Iran Tests Anti-Ship Missile As Powers Press N-Pullback

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SUNDAY, JANUARY 17, 2021 / JUMADA AL THANI 4, 1442 AH emergency number 112 NO. 17589 16 PAGES 150 FILS U.S. NAMES BAHRAIN, UAE MAJOR SECURITY PARTNERS Opinion Iran tests anti-ship missile Ibn Khaldun: Nations fall if rulers lack top advisors as Powers press N-pullback

By Ahmed Al-Jarallah mercial nor financial interests. In Editor-in-Chief, the Arab Times fact, these leaders brag about such choices due to their conviction that CHOOSING good advisors is one of those advisors will paint the actual the main ingredients of state admin- image of the country to them and rely istration and growth. That is what an on the demands of the people. Arab scholar of Islam, social scien- This kind of approach is not limit- tist, philosopher and historian Abdul ed to running a country only, but also Rahman Ibn Khaldun had written in parties and companies. his famous book “Al-Muqaddimah” Currently, some Arabian Gulf (The Introduction) - the recipe for countries are suffering from several the fall of states, almost six centuries crises economically and politically. ago. Unfortunately, the plans put in place “Poor selection of the aides (advi- to solve them are extemporaneous, sors) by the ruler is an outright sui- provocative and unrehearsed. This cide attempt for the state because definitely indicates that the crises they blindfold the ruler. Therefore, will escalate if the political leaders do justice becomes illusive”. In addition, not change the approach, not only in “the state reaches a stage of collapse terms of choosing advisors, but also when it is unable to meet and face the on how they deal with cases and files challenges it encounters”. based on scientific, realism and trans- In the advanced countries, the se- parency approach. lection of competent advisors who Irrespective of the ruler’s knowl- prioritize the country’s interest over edge and sagacity, it is not possible anything else has been the basis for for him to know everything transpir- its revival and for getting rid of its ing in the country. He therefore needs problems quickly. helpers who are loyal to the country In the previous editorial, we had and not to the person. He is the sym- talked about China using an Iraqi bol of the state, and loyalty to the British advisor, who navigated the state means loyalty to its leader. transition to a market economy and Indeed, countries get sick. Howev- laid the practical foundations that er, the type of treatment it receives is brought about tremendous progress what determines whether it will heal in a society that was based on simple or the condition will worsen and thus economy and agriculture. expedite the collapse of that country. Also, there are countries that have Therefore, an exit from the current achieved many benefits from estab- crisis in Kuwait can happen through lishing economic and social councils an economic council composed of to manage their plans, and overcame scientific elites who are devoid of In this photo released on Saturday, Jan 16, by the Iranian Revolutionary Guard, missiles are launched in a drill in Iran. Iran’s paramilitary Revolution- challenges. It helped them become personal interests and do not aim to ary Guard conducted a drill Saturday launching anti-warship ballistic missiles at a simulated target in the Indian Ocean, state television reported, amid top countries economically because fulfill personal mandates at the ex- heightened tensions over Tehran’s nuclear program and a US pressure campaign against the Islamic Republic. (AP) the economy sector is the backbone pense of the country and its people. and soul of the state. If this sector Time is running out. As His High- suffers any damage, diseases begin ness the Amir Sheikh Nawaf Al-Ah- Drill drones mirror those in Saudi attacks to run in its body and it will eventu- mad had said in his speech during the ally collapse if the leadership doesn’t opening session of the National As- sembly, “there is no longer the luxury change the advisors and find the right of 1,800 kilometers (1,120 miles). The report did not specify the type management institutions. of wasting more effort, time and po- TEHRAN, Jan 16, (AP): Iran’s paramilitary Revolu- Some Arabian Gulf countries have tentials through bickering, settling tionary Guard conducted a drill Saturday launching of missiles used. worked for decades to seek the help scores and fabricating crises, which anti-warship ballistic missiles at a simulated target in In the first phase of the drill Friday, the Guard’s aerospace division launched of international consultants, as well have become a subject of resentment surface-to-surface ballistic missiles and drones against “hypothetical enemy bas- as a good selection of experts from and frustration for the public and an the Indian Ocean, state television reported, amid height- es.” Iranian state television described the drill as taking place in the country’s vast among its citizens. They have made obstacle to any positive progress”. ened tensions over Tehran’s nuclear program and a U.S. central desert, the latest in a series of snap exercises called amid the escalating great strides in their development and The best evidence of this insight- pressure campaign against the Islamic Republic. tensions over its nuclear program. Footage also showed four unmanned, triangle- progress. ful vision is the decline in the credit shaped drones flying in a tight formation, smashing into targets and exploding. In some other countries, selection rating by two degrees from “AA2” Footage showed two missiles smash into a target that Iranian state The drill drones resembled those used in a 2019 attack in Saudi Arabia that of advisors are done on the basis of the to “A1”. This reflects the increase television described as “hypothetical hostile enemy ships” at a distance temporarily cut the kingdom’s oil production by half. extent of their closeness to the ruler, in government liquidity risks, and a Tensions between Washington and Tehran have or with the aim of pleasing a certain weaker assessment of the institution- increased amid a series of incidents stemming influential person, party, tribe or sect. al strength and governance standards Iran-deal lead from President Donald Trump’s unilateral with- This renders such advisors to be a bur- in the country, thus exacerbating the WHO ‘advisory’ against drawal from Iran’s nuclear deal with world pow- den on the public purse. Worst of all, crisis. ers. Amid Trump’s final days as president, Tehran no good advice can be expected from Email: [email protected] deputy at State has recently seized a South Korean oil tanker and them, which means, the country’s travel vaccination proof begun enriching uranium closer to weapons-grade welfare gradually declines. Follow me on: WASHINGTON, Jan 16, (AP): levels, while the U.S. has sent B-52 bombers, the Many leaders in republics or mon- President-elect Joe Biden on Sat- USS Nimitz aircraft carrier and a nuclear subma- urday filled out his State Depart- GENEVA, Jan 16, (KUNA): entific collaboration to address rine into the region. archies choose advisors who are not The World Health Organization critical unknowns. of their political likings, and they ment team with a group of former In recent weeks, Iran has increased its military seek to increase neither their com- [email protected] career diplomats and veterans of (WHO) Emergency Committee The committee urged WHO drills as the country tries to pressure President- the Obama administration, signal- (EC) on COVID-19 on Friday to develop a standardized sys- elect Joe Biden over the nuclear accord, which he ing his desire to return to a more discouraged countries against tem for naming new variants has said America could reenter. traditional foreign policy after requiring proof of vaccination that avoids geographical mark- Iran fired cruise missiles Thursday as part of a four years of uncertainty and un- from international travelers. ers, an area WHO has already naval drill in the Gulf of Oman, state media re- Newswatch predictability under President “Given that the impact of begun work on. ported, under surveillance of what appeared to be Donald Trump. vaccines in reducing transmis- On vaccines, the committee a U.S. nuclear submarine. Iran’s navy did not iden- Biden will nominate Wendy underlined the need for equita- tify the submarine at the time, but on Saturday, a Sherman as deputy secretary of sion is yet unknown, and the current availability of vaccines ble access through the COVAX news website affiliated with state television said KUWAIT CITY: Kuwait listed 435 the Gulf and the Middle East.” state and Victoria Nuland as under- Facility as well as technology the vessel was American. Helicopter footage of the new coronavirus infections and no vi- On the individual level, she said, secretary of state for political affairs is too limited, the committee exercise released Thursday by Iran’s navy showed rus-related deaths on Saturday taking there is a close association as more - the second- and third-highest rank- recommended that countries do transfer to increase global production capacities. what resembled an Ohio-class guided-missile sub- the total to 157,399 and 947 respec- Kuwaiti students choose to study in ing posts, respectively. They were not require proof of vaccination marine, the USS Georgia, which the U.S. Navy last tively, the health ministry said. the United States than anywhere else among the 11 officials announced from incoming travelers,” the The committee strongly en- month said had been sent to the Persian Gulf. The number of people hospital- creating lifelong ties between Ameri- to serve under the incoming secre- EC said in a press statement. couraged vaccine manufactur- Iran has missile capability of up to 2,000 kilo- ised with the virus currently stands cans and Kuwaiti leaders in business, tary of state, Antony Blinken. The statement was issued ers to rapidly provide safety and government, and academia, indicating meters (1,250 miles), far enough to reach archen- at 5,774, with 48 of them in inten- Among the others are: following virtual meeting efficacy data to WHO for emer- emy Israel and U.S. military bases in the region. sive care units, according to ministry the diplomatic courage that enabled ■ Longtime Biden Senate aide the Kuwaiti people to ultimately re- held by the EC at the request gency use listing. The lack of Last January, after the U.S. killed a top Iranian spokesman Dr. Abdullah Al-Sanad, Brian McKeon, to be deputy secre- of WHO Director-General Dr such data is a barrier to ensuring who revealed that some 8,651 swab gain their sovereignty. general in Baghdad, Tehran retaliated by firing ❑ ❑ ❑ tary of state for management. That Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus the timely and equitable supply a barrage of ballistic missiles at two Iraqi bases tests were conducted over the last day deputy position has been vacant for out of a total of 1,389,294. to review the emerging variants of vaccines at the global level. housing U.S. troops, resulting in brain concussion The ministry had earlier reported KUWAIT CITY: Kuwait strongly some time and McKeon and Sher- of SARS-CoV-2, the virus that In addition, the COVID-19 injuries to dozens of them. that some 349 more people had been condemns Yemeni Houthi militia’s man are expected to share duties as causes COVID-19, and to con- pandemic continues to consti- Germany, France and Britain pressed Iran on launching of several explosives- the department’s No. 3 official. Saturday to back off the latest planned violation cured of the virus over the past day, ■ sider the potential use of vac- tute a Public Health Emergency raising the total of those to have over- laden drones towards Saudi territo- Former senior diplomats of its 2015 nuclear deal with world powers, say- ries on Friday, the Foreign Ministry Bonnie Jenkins and Uzra Zeya, cination and testing certificates of International Concern (PHE- come the disease to 150,678. for international travel. IC), according to the WHO ing that Tehran has “no credible civilian use” for He went on to urge nationals and said. to be under secretary of state for uranium metal. expatriates alike that abiding by “The persistence of such cowardly arms control and undersecretary The committee, however, Emergency Committee (EC) The International Atomic Energy Agency said health precautions, mainly, follow- terrorist acts signal a clear defi ance of state of democracy and human advised countries to implement on COVID-19. Thursday Iran had informed it that it had begun ing social distancing rules, is the only to the international community and a rights, respectively. coordinated, evidence-based This was the sixth meeting of blatant violation of the international installing equipment for the production of ura- way to halt the spread of the virus. ■ Derek Chollet, a familiar measures for safe travel and to the Emergency Committee on nium metal. It said Tehran maintains its plans to (KUNA) law,” the ministry said in a press statement. Democratic foreign policy hand, share with WHO experiences COVID-19. Since the declara- conduct research and development on uranium ❑ ❑ ❑ to be State Department counselor. and best practices learned. tion of a PHEIC on 30 January metal production are part of its “declared aim to It argued that such acts threaten the ■ KUWAIT CITY: The Amiri Diwan security and stability of the Kingdom Former U.N. official Salman On variants, the EC called 2020, the Director-General has design an improved type of fuel.” on Thursday mourned Sheikha of Saudi Arabia and the entire region Ahmed, who also served as head for a global expansion of ge- been reconvening the commit- Uranium metal can also be used for a nuclear Fadhaa Jaber Al-Ahmad Al-Sa- and undermine international efforts to of strategic planning in the Obama nomic sequencing and sharing tee at three-month intervals to bomb, however, and research on its production is bah, who passed away at the age of end the confl ict in Yemen. National Security Council, as di- of data, along with greater sci- review progress. specifically prohibited under the nuclear deal - the 49.The deceased will be laid to rest “This requires an immediate action rector of policy planning. so-called Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action - tomorrow afternoon. Text (men): from the international community to ■ Suzy George, who was a se- that Tehran signed with Germany, France, Britain, 98013652, (women): 98013654. put an end to these assaults,” it em- nior aide to former Secretary of China, Russia and the United States in 2015. (KUNA) phasized. State Madeleine Albright, will be Al-Danah grand prize winner named Since the unilateral American withdrawal from The ministry expressed Kuwait’s ❑ ❑ ❑ Blinken’s chief of staff. Details Pages 10 &11 the deal in 2018, the other members have been solidarity with the Kingdom of Saudi ■ Ned Price, a former Obama working to preserve the accord. Iran has been us- KUWAIT CITY: The US Ambassa- Arabia and full support to whatever NSC staffer and career CIA offi- ing violations of the deal to put pressure on the dor to Kuwait Alina Romanowski measures it might take to protect its cial who resigned in protest in the said the relations between Kuwait other signatories to provide more incentives to security and stability. (KUNA) early days of the Trump admin- Iran to offset crippling American sanctions re- and America are based not only on ❑ ❑ ❑ what happened 30 years ago refer- istration, will serve as the public imposed after the U.S. pullout. face of the department, taking on ring to the Iraqi invasion of Kuwait, KUWAIT CITY: His Highness the Also: but has strengthened over the decades Amir Sheikh Nawaf Al-Ahmad Al- the role of spokesman. that followed “our partnership across Jaber Al-Sabah on Friday sent a ■ Jalina Porter, communica- DUBAI: The United States called Bahrain and a range of areas that were mutually cable of condolences to Indonesia’s tions director for Rep. Cedric the United Arab Emirates “major security part- important to both countries and peo- President Joko Widodo over the Richmond, D-La., who is leaving ners” early Saturday, a previously unheard of ples.” earthquake’s victims. Congress to work in the White designation for the two countries home to major This came in a speech that Ro- In the cable, His Highness the Amir House, will be Price’s deputy. American military operations. manowski gave during the virtual expressed his heartfelt sympathy with Sherman led the Obama admin- A White House statement tied the designation seminar organized by the American President Widodo and families of istration’s negotiations leading to to Bahrain and the United Arab Emirates normal- embassy under the title ‘Thirty years the victims of the quake that rocked the 2015 nuclear deal with Iran, izing ties to Israel, saying it “reflects their extraor- after liberation: a vision in US-Ku- Sulawesi Island, and killed and from which Trump withdrew, and dinary courage, determination and leadership.” It waiti relations’. wounded several people. had engaged in talks over ballistic also noted the two countries long have taken part Romanowski said, “The United His Highness the Amir prayed to missiles with North Korea during in US military exercises. States and Kuwait continue to work Allah Almighty to bestow mercy on President Bill Clinton’s second It’s unclear what the designation means for Bah- together in defense and counterter- the victims’ souls, wishing a rapid rorism to ensure peace and stability in recovery to those wounded. (KUNA) term. Nuland served as assistant rain, an island kingdom off Saudi Arabia in the secretary of state for European Af- Arabian Gulf, and the UAE, a federation of seven fairs during the Ukraine crisis. The Executive Team with MoCI and EY Representatives. sheikhdoms home to Abu Dhabi and Dubai. ARAB TIMES, SUNDAY, JANUARY 17, 2021 2

Deaths preventable Al Ain Film Festival Cervical tests A bouquet of distinguished events key to save life l Ain Film Festival has announced the launch of its third edition, Cervical cancer is a leading cause of AUnder the patronage of H.E. Sheikh Sultan bin Tahnoon Al Na- death of young women, but can be hyan member of the Executive Council, which will take place in Al Ain easily prevented and treated if caught city, between 23rd – 27th of January 2021, under the slogan “Future early says expert from American hos- Cinema”. pital Cleveland Clinic. In which the Festival continues to support local and Gulf filmmakers ❑ ❑ ❑ by implementing new initiatives, various programs, distinctive shows undreds of thousands of cervical and agreements, in the service of “the 7th Art”, to be the most promi- Hcancer cases per year could be nent platform for discovering and presenting the best productions and prevented through widespread vaccina- talents of cinema in the region. tions for human papillomavirus (HPV) The Festival was announced during a press conference held yes- and annual pap smear tests, says an ex- terday, attended by Amer Salmeen Al Murry, Founder and Director pert at a top American hospital, Cleve- General of the Festival, Hani Al Shaibani, Art Director, and Saeed Sal- land Clinic, marking Cervical Cancer meen, who joined the Festival management to take over the task of Art Awareness Month in January. Director of the program “Cinema Of The World. Dr Robert DeBernardo, Section Head The Third Edition of Al Ain Film Festival 2021 offers the audience of Gynecologic Oncology and Vice of the «Golden Screen» a bouquet of distinctive events, which celebrate Chair Subspecialty Care for Women’s the most prominent filmmakers, of professionals and fresh young tal- Health at Cleveland Clinic, said: “Cer- ents over a period of 5 days. After the impressive success of the First vical cancer is one of the leading causes and Second Editions of the Festival, with the testimony of the audience of cancer-related death for young wom- as well as the critics, which enables the Founder and Director of the en, but is also entirely preventable be- Festival, Amer Salmeen Al Murry, to achieve his ambition by includ- tween widespread HPV vaccinations ing the name of «Al Ain» city, on the map of international festivals, and and early and frequent annual screen- supporting the young Emirati talents. ings with pap smear tests. HPV vac- Europe Arrives at Al Ain Film Festival cines can protect both men and women from HPV infections; women from cer- Amer Salmeen Al Murry, revealed during the conference, that he vical cancer; and men from many types had reached an agreement with the “European Union” office, whereby of head and neck cancer, too.” a bunch of distinctive European films, that have met with success in Cancer of the cervix is the fourth- Europe and some of international film festivals, will be displayed dur- most common cancer among women ing the Festival. Different European countries show high interest in worldwide, according to the World collaborating with the festival, with the aim of exchanging experiences Health Organization. About 570,000 and cultures in this field, and providing an opportunity for Emirati and women are diagnosed with cervical Gulf audiences, to watch various films of high artistic value. cancer every year, and 311,000 die Through its summer program of the weekends, the Festival will dis- from the disease annually. play a group of European films, and each week will be devoted to a The United States’ National Cancer specific country, in addition to organizing workshops by filmmakers Institute reports recent research found from many European countries. widespread HPV vaccinations reduced Fareed Ramadhan Award cervical cancer by 90 percent. It is “Fareed Ramadhan” award for the best screenplay for a long Gulf estimated that 99 percent of cases of film, is one of the new and distinctive awards that Amer Salmeen Al cervical cancer are caused by human Murry revealed during the conference, and was intended to encourage papillomaviruses (HPV), frequently ac- the scriptwriters as well as to honor the spirit of the late Bahraini writer quired through sexual contact, although and screenwriter, Fareed Ramadhan, who had a prominent presence in only specific types of HPV are a risk the First and the Second Editions of the Festival, and his writings have factor for cervical cancer. enriched Bahraini and Gulf cinema in general. Dr DeBernardo recommends that women should see a gynecologist an- Abu Dhabi Festival nually from the age of 21 onwards and The General Manager of Al Ain Festival expressed his pleasure to take pap smear tests when recommend- collaborate, in this edition, with Abu Dhabi Festival, one of the leading ed by their gynecologist. Pap smear cultural events locally and internationally, as the Festival’s strategic tests are simple tests involving swab- cultural partner, and Al Ain Film Festival announced the opening of bing from the cervix to collect cells, submission through its official website, for a new competition entitled which are then analyzed for the pres- “Abu Dhabi Festival Unproduced Screenplay”, Targeting young Emi- ence of high-risk HPV types in cells rati scriptwriters, to create a new generation, that can enrich local con- and pre-cancer changes in the cervical tent with fresh unique topics presented to cinema. Three prizes have cells. been allocated to this purpose, best three unproduced screenplays (short “Cervical cancer can develop slowly film), at a value of 20 thousand dirhams each, with support of Abu over many years, with pre-cancerous Dhabi Festival, as Al Ain Film Festival prepared the conditions and cells becoming cancerous, which is regulations for the competition, in which the winners will be disclosed why screening is vital,” added Dr De- in June 2021 after the evaluation and selection processes that will be Bernardo. “The good news is that cer- conducted by a special jury for this competition, consisting of a group vical cancer is very treatable, especially of Arab filmmakers and scriptwriters. if it’s caught early on. In developing HE Huda I. Alkhamis-Kanoo, Founder of Abu Dhabi Music & countries that may lack the testing in- Arts Foundation (ADMAF) and Artistic Director of Abu Dhabi Festi- frastructure, there is strong potential val «We are proud to support Al Ain Film Festival (AFF) as a thriving for low-cost take-home pap smear tests. part of the nation’s vision for the development of film in the UAE and Women can take the tests at home, and as an influential celebration of local and international achievements in if they test positive, can undergo fol- cinema.” low-up medical exams.” Her Excellency added: “Together with AFF, we are committed to In the initial stages, cervical cancer continuing our work to cultivate the nation’s film industry and our in- can be treated by surgical removal of vestment in Emirati youth to empower them to realize their artistic am- the cancerous tissue or radiation ther- bition and develop their creative abilities. Throughout ADMAF’s 25 apy. Cleveland Clinic cites a five-year years, our work has contributed to the sustainable development of film survival rate of more than 90 percent if and all the arts. Our partnership with AFF is an invaluable opportunity it is caught in the earliest stage. Later- to support Emirati directors and launch many outstanding new films stage treatment options can include sur- through this prestigious Arab and international film festival. gery, radiation, and chemotherapy. As the 3rd edition of AFF gets underway in these challenging times, Supporting treatment innovations, it is more important than ever to continue ADMAF’s ongoing efforts to Cleveland Clinic has trialed new medi- foster a culture of cinema in the UAE.” cal devices to treat pre-cancer lesions, including a non-gas cryotherapy ma- Achievements of the Artists chine to freeze the lesions, and one that The Festival manager revealed that in the new edition of “Al Ain uses heat, rather than cold, to remove Film Festival”, and as a part of “Honoring Artists’ Achievements” pro- the lesions. These devices can be es- gram, a group of art professionals will be honored, for their artistic ca- pecially useful in developing countries reer full of many achievements in the world of film industry, and their with limited access to hospital facilities great contributions to the advancement of the “Seventh Art”. They are and to the cryogenic gas to freeze le- Sheikha Alyazia Bint Nahyan, Emirati director Nujoom Al-Ghanem, sions. and the late Bahraini writer and screenwriter Fareed Ramadhan. He About Cleveland Clinic said: “Al Ain Film Festival raises the slogan “Future Cinema”, but we Cleveland Clinic is a nonprofit mul- cannot forget those who have served this art for many years, and I am tispecialty academic medical center pleased that the 3rd Edition of the Festival will honor Emirati and Arab, that integrates clinical and hospital care who have made rich and important additions, throughout their artistic with research and education. Located experience. in Cleveland, Ohio, it was founded in Competitions and surprises 1921 by four renowned physicians with a vision of providing outstanding pa- Among the new initiatives that “Al Ain Film Festival” is witnessing in tient care based upon the principles of its 3rd edition, is an exceptional competition entitled “Make Your Film cooperation, compassion and innova- in the Time of Corona”. It is a competition that gives the filmmakers an tion. Cleveland Clinic has pioneered opportunity to benefit from the quarantine, by filming a short film, with a many medical breakthroughs, includ- duration of 3 to 15 minutes, revolving around Details of daily life in light ing coronary artery bypass surgery and of the quarantine imposed by the Corona pandemic, and the competition the first face transplant in the United that was announced in the summer of 2020 was met with great participa- States. U.S. News & World Report tion by Emiratis and residents of various nationalities in the country. For consistently names Cleveland Clinic this competition, the festival allocated two awards, the first for the (best as one of the nation’s best hospitals in film) and the second for the (best idea). its annual “America’s Best Hospitals” The exceptional difficult circumstances imposed by the crisis of the survey. Among Cleveland Clinic’s repercussions of “Covid-19” on the world, have not prevented film- 67,554 employees worldwide are more makers from participating in more than 387 films, which confirms their than 4,520 salaried physicians and re- confidence in the Festival, which is taking steady steps towards achiev- searchers, and 17,000 registered nurses ing its goal of «a bright future for cinema». Films of all kinds have and advanced practice providers, rep- been chosen. From fiction and documentary, long and short, which resenting 140 medical specialties and will compete with each other for prizes in the official competitions: subspecialties. Cleveland Clinic is a Falcon Emriati Film, Falcon Gulf Feature Film, Falcon Gulf Feature 6,026-bed health system that includes a Short Film, Falcon Student Films, Falcon Resident Films, and the spe- 165-acre main campus near downtown cial competition of the 3rd Edition of the Festival “Make Your Film in Cleveland, 18 hospitals, more than 220 the Time of Corona”. outpatient facilities, and locations in Al Murry affirmed that the Festival’s management has challenged southeast Florida; Las Vegas, Nevada; the exceptional conditions that the world is experiencing today as a Toronto, Canada; Abu Dhabi, UAE; result of “Covid 19” and decided to organize the 3rd Edition of the and London, England. Festival, but in return it adapted a new plan that guarantees adherence to the necessary preventive and precautionary measures, to ensure the health of the public and those in charge of the Festival, as it has set a capacity for show halls to ensure physical distancing, as well as some virtual events, similar to some international festivals. Stunning graphics an invitation to Al Ain Film Festival

editor’s choice ARAB TIMES, SUNDAY, JANUARY 17, 2021 3

Weather Expected weather for the next 24 hrs: km/h and a chance for fog forming Jahra 23 12 Prayer Timings By Day: Fair and partly cloudy and over some areas. Failaka Island - - Fajr ...... 05:20 Asr ...... 14:53 visibility will improve gradually with Station Max Exp Min Rec Salmiyah 19 14 Sunrise ...... 06:43 Maghrib ...... 17:12 light variable wind with speeds of 06- Kuwait City 21 14 Ahmadi - - Zohr ...... 11:58 Isha ...... 18:33 22 km/h. Kuwait Airport 22 12 Nuwaisib 24 12 By Night: Rather cold with light Abdaly 25 09 Wafra 24 12 variable wind with speeds of 06-26 Bubyan 19 12 Salmy 21 07

VACCINE REGISTRATION WEBSITE: https://cov19vaccine.moh.gov.kw/SPCMS/CVD_19_Vaccine_Registration.aspx ‘Security ofﬁ cers manning ports must have best gear’ ‘Do more for Kuwaitis, expats’

KUWAIT CITY, Jan 16: The Minister of the Interior Sheikh Thamer Al-Ali has said the security authorities manning the ports should be given the best and latest technological equipments to strengthen the security corridor calling it vital to protect the homeland, and also called for establishing a police station at the Kuwait International Airport instead of referring the cases to the Jleeb Al-Shuyoukh police station, reports Al-Anba daily. The Minister called for the need to exert more efforts to make the entry and exit procedures for the Ku- waitis and residents more fl exible while at the same time tightening control over security by taking precautionary measures. Sheikh Thamer also stressed on the need to continue work towards providing facilities and removing all obstacles facing the elderly and people with special needs and making use of a number of languages to deal more easily with guests and visitors to Kuwait from all over the world and mastering the skill of sign language to deal with deaf and dumb travelers, and the continuous development and modernization of the security system of the port security sector to achieve the desired goal. This came during a fi eld tour undertaken by the Minister of Interior inside the ports security sector, where he was received by the Assistant Undersecretary of the Ministry of Interior for Port Security Affairs Major General Mansour Al-Awadhi and a number of assistant undersecretaries and general managers of the relevant sectors to get fi rst hand information on some of issues that hinder the sector’s work and discuss ways to solve these issues. He began his tour with a visit to the Specialized Training Center for Ports Security Affairs, and listened to an explanation about the training course for the deaf and dumb, and distributed certifi cates to the trainees, praising the efforts and continuous work he saw to improve the level of performance through those courses offered by the Center, stressing that the security men. He also listened to a brief explanation of work mechanism adopted by managers affi liated to airport security, then presented a summary of the work of the General Administra- tion of Land Ports, its achievements, requirements and future plans for its development. ❑ ❑ ❑ The Assistant Undersecretary for Electrical Distribution Networks at the Ministry of Electricity and Water, Eng. Mut- laq Al-Otaibi, announced the ministry will soon in cooperation with the Public Authority for Housing Welfare, provide electricity in the private buildings for homes in Taima for the benefi t of about 500 families living in that area, says Al- Seyassah. KUNA photo The Minister of Interior Sheikh Thamer Ali Sabah Al-Salem Al-Sabah poses for a picture with trainees for the course for deaf and dumb at the Specialized Training Center for He said this during the power supply to the Al-Funaitees Ports Security Affairs. clinic recently, within the framework of cooperation between the ministries of Health, Electricity and Water to provide facilities for medical services. Al-Otaibi said in a press statement the power supply will ‘Evaluation underway’ Profession change, serve the Al-Funaitees residential area, where about 70 percent of the residential area has been occupied and called for ‘Gulf guide’ linked accelerating the power supply operation to serve the residents KUWAIT CITY, Jan 16: of the area. First semester end for Acording to a reliable He added the maximum consumption rate for the dispen- sary was one megawatt, and the station was operated with a source from the Public transformer of 1250 kW capacity, which would secure the de- all ‘educational’ levels Authority for Manpower revealed the accreditation livery of current to this vital center on which the residents of By Abdul Rahman Al-Shammari the region depend. of the amendments to the Regarding the maintenance work for the distribution sta- Al-Seyassah Staff professions in all sectors tions, Al-Otaibi clarifi ed that they are carried out according to of the state is based on the specifi ed schedules, and are conducted from 4 am to 8 am KUWAIT CITY, Jan 16: The Ministry of Education to avoid any interruption during vital periods of time. announced the end of the fi rst semester for the pri- the unifi ed Gulf guide, Regarding the transmission of power supply to the new ar- mary, intermediate and secondary stages for male reports Al-Anba daily. eas in Al Mutla’a and South Abdullah and Al-Mubarak, he and female students, based on the directives of the The source explained pointed out that weekly meetings are held with the Municipal- that the name of any pro- ity, the Public Authority for Housing Welfare and the Min- Minister of Education and Minister of Higher Edu- cation Dr. Ali Al-Mudhaf. fession, which was ap- istry of Public Works to fi x a specifi c date to open the door proved before the guide for issuing licenses and receive requests to begin construction The Assistant Undersecretary for Public Educa- work and ensure that the power supply is delivered to build tion, Osama Al-Sultan, said in a press statement Pakistani Ambassador to Kuwait Syed Sajjad Haider (third right) is received by the was accredited, will those cities. that the educational and administrative bodies for Director-General of the Public Authority for Manpower, Ahmad Al-Mousa and other change based on the pro- offi cials. fessions identical to it in all stages will continue until the end of next week, line with the directory corresponding to Thursday, Jan 21, to review the or its approach. Some News in Brief grades in the student record system, such as the stu- We will provide expertise, skills: Haider names have been includ- dent’s, participation, solving assignments and pre- ed in the new automated paring reports and electronic tests. system of PAM – either Al-Sultan explained that the follow-up of duties PAM seeks more Pakistani workers in the “As-hal” service ‘Will overcome obstacles’: Last week, the Min- will be completed in the remainder of the curricu- By Fares Al-Abdan the deputy head of the mission T. Elias or the internal electronic ister of Information and State Minister for Youth lum for educational experiences in the kindergarten Al-Seyassah Staff that the aim of the visit was to discuss portal that was launched Affairs Abdul Rahman Al-Mutairi met with the stage until the end of the working hours on Thurs- issues of mutual interest and matters a few days ago. President of the Union of Fresh Dairy Producers day, corresponding to Jan 21, 2021 and accordingly KUWAIT CITY, Jan 16: The Di- related to Pakistani labor and to dis- Regarding the term Abdul Hakim Al-Ahmad and the President of the rector-General of the Public Author- the mid-year vacation for all stages of the educa- ity for Manpower, Ahmad Al-Mousa, cuss ways to strengthen bilateral rela- “director general” for Kuwait Fishermen Union Zahir Al-Soyyan. He tional and administrative bodies will begin on Sun- tions between Pakistan and Kuwait. example, the representa- was given details about the most prominent ob- said PAM is ready to cooperate with day, Jan 24 until Feb 24, 2021, Wednesday. the Pakistani embassy to increase the For his part, the Pakistani ambassa- tive’s fi eld of work will stacles facing the dairy farms and the fi shermen, dor affi rmed that Kuwait has a privi- have to be defi ned by a reports Al-Qabas daily. He stated the second semester will start on Mon- percentage of Pakistani workers in day, March 1, and wished all success for efforts ex- Kuwait, indicating a desire to coordi- leged position among all Pakistanis description of his profes- They discussed a number and considers it a second country, of important issues related to erted during the fi rst semester. nate with the concerned authorities in sion, such as “representa- On the other hand, Al-Sultan held a meeting in the country to set up more effective wishing that the percentage of Paki- tive for the completion of the two unions in which Min- stani workers in Kuwait will increase. ister Al-Mutairi expressed mechanisms to attract skilled Pakistani government transactions his offi ce yesterday, with the cultural advisor of the He pointed out that his country is interest, in addition to the French embassy, A. Pierre Collio, in the presence of workers. for the company or insti- ideas, projects and visions Al-Mousa said in a press statement ready to provide all the expertise and tution” or representative the general technical guide for the French language, after receiving the Pakistani Ambassa- skills needed by the labor market in that were proposed to serve Anwar Al-Kandari, and the fi rst technical guide for of goods promotion or the workers in the dairy sec- dor to Kuwait Syed Sajjad Haider and Kuwait. advertisement. tor and the fi shermen. The the French language, Anwar Al-Radwan. idea of including the heads of the relevant unions in the Al-Mutairi Board of Directors of the ‘Website to help applicants’ Public Authority for Agri- cultural Affairs and Fish Resources (PAAAFR) was raised. KD 14m aid given to needy families They also discussed increasing the support KUWAIT CITY, Jan 16: Deputy efi ciaries in a bid to facilitate and provided by PAAAFR to fresh dairy and fi shermen unions with the aim of developing those Director General for Social Ser- simplify procedures for submit- sectors that serve the local markets and achieve vices at Zakat House Dr Majed Al- ting assistance requests and pro- necessary food security, especially during times Azmi disclosed that in 2020, the in- viding customer service through of crises and emergencies similar to the COV- stitution granted KD14.498 million its website and WhatsApp which ID-19 crisis. fi nancial aid to 15,642 families who were announced on its social me- In this regard, Minister Al-Mutairi expressed are residing illegally in the country, dia accounts, so the aid applicants his understanding about the demands of the two reports Al-Jarida daily. are no longer required to visit the unions and their workers, and promised to study Al-Azmi said KD 4.361 million institution for such transactions. those demands and work on overcoming all the out of the above-mentioned amount Since the beginning of the co- obstacles. was distributed to 2,160 families rona crisis in February last year, Abdul Hakim Al-Ahmad said the prices of who received aid monthly; while followed by the gradual resump- green fodder increased during the COVID-19 the remaining KD 10.137 million tion of work in ministries and other pandemic in an excessive manner for the own- was distributed to 13,482 families. State agencies; the administration ers of cattle and dairy farms and sheep breeders, He added Zakat House also proof Zakat House has been keen on which makes it diffi cult for them to cover their vided in-kind assistance to this taking precautionary measures ap- monthly expenses. group including food, electronics, proved by the Ministry of Health He stated that Minister Al-Mutairi was informed about the unions’ efforts during the cur- clothes and school supplies like in its buildings and branches in the rent period, as the Union of Fresh Dairy Produc- bags which were distributed to governorates and its revenue centers covers about 18 percent of the local market 4,173 families at a total cost of KD ers to curb the spread of corona, en- needs, and the Kuwait Fishermen Union covered 926,000. sure continuation of work, protect about 20-25 percent of the market needs, as well He also affi rmed that Zakat the interests of benefi ciaries, and as the livestock breeders cover about ten percent House has developed the elec- grant aid only to those who deserve of the market needs. tronic services provided to ben- it. ARAB TIMES, SUNDAY, JANUARY 17, 2021 LOCAL 4 ‘Supervisory & top positions in MPW remain vacant for years’ Vacancy file not dealt with by any minister who preceded Dr Rana

KUWAIT CITY, Jan 16: Informed sources in the Min- istry of Public Works (MPW) expressed their disappointment about KUNA photo the delay in resolv- KRCS Chairman Dr Hilal Al-Sayer meeting with a delegation from the Kuwait Sports ing the problem of Club for the Deaf (KSCD) said that KRCS strongly believes in the necessity of car- ing for people with special needs, especially the deaf, as well as their volunteer work vacant leadership to help countrywide. and supervisory positions in the minis- Newly-appointed investigators congratulated try, some of which have been passing from one minister to MP queries about violations in another during the past years, reports Al-Qabas daily. College of Sharia’s dept in KU They explained that By Saeed Mahmoud Saleh 2018/ 2019 and 2019/ 2020. they hope the Minister of Arab Times Staff Al-Azmi also unveiled his plan to sub- Public Works, and State mit queries to Minister of Interior Sheikh Minister for Municipal KUWAIT CITY, Jan 16: MP Hamdan Thamer Ali Al-Sabah on violations in the A group photo from the meeting between the Ukrainian ambassador and Al-Watan Sweets Co offi cial. Affairs Dr Rana Al-Faris Al-Azmi has forwarded queries to Minis- appointment of a batch of investigators at will deal with the vacancy ter of Education and Higher Education Dr the General Criminal Investigations De- Kuwait studying possibility of sweets export to Ukraine fi le quickly in the coming Ali Fahd Al-Mudaf about the violations partment in the Interior Ministry. period, as it was not dealt in the Department of Jurisprudence and He said he will request for information Principles of Islamic Law at the College such as the criteria for appointing these Kuwait is studying the possibility of Halwaji on Jan 13, 2021. emphasized that the establishment with by any minister who preceded her since the era of Sharia and Islamic Studies in Kuwait investigators and clarifi cation of the rumor sweets export to Ukraine and es- “The parties discussed the pos- of Kuwaiti sweets manufacturing in University. that interview constitutes 60 percent of the tablishing joint production facilities, sibility of Kuwaiti sweets export to Ukraine will open the way to export of Minister Abdulaziz Al- The lawmaker demanded for informa- total admission score. reports ukrinform.net Ukraine and agreed to study the to Europe, as Ukraine has well-de- Ibrahim, who left the min- tion such as the names, qualifi cations and MP Abdulkareem Al-Kandari con- The issue was discussed during feasibility of establishing joint Ku- veloped logistics with the European istry in March 2015 after experience of the staff assigned at the de- gratulated the newly appointed investiga- the meeting between Ambassador waiti-Ukrainian production facilities Union and signed the Association the end of his second term partment since 2017 till date; copies of tors, but he called for the formation of a of Ukraine to Kuwait Oleksandr in Ukraine,” the Embassy of Ukraine Agreement, which applies lower that began in April 2013. decisions on their appointment and job committee which will be tasked to receive Balanutsa with General Director of to the State of Kuwait informs. customs tariffs on import of Ukrain- The tenures of a number advertisements published by the depart- and investigate complaints about appoint- Al-Watan Sweets Co W.L.L. Kh. Al- As noted, Ambassador Balanutsa ian goods to the EU states. of ministers in the last few ment since 2008 till date; list of lecturers ments. governments were limited who were terminated, date and reason for MP Osama Al-Shaheen forwarded que- Operation cost ranges between KD 3,000 and KD 6,000 to one year, after which a termination; names and qualifi cations of ries to Deputy Prime Minister and Minis- new minister would the members of the Recruitment Com- ter of Defense Sheikh Hamad Jaber Al-Ali assume the office to get mittee tasked to interview and accept about the payment of additional salary Deaths tied to sleeve gastrectomy up in Kuwait acquainted with the minis- applicants for the advertised jobs; list of to employees studying on scholarship as try, without having enough applicants with copies of their certifi cates per the decision issued by the Council of KUWAIT CITY, Jan 16: In recent times, who underwent failed sleeve gastrec- a coma, and some private hospitals are and qualifi cations; names and qualifi ca- Ministers on March 26, 2020 to grant ad- time to make a tangible tions of those accepted by the committee; the number of death cases due to the tomy in some private hospitals in Ku- forced to refer such cases to govern- change in the ministry. ditional salary to these employees to cover slimming technique, commonly referred wait are forced to search for treatment ment hospitals after declaring that they distance education curricula of the depart- expenses related to the coronavirus crisis. This was repeated with ment from 2010 till date; and number of He also wants to know the total number of to as “gastric banding” or “stomach cut- abroad. Doctors have affi rmed that cannot do anything in such a situation. former ministers Hussam ting”, has increased in the country. In some clinics encourage such operations The rate of obesity and the associat- students in academic years 2017/2018, these employees. fact, death has become one of expected for fi nancial and commercial reasons. ed diseases amount to about 40 percent Al-Roumi, Ali Al-Omair, outcomes of such procedures, as hun- According to medical sources, Ku- in Kuwait. About 500 sleeve gastrec- Abdulrahman Al-Mutawa dreds of patients annually enter into a wait tops in the world in terms of the tomy operations are performed in Ku- and Jenan Boushahri. Envoy expresses gratitude to Kuwait coma during or after undergoing sleeve number of sleeve gastrectomy opera- wait every month. Many patients prefer The number of vacant gastrectomy, reports Al-Shahid daily. tions conducted, followed by Chile. surgical intervention for treatment as supervisory jobs in the The cost of sleeve gastrectomy oper- About 500 sleeve gastrectomy opera- it is the fastest method, instead of fol- ministry and the Public for supporting ‘legitimacy’ of Yemen ations in some clinics and private hos- tions are carried out on a monthly basis. lowing a proper health, diet and sports Authority for Roads and pitals range between KD 3,000 and KD The sources warned not to rush into regimen. The cost of such a surgical Transportation exceeds By Shawqi Mahmoud eign terrorist group, Bin Svaa said the clas- 6,000. These prices are considered the undergoing gastric sleeve operations operation in Kuwait ranges between 70, some of which have Al-Seyassah Staff sifi cation of the Houthi militia as a terrorist most expensive prices for sleeve gas- without confi rming the proper cause, KD 3,000 and KD 6,000, which is the been vacant for years, group must be viewed as a cumulative step trectomy in the world. Many of those as hundreds of patients have gone into highest in the world. KUWAIT CITY, Jan 16: The Ambassador for the efforts of the Yemeni government despite successive moni- of Yemen to Kuwait, Professor Ali Man- and in concert with the efforts of the inter- toring reports that have sour bin Svaa expressed his country’s grati- national community and many countries, demanded the necessity of tude and appreciation for the efforts ex- led by the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, to filling these vacancies. erted by the Kuwaiti leadership and people, support the transitional phase. Vacant through its political and diplomatic moves, The Houthi militia participated in the to try to fi nd an end to the Yemeni crisis comprehensive national dialogue that lasted Some of the leadership and praised the con- 10 months, and the Yemenis put forth so- positions have also been tinued Kuwaiti trend lutions for all Yemeni issues, including the vacant for several months, in support of Yemeni Sa’ada issue. He added The writing of the the most prominent of legitimacy. Yemeni constitution was started with the which is the position of In a statement to support of the international community, Assistant Undersecretary Al-Seyassah daily but the Houthi militias, as usual, did not for the Major Projects Bin Svaa recalled the abide by that and turned down more than 70 Sector, which was vacated tremendous efforts agreements with the Yemeni government, exerted by Kuwait local authorities, tribes and the United Na- when former undersecre- to contain the crisis tions. tary Hussam Al-Tahous since its outbreak Moreover, they practiced all kinds of ter- retired, and also the depu- and host the parties rorist acts such as killing, bombing houses, ty of the Government to the confl ict for Bin Svaa recruiting children and sending them to the Center for Testing and nearly 100 days, but battlefront. Quality Control. unfortunately these colossal efforts collided Bin Svaa pointed out that since the One of the most impor- with the intransigence of the Houthi militia Houthi militia coup, the international ef- tant sectors in the ministry representatives, which led to the exacerba- forts spearheaded by the United States of is the construction sector tion of the crisis and the increase in the suf- America and the European Union have and it has several vacant fering of the Yemeni people – the militias relied on diplomacy without any means of positions as well as the which continue to terrorize the security pressure on the Houthi militias, which have dozens of projects affiliat- forces and rob the Yemeni people. exploited this situation to prolong the war Regarding the US administration’s deci- and without serious involvement in the po- ed to state agencies. There sion to classify the Houthi militia as a for- litical process. is another set of vacancies in the level of leadership positions, in the consulta- tion body sector, which is KPA strives to provide ‘fi nest’ commissioned by the Assistant Undersecretary for the Financial and services via commercial ports Administrative Affairs Sector Eng Abdullah KUWAIT CITY, Jan 16, (KUNA): Ku- Director General pointed out to contribu- Al-Sabah. wait Ports Authority (KPA) Director tion of specialized international compa- At the level of the General Sheikh Yusuf Abdullah Al- nies with expertise to developing Kuwaiti PART, the most promi- Sabah said recently KPA seeks to pro- ports, including Turkish fi rms. nent vacancy is the posi- vide fi nest services through its ports in For her part, Turkish ambassador said tion of director general of accordance with the New Kuwait 2035 the commercial and economic relations PART, which was held for Vision. between the two countries have devel- two years by the Director During the visit of the Turkish Ambas- oped such as trade exchange and Turkish of Design Department sador to Kuwait, Aisha Hilal to KPA, the products sent to Kuwaiti ports. Eng. Soha Ashkanani, in the wake of the dismissal of the former director Eng. Ahmed Al-Hussan in 2018. The sources demanded the necessity of working to fill the vacancies, especially at the level of directors and heads of departments due to the importance of their role in the rotation of the wheel of work in the ministry, which is considered the top-level state contractor and undertakes projects with an estimated annual spending of about one billion dinars.

Dr Rana Al-Faris ARAB TIMES, SUNDAY, JANUARY 17, 2021 LOCAL 5

Other Voices ‘Our achievements are words, their achievements are deeds’ “THE year 2021 began in the State of Kuwait with great disappointment that ered the largest mass transit project in cities in the Middle East. awareness to encourage people to take the vaccine and dispel their fears, which dominated the citizens aspiring to achieve comprehensive development of their “The Qatar Rail Company was also established, and there is a highway proj- is the role of the media. homeland due to the ‘unjust’ behavior of some representatives during the ect that connects Doha with all cities. The major centers of energy and industry “Yes, they have failed miserably and deserve to be held accountable after opening session of the National Assembly,” columnist Dr Bahija Behbehani in Qatar, the long-distance train for transporting passengers and goods, which they abandoned the people at the mercy to doctors and ignorant people who do wrote for Al-Qabas daily. connects Qatar to the railway network of the Gulf Cooperation Council states, not value their words and their impact on public health. “The election results indicated that there was a very big change in the com- and the Lusail light transport train.” “Some doctors spread fear only because they want to look different, they do position of the new parliament, which confirmed the not express an opinion to consider it freedom of opinion and expression, but voters’ anger at the performance of the previous parlia- Also: rather they offer scientific advice that spreads fear among people. ment and their desire to change the economic, health, “The lovers of conspiracy theory and those who believe that the Earth is flat “Whoever asks to stop the interrogation under the pretext that we are living educational and service conditions in their homeland. themselves believe that the Corona vaccine contains a chip to monitor the under the shadow of the Corona pandemic, I tell them: ‘If your car is stolen, do “Hence, the feelings of anger and despair among the faces, and to a stupid degree there are those who say that the Corona vaccine not call the police because we are in the midst of Corona pandemic.’” citizens were one of the negatives in the first session, as implants a cell inside a person which can be later detonated in case of invasion ❑ ❑ ❑ that session witnessed intense discussions following the of the country by the manufactures of the vaccine for their benefit and these announcement of the results of the elections for Speaker people are not at all surprised if they are told that aliens run the government in “The government and National Assembly are the two authorities upon which of the Parliament, followed by the security chaos, in secret, exactly the same politicians who blow our brains day and night by tell- the balance of government is based. Each of them has its own performance and addition to the suspicion of the existence of unsealed ing us of the existence of a deep state,” columnist Tha’ar Al-Rashidi wrote for point of view in ratification the necessary laws,” columnist Motlaq Al-Qarawi ballot papers. Al-Anba daily. wrote for Al-Anba daily. “Accordingly, some MPs submitted a request to form a “Logically, the vaccine is the only way to stop the spread of the Corona “The government sees from the point of view of the general interest of the parliamentary commission to investigate the events of the Dr Behbehani epidemic, and the disaster is that someone who promoted the vaccine conspir- country, while the Assembly sees what the people see, but both authorities opening session. This unfortunate beginning of the acy theory told me what the scientist, Professor, Haifa Wehbe – the eminent contribute to the realization of a goal. Assembly is an indication of the persistence of the same illness and the deteriora- Lebanese actress and singer – said about the vaccine, that she refuses it because “Kuwaitis are tired of many complaints on non-cooperation between the two tion of quality in productivity which will continue over the next 4 years – if the she doubts how it was manufactured. authorities, so some boycotted the elections and were not concerned about it. Assembly is not dissolved – and when the citizen looks at the remarkable “Those who believe in the vaccine conspiracy theory are doctors, unfortu- Perhaps, some say this is a healthy phenomenon, but it has increased along with achievements in the countries of the Gulf Cooperation Council States, and begins nately, forgetting that vaccines have protected people from pandemics, includ- the fear of turning against it! to lament our situation in Kuwait, which we once boasted as Pearl of the Gulf. ing the tetanus, tuberculosis, polio and smallpox although this is a historical “If we would correct the issue objectively, we would find that the govern- “For example, the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia will soon embark to manufac- fact which they overlook. ment’s agenda is ready before it took the oath, and that the elected MP lives in ture cars, in cooperation with Lucid Motors, Inc., as Saudi Arabia seeks to be “You are free to give your scientific opinion, but do not instill fear and ter- the atmosphere of his opinion as well as the views of his constituents and col- a center in the Middle East for the manufacture of electric vehicles to diversify rify people and do not spread panic among them just because you want to give leagues in the Assembly. its economy in addition to oil. your opinion and want to look different. “Often, their compatibility is disturbed – whether in drafting laws or under- “The UAE government has also launched the world’s first government “The most important thing is that scientific opinions are given in lecture standing the regulations – such that the Assembly’s sessions turn into contro- domain consisting of a single letter U, which aims to facilitate the public to rooms and during scientific conferences attended by the science elite and not versy, conflict and accusations which some might misunderstand. access to information, services, projects, strategies and laws in the country. the public such as the doctors who oppose the vaccine, and their goal is as I “Establishing the Constitution and what it contains in guiding the interest of “Dubai also announced the first smart oil barrel in the world aimed at have seen and from my media opinion, they do not want to spread awareness the country have contributed to solving many problems. It is a significant opin- encouraging companies and workers in the petroleum sector to benefit from among people, but rather they want to promote their names by giving a differ- ion that may be interpreted and transferred, but the intention is to be understood digital development and artificial intelligence technologies. This step aims to ent opinion. in the interest of the public. Therefore, the two authorities must cooperate on achieve the largest possible amount of production, especially increasing the “The number of those who registered for vaccination is less than 200,000, one approach and a specific method that defines the goal and pushes develop- rate of extraction of ore. although the target group is more than 3 million, and this means that people are ment to a better level.” “The State of Qatar has also managed to create and develop a large transport afraid, do not want, or do not trust, and here the disaster is the government network with international specifications. The Doha Metro project is consid- represented by the ministries of Health and Information have failed to spread — Compiled by Ahmad Al-Shazli

Court Cases/Crime

Woman acquitted of stealing car Four working in UK health office get life in cash fraud By Jaber Al-Hamoud money are issued with prison sentences Al-Seyassah Staff and Agencies and fines, and this is evidence that corruption is being detected is on the KUWAIT CITY, Jan 16: The increase, and there is no longer a cover Misdemeanor Court acquitted a for the sick conscience and betrayers of Kuwaiti woman who was accused of trust and those who abuse power. breach of trust and theft of an expen- ❑ ❑ ❑ sive car that was left under her care by her husband. Teen strangulated: Police have According to the case file, the hus- arrested an unidentified person for band told investigation officers that his strangulating and attempting to kill a wife had breached the trust between Kuwaiti, who is believed to be 18 years them after he bought a luxury German- old, reports Al-Anba daily. made car and left it under her care, but The daily added, the victim was she later refused to return it to him. rushed to the Mubarak Al-Kabir hospi- The husband admitted that the two tal suffering from difficulty to breathe. had marital challenges and he tried to According to police investigations solve issues amicably especially in the victim was strangled when he was regard to the car but the wife refused to inside a vehicle in Salwa. return it. The identity of the suspect has not When the wife was questioned, she been given. told the court that the plaintiff did not ❑ ❑ ❑ Photo by Iehab Qurtal Firemen locating the remnants of fire before ending the operation. ask her to return the car and that she is GTD help sought: Police are looking ready to surrender it to him. for an unidentified person for damag- ❑ ❑ ❑ ing the vehicle of a female Gulf citizen, ‘Many violations cause of Shuwaikh fire’ reports Al-Anba daily. Life in prison: The Criminal Court, Seven firefighting teams managed to control Prompt action by firemen prevented a big lations which were the cause for the outbreak headed by Counselor Abdullah The daily added, according to the woman, her car was parked in the park- the fire that broke out Friday evening in sani- disaster. However, there were no human casu- of the fire. The Fire Protection Department of Al-Osaimi has sentenced 4 Europeans tary ware showrooms in the Shuwaikh alties. The Public Relations Department of the the Capital Governorate is expected to take working for the Kuwait Health Office ing lot of a well-known commercial complex and she discovered someone Industrial Area on an area of 5,000 square Directorate-General of Fire Department necessary measures and that the investigation in London to life imprisonment, and had bumped into the vehicle but no one meters, reports Al-Rai daily. (DGFD) said firemen have detected many vio- teams are doing their work. fined them double the amount they was around until someone approached have embezzled in what is believed to her and handed her a piece of paper be the severest punishment yet to be with the car plate number written on it. imposed in embezzlement cases, He told the woman someone hit her reports Al-Qabas daily. car and escaped. The woman has Delivery license holders waiting for According to court papers the men are sought help of the General Traffic said to have embezzled collectively £11 Department to arrest the suspect. million. An informed source told ❑ ❑ ❑ Al-Qabas that this ruling confirms the need for strict protection of public funds Drug addicts caught: Two young regulatory decision of Traffic Dept at home and abroad, and added the Kuwaitis have been referred to the Public Prosecution has exerted great General Department for Drugs Control efforts in this case, by investigating offi- (GDDC) for consuming drugs, reports cials at home and abroad, and employ- Al-Anba daily. Ministry probes citizen’s complaint of underweight rice bag ees of the Ministry of Health, and con- The daily added a Kuwaiti saw three cluded that there were documents prov- people fast asleep near the Mubarak ing the embezzlement of money. Al-Kabeer GDDC building and KUWAIT CITY, Jan 16: The source pointed out that rulings in informed the Operations Room of the Those holding licenses Minister forms panel to look into grievances most cases of embezzlement of public Ministry of Interior. for delivery companies are waiting for the issu- KUWAIT CITY, Jan 16: The According to security comprehensive criteria and to Directorate General of Public sources, the grievances will set up a specific, clear and ance of regulations con- Relations and Security Media be received from Sunday Jan transparent News in Brief cerning registration of Department of the Interior 17, 2021 for a period of 60 mechanism vehicles and motorcycles, Ministry stated based on the days at the Training Center of in which the and the capacity allowed procedures for accepting appli- the General Administration admission for each license, reports cants for the position of a legal for Investigations in Salmiya policy is in Charity Foundation: The Minister of Proposal forwarded junior researcher at the General during official working accordance Social Affairs, Minister of Awqaf and Al-Qabas daily quoting Department of Investigations, hours. with a sin- Islamic Affairs, Issa Al-Kandari, has informed sources. Minister of Interior Sheikh The administration affirms gle rule for issued a decision declaring the foundation Airport police station Thamer Al-Ali has decided to the Minister of Interior has all keeping of the Anaza Charity They explained that the General Traffic Department, form a committee to look into stressed the need to form a spe- in mind the Foundation for an By Munif Nayef the grievances that will be sub- cial committee comprising cur- principle of unlimited period, Al-Seyassah Staff after setting the limit for every Sheikh Al-Ali says Al-Seyassah . delivery license at 15 motorcy- mitted by those who were not rent and former directors and equal The summary of KUWAIT CITY, Jan 16: The Ministry cles and ten cars, suspended reg- accepted in the last batch, after specialists who have experi- opportuni- the statutes of the of Interior announced the admission istration licenses for vehicles the results were announced ence in developing admission ties and justice for all Kuwaiti Anaza Charitable of 160 civilians including 30 jurists - and bikes until a regulatory deci- recently, reports Al-Anba policies and procedures in citizens who apply for this Foundation states with a junior legal researcher posi- daily. accordance with clear and position. that it aims to pro- tion, which qualifies for the position sion is issued this month. vide aid and grants of investigator after they pass the The Public Authority for Manpower to needy families prescribed course - to the General (PAM) has started collecting a fee of the number of workers in each proj- showed a bag of rice that was under- responsibility for oversight is trans- after studying their Department of Investigations, based KD 500 as a financial guarantee for ect ranges between 50 and 300 weight, necessary communication ferred to the citizens. cases individually, Al-Kandari on the directives and instructions of every worker registered as a driver, depending on the ability of the owner has been made with the concerned It called on the holders of ration ensuring the provi- the Minister of Interior Sheikh and this amount will be returned to the of the delivery company to license department for verification and cards to verify the weight of the sion of financial and Thamer Al-Ali. owner of the license in the event that and pay financial guarantees. required action. If it is proven that packs before exiting the catering in-kind aid and assistance to the needy the worker leaves work or the com- and the poor, providing medical and The ministry confirmed that it has The sources highlighted the the owner of the video was given a branch. been communicating with the admit- pany is closed. recent meetings with the leaders of bag of rice of lesser weight than The ministry stressed the continu- social care for the needy, the poor and The sources revealed that the those in need, and providing scholarships ted students via short text messag- government agencies in order to what was written on it, necessary ous follow-up of the ration branches for outstanding students to conduct es on mobile phones to visit the license holders and the union of look into these licenses, and study legal action will be taken.” by the inspection teams of the min- research and advanced postgraduate stud- Specialized Training Center next delivery companies intend to carry the demand of the license owners to It explained that rice is dispensed istry. ies. Sunday to complete the appoint- out a protest in case the regulatory allow them to register vehicles and to the citizens in the ration branches It urged the owner of the anony- The decision stated that incentive ment procedures. decision is not issued, given that motorcycles and raise the numbers on a kilogram basis and not on sack- mous video to submit a complaint to grants and appreciation awards will be Meanwhile, the minister has preventing the registration of vehi- until the regulatory decision is basis. the ministry through its official given for researchers and outstanding suggested opening a police station cles and motorcycles without a legal issued. The quantity of rice may have channels so that necessary action students in various religious, scientific, at the Kuwait International Airport basis disrupts their interests and the ❑ ❑ ❑ been unloaded from the sacks can be taken. literary, social and artistic fields, as well instead of referring the cases to interests of the commercial estab- depending on the number of indi- The ministry also called on citi- as assisting scientific and literary the Jleeb Al-Shuyoukh Police lishments for which they provide the Ministry probes video: Ministry viduals registered in the ration card zens to make sure they get supplies research centers and specialized training Station. service, especially restaurants. of Commerce and Industry of the owner of the sack that was of proper weight dispensed to them centers. The sources indicated that there announced that it is investigating a highlighted in the anonymous video. by matching the bill with the scale ❑ ❑ ❑ A security source told the daily the are 200 commercial licenses for video clip that showed a bag of rice The ministry affirmed that its before leaving the supply branches. Woman commits suicide: A 27-ye- incident was reported to the police by a delivery services for small projects. with less weight, reports Al-Rai control extends from the entry of It appealed to citizens not to hesi- ar-old Jordanian woman committed sui- woman – likely to be either the victim’s They affirmed that the licenses for daily. food supplies to the stores of the tate to call the hotline No. 135 or visit cide by hanging herself inside an apart- mother or sister. delivery services serve about 30,000 In a press statement, the ministry Kuwait Catering Company and until the nearest commercial control cen- ment in Salmiya, reports Al-Anba daily. The daily gave no other details. licensed restaurants, in addition to said, “After studying the video that the branches deliver the supplies to ter in the governorates in case they various home projects, adding that went viral on social media, and the owner of the card. After this, the want to submit a formal complaint. ARAB TIMES, SUNDAY, JANUARY 17, 2021 LOCAL/MIDEAST 6

Netanyahu challenger pledges change with incoming Biden administration US shifts command plan to reflect warming Israeli-Arab relations WASHINGTON, Jan 16, (AP): With a have normalized Israel’s relation with traditional bipartisan support for ing on his reputation as a bridge build- es. But in an apparent reference to the nod to Israel’s increasingly normalized Bahrain, the United Arab Emirates, Israel. er to massage the inevitable disagree- Since bolting Likud and launching pro-Trump mob that stormed the relations with the Arab world, the Morocco and Sudan, “provided a stra- “I think I am in a better position ments likely to arise. his “New Hope” party last month, Saar Capitol, he said: “I cannot identify Pentagon is reorganizing its global tegic opportunity” for the United than the prime minister to have an His demeanor and style are starkly has made no secret that their battle is with talk that delegitimized the demo- command structure to include the States to “align key partners against effective and true dialogue with different from Netanyahu’s. While personal. In his inaugural speech, he cratic electoral process and its results.” Jewish state in the military sphere shared threats in the Middle East” - an President-elect (Joe) Biden and his Netanyahu is a firebrand orator, Saar, a accused Netanyahu of creating a “cult Saar is among the legions of critics managed by the head of U.S. Central apparent reference to creating a more administration,” he told The lawyer by training, speaks methodical- of personality” - a term he repeated who believe that Israel is being Command. united front against Iran. Associated Press. ly, often pausing to find the right word. Thursday to describe those who blind- dragged into its fourth election in just The shift, from U.S. European “Israel is a leading strategic partner That could be critical given the deep ly support Netanyahu’s claims that his two years due to Netanyahu’s legal Command to the command that over- for the United States, and this will differences between Israel and Biden, Upscale corruption trial is a conspiracy. troubles and divisive personality. It is seas U.S. military relations and opera- open up additional opportunities for who plans to return to the Iranian Where Netanyahu has gained a rep- Saar said a key moment for him widely believed that Netanyahu is tions across the Middle East, was cooperation with our U.S. Central nuclear deal and adopt a more bal- utation for an extravagant lifestyle, came last May, when Netanyahu seeking a coalition of allies willing to announced Friday. The Wall Street Command partners while maintaining anced approach to the Israeli- Saar conducted Thursday’s interview arrived at the courthouse for the open- grant him immunity from prosecution. Journal, which was first to report the strong cooperation between Israel and Palestinian conflict. in the book-lined living room of his ing of his trial joined by a group of Saar, emerging as Netanyahu’s big- change, said it was ordered by our European allies,” the Pentagon Saar, who defected from high-rise apartment in an upscale Tel Likud ministers and lawmakers. The gest challenger in the March 23 elec- President Donald Trump. It does not said. Netanyahu’s ruling Likud party last Aviv neighborhood. With four chil- group stood silently behind Netanyahu tion, appears poised to prevent that. portend changes in the basing of U.S. month, shares the prime minister’s dren living at home, he lamented the as he accused the media and justice Opinion polls project New Hope will forces in the Middle East or Europe. Collision hard-line nationalistic ideology. He is challenges, including Zoom lessons, of system of trying to topple him. become the second-largest party in par- Israel for decades had been in the Meanwhile, Israeli Prime Minister a strong proponent of West Bank set- raising a blended family during the “A cult of personality is when the most liament, smaller than Likud but with sphere of European Command because Benjamin Netanyahu’s top challenger tlements, rejects the idea of a construc- pandemic. important thing in order to be advanced in enough seats to prevent Netanyahu of the hostile nature of its relations in upcoming elections is promising a tion freeze and favors the eventual Saar, 54, entered Israeli politics in a political system is to flatter and serve the from assembling a majority. with many Arab countries, a condition tough line toward Iran and the annexation of the settlements. He said 1999 as Cabinet secretary during personal interests of its leader,” Saar said. That has made Saar the unofficial that was viewed as making it difficult Palestinians, yet expressed confidence he would never agree to an indepen- Netanyahu’s first term. He held key He said that while Netanyahu has the leader of a diverse group of “anyone for Central Command to do business he has the tools to avoid what appears dent Palestinian state that includes the senior Cabinet posts after Netanyahu right to fight the charges against him, his but Bibi” parties that refuse to serve with both Israel and the Arab world. to be a collision course with the incom- removal of settlements. returned to power in 2009. claims of a grand conspiracy are “abso- under Netanyahu, who is widely Central Command’s area of responsi- ing Biden administration. “I oppose a Palestinian state in the But as with many other fast-rising lute nonsense.” known by his nickname. Netanyahu bility stretches across the Middle East In an interview, Gideon Saar voiced heart of our homeland,” he said. “I Likud figures, he eventually had a fall- Netanyahu’s tactics have drawn says his opponents are motivated by to Central Asia, including the Arab harsh criticism of Netanyahu, accusing think it will not bring peace and it will ing out with Netanyahu. Saar took a comparisons to Trump, who showered sour grapes and little more than shared Gulf region as well as Afghanistan and the prime minister of turning the ruling undermine stability and security in the break from politics in 2014 to spend his Israeli counterpart with diplomatic animosity toward him. Pakistan. Likud party into a “cult of personality” region.” time with his new wife, TV anchor gifts, ranging from the recognition of Saar believes he can find enough In its announcement, the Pentagon as he faces a corruption trial. While These positions will put him at odds Geula Even, and their children. Jerusalem as Israel’s capital to broker- common ground to form an alternative said the change to what it calls its welcoming President Donald Trump’s with Biden, who - like many of his He returned in 2019 but never ing normalization agreements between coalition. In a reflection of his political Unified Command Plan reflects the affinity for Israel, he acknowledged predecessors - opposes settlement con- seemed to repair his ties with Israel and four Arab countries. savvy and ability to work with rivals, easing of tensions between Israel and that Netanyahu’s close ties with the struction and favors a two-state solu- Netanyahu. Later that year, Netanyahu Saar said he had great respect for he coordinated a surprise late-night some Arab countries. It said the divisive U.S. president had alienated tion between Israel and the trounced him in a party leadership Trump’s contributions to Israel and parliamentary maneuver last month Abraham Accords of last year, which many Democrats and vowed to restore Palestinians. Saar seems to be count- vote, confining Saar to the backbench- did not want to wade into U.S. politics. that caused the coalition to collapse. COVID-19 vaccination process in Kuwait’s stance reaffirmed Kuwait partakes in Moroccan int’l conf on Western Sahara Kuwait ‘cautious, efficient’: MoH RABAT, Jan 16, (KUNA): sovereignty on the southern prov- Morocco organized on Friday an inces, he said. international conference via vid- In addition, he stressed the eoconference on the autonomy of importance of the Moroccan ini- Ministry hopes to up number of vaccine beneficiaries the Western Sahara, with the par- tiative on the autonomy in the ticipation of 40 countries includ- Sahara, describing it as a fair and ing Kuwait. permanent framework for resolv- KUWAIT CITY, Jan 16: Speaking to KUNA, Kuwait’s ing this regional dispute. The Ministry of Health Ambassador to Morocco Al-Yahya extolled the Abdullatif Al-Yahya said his par- Moroccan’s efforts to develop the affirms that the procedures ticipation in this conference dem- Western Sahara by implementing followed for carrying out onstrates Kuwait’s support to development projects to rehabili- the COVID-19 vaccination Morocco. tate these regions and turn them He reiterated the deep-rooted into an economic center in the process in the country are brotherly relations between African continent. “the most cautious and Kuwait and Morocco. The participants expressed their efficient”, reports Al-Qabas He re-affirmed Kuwait’s stance support to the Moroccan initia- regarding the Western Sahara tive, considering it the only fair daily. issue. and permanent solution to the In response to a front-page story Kuwait supports the unity of regional dispute over the Western titled “Kuwait’s vaccination ... the the Moroccan territories and its Sahara. slowest” published by the daily on Tuesday, the ministry expressed hope to increase the number of beneficiaries of the COVID-19 Green fields year-round vaccine in the coming period. It affirmed its keen concern for the public health of citizens and residents, Fifty years on, the Nile dam without forfeiting any measure that ensures the highest degrees of safety measures in regard to appropriate vaccination based on internationally that changed face of Egypt approved medical principles and stan- MANIAL SULTAN, Egypt, Jan 16, world as a defining victory for Nasser dards. (AP): Yassin Saeed remembers when and Arab nationalism. Approve the Nile’s annual flood drenched his The dam’s construction changed the village in the years before the con- very landscape of Egypt. It spared the The ministry explained that one of struction of the Aswan High Dam. farmers from seasonal droughts and the most important of these standards Now, former flood lands are green flooding, and generated electricity, it set is not to approve any vaccination fields year-round. spurring Egypt’s rapid development. until after its use is officially approved Minister of State for Housing Affairs and Minister of Services Dr Abdullah Ma’arafi chairing the coordination meet- “Our lives were very hard,” said the For years, the dam served as the main ing with government agencies. by international medical bodies. 76-year-old Egyptian, recounting how source of power for the country, which Therefore, the comparison published his father, his brothers and other farm- has recently needed to invest in other by the daily missed this technical and ers had to use the traditional felucca sources to meet the needs of its boom- PAHW has received bids from companies professional standard, as it published sailboats to harvest the corn crops in ing population. proportions of countries that used vac- the flooded fields. “It is the greatest Egyptian project cinations which were not approved by The area was flooded at least a third since the time of the pharaohs,” said Building permits for Al Mutla’a, South Abdullah set international medical bodies due to of the year; the villagers would erect Abbas Sharaky, a water resources pro- which they cannot be approved by the mud barriers to prevent waters from fessor at Cairo University, describing By Abdel Nasser Al-Aslami ing difficulties and overcoming obsta- Al-Nouri, in addition to a group of Kuwait’s Ministry of Health. The sta- reaching their homes. Then came the how the Nile was tamed. tistics published by the daily relied on Al-Seyassah Staff cles at each site to help expedite work. senior officials. dam, which officially opened after The river is formed by its two tribu- The meeting was attended by the On the other hand, Dr. Abdullah many vaccines used since six months more than a decade of construction on taries, the Blue Nile, originating from KUWAIT CITY, Jan 16: Minister of Minister of Public Works, Minister of Ma’arafi announced that PAHW has and are not universally agreed upon. January 15, 1971. Lake Tana in Ethiopia and the White State for Housing Affairs and Minister Municipality Dr. Rana Al-Faris; received bids from companies eligible Therefore, it is not correct to compare Built in the 1950s and 1960s under Nile, from Lake Victoria in Uganda. them with what is provided by the of Services Dr. Abdullah Ma’arafi Minister of Oil, Minister of Electricity for investment opportunity in Sabah the country’s leader, the charismatic The tributaries meet in central Sudan chaired the second coordination meet- and Water Dr. Muhammad Al-Faris; government of the State of Kuwait Gamal Abdel-Nasser, the Soviet from where the Nile winds northward Al-Ahmad Residential City. represented by the Ministry of Health, ing with the relevant state authorities Director General of the Public Dr. Ma’arafi explained the invest- Union helped in its construction after through Egypt and flows into the to complete the procedures for issuing and approved by international medical Authority for Housing Welfare Eng ment opportunity is a traditional mar- the United States and Britain withdrew Mediterranean Sea. building permits to citizens who got Bader Al-Waqian, in addition to the bodies, as other vaccines will not be ket with a heritage urban character, financial support. The project ensured an adequate plots of land to build houses in Mutla’a Director General of the Public approved for use until all the criteria with a land area of approximately Their withdrawal was a factor in water supply all year, Sharaky said. In Residential City and the South Authority for Roads and Transport are met. Nasser’s subsequent decision to the 1980s, a prolonged drought Abdullah Al-Mubarak. (PART) Engr Suha Ashkanani and 40,000 square meters in the service In this regard, it stressed that the nationalize the Suez Canal, taking it dropped the Nile to its lowest level The Public Authority for Housing Director General the Kuwait axis of the city. Pfizer vaccine is distributed to the from British and French companies. since 1913 south of the dam, and Welfare (PAHW) said in a press state- Municipality, Engr Ahmed He added that the traditional market requesting countries in proportion to He planned to use canal revenues to upstream countries faced drought and ment the meeting decided to announce Al-Manfouhi; the Undersecretary of consists of retail stores, commercial the population, due to which there will finance the dam. Egyptians hailed it as famine. But Egypt was spared. Lake next week the dates for issuing build- the Ministry of Public Works, Engr and entertainment outlets, cafés and be fewer numbers of beneficiaries of the moment when their country finally Nasser, created by the dam, provided ing permits for these two residential Ismail Al-Falikawi, and the restaurants, making the city a commer- the vaccine in the initial stages. threw off decades of imperialist con- an alternate source of water. cities. During the meeting, the owners Undersecretary of the Ministry of cial and service center that will enrich Efﬁ cient trol, and Nasser was called a patriot. Today, as Egypt marks 50 years of of the plots have called for overcom- Electricity and Water Engr Jassim the southern region of Kuwait. The move angered France and the Aswan Dam, it is embroiled in The ministry concluded its state- Britain. They, along with Israel, invad- stormy negotiations with Sudan and ment by stating, “In the coming ed and briefly took the canal in the 1956 Ethiopia to resolve a long-running dis- At virus tipping point, country imposes all-day curfew days, we hope that the numbers ben- Mideast war. But the United States and pute over another massive dam, one efiting from the vaccine will the Soviet Union ordered them to pull that Ethiopia is building on the Blue increase, and new vaccinations will back, in what was seen across the Arab Nile, the main tributary of the Nile. be supplied as soon as they meet the Lebanon OKs law to import coronavirus vaccines established conditions, which will definitely increase the number of BEIRUT, Jan 16, (AP): Lebanon’s to help by taking extreme precaution- country now is putting hopes on vac- beneficiaries. parliament approved a draft law allow- ary measures to “overcome the catas- cines that are expected to start arriving The procedures of the ministry are ing imports of coronavirus vaccines as trophe we are facing.” next month. the most cautious, and efficient, and the small nation hit a new record in Mazen El Sayed, an associated pro- Parliament’s approval opens the not the slowest.” case numbers Friday and more hospi- fessor in the department of emergency way for imports of vaccines from It stressed the need for the media to tals reported they were at full capacity. medicine, described the situation as around the world, including the Pfizer- follow up the medical standards adopt- The new daily toll of 6,154 cases and “tragic,” anticipating that the next two BioNTech vaccine. ed when publishing anything related to 44 deaths came on the second day of a weeks would be even more dire. Health Minister Hamad Hassan, the medical issue in order to reveal the nationwide 11-day curfew that the gov- In southern Lebanon, the Ragheb who is hospitalized with the coronavi- truth to the readers without causing ernment and doctors hope will reign in Harb Hospital also said that its rus, had said that once the draft law is confusion. the dramatic surge of the virus. COVID-19 units were now. “We are approved, the first deliveries of vac- Last week, the Ministry of Health Lebanon, a tiny Mediterranean working beyond our capacity. The sit- cines should start arriving in February. has asked those with chronic diseases country of about 6 million people, has uation is very dangerous,” the hospital Lebanon has reserved 2.7 million and special needs of all ages who wish witnessed a sharp increase of cases in said in a statement. doses of vaccines from multiple interna- to take the vaccine to register their recent weeks, after some 80,000 expa- tional companies and 2.1 million to be Pandemic names, putting these people on the list triates flew in to celebrate Christmas provided by Pfizer, Diab’s office says. of priority just like the medical person- and New Year. The curfew, which began Thursday, Lebanon has registered nearly nel, the elderly and those working on During the holiday season, restric- is the strictest measure Lebanon has 243,000 coronavirus cases and some the frontlines. tions were eased to encourage spend- taken since the start of the pandemic. 1,825 confirmed deaths. The Ministry of Health indicated the ing by expatriates amid a suffocating But many have expressed concern the It was a choice between containing a vaccination is given on the basis of economic and financial crisis, the measures have come too late - many spiraling virus outbreak and resuscitat- priority for those who have registered worst in Lebanon’s modern history. hospitals have already reached maxi- ing a dying economy in a country that with the ministry indicating the keen- On Friday, the American University mum capacity for coronavirus patients, has been in steady financial and eco- ness of the government to protect Medical Center, one of Lebanon’s some have run out of beds, oxygen nomic meltdown over the past year. groups most vulnerable to infection largest and most prestigious hospitals, tanks and ventilators while others have Authorities in Lebanon chose the latter. and complications. said in a statement that its health care halted elective surgeries. Now, virus patients struggling to In the context, Consultant Internal workers were overwhelmed. The hos- Lebanon was able to contain the breathe wait outside hospitals - hoping Medicine and Clinical Immunology pital’s ICUs and regular coronavirus virus in its early stages but the num- for a bed or even a chair to open up. Dr. Mona Al-Ahmad revealed that the units have reached full capacity and so bers started climbing after measures Ordinary people share contact lists of approved period of time between the In this April 1964 file photo, a truck enters a tunnel during construction of did the emergency room, it said. were eased in early July and following oxygen suppliers on social media as two vaccine doses in Kuwait is about the Aswan High Dam over the river Nile in Egypt. Egyptians are marking “We are unable to find beds for the massive deadly blast at Beirut’s the the critical gas becomes scarce, 21 days, and added, the person 50 years since the inauguration of the Nile dam, a massive feat of con- even the most critical patients,” the port in August. and the sound of ambulances ferrying becomes immune to the virus after tak- struction that has shaped the course of modern-day Egypt. It spared it from hospital said, urging people in Lebanon Following bureaucratic delays, the the ill echoes through Beirut. ing the two doses. seasonal droughts and flooding, and generated electricity. (AP) ARAB TIMES, SUNDAY, JANUARY 17, 2021 INTERNATIONAL 7

Death Penalty

Highest in 120 years Trump govt carries out final execution TERRE HAUTE, Ind, Jan 16, (AP): The Trump administration early Saturday carried out its 13th federal execution since July, an unprecedented run that concluded just fi ve days before the inauguration of President-elect Joe Biden - an opponent of the federal death penalty. Dustin Higgs, convicted of ordering the killings of three women in a Maryland wildlife refuge in 1996, was the third to receive a lethal injection this week at the federal prison in Terre Haute, Indiana. President Donald Trump’s Justice Department resumed federal executions last year following a 17-year hiatus. No president in more than 120 years had overseen as many federal executions. Higgs, 48, was pronounced dead at 1:23 a.m. Asked if he had any last words, Higgs was calm but defi ant, naming each of the women prosecutors said he ordered killed. “I’d like to say I am an innocent man. ... I am not responsible for the deaths,” he said softly. “I did not order the murders.” He did not apologize for anything he did on the night 25 years ago when the women were shot by another man, who received a life sentence. Trump As the lethal injection of pentobar- bital began to fl ow into his veins, Higgs looked toward a room reserved for his relatives and lawyers. He waved with his fi ngers and said, “I love you.” Louds sobs of a woman crying inconsolably began to echo from the witness room reserved for Higgs’ family as his eyes rolled back in his head, showing the whites of his eyes. He quickly became still, his pupils visible with his President-elect Joe Biden speaks about the COVID-19 pandemic during an event at The Queen Theater, on Jan 14, in Wilmington, Del, as Vice-President-elect eyelids left partially open. Kamala Harris listens. (AP) A sister of Tanji Jackson - one of the murdered women who was 21 when she died - addressed a written statement to Higgs after his execution and mentioning his family. “They are now going to go through the pain we experi- America enced,” she said. “When the day is over, your death will not bring my sister and the other victims back. This is not closure.” The statement didn’t include the sister’s name. Sentences Biden vows to boost COVID vaccine supplies The number of federal death sentences carried out under Trump since 2020 is more than in the previous 56 years combined, reducing the number of prisoners on federal ‘We’ll manage hell out of feds response’ death row by nearly a quarter. It’s likely none of the around 50 remaining men will be executed anytime soon, if ever, WILMINGTON, Del, Jan 16, (AP): problems. Until now states have been what a stupid, stupid thing to happen.” with Biden signaling he’ll end federal executions. President-elect Joe Biden has pledged focused on inoculating health care Biden has long held that economic The only woman on death row, Lisa Montgomery, was to boost supplies of coronavirus vac- workers, and some are starting to vac- recovery is inextricably tied to control executed Wednesday for killing a pregnant woman, then cine and set up new vaccination sites cinate people 75 and older. Relatively of the coronavirus. cutting the baby out of her womb. She was the fi rst woman to meet his goal of 100 million shots in few are providing shots to people be- Under Biden’s multipronged strat- executed in nearly 70 years. 100 days. It’s part of a broader COVID tween 65 and 75. egy, about $20 billion would be allo- strategy that also seeks to straighten Another carryover from the Trump cated for a more disciplined focus on Federal executions began as the coronavirus pan- out snags in testing and ensure minor- administration plan: Biden said he in- vaccination, on top of some $8 billion demic raged through prisons nationwide. Among those ity communities are not left out. tends to mobilize local pharmacies to already approved by Congress. Biden prisoners who got COVID-19 last month were Higgs “Some wonder if we are reaching administer vaccines. has called for setting up mass vaccina- and former drug trafficker Corey Johnson, who was ex- too far,” Biden said Friday. “Let me “Is it achievable?” he asked. “It’s tion centers and sending mobile units ecuted Thursday. be clear, I’m convinced we can get it a legitimate question to ask. Let me to hard-to-reach areas. In the early Saturday execution of Higgs, offi cials inside done.” be clear. I’m convinced we can get it On Friday, he announced former the execution chamber were more diligent about their keep- The real payoff, Biden said, will done.” FDA chief David Kessler as his chief ing masks on after a federal judge expressed concern that At a protest of the execution of Corey come from uniting the nation in a new In fact, Dr. Leana Wen, a public science officer for the vaccine drive. offi cials at Johnson’s execution were lax about coronavirus Johnson, on Jan 14, near the Federal effort grounded in science. health expert and emergency physi- Kessler has been advising Biden as a precautions. When a marshal called from a death-chamber Correctional Complex in Terre Haute, Biden spoke a day after unveiling a cian, said the president-elect should co-chair of his advisory board on the phone to ask if there were any impediments to proceeding Ind, Charles Keith, of Canton, Ohio, $1.9 trillion “American Rescue Plan” aim higher. coronavirus pandemic. A pediatrician with Higgs’ execution, he kept his mask on and shoved the holds a sign with all of the mugshots to confront the virus and provide tem- “At this point, mass vaccination is and attorney, he has emphasized a receiver under it. of the 10 men and one woman who porary support for a shaky economy. our last and best chance to restoring need to ease public concerns about the have been executed by the federal About $400 billion of the plan is fo- normalcy,” she said. “There should safety of the vaccines. Not since the waning days of Grover Cleveland’s presi- government since July 14, 2020. (AP) dency in the late 1800s has the U.S. government executed cused on measures aimed at control- be no expenses spared in the vaccine With the backing of Congress and federal inmates during a presidential transition, according ling the virus. Those range from mass rollout. A hundred million in 100 days the expertise of private and govern- vaccination centers to more sophisti- needs to be seen as only a start.” ment scientists, the Trump adminis- to the Death Penalty Information Center. Cleveland’s was cated scientific analysis of new strains tration delivered two highly effective also the last presidency during which the number of civil- and squads of local health workers to Strategy vaccines and more are on the way. Yet ians executed federally was in the double digits in one year, trace the contacts of infected people. Two medical groups, the Infectious a month after the first shots were giv- 1896. “You have my word: We will man- Diseases Society of America and the en, the nation’s vaccination campaign In an opinion piece in The Washington Post earlier this age the hell out of this operation,” HIV Medicine Group, said Friday eve- is off to a slow start with about 12.3 week, Martin Luther King III, the eldest son of Martin Lu- Biden declared. He underscored a need ning they “strongly support” the Biden million doses administered out of more ther King Jr. and Coretta Scott King, noted that Higgs, a for Congress to approve more money plan. The strategy “will be vital to end- than 31 million delivered, or 39%. Black man, was scheduled to die Friday - his father’s birth- and for people to keep following basic ing the impacts of COVID-19” in the About 10.6 million individuals have day. With last-minute appeals, it was delayed into early precautions, such as wearing masks, US, the groups said. received first or second doses, accord- Saturday. avoiding gatherings and frequently As Biden spoke, some governors ing to the Centers for Disease Control “The federal government should not be needlessly tak- washing their hands. blasted the Trump administration for and Prevention. But the American ing more Black lives, and to do so on my father’s birthday Widodo Kim Throughout the plan, there’s a focus what at least one said was “deception” Hospital Association estimates that would be shameful,” he wrote. on ensuring that minority communities in suggesting earlier this week that a 246 million must be vaccinated to Pressure is already building on Biden to follow that have borne the brunt of the pan- reserve of vaccine doses was ready to reach widespread or “herd” immunity through on pledges to end the federal death penalty. The Asia demic are not shortchanged on vac- ship, augmenting supplies. An admin- by the summer. Vaccines currently cines and treatments. istration official said states have still available require two shots to be fully ACLU released a statement after Higgs’ execution urg- not ordered all of the doses allocated ing Biden to invoke his presidential powers after he is A key challenge for Biden and the effective. nation: Vaccines are in too-short sup- to them, and called it a problem with Biden has called the vaccine rollout sworn in. NTSB team in Jakarta: A team from the US National Transportation Safety Board ply. states’ expectations. “a dismal failure so far.” “He must commute the sentences of people on the feder- has arrived in Indonesia’s capital to join the Biden said he would use the Defense Biden committed to better commu- “We need to be getting to more than al death row to life without parole, and he must drop death investigation into the crash of a Sriwijaya Production Act, a Cold War-era law, to nication with the states, to avoid such 3 million vaccinations a day, rapidly,” from all pending trials,” the ACLU said. Air Boeing 737-500, the head of Indone- boost vaccine supplies and work with surprises. His plan calls for the federal said Wen. In 2000, a federal jury in Maryland convicted Higgs of sia’s National Transportation Safety Com- the Federal Emergency Management government to fully reimburse states Biden’s plan also would provide murder and kidnapping in the killings of Tamika Black, 19; mittee said Saturday. Agency to set up 100 vaccination cen- that mobilize their National Guards to $50 billion to expand testing, which is Mishann Chinn, 23; and Tanji Jackson. The team also comprises representatives ters around the country by the end of help distribute vaccines. seen as key to reopening most schools Argued from the US Federal Aviation Administra- his first month in office. Biden’s proposal comes as a divided by the end of the new administration’s tion, Boeing and General Electric. They “Almost a year later, we’re still far nation is in the grip of the pandemic’s first 100 days. About $130 billion Higgs’ lawyers argued it was “arbitrary and inequitable” joined personnel from Singapore’s Trans- from back to normal. The honest truth most dangerous wave yet. “We remain would be allocated to help schools re- to execute Higgs while Willis Haynes, the man who fi red portation Safety Investigation Bureau at the is this: Things will get worse before in a very dark winter,” he said. open without risking further contagion. the shots that killed the women, was spared a death sen- search and rescue command center at Tan- they get better,” he said Friday, as US The political outlook for the legisla- The plan would fund the hiring of tence. jung Priok port in Jakarta to see some of the deaths climbed closer to 400,000. The tion remains unclear, although a pow- 100,000 public health workers, to fo- In a statement after the execution, Higgs’ attorney, plane debris. global toll has now reached 2 million. erful business lobbying group, the US cus on encouraging people to get vac- The plane lost contact with air traffic con- Shawn Nolan, said his client had spent decades on death trollers minutes after taking off from Jakarta Biden seconded the Trump admin- Chamber of Commerce, welcomed its cinated and on tracing the contacts of row helping other inmates. during heavy rain on Jan. 9. The jet crashed istration’s call earlier this week for focus on controlling the pandemic. those infected with the coronavirus. “There was no reason to kill him, particularly during the into the Java Sea, killing all 62 people on states to start vaccinating more seniors, “This is not a political issue,” Biden The Biden administration also plans to pandemic and when he, himself, was sick with Covid that board. reaching those 65 and older as well as said. “This is about saving lives. I launch a public education campaign to he contracted because of these irresponsible, super-spread- Divers found parts of the cockpit voice younger people with certain health know it’s become a partisan issue, but overcome doubts about vaccination. er executions,” Nolan said. recorder on Friday as more personnel joined Higgs had a traumatic childhood and lost his mother to the search for wreckage and victims. Inves- tigators have already downloaded informa- a surge of cases since December. and Liaoning in the northeast and Sichuan The Commission blamed the latest cases cancer when he was 10, Higgs’ Dec. 19 petition for clem- A total of 645 people are being treated in in the southwest. on people or goods arriving from abroad. It ency petition said. tion from the plane’s flight data recorder, which was recovered earlier this week. Nangong and the Hebei provincial capital, The latest infections spread unusually blamed “abnormal management” and “inad- Higgs was 23 on the evening of Jan. 26, 1996, when he, “There are 330 parameters and every- Shijiazhuang, Xinhua said. A 3,000-room fast, the National Health Commission said. equate protection of workers” involved in Haynes and a third man, Victor Gloria, picked up the three thing is in good condition. We are learn- hospital is under construction in Shiji- “It is harder to handle,” a Commission imports but gave no details. women in Washington, D.C., and drove them to Higgs’ ing about it now,” said Soerjanto Tjahjono, azhuang. statement said. “Community transmission “They are all imported from abroad. It apartment in Laurel, Maryland, to drink alcohol and listen chairman of the National Transportation Virus clusters also have been found in already has happened when the epidemic is was caused by entry personnel or contami- to music. Before dawn, an argument between Higgs and Safety Committee. Beijing and the provinces of Heilongjiang found, so it is difficult to prevent.” nated cold chain imported goods,” said the Jackson prompted her to grab a knife in the kitchen before President Joko Widodo’s government statement. (AP) Haynes persuaded her to drop it. granted a waiver allowing the NTSB team ❑ ❑ ❑ Gloria said Jackson made threats as she left the apart- to enter the country during its coronavirus- NKorea holds military parade: North ment with the other women and appeared to write down related travel ban in which foreigners are Korea displayed new submarine-launched bal- the license plate number of Higgs’ van, angering him. The barred from entering. listic missiles under development and other The 26-year-old Boeing 737-500 was out military hardware in a parade that underlined three men chased after the women in Higgs’ van. Haynes of service for almost nine months last year persuaded them to get into the vehicle. leader Kim Jong Un’s defiant calls to expand because of flight cutbacks caused by the the country’s nuclear weapons program. Instead of taking them home, Higgs drove them to a se- pandemic. The airline and Indonesian of- State media said Kim took center stage in cluded spot in the Patuxent National Wildlife Refuge, fed- ficials say it underwent inspections, including for possible engine corrosion that could Thursday night’s parade celebrating a ma- eral land in Laurel. jor ruling party meeting in which he vowed “Aware at that point that something was amiss, one of have developed during the layoff, before it resumed commercial flying in December. maximum efforts to bolster the nuclear and the women asked if they were going to have to ‘walk from missile program that threatens Asian rivals here’ and Higgs responded ‘something like that,’” accord- (AP) ❑ ❑ ❑ and the American homeland to counter what ing to court documents. he described as US hostility. Higgs handed his pistol to Haynes, who shot all three China builds hospital in 5 days: China During an eight-day Workers’ Party con- women outside the van, Gloria testifi ed. on Saturday finished building a 1,500-room gress that ended Tuesday, Kim also revealed “Gloria turned to ask Higgs what he was doing, but hospital for COVID-19 patients to fight a plans to salvage the nation’s economy, hit saw Higgs holding the steering wheel and watching the surge in infections the government said are by US-led sanctions over his nuclear ambi- shootings from the rearview mirror,” said the 2013 rul- harder to contain and that it blamed on in- tions, pandemic-related border closures and ing by a three-judge panel of the 4th US Circuit Court fected people or goods from abroad. natural disasters that wiped out crops. The hospital is one of six with a total of The new elected Christian Democratic Union, CDU, party chairman Armin The economic setbacks have left Kim with of Appeals. 6,500 rooms being built in Nangong, south Laschet, (center), greeted by outgoing chairwoman Annegret Kramp-Karren- nothing to show for his ambitious diplomacy Chinn worked with the children’s choir at a church, Jack- of Beijing in Hebei province, the official Xi- bauer, (left), after the voting at a digital party convention in Berlin, Germany, with President Donald Trump, which derailed son worked in the offi ce at a high school and Black was a nhua News Agency said. on Jan 16. The party of German Chancellor Angela Merkel decided on a suc- over disagreements about sanctions relief in teacher’s aide at National Presbyterian School in Washing- China had largely contained the corona- cessor for the outgoing chairwoman Annegret Kramp-Karrenbauer, (left), at the exchange for North Korean denuclearization ton, according to The Washington Post. virus that first was detected in the central convention. On the (right) stands the other candidate of the fi nal voting Friedrich steps, and pushed Kim to what is clearly the city of Wuhan in late 2019 but has suffered Merz. (AP) toughest moment of his nine-year rule. (AP) Google muscles up with Fitbit deal amid antitrust concerns

Google has completed its ately raised alarms. health and fitness data from Fitbit users’ privacy,” Rick $2.1 billion acquisition of Google makes most of its Fitbit’s 29 million users to sell Osterloh, Google’s senior In this file photo, the logo for fitness-gadget maker Fitbit, money by selling ads based on more ads. It insists it is more vice president of devices and fItbit appears above a trading a deal that could help the information it collects about its interested in adding Fitbit to its services, wrote in a Thursday post on the floor of the New internet company grow even billions of users’ interests and expanding arsenal of internet- blog post. York Stock Exchange. Google stronger while U.S. govern- whereabouts. Privacy watch- connected products, which Google is scooping up Fit- has completed its $2.1 billion ment regulators pursue an dogs feared it might exploit include smartphones, laptops, bit - a company that has sold acquisition of fitness-gadget antitrust case aimed at un- Fitbit to peer even deeper into speakers, cameras and ther- about 120 million devices in maker Fitbit. (AP) dermining its power. people’s lives. mostats. 100 countries since its 2009 Thursday’s completion of But Google wound up enter- “This deal has always been founding - while it fights a se- the acquisition comes 14 ing a series of commitments in about devices, not data, and ries of lawsuits filed by the U.S. months after Google an- Europe and other parts of the we’ve been clear since the Department of Justice and nounced a deal that immedi- world pledging it won’t use the beginning that we will protect state attorneys general. (AP)

Market Movements 15-01-2021 Change Closing pts Change Closing pts AUSTRALIA - All Ordinaries +4.07 6,986.79 JAPAN - Nikkei -179.08 28,519.18 CHINA - Shanghai SE +0.47 3,566.38 GERMANY - DAX -200.97 13,787.73 FRANCE - CAC 40 -69.45 5,611.69 EUROPE - Euro Stoxx 50 -41.82 3,599.55 S. KOREA - KRX 100 -165.28 6,695.11 PHILIPPINES - PSEi -34.69 7,238.46 INDIA - Sensex -549.49 49,034.67 Business US industrial production jumps 1.6%

Retail sales fell in December for 3rd straight month

SILVER SPRING, Mary- land, Jan 16, (AP): U.S. Surplus surges to $535bn industrial production rose 1.6% in December, a third straight monthly gain, but China exports rise in 2020 remains below its pre-pandemic level. despite virus, US tariff war The December gain in industrial output followed a 0.5% increase BEIJING, Jan 16, (AP): China’s ex- States were $4.6 billion. Imports of ports rose in 2020 despite pressure American goods were $1.6 billion, in November and a 1% increase from the coronavirus and a tariff war giving China a $3 billion surplus. in October, the Federal Reserve with Washington, boosting its politi- “In 2020, China made outstanding reported Friday. Even with those cally volatile trade surplus to $535 bil- achievements in foreign trade, which gains, industrial output is still lion, one of the highest ever reported. did not come easy,” said a statement about 3.3% below its level in Feb- Exports increased 3.6% over 2019 by the General Administration of Cus- ruary before the pandemic hit. to $2.6 trillion, an improvement on the toms of China. It warned against com- Manufacturing increased 0.9%, its previous year’s 0.5% gain, customs data placency, saying the global economic eighth straight monthly gain, even as showed Thursday. Imports edged down situation “is still grave and complex.” production of motor vehicles and parts 1.1% to just over $2 trillion, but growth The election of Joe Biden to succeed declined 1.6%. That follows a string of was strong in the second half after China President Donald Trump has raised gains for the auto sector, including last became the fi rst major economy to revive questions about the future of Trump’s month’s strong 5% increase. Without following the pandemic. fi ght with Beijing. Economists and po- the drag in the auto sector last month, Exports to the United States rose litical analysts expect few changes due manufacturing posted gains of 1.1%. 7.9% over 2019 to $45.2 billion de- to widespread frustration in Washing- Mining production rose 1.6%, while spite tariff hikes on most Chinese ton with China’s record on trade and utilities’ output rose 6.2% as a rebound goods by the Trump administration in human rights and complaints about in December demand followed a 4.2% a feud with Beijing over technology technology theft and spying. decline in November due to unseason- and security. Imports of U.S. goods Beijing promised to buy more ably warm weather. rose 9.8% to $13.5 billion, boosted American exports in the “Phase 1” U.S. industry operated at 74.5% of In this file photo, Ford Motor Co line workers put together ventilators that the automaker is assembling at the Ford by Beijing’s promise as part of a truce agreement last January aimed at end- capacity in December, still below the Rawsonville plant in Ypsilanti Township, Michigan. US industrial production increased 0.4% in November with in that confl ict to buy more American ing the tariff war. The two govern- pre-pandemic rate of 76.9% in Febru- manufacturing receiving a boost from a rebound in output at auto plants after three months of declines. (AP) soybeans, natural gas and other ex- ments agreed to postpone further ary. ports. planned tariff hikes on each other’s While December’s topline num- manufacturing sector has weathered The unexpected decline underscores The Commerce Department said China’s exporters benefi ted from the goods, but penalties on billions of dol- bers were better than economists had the pandemic better than the battered the economy’s troubles as the pandem- sales even fell online, down nearly 6% relatively early reopening of its econ- lars of imports remain. expected, there is concern that rising services sector, but continues to face ic has worsened this winter. Employers after rising 19% for the year. omy and demand for masks and other China fell behind on meeting those coronavirus infections and a rocky virus-related headwinds such as fac- shed jobs last month for the fi rst time That may be due to Amazon, which Chinese-made medical supplies. commitments but started to catch up as vaccination campaign could further tory shutdowns needed to sanitize fa- since April. And layoffs appear to be held its annual Prime Day sales event in Exporters have taken market share demand rebounded. hamstring an already uneven recovery cilities and diffi culties in hiring new continuing, as the number of people October this year for the fi rst time, which from foreign competitors that face still China is on track to be the only ma- for the U.S. economy. workers as the virus surges again. seeking jobless benefi ts jumped last likely pushed people to shop earlier in anti-virus curbs, but that advantage is jor economy to grow in 2020 while ac- On Thursday night, President-elect Meanwhile, Americans cut back on week to the highest level since August. the season and spend less in December, expected to fade as coronavirus vac- tivity in the United States, Europe and Joe Biden unveiled a $1.9 trillion coro- spending in December for the third- That’s left many Americans with less analysts at Wells Fargo Securities said. cines are rolled out and other econo- Japan falls. navirus plan that would speed up vac- straight month as a surge in virus cases to spend. But the recent $600 stimulus Walmart, Target and Best Buy followed mies return to normal. Demand for The world’s second-largest econo- cines and deal fi nancial help to those kept people away from stores during checks sent to most Americans is ex- Amazon’s lead, offering competing dis- medical goods also is receding. my shrank by 6.8% from a year ear- struggling with the pandemic’s pro- the critical holiday shopping season. pected to boost the economy in the com- counts to coincide with Prime Day. “The current strength of exports is lier in the fi rst three months of 2020. longed economic fallout. The U.S. Commerce Department ing months. And as vaccines are more At restaurants and bars, sales fell unlikely to be sustained indefi nitely,” Growth rebounded to 3.2% in the sec- Oren Klachkin, an economist with said Friday that retail sales fell a sea- widely distributed, economists expect the 4.5% in December as states restricted said Julian Evans-Pritchard of Capital ond quarter and accelerated to 4.9% in Oxford Economics, said a fi nancial sonally adjusted 0.7% in December economy to rebound at a healthy pace in in-person dining, ending the year down Economics in a report. He said imports the three months ending in September. relief package would provide a much- from the month before, a decline Wall the second half of this year. 21%. “are likely to drop back” as the govern- Chinese imports are growing faster needed immediate boost for the econ- Street analysts weren’t expecting. So far, retailers have reported mixed It wasn’t all bad news: Sales at ment reduces high spending and other by volume than by value because pric- omy, but added that in the long-term, Sales also fell in October and Novem- results for the holiday season. Big box home improvement stores continued to support for economic activity. es of oil and other commodities sank “vaccine roll outs will shift consumer ber, even as retailers tried to get people retailer Target, which sells groceries, rise, up 0.9% last month after growing Global exports surged 18.1% in De- after anti-virus curbs on travel and spending more towards services, soft- shopping for Christmas gifts early by fashions and cleaning supplies under 17% for the year, as people spruced up cember over a year earlier to $281.9 bil- business depressed global demand. ening consumer goods demand and offering deals before Halloween. one roof, said sales rose during the their houses as they quarantined. But lion. Imports rose 6.5% to $203.7 billion, Also in 2020, exports to Europe rose weighing on industrial activity.” Friday’s report covers only about holidays as virus-wary people seek the biggest increase was at gas sta- refl ecting a rebound in Chinese consumer 6.7% to $39.1 billion despite anti-vi- The Institute for Supply Manage- a third of overall consumer spending. one-stop shopping. Meanwhile, chains tions, likely due to a rise in gas prices demand after the ruling Communist Party rus controls that shut down travel and ment reported Tuesday that American Services such as haircuts and hotel typically found at malls, such as Nor- and holiday-related road trips, which reopened factories, shopping malls, of- business in major markets. Imports factories grew in December at the fast- stays, which have been badly hurt by dstrom, Victoria’s Secret, and Urban pushed sales up 6.6% after falling 12% fi ces and auto dealerships. of European goods rose 2.3%, giving est pace in more than two years. The the pandemic, are not included. Outfi tters, reported a sales drop. for the year. December exports to the United China a surplus of $13.3 billion. ‘Time is ripe to move away from oil’ National oil companies on borrowing spree By Kamel Al-Harami Independent Oil Analyst Total ‘withdraws’ from US KNOWING well that the current oil prices within the range of $55 per barrel is not sustainable, the national oil energy lobbying group API companies are on a borrowing spree. Companies like Saudi Aramco, Ku- PARIS, Jan 16, (AP): French oil ent approaches are necessary to solve wait’s KPC, Iraq, and gas company Total said it has them, and we benefi t from a diversity Pemex of Mexi- decided to withdraw from energy as- of views.” With more than 600 mem- co, Petrobras of sociation American Petroleum Insti- bers, API represents all segments of Brazil, PDVS of tute because it disagrees on climate- the oil and natural gas industry in the Venezuela and related policies. U.S. the rest are suf- Total said in a statement Friday it The API added that it does “not sup- fering from low would not renew its membership for port subsidizing energy because it dis- oil prices and 2021 following an analysis of API’s torts the market and ultimately proves their govern- position on climate issues that has harmful to consumers.” ments are no lon- shown “certain divergences.” Peter Frumhoff, the director of sci- ger able to meet The company notably mentions ence and policy at the U.S.-based the needs of the API’s “support during the recent elec- Union of Concerned Scientists, said state companies Al-Harami tions to candidates who argued against Total’s decision to leave the group was as well as in fi nancing and meeting up- the United States’ participation” in the signifi cant. stream and downstream requirements 2015 Paris Agreement to curb climate “It’s a very big deal for an oil main search of and for developing new oil change. Total also pointed at diverging jor to take a position basically leaving wells, and for more volumes. This is in views over the regulation of methane the major trade association here in the addition to building new refi neries and emissions, subsidies for electric ve- United States,” he told The Associated upgrading existing ones, and meeting hicles and the carbon pricing principle, Press. the increased local demands or obtain- aimed at reducing greenhouse gas Frumhoff said the move came just ing added values from fi nished prod- emissions. days after API’s president, Mike Sum- ucts. Total says it is working to provide mers, made a speech in which he said The funds needed are in billions of cleaner energy and its CEO, Patrick the group would fi ght regulation of US Dollars, and the companies have to Pouyanné, said the group wants to methane emissions, restrictions on borrow from fi nancial institutions and ensure that “the industry associations drilling on public lands and support markets to secure the necessary funds. of which we are a member adopt po- for charging infrastructure for electric The question however is - at what rate sitions and messages that are aligned vehicles. will banks and fi nancial institutions with those of the group in the fi ght He added that Total’s decision put value the underground oil for now and against climate change.” pressure on other oil companies BP the coming fi ve years. Most of the na- The API said in a statement on Fri- and Shell, which both said they aim at tional companies are using billions of day that “we believe that the world’s fi ghting greenhouse gas emissions, “to barrels as collateral to secure funds. energy and environmental challenges put their political power where their This is at a time when the demand for are large enough that many differ- mouth is and do the same.” oil is weakening and is not promising. Currently oil is valued between $15- investments in oil should not be a pri- annual expenditures and meeting the $20 per barrel by international banks. ority; but again, without the funds, it local demands for jobs. However, will it remain at such a level Therefore, we must invest in the especially since the demand for more will not be there. With more borrowing, we know the hope of increased oil prices for cover- funds is escalating and demand for ing all our expenses while borrowing oil to be consumed is reducing annu- cost of producing oil will increase for the Arabian Gulf producers to be un- money from the open market. Weaken- ally. Oil against borrowing seems un- ing of oil prices will end in closing the sustainable in the near future with the competitive. This is because we are in need of more than $90 a barrel to doors for borrowing, but when, consid- weakening value of the barrel to not ering the fi nancial burdens on national more than $60 a barrel. balance our economy. So, oil producing countries are facing combined oil companies are doubling? The time National oil companies are short of has come to move out of oil. cash, and faced with problems of fi nd- nightmares in terms of actual market ❑ ❑ ❑ ing cash to pay the salaries of govern- oil price, increased cost of production ment employees, Borrowing to fund including borrowing cost, increase in Email: [email protected] ARAB TIMES, SUNDAY, JANUARY 17, 2021 BUSINESS 9

consumers, businesses to suffer from cotton ban, China says

China on Thursday said a U.S. order to of the century fabricated out of thin air,” icant effects on international commerce. They have also said forced labor has separatism and terrorism. halt imports of cotton and tomatoes from Zhao said at a daily briefi ng. The Trump administration has already been used as part of an assimilation Canada and Britain both recently said its Xinjiang region over alleged human The U.S. move violated “international blocked imports from individual compa- campaign in a region whose inhabitants they too would take steps to stop goods rights abuses will disrupt global supply trade rules and market economy princi- nies linked to forced labor in the region, are ethnically and culturally distinct from tainted by forced labor from entering their chains and harm businesses and con- ples,” while disrupting global industrial and the U.S. has imposed sanctions on the Han Chinese majority. countries. sumers. and supply chains, Zhao said. “It is det- Communist Party offi cials with prominent Uighur forced labor has been linked by Estimates say the U.S. ban affects Foreign Ministry spokesperson Zhao rimental to the interests of enterprises roles in the campaign. reporting by The Associated Press to vari- about 20% of the global cotton supply. Lijian repeated China’s denial that it has and consumers of all countries, includ- China has built a vast system of de- ous products imported to the U.S., includ- Industry fi gures say it can be diffi cult to trampled on the rights of Uighurs and ing the United States itself, which is a tention camps where more than 1 mil- ing clothing and electronic goods such as ensure tainted raw materials do not enter other Muslim ethnic minorities in Xinjiang typical act that harms both others and lion Uighurs and others have been cameras and computer monitors. the supply chain, especially because Chi- and forced them to work on government- the one itself.” subjected to torture, sterilization and China says it aims only to promote eco- nese cotton is used to make clothing for owned farms and in other industries. Because Xinjiang is a major global sup- political indoctrination, according to nomic and social development in the re- export in other countries such as Bangla- “The so-called forced labor issue is a lie plier of cotton, the order could have signif- former inmates and monitoring groups. gion and stamp out religious extremism, desh and Vietnam. (AP) Stocks fall as economic pain deepens NEW YORK, Jan 16, (AP): Wall Street closed out its Toyota to pay $180m fi rst losing week in three to settle govt lawsuit with another drop on Fri- DETROIT, Jan 16, (AP): Toyota will day after reports showed pay $180 million to settle U.S. govern- the pandemic is deepening ment allegations that it failed to report and fi x pollution control defects in its the hole for the economy, vehicles for a decade. as Washington prepares to The company also agreed in court to throw it another lifeline. investigate future emissions-related de- The S&P 500 fell 27.29, or fects quickly and report them to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency in a 0.7%, to 3,768.25, with stocks timely manner. of companies that most need a “Toyota’s actions undermined the healthier economy taking some of EPA’s self-disclosure system and likely the sharpest losses. The Dow Jones led to delayed or avoided emissions- Industrial Average lost 177.26, or related recalls,” Audrey Strauss, the 0.6%, to 30,814.26, and the Nas- acting U.S. Attorney in Manhattan said daq composite dropped 114.14, or Thursday in a prepared statement. The Japanese automaker’s actions 0.9%, to 12,998.50. from 2005 to 2015 brought fi nancial Treasury yields also dipped as re- benefi ts and excessive vehicle pollution, ports showed shoppers held back on the statement said. spending during the holidays and are The company was accused in a gov- feeling less confi dent, the latest in ernment lawsuit of delays in fi ling 78 a litany of discouraging data on the emissions defect reports as required by economy. the Clean Air Act. The reports covered Stocks have run out of steam since millions of vehicles, and some of them the S&P 500 set a record high a week were as many as eight years late, the ago amid optimism that COVID-19 statement said. vaccines and more stimulus from The lawsuit was fi led Thursday and Washington will bring an economic settled on the same day, according to the recovery. The S&P 500 fell 1.5% over statement. the week. In a statement, Toyota said it re- Friday offered the fi rst chance for ported the problems to the EPA fi ve traders to act after President-elect Joe years ago after fi nding a “process gap” Biden unveiled details of a $1.9 tril- that brought delays in fi ling the defect lion plan to prop up the economy. In this photo provided by the New York Stock Exchange, trader Ashley Lara works on the fl oor, on Jan 15, in New York. Stocks pulled lower on Friday after reports. “Within months of discovering He called for $1,400 cash payments reports showed the pandemic is deepening the hole for the economy, as Washington prepares to throw it another lifeline. (AP) this issue, we submitted all relevant de- for most Americans, the extension of layed fi lings and put new robust report- temporary benefi ts for laid-off working and compliance practices in place,” ers and a push to get COVID-19 vac- Russell 2000 remains 7.5 pct higher for 2021 so far the company said. cines to more Americans. It certainly The company said the reporting defi t with investors’ expectation for a big lays resulted in a “negligible” impact and bold plan, but markets had already month for the industry. The reading for the end of 2020 than analysts ex- they tend to have smaller fi nancial on expectations that the government on emissions, contradicting the gov- rallied powerfully in anticipation of it. was much worse than the 0.1% growth pected. Wells Fargo slumped 7.8%, for cushions. will borrow a lot more to pay for its ernment’s statement alleging excessive pollution. The company said that de- “To some extent, most of this opti- that economists were expecting, and it example, and Citigroup dropped 6.9%. The Russell 2000 index of small-cap stimulus, as well as rising forecasts for was the third straight month of weak- While the overall results were good, stocks lost 32.15, or 1.5%, to 2,123.20. economic growth and infl ation. The spite reporting delays, it notifi ed cus- mism had been priced in, but the huge tomers and fi xed vehicles that needed to fi gures had also invited some contem- ness. “bank earnings didn’t exactly wow an- Even with Friday’s drops, ebul- yield on the 10-year Treasury zoomed Other reports showed that a prelimi- ybody,” said J.J. Kinahan, chief strate- lience about a brighter economic future above 1% last week for the fi rst time have emissions recalls. plation as to whether the necessary Automakers have to report to the bipartisan support will materialize for nary reading on consumer sentiment gist with TD Ameritrade. because of vaccines is keeping stocks since last spring and briefl y topped weakened more than economists ex- Bank stocks had run up in prior near records and Treasury yields close 1.18% this week. EPA if there are 25 cases of the same this huge sum,” Jingyi Pan of IG said pollution control defect in a model year. in a commentary. “The market appears pected, while infl ation at the wholesale weeks on expectations that a stronger to their highest levels since last spring. That is raising worries about how But Toyota decided to report the de- to be playing it safe,” she said. level remains low as the worsening economy later this year and higher in- The Russell 2000 remains 7.5% higher much further interest rates can go be- fects only when required under a less- Biden’s Democratic allies will have pandemic keeps a lid on prices and terest rates would mean bigger profi ts for 2021 so far, towering over the S&P fore upsetting the stock market. Fed- stringent California standard, the Justice control of the House and Senate, but economic activity. They follow a dis- from making loans. 500s 0.3% gain. eral Reserve Chair Jerome Powell Department said. only by the slimmest of margins in the mal report from Thursday showing Like banks, stocks of smaller com- A big question for investors is what helped to calm some of those concerns Toyota is the third automaker in re- Senate. That could hinder the chances that the pace of layoffs is accelerating panies also fell more than the rest of big stimulus for the economy from on Thursday with comments that in- cent years to pay penalties for Clean Air of the plan’s passage. across the country. the market in a mirror image of recent Washington would mean for interest vestors took as leaning toward lower Act violations. The worst was cheating The urgency for providing such aid Falling bank stocks were some of weeks. Smaller companies are seen as rates. “There are consequences to put- rates for longer. by Volkswagen, which for years pro- is ramping by the day. One report on the heaviest weights on the market, benefi ting more from a healthier econ- ting money into the system and the con- The yield on the 10-year Treas- grammed its diesel vehicles to turn pol- Friday showed that sales at retailers even though several of the industry’s omy and stimulus from Washington sequence is infl ation,” Kinahan said. ury dipped to 1.09% from 1.11% late lution controls on for EPA lab tests and sank by 0.7% in December, a crucial biggest names reported stronger profi ts than their bigger rivals, in part because Treasury yields have been climbing Thursday. turned them off for roadway driving. US ‘blacklists’ Xiaomi, CNOOC and Skyrizon HONG KONG, Jan 16, (AP): The U.S. government has blacklisted Chinese smartphone maker Xiaomi Corp. and China’s third-largest national oil company for alleged military links, heaping pressure on Beijing in President Donald Trump’s last week in offi ce. The Department of Defense added nine companies to its list of Chinese fi rms with military links, including Xiaomi and state-owned plane manufacturer Commercial Aircraft Corp. of China (Comac). U.S. investors will have to divest their stakes in Chinese companies on the military list by November this year, according to an executive order signed by Trump last November. Xiaomi did not immediately respond to a request for com- ment. Xiaomi Corp. overtook Apple Inc. as the world’s No. 3 smartphone maker by sales in the third quarter of 2020, according to data by Gartner. Xiaomi’s market share has grown as Huawei’s sales have suffered after it was blacklisted by the U.S. and its smartphones were cut off from essential services from Google. Separately, the Commerce Department put China National Offshore Oil Corp. (CNOOC) on the entity list, an economic blacklist that forbids U.S. fi rms from exporting or transferring technology with the companies named unless permission has been obtained from the U.S. government. The move comes after about 60 Chinese companies were added to the list in December, including drone maker DJI and semiconductor fi rm SMIC. CNOOC has been involved in offshore drilling in the dis- puted waters South China Sea, where Beijing has overlapping territorial claims with other countries including Vietnam, the Philippines, Brunei, Taiwan, and Malaysia. “China’s reckless and belligerent actions in the South Chi- na Sea and its aggressive push to acquire sensitive intellec- tual property and technology for its militarization efforts are a threat to U.S. national security and the security of the international community,” U.S. Commerce Secretary Wilbur Ross said in a statement. “CNOOC acts as a bully for the People’s Liberation Army to intimidate China’s neighbors, and the Chinese military continues to benefi t from government civil-military fusion policies for malign purposes,” Ross said. A CNOOC spokesperson said in a statement that it will “continue to monitor the progress,” acknowledging that the company had been put on the entity list. Chinese state-owned company Skyrizon was also added to the economic blacklist, for its push to “acquire and indigenize foreign military technologies,” Ross said. Beijing Skyrizon Aviation, founded by tycoon Wang Jing, drew U.S. criticism for an attempt to take over Ukraine’s military aircraft engine maker Motor Sich in 2017. The concern was that advanced aerospace technology would end up being used for military purposes. China’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs spokesperson Zhao Lijian criticized the move as suppressing Chinese companies, and said the Trump administration was “generalizing the con- cept of national security and abusing state power for no apparent reason.” “China will take necessary measures to resolutely safeguard the legitimate rights and interests of Chinese enterprises, and resolutely support Chinese enterprises in safeguarding their own rights and interests in accordance with the law,” Zhao said at a daily briefi ng Friday. He said the U.S. actions violated principles of market competition and international economic and trade rules, and undermined the confi dence of foreign enterprises investing in the U.S., all of which would eventually harm the interests of U.S. enterprises and investors. ARAB TIMES, SUNDAY, JANUARY 17, 2021 BUSINESS 10 ARAB TIMES, SUNDAY, JANUARY 17, 2021 BUSINESS 11 ARAB TIMES, SUNDAY, JANUARY 17, 2021 SCIENCE 12

COVID-19

‘This is not a game’ Global death toll from coronavirus hits 2mn MEXICO CITY, Jan 16, (AP): The global death toll from COVID-19 topped 2 million Friday, crossing the threshold amid a vaccine rollout so immense but so uneven that in some countries there is real hope of vanquishing the outbreak, while in other, less-developed parts of the world, it seems a far-off dream. The numbing fi gure was reached just over a year after the coronavirus was fi rst detected in the Chinese city of Wuhan. The number of dead, compiled by Johns Hopkins University, is about equal to the population of Brussels, Makkah, Minsk or Vienna. It is roughly equivalent to the Cleveland metropolitan area or the entire state of Nebraska. “There’s been a terrible amount of death,” said Dr. Ash- ish Jha, a pandemic expert and dean of Brown University’s School of Public Health. At the same time, he said, “our scientifi c community has also done ex- traordinary work.” In wealthy countries including the United States, Britain, Israel, Canada and Germany, millions of citizens have already been given some measure of protection with at least one dose of vaccine developed with revolutionary speed and quickly authorized for use. But elsewhere, immunization drives Guterres have barely gotten off the ground. Many experts are predicting another year of loss and hardship in places like Iran, India, Mexico and Brazil, which together account for about a quarter of the world’s deaths. “As a country, as a society, as citizens we haven’t understood,” lamented Israel Gomez, a Mexico City paramedic who spent months shuttling COVID-19 patients around by ambu- lance, desperately looking for vacant hospital beds. “We have not understood that this is not a game, that this really exists.” Mexico, a country of 130 million people, has received just An Indian doctor shows a COVID-19 vaccine at a government Hospital in Jammu, India, Jan16. India started inoculating health workers Saturday in what is likely the 500,000 doses of vaccine and has put barely half of those into world’s largest COVID-19 vaccination campaign, joining the ranks of wealthier nations where the effort is already well underway. (AP) the arms of health care workers. That’s in sharp contrast to the situation for its wealthier northern neighbor. Despite early delays, hundreds of thousands of people are rolling up their sleeves every day in the United States, where the virus has killed about 390,000, by far COVID-19 the highest toll of any country. All told, over 35 million doses of various COVID-19 vaccines have been administered around the world, according to the University of Oxford. Aim to give shots to 300mn people Vaccination While vaccination drives in rich countries have been hamstrung by long lines, inadequate budgets and a patch- work of state and local approaches, the obstacles are far India starts largest vaccination drive greater in poorer nations, which can have weak health sys- tems, crumbling transportation networks, entrenched cor- NEW DELHI, Jan 16, (AP): India ruption and a lack of reliable electricity to keep vaccines started inoculating health workers cold enough. Saturday in what is likely the world’s WHO cites ‘human behavior’ more Also, the majority of the world’s COVID-19 vaccine doses largest COVID-19 vaccination cam- have already been snapped up by wealthy countries. COVAX, paign, joining the ranks of wealthier a UN-backed project to supply shots to developing parts of the nations where the effort is already well than new variants as virus spreads world, has found itself short of vaccine, money and logistical underway. GENEVA, Jan 16, (AP): The World not widespread and that it remains help. CVS Pharmacist Gerard Diebner India is home to the world’s largest As a result, the World Health Organization’s chief scientist vaccine makers and has one of the big- Health Organization’s emergencies unclear whether they prevent trans- prepares the COVID-19 vaccine for chief said Friday that the impact of mission between people. warned it is highly unlikely that herd immunity - which would the nursing home residents at Har- gest immunization programs. But there require at least 70% of the globe to be vaccinated - will be is no playbook for the enormity of the new variants of COVID-19 in places The recommendations came lem Center for Nursing and Reha- like Britain, South Africa and Brazil after the committee’s first meet- achieved this year. As the disaster has demonstrated, it is not bilitation, a nursing home facility, on current challenge. Indian authorities hope to give shots remains to be seen, citing human ing in nearly three months. To little enough to snuff out the virus in a few places. Jan 15, in Harlem neighborhood of behavior for some recent rises in surprise, the panel agreed that the “Even if it happens in a couple of pockets, in a few coun- New York. (AP) to 300 million people, roughly the infection counts. outbreak remains a global health tries, it’s not going to protect people across the world,” Dr. population of the US and several times “It’s just too easy to lay the blame emergency, nearly a year after it Soumya Swaminathan said this week. more than its existing program that tar- on the variant and say, ‘It’s the vi- declared it as one. Health experts fear, too, that if shots are not distributed wide- gets 26 million infants. The recipients rus that did it,’” Dr. Michael Ryan The advice comes as countries ly and fast enough, it could give the virus time to mutate and Discovery include 30 million doctors, nurses and told reporters. “Well unfortunately, grapple with how to combat the defeat the vaccine — “my nightmare scenario,” as Jha put it. other front-line workers, to be followed it’s also what we didn’t do that did new variants that have fanned con- UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres said the 2 million by 270 million people who are either it.” cerns about an accelerated spread milestone “has been made worse by the absence of a global ‘Restore gray wolves protection’: over 50 years old or have illnesses that That was an allusion to holiday of the virus - and have prompted coordinated effort.” He added: “Science has succeeded, but Wildlife advocates on Thursday asked make them vulnerable to COVID-19. merrymaking and other social con- new lockdown measures in hard-hit solidarity has failed.” a federal court to overturn a US govern- For workers who have pulled India’s tacts plus loosening adherence places like Europe. Meanwhile, in Wuhan, where the scourge was discovered ment decision that stripped Endangered battered healthcare system through the -- in pockets -- to calls from public The British government has in late 2019, a global team of researchers led by WHO arrived Species Act protections for wolves across pandemic, the shots offered confi dence health officials for people to respect banned travel from South America Thursday on a politically sensitive mission to investigate the most of the nation. that life can start returning to normal. measures like physical distancing, and Portugal -- a key gateway of origins of the virus, which is believed to have spread to hu- Two coalitions of advocacy groups Many burst with pride. regular hand hygiene and mask- flights from Brazil -- to try to keep fi led lawsuits in US District Court in wearing. the variant in Brazil from reaching mans from wild animals. “I am excited that I am among the Also Friday, the WHO’s Emer- Britain and derailing its vaccination The Chinese city of 11 million people is bustling again, with Northern California seeking to restore fi rst to get the vaccine,” Gita Devi, a safeguards for a predator that is revered gencies Committee issued new program. few signs it was once the epicenter of the catastrophe, locked nurse, said as she lifted her left sleeve recommendations that countries The committee said it would down for 76 days, with over 3,800 dead. by wildlife watchers but feared by many to receive the shot. livestock producers. should not require proof of vacci- encourage states “to implement “We are not fearful or worried as we were in the past,” said “I am happy to get an India-made nation by incoming travelers amid coordinated, time-limited and Qin Qiong, a noodle shop owner. “We now live a normal life. The Trump administration announced vaccine and that we do not have to de- just days ahead of the Nov 3 election that the pandemic, saying decisions on evidence-based approaches for I take the subway every day to come to work in the shop. ... pend on others for it,” said Devi, who international travel should be coor- health measures in relation to inter- Except for our customers, who have to wear masks, everything wolves were considered recovered. They had been wiped out out across most of the has treated patients throughout the dinated, limited in time, and based national travel.” else is the same.” US by the 1930s under government-spon- pandemic in a hospital in Lucknow, on both the risks and the science. It also called on vaccine manu- It took eight months to hit 1 million dead but less than four sored poisoning and trapping campaigns. the capital of Uttar Pradesh state in In- “If you look at the recommenda- facturers to make data about the months after that to reach the next million. A remnant population in the western dia’s heartland. tion made by the committee around products more available to the While the death toll is based on fi gures supplied by govern- Great Lakes region has since expanded to vaccination for travelers, it says ‘at WHO, saying delays can affect its ment agencies around the world, the real number of lives lost some 4,400 wolves in Michigan, Minne- Capability the present time,’” Ryan said. He ability to provide emergency-use to is believed to be signifi cantly higher, in part because of in- sota and Wisconsin. Michigan governor is The fi rst dose was administered to pointed out that such recommen- listings that could allow for “equi- adequate testing and the many fatalities inaccurately attributed Gretchen Whitmer. a sanitation worker at the All Indian dations noted that vaccines are still table vaccine access.” to other causes, especially early in the outbreak. More than 2,000 occupy six states in Institute of Medical Sciences in the the Northern Rockies and Pacifi c North- capital. New Delhi, after Prime Min- Mismanaged west after wolves from Canada were re- ister Narendra Modi kickstarted the vaccination was the fi rst step in get- Doctors Association. “What was never on the horizon is that so many of the introduced in Idaho and Yellowstone Na- campaign with a nationally televised ting past the pandemic that has devas- India’s Health Ministry has bristled deaths would be in the richest countries in the world,” said tional Park starting in 1995. Protections speech. tated the lives of so many Indians and at the criticism and says the vaccines Dr. Bharat Pankhania, an infectious diseases expert at Brit- for wolves in the Rockies were lifted over “We are launching the world’s big- bruised the country’s economy. are safe, but maintains that health ain’s University of Exeter. “That the world’s richest countries the last decade and hunting of them is al- gest vaccination drive and it shows the India on Jan. 4 approved emergency workers will have no choice in decid- would mismanage so badly is just shocking.” lowed. But wolves remain absent across most world our capability,” Modi said. He use of two vaccines, one developed ing which vaccine they will get them- In rich and poor countries alike, the crisis has devastated implored citizens to keep their guard by Oxford University and U.K.-based selves. economies, thrown multitudes out of work and plunged many of their historical range and the groups that fi led Thursday’s lawsuits said con- up and not to believe any “rumors drugmaker AstraZeneca, and another According to Dr. S.P. Kalantri, the into poverty. tinued protections are needed so wolf about the safety of the vaccines.” by Indian company Bharat Biotech. director of a rural hospital in Maha- In Europe, where more than a quarter of the world’s deaths populations can continue to expand in It was not clear whether Modi, 70, Cargo planes fl ew 16.5 million shots to rashtra, India’s worst-hit state, such have taken place, strict lockdowns and curfews have been California and other states. Governor of had taken the vaccine himself like different Indian cities last week. an approach was worrying because he reimposed to beat back a resurgence of the virus, and a new California is Gavin Newsom. other world leaders as an example of But doubts over the effectiveness said the regulatory approval was hasty variant that is believed to be more contagious is circulating in The lawsuits could complicate an ef- the shot’s safety. His government has of the homegrown vaccine is creating and not backed by science. Britain and other countries, as well as the US. fort to reintroduce wolves in sparsely said politicians will not be considered hurdles for the ambitious plan. “In a hurry to be populist, the gov- Even in some of the wealthiest countries, the vaccination populated western Colorado under a No- priority groups in the fi rst phase of the ernment (is) taking decisions that drives have been slower than expected. France, with the sec- vember initiative approved by voters, a rollout. Shortcut might not be in the best interest of the ond-largest economy in Europe and more than 69,000 known state offi cial told wildlife commissioners Health offi cials haven’t specifi ed Health experts worry that the regu- common man,” Kalantri said. virus deaths, will need years, not months, to vaccinate its 53 Thursday. If endangered species protec- what percentage of India’s nearly 1.4 latory shortcut taken to approve the Against the backdrop of the rising million adults unless it sharply speeds up its rollout, hampered tions were restored, wolves would again billion people will be targeted by the Bharat Biotech vaccine without wait- global COVID-19 death toll - it topped by shortages, red tape and considerable suspicion of the vac- fall under authority of the federal government, not the state. campaign. But experts say it will al- ing for concrete data that would show 2 million on Friday - the clock is tick- cines. most certainly be the largest such drive its effi cacy in preventing illness from ing to vaccinate as many people as Still, in places like Poissy, a blue-collar town west of In response to the lawsuits, US Fish and Wildlife Service spokeswoman Va- globally. the coronavirus could amplify vaccine possible. But the campaign has been Paris, the first shots of the Pfizer formula were met with The sheer scale has its obstacles. For hesitancy. At least one state health uneven. relief and a sense that there is light at the end of the pan- nessa Kauffman said in a statement that the gray wolf “has exceeded all conserva- instance, India plans to rely heavily on minister has opposed its use. In wealthy countries including the demic tunnel. tion goals for recovery” and is no longer a digital platform to track the shipment In New Delhi, doctors at Ram Mano- United States, Britain, Israel, Canada “We have been living inside for nearly a year. It’s not threatened or endangered under federal and delivery of vaccines. But public har Lohia Hospital, one of the largest in and Germany, millions of citizens a life,” said Maurice Lachkar, a retired 78-year-old acu- law. (AP) health experts point out that the inter- the city, demanded they be administered have already been given some measure puncturist who was put on the priority list for vaccination ❑ ❑ ❑ net remains patchy in large parts of the the AstraZeneca vaccine instead of the of protection with at least one dose of because of his diabetes and his age. “If I catch the virus I country, with some remote villages en- one developed by Bharat Biotech. A vaccines developed with revolutionary am done.” Islands of garbage clog rivers: tirely unconnected. doctors union at the hospital said many speed and quickly authorized for use. Maurice and his wife, Nicole, who also got vaccinated, said Huge islands of garbage fl oating on some rivers in the Balkans are causing an en- Around 100 people were to be vac- of its members were a “bit apprehensive But elsewhere, immunization drives they might even allow themselves hugs with their two children cinated in each of the 3,006 centers about the lack of complete trial” for the have barely gotten off the ground. and four grandchildren, whom they have seen from a socially vironmental emergency and threatening a regional hydropower plant. across the country on the fi rst day, the homegrown vaccine. Many experts are predicting another safe distance only once or twice since the pandemic hit. Health Ministry said. “Right now, we don’t have the op- year of loss and hardship in places like “It is going to be liberating,” he said. Plastic bottles, rusty barrels and other waste could be seen clogging the Drina News cameras captured the injection to chose between the vaccines,” Iran, India, Mexico and Brazil, which Throughout the developing world, the images are strikingly tions across hundreds of hospitals, said Dr. Nirmalaya Mohapatra, vice together account for about a quarter of similar: rows and rows of graves being dug, hospitals pushed River near the eastern Bosnian town of Visegrad. Upstream, the Drina’s tributar- underscoring the pent-up hopes that president of the hospital’s Resident the world’s COVID-19 deaths. to the limit and medical workers dying for lack of protective ies in Montenegro, Serbia and Bosnia car- gear. ried even more debris after swollen water- In Peru, which has the highest COVID-19 fatality rate in ways spilled over into landfi lls. Latin America, hundreds of health care workers went on strike The Balkan nations have poor waste this week to demand better pay and working conditions in a management programs, and tons of gar- to address the problem even as they seek 1990s, the Balkans is still lagging far be- country where 230 doctors have died of the disease. In Brazil, bage routinely end up in rivers, including to join the European Union. hind the rest of Europe both economically authorities in the Amazon rainforest’s biggest city planned to the occasional washing machine or com- An environmental activist from the Eco and with regard to environmental protec- transfer hundreds of patients out because of a dwindling sup- puter screen. A broken barrier this week Center group, Dejan Furtula, said the gar- tion. Dangerous levels of air pollution are ply of oxygen tanks that has resulted in some people dying at caused a massive buildup of garbage on bage in the Drina also is a hazard for the another huge problem in most of the re- home. the Drina that has threatened Bosnia’s the local community because waste region’s cities. In Honduras, anesthesiologist Dr. Cesar Umaña is treating Visegrad dam. moved from the river is dumped on a local At the Visegrad dam, efforts began 25 patients in their homes by phone because hospitals lack the Offi cials say that between 6,000 and landfi ll, which is often on fi re and produces Tuesday to clear away the clogging gar- capacity and equipment. 8,000 cubic meters of waste are pulled toxic liquid that fl ows back into the Drina. bage and to avoid potential damage to the “This is complete chaos,” he said. out of the river each year near Visegrad. “We are all in danger here, the entire power system. In southwest Serbia, the Although the problem is not new, Serbia, ecosystem,” he said. Lim River has created a similar problem Bosnia and Montenegro have done little Following a devastating war in the Whitmer Newsom at the Potpecko accumulation lake. (AP) People SUNDAY, JANUARY 17, 2021 FFeatureseatures TV work,appearing inmorethan “Friday the13th,Part 8.” Gun 21/2:TheSmellofFear”and “The StrangeOne,”Naked Black Orchid”withSophiaLoren, Story,” Bollsaid. of than 400NewYorkperformances He alsoportrayedJerryinmore ful ofRain”and“Masquerade.” appeared onBroadwayin“AHat- in theplay“EndasaMan.”He and in1953hestarredonstage ing. HejoinedtheActorsStudio was apharmacistbutturnedtoact- publicist of LosAngelesnaturalcauses, home intheWoodlandHillsarea He was93. “Beverly Hills90210,”hasdied. roles on“Three’sCompany”and sion episodesandhadrecurring appeared inhundredsoftelevi- Richman Prime. (AP) and episodesstreamonAmazon are DVDcollectionsonAmazon the PBSKidsvideoapp.There hood” andsomecanbefoundon still air“MisterRogers’Neighbor- was whenitcameout,frankly.” work isjustastimelynowit ated Pressin2018.“Ithinkhis Joanne RogerstoldTheAssoci- we’ve neededhimsomuch,” wane beforehisdeathin2003. favorite neighborneverseemedto to children.HispullasAmerica’s world whoalwayshadtimetolisten Fred Rogersasoneadultinabusy Neighborhood,” whichpresented low-key, low-tech“MisterRogers’ spanning thelaunchandendof married formorethan50years, Fred’s enduringlegacy.” have guidedourworkinserviceof ed spirit,whoseheartandwisdom called her“ajoyfulandtender-heart- of deathwasgiven.Thecenter to theFredRogersCenter.Nocause 92. has diedin children’s TVhostMisterRogers, legacy ofherhusband,thebeloved who celebratedandprotectedthe an accomplishedconcertpianist Astin’s MaxisbestfriendswithZoey,andalsoinloveher. feelings byelaboratesonganddancenumbersthatonlyshecansee. Jane Levy Playlist,” SkylarAstinknewhewantedtheroleof LOS ANGELES: LOS ANGELES: “Oprah’s BookClub.” include “TheOprahConversation,”“OprahTalksCOVID-19”and original programs.Someshowsreleasedonthestreamingservice and “Whitney.” spamer, whoisknownforherworkon“TheOprahWinfreyShow” tor KevinMacDonaldandEmmy-nominatedproducerLisaEr- media executive,andagentofsocialchange.” from humblerootstobecomeabillionaire,philanthropist,actress, years ofAmericanhistorythroughthelensWinfrey“whorose mentary focusingonWinfrey’slife.Theprojectwillchronicle25 have abiographicaldocumentaryreleasedonAppleTV+. LOS ANGELES,Jan16,(AP):MediamogulOprahWinfreywill Oprah Winfreytorelease documentary onAppleTV+ Bu hewasbestknown forhis His movesincluded1958’s“The Born in Richman diedThursdayathis PBS stationsaroundthecountry “I can’tthinkofatimewhen Joanne and Rogers diedThursday,according Edward Albee Astin wasjustcomingoffthefi The NBCmusicalseries,nowairingseasontwoonTuesdays,stars By pagetwoofthepilotscriptforNBC’s“Zoey’sExtraordinary In 2018,AppleandWinfreyreachedamultiyeardealtocreate Winfrey’s documentarywillbeheadedbyOscar-winningdirec- The streamingplatformannouncedThursdayatwo-partdocu- ❑ Harlan Boll , acharacteractorwho Philadelphia Pittsburgh as Zoey Clarke, a woman who realizes people’s inner-most asZoeyClarke,awomanwhorealizespeople’sinner-most Fred Rogers Joanne Rogers Peter Mark ’s “TheZoo announced. . She was . Shewas , Richman were were ❑

, nal seasonofTheCW’s“Crazy 1970’s show“Longstreet.” (AP) the 1980shit“Dynasty” andthe recurring rolesasanattorneyon series “Cain’sHundred”andhad in theshort-lived1960’sNBC ”Star Trek:TheNextGeneration.” “Bonanza” and“TheFugitive”to over adecades-longcareer,from 500 episodesofvariousshows He starredaslawyer ing optimistsandproposingoutrageousthings, pandemic. a moviethatcouldonlyhavebeenmadeduringthe A fewdayslater,theyhadayes.Inotherwords,it’s plan B.IftherewasnoHarrods,fi let themshootthere.Theytoldtherewasno fi London departmentstorethatdoesnotoftenallow with onlyaquarterofthescript.Harrods,luxury before. Theygotmajormoviestarsandfi sibilities emergedwheretheyneverwouldhave Cruise. next fi he’s afi of themomenttocapturesomethingtrue.Besides, be theperfectbackdropforoneofhisfi and theisolationofquarantining,hethought,could Mrs. Smith”).Thelockdowns,theeconomicstress ried couplewhoarealsosecretkillers(“Mr.and time loop(“EdgeofTomorrow”),anunhappymar- Bourne Identity”),amilitaryoffi dinary situations:Anassassinwithamnesia(“The through,” hesaid. be makingmoviesaboutwhatwe’reallgoing Thursday. The result,“LockedDown,”debutedonHBOMax London withAnneHathawayandChiwetelEjiofor. shot andeditedaglossyHarrodsheistmoviein and widespreadshutdowns,hehisteamwrote, moment INthecurrentmoment. it wouldbeliketomakeamovieaboutthecurrent Sandwijk inJulywhentheystartedwonderingwhat D Liman madeultimatelockdownmovie lm andtelevisionsetsontheirgrounds, agreedto “Filmmakers, certainlymyself,areknownforbe- In theprocessofmaking“LockedDown,”pos- He wantedtobethefi “For thenext50years,peoplearegoingto And infourmonths,themiddleofapandemic Liman makesfi ❑ ❑ Variety writer StevenKnightandproducerPJvan irector DougLimanwasonacallwithscreen- This imagereleasedbyHBOMaxshowsAnneHathawayandChiwetelEjioforinascenefrom‘LockedDown.’(AP) lm isliterallytakinghimtospacewithTom lmmaker whothrivesontheimpossible.His Max Richman Skylar Astinfi By LindseyBahr lms aboutcharactersinextraor- Nick Cain rst andtousethechaos Pandemic offered backdrop perfect for‘Locked Down’

. Film belt outhistruefeelings.Andthenthere’sMaxasis,whoisn’t “Magical Max”whogivesithisallwhenZoey’switnessinghim energy ittakes.AndI’malwaysreallycarefulaboutsafety.” of thesenumbersandIknowthekindfocusintensity song orchoreographer.Iknowhowtoconservewhilefi era changesthings.Iknownottogetmyhopesupaboutaspecifi Perfect 2,”buthedescribesitmoreas“familiar.” and foundstardominthesmash-hitfi was intheoriginalproductionofBroadway’s“SpringAwakening” Astin sayshehastwomusicalpersonalitiesontheseries.There’s “I knowwhattoexpect.Ithingschange.thecam- Sure, thejobmightseemlikeapieceofcakeforAstin,33,who iha Rogers Richman fi Ex-Girlfriend,” alsoamusicalseries,wherehetookoverinthe he’s like,‘I’membarrassedtosaythisscriptmademecry.’” manager —whoespeciallyduringpilotseasonisalittlejaded before resumingproductionon“Zoey’s”afterholidaybreak.“My who wasspeakingoverZoomfromVancouverwhileinquarantine ‘Hey, you’vegotanoffer,You’regoingtolikeit,”recalledAstin, pitches about“Zoey’s.” wasn’t lookingformoreofthesame.Thencameenthusiastic nal seasonasaloveinterestfor cer caughtina “My agent,Jacob,andmymanager,Mike,calledmesaid, nds newnotestohiton‘Zoey’s Playlist’ lms. nancing lm. Stiller toMindyKaling,areintheirownhomes, done live.Thepeopleontheotherend,fromBen did thisoneinthreeweeks. spent sixmonthsonthe“BourneIdentity”score, Harrods employees.ComposerJohnPowell,who The vastmajorityofHarrodsextrasareactually of theplacehewasstayingbeforewenttowork. Notting Hill,wasfi The fi crew divinginwithinnovationsandacan-dospirit. they wentouttherewithme.” could seehowfaroutonalimbIwasgoingand ever gottenonscreenbecauseAnnieandChiwetel “I gotsomeofthemosthonestperformancesI’ve calendar shedrawson. including, butnotlimitedto,Ejiofor’sbodyanda taping Hathaway’sdialogueanywheretheycould neither starhadpreparedfor.Andtheymadedo, he hadtoshiftanine-pagedialoguescenethat And theZoomandSkypescenes?Theywere There werenumerousinstancesofhiscastand “When shesaidwasin,IN,”hesaid. It requiredeveryonetobeontheirtoes.Once plans.” “These arebothcompletelycrazyandaudacious are tryingtodorobbingHarrods,”Limansaid. fi He’d shothisdebut,“Swingers,”in18daystoo. script in18days.Itwasaself-consciouschoice: in,” herecalled. to savehisbreath:“I’vereadit,IloveandI’m a fullscript.Afewminutesin,Hathawaytoldhim talk toheranddescribehisvisionifshecouldn’tget there werenoadultsintheroom.” in alittlebit,”Limansaid.“Thisissituationwhere then producersandtheadultsinroomreinthem lm off tomatchingwhatthecharactersonscreen Stardom “I equatedwhatweweredoingtryingtopullthis Liman decidedthatthey’dshootthe180-page Within weeks,theywerefi Hathaway’s agenttoldLimanhe’dbetteratleast rst shotinthemovie,anemptyintersection in of the Shubert Organization and of theShubertOrganization and Smith workedinevery department to hisdaughters.He was89. tions fromCOVID-19,according ization, hasdiedfromcomplica- the theatricalgiantShubertOrgan- way tochairmanandco-CEOof at theImperialTheatreonBroad- who rosefromboxoffi NEW YORK: In a career that spanned 63 years, In acareerthatspanned 63years, lms “PitchPerfect”and Rachel Bloom lmed byLimanhimselfoutside Limited

Philip J.Smith ce treasurer ’s character.He lming. lmingone , c and creativetalents ofourtime,” doormen tothegreatest performers tion ofeveryonefrom thestage earned therespect andadmira- of theprofessionaltheaterand six off-Broadwayvenues. operates 17Broadwaytheatresand Shubert Organizationownsand all ShubertTheatresin1964.The was namedgeneralmanagerof scribes thatversionofMax’smusicalityas“agoodpassinggrade.” deaf orelseitwouldbeveryunpleasantfortheviewer,”sohede- a fl quite aspolished.HeconsciouslysangtoZoeyinseasonone it anylonger.Thatwilldrivemecrazy.” or twomore,butthegoalistoreleaseitthisyear.“Ican’tholdonto says hehassevenoreightsongscompletedandwillmaybeaddone one hassomefalsettoinitthatalmostsoundslikeTheWeeknd. and familysayisthebestdrivingsongthey’veeverheard.Another Swift a Angeles sohecouldrecordsafely.“There’sonethatsoundslike Astin investedinahomestudiowhilequarantineatLos He’s writingandrecordinganalbumhesayshasaTop40feel. people) areata10.” I’ve learned,evenhimperformingata2isbetterthanme(ormost mail as“Skylardoeshisbesttosoundaverageorkindoffl such apleasure.” it’s clean,itwouldberatedPGandmademecrywritingit.Itwas describes as,“myfavoritethingI’veeverwritten.It’slive-action, Smith “infl Sean Mendes The show’screator, Astin alsoco-wroteaholidaymoviewith “I reallyinvestedinthisandit’sbeen100%independent.”He Astin hasanumberofprojectshe’sworkingoninhisdowntime. ash mobandAstinsays“wehadtoestablishthathe’snottone song.Icallit“Male-orSwift.”There’sonethatmyfriends next yeartherewillbeonlyfranchisefi follow theirlead,otherwise,hesaid,“Thistime people championingit.”(AP) than heimaginedbackinJuly. out. Andhecaresabout“LockedDown”evenmore studio-refi Because ofthefasttimeline,there’snosix-month tancing, themasks,theywork.” ished withoutincident. than thattobeginwith.Intheend,theyfin- tions; Theirentireshootwasscarcelylonger down fortwoweekslikethebiggerproduc- “Locked Down.”Theycouldn’taffordtoshut there wasnoguaranteethey’dbeabletofinish for “Mission:Impossible”asaguide. used thesafetyprotocolsthatCruisehelpeddevelop ple weresimplyhappytobebackatwork.They fi “Locked Down”wasoneofthefi Liman said. earlier, theydidn’tbalk. Max andaskedthemiftheycouldfi again?’” hesaid.“Ithought,let’sjustembraceit.” are youevergoingtohaveachancedothis with atoddler. Vermont. Forherco-worker,heneededsomeone ager andtobeinaplacethatlookssomewhatlike Hathaway’s boss,heneededsomeonewithateen- two actorswhowerealreadylivingtogether.For For Ejiofor’sbrotherandsister-in-law,heneeded families. Itmadeforinterestingcastingrequests: in theirownwardrobe,actingalongside uenced everyaspect lms togobackintoproductionintheUKandpeo- “It isalittlegemofmovie,”hesaid.needs Liman isslightlyanxiousaboutawareness,too. And hehopesthatmoreindependentfi “The protocolswork,”hesaid.socialdis- But Limanwasalwayskeenlyawarethat Part ofthecollectiveenergywasbecause “We werelike,youarespeakingourlanguage,” So whenWarnerBros.boughtthefi “There weresomanytimeswhenIsaid,‘When song. There’sonethatsoundslikeamale ned publicitycampaign.It’sjustcoming Austin Winsberg company’s nonprofi of TheShubertFoundation, the also steppeddown aschairman Smith retiredinJune 2020and alongside named chairmanandco-CEO of president,andin2008,hewas said inastatement. CEO ofTheShubertOrganization, Robert E.Wankel Smith wouldassumetherole , summeditupinane- Robert E.Wankel rst independent rst Danny Jolles nish itaweek lm forHBO lms.” t arm.(AP) , chairmanand lms will lms at, butas thathe Taylor . ARAB TIMES, SUNDAY, JANUARY 17, 2021 SPORTS 14

Root hits 4th Test century Italian skier Bassino captures Thirimanne helps Sri Lanka cut England’s ‘lead’ to 130 GALLE, Sri Lanka, Jan 16, (AP): score in his previous four test 3rd WCup GS win, Shiffrin 7th Lahiru Thirimanne led Sri Lanka’s innings, labored for 65 deliveries in gallant fightback to cut England’s scoring 15 runs, but added 54 runs lead to 130 after captain Joe Root hit with Thirimanne to defy England’s Feller wins men’s WC slalom, takes standings lead his fourth double Test century on the hopes of making inroads. third day of the first cricket Test on Leach finally struck in the penulti- Saturday. mate over of the day when he found KRANJSKA GORA, Slo- Root’s 228 had provided England the thin edge of Mendis’ bat to pro- venia, Jan 16, (AP): Marta a strong total of 421 and a meaning- vide England some relief. Bassino held on to her fi rst- ful first innings lead of 286, but Earlier, Root hit 18 fours and a six Thirimanne stood firm for two ses- in his well-composed double century run lead to win a women’s sions to remain unbeaten on 76 off off 321 balls before England was World Cup giant slalom by 189 balls and carried Sri Lanka to bowled out just before lunch. a big margin on Saturday, 156-2 at stumps. Dilruwan Perera ended Root’s earning her third victory Thirimanne’s patient knock which long vigil, which began in the last included six session on the first day, when he this season. boundaries was had England’s skipper caught at The Italian coped best with tough in sharp contrast deep mid-wicket off an extravagant course conditions as she held off a to Sri Lanka’s shot as the offspinner finished with challenge by Tessa Worley. first innings Worley, the former two-time GS effort when the world champion from France, was whole team was CRICKET fastest in the fi nal run but still came up rattled for 135 in eight-tenths of a second short of Bas- two sessions on sino. the first day. 4-109. Michelle Gisin was 1.46 behind in England had Resuming on 320-4, Root contin- third for the Swiss skier’s fi rst podium an opportunity ued to dominate spinners despite Sri in GS. to remove Thirimanne Lanka hitting back with three wick- Petra Vlhova was fourth and re- Thirimanne ets in 12 balls. mained in the lead of the overall stand- soon after the left-hander had com- Fast bowler Asitha Fernando ings. Mikaela Shiffrin, who was fourth pleted his half century, but Dom (2-44) had the overnight batsman Jos after the opening run, dropped to sev- Sibley spilled a two-handed catch at Buttler (30) caught behind and Sam enth. The Olympic champion trailed gully. Curran was clean bowled off the next Bassino by 2.18 seconds. Italy’s Marta Bassino speeds down the course of an alpine ski, women’s World Cup giant slalom, in Kranjska Gora, England also wasted one of its ball before Bess, who survived the The American is the only skier other Slovenia, on Jan 16. (AP) three reviews as it unsuccessfully hat-trick ball was run-out in a mix-up than Bassino to win a GS this season, went for an lbw decision against with Root. in Courchevel, France in December. Thirimanne when he was on 61. But in between those quick wick- Thirimanne and Kusal Perera ets, Root raised his double hundred Chock, Bates set world record in rhythm dance started a steady fightback with their off 291 balls with a slog-swept SKIING 101-run opening wicket stand as they boundary off Lasith Embuldeniya thwarted the spin threat of Jack (3-176) and became the fourth visit- Tennell claims 2nd US Figure Skating title Leach and Dom Bess on a turning ing player to score a double century That result marked the three-time LAS VEGAS, Jan 16, (AP): Bradie And while Liu was sharp on her fi rst wicket. at the picturesque Galle International overall champion’s fi rst win since re- Tennell is back on top of American jumping passes she shaky on her last Perera shelved his strokemaking in Stadium. turning from a 10-month break from fi gure skating. three, and the 15-year-old’s score of scoring 62 off 109 balls and even Chris Gayle (333) of the West racing in 2020. The 22-year-old Olympian, who had 213.39 points left her in fourth place. batted with a strapped hand after he Indies, India’s Virender Sehwag Shiffrin’s American teammate, fi nished second and third at the past Tennell was next on the ice and – was struck by Mark Wood’s short (201 not out) and Musfiqur Rahim Paula Moltzan, tested positive for two national championships, followed well, she left it all on the ice. pitch delivery in the middle session (200) of Bangladesh are the other COVID-19 on Friday and was ruled her rollicking short program with a The only bobbles during her per- before England struck twice after tea. batsmen to have achieved similar out for both races this weekend. rock-solid free skate at the US Figure formance came on Tennell’s opening Perera threw away his wicket early feats at Galle. No. 11 batsman Broad The US ski team said “ongoing test- Skating Championships. Tennell hit all triple lutz-triple toe combination and in the last session when he played a (11 not out) took back to back bound- ing” of its skiers and staff “resulted in seven of her triple jumps to fi nish with fi nishing spin, when she looked so rash shot off Sam Curran’s wayward aries off Fernando before Root was no other positive cases.” 232.61 points, well clear of her closest physically and mentally exhausted that delivery and holed out in the deep. the last man to be dismissed just at Moved from Maribor because of a she seemed to catch herself from col- Kusal Mendis, who had failed to the stroke of first session. lack of snow, the race took place at a lapsing. But she hopped right up and resort which is an annual stop on the FIGURE SKATING blew kisses to the cardboard cutouts in men’s circuit. Another GS on the same Podkoren the stands, knowing that she had risen to the occassion. course is scheduled for Sunday. rivals Amber Glenn and Karen Chen. In Flachau, Austria, Manuel Feller The only skater that could catch Glenn fi nished with 215.33 points Tennell was Mariah Bell, whose raced through driving snow to win a to edge 2017 champion Karen Chen World Cup slalom on Saturday after chances of winning her fi rst US ti- by 0.35 points for the silver medal, Bradie Tennell performs during tle were dashed when she fell on her Clement Noël let a fi rst-run lead slip the women’s free skate at the US away for the second straight race. while two-time and defending cham- opening jump pass. Bell also stepped pion Alysa Liu struggled late in her Figure Skating Championships, on out on a triple loop and wound up fi n- Feller rose from third fastest in the Jan 15, in Las Vegas. (AP) morning to edge Noël by 0.43 seconds program and fi nished in fourth. ishing fi fth. and regain the slalom standings lead Earlier in the day, Madison Chock Hubbell and Donohue, the two- and Evan Bates set a world record in down the score to beat when she fi n- time champions and reigning silver on a course named for Austrian great ished a sterling program to music from Hermann Maier. the rhythm dance, scoring 90.10 points medalists, set an American record to edge Madison Hubbell and Zachary Italian composer Ezio Bosso with a 89.66 points during their strong, sas- Marco Schwarz was third, trailing solid triple lutz-double toe-double his Austria team-mate by 0.70 – and a Donohue by less than a point in their sy rhythm dance set to music from fi rst competition in nearly a year. loop combination backed up by a tri- the fi lm “Burlesque.” But they were single point in the season-long stand- ple loop-triple toe. Her stunning score ings. The U.S. championships were eclipsed an hour later, when Chock moved from San Jose, California, due put the 21-year-old from Plano, Texas, and Bates earned Level 4 marks on Feller’s fi rst career win followed six briefl y into fi rst place. runner-up fi nishes, including in two to the COVID-19 pandemic. No fans every element but a twizzle sequence slaloms this season and a silver medal were allowed. Liu, who was second to Tennell to music from “Kiss Me, Kate.” at the 2017 world championships. They sure missed an edge-of-your after the short program, left her triple The previous world record of 90.03 Noël was a three-time winner last seat women’s free skate. axel and and quadruple lutz out of her points was set by Gabriella Papadakis Glenn, who had never been on the program as she continues to adjust to and Guillaume Cizeron at the 2019 In this Aug 12, 2019 fi le photo, Andy Murray, of Britain, hits a forehand season, but got his fi rst podium fi n- against Richard Gasquet, of France, during fi rst-round play at the Western ish Saturday in his fi fth race of this podium at senior nationals, threw a growth spurt and coaching change. NHK Trophy. & Southern Open tennis tournament, in Mason, Ohio. (AP) campaign. The Frenchman also wasted a fi rst-run lead last Sunday when Schwarz won at Adelboden, Switzer- Australian Open arrivals hit by 3 COVID-19 positive tests land. World Cup overall standings leader SYDNEY, Jan 16, (AP): Three corona- ter fl ight from Los Angeles, and later the Los Angeles fl ight would go into the ported by local media to be among a Alexis Pinturault placed ninth, rising virus cases have been detected among Saturday, Tennis Australia said there 14-day hotel quarantine. group of players who arrived on the from 20th fastest in the morning run. charter fl ights carrying tennis players, was a third positive case from a fl ight Australian Open tournament director fl ight from Los Angeles. He extended his points lead over Alek- coaches and offi cials to Melbourne from Abu Dhabi. Craig Tiley issued a statement saying Other players will be allowed to train sander Aamodt Kilde, the defending ahead of the Australian Open, health The cases from Los Angeles involved the 24 players who were on that fl ight under strict conditions and with super- overall champion, and Marco Oder- authorities and tournament organizers an aircrew member and a passenger will not be able to leave their hotels vision for up to fi ve hours a day. matt, who do not compete in slalom. said Saturday. who was not a player. The third posi- rooms for 14 days and until they are Players and offi cials were supposed Flachau stepped in to host its fi rst A total of 47 players from the two af- medically cleared. to have received a negative COVID-19 men’s slalom for nine years after two fected fl ights - arriving from Los Ange- Later Saturday, Tennis Australia said tests before they boarded their fl ights. schedule changes this week. les and Abu Dhabi - are now in a strictly TENNIS 23 players were among the 64 people The people who tested positive on ar- First placed Austria’s Manuel Fell- Switzerland’s signature venue Wen- enforced 14-day quarantine without the on the fl ight from Abu Dhabi. rival have not been publicly identifi ed. er, (left), and third placed Austria’s gen was ruled out on Monday from ability to leave their hotel rooms - even Kei Nishikori, the 2014 U.S. Open Five-time fi nalist Andy Murray’s sta- Marco Schwarz pose for photogra- hosting its storied Lauberhorn meet- to practice. The Australian Open is tive test - also not a player - was from runner-up who tested negative for tus for the tournament was put in doubt phers on the podium of an alpine ing this weekend after an outbreak scheduled to start Feb. 8. a fl ight from Abu Dhabi in the past 24 COVID-19 after having two positive after he tested positive for COVID-19 ski, men’s World Cup slalom in of COVID-19 cases likely caused by Health authorities said two positive hours, Tennis Australia said. Authori- tests, and two-time Australian Open only days before his planned fl ight to Flachau, Austria, on Jan 16. (AP) British tourists. COVID-19 cases emerged from a char- ties earlier said that all passengers from champion Victoria Azarenka were re- Melbourne. ARAB TIMES, SUNDAY, JANUARY 17, 2021 SPORTS 15

Stamkos, Palat lift Lightning over Blackhawks again Konecny scores hat-trick, Flyers beat Penguins for 2-game sweep PHILADELPHIA, Jan 16, (AP): Travis Konec- ny had a hat-trick and the Philadelphia Flyers survived losing team MVP Sean Couturier to NHL Results/Standings an injury in a 5-2 victory over the Pittsburgh Penguins. Ivan Provorov and Oskar Lindblom also WASHINGTON, Jan 16, (AP): results and standings from the NHL games on Friday. scored to help the Flyers sweep the season- Washington 2 Buffalo 1 Ottawa 5 Toronto 3 opening series. Philadelphia beat Pittsburgh 6-3 Tampa Bay 5 Chicago 2 Colorado 8 St Louis 0 on Wednesday night. Philadelphia 5 Pittsburgh 2 NHL Central Division North Division Couturier became the fi rst Flyers player in GP W L OT Pts GF GA GP W L OT Pts GF GA 33 years to win the Selke Trophy as the NHL’s Tampa Bay 2 2 0 0 4 10 3 Ottawa 1 1 0 0 2 5 3 top defensive forward. He was plowed into the Carolina 1 1 0 0 2 3 0 Winnipeg 1 1 0 0 2 4 3 boards and may have hurt his left shoulder. He Nashville 1 1 0 0 2 3 1 Edmonton 2 1 1 0 2 8 7 left after just two shifts and 45 seconds. He Columbus 1 0 1 0 0 1 3 Vancouver 2 1 1 0 2 7 8 Detroit 1 0 1 0 0 0 3 Toronto 2 1 1 0 2 8 9 scored 22 goals last season and was voted team Chicago 2 0 2 0 0 3 10 Montreal 1 0 0 1 1 4 5 MVP. Dallas 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 Calgary 1 0 0 1 1 3 4 Florida 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 West Division Sidney Crosby and Brandon Tanev scored East Division for Pittsburgh. GP W L OT Pts GF GA GP W L OT Pts GF GA Lightning 5, Blackhawks 2 Philadelphia 2 2 0 0 4 11 5 Vegas 1 1 0 0 2 5 2 Washington 2 2 0 0 4 8 5 Minnesota 1 1 0 0 2 4 3 In Tampa, Florida, Steven Stamkos and On- N.Y. Islanders 1 1 0 0 2 4 0 San Jose 1 1 0 0 2 4 3 drej Palat had a goal and an assist each and Colorado 2 1 1 0 2 9 4 Pittsburgh Penguins’ Sidney Crosby, (left), reaches for the puck in front of Philadelphia Boston 1 1 0 0 2 3 2 defending champion Tampa Bay completed a New Jersey 1 0 0 1 1 2 3 St Louis 2 1 1 0 2 4 9 Flyers goaltender Carter Hart, (right), during the fi rst period of an NHL hockey game, on N.Y. Rangers 1 0 1 0 0 0 4 Arizona 1 0 0 1 1 3 4 Jan 15, in Philadelphia. (AP) Buffalo 2 0 2 0 0 5 8 Los Angeles 1 0 0 1 1 3 4 Pittsburgh 2 0 2 0 0 5 11 Anaheim 1 0 1 0 0 2 5 ICE HOCKEY 199th and 200th goals and Colorado rebounded In Buffalo, N.Y., Vitek Vanecek made 30 Note: Two points for a win one point for overtime loss. The top four teams in each division will qualify from an opening-night loss to St. Louis to rout saves in his NHL debut, Tom Wilson had a goal for playoffs under this season’s temporary realignment. two-game sweep of Chicago. the Blues. and an assist and Washington beat Buffalo to Yanni Gourde and Blake Coleman also each Nathan MacKinnon had a goal and two as- sweep the season-opening series. had a goal and an assist, Alex Killorn also sists, Mikko Rantanen scored his 100th goal Jakub Vrana scored his second goal of the Senators 5, Maple Leafs 3 ronto, Zach Hyman and Alexander Kerfoot also scored and Andrei Vasilevskiy stopped 34 shots and added an assist, and Andre Burakovsky and season for the Capitals, 6-4 winners over the In Ottawa, Ontario, Brady Tkachuk had a scored and Frederik Andersen stopped 19 shots. for Tampa Bay. The Lightning won the opener Nazem Kadri also had a goal and an assist, and Sabres on Thursday night. Rasmus Ristolainen goal and two assists, Matt Murray made 20 The game was the Senators’ fi rst in 310 days 5-1 on Wednesday night and are 16-1-2 against Joonas Donskoi and Devon Toews added goals. scored for Buffalo, and Linus Ullmark stopped saves in his Ottawa debut and the Senators after they unknowingly took part in the fi nal the Blackhawks since the 2010-11 season. Philipp Grubauer faced just 20 shots in his 19 shots. beat Toronto in their fi rst game in more than contest of the 2019-20 regular season March 11 Alex DeBrincat and Patrick Kane scored for 12th career shutout, and Cale Makar had three Wilson gave Washington the lead for good 10 months. Chicago. assists. midway through the third period. Nicklas Back- Thomas Chabot, Austin Watson, Derek in Los Angeles against the Kings. The league Avalanche 8, Blues 0 St. Louis won 4-1 on Wednesday night. strom dropped the puck off in the right circle for Stepan and Chris Tierney also scored for Ot- suspended its schedule the following day be- In Denver, Gabriel Landeskog scored his Capitals 2, Sabres 1 Wilson for a wrist shot over Ullmark’s glove. tawa. John Tavares had a goal and assist for To- cause of the coronavirus pandemic. Nevada beat Fresno State 73-57 Trice’s big second half sends James, Davis help Lakers defeat No. 9 Wisconsin past Rutgers PISCATAWAY, New Jersey, Jan 16, Darrion Trammell had 26 points, Pelicans for 5th straight victory (AP): D’Mitrik Trice had 13 points and seven rebounds and fi ve steals for the fi ve assists and turned in a strong sec- Redhawks (7-6, 0-1). Riley Grigsby ond half to lead No. 9 Wisconsin past added 20 points. Aaron Nettles had 19 Rutgers 60-54. points and fi ve steals. Trice scored eight points and assisted Cal. Baptist 83, Tarleton St. 74 on another basket in a 12-0 run that gave In Riverside, California, Tre Arm- Wisconsin a 54-44 lead with 4:19 to go. strong and Gorjok Gak scored 18 The game was a classic Big Ten points apiece as California Baptist grinder, with teams locking down de- topped Tarleton State 83-74. Ty Row- fensively. Wisconsin (11-3, 5-2 Big ell added 17 points for the Lancers. Ten) shot 35% from the fi eld, and Rut- Armstrong shot 4 for 6 on 3-point- gers (7-5, 3-5) shot 37%. The Badgers ers. He added seven rebounds. Gak were 6 of 25 from beyond the arc, and also had 17 rebounds and four assists. the Scarlet Knights were 2 of 19. Elijah Thomas had 11 points for Aleem Ford added 13 points and six California Baptist (4-4, 1-2 Western rebounds for Wisconsin. Brad David- Athletic Conference), which earned its son had 14 points and six rebounds. fourth straight home victory. Nevada 73, Fresno St. 57 Shakur Daniel had 13 points and In Reno, Nevada, Grant Sherfi eld six rebounds for the Texans (2-5, 0-3). had 23 points as Nevada beat Fresno Konstantin Dotsenko added 12 points, State 73-57. three rebounds and two assists. Shamir Desmond Cambridge Jr. had 13 Bogues and Montre Gipson had 11 points for Nevada (9-5, 4-3 Mountain points each. West Conference). Warren Washing- Siena 78, Rider 69 ton added 13 points. In Lawrenceville, New Jersey, Jor- Orlando Robinson had 15 points dan King had a career-high 21 points as Siena got past Rider 78-69. Manny Camper had 17 points, nine BASKETBALL rebounds and six assists for Siena (5- 0, 5-0 Metro Atlantic Athletic Confer- for the Bulldogs (5-4, 3-4). Isaiah Hill ence). Jackson Stormo added 10 points. added 15 points. Nick Hopkins had 10 points. CS Bakersfi eld 60, Hawaii 55 Dwight Murray Jr. scored a career- In Honolulu, Shawn Stith had 13 high 25 points for the Broncs (3-9, points as Cal State Bakersfi eld nar- 3-6). Dontrell McQuarter added 17 rowly beat Hawaii 60-55. points and 12 rebounds. Ajiri Ogemu- Taze Moore had 10 points and nine no-Johnson had eight rebounds. rebounds for Cal State Bakersfi eld (8- Christian Ings, the Broncs’ second 4, 4-1 Big West Conference), which leading scorer heading into the contest won its fourth consecutive game. at nine points per game, shot only 11% Junior Madut had 12 points and 10 in the game (1 of 9). Los Angeles Lakers forward LeBron James (23) defends against New Orleans Pelicans guard Kira Lewis Jr. (13) during the fourth quarter of an NBA rebounds for the Rainbow Warriors N. Dakota St 62, N. Dakota 45 basketball game, on Jan 15, in Los Angeles. (AP) (3-2, 1-2). James Jean-Marie added 11 In Grand Folks, North Dakota, Jarius points. Mate Colina had 10 points. Cook posted 13 points as North Dakota Utah Valley 93, Seattle 92, OT State beat North Dakota 62-45. Bucks survive shaky free-throw shooting to edge Mavs 112-109 In Seattle, Fardaws Aimaq had 29 Grant Nelson had 13 points and points plus 14 rebounds while Trey three blocks for North Dakota State showed that they could have been ex- (7-6, 7-1 Summit League), which LOS ANGELES, Jan 16, Woodbury chipped in 20 points and (AP): LeBron James had 21 NBA Results/Standings posed to it. made the game-winning 3-pointer with earned its fi fth straight victory. Rocky Thunder 127, Bulls 125, OT fi ve seconds left in overtime as Utah Kreuser added 11 points. Tyree Eady points, 11 assists and eight In Oklahoma City, Shai Gilgeous- Valley edged past Seattle 93-92 in had 10 points. rebounds, and Anthony Davis Alexander scored a career-high 33 overtime. Jamison Overton added 21 Sam Griesel, whose 12 points per added 17 points against his WASHINGTON, Jan 16, (AP): Results and standings from the NBA games on Friday. points to help Oklahoma City beat Chi- points for the Wolverines. game coming into the matchup was former team in the Los Ange- Boston 124 Orlando 97 Utah 116 Atlanta 92 cago and former Thunder coach Billy Aimaq hit 13 of 15 free throws. He second on the Bison, shot only 14% in Cleveland 106 New York 103 LA Clippers 138 Sacramento 100 Donovan in overtime. the game (1 of 7). les Lakers’ fi fth consecutive Milwaukee 112 Dallas 109 LA Lakers 112 New Orleans 95 added four blocks. Evan Cole had 12 Oklaho City 127 Chicago OT 125 Oklahoma City rallied from 22 points and 11 rebounds for Utah Valley Filip Rebraca had 14 points and 10 victory, 112-95 over the New points down in the second half. Zach rebounds for the Fighting Hawks (3-11, Eastern Conference Western Conference (5-5, 3-0 Western Athletic Conference). Orleans Pelicans. Atlantic Division Southwest Division LaVine, who led the Bulls with 35 Seattle totaled 43 points in the fi rst 3-5). Bentiu Panoam added 12 points. Kentavious Caldwell-Pope hit W L Pct GB W L Pct GB points, could have won it in overtime half, a season high for the team. UIC 67, Robert Morris 53 four 3-pointers while scoring 16 Boston 8 3 .727 - Dallas 6 5 .545 - but he missed a deep, off-balance In Chicago, Teyvion Kirk recorded Philadelphia 9 4 .692 - San Antonio 6 6 .500 -1/2 points, and Montrezl Harrell also Brooklyn 7 6 .538 2 Memphis 5 6 .455 1 3-pointer in the closing seconds. 12 points and 10 rebounds to carry Lu Dort scored 21 points for the Illinois-Chicago to a 67-53 win over had 16 for the defending NBA New York 5 8 .385 4 Houston 4 6 .400 1-1/2 champions. The Lakers remained Toronto 3 8 .273 5 New Orleans 4 7 .364 2 Thunder. They won for the fi rst time at Robert Morris. Southeast Division Northwest Division home this season. Michael Diggins had 16 points for unbeaten in fi ve meetings with W L Pct GB W L Pct GB Clippers 139, Kings 100 Illinois-Chicago (6-4, 3-2 Horizon the Pelicans since the franchise- Orlando 6 6 .500 - Utah 8 4 .667 - Charlotte 6 7 .462 -1/2 Portland 7 5 .583 1 In Sacramento, California, Kawhi League). Jamie Ahale added 12 points. altering trade in July 2019 that sent Atlanta 5 6 .455 -1/2 Denver 6 6 .500 2 Leonard had 27 points and six assists in Braelen Bridges had 11 points. Davis to LA and three starters to Miami 4 6 .400 1 Oklahoma City 6 6 .500 2 three quarters, Paul George scored 26 Illinois-Chicago totaled 30 second- Washington 3 8 .273 2-1/2 Minnesota 3 8 .273 4-1/2 New Orleans. Central Division Pacifi c Division points and short-handed Los Angeles half points, a season low for the team. Brandon Ingram scored 17 of his 20 W L Pct GB W L Pct GB manhandled Sacramento. AJ Bramah had 19 points and 14 re- points in the fi rst half against his for- Milwaukee 9 4 .692 - LA Lakers 11 3 .786 - The Clippers have won 15 consecu- bounds for the Colonials (3-4, 2-2). mer team for the Pelicans, who have Indiana 8 4 .667 -1/2 LA Clippers 9 4 .692 1-1/2 Texas State 63, UALR 59 lost fi ve straight. Zion Williamson had Cleveland 6 7 .462 3 Phoenix 7 4 .636 2-1/2 Chicago 4 8 .333 4-1/2 Golden State 6 6 .500 4 BASKETBALL In Little Rock, Arkansas, Marlin Da- 21 points and 12 rebounds after miss- Detroit 2 9 .182 6 Sacramento 5 8 .385 5-1/2 vis had 12 points and 10 rebounds to ing Wednesday’s game against the lead Texas State to a 63-59 win over Clippers due to the NBA’s health and their fourth straight and snapping the added 18 points and Boston rolled past tive road games against the Kings. Arkansas-Little Rock. safety protocols, but New Orleans blew Los Angeles hasn’t lost in Sacramento Davis also had eight turnovers but an early 15-point lead on its third stop Mavericks’ winning streak at four. Orlando in the Celtics’ return following since March 19, 2013. only fi ve assists. on a seven-game trip. Both teams wasted plenty of oppor- a virus-related week-long hiatus. Playing without guards Patrick Bev- Caleb Asberry had 18 points for Bucks 112, Mavericks 109 tunities from the foul line. The Bucks Jeff Teague had 17 points, and rookie erley (personal reasons) and Lou Wil- Texas State (8-4, 2-1 Sun Belt Confer- In Milwaukee, Giannis Antetok- were 12 of 25 on free throws, with An- Payton Pritchard added 16 points to help liams (sore left hip), the Clippers led Wisconsin’s Tyler Wahl (right), shoots ence). Mason Harrell added 16 points. ounmpo overcame poor free-throw tetokounmpo going 1 of 10. Dallas was Boston post its fi fth straight victory. by eight at halftime and broke the game over Rutgers’ Geo Baker during the Ruot Monyyong had 14 points and shooting to score 31 points, Khris Mid- 6 of 13. Boston returned after having three open in the third quarter when they out- second half of an NCAA college bas- 10 rebounds for the Trojans (7-5, 3-2). dleton hit two late 3-pointers and Mil- Celtics 124, Magic 97 games postponed due to players testing scored the Kings 37-16. ketball game, on Jan 15, in Piscata- Nikola Maric added 13 points and eight waukee Bucks held off Dallas. In Boston, Jaylen Brown had 21 positive for the coronavirus and others Cavaliers 106, Knicks 103 way, NJ. (AP) rebounds. Marko Lukic had 11 points. The Bucks improved to 9-4, winning points and eight assists, Semi Ojeleye being ruled out because contact tracing In Cleveland, Andre Drummond tied his career high with 33 points and grabbed 23 rebounds, and Cedi Osman Sanders, USC top No. 25 Washington St 81-77 in OT scored 25 points in Cleveland’s victory over New York. Drummond had the Cavaliers’ fi rst Williams, Jump help No. 1 Stanford women rout Utah 30-20 game since Carlos Boozer had 32 points and 20 rebounds against SALT LAKE CITY, Jan 16, (AP): Cardinal improve to 26-1 against game as a ranked team in program Seattle on Jan. 20, 2004. He also had Kiana Williams scored 18 points the Utes (3-8, 2-8). Kemery Martin history. three assists, two blocks and two steals to help Cleveland snap a three-game and Hannah Jump had 15 – both all led Utah with 11 points. Jordyn Jenkins, a 6-foot-2 fresh- losing streak. on 3-pointers – to help No. 1 Stan- man, added season highs of 12 Jazz 116, Hawks 92 ford rout Utah 82-54. BASKETBALL points, nine rebounds and three In Salt Lake City, Donovan Mitchell Williams was 6 for 10 from steals for USC (6-5, 4-5 Pac-12). made six 3-pointers on his way to 26 3-point range, and Jump 5 for 10. The Trojans have won seven in a points and Utah used a 21-0 second- Stanford (11-0, 8-0 Pac-12) closed S. California 81, Wash. St 77, OT row against Washington State and half run to power past Atlanta. the fi rst quarter with a 15-0 to take In Los Angeles, Jordan Sanders three straight overall. Bojan Bogdanovic scored 17 points, had a season-high 24 points, Endyia Rudy Gobert had 15 points and 13 re- a 23-8 lead, then opened the second Sisters Charlisse and Krystal bounds, and Jordan Clarkson scored half with a 16-1 run to make it 56-26. Rogers scored nine of her 16 points Leger-Walker led the Cougars (7- Utah’s Brynna Maxwell (11) and Peyton McFarland (42) defend against all 16 of his points in the second half Lexie Hull and Ashten Pretchel in overtime, and Southern Califor- 2, 5-2), with Charlisse scoring 26 Stanford guard Lexie Hull (12) in the fi rst half during an NCAA college bas- to boost the Jazz to their fourth straight each added 14 points for help the nia spoiled Washington State’s fi rst points and Krystal 26. ketball game on Jan 15, in Salt Lake City. (AP) victory. ARAB TIMES, SUNDAY, JANUARY 17, 2021 16

Mainz 05’s Moussa Niakhate, (left), in action with Borussia Dortmund’s Jude Bellingham during the Bundesliga soccer match between Borussia Dortmund and FSV Mainz 05 in Dortmund, Germany, Jan 16. (AP) Sports Latest sports scores at — http://sports.arabtimesonline.com Antonio scores on return, West Ham beat Burnley West Brom edge Wolves for 1st EPL win under Allardyce WOLVERHAMPTON, England, Jan 16, (AP): West Bromwich Albion collected only their second win in the Peterhansel wins Dakar Rally 30 yrs after first victory Premier League - and fi rst under new JEDDAH, Saudi Arabia, Jan 16, (AP): Stephane Peter- 55 and still buzzed by competing and winning. manager Sam Allardyce - as two pen- hansel managed Nasser Al-Attiyah on the last stage to “It’s still the same emotion for the 14th victory,” he Leipzig denied alties by Matheus Pereira helped to win the Dakar Rally in Saudi Arabia, 30 years after he said. “There are no easy victories on the Dakar. This one earn a 3-2 victory over Wolverhamp- fi rst won the world’s toughest rally. from the outside maybe looked easy, but it was not easy ton on Saturday. Peterhansel took a handy 15-minute lead into the 12th every day to manage the small gap over Nasser. There Allardyce was unable to call upon two and fi nal stage from Yanbu, and stuck close to Al-Atti- was a lot of pressure on the body. We felt every day that key players - goalkeeper Sam Johnstone we had everything to lose.” and winger Matt Phillips - after they con- yah, who gained only 40 seconds overall on the 200-ki- top spot again tracted the coronavirus, but West Brom lometer (125-mile) special south to Jeddah, where the He led the race from stage two. From that day he was still managed to boost its survival hopes race began on Jan 3. off the podium in a stage only once (a fourth), and paid with its fi rst win since beating Sheffi eld tribute to the navigation skills of his new co-pilot Ed- United on Nov. 28. ouard Boulanger, another former motorbike race in the Dortmund rue missed penalty RALLYING Dakar. The closest Al-Attiyah got to Peterhansel overall in SOCCER The victory was the 14th for the Frenchman dubbed the second week was fi ve minutes on Monday. He was BERLIN, Jan 16, (AP): The visitors almost grabbed another “Mr Dakar.” It was his record-extending eighth in a car, undone by 16 punctures. The three-time champion from Borussia Dortmund cap- shortly afterward when Alexander Pereira slotted home his fi rst penalty on a third different continent. They follow his record six Qatar was runner-up for a fi fth time and more disap- Hack struck the crossbar with a header. in the fourth minute after Callum Rob- victories on a motorbike, the fi rst in 1991 when the race pointed than last year, when his Toyota also split the tain Marco Reus missed a The 16-year-old Youssoufa Mouko- inson was tripped at the edge of the used to start in Paris and fi nish in Dakar, Senegal. He’s Minis of Peterhansel and Carlos Sainz. penalty in a 1-1 draw with ko had just gone on for Dortmund and penalty area, but Wolves fought back he played a decisive role for his side’s lowly Mainz while Leipzig to lead at halftime thanks to goals by West Ham have missed the mobility last four league games, keeping three for his seventh goal of the season. equalizer in the 73rd, keeping the ball Fabio Silva in the 38th and Willy Boly again missed the chance in play before sending in a cross that and presence up front of Antonio, who straight clean sheets in the process, Burn- Brighton halted a 10-game winless in the 43rd. was sidelined before Christmas with ley have lost three of their last four games run in all competitions. The last tri- to move to the top of the was cleared by Mainz defender Phil- Center half Semi Ajayi scored for lipp Mwene - only as far as Meunier, a hamstring injury and has been eased and dropped to fourth-to-last place, one umph was on Nov. 21 at Aston Villa. Bundesliga on Saturday. the third time since Allardyce arrived back into action by manager David It was a successful return to El- who fi red back in to equalize. a month ago after a header following above the relegation zone. Leipzig, which were denied top Meunier was then fouled in the Moyes given his importance to the team. Scoring is their biggest problem - Sean land Road for Brighton’s Ben White, a long throw-in in the 52nd minute, He came on as a substitute against South- who helped Leeds win promotion to spot in losing to Dortmund 3-1 last penalty area by Hack, giving Reus and Pereira regained the lead for West Dyche’s team have just nine goals in 17 a chance to score from the spot. The ampton and Everton over the festive pe- games, tied for the fewest in the league the top-fl ight during a loan spell last weekend, could manage only 2-2 Brom four minutes later from a penalty riod, and played in the win over Rochdale season. His former club slipped to a at Wolfsburg and they remain a Dortmund captain sent his kick outside again won by Robinson. with last-placed Sheffi eld United. Rel- of the left post. in the FA Cup on Monday. egation is a distinct possibility for the third straight loss for the fi rst time in point behind league leaders Bay- West Brom remained in next-to-last Moyes has few other alternatives 12 months. It could have been worse for Reus’ place, but moved in sight of safety. northwest club, which became the latest ern Munich. Bayern host Freiburg team as Mainz captain Danny Latza hit for the striker role, especially with Se- league team to be owned by Americans Marcelo Bielsa’s side were bidding on Sunday. the post late on. Dortmund remained West Ham 1, Burnley 0 bastien Haller recently leaving to join when ALK Capital’s sports investment to bounce back from last week’s em- Dortmund were looking for their fourth, four points behind Bayern, Michail Antonio scored in his fi rst Ajax in the Netherlands, so keeping arm, Velocity Sports Partners, bought an barrassing FA Cup defeat at fourth-tier fourth win in fi ve league games under which have a game in hand. English Premier League start for West Antonio fi t is particularly important if 84% stake in December. Crawley and sorely missed suspended new coach Edin Terzić but were frus- Ham since November in a 1-0 win over West Ham are to fi nish in the top half midfi elder Kalvin Philiips. trated by a committed performance Burnley . of the standings. Brighton 1, Leeds 0 Leeds rarely got close to producing from Mainz in Bo Svensson’s second SOCCER Antonio side-footed home from Burnley thought they equalized be- Brighton notched their fi rst English the form which has won the team so game in charge. close range in the ninth minute after fore halftime when a cross by Chris Premier League win in nearly two many admirers since their return to the The draw was enough for Mainz to Substitute Cedric Teuchert scored a left-wing cross from Pablo Fornals Wood was turned into his own net by months thanks to Neal Maupay’s fi rst- Premier League. move off the bottom on goal difference late for Union Berlin to stun third- fl icked off the top of Burnley defender West Ham defender Aaron Cresswell, half goal in a 1-0 victory at Leeds. Rodrigo was inches away from con- from Schalke, which visit Eintracht placed Bayer Leverkusen 1-0 . Ben Mee’s head and into the path of but the goal was disallowed because The French striker applied the fi n- verting Ezgjan Alioski’s low cross, Frankfurt on Sunday. Teuchert came on for the injured the West Ham forward, who was free Wood was offside in the buildup. ishing touch at the far post following a however, and Mateusz Klich blazed Dortmund got off to a fi ne start with Sheraldo Becker midway through the at the back post. While West Ham are unbeaten in their fl owing team move in the 17th minute off target after neat buildup play. Erling Haaland fi ring inside the left fi rst half and missed chances before post in the second minute. But the goal fi nally beating Leverkusen goalkeeper was ruled out through VAR as Thomas Lukas Hradecky in the 88th minute af- Meunier was offside in the buildup. ter a brilliant through ball from Chris- Jude Bellingham struck the post topher Lenz. toward the end of the half and it was “A few good counterattacks before as close as Dortmund came to scoring we eventually get the goal. An amaz- before the break. ing win,” Union forward Marcus In- Mainz defended doggedly and took gvartsen said. its chance in the 57th when Levin Öz- The game ended on a sour note, tunali eluded Mats Hummels with a however, with Leverkusen midfi elder back-heel trick and let fl y from 20 me- Nadiem angrily approaching Union ters inside the top right corner. midfi elder Florian Hübner and point- ing his fi nger in his face. Union coach Urs Fischer attempted to console the furious Nadiem. Leverkusen defender Jonathan Tah told broadcaster DAZN that Nadiem was abused by an opponent who used a racial- ly charged term referring to the Germany midfi elder’s Afghan background. “It doesn’t belong on the football pitch, no matter how emotional things get,” Tah said. “It’s the most bitter part of the evening. I hope there are consequences.” Fischer said he missed the alleged incident. “I heard there were words on the pitch that have no place on the pitch,” Fischer said. “I heard from both sides that words were exchanged between two sides.” Leverkusen dominated possession but lacked effi ciency and slumped to their third defeat in four games. Peter Bosz’s team had been unbeaten before Leipzig’s Nordi Mukiele celebrates losing at home to Bayern Munich 2-1 after he scored his side’s first goal on Dec 19 and they haven’t won since. during the German Bundesliga soc- Union are surprising many in their cer match between Vfl Wolfsburg second Bundesliga season, a season and RB Leipzig in Wolfsburg, Ger- in which they had been expected to be West Bromwich Albion’s Robert Snodgrass, (right), challenges Wolverhampton Wanderers’ Adama Traore during the English Premier League soccer many, Jan 16. (AP) fi ghting relegation. match between Wolverhampton Wanderers and West Bromwich Albion at the Molineux Stadium in Wolverhampton, England, Jan 16. (AP) Umpires call off play without ball being bowled in evening session Japan minister says ‘anything’ Lyon strikes in 100th Test to dismiss India’s Sharma can happen with Tokyo Games TOKYO, Jan 16, (AP): Japanese across the country. Japan has han- BRISBANE, Australia, Jan 16, (AP): a catch into the outfi eld to Mitchell enced Indian bowling attack kept the when Paine chased an outswinger and cabinet minister Taro Kono has dled the coronavirus better than most Nathan Lyon was in the thick of action in Starc, who ran in from long-on and tourists in the contest despite missing was caught at second slip by Sharma. said “anything can happen” in countries and has attributed about his 100th Test, dismissing dangerous In- took a sliding catch. pace spearhead Jasprit Bumrah and Sundar bowled Green out in the next regard to the postponed Tokyo 4,000 deaths of COVID-19. dia opener Rohit Sharma in his third over Pujara was not out 8 from 49 deliver- leading spinner Ravichandran Ashwin. over with an off-break delivery that Olympics, raising more doubts The Olympics are to open on on Saturday after playing a late cameo ies and India’s stand-in captain Ajinkya Australia resumed Saturday at 274- turned the other way, straightened and about the games scheduled to be- July 23 followed by the Paralym- with the bat for Australia. Rahane was 2 at the interval as clouds 5 and the innings were steadily build- beat the edge. gin in just over six months. pics on Aug. 24. India was 62-2 at tea on day two of loomed over the Gabba. They didn’t re- ing in a 98-run partnership between When Thakur trapped Cummins lbw Kono’s In a statement, Tokyo organiz- the series-deciding match at the Gabba turn to the fi eld, and play was scheduled skipper Tim Paine (50) and allrounder with a full ball hitting around ankle statements ers did not address Kano’s com- in reply to Australia’s 369. Heavy rain to start a half-hour early on Sunday. Cameron Green (47) until India snared height, the Australians were in danger contradict ments but said that Prime Minister during the break soaked the outfi eld The series is tied 1-1 and India three wickets for four runs in 14 deliv- of an embarrassing batting collapse. the offi cial Yoshihide Suga “expressed his and, after two pitch inspections, um- needs only a draw to retain the Border- eries to slump to 315-8. But a 39-run ninth-wicket stand govern- determination to hold the games.” pires called off play without a ball be- Gavaskar trophy. But the inexperi- Thakur got the big breakthrough, between Lyon and Starc staved that ment posi- ing bowled in the evening session. off and helped Australia pass the 350 tion and that India’s injury-depleted attack did mark before Sundar struck again close of the local OLYMPICS exceptionally well to dismiss Austra- to lunch. organizing lia by lunch on the second day, with Lyon, whose cameo innings grew in committee. “The situation surrounding CO- Thangarasu Natarajan (3-78) and confi dence when he pulled Thakur be- They have VID-19 is changing every moment,” Washington Sundar (3-89) each tak- hind square for a boundary and drove both said re- the statement said. “We expect that ing three wickets on debut and Shardul the next ball straight down the ground peatedly the Kono the series of measures being imple- Thakur returning 3-94. for another four, was dismissed for 24 games will take place and will be mented by the government of Japan, from 22 deliveries when he attempted “safe and secure.” the Tokyo Metropolitan Govern- a sweep to a straight ball from Sundar Kono opened the door to a pos- ment and other prefectural authori- CRICKET that rattled his stumps. sible cancellation. He also gave ties will help improve the situation.” Starc fi nished unbeaten on 20 when more credence to recent poll re- Kono suggested few fans were Pat Cummins took the fi rst wicket fellow paceman Hazlewood was out sults that show about 80% in Ja- likely to be attending with the focus for Australia with his second ball of for 11. pan think the Olympics shouldn’t on 15,400 Olympic and Paralympic the match, with Shubman Gill (7) The fi rst session followed a similar happen, or will not happen. athletes who must enter Japan. They fending forward and edging to second rhythm to the opening day, when Aus- “I should say anything is pos- will be accompanied by tens of thou- slip, where Steve Smith took a sharp tralian batsmen made starts but didn’t sible,” Kono said. sands of offi cials, judges, volunteers, chance. go on with it. Kono is the former defense min- media, and broadcasters. Opener Sharma (44) and No. 3 Marnus Labuschagne (108) shared ister and is now the minister for ad- “We need to think about those Cheteshwar Pujara combined to move partnerships of 70 with Steve Smith (36) ministrative and regulatory reform. people who come and watch, but the total from 11 to 60 and were start- and 113 with Matthew Wade (45) to “It could go either way,” he we basically need to focus on the ing to get on top of the Australian pace build the innings after Australia won the added. athletes fi rst,” he said. “And then bowlers before Lyon struck. India’s Cheteshwar Pujara plays at the ball bowled by Australia’s Pat Cum- toss, batted and slipped early to 17-2. Much of Japan is under an emer- if it’s possible, we need to get the Sharma tried to take on the veteran mins during play on day two of the fourth cricket Test between India and The Australians added 37 on Satur- gency order with new cases rising tourists in.” off-spinner but miscued and skied Australia at the Gabba, Brisbane, Australia, Jan 16. (AP) day before India hit back.

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