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TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 2, 2021 / JUMADA AL THANI 20, 1442 AH emergency number 112 NO. 17603 16 PAGES 150 FILS Why Western societies are mishandling the pandemic By Khalaf Ahmad Al-Habtoor See Page 2 US return to N-deal tops EU to-dos

‘Change not up to EU’ Tehran airs sat Moody’s downgrades KIPCO Opinion rocket launch BRUSSELS, Feb 1, (KUNA): LONDON, Feb 1: Moody’s Investors Service The European Union Monday TEHRAN, Feb 1, (AP): Ira- (“Moody’s”) has withdrawn Kuwait Projects Company said it is trying to find ways for nian state TV on Monday (Holding) K.S.C.P. (KIPCO) Baa3 long-term and P-3 aired the launch of the coun- short term issuer ratings and assigned a Ba1 corporate Amir Tamim...boat rocker the US to rejoin the Iran nucle- try’s newest satellite-carry- family rating (CFR) and a Ba1-PD probability of de- ar deal, also known as the Joint ing rocket, which it said was fault rating (PDR). Comprehensive Plan of Action able to reach a height of 500 Concurrently, Moody’s downgraded to (P)Ba1/(P) no longer here in Doha (JCPOA), and for Iran to return kilometers (310 miles). NP the provisional ratings assigned to the senior un- to full compliance of the treaty. The footage of the secured $3 billion Euro medium-term note (EMTN) Peter Stano, lead EU spokesperson for solid-liquid-fueled rocket programme issued by Kuwait Projects Co SPC Lim- foreign affairs and security policy, told an showed the launch taking By Ahmed Al-Jarallah serious in this regard. place during daytime in a ited from (P)Baa3/(P)P-3 and to Ba1 the ratings on the online press conference in Brussels that EU backed senior unsecured bonds due in 2023, 2026 and Editor-in-Chief, the Arab Times Given that the dreams of some peo- desert environment. The High Representative Josep Borrell spoke 2027 also issued by Kuwait Projects Co SPC Limited ple are much greater than their poten- last week by phone with the new US Secre- report did not say when HISTORY has many lessons for fu- tial, his plans evaporated quickly. De- tary of State Antony Blinken and one of the the launch happened. from Baa3. ture generations to refer to in order to spite his removal from his public post, issues discussed was the Iran nuclear deal. The rocket, called Zulja- The outlook on all ratings remains negative. avoid committing the same mistakes he tried to continue infl uencing the “The important thing and the main prior- nah for the horse of Imam “Today’s action reflects the view that KIPCO’s cash that were committed by the previous path of Qatar. That is why the task of ity now is to get the US on board. The sec- Hussein, the grandson burn will continue over the next 12-18 months because generations, and also to be able to con- the Amir of Qatar Sheikh Tamim bin ond priority is to ensure to get a complete of Prophet Muhammad of negative free cash flows, a feature which we no lon- front events related to their homeland Hamad at the beginning of his rule was respect of the nuclear treaty from all sides,” (PBUH), did not launch a ger consider consistent with an investment grade rating,” arduous because those foxes had infi l- he stressed. satellite into orbit. says Julien Haddad, a Moody’s Vice President - Senior and society. State TV said the With this brief introduction, I wanted trated all state institutions. “The EU is only a coordinator of the Analyst and local market analyst for KIPCO. existing treaty. Any decision to change rocket is capable of car- to return to the pages of history that Sheikh Tamim worked with great rying a 220-kilogram “The action also reflects the substantial increase in were folded due to confi dentiality, but patience and smartness in his approach that treaty is not up to the EU. It is a deci- KIPCO’s Market Value Leverage (MVL) which has been sion which is up to the participants in the (485-pound) satellite, add- the time has come to reveal them. to matters. The fi rst major step he took ing that the three-stage above our guidance for a Baa3 rating for over 12 months, was to stop the absurd bleeding of Qa- agreement. The joint committee of the During a visit to the United Arab JCPOA is the right forum to decide if the rocket uses solid fuel in and the unclear timing with respect to a full turnaround, Emirates in 1995 when the Amir tari public money that the foxes were participants wish to make any proposals,” the first and second stages bringing in strategic partners or a sale of OSN which we Sheikh Hamad bin Khalifa took over spending on conspiracies abroad. He he clarified. and fluid fuel in the third. have been expecting for some time.” the rule of Qatar, and the father Amir issued directives for serving the people the late Sheikh Khalifa bin Hamad Al- of Qatar, which in turn raised the aver- Thani settled in Abu Dhabi, he asked age annual per capita income to about to meet me at his residence at the Inter $145,000 – the highest in the world. Continental Hotel on that day. With the start of the crisis between After lunch, we entered one of the the four countries and Qatar, the then side rooms where he was accompanied director of the offi ce of the late Sheikh by his offi ce manager Issa Al-Kuwari Sabah Al-Ahmad Ahmed Fahad Al-Fa- who was very close to him. had had called me and asked, “Where To this day, I still remember very well are you?” and I said, “In Spain”. He the dialogue that took place between then said, “His Highness wants to talk us. The late Sheikh Khalifa began his to you.” conversation by saying, “This is not a I remember well the words that the press meeting. The words I will say are late Amir said amicably – “Oh Ahmad, not meant for publication. I know that we are busy mending the Gulf rift, and one day, which I hope will be soon, you the tone of the media is disturbing the will meet His Highness Sheikh Hamad mediation and creating tension for bin Khalifa, and you must convey this nothing. Qatar is a member of the Gulf message to him – “Beware of Hamad Cooperation Council and will continue bin Jassim ... this person dreams of rul- to be its member, and Sheikh Tamim is ing Qatar, and he will continue to work the son of this council.” to achieve that dream.” His Highness Sheikh Sabah (May I think that Hamad bin Jassim knew Allah have mercy on him) was fully about this meeting, perhaps intelligent- convinced about reconciliation, which ly from him or for fear that I was car- later came through Al-Ula summit, but rying a certain message that rendered these matters needed patience and de- him to prevent me from meeting Sheikh liberation. Hamad bin Khalifa. I therefore did not By the way, Sheikh Sabah and have the opportunity to meet him to Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad communi- convey the message to him, which has cated daily, as the late Amir harbored remained a secret for a quarter of a cen- much love for Sheikh Tamim bin Ham- tury. ad and considered him as one of his Today when we look at Qatar, we see children. Indeed, the Al-Sabah family a country that is racing against the wind has great love, respect and appreciation in terms of development. Following the for the Amir of Qatar. great radical changes and the change The great affection and apprecia- in its policy compared to what it was tion of Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad is before the year 2013, there is no doubt not limited to Kuwait, but also towards that the reason for this is the wise vi- the Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed The Giza Pyramids in Cairo, Egypt were lit up on Jan 30, 2021, along with more than 60 landmarks in 40 cities across 24 countries to call sion of the father Amir Sheikh Hamad bin Salman, as well as the leaders of attention to this year’s World Neglected Tropical Diseases (NTD) Day. This global day raises awareness and engages the general public in bin Khalifa. The latter had transferred the United Arab Emirates, especially the urgent effort to #BeatNTDs which impact one in five people globally. (AP) power to his son Sheikh Tamim bin Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid and Hamad, who immediately started eject- Sheikh Mohammed Zayed. The warm ing the foxes of Hamad bin Jassim from welcome he received in Al-Ula indi- New cases total 586 the state institutions. cated all this, and that is why everyone In addition to being the Prime Min- believes that this summit had turned the ister, this fox took over the Ministry of crisis into a mere summer cloud. Foreign Affairs, which led him to con- It is not a secret that stopping the in- trol everything. At that time, he began fi ltrations of Hamad bin Jassim and his working on implementing his dream, foxes came at a huge price, thanks to Kuwait faces spike in COVID which was talked about by the late the tireless work of Sheikh Tamim bin Sheikh Khalifa bin Hamad. Hamad who succeeded in navigating His dream of dominating Qatar al- his country to safer ground, and sav- By Marwa Al-Bahrawi and Khaled Al-Hajri most came true. His broad imagination ing it from the jaws of foxes. He had Al-Seyassah Staff and Agencies Day by Day took him far away when he aspired to worked with caution and sophistication control some Arab countries. Accord- KUWAIT CITY, Feb 1: In confirmation of what was published by the Al- to restore matters between brothers to Seyassah daily two weeks ago that ‘Covid 20 has seeped into the country, ing to several international reports, he their rightful place. This was clearly and infections are increasing at the rate of 20 percent per week’ the daily THERE is a group of officials who do not hide their intentions spent about $140 billion for interfering evident during the Al-Ula Summit, and infections with the virus continued to rise gradually, as the rate of infection in the affairs of Kuwait, Saudi Arabia, history will always fondly remember to ‘make hay while the sun shines’ taking full advantage of compared to the number of swabs jumped to 7.1% yesterday, an increase of their position when they are elected to office. Bahrain, Tunisia, Egypt and Syria. him. about 69% from the past few weeks when the rate of infection read between Recordings of his conversations with They don’t shy away from declaring, “I care about all my Email: [email protected] 4 and 5 percent. benefits more than anything else,” even if they are seen as Gaddafi concerning the division of The Ministry of Health has renewed its call to citizens and residents to impudent. Saudi Arabia, and his phone calls with Follow me on: continue adopting all preventive measures, avoid contact with others, and By God, these are the thieves of the present age, who a number of Bahraini or Kuwaiti fi g- remain committed to physical distancing, and follow the instructions that place their own interests above everything else. ures to incite them against the regimes have been issued from time to time. What is important to them is to live the best days and reap of their countries were leaked. His im- Meanwhile, Kuwait Ministry of Health (MoH) on Monday listed 586 all the benefits, enjoy life to the fullest and live in an atmo- agination was wide, and his pursuit was [email protected] new coronavirus (COVID-19) cases bringing caseload of contaminations sphere of fame, luxury, glorification … and that’s all they care with the contagion to 165,843 since eruption of the pandemic locally about. months ago. … Yet, tomorrow is another day. MoH official spokesperson Dr. Abdullah Al-Sanad said in a statement to Zahed Matar KUNA no new fatalities with the contagious disease were registered during Newswatch the same period, thus mortalities’ toll steadied at 959. from them.” Amounted The source stressed the Ministry of Health is closely following all inter- Dr. Al-Sanad has added number of people who are receiving treatment national reports issued regarding the new ‘Nipah’ virus, which is prevalent KUWAIT CITY: Kuwait Airways Corpo- London after the Zionists won a ruling that at intensive care units has amounted to 54, thus the whole count of the con- in Bangladesh and Cambodia, indicating that the authorities will take the ration denied reports published on various forces Kuwait Airways in America to al- firmed infection cases and remained under medical care has stood at 6,408. necessary preventive measures to prevent the virus from seeping into Ku- social media platforms that it has stopped low them to board on its fl ights to London.” He pointed out that 8,681 swab tests were conducted in the past 24 hours, ❑ ❑ ❑ wait. operating fl ights to London and New bringing the total number of such examinations to 1.538,262. While the ‘partial lockdown’ is not discussed at the moment, the source York, reports Al-Qabas daily. KUWAIT CITY: The Public Authority for Proportion of the infections as compared to the number of swab tests, stressed that in the event of an increase in the rate of infections, nothing The corporation asserted this is abso- Manpower (PAM) has obliged domestic during the last 24 hours, stood at 6.7 percent. has been ruled out. lutely baseless as the current suspension workers labor bureaus to pay compensa- Following the ‘terrifying’ reports about the new, more deadly and fero- The Ministry of Health announced 200,000 doses of the ‘Oxford’ vac- of New York and London fl ights are due tion to the employers of domestic workers cious ‘Nipah’ virus, as the world is still struggling to contain the Covid-19 to the current health situation, its impact pandemic especially after the emergence of a mutated version the Al- cine, which is ‘Made in India’ with a license from the global ‘AstraZeneca’ in case the employees abscond from work company, arrived in Kuwait at dawn today, reports Al-Seyassah daily. on supply and demand, and in line with within the fi rst six months of recruitment. Seyassah daily has learned that the health authorities have sent an urgent the instructions of health authorities as recommendation to the Council of Ministers to oblige citizens wishing to Meanwhile, a press release issued by the Embassy of India, Kuwait wel- The recruitment bureaus will be obliged comed the arrival in Kuwait Made-in-India AstraZeneca COVISHIELD part of efforts to curb the spread of corona. to compensate the employer the cost of re- travel to stay in institutional quarantine for 14 days, the financial cost of On the New York-London direct fl ight, cruitment including the ticket money. which will be borne by the citizen; to limit travel unless absolutely neces- vaccines manufactured by the Serum Institute of India, Pune. the corporation explained this has been In its statement, PAM called on the sary and to prevent the airport from being closed. A shipment of 200,000 doses of ‘Made-in-India’ COVISHIELD vac- suspended for years for commercial rea- employer to fi le an absconding case at the An informed source said the new strict measures will be applied else- cines has reached Kuwait in the early hours of Feb 1, 2021. Since the begin- sons due to its operation as a direct fl ight, service centers affi liated to the Ministry of where, and instructions from the health authorities to prevent weddings ning of the COVID-19 pandemic last year, Republic of India and the State as the case with other direct fl ights. Interior, and to waive the responsibility of from being held in farms and chalets will be issued during the next few of Kuwait have seen close bilateral cooperation in fighting the pandemic It is worth mentioning that reports pub- providing a return ticket to the employee days as part of a package of measures that may include closing restaurants together. lished on social media states: “Kuwait Air- who gets arrested or fails to complete the and commercial complexes. Rightly called the ‘Pharmacy of the World’ and the largest manufacturer ways canceled its routes to New York and terms of contract. The source added, “Friendly countries close to Kuwait have implement- of vaccines globally, India is contributing with Indian-made vaccines to ed decisive measures during the past hours and days, and we are not far many countries in the neighborhood and beyond. ARAB TIMES, TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 2, 2021 2

Continuous lockdowns as damaging as coronavirus Why the West is mishandling the pandemic By Khalaf Ahmad Al Habtoor late to the threat allowing the virus to get a grip, are just as damaging, in Both UK and US governments have placed temporary bans on evic- my opinion even more so. The World Health Organization (WHO) an- tions, but tenants live in fear that once those bans are removed, unable to ne of the highlights of my annual calendar is time spent at my home nounced that this plague will be with us for at least two more years while pay the mounting arrears they will find themselves on the street. Parents Oin the English countryside and in various European countries. Dur- so many countries are struggling to manage the second wave. with young children say they are experiencing feelings of dread. ing my travels I have always recharged my energy ready to take on every We can only imagine the horrendous effect shutting down the econ- With a death toll of more than 105,000 and a caseload in excess of challenge life throws my way. But this year was different. omy while cutting off people from their family members, friends and 3,790,000 caused by arguably the most vicious virus ever known to In truth, I am deeply worried by the downhill slope much of Europe, support systems will have especially on young people whose education mankind, the UK government has little to boast about. Confusing, half- the United Kingdom and the United States appear to be on in just about has been halted along with the social interaction and sporting hearted lockdowns imposed late in the day together with rarely enforced every respect. Numerous Europeans I met this year are either opportunities they crave. social distancing rules have not only permitted the virus to run riot but fearful of what tomorrow may bring or angry at the restrictions Depression, anxiety, substance abuse and suicides are in- have also decimated the economy. placed upon them that so far have delivered few rewards. creasing. The UK Office for National Statistics reported that Yes, there is hardly a country that has succeeded in escaping the virus Reports on British, European and US television networks one in five people are considered to be on the threshold of but it seems that the citizens of the developed world are suffering more often instill terror into viewers’ hearts with endless mixed mes- depression, twice that of this time last year. A survey by Qual- than most either because many of those living in Western democracies sages. Today, despite the start of large vaccination campaigns trics echoes this by finding that 44.4 per cent newly remote refuse to comply with sensible social distancing rules while decrying the across several countries, these broadcasters continue spreading workers said their mental health had declined since the out- wearing of masks as an assault on their personal freedoms. panic due to the appearance of a new variant of the coronavirus. break of the pandemic. We must all abide by the well-known precautions and those who self- People are tired of their land borders, airports and ports be- Once the funds dedicated for stimulus packages to support ishly choose to ignore them, should incur harsh penalties. Several coun- ing closed for business and tourism. Airlines have laid-off tens small businesses and the jobless run dry, many hundreds of tries in my part of the world even some of the poorest have succeeded of thousands and several will surely go under. The hospitality millions could find themselves jobless without any source of in balancing health requirements with economic realities. Cooperation industry is in dire straits. Al Habtoor income. At the global level some 2.5 billion people risk being between governments and citizens is key to keeping economies running. Our world is an interconnected global village. Reducing unemployed if economies continue to be deliberately suffo- The WHO tells us that for the time being we have to live with the countries to fortresses is the road to ruination. Open borders will save cated. virus which means adapting to the circumstance head on, not shutting economies from collapse due to mass unemployment and will facilitate When the table is bare desperate individuals turn to theft, kidnapping, ourselves away in the gloom wondering whether the next meal is coming business and trade. The only requirements are that travelers must abide the trafficking of women and children or trade in human organs to sur- from. It is up to all of us to adhere to the science and do whatever we can by safety rules and are able to show a recent virus-free certificate, hardly vive. The mismanagement and the politicization of the plague, will cause to keep ourselves healthy. rocket science. more distress than the disease itself. I call this nothing short of death by If ‘First World’ nations continue with their damaging policies the re- People are also sick of enforced quarantines such as that imposed a thousand cuts. sults will be as grave as the aftermath of World War II. At this rate upon Britons returning home with just hours’ notice. Panicked holiday- According to Britain’s Food Standards Agency millions are going within six months some of these advanced nations will be fighting to makers had to embark on a last-minute scramble to get home before hungry or counted on Food banks for their basic sustenance. This is sur- avoid bankruptcy not to mention widespread civil unrest. They need to the deadline. Europeans can travel to many countries without the need real in a nation that boasts its status as the 5th largest economy in the come up with a set-in-stone plan and the determination to reinforce it. to self-isolate on return home but because the official travel advisories world. Food banks in the world’s wealthiest nation the US are seeing If China that began as Covid-19’s epicenter and is responsible for a change almost daily and airline cancellations are common, they hesitate unprecedented long lines and will eventually resort to rationing. Worse, population exceeding 1.4 billion was able to combat the virus and keep to book flights and hotels. It is time for governments to step up to save hand-in-hand with hunger goes mass homelessness. its economy on an even keel in spite of being the most populous nation the travel industry from intensive care. There have been protests in many countries worldwide over corona- on earth, then why are Western democracies lagging so far behind? Now As dreadful as the coronavirus is, continuous lockdowns by nations, virus restrictions and lockdowns, among them France, Hungary, Italy, that is a question that will surely occupy the minds of historians and including the United Kingdom and other European states that reacted Ireland, Poland and Russia. People’s patience is running out. social scientists for many, many years to come.

Workers take down a giant Saudi fl ag, that measures 49.5 meters by 33 meters (162 feet by 108 feet) for weekly maintenance, from what is believed to be the tallest fl agpole in the world and one of Jeddah’s landmarks, at King Abdullah Square, in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, on Jan 28, 2021. (AP)

Trouble at home may change Biden’s hand on Iran lot of the characters are the same for President-elect Joe Biden but on Afghanistan during the first Obama administration. “In an ideal world it would be great to have a comprehensive agree- Athe scene is far starker as he reassembles a team of veteran negotia- Biden’s pick for deputy secretary of state, Wendy Sherman, acknowl- ment” at the outset, said Rep. Gerry Connolly, a Virginia Democrat on tors to get back into the 2015 nuclear deal with Iran. edged the difficulties in an interview with a Boston news show last the House Foreign Affairs Committee. “But that’s not how these nego- President Donald Trump worked to blow up the multinational deal to month before her nomination. tiations work.” contain Iran’s nuclear program during his four years in office, gutting the “We’re going to work hard at this, because we have lost credibility, Connolly said he thought there was broad support in Congress for get- diplomatic achievement of predecessor Barack Obama in favor of what we are seen as weaker” after Trump, said Sherman, who was Barack ting back into the deal. Trump called a maximum pressure campaign against Iran. Obama’s lead US negotiator for the 2015 Iran nuclear agreement. She Richard Goldberg, a senior adviser for the Foundation for Defense Down to Trump’s last days in office, accusations, threats and still more was speaking of US foreign objectives overall, including the Iran deal. of Democracies institute who worked as an Iran adviser for the Trump sanctions by Trump and Secretary of State Mike Pompeo, and Iran’s de- Biden’s first priority for renewed talks is getting both Iran and the administration in 2019 and this year, questioned that. cision to spur uranium enrichment and seize a South Korean tanker, are United States back in compliance with the nuclear deal, which offered Lawmakers in Congress will balk at lifting sanctions on Iran’s Revo- helping to keep alive worries that regional conflict will erupt. Iran on Iran relief from sanctions in exchange for Iran accepting limits on its lutionary Guard and other Iranian players the US regards as supporters Friday staged drills, hurling volleys of ballistic missiles and smashing nuclear material and gear. of terrorism, and balk, too, at giving up on financial pressure meant to drones into targets, further raising pressure on the incoming American “If Iran returns to compliance with the deal, we will do so as well,” block Iran from moving closer to nuclear weapons, Goldberg predicts. president over a nuclear accord. a person familiar with the Biden transition team’s thinking said, speak- “This is a real wedge inside the Democratic Party,” Goldberg said. Even before the Capitol riot this month, upheaval at home threatened ing on condition of anonymity because the person was not authorized to Sanctions by Trump, who pulled the US out of the accord in 2018, to weaken the US hand internationally, including in the Middle East’s speak on the record. “It would be a first step.” mean that Iran’s leaders are under heavier economic and political pres- nuclear standoff. Political divisions are fierce, thousands are dying in the But Biden also faces pressure both from Democrats and Republican sure at home, just as Biden is. The United States’ European allies will pandemic and unemployment remains high. opponents of the Iran deal. They don’t want the US to throw away the be eager to help Biden wrack up a win on the new Iran talks if possible, Biden and his team will face allies and adversaries wondering how leverage of sanctions until Iran is made to address other items objec- Nasr said. Even among many non-US allies, “they don’t want the return much attention and resolution the US can bring to bear on the Iran nucle- tionable to Israel, Sunni Arab neighbors, and the United States. That of Trump or Trumpism.” ar issue or any other foreign concern, and whether any commitment by includes Iran’s ballistic missiles and substantial and longstanding inter- Biden served as Obama’s main promoter of the 2015 accord with Biden will be reversed by his successor. vention in Syria, Yemen, Lebanon and Iraq. Biden promises to deal with lawmakers once the deal was brokered. He talked for hours to skep- “His ability to move the needle is ... I think hampered by the doubt all that too. tics in Congress and at a Jewish community center in Florida. Then, about America’s capacity and by the skepticism and worry about what Getting back into the original deal “is the floor and not the ceiling” for Biden hammered home Obama’s pledge that America ultimately would comes after Biden,” said Vali Nasr, a professor at Johns Hopkins Uni- the Biden administration on Iran, the person familiar with the incoming do everything in its power to keep Iran from getting nuclear weapons, if versity School of Advanced International Studies. Nasr was an adviser administration’s thinking on it said. “It doesn’t stop there.” diplomacy failed. (AP)

editor’s choice ARAB TIMES, TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 2, 2021 3

Weather Expected weather for the next with light to moderate north west- Bubyan 22 09 Prayer Timings 24 hours: erly wind to light variable wind Jahra 23 09 Fajr ...... 05:16 Asr ...... 15:04 By Day: Rather cold to fair with with speeds of 06-26 km/h. Salmiyah 20 14 Sunrise .. 06:38 Maghrib... 17:25 light variable wind to light to mod- Station Max Exp Min Rec Ahmadi 20 14 Zohr ...... 12:01 Isha ...... 18:44 erate north westerly wind with Kuwait City 22 11 Nuwaisib 22 09 speeds of 10-30 km/h. Kuwait Airport 22 06 Wafra 23 06 By Night: Rather cold to cold Abdaly 23 06 Salmy 21 08 VACCINE REGISTRATION WEBSITE: https://cov19vaccine.moh.gov.kw/SPCMS/CVD_19_Vaccine_Registration.aspx

National Bank of Kuwait sheds 9 fils, KIPCO gains Kuwait benchmark slips into shallow trough, volume shrinks By John Mathews Arab Times Staff ■ UUS$/KDS$/KD 0.30270/800.30270/80 KUWAIT CITY, Feb 1: Kuwait stocks ▼ Euro/KD 0.3661 slipped into a shallow trough on Monday following last session’s upswing. The All ■ Yen/KD 0.0028 Shares Index kicked off the month with a 21 points drop to 5,758.95 pts weighed ▼ British £/KD 0.4144 profit booking in some of the heavyweights and mid-caps. ■ Indian Rs/KD 0.0041 The Premier Market slipped 14.45 pts to 6,293.41 pts after gaining 256 points dur- ■ Philippines Peso/KD 0.0063 ing whole of January while Main Market shed 35.18 points. The BK 50 Main index was down 14.34 pts at 4,863.99 points. The ▲ FTSE +58.96 pts at closing Feb 01 volume turnover meanwhile dipped below the 400 million mark. Over 397 million shares changed hands – a 12 percent drop ▲ Nikkei +427.66 pts at closing Feb 01 from the day before. The sectors closed mostly in red. ▲ Gold 1852.70 per oz (London) Technology outshone the rest with a whop- ping 17.89 percent jump whereas Insurance skidded 7.24 pct, the biggest loser of the ▲ NYMEX crude $52.43 per barrel day. Volume wise, Financial Sector topped with 171.8 million shares while Banking Brent crude $55.46 per barrel Sector dominated with KD 19.3 million. Losers LIBOR rate 0.20188% Among the notable losers, sector bell- wether National Bank of Kuwait slipped 9 respectively whereas Arzan Financial fils to 867 fils after trading over 4 million Group clipped 1.4 fils. Osoul Investment shares while Mabanee Co retreated 14 fils gave up 1.9 fils and Bayan Investment Co to 690 fils. Kuwait Reinsurance skidded inched 0.7 fil higher to 42 fils. Noor 128 fils following Sunday eye-popping Financial Investment Co dialed up 2 fils. surge and Tamdeen Investment Co shed 15 KMEFIC was flat at 146 fils whereas fils. Gulf Insurance Co dived 58 fils to 790 Kuwait Financial Centre (Markaz) ticked fils. 0.3 fil into green. First Investment added Zain fell 4 fils to 636 fils after pushing 1.4 fils while Kuwait Investment Co dialed 2.7 million shares whereas Ooredoo scaled down 1 fil after pushing 1.9 million shares. 7 fils to close at 693 fils. stc was unchanged Al Imtiaz Investment was down 7 fils at at 955 fils and logistics major Agility gave 109 fils. KUNA photo Deputy Chief of the National Guard Lieutenant General Sheikh Ahmad Nawaf Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah poses for a picture with a contingent up 8 fils before ending at 745 fils. Shares of the Kuwait National Guard. Humansoft Holding Co added 5 fils where- as Boursa Kuwait Securities closed 3 fils in National Industries Group eased 1 fil to red. 190 fils after moving 2.2 million shares Protect Kuwait’s key installations: Sheikh Ahmad Nawaf The market opened firm and edged high- whereas Mezzan Holding stood pat at 585 er in early trade. The main index scaled the fils. Boubyan Petrochemical Co gave up 3 Deputy Chief of the National Guard Lieutenant locations under protection of the National Police, tasked with protecting military convoys. day’s highest level of 5,790 points and fils before settling at 665 fils and Al Qurain General Sheikh Ahmad Nawaf Al-Ahmad Guard,” Lieut. Gen. Sheikh Ahmad said. He conveyed to the personnel greetings retreated thereafter as profit booking Petrochemical Co erase 4 fils. Integrated Al-Jaber Al-Sabah on Monday urged the per- His remarks came in a statement by the from His Highness Sheikh Salem Al-Ali kicked in at select counters. It drifted side- Holding Co clipped 2 fils and Aznour sonnel to perform devoutly for protection of National Guard after he examined the installa- Al-Sabah, the National Guard Chief, pride of ways in the second half before eroding added 1 fil to close at 272 fils. YIACO slid Kuwait’s vital and key installations. tions, manned by the Guards including the the supreme leadership of the key roles further in final minutes to close with mod- 39 fils to 741 fils with thin trading. There is necessity to give “everything pre- central oil zone, Sabhan fuel warehouses, the played by Guards for maintaining defense erate losses. Kuwait Cement Co eased 1 fil to 236 cious for sake of protecting the vital sites and convoys and movement position of the Military and security of the homeland. (KUNA) Top gainer of the day, Automated fils while Kuwait Portland Cement Co Systems Co soared 17.89 pct to 85 fils shed 18 fils. Shuaiba Industrial gave up 8 while First Takaful Insurance darted 7.6 fils before closing a 152 fils and Gulf percent to stand next. Kuwait Reinsurance Cable dropped 5 fils. Metal and Recycling tumbled 22.94 pct, the steepest decliner of Co veered 4.8 fils lower whereas Kuwait ‘Health data’ new rule for arrivals the day while ALOLA topped the volume Foundry Co paused at 300 fils. ACICO with 39 million shares. Industries edged 0.4 fils higher to 92.2 fils. Pullback Kuwait National Cinema Co skidded 18 Passengers test positive despite all-clear PCR Mirroring the day’s pullback, the market fils to 770 fils whereas Kuwait Hotels was spread was skewed towards the losers. 42 unchanged at 60 fils. Educational Holding KUWAIT CITY, Feb 1: The entities operating at gram, reports Al-Qabas daily quoting a reliable stocks advanced whereas 72 closed lower. Co whittled down 4 fils and Independent Of the 137 counters active on Monday, 17 Petroleum Group gave up 5 fils. Automated Kuwait International Airport will soon submit to the source. closed flat. 13,543 deals worth KD 47.38 Syetems Co gained 12.9 fils on back of Council of Ministers a recommendation to add anoth- According to the source, MUNA is an electronic system linking million were transacted during the session. over 2 million shares. er condition for arriving passengers; such that these external laboratories accredited by the Ministry of Health; through In the Banking Sector, Kuwait Finance Jazeera Airways dropped 12 fils to 679 which it is possible to obtain the health information of the traveler House was unchanged at 722 fils after fils and ALAFCO dialed down 2 fils after passengers will not be allowed to enter the country and for the traveler to know where to undergo PCR examination pushing 9.2 million shares whereas Gulf pushing 1.4 million shares. United Projects unless their health data are available on MUNA pro- before entering the country. Bank eased 1 fil to 220 fils with brisk trad- Co shed 9 fils whereas OSOS Holding and The source explained ing. Boubyan Bank was down 3 fils at 568 Burgan Company For Well Drilling paused MUNA is the first line of fils and Kuwait International Bank fol- at 90 fils and 139 fils respectively. defense as it is linked to a lowed suit to end at 209 fils. Burgan Bank Combined Group Contracting Co fell 3 wide network of accredited took in 1 fil on back of 5.4 million shares. fils to 207 fils whereas KPPC took in 0.9 laboratories, which guaran- Investment conglomerate KIPCO rose 4 fil. Mashaer Holding tripped 0.8 fil while tees the reliability of PCR fils to 172 fils on back of 6.9 million shares Inovest and Soor Fuel eased 1 fil each. examination certificates. while KAMCO trimmed 0.2 fil. Kuwait and Gulf Links Transport Co Through the program, the International Financial Advisors eroded 3 ticked 0.1 fil into red. country’s health authorities fils to 88 fils after pushing 37.7 million The market has been mixed so far during will verify all the details of shares. Amwal Investment crept 0.9 fil up the week and has added 11 points in last the PCR examination to 27.9 fils. two sessions. It had rallied 233 points dur- before a passenger’s arrival National Investment Co and Securities ing whole of January after shedding 736 to Kuwait and know the House paused at 150 fils and 45.9 fils points in 2020. history of the laboratory in which the examination was carried out, the source ‘Keen to work with UN rights council’ added. On the rationale behind KUWAIT CITY, Feb 1, (KUNA): of the permanent national committee to this new condition, the Kuwaiti Assistant Foreign Minister for prepare reports and follow up on interna- source disclosed that Human Rights Affairs and Minister tional recommendations related to human coronavirus cases among Plenipotentiary Talal Al-Mutairi said rights headed by the Ministry of Foreign arriving passengers have cooperation between Kuwait and the Affairs, he added. been discovered through Office of the High Commissioner for The training program comes as a result compulsory examination Human Rights (OHCHR) reflects keen- of an agreement with the OHCHR in upon arrival at the airport ness to keep pace with international rec- Geneva to hold annual capacity building even if they presented ommendations. activities for the benefit of government PCR certificates showing Al-Mutairi said after the conclusion of agencies in Kuwait, he noted. Photo by Rizk Taufiq they are free from the the virtual training workshop entitled He pointed out that the Permanent Deputy Editor-in-Chief of the Arab Times Sulaiman Abdulaziz Al-Jarallah and the Nepalese Ambassador Durga virus. Interaction with International Human National Committee to prepare reports Prasad Bhandari in talks. Mechanisms Rights or members of the Permanent and follow up on international recom- Committee for the Preparation of mendations related to human rights and Nepalese envoy visits the Arab Times The Ministry of Health International Reports and with full support of Minister of Foreign is studying a number of Recommendations Related to Human Affairs Sheikh Dr. Ahmed Nasser proposals to develop its Rights, which was held during Jan 26 to Al-Muhammad Al-Sabah and Deputy Sulaiman Abdulaziz Al-Jarallah, office HE Durga Prasad Bhandari, The meeting touched on rela- work procedures and unify Deputy Editor-in-Chief of the Arab the Ambassador Extraordinary and tions between Kuwait and Nepal mechanisms for the next 27. Minister of Foreign Affairs Khaled Times newspaper, received in his Plenipotentiary of Nepal to Kuwait. and issues of mutual concern. stage; such as merging sec- This program is intended for members Al-Jarallah. tors and departments in order to prevent violations, mp profile getting to know you No ‘workers’ and addressing the com- ments and recommenda- tions of supervisory to pick crops authorities, most notably Voting Record KUWAIT CITY, Feb 1: The the Civil Service head of the Kuwaiti Farmers Commission (CSC), Al-Jomhour has no voting Union, Abdullah Muhammad reports Al-Jarida daily record as he won a parliamentary Al-Damak, has warned of the quoting sources from the seat for the first time. consequences of a shortage health sector. Fayez Ghannam Al-Jomhour of manpower in the area of Sources revealed the Sunni agriculture in Kuwait, reports ministry is looking into a Fourth Constituency Al-Seyassah daily. proposal to merge all sec- united. Through this majority, we He said the agriculture sec- tors concerned with FAYEZ GHANNAM can enforce and amend laws in the tor in Kuwait will be in real media with the aim of AL-JOMHOUR was born interest of citizens.” danger if agricultural workers unifying the media sys- in 1971. He graduated from His priorities for the continue to be prevented from tem, as well as the estab- the College of Sharia and 2020 National returning to their farms and lishment of a health Islamic Studies and served Assembly include a bringing in new labor. “Our media and awareness number of issues con- agricultural production is now department in charge of a as senior monitor at the number of sectors. Ministry of Public Works. cerning citizens; fore- witnessing its peak, and we do most of which are hous- not find anyone to harvest it Sources explained this He contested the 2020 and called for the enactment move aims to organize parliamentary elections; ing, education and national identity. of new legislation concerning work procedures in the during which he won 5,774 farm workers in Abdali and ministry; including the votes and ranked second in General amnesty is his priority as well, consid- Wafra who are seeking work idea of merging the the Fourth Constituency. in other places.” Media Office, Media Al-Jomhour ering it is a vital factor Statement in dealing with the gov- Al-Damak said this is the Center, Health Promotion Al-Jomhour once point- ernment. He also gives importance peak time for agricultural Department and Media crops but unfortunately, “we Department in the Public ed out that “it is important to learn to enforcing laws in line with from previous parliamentary expe- cannot find anyone to collect Relations Sector under Islamic principles and preserving the produce and prepare bas- one department called riences and ensure the majority is social traditions. kets to supply this produce to Health Media and the local market”. Awareness. ARAB TIMES, TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 2, 2021 LOCAL 4 Early detection of head, neck & thyroid cancer vital: expert CAN concludes awareness campaign activities

By Marwa Al-Bahrawi KUNA photo HH the Amir with HH Sheikh Jaber Al-Mubarak. Al-Seyassah Staff KUWAIT CITY, Feb HH Amir receives HH Sheikh Jaber Al-Mubarak 1: The Cancer Aware Nation (CAN) conclud- His Highness the Amir Sheikh Nawaf His Highness Sheikh Jaber Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah Al-Mubarak Al-Hamad Al-Sabah. ed recently the fourth received at Seif Palace on Monday (KUNA) annual awareness cam- paign for head, neck Enjoy warmth inside homes, workplaces and thyroid cancer. The Chairman of the Board of Directors, Dr Khaled Al-Saleh said campaign awareness this Hike seen in prices of heaters year for head, neck and thyroid cancer touched on many aware- KUWAIT CITY, Feb 1: Because of the ness messages about the impor- cold wave currently hitting the country and tance of early detection and mak- the low temperatures, many people are ing the necessary tests, especially resorting to buying heaters of various kinds the thyroid tests that were pro- to enjoy warmth inside their homes, work- places and during their outings especially Photo by Rizk Taufiq vided to the public at a nominal Dr Khaled Al-Saleh during his participation in one of the campaign activities. price as a sign of encouragement when camping. Because of this, the prices for them to carry out these tests. of some heaters have reached KD 300, During the event, Al-Saleh reports Al-Qabas daily. Govt support for industrial sector ups half a billion dinars pointed to the importance of The desired benefit of the heaters is not early detection to reduce the inci- limited to allowing movement instead of KUWAIT CITY, Feb 1: For 60 years general feature common to all facto- industries, and 229 factories of min- dence of head, neck and thyroid being confined under heavy blankets. or more, the government has been ries and companies. The suffering is ing products, in addition to 32 facto- cancers, pointing to the cam- Rather, these heaters provide warmth and supporting the industrial sector by represented in the trade of industrial ries of other transformative indus- paign’s cooperation with many create an atmosphere of enthusiasm for poets who warmly describe winter poeti- Advertisement of one of the heaters providing industrial lands worth bil- plots, and the lack of reliance on tries; thus a total of 1,377 factories in institutions to implement a num- brand. lions of dinars, not to mention the national products in government Kuwait. The number of factories of ber of training courses for den- cally as they sit in their camps during cold nights. services provided by the state such as projects, not to mention other prob- industrial crafts reached 2,935. tists and members of the nursing ers are widespread on social media. In addi- customs exemptions, provision of lems related to export, manufacturing staff in coordination and cooper- Economically, the sale of heaters has There are 61 factories on an area of flourished, including the electric pneumatic tion to the traditional heaters, they market electricity, water and fuel at very low and the environment. 242.5 thousand square meters, with a ation with the departments of heaters of different designs that attract prices, such that the value of govern- or the electric radiator at a price starting total of 4,132 workers. Additional dental affairs and primary health attention. Some social accounts are special- ment support has reached more than Relying care at the Ministry of Health, in from KD 7, as well as the oil heaters, the licenses are granted based on prod- price of which range between KD 20 and ized in selling heaters of different sizes half a billion dinars, reports About 75 percent of the factories ucts as well as increasing the produc- order to identify early signs of Al-Shahid daily. in Kuwait are on their way to closure, KD 30, and gas heaters which cost about such as those of marble and glass variety tion capacity, increasing the area or head, neck, and thyroid cancers that can be placed on tables to add a touch Despite all this support, the and are relying heavily on govern- and their rapid diagnosis. KD 60 and are most appropriate for outdoor changing the activity of 75 factories activities. of beauty. Kuwaiti industrial sector did not ment’s support in terms of providing with a number of 3,516 workers, and He explained the public had a achieve the ambition and the desired land, supplying factories with elec- The majority of customers choose to buy The usefulness of the heaters did not stop with an increase of 157.42 thousand share of awareness in the cam- at dealing with the winter chills, as it has goals expected from it, as the partici- tricity and water at subsidized prices, paign this year, which was orga- medium-priced heaters, which are suffi- square meters. cient to heat one room. Some tend to buy become an essential part of the winter pation rate of the industrial sector renting plots at low prices, showing As for licenses for industrial estab- nized under the title ‘Early does not exceed five percent of higher priority for their products in large wood heaters, the cost of which atmosphere for some, such that they want to lishments during the past three years, Detection and the Challenge of document the scene with pictures as they Kuwait’s GDP. This means what this the cooperative societies and in ten- Corona’, where several awareness- increases depending on their size and type, sector provides is almost equal to the ders, and obtaining customs exemp- they reached 1,327, in addition to and ranges between KD 150 and KD 300, gather around the heaters to enjoy winter 2,935 industrial crafts licenses. raising events and exhibitions drinks or watch their favorite films. They support provided by the government. tions for import and export for their were held in many commercial especially the ones with decorations and are Such support and facilities are not products and even the raw materials The government has offered sup- complexes and cooperative societ- suitable for picnics. also inspire some talented people to com- provided to everyone, but to a small used in manufacturing. port for industrial imports, and the ies, and thanked the government Pictures of heaters posted by online sell- pose poems in the light of heaters. percentage of the operating factories. The number of exporting factories customs exemptions granted for and private agencies for participat- According to experts, the absence in Kuwait currently is 80 but no one machinery, equipment, replacement ing in the campaign and contribut- of a clear vision by the government has heard of them. parts and raw materials, and packag- ing to the success of the campaign. KNPC amends organizational structure about the future of Kuwait’s indus- According to informed sources, ing amounted to KD 414.1 million For her part, the head, neck and KUWAIT CITY, Feb 1: The CEO of the ments of work. for factory orders. trial sector is the biggest obstacle to the number of existing industrial thyroid cancer awareness campaign Kuwait National Petroleum Company, In his address to the vice-presidents, the development and success of this establishments licensed in food items A total of 2,403 exemption orders official, Dr Iman Al-Shimmari, said were issued in addition to the quanti- Walid Al-Badr, has issued an administra- managers, team leaders and all employees, sector. The identity of the sector must is 178, in textiles and industrial leath- CAN organizes such campaigns in tive and organizational circular to transfer the executive director of the company said be defined in a specific direction so er garments 32, in wood and wooden ties of sea water for cooling in the January of every year, but due to that this sector and its related indus- products 107, and in printing and beneficiary companies, and the sup- the corona pandemic this year, the the subordination of the departments of the management support department will be tries grow instead of the current real- publishing products 93 factories. plying stations amounted to 5,781 activities were reduced partly due management support and information tech- transferred to the care of the executive vice- ity of factories that cannot compete Also, there are 252 factories of million cubic meters, in addition to to social distancing. This time CAN nology. president for administrative and commer- locally or regionally. chemicals and oil derivatives, 242 251 new plots for expansion of areas made use of all available technolo- The circular states some amendments cial affairs, and the information technology The suffering of the industrial sec- factories of non-metallic mineral that the Public Authority for Industry gies unlike in the past to send across were made to the organizational structure department will be transferred to the execu- tor in Kuwait is recurring. It is a products, 162 factories of basic metal distributed in the past two years. the message. of the company in order to meet the require- tive vice-president for support services. Funaitees, West Sabahiya Work ongoing to open 2 health centers – report KUWAIT CITY, Feb 1: According to informed sources from the Ministry of Health, the pace of work in some proj- ects related to the construction, equipping and rehabilitation of health facilities, including those belonging to the Ahmadi Health Zone, has been accelerated, reports Al-Qabas daily. They explained that the ministry is working on equipping the Funaitees and West Sabahiya health centers, in prepara- tion for their opening within two to three months. Electricity supply was provided to the Funaitees Health Center building a while ago, but it has not been supplied with medical supplies and equipment yet. Back-up genera- tors have to be tested and the necessary office furniture supplied before its official opening. The center will include medical clinics and specialized units for diabetes, chronic diseases, maternal and dental care, as well as pharmacy and radiology departments. The sources affirmed the keenness of the ministry to receive the two health centers based on the conditions and agreements concluded with the implementing agen- cies for the two projects, with the aim of not encountering any obstacles in terms of services and health care pro- vided to the patients and visitors, especially since they serve a large number of citizens and residents in the two areas. Regarding the health centers designated for COVID-19 patients in the Ahmadi Health Zone, the sources said the patients of the Shuaiba Industrial Center, which is desig- nated for residents infected with COVID-19, have been merged with the patients of Egaila Health Center designated for infected citizens but in separate clinics, after the number of COVID-19 cases decreased significantly in recent times, especially since November 2020. They explained that Egaila Center provides services and care to COVID-19 patients, starting with taking their sam- ples, installing bracelets and linking them electronically to the “Shlonak” app, and then taking blood tests and measur- ing the percentage of oxygen, to finally giving medical rec- ommendations related to home quarantine for a period of ten days. In cases of serious health complications, the patients get referred directly to the general hospital wards, or for institu- tional quarantine in Khairan and Jaber quarantine center based on the developments in the health status of the patients. e-platform to allow fishing KUWAIT CITY, Feb 1: The Public Authority for Agricultural Affairs and Fish Resources (PAAAFR) will soon launch an electronic platform for implementing the decision to allow fishing at Kuwait Bay, reports Al-Jarida daily quoting sources. Speaking to the daily, sources confirmed that PAAAFR will set up an automated system for booking appointments and issuing temporary licenses to enter Kuwait Bay that will help in implementing the decision in an orderly man- ner. Sources revealed an implementation mechanism for the decision has been put in place, and it will most likely start within a month. Sources clarified the decision was sup- posed to be implemented last year, but it was delayed due to the corona epidemic. Sources affirmed this mechanism will prevent many violations and encourage amateur fishing enthusiasts to practice their hobby comfortably. Sources explained mechanism has been set for amateurs throughout the week, not certain days; while the period allowed to enter the sea is limited to daytime only in order to facilitate monitoring by the concerned authorities such as the Ministry of Interior, PAAAFR and Environment Public Authority (EPA). ARAB TIMES, TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 2, 2021 LOCAL 5 REMEMBER WHEN

Photographs courtesy of The Center for Re- search and Studies on Kuwait and the work of Dr Yacoub Al- Hijji in the book Old- Kuwait: Memories in Photographs fi rst published in 1996.

© I.O.L.R © I.O.L.R Courtesy of The Center for Research and Studies on Kuwait

DISTINGUISHED GUESTS The visit of Lord Curzon, the Viceroy of India, to Kuwait wife arrived in Kuwait Bay on 28 November 1903 on board in 1903 was a great step in strengthening relations between the Garding. They docked at the newly constructed jetty in Britain and Kuwait. At right Sheikh Mubarak is seen on Shuwaikh, where a beautiful Victorian horse-drawn car- his way to receive his distinguished guest, followed by a riage imported from India awaited them. (From the book horseman carrying Kuwait’s fl ag. Left, Lord Curzon and his ‘Old Kuwait: Memories in Photographs’) diwaniya A DIGEST OF PUBLIC OPINION ‘Need to shift housing for expat singles from paper to reality’

“THE announcement by the Director-General of Kuwait Municipality, Ahmad “Kuwait is a rich country, and it distributes fi nancial aid to all countries of “Hinting from time to time that the state is unable to pay salaries due to the Al-Manfouhi to allocate 11 sites for workers’ cities to be used as housing for the world, and in all cases. It is necessary to accelerate the establishment of lack of fi nancial liquidity falls on the shoulders of the government, which has singles (bachelors) is once again the topic of discussion of the government seri- those cities that will solve many crises, including those related to eradicating not succeeded in dealing with waste in the right way over the past years which ousness in establishing cities for expatriate workers who face great diffi culties the crisis of singles housing in the residential areas of Kuwaitis. ultimately led us to this defi cit. in obtaining housing which can be called humanitarian. The other side of the “The matter is also related to providing decent housing for expatriate work- “Alternatives exist and the tax is obligatory but its application is not for the coin is they cause many problems for citizens because the singles are spread all ers and knowing their places of residence to make easy access to them in case low-income citizen who depends on his monthly salary, rather, it must be on the over the place including the Kuwaiti residential areas which is a source of nega- they commit violations, as well as portraying Kuwait in a civilized form that owners of capital to whom the state provides all services at nominal and semi- tive phenomenon and congestion and pressure on the infrastructure,” Mishari befi ts it in front of the world, and getting rid of random centers of marginal free prices including land, electricity, water and other services. Al-Matraqa wrote for Al-Jarida daily. labor in Jleeb Al-Shuyoukh, Farwaniya, Hawalli, Salmiya and others.” “The National Assembly is under obligation to reconsider the living condi- “In fact, the establishment of model workers’ cities that can accommodate tion of the citizen whose income has become insuffi cient due to the artifi cial large numbers of expatriate workers in Kuwait is an old and repeated topic dat- Also: high cost of living and the absence of a supervisory role. A message to the ing back to more than 30 years and throughout these years it has remained just “Days after the expected formation of new government by His Highness the government and the parliament: ‘cooperate for the sake of Kuwait’.” ink on paper. Prime Minister Sheikh Sabah Al-Khaled we hope it will be away from quotas ❑ ❑ ❑ “Earlier, more than 6 workers’ cities were planned, and favoritism,” columnist Khaled Al-Arafah wrote for Al-Anba daily. but only Sabhan and Al-Shaddadiya cities have been im- “The previous government resigned because HH the Prime Minister had cho- “In a spirit of cooperation and coordination towards developing the country, plemented, which do not have the components of an in- sen ministers which were had fallen out of favor of some MPs and in spite of that after the resumption of usual business of the two authorities – the legislative tegrated city and their role is limited to securing housing these ministers was given the portfolios and as a result they fi led a grilling request and executive, a short, direct and explicit letter titled ‘Our homeland is at risk’ only without other services such as health and security against the His Highness which ended with the resignation of the government, was issued by the Kuwait Chamber of Commerce and Industry,” columnist Dr. centers, cooperative societies and various infrastructure “Now, after the re-instatement of His Highness Sheikh Sabah Al-Khaled to Muhammad Al-Duwaihis wrote for Al-Shahid daily. services which prompted these singles to go to other ar- form the new government, the selection of government members must be con- “This risk is related to the economic situation of the country, which needs to eas where the services are available. sistent with the outputs of the National Assembly that aspire to pass legislation receive absolute priority and attention from the government and the National “The novel corona pandemic revealed the low level of and laws that benefi t the homeland and the citizen. Assembly. housing for expatriate workers in the country as it was “The next stage is critical, and it needs statesmen and decision-maker min- “The chamber highlighted the desire of the private sector to reform public fi - the cause of the spread of the epidemic due to the dense isters. Care must be taken to choose the best among those with experience and nances and amend the demographics with the need to provide an environment that allows the private sector to perform its developmental role. It explained that the accommodation of those workers in unprepared hous- Al-Matraqa competence and to refrain from favoritism. ing, and you fi nd that one apartment sometimes accom- “The next government is required to come up with a work program that meets reduction of the sovereign credit rating of Kuwait from AA to A1 raises the alarm modates 20 people, and yet the government is talking about the establishment the citizen’s ambition, related to solutions to health, education, and housing issues bell regarding the future outlook of the national economy, as politics and political of labor cities with integrated services where the police station, the cooperative and to improve the citizen’s income level according to a timetable and the govern- crisis affected the economic decision and threatened development efforts. societies and the health center are available and far from the citizens’ housing. ment that must be committed to implementing decisions during the coming period. “In addition to that, there are structural imbalances, the dominance of the “Such talk is mere stereotype promises or rather words for consumption and “The deputies also linked the principle of cooperation with the next govern- public sector, dependence on oil as the only source of income, and the imbal- the issue begins to collect dust until someone comes along and thinks of dust- ment in approving the laws they see as priorities, foremost among which are the ance in the demographics, which has persisted during the past decades without ing the fi les. amnesty law, demographics, Kuwaitizing jobs, the elimination of unemploy- any serious efforts to resolve it. In addition, the volume of consumer spending “Perhaps talking about the establishment of workers’ cities is closely related to ment, the protection of citizens’ pocket and the abolition of the cyber crime law. has increased, the public budget defi cit has ballooned, the level of education has the demographic problem, as too many marginal workers have been fl ocking to “The stage needs joint cooperation between the government and the Cabi- declined, public services and government performance have worsened, and the Kuwait while healthy housing and wages are not appropriate and it was assumed net to deal with corruption with real accountability and to save the country’s infrastructure has been deteriorating year after year. that these cities would be established years ago and the government could leave economic situation with other economic alternatives that benefi t the country “In general, this has increased corruption and hindered the administrative this matter to the private sector if it does not have the intention to do so, or it does according to national economic visions that promote the development and re- and fi nancial reform and development process.” not have suffi cient fi nancial liquidity, and this is of course unlikely. naissance of Kuwait away from fabricating crises. — Compiled by Ahmad Al-Shazli

Customs, cars, PAM worker absolved of forgery Other Voices bikes auctions on Wed, Feb 3 Offi cer injured in fi ght for gun KUWAIT CITY, Feb 1: The ‘Choose right team to hit goal’ General Administration of Cus- By Jaber Al-Hamoud he was wanted by law for toms has announced miscellane- Al-Seyassah Staff and failure to pay debt. At this By Ahmad alsarraf team. The game requires the team time a verbal altercation manager and captain to score the high- ous goods will be sold during Agencies ne of the fi rst tasks of any prime auction at the Al-Mal Headquar- happened between the sus- est number of goals, and this is not pect and the offi cers and the Ominister who is assigned the job done by choosing a Shiite forward, ters on the Sixth Ring Road in KUWAIT CITY, to choose ministers is to look for Sulaibiya on Wednesday, Feb 3, Feb 1: The Court of man was reminded that he Rashidi in defense, Mutairi to control was wanted by law and that capable persons who will help him the midfi eld, fourth and fi fth from the 2021, reports Al-Anba daily. Appeals upheld the implement his plan, assuming that he The payment for the value there is an arrest warrant chamber of commerce and a mer- against him, he resisted ar- has a specifi c plan. of auction should be done only verdict issued by a chant playing in the wings, a woman lower court which rest and attempt to grab the Since Kuwait falls in the category as cheerleader, but the choice is made through the K-Net. revolver. of the ‘Third In the meantime, the General acquitted a Kuwaiti based on the skill of each player in He was overpowered but World’ coun- his respective position if winning the Traffi c Department (GTD) also employee of the Pub- one of the offi cers got in- tries, the announced the sale of vehicles match is the goal, regardless of the lic Authority for jured and had to be taken to selection of player’s race, sect, or hair color. and bicycles by public auction. a hospital for treatment. ministers is The sources stated the auction Manpower (PAM) Consequently, His Highness the of charges of forgery ❑ ❑ ❑ often done in Prime Minister, if he really wants a will be held at the Kuwait Gulf one of the two Link Company at the Driving and renewal of work KFSD photo Complaints entertained: strong ministry, he must abandon the Fire-fi ghters try to pull out the victim from the accident ways: either current miserable quota system in se- School Square (rear gate next to permits fraudulently. Upon the directives of the ministerial the capital’s traffi c department, car. Minister of Interior Sheikh lecting ministers, and nothing should The Public Prosecu- appointments prevent him from acting as the captain adjacent to the capital’s technical tion accused the citizen Thamer Al-Ali, the Under- to satisfy the examination) in Shuwaikh (Capi- Drill boosts fi remen’s skills secretary of the Ministry, of the ‘Save the Nation’ team, and ap- of forging two offi cial majority of point highly qualifi ed ministers even if tal Governorate), on Wednesday Lieutenant-General Essam the infl uential alsarraf 3/2/2021 at 16:00 hours. documents with the in- The Public Relations and Media Department of the Al-Naham, has issued a cir- three of them are from the Mutair, three tention of fraudulently parties, irre- are Shiites, and four of the Rashidi, Those wishing to take part in Directorate-General of Fire Department (DGFD) or- cular to all assistant under- spective if the chosen minister is com- for example, and the rest are women, the auction must visit the Ku- renewing the work per- ganized a drill for its offi cers on how to deal with and secretaries informing them petent or not, or to satisfy the majority wait and Gulf Link Company mits of two expatriate respond to accidents and “technical rescue, support, that every Tuesday they if the goal is to win the battle of back- emergencies, deal with hazardous materials, preven- of the spectrum of society, with one or one day before the auction date employees of a com- should attend the meeting in two qualifi ed people. wardness and corruption and to save to inspect the vehicles, and must tion and investigation,” reports Al-Seyassah daily. the visitors’ hall at the min- the homeland and the people from our pany. The drill was held under the auspices of the DGFD The ministries over the past half adhere to the Cabinet decision Representing the citizen istry headquarters between a century were often formed by one acute health and economic situation and instructions issued by the Chief Lieutenant-General Khaled Al-Mekrad. 6 and 9 pm to listen to the that is closest to inanimate objects. was Lawyer Ali Al-Wawan, The DGFD said in a press statement the aim is to of this or that, and since times have health authorities such as so- who argued that there was visitors’ complaints related changed, and what was suitable for The choice is yours, Your High- enhance the capabilities of the fi remen to develop their to the services. ness, the Prime Minister: Either a cial distancing and wearing face no substantial evidence to skills for dealing with road accidents, technical rescue, yesterday is not suitable for today, es- masks and gloves. back the claims leveled training on heavy machinery, pumps and mechanisms The Interior Ministry pecially since the method of selecting choice that satisfi es the conscience ❑ ❑ ❑ against his client. even during fl oods caused by rain. stated the meeting will dis- ministers in the last two or more gov- and serves the interest of the dear He stressed that the ac- cuss how best to serve the ernments was not successful at all, and homeland and its honorable people, Violent neighbors: The secu- tion of his client did not public to complete their who have become poor, or we will rity authorities have opened an was marred by defi ciencies and fatal er- necessarily mean he was fi ed Kuwaiti for allegedly pened when in the suburb transactions, and look into rors, especially with regard to the depu- remain as we are, and therefore we investigation into claims by an aware of any falsifi cation of attempting to grab the ser- of Abdullah Al-Mubarak their problems, stating that will never get out of this corruption, unidentifi ed woman that she was ties, and the example of the minister documents, and the burden vice revolver of the police when the police patrol on the assistant undersecretar- who doesn’t know that Al-Roumi died whose network has already become assaulted by her male neighbor ies of particularly the ser- of proof lies with the one offi cer and charged with re- security check of the area, hundreds of years ago is still fresh in larger than the sewage network who is believed to be in his 50s, vice sectors are in direct Look for tomorrow’s article … who is making a claim. sisting arrest and assaulting suspected a motorist. our minds because it was a bad choice. reports Al-Anba daily. ❑ ❑ ❑ contact with the public and ❑ ❑ ❑ The 37-year-old woman has the arresting offi cer, reports The man was ordered to must be present daily in the The cabinet, or the ministerial team, attached a medical report with Resisting arrest: Police Al-Rai daily. pull over and after check- visitors’ halls to supervise is not much different from the football e-mail: [email protected] her complaint. have arrested an unidenti- The daily added, this hap- ing his ID police discovered the work process. ARAB TIMES, TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 2, 2021 LOCAL 6

‘Kuwait auditors prevent waste of KD 72 mln’ Info Ministry sends 3 cases on public funds violations to Nazaha KUWAIT CITY, Feb 1, (KUNA): The ed preventing a waste of KD 72 mil- Ministry of Information referred three lion (USD 237 million), a SAB official profile cases related to a suspicion of said Monday. Nazaha refers former official to Public Prosecution violation to public funds to the Public Yasmeen Al-Wasmi, assistant audi- Authority for Combating Corruption tor at Pre-Audit for Economic Affairs KUWAIT CITY, Feb 1, (KUNA): Ku- of corruption, adding that it is commit- helps combating corruption. erty and 282 cases of residency trade (Nazaha), to take the necessary mea- Department, said in a statement 92 per- wait Anti-Corruption Authority (Naza- ted at the same time to providing them “The government has submitted to the Public Prosecution,” he said. sures in their regard. cent of transactions, or KD 2.5 billion ha) referred a former Assistant Un- with the utmost levels of protection and 87 notices regarding public money to “We found a number of notes that The Ministry’s spokeswoman An- (USD 8.2 billion), were related to gov- dersecretary at the Ministry of Public confidentiality required by law and the Kuwait’s Anti-Corruption Authority were referred from the Cabinet to war Murad revealed in a press state- ernment budgets, and the rest belonged Works and others to the Public Pros- executive regulations. (Nazaha), 44 of which have referred it (Nazaha) and are reserved by the au- ment, that ongoing coordination and to budgets of independent authorities. ecution on “misappropriation public Last week, His Highness the Prime to the Public Prosecution Office,” His thorities due to lack of information cooperation with the regulatory au- The auditing took place between funds” charges. In a statement, Nazaha Minister Sheikh Sabah Khaled Al- Highness the Premier during a meeting data, therefore, the Minister of Justice, thorities to monitor any violations or April 1, 2020 and January 31, 2021. said that this comes as a continuation Hamad Al-Sabah confirmed that the with local papers’ editors in chief. with the help of the government have infringements to public funds. The pre-auditing process, she of its efforts to combat corruption. government’s top priority is fight- “The government has also re- set up a guideline to ensure that every- Murad emphasized that the ministry added, discovered some calculation It also expressed gratitude to every- ing corruption and protecting public ferred 122 cases of misappropriation one is obligated to correct their report is keen to cooperate with all relative mistakes in quotas which were in one who helps the authority to access money, saying that this digital trans- of public money, in addition to 1691 before referring it to (Nazaha) and the authorities in the country, to imple- contrast variation with market prices the necessary information on incidents formation in governmental work cases of encroachment on state prop- public Prosecution,” he continued. ment laws and preserve public funds. in addition to decreasing quantities In other news, the Kuwait State Au- requested to cope with actual con- lion), and would conduct post-auditing transactions, or KD 104 million (USD jected 107 transactions, or KD 282 Al-Wasmi said failure of authorities dit Bureau examined 2,401 financial sumption of authorities. after execution of the transactions. 343 million), because authorities con- million (USD 931 million). to abide by SAB’s regulations would transactions between April 2020 and SAB, said Al-Wasmi, approved The pre-auditing department in- cerned carried out the transactions She added the department requested undermine governance, which would January 2021 with a value of KD 2.7 1,273 transactions, or 72 percent, formed SAB’s financial penalties without obtaining SAB’s approval. provision of all documents of 778 in- negatively affect the government sec- billion (USD 8.9 billion), and succeed- worth KD 1.9 billion (USD 6.2 bil- department about violations in 47 Al-Wasmi said the department re- completed transactions. tor’s transparent development. ‘Activate control over markets’ We will not submit to Philippines Consumers fall victim to fraud; counterfeit goods flood Kuwait ‘demands’ on domestics – Union By Najeh Bilal Al-Seyassah Staff KUWAIT CITY, Feb 1: It has become ‘Relying on 1-2 countries for domestic labor impractical’ crystal clear that the counterfeit goods have invaded the local markets irrespec- tive whether they are electronic, electrical KUWAIT CITY, Feb 1: and sanitary appliances, auto parts, disin- The Kuwait Union of Do- fectants or any other products. The Al-Seyassah daily surveyed mestic Labor Recruitment the markets and at random spoke to Photo by Mohamed Morsi Bureaus has warned of the Kuwaitis and expatriates and also the A respondent inside a store. consequences of falling into salesmen of electrical appliances and other stores and everyone was of the while the counterfeit sells for 15 di- the crisis of the shortage of opinion that counterfeit goods have be- nars, the cost of the original product is domestic workers in the la- come very popular in the local market not less than 25 dinars. bor market during the next because no one cares anymore about Another owner of the electrical appli- the quality of the products they buy. ances showroom, who identifi ed himself stage, indicating the inability They also said the buyers, without as M.S., stated he sells all the original to provide domestic labor at the exception of a few are conscious of and imitation Chinese products, but he reasonable cost when dealing what they buy, but for a majority what explains to the customer the type of they buy must serve the purpose. commodity he sells so that he does not with only one or two coun- However, some respondents stressed fall under the penalty of the law, as the tries, reports Al-Anba daily. on the importance of activating control Consumer Protection Centers may pun- over those markets, as many consum- ish him with heavy fi nes and sometimes This was revealed during the may even close the shop. press conference held recently in ers fall victim to fraud, especially those who do not have suffi cient knowledge Damage the office of the President of the to distinguish between the original and He advised customers to check the union Khaled Al-Dakhnan. the counterfeit products. During the meeting of the unions product before purchasing, especially all One of the Kuwaitis, who identifi ed its details. He warned against the danger in Kuwait and the Philippines, which himself as Bu Ali says that commercial was held two days ago via the “Zoom” of using counterfeit electrical products fraud has affected all products without such as fans, heaters, fruit mixers, hair platform, discussions were carried out exception, so he prefers to buy branded about adding a new condition in addi- straighter and hair removal machines electrical appliances from approved because they could be subject to damage tion to adhering to the memorandum of agencies despite their high price, in- agreement between the two countries. and may lead to electrocution of the user. dicating that those shops that focus on A car repair garage offi cial said he The Philippines demanded imposing a consumers are run by Arabs and Asian KUNA photo condition on the recruitment agencies, gives a choice for the customer as to what Foreign Minister Sheikh Dr Ahmad Nasser Al-Mohammad Al-Sabah chaired the Diplomatic Council and Consular nationalities, indicating that the only kind of parts he wants to use in the car Corps. requiring them to pay a fi nancial guar- solution is to buy from agents. antee of $10,000 that can be used when -- original or commercial and that in most a dispute occurs between the sponsor Control cases the customer opts for commercial. Council informed of Deputy FM’s resignation and the worker. They also refused to He pointed out lack of control by A source at the Ministry of Commerce arrange the arrival of domestic work- the offi cial authorities contributed to and Industry, who preferred to remain ers before Ramadan. the spread of the phenomenon of com- anonymous, stated the Consumer Protec- FM chairs Diplomatic, Consular Council meeting This condition was met with absolute mercial fraud in the markets. tion Department plays its role in control- rejection, even if the matter reached the Another man, Hanafi Mahmoud, ling non-original products, but the move KUWAIT CITY, Feb 1, (KUNA): Ku- attributes, dedication and sincerity formed the Council of assigning Am- extent of stopping the recruitment of says he bought a battery for his mobile is faster in the event of complaints re- wait’s Foreign Minister Sheikh Dr Ah- during his career and wished him all bassador Jamal Al-Ghanim to carry domestic workers from the Philippines, phone and the seller told him it is origi- ceived from consumers, pointing out that mad Nasser Al-Mohammad Al-Sabah success in his life. out the work of Acting Deputy Minis- especially since there are many false al- nal, but after a short while it swelled there are cases referred to the prosecution chaired on Monday a meeting of the He affi rmed that the Ministry contin- ter of Foreign Affairs. legations by some workers. and nearly destroyed the device and and there are fi nancial fi nes and in the Diplomatic Council and Consular Corps. ues to carry out its duties in implement- On his part, Al-Ghanim praised event of repeated commercial fraud the Committed when he went to the showroom from Sheikh Ahmad Al-Nasser informed ing the State foreign policy and serving what Al-Jarallah provided in serving which he bought it and threatened to establishments face closure. the Council of the acceptance of Dep- its interests in accordance with the direc- the foreign policy, his interaction with The Kuwait union stressed that it is fi le a complaint against the salesman He advised the consumer to report uty Foreign Minister Khaled Al-Jaral- tions of His Highness the Amir Sheikh all the Ministry’s employees for guid- committed to the systems, regulations with the Consumer Protection Depart- the commercial fraud to the Consumer lah’s resignation, starting from Janu- Nawaf Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah. ance and support, wishing him all suc- and provisions of Kuwaiti law and will ment, the salesman apologized and re- Protection Department without return- ary 28, 2021, praising Al-Jarallah’s Sheikh Ahmad Al-Nasser also in- cess. not submit to the Philippines, which placed the battery with an original one. ing to the store from which he bought the continues to place claims, especially A Kuwaiti, who identifi ed himself as product after discovering the commercial since it is trying to defame Kuwait in S.H., says the tradition has long gone fraud. He stated that the proliferation of Info minister congratulates leadership, people on nat’l days front of human rights organizations. even for sportswear of international counterfeit goods violates the intellectual KUWAIT CITY, Feb 1, (KUNA): people on the upcoming national days. He also called on the youth and It demanded the necessity to pave way brands, and whoever does not have the property rights law, as it constitutes clear Minister of Information and Minister In a statement to KUNA Monday, citizens to raise the country’s flag on to the largest number of labor-exporting experience of purchasing and the most piracy of property rights. of State for Youth Affairs, Abdulrah- the minister said that the youth author- top of the houses within the (We Rise countries without urging offi ces to deal accurate details of international products The latest annual report issued by man Al-Mutairi, congratulated His ity in partnership with the Voluntary Our Flag with Proud) campaign on the with one or two countries, similar to the can easily fall prey to commercial fraud. the Ministry of Commerce and Indus- Highness the Amir Sheikh Nawaf Al- Work Center will announce a volun- occasion of the celebrations of the na- neighboring countries that have started Surprising, when the daily visited a try for 2019, shows 2,788 complaints Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah, His High- tary strategy coinciding with the coun- tional days. dealing with about 22 domestic labor- store that sells electrical appliances, the were fi led with the department, while ness the Crown Prince Sheikh Mishal try’s celebrations of national holidays. The minister stressed that he urged the exporting countries. This matter greatly salesman explicitly admitted that he only in 2018 the number was 1,342. Al-Ahmad Al-Sabah, His Highness the This strategy is a huge leap in orga- officials concerned to organize the cel- contributes to lowering the costs. sells counterfeit products and some origi- The complaints related to vehicle Prime Minister Sheikh Sabah Khaled nizing the voluntary work in the coun- ebration activities in accordance with the The union called on the responsible nal products, but he said he does not cheat garages, general trade establishments, Al-Hamad Al-Sabah and the Kuwaiti try, said the minister. health restrictions and regulations. authorities in the state to work on sign- his customers by telling them which is contracting companies, selling tires, ing agreements with a number of African original and which is counterfeit. aluminum, glass, spare parts, and and Asian countries that export domestic In most cases, he said, the customers against electrical stores, publishers, workers in order to create competition prefer the counterfeit goods, because they stores selling electrical appliances, su- that would contribute to lowering costs, are cheap and within everyone’s reach. permarkets, stores selling clothes and including Ethiopia, Uganda, Madagas- For example, he said, he sells hair shoes, furniture and furnishings, sell- car, Nepal and Indonesia in addition to dryer of the same name and brand and ing gold jewelry shops and others. Sri Lanka and India. Al-Dakhnan affi rmed that one of the objectives of the union is to try to re- duce the cost of bringing in domestic workers, but this clashes with many things in their work, the fi rst of which is the lack of cooperation of the con- cerned authorities. He indicated that the union, during its visit to many countries, sought as much as possible to ensure provision of domestic labor at reasonable costs, and that there is still one agreement from the countries that export domes- tic workers, which is the Philippines, that is yet to be sorted out. Deficit Meanwhile, Director General of the Kuwait Union of Domestic Labor Re- cruitment Bureaus Abdulaziz Al-Ali ruled out the possibility of achieving a reduction in domestic labor cost in light of a defi cit in dealing with labor- exporting countries. He stressed that the government did not pursue in the required manner for this matter by signing a memorandum of understanding with the countries that export domestic workers. Al-Ali said there are strenuous ef- forts that are about to end with Ethio- pia, but the issue is still stalled. He indicated that Indonesia is one of the countries that has more workers integrated with the Kuwaiti family, but it stopped recruitment to Kuwait since 2009, and the government must seek to reopen relations with it quickly. In addition, the union’s secretary Ali Shamouh emphasized that the is- sue of domestic workers is thorny and requires concerted efforts, indicating that government agencies must exert efforts to open the way to deal with new countries. He said, “If things continue in this way, the offi ces will not be able to con- tinue, and the costs will be very high Photos by Bassam Abu Shanab and Mohamed Morsi in Kuwait”. Goods being sold at local markets. ARAB TIMES, TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 2, 2021 LOCAL 7 PAHW says working on fi ve projects in Jaber Al-Ahmad

‘2 tracks, one for walking and other for cycling’

By Abdel Nasser Al-Aslami Al-Seyassah Staff KUWAIT CITY, Feb 1: Deputy Director-General of the Public Author- The Guest Show poster ity for Housing Welfare TGS presents Clethe Gubler (PAHW) for the Invest- ment Sector and Private Meet Clethe Gubler in the next edi- Andromeda Council’ in which she tion of The Guest Show (TGS) on speaks of her life as the wife of a Sector Projects, Hadeel Radio Kuwait International. The diplomat. She speaks of everyday Bin Naji, said in coop- other half of Dr Benedict Gubler, life outside the offi cial ceremonies Ambassador of Switzerland in Ku- and delegations and in the process eration with the Public wait, Clethe is a woman of many tries to break stereotypes. In 2018, Authority for Agricul- parts. A former government lawyer Clethe was chosen President of the from Brazil, she left a success- International Women’s Group, a fo- tural Affairs and Fish ful career to embrace her life as rum for women mostly drawn from Resources (PAAAFR) the wife of a Swiss diplomat. And the diplomatic circle. In The Guest all the time, she tried to put her Show, Clethe Gubler speaks of her the PAHW will take ad- hard-earned skills to good use. beginnings, of her life as a Swiss vantage of any green During her time in Strausburg, and her time of learning and grow- Clethe wrote her fi rst book ‘The ing in Kuwait. ‘patch’ within our pro- jects and give it to the de- ‘Sit with inspectors, managers’ veloper to bring out the best of it. KUNA photo She added during a seminar Minister of Public Works and Minister of State for Municipal Affairs Dr Rana Al-Faris inspects the project’s progress. Municipality doesn’t need on the Jaber Al-Ahmad resi- dential city projects, “We have Housing project exceeds planned percentage asked companies to link the a global advisor: Al-Baghli projects with two tracks, one By Abdel Nasser Al-Aslami they have to do is sit with the hygiene for walking and the other for Al-Seyassah Staff inspectors and managers and with lo- cycling.” Al-Faris inspects South Khaitan project cal cleaning companies to solve the KUWAIT CITY, Feb 1: Municipal problems in this area. Investment By Muhammad Ghanem which has exceeded the planned work wheel moving and the com- Council member Maha Al-Baghli She added, the Kuwait Municipal- On future investment opportuni- Al-Seyassah Staff percentage. This indicates the high pletion rate exceeded 37, two per- commented on the discussion of the ity offi cials should do the same as interest of PART employees in cent more than the plan. Kuwait Munic- ties, Bin Naji said, there are fi ve in- “we are in the fact-fi nding committee KUWAIT CITY, Feb 1: Minis- completing this vital project. He explained the efforts exerted ipality Coor- in the Municipal Council, and I and vestment opportunities that we are ter of Public Works and Minister dination Com- the two colleagues Abdul Salam Al- all working on at the same time, rep- of State for Municipal Affairs Dr. The contract Engineer Ali Karam by Minister Dr. Rana Al-Faris and mittee headed Randi and Ahmed Hadian Al-Anzi in resented by 3 private schools with an indicated work is ongoing on this her follow-up of the work that takes by its General the Hygiene Fact-Finding Committee Rana Al-Faris inspected the works area of 8,000 square meters and they infrastructure in the South Khaitan project, for which the contract was place at the project site comes from Manager Engr sat with the relevant authorities in the have been offered for rehabilitation, signed in April 2020, in the midst her belief in the need to keep pace Ahmed Al- hygiene departments and took notes a private university with an area of housing project, where the actual Manfouhi - the from them and heard their recom- completion rate is believed to be 37 emerging corona virus pandemic with the requirements of the stage. proposal of the mendations because they are the peo- 90,000 square meters and a private crisis. Karam emphasized that the hospital with an area of 40,000 percent. Hygiene Com- ple in the fi eld. Director-General of the Public Engr Karam pointed out despite South Khaitan housing project is a mittee on the “In my opinion,” she said, “be- square meters and other opportuni- all the challenges facing this pro- high priority in Minister Al-Faris’ use of a global fore we go to a global consultant, we ties are in the stage of expressing Authority for Roads and Transpor- consultant of- have to hear the opinion of our sons desire. tation (PART) Engr Suha Ashka- ject in particular, cooperation of work agenda because many citi- fi ce as terms of Engr Al-Baghli working in the cleaning departments For his part, Saleh Al-Rashidi, nani said Minister Al-Faris is keen the supervisory authorities and zens are waiting for the completion reference for because they are the ones who do the PAHW Deputy Director General to follow up infrastructure work of coordination by various state agen- of this project to start building their future hygiene contracts, saying, the the job. We must also hear from lo- for the Implementation Sector, said, the South Khaitan housing project, cies has contributed to keeping the homes. Municipality does not need a global cal companies and know their needs. advisor to do the work which can be I do not think that we need a global “We have reached the fi nal stage in done by the director general of the advisor to get best recommendations the Jaber Al-Ahmad City with re- over to the Ministry of Health for use plaint about road maintenance, the Ministry of Public Works and stated municipality and those responsible and best solutions to the problem of gard to public service buildings and to confront and contain the Covid-19 Director of the Capital Governor’s the maintenance in Jaber Al-Ahmad for cleaning contracts, saying all that hygiene in Kuwait. vertical housing, which was delayed pandemic.” Offi ce Engineer Abdullah H, said residential city is part of the future because the buildings were handed Regarding the residents’ com- the issue has been addressed the plan for 2022. insurer Anthem underwhelms Wall St with 2021 forecast

Anthem and Wall Street are That fl oor falls short of the which passed late last year end of the company’s long- starting 2021 with different average analyst expectation and includes a one-year hike range goal. In this fi le photo a fl ag ideas for how the health in- for earnings of $25.37 per in Medicare doctor rates. The Health insurers like Anthem fl ies outside of the surer’s year will turn out. share, according to FactSet. company also factored in oth- benefi ted earlier last year from corporate headquarters The Blue Cross-Blue The insurer’s stock slipped in er COVID-19 related hits to its a pandemic-induced drop in building of health insur- Shield insurer said Wednes- Wednesday trading. Anthem Medicare business. claims as people stayed home ance company Anthem in day that it expects adjusted also started last year with a Counting those items, the and away from doctor’s offi ces Indianapolis. (AP) annual earnings to be greater lower-than-expected forecast. insurer is expecting EPS or surgery centers. But insur- than $24.50 per share, count- Anthem said its forecast growth of 9% in the new year, ers have warned that that care ing hits it expects from the for this year includes a hit of Jefferies analyst David Wind- would be rescheduled, and COVID-19 pandemic and a between 50 and 70 cents per ley said in a research note. they expect to absorb more recently passed Congres- share due partly to the Con- Without them, growth climbs costs from testing and treating sional spending bill. solidated Appropriations Act, to 12%, which fi ts in the lower COVID-19 patients. (AP)

Market Movements 01-02-2021 Change Closing pts Change Closing pts AUSTRALIA - All Ordinaries +51.90 6,922.77 PAKISTAN - KSE 100 -137.09 46,248.45 JAPAN - Nikkei +427.66 28,091.05 GERMANY - DAX +189.15 13,622.02 FRANCE - CAC 40 +62.47 5,461.68EUROPE - Euro Stoxx 50 +49.41 3,530.85 S. KOREA - KRX 100 +193.26 6,646.54 Business

Price boosted by online movement US factories expand in Silver is the new GameStop NEW YORK, Feb 1, (AP): The erratic laged last week are behind the surge trading in shares of underdog compa- in silver. Communications on mes- nies like GameStop that turned mar- saging boards claim hedge funds have kets combustible last week appears to now become active on Reddit anony- have migrated to commodities, sending mously, attempting to drive them out silver prices surging to an eight-year of GameStop bets and into silver, but Jan, but at slower pace high. only after hedge funds had taken huge Silver futures jumped almost 12% positions. on Monday to over $30 per ounce fol- If it is a trap, and no one can say for lowing strong gains over the weekend. sure, it may be working. Construction spending up 1% in Dec led by housing That exuberance spread to companies Shares of GameStop Corp., which that mine precious metals, especially signaled a seismic and perhaps short- silver. Shares of Pan American Silver lived power shift in fi nancial markets, SILVER SPRING, Mary- showed that 16 of 18 manufacturing been harder hit and is still struggling as tinued weakness in nonresidential con- surged more than 16%, First Majestic tumbled 30% Monday. But the stock land, Feb 1, (AP): Ameri- industries showed growth in January. people opt to stay home. struction. Silver rose 25%, Hecla Mining spiked price, as it has been for more than a The contracting industries were print- In a separate report last week, the The increase followed a 1.1% gain 41%, and Coeur Mining soared 35%. week, is tremendously volatile. The can factories continued to ing and petroleum. Commerce Department said orders to in November, the Commerce Depart- On Twitter, #silversqueeze began price was up sharply before the open- expand in January, but at Respondents to the survey were U.S. factories for big-ticket manufac- ment reported Monday. Last month’s to trend as just the latest anomaly to ing bell Monday. mostly optimistic again, as demand ex- tured goods rose a modest 0.2% in De- strength came from a 3.1% jump in emerge from the “WallStreetBets” fo- Analysts who monitor silver markets slower pace than Decem- panded new orders continued to grow cember, held back by a big drop in the spending on residential projects with rum on Reddit. say there is more to the story than small ber. although at a slower pace than the pre- volatile aircraft sector. That followed The online army of Reddit traders investors rushing in. The Institute for Supply Man- vious month. Employment grew for the much stronger increases of 1.2% No- money going to single-family homes surging by 5.8%. have banded together for the past week “The asset is traded by a variety of agement reported Monday that second month in a row after falling into vember and 1.8% in October. to pour money into out-of-favor com- institutional players and it is very likely its gauge of manufacturing activ- contraction in November, but remains Last week, the government estimat- The rise in home building offset a panies such as GameStop and AMC. that those parties have joined the move ity fell to 58.7% in January from a concern. ed that the U.S. economy shrank last 1.7% decline in nonresidential con- In the process, they’ve done heavy to push the metal higher,” wrote Boris “Labor market diffi culties at pan- year by 3.5%, the largest amount in 74 struction which had declines in hotel damage to hedge funds that had bet the Schlossberg of BK Asset Management. 60.7% the previous month. The elists’ companies and their suppliers years. Economists say the outlook for December reading was the index’s and motel construction and in the cat- shares would fall in a stunning reversal The silver market frenzy also ex- will continue to restrict the manufac- 2021 is mired in uncertainty and warn of fi nancial power on Wall Street. tended to physical demand for the met- highest since it stood at 60.8% in egory that includes shopping centers. turing expansion until the coronavirus that a sustained recovery won’t likely Spending on government projects But the rush into silver futures has al, with coin dealers reporting delays in August 2018. crisis abates,” said ISM Chair Timothy take hold until a majority of Ameri- which had been hit by falling tax rev- created confusion amid the chaos, with deliveries as they were overwhelmed Any reading above 50 indicates ex- Fiore. cans are vaccinated and government- some retail traders on Reddit calling by demand. pansion in the manufacturing sector. The U.S. economy was broadsided enacted fi nancial aid spreads through enues rose 0.5% in December. Housing has been a star performer the surge in commodity prices a “false The Silver Mountain, a Netherlands- The January fi gure indicates expansion by the coronavirus outbreak from April the economy - a process likely to take fl ag.” based bullion dealer, said on its web- in the overall economy for the eighth through June, but since then manu- months. over the past year, helped by record “IT’S A TRAP!” one Redditor site, said that, “Due to extreme market straight month after contracting in facturing has largely recovered. The Meanwhile, construction spending low interest rates, while many other warned. volatility we cannot accept any new or- March, April, and May. services sector, which includes restau- rose a moderate 1% in December as parts of the economy have been hard Some of these smaller traders be- ders at this moment,” adding it hoped The ISM’s survey of businesses rants, bars and the travel industry, has strength in home building offset con- hit by the Covid-19 pandemic. lieve the hedge funds that were pil- to reopen by the afternoon. Economic fallout far from over How to ‘prioritize’ debt payments in pandemic By Liz Weston 2.4% of credit card accounts were in NerdWallet hardship status in December, accord- ing to the credit bureau TransUnion. singular crisis has led to extraor- In contrast, the rate was just 0.007% A dinary relief options for bor- in December 2019. Hardship programs rowers. Interest and payments have differ, but credit card issuers may been paused on federal student loans. lower interest rates or payments, pause Homeowners can request nearly a payments for a few months or waive year of mortgage forbearance. Credit late fees. card issuers and other lenders dramati- If you can pay down your credit cally expanded hardship programs. card debt, however, you probably Still, many Americans say they took should. Credit cards tend to carry on more debt last year because of the high interest rates, and the payments pandemic, according to NerdWallet’s you make typically free up credit that household debt survey. you can use again in an emergency. If you are one of them, or if you have If you have good credit scores and other household debt that’s been put on steady income, you could get out of hold, you may not want to rush to pay debt faster by using low-interest-rate that money back even if you can. The balance transfer offers or a personal COVID-19 crisis and its economic fall- loan. If you don’t have good credit out are far from over, so you’ll want or you’re struggling with your bills, a to be strategic when dealing with pan- debt management plan from a nonprof- demic-related and other debt. it credit counseling agency could help Student loans are still on hold lower your rates and allow you to pay President Joe Biden extended feder- off your debt over three to fi ve years. al student loan forbearance until Octo- You also may want to consider talking ber and during his campaign proposed with a bankruptcy attorney about your canceling $10,000 in federal student options. loan debt per borrower. If you could Auto loans relief is limited benefi t, consider not making any extra Auto lenders also expanded their student loan payments while you wait hardship programs to allow borrowers to see what happens. to defer payments, typically for one to Paying off student loans probably three months. The deferred payments shouldn’t be your top priority anyway. are usually added on to the end of the More important goals include saving loan, so a 60-month loan would be ex- for retirement, paying off higher-inter- In this fi le photo dated Wednesday, May 9, 2007, Silver bullion bars weighing fi ve kilograms each, are displayed in the trading room of the stock exchange tended to 63 months. est-rate debt and building an emergen- in Frankfurt, Germany. Silver futures jumped more than 10% on Monday Feb 1, 2021, following strong gains over the weekend. (AP) cy fund of at least three months’ worth TransUnion says 2.9% of all auto of expenses. loans were in a hardship program in If you have trouble making payments December compared with 0.5% a year Move presents a challenge for Biden’s administration when forbearance ends, you may qual- earlier. For subprime borrowers - those ify for income-driven repayment plans with poor credit - the rate was 9.8%, or further forbearance and deferral op- compared with about 1% in December tions. Ask your loan servicer and check 2019. out the resources at StudentAid.gov. Still, serious delinquencies - pay- Debate heats up over how countries tax Big Tech Mortgage debt can be postponed, ments that were 60 days or more over- not erased due for loans that weren’t in hardship FRANKFURT, Germany, Feb 1, General Angel Gurria said in an open- the proposed rules are too complicated The fi rst coronavirus relief bill, status - rose in December compared (AP): An international debate over ing speech that it was crucial to reach a and would saddle companies and tax which Congress passed in March 2020, with a year earlier. Missing even one how countries tax big U.S. technology deal by mid-2021. administrators with expensive red tape. offered protection for borrowers with payment can hurt your credit scores companies such as Google, Amazon “The important of reaching an agree- And should “technology” companies and lead to your vehicle being repos- and Facebook is heating up, present- ment is increasing by the day,” he said. be singled out, since digital technolo- federally backed mortgages. Those in- ing a challenge for new President Joe Over 40 countries are considering or gies are spreading throughout the econ- clude loans backed by Fannie Mae and sessed. If it doesn’t sell for enough money at auction to cover your loan, Biden’s administration. planning unilateral digital taxes, and “if omy? Under U.S. pressure, the talks Freddie Mac as well as FHA, VA and There’s a mid-year deadline for talks they do, then there will be this retalia- expanded to potentially include other USDA loans. you could be sued for the difference. Handing back the keys in a “voluntary” on a global deal that aims to defuse tion, we will turn a tax tension into a kinds of consumer-facing businesses Homeowners with FHA, VA and trade disputes with France and other trade tension, maybe into a trade war... that also reap profi ts across borders, USDA loans have until Feb. 28 to re- repossession has similar consequences: credit damage and a potential lawsuit. countries that are imposing go-it-alone when we need the opposite.” such as luxury brands. quest a 180-day forbearance on feder- taxes the U.S. sees as discriminatory. The pandemic has only put a sharper Barbara Angus, global tax policy ally backed loans. (Currently, there’s France has imposed its own 3% tax edge on the issue of digital taxation: leader for professional services fi rm no deadline for Fannie Mae or Freddie on digital revenue for large tech com- The virus outbreak has accelerated EY, said the question of exactly whom Mac loans.) Borrowers can request an panies - in effect singling out the U.S. digitalization through remote work and the new digital tax applies to was “the extension of 180 days, for a total for- This photo combo of images shows tech giants - but has said it would with- the Amazon, Google and Face- contactless activities, and in some cas- single biggest political issue to be re- bearance of nearly a year. draw the tax in favor of an international es led to strong profi ts for digital com- solved” in the talks. Forbearance doesn’t erase debt, solution being negotiated under the book logos. (AP) panies; meanwhile, government budg- “If you bring in other consumer-fac- however, and typically interest still ac- auspices of the Organization for Eco- don’t avoid taxation by shifting activi- ets have been put under strain through ing businesses, the U.S. as a big market cumulates. In most cases, borrowers nomic Cooperation and Development, ties and profi ts among countries. One added spending and less tax revenue. would gain taxing revenue from some can make arrangements to pay back the a Paris-based international organiza- key question is how to appropriately Said KMPG’s Corwin: “A lot of of those foreign consumer-facing busi- missed payments over time or add the tion of 37 advanced economies. tax multinationals - such as tech fi rms the countries have said, we’re holding nesses that serve the U.S. market while payments to the end of the loan. Experts and offi cials say time is get- for the OECD to get to an agreement, potentially losing some tax rights over If you can resume making payments, - that may have no on-the-ground pres- ting short. Manal Corwin, a tax princi- ence in a country but nonetheless do but the combination of the politics on U.S.-headquartered digital businesses,” you probably should do so to avoid pal at professional services fi rm KPMG the ground of wanting to impose these she said. paying unnecessary interest. Contact substantial business there in the form of and a former Obama administration digital activities such as online adver- taxes, as well as the fi scal demands of Karan Bhatia, Google’s vice presi- your lender to learn about your repay- Treasury offi cial, said that digital taxes the fi nancial fallout of the pandemic, dent for government affairs and public ment options. If you can’t make pay- multiplying outside the OECD process tising, sale of user data, search engines, is increasing the pressure for govern- policy, said in a blog post that the need ments when your forbearance expires, “are threatening to trigger a trade war.” or social media platforms. ments to act.” to update the international tax system ask your lender if it has any additional U.S. trade offi cials have called unilat- The talks are about how to allocate Most participants want an interna- “isn’t limited to the technology sector. hardship options. eral digital taxes unfair and threatened part of a company’s revenue to the tional agreement rather than runaway Almost all multinational companies Pay down credit cards if you can trade retaliation against French goods, country where its services are used, unilateral measures, she said, “but the use data, computers and internet con- Americans have been paying down but have held off imposing sanctions. so that government there could benefi t politics and the fi scal demands are cre- nectivity to power their products and their credit card debt in the pandemic, This fi le photo provided by Nerd- Finance offi cials from 137 coun- from the taxes. ating an inability to wait much longer services.” according to the Federal Reserve. At Wallet shows Liz Weston, a col- tries are convening online Wednesday The two-day meeting is to assess than June.” Bhatia said Google “strongly sup- the same time, participation in lender umnist for personal fi nance website to resume negotiations over how best where things stand and no fi nal deci- There is no agreement on several key ported” the OECD’s work and opposed hardship programs has soared. About NerdWallet.com. (AP) to make sure multinational companies sion is expected. OECD Secretary areas. Concerns have been raised that “discriminatory unilateral taxes.” ARAB TIMES, TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 2, 2021 BUSINESS 9

A woman walks Nintendo profi ts soar as people play games during pandemic by posters of Nintendo in Tokyo Nintendo Co. reported Monday that its come on the back of the popularity of its during the fi rst two quarters of the fi scal on Feb 1, 2021. profi t for the fi rst three fi scal quarters nearly Switch console, as well as game software year, and so sales nearly doubled in the Nintendo Co doubled as people around the world stayed like “Animal Crossing: New Horizons.” latest quarter. reported Monday home for the pandemic and turned to play- Other Switch software enjoying healthy The total numbers include the smaller that its profi t for ing games. demand included “Mario Kart 8 Deluxe” Switch Lite console, as well as the regular the fi rst three fi s- The Japanese video-game maker behind and “Super Mario 3D All-Stars,” according Switch. cal quarters nearly doubled as people the Super Mario and Pokemon franchises to the company. The latest numbers show Switch sales around the world said its April-December profi t surged to The October-December quarter is al- are still going strong, compared to the stayed home for 376.6 billion yen ($3.6 billion) from 196 bil- ways crucial for Nintendo because of year- same period a year earlier, at 17.7 million the pandemic and lion yen the previous year. end holiday shopping. units. turned to playing Its nine-month sales jumped 37% to 1.4 Nintendo sold 24 million Switch consoles After this fourth year of holiday season games. (AP) trillion yen ($13 billion). during the three quarters through Decem- Switch sales, cumulative sales total 74 mil- Kyoto-based Nintendo’s success has ber. It had sold 12.5 million Switch devices lion consoles, Nintendo said. (AP)

Government says joining the partnership will deepen ties with fast-growing economies UK readies application to join Pacifi c trade partnership LONDON, Feb 1, (AP): It may be on request. Negotiations are expected to benefi t of lower tariffs for the British champion of global free trade,” Prime fi lling and customs checks. welfare and food standards. the other side of the world, but that’s commence this year. economy. The government says the Minister Boris Johnson said. Supporters said one of Brexit’s main Sue Davies, the head of consumer not stopping the U.K. from applying to The government says joining the partnership removes tariffs on 95% of The U.K.’s trade with the partner- benefi ts lies in the U.K.’s ability to protection and food policy at consumer join a trade partnership in and around partnership would deepen ties with goods traded between members. ship was worth 111 billion pounds forge its own trade deals around the rights organization Which?, said the the Pacifi c Ocean. fast-growing economies, including It is a much looser arrangement than (about $152 billion) in 2019, with Ja- world. The EU negotiates trade deals government must ensure that joining A year after it formally left the Eu- Mexico, Malaysia and Vietnam. the one for members of the EU, which pan accounting for near one-quarter. on behalf of its member nations, which the partnership does not dilute stand- ropean Union, the British government The United States, the world’s big- the U.K. formally left on Jan. 31, 2020, Though substantial, the amount is now number 27 following the U.K.’s ards. “It is important that consumer in- said Saturday that it wants to join the gest economy, is not part of the partner- since the Trans-Pacifi c agreement does around six times less than the busi- withdrawal from the bloc. terests are at the center of government 11-country Comprehensive and Pro- ship; former President Donald Trump, not involve deep political integration. ness the U.K. conducts with the EU. The British government insisted that trade policy, as the success of future gressive Agreement for Trans-Pacifi c withdrew the country from its prede- “Applying to be the fi rst new coun- Late last year, the British govern- the National Health Service and the agreements will be judged on what Partnership. cessor, the Trans-Pacifi c Partnership. try to join the CPTPP demonstrates ment signed a free trade deal with the price it pays for drugs are not for sale they deliver for millions of ordinary International Trade Secretary Liz China, the world’s No. 2 economy, also our ambition to do business on the best EU that sees zero tariffs and quotas on in any trade negotiations and that it will people in their everyday lives, not just Truss is set to speak to offi cials in Japan does not belong. terms with our friends and partners all traded goods, although there are other not sign trade deals that compromise the export opportunities they provide,” and New Zealand to formally make the The U.K.’s aim in joining is the over the world and be an enthusiastic costs to business from increased form- high environmental protections, animal Davies said. Bing could replace Google: Morrison CANBERRA, Australia, Feb 1, (AP): Although Bing is Australia’s second most India govt ups spending on Australia’s prime minister said on Monday popular search engine, it has only a 3.6% that Microsoft is confident it can fill the void market share, according to web analytics ser- if Google carries out its threat to remove its vice Statcounter. Google says it has 95%. search engine from Australia. Nadella initiated the Zoom conversation with A Google executive told a Senate hearing Morrison, The Australian newspaper reported. last month that it would likely make its search A Microsoft statement confirmed that the online engine unavailable in Australia if the govern- meeting had taken place last week but released healthcare in $477b budget ment goes ahead with a draft law that would no details of the conversation. make tech giants pay for news content. “We recognize the importance of a vibrant Prime Minister Scott Morrison said he has media sector and public interest journalism in Country in worst economic slowdown in decade as pandemic bites spoken to Microsoft chief executive Satya a democracy and we recognize the challenges Nadella about its search engine, Bing, filling the media sector has faced over many years the space. “I can tell you, Microsoft’s pretty through changing business models and con- NEW DELHI, Feb 1, (AP): India’s confident” that Australians would not be sumer preferences,” Microsoft said. worse off, Morrison told the National Press “With respect to the current controversy government has proposed to in- Club of Australia. over a potential code of conduct governing crease spending on healthcare in “These are big technology companies and Google and Facebook, Microsoft is not what’s important to Australia, I think, is that directly involved and we wouldn’t want to a $477 billion budget for 2021-22 we set the rules that are right for our people,” comment on that ongoing process involving that promises extra help for weath- Morrison said. “Having a news environment the ACCC and those companies,” the state- ering the coronavirus pandemic. in this country that is one that is sustainable ment added, referring to the Australian India is in its worst economic slowdown in and is supported commercially, then this is Competition and Consumer Commission, the a decade. The budget proposal presented to vital to how democracies function,” he added. national regulator that devised the draft law. parliament by Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman on Monday also focuses on developing financial institutions and shoring up of infrastructure to get the pandemic- ravaged nation back on track as the world’s fastest-growing major economy. “India is well well-poised to be the land of promise and hope,” she said in explaining the budget for the fiscal year that begins April 1. Contrary to expectations, the proposed budget did not promise extra support for the country’s Indian Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman, second left, with junior Finance Minister Anurag farmers who have been protesting for more than Thakur, left, leave fi nance ministry for the Parliament House to present annual federal budget, two months against new agricultural laws which in New Delhi, India on Feb 1, 2021. (AP) they say will favor large agribusiness and corpo- rations. Those protests have posed the biggest political challenge for Modi since he took office in 2014, Merkel aide fl oats long suspension to German debt rule in part because farmers are the most influential voting bloc in the country. Sitharaman said the government plans to spend $30.20 billion on healthcare over the next six Pushed by pandemic, Germany years to improve an underfunded health system that has creaked under the additional burden of the pandemic, which has killed more than 154,000 seeks to boost technology use Indians so far. India currently spends about 1% of its gross BERLIN, Feb 1, (AP): The Ger- domestic product on health, the lowest among man government agreed on a major economies. strategy to boost the use of data EU okays ‘more’ state aid to Sitharaman also announced $4.81 billion to be for commercial purposes and earmarked for making more COVID-19 vaccines. signed a deal with state educa- India is providing two vaccines: the tion authorities to fund laptops boost car batteries industry AstraZeneca shot manufactured locally by Serum for teachers who have to work from home because of the virus BRUSSELS, Feb 1, (AP): The ly, Poland, Slovakia, Spain and Institute of India and another made by Bharat lockdown. European Union has approved Sweden – will cover the whole Biotech. More than 3.5 million people have been The measures are part of a 2.9 billion euros in subsidies production chain, from mineral vaccinated so far. drive to boost digitalization in from 12 member countries for extraction to design, battery The government’s budget lays out a series of a country that has fallen behind a second pan-European project manufacturing and recycling. initiatives. It lifts caps on foreign investment in its many of its peers due in part to to develop the electric battery Called the “European Battery insurance market; provides funds for recapitaliza- concerns about privacy and data industry and move away from Innovation,” the project will al- tion of state-run banks that are saddled with bad protection. its reliance on Asian imports. low non-European businesses loans and proposes exemptions for senior citizens Offi cials in the country of- The EU’s executive commis- such as Tesla to benefi t from for filing income tax returns. ten refuse to communicate with sion had already cleared a 3.2 EU investment. Tesla, which is Defi cit citizens by email, but Germans billion-euro plan subsidized by headquartered in California, is were nevertheless surprised to Under the plan, the fiscal deficit for the current learn last year that many labs seven countries in Dec 2019 to building its fi rst European fac- year would widen to 9.5% of gross domestic were still transmitting coronavi- support research and innova- tory in the Berlin area. Tesla product, Sitharaman said. She set the fiscal deficit rus test results by fax. tion in a key sector where Eu- expects to make 150,000 elec- at 6.8%of GDP for fiscal 2021-22. The govern- Hesitant about accessing their rope is lagging behind Asian tric cars a year at the new plant ment hopes to get that below 4.5% in the next personal data, some authorities competitors. starting in mid-2021, with plans three years, she said. in Lower Saxony state recently The EU, which expects that to increase that number to half a The budget is bound to be enacted. But India’s sent vouchers for free masks for demand for batteries will grow million annually. opposition parties criticized the budget for failing the elderly to people based on quickly in the coming years, “If businesses come here to address core issues of unemployment and job how old-fashioned their names said Tuesday that the latest with the right projects (...), losses. were - prompting amusement public funding is expected to then it can happen and will The main opposition Congress party leader from parents of toddlers called unlock an extra 9 billion euros benefit a much, much wider Shashi Tharoor said the Modi government’s bud- Fritz or Helga who had received in private investment. circle of European companies get reminded him “of the garage mechanic who the vouchers. The commission said the than otherwise,” said Mar- Chancellor Angela Merkel told his client, ‘I couldn’t fix your brakes, so I project – involving Austria, grethe Vestager, the EU com- made your horn louder.’” acknowledged the country’s Belgium, Croatia, Finland, missioner in charge of compe- digital shortcomings this week, Battered by the coronavirus pandemic, India’s telling participants in a virtual France, Germany, Greece, Ita- tition policy. economy shrunk by 7.7% in the 2020-21 financial meeting of the annual World year, the deepest contraction in four decades, Economic Forum that Germany ees’ social welfare contributions spending discipline.” according to a report released last week. It estimated “didn’t look good” when it came until the end of 2023 and doing The so-called “debt brake,” Indian economy – previously one of the fastest- to linking up the country’s over without tax increases. which was introduced a decade growing among major economies – will bounce 400 regional health agencies, He wrote that such a “strategic ago, allows new borrowing to back with a “V-shaped” recovery and grow 11% in or in the use of IT for distance decision for the economic recov- the tune of only 0.35% of annual the fiscal year but will reach and go past the pre- learning. ery” would have signifi cant con- gross domestic product, though pandemic levels only after at least two years. “We need to get better and sequences for the budget - “in it can be suspended to deal with Independent economists, however, paint a faster here,” she said Tuesday. concrete terms, the ‘debt brake’ natural disasters or other emer- grimmer picture. Many say India’s economy con- “We know we have to catch up.” can’t be kept to in the coming gencies that are out of the state’s tracted more than what Prime Minister Narendra Education Minister Anja Kar- years even with otherwise strong control. Modi’s government claims in part because his liczek announced that the gov- administration lacks a credible way to estimate ernment is providing 500 million growth in the informal sector. Backbone of the euros (over $600 million) to help Indian economy, it has been hollowed out by a pay for the purchase of laptops long pandemic lockdown. for teachers in the country’s 16 Recent changes in India’s statistical processes states. Many teachers have been have accentuated these fears, with economists forced to use their own comput- questioning the data quality. ers to conduct online lessons af- Just a few years ago, India’s fast-growing ter schools were largely closed economy seemed to be lifting millions out of down before Christmas to help curb the spread of COVID. poverty. But a surprise demonetization in 2016 and the hasty rollout of a goods and services tax Also: in 2017 were harsh blows for manufacturing, the BERLIN: Chancellor Angela largest contributor to India’s economy. Merkel’s chief of staff has fl oat- The hurriedly planned coronavirus lockdown ed the idea of Germany suspend- announced in March last year further stalled busi- ing rules to prevent the govern- ness activity and widened inequality. The lockdown ment running up new debt for triggered massive unemployment in small and medi- several years as Europe’s big- German Economy Minister Peter Altmaier presents the an- um-sized businesses and left India’s massive gest economy digests the impact nual Economic Report 2021 at the federal press conference migrant workforce in distress. As a result, India’s of the coronavirus pandemic. in Berlin, Germany. The German government has revised its economy contracted at a 7.5% annual pace in the In an article in Handelsblatt growth forecast for this year down to 3% as Europe’s biggest July-September quarter following a record slump of business daily, Helge Braun economy faces persistent headwinds from the coronavirus nearly 24% in the previous three months that pulled advocated stabilizing employ- pandemic. (AP) the country into recession. ARAB TIMES, TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 2, 2021 BUSINESS 10

Qualtrics goes public 2 years after being bought by SAP

Business software provider Qualtrics Qualtrics shares rocketed up 50% in “We’ve had an epic run,” Smith told went public two years after German gi- the first day of trading, closing at $45.50. The Associated Press. “I’m just grate- ant SAP bought the company for $8 bil- The company raised $1.55 billion in the ful. I’m not someone who does very well In this file photo, Qualtrics lion, marking the latest achievement for move, with shares trading on the Nas- at celebrating or having moments. I’m CEO Ryan Smith poses in the the company that has become one of the daq index under the symbol XM. more like, ‘keep focused, on to the next Hub at the company’s head- crown jewels of a technology corridor Smith started the company with his one, let’s go,’ but today is a special one, quarters in Orem, Utah. (AP) near Salt Lake City that Utah likes to call father and brother in his basement in especially with my dad and my brother “Silicon Slopes.” 2002. Today it has 3,500 employees being able to watch.” The move brings more recognition to and 13,000 customers including Disney, SAP, which will retain majority owner- Qualtrics just months after founder and ex- Uber and the U.S. Census, who use the ship of Qualtrics, announced last sum- ecutive chairman Ryan Smith purchased company’s software to get feedback mer it would spin off Qualtrics and take it the NBA’s Utah Jazz and further positioned from employees and customers about public to help the Utah company expand himself as a powerful figure in the state. areas to improve. its customer base. (AP) US stocks climb in calmer trading Global shares up after vaccine maker boosts Europe supplies

NEW YORK, Feb 1, (AP): ful, have carried the S&P 500 and oth- Stocks were modestly er major indexes to record highs. Markets were also rattled last week Lilly’s 4th qtr higher in afternoon trad- by AstraZeneca’s announcement it ing Monday, following would supply the European Union with fewer than half the promised dos- a bumpy week that left es, which prompted the EU to impose profit surges the market with its worst export controls. On Sunday, AstraZen- INDIANAPOLIS, Feb 1, (AP): Eli Lil- weekly loss since Octo- eca promised to increase European ly’s new COVID-19 treatment helped ber. Investors large and supplies and start delivery earlier. the drugmaker’s fourth-quarter profit Investors have bid up stocks in ex- surge even though U.S. regulators ap- small continued to focus on pectation the rollout of coronavirus proved its use late in the quarter. GameStop and other stocks vaccines would allow global business The antibody treatment bamla- targeted by online traders and travel to return to normal. That op- nivimab brought in $871 million in timism has been dented by new infec- sales for Lilly after the Food and Drug hoping to inflict damage on tion spikes and disruptions in vaccine Administration authorized emergency hedge funds. deliveries. use in November for patients with Global stock markets rose Monday Meanwhile, the price of silver mild-to-moderate COVID-19. That after coronavirus vaccine maker Astra- made it Lilly’s second-highest selling jumped as much as 10% to an eight- Zeneca agreed to increase supplies to year high as trading in the precious product in the final quarter of 2020, Europe amid rising worries about the trailing only the popular diabetes drug metal became another target for online disease. Trulicity, which totaled $1.5 billion in investors seeking to go up against big London and Frankfurt opened high- sales. Wall Street players. er while Shanghai and Tokyo also ad- The one-time treatment is given The S&P 500 rose 1.4% as of noon vanced. through an IV and can be used for pa- Eastern. The Dow Jones Industrial Av- US futures were higher following tients who are 12 and older who don’t erage was up 226 points, or 0.8%, to Friday’s decline after GameStop, a require hospitalization. Antibodies are 30,206 and the Nasdaq composite was video game vendor, and other shares proteins that attach to a virus and block up 2%. Technology companies were were sent soaring by day traders. In- it from infecting cells. among the biggest gainers, along with vestors said hedge funds that bet Lilly said the U.S. government a variety of companies that rely on di- against those stocks were losing mon- has agreed to buy nearly1.5 million rect consumer spending such as Star- ey and selling other shares, depressing A currency trader watches monitors at the foreign exchange dealing room of the KEB Hana Bank headquarters in doses of bamlanivimab, and 950,000 bucks and AutoZone. the overall market. Seoul, South Korea, Monday, Feb 1. Asian stock markets gained Monday after coronavirus vaccine maker Astra- have already been delivered. The Shares of GameStop were down Markets were rattled by AstraZene- Zeneca agreed to increase supplies to Europe amid rising worries about the disease. (AP) rest will be delivered by the end of 19.2%, in what has become a typical ca’s announcement it would supply the March. move for a company that has regularly European Union with fewer than half at 13, 622.02. The CAC 40 in Paris ad- A purchasing managers’ index is- and travel to return to normal. That op- Nearly all of the drug’s sales in the seen double-digit swings most of the the promised doses, which prompted vanced 1.16% to 5,461.68. sued by business magazine Caixin timism has been dented by new infec- quarter came from the United States. last two weeks. Trading of the retailer the EU to impose export controls. On In Asia, the Shanghai Composite declined to 51.5 from December’s tion spikes and disruptions in vaccine Lilly said Friday that its overall was still limited on trading platforms Sunday, AstraZeneca promised to in- Index rose 0.6% to 3,505.28 and 53 on a 100-point scale on which deliveries. revenue jumped 22% in the quarter to like Robinhood. crease European supplies and start de- the Nikkei 225 in Tokyo advanced numbers above 50 reflect activity In energy markets, benchmark US $7.44 billion. It climbed 7% not count- Silver rose 7.8% to $29.03 after livery earlier. 1.6% to 28,091.05. The Hang Seng expanding. A separate PMI by the crude rose 44 cents to $52.64 per bar- ing bamlanivimab. traders who drove up GameStop turned “Concerns around the pandemic in Hong Kong gained 2.1% to official statistics agency showed rel in electronic trading on the New Net income rose 42% to $2.12 bil- their attention to metals. The price is seemed to return in full force as vac- 28,892.86. similar weakening. York Mercantile Exchange. The con- lion compared to the final quarter of silver’s highest since March 2013. cine distribution and effi cacy issues The Kospi in Seoul surged 2.7% to The data suggest China’s rebound tract fell 14 cents on Friday to $52.20. 2019. Adjusted earnings totaled $2.75 Investors are watching negotia- re-emerged even with the virus spread 3,056.53 and Sydney’s S&P-ASX 200 “is leveling off,” said Julian Evans- Brent crude, the basis for pricing inter- per share. tions in Washington over President gaining momentum,” said Mizuho added 0.8% to 6,663.00. Pritchard of Capital Economics in a national oils, gained 57 cents to $55.61 That topped Wall Street expecta- Joe Biden’s proposed $1.9 trillion Bank in a report. India’s Sensex opened down 0.2% report. per barrel in London. tions. Analysts expected, on average, economic aid package. Hopes for In early trading, the FTSE 100 in at 46,759.42. New Zealand and Sin- Investors have bid up stocks in ex- The dollar gained to 104.88 yen earnings of $2.37 per share on $7.27 aid, along with the Federal Reserve’s London rose 0.92% to 6,466.42 and gapore declined while Bangkok and pectation the rollout of coronavirus from 104.75 yen. The euro edged low- billion in revenue, according to Fact- pledge to keep low-cost credit plenti- Frankfurt’s DAX closed 1.41% higher Jakarta advanced. vaccines would allow global business er to $1.2130 from $1.2132. Set. ARAB TIMES, TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 2, 2021 SCIENCE 11

COVID-19

Top priority for shots Anxiety grows as care homes await vaccines NEW YORK, Feb 1, (Agencies): Frustration is building over the pace of COVID-19 vaccinations at long-term care sites, where some homes still await first shots while fending off a virus that can devastate their residents. The major drugstore chains tasked with giving shots in these places are far along in vaccinating nursing home resi- dents and staff. But some other types of group residences won’t receive first doses until mid-February or later, despite being among the top priorities for shots. CVS and Walgreens have started a massive vaccination push in nearly all states, and they say they are proceeding on schedule. But resident advocates and experts are anxious about delays in delivering vaccines that have been available for more than a month. “Every week that you wait and you’re not vaccinating is a big deal here,” said David Grabowski, a health policy professor at Harvard Medical School. “My sense is that this process is still going too slow.” Government officials placed long- term care residents and staff among their top vaccination priorities after they authorized the emergency use of shots from Pfizer and Moderna late last year. That includes both nursing Grabowski homes, where residents get 24-hour- a-day medical care; assisted living facilities, where people generally need less help; and other types of group homes. Vaccinations then proceeded quickly in some states like West Virginia, which didn’t rely on the drugstore chains, and Connecticut. But - as with other aspects of the rollout - the results have been choppy overall. In many places, home operators and residents’ relatives have watched with frustration as states opened vaccine eligibility to other populations before the work in long-term care homes was finished. Laura Vuchetich says her elderly parents live in a Mil- Nathalie Avery, 90, reacts as she gets the COVID-19 vaccine, Jan 21, at the Isles of Vero Beach assisted and independent senior living community in Vero Beach, waukee assisted living community and need shots badly. But Fla. As of Jan 28, 3.1 million doses have been given in long-term care facilities, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. (AP) they have been told they won’t get them until the middle of February even as pharmacies have started handing out hun- dreds of doses to younger people, including a friend of hers COVID-19 in good health. Death “They’re supposed to be at the front of the line,” she said. “They’re in the mid 80s, and my mom had a heart attack last Pandemic serves up unique challenges year. It’s just baffling to me.” Such homes have been hit hard by the coronavirus. A federal government study last fall found that an average of one death occurred among every five assisted living facil- Emerging adults face long-term effect ity residents with COVID-19 in states that offered data. That compares with one death among every 40 people with the CONCORD, N.H., Feb 1, (AP): The deteriorated since classes went remote. I was.” virus in the general population. coronavirus pandemic has been hard “It’s not awful, but I do feel sort of But Arnett and other experts agree The government tasked CVS and Walgreens with admin- on both kids and adults. But what grounded, like I can’t really explore the pandemic poses particular chal- istering the shots to long-term care locations in nearly every about those who are in between? my ambitions,” says Westenburg, a lenges for some subsets of this popula- state. Each vaccine requires two shots a few weeks apart, Demographic shifts during the last University of California-Irvine sopho- tion, including young people with seri- century have given rise to a distinct more. ous mental illness. and CVS and Walgreens say they have wrapped up first-dose developmental stage called “emerging ■ Augustus Bayard, meanwhile, is Rates of mental health problems in- clinics in nursing homes. adulthood.” Spanning the late teens just eager to start his college career. crease during this period, conditions The chains plan three visits to each location. CVS spokes- and early 20s, it’s a volitional, transi- He arrived at Brown University from become more complex and the most man TJ Crawford said most residents will be fully vacci- tional period marked by exploration of Anna Maria Island, Florida, this month serious disorders emerge, yet this age nated after the second visit, and the vast majority of assisted life and love, work and world views. — a delayed start for the freshman group is less likely to seek and receive living facilities and other residences will have their third vis- But with the now nearly yearlong pan- class that wasn’t announced until July. help. Maryann Davis, director of the its by mid-March. Some clinics will wrap up in April. demic disrupting education, employ- “It’s an awkward point in your life Transitions to Adulthood Center While they wait, the people working and living in those A medical worker collects a swab ment, housing and more, young people to suddenly have to put your life on for Research, surveyed state mental locations are stuck in limbo, hoping the virus doesn’t spread sample from a man during corona- virus testing at a center for private who are no longer adolescents but not pause,” he says. health systems between 2003 and to them or return, said Nicole Howell, who runs a California- COVID-19 testing in Petaling Jaya, quite adults are struggling to fi nd their At Boston University, Hyeouk Chris 2005 about services for transition age based non-profit that advocates for long-term care residents. Malaysia, on Feb 1. Malaysian au- footing. Hahm is researching how the pandem- youth, including mental health treat- “They are essentially standing at the front door fighting thorities imposed tighter restrictions An 18-year-old in Florida selected a ic is playing out among young people ment, vocational support and help this disease with sanitizer and limited staff,” said Howell, on movement to try to halt the spread college sight unseen. A 23-year-old in who make up a signifi cant chunk of the with housing. executive director of Ombudsman Services of Contra Costa, of the coronavirus. (AP) Texas lost his job in his ideal industry. current and future workforce. Nearly Back then, any one service was Solano, and Alameda counties. And for a 24-year-old in New Hamp- half of her survey participants report available in at most in 20% of states. Severine Petras watched a COVID-19 outbreak develop at shire, the pandemic halted hard-won depression, anxiety and loneliness, and But by 2019, that percentage increased a Pennsylvania assisted living home her company operates a social and academic gains. an open-ended question that allowed to 50%, according to a survey conduct- couple weeks before the first vaccines arrived. The Priority “This generation is losing out on participants to express anything on ed by The Associated Press. Life Care CEO said the recent outbreak hit a “significant” this key transition period,” says Kath- their minds produced a surprising tor- ’Systems are fi nally seeing that the amount of staff and some residents, including one person ryn Sabella, director of research at the rent of negativity. transition to adulthood is a critical de- who died. University of Massachusetts Medical “People really needed to vent some- velopmental stage, that this is a real Vaccine scheduling has been slow in that state, she said. School’s Transitions to Adulthood place or somewhere,” she says. “They make-or-break period of life, and if “We should have had at least one round of vaccinations in Center for Research. She has been want to be heard.” we abandon young people right at the studying the pandemic’s effect on threshold of adulthood, they’re much there,” she said. “It would have helped tremendously.” young people with mental health con- Stressful more likely to fail,” Davis says. Petras said she’s frustrated in part because it was widely ditions and has found patterns of isola- Jeffrey Arnett, the psychologist who Offi cials in several states say have known that COVID-19 cases would surge after the holidays. tion, angst and uncertainty. coined the term “emerging adulthood” seen increased demand for services She wishes vaccines had been scheduled sooner to protect Tedros Weiss “We’re seeing a lot of stress about two decades ago, predicts this popula- during the pandemic but have had to against that. school, about fi nding a job in the short tion will bounce back. While emerg- curtail them or offer them remotely. As of Sunday morning, 3.5 million doses have been given term, and longer term, what does this ing adults tend to be pessimistic about While some say the pandemic has in long-term care facilities, according to the Centers for Dis- look like?” she says. “There’s a sense society, they often are quite optimistic spurred lasting innovations, they also ease Control and Prevention. That’s about one-third of the Discovery of despair and hopelessness.” about their individual situations, he expressed concern about losing mo- roughly 10 million vaccines that Grabowski estimates will Emerging adulthood is a key time says. mentum for progress. be needed to fully protect residents and employees. to explore careers, but the pandemic “I wouldn’t diminish the diffi culty Lizzie Busby, 24, of Manchester, “It almost feels like we went about this backwards where ‘Disease’ closer to eradication: is putting that on hold. While some of it,” says Arnett, a visiting profes- New Hampshire, also worries about they contracted with the pharmacies and let set up the sched- Just over two dozen people in the world of Sabella’s study participants have sor at Tufts University. “I just want to lost momentum. ule versus saying, ‘Here’s the schedule that you need to are infected with Guinea worm, accord- picked up more hours in service sec- emphasize that they are resilient, and Busby, who is on the autism spec- meet,’” he said. ing to a new report that says community tor jobs, others are struggling to work they’re at a point in life where you can trum and lives with anxiety and de- programs are close to eradicating the dis- from home or are unemployed. recover from a year or even a two-year pression, started last winter juggling Declined ease in which a meter-long worm slowly ■ Connor Payne, 23, of Austin, delay.” two community college classes, mak- The drugstore chains have faced several challenges. At emerges from a blister in a person’s skin. Texas, got laid off from his event plan- Bryleigh McCarty, 21, says her life ing new friends and enjoying increased some locations, a high percentage of staff have declined the The US-based Carter Center, which leads ning job last week. Now, he’s consid- in Longmont, Colorado, got “10 times independence. She dropped a class the eradication campaign, says just 27 cases ering leaving that industry until the more stressful” when the pandemic hit, when her school shifted to remote shots on the initial visits. The companies also had to set up were reported in 2020 in six countries in thousands of clinics and reschedule some at locations where pandemic passes. but therapy helped her discover inner learning and she lost a tutor and other sub-Saharan Africa, or half the number of “Right now, I’m defi nitely sitting strength as she switched from manag- help. “I felt like I was being set up to COVID-19 outbreaks developed. cases in 2019. The center said animal infec- CVS and Walgreens say states determined when they tions also showed a 20% decline. with the emotions and allowing myself ing a yarn shop to working in a kinder- fail,” she says. could start giving shots at assisted-living facilities, and they The reduction in cases is welcome in to feel them,” he said. “But I have con- garten class. But 10 months later, she offered this have finished first-dose clinics when they were allowed to the health community as the coronavirus fi dence in the future, I’m very hope- “It’s really easy to get caught up in when asked what advice she’d give pandemic surges globally. Despite cuts ful.” those emotions of ‘Oh my god, every- friends in similar situations. begin in December. But other states didn’t allow them to ■ start until mid-January. They also say they are pouring thou- to many programs worldwide, The Carter In Redlands, California, 19-year- thing sucks, I feel so discouraged.’ But “Keep on chugging along, don’t sands of employees into the effort. Center said its community-based program old Hans Westenburg also is hopeful I’m also really relishing my ability to lose hope and remember that it’s okay to eradicate Guinea worm remained up to he can stay on track with his plans to sit back and laugh at everything that to be struggling during these times,” Even so, Grabowski and Howell say outside assistance 95% operational. become a physician though he worries is going on,” she says. “I’ve learned she says. “Reach out and ask for help still may be needed to speed up the effort in some areas. “We’re reporting a 50% reduction in that the quality of his education has that I am much stronger than I thought if you need it.” In New York, the Empire State Association of Assisted human cases, down to only 27 people in Living contacted state regulators because some homes had the world last year that had Guinea worm. initial clinics scheduled in March, Executive Director Lisa And that’s compared to in 1986 when Newcomb said. Those clinic dates were then moved mostly there were 3.5 million people annually Maine company that’s developing a sion and control systems. Organizers of the launch said the items to late January. reporting Guinea worm disease across rocket to propel small satellites into space It carried a science project by Falmouth were included to demonstrate the inclu- about 21 countries, mostly in sub-Saharan passed its fi rst major test on Sunday. High School students that will measure sion of a small payload. “We had some members who were very, very upset about The company, which launched from the Africa, but also in the Middle East and Brunswick-based bluShift Aerospace fl ight metrics such as barometric pres- having to wait until March,” she said. northern Maine town of Limestone, the In Florida, the state brought in an outside company to in Asia,” Adam Weiss, director of The launched a 20-foot (6-meter) prototype sure, a special alloy that’s being tested by Carter Center’s Guinea Worm Eradica- site of the former Loring Air Force Base, help deliver vaccines if the drugstore chains weren’t able to rocket, hitting an altitude of a little more a New Hampshire company - and a Dutch is one of dozens racing to fi nd affordable tion Program, told The Associated Press. than 4,000 feet (1,219 meters) in a fi rst dessert called stroopwafel, in an homage schedule a first clinic until late January. Weiss said the COVID-19 pandemic ways to launch so-called nano satellites. Innovation Senior Living CEO Pilar Carvajal said the complicated logistics and supply chains, run designed to test the rocket’s propul- to its Amsterdam-based parent company. Some of them, called Cube-Sats, can be as company called one of her homes that hadn’t had a clinic reduced abilities for research activities small as 10 centimeters by 10 centimeters. date set yet and showed up the next day to start delivering and made it diffi cult to move staffers, but Sascha Deri, chief executive offi cer of shots. he cited the longstanding work and com- bluShift, said the company is banking on She said vaccinations should be complete at her six munity involvement in fi ghting Guinea becoming a quicker, more effi cient way of worm for keeping operations going last transporting satellites to space. Florida assisted-living facilities by the end of March. “There’s a lot of companies out there Then she can stop worrying about employees bringing the year. Contracted by drinking infected wa- that are like freight trains to space,” Deri virus to work after doing something as simple as going ter, Guinea worm disease affects some said. “We are going to be the Uber to out to eat. of the world’s most vulnerable people. space, where we carry one, two or three “That is the one thing we cannot control,” she said. “The The 3-foot-long worm is asymptomatic payloads profi tably.” sooner we can get vaccinated, obviously the safer we will be.” and incubates in people for up to a year Another aspect that makes bluShift’s The US recorded 136,252 new coronavirus cases and before painfully emerging, often through rocket different is its hybrid propulsion 2,640 additional related deaths in the past 24 hours, accord- extremely sensitive parts of the body. system. ing to Johns Hopkins University. Guinea worm is poised to be the sec- It relies on a solid fuel and a liquid ond human disease to be eradicated after oxidizer passing either through or around The tally showed that the confirmed cases nationwide the solid fuel; the result is a simpler, more reached 26,069,046 and at least 439,439 deaths. smallpox, according to The Carter Center. The World Health Organization under its affordable system than a liquid fuel-only This comes as 97,561 people are currently hospitalized chief Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus rocket, said spokesperson Seth Lockman. with coronavirus in the US, according to the COVID Track- warns that the remaining cases can be the The fuel is a proprietary biofuel blend ing Project. most diffi cult to control as they usually sourced from farms, Deri said. Meanwhile, at least 29,577,902 doses of coronavirus vac- occur in remote and often inaccessible “It’s a very nontoxic fuel, I like to say cine have been administered, according to the US Centers that I could give it to either one of my lit- areas. (AP) This Jan 31, 2021 image provided by bluShift Aerospace shows The Knack Fac- for Disease Control and Prevention. ❑ ❑ ❑ tle daughters. Nothing bad would happen tory in Limestone, Maine, where an unmanned rocket lifts off in a test run. It was to them, I swear,” he said. “So it’s very Prototype rocket launched: A the first commercial rocket launch in Maine history. (AP) much nontoxic. It’s carbon neutral.” (AP) Film TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 2, 2021 FFeatureseatures offi along withtwoformer government newspapers andtelevision stations largest independent groupof editor-in-chief ofthe country’s court indictedtheownerand report fi before joiningTrump. secretary, hadworkedatCNN ington andWallStreet. of therelationshipbetweenWash- tions tounderstandtheimportance was amongthefi Scott programming,” said and insighttoourbusinessanalysis tive on-airpresencewilladddepth remains popularwithhisfans. his administration,thenetwork on Foxinthefi Donald Trump across allofFox’splatforms. Network andbeacommentator day programontheFoxBusiness administration, willhostaweek- rector inthejust-concludedTrump was nationaleconomiccouncildi- a formerCNBCpersonalitywho ny press secretary a colleague,formerWhiteHouse joining FoxNewsamidreportsthat tion alumni ment. (AP) respond tomessagesseekingcom- to hiringMcEnanyinthefuture. nel issues. was notallowedtodiscussperson- of anonymitybecausetheperson the matterwhospokeoncondition cording tosomeonefamiliarwith election butputthemonpause,ac- had initialconversationsafterthe is notaFoxemployee. news outtoallofthepublic. ble forgettingtheadministration’s ment asthepersonmostresponsi- while stillemployedbythegovern- to workforthenewsorganization which wouldmeanshehadagreed testing toitsaccuracy,onJan12— for Ethics. licly bytheorganizationCitizens The reportwasfi with FoxNews,tostartinJanuary. she hadanemploymentagreement Government Ethics,McEnanysaid out ontheroadwith“RBG,”speakingtoaudienceswhowere premiered attheSundanceFilmFestivalSundaynight. blazer inthedocumentary“MyNameisPauliMurray,”which hen andWesttracktheextraordinarylifeofthislittle-knowntrail- equality, yearsbeforethecivilrightsorwomen’smovements.Co- fi Murray” onthefrontcoverofherfi documentary “RBG.”RuthBaderGinsburghadwritten“Pauli just women’srights,”Westsaid.“There’ssomuchmorehere.” of theicebergMurray’scontributions. would beafoundationalideaforGinsburg.Anditwasjustthetip the 14thAmendmentcouldbeusedtoprotectgenderequality.It Murray had,in1965,writtenalawjournalarticlepositingthat the SupremeCourttogivecreditforideashe’dbearguing. D LAHORE, Pakistan: NEW YORK: ‘RBG’ directors shedlightonanotherlegaltrailblazer gure inshapinglitigationandthinkingaroundgenderracial cials inadecades-old casere- , willsoonbejoininghim. In apublicfi McEnany, Trump’sfi Kudlow, inastatement,saidFox Kudlow’s experienceand“intui- Even thoughformerpresident Fox announcedthatKudlow, McEnany didnotimmediately The personsaidthatFoxisopen The networkandMcEnany Fox saidTuesdaythatMcEnany McEnany signedthereport,at- Cohen andWestwereinspiredtodigintoMurray’slifewhile Murray, whowasBlackandgenderfl “We didsomeresearchandwewent,oh,mygoodness,it’snot , FoxNewsMediaCEO. name PauliMurraywhileworkingontheirOscar-nominated irectors JulieCohenandBetsyWestfi led withthe ❑ Larry Kudlow Trump administra- nal monthsof nancial disclosure Kayleigh McEna- rst newsorganiza- souredsomewhat rst postedpub- Suzanne Suzanne US A Pakistani nal press Offi By LindseyBahr is is ce of lawyer said. in arealestatepurchase,defense lated toallegationsoftaxevasion Amjad Pervez. he denies,according tohislawyer, land inviolationofrules,acharge cused ofpurchasinggovernment TV, hasbeen criticalofthe gov- Newspapers, which includesGeo rst women’srightsbriefbefore This imagereleasedbyWarnerBros.PicturesshowsDenzelWashingtonandJaredLetoinascenefrom‘TheLittleThings.’(AP) Mir ShakilurRehman Rehman (Malek), amorepolished,camera-readydetectivewho work thecase.ItostensiblybelongstoJimmyDexter he’s takingvacationdaystostickaroundandstealthily the killerhecouldn’tcatchfi in LosAngeles,hefi ral fi burned outbyhisobsessionandrigor. fi tigator whowesteadilylearndepartedthedepartment a grimhomecomingforDeke,formerLAPDinves- suits, afi condescending glancesfromdetectivesinwell-fi Deke rollsintoL.A.inhisbeaten-uptruckandgets trieve apieceofevidence.Weinitiallyexpect,as California’s KernCountysenttoLosAngelesre- ington? needs threestarswhenoneofthemisDenzelWash- on thebasisofitsOscar-winningtriostars.Butwho Friday intheatersandonHBOMax,maybebeingsold Little Things,”whichWarnerBros.willreleasedlast blast fromastylishandshlockypast. material intheserialkillerproceduraltowarrantits genre exercisethatultimatelydoesn’tfi “The LittleThings,”analmoststurdy,oftengripping some oftheholesandimplausibilitythatcreepsinto crime scenesandserialkillermania. a warmblanketof,youknow,morgueforensics,grisly the Lambs”and“Se7en,”“TheLittleThings”islike who pinesforthedaysof“Manhunter,”“Silence cock) inthe‘90s,andit’sset1990.Foranyone that’s notacoincidence.Itwasfi an evenmorestrikingexception. seldom-seen, relativelylittlething.Post-COVID,it’s production. Butinpre-COVIDHollywood,itwasa Rami MalekandJaredLetoisbynomeansamodest Hancock (“TheBlindSide”)withDenzelWashington, lywood’s assemblylines.AmoviedirectedbyJohnLee squeezed outbythemega-sizedmoviesthatcrowdHol- priced craft,areoneofthosegenresthat’sbeenmostly E Hunting ‘90skillersagainin‘LittleThings’ ve yearsearlier,leavingbehindplentyofcolleagues Deke -deliberate,dedicated,righteousisanatu- He playsJoe“Deke”Deacon,ahumbledeputyin But -andit’sasignifi That shouldhavebeenenoughtimetohammerout If “TheLittleThings”feelsofanothermovieera, Star-laden thrillers,withstudioscaleandhigh- uid,wasinfactapivotal tforDenzel.Ridingalongonamurdercasewhile would havebeenathrowback. ven beforethepandemic,“TheLittleThings” Variety ’s JangGroupof rst cameacrossthe sh-out-of-water story.Butitturnsouttobe By JakeCoyle Cohen, West lifeofMurray tracktheextraordinary nds himselfagainonthehuntfor isac- cant qualifi cant ve yearsearlier.Soon, Film rst written(byHan- vs. BoardofEducationcase,”Cohensaid.“There’sawholeslew contributions tocivilrights,ideasthatendedupintheBrown of PauliMurray.” life likeRosalindRosenberg’s2017book“JaneCrow:TheLife ordained in1977,additiontoscholarlybooksaboutMurray’s were anumberofinterviewsthattheyfoundwhenMurraywas tape whilereadingitaloudforafriendwhowasblind.Andthere Murray hadalsowrittenanautobiographyandrecordedaudio not insignifi brary inCambridge,Massachusetts,whentheydied.Anditwas rything letters,diaries,interviewsdonelateroninlife,”Westsaid. life, hadasenseofherownhistoricalimportanceandsavedeve- possible. a-half-hour audiointerviewwithMurrayandsuddenlyitseemed Murray diedin1985atage74.Butthentheyfoundafi necessarily beaneasysubjectforadocumentary,though,since equality andsocialjustice.TheysuspectedMurraywouldn’t hungry tohearstoriesaboutunsungheroeswhohadfoughtfor ct Kudlow Scott er -Denzel.“The “It’s notonlythewomen’srightsworkthatPaulidid,it’smajor Murray requestedthatthematerialgotoSchlesingerLi- “Luckily, Pauli,whohadmanysetbacksanddiffi nd enoughfresh Star-laden thrillerfeelsofanothermovieera cant: Murray’sownarchivestookup141boxes. tting wrestler’s colorfulbutchallengingchildhoodand sibility ofareal-liferunsomeday. 2032, buttheactorandproducersidesteppedpos- “Young Rock”hashimcampaigningforpresidentin ning time:127minutes.Twoandahalfstarsoutoffour. olent/disturbing images,languageandfullnudity.Run- R bytheMotionPictureAssociationofAmericaforvi- relic. was alwayslockedinthe‘90s,butit’salsoalreadya of policebrutalityorsocialjustice.“TheLittleThings” police protagonistsofcolor,withoutanyconsideration “The LittleThings”beingmadeanytimesoon,with things, issosuitedtolargercanvases. reminder forhowmuchDenzel,amoviestarofbigger still thethriller’shomefornow.Butitonlyservesasa screen, wheremostwillwatch“TheLittleThings,”is especially-plausible “C.S.I.”episode.Maybethesmall instead ofsuspensegrowing,thefi gets drawntowardaclimaxdowndustybackroads.But grip hehadonDeke.Like“Se7en,”“TheLittleThings,” ing gamesofcatandmousesocentral,Hancocklosesthe LOS ANGELES: A coming-of-agestoryinspiredbytheformerpro “The LittleThings,”aWarnerBros.release,israted It’s alsoalreadyimpossibletoimagineafi But bymakingSparma’sfamiliarifoftenunconvinc- a youngerversionofDeke. turned intoself-destructiveobsession,Jimmycouldbe ner. Afamilymanwhosestrongworkethichasn’tyet sets upatfi in hisdepravityandthedetectives’luridinvestigations. Joker actor.There’sasuggestionofsharedvoyeurism and fl er centralcasting.Letobringsthejuiced-upeccentricity creepy, greasy-hairedlonerwhofeelsoutofserial-kill- prime suspect,AlbertSparma(Leto),anabundantly excellent newseasonof“TrueDetective.” more thanaMichaelMannknockoffandclosertoan Jimmy. Here,“TheLittleThings”vergesonbecoming with Dekeawisebutpossiblydangerousmentorto nizing eachother’stalent,theybeginworkingtogether, with dartingeyes,eachdrawntodifferentclues.Recog- they stalktheblood-splatteredfl At fi But thingsgoawrywiththeintroductionoftheir amboyance tothepartthatyou’dexpectof rst, theirinterplayisterrifi rst asafoiltoDekebutquicklyturnspart- the time. did notdefraudthe governmentat a landsale,oneit acknowledges 34-year-old caseagainst himover province. of Lahore,thecapitalPunjab ability Bureauintheeasterncity 2020 bytheNationalAccount- ernment. HewasarrestedinMarch Dwayne Johnson The Supreme Courtordered The bureauwaspursuinga Suspense Also: lm devolvesintoanot- ’s newNBCcomedy culties inher oors likerivaldancers, c. Atthecrimescene, ve-and- l like lm he would haveRehmanarrested if coming topowerin 2018hadsaid Imran Khan relations withPrime Minister charges theyhavealsodenied. ting governmentlandtoRehman, accused ofviolatingrulesinallot- former governmentoffi November 2020.Thetwoindicted Rehman’s releaseonbailin Pauli hadonourworld,”Westsaid.(AP) been toldandwhosehaveoverlooked. examining ourownhistoryandreconsideringwhosestorieshave challenging idea.” ing thoughtsandthenkindofmovingontothenextinteresting, “She waspartofdoingtherightthingandthinkinggroundbreak- Murray betterknown?Well,Westsaid,that’scomplicated. Langston Hughes,JamesBaldwinandBettyFreidan.So,whyisn’t to seminaryschool.Murray’sfriendsincludedEleanorRoosevelt, a tenuredprofessoratBrandeisbeforemakingthedecisiontogo Women.” to beingoneofthefoundersforNationalOrganization before themorewell-knownWoolworth’slunchcountersit-in, segregated lunchcountersinWashington,D.C.,1943,17years 15 yearsbeforeRosaParks,fromorganizingasit-intoprotest for sittinginthequoteunquotewrongsectionofbus1940, of waysPauliwaswayaheadthetimesfromgettingarrested Rehman hasahistory ofbitter “The generalpublicdoesn’tunderstandtheprofoundimpact Both saidthetimeisrightforafi “Part ofitwasthatPauliaheadeverybody,”Westsaid. Murray wasalsoapublishedpoet,writer,labororganizerand Johnson said.(AP) down theroad,ifbychancewe’reluckytocomeback,” knows whatkindofmelting-potpoliticswe’llhave proach aheadfor“YoungRock.” cratic ticketlastyear.Buthesuggestsabipartisanap- fi rule itout.” and VicePresident am friendswithSen.Warren,PresidentBidenaswell, all dependsonhowfarwegowithit(theseries).ButI And whataboutPresident round (ofepisodes),thenmaybeshewillthen,”hesaid. on “YoungRock.” “Ballers” sportscomedy-tomakeacameoappearance Warren son wasaskedifhewouldinvite but decidedagainstit. said he’dseriouslyconsidereda2020runforpresident recounted. people, andIthinkweshouldgiveitashot,’”Johnson the effectof,‘Well,youalwayssayyou’reamanof as itis.” gong totakeyetanotherhardturnandbesopolarizing that bythetimeshowwascomingout,politics about itbecauseit’spolitical,”hesaid.“Youjustknew This was(Khan’s)idea,andatfi can beintertwinedineveryepisode,topartofit. Latukefu played by the series,debutingFeb.16,withhisyoungerversions on Tuesday.Johnsonalsoisanexecutiveproducerfor ducer of“YoungRock,”hetoldTheAssociatedPress was suggestedby he repliedwithalaugh. act? refl youth, “YoungRock”isframedbytheadultJohnson’s rst politicalendorsementontheBiden-HarrisDemo- “I’m alsofriendswithalotofRepublicans,sowho Johnson, aself-describedindependent,bestowedhis “Well, Icanseethathappening,”hetoldTheAP.“It “If we’reluckyenoughtocomebackforasecond During aQ&ATuesdaywithTVcritics,John- In a2018VanityFairinterview,thefi Khan’s persuasiveargument:“Shesaidsomethingto “We weretryingtofi Using thecandidacyasadevicetorevisithispast “I thinkthepeoplewillprepareme.Icansaythat,” Is JohnsoncleverlypreparingAmericaforhisnext ections onhislifeashestumpsforoffi , whoevenbefore -aself-proclaimedfanofJohnson’s2015-19 . Adrian Groulx,BradleyConstant cials were Nahnatchka Khan Kamala Harris, gure outacreativewaythatI Joe Biden (AP) military andsecurity agencies. party, thejudiciary orthepowerful of whetherthetarget isapolitical grown moredangerous, regardless even raisingacriticalvoice—has agencies. Beingadissident—or from stateinstitutionsandsecurity increasing pressureinrecentyears he becameheadofgovernment. rst Iwasalittlereticent lm likethiswhenwe’reallre- Pakistani mediahavefaced US andsoIwouldn’t asaguest? Sen. , executivepro- lm andTVstar ce. Elizabeth and Uli ARAB TIMES, TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 2, 2021 NEWS/FEATURES 13

People & Places

Media

Hiaasen quits Miami Herald Search is on for new leaders in journalism NEW YORK, Feb 1, (AP): The “help wanted” list for top management jobs in journalism is suddenly get- ting very long. Searches for new leaders at brand names like The Washington Post, ABC News and the Los Angeles Times are coming at a time of rapid change in the news industry and increased attention paid to diversity in decision-making roles. The two latest openings came this week when Marty Baron, the executive editor who transformed the Post over the past eight years, and ABC News President James Goldston both said they will step down over the next two months. The Los Angeles Times is further along in its search for a successor to Executive Editor Norman Pearlstine. The Reuters news agency is looking to replace its editor-in-chief, Stephen Adler, who is retiring on April 1. HuffPost and Vox Media need leaders, too. Dean Baquet, executive edi- tor of The New York Times, is the subject of speculation, both because his job is the golden ring of journalism and he’s 64 years old. By tradition, the Jones Times’ top editor steps down before reaching 66. CNN chief Jeff Zucker, whose name was frequently invoked by former President Donald Trump during his administration’s battles with the media, is expected to announce soon whether or not he will move on. Both Baron and Goldston cited the end of an in- tense election cycle and its exhaustive pace of news as a natural time to turn the page. “It’s burnout on steroids,” said Joel Kaplan, associ- ate dean for professional graduate studies at Syracuse This image released by the Sundance Institute shows a scene from ‘My Name is Pauli Murray’ an official selection of the Premieres section at the 2021 Sundance University’s Newhouse School of Public Communi- Film Festival. (AP) — See Page 12 cations. The moves offer news organizations a chance to anoint a new generation of leaders at a time the busi- nesses need to be nimble and, following a reckoning Books brought on partly by society’s reaction to George Floyd’s death last spring, mindful of having a staff and stories that refl ect their communities. “What we’re going to have to do is really look at a lot of people who aren’t the usual suspects,” said Jill Wright’s ‘The Plague Year’ to release in June Geisler, an expert on media leadership at Loyola Uni- versity of Chicago’s communication school. Diversity ‘New Possible’ seen from 2020’s tumult Diversity issues have roiled several news organiza- tions in the past year. The Los Angeles Times publicly SAN RAMON, Calif., Feb 1, (AP): tempting to hate the players rather the essays began, Clayton believes the came to terms with both how the paper historically fed In pop culture, 2020 has been under- than look at the game and realize it’s sequence of events that bookended the into the city’s racism with its coverage, and how it still standably reviled as the “hell year.” It the problem,” Rosenstein said. “We Nov. 3 election have turned “The New lacked minority writers and managers. tormented us with a lethal pandemic have new technology that can enable Possible” into a Kairos book, referring The Washington Post named Krissah Thompson spiraling out of control, thousands of us to harness our collective intel- to the ancient Greek word for an op- the newspaper’s fi rst managing editor for diversity shuttered businesses, violent protests ligence in ways that has never been portune time in history. and inclusion. The Philadelphia Inquirer’s top editor over racial injustice, raging wildfi res possible before.” “This is the one of the few moments resigned after many staff members were angered by a and political extremism and lies that The book is backed by One Project, in life,” Clayton said, “when the world headline over a story about post-Floyd unrest. underpinned January’s harrowing a nonprofi t group Rosenstein started as points to you and says, ‘Are you going This past week, CBS put two executives on admin- This undated image provided by coup attempt at the US Capitol. part of his effort to improve the way to make that inner change or are you istrative leave to investigate charges of intolerance to Wipf and Stock Publishers shows the But what if all that tumult actually we live and work. He also was a pro- not going to transform?’” laid the foundation for societal re- tagonist in “The Social Dilemma,” a minorities and women at some of its local news op- book cover of ‘The New Possible’. Also: erations. A blemish on Goldston’s record was the dis- ‘The New Possible,’ is a collection of vival? That’s the premise offered by Netfl ix documentary about the dark missal of an ABC talent relations executive who made thought-provoking essays exploring an eclectic group of writers, academ- side of social media released four NEW YORK: One of the fi rst book- racially insensitive remarks. how society can seize upon the re- ics, scientists, environmentalists, months before the Jan. 6 insurrection length inside accounts of the corona- With that backdrop, “one of these companies might cent upheaval to reshape technology, and technology engineers in “The at the Capitol. virus pandemic will be coming out in want to make a statement,” said Richard Prince, who the economy, the environment, the New Possible,” a collection of essays Another “Social Dilemma” stand- June. blogs about minority issues in the news industry. food supply, government and commu- that explore what and how the world out, former Google engineer Tristan Lawrence Wright’s “The Plague One was already made in December when longtime nity so we can eventually look back at might rebuild from the rubble of the Harris, founded the Center for Humane Year,” which builds on a New Yorker 2020 as a reawakening instead of a past year. Technology in 2018r to nudge the in- story that ran earlier this month, will MSNBC President Phil Griffi n stepped down and was death rattle. (AP) replaced by Rashida Jones, a Black woman who has The group behind the book doesn’t dustry away from building services be published by Alfred A. Knopf on moved up the ranks at NBC News. lack for ambition. People from science and devices designed to attract and June 8. Wright told The Associated Kevin Merida, a senior vice president at ESPN and fi ction novelist Kim Stanley Robinson hold onto our attention. His considers Press that he interviewed more than former Washington Post editor, is a name on many to Buddhist monk Jack Kornfi eld sug- his essay a kind of sequel to the Netf- 100 people for the story, including lists as a potential hire. gest ways to reshape technology, the lix documentary and its warning about such top government health offi cials as There’s been quiet progress at smaller news outlets. economy, the environment, the food how Facebook and Twitter can tear Dr. Anthony Fauci and Dr. Deborah Just this month, Manny Garcia was named editor of supply, government and community in people apart instead of bringing them Birx. the Austin American-Statesman and David Ng head hopes that people can eventually look together. “The Plague Year” will document back at 2020 as a reawakening and not what he calls “the shocking failure” of of the Providence Journal newsroom. Culminated The news organizations looking for leaders are far a death rattle. the US to contain the virus, which has more complex than they used to be. Baron’s Post has “People can tell our systems are bro- “We have been screaming at the top killed more than 400,000 people across nearly double the employees it had when he started ken, and not just in a subtle way, not of our lungs about this train running the country. eight years ago, with a robust video unit and data just like we need to tweak a few things off the cliff for a long time and then it “America was supposed to be the or throw a few bad apples out,” said culminated in Jan. 6,” Harris told the best positioned country in the world to journalism. Goldston’s successor won’t just super- Burdon Valentine vise “World News Tonight,” but “The View” and the Justin Rosenstein, a former Google AP, referring to the insurrection at the handle the pandemic,” he said. FiveThirtyEight blog, too. and Facebook engineer who contribut- US Capitol incited by former President Knopf, which announced the book Three issues that created unwelcome headlines for ed an essay on building a “democratic Donald Trump. “We have trapped the Wednesday, is calling it an “an all- Baquet within the past two months were ones few of Variety economy.” “The rules of the system entire global psyche inside this Vegas- encompassing account” covering eve- his predecessors could have conceived of. are rigged against us. They are not de- style dopamine machine that has be- rything from the virus’ origins to the The Times had to admit it couldn’t vouch for the signed to serve the interests of human- come the host of our democratic con- development of vaccines and nature of central character in an award-winning podcast that LONDON: Hilton Valentine, the found- ity, they are not designed to serve the versations.” the disease itself. its audio unit produced, said it disciplined a reporter ing guitarist of the English rock and roll interests of nature.” “The New Possible” aims to spur Wright won the Pulitzer Prize in for using a racial slur at a Times-sponsored meeting band The Animals who is credited with Rosenstein was one of the driving change through 28 essays divided into 2007 for “The Looming Tower: Al- for students and ended the contract of an editor who coming up with one of the most famous forces behind the book, which was 10 categories - Earth, Us, Change, Qaeda and The Road to 9-11” and tweeted she had “chills” seeing Joe Biden’s plane opening riffs of the 1960s, has died. He released last week. Some critics may Wealth, Work, Food, Education, Love, wrote a novel, “The End of October,” land. was 77. see him as part of the problem, given Community and Tomorrow. The con- that was completed before the pan- “Is it any wonder some of these editors would want The band’s label ABKCO Music that he invented the Facebook “Like” tributors the gamut from best-selling demic and in many ways anticipated it. to throw up their hands and say it’s time to retire?” confi rmed that Valentine died on Friday, button that helped propel the success author Michael Pollan to high school He is still working on his new book, Kaplan said. saying it was told of his death by his of a social network that has become teen activist Anisa Nanavati. which he expects will end with the The news industry’s fi nancial troubles over the past wife, Germaine Valentine. The cause of a massive funnel of misinformation The contributors quickly embraced incoming administration of President death was not given. two decades has thinned the usual pipeline of leaders, that has become a source of conster- idea last spring, said Philip Clayton, Joe Biden. He noted that Biden’s inau- “Valentine was a pioneering guitar nation and regret for him and other one of the book’s editors and president guration on Jan. 20 was one year since Geisler said. The best new ones may be found in unu- player infl uencing the sound of rock and sual places, or not have high profi les because they’ve one-time Facebook backers like in- of the Institute for Ecological Civiliza- the fi rst COVID-19 case was reported roll for decades to come,” the label said vestor Roger McNamee. “It is very tion. In the eight months since work on in the US. been keeping their heads down and working. in a statement. Demonstrate Valentine took up the guitar at 13 in his hometown of North Shields in New leaders will have to demonstrate they are sen- northeast England, subsequently getting for four years and is also heard on other nated Scottish disc jockey, producer and Saturday morning. sitive to inclusion goals, responsive to their staffs and involved in the skiffl e craze - a kind of classics by the band including “Don’t Let recording artist who had worked with the “Tragically, our beautiful Sophie able to inspire those who work for them to produce fusion of American folk, country, jazz Me Be Misunderstood,” “We Gotta Get likes of Madonna and Charli XCX, has passed away this morning after a terrible great journalism, she said. and blues — that was sweeping the UK Out of This Place” and “Don’t Bring Me died following an accident in the Greek accident,” the statement said. “True to “You are going to want to have employees having His skiffl e band The Heppers evolved Down.” (AP) capital of Athens. She was 34. her spirituality she had climbed up to a greater say than ever before in these decisions,” she into The Wildcats, a rock and roll band ❑ ❑ ❑ In a statement, UK label Transgressive watch the full moon and accidentally said. “The leaders are going to be vetted, almost like that became popular across the north of said the musician, whose full name was slipped and fell.” crowd-sourcing.” England, partly because of Valentine’s LONDON: Sophie, the Grammy-nomi- Sophie Xeon, died in the early hours of A police spokesperson in Athens It’s a time, she said, that demands creativity. habit of rolling on the ground while play- confi rmed that Sophie slipped and fell ing his guitar. from the balcony of an apartment where Also: Having learned his craft, Valentine she was staying and no foul play was formed The Animals in 1963 alongside suspected in her death. The person spoke MIAMI: Writer Carl Hiaasen is retiring from the Mi- singer Eric Burdon, bassist Chas Chan- to The Associated Press on condition of ami Herald after composing newspaper columns for dler, organist Alan Price and drummer anonymity because the investigation is the past 35 years, the newspaper says. John Steel. still ongoing. The Herald published a story this week saying that The band’s most famous hit came in Sophie, who was born in Glasgow, be- Hiaasen would be done after his last column on March 1964, when their rock-infused take of gan releasing music in 2013 and was best 14. The 67-year-old Hiaasen said he no longer wants the folk song “The House of the Rising known in the early part of her career for the pressure of a weekly deadline. Sun” topped the charts in both the UK being one of the writers of Madonna’s “I’ve been thinking about easing off as the years and the US. 2015 single “Bitch I’m Madonna.” went by,” Hiaasen told the Herald. “I was 23 when I The song, whose opening riff has been She fi rst used her own image and started working there. I feel like I almost grew up in a rite of passage for budding guitarists vocals for the October 2017 single “It’s the newsroom. I also feel at this stage it’s a good time around the world ever since, had such Okay To Cry.” The recording paved the to step away.” resonance in the US that many people way for Sophie’s debut album, “Oil of That’s not to say that Hiaasen will stop writing. were surprised to hear that the band came Every Pearl’s Un-Insides.” Released in He said he plans to continue his book projects, which from the industrial heartland of England. June 2018, it received a Grammy nomi- have ranged from comic novels such as “Tourist Sea- Burdon paid tribute to Valentine on nation for best dance/electronic album. son” and “Double Whammy” to children’s titles such Instagram, writing: “The opening opus French singer/songwriter Christine and of Rising Sun will never sound the the Queens described Sophie as a “stellar as “Hoot.” same!... You didn’t just play it, you lived producer, a visionary, a reference,” who His latest book is “Squeeze Me,” about the era of it! Heartbroken by the sudden news of This image released by the Sundance Institute shows Rita Moreno in a scene rebelled against “the narrow, normative former President Donald Trump. Hilton’s passing.” from ‘Rita Moreno: Just a Girl Who Decided to Go For It,’ an official selection society by being an absolute triumph, Valentine remained with the band of the US Documentary Competition at the 2021 Sundance Film Festival. (AP) both as an artist and as a woman.” (AP) ARAB TIMES, TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 2, 2021 SPORTS 14

Albuquerque holds off Kobayashi and Van der Zande Wayne Taylor Racing win record-tying 3rd consecutive Rolex 24 DAYTONA BEACH, Fla, Feb 1, (AP): Wayne Taylor Racing won its record-tying third consecutive Rolex Kuwait’s Al-Dhafeeri completes Qatar Group N Rally triumph 24 at Daytona, using a new car and a new lineup to beat some of the best DOHA, Feb 1, (KUNA): Meshari quality of the competition, prom- Kuwait’s leadership, attributing racers in the world. Al-Dhafeeri of Kuwait and his co- ising not to rest on his laurels and his success to the overwhelm- Filipe Albuquerque held off Kamui driver Qatari Nasser Al-Kawari strive for greater achievements ing support he has received at Kobayashi and Renger van der Zande won the MERC 2 or Group N home, as he encouraged his - both part of WTR’s winning teams category of Qatar International RALLYING compatriot youngsters to follow the last two seasons and both seeking Rally on Sunday, fi nishing the in his footsteps. to become the fi rst winners of three race in a total time of two hours, Dating back nearly four dec- 17 minutes and 10 seconds. to show how far motorsport has ades, the three-day racing event consecutive Rolex races - to give the come in Kuwait. overhauled Taylor team its fourth win In comments after the win, Al- marked the 41st edition of the Dhafeeri cited the world-class He dedicated the victory to Qatar International Rally. in the last fi ve years at Daytona Inter- national Speedway. race but decided to turn it over to Albu- battling to become the fi rst winning GT Le Mans class. The winning lineup CAR RACING querque because the Portuguese driver drivers of three straight Rolex races. included Nicky Catsburg and Antonio was rested and could tackle track con- The Dutch driver closed on his old Garcia, who was pulled by General ditions that included increased wind team multiple times in the fi nal 25 Motors with seven hours remaining Albuquerque was challenged over speeds. minutes but couldn’t make a pass for when he tested positive for COVID-19. the fi nal 25 minutes by van der Zande, the lead and was eliminated when his The Konica Minolta racing team, (from left to right), Filipe Albuquerque, “We decided we wanted somebody Garcia was tested during the race driving a Cadillac for Chip Ganassi as fresh as possible in the car,” Ricky tire blew. weekend so he could return to Spain Racing, until a punctured tire sent van Alexander Rossi, team owner Wayne Taylor, Helio Castroneves and Ricky “I could see his eyes in my mirrors,” Taylor celebrate with the championship trophy after winning the Rolex 24 Taylor said. “He got in there and was after the Rolex. He drove nearly eight der Zande to the pits with seven min- an absolute monster and carried it at Albuquerque said of van der Zande. hours in the race and was last in the car utes remaining. hour auto race at Daytona International Speedway, on Jan 31, in Daytona “He was so hungry for this, especially Beach, Florida. (AP) the end.” Sunday morning. Kobayashi cycled into second but The victory snapped a four-year with the whole story of leaving Wayne “The protocols we have are super didn’t have enough to catch Albuquer- then the Wayne Taylor Racing pro- a whole new engine, with a whole winning streak for Cadillac, which Taylor. I was lucky that they had a serious, the drivers don’t really get to que, who closed out the fi rst overall gram won it overall. new partnership and I thought I need- got a second-place finish from an Ac- puncture.” interact, even in a 24-hour,” Jordan Rolex victory for Acura in the prestig- “As a family, it was a very, very ed something to be consistent. So I tion Express all-star car that included The Ganassi team also suffered a tire Taylor said. “Antonio, I saw him be- ious twice-round-the-clock endurance special day.” hired all the same drivers Roger had,” seven-time NASCAR champion Jim- puncture about two hours earlier when fore the race and that was the last time, race. Wayne Taylor took ownership of his Wayne Taylor said. mie Johnson. Kobayashi carried the six-time IndyCar champion Scott Dix- and even then, we’re always social dis- Wayne Taylor left General Motors new cars - used Acura’s handed down It was WTR’s fourth Rolex win in load for an Action Express lineup on was driving. The team also rallied tancing, we’re always taking the cor- after 28 years at the end of last season when Roger Penske closed his team at fi ve years and fi fth overall, one behind that also included Indianapolis from two penalties incurred by new- rect protocols. to become a factory Acura program. the end of last season - in November Ganassi’s record six victories. The 500 winner Simon Pagenaud and comer Kevin Magnussen, who spent “Surface-to-surface, we’re wearing He brought his oldest son, Ricky, back 24 Hours of Le Mans winner Mike the last seven seasons in Formula One. gloves, we’re wearing balaclavas and and needed every day during the off- three-straight wins tie Ganassi’s mark. to the team for the refresh and they cel- season to prepare for Daytona. He re- Rockenfeller. The team fell to fi fth in the fi nal stand- helmets in the car, so nothing in the car ebrated the overall victory as youngest placed his entire lineup with newcom- It’s the fi rst Rolex for Castroneves When Taylor switched to Acura, ings. could be a risk for us.” son, Jordan, earned a class victory with er Albuquerque and Acura holdovers and Rossi, who have won four com- he released van der Zande, who was “Absolutely gutted,” Magnussen Era Motorsport won the Le Mans Corvette Racing. Ricky Taylor, Helio Castroneves and bined Indianapolis 500s. Albuquerque grabbed by Ganassi as the team re- said. “Looked like we had the race Prototype 2 class in an Oreca LMP2; “Today is probably one of the best Alexander Rossi. won in 2018 driving a Cadillac; Ricky turned to sports car racing after a won right there. Renger had really Riley Motorsports won the Le Mans days I’ve ever had,” Wayne Taylor The trio all drove the Acura the last Taylor won in a Cadillac for his fa- one-year hiatus. Kobayashi was not good pace catching (Albuquerque) Prototype 3 class in Ligier JS P320; said, equating it to the 2017 WTR vic- three seasons for Team Penske and ther’s team in 2017. retained by WTR for endurance events and I think he would have had a really and Winward Racing in a Mercedes- tory when both sons drove for him. Taylor hoped would help the transi- Ricky Taylor, who closed out the so he signed on for Daytona with Ac- good chance to win the race.” AMG GT3 won the GT Daytona class, “We won it with Ricky, and Jordan tion. 2017 Rolex win for WTR, was in the tion Express, and former teammates Jordan Taylor closed the race to earn which at 20 entries was the largest won the GT class with Corvette, and “I was getting a whole new car, with car late and had the option to fi nish the Kobayashi and van der Zande were a a 1-2 Corvette Racing fi nish in the class of the 49-car fi eld. Halep, Svitolina advance Reed wins at Torrey Pines Serena through easily in Australian Open tuneup MELBOURNE, Australia, Feb 1, (AP): Serena Williams found a sil- despite rules controversy ver lining in the delayed start to the Australian Open, the season-opening Grand Slam tournament that is starting three weeks later than usual because of the COVID-19 pandemic. Time to recover from an Achilles injury that ended her run at last year’s French Open before her second-round match. Extra time with her daughter, albeit in hotel quarantine. The 39-year-old American, a seven- time Australian Open champion, restart- ed her lengthy quest for a 24th Grand Slam singles title with a 6-1, 6-4 win over Daria Gavrilova on Monday in a tuneup tournament at Melbourne Park.

TENNIS United States’ Serena Williams makes a forehand return to Austra- There are six tournaments being lia’s Daria Gavrilova during a tuneup staged this week to give players some tournament ahead of the Australian chance at competitive tennis before the Open tennis championships in Mel- fi rst major of the year starts next Mon- bourne, Australia, on Feb 1. (AP) day. Williams is playing in the Yarra Valley Classic, along with top-ranked Earlier, Coco Gauff was up a ser- Ash Barty and defending Australian vice break in the second set and ap- Open champion Sofi a Kenin. peared to be on the verge of victory The fi fth-seeded Williams said she in her fi rst-round match before having was “pushing the limits” just being fi t to fend off Jil Teichmann 6-3, 6-7 (6), enough to compete at Melbourne Park. 7-6 (5). Williams played an exhibition match The fi rst Grand Slam tournament of against Naomi Osaka in Adelaide last the year was delayed by three weeks to Friday in her fi rst post-quarantine ac- allow for COVID-19 protocols which tion. required all people arriving in Austral- Against Gavrilova on Margaret ia to spend 14 days in quarantine. Court Arena, she wore a long-sleeve The biggest men’s tournament is shirt throughout the match during a rel- the ATP Cup team event, which starts atively cool summer day in Melbourne Tuesday. The other men’s tournaments and later said she achieved what she are the Great Ocean Road Open and the had aimed to achieve for a second- Murray River Open. round encounter – mainly the 1-1/2 In addition to the Gippsland Tro- hours on court. phy and the Yarra Valley Classic, the WTA has the Grampians Trophy. The Patrick Reed hits from a bunker toward the 14th hole on the South Course during the fi nal round of the Farmers Insurance Open golf tournament at Williams hit 28 winners and had 19 unforced errors, converted three of her Grampians event is a 28-draw tourna- Torrey Pines, on Jan 31, in San Diego. (Inset): Reed stands on the South Course while holding his trophy for winning the Farmers Insurance Open ment and open only to players who golf tournament at Torrey Pines. (AP) six breakpoints and fended off all four she faced. She will next face Tsvetana were forced into hard lockdown for Pironkova. Williams beat Pironkova in 14 days without the benefit of prac- the US Open quarte-fi nals in Septem- tice because of positive COVID-19 Finau, Schauffele among 5 players tie for 2nd ber and was set to play the Bulgarian at cases on their charter flights to Aus- Roland Garros before injury forced her tralia. SAN DIEGO, Feb 1, (AP): Patrick to withdraw. Jeremy Chardy beat 2014 US Open The extra few weeks off before the champion Marin Cilic 2-6, 6-3, 7-6 (8) Reed was so unaffected by a rules Humphries, Jones win WC bobsled fi nale season meant there was just enough in the fi rst round of the Murray River controversy a day earlier that he won time for the bare minimum preparation. Open. the Farmers Insurance Open by fi ve IGLS, Austria, Feb 1, (AP): Kaillie Humphries and victory for Humphries, and the eighth time Jones has Williams has been stalled on 23 ma- Two Americans advanced in the shots, the biggest margin in his nine Lolo Jones rallied in the second heat to win the helped a sled earn a medal in her last 12 World Cup jor singles titles since the 2017 Austral- ATP tournament, with fi fth-seeded women’s World Cup bobsled season fi nale, a race in starts. ian Open, when she was two months Tommy Paul beating Cameron Norrie career PGA Tour victories. which the U.S. grabbed the gold and silver medals. Katrin Beierl of Austria teamed with Jennifer Jan- pregnant with now-3-year-old daughter 4-6, 7-6 (2) 6-3 and Mackenzie Mc- Reed closed with a 4-under 68 at Torrey Humphries and Jones had the fastest time in that tina Oluumi Desire Onasanya to fi nish third. That was Olympia. Donald upsetting 14th-seeded Richard Pines, making an eagle on the par-5 sixth and second and fi nal heat, moving up from third place and good enough for Beierl to win the season-long points In other matches at the Yarra River Gasquet 7-6 (2), 7-5. fi nishing off his dominating with a birdie on the beating teammates Elana Meyers Taylor and Lake title, even without a victory in any of the season’s Classic, No. 13 Danielle Collins beat Frances Tiafoe, an Australian Open quarter-fi nalist in 2019, lost to Coren- Kwaza by four-hundredths of a second. Humphries eight races. Nina Stojanovic 6-2, 6-1 and seventh- 18th. seeded Petra Martic defeated Vera tin Moutet 3-6, 6-4, 6-4. The former Masters champions finished at 14 and Jones fi nished in 1 minute, 47.07 seconds; Mey- Beierl is the fi fth different female pilot in the last Lapko 4-6, 6-3, 6-2. Two-time Grand Slam fi nalist Kevin under after a consistent four days at the blufftop ers Taylor and Kwaza crossed the line in 1:47.11. fi ve years to win the World Cup women’s overall Second-ranked Simona Halep, the Anderson opened the Great Ocean municipal courses overlooking the Pacific Ocean. He It was the 27th career World Cup women’s bobsled crown. top-seeded player in the Gippsland Road Open tournament with a 6-4, 7-5 shared the first-round lead with Alex Noren, was in a Trophy, had a 6-4, 6-4 second-round win over 16th-seeded Feliciano Lopez group one shot off the lead in the second round and into today, I felt good, I felt confident and really went to that first tee.” win over Anastasia Potapova to ad- of Spain. then shared the third-round lead with Carlos Ortiz. to the golf course, plugged in my headphones and Tony Finau, Xander Schauffele, Ryan Palmer, vance along with third-seeded Elina No. 13 Aljaz Bedene had a tough Reed said staying mentally strong, as well as good just kind of got in my world with my coach and got Henrik Norlander and Viktor Hovland tied for sec- Svitolina, No. 8 Karolina Muchova and fi rst-round win, beating Yasutaka play with his wedge and putter, were able to “keep ond. No. 9 Ekaterina Alexandrova. Uchiyama of Japan 7-6 (5), 7-6 (5). me in the golf tournament and really allowed me to Reed said he was resiliant. have a fun stroll up 18.” “I knew today was going to be a grind, especially with that leaderboard and seeing how many big Egypt throws weight behind renowned GOLF names were right around there at the top. I knew you were going to have to go out and play on offense. You couldn’t play defense. You had to go out there Kuwaiti ‘nominee’ for FINA’s top post The controversy arose Saturday on the par-4 10th and shoot a number. when Reed hit a 190-yard shot out of a bunker with “It was kind of shaky there early on in the begin- CAIRO, Feb 1, (KUNA): Egypt on national handball Federation Hassan a TV replay showing the ball bounced once before ning, kind of a couple shots that seemed to kind of get Monday affi rmed support for Kuwait’s Mustafa said in remarks to the Kuwaiti settling into the rough. Without waiting for an offi- a little bit away from me. But I was able to rely on the nominee, the First Deputy Chairman of news agency he was elated with Al- cial, Reed picked up the ball to see if it was embed- short game early and get in a groove there in the the International Swimming Federa- Musallam’s candidacy for the senior ded. Reed told the official that no one in his group, middle of the round.” tion (FINA) Hussein Al-Musallam for post, noting his occupation of a chain as well as a nearby volunteer, saw it bounce. He was Hovland had been the closest in pursuit with four FINA’s chairmanship (2021-2025) in of top sports posts and his multiple awarded a free drop and saved par in a round of 70. birdies on the front nine, including on the ninth to get elections due in Qatar on June 5. connections with decision making On Sunday, Reed jump-started his round with a to 12 under. But the birdies dried up and he bogeyed The supportive Egyptian stance quarters. 45-foot eagle putt on the No. 6 to get to 12 under and Nos. 14, 15 and 17 – missing a 2-footer on 17 – in a came during a meeting that grouped For his part, Al-Musallam has laud- followed with a birdie on the par-4 seventh. His only round of 1-under 71. Al-Musallam with Yasser Idris, the ed Egypt for throwing its weight be- bogey was on the par-3 eighth, and he rebounded “The front nine was awesome, made four birdies head of the Egyptian Swimming Fed- hind Arab athletes on the international with a birdie on the par-5 ninth. He played par the and was just really solid tee to green; made some eration. stage. rest of the way until sinking an 8-foot birdie putt on putts there as well,” Hovland said. “On the back I Al-Musallam is a distinctive per- FINA is the largest association in No. 18. didn’t really feel like I played bad at all, you know, it sonality in sports particularly in swim- the Olympic tournaments, covering “I was allowed to kind of put it behind me when Rory McIlroy, of Northern Ireland, hits from the was just a couple of mistakes and it’s so easy to just ming, Idriss said in remarks to KUNA, six games, 49 medals (gold, silver and the head rules official comes up and says you did second tee on the South Course during the fi - let things kind of slip away. affi rming that his aspired win of the bronze). everything you were supposed to do,” Reed said. nal round of the Farmers Insurance Open golf “But it’s cool to kind of be up there having a post would boost the game in Arab The Kuwaiti Swimming Federa- “When you do everything you’re supposed to do, at tournament at Torrey Pines, on Jan 31, in San chance to win. Didn’t work out this time, but I feel states. tion had nominated Al-Musallam for the end of the day that’s all you can control. Going Diego. (AP) like I learned a lot.” Meanwhile, Chairman of the Inter- FINA’s number-one position. ARAB TIMES, TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 2, 2021 SPORTS 15

No.13 Ohio St routs skidding Michigan State 79-62 Sasser leads No. 6 Houston past SMU for 8th straight win HOUSTON, Feb 1, (AP): Marcus Sasser scored 19 points and No. 6 Houston beat SMU 70-48 for its eighth straight win. Justin Gorham had nine points and 17 rebounds for Houston (15-1, 10-1 McDavid, Draisaitl pile up points, American Athletic Conference), which won its 20th consecutive home game. Reggie Chaney added 10 points. The Cougars won despite shooting only 34%. Kendric Davis led SMU (9-4, 5-4) with 11 points. Feron Hunt and Yor Oilers outscore skidding Senators Anei each scored 10 points for the Mustangs, who made 32% percent of their shots. Ohio State 79, Michigan State 62 Hurricanes edge Stars 4-3 in shootout for series sweep In Columbus, Ohio, E.J. Liddell had 20 points and eight rebounds to lead EDMONTON, Alberta, Feb 1, (AP): Connor McDavid had a goal and times) and Detroit’s Billy Taylor (in 1947). The German forward leads the NHL in assists with 15, one Ohio State past skidding Michigan more that McDavid. State 79-62. four assists, linemate Leon Draisaitl had six assists and the Edmonton Dominic Kahun, James Neal, Ryan Nugent-Hopkins, Tyson Barrie, Darnell Nurse and Kailer Justin Ahrens added 17 for the Oilers outscored the skidding Ottawa Senators 8-5. Yamamoto also scored for the Oilers. Stuart Skinner made 33 saves in his NHL debut, handing Ottawa workmanlike Buckeyes (14-4, 8-4 Big McDavid has eight goals this season, tied for the league lead with Vancouver’s Brock Ten), who have won three in a row and its eighth straight defeat. six of seven. Boeser, and leads the points race with 22 – one ahead of Draisaitl. The teams will complete the two-game set in Edmonton on Tuesday night. Joshua Langford led the Spartans Draisaitl was an assist off the NHL record held by Edmonton great Wayne Gretzky (done three It took eight seconds for the Oilers to score. Off a faceoff win by Draisaitl in the Senators’ zone, (8-6, 6-2) with 14 points. Michigan Kahun took the pass from his center State was coming off an embarrassing and fired a shot toward the net. The 30-point loss to Rutgers on Thursday puck deflected off Ottawa forward that followed a long COVID-19 lay- Josh Norris’ stick and went past goal- off. tender Matt Murray. Colin White, Brady Tkachuk, Drake Nevada 89, UNLV 60 Batherson, Tim Stutzle and Austin In Reno, Nevada, Desmond Watson scored for Ottawa. Cambridge Jr scored 17 points and Hurricanes 4, Stars 3, SO Grant Sherfield scored 15 points with 11 rebounds and Nevada unloaded on In Raleigh, N.C., Vincent Trocheck UNLV with an 89-60 win. zipped a shot past Anton Khudobin’s Sherfield made 1 of 2 foul shots, glove in the shootout and James followed with a 3-pointer with 10:53 Reimer denied Jamie Benn’s final before halftime, Nevada (11-7, 6-5 shot, helping Carolina beat Dallas. Mountain West Conference) led 26-13 Nino Niederreiter scored at 17:25 of and were up double digits the rest of the third period to force overtime and the game. the shootout for Carolina, which squandered a 2-1 lead to start the third period, but hung on to beat Dallas for BASKETBALL the second time in two nights. Jordan Staal and Brock McGinn also scored for Carolina. The Hurricanes David Jenkins Jr. and Moses Wood returned Thursday from a pause due to each scored 13 points for UNLV (6-8, COVID-19 concerns that led to four 3-4) and Caleb Grill 11. games being postponed. Carolina won all three games in its return. Wash. State 77, Washington 62 In Seatle, Isaac Bonton scored 18 of his 25 points in the second half, Noah ICE HOCKEY Williams added 21 points, and Washington State snapped its six- game losing streak with a 77-62 win Reimer finished with 26 saves for over rival Washington. the Hurricanes, including five in over- A miserable January ended on the time. upswing for the Cougars (10-7, 3-7 Flyers 4, Islanders 3, OT Pac-12) on the final night, thanks to a big contribution from Efe Abogidi on In Philadelphia, Joel Farabee had a the interior in the first half and some hat-trick, Kevin Hayes scored on a key outside shooting in the final 20 power play 4:23 into overtime and minutes to pull away from the Huskies. Philadelphia beat New York for a weekend sweep. Rutgers 64, Northwestern 56 James van Riemsdyk had three In Evanston, Ill, Jacob Young Denmark’s players celebrate with the trophy after the World Handball Championship final game against Sweden in Cairo, Egypt, on Jan 31. (AP) assists to help the Flyers win their scored 19 points and Ron Harper Jr fourth straight. They also beat the scored all 13 of his in the second half Islanders in overtime Saturday. and Rutgers held off Northwestern for Nick Leddy, Josh Bailey and a 64-56 win. Denmark retain men’s handball world title Matthew Barzal scored for the Harper’s three-point play gave Islanders. They have lost five in a row. CAIRO, Feb 1, (AP): Denmark will go to the Tokyo Spain added a world bronze medal to its European tion because of the coronavirus pandemic, with three Rutgers a 55-40 lead with 6:24 to go Devils 5, Sabres 3 before the Wildcats went on a 10-0 run Olympics as world men’s handball champion after title after beating France 35-29 with eight goals from teams - the United States, the Czech Republic and but they never got closer than five the beating Sweden 26-24 in the final. Cape Verde - withdrawing due to virus cases, either In Buffalo, New York, Michael rest of the way. Mikkel Hansen scored seven goals and goalkeeper HANDBALL before the tournament began or during the prelimi- McLeod and Miles Wood each scored Geo Baker added 12 points for Niklas Landin Jacobsen had 15 saves as Denmark nary round. twice in New Jersey’s victory over Scarlet Knights, which overcame 18 kept the title it won for the first time in 2019. The The Tokyo Games, postponed at the outbreak Buffalo. turnovers with 20 committed by Danes are also the reigning Olympic champions after Alex Dujshebaev. of the coronavirus pandemic, are set to open July Wood assisted on McLeod’s go- Northwestern. beating France in the 2016 final. The world championship took place amid disrup- 23. ahead goal midway through the third period. Andreas Johnsson also scored UC Riverside 71, UC San Diego to help the Devils avenge a shootout 59 for Southern Illinois (8-6, 2-6 Missouri Valley Conference), which snapped its South Carolina women power past Alabama 87-63 loss Saturday in the opener of the In Riverside, Calif, Jock Perry had six-game losing streak. Anthony back-to-back set. scored 14 points with four 3-pointer D’Avanzo added 11 points and 10 Eric Comrie made 30 saves in his and as UC Riverside beat UC San rebounds and Kyler Filewich scored 10. first start for the Devils. Diego 71-59. NC A&T 67, FAMU 65 UConn bounces back, takes down DePaul Panthers 3, Red Wings 2 George Willborn III had 12 points In Greensboro, N.C., Blake Harris CHICAGO, Feb 1, (AP): Christyn be back on the floor at Maples Pavilion. In Detroit, Patric Hornqvist, Aaron for UC Riverside (8-4, 5-2 Big West Williams scored a career-high 29 Stanford closed out its long journey Conference). Zyon Pullin added nine scored 10 points and his 3-pointer with Ekblad and Carter Verhaeghe scored 9.8 seconds left capped a North points, Paige Bueckers added 22 away from home with a 74-48 win and Chris Driedger made 32 saves in rebounds and six assists and Wil points and personal-best 10 assists, over shorthanded Washington for its Tattersall grabbed seven rebounds. Carolina A&T rally in a 67-65 win Florida’s victory over Detroit. over Florida A&M. and No. 3 UConn bounced back from fourth straight win. Anthony Mantha scored with 1:48 Hugh Baxter had 17 points for the a rare loss to beat No. 17 DePaul 100- Tritons (3-5, 1-5). Toni Rocak added Kamron Reaves missed a 3-pointer Kentucky 61, Mizzou 55 remaining to pull the Red Wings with- as time expired for the Rattlers which 67. in a goal after Detroit pulled Thomas 15 points and seven rebounds and The Huskies (11-1, 9-0 Big East) In lexington,, Ky., Rhyne Howard Mikey Howell grabbed six rebounds. once held a 24-point lead in the first scored 22 points and grabbed 10 Greiss to add an extra skater. Detroit half and led 42-23 at the break. haven’t dropped consecutive games in pulled its goaltender again, but Syracuse 76, N.C. State 73 28 years. And they weren’t about to let rebounds and No. 15 Kentucky closed couldn’t get another shot past Kameron Langley added 13 points the game with an 11-2 run to defeat In Syracuse, N.Y., Alan Griffin and 10 assists and Webster Filmore it happen this time, after losing at No. Driedger. made two clutch free throws with four Missouri 61-55. and Tyler Maye each scored 10 points In the final three minutes, after the Wild 4, Avalanche 3, OT seconds remaining and Syracuse ral- for the Aggies. Tigers scored nine straight pints to take a In St. Paul, Minnesota, Jonas Brodin lied past short-handed N.C. State Indiana St. 60, Bradley 57 BASKETBALL 76-73. 53-50 lead, the Wildcats were 9 of 10 scored 18 seconds into overtime to lift Griffin scored 19 points, Buddy In Terre Haute, Ind., Jake LaRavia from the foul line while Missouri went 1 depleted Minnesota past Colorado. Boeheim added 17 and the pair com- scored 12 points with nine rebounds 19 Arkansas on Thursday. of 4 from the field, missed two critical free Victor Rask scored his second goal bined for seven 3-pointers. Kadary and his layup with 70 seconds left sent Williams made 12 of 15 shots. throws and had a shot clock violation. of the game for Minnesota to tie it with Richmond added 14 points on 6-of-7 Indiana State past Bradley 60-57. Bueckers nailed a personal-best 5 of 7 Indiana 79, Spartans 67 7:26 left in regulation. Jordan shooting, including a pair of baskets in LaRavia’s layup broke a tie at 57 3-pointers. The star freshman also had Greenway also scored and set up the and Bradley missed its last three shot In Bloomington, Ind., Mackenzie winner with a pass from the end line. the last five minutes. seven rebounds and just one turnover. Holmes led a balanced attack with 17 attempts. Sonya Morris scored 19 for DePaul, Brandon Saad, Joonas Donskoi and Marek Dolezaj added 11 points and points and No. 16 Indiana took over in Tyreke Key added 12 points and which had won four in a row since a Cale Makar scored for Colorado. Quincy Guerrier 10 points and 10 Connecticut’s Christyn Williams the second half to defeat Michigan rebounds. eight rebounds for the Sycamores (9-7, loss at UConn. Lexi Held added 16 (13) scores past DePaul’s Deja Blues 4, Ducks 1 6-5 Missouri Valley Conference), points. State 79-67 for the 800th victory in S. Illinois 71, N. Iowa 68 Church (left), and Evina Westbrook program history. In Anaheim, California, Brayden which earned their fifth straight win. S. Carolina 87, Alabama 63 during the first half of an NCAA col- In Carbondale, Ill, Lance Jones Ville Tahvanainen had 17 points for Ali Patberg added 15 points, Aleksa Schenn scored twice, Ville Husso lege basketball game, on Jan 31, in made 25 saves for his first NHL vic- scored a season-high 27 points and the Braves (9-9, 3-6), who have now In Columbia, S.C., South Carolina Chicago. (AP) Gulbe 14 points and Jaelynn Penn 13 Southern Illinois beat Northern Iowa lost five straight. Ja’Shon Henry added coach Dawn Staley has worked hard to for the Hoosiers (10-4, 8-2 Big Ten tory and the St. Louis beat Anaheim. get leading scorer Zia Cooke to turn Conference). Grace Berger added nine Schenn is one of the NHL’s hottest 71-68. 14 points and Rienk Mast had 12 Stanford 74, Washington 48 Steven Verplancken Jr had 14 points points and nine rebounds. the page when things don’t go her points, nine rebounds, seven assists players with six goals in his last seven way. In Seattle, after a seemingly endless and two steals. games. He also has four assists during Cooke had 12 of her 21 points in the road trip of nearly two months away that span. third quarter to lead No. 4 South from its home gym, No. 6 Stanford Carolina to a 87-63 victory over finally gets to go home. Alabama. The Cardinal are more than ready to NHL Results/Standings

WASHINGTON, Feb 1, (AP): Results and standings from the NHL games on Sunday. New Jersey 5 Buffalo 3 Philadelphia 4 NY Islanders OT 3 Florida 3 Detroit 2 St Louis 4 Anaheim 1 Carolina 4 Dallas SO 3 Minnesota 4 Colorado OT 3 Chicago 3 Columbus 1 Edmonton 8 Ottawa 5 East Division West Division GP W L OT Pts GF GA GP W L OT Pts GF GA Washington 9 6 0 3 15 35 29 St Louis 9 6 2 1 13 32 29 Philadelphia 10 7 2 1 15 35 31 Boston 8 5 1 2 12 25 17 Colorado 10 6 3 1 13 36 23 Pittsburgh 9 5 3 1 11 29 34 Minnesota 10 6 4 0 12 29 28 New Jersey 9 4 3 2 10 23 26 Vegas 7 5 1 1 11 23 17 Buffalo 10 4 4 2 10 30 32 Los Angeles 8 3 3 2 8 25 26 NY Islanders 9 3 4 2 8 19 24 Anaheim 10 3 5 2 8 16 27 NY Rangers 8 2 4 2 6 22 25 Arizona 8 3 4 1 7 20 22 San Jose 8 3 5 0 6 22 31 Central Division North Division GP W L OT Pts GF GA Florida 6 5 0 1 11 22 16 GP W L OT Pts GF GA Columbus 10 4 3 3 11 24 28 Toronto 10 7 2 1 15 33 29 Carolina 6 5 1 0 10 18 10 Montreal 8 5 1 2 12 33 22 Dallas 6 4 1 1 9 23 14 Vancouver 11 6 5 0 12 40 37 Tampa Bay 6 4 1 1 9 19 14 Winnipeg 8 5 3 0 10 29 25 Chicago 10 3 4 3 9 26 31 Edmonton 11 5 6 0 10 38 41 Nashville 8 4 4 0 8 20 24 Calgary 7 3 3 1 7 20 17 Detroit 10 2 6 2 6 20 35 Ottawa 9 1 7 1 3 22 44 SMU guard Kendric Davis, left, shoots as Houston guard Marcus Sasser Note: Two points for a win one point for overtime loss. The top four teams in each Edmonton Oilers’ Josh Archibald (15) and Ottawa Senators’ Braydon defends during the first half of an NCAA college basketball game, on Jan division will qualify for playoffs under this season’s temporary realignment. Coburn (55) battle for the puck during second-period NHL hockey game 31, in Houston. (AP) action in Edmonton, Alberta on Jan 31. (AP) ARAB TIMES, TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 2, 2021 16

Spain’s Feliciano Lopez makes a forehand return to South Africa’s Kevin Ander- son during a tuneup tourna- ment ahead of the Australian Open tennis championships in Melbourne, Australia, on Feb 1. (AP) – See Page 14 Sports Latest sports scores at — http://sports.arabtimesonline.com Vlhova finishes 2nd, Tippler 3rd Wizards stun Nets as Nuggets Gut-Behrami dominates another WC super-G for 4th straight win GARMISCH-PARTENKIRCHEN, snap Jazz 11-game win streak Germany, Feb 1, (AP): Lara Gut-Beh- rami outclassed the fi eld once again FIFA pledges no in a World Cup super-G on Monday, winning the last race before the world WC health risks championships. In a repeat of Saturday’s race on GENEVA, Feb 1, (AP): With the same course, the Swiss skier had a 3,000 soccer players due clean run on the challenging Kandahar to travel internationally for World Cup qualifying games course and extended her lead at each next month, FIFA President split time before clinching her fourth Gianni Infantino said on Mon- straight victory in the discipline. day all will conform to health Her winning streak comes on the rules in the back of an extended drought when she coronavirus failed to win a World Cup super-G for pandemic. three years. “We will “Sometimes it takes so long to get certainly not the pieces together and it’s not fun. It’s take any hard work and you’re always fi ght- risk for the ing against everything,” Gut-Behrami health of an- said. yone when “And then somehow, after all this we play work, it goes again in the right direc- football,” In- Infantino fantino said tion. It feels so easy and you’re actu- in a World Health Organization ally enjoying it.” news conference. Her 16th career win in super-G put Delays in the 2022 World Gut-Behrami in a tie for third with Cup qualifying program in Katja Seizinger of Germany on the all- most continents led FIFA last time winners list. Only American great year to create new games Lindsey Vonn (28) and Austrian skier dates next January. They will Renate Götschl (17) have won more help make up the backlog in super-Gs. an increasingly tight schedule Overall World Cup leader Petra Vl- with broadcasting rights al- hova was the only racer to fi nish within ready sold. seven-tenths of a second of Gut-Beh- In Asia, 40 national teams rami’s time, coming in 0.28 behind in are due to resume qualifying second for her fi rst career podium in groups that last played in No- vember 2019. super-G. A total of 135 teams are due to play World Cup qualifiers SKIING next month, and 48 more have preliminary games for the 2022 African Cup of Nations. Tamara Tippler of Austria was 0.74 “We will see where we can behind in third, followed by Kajsa play, in what conditions,” the Vickhoff Lie in fourth. The Norwegian FIFA leader said, pledging to had earned her fi rst podium when she “do it by adhering to a clear came runner-up in Saturday’s race. health protocol.” With the super-G at the worlds eight Many of the players due to Denver Nuggets guard Jamal Murray, (center), drives to the basket as Utah Jazz forward Georges Niang, (left), defends and Nuggets center Nikola Jokic days away, Gut-Behrami said she was return home for national duty follows the play in the second half of an NBA basketball game on Jan 31, 2021, in Denver. (AP) looking forward to traveling home and play for clubs in Europe, in- getting some rest. cluding in England which is experiencing an aggressive At her home races in Crans Mon- new variant of COVID-19. Clippers pull away from Knicks for 129-115 victory tana a week ago, she complained about FIFA eased its rules last back and hip ailments. year that require clubs to “The last two weeks were intense release players to national WASHINGTON, Feb 1, York for its 10th victory in 11 games. and exhausting. I’m happy that I’m teams. The Clippers shredded the NBA healthy and that I fought against the (AP): Bradley Beal and leaders in fewest points allowed per fatigue,” Gut-Behrami said. Russell Westbrook hit game to break away after leading by Corinne Suter of Switzerland was hill champion, was ruled out for the 3-pointers in a wild 3.8-sec- one after two quarters. They surpassed fi fth, keeping alive her slim chance of season after fracturing a bone in her the 102.7 points per game the Knicks retaining the super-G season title she right knee after the cancellation of ond sequence in the final had been allowing with their fi rst bas- won last year. Suter trails leader Gut- Sunday’s race, when she fell while de- seconds to help the Wash- ket of the fi nal quarte. Behrami by 195 points with only two scending from the hill. ington Wizards stun Kevin Reggie Jackson added 18 points and events remaining after the worlds. A Super-G world champion Mikaela Paul George had 17 to help the Clip- race win is worth 100 points. Shiffrin sat out the speed races in Ger- Durant and the Brooklyn pers improve to 16-5. Julius Randle Defending overall champion Federi- many in order to train for the worlds. Nets 149-146. had 27 points and 12 rebounds for the ca Brignone fi nished seventh, leading a Shiffrin has not competed in a speed Westbrook had 41 points, 10 re- Knicks. trio of Italians in the top 10, a day after race in more than a year. She had a bounds and eight assists, and NBA 76ers 119, Pacers 110 the team lost Sofi a Goggia for its home 10-month break from racing in 2020 and In Indianapolis, Tobias Harris world championships. only resumed training in super-G last scoring leader Beal had 37 points. Goggia, who is the Olympic down- week. In the fourth quarter, Beal had 22 scored 27 points and Furkan Kork- points and Westbrook had 15. Du- maz added 17, including the go-ahead rant, second in the NBA in scoring, baskets in the fourth quarter, to help Philadelphia complete a frantic rally also had 37 points. against Indiana. With Washington down 146-141, The 76ers trailed by 16 early in the Beal hit a 3-pointer with 8.1 seconds left. Garrison Matthews defl ected Joe fourth but closed on a 31-6 run for Harris’ inbounds pass to Westbrook their sixth win in seven games – this and he made a 3 with 4.3 seconds left time without All-Star center Joel Em- for a 147-146 lead. biid, who sat out with a sore back. Malcolm Brogdon led Indiana with 25 points, and Domantas Sabonis had BASKETBALL 21. The Pacers have lost fi ve of eight. Raptors 115, Magic 102 Kyrie Irving found Timothe Lu- Brooklyn Nets guard Kyrie Irving (11) reaches for the ball against Wash- In Tampa, Florida, Pascal Siakam wawu-Carbarrot under the basket with ington Wizards guard Russell Westbrook (4) during the fi rst half of an NBA had 30 points and 10 rebounds in To- 2.9 seconds left, but his layup attempt basketball game, on Jan 31, 2021, in Washington. (AP) ronto’s victory over Orlando. spun around the rim and failed to drop. Kyle Lowry had 12 points and 14 Beal added two free throws with 0.7 related issues. win for the sixth time in seven games. assists, and Aaron Baynes added eight seconds left as the Wizards broke a Nuggets 128, Jazz 117 Utah lost for the fi rst time since Jan. points and 16 rebounds to help the Rap- four-game losing steak and improved 6 at New York. Bojan Bogdanovic led tors snapa three-game losing streak. In Denver, Nikola Jokic matched the Jazz with 29 points, and Donovan to a still NBA-worst 4-12. his career high with 47 points and fast- Rookie Cole Anthony led Orlando Mitchell had 13 in 31 minutes after with 16 points. The Magic have lost Harris scored a career-high 30 starting Denver ended Utah’s winning points, and Irving had 26 for Brook- missing two games while in concus- 11 of 13. lyn. The Nets had won four in a row. streak at 11. sion protocol. Jokic was 17 for 26 from the fi eld, Timberwolves 109, Cavaliers 104 James Harden sat out because of a Denver hit all eight of its 3-point at- In Minneapolis, Malik Beasley thigh contusion, the fi rst game he has hit all four of his 3-point attempts, tempts and shot 80% in the fi rst quarter. made 9 of 10 free throws and had 12 scored 23 points and rookie Anthony missed since being traded from Hous- The Nuggets kept it going in the second, Edwards had 23 in his second straight ton to Brooklyn on Jan. 13. rebounds and fi ve assists. He scored 33 going 13 of 24 from the fi eld and fi nish- points in the fi rst half. start in Minnesota’s victory over The Wizards are 1-4 since resuming ing 15 of 17 from long range in the fi rst Cleveland. play after a 13-day layoff that included Will Barton added 18 points, and Ja- half to take a 79-54 halftime lead. Minnesota snapped a three-game six postponements due to COVID-19 mal Murray had 16 to help the Nuggets Clippers 129, Knicks 115 losing streak and won for just the third In New York, Kawhi Leonard scored time in 17 games. 28 points and Los Angeles rang up the Andre Drummond had 25 points and First placed Switzerland’s Lara Gut-Behrami celebrates on the podium of NBA Results/Standings highest point total of the season against 22 rebounds – his third 20-20 game of an alpine ski, women’s World Cup super-G race in Garmisch-Partenkirch- the NBA’s leading defense, beating New the year – for Cleveland. en, Germany, on Feb 1. (AP)

WASHINGTON, Feb 1, (AP): Results and standings from the NBA games on Sun- day. Al-Dabbagh shines LA Clippers 129 New York 115 Philadelphia 119 Indiana 110 Denver 128 Utah 117 Washington 149 Brooklyn 146 Toronto 115 Orlando 102 Minnesota 109 Cleveland 104 Al-Arabi beat Kazma in Eastern Conference Western Conference Atlantic Division Southwest Division Kuwait Premier League W L Pct GB W L Pct GB Philadelphia 15 6 .714 - Memphis 8 6 .571 - KUWAIT CITY, Feb 1, (KUNA): Al-Ara- Brooklyn 13 9 .591 2-1/2 San Antonio 11 9 .550 - Boston 10 8 .556 3-1/2 Houston 9 9 .500 1 bi beat Kazma 2-1 in a match held on Mon- New York 9 12 .429 6 Dallas 8 12 .400 3 Toronto 8 12 .400 6-1/2 New Orleans 7 11 .389 3 day as part of the second round of Kuwait Southeast Division Northwest Division W L Pct GB W L Pct GB Premier League. Atlanta 10 9 .526 - Utah 15 5 .750 - Charlotte 9 11 .450 1-1/2 Denver 12 8 .600 3 Orlando 8 13 .381 3 Portland 10 8 .556 4 SOCCER Miami 7 12 .368 3 Oklahoma City 8 10 .444 6 Washington 4 12 .250 4-1/2 Minnesota 5 14 .263 9-1/2 Central Division Pacific Division Udai Al-Dabbagh of Al-Arabi, in the match W L Pct GB W L Pct GB Milwaukee 11 8 .579 - LA Clippers 16 5 .762 - held at Sabah Al-Salem Stadium, scored the Indiana 11 9 .550 -1/2 LA Lakers 15 6 .714 1 two goals raising his team’s score to four. Cleveland 9 11 .450 2-1/2 Phoenix 10 8 .556 4-1/2 Chicago 7 11 .389 3-1/2 Golden State 11 9 .550 4-1/2 Kazma’s Hamad Al-Harbi scored the single Detroit 5 15 .250 6-1/2 Sacramento 8 11 .421 7 KUNA photo Player flicks the ball during the Kuwait Premier League match between Al-Arabi and Kazma. goal, with the score remaining vacant.

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