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SUNDAY, JUNE 6, 2021 / SHAWWAL 25, 1442 AH emergency number 112 NO. 17706 16 PAGES 150 FILS

Global war on ransomware ... Hurdles hinder US response

Havoc escalates Newswatch CONCERN VOICED ON ASTRA THIRD RICHMOND, Va., June 5, (AP): Foreign keyboard criminals with CAIRO: There will be no in- scant fear of repercussions have crease in fees charged by private paralyzed US schools and hospi- schools in Kuwait, a local news- tals, leaked highly sensitive po- paper reported Friday, citing an lice files, triggered fuel shortages education source. “Private schools of differ- and, most recently, threatened Heart hiccup in Pfizer jab global food supply chains. ent educational systems will not hike fees for the next school year The escalating havoc caused 2021-22,” the source told Al Rai. by ransomware gangs raises an However, the source said the obvious question: Why has the fees will be due in full should the 1,280 new cases United States, believed to have in-person class system be rein- the world’s greatest cyber ca- stated in the country. pabilities, looked so powerless Kuwait has shifted to distance- By Marwa Bahrawi to protect its citizens from these learning as part of precautions Al-Seyassah Staff and kind of criminals operating with aimed to limit the spread of Agencies near impunity out of Russia and COVID-19. As part of the shift, allied countries? a 25 per cent cut in the fees was KUWAIT CITY/WAS- The answer is that there are introduced. (Gulf news) numerous technological, legal See Also Page 3 HINGTON, June 5: and diplomatic hurdles to going Health authorities are after ransomware gangs. Until WASHINGTON: President Joe trying to determine recently, it just hasn’t been a high Biden will meet with Turkish priority for the US government. President Recep Tayyip Erdog- whether heart inflam- That has changed as the prob- an while on his trip to Europe mation that can occur later this month, the White House lem has grown well beyond an announced Thursday. along with many types economic nuisance. President The meeting, which will take of infections could also Joe Biden intends to confront place June 14 on the sidelines of Russia’s leader, Vladimir Putin, the NATO summit in Brussels, be a rare side effect in about Moscow’s harboring of comes against the backdrop of teens and young adults ransomware criminals when the some tension between the two after the second dose of two men meet in Europe later leaders. this month. The Biden adminis- Erdogan had pushed for an COVID-19 vaccine. tration has also promised to boost earlier call with Biden after the An article on seven US defenses against attacks, improve US president took offi ce. And he teen boys in several states, efforts to prosecute those respon- was later frustrated when Biden published online Friday in sible and build diplomatic alli- declared the mass killings of Ar- ances to pressure countries that menians at the hands of the Turks Pediatrics, is among the latest reports of heart inflammation harbor ransomware gangs. in 1915 as a “genocide,” a decree Calls are growing for the ad- Ankara long opposed. discovered after COVID-19 ministration to direct US intelli- The White House also revealed vaccination, though a link gence agencies and the military other details of Biden’s fi rst over- to the vaccine has not been to attack ransomware gangs’ seas trip as president, which be- proven. technical infrastructure used for gins next week. The president The boys, aged 14 to 19, re- will fi rst meet with British Prime hacking, posting sensitive victim Minister Boris Johnson on June ceived Pfizer shots in April or data on the dark web and storing 10 ahead of attending the G-7 May and developed chest pain digital currency payouts. within a few days. Heart imag- summit in Cornwall, United Equivalent Kingdom. (AP) ing tests showed a type of heart ❑ ❑ ❑ muscle inflammation called Fighting ransomware re- myocarditis. quires the nonlethal equivalent JERUSALEM: The UN agency None were critically ill. All of the “global war on terrorism” for Palestinian refugees says it were healthy enough to be sent launched after the Sept. 11 at- has recalled its Gaza director af- home after two to six days in tacks, said John Riggi, a former ter he faced threats over remarks the hospital and are doing “do- FBI agent and senior adviser for in which he appeared to praise ing pretty well,” said Dr. Preeti cybersecurity and risk for the Israel’s “huge sophistication” Jaggi, an Emory University in- America Hospital Association. in carrying out precision strikes fectious disease specialist who during last month’s Gaza war. Its members have been hard hit UNRWA, which provides es- co-authored the report. by ransomware gangs during the sential health, education and She said more follow-up is coronavirus pandemic. other services in the territory, needed to determine how the “It should include a combina- said late on Thursday that it was seven fare but that it’s likely the tion of diplomatic, financial, law “seriously concerned” about the heart changes were temporary. enforcement, intelligence opera- threats, including a “very large Only one of the seven boys tions, of course, and military op- protest” outside its Gaza head- in the Pediatrics report had evi- erations,” Riggi said. quarters on Monday. dence of a possible previous CO- A public-private task force It said Gaza director Mat- VID-19 infection and doctors de- including Microsoft and Ama- thias Schmale and his deputy termined none of them had a rare zon made similar suggestions have been recalled to UNRWA’s inflammatory condition linked in an 81-page report that called headquarters in east Jerusalem with the coronavirus. for intelligence agencies and the for “consultations.” The agency The cases echo reports from Pentagon’s US Cyber Command cited media reports that “Pal- Israel in young men diagnosed to work with other agencies to estinian factions” had declared after receiving Pfizer shots. “prioritize ransomware disrup- Schmale and his deputy persona tion operations.” non grata in Gaza but said it re- Alerted “Take their infrastructure ceived no formal notifi cation to The US Centers for Disease away, go after their wallets, their that effect. (AP) Control and Prevention alerted ❑ ❑ ❑ ability to cash out,” said Philip doctors last month that it was Reiner, a lead author of the re- WASHINGTON: Israel’s visiting monitoring a small number of port. He worked at the National defense minister said Thursday reports of heart inflammation in Security Council during the that it will stay engaged as the teens and young adults after the Obama presidency and is now US tries to return to a nuclear mRNA vaccines, the kind made CEO at The Institute for Security deal with Iran, sidestepping by Pfizer and Moderna. and Technology. what’s long been an area of open The CDC hasn’t determined if But the difficulties of taking disagreement between the United In this May 16, 2021 file photo, Palestinian rescuers pull a body of a woman of al-Kawlak family from under the rubble of one of there’s really a link to the shots, down ransomware gangs and States and the now-jeopardized the destroyed residential buildings following deadly Israeli airstrikes in Gaza City. The single deadliest bombing raid of Israel’s and continues to urge that every- other cybercriminals have long government of Prime Minister fourth war with Hamas collapsed two apartment buildings and killed 22 members of the extended al-Kawlak family, including a one 12 and older get vaccinated been clear. The FBI’s list of Benjamin Netanyahu. 6-month-old boy and his 89-year-old great-grandfather. (AP) — See Page 2 against COVID-19, which is far most-wanted cyber fugitives has Benny Gantz told report- riskier than the vaccine. The Pfiz- ers before a meeting with De- grown at a rapid clip and now fense Secretary Lloyd Austin er vaccine is available to those as has more than 100 entries, many that Iran’s nuclear program and Bloc says let’s talk young as 12; the Moderna shot of whom are not exactly hiding. other actions were an “existential remains cleared only for adult Evgeniy Bogachev, indicted threat” to Israel. “Stopping Iran is use. nearly a decade ago for what certainly a shared strategic need This kind of heart inflamma- prosecutors say was a wave of of the United States,” Israel and tion can be caused by a variety cyber bank thefts, lives in a Rus- other countries, Gantz said. Air passenger fees queried of infections, including a bout sian resort town and “is known to But on a visit that came as an of COVID-19, as well as certain enjoy boating” on the Black Sea, opposition coalition back home medications - and there have according to the FBI’s wanted tries to end Netanyahu’s 12 years By Saeed Mahmoud Saleh Meanwhile, the 31 MPs Bloc recently been rare reports following other listing. in power, Gantz — unlike Netan- Arab Times Staff announced their intention to seek an audi- types of vaccinations. Ransomware gangs can move yahu — stopped short of openly Authorities will have to tease around, do not need much in- opposing the Biden administra- ence with His Highness the Amir Sheikh KUWAIT CITY, June 5: MP Marzouq Nawaf Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah to Evictions loom out whether cases following frastructure to operate and can tion’s efforts to get the United Al-Khalifa forwarded queries to Minister COVID-19 vaccination are oc- shield their identities. They also States back into a deal limiting personally convey their message about JERUSALEM, June 5, (AP): A long-run- curring more often than that ex- operate in a decentralized net- Iran’s nuclear program, in ex- of Defense Sheikh Hamad Jaber Al-Ali the current crisis between the National ning campaign by Jewish settlers to evict about the decision of the Directorate Gen- pected “background rate.” work. For instance, DarkSide, change for relief from sanctions. Assembly and government. dozens of Palestinian families in east Je- Consultant of Internal and the group responsible for the Co- (AP) eral of Civil Aviation (DGCA) to impose MP Mehalhal Al-Mudaf stressed that rusalem is still underway, even after it fu- Epidemiological Diseases at the ❑ ❑ ❑ lonial Pipeline attack that led to fees on passengers at Kuwait Interna- the MPs remain firm in their stand to re- eled weeks of unrest and helped ignite an Al-Adan Hospital, Dr. Ghanem fuel shortages in the South, rents CAIRO: A fi re broke out Thurs- tional Airport — KD3 for departures and ject the decision to postpone deliberations 11-day Gaza war. Al-Hujailan, said he fears the out its ransomware software to day at a juvenile detention center KD2 for arrivals — starting from June 1, on the grilling motions against His High- An intervention by Israel’s attorney procedures for receiving the third partners to carry out attacks. in Egypt’s capital of Cairo, kill- 2021. ness the Prime Minister Sheikh Sabah Al- general at the height of the unrest has shipment of the “Oxford Astra- Katie Nickels, director of in- ing at least six children, offi cials He asked if these fees are applicable to put the most imminent evictions on hold. Zeneca” vaccine may not be com- telligence at the cybersecurity Khalid until the end of the second round But rights groups say evictions could still said. the citizens and expatriates, the additional of the current parliamentary term. pleted on time next Tuesday, say- firm Red Canary, said identify- The offi cials said the fi re fol- services for passengers which could be proceed in the coming months as interna- ing the parent company in the UK ing and disrupting ransomware lowed a fi st-fi ght between two He said this is not subject to nego- tional attention wanes, potentially ignit- may request additional samples criminals takes time and serious children in one ward at the facil- the reason for imposing such fees, and tiation, because it will give the govern- ing another round of bloodshed. if the Legal Advice and Legislation De- from the shipment to ensure its effort. ity, located in the city’s Marj dis- ment power to request for postponement The settlers have been waging a de- safety, which may cause delays “A lot of people misunder- trict. More than two dozen other partment was consulted in this regard. He of grilling motions against ministers as cades-long campaign to evict the families in receiving and vaccinating those stand that the government can’t children were injured, they said. requested for a copy of the department’s well. from densely populated Palestinian neigh- eligible for the second dose. just willy-nilly go out and press Police are holding those run- opinion, if any. borhoods in the so-called Holy Basin just Al-Hujailan told Al-Seyassah ning the facility as prosecutors He argued this decision is tantamount a button and say, well, nuke that Al-Khalifa also forwarded queries to to amending the Constitution, which will outside the walls of the Old City, in one of daily, he is not optimistic about computer,” she said. “Trying to investigate the cause of the fi re, the most sensitive parts of east Jerusalem. the offi cials said. (AP) Minister of State for Municipality Affairs never be approved. extending the procedures for re- attribute to a person in cyber- ❑ ❑ ❑ and Minister of State for Housing and MP Osama Al-Menawer also asked Israel captured east Jerusalem, home to leasing the third shipment of the space is not an easy task, even for Urban Development Shaya Abdulrahman Al-Shaya about the delayed distribu- holy sites sacred to Jews, Christians and Oxford vaccine until June 8, be- intelligence communities.” UNITED NATIONS: The head Muslims, in the 1967 war and annexed it Al-Shaya regarding decision number 913 tion of housing plots in South Saad Al- cause this opens the door for the Reiner said those limits do of the international chemical that the Cabinet issued on July 20, 2020 in a move not recognized internationally. UK to ensure the quality of the not mean the United States can- weapons watchdog told the UN Abdullah and Al Mutla’a and action Israel views the entire city as its capital, consignment and other measures not still make progress against Security Council that its experts for the Kuwait Municipality to allocate taken against the contractors who caused while the Palestinians want east Jerusa- that may take longer time to re- defeating ransomware, compar- have investigated 77 allegations plots for establishing residential cities for the delay. lem as the capital of their future state. lease the shipment. ing it with America’s ability to against Syria, and concluded expatriate workers. In addition, MP Ahmed Al-Hamad The settlers are using a 1970 law that Kuwait said 1,280 people degrade the terrorist group al- that in 17 cases chemical weap- He wants to know if the Municipal submitted a proposal for the Public Au- allows Jews to reclaim properties lost tested positive for coronavirus Qaida while not capturing its ons were likely or defi nitely Council approved the decision of the thority for Housing Welfare (PAHW) to during the 1948 war surrounding Israel’s while four related deaths were leader, Ayman al-Zawahiri, who used. creation, a right denied to Palestinians reported on Friday, taking the Fernando Arias called it “a Municipality branch in Jahra to allocate construct houses and flats, which will be took over after US troops killed disturbing reality” that eight three sites for the establishment of such granted to Kuwaiti divorced women and who lost property in the same conflict, in- total up to 314,569 and 1,787, Osama bin Laden. years after Syria joined the residential cities — North Jahra, West widows who have children with their for- cluding Palestinian citizens of Israel. respectively, according to the “We can fairly easily make the Chemical Weapons Convention, Pilgrims City and South Mutla’a City The Israeli rights group Ir Amim, health ministry. argument that al-Qaida no longer mer or deceased husbands. which closely follows the various court Another 1,156 people were poses a threat to the homeland,” which bans the production or use measuring 150,000 square meters each. He explained his proposal aims to pro- of such weapons, many questions cases, estimates that at least 150 house- cured of the virus, raising the Reiner said. “So short of getting remain about its initial declara- He asked if the security authorities were tect these women from the anomalous holds in the neighborhoods of Sheikh total of those to have overcome al-Zawahiri, you destroy his abil- tion of its weapons, stockpiles consulted to determine their capacity to practices of real estate brokers and to Jarrah and Silwan have been served with the disease to 298,485, ministry ity to actually operate. That’s and precursors and its ongoing control chaos that might occur in such help them save money allotted for renting eviction notices and are at various stages spokesperson Dr. Abdullah Al- what you can do to these (ran- program. (AP) areas. a house. in a long legal process. Sanad told a press conference. somware) guys.” ARAB TIMES, SUNDAY, JUNE 6, 2021 2

Azzam Al-Kawlak, 42, poses for photo next to the debris of his destroyed home in Gaza City, on May 31, 2021. Azzam lost 22 relatives in the deadliest airstrike during the 11-day war between Gaza’s Hamas rulers and Israel. Insets show members of al-Kawlak family who died in the collapse of two apartment buildings including a 6-month-old boy and his 89-year-old great-grandfather. (AP) Gaza’s bereaved fear justice will never come Meet my family … say a prayer Israel blames the math

he al-Kawlaks, a family of four generations living next door to He said the army was reviewing the incident and “adjusting the high-rises that killed entire families in pursuit of militants. Teach other in downtown Gaza City, were utterly unprepared for analysis and the ordnance used in the future” to prevent similar Two Gaza rights groups — al-Mezan and the Palestinian Center the inferno. events from occurring again. “It’s not a totally mathematic exercise for Human Rights — have been documenting Israel’s strikes and Like others, they were terrifi ed by the heavy bombing in Israel’s in choosing the ordnance,” he said. incursions for years. This time, they again interviewed survivors, in- fourth war with Gaza’s Hamas rulers that began May 10. The explo- He said Israel carried out dozens of airstrikes in areas just as cluding the al-Kawlaks, visited hospitals, took photos and collected sions felt more powerful than in previous fi ghting. At night, parents densely populated, with far fewer casualties. death certifi cates, in preparation for possible new submissions to the and children slept in one room so they would live or die together. Defense Minister Benny Gantz told foreign journalists this week ICC. Yet the relatively well-to-do Rimal neighborhood where the fam- that Israel does everything it can to avoid civilian casualties, but Samir Zakout of al-Mezan and Mohammed al-Alami of PCHR ily lived in a cluster of apartment buildings seemed somewhat safer Gaza’s crowded urban landscape makes it virtually impossible to said they believe the al-Wahda Street bombings — along with other than areas along Gaza’s border with Israel, which had been devas- avoid them altogether deadly airstrikes — violated the laws of war, arguing the value of tated in this and past fi ghting. “Hamas is aiming to hit civilians by purpose and we are trying our any possible military target was dwarfed by signifi cant harm to ci- Then one night disaster struck. Azzam al-Kawlak’s four children best for that not to happen,” he said. vilians. had gone to bed, and he and his wife were preparing to join them. The fi ghting began May 10 after Hamas fi red rockets toward Jeru- Zakout accused Israel of intentionally using excessive fi repower At around 1 a.m. on May 16, a thunderous boom shook his top- salem in support of Palestinian protests against Israel’s heavy-hand- to sow fear, saying it was “one of the direct goals of the war.” fl oor apartment, followed quickly by a second and third. “The fl oor ed policing of the Al-Aqsa Mosque compound, a site sacred to Jews The Israeli military does not recognize the ICC, but says its air- cracked below our feet and the furniture was thrown to the wall,” the and Muslims, and the threatened eviction of dozens of Palestinian strikes are cleared by lawyers to make sure they comply with inter- 42-year-old engineer said. families by Jewish settlers. In all, Hamas fi red more than 4,000 rock- national standards. During the fi ghting the military released video The four-story building collapsed, with Azzam’s apartment drop- ets toward Israel during the war, while Israel said it struck hundreds of what it said were air force teams calling off strikes because they ping to the ground. The family escaped through the kitchen balco- of targets linked to militants in Gaza. spotted children in the vicinity. In many cases, it ordered occupants ny, now almost ground level. Bizarrely, the laundry hanging on a to evacuate buildings before bombing them. clothesline seemed untouched. At Gaza City’s main police compound, Capt. Mohammed Meq- International law professor Paola Gaeta said that “certainly we are dad picked through pieces of bomb fragments in a cardboard box witnessing something which is wrong,” referring to civilian deaths, It took a day for the full horror to emerge, as bodies and survivors labeled “al-Wahda Street.” but there is a high threshold for proving a war crime. This includes were pulled from the rubble. The family and neighbors used ropes Two had serial numbers identifying them as fi tted with Joint Di- proving disproportionate use of force and intentional targeting of to clear chunks of concrete, working alongside ill-equipped rescue rect Attack Munition kits manufactured by Boeing Co. at its factory civilians, said Gaeta, who teaches at the Graduate Institute of Inter- teams. in St. Charles, Missouri, to make them so-called “smart bombs,” national and Development Studies in Geneva. By nightfall, the family’s death toll stood at 22. Eight bodies were able to be guided to a target by GPS or lasers. Boeing did not answer If Israel says it made a reasonable mistake in calculating the dug out of Azzam’s building and 14 from the one next door. The questions about the bombing, only saying in a statement: “In accord- amount of explosives in the al-Wahda Street strike, this could serve dead included 89-year-old family patriarch Amin, his son Fawaz, ance with US law, the US government authorizes and provides strict as a defense, she said. 62, his grandson Sameh, 28, and his great-grandson, 6-month-old oversight for all defense exports.” In all, 254 people were killed in Gaza in this war, including 67 Qusai. Meqdad said that based on the fragments, the bombs that brought children and 39 women. according to the Gaza health ministry. Ha- Just a day earlier, Qusai’s parents had celebrated a small mile- down the al-Kawlak homes were likely GBU-31s, packed with 430 mas has acknowledged the deaths of 80 militants. Eleven civilians, stone, his fi rst tooth. Azzam’s two younger brothers were killed. kilograms (945 pounds) of high explosives. The GBU-31 typically including two children, were killed in Israel, along with one soldier. Three nieces — 5-year-old Rula, 10-year-old Yara and 12-year-old is used for large buildings, but also can destroy underground tar- Hala — were found in a tight embrace, their bodies the last to be gets, said N.R. Jenzen-Jones, the director of Armament Research Awni al-Kawlak keeps 22 death certifi cates in a briefcase, along pulled out, said Azzam’s surviving older brother, Awni. Services, a specialist arms investigations fi rm. with the deeds for the two destroyed homes. A third family house The bombing along several hundred meters (yards) of al-Wahda The bombs carry a powerful blast, meaning surveillance, intelli- was damaged and awaits demolition. The family business, a gen- Street took just minutes. In all, it brought down three houses — two gence-gathering, pre-planning and the correct choice and explosive erator repair shop, was also destroyed. Two apartment buildings, in the al-Kawlak compound and one nearby — and killed a total of punch of the weapon should be carefully considered before an at- including Awni’s home, remain intact. 43 people, making it the single deadliest air raid of the 11-day war. tack, he said. Sitting in a courtyard behind the rubble, the 49-year-old shrugged Israel said the target was a Hamas tunnel underneath the street, “The intrinsic wide-area effects of large explosive munitions mean when told of Israel’s apparent acknowledgement of error. “What part of what it called a roughly 350-kilometer-long (220-mile) un- they must be used judiciously in the urban environment,” he said. will I do with this information?” he said. “I lost my livelihood and I derground network. The tunnels served offensive and defensive pur- The Israeli military did not respond when asked what bombs were lost my brothers and their children.” poses, military offi cials said, accusing Hamas of using civilians as used in the al-Wahda Street strikes. The fear that justice will never come makes it harder for the fam- human shields. ily to deal with loss, he said. He worries that Gaza and its problems, Lt. Col. Jonathan Conricus, a military spokesman, said during a Earlier this year, the International Criminal Court began investi- including a suffocating blockade enforced by Israel and Egypt since war-time briefi ng that the military target in Rimal collapsed, causing gating Israel and Hamas for possible war crimes going back to the 2007 to contain Hamas, will soon sink back into oblivion. nearby houses and their supporting structures to collapse as well. previous 2014 war. This includes random Hamas rocket fi re toward “We know that the world is now empathetic, but after a while it “That caused a large amount of civilian casualties, which were not Israeli communities — widely seen as a violation of the rules of war will forget our problem,” he said. “Even when they remember us the aim,” he said. — and some of Israel’s deadliest practices, such as the toppling of again, they will remember us as numbers.” (AP)

editor’s choice ARAB TIMES, SUNDAY, JUNE 6, 2021 3

Weather Expected weather for the next erly wind to northerly wind with Jahra 49 35 Prayer Timings 24 hours: speeds of 10-32 km/h. Failaka Island - - Fajr ...... 03:14 Asr ...... 15:21 By Day: Very hot with light to Station Max Exp Min Rec Salmiyah 45 34 Sunrise .. 04:48 Maghrib .. 18:45 moderate north westerly wind Kuwait City 49 35 Ahmadi 45 36 Zohr ...... 11:46 Isha ...... 20:16 with speeds of 12-35 km/h. Kuwait Airport 49 35 Nuwaisib 51 31 By Night: Hot to rather hot Abdaly 50 31 Wafra 49 29 with light to moderate north west- Bubyan - - Salmy 48 31

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

‘Return not guaranteed, depends on govt’s decision’ Teachers in dilemma whether to travel in summer vacation KUWAIT CITY, June 5: On the advent of the sum- the government’s decisions. No one can assure of tees in this aspect ... The matter is up to them”. rent of the house and family expenses.” mer vacation for educational and administrative the future health conditions”. Meanwhile, a number of expatriate teachers ap- Another teacher explained, “The situation is com- bodies starting from June 17 for the primary stage, He indicated that the Ministry of Education asked pealed to the government agencies, which are re- plex and thorny. The Ministry of Education is not June 24 for the intermediate stage, and on July 1 the Ministry of Interior to issue temporary entry sponsible for this issue, to give a clearer picture of really in control, but we hope its leaders will coor- for the secondary stage, the hopes of the expatriate visas for stranded teachers whose residencies have the system that the expatriate teachers can follow dinate with the Ministries of Interior and Health in teachers to spend the summer vacation in their coun- expired, but the date of their return has not yet been especially since the summer vacation is very long this regard, and evaluate the local situation more ac- tries, especially since they did not travel for two determined. and some of them have not left the country since the curately for those wishing to travel”. years, are high. At the same time, their eyes are still The source said, “We hope the airports will be outbreak of the pandemic in February 2019. He appealed to the Undersecretary of the Ministry on the health situation of the country and its conse- opened early next month so that the picture is much One of the teachers said, “I received the fi rst and of Education Dr. Ali Al-Yaqoub to inquire with the quences, as some among them believe it is not safe clearer.” second doses of the Pfi zer vaccine; now I do not concerned ministries about any future decisions that to travel, and the possibility of returning to Kuwait know what to do. Many of my colleagues and I have may be taken suddenly in this matter. is not guaranteed, reports Al-Rai daily. Issue important appointments in our country. I have an ap- Another expatriate teacher told the daily that his According to an offi cial educational source, all of He reiterated that the issue of the expatriate teach- pointment for court hearings regarding a real-estate return to Kuwait via transit in the past year cost him the educational zones will grant expatriate teachers ers’ travel is not in the hands of the Ministry of Edu- ownership dispute ... I am really confused. KD 700. exit permits on their last working day if they are not cation, but rather it is part of the measures taken by We suffered a lot during the previous period, es- He said, “I spent about 14 days in the UAE, and assigned to work during summer, depending on their the government, represented by more than one party pecially with the summer salaries not being paid in these days were regarded as excused absence by educational stage and as specifi ed in the modifi ed led by the Ministry of Health and the Ministry of In- a single batch. We had to borrow money to reserve the Human Resources Department and the relevant academic calendar. terior, based on the latest developments in the global tickets and allocate part of the amount for the insur- amount was deducted from my monthly salary”. The source said, “It is up to them to travel, but the and internal health situation. ances that we have to pay to the Ministry of Educa- He appealed to the Ministry of Education to clarify possibility of returning is completely dependent on The source indicated that, “There are no guaran- tion in Egypt. Our salaries mostly go for paying the the travel mechanism during the summer vacation. KAC eyes many places, set to increase flights

‘Almost 60 pc vaccinated’

KUWAIT CITY, June 5: In an exclusive statement to the dai- The Directorate General of ly, Najia disclosed the occupancy rate in most of the hotels overlooking the Civil Aviation (DGCA) has Arabian Gulf ranged from 20 percent approved the resumption of to 40 percent during the Eid Al-Fitr fl ights to Georgia this sum- holiday. mer with two airlines – Ku- He was quick to add though that hotels are still suffering from low oc- wait Airways and Jazeera cupancy rate due to the closure of the Airways – operating two airport and the absence of delegations fl ights each per week, re- from abroad as a result of the gov- ports Al-Anba daily quoting ernment’s decision to prevent non- citizens from entering the country sources. until further notice in a bid to curb the Sources confi rmed these national spread of coronavirus. airlines have started the pre-book- He added: “Many hotels depend ing process for those planning to on other businesses to earn; such as travel to Georgia and Sarajevo. holding conferences, celebrations Sources said Kuwait Airways will and other events. Since these events resume its fl ights to Georgia on June have been suspended due to the co- 18 with indicative prices starting rona pandemic, the occupancy rate of from KD 150 for the economy class. hotels continues to decline and most Sources added the reservation for Sa- hotel reservations now are made by The Fox of Arabia. Inset: Photographer Mohammad Murad. rajevo fl ights has been opened and citizens only.” fl ights will start in July with indica- ❑ ❑ ❑ tive prices reaching KD 300 for the Kuwaiti photographer wins Nature TTL award economy class. Almost 60pc get jabs: The number of anti-Covid-19 doses given to citi- Kuwaiti photographer Moham- rad said, the picture depicts spiration for many, he said. photographing wildlife and birds Sources revealed the DGCA in- mad Murad won the award of wildlife in different parts of the Photographing wildlife and require a lot of patience, Murad tends to open many summer desti- zens and residents in the State of Nature TTL Photographer of world, as the winning photo- birds is about showing the animal said. nations in order to start the gradual Kuwait has reached more than two- the Year 2021 competition after graph is of the Arab red fox behavior with appropriate lighting This international competition operation of flights to these destina- and-a-half million, or 59.2% of the catching Urban Wildlife second behind Kuwait City streetlights in less than a fraction of a sec- is held annually in Britain and total population, according to the place for his photograph (The and buildings. ond to give the image feelings witnesses the participation of tions next month, indicating these Fox of Arabia). Three months were planned that both the photographer and professional photographers from destinations will be announced global “Covid Fax” website, reports This international competition to produce different and unusual viewer can feel, he added. all over the world, he said, adding soon. Al-Anba daily. witnessed the participation of work, Murad said. The photographer cannot that participating in international Sources clarifi ed the resumption of It is worth noting that the Kuwaiti nearly 8,000 photographs from The photograph has received change nature, nor can he con- competitions gives the photog- Ministry of Health has exerted tre- different countries of the world. a great echo in Kuwait, Gulf, and trol the lighting, atmosphere, or rapher a vision of his work value fl ights depends on the global epide- In a statement to KUNA, Mu- the world, and has become an in- behavior, as these reasons make and level. (KUNA) miological situation in line with the mendous efforts in the vaccination ongoing efforts to protect the health area and recently opened a ‘vehicle system in the country. vaccination center’ on the southern ‘No hike in fees’ Sources confi rmed as well that the island of Sheikh Jaber Al-Ahmad DGCA is currently studying the pos- Causeway, to support the Kuwait sibility of increasing the number of Vaccination Center in Mishref and arriving passengers per day, exclud- the vaccination centers scattered in Power consumption ing the domestic workers. all the governorates of the country Sources said the number of arriv- with the aim of increasing the pace of up with hot weather als is set at 5,000 daily now; stress- vaccination and reaching the required ing the decision to increase this community immunity as soon as pos- KUWAIT CITY, June 5: The power consumption index number depends on coronavirus re- sible. continues to soar daily; setting a record of 14,506 mega- lated developments globally and the ❑ ❑ ❑ watts on Wednesday -- about 250 megawatts higher than epidemiological situation in other Can visit France: The French Embas- Tuesday when the consumption reached 14,250 mega- countries. watts and around 500 megawatts higher than Monday ❑ ❑ ❑ sy in Kuwait announced that from when consumption reached 14,000 megawatts during June 9, travelers who have been peak hours, reports Al-Jarida daily. More people in hotels: Secretary-Gen- vaccinated with the Covid-19 vac- The above-mentioned power consumption rates eral of the Hotel Owners Association cine can enter France, reports Al- are considered record highs compared to consump- Muhammad Najia confi rmed that the Qabas daily. Ahmadi Governor Sheikh Fawaz Al-Khaled with some of the offi cials. tion during the scorching heat of summer in the past occupancy rate of hotels in the coun- However, the embassy said those years. try has increased compared to the be- entering France are required to sub- Quarantine offi cials honored In a previous press statement, Minister of Electric- ginning of this year, especially when mit a negative PCR certifi cate issued ity and Water Dr Misha’an Al-Otaibi disclosed that the the partial curfew was lifted, reports no more than 72 hours before arriving Ahmadi Governor Sheikh Fawaz Al- Al-Muskti, the supervisor of the Ministry expected maximum power consumption this summer is Al-Anba daily. in the country. Khaled praised the efforts exerted by of Health team, Dr. Ahmed Al-Kandari. 16,000 megawatts. He then called for rationalization of the Al-Khairan quarantine authorities, During the ceremony, Governor Al- consumption, while affi rming that the ministry is always who continued to work day and night Khaled recalled the active presence ready for the worst. and are still doing their best to serve the and continuous contributions of the Meanwhile, sources from the ministry revealed the community for the past year-and-a-half Ahmadi Governorate and the various power production capacity is enough to meet the needs to limit the repercussions of the “Cov- offi cials, civil, voluntary and charitable id-19” pandemic, reports Al-Seyassah bodies operating throughout its regions of the whole country -- around 18,000 megawatts; while daily. since the fi rst days of the outbreak of the power reserve capacity exceeded 20,000 megawatts This came during a symbolic ceremo- the pandemic till date. according to the latest statistics of the ministry. ny at the Ahmadi Governorate to honor Sheikh Fawaz Al-Khaled expressed Sources pointed out that the increasing consump- the representatives Al-Khairan quaran- his satisfaction at the current increasing tion -- even if it remains below the current ceiling of tine facility -- the head of the fi eld duty number of those receiving the vaccine force, Colonel Ahmad Al-Balushi, his and the accompanying lifting of partial the production capacity -- greatly affects the capacity of deputy, Lieutenant-Colonel Muhammad curfew measures. some main and secondary stations which could lead to regional faults. Sources said the electricity network supplies power to 50,000 transformers in various governorate and the rate Knife attack attempt raises concern of consumption in these transformers usually reaches the maximum during peak hours; indicating this might By Marwa Bahrawi Minister of Health to place a metal detector result in power interruptions. Al-Seyassah Staff and placing guards to check the visitors, as is the case in all state ministries. ❑ ❑ ❑ KUWAIT CITY, June 5: The Ministry of Meanwhile, the Minister of Interior and Health Workers Union denounced what the No hike in fees: Fees in private schools will not increase the Minister of Health have also demanded for the academic year 2021/2022; but the 25 percent Director of the Legal Affairs and to expedite the establishment of a security Investigations Department at the Ministry discount enforced last year due to the implementation of Health and the department’s employees point to protect the employees and officials of the online education system will be cancelled if the were subjected to -- an attempt to attack the of the Ministry of Health, because the Ministry of Health deals with hundreds of schools will open in the upcoming academic year, re- authorities with a knife. ports Al-Rai daily quoting sources. The head of the union, Hussein Al-Azmi, employees and visitors on a daily basis. Al-Azmi confirmed the Union will Sources disclosed the registration fee for the new said in a press statement, “If it weren’t for academic year in Arab and model schools is KD50, the speedy action by the Shuwaikh Police appoint a lawyer to follow up the progress Station, the incident would have had an of the assault case in all its stages and indicating this will be deducted from the fi rst install- ominous consequences, saying at the same degrees until a final verdict is issued in the ment and it is not refundable. time what happened was surprising refer- case, so that it will serve as a lesson to any- Sources said the registration fee is paid at the be- ring to the suspect entering the legal depart- one who thinks of attacking any state ginning of the year to guarantee seats for the students ment carrying a knife, and called on the employee on duty. until the school year begins offi cially. ARAB TIMES, SUNDAY, JUNE 6, 2021 LOCAL 4 MEW plans eight power plants to produce 17,300 MW of electricity Bid to meet energy demands of new cities

By Mohamed Ghanem Al-Seyassah Staff KUWAIT CITY, June 5: A report issued by the Ministry of Electricity, Water and Renewable Energy

revealed a plan that KUNA photo includes the establish- HH the Amir’s Envoy, FM Sheikh Dr Ahmad Nasser Al-Mohammad Al-Sabah ment of eight future delivers the letter to Yemen’s President Abd Rabbo Mansour Hadi. plants to produce 17,300 megawatts to Brotherly ties being discussed ensure the country’s needs of electricity and water in the face of the HH Amir’s envoy delivers “Kuwait 2035” Vision and the increasing demand, which is letter to Yemen president expected to reach KUWAIT CITY, June 5, (KUNA): His ered a letter to Yemen’s President Abd 30,000 megawatts dur- Highness the Amir Sheikh Nawaf Rabbo Mansour Hadi in Riyadh on Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah’s Envoy, Saturday. The crew of the ship (Ula) at the Kuwait International Airport pose for a photo before leaving for India. ing the next 15 years. Foreign Minister and State Minister for The letter discussed brotherly ties that The report, a copy of which Cabinet Affairs Sheikh Dr Ahmad bind the two nations and the latest region- has been obtained by the Nasser Al-Mohammad Al-Sabah, deliv- al and global developments. Tireless efforts by Ambassador George pay off Al-Seyassah daily, clarified that the ministry has begun to raise the production of electrical ener- Kuwaiti charity distributes food packs in Yemen gy in anticipation of the expected 16 Indian sailors stranded on board rise in demand during the com- ing years by building new sta- tions, pointing out that these Kuwait’s FM discusses regional ship leave for home after 14 months accelerated steps come as a result of the construction and expan- issues with Omani counterpart By Paul Francis X. Fernandes sion of new residential cities. Arab Times Staff Combined KUWAIT CITY, June 5, (KUNA): Food packs distributed: Kuwait Soc- Kuwait Foreign Minister and State iety for Relief said on Friday it completed KUWAIT CITY, June 5: The Embassy The report indicated the plants Minister for Cabinet Affairs Sheikh Dr. handing out 6,000 food packs to people in of India in Kuwait through tireless operating under the combined Ahmad Nasser Al-Mohammad Al-Sabah Yemen across five governorates as part efforts exerted by the Indian cycle system will constitute 61 called Omani Foreign Minister Badr bin of a campaign, which has been ongoing Ambassador to Kuwait HE Sibi percent of the total electricity Hamad bin Hamood Al Busaidi on for six years now. George and his team has successfully generation capacity in 2035, Friday. while the steam-operated stations The food will go to displaced families completed negotiations with the con- During the call both sides discussed and host communities of the impover- cerned Kuwait authorities to repatriate will constitute about 19 percent, the strong and deep-rooted strong historic to India 16 Indian crew members who and these stations using oil and ished in the governorates of Hadhramaut, Ambassador Sibi George Minister Dr Rana Al Faris bilateral relations between the two coun- Shabwah, Marib, Taiz and Al-Jawf. were stranded on board the ship MV gas to generate power. tries and ways to enhance develop them Ula for the past 14 months. this is the fruit of continuous and Technology Dr Rana Al-Faris in The report pointed out that This year’s campaign, which began in in various fields. the Muslim holy month of Ramadan, The men were homebound on a tireless efforts of Ambassador resolving the crisis of the Indian crew renewable energy projects is They also discussed the latest develop- Vande Bharat Mission flight with George and his staff which helped who were stranded at the Shuaiba vital in the ministry’s future, aims to distribute 24,000 food packs to a especially in light of the govern- ments and events on the regional and total 10 governorates, in coordination flight tickets arranged by the embassy, resolve the issue of the seafarers -- Port. international levels and ways to coordi- including all other formalities such as who were stuck in Kuwait for the The daily added, Minister Al-Faris ment’s desire to generate 15 per- with four local humanitarian relief organ- cent of the total energy demand nate on them. isations, the charity’s Yemen office dep- medical check-ups and PCR tests past 14 months due to legal prob- ended the crisis of this humanitarian ❑ ❑ ❑ prior to the departure in cooperation lems -- through regular coordina- file within 3 months of assuming the from renewable energy by 2035, uty director Adel Baashen said. with the concerned Kuwaiti authori- tion with each of these departments portfolio of the Ministry of as there is a plan to launch eight ties. to resolve the complex issues Communications. future power plants with a gener- The Indian envoy has expressed his involved and ensure their departure Earlier it was reported that the crew ating capacity of 17.3 thousand Light to be shed on postponed replies sincere gratitude to all the leadership to India. had begun a hunger strike in the hope megawatts, including the North of the State of Kuwait and concerned The Embassy continues to remain getting attention to their plight and get and South Az-Zour station, authorities, including the Ministry of in touch with the authorities to follow money from the ship’s owner. Doha, Sharqiya, Al Khairan, Land allocated to Mubarak Al-Kabeer Port Foreign Affairs; Ministry of up on other issues involved. Indian newspapers had reported Nuwaiseeb, Al Subbiya, Al Communications; Ministry of Interior; Meanwhile, the Al-Anba daily said the crew members were not paid their Shaqaya, and Al Shuaiba South. issue to top Municipal Council discussion Kuwait Ports Authority and the cus- the ambassador particularly praised salaries and had no option but to go The report indicated that there toms authorities for their cooperation the efforts of the Minister of Public on hunger strike in protest over are projects being implemented, By Abdel Nasser Al-Aslami lish an integrated hospital in the city of and support. Works and Minister of State for unpaid wages backdated for more others that the ministry is prepar- Al-Seyassah Staff Al-Mutla’a, and the allocation of event A senior embassy official said Communications and Information than a year. ing to offer, and a third that will be halls in the same city. put forward through the Public- KUWAIT CITY, June 5: The Municipal It will also address the joint proposal Private Partnership Projects Council will discuss, during its session from the members regarding the eastern Sec-Gen Al-Arada heads delegation Authority, so that the ministry will next Monday, a number of issues, on top expansion of the site of the South Saad be able to supply the housing cities of which are the letters from the Al-Abdullah city and the allocation of the that are being implemented and Municipal Council President Osama site located in the southwest of Abdullah others to be implemented in the Al-Otaibi and Minister of State for Al-Mubarak to the Public Authority for KTUF participates in virtual international conference future, especially the islands Municipal Affairs Shaya Al-Shaya, Housing Welfare (PAHW) to use it as a KUWAIT CITY, June 5: The by the Secretary-General Security Committee. development project, with the regarding the land allocated to Mubarak private residence, and the Council will Kuwait Trade Union Federation Muhammad Abdullah Al-Arada. The delegation members will also needed electricity and water. Al-Kabeer Port, which brings the issue follow up the minutes of meetings of the (KTUF) is participating in the 109th The delegation includes Deputy participate in many activities and The report stated at the begin- back to the fore in search of solutions to provincial committees. session of the Virtual International General Secretary Nasser Falah events, whether related to the con- ning of this year, the Public- resolve it. On the other hand, the supervisory Labor Conference, Part One, in Al-Azmi and the Chairperson of the ference agenda or events and the Private Partnership Projects During the session, the Municipality team of the emergency team at the Geneva, which will continue until Working Women’s Committee, Dr. report of the Director-General of the Authority announced the third will shed light on the postponed replies to Hawally Municipality branch carried out the questions from its members, and dis- a field tour of the shops, cafes and cen- June 19. Sana Al-Asfoor. Arab Labor Organization on the phase of the Shaqaya Complex for Renewable Energy Project, cuss the issue of violations and encroach- tral markets in Hawalli to ensure adher- The head of the KTUF, Ahmed He pointed out the members of economic and social effects on which is one of the projects sub- ments committed at the Jahra National ence to the Municipality’s regulations Oqla Al-Enezi, said the delegation the delegation will participate in the employers and workers in Palestine mitted by the Kuwait Institute for Park, as well as the proposals submitted and decisions related to health require- of the State of Kuwait to the confer- meetings of the various constitu- and the Arab territories, as well as Scientific Research. It is an inte- regarding amending the mechanism for ments. ence consists of what he called the tional committees, which are the meetings will be held on the side- grated project to produce renew- issuing what it called the ‘description The head of the emergency team, tripartite labor team ‘the govern- Committee for the Implementation lines of the conference, including able energy with no less than certificates’ for common plots of land. Ibrahim Al-Saba’an, affirmed the ment, business owners and work- of International Labor Standards, the meetings of the Gulf group and 2,000 megawatts through solar The Council will also discuss the pro- Municipality’s keenness to implement ers’. the Committee to follow up on the the Arab solidarity with the power, photovoltaic panels, and posals submitted regarding the allocation the decisions related to health require- He said the delegation is headed Covid-19 crisis, and the Social Palestinian people. concentrated thermal energy. of land to the Ministry of Health to estab- ments. From Jan to May ’21 16 applications received to obtain industrial plots KUWAIT CITY, June 5: Data obtained by the Al-Anba daily show from the beginning of the year until last month (May), 16 requests were submitted to the Public Authority for Industry (PAI) to obtain plots of land for industrial or factory purposes varying between the production of food- stuffs, rebar, electrical equipment, medical products and the recycling of batteries for the production of lead briquettes, reports Al-Anba daily. This is in addition to the production of submersible pumps and other activities such as the production of per- fumes, detergents, iron bars, production of aluminum and wooden kitchen cabinets. The data stated the total investment expected upon grant- ing these industrial plots or implementing these projects is estimated at 132 million dinars, and ensures the employment of an estimated 1,573 workers. The data showed the largest investment volume for indus- trial plots is estimated at 50.9 million dinars, which is a request for the production of iron and rebar molds, forming and grafting rebar, and the expected number of employment is 160, and requires the allocation of an industrial facility on an area of 95,000 square meters. The second biggest request is reinforced steel with a value of 21.1 million dinars, and the firm to be built on an area of 63,000 square meters. Another largest investment which can employ 479 people is in the production of aluminum profiles (making base met- als) with investments worth 16 million dinars. Decision to allow import of construction materials KUWAIT CITY, June 5: In a move to make it easier for citizens who want to build or renovate their houses in new residential areas, Minister of Commerce and Industry Dr Abdullah Al-Salman issued a decision to allow indi- viduals to import construction, sanitary and electrical supplies, ceramics, stones and even furniture for personal use; provided the materials comply with the Gulf stan- dard specifications and that the importer has obtained a building permit from Kuwait Municipality, reports Al-Jarida daily. ARAB TIMES, SUNDAY, JUNE 6, 2021 LOCAL 5 diwaniya A DIGEST OF PUBLIC OPINION ‘Stop deputies from promoting ‘wasta’, nepotism, breaking law’ “IN THE midst of the suffocating political crisis that the country has been chaos and the escalation of violence and crime rates does not absolve the In- “Yes, we are with the renewal of energies and capabilities in all areas of experiencing for many years until this day, the government’s compass ap- terior Minister of his responsibilities and duties, the most important of which work in our country, but with some mercy. Residents in Kuwait for more pears to be heading in the wrong direction in the area of reform and devel- is to stop the interference of deputies in the appointment of offi cers and the than 20 years should be excluded from this. opment, and in light of these foggy conditions, MPs Al-Suwait, Al-Otaibi selection of leaders loyal to the deputies especially in the service positions of “We are in the country of humanity; therefore, a decision like this should and Al-Kandari have submitted an interpellation request, considered the the ministry under the pretext of gaining the consent of the deputies and their not be taken by one person or one party because it has profound effects on the seventh against the current government, directed at the Minister of Interior, support for him in the interrogations.” future of a segment who love Kuwait, who have given a lot of their lives in it. even though the National Assembly remains suspended and so all inter- Also: “Indeed, deportation must be for the bulk workers, those wanted by law rogations indefi nitely,” columnist Oweid Al-Salili wrote for Al-Shahed and of precedents, drug dealers, counterfeiters, and those whose fi les are full daily. “I add my name to the campaign launched by citizens under the ‘hashtag#’ of irregularities at all levels, as for those who work in Kuwait, which has “I will not go into the details of the political confl ict in the country and its “I am against the decision” on Twitter to voice an opinion against the deci- become for them a second country must be welcomed.” negative impact on the growth and development of the country, but I will sion to ban the issuance of work permits for expatriates 60 years old and ❑ ❑ ❑ stop at one axis that caught my attention as I read the interrogation paper above who hold high school certifi cate and below,” columnist Iqbal Al-Ah- submitted against Sheikh Thamer Al-Ali which states that the minister is ac- mad wrote for Al-Qabas daily. “A painful memory comes to mind — the memory of June 5, 1967 — as it cused of failing to control traffi c chaos and the escala- “This decision is far from any regulatory controls, and it would do more was the day of defeat and setback for the Arabs, which resulted in Israel’s oc- tion in crime and violence in society. harm than good because the issue should not be generalized to the good and cupation of the Sinai Peninsula in Egypt, Golan Heights in Syria, West Bank “Given this axis of interrogation it is evident we the bad in labor market in Kuwait especially when it comes to distinguishing in Jordan and East Jerusalem. Although the Arab generations who experi- have to stay aloof and not succumb to emotions but between those who are new and who have spent his life on this land. enced the defeat of June 5 are old now, the Arab memory still retains much rather analyze and read the contemporary reality be- “This decision comes as a step in order to modify the demographic struc- of this defeat,“ columnist Dr Hind Al-Choumar wrote for Al-Anba daily. cause the traffi c chaos has many causes even if part ture and as a reaction to a wave of objections to the high rate of arrivals into “Among those memories are the military statements emanating from radio of it is borne by the Ministry of Interior but the bit- the country. This procedure in its general form is good, but the method of its stations in the early hours of the battle. They were affi liated with the Nazi ter truth is that the National Assembly and its deputies implementation lacks the rationality and health methodology that must dif- Goebbels School of Media. – current and former -- have contributed and are still ferentiate between one expatriate and another. It is unfair to treat everyone “The famous media message was that their planes were dropping like fl ies, contributing to the spread of this phenomenon through with equal injustice, between those whose presence on this land is an addi- simultaneously attacking the airports of Egypt, Jordan and Syria at low al- their intervention against any government proposal to tion and another who is the opposite of such addition. titude. We later found out the results of the battle and setback which were tighten traffi c laws, “What is important in the matter is that this campaign focused on rejecting announced on June 9 several decades ago. “The deputies have contributed and are still interfer- Al-Salili the injustice of those who worked for many years in Kuwait and established “On this occasion, we salute everyone who participated in washing away ing by mediating in cases of violence, drugs, recklessness and others to the their families and took it as a homeland equivalent to theirs, even some of the shame of the 1967 defeat, as well as the elevation and glorifi cation of our extent that some deputies in the previous assemblies have even intervened in them no longer have family and friends in their country because they spent Arab countries. I believe that the misleading media discourse launched in cases of attempted murder. their whole life in Kuwait, they loved this country, are loyal to this country June 1967 was in contrast to the truth, along with a false victory and the fall “The role of the representatives did not stop at this point, but rather to and spent their youth and life in it, even if they are paid. of their planes like fl ies. It is a disgrace that has yet to be erased from the his- interfere in the appointments in senior positions in the Interior Ministry “Here are professions and jobs that a person acquires by experience and tory of the Arab government media in particular. It was in vain and it came which is considered a ‘rich’ matter for them and their main preoccupation not by certifi cate and when we search for them, we do not ask about the cer- with a picture of the Goebbels School in the Nazi media. in order to take advantage of those leaders’ ‘loyalty to the representatives’ tifi cate, but about cleverness, effi ciency and excellence, such as handicrafts “Videos about the June 5 war and the setback still hurt every Arab until in passing their legal and illegal transactions for the benefi t of their voters that the country needs, and we do not fi nd citizens who practice them suf- now and the shame was not erased, except with the victories on Oct 6, 1973 and to achieve their electoral interests at the expense of the interest of the fi ciently to meet our needs. when all Arab armies participated — including the Kuwaiti force —whose nation. “According to the information available to me, the number of those to blood was mixed with Arab blood in washing away the shame of the 1967 “So it is they who have largely contributed to the spread of wasta, nepo- whom this decision may apply does not exceed 47,000 which is a very mod- defeat.” tism, and the audacity to violate the law and not respect it. est number compared to the violators whose numbers in the last two years “My criticism of the deputies for their role in contributing to the traffi c may reach 500,000. — Compiled by Ahmad Al-Shazli

Kuwait renews pledge A ‘bedoun’ resident and a Kuwaiti mother By Ahmad alsarraf a good moral and academic position, and therefore who is better than them on the issue of priority for naturalization, rather than handing in anti-corruption war here are countries that do not allow or encourage immigration, these educated people who are healthy over to another country to Tsuch as India, China and Egypt, for political or ethnic reasons, or benefi t from their vitality and expertise? for fear of the immigrant’s competition with the citizen in the labor The issue also becomes more complicated after the death of the UNCAC ‘cornerstone’: Al-Otaibi market. mother of these children, and her leaving real estate or a commercial It is unimaginable what the immigrant can add of the positives to business, so who is better and more deserving of them and her hus- any society he migrated to, especially if the choice is made carefully. band in managing her estate, preserving it and developing it for the NEW YORK, June 5, (Agen- international anti-corruption multilateral Diversity adds a range of fl avors, ideas, colors and lifestyles to the benefi t of all of them? treaty, as it recognizes the importance of communities to which he migrates, and no mat- It becomes diffi cult also if the father of these children dies as they cies) : The State of Kuwait re- both preventive and punitive measures, ter how large the country’s economy or popula- newed commitment to the UN will be in a confusing situation! They are not able to leave and live addresses the cross-border nature of cor- tion is, as they still need renewal, and this ap- in the country of their father’s nationality – nationality by origin -- Convention against Corrup- ruption with provisions on international plies even to China with its huge population, cooperation and on the return of the pro- nor are they able to obtain the nationality of a country that they do tion (UNCAC), said a senior as it became clear that its previous decision to not know, of the mother country they were born in, raised them and ceeds of corruption. allow the family with one child did not make it Kuwaiti diplomat on Friday. ❑ ❑ ❑ taught them. Is there a more defective logic than this? a young nation, so it amended the decision to It is therefore necessary to set conditions, even if harsh, for the Cooperation and joint action are the allow two children, and this also did not work, ‘Wild parties’ raided: Personnel from the naturalization of these children, and to choose the good qualities that best means to counter this dangerous so it decided few days ago to allow families to Criminal Investigation Department (CID) apply to them such as obtaining high academic degrees, or holding crime that jeopardizes safety of com- have three because it urgently needs to renew – Morals Sector – have launched extensive certifi cates in specifi c disciplines that the state needs. This will moti- munities, especially recently on the the blood of its people. security campaigns on chalets, farms and vate everyone to opt for best ways and obtain the highest certifi cates backdrop of COVID-19, said Ambas- The situation of a Kuwaiti woman married what it called the “suspicious places”, alsarraf and graduate in specializations that will subsequently contribute to sador Mansour Al-Otaibi, Kuwait’s to a non-Kuwaiti, and who has children from where a large number of people go to hold their obtaining the citizenship of the country. Permeant Delegate to UN before the him, is considered uncomfortable for all parties. The children of these parties and ‘evenings out’ in violation of What applies to these people can be applied to the Bedoun who organization’s 32nd General Assembly families are Kuwaitis by birth, mother’s connection, culture, family the laws which forbid gatherings and fail- have been waiting for years to resolve their status in an honorable on anti-corruption. kinship, customs, and everything related to the human psyche, and ure to adhere to health requirements, says and humane manner, and these people can be subjected to the same Terming UNCAC a “cornerstone” in the thus the matter becomes worrying when these people do not have the Al-Seyassah. naturalization conditions, i.e. naturalization of those who excel aca- fight against corruption, yet the phenome- right to remain in the country if their father decides, for example, to A security source told the Al-Seyassah demically or in other vital fi elds, so keeping their status as it is, is a non, according to daily the detectives have instructions to leave Kuwait, or is forced to leave it. Al-Otaibi, is still crime against them, society and humanity. monitor all the sites that the prone to illegal These children cost the state and their families huge sums of mon- ❑ ❑ ❑ prevalent and gatherings especially during the week- ey spent on their education and treatment, and they may be highly becoming more ends, whether on the farms, stables, or qualifi ed and at the same time occupy productive jobs and they have email: [email protected] complex due to chalets, as these illegal gatherings will be advancing technolo- raided, especially since some of these plac- gy, making it a trans- es are used to hold ‘wild parties’. border crime, According to security sources such par- Cars burnt in branching out to ter- ties are frequented by cross-dressers and rorism financing, others reported absconding. blaze at mall money laundering, The sources stressed the security author- arms dealing and KUWAIT CITY, June 5: Al-Otaibi ities have permission to refer all those drug trafficking. arrested to the competent authority to take Firefi ghters doused a huge Corruption continues to drain countries’ necessary action. fi re that engulfed the exterior resources, especially developing ones, The sources added the CID men last facade of a commercial com- making it a major obstacle for those coun- week raided one such party in Kabad dur- plex in Hawally recently, re- tries to accomplish the UN 2030 Agenda ing which young men and women were ports Al-Qabas daily. for Sustainable Development, he said. arrested and referred to the concerned No casualties or injuries Despite all precautionary measures, yet, authorities. were reported. Damages no country is safe from this phenomenon, ❑ ❑ ❑ were limited to the front of which causes global economy to lose USD the complex and eight vehi- two trillion on an annual basis, he added. Spat at Erada Square: The security cles that were parked nearby. Good governance, less bureaucracy and authorities have detained 4 Kuwaitis, Firefi ghters and rescu- improving performance of the state’s pub- including a Kuwaiti activist and her hus- ers were dispatched to the lic institutions are all key elements for band, for exchanging insults at Al-Erada area immediately after the fighting corruption; an endeavor the State Square recently, says Al-Seyassah. Operations Unit at Kuwait of Kuwait been aiming for and pursuing on According to security sources investiga- Firefi ghting Force (KFF) a national level through many laws and tions have been initiated against them. received information about legislations that guarantee the rule of law Security sources said the two Kuwaitis the fi re. The fi refi ghting and reinforce, as well as buoy the level of were involved in a verbal spat with the teams moved quickly to integrity, Ambassador Al-Otaibi carried on activist and her husband. The citizen and control the fi re, while the saying. his wife were then summoned to the area rescuers guided the employ- He also referred to ‘Nazaha’; Kuwait’s police station and detained along with the ees, tenants and others who anti-corruption body, established in line other two men. were inside the complex with articles five and six of UNCAC. They have been charged with using foul during the fi re out operation UNCAC is the only legally binding language in a public place. to a safe place. Info denies any website account sent for probe KUWAIT CITY, June 5: Offi cial spokesperson of the Information Ministry Anwar Murad vehemently denied rumors spread on social media that Minister of Informa- tion and Culture and Minister of State for Youth Affairs Abdul Rahman Al-Mutairi issued a statement regarding the alleged referral of the owners or administrators of websites that criticized the way the government is deal- ing with the coronavirus crisis to the Public Prosecution, reports Al-Anba daily. Murad explained the supposed social media report is about the ministry’s response to the query of a lawmaker regarding the supposed referral of website owners to the prosecution, stressing the ministry clarifi ed in its re- sponse to the parliamentary question that it did not refer any online account to the prosecution. She affi rmed the ministry fully supports freedom of the press and remains committed to the relevant laws ratifi ed by the legislative authority in compliance with the gov- ernment’s directives in this regard. She added the ministry is keen on maintaining good relations with all accredited embassies in the country; and it continues to build bridges of cooperation with them to further strengthen coordination in the media and youth fi elds. ARAB TIMES, SUNDAY, JUNE 6, 2021 LOCAL 6

US Embassy Many reasons to study in the US: Safety and ease of applying are just a few By H.E. Alina L. Romanowski, have heard about through social country. University and college Kuwaiti student visas are valid for status under US law. US universities media, movies, music, or Ameri- campuses across the United States five years, and if you need to renew offer special services for internation- US Ambassador to the State of Kuwait cans you’ve met. have well-established measures to the visa for any reason, you can do al students. And because the United I recall with fondness my own ex- look after the safety and wellbeing so without another interview. If States is home to over 3.5 million o high school seniors in Kuwait: periences at the University of Chica- of all students on campus, includ- you have any questions about visas, Muslims, Muslim students can eas- TCongratulations! You are about go. Like so many other universities ing international students. For fe- please email [email protected] ily find a university with a Muslim to complete your exams and gradu- in the United States, Chicago has a male students, there are many ex- and a visa officer will reply to you student community and nearby ate during the most challenging time vibrant academic and cultural envi- cellent all-female colleges you can promptly. mosques to attend. for students in many generations. ronment with inspiring professors consider. Third, you will have a support net- After you graduate, you have the You should be proud of how you and wide array of international stu- Second, applying to US universi- work that will help you through the option of working on your student persevered through all the adversity dents. There, my mind was opened ties is much simpler than you might entire process. The US Embassy’s visa for 1-3 years at a US company caused by the COVID-19 pandemic. to so many ways of thinking, of do- think. You can use one application to Education Adviser can help you pick to gain practical work experience Parents also deserve our apprecia- ing - and of dreaming. apply to over 900 US colleges! It’s the school that fits your personal- and launch your professional career. tion for supporting their children’s For Kuwaiti students who are called the Common Application, and ity, academic interests, and favorite The connections you will make with education during this very difficult aware of those benefits but still at least one college in every state ac- location– you can email the Adviser talented classmates from around the period. have doubts, here are three key cepts it. Visit commonapp.org and at KuwaitCity@EducationUSA. world and US alumni from your uni- As you embark on the next chap- reasons why you should study in begin filling out your application org. The National Union of Ku- versity will benefit you throughout ter in your life, I encourage all stu- the United States: Safety, ease of today! waiti Students can give you advice your life. dents to choose a university in the application, and a support network Even the student visa application about where to live and help you get So, as you think about your next United States. To any parents read- that will help you during your time process is easier than you think. settled in and will continue be a re- educational options, please contact ing this, please think about allowing in America and throughout your Once you have been admitted to a source throughout your entire time the US Embassy’s Education Ad- your daughters and sons to study in H.E. Alina L. Romanowski career. US college and receive your enroll- as a student. viser for a free consultation. We can America. First, on safety. Currently, over ment confirmation form (I-20), you Once you arrive on campus, you help you find the school that fits all Why choose America? The US diverse geographic regions across one million international students can schedule a visa interview at will have an international student your needs! Congratulations again to offers a wide array of quality edu- the country. And there’s “the are studying at US universities and ustraveldocs.com. Students can get adviser who will help you select the class of 2021, and I wish you all cational institutions situated in American Dream” that you may colleges, far more than any other an appointment within one week. courses and maintain your student the best of luck. EPA highlights importance of protecting Kuwait marine life Authority marks World Environment Day

By Zahraa Al-Kazmi plays a vital role in protecting the the terrestrial or marine environment. marine environment from pollution In turn, the head of the Kuwaiti div- KUWAIT CITY, June 5, and preserving its biodiversity, and ing team affiliated with the Environ- applies the needed laws, in addition mental Volunteer Foundation, Waleed (KUNA): Kuwait’s marine to following up on the implementa- Al-Fadhel, affirmed to KUNA the team’s environment enjoys great tion of the national plan for manag- keenness to cooperate with various gov- official attention, therefore, ing the marine ernmental and vol- environment. untary agencies to laws and executive regula- He pointed out remove damage tions have been enacted that the author- to the Kuwaiti ma- that prohibit any encroach- ity guarantees the rine environment, protection of the whether on the ment against it. marine biodiver- coast or in the sea. The World Environment Day sity, as it is prohib- Since the team’s held Saturday, focuses on taking ited to hunt, kill, establishment in urgent measures to revive the dam- collect, harm and 1986, the team has possess wild or carried out several aged ecosystems from forests to marine habitats or activities and pro- coasts, including Kuwait, which Al-Zaidanharm their young. Al-Fadhel grams aimed at gives the environment as a whole, In the future, protecting the ma- especially the marine environment. fishing licensing requirements will be rine environment from pollution, as it is In a statement to KUNA, Deputy changed to achieve the desired goal of pre- the country’s main source, he added. Director-General for Technical Affairs serving the marine environment, he added. He also noted that the team recov- at the Environment Public Author- He also stressed the keenness to im- ered 768 boats and marine vessels ity (EPA), Dr. Abdullah Al-Zaidan, plement international treaties related to weighing 11,000 tons, and removed stressed the importance of preserv- biodiversity protection, as Kuwait rati- harmful waste from coasts, harbors ing Kuwait’s environment and raising fied the CBD Convention for the Con- and islands, in cooperation with gov- community awareness on the necessity servation of Biodiversity in August ernment agencies, weighing 3,711 of preserving marine life. 2002, which guarantees the preserva- tons, in addition to lifting neglected Al-Zaidan noted that the EPA tion of biological diversity, whether in fishing nets weighing 241 tons.

KUNA photos Top: Kuwait diving team lifting neglected fishing nets weighing 241 tons. Above: An aerial view of Kuwait marine environment. Gulf Bank launches new initiative to support SMEs affected by pandemic KUWAIT CITY, June 5: In rec- ment gateways and payment links, ognition of the importance of the in addition to the ability to open small to medium-sized enterprise all kinds of accounts, issue debit (SME) sector and in line with the cards, and apply for SME fi nancing strategic direction of the Central solutions.” Bank of Kuwait, Gulf Bank has In an effort to further enhance launched a new initiative to offer its customer experience, Gulf Bank basic forms of assistance to SMEs. also launched a dedicated website By adopting a more holistic ap- through which SMEs can communi- proach, Gulf Bank aims to offer cate with the Bank to inquire about SMEs integrated solutions that go commercial banking services and beyond fi nancing, and engage with facilitate both fi nancing and non- small businesses through partner- fi nancing requests. For more infor- ships with various sectors and spe- mation regarding the various ser- cialized agencies. vices Gulf Bank provides to SMEs, It is worth noting that Gulf Bank Meshal AlWazzan the Bank has launched a dedicated has issued fi nancing conditions cant will be determined based on the website: https://www.e-gulfbank. for individuals, SMEs, and other customer’s credit conditions, while com/en/sme economic entities affected by the ensuring due diligence to verify that Companies can also apply for pandemic since the start of 2020, the guarantee loan is deducted from fi nancing through Gulf Bank’s including the issuance of a draft public funds. dedicated SME website, indicating guarantee law in April 2021 to As part of Gulf Bank’s strategic the company’s basic information, rescue SMEs affected by the pan- plan, the Corporate Banking De- fi nancial history, and fi nancing pri- demic. partment is working to implement orities. Upon entering the relevant Regarding this initiative, the As- company information, business sistant General Manager of Corpo- the digital transformation of all ma- owners can then direct the form rate Banking at Gulf Bank, Meshal jor operations and services provided and any relevant information to the AlWazzan, said: “We launched to SMEs, which will be launch- designated email provided. Upon a digital platform to process re- ing soon. Through these efforts receiving the request, Gulf Bank quests from business owners who and more, Gulf Bank aims to offer will review the client’s request were affected by the pandemic, even more services that can support and evaluate funding options ac- providing support to various com- banking operations and contribute cordingly. If economic viability is panies through fi nancing measures to the growth of small and medium- proven, the Bank will contact the amounting to over 30 million Ku- sized enterprises that are partnered SME for next steps. waiti dinars. The Bank is currently with Gulf Bank. To learn more about Gulf looking forward to a more effective AlWazzan added: “Gulf Bank is Bank’s various initiatives, cus- solution, and is awaiting the imple- currently serving more than 7,000 tomers can visit one of the Bank’s mentation of the draft law to rescue companies through its business branches, or visit the Gulf Bank SMEs, through which the Kuwaiti sector and across all branches. We website at www.e-gulfbank. government is set to guarantee 80% currently offer companies the op- com. Customers can also use the of funding provided to businesses portunity to conduct all their cor- WhatsApp service on 1805805 for affected by the COVID-19 pandem- porate banking transactions online, round-the-clock assistance from ic. After fulfi lling the legal require- including collection and payment Gulf Bank representatives, or call ments for consideration, the amount services, employee salary trans- the Customer Contact Center on of fi nancing provided to each appli- fers, point-of-sale services, pay- the same number. ARAB TIMES, SUNDAY, JUNE 6, 2021 INTERNATIONAL 7

Police stand guard after protesters set fi re to dumpsters on the street after a vigil was held for Winston Boogie Smith Jr. early on Saturday, June 5, 2021. Smith was shot and killed by law enforcement offi cers on Thursday during an arrest warrant operation. (AP) Protest erupts over man killed by Minnesota deputies Protesters faced off with offi cers in 32, showed dumpster fi res in the was wanted on a weapons violation possession of a gun. age to come forward. property. The fatal shooting comes Minneapolis early Saturday over street and a line of offi cers stand- and fi red a gun before two depu- Family and friends described Police said some people vandal- as Minneapolis has been on edge the shooting death of a man by ing guard. It was the second night ties shot him while he was inside Smith as a father of three who was ized buildings and stole from busi- since the death of George Floyd members of a U.S. Marshals task of protests in response to the fatal a parked vehicle. Members of the often harassed by police. They are nesses after the shooting Thursday. just over a year ago, and the fatal force. shooting Thursday in Minneapolis’ U.S. Marshals Fugitive Task Force demanding transparency in the in- Nine people were arrested on pos- shooting of Daunte Wright by an of- Photos from the scene following Uptown neighborhood. were trying to arrest him on a war- vestigation and have asked that sible charges including suspicion of fi cer in nearby Brooklyn Center in a vigil for Winston Boogie Smith Jr., Authorities said Friday that Smith rant for allegedly being a felon in anyone who might have video foot- riot, assault, arson and damage to April. (AP)

America News in Brief the government more power to police tricts of the Indian Ocean island nation GmbH, Halweg said. (AP) online content. since Thursday night, and many hous- ❑ ❑ ❑ Twitter is involved in a tense battle es, paddy fi elds and roads have been Biden rebuffs GOP: President Joe with the Indian government, which has inundated, blocking traffi c. Taleban kill 2 policemen: Pakistani Biden has dismissed a fresh Republi- often asked it to restrict content alleg- Four people died in fl oods while an- Taleban gunmen shot and killed two Trove of emails released can infrastructure proposal that offered ing Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s other two lost their lives in mudslides, policemen patrolling a residential area modestly more spending but fell short government is trying to silence criti- according to the government’s Disas- in Islamabad, the interior minister and of “his objectives to grow the econo- cism, including of its handling of the ter Management Center. Another fi ve police said Friday, raising fears the my,” the White House said. coronavirus pandemic. people are missing in fl oods and mud- militants had established a presence in Republicans aim to His reaction Friday cast further In a letter to Twitter, the Electronics slides. (AP) one of the country’s safest cities. doubt on the two parties’ prospects for and Information Technology Ministry ❑ ❑ ❑ The attack happened Thursday night striking compromise on one of the ad- said the new rules came into force on in the Shamas Colony neighborhood revive Fauci attacks ministration’s chief legislative priori- May 26, but the social media site so far Berlin police detain scribes: Ber- of the capital. Police said offi cers have ties as deadlines slip and time runs out hasn’t complied. It asked Twitter to lin police said 13 journalists were de- launched search efforts to arrest the WASHINGTON, June 5, (AP): Dr. Institute, wrote to Fauci, the long- to make progress toward a deal. treat Saturday’s letter as a fi nal notice, tained Saturday while reporting on a killers. Anthony Fauci has been a political time director of the U.S. National The White House released the otherwise the company “shall be liable protest by environmentalist against the Hours after the attack, Mohammad lightning rod since the early days of Institute of Allergy and Infectious statement after Biden spoke by to consequences,” the Press Trust of construction of a highway in the Ger- Khurasani, a spokesman for Tehrik- the pandemic, lionized by the left Diseases, about ongoing efforts to phone with West Virginia Sen. Shel- India news agency reported. man capital. e-Taleban Pakistan, claimed responsi- and villainized by the right. decipher the origin of the novel ley Moore Capito, the chief GOP The letter did not elaborate on what The journalists were covering an bility. Pakistani Taleban are separate But with the release of a trove coronavirus. negotiator. Both sides said the two consequences Twitter might face. early-morning blockade of the con- from the Afghan Taleban, but they of Fauci’s emails this past week, At the time, the lab leak hy- would speak again on Monday, but There was no immediate comment struction site of the A100 Autobahn have their base in Afghanistan. Republicans’ political attacks on pothesis was largely dismissed by Biden’s team made clear the presi- from Twitter. (AP) by activists from the group Sand im Earlier, Interior Minister Sheikh the nation’s top government in- experts. It has recently gained trac- dent will be casting about for talks ❑ ❑ ❑ Getriebe, or Sand in the Gears. Rashid Ahmed condemned the attack fectious-diseases expert have gone tion, though the origins of the virus with other senators. “They entered the site along with the and ordered a probe. into overdrive. remain unknown. “The President expressed his grati- Floods, mudslides kill 6: Flash activists, so we treated them as partici- In a video statement, he said such at- On conservative news channels, tude for her effort and goodwill, but fl oods and mudslides triggered by pants in the protest,” police spokesper- tacks were increasing and efforts were President Joe Biden’s pandemic Inconsistent also indicated that the current offer heavy rains in Sri Lanka have killed at son Martin Halweg said. underway to make Islamabad a “safe adviser has been baselessly pillo- “The unusual features of the did not meet his objectives to grow least six people and left fi ve missing, They are now being investigated on zone.” The capital shares a border with ried as a liar virus make up a really small part the economy, tackle the climate cri- while more than 5,000 are displaced, suspicion of trespassing on the con- the populous Punjab province, as well who misled of the genome (0.1%) so one has sis, and create new jobs,” White offi cials said Saturday. struction site, which is operated by the as the country’s northwest passage to the Ameri- to look really closely at all the House press secretary Jen Psaki said. Rains have been pounding six dis- publicly owned company Autobahn Afghanistan. (AP) can people sequences to see that some of the (AP) about the features (potentially) look engi- ❑ ❑ ❑ origins of neered,” Andersen wrote. He said COVID-19 he and his colleagues “all fi nd the Student denied diploma: A North to protect genome inconsistent with expec- Carolina high school senior was de- the Chinese tations from evolutionary theory. nied his diploma because he draped a government. But,” he added, “we have to look Mexican fl ag over his gown in viola- There’s no at this much more closely and tion of a graduation dress code, school evidence of there are still further analyses to be offi cials said. wrongdoing, done, so those opinions could still A 68-second video of the gradu- but Republi- Fauci change.” ation at Asheboro High School on can calls for his resignation have By the next month, it turned out, Thursday shows the unidentified stu- grown louder, as have demands for they had. He and his colleagues dent wearing the flag over his gown, new investigations into the origins published an article in Nature on his back and shoulders, as he pro- of the virus. Medicine in which they concluded ceeds toward the stage, WGHP re- “Given what we know now, I that it was “improbable that SARS- ported. The video shows the student don’t know how anyone can have CoV-2 emerged through laboratory being handed a diploma holder and confi dence that he should remain manipulation of a related SARS- moving on to receive his diploma. It in a position of public trust and au- CoV-like coronavirus.” then shows him appearing to talk to thority,” said Republican Sen. Josh In another email, Fauci was people in the line for a few seconds Hawley of Missouri, a potential thanked by the head of a non- before he returns to his seat without presidential hopeful who is calling profi t that helped fund research at his diploma. for Fauci’s resignation and a full China’s Wuhan Institute of Virol- Asheboro school offi cials defended congressional inquiry. ogy, “for publicly standing up and the decision to withhold the student’s The political moves by Republi- stating that the scientifi c evidence diploma, saying that wearing a fl ag cans represent a new effort to fi nd a supports a natural origin,” which he of any kind is a violation of the dress reliable foil in the fi rst few months said ”will help dispel the myths be- code. (AP) of the Biden administration, as they ing spun around the virus’ origins.” ❑ ❑ ❑ have struggled to turn public senti- Andersen, the scientist who Pak acquits Christian couple: A ment against the new president. So wrote the “engineered” email, has Pakistani appeals court on Thursday far, Biden has enjoyed widespread tried to offer further explanation. acquitted a Christian couple sentenced job approval, buoyed by the pub- “As I have said many times, we to death on blasphemy charges for al- lic’s broad backing of his handling seriously considered a lab leak a legedly insulting Islam’s Prophet Mu- of the pandemic, which 71% of possibility. However, signifi cant hammad (PBUH), their defense lawyer Americans support, according to new data, extensive analyses, and said. a recent Associated Press-NORC many discussions led to the conclu- The appeal of their 2014 death Center for Public Affairs Research sions in our paper. What the email penalty by Shagufta Kausar and her poll. shows, is a clear example of the sci- husband Shafqat Emmanuel from the entifi c process,” he tweeted amid Threats country’s eastern Punjab province had the backlash. not been heard Fauci, who has a security detail “It’s just science,” he later add- until now for un- because of ongoing threats and ed. “Boring, I know, but it’s quite explained reasons, who did not respond to a request for a helpful thing to have in times of said the lawyer, comment for this story, has repeat- uncertainty.” Saiful Malook. edly defended his work, saying he The former president disagrees. The two were ar- received thousands of emails and While in offi ce, Trump, who dis- rested in 2013 has never ruled out any theory. “I dained the scientist’s popularity, and tried on suspi- still believe the most likely origin is frequently fl outed Fauci’s recom- cion of sending a from an animal species to a human, mendations on battling COVID-19 blasphemous text but I keep an absolutely open mind by playing down the severity of message to a local that if there may be other origins of the pandemic and often touting un- cleric in Punjab. that, there may be another reason, it proven scientifi c remedies, includ- Malook Then on Thurs- could have been a lab leak,” Fauci ing a malaria drug and even inject- day, the Lahore said Thursday on CNN. ing disinfectant. High Court overturned the death sen- The doctor’s newly released And he frequently tried to under- tence and ordered the couple released. emails, which span the early days mine Fauci’s credibility by refus- They had been on death row in two of the pandemic and were obtained ing to acknowledge the evolution separate prisons, and would be freed by BuzzFeed News and The Wash- in scientists’ understanding of the after all the paperwork was done, said ington Post, show no evidence virus and how it spread, which the lawyer. of any kind of coverup about the informed guidance about policies “I fought a legal battle for this in- origin of the virus. Indeed, many like masking. nocent couple for years,” Malook told of the discussions refl ect the sci- Trump is expected to yet again The Associated Press. “I am happy that ence at the time. But Republicans, go after Fauci when he returns to justice has been done to this poor wife including former President Donald the public stage in a speech in and her husband.” (AP) Trump, have seized on the emails North Carolina on Saturday night. ❑ ❑ ❑ as proof of a conspiracy to obscure He sees the emails as further vin- the source of the virus. dication that he was right about the India asks Twitter to follow laws: In one email, from Feb. 1 of doctor, according to an adviser who India’s government on Saturday last year, Kristian Andersen, a re- spoke on condition of anonymity to warned Twitter to immediately com- searcher at the Scripps Research describe private conversations. ply with the country’s new social me- dia regulations, which critics say give FAA safety official retires; was criticized over Boeing jet

The Federal Aviation Admin- manager for the FAA in the Se- Hundreds of relatives by industry, and put safety istration said that its top safety attle area, overseeing approval and friends of passengers first,” Michael Stumo, whose official will retire at the end of of Boeing planes. He left FAA who died in the Max crashes daughter Samya died in In this file photo, Department June. Ali Bahrami had come for a time to become an ex- wrote last month to President the second Max crash, said of Transportation Federal under sharp criticism from law- ecutive with an aircraft industry Joe Biden and Transporta- Wednesday. Aviation Administration build- makers and relatives of pas- trade group, the Aerospace In- tion Secretary Pete Buttigieg, Lawmakers who investi- ing is seen in Washington. sengers who died in the crash- dustries Association. demanding that they oust gated FAA’s approval of the es of two Boeing 737 Max jets, The FAA said its deputy as- Bahrami and three other FAA Max accused the agency of who accused him of being too sociate administrator for safe- officials, including Adminis- poor oversight of Boeing Co. cozy with Boeing. ty, Chris Rocheleau, will lead trator Stephen Dickson. Bahrami defended the FAA’s Bahrami had led the FAA’s the safety office on an interim “Bahrami’s departure is practice of delegating much aviation safety office since basis while the FAA searches needed for the FAA to regain safety analysis to aircraft 2017 and previously was a for a long-term replacement. credibility, escape capture manufacturers. (AP)

Market Movements 04-06-2021 Change Closing pts Change Closing pts SAUDI - Tadawul +41.49 10,698.30 JAPAN - Nikkei -116.59 28,941.52 UK - FTSE 100 +4.69 7,069.04 UAE - DFM -15.10 2,824.04 EUROPE - Euro Stoxx 50 +10.14 4,089.38 EGYPT - EGX 30 -66.14 10,054.81 PHILIPPINES - PSEi +4.47 6,796.34 INDIA - Sensex -132.38 52,100.05 PAKISTAN - KSE 100 +118.17 48,211.70 SINGAPORE - Straits Times STI -13.96 3,151.04 Business Stunning reversal for a brand that once lured the rich and famous Bargain hunters pounce as Trump condo prices hit decade lows NEW YORK, June 5, (AP): The building has stunning Manhattan sky- line views, its spa offers deep-tissue massages, and the fancy restaurant off the lobby serves up prime steaks. Best G7 inks key pact to make of all, many apartments at the Trump World Tower are selling at a deep dis- count - assuming the buyer doesn’t mind the name over the door. “Fifty percent of the people tech giants pay fair taxes wouldn’t want to live in a Trump building for any reason ... but then there are guys like me,” says Lou Sollecito, a car dealer who recently France cheers historic accord bought a two-bedroom unit with views of the Empire State Building. “It’s a super buy.” LONDON, June 5, (AP): The purchase price was $3 million, The Group of Seven nearly a million less than the seller paid in 2008. wealthy democracies Bargain hunters are swooping in agreed Saturday to sup- to take advantage of prices in Trump This file photo shows the Trump International Hotel and Tower in Chi- port a global minimum buildings that have dropped to levels cago. (AP) not seen in over a decade, a crash bro- corporate tax rate of at kers attribute to a combination of the least 15% in order to deter former president’s polarizing image multinational companies and the coronavirus pandemic. It’s a from avoiding taxes by stunning reversal for a brand that once lured the rich and famous willing to stashing profits in low-rate pay a premium to live in a building countries. with Trump’s gilded name on it. An Associated Press review of G-7 finance ministers meet- more than 4,000 transactions over the ing in London also endorsed past 15 years in 11 Trump-branded proposals to make the world’s buildings in Chicago, Honolulu, Las biggest companies - including Vegas and New York found prices for U.S.-based tech giants - pay some condos and hotel rooms avail- Britain’s Chancellor of the Exchequer Rishi Sunak, (centre), and U.S. able for purchase have dropped by taxes in countries where they Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen, (right), at a meeting of finance ministers one-third or more. have lots of sales but no physi- from across the G7 nations at Lancaster House in London, Friday, June 4, 2021. (AP) That’s a plunge that outpaces drops cal headquarters. in many similar buildings, leaving Britain’s Treasury chief Ri- presidency. tax part of the earnings of the larg- units for sale in Trump buildings to be shi Sunak, the meeting’s host, had for hundreds of thousands to up to The endorsement from the G-7 est and most profi table companies said the deal would “reform the could help build momentum for a - digital or not - if they are doing a million dollars less than they would Lane Blue sits for a portrait in a condo he bought in the Trump International global tax system to make it fit have gone for years ago. Hotel, Las Vegas, Saturday, May 22, 2021, in Las Vegas. (AP) deal in wider talks among more than business within their borders. It for the global digital age and cru- 140 countries being held in Paris as also supported awarding coun- “They’re giving them away,” says cially to make sure that it’s fair, Lane Blue who paid $160,500 in Realty Resources. That compares rebrand?” asks the new owner of a well as a Group of 20 fi nance minis- tries the right to tax 20% or more March for a studio in Trump’s Las with a 6% drop over the same period Trump hotel room steps from Ha- so that the right companies pay ters meeting in Venice in July. of profi t exceeding a 10% profi t Vegas tower, $350,000 less than the at 18 nearby luxury condo buildings waii’s Waikiki Beach, though he the right tax in the right places.” The G-7 has also been facing margin. seller paid in 2008. It was his second of similar age. figures it won’t matter given the bar- U.S. Treasury Secretary Janet pressure to provide vaccines for Part of the agreement is that purchase in the building this year and Says Lissner, “You can live in a lux- gain price - $505,000, which is over Yellen, who attended the Lon- low-income countries facing new countries such as France that have may not be his last. ury building for a non-luxury price tag.” $300,000 less than the seller paid. don meetings, said the agreement surges of COVID-19 infections imposed digital services taxes Just how much the Trump name is Prices fell even more for units in “It’s got an ocean view!” “provides tremendous momen- and to fi nance projects to combat would remove them in favor of the to blame is impossible to say. Many the 96-story Chicago building that are It had the same view when Trump tum” towards reaching a global climate change. A statement Satur- global agreement. The U.S. con- units for sale are in cities that were hit set aside for hotel guests, a category took office, and prices at the Trump deal that “would end the race-to- hard by the pandemic or in hotels that hit hard by pandemic travel restric- day from the two-day fi nance min- siders those unilateral digital taxes International Hotel in Waikiki the-bottom in corporate taxation, isters’ meeting said only that they to be unfair trade measures that had to shut down or in condo build- tions. But Lissner leaves them out plunged 23% over the next four years, and ensure fairness for the mid- ings much older than their competi- of her analysis because there are no according to broker Rachel Bradley of welcomed increased funding com- single out big U.S. tech companies tors, making comparisons difficult. similar hotel units in nearby buildings Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices. dle class and working people in mitments by member countries and such as Google, Amazon and Face- Still, Trump’s red-meat rhetoric to compare them against. The nearby Ritz-Carlton also got hit the U.S. and around the world.” looked forward to more. book. and policies haven’t helped. Within In Las Vegas, prices at Trump’s hard, down 20%, but Trump fared far France cheered Saturday’s International discussions on The other main part of the pro- a year into his presidency, hotels and hotel have fallen 4% since he took worse when compared with a broad agreement and claimed credit for the tax issue gained momentum posal is for countries to tax their condo buildings in Panama, Toronto office four years ago, while average sample of three dozen Honolulu ho- acting as its catalyst. after U.S. President Joe Biden home companies’ overseas prof- and Manhattan that paid millions to prices for three dozen other hotels in tels that also sell rooms: Their prices “We made it! After 4 years backed the idea of a global mini- its at a rate of at least 15%. That use his name started stripping it off the city that also sell condominiums over four years fell only 3%. of battle, a historic accord was mum of at least 15% on corpo- would deter the practice of using their facades. and rooms rose 14%, according to Trump Organization Executive reached with G7 member states,” rate profits. accounting schemes to shift profi ts After Trump was accused of whip- data collected by Berkshire Hathaway Vice President Eric Trump declined French Finance Minister Bruno The tax proposals endorsed Sat- to a few very low-tax countries. ping up the mob that stormed the HomeServices broker Forrest Barbee. to comment. Le Maire tweeted. “France can be urday have two main parts. The Nations have been grappling Capitol on Jan. 6, things got really Since the Trump building opened a The exact hit to Trump’s company proud!” bad. Banks vowed not to lend to him, dozen years ago, prices per square is hard to know. It sold most of the fi rst part lets countries tax a share with the question of how to deter the PGA canceled a tournament at foot have fallen 66%. units it owned in his branded build- The meeting of fi nance ministers of the profi ts earned by companies companies from legally avoiding his New Jersey golf course, and New And in Manhattan, Trump-branded ings years ago, though it still has doz- came ahead of an annual summit of that have no physical presence but paying taxes by resorting to tax York City fired him as manager of a buildings have fallen so far, down to ens in Chicago and Las Vegas worth G-7 leaders scheduled for June 11- have substantial sales, for instance havens - typically small countries public course in the Bronx. Several 15-year lows, that they have lost their much less now. 13 in Cornwall, England. The U.K. through selling digital advertising. that entice companies with low or brokers say many potential buyers premium for the first time, selling at The bigger damage is likely to be to is hosting both sets of meetings be- The G-7 statement echoes a U.S. zero taxes, even though the fi rms won’t even look at Trump buildings lower prices per square foot than the the former president’s image and fu- cause it holds the group’s rotating proposal to simply let countries do little actual business there. now. average for all condo buildings, ac- ture branding. Developers who used “I’d be happy if his name was taken cording to research firm CityRealty. to pay him millions to use his name off,” says Gary Gabriel, who owns an “I have never seen buildings plum- won’t strike deals with him if they Turkey makes a new apartment in Trump Palace on Man- met so dramatically,” says Ondel Hyl- think it could sink prices. hattan’s Upper East Side. “It’s embar- ton, senior content director at CityRe- Those golden five letters over the Oil prices on the rise as gas find in Black Sea rassing.” alty, which has a webpage tracking door once attracted buyers like Derek It’s also an opportunity. the eight Manhattan buildings still Jeter, Johnny Carson and Liberace but ANKARA, Turkey, June 5, “We can see the river. We can see bearing the Trump name. “It seems now are so controversial that many supply improves slowly (AP): Turkish President Recep the lake. It has a downtown view,” like this is a bottom.” people who bought recently refused Tayyip Erdogan said Friday that says Nilufar Kabir, who bought a one- Some buyers are thinking the same. to allow their names to be used in By Kamel Al-Harami from being dependent on oil and a 135-billion cubic meter natural sincerely look for another alterna- bedroom unit in Trump’s Chicago “Ten years from now people will this story, worried that the boycotts Independent Oil Analyst gas reserve has been discovered condo-hotel in February for $680,000, forget about him,” says a New York against Trump could hurt them. tive to replace oil. This is because in Black Sea waters, which could nearly one-fifth less than what the banker who asked for anonymity to Vegas buyer Blue, who runs an THE oil picture today is one of the oil will not always remain at the help the energy-dependent coun- seller paid. “It’s a bargain.” talk about a second Trump World air freight company in California, best, with the best maestro man- current level of $70 and above. aging every The party will not last long... we try cover its needs in the years Other condos in Chicago’s Trump apartment he bought last month for doesn’t care. He calls Trump “one to come. International Hotel and Tower have $2.1 million, a two-bedroom over- of the greatest presidents ever” and move and have to search for another source dropped even more, down 34% dur- looking the United Nations. “The thinks anger directed at him will blow fine tuning of income for all Arabian Gulf The announcement follows ing the four years of his presidency, name will mean less.” over. along with states. one last year that another 405 according to Gail Lissner, a managing Or disappear completely. “Stuff washes out. People forget. the well ex- The delay in Iran and USA billion cubic meters of natural director at the consulting firm Integra “Does it get bad enough that they People move on,” he says. perienced reaching an agreement is causing gas were found in the Black players. the current surge in oil price. It Sea. They togeth- prevented the pumping of more oil “Our Fatih drilling ship has Earlier cbank move caused depositors panic er moved the into the markets, perhaps contrib- made a 135-billion cubic meter oil price to uting to the strengthening of oil for close to $71 new natural gas discovery in the a while. Sakarya gas field’s Amasra-1 per barrel, Of course, the surplus is no without mak- Al-Harami borehole,” Erdogan said at the Lebanon reverses its bank decision more, thanks to OPEC Plus’ full ing much opening of a new port in the noise about knowing what they are adherence to production cuts and Black Sea coastal province of BEIRUT, June 5, (AP): After public outrage and protests, banking sector reeled under a financial crunch and infla- USA shale oil owner’s policy to Lebanon’s Central Bank governor said that depositors tion soared. doing today and tomorrow, and Zonguldak. making sure everybody is happy keep production low while gen- can go back to withdrawing money from their dollar de- But critics still lambasted the ban on withdrawals of erating net cash on a daily basis “Our total gas discovery in the posits in the local currency at a rate two and half times dollars, saying it is tantamount to declaring bankruptcy with the supply that is available Black Sea has now reached 540 whenever required. for the last three months. The better than the official one. and urging depositors to demand their money in foreign combined factors added much billion cubic meters,” he said, add- The decision reverses an earlier one and comes a day currency. Will the current oil level be the ing that more gas discoveries in the cause for inflation until the world force to oil price’s stability and after panicked depositors lined up outside cash machines Central Bank Gov. Riad Salameh insisted Thursday strength. region were possible. to withdraw as much as possible before a suspension of deposits were safe, without elaborating. Earlier in the becomes free of COVID-19? Or will it be faced with another wave Are we going to benefit from The government says it plans to the preferential rate was to take effect. day, he met with President Michel Aoun and the head of a new form of slow world econ- the good news of better oil prices? extract and use the gas by 2023, in The Central Bank decreed the preferential rate in April of the top administrative court at the Presidential Palace. omy again? Meanwhile, the USA, How are we going to be ready for a bid to decrease its dependence on 2020. It was temporarily suspended by the country’s “We reiterated the need for the cooperation between China and Europe are emerging the next step in terms of creating energy imports from Russia, Iran highest administrative court on Tuesday, pending a final the Central Bank and the State Council in the interest of with a spending spree. jobs for more than 25,000 new and Azerbaijan. court decision. Lebanon,” Salameh told reporters. This is good news for all, partic- graduates entering Kuwait mar- Erdogan said authorities would Lebanon is in the grips of its worst ever economic cri- However, many will see Thursday’s reversal - while ularly the oil exporting countries ket? It is a hard challenge to meet work “day and night” to achieve sis while members of the ruling elite have been unable ostensibly driven by concerns over widespread panic - as in OPEC and its partner Plus. Hav- but are we really thinking of doing to agree on a new government. The Lebanese pound, political interference in court decisions that ignores in- that target. ing an oil price above the level of anything? Turkey has increased its search pegged for 30 years to the dollar at 1,515, is now trading formal capital controls imposed by banks on withdrawals $70 will greatly help in reducing Improvement in the oil price is at nearly 13,000. and transfers at a time when the local currency is in free the deficits by about 30-40 % as for offshore hydrocarbon resourc- good news ... We should not abuse es. Last year, it sent vessels into The Central Bank’s preferential rate offered depositors fall alongside a thriving black market. well as reducing their borrowing it. the option of withdrawing Lebanese pounds from their The Legal Agenda, a Lebanese rights group, said it from outside international banks. ❑ ❑ ❑ the eastern Mediterranean, touch- dollar accounts at 3,900 to the dollar. The decision was “seems the ruling system is seeking to restore its favorite We hope we learn necessary ing off a maritime border dispute effectively a 70% cut on dollar deposits, as the market way of dealing with the crisis, and its subsequent policies lessons to continue drifting away email: [email protected] with neighboring Greece and Cy- rate hovered around 13,000. Meanwhile, the country’s of denial.” prus. ARAB TIMES, SUNDAY, JUNE 6, 2021 BUSINESS 9

Walmart to again close its US stores on Thanksgiving Day

Walmart says it will close its U.S. stores ing Day is one way we’re saying ‘thank concerns, most stores were closed on In this fi le photo, a on Thanksgiving for the second con- you’ to our team,” wrote Dacona Smith, Thanksgiving. woman, wearing a secutive year. executive vice president and chief op- Walmart, like other stores, success- protective face mask The nation’s largest retailer and big- erating offi cer for Walmart U.S., in a fully pushed more sales online to re- due to the COVID-19 gest private employer said Friday that corporate blog. duce crowds in its stores. But, even as virus outbreak, it wants to give workers time off for all The move shows how the pandemic safety protocols relax, the Bentonville, wheels a cart with their “hard work and dedication” to the will have lasting effects on the retail in- Arkansas-based retailer apparently be- her purchases out of company. It follows the decision by dustry’s strategies, even as the health lieves that not having the Black Friday a Walmart store, in Target Corp., which announced back in virus ebbs. For almost a decade, Black kickoff on Thanksgiving won’t hurt its Derry, New Hamp- January it would be closing its stores Friday store shopping had been kicked business. shire. (AP) again on the annual late-November tur- off with big crowds on the Thursday of Given the clout of Walmart and Tar- key feast. Thanksgiving and expanded into Fri- get, other major retailers will likely fol- “Closing our stores on Thanksgiv- day. However, last year, given safety low their lead again this year. (AP)

National Wealth Fund to buy euros, yuan, gold Major Russian fund to ditch dollar Germany says economy MOSCOW, June 5, (AP): Russia said it will completely re- move the U.S. dollar from its rainy day fund, a move intend- ed to counter American pressure two weeks before a summit of the two countries’ leaders. may grow 4% this year Finance Minister Anton Siluanov told an economic forum in St. Petersburg that the National Wealth Fund will turn its dollar-denominated assets into euros, yuan and gold. He said the shift will take a month, and once it’s complet- Pandemic eases ed the fund will have 40% of its holdings in euros, 30% in yuan and 20% in gold, while the British pound and Japanese yen each will account for 5%. BERLIN, June 5, (AP): Siluanov said the fund currently has 35% of its assets in The German economy, Eu- dollars and another 35% in euros. rope’s biggest, may grow The fund accumulates oil revenues to increase the coun- try’s resilience to market fl uctuations and help support major up to 4% this year as the national projects. It held about $186 billion-worth of total coronavirus pandemic re- assets as of last month, part of the nation’s gold and hard Finance Minister Anton Siluanov attends a cabinet cedes, a senior offi cial said currency reserves that stand at the equivalent of about $600 meeting in Moscow, Russia, March 12, 2020. (AP) billion overall. Thursday. Economy Minister Peter Alt- Meet maier’s comments marked the The announcement comes just two weeks before a sched- MorphoSys buys US rival anniversary of the government’s uled summit between Russian President Vladimir Putin and agreement on a stimulus package U.S. President Joe Biden. They are set to meet in Geneva in deal worth $1.7 billion to help kick-start the economy, on June 16. which included cutting value- Russia long has moved to reduce the dollar’s share in its BERLIN, June 5, (AP): Germany-based MorphoSys AG hard currency reserves as it has faced waves of U.S. sanc- said that it is buying U.S. rival Constellation added tax during the second half tions amid tensions with Washington and its allies. Pharmaceuticals Inc. in a deal valuing the biotech com- of last year and giving families a one-time 300-euro ($366) payment Asked about the latest announcement, Kremlin spokes- pany at $1.7 billion. In this fi le photo lights of bridges and buildings are refl ected in the river man Dmitry Peskov told reporters that many countries, in- per child. Main in Frankfurt, Germany. (AP) cluding Russia, have sought to ease their dependence on the MorphoSys said in a statement that it has agreed to pay Other aid packages have helped dollar amid growing “concerns about the reliability of the $34 in cash per Constellation share and the takeover has keep companies above water during hit than services during the pandemic. cial 2021 forecast from 3% to 3.5% a main reserve currency.” been unanimously approved by both companies’ boards. months of virus closures, while exten- “We can say today that the econom- month ago. Speaking on the sidelines of the St. Petersburg forum, Constellation, based in Cambridge, Mass., specialized sive use of a short-term salary support ic motor is running again,” Altmaier Coronavirus restrictions are being Deputy Prime Minister Andrei Belousov said the decision in novel therapeutics in patients with cancer. program has kept workers on payrolls said. eased across Germany as infection fi g- to cut the dollar holdings was linked to “threats of sanctions The deal, expected to be completed in the third quarter, and unemployment in check. “We believe that the economy will ures have fallen sharply and the vacci- that we have received from the U.S. leadership.” was enabled through $2.025 billion in funding that Last year, Germany’s gross domes- grow by at least 3.5% this year, and I nation campaign has accelerated. Ger- Russia’s ties with the U.S. and its allies have plummeted tic product shrank 4.9%. That was think it is even possible that we will many administered over 1.19 million to the lowest levels since Cold War times after Moscow’s MorphoSys received from investor Royalty Pharma, in the biggest decline since the fi nancial achieve growth of somewhere between vaccine doses on Wednesday alone. 2014 annexation of Ukraine’s Crimea, accusations of Rus- return for royalties on several drugs developed by the crisis in 2009, but Germany did better 3.5% and 4%,” he added. It has now given at least one dose to sian interference in elections, hacking attacks and other is- German company, which is headquartered in Planegg than several other European nations Altmaier said data has improved 44.6% of its population and fully vac- sues. near Munich. because manufacturing took less of a since the government raised its offi - cinated 19.6%. Market value above $30bn White-knuckle thriller for AMC as fi rm sells ‘shares’ NEW YORK, June 5, (AP): Got your popcorn? The wild ride for the summer’s blockbuster stock, AMC Entertain- ment, got even crazier on Thursday. The movie-theater company’s stock plunged nearly 40% in the morning after it announced plans to sell 11.6 million shares to raise cash, while warning buyers they could lose all their investment. But it erased the loss in just a few hours. After the stock sale was complete, it climbed above the re- cord closing price it had set a day earlier, only to sink back to a 17.9% loss by the end of trading. It’s the latest stupefying, nearly unexplainable set of moves for one of the “meme stocks” that have rocked Wall Street this year. Many professional investors say AMC, GameStop and other meme stocks have hit heights unteth- ered to reality and are primed for a steep fall, but that’s not stopping an army of smaller-pocketed and novice investors from holding their ground and promising to take their prices “to the moon.” For AMC, that has vaulted its stock price from below $2 early this year to the $50.85 average price that it sold shares for on Thursday. The surge means its total market value climbed above $30 billion, putting it on par with big- ger companies like AutoZone and Old Dominion Freight Line, which unlike AMC are making profi ts and didn’t have speculation of bankruptcy swirling around them after the pandemic shuttered theaters last year. In a fi ling with regulators, AMC couldn’t give a reason for the rise in its stock price that’s tied to its profi t prospects, the usual reason for a stock price to move. The company said it didn’t know how long the reasons behind its stock surge will last, while warning investors: “Under the circumstances, we caution you against investing in our Class A common stock, unless you are prepared to incur the risk of losing all or a substantial portion of your investment.” The immediate re- action in the market was sour. AMC shares fell as soon as the market opened, and the plunge was so sharp that trading was temporarily halted three times during the morning. A day earlier, its trading had been halted four times when the stock was heading in the opposite direction and nearly doubled. Fell Other meme stocks also fell, including an 8.5% drop for GameStop. It was the poster child for the phenomenon early this year, when the struggling video-game retailer suddenly surged 1,625% in January. Back then, the maniacal moves for meme stocks shocked Wall Street, but many professional investors expected the fervor to peter out eventually. Everyone agreed that a new generation of investors was seizing more power in the market, with their ranks growing because of easy-to-use trading apps and zero trading fees. But one big reason for the incoming wave of novices was that the pandemic had left them with little else to do. When the pandemic eased, the thinking on Wall Street went, those traders would go back to eating out at restau- rants, heading to bars and maybe even seeing movies at the theater instead of talking up and bidding up meme stocks. It didn’t play out that way, at least not yet. Meme stocks did lose momentum following their January supernova, but they began soaring again recently. AMC quintupled in the two weeks through Wednesday, for example. GameStop is back above $250 after dropping from a peak of $347 in late January to $40 a few weeks later. For their part, many retail investors said on the social me- dia forums that have spurred the meme stocks’ moves that they’ll remain steadfast. “We can stay irrational longer than they can stay solvent” was the title of one thread on Reddit’s WallStreetBets fo- rum, which has been a central character in the rise of meme stocks. Other users were asking if BlackBerry would be the next stock of a company overly maligned by professional investors to pop. The company’s stock careened from a 32% gain to a loss of 11% during Thursday morning trading. It ended the day with a gain of 4.1%. They’re just the latest in a cacophony of crazy swings for meme stocks. AMC’s stock soared 95% Wednesday after it launched a program to share news with its newfound, massive base of fanatical share- holders. The new initiative will offer direct messages from the company’s CEO to retail investors, as well as offer free screenings, discounts and a free large popcorn this summer. The huge moves for meme stocks have caused some crit- ics to warn of a dangerous bubble, with investors taking ex- cessive risks across fi nancial markets after the Federal Re- serve slashed interest rates to record lows. One encouraging part of all this, though, is that the most worrisome behavior seems to be rolling through different investments rather than infl ating the entire market, said Yung-Yu Ma, chief invest- ment strategist for BMO Wealth Management. ARAB TIMES, SUNDAY, JUNE 6, 2021 BUSINESS 10

workers win round in equal pay lawsuit against Tesco

Workers at Britain’s largest grocery The court ruled that such a compari- establishments, the court said in a state- pay - but this has absolutely nothing to The law firm Leigh Day, which repre- chain won the latest round in their equal son is valid in this case because Tesco ment. do with gender, the company said in a sents the workers, said the European pay lawsuit Thursday, when the is a “single source” that has the ability to A U.K. employment tribunal, which statement. “We reward our colleagues court’s decision reinforces the Supreme European Union’s Court of Justice ruled correct any inequity. This applies both to asked for a ruling on the issue, will now fairly for the jobs they do and work hard Court ruling and it is now time for Tesco that more favorable EU rules governing questions of “equal work” and “work of determine whether the workers have to ensure that the pay and benefits we to accept this principle. comparisons between men and women equal value,” according to the court, been fairly paid for their work. offer are fair, competitive and sustain- “This means that employers can no apply to the case. which has jurisdiction because the case While lawyers for the workers herald- able.” longer hide behind the grey areas of The case was filed by shop-floor was filed before Britain left the EU. ed the decision as a major victory for The U.K. Supreme Court ruled earlier U.K. law, Kiran Dauka, a Leigh Day workers at Tesco supermarkets, who “Where such pay conditions can be their clients, Tesco said that the case this year that retail workers at the Asda partner, said in a statement. “It’s time for are mostly women and claim that they attributed to a single source, the work was complex and far from over. supermarket chain could compare their supermarkets to accept that the roles of are underpaid in relation to distribution and the pay of those workers can be “These roles require different skills work to that of warehouse workers in a shop floor workers and distribution cen- staff, who are mainly men. compared, even if they work in different and demands which lead to variations in similar case. ter workers are comparable.” (AP) Stocks rise as jobs data calms Fed fears S&P 500 logs second straight weekly gain

NEW YORK, June 5, (AP): Wall Street closed out a week of mostly choppy EU announces trading with broad gains Friday, pushing the S&P Moldova ‘plan’ 500 to its second straight BUCHAREST, June 5, (AP): The weekly gain. Republic of Moldova is set to receive The S&P 500 rose 0.9% and an “unprecedented” 600 million- finished with a 0.6% gain for the euro ($733 million) economic recov- ery package from the European week. Technology stocks were Union over a three-year period, the biggest gainers and did the most to EU’s executive arm announced drive the broader market higher. Wednesday. Microsoft rose 2.1% and Apple The European Commission said added 1.9%. Communication Moldova, which is not an EU mem- stocks and companies that rely on ber, will receive the funds between consumer spending also made 2021 and 2024 to help the former solid gains. Only utilities closed Soviet republic sandwiched between lower. Romania and Ukraine recover eco- The rally followed a Labor nomically from the coronavirus pan- Department report showing U.S. demic and to promote investment. employers added 559,000 jobs in May. The plan is conditional on judicial That’s an improvement from April’s and anti-corruption reforms, the sluggish gain, but short of economists’ commission said forecasts. Still, the lower-than-expect- “The Republic of Moldova is at a ed increase in jobs may have opened crossroads,” EU Commission the door for the Federal Reserve to President Ursula von der Leyen said in keep the accelerator floored on its a statement. “The EU’s economic efforts to support the economy, which recovery plan is an unprecedented include monthly bond purchases to effort to help the country in its efforts keep interest rates low. to restore and boost the ambitious “When you see employment num- reform agenda in the interests of the bers like we saw today, which were people.” slightly disappointing, that would give Moldova ranked 115th out of the market participants confidence that the 180 countries in Transparency Fed will stay on track and keep rates International’s 2020 Corruptions lower for a longer period of time,” said Perception Index, with first place Clinton Warren, global investment being the least corrupt. specialist at J.P. Morgan Private Bank. The EU money, which would come “The market is saying ‘OK, the Fed is in the form of loans, grants and invest- going to keep rates lower, that’s good ments, is intended to promote eco- In this file photo provided by the New York Stock Exchange, trader Fred DeMarco, (foreground), works on the floor. Wall Street closed out a week of nomic growth and to focus on areas for the stock market, it’s good for risk mostly choppy trading with broad gains Friday, pushing the S&P 500 to its second straight weekly gain. (AP) asset classes, and that’s what’s driving such as digital technology, infrastruc- the market higher today.” ture, and education. The EU extends The S&P 500 rose 37.04 points to remains relatively shaky and strug- said Liz Ann Sonders, chief invest- Stocks that look the most expensive to restaurant meals. Employers are financial aid known as macro financial 4,229.89. The Dow Jones Industrial gling to get back to pre-pandemic lev- ment strategist at Charles Schwab. based on their earnings, such as tech- also finding it harder to attract employ- assistance to partner countries under Average gained 179.35 points, or els. There is, she said, a “disconnect nology companies, can be among the ees, which could force them to raise certain conditions. 0.5%, to 34,756.39. The rally in tech- The jobs report showed that compa- between job openings, which have biggest beneficiaries. wages, also adding to inflation. Moldovan voters are set to cast bal- nology stocks helped push the Nasdaq nies are still struggling to find enough been incredibly robust, and the desire Investors have been worried about The contrast between signs of high- lots next month in an early parliamen- to a solid gain. The tech-heavy index workers as the economy rapidly recov- or willingness to go back to work.” rising inflation becoming a long-term er inflation and a still-recovering labor tary election that was called in April climbed 199.98 points, or 1.5%, to ers from the recession caused by the Bond yields fell. The yield on the issue, rather than the temporary effect market has made it difficult for inves- after the country’s pro-Western presi- 13,814.49. pandemic. People are either looking 10-year Treasury slipped to 1.55% from the recovering economy. They tors to get a read on what the Fed will dent, Maia Sandu, dissolved parlia- Smaller company stocks also for better jobs than they had before the from 1.62% late Thursday. The dip are also worried that The Fed could do next. ment. The move followed months of notched gains. The Russell 2000 added pandemic, retiring early, worried helped push tech stocks higher. Lower consider pulling its support for the “That’s why the market has been political deadlock. 7.16 points, or 0.3%, to 2,286.41. about child care or otherwise taking interest rates help stocks generally economy if inflation runs too hot. constrained in such a tight band of The pickup in jobs last month is time on the sidelines from the job mar- because they can steer some investors Inflation has already burst higher turns over the last, not only week, but another sign that the economy contin- ket. away from bonds that are paying little across the economy, with prices rising throughout this whole year,” Warren ues to recover, even as employment “There are still seasonal issues,” in interest toward riskier investments. for everything from used automobiles said. Chinese govt criticizes Western brands’ toys, clothes as unsafe BEIJING, June 5, (AP): The Chinese ified” products from 16 companies Xinjiang in China’s northwest. pany, Nike and Adidas. Celebrities Xinjiang. Chinese authorities are government has accused H&M, Nike, including T-shirts, toys and tooth- State TV called for a boycott of H&M pulled out of endorsement deals. accused of forced sterilization and Zara and other brands of importing brushes was released by the customs over a statement issued a year earlier Product safety is especially sensi- destroying mosques. A woman and child wearing masks unsafe or poor quality children’s agency to mark International saying it would no longer use cotton tive in China following scandals over Chinese officials deny reports of pass by a Zara store in Beijing on clothes and other goods, adding to Children’s Day this week. from Xinjiang. Official media publi- tainted, shoddy or counterfeit milk, abuses and say the camps are for job Thursday, June 3, 2021. The headaches for foreign companies after The announcement is a setback for cized criticism of others for expressing medicines and other products that have training to promote economic develop- Chinese government has accused Beijing attacked them over complaints foreign brands that were attacked by concern about possible forced labor. killed and injured consumers. ment and combat radicalism. Authorities H&M, Nike, Zara and other brands about possible forced labor in the state media in March following accusa- H&M goods were removed from Some 1 million people from mostly have pressed foreign brands to reject of importing unsafe or poor quality country’s northwest. tions by governments and human rights Chinese e-commerce platforms while Muslim minority groups have been reports of forced labor, saying they children’s clothes and other goods. A list of “quality and safety unqual- groups that Beijing uses forced labor in app stores dropped apps for that com- confined to detention camps in should look more closely at Xinjiang. (AP) VW tests electric cars, apps on Greece island ATHENS, Greece, June 5, (AP): German carmaker Volkswagen launched a five-year project Wednesday on the small Greek Aegean island of Astypalea to test the adoption of electric vehicles in areas switching to sustain- able energy generation. The 20-million-euro ($24.4 million) initiative will receive financial support from the Greek government. It will offer residents purchasing incentives to swap conven- tional vehicles for electric cars and scooters, and test ride- share applications and public transport models driven by customer demand instead of using fixed schedules and routes. “This is very valuable knowledge because what we are going to see on this island in the next five, six, or seven years will probably last in the rest of Europe for 20 years or three decades,” Volkswagen CEO Herbert Diess said during a presentation on the island. Volkswagen has stepped up its plans to produce electric vehicles in recent years, in the wake of a major emissions scandal first discovered in the United States. The company eventually admitted installing deceptive software in mil- lions of its diesel vehicles to make emissions appear less harmful when placed on a test machine. Greece is keen to develop power generation from renewable energy sources on its islands to replace expen- sive locally produced electricity, mostly using diesel. The government plans to use wind and solar power for the Astypalea project. Officials said researchers from the Universities of the Aegean in Greece and Strathclyde in Scotland were also participating in the program.

A Volkswagen ID.4 electric car of the Civil Aviation is parked on the Aegean Sea island of Astypalea, Greece during the official launch of the project. (AP) ARAB TIMES, SUNDAY, JUNE 6, 2021 SCIENCE 11

Coronavirus

To share 80mn doses US will ‘boost’ global vaccine-sharing: WH WASHINGTON, June 5, (AP): President Joe Biden announced Thursday the US will donate 75% of its unused COVID-19 vaccines to the UN-backed COVAX global vac- cine sharing program, acting as more Americans have been vaccinated and global inequities have become more glaring. Of the first tranche of 25 million doses, the White House said about 19 million will go to COVAX, with approximately 6 million for South and Central America, 7 million for Asia and 5 million for Africa. The doses mark a substantial - and immediate - boost to the lagging COVAX effort, which to date has shared just 76 million doses with needy countries. Overall, the White House aims to share 80 million doses globally by the end of June, most through COVAX. But 25% of the nation’s excess will be kept in reserve for emer- gencies and for the US to share directly with allies and partners. “As long as this pandemic is raging anywhere in the world, the American people will still be vulnerable,” Biden said in a statement. “And the United States is committed to bringing the same urgency to international vacci- nation efforts that we have demon- strated at home.” US National Security Adviser Jake Sullivan said the US “will retain the say” on where the doses distributed Biden through COVAX ultimately go. “We’re not seeking to extract con- cessions, we’re not extorting, we’re not imposing conditions the way that other countries who are providing doses are This 1974 microscope image made available by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention shows changes in cells indicative of adenocarcinoma of the pros- tate. In results released Thursday, June 3, by the American Society of Clinical Oncology, doctors are reporting improved survival in men with advanced prostate doing; we’re doing none of those things,” said Sullivan. cancer from an experimental drug that delivers radiation directly to tumor cells. (AP) “These are doses that are being given, donated free and clear to these countries, for the sole purpose of improving the public health situation and helping end the pandemic.” The remaining 6 million in the initial tranche of 25 mil- Health lion will be directed by the White House to US allies and partners, including Mexico, Canada, South Korea, West Bank and Gaza, India, Ukraine, Kosovo, Haiti, Georgia, Egypt, Jordan, Iraq, and Yemen, as well as for United Nations frontline workers. Pill shows benefit in certain hard-to-treat breast cancers Demand Vice President Kamala Harris informed some US partners they will begin receiving doses, in separate calls with Radiation drugs track & kill cancer cells Mexican President Andres Manuel López Obrador, President Alejandro Giammattei of Guatemala, Indian Prime Minister NEW YORK, June 5, (AP): Doctors Narendra Modi, and Prime Minister Keith Rowley of are reporting improved survival in men Trinidad and Tobago. Harris is to visit Guatemala and with advanced prostate cancer from an FDA warns doctors to stop using Mexico in the coming week. experimental drug that delivers radia- The long-awaited vaccine sharing plan comes as demand tion directly to tumor cells. heart pump tied to deaths, stroke for shots in the US has dropped significantly - more than Few such drugs are approved now, 63% of adults have received at least one dose - and as but the approach may become a new WASHINGTON, June 5, (AP): US 13 patients having it removed. The global inequities in supply have become more glaring. way to treat patients with other hard-to- health regulators warned surgeons company previously issued recalls Scores of countries have requested doses from the United reach or inoperable cancers. Thursday to stop implanting a on some Heartware devices and The study tested an emerging class heart pump made by Medtronic components used when implanting States, but to date only Mexico and Canada have received a due to power failures recently tied it. In December, the company combined 4.5 million doses. The US also has announced of medicine called radiopharmaceuti- This image provided by AstraZeneca cals, drugs that deliver radiation direct- to cases of stroke and more than a warned about power failures or plans to share enough shots with South Korea to vaccinate ly to cancer cells. The drug in this case dozen deaths. delayed restarts with three lots. its 550,000 troops who serve alongside American service shows a bottle of the medication Lynparza. In a study released is a molecule that contains two parts: a Medtronic said earlier in the day The company said patients members on the peninsula. White House COVID-19 coordi- Thursday, June 3, by the American tracker and a cancer-killing payload. it would stop selling its Heartware should not automatically have the nator Jeff Zients said that 1 million Johnson & Johnson Society of Clinical Oncology, Lynparza Trillions of these molecules hunt assist device, which is intended to device removed. Taking out doses were being shipped to South Korea Thursday. was found to help breast cancer boost blood circulation in patients recalled heart implants has to be down cancer cells, latching onto pro- with heart failure. carefully weighed against the The growing US stockpile of COVID-19 vaccines is seen patients with harmful mutations live tein receptors on the cell membrane. by many overseas and at home not only as a testament to longer without disease after their can- Recent company data showed potential risks of surgery. Medtronic The payload emits radiation, which hits the device can unexpectedly stop said in a statement physicians America’s achievement but also its global privilege. cers had been treated with standard the tumor cells within its range. Tom Hart the, acting CEO of The ONE Campaign, called surgery and chemotherapy. (AP) working and sometimes fail to should decide “on a case-by-case “You can treat tumors that you can- restart, the Food and Drug basis, considering the patients clin- the Thursday announcement a “welcome step” but said the not see. Anywhere the drug can go, the Administration said. The company ical condition and surgical risks.” Biden administration needs to commit to sharing more drug can reach tumor cells,” said Dr. said it hasn’t been able to pinpoint The company said it is preparing a doses. “The world is looking to the US for global leadership Frank Lin, who had no role in the study the root cause in every case. guide for managing patients “who and more ambition is needed.” Discovery but heads a division at the National Surgeons can use implants from may require support for many Biden has committed to providing other nations with all Cancer Institute that helps develop other manufacturers, the FDA said years.” 60 million domestically produced doses of the AstraZeneca such medicine. in a memo to physicians. The Heartware device was used vaccine., which has yet to be authorized for use in the US SpaceX launches critters to ISS: Results were released Thursday by About 4,000 people worldwide for heart failure patients awaiting but is widely approved around the world. The US-produced SpaceX launched thousands of tiny sea the American Society of Clinical currently have the Medtronic transplant or as a permanent doses have been held up for export by an ongoing safety creatures to the International Space Station Oncology ahead of its annual meeting device, roughly half of them in the implant for those who weren’t review by the Food and Drug Administration, said Zients. on Thursday, along with a plaque-fighting this weekend. The study was funded by US For those patients, the agency healthy enough for that procedure. The White House says the initial 25 million doses will be toothpaste experiment and powerful solar Novartis, the drug’s maker, which said US doctors should contact the The device helps strengthen one of panels. plans to seek approvals in the United company for the latest guidance on the heart’s lower chambers need- shipped from existing federal stockpiles of Pfizer, Moderna managing the device, which ed for adequate blood circulation. and Johnson & Johnson vaccines. More doses are expected The 7,300-pound (3,300-kilogram) ship- States and Europe later this year. ment — which also includes fresh lemons, includes managing blood pressure. Medtronic is one of the world’s to be made available to share in the months ahead. When cancer is confined to the pros- The FDA said Medtronic halted largest medical device and equip- onions, avocados and cherry tomatoes for tate, radiation can be beamed onto the The announcement came hours after WHO officials in the station’s seven astronauts — should sales after reviewing 100 reports of ment makers, selling thousands of Africa made a new plea for vaccine sharing because of an body or implanted in pellets. power failures with the device, implants used to treat heart, neuro- arrive Saturday. But those methods don’t work well alarming situation in Africa, where shipments have ground SpaceX’s Falcon rocket blasted into the which led to 14 patient deaths and logical and joint conditions. to “a near halt” while virus cases have spiked 20% over the hazy afternoon sky from Kennedy Space in more advanced prostate cancer. past two weeks. Center. The first-stage booster was new for a About 43,000 men in the United States each year are diagnosed with prostate the body. Herceptin. Mexican President Andrés Manuel López Obrador said change, landing on an offshore platform sev- Since the experimental drug targets Most patients in the study also had via Twitter that US Vice President Kamala Harris had eral minutes after liftoff so it can be recycled cancer that has spread and is no longer for a NASA astronaut flight this fall. responding to hormone-blocking treat- tumor cells, “that would be a first for tumors that were not fueled by the informed him before the White House announcement of the prostate cancer,” Lin said. hormones estrogen or progesterone. decision to send 1 million doses of the single jab Johnson & The Dragon cargo capsule — also brand ment. new — is delivering the first of three sets of The study tested a new way to get In the coming decade, such drugs Cancers not fueled by these two hor- Johnson vaccine. “I expressed to her our appreciation in the “will be a major thrust of cancer mones or by the gene Herceptin tar- name of the people of Mexico,” he wrote. high-tech solar panels designed to bolster radiation treatment to such patients. the space station’s aging power grid. It involved 831 men with advanced research,” said Dr. Charles Kunos, gets are called “triple negative.” They As part of its purchase agreements with drug manufactur- Astronauts will conduct two spacewalks prostate cancer. Two-thirds were given who worked on standards for radio- are especially hard to treat. ers, the US controlled the initial production by its domestic later this month to help install the two roll- the radiation drug and the rest served as pharmaceutical research at the The new study tested Lynparza in manufacturers. Pfizer and Moderna are only now starting to out panels alongside solar wings that have a comparison group. Patients got the National Cancer Institute before leav- 1,836 women and men with early- export vaccines produced in the US to overseas customers. been in continuous operation for 20 years. drug through an IV every six weeks, up ing to join University of Kentucky’s stage disease who were given the drug The US has hundreds of millions more doses on order, both More power will be needed to accom- to six times. Markey Cancer Center. “It will be the or placebo pills for one year after sur- of authorized and in-development vaccines. modate the growing number of ticket-buy- After about two years, those who next big wave of therapeutic develop- gery and chemotherapy. About 82% The White House also announced Thursday that it is lift- ing visitors, NASA’s space station program received the drug did better, on aver- ment.” of patients in the study had triple- ing restrictions on sharing supplies of vaccines produced by manager, Joel Montalbano, said age. The cancer was kept at bay for “There’s great potential” with drugs negative breast cancer. AstraZeneca, as well as Sanofi and Novavax, which are also Wednesday. being tested for melanoma and breast, Independent monitors advised The cargo includes samples of saliva and nearly nine months compared to about not authorized in the US, freeing more to be sent overseas. three months for the others. Survival pancreatic and other cancers, said Dr. releasing the results after seeing clear oral bacteria from dental patients that will benefit from Lynparza. After three Also: be treated with toothpaste and mouthwash was better too - about 15 months versus Mary-Ellen Taplin of Dana-Farber in an experiment aimed at keeping astro- 11 months. Cancer Institute in Boston, who years, 86% of patients on it were alive SACRAMENTO, Calif.: California is set to fully reopen in nauts’ teeth and gums healthy in space. The gain may not seem like much, enrolled patients in the study and without their cancer recurring com- less than two weeks and do away with virtually all mask and “There’s no guarantee that the Earth meth- but “these patients don’t have many reviewed the data. pared to 77% in the placebo group. social distancing requirements for vaccinated people, but The results suggest more patients ods will work in zero gravity,” researcher options,” said ASCO president Dr. Lori Also: those who regulate workplaces in the state aren’t ready to go Jeffrey Ebersole of the University of Nevada Pierce, a cancer radiation specialist at should get their tumors tested for that far and that has business groups upset. Las Vegas said in a statement. (AP) the University of Michigan. NEW YORK: A pill has been shown to BRCA mutations to help guide treat- The California Occupational Safety and Health Standards ❑ ❑ ❑ Radioactivity can reduce blood cell help keep certain early-stage, hard-to- ment decisions, said ASCO president Board on Thursday was considering new workplace rules production, which can lead to anemia treat breast cancers at bay after initial Dr. Lori Pierce, a cancer radiation that would only allow workers to go maskless if everyone in Mine-sniffing rat retires: After five and clotting problems for patients. In treatment in findings being reported specialist at the University of a room is fully vaccinated against the coronavirus. The rules years of sniffing out land mines and unex- the study, 53% of the patients had seri- early because they are so promising. Michigan. ploded ordnance in Cambodia, Magawa is Study results were released could remain in place into early next year even though coro- retiring. ous side effects compared to 38% of Serious side effects were not more navirus cases have fallen dramatically after a severe winter The African giant pouched rat has been patients in the comparison group. Both Thursday by the American Society of common with the drug. Other side spike and as more people are vaccinated. the most successful rodent trained and over- groups were allowed to get other treat- Clinical Oncology ahead of its annual effects included anemia, fatigue and Recent US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention seen by a Belgian nonprofit, APOPO, to ments. meeting and published in the New blood cell count abnormalities. guidance says that fully vaccinated people can now skip face find land mines and alert its human handlers The results pave the way for govern- England Journal of Medicine. Lynparza, which is marketed by coverings and distancing in nearly all situations, and the so the explosives can be safely removed. ment approval and will boost interest in The pill, called Lynparza, was AstraZeneca and Merck, is already state is set to follow that recommendation starting June 15. Magawa has cleared more than 141,000 radiation drugs, Lin said. found to help breast cancer patients sold in the United States and else- But the state safety board’s staff says conditions are dif- square meters (1.5 million square feet) of Others already in use include with harmful mutations live longer where for treating breast cancers that ferent among workers, leading to their proposed rule that land, the equivalent of some 20 soccer Novartis’ Lutathera for a rare type of without disease after their cancers had have widely spread and for treating even vaccinated employees remain masked unless everyone fields, sniffing out 71 land mines and 38 cancer of the stomach and gut. been treated with standard surgery and certain cancers of the ovaries, prostate else in their workspace is inoculated. items of unexploded ordnance, according to And Bayer’s Xofigo is approved for chemotherapy. and pancreas. It costs roughly $14,000 APOPO. men whose prostate cancer has spread It was studied in patients with muta- per month, though what patients pay Helen Cleary, director of the Phylmar Regulatory And for the first time, it won a British Roundtable, a coalition of large businesses, said she was to the bone but not elsewhere. Xofigo tions in genes known as BRCA1 and out of pocket varies depending on charity’s top civilian award for animal brav- targets areas where the body is trying to BRCA2 that can predispose people to income, insurance and other factors. “astonished” that the staff didn’t align with guidelines from ery last year, an honor so far exclusively federal and state health officials. repair bone loss from tumor damage, breast cancer if they don’t work prop- The study was supported by reserved for dogs. but it isn’t directly aimed at prostate erly, but who did not have a gene flaw AstraZeneca and the National Cancer The proposed rules would “create two classes of people” “Although still in good health, he has in the workplace, she told the board. Moreover, “there are reached a retirement age and is clearly start- cancer cells wherever they may be in that can be targeted by the drug Institute. conflicting messages in the proposed amendments and there ing to slow down,” APOPO said. “It is is a lack of scientific evidence for them.” time.” The California Chamber of Commerce also is upset. While many rodents can be trained to detect scents and will work at repetitive “If you are fully vaccinated, (under CDC recommenda- son will see even more deforestation of The data comes as President Jair tasks for food rewards, APOPO decided Brazil’s Amazon than last year’s surge of tions) you don’t need to wear a mask inside or outside. That’s that African giant pouched rats were best Bolsonaro’s government faces heightened the science!” chamber President and CEO Allan Zaremberg cutting. scrutiny and skepticism regarding his recent suited to land mine clearance because their The area deforested in May, determined said in a statement. “Under these (proposed Cal/OSHA) rules, size allows them to walk across mine fields pledges to rein in deforestation, and as offi- workers’ freedoms will be controlled by their fellow workers without triggering the explosives - and do it based on satellite images, jumped 41% cials including his environment minister are decisions to get vaccinated, not by their own choices.” much more quickly than people. They also compared to the same month in 2020, under investigation for possibly facilitating That sets up “an inconsistent standard” between members live up to eight years. (AP) according to daily alerts compiled by the the export of illegally cut timber. of the public and employees, the chamber and more than ❑ ❑ ❑ National Institute for Space Research’s A separate probe is investigating whether Deter monitoring system. five dozen other business organizations said in a letter to the Environment Minister Ricardo Salles Amazon deforestation ‘up’: Prel- That data is considered a reliable leading obstructed an operation to seize illegal tim- board. iminary government data released on Friday indicator for more complete calculations ber; he has denied wrongdoing in both has raised concern that the coming dry sea- released at year end. Bolsonaro Montalbano cases. (AP) Film SUNDAY, JUNE 6, 2021 FFeatureseatures Ohio who attendedhis 2017 concertin ing agirlhehad metonlineand faces criminalcharges regard- dren’s show“Drake&Josh” of thepopularNickelodeonchil- emy ofAmericanPoets. a programmanagedbytheAcad- reate arereceivingsupportfrom County South Carolina laureate of year.” (AP) the exceptionalcrisesofpast begin toprocessandrefl counties —whilewecollectively country —fromurbantorural with communitiesacrossourvast center poetryintheirengagement collaborate withotherartists,and as theycreatetheirownpoems, “We aredelightedtosupportthem also apoet,saidinstatement. of theMellonFoundationand Elizabeth Alexander range ofpublicpoetryprograms,” lows willleadanextraordinary Andrew W.MellonFoundation. in 2019throughagrantfromThe profi at least$100,000for14localnon- The program,whichalsoincludes divide themoneybetweenthem. and grants, exceptfor Poets, saidinastatement. of theAcademyAmerican president andexecutivedirector us forward,” will mostcertainlyhelpguide also theircommunity.Poets devoted totheirowncraftand humbled tofundpoetswhoare insight. Wearehonoredand continue tobeasourceof these pastfi which hasprovidedsuchcomfort COVID-19 restrictions,poetry, chusetts Michigan County. OthersarefromFlint, Aileen Cassinetto laureate Kari Gunter-Seymour Marcus include theCharleston-based local andstatelaureates.They than $1millioningrantsfor23 travaganza ishopingtomakeatriumphantcomebackwhenitrunsJuly very goodnews.” good news,”saidFremaux.“Ihopethefilmfestivalwillbesecond audience tomovietheatersinFranceandaroundtheworldwasfirst and partpeprallyforworldcinema. theater inParisalive-streamedeventthatwaspartpressconference tistic director,announcedtheCannes’lineupatUGCNormandie Dylan Penn,asaconman. and SeanPenn’s“FlagDay,”inwhichhestarsalongsidehisdaughter, to hisacclaimed“TheFloridaProject”;PaulVerhoeven’s“Benedetta”; including TimothéeChalamet;“RedRocket,”SeanBaker’sfollow-up originally settopremiereinCanneslastyearwithanensemblecast er andMarionCotillard;Anderson’s“TheFrenchDispatch,”afilm the festivalopener,“Annette,”byLeoxCaraxandstarringAdamDriv- July afterbeingcanceledlastyearbecauseofthepandemic. an in-person,summertimeeventthataimstomakeastirringreturnin Asghar Farhadi,MiaHansen-LøveandSeanPenn-forits74thedition, a lineupoffilmsfrombig-nameauteurs-includingWesAnderson, PARIS, June5,(A):TheCannesFilmFestivalonThursdayunveiled Cannes lineupfeatures Wes Anderson,SeanPenn,LeoxCarax CLEVELAND: NEW YORK: “These 23PoetsLaureateFel- Fellows will receive $50,000 Fellows willreceive$50,000 “As webeginemergingfrom The academyannouncedmore As cinema’spreeminentglobalstage,theannualFrenchRivieraex- “Cinema isnotdead.Theextraordinaryandtriumphantreturnofthe Pierre Lescure,presidentofthefestival,andThierryFrémaux,ar- Among thefilmsthatwillbecompetingforCannes’Palmed’Orare t organizations, was established t organizations,wasestablished M.L. Smoker whenshe was15. in

Angela Jackson , and Amaker Montana ; ❑ California fteen months,will Springfi Jennifer Benka From Elgin One ofthestars Melissa Kwasny , co-poets , co-poets , to , ofSanMateo Ohio , who will , whowill eld , , president , president Illinois Charleston San Mateo ect on , poetslau- , , laureate Massa- Illinois and . ,

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to commentfurther. Friedman courtroom,” Bell’s attorney harmful tojuveniles. nor chargeofdisseminatingmatter dangering childrenandamisdemea- to afelonychargeofattempteden- not guiltyinaClevelandcourtroom Annual FrenchRivieraextravaganzahopestomakeatriumphantcomeback Jared “Drake”Bell Bell was chargedbyinforma- “All factswillbe revealedina transparency. highlighted howbodycamscanoftenfallshortoffull Several recentfatalpoliceshootingsofBlackmenhave be accountableforanythingbeyondwhattheycansee. for example.Thethinkinggoesthatoffi eras aren’tinfraredsincepeoplecan’tseeinthedark, tive perspective,butanoffi cause theyaren’tdesignedatAxontocaptureanobjec- between imagesandreality.Heresidesinblindspots. lyzed videoreviewintennis.Hespecializesthegulf tation. His“30for30”short“SubjecttoReview”ana- into thehistoryandpoliticsofBaltimore’srodentinfes- race. Anthony’spreviousfeature“RatFilm”delved and justice,butastronomy,politics,phrenology of aseparate,pixelatedworld. of datamining,aninstrumentmeasurement,aframer from their19thcenturybeginnings,alwaysbeenatool “All Light,Everywhere”examineshowcamerashave, of Axonwithhistoricalandcontemporarydigressions, piqued Anthony’scuriosity.Interspersingaguidedtour ments. Thatthesamecompanycouldbemakingboth the dominantsupplierofbodycamstopolicedepart- of AxonEnterprise,manufacturertheTaserand ny’s investigationisalengthyvisitattheheadquarters cameras wornbypoliceoffi Friday, isostensiblyaboutahot-buttonissue:body framed. the lensesthroughwhichsomuchoflifeisincreasingly way itprobesandmeditatesonperspective,bias phrase “eye-opening”morethanmostmoviesforthe technology, thefi say aboutsurveillance,policingandthenatureofvideo “All Light,Everywhere,”details.Anexploratoryes- ing, asTheoAnthony’silluminatingdocumentary cameras andphotographyhavealwaysplayedarolein A In ‘AllLight,’lensesandlimitations In thefi Body camsmakeaparticularlycompellingcasebe- It’s anexplorationthattouchesnotjustonpolicing “All Light,Everywhere,”whichopenedintheaters Weaponry isbakedintothelanguageoffi Variety “shoots.” n imageis“captured.”Aflash“fires.”camera saidFriday,declining lm, thisisajumpingoffpointtosurveyhow This imagereleasedbySuperLTDshowsascenefromthedocumentary‘AllLight,Everywhere.’(AP) ,

34, pleaded 34, pleaded lm probablydeservestheoft-used By JakeCoyle Ian

cer’s viewpoint.Their cam- cers. ThespineofAntho- COVID-19 spursshutdownof‘MissionImpossible’set Film week offrenzieddeal-making,willbeheldvirtuallyinlateJune. in tandemwiththefestivalanddrawsmuchoffilmindustryfora makers maynotbeabletoattend.Themoviemarketthattypicalruns lations couldposecomplications.Fremauxacknowledgedsomefilm- to Cannes. - apotentialblowtotheBritishfilmindustrythatregularlydecamps a seven-dayquarantinefortravelersarrivingfromtheUnitedKingdom opens. ConcernoveranewvirusstrainledFrancelastweektoinstitute capacity limitationswillberemovedjustfivedaysbeforethefestival fold justasFranceisreopeningandlooseningrestrictions.Audience But theCannesprogram,whileperhapslackingaHollywoodtitle For suchaninternationalfestivalasCannes,manyothertravelregu- Still, therearemanyquestionsleadinguptoaCannesthatwillun- mkrBell Amaker not kissoneanother,”saidFremaux. traditional pageantry. of thePalaisdesFestivalswillresumeinfull,butwithtweaksto tive COVID-19test.Cannes’famedredcarpetleadinguptothestairs theaters andrequiredtoshowproofoffullvaccinationorarecentnega- will bedifferentatthisyear’sfestival.Attendeesmaskedinside 6-17 -twomonthslaterthanitsusualMayperch.Butmanythings “We’re usedtokissingoneanotheratthetopofstairs.Wewill cers shouldn’t cers lmmak- 94th Oscars,whichwillbeheldonMarch27,2022,the released in2022. the coronaviruspandemictookhold,isscheduledtobe than 6.5feet)awayfromotherswillbefi not followingtherulestostayatleast2meters(more loid, Cruisecanbeheardwarningthatanyonecaught social distancingrules.InaudioreleasedbytheSuntab- ter hereportedlyspottedtwocrewmembersviolating rant atcolleaguesonthe“Mission:Impossible”set,af- the situation.” lowing allsafetyprotocolsandwillcontinuetomonitor mount spokespersonsaidinastatement.“Wearefol- coronavirus testresultsduringroutinetesting,”aPara- sion: Impossible7’untilJune14th,duetopositive someone testedpositiveforcoronavirus. Cruise ily shutdownproductionontheBritishsetof last yearalongwiththerestoffi LOS ANGELES: LONDON: In December,Cruiselaunchedanexpletive-laden The companyprovidednofurtherdetails. “We havetemporarilyhaltedproductionon‘Mis- The fi Restriction Running time:109minutes.Threestarsoutoffour. rated bytheMotionPictureAssociationofAmerica. can ultimatelyonlycomefrommultipleperspectives. iemaking) waslargelyleftout-tosuggestthatanytruth fi along withalateexplanationaboutwhyonepartofthe variety ofnarratorsandoccasionalfootagehimself- Anthony treatshisdocumentarylikeacollage,using similar technologybuttowardmuchdifferentends. help policetheirneighborhoods. use of“God’seyeview”surveillancefromtheskyto meeting ofBlackBaltimoreansskepticallydebatingthe er. Onelengthy,probingscenecapturesacommunity classifying criminalityandinconveyingpoliticalpow- lm (monthsspentwithBaltimoreteenslearning mov- “All LightEverywhere,”aSuperLTDrelease,isn’t “All Light,Everywhere”was,ofcourse,madewith ’s seventh“Mission:Impossible”fi lm, whichpausedproductionformonthsearly Paramount PicturesonThursdaytemporar- prompting aninvestigation. there contactedCleveland police, police inOctober 2018.Police fi Michael O’Malley for CuyahogaCountyProsecutor pear beforeajudgeonJune23. reached. Heisscheduledtoap- a pleaagreementhasbeen tion, whichtypicallyindicates led acomplaintwith Canadian Tyler Sinclair Planningisalreadyunderwayforthe ❑ Also: , spokesperson , saidthegirl lm industrywhen red. l after lm ing harmful materialcharge Sinclair said.The disseminat- several yearsprior totheconcert, veloped arelationship” online tim. Hedidn’telaboratefurther. created ariskofharmtothevic- “violated hisdutyofcare”and concert, Sinclairsaid,whereBell children chargerelatestothe Bell andthegirlhad “de- The attemptedendangering 13-year-old forthepremiereofMartinScorsese’s“TaxiDriver.” ary PalmewillbegiventoJodieFoster,whofirstcameCannesasa person toeverheadtheCannesjury.Atopeningceremony,anhonor- preside overthejuryselectingPalmed’Orwinner.He’sfirstBlack and theOliverStonedocumentary“JFK:ThroughLookingGlass.” mentary “TheVelvetUnderground”;TomMcCarthy’s“Stillwater”; “Cannes Premiere”are:AndreaArnold’s“Cow”;ToddHaynes’docu- have bendedtheatricalrulesduringthepandemic,Canneshasnot. Netflix. ThoughothermovieinstitutionsliketheAcademyAwards doesn’t haveatheatricalreleaseinFrance,leadingtoanimpassewith Ildikó Enyedi. Wasikowska, TimRothandVickyKrieps)Hungarianfilmmaker cludes newfilmsfromMiaHansen-Løve(“BergmanIsland,”with percentage butonethattiesthefestival’sprevioustopmark.Thatin- ethakul (“Memoria,”starringTildaSwinton). ners JacquesAudiard(“Paris13thDistrict”)andApichatpongWeeras- Palme), waspraisedastop-class.ItincludesformerPalmed’Orwin- wood” (anentryin2019,whenBongJoonHo’s“Parasite”wonthe as anticipatedQuentinTarantino’s“OnceUponaTimeinHolly- Tom Spike Lee, who debuted “Do the Right Thing” at Cannes in 1989, will Spike Lee,whodebuted“DotheRightThing”atCannesin1989,will Among thestandoutsplayingoutofcompetition,orinCannes’new Cannes haspreviouslyrefusedtoplayincompetitionanyfilmthat Four ofthe24filmsincompetitionaredirectedbywomen,alow puts iton.(AP) wood ForeignPressAssociation,theorganizationthat controversies andcallsforreformwithintheHolly- that itwouldnotairtheGoldenGlobesin2022amid some oftheOscarsthunder.NBCsaidearlierthisyear Globes, whichgenerallyairinearlyJanuary,stealing cord lowaudiencesaswell. viewers) andGrammyAwards(9.2million)hadre- awards show:BoththeGoldenGlobes(6.9million picture. Itwasparforthecourseapandemic viewers tuningintowatch“Nomadland”winbest than halfofitspreviouslow,withonly9.85million at LosAngeles’UnionStationinlateApril,wasless 2022 OlympicsandtheSuperBowl. is alsocrowdedwithmajorliveevents,includingthe the 94theditionwassettoaironFeb27,butthatmonth usual forHollywood’sbiggestawardsshow.Originally ing orvideoondemandservices. have atheatricalruntoqualifyandcandebutonstream- season. Thatmeansthatfi ity caveattheyadoptedlastyearintothe2021awards pandemic andareextendingthestreamingeligibil- that themoviebusinessisstillbeingimpactedby ject tochange.Theorganizationisalsoacknowledging Feb. 8. held onMarch7.Nominationswillbeannounced ernors AwardssetforJan15andtheluncheontobe mings arenowbackontheschedule,withGov- Luncheon becauseofthepandemic.Allthosetrim- events liketheGovernorsAwardsandNominees ity windowintoFebruaryandcancelednon-televised year. window willonceagaincloseattheendofcalendar Dolby TheatreforitsABCbroadcastandtheeligibility back tobusinessasusual.Theshowwillreturnthe ically lowratings,theAcademyAwardsaregetting fi lm academyandABChavesaidrecently. And nextyearwillbedifferentwithouttheGolden The audienceforthe93rdOscars,whichwereheld The endofMarchbroadcastdateismuchlaterthan The academysaid,however,thatdatesremainsub- This pastyear,theacademyextendedeligibil- After ayearofdisruption,innovationandcatastroph- September 2007.(Agencies) 2004. Thefi debuted onthechannel inJanuary and later“Drake& Josh,”which elodeon’s “TheAmanda Show” stardom asateenwithNick- as achild,butwascatapultedto messages,” Sinclairsaid. girl “inappropriatesocialmedia concerns Bellhavingsentthe Bell, also a singer, began acting Bell, alsoasinger,beganacting lms don’tnecessarilyhaveto nal episode aired in nal episodeairedin ARAB TIMES, SUNDAY, JUNE 6, 2021 NEWS/FEATURES 13

People & Places

Television

‘Nobody can do it’ Voice of Jeopardy! keeps going at 92

LOS ANGELES, June 5, (AP): Johnny Gilbert, who decided to stick with “Jeopardy!” after Alex Trebek’s death, faced the wrenching question once again as production for next season neared. This time it would mean adjusting to the quiz show’s yet-to-be-named host, as opposed to the succession of celebrities who have been fi lling in since Trebek suc- cumbed to pancreatic cancer last November. “It’s not easy for me because I worked with Alex for 37 years, and I never thought of anybody replacing him,” he said. “Nobody can do it like he did it, you know.” No one does it like Gilbert either, who at age 92 has decided he’s not ready to call it quits on the show busi- ness career he began pursuing as a teenager. Last year, when he was re- luctant to continue after losing his admired and longtime col- league, others with the show urged Gilbert to consider his role as a comforting touchstone for viewers who also were in mourning for Trebek. “If you just listen to the way Johnny articulates each name, each word, he has a voice and Gilbert even more importantly, de- livery, unlike anyone else,” said Mike Richards, the show’s executive producer. Without Trebek, “the fact we can still rely on Johnny is obviously very impor- tant to us as well.” “This is ‘Jeopardy!’” is Gilbert’s richly booming introduction that opens each episode and belies his years. In turn, he’s acknowledged with thanks from the host and, occasionally, has been shown at an oth- erwise off-camera stage perch. This photo provided by Crowded House shows Neil Finn of the band Crowded House performing at a concert in Auckland, New Zealand, April 24, 2021. (AP) During the pandemic, he’s been taping his contri- butions remotely from the Los Angeles-area home he shares with his wife, Sheree Gilbert. They’ve been together for several more years than his “Jeopardy!” stint, the sort of marital and career longevity that’s rare in Hollywood. Music Born near Roanoke, Virginia, and raised in the coastal city of Newport News, Gilbert had something different in mind when he fi rst dreamed of being an entertainer - singing - and his parents supported their Chloe x Halle, H.E.R. part of Apple Music Juneteenth playlist only child’s aspirations. “I started taking voice lessons when I was still in high school, got a job with a little band and traveled around in that area for a while,” he said. “That was the beginning of it all.” Finn revives Crowded House Impressive NEW YORK, June 5, (AP): Touring anyone else on the planet,” Finn said. It has left them eager to play more. A winding path followed, one with bumps and by- as a member of Fleetwood Mac in Liam, a guitarist, and Elroy, a drum- Finn’s time with Fleetwood Mac, ways that included military service, but Gilbert wasn’t 2018-19 made Neil Finn appreciate the mer, have their own independent mu- where he and Tom Petty’s former to be deterred. His advantages, besides an impressive memorable band in his own history. sic careers and have also worked with guitarist, Mike Campbell, replaced vocal range: determination and a willingness to adapt Two years later, Finn has brought Neil before on projects, minimizing Lindsey Buckingham, was “a glorious to the work at hand. that group, Crowded House, back to life any awkwardness that comes from be- experience because I didn’t expect it. He was 18 when a newspaper want-ad for a band with his sons Liam and Elroy, producer ing in a band with dad. “It’s good to be cast in a different singer sent him to Jacksonville, Florida. Turned out Mitchell Froom and original bass player The new Crowded House started re- role and not be the frontman for a the act had already hit the road but instead of back- Nick Seymour. A new album, “Dream- cording new music in a Los Angeles change,” he said. “I really wanted to do tracking home, he searched out a local talent manager. In this 2014 image provided by Jeopar- ers Are Waiting,” arrives Friday. studio, but the COVID-19 lockdown a good job of playing and representing A club on the outskirts of town was looking for an dy Productions, Inc., shows announcer “There’s a sense of occasion at- forced them to abandon the session someone else’s music. It was good for emcee, the manager told Gilbert, who had to admit he Johnny Gilbert, (left), and game show tached to that band, in my head, I sup- before fi nishing. “Dreamers Are Wait- me. It is a sometimes very insular and host Alex Trebek appear on the set pose,” Finn, 63, said on a video call ing” was completed remotely. not always healthy experience to be was unfamiliar with the term. Master of ceremonies, of ‘Jeopardy!’ Gilbert worked with explained the manager, who was undaunted when Gil- Trebek for 37 years and was reluctant from his native New Zealand. “We were forced by circumstances obsessed with your own music.” bert said he had no experience. to continue after losing his admired col- “Coming off of Fleetwood Mac, to throw things in the air and reassem- Any future with Fleetwood Mac, “He taught me how to introduce people on the stage league. But others with the show urged when we surprisingly had the opportu- ble them,” Finn said. such as recording new material, was nity to be part of a great, classic band, left open-ended, he said. and take them off the stage,” he recalled. He got the him to consider his role as a comforting Reintroduce job and the opportunity to sing with the club band, a touchstone for viewers who also were it reminded me of the gravitas and hon- “It’s a big mountain to move to get gig that lasted for about six weeks and set the pattern in mourning. (AP) or that comes with that,” the singer and They chose the energetic cuts “Playing everyone in the same frame of mind for his fl edgling career. songwriter said. “In the audience there with Fire” and “Whatever You Want” to at the same time,” he said. “There’s a It was America in the 1950s, dotted with nightclubs were young people who had grown up make videos and reintroduce Crowded lot of work that goes into going from, and supper clubs, and Gilbert made the most of the with the songs, and were singing them House to the world, although the album’s ‘Yeah, that would be fun,’ to actually opportunities. He started in the South and worked “my as if they were just as current today as heart is arguably revealed in a more moody making it happen.” way all across the country,” he said. they were 30 years ago.” middle, with songs “Start of Something” The draft interrupted his career but not his stage One singalong included in the set and “Too Good for This World.” Also: work: Gilbert’s talent was noticed and he was as- was Finn’s “Don’t Dream It’s Over,” “Each of the fi ve persons has deep NEW YORK: Artists including Chloe x signed to a US Army special services entertainment from the 1987 Crowded House debut connections to the origins of the band Halle, Black Thought of the Roots and unit in Germany. that also produced the hit “Something but are also brimming with ideas for H.E.R. have recorded songs honoring He was back on the nightclub circuit post-service So Strong.” how good it possibly could be,” he Juneteenth for Apple Music. when an agent suggested to a delighted Gilbert that Crowded House never matched that said. “That feels like a really good Some artists recorded cover songs, he give television a try. He started in New York with early success in the United States but place for a band to be.” while others composed new tracks for game shows including “Music Bingo,” then moved to remained popular worldwide with The new Crowded House has also the exclusive “Juneteenth 2021 Freedom LA to host “Beat the Odds” and back again to New Hilderbrand Bailey songs like “Better Be Home Soon,” been able to experience something few Songs” playlist, which launches Friday on York as work dictated. “Weather With You” and “Distant other musical acts have over the past the streaming platform. It comes about two Among his many other TV credits are “The Joker’s Sun.” They called it quits with a fare- 15 months - an honest-to-goodness weeks ahead of the annual holiday, also Wild,” Dinah Shore’s talk show “Dinah!” and “The well concert outside the Sydney Opera concert tour before packed arenas. known as Emancipation Day and Freedom $25,000 Pyramid.” Then the syndicated version of Variety House in 1996 that drew a crowd esti- They played a dozen gigs in New Zea- Day, that commemorates when the last former network series “Jeopardy!” beckoned in 1984, mated around 200,000 people. land, where the smaller, island country enslaved African Americans learned they with both co-creator Merv Griffi n and Trebek in his The band reconvened twice in the was able to open things up more swift- were free on June 19. corner, Gilbert said. NEW YORK: Elin Hilderbrand has 2000s with Matt Sherrod replacing ly than elsewhere in the world. The 20-song playlist also features “So 37 years ago, Merv hired me to be the announc- asked that a reference to Anne Frank in original drummer Paul Hester, who At fi rst, the band and audience country singers Kane Brown and er on a show called ‘Jeopardy!’ for 13 weeks,” he said. her new novel be taken out after numer- died in 2005. members stared at each other, stunned. Jimmie Allen, gospel performer Kirk Gilbert expressed reservations about whether the ous online readers alleged the passage Finn said Seymour and his sons were Maybe it was a year without live mu- Franklin, Panamanian singer Sech Sony Pictures Television series would bring him back was insensitive and anti-Semitic. enthusiastic when he suggested trying sic, but it felt like fi ve. and rappers D Smoke and Saba. when taping resumes in late July or early August for “In a fl ashback scene in Elin Hilder- again. Froom, who produced Crowded “We were determined to make the H.E.R. covers Marvin Gaye’s “In- season 38. He’s served as warm-up host for the studio brand’s novel ‘Golden Girl,’ the main House’s fi rst three albums, turned Finn most of it,” Finn said. “We weren’t ner City Blues (Make Me Wanna Hol- audience as well as the show’s announcer. character Vivi compares herself to Anne down when he asked him to join in the late going to slip into that slightly errant ler),” Chloe x Halle takes on TLC’s “I’m not as young as I used to be,” Gilbert said. But Frank,” publisher, Little, Brown and 1980s because he was pursuing a produc- behavior you get on tour - ‘Oh, where “Waterfalls” and Franklin re-works there is a tradition of longevity in the fi eld, including Company, announced Friday. “We are ing career. This time he was onboard. are we tonight?’ You can allow a little the classic gospel protest song “We the late Don Pardo of “Saturday Night Live.” He was removing this passage from the digital edition of the book immediately, and “These three people have more to thing going wrong to spoil your whole Shall Overcome” to create “Overcome the show’s voice for 38 seasons until his 2014 retire- do with Crowded House, understand night. We couldn’t afford to. We had 2021” for the playlist. Black Thought, ment at age 96. from all future print editions.” In “Golden Girl,” Vivi and her friend the ethos, the humor and the music, 12 shows. We had to get over what D Smoke, Sech, Saba and Hit-Boy “Jeopardy!” producer Richards, who’d stepped in and have a natural intuition for it than went wrong instantly.” produced original tracks. as the show’s fi rst fi ll-in host, quickly brushed aside Savannah are talking about staying in the notion that Gilbert’s tenure was in anyone’s hands the attic of Savannah’s home and wheth- er Savannah’s parents would approve. but his own. “You’re suggesting I hide here all “Johnny will be the announcer of ‘Jeopardy!’ as In a legal career that lasted more than as bold, brilliant, meticulous and tireless Bailey said an in interview with US summer?” Vivi says, then cites the girl four decades, Bailey was seen as ar- in the defense of his clients. News and World Report in September long as he would like to be the announcer of ‘Jeop- who with her family hid in an Amster- ardy!’” Richards said. “I have told him that, and it’s rogant, egocentric and contemptuous of “The legal profession is a business 1981. “Few people who are not strong dam attic from the Nazis but was eventu- egotistically gravitate to it.” just how he is, humble. He’s never taken the job for ally captured and died in a concentration authority. But he was also acknowledged with a tremendous collection of egos,” granted.” Some of Bailey’s other high-profi le camp. “Like ... like Anne Frank?” clients included Dr Samuel Sheppard — Also: Hilderbrand is known for such best- accused of killing his wife — and Capt Er- sellers as “The Identicals” and “Summer LOS ANGELES: CBS is reviving its hit “CSI: Crime nest Medina, charged in connection with of ‘69,” in which one character is reading the My Lai massacre during the Vietnam Scene Investigation” brand with a series that brings “The Diary of Anne Frank.” Responding War. “I have never known a greater intel- original cast members William Petersen and Jorja to complaints about “Golden Girl” on lect than that possessed by F. Lee Bailey,” Fox back home. Instagram, Hildebrand wrote that she had said J. Albert Johnson, Bailey’s longtime “CSI: Vegas” will debut this fall alongside the made a “poor choice, that was tasteless legal partner and childhood friend. network’s expansion of its “NCIS” and “FBI” drama and offensive.” Bailey, an avid pilot, best-selling author franchises, CBS said Wednesday in unveiling its She added: “Those of you who have and television show host, was a member 2021-22 schedule for advertisers and media. read Summer of ‘69 will realize Anne of the legal “dream team” that defended “NCIS: Hawai’i,” starring Vanessa Lachey, will be Frank was a courageous young woman Simpson, the former star NFL running paired Monday night with “NCIS,” entering its 19th whom I revere, and her story remains back and actor acquitted on charges that season with star Mark Harmon. “FBI: International” deeply infl uential in my life.” (AP) he killed his wife, Nicole Brown Simpson, will be bookended on Tuesday by family members ❑ ❑ ❑ and her friend, Ron Goldman, in 1995. Bailey was the most valuable member “FBI” and “FBI: Most Wanted.” WALTHAM, Mass: F. Lee Bailey, the Peterson and Fox’s characters, who were based of the team, Simpson said in a 1996 story celebrity attorney who defended O.J. in The Boston Globe Magazine. in Las Vegas in the original 2000-2015 “CSI” that Simpson, Patricia Hearst and the al- spawned a trio of spinoffs, will join ranks with a new “He was able to simplify everything leged Boston Strangler, but whose legal and identify what the most vital parts of team of forensic crime-busters led by Paula Newsome career halted when he was disbarred in (“Chicago Med”). the case were,” Simpson said. “Lee laid two states, has died, a former colleague down what the case’s strategy was, what “We’re very excited to have three new franchise has said. He was 87. was going to be important and what was shows come on, which we know are going to help The death was confi rmed Thursday not. I thought he had an amazing grasp of the schedule everywhere” they’re placed, said Kelly by Peter Horstmann, who worked with what was going to be the most important Kahl, president of CBS Entertainment. Bailey as an associate in the same law Jon Bon Jovi performs at the fifth annual Love Rocks NYC concert to benefit parts of the case, and that turned out to offi ce for seven years. God’s Love We Deliver at the Beacon Theatre on June 3, in New York. (AP) be true.” (AP) ARAB TIMES, SUNDAY, JUNE 6, 2021 SPORTS 14 Red Sox beat Yanks, stop slide in Bronx Padres blank Mets US ‘rout’ Canada to move NEW YORK, June 5, (AP): Rafael Devers hit a three- within a win of qualifying run homer in the first in- WEST PALM BEACH, Fla., June the fourth off U.S. starter Homer Bai- ning off Michael King, 5, (AP): The United States moved ley, who allowed four hits in 3 1/3 in- Marwin González added within a win of qualifying for the nings. a two-run double and the Olympic baseball tournament, routing Williams homered for a 2-1 lead Boston Red Sox beat the Canada 10-1 in a game that included a in the fi fth off loser Chris Leroux, a 30-minute delay 37-year-old left-hander whose last ma- New York Yankees 5-2 in in the eighth in- jor league appearance was in 2014. Le- the first of the rivals’ 19 ning when a ball roux allowed four runs - three earned - meetings this season. initially called a and three hits in 4 1/3 innings. two-run homer Alvarez’s triple boosted the lead in Former Yankee Nathan Eovaldi was changed to the sixth. (7-2) won his third straight start, an RBI double. and the Red Sox stopped their 11- Phillies pros- game losing streak in the Bronx, pect Luke Wil- BASEBALL winning at Yankee Stadium for the liams had a solo first time since June 2, 2019. homer and a With the score 2-1 in the eighth New York lost for the eighth time in two-run double, and Logan Forsythe on fi rst follow- 11 games. Yankees hitters struck out falling a triple Williams ing a leadoff walk, Red Sox prospect 15 times. short of a cycle. Triston Casas hit a drive that struck Brewers 5, Diamondbacks 1 Todd Frazier hit a two-run homer the padding atop the right-center In Milwaukee, Freddy Peralta car- that capped a seven-run eighth, and fi eld wall and bounced off a tempo- ried a no-hitter into the eighth inning former Olympic speed skater Eddy rary wall behind and stuck, allowing on his 25th birthday and Milwaukee Alvarez had an RBI triple. right fi elder Jesse Hodges to retrieve defeated Arizona. Boston Red Sox’s Marwin Gonzalez, (right), hits a two-run double during the sixth inning of a baseball game Drew Parrish, a 23-year-old right- the ball. Peralta, Brad Boxberger and Trevor against the New York Yankees, on June 4, in New York. (AP) hander in the Royals organization, Initially ruled a home run by sec- Richards combined on a one-hitter. Per- won by pitching two scoreless innings ond base umpire Rubén Ramos of alta (6-1) struck out nine, walked three of two-hit relief. Puerto Rico, umpires held a video re- and allowed one run in 7 1/3 innings. Seattle prospect Eric Filia hit an view and plate umpire Elvin Jiménez Padres 2, Mets 0 Fouts leads Alabama past UCLA in WCWS RBI single in the third, but Detroit of Venezuela signaled for a double prospect Jacob Robson homered in but allowed Forsythe to score. In San Diego, Blake Snell took a no- OKLAHOMA CITY, June 5, (AP): Blades of Southern Mississippi in opened the inning by striking out hitter into the seventh inning, Manny Montana Fouts threw a perfect game 2000. U.S. Olympians Bubba Nickles and Machado hit an early homer and San with 14 strikeouts, and Alabama de- Rachel Garcia swinging. UCLA’s fi- Mike Mayers pitched a perfect ninth Giants 8, Cubs 5 for his 10th save. Diego beat the Mets. feated UCLA 6-0 to advance to the SOFTBALL nal batter, Aaliyah Jordan, flied out In San Francisco, Steven Duggar semifi nals of the Women’s College deep to left field. Athletics 9, Rockies 5 and Alex Dickerson homered off Jake BASEBALL World Series. Third-seeded Alabama (52-7) In Denver, Sean Murphy and Matt Arrieta as part of a six-run second in- There had been four individual per- The Alabama section of the crowd, ran its win streak to 20 games. The Canha homered off Jon Gray before ning, and San Francisco beat Chicago. fect games and one combined in World and even a fair number of UCLA Crimson Tide need one more win to the Rockies right-hander left with el- Jason Vosler and LaMonte Wade Jr. Snell (2-2) struck out 10 and pitched Series history before Fouts’ gem. fans, stood as Fouts took the circle reach the best-of-three champion- bow soreness, and Oakland beat Colo- added back-to-back shots in the fourth, into the seventh inning for the fi rst time The most recent was by Courtney in the bottom of the seventh. She ship series. rado. helping the Giants to their second con- this season. Francisco Lindor ended Murphy had three hits and three secutive victory over the Cubs. San his no-hit bid with a single leading off RBIs for Oakland, which has won sev- Francisco has won eight of 10. Kris the seventh - a ball left fi elder Tommy Pirates 9, Marlins 2 Royals 14, Twins 5 ed the evening for Matt Shoemaker (2- en of 10 road games and improved to Bryant hit his 13th home run for Chi- Pham misplayed for a two-base error. In Pittsburgh, rookie Ke’Bryan In Kansas City, Mo., Whit Merrifi eld 7). He retired just one batter, allowing Hayes homered for the second game capped a nine-run fi rst inning with a six hits and two walks. 17-8 away from home. cago. Joc Pederson also connected. Orioles 3, Indians 1 in a row since being activated from the three-run homer and Kansas City beat Reds 6, Cardinals 4 In Baltimore, Ryan Mountcastle hit injured list and drove in three runs to Minnesota for its fi fth straight win. In St. Louis, Luis Castillo earned his a go-ahead home run in the seventh in- lead Pittsburgh over Miami. Merrifi eld started the big burst with fi rst victory since early April, rookies MLB Results/Standings ning that was upheld by video review Hayes hit a two-run home run in the a leadoff single and his home run end- Tyler Stephenson and Jonathan India and Baltimore kept up its June winning fi rst and an RBI single during a fi ve-run homered and Cincinnati beat St. Louis. streak, defeating Cleveland. sixth. NL hits leader Adam Frazier had Castillo (2-8) allowed one run and three The Orioles have won their fi rst two hits, two RBIs and three runs scored hits with fi ve strikeouts over six innings. WASHINGTON, June 5, (AP): Results and standings from the MLB games on Friday. three games this month after dropping for Pittsburgh. Hayes, Bryan Reynolds Michael Feliz picked up his fi rst save. Boston 5 NY Yankees 2 Washington 2 Philadelphia 1 14 in a row to end May. Baltimore’s and Erik Gonzalez also had two hits each. winning string matches its longest of White Sox 9, Tigers 8 Baltimore 3 Cleveland 1 Pittsburgh 9 Miami 2 the season. Rangers 5, Rays 4 In Chicago, rookie Yermín Mer- Houston 13 Toronto 1 Milwaukee 5 Arizona 1 cedes hit a game-ending RBI single, Texas 5 Tampa Bay 4 LA Dodgers 9 Atlanta 5 Nationals 2, Phillies 1 In Arlington, Texas, Kyle Gibson Kansas City 14 Minnesota 5 Cincinnati 6 St Louis 4 returned from the injured list to pitch 5 Yasmani Grandal homered twice and Chic. White Sox 9 Detroit 8 San Francisco 8 Chicago Cubs 5 In Philadelphia, Max Scherzer out- Chicago beat Detroit to put Hall of LA Angels 3 Seattle 2 San Diego 2 NY Mets 0 pitched Zack Wheeler, Juan Soto hit a 1/3 scoreless innings, and Texas ended Oakland 9 Colorado 5 a nine-game losing streak with a win Fame manager Tony La Russa in a tie tiebreaking solo homer and Washing- with John McGraw for second place American League National League ton beat Philadelphia. over Tampa Bay. East Division East Division Joey Gallo hit in his 10th homer and on baseball’s career wins list. W L Pct GB W L Pct GB Scherzer (5-4) struck out nine in 7 The White Sox came out on top after 2/3 dominant innings, allowing one Charlie Culberson drove in a run with Tampa Bay 36 23 .610 _ New York 27 23 .540 _ a squeeze bunt for the Rangers, who blowing a fi ve-run lead and gave the Boston 34 23 .596 1 Atlanta 26 29 .473 3-1/2 run on fi ve hits. The three-time Cy 76-year-old La Russa career victory No. New York 31 27 .534 4-1/2 Philadelphia 26 30 .464 4 Young Award winner lowered his were back home after the nine losses 2,763. He has a long way to go to catch Toronto 29 26 .527 5 Washington 24 30 .444 5 in a row for the longest winless road Baltimore 20 37 .351 15 Miami 24 32 .429 6 ERA to 2.22 with his seventh straight Connie Mack, who won 3,731 games. Central Division Central Division start yielding two runs or less. trip in team history. W L Pct GB W L Pct GB Angels 3, Mariners 2 Chicago 35 22 .614 _ Chicago 32 25 .561 _ Astros 13, Blue Jays 1 Dodgers 9, Braves 5 In Los Angeles, Shohei Ohtani Cleveland 30 25 .545 4 Milwaukee 31 26 .544 1 In Buffalo, N.Y., Zack Greinke In Atlanta, Chris Taylor hit a bases- pitched six innings of four-hit ball with Kansas City 29 26 .527 5 St Louis 31 27 .534 1-1/2 pitched his fi rst complete game since loaded double in the eight-run fi fth inning Detroit 23 34 .404 12 Cincinnati 26 29 .473 5 a season high-tying 10 strikeouts, and Minnesota 22 35 .386 13 Pittsburgh 22 34 .393 9-1/2 2017, Carlos Correa homered twice and Los Angeles beat Atlanta in a rematch José Rojas hit the go-ahead homer in West Division West Division and Martin Maldonado hit a grand of last year’s NL Championship Series. San Diego Padres starting pitcher the Angels’ victory over Seattle. W L Pct GB W L Pct GB slam, leading Houston over Toronto. Braves starter Ian Anderson (4-3) Blake Snell reacts after getting Justin Upton hit a two-run homer for Oakland 34 25 .576 _ San Francisco 36 21 .632 _ Houston 32 25 .561 1 San Diego 36 23 .610 1 Maldonado drove in fi ve runs and retired the fi rst nine batters he faced, the third out during the seventh in- the Angels, and closer Raisel Iglesias es- Seattle 29 30 .492 5 Los Angeles 34 23 .596 2 Aledmys Díaz also homered as Houston fi ve by strikeout, before allowing two ning of the team’s baseball game caped a bases-loaded, nobody-out jam in Los Angeles 26 31 .456 7 Colorado 23 35 .397 13-1/2 handed the Blue Jays their fi rst loss in three walks in the fourth. He began the un- against the New York Mets, on the eighth inning before fi nishing off the Texas 23 36 .390 11 Arizona 20 39 .339 17 games at their temporary home in Buffalo. ravel in the fi fth. June 4, in San Diego. (AP) second win of the season for Ohtani. ARAB TIMES, SUNDAY, JUNE 6, 2021 SPORTS 15

Highlanders pound Waratahs 59-23 Brumbies edge Hurricanes, Marchessault, Pacioretty strike scuttling Canes’ fi nal hopes CANBERRA, Australia, June 5, (AP): to stretch a tiring Brumbies defense. late as Knights edge Avalanche The ACT Brumbies upset the Welling- The Hurricanes moved the ball quickly ton-based Hurricanes 12-10 in Super from a tapped penalty and replacement Rugby trans-Tasman on Saturday, giv- prop Alex Fidow broke past the last ing Australian teams their second win defender to score. of the tournament and likely ending The on-fi eld referee awarded the try the Hurricanes’ pursuit of a place in but the television offi cial highlighted the fi nal. a fractional knock-on by Hurricanes In a dramatic fi nish, with the Brumb- captain Ardie Savea and the try was ies clinging to a two-point lead, a Hur- disallowed. ricanes try was disallowed because of The Hurricanes still had two chanc- a knock-on in the lead-up and fullback es to claim the match. They were Jordie Barrett missed two potentially awarded two late penalties but Barrett match-winning penalties. missed the fi rst from just over 50 me- The contentious decision to scrub ters in front of the posts and the second out a decisive try came in the 73rd from closer range but a wider angle. minute as the Hurricanes had begun The loss leaves the Hurricanes ma- rooned in fourth place, four points be- hind the Auckland-based Blues. The Leclerc claims ‘pole’ other fi nal place is now likely to go ei- ther to the Highlanders, who took a bo- for Azerbaijan GPrix nus point from an emphatic win over the New South Wales Waratahs earlier BAKU, Azerbaijan, June 5, Saturday, or New Zealand champions (AP): Charles Leclerc won his the Crusaders. second consecutive pole posi- “It’s a pretty tough pill to swal- tion, again under the red flag be- low tonight,” Savea said. “We knew cause a crash stopped qualifying, coming to Canberra was going to be to earn the top starting spot for a tough one, that the Brumbies boys the Azerbaijan Grand Prix. were going to bring it physically and Leclerc set his time of 1 min- they certainly did that. ute, 41.218 seconds early in Saturday’s third session. Cham- RUGBY pionship leader Max Verstappen and Lewis Hamilton were among the drivers just “We just missed out there in the end. starting their We’re pretty gutted to be honest but it late flying laps is what it is.” when Yuki The Hurricanes, who came in as Tsunoda hit favorites, found themselves mostly chasing the match. Brumbies scrum- the wall and half Ryan Lonergan scored the fi rst try then Leclerc’s in the 12th minute, putting the Hurri- teammate canes on the back foot as they chased a Carlos Sainz bonus point win which would have put Vegas Golden Knights center William Karlsson (71) scores around Colorado Avalanche defenseman Samuel Girard (49) during the second period in crashed right their fi nal place beyond doubt. Game 3 of an NHL hockey Stanley Cup second-round playoff series on June 4, in Las Vegas. (AP) behind Tsu- The Hurricanes hit back swiftly with Leclerc noda. a try to hooker Dane Coles and a pen- It brought an alty to Barrett which gave them a 10-7 Canadiens beat Jets to take a 2-0 series lead immediate end to the session and lead at halftime. put Leclerc on pole for the sec- But the Brumbies regained the ond consecutive grand prix. lead with Len Ikitau’s try in the 12th LAS VEGAS, June 5, (AP): Jonathan It was Leclerc who crashed his minute of the second half and the Hur- Marchessault and Max Pacioretty Ferrari to end qualifying at the ricanes were unable to fully bridge the Kuwait’s Olympic Committee Pres. ‘hails’ Monaco Grand Prix two weeks gap. They sought to play at pace and scored 45 seconds apart late in the ago, and even though he retained with ball in hand but were constantly third period to give the Vegas Golden Sheikh Jaber Al-Abdullah Tennis Complex frustrated by the physical and relent- Knights a 3-2 victory over the Colo- less nature of the Brumbies’ defense. “The boys dug deep there,” Brumb- rado Avalanche in Game 3 of the sec- KUWAIT CITY, June 5, (KUNA): Kuwait’s Olym- come easier for the Federation to host major MOTOR RACING pic Committee President, Sheikh Fahad Nasser continental and international tournaments, he ies captain Allan Alaalatoa said. “We ond-round series. Al-Sabah, praised the Sheikh Jaber Al-Abdullah added. his starting position at his home were just very grateful to get the win. William Karlsson also scored for Vegas and Al-Sabah International Tennis Complex and its For his part, the head of the Kuwait Tennis track, repairs to his car were not We gave them a few opportunities at Marc-Andre Fleury stopped 18 shots, includ- facilities comparable to the largest and most Federation, Sheikh Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah, completed in time and he did not the end there to win the game so there ing two point-blank saves inside the fi nal two prestigious complexes in the world. affi rmed that the establishment of this complex race. are ways we can get better.” minutes. In a press statement Saturday, and after his in partnership with the private sector embodies Tsunoda’s crash brought out Earlier, the Dunedin-based High- After the Avalanche won the first two games at visit to the new headquarters of the Kuwait Ten- the federation’s clear vision for the development landers scored nine tries in a 59-23 the fourth red flag of the quali- home, the Golden Knights cut Colorado’s series lead nis Federation, Sheikh Fahd Al-Sabah said that of the game. win over the Waratahs, consigning the to 2-1. Game 4 is for Sunday in Las Vegas. the great efforts of the Federation’s Board of Di- Sheikh Ahmed Al-Jaber praised the continu- fying session and stopped any Waratahs to a record 12th-straight loss rectors resulted in the establishment of this im- ous efforts made by the Kuwait Olympic Commit- With Vegas trailing 2-1, Marchessault whiffed on challenge to Leclerc. this season. portant complex, which has become one of the tee in overcoming all obstacles facing sports and Hamilton was .232 off the That matched the worst losing a shot but stayed with the puck and, from behind his most important Kuwaiti sports edifi ces. athletes in light of the joint cooperation between pace in second - a rebound after streak by an Australian team in Super own net, banked the puck off the back of Colorado With such high standard complex, it has be- sports bodies. Mercedes had struggled to match Rugby - the Melbourne Rebels lost goaltender Philipp Grubauer to tie it with 5:18 left. Red Bull and Ferrari in practice. 12 in a row between April 2011 and Pacioretty then deflected defenseman Nick Holden’s Verstappen took third, .113 back. March 2012. shot from the point past Grubauer. kick a loose puck off defenseman Alex Pietrangelo’s The lead would only last 1 minute, 29 seconds, as shot to his backhand and fire it by Grubauer to give Fleury failed to catch a shot by former Vegas team- Vegas its first lead of the series. mate Pierre-Edouard Bellemare, leaving a live ICE HOCKEY rebound and wide-open net for Soderberg, who at 35 years and 235 days, became the oldest player to score Carl Soderberg and Mikko Rantanen scored for a playoff goal for the Avalanche since Joe Sakic in Colorado. Grubauer, who dropped to 6-1 this post- Game 3 of the 2008 conference quarterfinals. season, made 39 saves. He had won his previous 10 Canadiens 1, Jets 0 playoff decisions dating to last season. In Winnepeg, Manitoba, Carey Price made 30 Back in their own arena and in front of an announced saves for his eighth career playoff shutout and sold-out crowd of 17,504, Vegas fed off the energy Montreal beat Winnipeg to take a 2-0 series lead. and dominated the first period by outshooting the Tyler Toffoli scored a short-handed goal 1:41 into Avalanche 15-3 and had a 6-0 edge with high-danger the second period. chances. It was a major turnaround for a Vegas team Connor Hellebuyck made 23 saves for Winnipeg. that was outscored 10-3 in the first two games. The Jets were without suspended scoring leader Mark The Golden Knights were able to completely neu- Scheifele. He was suspended for four games for tralize Colorado’s speedy top line of Nathan charging into Canadiens forward Jake Evans in the MacKinnon, Gabriel Landeskog, and Mikko final minute of Montreal’s 5-3 victory Wednesday. Rantanen, which has combined for 36 points and a Pierre-Luc Dubois centered Winnipeg’s top line plus-22 rating through seven games this postseason. with Kyle Connor on the left and captain Blake They also controlled the neutral zone much better, Winnipeg Jets’ Kyle Connor (81) chases Montre- Wheeler on the other side. Jets center Paul Stastny making it difficult for the Avalanche to build speed al Canadiens’ Cole Caufi eld (22) during the sec- missed his second game of the series because an and create rushes. ond period of Game 2 of an NHL hockey Stanley undisclosed injury. Vegas continued to feed off the energy, as Karlsson Cup second-round playoff series, on June 4, in Game 3 is Sunday night in Montreal, with Game 4 Simone Biles competes on the uneven bars during the U.S. Gymnastics sent the fans into a wild frenzy when he was able to Winnipeg, Manitoba. (AP) set for Monday night. Championships, on June 4, in Fort Worth, Texas. (AP) Chiles continues remarkable rise Lynx hold off Dream 86-84 Biles in control once again at US Gymnastics Championships Loyd hits 3-pointer at OT FORT WORTH, Texas, June 5, (AP): Looks like I’m not mad at today’s meet at all.” “It just felt really good to be back out there be- the rust is gone for Simone Biles. Well, almost. While Biles is basically running a systems check cause I feel like people kind of counting me out a The reigning Olympic and world gymnastics as she attempts to become the fi rst woman in more little bit because I was only doing bars and beam for buzzer, Storm pip Wings champion put on a dazzling show at the U.S. Cham- than 50 years to repeat as Olympic champion, the a little bit,” Lee said. “But I think better by Trials. I pionships, posting a score of 59.550 that makes her picture of who will join her in Tokyo is starting to think I’ll be back to 100 percent.” EVERETT, Washington, June 5, (AP): Tiffany Hayes led the Dream (4-3) seventh national title a practical certainty. come into focus. Jordan Chiles continued her remarkable rise. Her Jewell Loyd made a buzzer-beating with 23 points. The 24-year-old expressed a bit of frustration af- Sunisa Lee, competing on a balky ankle that’s confi dence seemingly growing with each rotation, 3-pointer in overtime to give the Seat- ❑ ❑ ❑ ter miscues on balance beam and uneven bars dur- forced her to walk with a noticeable limp any time Chiles is making a compelling case for an Olym- tle Storm a 105-102 victory over the Dallas Wings. Katherine Evans is joining the ing the U.S. Classic two weeks ago, her fi rst meet she’s not competing, started with a spectacular se- pic berth. The 20-year-old is third overall at 56.900 Washington Wizards as the fi rst ries on uneven bars - where she’s one of the best in fi nished in the top six in all four events, including Seattle’s Stephanie Talbot in- in more than 18 months. She certainly looked more bounded from the sideline with 0.8 woman to head the research or analyt- polished with the Olympic Trials in three weeks and the world - and hung in there the rest of the way. Her runner-up to Biles. ics department of an NBA franchise. score of 57.35 thrust her back into the conversation, Perhaps just as importantly, she found a way to seconds left and Loyd scored on the the Tokyo Games less than 50 days away. catch-and-shoot. Loyd scored 25 Monumental Basketball announced Wearing a leotard with the outline of a goat - a a conversation that seemed iffy after competing on survive a sometimes iffy balance beam set, a sign the hire, saying just two events last month. of just how far she’s come since she started training points on 8-of-11 shooting, includ- nod to her status as the Greatest of All Time - on ing 4 of 6 from 3-point range, and Evans would her right shoulder, Biles showcased why she’s in a Not so much anymore. With her father, John, alongside Biles two years ago. oversee its re- watching from the stands for the fi rst time since Jade Carey is fourth, followed by Wong, Kara had seven assists for the Storm (7- class all her own, even on a night when she chose to 1). Breanna Stewart added 23 points, search depart- keep her latest possibility-pushing innovation under being partially paralyzed in the summer of 2019, Eaker and Emma Malabuyo. Kayla DiCello, com- ment, support- Lee looked every bit the gymnast who is among the ing off a steady third at Classic, came off both bars nine rebounds and five assists. Tal- wraps. bot scored 21 points. ing the Wizards, Biles wowed in Indianapolis last month when she world’s best when she’s at her best. and beam and fi nds herself in ninth. the WNBA’s became the fi rst woman to complete a Yurchenko Washington double-pike vault in competition. She landed it in BASKETBALL Mystics, the G practice Wednesday but opted to go with a pair of League’s Capi- vaults with lower diffi culty instead. She drilled her The Wings (2-5) erased 10-point tal City Go-Go Cheng and took a pretty sizable step after landing defi cits in the third and fourth quar- Collier and Wizards her Amanar but still had little trouble posting the ters. Satou Sabally had a basket with District Gam- highest score - 15.800 - of the night. 7.9 seconds left in regulation that was ing. Her new title is vice president of initially ruled a 3-pointer, giving Dal- research and information systems. GYMNASTICS las a 97-96 lead, but was changed to “Dr. Evans is an exceptional tal- a two-point basket after video review. ent with a true passion for the game Neither team led by more than two of basketball and is widely respected She wasn’t done. Her uneven bars routine was points in the extra period until Loyd’s within the league and academic cir- largely mistake-free just two weeks after falling to winner. Allisha Gray gave the Wings a cles,” said Sashi Brown, Monumental the mat after failing to make a connection. Floor ex- 102-100 lead on a driving layup with Basketball’s chief planning and opera- ercise - a minute-plus showcase of the soaring athleti- two minutes left. Loyd tied it on a lay- tions offi cer. “She brings innovative cism that’s made Biles the rare gymnast with massive up with 38.7 seconds left. approaches and perspectives and will crossover appeal - continues to be an issue. Sort of. Marina Mabrey had 24 points for be a great leader of our research de- Biles tumbles with so much power that control is Dallas. Arike Ogunbowale added 22. partment, which is charged with iden- sometimes a problem. She stepped out three times, Lynx 86, Dream 84 tifying competitive advantages for all leaving her with a somewhat exasperated look on her In Minneapolis, Napheesa Collier of our athletes and our athlete care and face afterward. scored 26 points and made two free performance team.” Not that it mattered. Even with the mandatory throws with 1.5 seconds remaining in Evans previously was director of deductions, her 14.650 score was still nearly a half- Minnesota’s victory over Atlanta. strategic research for the Toronto point ahead of Leanne Wong’s 14.200. Courtney Williams’ 57-foot heave Raptors. She oversaw data sources “Tonight I feel like it was really good,” Biles said. slammed off the backboard to end it. to build a draft prospects database “It was defi nitely better than Classic. ... Floor could Kayla McBride added 17 for the and helped analyze methods and build have been a little bit better. I need to control my Dallas Wings center Charli Collier stretches for a defensive rebound in the fi rst quarter of a WNBA Lynx (2-4) in their second straight vic- models for player evaluation and on- adrenaline a little bit better going into my passes but basketball game against the Seattle Storm, on June 4, in Everett, Washington. (AP) tory. court strategy. ARAB TIMES, SUNDAY, JUNE 6, 2021 16

Spain’s Rafael Nadal serves to Britain’s Cameron Nor- rie during their third round match on day 7, of the French Open tennis tourna- ment at Roland Garros in Paris, France. (AP) Sports Latest sports scores at — http://sports.arabtimesonline.com Swiatek through to 4th round Familiar results at French Open as Rafael and Djokovic advance PARIS, June 5, (AP): Iga Swiatek closed out her latest French Swiatek, 20, has won 20 consecutive sets at Roland Garros, Open victory and raised a triumphant right fi st. Rafael Nadal and that streak was in jeopardy when she trailed Kontaveit won less than half an hour later and celebrated with a left 4-2. The title holder dominated from there and lost only 12 uppercut. points in the second set. The two defending champions make for a potent one-two The eighth-seeded Swiatek next faces 18-year-old Ukrain- combination at Roland Garros. Both won going away Satur- ian Marta Kostyuk, who has reached the round of 16 at a ma- day to reach the fourth round. jor event for the fi rst time. Sofi a Kenin advanced to the fourth round for the third TENNIS consecutive year by winning a seesaw all-American match against Jessica Pegula, 4-6, 6-1, 6-4. Kenin is the highest- seeded player left in the women’s draw at No. 4, and she has Swiatek rallied from a break down in the opening set to shaken a slump with her return to Roland Garros, where she beat Anett Kontaveit 7-6 (4), 6-0. Nadal wasn’t fazed to lose was the runner-up to Swiatek in October. serve twice in a row in the second set and he eliminated Cam- Top-seeded Djokovic didn’t face a break point en route eron Norrie 6-3, 6-3, 6-3. to a 6-1, 6-4, 6-1 victory over unseeded Ricardo Berankis. Nadal, 35, advanced to the round of 16 at a Grand Slam Two Italian 19-year-olds also advanced - Sinner and Lorenzo for the 50th time, and he’ll next play teenager Jannik Sin- Musetti. ner. The Spanish superstar is trying to add to his record 13 Kenin blew a 3-0 lead in the opening set against the No. French Open crowns and seeks his 21st major title, which 28-seeded Pegula, but then began stepping into the court to would break the men’s record he shares with Roger Federer. take charge of rallies, especially with a backhand that pro- Federer and Novak Djokovic are the only other men to duced two dozen winners. She hit 48 winners overall to 18 Kuwait’s Fahad Alhajri, (left), runs with the ball past Australia’s Martin Boyle during the World Cup 2022 Group B have reached the fourth round at 50 major events. for Pegula. qualifying soccer match between Kuwait and Australia in Kuwait City, Kuwait. (AP) UAE dominate Malaysia Kuwait ‘suffer’ home loss against Brazil win WC qualifi er Australia in World Cup qualifying KUWAIT CITY, June 5, (AP): The Socceroos previewed their fi rst match in 567 days with a simple message: We’re back. It took just 55 seconds for the Aus- tralians to start proving it. amid ‘drama’ off pitch After the coronavirus pandemic forced a 19-month delay in their World Cup Asian qualifying campaign, it took less than a minute for Mathew Leckie to head in the opening goal of a 3-0 win over Kuwait in Kuwait City. Jackson Irvine extended Australia’s lead midway through the fi rst half, fi ring home the rebound after Martin Boyle’s penalty miss. Eintracht Frankfurt’s Ad- jin Hrustic netted the third with a free kick in the 66th minute as Australia sealed a fi fth win in fi ve games.

SOCCER Lebanon’s Mohamad Kdouh, (left), fights for the ball against Sri Lanka’s Australia coach Graham Arnold as- Ahmed Waseem during their Asian sembled a squad of players from more zone Group H qualifying soccer match than a dozen leagues around the world for the FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022 at for their fi rst international match since Goyang stadium in Goyang, South Ko- November 2019, but said they settled rea. Lebanon won 3-2. (AP) quickly into the familiar pattern of be- scored so far with Argentina and be- ing with the Socceroos. hind only Cristiano Ronaldo’s 103 “I thought the energy was great,” goals for Portugal. Ali Daei of Iran is Arnold said. “It only takes a day to the all-time leading international scorer reconnect. They proved that tonight. with 109 goals. They played a very good game - should “We made a strong return to qualifi - make the country proud.” cation after a long break,” UAE coach Australia moved fi ve points ahead Bert Van Marwijk said. “We have to of Kuwait and Jordan in Group B with keep performing in the same way to three games remaining and can seal its achieve our goal of reaching the next place in the third round of qualifi cation stage.” with wins over Taiwan and Nepal next With Thailand and Indonesia play- week. Only the eight group winners are ing to a 2-2 draw, UAE moved second guaranteed a place in the next stage, in the group, two points behind leaders which starts in September, along with Vietnam with three games to play. the four best second-place teams. Iran, after losing their previous two Elsewhere in the second round of games in Group C, beat Hong Kong Asian qualifying, Ali Mabkhout of the 3-1 to keep alive their chances of a United Arab Emirates scored twice in third successive World Cup appear- a 4-0 win over Malaysia in Group G to ance. Goals from Ali Gholizadeh, Vahid become the second-highest active goal- Amiri and Karim Ansarifard secured the scorer in international soccer, above three points to keep Iran in third spot on Lionel Messi. nine points, two behind second-place Brazil’s Richarlison, (left), tries to score as Ecuador’s goalkeeper Alexander Dominguez defends during a qualifying soccer match for the FIFA World Cup The striker now has 73 goals for Iraq. Bahrain moved a point clear at the Qatar 2022 at Beira-Rio stadium in Porto Alegre, Brazil. (AP) his country, two more than Messi has top by thrashing Cambodia 8-0. Brazilians extend lead over Argentina Mavs miss another opportunity on home court SAO PAULO, June 5, (AP): team since Brazil agreed to host Copa Amid a possible player re- America. Team captain Casemiro sug- gested that the players don’t want to be Clippers force Game 7 in another road win volt, Brazil beat Ecuador at the tournament at home while Bra- 2-0 for their fi fth consecu- zilians are still dying in large numbers DALLAS, June 5, (AP): Kawhi Leon- to details, have faith, shooting the ball from COVID-19. More than 470,000 ard and the Los Angeles Clippers made with confi dence. If you do that, you tive match in South Ameri- Brazilians have died so far from the it an NBA-record six straight victories can live with the results.” Unique achievement: Minister can World Cup qualifying. coronavirus. for the road team in a playoff series. Luka Doncic scored 29 points but Brazil now lead the round-robin Copa America was originally sched- Now they have to fi gure out how to was just 2 of 9 from 3-point range as tournament with 15 points, four uled to be co-hosted by Colombia and beat Luka Doncic and the Dallas Mav- Al-Musallam elected FINA president ahead of second-place Argentina. Argentina. Colombia was forced to ericks at home in a Game 7 to avoid an- It appears all withdraw because of social unrest and other bitter postseason disappointment. BASKETBALL KUWAIT CITY, June 5, KUNA: ulated on Saturday Hussain Al- but certain Argentina last week declined to host Leonard tied his playoff career high Kuwait’s Information Minister Musallam on winning the world that Brazil the continental tournament because of with 45 points and the Clippers beat the LA defense turned up the pressure and Minister of State for Youth swimming body, FINA, presiden- a worsening of the pandemic. the Mavericks 104-97 on Friday night, in key moments and held Dallas to Abdulrahman Al-Mutairi congrat- cy elections. will qualify for Tite’s post-match news conference winning for the third time in front of a 29% shooting in the fourth quarter. one of the four Al-Musallam becomes the fi rst was highly anticipated after rumors raucous Dallas crowd more than three Asian representative to have ever direct South times bigger than any during the regu- American lar season. won the FINA hotseat since it was spots for Qatar SOCCER This time it was a tense fi nish keyed established in 1908. He previously 2022. by the two-time NBA Finals MVP competed for Kuwait at the World Gabriel Bar- swirled during the day that he could re- after double-digit LA victories in the Championships, Asian Games and bosa had a goal sign before Copa America begins. The fi rst two games in Dallas, and coming Pan-Arab Championships in the disallowed for Neymar coach avoided giving details of what is off the Clippers’ third straight loss at 1970s. offside in the to come, but did not rule out leaving home. fi rst half before Richarlison opened the job. “Great players perform in big mo- the scoring in the 65th minute with a On the eve of the match, Tite ad- ments,” Clippers coach Tyronn Lue SWIMMING powerful shot from close range. Ney- mitted that his players had discussed said. “It just shows you who Kawhi mar assisted on the fi rst goal and added with the president of the Brazilian Leonard is.” In a press release, Minister Al- the second from the spot in added time. soccer confederation whether or not Only one other seven-game series Mutairi described the achievement The penalty was awarded after a video they should play the continental tour- had started with fi ve straight victo- as “unique” to the history of Ku- review, which also allowed Brazil’s nament. A fi nal answer on the issue is ries by the road team. Now Leonard waiti sports, expressing his sincere No. 10 to take a second chance after expected after the match against Para- and Paul George get their fi rst chance being stopped by goalkeeper Alexan- guay on Tuesday. to eliminate the team they beat in six wishes that the new president’s ten- der Dominguez. “I am doing my job normally. I al- games in the fi rst round in the Florida ure be a successful one. Both goals were celebrated with ways do. I am at peace with myself,” playoff bubble last August. Game 7 is FINA is responsible for six main the entire team around coach Tite. All said Tite, who was wearing a mask dur- Sunday in Los Angeles. water sport events, including swim- players escorted Tite to the dressing ing the entire news conference. “My “Just another basketball game,” Los Angeles Clippers forward Kawhi Leonard (2) scores a basket as he is ming, diving, high diving, synchro- room after the match. adversities are very little in comparison Leonard said. “Like we say, if we defended by Dallas Mavericks guard Luka Doncic, (front right), in the fi rst half nised swimming, water polo and Drama has been brewing around with other people.” don’t want to go home, pay attention during Game 6 of an NBA basketball fi rst-round playoff series in Dallas. (AP) open water swimming.

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