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FRIDAY-SATURDAY, APRIL 16-17, 2021 / RAMADAN 4-5, 1442 AH emergency number 112 NO. 17665 16 PAGES 150 FILS GCC SEEKS ROLE IN IRAN NUCLEAR DEAL TALKS Iran voids Vienna offer Holocaust refuge in Israeli defense

DUBAI, April 15, (Agencies): Iran’s supreme leader on all matters of state in the Islamic Republic, came after a day that saw Wednesday dismissed initial offers at talks in Vienna to Iran’s president similarly ratchet up pressure over the accord. European save Tehran’s tattered nuclear deal as “not worth look- powers meanwhile warned Tehran its actions were “particularly regret- table” and “dangerous.” ing at,” attempting to pressure world powers after an The talks already have been thrown into disarray by a weekend attack on attack on the country’s main nuclear enrichment site. Iran’s main Natanz nuclear enrichment site suspected to have been carried out The comments by Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, who has final say on by Israel. Tehran retaliated by announcing it would enrich uranium up to 60% – higher than it ever has before but still lower than weapons-grade levels of 90%. ‘Chaos key to force government hand’ “The offers they provide are In this June 25, 2020 file photo, Engineers Mahmood al-Nasser (left), and Mo- usually arrogant and humiliating hammad Nasser al-Emadi test the Emirates Mars Mission probe’s ‘flat sat’, at (and) are not worth looking at,” the Mohammed bin Rashid Space Center in Dubai, United Arab Emirates. (AP) the 81-year-old Khamenei said in an address marking the first day Ambitious timeline for moon shot Diatribes ‘for dissolution’ of the holy Muslim fasting month of Ramadan in Iran. He also criticized the US and The United Arab Emirates’ space cen- vices. By Saeed Mahmoud Saleh cess through illegal actions, including the use of a loud speak- warned time could be running ter announced Wednesday a more “Our mission through scientific en- Arab Times Staff er and physical altercation with the Assembly employees and out. ambitious timeline for sending its first deavours such as the Emirates Lunar security guards. He then called on everyone to return to the KUWAIT CITY, April 15: National Assembly Speaker “The talks shouldn’t become rover to the moon. Mission is to keep the UAE flag flying right track, protect Kuwait and not to set fire to the nation; talks of attrition,” Khamenei The Mohammed Bin Rashid Space high and be at the forefront of coun- Marzouq Al-Ghanim said the attitude of some MPs during otherwise, everyone will bite his own finger due to guilt. the last two sessions is aimed at dissolving the Assembly by said. “They shouldn’t be in a way Center said it is partnering with Ja- tries contributing to scientific achieve- On the other hand, MP Muhannad Al-Sayer asserted that that parties drag on and prolong pan’s ispace company to send a rover ments that will change the face of instigating chaos. the Speaker will not enjoy even a single peaceful session In a press statement, Al-Ghanim disclosed that he ad- the talks. This is harmful to the to the moon on an unmanned space- humanity,” said Yousuf Hamad Al- since he protected His Highness the Prime Minister Sheikh country.” craft by 2022, rather than 2024. Shaibani, who heads the Mohammed journed Wednesday’s session until the next couple of Sabah Al-Khalid against grilling motions and deprived the Speaking to his Cabinet, an The “Rashid” rover, named after Bin Rashid Space Center. weeks and that he has a message for the people of Kuwait. MPs of the right to use their constitutional tools to monitor impassioned Iranian President Dubai’s ruling family, will deploy to the The space center oversees the He pointed out the recent turn of events in the Assembly is the performance of the government. Hassan Rouhani said the first- moon using ispace’s lunar lander. The country’s astronaut program, in which unfortunate as any political, legal or constitutional dispute Also, MP Muhammad Al-Mutair revealed that Al-Ghanim company will also provide the mission the first Emirati astronaut was sent generation IR-1 centrifuges that should be handled through a calm and sophisticated dialogue was the one who started insulting and offending the MPs in- were damaged in Sunday’s attack with wireless communication on the to the International Space Station in as it was done previously. He believes the citizens are fully cluding him, Khalid Al-Otaibi and Thamer Al-Suwait. He add- lunar surface. 2019. would be replaced by advanced aware that the aim is to instigate chaos in every session to ed that the speaker urged some employees assigned in his of- IR-6 centrifuges that enrich ura- The UAE’s National newspaper re- The UAE has plans to develop the push for the dissolution of the Assembly. fice to insult them, but they tried to avoid these employees. He ported that the rover will be launched Middle East’s most advanced com- nium much faster. He wants to reassure the people that the political leader- said they were surprised when the employees filed complaints “You wanted to make our into space aboard a SpaceX rocket from mercial satellite to produce high-res- ship is aware of such plans, indicating that Article 107 of the Kennedy Space Center in Florida. olution satellite imagery. It has also against them at the police station. He pointed out the most dan- hands empty during the talks but The lunar mission is part of the set the ambitious goal of building a the Constitution states the dissolution of the Assembly is the gerous part is that Al-Ghanim justified his action by claiming our hands are full,” Rouhani said. UAE’s broader strategy to become human colony on Mars by 2117. absolute right of His Highness the Amir. He prefers to not the political leadership is satisfied with him and he sometimes Rouhani added: “60% enrich- a major player in the field of space Meanwhile, The United Arab Emir- reply to the statements of a few MPs against him; because talks on behalf of the political leadership. He considers this be- ment is an answer to your evil- exploration. If the moon mission suc- ates named the next two astronauts in he is committed to the Constitution, Kuwaiti morals and Is- havior of Al-Ghanim as offensive to the political leadership. ness. ... We cut off both of your ceeds, the UAE and Japan would its space program Saturday, including lamic regulations. He said he can admonish majority of the In another development, MP Hassan Jawhar asked His hands, one with IR-6 centrifuges join the ranks of only the US, Russia the country’s first female astronaut. MPs who do not agree with such attitude, asserting they are Highness the Prime Minister Sheikh Sabah Al-Khalid Al- and another one with 60%.” and China as nations that have put a Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid forced to take positions against him for fear of being sub- Sabah about the number of meetings held by the committee Rouhani also accused Israel of spacecraft on the lunar surface. Al Maktoum, the ruler of Dubai who jected to pressure on social media. He claimed some parties formed according to the Cabinet’s decision issued on Aril 3, being behind the Natanz attack Already, an Emirati satellite is or- also serves as the autocratically ruled are using the social media and are paying a large amount 2017 on assigning the committee to study cases of losing, and threatened to retaliate. biting Mars to study the red planet’s country’s prime minister and vice to form a fake public opinion. He pointed out the genuine dropping and withdrawal of Kuwaiti citizenship. In Jerusalem at a Memo- atmosphere. The UAE partnered with president, named the two astronauts public opinion was revealed in the election on Dec 5, 2020 Jawhar requested for the names of committee members, rial Day commemoration, Israeli Japan’s Mitsubishi Heavy Industries on Twitter. during which he landed on the first spot in his constituency; copy of the committee’s reports, number of cases in which Prime Minister Benjamin Netan- to launch that probe, which swung He identified Noura al-Matroushi as as well as the election of the Assembly Speaker. the committee recommended reinstatement of citizenship, into Mars’ orbit in February. the UAE’s first female astronaut. The yahu appeared to reference Iran. Talking about what transpired on the podium at the Assem- number of cases in which citizenship has been reinstated, “We must never remain apa- The Rashid rover is expected to announcement gave no biographi- bly hall, Al-Ghanim confirmed receiving the request signed those whose citizenship has not been reinstated and reasons study the lunar surface, mobility on cal information about her or her male thetic to the threats of war and the moon’s surface and how different counterpart, Mohammed al-Mulla. by 10 MPs to nullify the decision taken in the previous ses- behind such a decision. extermination of those who seek surfaces interact with lunar particles. The two had been selected among sion. When voting on the request started, some MPs asked for Moreover, MP Marzouq Al-Khalifa submitted a proposal to to eliminate us,” he said. Is- The 10-kilogram (22-pound) rover will more than 4,000 applicants in the withdrawal of the request but this is not possible once voting suspend for six months the collection of loan installments from rael has not claimed the attack, carry two high-resolution cameras, a UAE, a federation of seven sheikh- started. This is possible only if the same MPs submit another military personnel, doctors and nurses who are Bedouns, chil- though it rarely does in its ongo- microscopic camera, a thermal im- doms on the Arabian Peninsula that’s request to withdraw the first request, he clarified. dren of Kuwaiti women married to non-Kuwaitis and citizens ing shadow war against Tehran. He added the MPs insisted on interrupting the voting pro- of other countries in the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC). agery camera, a probe and other de- also home to Abu Dhabi. (AP) Aimed The talks in Vienna are aimed at finding a way for the United States to re-enter Tehran’s nuclear Opinion agreement with world powers and have Iran comply again with its limits. The accord, which former president Donald Trump unilat- erally withdrew the US from in Khaled & Ghanim, no excuse, let the work begin 2018, prevented Iran from stock- piling enough high-enriched uranium to be able to pursue a nuclear weapon in exchange for By Ahmed Al-Jarallah not hesitate, or use their positions the lifting of economic sanctions. Editor-in-Chief, the Arab Times for their personal interests. Late on Wednesday, the Euro- We are witnessing an era when pean Union said formal negotia- THERE is no longer an excuse for a former prime minister, ministers Attack ‘fires’ Saudi ‘U’ tions would resume Thursday in either the executive authority or its and offi cials are being tried on Vienna. legislative counterpart as to why charges of corruption, negligence JEDDAH, April 15, (AP): A Rouhani in his comments work shouldn’t begin, especially and not managing the state well. Saudi university near the coun- Wednesday insisted Iran is still after confi rming the immunity of This means that no one is safe, no try’s border with Yemen caught hoping that the Vienna talks lead His Highness the Prime Minister fire early Thursday after the Newswatch to a negotiated settlement over matter how high his position or so- its program – and the accompa- in the parliament, even though his cial status is. kingdom’s air defenses intercept- immunity was long established ed a barrage of ballistic missiles nying lifting of punishing sanc- They also have to remember that tions. Khamenei as well said he through his probity, and also the we are under a fi rm political leader- and bomb-laden drones. The interception scattered de- KUWAIT CITY: Kuwait Ministry of ligence service. believed in his negotiators, but immunity of the Speaker. ship, as His Highness the Amir is The three, who were arrested in There is no longer an excuse bris on Jizan University’s cam- Health Wednesday registered four kept up the pressure on the West known for his integrity, uprightness deaths and 1,402 coronavirus cases in February 2020 in Ringsted, 60 kilom- in his remarks Wednesday night. since the government has attained pus, which caused a fire that has eters (40 miles) southwest of Copen- and asceticism, and His Highness the been contained, the Saudi-led the past 24 hours. “They must do what we say the majority in the National As- Crown Prince is known for his abso- The new fatalities raised total hagen, also were charged with illegal first, and we are assured that it’s sembly with 33 members. It is ir- coalition at war in Yemen said intelligence activity. lute belief in justice, giving everyone in a statement. It said no one was deaths to 1,423 and registered in- done, then we will do what is we relevant whether this was attained fections topped 251,675, ministry If found guilty, the men who were not are required to do,” he said. his right and ensuring that truth al- killed, and there were no imme- named according to Danish rules, face up through planning and sophistica- ways prevails. They tolerate neither spokesman Dr. Abdullah Al-Sanad France, Germany and the tion, or by a stroke of luck. The im- diate reports of injuries. said in a statement to KUNA. to 12 years in jail, chief prosecutor Lise- procrastination nor excuses or inac- Video on social media pur- Lotte Nilas said in a statement. (AP) United Kingdom, all parties portant thing is that the two authori- tion because their top priority is to He added that 1,296 people recov- to the nuclear deal, only hours portedly showed a Patriot missile ered in the past 24 hours to reach a ❑ ❑ ❑ ties must start working on mending serve Kuwait and its people. Through flying low across Jizan to inter- earlier issued a joint statement whatever crookedness was found in total of 235,053. He said recovery-to- DUBAI: One of Dubai’s famed “jet- Wednesday expressing their that, they earn satisfaction of the Al- cept a missile or drone, with it infection ratio was 93.4 percent. the Kuwaiti course. mighty Lord, and peace of mind. detonating over the city. man” pilots killed in a crash in Novem- “grave concern” over Iran’s deci- Al-Sanad said 237 Covid-19 pa- ber failed to deploy the emergency par- sion to increase enrichment. There is no doubt that the four Therefore, all conditions are ripe The barrage came just hours tients were in the intensive care units, months of bickering and wrangles, achute attached to the winged engines “This is a serious development for His Highness the Prime Min- after Saudi Arabia warned Iran while total patients receiving health strapped to his back, an investigative and the negative impacts it left on ister to start working on the real its recent decision to push its care was 15,199. since the production of highly en- report released Thursday found. riched uranium constitutes an im- the economic and political situa- reform that the country has been nuclear enrichment to its highest Health care workers conducted Investigators from the United tions, is suffi cient for everyone to level ever risked raising tensions 8,880 swab tests in the past 24 hours portant step in the production of waiting for years. No more excuses Arab Emirates’ General Civil Avia- a nuclear weapon,” the countries learn the lesson, which is that there are available including the National in the Mideast. to reach a total of 2,187,159 tests tion Authority gave no explanation is no escape from facing the facts, The Saudi statement blamed since the pandemic broke out in Ku- for why Vincent Reffet, 36, of An- said. “Iran has no credible civilian Assembly’s reluctance to proceed need for enrichment at this level.” working for the sake of Kuwait, with the development of laws or the Iran-backed Houthi group for wait, said Al-Sanad who added that necy, France, didn’t use his parachute the attack, saying the five ballis- infections-to-swab ratio was 15.8 per- in the fall during a training fl ight in China and Russia also took and getting out of the cycle of others, as per what we have heard part in the deal. blame game that the two authorities tic missiles and four bomb-laden cent. (KUNA) the desert of the sheikhdom. and read about in the past months. ❑ ❑ ❑ Describing Reffet as an “expe- US Secretary of State Antony hurl at each other. The will to change should launch drones specifically targeted civil- ian areas and had been launched rienced professional skydiver” and Blinken also called Iran’s enrich- After the positive development from the two leaders – the prime KUWAIT CITY: His Highness the jetwing pilot, the investigators said ment decision a “provocative an- that we have witnessed in the last from the rebels’ stronghold of Amir Sheikh Nawaf Al-Ahmad nouncement.” minister and the Speaker – and the Saada in Yemen. video from the Nov. 17 crash ap- two days, people are eagerly wait- others must follow. Al-Jaber Al-Sabah received on peared to show him lose control and GCC Secretary-General Nayef ing for the plans set by the govern- Houthi military spokesman Brig. Wednesday a phone call from Prince go into a backfl ip hovering some 240 Al-Hajraf said Wednesday GCC There is nothing more important Gen. Yehia Sarie tweeted Thursday Turki bin Fahad bin Abdulaziz Al- ment regarding economic rescue than removing the repression from meters (800 feet) off the ground. (AP) countries should participate in and social openness. The govern- that his group had launched 11 mis- Saud, the Saudi Minister of State and ❑ ❑ ❑ ongoing negotiations between Kuwait and once again making siles and drones at Saudi Arabia, Cabinet Member. ment, in partnership with the Na- it an oasis of freedom of opinion Prince Turki expressed congratula- DUBAI: The United Arab Emirates Iran and UN Security Council targeting the kingdom’s Patriot permanent members plus Ger- tional Assembly, must start amend- and expression, and a platform for defense system, oil sites and other tions on advent of the blessed fasting played a role in getting longtime Asian ing the laws that were enacted in launching individual economic and month of Ramadan, wishing that it rivals India and Pakistan to agree to a many to revive the nuclear agree- “critical” areas in Jizan. Sarie did ment. the previous parliaments when the social initiatives, without any ob- not mention the university. would recur with all goodness for the cease-fi re amid tensions over the dis- MPs imposed their backward view- two countries, the Arab and Muslim puted region of Kashmir, the Emirati In a letter to foreign ministers jection. The conflict in Yemen was of the six countries, Al-Hajraf points, which almost destroyed the This is the challenge that both sparked by the Houthis takeover nations. ambassador to Washington said. country after it closed it to invest- He also expressed good wishes for The comments by Yousef al-Otaiba said negotiations taking place in authorities must succeed in dealing of the capital, Sanaa, in 2014, come as the Emirates tries to rec- Vienna should take into consid- ment - both local and foreign. I which forced the internationally His Highness the Amir Sheikh Nawaf with so that we do not go back to who thanked him for the gracious ges- alibrate its diplomacy to Washington eration worries and interests of worked to consecrate a discrimina- spinning around a vicious circle ... recognized government to flee tion spirit, which Kuwait had never ture, this brotherly contact, recipro- following US President Joe Biden the GCC countries in a drive to Time is ruthless. the city. A Saudi-led coalition, cating identical sentiments. (KUNA) taking offi ce. boost security and stability in the witnessed before even in its darkest which until recently was support- ❑ ❑ ❑ After enjoying a close relationship region. circumstances. Email: [email protected] ed by the U.S., has been fighting to President Donald Trump, the au- The 33 MPs and ministers who Follow me on: the Houthis nearly ever since. COPENHAGEN: Three members of tocratically ruled UAE has sought to constitute the majority are today The U.N. humanitarian office an Iranian separatist group, the Arab underline its importance in regional Ramadan Timings facing the biggest challenge, which says the war has caused an esti- Struggle Movement for the Liberation affairs as Biden has struck a harder is work, and to set their eyes on mated 233,000 deaths, including of Ahwaz, were charged Thursday tone with Saudi Arabia and suggest- Iftar ...... Friday ...... 18:15 with fi nancing and promoting terror ed he wants to rejoin Iran’s nuclear Imsak ....Saturday ...... 03:47 their predecessors, so that they do [email protected] 131,000 from indirect causes such as lack of food, health ser- in Iran with an unnamed Saudi intel- deal with world powers. (AP) Iftar ...... Saturday ...... 18:16 vices and infrastructure. Imsak ....Sunday ...... 03:46 ARAB TIMES, FRIDAY-SATURDAY, APRIL 16-17, 2021 2

Enzyme blocks body’s immune response Researchers point to new drug target for treating COVID

esearchers from Cleveland Clinic’s Florida Research and Innovation They found that ISG15 must physically bind to specific regions in the MDA5 Research & Human Health. RCenter (FRIC) have identified a potential new target for anti-COVID-19 receptor — a process termed ISGylation — in order for MDA5 to effectively About Cleveland Clinic therapies. activate and unleash antiviral actors against invaders. They showed that IS- Cleveland Clinic — now in its centennial year — is a nonprofit multispe- Led by FRIC scientific director Michaela Gack, Ph.D., the team discov- Gylation helps to promote the formation of larger MDA5 protein complexes, cialty academic medical center that integrates clinical and hospital care with ered that a coronavirus enzyme called PLpro (papain-like protease) blocks which ultimately results in a more robust immune response against a range research and education. Located in Cleveland, Ohio, it was founded in 1921 the body’s immune response to the infection. More research is necessary, but of viruses. by four renowned physicians with a vision of providing outstanding patient the findings suggest that therapeutics that inhibit the enzyme may help treat “While discovery of a novel mechanism of immune activation is exciting care based upon the principles of cooperation, compassion and innovation. COVID-19. on its own,” Gack said, “we also discovered a bit of bad news, which is that Cleveland Clinic has pioneered many medical breakthroughs, including coro- “SARS-CoV-2 — the virus that causes COVID-19 — has evolved quickly SARS-CoV-2 also understands how the mechanism works, considering it has nary artery bypass surgery and the first face transplant in the United States. against many of the body’s well-known defense mechanisms,” Gack said. already developed a strategy to block it.” U.S. News & World Report consistently names Cleveland Clinic as one of “Our findings, however, offer insights into a never-before characterized The research team shows that the coronavirus enzyme PLpro physically the nation’s best hospitals in its annual “America’s Best Hospitals” survey. mechanism of immune activation and how PLpro disrupts this response, en- interacts with the receptor MDA5 and inhibits the ISGylation process. Among Cleveland Clinic’s 70,800 employees worldwide are more than abling SARS-CoV-2 to freely replicate and wreak havoc throughout the host. “We’re already looking forward to the next phase of study to investigate 4,660 salaried physicians and researchers, and 18,500 registered nurses and We discovered that inhibiting PLpro may help rescue the early immune re- whether blocking PLpro’s enzymatic function, or its interaction with MDA5, advanced practice providers, representing 140 medical specialties and sub- sponse that is key to limiting viral replication and spread.” will help strengthen the human immune response against the virus,” Gack specialties. Cleveland Clinic is a 6,500-bed health system that includes a 173- One of the body’s frontline immune defenses is a class of receptor proteins, said. “If so, PLpro would certainly be an attractive target for future anti-CO- acre main campus near downtown Cleveland, 19 hospitals, more than 220 including one called MDA5, that identify invaders by foreign patterns in their VID-19 therapeutics.” outpatient facilities, and locations in southeast Florida; Las Vegas, Nevada; genetic material. When the receptors recognize a foreign pattern, they be- Postdoctoral fellow GuanQun “Leo” Liu, Ph.D., a member of Gack’s labo- Toronto, Canada; Abu Dhabi, UAE; and London, England. In 2020, there come activated and kick-start the immune system into antiviral mode. This is ratory at the FRIC, is the lead author on the study, which was supported by were 8.7 million total outpatient visits, 273,000 hospital admissions and ob- done in part by increasing the downstream expression of proteins encoded by the National Institutes of Health. The FRIC — which complements and ex- servations, and 217,000 surgical cases throughout Cleveland Clinic’s health interferon-stimulated genes (ISGs). pands research underway at Cleveland Clinic’s Lerner Research Institute and system. Patients came for treatment from every state and 185 countries. Visit In this study, published in Nature Microbiology, Gack and her team identi- Cleveland Clinic Florida’s five regional hospitals — is located in Port St. us at clevelandclinic.org. Follow us at twitter.com/ClevelandClinic. News and fied a novel mechanism that leads to MDA5 activation during virus infection. Lucie, Florida, and is closely integrated with the Global Center for Pathogen resources available at newsroom.clevelandclinic.org.

A date with Ramadan. Inset: Dr Hussain Saadi Health issues can be avoided with better preparation Simple steps prevent problems in Ramadan

xperts at Cleveland Clinic Abu Dhabi, an integral part of Mubadala “If patients choose to fast, their doctor will be able to recommend changes recommend consulting a physician as soon as symptoms occur. EHealth, are providing practical health advice ahead of the Holy Month of or adjustments to their drug regimen to allow for safe fasting.” Hypertension Ramadan, to enable people to avoid common health issues. To help patients over the Holy Month, Cleveland Clinic Abu Dhabi is A change in eating and sleeping patterns can cause fluctuations in blood Typical problems reported by patients include dry eye, allergic rhinitis, gas- providing evening clinics from 9:00PM to 1:00AM for the most in-demand pressure. People with mild to moderate hypertension can fast safely by main- trointestinal problems, headaches and hypertension. A 2018 study conducted services including Primary Care, Endocrinology, Cardiology, Pulmonology, taining a healthy lifestyle, exercise and medication protocol on the advice of by Cleveland Clinic Abu Dhabi found that 49 percent of people who were Allergy, Neurology, Gastroenterology, Ophthalmology, Urology, ENT, Po- their physician. fasting in the UAE had concerns about managing their diet, physical activity, diatry and Pain Management. Headaches medications and chronic illnesses before the Holy Month began. Top health concerns during Ramadan Dehydration, caffeine withdrawal, low blood sugar and lack of sleep can “In patients who do not suffer from chronic conditions, most health issues Gastrointestinal Problems contribute to headaches. Experts say adopting a steady routine during Rama- are caused by a sudden change in routine, unhealthy eating habits and sleep Fasting can improve health, but a diet full of oily and sugary foods can lead dan, eating complex carbohydrates to maintain the blood sugar level, drinking patterns. For patients with chronic diseases, symptoms can intensify if they to bloating, belching, acid reflux and indigestion even in people who do not at least eight glasses of water, and getting seven hours of sleep everyday can do not seek advice from their doctor on how to manage their conditions while suffer from gastric problems. The frequency of peptic ulcers – open sores that help reduce the occurrence of headaches. fasting,” says Dr. Hussain Saadi, the Chair of the Medical Subspecialties In- develop on the inside lining of your stomach – which cause stomach aches are About Cleveland Clinic Abu Dhabi stitute at Cleveland Clinic Abu Dhabi also higher during Ramadan. Overeating and opting for fried and spicy foods Cleveland Clinic Abu Dhabi, an integral part of Mubadala Health, is a mul- “We always tell patients to ease into the month of fasting by making sim- can stress the digestive system and trigger reflux. Experts suggest hydrating tispecialty hospital on Al Maryah Island in Abu Dhabi, UAE. Cleveland Clin- ple changes to their daily routine before Ramadan so that their body is not properly between fasts, eating slowly and having well-balanced meals with ic Abu Dhabi is a unique and unparalleled extension of US-based Cleveland shocked into adjusting.” plenty of fiber. Aid digestion by including exercise and walks into your daily Clinic’s model of care, specifically designed to address a range of complex Dr. Saadi says that the three main areas people must focus on are their diet, routine. and critical care requirements unique to the Abu Dhabi population. sleep and managing any preexisting diseases. Allergic Rhinitis Cleveland Clinic Abu Dhabi has the following Institutes: Heart & Vascu- “Start by detoxifying your body with a generous, well-balanced breakfast Also called hay fever, this is a type of inflammation in the nose caused by lar, Neurological, Digestive Disease, Eye, Respiratory, Critical Care, Surgical and plenty of water early in the day and end with a light meal to prep the an overreaction of the immune system to allergens in the air. It causes a runny Subspecialties, Medical Subspecialties, Emergency Medicine, Anesthesiol- body for the coming month. Additionally, cut out caffeine in the lead up to or stuffy nose, sneezing, and itchy and watery eyes. A regular complaint dur- ogy, Pathology & Laboratory Medicine, Imaging, Quality & Patient Safety, the month to prevent withdrawal symptoms during the first few days of Ra- ing the summer months, the issue can be more pronounced in Ramadan when and Clinical & Nursing. In all, more than 40 medical and surgical specialties madan.” patients who fast change their routines. Experts suggest creating a dust-free are represented at Cleveland Clinic Abu Dhabi. Adequate good-quality sleep is also essential to avoid fatigue and hormonal environment at home by controlling temperature and humidity, keeping the The facilities at Cleveland Clinic Abu Dhabi combine state-of-the-art ameni- imbalances, and to remain alert. “Disruption in sleep patterns is common dur- air-conditioning vents clean and using air purifiers to prevent attacks. ties and world-class service standards. The hospital is a 394 (expandable to 490) ing Ramadan but this can be addressed by staying away from heavy foods Dry Eye bed facility, with five clinical floors, three diagnostic and treatment levels, and during Iftar, going to bed earlier and taking naps to make up for lost sleep at Dry Eye is a condition that occurs when tears aren’t able to provide ad- 13 floors of critical and acute inpatient units. It is a physician-led medical facil- night.” equate lubrication for the eyes. A change in diet and reduced intake of nutri- ity served by North American/European Board Certified (or equivalent) physi- For patients who suffer from chronic diseases and are on medications, it is ent-rich foods can impact the functioning of the eye muscles and tear glands. cians. Cleveland Clinic Abu Dhabi provides patients in the region direct access important that they consult their doctor before Ramadan for a complete health Patients with a preexisting dry eye condition can exacerbate the situation dur- to the world’s best healthcare providers and Cleveland Clinic’s unique model of management plan. ing Ramadan if a healthy diet and sleep pattern is not maintained. Experts care, reducing their need to travel abroad for treatment.

editor’s choice ARAB TIMES, FRIDAY-SATURDAY, APRIL 16-17, 2021 3

Weather Expected weather for the next By Night: Fair with light to mod- Abdaly 31 15 Prayer Timings 24 hours: erate north westerly wind with Jahra 33 20 Fajr ...... 04:00 Asr ...... 15:22 By Day: Rather hot with light speeds of 12-32 km/h and some Salmiyah 29 21 Sunrise .. 05:22 Maghrib .. 18:14 to moderate freshening at times scattered clouds will appear. Ahmadi 29 22 Zohr ...... 11:48 Isha ...... 19:34 north westerly wind with speeds Station Max Exp Min Rec Nuwaisib 35 20 of 12-40 km/h and some high Kuwait City 32 21 Wafra 34 18 clouds will appear. Kuwait Airport 32 21 Salmy 31 16

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

National Bank of Kuwait rallies 4 fils, Humansoft Holding dips Kuwait’s stock market wraps up week with modest gains By John Mathews ■ UUS$/KDS$/KD 0.30140/500.30140/50 Arab Times Staff KUWAIT CITY, April 15: Kuwait stocks ▲ Euro/KD 0.3611 edged higher on Thursday to end the week on an upbeat note. The All Shares Index ■ Yen/KD 0.0027 climbed 13.42 points to 6,530 pts extend- ing last session’s modest gains. ▲ British £/KD 0.4157 The Premier Market rose 13.42 points to 6,530 pts taking the month’s gains to ■ Indian Rs/KD 0.0040 206 points while Main Market scaled 9.13 points. The BK Main 50 index was up 5.14 ■ Philippines Peso/KD 0.0062 points at 4,978.38 pts. The volume turnover meanwhile rebounded after hitting month’s lowest level in the day before. ▲ FTSE +41.06 pts at 13:10 hr, April 15 The sectors closed mostly in green. Tech- nology outpaced the rest with 8.71 percent gain whereas Insurance slid 0.57 pct, the ▲ Nikkei +21.70 pts at closing April 15 worst performer of the day. Volume wise, Financial Services topped with 99 million ▲ Gold shares while Banking sector dominated in 1743.30 per oz (London) value with KD 39.1 million. In the individual shares, sector bellwether ▲ NYMEX crude $62.90 per barrel National Bank of Kuwait rallied 4 fi ls to 830 fi ls with brisk trading while Kuwait ▲ Brent crude $66.36 per barrel Finance House added 3 fi ls on back of 4.2 million shares and has shed 42 fi ls month- LIBOR rate 0.18363% to-date. National Investment Co climbed 2 fi ls to 183 fi ls and Mezzan Holding gained 6 fi ls. Mabanee Co gave up 3 fi ls before Al Ahli Bank BSC was unchanged at closing at 715 fi ls. 215 fi ls with a volume of 12.8 million and Zain was unchanged at 603 fi ls and Warba Bank trimmed 1 fi l. Al Ahli Bank Ooredoo dialed up 2 fi ls to close at 650 fi ls. of Kuwait inched 1 fi ls higher to 202 fi ls KUNA photo stc inched 1 fi l higher to 900 fi ls and lo- whereas Ahli United Bank Kuwait held Rain drains, sewers causing red tide, fish death, says EPA. gistics major Agility slipped 4 fi ls to 404 ground at 313 fi ls. fi ls extending last session’s gains. Human- KIPCO ticked 1 fi l higher to 163 fi ls and soft Holding skidded 29 fi ls to KD 3.859 Kuwait Real Estate Co followed suit. Al Im- ‘Human acts negatively impact sea water’ and Boursa Kuwait Securities scaled 6 fi ls. tiaz Investment was unchanged at 114 fi ls Integrated Holding dialed up 2 fi ls whereas whereas Kuwait Investment Co darted 7 fi ls The Public Environment Authority (EPA) has scooped up some samples and examined them the rain drain sewers, adding that “human Aznour stood pat at 265 fi ls. on back of 4.7 million shares. International been monitoring appearance of the red tide at the laboratory. The examination revealed that coastal activities” have negatively impacted National Industries Group rose 3 fi ls Financial Advisors and Arzan tripped 1 fi l stretching from Al-Salam beach, in Kuwait Bay, the samples contained some Myrionecta Rubra on quality of the sea water causing the red to 202 fi ls on back of 6.3 million shares each whereas The Securities House paused all the way to Al-Sulaibikhat Bay, amid some algea at a rate of 150300 per liter. tide and the fish death. while Gulf Cable gave up 7 fi ls. Boubyan at 48.8 fi ls. floating dead fish. EPA said in a statement, A survey of the mentioned region showed EPA will survey other locations off the Petrochemical Co slipped 5 fi ls to 895 fi ls on Wednesday, that a team of the authority alteration of the water color namely close to coast in coming days. (KUNA) Kuwait Financial Centre (Markaz) eased whereas Al Qurain Petrochemical Co took 0.7 fi ls to 87.2 fi ls whereas KMEFIC and in 2 fi ls. Jazeera Airways skidded 34 fi ls Osoul Investment stood pat at 136 fi ls and to 624 fi ls after pushing over 2 million 76.5 fi ls respectively. Gulf Investment Co shares and ALAFCO eased 1 fi l. The mar- slipped 4 fi ls to 128 fi ls and Aayan Leas- ket opened weak and pulled higher in early ing and Investment added 3 fi ls on back of ‘7-10 walk’ wins majority praise trade. The main index fl ipped and headed 4.3 million shares. Gulf Insurance Group south to plumb the day’s lowest level of jumped 10 fi ls to 620 fi ls and Al Ahleia In- 5936 points past an hour into the session. It surance Co dived 22 fi ls. vacillated briefl y and revved up in the fi nal Noor Financial Investment dropped 10 PACI timings announced ‘Good health benefits’ hour amid buying spurt in some of the coun- fi ls to 230 fi ls after pushing 4.8 million ters to close with modest gains. shares whereas Tamdeen Investment dialed Top gainer of the day, Warba Capital up 2 fi ls. Bayan Investment Co took in 1.1 KUWAIT CITY, April 15: The first day of Holding soared 35.9 pct to 17.6 fi ls and fi ls and Coast Investment trimmed 0.8 fi ls. Law streamlines loans payment the blessed month of Ramadan witnessed Massaleh sprinted 10 percent to stand next. KFIC sprinted 7 fi ls to 111 fi ls and KAM- Al Rai Media Group skidded 9.59 percent, CO crept 0.5 fi ls into green. KUWAIT CITY, April 15: The offi cial ga- Minister and the ministers, each in his own a large number of citizens and expatriates the steepest decliner of the day and Bayan National Real Estate Co rose 1.5 fi ls to zette Kuwait Today published a law which jurisdiction, shall implement this law and it outside their homes during the three-hour Investment Co topped the volume with 42.7 93.5 fi ls whereas Salhia Real Estate clipped talks about fi nancial obligations owed by shall be enforced from the date of its publi- period (7:00 pm to 10:00 pm) for walking million shares. 2 fi ls. Tamdeen Real Estate Co gave up 4 fi ls citizens to banks in the form of installments, cation in the Offi cial Gazette. Refl ecting the day’s gains, the winners whereas Ajial Real Estate dialed up 2 fi ls. reports Al-Anba daily. In response to a question about the other within the residential areas as per the de- outnumbered the losers. 62 stocks advanced Kuwait Cement Co fell 2 fils to 232 In its fi rst article the law stipulates the bodies mentioned in the law that has been cision of the Council of Ministers, reports whereas 48 closed lower. Of the 133 coun- fils whereas Kuwait Portland Cement payment of fi nancial obligations to those approved by the government and the coun- Al-Qabas daily. ters active on Thursday, 23 closed fl at. gained 6 fils. Shuaiba Industrial darted 10 citizens who wish to do so, and the second cil, namely the family and defaulters’ funds, 8706 deals worth KD 58 million were trans- fils to 175 fils whereas Metal and Recy- article allows the postponement of the pay- and the “insurances” and the fi nancing Apparently, people want to go outside during the pe- acted during the session. lcing Co and Kuwait Foundry Co tripped ment of consumer and installment loans to bank, the sources answered: “insurances” riod allowed for walking due to the moderate weather In the banking sector, Gulf Bank clipped 1 fil each. local banks, investment companies and fi - and “fi nancing” and the family and default- conditions. This is in addition to the fact that the three- 2 fi ls after pushing 5.8 million shares The market was mixed during the week. nancing companies subject to the supervi- ers funds are subject to “fi nancial” control hour period has become an outlet for citizens and ex- whereas Burgan Bank and Kuwait Inter- The main index closed higher in three of sion of the Central Bank for those eligible and are included, and postponement will be patriates of all ages. national Bank paused at 221 fi ls and 206 the fi ve sessions scaling 27 points week-on- citizens who wish to do so under the super- organized for them. Most of the internal residential areas witnessed the elderly fi ls respectively. Boubyan Bank fell 2 fi ls week. It has rallied 177 points from start of vision of the Central Bank of Kuwait and as ❑ ❑ ❑ and youths of both genders outside their homes during the to 627 fi ls. the month and is up 407 points year-to-date. the conditions and controls put in place by PACI timings: The Public Authority for period for walking - a manifestation of the importance of the the provisions of this law. decision to allow three hours of walking per day. According to Article three, the postpone- Civil Information (PACI) announced that We’re committed: US envoy the timings for collecting civil ID cards at The staff of Al-Qabas spotted some people walking on the ment period stipulated in the two previous fi rst day of the month of fasting, as citizens and expatriates Articles is 6 months, starting from the date its headquarters in South Surra during Ra- madan starts from 10:00 am and ends at fl ocked to the walkways while being committed to health of its publication in the Offi cial Gazette. It is regulations such as social distancing and wearing masks to permissible to extend the period for another 4:30 pm, while work in its Jahra and Ah- Bid to end human trafficking madi branches ends at 1:30 pm, reports Al- cover the nose and mouth. They affi rmed that addressing six months by a decision from the concerned the corona issue needs everyone’s cooperation, as the State authorities -- to implement the provisions of Rai daily. KUWAIT CITY, April 15: The US am- In a press statement, PACI disclosed the alone cannot protect all the people. bassador to Kuwait, Alina Romanowski, this law. A number of citizens and expatriates welcomed the speci- Moody’s report Article 4 stipulates that “the funds nec- Ramadan working hours in its administra- affi rmed that her country is committed to tive building start from 10:00 am until 2:00 fi ed period for walking, describing it as good and useful; cooperating with Ku- essary to implement this law shall be taken as long as the person walks alone, wears masks and there from the state treasury.” pm; while the citizens ’reception hall closes wait to end human at 1:00 pm and expatriates can visit from is no problem in terms of transmitting the virus. They added traffi cking, protect em- Credit rating risk In implementation of Article 5, the Prime the choice of walking hours is very good as it is after ‘iftar’ 1:30 to 4:00 pm. ployment, and prevent KUWAIT CITY, April 15: In the lat- when the weather is appropriate and the temperature is low. violations of rights, re- A number of citizens and residents asserted that the Cabi- est report on Kuwait by Moody’s, it ports Al-Qabas daily. warned that the liquidity risks threat- net’s decision to exercise walking is an opportunity for peo- “We are very pleased ple to exercise instead of “prolonged confi nement” inside the en the credit rating in the short term, to partner with the Ku- reports Al-Nahar daily. home, and that it has good health and psychological effects, wait Society for Human pointing out that allowing people to go out for a period of 3 The agency explained that Kuwait’s Rights in the project classifi cation is restricted by the crack- hours is a relaxation of people’s psyche, especially that the funded by the US-Mid- weather is appropriate, and that sport is important for body ing of the relationship between the gov- dle East Partnership Ini- ernment and the National Assembly. It movement. tiative to combat human Romanowski ❑ ❑ ❑ impedes the policy-making process and traffi cking and protect victims of labor viola- undermines the state’s ability to adapt ‘We’re sorry’: Offi cial spokesman for Kuwait News tions,” Romanowski said in a statement to the to economic and fi nancial turbulence. Agency (KUNA) Essam Al-Ruwaih expressed the agency’s daily. She went on to say, through our coop- Despite the wealth, Kuwait’s economy apology for the erroneous post on its Twitter account on eration in the ‘Together’ program, the Kuwait is smaller than other oil-exporting Gulf Wednesday, reports Al-Rai daily. Society for Human Rights will provide anyone economies. In a press statement, Al-Ruwaih affi rmed that as per the connected to the hotline with comprehensive assistance, including case management and instruction of Minister of Information and Culture and the She indicated that “human traffi cking” is Minister of State for Youth Affairs Abdul Rahman Al-Mu- access to psychological, social and legal as- tairi, KUNA has taken a number of strict measures in man- sistance, and praised the role of the Society, a global problem, and each of us must take aging electronic editing at the agency to avoid the recurrence which she described as a wonderful organiza- bold steps and do our part, reaffi rming her of such errors. tion, as it refl ects talent of the Kuwaiti people country’s commitment to ending human He revealed these measures include the transfer of some and their goodwill. traffi cking and protecting victims. offi cials in the Electronic Editing Department and identify- ing those behind the error. He confi rmed reshuffl ing in the Editorial Sector to give a Sahar Dashti presents the vouchers to Abdullah Al-Kandari from Kuwait Food Bank. chance to Kuwaiti youths with experience and competence in managing electronic editing to prove their capabilities. Strategic partnership with KFB He stressed the agency’s keenness to ensure the accuracy of electronic editing, the distinguished position and the great role it plays in covering local and international news and transmitting information and facts with full credibility and AUB provides foodstuff for needy transparency. KUWAIT CITY, April 15: In its continuous Machla food boxes. AUB preferred to pro- humanitarian and social effort, Ahli United vide its assistance in such a form in compli- Bank (AUB) provided fi nancial support to ance with the precautionary and health mea- PAY organizes Ramadan promote the efforts of Kuwait Food Bank sures raised by the competent authorities to (KFB) in providing assistance to needy face Covid-19 pandemic repercussions. The activities for young men families in Kuwait. This initiative is part of provision of purchase vouchers instead of AUB’s endeavors to enhance community food commodities is an appropriate mecha- KUWAIT CITY, April 15, (KUNA): The Public Authority living and to meet the needs of needy fami- nism that allows these families choose their for Youth (PAY) announced on Thursday various programs, lies in the holy month of Ramadan. preferred food items from certain shopping activities and competitions for youth from different ages dur- Commenting on this initiative, Mrs. Sahar centers. ing the Holy month of Ramadan. The events follows guide- Dashti, the Head of CSR Team and General Dashti said that AUB is keen to cooper- lines to prevent the spread of Coronavirus (COVID-19). Manager of the Customer Protection, at ate with Kuwait Food Bank as a strategic PAY will organize educational seminars and lectures in AUB said in a press release: Ahli United partner, pointing out that this initiative is various fi elds of youths’ interests, by two seminars weekly, Bank has launched this humanitarian ini- part of the ongoing cooperation with this with the participation of experts and academics, Head of tiative aiming to meet the increasing needs humanitarian institution, in appreciation of PAY’s public relations and media department Abdullah Al- of food by needy families in the month of its leading role in caring for needy fami- Adwani said in remarks to KUNA. Ramadan, based on its CSR principles and lies and providing them with various as- PAY will spread daily awareness messages via its social in contribution of the Bank to promote the sistance. media accounts related to health protection measures the values of compassion, solidarity and giving This initiative is in-line with the focuses country is witnessing, shedding light on the importance of urged by Islamic religion, especially in the of AUB’s CSR program which provides a abiding by the health regulations, and encouraging people to holy month of Ramadan. range of special activities for the month of practice sports, he added. Dashti pointed out that AUB is keen to Ramadan, that receives approval and praise PAY will also broadcast religious messages in accordance provide this assistance in the form of money from various groups of society. And in this with the Holy month, he added. vouchers for needy families sponsored by occasion Dashti wishes everyone a blessed They will launch the 10,000 walking steps challenge, Kuwait Food Bank, instead of providing Ramadan. which will take place every week, he said. ARAB TIMES, FRIDAY-SATURDAY, APRIL 16-17, 2021 LOCAL 4

HH the Amir ‘congratulates’ Djibouti Low-cost housing units to be President Guelleh on election victory KUWAIT CITY, April 15, (KUNA): good health as well as further develop- His Highness the Amir Sheikh Nawaf ment of the two friendly countries’ ties. Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah, on His Highness the Crown Prince Thursday, sent a cable of congratula- Sheikh Meshaal Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber tions to Djibouti President Ismail Omar Al-Sabah and His Highness the Prime distributed to five categories Guelleh on election victory. Minister Sheikh Sabah Khaled In his cable, His Highness the Amir Al-Hamad Al-Sabah sent similar wished President Guelleh success and cables. Al-Shaya meets citizens during 1st weekly meetings

KUWAIT CITY, April Mishref co-op holds press confab to announce ’20 budget 15: The Public Authority for Housing Welfare (PAHW) announced the Co-ops union reaches deal with MoSA to make some listing of 4,507 housing changes on cutting profits and return of Umrah trips units from the low-cost housing projects within By Fares Al-Abdan will help to maintain the budget the 2021-2022 fiscal year’s Al-Seyassah Staff and expenses and the Mishref Cooperative Society is the first in budget, reports Al-Qabas KUWAIT CITY, April 15: The Kuwait in terms of its size and per- daily. Joel Stewart – Founder of International Franchise Marketplace head of the Mishref Cooperative formance, where the rate of It affirmed that the offering and Society, Ali Al-Fahd, said the appointment is just 4.8 percent. the contracting process for the Union of Cooperative Societies has With regard to exempting the implementation of the project reached an agreement with the investors affected by the lockdown will take place after receiving the Ministry of Social Affairs to make decision, Al-Fahd said until now approval of the Ministry of some amendments to the Decision there is no decision regarding this Finance. No. 16/2016 on reducing the gover- issue, while those affected by the In response to a parliamentary norate’s percentage of cooperative partial curfew the decision was question, PAM explained that the profits and the return of Umrah implemented last year according to infrastructure works in the low-cost trips. which the coops were exempted housing project will be completed in Al-Fahd said during a press con- May. ference to announce the society’s from paying state proper rents by Sulaibiya and Taima areas are not 30 percent. budget for the year 2020 that there Ali Al-Fahd designated for housing. is a constant disagreement between Returning to the press confer- The procedures for distributing the Cooperative Societies Union by cooperative societies worth ence, Al-Fahd said: “This confer- low-cost homes in the new project Shari Stout, Senior Commercial Officer, U.S. Commercial Service - Kuwait. and the Pharmacists Association 7,500 dinars instead of 2,500, as ence is for fiscal 2020 budget for an according to the residential welfare exceptional year during of the regulation target five categories - the over the issue of pharmacies, indi- well as reducing the percentage of families of divorced women, widows ABCK-AmCham, US Comm Service host event cating that there is a confusion Corona pandemic, a crisis that hit profits to be paid to the ministry the area of products, employment, of Kuwaiti citizens, Kuwaiti families between the two sides about the from 5 to 2 percent, in addition to applying for housing care (their pri- Constitutional Court ruling. and others but it was a great chal- Regional webinar focuses on ‘How to the return of Umrah trips. lenge for cooperative societies and ority in distributing alternative hous- To resolve the dispute over this He pointed out that there are ing) is not mentioned, the families of part the two parties are waiting for their performance, until these soci- Kuwaiti women who are widowed, Franchise US Brands, Legal Aspects’ many points that they seek to eties proved they can play the big a response from the fatwa and leg- amend and that have been added to and widows of non-Kuwaitis and role spearheaded by the Mishref their families. KUWAIT CITY, April 15: ABCK- two franchise agreements will ever be islation department to take a final the cooperative work development AmCham Kuwait in collaboration the same, but that they should include opinion on the ruling of the Cooperative Society.” committee, as well as the technical He added that during the pan- Assistance with the U.S. Commercial Service – the following: the term of the fran- Constitutional Court, indicating work and project proposal, hoping Kuwait, and Al Tamimi & Company chise, Trademark licensing and busi- that there are two legal opinions. demic, the Mishref Coop achieved The categories also include there will be a decision agreed Kuwaiti and non-Kuwaiti military hosted a webinar on how to Franchise ness operation along with the limita- The first says that all pharmacies the highest net profit and broke the U.S. Brands, Investing in the U.S., tions on usage, fees and mode of upon by both the Union of barrier of 7 million dinars, and that personnel from the Ministry of belong to cooperative societies Cooperative Societies and the Interior and Ministry of Defense, and and the Legal Aspects of Franchising. payment, territory and scope, Standard (and this opinion cancels Law no cooperative society at the level Ministry of Social Affairs to avoid other special cases from the afore- The virtual webinar was organized Operating Procedure (SOP) and 30/2016 and goes back to what it of Kuwait has reached this figure with the support ofAmCham Dubai, Manuals, Restrictions, Termination of clashes. mentioned families whose circum- was before 1996). The other opin- since the establishment of coopera- stances require assistance and renting and AmCham Oman. the franchise agreement, Obligations ion is that the licenses that were Regarding the recruitment rate, tive work, and this was a great chal- of house without being restricted to The webinar started off with open- for execution, termination, and post- issued after 1996 belong to phar- he explained that the current lenge for cooperative societies to priority, based on a decision issued ing remarks by Frank Belonus, the termination, non-compete agree- macists, while the licenses before employment rate is 7 percent of the achieve a net profit with this num- by the minister or director general or Chairman of the Board of ABCK- ments, confidential information, 1996 remain for cooperative societ- sales rate, but a request has been ber. based on a recommendation from the AmCham Kuwait, as he welcomed responsibilities and obligations of ies. made to reduce it to 6 percent. He went on to say, the Mishref committee. the participants and introduced Joel franchisor and franchisee. He pointed out that the union and The sources indicated this matter Coop also broke the barrier in the Meanwhile, Minister of State for Stewart- Founder of International Ghanem spoke about the main role the Ministry of Social Affairs have will help control the work of coop- sales which recorded 56 million Municipal Affairs and Minister of Franchise Marketplace, Fady of a franchisor, which involves secur- worked on amendments to Decision erative societies in which the dinars, the second highest at the State for Housing and Urban Ghanem- Partner, Corporate ing protection for their intellectual recruitment rate exceeds 10 percent level of sales in cooperative work Development Shaya Al-Shaya Structuring of Al Tamimi & Company, property, licensing the use of their No. 16/2016 for more than 4 received citizens during the first and Mrs. Shari Stout – Senior brand name, in which he mentioned months and came out with a final and indicates an increase in appoint- after the Rawdah Cooperative weekly meetings in the presence of ments compared to the actual need Commercial Officer of the U.S. that is incredibly important for fran- report, stressing that the most Society, and thus “we can say that officials from Kuwait Municipality Commercial Service in Kuwait. chisors to monitor the franchisee’s prominent amendments include of the association, saying the we got the first place at the level of and Ministry of Housing Affairs. Stewart opened the discussion by activities to ensure that they are fol- technical works, raising the ceiling appointment at a rate of 6 percent is Kuwait in the financial state- He said, “The meetings are in line talking about how to Franchise a U.S. lowing the SOPs and manuals, and of the freedom to purchase goods reasonable and comfortable and ments”. with the directives of His Highness Brand. He mentioned the main 3 their role is to conduct research and the Prime Minister Sheikh Sabah aspects that one must investigate prior development to improves sales and Al-Khaled to open the doors perma- to franchising: Identifying the reasons customer adoption. nently, and not temporarily. This for wanting to franchise a U.S. brand, Targets approach will be implemented in all identifying the leverageable elements the bodies under my supervision.” of a U.S. franchise, and engaging with He also finalized his talk by talking Al-Shaya recommended the for- about the main roles of the franchisee, mation of a committee in the Kuwait the franchise that will meet ones’ objectives.He further elaborated on which involve paying royalties, com- Municipality and the housing minis- plying with procedures, and comply- try for completing the transactions of these 3 elements by speaking about the different franchise development ing with franchise targets. elderly people with special needs, To finalize, Mrs. Shari Stout spoke according to the legal procedures. models, whereas the single unit devel- opment is the basic core of the fran- about the U.S. Commercial Service’s He revealed, “I had to complete mission. Their mission in Kuwait is to these transactions myself, and I did chise system, the area development system which is where someone promote the export of goods and ser- not see the presence of any elderly vices from the U.S., supporting U.S. with special needs due to the difficul- agrees to open a series of franchise units in a specific geographic area, companies to identify local partners, ties they face during their visit in the support Kuwaiti companies on finding government agencies.” and the master franchise agreement which is when someone becomes the U.S. suppliers, and aiding Kuwaiti Al-Shaya said, “The meetings are companies interested in investing in aimed to listen to the observations franchise developer of a region, and and suggestions of citizens dealing they can sub-sell unit development the U.S., which is done through their with the housing ministry and the agreements to others. customized services. Mrs. Stout spoke about the benefits Kuwait Municipality in order to Brand remove the barriers between officials of investing in the U.S., including the and citizens. It is the right of citizens Another important element is the fact that the U.S. has a vast population to meet the officials directly and con- brand and the operations of the fran- of 325 million people, with a 20 tril- vey their problems, and it is the duty chise. In which the brand represents a lion USD GDP. The U.S. also offers of the officials to listen to them and “substantial similar costumer experi- strong intellectual protection laws, as solve their cases according to the ence, and this is the real power of a well as diversity and innovation with legal frameworks if possible, or to franchise, you could go to a location a well-trained workforce. The U.S. clarify the procedures that are fol- in another country and that experience Commercial Service aids companies lowed in their cases.” should be substantially like the fran- to invest in the U.S. through the Select chise that you opened right next to USA Investment Summit, and this your house. The power of the brand is year’s program will be held virtually Kuwait partakes in created through the brand operations, through June 7-11, 2021. The purpose in which the brand has experimented of the program is to introduce interna- 60th GCC finance and refined their operations to be effi- tional investors to the U.S. by intro- cient and to create a very pleasant ducing them to economic develop- officials meeting costumer experience, this allows your ment organizations virtually, as well franchise to be powerful”, Stewart as having them participate in investor KUWAIT CITY, April 15, (KUNA): noted. He informed the participants education sessions that will be hosted Kuwait’s Ministry of Finance on that if they were interested in finding over the course of the 4-day period. Wednesday took part in the 60th available U.S. Franchises, they can To learn more about the Summit meeting of GCC Undersecretaries of reach out to franchise brokers, such as please contact the U.S. Commercial Ministries of Finance Committee via himself, or the U.S. Commercial Service-Kuwait office. video-conference. Service. To conclude the event, Belonus During the meeting, in which The topic of the legal aspects of thanked participants and panelists for Undersecretary Aseel Al-Manifi took franchising was opened by Fady their input and questions and encour- part, the conferees discussed several Ghanem, who spoke about the legal aged attendees to follow ABCK- topics that concern the Gulf citizen, aspects to consider when opening a AmCham Kuwait on social media for Kuwait’s Ministry of Finance said in statement. franchise. He also spoke about the dif- more upcoming events. The meeting also touched on the ferent industries that are available for ABCK-AmCham Kuwait: Is a role of the GCC joint program pro- franchising, and he also urged those non-profit organization operating duction corporation regarding media who are interested in expanding their since 1985 and is composed of 500 campaign on the Gulf citizenship, it business to ensure that their intellec- corporations, small and medium added. tual property is protected in any place sized companies, and prominent The conferees deal with the imple- in which they wish to expand the business leaders and entrepreneurs, mentation of the decisions on ground brand to. He also asked franchisees to both American and Kuwaiti. ABCK- to reach the Gulf economic integra- investigate their trademarks to ensure AmCham Kuwait has acted as an tion in line with the GCC leaders’ that they are recognized locally and advocate for American interest in the recommendations, it noted. regionally, depending on the nature of state of Kuwait. For More They reviewed some reports on the the business and scope of the fran- Information, please visit our website meetings of governors of GCC cen- chise. at www.amchamkuwait.org or follow tral banks and monetary institutions Ghanem also spoke about franchise us on social media channel @ and the joint Gulf market as well as agreements, as he mentioned that no abck1985. others, it stated. Preventive measures taken 6,000 Grade 12 students answer aptitude tests KUWAIT CITY, April 13: Six thou- dents answered the aptitude test for sand Grade XII female students Arabic, English and Mathematics in answered the aptitude tests at the preparation for their admission to the Kuwait University for the academic Kuwait University. year 2020/2021, amid health require- Al-Jarallah explained that Kuwait ments and preventive measures that University has offered three exam have been taken by the government of Kuwait to present the spread of corona- opportunities which is the case every virus, reports Al-Seyassah daily. academic year and that the students had In this regard, Vice-President for to be divided into several batches to Evaluation and Measurement, Dr. keep in line with the health regulations Aseel Al-Manifi Rawa’a Saud Al-Jarallah, said the stu- issued by the Ministry of Health. ARAB TIMES, FRIDAY-SATURDAY, APRIL 16-17, 2021 LOCAL 5 REMEMBER WHEN

Local Architecture

A royal diwanniya was built by the was always built around a courtyard Sheik of Mohammarah (Persia) at the where a brackish water well or a fresh- Photograph courtesy beginning of the 20th century for his oc- water cistern stood. In daytime, there casioned stays in Kuwait. It was an ar- would be plenty of sunshine through- of The Center for Re- chitecturally unique building which was out the house. Invariably, a few stairs search and Studies on later used to house the national museum led to the roof, a much preferred place of Kuwait. It was left empty after the mu- for sleeping during hot summer nights. Kuwait and the work seum moved to its present site, only to be Close to the house stood the diwaniya, of Dr Yacoub Al- destroyed by the Iraqi invaders in 1990. or men’s meeting place, with its pri- The architecture in old Kuwait is char- vate entrance and coffee-hearth in the Hijji in the book Old- acterized by its success in “transforming center. It was there that the men of the Kuwait: Memories the local values and way of life into ar- house would entertain their guests. chitectural terms,” as stated by a contem- In nearby villages, however, houses in Photographs fi rst porary architect of Kuwait. The Kuwaiti were less sophisticated and blended published in 1996. master builder, known locally as ustad, beautifully with the surrounding en- drew no plans on papers; he fi gured the vironment. Some were fi shermen’s proportions and made the plan in his homes; others, such as the romantic mind. His success, however, in using tra- kubar, were retreats that belonged to ditional techniques with locally available city dwellers. They resided there in the materials such as mud, gypsum, coral spring when the desert bloomed after and mangrove poles, is all too evident. the winter rains. (From the book ‘Old A house or a mosque in old Kuwait Kuwait: Memories in Photographs’) Courtesy of The Center for Research and Studies on Kuwait © K.O.C. diwaniya A DIGEST OF PUBLIC OPINION ‘Competent, meritorious citizens vital to take Kuwaiti boat to shore’ “IN POLITICAL action, everything is possible and expected, and the circum- “The reason for this loss in which we live is due to the closing of doors in the “The credit for uncovering these thefts is not for National Assembly. Rather, stances and repercussions change attitudes, like in a game of soccer, the game face of every national savior who is competent and meritorious, but we have it belongs to Sheikh Nasser Sabah Al-Ahmad, may God have mercy on him, and plan and the players change, but national issues and popular demands remain become dependent on a handful of ignorant people and that is why we do not to Fahd Al-Rashid, may God prolong his life, and to the local and international constant and the positions of MPs or political observers cannot change,” column- think that one day we will fi nd a sound vision in light of the current conditions.” press, which means that the one-vote Assembly headed by the current president ist Dr Turki Al-Azmi wrote for Al-Rai daily. is either aware and this a calamity, or doesn’t know, which makes the calamity “This is not the place or the area to play tug-of-war and the escalation of what Also: ever greater. is happening on the scene, especially since what the voters demand from various “It is wrong on the part of those who think that we overlook the mistakes of “I return to the opposition and ask it to focus on issues of public money, as it groups and components of society is fi xed and known but it the opposition and focus on the government, and if it seems to some that we are is the only institution capable of rallying the political street behind it. As for the to a large extent remain ignored with or without knowledge. doing that, it is because the government is the one who holds the keys to the current government, it realizes more than anyone else that it is out of date. If it “Where are we going? This question concerns the gov- public treasury, and it is the one who appoints the administrative and fi nancial attracted some parliamentarians, it is unable to win over the people, and it is far ernment’s work program and the strategic action plan, leaders, and it is clear that it has committed disasters in the past twenty years from popular legitimacy.” and the answer will be based on knowledge that some that have brought us to this stage. The appointments have not been at the level ❑ ❑ ❑ may be ignorant of. of responsibility, and a large part of the state’s funds were wasted in the form of “The beginning is with the vision of Kuwait, to which undue bidding for infl uential people and theft of public money,” columnist Qais “The movie, ‘Lawrence of Arabia’, which was produced in 1962 and fi lmed we must in the fi rst place make adjustments after the Co- Al-Osta wrote for Al-Jarida daily. in Morocco and Jordan, won several Oscars. It is considered one of the greatest rona pandemic and after the awareness of Kuwaiti society. “In the meantime, this does not mean that the performance of the opposition classic fi lms in the history of world cinema. Even some months ago, Britain re- “The vision is a long-term ambition about where the or- was exemplary. If we want the reality, it has contributed to the approval of cad- screened it during the opening of cinemas as a way to attract viewers,” columnist ganization/country wants to go within 5, 10, 15, 20 years res that led to infl ation in the state budget, which did not exceed fi ve billion in Sami Abdulatif Al-Nisf wrote for Annahar daily. compared to its competitors and the link that connects the 2004 and reached twenty-one billion at the present time. It is the opposition who “The fi lm was also considered a turning point for Arab actor Omar Sharif to current situation to the future is strategic planning. watched closely what is happening around them has remained silent as graves launch his career internationally. “Here, I would like to point out a very important issue, Turki Al-Azmi due to tribal, sectarian and family considerations. “This wonderful fi lm showcases breathtaking views and immortal music. Arab which is vital, that is to say any strategy that needed certain procedures related “The current opposition is under obligation to realize that the real number is countries prevented its showing in their territories for the sole reason that it depicted to the provision of requirements to achieve the vision, and must include change close to twenty-fi ve members, and it is suffi cient to bring about a political balance the proceedings of the Arab Parliament meeting held in Damascus in 1918 and the of laws. The Civil Service Commission Law has not changed since 1979, so how with the government team. As for the rest, the government and its allies will use overwhelming chaos that prevailed - screaming, fi ghting and jumping on the tables. can these institutions form a vision while not being able to change the laws that them if the need arises and there is no objection to some of them sitting with the “Arabs saw in the year 1962, which coincides with the start of the Kuwaiti help them implement their strategic plan? opposition and hold a sit-in with at the parliament gate as long as the numerical Parliament show, that these scenes do not represent them and that they are more “When you politicize any particular issue or project, this means that you calculation allows for that. civilized than those doing these childish acts.” will eliminate it in its infancy, no matter how accurate your vision is not to “As for the method of winning over these MPs, it is diffi cult to mention that “The screaming and shameful chaos that happened in the National Assembly mention that the vision is often – with the consensus of researchers in man- because we do not want to be dragged between the legal channels we do not bear on Wednesday is not far from what the movie ‘Lawrence of Arabia’ has shown. agement and leadership sciences -- is formulated by competent leaders, thus claims from anyone. Absolutely, there is no justifi cation for such chaos, except that the opposition you can imagine developing the vision while we are struggling with parachute “The opposition is asked to unify positions and it must agree on a specifi c forces want to lose popular support and direct it completely towards the support appointments. agenda, and the government’s mistakes are so many that it will allow the opposi- of two leaders since the screaming approach was used. “It is surprising that some continue to ignore the established rule: ‘Today’s tion to develop a fl owering work plan. No one can deny the mistakes of the gov- “Chaos and lack of interest in the conditions of the country entail the inability mistake is tomorrow’s strategy’. This is what we have learned and know and what ernment such as the Malaysian Fund, the Army Fund, and the Eurofi ghter planes, to counter the argument or work under the banner of the Constitution and the you see today in terms of administrative, political, social and media confusions and not recovering money from those who stole the Social Security funds, and reverence of Abdullah Al-Salem Hall.” are results of that there are many experienced people known for good conduct many thefts, some of which have been unveiled and others are still in the process and behavior who know what others in leadership positions unfortunately do not. of being unveiled or remains at the depth of the sea. — Compiled by Ahmad Al-Shazli Govt offi ces wear deserted look Staff, clients missing

KUWAIT CITY, April 15: A clear absence of clients, quiet corridors of ministries, and offi ces that are almost empty of employees – this is the general scene in the ministries complex during the working hours in the month of Ramadan so far. Calm prevailed in many offi ces in light of the commitment of some government agencies to the number of employees not exceeding 30 percent, reports Al-Qabas daily. During the tour in the corridors of government agen- cies, it was noticed that the employees were congratu- lating one another and wishing well to each other in this month of Ramadan. The discussions that trended among the employees were mainly concerning the par- tial curfew and their inability to meet their daily needs due to the lack of time, as well as concerning politics and social affairs. A striking aspect that was noticed was the decrease in the number of employees due to the commitment of government agencies to operate on a 30-percent workforce capacity in all its departments, and reduced working hours to about four and a half hours. It was also noted that the employees adhere to the Cabinet’s instructions regarding health and preventive requirements at workplaces based on the instructions of the health authorities. A number of clients affi rmed to the daily that they did not face any diffi culties in completing their transactions, that there were suffi cient parking spaces for their cars, and they did not experience any congestion like in the past. They explained that they did not come across any obsta- cles in completing their transactions despite the decrease in the number of employees in compliance with the decision of the Council of Ministers. Some government agencies have automated their services, which enabled many of them to complete their transactions online. This turned out to be one of the advantages of the COVID-19 pandemic, as it pushed the authorities to adopt e-services. Director General of the Directorate General for Civil Aviation Eng. Yousef Al-Fawzan issued a circular regarding working hours during the month of Ramadan. In the circular, he declared that work in DGCA will start from 10:00 am to 2:00 pm, and called for the observance of health and preventive requirements. Meanwhile, the offi cial spokesman for the Ministry of Public Works and the Public Authority for Roads and Land Transport, Engineer Abdullah Al-Ajmi announced the minis- try invites applications for vacant supervisory positions. The ministry is looking for Department Head, Observer and Director of Department at the Ministry of Public Works. The door for receiving applications opens on Sunday, April 18, 2021. ARAB TIMES, FRIDAY-SATURDAY, APRIL 16-17, 2021

6

Officials exchange views on research, academics French Ambassador visits American University of Kuwait campus

KUWAIT CITY, April 15: The Ameri- can University of Kuwait (AUK) pres- ident, Dr. RawdaAwwad welcomed University marks Francophone Day French Ambassador to Kuwait, H.E. Anne-Claire Legendre, and Academic Attaché, Dr. Benjamin Taunay to the University’s campus to exchange GUST’s Global Studies Center hosts Dr Phillip Lane views on research, academic and out- reach-related opportunities that are of KUWAIT CITY, April 15: The Global rector of the French-Arab Business mutual interest. These long-term dis- Studies Center at GUST hosted a vir- School of the Arabian Gulf University, cussions remain ongoing and assist in tual talk titled “France’s Cultural and Bahrain, Dr. Arnaud Lacheret. the advancement of AUK as a liberal Scientific Diplomacy”. The session Chair of the Global Studies Center arts institution. discussed France’s reach on five con- and Professor of Humanities and So- “Our American style education tinents using soft power as a main tool cial Sciences at GUST, Dr. Thorsten based on the liberal arts lends itself of diplomacy. The talk, which lasted Botz, said “I am grateful for Dr. Lane to global and multinational outreach two hours, fell under the annual “Fran- for agreeing to do this, especially as and collaboration. We are excited on cophone Week” hosted by the Human- the first official event of 2020/21, but continuing these conversations that are ities and Social Sciences Department. more importantly as the first virtual integral to our institutional growth and The main speaker of the talk, Pro- lecture. The events success will lead development,” stated Dr. RawdaAw- fessor Emeritus, Dr. Phillip Lane, is to many more zoom lectures and hope- wad. a specialist in French Scientific and fully more virtual events by the GSC.” The Ambassador was provided a cultural diplomacy. His work has Dr Phillip Lane The GSC was established in 2015 tour of the campus and its new build- been published in multiple languages and has since brought a varied list ing which houses the brand-new including French, English, and Ara- These institutes serve the French gov- of interesting academic topics to the state-of-the-art communication and bic. Hehas held several French dip- ernment in diplomacy and as form GUST community. Their main areas media center, recently developed art lomatic posts in Australia, the UK, of soft power that has created on nu- of focus include Globalization and the and graphic design classrooms, and French Ambassador, H.E. Anne-Claire Legendre receiving a gift from AUK and Jordan. merous relationships and affiliations. Gulf, Culture and Media, and Kuwait- the latest open computer laborato- president, Dr. RawdaAwwad. Professor Lane discussed that However, he also goes on to question Asia relations. Bringing interesting ries. The new Center for Continu- France has 150 culture embassy ser- their use and whether they are sustain- topics during a turbulent time shows ing Education (CCE) offices and the Over the years, AUK has been work- with regular follow-ups to sustain the vices and from that they numerous able in the modern world, whether the dedication and commitment of the University library were also part of ing closely with the French embassy relationship and support mutual scho- French institutes, science and research their cultural impact can stay relevant. center to engaging its community and the tour. with consistent meetings combined lastic opportunities. centers, and Lycees (French Schools). The talk was also moderated by Di- its peers.

Event highlights India’s rich diversity Indian Embassy marks harvest festivals with cultural program By Paul Francis X. Fernandes by fully adhering to the protocol and Arab Times Staff guidelines associated with Covid 19 pandemic.” KUWAIT CITY, April 15: The Em- “In this special year when India bassy of India, Kuwait organized an begins its celebrations for 75th anni- event at the embassy auditorium in versary of India’s Independence; and to celebrate various harvest festivals India and Kuwait celebrate 60 years of in India, including Vishu, Puthandu, establishing diplomatic relations; the Ugadi, Gudi Padwa, Bihu, Baisakhi, Embassy of India welcomes you all to Vaisakhadi, heralding the New Year in celebrate India’s cultural heritage and many States of India. the very special, close and warm India- The event was inaugurated by the Kuwait cultural relationship,” he said. Indian Ambassador to Kuwait HE Sibi “Today we also have with us some George with warm greetings to the In- students, who excelled in a Science dian community and friends of India in contest called Shastra Pratibha Con- Kuwait on the joyous occasion. test organized by Science International In his address to the invited guests, Forum, Kuwait. I congratulate all the the Indian envoy said, today is an winners for their effort and interest in auspicious day. According to Indian science and technology. calendar, it is Chaitra Shukla Prati- “I commend the organizers for pada – first day of the waxing moon their initiative and hope that they fortnight of the month of Chaitra, the will continue to work towards popu- first month of Indian calendar. It is the larization of science among Indian New Year Day in many states of India, students in Kuwait. Science and and in many parts of the country it is a technology is our beacon for future harvest festival. and as you all are aware, the Govern- On this auspicious day, the Ambas- ment of India is making every effort sador spoke about India’s rich diver- to promote innovation, research and sity and highlighted the unity amidst development. I wish more and more this diversity, which signifies the true of you will take active interest in this beauty of Indian culture. The Ambas- field and continue with your passion sador also mentioned about the beau- even as you take up your higher stud- tiful confluence of events as the occa- ies. My best wishes to you all,” Am- sion also coincides with the beginning bassador George said. of the holy month of Ramadan. During the event the Indian envoy On this day which heralds the felicitated the winners. During the spring-time harvest in many parts of course of the event, audience quiz was India and signifies a new beginning for conducted and prizes were distributed all, “we must take a moment to pause to winners. and cheer ourselves up. This is all the A short cultural program showcas- more important in the times we are liv- ing India’s diverse festival traditions ing in, where there are difficulties and was also organized. The cultural pro- challenges all around us and therefore, gram included short audio video clips, we must resolve to come together, even live mesmerizing song and dance per- if virtually and make a new beginning formances. The event was well attend- Some of the file photos from ‘Pohela Baishakh’ celebrations by Bangladeshis across the world. towards health, peace and prosperity ed virtually by people from different for all. Of course, we will do all this walks of life in Kuwait. Bengali New Year festivities marked with ‘MangalShobhajatra’ Bangladeshis celebrate ‘Bangla Noboborsho’

KUWAIT CITY, April 15: Pohela dar to the 7th-century King Shashanka. pression of the secular identity of the youth people enjoy the day by wearing Baishakh or Bangla Noboborsho is the Because the term “Bangabda (Bangla Bengali people, uniting the country new dress, visiting friends and rela- first day of Bengali Calendar. It is cele- year)” is also found in two Shiva tem- irrespective of class, age, religious tives house and take Panchan, a special brated on April 14 as a national holiday ples of India many centuries older than faith, or gender. vegetable dish prepared for the occa- in Bangladesh. In Bengali, the word Akbar era. These inscriptions suggest Different cultural organizations and sion. Pohela means ‘first’ and Boishakh is that the Bengali calendar existed be- bands also perform on this occasion In the Marma community, they the first month of the Bengali Year. fore Akbar’s time. and fairs celebrating Bengali culture also celebrate by playing some games Bengali New Year is referred to in are organized throughout the country. called PaniKhela (Sangrai), Alarikhela Bengali as Noboborsho where ‘Nobo’ Celebration of Bengali New Year Other traditional events held to cel- and Dha-thu. means new and ‘Borsho’ means year. The Bengali New Year is observed ebrate PohelaBoishakh include Bull Goraia dance is very popular in the as a public holiday in Bangladesh. It is racing, Wrestling, Boat racing, Cock- Tripura community. As a celebration Traditional roots celebrated across religious boundaries fights etc. of the festivals 10 to 100 artist perform During the Mughal rule, land taxes by its Muslim majority and Hindu mi- the dance. The main theme of this were collected from Bengali people nority. The festival became a popular UNESCO eecognition of “Man- dance is to show their daily lives and according to the Islamic Hijri calen- means of expressing cultural pride and galShobhajatra” the steps of Jum cultivation. dar. This calendar was a lunar calen- heritage among the Bangladeshi. In 2014 the Bangla Academy com- The first day of the festival is called A dance performance. dar, and its new year did not coincide The day is marked with singing, piled a nomination file that was ap- ‘Phulbijhu’ the second day is ‘Mulbi- with the solar agricultural cycles. processions, and fairs. Traditionally, proved by the Ministry of Cultural Af- jhu’ and third day or first day of the According to some sources, the fes- businesses start this day with a new fairs of Bangladesh and submitted to Bangla New Year is called ‘GojjyaPo- tival was a tradition introduced in ledger, clearing out the old. Singers UNESCO.On 30 November 2016 the jjya Din’. Bengal during the rule of Mughal perform traditional songs welcoming “MangalShobhajatra” festival was se- On the day of Phulbijhu, boys and Emperor Akbar to time the tax year the New Year. People enjoy classical lected as an intangible cultural heritage girls wake up early in the morning to the harvest and the Bangla year Jatra plays. People wear festive dress by the Inter-governmental Committee and take birth with their parents and was therewith called “Bangabda”. with women decorating their hair with on Safeguarding Intangible Cultural clean up houses and its surroundings Akbar asked the royal astronomer flowers. Heritage of UNESCO at its 11th ses- and they decorate houses with differ- FathullahShirazi to create a new cal- White-red color combinations are sion, which was held in Addis Ababa, ent flowers. They also float flowers endar by combining the lunar Islamic particularly popular. People of Ban- Ethiopia. in rivers, canals and springs seeking calendar and solar Hindu calendar gladesh prepare and enjoy a variety blessing to God for eternal peace and already in use, and this was known of traditional festive foods on Po- Boisabi Festival prosperity. as “Fosholi Shon (harvest calendar)”. hela Boishakh. These include Panta Boisabi Festival is the celebration of Though the festival is related to the According to some historians, this Bhat (watered rice), Ilish Bhaji (fried the Bengali New Year by the indige- ethnic people but anyone can enjoy it started the Bengali calendar. Hilsa Fish) and many special Bhartas nous communities living in Chittagong with much enthusiasm. Tourists have According to the Bangladeshi aca- (pastes). Hill Tracts in Bangladesh. flocked to the region to enjoy the tradi- demic and folklorist, the origin of the The celebrations start at dawn with Some of the ethnic communities liv- tional festival of the tribal people. Bengali calendar is unclear. According a rendition of Rabindranath Tagore’s ing in various parts of Bangladesh also Secularism is one of the four fun- to one, it is called Bangla shonor shaal, song “Esho he Boishakh” by Chhay- celebrate the New Year but they each damental principles according to the which are Arabic and Persian words anaut under the banyan tree at Ramna have a different name for it. The fes- Constitution of Bangladesh. Over respectively, suggests that it was intro- at Dhaka. tivities get their respective unique ap- 90.4% of Bangladeshis are Muslims, duced by a Muslim King or Sultan. In An integral part of the festivities is proach. On this occasion the three hilly the rest being Hindus 8.5%, Buddhists contrast, according to other, its tradi- the “MangalShobhajatra”, a traditional districts -- Rangamati, Bandarban and 0.6%, Christians 0.4%, and others tional name is “Bangabda”. It is also colourful procession organised by the Khagrachhari -- wear a festive look. 0.2%. People in Bangladesh observe unclear, whether it was adopted by students of the Faculty of Fine Arts, The people of the hills consider the various secular festivals at different Alauddin Husain Shah or Akbar. The University of Dhaka. “MangalShobha- first day of the year auspicious. times throughout the year with social tradition to use the Bengali calendar jatra” is a mass procession that takes Three ethnic communities come and religion harmony and tranquillity may have been started by Husain Shah place at dawn on the first day of the A flyer of the event. together to celebrate PahelaBaishakh. On this first day of Bengali New before Akbar. However, regardless of Bengali New Year in Bangladesh. ‘Boishuk’ of the Tripura, ‘Sangrai’ of Year, On behalf of Bangladesh com- who adopted the Bengali calendar and The Bengali phrase “MangalShob- the Marma and ‘Biju’ of the Chakma munity in Kuwait and on our own Webinar on vaccination awareness the New Year, it helped collect land hajatra” literally means “procession are often celebrated together as ‘Boi- behalf we extend our heartfelt greet- taxes after the spring harvest based on for well-being”. Every year, thou- Sa-Bi’. These differ from traditional ings of “Bengali New Year” to His The second wave of Covid-19 pan- Indian Doctors Forum Kuwait are traditional Bengali calendar, because sands of people take part in the pro- PahelaBaishakh celebrations. Festivi- Highness The Amir Sheikh Nawaf Al demic is getting more serious. The delighted to conduct a live webinar the Islamic Hijri calendar created ad- cession that features gigantic replicas ties in the hills begin on the last day Ahmad Al Jaber Al Sabah, the Crown only visible solution to minimize the on COVID 19 vaccination. We re- ministrative difficulties in setting the of birds, fish, animals, folk tale and of the month of Chaitra (last month of Prince Sheikh Meshal Al Ahmad Al risk is vaccination. But many questions quest you all to attend this valuable collection date. other motifs. The rally symbolizes Bengali Year) and continue for three or Jaber Al Sabah, brotherly people of doubt in minds about vaccination. live webinar on Friday, 16th April There is another theory about the unity, peace, and the driving away of more days. Religious rituals are often Kuwait, our colleagues, friends and To answer such queries, UPNRI 2021 at 2:00 pm Kuwait time and origin of the Bengali Calendar. Some evil to allow progress of country and part of these festivals. The festivals are their families.“SHUVO NOBOBOR- Forum Kuwait in association with 4:30 pm India time. historians attribute the Bengali calen- humanity. It is considered as an ex- celebrated in many ways. Children and SHO” ARAB TIMES, FRIDAY-SATURDAY, APRIL 16-17, 2021 INTERNATIONAL 7

Ballot

Big-business acts Pushback against voting ‘measures’ gains motion WASHINGTON, April 15, (AP): Big business has ratch- eted up its objections to proposals that would make it harder to vote, with several hundred companies and ex- ecutives signing a new statement opposing “any discrimi- natory legislation.” The letter, published Wednesday in The New York Times and The Washington Post, was signed by compa- nies including Amazon, Google, Starbucks and Bank of America, and individuals such as Warren Buffett and Mi- chael Bloomberg, plus law fi rms and nonprofi t groups. It was the largest group yet to join protests against Re- publican efforts to change election rules in states around the country. “Voting is the lifeblood of our democracy and we call upon all Americans to join us in tak- ing a nonpartisan stand for this most basic and fundamental right of all Americans,” the letter reads. “We all should feel a responsibility to defend the right to vote and oppose any dis- criminatory legislation or measures that restrict or prevent any eligible voter from having an equal and fair opportunity to cast a ballot.” Many of the signers have been loyal donors to Republican political Bloomberg campaigns. The letter is a direct challenge In this Sept. 11, 2011 fi le photo, US soldiers sit beneath an American fl ag just raised to commemorate the tenth anniversary of the 9/11 attacks at Forward Operating to Republican offi cials who have pushed for changes in Base Bostick in Kunar province, Afghanistan. The Biden administration’s surprise announcement in April 2021, of an unconditional troop withdrawal from Afghani- state voting laws, citing former President Donald Trump’s stan by Sept. 11, 2021, appears to strip the Taleban and the Afghan government of considerable leverage, pressuring them to reach a peace deal. (AP) false claim that he lost the November election because of fraud. At the same time, Democrats in Congress propose to overhaul federal voting law in a way that Republicans Troops argue would interfere with state control of elections and hurt the GOP. There were some notable absences from Wednesday’s letter, including Walmart, Delta Air Lines and the Coca- Cola Co. Bid to end ‘forever war’ A Delta spokeswoman declined to comment beyond pointing to a March 31 statement in which CEO Ed Bas- tian called the Georgia law unacceptable. A Coca-Cola spokeswoman said the company had not seen the letter US to pull troops from Afghanistan but that it stands by its support for “free and fair elec- WASHINGTON, April 15, (AP): Pres- foreign policy to face bigger challeng- meant to be a multigenerational under- tions.” Walmart CEO Doug McMillon has stated that the ident Joe Biden said Wednesday he es posed by China and Russia. taking,” Biden said. nation’s largest retailer is against legislation that unneces- will withdraw remaining U.S. troops Withdrawing all U.S. troops comes Obama, who had hoped but ulti- sarily restricts voting rights. from the “forever war” in Afghani- with clear risks. It could boost the mately failed to end the war during his stan, declaring that the Sept. 11 terror Taliban’s effort to claw back power time in offi ce, said in a statement that Steered attacks of 20 years ago cannot justify and undo gains toward democracy he supported Biden’s decision, that “it The business community traditionally has steered clear American forces still dying in the na- and women’s rights made over the is time to recognize that we have ac- of taking public positions on political or social issues tion’s longest war. past two decades. It also opens Biden complished all that we can militarily, but that has been changing recently, with many of them His plan is to pull out all American to criticism, from mostly Republicans and that it’s time to bring our remain- putting out statements after the police killing of George U.S. Secretary of State Antony forces - numbering 2,500 now - by and some Democrats, even though for- ing troops home.” Floyd last year. Blinken, (center right), walks with Af- this Sept. 11, the anniversary of the mer President Donald Trump had also Following his speech, Biden visited Over the weekend, Yale University management pro- ghanistan’s Foreign Minister Moham- attacks, which were coordinated from wanted a full withdrawal. Arlington National Cemetery to honor fessor Jeffrey Sonnenfeld helped organize a call with mad Haneef Atmar, (center left), at Afghanistan. Soon after Biden made “This administration has decided to those who died in recent American more than 100 corporate executives, academics and legal the presidential palace in Kabul, Af- his announcement, NATO chief Jens abandon U.S. efforts in Afghanistan confl icts. After paying his respects, ghanistan, Thursday, April 15, 2021. Stoltenberg in Brussels said the alli- which have helped keep radical Is- Biden told reporters it was “absolutely experts to discuss restrictive voting proposals, including Blinken made an unannounced visit ance had agreed to withdraw its rough- lamic terrorism in check,” said Senate clear” to him that ending the war was the Georgia law. They talked about withholding campaign to Afghanistan on Thursday to sell ly 7,000 forces from Afghanistan, Republican leader Mitch McConnell. the right decision. Biden, in his speech contributions to elected offi cials who try to restrict voting, Afghan leaders and a wary public matching Biden’s decision to begin a “And bizarrely, they have decided to and during his visit to the hallowed and even withholding investment from states that adopt on President Joe Biden’s decision to fi nal pullout by May 1. do so by September 11th.” cemetery, refl ected on his own late son such laws - although the latter seemed to draw less sup- withdraw all American troops from the The U.S. cannot continue to pour While Biden’s decision keeps U.S. Beau Biden’s service. The president’s port, he said. country and end America’s longest- resources into an intractable war and forces in Afghanistan four months son, who died of cancer in 2015, had Earlier this month, 72 Black business leaders signed a running war. (AP) expect different results, Biden said. longer than initially planned, it sets a deployed to Iraq with the Delaware letter published in the New York Times that urged cor- The drawdown would begin rather fi rm end to two decades of war that Army National Guard. porate leaders to publicly oppose laws that restrict voting than conclude by May 1, which has killed more than 2,200 U.S. troops, “I’m always amazed that generation by Blacks. been the deadline for full withdrawal wounded 20,000, and cost as much as after generation, women and men give This week, the leaders of three dozen major Michigan under a peace agreement the Trump $1 trillion. their lives to this country,” Biden said. administration reached with the Tali- “It means I have trouble these days companies, including General Motors and Ford, objected Spoke to Republican-sponsored election bills that would make it ban last year. showing up to this cemetery and not harder to vote in Michigan and other states. “It is time to end America’s longest Biden spoke with Afghan President thinking about my son.” war,” Biden said, but he added that the Ashraf Ghani on Wednesday ahead of CIA Director William Burns ac- Dennis Archer Jr. is the fi rst signature on the statement. U.S. will “not conduct a hasty rush to his speech. The White House said in knowledged at a hearing Wednesday The son of a former Detroit mayor who runs a small con- the exit.” a statement that Biden told Ghani the that America’s ability to contain the sulting fi rm, he knows there’s less risk of backlash for him “We cannot continue the cycle of United States would continue to sup- terrorist threat from Afghanistan has than for large multinational companies. But there’s also a extending or expanding our military port the Afghan people through de- benefi ted from the military presence risk that Black people and others will stop buying goods presence in Afghanistan hoping to cre- velopment, humanitarian and security there, and that when that presence is from companies that don’t take stands on issues like this. Putin Biden ate the ideal conditions for our with- assistance. withdrawn, “the U.S. government’s “I think those companies that take that kind of passive drawal, expecting a different result,” “The Islamic Republic of Afghani- ability to collect and act on threats will position are really going to feel it in their pocketbook,” said Biden, who delivered his address stan respects the U.S. decision, and we diminish.” said Archer, who is Black. from the White House Treaty Room, will work with our U.S. partners to en- “That’s simply a fact,” Burns said. It remains to be seen whether corporate activism will America the same location where President sure a smooth transition,” Ghani said “It is also a fact, however, that af- extend to political donations. George W. Bush announced the start in a Twitter posting. ter withdrawal, whenever that time After a mob of Trump supporters stormed the U.S. Cap- US to announce sanctions: The Biden of the war. “I am now the fourth Unit- Biden spoke, too, with former Presi- comes, the CIA and all of our partners itol on Jan. 6 to stop Congress from certifying Joe Biden’s administration is preparing to announce ed States president to preside over an dent Bush ahead of announcing his in the U.S. government will retain a sanctions in response to a massive Rus- American troop presence in Afghani- decision. He also spoke with allies, suite of capabilities, some of it remain- win over Trump, many companies said they would stop military leaders, lawmakers and Vice sian hacking campaign that breached vital stan. Two Republicans. Two Demo- ing in place, some of them that we will contributing to lawmakers voted to reject the outcome of crats. I will not pass this responsibility President Kamala Harris to help make generate, that can help us to anticipate federal agencies, as well as for election the election or pause all giving to review their donation to a fi fth.” his decision, according to the White and contest any rebuilding effort.” policies. The freeze has begun to thaw. interference, a senior administration of- Biden’s announcement, which he House. Bush, through his spokesman, A senior administration offi cial said A political action committee controlled by AT&T, fi cial said. followed with a visit to Arlington Na- declined to comment about his conver- the September withdrawal date was which pledged to cut off lawmakers who objected to The sanctions, foreshadowed for weeks tional Cemetery, marks perhaps the sation with Biden. an absolute deadline that won’t be certifying the election, cut a $5,000 check in February by the administration, would represent most signifi cant foreign policy deci- Biden emphasized that his adminis- affected by security conditions in Af- to House Conservatives Fund, a leadership PAC led by the fi rst retaliatory action announced sion in the early going of his presi- tration will continue to support peace ghanistan. against the Kremlin for last year’s hack, dency. talks between the Afghan government The long conflict has largely crip- Indiana Rep. Jim Banks, who voted to object to the elec- familiarly known as the SolarWinds tion results, records show. JetBlue Airways, which said it He’s long been skeptical about and the Taliban and assist international pled al-Qaida and led to the death of breach. In that intrusion, Russian hackers the U.S. presence in Afghanistan. As efforts to train the Afghan military. Osama bin Laden, the architect of the would pause donations after Jan. 6 - and signed Wednes- are believed to have infected widely used day’s letter - recently gave $1,000 to New York Republi- Barack Obama’s vice president, Biden He noted that the “forever war” has Sept. 11 attacks. But an American software with malicious code, enabling was a lonely voice in the administra- led to service members who weren’t withdrawal also risks many of the can Rep. Nicole Malliotakis, who also voted to object to them to access the networks of at least the election outcome. tion who advised the 44th president to even alive at the time of the Sept. gains made in democracy, women’s nine agencies in what U.S. offi cials be- tilt towards a smaller counterterrorism 11 attacks serving, as well as young rights and governance, while ensur- Some are donating to committees controlled by party lieve was an intelligence gathering opera- role in the country while military ad- troops following in the steps of their ing that the Taliban, who provided leaders that spend big to boost the chances of all Republi- tion aimed at mining government secrets. visers were urging a troop buildup to mothers and fathers in deploying to al-Qaida’s haven, remain strong can candidates in the House and the Senate. Besides that hack, US offi cials last counter Taliban gains. Biden has also Afghanistan. and in control of large swaths of the month alleged that Russian President made clear he wants to recalibrate U.S. “The war in Afghanistan was never country. Donations Vladimir Putin authorized infl uence Most companies have not said whether they will with- operations to help Donald Trump in his hold donations from lawmakers who are pushing the new unsuccessful bid for reelection as presi- meth, 640 gambling machines, 44 guns and instead honor the late baseball Hall of Hank,” he set a wide array of career hit- voting laws. dent, though there’s no evidence Russia and more than $260,000 in cash, authori- Famer Hank Aaron. ting records during his 23-year span, ul- “I’m dubious they will go that far. It’s easy to make or anyone else changed votes or manipu- ties said. The Atlanta Board of Education voted timately breaking Babe Ruth’s home run political statements and continue to give money,” said lated the outcome. The measures are to be Authorities raided what they say were unanimously Monday to change the name record while enduring racist threats. Lawrence Glickman, a Cornell University history profes- announced Thursday, according to the of- illegal gambling parlors inside apart- of Forrest Hill Academy to Hank Aaron Forrest Hill Academy had been named sor who wrote a book about the infl uence of business on fi cial, who was not authorized to discuss ments, outbuildings, small businesses and New Beginnings Academy, news outlets after Nathan Bedford Forrest, a Confeder- U.S. politics. “It makes front-page news when Coca Cola, the matter by name and spoke on condi- strip malls that took in thousands of dol- reported. The new name is expected to be ate general and an early leader of the Ku tion of anonymity. lars a day. (AP) in place by the time students return to the Klux Klan. Delta or another big corporation says something about It was not immediately clear what, if voting-rights laws, but how often does it make front-page ❑ ❑ ❑ southwest Atlanta alternative school in “It is very important that we understand any, other actions might be planned. Of- August. our history,” Board member Michelle Ol- news when they make a campaign contribution?” fi cials had previously said they expected School replaces KKK chief name: An Aaron, a former Atlanta Braves base- ympiadis said during the Monday meet- Companies have a natural fear of antagonizing poli- to take actions both seen and unseen. Atlanta high school that was named after ball player, died in January at the age ing. “It’s very important that we under- ticians whose help they might need in the future. Or to President Joe Biden told Putin this a Ku Klux Klan leader will strip the name of 86. Under the nickname “Hammerin’ stand where we are coming from.” (AP) avoid retribution. week in their second call to “de-escalate ❑ ❑ ❑ Georgia lawmakers voted in 2018 to strip a tax break tensions” following a Russian military that Delta enjoyed on jet fuel after the airline ended a buildup on Ukraine’s border, and said Ship capsizes off Louisiana: Coast discount program for National Rifl e Association mem- the US would “act fi rmly in defense of Guard boats and aircraft have covered bers, although the then-governor restored the benefi t. The its national interests” regarding Russian an area larger than the state of Rhode Is- Georgia House voted again to kill the tax break two weeks intrusions and election interference. (AP) land to search for 12 people still missing ❑ ❑ ❑ Wednesday off the Louisiana coast after ago after the Delta CEO criticized the voting law, but the their offshore oilfi eld vessel capsized in Senate adjourned without taking action. Illegal gaming parlors raided: Law hurricane-force winds. More than 350 different voting bills are under consid- enforcement offi cers in California raided One worker’s body was recovered eration in dozens of states, according to a tally from the dozens of illegal gambling dens in San Wednesday and six people were rescued Brennan Center for Justice, a public-policy think tank. Diego Wednesday, capping a years-long Tuesday after the Seacor Power over- On Tuesday Arkansas was among the latest to approve investigation that has resulted in nearly turned Tuesday afternoon in the Gulf of changes to its election laws, including restrictions on out- 50 people facing federal gambling, gun Mexico, the Coast Guard said. side polling places and on absentee ballots. and drug charges, authorities said. The search, interrupted by darkness The pushback against GOP-backed voting laws drew a More than 450 offi cers, led by an FBI and bad weather, has totaled nearly 40 warning this month from Senate Republican leader Mitch task force, fanned out in East San Diego hours and more than 1,440 square miles McConnell, who told business leaders to “stay out of poli- in morning raids on two dozen locations (3,730 square kilometers) of Gulf waters tics.” He warned companies not to get involved in upcom- that ended with 35 arrests, according to a by Wednesday afternoon, according to a ing debates in Congress over environmental policy and statement from the US attorney’s offi ce. news release. The hunt for the missing gun violence. McConnell backtracked a few days later, A total of 47 people are charged in a continued into the evening, said Petty Of- admitting “I didn’t say that very artfully.” Instead, he ac- series of federal indictments unsealed fi cer Carlos Galarza. Coast Guard Capt Wednesday. Some were accused of sell- Will Watson said earlier that winds were cused business leaders of not reading the Georgia bill be- ing methamphetamine to gamblers. A demonstrator holds a sign during a protest over Sunday’s fatal shooting of 80 to 90 mph (130 to 145 kph) and seas fore condemning it. During a two-year investigation, au- Daunte Wright during a traffi c stop, outside the Brooklyn Center Police Depart- were 7 to 9 feet (2.1 to 2.7 meters) when thorities seized more than 12 pounds of ment on April 14, 2021, in Brooklyn Center, Minn. (AP) the lift boat overturned. (AP) to retain workers, Walmart moves more of them full time

Walmart is moving more of its workers full it did fi ve years ago. Walmart employs edge as it’s able to retain and attract better Customers wait time, with the goal of having two-thirds of roughly 1.5 million workers in the U.S. in- employees in a fi ercely competitive envi- in line outside a its U.S. store hourly jobs be full time with cluding those at Sam’s Club, distribution ronment. The moves also come as the ex- Walmart Super- more consistent work schedules by early centers and in corporate and managerial ploding pickup and delivery businesses are center store, due next year. jobs. calling for more full-time jobs as Walmart’s to COVID-19 re- That’s up from 53% fi ve years ago, the Drew Holler, Walmart’s senior vice presi- stores operate both as fulfi llment centers strictions on store company said. dent of U.S. people operations, told The and retail spaces. capacity, Wednes- With this move, announced Wednesday, Associated Press Wednesday that workers “We know offering more full-time oppor- day, April 7, 2021, the nation’s largest private employer says are demanding full-time jobs, which have tunities along with skills training and equip- in Miami. (AP) it will have 740,000 of its 1.2 million U.S. better health and dental benefi ts. Holler ping associates with tools to make work Walmart hourly store workers work full time also noted that full-time work offers the easier will help us continue to attract and by Jan. 31. That would mean it will have Bentonville, retain top talent,” Holler wrote in a corpo- roughly 110,00 more full-time workers than Arkansas-based retailer a competitive rate blog. (AP)

Market Movements 15-04-2021 Change Closing pts Change Closing pts AUSTRALIA - All Ordinaries +36.83 7,317.46 PAKISTAN - KSE 100 -81.04 45,230.18 JAPAN - Nikkei +21.70 29,642.69 CHINA - Shanghai SE -17.73 3,398.99 S. KOREA - KRX 100 +34.07 6,878.54 PHILIPPINES - PSEi +16.75 6,539.96 INDIA - Sensex +259.62 48,803.68 Business

JPMorgan profi t up sharply, Wells Fargo earned $4.74bn in Q1 BoFA profi t doubles in Q1 to $8.1bn, Goldman earnings surge CHARLOTTE, North Carolina, April 15, (AP): Bank of America Corp says its net income doubled to $8.05 billion in the fi rst quarter. The bank, based in Charlotte, North US economy rebounding, Carolina, said Thursday that it had earnings of 86 cents per share, up from 40 cents a year earlier. Bank of America was able to free up $2.7 billion of the reserves it had set aside early in the pandemic in case of helped by stimulus – Fed loan defaults, giving a boost to its bot- tom line in the latest quarter. The results surpassed Wall Street expectations. The average estimate of Stepped-up vaccine rollout boosts outlook nine analysts surveyed by Zacks In- vestment Research was for earnings of 65 cents per share. WASHINGTON, April 15, bank found that demand for goods The nation’s second-largest bank (AP): A Federal Reserve and services is “on fi re” but myriad posted revenue of $24.02 billion in severe supply constraints are con- survey has found that the tinuing to hamper various industries. the period. Its revenue net of interest This fi le photo shows a Wells Fargo offi ce in New York. Wells Fargo & Co expense was $22.82 billion, also ex- says fi rst-quarter net income jumped to $4.74 billion from $653 million a economy was rebounding in Cleveland reported improvements ceeding Street forecasts and unchanged year earlier, when the pandemic struck the global economy. (AP) late February through ear- in the hard-hit hotel and restaurant from a year ago. Five analysts surveyed sectors. Similar improvements were by Zacks expected $21.91 billion. ly April, helped by billions reported by the Fed’s Atlanta region- Bank of America shares have double the revenues of $1.74 billion in knowledging an improving economy of dollars in a new round of the year-ago quarter. Trading revenues as millions of people get vaccinated al bank, which covers tourist destina- climbed 32% since the beginning of stimulus payments and the tions in Florida. the year, while the S&P’s 500 index rose 60% from a year earlier as well. and governments scale back pandemic- Goldman only had a small $70 mil- related business restrictions. The bank stepped-up rollout of coro- Dallas reported that supply-chain has climbed almost 10%. The stock has disruptions have led to sharp increas- climbed 68% in the last 12 months. lion benefi t to its results from it releas- said the return of that cash, plus the sale navirus vaccines. Investment bank Goldman Sachs ing money from its loan-loss reserves. of some student loans, helped boost its es in prices of goods, while the San Goldman doesn’t have a signifi cant earnings by 30 cents per share. The new survey released Francisco district reported that resi- saw its profi ts nearly quintuple in the Wednesday showed that the Fed’s fi rst quarter, driven by a massive surge consumer fi nance division, or sell In the same quarter last year, just as dential construction remains strong. of revenue from its core investment mortgages, as compared to its Wall the virus pandemic was blowing a hole business contacts around the coun- In this fi le photo, Chairman of the The Fed survey found that many Street counterparts. The bank is only through the global economy, Wells re- try were expressing more optimism Federal Reserve Jerome Powell of its districts are seeing moderate banking and trading operations. appears before the Senate Banking The jump in profi ts is similar to that sitting on $4.24 billion in loan-loss re- ported a 90% plunge in profi ts and set about the economy’s outlook as ac- price increases, specifi cally for ma- serves, whereas JPMorgan has $26 bil- aside nearly $4 billion in loan loss pro- Committee on Capitol Hill in Wash- seen at JPMorgan Chase, which also tivity accelerated. ington. (AP) terials such as metals, lumber, food reported its results on Wednesday, al- lion in reserves. visions. Wells and other banks set aside The survey credited a range of fac- and fuel. Goldman’s return on equity, a meas- the money in preparation for consum- though unlike JPMorgan, Goldman’s tors, from vaccinations to the pay- close to raising rates. The Fed re- The beige book reported that em- results did not benefi t from a release urement used by investment banks on ers and businesses defaulting on loans ments of up to $1,400 for individuals ployment growth picked up as eco- how well they are using their under- due to the pandemic. leased projections last month that from its loan-loss reserves of any sig- from the $1.9 trillion relief package indicated it will hold off raising rates nomic activity increased. It noted nifi cant amount. lying assets, was 31% in the quarter. Wells Fargo CEO Charlie Scharf that President Joe Biden pushed That’s the best quarterly performance said in a statement that low inter- until after 2023. strong job gains in manufacturing, The New York-based company had through Congress last month. construction, and leisure and hospi- a profi t of $6.71 billion, or $18.80 a for Goldman since 2009. Typically est rates remain a “headwind” for the The beige book report, based on banks like Goldman aim for a return on bank, but that it remains focused on The survey, known as the beige information from business contacts tality. share, compared to a profi t of $1.12 book, will form the basis for discus- billion, or $3.11 a share, in the same equity above 10%. “appropriate risk and control environ- supplied by the Fed’s 12 regional In an appearance Wednesday be- period a year earlier. The results were ment.” sions when Fed offi cials meet on banks, said that manufacturing ac- fore the Economic Club of Wash- much better than the $10.20-per-share Wells Fargo had its best quarter in “This is a multiyear effort and there April 27-28 to discuss what to do tivity continued to expand, with half ington, Powell acknowledged rising profi t that analysts had forecast, ac- a year and a half, posting a profi t of is still much to do, but I am confi dent about interest rates. of the Fed districts reporting robust concerns about infl ation following a cording to FactSet. $4.74 billion and freeing up more than we are making progress, though it is Gus Faucher, chief economist at manufacturing growth. Those gains report Tuesday that consumer prices Goldman’s results refl ect the health a billion dollars that had been set aside not always a straight line,” Scharf said. PNC Financial, said the message came despite supply-chain disrup- rose 0.6% in March, the biggest one- of the stock and bond markets com- for potential loan defaults at the begin- Wells has been operating under strict from the beige book is that busi- tions in such critical areas as com- month gain since 2012. pared to a year earlier. Markets across ning of the coronavirus pandemic. federal guidelines for years, limiting its ness activity is picking up but “the puter chips. But Powell, who has been predict- the world plunged sharply in March The San Francisco-based bank on ability to grow. economy still has a lot of room to The survey found that the Fed’s ing a temporary spike in infl ation this 2020 as investors realized how much Wednesday said it earned $1.05 per In 2018, the Fed capped the size of strengthen further.” regional bank in New York is see- spring, repeated the view that the economic and human damage the coro- share on revenue of $18.06 billion Wells Fargo’s assets after a series of While private forecasters have ing growth for the fi rst time since the central bank wants to see infl ation navirus pandemic could cause. The in the quarter, both surpassing Wall scandals beginning in 2016 with the un- been busy boosting their economic pandemic shut down the economy a rise “moderately above 2% for some S&P 500 index dropped 12.5% just in Street’s forecasts. Analysts surveyed covering of millions of fake checking projections for this year, Fed Chair- year ago and that the expansion is time” to make up for a decade when the month of March last year. by Zacks were expecting earnings per accounts its employees opened to meet man Jerome Powell has continued “broad-based across industries.” infl ation has failed to reach the Fed’s But as the economy has recovered and share of 69 cents and revenue of $17.62 sales quotas. The Fed lifted that cap last millions of vaccines have been admin- billion. April as part of the federal government’s to stress that the central bank is not The Fed’s Philadelphia regional 2% infl ation target. istered, so has Goldman’s profi ts. The The biggest US mortgage lender had Payroll Protection Program because stock and bond market had relatively net interest income of $8.8 billion, a many of Wells’ small business custom- healthy volatility in the fi rst quarter, more than 22% decline from the $11.3 ers were getting shut out from applying, which allowed the bank’s traders to profi t billion in the same period last year. but most of the restrictions remain. from the moves. Several companies went Although interest rates have ticked up JPMorgan Chase saw its fi rst-quarter public and the volatile trading of certain recently, they have remained low as profi t jump nearly fi ve fold from a year stocks like GameStop, AMC Entertain- the Federal Reserve has signaled plans earlier, as the improving economy al- ment and others allowed Goldman’s to keep its benchmark borrowing rate lowed the bank to free up roughly $5 traders to take advantage. near zero until 2023. billion that it had stored away to guard In investment banking, Goldman had The consumer bank released $1.6 against loan defaults in the early weeks revenues of $3.57 billion, more than billion from its loan loss reserves, ac- of the pandemic.

Coinbase employees gather outside the Nasdaq MarketSite during the company’s IPO, in New York’s Times Square, Wednesday, April 14, 2021. Wall Street will be focused on Coinbase Wednesday with the digital currency exchange becoming a publicly traded company. (AP) Company valued near $86 billion Coinbase soars in market debut NEW YORK, April 15, (AP): Coin- $250 reference price set by Nasdaq up to digital currencies, there are many base made a rousing debut on Wall ahead of the fi rst trade. That puts Coin- doubters. Until recently the major fi - Street Wednesday, with shares of the base’s market value at $85.78 billion. nancial institutions avoided crypto- digital currency exchange rising as That market value makes Coinbase currencies, and Bitcoin is still viewed high as $429, briefl y giving it a market one of the biggest publicly traded U.S. more as a store of value that as a meth- value over $100 billion. companies - just 93 companies in the od of payment. Coinbase Global Inc.‘s initial public S&P 500 index have a higher market Even as Coinbase made its trading offering happened with cryptocurrency value. Coinbase’s value is close to the debut, Federal Reserve Chair Jerome chatter seemingly everywhere, even combined market value of Nasdaq Inc., Powell described cryptocurrencies as at the U.S. Federal Reserve. Digital which runs the Nasdaq Stock Market, “vehicles for speculation” in comments currencies are being incorporated into and Intercontinental Exchange, which to the Economic Club of Washington. business plans and accepted for pay- owns the New York Stock Exchange. “No one is using them for payments, ment by major corporations like Tesla, Founded in 2012, Coinbase became for example, like the dollar.” PayPal and Visa. popular among cryptocurrency fans by And not all investors are buying The San Francisco-based company’s providing them with an easier way to into the Coinbase hype. David Trainer, listing on a public stock exchange is exchange shares of Bitcoin and other CEO of investment research fi rm New seen by some as an infl ection point for digital currencies. Unlike many newly Constructs, said Coinbase has “little- digital currencies, as Coinbase’s for- public companies Coinbase is profi t- to-no-chance of meeting the future tunes are closely tied to Bitcoin, the able - the company estimates it had net profi t expectations that are baked into most popular cryptocurrency. Bitcoin’s income of between $730 million and its ridiculously high valuation.” price topped $64,000 on Wednesday, $800 million in the fi rst quarter. Trainer last week put a valuation on up from $29,000 at the start of the year, Dan Ives, analyst at Wedbush Se- Coinbase closer to $18.9 billion, argu- and Coinbase said recently that fi rst- curities, said in a note Wednesday that ing it will face more competition as the quarter revenue should total around “Coinbase is a foundational piece of cryptocurrency market matures. $1.8 billion, exceeding its revenue for the crypto ecosystem and is a barom- Coinbase said it had 56 million all of 2020. eter for the growing mainstream adop- verifi ed users as of March 31, with 6.1 Shares of Coinbase are listed on the tion of Bitcoin and crypto for the com- million making transactions monthly. Nasdaq under the ticker “COIN,” and ing years.” Trading volume in the fi rst quarter was closed at $328.28, up 31% from the Still, even as more companies warm $335 million. ARAB TIMES, FRIDAY-SATURDAY, APRIL 16-17, 2021 BUSINESS 9

In this file photo, a Kuwaiti oil up EU court rejects 2 Ryanair challenges Ryanair airplane approaching landing The price of Kuwaiti oil went up by 97 A top European Union court dealt anoth- similar decisions two months ago in dif- at Lisbon airport flies cents to USD 63.52 per barrel er blow to Ryanair on Wednesday and ferent cases involving France and past the Monument to Wednesday as oppose to USD 62.55 rejected the low-cost carrier’s arguments Sweden. the Heroes of the pb the day before, said the Kuwait that the aid Sweden, Denmark and The EU’s executive arm, the European Peninsular War, (in Petroleum Corporation (KPC) Finland gave two other airlines to get Commission, which polices state aid and the foreground). A top Thursday. The OPEC basket went up through the COVID-19 crisis was illegal. other competition issues, has approved European Union court by USD 1.54 to USD 63.39 per barrel The Luxembourg-based EU General several aid plans for struggling airline rejected the low-cost on Wednesday as oppose to USD Court said the subsidies Denmark and companies in the wake of the pandemic, carrier’s arguments 61.85 last Tuesday, said the bulletin for Sweden granted to Scandinavian carrier especially after border closures and that the aid Sweden, the international organization Thursday. SAS “comply with EU law.” It said like- other restrictions halted most air travel. Denmark and Finland The annual price of the OPEC bas- wise of a Finnish loan guarantee for Ryanair had argued that the aid consti- gave two other air- ket in 2020 was at USD 41.47 pb. Finnair. tuted unfair state bailouts for national lines to get through (KUNA) The General Court handed down two carriers. (AP) the COVID-19 crisis was illegal. (AP) Asia mixed after Wall St slips from record

Crude oil prices retreat, dollar weakens against yen

BEIJING, April 15, (AP): Asian stock markets were TSMC’s profit up mixed Thursday after Wall Street retreated from a 16.7% in first qtr record high as major banks TAIPEI, Taiwan, April 15, (AP): reported strong profits. Taiwan Semiconductor Shanghai, Hong Kong and India Manufacturing Co, the world’s big- declined. Tokyo, Seoul and gest contract manufacturer of proces- Sydney advanced. sor chips, said Thursday quarterly Goldman Sachs, JPMorgan Chase profit rose 16.7% over a year ago as and Wells Fargo announced quarter- global demand strengthened. ly earnings that beat forecasts. Much Profit after tax rose to 139.6 billion of the surge was due to strong trad- New Taiwan dollars ($4.9 billion) for ing revenue and expectations for bet- the three months ending in March, the ter economic performance, which Taipei-based company announced. allowed banks to free up reserves Total revenue rose 16.7% over a year held against the possibility loans ago to 362.4 New Taiwan dollars might go bad. ($12.8 billion). The results showed “investment TSMC makes chips for major banking and trading are strong and that brands including Apple Inc and the party will go on for a couple more Qualcomm Inc. quarters,” said Edward Moya of Oanda The pandemic boosted demand for in a report. electronic equipment as more people The Shanghai Composite Index lost worked from home. The revival of the 1% to 3,382.40 while the Hang Seng global economy also has helped to in Hong Kong declined 0.8% to rebuild demand for autos and other 28,666.99. consumer goods that depend on pro- The Nikkei 225 in Tokyo gained cessor chips. less than 0.1% to 29,623.41. The TSMC this month announced plans Kospi in Seoul added 0.6% to 3,201.27 to invest $100 billion in the next three while the S&P-ASX 200 in Sydney years to expand manufacturing and in was up 0.6% at 7,065.10. research and development. India’s Sensex opened down 0.6% at 48,227.21. New Zealand and Jakarta Most semiconductors used in declined while Singapore advanced. smartphones, medical equipment, In early trading, the FTSE 100 in In this photo provided by the New York Stock Exchange, traders work on the floor, Wednesday, April 14, 2021. Asian stock markets were mixed Thursday computers and other products are London rose 0.4% to 6,970.02. The after Wall Street retreated from a record high as major banks reported strong profits. (AP) made in Taiwan, South Korea and DAX in Frankfurt added 0.3% to China. That has prompted concern in 15,257.13 and the CAC 40 in Paris Smaller companies rallied amid price, investors say the company is Fargo jumped 5.5%, but only after Mercantile Exchange. The contract the United States that possible exces- advanced 0.2% to 6,222.15. growing optimism as coronavirus vac- worth more than $85 billion, more swerving from an early-morning loss. rose $2.97 on Wednesday to $63.15. sive reliance on foreign sources. On Wall Street on Wednesday, the cines are rolled out and businesses valuable than Nasdaq or Also Wednesday, Federal Reserve Brent crude, used to price international TSMC previously announced plans S&P 500 declined to 4,124.66. The reopen. The Russell 2000 index of Intercontinental Exchange, the owner Chairman Jerome Powell said again the oils, shed 24 cents to $66.34 per barrel to invest $3.5 billion in a manufactur- Dow Jones Industrial Average rose small-cap stocks climbed 0.8%. of the New York Stock Exchange. US central bank will wait to raise interest in London. It gained $2.91 the previ- ing site in North Phoenix, Arizona. 0.2% to 33,730.89. The Nasdaq com- Coinbase Global, an exchange for Investor expectations are high as rates until the job market has healed and ous session to $66.58. TSMC also operates a semiconductor posite dropped 1% to 13,857.84. bitcoin and other digital currencies, other companies prepare to report inflation is on track to stay above 2%. The dollar edged down to 108.77 wafer fabrication facility in Camas, Apple and Amazon declined, but the closed at $328.28 per share on its first quarterly profits. In energy markets, benchmark US yen from Wednesday’s 108.94 yen. Washington, and design centers in majority of stocks in the S&P 500 trading day after surging to $430 from Goldman Sachs rallied 2.3%, but crude lost 24 cents to $62.91 per barrel The euro rose to $1.1984 from San Jose, California, and Austin, rose. an opening price of $381. At that JPMorgan Chase fell 1.9%. Wells in electronic trading on the New York $1.1970. Texas. UnitedHealth ups forecast after strong start to year

UnitedHealth profits jumped that it debuted in December. pandemic kept people away for amortization costs, were about 44% in the first quarter The new range mostly tops from doctor offices and sur- $5.31 per share, easily top- and the nation’s largest health the average analyst forecast gery centers when it first ping Wall Street’s per-share This file photo shows a insurer boosted its outlook for of $18.19 per share, accord- spread earlier last year. expectations of $4.42, ac- portion of the UnitedHealth the year. The company said ing to FactSet. Plus the company’s com- cording to a survey by Zacks Group Inc.’s campus in Min- Thursday that the performance That projection includes a mercial health insurance en- Investment Research. netonka, Minnesota. (AP) of its Optum division was par- potential downside per-share rollment also has been hit by The Minnetonka, Minneso- ticularly strong. of $1.80 due to the continuing high unemployment during ta, company posted revenue UnitedHealth raised its full influence of the pandemic. the pandemic. of $70.2 billion, and that too year profit forecast to adjusted Insurers like UnitedHealth- UnitedHealth Group Inc. topped projections. earnings of $18.10 to $18.60 care saw health are use posted quarterly earnings Shares are up slightly be- per share, up from an outlook rebound toward the end of of $4.86 billion, or $5.08 per fore the opening bell Thurs- of $17.75 to $18.25 per share 2020 after the COVID-19 share. Earnings, adjusted day. (AP) Business BBuzzuzz Deal unprecedented in history of Tennessee economic projects: Nashville mayor Push for $2.3tn ‘infra’ plan Biden tells execs US needs Oracle to bring 8,500 jobs, $1.2b investment to ‘invest’ and lead in chips NASHVILLE, Tennessee, April 15, (AP): Oracle Corpora- the project is fully built - would reimburse the company for In recent years, a number of high-profile companies, in- tion plans to bring 8,500 jobs and a $1.2 billion investment the upfront investment, without interest payments, with the cluding Amazon, have penned letters of opposition to Ten- WASHINGTON, April 15, (AP): President Joe Biden to fast-growing Nashville, a deal Mayor John Cooper’s of- other half going into the city’s general operating fund, Coo- nessee bills that center on LGBT people. Some ultimately used a virtual meeting with corporate leaders about a fice announced Wednesday as unprecedented in the history per’s office said. became law, including this year’s ban on transgender ath- global shortage of semiconductors to push for his $2.3 of Tennessee economic development projects. The company also expects the project to produce about letes in public middle school and high school sports. trillion infrastructure plan, telling them that the U.S. Cooper’s office said the Austin, Texas-based computer tech- $8.8 million annually in local sales and use taxes, according Joe Woolley, CEO of Nashville’s LGBT Chamber of nology company requested a public hearing for its economic to the mayor’s office. should be the world’s computer chip leader. Commerce, said his group looks forward to working with “We need to build the infrastructure of today, not re- impact plan with the Metro Industrial Development Board. That In a statement, Oracle said it’s meeting demand for its Oracle on diversity and inclusion initiatives, noting the com- board and the Metro Council would need to finalize the deal. Ac- cloud product by building “new digital hubs in cities with pair the one of yesterday,” he told the group of 19 ex- cording to documents provided by Cooper’s office, the project well-educated workforces and vibrant cultures that draw top- pany’s perfect score on the Human Rights Campaign Equal- ecutives from the technology, chip and automotive indus- would create 2,500 jobs in Nashville by the end of 2027, reach- tier talent.” ity Index. tries. “China and the rest of the world is not waiting and ing the full 8,500 by the end of 2031, with an average salary of “We think Nashville has tremendous potential to be Or- there’s no reason why Americans should wait.” $110,000. acle’s next success, and we look forward to working with He said the country hasn’t made big investments to Oracle’s plans for a campus with 1.2 million square feet city and state officials as the process moves forward,” the stay ahead of global competitors, and it needs to step up (nearly 111,500 square meters) of office space along the East company said. its game. Bank of the Cumberland River would surpass those of Am- The city’s proposal even drew praise from The Beacon Biden made an appearance at the meeting between ad- azon, which in 2018 announced it would bring 5,000 jobs Center of Tennessee, a free-market thinktank that has long ministration offi cials and company leaders held to discuss through a $230 million investment in a new operations hub scrutinized Nashville’s approach to economic incentive developing a stronger U.S. computer chip supply chain. in Nashville. deals. The meeting came as the global chip shortage continued “We are thrilled that Oracle is ready to make a billion-dol- “Based on initial reports of the deal’s structure, we ap- to plague a wide array of industries. lar bet on Nashville,” Cooper said in a news release. “Oracle plaud the mayor for doing things differently and in a way CEOs of AT&T, Dell, Ford, General Motors, Stellantis will bring a record number of high-paying jobs to Nashville that does not cost taxpayers money,” Beacon Center CEO (formerly Fiat Chrysler), Intel, Northrop Grumman, and and they will pay upfront all the city’s infrastructure costs. Justin Owen said in a statement. others were scheduled to attend. This is a huge win for our city.” State officials have not yet said how much they expect to But industry experts say there’s little they can do to Oracle plans to buy the land and offer $175 million up- contribute to the deal. stem the shortage, which has delayed a new iPhone and front for public infrastructure, including a pedestrian bridge The announcement shows the Democratic-leaning capital over the Cumberland River, environmental cleanup, a sewer city remains in high demand for companies, even as Repub- forced automakers to temporarily shut factories because pump station and a riverfront park, the mayor’s office said. licans leading the state continue to move bills on divisive In this fi le photo, Nashville Mayor John Cooper delivers they’re running short of the multiple computers needed Half of Oracle’s future property taxes - which the com- social issues that have faced corporate opposition, including the State of Metro Address from the Council Chambers to run engines, transmissions, brakes and other essential pany estimates will be roughly $18 million annually when ones that target the LGBT community. at the Metro Courthouse in Nashville, Tennessee. (AP) features. Instead, Biden brought up developing a U.S. chip sup- ply chain since most are made in Asia and shipped to the U.S. In February he ordered a review of the supply chain ‘The scandal exacted a personal toll on his family’ and pledged to work with international partners to ensure stable supplies. Wedbush analyst Daniel Ives said there’s little that can be done immediately to end the current problem. “This could change things over the next three to fi ve years, but Ponzi schemer Madoff dies in prison for right now, there’s no structural changes that could al- leviate the shortage,” he said. The shortage already has made it harder for schools million estate in Palm Beach, Florida and a to buy enough laptops for students forced to learn from $4 million home on the tip of Long Island. There was yet another home in the south of home, delayed the release of popular products and creat- France, private jets and a yacht. ed mad scrambles to fi nd the latest video game consoles. It all came crashing down in the winter But things have worsened in recent weeks, particularly of 2008 with a dramatic confession at Ma- doff’s 12th-fl oor apartment on the Upper East Side. In a meeting with his sons, he confi ded that his business was “all just one big lie.” After the meeting, a lawyer for the family contacted regulators, who alerted the federal prosecutors and the FBI. Madoff was in a bathrobe when two FBI agents arrived at his door unannounced on a December morning. He invited them in, then confessed after be- ing asked “if there’s an innocent explana- tion,” a criminal complaint said. Madoff responded: “There is no innocent explanation.” As he had from the start, Madoff insisted in his plea that he acted alone - something President Joe Biden pulls a note card from his pock- the FBI never believed. As agents scoured et as he speaks from the Treaty Room in the White records for evidence of a broader conspiracy House. (AP) and cultivated DiPascali as a cooperator, the scandal turned Madoff into a pariah, evapo- in the auto industry, where factories are shutting down rated life fortunes, wiped out charities and because there aren’t enough chips to fi nish building vehi- apparently pushed some investors to commit suicide. cles that are becoming rolling computers. A trustee was appointed to recover funds The coronavirus pandemic touched off a cascade of - sometimes by suing hedge funds and other events that led to the problems. Chip factories had to shut large investors who came out ahead - and down early last year, particularly overseas where most divvying up those proceeds to victims. The processors are made. By the time they reopened, they had search for Madoff’s assets “has unearthed a a backlog that was worsened by unforeseen demand. Per- labyrinth of interrelated international funds, sonal computer demand, for instance, spiked as govern- Disgraced fi nancier Bernard Madoff leaves U.S. District Court in Manhattan after a bail hearing in New York, Monday, Jan. 5, institutions and entities of almost unparal- ment lockdowns forced millions of offi ce employees and 2009. Madoff, the fi nancier who pleaded guilty to orchestrating the largest Ponzi scheme in history, died early Wednesday, April leled complexity and breadth,” the trustee, students to work or attend class remotely. 14, 2021, in a federal prison, a person familiar with the matter told The Associated Press. (AP) Irving Picard, said in a 2009 report. High demand for consumer electronics squeezed the The report said the trustee has located assets auto industry. Chip makers compounded the pressure by By Michael Balsamo and Tom Hays poor. He stole from the in between. He had a trusted leader in off-fl oor trading. and businesses “of interest” in 11 places: Great rejiggering factory lines to better serve the consumer- no values,” former investor Tom Fitzmau- “When Peter or Bernie said something Britain, Ireland, France, Luxembourg, Swit- electronics market, which generates far more revenue for ernie Madoff, the financier who plead- rice told the judge at the sentencing. “He that they were going to do, their word was zerland, Spain, Gibraltar, Bermuda, the British them than autos. Bed guilty to orchestrating a massive cheated his victims out of their money so he their bond,” Morling said in a 2008 inter- Virgin Islands, the Cayman Islands, the Baha- After eight weeks of pandemic-induced shutdown in Ponzi scheme, died in a federal prison early and his wife ... could live a life of luxury view. mas. More than 15,400 claims against Madoff the spring, automakers started reopening factories ear- Wednesday, a person familiar with the mat- beyond belief.” In the 1980s, Bernard L. Madoff Invest- were fi led. lier than expected. But they found out that chip makers ter told The Associated Press. He was 82. U.S. District Judge Denny Chin showed ment Securities occupied three fl oors of a At Madoff’s sentencing in June 2009, weren’t able to fl ip a switch quickly and make the more Madoff died at the Federal Medical Center no mercy, sentencing Madoff to the maxi- midtown Manhattan high-rise. There, with wrathful former clients stood to demand robust processors needed for cars. Industry executives in Butner, North Carolina, apparently from mum 150 years in prison. his brother and later two sons, he ran a le- the maximum punishment. Madoff himself say the shortage should start to end by the third quarter natural causes, the person said. The person was “Here, the message must be sent that Mr. gitimate business as middlemen between the spoke in a monotone for about 10 minutes. of this year. not authorized to speak publicly and spoke to Madoff’s crimes were extraordinarily evil buyers and sellers of stock. At various times, he referred to his monu- It’s merely a symptom of a larger problem of the U.S. the AP on the condition of anonymity. and that this kind of irresponsible manipula- Madoff raised his profi le by using the mental fraud as a “problem,” “an error of relying too much on Asia for critical parts such as semi- Last year, Madoff’s lawyers fi led court tion of the system is not merely a bloodless expertise to help launch Nasdaq, the fi rst judgment” and “a tragic mistake.” papers to try to get him released from prison conductors, said Ives said, who called the meeting long fi nancial crime that takes place just on pa- electronic stock exchange, and became so He claimed he and his wife were torment- overdue. “I think now it’s just exposing the structural is- in the coronavirus pandemic, saying he had per, but it is instead ... one that takes a stag- respected that he advised the Securities ed, saying she “cries herself to sleep every suffered from end-stage renal disease and gering human toll,” Chin said. and Exchange Commission on the system. night, knowing all the pain and suffering I sues as well as some of the potential national security is- other chronic medical conditions. The re- The Madoffs also took a severe fi nancial But what the SEC never found out was that have caused.” sues the U.S. faces, given our reliance on Asia,” he said. quest was denied. hit: A judge issued a $171 billion forfeiture behind the scenes, in a separate offi ce kept “That’s something I live with, as well,” The U.S. has only 12% of the world’s semiconductor Madoff admitted swindling thousands of order in June 2009 stripping Madoff of all under lock and key, Madoff was secretly he said. factory capacity, down from 37% in 1990, according to clients out of billions of dollars in invest- his personal property, including real estate, spinning a web of phantom wealth by us- Afterward, Ruth Madoff - often a target the Semiconductor Industry Association. ments over decades. investments, and $80 million in assets his ing cash from new investors to pay returns of victims’ scorn since her husband’s arrest Not surprisingly, the major players in the chip indus- A court-appointed trustee has recovered wife, Ruth, had claimed were hers. The or- to old ones. - broke her silence that same day by issuing try welcomed the opportunity to gain even more support more than $13 billion of an estimated $17.5 der left her with $2.5 million. Authorities say that over the years, at a statement claiming that she, too, had been from the Biden administration to help subsidize the ef- billion that investors put into Madoff’s busi- The scandal also exacted a personal toll least $13 billion was invested with Madoff. misled by her high school sweetheart. forts to expand the supply and distribution of processors ness. At the time of Madoff’s arrest, fake on the family: One of his sons, Mark, killed An old IBM computer cranked out monthly “I am embarrassed and ashamed,” she likely to play an integral role in the economy for decades account statements were telling clients they himself on the second anniversary of his fa- statements showing steady double-digit re- said. “Like everyone else, I feel betrayed to come. had holdings worth $60 billion. ther’s arrest in 2010. And Madoff’s brother, turns, even during market downturns. As of and confused. The man who committed this “We appreciate the White House meeting with indus- For decades, Madoff enjoyed an image Peter, who helped run the business, was sen- late 2008, the statements claimed investor horrible fraud is not the man whom I have try leaders about the importance of ensuring a strong and as a self-made fi nancial guru whose Midas tenced to 10 years in prison in 2012, despite accounts totaled $65 billion. known for all these years.” resilient semiconductor supply chain,” said the semicon- touch defi ed market fl uctuations. A former claims he was in the dark about his brother’s The ugly truth: No securities were ever About a dozen Madoff employees and ductor association, a trade group whose board of direc- chairman of the Nasdaq stock market, he misdeeds. bought or sold. Madoff’s chief fi nancial of- associates were charged in the federal case. tors includes three CEOs who participated in Monday’s attracted a devoted legion of investment Madoff’s other son, Andrew, died from can- fi cer, Frank DiPascali, said in a guilty plea Five went on trial in late 2013 and watched discussions. clients - from Florida retirees to celebrities cer at age 48. Ruth is still living. in 2009 that the statements detailing trades DiPascali take the witness stand as the gov- The association’s other members include three major such as famed fi lm director Steven Spiel- Madoff was sent to do what amounted were “all fake.” ernment’s star witness. (AP) chip players outside the U.S., Samsung, Taiwan Semi- berg, actor Kevin Bacon and Hall of Fame to a life sentence at Butner Federal Cor- His clients, many Jews like Madoff and DiPascali recounted for jurors how just conductor Manufacturing Co. and NXP, who sent execu- pitcher Sandy Koufax. rectional Complex, about 45 miles north- Jewish charities, said they didn’t know. before the scheme was exposed, Madoff tives to the meeting. But his investment advisory business was west of Raleigh, N.C. A federal prison Among them was Nobel Peace Prize win- called him into his offi ce. Intel CEO Pat Gelsinger warned a future shortage of exposed in 2008 as a multibillion-dollar website listed his probable release date as ner and Holocaust survivor Elie Wiesel, “He’d been staring out the window the all chips “could have a devastating economic impact, or Ponzi scheme that wiped out people’s for- Nov. 11, 2139. who recalled meeting Madoff years ear- day,” DiPascali testifi ed. “He turned to me tunes and ruined charities and foundations. Madoff was born in 1938 in a lower-mid- lier at a dinner where they talked about and he said, crying, ‘I’m at the end of my worse, compromise our national defense.” He became so hated he had to wear a bul- dle-class Jewish neighborhood in Queens. history, education and Jewish philosophy rope. … Don’t you get it? The whole god- The trade group representing Ford, General Motors letproof vest to court. In the fi nancial world, the story of his rise - not money. damn thing is a fraud.’” and Stellantis thanked the administration for pressing Madoff pleaded guilty in March 2009 to to prominence - how he left for Wall Street Madoff “made a very good impression,” In the end, that fraud brought fresh mean- chip makers to fi ll automakers’ orders. “It is imperative securities fraud and other charges, saying he with Peter in 1960 with a few thousand dol- Wiesel said during a 2009 panel discus- ing to “Ponzi scheme,” named after Charles that all efforts are made to ensure our auto industry re- was “deeply sorry and ashamed.” lars saved from working as a lifeguard and sion on the scandal. Wiesel admitted that he Ponzi, who was convicted of mail fraud af- mains indispensable to the U.S. economy and American After several months living under house installing sprinklers - became legend. bought into “a myth that he created around ter bilking thousands of people out of a mere jobs,” Matt Blunt, president of the American Automotive arrest at his $7 million Manhattan penthouse “They were two struggling kids from him that everything was so special, so $10 million between 1919 and 1920. Policy Council, said in a statement. apartment, he was led off to jail in handcuffs Queens. They worked hard,” said Thomas unique, that it had to be secret.” “Charles Ponzi is now a footnote,” said The shortage comes just as the auto industry is ac- to scattered applause from angry investors Morling, who worked closely with the Ma- Like many of his clients, Madoff and his Anthony Sabino, a defense lawyer spe- celerating plans to shift away from internal combus- in the courtroom. doff brothers in the mid-1980s setting up wife enjoyed a lavish lifestyle. They had cializing in white collar criminal defense. tion vehicles, shifting more toward those powered by “He stole from the rich. He stole from the and running computers that made their fi rm a $7 million Manhattan apartment, an $11 “They’re now Madoff schemes.” (AP) batteries. ARAB TIMES, FRIDAY-SATURDAY, APRIL 16-17, 2021 SCIENCE 11

Coronavirus

EU eyes Pfi zer jabs Blocking ‘seats’ on plane cuts virus risk NEW YORK, April 15, (AP): A new study says leaving middle seats open could give airline passengers more pro- tection from the virus that causes COVID-19. Researchers said the risk of passengers being exposed to the virus from an infected person on the plane could be re- duced by 23% to 57% if middle seats are empty, compared with a full fl ight. The study released Wednesday supports the response of airlines that limited seating early in the pandemic. How- ever, all US airlines except Delta now sell every seat they can, and Delta will stop blocking middle seats on May 1. The airlines argue that fi lters and air-fl ow systems on most planes make them safe when passengers wear face masks, as they are now required to do by federal regulation. Researchers at the US Centers for Disease Control and Preven- tion which is head by Rochelle P. Walensky and Kansas State Univer- sity estimated how far airborne virus particles travel inside a plane. They used mannequins that emitted aero- sol to measure the fl ow of virus parti- cles through airline cabin mock-ups. Walensky The study, however, did not take into account the wearing of face masks because it was based on a previous study done in 2017, before the pandemic. Nor did it consider whether passengers are vaccinated In this Feb. 2, 2021 fi le photo, a patient suffering from COVID-19 communicates with nurses by pointing to an alphabet in the ICU at the La Timone hospital in Mar- against COVID-19. The CDC says vaccinated people can seille. France is expected Thursday April 15, to pass the grim milestone of 100,000 COVID-19 deaths, after a year of hospital tensions, on-and-off lockdowns and travel at low risk to themselves, although the agency still personal loss that have left families nationwide grieving the pandemic’s unending, devastating toll. (AP) recommends against nonessential travel. Airlines for America, a trade group for the largest US carriers, said airlines use several layers of measures to Coronavirus prevent the spread of the virus on planes, including face masks, asking passengers about their health, and stepped- up cleaning of cabins. The group cited a Harvard Universi- ty report funded by the airline industry as showing that the risk of transmitting the coronavirus on planes is very low. Offi cials seek evidence Limited Airlines were divided last year over fi lling middle seats. While Delta, Southwest, Alaska and JetBlue limited seat- J&J vaccine to remain in limbo ing on planes, United Airlines never did and American Airlines only blocked seats for a short time. It was mostly NEW YORK, April 15, (AP): Johnson “What we have here is a picture of closely watching the deliberations ex- & Johnson’s COVID-19 vaccine will clots forming in large vessels where pressed dismay that the public - here an academic question, because relatively few fl ights last remain in limbo for a while longer we have low platelets,” Shimabukuro and abroad - will have to wait for more year were crowded. That is changing. after government health advisers de- explained. “This usually doesn’t hap- advice. More than 1 million travelers have gone through US air- clared Wednesday that they need more pen,” but it’s similar to European re- “What they did was they punted,” ports each day for the past month. While that is still down evidence to decide if a handful of unu- ports with the AstraZeneca vaccine. said Dr. Paul Offi t, a vaccine expert more than one-third from the same period in 2019, more sual blood clots were linked to the shot The good news: The government at the Children’s Hospital of Phila- fl ights now are crowded. Around Easter weekend, Delta - and if so, how big the risk really is. says there are no signs of similar clots delphia. “I just don’t think waiting is temporarily fi lled middle seats to accommodate passengers The reports are exceedingly rare - after vaccination with the Pfi zer and going to give you a critical amount of whose original fl ights were canceled because of staffi ng six cases out of more than 7 million US Moderna shots that are the mainstay of information that is going to help you shortages. In this photo provided by the Cleve- inoculations with the one-dose vac- the COVID-19 fi ght in the US. make a decision.” Meanwhile, in a stinging rebuke to pharma giant Astra- land Metroparks Zoo, a tiger cub cine. But the government recommend- The J&J cases now under investiga- He noted that many European coun- roams in an exhibit as 3 cubs made ed a pause in J&J vaccinations this tion are all among women younger than tries are dealing with the AstraZeneca Zeneca Wednesday, the European Union announced plans their public debut on Wednesday, to negotiate a massive contract extension for Pfi zer-BioN- week, not long after European regula- 50. But the advisory panel stressed that uncertainty without stopping its use. April 14, at the Cleveland Metroparks tors declared that such clots are a rare there’s not enough information to tell Health offi cials recommended the Tech’s COVID-19 vaccine insisting the 27-nation bloc had Zoo in Cleveland. (AP) but possible risk with the AstraZeneca to go with companies that had shown their value in the if only certain groups would be at risk. J&J timeout in part to make sure doc- vaccine, a shot made in a similar way In Europe, most but not all cases fol- tors know how to recognize and treat pandemic. but not yet approved for use in the US lowing AstraZeneca vaccinations have “We need to focus on technologies that have proven the unusual condition. The CDC said At an emergency meeting, advisers been among women under 60, leading Wednesday that four of the six women their worth,” said EU Commission President Ursula von to the Centers for Disease Control and different countries to use that vaccine with the unusual clots were treated der Leyen. She also announced that America’s Pfi zer and Prevention wrestled with the fact that in varying ways. with a blood thinner named heparin - Germany’s BioNTech would provide the EU with an extra the US has enough alternative shots Experienced a treatment the government is warning 50 million dozes in the 2nd quarter of this year, making up to vaccinate its population but other doctors to avoid. for faltering deliveries of AstraZeneca. countries anxiously awaiting the one- Also, a 25-year-old man experi- enced a similar clot during US test- The setback for J&J comes as the In contrast to the oft-criticized Anglo-Swedish compa- and-done vaccine may not. worldwide death toll from COVID-19 “I continue to feel like we’re in a ing of J&J’s vaccine, something the ny, von der Leyen said Pfi zer-BioNTech “has proven to government scrutinized at the time but approaches 3 million, including more be a reliable partner. It has delivered on its commitments, race against time and the variants, but than 560,000 who perished in the U.S., we need to (move forward) in the saf- could not link to the shot. On Wednes- and it is responsive to our needs. This is to the immediate which continues to report tens of thou- Bezos Trebucq est possible way,” said CDC adviser day, the company also brought to the benefi t of EU citizens.” Dr. Grace Lee of Stanford University, CDC’s attention a woman whose clot sands of new infections every day and Exacerbating the problems for AstraZeneca, Denmark who was among those seeking to post- did not occur in the brain, sparking an average of almost 1,000 deaths. decided Wednesday not to resume use of its vaccine, af- pone a vote on the vaccine. more questions about what other evi- So far, the J&J vaccine has been a ter putting it on hold last month following reports of rare Discovery Authorities have studied the clots dence to examine. minor player in US vaccinations. More blood clots in some recipients. The bulk of the shots given for only a few days and have little in- The CDC expects its advisers to than 122 million Americans have re- in the Scandinavian country so far have been the Pfi zer- formation to judge the shot, agreed fel- reconsider the evidence within two ceived at least one vaccine dose, and BioNTech vaccine. Mock crew ‘test’ space capsule: Jeff low adviser Dr. Beth Bell of the Uni- weeks. So far the clots have occurred nearly 23% are fully vaccinated. Mod- The Johnson & Johnson jab, which uses the same base Bezos’ Blue Origin company strapped versity of Washington. between one and three weeks after erna and Pfi zer are on track to have two employees into a fueled rocketship “I don’t want to send the message people received the J&J vaccine, and delivered 300 million doses each by technology as AstraZeneca, hit a snag this week when mid- to late July. U.S. regulators recommended a “pause” in administering for practice, but pulled them out shortly there is something fundamentally offi cials cautioned that more reports before sending the capsule to the edge of wrong with this vaccine,” Bell said. could surface. Vaccinations are slower in Europe, Johnson & Johnson shots. Deliveries in the EU have been where many countries have struggled suspended. space Wednesday with only a test dum- “It’s a very rare event. Nothing in life The clot concerns could undermine my. is risk-free. But I want to be able to un- public confi dence in a vaccine many for supply. J&J delayed some of its AstraZeneca was supposed to be the workhorse of the The crew rehearsal in West Texas derstand and defend the decision I’ve hoped would help some of the hardest- European deliveries amid the clot eval- EU’s vaccine drive this year - a cheap and easy-to-trans- brings Blue Origin closer to launching made based on a reasonable amount of to-reach populations - in poor coun- uation, but Poland said it would use the port shot to break the pandemic’s back. Yet, the EU said tourists and others into space. data.” tries or in places like homeless shelters batch it already has in hand. European that of 120 million doses promised for the 1st quarter, only Blue Origin wanted to see how well a These are not run-of-the-mill in the US. medical regulators plan to issue their 30 million were delivered, and, of the 180 million expect- crew could get in and out of the capsule. blood clots. They occurred in unu- But the US has intensive monitoring own evaluation of the J&J clot issue ed, now there are only 70 million set for delivery in the The pretend astronauts also tested seat- sual places, in veins that drain blood for COVID-19 vaccines, since side ef- next week. 2nd quarter. belts and radio links before the 10-minute from the brain, and in people with fects too rare to have occurred in stud- When the clots were spotted after Because of that shortfall, the EU has come under crush- fl ight, and went back to the capsule fol- abnormally low levels of clot-form- ies of thousands of people sometimes AstraZeneca vaccinations, scientists in ing pressure as, even though it it is a major producer and lowing touchdown to climb aboard for ing platelets. The six cases raised an pop up once shots are used in millions. Norway and Germany raised the pos- exporter of vaccines, it cannot get its vaccinations even recovery practice. alarm bell because that number is at Shimabukuro said spotting such a rare sibility that some people are experi- close to the levels of the United Kingdom and the United “While there are no astronauts on board least three times more than experts potential risk amid the nation’s huge encing an abnormal immune response, States. today, that was a critical step toward our would have expected to see even of vaccine rollout “is an example of a forming antibodies that disable their march toward fi rst human fl ight,” fl ight more typical brain-drainage clots, success story for vaccine safety.” platelets. That’s the theory as the U.S. Compared commentator Ariane Cornell said from said CDC’s Dr. Tom Shimabukuro. Some vaccine specialists who were now investigates the J&J reports. The Our World in Data site said 47.5% of people in the company headquarters in Kent, Washing- ton. The company is “very close” to fl y- UK have received at least one dose of COVID-19 vaccine, Sammy Falgiani of Honolulu. Only about considered most vulnerable, said Didier which is being transported from nearby compared to 36.6% in the US and 16.4% in the EU. ing passengers, she noted. Blue Origin’s goal is to take paying 20 dead whales and dolphins wash ashore Trebucq, United Nations Resident Co- Caribbean nations and other contributors Now, Pfi zer-BioNTech could well become the key to on US soil around the Pacifi c each year, ordinator for Barbados and the Eastern since water systems shut down in many beat the pandemic on the continent. customers on short hops providing three minutes of weightlessness. Windows said Nicholas Hofmann, training coordi- Caribbean. parts of the island. With 200 million doses already earmarked for the bloc make up one-third of the six-seat capsule. nator of the Health and Stranding LAB at “So we are facing a situation with a He said priority number two is meeting this quarter from Pfi zer-BioNTech. the 50 million addi- It was the 15th fl ight of a New Shepard University of Hawaii. (AP) great deal of uncertainty, and also a hu- the needs of the 4,000 people in shelters, tional deliveries will be especially welcomed by the EU’s rocket, named after the fi rst American in ❑ ❑ ❑ manitarian crisis that is growing and may including cots and basic supplies, sanita- nations considering supply delays and concerns over rare tion, hygiene and emergency latrines. space, Alan Shepard. The capsule reached Humanitarian crisis feared: Ongoing continue for weeks and months,” he said. blood clots potentially linked to the Oxford-AstraZeneca an altitude of 66 miles (106 kilometers), Trebucq said that based on certain in- “We are dealing with a crisis within the vaccine. volcanic eruptions have displaced about COVID crisis,” Trebucq told reporters at just above the offi cial border of space. 20% of people in the eastern Caribbean formation and preliminary estimations, Von der Leyen said the EU will start negotiating to buy The reusable booster landed upright 20,000 people are “estimated at risk of UN headquarters in New York in a video island of St. Vincent as a UN offi cial on briefi ng. “Many health facilities have 1.8 billion doses of the Pfi zer-BioNTech vaccine through seven minutes after liftoff. The capsule Wednesday warned of a growing humani- food insecurity, given the loss of the as- 2023. touched down under parachutes about sets in terms of livelihood like fi sheries, been affected by the ashes.” (AP) tarian crisis. ❑ ❑ ❑ “It will entail that not only the production of the vac- three minutes later. Between 16,000 to 20,000 people were or agriculture.” Some 4,000 people are Before the fl ight, four mock astronauts cines, but also all essential components, will be based in evacuated under government orders be- temporarily living in 87 government shel- Tiger cubs make public debut: Cubs made the two-mile drive to the launch pad the EU,” von der Leyen said. fore La Soufriere volcano fi rst erupted ters, while others have relocated to hotels from two subspecies of endangered tigers The European Commission currently has a portfolio of and climbed up the tower. But only two - or the homes of friends and family, offi - made their public debut on Wednesday at a company lawyer and a senior program on Friday, covering the lush green island 2.3 billion doses from half a dozen companies and is nego- with ash that continues to blanket com- cials said. Trebucq noted that many shel- the Cleveland Metroparks Zoo. director - crawled into the capsule. (AP) ters are lacking basic services including tiating more contracts. ❑ ❑ ❑ munities in St. Vincent as well as Barba- Amur tiger cubs named Luka and Von der Leyen expressed full confi dence in the technol- dos and other nearby islands. drinking water. Anya were born at the zoo in December. ogy used for the Pfi zer-BioNTech vaccine, which is dif- Tiger sharks eat whale carcass: Offi - About 6,000 of those evacuees are He said priority number one is water, A Malayan tiger cub named Indrah was ferent from that behind the Oxford-AstraZeneca vaccine. cials are warning people to stay out of the also born in December at a zoo in Tulsa, The active ingredient in the Pfi zer-BioNTech shot is water after sharks were seen eating the Oklahoma. messenger RNA, or mRNA, which contains the instruc- carcass of a whale that has washed ashore Raising the two subspecies together tions for human cells to construct a harmless piece of the on an Oahu beach. will help them develop after their moth- ers would not care for them, zoo offi cials coronavirus called the spike protein. The human immune Several tiger sharks were seen eating the whale remains as it drifted closer to said. Indrah was brought to Cleveland system recognizes the spike protein as foreign, allowing it shore in Waimanalo, Hawaii News Now after a recommendation from the Tiger to mount a response against the virus upon infection. reported Tuesday. The carcass landed on Species Survival Plan. Astra Zeneca’s is made with a cold virus that sneaks the the beach later in the day, but warning Amur tigers, also known as Siberian spike protein gene into the body. It’s a very different form signs remained Wednesday. tigers, are found in the far east of Russia of manufacturing: Living cells in giant bioreactors grow Honolulu Ocean Safety Division Lt. and northeast China and are considered that cold virus, which is extracted and purifi ed. David Loui took a jet ski out to the car- endangered. Malayan tigers are found in Von der Leyen said Europe needs to have a technology cass as sharks ate chunks of the whale. the Malaysian peninsula and are critically that can boost immunity, tackle new variants and produce “One of the sharks, probably about 12 endangered. shots quickly and massively. “mRNA vaccines are a clear feet, was actively coming to the jet ski Only a few hundred animals for both case in point,” she said. craft and almost making lunges toward it, species remain in their native regions, zoo The planned negotiations with Pfi zer left in the middle and basically trying to scare us off,” Loui offi cials said. The cubs weigh about 30 what the EU would do about any new contracts with As- said. People came to the beach to see the pounds (13.6 kilograms) each and have traZeneca. “Other contracts, with other companies, may rare sight. transitioned to a meat diet. follow,” said von der Leyen. “We’ve just been hanging out, kind Zoo visitors can see the tigers between of watching it, looking at what it looks In this image from video made available by Blue Origin, the New Shepard rocket 10 a.m. and noon daily as they transition like, looking at the tiger bites on it,” said lifts off during a test in West Texas on Wednesday, April 14. (AP) to their habitat. (AP) People FRIDAY-SATURDAY, APRIL 16-17, 2021 FFeatureseatures own culture,andif youdon’thave institution. Everynetworkhasits saving. Shehasrespectforthe need saving,likeCBSdidn’t saved,” hesaid.“ABCdoesn’t thinking everythingneedstobe news.” person wholovestotalkaboutthe Godwin as“averycentered,smart ABC’s decision.Hedescribed to beaproducerthere,praised when Godwinwashiredin2007 running the“CBSEveningNews” network newsexecutivewhowas the currentranks. coming fromtheoutsideinsteadof candidate toleadthenewsdivision have tippedthebalanceinfavorof a roughmanagementstyle. had maderacistcommentsand after aninvestigationrevealedshe charge oftalentandrecruitment News cuttieswithitsexecutivein morning. the mostpopularnewsshowin lead. “GoodMorningAmerica”is and beenwideninghisratings by “World NewsTonight,”anchored been outwardlyhummingalong. for aninterview. chairman ney generalentertainmentcontent reporting,” saidhernewboss,Dis- of accurateandtransparentnews tion, inclusionandthevitalrole advocate forexcellence,collabora- distinguished herselfasafi and localnewsrooms,shehas in globalnewsorganizations in Januarythathewasleaving. James Goldston las in NewYork, local broadcastnewsoperations News since2007,afterrunning years onthejob. sky division president, learned Wednesdaythatitsown command atCBSNews,which network. top newsexecutiveatabroadcast her thefi president onWednesday,making Godwin NEW YORK: Prince William. Prince Harryandtheroyalfamily,especiallywithhiselderbrother Many willalsobewatchingforanysignsofreconciliationbetween on Saturday,itwillbemorethanafocalpointfornationalmourning. LONDON, April15,(AP):WhenPrincePhilip’sfuneraltakesplace Royal funeralofferstoreconcile chanceforWilliam,Harry their motherPrincessDiana’scoffi than twodecadesago—when,asyoungboys,bothwalkedbehind mind thebrothersoftheirsharedgriefatanotherroyalfuneralmore back, tellingreportersthathiswas“verymuchnotaracistfamily.” Days aftertheexplosiveracismaccusationswereaired,Williamshot their child’sskincolormightbeduetoMeghan’sbiracialheritage. member oftheroyalfamilyhadexpressedconcernabout“howdark” Charles, wasnotacceptinghiscallsforatime. though headdedthat“timehealsallthings,hopefully.” growing apart,saying“therelationshipis‘space’atthemoment”— revelations, Harryconfi candid interviewwithUStalkshowhostOprahWinfrey.Amongother tions tookafurtherdivelastmonthwhenHarryandMeghangave young son,Archie. away fromroyaldutieslastMarchandmovedtoCaliforniawiththeir family sinceheandhiswifeMeghan,theDuchessofSussex,stepped “She’s notcominginthere Rick Kaplan It’s thetypeofissuethatmight Last summer,however,ABC She joinsadivisionthathas Godwin wasnotmadeavailable “Throughout Kim’scareer Godwin hasworkedatCBS Godwin hasbeensecond-in- David Muir It willbethefi On Saturday,Harry,36,andWilliam,38,arebothexpectedtojoin In spiteofthetensions,Saturday’sfuneralwillalmostcertainlyre- And thecouplethrewabombshellbyrevealingthatanunnamed Harry alsotoldWinfreythathisfather,heirtothethronePrince While thatdeparturecausedahugeriftinthemonarchy,familyrela- and , issteppingdownaftertwo Cleveland rst Blackwomantobethe asitsnewsdivision Peter Rice ABC named Los Angeles,Dal- , isinfi , alongtime , whoannounced rsttimethatHarrycomesface-to-facewiththeroyal . Shereplaces Susan Zirin- . rst place rmed rumorsthatheandhisbrotherhadbeen erce Kim n in1997. time. I’ve hatedmyselffor a long is gay. Bachelor,” hasrevealed thathe end whofoundfameon“The wood LOS ANGELES: trouble, hesaid.(AP) respect fortheculture”itcanbe “I’ve ranfrommyself foralong to gohomeandstartanewjob. stateside. Chloeisnursingabadbreakup;it’stime night ontheAthensclubscenebeforereturning complished stagework),who’sspendingonelast (Gough, anIrishactressbetterknownforherac- something AmericanimmigrationlawyerChloe In thesummer.Thisiswherewemeetthirty- reason torushthroughlife. watch thisfi a fatalproblem,butitcanfeeltrying;betterto here oroffermuchofalesson.Thismaynotbe This willnothurtthefi teasing ashotofhisnudebacksideonInstagram. together. (Stanrecentlypromotedthemovieby Stan andDeniseGough,whospendalotoftime due tothechemistrybetweenitsleads,Sebastian at times,andbeautiful,evenseductive,mainly signals. tionship, whenwewillfullyignoreanywarning transpires inthatphase:thebeginningofarela- “Mostly Friday,”becausemostofwhatwesee ing withreality,“Monday”shouldreallybecalled affair slowlyinchingtowardsomesortofreckon- on thisconcept.Thestoryofanintoxicatinglove writer-director ArgyrisPapadimitropoulos,based a meretwinkleinthedistance. Friday meansyouhavelotsoftime—Monday’s certainly Sunday,itsignalsthebeginningoffun. great aboutFridayisthat,unlikeSaturdayand Nose tothegrindstone.Party’sover. M Arresting, beautifulrom-com in‘Monday’ , theformerfootballtight But thenshemeetsMickey,alsoAmerican,a Speaking ofintoxicating,oursettingisGreece. But Papadimitropoulosdoesn’tsayawholelot “Monday” takessomepatience.It’sarresting Now there’sanentiremovie,“Monday,”by Friday, meanwhile,istheoppositevibe.What’s ❑ Variety Ideal opportunityfor‘TheFirm’toshowaunitedfronttheworld This imagereleasedbyIFCFilmsshowsSebastianStan,(left),andDeniseGoughinascenefrom‘Monday.’(AP) Monday meansbacktoschool,orwork. onday. Ugh.Theverywordemitsachill. Colton Under- lm onaFriday,whenyouhaveno By JocelynNoveck lm’s chances.) Film newo Godwin Underwood to thefore. birth, thoughinrecentyearsthosedifferenceshaveincreasinglycome responsibility,” shetoldtheAP. has happenedintheyearandWilliamhadtotakeonsomuchmore going topourouttheirheartsandgiveeachotherahug,whensomuch before thefuneral.AndIthinkthatit’swrongtoimaginethey’re she added. — andthatwon’thappenifHarryrushesbacktotheU.S.afterward, funeral. ItwouldtaketimetohealthehurtafterWinfreyinterview ate fortheroyalstotalkabouttheirpersonalissuesinrun-up ist,” headded. BBC thisweek. who wasappointedtheprinces’guardianafterDiana’sdeath,told of thedeaththeirgrandfather,”formerPrimeMinisterJohnMajor, week at99. married toQueenElizabethIIformorethansevendecades,diedlast for theroyalbrotherstosmoothovertensions.Philip,whohadbeen opportunity for“TheFirm”toshowaunitedfronttheworldand funeral processionmakesitswaythroughWindsorCastle. other seniorroyalsandwalkbehindtheirgrandfather’scoffi As theyoungerbrothertoafutureking—so-called“spare” brothershavehadcontrastingrolesandpersonalitiesfrom tThe “I absolutelythinkitwouldbewrongtoallaboutthemselves But AngelaLevin,Harry’sbiographer,saiditwouldbeinappropri- “I hopeverymuchthatitispossibletomendanyriftsmayex- “They sharedemotion.Theysharegriefatthepresenttimebecause Many observersbelievethatPhilip’sfuneralwillprovideanideal Lead pairdisplayintoxicatingchemistry also fallspreytosomeprettystandardrom-com game, actually verbalizesthis,butit’sprettyfarintothe they’d prefernottoacknowledge.Oneofthem maybe thesetwoareusingeachotherforreasons rent thatmaybeit’snotallaboutchemistry— too intensetoescape. the magneticfi Chloe, callshim“ababy.”Thisconcernsher,but py whenyou’refailing.”Mickey’sex,meeting comes tovisitandtellshim,“You’reonlyhap- sures slowlyappear.AnoldfriendofMickey’s fl other. Theyhavesexeverywhere,includingina atbed truckonasidestreetindaylight.Butfi “Monday” hasanartsy,improvisedfeel,but At thesametime,there’saworryingundercur- And thesetwocan’tkeeptheirhandsoffeach as isthenext,andnext. Friday. Infactthatfi we’re willingtosuspenddisbelief.Afterall,itIS everything (andhalfwaythroughsecurity!),well, — smart,withameaningfulcareerwoulddrop back atthelastmoment. line attheairport,butheracesthereandpullsher they’re hooked.Chloegetsasfarthesecurity a dreamyislandwithhimforparty.Andsoon, her bag,withkeys.Sheendsuptravelingto a lifthome.Itwouldallendhere,exceptshelost name forthefi cuffs, theyintroducethemselvestoeachotherby The copstakethemdowntothestation.Inhand- for alongtime.Theymeetonthedancefl a man-boywho’sclearlygottenbyontheseassets for years.Mickeyischarismaticandcharming— DJ andjinglewriterwho’sbeenlivinginAthens If it’sabithardtobelievewomanlikeChloe The copsletthemgo,andMickeygivesChloe The nextmorning,theywakeuponthebeach. in 2016.Three yearslater,he won professional football careerended a handfulofNFL teams beforehis of lettingpeopleknow.” the nextstepinallofthiswassort and havebeenprocessingit.And to termswiththatearlierthisyear day. “AndI’mgay.AndIcame Morning America”onWednes- time,” Underwoodtold“Good eld oftheir attractionisapparently Underwood triedout briefl rst time.Ah,young(ish)love. Escape rst chapteriscalled“Friday,” n, asthe y for oor. over to sharehis truthwiththepublic and ColtonUnderwood’s decision their authenticself isdifferent, ney todiscovering andaccepting and Randolphnevermarried. of romanticinterests.Underwood asked toselectawifefrompool tered onasinglebachelorwhois 23 of“TheBachelor,”ashowcen- s- “Every LGBTQperson’s jour- he saidthatWilliamistheonlypersoncanreallytrust,”shesaid. cile theirdifferences. from childhoodandshehopedthetimewouldcomeforthemtorecon- hand, ‘Ohdogetonwithit’.” I couldgoon,knowthatrightnowhewouldsaytoallofus,beerin and thankedhimforhis“dedicationtoGranny.”Healsowrote:“While was muchmoreinformalandlight-hearted. wanted andwillsupportTheQueenintheyearsahead,”Harry’stone that heandhiswifeKatewill“continuetodowhat(Philip)wouldhave fl platform. as thebrothers’jointcharitableventure,sotheycouldhavetheirown and MeghanseparatedfromtheRoyalFoundation,originallysetup constraints ofthemonarchytocrafthisownnarrative.ThatyearHarry line tothethrone. birth ofWilliam’sthreechildren,whobumpedhimdowntosixthin bers ofthemilitary. Games, thesportingeventhefoundedfordisabledandwoundedmem- He foundsuccessandenjoyedpopularityinBritainwiththeInvictus party princebeforeservinginthearmyandsettlingdownhis30s. the heir—Harryhadfarfewerresponsibilitiesandareputationas ected theirpersonalitiesanddifferingstyles.WhileWilliam’sstated Cassie Randolph “Harry saidtomewhenIwasinterviewinghimformybiography, Still, Levinsaidthebrothershadenjoyedanincrediblyclosebond The youngerbrotherpraisedPhilipforbeing“authenticallyhimself” The princes’separatestatementsthisweekintributetoPhilipre- It wasclearfromatleast2019thatHarrywantedabreakthe Yet hisplaceinthemonarchybecamefurtherdiminishedwith gan streamingontheCriterionChannel.(AP) Ramallah, notallpoliticsarelocal.“Mayor”be- of abesetcommunitythatprovesthat,atleastin the sometimesfarcical,painfulplight funnier fi Palestinian cityof the charismaticandmustachioedmayorof political issuesendemictothe — whilewrestlingwiththemoreextreme,geo- mentions, — canRamallahbranditselflike,asoneadvisor deals withmanyoftheissuesanymunicipality through anationallens.Osittrails profi LOS ANGELES: minutes. Twostarsoutoffour. use, andpervasivelanguage.”Runningtime:116 “for sexualcontent,nudity/graphicnudity,drug R bytheMotionPictureAssociationofAmerica not Fridayanymore.” As Dorothymightsay:“Toto,I’veafeelingit’s onscreen, we’vealreadyfelttheoncomingchill. By thetimeweseeword“Monday”appear beginning isfun—forthecharacters,andus. hang around. pathize, ifnottotallybuy,Chloe’swillingnessto Stan, hehasenoughrawappealtomakeyouem- to seehowherChloewillhandlethings.Asfor Gough issogenuineaperformer,youreallywant of love. ding tomakeaclumsy,drunkenpronouncement for someonegrabbingthemicatarandomwed- right outofaRichardCurtisfi just beforetheyboardaplane,forexample,seems tropes. Runningtotheairportcatchsomeone leslocalgovernmentinalandtypicallyseen “Monday,” anIFCFilmsrelease,hasbeenrated As therelationshipgoes,sogoesfi What savessceneslikethisisthefactthat lm thanyou’dimagine,asOsitobserves Minnesota onSeason In “Mayor,”director Ramallah Also: ’s “Landof10,000Lakes”? are alsopeople offaith.”(AP) out andproudLGBTQ peoplewho fully openeyesto the millionsof discussion ofhisfaith willhope- Bachelor,’ hiscoming outand dom whoknowColtonfrom‘The talent forGLAAD. Anthony AllenRamos timeline forcomingout,”said reminds usthatthereisnoset “Given thelargeandloyalfan- West Bank , ashetirelessly lm.Thesamegoes Musa Hadid David Osit . It’sa lm. The lm. , headof , ARAB TIMES, FRIDAY-SATURDAY, APRIL 16-17, 2021 NEWS/FEATURES 13

People & Places

Music

First public performance NY Philharmonic back on stage after 13 mths NEW YORK, April 15, (AP): Esa-Pekka Salonen walked on stage to join the New York Philharmonic, which had not gathered before an audience for exactly 400 days. “On behalf of all us on stage, welcome back,” the conductor told the crowd Wednesday night. “We have been dreaming of this moment for a long time.” The philharmonic gave its fi rst public performance after of a historic hiatus of more than 13 months caused by the coronavirus pandemic, playing at the Shed in Brookfi eld Place, about 2 miles from its un- der-renovation Geffen Hall at Lincoln Center for the Performing Arts. “I’m kind of on a euphoric high right now, be- cause I missed it more than I realized,” concertmaster Frank Huang said afterwards. There was a reduced force of 23 strings - all masked - and no brass or woodwinds for a program that lasted one hour: Caroline Shaw’s “Entr’acte,” Jean Silbelius’ “Rakastava (The Lover)” and Richard Strauss’ “Metamorphosen.” The cavernous Shed, which Salonen opened in April 2019, had a masked audience of 150 spaced out in groups of one and two folding chairs, about 10 feet between each set, in a venue that usually seats about 1,200. There were electronic tickets with timed entry, and Essa-Pekka Salonen, music director of the San Francisco Symphony and principal conductor of London’s Philharmonia Orchestra, leads members of the New York temperatures were taken upon entry. Each person had Philharmonic as a guest conductor before an audience of 150 concertgoers at The Shed in Hudson Yards, April 14, in New York. It was the first time since March to show proof of a negative COVID-19 test or proof 10, 2020, that the entire orchestra performed together in front of a live audience. (AP) of having completed vaccination at least 14 days ear- lier. During the gap, many musicians taught. They had the benefi t of continued but reduced salaries, a Film contrast to their Lincoln Center neighbor the Metro- politan Opera, which stopped pay for its unionized employees for long periods. The last time the Philharmonic had gathered before an audience was on March 10 last year for a night of An audacious and provocative fi lm Claude Debussy compositions with mezzo-soprano Isabel Leonard and conductor Louis Langree. Performances On ‘Promising,’ a harrowing ending Since then, at most a handful of Philharmonic musicians had played together in public, at “Band- By Jocelyn Noveck ture. Did you ever imagine getting such AP: Emerald, could this fi lm have wagon” performances moved around the New York recognition? been done with an actress that was not City area and as a quartet in Florida where there were an. That ending!’ Fennell: I think you’d have to be a Carey? Carey, could this have been done less stringent COVID-19 regulations. There were also ‘M That’s likely what you’d hear megalomaniacal monster to ever think without Emerald as writer and director? programs for digital release on NYPhil+ recorded at everyone saying on the way out of the you’d be nominated for Academy Mulligan: Categorically not. I don’t St. Bart’s Church and at Lincoln Center’s Alice Tully multiplex — if we were all still going to Awards. No ... the thing that was so im- think anyone else could have written it and Hall with music director Jaap van Zweden. the multiplex — after “Promising Young portant to us was just physically getting I don’t think anyone else could have di- The Philharmonic hopes to resume regular sub- Woman.” In an audacious and provoca- it fi nished because we had such a short rected it. When I read the script, I had kind scription concerts in September, shifted to Tully and tive fi lm (nominated for fi ve Oscars), shoot time (23 days). And I was enor- of butterfl ies in my stomach thinking ‘Oh, the Rose Theater at Lincoln Center Jazz until the Gef- there’s no part more audacious and pro- mously pregnant. So this has just been this is incredible writing and incredible fen reopens in September 2022. Its musicians will vocative than the fi nal act, in which former extraordinary. storytelling.’ But there’s a risk involved open the summer series of Picnic Performances in medical student Cassie (Carey Mulligan) AP: Carey, a decade ago you were because you’re talking about something New York City’s Bryant Park with four nights start- Carey Mulligan poses for a portrait to exacts her very unique form of revenge. nominated for an Oscar for “An Educa- that touches so many people’s lives. And ing June 9 and also hope to play in Vail, Colorado. promote the film ‘Promising Young But though some call the fi lm a black tion.” How have things changed for you then I met Emerald. And I swear, within The limited return is ahead of Broadway shows, Woman’ during the Sundance Film comedy, there’s nothing funny about since? fi ve minutes, I just never felt nervous which have talked about possibly resuming in Sep- Festival in Park City, Utah on Jan. 25. the end — it’s brutal, and feels very real. Mulligan: It changed my career again. And I said yes, within fi ve minutes tember, and the Met, which will open Sept. 27 if it can The film is nominated for an Oscar for Writer-director Emerald Fennell says when it happened. But ... the experience of our meeting as well. reach new labor agreements. best picture and Mulligan is nominated she wasn’t interested in a comic-book was quite overwhelming, and I found it AP: So, you didn’t play hard to get! Salonen, the 62-year-old music director of the for best actress. (AP) fantasy ending. Nobody pulls out an stressful and felt like an imposter. This Mulligan: No, not at all. I’d be an San Francisco Symphony and principal conductor of AK-47 and blows the bad guys away. In time around, I’m determined to really idiot! To even allow a beat, to let anyone London’s Philharmonia Orchestra, came in as a guest fact, the bad guys tend to masquerade as have a nice time because it’s just incred- else get a look at it. I had to jump on it. conductor and will repeat the program on Thursday good guys. ible. Fennell: I think that’s important. night. Fennell, nominated for both director AP: So, about that ending: Emerald, It’s exactly Carey’s natural response “If there’s one thing we musicians have loved dur- and original screenplay in what is, stun- did you have different versions in mind to things that make her such a good, ing these 14 months or so, it is that nothing - abso- ningly, her feature debut, says her fi rst when you started? brilliant actress, she doesn’t overthink lutely nothing - can replace the act and the ritual of a draft of the ending was “a lot starker and Fennell: In theory, there were lots of things, she’s not conscious, she’s not live concert,” he told the audience. “Music, of course, a lot bleaker” than the one we see now. versions of the ending that could have aware of the audience or the camera exists on many different levels: in written form us- (That might shock some who think it’s happened. The fi rst thing I handed in when she’s acting. She’s not playing to ing the complex system of symbols we call nota- already pretty darned bleak.) was a lot starker, I would say, and a anyone. She’s just being the person. tion; as recordings on various mediums; or perhaps Things were tense on set the days they lot bleaker. There was certainly never AP: I heard one college student sug- most importantly, in our memory and in our dreams. shot a particularly diffi cult scene, with a stunt an ending that was written down that gest that this movie should be screened However, music can truly fulfi ll its original I dare team doing the blocking but Mulligan, a best would have been her cutting everyone’s for fraternities like his. Do you think this say biological function as a powerful tool to convey Scott Olivo actress nominee for her fi erce and nimble (privates) off and … walking away with movie might help move the needle when deepest emotions and feelings only when performed performance, performing it herself. It was a cigarette in slow motion. The ending it comes to young people understanding here and now at this union point in time where music grueling even before the realism went too that we WANT, is not possible. That’s sexual consent? performers and the audience become one in a perfect Variety far and Mulligan was briefl y in actual physi- the whole point of the fi lm, really. Fennell: You hope so ... if it makes symbiosis.” cal danger. After the close call, she says, she AP: Carey, what was it like on set it a bit easier to have this conversation Acoustics are diffi cult for an orchestra in The Shed, went outside and suddenly, uncharacteristi- during the toughest part? between boys, between men, between with its high ceiling creating the need for amplifi ca- cally burst out weeping. Mulligan: We watched a stunt team men and women, then that’s wonderful. tion. Players grinned as they saw the crowd, and some MILAN: The great-grandchildren of Guccio Gucci, who founded the luxury Fennell and Mulligan sat down re- do it fi rst ... we all stood around winc- That’s sort of all a fi lm can do, make in the audience responded with a standing ovation. cently over Zoom to discuss their fi lm, ing. And we did have a mishap where you have a conversation afterwards. “The three works we have chosen to play tonight all fashion house that bears his name nearly a century ago in Florence, are appeal- the gratifying recognition they’ve got- it went wrong, briefl y. I thought, ‘Well, Mulligan: Even if it’s not something share a sense of moaning, nostalgia and loss elevated ing to fi lmmaker Ridley Scott to respect ten, and that harrowing ending (no spe- I can probably get out of this.’ Then I that you can right now, in this moment, to something deeply and essentially human by sheer their family’s legacy in a new fi lm that cifi c spoilers here, but if you haven’t realized that I was not able to. We had voice, you’d have to have your head beauty,” Salonen said. “Of course, no single program focuses on a sensational murder. already seen the fi lm, beware none- a sort of special symbol or something. I buried really far in the sand to not watch can even begin to sum up our feelings and emotions “The House of Gucci,” starring Lady theless.) They also expressed hope did a thumbs-down or whatever ... and this and and have some sort of moment after these months. Instead, we should see tonight’s Gaga and Adam Driver, is based on a the movie could help raise awareness then I went outside and just completely of refl ection, men AND women. We’ve concert as a new beginning, a signal for happier times book about the 1995 murder-for-hire of among young people about sexual lost it and just couldn’t stop crying. talked to people who’ve said they’ve ahead, fi lled with music and other things that give one of Gucci’s grandchildren, Maurizio, consent. (In fact, Focus Features and Fennell: We had to be extra, extra had their whole families, watched it with meaning to our existence in this troubled world.” and the subsequent trial and conviction RAINN, the anti-sexual violence group, diligent and cautious, because if some- their early 20s kids. And they’ve all sat Also: of his ex-wife. Patrizia Reggiani, por- announced this week they were part- thing did go wrong, we wouldn’t know around the dinner table and talked about trayed by Lady Gaga, served 16 years in nering with Campus Circle to host free until it really was too late. So it was it and that’s brilliant. But even if it’s just MILAN: Riccardo Muti and Plácido Domingo will prison for contracting the murder. virtual screenings of “Promising Young one of those things that on the face of someone watching it on their own, and headline the 2021 Verona Arena Opera Festival, es- One of Maurizio’s second cousins, Woman” for college students.) it, maybe didn’t seem like an incredibly planting a seed, you know, that would sentially last year’s season revived as a sign of “great Patrizia Gucci, is worried that the fi lm AP: Emerald, this is your debut fea- dangerous stunt. But it was. be great, too. (AP) optimism and utmost seriousness,” the festival’s gen- goes beyond the headline-grabbing eral director has said. true-crime story and pries into the private After an abbreviated 2020 season of concerts due lives of the Guccio Gucci heirs. to the pandemic, operas will be fully staged with a “We are truly disappointed. I speak on NEW YORK: Fiction authors Steven Whiting Awards, honors with a cash lished in 1985 and managed by the Whit- complete cast and chorus. But the Arena’s elaborate behalf of the family,” Gucci told The Associ- Dunn and Tope Falarin and dramatists prize of $50,000 that are presented to ing Foundation, include Colson White- sets, including a full pyramid for “Aida,” will be sub- ated Press on Wednesday. “They are stealing Jordan E. Cooper and Sylvia Khoury each of 10 emerging writers. head, Michael R. Jackson and former stituted with technology, including projectors and the identity of a family to make a profi t, are among this year’s winners of the Previous winners of the award, estab- US poet laureate Tracy K. Smith, who holograms, to reduce the number of people backstage to increase the income of the Hollywood gave a keynote address during Wednes- and maintain distancing requirements. system....Our family has an identity, privacy. day night’s virtual ceremony. Seating will be limited to 3,200 at the start of the We can talk about everything. but there is a Other new recipients of the Whiting season, but organizers said they hoped the vaccine borderline that cannot be crossed.” (AP) include dramatist Donnetta Lavinia ❑ ❑ ❑ Grays, nonfi ction writers Joshua Ben- campaign will advance in a way to allow more seating nett and Sarah Stewart Johnson and as the season progresses. In a normal year, a sold-out NEW YORK: Tony Award-winner the poets Marwa Helal, Ladan Osman show seats 13,550. Karen Olivo says she won’t return to and Xandria Phillips. (AP) “We have more experience, and we know better “Moulin Rouge! The Musical” once it ❑ ❑ ❑ our enemy,” general director Cecilia Gasdia told a reopens, saying she’s frustrated by the news conference. “We have strict protocols that can Broadway industry and especially the BERLIN: Germany’s biggest-selling evolve. We have virus tests, and above all we have silence in the wake of revelations about daily newspaper, Bild, plans to launch the vaccine.” the behavior of producer Scott Rudin. a television channel that will go on air Muti will open the season on June 19 and 22, con- “Moulin Rouge! The Musical” is before the country’s election in late Sep- not produced by Rudin but Olivo in an tember, its publisher said Monday. ducting a concert version of “Aida” to mark the 150th Publisher Axel Springer said that the anniversary of the Verdi title whose pageantry has Instagram video posted Wednesday said she was not coming back to the hit show core of the new Bild channel’s schedule made it a festival mainstay. will be up to six hours daily of live pro- The summer festival will then pick up with the to make a stand about social justice. “Social justice is actually more impor- gramming starting in the morning. 2020 calendar of operas that never were staged, star- It said in a statement that “the focus is ring the cast as announced last year: “Cavalleria rus- tant than being the sparkling diamond,” on politics, sports, celebrities, crime, and ticana” by Pietro Mascagni together with “Pagliacci” Olivo said. “Building a better industry service topics, among others,” and the by Ruggero Leoncavallo, “Aida,” “Nabucco” and for my students is more important than program could be interrupted at any time “La Traviata” by Verdi and Puccini’s “Turandot.” me putting money in my pockets.” for breaking news stories. Domingo will headline one of fi ve gala events, The move comes a week after The Springer already owns Welt, one Hollywood Reporter’s cover story on Ru- of Germany’s two main all-news TV which include also Verdi’s “Requiem,” Beethoven’s din contained accounts of the Broadway Symphony No 9, an opera gala featuring German channels, which was formerly named and Hollywood heavyweight throwing N24 and renamed in 2018 to bear the tenor Jonas Kaufmann and a ballet gala starring glass bowls, staples and baked potatoes Lady Gaga, wearing a wedding dress in background left, plays Maurizio Gucci’s Roberto Bolle. name of the company’s daily broad- at former employees. (AP) former wife Patrizia Reggiani during the shooting of a movie by Ridley Scott, based sheet newspaper. Bild is more tabloid ❑ ❑ ❑ on the story of the murder of Maurizio Gucci in 1995, in Rome, April 8. (AP) in nature. (AP) ARAB TIMES, FRIDAY-SATURDAY, APRIL 16-17, 2021 SPORTS 14

Almost perfect Rodón throws ‘no-hitter’ MLB Results/Standings

WASHINGTON, April 15, (AP): Results and standings from the MLB games on Wednesday. Toronto 5 NY Yankees 4 after HBP in 9th as Chisox down Indians Boston 3 Minnesota (7 innings 1st game) 2 Kansas City 6 LA Angels 1 Boston 7 Minnesota (7 innings 2nd game) 1 Texas 5 Tampa Bay 1 Chic. Wht. Sox 8 Cleveland 0 Red Sox sweep doubleheader against Twins, extend win streak to 9 games Detroit 6 Houston 4 Washington 6 St Louis 0 Milwaukee 7 Chicago Cubs 0 San Francisco 3 Cincinnati 0 CHICAGO, April 15, NY Mets 5 Philadelphia 1 (AP): Carlos Rodón threw Pittsburgh 5 San Diego 1 Miami 6 Atlanta (10 innings) 5 the second no-hitter of the LA Dodgers 4 Colorado 2 young baseball season, los- American League East Division ing his bid for a perfect W L Pct GB Boston 9 3 .750 _ game on a hit batter with Toronto 6 6 .500 3 one out in the ninth inning, Baltimore 5 6 .455 3-1/2 New York 5 7 .417 4 and the Chicago White Sox Tampa Bay 5 7 .417 4 Central Division cruised to an 8-0 victory W L Pct GB over the Cleveland Indians. Kansas City 6 4 .600 _ Cleveland 6 5 .545 -1/2 The left-hander retired his first Chicago 6 6 .500 1 Detroit 6 6 .500 1 25 batters before he plunked Ro- Minnesota 5 7 .417 2 berto Pérez on the back foot with West Division W L Pct GB an 0-2 slider. An incredulous Los Angeles 7 5 .583 _ Rodón looked on almost in bewil- Seattle 6 5 .545 -1/2 Houston 6 6 .500 1 derment as Pérez made his way to Oakland 5 7 .417 2 first. Texas 5 7 .417 2 Rodón (2-0) regained his composure National League East Division in time to strike out Yu Chang looking W L Pct GB and retire Jordan Luplow on a sharp New York 5 3 .625 _ grounder to third, starting a joyous cel- Philadelphia 6 6 .500 1 ebration. Miami 5 6 .455 1-1/2 Washington 3 6 .333 2-1/2 It was the fi rst no-hitter for the Atlanta 4 8 .333 3 White Sox since Lucas Giolito pitched Central Division one Aug. 25 last year against Pitts- W L Pct GB Cincinnati 7 5 .583 _ burgh and No. 20 in franchise his- Milwaukee 7 5 .583 _ tory, second-most among major league St Louis 6 6 .500 1 teams behind the Los Angeles Dodgers Chicago 5 7 .417 2 Pittsburgh 5 7 .417 2 (23). West Division W L Pct GB BASEBALL Los Angeles 10 2 .833 _ San Francisco 8 4 .667 2 San Diego 8 5 .615 2-1/2 Rodón’s gem came just fi ve days af- Los Angeles Dodgers’ Corey Seager, left, hits a solo home run as Colorado Rockies catcher Elias Diaz, right, watches along with home Arizona 4 8 .333 6 ter Joe Musgrove threw a no-hitter for plate umpire Tom Hallion during the first inning of a baseball game, on April 13, in Los Angeles. (AP) Colorado 3 9 .250 7 his hometown Padres at Texas. Rodón threw 75 of his 114 pitches 11 while remaining unbeaten in their Giants 3, Reds 0 for strikes. He struck out seven in his past 11 games at Dodger Stadium In San Francisco, Johnny Cueto Azam hits sensational 122 from 59 balls fi rst career shutout and second com- since last Sept. 23. pitched neatly into the sixth inning be- plete game. C.J. Cron slowed his slump with fore exiting with a tight lat muscle, and The closest call for Rodón and the two hits for the Rockies, who lost San Francisco fi nished off Cincinnati. White Sox occurred when Josh Naylor their fi fth straight despite snapping Cueto (2-0) removed himself from the Pakistan ahead in T20 series in SAfrica led off the ninth with a slow bouncer. their 26-inning scoreless streak since game after fanning Nick Castellanos for First baseman José Abreu picked it up last Saturday with Trevor Story’s RBI the second out in the sixth. The 35-year- CENTURION, South Africa, April and got his toe on the bag just ahead of single in the fi fth. Colorado couldn’t old Cueto surrendered three hits and 15, (AP): Babar Azam hit a sen- a sliding Naylor. score in the fi nal four innings against walked none while striking out four. sational 122 from 59 balls to lead Los Angeles’ bullpen. Royals 6, Angels 1 Pakistan to 205-1 for a resounding Red Sox 3, Twins 2, 1st Game Victor González escaped a jam in the nine-wicket win over South Africa fi fth after the Rockies chased Dustin In Kansas City, Mo., Salvador Pérez Red Sox 7, Twins 1, 2nd Game homered and doubled to cap off an and a 2-1 lead in their Twenty20 In Minneapolis, Alex Verdugo had May. Corey Knebel (1-0) retired the series. side on six pitches in the eighth, and impressive series, leading Brad Keller three hits, including a two-run single and Kansas City past Los Angeles. Babar marked the day he unseat- in a six-run fi fth inning, and the Bos- Kenley Jansen got three strikeouts for ed Virat Kohli to become the top- his third save. Pérez drove in two runs and went ton extended its winning streak to went 8 for 12 with four RBIs this week ranked ODI batsman in the world nine games, sweeping a doubleheader Marlins 6, Braves 5, 10 Innings against Los Angeles. with another brilliant limited-overs against Philadelphia. In Atlanta, Jesus Aguilar drove in Carlos Santana also homered as the innings, albeit in the shortest format In the second game, Eduardo Ro- the winning run with a 10th-inning Royals took two of three from the An- dríguez (2-0) pitched fi ve innings and this time. double and Miami overcame two hom- gels. The Pakistan captain opened the gave up one run on fi ve hits for Boston, ers by Ronald Acuña Jr. for its third Keller (1-1) went 5 2/3 innings and which has come from behind in six of batting and blasted his way to a straight win at Atlanta. gave up one run and four hits, striking century as Pakistan chased down a its nine wins this season. The Red Sox Leading off in extra innings with out fi ve and walking one. have their longest winning streak since Starling Marte placed at second, Agui- seemingly testing target of 204 with a 10-game run in 2018, a season that lar dumped a low pitch from Tyler Rangers 5, Rays 1 ease. ended with a World Series title. Matzek (0-1) down the left-fi eld line to In St. Petersburg, Florida, Nate Verdugo had fi ve hits in the double- bring home the tiebreaking run. Lowe hit a solo homer and rookie Ko- CRICKET header and capped the day with his Acuña led off the bottom of the hei Arihara got his fi rst major league second homer of the season in the sev- 10th with a chance to do more dam- victory, pitching into the sixth inning enth inning. age after erasing Miami’s 5-0 lead al- as Texas beat Tampa Bay. The tourists romped home in José Berríos (2-1) surrendered four most single-handedly. But Yimi Gar- Arihara (1-1) allowed two singles 18 overs, with Mohammad Riz- runs in 4 1/3 innings for Minnesota, cia struck out the Atlanta slugger on and a double over 5 2/3 scoreless in- wan crashing 73 from 47 balls at giving up four hits and three walks. three pitches before retiring Freddie nings in his third start since signing the other end after opening with with the Rangers after six seasons with South Africa’s bowler George Linde dives as he attempts a catch from Berríos walked Franchy Cordero with Freeman and Marcell Ozuna to earn Babar. Their partnership of 197 own bowling during the fourth T20 cricket match between South Africa and the bases loaded for the fi rst run of the his second save. the Hokkaido Nippon-Ham Fighters of from 107 balls ripped the game Pakistan at Centurion Park in Pretoria, South Africa, on April 14. (AP) Japan’s Pacifi c League. fi fth before departing. Blue Jays 5, Yankees 4 away from a South African team The Twins have lost fi ve straight. In Dunedin, Florida, Bo Bichette Pirates 5, Padres 1 that felt it was in position for vic- Dodgers 4, Rockies 2 homered twice, including a game-end- In Pittsburgh, Gregory Polanco tory after posting its own strong In Los Angeles, Justin Turner hom- ing drive leading off the ninth inning homered and Pittsburgh beat San Di- score of 203-5 in 20 overs. Bangalore ‘successfully’ defends ered and drove in two runs, and rookie that lifted Toronto over New York. ego’s Joe Musgrove in his fi rst start Babar fell just two balls from the Zach McKinstry added a late homer as Bichette drove a pitch from Chad since throwing the fi rst no-hitter in end trying to ramp a delivery from 149 runs against Sunrisers in IPL Los Angeles beat Colorado for its fi fth Green (0-2) the opposite way to right- franchise history. Lizaad Williams over third man and consecutive victory. center fi eld as Toronto took two of Polanco hit a solo shot into the right- edging it to wicketkeeper Heinrich CHENNAI, India, April 15, (AP): Maxwell, who was out off the Luke Raley got his fi rst career hit in three from its AL East rival. fi eld stands in the second inning. That Royal Challengers Bangalore re- last ball after hitting three sixes ended a 32-inning scoreless streak by Klassen. the eighth inning for the major league- Brewers 7, Cubs 0 That denied Pakistan the world re- markably defended 149 runs suc- and five boundaries. leading Dodgers, who have won 10 of Musgrove that dated to last season cessfully against Sunrisers Hyder- Hyderabad captain David War- In Milwaukee, Corbin Burnes struck when he was still with the Pirates. cord for the highest successful chase in out 10 in six dominant innings and also T20s without losing a wicket. abad and won their Indian Premier ner looked like winning the match delivered a two-run single for his fi rst Mets 5, Phillies 1 Fakhar Zaman smashed two fours League contest by six runs. on his own as he struck a six and career RBIs as Milwaukee beat Chi- In New York, David Peterson matched off the next two balls to end it and Hyderabad was cruising to vic- seven boundaries, but when he hit cago. a career high with 10 strikeouts in six ensure Pakistan can’t lose the series dominant innings and batterymate James tory at 96-1 in the 14th over, but Kyle Jamieson to long on after 54 Burnes (1-1) allowed just two hits with one game to play. the departure of captain David off 37, his side’s suspect middle to continue his sizzling start to the McCann hit his fi rst home run with New Pakistan also won the ODI series season. His bases-loaded single up the York, sending the Mets past Philadelphia Warner triggered a collapse. order was exposed. for their third straight win. in South Africa. Hyderabad ended up needing 16 middle capped the Brewers’ four-run Babar has 186 runs from three in- outburst in the sixth. McCann had three hits, including a off the last over, scored nine, and CRICKET Jackie Bradley Jr. doubled to lead two-run homer in the eighth. Brandon nings at an average of 62.00 in the fi nished on 143-9 to Bangalore’s off the fi rst against Jake Arrieta (2-1) Nimmo and Dominic Smith also got T20 series and averaged 76.00 in the 149-8. and scored on Travis Shaw’s single. three hits apiece, and Francisco Lindor ODI series. Earlier Wednesday he Bangalore’s innings was led by Nobody else, including a waste- Shaw moved to third on Avisaíl Gar- scored twice. ended Kohli’s more than three-year captain and opener Virat Kohli, 33 ful Manish Pandey, could get cía’s double and came home on Omar Tigers 6, Astros 4 stay at the top of the ODI rankings. South Africa appeared to have ex- off 29 balls, and man of the match on top of the bowling except for Narváez’s sacrifi ce fl y. In Houston, Michael Fulmer earned Glenn Maxwell, 59 off 41. Khan, who was run out for 17 off Nationals 6, Cardinals 0 his fi rst win since 2018 and Detroit posed Pakistan’s decision to bowl fi rst at SuperSport Park when openers Aid- They scored only 44 runs together nine with two balls to go. In St. Louis, Joe Ross pitched six built a big lead before holding off off six overs, but ensured the team Left-armer Shabhaz Ahmed took sharp innings and Washington threw short-handed Houston for a three- en Markram (63) and Janneman Malan (55) made half-centuries and the host started well and fi nished better. In 3-7 from two overs, and medium- its fi rst regular-season shutout at St. game sweep. between, however, they struggled, pacer Harshal Patel was given the last Louis. Outscored 14-4 in losing the fi rst posted its highest total ever against Chicago White Sox starting pitcher Ross (1-0) improved to 3-0 in four two games with a full roster, the Astros Pakistan. especially against legspinner Rashid over and conceded 5 from a no ball Carlos Rodon (55) throws against career starts against the Cardinals. went into the wrapup after putting fi ve But Babar stroked 15 fours and Khan, who took 2-18 including AB but little else, and took two wickets. the Cleveland Indians during the He allowed four hits, struck out fi ve players, including stars José Altuve, four sixes to underline his scintillat- de Villiers for 1. The 149 was the lowest total first inning of a baseball game, on and walked one. He also singled and Alex Bregman and Yordan Álvarez, ing form and see Pakistan to a highly Fast bowler Jason Holder led successfully defended by Banga- April 14, in Chicago. (AP) scored a run. on the COVID-19 injured list. impressive victory. with 3-30, including Kohli and lore in 12 years. ARAB TIMES, FRIDAY-SATURDAY, APRIL 16-17, 2021 SPORTS 15

Russia’s fl ag banned but national colors on Oly uniforms Offi cials say Olympic cancellation, no fans still an option TOKYO, April 15, (AP): Two offi cials in Japan’s ruling LDP party on Thurs- day said changes could be coming to the Tokyo Olympics. One suggested they still could be canceled, and the other said even if they proceed, it might Zuccarello scores twice, be without any fans. Toshihiro Nikai, the No. 2 and secre- tary general of the ruling Liberal Dem- ocratic Party, suggested the cancella- tion only a day after Tokyo reached the 100-days-to-go mark on Wednesday. He made his comments in a show leads Wild past Coyotes recorded by Japan’s TBS TV. “If it seems impossible to go on with the games, they must be defi - nitely canceled,” Nikai said. “If there is a surge in infections because of the Olympics, there will be no meaning to A model displays the Olympic uniforms for Russian having the Olympics.” athletes in Moscow, Russia, on April 14. (AP) Asked if a cancellation was still an option, Nikai said: “Of course.” But he also added: “It is important for Japan to have a successful Olympics. It ‘Distance makes sense’ is a big opportunity. I want to make it a success. We will have many issues to resolve and prepare, and it is important Semenya pins Olympic to take care of them one by one.” Tokyo organizers said they, the IOC ‘hopes’ on 5,000-meter and the International Paralympic Com- mittee “are fully focused on hosting the PRETORIA, South Africa, April 15, (AP): games this summer.” They said Primer Caster Semenya won the 5,000-meter race at Minister Yoshihide Suga “has repeat- the South African national championships on edly expressed the government’s com- Thursday in a personal-best time and then said mitment” to holding the Olympics. she’s likely to focus on long-distance events COVID-19 cases have been surging for the rest of her career. across Japan. On Wednesday, Japan’s That could be her best hope of running at this second-largest metropolitan area of year’s Tokyo Olympics after being barred from Osaka recorded more than 1,100 new defending her 800-meter title. cases, its highest total since January. Japan recorded more than 4,000 new The two-time Olympic champion won the cases. The country has attributed 9,500 5,000 in 15 minutes, 52.28 seconds at Tuks death to COVID-19, good by world Athletics Stadium at the standards but poor by results in Asia. University of Pretoria. Taro Kono, the government minister That was outside the in charge of Japan’s vaccine rollout, Olympic qualifying stan- said even if the Olympics go on, there dard of 15:10.00 but Se- may be no fans of any kind in the ven- menya has until the end of ues. He said it’s likely that the Olym- June to qualify for Tokyo. pics will have to be held in empty ven- Although the nationals ues, particularly as cases surge across are South Africa’s main the country. That means only television cameras trials for the Olympics, and still cameras will be around to re- athletes only need to reg- cord the action, joined by some report- Minnesota Wild defenseman Carson Soucy, left, and Arizona Coyotes defenseman Ilya Lyubushkin battle for control of the puck as Coy- Semenya ister a qualifying time ers, judges and match offi cials. otes center Clayton Keller (9) looks on during the fi rst period of an NHL hockey game on April 14, in St. Paul, Minn. (AP) once at any recognized The delayed Tokyo Olympics are meet before the June 29 cutoff. It’s still a long shot for the 800-meter spe- OLYMPICS Avalanche use 3 goals in 2nd period to beat Blues 4-3 cialist, but Semenya’s time on Thursday was more than 22 seconds faster than her last outing in the 5,000. to open in just over three months on ST. PAUL, Minn., April 15, (AP): Semenya’s participation in the event at the July 23, and the Paralympics follow Mats Zuccarello scored twice and NHL Results/Standings on Aug. 24. Fans from abroad have nationals was confirmed the day before the already been banned. Now even Japa- Nick Bonino had a goal and two meet started and is a departure from her pre- nese spectators could be kept away. assists to lead the Minnesota Wild vious plans after announcing last year that she “I think the question is how to do the past the Arizona Coyotes 5-2. WASHINGTON, April 15, (AP): Results and standings from the NHL games on Wednesday. would attempt to qualify for the Tokyo Games Olympics in a way that is possible in Minnesota 5 Arizona 2 Colorado 4 St Louis 3 It was the Wild’s fi rst game since the Winnipeg 3 Ottawa 2 Vegas 6 Los Angeles 2 in the 200 meters. this situation,” Kono said Thursday on Calgary 4 Montreal 1 Anaheim 4 San Jose 1 a television talk show. “That may mean death on Sunday of 20-year-old Daunte Wright, a Black man fatally shot by police East Division West Division there will probably be no spectators.” GP W L OT Pts GF GA GP W L OT Pts GF GA ATHLETICS Kono did not suggest the Olympics during a traffi c stop. The Wild’s game on Washington 43 28 11 4 60 152 127 Colorado 43 30 9 4 64 154 101 would not go ahead, but he said they Monday against St. Louis was postponed NY Islanders 42 27 11 4 58 125 98 Vegas 42 29 11 2 60 138 96 could be held under only “certain con- Pittsburgh 42 27 13 2 56 146 118 Minnesota 41 25 13 3 53 124 111 “We had to look into‚ can we do 200 for the until next month., and this game was Boston 40 22 12 6 50 112 106 St Louis 42 19 17 6 44 122 132 next five years? It was not really in our favor,” ditions.” moved to 1 p.m. local time. NY Rangers 42 20 16 6 46 136 112 Arizona 44 19 20 5 43 118 139 “The way these Olympics will be Both of Zuccarello’s goals came on Philadelphia 42 19 17 6 44 123 154 San Jose 42 18 20 4 40 114 141 the 30-year-old Semenya said Thursday. “I’m New Jersey 41 14 21 6 34 103 135 Los Angeles 42 16 20 6 38 114 127 held will be very different from past Minnesota’s resurgent power play, which con- Buffalo 42 10 25 7 27 100 147 getting old‚ I’m scared to tear my muscles. We ones,” he said. Anaheim 44 14 23 7 35 101 138 had to sit down and make sure that the decision verted all three of its opportunities in the game. Central Division North Division Tokyo organizers have said they ex- The Wild have 12 power-play goals in their GP W L OT Pts GF GA GP W L OT Pts GF GA that we make makes sense. Distance makes Carolina 41 27 10 4 58 133 102 pect to announce a decision this month past seven games. Toronto 43 28 11 4 60 143 112 sense.” Tampa Bay 42 28 12 2 58 143 108 on the number of fans allowed into Zach Parise and Jared Spurgeon also scored Florida 43 27 12 4 58 136 117 Winnipeg 43 26 14 3 55 139 115 Semenya is barred from running in events each venue. Nashville 44 24 19 1 49 119 123 Edmonton 42 25 15 2 52 134 120 and Cam Talbot made 28 saves for Minnesota, Montreal 40 18 13 9 45 123 114 from 400 meters to one mile at top track meets Organizers had expected to receive which beat Arizona for the fifth time in six Chicago 43 20 18 5 45 122 135 about $800 million from ticket sales, Dallas 41 15 14 12 42 113 107 Calgary 43 19 21 3 41 115 127 under World Athletics’ testosterone rules. She games this season and solidified its hold on Columbus 44 15 20 9 39 112 145 Vancouver 37 16 18 3 35 100 120 has refused to bow to those rules and take med- their third-largest source of income. third place in the West Division. Detroit 44 15 23 6 36 99 140 Ottawa 44 14 26 4 32 118 164 ication to lower her natural testosterone levels, Any shortfall will have to be made up Jakob Chychrun and Phil Kessel scored for Note: Two points for a win one point for overtime loss. The top four teams in each division will qualify calling the regulations unfair and discrimina- by Japanese government entities, which the Coyotes, who wrapped up a nine-game road for playoffs under this season’s temporary realignment. are already footing most of the bills. grip with their fifth straight loss. Antti Raanta, tory. The offi cial cost for the Olympics is She can now only run in the 100 and 200 who had been out since March 22 because of an $15.4 billion, but several government injury, stopped 17 of 22 shots. Alex Tuch, Chandler Stephenson, Mark meters, or in long-distance races. All of those audits have suggested it might be twice Stone and Alex Pietrangelo also scored for the events are unfamiliar to her. Avalanche 4, Blues 3 that much, and all but $6.7 billion is In St. Louis, Mikko Rantanen and J.T. Golden Knights, who have won four straight. Semenya also hasn’t given up on getting the public money. They went 6-2-0 in the eight-game season rules overturned in court. She said in February Compher each had a goal and an assist and Also: Colorado won its fourth straight. series against Los Angeles. she was challenging the testosterone policy at Trevor Moore scored twice in his first multi- the European Court of Human Rights in her MOSCOW: The Russian fl ag is barred goal game for the Kings, who have lost nine of third legal appeal against them. Semenya has from the Olympics in a doping dispute. ICE HOCKEY 12. Jonathan Quick was replaced after allowing previously lost court cases against World Ath- You wouldn’t know it to look at the three goals on eight shots in the first period, and letics at the Court of Arbitration for Sport and Russian uniforms. Cal Petersen made 21 saves in relief. The International Olympic Commit- Pierre-Edouard Bellemare and Brandon Saad at the Swiss supreme court. No date has been also scored, and Liam O’Brien had two assists Jets 3, Senators 2 tee told The Associated Press that Rus- In Ottawa, Ontario, Mathieu Perreault and set for her case at the human rights court but sian athletes in Tokyo will be allowed as the Avalanche improved to 17-1-2 since it’s highly unlikely it would be heard before the March 10, setting a mark for the best 20-game Trevor Lewis scored third-period goals to rally to wear a range of uniforms in national Winnipeg past Ottawa. Tokyo Games open on July 23. colors unveiled by models in a runway stretch in franchise history. Semenya’s story has been one of sport’s Devan Dubnyk made 31 saves in his Mark Scheifele also scored for Winnipeg, show in Moscow. which earned its fourth win in five games and most contentious since she arrived as an un- That unveiling show included polo Avalanche debut after being acquired from San known teenager and won the 2009 world title shirts and jackets with white shoulders Jose on Saturday. avenged a 4-2 loss to Ottawa on Monday night. above thick bands of blue and red - the Mike Hoffman had two goals and an assist, Laurent Brossoit finished with 27 saves. in the 800 in a blisteringly fast time. The Jets moved to within five points of North It was then announced she had undergone colors of the Russian fl ag, in the same Vince Dunn scored, and Jordan Binnington order. made 24 saves for the Blues, who had their Division-leading Toronto. sex verification tests during those champion- three-game winning streak snapped. Josh Norris and Nick Paul scored for Ottawa, ships and her career has been submerged in a “You don’t really need to have a strong imagination. In those uniforms St. Louis remained one point ahead of which fell to 9-10-4 at home this season. Matt complex argument over sex and gender since. that you saw, our national fl ag can be Arizona with two games in hand in the race for San Jose Sharks center Dylan Gambrell Murray finished with 32 saves. Semenya was assigned female at birth and seen really really obviously,” Russian the final playoff spot in the West Division. (7) fi ghts with Anaheim Ducks defenseman Flames 4, Canadiens 1 has identified as female her whole life. But Olympic Committee president Stan- Ducks 4, Sharks 1 Josh Manson (42) during the third period of In Montreal, Mark Giordano had a goal and an assist, Jacob Markstrom stopped 26 shots World Athletics argued in court that she is islav Pozdnyakov said. In San Jose, California, Anthony Stolarz an NHL hockey game, on April 14, in San “biologically male” with the typical male XY The logo on the uniforms is that made 27 saves, Ryan Getzlaf scored his first and Calgary beat Montreal. Jose, California. (AP) chromosome pattern, and her testosterone of the ROC, not the national coat of goal in more than a month and Anaheim com- Noah Hanafin, Josh Leivo and Sean Monahan level is higher than the typical female range. arms. That’s because of a Court of Ar- pleted a two-game sweep of San Jose. Silfverberg also scored for Anaheim. also scored, and Chris Tanev had two assists. That gives her an unfair advantage over other bitration for Sport ruling from Decem- Stolarz followed up a 46-save performance Golden Knights 6, Kings 2 The Flames have won three straight to pull four female runners, the track and field body says. ber which barred Russia’s name, fl ag, in a 4-0 win Monday night with another strong In Los Angeles, Max Pacioretty and Tomas points behind the Canadiens for the fourth and anthem and other national symbols in performance against the struggling Sharks. He final playoff spot in the North Division, though World Athletics said it would allow Semenya Nosek each had a goal and two assists, Marc- to run in female competitions if she reduces a package of sanctions over what it came within 2:16 of becoming the first Ducks Montreal has three games in hand. deemed Russia’s failure to turn over goalie with shutouts in back-to-back games Andre Fleury made 21 saves and Vegas beat Los Brett Kulak scored for the Canadiens, who her testosterone level through medical inter- accurate data from the Moscow drug- since John Gibson in December 2015. Angeles. Fleury got his 485th win, breaking a tie have lost four of their last five. Jake Allen had vention. testing laboratory. Derek Grant, Alexander Volkov and Jakob with Ed Belfour for fourth place in NHL history. 30 saves.

Best of the Rest

Vini Zabù withdraw from Giro: Italian cycling team Wishes COVID-19 Edition.” (AP) Vini Zabù withdrew from the Giro d’Italia on Thursday ❑ ❑ ❑ while awaiting a decision from the UCI over a possible Baumann leads Australian swimming: Two-time suspension because of two doping cases. Canadian Olympic gold medalist Alex Baumann has been The team said the decision comes “despite showing to named chief executive of Swimming Australia, moving up the relevant bodies (we) have adopted the most strict from his current position as chief strategist at the sport’s measures” to fight doping. governing body Down Under. It adds that an “internal investigation has confirmed” Baumann, who won gold medals in the 200- and 400- the innocence of its athletes and the entire team regarding meter individual medley for Canada at the 1984 Los “any unfair practice.” (AP) Angeles Games, replaces Leigh Russell after she vacated ❑ ❑ ❑ the role in November. The 56-year-old Baumann will Super-G ace Weibrecht back on skis: It’s been three begin his new duties in May. (AP) years since Andrew Weibrecht retired from the U.S. Ski ❑ ❑ ❑ team, but the mountains always beckon. Huston, Zeuner head US nat’l team: Nyjah Huston So, the two-time Winter Olympic medalist is back on his and teenager Brighton Zeuner head the 2021 USA skis for a unique fundraising event - he’s skiing the sum- Skateboarding National Team announced. mits of all 46 high peaks in the Adirondack Mountains for A total of 22 skaters in men’s and women’s park and the Make-A-Wish Foundation of Northeastern New York. street were chosen based on performance in international The Albany-based organization was forced to cancel a and national championship events during the Olympic fundraising ski event in 2020 because of the coronavirus qualifying process that began in 2019. pandemic. When it happened again this year, Weibrecht The Olympic team will be named in July following the moved forward with his own “Do it Yourself, Ski-For- conclusion of the qualification process. (AP) Shaheen celebrate after winning the Silver Cup of KVCC 2nd edition against KVE. ARAB TIMES, FRIDAY-SATURDAY, APRIL 16-17, 2021 16

Players of Argentina’s Defensa y Justicia celebrate with the trophy after winning the Recopa Sudamericana fi nal soccer match against Brazil’s Palmeiras in a penalty kick shoot-out at the Mane Garrincha Stadium in Brasilia, Brazil. (AP) Sports Latest sports scores at — http://sports.arabtimesonline.com City end run of failure in quarters Real oust Liverpool, return to CL semis

DORTMUND, Germany, April 15, (AP): Pep Guar- diola shared an emotional moment with goal scorer Phil Foden as Manches- ter City ended their run of failure in the Champions League quarterfi nals , beat- ing Borussia Dortmund 2-1 for a 4-2 aggregate win. Jude Bellingham scored to put Dortmund on course for an upset win before City hit back through a penalty by Riyad Mahrez and Foden’s goal. Guardiola reached the semifinals with City at the fifth attempt, matching the club’s best ever result under his predecessor Manuel Pellegrini in 2016. City go on to face Paris Saint- Germain. Guardiola said he expected to be labeled “a failure” if Dortmund became the fourth club in a row to eliminate City in a Champions League quarterfinal, after Lyon last year and before that Tottenham and Liverpool. Monaco beat City in the round of 16 in 2017 in Guardiola’s first season. Guardiola added that City would celebrate with “a lot of wine tonight” before preparing to face Chelsea in the FA Cup semifinals on Saturday. Bellingham, Dortmund’s 17-year- old English midfielder, put the German club ahead when he scored in the 15th minute after City defender Ruben Dias blocked Mahmoud Dahoud’s shot. That leveled the aggregate score 2-2, with Dortmund ahead on away goals. Bellingham became the second- youngest player to score in a Champions League knockout game at 17 years, 289 days. Bojan Krkic was 72 days younger when he scored for Barcelona against Schalke in 2008.

SOCCER Liverpool’s Mohamed Salah (left), fi ghts for the ball with Real Madrid’s Toni Kroos during a Champions League quarter-fi nal second leg soccer match between Liverpool and Real Madrid at City then laid siege to the Dortmund Anfi eld stadium in Liverpool, England. (AP) goal, with Kevin De Bruyne hitting the crossbar. And Dortmund handed City the breakthrough early in the second Jackson’s jumper gives Clippers win over Pistons half when Emre Can gave away a pen- NBA Results/Standings alty by heading a cross onto his arm. Mahrez put City back in control when he blasted the 55th-minute spot kick WASHINGTON, April 15, (AP): NBA into the top right, past stand-in goal- 76ers top undermanned Nets for 1st in East results and standings on Wednesday. keeper Marwin Hitz. Milwaukee 130 Minnesota 105 Cleveland 103 Charlotte 90 Dortmund were unhappy with the Philadelphia 123 Brooklyn 117 PHILADELPHIA, April 15, (AP): 100-98 over the Detroit Pistons . ors ran away from the Oklahoma City ed 21 points. Dwight Powell had 12 penalty call against Can, a week after Toronto 117 San Antonio 112 Joel Embiid had 39 points and 13 The Clippers rallied from an 11-point Thunder 147-109 . points. Bellingham had a goal ruled out in the New York 116 New Orleans 106 rebounds and the Philadelphia 76ers defi cit in the fourth quarter despite Curry went 8 for 8 from the fi eld and Grayson Allen led the Grizzlies with first leg in disputed circumstances. Orlando 115 Chicago 106 beat Brooklyn 123-117 on Wednes- playing without several key players. made all six of his 3-point attempts in 23 points, but the 90.6% free throw LA Clippers 100 Detroit 98 Chasing another goal to force extra Golden State 147 Oklahoma City 109 day night in an anticipated matchup Kawhi Leonard, Paul George, Serge the third quarter to post his high point shooter missed a pair of foul shots with time, Dortmund pushed up, but could Indiana 132 Houston 124 that fi zzled with the Nets missing their Ibaka, Patrick Beverley and Marcus total for a quarter this season. He was 2.2 second lefts, setting the stage for only muster an off-target header from Dallas 114 Memphis 113 biggest stars. Morris were all out for Los Angeles. coming off a 53-point game against the Doncic’s winning 3 in the matchup of Denver 123 Miami 106 The Sixers (38-17) moved into fi rst The Clippers trailed by fi ve in the fi - Denver Nug- teams jockeying for postseason posi- Mats Hummels at a free kick. City Washington 123 Sacramento 111 took advantage of the space which Eastern Conference place in the Eastern Conference in a nal minute, but Terance Mann made it gets on Monday tioning. opened up to pressure Dortmund. Atlantic Division game played without James Harden, 98-95 with a dunk, and after Detroit’s that made him Knicks 116, Pelicans 106 Foden, who also scored in the first W L Pct GB Kevin Durant, Blake Griffi n and Jerami Grant turned the ball over near the franchise’s In New Orleans, Julius Randle scored Philadelphia 38 17 .691 - leg last week, made sure of the win in Brooklyn 37 18 .673 1 LaMarcus Aldridge. With the Nets career scor- 32 points against his former team and the 75th with a low shot past Hitz from Boston 29 26 .527 9 standouts hurt or just rested, the game ing leader. He the New York Knicks clamped down the edge of the box off a short corner New York 29 27 .518 9-1/2 had more of a preseason feel than a BASKETBALL followed it by defensively on Zion Williamson for a Toronto 22 34 .393 16-1/2 possible preview of the conference fi - making 11 of 16 116-106 victory over the New Orleans routine. He ran straight to Guardiola on Southeast Division the touchline to celebrate with a hug. W L Pct GB nal this summer. midcourt, Jackson connected from 3-pointers and Pelicans . The loss means Dortmund could Atlanta 30 25 .545 - With good reason -- the Sixers im- 3-point range to tie it with 19.0 seconds 14 of 20 shots Alec Burks scored New York’s fi rst face an exodus of talented young play- Miami 28 27 .509 2 proved to 21-5 at home. left. overall. 11 points of the fourth quarter, added Charlotte 27 27 .500 2-1/2 The Sixers had 4,094 fans spread Raptors 117, Spurs 112 It was his a crushing 3 and fi nished with 21 ers at the end of the season. Part of the Washington 21 33 .389 8-1/2 appeal to talents like striker Erling Orlando 18 37 .327 12 around the arena to watch Embiid have In Tampa, Fla., OG Anunoby scored Curry second straight points for the Knicks, who’ve won four Haaland and forward Jadon Sancho - Central Division another stellar outing against the un- 22 points, Pascal Siakam had 20 points game with at straight for the fi rst time this season. the latter injured for this game - has W L Pct GB dermanned Nets. He scored 21 points and 11 rebounds and the short-handed least 10 3-pointers - just the second Wizards 123, Kings 111 Milwaukee 34 20 .630 - time he has done that in his career. He In Sacramento, Russell Westbrook been Dortmund’s consistent Indiana 26 28 .481 8 by halftime, his 14th 20-point 1st half Toronto Raptors beat the San Antonio Champions League appearances as a Chicago 22 32 .407 12 this season (most in NBA). Spurs 117-112. posted his eighth consecutive game recorded his 170th career triple-double, way to develop their skills and show Cleveland 20 34 .370 14 Kyrie Irving scored 23 points in the Raptors rookie Malachi Flynn had a with at least 30 points despite resting in Bradley Beal scored 31 points, and the Detroit 16 39 .291 18-1/2 fi rst half -- his eighth 20-point fi rst half big fourth quarter, scoring eight of his the fourth quarter. Washington Wizards ended their long- off to potential buyers. With Dortmund Western Conference sitting fifth in the Bundesliga, it’s on Southwest Division of the season -- and fi nished with 37 16 points in the period and fi nishing Nuggets 123, Heat 106 est road trip of the season by beating course for the far less appealing W L Pct GB points. Irving missed Tuesday’s game with seven assists. In Denver, Nikola Jokic had 17 the Sacramento Kings 123-111. Europa League. Dallas 30 24 .556 - against Minnesota for personal reasons. Derrick White led San Antonio with points, 11 assists and 10 rebounds for Westbrook had 25 points, 11 assists Memphis 27 26 .509 2-1/2 Irving, though, sat out as the deep 25 points, and Patty Mills added 23. his 15th triple-double of the season to and 15 rebounds for his sixth consecu- Haaland played his part holding up San Antonio 26 27 .491 3-1/2 the ball in the run-up to Bellingham’s New Orleans 25 30 .455 5-1/2 reserves helped the Nets rally from 16 Khem Birch had 14 points and six lead the Denver Nuggets over the Mi- tive triple-double and the 24th of the Houston 14 41 .255 16-1/2 points down to make it 118-115 with rebounds in his fi rst start for Toronto, ami Heat 123-106 . season. Oscar Robertson holds the goal, but the Norwegian was otherwise Northwest Division kept quiet by the City defense. He has 1:15 left. Embiid sealed the win from which went with a big lineup in the Michael Porter Jr. added 25 points NBA record for career triple-doubles W L Pct GB the free-throw line to the tune of “M- absence of most of its guards. The and 10 rebounds for the Nuggets. Six with 181 now gone four scoreless games for Utah 41 14 .745 - Denver players scored in double fi g- Dortmund and three for Norway since Denver 35 20 .636 6 V-P!” chants. Raptors enjoyed a rare 54-42 rebound Beal shot 10 of 22 and had his 25th Portland 31 23 .574 9-1/2 ures in the team’s fi rst game without 30-point game this season. his last goal on March 20. Clippers 100, Pistons 98 advantage. Oklahoma City 20 35 .364 21 In Detroit, Reggie Jackson sank a Warriors 147, Thunder 109 Jamal Murray, who is out for the rest Magic 115, Bulls 106 Zinedine Zidane has shown Jürgen Minnesota 14 42 .250 27-1/2 Pacifi c Division jumper with 2.3 seconds left against his In Oklahoma City, Stephen Curry of the season. In Chicago, James Ennis scored Klopp just how to turn a season Murray was hurt in the fi nal minute 22 points, Wendell Carter Jr. added around. W L Pct GB former team, giving the Los Angeles scored 25 of his 42 points in the third Phoenix 39 15 .722 - Clippers their seventh straight victory, quarter, and the Golden State Warri- of Monday’s loss at Golden State when 19 points and 12 rebounds, and the Zidane is leading Real Madrid into LA Clippers 39 18 .684 1-1/2 he planted his left foot to go up for a Orlando Magic snapped a six-game the semifinals of the Champions LA Lakers 34 21 .618 5-1/2 layup. An MRI confi rmed an ACL tear losing streak by beating the Chicago League. Klopp will finish the season Golden State 27 28 .491 12-1/2 Sacramento 22 33 .400 17-1/2 and dealt Denver’s title hopes a serious Bulls 115-106 despite big perfor- without a trophy. blow. mances by Zach LaVine and Nikola A 0-0 draw at Anfield in the quar- Cavaliers 103, Hornets 90 It’s quite a comedown for Klopp’s Vucevic. terfinals protected a 3-1 advantage In Charlotte, N.C., Taurean Prince The Magic outscored Chicago by from the first leg for Madrid. The side, which won the Champions scored a season-high 25 points with six 20 in the third quarter to turn a one- record 13-time European champions League in 2019 - after losing the 2018 3-pointers, Jarrett Allen had 15 points point lead into a 93-72 advantage are back in the semifinals - where final to Madrid - and ended a 30-year and eight rebounds in his fi rst action and hung on after Chicago cut it to Chelsea await - for the first time since English championship drought by win- since March 26 and the Cleveland 104-98. Carter scored on a tip-in and 2018 when Zidane lifted the European ning the Premier League by an Cavaliers handed the Charlotte Hornets Michael Carter-Williams dunked to Cup for a third consecutive season by 18-point margin in 2020. their third straight loss at home. make it a 10-point game with 3:12 beating Klopp’s Liverpool in the final. Now Liverpool are struggling to Kevin Love added 17 points and remaining. The victory in the 2018 final was even make the Champions League 11 rebounds for the Cavaliers, who Pacers 132, Rockets 124 Zidane’s last game before ending his places, sitting three points outside the snapped a two-game skid. In Houston, Caris LeVert scored 27 first stint in charge. He was tempted top four with seven games to go. Terry Rozier had 22 points, eight points, Domantas Sabonis added 22 back in 2019 following disappointing Liverpool created chance after assists and seven rebounds to lead and Malcolm Brogdon fell just short results, but this season looked to be chance but Mohamed Salah, Roberto the Hornets. Miles Bridges added 20 of a triple-double as the Indiana Pacers unraveling just a few months ago. Firmino and Sadio Mane could find no points. beat the Houston Rockets 132-124 . Trailing Atletico Madrid by 10 way past goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois Mavericks 114, Grizzlies 113 LeVert was involved in the block- points in La Liga in January, the and a makeshift defense that stifled a In Memphis, Tenn., Luka Doncic buster January trade that sent James defending champions are now just a front three that has endured a season of hit a leaning, lunging 3-pointer as time Harden from Houston to Brooklyn and single point behind and the double is frustration. expired to give the Dallas Mavericks Victor Oladipo from Indiana to Hou- on. A scene of many memorable Manchester City’s Oleksandr Zinchenko, clears a ball, during the Cham- a 114-113 victory over the Memphis ston. While Oladipo struggled during For Liverpool, it’s turning into a European comebacks, Anfield lacked pions League quarter-fi nal second leg soccer match between Borus- Grizzlies on. his brief tenure in Houston, LeVert has miserable season - which are now sure the fans who have so often inspired sia Dortmund and Manchester City at the Signal Iduna Park stadium in Doncic ended the night with 29 starred with the Pacers, scoring at least to end without a trophy. Liverpool in similar situations. Dortmund, Germany. (AP) points, while Kristaps Porzingis add- 20 points in fi ve of his last seven games.

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