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TUESDAY, APRIL 6, 2021 / SHABAAN 24, 1442 AH emergency number 112 NO. 17656 16 PAGES

After eight months of investigation, the Public Prosecution drops the case and ruled out the ‘suspicion of money laundering’ Public Prosecution Offi ce clears Boutiqaat from all allegations following an eight-month investigation ‘Boutiqaat’ ... Integrity

AFTER marathon investigations that lasted and its conformity with the main and subsidi- nearly eight months, the Public Prosecution ary records. Monday issued a decision to drop the case The company stated, “It has been confi rmed fi led against Boutiqaat Company, clearing it with certainty that all procedures and transac- The audit process included of the charges that were based on suspicions tions related to the company’s activities were The audit process included of money laundering, and affi rming that the in line with the law. all of the company’s budgets company’s activities have been conducted cor- After the control authorities in the country all contracts concluded with since its inception rectly and properly. affi rmed the integrity of our position and the celebrities and suppliers inside In a press statement, the Boutiqaat Company integrity and correctness of all our dealings, explained that the control authorities of the we will continue to work optimistically for and outside Kuwait Control authorities in- state audited the company’s budgets since its ensuring a better future for the company. We establishment; budgets that were endorsed by look forward to continue pleasing our custom- spected the buying and selling the largest audit companies in the world, The ers with the latest and best products and ser- Control authorities exam- Big Four accounting fi rms. vices, achieving new records, and realizing mechanism of more than three The audit process included inspection of the success in our online business”. ined shipments imported from million requests and verifi ed buying and selling mechanism from the point The company stressed its keenness to move abroad and their customs dec- when an order is made until the delivery and forward with the expansion of its business and the integrity collection of all sales, with the number of or- its plan to enter the global markets and con- larations ders exceeding three million. tinue serving its customers to the best possible The control authorities inspected all the con- manner. Control authorities ensured tracts concluded with suppliers both inside and It expressed its aspiration to continue its global Control authorities af- outside Kuwait, as well as the celebrities. They march as a pioneering company that placed Ku- all procedures and dealings also studied the shipments that were imported wait on the global e-commerce map. fi rmed integrity of Boutiqaat’s from abroad and their customs declarations. In conclusion, the Boutiqaat family extends were correctly initiated and They perused all the company’s sales and pay- its sincere appreciation and gratitude to its position and integrity and cor- properly engaged ment methods, as well as all of its bank ac- customers, partners, suppliers, employees, and rectness of all its dealings counts. everyone who have dealt with it for the trust Boutiqaat Company highlighted the visits they showed in the company, and to all those made by the control authorities to its head- who supported it and affi rmed its business in- quarters and warehouses to verify the stock tegrity. ARAB TIMES, TUESDAY, APRIL 6, 2021 2

Give and take … trial and error

The close, hands-on relationship between humans and date palms continues to this day. At the plant nurseries on the Fourth Ring Road, Abu Hamza is selling the spathes of the male date palm, to be used in hand pollination. Abu Hamza is originally from Ahvaz, a town in Khuzestan province in southwest Iran that‘s a traditional date

growing region. He stems Main picture: The fl ower bunches on our date palm after having been hand pollinated. Inset: The male date palm spathe after it has been opened and is ready to be used from a long line of date palm for pollination. Story and photos by Claudia Farkas Al Rashoud cultivators and for the last 25 Special to the Arab Times years has been offering his f all the plant species that have developed into an Date palms are either male or female, with the pod. Inside are many long, thin floral branches crowded Oagricultural crop during the course of human histo- male trees producing flowers with pollen and the fe- together. In spring, when the male flowers reach their ry, perhaps none is so intimately connected with people male trees producing only flowers. Since the flowers maturity, the spathes change color from green to a more services and expertise to date as the date palm. Archaeological evidence points to date have no scent the bees are not attracted to them and brownish shade and then split open. This is the time to cultivation in the Arabian Peninsula from the Bronze consequently play a very limited role in pollination, harvest them and use them for pollination. Age. There are those who claim that had the productive as is the case with other insects and the wind. If the Abu Hamza and other date palm cultivators at the palm owners in Kuwait. relationship between people and date palms not existed, male date palms do not grow in close proximity to nurseries offer their services for this job for a small fee. habitation and exploration of this hot, dry area would the females, natural pollination is very limited. That’s Since our house helpers have learned how to pollinate have been much more limited in ancient times. why Abu Hamza and a host of other date palm cultiva- date palms, we buy a spathe from Abu Hamza for one As the source of a non-perishable super food, shade, tors can be seen lined up outside the nurseries, selling dinar and take it home to do the pollination ourselves. and shelter, the date palm made life possible in the male spathes for hand pollination. We only have one date palm and it wasn’t planted harshest conditions. People also discovered how to make The origins of hand pollination extend far back into intentionally. Some years ago someone passing by our a wide variety of products used for agricultural produc- the mists of time. According to an online article titled house must have dropped a date stone in the corner tion and daily life from all parts of the tree. Ethnoecology of pollination and pollinators published in of our front garden. It sprouted and grew and we now ratios Had the date palm merely been left to grow unat- the Revue d’ethnoecologie, “the technique of hand pol- have a date palm about two meters high. Last summer it tended, without human attention, the crops it produces lination is documented through iconographic and textual produced a generous crop of red dates, probably of the would not be substantial. It was only through a long ex- sources, some of which date back to the third millennium khanezi or khasab variety, which are among the more perimental process that people learned what actions to B.C.E…. The Code of Hammurabl, the Babylonian law than 600 types of dates grown in the region. Out of these carry out in each season and in each stage of growth, so code of ancient Mesopotamia dating back to about 1754 many different kinds, however, there are usually just a that productivity increased. B.C.E.,…offers a consensual textual source for this prac- couple dozen varieties available in the local market. The close, hands-on relationship between humans tice, and we can ascertain that date palm pollination was Since our tree is not very tall it makes pollinating and date palms continues to this day. At the plant nurser- practiced in Mesopotamia as early as the Old Babylonian and later picking the dates an easy task, except for being ies on the Fourth Ring Road, Abu Hamza is selling the Period, 20th to 19th centuries B.C.E.” very careful not to get poked in the eye by the long sharp and spathes of the male date palm, to be used in hand pol- Under natural growing conditions, palm trees in palm fronds. To pollinate the female tree a few strands lination. Abu Hamza is originally from Ahvaz, a town in the wild would usually maintain an approximately of male flowers with pollen are cut from a freshly opened Khuzestan province equal number of male and female trees. Human cul- spathe and are placed lengthwise between the strands of in southwest Iran tivators adjusted this ratio when they learned that the female flowers. As they do this, working their way that‘s a traditional a single male palm can pollinate between forty to around the tree, the hands of our house helpers are soon date growing region. fifty female trees. covered in white sticky pollen dust. A long, thin strip of He stems from a long Mature male date palms can produce between five to palm frond is used to gently tie up each branch of female line of date palm cul- ten spathes each year while adult female palms can have flowers, securing the male flowers that have been placed relationships tivators and for the as many as twenty flower spathes annually. A Bahraini in the middle. last 25 years has been lady once told me that she grew up in a home with a Our date palm has ten flower spathes this year. Now offering his services garden filled with date palms. In spring, if spathes from that they have all been pollinated we just have to water and expertise to date male trees were plentiful, the children were given some the tree regularly. In summer, when the dates turn from palm owners in Kuwait. of the blossoms to eat and it was always considered a green and in this case to red, we will tie some netting “When it comes to date palms, for everything there is special treat. Date palm blossoms and pollen are also around them to protect them from the birds. When they a season,” says Abu Hamza. “There is a time to fertilize, used for traditional folk medicines among people in date have ripened we can enjoy nature’s bounty, the result a time for irrigation, a time to trim and a time to polli- growing regions. of a long and remarkably fruitful relationship between nate. Now is the season for pollination.” The male spathe looks something like a long seed- people and date palms.

editor’s choice ARAB TIMES, TUESDAY, APRIL 6, 2021 3

Weather Expected weather for the next moderate north westerly wind to Bubyan - - Prayer Timings 24 hours: light variable wind with speeds of Jahra 32 17 By Day: Rather hot with mod- 08-32 km/h and some scattered Failaka Island - - Fajr ...... 04:12 Asr ...... 15:23 erate freshening at times north clouds will appear. Salmiyah 26 20 Sunrise .. 05:32 Maghrib .. 18:08 Zohr ...... 11:51 Isha ...... 19:27 westerly wind with speeds of Station Max Exp Min Rec Ahmadi 25 19 15-40 km/h and some scattered Kuwait City 29 20 Nuwaisib 34 15 clouds will appear. Kuwait Airport 31 18 Wafra 30 19 By Night: Fair with light to Abdaly 32 14 Salmy 31 12

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

Mabanee Co scales 9 fi ls, YIACO Medical tumbles Kuwait bourse retreats in choppy session, volume swells By John Mathews Mabanee Co scaled 9 fi ls to settle at 700 fi ls. percent to 70 fi ls while NCCI climbed 9 pct Coast Investment gave up 2.5 fi ls. Arzan Fi- Arab Times Staff Commercial Bank shed 20 fi ls. to stand close behind. YIACO Medical skid- nancial Group climbed 4.3 fi ls to 105 fi ls and ■ UUS$/KDS$/KD 0.30215/250.30215/25 Zain fell 3 fi ls to 601 fi ls after pushing ded 19 percent, the steepest decliner of the day KMEFIC took in 1 fi l. KUWAIT CITY, April 5: Kuwait stocks head- over 2 million shares whereas Ooredoo gave and Arzan topped the volume with 47.6 mil- Gulf Investment House and Aayan Leasing ▼ Euro/KD 0.3549 ed south on Monday, snapping the four-day up 5 fi ls. stc eased 1 fi l to 948 fi ls and logis- lion shares. added 3 fi ls each while KAMCO trimmed 0.3 upswing. The All Shares Index dropped 14.87 tics major Agility retreated 3 fi ls to 735 fi ls. Refl ecting the day’s pullback, the losers fi ls. Bayan Investment eased 0.4 fi ls to 32.4 ■ Yen/KD 0.0027 pts in choppy trade to 5,821.09 points amid Humansoft Holding Co soared 60 fi ls to KD outnumbered the winners. 56 stocks advanced fi ls and KAMCO whittled down 0.2 fi ls. Noor profi t booking in some of the counters. 3.800 whereas Mezzan Holding paced 4 fi ls. whereas 64 closed lower. Of the 134 counters Financial Investment Co slipped 4 fi ls to 204 ▲ British £/KD 0.4188 The Premier Market slipped 11.27 points Boursa Kuwait Securities sprinted 10 fi ls to active on Monday, 14 closed fl at. 10.297 deals fi ls whereas Tamdeen Investment paced 6 fi ls. to 6,373.93 pts paring the month’s gains to 50 KD 1.151 whereas YIACO Medical tumbled worth KD 38.7 million were transacted during Kuwait Insurance Co sprinted 10 fi ls to 410 ■ Indian Rs/KD 0.0041 points while Main Market shed 23.83 points. 104 fi ls. the session. fi ls whereas Al Ahleia Insurance Co shed 9 The BK Main 50 skidded 31.11 points to National Industries Group was unchanged In the banking sector, National Bank of Ku- fi ls. Warba Insurance Co dialed down 2 fi ls ■ Philippines Peso/KD 0.0062 4,910.11 pts. The volume turnover meanwhile at 187 fi ls and Gulf Cable dialed down 2 fi ls. wait eased 1 fi l to 811 fi ls after moving 2.5 and Gulf Insurance Croup gained 4 fi ls. Salhia rose for fi fth straight session. Over 278 million Boubyan Petrochemical Co dipped 11 fi ls million shares and is down 29 fi ls year-to-date Real Estate darted 15 fi ls to 542 fi ls whereas shares changed hands – up 9 pct from the day to 834 fi ls whereas Al Qurain Petrochemical while Gulf Bank and Burgan Bank took in 1 fi l ▲ FTSE +23.67 pts at 13:40 hr, April 05 before. clipped 2 fi ls. Jazeera Airways stalled at 710 each to close at 219 fi ls and 221 fi ls respec- Tamdeen Investment slipped 7 fi ls. Kuwait Cement Co ticked 1 fi l up to 221 fi ls The sectors closed mostly in red turf. Utili- fi ls and ALAFCO too did not budge from its tively. Kuwait International Bank inched 1 fi l ▲ Nikkei ties outpaced the rest with 0.75 percent gain earlier close of 210 fi ls. Integrated Holding down to 202 fi ls. whereas Kuwait Portland Cement gave up 4 +235.25 pts at closing April 05 whereas Technology slid 3.62 percent, the tripped 1 fi l whereas Aznour took in 2 fi ls on Warba bank fell 2 fi ls to 237 fi ls while fi ls. Kuwait Foundry dashed 11 fi ls into green and Shuaiba Industrial shed 7 fi ls. Automated worst performer of the day. Financial Services back of 2.3 million shares. Ahli United Bank BSC erased 3 fi ls before ■ Gold 1715.85 per oz (London) topped in both volume and value with 160.5 The market opened fi rm and ticked up in settling at 205 fi ls. Al Ahli Bank of Kuwait Systems Co fell 3 fi ls to 80 fi ls and Educa- million shares traded for KD 14.74 million. early trade. The main market scaled the day’s and Ahli United Bank Kuwait dialed down 1 tional Holding skidded 15 fi ls. Burgan Well Among the day’s movers, Kuwait Invest- highest level of 5843 points and fl ipped as fi ls each. Drilling Co gave up 4 fi ls and United Projects ▼ NYMEX crude $60.16 per barrel ment Co trimmed last session’s robust gains selling dented the trading fl oor sentiment. It KIPCO was unchanged at 164 fi ls whereas Co scaled 7 fi ls. with 2 fi ls drop to 778 fi ls after trading 8.8 drifted sideways past the mid-session and bot- Kuwait Investment Co and Kuwait Financial The market has been mixed so far during ▼ Brent crude $63.46 per barrel million shares whereas Boubyan Bank was up tomed at 5,814 points in the fi nal minutes be- Centre (Markaz) clipped 2 fi ls each. Interna- the week adding 8 points in last two sessions. 3 fi ls at 611 fi ls. National Investment Co and fore clawing back some of the losses at close. tional Financial Advisors ticked 1 fi l higher to It has gained 45 points from start of the month LIBOR rate 0.19975% Imtiaz Investment Co added 3 fi ls each while Top gainer of the day, KFIC sprinted 9.38 113 fi ls on back of 2.3 million shares wheeas and is up 249 points year-to-date. PAM ensures safe working environs Many injuries, deaths reported

By Fares Al-Abdan Al-Seyassah Staff Medics benefi t KUWAIT CITY, April 5: The Public Authority for Manpow- Free snacks given er (PAM) said the authority will make some amendments KUWAIT CITY, April 5: Deputy Chairman of the Patients Helping to the decision that PAM has Fund Society (PHFS), Dr Adel issued prohibiting the renewal Al-Tawhid, said through the cafe- of work permit for those who terias affi liated to the society, lim- have reached the age of 60 and ited free meals are provided to the above within two weeks. nursing staff – doctors and nurses The Deputy Director-General for working in Ministry of Health Planning and Administrative Develop- hospitals in Kuwait, reports Al- ment at the Authority, Eman Al-Ansari, Seyassah daily. said on the sidelines of an inspection This initiative was a proposal tour in the Shuwaikh Industrial Area, from the Director of Al-Jahra that there are some amendments to Hospital, Dr Ali Al-Mutairi, who Photo by Bassam Abu Shanab the decision which will be announced emphasized the importance of Offi cials and inspectors from the Public Authority for Manpower visiting a shop in the Shuwaikh Industrial Area. The trip was to ensure if shopown- within two weeks, without revealing supporting the medical authority ers are following rules to maintain safety and environment protection. their details. while performing their night duty Al-Ansari said in a press statement in the hospital, which refl ects the on the sidelines of the inspection tour importance of cooperation with 2 kg marijuana seized on workers in the Shuwaikh Industrial district and hospital managers in Eight sites allocated Area, considered the most important the importance of providing logis- area in Kuwait, that it is part of our tical support to hospital workers plan to implement the requirements for in appreciation of their efforts and for workers housing Terminal 2 to get new scanners shops, workshops and factories from sacrifi ces. a technical point of view to ensure the Al-Tawhid said in a press state- By Abdel Nasser Al-Aslami KUWAIT CITY, April 5: The Kuwait they have selected are the most technically provision of a safe working environ- ment that the Patients Helping International Airport (KIA) will be advanced and are being installed in some Al-Seyassah Staff of the biggest airports across the globe.” ment for all workers and employers. Fund Society is one of its charity equipped with new scanners with latest She announced that, on a daily basis, KUWAIT CITY, April 5: Director-General of the Kuwait Mu- technology that will allow passengers to Airports worldwide are looking at new initiatives to provide a free meal nicipality, Engr Ahmad Al-Manfouhi has sent two letters to carry in their hand baggage electronic de- ways to increase the fl ow of passengers we receive no less than 10 cases in all (snack). It comprises of coffee, governorates, between severe, moderate the Chairman of the Municipal Council, Osama Al-Otaibi, re- vices and liquids, reports Al-Anba daily through terminals at a time when they chocolate or biscuits, and a bottle garding the allocation of eight sites in the Ahmadi Governorate quoting Arab news. are also struggling with new testing re- and minor injuries, and there are also to establish housing complexes for expatriate workers, fi ve deaths, wishing employers to apply the of water. The Smiths Detection said it won the quirements related to the corona virus It is provided free of charge to sites in the Al-Shuaiba Port and three in the Al-Shaddia area. pandemic. technical requirements. This is done in line with the decision of the Council of Min- contract to supply checkpoint security She confi rmed other areas also will doctors and nursing staff work- screening equipment for Kuwait’s new ❑ ❑ ❑ ing night shifts in hospitals after isters which has instructed the Kuwait Municipality to take be covered after the completion of Shu- all necessary measures to provide a suffi cient number of suit- International Airport Terminal 2, which 2 kg drugs seized: The Ministry of In- waikh Industrial Area, so that all places 06:00 pm to 06:00 am once for able sites for workers’ or to establish workers’ cities in urban is currently under construction. terior recently announced the arrest of an that have industrial works are covered. each every day throughout the and industrial areas for the benefi t of the Ministry of Finance The contract is for the supply and in- Arab man with two kilograms of mari- She explained that at the beginning curfew period. which is managing the state property so that it can be sold at stallation of 70 Hi-SCAN 6040 CTiX juana. of the worker recruitment to work in public auction to the private sector provided the housing com- computed tomography (CT) X-rays, the The ministry’s General Directorate of these technical professions, there must plexes are built within the specifi ed time frame according to US company said in a statement on Mon- Drug Control received information of the be comprehensive insurance for him, improving working conditions by im- the texts and procedures in force in this regard. day. The special envoy from the Municipality to Municipal person possessing the narcotics for the and this is one of the things to educate proving inspection services at the cen- Terminal 2, which is intended to be- purposes of using and dealing, the minis- tral and local levels. Council for Shuaiba Port said fi ve have been proposed to es- come an international transit hub, will workers and employers of the necessity tablish housing complexes, especially for expatriate workers, try’s security media and public relations of insurance in the event of the worker He added that the authority is work- and the area of each site to be 150,000 square meters in the have the ability to handle 25 million pas- department said in a statement. being injured. ing to spread the culture of occupational Shuaiba port area in the Ahmadi Governorate. sengers annually. A permission from the public prosecu- Acting Director of the National Cent- health and safety, increase the techni- As for the responses of the competent municipal administra- “Following on from the successful tion was obtained and the man was arrest- er for Occupational Health and Safety, cal ability and skill of health and safety tions, such as the Land Allocation Committee has given the ap- award of the hold baggage screening ed, while the quantity was confi scated, it Engineer Ali Al-Gharib, affi rmed that inspectors, and reduce the rates of ac- proval after the approval of the Department of Structural Plan, equipment last year, we are proud to be added. the center’s annual plan comes in re- cidents, injuries and occupational acci- Roads and Services and then a report will be submitted to the continuing this relationship with Kuwait The person admitted during investiga- sponse to the requirements of the au- dents related to work, to ensure a safe Municipal Council. International Airport,” said Jerome de tion, it noted. Therefore, the concerned thority’s strategic plan, which is based and sound work environment in all sites According to the proposal the buildings should be maxi- Chassey, regional vice-president. body will take legal measures against mum four fl oors (for residential purposes) and two fl oor for He went on to say, “The solutions that him. (KUNA) on ensuring decent work conditions and and facilities. services and commercial uses. ❑ ❑ ❑ Will remove obstacles: Al-Otaibi Smart Civil ID: The Public Authority for Civil Information (PACI) has requested to purchase the smart civil ID forms and card wrapping supplies suffi cient for 3 years, at a value of 16.7 million dinars, reports Al-Anba daily. Preparations for summer reviewed The sources stated 7.5 million cards will be supplied over the 3-year contract, at the rate of 2.5 million cards annually. By Muhammad Ghanem the ministry without problems in the The contract also includes the supply of an electronic chip electricity network. for the cards. PACI sources said, the authority has requested Al-Seyassah Staff many specifi cations in the supply process, including the high He stressed the need for the Minis- security specifi cations that make the card secure against tam- KUWAIT CITY, April 5: Minister of try’s technical sectors to adhere to work Electricity, Water and Renewable En- pering, forgery, or impersonation. schedules to face delays or problems in ❑ ❑ ❑ ergy, Minister of Social Affairs and maintenance contracts, calling for ena- Development, Dr. Masha’an Al-Otaibi, bling the national cadre to perform all ‘Ration’ foodstuff seized: The Public Security Sector, repre- met with undersecretaries and directors engineering and technical tasks in im- sented by the Jleeb Al-Shuyoukh District Command, in cooper- of the Ministry of Electricity and Water plementation of the replacement policy. ation with the Al-Farwaniya Municipality, carried out a security sectors, to review the Ministry’s prepa- Al-Otaibi thanked all workers in the crackdown on Al-Hassawi area, reports Al-Jarida daily. rations for the summer of 2021. The Ministry of Interior said in a statement the campaign re- Ministry’s sectors for their efforts for sulted in the lifting of a number of vehicles, and a large amount After discussing the plans set for next performing their job duties to secure of subsidized foodstuffs. summer, Minister Al-Otaibi affi rmed electricity and water services of the During the campaign one street vendor was arrested and his readiness to remove any obstacles highest quality. taken to the Jleeb Al-Shuyoukh Police Station. that may face the ministry during the For their part, heads of the technical The sources added all ministry sectors are involved in secu- coming summer season. sectors presented to Minister Al-Otai- rity campaigns throughout the country to arrest violators of the He said the ministry was able to by- bi visual presentations on the status of law and those wanted by the security authorities. pass the most diffi cult last summer power stations, production rates and Chairman of the committee tasked to evaluate the status of season despite the exceptional circum- expected consumption rates, as well domestic workers in Kuwait Bassam Al-Shammari revealed stances that the country went through that the Embassy of the Philippines has started receiving the as a visual presentation on the main- applications of the owners of new labor recruitment offi ces, due to the corona pandemic. tenance work that takes place on all reports Al-Qabas daily. He noted that the ministry next sum- sectors of electrical transmission net- Al-Shammari told the daily that approving applications for mer is facing another challenge, which works, distribution networks, and the all domestic labor recruitment offi ces in the country is an im- the ministry will overcome with the help sector of operation and maintenance portant step towards resumption of the recruitment of Filipino of God and the efforts of all sectors of of water networks. domestic workers after more than a year of suspension. ARAB TIMES, TUESDAY, APRIL 6, 2021 LOCAL 4 MoH okays ‘excellent’ bonus Service period starting from Jan 1 until Dec 31 last year

KUWAIT CITY, April 5: Minister of Health Sheikh Dr Basil Al-Sabah has authorized the Underse- cretary of the Ministry of Health Dr Mustafa Redha to disburse excellent per- formance bonuses to emp- loyees nominated by their KUNA photo direct leaders in the min- HH the Amir with Dr Al-Khatip. istry, reports Al-Anba HH Amir receives Dr Ahmad Al-Khatip daily. He approved the regulations His Highness the Amir Sheikh Dr Ahmad Mohammad Al-Khatip. for the disbursement of excellent Nawaf Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah (KUNA) performance bonuses, so that the received at Seif Palace on Monday service period of the employee nominated for the bonus is not less than a year starting from January 1, 2020 until December 31, 2020 within the Ministry of Health. According to the regulations, the employee must receive an “excel- lent” grade in the appraisal of 2020. The employee has not been subjected to disciplinary actions during the year 2020. The employee has not exceeded the period of sick leave beyond 15 days during the year 2020 except for hospitalization. The employee has been appointed based on the degree of the general salary scale or those who are appointed with salaries. The period of actual practice of the employee’s work during the calendar year is distributed over 70 Honoring of vocalist Saud Al Tainan. percent of the number of shift days for workers in this system, each according to the shift system to UAE organizes event which he is subject, and 180 actual work days for the rest of the other categories. The actual period of prac- Vocalist Al Tainan wins 4th place tice is calculated after excluding the period of interruption (suspension from work, secondment, sabbatical in ‘Mankous’ poetry competition of all kinds, missions and vacations of whatever type or duration, official KUWAIT CITY, April 5: Kuwaiti con- Dhabi, via the “Baynunah” and holidays, gathering and rest except testant and vocalist Saud Salem Al “Emirates” channels. Tainan won fourth place in the The program announced the list of for sick leaves during the hospitaliza- ‘Mankous’ poetry competition held in 18 participants through visual commu- tion period only). the United Arab Emirates organized by nication technology and the committee Informed health sources explained the Cultural and Heritage Festivals and held meetings to evaluate and choose that the Ministry of Health has allo- Programs Committee in Abu Dhabi. the best according to technical and crit- cated KD 11.5 million to pay excel- The Abu Dhabi Cultural and ical criteria, creativity of melody and lent performance bonuses. It will Heritage Festivals and Programs the beauty of the voice. start listing the names of those eligi- Management Committee announced Kuwaiti contestants included Salem ble for the bonuses, and is expected the start of broadcasting the live epi- Nasser Al Salem, Saud bin Salem Al to start disbursing them from mid- sodes of the Mankous program, from Tainan, Muhammad Al Amer, and Ramadan. the Al Raha Beach Theater in Abu Hadi bin Rab’a. Kuwaiti-funded Congratulatory letters sent village provides Kuwait’s Al-Ghanim hails success housing to 225 of Egypt’s Pharaoh Golden Parade Yemeni families KUWAIT CITY, April 5, (KUNA): Abdelwahab Abdelrazeq. ADEN, April 5, (KUNA): A resi- Kuwait’s National Assembly Speaker In the messages, he applauded the dential complex in Yemen, funded Marzouq Al-Ghanim congratulated his “scope of the preparations which made by Kuwaiti donations, was inaugu- Egyptian counterparts on the successful the event a success, illustrating Egypt’s rated in the Red Sea city of transportation of Royal Mummies, in commitment to its rich, ancient cultural Al-Khokha on Sunday, providing what was labelled the Pharaoh’s heritage.” housing for dozens of displaced Golden Parade. The Mummies were taken from the families. Al-Ghanim sent congratulatory let- Egyptian Museum in Cairo to the new A total 255 families will benefit ters on the occasion to Egypt’s House National Museum of Egyptian from the homes, which will replace of Representatives Speaker Hanafy El Civilization in Fustat in a lavish, tight- tents, protecting the displaced fami- Gebaly and Senate President ly-guarded spectacle. lies from the harsh cold weather and rains, as well as providing them with safety and security. CAPT opens technical bids of 4 The housing complex, includes a mosque, a school and a water well. The first phase, which is now com- ‘Companies bidding for S. Mutlaa plete, includes 104 housing units. Each home consists of two rooms, a courtyard and a bathroom. Project tender deemed incapable’ Speaking to KUNA at the opening ceremony, Al-Hodeida Governor KUWAIT CITY, April 5: A member Al-Hasan Taher expressed the grati- of the committee in charge of study- We appreciate Kuwait’s tude of his people for the initiative, ing tenders has officially addressed which came about thanks to the the concerned authorities to notify position: Jordan envoy donations provided by the Kuwait- about the inability of the companies KUWAIT CITY, April 5: The based charity, Al-Rahma applying for the execution of the Jordanian Ambassador Saqr International. South Mutlaa project, reports Al-Rai Abu Shatal in a statement to “This is further evidence of the daily. Al-Seyassah daily expressed noble humanitarian gestures of the The tender entails the implemen- his appreciation for the Arab State of Kuwait in supporting the tation of the construction, operation brotherly sentiments, Yemeni people,” he said. and maintenance of the South Kuwait’s quick stance, and the Meanwhile, three trucks loaded Mutlaa purification plant that will calls he received from senior with 60 tons of dates left Kuwait on serve the Mutlaa area, which is officials, Kuwaiti personali- Sunday for Yemen through Saudi under construction, at an estimated ties, and Arab and foreign Arabia to distribute dates on the cost of KD 175 million. The mem- ambassadors toward Jordan’s people of Yemen to mark advent of ber cited that these companies are leadership, government and holy month of Ramadan. technically or financially unable to people, wishing that security, The trucks, carrying 15,000 boxes implement it. safety and stability would pre- of dates, are part of Kuwait’s assis- Informed sources said, “After vail in all parts of the region, tance for the Yemeni people which closing the tender at its scheduled reports the daily. began since outbreak of the conflict date on January 19, the Central The Ambassador of the in the Arab country, Maha Al-Barjas, Agency for Public Tenders opened Kingdom of Bahrain to Secretary General of Kuwait Red only the technical, not financial, bids Kuwait, Salah Al-Maliki, Crescent Society (KRCS), said in a from four companies (Kuwaiti, called on his Jordanian coun- statement to KUNA. Turkish, Egyptian, and Chinese) pre- terpart, to express Bahrain’s She said KRCS would continue sented for study by the Ministry of position in which King Hamad its assistance with the aim of Public Works through a committee bin Isa Al Khalifa has assured improving living conditions of the formed under the chairmanship of full affirmation and full sup- Yemeni people as well as carrying port for all decisions and mea- the Assistant Undersecretary for sures taken by King Abdullah out development and medical proj- Sanitary Engineering Walid ects to alleviate their suffering. II bin Al Hussein to preserve Al-Ghanim with a number of spe- the security and stability of KRCS, said Al-Barjas, supported cialists as members.” hospitals, provided food and health Jordan. aid, as well as providing education They explained that the commit- For his part, Ambassador for orphans. tee, after studying the technical bids Abu Shatal expressed his of the companies applying for the appreciation and gratitude for tender, reviewed the general notes on this visit, which reflects the the tender documents and others for strength and durability of the each bid separately. The tender doc- distinguished fraternal rela- uments did not specify technical tions that bind the two broth- specifications for some stages of the erly countries, wishing the tender, including the triple process- Kingdom of Bahrain, the ing phase. King, the government and the They did not specify a guarantee people of Bahrain, continued period for the equipment and the security and prosperity. project. This contradicts the text of Article 39 of the tenders law No. 49/2016, in addition to a number of this vital project would delay the notes related to the bid of each com- process of housing citizens in the pany applying for the tender. Mutlaa area”. The sources said, “The committee They warned about the recurrence formed in the Ministry of Public of Sabah Al-Ahmad challenges, Works has not yet submitted its final which resulted from housing citizens report to the Central Agency for before completion of Umm Maha Al-Barjas Tenders. The delay in implementing Al-Hayman purification plant.” ARAB TIMES, TUESDAY, APRIL 6, 2021 LOCAL 5 REMEMBER WHEN

Local Architecture

As this house is demolished, the wind tower, or badgir as it a courtyard where a brackish water well or a freshwater cistern is locally called, is exposed. Wind entered from above and stood. In daytime, there would be plenty of sunshine through- Photograph courtesy passed through an outlet in the room below. This was the out the house. Invariably, a few stairs led to the roof, a much only way to cool the house in summer since fans were not preferred place for sleeping during hot summer nights. Close of The Center for Re- yet used in Kuwait. to the house stood the diwaniya, or men’s meeting place, with search and Studies on The architecture in old Kuwait is characterized by its suc- its private entrance and coffee-hearth in the center. It was cess in “transforming the local values and way of life into ar- there that the men of the house would entertain their guests. Kuwait and the work chitectural terms,” as stated by a contemporary architect of In nearby villages, however, houses were less sophisti- of Dr Yacoub Al- Kuwait. The Kuwaiti master builder, known locally as ustad, cated and blended beautifully with the surrounding environ- drew no plans on papers; he fi gured the proportions and made ment. Some were fi shermen’s homes; others, such as the Hijji in the book Old- the plan in his mind. His success, however, in using traditional romantic kubar, were retreats that belonged to city dwellers. Kuwait: Memories techniques with locally available materials such as mud, gyp- They resided there in the spring when the desert bloomed sum, coral and mangrove poles, is all too evident. after the winter rains. (From the book ‘Old Kuwait: Memo- in Photographs fi rst A house or a mosque in old Kuwait was always built around ries in Photographs’) published in 1996. Courtesy of The Center for Research and Studies on Kuwait

diwaniya A DIGEST OF PUBLIC OPINION ‘Qualified leadership, transparency vital for running govt institutions’ “IT IS no secret that one of the most important vital elements for the progress competent and qualified people -- qualified to manage the crisis, and here I are not accepted should know the reasons based on the principle of transparency of any institution is the element of qualified leadership – the leadership that would like to emphasize that we have been hearing complaints about ‘para- which is the shortest way to fight corruption at least in the area of appointments.” knows how to run the institution, how to face the crisis and how to lead the chute’ appointments but I want to point out that it is not necessary to appoint work team. Unfortunately, experience has shown that someone from within the institution, he can be from anywhere but what is Also: we in Kuwait lack this important element in most of our important is the ability which qualifies the person to be a senior official. “We have lost our values and our conditions are far worse with the change governmental institutions,” columnist Asrar Hayat “Here, I would like to commend the tests approved by the Civil Service of positions and it is sad to say everything has been turned upside down,” col- wrote for Al-Qabas daily. Commission to determine the eligibility for a person to take senior positions in umnist Waleed Al-Ahmad wrote for Al-Rai daily. “Today, the opportunity seems favorable to move more than one aspect including budget management, crisis management, lead- “A sheikh who is in senior position in the state talks about the need to reform towards change in choosing true competencies to lead ership skills and the proficiency in English language, and others, which are the country and uproot corruption by striking every corrupt person, charging our institutions and ministries, as we all know that the undoubtedly necessary skills for any leader, so that we at least know that he/ him/her with money laundering and referring him/her to the Public Prosecution. executive work in its precise details is based on the she holds the minimum qualification to lead an organization or sector. “A minister who swears by God Almighty to be loyal to the homeland and undersecretary and the assistant undersecretary in every “Today, while we are facing exceptional circumstances, in light of a health the Amir and to respect the Constitution and the laws of the country often ends state institution. For some time I have been following crisis, a potential economic crisis and the consequences of all that, we first need up filling his ministry with corrupt people from his group or movement, passes the news about appointments in senior positions in the to quickly accommodate these vacancies especially since news reports indicate the transactions which others had rejected and forget the oath he has taken. country and noticed that there are more than 60 vacant that for more than a year no one has been appointed in senior position espe- “A novice candidate filled with enthusiasm stands in front of his constituents positions of ‘Undersecretary’ and ‘Assistant Asrar Hayat cially since we have many development projects waiting to be implemented. snarling and threatening the government if it does not respect the Constitution, Undersecretary’, and those in charge of these positions are managed in the “It is of the utmost importance that we implement the principle of transpar- defend it and stop its corruption and will not have mercy on his interrogations capacity of ‘acting’. ency and benefit from the Right of Access Law. First, the community has the if he wins a seat in Parliament, and the first thing he does is participate in the “In light of the many vacancies, I see a favorable opportunity for the execu- right to know the qualifications of the leaders who are appointed, on the one by-election in violation of the law ”. tive authority and the ministers concerned to fill these senior positions with hand, and on the other hand the right of those applying for some of the jobs and — Compiled by Ahmad Al-Shazli ‘Give jobs to young Kuwaiti engineers’ Deal inked to tackle waste

By Fares Al-Abdan to accept all engineers who passed the Al-Seyassah Staff and Agencies tests. KUWAIT CITY, April 5: The President of In a message addressed to the CEO of the KPC, Al-Hajri said in light of the appetite of the corporation the Petroleum and Petrochemical Workers and its subsidiaries for important and vital new proj- Union, Muhammad Al-Hajri has called on ects, the company needs young Kuwaitis who are the Kuwait Petroleum Corporation (KPC) capable of operating and contributing to raising pro- duction and increasing operational efficiency in light of the Kuwaiti engi- neers passing the tests and the conditions for appointment. He pointed out that the KPC focus on the terms of employment announcement for the unemployed engi- neers to contribute to solv- ing the unemployment cri- sis afflicting the state. Al-Hajri called on the KPC to make a request for A delivery boy using a pedestrian bridge to cut distance. the employment budget through the Budgets and 63 delivery bikes impounded Final Account Committee of the National Assembly if According to a security source, the budget is the reason for not By Munif Nayef accepting these numbers, but Al-Seyassah Staff arrests came after the traffic investiga- tions officers spotted several motorcy- said, the KPC must assume The General Traffic Department (GTD) clists crossing the pedestrians crossing its responsibility to solve the said it has impounded 63 motorbikes the bridge with their vehicles in Riqqa unemployment crisis by belonging to restaurants and cafés. and Al-Ardhiya. accepting the graduates. The vehicles were seized after the rid- In addition to impounding the vehi- Kuwait Municipality ers were seen driving on the pedestrian cles, the riders have been issued cita- recently signed two memo- bridges and also for driving against the tions. The source indicated campaigns randums of cooperation flow of traffic, particularly those involved are continuing against all violators of with Kuwait Cement and in the home-delivery food service. traffic laws. Petroleum Chemical Industries for the manage- ment and recycling of waste Indian kills self; girl in suicide bid in order to protect the envi- ronment, reports Al-Qabas By Munif Nayef the incident police rushed to the spot and daily. Al-Seyassah Staff talked the girl out of her threat and referred Director of the her to the concerned authority. Municipality Ahmad KUWAIT CITY, April 5: An Indian com- ❑ ❑ ❑ Al-Manfouhi disclosed this mitted suicide by hanging inside the home will take effect from the Kuwaiti falls, dies: A Kuwaiti in his fif- of his sponsor in the the suburb of Qadsiya. date of signing the memo- When the Operations Room of the ties fell to his death from a high place inside randums which are valid for Ministry of Interior received a report on the his home in Shamiya, reports Al-Seyassah one year. He said such incident police and paramedics rushed to the daily. cooperation comes within spot and referred the corpse to Forensics. According to a security source, the man the framework of the Police are investigating the incident. was rushed a hospital, but he succumbed to Municipality’s endeavors Meanwhile, a 16-year-old Kuwaiti girl his injuries. and vision in implementing threatened to set fire to herself. She was His corpse has been referred to Forensics. a good and integrated holding a can of petrol in one hand and a gas Police are investigating the incident. mechanism for the manage- lighter in another. Meanwhile, the Salmiya Center for ment of waste including the She wanted to end her life because she Maritime Fire and Rescue Center rescued a collection, transportation, was allegedly ‘disciplined’ by her family on citizen after his water bike capsized in sea in disposal and treatment of a daily basis. After the Operations Room of front of the Al-Shaab Marine Club, reports waste in accordance with the Ministry of Interior received a report on Al-Seyassah daily. the regulations. ARAB TIMES, TUESDAY, APRIL 6, 2021 LOCAL 6 ‘Resume activities of nurseries’ Owners lament ‘return to normal’ exclusion

KUWAIT CITY, April 5: Own- In a press statement, they lamented people are tired of staying in their homes ers of nurseries have called on that their exclusion in the stages for for long periods of time, and it will be the Cabinet to set a date for their the plan for the return to normal life benefi cial for their education if they go return to work following the clo- doubles their losses, and increases out to their nurseries. A representative of the suffering of the parents of thou- the Kuwait Nurseries Association Hanan sure of activities for children for sands of children who are registered Al-Mudahaka said, “The fact that nurs- more than a year, reports Al-Qa- in these nurseries. eries are not included in the plan for the bas daily. They revealed that thousands of young return to normal life is surprising.” ARAB TIMES, TUESDAY, APRIL 6, 2021 INTERNATIONAL 7

Asia

Myanmar death toll mounts Indonesia landslides, fl oods kill at least 70 LEMBATA, Indonesia, April 5, (AP): Rescuers were ham- pered by damaged bridges and roads and a lack of heavy equip- ment Monday after torrential rains caused multiple disasters on remote eastern Indonesian islands as well as in East Timor. At least 70 people died and dozens are missing in Indone- sia, and 21 deaths were reported in East Timor. A tropical cy- clone causing the damage is expected to continue affecting the Southeast Asian nations for days while moving south toward Australia. Mud tumbled down from surrounding hills onto dozens of homes in Lamenele village shortly after midnight Sunday on Adonara island in East Nusa Tenggara province. Rescuers re- covered 38 bodies and at least fi ve people were injured, said Lenny Ola, who heads the local disaster agency. Flashfl oods killed at least 30 people elsewhere and at least 70 are missing in the province, accord- ing to the National Disaster Mitigation Agency. Severe fl ooding also has been reported in Bima, a town in the neigh- boring province of West Nusa Tengga- ra, killing two people and submerging nearly 10,000 houses. Relief efforts were hampered by power outages, blocked roads covered in thick mud and debris, as well as the remoteness of the area on an island that can only be reached by sea which is now surrounded by high waves, said Widodo the agency’s spokesperson, Raditya Jati. Photos released by the agency showed rescuers taking resi- dents to shelters. Residents inspect a damaged road following a fl ood in Dili, East Timor, Monday, April 5. Multiple disasters caused by torrential rains in eastern Indonesia and The bodies of three people were recovered after being swept neighboring East Timor have left a number of people dead or missing as rescuers were hampered by damaged bridges and roads and a lack of heavy equipment away by fl oods in Oyang Barang village, where 40 houses Monday. (AP) were also destroyed, Ola said. Hundreds of people fl ed their submerged homes, some of which were swept away by the fl oodwaters. In another village, Waiburak, three people were killed and America seven missing after overnight rains caused rivers to burst their banks, sending muddy water into large areas of East Flores district, Ola said. Four injured people were being treated at a local health clinic. The rains also caused solidifi ed lava to tumble down the 73pct Americans approve president’s handling of pandemic slopes of Ili Lewotolok volcano and hit several villages. That disaster on Lembata island killed at least 11, while at least 16 others were still buried under tons of the solid lava, Jati said. The lava was left after the volcano erupted in November. Biden’s big infrastructure plan hits blockade Affected WASHINGTON, April 5, (AP): Re- of Republicans. other infrastructure systems. publicans in Congress are making the Sen. Roy Blunt, R-Mo., a member Peppered in Kentucky with ques- Hundreds of people were still involved in the rescue ef- politically brazen bet that it’s more of Senate GOP leadership, said Sunday tions about money that could be po- forts on Monday. Ten districts and the provincial capital of advantageous to oppose President Joe a smaller package of about $615 bil- tentially fl owing for home-state road, Kupanng were affected by fl ashfl oods and a landslide that Biden’s ambitious rebuild America lion, or 30% of what Biden is propos- bridge and housing projects after the damaged fi ve bridges and several public facilities in East Nusa agenda than to lend support for the ing, could fi nd bipartisan backing from president unveiled his plan, McCo- Tenggara province, Jati said. costly $2.3 trillion undertaking for Republicans if the White House found nnell batted them back one by one. He said more than 950 houses were damaged, including roads, bridges and other infrastructure a way to pay for it without raising the Biden’s package “is not going to get dozens that were fl attened or swept away by fl oods and mud, investments. corporate tax rate. He pointed to poten- support from our side,” McConnell forcing 2,655 people to fl ee to government shelters. Much the way Republicans pro- tial user fees on drivers and others. said. President Joko Widodo said he ordered his Cabinet minis- vided no votes for the $1.9 trillion “There’s an easy win here,” Blunt Asked about the McConnell’s com- ters and the chiefs of the military, police and disaster agency to COVID-19 relief bill, they plan to sit said on “Fox News Sunday.” ment, Biden smiled Friday while carry out emergency response measures as quickly as possible. on the sidelines for this next big lift by Rather than shy from a new era of speaking to reporters at the White “I can feel the grief of our brothers and sisters there caused the White House, forcing Democrats big government, Democratic leaders in House and asked if the Republicans by these disasters,” Widodo said in a televised address, offer- Capitol Police investigate the scene, Friday, April 2, after a car crashed into to take full ownership of the massive Congress are embracing it, believing are arguing the country doesn’t need ing deep condolences to the victims. package of spending and corporate tax they can bypass the GOP blockade on the infrastructure - or if the Republi- In East Timor, 11 people were killed in the capital, Dili, and a barrier on Capitol Hill in Washing- ton. (AP) hikes that Biden wants approved over Capitol Hill and make the case directly cans “decide that we need it but they’re at least 10 bodies were recovered elsewhere in the tiny nation the summer. The tension could mount to Americans hungry for investments not going to pay for it?” as rains caused landslides and dams to overfl ow. “We are still this week as Biden shows no signs ad- in homes, communities and liveli- Biden also pressed whether Repub- searching for the areas impacted by the natural disasters” and justing to satisfy Republican leaders, hoods, especially as China and other licans are opposed to cleaning up lead the toll could rise, said Joaquim José Gusmão dos Reis Mar- rival countries make advancements. tins, the nation’s secretary of state for civil protection. instead appealing directly to their con- pipes in homes, schools and day care East Timor President Francisco Guterres Lu Olo offered his stituents for support. Projects centers. condolences to the victims and asked government offi cials to “I think the Republicans’ voters are “What do you think would happen if going to have a lot to say about wheth- House Speaker Nancy Pelosi com- they found out all the lead pipes were coordinate the response. pared Biden’s plan to the far-reaching Tropical Cyclone Seroja has produced high waves, strong er we get a lot of this done,” Biden told up at the Capitol?” Biden asked. reporters at the White House. aims of presidents before him - from At the same time, Democrats and winds and heavy rains for the past three days and its effects Thomas Jefferson’s efforts to build the are expected to last until Friday, said Dwikorita Karnawati, That leaves Biden and congressional Republicans will be faced with the Republicans on a collision course, the Erie Canal to Teddy Roosevelt’s de- politically diffi cult vote of raising cor- head of Indonesia’s Meteorology, Climatology, and Geophysi- signs on a national park system. cal Agency. outcome of which could defi ne the porate taxes to pay for all the spend- parties and his presidency. The GOP “Now, in this century, President ing, bucking the business community She warned that the cyclone could trigger waves up to 4 Biden is undertaking something in the meters (more than 13 feet) on Sumba, Flores and Rote islands strategy is reminiscent of the Obama- that is largely against Biden’s plan to Borissov Osmani-Sadriu era blockade that helped sour voters on tradition of thinking big,” Pelosi said permanently hike the rate corporations in East Nusa Tenggara province and up to 6 meters (19.6 feet) at a news conference. in the southern part of the province and in the Banda Sea and the Democratic president more than a pay from 21% to 28%. decade ago. Then and now Republi- Progressives want Biden to go even Both parties view it as an almost ex- Indian Ocean. bigger. Sen. Bernie Sanders, I-Vt., said Authorities were still collecting information about the full cans are intent on saddling Democrats istential battle over competing political News in Brief with responsibility for all the taxes and Sunday he expects more funding to views: The Democrats who believe in scale of casualties and damage in the affected areas, Jati said. combat climate change and is pushing Seasonal rains frequently cause fl ooding and landslides in spending to come, much as they did the power of government to take the the 2009 rescue after the economic to include his own proposal to expand lead solving the nation’s problems; the Indonesia, an archipelago of 17,000 islands where millions of UK arrests 100 in protests: British Medicare with dental, vision and hear- people live in mountainous areas or near fertile fl ood plains. police said Sunday that 107 people were crisis, framing it as government over- Republicans who put their faith in the Australian forecasters have warned residents in Western arrested in London during demonstrations reach that piles on debt. ing aid care for seniors. private sector to drive solutions. Australia state’s far north that the tropical cyclone was intensi- against government plans to increase po- Senate Republican leader Mitch “Now is the time to begin address- On Capitol Hill, it’s also a battle fying and moving toward them. lice powers. McConnell set the defi ning tone for his ing our physical infrastructure and our over which party will control Con- Seroja, or lotus fl ower, formed early Monday morning in Thousands marched in towns and cities party when he fl atly declared last week human infrastructure,” Sanders said on gress. Indonesian waters and was moving southwest, Australia’s Bu- across the country on Saturday to protest he will fi ght Biden’s agenda “every CNN. After Barack Obama was elected in reau of Meteorology said. It’s not expected to affect Australian the Police, Crime, Sentencing and Courts step of the way.” As Congress hunkers down to be- 2008, McConnell famously said his communities for the next 48 hours, but residents were urged to Bill, defying coronavirus restrictions. But it’s not at all certain the GOP gin drafting the legislation for Biden’s goal was to make him a one-term pres- monitor forecasts. Police said the “Kill the Bill” protests playbook that worked more than a proposal, both parties will be put the ident. This time around the Republican ❑ ❑ ❑ were mostly peaceful and most of those decade ago will produce the same po- test. leader appears to have a shorter-term taking part observed social distancing. litical gains this time around. Voters In the House, lawmakers will be in- goal at hand - he wants to win back the Security forces in central Myanmar opened fi re on anti-coup They said a small number of people were appear tired of the partisan stalemate vited to submit requests for projects in now evenly split 50-50 Senate. protesters on Saturday, killing at least two people according intent on causing disruptions, and that in Washington, live amid the country’s their home districts - roads and other “They’re so close to the majority in to local media. A human rights group said mounting violence those arrested committed alleged offenses run-down spots and signal they are ini- infrastructure that could be “earmarks” 2022, they can taste it,” said Alex Co- since the Feb. 1 military takeover has killed at least 550 civil- including violent disorder, assaulting po- tially supportive of Biden’s approach eligible for federal funds. It’s a way nant, a Republican strategist. ians. lice offi cers and breaches of coronavirus to governing, at least on the virus aid to entice bipartisan participation and Democrats have Senate control Of those, 46 were children, according to Myanmar’s Assis- legislation. package. ensure the funds are spent on agreed- because their party’s vice president, tance Association for Political Prisoners. Some 2,751 people The force said 10 offi cers had been in- Recent polling by The Associated upon needs. Kamala Harris, can cast a tie-breaking have been detained or sentenced, the group said. jured, though none of the injuries was be- Press-NORC Public Research Center Republicans will be forced to either vote. In the House, the Democratic Threats of lethal violence and arrests of protesters have lieved to be serious. found Americans have responded fa- participate or disengage, often with majority is holding on with just a hand- failed to suppress daily demonstrations across Myanmar de- The proposed legislation would give po- vorably to the president’s approach, pressure from elected offi cials and oth- ful of seats. manding the military step down and reinstate the democrati- lice in England and Wales more powers to with 73% approving of his handling of er constituents clamoring for funds to “They really don’t want to give cally elected government. The coup reversed years of slow impose conditions on non-violent protests, the pandemic. That includes about half upgrade sewers, airports and countless Biden wins,” Conant said. progress toward democracy in the Southeast Asian country. including those deemed too noisy or a nui- The Myanmar Now news service reported government forc- sance, with those convicted liable to fi nes es fi red at demonstrators in Monywa city, killing at least two or jail terms. (AP) likely winner of Sunday’s parliamentary and amid a surge in coronavirus infections. ist Party second with some 17%, slightly people. One video posted on social media showed a group of ❑ ❑ ❑ elections, with several exit polls pointing Late Sunday, Borissov called on his op- ahead of the new “There is such a nation” protesters carrying away a young man with what appeared to to it fi nishing fi rst in a fractured political ponents to form a broad-based governing party led by prominent TV entertainer Sla- Train wreck photos sought: Prosecu- landscape. coalition. vi Trifonov. be a serious head wound, as gunfi re sounded. His condition tors investigating Taiwan’s worst railway wasn’t immediately known. The election was widely seen as a refer- Four exit polls had the GERB party fi n- The Central Election Commission said disaster in seven decades appealed to the endum on Prime Minister Boyko Borissov ishing on top, with around 25% of the vote. voter turnout Sunday was nearly 40% by Sustained public Monday for any photographs they after months of anti-government protests The polls placed the opposition Social- 5 p.m., a smaller showing than in previ- may have taken of the crash that killed at At least seven people were injured in the shooting, two of ous elections. Some 6.7 million people had least 50 people last week. been eligible to cast ballots for 240 law- whom sustained severe wounds and were taken into custody Hualien County Prosecutor Yu Hsiu- by soldiers, Myanmar Now said, citing a member of a local makers. (AP) tuan said people may have inadvertently ❑ ❑ ❑ rescue team. gathered evidence in their photos, particu- Late Friday, armed plainclothes police took fi ve people into larly about individuals observing the crash Kosovo gets new prez: Lawmakers in custody after they spoke with a CNN reporter in a market in scene from a construction site above. Kosovo elected and swore in a new presi- Yangon, the country’s largest city, local media reported citing The disaster last Friday was believed dent Sunday for a fi ve-year term, the Bal- witnesses. The arrests occurred in three separate incidents. to have been caused when a construction kan nation’s second female leader in the Two women reportedly shouted for help as they were being truck parked on a steep slope slid down post-war period. arrested, Myanmar Now reported. One police offi cer, who was the hillside onto the tracks in front of the The 120-seat parliament, which con- carrying a gun, asked if “anyone dared to help them,” a witness Taroko Express train as it sped toward a vened in an extraordinary session for two told the news service. tunnel at about 130 kilometers per hour (81 days, gave 71 votes for Vjosa Osmani- “They pointed their pistols at everyone - at passersby and at miles per hour). The train was carrying 494 Sadriu, the former parliament speaker, in people in the store,” a witness said of two police offi cers, who people, about 150 of whom had standing the third round of voting, while 11 votes forcibly took away two other women in the market. tickets, when it slammed into the truck and were invalid. Meanwhile, the Karen National Union representing the eth- derailed when entering the tunnel, crushing Two opposition parties and the ethnic nic minority rebel group that has been fi ghting the government many passengers inside the mangled train Serb minority party boycotted the voting. for decades condemned “non-stop bombings and airstrikes” carriages. In November, the 38-year-old Osmani- against villages and “unarmed civilians” in their homeland The truck had been driven by construc- Sadriu temporarily replaced former Presi- along the border with Thailand. tion site supervisor Lee Yi-hsiang, who dent Hashim Thaci, a guerrilla leader dur- “The attacks have caused the death of many people includ- was taken into custody on Sunday after ing Kosovo’s war for independence from ing children and students, and the destruction of schools, resi- having initially been released on bail. Lee, Serbia in the late 1990s, who resigned after dential homes, and villages. These terrorist acts are clearly a who is believed to have failed to engage the facing charges for war crimes and crimes fl agrant violation of local and international laws,” the group truck’s handbrake, offered a tearful apol- against humanity at a special court based said in a statement. ogy while being taken from home, saying in The Hague. In areas controlled by the Karen, more than a dozen civilians he would “cooperate with the authorities’ Osmani-Sadriu, post-war Kosovo’s sev- have been killed and over 20,000 displaced since March 27, investigation fully, and take responsibil- enth president and its second female one, according to the Free Burma Rangers, a relief agency operat- ity.” (AP) Vietnamese newly-elected President Nguyen Xuan Phuc takes an oath in front had the backing of the left-wing Self-De- ❑ ❑ ❑ of the National Assembly in Hanoi, Vietnam on Monday, April 5. Vietnam’s leg- termination Movement, or Vetevendosje!, ing in the region. islature voted Monday to make Pham Minh Chinh, a member of the Commu- which won Kosovo’s Feb 14 early election About 3,000 Karen fl ed to Thailand, but many have returned Bulagria’s GERB party leading: The nist party’s central committee for personnel and organization, the country’s next in a landslide. The party now holds the under unclear circumstances. center-right GERB party led by Bulgar- prime minister. Outgoing Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc was appointed the three top posts: the president, the speaker ia’s longtime prime minister appeared the new president. (AP) and the prime minister. (AP) Delta cancels about 100 flights, opens some middle seats

Delta Air Lines canceled about and the majority have been made last April to keep pas- changed. Where needed, In this fi le photo, a travel- 100 fl ights Sunday due to staff rebooked for the same travel sengers farther apart, a policy seats could be unblocked in ler wears a face covering shortages, and it opened up day,” the airline said Sunday in that Delta’s CEO had repeat- order to get customers to their while hurrying through middle seats a month earlier a statement. edly cited as raising trust in destinations on the same day. a near-empty check- than expected in order to carry Delta took steps to increase the airline. The seats would be “Delta teams have been work- in counter area in the more passengers. passenger capacity, including reopened as air travel recovers ing through various factors, in- main terminal of Denver The airline says it had over 1 opening middle seats on Sun- and more people become vac- cluding staffi ng, large numbers International Airport in million passengers during the day and Monday, in an effort to cinated against COVID-19, the of employee vaccinations and Denver. (AP) past few days, the highest num- accommodate passengers. airline said. pilots returning to active status,” ber since before the coronavi- On Wednesday, the airline Delta said the middle seats the airline said in the statement. rus pandemic began last year. announced that it would stop were opened just for Sun- Some employees were having “We apologize to our cus- blocking off middle seats start- day and Monday, and its adverse side effects from being tomers for the inconvenience, ing in May. The move was seat-blocking policy has not vaccinated. (AP)

Market Movements 5-04-2021 Change Closing pts Change Closing pts AUSTRALIA - All Ordinaries +47.21 7,064.20 INDIA - Sensex -870.51 49,159.32 JAPAN - Nikkei +235.25 30,089.25 PAKISTAN - KSE 100 -752.74 43,548.21 S. KOREA - KRX 100 +7.78 6,728.82 PHILIPPINES - PSEi +52.06 6,495.15 CHINA - Shanghai SE +18.06 3,484.39 Business CONSTRUCTION SPENDING DIPS 0.8% IN FEB US factory activity expands in March Fastest pace of expansion since 1983

WASHINGTON, April 5, Those concerns may worsen The Commerce Department said (AP): U.S. manufactur- fears that infl ation will rise in the Thursday that spending on building coming months, as a post-pandemic projects slipped 0.8% in February, ers expanded in March jump in spending could continue to after a 1.2% gain in January. The at the fastest pace in 37 outstrip supply. International ship- drop was driven by lower spend- years, a sign of strength- ping has been snarled by delays at ing on apartments, hotels, hospitals ening demand as the pan- ports that often have fewer workers and educational facilities. demic wanes and govern- to prevent viral spread. The Suez Public construction spending Canal blockage, which is still be- also dropped sharply, declining by ment emergency aid fl ows ing unwound, has further disrupted 1.7%. State and local government through the economy. international shipping. budgets have come under strain The Institute for Supply Man- Most economists expect infl ation during the pandemic, as tax rev- agement, a trade group of purchas- will pick up in the coming months enue has fallen amid widespread ing managers, said that its meas- but will do so only temporarily. As unemployment and lower business ure of factory activity jumped to supply bottlenecks are resolved, in- revenue. 64.7 last month, from 60.8 the fl ation should ebb, analysts say. Home building has been a bright previous month. That’s the high- Americans have shifted their spot for construction in the pan- est since December 1983. Some of spending during the pandemic, as demic, as more people have sought the gain may refl ect a bounce-back most consumers have been reluc- larger living spaces to work from from February, when harsh win- tant or unable to eat out, shop, or home and for children to attend ter weather in Texas, Louisiana visit movie theaters as often as in school online. But residential con- and other southern states knocked the past. Instead, they have spent struction shrank 0.2% last month, some oil refi neries and petrochem- more on factory goods, such as new mostly because of bad weather. ical plants offl ine. cars, furniture for expanded home The drop was driven by a decline Measures of new orders, pro- offi ces, and workout bikes. in apartment construction, while duction, and hiring all jumped, and Factories have steadily re-hired single-family home building rose more companies reported optimis- workers since last spring, but have slightly. tic outlooks about future business still only recouped about two-thirds New home construction has conditions. Many firms, however, of the jobs lost to the pandemic. been a big driver for developers also reported difficulties in keep- In this fi le photo, traffi c passes the Boeing airplane production plant, in Everett, Wash. U.S. manufacturers ex- Meanwhile, US construction since the pandemic. Construction ing up with demand, as snarled panded in March 2021 at the fastest pace in 37 years, a sign of strengthening demand as the pandemic wanes and spending fell in February after sev- spending on homes and apartments supply chains have delayed the government emergency aid fl ows through the economy. (AP) eral months of steady gains, likely has soared more than 21% in the shipment of parts and many firms “Extended lead times, wide-scale diffi culties in transporting prod- Timothy Fiore, chair of the ISM’s because of unseasonably cold past year, driving all construction have struggled to hire enough new shortages of critical basic materi- ucts are affecting all segments of manufacturing business survey weather and winter storms in the spending up 5.3% since the pan- workers. als, rising commodities prices and the manufacturing economy,” said committee. south. demic struck. ARAB TIMES, TUESDAY, APRIL 6, 2021 BUSINESS 9

LG to exit loss-making mobile phone business Honda recalls vehicles

South Korean electronics maker LG mobile phone maker but has lost quarter of 2020 but profitability Honda is recalling more than 628,000 Owners will be notified by mail in late said Monday it is getting out of its market share to Chinese and other declined do to sluggish sales of pre- vehicles in the US to replace fuel pumps May and dealers will replace the fuel loss-making mobile phone business competitors. mium products. that can fail, causing the engines to pumps for free. to focus on electric vehicle compo- It was still No. 3 in North America, The company said it was selling its stall. In addition to the 2018 and 2019 CR-V, nents, robotics, artificial intelligence with a 13% market share behind phone inventory and would continue The recall covers much of the Honda the recall covers the 2019 and 2020 and other products and services. Apple’s 39% and Samsung’s 30% as to provide services and support for and Acura model lineup from the 2018 to Accord, the 2019 Civic Coupe, Sedan and 2020 model years including the CR-V Type R, the 2019 and 2020 Civic LG’s board approved the shift in of the third-quarter of 2020, accord- various periods of time depending on small SUV, the company’s top-selling US Hatchback, the 2019 Fit, the 2019 HR-V, strategy and the company expects to ing to Counterpoint Technology where they are sold. vehicle. the 2019 and 2020 Insight, and the 2019 fully exit the mobile phone business Market Research. Details related to jobs would be The company says the impeller, which Odyssey, Passport, Pilot and Ridgeline. by the end of July, it said in a state- LG earlier said it was assessing its decided “at the local level,” it said. is the rotating part of the pump, could be Acura models include the 2019 ILX and ment. strategy as it reported that its sales The company’s shares fell 2.5% on defective. Honda says it has no reports of the 2019 and 2020 MDX, RDX and TLX. LG was once the third-largest rose 5% from a year earlier in the last Monday. (AP) crashes or injuries. (AP) Asian markets mixed after Wall St hits record Crude oil prices erode, dollar up versus yen

BEIJING, April 5, (AP): India’s Sensex lost 2.5% to 48,759.17. Singapore advanced while Asian stock markets were Bangkok and Jakarta declined. mixed and U.S. futures Investors have been encouraged by were higher Monday after the spread of coronavirus vaccines despite rising infection numbers in the Wall Street rose to a record United States, Europe and other places on optimism the spread of that have prompted some governments coronavirus vaccines might to reimpose travel and business curbs. Friday’s closely watched U.S. gov- allow global business to ernment jobs report showed American return to normal. employers added 916,000 more jobs Tokyo and Seoul rose while than they cut last month. That was well India and Thailand retreated. ahead of forecasts of 617,500 and Markets in Europe, Greater China nearly double February’s growth. Also Friday, the yield on the 10-year and Australia were closed for holi- U.S. Treasury bond, or the difference days. between the market price and the pay- “Asia is treading cautiously” despite out at maturity, rose to 1.72% from strong U.S. jobs data and Wall Street’s Thursday’s 1.68%. gain, said Jeffrey Halley of Oanda in a The yield has risen sharply this year, report. drawing money out of stocks, on On Wall Street, the future for the expectations revived economic activi- benchmark S&P 500 index was up ty will cause inflation to rise, reducing 0.5% and that for the Dow Jones the value of the payout in real terms. Industrial Average was 0.3% higher. In energy markets, benchmark U.S. On Thursday, the S&P 500 rose crude lost 86 cents to $60.59 per barrel 1.2% on its last trading day before the in electronic trading on the New York holiday, closing above 4,000 points for Mercantile Exchange. The contract the first time. rose $2.29 on Thursday to $61.45. In Asia on Monday, the Nikkei 225 Brent crude, used to price international in Tokyo rose 0.8% to 30,092.74 while oils, fell 93 cents to $63.93 per barrel the Kospi in Seoul gained 0.2% to in London. It gained $2.12 the previ- 3,119.51. ous session to $64.86 a barrel.

A currency trader watches monitors at the foreign exchange dealing room of the KEB Hana Bank headquarters in Seoul, South Korea, April 5, 2021. H&M to change ‘China map’ Asian stock markets were mostly higher Monday after Wall Street hit a record high on optimism the spread of coronavirus vaccines might allow global BEIJING, April 5, (AP): Chinese reg- financial sanctions on officials accused business to return to normal. (AP) ulators said H&M has agreed to of abuses in Xinjiang in China’s north- change a “problematic map” online west. following government criticism, add- Friday’s announcement by the ing to pressure on the Swedish retailer Shanghai city government gave no GameStop finally announces sale of 3.5 million shares amid a conflict with Western govern- details, but travel, clothing and other NEW YORK, April 5, (AP): Two The company said the shares will be shares would fall, and smaller inves- hovered around $20 each, spiked close ments over China’s policies in its brands have been pressured to change months after a market phenomenon sold through an “at-the-market” offer- tors who challenged them, sent shares to $500. Such a stock sale would have Xinjiang region. how Taiwan, the island democracy took shares of GameStop to the moon, ing, which lets a publicly traded com- of the beleaguered company soaring allowed to company to pay down hefty The ruling Communist Party lashed which Beijing claims as part of its ter- the video game retailer said Monday pany raise capital over time. early this year. debts that it had accumulated as a tech- out at H&M, Nike and other shoe and ritory, and other sensitive areas are that it will sell up to 3.5 million of its A bizarre stand-off between hedge Market pundits had urged the com- nology shift led gamers to spend clothing brands last week after the depicted on their websites. H&M shares with the price still vastly elevat- funds that had heavily shorted pany to put more shares on the market money online, rather than in GameStop United States, the European Union, didn’t respond to a request for infor- ed. GameStop, betting that the price of as the price of a share, which had stores. Britain and Canada imposed travel and mation. ARAB TIMES, TUESDAY, APRIL 6, 2021 BUSINESS 10 UAE to invest additional $3 billion in Iraq – statement

ABU DHABI, April 5, (KUNA): The United statement issued at the conclusion of the official Business Council and to streamline all the mea- Arab Emirates has unveiled plans to pump USD visit of Dr. Mustafa Al Kadhimi, Prime Minis- sures in the service of the two nations and their 3 billion in fresh investments in Iraq to strengthen ter of Iraq, to UAE. peoples. economic and investment relations between the The two sides agreed to grow economic coop- The two sides also doubled down on the im- two Arab nations. eration and accelerate trade and investment ex- portance of strengthening security and defense The initiative aims to solidify economic changes, urging their businessmen to exchange cooperation and intelligence sharing in the fight and investment ties, tap fresh prospects of co- visits, according to the statement aired by the against terrorism. They also agreed on propel- operation, and spur developmental and socio- UAE news agency (WAM). ling energy cooperation, especially in the fields of economic growth in Iraq, according to joint They also agreed on establishing the Iraqi-UAE clean energy. US economic outlook rises after relief law, poll shows

Most Americans support funding for mortgage and rent assistance

WASHINGTON, April are growing out of just about eve- 5, (AP): Views of the na- rything. But she worries that the enhanced unemployment benefi ts tion’s economy are the are encouraging people not to rosiest they’ve been since work. She has a position open at the pandemic began more a Quizno’s sandwich shop where than a year ago, buoyed she works that pays $10.80 an hour and it’s hard to fi nd anyone by Democrats feeling in- to hire. creasingly optimistic as “If people don’t go back to President Joe Biden’s work, all that money is going $1.9 trillion relief pack- to be spent, and the economy is age is distributed across still going to be hurting,” said Djajich, who lives in Fayette- the country. ville, North Carolina. A new poll from The As- About two-thirds of Americans sociated Press-NORC Center support funding for mortgage and for Public Affairs finds 46% of rent assistance, including roughly Americans overall now view 8 in 10 Democrats and about half the economy as good, up from of Republicans. About 6 in 10 the 37% who felt that way last Americans support the extended month. Views of the economy moratorium on evictions and had tanked at the onset of the foreclosures, including three- pandemic in April last year, quarters of Democrats and close when 29% said it was in good Americans’ improved out- much and 26% say it spends too to half of Republicans. shape. look generally reflects the little. Overall, 61% of Americans Fifty-eight percent of Demo- favorable impressions of Matt Holland of Guilford, approve of the way Biden is han- crats now describe economic Biden’s relief package and the Maine, said his paintball business dling his job as president; 73% conditions as good, compared mass vaccinations that have is down 30% over the year, but he approve of his handling of the with 35% of Republicans. Dem- allowed more schools, of- has adapted and survived because coronavirus pandemic; and 60% ocratic sentiments about the fices and retailers to reopen. he carries no debt. He voted for approve of how he is handling the economy improved after Biden Based on economic forecasts, Trump in 2020 and anticipates a economy. Fewer, 48%, approve replaced Donald Trump in the Biden suggested last week that surge in growth as more of the of Biden’s handling of the federal White House, with optimism growth this year could top 6% country is vaccinated, but he budget defi cit. increasing even further after he – the strongest performance in worries that a rising defi cit could The direct payments from the signed his landmark relief pack- 37 years. That level of growth hinder the economy in the years relief law do appear to be making age into law. would likely come with to come. an impact in people’s lives. Half Just 15% of Democrats felt enough hiring to boost nation- “I’m not one of those believers say they already received the positive about the economy al morale, potentially soften- who says you can print money money; a quarter say they expect in December, but 41% did in ing some of the polarization and the defi cit doesn’t matter – to receive one. February. Among Republicans, that has defined US politics eventually, your currency isn’t Among those Americans who positive views plummeted from for more than a decade. worth anything,” said Holland, say they have received or expect 67% in December to 35% by The poll shows 54% of Ameri- 62. to receive a payment, 33% say February. cans approve of the economic While Republicans are more most of it will be used to pay Americans might yearn for co- relief law, while 25% disap- likely to say they disapprove bills. An additional 21% say most operation between Republicans prove. An additional 21% say of the relief package, they are of the money will pay down debt. and Democrats, but they also ac- they hold neither opinion. Large not significantly hostile to About 23% plan to save most of knowledge the persistent divide majorities approve of many of many of its elements despite the payment, while 16% intend to as the economy has begun to heal the law’s components, including the opposition by GOP law- increase their spending. Just 3% from the coronavirus. vaccination funding, direct pay- makers. At least two-thirds say they will donate or give it to “I would like to see a lot more ments of $1,400 and extended of Republicans approve of the friends or family. cooperation between the two unemployment insurance, fund- law’s funding for grants and Skip Kendall, 72, from Naples, parties,” said Leo Martin, 84, of ing for schools to reopen, aid for low-interest loans for small Florida, said he appreciated the Council Bluffs, Iowa, and a for- families and housing payment as- businesses, funding for vac- relief package, but he felt the mer community college teacher. sistance. cine distribution and funding payments should have been bet- “But I’m afraid it’s going to be Views are more mixed about for schools to reopen safely. ter targeted. similar to the last four years with the price tag after $4 trillion was Overall, 70% of Americans “There was way too many peo- the two parties not working to- previously spent to support the approve of the $1,400 payments ple who got money who didn’t gether. I blame this not just on economy as the pandemic caused sent directly to eligible Ameri- need it – including me,” said Donald Trump, but on the press mass layoffs and business clo- cans, including 86% of Demo- Kendall, who put the money into that supported Trump and egged sures. Forty-two percent say the crats and 53% of Republicans. savings. “I’m not going to send it him on. I think it was divided debt-fi nanced law spends about Michelle Djajich, 34, said the back. But these things should be before and just got progressively the right amount on relief, but an direct payment will help buy new better directed to the people who worse.” additional 31% say it spends too clothes for her four children, who needed it.” ARAB TIMES, TUESDAY, APRIL 6, 2021 HEALTH 11

Coronavirus

‘Reluctance is easing’ Many still hesitate to get COVID shot

NEW YORK, April 5, (AP): So few people came for COV- ID-19 vaccinations in one county in North Carolina that hospitals there now allow anyone 16 or older to get a shot, regardless of where they live. Get a shot, get a free doughnut, the governor said. Alabama, which has the nation’s lowest vaccination rate and a county where only 7% of residents are fully vaccinated, launched a campaign to convince people the shots are safe. Doctors and pastors joined the effort. On the national level, the Biden administration this week launched a “We Can Do This” campaign to encourage hold- outs to get vaccinated against the virus that has claimed over 550,000 lives in the US. The race is on to vaccinate as many people as possible, but a signifi cant number of Americans are so far re- luctant to get the shots, even in places where they are plentiful. Twenty-fi ve percent of Americans say they prob- ably or defi nitely will not get vacci- nated, according to a new poll from The Associated Press-NORC Center for Public Affairs Research. They are leery about possible side effects. They tend to be Republican, Reynolds and they are usually younger and less susceptible to becoming critically ill or dying if they catch COVID-19. There’s been a slight shift, though, since the fi rst weeks of the nation’s largest-ever vaccination campaign, which began in mid-December. An AP-NORC poll conducted in late Janu- ary showed that 67% of adult Americans were willing to get vaccinated or had already received at least one shot. Now that Health workers attend to a critical patient in the Intensive care Unit at the hospital in Bochnia, Poland, Monday March 26. Polish hospitals struggled over the Easter fi gure has climbed to 75%. weekend with a massive number of people infected with COVID-19 following a huge surge in infections across Central and Eastern Europe in recent weeks. (AP) That, experts say, moves the nation closer to herd immu- nity, which occurs when enough people have immunity, ei- ther from vaccination or past infection, to stop uncontrolled spread of a disease. Coronavirus Anywhere from 75% to 85% of the total population - in- cluding children, who are not currently getting the shots - should be vaccinated to reach herd immunity, said Ali Mok- dad, professor of health metrics sciences at the University of ‘Intrusion into personal freedom, private choices’ Washington School of Public Health. A little over three months after the fi rst doses were given, 100 million Americans, or about 30% of the population, have received at least one dose. COVID politics over vaccine passports Effects HARRISBURG, Pa., April 5, (AP): Andrea Richmond, a 26-year-old freelance web coder in Vaccine passports being developed Atlanta, is among those whose reluctance is easing. A few to verify COVID-19 immunization weeks ago, Richmond was leaning toward not getting the status and allow inoculated people Britain eyes testing COVID-19 shot. Possible long-term effects worried her. She knew that to more freely travel, shop and dine an H1N1 vaccine used years ago in Europe increased risk of have become the latest fl ash point in narcolepsy. America’s perpetual political wars, passports at mass gatherings Then her sister got vaccinated with no ill effects. Rich- with Republicans portraying them as mond’s friends’ opinions also changed. In this undated photo, provided by a heavy-handed intrusion into personal LONDON, April 5, (AP): Britain is what the right balance is between NY Governor’s Press Office on March freedom and private health choices. planning to test a series of measures a person’s right to medical privacy “They went from, ‘I’m not trusting this’ to ‘I’m all vaxxed including “coronavirus status certifi- and the collective right of people up, let’s go out!’” 27, is the new ‘Excelsior Pass’ app, They currently exist in only one a digital pass that people can down- cations” over the coming weeks to in groups not to be infected with a Her mother, a cancer survivor, whom Richmond lives state — a limited government partner- see if they can allow people to safely dangerous disease by others. with, is so keen for her daughter to get vaccinated that she load to show proof of vaccination or ship in New York with a private com- a negative COVID-19 test. Vaccine return to mass gatherings at sports Some critics also say such vac- signed her up online for a jab. pany — but that hasn’t stopped GOP arenas, nightclubs and concerts. cine passports will enable discrimi- passports being developed to verify lawmakers in a handful of states from “I’ll probably end up taking it,” Richmond said. “I guess COVID-19 immunization status and People attending a range of nation against poor people and it’s my civic duty.” allow inoculated people to more freely rushing out legislative proposals to ban events this month and in May, in- impoverished nations that do not But some remain steadfastly opposed. travel, shop and dine have become their use. cluding a club night and key FA have ready access to vaccines. “I think I only had the fl u once,” said Lori Mansour, 67, the latest flash point in America’s per- The argument over whether pass- Cup soccer matches, will need to Authorities in Britain have said who lives near Rockford, Illinois. “So I think I’ll take my petual political wars, with Republicans ports are a sensible response to the be tested both before and after. the passes could involve the use chances.” portraying them as a heavy-handed pandemic or governmental overreach The trials will also gather evidence of an app or paper certificates for intrusion into personal freedom and echoes the bitter disputes over the past on how ventilation and different ap- those who don’t have access to the In the latest poll, Republicans remained more likely than proaches to social distancing could digital option. Democrats to say they will probably or defi nitely not get vac- private health choices. (NY) year about masks, shutdown orders and even the vaccines themselves. enable large events to go ahead. But UK Sports Minister Nigel cinated, 36% compared with 12%. But somewhat fewer Re- Officials are also developing Huddleston stressed to reporters publicans today are reluctant. Back in January, 44% said they Activities plans to test out COVID-19 pass- that “the earliest pilots almost cer- would shy away from a vaccine. Vaccine passports are typically an ports that are expected to show if tainly won’t involve any elements of The hesitance can be seen in Alabama’s rural Winston Health a person has received a vaccine, certification” but will involve testing County, which is 96% white and where more than 90% of app with a code that verifi es whether has recently tested negative for the before and after the events. Prime voters backed then-President Donald Trump last year. Only someone has been vaccinated or re- virus, or has some immunity due to Minister Boris Johnson is expected cently tested negative for COVID-19. 6.9% of the county’s roughly 24,000 residents are fully vac- India daily cases soar past 100K: having had coronavirus in the pre- to set out more details about the They are in use in Israel and under vious six months. coronavirus passports on Monday. cinated, the lowest level in Alabama. India reported its biggest single-day spike development in parts of Europe, seen Elsewhere in Alabama, health offi cials tried to coun- in confi rmed coronavirus cases since the The issue of vaccine passports “We are doing everything we pandemic began Monday, and offi cials in as a way to safely help rebuild the pan- has been a hotly debated topic can to enable the reopening of our ter problems that include reluctance in heavily Black areas demic- devastated travel industry. around the world, including in the country so people can return to where distrust of government medical initiatives runs deep. the hard-hit state home to Mumbai are re- turning to the closure of some businesses They are intended to allow busi- United States. The question is the events, travel and other things They targeted a few counties with a pro-vaccine message, es- nesses to more safely open up as the how much governments, employ- they love as safely as possible, and pecially in the old plantation region where a large percentage and places of worship in a bid to slow the spread. vaccine drive gains momentum, and ers, venues and other places have these reviews will play an important of the population is Black and many are poor. they mirror measures already in place a right to know about a person’s role in allowing this to happen,” The campaign enlisted doctors and pastors and used virtual The Health Ministry reported 103,558 new COVID-19 infections in the last for schools and overseas travel that virus status. Many disagree over Johnson said. meetings and the radio to spread the word. 24 hours, topping the previous peak of require proof of immunization against Dr. Karen Landers, assistant state health offi cer, said the 97,894 daily cases recorded in late Sep- various diseases. effort had positive results. For example, in Perry County, tember. Fatalities rose by 478, raising the But lawmakers around the country “just another example of the Biden ad- passports to obtain certain benefi ts and where 68% of the population of about 9,300 is Black, more country’s death toll to 165,101. are already taking a stand against the ministration using COVID-19 to put services. than 16% of the population is fully vaccinated, among the India now has a seven-day rolling aver- idea. GOP senators in Pennsylvania regulations or restrictions on everyday And a freshman Republican state highest levels. Offi cials likely will make similar efforts for age of more than 73,000 cases per day and are drawing up legislation that would Americans.” lawmaker in Ohio spoke out about the other parts of the state, she said. infections in the country are being report- prohibit vaccine passports, also known President Joe Biden’s administra- concept, saying more restrictions or Nationwide, 24% of Black Americans and 22% of Hispan- ed faster than anywhere else in the world. as health certifi cates or travel passes, tion has largely taken a hands-off ap- mandates are not the answer to every ic Americans say they will probably or defi nitely not get vac- The biggest contributor to the surge has from being used to bar people from proach on vaccine passports. COVID-19 problem. cinated, down from 41% and 34% in January, respectively. been the western state of Maharashtra, routine activities. At a news conference this week, “Ohioans are encouraged to take the Among white Americans, 26% now say they will not get vac- home to the commercial capital of Mum- “We have constitutional rights and Andy Slavitt, acting administrator of COVID-19 vaccine for the health and cinated. In January, that number was 31%. bai. The state has contributed more than health privacy laws for a reason,” said the Centers for Medicare and Medic- well-being of themselves and others,” The Biden administration’s campaign features TV and 55% of total cases in the country in the last two weeks. Pennsylvania House Majority Leader aid Services, said he considered them Rep. Al Cutrona said. social media ads. Celebrities and community and religious The state will start shutting cinemas, Kerry Benninghoff, a Republican. a project for the private sector, not the “However, a vaccine should not be fi gures are joining the effort. restaurants, shopping malls and places of “They should not cease to exist in a government. mandated or required by our govern- Iowa Gov. Kim Reynolds, a Republican, is trying win time of crisis. These passports may ment for our people to integrate back worship from Monday evening. Authori- Normalcy over the one-third of adult Iowans who will not commit to ties will also impose a complete lock- start with COVID-19, but where will to a sense of normalcy.” getting a vaccine by emphasizing that the shots will help re- down at weekends. they end?” He said the government is consid- Republican Florida Gov. Ron De- turn life to normal. In North Carolina’s Cumberland County, As health offi cials continue to warn of Benninghoff said this week his con- ering federal guidelines to steer the Santis on Friday issued an executive fewer than 1 in 6 residents have gotten at least one shot. gatherings in public places, Prime Minis- cern was “using taxpayer money to process surrounding vaccine pass- order that said no governmental entity ter Narendra Modi and his party lead- generate a system that will now be, ports. Among its concerns: Not every- can issue a vaccine passport, and busi- Encourage ers continue to hold mammoth rallies in possibly, in the hands of mega-tech or- one who would need a passport has a nesses in that state can’t require them. Amid worries there would be an unused surplus of vac- several states where local elections are ganizations who’ve already had prob- smartphone; passports should be free He said he expected the Legislature to cines, Cape Fear Valley Health hospital systems opened up underway. (AP) lems with getting hacked and security and in multiple languages; and private pass a similar law. the shots last week to everyone 16 or older. ❑ ❑ ❑ issues.” health information must be protected. His order said requiring “so-called “Rather than have doses go unused, we want to give more Philippines extends lockdown: The A Democratic colleague, Rep. Chris “There will be organizations that COVID-19 vaccine passports for tak- people the chance to get their vaccine,” said Chris Tart, a Philippine government extended a lock- Rabb of Philadelphia, sees value in want to use these. There will be or- ing part in everyday life - such as at- Cape Fear Valley Health vice president. “We hope this will down by another week Monday after an vaccine passports if they are imple- ganizations that don’t want to use tending a sporting event, patronizing a encourage more people to roll up their sleeve.” alarming spike in coronavirus infections mented carefully. these,” said Dr. Brian Anderson of restaurant, or going to a movie theater On Wednesday, Gov. Roy Cooper, a Democrat, tweeted a continued to surge and started to over- “There’s a role for using technology Mitre, which operates federally funded - would create two classes of citizens.” video of him getting a free doughnut from the Krispy Kreme whelm many hospitals in the capital and and other means to confi rm people’s research centers and is part of a coali- US Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene, R- chain. Customers who show their vaccine card can get a free outlying regions. statuses,” Rabb said. “But we do have tion working to develop standards for Georgia, a newly elected member who doughnut every day for the rest of the year. President Rodrigo Duterte placed concerns around privacy, surveillance vaccine certifi cations to make their use has embraced and promoted a range of “Do it today, guys!” Cooper encouraged viewers. Nearly Metropolitan Manila and four outlying and inequitable access.” easier across vendors. far-right political positions, told her 36% of North Carolina adults have been at least partially vac- provinces, a region of more than 25 mil- Republican legislators in other states Anderson noted the Vaccination supporters on Facebook earlier this cinated, state data show. lion people, under lockdown last week as have also been drafting proposals to Credential Initiative is not making week that “something called a vaccine Younger people are more likely to forgo a shot. Of those daily infections breached 10,000. Roman ban or limit them. A bill introduced in recommendations on how — or even passport” was a form of “corporate under 45, 31% say they will probably or defi nitely forgo a Catholic leaders shifted Holy Week and the Arkansas Legislature on Wednes- if — organizations choose to use the communism” and part of a Democratic Easter events online after all public gath- day would prevent government offi - certifi cations. effort to control people’s lives. shot. Only 12% of those aged 60 and older say they will not erings, including in places of worship, get vaccinated. cials from requiring vaccine passports In Montana, GOP lawmakers this And a GOP lawmaker in Louisiana were temporarily banned. for any reason, and would ban their use week voted along party lines to ad- has teed up a bill to keep the state from Ronni Peck, a 40-year-old mother of three from Los An- The government-run Lung Center of geles, is one of those who plans to avoid getting vaccinated, as a condition of “entry, travel, educa- vance a pair of bills that would ban including any vaccination information the Philippines became the latest hos- tion, employment or services.” discrimination based on vaccine status on the Louisiana driver’s license or at least for now. She’s concerned that vaccines have not been pital in the capital region to announce studied for long-term health effects. She senses that some over the weekend that it can no longer The sponsor, Republican state Sen. or possession of an immunity passport, to make issuance of a driver’s license friends disapprove of her stance. accept walk-in patients after its COV- Trent Garner, called vaccine passports and to prohibit using vaccine status or subject to vaccine status. “But I’ve stopped caring about whether or not I feel os- ID-19 ward reached full capacity and its tracized and instead have learned to spend more time caring emergency room was handling twice its about if I’m doing the right thing for myself and my kids,” capacity. Peck said. “We are not just full. We are very full. Deborah Fuller, a professor with the University of Wash- In fact, the hospital has been full for the past two weeks,” Lung Center spokesman onavirus cases. - to allow workers “a little rest at last,” ington School of Medicine, said if the herd immunity level Dr. Norberto Francisco said. (AP) But as Europe faced its second Easter according to a city offi cial. To ensure that cannot be reached soon, a more realistic target could be vac- ❑ ❑ ❑ in a row under the cloud of the pandemic, residents still had access to potentially cinating at least 50% of the population by this summer, with a some French cities pushed back against life-saving vaccines, the city expanded higher vaccination rate among the most vulnerable to reduce EU ramps up vaccinations: The main President Emmanuel Macron’s insistence vaccination hours and administered all severe disease, hospitalizations and deaths. stadium in the French city of Lyon opened that “there are no weekends or days off of its its weekly supply of doses between “In this scenario, the virus would persist in the population as a mass vaccination center during Easter during vaccination.” Monday and Thursday. but cease being a major health threat that overburdens our weekend, and thousands of people spent Authorities in Strasbourg, on the Ger- The city of Sarcelles north of Paris was health care systems,” Fuller said. the holiday lining up for injections else- man border shut down their vaccination among those where offi cials kept vaccine where in France as the government tried facilities from Good Friday through East- sites open Sunday amid mushrooming in- to speed up shots amid a new rush of cor- er Monday - a public holiday in France Duterte Modi fections and demand. (AP) Television TUESDAY, APRIL 6, 2021 FFeatureseatures the pandemic. $500 millionworldwideifnotfor million three-dayweekendand would havedebutedwitha$50 estimated that“Godzillavs.Kong” movie consultancyFranchiseRe, after apunishingpandemicyear. that moviegoingcanberevived the mostpromisingsignsinages ishing yearfortheaters,it’soneof over thepastyear.Afterapun- screen morethananythingelse Max accountsornot—tothebig people —whethertheyhaveHBO guys wasenoughtodrivemore of themovies’mosticonicbig in 2020. show sincetheservice’slaunch on HBOMaxthananyfi vs. Kong”hadalargeraudience data Sundaybutsaid“Godzilla pursuing forall2021releases. at thesametime—astrategyit’s to subscribersin bet, though,bystreamingthefi er Bros.andHBOMax,hedgedits WarnerMedia, whichownsWarn- budget moviestoopenintheaters. one ofasmallhandfulbig- million, “Godzillavs.Kong”is total to$285.4million. bringing itstwo-weekworldwide $120.1 millionovertheweekend, ally, “Godzillavs.Kong”grossed King oftheMonsters.”Glob- last entry,2019’s“Godzilla: ($47.8 million)ofthefranchise’s even outpacedthethree-daydebut far exceededexpectations,and mates Sunday.Thefi Sunday, accordingtostudioesti- to $32.2millionfromFriday ating at50%capacityorless. data fi open thisweekend,accordingto weeks; about60%oftheaterswere been reopeningoverthepastfew 3,000 theaters.Manytheatershave the pastyear,playinginmorethan was thewidestdomesticreleasein Bros. andLegendaryEntertainment, simultaneously streamingathome. opening Wednesday,evenasitwas an estimated$48.5millionsince opening ofthepandemicwith vs. Kong”scoredeasilythebest over theweekend.“Godzilla rekindled someofitsoldmight a fewoldfriends,theboxoffi NEW YORK: In thisvideograbprovidedbytheSAGAwards,castof‘TheTrialChicago7’acceptsawardforoutstandingperfo Sunday overallegedcensorshipinthesecondseasonfi drawing theireofgovernmentoffi TV spythrillerisonceagaingeneratingbuzzintheIslamicRepublic, DUBAI, UnitedArabEmirates,April5,(AP):AcontroversialIranian Iran spyTVshowignitescontroversy for2ndseason Clubhouse lastweek,callingita“liefrombeginningtoend.”When Zarif railedagainstthesecondseasononpopularaudiochatapp tive moderatesinthegovernment.ForeignMinisterMohammadJavad Foreign Ministryasinept,longhascausedconsternationamongrela- prison onchargesofespionagethatheandAmericanoffi freed inaprisonerswap2016,Rezaianspent18monthsanIranian semblance toWashingtonPostjournalistJasonRezaian.Beforebeing operatives combatinganAmericansuperspywhobearsastrikingre- of “thepresident”with“anoffi that episodesairedlastweekhadaltereddialoguetoreplacementions social mediaaboutpossiblegovernmentcensorship.Theclipsshowed Aparat.com, anIranianversionofYouTube,speculationswirledon ISNA newsagencyreported.WhenuncutscenessurfacedSundayon for pullingthesecondseasonoffairprematurely,semioffi Revolutionary Guardagents—inthestyleofJamesBondorJasonBourne. David A.Gross But clearlytheclashoftwo The studiodidn’tofferviewing Made forapproximately$160 “Godzilla vs.Kong”stomped The monstermash,fromWarner The show,whichvalorizesIran’shard-linersandportrays The fi Hard-liners andotherfansoftheshowareblaminggovernment The fi rm Comscore.Mostareoper- rst seasongrabbedheadlinesfordepictingIranianintelligence ctional series,titled“Gando,”chroniclestheexploitsofIran’s With the help of With thehelpof North America , whorunsthe ve-day total lm or TV ce ce lm cial.” cials andcomplaintsfromviewers launched with $123.1 million launched with$123.1 million for cost,”Grosssaid. big screenquality;andthevalue out forthegroupexperience; aren’t goingaway,including ing hasinherentstrengthsthat positive indicationthatmoviego- stances, theweekendisaclearand would beundernormalcircum- “Godzilla vs. Kong” had already “Godzilla vs.Kong”hadalready “While it’shalfofwhatit an Oscarpreviewthanitismostyears. making thisyear’spostponedSAGAwardslessof madland” —wasn’tnominatedforbestensemble, Academy Awardsfrontrunner—ChloéZhao’s“No- hour broadcastonTBSandTNT.Theperceived was condensedtoapre-recorded,Zoom-heavy,one- — andnotjustbecausetheredcarpet-lessceremony wood actors’guildSAG-Aftra,wereamutedaffair for thefi Screen ActorsGuildAwardswhereactorsofcolor, the Chicago7”tooktopprizeSundayatavirtual Aaron Sorkin’s1960scourtroomdrama“TheTrialof LOS ANGELES,April5,(AP):Thestarrycastof ‘Chicago 7’takestophonorsatSAGs need leaderstoguideustowardhatingeachotherless.” Trial oftheChicago7.“TheRev.Kingwasright.We la, citingeventsleadinguptothosedramatizedin“The very datein1968—aprofoundinjustice,”saidLangel- King beforehewasshotdownincoldbloodonthis accepting theawardonbehalfofcast. parallels betweenthatera’sunrestandtoday’swhile ing the1968DemocraticNationalConvention,drew over the1969prosecutionofactivistsarresteddur- the Oscars. The streamerisstillafteritsfi before thepandemichit,leadingtoitssaleNetfl been setfortheatricalreleasebyParamountPictures directed bySorkin,“TheTrialoftheChicago7”had service wontheguild’sensembleaward.Writtenand go 7”markedthefi of “Parasite”triumphed,becomingthefi in EnglishwonSAG’stopaward.Lastyear,thecast have beenthesecondstraightyearafi American familydrama“Minari”won,itwould A24’s “Minari.”HadLeeIsaacChung’sKorean- — aswellAmazon’s“OneNightinMiami”and “Ma Rainey’sBlackBottom”and“Da5Bloods” Still, thewinforNetfl The 27thSAGAwards,presentedbytheHolly- The wincameovertwootherNetfl “‘God giveusleaders,’saidtheRev.MartinLuther Frank Langella,whoplaysthejudgepresided Variety ‘Gando’ chroniclesexploitsofIran’s Guardagents Revolutionary rst time,swepttheindividual fi nale. cials denied. rst timeafi ix’s “TheTrialoftheChica- cial lm fromanystreaming Awards rstbest-picturewinat promised thatthegovernmenthadnotdisruptedshoworpressed possible governmentinterferenceintheseries. and thefi said Tehran-basedpoliticalanalystMajidYounesian. in theestablishmentwhileaddingdifferencesrulingsystem,” deputies intalkswiththeUSoverIran’snuclearprogram. ous diplomatsintheshowisthoughttobemodeledontwoofZarif’s December, makesacameointhesecondseason.Oneoftreacher- ist RuhollahZam,whowasabductedinIraqandexecutedIranlast spired byrealevents,acharacterresemblingprominentexiledjournal- krgr Hall Skarsgård An advisertoPresidentHassanRouhani,HesameddinAshena, Certain scenesinthelasttwoepisodesappearedtobecrudelyedited Over itstwoseasons,Gando“reversedrealities...andexposedarift In keepingwiththeshow’sspiritofheroicvideogamefantasyin- pressure campaign. formation aboutnuclearnegotiationsamidacripplingU.S.economic spies tryingtoinfi or NewYear,holiday,pitsIranianintelligenceagentsagainstWestern of protesttothecountry’sSupremeLeaderAyatollahAliKhamenei. the fi The 13-episodesecondseason,airedduringIran’s13-dayNowruz, Actors ofcolorsweepindividualfi lm largelynot rstseasonairedinthesummerof2019,Zarifsentaformalletter ix releases— lm awards. nale cametoastrangelyabruptend,fuelingcriticismover rst castfrom Guild AwardsonApril4.(AP) ix. ltrate Iran’sgovernmentandgatherconfi Spike Lee’sfi and sharedintheensemblenominationsforboth nominated forhissupportingrolein“Da5Bloods” — fourinasingleyear.Hewasalsoposthumously already setarecordformostSAGfi mance. Boseman,whodiedlastAugustatage43,had for youtobefeatured,”Bosemansaidthen.“Yet know whatit’sliketobetoldthatthereisnotaplace ther” castwhenthefi awards, Bosemanspokeonbehalfofthe“BlackPan- of hismostmemorablespeeches.Attheguild’s2019 actor againbelongedtoBosemanforhisfi said Davis,referringtoplaywrightAugustWilson. tors ofcolorthatwecanrelishtherestourlives,” SAG award. mand (“Nomadland”).It’sDavis’fi (“Promising YoungWoman”)orFrancesMcDor- category thathasoftenbelongedtoCareyMulligan It wastheSAGAwardswhereBosemangaveone As ithasthroughouttheawardsseason,bestmale “Thank you,August,forleavingalegacyac- Of those,Davis’winwasthemostsurprisingina a non-Englishlanguagefi porting actor for “Judas and the Black Messiah.” porting actorfor“JudasandtheBlackMessiah.” tor for“Minari”;andDanielKaluuya,bestmalesup- Bottom”; Yuh-JungYoun,bestfemalesupportingac- Viola Davis,bestfemaleactorfor“MaRainey’sBlack man, bestmaleactorfor“MaRainey’sBlackBottom”; cally diverseslateofOscarwinners:ChadwickBose- actors ofcolor,potentiallysettingthestageforahistori- Joaquin Phoenix—wonattheOscars,too. winners —RenéeZellweger,BradPitt,LauraDern, Academy Awards,andalloftheindividualSAG year, “Parasite”wentontowinbestpictureatthe SAG winnersoftenlineupwithOscarones.Last Academy ofMotionPicturesArtsandSciences, harbinger. Actorsmakeupthelargestbranchof Inspired Those awards this year went to a group entirely of Those awardsthisyearwenttoagroupentirelyof The SAGAwardsareacloselywatchedOscar lm and“MaRainey’sBlackBottom.” China by especiallystrongticketsalesin internationally lastweekend,led and thenumbersdon’t lie—it’s Kong’ toarriveonthebigscreen for aneventfi million, Legendarysaid. This weekend,itaddedanother$44 of previousentriesinthefranchise. million, surpassingtheperformance “Moviegoers havebeenwaiting Category . There, it opened with $70 . There,itopenedwith$70 lm wonthetopaward. “Weall lm like‘Godzillavs. lm todoso. rmance byacastinmotionpictureduringthe27thannualScreenActors lm nominations nominations lm dential in- dential fh individual fth nalperfor- debuted recently. Boston tem, with salvage hiscareerbytradingonthecity’sfl charge ofthedrama,backwitheightepisodes. Fontana eral andcountyprosecutorsinwhat’sdescribedas“all-outwar.” ble opponent.Theirhostilityisdestinedtoensnaretheoffi LOS ANGELES: lm awards lm 3 beinVienna?” US overthecountry’snuclearprogram. Sunday criticizingIraniandiplomatsforagreeingtonegotiatewiththe sanctions onIran. from theaccordnearlythreeyearsagoandimposedunprecedented gram withworldpowers.FormerPresidentDonaldTrumpwithdrew week inViennaabouthowtorestoreIran’stattered2015nuclearpro- tion announcedthatthecountrieswouldstartindirectnegotiationsthis for itscancelation. Bannered inbig,boldletterswastheheadline:“WillGandoSeason Iranian hard-linenewspaperVatan-eEmroozranafront-pagestory The allegationscameasIranandUSPresidentBiden’sadministra- isatthecenterofseasontwoShowtime’s“CityonaHill,” King ofMonsters.” Returns Island” and2019’s“Godzilla: followed by2017’s“Kong:Skull restarted in2014with“Godzilla,” Warner Bros.,saidinastatement. Goldstein, distributionchieffor thrilled withtheresults,”Jeff theater, theyhave,andwe’re are readytosafelyreturnthe clear thatwhereveraudiences (“Homicide:LifeontheStreet”)isexecutiveproducerin Aldis Hodge A newseriesofmovieswas and MarkRuffalo(“IKnowThisMuchIsTrue”). Sudeikis (“TedLasso”),JasonBateman(“Ozark”) Gambit”), GillianAnderson(“TheCrown”),Jason winners includedAnyaTaylor-Joy(“TheQueen’s drama series)addedtotheirstringofawards.Other Creek” (forcomedyseries)and“TheCrown” varied actorssluggingitout.” and dayouttowatchthesegreatdifferent ductor, almost,”saidRedmayne.“Itwasajoyday that comingtogetherunderAaron.Hewasthecon- whether itwasjazzorrockclassical--butallof — intoanensemble. lance, YahyaAbdul-MateenIIandJeremyStrong actors —includingSachaBaronCohen,MarkRy- Maisler forassemblingsuchadisparategroupof fi his co-starMichaelKeaton. York’s HudsonValley.“Ihavenopantson,”added “I’m inmybedroomslippers,”hesaidfromNew called thevirtualexperiencemuchmorecivilized. award for“TheTrialoftheChicago7,”Langella awards, couldposeachallengetothefrontrunner. 7,” upforbestpictureattheOscarsandfourother as attheGoldenGlobes.“TheTrialofChicago highly predictiveProducersGuildAwards,aswell fessional actors.Zhao’sfi because itscastiscomposedoflargelynon-pro- missed outonabest-ensemblenominationpossibly are young,giftedandBlack.” Capitol riot,TrumpresignedfromSAG-Aftra. Apprentice,” “HomeAlone2”)forhisroleinthe guild preparedtoexpelTrump(creditsinclude“The Trump mayhavedrawnmoreheadlines.Afterthe ceoff earlierthisyearwithformerPresidentDonald for theScreenActorsGuild,thoughunion’sfa- lm, creditedSorkinandcastingdirectorFrancine The awardsaretypicallythehighestprofi In televisioncategories,theensemblesof“Schitt’s “It waslikeaclashofdifferenttypesmusic, Eddie Redmayne,whoplaysTomHaydeninthe In aninterviewfollowingthepre-tapingof The AcademyAwardsfrontrunner,“Nomadland” A drugviolence-riddledfederalhousingprojectin Kevin Bacon ’s assistant Also: ’s FBIagent D.A. DecourcyWard lm previouslywonatthe awedcriminaljusticesys- and Skarsgård, BrianTyreeHenry human co-starsinclude Directed byAdamWingard,its fi had beenleadinguptotheprize respectively. Butthefranchise $168.1 millionand$47.8million, domestically with$200.7million, The previousthreefi have beensteadilydiminishing. Jackie Rohr ght of“Godzillavs.Kong.” Rebecca Hall.(AP) hisformida- istryingto ce offed- le event le lms opened Tom Alexander ARAB TIMES, TUESDAY, APRIL 6, 2021 NEWS/FEATURES 13

People & Places

Tech

500m FB data found online Robot artist ‘Sophia’ eyeing music career

HONG KONG, April 5, (AP): Sophia is a robot of many talents - she speaks, jokes, sings and even makes art. In March, she caused a stir in the art world when a digital work she created as part of a collaboration was sold at an auction for $688,888 in the form of a non- fungible token (NFT). The sale highlighted a growing frenzy in the NFT market, where people can buy ownership rights to digital content. NFTs each have a unique digital code saved on blockchain ledgers that allow anyone to veri- fy the authenticity and ownership of items. David Hanson, CEO of Hong Kong-based Hanson Robotics and Sophia’s creator, has been developing robots for the past two and a half decades. He believes realistic-looking robots can connect with people and assist in industries such as healthcare and education. Sophia is the most famous robot creation from Hanson Robotics, with the ability to mimic facial expressions, hold conversations and recognize people. In 2017, she was grant- ed Saudi Arabian citizenship, becoming the world’s first ro- bot citizen. “I envisioned Sophia as a Bonaceto creative artwork herself, that could generate art,” Hanson said in an interview. “Sophia is the culmination of a lot of arts, and engi- neering, and the idea that she could then generate art David Hanson, (left), creator of Sophia, shows a work of Sophia at his studio in Hong Kong on March 29, 2021. Sophia is a robot of many talents — she speaks, was a way for her to emotionally and visually connect jokes, sings and even makes art. In March, she caused a stir in the art world when a digital work she created as part of a collaboration was sold at an auction for with people,” he said. $688,888 in the form of a non-fungible token (NFT).WLD. (AP) Sophia collaborated with Italian artist Andrea Bo- naceto, who drew portraits of Sophia. Sophia then processed his work via neural networks and proceeded to create a digital artwork of her own. The digital work that sold for $688,888 is titled “Sophia Instantiation”, and is a 12-second video file Music which shows Bonaceto’s portrait evolving into So- phia’s digital painting. It is accompanied by the physi- cal artwork painted by Sophia. The buyer, a digital artwork collector and art- Prayer vigil planned for stricken rapper ist known as 888 with the Twitter handle @Cryp- to888crypto, later sent Sophia a photo of his painted arm. The robot then processed that, adding that image to her knowledge and painted more strokes on top of DMX on life support after heart attack her original piece. In a tweet on Sophia’s account, the work was de- WHITE PLAINS, NY, April 5, entire life. This situation represents drew more than 500,000 viewers. scribed as the first NFT collaboration between an “AI, (AP): A prayer vigil was planned for yet another road he must conquer. a mechanical collective being and an artist-collector.” Monday outside the suburban New “The Simmons Family appreci- Also: Creativity York hospital where rapper DMX ates the overwhelming outpouring HUNTSVILLE, Ala.: The drummer for “As an artist, I have computational creativity in remained on life support Sunday fol- of heartfelt love, encouragement, Grammy Award-winning rock band my algorithms, creating original works,” Sophia said lowing a heart attack. support and prayers for Earl. Earl is Alabama Shakes says he is innocent when asked what inspires her when it comes to art. The family of the rapper said in an someone whose life and music have of child abuse charges filed against “But my art is created in collaboration with my hu- email Sunday that the vigil will be been a source of inspiration and him, his lawyer said Friday. mans in a kind of collective intelligence like a human- held outside White Plains Hospital at strength to so many people around Steven William Johnson, 35, was artificial intelligence hive mind.” 5 pm. the world. It is reassuring to see his arrested last week after being indicted Sophia’s artwork selling as an NFT is part of a grow- In this Sept. 23, 2009, file photo, DMX “On Friday night, April 2nd, 2021, fans return that same passion and on charges of abuse of a child. ing trend. In March, a digital artwork by artist Beeple arrives at the 2009 VH1 Hip Hop our brother, son, father, and colleague energy to him during his time of “Steve Johnson maintains his inno- — whose real name is Mike Winkelmann — sold for Honors at the Brooklyn Academy of DMX, birth name of Earl Simmons, need.” cence on all of these allegations. And nearly $70 million, shattering records and making it Music, in New York. DMX’s longtime was admitted to White Plains (NY) DMX made a splash in rap music that’s what they are, allegations,” his the most expensive digital artwork ever sold. New York-based lawyer, Murray Rich- Hospital, facing serious health is- in 1998 with his first studio album attorney Nick Lough told The Asso- Henri Arslanian, PricewaterhouseCooper’s Global man, said the rapper was on life sup- sues,” the family said through a pub- “It’s Dark and Hell is Hot,” which ciated Press. Crypto Leader, said that NFTs give people “bragging port, April 3, at White Plains Hospital. licist. “We ask that you please keep debuted No. 1 on the Billboard 200 The indictment listed no particu- rights” of the assets that they own. ‘He had a heart attack. He’s quite ill,’ lars about the charge beyond the Richman said. (AP) Earl/DMX and us in your thoughts, chart. The multiplatinum selling al- “And what is really amazing with NFT is that it not wishes, and prayers as well as respect bum was anchored by several hits criminal statute definition of child only allows you to actually show to the broader world our privacy as we face these chal- including “Ruff Ryders’ Anthem,” abuse to “willfully torture, willfully that you own this, but it really creates this bond be- lenges.” “Get At Me Dog” and “Stop Being abuse, cruelly beat or otherwise will- tween the holder of the NFT and the artists,” he said. Another statement released Sunday Greedy.” fully maltreat” a child under the age It also allows art to be sold without traditional in- afternoon said the rapper remained in of 18 years. termediaries, so that artists can connect directly with a coma and was on a ventilator. Nominations His attorneys have filed a court buyers without being constrained by galleries or auc- Simmons’ longtime lawyer, Mur- The rapper had four other chart-top- motion seeking more information tion houses, Arslanian said. ray Richman, said the rapper was ping albums including “...And Then about the accusation. Lough said they Sophia will carry on painting, Hanson said, and admitted to the intensive care unit at There Was X,” “Flesh of My Flesh, have reason to believe the charge the next step in the robot’s career could be that of a White Plains Hospital after going into Blood of My Blood,” “The Great De- may involve what he described as a musician. She is working on several musical works in cardiac arrest. Richman said he could pression” and “Grand Champ.” He “spanking” incident. a project called Sophia Pop, where she collaborates not confirm reports that DMX, 50, has released seven albums and earned Court records show that in 2019 a with human musicians to generate music and lyrics, three Grammy nominations. criminal complaint was filed against he said. overdosed on drugs and was not sure “We’re so excited about Sophia’s career as an art- Keach Kopit what caused the heart attack. Along with his music career, DMX Johnson accusing him of hitting his ist,” Hanson said. Richman said he could not confirm paved his way as an actor. He starred son with a belt causing bruises on his reports that DMX, 50, overdosed on in the 1998 film “Belly” and appeared buttocks and thighs. The case was Also: Variety drugs and was not sure what caused in “Romeo Must Die” a couple years later dismissed. NEW YORK: Details from more than 500 million the heart attack. later with Jet Li and the late singer The latest indictment was returned Facebook users have been found available on a web- “I’m very sad about it, extremely Aaliyah. DMX and Aaliyah teamed in October. However, Lough said site for hackers. NEW YORK: Arthur Kopit, a three time sad. He’s like my son,” Richman up for the film’s soundtrack song the arrest this month came days after The information appears to be several years old, Tony Award-nominated playwright and said. “He’s just a tremendous person, “Come Back in One Piece.” Johnson had his parental visitation but it is another example of the vast amount of infor- two-time Pulitzer Prize fi nalist known for tremendous entertainer, tremendous The rapper also starred in “Exit rights restored in court. mation collected by Facebook and other social media fusing disparate genres, absurdism and human being. And so much to offer, Wounds” with Steven Seagal and An arraignment date is set for April sites, and the limits to how secure that information is. a darkly comic world view, has died. He so much to say. Not the run-of-the- “Cradle 2 the Grave” with Li. 7. The availability of the data set was first reported by was 83. mill rapper. A person of great depth.” Over the years, DMX has battled Johnson previously pleaded guilty Business Insider. According to that publication, it has Kopit died Friday, said Rick Miramon- On Saturday night, the TMZ.com with substance abuse. The rapper in March 2020 to violating a domes- information from 106 countries including phone num- tez, a senior publicist at DKC/O&M PR. website reported that it received a canceled a series of shows to check tic violence protection order in Lime- bers, Facebook IDs, full names, locations, birthdates, No other details were available. statement from a representative of himself into a rehabilitation facility in stone County. He received a suspend- and email addresses. Kopit earned a Tony nod in 1970 for DMX, whose real name is Earl Sim- 2019. In an Instagram post, his team ed sentence of a year in jail, with 24 Facebook has been grappling with data security is- “Indians,” a critique of the Vietnam War and America’s treatment of Native mons, that said: “Last night Earl said he apologized for the canceled months on probation. sues for years. In 2018, the social media giant disabled Americans that starred Stacy Keach ‘DMX’ Simmons was rushed to the shows and thanked his fans for the The Athens, Alabama-based band a feature that allowed users to search for one another as Buffalo Bill. Nine years later, he re- hospital after collapsing at home. At continued support. has been on hiatus since 2018, when via phone number following revelations that the po- ceived another nomination for “Wings,” this time he remains in ICU in critical Last year, DMX faced off against lead singer Brittany Howard decided litical firm Cambridge Analytica had accessed infor- the story of a stroke victim’s recovery condition. Earl has been a warrior his Snoop Dogg in a Verzuz battle, which to focus on her solo project. mation on up to 87 million Facebook users without starring Constance Cummings. Both their knowledge or consent. “Indians” and “Wings” were Pulitzer In December 2019, a Ukrainian security researcher fi nalists for drama. ing elephant charged at them. The man wanted to take a photo with the African Jose Manuel Navarrete was being held reported finding a database with the names, phone Kopit earned his third Tony nomina- picked up the toddler and was able to get bull elephant. James said the elephants on $100,000 bail for investigation of numbers and unique user IDs of more than 267 mil- tion in 1982 for “Nine,” an adaptation her out safely. were not harmed. child endangerment. He was set to be lion Facebook users — nearly all US-based — on the of the Federico Fellini’s fi lm “8 1/2. Police said the 25-year-old man San Diego County jail records show arraigned on March 30. open internet. It is unclear if the current data dump is “Nine” returned to Broadway in 2003 It wasn’t immediately known if he had related to this database. and won two Tony Awards, including a lawyer who would speak on his behalf. “This is old data that was previously reported on best revival. In 2009, Rob Marshall Witness Lori Ortale told KSWB-TV in 2019,” the Menlo Park, California-based company directed the fi lm based on Kopit’s script. she heard a woman yelling “Jose, stop” said in a statement. “We found and fixed this issue in Kopit’s other works include “Phan- before a man jumped the fence and August 2019.” tom,” a musical version of “The Phantom through the elephant enclosure. (AP) ❑ ❑ ❑ of the Opera” by Gaston Leroux that has ❑ ❑ ❑ been overshadowed by the more popular SAN FRANCISCO: Twitter says it has begun label- version by Andrew Lloyd Weber, and LAS VEGAS: Soon-to-be newlyweds lined ing tweets that include misleading information about “The End of the World,” a mordant in- up out the door of the marriage license COVID-19 vaccines and using a “strike system” to vestigation of the arms race and nuclear offi ce in Las Vegas on Friday, ahead of a eventually remove accounts that repeatedly violate its destruction. unique date to tie the knot: 4/3/21. He made his Broadway debut in 1963 Nearly 700 couples obtained licenses rules. for the Saturday date, said Jeff Klein, a The company has said that it has started using hu- with “Oh Dad, Poor Dad, Mamma’s Hung You in the Closet and I’m Feelin’ spokesman for the Clark County Mar- man reviewers to assess whether tweets violate its So Sad,” which Jerome Robbins directed riage Bureau, as the city where Elvis can policy against COVID vaccine misinformation. Even- on Broadway while Kopit was still an be part of the wedding party got set to tually, the work will be done by a combination of hu- undergraduate at Harvard. (AP) mark yet another quirky date for nuptials. mans and automation, it said. ❑ ❑ ❑ The clerk’s offi ce marked the occasion Twitter had already banned some COVID-related with keepsake marriage certifi cates. misinformation in December, including falsehoods SAN DIEGO: A father has been arrested “Specialty dates like 4/3/21 are always about how the virus spreads, whether masks are effec- on suspicion of child endangerment after immensely popular,” said county Clerk tive and the risk of infection and death. he carried his 2-year-old daughter into Lynn Goya, who noted that more than 1,800 “Through the use of the strike system, we hope the elephant habitat at the San Diego Zoo couples were married on Dec 13, 2014. to educate people on why certain content breaks our to take a photograph with the animals. April is usually busy for weddings, rules so they have the opportunity to further consider The man bypassed multiple barriers and past dates with notable numeric their behavior and their impact on the public conversa- and “purposely and illegally trespassed” sequences have tallied more than 1,000 tion,” Twitter said in a blog post Monday. into a habitat for Asian and African weddings in a day, Goya said. elephants, zoo spokesman Andrew Paul Simon performs during the final stop of his Homeward Bound — The Fare- The offi ce is bracing for a busy fi rst People with one violation — or strike — will see James said. well Tour concert on Sept 22, 2018, in New York. Sony Music Publishing an- 10 days this December, offering what no action. Two strikes will lead to an account being A witness video provided to NBC San nounced March 31, 2021, that it has acquired Simon’s catalog, which includes the clerk dubs “palindrome days” for locked for 12 hours. Diego shows a man dropping the child six decades of music, from his time in Simon & Garfunkel to his solo career. numbers reading the same forward and as they fl ee the enclosure as a trumpet- Financial details of the deal were not announced. (AP) backward. (AP) ARAB TIMES, TUESDAY, APRIL 6, 2021 SPORTS 14 Spieth ends drought with victory in Texas Tavatanakit holds off charging Ko in ANA Inspiration

SAN ANTONIO, April 5, (AP): Jordan Spieth ended a slump that lasted nearly four years, closing with a 6-under 66 to win the Vale- ro Texas Open for his fi rst victory since the 2017 Brit- ish Open at Royal Birkdale. Now he heads to Augusta Na- tional as one of the favorites at the Masters. “This is a monumental win for me,” Spieth said. “It’s been a long road. There were a lot of times that I didn’t know I would be here.” Spieth sealed it with a 5-foot birdie Patty Tavatanakit of Thailand, cele- putt on the 17th hole, and he won by brates after winning the LPGA’s ANA two shots over Charley Hoffman. Inspiration golf tournament at Mission Spieth went 82 starts on the PGA Hills Country Club, on April 4, in Ran- Tour without a victory since Royal cho Mirage, California. (AP) Birkdale. He missed the Tour Cham- pionship the past two years and nearly holes in 9 under and added a birdie fell out of the top 100 in the world at on the par-4 15th. On the par-5 18th, the start of this year. she drove into rough near the water But the 27-year-old from Dallas that lines the left side, laid up and hit showed signs of turning it around. He a wedge 30 feet long and right. Her was tied for the 54-hole lead in Phoe- birdie try missed to the left, stopping nix. He led by two going into the fi nal inches away. round at Pebble Beach. He was two be- Tavatanakit had a series of late par hind going into the last day at Bay Hill. saves to keep her two-stroke lead. Her 8-footer on the par-4 15th circled the cup and dropped in, she lagged a GOLF 45-footer to 2 feet on the par-4 16th, and chipped to inches on the par-3 Tied for the lead with Matt Wallace 17th after missing the green left. going into Sunday at the TPC San An- The 21-year-old Thai player fi n- Jordan Spieth tees off at the 18th hole during the fi nal round of the Valero Texas Open golf tournament in San Antonio, on April 4. (Inset): Spieth stands tonio, Spieth moved out in front and ished the wire-to-wire victory with with the Valero Texas Open trophy and the boots awarded to the champion of the Valero Texas Open golf tournament. (AP) didn’t let anyone catch him. He built a short par putt on 18. A day after a three-shot lead with a birdie on the matching the tournament 54-hole re- 12th hole, when Hoffman made him cord of 14 under set by Pernilla Lind- ‘Super happy to lift the biggest trophy of my life’ sweat with birdies on both par 3s to get berg in her 2018 victory, Tavatanakit within one shot. fi nished a stroke off Dottie Pepper’s Spieth won for the 12th time on the 72-hole mark of 19 under set in 1999. PGA Tour and moved to No. 38 in the Nelly Korda (66), Sei Young Kim Hurkacz beats Sinner to clinch fi rst Masters title world. It’s the fi rst time in more than a (66) and Nanna Koerstz Madsen (66) year that he is back among the top 50. and Shanshan Feng (69) tied for third MIAMI, April 5, (AP): With the Big In Rancho Mirage, California, Patty at 11 under. Three absent at the Miami Open, and Nantes deep in relegation trouble Tavatanakit survived Lydia Ko’s fi nal- In Destin, Florida, Stephan Jaeger tennis’ next generation scrambling to round charge to win the ANA Inspira- closed with a 4-under 66 and beat Da- fi ll the void, it was Hubert Hurkacz of vid Lipsky in the playoff by making Poland who made a breakthrough. tion for her fi rst LPGA Tour victory. Five strokes ahead entering the day par on the fi rst extra hole to win the The 24-year-old Hurkacz won the Marseille stay on track for Europa League Emerald Coast Classic at Sandestin on biggest title of his career by beating and six in front after a chip-in eagle on the par-5 second, Tavatanakit shot a the Korn Ferry Tour. 19-year-old Jannik Sinner of Italy 7-6 PARIS, April 5, (AP): Marseille Jaeger won for the sixth time on the (4), 6-4. 4-under 68 in 100-degree heat to beat labored to a 2-0 home win against last- Ko by two strokes in the fi rst major Korn Ferry Tour dating to 2016. This Hurkacz improved to 10-0 in Florida place Dijon but strengthened its bid for victory moves him to No. 2 on the this year, including the Delray Beach championship of the year. a Europa League place after its rivals Ko matched Lorena Ochoa’s tour- points list and all but assures a return title in January. Ranked 37th, he is pro- dropped points over the weekend. to the PGA Tour next season. jected to climb to a career-high 16th in nament record with a 62, shooting The scrappy victory moved sixth- 7-under 29 on the front nine for the He also won last year at the Albert- next week’s rankings. place Marseille one point behind Lens “I was super happy I was able to lift best nine-hole score in event’s 50-year sons Boise Open. in fi fth place and a Europa League spot history. The New Zealander began the Lipsky, a Californian who has Eu- the biggest trophy of my life so far,” next season. Rennes and Montpellier Hurkacz said. “I played some of the day tied for seventh at 6 under, eight ropean Tour and Asian Tour member- dropped three points behind Marseille strokes behind Tavatanakit in the tour- ship, birdied the last two holes for a best tennis I ever played. I was solid by drawing their matches on Sunday, throughout the whole tournament.” nament played without spectators for 67 to join Jaeger at 14-under 266 and the day after Lens was held by Lyon. the second time in seven months. force a playoff. But returning to the The matchup in the fi nal was a It was a third win in four games for surprise even though Novak Djoko- Winless since April 2018, the 18th, he made bogey and had to settle Marseille’s new coach, Jorge Sam- 23-year-old Ko played the fi rst 11 for a runner-up fi nish. vic, Rafael Nadal and Roger Federer paoli, but he was clearly frustrated at skipped the tournament, as did reigning times. U.S. Open champion Dominic Thiem. “We knew that Rafa, Roger, Novak, Dijon has not won this year, losing Thiem were not playing,” Sinner said. 11 straight league games and drawing Proteas win by 17 runs “It was a big opportunity for many the other three. Despite facing poor op- players.” position, Marseille struggled to create Marseille’s Florian Thauvin, (center), Dijon’s Jordan Marie, (left), and anything in a drab fi rst half. It was Hurkacz who took full advan- Mama Balde fi ght for the ball during the French League One soccer match SAfrica level ODI series 1-1 vs tage. Along the way he eliminated No. between Marseille and Dijon at the Stade Veledrome Stadium in Marseille, 2-seeded Stefanos Tsitsipas and No. 4 France, on April 4. (AP) SOCCER Andrey Rublev - the fi rst time he has Pakistan despite Fakhar’s 193 beaten two top-10 opponents in a tour- nament. Seconds before the break, Argentina JOHANNESBURG, April 5, (AP): came from 155 balls and he hit 18 fours center back Leonardo Balerdi, who South Africa held out to level the ODI and 10 sixes to give South Africa a big is on loan from Borussia Dortmund, series 1-1 with a 17-run win over Pa- scare in the second one-day interna- TENNIS headed in Dimitri Payet’s corner at the kistan that was much closer than it tional. near post. should have been because of Fakhar Pakistan was 205-7 at one stage be- Hurkacz became his country’s fi rst Payet set up the second goal for an- Zaman’s brilliant 193 in a losing effort. fore Fakhar really got going, but ulti- Masters 1000 champion. other central defender as Alvaro Gon- Pakistan opener Fakhar’s score mately fi nished on 324-9 chasing 342 zalez nodded home from his free kick “Hopefully with my game I can in- to win at the Wanderers in Johannes- in the 78th. burg. spire some people in Poland,” he said. Montpellier was held 1-1 at Angers “Hopefully they enjoyed it there.” Fakhar was run out off the fi rst ball The 6-foot-5 Hurkacz returned well while Rennes needed a late equalizer of the last over in unusual fashion. He against Sinner, breaking four times, from striker Serhou Guirassy to draw was running back to the striker’s end and came to the net at key moments. 2-2 with Reims. “To win against Jannik, you need to English striker Stephy Mavididi’s come up with some really good stuff,” header just after halftime earned him CRICKET Hurkacz said. “He’s an amazing player a ninth goal of the season for Mont- and has an amazing future. I tried to pellier, but Stephane Bahoken equal- for two when he slowed down, thinking stay as solid as I can because he can hit ized for Angers in the 71st. the throw from fi elder Aiden Markram the ball so hard.” In other matches, it was: Lorient was going to the other end. It wasn’t Hurkacz was poised early while 1, Brest 0; Bordeaux 2, Strasbourg 3; and a direct hit found Fakhar short. playing his fi rst fi nal in the top-level Hubert Hurkacz of Poland poses with the trophy after defeating Yannik Nantes 1, Nice 2; and Nimes 0, Saint- Even if Fakhar was there to see it ATP series, the Masters 1000. In the Sinner of Italy during the fi nals of the Miami Open tennis tournament, on Etienne 2. through, Pakistan still faced the very fi rst set, he raced to a 3-0 lead, brief- April 4, in Miami Gardens, Florida. (AP) Denmark striker Kasper Dolberg steep task of getting 31 off that last ly fell behind and then played a solid ble, but he held his fi nal two service week’s rankings. netted twice for Nice. over to win. tiebreaker, closing it out by winning a games, and sealed the win after a 20- “You win or learn when you’re 19 Twenty years after winning its South Africa’s success was down eighth league title, former league 25-stroke rally. shot rally on championship point, with playing the fi nal here,” Sinner said. “I to a thorough batting display, with standout Nantes is 19th and deep in 80 from opener Quinton de Kock, 92 Sinner, appearing in just his third Sinner pushing a forehand wide. was a little bit nervous from the begin- Masters 1000 tournament, served lead- relegation trouble with just seven from new captain Temba Bavuma and The tournament also represented ning of the match, but it’s normal be- ing 6-5 in the fi rst set and was broken games remaining. South Africa’s batsman Rassie van half-centuries from Rassie van der at love. He lost his serve twice more to a leap forward for Sinner, Hurkacz’s cause you really want to win.” A hectic Saturday saw defending der Dussen plays a shot during Dussen (60) and David Miller (50 not fall behind 4-0 in the second set. good friend and doubles partner. The No. 1-ranked Ash Barty earned her champion Paris Saint-Germain lose the second One Day International out). “I was not serving well, especially in former junior skiing champion has second successive Miami title Satur- at home to Lille, which is three points cricket match between South Af- Van der Dussen’s 60 came from just the beginning of the second set, and not improved his ranking from 78th at the day when Bianca Andreescu retired in clear at the top. rica and Pakistan at the Wanderers 37 balls and Miller’s 50 from 27 deliv- returning deep enough,” Sinner said. start of last year, and he’s projected the fi nal because of a foot injury while PSG star Neymar was sent off for Stadium in Johannesburg, South eries to give South Africa late impetus It was then Hurkacz’s turn to wob- to climb to a career-high 21st in next trailing 6-3, 4-0. the second time this season. Africa, on April 4. (AP) to post its big total of 341-6. ARAB TIMES, TUESDAY, APRIL 6, 2021 SPORTS 15

Phillies pitchers dominate again, sweep Braves on Bohm hit Ohtani’s 2-way play, Walsh’s HRs lead Angels past ChiSox ANAHEIM, California, April 5, (AP): Jeff Hoffman (1-0), acquired from Shohei Ohtani hit a 451-foot homer and the Colorado Rockies in an off-season pitched two-hit ball into the fi fth inning trade, gave up a just run and three hits in a historic two-way performance, and through fi ve innings with six strikeouts. Jared Walsh hit a walkoff homer in the Indians 9, Tigers 3 Los Angeles Angels’ 7-4 victory over In Detorit, Jordan Luplow hit a two- the Chicago White Sox. run homer to cap a four-run seventh, Walsh hit two homers, including a and Cleveland overcame a home run big three-run shot off Matt Foster to by Akil Baddoo on the fi rst pitch of his end the Angels’ third win over Chicago fi rst major league at-bat. in their four-game, season-opening se- Cleveland avoided a sweep in De- ries. troit after falling behind 3-1 in the Ohtani reached another milestone third. Yu Chang put the Indians up 4-3 in his unique career when he took the with a two-run single off Daniel Norris mound and occupied the No. 2 slot in (0-1) in the seventh, and Luplow added the batting order for the Angels. He his homer one out later. was just the third pitcher in 45 seasons Baddoo was taken by the Tigers to hit for himself in a game with the with the third pick of the 2020 winter designated hitter available, and the fi rst meeting draft of unprotected players. to bat second since Jack Dunleavy did The 22-year-old, who had never played it for the Cardinals in 1903. above Class A, gave his bat a little fl ip after hitting an opposite-fi eld drive to left in the third off Aaron Civale (1-0). BASEBALL Orioles 11, Red Sox3 In Boston, Boston dropped to 0-3 In the fi rst inning alone, Ohtani both at Fenway Park for the fi rst time since threw the hardest pitch by any starting 1948 and the second time ever as Trey pitcher in baseball this season and pro- Mancini and Austin Hays hit two-run duced the hardest hit by any batter this doubles during a seven-run third inning. season. Ohtani touched 101 mph with Cedric Mullins went 5 for 5 with a fastball, and his fi rst-pitch homer off three doubles and walk for the Orioles, Chicago’s Dylan Cease left his bat at collecting four of hits in the initial four 115 mph. innings. Maikel Franco added a fi rst- Ohtani also didn’t allow a run inning, two-run double, helping Bal- through the fi rst four innings, but his timore to its fi rst three-game sweep at control problems abetted Chicago’s Fenway since Aug. 25-27, 2017. three-run rally in the fi fth. Ohtani left Boston is coming off a 24-36 record after a passed ball and a throwing error that was its worst winning percentage by catcher Max Stassi led to a scary col- since 1965. lision at home plate between Ohtani and Baltimore left-hander Bruce Zim- AL MVP José Abreu, but the Angels merman (1-0) gave up three runs said the two-way star avoided injury. and four hits in six innings with fi ve New Angels closer Raisel Iglesias strikeouts and one walk for his fi rst (1-0) couldn’t quite come up with a victory. Philadelphia Phillies Alec Bohm (28) hits an RBI single during the eighth inning of a baseball game against the Atlanta Braves, on April 4, in Philadelphia. (AP) fi ve-out save. Chicago tied it in the Blue Jays 3, Yankees 1 ninth when Nick Madrigal scored from In New York, Vladimir Guerrero second on a throwing error by Iglesias, Jr. and Randal Grichuk homered off who tried to get him at third after fi eld- Domingo Germán (0-1). who allowed ing Adam Eaton’s one-out grounder. three runs over three innings in his Phillies 2, Braves 1 fi rst appearance since Sept. 18, 2019, In Philadelphia, Alec Bohm hit a tie- after serving a suspension under Major Ovi scores historic PP goal breaking single in the eighth inning and League Baseball’s domestic violence Zach Efl in gave Philadelphia another policy. Toronto won two of three. strong start to complete a three-game T.J. Zeuch pitched four scoreless sweep of defending NL East champion innings, left-hander Ryan Borucki (1- Atlanta. 0) got two outs to escape a jam in the Philadelphia’s starting trio of Aaron sixth and Julian Merryweather got his Nola, Zack Wheeler and Efl in (1-0) second save with a perfect ninth. as Capitals hold off Devils surrendered three runs, 11 hits and one Cubs 4, Pirates 4 walk in 20 2/3 innings against an At- In Chicago, Zach Davies (1-0) per- lanta lineup that led the majors in 2020 mitted two runs and four hits in 5 2/3 with 556 hits. innings in his Chicago debut against Red Wings end drought in Tampa with 5-1 win over Lightning The Phillies bullpen, which posted a short-handed Pittsburgh. 7.06 ERA in 2020, didn’t yield a run in Ian Happ homered and Kris Bryant NEWARK, N.J., April Central Division. 7 1/3 innings in the set. reached three times as Chicago earned Driedger, who has earned wins Reds 12, Cardinals 1 its second straight win after losing on 5, (AP): Alex Ovechkin in four of his last fi ve appearances, In Cincinnati, Nick Castellanos opening day. moved into a second-place stopped all 32 shots he faced for his came out swinging with his bat a day Pittsburgh played without third tie on the all-time list for second shutout of the season. after being ejected for inciting a bench- baseman Ke’Bryan Hayes, placed on Joonas Korpisalo also had 32 saves clearing melee, hitting a three-run the 10-day injured list with a strained NHL power-play goals and for Columbus. homer off Carlos Martinez (0-1) and left wrist. the Washington Capitals Hurricanes 1, Stars 0 triple to fi nish the series 6 for 11 with Rangers 7, Royals 3 beat the New Jersey Devils In Raleigh, N.C., Petr Mrazek made fi ve RBIs. In Kansas City, Mo., Nate Lowe 28 saves in his fi rst game back after a Tyler Naquin also a three-run shot three-run homer in the third for Texas, 5-4, completing a sweep of two-month absence as Carolina beat for the Reds, who won two in a row to which avoided a sweep, and a team-re- their eight-game season se- Dallas. take the opening matchup of NL Cen- cord nine RBIs in the fi rst three games Mrazek, who notched his third shut- tral teams that earned wild-card spots of the season, a Texas record. ries. Ovechkin’s second-period goal out of the season, played for the fi rst last season. Isiah Kiner-Falefa also drove in time since suffering a thumb injury three runs. was his 265th with the extra man, Jan. 30 against Dallas. Jordan Lyles (1-0) gave up two runs tying him with Brett Hull for sec- Stars coach Rick Bowness didn’t in 5 2/3 innings, struck out eight and ond place and leaving him nine allowed fi ve hits. return to the bench for the third period Twins 8, Brewers 2 because of what the team announced In Milwaukee, Miguel Sanó and was a COVID protocol. ICE HOCKEY Jordan Martinook’s second-period Mitch Garver homered to back up Mi- Washington Capitals’ Justin Schultz (2) fi ghts for control of the puck with chael Pineda (1-0), who gave up just goal was enough scoring. It was his behind all-time league leader Dave New Jersey Devils’ Jesper Boqvist (90) during the fi rst period of an NHL second goal of the season, with the one unearned run and four hits in fi ve hockey game, on April 4, in Newark, NJ. (AP) innings. Andreychuk (274). The 35-year- other coming Feb. 13 at Dallas. Luis Arraez went 3 of 3 with a pair Dallas goalie Jake Oettinger made old Russian, who also picked up 37 saves just a night after a 41-save of walks as the Twins took two of two assists, has 19 goals this sea- three. Max Kepler and Sanó each drove NHL Results/Standings outing in a victory against the Hurri- son and 725 in his career. canes. in three runs. Ilya Samsonov stopped 35 shots, Dodgers 4, Rockies 2 Maple Leafs 4, Flames 2 and T.J. Oshie, Conor Sheary, Carl In Calgary, Alberta, Auston Mat- In Denver, Julio Urías (1-0) gave Hagelin and Evgeny Kuznetsov also WASHINGTON, April 5, (AP): Results and standings from the NHL games on up one run and three hits over seven- Sunday. thews and John Tavares each had a scored for Washington. The eight- goal and an assist and Toronto beat plus innings in the longest start of the game sweep was the fi rst in team his- Detroit 5 Tampa Bay 1 Arizona 3 Anaheim OT 2 24-year-old left-hander’s major league Washington 5 New Jersey 4 Carolina 1 Dallas 0 Calgary. career. He struck out six and walked tory against a single opponent. Florida 3 Columbus 0 Toronto 4 Calgary 2 Morgan Rielly and Alex Galche- one. Travis Zajac scored twice and East Division West Division nyuk also scored for the Maple Leafs, Yegor Sharangovich and Jesper Bratt GP W L OT Pts GF GA GP W L OT Pts GF GA who are 6-3-1 in their last 10 and con- Austin Gomber (0-1) walked seven, Washington 38 25 9 4 54 132 117 Los Angeles Angels starting pitcher allowing three runs - one earned - and once for New Jersey, which trailed 3-2 Colorado 37 25 8 4 54 132 83 tinue to top the NHL’s North Division. after two periods despite outshooting NY Islanders 38 24 10 4 52 117 90 Vegas 36 24 10 2 50 113 84 Shohei Ohtani (17) throws during the one hit in three innings. Pittsburgh 38 24 12 2 50 126 102 Minnesota 36 23 11 2 48 104 89 Michael Hutchinson made 32 saves. first inning of a baseball game against Astros 9, Athletics 2 the Caps 31-12. Mackenzie Black- Boston 34 19 10 5 43 96 86 Arizona 38 18 15 5 41 102 116 Joakim Nordstrom and Andrew the Chicago White Sox, on April 4, in wood fi nished with 14 saves. Philadelphia 36 17 14 5 39 109 132 St Louis 37 16 15 6 38 103 118 Mangiapane scored for the Flames, In Oakland, California, Jason Castro NY Rangers 37 17 15 5 39 117 99 Anaheim, California. (AP) homered in his fi rst start with Houston Red Wings 5, Lightning 1 San Jose 37 17 16 4 38 105 122 who are 2-8-0 in their last 10 and 5-8-0 New Jersey 36 13 17 6 32 88 113 Los Angeles 36 14 16 6 34 98 102 In Tampa, Florida, Thomas Greiss Buffalo 37 8 23 6 22 82 128 since Darryl Sutter took over as head since as a free agent following the 2016 Anaheim 39 11 21 7 29 87 130 season, helping complete a four-game made 27 stops to lead Detroit to its fi rst Central Division coach. David Rittich stopped 26 shots. GP W L OT Pts GF GA North Division sweep. road win against Tampa Bay in the GP W L OT Pts GF GA Toronto has won fi ve of seven meet- regular season in more than 10 years. Florida 39 26 9 4 56 130 103 MLB Results/Standings Dusty Baker tied Bill McKechnie for Tampa Bay 38 26 10 2 54 130 93 Toronto 38 25 10 3 53 125 95 ings between the teams this season. 14th among managers with 1,896 wins. Marc Staal, Valtteri Filppula, Mi- Carolina 37 25 9 3 53 120 92 Edmonton 38 23 14 1 47 125 109 The Flames host the Maple Leafs chael Rasmussen, Darren Helm and Nashville 39 20 18 1 41 99 113 Winnipeg 38 22 13 3 47 121 104 again Monday. Diamondbacks 3, Padres 1 Montreal 34 16 9 9 41 111 94 In San Diego, Rookie Taylor Wid- Dylan Larkin all scored for the Red Chicago 39 17 17 5 39 109 122 Coyotes 3, Ducks 2, OT WASHINGTON, April 5, (AP): Re- Wings, who snapped a three-game Dallas 36 13 13 10 36 98 95 Vancouver 37 16 18 3 35 100 120 sults and standings from the MLB ener (1-0) held San Diego to three hits Columbus 40 14 18 8 36 98 129 Calgary 39 16 20 3 35 100 119 In Anaheim, California, Jakob Chy- games on Sunday. over six scoreless innings to win his winless streak. Luke Glendening and Detroit 40 13 22 5 31 88 125 Ottawa 38 13 21 4 30 101 142 chrun scored his third goal 1:47 into Toronto 3 NY Yankees 1 fi rst big league start and David Peralta Anthony Mantha each fi nished with Note: Two points for a win, one point for overtime loss. The top four teams in each overtime and Arizona Coyotes beat Cleveland 9 Detroit 3 two assists for Detroit, which had lost division will qualify for playoffs under this season’s temporary realignment. Anaheim. Baltimore 11 Boston 3 hit a two-run triple as Arizona avoided Texas 7 KC Chiefs 3 a four-game sweep. 17 consecutive regular-season games It was the fi rst career hat trick for in Tampa. Chychrun, who scored on a long wrist Twins 8 Brewers 2 Fernando Tatis Jr. hit his fi rst homer ond period. out, and Florida won its sixth straight. Astros 9 Oakland 2 of the season with two outs in the ninth, Victor Hedman scored his seventh shot. LA Angels 7 Chic. W. Sox 4 goal for the Lightning. Christopher Panthers 3, Blue Jackets 0 Frank Vatrano and Gustav Forsling Adin Hill made 18 saves for the Phillies 2 Atlanta 1 off Chris Devenski, who got the save. Cincinnati 12 St Louis 1 Tatis also made his fi fth error at short- Gibson stopped 13 shots in the loss, In Sunrise, Florida, Aleksander also scored, and MacKenzie Weegar Coyotes, who swept the two game set Chic Cubs 4 Pittsburgh 3 stop. his undoing coming when he allowed Barkov had a goal and an assist, Chris had two assists as the Panthers moved after winning 4-2 on Friday. Arizona LA Dodgers 4 Colorado 2 three goals in a span of 2:53 in the sec- Driedger posted his third career shut- into sole possession of fi rst place in the has won fi ve of six. Arizona 3 SD Padres 1 East Division W L Pct GB Baltimore 3 0 1.000 _ TB Rays 2 1 .667 1 Asgreen beats Van der Poel, Toronto 2 1 .667 1 New York 1 2 .333 2 Boston 0 3 .000 3 Central Division wins Tour of Flanders classic W L Pct GB Detroit 2 1 .667 _ KC Royals 2 1 .667 _ OUDENAARDE, Belgium, April 5, was a really hard race. We were both Twins 2 1 .667 _ (AP): Danish cyclist Kasper Asgreen on the limit. It was a question of mar- Cleveland 1 2 .333 1 timed his attack perfectly with about gins at the end.” Chicago 1 3 .250 1-1/2 West Division 250 meters left and overtook Dutch- Both completed the 254-kilometer W L Pct GB man Mathieu Van der Poel to win the (157.5-mile) trek in just over six hours. Houston 4 0 1.000 _ Tour of Flanders classic for the fi rst The last Dane to win the race was Los Angeles 3 1 .750 1 Seattle 2 1 .667 1-1/2 time. Rolf Sorensen in 1997. Texas 1 2 .333 2-1/2 Asgreen sat on the defending cham- It was Asgreen’s second big win of Oakland 0 4 .000 4 pion’s wheel entering the last kilom- the season after victory late last month East Division eter and then at the E3 Classic, which was also held W L Pct GB Philadelphia 3 0 1.000 _ surged ahead of in the Flanders region of Belgium. New York 0 0 .000 1-1/2 Van der Poel, Van der Poel, who rides for the Washington 0 0 .000 1-1/2 who tried to re- Alpecin-Fenix team, won last year’s Miami 1 2 .333 2 Atlanta 0 3 .000 3 sist but eased Central Division up just before W L Pct GB the line when he CYCLING Chicago 2 1 .667 _ knew defeat was Cincinnati 2 1 .667 _ Milwaukee 1 2 .333 1 inevitable. exciting race in a photo fi nish ahead Pittsburgh 1 2 .333 1 “I felt good in of his former Cyclo-cross rival Wout St Louis 1 2 .333 1 the last kilome- van Aert of Belgium, who was dropped West Division W L Pct GB tres still so I de- from the leading group of three riders Los Angeles 3 1 .750 _ cided to try and Asgreen with 17 kilometers (10.5 miles) to go. San Diego 3 1 .750 _ trust my sprint,” He fi nished third, about 30 seconds be- SF Giants 1 2 .333 1-1/2 Arizona 1 3 .250 2 the 26-year-old Elegant-QuickStep hind the front two. Colorado 1 3 .250 2 Tampa Bay Lightning goaltender Christopher Gibson, of Finland, makes a save against Detroit Red Wings’ Filip rider said. “I decided to stay (on) the His father Adrie van der Poel won Zadina, of Czech Republic, during the fi rst period of an NHL hockey game, on April 4, in Tampa, Florida. (AP) wheel, so I could decide when to go. It the race in 1986. ARAB TIMES, TUESDAY, APRIL 6, 2021 16

In this Thursday, March 25, 2021 fi le photo, Robert MacIntyre, of Scotland, misses a birdie putt on the 16th hole during a second round match at the Dell Technologies Match Play Cham- pionship golf tournament in Austin, Texas. MacIntyre developed his fi ght- ing spirit playing the Scottish sport of shinty. He makes his Masters debut this week. (AP) — See Also Page 14 Sports Latest sports scores at — http://sports.arabtimesonline.com Stanford wins women’s NCAA title Jones named Most Outstanding Player

SAN ANTONIO, April After a timeout, Jones answered with a three-point play with 2:24 left. 5, (AP): Tara VanDer- That would be Stanford’s last basket of veer hugged each of her the game. McDonald got the Wildcats Stanford players as they with 54-53 with 36.6 seconds left con- verting three of four free throws. climbed the ladder to cut “I just owe it all to my teammates, down the nets, capping a they have confi dence in me when I taxing whirlwind journey don’t have confi dence in myself,” said Jones, who was honored as the tourna- and ending an exhausting ment’s Most Outstanding Player. “I championship drought for saw they needed me to come up big the Cardinal. and I did.” The Cardinal, after another It took 29 timeout couldn’t even get a shot off, years, that in- giving Arizona one last chance with 6.1 seconds left, but McDonald’s con- cluded 10 weeks tested shot from the top of the key at on the road this season because of the coronavi- BASKETBALL rus, for VanDer- veer and the Cardinal to be the buzzer bounced off the rim. crowned NCAA The team didn’t complain and went women’s bas- about their business and now have an- VanDerveer other NCAA championship. Along the ketball champi- way the Hall of Fame coach earned her ons again. 1,099th career victory to pass Pat Sum- Haley Jones scored 17 points and mitt for the most all time in women’s Stanford beat Arizona 54-53, giving basketball history. the Cardinal and their Hall of Fame Now the 67-year-old coach has a third coach their fi rst national championship national title to go along with the ones since 1992 on Sunday night. she won in 1990 and 1992. That moved It wasn’t a masterpiece by any her into a tie with Baylor’s Kim Mulkey stretch with both teams struggling to for third most all time behind Geno Au- score and missing easy layups and riemma and Summitt. VanDerveer had shots, but Stanford did just enough to many great teams between titles, includ- pull off the win - it’s second straight ing the ones led by Candice Wiggins by a point. Stanford (31-2) built a nine- and the Ogwumike sisters - Nneka and point lead in the fourth quarter before Chiney, but the Cardinal just couldn’t Arizona (21-6) cut it to 51-50 on star end their season with that elusive win in Stanford players celebrate with the trophy after the championship game against Arizona in the women’s Final Four NCAA college basketball tournament guard Aari McDonald’s 3-pointer. the title game until Sunday night. at the Alamodome in San Antonio. Stanford won 54-53. (AP)

Grizzlies defeat short-handed 76ers United consolidate 2nd place Clippers dominate Lakers to end 2-game skid Tottenham cave in late LOS ANGELES, April 5, (AP): Mar- cus Morris scored 22 points and the again to frustrate Mou Los Angeles Clippers dominated the NBA Results/Standings short-handed Lakers in a 104-86 victo- LONDON, April 5, (AP): Defend- ry on Sunday to end a two-game skid. ing leads used to be a forte of Jose Kawhi Leonard had 19 points, 10 Mourinho, soccer’s arch-pragma- rebounds and eight assists, and Paul WASHINGTON, April 5, (AP): NBA results tist. and standings on Sunday. George added 16 points for the Clip- Chicago 115 Brooklyn 107 Not anymore, it seems. pers. LA Clippers 104 LA Lakers 86 Tottenham caved in again, con- The Lakers trailed the entire game Boston 116 Charlotte 86 ceding an 85th-minute goal to draw Memphis 116 Philadelphia 100 in which they were without injured Atlanta 117 Golden State 111 2-2 at Newcastle and stay outside All-Star duo LeBron James and An- New Orleans 122 Houston 115 the top four of the Premier League. thony Davis, as well as Andre Drum- Denver 119 Orlando 109 If Mourinho’s team could see mond and Wesley Matthews. They’ve Eastern Conference out victories, theycould likely al- dropped six of nine. Atlantic Division ready start planning for life in next Montrezl Harrell led the Lakers with W L Pct GB season’s Champions League. After 19 points against his old team. Marc Philadelphia 34 16 .680 - Brooklyn 34 16 .680 - all, Spurs have dropped 11 points Gasol was the only starter in double New York 25 25 .500 9 because of goals conceded in the fi gures with 11 points. Boston 25 25 .500 9 fi nal 10 minutes of games this Grizzlies 116, 76ers 100 Toronto 19 30 .388 14½ season, the most of any Premier Southeast Division In Philadelphia, Grayson Allen had League side. Los Angeles Clippers guard Reggie Jackson (1) drives past Los Angeles W L Pct GB As it is, Tottenham are in fi fth Brighton’s Pascal Gross, (left), 11 of his 15 points during a game- Atlanta 26 24 .520 - and Manchester United’s Fred Lakers center Montrezl Harrell (15) during the fi rst half of an NBA basket- Miami 26 24 .520 - place - two points behind fourth- changing third quarter, lifting Mem- ball game in Los Angeles. (AP) challenge for the ball during the phis over short-handed Philadelphia, Charlotte 25 24 .510 ½ place Chelsea - and engaged in a English Premier League soc- which was without All-Star center Joel Washington 17 31 .354 8 furious tussle with perhaps six ri- cer match between Manchester assists to lead short-handed Brooklyn, Evan Fournier had four 3-point- Orlando 17 33 .340 9 vals for the fi nal qualifi cation po- Embiid. Central Division United and Brighton and Hove Dillon Brooks scored 17 points and which played without James Harden ers and 17 points. Robert Williams sitions for Europe’s elite competi- Albion at Old Trafford, Man- and Kevin Durant. Jeff Green added 21 fi nished with 16 points and eight re- W L Pct GB tion. Jonas Valanciunas had 16 points and Milwaukee 32 17 .653 - chester, England. (AP) 12 rebounds for the Grizzlies, who be- off the bench. The Nets had won fi ve bounds to help Boston post its second Indiana 22 26 .458 9½ gan play ninth in the Western Confer- straight and 10 of 12. straight victory. Chicago 20 28 .417 11½ SOCCER portantly, they are 11 points clear ence. Memphis had seven players in Hawks 117, Warriors 111 Terry Rozier led Charlotte with 22 Cleveland 17 32 .347 15 of Tottenham in fi fth so appears points and seven assists. Devonte’ Detroit 14 35 .286 18 almost certain to be in the Champi- double-fi gures. In Atlanta, Clint Capela had 24 Western Conference Tobias Harris scored 21 points for the Graham added 11 points. The 30-point ons League next season. points and 18 rebounds, Danilo Galli- loss is the Hornets’ worst of the sea- Southwest Division “Same coach, different players,” Solskjaer said before the game 76ers, who have played 11 of their last nari scored 25 points and Atlanta beat 12 games without Embiid. Embiid re- son. W L Pct GB Mourinho said of his former teams’ that striker Anthony Martial could Golden State for its third straight win. Charlotte was without LaMelo Ball Dallas 27 21 .563 - reputation for grinding out wins. turned from a 10-game absence due to a Memphis 24 23 .511 2½ miss the rest of the season because Stephen Curry and Draymond Green (fractured right wrist), Malik Monk Newcastle must particularly irri- of a knee injury sustained on inter- bone bruise in his left knee in Saturday returned after injuries forced both to San Antonio 24 23 .511 2½ night’s 122-113 victory over the Min- (sprained right ankle) and Gordon New Orleans 22 27 .449 5½ tate Mourinho. It was the northeast national duty with France. Rash- miss an embarrassing blowout against Hayward, who went on the injured list Houston 13 36 .265 14½ club that converted a contentiously ford hobbled off soon after his goal Toronto on Friday. The Warriors were Friday after he sprained his right foot Northwest Division awarded, stoppage-time penalty to with an apparent leg injury. a different team, but they still couldn’t during a win at Indiana. W L Pct GB somehow secure a 1-1 draw at Tot- With 77 minutes gone in their BASKETBALL close out the Hawks. Utah 38 11 .776 - tenham Hotspur Stadium in Sep- Nuggets 119, Magic 109 Denver 31 18 .633 7 match at Aston Villa, Fulham was Curry, returning from a tailbone in- Portland 30 19 .612 8 tember. leading 1-0 and heading out of the jury, had 37 points as the Warriors lost In Denver, Aaron Gordon scored 24 And in his managerial career in nesota Timberwolves, but he didn’t play points against his former team, rallying Oklahoma City 20 29 .408 18 relegation zone at the expense of in the second game of a back-to-back in their third straight and seventh in the Minnesota 12 38 .240 26½ the Premier League, Mourinho’s Newcastle. last eight games. Denver past Orlando. Pacifi c Division order to recover from that outing. W L Pct GB teams - Chelsea (two spells), Man- Within four minutes, Scott Park- Gordon scored Denver’s fi rst dozen chester United and now Tottenham Pelicans 122, Rockets 115 Celtics 116, Hornets 86 points, then helped the Nuggets erase Phoenix 34 14 .708 - er’s team were behind and staring LA Clippers 33 18 .647 2½ - have only won once in nine trips at another week in the bottom at In Houston, Lonzo Ball had 27 In Boston, Jayson Tatum had 22 an 18-point halftime defi cit for their LA Lakers 31 19 .620 4 to Newcastle’s St. James’ Park. Golden State 23 27 .460 12 least. points and a career-high eight 3-point- points and eight rebounds, and Boston 14th win in 17 games and their 10th On this occasion, it was Joe Wil- blew past short-handed Charlotte. straight over the Magic. Sacramento 22 28 .440 13 Trezeguet, a second-half substi- ers, and New Orleans beat Houston to lock - a player on loan from Totten- tute, scored in the 78th and 81st end a two-game skid. ham’s fi erce rival, Arsenal - who minutes before Ollie Watkins Ball was on fi re early, making all grabbed the late equalizer, after added a third in a 3-1 win for Villa, four of his 3-point attempts in the Harry Kane’s double canceled out which were again without captain fi rst quarter in his return after miss- Valencia ‘walk off’ fi eld the opening goal from Joelinton. and star player Jack Grealish. ing seven games with a hip injury. He Tottenham have failed to win six Third-to-last Fulham dropped cooled off after that and didn’t hit from games this season in which they led three points behind Newcastle. long range again until the third quarter, in protest; Atlético lose at half time. That is also the most of “We’ve got a fi ghting chance,” when he made two. He had nine as- any team. Parker said. “We need to improve sists, and his 27 points tied a season- MADRID, April 5, (AP): On a day the final qualification spot for the While Tottenham often fi nishe and understand where we went best on a night he outdid his previous dominated by Valencia saying they Champions League with the home vic- games poorly, Man United have wrong, and be brutally honest that career mark of seven 3s, which he’d felt threatened into resuming its inter- tory against Atlético. a habit of starting them badly this that wasn’t good enough. accomplished four times. rupted game after an alleged racial Marcos Acuña netted the winner season. “We need to understand and Kelly Olynyk had a season-high 26 insult, Atlético Madrid risk seeing with a header in the 70th minute. It didn’t matter in the end against smell what we’re in, where we are. points in his second 20-point game in their once-comfortable Spanish league Lucas Ocampos missed a penalty kick Brighton, with Marcus Rashford The last 15 minutes we didn’t de- the fi ve games since he was traded to lead cut to a point after losing to for the hosts eight minutes into the and Mason Greenwood scoring in serve anything out of the game.” Houston from Miami. The Rockets lost Sevilla. match at the Ramón Sánchez-Pizjúan the second half to complete a 2-1 Southampton’s top-fl ight status their fourth straight. Valencia stopped playing at Cádiz Stadium. win at Old Trafford that consoli- looks to be safe for another season Bulls 115, Nets 107 on Sunday and walked off the field “To beat the leaders you have to do dated second place for United. after coming from behind to beat In Chicago, Nikola Vucevic had 22 before halftime after defender Mouctar a lot of things well,” Sevilla coach Danny Welbeck, a former Unit- Burnley 3-2. points and 13 rebounds, Zach LaVine Diakhaby said he was insulted by Julen Lopetegui said. ed player, gave Brighton the lead. Ten points now separate South- added 25 points and Chicago beat Cádiz defender Juan Cala. Fourth- Sevilla extended their unbeaten United have now claimed 25 ampton from Fulham, which only Brooklyn to snap a six-game losing Atletico Madrid’s Marcos Llorente, place Sevilla beat Atlético 1-0. streak in the league to four games, points from a losing position this have seven games left. Nathan streak. (left), and Sevilla’s Marcos Acuna, The loss left Diego Simeone’s team while Atlético lost for the first time in season, at least nine more than any Redmond completed the comeback Tomas Satoransky had a season- (right), duel for the ball during a only three points ahead of second- five league matches. other side. Ole Gunnar Solskjaer’s in a thriller at St. Mary’s Stadium high 19 points and 11 assists as Chica- Spanish La Liga soccer match be- place Real Madrid, which on Saturday “We have to keep working hard and team restored the 14-point gap to with a 66th-minute volley, follow- go won for the fi rst time since acquir- tween Sevilla and Atletico de Ma- beat Eibar 2-0 to tighten the race for increase our intensity,” Simeone said. league leaders Manchester City ing strikes before halftime by Stu- ing Vucevic before the trade deadline. drid at the Ramon Sanchez-Pizjuan the title entering the final stretch. “The Spanish league is always tough and have a game in hand. More im- art Armstrong and Danny Ings. stadium in Seville, Spain. (AP) Kyrie Irving had 24 points and 15 Sevilla strengthened their hold on until the very end.”

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