies tobedirectedbySpielberg.ThisDecember,hewillre- rector moreoffi increasing competition,bringsperhapsthemostbelovedfi chief contentoffi lling formepersonallysincewegettoembarkonittogether lms, alongsidethestorieswecontinuetotellwithourlongtime US The museumalsoliststhree The museumhasseveralTlingit The museum,foundedin1951, “So, wewanttobeableoper- The cityordinanceallowingthe The groupsrequestedthereturn A votebytheBirminghamCity “At Amblin,storytellingwillforeverbeatthecenterofevery- The dealannouncedMondaydoesn’tspecifi The partnership,onelongcourtedbyTedSarandos,Netfl , mustpayPETAnearly DistrictJudge andhisex-wife, ix inwhichhisproductioncompany,AmblinPartners,will andaRegDavidsontotem United States ❑ Graham C.Boettcher ruledthat cially intothestreamingfold. cer, isamajorgetforthecompanythat,amid Timothy Richard legally, Melisa A city- Freida A judge lms peryearforthestreaminggiant. , to thepublicatStark’s Wildlifein exotic animals,showing themoff volunteers handled hundredsof hem andMadness.” series “TigerKing:Murder,May- people intheNetfl attention lastyearasoneofthe against thepair.Starkgained rights organization’s2017lawsuit For over20years, Starkandhis “a strongconsensustochallengethesemonuments protests andunrestoversocialjustice,therewas ened. thwarted becauseworkcrewsfelttheirlivesthreat- remove fourmonumentsfrompublicspacesbutwas was livinginNewOrleans.Thecitycouncilvotedto to staypreservehistory. ments shouldberemoved,andothersthatwantthem stand thedivisionbetweenthosethatbelievemonu- that werehandedtous,”hesaid. “Sadly, ourideaofhistoryisreallyjustlikestories ments abouthistoricaleventsperpetuatesthemyth, patriotism. about owningpeopleaspropertytostate’srightsand propaganda campaignshiftedthecausefrombeing ter theCivilWar,fi put slaveryfi Associated Pressinaninterviewpromotingthefi thousands ofmonuments,”HuntrecentlytoldThe the righttoownslaves. rative thattheconfl federacy aftertheCivilWarandcontinuesnar- Lost Cause,thecampaignthatmythicizedCon- Film FestivalandwillavailableJuly5onPBS. documentary thatpremieredSaturdayattheTribeca it became“TheNeutralGround,”afeature-length ized amuchbiggerstorywasrevealingitselfand he thoughtwouldmakeaninterestingshortfi Show” teammemberCJHuntsawpotentialforwhat P ‘Neutral Ground’ probes theLostCause The momentumshiftedlastyearafterasummerof The conceptforthefi That notiondroveHunttodelvedeeperunder- A reluctancetoactuallyreadprimarysourcedocu- Hunt saidSouthernsecessiondocumentsclearly “You can’tnameanotherwarwherethelosersget The serious,yetfunny,documentaryexaminesthe But notlongafterbeginningtheproject,hereal- ship withConfederatemonuments,“TheDaily erplexed byAmerica’scontroversialrelation- Variety New avenueaimstotellnewstoriesandreachaudiences cally includeany rst as thereasonfordivision.Butaf- ix true-crime lmmaker syn- By JohnCarucci ict wasmoreaboutfreedomthan lm pointsoutthatasuccessful Docu takesalookattroubled pastwithConfederatestatues lm di- lm lm beganin2015whenHunt ix Film Spielberg saidthatyear. a fi made-for-TV movies—shouldvieforEmmys,notOscars.“I’m Spielberg believedstreamingreleases—whichhecomparedto pression associatedwithhim.Reportsaroundthencirculatedthat announcement wondered:“HellFreezesOver?” ture formovies.ADeadlineHollywoodheadlineonMonday’s otce Stark Boettcher He clarifi But Spielbergin2019arguedagainsttheanti-streamingim- Spielberg hassometimesbeenseenasagainstastreamingfu- rm believerthatmovietheatersneedtobearoundforever,” entire Netfl with Ted,andIcan’twaittogetstartedhim,Scott,the the pandemic. by AmblinthatwassoldParamountPicturestoNetfl on Sorkinmovie“TheTrialoftheChicago7,”afi panies havepreviouslyworkedtogetheronTVseriesandtheAar- my Spielberg,including“1917”and“GreenBook.”Thetwocom- has helpedproduceawidevarietyoffi Amblin, whichtakesitsnamefroma1968shortbySpielberg, ed thatbigscreenorsmallscreen,“whatreallymatters ix team.” lm. its Juneteenthprogramming.(AP) lm. clear,” Huntsaid. And Ithinkthefi diffi up totheviolentJan.6attackonUSCapitol. traitorous actionscontinuetohauntthenation,right should disqualifyyou,”Huntsaid. You shouldn’tneedthatcombo.Oneofthosethings who enslavedpeople,butalso,hebetrayedtheUS’ say, ‘Look,Iknowthis60-foot-tallstatueistoaman federacy, right?It’slikeyoushouldn’tevenhaveto sentence likethatispartoftheabsurdityCon- treason. Theideathatweevenhavetoconstructa Jefferson Davis,aftercivilunrest. ment Avenue,includingoneofConfederateleader “Because wedidn’tdealwiththatthen,itisnow He notesthatthemythsandfailuretocondemn “I understandtheslaverything,butalsothiswas Last yearfourstatueswereremovedfromMonu- Streaming good. Noneofthesemakessense.” tennis playernearby,”Huntsaid.“Noneoftheseare by addingacontextualplaqueorBlack among theslaveholdersfor“inclusion”purposes. eracy. commemorating thosewhofoughtfortheConfed- on MonumentAvenueinRichmond,Virginia,astrip ment ofastatueBlacktennisiconArthurAshe funny attimes.” lowing thestorytobeheavy,whilebeinglightand ecutive produceronthefi inherent optimism,”saidWood,whoservesasex- with therightbalanceofhumorandinformation. like RoyWoodJr.tolearnhowreportonasegment Trevor Noah,”Huntsaidhewatchedcorrespondents in publicspaces,”hesaid. cult tocallinsurrectionistsnowinsurrectionists. “We’re notgoingtomaketheConfederacybetter The fi In onesegment,Huntshowsthepeculiarplace- “Peppered withinthisdocisCJ’scuriosityand Before joiningthecastof“TheDailyShowwith lm questionsthenotionofaddingAshe Kentucky the CourierJournalof price ofa$25ormoreadmission, Need centerinCharlestownforthe had “wounded,harmed, and/or lions, andhybrids thereof”and Species Act“bytaking tigers, Lane hadviolated theEndangered that WildlifeinNeed,Starkand Young ruledinAugust2020 lm triestomakethatconnection lms outsideofthosemade Treason , reported. lm.“Hedidagreatjobal- lm co-produced Louisville, lms ayearforNetfl ix during emiered attheTribecaFilmFestivalonSaturday,June19,aspartof chapter ofSteven’scinematichistory.” the Amblinteamandwearehonoredthrilledtobepartofthis awakening,” saidSarandos.“Wecannotwaittogetworkwith ble charactersandstoriesthathavebeenenduring,inspiring ers aroundtheworld,mygrowingupwasshapedbyhismemora- ies simultaneouslytostreamingservices. Bros. haveembracedmorehybridreleasemodelsthatsendmov- prominent releases,traditionalstudioslikeDisneyandWarner exclusive theatricalrunsofaweekormoretosomeitsmost in ourculture.” movie theaters.Iwantthetheatricalexperiencetoremainrelevant in anemailtotheNewYorkTimes.“Iwantseesurvivalof over theymightfeelalittlelesslikestrangers,”Spielbergwrote together, laughbeafraidtogether—sothatwhenit’s sit inthecompanyofothersandhaveasharedexperience—cry the safeandfamiliaroftheirlivesgotoaplacewheretheycan stories.” to meisagreatstoryandeveryoneshouldhaveaccess “Steven isacreativevisionaryandleaderand,likesomanyoth- The lineshavealsoblurredsincethen.WhileNetfl “However, Ifeelpeopleneedtohavetheopportunityleave owning orpossessing without barring Starkand his ex-wifefrom PETA apermanent injunction soon. separated fromtheirmotherstoo ing tocourtdocuments,bybeing cats werealsoharmed,accord- Cats viadeclawing.”Fifty-three harassed atleasttwenty-twoBig Young’s rulingalso granted no Blackmembers.(AP) that theHollywoodForeignPressAssociationhad Times investigationthatrevealedamongitsfi uary duetothatorganization’sresponseanLA decision nottoairtheGoldenGlobeAwardsinJan- 2022 seasonhasalreadybeenshakenupbyNBC’s and upended,bythecoronaviruspandemic.The was notrepeatedattheOscars. winners thisyearwereactorsofcolor,butthatfeat best pictureAcademyAward.AllSAGAwardsfi binger, thoughthisyear“Nomadland”tookhomethe and TBS. performances intelevisionandfi back toMarch27.Theshow,whichhonorsthebest to theOscars,whichhaspushedits2022ceremony Crown” fordramaand“Schitt’sCreek”comedy. television actinghonorsgoingtothecastsof“The of theChicago7”crownedtopfi virtual formatforthisyear’sshow,whichsaw“Trial which willairthelastweekendinFebruary. returning toatwo-hourformatforits2022edition, LOS ANGELES: Hollywood’s 2021awardsseasonwasdelayed, The SAGAwardsareoftenareliableOscarhar- The show’sFeb.27airdateoriginallybelonged The SAGAwardsadoptedaone-hour,completely ticular street,”Woodsaid. that everydamndaywhenI’mridingpastthispar- dear. It’saboutreservingmyrighttonotwantsee think it’sabouterasinganythingthatpeoplehold their history. cilities, sothosethathaveaconnectioncanpreserve ing themtospecialareasinmuseumsorprivatefa- out ofpublicview.Woodsupportstheideamov- should bedestroyed.Buttheyagree Neither HuntnorWoodbelievestheseremnants memorials, thesolutionisabitmorecomplicated. “The statuesareagreatplacetostart,butIdon’t When itcomestowhatdoaboutthestatuesand TheScreenActorsGuildAwardsare Also: lm, willaironTNT statement. (AP) Litigation PETA Foundation Directorof the lawhascaught upwithhim,” a buck,butnowthelongarmof used themasphotopropstomake mothers, removedtheirclaws,and tore big-catcubsawayfromtheir court approvalanybigcats. “For years,TimStarkcruelly lm ensemble and Asher Smith ndings ix ix hasgiven lm saidina ARAB TIMES, WEDNESDAY, JUNE 23, 2021 NEWS/FEATURES 13

People & Places

Lifestyle Tech

Jolie visits Burkina Faso Hiking trail app Serbian band sings for FB starts podcasts & live audio service women empowerment NEW YORK, June 22, (AP): Fa- BELGRADE, Serbia, June 22, (AP): Their songs are cebook was set to launch podcasts about “women chained” in abuse witnessed by gener- and live audio streams in the US ations, or teenage brides being forced into marriage by on Monday to keep users engaged their fathers. And they tell women to seek love, fi ght on its platform and to compete with back and stand up for their right to be equal with men. emerging rivals. A female Roma band in Serbia is using music to Facebook says it is allowing pub- preach women’s empowerment within their commu- lic fi gures with verifi ed accounts nity, challenging some deeply rooted traditions and to start live audio rooms and invite centuries-old male domination. anyone else to speak. A handful of Formed in 2014, “Pretty Loud” symbolically seeks podcasts will be available to people to give a louder voice to Roma girls, encourage educa- in the US at fi rst and the company tion and steer them away from the widespread custom plans to add more down the line. of early marriage. The band has gained popularity CEO Mark Zuckerberg, who and international attention, performing last year at the has appeared on the video streaming Women of the Year Festival in London. app Clubhouse in the past, hosted “We want to stop the early his own live au- marriages ... we want the girls dio room on his themselves, and not their par- Facebook page ents, to decide whether they last week. want to marry or not,” said “Live Au- Silvia Sinani, one of the band dio Rooms and members. “We want every podcasts roll- woman to have the right to be ing out in the heard, to have her dreams and US is just the to be able to fulfi l them, to be beginning of equal,” our audio jour- Sinani, 24, said that the idea ney,” wrote Fidji Simo, Jolie for an all-female band was Zuckerberg born at education and artistic head of the workshops run for Roma, or Gypsies, by a private Facebook app, foundation, Gypsy Roma Urban Balkan Beats. The in a blog post Monday. “Looking girls initially danced in GRUBB’s boys’ band and ahead, we are working with crea- then decided they wanted one of their own, she said. tors who will use our audio tools to “They (GRUBB) named us ‘Pretty Loud’ because further develop and launch Sound- they knew that women in Roma tradition are not really bites — short-form, creative audio loud,” she said. clips.” The band’s music, a combination of rap and tradi- But podcasts and live audio have tional Roma folk beat, mainly targets a younger gen- also been an outlet for racism, mis- eration of girls who are yet to make their life choices information and extremist material. — the band itself includes 14-year-old twin sisters. Live audio is particularly diffi cult to The songs tackle women’s position in their commu- moderate, compared with traditional nity, and seek to boost their self-awareness. social media posts. The quest is essential in a community where early Facebook, which announced marriages are widespread — a UNICEF study pub- its audio plans to push into audio lished last year showed that over one third of girls in streams in April, says its rules apply Roma settlements in Serbia aged 15-19 are already to live audio and podcasts and any- married. Of them, 16% were married before they were one can report offending material. 15. “In addition, our broader integrity and safety work and the tools we Reverse have built for proactively and auto- Alarmed, Serbian authorities, too, have formed a matically identifying harmful con- state commission to try to reverse the trend. tent are great building blocks, but “I am an example of early marriage,” said band we plan to adapt tech and processes member Zlata Ristic, now 27, who gave birth to a as we learn more,” the company said baby boy at the age of 16. “Nobody forced me into it in a prepared statement. but I have realized I should not have done it.” The company says that it may also Now a single mother, Ristic said she wants other retain live audio after it is no longer women in similar situations to know that their lives live to enforce its policies, which will be done both by human modera- are not over once they have children, and that they can A model wears a creation as part of the Giorgio Armani Spring Summer 2022 collection, in Milan, Italy, June 21. (AP) still pursue their dreams. tors and machine learning. “My biggest reward is when 14-year-old girls write ❑ ❑ ❑ to me and say they want to become one of us, that they now attend school thanks to us, that they have Fashion Hiking season is underway in the improved their grades,” she said. Pacifi c Northwest and there’s a new app for outdoor enthusiasts look- Also: ing to explore some of Washington Among the most underprivileged ethnic commu- State’s most popular trails. nities in Serbia and Europe more widely, the Roma Designer talks succession “We had this pandemic that cre- largely live in segregated settlements on society’s ated this need to go outside,” said fringes, facing poverty, joblessness and prejudice. Mat Lyons, president of Trails, Activists have warned that the COVID-19 pandem- Recreation, Education, Advocacy, ic has further fueled the social isolation of marginal- Armani hosts 1st live show Development, or TREAD, a non- ized groups and increased their poverty. Disruptions profi t that connects people with pub- of regular schooling due to the virus lockdowns have MILAN, June 22, (AP): Giorgio Nonetheless, he managed to help lic lands. made it even harder for Roma children to stay in the Armani hinted at his succession plans prepare for the menswear show as Together with the Washing- system. on Monday as he staged his fi rst live well as an Armani Prive couture col- ton Tourism Alliance and Dharma At the GRUBB center in Belgrade’s Zemun district, runway show since the pandemic, lection, which will be shown in Paris Maps, the group has released its several children could be seen working with young in- and following a fall that landed him later this month. TREAD Map App pilot program. It structors in an improvised classroom. The girls from the hospital for two weeks. This was Armani’s fi rst live show will provide real-time trail and rec- “Pretty Loud” teach at music and dance workshops The 86-year-old designer has usual- since Italy became the fi rst country reational data through spring and run by GRUBB, which was established in Serbia in ly demurred from answering questions in the West to detect local transmis- summer 2021 in Central Washing- 2006. about the future of his fashion empire, sion of the virus in February 2020. ton, KOIN reported. Diana Ferhatovic, 18, fi rst came to the center four but the issue seems to have pushed to And those 15 months ago, he was the The app is currently functional in years ago, initially seeking help with school lessons the forefront after a bad fall that frac- fi rst designer to close his theater to Kittitas, Grant, Douglas, Chelan, before joining the music program and fi nding her way Giorgio Armani, (right), and Leo tured his left humerus, requiring 17 an audience during the Milan Fash- and Okanagan counties, where into “Pretty Loud.” Their performance in London last Dell’Orco accept applause at the con- stitches and hospitalization. ion Week of womenswear previews heavy public lands use is expected March - just as the COVID-19 pandemic was starting clusion of the Giorgio Armani men’s With a menswear show to pre- that was under way when the fi rst during the summer. - was unforgettable, she said. Spring Summer 2022 collection, in pare for, he relied on Pantaleo (Leo) case was disclosed just an hour from Last year, while looking for ways “I had a kind of positive jitters, we all did at fi rst, Milan, Italy, June 21. (AP) Dell’Orco, who joined Armani in Milan. to have fun while social distancing, the whole group,” Ferhatovic said. “Then we blew 1977 and heads menswear for all of people fl ocked to Central Washing- them off their feet.” Armani’s collections: Giorgio Arm- Promote ton, but in some places, the crowds ani, Emporio Armani and Armani “Digital is necessary,’’ Armani became a problem. Also: Variety Exchange. said, especially to reach people who “We know that certain trailheads GOUDOUBO, Burkina Faso: Hollywood actress An- “With time, he has become more still cannot travel to the shows and were loved to death. Others and gelina Jolie has visited war-weakened Burkina Faso mature, and stubborn,’’ Armani to promote the collection. “But it other recreational spots didn’t see to show solidarity with people who continue to wel- NEW YORK: The author of “Fire and quipped. doesn’t take the place of a real run- as much business as communities come the displaced, despite grappling with their own Fury,” the million-seller from 2018 that Citing Dell’Orco and his niece Sil- way show, seeing the textiles and around them would have liked,” said insecurity, and said the world isn’t doing enough to helped launched the wave of inside ac- vana Armani, who fi lls the same roles how the models move.” David Blanford, executive director help. counts of the Trump White House, will for womenswear, Armani said, “I am Armani titled his spring-summer of the Washington Tourism Alli- While Burkina Faso has been battling a fi ve-year have a last take coming out next month. preparing my future with the people 2022 collection “Back to where it ance. Islamic insurgency linked to al-Qaeda and the Islamic Michael Wolff’s “Landslide: The around me,’’ he said. started,” a homage to his original at- The group has partnered with the State that’s killed thousands and displaced more than Final Days of the Trump Presidency” is elier and garden where the show took TREAD Map App to help manage one million people, it’s also hosting more than 22,000 scheduled for July 27, publisher Henry Uncertain place - and where he lives upstairs. the fl ow of visitors and protect trails refugees, the majority Malian. Holt told The Associated Press. Trump, Armani took his bow at the end of The collection was full of easy- throughout the state. “The truth is we are not doing half of what we could who condemned “Fire and Fury” and at- tempted to have its publication halted, is the show on the arm of Dell’Orco, going looks in navy, white and sand Also: and should ... to enable refugees to return home, or to among those who spoke to Wolff for his who helped him down the stairs to for casual get-togethers at the seaside support host countries, like Burkina Faso, coping for the runway. or a garden party. PLYMOUTH, England: The May- new book, according to Holt. fl ower had a few false starts before years with a fraction of the humanitarian aid needed “In ‘Landslide,’ Wolff closes the story “If I am a little uncertain, this is Navy blazers were paired with to provide basic support and protection,” Jolie said. why,’’ he said backstage, showing loose white trousers and shirts with its trailblazing sea voyage to Amer- of Trump’s four years in offi ce and his ica more than 400 years ago. Now, As Special Envoy to the United Nations High Com- tumultuous last months at the helm of off a long scar on his left arm. baseball collars; or conversely a missioner for Refugees, Jolie marked World Refugee Armani said he had been eager to white bomber in technical fabric gave its artifi cial intelligence-powered the country,” the publisher announced, namesake is having some glitches of Day on Sunday in Burkina Faso’s Goudoubo refugee “based on Wolff’s extraordinary access go to the movies after winter restric- a sporty fl air to navy pants. A fl ash of camp in the Sahel, where she fi nished a two-day visit. to White House aides and to the former tions and went to the cinema when fuchsia on a men’s shirt beneath an its own. She spoke with the camp’s Malian refugees and inter- President himself, yielding a wealth of they were lifted some 20 days ago. electric blue Bermuda short suit won A sleek robotic trimaran retrac- nally displaced people in the nation’s hard-hit Center- new information and insights about what Coming out of the theater, two people a round of applause. Collarless linen ing the 1620 journey of the famous North and Sahel regions. really happened inside the highest offi ce were sitting on the stairs blocking his shirts in a sandy shade were set off English vessel had to turn back last Malians began fl eeing to Burkina Faso in 2012 af- in the land, and the world.” passage, and Armani’s bodyguards by red stripe accents, and worn with Friday to fi x a mechanical problem. ter their lives were upended by an Islamic insurgency, Wolff’s fi rst book on Trump, pub- didn’t manage to stop him in time. sea-green or fuchsia Bermuda shorts. Nonprofi t marine research organi- where it took a French-led military intervention to lished in January 2018, was an immedi- “I didn’t fi nd the step, and I fell,’’ Rounded collars peeked out of car- zation ProMare, which worked with regain power in several major towns. The fi ghting ate sensation and went on to sell more Armani said. “I won’t tell you how digans, while footwear was mostly IBM to build the autonomous ship, has since spread across the border to Burkina Faso, than 2 million copies. Critics questioned painful it was,’’ he added. casual loafers or slip-on sneakers. said it made the decision to return to creating the fastest growing displacement crisis in details of Wolff’s reporting, but his base “to investigate and fi x a minor the world. Last month Burkina Faso experienced its underlying narrative of a chaotic White mechanical issue” but hopes to be deadliest attack in years, when gunmen killed at least House and a volatile, easily distracted back on the trans-Atlantic journey as 132 civilians in Solhan village in the Sahel’s Yagha chief executive has held through numer- which it operates. forward,” he said. “We’ve named other soon as possible. ous bestsellers which followed, from “The three whales will get what we animals in the past and people get very ex- With no humans on board the province, displacing thousands. refer to as stage names, and they would cited about the opportunity. It really makes The increasing attacks are stretching the UN’s abil- Bob Woodward’s “Fear” to John ship, there’s no one to make repairs Bolton’s “The Room Where It Hap- be referred to by those names going the animals part of the community and the while it’s at sea. ity to respond to displaced people within the country community feels they are part of the expe- as well as the refugees it’s hosting. “Funding levels for pened.” (AP) Piloted by artificial intelligence ❑ ❑ ❑ rience of welcoming the new animals.” the response are critically low and with growing num- The aquarium hopes to raise $4 technology, the 50-foot (15-meter) bers of people forced to fl ee ... the gap is widening,” LOS ANGELES: A Connecticut million at the auction, which will also Mayflower Autonomous Ship be- UNHCR representative in Burkina Faso Abdouraouf aquarium plans to auction off the chance include donated art, perhaps a boat or gan its trip early Tuesday, depart- Gnon-Konde told the AP. to name three of its fi ve recently arrived vintage car and some unique experiences ing from Plymouth, England, and The attacks are also exacerbating problems for refu- beluga whales to raise money for their — such as educational dive trips with spending some time off the Isles of gees who came to the country seeking security. care and to offset the cost of transporting scientists to places such as the undersea Scilly before it headed for deeper “We insisted on staying (in Burkina Faso), (but) them from Canada. Northeast Canyons and Seamounts Ma- waters. we stay with fear. We are too scared,” said Fadimata President and CEO Stephen Coan said rine National Monument in the Atlantic It was supposed to take up to three Mohamed Ali Wallet, a Malian refugee living in the the Sea Research Foundation has teamed Ocean, Coan said. weeks to reach Provincetown on camp. with the New York-based auction house It will cost the aquarium about $5 Cape Cod before making its way to Guernsey’s to hold a fundraising auction million a year to care for the belugas, he Plymouth, Massachusetts. on Aug 19 at the Mystic Aquarium, Woodward Wolff said. (AP) ARAB TIMES, WEDNESDAY, JUNE 23, 2021 SPORTS 14

Maharaj shines SAfrica seal series ‘win’ over Windies GROS ISLET, St. Lucia, June 22, (AP): Keshav Maharaj took a hat trick in his 5-36 to lead South Africa to a 158-run win over West Indies in the second test and a 2-0 series sweep. Maharaj became just the second South African and ﬁ rst in more than 60 years to take a test hat trick when he dismissed Kieran Powell, Jason Holder and Joshua Da Silva in the second-to-last over before lunch on the fourth day. West Indies was already under pressure after fast bowler Kagiso Rabada’s three wickets at the top of the order. But Maharaj hurried the home team’s demise in St. Lucia as it was all out for 165 before tea on the fourth day, well off the target of 324 set by South Africa.

CRICKET

Maharaj also wrapped it up when Jayden Seales was caught out on the square leg boundary to give the left- arm spinner his fi fth. Roston Chase wasn’t able to take his place at No. 4 because of a leg injury, meaning West Indies had only nine batsmen. Maharaj’s three in three balls started with a key breakthrough when Powell holed out at square leg for 51. Maharaj added the wickets of Holder and Da Silva, with Wiaan Mulder’s low one-handed catch down to his right at leg slip sealing the hat trick. It sent Maharaj running and sliding, soccer-style, on his chest on the grass in celebration. The only previous South African to take a hat trick in tests was Geoff Grif- fi n against England at Lord’s in 1960. West Indies started the day 15-0 but lost captain Kraigg Brathwaite (6) and Tampa Bay Lightning left wing Pat Maroon (14) and New York Islanders left wing Matt Martin (17) battle for possession of the puck during the fi rst period in Game 5 of an NHL hockey Stanley Shai Hope (2) quickly to the pace of Cup semifi nal playoff series, on June 21, in Tampa, Fla. (AP) Rabada.

NCAA rules slammed Stamkos & Vasilevskiy pace Supreme Court win for college athletes in compensation case Lightning’s rout of Islanders WASHINGTON, June 22, (AP): The rejected. Gorsuch said that allow- Supreme Court ruled unanimously ing colleges and universities to offer Monday the NCAA can’t limit educa- “enhanced education-related benefi ts tion-related benefi ts - like computers ... may encourage scholastic achieve- Tampa Bay takes 3-2 series lead and paid internships - that colleges can ment and allow student-athletes a offer their sports stars, a victory for measure of compensation more con- athletes that could help open the door sistent with the value they bring to TAMPA, Florida, June 22, play goal at 5:42 of the second began to further easing in the decades-old their schools.” (AP): There was no panic in another three-goal period that made it fi ght over paying student-athletes. Under current NCAA rules, students 6-0. Schools recruiting top athletes could cannot be paid, and the scholarship the Tampa Bay Lightning Alex Killorn finished with two now offer tens of thousands of dollars money a college can offer is capped at - just another determined goals, Brayden Point delivered his in education- the cost of attending the school. performance against the 13th of the playoffs, and postseason related benefi ts The NCAA had defended its rules scoring leader Nikita Kucherov that also include as necessary to preserve the amateur New York Islanders. extended his career-best playoff study-abroad nature of college sports, preventing Steven Stamkos had two goals points streak to eight games with three programs and a blurring of the line between them and an assist and Andrei Vasilevs- assists for Tampa Bay, which hasn’t graduate schol- and professional teams, with colleges kiy notched his fourth career play- lost consecutive playoff games since arships. How- trying to lure talented athletes by of- off shutout, helping the defending being swept by Columbus in the first ever, the case fering over-the-top benefi ts. A lower Stanley Cup champions rout the round in 2019. doesn’t decide court had upheld the NCAA’s limits Point has scored a goal in eight whether stu- on scholarships and cash awards, and Islanders 8-0 in Game 5 of their straight games, the second-longest dents can simply the high court wasn’t asked to weigh semifi nal playoff series. stretch within a single postseason in be paid salaries in on those. “I like to think we play determined NHL history. for the ben- Emmert Writing for only himself, Justice all the time, not just tonight,” coach Vasilevskiy, meanwhile, stopped all efi ts their efforts Brett Kavanaugh signaled where deci- Jon Cooper said after his team moved 21 shots he faced for his third playoff bring - measured in tens of millions for sion may lead. He said there are “se- within one victory of a return to the shutout this year. The Vezina Trophy many universities. rious questions” about whether the Stanley Cup Final. In this, Feb. 13, 2018, fi le photo, then-Vegas Golden Knights head coach finalist also blanked Florida and The high court agreed with a lower NCAA’s other restrictions on compen- Gerard Gallant calls out from the bench during the third period of an nhl Carolina in series-clinchers in the first court’s determination that NCAA lim- sating athletes can stand. Kavanaugh ICE HOCKEY hockey game against the Chicago Blackhawks in Las Vegas. Gallant two rounds. its on the education-related benefi ts wrote that “traditions alone cannot takes on a new challenge as coach of the New York Rangers, looking Essentially taking up where the that colleges can offer athletes who justify the NCAA’s decision to build to “take a big step” with a young team that ownership and management Lightning left off in a furious third- play Division I basketball and football a massive money-raising enterprise on “It’s certainly a response and a thinks should be a contender. It’s very different than his previous stints period rally that just fell short in a violate antitrust laws. the backs of student athletes who are mindset and it starts with our goalie,” with expansion Vegas and Florida. (AP) 3-2 loss in Game 4, Stamkos, Yanni The case is important in the short not fairly compensated.” Stamkos said. Gourde and Killorn scored in the first term for students who may see schools NCAA President Mark Emmert “Vasy just has an amazing ability to since launching their 2020 title run and we’ll be back here for Game 7,” 15:27 to make quick work of competing for talent by sweetening last week urged member schools to bounce back whether he plays great or will take a 3-2 series lead over the Islanders coach Barry Trotz said. Islanders goaltender Semyon their offers with a variety of education- pass a long-stagnant names-and-im- he doesn’t play great. But when we Islanders into Game 6 of their best-of- “This result, how we played, if that Varlamov, who was replaced by Ilya related benefi ts. It’s also important in ages reform proposal before the end of lose, he takes that personally,” the seven matchup Wednesday night in doesn’t motivate us then I’m not too Sorokin after yielding three goals on the long term because it sets the stage the month. If they don’t, he will take Lightning captain added. “He was out- Uniondale, New York. sure what will,” Trotz added. “We put just 16 shots. for future challenges to NCAA rules action himself, he said. standing, made some big saves early, Game 7, if necessary, would be back ourselves in a tough bind.” The Islanders held on to win Game 4, limiting athletes’ compensation. Emmert told The Associated Press settles us down, we get some goals and in Florida on Friday. Stamkos ignited a three-goal open- evening the series at two games apiece, Justice Neil Gorsuch wrote for the on Monday that the high court’s ruling get some confidence.” “We’re going to have to have our ing period - the first against the when defenseman Ryan Pulock’s diving court that the NCAA sought “immu- makes going about the NIL reforms The Lightning improved to 13-0 in best game, the best effort from every Islanders all season - by scoring just stop in the closing seconds prevented nity from the normal operation of the “more complicated” but “doesn’t mean games following a postseason loss player on our team. And if we do that, 45 seconds into the game. His power- the Lightning from forcing overtime. antitrust laws,” an argument the court we can’t and we shouldn’t.” ARAB TIMES, WEDNESDAY, JUNE 23, 2021 SPORTS 15 DeGrom dominates as Mets, Braves split DH Padres get 2 big homers to beat Dodgers 6-2

NEW YORK, June 22, (AP): Ja- cob deGrom pitched one-hit ball over five scoreless innings as the Mets beat the Atlanta Braves 4-2 in a doubleheader opener. Ian Anderson (5-3) allowed three hits in 5 1/3 innings as the Braves won the nightcap 1-0 and he to became the first native New Yorker to beat the Mets and Yankees in New York in the same season. DeGrom (7-2) didn’t allow a hit in the seven-inning opener until Mets outfi elders misplayed a fi fth-inning fl y ball into a ground-rule double. Jeff McNeil came off the injured list and singled as a pinch-hitter for deGrom during the fi fth, then scored on Dominic Smith’s three-run double. Seth Lugo and Edwin Díaz finished the two-hitter, with Díaz getting his 15th save. Kyle Muller (0-1) pitched one-hit ball over four innings in his fi rst big league start. In the second game, Ronald Acuña Jr. hit his 20th homer. Braves closer Will Smith loaded the bases in the seventh but escaped for his 14th save. Padres 6, Dodgers 2 In San Diego, Yu Darvish struck out 11 in six innings to become the fastest big leaguer to reach 1,500 for his career, Manny Machado and Jake Cronenworth homered and San Diego beat Los Ange- les.

BASEBALL

Darvish (7-2) reached 1,500 strikeouts on the nose in 197 starts. He held the Dodgers to two hits, including Mookie Betts’ solo homer, and walked just one. The Padres improved to 5-3 this season New York Mets starting pitcher Jacob deGrom delivers during the fifth inning of a baseball game against the Atlanta Braves, on June 21, in New York. (AP) against the Dodgers. Darvish notched his milestone 1,500th strikeout when he got Steven Souza Jr. MLB Results/Standings St. Pierre clinches Olympics spot looking leading off the sixth. Will Smith homered off San Diego reliever Craig Stammen in the eighth, his WASHINGTON, June 22, (AP): Results and standings from the MLB games on Monday. Favorites Brazier & Simpson ninth. Julio Urías (9-3) took the loss. Houston 10 Baltimore 2 NY Mets 4 Atlanta (7 inn 1st game) 2 Diamondbacks 5, Brewers 1 Cleveland 4 Chicago Cubs 0 Atlanta 1 NY Mets (7 inn 2nd game) 0 Texas 8 Oakland 3 Arizona 5 Milwaukee 1 In Phoenix, Merrill Kelly pitched seven Minnesota 7 Cincinnati (12 innings) 5 San Diego 6 LA Dodgers 2 melt on sizzling day at trials effective innings, Ketel Marte had two hits American League National League and Arizona snapped a 17-game losing East Division East Division EUGENE, Oregon, June 22, (AP): The rooms the first American woman to win an Olympic W L Pct GB W L Pct GB streak by beating Milwaukee. Boston 43 29 .597 _ New York 37 30 .552 _ in Tokyo practically had their names on them. medal in the 1,500, was done almost before she The win was a long time coming for Ari- Tampa Bay 43 30 .589 -1/2 Philadelphia 34 35 .493 4 Instead, others will be taking the spots that started. There was heavy jostling at the start zona, which earned its fi rst win since beat- New York 38 33 .535 4-1/2 Atlanta 34 37 .479 5 seemed all but reserved for two American track that knocked five or six runners off stride. Toronto 35 35 .500 7 Washington 33 36 .478 5 champions, Jenny Simpson and Donavan Bra- “No one went down,” she said. “Maybe they ing the Mets 6-5 in 10 innings on June. The Baltimore 23 49 .319 20 Miami 31 40 .437 8 17-game skid was two shy of the longest Central Division Central Division zier. should have called the race back. That was ex- W L Pct GB W L Pct GB The cold realities of the U.S. Olympic quali- treme.” during the wild-card era, by the Kansas Chicago 43 29 .597 _ Chicago 40 33 .548 _ fying reared their ugly head on a scorcher of a Brazier has prided himself on entering the City Royals in 2005. Cleveland 40 30 .571 2 Milwaukee 40 33 .548 _ Kansas City 32 38 .457 10 St Louis 36 36 .500 3-1/2 day at track and field trials. In a format where 800 without a concrete game plan and impro- Kelly (3-7) needed just 94 pitches to Minnesota 31 41 .431 12 Cincinnati 35 36 .493 4 records and resumes mean nothing, and only vising on the fly. This time, it backfired. The navigate his seven innings, giving up one Detroit 30 42 .417 13 Pittsburgh 25 45 .357 13-1/2 the top three finishers in each event earn a spot, pace was pushed. Brazier tried to keep up and West Division West Division run, fi ve hits and a walk with fi ve strike- W L Pct GB W L Pct GB Simpson and Brazier fell short. he didn’t have his customary kick at the fin- outs. Houston 44 28 .611 _ San Francisco 46 26 .639 _ “There are things that champions overcome. ish. He knew with about 200 meters left that it Oakland 44 30 .595 1 Los Angeles 44 28 .611 2 I couldn’t overcome them,” said Brazier, the wasn’t his day. Instead, it belonged to Murphy, Rangers 8, Athletics 3 Seattle 38 36 .514 7 San Diego 43 32 .573 4-1/2 world champion at 800 meters, after finishing who will get a chance to add to the bronze he In Arlington, Texas, Andy Ibañez and Los Angeles 36 36 .500 8 Colorado 30 43 .411 16-1/2 Texas 26 46 .361 18 Arizona 21 53 .284 26 last in that race, more than 4 seconds behind won five years ago in Rio. Jose Trevino hit three-run homers, Kyle winner Clayton Murphy. “I’ve been able to win from the front. I’ve Gibson (5-0) allowed two runs and fi ve “It’s hard to believe,” said Simpson, a former been able to win from the back. I don’t know over 5 1/3 innings and Texas ended a six- more that extended their winning streak world champion whose 10th-place finish in the if it was just overconfidence going into the race game losing streak. to eight games. 1,500 meters, well behind winner Elle Purrier thinking I could do whatever the hell I want and A’s shortstop Elvis Andrus went 0 for 4 St. Pierre, had stunned the crowd only moments come out successful,” Brazier said. “Maybe Maikel Franco hit a two-run homer with before. lack of race plan is what got me.” is his return to Texas, which traded him to one out in the eighth off Brandon Bielak, Oakland just before spring training. They were not quite superstars, and no massive On other days, Chris Nilsen’s upset of two- breaking up the no-hitter. ad campaigns had been built around them, a la Dan time world champion Sam Kendricks in the Ibañez hit his fi rst major league homer Odorizzi and reliever Cristian Javier O’Brien, whose flop in the decathlon at trials back pole vault might have made headlines. Kend- as part of a fi ve-run fi rst against Frankie held the Orioles without a hit through in 1992 stands as maybe the most stunning “sure ricks is heading to Tokyo, however, thanks to a Montas (7-7). Trevino went deep in the seven. thing” to not happen at the U.S. trials. second-place finish that wasn’t exactly what he sixth for an 8-2 lead. Odorizzi (2-3) struck out nine and Still, they were favorites in their events - if planned. But still good enough. Indians 4, Cubs 0 threw 86 pitches, three shy of his season not to win, then at least to finish in the top three “This will go down in history as the hardest In Chicago, Bobby Bradley and Josh high. and head to Tokyo next month. team ever to make,” he said. Naylor homered, helping the Cleveland In- Simpson, who took bronze in Rio to become Two-time Olympic silver medalist Will Yordan Alvarez hit a three-run homer Claye did the expected, winning the triple dians overcome the loss of Aaron Civale, in Houston’s fi ve-run third inning. Keegan jump, while the women’s 5,000 was mostly a who exited with two outs in the fi fth be- Akin (0-3) allowed fi ve runs in four-plus no-fuss affair, taken by Elise Cranny in 15 min- cause of a right middle fi nger injury. The innings. utes, 27.81 seconds. right-hander leads the major leagues with Twins 7, Reds 5, 12 Innings 10 wins. In Minneapolis, Miguel Sanó hit a two- ATHLETICS Bryan Shaw (2-2) got four outs as run homer in the 12th inning to lift Minne- Cleveland moved within two games of the sota past Cincinnati, the fi fth straight vic- “During the warmup, we were in ice baths idle White Sox for the top spot in the AL tory for the Twins and fi fth loss in a row Central. and I kept my body temperature as cold as pos- for the Reds. sible,” said Rachel Schneider, who finished Chicago lost for the sixth time in With a fi ve-man infi eld and a runner on third in the 5K. “Outside of that, we just said be eight games. Javier Báez was pulled third, Sanó hammered a 3-1 slider from tough and don’t worry about it because every- by manager David Ross after he appar- Heath Hembree (1-3) over the wall in left- one’s dealing with the same heat.” ently lost track of outs and was doubled center. Maybe Jordan Mann dealt with it best. The up off second base on Anthony Ruzzo’s Matt Shoemaker (3-8) pitched two hit- steeplechase runner missed a step and found fourth-inning flyout. Houston Astros’ Carlos Correa connects less innings for the win. Shoemaker loaded himself plunging into the water pit during pre- Adbert Alzolay (4-6) permitted three for an RBI single to score Michael Brant- the bases in the 12th after two walks, one lims. He finished 12th, but at least he got some runs over 4 2/3 innings in his return ley during the seventh inning of a baseball intentional, but struck out Eugenio Suárez relief. from the 10-day injured list after being game against the Baltimore Orioles, on It was 94 degrees when that race started, and June 21, in Baltimore. (AP) - who had a homer and three RBIs - to es- the sunshine heated the surface of the track to sidelined by a blister on his right middle cape. Elle Purrier St. Pierre celebrates after win- well over 100. finger. Houston bullpen took a bid for a com- Luis Arraez had two RBIs for the Twins, ning the women’s 1500-meter run at the “The heat makes it tricky out there,” Claye Astros 10, Orioles 2 bined no-hitter into the eighth inning, who lost star center fi elder Byron Buxton U.S. Olympic Track and Field Trials, on said. “You don’t want to blow a gasket out In Baltimore, Jake Odorizzi and the eventually settling for a win over Balti- to another injury. June 21, in Eugene, Oregon. (AP) there.”

Khan quits as Pakistan batting coach days before tour Multan beat Islamabad, qualify for maiden PSL final ABU DHABI, United Arab Emirates, June 22, the key wicket of Usman Khawaja, who threat- eighth over. (AP): Multan Sultans qualifi ed for their fi rst ened to take the game away from Multan with a But Maqsood added a brisk 63 with Johnson Pakistan Super League fi nal after beating two- scintillating knock of 70 off 40 balls. Charles, who hit a quickfi re 41 from three fours time champion Islamabad United by 31 runs in Khawaja, the only Islamabad-born player in the and three sixes. the playoffs. United squad, completed his half-century off 33 Shah kept up the momentum when he Islamabad will have another opportunity balls and smashed Muzarabani for a six and three smacked young fast bowler Akif Javed for 29 to make the fi nal when it takes on the playoff consecutive boundaries in runs in the penultimate over that featured four winner between Karachi Kings and Peshawar the 14th over. successive sixes and a four. Zalmi on Tuesday. The fi nal is on Thursday. But Tanvir returned in Meanwhile, former Pakistan captain Younis Sohaib Maqsood’s 59 and Khushdil Shah’s the next over and Shah Khan has quit as the national team’s batting coach. 42 off 22 balls spurred Multan to 180-5 after hung onto a well judged The Pakistan Cricket Board declined to com- captain Mohammad Rizwan fell for nought. catch at deep midwicket ment on the reasons Khan quit just days before to dismiss Khawaja. Is- the national team is due to leave for England to CRICKET lamabad hopes died. play a limited-overs series. Earlier, after electing to Khan was appointed last November on a bat fi rst, Maqsood earned a two-year contract until the Twenty20 World Islamabad, renowned for its run chases, fell fourth half-century this sea- Cup in Australia in 2022. against the pace of Sohail Tanvir (3-17) and son. The discarded Pakistan “It is sad to lose an expert of the stature and Zimbabwe swing bowler Blessing Muzarabani Khan international hit seven fours experience of Younis Khan,” PCB chief execu- (3-31) en route to being bowled out for 149 and three pulled sixes to save Multan. tive Wasim Khan said in a statement Tuesday. with an over to spare. Islamabad captain Shadab Khan picked up “Following a series of discussions, we both San Diego Padres’ Manny Machado (13) steals second base ahead of the tag of Los An- Left-arm seamer Tanvir knocked back the both of his wickets in the fi rst over when he have reluctantly but mutually and amicably geles Dodgers second baseman Chris Taylor (3) during the fifth inning of a baseball game, middle stump of the in-form Colin Munro for a had Shan Masood and Rilee Rossouw leg be- agreed that it was time to move in different di- on June 21, in San Diego. (AP) duck off his second delivery and returned to get fore wicket and Multan slipped to 59-3 in the rections.” ARAB TIMES, WEDNESDAY, JUNE 23, 2021 16

Arizona Diamondbacks starting pitcher Merrill Kelly throws against the Milwaukee Brew- ers during the fi rst inning of a baseball game in Phoenix. Diamondbacks won 5-1. (AP) - See Page 15 Sports Latest sports scores at — http://sports.arabtimesonline.com Finland have small chance of qualifying as one of four best third-place fi nishers Denmark qualify as Belgium maintain unbeaten run COPENHAGEN, June 22, (AP): After 59th by pouncing on a massive defen- scoring a goal to help Denmark ad- sive error. Roman Zobnin tried to play vance at the European Championship, a back pass to his goalkeeper but in- Joakim Maehle walked straight to a stead gave the ball straight to the Den- TV camera and formed a “10” with his mark forward, who could put it into an Argentina secure place fi ngers. empty net. That was for Christian Eriksen. Russia only needed a draw to ad- Maehle’s 82nd-minute goal put vance and Artem Dzyuba got the visi- some extra gloss on a 4-1 win over tors back in the match when he made it Russia that gave Denmark second 2-1 from the penalty spot in the 70th. place in Group B and an automatic Finland’s Jere Uronen (left), stops However, Andreas Christensen net- in Copa knockout stage spot in the round of 16. Belgium’s Leandro Trossard during ted from outside the area in the 79th After Eriksen’s collapse in the fi rst the Euro 2020 soccer champion- and Maehle fi nished off a quick coun- game and two subsequent losses at ship group B match between Fin- ter to put the game beyond doubt. home, Denmark fi nally was able to land and Belgium at Saint Peters- Russia had frustrated Denmark for Suárez ends Uruguay’s scoring drought celebrate in front of their raucous and burg stadium, in St. Petersburg, much of the fi rst half with its defensive Russia. (AP) jubilant supporters at Parken Stadium. tactics. But Damsgaard - who came SAO PAULO, June 22, Eriksen - who wears No. 10 for the for Denmark in Amsterdam on Satur- into the starting lineup in Eriksen’s ab- have gone better. their fi rst appearance at a major tour- (AP): Papu Gómez scored national team - suffered cardiac arrest day. And a tournament that so nearly sence - produced the opener when he The world’s top-ranked team beat nament. and had to be resuscitated with a de- began with a tragedy could still turn collected a pass from Pierre-Emile Ho- Finland 2-0 to fi nish in fi rst place in Belgium’s second goal, scored by in the 10th minute as Ar- fi brillator. He was released from the into a triumph. jbjerg, took one touch to create some Romelu Lukaku in the 81st minute gentina beat Paraguay 1-0 hospital on Friday. Given all the team’s earlier misfor- space and unleashed a shot that sailed SOCCER Denmark, Russia and Finland all fi n- tune, perhaps it was fi tting that they into the top corner. for his third at Euro 2020, could prove on Monday and secured signifi cant because it left the Finns as ished with three points but the Danes were helped by a massive gift this Three straight wins, seven goals and Group B and join Italy and the Neth- their place in the Copa had the better goal difference. Belgium time. After Mikkel Damsgaard put their top players with game time in the worst third-place team in the three erlands in qualifying with maximum America knockout stage. won the group with nine points after Denmark ahead in the 38th minute their legs. completed groups. They have only a The result at the Mané Garrin- beating Finland 2-0. with a looping shot from outside the For Belgium, the group stage at the points. small chance of qualifying as one of Finland fi nished in third place in cha stadium in Brasilia moved Ar- Now a meeting with Wales awaits area, Yussuf Poulsen made it 2-0 in the European Championship could hardly four best third-place fi nishers. gentina atop Group A with seven points from three matches. The FTs failed Ben game also gave Lionel Messi a record 147th cap for the national 76ers’ Simmons team, equalling the mark of retired defender Javier Mascherano. Chile, which also advanced to the future uncertain quarterfi nals, are second in the group with fi ve points after the 1-1 draw PHILADELPHIA, June 22, (AP): with Uruguay. Paraguay have three Ben Simmons backed his way to points, fol- the basket, spun around Danilo lowed by Uru- Gallinari for the easy look at the guay (1) and net - an uncontested layup, a dunk Bolivia (0). - and he passed. Passed the ball. Captain Mes- Passed on the shot. Passed on the si, seeking his chance to tie the game. fi rst major title Joel Embiid threw up his hands with the na- in disbelief. With a chance to tie tional team, had Game 7 against Atlanta late in the to work with a fourth quarter, Simmons surren- team impacted dered the chance to play postsea- by six changes Suarez son hero and fed the ball to Mat- in the starting isse Thybulle. lineup. “I just as- Defenders Germán Pezzella and sumed Gallo Nicolás Tagliafi co, midfi elders Rodri- was com- go de Paul and Leandro Paredes; and ing over my forwards Sergio Aguero and Ángel back,” Sim- di Maria started. Nicolás Otamendi, mons said. Marcos Acuña, Leandro Paredes, Simmons Giovani Lo Celso, Lautaro Martínez thought Gal- and Nico González were left out of linari would the starting lineup. try to foul him - much as the Simmons Hawks did SOCCER throughout the seven-game series victory to reach the Eastern Con- The changes did not stop Argentina ference fi nals - and going to the from starting strongly. Early in the line in the clutch was a risk the All- game, Messi found Di María on the Star guard was not willing to take. right, and the veteran winger eluded His free-throw shooting was Denmark’s Thomas Delaney (left), and Russia’s Aleksei Miranchuk challenge for the ball during the Euro 2020 soccer championship group B match be- the Paraguayan defense with an as- the poison in the postseason that tween Russia and Denmark at the Parken stadium in Copenhagen, Denmark. (AP) sist to Gómez. The striker lifted a shot ultimately knocked out the top- over Paraguay goalkeeper Antony seeded Sixers. Simmons shot Silva. 25-for-73 (34%) from the line in Wembley capacity increased for Euro 2020 semifi nals, fi nal Argentina forced Silva to make the playoffs and missed 27 alone important saves in the fi rst half but against the Hawks. the energy of the team waned in the Unacceptable numbers for any second half, as it has in several recent player, much less a former No. 1 France’s showdown against Portugal lacks punch matches. draft pick with more than $140 Argentina coach Lionel Scaloni million left on his contract. He BUDAPEST, Hungary, June 22, (AP): Wembley Stadium after UEFA secured said he was concerned about play- can’t shoot 3s (5-for-34 career), France advanced without kicking a an agreement Tuesday with the British ers being tired after a long season his free throws failed him and now ball, and Portugal can move on as well government on an an increased capac- and three straight Copa America Simmons is afraid to dunk. Coach even with a loss on Wednesday. Ticket sales for ’22 WC ity. matches. Doc Rivers went from Simmons’ Hardly the heavyweight showdown No details have been provided yet on Messi had his least impressive per- most ardent supporter early in many had hoped for in a match pitting how fans from overseas can potentially formance at the tournament so far, but the playoffs to openly wondering defending champions Portugal against set to begin in January attend without having to quarantine af- he still got praise from the previous about the guard’s fate in Philly. World Cup champion France, and Cris- ter fl ying into London. holder of the record of most matches tiano Ronaldo against Kylian Mbappe. LONDON, June 22, (AP): FIFA FIFA would not say if it agrees The government had already agreed played for Argentina. BASKETBALL Results on Tuesday guaranteed is preparing to start selling tickets with the plan or discuss the logis- to increase the current group-stage Argentina’s last group-stage match France a spot in the round of 16. A one- for the 2022 World Cup in January tics behind checking the vaccina- capacity of about 22,000 to at least will be on Monday against Bolivia. goal loss for Portugal should be enough while still trying to find out more tion status of thousands of visiting 40,000 for one game in the round of 16 Paraguay will take on Chile on Thurs- Simmons lost his shot, his con- as long as Hungary doesn’t win in Ger- on Qatar’s plan to make coronavi- fans. game and the fi nal three matches of the day. The top four in each fi ve-team many in Group F’s other game. fi dence, and potentially his job in rus vaccines mandatory for specta- “Further details will be pro- Euro 2020 tournament at the 90,000- group will advance. Philadelphia. Still, that’s unlikely to alter France seat stadium. coach Didier Deschamps’ way of tors. vided at the appropriate time in Meanwhile, Luis Suárez ended a How can the Sixers justify World football’s governing advance of the start of the ticket Now Wembley will be allowed to be goal scoring drought for Uruguay that bringing him back? “I still be- thinking, and he is thinking only of at about 75% capacity for the semifi - fi rst place. body became aware of the vac- sales for the FIFA World Cup Qa- threatened to extend to a fi fth straight lieve in him but we have work to nals and fi nal. game. “We still hold the cards,” Des- cination requirement only at the tar 2022, which is currently sched- “The last 18 months have taught us do,” Rivers said. “We’re going The veteran striker’s 66th-minute to have to get in the gym, put a champs said. “If we win then we’ll fi n- weekend when it was announced uled for January 2022,” FIFA said - both on and off the pitch - how inte- ish fi rst.” to state media by Qatari Prime in a statement to The Associated gral fans are to the fabric of the game,” equalizer helped Uruguay to 1-1 draw lot of work in and go forward.” against Chile at the Copa America on Asked if Simmons could still be The winners of Group F will play Minister Sheikh Khalid bin Khal- Press, providing the first timeline UEFA president Aleksander Ceferin one of the third-place fi nishers. ifa bin Abdulaziz Al Thani. for sales. said. “This tournament has been a bea- Monday, their fi rst point of the tour- a point guard for a championship nament. contender, Rivers said he didn’t Portugal can still win the group by con of hope to reassure people that we beating France, but it depends on what are returning to a more normal way of The result allowed Chile to ad- have an answer. Consider: Sim- With an attack that is the envy of Meanwhile, More than 60,000 fans vance to the knockout stage of the mons did not attempt a shot in happens in Munich in the match be- life and this is a further step along that tween Germany and Hungary. most coaches, it seems odd that France will be allowed into the semifi nals and the fourth quarter in Game 2. He road. tournament and kept the Uruguayans Germany and Portugal have three are not yet clicking in attack. fi nal of the European Championship at in contention in Group A. did the same in Games 4 through points and the same goal difference, 7 - 0-for-0 in the fi nal period. Not while Hungary are last with one point one single shot in the fourth over and must win to advance. fi ve playoff games. Portugal are having no problem Sixers guard Danny Green said scoring goals - fi ve in two games so far, Monday it was unfair that “eve- including a tournament-leading three ryone wants the narrative it’s all for Ronaldo. But the Portuguese are Ben’s fault.” “It’s not just Ben. We conceding too easily, conceding four to all together win or lose,” Green the Germans. said. “He’s a mentally tough kid, “It wasn’t our usual type of game,” usually. We don’t know what was going on. It happens with players. Ben has gone through quite a bit SOCCER this year and it’s not his fault that we lost. Everybody is going to Portugal coach Fernando Santos said. say if Ben had made this, if I had “Because in 58 games we only once made some shots in Game 1 or conceded three goals once (before), and so-and so made some shots ... we that was at Euro 2016 against Hungary.” can’t harp on one player.” Sim- It’s the opposite case for France, mons’ missed dunk opportunity which shut out Germany in a 1-0 vic- that would have made it 88-all tory but fl uffed several chances in a 1-1 with 3:29 left gnawed at Embiid. draw with Hungary. Thybulle was fouled on the play “France will be very focused, they Hungary team celebrate with fans at the end of the Euro 2020 soccer Paraguay’s Miguel Almiron, (left), and Argentina’s Sergio Aguero battle for and made 1 of 2. never let up and never rest,” Santos said. championship group F match between Hungary and France, at the Ferenc the ball during a Copa America soccer match at the National Stadium in “I rate all of their players very highly.” Puskas stadium, in Budapest. The match ended in a 1-1 draw. (AP) Brasilia, Brazil. (AP)

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