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THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 25, 2021 / RAJAB 14, 1442 AH emergency number 112 NO. 17623 16 PAGES 150 FILS Happy National/Liberation days to all There will be no Friday-Saturday issue of the Arab Times. We will appear again on Sunday morning. — See you then

KUNA photo Sheikh Abdullah Al Salem Cultural Center One-dose J&J works Kuwait celebrates 60 WASHINGTON, Feb 24, (AP): Johnson & Johnson’s single-dose vaccine offers strong protec- Amir receives congratulations Other Voices tion against severe COVID-19, Hospitals ... clinics according to an analysis by US regulators Wednesday that sets KUWAIT CITY, Feb the stage for a final decision on ‘Health’ to license 24, (KUNA): Kuwait is Kuwaiti banks successfully a new and easier-to-use shot to set to celebrate its 60th help tame the pandemic. Thanks for taking The Food and Drug Adminis- private dose buys National Day on Thurs- pass stress tests: CBK report tration’s scientists confirmed that day, marking the ef- overall the vaccine is about 66% KUWAIT CITY, Feb 24, (KUNA): Ministry forts of its leadership to — Details Page 9 — us to the last place effective at preventing moderate of Health on Wednesday allowed hospitals, develop all sectors and to severe COVID-19, and about health centers and private health clinics to By Ali Ahmed Al-Baghli 85% effective against the most purchase COVID-19 vaccines from the local preserve the country’s Former Minister of Oil serious illness. The agency also agent or companies producing them after be- peace and stability. said J&J’s shot – one that could ing licensed and approved by the ministry to This year’s celebrations Newswatch help speed vaccinations by re- provide vaccination service. THE one who took us to the last place with an envi- quiring just one dose instead of will be the first under the In a statement, the ministry said that the leadership of His Highness able merit is His Excellency our Minister of Health, two – is safe to use. permission was stated in the circular No. the young Sheikh, with the blessing of his colleagues That’s just one step in the the Amir Sheikh Nawaf Al- KUWAIT CITY: His Highness the Prime Minister Sheikh 5/2021 issued on wednesday through the Sabah Khaled Al-Hamad Al-Sabah, on Wednesday held in the wise government and most of the MPs of the FDA’s evaluation of a third vac- Health Licenses Department, as they should Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah cine option for the US. On Fri- and His Highness the Crown an online meeting regarding the (right to access informa- December 5, 2020 elections who remained silent even complete the electronic connection with the tion) law and its implementation rules, with the presence day, the agency’s independent electronic platform of the ministry before Prince Sheikh Mishal Al-Ah- though they had deafened our ears with endless sug- advisers will debate if the evi- of ministers and leaders from 75 government agencies. gestions and statements that we have been plagued by starting to provide the vaccination service. mad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah. During the meeting, His Highness the Prime Minister dence is strong enough to recom- The Ministry stressed the need for the data During the celebrations, Ku- some of them until now. mend the long-anticipated shot. congratulated His Highness the Amir Sheikh Nawaf Al- to match all the requirements of the automat- wait is also remembering the great Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah, His Highness the Crown The Parliament did not hold a single proper session, Armed with that advice, FDA is ed COVID-19 vaccination at the Ministry of efforts of the late Amir His High- Prince Sheikh Mishal Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah, including the opening session, the elections of the Na- expected to make a final decision Health to issue vaccination certificates, indicat- ness Sheikh Sabah Al-Ahmad the Kuwaiti people on the advent of Kuwait’s 60th Na- tional Assembly Speaker and his within days. Al-Jaber Al-Sabah, who passed tional Day and 30th Anniversary of Liberation. The vaccination drive has been ing the need for hospitals, health centers and deputy, and the mess and battles clinics to be located in a self-contained build- away on 29 September, after long His Highness affi rmed that the meeting aimed at dis- slower than hoped, hampered by years of national and international cussing the mechanisms and tools for implementing the that accompanied them, and the ef- logistical issues and weather de- ing and not shared with other treatment insti- fects of which we are still suffering tutions and to have vaccination permits from achievements at every level. law on the right to access information despite the govern- lays even as the country mourns ment’s resignation due to its importance. (KUNA) from until now. the Health Licensing Department and the com- Although this year’s celebra- more than 500,000 virus-related tions come in time of the corona- ❑ ❑ ❑ Let’s go back to the last position deaths. So far, about 44.5 mil- mitment to apply the precautionary measures recommended by the Ministry of Health. virus virus crisis, as today marks that the wise government brought lion Americans have received at KUWAIT CITY: The Kuwaiti Ministry of Health (MoH) The ministry also stressed the need to stick one year since discovering the declared on Wednesday that 960 patients of the novel us to. The local newspapers (for least one dose of vaccine made first coronavirus case in Kuwait, by Pfizer or Moderna, and nearly to the standards, specifications and guidelines coronavirus (COVID-19) have been cured of the germ- example, Al-Seyassah daily on 20 million of them have received related to transporting, storing and giving the this crisis showed Kuwaiti peo- triggered ailment over past 24 hours. February 16) had published that the second dose required for full vaccines to the domestic medical sector is- ple’s strength and unity in facing Speaking in his daily briefi ng, the MoH offi cial spokes- Kuwait is at the bottom when protection. sued by the producer and from the drug and the pandemic. person Dr. Abdullah Al-Sanad said tally of the patients food control sector. Even though public celebrations who have been cured of the virus has hit 175,048. compared to the GCC countries in Al-Baghli J&J tested its single-dose op- tion in 44,000 adults in the US, The Ministry affirmed that the service pro- are banned by the government due Proportion of the cured of the total casualties was esti- terms of COVID-19 vaccinations. to the ongoing crisis, Kuwaiti fam- mated at 93.6 percent. To be precise, it ranked sixth among the six mem- Latin America and South Africa. vider bears full responsibility for the accuracy Different mutated versions of the of the data, ensuring its privacy, and following ilies will continue celebrating the Up to 1,001 persons contracted the virus over the past ber states of the Gulf Cooperation Council, and 66th up on the vaccination dates for recipients with event in their homes. 24 hours, putting the caseload of the contaminations with virus are circulating in different the pathogen at 187,005, in addition to fi ve new deaths among 87 countries of the world that have begun vac- countries, and the FDA analysis the responsibility to inform them via sms mes- Meanwhile, all segments of cinations against COVID-19. sages of their scheduled dates for taking doses. society are cooperating to deal with the death toll hitting 1,062 since local eruption of the cautioned that it’s not clear how pandemic months ago, Dr. Al-Sanad added. Even though Kuwait was among the fi rst countries to well the vaccine works against with the impact of the corona- Travel measures virus, including the great efforts Number of sick persons receiving treatment at intensive launch vaccination campaigns against the COVID-19 each variant. But J&J previously care units amounted to 147, thus putting the whole count pandemic, the severe slow pace of the vaccination pro- announced the vaccine worked Precautionary travel measures are still of the healthcare workers and implemented on all people, including those people who volunteered in dif- of the confi rmed infection cases that remained under treat- cess led the country to occupy this disappointing place better in the US – 72% effective ment at 10,895. He added that swab tests conducted over against moderate to severe CO- who have received coronavirus vaccine, for ferent areas. regionally and globally. the protection of all categories in the society, Kuwait had celebrated the first the past 24 hours reached 8,724 raising the whole count of We must pause here to talk about our brothers in VID-19, compared with 66% in such examinations to 1,755,500. (KUNA) Latin America and 57% in South Ministry of Health (MoH) spokesman Abdul- national day on 19 June, 1962, ❑ ❑ ❑ the GCC countries whose circumstances are simi- Africa. lah Al-Sanad said on Tuesday. organizing a huge military per- lar to ours. These countries, particularly the United Still, South Africa recently Speaking at a news conference, Al-Sanad formance. Then Kuwaiti Amir GENEVA: The State of Kuwait on Wednesday called on Arab Emirates, Bahrain, Saudi Arabia and Qatar, did began giving the J&J vaccine stressed that authorities are still taking swabs Sheikh Abdullah Al-Salem Al- the United Nations Human Rights Council to explicitly not close their air and sea ports like we did, thanks to front-line health workers on from the arrivals who are also subjected to Sabah said in his speech that condemn recurring violations by Israel against the Pal- a test basis after deciding that quarantine for the same purpose. Kuwaitis will unite in building a estinian people. to our rational decisions. Rather, those who wanted The implemented measures include also great future for their country and The call came in a statement addressed by the perma- to come to Kuwait from Asian and African countries a vaccine from rival AstraZen- eca hadn’t shown strong enough individuals who received the vaccine so as achieve social equality. nent envoy at the UN and international organizations in such as Egypt, Ethiopia and others came via Dubai. study results. to avoid a possible transmission of the virus In the same year, Kuwait Geneva, Ambassador Jamal Al-Ghuneim, during the And these countries preceded us and left us in the from outside Kuwait, he added. launched an establishment coun- 45th session of the council, held virtually between Febru- Across all countries, Wednes- ary 22 and March 23. (KUNA) last place. day’s analysis showed protection The step also aims to avoid the arrival of cil tasked with setting the consti- A dear retired friend of mine has a home in Bah- began to emerge about 14 days af- any new strains of the coronavirus pandemic tution that relies on democracy. rain, and spends long and short periods of stay there. ter vaccination. But by 28 days after from outside Kuwait, he elaborated. The constitution was approved He was in Kuwait a few days ago and I was shocked vaccination, there were no hospital- Those who received the first or dual dosage by Sheikh Abdullah Al-Salem in izations or deaths in the vaccinated of the vaccine should react to the Ministry’s November 1962, then holding when I recently got a call from him from his Bahraini group compared with 16 hospital- link to help monitor any side effects which the first legislative elections in mobile phone. I asked him how he reached his second izations and 7 deaths in study recip- may occur like high temperature, headache or 23 January, 1963. home country, Bahrain, these days when the borders ients who received a dummy shot. pain on the part injected with the vaccine, he National day celebrations and travel facilities are all closed, and even if they are The FDA said effectiveness said. continued to be held on June 19 open, travellers are forced to stay under quarantine for and safety were consistent across He pointed out that medical teams would between 1962-64, but an Amiri more than a week. racial groups, including Black deal with any data in this regard. decree issued on May 18, 1964, He told me he went to Bahrain by land, and was test- and Latino participants. Asked about a safe vaccine for children be- merging Independence Day with While the overall effective- low 15 years, Al-Sanad said the available vac- ascension of Sheikh Abdullah Al- ed for COVID-19 at the Saudi-Kuwaiti border. The re- ness data may suggest the J&J cine in Kuwait is Pfizer-BioNTech used for Salem to office to be February 25. sult was negative, and he was tested again at the Saudi- candidate isn’t quite as strong as people from 16 and above.Oxford vaccine is Kuwait’s foreign policy has Bahraini borders and the result then was also negative. the two-dose Pfizer and Moderna given to people aged 18-64, he stated. always been neutral and peace- He was then told to stay at home or a hotel for a pe- options, all of the world’s CO- The sixth batch of the Pfizer-BioNTech ful, while also focusing on coop- riod of no more than seven hours ... I repeat hours, not VID-19 vaccines have been tested vaccine will arrive in Kuwait next Sun- eration with regional and inter- days. He then received a message on his mobile phone differently, making comparisons day, said an official at the Health Ministry national organizations to achieve stating that he is healthy and can leave his home or the nearly impossible. It wouldn’t be Wednesday. international peace and stability. surprising if one dose turns out to Speaking to KUNA, Assistant Undersecre- Kuwait had also built strong hotel. be a little weaker than two doses tary for Drug and Food Control Dr Abdullah Al- relations with the Arab and Mus- This is a true story that we dedicate to the Minister and policymakers will decide if Bader said that Kuwait was keen on battling the lim Worlds, and exerted great ef- of Prevention, the young doctor who destroyed us with that’s an acceptable trade-off to coronavirus (COVID-19) spread by reinforcing forts in supporting the work of the the health safety and quarantine decisions. We now get more people vaccinated faster. its national immunization campaign. GCC, Arab League and the UN. fi nd ourselves lagging behind our brothers in every- Like other COVID-19 vac- The ministry supplies of the Pfizer-BioN- Moreover, the country has thing including the processes of vaccinations and quar- cines, the main side effects of the Tech is made in direct contract with the drug great achievements in the hu- J&J shot are pain at the injection company, affirmed the official who stressed manitarian field, continuously antine which recently reached even the graves.This is site and flu-like fever, fatigue and that it vaccination was necessary to rid the aiding those in need around the another sad story that we leave for a different time, as headache. No study participant world from this health menace. world. These efforts were recog- it also proves that we are grieved for being in the last experienced the severe allergic President of Kuwait Directorate General for nized by the UN in September place at all levels. reaction, called anaphylaxis, that Civil Aviation (DGCA) Sheikh Salman Sabah 2014, granting late His Highness ❑ ❑ ❑ is a rare risk of some other CO- Al-Salem Al-Humoud Al-Sabah on Wednes- Sheikh Sabah the “Humanitar- VID-19 shots, although one ex- day examined anti-covid health precautions for ian Leader” title, and Kuwait the Email: [email protected] perienced a less serious reaction. arrivals at Kuwait International Airport. “Humanitarian Center” title. ARAB TIMES, THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 25, 2021 2

Killings surge in Syria camp housing DAESH families ‘Al-Hol the womb to a new generation of extremists’

he deaths stacked up: a policeman shot dead with a pistol equipped strike Syrian government troops, forces of the Kurdish-led Syrian Dem- according to RIC and the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, a Brit- Twith a silencer, a local official gunned down, his son wounded, an ocratic Forces and civilian administrators. ain-based opposition war monitor. Iraqi man beheaded. In total, 20 men and women were killed last month Al-Hol houses the wives, widows, children and other family members On Jan. 9, a gunman killed a policeman in the camp using a silenc- in the sprawling camp in northeastern Syria housing families of the Is- of IS militants — more than 80% of its 62,000 residents are women and er-equipped pistol, then as other police chased him, he threw a hand lamic State group. children. The majority are Iraqis and Syrians, but it includes some 10,000 grenade that seriously wounded the patrol commander, the Observatory The slayings in al-Hol camp — nearly triple the deaths in previous people from 57 other countries, housed in a highly secured separate area said. The same day, an official with a local council dealing with Syrian months — are largely believed to have been carried out by IS militants known as the Annex. Many of them remain die-hard IS supporters. civilians in the camp was shot to death and his son critically wounded. punishing perceived enemies and intimidating anyone who wavers from The camp has long been chaotic, with the hardcore militants among In another case, an Iraqi camp resident was decapitated, his head their extremist line, say Syrian Kurdish officials who run the camp but its population enforcing their will on others and seeking to prevent them found some distance from his body, RIC reported. It is believed he was say they struggle to keep it under control. from cooperating with Kurdish authorities guarding it. killed on suspicion he was cooperating with authorities. The jump in violence has heightened calls for countries to repatri- IS cells in Syria are in contact with residents of the camp and sup- Kurdish security officials did not respond for questions from The As- ate their citizens languishing in the camp, home to some 62,000 people. port them, said a senior Kurdish official Badran Cia Kurd. “Anyone who sociated Press about the situation. Those repatriations have slowed dramatically because of the coronavi- tries to reveal these contacts or stops dealing with Daesh is subjected to The immediate cause for the jump in killings was not known. In No- rus epidemic, officials say. If left there, the thousands of children in the death,” he said, using the Arabic acronym for IS. vember, Kurdish authorities began an amnesty program for the 25,000 camp risk being radicalized, local and U.N. officials warn. The U.S.-backed SDF tweeted last week that, backed by air surveil- Syrian citizens in the camp, allowing them to leave. Some speculate that, “Al-Hol will be the womb that will give birth to new generations of lance from the coalition, they detained an IS family smuggler in the area since those taking amnesty must register and work with authorities, the extremists,” said Abdullah Suleiman Ali, a Syrian researcher who fo- of Hadadia near the camp. program may have prompted slayings to keep residents in line. Many cuses on jihadi groups. “There are several reasons behind the increase of crime including at- Syrians fear leaving the camp because they may face revenge attacks in It has been nearly two years since the U.S.-led coalition captured the tempts by Daesh members to impose their ideology in the camp against their hometowns from those who suffered under IS rule. last sliver of territory held by the Islamic State group, ending their self- civilians who reject it,” said Ali, the researcher. Whatever the cause, the bloodshed points to the IS strength within the declared caliphate that covered large parts of Iraq and Syria. The brutal Of the 20 killings at al-Hol in January, at least five of the dead were camp. The local civilian Kurdish authority known as the Autonomous Ad- war took several years and left U.S.-allied Kurdish authorities in control female residents of the camp, according to the Rojava Information Cen- ministration of North and East Syria warned in late January that some sides of eastern and northeast Syria, with a small presence of several hundred ter, an activist collective that tracks news in areas controlled by the SDF. are trying to revive IS and the authority cannot face this crisis on its own. American forces still deployed there. All the victims were Syrian or Iraqi citizens, including a member of the IS supporters in the camp carry out trials against residents suspected of Since then, remaining IS militants have gone underground in the local police force, and most were killed in their tents or shelters at night, opposing them and kill defendants, and authorities have uncovered several Syrian-Iraqi border region, continuing an insurgency. Though attacks in RIC said. IS cells inside, it said. “Contacts are ongoing between the camp and Daesh Syria are lower than they were in late 2019, IS sleeper cells continue to Most of the victims were shot in the back of their heads at close range, commanders outside who direct their members inside,” it said. (AP)

Iraqi Christians place a cross on a church in Qaraqosh, Iraq, on Feb 22. (AP) ‘Life is not like before … There’s no fl avor to it’ Iraqi Christians hope for Papal boost

asser Banyameen speaks about his hometown of Qaraqosh in the Christians -- and the overall hope is that the delicate interfaith balance before. There’s no flavor to it. ... Even those Christians who have re- Nhistorical heartland of Iraqi Christianity with nostalgia. Before Is- can be preserved and strengthened. The pope’s March 5-8 visit will also turned to Bartella say they want to leave to find stability.” lamic State group fighters swept through the Nineveh Plains in northern have a strong interfaith component. He, too, would like to leave if he could; his mother tells him she wants Iraq. Before the militants shattered his sense of peace. Before panicked “People want to look for a better future for their families, so you can’t to die in Iraq. relatives and neighbors fled, some never to return. stop them if they have the intention of going somewhere else,” Tejado “I try to change her mind and tell her, ‘Let’s travel and live without Iraq’s Christian communities in the area were dealt a severe blow said. “But at least we try to create the conditions they might return.” worry or fear ... somewhere where we wouldn’t be driven out of our when they were scattered by the IS onslaught in 2014, further shrinking That could be difficult. homes,’” he said. “She tells me we should stay, and that God is with us.” the country’s already dwindling Christian population. Many hope their Many Christians who fled the IS advance have either stayed in Iraq’s The numerical decline and waning clout of Iraqi Christians started before struggle to endure will get a boost from a historic visit by Pope Francis Kurdistan region or started new lives abroad. While those who have re- the Islamic State’s persecution of religious minorities like theirs. Christians planned in March. turned have been rebuilding fractured but vibrant communities with re- were among groups targeted by militants amid the breakdown in security Among the places on his itinerary is Qaraqosh, where this week Vati- solve, some still feel vulnerable and eye better lives elsewhere. after the 2003 U.S.-led invasion that overthrew Saddam Hussein. can and Iraqi flags fluttered from light poles, some adorned with the Banyameen returned in 2019 from the Kurdish region to his house The Chaldean Catholic Patriarch, Cardinal Louis Raphael Sako, es- pope’s image. in Qaraqosh, also known as Bakhdida. But many family members who timated that 1 million Christians have left Iraq since 2003 and about Francis’ visit, his first foreign trip since the coronavirus pandemic and fled like him ended up in Australia and Germany. IS sleeper cells still 500,000 remained. But there are no official figures, and estimates vary: the first ever by a pope to Iraq, is a sign that “You’re not alone,” said carry out attacks in parts of Iraq, so he worries about the specter of a Some put the number left at fewer than 250,000. Monsignor Segundo Tejado Muñoz, the undersecretary of the Vatican’s militant resurgence, the future of his three children and Iraq’s economic Without faith the government can provide security from potential vio- development office. “There’s someone who is thinking of you, who is and security woes. lence, legal protections and economic opportunities, many Christians are with you. And these signs are so important. So important.” “The homeland is the family, not the house ... I feel very homesick,” wary of returning. The IS juggernaut and the long war to drive the militants out left ran- he said. “When something is broken, it doesn’t go back to the way it William Warda, co-founder of Hammurabi Human Rights Organiza- sacked homes and charred or pulverized buildings around the north. But used to be.” tion in Baghdad, said the Christian presence is under threat. “To this day, the biggest loss perhaps has been the people. Traditionally Christian Their home has been repaired, but the sight of empty or damaged ones they don’t feel safe and secure ... because the state is weak, and the rule towns across the Nineveh Plains virtually emptied out and, by some of on their street reminds his wife, Ban Saeed, of the IS reign of terror. Af- of law is weak.” the widely varying estimates, fewer than half of the Christians who fled ter she gave birth to the couple’s third child in December, she wondered Some Christians lament broken trust with some Muslims in neighbor- have returned. if it would have been better for their daughter to have been born abroad. ing villages who they believe sympathized with IS or helped pillage their The Vatican and the pope have frequently insisted on the need to pre- “If we left, I am sure their future would be better abroad, not like homes. They are also wary of the ascension of largely Shiite militias and serve Iraq’s ancient Christian communities and create the security, eco- here,” she said. “There would be safety and I wouldn’t be scared for fearful of what they say are unfavorable demographic changes in some nomic and social conditions for those who have left to return. them when they come and go.” traditionally Christian areas. To do that, the Vatican for years has helped coordinate a network of In nearby Bartella, Sargon Issa said he felt the town’s spirit dim with Etched in the minds of many are the memories of the flight to escape Catholic non-governmental organizations providing help in the field in so many familiar faces gone. IS, the indignities of displacement and the scenes of devastation that Iraq and other countries, including in education, health care and recon- “Walking down a street, I used to salute so many people, friends and awaited those who returned, including burnt out churches and desecrated struction. The aid is non-denominational - Muslims are helped as well as neighbors. Now, there’s hardly any of that,” said Issa. “Life is not like tombs. (AP)

editor’s choice ARAB TIMES, THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 25, 2021 3

Weather Expected weather for the erate freshening at times over Abdaly 21 10 Prayer Timings next 24 hours: coastal areas north westerly Jahra 20 12 By Day: Fair and a chance for wind with speeds of 10-40 km/h Failaka Island - - Fajr ...... 04:59 Asr ...... 15:17 rain will decrease gradually with with a chance for light fog over Salmiyah 20 15 Sunrise .. 06:18 Maghrib .. 17:44 light to moderate north westerly some areas. Ahmadi 18 14 Zohr ...... 12:01 Isha ...... 19:01 wind with speeds of 12-35 km/h. Station Max Exp Min Rec Nuwaisib - 17 By Night: Cold and with light Kuwait City 20 15 Wafra 19 11 variable wind to light to mod- Kuwait Airport 19 14 Salmy 15 09 VACCINE REGISTRATION WEBSITE: https://cov19vaccine.moh.gov.kw/SPCMS/CVD_19_Vaccine_Registration.aspx

Agility skids 34 fi ls, National Investment Co gains Kuwait winds up week on lackluster note ahead of holidays By John Mathews Arab Times Staff ■ UUS$/KDS$/KD 0.30180/900.30180/90 KUWAIT CITY, Feb 24: Kuwait stocks ▼ Euro/KD 0.3673 slipped on Wednesday as it wound up the holiday-shortened week on a dull note. ■ Yen/KD 0.0028 The All Shares Index gave up early gains to close 7.68 points down at 5,649.16 pts ▲ British £/KD 0.4271 weighed by some of the blue chips even as the overall mood remained fi ckle. ■ Indian Rs/KD 0.0041 The Premier Market dropped 9.93 points to 6,157.47 pts while Main Market fell 2.65 points. The BK Main 50 index was ■ Philippines Peso/KD 0.0062 little changed at 4,820.75 points. The vol- ume turnover rose slightly following last ▲ FTSE +33.03 pts at closing Feb 24 session’s surge. Over 242 million shares changed hands – up 2.4 pct from Tuesday. The sectors close mixed. Oil and Gas ▼ Nikkei -484.33 pts at closing Feb 24 outpaced the rest with 0.98 pct gain where- as Industries shed 2.04 percent, the biggest loser of the day. Banking sector continued ▲ Gold 1809.50 per oz (London) to top in both volume and value with 80.9 million shares traded for KD 38.9 million. ▲ NYMEX crude $62.30 per barrel In the individual shares, Kuwait Finance House eased 1 fi l to 722 fi ls after pushing ▲ Brent crude $66.08 per barrel 13.6 million shares and Boubyan Bank gave up 3 fi ls before ending at 552 fi ls. National LIBOR rate 0.18750% Investment Co climbed 5 fi ls to 172 fi ls recouping Tuesday’s losses while Maba- nee Co scaled 4 fi ls on back of 3.4 million vestment Co rose 4 fi ls to 116 fi ls on back of shares. 19.6 million shares whereas Osoul Invest- Zain rallies ment clipped 2.7 fi ls. KFIC was up 2.9 fi ls at 47.9 fi ls and KAMCO trimmed 0.6 fi l. Telecom major Zain rallied 7 fi ls to 627 Noor Financial Investment and Tam- fi ls on back of 9.8 million shares while deen Investment stood pat at 183 fi ls and Ooredoo was up 3 fi ls at 652 fi ls paring the 235 fi ls respectively while Al Deera Hold- KUNA photo month’s losses to 34 fi ls. stc eased 1 fi l to A beautiful evening view of the ‘Shaheed Park’ in Kuwait City. ing tripped 1.1 fi ls. Bayan Investment Co 919 fi ls and Agility skidded 34 fi ls to 660 crept 2.8 fi ls up to 42.7 fi ls and NIH added fi ls with brisk trading. Humansoft Holding 2.6 fi ls. Unicap erased 1 fi l and Al Madar dipped 23 fi ls to KD 3.827 whereas Boursa Finance and Investment closed 1.9 fi ls in Kuwait Securities scaled 13 fi ls. green. The market opened fi rm and fell briefl y Kuwait Insurance Co and Gulf Insurance in early trade. The main index fl ipped and Group were unchanged at 404 fi ls and 640 Police out to stop gatherings pulled higher in choppy trade to scale the fi ls respectively whereas Warba Insurance day’s highest level of 5,670 points half way Co added 3 fi ls. National Real Estate Co fell into the session. It retreated thereafter as 2.1 fi ls to 87.9 fi ls after pushing 4.9 million selling weighed on some of the counters shares and Salhia Real Estate took in 1 fi l. Amiri pardon covers 305 inmates and bottomed at 5,641pts before clawing Tamdeen Real Estate ticked 1 fi l into red. back some of the losses at close. Top gainer of the day, Shuaiba Industrial NIG ticks up By Munif Nayef pardon between immediate release and those whose sentences are reduced. Co soared 10 pct to 165 fi ls while YIACO National Industries Group ticked 1 fi l up galloped 9.76 percent to stand next. Kuwait Al-Seyassah Staff and Agencies The Public Prosecutor, Counselor Muhammad Al-Duaij, recently to 191 fi ls and Gulf Cable scaled 4 fi ls. Bou- announced that the number of prisoners covered by the Amiri pardon for the Reinsurance Co skidded 9.49 pct, the steep- byan Petrochemical Co shed 10 fi ls whereas KUWAIT CITY, Feb 24: The Correctional Institu- year 2021, whether for immediate release or reduced sentence, was 305 est decliner of the day and Agility topped Al Qurain Petrochemical Co was up 5 fi ls inmates, including 59 set for immediate release and 246 whose sentences the volume with 14.2 million shares. 370 fi ls. Mezzan Holding slipped 5 fi ls to tions of the Ministry of Interior is preparing to release are reduced. Despite the day’s slight pullback, the 583 fi ls whereas Integrated Holding added prisoners covered by the Amiri Pardon, in conjunction It is noteworthy to mention 114 citizens and 191 foreigners benefit from winners outnumbered the losers. 57 stocks 3 fi ls. Aznour held ground at 256 fi ls. the amnesty. advanced whereas 50 closed lower. Of the Jazeera Airways sprinted 13 fi ls to 638 with the national holidays. 132 counters active on Wednesday, 25 A security source said those covered by the Amiri pardon will often be Meanwhile, the Assistant Undersecretary of the Ministry of Interior for fi ls whereas ALAFCO gave up 5 fi ls. Unit- closed fl at. 12,204 deals worth KD 77.62 ed Projects Co gained 8 fi ls whereas Oula released on February 25 in conjunction with the national celebrations, as the Public Security Affairs, Major General Faraj Al-Zoubi, confirmed the pub- million were transacted during the session. Correctional Institutions are currently working to release prisoners covered lic security sector has stationed police patrols throughout the regions to Fuel and Soor Fuel paused at 120 fi ls and In the banking sector, National Bank 121 fi ls respectively. EK Holding slipped by the Amiri Pardon after taking the necessary measures and checking the prevent gatherings during the ‘national holidays’ celebrations. Major of Kuwait was unchanged at 825 fi ls after lists of those included, explaining that 305 inmates are covered by the Amiri General Al-Zoubi said in a statement to Al-Seyassah daily that security 5 fi ls to 355 fi ls. OSOS Holding Group pushing 21.2 million shares and Gulf Bank dialed up 2.5 fi ls whereas Al Rai Media patrols were positioned throughout the regions to prevent too did not budge from its earlier close of Group clipped 1.9 fi ls. gatherings and ensure health instructions are respected. 216 fi ls. Burgan Bank dialed up 1 fi ls and Kuwait Cement Co rose 5 fi ls to 227 fi ls He said legal measures will be taken on violators and Kuwait International Bank inched 1 fi l whereas Kuwait Portland Cement paused at called on citizens and residents to abide by health require- down to 198 fi ls. 889 fi ls. Metal and Recycling Co gained 9 ments. Ahli United Bank BSC stood pat at 225 fi ls whereas Kuwait Foundry Co gave up 6 However, the Al-Jarida quoting Major-General Al-Zoubi, fi ls after pushing 20.8 million shares War- fi ls. HEISC tripped1 fi ls after trading over 1 said the Ministry of Interior has called on the Council of ba Bank too did not budge from its pre- million shares whereas ACICO Industries Ministers to approve the closure of the waterfronts during the vious close of 233 fi ls. Al Ahli Bank was closed 2.9 fi ls in red. national holidays, with the aim of preventing gatherings, down 8 fi ls at 195 fi ls whereas Ahli United Automated Systems Co was unchanged marches and celebrations, which at the moment are not per- Bank Kuwait took in 1 fi l. at 86.9 fi ls whereas KCPC was up 3fi ls at mitted and organized illegally in violation of health require- Kuwait Investment Co and Al Imtiaz In- 445 fi ls. KPPC ticked 0.2 fi l up to 41.8 fi ls ments and decisions of the Council of Ministers. vestment were unchanged at 124 fi ls and and Gulf Petroleum Investment erased 0.6 Major-General Al-Zoubi told the daily, the security authori- 111 fi ls respectively whereas Commercial fi l. Combined Group Contracting Co took ties are awaiting a response from the Council of Ministers, Facilities added 3 fi ls. KMEFIC dialed up 1 in 1 fi l. pointing out that if nod is given, the security authorities will fi l whereas International Financial Advisors The market was largely downbeat dur- implement the plan to close the sea fronts, indicating instruc- and The Securities House stalled at 107 fi ls ing the week. The main index closed lower tions have been issued to the field forces in all security sectors and 44 fi ls respectively. in three of the four sessions shedding 42 to deal immediately with any gathering or any celebration, and Kuwait Financial Centre (Markaz) fell points week-on-week. It has slid 132 points refer the violators to the area police stations. 1.5 fi ls to 82 fi ls and Arzan Financial Group so far during the month and is up 105 points dialed up 1.5 fi ls. Aayan Leasing and In- year-to-date. Directives The set of stamps issued on Kuwait’s National Days. On the other hand, the Director of the Public Relations and Media Department of the Directorate-General of Fire Top offi cials under probe Department (DGFD), Colonel Muhammad Al-Gharib, said Stamps issued on National Days the General Fire Force, based on the directives of the DGFD Chief Lieutenant General-Khaled Al-Mukrad, has formed 6 The Postal Sector of the Ministry of Crown Prince Sheikh Meshaal Al-Ahmad, field teams as precautionary measures in line with the deci- Drawing salary, not coming to work Communications has issued a set of to celebrate this occasion, which is dear sions issued by the Council of Ministers. commemorative postage stamps on the to the hearts of citizens and residents of Meanwhile , in one of the most serious cases of corruption KUWAIT CITY, Feb 24: Kuwait Anti-Cor- that it receives. It expressed appreciation occasion of the 60th National Day of the beloved land of Kuwait. in which the trustee turns to be the thief, the Criminal Court ruption Authority (Nazaha) announced that for the role played by whistleblowers in Kuwait and the 30th Anniversary of Lib- The set of high-tech commemorative presided over by Judge Abdullah Al-Othman sentenced an it has referred supervisors and executive of- helping the authority to access the neces- eration Day, reports Al-Seyassah daily . stamps are printed in one price catego- employee of the Ministry of Justice to ten-year imprison- fi cials in the Kuwait Municipality and oth- sary information and data on corruption The stamps carry pictures of HH the ry (150 fi ls) and has been well received ment, as well as a Kuwaiti citizen and an expatriate to three- ers to the Public Prosecution on charges of incidents. Amir Sheikh Nawaf Al-Ahmad and HH the by the public. year imprisonment each. The defendants were found guilty forgery, based on articles No. 257, 259 and Nazaha affi rmed its commitment to pro- of forgery and embezzlement of public funds, reports 260 of the Penal Code. vide the maximum degree of protection and Al-Qabas daily. According to informed sources, about confi dentiality required for the whistle- Hospitals get nod to buy vaccines According to the case file, the three suspects had conspired 57 employees of the Hawally Municipality blowers, as imposed by the law and the ex- to con a businessman outside the country, who needed to were referred to the prosecution. They were ecutive regulations. previously referred for investigation by the Meanwhile, the Ministry of Interior deposit money to his lender. However, one of the defendants, Deputy Director General of Hawally Mu- warned road users, Wednesday, of the un- Airport reopens 24/7 on March 7 who was in charge of data input, replaced the IBAN number nicipal Affairs Ahmed Al-Hazeem, as most stable weather condition in some areas due of the lender with his personal number, rendering the money of them do not report to work and they lack to rainfall. sent by the businessman to go to his account instead of the By Marwa Al-Bahrawi and Moham- Also, the Ministry of Health yester- excuse for doing so. In a press release, the Ministry called intended person. The other two suspects facilitated the whole In a press statement, Nazaha affi rmed its on road users to abide by traffic laws and mad Ghanem day allowed hospitals, health centers crime. and private health clinics to buy COV- intention to continue efforts and procedures urged people to call 112 in case of emer- Al-Seyassah Staff An informed source said the concerned department was to investigate all serious corruption reports gency. ID-19 vaccines from the local agent or recently able to uncover three corruption cases, one of which KUWAIT CITY, Feb 24: The Director companies producing it after they are was this incident, adding that these cases are considered very of the Air Transportation Department in licensed and approved by the ministry serious because the employees are entrusted with public the Directorate General of Civil Avia- to provide vaccination service. funds. tion Abdullah Al-Rajhi issued a circular In a statement, the ministry said, requiring the opening of the airport 24 “The permission was issued in accord- hours a day starting from March 7. ance with Circular No. 5/2021 issued by Cops carry punch In a letter addressed to the director of the Health Licenses Department, which the National Aviation Services (NAS) stipulates that the authorities must com- Company, Al-Rajhi said, “We would plete the electronic portal with the elec- E-check on ‘quarantined’ like to inform you that it has been de- tronic platform of the ministry before By Munif Nayef cided to operate Kuwait International starting the vaccination service”. Airport on a 24-hour basis starting from The statement stressed the need for Al-Seyassah Staff March 7, 2021. The operating compa- the data to match all the requirements KUWAIT CITY, Feb 24: There is an electronic link be- nies have been informed to provide us for automatic vaccination in the Minis- tween the Ministry of Interior and the Ministry of Health with requests for changing the slots”. try of Health to issue vaccination cer- to enable the police patrol teams to verify those infected In this context, sources from DGCA tifi cates. with the COVID-19 virus or those subjected to home or clarifi ed that the recent decision has noth- It highlighted the need for hospitals, institutional quarantine, security sources say. ing to do with the resumption of commer- centers and clinics to be located in an They explained that the patrol teams can easily detect cial fl ights for the return of passengers independent building and not shared those quarantined by simply inquiring through their de- from countries classifi ed as “high risk”, with other treatment institutions or resi- vices. indicating that such a step falls within the dential or commercial units. Legal measures are taken against those who violate powers of the Council of Ministers and The statement also emphasized the quarantine requirements, as they will be arrested and requires a decision from it. importance of hospitals, health cent- charged. Meanwhile, Head of the Directorate ers and private clinics to adhere to the There are strict instructions for those who are sub- General of Civil Aviation Sheikh Sal- standards, specifi cations, and guide- jected to quarantine to use the “Shlonak” app and not man Al-Hamoud yesterday inspected lines related to transporting, storing and neglect it, and to take the necessary measures. the Central Operations Room of the administering the doses. The various ministries of the state will also not re- Ministry of Interior to check on the It stressed that the service provider ceive citizens or residents who are under home or in- work progress on the plan to implement bears full responsibility for the accura- stitutional quarantine because there is an electronic link institutional quarantine measures for cy of the data, for ensuring its privacy, that reveals the person’s status of whether or not he is passengers arriving at Kuwait Interna- and following up on the vaccination quarantined or not, and whether or not he was infected tional Airport. dates via SMS. or in contact with an infected person. ARAB TIMES, THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 25, 2021 LOCAL 4 REMEMBER WHEN

RULERS OF KUWAIT In 1953 the British Government tracted people from all over Najd invested Sheikh Abdulla Al-Sa- and the Gulf ports. When Sheikh Photograph courtesy lem (center) with K.C.M.G. in Mubarak died in 1915, Kuwait an offi cial ceremony in Kuwait. was in need of a strong and just of The Center for Re- Political Resident Sir R. Hay is ruler like him. search and Studies on pictured on the left of Sheikh Ab- After Mubarak, his son Jaber Kuwait and the work dulla and M. Pelly on his right. ruled Kuwait for less than two Ever since Sabah I assumed years. When he died in 1917, of Dr Yacoub Al- leadership in Kuwait in 1756, his brother Salem took over and Hijji in the book Old- his descendants have ruled over succeeded in defending the city Kuwait unchallenged. Some rul- against the danger from the de- Kuwait: Memories ers governed Kuwait for as long sert. Sheikh Salem died in 1921 in Photographs fi rst as 70 years, others spent only a and was followed by Sheikh Ah- few years as rulers. It was Sheikh mad Al-Jaber who ruled Kuwait published in 1996. Mubarak, however, who ‘put Ku- for thirty diffi cult years, including wait on the world map.’ Under the depression years of the 1930s. his fi rm rule, Kuwait became a When Sheikh Ahmad died in 1950, fl ourishing and attractive place. oil from Kuwait was beginning The success of the pearling indus- to reach the factories of Europe. try and the trade with Arabia im- (From the book ‘Old Kuwait: proved the city’s economy and at- Memories in Photographs’) Courtesy of The Center for Research and Studies on Kuwait diwaniya A DIGEST OF PUBLIC OPINION ‘New elections not a solution ... we’re facing multi-lateral crises’

“IT IS very clear that we have a multi-lateral and complex overlapping politi- become exposed. chain of crises. cal crisis, and obstructing the holding of the sessions is “Of course, far from the government parliamentary dispute that reached the “To stop the continuation of crises, we must resort to zero-sum solutions, only part of a temporary, logical and constitutional solu- rejection of a government that has not yet been formed, and in this an unprec- removing the players now and start a completely new phase. Yes, changing the tion to stop the spread of the crisis before it turns into an edented constitutional procedure, we must admit that there is a disagreement electoral system is part of the solution, but it will not be suffi cient to rearrange insoluble one,” columnist Tha’ar Al-Rashidi wrote for on the government side, and this is expected to happen after the emergence of the political scene to stop the deterioration. Al-Anba daily. the government, its formation and the start of its work, but the dispute during “When a game of chess gets complicated, throw whatever is left of it and start “Stopping the state of political deterioration is ob- the formation indicates the existence of an internal government crisis that will arranging a new game.” ligatory and by resorting to Article 106, it was a kind have repercussions now and later on the political scene in a way that harms the of curbing the continuation of the crisis to walk in the continuity of work in general. Also: path of difficult solutions. If this was to activate the “We have a multi-lateral crisis, and talking about early elections is not a so- “We – like all countries of the world – have many problems such as the imbal- article and stop the rhetorical waste, political con- lution but rather a delay to a problem we are facing now, and the real solution ance in demographics, the traffi c problems as well as the educational, health and sumption and political heroism of parties against par- is to fi nd a clear solution to remove the poles of the confl ict without exception, other problems, but the most dangerous of all and worst is the problem of the ab- ties, we consider it an attempt to rearrange the scene and it is not more expensive than continuing with the same players in the same sence of a voice of reason and a quiet and objective scientifi c thinking,” columnist in order to start a new National Assembly provided Al-Rashidi crisis or more precisely with the same crises because the presence of these Abdulrahman Al-Awwad wrote for Al-Sabah daily. that the new beginning is far from retaliatory political players means reproduction of those crises from time to time, and the disrup- gains that are no longer useful, and the deputies’ statements about them have tion will continue, developmentally and democratically through a continuous — Compiled by Ahmad Al-Shazli Curbs on ration cards misuse KUWAIT CITY, Feb 24: plies, to tighten control misusing the facility. He indicated this service will give op- The Ministry of Commerce over subsidized materials, portunity for ration card holders to fol- and Industry announced reports Al-Rai daily. low up on the materials they purchased the creation of a system It is said the Minister of Com- and others that they did not receive. The source stated as soon as the according to which a text merce and Industry and Minister of State for Economic Affairs Faisal owner of the card purchases any of the message will be sent to the ration materials, the system sends him Al-Medlej has stressed on the im- a message of what he has purchased holder of the ration card portance of controlling subsidized and what quantity remains in his ac- after purchasing food sup- materials and prevent people from count.

Other Voices

‘Uday’ ... and the café of Abu Hawatif By Ahmad alsarraf loaf and Qimar when I heard the voice of Abu Hawatif calling: “Sarraf”, bring a sandwich and a large cup of tea t was around six in the morning when I arrived at bowl for your uncle Uday. I froze where I was standing Ithe “Abu Hawatif café. I parked my red beige bike, when I heard the name, and I did not feel the small dish which I called “Rolls Royce”, after my car in Kuwait, I was washing from between my fi ngers, it fell into the near the café bathroom, and I drove inside to avoid the stone basin, split in half. cold air that was blowing over the city from the north, I left my place and quietly approached the kitchen which reminded me of our camps in Al-Subbiya desert, not far from door that separated it from the rest of the café, which the café. consisted of ropes fi lled with pieces of round beads that I lit a large amount of charcoal obscured something from inside, and I removed some of for the hookah and I went outside them with the tips of my fi ngers and saw the terrifying to clean the bathroom. Despite the face of Uday that I could not forget, and his gun was rest- harsh work, I was happy with my ing on the wall next to him. situation, and much happier than I went back to my place and threw the broken dish in other Kuwaitis, some of whom the garbage bin and put three large cups of tea on a tray. I did not fi nd work, despite the pas- fi lled the fi rst with tea without sugar, the second with tea sage of more than fi ve years since and sugar, and the third with tea and sugar with milk and the “annexation of the branch to two sandwiches on a plate, I put my spit in the three cups the origin”, after Kuwait became alsarraf of tea and carried the tray to present it to Uncle Uday, the nineteenth governorate of with a feeling of overwhelming happiness because my Iraq, which for centuries had been a neighbor to a broth- revenge was close to a bitter enemy. erly country and then became ‘Saddam’s Iraq’, whose As soon as I turned around, I was surprised by Abu name shook America and we can remember what Amer- Hawatif watching what I was doing, so I subconsciously ica did to the parts of his impure body. dropped everything that I was carrying and I knew that I put pitchers of water on the geyser in preparation for my end had approached, and I saw the threatening looks making tea and coffee for the visitors. The Abu Hawatif of terror in the eyes of Abu Hawatif staring at me, and café was distinguished by the many sizes of tea cups and my whole body began to tremble, and almost fell on the the Mosul loaf with Qimar and many went to him for ground after I felt my feet betraying me, and I did not this purpose, including senior offi cers, especially from calm down a bit until after hearing his whispers saying the intelligence service building which was adjacent to that he would have handed me over to Uday to make my the café, which they frequented in the morning, tired of body like a sieve with his machine gun fi re, had he not the night shift. worked as a driver for my father in Kuwait. The other customers of the café were from the high I stood up trembling with horror, unable to say a sin- class people of the region or the top brass, who often gle word or do anything, and fell down on my knees, came to meet the intelligence offi cers either to fi nd out holding his hand, as is the custom in Iraq, trying to kiss the fate of their sons or daughters imprisoned in the cells it asking for his forgiveness but he pulled his hand, and of the intelligence building, or to bribe one of the young understood what I mumbled about the crime of that hu- offi cers, so that one of them would accept to deliver a man animal and his family and what they caused in my letter, a pack of cigarettes, or food to a beloved or a hus- country, homelessness, loss and killing of innocent Ku- band or daughter or son-in-law. waitis after their torture, and the loss of my country, my I was relatively happy in my work, and the income family and my dignity. was good, especially from the good tips I received from This would have been the fate of hundreds of thou- the café-goers, who used to have compassion on my situ- sands of Kuwaiti citizens of my country if the forces ation, and, like, the saying: “Do not kick a person when of the free world, led by “Bush and Thatcher” had not he is down” or to encourage or bribe me to answer their come to liberate my dear country from the fi ercest, worst questions about the offi cers whose cooperation can be and stupid occupation the world had ever known in the trusted or who are most infl uential than others. modern era. Then came those who persistently, without Abu Hawatif (owner of the café) arrived late, but a convincing reason, refused to perpetuate the memory of welcoming smile appeared on his face when he saw the the invasion, occupation and liberation or someone who café full, and everything in its place, and the service was insults the West, that is credited for returning my home- distinguished and everyone was satisfi ed and busy eat- land and restoring my freedom ... and my dignity. ing, taking a drag of water pipe, making the sound of ❑ ❑ ❑ sipping tea, or exchanging conversations. I was in the kitchen preparing sandwiches from the email: [email protected]

ARAB TIMES, THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 25, 2021 LOCAL 6

Info minister congratulates leadership, people FM congratulates HH the Amir on National Days KUWAIT CITY, Feb 24, (KUNA): pledged to spare no effort for promot- national celebrations and occasions, His Highness the Crown Prince, add- well-respected nations; revealed leader. Foreign Minister Sheikh Dr Ahmad ing Kuwait and defend its interests at congratulated His Highness the Amir ing that Kuwaitis would like to take a Al-Mutairi who stressed that Kuwait On current developments concern- Nasser Al-Mohammad Al-Sabah on international quarters. Sheikh Nawaf Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber chance to renew their loyalty to the will continue to promote issues dear to ing the spread of the coronavirus Wednesday addressed a cable to His Meanwhile, Minister of Al-Sabah, His Highness the Crown country’s leadership and people via the Arab and Islamic nations through (COVID-19), Al-Mutairi urged citi- Highness the Amir Sheikh Nawaf Information and Minister of State for Prince Sheikh Meshaal Al-Ahmad boosting sentiments of patriotism and every possible regional and interna- zens and residents alike to follow Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah on the Youth Affairs, Abdulrahman Al-Jaber Al-Sabah and His Highness belonging to the motherland. tional platforms. health regulations to prevent the National Days. Al-Mutairi congratulated on the Prime Minister Sheikh Sabah Since independence in 1961, He indicated that the jewel of spread of this menace especially dur- Sheikh Ahmad Nasser expressed Wednesday the Kuwaiti leadership Khaled Al-Hamad Al-Sabah, wishing Kuwait leadership and people had on Kuwait’s efforts came in 2014 as the ing Kuwait’s joyous occasions. felicitations to His Highness the Amir and people on the advent of the 60th them all good health and pleasant development and welfare for all both country was named by the UN as a Minister Al-Mutairi called on the on the 60th Anniversary of the National Day and 30th Anniversary national celebrations. Kuwaitis and non-Kuwaitis, said min- hub for humanitarian efforts and youth to look forward to the future to National Day and the 30th Anniversary of Liberation. Minister Al-Mutairi affirmed that ister Al-Mutairi. also His Highness the late Amir consolidate Kuwait’s status among of the Liberation Day. In a press release, Al-Mutairi, also this year’s celebration was the first in All efforts by the leadership and Sheikh Sabah Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber nations and contribute to its develop- Renewing allegiance, the minister head of the permanent committee for the era of His Highness the Amir and people had put Kuwait on the map of Al-Sabah as a world humanitarian ment and progress. Economists submit ‘Before Time Runs Out’ document to Speaker Court dismisses appeal regarding 2020 elections results

By Saeed Mahmoud Saleh Development (KFAED) Abdulwa- Arab Times Staff hab Ahmed Al-Badr on Wednesday. Al-Dahoum expressed disappoint- KUNA photo KUWAIT CITY, Feb 24: ment over the negative response of HH the Amir with HH the Crown Prince. KFAED to the suggestions of the com- National Assembly Spea- mittee, such as granting loans to Kuwait ker Marzouq Al-Ghanim Credit Bank and Kuwaiti students who Audiences of HH the Amir on Wednesday received want to complete their studies abroad. He explained the committee’s His Highness the Amir Sheikh Nawaf National Assembly Speaker Marzouq in his office several eco- suggestions are aimed at reducing Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah received Al-Ghanim, His Highness the Prime nomic experts who sub- pressure on the State budget through at Bayan Palace on Wednesday His Minister Sheikh Sabah Khaled Al-Hamad mitted a document titled, the rationalization of grants and Highness the Crown Prince Sheikh Al-Sabah, and Deputy Prime Minister loans that KFAED gives to other Meshaal Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah. and Minister of State for Cabinet Affairs “Before Time Runs Out.” countries and to focus on its contri- His Highness the Amir also received Anas Al-Saleh. (KUNA) The document contains rec- bution to the national economy. ommendations to address the He quoted Al-Badr as saying that economic problems of the coun- KFAED has securities valued at MoH official confirms increase in try and a plan for achieving sus- Adnan AbdulSamad Abdullah Al-Turaiji KD500 million, while reminding tainable development. everyone at the meeting about the regarding the results of the 2020 should be on the results of elections decision to write off the housing They also discussed the chaotic parliamentary elections; affirming in the concerned constituency; not frequency of vaccination, centers and weak economic structure of the loans of citizens shortly after the country, while stressing the impor- that the election results are legal and the entire election. liberation. He claimed KFAED By Marwa Al-Bahrawi and residents, including those who have tance of creating a solid economic correct. The court pointed out the appeal does not care about the huge Al-Seyassah Staff received the vaccination – first and second does not meet the specified condi- system for the country to be com- Appeal amounts given to other countries in doses, and putting on hold meetings, wed- petitive in the financial and eco- tions as it targeted the legitimacy of the form of loans and grants, while KUWAIT CITY, Feb 24: The Ministry of dings and other events that may lead to an nomic fields. Candidate Duwaim Falah Al-Mu- the decree to call for elections and it paying too much attention to the Health began vaccinating residents of the increase in infections. Present at the meeting were MPs waizri filed the appeal against MPs violated the Constitution. small amount granted to citizens. Kuwait Vaccination Center in the Mishref Al-Jarallah stressed on the importance of Adnan Abdulsamad, Abdullah Shuaib Al-Muwaizri, Fayez Ghan- In addition, former MP Abdullah He added the government ignored region, for the elderly and patients with the containment and slowdown strategy, Al-Turaiji, Ahmed Al-Hamad and nam Al-Jomhour, Musaed Al-Mut- Al-Kandari revealed the the huge amount of public money chronic diseases, since those groups are with the aim of increasing the ability of the Ali Al-Qattan; while the economic airi, Muhammad Obaid Al-Rajhi, Constitutional Court adjourned the stolen during the invasion and did not most vulnerable for infection with the virus. health system to provide safe healthcare and experts included Drs Dari Al-Rash- Soud Bu Sleeb, Thamer Al-Suwait, session on his appeal regarding the take any action about major corrup- A member of the Supreme Advisory deal with cases infected with the coronavi- eed, Abdulrahman Al-Taweel, Marzouq Al-Khalifa, Farz Al-Daih- results of the Assembly speaker tion cases like the Kuwait Army Committee to combat “COVID-19” in the rus that require hospitalization. Nawaf Abduljader, Yaaqoub Baqer, ani, Saad Al-Khanfour, Mubarak election. He pointed out that if only armament deal and Malaysian ministry, Professor Khaled Al-Jarallah, con- He added during the one year period that Sulaiman Al-Badr and Ahmed Haif Al-Hajraf and National Asse- the court decided to cancel the Sovereign Fund, yet it insists on firmed the increase in the frequency of vacci- the pandemic has affected Kuwait with the Ashkanani. mbly Speaker Marzouq Al-Ghanim. results of this election due to suspi- touching the citizens’ pockets in order nation, in addition to the increase in centers rest of the world, Kuwait saw the rise, In another development, the The court ruled on the appeal cions of forgery, it would have to solve the problems of the country. that provide vaccination, saying, “We aspire decline and stability in the pandemic cases, Constitutional Court - chaired by based on Article 41 of National doused the current tension. Chairman of the Education, to push the community of all groups to receive and then an increase in infections in recent Judge Muhammad Jassem Bin Naji Assembly Elections Law No. Meanwhile, Rapporteur of the Culture and Guidance Affairs the vaccination during this period, with the weeks, and we are now living in the epi- with Fawaz Al-Zuwaid, Adel 35/1962, which grants voters and Budgets and Final Accounts Committee MP Hamad Al-Matar aim of reaching the community immunity.” demic situation and there is an increase in Al-Bahwa, Saleh Khalifa Al-Mera- candidates the right to appeal the Committee MP Badr Al-Dahoum confirmed that the panel met repre- At the same time he stressed on the the cases of patients in hospitals and inten- ished and Abdulrahman Al-Daremi results of the elections. However, said they met Director General of sentatives of the Higher Council for importance of receiving vaccination and sive care, especially among the age group as members - dismissed the appeal the article states that the appeal Kuwait Fund for Arab Economic Private Universities on Wednesday. adopting all health requirements for citizens from 16 to 40 years. ARAB TIMES, THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 25, 2021 LOCAL 7

Qatari Prime Minister received Kuwaiti Premier’s envoy, Deputy Prime Min- KUNA photos ister and Minister of Defense Sheikh Hamad Jaber Al-Ali Al-Sabah. Qatar’s Amir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al-Thani receiving Minister of Defense Sheikh Hamad Jaber Al-Ali Al-Sabah. Sheikh Hamad Jaber Al-Ali conveys greetings from His Highness the Amir, HH Crown Prince Qatar’s Amir receives Kuwaiti Defense Min on Sabah Al-Ahmad Corridor’s opening DOHA, Feb 24, (KUNA): Qatar’s project in Doha. Sheikh Hamad Jaber Al-Ali said Hafeeth Al-Ajmi attended the recep- Defense Sheikh Hamad Jaber Al-Ali affi rmed that it was important to con- Amir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al- Sheikh Hamad Jaber Al-Ali con- that the Kuwaiti leadership expressed tion. Al-Sabah. tinue dialogue with brethren in the Thani received Kuwaiti premier’s en- veyed to Qatar’s Amir greetings from joy over the strong sentiments and af- Qatari Prime Minister and Minister The Kuwaiti offi cial is visiting Doha GCC to develop relations and seek voy, Deputy Prime Minister and Min- His Highness the Amir Sheikh Nawaf fections towards the people of Kuwait, of Interior Sheikh Khaled bin Khalifa to attend the opening of the Sheikh Sa- mutual benefi t and interests. ister of Defense Sheikh Hamad Jaber Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah and His which contributed to the opening of Al-Thani also received on Wednes- bah Al-Ahmad Corridor project. Kuwaiti Ambassador to Qatar Al-Ali Al-Sabah on occasion of open- Highness the Crown Prince Sheikh the Sheikh Sabah Al-Ahmad Corridor. day visiting Kuwaiti Premier’s envoy, During his meeting with Sheikh Hafeeth Al-Ajmi attended the meet- ing of the Sabah Al-Ahmad Corridor Mishal Al-Ahmad Al-Sabah. Kuwaiti Ambassador to Qatar Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Khaled, Sheikh Hamad Jaber Al-Ali ing. Kuwait remains example of security, peace and humanity: UNHCR official Nicaragua envoy praises Kuwait’s humanitarian efforts

KUWAIT CITY, Feb 24, (KUNA): Director of the United Nations High Com- KUNA photo missioner for Refugees’ UAE Vice-President Sheikh Mohammad bin Rashed Al-Maktoum receiving (UNHCR) Office in Kuwait HH the Amir’s letter. Dr. Samer Haddadin sin- HH Amir sends letter to UAE President cerely congratulated the wise leadership of Kuwait and its His Highness the Amir Sheikh eign Minister Sheikh Dr. Ahmad people on the occasion of the Nawaf Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sa- Nasser Mohammad Al-Sabah dur- 60th National Day and 30th bah sent a letter to UAE President ing a meeting with UAE Vice-Pres- Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed Al-Nahy- ident, Prime Minister and Ruler Liberation Day. an on ways of further strengthening of Dubai Sheikh Mohammad bin Regarding this, Haddadin said in bilateral relations at all levels. Rashed Al-Maktoum, a foreign min- a press statement Wednesday that The letter was delivered by For- istry statement said. (KUNA) Kuwait has a consistent approach and solid principle in the global diplomatic landscape in supporting Greetings humanitarian crises, as it has always been an example of security, peace and humanity, adding that it has been a strategic partner of UNHCR since Govts greet HH Amir, Kuwait on the opening of its office in 1991. Kuwait and its wise leadership have a major role in relieving the Syrian and National & Liberation ’versaries Yemeni refugees’ crisis, thus mobilizing The following is a congratula- support, devising strategies and creating tory telegram of the President of optimal solutions to meet urgent humani- the Slovak Republic H.E. Mrs. tarian needs, he pointed out. Zuzana Čaputováto to H.H. He underlined UNHCR’s keenness Sheikh Nawaf Al-Ahmad Al-Ja- to strengthen this 30-year-old strategic ber Al-Sabah, Amir of the State partnership and to address the humani- of Kuwait on the occasion of the tarian challenges that made it more national holiday – Independence complex by the COVID-19 pandemic. Day and Liberation Day of the Kuwait has contributed to supporting State of Kuwait: the activities of UNCHR in many coun- tries such as Syria, Yemen, Iraq, Turkey, Your Highness, Lebanon, Jordan and Iran, since 2013, On behalf of the citizens of the with about USD 430 million, he said, Slovak Republic as well as on my indicating that Kuwait was a prominent own behalf, I sincerely congratu- Her Excellency Mrs Zuzana and effective member of UNCHR’s ma- late you on the national holiday Čaputováto, President of the jor club donors until 2020, and this is not Kuwaiti Ambassador to Hungary Saad Al-Asousi during the celebration of the National Day. Independence Day and Liberation Slovak Republic. shocking for a country that is a center for Day of your country. global humanitarian action. I believe that, as an internation- Prince Meshaal Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Haddadin wished further progress al community, we will be able to Al-Sabah, to the Prime Minister, and prosperity for Kuwait under the overcome the current diffi cult situ- government and Kuwaiti people. leadership of His Highness the Amir ation caused by the pandemic, and Humanity faced a terrible year Sheikh Nawaf Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber that, thanks to this, we will be able 2020 due to the covid-19 pandemic, Al-Sabah and His Highness the Crown to continue to develop friendly with millions of dead worldwide and Prince Sheikh Mishal Al-Ahmad Al- relations and mutually benefi cial is not yet ended. In these diffi cult Jaber Al-Sabah. cooperation between Slovakia and moments, we recognize the human Also: Kuwait for the benefi t of the citi- and worthy position of the Kuwaiti’s zens of both countries. authorities, leaded by His Highness KUWAIT CITY: Ambassador of Nica- Your Highness, on this occa- the Amir, to ensure the health and ragua to Kuwait, Mohamed Lashtar, sion I wish your country and all its well-being of his people and those praised Tuesday, Kuwait’s humanitarian citizens good health, stability and of us who live under the sky of this efforts and development programs on the successful development. beautiful country. regional and international arenas. In a ❑ ❑ ❑ At the time we celebrate with statement to KUNA, following his meet- the Kuwaitis brothers for their Na- ing with the Chairman of Board of Di- The following is a message from tional celebrations, we make vote rectors of Kuwait Red Crescent Society the Cuban Embassy in Kuwait: for the well-being and health of HH (KRCS), Dr. Hilal Al-Sayer, Ambassa- On the occasion of the 60th An- the Amir of Kuwait, Sheikh Nawaf dor Lachtar commended KRCS’s efforts niversary of the National Day of Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah, the to improve people’s conditions looking Kuwait and the commemoration of Crown Prince Meshaal Al-Ahmad for decent living opportunities. He also its National Liberation Day, the Em- Al-Jaber Al-Sabah and his family, stressed the diversity of KRCS relief bassy of Cuba has the honor of con- and for the progress and strengthen- work around the world made it distin- gratulating His Highness the Amir ing of the excellent relationships be- guished in this fi eld. During the meeting, of Kuwait, Sheikh Nawaf Al-Ah- tween the people and government of the two sides also discussed prospects of mad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah, the Crown Kuwait and Cuba. cooperation in the humanitarian fi elds with the Red Cross in Nicaragua, as well as reviewing Kuwait humanitarian activi- TGS features Eman Al Awadhi ties and relief aid. Lachtar also applauded Kuwait’s role with Nicaragua in provid- Our next guest in the house is in the Middle East by Forbes last ing all humanitarian and relief support following the devastating cyclone that hit KUNA photos Eman Al Awadhi, the Group Com- year. Eman is a former journalist, Kuwaiti diplomatic mission in Hungary celebrating Kuwait’s 60th National Day and 30th Liberation anniversary. munications Director of Kipco, one and here she shares her memories his country, which caused severe dam- of the largest investment holding of occupation and liberation, her in- age. For his part in a similar statement, companies in the Middle East. A teresting career path, and her han- Al-Sayer welcomed the Nicaraguan en- Diplomatic missions in Hungary, shining star in the corporate firma- dling of one of the most extensive voy’s visit as he stressed KRCS support ment of Kuwait, Eman was listed portfolios in Corporate Communi- to all humanitarian efforts in Nicaragua Dubai celebrate nat’l occasions among the Top 50 Communicators cations in the Middle East. through coordination and cooperation KUWAIT CITY, Feb 24, (KUNA): The Kuwaiti em- with the Nicaraguan Red Cross. bassy in Budapest, Hungary, and General Consulate in ❑ ❑ ❑ Dubai, UAE, celebrated the 60th National Day and 30th KUWAIT CITY: His Highness the Amir Anniversary of Liberation. Sheikh Nawaf Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al- Due to the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic, cel- Sabah received on Tuesday a phone ebrations were restricted. call from Kyrgyz President Sadyr In a statement, Kuwaiti Ambassador to Hungary Saad Japarov expressing congratulations Al-Asousi congratulated the Kuwaiti leadership - His on the 60th anniversary of the State of Highness the Amir Sheikh Nawaf Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Kuwait’s National Day and the 30th Al-Sabah and His Highness the Crown Prince Sheikh anniversary of the Liberation Day. Mishal Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah - and people on the Also during the phone contact, His advent of the country’s national celebrations. Highness the Amir and the Kyrgyz Meanwhile, the consulate in Dubai held a virtual cel- president examined means of boosting ebration in commemoration of national occasions. cooperation between the two countries. General Consul Theyab Al-Rashidi said that the Emir- President Japarov expressed gratitude ati people always shared Kuwait’s celebrations; however, to the State of Kuwait for its humani- the menacing presence of COVID-19 prevented mutual tarian aid and development ventures in his country, also voicing good wishes shared events from occurring. for His Highness the Amir and the Consul Al-Rashidi took the chance to congratulate His State of Kuwait. Highness the Amir, His Highness the Crown Prince, and His Highness the Amir reciprocated, the people of Kuwait on the advent of national celebra- expressing appreciation for the contact tions. that depicted the close relations be- On his part, head of the UAE Foreign Ministry and In- tween the two friendly countries, con- ternational Cooperation’s Dubai offi ce Sheikh Maktoum gratulating him again on winning the bin Biti Al-Maktoum congratulated Kuwait on the advent presidential elections and expressing of its national celebrations, saying that it was very dear to The Guest Show poster good hopes for the Kyrgyz people. the Emirati leadership and people. ARAB TIMES, THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 25, 2021

8

School encourages students to reduce, reuse and recycle Froggit Froggins comes to the Innova Int’l English School Kuwait

KUWAIT CITY, Feb 24: The Innova Key Stage Two. It’s a lovely story with green matters – the school really cares students to reduce, reuse and recycle. rooms that have more day lighting, International English School invited the delightful illustrations and some great about the environment and the chil- We teach our students the impor- improved classroom acoustics, and author and illustrator, Isabel Davis (Gle- questions at the end which parents and dren seem to be thriving education- tance of looking after our planet, show- healthier paints and carpets that don’t bocki), to read and talk about her new children can use to talk about the story ally,” said Isabel. ing them that we can create all kinds release toxic chemicals into the air. conservation story, Froggit Froggins, in and environmental issues. Awareness does not lead to action, of wonderful items from recycled ma- Ultimately, at Innova we under- a virtual visit to the school. The story, Other themes explored are friend- action leads to awareness. Like many terials. Our students have shown their stand that sustainability is about be- which is about the search by Froggit ship, sharing and working together schools we at Innova realise our fu- marvellous levels of imagination and ing good global citizens: ensuring ad- Froggins (a frog) and his friends Betty as a team. It’s a conservation classic! ture depends on protecting the health commitment through many recycling equate resources for a clean, healthy (a badger), Gus (a water rat), Degsy (a Isabel, who taught at the New English and wellbeing of our children and the projects, from building an igloo out of environment for all. By establish- duck) and Florrie (a dragonfly) – for School, Bayan Bilingual School and planet. Our approach at Innova is a do- recycled materials, to collecting plastic ing good habits such as recycling at Froggit’s dreamy dream pond. the Kuwait National English School, ing one where we develop a culture of water bottles for the Omniya recycling a young age, those habits are more It raises issues of plastic waste in our she also took part in art exhibitions creative problem solving, establishing organisation in Kuwait. likely to stay with children as they environment and the need to recycle at the Kuwait Formative Society, a hands-on approach to global citizen- Research shows greener school get older. Younger generations are al- waste and take care of our planet. It’s a said that her school visit was a real ry be it ecologically, economically, environments can improve children’s ready becoming more conscious con- must have book for parents and children pleasure. The children and teachers culturally, spiritually. health and learning. sumers, and instilling environmental who care about conservation and want were very welcoming and she was We give our students the tools to be Our classrooms are calming, spa- values at an early age will help them to protect their environment. The book impressed by Innova International innovators, by providing them with a cious and green. Studies have shown Author and illustrator Isabel Davis become the environmentally respon- is aimed at Early Years to Key Stage School’s green credentials. “I am re- healthy environment in which to learn that student test scores can improve up visited Innova International English sible adults of tomorrow the world One children but can also be enjoyed by ally impressed with its approach to and play. The school encourages our to 20% when kids learn in green class- School. desperately needs.

‘Ap Ki Mehfil’ Radio Kuwait Urdu organizes National & Liberation Days special transmission

KUWAIT CITY, Feb 24: A Spe- the Kuwait laws. Many well-known cial National Day & Liberation Day community fi gures from Pakistan, Transmission “Ap Ki Mehfi l” was Bangladesh and India also partici- organized by Radio Kuwait Urdu pated through live calls and mes- Service to celebrate 60 Years of sages to extend their greetings to Kuwait Independence and 30 Years Kuwait Govt and Citizens on this of Liberation in a colorful style. A occasion. Special Program was arranged and The broadcast was hosted by Ra- broadcasted to mark the special day dio Kuwait Urdu service announc- with full enthusiasm. ers, Nida Mirza and Razia Ashraf HE Syed Sajjad Haider (Ambas- whereas Aboobacker Payyoli was sador of Pakistan to the State of Ku- coordinator and Anees Backer wait), HE Major General Muham- was the sound engineer of the mad Ashikuzzaman (Ambassador of show. The program was headed Bangladesh to the State of Kuwait) by Shejoun Al Sabah (Director of and HE Sibi George (Ambassador Programs, Foreign Services) and of India to the State of Kuwait) were Shejoun Al Marshoud (Supervisor among the participants who extend- of Programs, Foreign Services). At ed their well wishes for Kuwaiti rul- the end of the broadcast, Dua was ers, government and citizens from offered for the progress and pros- their respective governments and perity of Kuwait. A flyer of the event. A flyer of the event. citizens. They praised all the efforts Radio Kuwait wishes you a very by Kuwaiti government and all their happy national and liberation day, departments to combat COVID-19 May the Kuwait fl ag always fl y high. Pandemic. Let us celebrate the occasion of Ku- Event pays tribute to glory, achievement of women They urged their citizens to cel- wait national day with full enthusi- ebrate the Kuwait National Day asm and we must also feel proud to keeping MOH SOPs and abiding be a part of this wonderful nation. Timbre Talkers honors ‘women achievers’ KUWAIT CITY, Feb 24: “A wom- an is strong yet gentle, educated yet humble, fierce yet compassionate, passionate yet rational, disciplined yet free.” — Kavita Ramadas As a tribute to the glory and achievements of women, Timbre Talkers Toastmasters Club, Kuwait had organized a global event called “Women Achievers”, under Divi- sion E, District 20 Banner. We conducted this remarkable event in collaboration with Dis- trict 102 and District 105 Toast- masters. International Director for Region 13, DTM Sudha Ba- lajee was the Master of Ceremo- nies. The role players included Toastmasters from District 20, District 98, District 102 and Dis- trict 105. The event intended at em- powering women by sharing the thoughts of the great women achievers: Dr. Kiran Bedi — A photo from the event Lt. Governor Puducherry (First Woman IPS Officer of India); A screen shot from the event. DTM Margaret Page — Inter- national President-Elect Toast- dent DTM Annadatha Murali that teaches public speaking and ronment; practice writing speeches masters International (from Brit- Manohar’s DTM Project. leadership skills through a world- and presenting in a group setting; ish Columbia); TM Sarah Khan We are proud to have brought wide network of clubs. gain a competitive advantage in — Advocate, Author, TEDX such amazing personalities under Headquartered in Englewood, the workplace and build self-confi- Speaker (from USA) and DTM one platform that inspired all those Colo., the organization’s mem- dence and self-awareness. Shanta Maria James — Managing in attendance with powerful mes- bership exceeds 364,000 in more We provide a supportive and Trustee and Educational Consul- sages and worthwhile lessons. than 16,200 clubs in 145 countries. positive learning experience in tant, Kuwait. Timbre Talkers are thankful to Since 1924, Toastmasters Interna- which members are empowered to The attendees were over 100 their Vice-President Public Rela- tional has helped people from di- develop communication and lead- including dignitaries like District tions TM Sana Fatima, TM Rashmi verse backgrounds become more ership skills, resulting in greater 20 Director DTM Mohamed Sal- Raghav from District 105 (Malay- confident speakers, communica- self-confidence and personal eem, Program Quality Director sia) and TM Meghana Mehta from tors, and leaders. growth. (PQD) DTM Alifiya Lakdawala, District 98 (Ahmedabad, Gujarat) With Toastmasters, the learning If anyone is interested to be Club Growth Director (CGD) for creative posters, certificates for never stops. a member of this organization, DTM Khalid Abdulla, Division the occasion. We are also thankful Toastmasters help you to: Im- please contact Club Vice-President E Director DTM Xavier Yesu- to TM Ajitha Sivam, as Moderator prove your public speaking skills; (Membership) Rajshekhar on das, Area 17 Director TM Prince & TM Kalpana Arvind for being build leadership skills; maximize +965 9981 5174 or contact Murali A photo from the event. George and many renowned Timer of the event. your potential; enjoy unlimited Manohar, Club President on What- toastmasters from around the Toastmasters International is a personal growth; work on network- sApp: +965-66818099 or send an Women Green Talk 2021 world. This was our Club Presi- non-profit educational organization ing in a small and supportive envi- email to [email protected] Pakistan Women’s Forum holds a GUST partners with Joy Productions, Khaled Al-Randi seminar on ‘sustainable lifestyle’ GUST celebrates Kuwait’s 60th and 30th anniversaries KUWAIT CITY, Feb 24: A semi- tal scientist residing in South Africa, nar on the importance of a sustain- also explained in detail how our dai- KUWAIT CITY, Feb 24: Gulf Uni- as YouTube, Snapchat, and Insta- able and healthy lifestyle was held ly routine is impacting the environ- versity for Science and Technology gram. The launch of the song on via Zoom by the Pakistan Women’s ment and how this is affecting and celebrated the 60th anniversary of these platforms allows for them to Forum, Kuwait. The seminar was polluting our planet. He helped make Kuwait’s independence and 30 years be accessed by virtually anyone. delivered by WEE Founder Mrs suggestions on how we should adopt since its liberation, with a music Senior Manager of Community Heba Al Farra and Environmental a sustainable living stylethat would video titled “There’s No Place like Engagement & Communications, Scientist Arhum Mustafa. Madam help to reduce our carbon footprint Kuwait.” The song highlights one’s Anwar Al-Sabah, said “GUST Rima Khalidi (wife of ambassador by changing our methods of trans- love for Kuwait and symbolizes it as strives annually organize various of Palestine) was the chief guest of portation, energy consumption, and a place of comfort even during hard events and activities related to the the event. diet. times such as the 2020 global pan- national holidays. This year we felt it Mrs Heba Al Farra spoke about The chief guest, Madam Rima demic. necessary to carry on the tradition by how we are damaging the Earth Khalid delivered a brief speech on The song, produced by Joy Pro- bringing the celebration to everyone with the choices that we make in sustainable life style. duction Company and performed by in the country. We hope this song our everyday life and how this is a In the end, Mrs. Ambreen Mustafa Kuwaiti singer Khaled Al-Randi and brings hope and joy to everyone who very important time for us to make (wife of HE Ambassador of Paki- written by Kuwaiti singer/songwriter listens to it from home, and that next a conscious effort to make changes stan to Kuwait) and PWF Patron-in- Bashar Al-Shatti, delivers a message year we will celebrate on campus which are sustainable and save our chief, thanked the keynote speakers of pride for all Kuwaiti citizens and with our students. We would like planet and its beauty. Amongst many and audience for attending the ses- residents alike. It also goes over the to thank Joy Production Company, other ways that we are damaging our sion. She ended the workshop by changes people have had to make Bashar Al-Shatti, Khaled Al-Randi, planet, she spoke about the harmful asking everyone to adapt a healthy during their daily lives as a result of and everyone for their tremendous effects the use of plastic in our daily and sustainable life style to help save the pandemic while offering words efforts in helping make this project life has without us realizing it and our planet as this is the best gift that of encouragement and resilience to a success.” gave the audience many alternatives we can give to our next generation. the hope for a soon to be brighter GUST decorated its buildings on how they can try and make their At the end, Q&A session was held future. with the Kuwaiti fl ag and colored life as plastic free as possible. and a token of appreciation was pre- The song is available on GUST’s lights embodying the National holi- Arhum Mustafa, an environmen- sented to speakers. offi cial social media platforms such Khaled Al-Randi and Khalid Al Refai day theme. ExxonMobil selling some assets for more than $1bn

ExxonMobil is selling most ter; Elgin Franklin fi elds oper- marketing, lubricants, petro- president of ExxonMobil, said of its upstream assets in the ated by Total; and interests in chemicals production and the in a statement Wednesday United Kingdom central and the associated infrastructure. natural gas marketing busi- that the company is selling In this fi le photo, the northern North Sea to HitecVi- ExxonMobil’s share of produc- ness in the U.K. It will also assets that are “less strate- logo for ExxonMobil sion for more than $1 billion. tion from these fi elds was ap- keep its non-operated share gic” and concentrating on appears above a trad- The sale includes Exxon- proximately 38,000 oil-equiv- in upstream assets in the development plans that prior- ing post on the fl oor of the New York Stock Mobil’s interests in 14 produc- alent barrels per day in 2019. southern North Sea, and its itize Guyana, the U.S. Permi- Exchange. (AP) ing fi elds in the U.K. North The Irving, Texas-based share in the Shell Esso gas an Basin, Brazil and liquefi ed Sea. This includes fi elds run oil company, which has oper- and liquids infrastructure that natural gas. primarily by Shell, including ated in the U.K. for more than supplies ethane to the com- The deal is expected to Penguins, Starling, Fram, the 135 years, is still keeping pany’s Fife ethylene plant. close by the middle of the Gannet Cluster and Shearwa- extensive refi ning and fuels Neil Chapman, senior vice year. (AP)

Market Movements 24-02-2021 Change Closing pts Change Closing pts EUROPE - Euro Stoxx 50 +16.80 3,705.99 AUSTRALIA - All Ordinaries -61.49 7,049.36 FRANCE - CAC 40 +18.14 5,797.98 JAPAN - Nikkei -484.33 29,671.70 GERMANY - DAX +111.19 13,976.00 S. KOREA - KRX 100 -147.31 6,459.93 INDIA - Sensex +1,030.20 50,781.69 PHILIPPINES - PSEi -58.72 6,755.95 PAKISTAN - KSE 100 -366.17 45,362.58 CHINA - Shanghai SE -72.28 3,564.08 Business Banks successfully pass stress tests: CBK Lenders continue to be profitable despite challenges: Governor

KUWAIT CITY, Feb 24: ment, said that in addition to being a the past decade and its preemptive ap- liquidity pressures and enhance the cators ity Coverage Ratio, reaching 184.2% The Central Bank of Kuwait health crisis, last year’s global pan- proach to supporting the positions of stability of their fi nancing structures. Kuwaiti banks continued to show against a minimum of 100%. The (CBK) announced that it demic-induced economic crisis was the country’s monetary and banking This is to be added to other standards strong fi nancial soundness indica- Net Stable Funding Ratio meanwhile unprecedented in its scope, depth, system’s units. This approach comes related to enhanced governance and tors in terms of capital adequacy and came close to 115.3%, in turn higher conducted a comprehensive and impact on economic and fi nancial within a regulatory framework aimed reduction of risky exposures to fi nan- liquidity ratios. At the end of De- than the minimum of 100%, while review of the fi nancial state- conditions. The austere lockdown at bolstering fi nancial stability through cial and real estate markets. cember, the Capital Adequacy Ratio Regulatory Liquidity reached 27.5% ments of Kuwaiti banks for measures shocked both supply and both microprudential and macropru- Despite the challenging operating (CAR) was at 19.0%, comfortably against a minimum of 18%. the year 2020. This was done demand, sending global economies dential tools to curb systemic risk and environment, the Governor stated above the CBK’s mandated mini- Banks Maintain Asset Quality as part of its ongoing efforts to into recession and causing a surge maintain fi nancial stability. that analysis of Kuwaiti banks’ fi nan- mum of 13.0% and the Basel Com- Despite the effects of the pandemic bolster the fi nancial stability in unemployment. Governments in- Foremost among the pillars of cial statements for the year ending mittee on Banking Supervision’s on economic and banking conditions, of the banking sector, consid- tervened as central banks maintained the CBK’s macroprudential policy in December 2020 demonstrated the (BCBS) requirement of 10.5%. Al- banks succeeded in maintaining a highly accommodative monetary and instruments in recent years, and sector’s strength and resilience of its though the CBK had allowed banks high degree of asset quality, sup- ered central to the State’s fi - policies to contain the crisis. within its preemptive, forward- look- fi nancial soundness indicators amid to use their capital conservation buff- ported by strong fi nancial soundness nancial system, and ensure its The CBK proactively pursued ac- ing measures, was enhancing risk a devastating crisis that is wreaking ers, they continued to operate without indicators that weathered severe con- continuous and effi cient sup- commodative monetary and macro- management in the banking sector, havoc on global economies. resorting to this option owing to their ditions and confi rmed the banking ply of services to the economy prudential policies geared towards bolstering the capital bases, and build- Such was also the result of the strong CARs. sector’s ability to withstand shocks. amid highly stressed operat- increasing lending and fi nancing ca- ing precautionary provisions. This is fi nancial stress tests, which demon- Moreover, CAR improved from This can be attributed to the con- ing conditions. pacities for banks to counter the ef- in addition to implementing the Basel strated banks’ strength as they coun- 2019’s 18.5%, which was mainly a stant allocation of provisions to fects of the pandemic on the econom- III standards that serve as a compre- tered shocks and continued opera- result of banks bolstering their regu- counter requirements of bad debt Thus, the CBK stressed its dili- ic and banking system, all within an hensive and integrated package to tions amid diffi cult conditions. These latory capital through increased inter- gent and proactive monitoring of write-offs and the accumulation of integrated scheme of measures that enhance banks’ fi nancial soundness tests, Dr. Al- Hashel added, were national issuances. These issuances such provisions, which act as buff- developments that could affect fi - protects the banking and fi nancial indicators, strengthen their positions, based on scenarios designed accord- are eligible for inclusion in the calcu- nancial stability. Despite the rami- ers and support banks’ fi nancial po- sector. This is in line with the main and further ensure conditions needed ing to the newly implemented CBK lation of the capital base according to sitions. This, in turn, enables banks fi cations of the Covid-19 pandemic mandates of the CBK to maintain to maintain fi nancial stability through stress testing framework and covered BCBS’s standards. This indicates the on local and international economic to continue serving all sectors of the both monetary stability and fi nancial increasing both capital adequacy and aspects of the Covid-19 pandemic high level of confi dence in Kuwaiti domestic economy competently and conditions, the overall conclusion stability. quality, enabling greater shock ab- and its diverse implications on the banks internationally. in a balanced manner, taking into ac- was that the sector had successfully Dr. Al-Hashel remarked that the sorbing abilities. The Basel reforms banking sector’s solvency, liquidity, When it comes to liquidity ratios, count the interests of all concerned weathered the fi rst year of the crisis. banking sector’s success in weather- package also urges diverse additional and profi tability. the banking sector is still seeing an parties. His Excellency, Governor Dr. ing the fi rst year of the crisis was a capital buffers, and liquidity standards Banking Sector Demonstrates abundance of liquidity refl ected by Mohammad Y. Al-Hashel, in a state- result of CBK’s diligent efforts over to enhance banks’ ability to counter Strong Financial Soundness Indi- several indicators, including Liquid- Continued on Page 10 ARAB TIMES, THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 25, 2021 BUSINESS 10

Lowe’s 4Q results surge as people plow money into homes

Lowe’s Cos extended its strong sales streak Depot, which reported Tuesday that Shiller 20-city home price index recorded a through the holiday season as customers fourth-quarter sales surged 25%. Glob- 10.1% spike in December, compared with A customer kept investing in their homes during the al sales at Home Depot stores open at the same month last year. That topped the covers face as pandemic. least a year, a key indicator of a retailer’s 9.2% jump the previous month, and all other he walks to a The nation’s second largest home im- health, climbed 24.5%, and by 25% if only months going back almost seven years. Lowe’s home- provement retailer behind Home Depot US stores are counted. Against this environment, Lowe’s, based improvement store reported that fourth-quarter profi ts almost Home improvement stores have become in Mooresville, North Carolina, reported fi s- in Vernon Hills, Ill, doubled from a year ago, while sales rose hot destinations during the pandemic with cal fourth-quarter net income of $978 million, on Feb 3. (AP) 27%. Both results surpassed Wall Street ex- millions working from home and attending or $1.32 per share, for the quarter ended pectations. Sales at stores opened at least a school remotely. Many Americans have Jan. 29. That compares with $509 million, year soared nearly 29%, following a 30.4% found the time to update their homes or or 66 cents per share, in the year-earlier increase in the fi scal third quarter. change their homes to add home offi ces and period. Earnings, adjusted for restructuring The strong showing, announced other elements. costs for the latest period, were $1.33 per Wednesday, followed results from Home On Tuesday, the S&P CoreLogic Case- share. (AP) Stocks mostly higher on Wall Street Turkish pilots, offi cial jailed over Ghosn escape World shares retreat as investors study infl ation risks ISTANBUL, Feb 24, (AP): A Turkish a private plane and then transferred onto feared for his family’s safety. court convicted an offi cial from a private another plane to Beirut, where he arrived Turkish airline company MNG Jet has NEW YORK, Feb 24, airline and two pilots Wednesday for in- Dec. 30, 2019. He is believed to have hid admitted that two of its planes were used (AP): Stocks were most- volvement in former Nissan Motor Co. inside a large box. illegally in Ghosn’s escape, fl ying him chairman Carlos Ghosn’s dramatic es- The convicted pilots, Noyan Pasin and to Istanbul, and then to Beirut. The com- ly higher on Wall Street cape out of Japan in 2019, and sentenced Bahri Kutlu Somek, had maintained their pany said its employee falsifi ed fl ight Wednesday as investors them each to four years and two months innocence throughout the trial. They, the records so Ghosn’s name didn’t appear. in prison. other two pilots and the fl ight attendants all Kosemen and the two pilots are ex- continue to cautiously The court in Istanbul acquitted two denied involvement in plans to help Ghosn pected to appeal their convictions. monitor rising bond other pilots of the charge of “illegally fl ee and insisted they did not know that he Ghosn, who has French, Lebanese smuggling a migrant.” Two fl ight at- was aboard their fl ights. and Brazilian citizenship, led Japanese yields. tendants also were acquitted of failing to The airline offi cial, Okan Kosemen, automaker Nissan for two decades. They will be watching for report a crime. claimed he was made aware that Ghosn The 66-year-old is wanted on charges comments from Federal Re- Ghosn, who was arrested in Tokyo was on the plane to Istanbul only after of breach of trust in misusing company serve Chair Jerome Powell as on fi nancial misconduct allegations in it landed. He admitted helping smuggle assets for personal gain, and violating well as updates on President 2018, skipped bail while awaiting trial. Ghosn onto the second, Lebanon-bound securities laws in not fully disclosing his He was fl own from Osaka to Istanbul on plane, but claimed he was threatened and compensation. Joe Biden’s stimulus package to see where the economy goes count Rate to an all-time low of 1.5%. Coronavirus infections that bring about from here. Banks successfully High Profi tability Despite Chal- wider closures and further suspension The S&P 500 index was up 0.6% lenges of economic activity. as of 11:48 am Eastern, after being Continued from Page 9 As was the case with most other The stress tests revealed the resilience down as much as 0.6% earlier in Specifi cally, loan loss provisions world economies, the pandemic re- of the Kuwaiti banking sector which the day. The Dow Jones Industrial sulted in increased implications on the maintained an average CAR of 11.4% by A man walks by a stock ticker displaying the cost of Home Depot and IBM charged on the banks’ income state- Average rose 237 points, or 0.8% shares at the New York Stock Exchange. (AP) ments reached about KD 852 million Kuwaiti banking sector’s operating en- end of 2023, a relatively high level given to 31,775 and the technology-heavy vironment. Banks faced challenges in the severity of the scenarios considered in 2020, whereas the increase in over- Nasdaq Composite, which has taken Powell told Congress Tuesday more to pull the economy out of its all value of banks’ available provisions terms of profi tability which resulted in in the tests and in contrast with the BCBS their net income slipping from KD 964 minimum requirement of 10.5%. a bigger blow in recent days from the Fed didn’t see a need to alter pandemic doldrums. reached KD 403 million, indicating the rising bond yields, was up 0.2%. utilization of the remaining balance to- million in 2019 to KD 495 million in Concluding the statement, His Ex- its policy of keeping interest rates Tokyo’s Nikkei 225 shed 1.6% 2020, a drop of 48.7%. cellency the Governor of the Central Treasury yields continued to ultra-low, noting that the economic to 29,671.70. In Seoul, the Kospi wards bad-debt write-offs. The drop in net income was partially Bank of Kuwait Dr. Mohammad Y. climb, adding to a multi-week Non-Performing Loans (NPLs) recovery “remains uneven and far skidded 2.5% to 2,994.98. Aus- due to a drop in operating revenues and Al-Hashel remarked that the CBK increase in rates that are used as from complete.” He will deliver a tralia’s S&P/ASX 200 lost 0.9% to Ratio, which could have spiked due to the consolidation of provisions, which shall maintain its fi rm supervision of benchmarks for many kinds of to closures and dampened economic took into account the direct effects of the the banking sector while also maintain- second day of testimony Wednes- 6,777.80. The Shanghai Compos- activity both in Kuwait and in coun- loans including corporate debt and day. ite index gave up 2% to 3,564.08. pandemic on the economy, and the pos- ing vigilance and a composed hedging traditional 30-year mortgages. The tries where Kuwaiti banks operate, sibility of further market closures amid approach so that banks remain able to The US House of Representa- India’s Sensex bucked the re- increased by 0.5% amid the unprec- yield on the 10-year Treasury note gional trend, gaining 0.5% to uncertainty and new waves of infections. provide their services to all segments rose to 1.39%, the highest level in tives is likely to vote on Presi- edented crisis from 1.5% in 2019 to This would detrimentally impact clients’ of the domestic economy effi ciently 49,997.82. 2.0% in 2020. Furthermore, this fi gure just over a year, but the yield is dent Biden’s proposed stimulus ability to meet their debt obligations and without disruption. The crisis, he package by the end of the week. Hong Kong’s government also remains at historically low levels, in- and thus requires further provisions to noted, is far from over. down from earlier in the day. The spiring even more confi dence in the tick down in bond yields correlat- It would include $1,400 checks to announced pandemic relief meas- counter any possible increase in NPLs And while it looks to the future with ures worth $15.4 billion to help the strength of our banking sector. or depreciation of investment assets. optimism, the CBK shall continue to ed with the tick up in stock prices most Americans, additional pay- Meanwhile, NPL Coverage Ratio Kuwaiti banks’ initiative of introducing diligently monitor economic and bank- early in trading. ments for children, and billions territory recovery from the blow (provisions to NPLs) dropped from moratoriums for consumer, housing, and ing conditions so that the economy The rise in bond yields has of dollars in aid to state and local to its economy, which contracted 271% to 222% mainly as a result of credit card installments also had a hand safely overcomes this period. It also governments as well as additional 6.1% last year. The measures in- utilizing these provisions towards the several implications for both the in weighing down on profi tability. continues to strive, he said, to bolster stock market and overall economy. aid to businesses impacted by the clude loans for the unemployed, purposes for which they had been cre- Banks Successfully Pass Stress monetary stability and fi nancial stabili- pandemic. consumption vouchers and tax re- ated. The ratio remains at healthy levels, Tests ty, which are key requirements, though Higher yields make stocks with boosting asset quality and serving as an lofty valuations less attractive. lief. Hong Kong Finance Minister The Covid-19 crisis was undoubt- not suffi cient on their own, for sustain- Infl ation Paul Chan forecast the economy is additional buffer to counter any poten- edly a true and diffi cult test for local able economic stability. Those types of stocks tend to be World shares fell on Wednesday tial worsening in the credit portfolio that technology companies, who are set to grow 3.5% to 5.5% this year. banks, stressing both their fi nancial Thus, the CBK again stresses the im- as investors weighed the possibil- may arise if the pandemic persists. position and service continuity. And portance of expediting the implementa- priced typically for growth and The move to raise the tax on Bank Credit Continues to Grow for added reassurance in the banking tion of comprehensive reforms of the not for a steady return of dividends ity that infl ation might prompt cen- stock trading, the fi rst in three dec- The measures introduced by the sector’s ability to counter anticipated complex and deep- rooted structural like mature companies like makers tral banks to adjust their ultra-low ades, pulled shares in Hong Kong CBK in terms of accommodative shocks, the CBK conducted stress tests imbalances of our economy. We need of consumer staples, utilities and interest rate policies. Exchanges & Clearing Ltd, which monetary policies and of regulatory based on a newly introduced stress to cruise forward to defeat the challenge Investors increasingly are focus- runs the bourse, down by as much policies geared to bolster bank credit real estate. testing framework developed in ac- rather than countering its consequences, Apple, Microsoft and Amazon ing on a big tick up in bond yields as 12.4%. They closed 8.8% lower. growth and to promote economic ac- cordance with the best international and treat the disease rather than alleviat- and how it affects stock valuations, tivity amid the pandemic have resulted each fell about 1% or less. Those The yield on the 10-year Treas- practices. The framework, the CBK ing the symptoms. So long as oil-based analysts say. ury note, which has climbed re- in the continued positive growth in Governor pointed out, takes into con- revenues dominate, and current expen- companies rocketed in 2020 as credit facilities despite last year’s mar- sideration several fi nancial, micro- and ditures grow, and effective corrective investors bet that the pandemic The large amount of stimulus cently, was steady at 1.36% on kets closures. macro-economic variables based on measures remain absent, the State’s gen- would cause Americans to shift being pumped into economies Wednesday. At the end of December, the Net three scenarios covering a period span- eral budget will remain under an accu- shopping habits and buy gadgets to has been a factor in pushing bond When bond yields rise, stock Credit Facilities Balance, on a con- ning three years. The fi rst scenario mulated fi nancial defi cit, and therefore it keep themselves occupied in pan- yields higher, giving some inves- prices tend to be negatively im- solidated level, amounted to KD 51.8 hypothesizes a strong blow to a single is of utmost importance to address these demic quarantines. tors pause as it revives worries pacted because investors turn an billion, an increase of 4.3% and KD sector in the real economy. The sec- challenges before they escalate, so that about infl ation that have been increasingly larger portion of their 2.1 billion from December 2019. This Bank stocks, which were hurt ond consists of a wider multi-sectoral we may succeed in sustaining prosperity by lower interest rates last year, nearly nonexistent for more than a money toward the steadier stream growth in credit facilities started dur- shock in the real economy. The third and developing the national economy in decade. of income that bonds provide. ing March 2020, coinciding with the scenario hypothesizes a wide-ranging order to preserve rights of present and fu- made some of the strongest gains. CBK’s decision to bring down the Dis- global crisis triggered by new waves of ture generations. The KBW Bank Index of 24 mid- Germany’s DAX rose 0.80% to In other trading, US benchmark to-large-sized banks was up 1.4%, 13,976.00 while the CAC 40 in crude oil lost 27 cents to $61.40 per despite the overall market being France gained 0.31% to 5,797.98. barrel in electronic trading on the down. Banks would see higher Britain’s FTSE 100 jumped 0.5% New York Mercantile Exchange. It profi ts if interest rates were to keep to 6,658 .97. lost 3 cents on Tuesday to $61.67 per rising. Another dose of stimulus Hong Kong led the decline in barrel. Brent crude, the international would also shore up the balance Asia, losing 3% to 29,718.24 after standard, lost 12 cents to $64.36 per sheets of many Americans. the government announced it was barrel. The bond market could also be a raising the stamp tax on stock trans- The US dollar rose to 105.67 harbinger for infl ation, something actions to 0.13% from 0.1%. The Japanese yen from 105.24 yen that has been nonexistent in the increased revenue would help boost late Tuesday. The euro climbed to US for the better part of a decade. tax coffers as the government spends $1.2166 from $1.2150.

Bank extends best wishes to everyone in Kuwait AUB continues its services during holidays KUWAIT CITY, Feb 24: On the oc- On this occasion, the bank an- channels, including AUB Mobile Ap- casion of the National Holidays, Ahli nounced in a press release that all plication and through the website United Bank (AUB) expressed con- branches will close starting from www.ahliunited.com.kw, the bank’s gratulations and warmest greetings His Thursday the 25th of February until social media accounts, as well as the Highness the Amir of Kuwait Sheikh Sunday the 28th of February, and will 24/7 Hayakom telebanking service on Nawaf Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah, resume work on Monday the 1st of 181200 to for all requirements, inquir- and the Crown Prince His Highness March 2021. ies and services. Customers can also Sheikh Meshal Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al- In a related context, AUB noted conduct all their banking transactions Sabah, as well as all citizens and resi- that customers can conduct their bank- through ATMs conveniently located dents of Kuwait. ing transactions through its electronic across Kuwait.

ARAB TIMES, THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 25, 2021 BUSINESS 12

Special Report ARA Consumer Confi dence Index – January 2021 Sentiment falls to lowest level since May 2020

n account of its interest for Omonitoring the economic situa- tion in Kuwait, “ARA Research & Consultancy” issues a monthly Consumer Confidence Index, in col- laboration with the “Arab Times” newspaper and under the sponsor- ship of the “Lexus” trademark. The Consumer Confidence Index is con- sidered as the only indicator that measures the Consumers’ psycho- logical factors, based on people’s opinions and their prospects about the current economic situation and its future as well as their expecta- tions regarding their financial condi- tions, and how that reflects on their purchasing power. The Consumer Confidence Index is issued the first Sunday of each month, Capital and in Mubarak Al-Kabeer ied carefully. and is based on quantitative research governorates, dropping 15 points each. The Current Economic Situation on a sample of 500 people, distributed Rates have also declined for most Index scored 87 points, decreasing 6 among Kuwaitis and Arab residents in research components. points in a month, and 9 points on an different Governorates. The phenomenon of gradual and annual basis. While the Expected The study was conducted by tele- slow decline in consumer confidence Economic Situation Index stabilized phone through a random call selection, over recent months is primarily the at 104 points, dropping 8 points taking into account that the distribu- result of the conflicting equation of compared to December. The decline tion of the sample should be represen- pandemic prevention on the one hand, in the rate of the Expected Economic tative of the population in Kuwait. and the need for continuity of eco- Situation Index exceeded the decline The general Consumer Confidence nomic activity and production on the in the Current Economic Situation Index is based on six indices which the other hand. Index, which is a rare case and researchers at ARA use to measure the This conflict imposed repercussions means that consumers have more level of the consumer satisfaction and on all countries, manifested by eco- concerns about the future than the scored 76 points by adding three points optimism. These are: nomic contraction, decline in standard present. to its monthly balance and by declin- ■ Current Economic Situation of living and drop in oil prices as a There are some declines in the ing 16 points on an annual basis. Index result of the defect in the law of supply index’s confidence that reached 40 The index ratios declined in the ■ Expected Economic Situation and demand. points within a month; for example, governorates, 21 points in Mubarak Index These challenges have imposed Mubarak Al-Kabeer governorate. Al-Kabeer governorate and 10 points ■ Current Personal Income Index budget deficits and intense compul- This reality requires a new approach in both the Capital and Al-Jahra gover- ■ Expected Personal Income Index sions to borrow and issue Treasury to economic conditions, covering the norate. ■ Current Employment Opportun- bonds to cover some expenses. This is structure, composition and develop- To note that the Income Index ratio ities Index in general, as for Kuwait in particular, ment of the economy. The current among workers with lower education ■ Purchase of Durables Index the budget recorded a deficit of KD facts indicate the need to diversify the level decreased by 29 points and rose The indices’ results in a month basis 5.39 billion in 9 months. economy because the annual budget’s for the category of employees whose measure the psychological state of Facing this situation, some positives reliance with a high proportion of monthly salary ranges between 1850 consumers in Kuwait, which equal 100 emerge, most important of which are: more than 83% of the budget value on and 2490 dinars, where the index ratio points. This result (100 points) draws 1. Intensive use of vaccines, in the oil resources cannot be maintained, increased by an additional 77 points in the line between optimism and pessi- hope of protecting society and build- despite the sharp decline in oil prices a month. mism among consumers. The more the ing solid foundations for a gradual over the past year. On the other hand, the Expected index surpasses this point, the more return to normal life. Therefore, partnership companies Personal Income Index registered 101 the psychological state of consumers 2. Prolongation of most countries must be established between the public points, declining five points and con- in Kuwait is considered to be inclined that are able to distribute large sums in and private sectors. It starts with sev- firming the lack of confidence among towards optimism. The more the index order to support the affected sectors, eral productive and service sectors as the respondents regarding the future declines below this point, the more institutions and companies suffering well as restoring a deliberate support prospects. by 20 points, revealing the difficulties a ratio of 105 points, losing eight losses that threaten their continuity. in finding work in their circles. points from its previous monthly bal- pessimistic the outlook. policy for medium enterprises. Thus Promising data for Employment 3. Providing cash or in-kind assis- begins the phase of income diversifi- The enhancement of the Current ance. A number of factors combined Low confi dence among consum- tance in some countries to support cation, raising the national income and Opportunities Employment Opportunities marks a to reduce consumption activity, most ers in the Capital workers, who have been exposed to ensuring numerous resources to sup- ARA Current Employment new phase of economic recovery notably: unemployment by millions. plement public money. Opportunities Index recorded encour- despite the stagnation or curtailment 1. The level of tendency to purchase ARA Research & Consultancy has of activities in various sectors, released its Consumer Confidence These and other factors, as well as This direction complements the aging figures and data, registering 130 among Arab residents decreased by 41 China’s recording of growth in its official economic policy that is always points, surpassing the previous month- whether on the international level or points and females by 25 points. Index in Kuwait for January 2021 in in Kuwait. collaboration with Arab Times economy in defiance of the epidemic, keen to invest in all areas of the oil ly balance by 23 points and ahead of Similarly at the regional level the bal- Newspaper and under the sponsorship have raised the level of hope embodied sector, and in the necessary infrastruc- January 2020 ratio by 18 points. Noting that some expectations con- ances of the governorates decreased, of Lexus. by the growth and expected growth in ture. This leap in the level of confidence firm the direction of the real estate whereby the rate of Al-Jahra dropped The General Index registered 97 global economic activity, and reflected The approval and launch of these of respondents confirms the recovery sector towards recovery soon. by 37 points, Al-Ahmadi by 18 points, points, marking its lowest level since in the increase in demand for oil and services, even if medium and long- of labor market movement despite the The movement of Kuwait’s labor Al-Farwaniya by 13 points and the May 2020, dropping 2 points in a the rise in its prices since the begin- term, will further strengthen the pandemic. market, provided that it is stable and Capital by 11 points. month and 7 points on an annual basis. ning of the current year. Kuwaiti economy and the diversity of The overwhelming majority of the dynamic, will be the first pillar of the Market movement has also contract- expected economic recovery. Research data indicated a decline in We must stop at the economic its exports, as well as increase con- research components (23/26) were ed as a result of the travel of multiple four out of six ratios, establishing the sumers’ confidence. found to be almost unanimous in A number of factors impede the categories of expat workers. tendency of the respondents’ mood to data Drop in confidence of low-income expressing their confidence in the In addition, spending on credit cards be conservative, albeit in varying pro- ARA Indexes of current and expect- workers versus a rise among those Current Employment Opportunities, movement of consumption decreased by about 38 %. portions. We note in this context a low ed future economic situations recorded with high incomes with the exception of those with pri- The Purchase of Durable Goods Perhaps next month revives con- level of consumer confidence in the a number of facts that should be stud- The Current Personal Income Index vate businesses, whose ratio decreased index during January 2021 recorded sumption. ARAB TIMES, THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 25, 2021 SCIENCE 13

Space

Tianwen-1 enters parking orbit Mars rover’s ‘chute’ carried secret code

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla., Feb 24, (AP): The huge para- chute used by NASA’s Perseverance rover to land on Mars contained a secret message, thanks to a puzzle lover on the spacecraft team. Systems engineer Ian Clark used a binary code to spell out “Dare Mighty Things” in the orange and white strips of the 70-foot (21-meter) parachute. He also included the GPS coordinates for the mission’s headquarters at the Jet Propul- sion Laboratory in Pasadena, California. Clark, a crossword hobbyist, came up with the idea two years ago. Engineers wanted an unusual pattern in the nylon fabric to know how the parachute was oriented during de- scent. Turning it into a secret message was “super fun,” he said Tuesday. Only about six people knew about the encoded message before Thurs- day’s landing, according to Clark. They waited until the parachute im- ages came back before putting out a teaser during a televised news confer- ence Monday. It took just a few hours for space fans to figure it out, Clark said. Next time, he noted, “I’ll have to be a little bit more creative.” “Dare Mighty Things” — a line Clark from President Theodore Roosevelt — is a mantra at JPL and adorns many of A woman walks through the empty street during a curfew to help prevent the spread of the Coronavirus, in central Baghdad, Iraq, Feb 19. The curfew runs all day the center’s walls. The trick was “trying to come up with a Friday to Sunday, and from 8 pm to 5 am the rest of the week. Mosques and schools are closed, large gatherings prohibited, and the wearing of masks and other way of encoding it but not making it too obvious,” Clark said. protective gear will be enforced, according to a statement from the government. (AP) As for the GPS coordinates, the spot is 10 feet (3 meters) from the entrance to JPL’s visitor center. Another added touch not widely known until touchdown: Perseverance bears a plaque depicting all five of NASA’s Coronavirus Mars rovers in increasing size over the years — similar to the family car decals seen on Earth. Deputy project manager Matt Wallace promises more so- called hidden Easter eggs. They should be visible once Perse- verance’s 7-foot (2-meter) arm is deployed in a few days and Doctors warn of 2nd virus wave starts photographing under the vehicle, and again when the rover is driving in a couple weeks. “Definitely, definitely should keep a good lookout,” he urged. Old habits imperil Iraq’s COVID fi ght ❑ ❑ ❑ BAGHDAD, Feb 24, (AP): In the busy China says its Tianwen-1 spacecraft has entered a tempo- emergency room of Baghdad’s main rary parking orbit around Mars in anticipation of landing a public hospital, Ali Abbas stood face Don’t undermine COVAX vaccine rover on the red planet in the coming months. uncovered, waiting for his sickly fa- The China National Space Administration said the space- ther. Dozens of other patients and their craft executed a maneuver to adjust its orbit early Wednesday relatives mingled without masks. programme: UN to rich countries morning Beijing time and will remain in the new orbit for It’s a scene that confounds health about the next three months before attempting to land. During workers in Iraq, who warn that the GENEVA, Feb 24, (AP): The head the G-7 countries for their “sig- that time, it will be mapping the surface of Mars and using its country is entering a new wave of cor- of the World Health Organization nificant” pledges. But he said after cameras and other sensors to collect further data, particularly onavirus cases, in part because many pleaded with rich countries on talks Monday with German Presi- about its prospective landing site. shirk precautions. Monday to check before ordering dent Frank-Walter Steinmeier that That follows the landing of the US Perseverance rover last “I don’t believe in the coronavirus, additional COVID-19 vaccine shots “even if you have the money, if you Thursday near an ancient river delta in Jezero Crater to search I believe in God,” the 21-year-old Ab- for themselves whether that under- cannot use the money to buy vac- Smoke fills the sky as Mt. Etna vol- bas said in the middle of the hospital mines efforts to get vaccine shots cines … having the money doesn’t for signs of ancient microscopic life. cano erupts, near Catania in Sicily, A successful bid to land Tianwen-1 would make China fl oor, defying the facility’s rules re- to poorer nations. mean anything.” southern Italy, late Feb 22. This is quiring masks. Wealthy nations have snapped He said some rich countries’ ap- only the second country after the US to place a spacecraft the fifth episode in a series of Mt Etna up several billion vaccine doses proaches to manufacturers to se- on Mars. China’s solar-powered vehicle, about the size of a On Friday, Iraq was under its fi rst eruptions which have been occurring full day of a new curfew imposed by while some countries in the de- cure more vaccines are “affecting golf cart, will collect data on underground water and look for over the past week. (AP) veloping world have little or none. the deals with COVAX, and even evidence that the planet may have once harbored microscopic the government in response to infec- tion rates that have shot back up again European nations have given fi- the amount that was allocated for life. nancial support to the UN-backed COVAX was reduced because of Tianwen, the title of an ancient poem, means “Quest for after easing last autumn. The curfew COVAX effort to get vaccines to this.” He didn’t name those coun- runs all day Friday to Sunday, and the world’s most vulnerable people tries or give other details. Heavenly Truth.” from 8 p.m. to 5 a.m. the rest of the Landing a spacecraft on Mars is notoriously tricky. About and are considering sharing some Tedros added that rich countries week. Mosques and schools are closed, of their own doses - though they need to “cooperate in respecting a dozen orbiters missed the mark. In 2011, a Mars-bound large gatherings prohibited, and the Chinese orbiter that was part of a Russian mission didn’t haven’t specified when or exactly the deals that COVAX did” and wearing of masks and other protective how many. make sure before they seek more make it out of Earth orbit. gear will be enforced, according to a On Friday, leaders of the Group vaccines that their requests don’t China’s attempt will involve a parachute, rocket firings and statement from the government. of Seven industrial powers said undermine those deals. airbags. Its proposed landing site is a vast, rock-strewn plain A complete lockdown, including they would accelerate global vac- “But I don’t think they’re asking called Utopia Planitia, where the US Viking 2 lander touched closing airports and borders, is also cine development and deployment that question,” he said. down in 1976. being considered, two government of- and support “affordable and equi- Tedros, who has previously Tianwen-1’s arrival at Mars on Feb. 10 was preceded by Landry Behncke fi cials said, speaking on condition of table access to vaccines” and treat- warned that the world faces a that of an orbiter from the United Arab Emirates. All three of anonymity because they were not au- ments for COVID-19. They cited a “catastrophic moral failure” if CO- the latest missions were launched in July to take advantage thorized to brief the media. collective $7.5 billion from the G-7 VID-19 vaccines are not distributed of the close alignment between Earth and Mars that happens to UN-backed efforts. fairly, said he understands the polit- only once every two years. Discovery Infectious WHO Director-General Tedros ical pressures that leaders in high- Adhanom Ghebreyesus thanked income countries face. Tianwen-1 represents the most ambitious mission yet for New cases, down under 600 a day China’s secretive, military-linked space program that first just a month ago, have sharply in- put an astronaut in orbit around Earth in 2003 and last year Volcanologists in awe: Mount Etna, creased, reaching 3,896 a day on Feb. brought moon rocks back to Earth for the first time since the Europe’s most active volcano, has awed Sheikh Zayed hospital, estimated that the grandson of Islam’s Prophet 18 and approaching September’s daily only one in 10 people walking into his Muhammad (PBUH). This year, 1970s. China was also the first country to land a spacecraft on even seasoned volcanologists in recent peak of more than 5,000. The Health Iraq banned foreign pilgrims from the little-explored far side of the moon in 2019. days with spectacular spurts of lava light- Ministry says 50% of the new cases hospital wear masks. China is also building a permanent space station and ing up the Sicilian sky each night. are from the new, more infectious The Health Ministry said earlier attending, considerably reducing the planning a crewed lunar mission and a possible permanent The latest eruption overnight petered strain that fi rst broke out in the UK. this month that a new wave was being numbers. out by around 0900 GMT Tuesday, ac- driven by religious activities -- includ- Mac Skelton, a medical sociologist research base on the moon, though no dates have yet been cording to Italy’s National Institute for More than 657,000 people have been proposed. infected by the virus in Iraq and 13,220 ing Friday prayers and visits to shrines at the American University of Iraq in Geophysics and Volcanology. -- and large crowds in markets, restau- Sulaimaniyah, said the dismissive at- On Monday, a massive Long March-5B Y2 rocket was For over a week, Etna has been belch- have died since February. moved into place at the Wenchang Spacecraft Launch Site in Doctors told The Associated Press rants, malls and parks, where greetings titude was not so much rooted in igno- ing lava, ash and volcanic rocks on a with handshakes and kisses are the rance as in the realities Iraqis face. Hainan province for assembly and testing before it launches regular basis. The nearby Catania Air- they’ve seen the fl are-up coming for the space station’s core module, christened Tianhe. Launch is port closed temporarily, and residents weeks. They blame a careless public norm. Iraqis have endured so many calam- scheduled for the first half of this year, the first of 11 missions of the town of Pedara said it appeared and a government unable to fully en- The ministry also blamed “some ities the past few decades, including slated over the next two years for the station’s construction. one day last week as if it were raining force virus protocols. people who are openly questioning the wars, political violence and sanctions, China is not a participant in the International Space Sta- rocks as a thick blanket of ash covered “I am a doctor fi ghting public ig- existence of the pandemic.” that COVID-19 “may not stack up as a tion, partly at the insistence of the United States. the town. norance, not the pandemic,” said Mo- That’s a common sentiment. major problem,” he said. The space program is a source of enormous national pride Volcanologist Boris Behncke of the hammed Shahada, a pulmonologist at “It’s just the fl u,” said Yahya Sham- Also government pandemic poli- national institute’s Etna observation Baghdad’s al-Zahra Hospital. mari, a 28-year old college graduate. cies, centered on hospitals, don’t mesh in China and Tianwen-1 has attracted a particularly strong center has followed the latest paroxysms following among the public. Tourists flocked to tropical At al-Zahra Hospital, the year began “I went to the hospital twice with no with how Iraqis cope with illness, said with awe. Writing on the institute’s web- with just four patients in the 90-bed mask on and I didn’t get infected.” Skelton. Amid years of instability, Hainan island to watch the launch, while others visit mock site this week, he said that after “gifting Mars colonies in desert sites with white domes, airlocks and isolation ward. By the start of Febru- Rahem Shabib, 32, said he noticed Iraqis had to come up with their own us moments of suspense” over the previ- how infection rates dipped following strategies, because health care was spacesuits. ous nights, Etna fi nally erupted in a way ary, that jumped to 30 severe virus patients. Shahada expects more in the the Shiite Muslim Arbaeen pilgrimage either not available or they distrusted Also: “those of us who have worked in this for decades have rarely seen.” coming weeks. in October. “So God is stronger than hospitals, which at the height of sectar- MONTGOMERY, Ala.: Alabama Gov Kay Ivey on Monday Referring to the activity overnight, he At his private clinic, some patients COVID-19,” he said. ian fi ghting became dangerous places said she welcomes a federal review of the decision to move tweeted Tuesday: “Did I call the 20-21 have walked out rather than abide by The Arbaeen brings millions from to go to. the Space Command headquarters from Colorado to Hunts- February paroxysm of #Etna ‘incredibly his strict face mask requirement, he around the world to Iraq for com- So they seek out pharmacists, nurs- ville, saying she believes it will confirm the decision to move powerful’? Well, its successor, in the said. memorations connected to the 7th es, help from neighbors, or even cross it to her state. night of 22-23 February, was much more Ismail Taher, a doctor at Baghdad’s century killing of Imam Hussein, borders to treat illness. The US Department of Defense’s inspector general an- powerful.” nounced Friday that it was reviewing the Trump administra- So far, there have been no reports of damage or injuries. (AP) siana might lose a federal court chal- tion’s last-minute decision to relocate US Space Command ❑ ❑ ❑ endangered anymore but is now in the Trump administration’s last days, the from Colorado to Alabama. near-threatened category. (AP) US Fish and Wildlife Service proposed lenge to California’s ban on alligator “Our state was chosen based on merit, and an independent 2 giraffes electrocuted: Kenya’s ❑ ❑ ❑ a change to rules protecting alligators products. review of a decision of this magnitude will confirm this. We wildlife agency says two giraffes were - a change that opponents consider an The government is taking comments remain confident that just as the Air Force discovered, Hunts- electrocuted on Sunday when they walked Bid to protect alligators: In the end run around the chance that Loui- until March 22 on the proposal to remove ville’s Redstone Region will provide our warfighters with the into low-lying electric power transmis- 12 words that let states regulate sales or sion lines that pass through the Soysambu transfers of “any American alligator spec- greatest space capability at the best value to the taxpayers,” imen” within their boundaries. Ivey said in a statement. Conservancy in western Kenya. Trizer Mwakinya, head of communica- The Louisiana Department of Wild- The US Air Force announced last month that the new US tions at the Kenya Wildlife Service, said life and Fisheries supports the change Space Command headquarters will be in Huntsville, Ala- Monday that workers from the Kenya and credits the great armored lizard’s bama. The state was selected over five others competing for Power and Lighting Company “were on comeback largely to private conservation the project, including Colorado, where Space Command is site” to rectify the problem. prompted by commerce. The proposed provisionally located. But conservationist Paula Kahumbu in rule goes beyond a request by state At- The role of Space Command is to conduct operations such tweets addressed to the power company torney General Jeff Landry to have gator as enabling satellite-based navigation and troop communi- and the wildlife agency said the power hides exempted from control of states cation and providing warning of missile launches. That is lines have been killing giraffes, vultures where sales take place. different from the Space Force, which is a distinct military and fl amingos. But opponents say the proposal is an ef- service like the Army, Navy, Air Force, Marine Corps and “Advice from experts was ignored. fort to boost the chances of lawsuits fi led by state of Louisiana and companies in Coast Guard. RIAs( Regulatory Impact Assessment) are notoriously poor on many develop- California, Florida and Texas against the Huntsville is home to the Army’s Redstone Arsenal and ment projects. Sad that it takes these kinds state of California over its decision to ban NASA’s Marshall Space Flight Center. The city’s nick- of deaths to wake some people up!” she the import and sale of alligator products. name is Rocket City, after Wernher von Braun and his said in a tweet. Louisiana had no comment on that al- team of fellow German-born rocketeers who settled there In an earlier tweet with a picture of legation. in the 1950s. two dead giraffes under an electric pole, Brendan Cummings, conservation di- “Deep Space Exploration is part of our DNA in Alabama, Kahumbu said the two were of the Roth- rector for the Center for Biological Di- from building the rockets to first take man to the moon, to schild’s giraffe species. versity, said that while the proposed rule producing the Atlas V rocket that took the Perseverance Rov- The Kenya Wildlife Service says would “technically” affect only alligators, er to Mars just last week,” Ivey said. there are only 609 Rothschild’s giraffes it could set a much broader precedent on The decision to locate in Alabama was announced in the fi- in the country. Close to 1,400 Roth- the boundaries of state and federal wild- nal days of the Trump administration, and Colorado officials schild’s giraffes remain in the wild in This file image made available by the China National Space Administration on Dec life management. the world and according to the Inter- 16, 2020, shows the Tianwen-1 probe en route to Mars. China said on Feb 24, that The center is a nonprofi t organization raised concerns that the process was flawed. national Union for the Conservation its Tianwen-1 spacecraft has entered a temporary parking orbit around Mars in supporting California’s side of the case. of Nature the species is not considered anticipation of landing a rover on the red planet in the coming months. (AP) (AP) Books THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 25, 2021 FFeatureseatures married in2018.(AP) Taylor Goldsmith, fi have everimagined.”Thisisthe goes beyondanythingwecould sorts ofbrandnewways,butit prepared to,“Fallinloveall his parents.” his duedatemuchtothedelightof was punctualandarrivedrighton the postalongwithaphoto.“He her InstagramTuesday. August HarrisonGoldsmith,on birth ofherfi “This IsUs”starannouncedthe offi Telemundo had1 million. Ion Televisionhad 1.1millionand million, Univision had1.6million, NBC had3.5million,Fox2.6 prime time.ABChad3.9million, average of4.6millionviewersin last year,Nielsensaid. down 18%fromthesameweek on ABC,CBS,FoxandNBCwas original episodes-liveviewership ally allprime-timeshowsairing - nomajorsportseventsandvirtu- and NBCwillnodoubttakeit. out thoseseriesonadelayedbasis, and thechanceforviewerstocheck network television’soverallfade, to makeasecondweek.Butgiven that wouldn’tbeenoughforashow 4.2 millionviewers,Nielsensaid. TV hostandsingledadreached Live” castmemberasanAtlanta the long-running“SaturdayNight of “Kenan.”Thesitcomstarring ed awaylastTuesdayforthedebut top 20showsfortheweek. enough tofi the NBCcomedybasedonhislife, for thepremiereof“YoungRock,” son reached5.3millionviewers one-two punchonSunday.John- Minutes” andgivingCBSastrong said, trailingonlyfi week, theNielsencompany scripted showontelevisionlast izer,” wasthemostpopular spectable sitcomdebutsforNBC. and use one,while time broadcastnetworkscanreally becoming aTVstarforCBSat rst childforMooreandhusband NEW YORK: LOS ANGELES: answer.” of State.Whatwasherworstnightmare?‘StateTerror’isthe said. “Beforewestarted,talkedabouthertimeasSecretary mind oftheSecretaryStateashighstakecrisesexplode,”she inside theStateDepartment.InsideWhiteHouse. of workingwithClinton.“Whatanincredibleexperience,toget statement thatshecouldnot“sayyesfastenough”tothechance include “TheCruelestMonth”andBrutalTelling,”saidina pears.” of highstakesdiplomacyandtreachery.Allisnotasitfi Now we’rejoiningourexperiencestoexplorethecomplexworld one ofherbooksandtheircharactersaswellfriendship. ers inthepast,saidastatementTuesday.“I’verelishedevery who hasexpressedadmirationforPennyandothermysterywrit- Penny’s, St.Martin’sPress. be jointlyreleasedbyClinton’spublisher,Simon&Schuster,and wave ofterroristattacks.ThenovelcomesoutOct.12,andwill working intheadministrationofarivalpolitician,triestosolve someone ofClinton’sbackground:A“novice”secretarystate, ny, on“StateofTerror,”whichhasaplotthatmightoccurto ing one. fans ofmysterynovels,HillaryRodhamClinton,isnowwrit- NEW YORK,Feb24,(AP):Oneoftheworld’sbetterknown novel Clinton andLouisePennyco-writingmystery Hillary She addedthattheywere “Gus ishere,”Moorewrotein cially amom.The36-year-old CBS wontheweekwithan For atypicalweekinFebruary A generationago,numberslike A millionofthoseviewersdrift- Latifah’s drama,“TheEqual- Penny, anaward-winningauthorfromCanadawhosenovels “Writing athrillerwithLouiseisdreamcometrue,”Clinton, Clinton isteamingupwithherfriend,thenovelistLouisePen- KenanThompson ❑ nish amongNielsen’s rst child,asonnamed Queen Latifah Dwayne Johnson Mandy Moore rst-place “60 a musicianshe madere- is is “Nightly News” had 8.3 million and “Nightly News”had 8.3millionand aging 10.2million viewers. NBC’s the eveningnewsratingsrace,aver- ABC’s “WorldNewsTonight”won lion andHistoryhad1.01million. 1.6 million,HGTVhad1.12mil- MSNBC had1.91million,CNN 2.42 millionviewersinprimetime. popular cablenetwork,averaging Harry Vanderspeigle. an Earthlinghekilled,thememorablynamedDr. pearance ismostlycloakedwiththeappearanceof from “Law&Order”reruns.Hisotherworldlyap- takes acrashcourseinhumanconductandspeech ic performanceasstrandedalienCapt.HaRe,who day. centile. “ResidentAlien”airs10p.m.ESTWednes- proval fromcriticsandviewers,bothinthe90thper- to respond...andthisisoneofthoseshows.” actually rarethatyouhaveashowpeopleseem heads itsTVprogrammingstrategygroup.“Butit’s said NBCUniversalexecutiveJeffBader,who pretend thateveryshowcanbethenextbighit,” motional spotstarringaUFO. a robustblastoffthatincludedNBCnetworkpro- ent company,NBCUniversal,whichgavetheseries promise enoughtogladdentheheartofSyfy’spar- worth yourtimeandmoney. the peak-TVeraofdizzyingdecisionsaboutwhat’s dience foritssecondepisodethanfi early tractionintheratings.Itpulledabiggerau- being stuckinasmalltown,“ResidentAlien”gained comic book-inspiredseriesthatarrivedinJanuary. Pittsburgh Tribune-Reviewcolumnist,saidofthe I wouldgobackandgiveanotherlook,”Owen,a of thosechannels,that’sstruckmeassomething a basiccableshowonUSAorSyfyanotherone services. shows existoutsidepremiumcableandstreaming and approvingviewers,isevidencethatinventive Fox News Channel was the most Fox NewsChannelwasthemost ‘R ‘Resident Alien’invadergetslift-off A keyelement:AlanTudyk’sdeftlylayeredcom- The RottenTomatoeswebsitetalliedrobustap- “We launchshowsallthetimeandwewantto The numbersareonamodestscalebutwith An hour-longdramedyaboutanextraterrestrial “It’s beenawhilesincethere’scableshow, Variety the attentionofveteranTVcriticRobOwen esident Alien,”anewSyfyseriesthatcaught This imagereleasedbySyfyshowsJudahPrehn,(left),andAlienHarryinthenewseries‘ResidentAlien.’(AP) An updatedversionofStelter’s ‘Hoax’cominginJune By Lynn Elber rst ap- rst Television with, amongothers,JohnGrisham,StewartO’NanandChasten Gernert, whoseNewYork-basedGernertCompanyhasworked clude ObamaandBillClinton.PennywasrepresentedbyDavid the WashingtonattorneyRobertBarnett,whoseotherclientsin- most.” out oftouchandpowerintheplaceswhereitcounts signed totakeadvantageofanAmericangovernmentdangerously a teamtounravelthedeadlyconspiracy,schemecarefullyde- and St.Martin’s,themaincharacteris“taskedwithassembling “America First”foreignpolicy.AccordingtoSimon&Schuster tary ofstate,butonherthoughtsabouttheTrumpadministration’s Financial termswerenotdisclosed.Clintonwasrepresentedby “State ofTerror”appearstodrawnotjustonheryearsassecre- aia Moore Latifah her stunninglosstoDonaldTrumpinthe2016election. presidential primary;and“WhatHappened,”whichfocuseson her timewithObama,whodefeatedinthe2008Democratic the memoir“LivingHistory”;“HardChoices,”whichcovered term, haswrittenahandfulofnonfi “The President’sDaughter,”whichcomesoutinJune. ing cyberthriller“ThePresidentisMissing,”andonanewnovel, Clinton. HecollaboratedwithJamesPattersononthemillion-sell- vorite pastimeforClintonandherhusband,formerPresidentBill Fiction writingandworst-casescenarioshavebecomeafa- Hillary Clinton,secretaryofstateduringBarackObama’sfi rst, ararityin New Syfy series earns viewers’approvalNew Syfyseriesearns divisions, Sheridansaid. weary countrygrapplingwithpoliticalandsocial ing attitudeshifttowardEarthlingssuitapandemic- something realthatthealienisobserving.” and dropthisalienlayeroverthetopofityouhave to watchit,”Sheridansaid.“Thenifyoutakethat three-dimensional enoughthatpeoplewouldwant enough goingonintownandthecharactersare basic cableasitgravitatedtowarddarkerdramas, ring futureDuchessofSussexMeghanMarkle. and “Suits,”thelatternowbestknownforco-star- that airedcirca2005to2016.Amongthem:“Psych” niversal cablesibling,gaveitslighthearteddramas “Blue Sky”labelthatUSANetwork,Syfy’sNBCU- are.” when theyworktogether,andhowconnectedweall a showaboutunityandhowhumansarestronger he said.“Butwhenyoureallyfollowit,itbecomes an aliencomingdownandtryingtodestroypeople,” Superfi The show’sescapistcomedyandHarry’sgrudg- “If thealiennevershowedinPatience,therewas Such “Blue-SkyDNA”largelyvanishedfrom For TVcriticOwen,“ResidentAlien”recallsthe Conspiracy mission istowipeouthumans.) menacing interloperheis.(Spoileralert:HaRe’s dah PrehnasMax,theboywhoseesHarry (“Selma”) astownsheriffMikeThompson,andJu- vetrees, assistanttoVanderspeigle;CoreyReynolds includes SaraTomko(“SneakyPete”)asAstaTwel- as compellingthealienintheirmidst.Thecast quirky residentsoffi Tudyk’s work,buthewasdeterminedthatthe classic fi expression thatitbegscomparisontothemaster, nuance outofHarry’softenheavy-lidded,deadpan TV andmovievoiceroles)milkssuchabundant Series creatorChrisSheridangladlyravesabout Tudyk (“Firefl cially,“itlookslikeit’sjustashowabout dropped. The offi 2018 investigation that wasinitially assault afterauthorities reviveda in Decemberwithrape andsexual tor fi PARIS: ce saidonTuesdaythatFrenchac- lm starBusterKeaton. Gerard Depardieu million. (AP) the “CBSEveningNews”had6.4 The Parisprosecutor’sof- ction works.Theyinclude ❑ y,” “Suburgatory”andnumerous Showed ctional Patience,Colorado,be ce toldThe Asso- was charged was charged rst NEW YORK: June. some 20,000wordstothe95,000ofhardcoveredition. Trump, FoxNewsandtheDangerousDistortionofTruth.” perback editionofhisbookfromlastsummer,“Hoax:Donald more thanaquickupdatewasnecessaryinpreparingforthepa- false claimsofvoterfraud,therise Stelter said.“Butwhoknows?MaybeTrumpwilljoinFox.” personalities. Trump’s head,willbereplacedbyonewithpicturesofFoxNews changed. Theoriginal,whichfeaturedapictureoftheback wrote entirelynewchapters.Eventhebook’scoverhasbeen the FoxNewspresidency.” Stelter toldTheAssociatedPress.“Nowwe’vereachedtheendof Network asbiggerplayersinconservativemedia. Capitol andtheemergenceofNewsmaxOneAmericaNews ing Fox’smostprominentpersonality,theJan6riotatUS back to 2018. An initial inquiry back to2018. Aninitialinquiry by anactressinher 20sthatdate charges relatetoallegations made was leakedtoFrenchmedia. dressed thechargesaftercase preliminary chargesonDec16. detained whenhewashandedthe ciated PressthatDepardieuwasnot The changesrefl Announced onSunday,therevisededitionwillbereleasedin In effect,he’swritingasubstantiallydifferentbook,adding “I hopethisisnowthecompletestoryofTrumpandFox,” Stelter saidhebothaddedmaterialtoexistingchaptersand “The creationoftheFoxNewspresidencywasacriticalstory,” Buttigieg, husbandofSecretaryTransportationPeteButtigieg. French media reports said the French mediareports saidthe The prosecutor’soffi that peopleareliking.”(AP) launched likethis.Sothere’sjustsomethinginthis Syfy haslaunchedothergenreshowsthathavenot there’s somethingdifferentwiththisshow,because examples), couldthatbeakeypartoftheappeal? forms (“TheMandalorian”onDisney+amongthe “Outlander” in2014. crease foracableorbroadcastdramadebutsince million). That’sthebiggestweek-over-weekin- more viewersthanthefi demand viewing-thesecondepisodedrew581,000 companies saymoreaccuratelyrefl the nextthreedays-anextendedwindowthatmedia Alien” intheirinitialSyfyairingscombinedwith TV audiences. Bravo channelstointroducetheseriesdifferent on USA,andshowingsNBCUniversal’sE! ing awhopping10timesonSyfyandsimulcast swooping overBillsStadium. by aStealthjet,butvisualeffects-generatedUFO narrator announcementofa“specialfl Buffalo NFLplayoffgame.Precedingtheclip:a enlisted toairaseriestrailerduringtheBaltimore- movie andTVprojects.InJanuary,NFLSportswas proach tostokingenthusiasmemployedbyother view atNewYorkComicCon,anearly-birdap- effort. efi strates thateventherightseriesattimeben- “Resident Alien”aside,itspromisingstartdemon- NBCUniversal behindit.Thecreativestrengthsof compete? WiththeheftofComcast-subsidiary edgy fareonstreamingplatforms. quent effortstocompeteinaTVworldfl Owen said,with“Mr.Robot”anexampleofsubse- CNN mediacorrespondent ts fromajuggernautpromotionalandscheduling “I thinkthatcontributes,”Badersaid.“But With thesci-fi In ratingsforthefi Then camerepeatedairingsofthepilot,includ- Pre-pandemic, theseriesenjoyedafall2019pre- So howcanaseriesonnichechannellikeSyfy ect theendof ce ad- genreagrowingpartofallTVplat- Also: rst twoepisodesof“Resident Trump’s rst(2.765millionvs.2.184 reported. (AP) master classather school, BFMTV The twometwhen Depardieu leda Aug 13,2018athis homeinParis. pardieu assaultedheronAug7and said thewomanallegedthatDe- Parisien andbroadcasterBFMTV later revived.FrenchnewspaperLe because oflackevidence,butwas against thestarwasdroppedin2019 Tucker Carlson Brian Stelter presidency andthe ects today’son- yover” -not ooded by ooded inbecom- thought ARAB TIMES, THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 25, 2021 SPORTS 15 Kapanen scores in OT, Pens pip Caps

Bayern rout Lazio 4-1 in CL Chelsea top Atlético with Giroud’s bicycle-kick goal BUCHAREST, Romania, Feb 24, said. “We have to raise our heads (AP): After his great overhead and try to win the second leg. kick found the net to break the There’s no other option for us.” deadlock in a difficult match, all It had been a lackluster match Olivier Giroud could do was wait. until Giroud’s goal, with neither And wait and wait. team managing to create many Giroud’s 68th-minute bicycle- significant scoring opportuni- kick goal against Atlético Madrid ties and with the goalkeepers not was initially disallowed for offside having to work too hard. Chelsea and it took nearly three minutes controlled possession and looked a for video review to reverse the call bit more dangerous, but both sides and secure Chelsea the 1-0 away appeared to be satisfied with the win in the first leg of the round of scoreless draw and didn’t take too 16 of the Champions League. many risks. Giroud was clearly in front of “We knew they were ready to the defenders when he pulled off suffer with eight people in the his acrobatic shot and few Chel- box,” Tuchel said. “The intention sea players complained when the was to keep the intensity high. linesman raised his flag, but VAR This is what we did very good. We determined that the ball came from never let them breathe or come out Atlético defender Mario Hermoso for counter-attacks. We have a big instead of Chelsea midfielder Ma- reward with this result. This is one son Mount, thus annulling the off- of the toughest challenges to open side. a defense like (Atlético’s).” “I did not know what to think Atlético was outshot by Chelsea about the goal, I just focused on and finished the match with no at- hitting the overhead kick and was tempts on target. pleased to see it go in the back of “We know the importance of the the net, I had no clue about being away goal in Europe so that is why offside,” Giroud said. “Mason I was pleased to help the team win Mount said he did not touch the the game,” Giroud said. “We man- ball. Good aged it well and we were confident for the team, but faced a great team and I think good for we were very committed and knew Washington Capitals goaltender Vitek Vanecek (41) stops the puck against Pittsburgh Penguins center Colton Sceviour (7) during the first period of an me.” their main strengths. We dealt with NHL hockey game, on Feb 23, in Washington. Also seen is Capitals defenseman Brenden Dillon (4). (AP) The result it, but we have to stay focused and kept Chelsea complete the job.” coach Thom- WASHINGTON, Feb 24, as Tuchel (AP): Kasperi Kapanen NHL Results/Standings unbeaten in SOCCER scored on a one-timer 1:43 eight match- into overtime, lifting the es since he Hermoso was trying to clear Pittsburgh Penguins to a WASHINGTON, Feb 24, (AP): Results and standings from the NHL games on took over the the ball from the area while under Tuesday. squad to re- Giroud pressure from Mount and kicked it 3-2 victory over the Wash- Buffalo 4 New Jersey 1 Ottawa 5 Montreal SO 4 place Frank Lampard. backward. Giroud reached up high ington Capitals. Pittsburgh 3 Washington OT 2 Nashville 2 Detroit 0 “Fantastic result, fantastic goal. with his left foot to send the ball Chicago 6 Columbus SO 5 Edmonton 4 Vancouver 3 Well deserved,” Tuchel said. “It toward the corner past Atlético The Penguins won for the fourth East Division West Division was a very disciplined perfor- goalkeeper Jan Oblak. time in five games against the GP W L OT Pts GF GA GP W L OT Pts GF GA mance – a deserved shutout.” “The game was decide on de- Boston 16 11 3 2 24 51 36 Capitals this season, including two Washington 18 9 5 4 22 60 63 Vegas 16 11 4 1 23 48 34 Atlético was the home team but tails,” Koke said. “It didn’t look in overtime and one in a shootout. Pittsburgh 17 10 6 1 21 54 55 St Louis 19 10 7 2 22 59 59 the match was played in Bucha- like a dangerous play but they They also won for the eighth time NY Islanders 18 9 6 3 21 44 43 Colorado 15 9 5 1 19 44 32 rest, Romania, because of travel ended scoring a great goal.” Philadelphia 15 8 4 3 19 51 51 Los Angeles 17 8 6 3 19 54 48 this season after entering the third Arizona 18 8 7 3 19 48 52 restrictions preventing visitors Mount and Jorginho were NY Rangers 16 6 7 3 15 40 42 period tied or trailing. New Jersey 14 6 6 2 14 37 41 Minnesota 15 9 6 0 18 44 38 from Britain entering Spain. shown yellow cards and will miss San Jose 17 7 8 2 16 47 64 Kapanen and Jake Guentzel each Buffalo 16 6 8 2 14 41 47 The second leg will be on March the second leg because of accumu- Central Division Anaheim 19 6 10 3 15 37 54 had a goal and an assist for Pittsburgh, Buffalo Sabres defenseman Bran- GP W L OT Pts GF GA North Division 17 in London. lation of cards. GP W L OT Pts GF GA In the other round-of-16 match Simeone had to improvise with and Evgeni Malkin scored his fifth don Montour (62) checks New Jer- Florida 17 12 3 2 26 59 48 goal of the season. sey Devils center Nico Hischier (13) Carolina 17 12 4 1 25 64 47 Toronto 20 14 4 2 30 72 54 on Tuesday, Bayern Munich de- midfielder Marcos Llorente as a Chicago 20 10 6 4 24 61 61 Edmonton 21 13 8 0 26 76 65 feated Lazio 4-1 in Italy. right back against Chelsea because Conor Sheary and Richard Panik during the third period of an NHL Tampa Bay 16 11 4 1 23 58 38 Winnipeg 18 11 6 1 23 61 49 scored for Washington, which only hockey game, on Feb 23, in New- Columbus 20 8 7 5 21 60 70 Montreal 18 9 5 4 22 61 52 It was the second consecutive of several absences on defense, in- ark, N.J. (AP) Nashville 18 8 10 0 16 42 57 Calgary 19 9 9 1 19 50 54 loss for Atlético after a seven- cluding Kieran Trippier following led for 22 seconds all night. Vitek Vanecek made 34 saves. Dallas 13 5 4 4 14 41 37 Vancouver 23 8 13 2 18 68 82 match unbeaten streak in all com- an English betting investigation. scored the shootout winner to lift Ot- Detroit 21 5 13 3 13 39 66 Ottawa 21 6 14 1 13 52 84 petitions. It was also the eighth The teams had played in the group Sabres 4, Devils 1 tawa over Montreal. Note: Two points for a win one point for overtime loss. The top four teams in each straight game in which the Spanish stage of the Champions League in In Newark, New Jersey, Victor Tim Stutzle also beat Montreal division will qualify for playoffs under this season’s temporary realignment. club has conceded a goal, extend- the 2017-18 season, with Chelsea Olofsson scored his sixth power-play goalie Carey Price in the shootout. Ot- goal, Linus Ullmark was magnificent ing its worst run without a clean winning 2-1 in Spain before a 1-1 tawa’s Brady Tkachuk opened with Alex DeBrincat had the only suc- period as Nashville improved to 2-1 sheet since coach Diego Simeone draw in London. Atlético eliminated in making 41 saves and Buffalo beat a miss and Senators netminder Matt slumping New Jersey. cessful attempt in the tiebreaker. on its four-game trip. Roman Josi fin- arrived in late 2011. Chelsea in the semifinals in 2014. Murray stopped Corey Perry and Jona- Cam Atkinson, Patrik Laine and ished with two assists. Detroit lost for “It’s been a difficult week but It was in Bucharest that Sime- than Drouin. Jack Roslovic came up empty for the fourth time in five games. Jonathan we have to keep competing,” Atlé- one won his first title with Atlé- Both teams had excellent chances Columbus in the shootout against Bernier had 31 saves. tico midfielder Koke Resurrección tico, the 2012 Europa League. ICE HOCKEY in overtime. Stutzle had two glorious Kevin Lankinen. Oilers 4, Canucks 3 Rasmus Asplund and Dylan Cozens opportunities but couldn’t convert, and Carl Soderberg had a goal and two In Vancouver, British Columbia, broke the game open early in the third Montreal’s Tyler Toffoli was stoned assists for Chicago, which won for the Dominik Kahun scored twice and period with goals in a 1:34 span that on a breakaway with about a minute to fourth time in five games. Dominik Leon Draisaitl had three assists to help send the Devils to their third straight go. It looked like Montreal’s Brendan Kubalik had a goal and an assist, and Edmonton rally past Vancouver. loss. Cody Eakin scored an empty-net Gallagher had scored with 2.1 seconds Lankinen had 25 saves. Connor McDavid and Tyler En- goal with less than a second to play. left in regulation, but the goal was Columbus erased a 5-3 deficit in the nis also scored in Edmonton’s fourth The win was the Sabres’ second waved off after a review due to goal- last part of the third period, but it squan- consecutive win. Mike Smith had 30 over the Devils in three days and only tender interference. dered a couple of close scoring chances saves. their second in the last seven games Tkachuk had two goals for Ot- in overtime. Laine and Oliver Bjork- Bo Horvat, Tyler Myers and Elias (2-5-0). They lost to the Islanders on tawa, with Drake Batherson and Erik strand each scored twice for Columbus, Pettersson scored to help the Ca- Monday night. Brannstrom also scoring. Shea Weber and Atkinson had a goal and an assist. nucks build a 3-0 lead in the first MacKenzie Blackwood had 33 had two goals for Montreal. Drouin Joonas Korpisalo made 29 stops. period. saves for New Jersey, which prevented and Toffoli had a goal apiece. Predators 2, Red Wings 0 McDavid tied it with his 13th goal Ullmark from getting his first shutout Blackhawks 6, Blue Jackets 5, SO In Detroit, Pekka Rinne made 24 4:23 into the third on a power play. En- since 2019 when Nikita Gusev scored In Columbus, Ohio, Patrick Kane saves in his first shutout of the season, nis put the Oilers in front at 13:25. with 28 seconds to play. scored career goal No. 398 and collect- Nashville over Detroit. Thatcher Demko made 25 saves for Senators 5, Canadiens 4, SO ed three assists, helping the Chicago Filip Forsberg and Eeli Tolvanen the Canucks, who have just two wins In Ottawa, Ontario, Josh Norris beat Columbus in a shootout. scored power-play goals in the third in their last 12 games.

Lazio’s Luis Alberto, (right), challenges for the ball with Bayern’s Leroy Sane during the Champions League round of 16 first leg soc- Michigan State tops No. 5 Illinois 81-72, bolsters NCAA chances cer match between Lazio and Bayern Munich at the Olympic Sta- dium in Rome, on Feb 23. (AP) Baylor shakes off rust, outlasts Iowa State Benzan breaks 3-point record as WACO, Texas, Feb 24, (AP): Adam Cyclones with five 3-pointers, while 18 points and 14 rebounds, and West Flagler scored a season-high 22 points, Rasir Bolton had 21 points and Jalen Virginia continued its solid play on the No. 8 Maryland rallies past Iowa Jared Butler had 15 of his 18 points Coleman-Lands scored 13. road by beating TCU. after halftime and No. 2 Baylor final- The Bears never led until MaCio Miles McBride added 11 points for COLLEGE PARK, Md., Feb 24, (AP): first quarter. It tied for the most points ly overcame the rust of a three-week Teague made two free throws with the Mountaineers (16-6, 9-4 Big 12). Senior Katie Benzan broke her school the Terrapins have scored in one quar- break and Iowa State for a 77-72 vic- 4:26 left for a 66-65 advantage. They RJ Nembhard led TCU (11-10, 4-8) record with nine 3-pointers and scored ter in program history. tory, making the Bears 18-0 for the never trailed again, but needed a go- with 17 points, his 18th straight game a career-high 29 points to lead eighth- Maryland controlled the second first time in school history. ahead basket by Teague after Jalen scoring in double digits. ranked Maryland to a 111-93 victory quarter and a jumper by Owusu pro- The Bears (18-0, 10-0 Big 12) Coleman-Lands made a tying 3 with Texas 75, Kansas 72 over Iowa. vided a 68-51 lead at the break. played for the first time since an 83- 2:53 left. In Austin, Texas, Courtney Ramey Hawkeyes freshman Caitlin Clark A pair of free throws by Chloe Bib- 69 win at then-No. 6 Texas on Feb. 2 Michigan St 81, Illinois 72 scored 15 points and made two free was equally impressive and made nine by gave Maryland an 88-62 lead late in when they had matched the best start in In East Lansing, Mich., Aaron Hen- throws with a minute left in overtime shots from beyond the arc, one shy of a the third quarter and even Clark could school history. They then had six con- ry scored 20 points and Joshua Lang- to give Texas the lead, and the Long- secutive games postponed because of program record, and scored 29 of her 34 not shoot Iowa back into the game. ford had 15 points and a career-high 16 horns beat Kansas. points in the first half. Clark has scored Bibby finished with 14 points, six re- COVID-19 issues in the program. rebounds to lead Michigan State past Iowa State (2-17, 0-14) jumped out Kansas had a chance to tie after Ra- 30 or more points nine times, the most in bounds and four assists. Illinois. mey’s free throws, but Jalen Wilson NCAA women’s basketball. Miller made a layup that provided to a 15-4 lead in less than 6 1/2 minutes The Spartans (12-9, 6-9 Big Ten) on a jumper by Tre Jackson. The Cy- lost the ball driving for a layup. The Terrapins’ 68 first-half points a 101-82 lead, the fifth time Maryland earned a desperately needed quality Ochai Ogbajai scored 17 points for were the most scored in Big Ten his- scored over 100 points this season. clones’ biggest lead was 32-15 when win to bolster their chances of playing Harris made his fourth 3-pointer of the Kansas (17-8, 11-6 Big 12), which had tory. Monika Czinano finished with 17 in 23 straight NCAA Tournaments. Texas guard Courtney Ramey (3) its five-game win streak snapped. Diamond Miller had 27 points and points and McKenna Warnock added game with 6:24 left in the first half. The Fighting Illini (16-6, 12-4) had fights for a loose ball with Kansas Tyler Harris had 22 points for the Ga. Tech 69, Va. Tech 53 Ashley Owusu added 24 points and 12 16 points for Iowa. won a Big Ten-best seven straight guard Christian Braun during over- games, putting them in contention for time in an NCAA college basketball In Balcksburg, Va., Moses Wright assists for the Terrapins (17-2, 13-1 game, on Feb 23, in Austin, Texas. scored 17 of his 26 points in the second Big Ten). a No. 1 seed in college basketball’s showcase that starts next month. (AP) half, helping Georgia Tech pull away The game was originally scheduled from Virginia Tech. for Jan. 21, but Iowa coach Lisa Blud- Austin Reaves scored 18 of his 25 Wright also grabbed 10 rebounds in er canceled that trip because of the BASKETBALL points in the second half for Oklahoma the Yellow Jackets’ third straight vic- potential for further civil unrest with (14-6, 9-5). tory. They also posted back-to-back the presidential inauguration in nearby ACC road wins for the first time since Washington. Trent Frazier scored 22 points for Villanova 81, St. John’s 58 Illinois, whose star players weren’t as In Villanova, Pa., Caleb Daniels 2008. productive as usual against a suddenly scored 17 points, and Collin Gillespie Jose Alvarado had 13 points for BASKETBALL stingy defense. and Jermaine Samuels each had 14 to Georgia Tech (12-8, 8-6), and Michael Kansas St 62, Oklahoma 57 lead Villanova past St. John’s. Devoe finished with 12. The matchup featured the highest- The Wildcats (15-3, 10-2 Big East) Keve Aluma had 12 points and 14 In Manhattan, Kan., Mike McGuirl rebounds for Virginia Tech (14-5, scoring offenses in the nation: Mary- scored 19 points, hitting three straight avenged a Feb. 3 loss to the Red Storm 8-4). The Hokies’ 53 points were a land is ranked No. 1 with 92.4 points 3s in the final minutes, and Kansas (14-9, 8-9) in New York. St. John’s per game, followed by Iowa (12-7, State took down Oklahoma. has done little to build off the upset, season low. 8-7) with 87.9 points. The Terrapins The Sooners led by six with three losing three of four. Mississippi 60, Missouri 53 had won their previous five games minutes to play before McGuirl took Big East scoring leader Julian In Columbia, Mo., Devontae Shuler by an average of 35 points, and once over. Champagnie (19.8 points per game) scored 14 points and Mississippi beat again, they had too much firepower for Davion Bradford scored 13 points was invisible in the first half for St. Missouri to sweep the season series their opponent. and DaJuan Gordon had 11 as Kansas John’s. He missed his first eight shots against the sputtering Tigers. Miller went 4 of 4 from 3-point Maryland guard Diamond Miller (right), goes up for a shot against Iowa State (7-18, 3-13 Big 12) beat a top- and finished the game with 16 points. Romello White, Luis Rodriguez and range and Benzan also made all four center Sharon Goodman (40), guard Kate Martin (20) and guard Lauren 10 opponent at home for the first time West Virginia 74, TCU 66 Jarkel Joiner added 10 points apiece of her attempts from beyond the arc as Jensen (center), during the second half of an NCAA college basketball since topping then-No-4 Oklahoma In Fort Worth, Texas, Taz Sherman for Ole Miss (13-9, 8-7 Southeastern Maryland led 41-21 at the end of the game, on Feb 23, in College Park, Md. (AP) three years ago. scored 23 points, Derek Culver had Conference). ARAB TIMES, THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 25, 2021 16

Detroit Red Wings goaltender Jonathan Bernier (45) stops a Nashville Predators left wing Erik Haula (56) shot in the third period of an NHL hockey game, on Feb 23, in Detroit. (AP) — See Page 15 Sports Latest sports scores at — http://sports.arabtimesonline.com Golf star suffered leg injuries in vehicle rollover in suburban LA Lucky to be alive, Woods faces difficult recovery LOS ANGELES, Feb 24, (AP): In a career fi lled with remarkable come- backs, Tiger Woods faces perhaps his toughest recovery of all. Woods was driving alone through a sweeping, downhill stretch of road through coastal suburbs of Los An- geles when his SUV struck a sign, crossed over a raised median and two oncoming lanes fl ipped several times before coming to rest on its side. Its airbags deployed. A sheriff’s deputy poked his head through a hole in the windshield to see Woods, still wearing his seatbelt, sit- ting in the driver’s seat. The crash caused “signifi cant” inju- ries to his right leg and he underwent what was described as a “long surgical procedure” at Harbor-UCLA Medical Center. In this Oct 28, 2019 file photo, Ti- Anish Mahajan, the chief medical ger Woods smiles during a winner’s offi cer, said Woods shattered tibia and ceremony after winning the Zozo fi bula bones in multiple locations. He Championship PGA Tour at the Ac- suffered “open fractures,” meaning the cordia Golf Narashino country club skin was broken. in Inzai, east of Tokyo, Japan. (AP) The bones were stabilized by a rod in the tibia. He said a combination of screws and pins were used for injuries in the ankle and foot. A statement on his Twitter account said he was awake, responsive and re- covering. GOLF

“I will say that it’s very fortunate that Mr. Woods was able to come out of this alive,” said Carlos Gonza- lez, the deputy from the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department who was Boston Celtics guard Kemba Walker (8) reacts after being fouled by Dallas Mavericks forward Tim Hardaway Jr during the first half of an NBA basketball the fi rst on the scene after a neighbor game in Dallas, on Feb 23. (AP) called 911. No charges were fi led, and police In this aerial image take from video said there was no evidence he was im- provided by KABC-TV, a vehicle paired. rest on its side after a rollover ac- The golf world was stunned by the cident involving golfer Tiger Woods news. along a road in the Rancho Palos Cavaliers ‘edge’ Hawks to “As if his body hasn’t endured Verdes suburb of Los Angeles on enough,” Jon Rahm, the No. 2 player Tuesday, Feb 23. (AP) in the world, said from the Workday Championship in Florida. “I just hope Patterson didn’t treat Woods and he can get out of the hospital after re- wouldn’t comment specifi cally about covery and he can still play with his the golfer’s injuries but said the risk of kids and have a normal life.” infection is extremely high for patients end 10-game losing streak Dr. Joseph Patterson, an orthopedic with open fractures. trauma surgeon at Keck Medicine of “Tissue can be exposed to bacteria, USC in Los Angeles, said injuries like dirt and clothing. The outcomes can be those sustained by Woods are among a lot worse if that tissue gets infected,” Doncic’s last-second 3 lifts Mavs over Celtics 110-107 the most common seen in hospital Patterson said. Open fractures can re- emergency rooms. quire multiple surgeries to repair. CLEVELAND, Feb 24, Garden with another big night in the building, scoring 37 points and leading (AP): Lamar Stevens drove Golden State past New York. NBA Results/Standings for an easy dunk with 4.1 Curry scored 26 points in the second seconds left and Atlanta half and added six rebounds and six as- sists. Kelly Oubre Jr. added 19 points failed to get off a final shot and Andrew Wiggins had 16 for the WASHINGTON, Feb 24, (AP): NBA results and standings on Tuesday. Warriors. Detroit 105 Orlando 93 Dallas 110 Boston 107 as the Cleveland Cavaliers Cleveland 112 Atlanta 111 Milwaukee 139 Minnesota 112 beat the Hawks 112-111 to Julius Randle went from the high of Brooklyn 127 Sacramento 118 LA Clippers 135 Washington 116 his first All-Star selection to the low of Golden State 114 New York 106 Denver 111 Portland 106 end their 10-game losing getting thrown out in the final seconds Philadelphia 109 Toronto 102 streak - the NBA’s longest after picking up his second technical Eastern Conference Western Conference this season. foul. He had 25 points, 10 rebounds Atlantic Division Southwest Division and seven assists. W L Pct GB W L Pct GB It was Cleveland’s first win since Philadelphia 21 11 .656 - San Antonio 16 11 .593 - Nuggets 111, Trail Blazers 106 Brooklyn 21 12 .636 -1/2 Dallas 15 15 .500 2-1/2 Feb. 1, and for long stretches of the Toronto 16 16 .500 5 Memphis 13 14 .481 3 In Denver, Nikola Jokic had 41 Boston 15 16 .484 5-1/2 New Orleans 13 17 .433 4-1/2 fourth quarter it appeared in doubt. points and Jamal Murray celebrated New York 15 17 .469 6 Houston 11 18 .379 6 Collin Sexton scored 29 points, Dar- his 24th birthday by scoring 19 of his Southeast Division Northwest Division ius Garland 17 and Jarrett Allen had 13 W L Pct GB W L Pct GB 24 in the fourth quarter to lead Denver Charlotte 14 16 .467 - Utah 25 6 .806 - points and 14 rebounds for the Cavs, over Portland. Miami 14 17 .452 -1/2 Portland 18 13 .581 7 who also got five 3-pointers from Damian Lillard had 20 of his 25 Atlanta 13 18 .419 1-1/2 Denver 17 14 .548 8 rookie Dylan Windler. points in the second half and added Orlando 13 19 .406 2 Oklahoma City 12 19 .387 13 Trae Young, snubbed as an All-Star Washington 11 18 .379 2-1/2 Minnesota 7 25 .219 18-1/2 13 assists but it wasn’t enough for Central Division Pacific Division reserve earlier in the day, had 28 points the Blazers, who were coming off a W L Pct GB W L Pct GB and 12 assists, and Kevin Huerter 32-point loss Monday night in Phoe- Milwaukee 19 13 .594 - LA Clippers 23 10 .697 - scored 22 for the Hawks. Clint Capela Indiana 15 14 .517 2-1/2 LA Lakers 22 10 .688 -1/2 nix. Chicago 14 16 .467 4 Phoenix 20 10 .667 1-1/2 added 17 rebounds. Lillard had only five points at half- Cleveland 11 21 .344 8 Golden State 17 15 .531 5-1/2 Bucks 139, Timberwolves 112 time but the Blazers rallied from 12 Detroit 9 22 .290 9-1/2 Sacramento 12 19 .387 10 In Milwaukee, Giannis Antetok- down to tie it at the break behind Car- oumpo had 37 points, eight rebounds melo Anthony’s big second quarter. and eight assists as the Milwaukee Anthony hit six of eight shots and two Bucks beat Minnesota to spoil Timber- of his three 3-point attempts, scoring Best of the Rest wolves coach Chris Finch’s debut. 16 of his 19 first-half points in the pe- Antetokounmpo put up those num- riod. He finished with 24. bers in just 29 minutes. The Bucks ap- Mavericks 110, Celtics 107 peared intent on resting the reigning Barty loses: Defending champion ty20 specialist Mohammad Hafeez In Dallas, Luka Doncic slammed the has declined a central contract offer two-time MVP for the entire fourth scorer’s table in joy this time, rather and No. 1-ranked Ash Barty lost in quarter until putting him back in the the second round of the Adelaide In- from the Pakistan Cricket Board. than anger. The allrounder “politely turned game with 3:47 left after a 29-point The Dallas sensation hit a tiebreak- ternational on lead had dropped to 16. Wednesday, down” a contract offer in category ing 3-pointer with 0.1 seconds remain- eliminated by C for 2020-21, the cricket board ing - his second go-ahead 3 in the final Danielle Col- said Wednesday. (AP) BASKETBALL minute - and the Mavericks avoided a lins 6-3, 6-4. ❑ ❑ ❑ fourth-quarter collapse in victory over “The court the Boston Celtics. was exception- Ex-Ireland prop dies: Gary Bryn Forbes added a season-high The Celtics trailed by 11 points ally quick, Halpin, a former Ireland prop who 23 points as the Bucks won their third with three minutes to go before Jaylen scored a try against New Zealand Cleveland Cavaliers’ Lamar Stevens (8) and Atlanta Hawks’ John Collins probably the straight and had seven players score in Brown put them in front in the final quickest I’ve at the 1995 Rugby World Cup and double figures. The Bucks shot 53.5% (20) battle for a loose ball in the first half of an NBA basketball game, on then taunted the All Blacks with Feb 23, in Cleveland. Stevens was called for the foul. (AP) minute with a short jumper. Doncic ever played in overall and went 20 of 42 from 3-point answered with a difficult 3 over 6-foot- Australia and an obscene gesture, has died. He range. 8 Daniel Theis before Brown pulled that took some Barty was 55. Karl-Anthony Towns and Malik four-game road losing streak. Clippers 135, Wizards 116 time to adjust,” said Barty, who lost World Rugby announced the In Los Angeles, Kawhi Leonard Boston even at 107-all with another death on Wednesday. The cause of Beasley each scored 26 points for the Nets 127, Kings 118 bucket. in the quarterfinals of the Australian Timberwolves. In New York, Bruce Brown scored scored 32 points and the Los Angeles Open. (AP) death was not immediately known. Clippers routed Washington, snapping Pistons 105, Magic 93 ❑ ❑ ❑ (AP) 76ers 109, Raptors 102 13 of his 29 points in the fourth quarter In Orlando, Florida, not long af- ❑ ❑ ❑ to lead the Brooklyn Nets to a win over the Wizards’ season-high five-game In Tampa, Florida, Tobias Harris winning streak. ter Saben Lee scored a career-best 21 Maddison injured: Leicester scored 12 of his 23 points in the fourth the Sacramento Kings. points and helped the Detroit Pistons midfielder James Maddison will Musiala picks Germany: Bay- The Nets had five players score in Paul George had 30 points before ern Munich attacking midfielder quarter and Philadelphia beat Toronto leaving with 7:19 remaining because snap a three-game losing streak, the miss the Europa League match to end the Raptors’ four-game winning double figures. James Harden recorded against Slavia Prague because of a Jamal Musiala has committed to of a minutes restriction after a toe inju- point guard was presented with a me- play internationally for Ger- streak. his sixth triple-double with the Nets, mento to ensure he won’t soon forget hip injury, manager Brendan Rodg- finishing with 29 points, 11 rebounds ry. The Clippers had four bench play- ers said Wednesday. many, rather than England, a day Joel Embiid had 18 points and 12 ers in double figures as their reserves the game. after scoring his first Champions rebounds for the 76ers, and Furkan and 14 assists. He ranks second in fran- Lee, a rookie out of Vanderbilt on a While the Foxes prepared to outscored the Wizards’ subs 58-29. host the Czech champions on League goal. Korkmanz added 19 points. chise history, one behind Jason Kidd. two-way contract, made 8 of 11 shots Musiala was born in Germany Kyrie Irving added 21 points as Bradley Beal, the NBA’s leading Thursday in the second leg of the Normal Powell led the Raptors with scorer at 32.9 points per game, finished and all three of his 3-pointers as the but moved to England when he 24 points. Pascal Siakam added 22 and Brooklyn extended its winning streak round of 32, Maddison was in with 26 points and 10 assists. Russell Pistons started fast and dominated the London seeing specialists for a was 7 and came through Chelsea’s Fred VanVleet had 12 points, eight re- to seven games and improved to 21-12. second half in a win over the Orlando Westbrook had 20 points, 10 assists hip problem that required surgery academy. He played for both Ger- bounds and eight assists. The Nets swept their regular-season Magic. and nine rebounds. last summer. (AP) many and England at the under-16 Ben Simmons finished with 15 series against Sacramento, which has Following the 10th game of his ❑ ❑ ❑ level and most recently played two points, nine rebounds and seven assists lost eight in a row. Warriors 114, Knicks 106 NBA career, Lee was presented with under-21 games for England in for the 76ers, who overcame seven De’Aaron Fox led the Kings with 27 In New York, Stephen Curry wel- the game ball by coach Dwane Casey Hafeez declines offer: Twen- November. (AP) fourth-quarter turnovers to end their points. comed fans back to Madison Square in a joyous locker room celebration.

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