markets
Page 9
Page 16 soccer
FRIDAY-SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 13-14, 2020 / RABEE’A AL-AWWAL 27-28, 1442 AH
Airlines urge tests over quarantines
Opinion
Tribalism, sectarianism, bribes ... and elections
By Ahmed Al-Jarallah
Editor-in-Chief, the Arab Times
THE repercussions of the COVID-19
crisis continue to change our daily hab-
its, to even the extent of changing the
nature of the parliamentary elections,
which are due to be held on Dec 5,
2020.
In light of the consequences of the
health measures taken by the concerned
authorities in the country, there are no
campaign programs and parties where
people feast and attend rallies ... all that
is left are three categories of politicians.
The first group contains candidates
who gain their support from tribalism
and the use of families to attract votes.
They are chosen through the so-called
“consultation” meetings, which, de-
spite being illegal, continue to be the
force that produces candidates who
have no clear program, as all that they
do is serve the members of their tribe.
The second group consists of candi-
dates who earn their support through
sectarianism. Unfortunately after 60
years of Kuwait democracy, there are
still those who work with sectarian
mentality. This has silenced the nation-
al voice and dimmed the light of social
cohesion due to sectarian alignments at
the expense of the national unity.
The third type of candidates are those
who buy votes. This is the worst group,
given that their main objective will
be to compensate the money that they
spent on buying votes as soon as they
Newswatch
KUWAIT CITY: The Kuwaiti Cabinet on
Thursday offered sincere condolences to
Bahraini King Hamad bin Isa Al-Khal-
ifa over the death of late Prime Minister
Prince Khalifa bin Salman Al-Khalifa
who died on Wednesday.
The Cabinet, in its meeting Thursday,
recalled the good supportive stances of
Prince Khalifa to Kuwait during the Iraqi
invasion of the State of Kuwait as well as
his role in the building and development
of the Kingdom of Bahrain.
The ministers prayed to Allah Almighty
to bestow mercy on Prince Khalifa’s soul.
Meanwhile, His Highness the Amir
Sheikh Nawaf Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-
Sabah on Wednesday sent two cables of
condolence to the Crown Prince of Bah-
rain Salman bin Hamad Al-Khalifa and
Deputy Prime Minister Ali bin Khalifa
bin Salman Al-Khalifa on the passing of
Prince Khalifa bin Salman.
In the cable, His Highness the Amir
wished mercy for the late Prime Minister
and patience for his family.
His Highness the Crown Prince Sheikh
Meshaal Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah
and His Highness the Prime Minister
Sheikh Sabah Al-Khaled Al-Hamad Al-
Sabah sent similar cables. (KUNA)
❑ ❑ ❑
MANAMA: Bahraini King Hamad bin
Isa Al-Khalifa has declared Crown Prince
and Deputy Supreme Commander of the
Armed Forces Prince Salman bin Hamad
Al-Khalifa as a new prime minister.
The Bahrain news agency (BNA) re-
ported the royal decree would take effect
from the date of its issuance.
Prince Salman will succeed late prime
minister prince Khalifa bin Salman
Al-Khalifa who passed away earlier
Wednesday. (KUNA)
❑ ❑ ❑
ISTANBUL: Turkey’s defense minister
has reaffirmed the country’s plans to use
a Russian-made missile defense system
it purchased despite continued objections
from the United States.
Defense Minister Hulusi Akar told a
parliamentary budget commission Thurs-
day the military is continuing its checks
and preparations of the S-400s as planned.
Washington is strongly against NATO
member Turkey’s acquisition of the Rus-
sian anti-aircraft system and kicked Tur-
key out of its F-35 fighter jet program,
saying the S-400s are a threat to the stealth
fighter jets and wouldn’t be interoperable
with NATO systems.
Akar said Turkey is prepared to discuss
with the US its “anxiety” over the interop-
erability of the S-400s and the F-35s. “Our
offer for a joint working group is still on
the table,” he said, in comments carried by
the official Anadolu news agency. (AP)
❑ ❑ ❑
ISTANBUL: Turkey’s interior minis-
try has banned smoking in public places
across the country to curb the spread of
COVID-19.
In a statement late Wednesday, the
ministry said smoking would be banned in
busy streets, bus stops and public squares
when necessary. It said the nationwide
mask mandate in public spaces, which has
been in effect for several months, must be
followed at all times and smokers were
routinely violating the mask rule.
The ministry also said provinces can
decide to impose curfews on senior citi-
zens above the age of 65 if they are see-
THE FIRST ENGLISH LANGUAGE DAILY IN FREE KUWAIT
Established in 1977 / www.arabtimesonline.com
reach the Parliament. Also, such people
are prone to selling their country for fi-
nancial gains.
Undoubtedly, the public mood,
which managed to change in the past
months due to negative developments
witnessed in the country, is no longer
effective. This is due to the series of
scandals related to human trafficking
cases, or helping some criminals flee
from justice, in which some parliamen-
tarians and officials are involved.
In this regard, we hope that the next
Parliament will not be worse than its
predecessor. We hope it does not just
come and leave after four years without
leaving anything worth legacy behind.
Nonetheless, the lack of a strong
government with a clear action plan
and without hesitation in confronting
issues head-on will constitute another
few years of setback, especially if it
becomes hostage to the parliamentary
whims and laws that are repulsive in
every aspect, not just investment.
We need a government that will not
flinch when a particular MP shouts or
another waves interpellation ... What
Kuwait is waiting for in the coming
stages is much greater than the minis-
terial blackmail game, which has ren-
dered our country to lose a lot.
Email: ahmed@aljarallah.com
Follow me on:
ahmedaljarallah@gmail.com
ing increases in the number of critical
patients. The governors of Istanbul and
Ankara have already reintroduced meas-
ures this week, allowing senior citizens to
leave their homes only between 10:00 am
and 4:00 pm.
Turkey has seen a spike in infections
since lifting partial lockdowns and reo-
pening businesses in late May. The latest
Health Ministry figures show 86 new fa-
talities in the past 24 hours, bringing the
death toll to 11,145. (AP)
❑ ❑ ❑
ANKARA: Turkey’s Presidential Spokes-
man Ibrahim Kalin met Wednesday with
chief of the UK secret service (MI6) Rich-
ard Moore to discuss security and foreign
policy issues.
The meeting at the Presidential Com-
plex dealt with the situations in Upper
Karabakh, Libya, the Middle East, and
the Eastern Mediterranean region, Tur-
key’s Anadolu Agency (AA) reported, cit-
ing anonymous sources.
Kalin and Moore explored ways of
closer security cooperation and regional
stability, according to the report. (KUNA)
❑ ❑ ❑
ANKARA: Turkey took offense at a US
statement that said Secretary of State
Mike Pompeo would promote religious
freedom during an upcoming visit to Is-
tanbul and called Wednesday on Wash-
ington to focus on racism and hate crimes
in the United States instead.
The State Department said in a state-
ment Tuesday that Pompeo would travel
to Istanbul to meet with Ecumenical Patri-
arch Bartholomew I, the spiritual leader
of the world’s Greek Orthodox Christians.
The top US diplomat plans to discuss re-
ligious issues in Turkey and to promote
“our strong stance on religious freedom
around the world,” the statement read.
Turkey’s Foreign Ministry rebuked
the statement “as extremely inappropri-
ate,” insisting that the country protects the
rights of citizens of various faiths to freely
practice their religions.
“It would be more advisable for the
United States to look in the mirror first
and to show the necessary sensitivity to
human rights violations such as racism,
Islamophobia and hate crimes in its own
country,” the Turkish ministry said in a
statement. (AP)
❑ ❑ ❑
JERUSALEM: The international force
that monitors the Israeli-Egyptian peace
agreement said Thursday that eight peace-
keepers, including six Americans, were
killed when one of its helicopters crashed
during a routine mission in Egypt’s Sinai
Peninsula. A ninth peacekeeper was badly
injured.
The Multinational Force and Observ-
ers said a French peacekeeper and Czech
member of the force were also killed. It did
not release the names of the dead, pending
notification of their families. It said the in-
jured peacekeeper was American.
The MFO said the helicopter crashed
during a routine mission near Sharm el-
Sheikh, a popular Egyptian resort city on
the Red Sea, and that an investigation was
underway. It did not give a precise loca-
tion of the crash or say whether the heli-
copter fell on land or crashed into the sea.
An Egyptian official speaking on condi-
tion of anonymity per regulations, said the
helicopter crashed over Red Sea waters
outside Egyptian territorial boundaries.
(AP)
emergency number 112
President-elect Joe Biden answers a reporter’s question at The Queen Theater on Nov 10, in Wilmington,
Candidates Tehran dismisses Abrams’ comment
protest cut ‘Pressure on Iran to persist’
By Saeed Mahmoud Saleh
Arab Times Staff
KUWAIT CITY, Nov 12: Dis-
qualified Fifth Constituency
candidate Dr Badr Al Dahoum
has submitted a complaint to the
Fast-Track Court against the de-
cision of the Elections Commit-
tee to disqualify him.
He disclosed the court will
look into his complaint in a ses-
sion scheduled for Sunday, as-
serting the disqualification deci-
sion is illegal and he is sure the
court will cancel it.
In a related development, for-
mer MP and Fifth Constituency
candidate Naif Al Merdas argued
that the disqualification of pro-
reform candidates with patriotic
stances like Al-Dahoum, Khalid
Al Neif and Ayedh Al-Otaibi is a
violation of the Constitution and
the law.
He affirmed his trust in the ju-
diciary to correct this erroneous
decision, indicating the decision
is a manifestation of the abusive
attitude of the Interior Ministry
that enforced the relevant law
retroactively – contrary to the de-
cision of the Fatwa and Legisla-
tion Department.
Former MP and Second Con-
stituency candidate Muhammad
Al-Mutair believes that retaining
Deputy Prime Minister and Min-
ister of Interior Anas Al-Saleh
in office is aimed at controlling
the results of the upcoming elec-
tions.
Former MP and Third Constit-
uency candidate Abdulkareem
Al-Kandari said he previously
submitted a bill on cancelling the
Disqualification Law as he is sure
the law was ratified to prevent
the pro-reform candidates from
entering the National Assembly.
He pointed out the judiciary now
bears the historic responsibility
to support and protect the Con-
stitution.
Former MP and First Constitu-
ency candidate Adel Al-Damkhi
said HH the Prime Minister
Sheikh Sabah Al-Khalid Al-Sa-
bah has the responsibility to stop
Al-Saleh from playing a bad role.
Former MP and Fourth Con-
stituency candidate Thamer Al-
Suwait claimed the government
is preventing pro-reform candi-
dates from entering the Assem-
bly by “mixing the papers”. He
thinks the executive authority has
deliberately adopted an abusive
attitude with ill intent.
Third Constituency candidate
Hanouf Al-Munaifi, the first
visual artist to stand for parlia-
mentary elections in the history
of Kuwait, unveiled her plan to
focus on cultural issues in case
she wins a parliamentary seat
due to the cancellation of cultural
activities, such as book fairs and
publishing. She said her aim is
to regain the pioneering region-
al role of Kuwait in this field,
stressing the need for MPs keen
on addressing such issues.
First Constituency candidate
Osama Al-Zaid thinks that poor
management of public funds and
lack of efforts to combat corrup-
tion are the major causes of prob-
lems which citizens face in dif-
ferent fields like unemployment,
education, health and housing.
Delaware. (AP)
ABU DHABI, Nov 12, (AP): The US
special representative for Iran insist-
ed Thursday that a pressure campaign
of sanctions targeting Iran would
persist into the administration of Joe
Biden, even as the president-elect has
pledged to potentially return America
to Tehran’s nuclear deal with world
powers.
Elliot Abrams, who also serves as
the US special representative to Ven-
ezuela, said sanctions targeting Iran
for human rights violations, its bal-
listic missile program and its regional
influence would go on. That, as well
as continued scrutiny by United Na-
tions inspectors and American part-
ners in the Mideast, would maintain
that pressure, he said.
Iran now has far more uranium
than allowed under the deal since
President Donald Trump unilaterally
withdrew from the accord in 2018.
The Mideast also has been roiled by
tensions between Tehran and Wash-
ington, which pushed the two coun-
tries to the brink of war at the begin-
ning of the year.
“Even if you went back to the
(deal) and even if the Iranians were
willing to return ... this newly en-
riched uranium, you would not have
solved these really fundamental ques-
tions of whether Iran is going to be
permitted to violate long-term com-
mitments it has made to the world
community,” Abrams told The Asso-
ciated Press in an interview at the US
Embassy in Abu Dhabi.
Iran’s politicians have increasingly
discussed the possibility of the US
returning to the deal, which saw Iran
limit its enrichment of uranium in
exchange for the lifting of economic
sanctions.
Alireza Miryousefi, a spokesman
for Iran’s mission to the UN, dis-
missed Abram’s comments.
“The policy of maximum pressure
and sanctions against Iran has failed,”
Miryousefi told the AP. “The US ef-
fort to abuse this corrupt policy is fu-
tile and will only lead to further iso-
lation of the US on the international
stage.”
Floundered
Abrams replaced Brian Hook as
America’s envoy on Iran, who an-
nounced he’d leave his post in August
after serving as the face of Trump’s
maximum-pressure campaign. That
effort has floundered internationally as
the US and its Gulf Arab allies failed to
convince the UN to stop an arms em-
bargo on Iran from expiring in October.
Iran’s enriched uranium stock-
pile, which would have been under
300 kgs (660 pounds) in the deal,
now stands at over 2,440 kgs (5,380
pounds), according to the latest report
by UN inspectors. That’s potentially
enough material to make at least two
nuclear weapons, experts say, if Iran
chose to pursue the bomb.
Iran also is enriching uranium to
as much as 4.5 percent purity, higher
than allowed under the accord but still
far lower than weapons-grade levels
of 90 percent. Tehran abandoned all
limits on its enrichment months after
Trump’s pullout from the agreement,
even as the deal’s other international
partners China, France, Russia, the
United Kingdom and Germany have
tried unsuccessfully to salvage it.
Meanwhile, Iran has begun con-
struction at its underground Natanz
enrichment site after a fire and explo-
sion it described as “sabotage” struck
its advanced centrifuge assembly
NO. 17535
plant in July.
Abrams described the construc-
tion as “another Iranian challenge”
to the International Atomic Energy
Agency, the UN agency that Iran still
allows to monitor its nuclear sites.
He also criticized Iran for its slow
response in allowing the IAEA to in-
vestigate a suspicious site outside of
Tehran where it discovered particles
of uranium of man-made origin.
Iran long has insisted its nuclear
program is for peaceful purposes.
However, the IAEA has said Iran
“carried out activities relevant to the
development of a nuclear explosive
device” in a “structured program”
through the end of 2003.
Program
“Iran denies that it ever had a
nuclear weapons program,” Abrams
said. “Therefore, it can’t now say,
well, things you found from 2003,
were part of our old nuclear weapons
program. They’re caught in their own
lie.”
Abrams mentioned US citizens still
imprisoned by Iran, who activists and
their families insist are chips in future
negotiations. He also said the United
Arab Emirates’ normalization deal with
Israel also put new pressure on Iran, es-
pecially as the US plans a $23 billion
arms deal for Emiratis to purchase F-35
stealth fighter jets and drones.
“I hope that next year the lever-
age that we’ve built up through our
sanctions program is used (with)
any form of pressure including, for
example, Iranian fears about a de-
veloping relationship between Israel
and Arab states in the region,” he
said. “All of this pressure should be
brought to bear to get Iran to change
its conduct.”
In the 1980s, during the Reagan
administration, Abrams worked in
the State Department and convinced
the sultan of Brunei to deposit $10
million in a White House-controlled
Swiss bank account to aid Nicara-
gua’s Contra rebels despite a Con-
gressional ban. But the White House
later put the money into the wrong
account in a clerical error, as inves-
tigators later discovered.
Abrams, now 72, ultimately coop-
erated with those investigating the so-
called Iran-Contra Affair and pleaded
guilty to two misdemeanor charges.
Then-President George H.W. Bush
pardoned him in 1992.
Iran continues to increase its stock-
pile of low-enriched uranium far
beyond the limits set in a landmark
nuclear deal with world powers and
to enrich it to a greater purity than
permitted, the UN’s atomic watchdog
agency said Wednesday.
The International Atomic Energy
Agency reported in a confidential
document distributed to member
countries and seen by The Associ-
ated Press that Iran as of Nov 2 had
a stockpile of 2,442.9 kgs (5,385.7
pounds) of low-enriched uranium, up
from 2,105.4 kgs (4,641.6 pounds)
reported on Aug 25.
The nuclear deal signed in 2015
with the United States, Germany,
France, Britain, China and Russia,
known as the Joint Comprehensive
Plan of Action, or JCPOA, allows
Iran only to keep a stockpile of 202.8
kgs (447 pounds).
The IAEA reported that Iran has
also been continuing to enrich ura-
nium to a purity of up to 4.5 percent,
higher than the 3.67 percent allowed
under the deal.
16 PAGES 150 FILS
773 new cases
FRANKFURT, Ger-
many/KUWAIT CITY,
Nov 12, (Agencies):
Three global airline
alliances are urging
governments to put
into practice common
guidelines for passen-
ger testing and digital
health pass technology,
to help people start fly-
ing again.
Oneworld, Star Alliance
and SkyTeam said testing
could be part of an overall ap-
proach to restart international
travel, by reducing reliance
on the “blunt instrument” of
quarantines aimed at halting
the spread of the coronavirus.
New testing guidelines from
the United Nations’ Interna-
tional Civil Aviation Author-
ity could “pave the way for a
framework of trust to be estab-
lished between countries,” Star
Alliance CEO Jeffrey Goh said
in the joint statement on the one-
world.com website. Oneworld
CEO Rob Gurney and SkyTeam
CEO Kristin Colvile joined in
the statement.
The alliances – representing
58 member airlines – cited re-
cent tests of the CommonPass
digital health pass, which uses
a smartphone app to securely
verify that passengers have
complied with health require-
ments, whether these be a test or
a future vaccine.
Airlines and their industry
group, the International Air
Transport Association, have
urged the use of commonly
agreed testing procedures instead
of quarantines. So far there have
been different approaches to,
and experiments with, testing re-
quirements, with quarantines and
travel restrictions remaining in
use – and international air travel
down 92 percent on pre-COV-
ID-19 levels.
The reduction in travel has
hit a wide range of travel-relat-
ed businesses and jobs, such as
airport workers, hotel employ-
ees and taxi drivers. Testing
presents a number of challeng-
es, including how long it takes
to get a result, possible false
positives or false negatives, and
people who may be infected but
only test positive several days
later.
Surveys indicate that fear of
sitting next to someone who is
infected and unwillingness to
travel into a quarantine are major
deterrents to flying.
SkyTeam includes Aeroflot,
Delta, Air France-KLM and
China Airlines in a partial list of
members. Oneworld has, among
others, American Airlines, Brit-
ish Airways, Cathay Pacific, Qa-
ntas and Alaska Airlines while
some of Star Alliance’s members
are Air Canada, Lufthansa, SAS,
and United.
Also:
KUWAIT CITY: Kuwait recorded
773 new coronavirus cases and
four deaths on Thursday, accord-
ing to the Ministry of Health.
The new figures raised the to-
tal number of cases to 134,932
and deaths to 830, ministry’s of-
ficial spokesman Dr Abdullah
Al-Sanad told KUNA.
He added that there 110 pa-
tients in ICU, as the total num-
ber of patients receiving medical
care reached 8,509.
He noted that the number of
swabs made in the past 24 hours
is 7,272, raising the total number
of swabs to 993,416.
Earlier Thursday, the ministry
announced the recovery of 688
people, raising the total number
of recoveries to 125,593.
❑ ❑ ❑
ADEN: The Kuwait Relief Soci-
ety has donated 15 intensive care
units (ICUs) to Yemen to help
it confront the coronavirus pan-
demic.
The medical aid will be distrib-
uted to eight quarantine centers in
six Yemeni governorates, as part
of the ‘Kuwait beside you’ cam-
paign that has been ongoing for
six years, Ali Al-Walid, Yemeni
Health Ministry Undersecretary,
told KUNA Wednesday during a
ceremony held in Yemen on this
occasion.
The aid includes fully
equipped ICUs with their sup-
plies of oxygen, monitoring de-
vices, beds, protection materials
to medical teams and respirators,
he said.
Al-Walid, on behalf of the Ye-
men’s government and Yemenis,
expressed gratitude to Kuwait’s
Amir His Highness Sheikh
Nawaf Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-
Sabah, government and people
for their support to Yemen in all
development sectors.

LOCAL
Municipality forms 5 teams
to monitor election activities
Officials of field teams asked to submit weekly report
KRCS’ volunteers pose outside one of the houses damaged by the explosion.
KRCS reconstructs houses damaged by Beirut blast
Kuwait Red Crescent Society
(KRCS) began a project to recon-
struct over 150 houses destroyed
by Beirut’s Aug 4 explosion, funded
by the Arab Fund for Economic and
Social Development (AFESD) and
Kuwaiti donors.
Kuwaiti FM pays respects to Bahrain’s late PM
KUWAIT CITY, Nov 12, (KUNA):
Kuwait’s Foreign Minister and Acting
Information Minister Sheikh Dr
Ahmad Nasser Al-Sabah visited
Bahrain’s embassy on Thursday to pay
his respects after the death of the Gulf
state’s Prime Minister Prince Khalifa
bin Salman Al-Khalifa.
The Kuwaiti minister remembered
the late Bahraini premier’s “profound
contributions” during a half century in
power, which helped keep the Gulf
island nation firmly on a path towards
stability and prosperity, he said in a
heartfelt eulogy for the world’s lon-
gest-serving prime minister.
He went on to say the “numerous
accomplishments” of the late ruler
would forever stand the test of time,
offering the Bahraini people some sol-
ace amid these difficult times.
Also, Kuwait’s Deputy Prime
The project is executed in cooper-
ation with the Lebanese Red Cross
to ease the suffering of those affect-
ed by the tragedy, head of KRCS’
delegation to Lebanon Dr Musaad
Al-Anezi told KUNA on Thursday.
KRCS is also aiding families and
Minister and Defense Minister Sheikh
Ahmad Mansour Al-Sabah extended
his “deepest condolences” on Thursday
over the passing of Bahrain’s Prince
Khalifa bin Salman Al-Khalifa, the
world’s longest-serving prime minister.
In a cable he sent to Bahrain’s
defense force chief Sheikh Khalifa bin
Ahmed Al-Khalifa, the Kuwaiti
defense minister expressed his heart-
felt sympathies over this immense
loss, wishing the Bahraini people
would find solace in this time of grief.
He also sent a similar cable to
Bahrain’s Defense Affairs Minister
Lieutenant-General Abdullah bin
Hassan Al-Nuaimi, according to a
statement by the Kuwaiti army.
Meanwhile, Chairman of the
Federation of Arab News Agencies
(FANA) and Director General of
Kuwait News Agency (KUNA) Sheikh
KUNA photo
hospitals to face the explosion’s
impact through providing food,
medicine and medical equipment,
he added. Immediately after the
explosion, Kuwait sent 18 airplanes
carrying about 820 tons of humani-
tarian aid to Lebanon. (KUNA)
Mubarak Duaij Al-Ibrahim Al-Sabah
expressed his deepest condolences to
Bahrain over the death of Bahrain’s
Prime Minister Prince Khalifa bin
Salman Al-Khalifa.
In a press statement on Thursday,
Sheikh Mubarak noted the efforts and
achievements of Prince Khalifa in
building modern-day Bahrain. He
added that he also stood side by side
with Bahrain’s King Hamad bin Essa
Al-Khalifa in facing challenges in the
kingdom.
Meanwhile, KUNA chief spoke of
Prince Khalifa’s efforts in the Gulf
Cooperation Council (GCC) and his
wise leadership and his strong ties
with Kuwait.
He also said that the Bahraini Prime
Minister exerted big efforts to develop
Arab media field, especially when he
chaired FANA.
By Abdel Nasser
Al-Aslami
Al-Seyassah Staff
KUWAIT CITY,
Nov 12: The
Chairman of the
Joint Committee for
National Assembly
Elections 2020
Director General of
K u w a i t
Municipality, Eng
A h m e d
Al-Manfouhi
announced the for-
mation of 5 field
teams which will be
spread over in the
five electoral dis-
tricts.
During the committee’s
meeting he chaired yes-
terday, in the presence of
representatives of the
Ministry of Interior, the
National Commission for
Democracy, the
Transparency Society and
the Deputy Director-
General for Provincial
Sector Affairs, he said the
meeting discussed the
tasks assigned to the
Parliamentary Elections
Committee for December
5 elections.
Al-Manfouhi explained
that the work of the Joint
Committee for the National
Assembly 2020 elections
will be unlike the previous
National Assembly elections
and cited the exceptional cir-
cumstances the country is
passing through as a result of
the ‘Covid-19’ pandemic
and the need to take all pre-
cautionary measures in sup-
port of the health system in
dealing with this virus.
Violation
He indicated that the moni-
toring teams in the munici-
pality’s branches in the six
governorates will follow up
and monitor all activities
throughout the canvassing
period, whether before or
after the polling day, in addi-
tion to removing all forms of
violation related to elections
including candidate
announcements during the
morning and evening periods.
In this regard, he said the
Municipality is committed to
ensure law is not violated. If
the contestants fail to remove
hoardings, they will be
removed by the Municipality
and the concerned contestant
will have to foot the bill.
Al-Manfouhi pointed out
that the fines for placing vio-
lating advertisements range
from 1,000 dinars to 3,000
dinars, including the cost of
the removal, and called on
the candidates to be careful
not to violate laws to avoid
paying fines.
He pointed out the moni-
toring teams in the Kuwait
Municipality will ensure that
schools, streets leading to
polling stations and squares
are clean, and ensure that the
sterilizers and all preventive
means during the voting pro-
cess are available to protect
the safety of voters and work-
ers at all polling centers.
Success
Al-Manfouhi called on the
officials of the five teams to
submit a weekly report on
the monitoring work carried
out during the parliamentary
elections period, to provide
the necessary services for the
success of the electoral pro-
cess, to ensure the extent of
health requirements and to
implement the decisions of
the health authorities, in
addition to requiring workers
in government agencies to
wear the uniform of the enti-
ty they work for.
The head of the advisory
committee supervising the
2020 National Assembly
elections, Counselor Ishaq
Al-Kandari, said that the
committee held its second
meeting at the Kuwait
Institute for Judicial and
Legal Studies to follow up
on the Ministry of Justice’s
preparations for the conduct
of the electoral process.
Al-Kandari said in a press
statement yesterday, that the
committee stressed the need
to observe all the conditions
and controls recommended
by the Ministry of Health to
confront the emerging coro-
na virus, and also stressed on
the need to complete the
electoral process scheduled
for December 5, 2020 in
accordance with the highest
standards of transparency as
is followed in all previous
elections.
ARAB TIMES, FRIDAY-SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 13-14, 2020
Engr Manfouhi chairs the Joint Committee for National Assembly Elections meeting.
Indian envoy with Lieut-Gen Essam Al-Naham.
Indian envoy meets Lieut-Gen Al-Naham
The Indian Ambassador to Kuwait HE
Sibi George met the Undersecretary of
the Ministry of Interior Lieutenant-
General Essam Salem Al-Naham.
During the meeting, both sides dis-
Trend Micro releases mid-year report
Kuwait witnesses 5,636,047
digital threats in H1 of 2020
KUWAIT CITY, Nov 12: In the first half of
this year (2020), Kuwait witnessed a total
of 5,636,047 digital threats, distributed
among 5,073,616 threats via e-mail (which
is the third highest in the Gulf Cooperation
Council countries) and 454,092 users who
were victims to malicious Internet address-
es (URL), 10,569 malware, and Internet
address (URL) hosted 2,646 threats, reports
Al-Jaridah daily.
Trend Micro, which is concerned with
cloud security solutions, revealed in its
annual mid-year report that the figures for
Kuwait indicate a 47 percent increase in the
number of malicious URLs victims (this
number reached 309,468 in the first half of
2019) and more than three times the num-
ber of hosted attacks on URLs (this number
reached 840 in the first half of 2019).
The report revealed that digital threats
associated with the Coronavirus pandemic
constituted the largest type of online threats
discovered in the first half of the year, add-
ing that security technologies of Trend
Micro had blocked 8.8 million threats relat-
ed to the Coronavirus pandemic in just six
months; nearly 92 percent of them were
unsolicited email messages.
Cyber criminals shifted focus between
January and June to exploiting the global
focus on the pandemic and the risks compa-
MEW awards contract to Network Solutions
KUWAIT CITY, Nov 12: Ministry of
Electricity and Water awarded a contract
to the Network Solutions Business Unit
of the General Electric Renewable Energy
Company to provide equipment and ser-
vice facilities with the necessary solu-
tions to generate and transmit reliable and
high-efficiency power to end-users,
reports Al-Anba daily.
The agreement signed between the two
sides stipulates the provision of long-term
maintenance solutions for 54 substations
spread in various parts of the country.
This contract is considered one of the
major contracts and affirms the endeavor
of General Electric, through the network
services it provides, to meet the minis-
try’s requirements of maintaining the
operational efficiency of its infrastructure
responsible for generating electric power
in Kuwait.
General Electric’s Network Solutions
Business Unit will handle maintenance
tasks over a period of five years for the 54
substations in the country, and their
capacities vary between 132 and 300 kilo-
watts to ensure that accurate plans for
maintenance and emergency interven-
tions are in place to ensure the operations
are conducted according to the highest
levels of fluency and efficiency.
The award of the contract to General
Electric also confirms its proven record of
success in providing similar services, as it
previously did within the framework of a
three-year contract with the Ministry of
Electricity and Water in 2016- with the
aim of conducting monitoring operations,
accurate testing, repair and comprehen-
sive maintenance, and spare parts to 54
gas-insulated substations.
In this context, Muhammad Muheisen,
President and CEO of the Network
Solutions Business Unit at GE Renewable
Energy in the Middle East, North Africa,
Turkey and Sub-Saharan Africa said: The
service agreement, which is the largest of
its kind for us in Kuwait, reflects our
great ability to meet the needs of the
country’s Ministry of Electricity and
Water.
“In light of our track record of provid-
ing long-term maintenance contracts in
Kuwait, we will direct our focus towards
ensuring the provision of periodic main-
2
KUNA photo
cussed bilateral relations, Diaspora
matters, and means of further enhanc-
ing bilateral cooperation between the
two friendly countries, especially in the
security domain.
nies are exposed to exacerbated by the
security flaws created by the transition of
employees to work remotely.
The GCC countries witnessed 56,870,977
digital threats via e-mail, web addresses
and malware during the first half of this
year. These threats included 41,236,550
email threats, 13,181,016 victims of mali-
cious web addresses, 2,392,097 malware,
and 61,314 web address threats.
In his role, the regional director of Trend
Micro in the Gulf, Asaad Orabi, said the
high rates of digital attacks in Kuwait and
the Gulf Cooperation Council countries
show that the pandemic “did not curb digi-
tal criminals,” although it dominated the
lives of societies throughout the first half of
the year. 2020.
He added: The leaders of information
technology in Kuwait should be keen on
developing digital security strategies to be
able to keep pace with the increasing threats
in light of the new normality in which the
world is living today, in order to protect
remote endpoints, cloud systems, user
account login data and virtual private net-
work systems, in addition on the updated
training courses, with the aim of transform-
ing divergent work forces into a more
effective first line of defense.
API to take part in
ICICEE conference
KUWAIT CITY, Nov 12,
(KUNA): The Arab Planning
Institute (API) said Wednesday it
will participate in the 2020
International Virtual Conference
on Innovation, Creativity and
Entrepreneurship Ecosystem
(ICICEE), due to take place on
November 19-20.
The gathering will be held under
the patronage of Kuwaiti Minister
of Finance Barrak Al-Shitan, said
Dr Hanadi Mubarak Al-Mubaraki,
chairperson of the conference and
Founder and CEO of Ecosystem
Consultants Co.
The two-day event will bring
together leading practitioners, aca-
demic scientists, researchers and
industrial experts to exchange and
share their experiences and
research results about all aspects of
innovation, management, technol-
ogy and entrepreneurship, she told
KUNA.
It provides the premier interdis-
ciplinary forum for academics to
discuss the latest innovations,
trends, and public policy challeng-
es in the fields of management and
industrial case studies, she added.
tenance services for substations accord-
ing to the specified schedules, in addition
to emergency services, and the provision
of spare parts for preventive and correc-
tive maintenance”.
We are undoubtedly committed to sup-
porting the Ministry’s efforts to achieve
its goal of providing reliable energy
resources across the country, he added.
General Electric has provided several
major service contracts in Kuwait, includ-
ing the first asset performance manage-
ment solution that covers dissolved gas
analysis, monitoring the condition of the
ministry’s transformer fleet, and expand-
ing the spread of digital services to mod-
ernize the infrastructure of the power
transmission network in Kuwait.
 ARAB TIMES, FRIDAY-SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 13-14, 2020

LOCAL 3

Other Voices

‘Exploiting religion dangerous’

“IT IS dangerous to exploit the true religion to achieve
filthy political purposes and agendas, which is what the
Turkish government and the Brotherhood are doing,”
columnist Dr Abdul Mohsen Hamada wrote for Al-
Jarida daily.
“The group has moved its activities to Turkey and
declared that its goal is to restore the caliphate that was
toppled by the Arab revolution because of the ignorance
and arrogance that has no limits.
“Turkey is pursuing its expansionist ambitions to ig-
nite wars and unrest in Syria, Iraq, Libya, the Eastern
Mediterranean and the Caucasus, so it became clear to
everyone that it is seeking to revive the Ottoman influ-
ence.
“The revival of Ottoman influence poses a threat to
the security of the Arab region, so the Arab coalition,
led by Saudi Arabia, confronted
Turkey’s expansionist political pro-
jects in the region and demanded a
boycott of Turkish products.
“There is no doubt that the Arab
market represents an important area
KUNA photo for the Turkish merchant, whether
His Highness the Crown Prince Sheikh Mesha’al Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah receives HH the Prime Minister for import or export, and the Arab
Sheikh Sabah Al-Khaled Al-Ahmad Al-Sabah. Various issues were discussed. boycott represented a factor in
weakening the Turkish economy,
which already suffers.
when they search for votes that go in favor of whatever
laws they want.
“Only one bloc, even if it is Islamic, as I expect,
could be a reason for the amendment that has enabled
the government over seven years to exercise absolute
control over legislation.
“The problem of the 2016 Assembly is that it was
dominated by individual action and personal interests
and unstated parliamentary alliances with the govern-
ment, even though everyone is exposed.
“If the presence of parliamentary blocs is necessary,
even if formally in order to stop the extension of gov-
ernment control over the parliament or at least keep it
away from laws that directly affect the citizen.
“The Assembly of 2020 is not clear about its shape,
but I think it will witness the return of the Islamists if
they organize their ranks and stop overconfidence.
“The next parliament will witness a good return of
the Salafists and the Brotherhood in particular, and the
Islamists in general. I believe that the formation of an
Islamic parliamentary bloc is possible and even possi-
ble as one of the solutions to get out of the crisis of
government control over the helm of the legislative au-
thority.”
❑ ❑ ❑
“The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia’s decision to abolish

How will COVID-hit people “Turkey began looking for a way the sponsorship system that regulates the relationship
out to resolve its economic and between employers and workers is a good initiative, but
Dr Hamada
political crisis, and what was con- many people do not understand it,” columnist Dahem
sidered abuse by (President) Macron to the Prophet Al-Qahtanj wrote for Al-Qabas daily.
(PBUH) of Islam came as a lifeline that may help Tur- “This cancellation does not mean that there are no

vote during Dec 5 election?
Bid to prevent infection spread
KUWAIT CITY, Nov 12: With the approach of In this regard, government sources said the election com-
the 2020 National Assembly elections scheduled mittee formed by the Cabinet had referred the voting mecha-
nism for people suffering from COVID-19 infection to the
for December 5, the looming question regard-
Fatwa and Legislation Department to obtain legal opinion
ing this issue is about the mechanism of voting concerning the matter, avoid any legal shortcomings, and
for those infected with the COVID-19 virus in determine whether these people are entitled to vote or not.
a manner that prevents the spread of the virus They stressed that the Fatwa and Legislation Department
among the voters, reports Al-Qabas daily. will complete its response within a week, and based on its opin-
KUNA photo
HH the Prime Minister Sheikh Sabah Al-Khaled Al-Sabah receives the Libyan am-
bassador to Kuwait. Various issues of common concern were discussed.
Conditions mulled for appointment
in cooperative sector: Al-Rasheedi
KUWAIT CITY, Nov 12: Assistant The letter highlighted the possibility
Undersecretary for Cooperative Affairs of appointing non-Kuwaitis, provided
at the Ministry of Social Affairs Salem they have a transferable visa. Also, the
Al-Rasheedi has addressed the Union labor needs report from the union and a
of Consumer Cooperative Societies list from the Public Authority for Man-
(UCCS) regarding the conditions that power must be attached. In addition, the
must be met upon the union’s request appointment request must be sent to the
for appointment, reports Al-Qabas Contracts, Employment and Coopera-
daily. tive Inspection Department.
In his letter, Al-Rasheedi specified Regarding the Bedoun applicants,
eight conditions that must be met when reliable sources affirmed that their ap-
applying for an appointment. They are pointment is possible, and will be pri-
a letter from the union, the approval of oritized before the expatriates, provided
the administrative committee, the ap- they address the Central System for
proval of the board of directors, a copy Remedying Status of Illegal Residents
of the civil ID of the applicant, the (CSRSIR) and obtain its approval after
academic qualification and the social the union’s approval, adding that it will
security certificate if the applicant is a also depend on the available manpower
Kuwaiti. quota.
ion, a decision will be taken
in this regard, which would
be to allow those people to
either vote or not vote ac-
cording to the recommended
mechanism.
The sources indicated that
the reason for referring the
mechanism to the Fatwa and
Legislation Department is the
presence of a law that pre-
vents quarantined individuals
from going outside, as it is
punishable either by impris-
onment or fine, due to which
the legal opinion is necessary
before any decision is taken
by the committee.
The sources revealed that
the committee also discussed
a mechanism to increase the
number of electoral com-
missions in order to handle
the numbers of voters in
schools, especially in densely
populated areas. They said a
Cabinet meeting will be held
on Thursday, November 12
to discuss the health situation
and the mechanisms that will
be decided for the elections.
❑ ❑ ❑ ening control over the ports and not just changing the
The Ministry of Social
Affairs and Labor is keen on
coordinating with the heads of
various cooperative societies
in order to support those in-
vesting in the branches of co-
operatives and have incurred
losses due to the coronavirus
crisis, reports Al-Qabas daily.
The ministry disclosed
this step is part of its ongo-
ing effort to implement a
mechanism for supporting
the investors in the branches
of cooperative societies, af-
firming that it has approved
the proposal to exempt these
investors from paying rent.
In its letter to the head
of the Union of Consumer
Cooperative Societies, the
ministry pointed out that
it has taken the necessary
measures in line with its su-
pervisory and legal roles in
protecting the funds of coop-
eratives amidst the spread of
corona. The ministry added
it remains committed to its
responsibility to mitigate the
economic impact of corona-
virus in coordination with
the concerned government
agencies.
key exit from its crisis, pretending to appear as a de-
fender of Islam and its Prophet (PBUH), calling for a
boycott of French products, and exploiting the machine
of political Islam media and its trumpets praising the
Turkish government elite and its defense of Islam and
its prophet and its criticism of Arab governments that
did not care about that.
“What matters to us in this crisis is to realize and
think of its different dimensions, and we may find that
the supporters of political Islam are using religious sen-
timent to drag Arabs and Muslims into a battle that they
have no interest in, and its harmful results may become
apparent after a while.
“It is certain that no Muslim is willing to offend the
essence of his religion or his Prophet (PBUH). Conse-
quently, we do not need the Turkish government and
its followers of political Islam who exploit religion for
political purposes to remind us of what we must do to
advocate the religion.
“What extremist Islamists have done in Europe,
whether in France to the history teacher or against Nice
Cathedral, or Vienna are brutal acts of terrorism, and
it is natural to have been met with widespread angry
response.
“The French president may have made a mistake in
his expression, but we must seek an excuse for him be-
cause of the calamity that befell his country, and it is
better to respond to him with an argument and explana-
tion.
“The Saudi Scholars Council did well when it con-
sidered that offending the Messengers and Prophets,
peace be upon them, will not harm the prophets of God,
rather it serves those who hold extremist calls who
want to spread hatred in societies.
“It is well-known that the Prophet Muhammad
(PBUH) was offended when he was spreading his mes-
sage, so they called him a poet, a madman, a magician
and a liar, and the Holy Quran recorded these offenses
as we recite them in our prayers.
“Allah Almighty says in his Book: ‘Nothing is said
to you, (O Muhammad), except what was already said
to the messengers before you. Indeed, your Lord is a
possessor of forgiveness and a possessor of painful pen-
alty’ and instructed him to be patient and to continue
his call, and that this would not affect or limit his de-
termination.”
Also:
“The preparations for the upcoming elections, the
announcements of Islamic currents of their candida-
ture, and the announcement of some of them to support
candidates from outside their current make it clear that
the next Assembly will include a mass of Islamic rep-
resentatives that cannot be underestimated,” columnist
Za’ar Al-Rasheedi wrote for Al-Anba daily.
“The Islamic representatives will not be independent
or tribal, but rather they will either follow a clear trend
or are close to a current, that is why I think – even if it
is early to judge – that an Islamic political bloc will be
formed with the start of the first session of the next As-
sembly and this bloc will be a major player but if it is
formed before the Assembly’s elections – which is not
unlikely – it will change the rules of the political game.
“What I hope in the next parliament, regardless of
what I have said, is that there will be political blocs that
are formed because they will be better in their political
work collectively than individually that prevailed in the
2013 and 2016 Assemblies which helped the govern-
ment, for seven years, to lead the regulatory and legisla-
tive political scene with absolute comfort.
“The presence of parliamentary blocs under the dome
of parliament, whether Islamic or otherwise, will give
the parliament power that it has been missing for years,
during which the government passed whatever laws it
wanted and rejected what it wanted, playing the role of
enforcer and legislator at the same time by controlling
votes.”
* * * *
“The parliamentary blocs form something that I think
solves the problem of the government’s control on deci-
sions, or at least disrupts its interventions among MPs
conditions in the new system to guarantee the right of
employers not to incur losses due to the mood of some
workers.
“It has been said that the non-sponsorship system
guarantees the rights of workers throughout the valid-
ity of their contracts. This system will not make them
subject to the whims of the employers, but upon exam-
ining the details, we found the non-sponsorship system
necessitates the consent of the employer before taking
any action related to workers which, by the way, is in
conformity with the current sponsorship system.
“The Saudi system which regulates the contractual
relationship between employers and workers has yet to
be implemented. It is expected to be issued in March
and it is expected to be an example which might be
emulated by the rest of the Gulf Cooperation Council
countries, including Kuwait.
“Nevertheless, in my opinion, it will not be the solu-
tion to the visa trading problem. This might even exac-
erbate the problem if it does not come with the issuance
of stricter regulations, as visa trading could be referred
to as ‘commercial contract’.”
❑ ❑ ❑
“How many times have you heard or read about a
person escaping justice? How many times have you
heard that a certain person has fled from justice after
a verdict of conviction was issued against them?” col-
umnist Dr. Naji Saud Al-Zayd wrote for Aljarida daily.
“Of course, entries and exits through the border
crossings of land, sea and air occur several times, which
is something that worries the security officials. Most
of it happens because there are people who help them
flee ... some have been uncovered, and some have been
bribed to do so.
“Most of the employees at the border checkpoints are
honest and keen about homeland security. They work
hard and diligently under difficult circumstances. We
empathize with them, and no citizen has any doubts
about their honesty and sincerity. However, the pervert-
ed few do harm to the reputation of the entire security
apparatus unfortunately.
“Therefore, Major General Mansour Al-Awadhi’s
statement that the border exits will use new and ad-
vanced seals that are not subject to fraud makes me and
others grateful and thankful. Illegal entries and exits do
occur a few times through the use of seals. If we wel-
come this step, the solution is to prevent this by tight-
seals to prevent forgery, even though that is a benefit for
which Major General Al-Awadhi is to be thanked for.
Nevertheless, it is not sufficient.”
❑ ❑ ❑
“One of the deep-rooted problems in our Islamic
world is the differences in understanding the recom-
mendations that urge the use of miswak to clean the
teeth. There are those who understand the recommen-
dation in its literal text. They use the miswak and take it
with them from place to place without being concerned
about the pollutants in the air, the clothes or the differ-
ence in time,” Sami Abdul Latif Nisf wrote for Annahar
daily.
“Other Muslims understand that the intent behind the
recommendation to use the miswak, as it is to ensure the
cleanliness of the mouth and teeth, which is encouraged
by modern science, since the mouth is the gateway to
the rest of the body. However, they know it is impos-
sible to recommend something that is not present at the
time. Because of this, they apply the meaning and sig-
nificance, not the text of words, and thus use modern
tools to clean the mouth and teeth, such as the tooth-
brushes, fluoride toothpaste, dental floss, mouthwash,
and periodic cleaning of the teeth at the dentist... etc.
“The last station: The dispute is still extremely in-
tense in the Islamic world between those who adhere
to the text without considering the meaning and signifi-
cance or the difference of times, and those who see the
need to keep pace with the times and changes to take the
meaning and use it to serve the text.”
— Compiled by Ahmad Al-Shazli

Removal plan underway

EPA hunts source of spill
KUWAIT CITY, Nov 12: The Environment Public Au-
thority (EPA) inspected the sea in the southern part of the
country after the discovery of oil spill in the area, reports
Al-Jarida daily. In a press statement, EPA revealed that it
is currently coordinating with the concerned authorities
to determine the source of oil.
A team from the authority inspected the southern re-
gion to verify the report that EPA received recently about
the oil spill. During the inspection, the team discovered
sporadic oil spill covering an area measuring more than
500 meters and the source has yet to be identified, the
statement added. EPA affirmed that it is now working
with the concerned authorities to implement the emer-
gency plan for dealing with marine pollution in a bid to
remove oil from the sea. The authority added that the
coastal survey will be completed in the coming days, af-
ter which the source of oil will be identified. Meanwhile,
the Technical Committee at the Municipal Council has
approved the request of the Information Ministry for two
plots – building number 293 in Block One and 296 in
Block Two – along the Media Street in Ardiya, provided
the ministry adds information about the media and elec-
tronic unions in its application, reports Al-Jarida daily.
Meanwhile, in a press statement, Chairman of the com-
mittee Dr Ali bin Sayer disclosed that a citizen has request-
ed for adding car power and repair activities to Plot 354 in
West Abu Fatira; indicating the committee will submit a
report in this regard to the concerned authority.

LOCAL
Other Voices
The day people shut the tap
By Ahmad alsarraf
O n March 31, 2020, I wrote an ar-
ticle under the title ‘Faza’a for
Kuwait.’ The article garnered more
than 214,000 readers on Al-Qabas
alone, which is
an exceptional
number for a
regular article.
Its publica-
tion marked a
turning point
in the march of
charity work in
Kuwait, or so
I see the situa-
tion. The article alsarraf
was written af-
ter 42 Kuwaiti charity societies decid-
ed to launch a fundraising campaign
under the slogan ‘Faza’a for Kuwait’,
to help the needy who were affected
by the closure of activities and the in-
ability to travel after the COVID-19
pandemic disaster brought everything
to a standstill.
We in the ‘Human Friendship So-
ciety’ refused to join the Faza’a cam-
paign, and it turned out later that we
were right in our decision. Fundrais-
ing and process of distribution wit-
nessed scandals, a turning point in
the history of charity work, we paid
some of its price in the Society, but it
opened eyes to the practices of some
‘charity’, and many knew the extent
of some manipulations (in charity
funds) which allegedly went for per-
sonal and partisan interests.
The Faza’a for Kuwait campaign
at the time succeeded in raising just
over nine million dinars, and the
amount was much less than expected.
Most of the charities intended to keep
a reasonable share of the heavy ‘le-
gal commission’ out of the amount
raised, and at a rate of no less than 12
and a half percent.
Our personal interference with of-
ficials, and our articles prompted the
Ministry of Social Affairs to refuse to
allow charities to deduct any percent-
age from that amount for themselves,
Packets of drugs found in possession of the three Iranians.
75 kilos drugs with Iranian trio
Personnel from the General Department
for Drugs Control (GDDC) in coordina-
tion with the Coast Guard Department
have arrested 3 Iranians who attempt-
ed to smuggle into the country a large
amount of narcotics via the sea, reports
Al-Rai daily.
According to a security source the
trio brought the drugs from Iran and hid
them near the Kubbar Island.
The arrest came after their boat had a
mechanical failure and it started drifting
in mid-sea. When the boat was spotted
by the Coast Guard radar, securitymen
News in Brief
Army chief meeting: The General
Chief of Staff of the Kuwaiti Army Lt Gen
Khaled Al-Saleh on Thursday took part in
the GCC’s 17th Chief of Staffs Military
Committee meeting via cyber social web
grid.
A press statement by the Directorate of
Moral and Guidance, and public relations
of Kuwait’s Army said the Supreme Com-
mittee issued a num-
ber of resolutions
that contribute and
aid to military coop-
eration between the
GCC nations armies.
Meanwhile, the
General Traffic De-
partment announced
that it has arrested
29 juveniles for
recklessness and
driving without a li- Lt Gen Al-Saleh
cense, in addition to putting behind bars
17 reckless young have been put behind
bars as a precautionary measure, reports
Al-Anba daily.
According to a press release issued by
the Directorate General of Public Rela-
tions and Security Media Department of
the Interior Ministry several police patrols
were pressed in service on the main and
interior roads.
The press release said 301 citations
were issued for not fastening the seat belt,
110 for speeding, 72 citations were is-
sued for buses and 38 for taxi for violating
traffic laws and 1,085 citations for using
phone while driving
Those arrested for driving without li-
cences have been referred to the Juvenile
Prosecutor’s Office and 17 careless per-
sons for precautionary seizure and seizure
of 2 vehicles and 4 persons wanted by
other authorities.
❑ ❑ ❑
Mild quake recorded: The director of
the support program and supervisor at the
Kuwaiti National Seismic Network at the
Kuwait Institute for Scientific Research,
and to allocate the entire amount for
the purpose for which it was collected.
These charities found other ways to
keep a proportion of money collect-
ed from donations to themselves by
spending the amount on purchasing
foodstuffs, intended for distribution
to the needy, from well-known cen-
ters and destinations, and this is what
happened in the end, and most of the
nine million was wasted.
The Minister of Social Affairs
formed a committee to investigate the
issue, but after six months no report of
guilt or innocence was issued, which
favors the first possibility of course.
* * *
All these things contributed to a
shift in the feelings and opinions of
donors towards charities and charity
work in general, and this appeared on
three occasions: The first was a cam-
paign to raise funds to feed the hungry
in some parts of Africa; second was a
fundraising campaign for the relief of
the victims of the Beirut port explo-
sion and the third a fundraising cam-
paign for the victims of the Nile flood
that struck Sudan.
The charities were surprised by the
modesty shown in the area of collect-
ing donations, the size of which was
indeed shameful and an indication of
the increase in awareness of the do-
nor, and the exposure of the status of
some associations used the collected
money for reasons well known to all,
or greatly exaggerated the deduction
from the money collected for the ben-
efit of those in charge.
On this occasion, we wish the super-
visors and those in charge of monitoring
charity societies, especially the Minister
of Social Affairs to be careful and abso-
lutely certain that some of these associa-
tions, overflowing with funds politicized
to the core, will not spend any of the as-
sociations’ funds to support religious
party candidates, especially since they
are armed with fatwas from their group
that allow them to do so.
❑ ❑ ❑ contestant in the 2020
e-mail: a.alsarraf@alqabas.com.kw
MoI photo
rushed to the spot and found nervous
looking three men.
They were referred for interrogations
because they could not justify their pres-
ence in the area.
During cross examination the sus-
pects admitted that they entered the
country with drugs and that they had
buried the contraband near the Kubbar
Island and led police to the area.
Police found in the area 75 kilos of
narcotic substances – 55 kilos of hash-
ish, 15 kilos of alum, and 5 kilos of her-
oin.
Brawl goes to cops
‘Will never return’
KUWAIT CITY, Nov 12: A case of
assault and breaking into her home
has been filed by an unidentified
young Kuwaiti woman at the Hawalli
Police Station, reports Al-Anba daily.
According to the security sources
the Operations Room of the Minis-
try of Interior received a report that
someone had broken the main door
of the house of the complainant and
that one of the men was carrying a
knife and was threatening to kill her.
When police rushed to the spot,
they saw four people in front of the
door with lot of commotion. When
the police demanded to see their
IDs, they said they don’t carry any
IDs and it became clear that they
are bedoun – three men and one
woman.
Police later learned that one of
them is the husband of the complain-
ant (the Kuwaiti woman) on whom
the husband had filed an abscond-
ing report, another was his brother,
relative and mother.
When they were taken to the po-
lice station for interrogation, the wife
was assaulted again in front of the
police station because she allegedly
spat on the husband and swore nev-
er to return to him again.
The investigations are continuing.
Dr Abdullah Al-Anzi, stated the center
recorded, Wednesday, a mild earthquake
measuring 4.6 on the Richter scale in
southwestern part of Kuwait (Al-Mana-
keesh, Umm Qadir) area, reports Al-Rai
daily.
The earthquake occurred exactly at
05:56:23 pm Kuwait time, at a depth of
11 kilometers underground, as it was felt
by many citizens and residents around the
country.
‘Corruption rampant due to lack of
oversight, legislation in Assembly’
I’m against one-man-one vote system: ex-MP Al-Otaibi
By Najeh Bilal
Al-Seyassah Staff
KUWAIT CITY, Nov
12: The former MP and
elections from the Third
Constituency, Fares Al-
Otaibi says corruption is
rampant in the country
which has increased con-
siderable in the country
in recent years due to the
absence of oversight and
legislation in the National
Assembly in 2016, in ad-
dition to the MPs turning
their back on the inter-
ests of the citizens and
the homeland.
During an interview with the
Al-Seyassah daily, Al-Otaibi
said he is against the one-man
one-vote system, saying he be-
lieves that it is responsible for
what happened during the tenure
of the former National Assem-
bly; most of the MPs failed in
their work and wasted the life of
Parliament 2016 in conflicts and
political rivalries.
Problems
He told the daily, if he wins
the 2020 elections he will work
to solve the problems of Kuwaiti
women and added, the National
Assembly 2016 has not accom-
plished anything that is of benefit
to the Kuwaitis because the MPs
were preoccupied in trivial politi-
cal conflicts more than achieve-
ments, to such an extent, it looked
like the MPs were more concerned
about personal accounts rather
than looking at what benefits the
nation and the citizens.
He added, this behavior of some
of the MPs of the 2016 Assembly
forced them to apologize to the
people for their negligence. Is this
not considered an assurance of their
failure to achieve the people’s inter-
ests, he asked. This is an official ad-
mission that had failed to work for
the people and the nation.
In reply to a question, that this
Assembly issued laws restricting
freedoms even though the constitu-
tion calls for more freedoms and not
the other way around, he affirmed
the Kuwaiti Constitution calls for
more freedoms, but they (the MPs)
did the opposite of what the consti-
tution calls for.
Rivalries
Speaking about the National As-
sembly 2013 he said, the Kuwaiti
people are fully aware that it was
much stronger than the Parliament
of 2016, because the Assembly of
2013 Council approved 120 laws
during its term, all of which are laws
that serve the citizens and the coun-
try, and this is due to the fact that
the Parliament 2013 did not indulge
much into political rivalries and
unacceptable practices unlike the
Parliament of 2016. To the contrary
corruption increased above its lev-
els in recent years, because the MPs
Fares Al-Otaibi
ARAB TIMES, FRIDAY-SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 13-14, 2020
4
Photo by Mahmoud Jadeed
A view of the concrete jungle in Hawally.
Photo by Mahmoud Jadeed
The area and cars were given a wash after the heavy showers in Hawally.
First rains bring joy for some
The first rains – light showers in some areas – cloudy saturated with rain, sometimes accompa-
was a great relief for some who were anxiously nied by thunder with the winds bringing in dust.
waiting to see the rain drops fall, reports Al- Some of the areas produced water puddles while
Seyassah daily. in some areas crossing a street from one side to
The daily quoting the Meteorological Department another was difficult because rain sewage failed to
said the weather is expected to be cloudy to partly operate especially in one of the suburbs of Khaitan .
MoI opens services center for the special people
Audit, Nazaha sign MoU to battle corruption
KUWAIT CITY, Nov 12, memorandum aims to strength- said that personnel would be
(KUNA): The Audit Bureau
signed on Wednesday a Mem-
en the national commitment
in preventing and combating
able to take care of necessities
like renewing drivers license,
orandum of Understanding corruption and confirming the registration, and pay tickets
(MoU) with the Public Author- readiness of the regulatory without having to dispense with
ity for Combating Corruption agencies to work and achieve their vehicles.
(Nazaha) to enhance aspects of what came under the noble di- Al-Naham also included that
cooperation between the two rectives of His Highness the the ministry is currently under-
sides. Amir Sheikh Nawaf Al-Ahmad going studies involving all of
In a press statement, Audit Al-Jaber Al-Sabah. their services centers for further
Bureau Undersecretary Abdu- Meanwhile, the Ministry
laziz Al-Houly said that this of Interior’s (MoI) Undersec- development.
Present at the ceremony was
agreement is a culmination of retary Major General Essam
work and effort between the Al-Naham held the opening the MoI’s Assistant Undersec-
two sides during the previous ceremony of the traffic services retary of Operations Maj-Gen
period and an expression of center at the headquarters of Jamal Al-Sayegh, and Deputy
cooperation that achieves the the General Traffic department Director of Psychological, So-
public interest in combating building, for the special needs cial and Medical Services at the
corruption and preserving pub- community which include ame- Public Authority for Disabled
Affairs Hanady Al-Mubaillish,
lic funds. nities like a drive-thru.
Al-Houly added that the A press statement by the MoI along sector officials.
of 2016 MPs failed to legislate strict that they can live a decent life, and need to welcome foreign invest-
laws to combat corruption, which “I will work with full force to drop ments to the country, as well as es-
indicates the lack of oversight with- the loans of the citizens,” and said tablishing industries that depend on
in this Parliament. he is one of the strongest supporters oil derivatives,” he said.
“If I win the elections, I will focus of dropping the loans of citizens. Of the housing crisis, he said, it is
on canceling one vote, so that we rely Speaking of the COVID-19 pan- not as difficult as it is portrayed to
on the two votes. This is better for de- demic, he said, most economies of be. The solution lies in distributing
mocracy, as one vote has led to many the world were affected, but the the existing plots of lands to the citi-
negativities, and the evidence for this Kuwaitis remained cohesive during zens. “Is it reasonable for the citi-
is that it brought a large number of the crisis, the government wanted zen to wait for many years to obtain
candidates to the National Assembly to provide more benefits for the housing care,” he asked.
in 2016 who had, what he called, no citizens, but unfortunately we saw According to him, he said, it
level of practice and political experi- Kuwaiti youth being laid off from is clear that there is an influential
ence, and therefore they were easy work in the private sector, and the group that is benefiting from ob-
prey for political conflicts and entire government did nothing. structions in the path of the solution
Kuwait expressed dissatisfaction to the crisis with one eye on the rise
with one-man one-vote system, so if Measures in the price of land and the problem
I win the 2020 elections, I will work On the economic file, the contestant that increases the housing issue is
to amend the one-man one-vote elec- said, the country has been repeatedly that the state does not take clear and
tion law. talking about diversifying the sources radical decisions to solve the crisis,
Of the electoral districts, he said of income but there has been no realis- which has led to the presence of
tic measures in this regard because to
the Kuwaiti constitution does not al- huge numbers of citizens waiting to
low making Kuwait a single district. do this the country needs to plan care- receive housing care.
“I think dividing the country into fully by expanding Kuwaiti industry When asked if he supports the
five constituencies and giving each and encouraging investments within ‘apartment system’ as a solution
voter two votes would be much bet- the country. The state’s mechanism to the housing crisis, he said, he
ter than the status quo. about foreign investments must also strongly rejects and as an example
During the interview, he also said be changed. cited failed example of the Sawaber
he will work to introduce laws that “I favor directing foreign invest- complex which can neither be for-
raise the income of the citizen so ments towards Kuwait, with the gotten nor forgiven.

LOCAL/GULF
Louvre Abu Dhabi’s original short film ‘The Pulse of Time’ available on website from Nov 12
Louvre Abu Dhabi marks anniversary with film premiere, new loans and acquisitions
ABU DHABI, Nov 12: Louvre Abu
Dhabi celebrated its third-year anni-
versary on Nov 11, 2020, reflecting on
its most innovative year to date and
looking ahead to the future of the insti-
tution. In the face of 2020’s unprece-
dented adversity, the museum met the
challenges borne of the global pan-
demic with agility and heightened cre-
ativity, commissioning its first short
film, The Pulse of Time, and launch-
ing more than 20 new digital initia-
tives, drawing millions of visitors to its
growing online community. Louvre
Abu Dhabi’s fourth year promises to
be equally dynamic, with the museum
implementing fresh programmes and
unveiling exciting new acquisitions
and loans in its galleries.
HE Mohamed Al Mubarak,
Chairman of the Department of
Culture and Tourism-Abu Dhabi said:
“The achievements of Louvre Abu
Dhabi in three short years have made a
remarkable impact on the emirate’s
cultural scene. What began as an
agreement between the governments
of Abu Dhabi and France has now led
to Louvre Abu Dhabi standing as a
beacon for our community and the
world, sitting at the heart of Abu
Dhabi’s cultural offering. Looking
back at the past year, I am particularly
proud of the way we have adapted to
the changing environment, bringing
Louvre Abu Dhabi into the homes of
millions of people through creative
and educational digital initiatives that
reflect the museum’s vision to show-
case humanity’s cross-cultural connec-
tions throughout time.
“Culture provides us with the ability
to expand the mind and define the
world we live in, and our ongoing
acquisitions of exceptional new art-
works for the museum’s growing col-
lection aim to continuously offer visi-
tors a fresh glimpse of the vast history
of human creativity. In these unprece-
dented times, that feeling of interrelat-
edness, of being part of something
larger than ourselves, is more impor-
tant than ever. Louvre Abu Dhabi and
its universal message remain a linch-
pin of Abu Dhabi’s mission to find
unity in diversity and make culture a
key part of our everyday lives.”
Manuel Rabaté, Director of Louvre
Abu Dhabi said: “In just three years
since we welcomed the first visitors
through Louvre Abu Dhabi’s doors, I
could not be more proud of what we
have accomplished. This past year has
certainly been defined by the creation
of new opportunities from great chal-
lenges. From the very inception of the
museum, our mission has been to cel-
ebrate stories of cultural connections,
to help visitors find common threads
through art, across cultures, geogra-
phies, and time. This purpose has
never been more relevant, as we look
to new roles and models of what a
museum can be. The acquisitions and
loans now on view in our galleries are
a testament to the strength of our part-
nerships – from the heart of this region,
to Paris, and around the world – con-
tinually helping us to create moments
of discovery and reward curiosity in
each of our visitors. We are eager to
welcome you back to our galleries,
whether physically or virtually, and
we hope you will all join us in cele-
brating this third anniversary.”
The Galleries
Louvre Abu Dhabi’s curatorial
strategy is to tell stories of cultural
connections – a form of empathetic
viewing that we need now more than
ever. These connections are expressed
through the juxtaposition of works
across cultures, geographies, and time.
As part of the museum’s third annual
rotation of artworks in the galleries,
masterpieces on loan from Musée
d’Orsay include, Edgar Degas’ The
Bellelli family (1858-1869), Pierre-
Auguste Renoir’s Railway bridge in
Chatou (1881), Vincent Van Gogh’s
The caravans, a bohemian camp
(1888), Claude Monet’s Haystacks,
end of summer (1891), Eugène Louis
Gillot’s The Arrival of the “La
Fayette” in New York (early 20th cen-
tury), Osman Hamdi Bey’s Old man
before children’s tombs (1903) and
Pierre Bonnard’s Southern setting, Le
Cannet (1928). Alongside these, the
museum has installed a number of
maps and precious14th–18th century
manuscripts loaned by Bibliothèque
nationale de France. The manuscripts
from Syria, France, Egypt, India and
Iran of sacred and scientific texts
include scriptures from the founda-
tions of the three Abrahamic faiths –
Judaism, Christianity and Islam.
Several new acquisitions are joining
Louvre Abu Dhabi’s growing perma-
nent collection, including a number of
artefacts in the earlier chapters of the
museum’s chronological timeline of
human creativity. Sumerian Statue of a
Female Worshipper (3rd century
Mesopotamia), adds to the discourse
on religious beliefs in the museum’s
introductory gallery and will go on
display alongside Egyptian Statue of a
Kneeling Man (ca. 4th-7th century
Egypt). A Jain sculpture of a Standing
Jina (11th century India) is a new addi-
tion to the museum’s gallery exploring
Asian trade routes, and the exceptional
new Feline-shaped Incense Burner
(11th century Central Asia) stands
head to head with Louvre Abu Dhabi’s
renowned Lion-shaped aquamanile
(13th century Northern Germany).
Throughout the coming months,
visitors will also be able to discover a
number of new acquisitions in the later
chapters of the museum’s path, includ-
ing The Adoration of the Magi by
Pieter Coecke van Aelst (ca. 1523), a
biblical portrait of Saint-Joseph (also
called Lo Spagnoletto) by Spanish
painter Jusepe de Ribera (before
1647), a series of Eight Paintings of
Foreign Dignitaries by an anonymous
artist (18th century China), as well as
Marc Chagall’s exquisite Between
Darkness and Night (1938-43).
Dr. Souraya Noujaim, Scientific,
Curatorial and Collection Director at
Louvre Abu Dhabi said: “The past
three years have enabled us to research,
refine, and develop the cross-cultural
threads that underpin the stories of
cultural connections told within our
permanent galleries. The dynamic
nature of our presentation, enabled by
the acquisition of exceptional art
works, and the continued quality of
new loans from our partners, consis-
tently provides our audiences with
something new to see. Diversity and
universality remain at the heart of our
collection, and we are so proud to have
been able to engage new audiences by
adapting to a hybrid model of physical
and virtual presentation that will ben-
efit us for years to come.”
Regional Loans
Existing loans from regional part-
ners have been renewed for the com-
ing year and the expansion of the
regional cooperation remains a priority
for Louvre Abu Dhabi. In the third
year, the regional partners of Louvre
Abu Dhabi include: Department of
Culture and Tourism – Abu Dhabi,
Dubai Municipality, Guggenheim Abu
Dhabi, Zayed National Museum,
Department of Antiquities and muse-
ums of Ras Al Khaimah, the
Department of Antiquities of Jordan,
the National Museum of Oman and the
Ministry of Tourism of Saudi Arabia.
Lending to International
Exhibitions
Louvre Abu Dhabi’s 2019 loan of
The Collar of the Order of the Golden
Fleece (16th century Flanders) to The
Metropolitan Museum of Art in New
York represented a major step in the
international recognition of the collec-
tion. This piece was part of the exhibi-
tion The Last Knight organised at The
Metropolitan Museum of Art between
October 2019 and January 2020.
Another loan from Louvre Abu
Dhabi’s collection included the
Samovar by Joseph Hoffman (1904–
1905) to Musée des Arts Décoratifs’
(MAD) Luxes exhibition in Paris. The
artwork was originally presented to the
public in Louvre Abu Dhabi’s 10,000
Years of Luxury exhibition in 2019.
Through its programme of tempo-
rary exhibitions in collaboration with
Agence France-Muséums and French
partners, Louvre Abu Dhabi was also
able to borrow major artworks from
international lenders (Chester Beatty
library, The Metropolitan Museum of
Art and the Furusiyya Art Foundation)
for the exhibition Furusiyya: The Art
of Chivalry Between East and West
(February–October 2020).
The Pulse of Time – Louvre Abu
Dhabi’s Original Short Film
YouTube world premiere in English
at 8pm GST on Wednesday, Nov 11.
To mark its third-year anniversary,
Louvre Abu Dhabi premiered its first
original short film, The Pulse of Time,
a 40-minute audio-visual journey
bringing to life a story of humanity
through art. The film’s compelling sto-
rytelling, videography and original
music composition takes viewers on
an immersive journey via the 12 chap-
ters of the museum’s galleries. It
explores the history of human creativ-
ity through more than 200 artworks,
revealing stories of cultural connec-
tions from pre-history to contemporary
times. The film is narrated by well-
known figures in three languages –
Arabic, by Emirati producer, TV pre-
senter and actor Saoud Al Kaabi,
ARAB TIMES, FRIDAY-SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 13-14, 2020
5
Louvre Abu Dhabi © Department of Culture and Tourism Abu Dhabi
IAEA plays key role in peaceful
use of nuclear energy – Kuwait
‘Nuclear arms-free Mideast has always been Kuwait’s objective’
NEW YORK, Nov 12,
(KUNA): The State of
Kuwait said the
International Atomic
Energy Agency (IAEA)
played a major role in the
peaceful use of nuclear
energy to achieve peace
and prosperity, as well as
enhancing global nuclear
safety systems.
Counsellor Tareq Al-Bannai,
addressing a UN General
Assembly’s session regarding
IAEA’s report Wednesday eve-
ning, said the Vienna-based UN
agency was emphasizing the “atom
for peace” formula as well as high-
lighting close link between science
and technology on one side and
international peace and security on
the other.
As member of IAEA’s board of
governors, the fifth membership since
joining the agency in 1964, said
Al-Bannai, Kuwait would always
work towards honoring aspirations of
member states to reach sustainable
development and addressing interna-
tional pressing issues.
The world, he added, was facing an
enemy that disrespected “history,
geography, ethnicity or a climate, a
cross-border enemy careless about a
political, economic or social regime
and is posing a universal and existen-
tial threat to mankind.”
Summit
Al-Bannai, who said the meeting
was held amidst critical circumstances
due to the coronavirus pandemic, wel-
comed a UNGA summit early next
KUNA photos
month to discuss ways of confronting
COVID-19. Distribution of 300 food baskets containing various basic needs.
He said IAEA’s 2019 report was
shedding light on cooperation between KRCS distributes 300 food baskets to needy families in Kuwait
Kuwait and the UN agency including in
the establishment of the low-enriched in helping the families in need and oil, chicken and canned food,
uranium bank, to which Kuwait con- By Arwa Al-Wagayan
relieving them during times of the enough for one month.
tributed $10 million, as well as Kuwait’s Kuwait Red Crescent Society pandemic, in order to support all Al-Adsani expressed gratitude
contribution to the upgrading of Yukiya (KRCS) announced Thursday the
distribution of 300 food baskets government efforts exerted at the towards companies, institutions,
Amano’s laboratories.
He also cited a framework agree- containing various basic materials present time, said head of KRCS and philanthropists, citizens and
ment between the IAEA and Kuwait as part of a plan to relieve 5,000 local aid department Mariam residents, who took the initiative to
Institute for Scientific Research needy families. Al-Adsani. donate to needy families through
(KISR) for the period 2020-25. The process of distributing food She added that the food basket KRCS. She urged them to continue
baskets comes within KRCS’s role includes rice, sugar, dates, cooking their donation. (KUNA)
The agreement, he added, promoted
cooperation on environment protec-
tion, assigning KISR’s environment energy for peaceful use, as well as by international treaties and relevant Middle East free of nuclear arms and
and life science center as a focal point elimination of nuclear weapons. UN Security Council resolutions to weapons of mass destruction (WMD)
with IAEA in the use of nuclear tech- “Our world is facing many chal- achieve stability in the Korean penin- has always been objective of Kuwait
nologies. lenges and tensions in this regard but sula. and the Arab countries, because it
Al-Bannai, meanwhile, said the dialogue and solving conflicts by He also called on Ira to fully coop- would contribute to regional stability.
nuclear non-proliferation treaty (NPT) peaceful means are the best tools to erate with the IAEA and comply with He called on importance of Israel’s
guaranteed rights of all countries to address them,” he said. UNSC resolution 2231. joining the NPT and to place all facili-
produce, development use nuclear He called on North Korea to abide Al-Bannai said establishing a ties to IAEA’s safeguard measures.
known for his role in the Emirati film launched in 2020, including: Museum Visitors the museum has also launched a Youth
City of Life (2009); English, by British ■ We Are Not Alone, an audio- Pass to cultivate loyalty and grow its
Despite its closure this spring, the
actor, screenwriter, and film director visual podcast by Soundwalk younger community.
Charles Dance, known for playing museum reopened in June under the Louvre Abu Dhabi received numer-
Collective
Tywin Lannister in HBO’s Game of ■ A collaboration with music
premise of being a “mindful museum”, ous official visits from Heads of State
working hard to keep its visitors safe
Thrones (2011); and French, by streaming service, Anghami, to curate and ministers in its third year, repre-
French-Swiss actress Irène Jacob, playlists inspired by the museum’s and to offer them a comforting and senting countries including the USA,
relevant experience in difficult times.
known for her role in Three Colours: collection France, Japan, Greece, Mexico,
Red (1994). The sound creation was ■ A 360-degree virtual exhibition In July, Louvre Abu Dhabi partnered Belgium, Fiji, Slovenia, South Korea,
with VPS Healthcare, stationing nurs-
commissioned and jointly produced by tour of “Furusiyya: The Art of Chivalry Luxembourg, Spain, Saudi Arabia,
Alexandre Plank, Radio Producer for between East and West” es at the museum to oversee the ther- and Lebanon. The museum welcomed
the French National Radio channel ■ A webinar for Art for Health & mal screening areas and support risk many celebrities, who came to experi-
France Culture and two-time winner of Wellbeing on Oct 22 mitigation of COVID-19 by conduct- ence the museum’s iconic architecture
ing regular audits to ensure that the
the PRIX ITALIA international com- ■ New, tailored activities for and impressive global collection. In
petition for radio and TV, and Antoine seniors, students, families, People of museum was in compliance with the November 2019, Louvre Abu Dhabi
Richard, winner of the same prize. Determination,such as: recommended safety measures and hosted a French delegation for the
Following the premiere on Louvre ■ A series for Senior Emiratis that guidelines. Louvre Abu Dhabi official naming of a street after former
Abu Dhabi’s YouTube channel, The brought objects from the collection to received the Department of Culture French president Jacques Chirac.
Pulse of Time will be available on the life over Zoom and Tourism’s Go Safe Certification
Louvre Abu Dhabi website from Nov ■ YouthSpeak, a quarterly engage- for demonstrating the highest level of “Reframing Museums”
12. ment series for school children from health and safety standards. Symposium: Nov 16-18
the UAE and France to correspond Since the reopening, new offers for Louvre Abu Dhabi seeks to be a
Digital Engagement & Audience free admission to the museum have
through virtual conversations about thought-leader in defining how muse-
Outreach the museum’s universal narrative and been extended to the pandemic’s front- ums go about agilely adapting to new
Louvre Abu Dhabi is continuing to collection line workers, school teachers, taxi needs of audiences. Co-convened with
bring its collection and its programmes ■ Activities for children and fami- drivers, and youths under 18, with Saadiyat Island neighbouring institu-
online, with 120 artworks digitised lies including an eight-week summer additional discount offers to partners tion NYU Abu Dhabi from Nov 16-18,
and available for audiences around the programme of community art chal- and government employees. Outreach 2020, the virtual symposium,
world to discover. In response to the lenges, that engaged over 24,000 par- to local audiences through new onsite Reframing Museums,comes at a time
temporary physical closure of the ticipants online and a “Make and Play” activities continues to be paired with when the future of museums as well as
museum galleries this spring, 22 new series, which saw more than 17,000 digital initiatives. In addition to its Art arts and culture institutions around the
digital projects and platforms were downloads Club and Teachers Pass membership, world are being re-examined.
 ARAB TIMES, FRIDAY-SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 13-14, 2020

MIDEAST 6

Warning lights flashing red: UN food chief

Yemen faces ‘looming famine’, needs millions

UNITED NATIONS, Nov 12, (AP):
The head of the Nobel Peace Prize-
winning World Food Program sound-
ed an alarm Wednesday that war-torn
Yemen faces “looming famine” and
urged nations to provide hundreds of
millions of dollars immediately, saying
it will mean “the difference between
life and death of millions of Yemenis.”
David Beasley told the UN Security
Council that, according to the latest
UN internal analysis, “famine is truly a
real and dangerous possibility and the
warning lights are flashing, and they’re
not flashing yellow, they’re flashing
red – as red can be.”
“We’re on a countdown right now
to a catastrophe in Yemen,” he said.
“If we choose to look away, there’s
no doubt in my mind Yemen will be
plunged into a devastating famine
within a few short months.”
Yemen’s conflict started with
Houthi Shiite rebels, backed by Iran,
capturing Sanaa, the capital, in 2014,
forcing the internationally recognized
government to flee. The following
year, a Saudi-led coalition supporting
the government intervened to battle
the rebels and curb Iran’s influence
in what has turned into a stalemated
regional proxy war. Since then, more
than 100,000 people – fighters and ci-
vilians – have been killed.
Beasley said 9 million of the 13 mil-
lion people the World Food Program
is assisting – mainly in northern areas
controlled by Houthi rebels – have al-
ready had their food aid cut from every
month to every other month, and the
agency is running out of money.
“Come January, we are going to
have to cut rations additionally for 6
million people, and we will run com-
pletely out in March, and I cannot be-
gin to tell you the catastrophe that will
be,” he said.
UN humanitarian chief Mark Low-
cock told the council the $3.4 million
UN humanitarian appeal for 2020 for
Yemen, the Arab world’s poorest coun-
try, has received only $1.5 billion, about
45 percent. By comparison, he said, last
year at this time the UN had received
twice as much – almost $3 billion.
Besides appealing for urgent new
funds, Lowcock implored donors to
turn more than $200 million in pledges
into cash.
On Sept 15, Lowcock for the first
time singled out Saudi Arabia, the
United Arab Emirates and Kuwait
for giving nothing to the 2020 appeal.
Days later, Kuwait announced a $20
million donation and Saudi Arabia
publicly committed to providing $204
million to UN aid agencies, part of its
$500 million pledged in June.
The UAE, which was part of the
Saudi-led coalition and had been a top
donor, did not announce any funding
for this year. Germany’s UN Ambas-
sador Christoph Heusgen called on its
leaders Wednesday to respond to the
UN appeal.
Lowcock described in graphic detail
“the horrors inflicted by famine on the
body and on the soul,” saying as they
starve people, especially children, are
likelier to fall sick or die from diseases
they may otherwise have resisted. For
those who escape disease and find noth-
ing to eat, he said, vital organs start to
wither and “the body starts to devour its
own muscles, including the heart.”
“It is the fate the world has left
hanging over millions of Yemeni men,
women and especially children,” he
said. “Yemenis are not ‘going hungry’,
They are being starved.”
Two years ago, WFP’s Beasley
told the council, “nations of the world
stepped up and we were able to pull
back from the brink of famine ... and
that means we saved lives.” He said
“unnecessary obstructions” by the
Houthis are partly responsible for the
current crisis.
WFP has spent nearly two years ne-
gotiating with the rebels about access
to areas they control and monitoring
systems to ensure that aid gets to those
in need, which donors expect in return
for their taxpayer dollars, he said. With
competition for aid, including for the
coronavirus pandemic, the Houthis
were told that “the last thing we need
is these kind of games,” he said.

News in Brief

DUBAI: The UAE has recorded

two deaths due to coronavirus
(COVID-19) and 1,214 cases of
infections in the past 24 hours.
The Emirati authorities on
Wednesday announced that the
tally of infections hit 145,599 cas-
es. Deaths went up to 520.
The recoveries’ total reached
140,442, it revealed. (KUNA)
❑ ❑ ❑
MANAMA: Bahrain’s Ministry
of Health recorded on Wednesday
two COVID-19 deaths, adding up
the death toll to 332, along with
179 infections.
The ministry said through its
Twitter account that 8 of those
cases were from abroad.
Recovered cases amounted to
81,414 cases after registering 189,
with 2,065 active cases, of which
24 people were in intensive care
units. (KUNA)
❑ ❑ ❑
CAIRO: The Egyptian Ministry
of Health and Population said
Wednesday that 227 people tested
positive for the novel coronavirus
and 11 patients succumbed to the
illness over the past 24 hours.
The figures took Egypt’s
caseload to 109,881 and the
death toll to 6,405, the ministry’s
spokesman Dr Khaled Mujahed
said in a press release.
As many as 122 patients have
been discharged from hospitals,
bringing the overall recoveries to
100,662, he added. (KUNA)
❑ ❑ ❑
ALGIERS: The Algerian Ministry
of Health said Wednesday the total
number of deaths and infections in
health sector since the outbreak of
the coronavirus pandemic climbed
to 114 and 7,945 respectively.
This represents a rise in the
mortality rate amongst the medi- Palestinians hold a portrait of Palestinian leader Yasser Arafat and wave yellow Fatah flags during a march to mark the 16th anniversary of his death, in the West Bank city of Ramallah on Nov
cal staff, the ministry said in a 11, 2020. (AP)
statement.
Earlier in the day, the ministry
announced 16 deaths and 811 new 40,000 virus deaths
cases in the last 24 hours, bringing
the caseload to 64,257 and death
toll to 2,093. (KUNA)
❑ ❑ ❑
TUNIS: Tunisia announced a fur-
King Salman points to Tehran Tehran passes
grim milestone
as top threat in policy speech
ther 1,529 confirmed coronavirus
cases on Wednesday pushing the
total infections up to 74,522. TEHRAN, Iran, Nov 12, (AP): Iran on
The pandemic’s death toll has Thursday passed the grim milestone
now reached 2,100, with 51,750 of 40,000 coronavirus deaths, with
people having been cured of the the latest 10,000 added in less than a
disease, the ministry added in a
statement. (KUNA) Saudi King opens Shura Council virtually month, as the country struggles to con-
tain its most widespread wave of infec-
❑ ❑ ❑ tion yet.
RABAT: Morocco registered 81 RIYADH, Nov 12, (Agencies): Saudi Arabia’s King Salman slammed rival Iran and hailed his country’s efforts at com- The Iranian health ministry an-
daily coronavirus deaths and 5,461 bating the coronavirus and stabilizing oil supplies in an annual speech delivered early Thursday. nounced 457 new fatalities on Thurs-
confirmed cases on Wednesday. The speech, which outlined the country’s policy priorities and achievements, was delivered virtually by the 82-year-old monarch to the advisory day, along with 117,517 new infec-
The figures take the death toll Shura Council in the presence of Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman. tions, pushing the total case count
and overall infections to 4,506 and past 726,000, although officials have
270,626, respectively, according On foreign policy, he stressed that threats from Iran remain a top concern. He accused Iran of supporting terrorism and fueling sectarianism in the region.
Although the king made no mention of it in his speech, another issue facing the Kingdom next year will be its relationship with a new US administration led by warned that’s a significant undercount.
to health ministry figures. The death toll has soared in recent
Recoveries also witnessed a President-elect Joe Biden. The Saudi leadership has strongly favored President weeks, shattering records in the nation
rise of 4,892 to 221,743. (KUNA)
❑ ❑ ❑ UK national suffers minor injuries Donald Trump’s maximum pressure policy against rival Iran.
The king stressed the necessity of “finding a radical solution to ensure Iran does
that for months has suffered the worst
outbreak in the Middle East.
BEIRUT: Lebanon on Wednesday not acquire weapons of mass destruction.” Nearly half of Iran’s coronavirus
said it registered 14 new COV- “Saudi Arabia affirms the danger of the Iranian regime’s regional project,” he deaths are recorded in the capital of
ID-19 deaths and 1,922 infections
in the last 24 hours.
Blast in WW1 ceremony in said.
The Kingdom is at war with Iranian-backed Houthi fighters in Yemen. The
Tehran, according to health officials,
where medical workers have warned
The Lebanese Ministry of conflict has killed thousands and created the world’s worst humanitarian disaster. that the health system may soon be
Health said in its daily report that
the caseload climbed to 98,829
and death toll to 763.
Saudi Arabia wounds three During his presidency, Trump blocked a Congressional effort to end US mili-
tary assistance in Saudi Arabia’s war in Yemen and defended the Saudi crown
overwhelmed and demanded a strict
month-long lockdown in all provincial
prince in the face of scathing criticism over the killing of writer Jamal Khashoggi capitals to slow the virus’ spread.
The recoveries rose to 54,869, JEDDAH, Nov 12, (AP): An explo- diplomats were specifically targeted. by Saudi agents in late 2018.
sion at a Saudi cemetery where Amer- She earlier told the French net- But the government has resisted
it noted, indicating that the num- A full day after statements began pouring in from world leaders, the king and shutting down the country, desperate
ber of medical tests conducted ican and European officials were com- work BFM about the moment she Crown Prince Mohammed congratulated Biden on his election win in separate to salvage an economy cratered by un-
Wednesday hit 13,603. memorating the end of World War I heard an explosion as the consul cables late Sunday, noting the “deep historical relations” that exist between the
Tuesday, the Lebanese Higher precedented American sanctions that
wounded three people Wednesday, general was near the end of his two nations – even as Trump refuses to publicly concede. effectively bar Iran from selling its oil
Defense Council announced that according to official statements. speech. In his remarks, King Salman also reaffirmed his support for an independent Pal-
Lebanon would be going under internationally. The Trump adminis-
a full lockdown between Nov 14
The attack in the city of Jiddah “At that moment we didn’t really estinian state with east Jerusalem as its capital, though he also welcomed efforts tration reimposed sanctions in 2018 af-
and Nov 30 in a bid to contain the follows on the heels of a stabbing understand, but we felt that we were aimed at bringing an end to the decades-long conflict. He spoke as neighboring ter withdrawing from Tehran’s nuclear
dangerous spread of coronavirus. last month that lightly wounded a the target because directly we saw UAE and Bahrain are normalizing relations with Israel in moves condemned by deal with world powers.
(KUNA) guard at the French Consulate in the the smoke, and we were of course in the Palestinians. Earlier this week, authorities or-
same city. It’s not clear what moti- panic mode,” she said. “We tried to Domestically, Saudi Arabia is in midst of economic recession this year due to dered a month-long nightly business
❑ ❑ ❑
ANKARA: Turkey said on vated the stabbing or Wednesday’s understand, and we were most of all the pandemic. curfew in Tehran and 30 other major
blast, but France has been the target afraid to see if there was going to be Saudi Arabia’s main source of revenue – its oil exports – have plunged signifi- cities and towns, asking nonessential
Wednesday a further 86 people cantly due to a drop in crude prices. The government projects the gap between
succumbed to the coronavirus and of three attacks in recent weeks that a second wave.” shops to keep their workers home.
2,693 people tested positive for authorities have attributed to Mus- Diplomatic posts have been tar- spending and revenue to reach $79.5 billion this year. Still, enforcement in the sprawling
the disease in the last 24 hours. lim extremists. geted in the past in Saudi Arabia. A “The Kingdom has worked and is still working to ensure the stability of oil sup- metropolis remains a challenge.
The latest figures have risen “Such attacks on innocent people 2004 armed assault on the US Con- plies to the world in a way that serves producers and consumers alike... despite the
coronavirus pandemic and its repercussions on global oil markets,” King Salman said.
As deaths continue to surge with no
the death toll and total infections, are shameful and entirely without sulate in Jiddah blamed on al-Qaeda end in sight, authorities have come un-
since the outbreak of the pandem- He praised the country’s for its presidency this year of the Group of 20 nations der pressure. The national coronavirus
justification,” said a joint statement killed five employees. In 2016, a su- that represent the world’s wealthiest countries, a point of pride the Kingdom has
ic, to 11,145 and 402,053 respec- issued by the embassies of France, icide bomber blew himself up near stressed repeatedly. Saudi Arabia will host leaders of the G-20 later this month task force will consider a two-week
tively, Anadolu Agency quoted nationwide lockdown proposal this
Health Minister Fahrettin Koca as the UK, Greece, Italy and the US, that same US Consulate, wounding for a virtual summit that is expected to focus heavily on global efforts to fight the weekend, Deputy Health Minister Qa-
saying in a statement. whose officials were in attendance. two guards. coronavirus. ssem Janbabaei told the semi-official
The number of recoveries also One UK national suffered minor Saudi state television broadcast The king also thanked the Saudi public for adhering to instructions and mask Tasnim news agency.
rose to 344,613, after 2,112 peo- injuries, according to the British from outside the cemetery and said mandates to curb the spread of the virus as new confirmed cases there have gone Iran’s intelligence ministry arrested
ple were cured. (KUNA) government, while Greece’s For- the security situation had stabilized, down in past weeks. He noted the government has spent $70 billion this year, in a leader of a separatist group alleg-
❑ ❑ ❑ eign Ministry said a Greek police- without elaborating further. part to boost healthcare and help cover private sector wages. The government is edly involved in the killing of dozens
ALGIERS: Algeria registered a man serving in the country’s Con- While the motive behind the blast covering all virus-related medical costs for residents of Saudi Arabia, including of people during a military parade in
new record daily rise in confirmed sulate in Jiddah was wounded. The remains unclear, France has been those in the country illegally. 2018, state-run IRNA news agency re-
coronavirus cases of 811, authori- policeman, who was accompanying the target of several such attacks in Some 10.6 million lower income Saudi citizens also rely on monthly cash assis- ported Thursday.
ties said on Wednesday. a consulate employee attending the recent weeks, including the behead- tance from the government’s so-called “Citizen’s Account.” The average monthly The report said the ministry an-
The total caseload and death ceremony, was hospitalized but his ing of a teacher outside Paris who support for a family is around 1,050 riyals, or $280. nounced that Farajollah Cha’ab was
toll have reached a respective life was not in danger, according to showed caricatures of the Prophet King Salman’s reign since ascending to the throne in 2015 has been marked by arrested and called him “the main
64,257 and 2,093. the ministry. Muhammad (PBUH) to his class sweeping social transformations, as well as the swift rise to power of his son, the person in the terrorist attack” in Sep-
Meanwhile, some 354 people
have been cured of the virus, rais- A Saudi security officer was also during a debate on free expression. crown prince. tember 2018 in the southwestern city
lightly wounded, Saudi state media Three people were later killed in a Speaker In the latest move, the monarch last month appointed a woman as assistant of Ahvaz.
ing the total to 42,980. (KUNA) of the 150-member Shura Council for the first time. Women hold 30 seats The report did not elaborate on
quoted a local official as saying. He church in the southern city of Nice.
❑ ❑ ❑ in the chamber. when or where he was arrested.
added that an investigation was un- The depictions of the Prophet Ayham Kamel, head of Eurasia Group’s Middle East division, said the change
AMMAN: Jordan identified 5,419 derway. sparked protests and calls for boy- reflects efforts at social liberalization. Kamel said there is also an effort to allow The statement said Cha’ab had been
confirmed coronavirus cases, on planning more attacks in Tehran and
Wednesday, raising the tally to Nadia Chaaya, an official who cotts of French products among the Shura Council to become a platform for managed debate, although it has lim- Khuzestan province.
126,401. The Jordanian Premier- represents French citizens living in some Muslims in the Middle East ited powers to push for changes without prior blessing from the royal court. In September 2018, militants dis-
ship and Health Ministry said in a Saudi Arabia who was at the cer- and South Asia. France has urged its Arab Parliament Speaker Adel Al-Assoumi on Wednesday deplored the “ter- guised as soldiers opened fire on an an-
joint statement that some 81 virus- emony, told The Associated Press citizens in Saudi Arabia and other rorist” attack in a cemetery in the Saudi city of Jeddah. nual military parade in Ahvaz city, the
induced fatalities raised the death there were about 20 people of differ- Muslim-majority countries to be “on In a statement, Al-Assoumi stressed the Arab Parliament’s full solidarity with capital of Khuzestan province. At least
toll to 1,467. (KUNA) ent nationalities in attendance, mak- maximum alert” amid the height- Saudi Arabia and his confidence in the Kingdom’s capability to protect its vital 25 people were killed and 70 wounded,
ing it difficult to say whether French ened tensions. facilities, its nationals and foreign residents. including a 4-year-old boy.

INTERNATIONAL
Politics
Trump resistance ignored
Biden promises to
‘get right to work’
PHILADELPHIA, Nov 12, (AP): President-elect
Joe Biden quietly pushed forward with the business
of preparing to become America’s next commander
in chief on Wednesday, ignoring President Donald
Trump’s unprecedented push to block his Democratic
rival’s transition.
Biden stepped away from his closed-door planning
only to honor the nation’s fallen soldiers for a Veter-
ans Day tribute at the Korean War Memorial in Phila-
delphia. The president-elect, whose late son, Beau,
served in the Delaware Army National Guard, made
no public remarks at the small ceremony.
Biden continues to shrug off Trump’s refusal to ac-
cept the election outcome, even as officials in both
parties warn that the Republican
president’s actions could be dan-
gerous.
Raising unsupported claims of
voter fraud, Trump has blocked
the incoming president from
receiving intelligence briefings
and has withheld federal fund-
ing intended to help facilitate
the transfer of power. Trump’s
resistance, backed by senior
Trump Republicans in Washington and
across the country, could also
prevent background investigations and security clear-
ances for prospective staff and access to federal agen-
cies to discuss transition planning.
Biden was not expected to deliver public remarks
on Wednesday, but he sought to lower the national
temperature the previous day as he addressed report-
ers from his makeshift transition headquarters near his
home in downtown Wilmington.
He described Trump’s position as more of an “em-
barrassing” mark on the outgoing president’s legacy
than a genuine hindrance, predicting that Republicans
on Capitol Hill would eventually accept the reality
of Biden’s victory. The Republican resistance, Biden
said, “does not change the dynamic at all in what
we’re able to do.”
Additional intelligence briefings “would be useful,”
Biden added, but “we don’t see anything slowing us
down.”
Measured
The measured comments come as Biden prepared
to confront national crises that threaten the health,
safety and economic security of millions of Ameri-
cans irrespective of the political debate. Coronavirus
infections, hospitalizations and deaths are surging, the
economy faces the prospect of long-term damage and
the nation confronts political and cultural divides.
Biden is betting that his low-key approach and bi-
partisan outreach – a sharp reversal from the current
president’s style – will help him govern effectively
on Day One. But just a little over two months be-
fore Biden will be inaugurated, Trump and his allies
seemed determined to make his transition as difficult
as possible.
From his Twitter account on Wednesday, Trump
again claimed that he was the true winner of last
week’s election and raised new unsupported claims
that “corruption and dishonesty” skewed the results
against him.
The Republican president’s allies on Capitol Hill,
led by Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell,
have encouraged the president’s accusations. Trump’s
tweets have been swiftly flagged by the social media
networks as disputed claims about election fraud.
There is no evidence of widespread fraud in the
2020 election. In fact, election officials from both
political parties have stated publicly that the election
went well, and international observers confirmed there
were no serious irregularities.
The issues Trump’s campaign and its allies have
pointed to are typical in every election: problems
with signatures, secrecy envelopes and postal marks
on mail-in ballots, as well as the potential for a small
number of ballots miscast or lost. With Biden leading
Trump by wide margins in key battleground states,
none of those issues would have any impact on the
outcome of the election.
America’s strongest allies began to acknowledge
what Trump would not. French President Emmanuel
Macron met with Biden via videoconference. German
Chancellor Angela Merkel and British Prime Minister
Boris Johnson, among six world leaders overall, con-
gratulated Biden on his election.
Installing
Trump, meanwhile, ordered major personnel moves
at the Department of Defense – firing Defense Secre-
tary Mark Esper and installing three staunch loyalists
to top defense jobs.
For now, Republicans on Capitol Hill, like those in
the Trump administration, are showing no desire to
question Trump’s unprecedented steps or cooperate
with a Biden administration
Secretary of State Mike Pompeo on Tuesday pre-
dicted there would be a smooth transition – to another
four years of Trump in power. And McConnell largely
endorsed Trump’s approach: “Until the Electoral Col-
lege votes, anyone who is running for office can ex-
haust concerns.”
Biden is spending much of the week working along-
side Vice-President-elect Kamala Harris at a theater
near his home. He is expected to quickly name a chief
of staff and start considering Cabinet appointments,
though those likely won’t be finalized for weeks.
Republicans are increasingly eyeing a December
deadline to publicly accept the election result, giving
Trump time and space to exhaust his legal challenges.
That’s when the states face a deadline to certify results
and a Dec 14 deadline for the Electoral College to cast
its votes. It’s also roughly the same amount of time
it took to resolve the 2000 election dispute between
Republican George W. Bush and Democrat Al Gore.
Biden’s team is calling on the General Services Ad-
ministration, led by a Trump-appointed administrator,
Emily Murphy, to formally recognize Biden’s victory.
Until that happens, Biden will not receive comprehen-
sive security briefings, transition funding or the ability
to communicate with agencies to begin coordinating
the transfer of power.
“Administrator Murphy’s refusal to ascertain Pres-
ident-elect Biden’s victory in the 2020 election puts
American lives at risk,” said Rep Don Beyer, a Vir-
ginia Democrat who led the Obama administration’s
transition at the Commerce Department.
Some former Republican officials agreed.
“Our adversaries aren’t waiting for the transition to
take place,” said former rep Mike Rogers of Michi-
gan, insisting that Biden begin receiving the presi-
dent’s daily briefing immediately. “This isn’t about
politics; this is about national security.”
President-elect Joe Biden and Vice-President-elect Kamala Harris arrive to speak at The Queen theater, on Nov 10, in Wilmington, Del. (AP)
Secretary of State Mike
Pompeo speaks during media
briefing on Nov 10 at the State
Department in Washington.
(AP)
Bridges Avenatti
America
US to provide $50 m to IAEA:
US Ambassador to International
Organizations in Vienna Jackie
Wolcott announced Wednesday
that Washington will provide
USD 50 million in voluntary
contributions to the International
Atomic Energy Agency through
2024, to support IAEAs Peaceful
Uses Initiative (PUI).
The announcement was made
during a webinar hosted by the
IAEA. It marked the 10th anni-
versary of the PUI, which was
launched at the 2010 Review
Conference of the Nuclear Non-
Proliferation Treaty (NPT) with
the support of the United States.
However, US contributions to
the IAEAs PUI total more than
USD 117 million, a US embassy
statement said.
The US, it said, also supports
projects in the areas of human
health, food security, nuclear
power infrastructure, nuclear
safety and security, environmen-
tal protection, and management
of water resources.
Ambassador Wolcott high-
lighted the US commitment to
the NPT’s Article Four which
recognizes the inalienable right
of NPT Parties to develop nucle-
ar energy for peaceful purposes,
in conformity with their non-pro-
liferation obligations under the
Treaty. (KUNA)
❑ ❑ ❑ ❑
Mother of activist dies at 86:
Lucille Bridges, the mother of
civil rights activist Ruby Bridg-
es, who walked with her then-
6-year-old daughter past crowds
screaming racist slurs as she
became the first Black student
at her all-white New Orleans el-
ementary school, has died at the
age of 86.
On her Instagram account
Tuesday evening, Ruby Bridges
said, “Today our country lost
a hero. Brave, progressive, a
champion for change. She helped
alter the course of so many lives
by setting me out on my path as a
six year old little girl. Our nation
lost a Mother of the Civil Rights
Movement today. And I lost my
mom. I love you and am grateful
for you. May you Rest In Peace.”
Bridges gave birth to Ruby in
Tylertown, Mississippi, in 1954
- the same year as the landmark
Brown vs. the Board of Educa-
tion of Topeka, Kansas, decision
that ended racial segregation in
schools.
Her daughter went on to become
an icon of the Civil Rights Move-
ment, memorialized in Norman
Rockwell’s famous painting “The
ARAB TIMES, FRIDAY-SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 13-14, 2020
7
Coronavirus
President-elect intent on easing uncertainties
Top leaders talk to Biden about virus
WASHINGTON, Nov 12, (AP): World decessors did. Trump has constantly com- over concerns about relations with China.
leaders spoke to President-elect Joe Biden plained about the cost of stationing 28,500 But relations between Australia and its big-
on Thursday about cooperating on the US troops in South Korea. A cost-sharing gest trading partner have since deteriorat-
coronavirus pandemic, climate change agreement expired in 2019 and the two ed, with Beijing refusing to take calls from
and other issues, even as President Donald sides have failed to agree on a replacement. Australian government ministers.
Trump’s refusal to concede complicates In an op-ed to South Korea’s Yonhap Japanese Prime Minister Yoshihide
the US post-election transition. News ahead of the election, Biden vowed Suga said he and Biden during their call re-
In his conversations with key Asian al- to strengthen the alliance, rather than “ex- affirmed the importance of their countries’
lies, Biden seemed intent on easing their torting Seoul with reckless threats to re- alliances and agreed to further deepen it
uncertainties about a less-engaged Wash- move our troops.” in face of China’s growing influence and
ington, which built up during the four years Australian Prime Minister Scott Morri- North Korea’s nuclear threat.
of Trump’s “America First” approach. son said he invited Biden to Australia next “We had a very meaningful telephone
A look at their conversations: year to celebrate the 70th anniversary of conversation as I will work with President-
The office of South Korean Presi- the countries’ shared defense treaty. Mor- elect Biden to push forward measures to
dent Moon Jae-in said Biden during their rison said he and Biden during their call strengthen the Japan-US alliance,” Suga
14-minute call reaffirmed the US commit- made clear their commitment to strength- told reporters after speaking to Biden on
ment to defend South Korea and said he ening the bilateral alliance. the phone for about 15 minutes.
would closely coordinate with Seoul in Biden’s office said the leaders “spoke
a push to defuse a nuclear standoff with Agreed about their shared commitment to tackle
North Korea. “We agreed that there was no more climate change, strengthen democracy
Biden’s office said he expressed his de- critical time for both this alliance between around the world, and reinforce the US-
sire to strengthen the US-South Korea alli- ourselves and the United States, but, more Japan alliance as the cornerstone of a pros-
ance as a “linchpin of security and prosper- broadly, the working together, especially perous and secure Indo-Pacific region.”
ity in the Indo-Pacific region.” Biden also of like-minded countries and values that Suga said he told Biden that Japan wants
praised Moon for South Korea’s gains in we hold and share, working together to to pursue the “Free and Open Indo-Pacif-
its anti-virus campaign and discussed co- promote peace, and stability of course in ic,” a vision that it has been promoting with
operation over a global economic recov- the Indo-Pacific region,” Morrison told re- the United States to include “like-minded”
ery and the countries’ “mutual interest in porters. countries in the region, including Austral-
strengthening democracy,” his office said. Biden said he looked forward to work- ia, India and Southeast Asian countries that
Kang Min-seok, Moon’s spokesperson, ing closely Morrison “on many com- share concerns about China.
said the leaders also agreed to meet “pos- mon challenges, including containing the China has built and militarized man-
sibly soon” after Biden’s inauguration on COVID-19 pandemic and guarding against made islands in the South China Sea and
Jan. 20. future global health threats; confronting is pressing its claim to virtually all of the
Moon, who has ambitions for inter-Ko- climate change; laying the groundwork for sea’s key fisheries and waterways. Japan is
rean engagement, helped set up Trump’s the global economic recovery; strengthen- concerned about China’s claim to the Jap-
leader-to-leader nuclear diplomacy with ing democracy, and maintaining a secure anese-controlled Senkaku Islands, called
North Korea’s Kim Jong Un, which has and prosperous Indo-Pacific region,” ac- Diaoyu in China, in the East China Sea.
now stalled over disagreements in ex- cording to his office. China has denied it is expansionist
changing a release of crippling US-led Australia is taking part in large-scale and said it is only defending its territorial
sanctions against the North and the North’s military exercises with the United States, rights. Suga said Biden gave him reassur-
disarmament steps. Japan and India this month for the first time ance that Washington is committed to
But Seoul also struggled to deal with since 2007. protecting Japan’s territorial rights to the
an unconventional US president who saw Australia withdrew from the annual Ex- Senkaku under the bilateral security pact in
much less value in alliances than his pre- ercise Malabar after the 2007 naval drills case of military clash.
Problem We All Live With” which Trial scheduled for Avenatti: has pleaded not guilty. porters Tuesday. “No one wins
depicts a tiny Ruby in a white An April trial date was set Tues- The trial, projected to last two here. I hope that anyone who was
dress carrying her notebooks and day for Michael Avenatti to face weeks, is now set to start more a part of this entire process can
than a year after it was origi- look at this and feel comfortable
a ruler surrounded by much taller charges that he cheated ex-client
U.S. Marshals. But Ruby Bridges Stormy Daniels out of proceeds nally scheduled. The coronavirus that the investigation was done
once credited her parents as the from her book. pandemic forced the long delay. in an impartial manner. That’s
forces behind her history-making U.S. District Judge Jesse M. Avenatti was released on bail in exactly what my team and I did
achievement. April, after saying a recent bout over the past five months.” (AP)
Furman in Manhattan set the
“My parents are the real he- April 21 trial date during a video with pneumonia left him vulner- ❑ ❑ ❑
roes,” the U.S. Marshals Ser- able to the coronavirus behind
conference for the once high-fly- Texas surpasses 1m cases:
vice once quoted her as say- ing California lawyer who regu- bars. He returned to Los Angeles.
In February, he was convicted Texas has become the first U.S.
ing during a ceremony at an art larly criticized President Donald state with more than 1 million
gallery showing the painting. of trying to extort $25 million
Trump while representing the from Nike. He is scheduled to confirmed COVID-19 cases as
“They (sent me to that public stripper and porn star. the nation continues to face a
school) because they felt it was be sentenced in that case next
Avenatti’s attacks on Trump month. surge of infections, according to
the right thing to do.” Mayor La- were made after he sued the pres- data from Johns Hopkins Univer-
Toya Cantrell recognized Lucille He also faces fraud charges in
ident over a payoff Daniels re- California, and two additional tri- sity early Wednesday.
Bridges’ contributions in a state- ceived to remain silent about her The nation’s second-most
als next year are scheduled. (AP)
ment Tuesday night. claims of a tryst with Trump be- populous state has recorded
❑ ❑
“Today we mourn the loss fore he became president. Trump 1,010,364 coronavirus cases
of one of the mothers of the has denied an affair occurred. No charges against officer: with 19,337 deaths since the pan-
Civil Rights Movement in New The president was ordered to pay A grand jury has declined to in- demic began in early March, ac-
Orleans with the passing of Lu- dict an Indianapolis police officer cording to the count on the Johns
Daniels $44,100 in legal fees.
cille Bridges - mother of five, in- Prosecutors say Avenatti, 49, who fatally shot a man in May Hopkins website.
cluding Ruby Bridges,” Cantrell cheated Daniels out of $300,000 during a foot chase after police Texas had recently surpassed
said. “May she rest in God’s per- in proceeds from her 2018 book, said the 21-year-old exchanged California, the most populous
fect peace.” (AP) “Full Disclosure.” Avenatti, who gunfire with the officer. state, in recording the highest
❑ ❑ ❑ wrote the forward for the book, The grand jury’s decision not number of positive coronavirus
to indict Dejoure Mercer, the tests. The true number of infec-
Black officer who shot and killed tions is likely higher because
Dreasjon Reed on May 6, was many people haven’t been tested,
announced Tuesday by special and studies suggest people can
prosecutor Rosemary Khoury. be infected and not feel sick.
Reed also was Black. Texas recorded 10,865 cases on
Reed’s shooting was not re- Tuesday, setting a new daily re-
corded by any police camera cord that surpassed by 74 cases
because the department only be- an old mark set July 15, state
gan implementing a body camera officials said. According to state
program in August. But Reed figures on Tuesday, an estimated
livestreamed an earlier car chase 132,146 cases are active, the
and part of the foot chase on Fa- most since Aug. 17, and 6,170
cebook. COVID-19 cases are hospital-
Khoury, who was appointed ized, the most since Aug. 18.
to oversee the investigation into There were 94 new deaths
Reed’s fatal shooting, had an- Tuesday, according to the Texas
nounced on Aug. 21 that she had Department of State Health Ser-
requested that a grand jury be im- vices.
paneled to handle the final stage Meanwhile, cases of the coro-
of that investigation and consider navirus that causes COVID-19
whether an indictment should be are surging in the Laredo area
Virginia Gov Ralph Northam answers a reporter’s question deal- brought against Mercer. as the borderlands remained a
ing with the state’s COVID-19 updates during a press conference “Fairness. From day one that’s COVID-19 hotbed Tuesday,
at the Patrick Henry Building in Richmond, Va, on Nov 10. (AP) been my goal,” Khoury told re- health officials said. (AP)

In this file photo, Kia
Neros that are part of
the Lyft ride-hailing
fleet sit unused in a
lot near Empower
Field at Mile High in
Denver. (AP)
Market Movements
Change Closing pts
JAPAN - Nikkei +171.28 25,520.88
Economy remains hobbled by uncertainty over future trade relationship between UK and EU
UK economy bounces back in summer but faces wintry chills
LONDON, Nov 12, (AP): The British
economy remained nearly 10% smaller
at the end of the third quarter despite
posting a record bounceback in the
summer, when many of the restrictions
that had been placed on businesses to
control the pandemic were lifted. The
imposition of new limits on public life
in the autumn means the economy will
likely end the year even smaller.
The Office for National Statistics
said Thursday that the economy grew
by 15.5% in the July to September
period. Though that was in line with
market expectations, the data shows
that the recovery was already running
out of steam in September, before a re-
surgence of the coronavirus led to the
economically damaging reimposition
of new restrictions.
The third quarter growth did not
make up for the record 19.8% slump
of the second quarter, when much of
the economy was shuttered to fight the
coronavirus, and the 2.5% fall in the
first three months of the year when the
virus started to affect everyday life.
Despite the third-quarter improve-
ment, the statistics agency said the
economy was still 9.7% below where
it was at the end of 2019.
The worry is that the economy will
shrink again over the winter months
after the resurgence of the virus led
to fresh curbs on everyday life across
the U.K. and amid uncertainty around
whether a post-Brexit trade deal with
the European Union will be reached.
The new restrictions come at a par-
ticularly inopportune time for many
retailers, with Christmas just around
the corner.
Under the terms of the current lock-
down in England, nonessential places
such as pubs, restaurants, hairdressers,
golf courses, gyms, swimming pools,
entertainment venues and stores sell-
ing items like books, clothing and
sneakers, must remain closed until at
least Dec 2. Unlike the spring lock-
down, schools and universities in Eng-
land are remaining open this time, as
are construction sites and factories.
The government has responded to
the new curbs, announcing that its gen-
erous salary support scheme, which
sees it paying 80% of the salaries of
workers retained by firms rather than
fired, will be extended through March.
Treasury chief Rishi Sunak ac-
knowledged that the health measures
taken in the past few weeks “mean
growth has likely slowed further since
then.”
“There are still hard times ahead,
but we will continue to support people
through this and ensure nobody is left
without hope or opportunity,” he said.
In addition to virus developments,
the British economy remains hobbled
by uncertainty over the future trade re-
lationship between the UK and the EU.
Discussions between the two sides are
continuing Thursday.
Though the UK left the EU on Jan
31, it remains within the bloc’s tariff-
free single market and customs union
until the end of the year. For a deal to
pass the necessary legislative hurdles,
an agreement has to be secured soon,
potentially over the next few days.
A trade deal would ensure there are
no tariffs and quotas on trade in goods
between the two sides, but there would
still be technical costs, partly associat-
ed with customs checks and non-tariff
barriers on services.
The government’s current think-
ing on Brexit is unclear, and appears
to have been complicated by bitter in-
fighting within Prime Minister Boris
Johnson’s 10. Downing Street opera-
tion.
Late Wednesday, Lee Cain an-
nounced he was quitting as director
of communications, a move that has
sparked speculation that Dominic
Cummings, Johnson’s top adviser,
could soon leave, further weakening
the pro-Brexit camp. Both Cain and
Cummings worked together on the
2016 Brexit referendum campaign that
was largely fronted by Johnson.
Lowest reading in 5 months
Chinese shoppers spend over
$100 billion in ‘shopping’ fest US consumer prices unchanged in Oct
HONG KONG, Nov 12, (AP): Chi-
nese consumers spent over a hundred
billion dollars during this year’s Sin-
gles’ Day shopping festival, signaling
a rebound in consumption as China
recovers from the coronavirus pan-
demic and a battering of the economy.
From Nov. 1 to Nov. 11, shoppers
spent 498.2 billion yuan ($75.1 billion)
on Taobao and Tmall, the e-commerce
platforms operated by Alibaba, China’s
largest e-commerce company.
The final sales figure exceeded last
year’s $38.4 billion over 24 hours, af-
ter Alibaba extended its sales period
this year for the first time as it sought
12-11-2020
AUSTRALIA - All Ordinaries
CHINA - Shanghai SE
EUROPE - Euro Stoxx 50
FRANCE - CAC 40
GERMANY - DAX
INDIA - Sensex
S. KOREA - KRX 100
709,000 seek US jobless aid
A youth wearing a mask to help protect against the spread of coronavirus, stands outside a currency exchange shop in Istiklal street, the main shopping
street in Istanbul on Nov 10. The Turkish lira lost around 30% of its value since the start of the year. (AP)
Move to boost jobs and sectors hit by the coronavirus pandemic
India announces $35bn economic stimulus package
First net loss in over three decades
Emirates posts $3.8bn in half-year losses
DUBAI, Nov 12, (AP): Emirates
Group, the owner of the Middle East’s
biggest carrier, reported Thursday it
lost $3.8 billion in the first half of the
year, its first net loss in over three dec-
ades after the pandemic wiped out air
travel.
The state-owned company said rev-
enue for its Dubai-based airline, Emir-
ates, had dropped 75% to $3.2 billion
from the same period a year ago, even
with this year’s 52% reduction in op-
erating costs and rise in cargo traffic.
The long-haul carrier parked its
planes for two months as virus-induced
lockdowns took hold around the world.
Even when restrictions were loosened,
passenger traffic was still down 95%
from pre-pandemic levels.
Emirates flew just 1.5 million pas-
sengers between April and September.
Last year, Emirates carried around 58
million, helping Dubai’s airport main-
tain its claim of the world’s busiest for
international travel.
“We began our current financial year
amid a global lockdown when air pas-
senger traffic was at a literal standstill,”
said Chairman Sheikh Ahmed Bin Saeed
Al Maktoum. “No one can predict the fu-
ture, but we expect a steep recovery in
travel demand once a COVID-19 vac-
cine is available, and we are readying
to help boost sales for merchants af-
fected by the coronavirus pandemic.
On rival platform JD.com, con-
sumers racked up 271.5 billion yuan
($40.9 billion) in sales over the same
period.
The annual Singles’ Day shopping
festival, the world’s largest of its
kind, offers shoppers generous dis-
counts on a variety of products, from
fresh produce to luxury items.
Merchants big and small, from
small online stores to international
brands like Apple, Nike and L’Oreal,
participate in the festival by slashing
prices on their products.
Lyft is still feeling the pandemic’s
severe impact on the ride-hailing
industry but its third-quarter results
show signs of a recovery from the
previous three months when pas-
sengers stayed locked down.
The San Francisco-based
company brought in $499.7
million in revenue in the three
months that ended Sept. 30. That
was down 48% from the same
time last year.
But it was up 47% from rev-
Business
Change Closing pts
-31.71 6,619.36
-3.52 3,338.68
-39.10 3,428.20
-82.64 5,362.57
-163.23 13,052.95
-236.48 43,357.19
-26.80 5,249.20
ourselves to serve that rebound.”
The slackening demand for air travel
has forced Emirates Group to lay off tens
of thousands of workers, slashing its to-
tal workforce by 24% to 81,334 “in line
with the company’s expected capacity
and business activities in the foresee-
able future.” Emirates Air had already
announced salary reductions for its staff,
with cuts ranging from 25-30%.
In this file photo, Sheikh Ahmed bin Saeed Al Maktoum, the chairman and
CEO of the Dubai-based long-haul carrier Emirates, speaks at a news con-
ference at the Dubai Airshow in Dubai, United Arab Emirates. (AP)
WASHINGTON, Nov 12, (AP): U.S.
consumer prices were unchanged in
October, the lowest reading in five
months, suggesting that a price spike
over the summer is beginning to fade
as coronavirus cases spread.
The flat reading for last month fol-
lowed a gain of 0.2% in September.
Core inflation, which excludes volatile
food and energy costs, also showed no
changed in October, another indication
that inflation remains well-behaved,
the Labor Department reported Thurs-
day.
Over the past 12 months, overall
inflation is up a moderate 1.2% while
core inflation is up 1.6%. Both read-
Lyft’s results show pain but also hope as some riders return
enue in the April-June quarter.
And while the number of active
riders plunged to 12.5 million
in the latest quarter, down 44%
from the same time last year, that
figure was up 44% from the sec-
ond quarter.
Lyft’s stock rose about 5.5% in
after-hours trading following the
release of the earnings report.
“I want to acknowledge that
2020 has been challenging on
many fronts,” said Logan Green,
Emirates Group’s cash position fell
sharply to $5.6 billion from $7 billion
six months earlier. Like many other
airlines worldwide that have accepted
bailout money, Emirates Air acknowl-
edged receiving a $2 billion lifeline
from the Dubai government, which Al
Makhtoum said would help “sustain
the business and see us through this
challenging period.”
ings are well below the Federal Re-
serve’s 2% target for annual price
gains.
Economists believe the consumer
price index for October shows that
inflation was well contained and
would allow the central bank to keep
interest rates low for a considerable
period.
“Consumer prices accelerated after
the economy reopened. However, the
trend is subdued and overall price pres-
sures remain contained,” said Rubeela
Farooqi, chief U.S. economist at High
Frequency Economics.
Kathy Bosjancic, chief U.S. finan-
cial economist at Oxford Economics,
co-founder and CEO of Lyft, in
a conference call with investors
Tuesday. “We’re proud of our
team’s execution. And we remain
focused on controlling what we
can to support the recovery and
accelerate our path to profitability.”
Lyft lost $459.5 million in the
third quarter, or $1.46 a share,
compared with a loss of $463.5
million, or $1.57 a share, a year
earlier.
Despite the losses, Lyft had
NEW DELHI, Nov 12, (AP): India’s
finance minister on Thursday an-
nounced a $35.14 billion package to
stimulate the economy by boosting
jobs, consumer demand, manufactur-
ing, agriculture and exports hit by the
coronavirus pandemic.
Nirmala Sitharaman said the pack-
age includes 9 billion rupees ($121
million) for development of a COV-
ID-19 vaccine by the government’s
biotechnology department.
The announcement came a day after
Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s Cabi-
net approved nearly 2 trillion rupees
($27 billion) in incentives over five years
to manufacturers in 10 sectors, including
automobiles and auto parts, pharmaceu-
ticals, textiles and food products.
The objective of the incentives is
to attract investment and enable In-
dia to become part of the global sup-
ply chain, Sitharaman said. She also
said a strong economic recovery is
taking root, citing an increase in tax
collections for goods and services.
The government in May announced
a $266 billion stimulus package to
boost consumer demand and manu-
facturing. A large part of the package
was actually loans provided by banks,
many of them without collateral.
India’s economy contracted by
23.9% in the April-June quarter, its
worst performance in at least 24 years
as the coronavirus pandemic rav-
aged what was once the world’s fast-
est growing major economy. Another
downturn is forecast for July-Septem-
ber data due to be announced later this
month.
said that the “benign inflation readings
support our call that the Fed will not
lift-off” its current ultra-low rates until
the middle of 2024.
At its meeting last week, the Fed
left its key policy rate at a record low
of zero to 0.25% and repeated its new
policy guidance that it will keep rates
low to allow inflation to rise above its
2% target for a time in order to drive
unemployment lower.
The new CPI report showed that
used car prices, which had been surg-
ing, retreated slightly in October,
dropping 0.1% after a 6.7% jump in
September which had been the largest
one-month gain in 51 years.
reason for optimism after pre-
vailing last week in California,
where voters passed Proposition
22, allowing it and other app-
based transportation companies
to continue treating their drivers
as contractors instead of em-
ployees. That victory spares the
company from paying for benefits
such as sick time and other ex-
penses steep enough that Lyft
had threatened to shut down op-
erations in the state. (AP)
Pandemic escalates
WASHINGTON, Nov 12,
(AP): The number of peo-
ple seeking U.S. unemploy-
ment benefits fell last week
to 709,000, a still-high level
but the lowest figure since
March and a further sign
that the job market might
be slowly healing.
Yet the improvement will be put
at risk by the sharp resurgence in
confirmed viral infections to an
all-time high well above 120,000 a
day. Cases are rising in 49 states,
and deaths are increasing in 39.
The nation has now recorded
240,000 virus-related deaths and
10.3 million confirmed infections.
As colder weather sets in and fear of
the virus escalates, consumers may turn
more cautious about traveling, shopping,
dining out and visiting gyms, barber
shops and retailers. Companies in many
sectors could cut jobs or workers’ hours.
In recent days, the virus’ resurgence has
triggered tighter restrictions on busi-
nesses, mostly restaurants and bars, in
a range of states, including Texas, New
York, Maryland, and Oregon.
“The risk may be for more layoffs
as coronavirus cases surge and some
states impose restrictions on activity,”
said Nancy Vanden Houten, an econo-
mist at the forecasting firm Oxford
Economics.
Last week’s count of new applica-
tions for unemployment benefits was
down from 757,000 the previous week,
the Labor Department said Thursday.
The still-elevated figure shows that
eight months after the pandemic flat-
tened the economy, many employers
are still slashing jobs.
So far, the spike in viral cases hasn’t
triggered a wave of new layoffs. The
number of applications for unemploy-
ment insurance fell last week in 29
states, including such hot spots as Wis-
consin and Illinois. At the same time,
the figure jumped by more than 5,000
in California, 10,000 in Washington
State and 2,800 in Massachusetts.
The number of people who are con-
tinuing to receive traditional unem-
ployment benefits fell to 6.8 million,
the government said, from 7.2 million.
That suggests that more Americans are
finding jobs and no longer receiving
unemployment aid. But it also indi-
cates that many jobless people have
used up their state unemployment
aid - which typically expires after six
months - and have transitioned to a
federal extended benefits program that
lasts 13 more weeks.
The number of people on federal and
state extended benefits rose 130,000 in
the week that ended Oct. 24, the latest
period for which data is available, to
4.7 million.
The viral outbreak is threatening to
upend the improvement in the job mar-
ket in recent months. The unemployment
rate plunged a full percentage point in
October to 6.9% while employers added
a solid 640,000 new jobs. Yet weekly
applications for jobless aid remain at
historically high levels. The applications
likely include some people who lost jobs
weeks ago but who have had to wait for
states to process their claims. Some of
them might not have filed for benefits
until last week even though they were
laid off earlier.
Workers can also seek aid if they’re
still working but have had their hours
cut. Still others might have lost jobs
more than once; when they file for ben-
efits again, it can count as a new claim.
The economy still has roughly 10
million fewer jobs than it had before
the pandemic - a total that exceeds
all the jobs that vanished in the 2008-
2009 Great Recession. Government
stimulus, in the form of federal unem-
ployment benefits, aid for small busi-
nesses and checks to most individuals
has largely run out. Without further as-
sistance, economists worry that more
restaurants and other small businesses
will close and the plight of the unem-
ployed will worsen.
And unless Congress continues the
extended benefit program, millions of
jobless people will run out of aid en-
tirely by year’s end.
Among them is Victoria Perez, who
was working two delivery jobs before
the pandemic struck. Having lost both
jobs in the spring, she is now living
with her children in city-subsidized
housing near Oakland, California, and
hoping to avoid homelessness.
 ARAB TIMES, FRIDAY-SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 13-14, 2020

BUSINESS 9

Ford adding 350 jobs at 2 plants to make EVs

Ford plans to add 350 jobs at two factories to
meet expected demand for electric vehicles that
haven’t gone on sale yet.
The automaker says it will add 150 workers
at its Kansas City Assembly Plant in Claycomo,
Missouri, to build the new E-Transit full-size van
that will go on sale late next year.
Another 200 workers will be hired at Ford’s
Rouge Electric Vehicle Center in Dearborn,
Michigan, which will build an all-electric F-150
pickup starting in mid-2022.
In addition, Ford says it will invest $100 mil-
lion in the Kansas City plant for an assembly
line that will build the electric vans.
Ford President of the Americas Kumar Gal-
hotra says the company expects strong de-
mand for the vans as many package delivery
companies try to reduce their carbon footprints.
The company also expects high demand for the
electric pickup. Galhotra says production fore-
casts will be released later.
Demand for the electric pickup was higher
than expected after it was announced in Sep-
tember, Galhotra said in an interview. “We im-
mediately started working on increasing the
capacity of the plant,” he said. “We need more
people to assemble the vehicles.”
Ford will reveal details of the E-Transit elec- A row of 2020 F-150 pickup
tric van on Thursday. trucks sits at a Ford dealer-
The company says these are early invest- ship in Denver, in this file
ments in the first phase of its plan to build more photo. Ford plans to add
electric vehicles. Ford has said it will invest 350 jobs at two factories
$11.5 billion in electric vehicle factories through to meet expected demand
2022. Ford also announced Tuesday that it will for electric vehicles that
spend about $150 million at a transmission haven’t gone on sale yet.
plant in Sterling Heights, Michigan, to make (AP)
electric motors and transaxles for new electric
vehicles. No new jobs will be added but the in-
vestment will help keep 225 positions. (AP)

Wall Street scuffles amid pandemic worries

NEW YORK, Nov 12,
(AP): US stocks are scuf-
fling Thursday amid wor-
ries about worsening coro-
navirus counts across the
country.
The S&P 500 was 0.2% lower in
morning trading, a rare stumble in
what’s been a banner month for the
benchmark index. The Dow Jones
Industrial Average was down 109
points, or 0.4%, at 28,288, as of
10:40 a.m. Eastern time, while
the Nasdaq composite was ticking
0.5% higher.
Markets around the world are tak-
ing a pause after galloping higher this
month, at first on expectations that
Washington will continue several
pro-business policies following last
week’s US elections. More recently,
encouraging early results for a poten-
tial COVID-19 vaccine have investors
envisioning a global economy returning
to normal.
Analysts are still largely optimis-
tic the market can climb even higher,
largely because they see a potential vac-
cine as a game changer. The S&P 500
and Dow are both close to their record
highs. But several risks remain that
could trip up markets in the near term.
Rising above them all is the continuing
pandemic, with daily counts climbing
in nearly every state across the country.
The trends are worsening enough in
New York, for example, that the state is
ordering restaurants, bars and gyms to
close at 10 p.m. each night, beginning
Friday. New York had been a hotbed
for the virus early in the year but had
seemed to have gotten it largely under
control. In Europe, several govern-
ments have brought back even tougher
restrictions that will likely restrain the
economy.
“From a health standpoint and eco-
nomic standpoint, the very near term
looks relatively bleak,” said Mike
Dowdall, investment strategist with
BMO Global Asset Management.
But while he says more volatility
may hit the market in the near term as
governments bring back restrictions,
he’s still optimistic about its prospects
into next year.
Analysts largely optimistic the market can climb higher
Currency traders watch monitors at the foreign exchange dealing room of the KEB Hana Bank headquarters in Seoul, South Korea, Nov 12. Stocks fell
back across Asia on Thursday after gains for big technology shares pushed most Wall Street benchmarks higher. (AP)
“If you think back to the dark days
of March, you didn’t know how far
we were from normalization,” he said.
“People were saying it may be years.
But the backdrop from a markets stand-
point is just a lot different than it was
in March.”
Beyond the vaccines in development,
which could get everyday life closer to
normal, he cited the Federal Reserve,
which has already shown it can roll out
bond-buying programs swiftly to sup-
port markets.
Thursday’s slip for the S&P 500
pares its gain for November down to
9.1%. If it holds there, it would still be
the best month for the benchmark index
since April, when the market was first
exploding out of the crater created by
the market’s sell-off amid pandemic
panic. Big Tech stocks were holding up
better than the rest of the market, much
as they have throughout the pandemic.
Investors see them as able to grow their
profits regardless of whether lock-
downs are weighing on the economy.
Microsoft rose 1.1%, and Facebook
gained 0.8%.
Several of the stocks that would ben-
efit most from an economy returning to
normal, meanwhile, were lagging.
Financial stocks in the S&P 500,
whose profits are more closely tied to
the strength of the economy than Big
Tech, fell 1.3% for one of the largest
losses among the 11 sectors that make
up the index. Cruise operator Carnival
fell 3% for one of the larger losses in
the index.
A report on Thursday showed that
the number of layoffs across the coun-
try remains incredibly high, though
it again eased by a bit. Last week,
709,000 workers filed for unemploy-
ment benefits, down from 757,000 a
week earlier. It was also a better read-
ing than economists were expecting.
But economists caution that the num-
bers could climb again if coronavirus
counts keep rising across the country
and trigger more business closures.
A separate report showed that infla-
tion at the consumer level was weaker
last month than economists expected.
Following the reports, Treasury
yields slipped. The yield on the 10-year
Treasury fell to 0.91% from 0.94% late
Tuesday. Trading for US government
bonds was closed Wednesday for Vet-
erans Day.
In European stock markets, the
French CAC 40 fell 1.4%, and Ger-
many’s DAX lost 1.2%. The FTSE
100 in London dropped 0.8% after data
showed the economy slowed in Sep-
tember following strong growth in the
summer. That bodes ill for the autumn,
when new restrictions on businesses
were imposed.
Stocks fell back across Asia on
Thursday after gains for big technology
shares pushed most Wall Street bench-
marks higher. US futures also declined.
Excitement over news of potentially
effective vaccines for COVID-19 has
been tempered by concerns over the
logistical challenges of ensuring ac-
cess to billions of people. Meanwhile,
caseloads are rising, leading govern-
ments to re-instate restrictions on busi-
ness and other activities to battle the
pandemic.
“Vaccine trades reversed to give way
to ‘stay home’ trades,” as shares of
technology companies and others that
do well when people stay home and
work remotely rallied, Mizuho Bank
said in a commentary. But it added,
“Fact of the matter is, progress on vac-
cine development is at worst two steps
forward one step back, and not one step
forward and two steps back on a sus-
tained basis.”
Tokyo’s Nikkei 225 index gained
0.7% to 25,520.88 despite a report
that machinery orders fell in Septem-
ber, suggesting weakness in corporate
investment. The benchmark has been
trading near 30-year highs despite a re-
surgence of COVID-19 cases that has
officials urging people to stay home
over the holidays.
The mood was more somber else-
where in Asia.
Hong Kong’s Hang Seng index fell
0.3% to 26,145.30 and the Shanghai
Composite index declined 0.2% to
3,334.20. In Seoul, the Kospi gave up
0.2% to 2,480.10. Australia’s S&P/
ASX 200 slipped 0.5% to 6418.20.

NBK slips 9 fils, Jazeera Airways soars

Economy to grow 6.5%-7.5%

Malaysia to boost spending

to ‘counter’ impact of virus
KUALA LUMPUR, Malaysia,
Nov 12, (AP): Malaysia’s govern-
ment proposed a larger national
budget in 2021 on Friday to help
the coronavirus-hit economy re-
bound by up to 7.5% and provide
increased handouts for the poor.
The budget is the first by the un-
elected government of Prime Min-
ister Muhyiddin Yassin, who took
power in March after initiating the
collapse of the former reformist
government.
It is a key test of support for
Muhyiddin, who has a slim two-
seat majority in Parliament and
faces challenges from allies in his
coalition and opposition parties.
Finance Minister Zafrul Aziz
told Parliament that the expan-
sionary budget has the people’s
welfare in mind during the pan-
demic and will raise spending to a
record 322.5 billion ringgit ($78.1
billion), up 2.5% from this year.
That includes a sharp rise in de-
velopment spending to 69 billion
ringgit ($1.7 billion) as well as 17
billion ringgit ($4.1 billion) for a
COVID-19 fund.
Zafrul said the economy could
grow 6.5%- 7.5% in 2021, from
a projected 4.5% contraction this
year. The fiscal deficit is projected
to narrow to 5.4% of gross domes-
tic product, down from a projected
6% this year,
“We can argue and disagree on
secondary issues but we should
unite to agree on principle ... let
Malaysia’s Finance Minister Zafrul Aziz delivers the 2021 budget
speech at parliament in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, on Nov 6. (AP)
this budget be the canon of our
unity for the welfare of the peo-
ple,” Zafrul said as he appealed
for support for the proposed
spending.
The budget includes cash hand-
outs for poor families and front-
line workers in the coronavirus
crisis, wage subsidies and funds to
create new jobs and train workers.
Various incentives and subsidies
are also provided for farmers, fish-
ermen and industries to boost pro-
ductivity and woo investors.
A small income tax cut will
benefit 1.4 million taxpayers, and
Malaysians can withdraw some
savings from the pension fund to
tide themselves over during the
crisis.
Domestic demand is expected
to rebound 6.9% after falling 3%
this year. Exports are seen expand-
ing 2.7% after contracting 5.2% in
2020. Unemployment is projected
to drop to 3.5% in 2021, with in-
flation seen at 2.5%.
James Chin, head of Asian stud-
ies at Australia’s Tasmania Uni-
versity, said the increased spend-
ing to boost the economy is much
like what the rest of the world is
doing.
“I would call it a conservative
budget. The additional spending is
small compared to this year. If you
look at countries around the world
they are spending more,” Chin
said. He said he expected spending
to be raised over the year.
Kuwait bourse wraps up week with small losses
By John Mathews
Arab Times Staff
KUWAIT CITY, Nov 12: Kuwait
stocks slipped into red on Thursday ex-
tending last session’s pullback. The All
Shares Index wrapped up the week with
a 18.16 points drop to 5,514.29 pts in
volatile trade led by some of the heavy-
weights.
The Prime Market dipped 29.11
points to 6,103.54 pts while Main
Market was up 4.54 points to 4,344.97
pts. The BK 50 Main index rose 7.85
points to 4,439.88 pts. The volume
turnover meanwhile receded for the sec-
ond straight session. Over 192 million
shares changed hands – down 20 pct
from the day before.
The sectors closed mostly in red.
Consumer Goods outshone the rest
with 1.1 pct gain whereas Industries
shed 0.68 percent, the worst performer
of the day. Banking continued to domi-
nate with 87.2 million shares traded for
KD 45.59 million.
Among the notable losers, sector
bellwether National Bank of Kuwait
slipped 9 fils to 829 fils after trading
27.42 million shares while Boubyan
Bank gave up 5 fils before ending at
625 fils. Humansoft Holding extended
Wednesday’s slide with 73 fils dip to
KD 3.166 while Boursa pulled 18 fils
lower.
Zain eased 1 fil to 616 fils with a vol-
ume of 9.2 million shares while Oore-
doo took in 1 fil. stc stood pat at 884 fils
while Agility extended last session’s
losses with 6 fils drop after pushing 5.5
million shares. KIPCO dialed down 2
fils and KAMCO was unchanged at
71.7 fils. Noor Financial Investment
Co added 3 fils and Gulf Insurance Co
jumped 20 fils to 590 fils.
The market opened firm and ticked
up in early trade. The main index hit
the day’s highest level of 5,535 points
and headed south as sentiment soured
amid selling in some of the counters.
It swayed in both directions before
bottoming at 5,473 pts past the mid-
session and clawed back some of the
losses in the final hour to close with
small losses.
Top gainer of the day, Massaleh
climbed 9.22 pct to 37.9 fils and MENA
rose 5.6 percent to stand next. IFA Ho-
tels and Resorts skidded 6.4 percent, the
steepest decliner of the day and National
Bank of Kuwait topped the volume with
27.4 million shares.
Reflecting the day’s drop, losers
outnumbered the winners. 47 stocks
advanced whereas 61 closed lower. Of
Nissan posts loss amid pandemic, scandal
TOKYO, Nov 12, (AP): Nissan posted
a loss of 44.4 billion yen ($421 mil-
lion) in the last quarter as the pandemic
slammed profitability and the Japanese
automaker fought to restore a brand im-
age tarnished by a scandal centered on
its former star executive Carlos Ghosn.
Nissan Motor Co. had a profit of 59
billion yen in July-September of 2019.
Yokohama-based Nissan reported
Thursday its quarterly sales dipped to
1.9 trillion yen ($18 billion) from 2.6
trillion yen a year earlier.
Nissan officials said its global sales
are expected to recover to pre-pan-
demic levels by December, if improve-
ments continue at the current pace.
Chief Executive Makoto Uchida
promised the company will work hard
to recover and become “a trusted com-
pany,” delivering products that will be
praised as “Nissan-like.”
A section of Nissan’s earnings report
addressed the Ghosn case. Former Nis-
san executive Greg Kelly is standing
trial in Tokyo District Court on allega-
tions of violating the Financial Instru-
ments and Exchange Act in not fully
disclosing Ghosn’s compensation.
Ghosn, who says he is innocent,
jumped bail and fled to Lebanon, which
has no extradition treaty with Japan.
Kelly also says he is innocent.
Nissan, as a company, is not fight-
ing the criminal charges and has paid
an administrative penalty of 1.4 billion
yen ($13 million).
The company reiterated Thursday
that it took what happened seriously
and has taken steps to improve gover-
nance.
In its report, Nissan accused Ghosn
the 122 counters active on Thursday,
14 closed flat. 12,952 deals worth KD
68.3 million were transacted during the
session.
National Industries Group eased 1 fil
to 185 fils with a volume of 2.5 million
shares while Mezzan Holding scaled 7
fils. Boubyan Petrochemical Co gave up
5 fils and Al Qurain Petrochemical Co
took in 1 fil. Integrated Holding rose 4
fils to 361 fils and Aznoula tripped 1 fil
after trading 2.5 million shares.
Jazeera Airways soared 11 fils on
back of 1.8 million shares to 630 fils and
ALAFCO paused at 166 fils. Mashaer
edged 0.8 fil lower to 60 fils and Inovest
fell 3.8 fils to 73 fils. Oula Fuel inched 1
A visitor walks past a car at Nissan Motor Co’s showroom in Tokyo, on
Nov 11. Nissan posted a loss of 44.4 billion yen ($421 million) for the fiscal
second quarter, as the coronavirus pandemic slammed profitability. (AP)
of misusing company assets for person-
al use, such as spending $27 million of
company funds to buy homes in Beirut
and Rio de Janeiro, improper use of the
company jet and donating $2 million to
universities in Lebanon.
Nissan is suing Ghosn, demanding
10 billion yen ($95 million) in dam-
ages.
The company is still bleeding red
ink and expects a 615 billion yen ($5.8
billion) loss for this fiscal year, which
ends in March. That is still an improve-
ment over its earlier projection for a
670 billion yen loss ($6.4 billion).
Nissan posted a 671 billion yen loss
in the previous fiscal year.
The maker of the Leaf electric car
and Infiniti luxury models raised its fis-
fil higher to 120 fils and Soor dialed up
2 fils. IFA Hotels and Resorts tripped
1.1 fils while Gulf Petroleum Invest-
ment paused at 19.1 fils.
Kuwait Cement Co was unchanged
at 238 fils and Kuwait Portland Cement
climbed 7 fils to 800 fils. Burgan Well
Drilling Co and Kuwait Hotels took in
1 fil each whereas Sultan Centre gave
up 2.3 fils. KCPC rose 4 fils to 330 fils
and KPPC eased 0.2 fil. UPAC added 1
fil and Gulf Cable inched 1 fil up to 702
fils and Automated Systems Co eased
0.1 fil. Kuwait and Gulf Links Transport
Co crept 0.3 fil into green and Energy
Holding erased 0.5 fil. Combined Group
Contracting Co added 2 fils and Warba-
cal year sales forecast to 7.9 trillion yen
($75 billion), better than its earlier pro-
jection for 7.8 trillion yen ($74 billion).
Nissan said it’s carrying out cost
cuts; its new Rogue crossover is doing
well in the U.S. market and it remains
a leader in electric vehicles. “We will
maintain the momentum from the sec-
ond quarter with further financial disci-
pline and improvement in our quality
of sales,” Uchida said, while stressing
uncertainties remained because of the
pandemic.
Uchida acknowledged global vehi-
cle sales are bound to decline because
of the pandemic. The latest forecast
says Nissan expects to sell 4.17 million
vehicles for the fiscal year, down from
4.9 million vehicles a year earlier.
cap gave up 0.8 fil. ACICO Industries
fell 3 fils to 96 fils and NICBM clipped
1 fil.
In the banking sector, Gulf Bank
dialed up 2 fils on back of 20.6 milion
shares while Kuwait International Bank
dialed down 2 fils after pushing 5.3
million shares. Burgan Bank stood pat
at 209 fils and Warba Bank gave up 2
fils. Ahli United Bank inched 1 fil up to
244 fils.
The market was mixed during the
week. The main index closed higher in
three of the five sessions gaining 60 pts
week-on-week. It has climbed 92 points
from start of the month but is down 769
points year-to-date.

In this file photo, a parking lot
at a J.C. Penney store seen
empty in Roseville, Michigan.
(AP)
Business Plus
Bidenomics: More stimulus, tougher regulation, and gridlock
President-elect Joe Biden speaks at The Queen theater on Nov 10, in Wilmington, Delaware. Biden will inherit a vulnerable economic recovery under threat from a resurgent virus, likely with a
‘The most important
economic issue today,
tomorrow and into the
next several years is
fiscal policy
’ individuals by reversing much of
‘The question of who
needs life insurance is
very personal, but an
easy way to know if you
need life insurance is to
consider if someone
would suffer financially
if you were to pass
away
’ way through the application process
Biden’s election victory makes another shot of stimulus spending more likely
divided Congress that will hinder his ability to address the challenges. (AP)
By Christopher Rgaber and Tali
Arbel
P resident-elect Joe Biden will
inherit a vulnerable economic
recovery under threat from a resurgent
virus, likely with a divided Congress
that will hinder his ability to address
the challenges.
Yet despite the obstacles, the
former vic-president and senator will
pursue a drastic shift in America’s
economic policy. He has vowed to
reverse much of the Trump adminis-
tration’s aggressive deregulation and
indifference to domestic spending and
economic development in favor of big
investments in education, infrastruc-
ture and clean energy. He wants strict-
er rules to rein in big tech companies
and to fight climate change.
And to help pay for it all, the
president-elect would turn to large tax
increases for corporations and wealthy
President Donald Trump’s tax cuts.
Biden is already distinguishing
himself from Trump in his approach
to the pandemic, which economists
generally see as the gravest threat to
the recovery. Trump saw the pandem-
ic’s impact on the economy through
the lens of government-mandated
shutdowns: He argued that to fight the
pandemic by imposing curbs on face-
to-face businesses like restaurants
– the approach favored by most health
experts – was to doom the economy.
Yet even when states reopened, many
consumers stayed cautious about din-
Smart tactics for millennials buying life insurance
By Andrew Marder
NerdWallet
L ife insurance applications for
Americans have jumped in 2020
as the COVID-19 pandemic has
made us more aware of our own
mortality.
No one has been more inter-
ested in their own life insurance
gaps than the under-45 crowd.
Application activity has grown
almost twice as fast this year for
Americans 44 and younger as for
those 45-59, according to research
through September from MIB
Group, a data-sharing service for
insurance companies.
Younger buyers are often first-
time applicants, digging into the
details to understand how life
insurance works. If you’re looking
for a policy, here’s how to ease your
and get the most out of your new
coverage.
Plan for tomorrow, not today
Many young Americans are
still near the beginning of their
J.C. Penney is on course
to emerge from bankruptcy
by Thanksgiving, after a
U.S. bankruptcy court ap-
proved the sale of the ailing
118-year-old retailer to its
two largest landlords and its
primary lenders.
The U.S. Bankruptcy Court
for the Southern District of
Texas approved a purchase
agreement, announced ear-
lier this fall, that has substan-
ing out, going to movies or flying.
“It wasn’t all about shutdowns – it
was about people getting scared,”
said Claudia Sahm, a former Federal
Reserve economist. “I imagine people
are getting scared again.”
Biden’s view reflects the warning
from most economists that until the
virus is controlled, the economy can-
not fully recover.
“It starts with doing everything
possible to get the COVID-19 under
control,” Biden said Monday, “so that
we can reopen our businesses safely
and sustainably.”
Striking an ominous tone, the
president-elect has warned, “We’re still
facing a very dark winter,” with con-
firmed cases surging by roughly 120,000
a day – four times the pace of last spring.
That trend, along with colder weather,
will severely restrict the outdoor dining
that has been a lifeline for restaurants
and bars across the country. It could also
hamper travel plans and visits to barber
shops and yoga studios.
That slower growth, in turn, could
intensify calls for more stimulus
spending. Most economists, along
with Federal Reserve Chair Jerome
Powell, are warning that the economy
needs more rescue aid from Congress.
The $2 trillion aid package that
Congress approved in March is widely
credited with fueling a sharp eco-
nomic rebound this summer. But that
stimulus is largely exhausted. Without
additional aid, the hardships for
roughly 10 million jobless Americans
and thousands of struggling small
financial journeys. Jobs, homes,
cities and relationships will likely
change over the next decade,
which means needs and dependen-
cies may change too.
“The question of who needs life
insurance is very personal, but an
easy way to know if you need life
insurance is to consider if someone
would suffer financially if you were
to pass away,” Faisa Stafford, presi-
dent and CEO of industry group
Life Happens, said in an email. “If
the answer is yes, then you should
consider life insurance.”
She recommends focusing on
two main issues: replacing your
income and repaying your debts if
you die.
That means thinking ahead to
cover your growing financial com-
mitments as your life changes.
For example, a new homeowner
can skip mortgage protection insur-
ance, which pays off your loan
if you die, and choose a term life
policy instead, suggests Roslyn
Lash, a financial educator in North
Carolina and author of “The 7 Fruits
US bankruptcy court approves sale of J.C. Penney
tially all of J.C. Penney’s retail
and operating assets being
acquired by Brookfield Asset
Management Inc. and Simon
Property Group through a
combination of cash and new
term loan debt. The approval
followed a lengthy court hear-
ing on Monday.
Still, the retailer faces an
uphill battle to attract shop-
pers this holiday season as
they stay away from the malls
businesses will deepen, along with the
economy.
Biden’s election victory makes an-
other shot of stimulus spending more
likely, though probably not until after
his inauguration in January. A pack-
age of $1 trillion to $1.5 trillion would
add as much as 4.5% to growth next
year, according to Capital Economics.
That would be enough to return the
economy to its pre-pandemic level
by the end of 2021. Most economists
note that the economy’s painfully
sluggish recovery from the 2008-2009
Great Recession was due in large part
to government spending limits that
took effect in 2010.
“The most important economic
issue today, tomorrow and into the
next several years is fiscal policy,”
said Eric Winograd, U.S. economist
at AllianceBernstein, referring to the
government’s tax and spending poli-
cies. “With monetary policy (by the
Fed) largely bled dry, fiscal policy is
the only game in town.”
Unlike Trump, Biden regards
big increases in spending on social,
education and development programs
as critical to longer-term growth. The
president-elect has proposed nearly
$5.4 trillion in new spending over the
next decade, according to the Univer-
sity of Pennsylvania’s Penn Wharton
Budget Model. That includes $1.9
trillion on education and $1.6 trillion
on new infrastructure – roads, bridges,
highways and other public structures –
and research and development.
The president-elect has also said he
of Budgeting.” Your mortgage debt
will shrink over time, but your life
insurance benefit stays the same - so
if you die, some of the money could
be used for other priorities, such as
sending a child to college.
Skip the medical exam while
you can
Life insurance applications are
notoriously frustrating. You might
expect to fill out forms, explain
medications and take a life insur-
ance medical exam just to find out if
you’re approved.
While this process is still out
there, simpler options are now
available. “The use of e-signature,
no blood or urine tests, and online
applications all have made life
insurance more accessible to more
people,” Stafford said.
In a growing practice called
“accelerated underwriting,”
many insurers now rely on your
prescription drug use, data about
you from MIB Group and elec-
tronic health records to speed the
process, according to the Society
of Actuaries.
and stores for safety rea-
sons and shop online more.
Meanwhile, Amazon and
big discounters like Walmart
and Target are only getting
stronger as they offer low
prices and one-stop shop-
ping.
J.C. Penney filed for Chap-
ter 11 bankruptcy protection
in May, becoming one of
the largest retailers to do so
during the pandemic amid a
would raise $3.4 trillion in additional
tax revenue over a decade to help
pay for it, Penn Wharton found. He
has proposed raising the corporate
income-tax to 28% from 21%, revers-
ing half of Trump’s cut from 35% in
2017. Biden would also raise income
and payroll taxes for people making
$400,000 a year or more - about 2%
of the population.
Yet Biden may be the first president
since George H.W. Bush not to have
both the House and Senate controlled
by his party during at least his first
two years in office. Whether that
becomes true will depend on the
outcome of two Senate runoff elec-
tions in Georgia in January. But most
observers expect Biden to face a GOP
Senate, which would likely block
much of his agenda. Republican sena-
tors would fight Biden’s tax increases
and at least limit the size of a new
economic stimulus package.
“The outcome of the Senate race,
arguably, is the most important
consideration as far as likely tax
legislation is concerned,” said Robert
Willens, a professor of finance at
Columbia University.
Biden’s spending proposals include
$2 trillion over four years to counter
climate change, a reversal from
Trump’s focus on supporting oil
and gas drilling. He wants to spend
money to retrofit homes and buildings
to make them more energy efficient
and building out an infrastructure for
electric vehicles.
In many areas, Biden can operate
Accelerated applications can cut
approval times down from weeks to
hours, according to the National As-
sociation of Insurance Commission-
ers, with no medical exam required.
Young buyers are often the most
likely to be approved, and there’s
almost no downside. Most insurers
will simply have you take a medical
exam if you aren’t approved without
one.
Don’t assume life insurance is
expensive
Buying now rather than later can
help you save money on life insur-
ance, which makes sense: The older
you get, the more risk you pose
to your life insurance company.
The result is that a policy for a
25-year-old is likely to be much less
expensive than the same coverage
for a 45-year-old.
Many millennials may not
realize the value of buying life
insurance while they’re young and
healthy.
Research by the life insurance
trade group LIMRA shows that
half of millennials overestimate
wave of store closures forced
by the spread of COVID-19
infections in the U.S.
More than two dozen retail-
ers have filed for bankruptcy
protection since the pandem-
ic temporarily closed stores,
restaurants, gyms and other
businesses nationwide. Re-
tailers are worrying about the
effects on their business with
a surge of new cases all over
the country. (AP)
through executive orders or regula-
tion. He could also reverse much
of the administration’s approach to
legal immigration, which has cut the
annual number of new arrivals to to
about 600,000 from 1 million. Most
economists say the effects of Biden’s
policies would be negligible in the
short run but would expand the na-
tion’s long-run economic output by
accelerating population growth.
Biden also plans to rejoin the Paris
Agreement on behalf of the nation
and has said he will sign executive
orders to fight climate change. He
aims to stop climate-damaging emis-
sions from power plants by 2035 and
to reach net-zero emissions in the
economy overall no later than 2050.
The president-elect could also
reverse some of Trump’s executive
orders by imposing tougher fuel
economy standards, compelling coal
plants to reduce emissions or restor-
ing requirements that strengthen the
oil and gas industry’s reporting and
reduction of toxic chemicals.
On trade, Biden will jettison
Trump’s go-it-alone style in confront-
ing China. Instead, the president-elect
says he will seek to build alliances
with Europe and Japan to confront
China’s government subsidies, intel-
lectual property rights violations and
market restrictions, among other trade
concerns.
To maintain those alliances, Biden
is all but certain to drop his predeces-
sor’s inclination to target America’s
allies by threatening tariffs on car
imports from Europe, or imposing tar-
iffs on steel imports from Canada and
Mexico. Still, Democrats in Congress
are suspicious of China, and trade ten-
sions will likely persist.
Trump has sought to ban Chinese
apps TikTok and WeChat and has
taken steps to root out Huawei from
the small space it occupies in US
telecom networks. He has done so
while pressuring other countries not
to use Huawei in their next-generation
5G networks.
Though Republican and Democrats
are both suspicious of Huawei, Tik-
Tok could get a reprieve under Biden.
Robert Atkinson, the president of the
Information Technology and Innova-
tion Foundation, which is funded by
U.S. tech companies, said the TikTok
ban was “much more of a Trump is-
sue” that Biden might drop.
The president-elect could continue
the government’s rising efforts to curb
the outsize power of the tech industry.
The Trump administration launched
what could be a landmark antitrust
case against Google that will likely
continue.
And, like the Trump administration,
Biden has also taken aim at Section
230, a law that is foundational to the
modern internet and gives tech firms
liability protection from lawsuits for
what users post. The president-elect
has said it should be revoked. Trump
and other Republicans have baselessly
asserted that the social media com-
panies were censoring conservatives.
Democrats criticize the law because
they think social-media companies are
failing to suppress misinformation and
hate speech.
Atkinson said he also sees rela-
tions between the White House and
business returning to a more normal,
predictable state under Biden, after
Trump’s willingness to loudly con-
demn companies that criticized him.
“If they would ever pressure a
company, it would be very quiet,” At-
kinson said. “Biden is not going to use
the bully pulpit to name and shame
American companies.” (AP)
the cost of coverage. Only 52%
own life insurance, even though
80% recognize they need it, ac-
cording to LIMRA.
But the 2020 pandemic is pro-
viding new motivation. In Octo-
ber, nearly 1 in 3 millennials said
they feel an increased need for
life insurance due to COVID-19,
according to consumer research
from LIMRA.
To get started, all you have to
figure out is how much you need
and for how long you need it. Think
about the people who depend on
you. How much money would they
need to pay off the house? How
long would they need to finish
school or find a job?
Stafford suggested starting with
a general guide to determine your
coverage need: 10 times your an-
nual salary.
“But since finances are com-
plicated, working with a financial
professional can help you figure out
how much coverage you need for
your own personal situation,” she
said. (AP)
 ARAB TIMES, FRIDAY-SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 13-14, 2020

SCIENCE 11

Climate

US coral reefs decline

Hurricanes lasting
longer & stronger
NEW YORK, Nov 12, (AP): Hurricanes are keeping their
staying power longer once they make landfall, spreading more
inland destruction, according to a new study.
Warmer ocean waters from climate change are likely mak-
ing hurricanes lose power more slowly after landfall, because
they act as a reserve fuel tank for moisture, the study found.
With Hurricane Eta threatening Florida and the Gulf Coast in
a few days, the study’s lead author warned of more damage
away from the coast than in the past.
The new study looked at 71 Atlantic hurricanes with land-
falls since 1967. It found that in the 1960s, hurricanes declined
two-thirds in wind strength within 17
hours of landfall. But now it generally
takes 33 hours for storms to weaken
that same degree, according to a study
in Wednesday’s journal Nature.
“This is a huge increase,” study au-
thor Pinaki Chakraborty, a professor of
fluid dynamics at the Okinawa Institute
of Science and Technology in Japan.
“There’s been a huge slowdown in the
decay of hurricanes.”
Hurricane Florence, which in 2018
caused $24 billion in damage, took
McNoldy nearly 50 hours to decay by nearly two-
thirds after making landfall near Wrightsville Beach, North This enhanced satellite image made available by NOAA shows Tropical Storm Florence, (upper left), in the Atlantic Ocean on Tuesday, Sept. 11, 2018 at 3:30 p.m.
Carolina, Chakraborty said. Hurricane Hermine in 2016 took EDT. At center is Tropical Storm Isaac and at right is Hurricane Helene. According to a study released on Wednesday, Nov. 11, hurricanes are keeping their staying
more than three days to lose that much power after hitting power longer once they make landfall, spreading more inland destruction. (AP)
Florida’s Apalachee Bay.
As the world warms from human-caused climate change,
inland cities like Atlanta should see more damage from future
storms that just won’t quit, Chakraborty said.
Coronavirus
“If their conclusions are sound, which they seem to be, then
at least in the Atlantic, one could argue that insurance rates
need to start going up and building codes need to be improved
... to compensate for this additional wind and water destruc-
tive power reaching farther inland,” said University of Miami
‘Younger adults often have no symptoms’
hurricane researcher Brian McNoldy, who wasn’t part of the
study.
There’s less study of what hurricanes do once they make
landfall than out at sea, so Chakraborty said he was surprised
Fever, symptom checks miss cases
when he saw a noticeable trend in decay taking longer. Before
he started the study, Chakraborty said he figured the decline in NEW YORK, Nov 12, (AP): Tempera-
ture and COVID-19 symptom checks
power shouldn’t change over the years even with man-made
climate change, because storms tend to lose strength when cut like the ones used at schools and doc- Russia says ‘experimental’ COVID-19
off from warm water that fuels them. tor’s offices have again proved inad-
It stops going, like a car that runs out of gas, he said.
But hurricanes aren’t running out of gas as much, especially
equate for spotting coronavirus infec-
tions and preventing outbreaks.
vaccine 92pct effective on early data
in the last 25 years when the trend accelerated, Chakraborty A study of Marine recruits found MOSCOW, Nov 12, (AP): Devel- tions must have occurred among
said. To find out why, he charted the ocean temperature near that despite these measures and strict opers of Sputnik V, Russia’s ex- those who received the placebo.
In this Sept. 15, 2020, file photo, a quarantines before they started train- perimental COVID-19 vaccine, It remained unclear from the
where the hurricane had traveled and found it mirrored the de- Russian medical worker administers
cay trend on land. ing, the recruits spread the virus to announced Wednesday that early, statement how coronavirus was
a shot of Russia’s experimental Sput- others even though hardly any of them interim data from a large trial sug- diagnosed among the participants
Researchers then simulated hurricanes that were identical nik V coronavirus vaccine in Moscow,
except for water temperature. Seeing the warmer water storms had symptoms. None of the infections gests the shot appears to be 92% of the trial and whether all of them,
Russia. (AP) were caught through symptom screen- effective. including those showing no symp-
decayed slower, they reached their conclusion: The trend The statement, which did not in- toms, were tested for the virus.
showing a slowdown of hurricane decay resulted from warmer ing.
The study, published Wednesday in clude detailed information about The release of “the interim results
ocean water temperatures, caused by the burning of coal, oil the trial, comes just two days after of the post-registration clinical tri-
and natural gas. the New England Journal of Medicine,
“That’s an amazing signal that they found,” said National Health has implications for colleges, prisons, a similar one from Pfizer Inc., but
is based on far fewer virus cases.
als that convincingly demonstrate
Sputnik V vaccine’s efficacy gives
Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration climate and hurri- meatpacking plants and other places Some experts suggest the data way to mass vaccination in Rus-
cane scientist Jim Kossin, who wasn’t part of the study but did that rely on this sort of screening to de- may have been rushed out in an ef- sia against COVID-19 in the com-
review it for the journal Nature. ‘Measles case confirmed’: King Coun- tect infections and prevent outbreaks. fort to keep up with the worldwide ing weeks,” Alexander Gintsburg,
This study joins previous studies, many by Kossin, that ty health officials say they’ve confirmed a “We spent a lot of time putting race for a successful coronavirus director of the Moscow-based Ga-
show tropical systems are slowing down more, wetter, moving new measles case in a child, with possible measures like that in place and they’re vaccine. maleya Insitute that developed the
more toward the poles - and that the strongest hurricanes are exposures at the Seattle-Tacoma Interna- probably not worth the time as we had Russia touted Sputnik V, a two- vaccine, was quoted as saying in
getting stronger. tional Airport. hoped,” said Jodie Guest, a public shot vaccine, as the world’s first to the statement.
Public Health — Seattle & King County health researcher at Atlanta’s Emory receive a government go-ahead af- The announcement comes just
❑ ❑ ❑ officials said Wednesday that the highly- University who had no role in the re- ter it was approved in early August two days after Pfizer sparked world-
A first of its kind assessment of coral reefs in US waters is contagious infection likely happened while search. without completing advanced test- wide optimism by reporting that an
again sounding the alarm over the continued decline of these the child was traveling outside the United “Routine testing seems to be better in ing. The move drew considerable early peek at its vaccine data sug-
sensitive underwater ecosystems, which scientists deem essen- States. Before the child was diagnosed, he criticism from experts who said data gests it is 90% effective - though
had been on Nov 5 near the airport’s Gate this age group” because younger adults
tial to the health of the world’s oceans amid the environmental often have no symptoms, she said. from tens of thousands of people Pfizer also did not provide a de-
effects posed by human activity and climate change. N-11 and Carousel 13 in the baggage claim were needed to ensure the safety tailed look at its data. The Direct
area. Health officials are advising anyone Quarantine and effectiveness of the vaccine Investment Fund has not imme-
The report, released Tuesday by the National Oceanic and who was in that area from 10 pm to 12:30
Atmospheric Administration and the University of Maryland, The study was led by researchers before it is given widely. diately responded to a request for
am that they could have been exposed to Russian officials announced comment whether the analysis was
took stock of the health of coral reefs under US jurisdiction, measles. from the Icahn School of Medicine at
from Guam and Hawaii in the Pacific to Florida and the US advanced studies among 40,000 planned in advance or inspired by
“Most people in our area have immunity Mount Sinai in New York and the Na- volunteers two weeks after it re- the Pfizer statement.
Virgin Islands in the Atlantic. to the measles through vaccination, so the val Medical Research Center. ceived government approval. On Ilya Yasny, head of scientific re-
“Our work in the Pacific and Atlantic Oceans shows a dire risk to the general public is low,” the state- It involved 1,848 Marine recruits, Wednesday, Russia’s Direct Invest- search at the Russian investment
outlook for coral reef ecosystem health, from warming ocean ment said. If people aren’t sure if they are up about 90% of them men, who were ment Fund that bankrolled the effort fund Inbio Ventures, pointed out to
waters, fishing, disease, and pollution from the land,” said to date with the measles, mumps and rubella told to isolate themselves for two announced that an analysis of the the AP that the efficacy rates may
Heath Kelsey, director of the University of Maryland Center vaccine, health officials said people should weeks at home, then in a supervised early data of the study showed that change once all 40,000 volunteers
for Environmental Science. check with their health care provider. military quarantine at a closed college the vaccine “had an efficacy rate of are given the shots. “How the num-
The reefs off the Florida coast are the country’s most de- Measles is a highly contagious and po- campus, The Citadel in Charleston, 92%.” bers will change once all 40,000
graded, with perhaps as little as 2% remaining, officials said. tentially severe disease that causes fever, South Carolina, for two more weeks. The interim analysis looked at people are given shots is unclear,”
When healthy, coral constitute breathtaking underwater rash, cough, and red, watery eyes. It mainly 20 confirmed coronavirus infec- Yasny said. “I would say it is pre-
spreads through the air after a person with That included having a single room-
colonies of tiny organisms, known as polyps, whose hard- mate, wearing masks, keeping at least tions registered so far among over mature to draw conclusions from
ened skeletons form clumps or fingerlings of underwater rock measles coughs or sneezes. 16,000 volunteers who received the analysis.”
Measles is contagious from about four 6 feet apart and doing most training
known as reefs. The profusion of life they support, including outdoors. They also had daily fever both of the two shots of either the According to the statement, as
days before the rash appears through four vaccine or the placebo, the Fund’s many as 10,000 people from “high-
fish and other aquatic creatures, is an important component of days after the rash appears. (AP) and symptom checks.
the marine ecosystem. statement said. More than 20,000 risk groups,” such as medical work-
❑ ❑ ❑ The recruits were tested for corona- trial participants have so far re- ers, have already been vaccinated
The reefs are natural barriers to storm surges, particularly in virus when they arrived for the mili-
regions susceptible to hurricanes. 1,897 virus cases in Japan: Japan re- ceived just one shot. outside of the trial, despite multiple
tary quarantine and 7 and 14 days af- Some outside experts deemed expert warnings against wider use
And they also are important to coastal economies that de- ported 1,897 new cases of the coronavirus terward. Sixteen, or about 1%, tested
pend on tourism, marine aquaculture and commercial fishing over the last 24 hours as of 4:00 pm (0700 the results of the interim analysis until all the tests are completed.
positive on arrival and only one had promising and consistent with what At the same time surveys show
- the so-called blue economy that depends on the conservation GMT) on Thursday, raising the nation’s to- any symptoms. Another 35 -- an addi-
tal number to 113,327, the health ministry the studies of the Pfizer vaccine that many Russians are skepti-
of ocean resources to help sustain livelihoods from the sea. tional 2% -- tested positive during the showed, but questioned the timing cal about the shots. According to
“The economic impacts of coral reefs in the United States and local authorities said.
The country’s cumulative death toll rose two-week military quarantine and only of its release. a late August poll by the Levada
are around $3.4 billion annually. So this is really of great im- four had symptoms. “Whilst encouraging, I worry that Center, Russia’s top independent
portance to our nation,” said retired Navy Rear Adm. Tim Gal- by 11 to 1,867.
Tokyo added 393 new infections, sur- Only recruits who tested negative these data have been rushed out pollster, 54% of Russians were not
laudet, an assistant secretary at NOAA. at the end of both quarantine periods on the back of the Pfizer/BioNtech prepared to take the widely publi-
Officials said it was the first time that a nationwide assess- passing 300 for the second straight day,
which brought the total cases in the Japa- were allowed to go on to Parris Island announcement earlier in the week. cized shots.
ment was conducted, despite years of concern over the health nese capital to 33,770. for basic training. The Sputnik data are based on But neither the international criti-
of coral reefs, not just in the U.S. but around the world. Some The tallies exclude those who were Genetic testing revealed six separate only 20 cases of COVID-19 in the cism, nor the domestic skepticism
studies say more than half of the world’s reefs have been lost, linked to the virus-hit Diamond Princess clusters of cases among the recruits. trial participants, compared to more stopped Russia from promoting
and that more are in danger. cruise ship in February. “A lot of the infection that occurs, than 90 cases in the earlier trial,” El- Sputnik V abroad. In Wednesday’s
The status report used data collected between 2012 and Amid the recent surge in fresh infections eanor Riley, professor of immunol- statement, Russia’s Direct Invest-
we don’t even realize it is occurring,” ogy and infectious disease at the ment Fund said that it had requests
2018 and classified regions as “very good,” “good,” “fair,” nationwide, the government decided Thurs- said one study leader, Navy Cmdr.
“impaired,” and “critical.” day to maintain restrictions on sporting and University of Edinburgh, said in a for more than 1.2 billion doses of
Andrew Letizia, a doctor at the Naval statement. the jab from over 50 countries, and
While the report says the condition of most coral reef re- other major events until the end of February Medical Research Center.
gions in the United States was “fair,” it added that sewage, next year. Ravindra Gupta, professor of existing contracts with international
The quarantine measures and ad- clinical microbiology at the Uni- partners “enable the production of
lawn chemicals and other pollutants that flow into the oceans The decision was made at a meeting of herence to them were far more strict
the government subcommittee on coun- versity of Cambridge, also pointed 500 million doses of the Sputnik V
pose potentially catastrophic threats to their survival. than what would occur at a typical at a small number of virus cases. vaccine outside Russia annually.”
That threat is most pronounced in waters off South Florida, termeasures against the coronavirus, Eco-
nomic Revitalization Minister Yasutoshi college campus, said another study “They’ve calculated a 92% protec- Russia currently has the fifth
from the Keys to north of Palm Beach. The regions is one of leader, Mount Sinai’s Dr. Stuart Seal- tion rate, but among 20 infections. largest coronavirus caseload in the
the country’s densest population centers with a population of Nishimura, who is also in charge of the
coronavirus response, told reporters. fon. That’s fairly small numbers. So we world, with a total of over 1.8 mil-
more than 9 million. “This is a really infectious virus. want to see the whole results even- lion confirmed cases. The country
“It shouldn’t be surprising. There’s an immense population In September, the government relaxed re-
strictions on at large-scale events, allowing You really need to use a combination tually,” Gupta told The Associated has been swept by a resurgence
of people living in close proximity to those reefs,” said Jennifer them to have attendees of up to 50 percent of good public health measures, tem- Press. of the outbreak since September,
Koss, the director of NOAA’s coral reef conservation program. of venue capacity. (KUNA) perature checks, mask wearing, social The early Russian data released with daily new infections spiking to
But even in more remote oceans where human interaction Wednesday didn’t break down how around 20,000 this week. The gov-
is limited, coral reefs remain under threat because of climate ❑ ❑ ❑ distancing, hand washing ... and com-
many volunteers received the vac- ernment’s coronavirus task force
prehensive testing” to prevent spread, has registered a total of more than
change, which has caused oceans to warm and make some New Delhi cases spike again: India he said.
cine and how many got dummy
coastal areas inhospitable to delicate coral. reported 47,905 new cases of coronavirus shots, but the 92% effectiveness 31,000 deaths since the start of the
infection with New Delhi setting another
Previously, federal officials said a rate indicates that nearly all infec- pandemic.
“Climate change is the single biggest threat to shallow wa- screening project to check tempera-
ter coral reefs in the U.S. and worldwide,” said Kelsey of the daily record Thursday.
The surge of 8,593 cases in the nation’s tures and symptoms at US airports
University of Maryland. caught fewer than 15 cases out of on an outbreak last spring on the air- The case shows that “young, healthy
The report, its authors signaled, is meant to be a call to arms. capital is the highest for any major Indian
city and comes as people crowd shopping 675,000 travelers. It’s not known how craft carrier USS Theodore Roosevelt. persons can contribute to community
“This report represents a snapshot of reef condition and is a many cases were missed, just that very Among the crew of 4,779, mostly spread of infection, often silently,” Dr.
great resource for communities and decision-makers through- areas ahead of Diwali, the Hindu festival of
lights, on Saturday. few were detected. young people, 1,271 became infected; Nelson Michael of the Walter Reed
out the nation. We hope the report starts a dialogue about the A separate study published Wednes- 77% did not show symptoms when di- Army Institute of Research wrote in a
various factors and potential solutions to the threats affecting Deaths, too, are climbing again, with 85
in New Delhi in the past 24 hours. Deaths day in the New England journal reports agnosed and 55% never developed any. commentary.
coral reefs,” Koss said. are a lagging indicator of the impact of the
Most U.S. territories were designated as “fair,” including virus, due to long periods of illness and
those in Hawaii and Puerto Rico. Reefs were in American Sa- medical treatment.
moa and the most remote areas of the Pacific were in “good con- Overall, India’s new cases held steady.
dition.” Florida reefs were said to be in “impaired” condition. The Health Ministry also reported 550 movements of the Auckland student who
by the end of November and chief minister
Officials in the state of Florida have become more mindful deaths in the past 24 hours, taking total fa- works at a clothing store. They say the stu-
of the streams of pollution flowing into its coastal waters and Arvind Kejriwal has written to the fed-
talities to 128,121. eral health ministry stating that its hospitals dent lives next door to a hotel where people
the harm they can do to coral. The pollutants also have been India’s tally of confirmed cases -- cur- arriving from abroad are being quarantined,
blamed for red tides and other ecologically devastating algae rently the second largest in the world behind would need over 20,000 more beds for treat-
the United States - has exceeded 8.6 million. ing patients. Meanwhile, health officials in some of whom have tested positive over re-
blooms.
Meanwhile, the New Delhi High Court New Zealand have asked people who work cent weeks. COVID-19 Response Minister
A bipartisan federal bill cosponsored by lawmakers from
ordered authorities to take the surging coro- in central Auckland to stay home on Fri- Chris Hipkins says authorities are testing the
Hawaii and Florida - two of the states with the highest stakes
navirus spread seriously as people were ig- day or limit their movements while they genome of the student’s case to see if there is
on the matter - would provide federal funding to help restore
and manage the nation’s reefs. noring masks and social distancing norms. continue to investigate a coronavirus case a connection to the hotel cases, and they will
The Delhi government says that cases from an undetermined source. Authorities announce Friday whether they’ll be changing
are projected to rise to nearly 12,000 daily say they’re urgently investigating the recent Kejriwal Nishimura New Zealand’s alert levels. (AP)
 ‘Fictitious Hamilton of the musical is just fictitious’

Research sheds light on Alexander Hamilton as slave owner

ALBANY, N.Y., Nov 12, (AP): A new research paper takes a swipe at
the popular image of Alexander Hamilton as the abolitionist founding
father, citing evidence he was a slave trader and owner himself.
“Not only did Alexander Hamilton enslave people, but his involve-
ment in the institution of slavery was essential to his identity, both per-
sonally and professionally,” Jessie Serfilippi, an interpreter at a New
York state historic site, wrote in a paper published last month.
Hamilton is almost universally depicted as an abolitionist in popu-
lar modern works, from Ron Chernow’s 2004 biography, “Hamilton,”
to Lin-Manuel Miranda’s Tony Award-winning show, “Hamilton: An
History
riod and the early American republic. Alexander Hamilton as an en-
slaver broadens the discussion.”
Chernow called the paper a “terrific research job that broadens our
sense of Hamilton’s involvement in slavery in a number of ways.” But
he questioned her claim that slavery was “essential to his identity,” and
said Serfilippi omitted information that would contradict her conclu-
sions.
For example, Chernow noted Hamilton’s work with the Manumis-
sion Society to abolish slavery in New York and defend free Blacks
when slave masters from out of state tried to snatch them off New
Albany Mayor Kathy Sheehan ordered the removal of the Maj. Gen.
Philip Schuyler statue earlier this year in part because he was “report-
edly the largest owner of enslaved people in Albany during his time,”
according to the mayor’s office.
Serfilippi challenges the often repeated claim that Hamilton’s ex-
posure to the brutalities of slavery during his childhood on St. Croix
instilled a hatred of slavery. She said “no primary sources have been
found to corroborate” that.
Biographers have noted that Hamilton helped legal clients and fam-
ily members buy and sell slaves, but they’ve been less clear on whether

American Musical.”
But after poring over ledgers and correspondence of Hamilton and
his wife, Eliza Schuyler Hamilton, Serfilippi, who works at the Schuyler
Mansion State Historic Site in Albany, concluded that image falls short.
“It is vital that the myth of Hamilton as ‘the Abolitionist Found-
ing Father’ end,” Serfilippi writes in the paper, entitled, “‘As Odious
and Immoral a Thing’: Alexander Hamilton’s Hidden History as an
Enslaver.” Her research was published on the New York state park
system website.
The paper adds to a concern voiced by many academics that the ficti-
tious Hamilton of the musical, who attacks slavery in a rap battle with
Thomas Jefferson, is just that: fictitious.
“Fascinating article,” tweeted Harvard Law professor and historian
Annette Gordon-Reed, who has criticized the Broadway show in the
past. “Reminds of the ubiquitous nature of slavery in the colonial pe-
York streets.
“Had she tried to reconcile these important new findings with a full
and fair statement of Hamilton’s anti-slavery activities, we would have
gotten a large and complex view of the man and her paper would have
been far more persuasive,” Chernow said via email.
Discussion
Miranda declined to comment through his publicist. In past inter-
views, he’s said he welcomes discussion of both Hamilton’s role in
slavery and criticism of his show’s handling of that part of his life.
When Hamilton married into the powerful Schuyler family in 1780,
slavery was common among New York state’s elite. More than 40 peo-
ple were enslaved at the Schuyler family’s Albany mansion and anoth-
er estate over the years. The historic site has done extensive research
into the family’s so-called “servants” and incorporates it into its tours.
he enslaved people himself. Serfilippi said notations in his cash books
and in family letters clearly show he did.
For example, Hamilton’s cash books record a payment of $250 to
Philip Schuyler in 1796 for “2 Negro servants purchased by him for
me.” Another entry records receiving $100 for lending a “Negro boy”
to another person. And Serfilippi notes an inventory made of Hamil-
ton’s property to settle his affairs after his death in the duel with Aaron
Burr in 1804 includes “servants” valued at 400 pounds.
Joanne Freeman, Yale history professor and editor of the Library of
America edition of Hamilton’s writings, said via email that, “It’s fitting
that we are reckoning with Hamilton’s status as an enslaver at a time
that is driving home how vital it is for white Americans to reckon —
seriously reckon — with the structural legacies of slavery in America.”
Serfilippi said her research interest goes beyond debunking myths
about Hamilton.

Variety
Features

This image released by Paramount Pictures shows Margot Robbie in a scene from ‘Dreamland.’ (AP)

Film

NEW YORK: The New Yorker

Depression-era drama in ‘Dreamland’
has fired longtime staff writer
Jeffrey Toobin after he reportedly
exposed himself during a Zoom
conference last month. He had
already been on suspension and is
Robbie’s glamour cuts through dust
FRIDAY-SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 13-14, 2020

also on leave from CNN, where he
is chief legal analyst.
“I was fired today by @
NewYorker after 27 years as a
Staff Writer. I will always love
the magazine, will miss my col-
leagues, and will look forward
to reading their work,” Toobin
tweeted Wednesday.
In a company memo, Conde
Nast Chief People Officer Stan
Duncan wrote that its “investiga-
tion regarding Jeffrey Toobin
is complete, and as a result, he
is no longer affiliated with our
company.”
“I want to assure everyone
that we take workplace matters
seriously. We are committed to
fostering an environment where
everyone feels respected and
upholds our standards of conduct,”
Duncan said.
Toobin, 60, is one of the coun-
try’s most prominent legal authors
and commentators. He is a former
associate counsel in the Department
of Justice who for the New Yorker
has written about everything from
the O.J. Simpson murder trial
to the impeachment hearings of
President Donald Trump.
He has been with CNN since
2002 and is the author of several
books, most recently “True Crimes
and Misdemeanors: The Investiga-
tion of Donald Trump,” published
in August. His 1996 book, “The
Run of His Life: The People v.
O.J. Simpson,” was adapted into
an FX series. (AP)
❑ ❑ ❑ detective magazine from a newsstand. One day he
NEW YORK: The Associated
Press has pulled out of its planned
coverage of Wednesday’s Country
Music Association Awards show
due to restrictions that have been
placed on still photographers and
screen captures of the broadcast.
The wire service has refused to
accept limitations that organizers
of the show have placed on images
from the venue that it believes af-
fects its ability to accurately report
on the event. The restrictions pre-
vent AP from providing coverage
of the ceremony “to its standards,”
according to an advisory it sent to
members. The AP will not write
about, take images of or shoot
By Jocelyn Noveck
D ust, dust and more dust. The parched Texas land-
scape of “Dreamland,” Miles Joris-Peyrafitte’s
Depression-era drama, is chock full of the toxic gray
stuff, which billows across fields and coats everything
in sight.
And then bank robber Allison Wells, aka Margot
Robbie, pops onto the screen like a bolt of electricity,
or “a bat outta hell,” as one character says - all cha-
risma and brassy sex appeal and old-style glamour.
She’s bleeding and she’s dirty, but heck, she’s glam-
orous. Robbie has always come across as a genuine
movie star, but placing her in the 1930s seems to seal
the deal. Like the best of the Golden Age goddesses,
Robbie can burn up the screen with a mere flash of
her blue eyes.
Robbie’s Allison, a fictional character, has obvious
echoes of Bonnie Parker, the real-life outlaw played
by Faye Dunaway in “Bonnie and Clyde.” Only here,
her Clyde is gone; he’s been shot in the aftermath of
their last heist, and Allison is all alone, wounded.
That’s where Eugene Evans (Finn Cole), the im-
pressionable young man who falls under Allison’s
spell, comes in. The story, in fact, is his - narrated
by his younger half-sister, Phoebe, decades later.
(She’s played as a little girl by Darby Camp, sweet
and spunky but not cloying.)
We learn that Eugene’s father abandoned him as a
young boy, leaving him with a single postcard to read
over and over, filling the youth’s head with dreams of
an eventual reunion in Mexico. Meanwhile, his moth-
er’s new husband is a hot-tempered sheriff’s deputy
(Travis Fimmel ) who runs an oppressive household.
Life is precarious; the farmland has been decimated
by a series of brutal dust storms. Eugene’s dreary life
is punctuated by an occasional thrill like stealing a
hears about Allison, whose latest heist has resulted in
five deaths, including a young girl. There’s a $10,000
bounty on her head, and she may be hiding nearby,
Soon after, Eugene finds Allison in his very own
video of the show.
Organizers had initially sought
AP photo coverage from inside
the ceremony, but said that due to
coronavirus precautions it could
not accommodate a wire service
photographer.
The association instead said
the AP could license images of
the show. The AP declined. In
the world of news photography, a Toobin
barn. It doesn’t take long for him to fall under her “Dreamland,” a Paramount release, has been rated
spell, and the essence of the film is this seduction. The R by the Motion Picture Association of America “for
story itself is unremarkable, even thin - there are no
surprising twists or turns, no big lessons in the script
some violence, language and sexuality/nudity.” Run-
ning time: 98 minutes. Three stars out of four.
by Nicolaas Zwart - but the relationship at its core is
hugely entertaining to watch. Also:
And it’s not just the always-impressive Robbie, NEW YORK: Johnny Depp has exited the “Fantas-
who also produces the film; Cole is memorable, too, tic Beasts” franchise following his failed libel case
as a young man who struggles before our eyes not against The Sun tabloid newspaper for a 2018 article
only between right and wrong or between lust and that labeled him a “wife beater.”
honor, but between youth and adulthood. Depp said Friday in a letter posted on Instagram
that he would depart the role of the dark wizard Gel-
Also to be admired is the evocative period cinema-
tography by Lyle Vincent - you can practically feel lert Grindelwald after the studio requested his resig-
the dust smart in your eyes - and the sure-handed di- nation. Depp said his announcement came “in light of
rection by Joris-Peyrafitte, all the more noteworthy in recent events.”
that it’s only his second feature and he’s still in his “I wish to let you know that I have been asked to
20s. One of the director’s most interesting decisions is resign by Warner Bros. from my role as Grindelwald
to have Eugene’s reality appear in widescreen and his in ‘Fantastic Beasts’ and I have respected and agreed
dream world in 8 mm film resembling home videos, to that request,” said Depp.
showing Allison and Eugene in beachside frolics that Warner Bros. confirmed Depp’s departure and said
may never happen. the role will be recast. “We thank Johnny for his work
on the films to date,” the studio said in a statement. The
Decision
third “Fantastic Beasts” film is currently in production.
But back to that barn, where Eugene makes the mo- Depp also said he would appeal the decision earlier
mentous decision not to turn Allison in and claim the this week by a British judge. After hearing testimony
money, which could save his family’s farm. First, he from Depp and ex-wife Amber Heard in the high-
pulls a bullet out of her leg. He hasn’t made the leap yet profile case, Justice Andrew Nicol said that the alle-
to joining her life of crime, to becoming her Clyde. gations against Depp were “substantially true.” Depp
Still, it’s clear where this is going. The final stage had sued News Group Newspapers, publisher of The
of the inevitable seduction takes place in a motel Sun, and its executive editor, Dan Wootton, over an
room shower, and it’s shot in a distinctive way: for article accusing him of assaulting Heard.
most of the scene we only see Eugene. “The surreal judgement of the court in the U.K. will
The effect of this, one of the film’s standout scenes not change my fight to tell the truth and I confirm that
along with a vividly choreographed bank robbery and I plan to appeal,” Depp said Friday. “My resolve re-
a beautifully rendered climactic confrontation, is to mains strong and I intend to prove that the allegations
focus more intensively on the battle happening in Eu- against me are false. My life and career will not be
gene’s soul (and body.) At this point, he’s already so defined by this moment in time.”
in love with Allison that he seems more than willing “Fantastic Beasts,” a prequel franchise spun off
to make himself accept her lies. from the “Harry Potter” films, has grossed nearly $1.5
“I’m not a killer,” Allison keeps insisting. But even billion between 2016’s “Fantastic Beasts and Where
that rather dubious claim is not the real point. She is to Find Them” and 2018’s “Fantastic Beasts: The
killing Eugene, before our eyes. Crimes of Grindelwald.” (AP)
license means paying for images. agreed to not move screenshots information they are receiving
The CMA says it was not seeking from the broadcast that included from us is accurate,” said Global
compensation for a license. the faces of guests seated in the Entertainment and Lifestyles
The AP said it would cover the audience. Editor Anthony McCartney.
show if it could take screen- The AP insists that if it covers “By denying independent news
shots of the broadcast, as it has the event, it be done so without organizations, including AP, ac-
done successfully for the Emmy restrictions on images that are cess to take images of a publicly
Awards, BET Awards, MTV publicly broadcast. broadcast event, the CMA Awards
Video Music Awards and others. “The AP covers award shows is infringing upon the news me-
The CMA instead said it would as news events and we must be dia’s ability to tell the full story of
Trump only grant AP permission if it able to assure the public that the the event.” (AP)

NEWS/FEATURES
People & Places
Music
It was all a dream
Whitney Houston, B.I.G.
inducted into Rock Hall
NEW YORK, Nov 12, (AP): In a normal year, the
newly inducted Rock and Roll Hall of Fame class
would have hit the stage and perform the well-known
songs that made them famous and helped them enter
the prestigious organization.
Not in 2020.
Because of the coronavirus pandemic, this year’s
all-star group was inducted last Saturday night in a
taped HBO special that told the stories of Whitney
Houston, Notorious B.I.G. and the Doobie Brothers’
rise to fame and how acts like Nine Inch Nails, T. Rex
and Depeche Mode heavily impacted the music in-
dustry and generations after them.
As she inducted Houston into the Rock Hall, Gram-
my-winning singer Alicia Keys gave a beautiful,
heartfelt speech about one of
the best singers in pop history.
“We all know what a mi-
raculous singer Whitney was,
perhaps the greatest voice of
our all-time. We all know how
her unprecedented success
brought Black women into the
absolute highest reaches of the
music industry’s pantheon,”
said Keys, who wrote a song
for Houston’s last album. “We
Houston all know that her music will
live forever — that music, that
everlasting voice is her final generous gift to us. And
she will now be one of the brightest lights ever to
shine in the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame.”
Houston, one of the best-selling acts in music his-
tory who died in 2012 at age 48, released her debut
album in 1985 and recently became the first Black art-
ist to have three diamond-certified albums.
Her mother and aunt, Cissy and Pat Houston, ac-
cepted the award on her behalf.
“This is something that Whitney always wanted,”
Pat Houston said. “I remember in 2009 we were in
London and Whitney looked at me and said, ‘This is
really special but there’s only one thing missing — I
got to get into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame.’”
“She did it,” Cissy Houston added.
Experience
Other acts were posthumously inducted Saturday
night.
The Notorious B.I.G. was shot to death in 1997 at
24 and in a few years became one of the top voices
in rap and pop. He was inducted by close friend and
collaborator Diddy.
“Nobody has come close to the way Biggie sounds,
to the way he raps, to the frequency that he hits.
Tonight, we are inducting the greatest rapper of all-
time,” Diddy said.
Nas said B.I.G. “represents Bed-Stuy, Brooklyn,
New York City, America, the world and he represents
the Black experience.” Jay-Z recalled when B.I.G.
sent him a demo of “Life After Death,” his second
and final album that was released 16 days after his
death, explaining: “I was a little worried for myself
as an artist.”
“It’s just really unfortunate what happened after
that,” continued Jay-Z. “The human side of him came
through in his music and I think it moved the mol-
ecules in the world. I know for a fact it pointed me in
the (right) direction and I’m sure that’s happened to
millions and millions of people worldwide.”
The Notorious B.I.G.’s son and daughter, C.J. and
T’yanna Wallace, accepted the honor. The son of T.
Rex’s Marc Bolan, who died in 1977 at 29, was also
on hand to pay tribute to his father with a touching
speech.
“As I reflect on this incredible honor of my dad and
his band being inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of
Fame, I think about how I really didn’t have a chance
to know him very well. He was taken away from all
of us so early in his life,” Rolan Bolan said. “I discov-
ered his music pretty much the same way you have
— through my eyes and ears.”
The British band T. Rex was known primarily for
its 1970s hit “Bang a Gong (Get It On)” and, to a less-
er extent, “Jeepster.” They were inducted by Ringo
Starr.
Historic
T. Rex, Houston, B.I.G. and the Doobie Brothers
were inducted after being on the ballot for the first
time. The Doobie Brothers’ inclusion makes 2020
historic for the band — it’s also their 50th anniver-
sary. The group known for hits like “Listen to the Mu-
sic” and “Black Water” were supposed to celebrate
this year with a tour featuring singer-songwriter Mi-
chael McDonald — who sang with the band starting
in 1975 before beginning his own solo career — but it
was postponed because of the pandemic.
“It seems unreal, but it’s been quite a trip and we
aren’t done yet,” Tom Johnston said.
It’s also been a good year for Nine Inch Nails —
their induction comes two months after Trent Reznor
and Atticus Ross won their first Emmy for their mu-
sical contributions to the hit HBO series “Watch-
men.” Reznor and Ross are also Oscar and Grammy
winners, only needing a Tony to enter the esteemed
EGOT club.
Rick Rubin, Miley Cyrus, Jimmy Iovine, David
Fincher, Mark Ronson and others spoke passionately
about Nine Inch Nails’ influence on them and others.
“What a disoriented, strange year we find ourselves
in. As I’ve been wrapping my head around Nine Inch
Nails being welcomed in the Rock and Roll Hall of
Fame, I think I was most looking forward to the cer-
emony itself, where hopefully the whole camp, past
and present, was going to get together and have a mo-
ment, and we’re all stuck in our little boxes here in our
screens,” Reznor said. “But even now music’s always
been the thing that keeps me going.”
Oscar winner Charlize Theron inducted Depeche
Mode, whose biggest influence came in the 1980s
when their post-punk, synthesizer-dominated mu-
sic made the Brits a favorite of the goth subculture.
Theron thanked the band “for being the soundtrack of
my life.”
Dave Grohl, Bruce Springsteen, Lin-Manuel Mi-
randa, Jennifer Hudson, Adam Levine, Gwen Stefani
and Brad Paisley also made appearances during the
TV special. Top-notch music manager Irving Azoff
and Jon Landau, who manages Springsteen, both
earned the Ahmet Ertegun Award. The Rock Hall’s
annual induction ceremony was originally supposed
to take place in May at the Public Auditorium in
Cleveland, the city where the rock museum is located.
This image released by Netflix shows Emma Corrin in a scene from The Crown. Season four premieres on Sunday, Nov. 15. (AP)
Host Jimmy Kimmel walks on stage at
the Oscars on Feb. 26, 2017, in Los
Angeles. Kimmel turns 53 on Nov. 13.
(AP)
Shaw Leigh
Variety
CONCORD, NH: A couple say they were
cast in a false light on an Animal Planet
reality television show about state Fish and
Game conservation officers, but a lawyer for
the show’s production companies disagreed
in arguments before the New Hampshire
Supreme Court.
The court heard arguments Tuesday
involving Dale and Anne Mansfield, of
New Durham, who briefly appeared in a
2018 “North Woods Law” episode about an
officer attempting to learn who’s responsible
for growing a small marijuana patch, New
Hampshire Public Radio reported.
He interviews the Mansfields, who live
nearby. Their faces were pixelated. Officers
later arrest a suspect.
In a lawsuit, the Mansfields allege that
the episode created a false impression of
them by connecting them to the marijuana.
They also allege that neighbors and others
were still able to identify them, and that they
didn’t give permission to be filmed.
But the episode shows the Mansfields
were innocent of any connections to the
marijuana operation, said Michael Lewis, a
lawyer for the show’s production compa-
nies. He told the court that ruling against
his clients could have a chilling effect on
a free press and other First Amendment
protections. An attorney for the couple,
Timothy Ayer, questioned whether a reality
television program that uses suspense and
clever edits to attract an audience could be
viewed as a member of the media, not as an
entertainment venture. (AP)
❑ ❑ ❑ Her work has been displayed in solo and
NEW YORK: A 16-foot-tall bronze bust of
a Black woman by artist Simone Leigh has
been installed in the heart of the University
of Pennsylvania’s campus, and is being
called an “impressive and challenging” addi-
Television
Staunton ascends to throne for final 2 chapters
Roles aren’t for keeps on ‘Crown’
By Lynn Elber
F or viewers, “The Crown” offers a
peek into a modern royal family’s
life and times, or at least an engaging
dramatization. For the cast, it’s meant
the lofty equivalent of gig work as the
Netflix series ticks through the decades.
Claire Foy played Britain’s young
Queen Elizabeth II for the first two sea-
sons, with Olivia Colman stepping in to
chart her middle years last season and in
the 10 new episodes out Sunday. Imelda
Staunton ascends to the throne for the fi-
nal two chapters.
When Diana Spencer makes her piv-
otal entrance this season, largely set
in the 1980s, it’s Emma Corrin in the
part opposite Josh O’Connor’s Prince
Charles. Corrin’s job is one and done:
Elizabeth Debicki takes over in seasons
five and six as the bound-for-tragedy
Princess Diana, opposite a new, yet-to-
be announced Charles.
A role in “The Crown” is akin to a re-
lay-race baton destined to be handed off,
said Helena Bonham Carter, back for her
second whirl as tempestuous Princess
Margaret. The actor is sandwiched be-
tween Vanessa Kirby (seasons one and
two) and Lesley Manville, who will take
Margaret across the finish line.
“I’m very sad that it’s over, but it’s
time that she was played by somebody
else at some point.... She’s just a great
gift of a part,” Bonham Carter said dur-
ing a joint interview with Colman and
Tobias Menzies, returning as Prince
Philip. Colman called Staunton’s casting
“amazing,” then suggested the newcom-
er could overshadow her. “It’s almost,
‘wish she wasn’t quite good,’” she said,
smiling. That prompted Bonham Carter
to predict a battle of the stars after the
series ends.
“Rate your Margarets, rate your
queens, rate your Philips,” she said,
comparing it to “who wore it best” ce-
lebrity fashion critiques.
Colman was asked if she had any ad-
vice for her successor. Her terse reply:
tion to the Ivy League school.
The bronze, 5,900-pound sculpture,
“Brick House,” was lifted by crane Tuesday
from a flatbed truck and lowered to its new
home at the corner of 34th and Walnut
This April 29, 2015 file photo shows (from left), Tom Johnston, Michael McDon-
ald, John McFee and Pat Simmons of the Doobie Brothers after receiving the
ASCAP Voice of Music Award at the 32nd Annual ASCAP Pop Music Awards in
Los Angeles. The band was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, joined
by Depeche Mode, Nine Inch Nails and T-Rex on Saturday. (AP)
ARAB TIMES, FRIDAY-SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 13-14, 2020
“Good luck. The wig’s itchy.”
“The Crown” casting director Robert
Sterne said swapping out actors wasn’t
preordained when he began working
with series creator and writer Peter Mor-
gan.
It was an open question “whether we
aged-up actors across their life span or
were bold and we cast each time,” Sterne
said in an interview. Choosing the latter
option meant a series of challenges and
opportunities, for the show and its pa-
rade of actors.
“You spend a lot of time looking
at the pictures and images of people at
particular stages of their life” to find the
right actor to portray them at a particu-
lar stage of their lives, he said. Then he
invoked the relay-race analogy in citing
another key stop.
Reinventing
“You also have to take into account
the way that that previous actor por-
trayed it. Who do you think can take that
baton and run with it?” he said, which
he described as reinventing the role “but
hopefully not in a jarring way.”
Every move, especially a major cast
change, is a critical one for the popular
series that reportedly cost more than
$100 million for its first two seasons
alone. Actors, including illustrious ones,
have been happy to accept hand-me-
downs. Colman came to “The Crown”
after winning an Academy Award and
other honors for 2018’s “The Favourite,”
in which she played a far earlier British
monarch, Queen Anne.
Staunton was an Oscar nominee for
“Vera Drake”; Manville for “Phan-
tom Thread”; Bonham Carter for “The
King’s Speech” and “The Wings of the
Dove,” and Jonathan Pryce, the future
Prince Philip, for “The Two Popes.”
John Lithgow, another Oscar nomi-
nee and a rare American in the primar-
ily British cast, had the part of political
leader Winston Churchill to himself and
snared an Emmy Award for it.
All those playing the pivotal role of
streets, the gateway to College Green.
The University of Pennsylvania was
founded by Benjamin Franklin, and many
statues of that Founding Father dot the cam-
pus, which sits in a majority Black city.
13
Elizabeth are able to to convey “an or-
dinary woman put in extraordinary cir-
cumstances,” Sterne said of the queen
as portrayed in “The Crown.” It requires
an actor “who can carry you along with
that, and make you feel for them and be-
lieve in the reality of it. They’re all really
extraordinary at that,” he said. Foy won a
2018 Emmy for her performance.
There’s also room on the royal fam-
ily tree for younger, less familiar talent,
including Corrin and Erin Doherty, who
plays the queen’s feisty daughter, Prin-
cess Anne, and proved a revelation.
“Actors will have this incredible con-
nection with this character that you don’t
see coming,” Sterne said. When Doherty
auditioned, “she just had such a connec-
tion with that character. She’d watched
a lot of YouTube videos (of Anne) and
said, ‘I just love this woman, I just know
her, I think she’s great.’
Doherty delivered in the tryout and in
the series with a “really excellent” per-
formance, Sterne said.
The casting veteran, who won three
Emmys for his work on HBO’s “Game
of Thrones” and a 2018 trophy for “The
Crown,” found himself jumping into
Corrin’s audition. She was put on the
spot by acclaimed writer Morgan (“The
Queen,” “Frost/Nixon”) to sing Andrew
Lloyd Webber’s “All I Ask of You.”
Sterne called up a karaoke version on
a computer and offered to sing along.
“She was blushing as she was doing
it, and sang it completely beautifully,”
Sterne recounted. “It was incredibly
sweet and kind of encapsulated the spirit
of Diana that we were looking for.... I
thought, ‘Well, this part isn’t going to go
anywhere else now.’”
O’Connor said he relished his time on
the series, including saying goodbye to a
role he knew wasn’t for keeps — just as
with Shakespeare’s works. “If you play
‘Hamlet,’ you know that there’s 100
people who’ve played Hamlet before
you, there’s going to be 100 people after
you,” O’Connor said. “And they’ll all do
it differently, and that’s the joy.”
“There really aren’t any large-scale public
representations of Black women or African
American women’s history on the campus,”
said Gwendolyn DuBois Shaw, an associ-
ate professor of History of Art. “For Penn to
be installing such a monumental, impressive
and challenging piece of work on campus,
I think is really fantastic.” The work — the
first of Leigh’s pieces to be installed on a
college campus — depicts a Black woman’s
head atop a form that suggests a skirt or per-
haps a building. Another edition of “Brick
House” is on display on New York City’s
High Line through spring 2021.
“Brick House” is part of a series by Leigh
that merges human form with diverse archi-
tectural elements. It was a gift from Penn
alumni Glenn and Amanda Fuhrman.
“It will be quite arresting for people.
They’ll stop and they’ll look and it’ll be
something that you won’t just be able to
walk by your first time without taking
notice,” said Shaw.
Leigh was recently named the American
representative to the 2022 Venice Biennale,
the first Black woman to represent the US at
the prestigious international exhibition.
group shows at museums, galleries and
exhibition spaces, including a solo exhibit
at the Solomon R. Guggenheim Museum in
New York City and a slot in the Whitney
Biennial. (AP)
 ARAB TIMES, FRIDAY-SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 13-14, 2020

SPORTS 14

‘Without immediate support from Australian government we are facing a bleak future’

No chance to tri; Mass participation sports hit by virus

NOOSA HEADS, Australia, Nov 12, (AP):
The first weekend in November usually sees the
4,400 population of this Sunshine Coast resort
town double or triple in size. When the Noosa
Triathlon comes to town, so do athletes and
their families, usually with two or three state-
of-the art bikes worth tens of thousands of dol-
lars slung on the top or back of their cars.
Fit-looking competitors, some of them Olym-
pians but most just everyday people trying to
keep in shape, stroll up and down the upmarket
Hastings Street strip, spending money in restau-
rants and shops and adding millions of dollars
to the local economy.
TRIATHLON
Not this year. Not with coronavirus crowd re-
strictions in place here, around the rest of Aus-
tralia and the rest of the world.
The Noosa Triathlon, which organizers bill
as the largest Olympic-format (1.5-kilometer
swim, 40-kilometer cycle and 10-kilometer run)
in the world, was among the largest of more
than 19,000 events canceled around Australia
this year, with the loss of an estimated 11,000
jobs and more than 75 million Australian dol-
lars ($54 million) lost to charities from money
that is usually raised during the events.
In a sports-mad country like Australia, those
figures – estimated by the Mass Participation
Sporting Event Industry Alliance in Australia –
are daunting.
“Decimated is the only word to use,” Chris
Robb, the Indonesia-based chief executive of
Mass Participation World said during a video
In this April 21, 1986 file photo, Rob de
Castella of Australia breaks the tape to win
the 90th running of the Boston Marathon in
Boston. (AP)
conference call Thursday. “We’ve heard reports
in the US that 75% of the mass participation
sports industry will not return, and the estimate
is 50% in Australia.”
MMA promoter XFC returns with stock bonuses for fighters
ATLANTA, Nov 12, (AP): The XFC mixed mar-
tial arts promotion is returning to competition this
week with a unique strategy to incentivize its
fighters.
Every competitor on the promotion’s return
show Wednesday night in Atlanta will receive
1,000 shares of stock in the fight company, Presi-
dent Myron Molotky announced. The XFC is also
offering 10,000 shares of stock in performance
bonuses for the evening’s best fight, submission
and knockout, along with a cash bonus.
The XFC says it is currently the only publicly
traded MMA promotion, and Molotky hopes to
motivate his fighters to bolster the XFC’s growth
by giving them a financial stake in the company,
along with their normal fight purses.
The Australian group says mass participa-
tion events in the country generate more than
5 billion Australian dollars ($3.65 billion) each
year, but the group says the industry is “crum-
bling before our very eyes ... without immediate
support from the Australian government we are
facing a bleak future for the 3.4 million Austral-
ians this industry supports to get active each and
every year.”
The 38th annual Noosa Triathlon was
canceled after the local Noosa council banned
any gatherings of more than 500 people in the
shire, which is a popular tourist destination.
The event, which attracts 8,000 competitors an-
nually and thousands more family and friends,
wasn’t even close to meeting that restriction.
Fighters across combat sports have angled for
ownership stakes in their promotional companies
in the past, but the XFC is voluntarily giving a
foothold to its competitors.
MIXED MARTIAL ARTS
Conor McGregor has repeatedly demanded
an ownership stake in the UFC reflecting his sta-
tus as the sport’s biggest star, but the UFC hasn’t
yet acceded to his demands. The ballyhooed
International Fight League, which paid regular
salaries and gave health benefits to the fighters
in its team-based version of MMA, was a publicly
traded company before it went out of business in
2008.
Predictably, the president of the Noosa
Chamber of Commerce, Rob Neely, wasn’t
pleased.
“Councils are not meant to be delving into the
areas of epidemiology and they’re not qualified
to do the same,” Neely said. “So to hear seven
councilors or six councilors and a mayor stand
up this morning and talk about public health re-
quirements, that is not their remit. They have no
qualifications.”
Rob de Castella, a four-time Australian
Olympian in the marathon who took part in
Thursday’s call, was on the same page.
“It is easy to sit in an office and put a cross
through events,” he said.
Steve Moneghetti, another former inter-
The XFC is returning to action after a hiatus
of nearly five years with a show headlined by
ex-UFC bantamweight Andre Soukhamthath
against Guilherme Faria. Former UFC straw-
weights Jessica Aguilar and Danielle Taylor meet
in the penultimate bout.
The XFC held stateside shows until 2013 and
then fought on in Brazil for three more years be-
fore pausing competition. The promotion planned
to relaunch last summer, but was briefly delayed
by the coronavirus pandemic before mounting its
resources for the show and an unusual method of
fighter compensation.
The XFC has about 185 fighters under con-
tract and broadcast deals with NBC Sports and
Telemundo, among other outlets.
national marathoner, said mass participation
events help with the mental health of any com-
munity.
“We all understand the physical benefits, but
I’m really conscious of the mental health and
well-being,” Moneghetti said. “We are natural-
ly a competitive people, but there is something
about equality of mass participation events.
Old, young ... we are crossing all aspects of the
community.”
Australia has had international travel restric-
tions in place and 14-day quarantines for arriv-
als for about eight months since the outbreak
began. The country has recorded 907 COV-
ID-19 deaths as of Thursday, and most of those
– 819 – in the southern Victoria state.

Mo’unga returns to flyhalf

Pivac told to reset & improve All Blacks at full strength for

Wales in Autumn Nations Cup Argentina in Tri-Nations test

England giving club star Willis debut vs Georgia
CARRDIFF, Wales, Nov
12, (AP): Wayne Pivac has
outlined where he wants
to take Wales. The Welsh
Rugby Union trusts the na-
tional coach for now.
Pivac is trying to avoid a sixth
straight defeat for Wales for the
first time since 2013 when the
team plays Ireland on Friday at
Lansdowne Road to open the new
Autumn Nations Cup.
The losing streak starkly con-
trasts last year when Wales enjoyed
a record 14 wins in a row, swept the
Six Nations, and reached the Rugby
World Cup semifinals in Japan.
This year, under new management,
the team has struggled to adapt to new
strategies.
The scrum has buckled at key mo-
ments but Wales has mainly suffered
at breakdowns. Failing to retain pos-
session, conceding penalties and free
kicks, and earning few turnovers off the
opposition have prevented Wales from
building phases and playing with speed
or tempo. Too often, ball carriers have
been isolated.
RUGBY
They lost in the Six Nations to Ire-
land by 10, France by four, England
by three, and Scotland by four, mixed
with a warmup loss to France in Paris
last month when rugby resumed in the
northern hemisphere.
Pivac was appointed as coach 14
months before he took up the job a year
ago, and last week Wales CEO Steve
Phillips gave the coach his support.
Phillips said “some of the pres-
sure (on Pivac) on results necessarily
abates” because Wales have a top four
seeding for the 2023 Rugby World Cup
based on the rankings in January, be-
fore the pandemic. This week they’re
ranked eighth.
Phillips added a line has been drawn
under the Six Nations, in which Wales’
title defense collapsed to fifth place, and
the team must reset and improve in the
Autumn Nations Cup. In a warning to
Pivac, the CEO said, “We will be striv-
ing for significant improvements in both
performances and results” in the cup “to
ensure we realize our full potential and
deliver” in the Six Nations next year.
Pivac has had to reset with tumult
among his staff. Former captain Sam
Warburton quit last month as a break-
down coach, and was replaced by an-
other great, Gethin Jenkins. Jenkins has
In this Nov 7 file photo, New Zealand’s Beauden Barrett (center), runs at Australia’s Nic White (9), and Harry Wil-
son (right), during the Bledisloe rugby Test between Australia and New Zealand at Suncorp Stadium, Brisbane,
taken on more coaching of the defence
this week after Byron Hayward was
sacked by Pivac, after both originally
said it was a mutual decision.
Wales have conceded 16 tries in the
five-match losing run, and Hayward’s
exit after a year underscores the qual-
ity of Shaun Edwards, who was Warren
Gatland’s longtime defence coach and
preferred a year ago to move to France
to assist Fabien Galthie.
Pivac has remained upbeat this week,
dismissed outside suggestions of play-
er dissent, and said the players have
showed energy and good vibes. Train-
ing has “been a massive step up from
where we’ve been.”
“We believe we can win whenever we
take the field, against any opposition,”
Pivac said. “The fact that we haven’t
done that in a series of games is not
something we’re comfortable with.”
Pivac picked the same starting XV
that met Scotland, including flanker
Justin Tipuric, who was a late with-
drawal because of sickness. Uncapped
Bristol flyhalf Callum Sheedy is on the
bench after Rhys Patchell was injured.
Ireland have an experimental look,
with 10 changes after their Six Nations
title bid was clipped in Paris. There’s
debuts for wing James Lowe and prob-
ably for reserve flyhalf Billy Burns, and
Australia. (AP)
first Test starts for hooker Ronan Kelle-
her and scrumhalf Jamison Gibson-
Park. Coach Andy Farrell has already
given debuts to seven players this year,
and said, “We might use more. We
could use more.”
England and Georgia are in the same
group as Ireland and Wales.
Meanwhile, coach Eddie Jones has
opted to develop depth in England’s
opening match against Georgia at
Twickenham on Saturday in the Au-
tumn Nations Cup.
England are heavily favored against
the Lelos, who were invited along with
In this Nov 7 file photo, John
Velazquez (9) rides Authentic to
win the Breeder’s Cup Classic
horse race at Keeneland Race
Course in Lexington, Ky. (AP)
Fiji by the Six Nations sides for a tour-
nament to replace the canceled tours by
the southern hemisphere teams.
There are nine changes, two position-
al, from the side which beat Italy 34-5
two weeks ago to win the Six Nations.
Wasps flanker Jack Willis, voted
England club player of the season, will
make his debut, and another uncapped
player, Bristol utility Max Malins, is in
the reserves as back three cover.
Will Stuart makes his first start at
tighthead, and Worcester centre Ollie
Lawrence earns his second cap after ap-
pearing as a replacement against Italy.
Authentic’s Breeders’ Cup track-record time updated
LEXINGTON, Kentucky, Nov
12, (AP): Authentic’s track-record
time in the $6 million Breeders’
Cup Classic at Keeneland has
been updated to 1:59.60 after a re-
view of multiple sources and cam-
era angles.
The Bob Baffert-trained colt
went wire to wire for a 2¼-length
victory over stablemate Improb-
able in Saturday’s 1¼-mile fi-
nale of the season-ending world
SYDNEY, Nov 12, (AP): Richie
Mo’unga will return to flyhalf in a full-
strength All Blacks lineup to take on Ar-
gentina in Saturday’s Tri-Nations test in
Sydney.
Mo’unga takes over the No. 10 jersey
from Beauden Barrett, who had a rela-
tively poor match as play-maker in New
Zealand’s 24-22 Bledisloe Cup loss to
Australia last weekend. Barrett returns to
his previous role at fullback, forcing his
younger brother, Jordie, to move from
that position to the right wing.
The All Blacks have picked their
strongest available XV with the intention
of responding from that loss in Brisbane
with a statement against an Argentina
squad that hasn’t played a Test so far this
year.
RUGBY
“We were bitterly disappointed with
the loss against Australia on the week-
end but we’ve taken a lot of lessons from
that game,” head coach Ian Foster said.
“Specifically, we need to be smarter in
seeing space and executing our plan
around that.
“We also want to continue growing
our work at the breakdown, both on at-
tack and in defense, as I feel we are mak-
ing great progress here.”
Tackle-breaker Caleb Clarke returns
on the left wing, and Jack Goodhue and
Anton Lienert-Brown re-form New Zea-
land’s strongest midfield partnership.
Aaron Smith takes over at scrumhalf
from T.J. Perenara.
Loosehead prop Joe Moody returns
from a head injury to join a forward pack
close to full strength, apart from the ab-
sence of tighthead Ofa Tuungafasi, who
has been suspended for three weeks af-
ter being sent off for a high tackle in last
weekend’s match against Australia.
Moody will combine with hooker
Dane Coles and prop Tyrel Lomax,
while Patrick Tuipulotu rejoins veteran
Sam Whitelock in the second row.
Shannon Frizell returns on the blind-
side flank, combining in the backrow
with captain Sam Cane and Ardie Savea.
New Zealand and Australia have met
this season in four consecutive Bledisloe
championships, but his time
wasn’t shown on the track-side
race clock.
A joint statement Wednesday
from the track and Equibase said
HORSE RACING
a photo eye at the start of the
race was inadvertently tripped,
resulting in an error when at-
tempting to operate the timing
In this Oct 31, 2020 file photo, New
Zealand’s Richie Mo’unga dives
across the line to score his team’s
third try during the Bledisloe rugby
Test between the All Blacks and
the Wallabies at Stadium Australia
in Sydney, Australia. (AP)
Cup Tests, including two which were
also part of the Tri-Nations series. New
Zealand retained the Bledisloe Cup, win-
ning two matches, drawing one and los-
ing one. They share with the Wallabies a
1-1 record in the Tri-Nations.
The All Blacks won that match 20-16.
The Pumas squad has “been in Aus-
tralia for a number of weeks, they are
well-prepared and this is their first Test
of 2020 so it’ll be a massive occasion for
them and their country so we have to be
ready,” Foster said.
Foster made the mistake of naming an
experimental lineup for last week’s match
against Australia, making 10 changes.
Most of those changes weren’t a success
and he faced little choice but to return to
his first-choice lineup on Saturday.
New Zealand: Beauden Barrett,
Jordie Barrett, Anton Lienert-Brown,
Jack Goodhue, Caleb Clarke, Richie
Mo’unga, Aaron Smith; Ardie Savea,
Sam Cane (captain), Shannon Frizell,
Sam Whitelock, Patrick Tuipulotu, Tyrel
Lomax, Dane Coles, Joe Moody.
Reserves: Codie Taylor, Alex Hodg-
man, Nepo Laulala, Tupou Vaa’i,
Hoskins Sotutu, Brad Weber, Rieko Io-
ane, Damian McKenzie.
system manually and causing
inaccurate fractions and final
time of the race.The initial time
of 1:59.19 provided by Equibase
used available video replay.
Further review determined frac-
tions of 23.20, 46.84, 1:10.32,
1:34.64 and confirming a final
time of 1:59.60.
Authentic’s time broke the mark
of 2:00.07 by 2015 Triple Crown
winner American Pharoah.
 ARAB TIMES, FRIDAY-SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 13-14, 2020

SPORTS 15

Bolstering relationship and strengthening healthcare available to athletes

Dubai Sports Council signs MoU with Al Tadawi Medical Centre

DUBAI, Nov 12: The Dubai Sports Council has signed
a Memorandum of Understanding with Al Tadawi
Medical Centre within the framework of bolstering
the Council’s relationship with the private sector and
strengthening the medical care available to sports prac-
titioners.
The agreement was signed at the headquarters of the
Dubai Sports Council by His Excellency Saeed Hareb,
Secretary-General of the Dubai Sports Council, and
Marwan Ibrahim Haji Nasser, Chairman and Managing
Director of Al Tadawi Healthcare Group, in the pres-
ence of Nasser Aman Al Rahma, Assistant Secretary
General of Dubai Sports Council, and top Council of-
ficials.
Al Tadawi Medical Centre is one of the leading
multi-specialty medical facility in Dubai, which focuses
on the healthcare needs of the whole community. The
centre boasts a team of highly qualified medical experts
and specialists, who deliver state of the art treatment in
one of the most luxurious health facilities.
Speaking after signing the MoU, His Excellency
Saeed Hareb said: “We are pleased to sign the Memo-
randum of Understanding with Al Tadawi Medical
HE Saeed Hareb presented the Medal of First Line of Defense to Marwan Ibrahim Haji Nasser, after the Memoran-
dum of Understanding signing ceremony.
Centre, a pioneering national project that promotes the
medical sector in general and sports health in particular.
This centre has clear and explicit objectives and since
its inception, it has provided high-quality medical ser-
vices according to the highest international standards.
“Dubai Sports Council is keen to cooperate with na-
tional institutions within the private sector that are keen
to serve the country and society, and, with the great de-
velopment witnessed by the sports sector, we need more
medical institutions that provide excellent healthcare
like Al Tadawi.”
Marwan Ibrahim Haji Nasser said: “We are honoured
to partner with Dubai Sports Council in its activities
that encourage and motivate all segments of the society,
and we thank the Council for giving us the opportunity
to work together and provide our medical expertise to
sports practitioners.
“We provide integrated services in health care and
through this memorandum, we seek to provide luxury
medical services to the Council and to athletes in the
field of sports medicine.
“This cooperation with the Council comes at a
time when it is needed by society, especially after the
lockdown caused by the COVID-19 pandemic in the
whole world. It has made the whole health perspective
change.”
At the conclusion of the MoU signing ceremony, HE
Saeed Hareb presented the Medal of First Line of De-
fense to Marwan Ibrahim Haji Nasser.

Pakistan appoint Khan as batting coach

Pucovski in Australia squad

for Test series against India
MELBOURNE, Australia, Nov 12,
(AP): Consecutive double centuries
have earned Will Pucovski a spot in an
expanded Australian squad that also in-
cludes struggling incumbent opener Joe
Burns for the four-Test series against
India.
The 22-year-old Pucovski scored an
unbeaten 255 for
Victoria against
South Australia
and 202 against
Western Aus-
tralia in Ad-
elaide in his first
two starts of the
domestic first-
class Sheffield
Shield season.
The 17-man
squad also in-
cludes uncapped Khan
21-year-old batting all-rounder Cam-
eron Green, bowling all-rounder Sean
Abbott, Michael Nesser and leg-spinner
Mitch Swepson, who has taken 23 wick-
ets including three five-wicket hauls in
three Shield games for Queensland this
season.
The main question over the compo-
sition of the Test XI for the first Test
against India in Adelaide starting Dec
17 is who will open with David Warner,
given Burns has scored only 57 runs
from five innings in the Shield.
National selector Trevor Hohns said
become an all-rounder of substance over
time. His batting alone has demanded
his place in the squad.”
Hohns said Swepson offered a quality
spin option to Nathan Lyon, and Abbott
is in a strong fast bowling group led by
veteran Mitchell Starc, Josh Hazlewood,
Pat Cummins, and James Pattinson.
Wicketkeeper Tim Paine will again
be captain of the squad with Cummins
as vice-captain.
Australia picked a bigger squad than
usual because of the bio-secure hubs
that will be in place for the four-Test se-
ries and the need to plan to replace play-
ers at short notice if needed.
CRICKET
Selectors also included nine players
from the Test squad in a 19-player Aus-
tralia A squad to play India A and India
in tour matches in Sydney.
Australia Test squad: David Warner,
Joe Burns, Will Pucovski, Marnus La-
buschagne, Steve Smith, Travis Head,
Matthew Wade, Cameron Green, Tim
Paine (captain), Pat Cummins, Mitchell
Starc, Josh Hazlewood, Nathan Lyon,
James Pattinson, Michael Neser, Mitch-
ell Swepson, Sean Abbott. Will Pucovski bats for Victoria state during a Marsh Sheffield Shield cricket match between the Victoria Bushrangers and the Western Australia Western
Warriors in Adelaide, Australia on Nov 8. (AP)
Also:
ISLAMABAD: The Pakistan Cricket
Board has appointed former captain

Alexandrova beats Gracheva,

Warner’s input would be sought, but
also the form Burns and Pucovski pro-
duce in a warm-up game against India in
Sydney before the Test series.
Hohns said Pucovski’s “undeniable
form demanded selection” in the wider
squad, but the previous contributions
from Burns couldn’t be overlooked.
Burns, who has four centuries and av-
erages 38 from 21 Tests, “and the part-
nership he formed with David Warner
has been instrumental in helping Aus-
tralia get to the No. 1 position,” Hohns
said. “Of course it would be nice to have
everybody in form right now, but we
still have those Australia A games to
have a look at.”
Pucovski has had problems with
concussion and last year asked not to
be considered for Test selection, citing
mental health issues.
But Hohns said the young Victoria
state batter was “good to go” now.
“Will’s record-breaking start to the
summer has been exceptional. His abil-
ity to show such patience is something
which stands him in good stead for
Test cricket and he is in rare company
with two double centuries to start the
summer,” Hohns said. “Cameron has
already won selection in the (limited-
overs) squad and continues that in join-
ing the Test squad. He is a wonderful
young talent who has great potential to
In this Feb 1, 2019 file photo, Australia’s Joe Burns celebrates making 100
runs against Sri Lanka during their cricket Test match in Canberra. (AP)
All-female W Series to feature at
8 Formula One races next season
PARIS, Nov 12, (AP): The all-female
W Series will be showcased at eight
Formula One races next season in a
push for greater diversity in motor-
sports, organizers said Thursday.
It has yet to be decided at which of
the record 23 F1 races the W Series
will also be held.
“We believe it is incredibly impor-
tant to give everyone the chance to
reach the highest levels of our sport,”
F1 managing director of motorsport
Ross Brawn said. “Their partnership
with Formula 1 next season shows
our determination and commitment to
showcase their exciting series and the
Younis Khan as the batting coach of
the national team for two years.
The PCB said on Thursday it received
an encouraging response to Khan’s short
stint as batting coach with the Pakistan
team on the tour of England.
Younis played 118 Tests for Paki-
stan, soring 10,099 runs.
“The feedback we received about
Younis’ impact in a short period of time
in England was excellent,” PCB chief
executive Wasim Khan said in a state-
ment.
“His work ethics, commitment and
knowledge are second to none, and I am
confident that his appointment will ben-
efit a number of talented batsmen.”
The cricket board said Younis’ ten-
ure will last at least until the 2022 T20
World Cup in Australia.
Khan will also work at the PCB’s
high performance center in Karachi as
batting coach when he’s not traveling
with the national team.
“I am equally interested and keen at
working at the domestic level by iden-
tifying potential batsmen and then help-
ing them improve their skills,” Younis
said.
Meanwhile, former international off-
spinner Arshad Khan, who played nine
Test matches and 58 one day interna-
tionals, was appointed as bowling coach
of the Pakistan women’s team.
importance of building greater diver-
sity.”
British driver Jamie Chadwick won
the inaugural W Series race in Hocken-
heim, Germany, last year. This season
was canceled because of the coronavi-
rus pandemic.
“Our global reach, impact and influ-
ence will be increased significantly,”
W Series CE0 Catherine Bond Muir
said. “We want W Series to entertain,
and entertain it will. But we also want
it to become a crucial default-option
stepping stone for any female racing
driver who wants to carve out a profes-
sional racing career.”
reaches quarter-finals in Linz
French qualifier Dodin upsets finalist Teichmann
LINZ, Austria, Nov 12,
(AP): Ekaterina Alexan-
drova advanced to her
first quarter-final in nine
months by beating fellow
Russian Varvara Gracheva
7-5, 6-1at the Upper Aus-
tria Ladies Linz.
The 33rd - ranked Alexandrova
had not been beyond the last 16 of
a WTA event since winning the
Shenzhen Open in January and
reaching the semifinals in St Pe-
tersburg the following month.
Alexandrova dropped serve twice
in an up-and-down opening set before
dominating the second. Her opponent
in the quarter-finals will be sixth-seeded
Nadia Podoroska or 2018 champion Ca-
mila Giorgi.
Podoroska defeated Irina-Camelia
Begu 6-4, 6-4 in her first match since
reaching the French Open semifinals
last month.
Aliaksandra Sasnovich rallied to beat
Jana Fett 3-6, 6-1, 6-3 and advance to
her third quarter-final of the season.
TENNIS
Sasnovich next plays Barbora Kre-
jcikova, who outlasted Greet Minnen
5-7, 7-6 (7), 6-4 in almost three hours.
In first-round play, the second-seeded
Elise Mertens overcame a first-set slump
against Anhelina Kalinina before beat-
ing the Ukrainian qualifier 2-6, 6-1, 6-2.
The 21st-ranked US Open quarter-
finalist took the last five games to close
out the win and set up a second-round
match against Vera Zvonareva.
Also, French qualifier Oceane Dodin
upset Top Seed Open finalist Jil Teich-
mann 1-6, 6-4, 6-2, and the fifth-seeded
Veronika Kudermetova downed Aus-
trian wild-card entry Barbara Haas 6-0,
6-0. The tournament is the final WTA
event of 2020 and takes place without
spectators amid tightened coronavirus
measures in Austria.
Also:
DEERFIELD BEACH, Florida: Colette
Evert, the matriarch of a tennis family
that produced five children who were
successful in the age-group and profes-
sional ranks, including 18-time Grand
Slam champion Chris Evert, has died.
She was 92. She died last Thursday in
Deerfield Beach, Florida, according to a
tweet by Chris Evert and an online obit-
uary posted by Fred Hunter’s Funeral
Riis steps down as team manager of NTT
British coach dismissed for gross misconduct
LONDON, Nov 12, (AP): Britain’s
cycling team dismissed podium
sprint coach Kevin Stewart for gross
misconduct, including for what was
described as a “long-term pattern of
inappropriate relationships with rid-
ers”.
Stewart failed to act on repeated
warnings about his conduct, and
that “his behaviors fell short of the
values and standards expected,”
the governing body said.
An investigation into Stewart’s
conduct had found no evidence of a
physical relationship between him-
self and any members of the team,
the governing body added.
Stewart, who would have been an
integral part of Britain’s medals bid
at next year’s delayed Tokyo Olym-
pics, apologized and acknowledged
his actions made his position unten-
able.
British Cycling said the grounds
for Stewart’s dismissal also included
a failure to follow the specific di-
Home in Fort Lauderdale.
“At 92, it was her time, and she went
peacefully and gracefully,” Evert tweet-
ed.
Born Jeanne Colette Thompson on
June 15, 1928, in New Rochelle, New
York, she went by her middle name and
was the youngest of 10 children.
In 1952, she married Jimmy Evert,
In this Sept 12, 1971 file photo, 16-year-old tennis star Chris Evert holds
a bouquet of roses given to her by the mayor as she gets a hug from her
mother, Colette, and father, James, upon returning from the US Open ten-
nis tournament in New York, in Fort Lauderdale, Florida. (AP)
rections with regard to respecting
athletes’ personal boundaries, inap-
propriate use of electronic commu-
nication, and actions bringing the
organisation into disrepute.
CYCLING
“I wholeheartedly apologize to
the team for my actions, which I
acknowledge were not acceptable,”
Stewart said. “I realized my actions
had made my position on the team
untenable and had handed in my
resignation before being dismissed
while on my notice period.”
❑ ❑ ❑ Riis is to step down at the conclu-
Bjarne Riis is stepping down as
as team manager of South Africa-
based NTT Pro Cycling, the 1996
Tour de France champion said.
The Dane, who admitted to dop-
ing following his retirement from cy-
cling, said he “departs the organiza-
a tennis teaching professional in Florida
whom she met at the wedding of a mu-
tual friend in New York. The couple
moved to Florida, where Jimmy was the
city of Fort Lauderdale’s tennis director
for 49 years. He died in 2015.
The couple’s five children played ten-
nis collegiately or professionally. While
her nervous husband stayed home and
tion by mutual consent”.
Riis took over the first team from
Africa to compete at the World Tour
level on Jan 8. It marked his return to
top-level men’s cycling since leaving
his role as team manager of Tinkoff-
Saxo in 2015. He has since been
trying to establish Danish-based
teams in the lower tiers of cycling.
“To be a part of NTT Pro Cycling
during a unique year for all of us has
been a great experience,” Riis said.
“I have a lot of respect for the team
that Doug (Ryder) has built and
want to thank him for the opportu-
nity. I wish him all the best for the
future.”
sion of the season, NTT Pro Cycling
and Riis said in a joint statement.
“I’d like to thank Bjarne for the ex-
perience and leadership that he has
brought to our environment, and the
contribution he has made,” said Ry-
der, founder and team principal of
NTT Pro Cycling.
waited for a call relaying match results,
Colette Evert was a regular presence
traveling with her children to junior, am-
ateur and pro tournaments over several
decades. Known for her quiet demeanor,
she was well-regarded by tournament
directors and other players.
“Our mother was loved by everyone
who knew her. She was gracious, kind
and nurturing,” said Chris Evert, the
year-end world No. 1-ranked player
seven times. “She never had a bad word
to say about anybody and would of-
ten cheer for our opponents when they
played well against us. If there is a Hall
of Fame for Tennis Moms, she was un-
doubtedly the first inductee.”
Chris Evert’s longtime rival and
friend Martina Navratilova tweeted,
“Colette was as good a person as one
could ever meet and a role model for all
tennis parents.”
Besides her devotion to her family,
Colette Evert had a deep and abiding
Catholic faith. She had served Holy
Communion to home-bound seniors
who were ill or unable to attend services.
Besides Chris, she is survived by sons
Drew and John and daughter Clare
Evert-Shane; 10 grandchildren; and
seven great-grandchildren. Another
daughter, Jeanne Evert Dubin, died in
February.
 ARAB TIMES, FRIDAY-SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 13-14, 2020 16

Sports
Cholet’s Killian Hayes (left),
drives against an unidentified
Chalon-sur-Saone player dur-
ing the French Cup Under-17
final in Paris on April 22,
2017. Hayes is considered a
top-10 prospect and one of
the top point guards in the
NBA draft on Nov 18. (AP)

Latest sports scores at — http://sports.arabtimesonline.com

‘There is a possibility waiving quarantine if certain conditions met’

Tokyo Oly may allow foreign fans but there will be rules
TOKYO, Nov 12, (AP): Next year’s re-
scheduled Tokyo Olympics will be like
no other, particularly for non-Japanese
fans if they are allowed to enter in the
middle of the COVID-19 pandemic.
Tokyo organizing committee CEO
Toshiro Muto, after a meeting Thurs-
day about infection countermeasures,
confirmed for the first time that a lim-
ited number of non-Japanese fans may
be allowed to attend.
But there will be some stringent
guidelines, rule books to follow, and
health apps to track fans and monitor
the spread of the infection.
“By next spring we will be coming
up with measures for all spectators in-
cluding the non-Japan residents,” Muto
said, speaking in Japanese in an online
briefing. “For the non-Japanese, we
need to be sure we secure a spectating
opportunity for them as well.”
Initially, Muto said it would be dif-
ficult to subject entering fans to a quar-
antine, and then suggested later it might
happen.
“Regarding spectators from over-
seas, whether they need to go through
a 14-day quarantine or not, whether we
can waive that or not will depend on the
OLYMPICS
situation,” Muto said. “There is a pos-
sibility this quarantine is waived if they
meet certain conditions.”
Organizers and the International
Olympic Committee have given them-
selves at least five more months – into
the northern hemisphere spring – to
start finalizing how they will pull off
the Olympics for 11,000 athletes and
tens of thousands of officials, judges,
sponsors, media and broadcasters.
It was in early spring this year that
the Games were postponed, unable to
see a way forward and now set to open
on July 23, 2021.
“The spectators’ anxiety of not
knowing if they can actually go to the
games or not is understandable,” Muto
said. “We would like to be considerate
of the spectators as much as possible
while we take preventive measures at
the same time to be able to accommo-
date as many spectators as possible.”
IOC President Thomas Bach con-
firmed on Wednesday in a briefing
in Switzerland that he will be in To-
kyo next week, his first visit since the
Olympics were postponed. Bach gave
a firm “no” response when asked if a
contingency for canceling the Olym-
pics would be discussed in Tokyo.
Bach is expected to meet new Prime
Minister Yoshihide Suga, and talk with
Tokyo Governor Yuriko Koike, To-
kyo organizing committee President
Yoshiro Mori, and others linked to the
Olympics.
Muto was asked if foreigners visit-
ing Japan would follow the rules. Japan
has been largely successful controlling
with virus with just over 1,800 deaths
reported.
“I think it’s difficult to control their
movement and behavior,” a Japanese
reporter said, speaking in Japanese.
Muto acknowledged the problem.
Nearly everyone in Japan wears a mask
– nearly everywhere.
“After the entry into Japan, we can’t
follow the spectators and general con-
sumers like we do athletes, so what
should be we do?” Muto said. “We
need to make sure the screening in suf-
ficient before they enter into the coun-
try. That’s a key point.”
He said organizers would come up
with ways to track in coming fans, sug-
gesting a call center and other meas-
ures. He also pointed that the routes
between underground stations and a
nearby venues would be monitored
with rules to follow.
Muto said there was no decision yet
on the number of fans allowed into ven-
ues. Several baseball stadiums in Japan
have experimented with fan capacity at
80%.
“Whether we are going to have full
capacity or not, the decision has not
been made yet because various experi-
ments are taking place,” Muto said.
He did caution they might be quiet
venues.
“There’s a possibility that we may
ask the spectators to refrain from shout-
ing and speaking in a loud voice. But
we haven’t reached a conclusion,” he
said.
Muto said he expected the organ-
izing committee’s latest budget to be
out before the end of the year. A big
hole could develop if ticket sales are
reduced. Tickets provide about $800
million for organizers, the third largest
source of revenue.
Tokyo says it is officially spending
$12.6 billion to prepare for the Olym-
pics, though a government audit last
year said it was twice that much. All
but $5.6 billion is public money.
In addition, the one-year delay is
estimated in Japan to cost an added $2
billion to $3 billion. The IOC has said
it would chip in about $650 to defer
the costs, leaving the rest to Japanese
taxpayers. There could also be added
costs from vaccines, testing, and added
health care that will be needed.

‘Medal of First Line of Defense’

Dubai Sports Council Ronaldo scores in round of

honors Puyol, Anelka
DUBAI, Nov 12: Dubai Sports Coun-
cil has honoured 2010 World Cup win-
ner and Spanish football legend Carles
Puyol, and former France ace Nicolas
Anelka with the ‘Medal of First Line of
Defense’ in appreciation of their sup-
port for the Council’s ‘Be Fit, Be Safe’
campaign.
His Excellency Saeed Hareb, Secre-
tary General of Dubai Sports Council,
presented the commemorative medals
to Puyol and Anelka at the Council
headquarters, in the presence of Nasser
Aman Al Rahma, Assistant Secretary
General of Dubai Sports Council.
The medals pay homage to the self-
less service of Dubai Police, Dubai
Civil Defense, Dubai Health Author-
ity, and Dubai Corporation for Ambu-
lance Services in the fight to contain
the COVID-19 pandemic in Dubai.
Together, they were at the forefront of
Dubai’s fight to contain the spread of
the coronavirus pandemic, alongside
volunteers from different segments of
the community.
Puyol, who won 18 major club titles
in a decorated career with Barcelona,
including six La Liga trophies and three
Champions League, was delighted to
receive the honour and said: “I had sent
a video message earlier for these [COV-
ID-19 frontline] heroes and I am really
happy that the situation here is good and
under control, and I hope this pandemic
will finish in a few months.”
Thanking Dubai Sports Council for
the Medal, Anelka, who won the 2000
European Championship with France
and played for top clubs like Arsenal,
Manchester City and Real Madrid, said:
“This medal means a lot. It means I am
part of the family. I love Dubai and my
family lives here, and all my friends as
well, and I am happy to receive this.”
Speaking about his life in Dubai,
Anelka added: “A lot of top sportsmen,
who are big names, want to come to
Dubai because of the lifestyle, because
in this country everything is beautiful
and nice, and you have sunshine all the
time.
“You know when I speak with
people who are my friends and all
the sportsmen, they want to come to
Anelka presented with Medal of First Line of Defence
Gomez undergoes surgery
LIVERPOOL, England, Nov 12,
(AP): Joe Gomez faces a lengthy
spell on the sidelines after under-
going surgery to repair a tendon
in his left knee, leaving Liverpool
manager Jurgen Klopp with even
more limited options at center
back.
The injury flared up while away
with the England team during
training.
“The issue was isolated to Go-
mez’s tendon, with no damage to
any other associated knee liga-
ments,” Liverpool said on Thurs-
day, “and Joe will now begin a
rehabilitation programme with our
friendlies affected by virus
Dubai because they know this is one of
the best cities in the world. You have
all the facilities here to be able to do
everything. If you want to do tennis,
you have everything. If you want to
do football, you also have everything.
You have everything for everyone.
“This is the city where you are able
to live a beautiful life.”
The “Be Fit, Be Safe” campaign was
launched by Dubai Sports Council in
March to encourage members of the
community to continue exercising at
home following the precautionary clo-
sure of gyms to combat the spread of
the coronavirus pandemic.
Through the campaign, the Coun-
cil urged members of Dubai’s diverse
community to be safe and avoid go-
ing out unless absolutely necessary,
and support the efforts being made by
Dubai’s frontline heroes to curb the
spread of the virus. The campaign also
urged community members to continue
exercising at home and strengthen their
immune system, because a healthy
body was the best way to beat the virus.
The “Be Fit, Be Safe” initiative re-
ceived widespread support from the
members of the community as well as
international sports and football super-
stars like Anelka, Puyol, and greats like
Luis Figo of Portugal, Brazil’s Roberto
Carlos, and Italy’s Gennaro Gattuso.
Barcelona’s Croatian ace Ivan Rakit-
ic, Real Madrid’s French striker Karim
Benzema, Borussia Dortmund’s Achraf
Hakimi, Manchester United legend
Ryan Giggs, former Spain international
Michel Salgado, and rising Portuguese
star Joao Felix also lent their support to
the campaign, sending video messages
urging members of the community in
Dubai to stay fit and stay safe.
As part of the campaign, DSC has
also linked up with some of the lead-
ing brands from UAE’s fitness indus-
try to offer free daily virtual fitness
Belgium’s Sebastiaan Bornauw (left), goes up against Switzerland’s Haris Seferovic, during an international friendly soccer match between Belgium and
classes, led by certified fitness trainers.
The Council also organised a number Switzerland at the King Power stadium in Leuven, Belgium on Nov 11. (AP)
of virtual sports events and webinars
under the ‘Be Fit, Be Safe’ initiative,
including the world’s first ‘Marathon at Finland stun France as Italy dominate Estonia
Home’, and a Virtual Tour Challenge
for cycling enthusiasts. MADRID, Nov 12, (AP): who made his national team debut and Regulars such as the Bayern Munich carved open the visiting defense early
opened the scoring for Portugal in the players and Real Madrid midfielder Toni on but failed to capitalize on its chances.
Cristiano Ronaldo moved eighth minute. Paulinho, who was also Kroos were omitted for the friendly and Donny van de Beek scored a 47th-
closer to becoming the all- making his Portugal debut, added to are only joining up with the squad for the minute equalizer as The Netherlands
time top scorer for a na- the lead in the 29th and Renato Sanch- upcoming Nations League games. drew 1-1 at home against Spain at the
es scored in the 56th. Finland stunned World Cup winners Johan Cruyff Arena.
tional team in a round of Paulinho scored again in the 61st, and France 2-0 as the hosts were punished Spain, missing striker Rodrigo be-
friendlies in which several an own-goal by Andorra’s Emili Gar- for squandering several scoring oppor- cause of the coronavirus, had taken the
matches were affected by cia in the 76th made it 5-0. João Félix tunities at Stade de France. lead when Sergio Canales scored his
closed the scoring in the final minutes. First-half goals from winger Marcus first international goal in the 19th.
the coronavirus. Italy beat Estonia 4-0 with Vincenzo “We had a plan to have our players
Ronaldo netted once in Portu- Forss and striker Onni Valakari gave the
Grifo scoring his first two goals for the Finns the unexpected win after France fresh in the official matches, but I’m
gal’s 7-0 rout of Andorra to take national team. Federico Bernardeschi satisfied with the team’s performance,”
his tally to 102 international goals, and Riccardo Orsolini also scored. Spain coach Luis Enrique said.
seven shy of the 109 scored by for- Italy were without coach Roberto It was a fourth match in charge with-
mer Iran striker Ali Daei, the only Mancini and several players because out a win for The Netherlands coach
other male soccer player to surpass of the coronavirus. Players from six Frank de Boer, whose record is now a
clubs – Fiorentina, Genoa, Inter Milan, loss and three draws.
the 100-goal milestone for a na- “Of course you want a victory as
tional team. Lazio, Roma and Sassuolo – were self- soon as possible,” De Boer told Dutch
Coming off a minor knee injury, broadcaster NOS. “Let’s do that against
Ronaldo entered the match after half- Bosnia (in the Nations League).” The
time and scored the sixth goal with a SOCCER
close-range header in the 85th minute
after having squandered a few good op- isolating, forcing Mancini to name an
match was a repeat of the 2010 World
Cup final in Johannesburg that Spain
won 1-0.
medical team.” portunities. enlarged squad of 41 players. Striker Michy Batshuayi made up
Already without Virgil van Ronaldo was back after recovering Mancini himself was self-isolating for his team’s lackluster display by
Dijk for most of the season after from COVID-19 but several other after testing positive for the virus on scoring twice as Belgium came from
anterior cruciate ligament surgery, players couldn’t play for their teams Friday. He was replaced by assistant behind to beat Switzerland 2-1.
because of the virus. The matches coach Alberigo Evani. Belgium coach Roberto Martin-
Liverpool without Gomez is set to Lucas Waldschmidt’s early goal
leave Klopp with just one senior involving Italy, Belgium, Germany ez played mostly his backups and
and the Czech Republic were among gave an inexperienced Germany squad handed debuts to youngsters Dodi
central defender in Joel Matip. a 1-0 win over the Czech Republic,
Matip has had injury problems those affected by the pandemic. Lukebakio, Hannes Delcroix and
Norway’s home match against Israel with Germany goalkeeper Kevin Trapp Charles De Ketelaere. Regular start-
of his own, having played only was canceled after a recommendation making a late save to deny Matej Vy-
three times this season and just re- ers Kevin De Bruyne, Dries Mertens
by local health authorities following a dra an equalizer for the visitors. and Romelu Lukaku were rested.
turning from a five-match absence positive test result by an Israeli player. The Czech Republic were without Eden Hazard was absent as he was
only on Sunday against Manches- Many nations rested regular starters two players who tested positive for quarantined in Spain following a COV-
The Netherlands’ Hans Hateboer
ter City. ahead of the decisive rounds of the Na- COVID-19. The game was played (left), and Spain’s Sergio Canales ID-19 positive test.
With the transfer window not tions League beginning this weekend. without fans to minimize the risk of vie for the ball during the internation- Turkey and Croatia drew 3-3, while
open until January, Klopp has al- The biggest surprise was France’s infections. al friendly soccer match between Greece defeated Cyprus 2-1 and Den-
ready been forced to utilize play- 2-0 loss to Finland. Manchester City midfielder İlkay The Netherlands and Spain at the mark beat Sweden 2-0. Poland topped
ers within the extended squad. Ronaldo came on for Pedro Neto, the Gündoğan recovered from his COV- Johan Cruyff ArenA in Amsterdam, Ukraine 2-0 and Austria won 3-0 at
20-year-old Wolverhampton forward ID-19 infection to captain Germany. The Netherlands on Nov 11. (AP) Luxembourg.

THE FIRST ENGLISH LANGUAGE DAILY IN FREE KUWAIT Published by: Arab Times Publishing House

Editor-in-Chief Editorial Office: Telephone: 24813566 & 24849144 Advertising: Tel: 55633481 Annual Subscriptions:
Individuals KD 45/- Companies and Official Tel: 24849144
AHMED AL JARALLAH Airport Road, Shuwaikh Fax: 24818267 Fax: 24911307
Departments KD 75 Airmail charges extra for Fax: 24839487
P.O. Box 2270, 13023 Safat, Kuwait E-mail: arabtimes@arabtimesonline.com E-mail: advt@arabtimesonline.com overseas