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FRIDAY-SATURDAY, JUNE 18-19, 2021 / ZUL-QAADAH 8-9, 1442 AH emergency number 112 NO. 17717 16 PAGES 150 FILS Vaccinated expats allowed to return US in COVID pill play

KUWAIT CITY, June 17, (Agencies): During its meeting today, the Cabinet accepted a rec- ommendation to allow vaccinated expats to return to Kuwait. The government spokes- man, Tariq Al-Maz- ram, announced that from 1st August on- ward vaccinated expats with valid residence

will be allowed to en- PM Diwan’s photo ter Kuwait. Only those HH the Prime Minister Sheikh Sabah Al Khaled Al Hamad who have received Al-Sabah. Oxford/AstraZeneca, Pfizer, Moderna and Johnson & Johnson will be allowed to enter. Day by Day Expats entering Kuwait will have to stay in home quaran- THE Arabs call the era during tine for a period of 7 days, if which the affairs of the nation PCR test result is negative the are decided by masses and quarantine period ends. ignorant leaders as ‘the era Expats who have received the of fools’. Today, we say the specified vaccines in Kuwait will same thing, but unfortunately be able to travel abroad and re- many do not understand the turn according to health require- ‘precious meaning’ of this say- ments. Non-Vaccinated Kuwaiti ing. citizens will be prevented from The early Arabs were pre- traveling with the exception of: cise in describing every mo- 1. Age group who are not sub- ment and every phenomenon. jected to vaccination Many of the early descriptions are very much true about the Jewish ultranationalists wave Israeli flags during the ‘Flags March,’ next to Damascus gate, outside Jerusalem’s Old City, June 15. Inset: Palestinian Batoul Shamsa, 2. Citizens for health reasons present day era (time and 10, cries during the funeral of her brother Ahmad Shamsa, 15, in the West Bank village of Beta, near Nablus, June 17. The Palestinian health ministry said Thursday who are not being vaccinated place) because the present is that Shamsa who was shot by Israeli troops in the West Bank a day earlier died of his injuries. (AP) 3. Pregnant women who have more often than not an exten- obtained certificate from the sion of the past. God watches health ministry. over all His creations. Healthcare ... exemptions Those who are not vaccinated ... Yet, tomorrow is another with approved vaccines will not day. Opinion be allowed to enter malls, restau- Zahed Matar rants, salons and major complex- es. The ban on non-vaccinated people applies to areas of mall riousness of this epidemic and MPs pose on over-60’s which is more than 6000 sq me- the need for cooperation among ters. Malls will continue to shut all to confront it and prevent its Housing ... Crisis by 8 pm until further notice. spread. In this regard, the Coun- By Saeed Mahmoud Saleh number of cases in which the cil of Ministers expressed its Arab Times Staff ministry lost. Resumption deep thanks and appreciation generating crisis MP Marzouq Al-Khalifa for- Meanwhile, Kuwait Airways for the tireless efforts made by KUWAIT CITY, June 17: MP warded queries to Minister of Newswatch announced resumption of its the members of the Ministerial Abdullah Al-Turaiji has submit- Commerce and Industry Abdul- commercial flights to and from Committee for Corona Emergen- By Ahmed Al-Jarallah ted a proposal to revise the deci- lah Essa Al-Salman about Ku- cies headed by the Deputy Prime Editor-in-Chief, the Arab Times London with one flight per week. sion of the Public Authority for wait Investment Authority. He In a press statement, Acting CEO Minister And Defense Minister Manpower (PAM) on the non- asked if the authority evalu- WASHINGTON: The Dem- Sheikh Hamad Jaber Al-Ali ALL that was left in the series of crises that the country is ocratic-led House, with the of Kuwait Airway Essa Al-Had- suffering from is the sit-in organized by people of Mutla renewal of the residency permits ated the site occupied by Agil- dad said the capacity of today’s Al-Sabah, in order to study all of expatriates who are above 60 backing of President Joe area in demand for the issuance of construction permits ity Company according to the Biden, passed legislation flight was full, noting that Lon- topics related to the govern- for the plots they obtained years ago. This would have years old and holding a second- evaluation decision issued on Thursday to repeal the 2002 don is a very important destina- ment’s efforts to confront the completed the picture of the state’s failure to implement ary stage certificate or lower. Feb 18, 2021. He wants to know authorization for use of mili- tion, especially for students and Corona pandemic, and the Cabi- its policy, as if there was a virus moving between its in- He suggested classifying these if the director of the authority tary force in Iraq, a step sup- patients. Furthermore, London is net praised the tremendous ef- stitutions and incapacitating them while no one hears the expatriates in order to exempt carried out the directives of for- porters said was necessary for one of the most preferred touris- forts and great sacrifices made voices of protest or sees the suffering of the people. those born in Kuwait and those mer Minister of Commerce and Congress to reassert its con- tic destinations by Kuwaiti citi- by all leaders and workers in all This sit-in is a clear expression of the complexities of married to Kuwaiti women from Industry Faisal Al-Medlej to stitutional duty to weigh in on zens and resuming flights is an sectors of the concerned authori- the decades-long crisis. Here I am referring to the hous- the new regulations. rent alternative shops and flats matters of war while detrac- important step to get back to nor- ties, especially the Ministry of ing issue, which has become a social balk, and has even He also suggested obligating for the citizens renting from tors worried that it would em- mal commercial operation after Health, led by Sheikh Dr. Basil extended to clinical death. expatriates who are above 60 Agility who suffered damages bolden militia or terror groups the forced halt due to COVID-19, Hammoud Al-Sabah, in facing In 1963, the state developed a housing policy but in- years old and hold secondary because of the evacuation deci- operating in the region. Al-Haddad noted. He stressed this crisis. stead of developing it in the proper scientific manner, it stage certificates or lower to sign sion or not. If yes, the lawmaker The repeal legislation was Kuwait, meanwhile, said 1,646 deliberately distorted it under the pressure of MPs and in- passed overwhelmingly by a that Kuwait Airways crew is a commitment not to seek medi- demanded for copies of the new working within the framework of people tested positive for corona- fluential people, and this made matters worse with every cal care in public hospitals or pay rent contracts. vote of 268-161. Forty-nine virus while five related deaths application for housing care. Republicans voted for the regulations by health authorities the fees imposed on visit visa MP Osama Al-Shaheen re- in the country, including regular were reported on Thursday, tak- In the beginning, the government house was considered holders and those without health bill. Only one Democrat, Rep. ceived answers to queries he Elaine Luria of Virginia, vot- fumigation of planes after each ing the total up to 334,216 and as a paradise for its residents, but with the wrong modifi- insurance. 1,842, respectively, according to cations, this policy has turned into a source of enrichment, forwarded to Minister of Public ed against it. (AP) flight, mask-wearing and social- He recommended conducting Works and Minister of State for ❑ ❑ ❑ distancing routines. the health ministry. especially when the citizens were allowed to build accord- a study on the consequences of ing to how they desired, and not as required in terms of Communication and Informa- The Cabinet held the extraor- Another 1,427 people were environment and urbanization. the decision not to renew the res- tion Technology Affairs Rana WASHINGTON: The Supreme dinary meeting at Seif Palace cured of the virus, raising the idency permits of these expatri- Al-Fares. Court dismissed a major chal- headed by His Highness Sheikh total of those to have overcome Since then, housing care application requests began lenge to the Obama era health to pile up, rendering the waiting period to reach 20 to 25 ates during the first six months of In her reply, Al-Fares said the Sabah Khaled Al-Hamad Al- the disease to 315,645, ministry its implementation, considering first phase of supplying fiber op- care law on Thursday, turning Sabah, the Prime Minister. Af- spokesman Dr. Abdullah Al- years. As of March 2021, the number of requests reached aside an effort by Republican- 92,805 due to a defect in the process of providing land be- the effect of the decision on the tic service in Salwa and Rumaiti- ter the meeting, the Minister Sanad told a press conference. labor market and prices of some ya is ongoing. She added that the led states to throw out the law The number of people hospi- cause a very large percentage of it is owned by the Kuwait that provides insurance cover- of Health, Minister of Foreign Petroleum Corporation, which does not grant it until after technical services. only Internet service available Affairs and Acting Minister talised with the virus currently Meanwhile, the lawmaker for- age for millions of Americans. a great effort. requires the use of fiber optics. The justices, by a 7-2 vote, of State for Cabinet Affairs stands at 16,729, with 196 of The flashing zeal had reached its fever pitch, so a large warded queries to Minister of She explained the fiber optic left the entire law intact in rul- Sheikh Dr. Basil stated the them in intensive care units, percentage of the citizens turned down the “government Commerce and Industry Abdul- service has not been supplied to ing that Texas, other GOP-led following: At the outset of its he added, revealing that some house” because it did not meet the glamorous architectural lah Essa Al-Salman about the ex- Salmiya because the ministry is states and two individuals had work, the Cabinet discussed the 12,448 swab tests were conduct- desire of the citizens. patriates covered by the decision, waiting for approval from the no right to bring their lawsuit health situation in the country ed over the last day out of a total On the other hand, there were opportunistic benefits particularly their number and na- monitoring institutions. She af- in federal court. The Biden in the light of an explanation of 2,800,861. that MPs strived to gain, including the so-called “rental tionalities. firmed the service is supplied to administration says 31 million given by the Minister of Health He went on to urge nationals allowance for employees”, which cost the state about KD He asked if the decision is Mishref, Bayan and Abdullah people have health insurance Sheikh Dr. Basel, in which he and expatriates alike that abiding 1.1 billion in over five years. based on relevant studies. If yes, Mubarak adding that the second because of the law popularly presented the latest data and by health precautions, mainly, Nonetheless, given that everything in Kuwait, since the he requested for copies of these phase is ongoing; while that of known as “Obamacare.” (AP) statistics related to the total following social distancing rules, 1980s until today, is born by Cesarean-section without wait- studies. He wants to know the Dasma, Hawally, Shaab and ❑ ❑ ❑ number of cases of infections is the only way to halt the spread ing for its full growth, the patchwork increased the severity number of these expatriates who Mugra will soon start the third WASHINGTON: A wave of and deaths, which is witnessing of the virus. of the crisis until we reached where we are today. If the law were born in Kuwait, those mar- phase. a remarkable increase, as well of housing care was fully applied, this problem would have brief internet outages hit the Also: ried to Kuwaiti women, and the MP Mubarak Al-Arow for- websites and apps of dozens of as the high rate of bed occupan- been resolved a long time ago, but because of the need to number of crimes committed warded queries to Minister of WASHINGTON: The United “look different”, we entered a dark corridor of problems. fi nancial institutions, airlines cy in hospitals and the number such expatriates. Commerce and Industry Abdul- and other companies across the of people receiving treatment in States is devoting $3.2 billion to There is housing care in several Arab countries, but it is MP Ahmed Al-Hamad for- advance development of antiviral completely different from what is implemented in Kuwait, lah Essa Al-Salman about the globe Thursday. Intensive care. It was also noted and has proven its success because the state made its deci- warded queries to Minister of companies established by the The Hong Kong Stock Ex- that the recovery rate increased pills for COVID-19 and other sion from the beginning. Oil and Minister of Higher Edu- shareholders of Kuwait Steel In- change said in a post on Twit- to approximately 94.5 percent, dangerous viruses that could turn It did not just provide the land and loan to the citizen, cation Muhammad Abdullatif dustrial Company. He requested ter Thursday afternoon Hong praise be to God. into pandemics. but rather worked on providing the land by commission- Al-Fares about the criteria ad- for the list of the owners of the Kong time that its site was The Council also presented Dr Anthony Fauci, the na- ing major companies to build it, and then hand it over to opted by the committee formed company — direct or indirect facing technical issues and that the efforts and precautionary tion’s top infectious disease ex- the citizen. Some even adopted vertical housing, leaving according to ministerial decision ownership. He inquired if the it was investigating. It said in measures taken by the Minis- pert, announced the investment no choice for the housing care seekers, unlike in Kuwait. number 208/238 to check the owners include foreign parties, another post 17 minutes later try of Health to confront this Thursday at a White House brief- Even Egypt and Morocco got rid of the slums in the academic certificates of doctors, their nationalities, and if they that its websites were back to virus and its changing patterns, ing as part of a new “antiviral pharmacists and health practi- have direct or indirect relations normal. (AP) especially after monitoring some program for pandemics” to de- simplest ways without costing a penny. They offered the ❑ ❑ ❑ citizens housing for which they will repay through com- tioners as a prelude for accredi- with a Gulf country for its con- infections with the mutated delta velop drugs to address symptoms fortable installments with the guarantee of the state. The tation. troversial positions. BAGHDAD: Iraq declared on virus, in order to limit its spread caused by potentially dangerous same is with the Sultanate of Oman and the Kingdom of He inquired about the number On the other hand, the Environ- Wednesday the approval of es- and attack it in a manner that viruses like the coronavirus. Saudi Arabia. of meetings held by the commit- ment Affairs Committee met on tablishing Al-Jumaima border ensures the safety and health of The pills for COVID-19, Many years ago, some international companies offered tee, number of transactions ac- Thursday in the presence of Min- crossing with Saudi Arabia. citizens and residents and this which would be used to mini- to build Kuwaiti housing cities but under the condition complished since the committee ister of Electricity, Water and Re- Iraq news agency quoted requires the continued commit- mize symptoms after infection, that the state guarantees construction loans. However, this was formed, rules adopted by newable Energy Meshaan Al Otai- head of the country’s border ment of everyone to health con- are in development and could fell under the pressure of those who benefited from the the committee to evaluate the bi; and representatives of Kuwait ports authority Omar Al- trols and requirements. begin arriving by year’s end, land and real estate trade, and the government surrendered certificates of dentists accredited Institute for Scientific Research, Waeli as saying that the au- Then he presented to the pending the completion of clini- to the MPs, and did not take this smart step. during the term of the previous Environment Public Authority and thority’s council agreed unani- Council of Ministers the achieve- cal trials. The funding will speed Today, with the spread of the financial crisis in the state minister, academic qualification employees of the ministry. mously on opening the new ments of the vaccination cam- those clinical trials and provide institutions, the housing projects are becoming ink on pa- of the chairman and members of Rapporteur of the committee border crossing. paign against (Covid-19) in the additional support to private per. This crisis will continue to generate crises due to the The authority specifi ed a the committee tasked to approve MP Hamad Al-Matar disclosed plot of land in Al-Muthanna country and the percentage of sector research, development absence of the government or those in control of the af- the bachelor of dentistry certifi- that they discussed the negative citizens and residents who re- and manufacturing. fairs of citizens. governorate bordering Saudi cates issued by some universities impact of pollution from power Arabia to set up the border, he ceived the vaccine according to Fauci said the new program Email: [email protected] for the accreditation of doctoral plants on the 9,000 workers in added. the specified categories, as well would invest in “accelerating Follow me on: certificates. He asked if the com- these plants, as well as the citi- Opening the new border as the percentage of those who things that are already in prog- mittee used references during the zens and expatriates residing in will contribute to backing the are not registered so far. ress” for COVID-19 but also evaluation process. nearby areas. governorate economically and The Council of Ministers re- would work to innovate new He also wants to know the He said Al-Otaibi confirmed turning it into a key commer- newed its call to all citizens and therapies for other viruses. [email protected] number of complaints filed by that the employees in the power cial border with Saudi Arabia, residents on the importance of “There are few treatments that applicants, number of lawsuits plants deserve work hazard al- he noted. (AP) complete adherence to health exist for many of the viruses that filed against the ministry, and lowance. requirements, stressing the se- have pandemic potential,” he said. ARAB TIMES, FRIDAY-SATURDAY, JUNE 18-19, 2021 2

Weather Expected weather for the next with light to moderate freshening Jahra 44 30 Prayer Timings 24 hours: at times north westerly wind with Salmiyah 40 31 ...... 03:13 Asr ...... 15:23 By Day: Hot with moderate to speeds of 15-40 km/h. Ahmadi 42 33 Sunrise .. 04:49 Maghrib .. 18:49 fresh north westerly wind with Station Max Exp Min Rec Nuwaisib 45 29 Zohr ...... 11:49 Isha ...... 20:22 speeds of 20-50 km/h with a Kuwait City 44 31 Wafra 44 30 chance for rising dust. Kuwait Airport 43 32 Salmy 42 26 By Night: Hot to rather hot Abdaly 44 30 Jal Aliyah 43 28

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

Gulf Bank gains 5 fils, Jazeera Airways slips Kuwait market index wraps up week on firm footing By John Mathews ▲ US$/KD 0.30105/15 Arab Times Staff KUWAIT CITY, June 17: Kuwait stocks edged higher on ▲ Euro/KD 0.3587 Thursday as it wrapped up the week on a fi rm footing. The All Shares Index scaled 12.50 points in range bound trading ■ Yen/KD 0.0027 to close at 6,393.51 pts paced by some of the blue chips even as the broader sentiment remained mixed. ▼ British £/KD 0.4191 The Premier Market climbed 19.25 points to 6,947.83 pts taking the month’s gains to 207 points while Main Mar- ▼ Indian Rs/KD 0.0040 ket clipped 2.88 pts. The BK Main 50 index eased 2.90 pts to 5,572.34 points. The volume turnover meanwhile shrank ■ Philippines Peso/KD 0.0062 for second straight session. Over 336 million shares changed hands – down 12 percent from the day before. The sectors closed mostly in green turf. Consumer Ser- ▼ FTSE -31.52 pts at 18:50 June 17 vices outpaced the rest with 1.12 pct gain whereas Health- care trimmed 0.23 percent, the biggest loser of the session. Volume wise, Real Estate topped with 103.3 million shares ▼ Nikkei -272.68 pts at closing June 17 while Banking sector continued to dominate in value with over KD 31 million. ▼ Gold Among the standouts, Kuwait Finance House rose 3 fi ls $1806.75 per oz (London) to 772 fi ls on back of 9.2 million shares and Burgan Bank followed suit to end at 247 fi ls. Gulf Bank rallied 5 fi ls after ▼ NYMEX crude $70.47 per barrel pushing 16.4 million shares and Mabanee Co added 4 fi ls with a volume of over 1 million to settle at 742 fi ls. Human- ▼ Brent crude $72.67 per barrel soft Holding extended last session’s gains with a 30 fi ls jump to KD 3.650 while Mezzan Holding gained 8 fi ls. LIBOR rate 0.12450% KUNA photo Zain rose 2 fi ls to 590 fi ls on back of 5.4 million shares His Highness the Prime Minister Sheikh Sabah Khaled Al-Hamad Al-Sabah received the outgoing Qatari Ambas- while Ooredoo stood pat at 640 fi ls. stc eased 1 fi l to 850 sador to Kuwait Bandar bin Mohammad Al-Atiya in his office. fi ls whereas Agility was up 3 fi ls at 923 fi ls after pushing Boubyan Bank tripped 1 fi l before settling at 711 fi ls. over 3 million shares. Integrated Holding Co scaled 9 fi ls Warba Bank inched 1 fi l higher to 260 fi ls whereas Ahli HH the PM hosts outgoing ambassadors and Boursa Kuwait Securities jumped 13 fi ls. Sultan Centre United Bank BSC dialed down 1 fi l with brisk trading. Com- gained 6 fi ls with a volume of over 6 million. mercial Bank was unchanged at 500 fi ls and Al Ahli Bank His Highness the Prime Minister His Highness the Prime Min- outgoing Mauritanian Ambassador National Industries Group was unchanged at 225 fi ls after too did not budge from its earlier close of 215 fi ls. Ahli Sheikh Sabah Khaled Al-Hamad ister also received the outgoing to Kuwait Mahmdun Dadah. moving 11.2 million shares whereas Gulf Cable tripped 1 United Bank Kuwait paused a 301 fi ls. Al-Sabah received on Thursday Ambassador of Botswana to the The audiences was attended by fi l. Boubyan Petrochemical Co inched 1 fi l higher to 918 KIPCO held ground at 156 fi ls while National Invest- the outgoing Qatari Ambassador to country Manipedza Patrick Lisi- Chairperson of the Prime Minis- fi ls and Al Qurain Petrochemical Co paced 3 fi ls. Jazeera ment Co added 2 fi ls. Kuwait Investment Co clipped 2 fi ls Kuwait Bandar bin Mohammad Al- tide. ter’s Diwan, Abdulaziz Dakheel Al- Airways skidded 7 fi ls to 641 fi ls and ALAFCO dialed down while International Financial Advisors and Kuwait Financial Atiya on his tenure ending. Moreover, His Highness received Dakheel. (KUNA) 2 fi ls. United Projects Co and Mashaer Holding stood pat at Centre (Markaz) gave up 3 fi ls each. Arzan Financial Group 299 fi ls and 75.7 fi ls respectively. tripped 1 fi l and First Investment Co closed 1.2 fi ls in red. The market opened fi rm and slipped briefl y in early trade. Aayan Leasing and Investment took in 1 fi l. ‘Covid-hit persons will not be allowed’ The main index plumbed the day’s lowest level of 6381 Noor Financial Investment was fl at a 221 fi ls whereas points and rebounded amid buying pressure in some of the Tamdeen Investment dialed down 2 fi ls. Gulf Investment heavyweights. It peaked at 6398 points close to mid-session House fell 2 fi ls to 299 fi ls whereas Bayan Investment stalled Mechanism adopted for paper-based exams and retreated again before fl itting between small gains and at 54.9 fi ls after moving 3.3 million shares. Osoul Invest- losses. It headed north in the fi nal hour and closed with mod- ment trimmed 0.4 fi ls whereas Al Deera Holding added 2 KUWAIT CITY, June 17: The Minis- commitment to it. When the quaran- workers who are under quarantine will est gains. fi ls to close at 195 fi ls. Gulf Insurance Group gained 13 fi ls try of Health, in coordination with the tine period ends, students can attend to also be prevented from entering the Top gainer of the day, KSHC soared 10.77 percent to whereas Warba Insurance Co slipped 4 fi ls to 139 fi ls. Ministry of Education, has adopted a continue with their exams. schools. 32.9 fi ls and Hayat Communications climbed 5.59 pct to Kuwait Cement Co and Kuwait Portland Cement tripped mechanism to deal with confi rmed and As for those with suspected symp- Those either confi rmed or suspected stand next. NCCI skidded 9 percent, the steepest decliner 1 fi l each whereas Hilal Cement dialed up 1 fi l. ACICO suspected COVID-19 cases among toms of COVID-19, which will be de- of COVID-19 infection while under of the day and Mazaya Holding topped the volume with Industries eased 1 fi l to 121 fi ls whereas HEISC took in 1 students, teachers and members of the termined by taking body temperature quarantine during the exam period 32.28 million. fi l. Metal and Recycling Co shed 8 fi ls while Kuwait Found- exam committees during the paper- at three separate intervals, they will be will be allowed to exit to sit for their Despite the day’s uptick, the market spread almost even. ry Co was down 4 fi ls at 376 fi ls. Educational Holding Co based examinations, reports Al-Anba barred from continuing with their du- exams by requesting a permit on the 52 stocks advanced whereas 53 closed lower. Of the 137 gained 6 fi ls. Kuwait and Gulf Links Transport Co inched daily. ties in the committee or even entering Shlonak app. Special committees will counters active on Thursday, 32 closed fl at. 12,182 deals 0.2 fi ls up whereas KCPC dropped 7 fi ls to 550 fi ls. According to informed sources, if the school. be provided for this category to do the worth KD 69.9 million were transacted during the session. The market was bullish during the week. The main index there are any confi rmed cases of CO- The mechanism includes suspected needful while adhering to health re- In the banking sector, National Bank of Kuwait took in 1 closed higher in all fi ve sessions gaining 88 points week- VID-19, they should not be allowed cases of COVID-19 among individu- quirements. They will be allowed to fi l on back of 11.2 million shares whereas Kuwait Interna- on-week. It has rallied 173 points from start of the month to enter the schools or be part of the als under quarantine, and those who return to the regular committees after tional Bank gave up 4 fi ls after pushing 9.5 million shares. and is up 843 points year-to-date. examination committee. They will be came in contact with confi rmed cases presenting a certifi cate of ending the allowed to return only after bringing a and individuals under quarantine after quarantine either in paper or electronic certifi cate of quarantine to show their their return from travel. Teachers and form. Stop policy of isolation, end ‘travel restrictions’ ‘Change approach to fight virus’

KUWAIT CITY, June 17: The Kuwait Tourism and Travel Agencies Associa- tion (KTTAA) has called on the concerned authori- ties which are leading the fight to confront the spread of the coronavirus to change the policy of “iso- lating Kuwait from the rest of the world” by changing its approach to fight the vi- rus, reports Al-Anba daily. In a press statement, the associa- tion said the authorities took mea- sures and slapped travel restrictions at the beginning of the Corona pan- demic, which was a welcome sign but lamented this approach which KUNA photo continues this day – two years after Dr. Hilal Al-Sayer distributes gifts to sick children. the pandemic. The association said the authorities since the start of the pandemic put in Building wrecked in ’20 blast place strict measures due to the fact that the virus was new and unknown and the measures were welcomed, but after near- KRCS opens clinic in Lebanon ly two years, the visions have become clear, and the mechanisms to contain and BEIRUT, June 17, (KUNA): The Chair- Al-Sayer said that the association’s deal with the pandemic and its mutants man of the Board of Directors of the Ku- contribution to financing the building are well-known now all over the world. wait Red Crescent Society (KRCS), Dr. after the destruction caused by the explo- The globally unique strategy which Hilal Al-Sayer, inaugurated on Thursday sion comes due to the great importance of Kuwait has adopted can be described the outpatient clinic building at the Chil- the Children’s Cancer Center which treats as an ‘isolationist policy’ from the rest dren’s Cancer Center in Lebanon, which children free of charge and provides them of the world, and does not pay atten- was restored with funding from the Soci- with quality health services. tion to the repercussions the strategy ety after the damage incurred due to the On his part, Dr Basem told KUNA has on the national economy because explosion of Beirut Port that occurred in that “After a tour of the center’s de- the authorities resort to irrational clo- August 2020. partments and reviewing the progress sure policies without any innovative The Ambassador of the State of Ku- of work, gifts were presented to sick solutions to overcome the crisis. wait to Lebanon, Abdel-Al Al-Qena’i and children.” The association stressed it is be- the Chairman of the Board of Trustees of A number of families praised Ku- coming increasingly unacceptable the the Center Dr. Cesar Bassem participated wait’s support for the center, which restrictions imposed on air traffi c be- in the opening ceremony. provides quality medical services. The cause no scientifi c protocol is visible to In a statement to Kuwait News delegation of the Kuwaiti Red Crescent confront the pandemic especially since Agency, Al-Sayer stressed the keen- Society, accompanied by Ambassa- the procedures allow only the Kuwaitis ness of the Kuwait Red Crescent Soci- dor Al-Qena’i, inspected the works of to travel and return but the same facil- ety to support humanitarian efforts that renovating another new building be- ity is not given to the residents which provide medical and health services in longing to the center, which is financed suggests that the virus will infect only Lebanon, whether for citizens or resi- by Kuwaiti donations through the Red the expatriates and not the citizens. dents. Crescent. Despite the strict measures, the Delta variant seeped into the country, so does in dealing with the spread of the virus, Kuwait is ranked 28th in terms of vac- this mean that Kuwait will shut forever especially with the existence of studies cinating the population; the percent- shut the door in the face of the rest of the that prove the effectiveness of the vac- age of those who are vaccinated in world, wonders the association. cine in facing the spread of the Delta Kuwait has reached 70% and the fi g- The association stressed the situa- variant, indicating at the same time ure increases every day; the vaccina- tion has become unacceptable since the that there are indications of the stabili- tion rates converge with the European health authorities continue to restrict ty of the situation in Kuwait and called countries and the European Union has the movement of travelers, especially for lifting restrictions on movement at began to ease procedures and effec- residents whose movements have been the airport and raising the percentage tively opened its ports and lastly Ku- restricted making them unable to travel of movement in the airport so that op- wait applies strict health requirements for nearly two years. eration will exceed 50 percent. upon arrivals, which makes the entry The KTTAA stressed the need to The KTTAA requesting to lift the process for travelers tight and there is renounce the policy of exaggeration travel restrictions, at the global level no need to worry. ARAB TIMES, FRIDAY-SATURDAY, JUNE 18-19, 2021 LOCAL 3 diwaniya A DIGEST OF PUBLIC OPINION ‘Politicians wake up and keep in mind time is not on your side’

“ANYONE who follows up the political affairs will certainly discover the state for whose benefit? Have you forgotten your oath to protect the interests of the rized the reality of the situation we are going through and the general decline of absurdity still persists and putting an end to this phenomenon looks almost homeland and the citizen? Do you not realize the danger of your tampering and we are witnessing at the country level. You may ask ‘why is that…’ impossible, rather it will only aggravate and enhance, and as such the general mismanagement? “The reason is very simple, because we are a nation of quotas and favoritism situation is in a state of turmoil,” columnist Mohammad Al-Ruwaihel wrote “O politicians, wake up and keep in mind that the time no longer is on your side.” when it comes to appointments in senior positions. We do not find the right man for Al-Jarida daily. Also: in the right place. The good man is marginalized and the bad finds favor, and “We as citizens wonder ‘Who is right’ the government the one who is considered ‘neutral’ finds his usual place, and I do not mean a and its supporters, or the opposition majority bloc, or the “The parliamentary majority is a struggle that indeed requires a compro- president, director, or even a sentinel only, but rather even in jobs of technical ‘defeated’ people, or is there another party? mise,” columnist Dahem Al-Qahtani wrote for Al-Qabas daily. nature and in all government institutions. “We no longer know who is right and what is right. Is “We are in the sixth month since the results of the 2020 National Assembly “The first bad news was the exit of Kuwait University from the elite of the world it a deliberate act of wrongdoing, or are they just ignorant were announced, but the political crisis between the parliamentary majority rankings, but rather it took the last place at the level of state universities. That great about what is happening around them or what they are do- consisting of opposition MPs and the pro-government deputies including min- academic edifice, which graduated hundreds of thousands of people over successive ing? Are their differences overshadowed by their differ- isters and 17 MPs where both the government ministers and its pro-MPs consti- years and from all Arab countries, and people in all parts of the world were proud of ences of the problems of the homeland and the citizens? tute the majority in National Assembly, still the conflict is steadily escalating. it, now the university is building a beautiful, wonderful, distinguished, edifice cost- Have they become irresponsible? One thing is for certain; “The MPs who oppose the government look adamant to accept any compro- ing tons of money, but to no avail, so there is no classification academically, there is we no longer can either realize or know what are they do- mise to solve the ongoing crisis as long as long as the decision stands to post- no good reputation among its peers within the country. pone the parliamentary interpellations filed against the Prime Minister. This “The second news was the exit of the Kuwait national team from the World Cup ing... and why. Al-Ruwaihel “The government has the ability to pass what it wants in looks like the tale of a straw that broke the camel’s back. For his part, the prime qualifiers after a modest showing with Jordan, as if we were expecting the team to collaborations with its allies in the parliament, and as such we wonder why it minister does not agree to take the grilling podium, because he is fully aware enter the tournament and lift the cup and smash all expectations to be written on the doesn’t do the right thing to pull us out of the cycle of absurdity to relieve the the issue will snowball into filing non-cooperation with his government. We FIFA website that Kuwait – the black horse -- won the championship.” country and the people? know this requires only 25 votes MPs out of 31 opposition votes. ❑ ❑ ❑ “A majority of the ‘opposition members’ accuse the government of infringe- “But the question here is, What about the government’s options? Certainly, the ment and violation of the constitution saying it is unable even to question the government, can do a lot of things, particularly since we know the government cur- “Most judges and prosecutors are keen on isolation, so that their decisions rently enjoys the support of the parliamentary minority along with the votes of min- prime minister or one of his ministers or even pass a law. are not affected by what people say or what is published in social media and isters and this means that it can garner 33 votes and thus can be in a position to hold a other media platforms,” columnist Dr Naji Saoud Al-Zaid wrote for Al-Jari- “In spite of the above, the government is still committed to its survival and special session to vote on the issue that shall serve its interests and that of the parlia- continues to take part in this absurd play while the citizens remain baffled un- da daily. mentary minority members when the latter cast their vote in favor of the government “This is a wonderful practice that we are proud of as citizens. We sympathize able to distinguish between ‘who and whom’ and why? Do our politicians real- during the parliamentary session scheduled for next Thursday. ize the danger of this conflict on the future of the country and citizens, and even with the suffering of members of the judiciary in pursuit of justice and equality. “For its part the government is currently in a position to end the issue of post- “Now, strict decisions are taken to prevent the media from discussing some on the future of the conflicting parties themselves? poning every interpellation that is likely to be submitted against the prime min- “Is this conflict beneficial, or will everyone come out of it ‘a loser’? The big, important and sensitive issues. Such restrictions led to the detailed pub- ister separately in line with the internal and charter of the National Assembly. lication of these issues in foreign media. They are translated, published and strange thing is that the beneficiary of this absurdity is the institution of corrup- “But if that happened, then the government will be ready to confront the Ku- tion, so are they an institution or its tools, or have the opponents been exploited circulated easily. Banning the publication of these issues has made it an op- waiti street, because such immunity will practically nullify the parliamentary portunity for some to distort facts. The ban is no longer a barrier to the spread to achieve the institution’s goals? right and this can be deemed as the most significant aspect of the parliamentary “What is even more strange is that our politicians have everything at their of information. democracy.” “This phenomenon can be avoided by trusting the judiciary and ignoring the disposal, and they are the ones who run the country and the future of the people, ❑ ❑ ❑ so why this stubbornness when they are in a position to end this conflict? A social media and other media platforms. All these should be done instead of re- group wants to ‘get rid’ of the two presidents, and one group wants to do away “There is nothing new to mention, we are going from bad to worse, a decline stricting public opinion by completely preventing the circulation of court cases, with the other, and add to this the intolerable absurdity practiced by both parties in all fields and levels and replies to queries are always as usual – things are especially when we in Kuwait do not use the jury trial system, for which, the instead of keeping at hear the interests of the country and its prosperity and the good, God is generous, this is our son, and so on,” columnist Dr Sultan Majed law prohibits deliberation on cases outside the court. It also prohibits following citizen and his well-being. Al-Salem wrote for Al-Jarida daily. news about cases in the audio and visual media platforms.” “What is wrong with you? Why is this stubbornness and animosity? And “However, nothing seems to go right. This week two news reports summa- — Compiled by Zaki Taleb Other Voices ‘Kuwait pursuing knowledge-based Opinion about Saddam economy based on multiple pillars’ By Ahmad alsarraf Saddam also banned the means of communication, the Internet, religious amel Ghani Al-Hiti, who is from and political books. He also banned the Minister Al-Fares at Summit hosted by UAE Kthe Anbar province, that is con- free press and private radio and dur- sidered one of the provinces loyal to ing his rule, Iraq did not know any real Saddam Hussein, elections. During his time no one could KUWAIT CITY, June 17, (KUNA): Min- published an ar- leave Iraq without the permission of the ister of Oil and Minister of Higher Educa- ticle about the security apparatus and payment of ‘high former Iraqi presi- fees’. tion Dr. Muhammad Al-Fares said Thurs- dent, which could Military service was also mandatory day that Kuwait is making great efforts be the briefest during his reign, and the conscript re- in building a knowledge-based economy in describing the ceived a paltry salary. They were called bloody ruler, who for ‘reserve’ service for two months and through four pillars: education, innova- did not believe anyone who insulted the president’s tion, governance, and infrastructure de- in putting behind honor, or a member of his family was velopment and information and communi- bars his opponents executed, almost no one was left un- cation technologies. in the belief one harmed in Iraq. It was forbidden to be- day they will be alsarraf long to anything other than the Ba’ath This came in a speech by Minister Al-Fares during released and will party and all kinds of peaceful demon- his participation in the second Islamic Summit on Sci- turn against him, so he eliminated them strations against the regime were pro- ence and Technology organized by the United Arab immediately. hibited. Emirates via video communication technology. Al-Hiti says Saddam’s military his- For reasons related to personal mood, Al-Fares indicated that the Kuwaiti Cabinet recently formed tory began as a personal security guard it was forbidden to listen to the tapes of a government universities council with the aim of upgrading and within a short period he reached the the preacher Ahmad Al-Waeli or listen the education system, developing the performance of university position of head of the repressive Hanin to the songs of Fouad Salem or to recite education and establishing more public universities. apparatus and went on to become the the poems of Al-Jawahiri or Muzaffar He pointed out that the State has allocated 6 million Vice-President of the Republic, then an Al-Nawab. square meters for the establishment of Sabah Al-Salem Uni- offi cer with the rank of staff Lieutenant- During his miserable reign, all food versity in Al-Shaddiyah, adding that work is also underway General, then President of the Republic, supplies disappeared and the prices of to establish Abdullah Al-Salem University. KUNA photo all within just ten years, during which meat and fi sh increased and the price of He pointed out that many scientific institutions in the the Iraqi dinar was worth 3.3 dollars Participants in the second Islamic Summit on Science and Technology organized by a chicken reached half the employee’s country, led by the Kuwait Institute for Scientific Research, the United Arab Emirates. while he was in power and then fell to salary, according to 2003 prices. the Kuwait Foundation for the Advancement of Sciences the ‘bottom’. He also trampled on the dignity of the and the Public Authority for Applied Education and Train- Saddam was the first president Iraqi people, squandered their wealth, ing, have developed strategic plans that are compatible with Nationality nod for citizen’s son to turn against his party, execute its killed them with poisonous gases, dis- the State’s development plan ‘New Kuwait 2035’. most prominent leaders, get rid of all placed millions from their homes and He explained that these scientific institutions contribute Iraqi intellectuals without trial, and villages where they had lived for hun- to the development of human capabilities and the consolida- relinquish Iraq’s (complete) sover- dreds of years and moved them to areas tion of the values of creativity and innovation, noting that 11-year-old legal dispute ended eignty over the Shatt al-Arab – the hundreds of kilometers away. After all the Kuwait Foundation for the Advancement of Sciences has waterway whose sovereignty was this, an ignorant person comes to be- established the Sabah Al-Ahmad Center for Giftedness and By Jaber Al-Hamoud disclosed: “We are still waiting for the shared between and Iraq during moan his time, forgetting that he is the Creativity, which is interested in discovering and nurturing Al-Seyassah Staff ruling to be published to benefi t from it the time of the Shah of Iran. cause of everything that has happened creators and helping inventors develop their ideas and reg- and whatever the court has established He is also the fi rst Iraqi ruler to hide to Iraq after that. ister patents for their inventions, as the center was able to KUWAIT CITY, June 17: The Court in line with the law.” in a hole after his government was de- Another person who lacks the cred- register more than 400 patents. of Cassation issued an unprecedented Providing a detailed explanation of feated, amassing a debt of $400 billion ibility also describes Saddam as a Al-Fares stated that Kuwait has a luminous experience in ruling recently when it cancelled the for Iraq. He was the fi rst to invent the the case, Al-Asousi said the female citi- strong personality, forgetting that he benefiting from the results of scientific research through ap- decision of the Supreme Committee for zen submitted a request to grant a cer- most heinous methods of killing his op- had earned this personality by instill- plied research projects implemented by the Kuwait Institute Nationality, which refused to grant citi- ponents, other than slaying by cutting ing brutality and fear in the hearts of his for Scientific Research, which depends mainly on conduct- zenship certifi cate to the son of a female tifi cate of Kuwaiti citizenship to her son their tongues, chopping off ears and people. He had no feelings of mercy or ing scientific studies and research for the benefit of national to the Nationality and Passports Gener- noses. However, his daughter, Raghad, citizen. pity and was brutal even to people clos- and regional bodies and institutions. The court took this decision, end- al Department in January 2010, but she said in a television interview that “Papa est to him. All these things made people He stated that Kuwait is implementing an ambitious plan had never loved blood.” ing a legal dispute that lasted for was very surprised when the Supreme around him shiver and on the strength to benefit from renewable energy in the production of elec- Committee for Nationality rejected the Saddam is the fi rst head of state in of his brutality he built his charisma and tricity and water, adding that recent years have witnessed the more than 11 years. Attorney Bassam history to start his rule with a war and heroism. opening of the Shaqaya Renewable Energy Complex, which Al-Asousi filed the lawsuit on behalf request on June 6 of the same year even end it with a war and always claimed ❑ ❑ ❑ produces 70 megawatts of electricity from three stations. of his client. if the Court of Cassation issued a fi nal ‘Oh, how sweet victory is with God’s Al-Fares said that there are many projects that the State In a statement to daily after the an- ruling to prove her son’s relationship help.’ e-mail: [email protected] is working on in order to reach its production of renewable nouncement of the ruling, Al-Asousi with his Kuwaiti father. energy to 15% of the total energy in 2030. He pointed out that these projects will contribute to achieving financial sav- Bids to close on Aug 23 ings of 2.46 billion US dollars annually and will contribute to maintaining human health by reducing carbon dioxide emissions. He affirmed Kuwait’s commitment and support for the Oil company hunts for consultant efforts made by the United Nations in combating the phe- KUWAIT CITY, June 17: The Kuwait Oil production as well as unconventional explo- nomenon of climate change and limiting its negative effects, Company (KOC) is seeking an international ration involving oil and shale gas. based on the principles and provisions contained in the Unit- technical consultant to assist in providing tech- Minister of Electricity, Water and Re- ed Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change and nical advice in the fi eld of oil exploration and newable Energy and the Minister of Social the Kyoto Protocol. production development, reports Al-Anba dai- Affairs and Community Development, Dr. About the Corona pandemic that is sweeping the world, ly quoting reliable sources from the oil sector. Misha’an Al-Otaibi, announced the ministry it has become necessary to work on more awareness of the They explained that the consultant’s scope will now complete visitors’ transactions via importance of science and innovation and the need to find of work also includes development of heavy oil the customer services call center No 153, re- effective policies and mechanisms for cooperation and infor- and shale gas, and any other specialized project ports Al-Seyassah daily. mation exchange between Islamic countries. in the fi eld of exploration and production as re- In a press statement, Minister Al-Otaibi quired by the company throughout the contract said the ministry, within its orientations period, which would last for about fi ve years. towards digital transformation through the Gold stamp forgers held KOC is scheduled to invite about 11 interna- automation of its services electronically and tional companies to participate in the bidding, the diversifi cation of sources for providing KUWAIT CITY, June 17: Personnel from the Criminal In- which is expected to close on August 23, 2021. electronic services has adopted and imple- vestigation Department (CID) in cooperation with the Pre- The consulting company is required to mented this project to facilitate procedures cious Metals Department of Ministry of Commerce and provide qualifi ed and experienced man- for various customer segments and concern- Industry has arrested arrest a gang of Asians which special- power for services. The consultants or ex- ing electricity and water bills without the ized in forging the gold stamp of the Ministry of Commerce, perts must have the experience and com- need to go to the ministry in person. reports Al-Rai daily. petence necessary to conduct exploration He added that the call center provides According to a statement issued by the the Directorate and production activities in the geological, services such as inquiries about electricity General of Public Relations and Security Media Department geophysical, petrophysical, petroleum and and water bills, entering readings and pay- of the Interior Ministry investigations by securitymen con- reservoir engineering fi elds, through the ing bills, as well as obtaining clearances, re- fi rmed the involvement of a number of gold shops in selling integration of all exploration and produc- ceiving requests for meter testing and other gold ornaments bearing forged stamps and during the raid tion disciplines. The consultants and senior services provided by the center through a it was found that a large quantity or gold ornaments were specialists must have worked in the major trained national workforce. Al-Otaibi ex- marked with forged seals from the Ministry of Commerce. oil sectors and should have extensive proj- plained the ministry is continuing to expand The CID men said the suspects were arrested and gold ect experience in relation to all phases of the towards the automation of its services to jewelry has been confi scated and referred to the Public Pros- E&P cycle from exploration to mature fi eld provide services to all customers. ecution. ARAB TIMES, FRIDAY-SATURDAY, JUNE 18-19, 2021 LOCAL 4

National Day greetings sent Co-op societies union follows up HH Amir congratulates Iceland KUWAIT CITY, June 17, (KUNA): His Iceland further progress and prosperity. Highness the Amir Sheikh Nawaf Al- His Highness the Crown Prince Sheikh on number of ‘stranded’ workers Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah sent a cable Meshaal Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah of congratulations to President of Iceland and His Highness the Prime Minister Gudni Thorlacius Johannesson Thursday Sheikh Sabah Khaled Al-Hamad Al-Sa- Bid to exempt workers from decision to ban entry of expats on occasion of his country’s National bah sent similar cables to President Jo- Day, wishing him good health, and for hannesson. KUWAIT CITY, June 17: Chairperson of the Union of Consumer Coopera- tive Societies Dr Saad Al- Shabo said the union has started determining the number of workers in the cooperative sector who are stranded abroad, in response to the request of cooperative societies in line with the need to fulfi ll the requirements of the current stage and for the central markets and branches to offer the best KUNA photos services to consumers, re- Sheikh Dr Ahmad Nasser with his Yemeni (left) and Somali counterparts. ports Al-Rai daily. FM meets his Yemeni, Somali counterparts In a statement to the daily, Al-Shabbo disclosed this step was taken after many cooper- Kuwaiti Foreign Minister and Minister of State for interest. Cabinet Affairs Sheikh Dr Ahmad Nasser Mohammad Meanwhile, Sheikh Dr Ahmad Nasser on Tuesday atives societies urged the un- The ambassador with Lieut-Gen Al-Mekrad. Al-Sabah on Tuesday met with Yemeni Minister of met with the Somali Minister of Foreign Affairs and In- ion to ask the health authori- Foreign Affairs and Immigrants Affairs, Ahmad Awad ternational Cooperation, Mohamed Abdirizak, on the ties to exempt their workers Indian envoy visits chief of KFSD nin Mubarak, on the margins of the extraordinary Arab margins of the extraordinary Arab ministerial meeting from the decision to ban the ministerial meeting that addressed the issue of Al- that addressed the issue of Al-Nahda dam. entry of expatriates; given Nahda dam. The Kuwaiti and Somali ministers discussed bilat- The Indian Ambassador to Kuwait HE visit both sides discussed ways of that work in the cooperatives Sibi George paid a visit to the chief strengthening cooperation especially The Kuwaiti and Yemeni ministers discussed bilat- eral relations, Arab and regional topics of common in- has been affected by the long eral relations, Arab and regional topics of common terest. (KUNA) of Kuwait Fire Services Directorate in the domain of security, Diaspora absence of workers whose (KFSD) Lieutenant-General Khaled matters and matters of mutual inter- services are badly needed. Rakan Hamad Al-Mekrad. During the est. Exempt “As part of the role of the ‘KD5 fee for each related document’ union to closely follow up changes in the cooperative sector, we received the request of several cooperative societ- Offi cial issues decision to grant ies to exempt their workers, who are stranded abroad, from the entry ban. The initial count public access to KU information revealed that around 10 work- KUWAIT CITY, June 17: Acting Kuwait vided the period does not exceed 60 days. ers in each cooperative are University President Dr Bader Al-Bidawi If the request is rejected, the applicant is stranded abroad,” Al-Shaboo recently issued a decision on granting the notifi ed in writing stating the reasons for narrated. public access to information at the univer- rejection and the applicant has the right to He affirmed that the request sity, reports Al-Qabas daily. fi le a complaint. comes with the commitment to The decision stipulates that any natural The decision prohibits the disclosure of strictly comply with the pre- or legal person has the right to access in- information if: cautionary health measures formation and obtain an offi cial statement 1. Secrecy is decided based on the Con- applied at Kuwait International from the university. stitution, law or the decision of the Coun- Airport. “The return of these The decision is in line with the Public cil of Ministers or the University Council workers will be a positive fac- Universities Law and the Right of Access in accordance with Article 28 of the Public tor in facilitating cooperative Law that are applicable to documents, Universities Law; or the decision of the work, preserving the gains and instructions, circulars, regulations, deci- concerned court or a judicial investigation capabilities of shareholders, sions, programs, projects, plans, contracts, body. and providing the highest qual- archives and reports. 2. The requested information is related ity of service to consumers and According to the decision, the public to family disputes, juvenile cases and on- shareholders,” he asserted. can view the desired information without going investigations in criminal cases, or He pointed out “this demand fees; while a fee of KD5 is required for if the disclosure of information affects the comes at a time when a large each related document provided the num- course of justice or causes harm to others. number of cooperative workers ber of pages do not exceed 10 and 500 fi ls 3. It relates to the scope of private life, inside the country want to for each additional page. such as medical information, personal sta- leave, especially since the The Legal Affairs Department at the tus or fi nancial disclosure, unless the con- corona pandemic crisis is now university shall receive requests to ac- cerned person to disclose it. KUNA photo on its second year and they are cess information and responds to them The decision also emphasized the need KRCS’ Head Dr Al-Sayer during the signing of the agreement to allocate USD half a million to provide Pfi zer- far from their families. The after submitting the requests to the uni- to publish laws and regulations on the BioNTech vaccines. union will address the health versity’s president or his representative; university’s website; as well as the organi- authorities to ensure the smooth while an electronic register is created zational structure, jobs, specializations, Deal signed with KRCS to provide COVID-19 vaccines flow of work in cooperatives, in the department to record requests for those occupying leadership positions, considering the vital role information, in addition to an electronic mechanism of communicating with them, played by the cooperative sec- register in all university centers to re- information about programs, projects and tor.” cord applications. the work of the university including per- Lebanon hails Kuwait’s humanitarian donation The decision stipulates that the Legal formance indicators, quality, purchases, Affairs Department should respond to the tenders, and the ability to share sugges- By Ayoub Khaddaj part of the vaccination campaign to and Palestinian refugees. applicant within 10 working days, which tions, opinions and complaints and re- immunize society, which also in- Meanwhile, Al-Sayer told KUNA may be extended for a similar period; pro- spond to them on the site. BEIRUT, June 17, (KUNA): Leba- cludes Syrian and Palestinian refu- that this is a precedent for interna- nese Health Minister Hamad Has- gees. tional humanitarian organizations san Thursday commended Kuwait’s In a press conference held after because the world is lacking vac- Churches in Kuwait ask for vaccinations humanitarian donations during cri- signing the deal, Hassan praised cines for everyone, therefore they ses. what Kuwait offers through KRCS thought about the forgotten refugees, KUWAIT CITY, June 17: Greek Catholic available to workers in churches, in order to This was stated while signing an in terms of continuous help through as he thanked the Lebanese Health Patriarchal Vicar in Kuwait and the Arabian ensure compliance with the health require- agreement to provide COVID-19 crises experienced by people in Ministry, which provided vaccines Gulf, Archimandrite Boutros Gharib, while ments and everyone’s safety, reports Al-Rai vaccines with Board Chairman Lebanon. to refugees. praising the efforts exerted by the Ministry daily. of Kuwait Red Crescent Society KRCS allocated USD half a mil- Kuwait is making every effort to of Health, said a number of churches in Ku- The churches that have submitted the re- (KRCS) Dr Hilal Al-Sayer, in the lion to provide Pfi zer-BioNTech enhance the humanitarian situation wait have sent a request to the Undersecre- quest include the Roman Catholic Church, presence of Kuwait’s Ambassador vaccines, which will benefi t the of various members of society, he tary of the Ministry of Health, expressing the Armenian Orthodox Church, and the to Lebanon Abdulaal Al-Qinaie, as Lebanese people, as well as Syrian underlined. Dr Saad Al-Shabo their hope that vaccines would be made Greek Orthodox Church. Clear strategy developed Kuwait hedges well to curb looming commodity crisis KUWAIT CITY, June 17: Signs of a global food crisis are emerging, represented by high prices and scarcity of quantities in specifi c commodities that receive many requests from all countries. Reliable sources told the Annahar daily that Kuwait, the fi rst Arab in global indicators on the level of food security, has hedged well in this aspect and stressed Ku- wait spends about 1.5 billion dinars on imported goods annually. The sources indicated that the country is expanding externally with large investments in the fi eld of food security, especially in light of what the world has gone through amid the corona pandemic, in particular the scarcity of food supplies. Kuwait has developed a clear strategy, including in- vesting abroad in areas that were traditionally consid- ered arable as it adopted a diversifi cation of the strategic vision for food security and set certain percentages of agriculture locally and abroad. In the midst of all this shipping costs raise commod- ity prices globally to record levels. The Gulf countries are negatively affected by any potential food crisis espe- cially as they are not producers of basic foodstuffs and import the largest proportion of food but the extent of the impact will vary from one country to another. Food prices are rising at the fastest monthly rate in more than ten years which sounds a warning bell about the danger of upcoming global crisis that will affect the most important sources of life, at a time when large and small countries are suffering from the economic, health and social repercussions resulting from the Covid-19 pandemic. The rapid pace of price rises is a testimony of this situation in countries which are producing basic food- stuffs. Countries experiencing turmoil and wars will suffer the most, especially Lebanon, Yemen, Syria and Iraq, while countries that enjoy subsidies will re- turn to popular protests when countries do away with the subsidies while the Gulf countries will continue to suffer from the repercussions and bear additional costs. ARAB TIMES, FRIDAY-SATURDAY, JUNE 18-19, 2021 LOCAL 5

Graduates of institutes granted EuroPass certificate Majority of study programs accredited by French Academy of Paris: PAAET KUWAIT CITY, June 17, (KUNA): Pass certifi cate is a European license She added that the authority is con- centive and impetus for the continuous expanding these study programs and added that work is underway on 22 The Public Authority for Applied that enables graduates to work in the sidered the fi rst in the State of Kuwait review, self-evaluation and develop- improving the quality of the author- academic programs under accredi- Education and Training (PAAET) European Union countries or complete in terms of the number of academic ment of all components of the edu- ity’s outputs and introducing them to tation and renewal, expecting that announced that the majority of study their studies in them, noting that this accreditation, cational process the labor market, which qualifi es it to the total number during the coming programs in its eight institutes have is an achievement for the authority and indicating that in the various prove its scientifi c standing and repu- period will reach 93 academic and obtained institutional accreditation its affi liates. although these sectors of the au- tation and to gain the trust of the aca- training programs. from the French Academy of Paris, Al Shabbo said that the author- accreditations thority. demic community and the target audi- He stated that the authority has the and that graduates of these institutes ity was keen to create a high-level serve as a certifi - Al-Shabbo ence in Kuwaiti society. lead locally in working to adopt its have been granted a EuroPass cer- academic climate through the appli- cate and recogni- emphasized that For his part, Deputy Director-Gen- academic and training programs from tificate that enables them to work or cation of international standards and tion for achieving the interest in eral for Academic Support Services reputable international organizations, complete their studies in the Euro- the adoption of its study programs by the desired goals the next stage and Acting Deputy Director-General which will result in improving the pean Union. reputable international organizations, and adapting the is focused on for Planning and Development at the quality of its outputs, which the au- The Director of Quality and Aca- which refl ected positively on the qual- study programs activating the authority, Dr. Jassim Al-Astad, said thority aspires to be a mainstay for the demic Accreditation at the Authority, ity of its academic and training pro- to international role of these ac- in a similar statement that 71 aca- Kuwaiti labor market with the quality Dr. Suad Al-Shabbo, said in a press grams and, consequently, on the skills standards. They creditations in demic and training programs have of the outputs of qualifi ed cadres in all statement Wednesday, that the Euro- and capabilities of its graduates. Dr Al-Shabborepresent an in- Dr Al-Astad developing and been accredited at the authority. He its fi elds. Kuwait, Egypt launch initiative to back talented media people Arab Information Ministers welcome Kuwait’s approach

CAIRO, June 17, (KUNA): Kuwait’s Minister of In- formation and Minister Finance Minister Khalifa Hamada receives the Ambassador of Pakistan. of State for Youth Affairs Abdulrahman al-Mutairi and chairman of Egypt’s Supreme Council for Me- dia Regulation (SCMR) Karam Gabr agreed on launching an initiative on supporting the talented media people from the two countries. This came on Wednesday dur- ing a meeting between the two officials in Cairo, in the presence of Kuwait’s Ambassador to Egypt KUNA photo Mohammad Al-Thuwaith and the Kuwait’s Minister of Information meets chairman of Egypt’s Supreme Council for Media Regulation. KUNA photos minister’s delegation. Finance Minister Khalifa Hamada receives the Ambassador of Vietnam. The minister described the Kuwaiti- an Egyptian-Kuwait media forum to The council noted that Kuwait’s ment has its effects in changing Arab Egyptian media relations as “very dis- share views and expertise on all levels, suggestion includes a monthly visual communities and their developments, Kuwait’s Finance Minister receives tinguished”. pointing to a media legacy in all me- meeting by the appointed offi cer, in and has its economic, intellectual and He underlined the importance of dia and cultural institutions of the two which discusses the latest council deci- religious dimensions. media in strengthening bonds with all countries. sions, ways of execution and reporting “The last clash between Palestinians ambassadors of Pakistan, Vietnam Arab countries, mainly Egypt. He urged developing creativity and quarterly to other members. and Israelis last May revealed that the KUWAIT CITY, June 17: Minister sador of Vietnam, ways to enhance He noted that the media is crucial for communication between Egypt and It also welcomed Kuwait’s contribu- true battle is fought on screens and me- of Finance and Minister of State for joint cooperation in the economic, overcoming challenges facing the Arab Kuwait, and investing in youth capa- tion in adopting the project of (Pales- dia outlets as much as it’s fought in the Economic Affairs and Investment investment and tourism fields be- world through raising youth awareness bilities for a better future. tine’s visual and audible encyclopedia). fi eld,” he said. Khalifa Hamada received in his of- tween the two sides were discussed on risks facing their countries. In addition, the two sides agreed on The council shed the light on the “Although Israel’s propaganda has fice yesterday the ambassadors of and reviewed, and both sides stressed Meanwhile, head of SCMR hoped forming a teamwork to start setting a importance of the Palestinian cause to always succeeded in depicting the Is- Pakistan, Syed Sajjad Haider and on the importance of the final sign- cooperation between Kuwait and working paper and a strategy for the the Arab world, and requested member raeli occupying forces as victims, and Egypt in the next period would have initiative. countries to launch media campaigns Palestinians as violent terrorists, we Vietnam Ngo Tuan Thang. ing of the minutes of the meeting of an impact on media policies of the two Meanwhile, the Arab Informa- yearlong in support of Palestine. have witnessed lately the change in During the meeting with the Am- the second session of the Kuwaiti- countries. tion Ministers council welcomed on The Secretary General of the Arab narrating the details of the last confron- bassador of Pakistan, the two sides Vietnamese Joint Committee, which He also expressed his hope for in- Wednesday Kuwait’s proposals to League Ahmad Abu Al-Gheit on tation,” he added. affirmed the strengthening of coop- was held in July 2019. creasing dialogue and sharing views follow up and communicate between Wednesday stressed on improving the “A number of human rights activists eration between both countries in The two meetings were attended on different issues that serve the com- member countries by pointing a com- Arab Media Movement Abroad and its realized lately the defi nition of apart- economic and health relations; the by the Director of the Department mon interests. munication offi cer to supervise the ex- necessity to back the Palestinian cause. heid and racial purge in Palestine, and importance of holding the Kuwaiti- of Arab and Gulf Economic Coop- He called for overhauling conven- ecution of council decisions. This came in the opening speech of these acts cannot be hidden anymore Pakistani Joint Higher Committee eration, the Assistant Undersecre- tional media outlets, noting that the This came in the 51st session of the the 51st Council of Arab Information and diffi cult to sugarcoat it,” he noted. meetings and the vital role of Ku- tary for Economic Affairs, Talal Arab world is facing challenges from Arab Information Ministers council, Ministers meeting in the Arab League The Secretary General stressed on wait in international issues was also Al-Namesh, and the Director of the e-media, particularly social media. which started Wednesday, at the head- headquarters in Cairo under the presi- taking advantage of the sympathy wave discussed. Public Debt Department, Abdulaziz Furthermore, the ambassador quarters of the Arab League General dency of Sudan. around the world and media frenzy to In the meeting with the Ambas- Al-Mulla. stressed the importance of launching Secretariat in Cairo. Abu Al-Gheit noted that this move- the benefi t of the Palestinian people. Kuwait air navigation continues normally: DGCA Check academic schedules regularly: Dr Al-Gharabally Weather expected to improve from Friday afternoon Kuwait University announces early summer registration KUWAIT CITY, June 17, (KUNA): The KUWAIT CITY, June 17, (KUNA): Meanwhile, air navigation is run- Acting Dean of Admission and Registra- The Kuwaiti Meteorological Depart- ning normally despite the dusty un- tion at Kuwait University, Dr. Mishaal Authority stresses importance of 5th ment expects the hot and brisk north- stable weather the country is going westerly dust-laden winds, with speeds through, Kuwait Directorate General Al-Gharabally, announced that the early Gulf Ministerial meet on food safety exceeding 70 kilometers per hour to of Civil Aviation (DGCA) said Thurs- registration process for the summer se- continue as was the case Thursday. day. mester 2020/2021 will be from June 20 to 24, according to specific dates for each KUWAIT CITY, June 17, (KUNA): cerned with food safety last June, The winds are expected to gradually DGCA Deputy Director-General for The Kuwaiti Public Authority for in preparation for presenting them weaken starting from Friday afternoon. Planning and Projects Saad Al-Otaibi student using the Internet only. Al-Gharabally indicated in a press Food and Nutrition stressed the for approval to the ministers at the The weather forecast observer at told KUNA that air traffic did not get importance of the fifth meeting of meeting Thursday. department Abdulaziz Al-Qarawi, told affected with the current climate con- statement on Thursday, that the maxi- mum allowed registration during this the Gulf Ministerial Committee for She explained that one of the the Kuwait News Agency (KUNA) the dition. Food Safety most important topics on the agen- dusty winds decreases horizontal vis- The vision level depends on certain period is 10 academic units, and students can modify their schedules during the in strengthen- da is to update the Gulf Guide for ibility to less than a thousand meters, standards, besides existing licenses for ing the joint Controlling Imported Food and and may be even less particularly in both aircraft and aviators, he added. periods of early registration, withdrawal and addition to the end of the registration Gulf action work on approving the unified open areas. The weather state is dusty with fresh in the field of food law system for the countries Al-Qarawi added, sea waves rise to to strong northwesterly wind with a period without prior appointments. He said that students expected to food safety of the Gulf Cooperation Council a height of seven feet. He added, from speed of more than 70 km/h, Kuwait and unifying and its executive regulations. Friday afternoon the winds are expect- Meteorological department said ear- graduate in the summer semester can register online by filling out electronic procedures She stated that among the top- ed to be moderate to brisk for the rest lier. to ensure ics included is the adoption of the of the period. The Kuwaiti Ministry of Interior on forms from July 28 to August 2, during official working hours to ensure that food quality work plan of the Gulf Committee He pointed out the country will con- KUNA photo Thursday called on citizens and resi- and to face for Food Safety and the adoption tinue to be affected by the extension of Lack of visibility due to the heavy dents to exercise caution and caution they have registered for all graduation requirements. challenges, of a mechanism for imposing and the seasonal India depression from the dust wave sweeping the country. in view of the unstable weather that the variables and Dr Al-Fulaij lifting the ban on the import of southeast of the country and the exten- country is witnessing in some areas, Al-Gharabally explained that each stu- dent has a specific date to start the regis- modern tech- food of animal origin and its prod- sion. ing dust, especially over open areas, especially in the open. nologies in the field of food produc- ucts for a period of two years, and tration process during the evening period He stated the weather Thursday and the expected maximum tempera- In a press statement, the Ministry tion and circulation, especially dur- other issues related to food safety night will be hot and dusty with north- tures between 44 and 46 degrees Cel- urged everyone not to hesitate, when from four in the afternoon to nine in the ing the COVID-19 pandemic, says in the GCC. westerly moderate to brisk winds of sius. The sea condition will be mod- necessary, to call the emergency num- evening, pointing out that setting dates Dr. Reem Al-Fulaij, Chairman of the She pointed out that food safe- speed between 20 and 50 kilometers erate to high, with waves between 3 ber 112 or civil defense operations for student registration for the summer Board of Directors, Director General ty is a top priority for officials per hour, and the expected minimum and 7 feet. 1804000 for any humanitarian, secu- semester is on the first day of registration of the commission, and head of the and decision makers in the GCC temperature between 32 and 30 de- Al-Qarawi pointed out that the rity or traffi c assistance. for students with special needs and stu- delegation of the State of Kuwait at countries who support the system grees Celsius and the sea to be light weather Friday night will be hot, with She appealed to citizens and resi- dents who are expected to graduate in the the meeting. based on it by all available means, to moderate, and the waves will some- northwesterly light to moderate winds, dents of the sea-goers to contact the summer semester. Dr. Reem Al-Fulaij, told Ku- especially amid the high rates of times rise to between 3 and 6 feet. active at intervals blowing between 15 Coast Guard operations 1880888 when Outstanding wait News Agency that the online disease cases due to unhealthy or He indicated the weather on Friday and 40 kilometers per hour. The ex- faced with any emergency. It also To provide the largest amount of time meeting of this committee from contaminated food. will be hot, with northwesterly mod- pected minimum temperature will be warned road users, especially the open for them to register, the following days the General Secretariat of the Gulf Al-Fulaij stressed that food se- erate to brisk winds ranging between between 31 and 29 degrees Celsius, ones against low visibility and the are for the outstanding students, and then Cooperation Council scheduled curity represents a very important 20 and 50 kilometers per hour, caus- and the sea will be light to moderate. presence of sand clumps on the road. the rest of the students in descending or- for Thursday will be held under challenge in our time and places the der, i.e. the highest or lowest passed. the chairmanship of the Kingdom responsibility on the countries of the He stated that the Deanship of Ad- of Bahrain and the participation of world to find appropriate solutions mission and Registration will send the ministers concerned with food not only to provide food, but also to messages via mobile phones to each safety in the GCC countries. ensure its safety and suitability for registered student, whose phone num- Al-Fulaij indicated that many human consumption in order to pre- ber is included in his university data, to topics were approved in the pre- serve public health amid the increas- inform him of the date of his entry into paratory meeting of the under- ing risks and diseases transmitted by the registration system. This date can secretaries of the ministries con- water and food. also be viewed through the registration system: http:///portal.ku.edu.kw/sis. from June 28 to July 2, according to spe- to 28, stressing that no student will Al-Gharabally indicated that the stu- cific dates for each student, and the sec- be allowed to modify his schedule or dent who does not wish to study for the ond period will be from July 23 to July withdraw from the summer semester summer semester after registering for 24, and the third period will be from July courses after August 3. the courses must withdraw the courses 29 to August 3. Al-Gharabally stressed the need for in which he is registered for the sum- He stated that the second and third all students to review their academic mer semester no later than August 3, periods will be without prior dates for schedules for the summer semester on noting that students are not allowed to students, noting that the process of a regular basis, especially on the eve- withdraw from the summer semester adding and withdrawing will stop from ning of July 31, explaining that with after this date except with the approval Saturday, July 17, to calculate student this, students whose courses have been of the Student Affairs Committee at rates after monitoring the grades of the canceled for some reason will have the the university for those who have con- current second semester, canceling the opportunity to remotely register for ditions. An emergency compulsion registration of students in courses that alternative courses until August 3.He prevents them from continuing their did not meet the requirements and can- said that if these students wish to study studies in the summer semester. celing waiting lists. in the summer semester, they must He explained that the process of with- He added that the academic divi- register for alternative courses before drawing and adding to the summer se- sions that do not meet the registra- that date, knowing that no student will KUNA photo mester has been set for three periods, and tion requirements for the summer se- be allowed to add any course after this Northwesterly winds exceeding 70 kilometers per hour raise dense dust. the first period will be using the Internet mester will be canceled from July 27 date. ARAB TIMES, FRIDAY-SATURDAY, JUNE 18-19, 2021

6

HE Haider praised for his untiring effort to elevate name of Pakistan PBFPK presents letter of appreciation to Pakistani ambassador

By M. Irfan Shafi q when our second home, Kuwait, was za, Joint Secretary PBFPK, pre- in need of it. sented the details of upcoming KUWAIT CITY, June 17: A letter Mr. Tahir also mentioned that events. His excellency Syed Sajjad of Thanks and Appreciation pre- we, as Pakistani community, wit- Haider expressed very insightful sented by the Executive Commit- nessed His Excellency’s untiring ideas and advised on how Pakistani tee of Pakistan Banking & Finance struggle to assist those Pakistanis Diaspora can be more productive Professionals (PBFPK) while the EC who were affected by the CO- for themselves, for the community visited His Excellency Syed Sajjad VID-19 pandemic. He mentioned and for both the countries. He reit- Haider, the Ambassador of Pakistan that his efforts continued through- erated that Pakistani community in to Kuwait. out the pandemic by uniting all Kuwait should play a positive role Executive Committee of Pakistani Pakistani associations in Kuwait that helps elevating the soft image Banking & Finance Professionals in to arrange and facilitate the distri- of Pakistan. HE Ambassador gave Kuwait presented a letter of thanks bution of food items to the needy a briefing about his efforts which and appreciation to His Excellency persons and families. made him achieve much for Paki- Syed Sajjad Haider, the Ambassador Furthermore, he stated that His stanis and strengthening Kuwait of Pakistan to Kuwait. Excellency’s services to the Paki- - Pakistan bilateral relations. He This was a humble effort of PB- stani diaspora in Kuwait cannot be applauded PBFPK for being a pro- FPK to acknowledge the efforts of encompassed in one letter of thanks, fessional association and advised His Excellency Syed Sajjad Haider but this is a humble effort from PB- on areas which can be improved. during his ongoing tenure in Kuwait. FPK is only to acknowledge and ap- During the meeting, Farrukh Amir Muhammad Tahir Bashir, President preciate his enthusiasm combined Sial, the newly appointed Second PBFPK mentioned to his excellency with his wisdom and farsightedness Secretary/CWA was present and that the efforts exerted by him helped that is earning accolades for Pakistan His Excellency introduced him to to elevate the name of our beloved in general and Pakistani community the EC PBFPK. At the end of the homeland Pakistan by bringing in in Kuwait in particular. meeting, group photographs were Pakistani para medical staff at a time A photo from the event. During the meeting, Tariq Mir- taken to memorize the meeting.

An unforgettable visit to the world of experiential learning Indian schools hold webinar by Dr Thomas KUWAIT CITY, June 17: “Learn- ing is the process whereby knowl- edge is created through the trans- formation of experience” — David A Kolb. As it is rightly pointed out by many renowned personalities, it does not need years or days for certain dignitaries to influence us, it only takes a few hours. A very informative and influential vir- tual webinar, ‘Experiment to Ex- perience’, was organized for the Dell Competition website staff of ICSK-Junior and ISEK on 13th June 2021, wherein, they GUST team develops Autemo were transported to a whole new world of “Experiential Learn- ing”. The speaker of the day, Dr. Siju Thomas T, the most compe- Computer Science Capstone Project tent person, has a wide range of experience and has laid hands on among top 25 finalists in Middle East multidisciplinary arenas as a ho- meopathic doctor, trainer with ex- KUWAIT CITY, June 17: GUST dents. Top 25 teams/finalists will be pertise in behavioral and learning Computer Science senior students, offered technical mentorship from disorders, soft skill development Ayah Beidas, Fatme Ghaddar, Kousar Dell Technologies and will qualify trainer, a corporate mentor, bet- Mohi and Haya Al Tunaib participated to the final round of the competition. ter known as parent’s consultant, A screen shot from the webinar with their capstone project at the 6th The competition is open to senior happiness coach, value consult- annual Dell Technologies Graduation undergraduate students from univer- ant, lifestyle management expert, Project Competition for the Middle sities in the Middle East, Russia, Af- stress management trainer and the East, which was elected among the rica and Turkey. Students are invited list goes on. Dr. Siju is the author top 25 projects. Projects were submit- to submit their project abstracts in of ‘New Generation Parenting’, a ted online, then blindly reviewed and areas related to the advancement of book for parents. evaluated through a multi-stage evalu- technology and applications related Principal, Mrs. Sherly Dennis, ation process by international profes- to the following focus areas: Arti- acknowledged about the acclaimed sors and senior Dell Technologies ex- ficial Intelligence (AI), Internet of speaker through the words of the perts from around the world. Things (IoT), and Multi-Cloud. resolute to the members present. Led by the Head of the Computer Head of the Computer Science She said that teachers get to learn Science Department, Associate Pro- Department, Associate Professor, something from their experiences fessor, Dr. Mahmoud Elish, GUST Dr. Mahmoud Elish said “This out- and that we all should always be students developed and presented standing achievement is a testament ready to accept the change around “Autemo”, a cross-platform mobile to our Computer Science students’ us. Dr. Siju Thomas enchanted application (iOS/Android) intended talent and skillsets. It is also an in- the listeners with a fair amount of to improve the quality of life of chil- dication of the quality curriculum knowledge and boosted their ener- dren suffering from autism by al- offered by the Computer Science gy levels through an engaging and leviating and enhancing their social major at GUST. Congratulations!” skills. It targets autistic children’s This year students from GUSTs interactive session. inability to express emotions, by Computer Science Department have Dr. Siju presented examples training the facial, verbal and cogni- participated and excelled at several re- from prominent movies and books tive skills of the child. “Autemo”was gional and local competitions, such as to relate on how personal experi- among the top 25 projects out of the 8th KCPC Tournament held in Feb- ences can transform a person’s life 235 projects that were submitted. ruary. This is a testament to the regular leading him to revelations and en- A photo from the event. At the event, more than 100 univer- practice teams get with in house tourna- lightenment. A curious mind is very sities participated, representing 19 ments such as the Annual Programming necessary to be infl uenced by this countries from region with a total Competition, breeding an environment method of learning, because those BDK marks World Blood Donor Day participation number of 1,060 stu- of competitive academic excellence. who have a ‘why’ to live can bear with almost any ‘how’. He discussed on experiential learning, which is precisely, learn- Cricket fans organize blood donation camp Battle of roasters on June 18 ing by doing. He emphasized on the fact that, fi rstly, students should KUWAIT CITY, June 17: The Blood American Society of Safety Profession- thanked them. BijiMurali moderated the be encouraged to think and solve Donation Camp was jointly organized als and Predators XI team, teammates events. Muneer PC, Deepu Chandran and Desert Pioneers Toastmasters problems methodically. Next, he by Predators XI Cricket Club, BDK and sponsors who undertake charitable Nalinakshan coordinated the event. said that as teachers, we need to Kuwait Chapter and American Society activities such as blood donation. Preda- The camp was organized under the lead our students to more interac- of Safety Professionals in collaboration tors XI team captain Ronnie Joseph strict regulations of the Kuwaiti Ministry to host ‘Roast Of The Pioneers’ with the Central Blood Bank and the presided over the ceremony. BDK Ex- of Health. Certificates were distributed tion with peer, which will develop Indian Embassy in Kuwait on World ecutive Committee member Nimish- to all participants. self-confi dence. Blood Donor Day. Kavalam spoke in praise of the blood Sreekumar, Santosh, Vinod, Stephen, KUWAIT CITY, June 17: “The that one could possibly summon, According to Dr. Thomas, the trouble with most of us is that we’d there are going to be some really The camp was organized to mark the donors. BDK Advisory Board Member Sai, Rinosh, Sarath Saseendran (Preda- four pillars of experiential learn- 60th anniversary of India-Kuwait dip- Rajan Thottam presented the plaque of tors XI), Balvant Singh (ASSP), Liny rather be ruined by (superfi cial) outrageous moments to witness here. ing cycle are Concrete Experience, praise than be saved by criticism.” The DPTM Club however, is quite lomatic relations and to commemorate appreciation to the Predators XI team for Jayan, SarathKattoor, Surendra Mohan, Refl ective Observation, Abstract BDK UAE Coordinator Nitin Chandran, the successful organization of the camp. Thomas Adoor, Jay Krishnan, Jolly, - Norman Vincent Peale (American rugged and tough; having been one Conceptualization and Active ex- who passed away prematurely during the Captain Ronnie Joseph presented the Martin, Ratheesh, BeenaMurugan, Joby author – “The Power of Positive of the clubs in the Area and District, Covid relief operation. plaque of gratitude to the American So- Baby (BDK) led the camp. Thinking”) that has gained a reputation of rising perimentation. Lastly, and the most important of all, doing activities in At the camp held at Adan Blood Bank ciety of Safety Professionals. Those interested in participating in Criticism, done in a constructive up against seemingly insurmount- on Friday, June 11, from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m; The meeting greeted voluntary blood blood donation activities such as blood and an agreeable humorous manner, able odds, and more stunningly, hav- class, may lead to or develop expe- riential learning. More than 65 people donated blood. donors and blood donors’ organizations donation camps and awareness classes can work wonders. And a “roast” is ing excelled at almost everything BDK Kuwait Chapter Patron Manoj worldwide on the occasion of World in collaboration with the Central Blood a form of such humorous criticism. they undertook! Principal Mrs. Sherly Dennis Mavelikkara formally inaugurated the Blood Donor Day. Bank or who need free blood donor ser- A roast is a lot like a pointed The accolades, recognition and presented the memento to Dr Sh- camp. In addition to being just a sport, he Jitin Jose welcomed the gathering, and vices can contact BDK Kuwait helpline speech directed at a particular per- awards that the club has won, already iju Thomas, on behalf of both the highlighted the extended support of the ASSP representative Safdar Ali Khan numbers 6999 7588/5151 0076. son or group. It is usually delivered gives the club the required strength schools. The participants of the in a manner where it pokes fun at the of personality to stand strong and webinar commended on the skill- target. Roasts are usually delivered fearless in the impending typhoon of ful rendition of the subject by the in the form of a toast at functions roasting that is expected to be fl ung speaker and the kind words of grati- YMCA Kuwait elects new offi ce-bearers for 2021-22 tude from Mrs. Sheeja, Vice Princi- such as birthdays, anniversaries, and its way on the 18th of June 2021. But KUWAIT CITY, June 17: YMCA Ku- pying the position as General Secretary drews, A.I. Kurien, Bento Cherian, occasions where the target is being time could very well tell a different pal of ICSK Jr, proved that the ses- wait elected new office bearers for the of YMCA Kuwait from its inception Agesh Thomas, Joseph M.A., Dr. John honored for something. story! sion was relished by every single year 2021-22 under the presidential for the last 12 years. He is also actively Thomas, Santhosh M. Philip, Santhosh Although a roast is meant to mildly Yes! 18th of June 2021, from 7:00 participant. ship of president Mr. Mathew Eapen. participating in various other organisa- Mathew, Sunil Joseph, Tinu Thomas, ridicule the target, it doesn’t neces- PM onwards, is when eight roasters The meeting unanimously elected the tions in the executive positions. Saibu Simon, Raju Kurukavelil, Anil sarily have to be out rightly insulting will try to break the proverbial bones following office bearers and Board Mathew Koshy, an MBA Finance Abraham, Alex Cherian, Saji Varghese or over laden with negativity. The of the DPTM Club through their members for the year 2021-22. professional, is working as Cost Con- Palakkunel & Biji Samuel (Auditor) jokes made at the target’s expense scalding tirades and potshots. Let us CA. Mathew Varkey - President; troller in Food and Beverage sector. Following are the conveners of dif- should be delivered in a manner that fi nd out what the pioneers are really Manoj Parimanam – General Sec- He is also the treasurer of Kuwait ferent programs Dr. Sunny Andrews aims to build the target’s resilience, made of! retary; Mathew Koshy – Treasurer; Malankara Catholic Rite movement and. Sunu Eapen (Prayer Co-coordi- tolerance, and character. Do they have the strength? Or Mathews Mammen (Vice President), (KMRM), Abbassia area. nators), Joseph M.A.(Choir Leader), Basically, a roast teases the target would they buckle and melt under Sunu Eapen (Jt. Secretary) and Ajith Board Members are Dr. Sunny An- A.I. Kurien (Ecumenical Quiz Conve- while still maintaining respect. the fi ery onslaught? Thoms Kannanpara (Jt. Treasuer). ner), A.I. Kurien It is important to note though, So, let’s make this hot summer President Mathew Varkey is a and Ajesh Thom- that the “roaster” should be aware hotter! Chartered Accountant by profession as (Quiz Con- of the type of audience in attend- Mark the date; block the time-slot; and has been in Kuwait for more than vener), Mathews three decades and has been working in Mammen and ance. The people around should and make sure you have an adequate various companies in the Finance, Ac- Raju Kurukavelil possess a very healthy sense of supply of popcorn to see you through counting and Auditing fields. At pres- (Christmas Carol humor in order that the roasting this scorching session of “Roast Of ent, he is working as a Consultant of a Singing Competi- session is not misconstrued as an The Pioneers”! reputed Auditing and Consulting firm. tion Conveners), “insulting” session. For any further inquiries con- Before being elevated to the position Santhosh Mathew Today, the Desert Pioneers Toast- tact our club President, TM Sairam of President, he was occupying the (Sports Conve- masters Club is priming itself for a SMS on +965 97298229 or our Vice position of Vice President of YMCA ner), Saji Var- roast of a lifetime! With eight of the President Education TM Mohamed Kuwait for the last few years. ghese Palakkunel most vociferous speakers (roasters) Shiraz on +965 94404146. Dr Siju Thomas T. Manoj Parimanam, has been occu- Koshy Parimanam Varkey (Charity Convener). ARAB TIMES, FRIDAY-SATURDAY, JUNE 18-19, 2021 INTERNATIONAL 7

President Joe Biden speaks to American service members at RAF Mildenhall in Suffolk, England, Wednesday, June 9, 2021. (AP)

America News in Brief Summit

Pope champions workers’ right: Pope Francis is championing the right of all Back to conventional framing workers to unionize, as economic activity is ‘Biden astute, shrewd negotiator’ poised to increase when the pandemic threat eases. The pontiff stressed the needs of the most Biden puts negotiating vulnerable workers, including migrants, in a video message Thursday to participants at a Putin praises summit outcome conference organized by the International ‘philosophy’ on display Labor Organization, a United Nations agen- MOSCOW, June 17, (AP): Russian differ on many things and we noted Minister Sergei Ryabkov, who cy based in Geneva. President Vladimir Putin on the differences. At the same time, attended the talks. Francis said efforts to rebuild economies Thursday praised the outcome of his we established areas and points The strategic stability dialogue WASHINGTON, June 17, (AP): eign and domestic. summit with U.S. President Joe where we can possibly bring our would cover a wide range of issues President Joe Biden’s first over- And it marked a clear depar- after COVID-19 setbacks must aim at a future with “decent and dignified working Biden and called him a negotiator. positions closer in the future.” related to nuclear and other weap- seas trip put his diplomatic and ture in style from Trump, whose The two leaders concluded three Putin particularly emphasized the ons and is key to reducing the risk negotiating philosophy on dis- freewheeling public meetings conditions,” originating in collective bar- gaining. He called the “right to organize in hours of talks Wednesday at an opu- importance of an agreement to con- of conflict between the two super- play, as he rallied traditional U.S. with global leaders became unions” one of the fundamental protections lent villa facing Lake Geneva by duct dialogue on cybersecurity powers. democratic allies to confront new something of legend on the inter- for workers. exchanging expressions of mutual between experts, saying it would The talks follow a decision this and old national stage. Relationships He lamented that many migrants and respect but firmly restating their help reduce tensions. year to extend the New START, the challenges tended to flow one way - with vulnerable workers are often excluded from starkly different views on cyberat- Biden said he and Putin agreed to last remaining U.S.-Russian arms and offered obsequious public displays by national health plans. During the pandemic, tacks, the conflict in Ukraine, politi- have their experts work out an control pact and would be aimed at an often heads of state and government “this exclusion complicates early detection, cal dissent and other issues. At the understanding about what types of working out a follow-up agreement rosy take on trying to get on Trump’s good testing, diagnosis, contact tracing and seek- same time, they announced an critical infrastructure would be off- after it expires in 2026. the possibil- side. ing medical care for COVID-19 for refu- agreement to return each other’s limits to cyberattacks. The agree- The negotiations will be complex ities of Biden is banking that those gees and migrants, and thus increases the risk of outbreaks in these populations,” ambassadors and mapped more ment follows a flood of ransomware and strenuous. The U.S. is worried cooperation leaders will welcome a return to talks on arms control and cyberse- attacks against U.S. businesses and about new destabilizing weapons with Russian the “old school” approach. Francis said. ■ He noted that women in such roles as curity. government agencies that U.S. offi- developed by Russia, such as the President With A Little Help From Putin, who hailed Biden as a cials said originated from Russia. atomic-powered, nuclear-armed Vladimir My Friends street vendors and domestic workers, espe- cially in the underground economy, lack highly experienced and constructive Poseidon underwater drone, while Putin after a Before leaving Washington, interlocutor at a news conference in Efforts Russia wants to include U.S. missile Putin one-on-one Biden reasserted his view that access to day care and thus must bring their children to the workplace or leave them Geneva, offered more praise of the Putin, who has strongly denied defense and potential space-based summit. democracies are in a generational unattended at home. U.S. leader on Thursday in a video any Russian state role in the cyber- weapons in an agreement. Here are some key takeaways: confrontation with autocratic ■ “Therefore, it must be ensured that social call with graduates of a government attacks, argued Thursday that “It’s a difficult task to conjugate A Reset They Didn’t Call A governments and that the U.S. assistance reaches the hidden economy and management school. “instead of finger-pointing and the approaches and formulas,” Reset can’t hope to prevail if it stands pays special attention to the particular needs Biden kept him on his guard with bickering, we should better combine Ryabkov said. “But we are ready to Biden and Putin did not use alone. of women and girls,’’ Francis said. (AP) his savvy negotiating skills, Putin efforts to fight cybercrime.” try to solve it.” the word “reset” to describe the With that in mind, he rallied ❑ ❑ ❑ said. Putin’s spokesman Dmitry Konstantin Kosachev, a deputy state of relations between the two American allies at the Group of “He perfectly knows the matter,” Peskov described the summit as speaker of Russia’s upper house of nations after their summit in Seven meeting of wealthy 1 teen dead in Rhine: Germany police said Thursday that a 17-year-old girl has Putin said. “He is fully concentrated positive and productive, saying it parliament, hoped that talks between Switzerland. But that’s what the democracies and treaty partners and knows what he wants to allowed the leaders “to directly put experts would help reduce the bad meeting amounted to, with both at NATO, before his sit-down died and two others are missing after going swimming in the Rhine river during a heat- achieve. And he does it very forward their positions and try to blood. men staking out clear areas of with Putin. shrewdly.” understand where interaction is pos- “The more often experts will disagreement, even as they wave. Policy Authorities were alerted late Wednesday He dismissed what he described sible and where there can be no meet, the less room the politicians pointed to smaller-scale areas that three people had been caught in strong as media attempts to cast Biden as interaction due to categorical dis- will have for speculation and where they could cooperate. The sequencing was as much currents, police in the western city of physically frail, noting that the agreements.” manipulation,” he told The They conveyed both a mutual strategy as it was symbolism, Duisburg said. Rescuers were able to recov- 78-year-old U.S. president was in Peskov particularly noted the Associated Press. respect and a mutual skepticism. with the unified-front posture er the 17-year-old but attempts to revive her great shape even though the meet- joint statement from the presidents The decision to return the ambas- It was an abrupt return to more with allies meant to bolster failed. ing wrapped up a European tour for that said the two countries will con- sadors, who left their posts amid the conventional U.S.-Russia framing Biden’s position regarding Teams of police, firefighters, divers and him that included the G-7 and duct a dialogue on strategic stability tensions, was also widely billed by after the presidency of Donald Russia. It also drove momentum water rescue organizations were still search- NATO summits. issues and reaffirmed that “a nucle- Russian officials and experts as an Trump, who often seemed to ele- behind the U.S.’ ongoing show- ing for two teens aged 13 and 14, including “He was on a long trip, he flew in ar war cannot be won and must important move to stabilize ties. vate Putin and create at least the down with China over trade, with helicopters. from across the ocean, involving never be fought” - a principle Russia recalled its ambassador, aspiration that the countries could security and health policy, as Several people have died in bathing declared by U.S. President Ronald accidents across Germany in recent days jetlag,” the 68-year-old Putin said, Anatoly Antonov, for consultations be more like partners. Biden secured tough language on adding that he knows how tiring Reagan and Soviet leader Mikhail in March after Biden described Putin This time, each leader left with China, both in the G-7 leaders’ as people try to cool off in rivers, lakes and pools amid a spike in temperatures. travel can be. Gorbachev at their Geneva summit as a killer in an interview. John the understanding that some of communique and from NATO “The atmosphere was quite in 1985. Sullivan, the U.S. ambassador to the old rules still apply. Russia countries in their joint statement. (AP) ■ ❑ ❑ ❑ friendly,” he added. “I think we Restating the principle was a Moscow, flew home in April after returns to its place as a “worthy Mad, But Don’t Call It A managed to understand each other, “significant achievement” amid cur- public suggestions from Russian adversary,” as Biden put it, rath- New Cold War Officers resign from Oregon: Offic- we managed to understand each rent tensions between Moscow and officials that he should leave to mir- er than some kind of colleague. In the wake of a series of dis- ers who serve on a specialized crowd con- other’s positions on key issue, they Washington, said Deputy Foreign ror Antonov’s departure. And the longer-standing ten- ruptive cyberattacks that have trol unit in Portland, Oregon, who have sions, over cyberwarfare and emanated from Russia, Biden responded to the city’s ongoing, often vio- human rights, remain. pressed Putin to curtail criminal lent protests have resigned en masse after ■ The Art Of The Face and state-sponsored activity from criminal charges were filed against a team After their three-hour meeting, his country by warning of member. Biden’s sunny disposition stood American digital firepower and The Oregonian/OregonLive reports the in sharp contrast to the more his willingness to deploy it. officers on the Rapid Response Team voted sober, taciturn tone of Putin, who Saying he gave Putin a list of to resign from the team during a meeting at times became defensive when 16 “critical infrastructure” sec- Wednesday night. asked questions by reporters tors, from the energy industry to The move by officers and sergeants to about human rights violations in water systems, Biden said the disband their own team came a day after a leaders agreed to task experts “to team member, Officer Cody Budworth, was Russia and the country’s inva- indicted, accused of fourth-degree assault sion of Ukraine. work on specific understandings stemming from a baton strike against a pro- Even so, Biden acknowledged about what’s off-limits” in this tester last summer. A year ago, about 70 his optimism was more wishful new domain. members were on the team. thinking than reality. Even as Biden said of Putin, “I The resignations were first reported by “I’m going to drive you all think that the last thing he wants radio station KXL. A team lieutenant called crazy because I know you want now is a Cold War,” the Police Chief Chuck Lovell to inform him me to always put a negative American president embraced a the members of the team, who serve volun- thrust on things, particularly in defining characteristic of that tarily in the assignments, voted to resign public,” he said shortly before era: deterrence. due to perceived lack of support from City boarding Air Force One, adding, Biden said he broached with Hall and from the district attorney over the that way, “you guarantee nothing Putin and his top advisers the past year, according to the mayor’s office happens.” possibility of a cyberattack tak- and officers. ing down one of their oil pipe- The team has been on the front lines at Struck lines and the devastating impact social justice protests held in the city after It highlighted the president’s it could have on their energy- the May 25 murder of George Floyd, a negotiating style, whether it be dependent economy. Black man who died after a Minneapolis police officer knelt on his neck and pinned with Putin or with Senate Biden said Putin was well him to the pavement. Republicans at home on infra- aware that the U.S. has “signifi- Many demonstrations devolved into structure - in which he publicly cant cyber capability.” “He clashes with officers late at night, and at expresses his belief that a deal doesn’t know exactly what it is, times ended with vandalism, property dam- can be struck despite often over- but it’s significant, and if in fact age and fires. whelming odds. they violate these basic norms, The crowd control team was the unit “I know we make foreign poli- we will respond, he knows, in a often directed to disperse crowds after cy out to be this great, great skill cyber way.” police declared unlawful assemblies or that somehow is sort of like a ■ Domestic Tensions Cloud riots. (AP) secret code,” Biden said. “All for- Global Talks ❑ ❑ ❑ eign policy is a logical extension After four years of “America of personal relationships. It’s the First” under Trump, Biden set Reports detail tense moments: As a pair of election workers sat at a table count- way human nature functions.” out to show the world that ing ballots during an audit of Georgia’s He later added, “There’s a “America is back,” but lingering presidential election in November, no fewer value to being realistic and to put domestic instability cast a long than eight Republican monitors swarmed on an optimistic front, an opti- shadow overseas. around them, hurling accusations of voter mistic face.” Whether it be the last presi- fraud and taking photos in violation of the ■ .... And The Face-To-Face dent’s temperament and isola- rules. Biden’s eight-day, three-coun- tionist policies or the months of This was one of several tense situations try foreign trip demonstrated his efforts to undermine the 2020 involving party monitors that independent emphasis on personal relation- election and the Jan. 6 Capitol election monitor Carter Jones document- ships above all. insurrection, the tumult of the ed in reports produced during the several “There’s no substitute, as those last four years remains a fresh months he spent observing election opera- of you who have covered me for a and raw memory for allies and tions in Fulton County to ensure that while know, for face-to-face dia- adversaries alike. officials in the state’s most populous logue between leaders. None,” Biden’s actions and public com- county were complying with a consent Biden said, declaring his summit ments showed the lengths to which agreement. with Putin a success simply for he felt he needed to go to reassure “The party audit monitors seemed to feel as though they were detectives or sheriffs the fact that they spoke in person. allies that the U.S. could be a cred- and that they were going to personally Throughout his trip, most of ible leader on the world stage. ‘crack the case’ and uncover a stolen elec- Biden’s meetings were conduct- “They have seen things happen, tion,” Jones wrote in a report submitted to ed in private, without cameras, or as we have, that shocked them and the State Election Board on Nov. 20. “This with only a few moments open to surprised them,” Biden said is a gross misunderstanding of their role as media. Monday of American allies. “But I monitors and certainly made the audit pro- It highlighted Biden’s faith in think they, like I do, believe the cess more contentious - not to mention more intangible personal ties that can American people are not going to difficult for the auditors attempting to count drive policy outcomes, both for- sustain that kind of behavior.” amidst the commotion of a full-scale argu- ment.” (AP) US seeks to fine Air Canada $25.5mn over slow refunds

The U.S. Transportation De- claimed Air Canada canceled air travel plunged. The Trans- refunds within seven days, partment said Tuesday it is or changed their fl ights and portation Department said it is rising to 20 days for tickets seeking to fi ne Air Canada then took fi ve to 13 months to investigating handling of re- bought with cash. This fi le photo shows Air about $25.5 million for what provide a refund. funds at other airlines, includ- The Transportation Depart- Canada check screens it termed extreme delays in Air Canada did not immedi- ing U.S. ones. ment said that it allowed more at Ottawa International giving refunds to thousands ately respond to a request for Federal regulations require time for refunds last year be- Airport in Ottawa, Ontario, of passengers whose fl ights comment. Canada. (AP) airlines to provide refunds cause of the surge in canceled across the U.S.-Canada border The potential fi ne - Air Can- when passengers request fl ights if the airline was making were canceled or rescheduled. ada can contest it - is the lat- them if the airline cancels an effort to return the money. The department said that est fallout from thousands of or signifi cantly changes the The department said, however, since March 2020 it has re- fl ights that airlines canceled schedule of a fl ight. For cross- that Air Canada failed to make ceived complaints from more during the early months of border fl ights, airlines are a good-faith effort to process than 6,000 consumers who the coronavirus pandemic as supposed to make credit card refunds more quickly. (AP)

Market Movements 17-06-2021 Change Closing pts Change Closing pts EUROPE - Euro Stoxx 50 +6.38 4,158.14 SAUDI - Tadawul -2.83 10,853.12 UAE - DFM +22.68 2,862.66 JAPAN - Nikkei -272.68 29,018.33 UK - FTSE 100 -31.52 7,153.43 EGYPT - EGX 30 -14.90 9,865.59 PHILIPPINES - All Shares -85.43 6,887.92 INDIA - Sensex -178.65 52,323.33 PAKISTAN - KSE 100 -323.27 48,157.63 Business

Yellen: administration is watching infl ation closely Markets showing little worry about infl ation: White House

WASHINGTON, June 17, (AP): The White House believes it has an ally in the bond mar- kets to make the case that infl ation isn’t an eco- nomic threat. Republican lawmakers have interpreted the jump in consumer and producer prices as a sign that infl ation is spiking at levels that will hurt US jobless claims tick up to growth, saying that President Joe Biden’s $1.9 trillion coronavirus relief package overcooked the economy. But the fi nancial markets ap- pear to be backing Biden’s case that any price increases are the fl eeting result of the United States restarting after the lockdowns caused by the coronavirus pandemic. The White House points to charts that dig 412,000 from pandemic low into two key market-based measures of infl a- tion and show no cause for alarm in the medium to long term. The charts look at the interest rate on the fi ve-year U.S. Treasury note and a meas- Economy rapidly recovering from the recession ure of expected infl ation known as 5y5y, which looks forward fi ve years to investors’ fi ve-year infl ation expectations. WASHINGTON, June 17, (AP): As of Monday, the 5y5y was trading at The number of Americans apply- 2.28%, an indication that annual infl ation will ing for unemployment benefi ts be close to the Federal Reserve’s 2% target. The charts suggest that infl ation expectations rose last week for the fi rst time - despite the recent bump in prices - are with- since April despite widespread in the realm of expectations over the past 15 evidence that the economy and years. They also show that market expectations of coming infl ation have essentially been fl at in the job market are rebounding recent months. steadily from the pandemic re- While the markets offer evidence that the re- cession. cent bout of price increases could fade in a few The Labor Department said Thursday months, there are confl icting signals for econo- mists. Demand for houses and other products that jobless claims rose 37,000 from the has outpaced supply, a sign that infl ation could week before to 412,000. As the job market be a problem. But there is also the possibility has strengthened, the number of weekly that the persistent demand could trigger more applications for unemployment aid has supplies to come onto the market. The uncer- fallen for most of the year. The number of tainty has been magnifi ed for voters as Republi- jobless claims generally refl ects the pace can lawmakers say that infl ation will devastate of layoffs. the economy and Democrats counter that rising Weekly applications for unemployment prices are temporary. aid had dropped for six straight weeks, and Harvard University professor Jason Furman, economists had expected another dip last who served as chief economist for the Obama White House, noted that there are arguments week. Still, the report showed the the four- for and against rising infl ation. week average of claims, which smooths out “The more I think about infl ation the less week-to-week ups and downs, fell by 8,000 sure I get of anything,” Furman said Monday last week to 395,000 - the lowest four-week on Twitter. He added that there is a wide range average since the pandemic slammed the of possible outcomes and “policy decisions economy in March 2020. should explicitly recognize our uncertainty.” For jobless claims to rise slightly “should Biden aides are optimistic that the market not be cause for concern yet,’’ said AnnEliz- fi gures, along with household sentiment sur- abeth Konkel, economist at the Indeed Hir- veys, indicate that infl ation will drift down. But ing Lab. they’re also cautious in interpreting what’s next “The big picture is that while we are not because of the unprecedented nature of shut- back to a ‘normal’ level yet of initial claims, tering an economy due to COVID-19 and then they are no longer astronomically high.’’ reopening it with a total of roughly $6 trillion A year ago, nearly 1.5 million people had worth of aid, a sum that includes money ap- A woman crosses a street and covers her face from the smell of burned tires and garbage containers which set of fi re by protesters to applied for unemployment benefi ts in one proved during Donald Trump’s presidency. block a main highway, during a protest against the increase in prices of consumer goods and the crash of the local currency, in Beirut, week. The Labor Department said last week that Lebanon, Thursday, June 17, 2021. (AP) With vaccinations up and more consumers consumer prices rose at an annual pace of 5% venturing out to spend - on restaurant meals, in May, as prices for used vehicles, airfare and Protesters press for a govt to deal with political and economic crises gasoline surged. Producer prices - what busi- airline fares, movie tickets and store purchas- nesses pay for goods and services - are up 6.6% es - the economy is rapidly recovering from from a year ago, the Labor Department said the recession. All that renewed spending has Tuesday. But market analysts anticipate that the fueled customer demand and led many com- forces driving infl ation will lessen. Lebanon workers stage general strike panies to seek new workers, often at higher “The underlying causes of infl ation are sup- wages, and avoid layoffs. ply chain disruptions, labor shortages and BEIRUT, June 17, (AP): Shops, government short supply, power outages have increased, and 2019, replacing faces of protesters arrested or Recession emergency stimulus which is boosting de- offi ces, businesses and banks shuttered their medicine - mostly imported - has been missing. dragged by security forces with those of images mand,” said Bill Adams, an economist with doors in Lebanon on Thursday, as part of a Hospitals have closed their labs to outpatients of prominent politicians. In fact, the speed of the rebound from the PNC Financial Services. “All of these drivers general strike to protest deteriorating economic and prices have soared and the value of wages Amid the crisis, politicians appeared in no recession has caught many businesses off of infl ation will be less of an issue in the second conditions and press for a government to deal dropped as the national currency, pegged to the rush to form a government that would have to guard and touched off a scramble to hire. In half of the year.” with the worsening political and economic cri- dollar for 30 years, is in free fall. On the black take major, unpopular reform and austerity de- May, employers added a less-than-expected It’s unclear whether the fi nancial markets’ ses. market, the Lebanese pound sells at nearly 10 cisions. 559,000 jobs, evidence that many companies relative calm refl ects confi dence that the Fed The strike, which was accompanied by sev- times its offi cial rate to the dollar. On Wednesday, a public war of words broke are struggling to fi nd enough workers as the will raise interest rates should infl ation stay el- eral roadblocks set up around Beirut and other The fi nancial meltdown is threatening to un- out between President Michel Aoun and pow- economy recovers faster than expected. evated. Fed offi cials will end their June meeting cities, was ironically supported by the very po- dermine the national army, wiping out soldiers’ erful parliament speaker Nabih Berri, who has But many economists expect hiring to on Wednesday, giving forecasts of economic litical parties blamed for the months-long dead- salaries and putting unprecedented pressure on offered to mediate the deadlock. catch up with demand in the coming months, performance and infl ation and potential guid- lock over forming a government. This drew the military’s operational abilities. France was Berri questioned the role of the president in especially as federal unemployment aid pro- ance about when they could lift their bench- criticism from many activists and commenta- holding a fundraiser virtual meeting on Thurs- delaying the Cabinet formation - suggesting grams end and more people pursue jobs. mark rate from near-zero. tors, who questioned why those who were driv- day aimed at mobilizing aid, including food, that Aoun and his Christian party, led by his Senate Republican leader Mitch McConnell They note that the economy still has 7.6 ing the economic and fi nancial meltdown were medicine and medical equipment for the Leba- son-in-law, were seeking enough seats in the million fewer jobs than it did before the pan- has put the blame squarely on Biden for rising themselves on strike. nese army. Over 20 countries are expected to government to block decisions. Aoun respond- prices, arguing that government intervention Lebanon has been without a fully function- take part. ed by denying the charges and accusing Berri of demic struck. has caused prices and wages to increase to a de- ing government since August. Prime Minister- Protesters blocked Beirut’s airport highway siding with the prime minister-designate. And employers are posting job openings gree that will ultimately imperil the economy. designate Saad Hariri, named to the post in with trash bins, setting them on fi re, and caus- “The system is going on strike against itself faster than applicants can fi ll them. In April, It’s a message with a clear eye to the 2022 mid- October, has failed to gain support from the ing large clouds of black smoke to hang over while its pillars are fi ghting among themselves they advertised a record 9.3 million job term elections, when Biden’s performance will presidency over his Cabinet picks - and the two the motorway. Banks and government offi ces over powers that no longer exist to prove to openings, up a sharp 12% from the number be at the forefront of voters’ minds. sides have locked horns over who gets more say were shut and several shops in central Beirut us who can contribute to our bankruptcy more in March. “The latest data reinforce what too many in shaping a government. The World Bank has were also closed. than the other,” tweeted Samy Gemayel, head The rapid rollout of vaccines has brought Americans have been experiencing fi rsthand: described Lebanon’s fi nancial and economic Critics ridiculed the ruling elite’s attempt of the Kataeb party. He resigned from parlia- the number of new confi rmed COVID-19 The Biden administration’s partisan spending crisis as among the worst in the world in 150 to rally behind the strike. A hashtag on Twit- ment last year over corruption and a massive cases down to an average of just over bill has blunted our nation’s economic recov- years. ter called “the regime revolts” was trending explosion in Beirut’s port. 12,000, from around 250,000 a day in early ery,” McConnell said last week on the Senate The crisis, festering since 2019, has reached on Thursday. Memes were posted using pic- The three leaders “are not living on the same January. fl oor. “Higher prices at the gas pump and gro- new heights in recent weeks. Fuel has been in tures from popular anti-government protests in planet as us,” he added. Though jobless claims have tumbled cery store. A tougher time for small businesses since the start of 2021, when they exceed- trying to staff up.” ed 900,000, they remain high by historical Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen assured standards. Before the pandemic paralyzed Congress that the recent jump in infl ation is being monitored very carefully by the Biden Turkey’s cbank keeps rate unchanged at 19% the economy in March 2020, unemployment administration, but said again that any increase applications were running at about 220,000 will prove temporary. ISTANBUL, June 17, (AP): Turkey’s central a week. Testifying about Biden’s $6 trillion budget bank left its key benchmark interest rate un- In Thursday’s report, the government said proposal before the Senate Finance Committee, changed at 19% on Thursday. EU raises 20b euros in 10-yr bond a total of 3.5 million Americans were con- Yellen was asked Wednesday by Republican The bank said in a statement that the inter- tinuing to collect traditional state unemploy- lawmakers about recent sharp gains in infl a- est rate would be determined at a level about BRUSSELS, June 17, (AP): The European Von der Leyen said the bond was priced at ment benefi ts in the week ending June 5, up tion, including a 5% rise in consumer prices for infl ation and a “tight” monetary policy would Commission said on Tuesday it has raised €20 “very attractive terms” and that the European by just 1,000 from the week before. the 12 months ending in May, the biggest jump continue “to maintain a strong disinfl ationary billion ($24.2 billion) through a 10-year bond Union will pay less than 0.1% interest on it. Many Americans are contending with since 2008. effect… and the medium-term 5% (infl ation) as part of its plans to finance the 27-nation “Europe is attractive,” she said. “By the health and child care issues related to COV- target is reached.” Data from May put infl ation bloc’s recovery from the coronavirus crisis. end of this year, we expect to have issued ID-19 and with career uncertainty after the in Turkey at 16.59%. EU Commission president Ursula von around 100 billion in bonds and bills.” recession wiped out many jobs for good. The statement said an increase in exports, Some who have lost work during the pan- slower credit growth and Turkey’s accelerating der Leyen said the inaugural transaction The commissioner in charge of Budget vaccination rollout would improve the current of the NextGeneration EU program is the and Administration, Johannes Hahn, said demic have decided to retire. Others are account balance and the central bank “will con- largest ever institutional bond issuance in the recovery plan’s first borrowing opera- taking their time looking for work because, tinue to use decisively all available instruments Europe. The money will help finance the tion attracted interest from investors across in some cases, supplemental federal jobless in pursuit of the primary objective of price sta- national recovery plans devised by member Europe and the rest of the world, including benefi ts, on top of regular state unemploy- bility.” states to get their economies back on track. central banks and pension funds. ment aid, pay them more than their old jobs The central bank’s decision followed com- did. ments by Turkish President Recep Tayyip Er- Many states, though, are set to begin drop- dogan in early June about the need to lower combat infl ation, the Turkish leader says they low interest rates in columns for a pro-govern- ping the supplemental federal jobless aid this interest rates later this summer, suggesting July cause infl ation. ment daily newspaper. month. In this fi le photo, American fl ags hang out- or August as possible dates for a rate cut. His The central bank’s independence was put Agbal raised the interest rate by a more-than- Including the federal benefi ts, 14.8 million side of the New York Stock Exchange. The statement sent the Turkish lira to record lows. into question when Erdogan fi red previous expected 2 percentage points in March, taking people were receiving some type of jobless White House believes it has an ally in the Erdogan is vocal about his aversion to high bank chiefs, most recently in March. The cur- the rate to 19%. The Turkish lira also tumbled aid during the week of May 29, down nearly bond markets to make the case that infl a- interest rates. Contrary to orthodox monetary rent head of the bank, Sahap Kavcioglu, re- with Agbal’s sacking after having made gains 560,000 from the week before and from 30.2 tion isn’t an economic threat. (AP) policy that sees high interest rates as a way to placed Naci Agbal. Kavcioglu has argued for during his tenure. million a year earlier. ARAB TIMES, FRIDAY-SATURDAY, JUNE 18-19, 2021 BUSINESS 9

startup Lordstown Motors says production still on track

Startup electric truck maker Lordstown ly seeking investors, has enough cash lio Rodriguez stepped down, the same Last week, the company warned it company failed to pay $570,000 in real Motors said Tuesday that it’s still on on hand to get through next May and day the company responded to a report might not be in business next year be- estate taxes due in early March. track to begin production this fall despite enough binding orders to keep produc- from the short-selling fi rm Hindenburg cause of diffi culty with securing funding But company executives said Tues- a management shakeup this week and a tion going through 2022, said company Research that questioned the number of to begin full production at its former Gen- day during a meeting of the Automotive warning just days earlier that it may not President Rich Schmidt. preorders the company claimed to have eral Motors plant in Ohio near Youngs- Press Association of Detroit that they ex- be in business a year from now. Shares of the company, which have for the Endurance. town. In a quarterly regulatory fi ling, the pect to produce about 15,000 trucks by Angela Strand, the company’s new been on a sharp decline, perked up fol- Lordstown acknowledged one poten- company said the $587 million it had on next May and that morale remains high. chairwoman, said the upheaval from the lowing those announcements, rising tial buyer that had committed to a large hand as of March 31 wasn’t enough to Schmidt said he expects more inves- past week won’t interrupt the company’s 11% to close Tuesday at $10.31. They number of preorders doesn’t appear to begin full commercial production. tors to come on board when production day-to-day operations or its plans to start are still down 49% so far this year. have the resources, and other preorders In January, an Endurance pickup truck starts. “Once the trucks start coming off making its full-size pickup, called the On Monday, Lordstown CEO Steve appear too vague or weak to be relied on prototype caught fi re 10 minutes into its the line, it makes it a very robust invest- Endurance. Lordstown, which is active- Burns and Chief Financial Offi cer Ju- for purchases. initial test drive in Michigan. Then the ment,” he said. (AP) Stocks mixed as Fed hints rate hikes US recovery stokes investors’ infl ation concerns

NEW YORK, June 17, In early trading, the FTSE 100 in London lost 0.3% to 7,165.60 and (AP): Stocks were mixed Frankfurt’s DAX was off less than to mostly lower Thursday 0.1% at 15,699.25. The CAC 40 in as investors continued to Paris retreated 0.1% to 6,645.49. interpret the new guidance U.S. futures were lower after Fed policymakers on Wednesday esti- from the Federal Reserve mated their benchmark rate would which is now looking at rise twice by late 2023, earlier than potentially raising interest a previous forecast of no hikes before rates as soon as 2023. 2024. The Fed indicated it sees the The S&P 500 index was down U.S. economy improving faster than less than 0.1% as of 10:05 a.m. expected. Ultra-low rates from the Fed and Eastern. The Dow Jones Industrial other central banks have propelled Average was down 0.3% and the a global stock market rebound from Nasdaq Composite was up 0.3%. last year’s plunge amid the coronavi- Fed policymakers on Wednesday rus pandemic. estimated that they would raise inter- “The Fed may have delivered a est rates twice by late 2023, earlier more hawkish message for markets than a previous forecast of no hikes than many would have expected,” before 2024. That’s because the Fed Yeap Jun Rong of IG said in a re- indicated it sees the U.S. economy port. Still, Yeap said, differing views improving faster than previously ex- among board members suggests pected, through trillions of dollars of “much will still depend on how the government aid and ultra-low interest economic recovery will play out.” rates. Asian stock markets were mixed But the recovering economy has Thursday after the Federal Reserve put upward pressure on prices, push- indicated it might ease off econom- ing the price for many raw materials ic stimulus earlier than previously and basic goods higher this year. It’s thought. given some investors concerns about Tokyo fell while Shanghai and infl ation. Hong Kong gained after Fed poli- In the bond market, the yield on cymakers estimated their bench- the 10-year Treasury rose to 1.54%. mark rate would rise twice by late The U.S. dollar rose against several 2023, earlier than a previous fore- currencies, including the euro and cast of no rate hikes before 2024. British pound, following the news The Fed also indicated it sees the from the Fed. U.S. economy improving faster Investors got a bit of mildly disap- than expected. pointing economic news when the On Wall Street, the benchmark Labor Department said the number of S&P 500 index fell 0.5% on Wednes- Americans who fi led for unemploy- day after Fed projections showed ment benefi ts last week rose slightly, some of its board members expect despite widespread evidence the short-term interest rates to rise by The ‘Fearless Girl’ statue faces the New York Stock Exchange, Wednesday, June 16, 2021. Stocks were mixed to mostly lower Thursday as investors economy is improving nationwide. half a percentage point by late 2023. continued to interpret the new guidance from the Federal Reserve which is now looking at potentially raising interest rates as soon as 2023. (AP) The 37,000-claim rise to 412,000 Ultra-low rates from the Fed and comes despite near constant weekly other central banks have propelled The Nikkei 225 in Tokyo lost low a year earlier. rising infl ation. Fed offi cials have U.S. crude lost 41 cents to $71.74 in declines for that metric since the be- a global stock market rebound from 1.1% to 28,958.46 while the Shang- New Zealand and Jakarta declined said they believe infl ation will be electronic trading on the New York ginning of the year. last year’s plunge amid the coronavi- hai Composite Index rose 0.2% to while Singapore and Bangkok ad- short-lived, a stance they repeated Mercantile Exchange. The contract Ford rose 1% after saying its out- rus pandemic. 3,524.31. Hong Kong’s Hang Seng vanced. Wednesday. rose 3 cents on Wednesday to $72.15. look for the second quarter is improv- “The Fed may have delivered a added 0.3% to 28,516.97. The Fed’s announcement Wednes- Fed chairman Jerome Powell said Brent crude, the price basis for inter- ing thanks to strong customer reser- more hawkish message for markets The Kospi in Seoul sank 0.4% to day refl ected growing confi dence in conditions have improved enough to national oils, shed 43 cents to $73.96 vations for four of its new vehicles. than many would have expected,” 3,264.14 and India’s Sensex opened the U.S. economy as more people are start discussing when to slow bond per barrel in London. It gained 40 Yeap Jun Rong of IG said in a re- down 0.2% at 52,398.65. vaccinated against the coronavirus purchases. The Fed is buying $120 cents the previous session to $74.39. London and Frankfurt opened port. Still, Yeap said, differing views Australia’s S&P-ASX 200 shed and business activity revives. billion a month to inject money into The dollar gained to 110.67 Japa- lower while Tokyo, Seoul and Syd- among board members suggests 0.4% to 7,370.20 after the govern- Investors have worried the Fed and fi nancial markets and keep longer- nese yen from Wednesday’s 110.50 ney fell. Shanghai and Hong Kong “much will still depend on how the ment reported employment rose by other central banks might feel pres- term interest rates low. yen. The euro fell to $1.1999 from advanced. economic recovery will play out.” 115,200 in May, up 8.1% from its sure to withdraw stimulus to cool In energy markets, benchmark $1.2016. Project opponents seek Prez Biden’s intervention H&M says sales up 75% in second quarter Minnesota court affi rms approval of pipeline STOCKHOLM, June 17, (AP): many, stores were closed throughout May 31, most of the H&M group’s Low-cost fashion brand Hennes & most of the quarter. markets still had restrictions result- ST. PAUL, Minn., June 17, (AP): The Mauritz AB said Tuesday sales had “As more people are vaccinated, ing in “reduced footfall” and around Minnesota Court of Appeals on Mon- increased 75% in Q2 and early June, a number of markets have gradu- 140 of the stores globally remained day affi rmed state regulators’ key ap- affecting both online purchases and ally allowed stores to reopen and the temporarily closed. provals of Enbridge Energy’s Line 3 physical stores, adding that 1,300 H&M group’s strong recovery con- The retailing company released oil pipeline replacement project, in a stores were temporarily closed at tinues,” said the Stockholm-based the figures ahead of its full earn- dispute that drew over 1,000 protesters to northern Minnesota last week. the start of the period due to the pan- company, the world’s second big- ings report for the six-month pe- A three-judge panel ruled 2-1 that demic. gest fashion retailer that is known riod, which will be published July the state’s independent Public Utili- Those who remained open faced for the brand H&M. 1. ties Commission correctly granted coronavirus restrictions, including “This shows that customers ap- Apart from H&M, the Swed- Enbridge the certifi cate of need and on opening hours, number of cus- preciate the collections and being ish group also includes brands like route permit that the Canadian-based tomers and store space, the group able to shop via their preferred chan- COS, Monki, Weekday, Cheap company needed to begin construction said. In Hennes & Mauritz’s large nel.” Monday, & Other Stories, H&M on the 337-mile (542-kilometer) Min- markets, such as France and Ger- At the end of the period that ended HOME, ARKET and Afound. nesota segment of a larger project to replace a 1960s-era crude oil pipeline that has deteriorated and can run at only half capacity. Pipeline opponents said they are considering an appeal to the Minnesota Supreme Court, but that their main fo- cus is trying to persuade President Joe Everlasting Wind, aka Dawn Goodwin, joins others by raising her fi st in the Biden to intervene and the continuing Mississippi River near an Enbridge pipeline construction site, on Monday, protests. The Biden administration June 7, 2021, in Clearwater County, Minn., to protest the construction of hasn’t taken a clear position on Line Enbridge Line 3. (AP) 3, but a legal challenge is pending in federal court on the U.S. Army Corps pipeline,” Reyes wrote. “But Enbridge At least 1,000 activists from across of Engineers’ approval of a wetlands has not shown that Minnesota needs the country gathered at construction permit that activists say should be the pipeline.” sites near the headwaters of the Mis- withdrawn. Tribal and environmental groups sissippi River last week. They urged Tribal and climate change groups, welcomed Reyes’ dissent and vowed Biden to cancel the project, as he did plus the state Department of Com- to keep fi ghting. They said their pri- the Keystone XL pipeline on his fi rst merce, had asked the appeals court to mary strategy going forward won’t day in offi ce. Nearly 250 people were reject the approvals. They argued that hinge on appeals, given they could take arrested, in addition to more than 250 Enbridge’s oil demand projections nine months to a year. Enbridge hopes arrests since construction began in failed to meet the legal requirements. to put the line into service in the fourth December. A smaller group marched But the court said there was reasonable quarter. Thursday to the Minneapolis offi ce of evidence to support the PUC’s deci- “There’s a good chance we’ll ap- Democratic Sen. Amy Klobuchar. sion. peal because we should ... but I don’t The Line 3 replacement would car- “With an existing, deteriorating think a remedy’s going to come out of ry Canadian tar sands oil and regular pipeline carrying crude oil through it that’s going to be meaningful for us,” crude from Alberta to Enbridge’s ter- Minnesota, there was no option with- said Frank Bibeau, an attorney for the minal in Superior, Wisconsin. The out environmental consequences,” White Earth Band of Ojibwe and other project is nearly done except for the wrote Judge Lucinda Jesson, joined by pipeline opponents. Minnesota leg, which is about 60% Judge Michael Kirk. “The challenge: Enbridge said in a statement that the complete. to balance those harms. There was no court’s decision is confi rmation that Opponents of the more than $7 bil- option without impacts on the rights the commission thoroughly reviewed lion project say the heavy oil would of Indigenous peoples. The challenge: the project and gave the appropriate accelerate climate change and risk to alleviate those harms to the extent approvals. spills in areas where Native Americans possible. And there was no crystal ball “Line 3 has passed every test harvest wild rice, hunt, fi sh, gather me- to forecast demand for crude oil in this through six years of regulatory and dicinal plants and claim treaty rights. ever-changing environment.” permitting review, including 70 Enbridge says the replacement Line But Judge Peter Reyes dissented, public comment meetings, appel- 3 will be made of stronger steel and agreeing with opponents that the oil late review and reaffirmation of a will better protect the environment demand forecast was fl awed. He said 13,500-page (environmental impact while restoring its capacity to carry oil the project benefi ts Canadian oil pro- statement), four separate reviews by and ensure reliable deliveries to U.S. ducers but would have negative con- administrative law judges, 320 route refi neries. sequences for the hunting, fi shing, and modifications in response to stake- Activists are vowing to keep up a other rights of the Red Lake and White holder input, and multiple reviews summer of resistance against the pro- Earth tribes, and would provide no and approvals by the Minnesota ject amid the escalating battle over en- benefi t to Minnesota. Public Utilities Commission for the ergy projects and rising awareness that “Such a decision cannot stand. En- project’s certificate of need and route racial minorities suffer disproportion- bridge needs Minnesota for its new permit.” ate harm from environmental damage. self-driving car pioneer Waymo gets $2.5b to fuel ambitions

Waymo, the self-driving car pio- a major car dealer, AutoNation. offi cer and head of automotive Alphabet Inc. neer spun off from Google, isn’t With the latest fundraising, partnerships. Waymo now operates as part In this fi le photo, allowing a recent wave of ex- Waymo has raised a total of $5.7 Waymo is now being led by of an Alphabet division called a Waymo minivan ecutive departures to detour its billion in the past 15 months as co-CEOs, Dmitri Dolgov and “Other Bets,” which has lost near- arrives to pick up plans to expand its robotic taxi it tries to build upon a driverless Tekedra Mawakana, who said ly $13 billion in the past years. passengers for an service. ride-hailing service that it has the company plans to use the in- Even so, analysts have es- autonomous vehicle The Mountain View, Califor- been operating in the Phoenix vestment to continue to hone the timated Waymo may be worth ride, in Mesa, Arizona. (AP) nia, company made that clear area. technology that was fi rst hatched about $30 billion - an estimate Wednesday by announcing it The latest fundraising comes inside of Google as a secret pro- refl ecting the high hopes that has raised another $2.5 billion after Waymo’s longtime CEO, ject more than a decade ago. autonomous driving technology from a group of investors rang- John Krafcik, stepped down in Google later spun out Waymo may fi nally realize its promise to ing from venture capital fi rms April, followed by the departures as a separate subsidiary owned revolutionize the way people get such as Andreessen Horowitz to of the company’s chief fi nancial by the same corporate parent, around. (AP)

Investors stick to plans even as meme stocks surge Systems sidestep hidden biases Want a job? US employers Majority of retirement savers stay vanilla say: Talk to the ‘computer’ NEW YORK, June 17, (AP): It might seem like everyone less than 1% were able to predictably and reliably get good By Matt O’Brien is having a wild time shooting for the stars with GameStop enough returns to make up for the fees they paid. and other meme stocks. And now that meme stocks have captured the national day after her interview for a part-time job at Target last But just as day-to-day life for most of us is more mun- attention, everyone from the chair of the Securities and Ex- Ayear, Dana Anthony got an email informing her she dane than the highlights friends post on social media, the change Commission to heads of investment fi rms are warn- didn’t make the cut. majority of retirement savers are sticking to plain vanilla ing investors to consider the risks of fast trading. Anthony didn’t know why - a situation common to most plans. And they’re doing fi ne for it. Besides making relatively few trades last year, retire- job seekers at one point or another. But she also had no sense at all of how the interview had gone, because her interviewer Consider the 4.7 million accounts that Vanguard ment savers also stuck with investment choices that tilt was a computer. keeps records for in 401(k) and similar plans. Most of closer to the “boring” end of the scale. More job-seekers, including some professionals, may soon them did pretty much nothing last year, other than con- The majority of savers in Vanguard’s survey, 54%, had have to accept impersonal online interviews where they never tinuing to send a chunk of their paychecks into their all their money in a single mutual fund tied to the year they talk to another human being, or know if behind-the-scenes savings. Only 10% made a trade at all in their account hoped to retire. These target-date retirement funds auto- artifi cial-intelligence systems are infl uencing hiring decisions. during the year. matically take care of how to divvy up investments. They Demand for online hiring services, which interview job ap- That’s up from 7% a year earlier, as the pandemic emphasize stocks when retirement is far away and toward plicants remotely via laptop or phone, mushroomed during roiled investments and triggered the fastest bear market more bonds and safer investments when it’s closer on the the COVID-19 pandemic and remains high amid a perceived in history. But 90% of those retirement savers not mov- This fi le photo, shows a GameStop store in New horizon. worker shortage as the economy opens back up. ing their money from one investment to another stands York. (AP) Among other encouraging signs from Vanguard’s sur- These systems claim to save employers money, sidestep in sharp contrast to the frenzy surrounding GameStop’s vey: Few retirement savers had all their money in either hidden biases that can infl uence human recruiters and ex- stock, which an army of traders sent surging by 1,625% in Vanguard’s survey had balances bigger than that, while stocks or bonds, a sign of taking too much risk or not pand the range of potential candidates. Many now also use in January. half had less. enough, at 8%. Savers also set aside an average of 7.2% AI to assess candidate skills by analyzing what they say. More recently, stocks like AMC Entertainment have had Savers have been getting less active in trading for years of their pay into their retirement account, up slightly from Anthony likes to look an interviewer in the eyes, but all days where they’ve nearly doubled, as a new generation in Vanguard’s survey. In 2004, 20% of accounts were 7.1% a year earlier. she could see was her own face refl ected in the screen. “I of hyper-online traders rally together on social media to making trades, falling to 7% in 2019. Much of that is by design. Employers in recent years interview better in person because I’m able to develop a con- champion the same stocks. This slowed-down approach is what many experts have not only been automatically enrolling their workers nection with the person,” she said. So, what did that boring lack of action get the majority advise. It can be thrilling to trade hot stocks - who into 401(k) plans, they’re also often defaulting to target- But experts question whether machines can accurately of retirement savers? Record heights. wouldn’t want to make 85% in a day, like Clover Health date funds and automatically increasing some workers’ and fairly judge a person’s character traits and emotional At Vanguard, the average account balance rose 20% last Investments did earlier this month? But research sug- contribution rates. signals. Algorithms tasked to learn who’s the best fit for year to $129,157 as the S&P 500 rebounded from its early- gests that frequent trading leads to lower returns for It’s crucial that people get it right. Roughly half of the a job can entrench bias if they’re taking cues from in- year plunge to rally. Over the longer term, the average bal- most investors. country is in danger of not being able to maintain their dustries where racial and gender disparities are already ance is up 65% from 2011. In Taiwan, where researchers led by Brad Barber of the standard of living in retirement, even if they work to 65 prevalent. The median balance rose even more strongly: up 30% University of California, Davis were able to measure the and annuitize all their assets, according to the Center for And when a computer screens out some candidates and last year to $33,472. Median means half of all the savers activity of speculative day-traders over a 15-year period, Retirement Research at Boston College. elevates others without explanation, it’s harder to know if it’s making fair assessments. Anthony, for instance, couldn’t help wondering if her identity as a Black woman affected the decision. “If you apply for a job and are rejected because of a biased algorithm, you certainly won’t know,” said Oxford Univer- sity researcher Aislinn Kelly-Lyth. In a face-to-face inter- view, by contrast, a job seeker might pick up discriminatory cues from the interviewer, she said. New rules proposed by the European Union would subject such AI hiring systems to tighter regulation. Advocates have pushed for similar measures in the US. Skills One of the leading companies in the fi eld, Utah-based Hi- reVue, gained notoriety in recent years by using AI technol- ogy to assess personality and job skills from an applicant’s facial expressions during the interview. After heated criti- cism centered on the scientifi c validity of those claims and the potential for bias, the company announced earlier this year it would end the practice. But its AI-based assessments, which rank the skills and personalities of applicants to fl ag the most promising for further review, still consider speech and word choices in its decisions. The privately owned company helped create a market for “on-demand” video interviews. Its known customers have included retailers like Target and Ikea, major tech companies like Amazon, banks like JP Morgan and Goldman Sachs, oil giants, restaurant chains, supermarkets, airlines, cruise lines and school districts. The Associated Press reached out to nu- merous brand-name employers that use the technology; most declined to discuss it. HireVue CEO Kevin Parker says the company has worked hard to ensure its technology won’t discriminate based on factors such as race, gender or regional accents. Its systems, which translate speech to text and sift for clues about team orientation, adaptability, dependability and other job skills, can outperform human interviewers, he said. “What we’re trying to replace is people’s gut instinct,” he said in - naturally - a video interview. HireVue says it interviewed more than 5.6 million peo- ple around the world in 2020. Supermarket chains used it to screen thousands of applicants a day amid a pandemic- This fi le photo, shows homes in suburban Salt Lake City. Two studies released Wednesday, June 16, 2021, found that the nation’s housing availability and affordability fueled hiring surge for cashiers, stockers and delivery crews, crisis is expected to worsen signifi cantly following the pandemic, likely widening the housing gap between Black, Latino and white households, as well as putting home- Parker said. ownership out of the reach of lower class Americans. (AP) Providers of broader hiring-focused software such as Modern Hire and Outmatch have started offering their own Disparities likely to persist even as economy recovers video interviews and AI assessment tools. On its website, Outmatch touts its ability to measure “the must-have soft skills your candidates and employees need to succeed.” HireVue notes that most customers don’t actually use the company’s AI-based assessments. Atlanta’s school district, Millions fear eviction as housing crisis worsens for instance, has used HireVue since 2014, but says it relies on 50 human recruiters to score recorded interviews. Target By Ken Sweet and Michael Casey tration to extend it. They argue extending the reach of lower class Americans. report points out several geographies that said the pandemic led it to replace in-person interviews with it would give states the time to distribute Without substantial changes in home- require substantial increases in homebuild- HireVue interviews, but the retail giant told the AP it relies ore than 4 million people say they more than $45 billion in rental assistance building and home affordability, both re- ing; not surprisingly many parts of Califor- on its own employees - not HireVue’s algorithms - to watch Mfear being evicted or foreclosed upon and protect vulnerable communities from ports say, the result will be a more-or-less nia and the West are on the top of the list. and evaluate prerecorded videos. in the coming months just as two studies Covid-19. The rental assistance has been permanent class of renters contrasted with NAR also says substantial homebuilding is None of that was clear to Anthony when she sat down in released Wednesday found that the nation’s slow to reach tenants. what will likely be a mostly white class of required in Southern Florida, as well as the front of a screen to interview for a seasonal job last year. She housing availability and affordability crisis “The latest data confi rm two things - homeowners. While these problems were Northeast, particularly the New York-New dressed for the occasion and settled into a comfortable spot. is expected to worsen signifi cantly follow- The only hint of a human presence came in a prerecorded in- ing the pandemic. emergency rental assistance is very slow to known before the coronavirus pandemic, Jersey metropolis region. reach renters in need, and millions of rent- the economic impact of the pandemic exac- Without additional housing, an increas- troduction that laid out what to expect - noting, for instance, The studies come as a federal eviction that she could delete an answer and start over. moratorium is set to expire at the end of ers remain behind on rent and at heightened erbated the problem, the reports say. ing share of Americans are likely to be- risk of evictions,” Diane Yentel, president “The unprecedented events of 2020 both come renters in the coming years. While But she had no way to know what sort of impression she the month. The moratorium has kept many was creating. “We’re unable to provide specifi c feedback re- tenants owing back rent housed. Making of the National Low-Income Housing Coa- exposed and amplifi ed the impacts of un- renting is not necessarily a bad thing since lition, said in an email interview. “President equal access to decent, affordable hous- it provides more fl exibility, homeowner- garding your candidacy,” Target’s rejection email said. She matters worse, the tens of billions of dol- was rejected again after completing a HireVue interview for lars in federal emergency rental assistance Biden must extend the eviction moratorium ing,” researchers at Joint Center for Hous- ship has been the primary driver of wealth to give more time for rental assistance to ing Studies at Harvard University wrote. generation in the U.S. since World War a different job in December. that was supposed to solve the problem has “I understand companies or organizations trying to be not reached most tenants. reach renters and landlords and to avoid a “These disparities are likely to persist even II. Home equity is often a way for Ameri- more mindful of the time and the fi nances they spend when The housing crisis, the studies found, historic wave of evictions this summer and as the economy recovers, with many lower- cans to have a fi nancial safety net at times it comes to recruitment,” said Anthony, who obtained a mas- risk widening the housing gap between fall.” income households slow to regain their fi - of economic trouble, as seen in the pan- ter’s degree in strategic communications last year at the Uni- Black, Latino and white households, as Among those confronting the June 30 nancial footing and facing possible eviction demic. versity of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. Still, the one-way well as putting homeownership out of the deadline is Victor Richardson. The 78-year- or foreclosure.” These problems get worse when broken interviews left her uneasy about who, or what, was evaluat- reach of lower class Americans. old, who is disabled and in a wheelchair, is A separate study commissioned by the out by racial backgrounds. Black and La- ing her. “The unprecedented events of 2020 both facing eviction from his $2,500-a-month National Association of Realtors released tino homeowners have less in savings than That inscrutability poses one of the biggest concerns exposed and amplifi ed the impacts of un- assisted living center in Tucson, Arizona, Wednesday found that the U.S. housing their white counterparts. White potential about the rapid growth of complex algorithms in recruitment equal access to decent, affordable hous- and has a court hearing early next month. market needs to build at least 5.5 million homeowners also have generational wealth and hiring, Kelly-Lyth said. ing,” wrote researchers at Joint Center for “We have been successfully fi ghting this new units to keep up with demand and to potentially tap in the form of a down Housing Studies at Harvard University. and I’ve come to believe we are going to keeping home ownership affordable over payment. “These disparities are likely to persist even come out this victoriously,” said Richard- the next 10 years. That’s on top of the “The diverging circumstances between as the economy recovers, with many lower- son, who housing advocates said would not roughly 1.2 million units built per year those with the resources to weather the income households slow to regain their fi - be admitted to a homeless shelter because on average, or a roughly 60% increase in economic shutdowns and those struggling nancial footing and facing possible eviction of his disability. home construction for the next decade, just to simply stay afl oat thus widened already or foreclosure.” The reports by Harvard University and to keep up with demand. large inequalities in income and wealth,” The reports were released on the same the National Association of Realtors come “The scale of underbuilding and the ex- said the Harvard researchers. day as Census Bureau’s biweekly House- from different perspectives, but ultimately isting demand-supply gap is enormous and Outside of a massive increase in home- hold Pulse Survey came out. It showed that reach the same conclusion: the United will require a major national commitment building, researchers at Harvard pointed to nearly 4.2 million people nationwide report States isn’t building enough housing to ad- to build more housing of all types by ex- government home affordability programs that it was likely or somewhat likely that dress population growth, causing record panding resources, addressing barriers to as likely the best solution to address the they will be evicted or foreclosed upon in low home availability, and rising home new development and making new housing problem long term. the next two months. prices are putting homeownership out of construction an integral part of a national “Any of a number of new proposals to Many of those tenants are waiting to see reach of millions of Americans. infrastructure strategy,” wrote Kenneth provide down payment assistance to social- what becomes of the Centers for Disease The housing crisis, the studies also Rosen, David Bank, Max Hall, Scott Reed ly disadvantaged buyers would potentially Control and Prevention measure, which is found, risk widening the housing gap be- and Carson Goldman with the Rosen Con- bring millions of low-income households Dana Anthony is seen at her workplace at The Daily set expire June 30. Housing advocates are tween Black, Latino and white households, sulting Group, in its report to NAR. and households of color into homeowner- Tar Heel newspaper in Chapel Hill, N.C., Tuesday, pressuring President Joe Biden’s adminis- as well as putting homeownership out of The National Association of Realtors ship.” (AP) April 13, 2021. (AP) ARAB TIMES, FRIDAY-SATURDAY, JUNE 18-19, 2021 SCIENCE 11

Space

Spacesuit hinders job Chinese ‘craft’ docks at new space station JIUQUAN, China, June 17, (AP): A Chinese spaceship car- rying a three-person crew docked with China’s new space station at the start of 3-month mission Thursday, marking a milestone in the country’s ambitious space program. The Shenzhou-12 craft connected with the Tianhe space station module about six hours after takeoff from the Jiu- quan launch center on the edge of the Gobi Desert. The three astronauts are the fi rst to take up residency in the main living module and will carry out experiments, test equipment, conduct maintenance and prepare the station for receiving two laboratory modules next year. The mission brings to 14 the number of astronauts China has launched into space since 2003, becoming only the third country after the former Soviet Union and the United States to do so on its own. The astronauts were seen off by space offi cials, other uniformed mili- tary personnel and a crowd of chil- dren waving fl owers and fl ags and singing patriotic songs. The rocket dropped its boosters about two minutes into the fl ight fol- In this image taken from video footage run by China’s CCTV, the docking process in space between the Tianhe core module of China’s space station and a Shen- lowed by the cowling surrounding zhou-12 spaceship carrying a crew of Chinese astronauts is seen, Thursday, June 17. The spaceship has docked with China’s new space station at the start of Shenzhou-12 at the top of the rocket. 3-month mission, marking a milestone in the country’s ambitious space program. (AP) After about 10 minutes it separated from the rocket’s upper section, ex- Ji tended its solar panels and shortly afterward entered orbit. Coronavirus About a half-dozen adjustments took place over the fol- lowing six hours to line up the spaceship for docking with the Tianhe, or Heavenly Harmony, module at about 4 p.m. (0800 GMT). Infectious variant spreads The travel time is down from the two days it took to reach China’s earlier experimental space stations, a result of a “great many breakthroughs and innovations,” the mis- sion’s deputy chief designer, Gao Xu, told state broadcaster COVID vaccine effort turns into slog CCTV. “So the astronauts can have a good rest in space which should make them less tired,” Gao said. NEW YORK, June 17, (AP): As cases Other improvements include an increase in the number tumble and states reopen, the poten- of automated and remote-controlled systems that should tial fi nal stage in the US campaign to Why do some get side effects? “signifi cantly lessen the pressure on the astronauts,” Gao vanquish COVID-19 is turning into a said. slog, with a worrisome variant gain- ing a bigger foothold and lotteries and Mission other prizes failing to persuade some Can you mix and match vaccines? Americans to get vaccinated. Two astronauts on those past missions were women, and NEW YORK, June 17, (AP): Can Why do some people get side ef- while this fi rst station crew is all male, women are expected “The last half, the last mile, the last you mix and match two-dose COV- fects after COVID-19 vaccines? to be part of future station crews. Family members watch workers bury quarter-mile always requires more ef- ID-19 vaccines? Temporary side effects includ- The mission is the third of 11 planned through next year a coffi n at the special section of the fort,” Dr. Nirav Shah, director of the It’s likely safe and effective, but ing headache, fatigue and fever Padurenan cemetery which was Maine Center for Disease Control and researchers are still gathering data are signs the immune system is to add the additional sections to the station and send up opened to accommodate the surge crews and supplies. A fresh three-member crew and a cargo Prevention, said Wednesday. to be sure. revving up -- a normal response to in deaths during the coronavirus While two of the states slammed The authorized COVID-19 shots vaccines. And they’re common. ship with supplies will be sent in three months. outbreak in Bekasi, West Java, In- hardest by the disaster, California and China is not a participant in the International Space Sta- around the world are all designed “The day after getting these vac- donesia, Thursday, June 17. Indone- New York, celebrated their reopen- to stimulate your immune system to cines, I wouldn’t plan anything that tion, largely as a result of US objections to the Chinese sia’s president ordered authorities to ings this week with fi reworks and a produce virus-fi ghting antibodies, was strenuous physical activity,” programs secrecy and close military ties. However, China speed up the country’s vaccination multimillion-dollar drawing, hospitali- though the way they do so varies, said Dr. Peter Marks, the US Food has been stepping up cooperation with Russia and a host campaign as the World Health Organ- noted Dr. Kate O’Brien, director of and Drug Administration’s vaccine ization warned Thursday of the need zations in parts of Missouri are surging of other countries, and its station may continue operating and cases are rising sharply in Texas, the World Health Organization’s chief, who experienced fatigue af- beyond the International Space Station, which is reaching to increase social restrictions in the vaccine unit. country amid a fresh surge of corona- illustrating the challenges the country ter his fi rst dose. the end of its functional life. faces this summer. “Based on the basic principles Here’s what’s happening: The virus infections caused by worrisome of how vaccines work, we do think China landed a probe on Mars last month that carried a variants. (AP) One major concern is the highly immune system has two main rover, the , and earlier landed a probe and rover contagious and potentially more se- that the mix-and-match regimens arms, and the fi rst kicks in as soon on the moon’s less explored far side and brought back the vere delta variant of the coronavirus are going to work,” she said. as the body detects a foreign in- Scientists at Oxford University in truder. White blood cells swarm to fi rst lunar samples by any country’s space program since that originated in India. While health the United Kingdom are testing com- offi cials say the vaccines are effective the site, prompting infl ammation the 1970s. Discovery binations of the two-dose COVID-19 that’s responsible for chills, sore- China and Russia this week also unveiled an ambitious against it, the fear is that it will lead to vaccines made by AstraZeneca, ness, fatigue and other side effects. plan for a joint International Lunar Research Station run- outbreaks in states with lower vaccina- Moderna, Novavax and Pfi zer-BioN- This rapid-response step of your tion rates. ning through 2036. That could compete and possibly con- More pairs of whale found: Scientists Tech. Smaller trials are also ongoing immune system tends to wane with fl ict with the multinational Artemis Accords, a blueprint The delta variant has increased from in Spain and Germany. age, one reason younger people who track a rare species of whale said 2.7% of all cases in May to 9.7% this “We really just need to get the for space cooperation that supports NASA’s plans to return more pairs of mother whales with babies report side effects more often than humans to the moon by 2024 and to launch an historic hu- month, Dr. Rochelle Walensky, direc- evidence in each of these (vaccine) older adults. Also, some vaccines have been spotted this year than the previ- tor of the US Centers for Disease Con- combinations,” O’Brien said. simply elicit more reactions than man mission to Mars. ous few. After the Tianhe was launched in April, the rocket that trol and Prevention, said during a call So far, limited data suggests an others. The scientists follow North American for governors on Monday, according AstraZeneca shot followed by the That said, everyone reacts dif- carried it into space made an uncontrolled re-entry to Earth, right whales, which number only about to details provided by the Washington Pfi zer shot is safe and effective. ferently. If you didn’t feel anything though China dismissed criticism of the potential safety 400. The New England Aquarium said governor’s offi ce. The combination also appears to a day or two after either dose, that hazard. Usually, discarded rocket stages reenter the atmos- Friday that scientists with the institution come with a slightly higher likeli- doesn’t mean the vaccine isn’t phere soon after liftoff, normally over water, and don’t go have identifi ed a right whale mother and Convince hood of temporary side effects like working. into orbit. calf off Nova Scotia, bringing this year’s At the same time, states are conven- aches and chills. Behind the scenes, the shots The rocket used Thursday is of a different type and the total of mother-calf pairs to 18. ing focus groups to better understand That might be because mixing also set in motion the second part components that will reenter are expected to burn up long That’s the highest number since 2013. who is declining to get vaccinated, and matching different types of vac- of your immune system, which will before they could be a danger, said Ji Qiming, assistant Researchers have observed poor repro- why, and how to convince them that cines can often produce a stronger provide the real protection from the duction and high mortality among the immune response, said Lawrence virus by producing antibodies. director of the China Manned Space Agency. getting the shot is the right thing to do. Young, a virologist at the University ❑ ❑ ❑ whales in the years since then. “It’s a race between the vaccines Another nuisance side effect: As The aquarium said in a statement that of Warwick in the United Kingdom. the immune system activates, it going into people and the current or In some places, health offi cials also sometimes causes temporary Spacesuit problems prevented astronauts from complet- “calving in this decade has been well future variants,” said Kansas Health ing the installation Wednesday of powerful, new solar pan- below the annual average of 23 from the already suggest mixing in select swelling in lymph nodes, such as Secretary Dr. Lee Norman. circumstances. those under the arm. Women are els outside the International Space Station. previous decade.” However, they added Average deaths and cases per day that “every calf brings hope.” After the AstraZeneca vaccine encouraged to schedule routine NASA astronaut Shane Kimbrough encountered a have plummeted 90% or more across was linked to extremely rare blood mammograms ahead of COVID-19 pair of spacesuit issues midway through the seven-hour The whales are vulnerable to ship col- the U.S. since the winter. But the pic- clots, many European countries lisions and entanglement in fi shing gear. vaccination to avoid a swollen node spacewalk, forcing him to temporarily retreat back into the ture is uneven. including Germany, France and being mistaken for cancer. airlock to reset his equipment. The interruption put Kim- (AP) In Texas, the rolling average of new- Spain recommended people who Not all side effects are routine. ❑ ❑ ❑ brough and French astronaut Thomas Pesquet an hour ly confi rmed infections has climbed got it as a fi rst dose get a Pfi zer or But after hundreds of millions behind, then they had trouble trying to unfold the solar ‘UK is losing race’: Britain is losing from about 1,000 per day on May 31 to Moderna shot as a second dose of vaccine doses administered panel’s booms before time fi nally ran out. nearly 2,000 this week. instead. around the world — and intense the race to adapt to the inevitable effects In Britain and Canada, offi cials The two are supposed to venture back out Sunday. But of climate change, including worsening A swath of Missouri is seeing a big safety monitoring — few serious rise in cases and hospitalizations as say people should aim to get the risks have been identifi ed. A tiny it’s unclear whether that will be delayed, or whether the heat and fl oods, a government-appointed same vaccine for their second dose panel of experts said Wednesday. tourists eager to get out after being percentage of people who got vac- astronauts will wrap up work on the fi rst solar panel or get if possible. If they got AstraZeneca cines made by AstraZeneca and started on a second one. The Climate Change Committee, set cooped up for a year make their way to as their fi rst shot, they’re advised popular destinations like Branson and Johnson & Johnson reported an NASA wants to reenergize the aging space station as up to advise the UK government, said to get another vaccine only if they unusual type of blood clot. Some demand to visit grows. But there’s no urgency to do so, the level of global warming that is al- Lake of the Ozarks. Health offi cials have a history of blood clots or oth- said more than 200 people were hospi- countries reserved those shots said Mission Control commentator Rob Navias, with the ready inevitable would cause power cuts, er conditions that might put them at for older adults but regulatory au- old solar panels providing plenty of power for now. They’ll expensive and dangerous overheating in talized with the virus in southwestern higher risk of clots. thorities say the benefi ts of offering homes, and damage to nature, crops and Missouri, nearly double the number ❑ ❑ ❑ them still outweigh the risks. continue to operate in a degraded state, even after the new at the start of May. The number of ones are up and running. food supplies. It said the government must act urgently to ensure that Britain is patients in intensive care units in the Control prepared. region has tripled. ple that they know and trust,” Norman for getting the vaccine.” Mission Control stressed that Kimbrough was safe the In a 140-page report - released, by Health experts cite two factors driv- said. Elsewhere around the world, there entire time, despite problems with his suit’s display control chance, on what is forecast to be the hot- ing the surge there: the faster-spread- Big, splashy giveaways such as lot- have been glimmers of hope, as In- test day of the year in the UK - the com- ing delta variant and a reluctance teries have gotten a lot of headlines dia reopened the Taj Mahal amid a panel and a fl eeting pressure spike in the cooling system. and dispensed millions of dollars. In decline in new infections. In France, His control panel came back on, and Mission Control con- mittee said in recent years “the gap be- among residents to get vaccinated. tween the level of risk we face and the The U.S. is expected to fall short of Maine, home of the outdoor wear com- where virus cases are below 4,000 per tinued to monitor his suit’s cooling system. President Joe Biden’s goal of dispens- pany L.L. Bean, Bean gift cards were a day - down from 35,000 in the spring “We just want to be super safe here,” Mission Control level of adaptation underway has wid- ened.” It said the government’s pledge to ing at least one dose to 70% of Ameri- big hit. But elsewhere, there has been - authorities eased the requirements on radioed. It was the fi rst of a series of spacewalks to equip cut planet-warming carbon emissions to can adults by July 4. The fi gure stands skepticism about such programs. wearing masks outdoors and said the the aging orbital outpost with six smaller but stronger solar net zero by 2050 - by embracing renew- at about 65%. Shaw-Tulloch said some businesses nightly curfew will end this weekend. wings. The electrical boost is needed to accommodate the able energy, reducing pollution, planting Among the states that don’t expect in Idaho had offered fi nancial incen- “We have not known such a low paying passengers expected to drop by, beginning with a trees and other measures - would not ad- to hit the goal are Kansas and Idaho. In tives for employees to get vaccinated level of virus spreading since last Au- Russian fi lm crew this fall. dress the effects of climate change that Idaho, some counties have adult vac- but didn’t get many takers. Instead, she gust,” Prime Minister Jean Castex said. NASA put extra safety precautions in place as Kim- are already underway. cination rates under 30%, said Elke said, the key is making it easy to get Meanwhile, South Africa imposed brough and Pesquet worked on the station’s primary power “We will fail on net zero and we will Shaw-Tulloch, public health admin- a vaccine by turning it into part of a tighter restrictions on public gather- grid, to avoid an electrical shock. The duo conducted the fail to improve the environment overall istrator for the state Department of person’s “daily fl ow.” ings and liquor sales as hospital admis- most hazardous parts of the spacewalk on the nighttime if we don’t factor in the changes in the Health and Welfare. Some people’s attitude is that “if a sions due to COVID-19 increased by side of Earth, to prevent the station’s old solar panels from climate that are coming in 2050,” said To increase vaccinations, several vaccine were to fall out of the sky and 59% over the past two weeks, authori- soaking up sunlight and generating power. Metal surfaces committee chief executive Chris Stark. states are working to break up large hit me in the arm, I’ll get it. But I’m ties said. New cases there have nearly on their spacesuits were covered to avoid any contact. “Our preparations are not keeping pace shipments of vaccine into smaller lots, not going to interrupt my busy daily doubled. Launched by SpaceX earlier this month, the fi rst of these with the extent of the risks we face in this which can then be distributed to doc- life to make that effort and go in and The recorded US death toll from new solar panels will operate alongside the station’s old- country.” tors’ offi ces. Health offi cials see pri- get a vaccination,” she said. COVID-19 hit 600,000 on Tuesday, est electricity-producing wings, in continuous operation for The report said average temperatures in mary care physicians as key to easing She added: “That’s why we’re re- according to a tally by Johns Hopkins more than 20 years. the UK have risen 1.2 degrees Celsius since people’s concerns. ally focusing on walk-in clinics, pop- University. Worldwide, it stands at The astronauts had to lug the bundled solar wing -10 feet the mid-19th century and will increase by “People want to hear it from their up clinics where, wherever they turn, 3.8 million, though both numbers are long and 4 feet wide (3 meters long by 1 meter wide) - to another 0.5% even with ambitious action doctor, their medical providers, peo- there’s a place that’s easily available thought to be a signifi cant undercount. the work site on the far left end of the station. They man- to cut greenhouse gas emissions. It said by 2050, Britain would see hotter, drier sum- aged to bolt it into place, but could not unfold the booms mers and wetter winters, with sea levels because of a problem in the mounting bracket. rising 10 to 30 centimeters (4 to 12 inches) Sea have established a genetic link be- tion inside some ribs which could indicate Once properly installed, the solar panel is designed to higher than in 1981-2000. (AP) tween the Norsemen. DNA tests showed tuberculosis, according to Odense City roll out like a red carpet 63 feet (19 meters) in length. ❑ ❑ ❑ “that they are either half brothers or neph- Museums chief curator Jesper Hansen. NASA wants to keep the space station churning out sci- Skeleton to ‘reunite’: ew and uncle,” University of Copenhagen The man likely took part in the raids for ence research through this decade, and space tourists will The skeletons geneticist Eske Willerslev said. which Vikings remain notorious because further tax the power system. A Russian movie director of two related Viking-era men, one who died in central Denmark and the other The man from the central Denmark is- “he also has a violent lesion on his left and actress are due to visit in October for fi lming, followed land of Funen was a farmer in his 50s; his pelvis, which may have originated from by wealthy entrepreneurs launching from Kazakhstan and who was killed in England during a mas- sacre ordered by a king, are set to be reu- skeleton was excavated in 2005 near the a proper stab from a sword. The wound Cape Canaveral as part of a push to open up the private town of Otterup. He stood 182-centime- from that blow may have cost him his life space market. nited for an exhibition opening in Copen- hagen this month. ters-tall (just under 6 feet), had arthritis in because it did not heal,” Hansen said in a Scientists on both sides of the North most of his bones and signs of infl amma- Stark Willerslev statement. (AP) Film FRIDAY-SATURDAY, JUNE 18-19, 2021 FFeatureseatures (Maya Rudolph,JimGaffi er (SandyMartin),who’squicklyshushedbyhisprotectiveparents unknowable placethathe’sonlyheardrumorsoffromhisgrandmoth- goats, onrollingunderwaterpastures.Tohim,thesurfaceisamagical, another, forbiddenrealm—onlyLucashepherdsgoatfi He’s afarmboy,likemanyprotagonistsbeforehim,withdreamsof a 13-year-oldseamonsterwholivesoffthecoastofItalianRiviera. world, whichhappenstobeourown.LucaPaguro(JacobTremblay)is diminutive ChefSkinnerbobsfuriouslyintheSeine. personal favorite:how,afterthefranticParischasein“Ratatouille,” of “TheGoodDinosaur”tothefrothyseasidesurf“Piper.”One sprinkled throughmanyofthestudio’sfi ing Nemo”and“FindingDory.”Lushlydetailedwatershavebeen pure andcondensedenchantments. mery, shimmeringfish-out-of-waterfairytale—isoneofPixar’smost A was arrestedin her legedly coercedherintowaiving fraud casebecauseoffi dismiss chargesagainstherina fl Nevada “sales fl generated fromtelemarketing of potentialvictims thatwere and herassistantofsellinglists computers. many ofthepeoplenotowning website designservices,despite then soldthemtaxpreparationor line “businessopportunity,”and enticed peopletoinvestinanon- laundering. and conspiracytocommitmoney conspiracy tocommitwirefraud multiple charges. They bothpleadednotguiltyto The SaltLakeTribunereported. elderly, working-classpeople,” of hundreds“vulnerable,often prosecutors saytookadvantage marketing schemethatfederal have beenaccusedinatele- never receivedaresponse.(AP) sent anemailtotheaddress,but respond. included anemailaddressto judge in attorneys haveaskedafederal star Housewives ofSaltLakeCity” I amfrom visiting familyinRhodeIsland. “It isThanksgiving.Iam13and marker onanotecardthatreads, bottle waswritteninorange message traveled. the writertosharehowfar share thepostinhopesoffi on Facebookaskingforothersto tos Boston Globereported. near RhodeIslandin2018,The tle thatwastossedintothesea he foundacrumpledplasticbot- spearfi mont teenager. at least2,400milesfromaVer- message inabottlethattraveled tuguese teenagerhasfounda In Pixar’s ‘Luca,’younglifeasastolenadventure SALT LAKECITY: PROVIDENCE, RI: oor owners allegedlyworked But curiosityandtheurgingsofanother,moreland-accustomedsea But in“Luca,”we’retheoceantolooklonginglyuponanother Pixar hasplungedintotheseabefore,ofcourse,inaquatic“Find- Prosecutors accusedShah Prosecutors saidthescheme Shah facesmultiplecountsof Shah, 47,andherassistant Molly Santo The noteinsideofaPowerade Santos’ mother, Christian Santos , postedaphotoofthenote Miranda Jen below-the-surface identity,EnricoCasarosa’s“Luca”—asum- brisk andbrightsun-dappledfableofabove-groundadventure shing inthe oors” inUtah,

andelsewhere.The sale Shah New York ❑ Vermont rightswhenshe andherdefense saidthatshe Utah Azores Molly San- “Real thisweekto .” Thenote , 17,was . A Por- cers al- Arizona when nding gan). By JakeCoyle , was tied to anorderofprotec- phone call.Shebelieved thecall after shereceived aperplexing topher Bastos by NewYorkdetective in NewYorkand with telemarketingoperations Cuomo New Yorkgovernoris Shah wasarrestedMarch30 most leavingit(withababyinside)atthegrocery where webreezethroughinstallingacarseatandal- but funny”montagesettoSalt-N-Pepa’s“PushIt,” she screamsalot.There’seven“babiesarehard able, bite-sizeddoes.Onedayiscribset-up. his earlyparentingtrialsareallpresentedinpalat- ing totakehimandMaddybackMinnesota, terrific ashismother-in-law)whoaremorethanwill- Matt, hehasparentsandin-laws(AlfreWoodardis real life.Moneydoesnotseemtobeaworryfor He’s gotalittlehumantokeepalive. daughter, Maddy.Hedoesn’tevenhavetimetogrieve. of course,it’snotaboutthembutMattandhisbaby in for“wife”whileyoubracewhat’scoming.And Ayorinde) andmakinghermorethanjustablandstand- good jobatintroducingyoutoMattandLiz(Deborah fore cuttingbacktohowithappened.Thescriptdoesa tiful wife.Thefi as hisstar. landing Weitz(“AboutaBoy”)asdirectorandHart then asaChanningTatumvehicle,beforefinally had afewdifferentlives,firstasLifetimemovie, their daughter.Sinceitspublication10yearsago,it’s Love,” aboutlosinghiswifeaftershegavebirthto oir, “TwoKissesforMaddy:AMemoirofLossand Hart’s inspiredcasting. tic script(directorPaulWeitzandDanaStevens) rest, thankstoasmartandfunnybasicallyauthen- that emotionallevel,though—it’salsoacutaboutthe kind ofpremise.“Fatherhood”doesn’tjustsucceedon has togovery,verywrongforafi have failed(remember“LifeItself”?).Butsomething his own. after childbirthandhe’sleftraisingtheirdaughteron on Friday,heplaysanewdadwhosewifediesshortly bring onthewaterworks.In“Fatherhood,”Netflix K Hart showsrangeintearjerker‘Fatherhood’ lms, fromtherushingriver “Fatherhood” smoothsoutmanyoftheedges Hart playsMatt,aBostonprofessionalwithbeau- The storyisbasedonMatthewLogelin’smem- To befair,there’sbeenmanybuilt-intearjerkersthat . Variety even ifthevehiclewaspracticallyengineeredto evin Hartcanmakeuslaughandcry,itseems, This imagereleasedbyNetflixshowsKevinHart,(left),andAlfreWoodardinascenefrom‘Fatherhood.’(AP) inSaltLakeCity New Jersey lm introduceshimatherfuneral,be- sh, insteadof By LindseyBahr Film offersmostpureandcondensedenchantments Andrew Chris- . Dieselsays‘FastandFurious’sagaplanninganending Film hamlet withavillagefountainand“LaStrada”posteronthewall. of theStudioGhiblicanon,“PorcoRosso”),aquintessentialItalian of Portorosso(thenameseemsanodtothegreatandmostEuropean single greatesthumaninvention.Thatdrawsthemtothenearbytown anchovies. Buttheyareabsolutelycertainofonething:theVespais lady machine”andbelievesthestarsinnightskyarelittleglittering fi dent andrecklessthanLuca,callsaphonograph“magicsinging They don’thaveeverythingquitefi um Shah Cuomo his faceandfl disappears. Andaverysea-leggedboystepsforward,swiftlyfallingon up thenerve,transformationisimmediate.Finturnstofoot.Tail beach andstrideashore.HewatchesAlbertodoitfi monster, Alberto(JackDylanGrazer),compelLucatoswimupa adventure. home. Buthecan’thelphimself.In“Luca,”younglifeisastolen being human.Luca,feelingguilty,keepssayinghe’sabouttorush has afortwithcollectedtreasures)rushtofrolicinallthefunof swaying trees,therustlinggrass.LucaandAlberto(whoalready we seethewondersofsurface-dwellinganew-bluesky, lm tomessupthat Walking comesquicklyenough,though,andthroughLuca’seyes opping onthegroundlikeafi 25. HesaidUniversalPictureswantstocloseoutthe ninth installment,“F9,”whichreleasesintheatersJune conclude aftertwomorefi sociated Pressthatthe“FastandFurious”sagawill soon cometoanend. the storylinestarringhislongstandingcharacterwill racer patriarchinthe“FastandFurious”franchise,but time: 109minutes.Twoandahalfstarsoutoffour. strong language,andsuggestivematerial.”Running the MotionPictureAssociationofAmericafor“some “Fatherhood” than“Tully.” let’s behonest,you’remuchmorelikelytore-watch overrated whenitcomestonewbornsinmovies.And, ments areunderstandable.Sometimesbrutalrealismis “Fatherhood” isgoing,butyouforgiveit,too. DeWanda Wise).Youmayneverbesurprisedbywhere allows thefi Hart someoneotherthanababytoconnectwith.Italso Hurd) withapersonalityandpointofviewtogive is alittlejarring,butit’snicetoseeMaddy(Melody their hometown. he doesn’twanttheirhelporneedstomoveback get thechancetotry.It’sneverentirelyclearwhy he’ll neverknowifhe’sagoodparenthedoesn’t can sleeptohimpleadingwithhismother-in-lawthat uuming tosimulatewhitenoisesothecolic-ybaby moments oftruthandgrace,fromMattpanic-vac- LOS ANGELES: Diesel saidinaninterviewThursdaywithTheAs- “Fatherhood,” aNetfl It’s alldonewithagoodheart.Eventheclichémo- “Fatherhood” skipsforwardtokindergarten,which And withinthesitcomdramedyaesthetic,thereare rigan asMatt’sbestfriends. ing cast,includingLilRelHoweryandAnthonyCar- the comedyhowever,andishelpedbyastrongsupport- deep exhaustionofcaringforaninfant. store. Thisisnota“Tully”-stylerepresentationofthe Invention The fi shoot in Utah, arrestedher asa over asshewasdriving toa to theprotectiveorder. Bastos believing it wasalsotied she receivedanothercallfrom in NewYork.Afterthecall, convicted ofmultiplefelonies who onceattackedherandwas tion shehasoutagainstaman lm doesagoodjobbalancingthedramawith lm tointroducealoveinterest(playedby Bastos, whotold Shah topull gured out.Alberto,morecon- Vin Diesel Moments sh. Also: ix releaseisratedPG-13by lms following theupcoming madeamarkasthestreet rst. WhenLucagets out that Bastos knew her history out thatBastos knewherhistory that shewascoerced, andpointed there tohelpme.” and thatthepolice mightbe believe she“mightbeindanger, offi she wasgoingtojail,told case. ButasShahaskedwhether suspect inthetelemarkingfraud Shah’s attorneys are arguing Shah’s attorneysare arguing cials thatBastosmadeher “Italian Folktales.”(AP) forward andclassical.ItfeelslikePixar’spageoutofItaloCalvino’s Pixar’s shortestfeaturesinceitsfi its artistsaretoofocusedonchartingnewnarrativeterritory.“Luca,” daringly conceptual,ithassometimesfeltasthoughthestudioand much asPixar’srecentoutput(“Soul,”“Onward,”“Coco”)hasbeen ple ofkidscomingageoverasun-kissedsummer. journey intothemind,beyondgraveorheavens.It’sacou- ground thewaymanyPixaranimationshave.Thereisn’tanexistential “minor Pixar.”Itsvisuals,whilebeguiling,don’tpushnewdigital (Marco Barricelli). village girl,Giuilia(EmmaBerman),withafearsomefi ing atriathlonwiththehopeofwinningVespa,orfrombefriending human disguises.Still,thatdoesn’tstopLucaandAlbertofromenter- be suicidal,andallittakesisawaterballoonorbitofraintoruintheir at thethoughtof“landmonsters.”Revealingtheirtruenatureswould lives infearofthem-aconcernmirroredbyLuca’sfamilywhoquake with picturesofslayedandslaughteredseamonsters.Thewholetown It’s thelate1950s. But Ithinkthemodestyof“Luca”ispartwhatmakesitgreat.As It wouldbeeasytolabel“Luca,”whicharrivesFridayonDisney+, They quicklyrecognizeanunexpecteddanger.Portorossoisadorned pected tobeoneoftheseason’sbiggesthits. story willalsoliterallysendacarintospace.It’sex- along withnewadditionsincluding brings backafanfavorite— due tothecoronavirusoutbreak.Thenewfi each makingmorethan$1billion. and internationalboxoffi The movieshavebecomebigearnersatthedomestic chise’s inauguralfi has deservedit.” “There arereasonsforafi to end,butIthinkallgoodthingsshould,”hesaid. conclusion, theactorsaidshebegansheddingtears. on. the “FastandFurious”cinematicuniversewillcontinue franchise’s future.Despitetheendofsaga,hesaid during apressjunketfor“F9”whenaskedaboutthe release in2023then2024. that soulhastorest.”(AP) these otherfranchises.Butthefranchisehasasoul,and underdog toaplacewhereithasalreadysurpassedallof the concrete,”hesaid.“Theworldjustchampionedthis fi ing journeyforthesecharacters.” so thatthenexttwomoviesshouldwrapupthisamaz- director said.“We’rekindofreconfi the fi has directedfi think aboutclosingupthesaganow,’”saidLin,who the leadingroleineight“FastandFurious”fi came duringaconversationwithDiesel,whohasplayed saga intwoparts. nally seesafi Director Last year,Universalpushedbackthereleaseof“F9” Diesel hasstarredasDominicTorettosincethefran- “Iknowpeoplearegoingtofeellikeitdoesn’thave When Dieseltoldhisdaughteraboutthefranchise’s “Every storydeservesitsownending,”saidDiesel “This franchisewasbornfromthepavement, Diesel saidthefranchisehascomealongway,buthe “Nine iskindofthefi “We gottogetherandVinsays’Ithinkweshould The actorsaidthefi nal twoinstallments. Justin Lin ve ofthefranchise’sfi nish line. lm “TheFastandFurious”in2001. saidtheideaoffi said. (AP) overpower herwill,” herattorneys tion andtrickerycalculated to result oflawenforcement decep- voluntarily, butrather asadirect Miranda rights,shedidnotdoso with Shahandherassistant. was alsoinvolvedinthescheme with theman,whoprosecutorssaid nal twofi rst fi rst (“ToyStory”),ismodest,straight- “Although Ms Shah waived her “Although MsShahwaivedher ce, withthepasttwofi nale. Ithinkthisfranchise lm ofthefi Sung Kang’sHan lms couldpotentially John Cena lms. Hewilldirect guringeverything, nal chapter,” the nishing thesaga lm notonly lms. sherman father , butthe lms — ARAB TIMES, FRIDAY-SATURDAY, JUNE 18-19, 2021 NEWS/FEATURES 13

People & Places

Television

Ends his silence No apology: Smiley attempts to ‘return’

LOS ANGELES, June 17, (AP): Three years after workplace misconduct allegations cost veteran TV and radio talk-show host Tavis Smiley his job and a national forum, he’s ending his silence. Smiley, who continues to deny the claims of un- wanted sexual behavior that led PBS to drop his long- running show, is attempting to rebound with the pur- chase of a Los Angeles radio station that will offer a Black and progressive perspective on the city and nation. Sidelined during a period of landmark racial up- heaval, Smiley decided to make his own opportu- nity with reformatted station KBLA Talk 1580 Los Angeles. It debuts with a preview on Saturday, the Juneteenth holiday commemorating when the last enslaved African Americans learned they were free. “While I was watching this racial reckoning last summer, it was so clear to me that peo- ple were being heard to some degree, but there were no Af- rican American-owned plat- forms where people had their voice on a regular basis,” Smi- ley said. The media can lose interest when protests stop, he Smiley said, but the issues “that matter to us don’t go away.” He was also chafi ng at the isolation. “It’s frustrating when you’re used to being on the air every day somewhere, (and) people are hearing your voice in this country, seeing your face, for as Japanese artist Miwako Sakauchi speaks about her art work for Art Exhibition ‘Declaration of the end of Olympic games’ in Chiba near Tokyo June 10. (AP) many years I’ve been doing this,” he told The Associ- ated Press. But there was an upside: introspection, and “a lot” of it, as he put it. “It allows for growth. It allows for strengthening re- lationships with family and friends,” Smiley said. “So Art in some ways, I think I’m probably a different person than I was four years ago.” He did not reevaluate his workplace behavior be- cause there was no cause to, he said, and again reject- Paintings depict anger, fear against Olympics ed any allegations of misconduct. After losing in court last year in a breach-of-contract suit over his fi ring, he’s appealing the verdict that required about a $1.5 million payment from Smiley to PBS, which counter- sued him. A judge increased the award to about $2.6 Art becomes form of protest million last August, according to The Washington Post. TOKYO, June 17, (AP): Miwako displayed in another exhibition in Feb- state of emergency issued by the gov- Allegations Sakauchi stands in her studio and ruary. ernment. brushes spinning swirls on torn card- Kai Koyama, the main organizer “My kids’ sports events and school “I have no idea why what happened to me hap- board and drawing paper, using the of the exhibition, said it is his profes- trips have been canceled, and we have pened,” he said. “This Me Too moment happened at fi ve colors designated as symbols of sional duty to protest, even though he been forced to put up with it … but a time and in a way where it was very diffi cult, almost the modern Olympiad. knows many Japanese are hesitant to they say they can hold the Olympics,” impossible, to put forth any other narrative, no matter Titled “Vortex,” her paintings show openly show their opinions. said Kikutake. “It really irritates me how truthful that narrative was.” Tavis Smiley, owner of progressive the “anger, fear, sense of contradiction “We’re artists. We wouldn’t exist that (the prime minister) does not ex- While acknowledging what he called “consensual” talk radio station KBLA Los Angeles and state violence” over the residents if we didn’t express ourselves,” Koy- plain why they are holding the Games, dates with co-workers before he joined PBS, “I have (1580), poses for a portrait on a vintage evicted and the trees felled so enor- ama, 45, told The Associated Press in and he just keeps saying it will be ‘safe never harassed anyone,” Smiley said. He alleged that AM radio in his station’s offices, June mous Olympic stadiums could be built, an interview. More than 20 artists have and secure’.” the public TV service reached back into his work past 15, in Los Angeles. KBLA’s morning Sakauchi said. “I can’t think of it as a gathered for the project. The Tokyo Games’ organizing com- to fi nd claims of misbehavior that he called false, and drive host Dominique DiPrima gifted ‘festival of peace’ in this situation. It’s Another artist who joined the anti- mittee demanded Kikutake stop the labeled the investigation sloppy and biased. Smiley with the radio in celebration of totally nonsensical.” Olympic exhibition is Sachihiro Ochi, production of the T-shirts over copy- In its court fi lings, PBS cited witnesses’ allegations the radio station’s launch. (AP) The Japanese public mostly oppos- 52, a social worker and doctor in a right concerns, he said. He started over that Smiley subjected subordinates to lewd language es holding the Tokyo Olympics next clinic near Yokohama Stadium, which with a new design that includes fewer and unwanted sexual advances and encounters, with month during a pandemic, polls have will host Olympic baseball and softball Olympic rings and a misspelling of six women describing misconduct claims in court tes- shown, even though outward dissent games. He says Tokyo and Yokohama, Tokyo as “Okyo.” timony. The women have not been publicly identifi ed. such as protests has been small. the nation’s largest cities, have hard- Similar attempts to satirize the To- “Let me be very clear: I support the Me Too move- One little-recognized outlet where ened their policies on the homeless be- kyo Olympics have been suppressed ment” and covered women’s rights issues for years on people have expressed their frustration cause of the Olympics. Public spaces by the Tokyo 2020 organizing com- his shows, he said. “I will not let you falsely accuse and fear over the Olympics has been that were once open are now covered mittee, citing copyright infringe- me of anything, and win, lose or draw, my name and art. with colored cones and obstacles, he ment. The organizing committee told my integrity is all I have.” T-shirts, drawings and other artwork said. AP that protecting intellectual prop- Asked for comment, PBS referred to its statement have become a form of protest over the erty is crucial for Olympics sponsors last year following the jury’s verdict, which said in decision to hold the Games against Satirical that have paid huge fees in return for part that “PBS expects our producing partners to medical advice and the public’s op- Ochi has tried to illustrate that dis- exclusive rights to use the games’ provide a workplace where people feel safe and are position. Offi cials have responded in placement, along with satirical motifs, symbols. It declined to comment on treated with dignity and respect.” Wever Culkin some cases by demanding the some- in his paintings of the marathon and specific cases. The allegations were made about a groundbreaking times satiric art and merchandise be the national stadium. The Foreign Correspondents’ Club radio and TV host, the fi rst African American to get his removed, and the artists say their free- “There are people who lost their of Japan removed a parody drawing own talk show on PBS. He said he’s received offers of Variety doms are being curtailed. jobs and housing during the pandem- that uses the Tokyo Olympic logo work since his fi ring, but decided to amplify Black voic- “What I can do instead of going to ic,” Ochi said. combined with features of the corona- es in America through a path that his late friend, Prince, protests is to use my expertise in art,” Some creators of anti-Olympics art virus from their website after receiving touted: Controlling content and its distribution. say their freedom of expression has NEW YORK: Ann Ratray, a Broadway said Sakauchi of her motivation to pro- a demand for withdrawal from the or- Smiley is the majority owner of KBLA, which he duce the paintings. She has never par- been cramped even though their feel- ganizing committee. and investment partners bought from New York-based actor who later became a sought-after youth drama coach, has died. ticipated in street protests or incorpo- ings align with growing public disap- Koyama, the art exhibit organizer, Multicultural Radio Broadcasting in a deal valued at rated political issues into her abstract proval of the games. is planning a third anti-Olympics art $7.5 million. The station will fi ll a void that he said Ratray died June 9 surrounded by family and friends at her New York paintings in the past, but the Tokyo Before the pandemic, designer event late next month, when the Olym- shouldn’t exist in one of the most, if not the most, eth- home after a long illness, her husband of Olympics have been a tipping point. Susumu Kikutake made parody anti- pic opening ceremony is slated to start. nically and culturally diverse city in the country. nearly 55 years, actor Peter Ratray, said The risk of infection from the vi- Olympics T-shirts because of bribery But galleries are wary of subversive Reservations Wednesday. She was 81. rus may have prevented skeptics from and plagiarism scandals surrounding exhibitions like his, the artist said. Peter Ratray said he spent her fi nal taking to the streets to express their the Tokyo event. Online comments One that agreed to host the exhibit “The opportunity to have a Black-owned and Black- days reading her dozens of letters from frustration. Unlike in Rio de Janeiro were harsh and he only sold around 10 backtracked after far-right activists operated talk radio station in this city, where talk radio the young actors she had mentored where, in 2016, thousands marched for shirts a month. targeted the space with loudspeaker for too long has been all day, all night, all white, is an who could not visit her because of the weeks against the last Summer Olym- But amid a recent virus surge and trucks demanding the cancellation of opportunity that is begging for someone to take advan- pandemic, thanking her the spark and pics, recent protests in Japan have at- rising public concerns, the owner of another exhibition they claimed was tage of it. So I’m dumb enough to try,” Smiley said. inspiration she gave them. tracted dozens at most. the P&M shirt shop in Tokyo says de- unpatriotic. Asked if anyone has expressed reservations about “She altered the course of so many Sakauchi created the paintings after mand has boomed. Sales reached 100 “Freedom of speech is about to be working with him and the station, he said it was the lives,” Peter Ratray said. she was contacted by a group of artists shirts in April and 250 in May. extinguished because of the Tokyo contrary and that bookings for celebrities, authors and Ann Willis Ratray was born in Cran- who organized an anti-Olympics art Kikutake said the spike refl ects Olympics,” Koyama said. ”We’re be- newsmakers are “lining up fast and furious.” Guest ston, Rhode Island, to a family with exhibit last summer. Her works were public resentment against a prolonged ing suffocated.” names weren’t provided. seven siblings that struggled fi nancially. Among the hosts: DL Hughley, whose nationally As Miss Rhode Island in 1958, she com- syndicated radio show is part of the KBLA afternoon peted in the Miss America Pageant and lineup, and Alonzo Bodden, a winner of NBC’s “Last won the “Miss Congeniality” award. She live video from the Warsaw University unbranched infl orescence in the world, the rainforests of Sumatra, but it is Comic Standing” and regular guest on NPR’s “Wait used the prize money to pay for school- Botanical Gardens. which can be up to 3 meters (10 feet) endangered there due to deforestation. ing that would include New York’s Hundreds, if not thousands, lined up high. Its compound fl ower is composed Cultivation at botanical gardens, where Wait…Don’t Tell Me.” American Academy of Dramatic Arts. The Mississippi-born, Indiana-raised broadcaster long into the night Sunday and Monday of a hollow, tall spadix with small fl ow- they are a great visitor attraction, has Her Broadway credits included morning at the conservatory just to be ers and a spathe, with one big, furrowed helped its preservation. It’s fi rst known said KBLA, with a signal reaching nearly 12 million 1964s “Mame” with Angela Lansbury, able to pass by the fl ower and take a petal that is green on the outside and Southern California listeners, could be the fl agship for blooming outside Sumatra was in 1889 and 1981s revival of George Bernard picture. deep burgundy red on the inside. It’s at London’s Royal Botanical Gardens at an eventual nationwide network. Asked about the sta- Shaw’s “Candida,” with Joanne Wood- Know also as the Amorphophallus ti- blooming is rare and unpredictable. tion’s agenda, Smiley rejected the question’s framing. Kew. (AP) ward. tanum, the fl owering plant has the largest The plant only grows in the wild in ❑ ❑ ❑ “The station doesn’t have an agenda except to be In 1990 she changed career paths unapologetically progressive,” he said. “We just want when her son, Devin, was cast as Buzz, BOSTON: The New England Aquarium to be a voice for those who have been voiceless for Macaulay Culkin’s bullying big brother, in Boston accepted an entrance ticket too long in this city, speak a truth that is otherwise not in “Home Alone.” fi rst purchased in 1983 that allows being considered if we don’t speak it, and give people Serving as acting coach to her son, she the holder to return “at anytime in the a chance literally just to be heard.” found she had a knack for the job, and future.” His defi nition of a progressive: Someone whose life and in the coming years would guide many Rachel Carle, 26, picked up the ticket behavior “underscores that you want the same thing for eve- young careers in New York. from her great aunt, Catherine Cap- rybody else’s child that you want for your own child.” Her students included Merritt Wever piello, who came to visit the aquarium He’s in charge of the radio enterprise but not its who won Emmys for “Nurse Jackie” and more than 37 years ago, the Boston star, said Smiley, who headlined shows on BET and YaYa DaCosta of “Chicago Med” and Herald reported. National Public Radio before hosting “Tavis Smiley” Kaitlyn Nichol of “black-ish.” Cappiello and her partner arrived near Along with Peter, Devin and his older closing time in November that year and on PBS from 2004 until his December 2017 fi ring. brother Luke, Ann Ratray is survived by “This is not about Tavis Smiley. I’m only on (week- both got a “late gate ticket,” which was her sister, Sue Zoglio, brothers David good for a visit at a later time. Cappiello, days) three hours a day,” he said. “We are live 24 and Douglas Willis, and grandson Riley hours a day, seven days a week. ... So there are a lot of who lives in Trenton, New Jersey, gave Ratray. (AP) it to Carle last fall as she drove from the other voices on the station that will be talking about a ❑ ❑ ❑ lot” of local, national and international issues. Washington area up to Boston, where He spoke in the modest offi ce building he owns and WARSAW, Poland: The endangered she is enrolled as a graduate student in has long operated from, in the historic Leimert Park Sumatran Titan arum, a giant foul-smell- public policy at Harvard University. section of Los Angeles dubbed “the Black Greenwich ing blossom also known as the corpse Aquarium President and CEO Vikki Village.” The interior was being revamped to accom- fl ower, went into a rare, short bloom at Spruill told the newspaper the late gate a botanical garden in Warsaw, drawing tickets were discontinued about 25 years modate KBLA’s studios. ago, but that they will see about one a Most prominent men whose careers have been crowds who waited for hours to see it. The extraordinary fl ower, which emits year. stalled or shattered by sexual misconduct claims have a dead-body odor to attract pollinat- “We honor each valid admission yet to try a comeback, among them former “Today” ing insects that feed on fl esh, bloomed Doctor Sachihiro Ochi holds his work during an interview with the Associated ticket, and this was one,” Spruill said. host Matt Lauer, restaurateur Mario Batali and media Sunday. It was already withering early Press in Yokohama near Tokyo, June 15. Ochi, artist who joined the anti-Olym- “Forty years is a long time to be carrying executive Les Moonves. Monday. Those wishing to avoid the pic exhibition, also social worker and doctor in a clinic near Yokohama Stadium, that ticket around, and we’re so glad she smell and crowds could watch it on which will host Olympic baseball and softball games. (AP) did.” (AP) ARAB TIMES, FRIDAY-SATURDAY, JUNE 18-19, 2021 SPORTS 14 Canadiens pip Golden Knights to tie series

Russian crew disqualifi ed Britain upgraded to WCup bobsled gold from ’17 race LONDON, June 17, (AP): The World Cup win. British bobsled team said Thursday “It’s fantastic to see that Lamin, it has won a World Cup four-man Ben, Toby and Andrew have been gold medal for the fi rst time, a re- upgraded to race winners,” British sult that became offi cial nearly four federation chair Joanna Poulton years after the what is now consid- said. “It’s a huge achievement and ered the winning sled crossed the something they should be incred- fi nish line. ibly proud of, as we all are.” British Bobsleigh and Skel- The British federation said it has eton announced that the four- asked the International Bobsled man team of and Skeleton Federation to provide Lamin Deen, replacement gold medals from that Ben Simons, race, plus new bronze medals for Toby Olubi and Andrew Matthews BOBSLED has been up- graded to the gold medal a World Cup race that occurred in for a race in Lake Placid, New York, in January Canada that 2016. With some of Kasjanov’s occurred Nov. results vacated, Deen, Matthews, 25, 2017, Poulton John Baines and Joel Fearon would in Whistler, have fi nished third in that competi- British Columbia. tion. The reason: The Russian crew The British announcement of that beat them that day has since the upgraded World Cup results been disqualifi ed because the and the fi rst four-man win came driver of that sled - Alexander on Deen’s 40th birthday. Also up- Kasyanov - was sanctioned for graded: A German sled driven by doping violations that took place at Nico Walther is now listed as the the 2014 Sochi Olympics, a state- second-place fi nisher after origi- backed scheme to swap steroid- nally crossing the line third that tainted samples for clean urine. day, and a Canadian sled driven Vegas Golden Knights goaltender Marc-Andre Fleury (29) blocks a shot by Montreal Canadiens center Nick Suzuki (14) during the third period in Game Part of those sanctions including by Justin Kripps was promoted to 2 of an NHL hockey Stanley Cup semifi nal playoff series, on June 16, in Las Vegas. (AP) vacating past results, including the third place.

Price makes 29 saves Harting earns fi rst trip to Olympics LAS VEGAS, June 17, (AP): The Montreal Cana- Ledecky wins shortest, longest races diens vowed to adapt after Qadisa SC win 1st local looking out of sync in the OMAHA, Nebraska, June 17, (AP): Katie Ledecky’s most grueling night fi rst game of their Stanley at the U.S. Olympic swimming trials Kuwait’s Al-Fadhli wins ‘bronze’ at Cup semifi nal series with artistic gymnastics Cup resulted in two more victories. She didn’t seem bothered at all to the Vegas Golden Knights. KUWAIT CITY, June 17, (KUNA): In statements to reporters follow- 22th Arab Athletics Championship It’s exactly what they did. Qadisa SC snatched the trophy of ing the closing ceremony, the KGF have to swim her shortest and longest the fi rst artistic gymnastics Cup or- President Fahad Al-Sola hailed the events about 70 minutes apart. TUNIS, June 17, (KUNA): Kuwait’s championship is characterized by Carey Price made 29 saves and ganized by the Kuwait Gymnastics successful organization of the tour- The 24-year-old from the nation’s Ibrahim Al-Fadhli won the bronze at a strong competition amongst the the Canadiens beat Vegas 3-2 to tie Federation (KGF). ney and the splendid performance capital won the 200-meter freestyle the 22th Arab Athletics Champion- Arab athletes vying for the positions the series at a game apiece. Kazma SC and Al-Arabi SC came of the participating athletes. fi rst. She rushed off to the practice ship at the shot put contest held in qualifying for the Tokyo Olympics. Price improved to 9-4 in the play- second and third respectively. He also assured that organizers pool to warm down as best she could, Tunisia with the participation of 20 He thanked Tunisia for the good offs, his most victories in a postseason. Seven clubs competed in tour- and athletes have abided by all cor- then it was back to the arena for the Arab teams. organizing; saying that such tour- He had eight in 2014. ney held in Al-Arabi SC halls dur- onavirus related preventative and 1,500 free - roughly the equivalent of Head of the Kuwaiti delegation naments and competitions will help Paul Byron, Joel Armia and Tyler ing the period from June 13 to precautionary measures during the a mile and a new event for the women Faisal Al-Dasm congratulated al- the Kuwaiti athletes gain further ex- June 16. competition. Fadhli on this victory, expecting pertise. Toffoli scored for Montreal, with Bry- at the upcoming Olympics. that the Kuwaiti athletes will bag The tourney kicked off earlier in on making it 3-0 with 2:45 left in the It was a totally different race, stress- further medals. the day, with the participation of second period. team game when they get the lead. We treal’s fi rst-period scoring edge in the ing endurance over speed, but it looked In a statement to KUNA, he more than 400 male and female Alex Pietrangelo scored twice for gotta do a better job with our starts and playoffs to 12-3. just the same. said despite the coronavirus, the athletes. Vegas, and Marc-Andre Fleury made we gotta fi nd our preparation.” Vegas rookie Keegan Kolesar, who Ledecky touched the wall far ahead 20 saves. With Vegas missing top-line center started the game centering the third of everyone else, giving her a third in- dividual race at the pandemic-delayed Schmitt’s time was 1:56.79, which Olympics as relay swimmers. Chandler Stephenson, and third-line line, switched place with Roy and gives her a likely individual event As Schmitt crossed the deck, her center Nick Roy skating in his place, gave top-line wings Stone and Max Tokyo Olympics. Her winning time ICE HOCKEY was 15 minutes, 40.50 seconds, well in Tokyo as well as a spot on the longtime teammate and good friend Montreal opened the game with a fi rst- Pacioretty a bit more jump to bolster 4x200 free relay. Madden and Ka- Michael Phelps raced down from the period advantage in shots-on-goal (12- Vegas offense. tie McLaughlin, who was fourth in stands to give her a long embrace. 4), shot attempts (24-13), scoring chanc- But the Golden Knights continued Abandoning the rugged approach SWIMMING 1:57.16, will also be going to the Both swimmers have disclosed their es (14-4), and high-danger chances (8-1). to be their own worst enemy in the struggles with depression even while they took in Game 1, the Canadiens Armia got the scoring going after he second period, as Pacioretty clanked a looked more like the team that reeled performing brilliantly in the pool. crunched Vegas defenseman Alec Mar- breakaway shot off the bottom of the Ledecky already won the 400 free, off seven straight wins in the fi rst and tinez into the end boards behind Fleury, right post. Then during a power play, off her 2018 world record (15:20.48) second rounds, dominating in all three but fastest in the world this year. though she wasn’t as fast as expected. allowing Corey Martinez broke his stick while teeing She’s also heavily favored in the 800 zones in the fi rst 20 minutes. Perry to gather Ledecky has already pondered the off on a shot to Price’s left, and mo- free, another race she won at Rio, “We showed some good compo- the puck and feed ments later it was Pacioretty whiffi ng signifi cance of the inaugural women’s sure,” Montreal coach Dominique Joel Edmundson on a shot at the doorstep. 1,500 free. which means she could swim as many Ducharme said. “At one point we felt in the right circle. “Gotta capitalize on some of those About time, she said. as four individual events and perhaps the pressure, they were trying to come Edmundson fi red a in the second period,” Stone added. Erica Sullivan was nearly a half-lap a couple of relays at the Tokyo games. back. Overall, we showed pretty good shot that defl ected “Hit a post and had a chance in the slot, behind, but she knocked more than 4 Zach Harting earned his fi rst trip composure. I think we can still do a back to Armia, we had lots of chances to score, power seconds off her personal best to take to the Olympics with a victory in the better job. We wanted to support the who one-timed it play needs to score.” the expected second Olympic berth in men’s 200-meter butterfl y. puck better. I think we did that tonight past Fleury’s right Vegas was fi nally able to solve Price 15:51.18. Harting, a 23-year-old from Hunts- and it paid off. I think we still can be skate. when Pietrangelo held the puck at the The 200 free was one of four gold ville, Alabama, won with a time of better on a few occasions managing the Jeff Petry made blue line long enough to fi nd a right lane medals that Ledecky won at the Rio 1:55.06 after a restless night. Harting is already making plans to puck and we’ll do that.” Price his presence felt to the net, bringing the defi cit back down Games. She’ll get a chance to defend Game 3 is Friday night in Montreal. in his fi rst game to two goals late in the second. that title after winning in 1:55.11, a full get the customary Olympic rings tat- Montreal, which improved to 6-2 on back after missing Montreal’s last Vegas cut the lead to one with a little body length ahead of the fi eld. too. the road in the postseason, has won 21 two. He played give-and-go with Cole more than fi ve minutes left in the game Allison Schmitt, who won the event Gunnar Bentz, who was among the straight playoff games when scoring Caufi eld, who opted to pass across the when William Karlsson won a faceoff to at the 2012 London Games, is headed Katie Ledecky smiles at the medal swimmers involved in Ryan Lochte’s three or more goals. slot rather than fi re on net and found the right of Price, Jonathan Marchessault to her fourth Olympics at age 31 after ceremony after winning the wom- infamous night in Rio fi ve years ago, “Can’t go down 2-0 and expect to Toffoli, who snapped a shot through gathered the puck and fed Pietrangelo, holding off Paige Madden by one-hun- en’s 1500 freestyle during wave 2 touched after Harting in 1:55.34 and win the game,” Vegas captain Mark Fleury’s pads to not only push the Ca- whose wrist shot from the circle gave dredth of a second for the runner-up of the U.S. Olympic Swim Trials on will get the expected second spot in Stone said. “These guys play a good nadiens’ lead to 2-0, but extend Mon- him his second goal of the night. spot behind Ledecky. June 16, in Omaha, Neb. (AP) the event. ARAB TIMES, FRIDAY-SATURDAY, JUNE 18-19, 2021 SPORTS 15

‘We will quickly take action, including strengthening of the measures’ Japan announces easing of virus emergency ahead of Olympics TOKYO, June 17, (AP): Japan on Thursday announced the easing of a coronavirus state of emergency in Tokyo and six other areas from next week, with new daily cases falling just as the country begins final prepara- tions for the Olympics starting in just DeGrom pulled early, but Mets over a month. Japan has been struggling since late March to slow a wave of infections propelled by more contagious vari- ants, with new daily cases soar- ing above 7,000 at bullpen finishes win over Cubs one point and seriously ill patients straining hospitals in Tokyo, Osaka and other metropoli- tan areas. Suga Daily cases have since sub- sided significantly, paving the way for Prime Minister Yoshihide Suga to downgrade the state of emergency when it expires on Sunday to less stringent measures. The new measures will last until July 11 — just 12 days before the Games. Suga said the relaxed measures will focus on early closures of bars and restaurants. If another surge occurs and strains hospitals, “we will quickly take action, including strengthening of the mea- sures,” Suga said, addressing concerns by medical experts. Holding the Olympics before elec- tions in the fall is also a political gamble for Suga, whose support rat- ings have tumbled over dissatisfaction with his handling of the pandemic, a slow vaccination drive and a lack of explanation about how he intends to ensure the virus doesn’t spread during the Olympics. Experts at a virus panel meeting Thursday gave their approval for gov- ernment plans to downgrade the emer- gency in Tokyo, Aichi, Hokkaido, Osaka, Kyoto, Hyogo and Fukuoka.

OLYMPICS

“We must do everything we can, and provide firm financial support as well,” to minimize risks of a resurgence of San Francisco Giants’ Brandon Belt (9) slides into third base ahead of the tag by Arizona Diamondbacks’ Josh Rojas for a triple during the third inning of a baseball game, on June 16, in San infections, said Dr. Shigeru Omi, head Francisco. (AP) of a government COVID-19 panel. Japan does not enforce hard lock- areas, but the slowing has bottomed downs and the state of emergency out in the Tokyo region. He warned D-backs match MLB record with 22nd straight road loss allows prefectural leaders to order clo- that infections could increase and that sures or shorter hours for non-essential signs of a rebound are already seen businesses. Those that comply are among younger people. NEW YORK, June 17, compensated and violators fined. Stay- Even as more people are getting the at-home and other measures for the (AP): Jacob deGrom was MLB Results/Standings jabs and most of the country’s 36 mil- pulled from a second general population are only requests lion senior citizens are expected to be and are increasingly ignored. fully inoculated by the end of July, straight start with an arm At a parliamentary Health and Labor Committee last week, Omi cau- younger people are largely unvaccinat- injury, this time leaving WASHINGTON, June 17, (AP): Results and standings from the MLB games on Wednesday. ed and infections among them could tioned that holding the Olympics in the after three perfect innings Detroit 6 Kansas City 5 St Louis 1 Miami 0 middle of the pandemic is “abnormal” quickly burden hospitals, Wakita said. with right shoulder sore- Chic. W. Sox 8 Tampa Bay (10 inn) 7 Cincinnati 2 Milwaukee 1 and warned that it would increase the “In order to prevent another upsurge, Oakland 8 LA Angels 4 Colorado 8 San Diego 7 it is crucial to prevent the people from ness, but the New York NY Yankees 3 Toronto 2 Washington 3 Pittsburgh 1 risk of infections. Cleveland 8 Baltimore 7 NY Mets 6 Chicago Cubs 3 A team of experts on Wednesday roaming around during the Olympics Mets bullpen stepped up to Houston 8 Texas 4 San Francisco 13 Arizona 7 released a simulation showing a pos- and summer vacation,” he said. finish a three-hitter in a 6-3 Boston 10 Atlanta 8 Philadelphia 2 LA Dodgers 0 sible jump in cases during the Experts say it is crucial to accelerate Minnesota 7 Seattle 2 the vaccine rollout for the Olympics to win over the Chicago Cubs. American League National League Olympics if the spread of the new vari- One start after being pulled from East Division East Division ants and people’s movements increase be safe. Suga has opened up mass inoc- W L Pct GB W L Pct GB after emergency measures are eased. ulation centers and started vaccinations a gem against San Diego with flex- Tampa Bay 43 26 .623 _ New York 35 25 .583 _ Health Minister Norihisa Tamura at major companies, part of an ambi- or tendinitis in his right arm, Boston 42 27 .609 1 Philadelphia 33 33 .500 5 tious target of as many as 1 million New York 35 32 .522 7 Atlanta 30 35 .462 7-1/2 told reporters the government would deGrom went directly down the Toronto 33 33 .500 8-1/2 Washington 30 35 .462 7-1/2 not hesitate to issue another emergen- doses per day. As of Wednesday, only clubhouse tunnel after finishing Baltimore 22 45 .328 20 Miami 29 39 .426 10 cy declaration even in the middle of 6% of Japanese were fully vaccinated. the third against the Cubs. Central Division Central Division In hard-hit Osaka in western Japan, W L Pct GB W L Pct GB the Olympics to protect people’s lives. DeGrom said initial tests ruled out a Chicago 43 25 .632 _ Chicago 38 30 .559 _ The state of emergency will remain hospital capacity has improved and serious issue, but he planned to get Cleveland 37 28 .569 4-1/2 Milwaukee 38 30 .559 _ in Okinawa, where hospitals are still new infections dropped to 108 on imaging and more observation Kansas City 30 37 .448 12-1/2 Cincinnati 35 31 .530 2 Wednesday, down from more than Detroit 29 39 .426 14 St Louis 35 33 .515 3 overwhelmed, while Hiroshima and Thursday. Minnesota 27 41 .397 16 Pittsburgh 23 44 .343 14-1/2 Okayama will be taken off the list. 1,200 a day in late April. The right-hander struck out eight of West Division West Division Ryuji Wakita, the director-general In Tokyo, new cases are down to the nine batters he faced and lowered W L Pct GB W L Pct GB of the National Institute of Infectious around 500 per day from above 1,100 Oakland 43 27 .614 _ San Francisco 43 25 .632 _ his ERA to 0.54. Houston 39 28 .582 2-1/2 Los Angeles 41 27 .603 2 Diseases who heads a government in mid-May. Tokyo Gov. Yuriko Sean Reid-Foley (2-0) relieved Seattle 34 36 .486 9 San Diego 38 32 .543 6 COVID-19 advisory board, said that Koike has said effective virus mea- deGrom and allowed one run over two Los Angeles 33 35 .485 9 Colorado 28 41 .406 15-1/2 infections have decreased in many sures need to be kept in place. innings. Anthony Rizzo ended the bid Texas 25 43 .368 17 Arizona 20 49 .290 23-1/2 for a combined perfect game or no- hitter by homering with one out in the 21st. He also doubled, but the Padres Sánchez’s 10th homer of the season fourth. lost for the 13th time in 17 games. in the seventh gave the Yankees back- Kevin Pillar opened the scoring Athletics 8, Angels 4 to-back wins behind key pinch hits, with an RBI double off Robert Stock In Oakland, California, Ramón following Clint Frazier’s go-ahead (0-1) in the second and homered in the Laureano hit a home run and made a double in the eighth inning of fifth. homer-robbing catch in his return from Tuesday’s 6-5 victory. Giants 13, Diamondbacks 7 the injured list, and Oakland rallied Indians 8, Orioles 7 In San Francisco, Arizona dropped past Los Angeles for its sixth straight its 22nd straight road game, matching In Cleveland, Aaron Civale became the 1963 Mets and ’43 Philadelphia win. the first pitcher with 10 wins this sea- Athletics for the major league record son and José Ramírez homered and with a loss to San Francisco. BASEBALL drove in three runs as Cleveland Buster Posey hit a three-run homer extended Baltimore’s road losing in a first inning that lasted 43 minutes, streak to 18 games. Shohei Ohtani homered for the sec- while Steven Duggar and LaMonte César Hernández had a two-run triple Wade Jr. connected in the fourth as ond straight day, giving him 19 for the and Ramírez had two hits and scored San Francisco sent its NL West rival to Angels. twice for the Indians, who moved a sea- a 13th consecutive loss overall. Pinch- White Sox 8, Rays 7, 10 Innings son-best nine games over .500. hitter Wilmer Flores added a two-run In Chicago, Yasmani Grandal hit a Nationals 3, Pirates 1 drive in the fifth and Brandon Belt hit game-ending RBI single in the 10th In Washington, Paolo Espino got his ninth homer that inning. inning and Chicago took two of three his first major league win at age 34, New York Mets’ Jacob deGrom from Tampa Bay in a matchup of divi- Josh Bell hit a two-run homer against Giants starter Anthony DeSclafani delivers a pitch during the third (7-2) won his third straight start. The sion leaders. his former team and Washington beat inning of the team’s baseball game Jóse Abreu hit his 12th homer of the People walk by posters to promote the Olympic Games planned to start in right-hander allowed two runs on five against the Chicago Cubs, on June Pittsburgh for a three-game sweep. the summer of 2021, in Tokyo, on June 16. (AP) hits, struck out five and walked one 16, in New York. (AP) season for the White Sox, who’ve won Espino (1-2) allowed three hits in over five innings. 10 of 13. five scoreless innings. Phillies 2, Dodgers 0 surging Red Sox beat Atlanta to move Yankees 3, Blue Jays 2 He struck out two, walked none and In Los Angeles, Zack Wheeler out- within one game of first place. In Buffalo, N.Y., Gerrit Cole threw 39 of his 53 pitches for strikes. Wheeler’s first ‘double-double’ pitched Clayton Kershaw, and Rhys Boston recovered after blowing a pitched eight effective innings, pinch- Tigers 6, Royals 5 Hoskins homered early to end an 6-3 lead. Freddie Freeman hit a go- hitter Gary Sánchez connected for a In Kansas City, Mo., Willi Castro leads LA Sparks over Mercury 0-for-33 slump as Philadelphia beat ahead homer for Atlanta in the sixth two-run homer and Aroldis Chapman homered during a three-run rally in the Los Angeles to avoid a three-game after Dansby Swanson’s three-run shot dodged trouble in the ninth as New seventh inning and Detroit beat Kansas LOS ANGELES, June 17, (AP): Erica also reached 1,500 career points. Kristi sweep. tied the game in the fifth. York Yankees held off Toronto. City for a three-game sweep. Wheeler scored 18 points, including a Toliver added 17 points, Amanda Hoskins connected in the first The Red Sox are one game behind The Royals have lost six in a row baseline jumper with 8.9 seconds left Zahui B. scored 15, Brittney Sykes 14 inning, J.T. Realmuto added an RBI AL East-leading Tampa Bay. and 11 of 12. Kansas City starter to seal the win, as and Bria Holmes had 10. double in the third . Reds 2, Brewers 1 Brady Singer was removed after just the Los Angeles Zahui B. scored 13 points in the first Los Angeles was shut out for the In Milwaukee, Tyler Mahle tied his three innings with tightness in his Sparks beat the half, Toliver added 12, and Los first time since Sept. 14, 2019. career high with 12 strikeouts, Tucker pitching shoulder. Phoenix Mercury Angeles used a 10-0 run to help build Astros 8, Rangers 4 Barnhart drove in the go-ahead run Cardinals 1, Marlins 0 85-80. a 53-43 lead at the break. Griner had In Houston, Jose Altuve homered with a double in the seventh inning, In St. Louis, Yadier Molina ground- Wheeler drib- 17 points and five rebounds in the first twice and made major league history and Cincinnati finished a three-game ed an RBI single down the third base bled down the half for Phoenix. by hitting a leadoff homer one game sweep of Milwaukee. line in the ninth inning and St. Louis clock at the top of after belting a walk-off grand slam, Cincinnati has won six straight and edged Miami to sweep the season the key and used a leading Houston past Texas. 11 of 13. series. high screen to get BASKETBALL Altuve connected again with a shot The Brewers dropped three straight Molina’s eighth career regular sea- into the lane but to the train tracks atop left field with for the first time in nearly a month and son walk-off hit came with one out and Phoenix center two outs in the eighth inning to extend were swept for the third time this sea- sent Miami to its fourth straight loss. Brittney Griner Wheeler Griner finished with a season-high the lead to 8-4 and give him his fifth son. Twins 7, Mariners 2 guarded the rim. 30 points and 10 rebounds for Phoenix career multi-homer game. Rockies 8, Padres 7 In Seattle, Nelson Cruz hit a three- Wheeler continued down the baseline, (5-7). It was the eighth time in Astros rookie Chas McCormick also In Denver, pinch-hitter Charlie run homer against his former team, created some space and sank a shot Griner’s career she reached 30 points hit two home runs on a night when Blackmon singled home the winning rookie starter Bailey Ober struck out over the outstretched arm of Griner for and 10 boards in a single game. Houston went deep a season-high six run in the ninth inning and Colorado six and Minnesota beat Seattle. a two-possession lead. Sophie Cunningham made three of times. shook off a monster homer by Cruz’s second-deck shot to left field Wheeler, in her sixth WNBA sea- her first four 3-pointers and finished Red Sox 10, Braves 8 Fernando Tatis Jr. to beat stumbling Philadelphia Phillies’ Rhys Hoskins, in the fifth inning made it 6-0 and son, finished off her first career dou- with 16 points. Skylar Diggins-Smith In Atlanta, Christian Arroyo slugged San Diego. (right), hits a solo home run during helped snap the Twins’ three-game ble-double adding 10 assists and five added 15 points, six rebounds and 10 a pinch-hit grand slam in the seventh Tatis hit a 477-foot homer, the lon- the first inning of a baseball game, losing streak. Ryan Jeffers followed rebounds for Los Angeles (5-5). She assists. inning to give Boston the lead and the gest of his career and his NL-leading on June 16, in Los Angeles. (AP) with a solo homer two batters later. ARAB TIMES, FRIDAY-SATURDAY, JUNE 18-19, 2021 16

Ukraine’s goalkeeper Heorhiy Bushchan saves the ball dur- ing the Euro 2020 soccer championship Group C match between Ukraine and North Macedonia at the National Arena Stadium in Bucharest, Romania. (AP) Sports Latest sports scores at — http://sports.arabtimesonline.com Hawks on brink of East finals

Atlanta Hawks’ Nate McMillan reacts to a call during the first half of Game 5 in a second-round NBA basketball playoff series against the Philadelphia 76ers in Philadelphia. (AP)

Left: Atlanta Hawks’ Bogdan Bogdanovic, (center), tries to get a shot past Philadelphia 76ers’ Tobias Harris, (left), and Seth Curry during the second half of Game 5 in a second-round NBA basketball playoff series in Philadelphia. Right: Los Angeles Clippers guard Terance Mann (14) dunks on Utah Jazz center Rudy Gobert, (left), during the second half of Game 5 of a second-round NBA basketball playoff series Salt Lake City. (AP)

Clippers lead Jazz 3-2 Italy advance, Ukraine get first win

PHILADELPHIA, June 17, (AP): Trae Young and Buffon ‘returns’ to De Bruyne stars as Belgium reach round of 16 the Atlanta Hawks pulled his 1st club Parma off a playoff comeback for COPENHAGEN, Denmark, June 17, against Austria while North Macedonia PARMA, Italy, June 17, (AP): (AP): Substitute Kevin de Bruyne set will travel Amsterdam to face the the ages against the Former Italy goalkeeper up one goal and scored the winner Netherlands. Philadelphia 76ers to move Gianluigi Buffon rejoined sec- himself to give Belgium a 2-1 victory Ramos ‘bids’ farewell to North Macedonia is playing at their within a victory of the ond-division Parma on over Denmark in a European first major tournament. The team lost Thursday more than a quarter Championship game marked by an to Austria 3-1 in their opening game. Eastern Conference Finals. century after beginning his leg- emotional tribute to Christian Eriksen Referee Andres Rapallini of Young was fouled on a 3-pointer endary career with the team. in the first half. Real Madrid after 16 yrs Argentina was in charge of the game at and hit all three free throws with Parma posted a playful video De Bruyne came on after halftime MADRID, June 17, (AP): An the National Arena with linesmen Juan 1:26 left to cap a 26-point come- on social media of Buffon dig- for his first appearance since sustain- emotional Sergio Ramos said Pablo Belatti and Diego Bonfa assist- back and send Atlanta on its way ging up his old Parma shirt and ing a facial fracture in the Champions goodbye to Real Madrid on ing. They were taking part in the to a 109-106 victory over the 76ers a Superman outfit in one of the League final and squared the ball for Thursday, saying he wanted to European tournament amid an on Wednesday night in Game 5. goals at Ennio Tardini stadium. Thorgan Hazard to equalize in the 55th stay but the club preferred not to exchange with South American soccer “I’m back,” Buffon said. minute. He then scored in the 71st with renew his contract. body CONMEBOL. The Hawks won in Philadelphia for The 43-year-old Buffon a low shot from outside the area. A Spanish refereeing crew will take second time in the series and can Ramos said he initially wanted a recently left Juventus, where he The win put Belgium into the round two-year extension instead of the charge of a Copa America match advance to the conference final for the was being used as a reserve to of 16 at Euro 2020. between Chile and Bolivia on Friday. first time since 2015 with a victory one year offered by the club, but Wojciech Szczsny. It was Denmark’s first game since eventually he accepted the one- Italy 3, Switzerland 0 Friday night in Parma said Buffon signed a Eriksen’s collapse and the host team In Rome, the wingers sprint forward Atlanta. two-year contract - meaning he started at a furious pace at a raucous like Ferraris. The midfielders are just Young scored could play until he’s 45. Parken Stadium. Yussuf Poulsen SOCCER as capable at scoring as the forwards. 39 points and “From the first moment I scored with a low shot inside the far And the reserves look like starters. added to a post- shared the idea of a return to post in only the second minute. A new-look Italy are impressing season where he Parma with Gigi, I understood Players from both teams halted play with its offensive flair at the European has become a year deal plus a salary reduction from looking him in the eyes after 10 minutes as the 25,000 fans at that was already planned. He said Championship. breakout star. that it was an emotional one for Parken Stadium rose for a minute of Midfielder Manuel Locatelli scored Joel Embiid he and his representatives were him,” Parma sport director thunderous applause in tribute to surprised when the club said its two goals and the Azzurri beat scored 17 points Eriksen. The midfielder wears the No. In this Aug 15, 2018 file photo, Switzerland 3-0 to become the first Javier Ribalta said. offer had expired. in the first quar- “He is committed, he wants 10 shirt for Denmark’s national team. Real Madrid’s Sergio Ramos team to reach the last 16 at Euro 2020, ter and had the Ukraine 2, North Macedonia 1 “Maybe I misunderstood, but no celebrates after scoring during and they did it with a game to spare. George to work, he knows this place. one had told me that the offer had an Sixers on their Parma is his home,” Ribalta In Bucharest, Andriy Yarmolenko the UEFA Super Cup final soc- They also did it with their 10th con- way toward a romp with a 26-point and Roman Yaremchuk both scored expiration date,” the former Madrid cer against Atletico Madrid at secutive victory. added. “We are proud that we captain said. “In the last conversa- lead in the first half. They still led can count on him. Seeing him again, and this time it was enough. the Lillekula Stadium in Tallinn, As usual - and perhaps the only 87-69 at the end of the third before come back to the club where his The pair of forwards netted a goal tions we had, I said that I accepted Estonia. (AP) characteristic carried on from Italy they collapsed. incredible career began will be each in the first half to give Ukraine a the offer, but then they told me that teams of the past - the defense was there was no more offer.” president,” Pérez said. “It’s been 16 Lou Williams, Danilo Gallinari and a beautiful thing, and we know 2-1 victory over North Macedonia . impenetrable. Ramos acknowledged he told years since you began one of the Young opened the fourth on a huge there are more pages still to It’s quite a turnaround for a team write in his story.” the club to plan its future without most spectacular trajectories in the that failed to qualify for the 2018 run against the Sixers’ second unit and him but only because he felt no history of our club. You will always kept attacking once 76ers coach Doc SOCCER World Cup. one should be considered greater be in the hearts of all Madrid fans.” Italy extended their unbeaten streak Rivers was forced to put the starters in than the club in a negotiation, not Ramos had been with the club and save the lead. Atlanta fans can roll off a lengthy to 29 matches - one shy of the team list of infamous collapses in its collec- The same two players also scored in because he wanted to leave. since arriving from Sevilla in 2005 record - and kept their 10th clean sheet Gallinari hit a 3 that made it 87-76 “This is a difficult day for me as a when he was 19. and Embiid sprang from his cool down tive sports history. the team’s opening match at Euro in that run. seat behind the basket and ran to the Clippers 119, Jazz 111 2020 on Sunday, but that ended up Mancini, however, suggested that In Salt Lake City, Paul George being a 3-2 loss to the Netherlands. Italy still trail France, Portugal and scorer’s table to check back in the end. It was awarded for a handball the tournament. game. He instantly scored and pushed scored 37 points and grabbed 16 Yarmolenko netted from close Belgium on the list of tournament the lead back to 13. rebounds to lead the Los Angeles range in 29th minute after Oleksandr following a free kick after a video Ukraine are appearing in their third favorites. Clippers to a 119-111 victory over Karavaev’s flick from a corner. He review. European Championship and has Locatelli’s first goal came following the Utah Jazz in Game 5 of their then released Yaremchuk on the right Ukraine now have three points in never progressed out of the group a textbook exchange with Sassuolo BASKETBALL Western Conference semifinals flank in the 34th to double the lead Group C while North Macedonia have stage. The team will remain in teammate Domenico Berardi midway series . with a low shot past onrushing goal- zero and are facing elimination from Bucharest for their final group match through the first half. His second came Didn’t matter. Marcus Morris scored 25 points and keeper Stole Dimitrievski. with a long, low shot shortly after the The big shots kept coming for the Reggie Jackson added 22 for the The goals were separated by five break that left Switzerland goalkeeper Hawks -- Williams buried a 3 that Clippers. Los Angeles won its third minutes. Against the Dutch, they Yann Sommer immobile. made it an 11-point game - and Young straight game to push the top-seeded scored only four minutes apart. Ciro Immobile added the third with The pair equaled coach Andriy another long-range effort in the 89th kept hitting his floaters and his fouls Jazz to the brink of elimination. The Shevchenko’s record of scoring two for his second score of the tournament. shots. Clippers shot 51% from the field with goals at the European Championship. Giorgio Chiellini had a goal waved Ben Simmons, along with Embiid Kawhi Leonard in the lineup. Shevchenko netted his in a 2-1 victory off by video review early in the match the cornerstone for the Sixers, missed Bojan Bogandovic scored 32 points over Sweden when the country co-host- because of a handball. Then the Italy free throw after free throw much as he - while making nine 3-pointers - to ed Euro 2012, Ukraine’s only previous captain exited with a left thigh injury. has for most of the postseason that lead Utah. Donovan Mitchell added 21 victory at the continental tournament. Italy lead Group A with a six points sped up Atlanta’s comeback. points. Ezgjan Alioski got the only goal for after overwhelming Turkey 3-0 in the Young’s floater brought them within Rudy Gobert chipped in 17 points North Macedonia in the 57th minute tournament opener. Wales are next two and then he leaned into a 3-pointer and 11 rebounds. Six players scored in when he scored on a rebound after with four points earlier after beating and was fouled by Matisse Thybulle. double figures for the Jazz. goalkeeper Georgiy Bushchan blocked Turkey 2-0 in Baku. Young, taunted all series by Sixers fans, Utah and Los Angeles will play his penalty shot. Switzerland have one point and calmly stepped to the line and buried all Game 6 on Friday in Los Angeles. The penalty was awarded after Turkey has zero. three shots. And so it was, 105-104 The Jazz trailed the entire fourth Karavaev brought down North Locatelli’s first goal was an offen- Hawks. quarter after making just six baskets in Macedonia striker Goran Pandev, who sive masterclass. Patriots owner Robert Kraft sat the third quarter. Utah cut the deficit to was aiming for a rebound after He started it off with a long pass courtside and saw yet another big col- 100-97 when Mitchell converted a Bushchan pushed a shot from from within Italy’s half to Berardi lapse - only this one against Atlanta. 3-point play with 5:46 left. Jackson Aleksandar Trajkovski onto the wood- streaking down the right flank. Berardi The Hawks led by 26 points in a answered with back-to-back baskets to work. Denmark’s Yussuf Poulsen, (third right), scores his side’s opening goal during then cut inside and crossed back to the Game 1 victory and won Game 4 at squelch a Jazz comeback. Utah could Ruslan Malinovskyi later had a pen- the Euro 2020 soccer championship Group C match between Denmark and onrushing Locatelli, who tapped in home on Monday. draw no closer after that point. alty saved by Dimitrievski on the other Belgium at the Parken stadium in Copenhagen, Denmark. (AP) from close range.

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