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SUNDAY, DECEMBER 14, 2014 SAFAR 22, 1436 AH www.kuwaittimes.net Instagram helps Indian Pakistan Feng entrepreneurs police beat India, dominates turn flash arrest ‘jihadi meet Germany to win into cash5 tweeter’11 in17 final in17 Dubai Students take to streets Min 09º Max 26º over child road safety High Tide 03:40 & 17.40 Low Tide Motorists urged to wear seatbelts, use child car seats 10:38 & 23:25 40 PAGES NO: 16372 150 FILS

By Nawara Fattahova

Expats have to KUWAIT: Students and administrative staff of the pay traffic fines American University of Kuwait (AUK) held an awareness campaign yesterday morning at three traffic lights on before travelling Gulf Street, holding placards urging drivers to be safe on the road. The placards were in both Arabic and KUWAIT: Interior Ministry Assistant Undersecretary English, with slogans calling on motorists to use seat for Traffic Affairs Maj Gen Abdullah Al-Muhanna said belts and child car seats. Drivers reacted to these mes- the ministry is coordinating with border posts and sages by beeping, waving and even buckling up. car insurance offices in order to not allow any expat According to Assistant Undersecretary for Traffic to leave the country until all traffic fines are paid. He Affairs Maj Gen Abdullah Muhanna, 333 people died in said that the presence of offices to collect fines at road accidents in the first nine months of 2014. Over the airport will make payment from those who 73,000 road accidents and about 5 million traffic cita- want to leave easy. tions were recorded in the same period, he said last He said the new month. Driving with a child on the lap is also illegal in license law went into Kuwait, but like seatbelt, child car seat and mobile use, effect last week, and a the law is widely ignored. committee will follow “I’m glad that our campaign received a positive the implementation response from the drivers. Many slowed down and read of the ministerial the messages, and some fastened their seatbelts. Some decision at the traffic cars drove by with children in the front seat or even on departments. Deputy the driver’s lap, and they looked ashamed. Some of Prime Minister and them even stopped and placed their kids in the back- Interior Minister seat,” Sabeeka Al-Jasem, a member of AUKause told Sheikh Mohammed Kuwait Times. About 20 students and administrative Al-Khaled Al-Sabah staff took part in the campaign. issued the ministerial Their goal for the year is to save children’s lives, and Abdullah Al-Muhanna decision with some doing so while driving is the campaign for this month. amendments to the traffic law on driving licenses “Through this event we aim to raise awareness for driv- for non-Kuwaitis last month. Muhanna said the data ers to buckle up while driving and to place their kids in center, social affairs ministry and traffic department car seats and make sure they are buckled up too. We are coordinating to implement the profession con- also aim to make drivers avoid using mobile phones dition for expats applying for a driving license. He during driving, not speed, and not let kids sit in the said the decision will help reduce the number of front seat. Through this campaign, we are sending a expats who receive licenses and will partially reduce message to the parents that their kids’ lives are in their traffic congestions. — Al-Rai hands,” she added. KUWAIT: Students hold placards on road safety on Gulf Street yesterday. — Photo by Yasser AL-Zayyat Continued on Page 13 Thai crown prince divorces wife

BANGKOK: Thailand’s crown prince has nalling an end to the marriage. Analysts divorced his wife, in a dramatic fall from said the 62-year-old crown prince’s split Egypt child grace for a senior princess at a time of from his wife will deepen fears for the heightened anxiety over the health of monarchy’s future as Thailand’s 87-year- abuse surges the country’s revered but ailing monarch. old King Bhumibol Adulyadej enters the A statement published by the palace in twilight of his reign. In May, Thailand’s the early hours of yesterday military seized power amid turmoil in the Royal Gazette said after months of violent CAIRO: Eight-year-old Rahma was on her way home Princess Srirasmi had relin- street protests saying it from school when she was raped - another victim of quished her royal status, a needed to do so to pro- a surge in child abuse that has been overshadowed move that ends her 13-year tect the monarchy and by turmoil in Egypt. Two months on, she is still marriage to Crown Prince restore order to the politi- receiving psychotherapy and dreads going any- Maha Vajiralongkorn. The cally divided nation. where near the spot where the assault took place, rare public airing of palace The king - the world’s close to the family farm in the Nile Delta. In the intrigue comes after a longest-serving monarch, shadow of deadly political violence ever since string of the princess’ rela- who is revered by many Egypt’s 2011 revolution, experts say the authorities tives were arrested in a Thais as a semi-divine fig- IJSSELSTEIN, Netherlands: A crane which crashed into the roof of a house is seen have given a low priority to the plight of children high-profile corruption ure - has been largely following an unusual marriage proposal by a man in this central Dutch town yes- and complain of a lack of legislation. Primary school scandal that has sent shock- Srirasmi terday. — AP pupil Rahma was assaulted in Kafr al-Sheikh confined to hospital this waves through Thailand’s elite. year and pulled out of plans to hold a province, 150 km north of Cairo. Her sister Amira “The king has granted permission to public audience earlier this month dur- says that she “is no longer a virgin. The assault has announce that Princess Srirasmi, the wife Dutchman tries to pop ing his birthday celebrations. Srirasmi ruined her future and caused severe internal of Crown Prince Maha Vajiralongkorn, injuries. “The hardest part for Rahma is overcoming married the crown prince in 2001 and has informed in a written document that question, wrecks house the trauma,” Amira told AFP. she has resigned from her royal status,” had been expected to become queen. Continued on Page 13 Continued on Page 13 AMSTERDAM: A Dutchman’s attempt at way. After speaking with police, the pair the palace said in a short statement, sig- a romantic wedding proposal was simply traveled to Paris to celebrate. Then the smashing. The unidentified lover in the crane fell again during attempts to right central town of Ijsselstein rented a crane, it with a larger crane, bashing in the rest planning to descend in front of his girl- of the neighbors’ roof. The town’s mayor friend’s bedroom window first thing yes- was on the spot after the building was terday morning, play her a song and declared unsafe. Six apartments were then pop the question. Instead the crane evacuated. “We’re looking at the best toppled over, smashing a large hole in way to lift the crane without it falling the neighbors’ roof. The man clambered again,” said emergency services to safety and no one was injured. spokesman Jelle Mulder. “The people in According to the Algemeen Dagblad the house the crane fell on are deeply newspaper, the girlfriend said “yes” any- shocked,” he added. — Agencies Facebook doesn’t love idea of ‘dislike’ button SAN FRANCISCO: Facebook chief Mark world,” Zuckerberg said, expressing con- Zuckerberg wants people to be able to cern that “like” and “dislike” buttons quickly express broader ranges of feel- could turn into a voting system to judge ings at the leading online social net- posts. “The thing that I think is very work, but a “dislike” button doesn’t valuable is that there are more senti- make the cut. During a question-and- ments that people want to express.” answer session with an audience at the While Facebook’s well-known Facebook headquarters in Northern thumbs-up “like” buttons let people eas- California, available online Friday, ily show support or enthusiasm for Zuckerberg gave a thumbs-down to the posts, some folks think the sentiment idea of a button to register disdain for seems off-target for somber subjects posts at the social network. “That’s not such as news of death or other sadness something that we think is good for the Continued on Page 13 KUWAIT: A girl flies a kite as the sun sets on Friday in Bnaider. — Photo by Yasser Al-Zayyat SUNDAY, DECEMBER 14, 2014 LOCAL Amir’s GCC honoring well earned: Journalists

Dr Hassan Al-Ansari Jaber Al-Harmi Mohammad Hajji

DOHA: A number of Qatari media figures said level, where special attention is dedication for would be granted such honoring,” Harmi said. the recently-held GCC Summit’s honoring of His education, health and housing, as well as other Such a special treatment for HH the Amir is Highness the Amir Sheikh Sabah Al-Ahmad Al- sectors, with the higher objective to secure citi- quite expected, given his relentless bids to Jaber Al-Sabah came to reassert his recognition zens’ welfare, noting furthermore Sheikh make good deeds everywhere in the world, says by the UN as a Humanitarian Leader, and Kuwait Sabah’s policy of seeking to resolve the humani- Mohammad Hajji, the deputy editor-in-chief of as a Humanitarian Center. Dr Hassan Al-Ansari, tarian tragedy in Syria and other parts of the Al-Arab daily. editor-in-chief of the English-language daily, world. The UN honoring for Kuwait is actually an Qatar Tribune, indicated to KUNA the honoring Heaping praise upon the Amir’s special traits honoring for the other GCC countries for it will of HH the Amir and Kuwait has come at a time and unique diplomatic skills, Dr Ansari noted his reflect on all the Council member states, Hajji while the whole world is witnessing tragedies. instrumental role in bridging the gap of differ- said. The GCC Summit honoring of HH the Amir ences among the GCC countries. Aisha Obaidan, a writer in Al-Raya newspa- and Kuwait, upon an initiative taken by the Meanwhile, Jaber Al-Harmi, the editor-in- per, echoed identical ideas and sentiments, Qatari Amir, Sheikh Tamim Bin Hamad Al-Thani, chief of Al-Sharq newspaper, said HH the Amir’s underscoring Sheikh Sabah’s long record of served this international approach to express efforts “spread across Kuwait’s borders reaching efforts for peace, conciliation and rapproche- gratitude to the Gulf country. human beings everywhere,” also applauding his ment “among the brothers.” Kuwait topped “HH the Amir is now among a small number conciliation efforts at the GCC level. nations that have offered help for the Syrians, of leaders in the world, known for their siding “We were particularly pleased with the GCC she said, underlining how Kuwait deserved to with mankind,” he said, adding that his step at the summit, for it was the first time in be crowned with this unique international approach is also tangibly seen at the domestic the history of these summit that a GCC leader title. —KUNA UN honored Kuwait for humanitarian action record

NEW YORK: The State of Kuwait, since its inde- impoverished, a Kuwaiti diplomat noted. and efforts to alleviate human suffering. pendence in the 1960s, has demonstrated keen- Such an approach has resulted in viewing Global challenges, mounting threats against ness on aiding nations in need for help, resisting humanitarian action as a feature of Kuwait’s the human race, such as natural catastrophes, injustice and securing dignified living for the identity, therefore the United Nations has poverty, hunger and illness, constitute some of recently designated His Highness the Amir the UN preoccupations and these problems Sheikh Sabah Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah as a have prompted it to double regional and inter- Humanitarian Leader and Kuwait as a national efforts to cope with such catastrophes Humanitarian Center, said Farah Al-Gharabally, and other challenges, she said. the diplomatic attache serving with the Kuwaiti She praised the UN allocation of $482 mil- mission at the United Nations, shedding light lion, in 2013, from the UN humanitarian activi- on the background that has prompted the inter- ties fund and some $107 million for rapid national organization to grant such distinctive response at times of crises, beside $175 million honoring to the country’s top leader and Kuwait to fund operations in emergencies. itself. The diplomat noted that Kuwait supports UN The diplomatic attache was addressing a UN calls upon the member states and charities to KUWAIT: Kuwait celebrates today the 100th anniversary of hoisting the first State session examining plans for boosting UN take pre-emptive action vis a vis crises, National Flag. The old red and white flag, marked in the center with the word Kuwait, humanitarian and relief aid in catastrophes expressed concern at excerpts in a UN report was made during rule of the late Amir, Sheikh Mubarak Al-Kabeer (the Great). The worldwide. indicating that development rates in Gaza have first National Flag was made upon directions of Sheikh Mubarak on December 14, UN honoring of His Highness the Amir sig- been dropping, due to the continuing closure of 1914. It continued to exist till November 23, 1961, during the era of late Amir, Sheikh nals the State of Kuwait’s respect for humanity, the passageways and underground tunnels, Abdullah Al-Salem Al-Sabah, when it was replaced with the new National Flag, with promoting peace and aiding those in need, through which the Gazans get their necessities. four colors; green, black, white and red. — KUNA Gharabally said, affirming that Kuwait would Israeli occupation authorities have main- continue coordinating with the UN, aspiring to tained the blockade on Gaza for eight years, realize prosperity and stability for nations of the thus causing humanitarian tragedies in the Human rights ‘top priority’ globe. enclave. She renewed the call upon the interna- The diplomat Gharabally indicated that tional community to coerce Tel Aviv lift the ille- for Kuwait: Envoy NEW YORK: Farah Al-Gharabally speaks at the Kuwait advocates international partnership, in gal siege of Gaza, immediately and without con- UN session. — KUNA this respect, and unifying nations’ potentials ditions. — KUNA DOHA: The human rights dossier is of human rights situation in Kuwait, the paramount significance and a top priority ambassador pointed out. to the State of Kuwait, Kuwaiti Mutotah reiterated his country’s full Ambassador in Doha Metaeb Al-Mutotah commitment to international human FAO honors Kuwaiti for said yesterday. rights conventions and agreements, citing Speaking to KUNA following the open- the recent UN honoring of His Highness ing of a regional training course on the Amir Sheikh Sabah Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber human rights concepts Al-Sabah as a relevant contribution to ICN2 and mechanisms held resonant paradigm. especially for Kuwaiti For his part, Deputy ROME: The United Nations Food For her part, Rakayan extolled diplomats in GCC coun- Chairman of the NHRC and Agriculture Organization the most significant results of the tries, the ambassador Yusuf Obaidan said that (FAO) honored Kuwait’s Dr Sarah ICN2 concerning Rome’s said the Kuwaiti human rights and rele- Al-Rakayan for her valuable partic- announcement on nutrition and Ministry of Foreign vant basic freedoms are ipation in the Second International the framework of action which Affairs seeks to promote of local, regional and Conference on Nutrition (ICN2) both design a global strategy to and establish the con- international signifi- and for Kuwait’s prominent role in combat malnutrition. She under- cept of human rights cance. The better the international affairs. scored the great significance of within the diplomatic State respects and safe- “FAO’s Director-General Jose such results for Kuwait particularly corps. guards human rights, Graziano da Silva granted Rakayan, in the educational, healthy and The ministry has the better it is placed on a researcher at Roma Tre University cultural domains for future gener- developed an ambitious both regional and world and wife of Kuwaiti Ambassador to ations. plan of action purposed maps, he opined. Italy Sheikh Ali Al-Khaled, a certifi- Rakayan gave a lecture in the to promote the role and But, Obaidan empha- cate of appreciation for her notice- conference on “nutrition in effort of the State of sized that it is shared able contribution to the ICN2’s dis- Kuwait’s healt policies”, in which Kuwait in the domain of responsibility of the cussions held here on November she focused on health problems human rights by means entire international soci- 19-21,” the Kuwaiti Embassy to relating to malnutrition such as of upgrading the effi- ety to promote and ciency of its officials safeguard human rights. Italy told KUNA in a statement. obesity in Kuwait, and how the Ambassador Metaeb Al-Mutotah Da Silva expressed his special government is taking action and through specialized The five-day regional appreciation to Kuwait’s efforts drawing on knowledge from oth- training courses. Such training course is being and its prominent role on the er countries to tackle the prob- courses are mainly intended to update the co-organized by Qatari National Human international level, the statement lem. At least 100 ministers, hun- ministry’s officials on the latest human Rights Committee (NHRC) and Geneva said, noting that he also com- dreds of officials from the govern- rights developments and offer them Institute for Human Rights (GIHR). Eight mended contributions by Rakayan, ments of member states and diverse capabilities and skills in this Kuwaiti diplomats working at US ROME: Dr Sarah Alrkiyan is honored by FAO’s Director General Dr Jose who was the only Arab woman nutrition experts participated in regard, he added. The supervisory team of embassies in GCC countries are partaking Graziano da Silva. —KUNA that took part in the conference. the event. — KUNA the human rights promotion blueprint in the course which kick-started in the issues an annual publication on the Qatari capital earlier today.—KUNA ASBU conference reflects Kuwait’s media role CBK releases KUWAIT: The fact that the recent conference of was chosen as the union’s Director General. and to fulfill the expectations and hopes of the the Arab States Broadcasting Union (ASBU) was The holding of the ASBU under the aegis of Arab people for more fraternity and amity. held in Kuwait reflects this Gulf country’s pio- His Highness the Prime Minister Sheikh Jaber Al- On recent ASBU general assembly meetings, 2015 calendar neering media role, a senior official said yester- Mubarak Al-Hamad Al-Sabah is an unequivocal he said the participants discussed ways to day. sign of Kuwait’ unshakable belief in the signifi- enhance the general administration of social It also shows that Kuwait is capable of host- cance of cementing and beefing up cooperation media and communication, so that they can KUWAIT: As part of its policy to revive old Kuwaiti ing and organizing various successful regional among Arab countries on various levels, keep up with the latest methods in media and heritage, the Commercial Bank for Kuwait issued its and international conferences and gatherings, Awwash said. technology. annual calendar for 2015, with paintings that Assistant Undersecretary of the Information It also reflects the important role of mass The meeting also approved a media strategy reflect Kuwait’s heritage with stories, sayings, Ministry for Media Planning and Knowledge media in the dissemination of the genuine con- to combat radicalism, including a number of places and yards that have been passed down the Development Mohammad Al-Awwash told cept of development, culture, advancement and training courses in media fields to bolster generations. KUNA. stability, he said, boasting that Kuwait is a co- human resources and members of the union, he Head of Advertisements and Public Relations The 34th general assembly of the Arab States founder of the ASBU. pointed out. Broadcasting Union (ASBU) kicked off on He added that the ASBU General Assembly Asked about this media strategy to fight the Sheikha Nouf Salem Al-Ali Al-Sabah said as the new Wednesday and concluded its activities on members had voiced pride at the UN honoring growing phenomena of terrorism and extrem- year approaches, bank clients and others wait for Friday. of His Highness the Amir Sheikh Sabah Al- ism, the Kuwaiti official and ASBU chairman said CBK’s calendar, which always focuses on an idea Awwash was elected as president of the Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah as a Humanitarian the body said this strategy was adopted by Arab linked to old Kuwaiti heritage that is rich in exam- union while Tunisian Mustapha Ballatif was Leader in recognition of his humanitarian initia- information ministers and would be referred to ple and meaning. Sheikha Nouf said CBK decided handpicked as First Deputy President of the tives. Awwash highly commended the ASBU as a the ASBU Secretariat for further deliberations to have its 2015 calendar display some old places, union, and Jordanian Ramadan Rawashda as common Arab body that was established 60 and final approval next January as a maximum yards, popular markets, and historic gates of old Sheikha Nouf Salem Second Deputy. Sudanese Abdulraheem Yunus years ago to serve certain goals and purposes date. — KUNA Kuwait as a link between the past and present. Al-Ali Al-Sabah SUNDAY, DECEMBR 14, 2014 LOCAL In Brief Top priority Stupid decision Anticorruption authority

By A Saleh KUWAIT: MP Abdulhameed Dashty slammed the KUWAIT: MP Kamel Al-Awadhi said that the fact that government over unconfirmed news that former the Anticorruption Public Authority has yet to offi- KUWAIT: The parliament’s committee responsible for lawmaker Aseel Al-Awadhi was appointed as a cul- cially launch its duties ‘cannot go on any longer,’ indi- replying to His Highness the Amir’s speech identified tural attachÈ in Washington, DC. Dashty says that if cating that national funds are being wasted when housing as a top priority on the legislative and execu- the rumors were true, the move would be a ‘stupid employees there are being paid without working. He tive authorities’ agendas, followed by education, health, step of hiring an oppositionist.’ He added that the acknowledged the authority’s importance though, national security, sports and taking care of youth. The step would encourage young Kuwaitis to join the and added that the only thing it needs to officially panel, whose job is to analyze and prepare a reply to opposition, and vowed to take ‘whatever is neces- launch one year and a half after its establishment are HH the Amir’s speech delivered during the parliamen- sary’ to override the decision if the government fails the regulations that organize its work. tary term’s inaugural session, has filed its report to be to do the same. discussed during this Tuesday’s session.

Photo of the day

KUWAIT : The sun sets over Bnaider, some 33 kilometers south of Kuwait City, on December 12, 2014. — Photo by Yasser Al-Zayyat Zain recognized by Journey of Hope

KUWAIT: The organizational com- honoring token to Zain’s Chief to draw attention worldwide to the mittee of the Journey of Hope, an Regulatory, Legal Affairs and plight of people suffering from initiative aimed at highlighting the Roaming Officer, Faisal Abul during mental and physical disabilities. This support rendered to people with the honoring ceremony that wit- voyage not only highlighted the special needs, has honored Zain, the nessed the attendance of His challenges people with special leading telecommunications com- Excellency Sheikh Mohammad Al- needs face in Kuwait, but across the pany in Kuwait, for its role in spon- Abdullah Al-Subah, Minister of State globe. soring the journey and the recep- for Cabinet Affairs, and Sheikha Zain’s expansive Corporate Social tion ceremony held in Marina Sheikha Al-Abdullah Al-Subah. The Responsibility and Sustainability Crescent. The reception was organ- event was also attended by a num- priorities focus on the well-being of ized under the patronage of HH the ber of ambassadors and ministers, the communities of the markets in Amir Sheikh Subah Al-Ahmad Al- with Zain being singled out for its which it operates and for this reason Jaber Al-Subah. support of the Journey of Hope, the company looks to maintain its His Excellency the Minister of which highlights special needs cas- support of numerous initiatives that Information and Minister of State es in Kuwait. spread awareness and help make a for Youth Affairs, Sheikh Salman Al- Zain has supported the initiative positive difference to people’s Faisal Abul receiving the honoring token. Humoud Al-Subah, presented the since its inception, given its efforts everyday lives. EQUATE Sponsors Engineering College’s Career Fair

KUWAIT: EQUATE Petrochemical Company, Kuwait’s first international petrochemical joint-venture, sponsored the 17th Career Fair organized by Kuwait University’s College of Engineering and Petroleum. EQUATE Senior Executive for Corporate Business Development Tareq Al-Kandari said, “Being a firm believer in the importance of establishing strategic partnerships with vari- ous relevant organizations, EQUATE has throughout the years launched a number of critical initiatives with many bodies through- out Kuwait, with the aim of supporting and developing Kuwaiti human resources. These initiatives include university scholarships with the Ministry of Higher Education for company employee and Kuwaiti high school graduates; Memorandums of Understanding (MoUs) and sponsoring establishing academic and scien- tific facilities at a number of Kuwait University’s colleges; as well as strong collabo- ration with Kuwait Institute for Scientific (From left) Tareq Al-Kandari speaking to Sheikha AlZain Al-Sabah, Dr Husain Al-Khayyat (From left) Dhari Al-Baghli, Dr Husain Al-Khayyat, Mohammad Al-Sharhan, Sheikha Alzain Research (KISR) and Kuwait Foundation for the and participants in the fair. Al-Sabah, and Tareq Al-Kandari. Advancement of Sciences (KFAS), all of which and training its human resources through an an MoU in academic and industrial fields to petrochemical industry, such as products, and students, as well as others visiting the fair. are aimed at embodying our ‘Partners in integrated systematic approach to ensure support the faculty’s activities and plans. The manufacturing, along with Environment, Moreover, EQUATE was selected as one of the Success’ tagline. In addition, for quite some overall sustainability.” On his part, EQUATE MoU includes participating in career fairs, Health and Safety (EHandS). top organizations participating in the exhibi- years, the average Kuwaitization rate at Talent and Performance Management Leader sponsoring conferences and seminars, estab- During the fair, EQUATE’s stand was visited tion for the integrated recruitment process EQUATE has exceeded 50 percent in terms of Mohammad Al-Sharhan said, “During 2008, lishing first of their kind labs at Kuwaiti univer- by Ministry of State for Youth Affairs through its website www.equate.com, the total employees, while over 90% of senior and EQUATE forged a comprehensive partnership sities, internships for engineering students, as Undersecretary Sheikha Alzain Sabah Al- unique design of its booth, along with the middle management being nationals. EQUATE, with Kuwait University’s College of well as providing the college’s faculty mem- Nasser Al-Sabah and over 400 individuals rep- interaction between its employees and all visi- naturally, continues its focus on developing Engineering and Petroleum through signing bers with information and data regarding the resenting Kuwait University’s faculty members tors. SUNDAY, DECEMBER 14, 2014 LOCAL Crime Report ‘Drug Control’ guy arrested for peddling

KUWAIT: An Egyptian man who works for the Drugs Control General Department (DCGD) was arrested for trading in drugs. The expat who works as a mechanic was placed under surveillance after information about him was provided to Director General Maj Gen Saleh Al- Ghannam. A security source said the suspect convinced those dealing with him that he was safe because he repairs the cars of DCGD managers. The source said that close surveillance of the mechanic who owns a Toddler killed in Saad Al-Abdullah fire cafe in Jleeb Al-Shuyoukh showed that he sold drugs. He was arrested and informed police about his six part- ners. By Hanan Al-Saadoun room on the second floor of a building in Saad Al- them and could not rescue the third. Jahra and Abdullah. The father woke up as his children, aged Jahra occupational fire centers dealt with the KUWAIT: In a tragic accident, a two-year-old five, three and two, were screaming after the fire blaze. Investigations are underway to determine ‘King’ alcohol dealer caught Kuwaiti boy was killed when fire broke out in a broke out in their room. He was able to save two of the causes of the fire. Mubarak Al-Kabeer security arrested an Asian man who sold liquor and was nicknamed “The King”. A security source said the suspect was run- Private university ning a locally made liquor factory and several of his compatriots delivered the liquor to homes, cafes and places where Asian workers gather. The declared ‘not ready’ man told police that he owns more than one fac- tory and all those working for him are visa viola- tors, and that his factories produce more than 500 KUWAIT: The Private Universities Council ing, but determined existence of insuffi- bottles. He said he sold them at prices as low as has turned down a request by the cient security and safety specifications, 500 fils a bottle. planned private “university for medical for the building had been constructed at sciences” to inaugurate the university in a low-level plot of land surrounded by the coming academic year due to failure high sandy grounds, thus it would sure Conman nabbed to meet required standards. be swamped with water in the event of Adan detectives arrested a Syrian woman in Maidan Dr Walid Al-Kanderi, the assistant sec- heavy rains. Hawally wanted by all detective departments for fraud retary general at the council secretariat From an academic point of view, the cases that exceed KD 200,000. The woman made her general, said in a statement to KUNA that university has far not enrolled any mem- victims believe that she can process transactions at the the planned university had turned down ber in the teaching board, has not treatment abroad department as well as all state min- an inspection visit by the council techni- installed some equipment, the laborato- istries. A pensioner told Adan police that he was cal committee to the university building ry and the medical clinic. Zain’s corner at Qout Market conned by a Syrian who told him she can process his to check safety conditions at the premis- Therefore, Kanderi declared that the papers at the treatment office for KD 2,000, then es. new university would not open in the Zain continues community ignored him after receiving the money and did not However, the committee members next academic year due to lack of pre- answer his calls. Police found she was born in 1971 and went to the site and examined the build- paredness. — KUNA lives in Hawally. She was also found wanted for other partnership with Qout Market fraud cases. Detectives were able to locate her through her phone, then went to the area and waited for her KUWAIT: Zain, the leading telecommunica- ideas while offering visitors the opportuni- until she left the building she lives in. She was arrested tions company in Kuwait, announced the ty to learn more about locally manufac- and taken to Adan detectives’ office for questioning continuation of its Community Partnership tured products in a true farmers’ market and further action. of the second installment of the Qout environment. Market; an initiative held every first During the second market of this sea- Saturday in November through to January son, Zain provided a photo booth that facil- Physical assault in the Al-Rayya complex. The market is con- itated visitors taking photos that were A citizen accused her ex-brother-in-law of sidered Kuwait’s largest artisanal farmers printed on film, and organized a photo attempting to hit her car and harm her. She said gathering, and looks to support local food contest through the company’s social that the man stopped her on Ghous Street, then producers and craftsmen in showcasing media channels. removed her hijab and groped her. The woman their products. Zain remains dedicated to supporting gave police the suspect’s car plate number and Zain’s partnership with this unique ini- events that showcase the talents of young filed a complaint. tiative is in line with the company’s people in Kuwait, by encouraging out- Corporate Social Responsibility and standing projects and ideas. This is one of Sustainability vision that seeks to uplift the the main reasons why the company Domestic violence lives of the people in the communities in launched the Zain Great Idea program, A citizen accused her husband of beating her. She which it operates and encourage national which aims at investing in the creative abili- handed Adan police a medical report stating that she development programs. ties of young Kuwaiti entrepreneurs, sustained bruises and accused her husband of causing Qout Market is distinguished for being preparing them to engage in the business them. The husband is being summoned for question- the first and only community-based farm- world through encouragement and the ing. — Al-Rai ers’ market that supports local farmers and nurturing of innovation within their busi- artisans in the exchange thoughts and nesses. KAC to receives Airbus planes Dec 18-22

KUWAIT: Kuwait Airways Corporation The aircrafts are essential parts of KAC’s (KAC) is getting ready to celebrate the ambitious growth plans and would help arrival of two leased Airbus A320 planes to boost KAC regional route network, Enezi join its fleet on December 18 and 22, the indicated. national carrier said yesterday. A KAC delegation headed by the The two leased planes are the first batch Corporation’s Chairperson Rasha Al-Roumi of 12 agreed upon planes which KAC leases will head to Tolouse, France, to attend the from Airbus to renew its fleet, Head of the delivery of the first plane ceremony. KAC’s Media and Public Relations Kuwait Airways signed last February a Department Fayez Al-Enezi said in a press final agreement with European plane mark- statement. He added that the Kuwait er to lease 12 Airbus A320 jets and buy 25 Airways has also signed a deal with Airbus aircrafts, including 10 A350-900 and 15 to buy a total of 25 planes. A320 neo family aircrafts, as part of the air- Airbus would continue delivering the lines’ fleet renewal strategy. Among a series remaining leased planes till September of moves to upgrade its fleet, the KAC also 2015, Enezi said. He described the move as a agreed last month to buy 10 wide-body “significant milestone” for the KAC which has 777-300ER passenger aircrafts from manu- not renewed its fleet for a long time ago. facturer Boeing. — KUNA

KUWAIT: Divers of the Environmental Voluntary Foundation (EVF) lifted 10 tons of iron pipes dumped in the sea waters off Bneid l-GarA pier, located close to Kuwait Towers. The divers used air-filled bags to lift the neglected pipes, team leader Walid Al-Shatti aids yester- day. The pipes were towed onshore with a boat. A crane was also employed to bring up the large objects. The divers encountered some difficulties due to bad under-water visibility and muddy sea-bed, Shatti added.— KUNA

Violence against KRCS delivers Bedoons served, children campaign more aid to employed in state Syrian refugees KUWAIT: The Ministry of Health launches a campaign today departments to boost mothers’ awareness of the violence against children BEIRUT: Kuwait Red Crescent Society (KRCS) dis- with well-trained social workers taking part. tributed food and blankets to some 250 Syrian The campaign seeks further care for children, protecting families who have taken up refuge in Hasbaya, KUWAIT: The Central Apparatus for Illegal Residents’ Affairs had finalized them against violence, Director of Social Health Department southeastern Lebanon. The society envoy in up to 9,294 bureaucratic transactions for illegal residents between at the Ministry Dr Yacoub Al-Kandari said in a press statement Lebanon, Dr Musaed Al-Enezi, told KUNA yester- January, 2015, and end of November, the department said yesterday. on Friday. Material has been prepared targeting mothers, with day that the relief supplies were given to the The paperwork, including transfers and messages with various govern- the aim of reducing persecution against their kids, and provid- Syrian refugees, as the latest batch of humanitari- mental and non-governmental departments, was done for 148,950 of ing them with due physical, mental and psychological care, an support granted to the Syrians to help them these residents. Paperwork accomplished for illegal residents concerning Kandari added. — KUNA cope with difficult living conditions. the Ministry of Health came on top, totaling 4,723 for 6,985 individuals, the According to the UN, some three million apparatus said in a statement, indicating these documents included birth Syrians who have fled the violence at home to and death certificates. several neighboring countries, including The department had addressed up to 2,299 applications to the Ministry Lebanon. Enezi added that study fees for 800 of Justice, related to marriage and divorce certificates. They concerned up Syrian students settled in the Bekaa valley, east- to 3,205 persons of these category, in addition to 830 ones, sent to the ern Lebanon, have been covered, noting that the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, for 1,168 residents. money is provided by the Kuwaiti “Nest” group Meanwhile, the Civil Service Commission has approved employment for educating children. The group functions applications by 907 illegal residents who do not work in the private sector under KRCS’ umbrella. Kuwait has earmarked or the cooperative societies. It called upon freshly graduated, qualified res- millions of dollars worth of aid to aid the Syrian idents with a diploma and above to report back to the commission to refugees. — KUNA update their data, noting that jobs could be sought by this category of the Dr Yacoub Al-Kandari residents via the Chamber of Commerce. — KUNA SUNDAY, DECEMBER 14, 2014 LOCAL

KUWAIT: American University of Kuwait (AUK) students hold signs on the Gulf Road yesterday as part of a campaign to spread awareness about safety driving. —Photos by Yasser Al-Zayyat Sabah Hospital holds colorectal Exclusive travel offers for Gulf cancer awareness campaign Bank’s Priority Banking customers

KUWAIT: Al-Sabah Hospital will organize an awareness KUWAIT: Gulf Bank has announced wide hotels & resorts assistance, castle latest exclusive offer, customers can campaign on colorectal cancer on December 25 in the that it is partnering with Alshamel & private island reservations, private identify themselves and use their Gulf Avenues Mall amid an increasing number of people who Travel to offer its Priority Banking yacht experience, and 24/7 assistance Bank Visa Infinite, World MasterCard, suffer from this disease. clients exclusive benefits when they services. This offer is valid until the end Platinum MasterCard, and Platinum “Launching awareness campaigns is paramount if we use their Gulf Bank credit cards while of September 2015. Visa, when purchasing their travel seek prevention of chronic and dangerous diseases,” booking their travel arrangements. Alshamel Travel functions as one package from Alshamel Travel. Assistant Undersecretary of the Ministry of Health Dr Jamal Through this partnership with entity through a network of regional Alshamel Travel is available, at the Al-Harbi told KUNA, underlining that the ministry’s keen- Alshamel Travel Priority Banking cus- offices to deliver superior service to following locations: ness on reactivating awareness within its strategic plans to tomers benefit from a discount on the their clients on a truly regional level. Head Office, 30th Floor, KIPCO fight diseases. non-air products and selected hotels They aim to be the travel manage- Tower, Khaled Bin Al Waleed St, Sharq, He commended the campaign entitled “Yes for life, No as well as free travel insurance for any ment partner of choice for all busi- Kuwait City for colorectal cancer”, saying that the ministry would sup- travel package (Hotel + Airline Tickets) ness and leisure travelers in the Kuwait VIP Office, 2nd Floor, port that campaign to target a large number of people and purchased. A dedicated phone num- Middle East. Through their network of Cement House Bldg., Al Shuhada St, help them be aware of that disease whose rates have ber is assigned to qualified agents to wholly owned offices, industry knowl- Sharq, Kuwait City increased in Kuwait in recent times. attend customer travel needs. edge and experienced personnel, Dedicated Telephone: 229796060 For her part, Head of Digestive System and Liver Unit at Furthermore Alshamel will provide they are committed to providing from 9:00 am - 1:00 pm and 4:30 - Sabah Health District Dr Wafaa Al-Hashash underscored Dr Jamal Al-Harbi our valued Priority Banking customers clients with travel management serv- 8:30 pm Sunday through Thursday with full access to its Luxury Travel ices and solutions that best meet To find out more about Gulf Bank’s the necessity of awareness of preventing dangerous dis- ministry is keen on providing ideal health care for them,” eases from which the society suffers. Services which includes: tailor made their needs. promotions and offers, customers can she said. premium travel and complex itineraries Gulf Bank is committed to offer its visit one of Gulf Bank’s 58 branches; The event will include seminars and lectures on aware- The event is the fruit of strenuous efforts aimed at com- ness and publications on colorectal cancer will be distrib- concierge services, Honeymooners Priority customers with new promo- contact the Customer Contact Centre bating this malignant disease, she pointed out, affirming packages, Sport and Theatre events, tions in addition to its exceptional on 1805805, or log on to the Bank’s uted, she said, noting that the ministry gives top priority to that the ministry harnesses all capabilities for the service of such awareness campaigns for the safety of citizens. “The limousine transportation, private jet range of financial products and bank- bilingual website at www.e-gulf- the people. —KUNA facilities, premium meet & assist, world- ing services. To take advantage of this bank.com Instagram helps entrepreneurs turn flash into cash

KUWAIT: Instagram is often seen as a Entrepreneurs who embraced Shopper Ibrahim Al-Essa echoed a place to share “selfies”, fun and unfor- Instagram are seeing a significant similar view. “Social networking web- gettable snapshots, but the visual boost in their businesses. They have sites, especially Instagram, have social platform has proven of great managed to lure a growing number of become virtual market that con- potential for a growing number of clients with captivating imagery and sumers follow up the latest displayed Kuwaiti entrepreneurs and internet- visually compelling content. “Foodstuff products at any time or any place savvy consumers alike. tops the list of marketed products fol- through their computers or smart With hundreds of thousands of lowed by cosmetics, clothes and acces- phones,” he told KUNA. Essa said that users in Kuwait and millions of photos sories,” he said. Behbehani argued that he follows up the accounts of a num- shared on a daily basis, Instagram helps owners of ber of companies and home-based Instagram turned into a vir- businesses, especially the businesses. tual goldmine for entrepre- small ones, to reach and For her part, Dressmaker Iqbal Al- neurs who figure out how to effectively interact with the Ali said she has launched her home- use the photo-driven site to biggest number of clients based business in 2009 and was mar- their advantage. almost instantly and without keting its products among its relatives “A growing number of cost. “It is a great marketing and acquaintances. But after using people, particularly women, tool for those who has no Instagram to promote her products, are turning to Instagram to store or company to display demand has gone crazy, she said. Ali either market their products and or promote their products either for noted that Instagram has successful brands or purchase ones,” Hashem lack of enough capital to purchase or done the job at a very low cost. She Behbehani, Director General of Castle rent premises or because of the argued that the high cost of shop Technology, an IT developer and e- bureaucracy and time-wasting efforts rents, labor and the complication of commerce company, told KUNA. to get a license,” he said. the license-getting procedures have dissuaded her from having an outdoor business. Pastry Shop Owner Yusuf Al-Hamad has a similar expe- rience. “A friend advised me to try to market my products through Instagram. I have so shortly and to my surprise the account went viral and the number of followers increased on a daily basis,” Hamad told KUNA. “On parallel with the rise of Instagram account follow- ers, the demand for the products jumped,” he said, adding that he has to expand his business and increase the number of workers to meet the growing demand. “For me, the mar- keting through Instagram was a game-changer,” he pointed out. Despite that there are some people who still do not have confidence in the prod- ucts marketed from the Internet as a whole, including Instagram. “I do not like products marketed through the internet because they do not subject to health, com- mercial and legal scrutiny,” Fatima Al-Nouri, who describes herself as a shop- ping addict, told KUNA. “There is no official mecha- nism to guarantee the quali- ty of the products or the civil society to protectcivil society allchildren livinginKuwait. the state’s development process, andcooperation with commitment for in protecting childhoodasapriority who letouttheirdailystress andfrustrationonthem. abuse nearlyonadailybasisatthehandsofparents the problem. There are children whoare to subjected prime goal. acasecould escalate Hesitatingto report safety andprotection ofchildren shouldbethe as anexcuse suchcases, notto becausethe report The fear offamilydisintegration shouldnotbeused athome,child abusedetected schooloranywhere. withawareness any towhich starts casesof report therapists. abuse, includingdoctors, nurses, sociologists and and trainedstaff to dealwithchildren to subjected University. to provide qualified isalsoimportant It Affairsof Social andLaborinaddition to Kuwait andMinistry ofEducation,InteriorMinistry Ministry includingthe tion withotherstate departments abuse, especiallysince itisestablishedincoordina- to keepchildren safeis necessary of from allkinds lish anationalcommittee for childprotection, which abuse case. child every ofreporting children, andtheimportance about themany negative effectsofviolence against be followed byto spread seriousefforts awareness to represent themeantime, them.In thisstep should ing children whoare inneedfor astandandvoice to publicattention isthefirststep towards protect- tals ormedicalclinics. children to abusebutnever subjected reach hospi- cases, how andGodknows many casesare there of signs ofsevere attacks. Those were onlytherecorded children whomostlyarrived to medicalfacilitieswith T R myself, amnotconvinced sofar! withitsperformance this parliamenthasachieved anything -thoughI, judgments orjumpingto conclusions aboutwhether process followed in such casesbefore any making fatal mistake, becausewe firsthave to understandthe intheirjudgments andthisisa superficial ple are very spider’sthat anempty web. Unfortunately, somepeo- dures thatmightbelongerandmore complicated and constitutionalcomplicated proce- paperwork that settinglaws takeslongandhasto gothrough nothing, whichmightbetruebut,we have to realize achieving nothing, doingnothingandlegislating process thattakesatleast6-9months! long documenting,very constitutional andlegal ed oninoneortwo sessions. We abouta are talking committee, discussedby thelawmakers andthenvot- will have legislative to gothrough theparliamentary then sentto bereviewed by theparliamentwhere it by theCabinet, sentto theCabinet’s legalcommittee, complicated, becauseitwillstillhave to bereviewed that themechanismfollowed insuchcasesisvery effect withindays and forgot,know, oreven donot Cabinet for discussion. They believe itwould take to submitted the itsdraft that theinformation ministry its foundation law wasmadeover 18monthsago! though isstillinactive authority this mostimportant to besetandthatiswhystill needsitsinternal charter law issuedoveranti-corruption ayear andahalfago depriving tens ofthousandsbenefitingfrom it. The ments for longbefore itwasprematurely passed, between thegovernment andmany previous parlia- ofcontroversyfamily fundbillremained asubject proposes them,whichisnottrue. For instance, the split second andbecome applicableassoonanMP people thinkthatlaws -any laws -canbemadeina media orpoliticalactivists. dents, current orprevious lawmakers, membersofthe ofpublicopinion,beitthestu- ispart It rejection. proposal theirrightto express theiropinionaboutthe sume, thisproposal. willenduprejecting involvesIt sophisticated procedures very that,asIpre- proposals. Constitutional processing isnotimmediate. it willhave thefinaldecisiononthisandany other have to believe that intheconstitution andinthefact not getpassedovernight assomepeoplethink. We far. isstillasuggestionlikedozens ofothersthatdo It the constitutional court. same reason.itispassed, If itmightbecontested by even berejected by thegovernment itselffor the might highlight allconstitutional violationsinit.It itthroughreject acommittee thatwilldiscussitand guaranteed by theconstitution, theparliamentwill violatingtheliberties and ifitincludesany article We progress hopefor further to thegovernment’s This seriousissuerequires collaborated efforts, adopted aninitiative to estab- The HealthMinistry Revealing thestatisticsandbringing theproblem Therefore, somepeopleaccuse theparliamentof law peopleargueSome aboutthee-publication What we are aboutto discusshere isthatsome This doesnot,ofcourse, deny thoseagainstthe But nothingindicates thatitisalready passedso recorded intwo years, including120against ly thatindicated that150abusecaseswere ofHealthrevealed statisticsrecent- he Ministry ties ornot,itwillalways remain amere proposal proposal to organizementary students’ activi- egardless ofwhetherwe approve theparlia- Spider web and e-publication — protection Translated by Kuwait Times from Al-Anbaa Child [email protected] By Thaar Al-Rasheedi By Thaar By LabeedAbdal kuwait digest w In my vie first principleinpoliticswhichdefinesitas of ‘the art things likeonlydemandinghisrelease, whichisthe toMorsi power for andonlysettlefor possible asking demanding impossiblethingssuchasreturning some Brotherhood youths’ suggestionsto stop on demonstrating,creating chaosandrejected Morsi. order to avoid ofacquitting hinderingthepossibility somuchfussaboutMubarak’smaking acquittal in requires thattheMuslimBrotherhood shouldstop according to the ‘hands-on’ technique, andthis job responsibilities, whichmeanshewasruling inpowerwas actually his andpositively practicing protestorsItihadiya needsgreater becausehe efforts region. hot people andface theseriouschallengesinavery dent Sisiindoingallthebestfor theentire Egyptian andbackpresi-followers to support andsupporters and thattheybothretire from politicsandasktheir justified. would IalsohopedthatMorsi beacquitted ruling remotely. Therefore, Ifindhisacquittal well- according to the off’‘hands method, whichmeans during hislastyears inoffice, hehadbeenruling of my wishcametrueandMubarakwasacquitted, as including several brand-new schoolsliketheBeit hasbuilt171new ones, east JerusalemandBarkat erties.” oflifequality and increasing thevalueofprop- dents. It’s intheprocess ofimproving important names, sowe are doingthiswiththelocalresi- Jerusalem,” hesaid. “We had500roads withno and numbersto allofthestreets ineast Jerusalem inlinewiththatofwest Jerusalem. is committed to bringing ineast theinfrastructure future Palestinian state. aninterview, In hesaid tain thateastJerusalemmustby thecapitalofa which Israelannexed in1967.Palestinians main- oflife ineastJerusalem, quality intheArabsector don’t ofprotection.” needany kind Arab neighborhoods. AndtheArabslivingthere hoods thanthere are Jews livinginpredominantly Arabs livinginpredominantly Jewishneighbor- the city. “You shouldbeaware thatthere are more told agroupBarkat ofjournalistsonapress tour of and Arabsprefer to live inArabneighborhoods,” inArabneighborhoods.hoods, andone-third homes willbebuiltinprimarilyJewishneighbor- dents ofthecity. ofthesenew Abouttwo-thirds fewnext years for bothIsraeliandPalestinian resi- overhe intends the to build 50,000apartments place to live, says andJerusalemmayor Barkat Nir manent residents ratherthatIsraelicitizens. them willbePalestinians, mostofwhomare per- breakdown continues, of more thanone-third W I There has long been a shortage ofclassroomsThere in haslongbeenashortage “We are intheprocess ofgiving street names saidheiscommitted toBarkat improving the “Jews prefer to live inJewishneighborhoods Whatever theirlegalstatus, theywillneeda Unfortunately, theMuslimBrotherhood insisted Though Morsi’s acquittal from allegedlykilling that Egypt canresurrect itself. Well, thefirstpart presidents beacquitted MubarakandMorsi so Iwishedthatbothformern aprevious article, Acquitting Mubarak andBrotherhood’s mistakes lion people. thepresent If demographic population ofJerusalemwillhitonemil- ithin 20years, probably even sooner, the Mayor presents new master for plan Jerusalem LOCAL group ofhiscompanions were same triedby thevery and inlessthantwo years, Qutubhimselfanda this callandexecuted two young 1952 meninSept Later on,theRevolution Leadership Council adopted Addawwar demonstrations.Qutub duringtheKafr son whodemandedsuchtrialsin1952wasSayyed provide thefirstper- justandfairprosecution.fact, In ‘political trials’, orrevolutionary becausetheynever anddemanded laws donotincludetheso-called accordingrect to thelaws usedinEgypt, because their confession thattheacquittal verdict legallycor- trialfordemanding arevolutionary Mubarakreflects impossible’. for thefeasibleasking andnotdreaming ofthe for Palestinian rights. according Amim,adovish to group Ir thatadvocates 1.1 percent ofthebusinessdevelopment budget, cultural budget,4.4percent ofthe welfare budgetand ing ineastJerusalem,including only2.1percent ofthe municipal budgetisallocated to and spend- projects population, lessthanten percent oftheJerusalem Jewish neighbors. Despite being36percent ofthe east Jerusalemreceive astheir thesameservices to doso. support vides extra-curricular women to studymathandscience andpro- University, saidtheschoolencourages young onherPhDat Hebrewwho isalsoworking oneday.”a doctor on science,” SamarHamdan,13,said. “I hopeto be though itwasaweekend. onascience even project, classes orworking several dozen girls were attending enrichment 620 girls from grades 7-12.Onarecent Sunday, Hanina Comprehensive School. The schoolserves In fact, the fact thatMuslimBrotherhood hasbeen thefact fact, In There isstillalong way to gobefore Palestinians in Principal Lianna Jaber, amotherofthree “I likethisschoolalotandIamconcentrating Political debate Brotherhood hasbeendemand- neighborhoods,” Barkat told legally correct accordinglegally correct tothe Jewish neighborhoodsand Arabs prefertolive inArab Mubarak reflects their Mubarakconfes- reflects a groupofjournalistson sion thattheacquittal verdict ing a revolutionary trialfor ing arevolutionary In fact, the fact thatMuslim In fact, thefact press tourofthecity. “Jews prefertolive in laws usedinEgypt. East Jerusalem and children afew yards away from itsbuilding! men silent abouttheacquittal ofUSpolice whokill a singlepageofthecasedocuments, whileitkept al rejected Mubarak’s acquittal withouteven reading same historic mistakes! Muslim Brotherhood isstillcommitting thevery orable judgeswere rightintheirverdicts, whilethe absolutely rightinrevolting onJune30andthehon- bottom lineisthattheEgyptian peoplewere bywill theyfallinto contradiction praisingit? The Muslim Brotherhood condemn theverdict aswell or lems? acquitssoon-willthe Morsi What ifthecourt even executing him? Will thissolve Egypt’s prob- selves? members inprisonto getto power andwealth them- with sacrificinghimandtherest oftheBrotherhood ordothoseabroad Morsi, have noproblemtrying trialsfor Mubarakwould to include extend tionary the Brotherhoodthatdemandingrevolu- notknow defence chances? The mainquestionnow is:Does trialsthatnever provideary defendants withfair ing Egypt by force andoppression usingrevolution- hadintendedals? DoesnotthismeanthatMorsi rul- cuted in1965. hecalledfor andwasthenexe- courts revolutionary sions withtheObamaAdministration. ofusanother800units.”north willbe.construction “We willbuild800unitshere, and said, holdingupalarge map showing where thenew around theneighborhoodyou seethisstrip,” Barkat predominantly Jewishneighborhood, andonthe map porch, Schlomo, onthewest sideofRamat whichisa plan. ofBarkat’sthese newhomesare now part new master visiting. UnderUSpressure, Israelbackedoff, but homes there justasUS Vice President JoeBidenwas when Israelannounced itwould build1600new Jerusalem, becameapointofcontention in2010, Shlomo,neighborhood ofRamat innorthern icism ofsomethebuilding. The ultra-Orthodox ofJerusalem,despite international crit- inallparts ects Palestinian, to buildneighborhoodsfor Jews.” massive amountoflandineastJerusalem,mostit human rightsgroup, said. “Israel hasexpropriated a thespokeswoman ofBtselem,anIsraeli Sarit Michaeli, thenumberofPalestiniansit andrestrict inJerusalem,” sought to maintainthedemographic balance andlim- orcitizenship.of timedonotlosetheirresidency than seven years. Jews wholeave for asimilaramount 1967-2013, iftheyhave for beenoutofthecity more of14,309 Palestiniansthe Jerusalemresidency from to theAssociation for CivilRights, Israelhasrevoked tion ofeastJerusalem,whichtheyoppose. According accepting citizenship aslegitimizing Israel’s annexa- permanent residents ratherthancitizens, astheysee defined aspoor.Most Palestinians inJerusalemare oftheresidents high, withmore thanthree-quarters Finally, itwasfunny thataNew York Times editori- Mubarakor What usewilltheygetfrom retrying So, isitwisethattheBrotherhood demandsretri- If thebuildinggoesahead,If itcould spark more ten- now we“Right are standingrighthere onthis saysMayor Barkat hewillbuildnewhousingproj- “Successive Israeligovernments have primarily Poverty levels ineastJerusalemare dramatically — Translated by Kuwait Times from Al-Anbaa UDY EEBR14,2014 SUNDAY, DECEMBER By LindaGradstein —The Line Media By Sami Al-NisfBy Sami kuwait digest in my view

Al-Anbaa SUNDAY, DECEMBER 14, 2014

Devotion, defiance IS influence spreads to African jihadists draw millions to Iraq pilgrimage Page 10 Page 8

MOSUL: In this June 22, 2014 file photo, people shop at a market in this northern Iraqi city. —AP High prices, shortages pressure IS Black markets abound • Strict social laws bad for business BAGHDAD: Saadi Abdul-Rahman was National Defense University in Washington. three months ago. A cylinder of cooking recently forced to pull his three children “Eventually the costs of keeping the subsi- gas goes for 140,000 dinars ($115). That has out of school in the Iraqi city of Mosul, dies and price controls going will overpow- put many staples out of reach for Abdul- where Islamic State militants have ruled er their smuggling funds, which are also Rahman and his family in Mosul, even with with an iron fist since June. The cost of liv- used for offensive and defensive actions. the additional money brought in by his ing has soared there, and the family is bare- They can collect taxes, extort money, and sons, who left school to drive a taxi and ly able to make ends meet, even after put- so forth,” he said. “But that will likely not be work in a restaurant. ting the kids to work. “We are not able to enough in the long run to keep such an pay for cooking gas, kerosene and food,” unbalanced economic system going.” Decline in Business laments the 56-year-old retired govern- In the Syrian city of Raqqa, the extrem- A number of factors are driving the ment worker. “The situation in Mosul is mis- ists’ so-called capital, the breakdown of shortages and price hikes, according to res- erable.” security along the border with Iraq in areas idents in Mosul and Fallujah, the group’s The economy in the self-styled under Islamic State control has led to flour- biggest Iraqi strongholds. The militants “caliphate” declared by the Islamic State ishing trade with Mosul. Trucks are also have imposed a tax on vehicles entering group bridging Iraq and Syria is starting to able to access the city from Turkey, allow- their territory, leading to a decline in busi- show signs of strain. Prices of most staples ing for a steady supply of fruit and vegeta- ness. Deliveries are also subject to militant have more than doubled as coalition bles, wheat and textiles. However, the cost theft, and coalition airstrikes and military airstrikes make it difficult for products to of living has surged since US-led airstrikes operations make many roads impassable. move in and out of militant strongholds, began in September, and power and water As a result, the trip from the Turkish border leading to shortages, price-gouging and cuts grew more frequent, residents said. to Mosul took four hours prior to the mili- the creation of black markets. In addition, the strict social laws tant takeover. Now, a delivery truck can Resentment has grown among residents imposed by the group have been very bad spend as much as a week traveling the under the rule of the extremists, who ini- for business, said Bari Abdelatif, an activist same road, and will pay a tax of as much as tially won support with their ability to in the Islamic State-controlled town of al- $300 for entry into Mosul, residents said. deliver services. In the early days of its rule, Bab in Syria’s northern Aleppo province. According to Luay Al-Khateeb, director the Islamic State group subsidized food But, he said, foreign fighters were bringing of the Iraqi Energy Institute and a visiting and gas prices through the wealth it accu- with them lots of hard currency, making up fellow at the Brookings Doha Center, the mulated from oil smuggling, extortion and somewhat for the shortfall. Last month, population of the areas under Islamic State ransom demands. They sold their smuggled Abu Bakr Al-Baghdadi, the leader of the control in Iraq and Syria is 6.5 million to 8 oil at a discount - $25 to $60 a barrel for oil Islamic State group, decreed the minting of million people. “They need 150,000 barrels that normally cost $100 a barrel or more, gold, silver and copper coins for the mili- (of crude) a day just to meet local con- according to analysts and government offi- tants’ own currency the Islamic dinar - to sumption,” he said. “And that is the bare cials. “change the tyrannical monetary system” minimum to meet the demands for trans- But in recent weeks, prices have soared modelled on Western economies. But trade portation, bakeries, power generation. That in militant-held cities. Items like kerosene, in most militant-held cities continues to be doesn’t mean they have access to such sup- used for heating and cooking, are in short in Iraqi dinars and US dollars. ply,” he added. supply, while others, such as alcohol and The start of winter has led to serious Last month, the militants shut down cigarettes, strictly banned by the group, are shortages of gasoline and kerosene. The cell phone service in Mosul, claiming that making a comeback at higher prices on the official price for a liter of gas in govern- residents were tipping off US-led airstrikes black market. Smoking is a punishable ment-controlled areas of Iraq is 450 dinars to their whereabouts. Cell signals have not offense in militant-held Mosul. But at a (40 cents) - but in Mosul, it sells for four been restored, causing the city to come to warehouse on the outskirts of the city, ciga- times that. Two hundred-liter barrels of a virtual standstill. Workshops, factories rettes, as well as hard-to-come-by essen- kerosene are now sold in Mosul for 250,000 and markets are closed and bitterness is tials like kerosene, can be found at hugely dinars ($220), versus the official price of growing among business owners. “Most inflated prices on a black market run by the 30,000 dinars. In the western Iraqi city of money-transfer operations are done by extremists. There, a pack of cigarettes sells Fallujah, under militant control for almost a mobile calls,” said Osama Abdul-Aziz, the for 30,000 dinars - the equivalent of $26 - year, residents have started cutting trees owner of a money-transfer office in Mosul. more than double the pre-caliphate price, for firewood because kerosene is in such “We have the option of using the Internet, according to residents who spoke on condi- short supply. The city is surrounded by gov- but this method is very slow and some- tion of anonymity for fear of reprisals. ernment troops and near-daily shelling times the Internet does not work at all, often make parts of town too dangerous to which causes big delays to our work.” At ‘Unsustainable Economy’ visit. Mohammed Abdullah’s shop in Mosul, the The militants “are developing an unsus- Food and fuel prices have risen sharply pile of cell phone scratch cards is growing tainable economy,” said Paul Sullivan, an as a result - a 50-kilo sack of rice costs higher by the day. “Our business and means expert on Middle East economies at the 75,000 dinars ($65), up from 10,000 ($9) for living are in ruins now,” he said. — AP p8_Layout 1 12/13/14 9:46 PM Page 1

SUNDAY, DECEMBER 14, 2014 INTERNATIONAL South Sudan: A year of war in a divided nation

JUBA: They came only for a night: thou- time soon. South Sudan is locked into international community, please, you UN aid chief in South Sudan. “We will be At least in the capital and outside the sands fleeing gunshots in the darkness conflict, with the bloodshed in Juba hav- have to pressure the government and in a battle against time and a battle UN camps, the scars of war can be hard for the safety of UN peacekeeping bases ing set off a cycle of retaliatory killings the opposition,” Henry said. Her opti- against famine once again in early 2015,” to see. The roads are crowded with in South Sudan’s capital Juba. In the fol- across swathes of the country. “We’ve mism at South Sudan’s independence in Lanzer said. “The situation remains grave trucks and motorbikes, the markets lowing days, gunfire and explosions con- been one year here, but we are alive,” 2011 - after people voted overwhelm- today. It could very well get much, much busy. But houses belonging to former tinued to shake the city, as troops loyal said Thong Gai, sitting outside his plastic ingly to split from north Sudan following worse.” top leaders -now with the rebel forces - to President Salva Kiir fought with those tent home under the blazing hot sun in decades of war - has long faded. “We remain empty, guarded by a handful of allied to his ousted deputy, Riek Machar, the UN camp in Juba. have struggled for so long in this coun- ‘Fear Makes me Stay’ soldiers, their gates unrepaired from the and terrified residents cowered where Half the country’s 12 million people try,” she said grimly. Aid workers Thousands were killed in the first fighting a year ago. In Juba’s Mia Saba they could find shelter. One year later need aid, the UN says, including nearly describe a desperate situation, with weeks alone, before fighting spread to district, site of some of the worst killings, and with civil war still raging, some two million people who fled their homes Oxfam country chief Zlatko Gegic warn- other towns and regions across the the bodies left rotting in the streets last 100,000 civilians remain trapped inside from the fighting. “It is tough living here ing that millions are going “hungry in a poverty-stricken young country. The year have long gone. the UN camps ringed with barbed wire, but there is nothing we can do, nothing man-made disaster”. International Crisis Group estimates that But many of the ransacked houses surviving off food aid handouts in miser- to do,” said Gai, who entered the camp International threats have had little at least 50,000 people have been killed, remain empty, their former residents now able conditions, but still too terrified to as fighting broke out on Dec 15 last year. impact in forcing rival leaders to strike a while some diplomats suggest it could living in UN camps - or among the thou- venture out for fear of being killed. “We just have to be patient, and we shall lasting deal, even as the humanitarian even be double that figure. Kan Gueh sands who were killed in just the first few “How can we go out when there is no have peace one day.” crisis remains dire. Even if top leaders Kan, 28, fled to the camp the day after days of fighting. Few are optimistic for peace?” asked Veronica Henry, a woman can agree on terms for peace, their fighting broke out, after his two uncles peace soon. “We have to fear for the in her fifties living in a crowded UN- ‘Battle Against Famine’ forces have now fractured into over two were hacked to death and shot in front worst,” said Skye Wheeler from Human guarded camp in Juba, where thousands Amid the continued threat of interna- dozen different armed groups, analysts of him. “I ran for my life,” said Kan, mar- Rights Watch. “We have to fear that we live crammed into streets of makeshift tional sanctions, warring forces have say. Hugely expensive UN food aid air ried with a child. “Now fear makes me will continue to see a really dangerous plastic tents. Many are gloomy about the signed repeated ceasefire deals, but all lifts have staved off famine for now but stay here. I will only go out when peace and really frightening rift between the prospects of the violence ending any collapsed within days. “I am begging the the threat remains, said Toby Lanzer, the comes.” two largest ethnic groups.” —AFP

Little headway in UN push for Palestinian resolution

UNITED NATIONS: Negotiations on a UN by the brutal 50-day war in Gaza last sum- resolution to revive Israeli-Palestinian mer as worrying signs that an Israeli- peace prospects are making little headway, Palestinian peace may soon be out of with Europeans waiting for a US response reach. to proposals as the Israeli election cam- paign steams ahead. US Secretary of State What does the US want? - John Kerry is heading to Rome on Sunday While the US administration has shown for a key meeting with Israeli Prime a willingness to discuss a UN-led push for Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to discuss peace, it has not given a clear answer as to initiatives at the United Nations. Jordan last what it would be ready to support in a pro- month circulated a draft Palestinian text to posed resolution. Discussions have turned the Security Council setting Nov 2016 as a into a diplomatic minefield over the pro- deadline for the end of the Israeli occupa- posed timeframe for negotiations and tion. Netanyahu’s plan to declare Israel a Jewish But the text ran into opposition from state. With so many hurdles that have yet to the United States, which has veto power, be cleared, diplomats hold out little hope and other countries that felt it lacked bal- that agreement on a draft resolution will be ance, diplomats said. It was never put to a reached by the end of the month. “It would vote. France stepped in last month to try to be some kind of miracle” if agreement were cobble together along with Britain and reached, said one envoy. Germany a resolution that would win con- Israel’s election campaign is complicat- sensus at the 15-member council. The text ing the effort, but Washington has not would call for a return to negotiations with asked the Europeans to postpone the push a view to achieving a two-state solution by for a resolution until after the March 17 which Israel and a Palestinian state would vote. For the Europeans, there is a clear co-exist. urgency for the Security Council to step in Negotiations have hit hurdles over and make its views known on the worsen- whether to include a two-year deadline for ing conflict. European parliaments in talks on a final settlement to be completed. Britain, France, Spain, Ireland and Portugal France is also proposing to host an interna- have asked their governments to recognize tional conference to launch the new peace Palestinian statehood - a move that would track, bringing in all the key players in a bypass negotiations. show of support for a final settlement. European diplomats argue that reaching Supporters of a UN resolution are hoping consensus on a resolution will be more dif- KARBALA: Iraqi Shiite Muslim pilgrims are seen during the Arbaeen religious festival yesterday, which marks the 40th day after Ashoura. —AFP to win US backing or at least ensure that ficult closer to the Israeli vote and fresh vio- Washington will not oppose the measure - lence could flare up at any time. There is which would be the first text adopted by another complicating factor in the mix: the council on the Israeli-Palestinian con- Several countries with a pro-Palestinian Devotion, defiance draw flict since 2009. “There is a window of stance are set to take their seats at the opportunity,” said a European diplomat. Security Council in January - a develop- “There is a willingness from the Americans ment that is not lost on the US administra- to consider options at the UN.” tion as it weighs a role for the UN. In the scores to Iraq pilgrimage Kerry led a major push to advance face of Security Council inaction, the Israeli-Palestinian peace earlier this year, Palestinians have threatened to join the but the effort collapsed in April. UN diplo- International Criminal Court and file com- mats see the failure of Kerry’s bid, followed plaints against Israel. —AFP Pilgrims undeterred by security concerns KARBALA, Iraq: Millions of Shiite Muslim pil- main objectives. The head of Karbala operations perched on walls, roofs and window sills grims defied the threat of jihadist attacks and command, brigadier General Qais Khalaf Rahim, attempted to direct the flow of weeping and thronged the Iraqi shrine city of Karbala yester- said the number of security personnel in Karbala chanting visitors in order to avoid stampedes. Ali day for the climax of annual Arbaeen mourning was boosted by 15,000 to 40,000 following the Sabri, an Iranian from Tabriz, running a large rituals. Some had walked for more than 12 days, mortar attack. “The efforts of these jihadists are “mawkab” - one of the 7,000 spots serving food from Iraq’s far south or across the border from vain because we have all come to Karbala ready and beverages to the pilgrims in Karbala - Iran, while others were bused in or crammed into to sacrifice, wishing to become martyrs,” said shipped in a bread-making machine that can lorries for the journey. Defence Minister Khaled Abdel Hussein Salem, who volunteered to serve churn out 90,000 flatbreads in eight hours. “I will Al-Obeidi said a total of 17 million will have gone food to pilgrims in the city. Leaders in Iraq’s present this machine as a gift to the shrine through Karbala for Arbaeen this year, including Shiite-dominated government and clerics have authorities after the pilgrimage,” he said. more than four million foreigners from 60 coun- been keen to cast the pilgrimage as an act of As night fell on Karbala, tens of thousands of tries. resistance against the jihadists who seized the faithful knelt in perfect rows for a mass flood- A sea of devotees descended on the city’s swathes of the country in June. lit prayer outside the shrine, with its glittering shrine of Imam Hussein, beating their heads and Many of the million or so Iranians who flocked golden dome and two minarets. The security chests to show remorse for not saving him from to Iraq said they were performing the pilgrimage deployment has been massive, amid fears IS and the armies of the caliph Yazid that beheaded him on the order of their nation’s supreme leader, its seemingly endless supply of suicide bombers in 680 AD. While many chanted in unison, rapt in Ayatollah Ali Khamenei. Turnout estimates were could seek to cause maximum casualties by a collective religious trance, others were keenly hard to verify independently, but all officials attacking large crowds. Access to central aware of the symbolic power Arbaeen could seemed to agree this Arbaeen was the largest Baghdad has been very restricted for days, to have in the war against the Islamic State group. A they had ever seen. Some southern towns and minimise the risk of major attacks and avoid a mortar attack that killed one person on Friday cities looked emptied of their population. Rahim complete logjam. Iraqi officials have stressed BETHLEHEM: Israeli soldiers push back a Palestinian holding a poster showing late highlighted the security concerns surrounding said new access roads had to be opened to han- how crucial a recent military victory against the minister Ziad Abu Ein during a protest in the West Bank yesterday. Abu Ein collapsed what is believed to be one of the largest religious dle the flow of pilgrims converging on Karbala, a jihadists in the Jurf al-Sakhr area has been in and died shortly after scuffling with Israeli troops during a West Bank protest gatherings in the world. medium-sized city around 70 km south of making the pilgrimage possible. The continued Wednesday. — AP Baghdad. Even Grand Ayatollah Ali Al-Sistani, the presence there of IS fighters would have endan- High Security most revered Shiite cleric in Iraq, acknowledged gered the pilgrims walking through an area that But the pilgrims were undeterred. “Forget Friday that Karbala “is not, in its current state, has been dubbed the “triangle of death”. Few Yemen troops kill Qaeda mortars, even if it rains jihadists on Karbala, we able to accommodate such huge numbers of visi- incidents have been reported, however. Besides will not be prevented from visiting the Imam tors”. Friday’s deadly mortar fire near Karbala, which rebels dressed as women Hussein shrine,” said Kadhem Hussein, a 25-year- fell short of the area where pilgrims were congre- old who had walked from Nasiriyah, some 300 Strength in Numbers gating, four people were killed in crowd manage- km away. The Islamic State group - led by Sunni Aerial views of the city showed rivers of black- ment-related incidents. Three other people were SANAA: Yemeni troops yesterday shot dead eastern Yemen. The United States considers extremists - considers Shiites to be heretics and clad faithful, many wearing coloured headbands killed earlier this week by a bomb blast targeting five Al-Qaeda suspects disguised as women AQAP to be the global jihadist network’s most has made targeting the community one of its and waving flags, as far as the eye could see. Men pilgrims in Baghdad. — AFP who fired at a soldier during a checkpoint dangerous affiliate. inspection of their Saudi-bound bus, officials Saudi Arabia, which launched a huge said. Another suspect and the driver were crackdown on Al-Qaeda following a spate of wounded in the shooting in Harad, a town 15 deadly attacks in 2003-2006, is building a km from the Saudi border, the officials said, three-metre high fence along its southern France, US uneasy bedfellows adding that two of those killed were Saudis. frontier with Yemen to counter illegal cross- “As one of the soldiers climbed on board the ings and arms smuggling. Yemen has been WASHINGTON: Publicly, they are the best of inspections of Iran’s nuclear energy program, and deal. It would be a mistake from the six (powers) bus for an inspection, one of the suspects wracked by violence since a Shiite militia friends working to seal a historic deal to stop a broad dismantling of facilities and centrifuges. to rush. The pressure is on Iran.” During the most opened fire and wounded him, prompting known as the Huthis seized control of the cap- Iran’s march to a nuclear bomb. But behind closed Amid great uncertainty over whether a deal is recent failed round of talks, French Ambassador shooting from other soldiers at the check- ital in September. The militiamen have clashed doors, diplomats from France and the United possible despite hours and hours of tense negoti- to the US Gerard Araud tweeted that it was “a point,” said a government official who gave with local Sunni tribes and Al-Qaeda militants States barely hide their frustration. For years, ations, this distrust between the two transatlantic good poker game in Vienna. But, as usual, if you the toll. as they seek to expand their territory. France has been viewed as the toughest member allies could prove the weakest link in the P5+1 have the higher hand and keep your nerves, you All six had been dressed in black robes Several Houthi militiamen were killed and of the group of powers known as the P5+1, after bloc. Privately, American officials say there has will win”. and wore the niqab, a face-covering veil com- 10 tribesmen wounded in fighting Friday in feeling burned in previous pacts under which been concern in Washington over the French “As the French have amply demonstrated, monly worn by women in Yemen, the official Arhab, 35 km from Sanaa, according to Tehran covertly continued to advance its atomic position of publicly playing hardball, but then not Europe does not want a deal at any cost,” wrote in Harad told AFP. A suicide belt and arms sources on both sides. Arhab is close to Sanaa ambitions. The P5+1 — Britain, China, France, backing up their words in the negotiations. In Riccardo Alcaro, an expert with the Brookings were also found on the bus, and the wound- International Airport and is a stronghold of Russia, the United States and Germany go back to Nov 2013, angered by US Secretary of State John Institution think tank. “But of all the parties ed suspect and driver were being questioned, the Sunni Islamist Al-Islah party. Later on the negotiating table next week in Geneva hav- Kerry’s sudden appearance at the talks in Geneva, involved, the Europeans are probably the most said the security official. “The men are sus- Saturday, tribal sources said armed tribesmen ing failed to meet a Nov 24 deadline for a deal. French Foreign Minister Laurent Fabius showed determined to settle the Iranian nuclear issue. pected of affiliation with Al-Qaeda and were handed Arhab over to the Houthis following They have set a new target date of June 30 to up, talking tough against the proposed contours Indeed, they conceive their role in the negotia- heading north towards Yemen’s border with mediation that led to an end of fighting. In reach a pact that would end 12 years of protract- of a deal and seemingly threw a wrench in the tions as preventing the worst instincts of the Saudi Arabia,” he said. Sanaa, hundreds protested outside President ed negotiations with the Islamic republic. But works. Americans and the Iranians from spoiling the Yemen security forces rarely carry out Abdrabuh Mansur Hadi’s residence demand- despite public assertions of unity among the process.” inspections of vehicles carrying women in the ing action against the militiamen, whom they global powers, Western diplomats confirm there ‘Robust’ Deal This time on his way to Vienna, Kerry took care conservative, deeply-tribal Muslim country. In accused of arrests and killings. “Houthis and is a diplomatic fencing match behind the scenes As for the French, they are concerned that the to fully brief Fabius first in Paris, amid concern the July, six Saudi Al-Qaeda suspects attacked a Al-Qaeda are the same. Hadi, either find a between Paris and Washington. One of France’s Obama administration, under fire for its disjointed French diplomat might resort to more public post on the border with Yemen, killing five solution (to end their control) or leave.” The main concerns is the incomplete Arak heavy foreign policy, badly needs a success and despite grandstanding that could scupper the delicate security officers. Al-Qaeda in the Arabian rise of the Houthis has challenged Hadi’s water reactor, which when it eventually comes its assertions to the contrary wants an Iran deal at negotiations. Indeed, in Geneva in 2013, the glob- Peninsula took advantage of a collapse of authority, an ally of the United States, and online could be used to make plutonium for an almost any price. “We want a robust agreement, al powers left empty-handed after Fabius’s inter- central authority in the wake of the 2011 violence has continued despite UN-backed atomic bomb. not an agreement for the sake of an agreement,” a vention, only reaching an interim deal two weeks uprising to seize swathes of southern and efforts to find a political solution. — AFP Paris is said to have pushed for stringent European diplomat said. “We should not rush for a later.— AFP SUNDAY, DECEMBER 14, 2014 INTERNATIONAL FBI probing hanging of black N Carolina teen Mother wants to know if son lynched RALEIGH: The hanging death of a black teenager in a small North Carolina town will be probed by the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the agency said on Friday, after his family questioned a finding by local authorities that it was suicide and his mother pleaded to know, “Was my son lynched?” Lennon Lacy, 17, was found in August hang- ing from a swing set in a mobile home park in Bladenboro, which has a population of about MONTEVIDEO: Former Guantanamo prisoners (from left) Adel bin Muhammad El 1,700 some 240 km southeast of Charlotte. Ouerghi from Tunisia, Ali Husain Shaaban from Syria, Abedlhadi Omar Faraj from Lacy’s family and the North Carolina chap- Syria, Ahmed Adnan Ajuri from Syria, and Palestinian Mohammed Abdullah Taha ter of the National Association for the Mattan interact with journalists standing under the balcony of the home where Advancement of Colored People (NAACP) they’re living on Friday.— AP pushed for the probe, citing concerns about how the case was handled and suspicions he might have been murdered. His mother, Ex-Guantanamo prisoners Claudia Lacy, said she did not think her son, whom she described as shy, would end his life stroll streets of Uruguay “in such an exposed space, hanging from a swing set in plain view” of trailer homes. MONTEVIDEO: Four of the men released for the Jewish community.” Melgareo said “We don’t know what happened to my son the former detainee with the greatest physi- this week after years of captivity at three months ago, and suicide is still possible. Guantanamo Bay have finally had their first cal problems is Abu Wael Dihab, who car- But there are so many unanswered questions long walk in freedom, stopping to buy a bit ried out an extended hunger strike before of cheese and bread on a stroll through he was released. He is using crutches and that I can’t help but ask, ‘Was he killed? Was Uruguay’s capital. The men - four Syrians, a has been less social than the others. The six, my son lynched?’” his mother was quoted as Tunisian and a Palestinian - are staying at a who had spent more than a dozen years at saying in an article on Friday in the US edition house in a middle class neighborhood as the US Navy base in Cuba, arrived Monday of The Guardian newspaper. Reverend guests of a major labor union, which has in Uruguay, which agreed to take then as William Barber, president of the North been asked to help by President Jose refugees. Carolina NAACP chapter, said in a statement Mujica. The men, all in their 30s and 40s, were he hopes the FBI will be able to “crack the The union’s executive secretary, Gabriel among the first detainees sent to small-town code” of the community as it Melgareo, said Friday that four of them Guantanamo in 2002. Detained as part of looks into the case. managed to elude journalists and went on a the US “War on Terror” for alleged links to Al- Barber said Lacy had a relationship with an 10-km walk along the banks of the Rio de la Qaeda, they were never charged or tried. older white woman that was well known in Plata on Thursday. “They were enchanted by They had been cleared for release, but the the community, and that his body was found the blue sky of Montevideo, the tranquility United States ruled they could not be sent in a part of town that blacks had in years past of the city, the ability to walk through the to their home countries for security reasons. avoided for fear of violence. The high school streets in absolute calm,” Melgareo told AP. Uruguay’s President Jose Mujica, a former football player had gone out for a run the BLADENBORO, North Carolina: In this Dec 1, 2014 photo, Claudia Lacy cries as she thanks the people that showed up at First Baptist Church to listen to the Rev Dr William Barber II, presi- Bakery worker Laura Larrobla said two of leftist guerrilla who leaves office in March, night before his body was found, Barber said. the men stopped by to purchase cheese, has said he agreed to take in the inmates in dent of the North Carolina State Conference of the NAACP, talk about the developments in the Shelley Lynch, a Charlotte-based spokes- investigation of her son’s death. — AP yoghurt and bread. “They looked good, part because he sympathized with their woman for the FBI, confirmed the agency was although they only talked through an inter- plight as a one-time political prisoner who reviewing the case at the request of the US preter,” she said. himself spent 13 years in jail. police never went to their home to search to properly investigate what happened, Barber Attorney’s office in Raleigh. Melgarejo said that for the most part, the The prison at Guantanamo - opened Lacy’s room or checked his cell phone for clues said. “The family can handle if it was a suicide,” The FBI investigation comes at a time of men are euphoric at their freedom and under then president George W Bush to about what may have happened to him on he said. “It could also be a lynching.” The strained race relations in the United States. making plans to bring their families. “Today house terror suspects after the Sept 11, 2001 Aug 29, when he was killed. They also said NAACP was planning a rally yesterday in Grand jury decisions to not indict white police they began taking Spanish classes,” attacks - has long been controversial, both Lacy’s body was found with a pair of shoes on Bladenboro to honor Lacy’s memory and bring officers in the deaths of unarmed black males Melgarejo said. “A teacher came in the for the incarceration of uncharged and his feet that were two sizes too small. Barber attention to the case. Bladen County District in Missouri and New York City have triggered morning and we obtained several Arabic- untried suspects and for the brutal interro- said he suspects police used a statement given Attorney Jon David said on Friday that the demonstrations and heated debate about the Spanish dictionaries, which was not easy.” gations of some detainees. The extent of the by Lacy’s mother that the teen was FBI’s involvement should not be taken as a way police in the United States interact with People of Arab descent make up a small torture inflicted on detainees including self- “depressed” over the recent death of his uncle sign that the local investigation was deficient. proclaimed 9/11 mastermind Khalid Sheikh black communities. part of Uruguay’s population. to provide a motive for suicide. Barber said “The death of a child is something that Melgarejo said the hosts are trying to Mohammed and Abu Zubaydah, allegedly that Lacy’s mother had merely meant that he deserves the full attention of my office and law accommodate the men’s Islamic dietary Osama bin Laden’s right-hand man, was Local Probe Challenged was in mourning. enforcement,” he said. “That has occurred and restrictions: “We found lamb meat they can detailed in an explosive US Senate report The family and NAACP have questioned All the family wants is for the federal inquiry will continue to occur.” — Reuters eat at a butcher shop that sells kosher meat released Tuesday. — Agencies why during a four-day investigation local INTERNATIONAL SUNDAY, DECEMBER 14, 2014 Shortages leave Ukraine ill-prepared for trauma of war KIEV: With Ukraine still trapped in a Soviet- immediately admitted to hospital, when correct from the point of view of military era approach to mental health and psychi- often they just need social care or family psychology. Ukrainians find this difficult to atric hospitals so under-funded that some comfort. “It’s a very primitive system-keep understand because we have never have less than 10 cents a day to feed invalids out of sight,” he said. “Obviously, fought.” She says the toll from PTSD may patients, the country has been left ill-pre- some people need real psychiatric care in not be as bad as people expect. “We hear pared for the trauma of war. As with so hospital, but most just need support in about ‘Afghanistan syndrome’ and many aspects of its sudden descent into their ordinary lives, from their families. ‘Vietnam syndrome’ but those were com- conflict, Ukraine has turned to volunteers “And of course there is so much corruption. pletely different situations because the to help deal with post-traumatic stress People are given any old drug because it’s wars were fought on foreign soil and the among soldiers. Psychologist Tetyana a business. It’s a mafiosi structure.” Post- reasons were not clear. Nazarenko, who works with a volunteer traumatic stress from the war in the east is “Here, we know why we are fighting-to group, recalls her toughest task to date: a time-bomb for Ukraine for which the defend our territory-so to speak of terrible dealing with a frontline brigade that had government is not prepared, he adds, consequences is still premature.”The just lost 12 men in a single battle. because of this focus on doctors rather United Nations Development Program is The body parts had been gathered in than social workers. “It will be a very seri- not so confident. It is racing to train social only a few bags and were mixed up with ous problem for us in the coming months. workers and implement systems to help pieces from 13 other soldiers. “The guys When people come back from the war, returning soldiers as well as the thousands had to go to the morgue and identify their they drink, and we already have a problem of civilians fleeing the war zone every day. friends from small things-tattoos, birth- with alcoholism in our culture.” “Ukrainian society was not ready for all the marks-as best they could,” she said. “Some trauma of the past year,” said Inita were left in a terrible depression, others in Five phases of shock Paulovica, deputy representative for the acute stress.” Another volunteer, Uliana Nazarenko says her group is over- UNDP in Kiev. “It is going through the five Fedoryachenko, has been helping at the DONETSK: Ukrainian servicemen guard at hydrometeorological station tower at whelmed with cases of alcoholism, sleep phases of shock. By August, it was still in Central Military Hospital in Kiev. “One man the airport of eastern Ukrainian city of Donetsk. — AFP and eating disorders and depression denial. It is only just reaching anger. There just lay for three months in bed, silently among returning soldiers. Ukraine’s lack of is a long way to go before it reaches staring. He had no serious injuries-just care is hobbled by corruption and anti- here,” said Semyon Gluzman, one of the experience with war, and its sudden and acceptance.” A few glimmers of hope make shock. I shudder to think what he saw to quated methods, the crisis is acute. Basic country’s leading psychiatrists who works unexpected onset in April, has made it the task for volunteers more bearable. leave him unable to talk,” she said. resources such as food, water and electrici- at the IP Pavlov hospital in Kiev. “There is tough for society to adjust, but she takes a Fedoriachenko recalls a very young ty are in desperately short supply at hospi- real starvation.” hard-headed view. “Many are tormented amputee in the military hospital. “He kept Desperate shortages tals. “We have a very serious situation with The broader problem, he says, is a by the people they killed. Our society has to himself, he never spoke to anyone. But Such trauma is common in any country food. There is a budget of only 1.5 hryvnias Soviet-era approach to psychology in to learn to replace the term ‘homicide’ with day by day, he got used to me and even at war. But for Ukraine, where psychiatric ($0.09, 0.08 euros) per person per day which anyone with trauma or stress is ‘destroying the enemy’,” she said. “That is began to smile. It was amazing.” — AFP IS influence spreads to African jihadists

WASHINGTON: Its main battlegrounds are far away Jihadist banner and its true influence hard to judge, but the Islamic “Boko Haram kidnapped those famous schoolgirls,” State’s black banner is attracting the attention of Pham said, referring to the 276 teenagers captured by jihadists in Africa, particularly in Nigeria. IS leader Abu the group from their school in Chibok, in an attack Bakr Al-Baghdadi’s so-called caliphate is based in that triggered global outrage. “When IS kidnapped Syria and Iraq and draws most of its recruits from the the Yazidi girls, if you look at their statements, they Middle East, North Africa and Europe’s immigrant actually cited Boko Haram kidnapping the Chibok communities. But the group’s rapid rise to the top of shoolgirls,” Pham said, citing the jihadist persecution the global jihadist movement, displacing Al-Qaeda as of an Iraqi minority group. “Boko Haram controls now a source of inspiration, has had an echo south of the between 20,000 and 40,000 square kilometers (7,700 Sahara, where several insurgencies are underway. to 15,400 square miles), 10 local governments. They Outside observers see the Islamic State’s influence, feel strong,” he said. for example, in the tactics, rhetoric and even online “They use heavy equipment, they parade with media presence of the Boko Haram rebels of north- tanks taken from the Nigerian army flying the black east Nigeria and neighboring border areas. “There are flag, like they saw on IS videos. IS presents a com- no direct operational contacts,” said Peter Pham, head pelling model. Al-Qaeda is the brand of of the Africa Center at the Atlantic Council, a yesterday.”Just as the IS has adopted the trappings of Washington think tank. “But it is quite clear that Boko a state on its territory-a first stage in its goal of uniting Haram is paying attention to the IS and the IS is pay- Muslim lands under its jihadist banner-Boko Haram is ing attention to Boko Haram.” moving on from raids to holding ground. And a new Jacob Zenn, an African specialist at the Jamestown generation of jihadists have turned away from the Foundation, said Boko Haram had initially received lengthy online sermons of Osama bin Laden’s succes- backing from Al-Qaeda’s regional offshoot Al-Qaeda sor Ayman al-Zawahiri and to the slick propaganda in the Islamic Maghreb. “It has more recently begun to videos of the Islamic State.”These supporters of IS are model its ideological and military doctrine after the not necessarily taking orders from IS central,” said Islamic State and, in turn, has started to receive recog- Zenn. “But they may justify their own attacks and DONETSK: Students attend an anatomy course at the University of Medicine in the eastern Ukrainian city of Donetsk, a city that has nition from the Islamic State,” he said. Both experts cit- operations on the grounds that the IS organization is become the main stronghold of pro-Russian separatists fighting a violent eight-month war against government forces that has claimed ed public statements from Baghdadi and Boko Haram doing the same, and vice-versa.”For example, he said, at least 4,300 lives. — AFP leader Abubakar Shekau showing direct inspiration a Boko Haram attack on a Shiite religious procession and even a cross-fertilization of ideas. One month in the Nigerian town of Yobe was an attempt to stir after Baghdadi declared his caliphate in Iraq and Syria Iraqi-style sectarian strife and appeal to Sunni sup- in July, Shekau pledged his support. porters. —AFP Ukraine death toll tops 4,600 Russia threatens response if US sets new sanctions

MOSCOW: Russia responded angrily yes- Crimean peninsula, which was annexed by Bolshoi Theatre, it emerged yesterday. terday to news that US senators had passed Moscow in March. Around the airport in Prima ballerina Svetlana Zakharova organ- a bill calling for fresh sanctions against Donetsk-site of some of the fiercest fighting ised a special gala at the Bolshoi last week to Moscow and the supply of lethal military in recent months-”the night was rough”, raise money for her old school in Kiev, but aid to Ukraine. “Undoubtedly, we will not Maxim, a volunteer soldier with the right- the cash was turned down when the Kiev be able to leave this without a response,” wing Pravy Sektor group said. “Snipers fired State Ballet School learned that she had sup- deputy foreign minister Sergei Ryabkov on us and explosions were coming from the ported Russia’s annexation of Crimea. “The told Interfax news agency ahead of a meet- airport. But everything is calm this morning,” Ukrainian artists who participated in the ing between the Russian and US foreign he said. Ukraine announced Friday it would concert appear to not be aware that the ministers. The Senate bill-dubbed the bolster its army next year by conscripting Russian dancer S Zakharova signed a letter Ukraine Freedom Support Act-must still be another 40,000 soldiers, training 10,500 new supporting the politics of (Russian President) approved by the White House, which has so professionals and doubling its military Vladimir Putin in Crimea,” wrote the school’s far been reluctant to provide direct military budget. director Ivan Doroshenko in a letter pub- assistance to Ukraine for fear of being lished on the culture ministry’s website. drawn into a proxy war with Russia. ‘Provocative farce’ “Otherwise, they would never have agreed BALTIC SEA: A handout photo released by the Dutch Defense ministry shows one of the two Russian SU- Ryabkov blamed “anti-Russian moods” in Meanwhile in Kiev, efforts by the artistic to take part in this provocative farce.” The 34 ‘Fullback’ bombers being intercepted by Dutch F-16’s over the Baltic Sea. The two bombers were fly- the United States for the bill passed on community to rise above the international Crimean peninsula was annexed by Russia in ing in international airspace in the direction of the Russian enclave of Kaliningrad, wedged between Friday, which calls for additional sanctions conflict fell flat when the ballet school March after a referendum that was heavily Poland and the Baltic states. — AFP against Russia and the delivery of up to $350 rejected charity money raised by Moscow’s criticised by Ukraine and the West. — AFP million (280 million euros’) worth of US mili- Baltics up defense spending tary hardware to Ukraine. The eight-month conflict between government forces and pro-Russian separatists has left at least 4,634 Russia reaches out as Russia buzzes the borders dead and 10,243 wounded, while displacing more than 1.1 million people, according to RIGA: Russia’s meddling in Ukraine has delivered a tain response time before NATO allies react,” Lithuanian new figures released by the United Nations. to far-right parties wake-up call on defense spending to small Baltic states defense analyst Aleksandras Matonis said. “The first It also threatens fresh sanctions against which spent half a century under Soviet occupation wave of aggression must be met and repelled by Russia, whose economy is crumbling under VIENNA: A Russian loan to France’s tarian leadership, a distrust of the US and and now fear the Kremlin’s territorial ambitions. (Baltic) countries using their own defense capacities.” previous rounds of Western sanctions and a National Front. Invitations to Moscow for support for strong law-and-order meas- Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania are on heightened alert as The Baltics have thus made big-ticket military purchas- collapse in oil prices. leaders of Austria’s Freedom Party. Praise ures. Statements by leading critics of the Russian military planes and warships skirt their air- es and upped their defense budgets since Moscow Kiev lawmakers have hailed the bill as a for Vladimir Putin from the head of EU, or euroskeptics, reflect their admira- space and sea borders on a daily basis in what they call annexed the Ukrainian peninsula of Crimea and “historic decision”. They have long been Britain’s anti-European Union party. As the tion of the Kremlin. National Front “unprecedented” Russian activity. NATO said its Baltic offered support for rebels in eastern Ukraine. pressing the West to provide military sup- diplomatic chill over Ukraine deepens, the founder Jean-Marie Le Pen told The air patrol intercepted more than 30 Russian aircraft on Tanks, missiles port to their beleaguered army, but have so Kremlin seems keener than ever to enlist Associated Press this month that France Monday alone over the Baltic Sea and off the coast of Estonian Defense Minister Sven Mikser on Tuesday far received only non-lethal equipment. US Europe’s far-right parties in its campaign and Russia “have a communality of inter- Norway. sealed the biggest military procurement in his coun- Secretary of State John Kerry is set to meet for influence in the West, seeking new est.” Daughter Marine Le Pen, party presi- That same day Lithuania put its military on higher try’s history, worth 138 million euros ($171 million). Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov in relationships based largely on shared con- dent and a strong contender for the alert after 22 Russian warships were spotted in the The deal sees the nation of 1.3 million people buy 44 Rome against the backdrop of the harden- cern over the growing clout of the EU. French presidency in 2017, envisions a Baltic Sea, including a heavily-armed corvette within CV90 combat vehicles and six Leopard tanks from the ing US stance. While the US side says the Russia fears that the EU and NATO Europe stretching “from the Atlantic to five kilometers (three miles) of Latvia’s sea border. “The Netherlands. It comes a month after Mikser inked a meeting will be held Monday, the Russians could spread to countries it considers part the Urals” - a “pan-European union” that current security situation will stay with us for a long contract worth 40 million euros with the US to buy 40 say it is set for today. Ryabkov said that “the of its sphere of influence. And it has includes Russia and is supported by other period of time. This is not just bad weather, this is cli- Stinger missile systems. Estonia also has an order for main focus at their 17th meeting this year repeatedly served notice that it will not right-wing parties. mate change,” Estonian Prime Minister Taavi Roivas said self-propelled guns in the works, he said. would be on the Middle East.” tolerate that scenario, most recently with Nationalist Hungarian Prime Minister this week. The Baltics escaped Soviet clutches and Latvia meanwhile bought 123 combat vehicles for its Ukraine campaign. Europe’s right-wing Viktor Orban perceives prevailing winds regained their independence in 1991, before joining 48 million euros from Britain in August and in Tentative ceasefire and populist parties, meanwhile, see a as “blowing from the East” and sees in the European Union and NATO in 2004 to cement their November agreed to a four-million-euro deal with A tentative ceasefire has been in place robust EU as contrary to their vision of Russia an ideal political model for his con- Western orientation. Norway for 800 Carl Gustav anti-tank weapons, plus along the frontline in eastern Ukraine since Europe as a loose union of strong national cept of an “illiberal state.” The head of All three have welcomed assurances from their 100 trucks. Lithuania for its part bought a 34-million- Tuesday, and fighting has been greatly states. And some regard the EU as a toady Britain’s euroskeptic Independence Party, NATO allies that any aggression against them will be euro GROM air defense system from Poland in reduced despite occasional breaches. The to America. The fact that many of Nigel Farage, has said Putin is the world regarded as an attack on the Atlantic defense alliance September and a month later said it would spend $20 Ukrainian army yesterday reported 11 Moscow’s allies are right to far-right leader he most admires - “as an operator, as a whole. “NATO’s presence in the Baltic region must million (16 million euros) on a fresh supply of Javelin attacks on its positions in the past 24 hours reflects the Kremlin’s full turn. Under com- but not as a human being.” Russia offers continue and increase,” Roivas stressed this week in the anti-tank missiles from the US. That brings the total but no one was killed or wounded. It also munism, xenophobic nationalist parties friendship with a world power. Le Pen and US, where he was meeting defense companies about Baltic military spending on hardware to 300 million said a drone was spotted over Mariupol, the were shunned. other party officials visit Moscow repeat- future deals. Baltic forces on their own stand no chance euros in six months. Politicians have “significantly last major eastern town under its control. Now they are embraced as partners edly, and Russian guests at the party’s of seeing off a full-scale Russian attack for long. changed” their defense spending rhetoric because of Ukraine has been worried for months that who can help further Russia’s interests congress this month included Andrei But their ability to fend off Moscow until NATO Russia’s aggression in Ukraine, defense expert Kristine the Russia-backed separatists will launch an and who share key views - advocacy of Isayev, a deputy speaker of the Russian could scramble a broader response is decisive, analysts Rudzite-Stejskala wrote in a report for the Latvian offensive on Mariupol in a bid to build a cor- traditional family values, belief in authori- parliament’s lower house.—AP say. “If the Baltic states are attacked, there will be a cer- Institute for International Affairs.—AFP ridor between the Russian border and the INTERNATIONAL SUNDAY, DECEMBER 14, 2014 Indian security forces arrest ‘jihadi tweeter’ @ShamiWitness contains jihadist propaganda

BANGALORE: Indian police yesterday arrested a 24- powers,” Pachuau said. A preliminary case of abet- newspaper published Saturday Biswas said his year-old believed to be the handler of an influential ting war against the state has been registered claims to Channel 4 were meant to get the television Twitter account supporting the Islamic State group, against Biswas. The Channel 4 report quoted Biswas reporter off his back. “When Channel 4 called me officials said. Mehdi Masroor Biswas, who works for an as saying that he had personally not joined IS ranks first and asked if @ShamiWitness was my Twitter Indian food conglomerate in the southern city of in Iraq and Syria because his family was financially handle, I did not oppose it... my outright rejection Bangalore, is alleged to be behind the Twitter account dependent on him. “If I had a chance to leave every- would not have convinced them. I therefore decided @ShamiWitness. The account had 17,700 followers, thing and join them I might have,” he was quoted as to admit that I was indeed @ShamiWitness in the including many foreigners fighting for the Islamic saying. The British channel said he shared jokes, fun- hope that they would not air the program,” Biswas State group in Syria and Iraq, until it was shut down ny images and talked about superhero movies on told the newspaper. The IS militant group has made following a report by Britain’s Channel 4 News on his Facebook page. He also used to post pictures of extensive use of social media for propaganda and Thursday. pizza dinners with friends and parties at work. recruitment, and has also used the outlets to dis- Tweets from @ShamiWitness contained jihadist However, in an interview to the Indian Express seminate grisly execution videos. — AFP propaganda as well as information for would-be recruits and messages praising fallen fighters as mar- tyrs. Police in Bangalore raided his house in an upscale suburb yesterday and seized his mobile phone, laptop and other documents for evidence. “On the basis of credible intelligence inputs... we have apprehended Mehdi Masroor Biswas from his rented one-room apartment,” police director general LR Pachuau said at a news conference. “He has confessed to the fact that he was operat- ing Shami Witness Twitter account for the last many years... he used to work in the office in the day and became active on the Internet late at night,” he said. India’s moderate population of 150 million Muslims have not often been drawn into sectarian conflicts in the Middle East and elsewhere. However, an Indian student was recently charged with terror-related offences after he returned home from Iraq where he is alleged to have worked for the jihadists. Biswas’s arrest has further fuelled fears that IS militants are attempting to recruit radicalized Muslim youngsters MUZAFFARGARH: A Pakistani policeman examines the bodies of sus- online. pected Taleban militants in the southern Muzaffargarh district, some 350 kilometers from provincial capital Lahore yesterday. Pakistan Source of information police foiled a major terror attack in central Punjab province killing at Pachuau said Biswas used to tweet “ferociously” least four suspected Taleban militants, officials said. — AFP after gathering information from TV and news web- sites on the situation in Iraq, Syria and the rest of the Pakistan police foil terror troubled region. Biswas was “particularly close to English speaking terrorists” and had become a source BANGALORE: Bangalore police’s investigating officer Hemant Nimbalkar writes on a photograph of attack, kill four militants of “incitement and information” for youngsters trying Mehdi Masroor Biswas, in his police headquarters office in Bangalore, India yesterday. Police in southern to join the IS group. India said yesterday that they have arrested Biswas, a 24-year-old engineer, who has admitted to run- MULTAN: Pakistan police foiled a Islamic insurgency in the country and “Through his social media propaganda, he abet- ning a popular pro-Islamic State group Twitter account, but added that he appears to have no direct major terror attack yesterday in cen- has killed thousands of people in sui- ted IS in its agenda to wage war against the Asiatic links to the militant group. — AP tral Punjab province killing at least cide, bomb and gun attacks. “The four suspected Taleban militants, offi- killed militants belonged to banned cials said. Heavy weapons and explo- Punjabi Taleban’s Abu-Ubaida group sives-including four suicide jackets, and we had received confirmed intel- Taleban kill 12 clearing mines 12 rockets, 40 hand grenades, 328 ligence reports about their planned kilograms (723 pounds) of gun-pow- activities,” Haq said. der-were recovered from the mili- Nabila Ghazanfar, a police spokes- KABUL: Taleban fighters shot dead at least 12 work- soldiers later began a firefight with the insurgents, he anonymity as the information wasn’t authorized for tants after a gun battle in the south- woman in Lahore, confirmed the ers clearing mines yesterday in southern Afghanistan, said. release. ern Muzaffargarh district, some 350 killings and said that the cops had authorities said, part of a series of attacks that saw Obaid identified the company working on the proj- NATO’s International Security Assistance Force said kilometers (217 miles) from provincial cordoned off the area to search for two US troops killed and a top Afghan court official ect as Star Link. Afghanistan, which has suffered in a statement that two service members “died as a capital Lahore. “We received informa- any other militants. Another senior gunned down. Security in the capital, Kabul, has decades of continuous war, is one of the most heavily result of an enemy forces attack in eastern tion from intelligence officials about police official in the territory, been stepped up as the Taleban have warned that mined countries in the world. Those working on proj- Afghanistan.” NATO does not identify the nationalities the movement of militants in the Rehmatullah Niazi said that the bod- attacks will continue as most foreign troops prepare ects to clear mines often find themselves targeted by of the dead, relying instead on their home countries. area. The gunfight started when ies of the militants were being identi- to withdraw at the end of the month, 13 years after the Taleban and other insurgents in the country. In The deaths yesterday were the first foreign troops police signaled a car to stop for fied. Meanwhile in south west the Sept 11 terror attacks sparked the US-led inva- April, Taleban fighters killed 12 people working on a killed this month, bringing to 65 the total number of checks and militants fired at the Baluchistan province, a policeman sion. The attack targeting the mine-clearing opera- mine-clearing project in Logar province. Late Friday, a international troops killed in the country this year, 50 of cops,” Rai Zamir-ul-Haq, police chief was killed and another wounded tion struck southern Helmand province between its militant attack on a military convoy killed two US sol- them Americans. Early yesterday, gunmen shot dead in the district said. when unknown militants hurled a Nadali and Washir districts, police spokesman Farid diers by the Bagram air base in Parwan province near Atiqullah Rawoofi, the head of the court’s secretariat in “In the exchange of fire, we killed grenade at their post in Khuzdar dis- Ahmad Obaid said. He said Taleban militants killed at Kabul, an international military official told The Kabul’s northwestern suburbs, said Farid Afzali, chief of four militants. Two police officials trict. least 12 workers and wounded another 12. Afghan Associated Press. The official spoke on condition of the Kabul police criminal investigation unit.— AP were also injured by two grenades Pakistan has been battling hurled at them by the militants,” he Islamist groups in its semi- said. Police said they also found autonomous tribal belt since 2004 chemicals for potential use in a attack after its army entered the region to stored in the militants’ vehicle, which search for Al-Qaeda fighters who had were also confiscated for further fled across the border following the investigation. “By seizing such large US-led invasion of Afghanistan. In quantity of weapons and explosives June the army began an offensive and killing these militants, we have against militant hideouts in the foiled a major attempt of terror in the North Waziristan tribal agency after a region. There were confirmed intelli- bloody raid on Karachi Airport ended gence reports that the militants were faltering peace talks between the planning major terrorist attacks in government and the Taleban. The Multan and Muzaffargarh cities,” Haq main battleground against Al-Qaeda said. and Afghan and Pakistani Taleban The authorities suspect that the militants is in the northwestern tribal militants are linked to the Punjabi belt of the country but many ana- Taleban faction of the Tehreek-i- lysts and officials believe that some Taleban Pakistan (TTP), a militant out- militant fighters also come from the BANJARNEGARA: A rescue team removes victims bodies of a landslide triggered by torrential downpours at Jemblung village in Banjarnegara, Central Java province fit which has waged a long-term southern Punjab. — AFP yesterday. — AFP China’s Xi says Nanjing Massacre 17 killed, 100 missing in Indonesia landslide

undeniable on 77th anniversary JEMBLUNG: Torrential downpours triggered a landslide on Indonesia’s main island of Java, killing at least 17 people NANJING: President Xi Jinping said yesterday that no one can Japan and the People’s Republic of China established diplo- The “Rape of Nanking” is an exceptionally sensitive issue in the and leaving nearly 100 others missing, with persistent rain deny the Nanjing Massacre, as China for the first time held a matic relations in 1972. But ties have been strained by the row often-tense relations between Japan and China, with Beijing hampering rescue efforts, officials said yesterday. Hundreds national day of remembrance for the Japanese military rampage over uninhabited islands in the East China Sea and nationalist charging that Tokyo has failed to atone for the atrocity. The of rescuers were digging with shovels through mud and that Beijing says killed 300,000 people. State media estimated views and actions by Japanese politicians, including visits to Japanese military invaded China in the 1930s and the two coun- rubble after the landslide buried scores of houses in 10,000 people attended a ceremony in Nanjing to mark the 77th Tokyo’s Yasukuni Shrine, which commemorates Japan’s war dead tries fought a full-scale war from 1937 to 1945 that ended with Jemblung village in central Java late Friday, the national dis- anniversary of the massacre, including ageing survivors-some in including convicted war criminals from World War II. Last month, Japan’s defeat in World War II. China says 300,000 people died in a aster agency said. their 90s-of the Japanese invasion of the eastern city on however, Xi and Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe, who pro- six-week spree of killing, rape and destruction after the Japanese The landslide swept down a hillside in the village, spar- December 13, 1937. The crowd sang a boisterous rendition of voked China’s ire by visiting Yasukuni last December, held a military entered Nanjing, although some respected foreign aca- ing only two houses, an AFP correspondent said. “The res- China’s national anthem at the ceremony broadcast live on CCTV strained first formal summit in Beijing on the sidelines of the demics put the number lower. China historian Jonathan Spence, cue team have found 17 bodies,” the national disaster state television, followed by a moment of silence, as a siren sym- annual APEC leaders’ meeting in a bid to improve bilateral rela- for example, estimates that 42,000 soldiers and citizens were agency’s spokesman, Sutopo Purwo Nugroho said, adding bolizing grief blared and the Chinese flag flew at half-mast under tions. killed and 20,000 women raped, many of whom later died.—AFP that 11 others were badly injured and rescuers were search- clear skies. “Anyone who tries to deny the massacre will not be ing for 91 people still missing. The disaster agency said that allowed by history, the souls of the 300,000 deceased victims, 1.3 200 rescuers and 500 volunteers had joined the search for billion Chinese people and all people loving peace and justice in the missing. Heavy excavation equipment was also import- the world,” Xi said in a speech at the ceremony, according to the ed into the area to speed up the rescue work, which had to state-run Xinhua news agency. Zhang Dejiang, chairman of the be halted yesterday afternoon as fresh downpours sparked NPC and foreign minister Wang Yi were among Chinese digni- fears of more landslides. taries who attended Before the ceremony, CCTV showed black Eyewitnesses said they heard a “thundering sound” as and white still and filmed images from the period, including the ground shook when the landslide came crashing down scenes of Japanese soldiers occupying Nanjing and photos of and buried the tiny village. “I ran carrying my daughter to dead Chinese, some in the streets and some along a river bank. higher ground, and I was crying because I could hear peo- Xi also appeared to hold out an olive branch to Japan, empha- ple calling out for help from below,” Bini, who like many sizing the need for Chinese and Japanese to live in friendship, Indonesians goes by one name said. Her husband and 14- stressing that it was “militarists” who were responsible for the year-old son are still missing. “It took just five minutes massacre. “We should not bear hatred against an entire nation before soil and trees suddenly covered the village,” another just because a small minority of militarists launched aggressive survivor, Harno, said. Rescue efforts have been slow wars,” Xi said, according to Xinhua. “The responsibilities for war because the ground was still unstable. Thousands of curios crimes lie with a few militarists, but not the people,” he added, bystanders have also caused traffic jams, hampering opera- though also emphasized that “severe crimes committed by tions. Bad phone signal in the area have made coordinating aggressors” cannot be forgotten. rescuing efforts difficult, officials added. Later 3,000 doves symbolizing peace were released into the The search and rescue agency said that the operation skies in memory of the victims, Xinhua said. In February, China’s would only resume once the rain stopped. If the down- National People’s Congress, the country’s Communist Party-con- pours persist, the search would resume early Sunday, it trolled legislature, made the anniversary of the Nanjing Massacre added. “We pray to God that we can still find survivors,” the an official day of remembrance-along with September 3 to mark head of central Java search and rescue agency, Agus Haryono said. Landslides triggered by heavy rains and the country’s victory against Japan in 1945 - as tensions with NANJING: Soldiers of the People’s Liberation Army (PLA) attend a memorial ceremony at the Memorial Hall of the Japan over a maritime territorial dispute and rows over history floods are common in tropical Indonesia during the rainy Victims in Nanjing Massacre by Japanese Invaders on China’s first National Memorial Day for Nanjing Massacre Victims season.—AFP intensified. in Nanjing city yesterday. — AFP SUNDAY, DECEMBER 14, 2014 INTERNATIONAL

Thai flight forced to return by unruly Chinese passengers

BANGKOK: A low-cost flight carrying pas- attacked a steward. “During the flight a by side but the pair started to argue with Chinese passengers, adding that they left behavior of some Chinese tourists overseas sengers from Thailand to China was forced Chinese female passenger was not satis- each other before the attack took place. the country on Friday. has caused embarrassment at home. In to return to Bangkok after a Chinese pas- fied with the service and when the cabin The captain of the flight, which was still in The cabin attendant received first aid on May 2013 a Chinese tourist was tracked senger threw hot water at a cabin atten- attendant came she threw hot water at the Thai airspace at the time, decided to return board from colleagues and was now fine, down by furious netizens after it emerged dant, the airline said Saturday. Thai AirAsia cabin attendant,” the airline said in state- to Don Mueang where four Chinese pas- the official added. China has seen rapid he had defaced an ancient Egyptian monu- Flight FD9101 departed Bangkok’s north- ment. sengers were ejected and detained at a growth in outbound trips in recent years, ment. ern airport Don Mueang for Nanjing at An official said the woman and her trav- police station. The flight departed Don and Chinese travelers are now the biggest The same month a top Chinese official 5:55 pm on Thursday with 174 passengers elling companion were initially angered at Mueang again at 10:45 pm on the same source of international tourism cash in the said the dire manners and “uncivilized and six crew on board but was forced to not being seated together. Other passen- day and arrived in Nanjing Friday morning. world, according to a the United Nations behavior” of some Chinese tourists overseas turn back after one of the passengers gers moved seats allowing them to sit side The airline official said police fined the World Tourism Organization. But the were harming the country’s image. —AFP Heavy snow feared to cast chill over Japan’s election

TOKYO: Heavy snow hit large swathes of an unprepared and underwhelming opposi- Japan yesterday, the eve of a general elec- tion, political pundits have said. A recent sur- tion, fuelling speculation the ruling coalition vey has found just two-thirds of voters is on course to an easy victory on low voter expressed any interest in the vote, down from turnout. It was already snowing heavily in 80 percent ahead of the December 2012 elec- large areas of the country along the coast of tion when Abe rose to power. “Abe’s expected the Sea of Japan (East Sea) yesterday, victory is the result of the self-destruction of though Tokyo remained clear and sunny. the opposition,” Shinichi Nishikawa, professor The weather agency warned of snowfall of of politics at Meiji University in Tokyo, told as much as 80 centimeters in central and AFP earlier this week. “For many voters, there northern regions by the today morning, is no alternative but the LDP,” Nishikawa said. when polls open. The poor conditions could Abe has billed Sunday’s election as a referen- put off already unenthusiastic voters and dum on his pro-spending growth policy. push turnout to a record low for the elec- His two years in power have been charac- tions, which were called two years ahead of terised by his bid to reinvigorate Japan’s schedule. sagging economy with what he has called Early opinion polls have shown Prime the “three arrows” of Abenomics monetary Minister Shinzo Abe’s coalition is likely to easing, fiscal stimulus and structural secure more than 300 of the 475 contested changes. The first two arrows have largely seats, giving them the super-majority they hit their target-the once-painfully high yen BERLIN: Believers pray during the Friday prayer at a mosque of the Lahore Ahmadiyya Movement for the Propagation of Islam in need in the powerful lower house to force has plunged, sending stocks higher. But the Berlin. Members of a new group in Germany, calling itself the ‘Patriotic Europeans against the Islamisation of the Occident’, or through legislation. The ruling coalition is reform arrow remains in the quiver; critics PEGIDA, protest against “criminal asylum seekers” and the “Islamisation” of their home country. —AFP made of Abe’s conservative Liberal say Abe has not been bold enough to take Democratic Party (LDP), supported by busi- on the vested interests that are the real key nesses and a network of campaign groups to reversing nearly two decades of econom- nationwide, as well as its junior partner ic underperformance. A new mandate from Greece faces tall order to Komeito which is backed by a big lay the electorate would give Abe a straight four Buddhist group. years’ run at some of the more difficult prevent early elections Their predicted victory is largely thanks to reforms. —AFP Juncker warns against ‘extreme forces’

ATHENS: Greece’s embattled govern- left Democratic Left and the creditors over its latest budget and fiscal went a step further by denouncing ment will be hard-pushed to forestall Independent Greeks, a nationalist party. reforms for the coming year. bribery allegedly used in ruling party cir- early elections-and a blow to fiscal The prospect of early elections strikes cles to sway a number of his deputies. In reforms-by steering a snap presidential fear into the markets and Greece’s EU- Failure to inspire an interview with the state parliament ballot through parliament next week, IMF creditors as radical leftist party But his candidate Dimas, known as a channel, former prime minister Costas analysts say. A successor to 85-year-old Syriza, which opposes the country’s longtime insider of the conservative Simitis lamented the culture of conflict President Karolos Papoulias must be bailout agreement, has a steady lead in New Democracy party, has so far failed in Greek politics. However, a preliminary found or under the constitution, parlia- opinion polls. to inspire, analysts note. “The candida- judicial investigation into the issue ment will have to be dissolved by ture of Stavros Dimas has failed to create found insufficient proof to probe further. February-right in the middle of crucial ‘Extreme forces’ a dynamic,” said analyst George Sefertzis. Greek politics is marked by “failure to talks between Greece and its EU-IMF European Commission President Political scientist Thanassis agree, exaggeration and a hunt for ene- creditors. The prospect of early elec- Jean-Claude Juncker warned on Diamantopoulos added that Dimas, 73, mies. There can be no progress like this,” tions has alarmed financial markets and Thursday that “extreme forces” could was “an emblematic figure of the old, Simitis said. caused Greek stocks to slide dramatical- take power in the crisis-hit country. “I discredited political class.” However, As the political uncertainty deep- ly for three days, although they showed think the Greeks ... know very well what independent MPs in particular faced a ened, Greek 10-year bonds spiked this signs of steadying on Friday. a wrong election result would mean for stark choice should they fail to back week and the Athens stock exchange The government will need 200 MPs in Greece and the euro-zone,” Juncker said Dimas, he added. “Most of them have lit- lost around 20 percent in three days. the first two votes to elect its candidate, on Austrian TV. “There is a chance that tle chance of re-election in a general Samaras has warned that early general former EU Environment Commissioner the helm of the country could be taken vote,” Diamantopoulos said. Among the elections could bring “turmoil.” “Markets TOKYO: Japanese Prime Minister and ruling Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) Stavros Dimas, or 180 MPs in the third by extreme forces,” he said. Greece’s 24 independent deputies, some of in Greece and abroad ... are afraid that if leader Shinzo Abe (center) and party members gesture during election cam- and final vote. But it only has 155 MPs in presidential vote was supposed to be whom were originally elected with the a president is not elected and the coun- the 300-seat chamber. “We do not have held in February, but the government conservative and socialist parties in the try is led to early elections, there will be paigning in Tokyo yesterday. —AFP the number required,” deputy develop- suddenly decided to bring forward the ruling coalition, a few have declared in general turmoil,” the PM warned his ment minister Gerassimos Giakoumatos first ballot to December 17. The remain- favor of averting early elections. deputies. Syriza leader Alexis Tsipras, a admitted this week. ing two rounds will be held on But Democratic Left, which has 10 40-year-old former Communist, has France, US uneasy bedfellows Prime Minister Antonis Samaras December 23 and 29. Samaras said the deputies, and the Independent Greeks, pledged to raise wages and pensions, hopes to find the remaining 25 deputies decision was made to remove political with 12, have officially announced they halt privatizations and re-negotiate as they seek Iran nuclear deal from among independent MPs and the uncertainty as Greece is currently locked will oppose Dimas. The leader of Greece’s bailout agreement with the EU- deputies of two smaller parties-centre- in negotiations with its international Independent Greeks, Panos Kammenos, IMF creditors. —AFP WASHINGTON: Publicly, they are the sake of an agreement,” a European diplo- best of friends working to seal a historic mat said.”We should not rush for a deal. It deal to stop Iran’s march to a nuclear would be a mistake from the six (powers) bomb. But behind closed doors, diplo- to rush. The pressure is on Iran.” During Women: the invisible mats from France and the United States the most recent failed round of talks, barely hide their frustration. For years, French Ambassador to the US Gerard France has been viewed as the toughest Araud tweeted that it was “a good poker member of the group of powers known game in Vienna. But, as usual, if you have issue in Japan election as the P5+1, after feeling burned in previ- the higher hand and keep your nerves, ous pacts under which Tehran covertly you will win.” “As the French have amply continued to advance its atomic ambi- demonstrated, Europe does not want a TOKYO: When voters go to the polls today to elect you not able to have a baby?” erupted in the chamber service. “Abe’s government is trying to use women tions. The P5+1 - Britain, China, France, deal at any cost,” wrote Riccardo Alcaro, Japan’s powerful lower house of parliament, only one out as Ayaka Shiomura spoke. One LDP man apologized in either as some sort of icing on a cake or as a tool to get Russia, the United States and Germany an expert with the Brookings Institution of every six candidates will be a woman. That is despite public, but others who took part were never identified. the economy going,” said Mizuho Nakayama, 44. For go back to the negotiating table next think tank. the fact that Prime Minister Shinzo Abe has repeatedly Economists have been saying for years that Japan fellow mother Yuko Takato, 38, there needs to be some week in Geneva having failed to meet a “But of all the parties involved, the proclaimed his desire for Japan to be a country where needs to make better use of its well-educated but wholesale reforms of Japan’s male-dominated working November 24 deadline for a deal. Europeans are probably the most deter- women “shine”, where they would hold a third of all top underemployed women, and could go a long way to environment. They have set a new target date of mined to settle the Iranian nuclear issue. jobs by 2020, and despite the fact that almost as many plugging its labor gap if more of them worked. While “It remains difficult for women to climb the career June 30 to reach a pact that would end Indeed, they conceive their role in the women as men will be voting. “I don’t see it being dis- women are well represented in badly-paid, part-time ladder and have children when companies have no 12 years of protracted negotiations with negotiations as preventing the worst cussed at all as a focus of the election,” said Kaori Sasaki, work, a mere 1.2 percent of executives at 3,600 listed systems to help, and there is no real support from the the Islamic republic. But despite public instincts of the Americans and the president and CEO of consulting firm ewoman. assertions of unity among the global Iranians from spoiling the process.” This Abe called the election last month, just halfway powers, Western diplomats confirm there time on his way to Vienna, Kerry took through a four-year term, labeling the vote a referendum is a diplomatic fencing match behind the care to fully brief Fabius first in Paris, on “Abenomics”-his signature blend of monetary easing, scenes between Paris and Washington. amid concern the French diplomat might fiscal largesse and promised structural reforms. While One of France’s main concerns is the resort to more public grandstanding that there is now plenty of easy money floating around and incomplete Arak heavy water reactor, could scupper the delicate negotiations. the stimulus taps are wide open, the work of reform- which when it eventually comes online Indeed, in Geneva in 2013, the global including making it easier for women to combine a could be used to make plutonium for an career and a family-has barely begun. The last two years powers left empty-handed after Fabius’s have been big on prime ministerial rhetoric about get- atomic bomb. intervention, only reaching an interim ting rid of the glass ceiling, including the goal of getting Paris is said to have pushed for strin- deal two weeks later. women into 30 percent of senior positions by the time of gent inspections of Iran’s nuclear energy the Tokyo Olympics, but short on results, said Sasaki. program, and a broad dismantling of Grumbling “He may no longer be prime minister in 2020, which facilities and centrifuges. Amid great The former French ambassador to makes it a bit unclear if he is seriously committed to uncertainty over whether a deal is possi- Iran, Francois Nicoullaud said that “fun- achieving that target,” she said. In the current 480 seat ble despite hours and hours of tense damentally Fabius was not wrong to say lower house of parliament, just 39 seats-eight percent- negotiations, this distrust between the a year ago that it was not a done deal.” are held by women. That places Japan 129th out of 189 two transatlantic allies could prove the “But Kerry didn’t want to see such a scan- countries in a ranking compiled by the Inter- weakest link in the P5+1 bloc. Privately, dal happen again and took care to make Parliamentary Union, a Geneva-based organization of American officials say there has been sure he kept everyone in the loop. “I don’t parliaments. By comparison, 45 percent of Swedish law- concern in Washington over the French think France is in a position to block” a makers are women, 23 percent in Britain and 20 percent position of publicly playing hardball, but deal,” he said, adding: “the French are not in Saudi Arabia. And the gender balance in the Japanese then not backing up their words in the making any effort. They are just follow- parliament isn’t about to get a great deal better. Abe’s rul- negotiations. In November 2013, ing, grumbling.” US expert Kelsey ing Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) is fielding women in angered by US Secretary of State John Davenport, from the Arms Control less than 12 percent of the seats they are fighting. Overall, Kerry’s sudden appearance at the talks in Association, agreed. 198 of the 1191 - 16.6 percent-of the candidates in this Geneva, French Foreign Minister Laurent “There are minor differences between election are women, and none of the main parties is led Fabius showed up, talking tough against the US and France on substantive ele- by one. TOKYO: Miki Seta (center), a member of the ‘Ikereru Joshikai’ (The Angry Girls Group) gives a flyer of an opposition candidate to a female voter for today general election the proposed contours of a deal and ments. Both sides have admitted that,” in Tokyo. —AFP seemingly threw a wrench in the works. she said. “What is critical is that France Endemic and the United States share the same This, say critics, feeds into an atmosphere in the ‘Robust’ deal goals about what a good agreement governing classes where sexism is endemic. Just last companies are female. country,” she said. But for ewoman’s Sasaki, having a As for the French, they are concerned must accomplish.” Any deal “must block week, Finance Minister Taro Aso was forced into an In speech after speech, Abe has urged the country prime minister who will even talk about it is a good that the Obama administration, under apology after saying “people who don’t give birth” are to open up to “womenomics”, encouraging some of start. “Members of the LDP are primarily very conser- Iran’s uranium and plutonium pathways at the root of Japan’s ageing society. That came after an Japan’s biggest firms-including Toyota, Panasonic and vative” and reflect Japan’s traditionally paternalistic fire for its disjointed foreign policy, badly to the bomb and put in place stringent episode earlier this year that grabbed attention around All Nippon Airways-to announce targets for boosting values, she said. “I don’t want to discourage Abe by needs a success and despite its asser- monitoring and verification to ensure the world when a young Tokyo assemblywoman was the number of female executives. For political lobbying criticizing the whole campaign. It is epoch-making tions to the contrary wants an Iran deal that there are no covert activities and any heckled during a debate on helping the city’s mothers. group Ikareru Joshikai (“The Angry Girls Group”) the that the prime minister keeps speaking out for this at almost any price. “We want a robust deviation from an agreement is immedi- Shouts of “Why don’t you get married?” and “Are prime minister’s talk of womenomics is patronizing lip cause.” —AFP agreement, not an agreement for the ately detected,” added Davenport. —AFP NEWS SUNDAY, DECEMBER 14, 2014

An Indian local walks with his yak on a snow-covered road during the season’s first snowfall at Kufri, some 17 km from the northern hill town of Shimla yesterday. A cold wave over northern Himachal Pradesh state sent the night temperatures dipping below the freezing point. — AFP Thai crown prince divorces wife Facebook doesn’t love idea of ‘dislike’... Continued from Page 1 earlier this month when the Crown Prince announced that Continued from Page 1 it so that it is a force for good and not a force for bad in members of her family had been forbidden from using the demeaning the posts that people are putting out The couple have a nine-year-old son who was thought to surname “Akkharapongpricha”. in the lives of friends. “We are talking about a right there.” Facebook would also risk irking advertisers by be Prince Vajiralongkorn’s most likely heir. “This announce- At least three relatives with that surname were arrested in way for people to easily express a broader array of emo- giving members a quick way to tag marketing mes- ment will add a greater sense of uncertainty and anxiety the corruption scandal, and the name represents an honorific tions,” Zuckerberg said, giving examples such as empa- sages with “dislikes,” according to analysts. Zuckerberg among Thais over the future of their monarchy - not just with title given to some of Srirasmi’s family following her marriage thy, surprise, or laughter. noted that Facebook members are free to comment on the current generation, but with later generations too,” Pavin to the prince. Many of the more than 20 detained in the graft No changes along those lines were on the immedi- posts, but can wind up feeling pressured to be witty or Chachavalpongpun, a Thai expert at Japan’s Kyoto University, probe have been charged for defaming the monarchy, with ate horizon. “We need to figure out the right way to do insightful. — AFP told AFP. police saying they had made “false claims” about their rela- Thailand has been awash with rumours of Srirasmi’s fate tionship to a royal to justify committing crimes that allegedly for weeks after a slew of her relatives were caught up in a ranged from running illegal casinos to oil smuggling, kidnap- Egypt child abuse surges amid turmoil widening police corruption scandal. Several high profile fig- ping and extortion. ures have been arrested including a host of senior policemen Under section 112 of Thailand’s criminal code, anyone con- Continued from Page 1 In October, the NCCM documented 300 cases of and military officers, while one of Thailand’s richest men is on victed of defaming, insulting or threatening the king, queen, assault on children, including 27 boys and girls raped the run from police on charges relating to the probe. But heir or regent faces between three and 15 years in prison on Experts say physical and sexual violence against chil- and 23 murdered, 13 of them by parents. Schools reportable facts on Srirasmi’s status were scant. The Thai each count. Even repeating details of the charges could mean dren in Egypt has surged in 2014. More than 1,000 such topped the list of places of violence against children, monarchy is protected by some of the world’s strictest lese breaking the law. In recent days there were increasing signals assaults were registered between January and October, including two deaths from sheer negligence caused by majeste laws. Both local and international media must heavily Srirasmi was no longer part of the royal family. In an unusual while 660 were recorded on average during the preced- faulty equipment. Several cases of physical and sexual self-censor when covering the country’s royal family. break from tradition, there was no mention of her in the royal ing three years, according to the National Council for assault on children were also reported in orphanages. In Thai Rath and the Daily News, Thailand’s two largest news- household news broadcasts on Dec 9, her birthday. Childhood and Motherhood (NCCM). The cases included August, the director of a Cairo orphanage was arrested papers, both ran pieces Saturday on Srirasmi giving up her The next day she disappeared from the opening sequence 131 rapes, 118 murders and 263 instances of torture. after a video showing him beating children sparked out- royal status. The Daily News said the couple’s divorce had of the nightly royal news broadcasts, which features portraits “They get killed, tortured and raped in schools, orphan- rage on social media. The footage showed the man hit- been finalised and that the Crown Prince would keep custody of all the kingdom’s senior royals. The princess was last seen in ages, on the streets and even at home where they are ting the children with a stick and kicking them as they of their son. She will lose her title of princess but will be given public on Dec 6 when she presided over the 9th anniversary supposed to be safe and protected,” said Hany Helal, sec- ran away, screaming in pain. He was sentenced to three the new title “Thanpuying”, the highest honour for a common- of her pet project, an organisation called “The Family Bond retary general of the Egyptian Coalition for Children’s years in jail. er, the paper added. Social media has been buzzing for weeks Project”. The report on the Ministry of Education website says Rights non-governmental organisation. “A lot of cases of assault against children are never over the arrest of Srirasmi’s relatives. But the first official indi- the project “aims to promote and strengthen love and learn- Four years of political upheaval have scarred Egyptian recorded because parents don’t report them to authori- cation that the 43-year-old’s royal status was in doubt came ing between all family members”. — AFP society, with the impact also felt by the country’s 17 mil- ties so as to preserve their image in a conservative socie- lion children, experts say. “Violence breeds violence,” said ty,” said Helal. “It’s the lack of deterrent measures and the Azza Karim, a prominent sociologist. “Egyptian society low priority given to children’s issues” that have led to Students take to streets over child road... has experienced violence from the authorities, and this the rise in violence, according to Ahmed Hanafy, a psy- has its effect on all individuals.” Hundreds of demonstra- chotherapist with NCCM. Continued from Page 1 asking parents to sign a pledge to stay off their cell tors were killed during the 18-day uprising that toppled In a hospital in Damanhour, also north of the capital, phones while driving and to place kids in child seats as Egypt’s veteran leader Hosni Mubarak in early 2011. the father of Mohammad consoled the eight-year-old at Dr Carol Ross, Vice President of AUK, and Lavina many children have died due to their parents’ negli- Political violence surged after his successor, Islamist his bedside weeks after a violent sex attack. Three Lobo, Director of Student Life at AUK, also participated gence. I’m proud of the students who are committed president Mohamed Morsi, was ousted by then army youths tried to rape him before sexually assaulting him in the event. “We hope that this campaign will increase and volunteer in these events. I would also like to chief and now President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi in July 2013. with an electric air pump, and his father says the only awareness on child safety, which is part of our kids’ thank the police for their support, which signifies their A brutal government crackdown on Morsi’s support- action taken since was when the governor paid a visit to safety campaign. Just during the first hour, I noticed belief in what we do,” added Ross. ers has since left at least 1,400 people dead, thousands his family. A surge in kidnappings of children has put many positive reactions from drivers. Statistics have According to a World Health Organization report in behind bars and dozens sentenced to death after even more pressure on parents. So far this year, 211 cas- shown that not using child seats increases the death 2013, about 1.24 million people die annually as a speedy mass trials. “Children are the weakest link in the es of kidnappings have been reported, with experts say- rate of children involved in car accidents,” stressed result of traffic accidents, while between 20 and 50 chain... Adults unleash all their stress and feelings of ing most are carried out by body organ traffickers. “I’m Ross. million suffer from injuries every year caused by these oppression on them,” Karim said. Helal said: “Children’s very nervous. I don’t let my children leave the house on More awareness activities will be held in the future. accidents. About 59 percent of them (in both cases) rights are being eroded because the government is so their own, and I only relax when they’re home,” said “Next Saturday we will hold an event at the 360 Mall are in the age category of 15-44 years. focused on political issues.” father-of-three Mohammed Shalabi. — AFP SUNDAY, DECEMBER 14, 2014 ANALYSIS

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Issues China angles for influence in US ‘backyard’

By Katell Abiven

ith ambitious plans for a canal through Nicaragua and a Honduran hydroelectric dam, Chinese firms are Wincreasingly testing the waters in Central America, a region long considered the United States’ backyard. The auda- cious canal project, which would rival the US-built Panama Canal, underlines China’s growing global power but has also highlighted the pitfalls that go with it. The $50 billion project, awarded to a Hong Kong-based company and scheduled to break ground on December 22, has sparked protests and attracted a host of opponents, from naysayers who call it a Why pope ducked meeting with Dalai Lama future white elephant to Nicaraguans who fear a land-grab and environmental catastrophe. By Jean-Louis de la Vaissiere with the Dalai Lama could jeopardise that, Insider site, said. been backed by two local cardinals, is likely “Get out, Chinese!” shouted thousands of farmers and given Beijing’s known abhorrence of any On his return from a visit to South Korea to dampen any vague desire China had to activists at the most recent protest Wednesday in the capital ope Francis may be known for cham- gesture of solidarity towards Tibet by other in August Francis had expressed a wish to relax its grip on religion. Managua. “If you add up the 15 marches organized in the past pioning dialogue, but faced with the powers. A spokesman for the Dalai Lama visit China as early as “tomorrow” and voiced Anouil also believes that China has less two and a half months, we’ve had 40,000 people,” said lawyer and activist Monica Lopez Baltodano - not a trifling figure for a Pcertainty of riling China, analysts say, said he was “disappointed” but acknowl- admiration for its “wise people”. “The church riding on the establishment of diplomatic country of six million. “I have my doubts” about the feasibility he ducked out of a meeting with the Dalai edged that a meeting with the pope could only asks for liberty for its task, for its work - ties than Rome. To illustrate the point, he of the project, said Jaume Gine, a China expert at Spain’s Lama. Sensitivities over the fate of the have caused “inconvenience”. “The Vatican’s there’s no other condition,” he said, referring cites Beijing’s refusal to reciprocate a 2008 ESADE business school. “When the Panama Canal was inaugu- Catholic minority in China were foremost on diplomatic objective is to avoid actions that to Beijing’s tight control over the country’s invitation to the Chinese Philharmonic rated 100 years ago, it was the Americans’ canal. Now it seems the pope’s mind when he decided against fuel instability in already tricky situations “official” Catholic church. Orchestra to perform at the Vatican. The the Chinese want to repeat that, saying ‘We’re going to build greeting the Tibetan spiritual leader, accord- and avoid decisions whose consequences Sistine Chapel Choir was refused permission the Nicaragua Canal’ with money from the potential super- ing to observers. A spokesman for the Holy are paid for by others - in this case, Chinese Papal Priority to play in Beijing and Shanghai during a power of the 21st century,’” he told AFP. “So it’s an image-build- See confirmed Thursday that the pope Catholics,” Andrea Tornielli, China’s Communist leader Mao cut ties recent visit, The singers to settle for Hong ing exercise, whether they finish the canal or not.” would not meet the Dalai Lama - whom the a commentator with the Holy See in 1951. The dialogue Kong, Macao and Taipei instead. —AFP James Bosworth, an analyst at US consulting firm Southern Argentinean pontiff “obviously holds... in with the resumed after the Cultural Revolution, Pulse, said the pharaonic project by Hong Kong Nicaragua Canal Development (HKND) “still faces major hurdles,” includ- very high regard” - despite the Tibetan’s Vatican under John Paul II. China has been top prior- ing engineering challenges and local opposition. But the plan presence at a meeting in Rome of ity for the Vatican ever since. President Xi is “about much more than the proposed canal,” he said. The Nobel peace laureates. Jingping and Francis exchanged letters of project includes a host of infrastructure schemes: ports, roads, Francis, an advocate of inter- congratulation on their respective elections a tourist resort and a renovated airport. “Unlike the proposed faith ties, isn’t the first pope to in 2013. In September, Argentina’s Infobae canal, those projects are certainly economically viable and wrestle with the question of news site reported that Francis had followed should be profitable for the investors who back them,” whether to grant an audi- up with a letter to Xi, inviting him to a meet- Bosworth said. ence to the Tibetan ing at the Vatican. China has around 12 mil- While Chinese firms currently have a small presence in Buddhist leader. His pred- lion Catholics, half of whom are members of Nicaragua compared to US and Canadian companies, that will ecessor Benedict XVI met the state-controlled Chinese Patriotic change if the canal gets built, said Ronald Arce, a researcher at the Dalai Lama in 2006 Catholic Association. The remainder belong the Latin American Center for Competitiveness and Sustainable Development (CLACDS) in Costa Rica. “The pres- but declined follow-up to underground churches that are loyal to ence of Chinese firms across the region would multiply,” he visits in 2007 and 2009. the Vatican, although there is some overlap. said. The issue of how to han- The chief bone of contention between dle Tibet is of strategic Rome and Beijing is China’s policy of conse- ‘Political Interests’ importance for the crating of bishops without the pope’s China’s presence elsewhere in Central America is already Vatican. China is home to approval. In the rest of the world, bishops established, though investments remain modest. Panama is several million Catholics are named by the pontiff. For China, currently the main destination for Chinese investment in and Protestants, whose renouncing control over the nominations Central America, according to a CLACDS study published in freedom of religion is heavi- would mean relinquishing part of its sov- August. But China only accounted for 2.5 percent of Panama’s ly curtailed. The establish- ereignty. Beijing is also wary of the influ- foreign direct investment in 2011. In Costa Rica and Guatemala, the figure was less than one percent. But experts ment of diplomatic relations ence of Western ideas spread by Catholics say the superpower may be angling to expand its role. “Aside between China and the and Protestants. There are two schools of from the canal, the investments aren’t major. But it allows Vatican would allow thought in the Vatican on normalising ties. them, in a gradual way, to get to know a region they didn’t Catholicism in the world’s most One believes that the Vatican should know,” said Gine. “It’s as if they were feeling the stones to cross populous nation to flourish. reach an agreement with China “on a less the river, as the Chinese saying goes,” he added. “Now China Since becoming pope, problematic nomination process,” says Regis wants to try to position itself in the entire Central American Francis has given new impetus to Anouil, a French specialist on Asian church- and Caribbean region.” the quiet discussions that have es. The other fears that China would twist Its targets: energy, telecommunications and infrastructure. been ongoing between Rome and any agreement in its favour. The pro-democ- In Costa Rica, the China National Petroleum Corporation plans Beijing since the 1980s. A meeting racy movement in Hong Kong, which has to build a $1.3 billion oil refinery. In Honduras, Sinohydro wants to build a $350 million hydroelectric dam to match the one it already has in Belize. Both projects have been placed on hold after being criticized locally, but look set to resume. In Alonso has unfinished business at McLaren another Honduras project, the China Harbour Engineering Company is studying the feasibility of a $20 million railway to connect the Atlantic and Pacific Oceans, a project that would By Alan Baldwin Hamilton. thing and saw each other as the best way of getting it. also compete with the Panama Canal. “There are also political When Alonso joined Ferrari in 2010 and declared Both now appear to regret what happened in 2007. “One interests at stake, because we’re talking about the United ever say never’ has always been a popular his seemingly eternal allegiance to the of the things I really respect is that he chose to change States’ backyard,” said Gine. “This enables China to reinforce its saying in Formula One and Fernando Italian team, talking of seeing out direction, leaving one of the most successful teams in F1 geopolitical weight worldwide.” ‘NAlonso’s return to McLaren proves the his career at Maranello, the very and coming back to McLaren and addressing what we feel Cozying up to Central American nations also bears political point. The team’s announcement on Thursday idea of him returning to is unfinished business,” Dennis said. “Fernando is going to weight for China’s rivalry with self-ruled Taiwan, which Beijing that the double world champion will race for McLaren sounded preposter- prove that he is an absolute winner. But also he is going to considers as a part of its territory awaiting reunification. them next season with 2009 champion ous. The ousting of show that he can re-integrate with our team. I could prob- Central America is home to six of the 22 countries that recog- Jenson Button came as no surprise, since it Martin ably have done things better,” he added, addressing the nize Taiwan’s independence from China. “Long term, China also had been widely accepted as fact Whitmarsh as past problems. “I don’t anticipate any issues between hopes to isolate Taiwan from its few remaining supporters,” months ago. But at the end of McLaren Fernando and I.” said Bosworth. Costa Rica, the seventh Central American coun- 2007, such a scenario would principal ear- Alonso agreed. “I felt it was unfinished business already try, also recognized Taiwan until 2007. Since then, it has signed have been laughable. Then, it lier this year, when I left,” he said. “I brought number one to the cockpit a 2011 free-trade agreement with China and cooperation deals looked as if the Spaniard had and return of and now I want to bring it back from the inside, driving for worth $2 billion in 2013, equivalent to four percent of its econ- well and truly burned his boats Dennis to overall them.” In Button he has a likeable and easy-going team omy. Together, Central America and the Caribbean have a total at Woking only a year after control, only made mate with more experience than anyone else on the grid, a of 20 votes in the United Nations General Assembly. —AFP joining from Renault as world that look less likely. man hugely popular within McLaren and as competitive as champion. But never say never. anyone. The pairing may not be quite the fire and ice com- McLaren and Ferrari had Dennis, smiling and bination that was held up when Alonso was joined by Kimi been embroiled in a spying with an arm on Raikkonen at Ferrari but there are enough contrasts scandal that rocked the sport Alonso’s shoulders on between them to spice things up next season. All articles appearing on these and landed McLaren with a Thursday, just wants Button, for one thing, has been compared to French pages are the personal opinion of record $100 million fine for McLaren to be back four-time world champion Alain Prost for his smoothness the writers. Kuwait Times takes no having confidential Ferrari on top and winning. at the wheel and tactical nous. Alonso, like Hamilton, had responsibility for views expressed technical documents in their Alonso wants that the late Brazilian Ayrton Senna as a boyhood hero. Prost possession. Alonso, who was third title that is long and Senna provided Honda-powered McLaren with their therein. Kuwait Times invites read- found to have incriminating overdue and that most dominant season in 1988, their first year together ers to voice their opinions. Please emails, had testified to the Ferrari failed to deliver. when they won all but one race, but the relationship soon send submissions via email to: opin- governing FIA under immunity. soured. Alonso and Button, the first pairing of a new [email protected] or via snail Barely on speaking terms with Intensely Competitive Honda era, may revive memories of old but McLaren must team principal Ron Dennis, he The little Spaniard is first give them a car capable of winning races before any mail to PO Box 1301 Safat, Kuwait. returned to Renault in a falling- intensely competitive and sparks fly. With Mercedes dominant this year, and Honda’s The editor reserves the right to edit out triggered even before the spy every bit as determined new V6 turbo power unit beset with problems on its first any submission as necessary. controversy by the team refusing to as Dennis. In the end, proper test, it could take all of Button’s new two-year con- favour him over hotshot protege Lewis both wanted the same tract for that to happen. But never say never. —Reuters p15_Layout 1 12/13/14 10:02 PM Page 1

SUNDAY, DECEMBER 14, 2014 SPORTS

Cook’s captaincy in doubt Bjerregaard reels in Grace Warner, Dhawan and Kohli fined LONDON: Alastair Cook’s role as England captain for next year’s World Cup MALELANE: Denmark’s Lucas Bjerregaard shot the best round of the day ADELAIDE: Australia’s David Warner and India’s Shikhar Dhawan and Virat was cast into doubt when head coach Peter Moores said his position would with a 66 at Leopard Creek Golf Course yesterday to close within one shot Kohli have been fined by the International Cricket Council (ICC) for ill-tem- be reviewed after the team’s current one-day series in Sri Lanka. Cook was of tournament leader Branden Grace after three rounds of the European pered incidents during the fourth day of the first test in Adelaide. Warner and last week named as skipper of a provisional 30-man squad for next year’s Tour’s Alfred Dunhill Championship. Dhawan were fined 15 and 30 per cent of their respective match fees for a tournament in Australia and New Zealand but has continued to cut a belea- Grace, who won all four of his previous European Tour titles in 2012 confrontation after the Australian opener was bowled by a no-ball. guered figure at the helm of the one-day side. before going off the boil, had started the day comfortably ahead after India paceman Varun Aaron had celebrated after rattling Warner’s stumps, The 29-year-old has averaged under 18 with the bat opening rounds of 62 and 66. only for the batsmen to retaliate towards the bowler after his let- as the tourists slipped to a 4-2 series defeat in Sri Lanka But the 26-year-old had to battle hard for a third round 72 to remain on off. Dhawan was involved in a heated exchange with the fiery with one game remaining. “We review everything at that mark, with the little-known Bjerregaard slashing his five shot Australian after the next delivery. the end of every series, we’ve always said that,” overnight advantage down to one. India captain Kohli, deputising for the injured MS Dhoni, Moores told Sky Sports when asked if Cook would Winner last week in the Nedbank Challange, Danny Willett stayed in was docked 30 per cent of his match fee after an argument be captain at the World Cup. “We make no bones touch in third place on 14 under after a round of 67. Ryder Cup player with Australian bowler Steven Smith following a rejected lbw that we’re passionate to try and get our best side to go Francesco Molinari, who had the best round of the day on Friday with a 65, appeal against Rohit Sharma. “The three players admitted the out and win a World Cup. Cook needs runs but he’s also was a shot further back in fourth following a round of 70. offences and accepted the sanctions proposed by Jeff Crowe had some great times as an England player. He’s in a Grace bogeyed the long second, but swiftly birdied the third from 25 of the Elite Panel of ICC Match Referees. As such, there was no tough patch at the moment but that’s something he’s feet and picked up another shot at the next. Another dropped shot at the need for a formal hearing,” the ICC said in a statement yester- working hard to get out of.” Cook’s performance during sixth was again swiftly wiped out as the South African holed from 15 feet at day. The match was Australia’s first since the death of England’s 90-run defeat in the sixth one-dayer on Saturday the next. Grace’s approach to the 11th spun back off the green and led to a their former batsman Phillip Hughes, who was typified the form that has led to a growing number of critics bogey, but a birdie from tap-in range at the 14th following a superb pitch struck on the head by a bouncer during a first- question his captaincy and his place in the team.—Reuters kept him four ahead.—AFP class match in Sydney two weeks ago. —Reuters

Vincent Trocheck in action in this file photo. Panthers maul Red Wings NHL results/standings Pittsburgh 3, Calgary 1; Montreal 6, Los Angeles 2; Florida 3, Detroit 2 (SO); Anaheim 4, Edmonton 2.

DETROIT: Vincent Trocheck and Brandon Pirri eighth straight time. Pittsburgh’s last loss to Doughty scored for the Kings, who have lost Western Conference Detroit 17 6 7 91 75 41 had the only shootout goals to lift the Florida Calgary was on Dec. 3, 2005. three of their last four. Back-up goalie Martin Pacific Division Montreal 19 10 2 83 79 40 Panthers to a 3-2 victory over the Detroit Red Johnny Gaudreau had the only goal for the Jones finished with 14 saves. Jones, coming WLOTLGFGAPTS Toronto 169 3958135 Wings on Friday night. Flames, who have lost four in a row. The off shutouts in his previous two starts, gave Anaheim 20 6 5 91 82 45 Florida 12 8 7 61 70 31 Vancouver 18 9 2 88 81 38 Roberto Luongo made 29 saves through Penguins played without defending NHL up three goals on the first eight shots he Boston 15 13 1 74 75 31 overtime and stopped Pavel Datsyuk and scoring champion Sidney Crosby, who also faced. At the other end, Price made save after Calgary 17 12 2 94 83 36 Ottawa 11 12 5 73 79 27 Gustav Nyquist in the tiebreaker to give the will miss Saturday’s game at Columbus while brilliant save until Muzzin finally got the San Jose 16 11 4 88 82 36 Panthers their second victory in two meet- he awaits results from medical tests for an ill- Kings on the scoreboard at 3:35 of the third Los Angeles 15 10 5 79 69 35 Buffalo 11 16 2 52 88 24 ings against the Red Wings this season. ness that caused the right side of his face to period. Arizona 10 16 3 67 95 23 Metropolitan Division Tomas Fleischmann and Jonathan Huberdeau swell. Though there have been more than a Edmonton 7 18 5 65 102 19 Pittsburgh 19 6 3 91 65 41 scored in the first period for the Panthers. dozen cases of mumps around the NHL, DUCKS 4, OILERS 2 Central Division NY Islanders 19 10 0 93 85 38 Riley Sheahan and Nyquist also scored in Crosby doesn’t believe he has that illness. Sami Vatanen and Ryan Getzlaf each had Chicago 20 8 1 91 57 41 Washington 13 10 5 81 77 31 the first for Detroit and Jimmy Howard fin- a goal and an assist as league-leading Nashville 19 7 2 78 55 40 NY Rangers 12 10 4 77 76 28 ished with 24 saves. The Red Wings fell to 1-5 CANADIENS 6, KINGS 2 Anaheim won its sixth straight and ninth in St. Louis 19 8 2 86 68 40 New Jersey 11 14 5 69 87 27 Winnipeg 15 9 6 72 70 36 in shootouts this season. Jiri Sekac scored two goals and Cary Price 11 games. Kyle Palmieri and Nate Philadelphia 10 13 5 74 86 25 Minnesota 15 11 1 77 67 31 stopped 44 shots to help Montreal win its Thompson also scored for the Ducks. Tyler Columbus 11 15 2 67 92 24 Colorado 10 13 6 76 95 26 PENGUINS 3, FLAMES 1 second straight.PK Subban had a goal and Pitlick and Jeff Petry scored for the Oilers, Dallas 10 13 5 81 100 25 Carolina 8 17 3 60 78 19 Blake Comeau and Kris Letang scored early two assists, David Desharnais and Andre who have lost three in a row and 14 of their Eastern Conference Note: Overtime losses (OTL) are worth one point in the first period to lead Pittsburgh past Markov each had a goal and an assist, and last 15. Edmonton also dropped to 1-15-4 Atlantic Division in the standings and are not included in the loss Calgary. Rob Klinkhammer also scored to Sven Andrighetto also scored for Montreal. against Western Conference opponents this Tampa Bay 19 8 3 103 78 41 column (L). help the Penguins beat the Flames for the Defensemen Jake Muzzin and Drew season. —AP Marquez NBA opens floor to social activism LOS ANGELES: When a wave of the playoffs, issued a statement on Monday percent, according to research by defends NBA’s biggest stars donned “I can’t saying he respected the players for Nielsen. That is three times higher than breathe” shirts - the rallying cry of “voicing their personal views on impor- the NFL. James, the Cleveland Cavaliers’ demonstrators against US policing tac- tant issues, but my preference would be MVP forward; Bryant, the Los Angeles tics in black communities - it highlight- for players to abide by our on-court Lakers’ prodigious scorer; and Rose, the move to ed the power and influence wielded by attire rules.” Silver declined to fine play- Chicago Bulls point guard, are also part today’s professional basketball stars. ers for attire violations that are in place of the NBA’s ultra rich. James and Bryant The pre-game actions this week of to ensure exposure for the NBA’s appar- will earn more than $20 million in salary Andorra LeBron James, Kobe Bryant and Derrick el brands. this season while Rose will make $18.9 Rose, observers say, spring from their James, the league’s biggest star, said million. Unlike pay 30 years ago, today’s SPAIN: Spanish MotoGP world champion Marc outsized celebrity, enormous wealth he wore the black shirt with “I can’t larger salaries are enough financial Marquez has defended his decision to move to and shared sense of social activism. breathe” written on it as a message to insurance for most players to withstand Andorra and said he will still pay taxes in Spain Behind the scenes stands a new com- the family of Eric Garner, an African- the loss of endorsement contracts over next year. missioner who has let players mix sports American man who died from a police controversial public gestures or state- “I’m 21 now and I’ve always been living with and social issues so far without conse- chokehold in July. A New York grand ments, says Sports Illustrated media my parents, so like many young people I’ve quence. Adam Silver, who has been on jury’s decision last week not to indict writer Richard Deitsch. decided to create my own space and my own the job as National Basketball the white officer in Garner’s death But the players are also such big home,” the official motogp.com website quoted Association commissioner less than a sparked demonstrations across the stars, Deitsch adds, that it would not the Catalan as saying. “I’ve picked Andorra year, has gained a measure of trust with country. matter. “LeBron James has more lever- because I’ve been there many winters and many the players for his swift decision in April age than every corporation that he times during the year...who knows what will hap- to ban former Los Angeles Clippers ‘NO GRASS, NO COW’ works for,” Deitsch said. James and pen in the future. I pay my taxes in Spain and will owner Donald Sterling for racist Garner’s final words - “I can’t breathe” Bryant have apparel contracts with Nike, still do so next year.” remarks, says Howard Bryant, a colum- - have become a new rallying cry in a which is known as one of the most loyal Andorra, a principality in the eastern Pyrenees nist for ESPN the Magazine. protest movement that started with the companies to its high-profile endorsers. mountains between Spain and France and within Silver, he says, is repaying that trust killing this summer of an 18-year-old The NBA’s main attractions are also easy reach of Marquez’s home town of Cervera, is by letting players take their own social unarmed African-American in Ferguson, well aware of how they fit into the also known for its favourable tax regime towards stand in the workplace - and in front of Missouri, by a white officer. league’s business structure, said John residents. Marquez, the youngest ever MotoGP millions of fans. “There are important issues out Carlos, the Olympic bronze medalist world champion who successfully defended his “He’s aware that the NBA more than there, and for athletes to recognize sprinter and activist who along with title this year, recognised there had been criti- any other league is a players’ league, and they’re citizens as well as entertainers, Tommie Smith protested inequality cism of him in Spain but said some of it had been the players are going to drive it,” he said, and they’ve got a voice that’s legiti- for African-Americans during a medal harsh. adding that individual stars more than mate,” President Barack Obama told ceremony at the 1968 Summer “As a sportsman, you never know how long teams help the league’s popularity. “You ESPN Radio on Friday. A handful of NFL Games in Mexico City. “I’m the grass your career will last,” said the Honda rider. have to trust where they go with it.” players have demonstrated but none the cow has to eat to get the milk,” Britain’s Formula One world champion Lewis Silver, who allowed teams like the with the public stature of James, Bryant Carlos said about a professional ath- Hamilton, who drives for Mercedes, lives in Clippers and Miami Heat to turn their and Rose. The NBA has the largest com- letes’ thinking in today’s multi-billion Monaco and has also been criticised in British warm-up shirts inside-out in protest position of African-American fans, more dollar industry. “If there’s no grass, media for his choice of residence.—Reuters Marc Marquez in action. against Sterling during last season’s than any other U.S. sports league at 45 there’s no cow.”—Reuters p16_Layout 1 12/13/14 10:04 PM Page 1

SUNDAY, DECEMBER 14, 2014 SPORTS Sri Lanka crush England

COLOMBO: Sri Lanka beat England by 90 for England, who needed to win the runs in the sixth one-day international at game to square the series heading into Pallekele yesterday to take an unbeat- Tuesday’s final match in Colombo. “It was able 4-2 lead in their seven-match series. a challenging wicket to bat on,” Sri Lanka Kumar Sangakkara completed his captain Angelo Mathews said. 20th one-day international century to “I thought Sangakkara was amazing help the home team post a healthy total and set the tone for the batsman to play of 292 for seven. at the end. “He and Dilshan set the tone. England could only muster 202 in We still want to win the next game as reply, bowled out in less than 42 overs well and win the series 5-2.” despite a resilient 55 from Joe Root. The England could hardly had made a evergreen Sangakkara blazed 112 off as worse start to their innings when Cook many balls, highlighted by 12 fours and was dismissed lbw for one in the first two sixes, after the 37-year-old was over. By the 18th over, England were in dropped on 41 by England captain deep trouble at 84 for five and although Alastair Cook. Root completed a half-century and The Sri Lankans made a slow start, Woakes chipped in with 41, the tourists scoring just 27 runs off the first 10 overs, never came close to challenging Sri before Sangakkara opened up, putting Lanka’s total as Suranga Lakmal mopped on 153 with Tillakaratne Dilshan for the up the tail to finish with 4 for 30. second wicket. “For the first 20-odd overs we bowled Dilshan made a patient 68 before really well, but it didn’t help me drop- Dinesh Chandimal pushed the total ping Sangakkara,” said Cook. “It was a real towards 300 with a brisk 35 in the closing big catch to drop because we’d built up overs. Chris Woakes, Steven Finn and some good pressure, but credit to Kumar, Chris Jordan captured two wickets each he made us pay today.” —Reuters

SCOREBOARD

KANDY, Sri Lanka: Full scoreboard of the sixth one-day international between Sri Lanka and England in Kandy yesterday:

Sri Lanka innings: M. Ali c Sangakkara b Dilshan 34 J. Taylor b Senanayake 10 M. Jayawardene c Taylor b Woakes 5 ADELAIDE: Australia’s Brad Haddin leaps into the arms of teammate Nathan Lyon as they celebrate after defeating India by 48 run on the final J. Root b Lakmal 55 T. Dilshan c Bopara b Tredwell 68 day of their cricket Test match. —AP K. Sangakkara c Ali b Jordan 112 R. Bopara c Sangakkara b Lakmal 13 S. Prasanna c Morgan b Finn 20 E. Morgan c Sangakkara b Lakmal 0 A. Mathews c Buttler b Finn 1 J. Buttler run out 22 D. Chandimal b Jordan 35 C. Woakes c and b Dilshan 41 T. Perera c Cook b Woakes 16 C. Jordan c Sangakkara b Lakmal 4 Lyon bowls Aussies J. Mendis not out 12 J. Tredwell c Dilshan b Senanayake 19 Extras (lb4, b10, w8, nb1) 23 S. Finn not out 1 Total (for 7 wkts, 50 overs) 292 Extras (lb1, w1) 2 Fall of wickets: 1-8 (Jayawardene), 2-161 (Dilshan), Total (all out; 41.3 overs) 202 to victory over India 3-186 (Prasanna), 4-191 (Mathews), 5-243 Fall of wickets: 1-2 (Cook), 2-36 (Taylor), 3-50 (Ali), (Sangakkara), 6-262 (Perera), 7-292 (Chandimal) 4-84 (Bopara), 5-84 (Morgan), 6-123 (Buttler), 7- Bowling: Finn 9-0-53-2 (w3), Woakes 10-1-51-2 169 (Root), 8-175 (Jordan) 9-193 (Woakes), 10-202 ADELAIDE: Australia beat India by 48 runs in a on the park, but I have to be realistic as well.” threw his wicket away with a rash attempt to (w1) Ali 8-0-46-0 (nb1), Tredwell 10-0-37-1 (w1), (Tredwell) thrilling end to the first Test at Adelaide Oval reach triple figures, trapped lbw by Lyon after Jordan 9-0-68-2 (w3) Bopara 3-0-19-0 Root 1-0-4-0. Bowling: Senanayake 8.3-0-33-3 (w1), Dilshan 10- yesterday, with Nathan Lyon picking up seven NERVOUS NINETIES swiping at the ball. His departure triggered a 0-55-2, Prasanna 8-0-40-0, Lakmal 8-0-30-4, wickets after Virat Kohli scored an inspired cen- Kohli, filling in for Mahendra Singh Dhoni as catastrophic batting collapse as India lost their England innings: Mendis 4-0-22-0, Perera 3-0-21-0. tury for the visitors. India’s captain, almost won the match single- last eight wickets for just 73 runs with Lyon the A. Cook lbw b Senanayake 1 Result: Sri Lanka win by 90 runs. A match that had begun in high emotion handedly for his country. He scored centuries in chief destroyer. after the death last month of Australian batsman both innings and dominated Australia’s bowlers Kohli continued to play a lone hand but once Phillip Hughes ended in high drama after an on a pitch favoring spin. His career-best 141 he mistimed a pull shot and was caught in the absorbing final day in South Australia. came off just 175 deliveries and featured 16 deep, the end came quickly for the visitors. Set 364 to win after Australia declared on fours and one six. He also shared a third wicket “I’m really proud of the way the boys played,” their overnight score of 290-5, India seemed to partnership of 185 with Vjay, who made half- Kohli said. “At no point did we back off. And we be on their way to an unlikely victory after a bril- centuries in each innings but fell agonisingly are not going to back off either. If at any stage liant 141 from Kohli and a gritty 99 from opener short of a deserved hundred. that we had in mind that we might play for a Murali Vijay. But Lyon, a former groundsman at With India seemingly in control at 242-2 after draw, we would have lost by 150 runs, to be hon- Adelaide Oval, turned the match the home tea, Vijay suddenly had an attack of nerves and est.” —Reuters team’s way with his offspinners, as India’s tail col- lapsed and the tourists were bowled out for 315. “This first test is one we will remember and SCOREBOARD cherish for the rest of our careers,” Australia cap- tain Michael Clarke said of the first match since ADELAIDE, Australia: Scoreboard at the close on the final day of the first Test between Australia and India at the death of his good friend. Adelaide Oval yesterday: “He’s in our minds, he always will be. He will Australia 1st innings 517 for 7 declared (S. Smith 162 India 2nd innings be for the rest of my life. “Every test match you not out, D. Warner 145, M. Clarke 128; M. Shami 2-120) M. Vijay lbw b Lyon 99 play for Australia you have a lot to play for but India 1st innings 444 (V. Kohli 115, C. Pujara 73; N. S. Dhawan c Haddin b Johnson 9 obviously this series is even closer to our hearts.” Lyon 5-134) C. Pujara c Haddin b Lyon 21 V. Kohli c Marsh b Lyon 141 Lyon finished with 7-152, giving him 12 wick- Australia 2nd innings (overnight 290 for 5) A. Rahane c Rogers b Lyon 0 ets for the match, a career-best, and handing the C. Rogers c R. Sharma b K. Sharma 21 R. Sharma c Warner b Lyon 6 Australians the early advantage in the four- D. Warner b K. Sharma 102 W. Saha b Lyon 13 match series which resumes in Brisbane next S. Watson b Shami 33 K. Sharma not out 4 week. Clarke will miss the rest of the series after M. Clarke c Saha b Aaron 7 M. Shami c Johnson b Harris 5 injuring a hamstring while fielding on Saturday, S. Smith not out 52 V. Aaron lbw b Johnson 1 the latest in a series of back and leg problems M. Marsh c Vijay b R. Sharma 40 I. Sharma stpd Haddin b Lyon 1 B. Haddin not out 14 Extras (b5, lb8, w2) 15 that have hampered the Australian skipper. Total (all out; 87.1 overs) 315 Extras (b1, lb6, w5, nb9) 21 The 33-year-old hopes he can recover in time Fall of wickets: 1-16 (Dhawan), 2-57 (Pujara), 3-242 to play in the World Cup, which Australia is co- Total (5 wickets dec; 69 overs) 290 (Vijay), 4-242 (Rahane), 5-277 (R. Sharma), 6-299 (Saha), hosting early next year, but his recurring prob- Fall of wickets: 1-38 (Rogers), 2-140 (Watson), 3-168 7-304 (Kohli), 8-309 (Shami), 9-314 (Aaron), 10-315 lems have caused him, to ponder his future. (Clarke), 4-213 (Warner), 5-266 (Marsh) Bowling: Shami (I.Sharma) Bowling: Johnson 16-2-45-2 (2w), Harris 19- 11-2-42-1, I. Sharma 14-3-41-0 (6nb), K. Sharma 16-2-95- 6-49-1, Lyon 34.1-5-152-7, Siddle 9-3-21-0, Watson 2-0- “There’s a chance I may never play again,” 6-0, Smith 3-0-18-0, Marsh 4-1-11-0 Clarke said. “I hope that’s not the case and I’ll be 2, Vijay 6-0-27-0, R. Sharma 12-2-35-1, Aaron 10-0-43-1 (1w, 2nb) Result: Australia won by 48 runs doing everything in my power to get back out Holmner delights Swedish fans

ARE: Maria Pietilae-Holmner achieved what had and 18 World Cup slalom wins in their careers, World Cup overall top 20. previously eluded the greatest Swedish women’s never managed to clinch victory in the discipline Are will host the 2019 world championships skiers when she won a World Cup slalom on on home snow. Paerson had to be content with and Pietilae-Holmner said she was planning to home snow yesterday. a slalom bronze medal at the Are world champi- be there. Maze leads the overall World Cup The 28-year-old local favourite narrowly beat onships in 2007. standings on 560 points, which is more than World Cup leader Tina Maze of Slovenia for only “It’s amazing. It was my dream to win again, her total after nine races in the 2013 season her third career victory in a combined time of especially once here on home soil as it never when she won with a record total of 2,414. “I one minute 43.65 seconds. happened so far,” said Pietilae-Holmner, whose don’t spend all day thinking about the record Maze was 0.08 seconds adrift and Sweden last victory came nearly four years ago in a city of two years ago. But it would be nice to beat placed a second skier on the podium with Frida event in Munich. Her win reflected the strength my own record. I’m going to focus on that. My Hansdotter, 0.32 behind her compatriot. Skiing of Swedish women’s skiing, with youngster Sara goal this season is clearly the big globe,” Maze greats Pernilla Wiberg and Anja Paerson, with 14 Hector, Hansdotter and Kajsa Kling also in the said. —Reuters

COLOMBO: Sri Lankan captain Angelo Mathews pulls out a stump after defeating England by 90 runs, as James Tredwell walks back to the pavilion at the end of the sixth one day international cricket match. —AP Injury-hit Pakisan recall Shah, Ali for one-days

SHARJAH: Pakistan yesterdayrecalled Shah took 27 wickets in the five Tests leg-spinner Yasir Shah and all-rounder which Pakistan played-two against Awar Ali for the three remaining one-day Australia and three against New Zealand- internationals against New Zealand as since October this year. The 28-year-old they continued to sweat over skipper has played a single one-day internation- Misbah-ul Haq’s injury. al, against Zimbabwe in Harare in Pakistan went down by four wickets in September 2011. “Despite fitness issues the second one-day in Sharjah on Friday, dogging many key players, it still remains a game in which Misbah hurt his ham- a pretty strong side. And I am positive string leaving him doubtful for the third that it would perform to its potential in game, also in Sharjah today. the three remaining ODI games,” said Fast bowlers Umar Gul (ankle) and Khan. The fourth and fifth matches will Bilawal Bhatti (hand injury) were also be played in Abu Dhabi on Wednesday sidelined and are returning home. Chief and Friday. The series is currently tied at selector Moin Khan said Misbah had 1-1, with Pakistan winning the first undergone a MRI on his injury. match by three wickets in Dubai. “Misbah has gone through an MRI One-day squad: Misbah-ul-Haq (cap- scan on his hamstring injury and has tain, Ahmed Shehzad, Anwar Ali, Asad been retained until his medical report Shafiq, Mohammad Hafeez, Haris Sohail, comes,” said Khan. “Gul and Bhatti have Mohammad Irfan, Nasir Jamshed, Sarfraz been dropped owing to fitness issues, Ahmad, Shahid Afridi, Sohail Tanvir, Umar while all-rounder Ali and leg-spinner Akmal, Wahab Riaz, Yasir Shah, Younis Shah have been included”, said Khan. Khan, Zulfiqar Babar. —AFP ARE: Maria Pietilae-Holmner of Sweden competes her way victory during the alpine ski women’s World Cup slalom. —AP p17 2_Layout 1 12/13/14 10:23 PM Page 1

SUNDAY, DECEMBER 14, 2014 SPORTS Pakistan defeat India, meet Germany in final BHUBANESWAR: Pakistan edged out hosts Pakistani players hugged each other, took India 4-3 in a thrilling semi-final yesterday off their shirts and waved them towards to set up a Champions Trophy field hockey disappointed spectators in the stand. title clash against Olympic gold medallists Shahnaz later walked out of the post- Germany in Bhubaneswar. match press conference without answering Arslan Qadir was Pakistan’s hero, scoring questions after an Indian reporter ques- his team’s first goal and also netting the tioned his players’ behavior after the game. winner 90 seconds from the end to silence The Germans, playing with seven junior a partisan 7,000-strong Indian crowd at the World Cup winners of 2013, stunned the Kalinga stadium. Kookaburras with two goals by the ninth The victory enabled coach Shahnaz minute through Timur Oruz and Mats Sheikh’s men to avenge the loss to their Grambusch. arch-rivals in the Asian Games final in They went up 3-0 immediately after South Korea in October that denied them a half-time when Florian Fuchs took advan- direct entry to the 2016 Olympics. tage of a goalmouth scramble and scooped The final today will be Pakistan’s first bid the ball past Australian goalkeeper Andrew for a major world title since losing to the Charter. Netherlands in the Champions Trophy final Australia hit back in the 34th minute as in Lahore in 1998. Chris Ciriello banged in a penalty corner to Germany quashed Australia’s bid to win net his fourth goal in the tournament. a sixth successive title by ousting the world Nicholas Budgeon narrowed the margin champions 3-2 in Saturday’s first semi-final. further in the 42nd by scoring off a penalty India took an early lead in the 12th corner rebound. minute when Gurjinder Singh converted Australia, who lost to Germany 4-2 the the team’s first penalty corner with a drag last time they met in the semi-finals of the flick. Pakistan drew level four minutes later 2012 London Olympics, failed to equalise as Qadir deflected in a pass from the right despite benching the goalkeeper to soon after Gurbaj Singh was shown the yel- accommodate an extra striker. It will be low card to reduce India to 10 men. Germany’s first Champions Trophy final Muhammad Waqas seized on an open- since 2009 when they were beaten by hosts PHOENIX: Suns’ Eric Bledsoe (left) gets fouled as he goes up for a shot against Detroit Pistons’ Andre Drummond (0) during the second half of ing by Qadir to put Pakistan ahead in the Australia 5-3 in Melbourne. an NBA basketball game. —AP 32nd minute, but India ended the third German coach Markus Weise said he quarter on level terms at 2-2 when was happy-and also relieved-that his young Dharamvir Singh reverse hit a pass from side had reached the final after a poor Akashdeep Singh. A goal from either side sixth-place finish at the World Cup in June. Pistons win, Knicks roll in the fourth quarter made it 3-3 with eight “It is a very good thing to happen to the minutes remaining and a swift counter- boys, they have proved themselves against attack from Pakistan saw Qadir push in the best,” Weise said. “We were lucky to be PHOENIX: The Detroit Pistons ended a 13-game LAKERS 112, SPURS 110 Kevin Durant added 16 as he and Westbrook from close range past Indian goalkeeper 3-0 ahead because the second-half losing streak as Andre Drummond had 23 points Nick Young scored 29 points, including a go- played the second night of back-to-back games Parattu Sreejesh. belonged entirely to Australia. I am glad and 14 rebounds in a win over the Phoenix Suns. ahead 3-pointer with 7.4 seconds left in over- for the first time since returning to the Thunder As the final hooter sounded, excited the boys fought it out till the end.” —AFP Kentavious Caldwell-Pope hit a fadeaway 3- time, Kobe Bryant had 22 points and the Los lineup. Andrew Wiggins and Shabazz pointer with 1:13 to play to break a tie at 97, and Angeles Lakers overcame a shaky ending to beat Muhammad each scored 18 points for the Pistons held on. Goran Dragic had 18 points San Antonio. Minnesota. for the Suns, who lost their fourth in a row. Tim Duncan had 19 points and 18 rebounds for San Antonio, which had its six-game home WIZARDS 104, CLIPPERS 96 KNICKS 101, CELTICS 95 winning streak snapped. John Wall outplayed Chris Paul in their first Carmelo Anthony scored 22 points, Amare meeting of the season and the Washington Stoudemire had 20 and the New York Knicks HEAT 100, JAZZ 95 Wizards snapped the Los Angeles Clippers’ nine- snapped a 10-game losing streak by beating the Dwayne Wade scored a season-high 29 game winning streak. Boston Celtics. points, including three free throws in the final 9 Wall controlled the game with 10 points and Tim Hardaway Jr. added 16 points and Jason seconds, to help the Miami Heat beat the Utah 11 assists while Paul struggled with a season- Smith 12 as New York ended its longest losing Jazz. Chris Bosh had 22 points and Luol Deng high six turnovers. Bradley Beal scored a season- streak since the 2005-06 team dropped 10 added 14 for the Heat, who closed a five-game high 29 points for the Wizards. Paul made some straight from Jan. 28-Feb. 13. road swing on a winning note after losing five of late baskets to finish with 19 points, seven It was just the Knicks’ second road win of the their previous six. Enes Kanter scored 25 points, rebounds and six assists. season. They won their first, beating LeBron Gordon Hayward had 18 and Alec Burks 16 for James and the Cavaliers in his return to Utah, which has lost 10 of its last 11. NETS 88, 76ERS 70 Cleveland before losing the next 11. Jeff Green Mason Plumlee scored a season-high 18 had 28 points and Tyler Zeller 19 for the Celtics, GRIZZLIES 113, HORNETS 107 points and had 10 rebounds, and the Brooklyn who lost their third straight. MEMPHIS, Tenn. (AP) - Mike Conley scored six Nets broke open a close game in the fourth of his 19 points in the second overtime, and the quarter to beat Philadelphia. PELCIANS 119, CAVALIERS 114 Memphis Grizzlies beat the Charlotte Hornets. Robert Covington had 20 points for the 76ers, Tyreke Evans 31 points and 10 assists, Ryan Zach Randolph had 20 points and Marc Gasol an NBA-worst 2-20. Michael Carter-Williams Anderson tied a career high with eight 3-point- also scored 19 for the Grizzlies, who got a tying added 14 points and nine assists. INDIA: Pakistan hockey player Rizwan Jr. Muhammad (right) vies with India’s ers on his way to 30 points, and the New Orleans 3-pointer from Vince Carter with 4.5 seconds left Thimmaiah Chandanda (left) during the Hero Hockey Champions Trophy 2014 semi Pelicans overcame the loss of Anthony Davis to in the first overtime. RAPTORS 106, PACERS 94 final match. —AP beat LeBron James and the Cleveland Cavaliers. The Grizzlies won for the sixth time in the Jonas Valanciunas had 10 points and 14 Davis left in the first quarter after taking an past seven games against the Hornets, who got rebounds, Lou Williams scored 26 and the elbow to chest while jostling for position during 28 points from Kemba Walker and 25 from Gary Toronto Raptors handed Indiana its seventh a free throw by Kevin Love. Neal. straight loss. Chinese boat James, returning from a one-game absence James Johnson had 13 points, Patrick because of a sore knee, scored 41 points, while THUNDER 111, TIMBERWOLVES 92 Patterson 11 and Grevis Vasquez scored seven of Love added 21 points. Kyrie Irving played one Russell Westbrook scored 20 of his 34 points his 10 in the fourth quarter for the Raptors. sprint to the line night after hurting his left knee in a collision in the first half and the Oklahoma City Thunder Solomon Hill scored 16 for the Pacers, whose with Oklahoma City guard Russell Westbrook, beat the Minnesota Timberwolves for their fifth seven-game losing streak is their longest since ABU DHABI: Chinese boat Dongfeng why. We’re a bit disappointed because but struggled early. He missed his first nine straight victory. an eight-game skid from Dec. 18-30, 2009. —AP shots and did not score any of his 17 points until Race Team were pipped to victory for we did a good job to pass them, but the fourth quarter, when Cleveland trailed by as NBA results/standings the second time running as Team Brunel they keep passing us. You have to do many as 19. snatched the second leg of the Volvo well, but you also have to be fast. If Ocean Race yesterday. Dongfeng lost you’re not fast, it’s difficult to win a leg,” Chicago 115, Portland 106; Washington 104, LA Clippers 96; Atlanta 87, Orlando 81; NY Knicks 101, Boston 95; BULLS 115, TRAIL BLAZERS 106 Brooklyn 88, Philadelphia 70; Toronto 106, Indiana 94; Memphis 113, Charlotte 107 (OT); Oklahoma City 111, out to Abu Dhabi Ocean Racing in the he said. Bekking, in contrast, could not Derrick Rose scored a season-high 31 points first leg from Alicante, Spain to Cape wipe the smile off his face as he cruised Minnesota 92; New Orleans 119, Cleveland 114; Detroit 105, Phoenix 103; Miami 100, Utah 95; LA Lakers 112, San and the Chicago Bulls beat the Portland Trail Antonio 110 (OT). Town by 12 minutes after nearly a from the finish line to the dock. His team Blazers. Rose, who tore the meniscus in his right month’s racing. are locked with Abu Dhabi Ocean Racing knee against the Blazers last season, scored over Eastern Conference Western Conference This time they were denied in the leg and Dongfeng on four points after two 30 for the first time since March 12, 2012. He Atlantic Division Northwest Division W L PCT GB from South Africa to the UAE by 16 min- stages but are ranked top because of shot 14 of 24. Portland 17 6 .739 - Toronto 17 6 .739 - Denver 10 12 .455 6.5 utes by the Dutch team led by 51-year- winning the most recent leg. Chicago broke a seven-game losing streak to Brooklyn 9 12 .429 7 old Bouwe Bekking, who is competing in “It is a good feeling,” he told reporters. Portland. LaMarcus Aldridge scored 21 of his 35 Oklahoma City 10 13 .435 7 Boston 7 14 .333 9 Utah 6 17 .261 11 a record-equalling seventh race. “I’ve always said, it’s better to be lucky points in the first quarter, his 10 field goals in NY Knicks 5 20 .200 13 the period matching a Portland record set by Minnesota 5 17 .227 11.5 The key moment came five hours than good but we’ve been good this leg as Philadelphia 2 20 .091 14.5 Pacific Division Darius Miles in 2005. Damian Lillard also had 35 Central Division from the finish at around 0330 GMT, well so it’s so nice to win this one because Golden State 19 2 .905 - for the Trail Blazers. Chicago 14 8 .636 - when Bekking’s crew passed Dongfeng it could have been an easy leg to finish LA Clippers 16 6 .727 3.5 Cleveland 13 9 .591 1 with a masterly manoeuvre, although last. The team did a fantastic job, we Phoenix 12 12 .500 8.5 HAWKS 87, MAGIC 81 Milwaukee 11 12 .478 3.5 the boats were in similar winds, sailing sailed the boat much better than in the Sacramento 11 12 .478 9 Paul Millsap scored 23 points, Al Horford Indiana 7 16 .304 7.5 just a few hundred metres apart. first leg.” Bekking has never won the 41- LA Lakers 7 16 .304 13 added 17 and the Atlanta Hawks won their ninth Detroit 4 19 .174 10.5 Dongfeng Race Team’s French skipper year-old race and it remains a lifetime Southwest Division straight game, beating the Orlando Magic. Southeast Division Charles Caudrelier could not conceal his ambition for him. Most professional off- Atlanta 16 6 .727 - Memphis 18 4 .818 - The winning streak is Atlanta’s longest since it Houston 17 5 .773 1 disappointment in a pre-finish call to shore sailors do not race past their 50th opened the 1997-98 season with 11 victories in a Washington 16 6 .727 - Miami 11 12 .478 5.5 Dallas 17 7 .708 2 www.volvooceanrace.com. birthday but the Dutchman is known in row. Michael Oladipo scored 21 points and Evan “Brunel have been much faster than the sport as one of the toughest and Orlando 9 16 .360 8.5 San Antonio 16 7 .696 2.5 Fournier added 18 for Orlando, which has lost Charlotte 6 16 .273 10 New Orleans 11 11 .500 7 us since a few days and we don’t know fittest in the business. —Reuters four of six. Scott in three-way tie Feng dominates in Dubai SYDNEY: Adam Scott fired a three- the wind is a down a little and there under-par 69 to join Wade Ormsby and could be a few birdies up for grabs out DUBAI: China’s world number five round two-under par 70 to finish on better than Germany’s Caroline who has won this tournament twice, Scott Strange in a three-way tie for the there.” The world number three will go Feng Shanshan, the highest ranked 19-under par 269 for the four days. Masson, who shot the day’s best and that is Annika Sorenstam and me. lead after the third round of the into the final day as a heavy favourite to player in the field, completed a domi- That tally was two shots shy of the round of five-under par 67 to climb up Any time you are on any list along Australian PGA Championship yester- claim his sixth title on the Australasian nant wire-to-wire victory at the record winning total of 21-under par to third place. with Annika, you know you have done day. PGA Tour. 500,000 euros Ladies European in 2012, but good enough for a mas- England’s Charley Hull wrapped up pretty good,” said Feng. “I did not have Scott started the day two shots “Whether it’s here or any other tour- Masters — her second win in the sive five-shot winning margin. the Order of Merit crown, just one year much pressure on me today as I was behind Ormsby and Strange but made nament that you win... I’ve got lots of European Tour’s season-ending cham- Spain’s Carlota Ciganda, who won after she won the Rookie of the Year five shots ahead, so I just set myself a up the ground after his two playing experience to go off over my whole pionship in three years. the Order of Merit crown in 2012, award. The 18-year-old became the target of 22-under. partners shot 71. American Boo career,” Scott said. The 25-year-old Feng, winner of made a spectacular up-and-down youngest winner of the most presti- “I thought I would beat my own the 2012 LPGA Championship and from the back bunker of the 18th hole gious title in the LET, which also gives record, and that it would be a total Weekley, who led after the first round, “I’ve been in this position a lot. It’s here in the same year, shot a final- to finish second at 14-under par, one her the bragging rights of being called that would be difficult for anybody kept himself in the hunt with a 69 that worked out a lot of time and it hasn’t the European number one for the sea- else in the field to catch. It did not featured a chip-in for eagle on the par- others so I’ll try and do all the things I son. happen, but I am very happy still.” five 12th. can to kind of give myself the advan- Hull shot an even-par 72 on Hull, who needed to recover from a Weekley finished the day at a com- tage.” The 34-year-old Scott trailed Saturday to finish tied for fifth at 10- poor start to the day when she made bined nine-under, one behind the lead- Strange by a stroke with two holes to under par, while her closest competi- a double bogey on the tough par-4 ing trio, and tied for fourth with play but got back on level terms when tor, France’s Gwladys Nocera, who opening hole of the Majlis course, was Australia’s Jason Scrivener, who signed the leader bogeyed the 17th. needed to be inside the top-four to delighted to follow her Rookie of the for a 68. Ormsby slipped two shots behind have a chance of overtaking her, was Year title with the European number New Zealand’s Michael Hendry when he bogeyed the ninth and 11th tied 11th in the end at 280. one spot. climbed to outright sixth place, at eight holes but pulled one back with a birdie Wales’ Amy Boulden (285) won the “Yeah, that’s good. I think I wanted under, after shooting a 67, the best on the 12th then drained a long birdie Rookie of the Year title when she fin- to do that because you only got one round of the day. Scott, defending the on the last to rejoin the lead. ished ahead of Scotland’s Sally Watson chance to do that. I am happy,” she title he won last year at the Royal Pines Ormsby and Scott played together as (291), while Nicole Broch Larsen of said. “The win in Morocco (her only Denmark (278) could only manage a professional win earlier this year) is Resort on the Gold Coast near where he juniors and remain good friends with tied fifth place instead of solo second. definitely bigger, but winning the was raised, had four birdies and one the pair staying at the world number Order of Merit is a pretty good thing bogey in his round but was unhappy three’s Gold Coast home during the FENG VERY HAPPY as well. “I didn’t really think about it with his putting. “The winner ends up tournament. Feng, whose 70 on Saturday was coming into this week. Just on the making putts, so I need to make a few,” “He’s been a good host,” Ormsby said. her worst round of the tournament, back nine today, and then I told myself he told reporters. “I’ll just try and play as good a golf as I DUBAI: Shanshan Feng of China receives the trophy from Maryam made two bogeys on the back nine ‘don’t make any silly mistakes’.” World “It was tough today to go super-low can and I think hopefully I’ll be some- Mohammed Khalfan Alroomi, UAE minister of Social Affairs (center) against four birdies overall. number 12 Anna Nordqvist of Sweden with the tricky conditions but hopefully where at the end.” —Reuters after she wins the Omega Dubai Ladies Masters. —AP “I was told there is only one player shot a 70 to finish fourth at 276. —AFP SUNDAY, DECEMBER 14, 2014 SPORTS Davies relishes Swansea reunion

SWANSEA: Ben Davies admits he will have “We want to respond from the West Ham to keep his emotions in check when he game and try to get another win. Our away makes his first return to Swansea as form isn’t the best right now, so we are Tottenham visit the Liberty Stadium today. picking up most of our points at home. Davies joined Spurs during the close “That is important because before the New season for a fee of around £10 million ($15 Year I think we need as many points as pos- million) and is finally establishing himself in sible.” —AFP the side after a slow start to his career at White Hart Lane. The left-back knows it will be a shock going back to the club where he started his Matches on TV career, but with Tottenham lying 10th in (Local Timings) the Premier League, two places behind Swansea and six points adrift of the English Premier League Champions League, he is well aware there Man United v Liverpool 16:30 will be no place for sentiment. “I’d been at Swansea all my life before beIN SPORTS 1 HD moving to Spurs so it’s the first time I’ve beIN SPORTS 11 HD been in this situation but it’s something I’m Swansea v Tottenham 19:00 excited about,” Davies said. beIN SPORTS 1 HD “I’ve not over-thought about it, but I am beIN SPORTS 11 HD excited. I know a lot of people there and it will be a bit surreal. It’s a big day. “You have Spanish League to take the sentiment out of it. It’s an Espanyol v Granada 14:00 important game for us and we’d love to get beIN SPORTS 2 HD the win. Swansea are playing well but we’ll be looking at areas we can exploit. “It will Sevilla v SD Eibar 19:00 be tough but we’ve played well on the road beIN SPORTS 6 HD and hopefully that will continue. We’ll give Atletico v Villarreal 21:00 it our best shot.” beIN SPORTS 2 HD MADRID: Getafe’s Alexis (right) duels for the ball with Barcelona’s Lionel Messi during a Spanish La Liga soccer match between Getafe and ADEBAYOR ABSENT AGAIN Sociedad v Bilbao 23:00 Barcelona, at the Coliseum Alfonso Perez stadium. —AP Tottenham’s Kyle Walker could start at beIN SPORTS 6 HD right-back after continuing his return from a nine-month injury lay-off in the 1-0 Italian League Barca slip up in title race Europa League defeat to Besiktas on Juventus v Sampdoria 14:30 Thursday. “I still feel a little rusty in my decision beIN SPORTS 3 HD MADRID: Barcelona’s La Liga title hopes suffered who was absent through an ankle injury, and round the post by Claudio Bravo at full stretch. making but that will come with time,” beIN SPORTS 2 HD a blow as they fell four points behind leaders notably lacked a cutting edge in the final third as Barcelona came out for the second half with Walker said. “I’ve played 67 minutes, 90 and Parma v Cagliari 17:00 Real Madrid after being held to a disappointing they were frustrated by the home side’s defence, more attacking intent, and went close to open- now 75 for the first team so by the next beIN SPORTS 7 HD 0-0 draw at Getafe yesterday. who were able to limit the Blaugrana to few ing the scoring after Messi, who had been game, if selected, I’ll be sharp and fully fit. beIN SPORTS 2 HD In a bitty first half at the Coliseum Alfonso clear-cut chances. brought down by Emiliano Velazquez on the “Everything feels perfect and I’m ready to Udinese v Verona 17:00 Perez the visitors were indebted to goalkeeper The Catalan outfit saw a couple of long-range edge of the box, saw a free-kick clatter the cross- go again for today.” Spurs will again be beIN SPORTS 6 HD Claudio Bravo, who kept his side on level terms efforts fly over from Luis Suarez and Ivan Rakitic, bar before Suarez fired wildly over from distance. without striker Emmanuel Adebayor who Genoa v AS Roma 17:00 with a top-drawer save from an Angel Lafita before Messi forced a block from Guaita in the Guaita then kept out another Messi effort as effort. home side’s goal after combining well with the the pressure grew, with Xavi volleying just wide has returned to Togo to deal with a family beIN SPORTS 3 HD problem. Barca improved after the break and piled on Croatia international as they sought to make the and Messi heading over when well positioned. Cesena v Fiorentina 20:00 Meanwhile, Swansea manager Garry the pressure, yet were unable to find a way past breakthrough. Guaita could then only punch a However, despite the introduction of Andres Monk expects his side to deliver a positive beIN SPORTS 3 HD Vicente Guaita with Lionel Messi striking the bar cross as far as Pedro Rodriguez on the edge of Iniesta and Munir El Haddadi, they couldn’t find response following last Sunday’s 3-1 defeat AC Milan v Napoli 22:45 from a free-kick and some resolute defending the box, but the Spain international’s mishit the breakthrough as Getafe held on bravely for a at West Ham. beIN SPORTS 3 HD from the Getafe back line. “The draw isn’t a great effort was turned just wide by Suarez, who is still point. That loss was marked by the dismissal of result, but the side came into the game with a looking for his first Liga goal. On Friday, two late Cristiano Ronaldo goals keeper Lukasz Fabianski and with the Pole German League positive dynamic and we have to carry on that Both sides then felt aggrieved not to be helped Real Madrid make it 20 consecutive vic- suspended, Gerhard Tremmel will come in Bayer v Monchengladbach 17:30 way. There’s still a long way to go in the league, awarded a penalty within a minute of each other tories in all competitions as they saw off Almeria for his first league start of the season. beIN SPORTS 4 HD but admittedly it’s a step backwards,” said as firstly Juan Valera appeared to handle the ball 4-1 at the Estadio de los Juegos Mediterraneos. Barcelona captain Xavi Hernandez. while on the ground as Messi looked to dribble First-half goals from Isco and Gareth Bale “You have to be patient. It’s easier to Wolfsburg v Paderborn 19:30 train hard and play than it is to train hard “It is a game we can normally get a result in, past him, before in the next attack Lafita’s cross either side of Verza’s stunning equaliser sent beIN SPORTS 4 HD and not play,” Tremmel said. “But I’m at the but we couldn’t make the breakthrough. struck Dani Alves on the arm. the visitors in ahead at half-time, but they stage of my career where I’ve seen many Defensively they were really strong, we had four Referee Inaki Vicandi Garrido was unmoved needed a big save from captain Iker Casillas things and been in far worse situations, so I French League chances and couldn’t take any of them. on both occasions. As the half wore on Getafe when he parried Verza’s penalty on the hour know how to deal with it.” Nice v Saint Etienne 16:00 “We’ve got a lot of goals in attack, but today took the initiative, and the home side were mark. Ronaldo then sealed the win when he Tremmel believes Swansea can take beIN SPORTS 5 HD it just wouldn’t go in for us.” In a match played unlucky to not go into the break leading after turned home crosses from Karim Benzema and advantage of Spurs’ inconsistent start to Lille v Toulouse 19:00 out in unforgiving conditions, Barcelona desper- Lafita beat Alves and Pique on the edge of the Dani Carvajal to take his La Liga tally to 25 the season and he added: “Looking at beIN SPORTS 7 HD ately missed the attacking presence of Neymar, box, only to see a rasping drive somehow tipped goals this season. —AFP Sunday’s game, Tottenham are under pres- Guingamp v PSG 19:00 sure. beIN SPORTS 5 HD “I think they were looking to be in the Monaco v Marseille 23:00 top five of the table but have obviously had Bayern thrash a lot of changes in both staff and players. beIN SPORTS 5 HD Augsburg

BERLIN: Bayern Munich underlined their status as Preview Bundesliga champions-in-waiting as yesterday’s 4-0 thrash- ing of Augsburg moved them 10 points clear at the top of the German league. With second-placed Wolfsburg playing United and Liverpool Paderborn on Sunday, Bayern seized the chance to extend their lead at third-placed Augsburg and remain on course for a third straight title. reclaim centre-stage Bayern, who started with Thomas Mueller and Mario Goetze on the bench, can further hammer home their LONDON: Manchester United and superiority later this week when they host Freiburg on Liverpool will remind themselves what top Tuesday before travelling to face Mainz on Friday in their billing in the Premier League feels like last league match of 2014. when they lock horns for the 191st time at “I am very, very proud, because I know how hard it is to Old Trafford today. win at Augsburg,” said Bayern coach Pep Guardiola. “We Chelsea and Manchester City seem des- were much more aggressive and combined quicker in the tined to duke it out for this season’s title, second-half. but contests between United and Liverpool often serve to show why it is their rivalry “Once again, I am surprised by the mentality of these that remains the most enduring in English players, who have already won everything, but they always football. United’s run of five consecutive just want to win, win, win.”We have two more games now wins has seen them climb to third place in this week which we’ll try to win.”After a goalless first-half, the table, eight points behind league lead- Bayern burst into life after the interval as Arjen Robben ers Chelsea and five points below defend- netted twice while Medhi Benatia and Robert ing champions City. Lewandowski were also on target. But although Liverpool are seven points Centre-back Benatia headed his first Bayern goal on 58 back in ninth place, United manager Louis minutes, then Robben slotted his ninth in all competitions van Gaal is aware that his side’s recent just two minutes later when he hit the top left-hand corner. momentum could collapse swiftly if they Poland striker Lewandowski claimed their third when he do not approach Sunday’s game correctly. LONDON: Manchester United’s Dutch fired home a final pass from captain Bastian “I dream for Manchester City’s place or manager Louis van Gaal (right). —AP Schweinsteiger on 68 minutes. Chelsea’s place,” the Dutchman told MUTV. attitude changes. The only way you can do Robben added the fourth three minutes later as “Now we have to live match for match that is by winning games and performing Augsburg’s defence capitulated. Despite qualifying for the and that is the most important thing. We well and that is our attitude to move for- Champions League’s last 16, Borussia Dortmund dropped have to beat Liverpool, which is more ward for the rest of the season.” back into the relegation places after slumping to a 1-0 important than thinking about City or The injury problems that have bedev- defeat at Hertha Berlin. Chelsea.”He added: “Of course I am aware illed United since the start of the season are Dortmund’s ninth defeat in 15 league games-the most of the rivalry. Even on the (pre-season) tour finally clearing, with Angel di Maria, Daley in Germany’s top flight-saw them drop to 16th from 14th of the United States, all my staff were say- Blind, Luke Shaw and Chris Smalling the having started December at the bottom. To rub salt into ing that to me. “We have a cook whose only confirmed absentees for Sunday’s the wounds, Julian Schieber scored the first-half winner name is Mike and when I don’t know about match. Defenders Phil Jones and Rafael da against his old club. anything to do with United and rival clubs, Silva are both in contention to start after Dortmund coach Jurgen Klopp swapped attacking mid- he shall say it! He’s a big United fan and I two months on the sidelines with, respec- fielder Heinrikh Mkhitaryan for Poland’s Jakob hear immediately from him.” tively, shin and groin problems. Blaszczkowski with 35 minutes gone, but the move back- Liverpool completed a home-and-away Robin van Persie, meanwhile, will be fired. double on their last visit to Old Trafford in gunning for his fourth goal in four games Blaszczkowski lost possession in midfield, Norway’s Per March, sweeping to a one-sided 3-0 win in after netting twice at Southampton. Skjelbred pounced on the loose ball and fed Berlin striker which Steven Gerrard scored two penalties Rodgers has also received good news on Schieber, who fired home on 40 minutes. and saw a third come back off the post. the injury front after Mario Balotelli Only Hanover 96’s 3-3 draw at Werder Bremen prevent- But it is United who are on the up now, returned to training. The Italy striker has ed Dortmund dropping to second from bottom. Spanish with Monday’s slipshod 2-1 win at not played since November 8 due to a striker Joselu scored twice for Hanover to claim four goals Southampton leaving them six points and groin injury that he sustained on interna- in his last three league games. six places better off than at this stage last tional duty. Midfielder Adam Lallana is also Having scraped into the Champions League’s last 16 season, when David Moyes was manager. expected to be named in the match-day with a 1-0 win at Slovenia’s Maribor on Wednesday, Schalke squad despite having broken two ribs a 04 slumped to a 2-1 defeat at home to Cologne. BALOTELLI BACK? week ago, while centre-back Kolo Toure Nigeria striker Anthony Ujah scored his fourth goal in Liverpool are nine points and seven could feature after missing the Basel game five league games just after the break before midfielder places worse off than they were this time with a groin problem. Matthias Lehmann netted a penalty. last year, and go into the game having Former United captain Gary Neville Teenage replacement Leroy Sane scored his first goal for been eliminated from the Champions joked that Sunday’s game would be akin to Schalke by way of consolation on only the 18-year-old’s League following a 1-1 draw against Swiss a pub league fixture after watching his old fourth league appearance as Schalke dropped to sixth. champions Basel at a mournful Anfield on side edge Southampton despite mustering Hamburg were held to a goalless draw at Freiburg with Tuesday. “All you can do is affect what is only three attempts on goal. both teams just above the bottom three. happening inside your club and on the But with United scenting blood, Old Today, fourth-placed Bayer Leverkusen host Borussia training ground and work even harder to Trafford sold out, and a guaranteed global Moenchengladbach with Lucien Favre’s side just one place turn it around,” Liverpool manager Brendan television audience of millions, it promises behind in the league table. Rodgers told his pre-match press confer- to crackle with all the electricity of previous On Friday, Hoffenheim enoyed a 3-2 win at Eintracht GERMANY: Augsburg’s Nikola Djurdjic from Serbia (foreground) and Bayern’s Mehdi ence. “If we can do that, then of course the encounters.—AFP Frankfurt to stay seventh and just outside the European Benatia from Morocco challenge for the ball during the German First Division places for next season. —AFP Bundesliga soccer match. —AP SUNDAY, DECEMBER 14, 2014 SPORTS

EPL results/standings

Arsenal 4 (Giroud 15, 58, Cazorla 54, 88-pen) Newcastle 1 (Perez 63); Burnley 1 (Barnes 73) Southampton 0; Chelsea 2 (Hazard 7, Costa 68) Hull 0; Crystal Palace 1 (McArthur 11) Stoke 1 (Crouch 13); Leicester 0 Manchester City 1 (Lampard 40); Sunderland 1 (Gomez 22-pen) West Ham 1 (Downing 29); West Brom 1 (Gardner 72) Aston Villa 0.

Playing today Manchester Utd v Liverpool, Swansea v Tottenham

Playing tomorrow Everton v QPR

English Premier League table after yesterday’s matches (played, won, drawn, lost, goals for, goals against, points):

Chelsea 16 12 3 1 36 13 39 Stoke 16 5 4 7 18 21 19 Man City 16 11 3 2 33 14 36 Aston Villa 16 5 4 7 10 20 19 Man Utd 15 8 4 3 26 17 28 Everton 15 4 6 5 24 23 18 West Ham 16 8 4 4 27 19 28 West Brom 16 4 5 7 15 20 17 Southampton 16 8 2 6 25 13 26 Sunderland 16 2 10 4 14 24 16 Arsenal 16 7 5 4 28 19 26 Crystal Palace 16 3 6 7 19 24 15 Newcastle 16 6 5 5 18 22 23 Burnley 16 3 6 7 11 24 15 Swansea 15 6 4 5 20 17 22 QPR 15 4 2 9 16 27 14 Liverpool 15 6 3 6 19 19 21 Hull 16 2 7 7 15 23 13 Tottenham 15 6 3 6 18 21 21 Leicester 16 2 4 10 15 27 10 Crouch earns Stoke a point

for an uninspiring contest. Palace took an 11th minute lead when Crystal Palace 1 Yannick Bolasia sent in a cross from the left to the centre of the box for James McArthur to head over the keeper and into the top right corner. Stoke 1 Seconds later Crouch had Stoke back on level terms. Bojan Krkic charged down the right before knocking the ball back for Jon BIRMINGHAM: Leicester City’s Ghanaian striker Jeff Schlupp vies with AstonVilla’s Scottish defender Alan Hutton (right) during het English Walters. Premier League football match. —AFP He was unsuccessful with his attempt, LONDON: Peter Crouch scored a quick but Crouch, who like Bojan was on the equaliser for Stoke in a forgettable 1-1 scoresheet last weekend, struck home on Premier League draw at Crystal Palace yes- his 600th league appearance. Gardner returns to terday. Towards the end of the first half Palace The stalemate at Selhurst Park main- had appeals for a penalty turned down tained Stoke’s unbeaten run against after Wilfried Zaha’s shot appeared to hit London clubs this season after wins against Erik Pieters’ arm. Arsenal, Tottenham and draws with Queens Hughes was forced into an unscripted haunt Aston Villa Park Rangers and West Ham. change of personnel shortly after the For Stoke, the only switch from their 3-2 restart with Marko Arnautovic coming on His strike gave West Brom only their second and crossed. defeat of Arsenal last weekend was forced for the injured Bojan. home win over Villa in 13 attempts and lifted Visiting manager Lambert stiffened his mid- on boss Mark Hughes with injured Marc Only smart work from Stoke keeper West Brom 1 Alan Irvine’s side two places in the table to 14th; field at half-time by sending on the fit-again Muniesa replaced by Marc Wilson in Asmir Begovic denied McArthur his sec- three points above the relegation places. Fabian Delph for Charles N’Zogbia, but West defence. ond.Palace then had injury problems of Paul Lambert’s Villa, who had won their previ- Brom continued to dominate. Palace manager Neil Warnock fielded their own, with Jason Puncheon coming on ous two matches and were unbeaten in five, Silvestre Varela saw a well-struck volley the same side that held Spurs to a goalless for Zaha, and with 10 minutes left, Dwight Aston Villa 0 slipped one place to 12th. West Brom, who again blocked, while the recalled Brown Ideye squan- draw last weekend. The frosty handshake Gayle coming on for Marouane Chamakh. left top scorer Saido Berahino on the bench, dered two good chances, fluffing his lines from between the two managers-Warnock The game petered out to leave Palace one were first to threaten, with visiting goalkeeper James Morrison’s cross and then blazing a centre admitted this week they “don’t send point off the relegation zone, with Stoke in Brad Guzan obliged to palm away a shot from from Varela over the bar. Irvine introduced Christmas cards”-at the start set the tone mid-table. —AFP WEST BROMWICH: Craig Gardner scored left-back Sebastien Pocognoli. Ashley Berahino with 20 minutes left and the recent against his former club as West Bromwich Westwood’s knee injury saw Richardson drafted England call-up made an immediate impact. Albion ended a run of five winless Premier into Villa’s starting XI, but his return to The His cross from the right was not gathered by League games by beating 10-man Aston Villa Hawthorns proved short-lived. Guzan and following a scramble, the ball 1-0 yesterday. After over-running the ball, the former popped up for Gardner-who began his career at Kieran Richardson, who was also playing Manchester United midfielder slid in on Villa-to slam home the winner. against his old team, was sent off mid-way Sessegnon with his studs showing and was Christian Benteke had two chances to through the first half for a foul on Stephane shown a straight red card by referee Mike Dean. equalise, but he flicked the ball narrowly wide Sessegnon and Gardner made West Brom’s West Brom finished the first half strongly, from a Ciaran Clark header and then sliced off- numerical advantage count with a 72nd-minute with Sessegnon forcing Guzan to save with his target from Gabriel Agbonlahor’s chested lay-off winner. feet after Pocognoli beat Alan Hutton on the left in injury time. —AFP Barnes condemns Saints to fourth straight loss

they remain in fifth place in the table, while in the first half, curling an early shot just wide Burnley climb out of the relegation zone for now and then seeing an effort blocked when a pass Burnley 1 after bouncing back from last weekend’s defeat to George Boyd may have been the preferable at Queens Park Rangers, their only loss in six option. games. A largely scrappy first period gave way to a Home manager Sean Dyche named an more dramatic second half under driving rain in Southampton 0 unchanged line-up despite the defeat at QPR, deepest Lancashire, with the visitors being while Koeman welcomed back Toby handed the chance to open the scoring on the Alderweireld in defence and, with Morgan hour mark when Ryan Bertrand was brought Schneiderlin still missing, handed a first Premier down inside the box. BURNLEY: Southampton slumped to their League start to 18-year-old midfielder Jake Southampton had scored their previous 29 LONDON: West Ham United’s captain Alex Song (left) vies for the ball with fourth consecutive Premier League defeat yes- Hesketh. penalties in the Premier League, but this time Sunderland’s Lee Cattermole (right) during their English Premier League soccer terday, missing a penalty in a 1-0 loss to strug- Hesketh’s day soon unravelled, however, as Heaton dived the right way to deny Tadic. match at the Stadium of Light. —AP gling Burnley at Turf Moor. he was booked for a late challenge on Burnley Graziano Pelle then fired wide but the penal- Dusan Tadic saw his second-half penalty ‘keeper Heaton before taking a knock and com- ty proved to be the decisive moment of the day, saved by Tom Heaton before Ashley Barnes capi- ing off injured after just 32 minutes. and Burnley went on to claim only their third talised on uncharacteristically sloppy Saints The youngster was left in floods of tears on win of the season when England international Hammers hold defending to net the only goal of the game in the bench after being replaced by James Ward- Nathaniel Clyne lost the ball, allowing Barnes to the 73rd minute. Prowse, and without him Saints were unable to collect and beat goalkeeper Fraser Forster with a After a magnificent start to the campaign, get back on track after successive losses against shot that deflected off Alderweireld. Sunderland Ronald Koeman’s Southampton have now lost Arsenal, Manchester City and Manchester Heaton then denied Jose Fonte and Victor four games on the bounce for the first time since United. Wanyama missed the target with a stoppage- the opening four matches of their return to the Making his 100th league appearance for time header as Southampton were left with just was worthy of a penalty. Premier League last season. Despite the reverse, Burnley, Danny Ings was a threat for the Clarets one point from the last 15 available. —AFP Allardyce was furious and launched a Sunderland 1 touchline tirade at Dowd before Gomez added to West Ham’s frustration by calmly converting the spot-kick. But Allardyce’s anger was eased seven minutes later as West Ham 1 Downing equalised for the visitors. The former Sunderland loanee was giv- en too much space on the edge of the area and he took advantage with a low left-foot SUNDERLAND: West Ham consolidated shot that deflected past the wrong-footed their surprise position in the Premier Pantilimon. League’s top four as Stewart Downing sal- Jozy Altidore should have put vaged a 1-1 draw at Sunderland yesterday. Sunderland back in front on the stroke of Sam Allardyce’s side had climbed into half-time, but the American striker, the Champions League places on the back unmarked just eight yards out, made a of three successive victories and, although mess of his attempt to finish Sebastian that winning run came to an end at the Larsson’s cross and the ball bounced away Stadium of Light, they stayed in fourth spot off his knee. after Downing cancelled out Jordi Gomez’s Poyet’s side threatened early in the sec- penalty for the hosts. ond half when Johnson had a fierce free- While West Ham head into the hectic kick parried away by Adrian. Aaron Christmas period with dreams of a place in Cresswell was slipped in behind the Europe, Sunderland are still looking anx- Sunderland defence by Downing soon iously at the relegation zone after their after, but Pantilimon was quickly out to 10th draw of the season left them three block the West Ham left-back’s shot. points above the bottom three. Having given Sunderland one dubious Allardyce’s men made a lively start and penalty, Dowd decided not to award a Carl Jenkinson forced a good save from more convincing claim from the home side Costel Pantilimon when his close-range when Winston Reid appeared to handle in effort was kept out by the Sunderland goal- the area. keeper. Sunderland striker Steven Fletcher then Diafra Sakho, back in the starting line- drew a smart save from Adrian and the up in place of Enner Valencia, was next to Hammers keeper made an even better stop test Pantilimon as the Hammers pressed to tip over Connor Wickham’s rasping drive. hard for the opener. Carroll had a chance to silence the But against the run of play Sunderland taunts from Sunderland fans, who still dis- took the lead in the 22nd minute when ref- like the burly striker for his spell at local eree Phil Dowd ruled that James Tomkins’ rivals Newcastle, but he fired narrowly wide BURNLEY: Burnley’s English manager Sean Dyche (right) looks on as Southampton’s English defender Ryan Bertrand (center) vies with Burnley’s innocuous challenge on Adam Johnson in the final moments. —AFP English striker Ashley Barnes (left) during the English Premier League football match. —AFP Lyon bowls Barca slip up Aussies in title race to victory over India16 18 SUNDAY, DECEMBER 14, 2014

United and Liverpool reclaim centre-stage Page 18

LONDON: Chelsea’s Gary Cahill (left) puts up a foot as he tackles Hull’s Sone Aluko for which he was shown a yellow card by referee Chris Foy, during their English Premier League soccer match. — AP Hazard, Costa keep Chelsea ticking

Newcastle United, while defeat means Hull, who slipped the left wing with a threaded pass. Despite the lack of opportunities at either end, the to second-bottom, have now gone nine games without The Brazil playmaker moved the ball back inside onto game became increasingly fractious. Foy cautioned two Chelsea 2 a win. The mid-week Champions League victory over his right foot and, spotting Hazard’s run, delivered an Chelsea players-Willian and Costa-for diving and Sporting Lisbon had helped Mourinho’s side put the accurate cross towards the far post, where the Belgium ignored strong Hull complaints that Gary Cahill-who Newcastle loss behind them. But having dropped five international finished with a downward header. had already been booked should have been shown a points in their previous three league games, the meet- Hull’s problems continued to mount when, three second yellow for the same offence. Tempers eventually ing with Steve Bruce’s Hull had acquired added impor- minutes later, centre-back Michael Dawson pulled up spilled over when Huddlestone launched into a studs- Hull 0 tance for the home side. Hull’s preparations were dis- with a hamstring problem and was replaced by Alex up challenge that caught Filipe Luis on the knee and turbed by growing uncertainty over the future of Bruce. The visitors’ task was now even more daunting, earned the Hull midfielder a red card. winger Hatem Ben Arfa, on loan from Newcastle, who but having established an early advantage, Chelsea Now undermanned, it seemed only a matter of time has reportedly returned to his native France after falling appeared to ease off. before Hull’s defences were breached for a second time. LONDON: Diego Costa struck his 12th goal of the sea- out of favour. Willian and Oscar remained busy in midfield and And it took Chelsea just eight more minutes to find a son as Chelsea maintained their three-point lead at the With confidence low, Hull’s initial aim was to estab- Branislav Ivanovic supported well on the right flank, but way through and put the game beyond the reach of the Premier League summit with a 2-0 victory over Hull City lish a foothold in the game and deny Chelsea the the home side’s display did not possess the spark visitors. Hazard was the creator this time, stretching yesterday. chance to assume early control. required to kill off the game. Hull attempted to force Bruce’s side with a cross-field run before exchanging Eden Hazard put Jose Mourinho’s side ahead in the Mourinho’s side, however, gave the visitors no time their way back into the match, but lacked the quality to passes with Ivanovic and playing a reverse ball that seventh minute at Stamford Bridge and Costa wrapped to settle and after completely dominating the opening make the most of the few half-chances that came their picked out Costa’s darting run. The striker has already up the win shortly after Hull’s Tom Huddlestone had exchanges, the home side took the lead. way. Aluko was guilty of wasting their best first-half shown his strengths as a ruthless finisher this season been dismissed for an ugly challenge on Filipe Luis on Hull were convinced John Mikel Obi had fouled Sone opportunity when he was sent clear on the left side of and he gave Hull goalkeeper Allan McGregor no chance the hour. The victory helped Chelsea re-assert their sta- Aluko in the build-up, but referee Chris Foy thought the home penalty area by Nikica Jelavic in the 21st with an angled, right-footed shot that crept inside the tus as league leaders after last weekend’s defeat at otherwise, allowing Nemanja Matic to pick out Oscar on minute, only to slice his shot wide. far post. — AFP Arsenal back on track Lampard sinks Leicester Hart as Leicester dominated. It took until the with an impressive 2-1 win over half-hour mark for City’s first chance when Chelsea last weekend, Wenger had Arsenal 4 Leicester 0 Pozo shot straight at Ben Hamer from the begun to feel the heat from ele- edge of the area after David Silva’s free-kick ments of Arsenal’s fanbase. But had only been half-cleared. Arsenal almost handed their Moments later Hamer, in the side for the under-fire manager an ideal start injured Kasper Schmeichel, made a decent Man City 1 Newcastle 1 via Per Mertesacker. stop to keep out a Yaya Toure drive from The German defender saw his Silva’s pullback. eighth-minute header from Pellegrini’s side were improving and Cazorla’s corner rattle the crossbar went on to take the lead in the 40th min- LONDON: Olivier Giroud and Santi LEICESTER: Manchester City made it seven and bounce to safety. But it was straight victories and kept the pressure on utes. A patient build-up resulted in Samir Cazorla each scored twice as not long before Arsenal drew first Premier League leaders Chelsea as Frank Nasri crossing for Lampard to coolly flick Arsenal beat Newcastle United 4-1 blood, as Giroud pounced in the Lampard’s first-half goal secured a 1-0 win home from six yards out. It was the former in the Premier League yesterday to 15th minute. The Frenchman at lowly Leicester City yesterday. England international’s sixth goal in 13 ease the pressure on long-serving sprayed a pass wide to Alexis Manuel Pellegrini’s side were far from games since moving to Eastlands on loan manager Arsene Wenger. Sanchez and then galloped into their clinical best at the King Power from New York City. Wenger was verbally abused by the box, getting a run on Daryl Stadium, but the winner from former City nearly made it two early in the sec- a small group of fans following Janmaat in the process, to head Chelsea midfielder Lampard ensured the ond half when Silva’s flicked shot just missed Arsenal’s 3-2 loss at Stoke City last home the Chilean’s subsequent champions remain just three points behind the target from Nasri’s cross. Vardy then had weekend, but he was serenaded by cross. his old club. a penalty appeal waved away as he went down under a challenge from Mangala. the home support after his side put Barely two minutes later, the There was a significant blow for City Lampard was withdrawn on the hour to be Newcastle to the sword at the home fans were on their feet when however as captain Vincent Kompany, who Emirates Stadium. Newcastle were had returned after a hamstring problem, replaced by James Milner, while Leicester Danny Welbeck found the bottom manager Nigel Pearson took off Jeffrey second-best from the first whistle corner, only for referee Lee Mason was forced off with a recurrence of the same injury. Schlupp and sent on top scorer Leonardo and could have no complaints to penalise the England striker for LONDON: Arsenal’s Mathieu Debuchy (right) competes for the ball about the scoreline, which left with Newcastle’s Papiss Cisse during the English Premier League To make matters worse, City-who were Ulloa in a bid to spark his team into life. tripping Janmaat in the build-up. It Pearson was given a good reception by them in seventh place in the table, soccer match. — AP already without Sergio Aguero due to a was all Arsenal, and Welbeck came knee injury-lost another striker in the warm- Leicester’s supporters in the club’s first home three points behind sixth-place close to adding a second goal That was a warning sign for no surprise to see him carve out game since he had an angry confrontation Arsenal. Arsenal’s injury woes have up with Edin Dzeko pulling out to be when he saw his volley from Arsenal, who were entitled to feel Cazorla’s 54th-minute goal. The replaced by youngster Jose Angel Pozo. It with one of his own fans at the end of the 3- mounted to such an extent that Sanchez’s scooped pass fly just aggrieved after Mason awarded a former Barcelona forward played 1 defeat by Liverpool earlier this month. The right-back Mathieu Debuchy was was the bottom-of-the-table Leicester who wide. However, for all Arsenal’s free-kick rather than a penalty after a pass into the box from the left had started the better with Esteban Leicester boss faces a possible touchline ban pressed into an emergency centre- dominance, it took a fine double Paul Dummett tripped Sanchez on and Cazorla eluded Fabricio Cambiasso slicing off target after a driving after being charged by the Football back role against Alan Pardew’s save from goalkeeper Wojciech the edge of his own area just Coloccini’s sprawling challenge run and Jamie Vardy having a shot deflected Association over that incident, but the home previously in-form side. Szczensy to thwart Yoan Gouffran before the interval. before elegantly chipping Jak wide off Eliaquim Mangala. fans were more concerned with trying to While Pardew crowned his and Papiss Cisse in the 33rd Sanchez was proving a real Alnwick to crown his 30th birth- An audacious 35-yard free kick from will their side to only their third league win fourth anniversary at St James’ Park minute. nuisance for Newcastle and it was day in style. — AFP Cambiasso came close to catching out Joe of the season. — AFP IMF looking to stave off looming Ukraine default

Page 23 Business IMF’s chief ‘disappointed’ by US inaction on reforms SUNDAY, DECEMBER 14, 2014 Page 25 Mutawa Alkazi Company launches Job losses as 175 Australian govt agencies face scrap GAC vehicles Page 23 Page 26

BRUSSELS: Tourists wander at the Grand Place in Brussels. — AP Belgium braces for national strike chaos Unions reject austerity and cutbacks

BRUSSELS: Belgium risks coming to a virtual Michel, who at 38 is Belgium’s youngest prime Brussels but also French-speaking towns like Belgium was in 2012 against the government of also likely to be affected. Traffic on the country’s standstill tomorrow as the biggest national strike minister since 1840, heads a government coali- Liege and Tournai as well as Flemish-speaking socialist Prime Minister Elio di Rupo. Flights to highways is set to be snarled as lorry drivers for years grounds all flights, halts public transport tion of three Flemish-speaking right-leaning par- cities like the tourist hotspot of Bruges and the and from Belgium will be grounded from late unfurled banners in recent days reading: “Lorry and severs international train links in protest at ties and his own French-speaking liberals. ports of Antwerp and Ostend. The main unions- Sunday as air traffic controllers join the nation- drivers, paralyze the country on December 15.” the new government’s austerity policies. The The formation of the government in October, the Christian CSC, Socialist FGTB and the liberal wide strike. No planes are due to land at or take Picket lines organized by the three unions may strike, which is the climax of a union movement five months after elections, was meant to bring GGSLB all speak of a “common front”. off from airports in Brussels, Charleroi, Liege, form outside state-run firms, schools, govern- that began last month with a huge march and some calm to a nation deeply divided between Antwerp and Ostend for 24 hours from 2100 ment offices and industrial zones. The strike is violent protests in Brussels, will also likely close the richer Flanders and the poorer French-speak- ‘Paralyze the country’ GMT today. Eurostar rail services from Brussels to also likely to affect post offices and rubbish col- schools, businesses, factories and government ing Wallonia. But Belgian unions oppose a deci- Last month, a peaceful 100,000-person march the British capital London and trains to the lections, prisons and the courts. The magistrates’ offices. Unions say there is “no choice” but to go sion by Michel’s coalition government to scrap in Brussels ended in violent clashes that left 112 French capital Paris, Amsterdam in the union on Friday expressed “its total solidarity” ahead with the strike after the right-of-centre plans for a usually automatic cost-of-living raise police officers injured. Recent strikes and Netherlands and German city of Cologne are with the strikers. Public radio will likely reduce government of Prime Minister Charles Michel next year. They also reject public sector cutbacks protests echo others held in EU countries like also likely to be halted. programming to music except for the occasional pushed ahead with plans to save 11 billion euros and plans to raise the retirement age from 65 to Spain, Greece and Italy to oppose government Domestic underground train services, buses news bulletin. The unions may decide to take ($13.7 billion) over five years. French-speaking 67 from 2030. The strike will affect not only austerity policies. The last national strike in and tram services throughout the country are further action in the New Year. — AFP Computer failure sparks Deadline drama; US Senate flight chaos over Britain bickers over spending bill WASHINGTON: US senators clashed Wednesday, but amid the acrimony in Friday over a $1.1 trillion federal spend- the Senate no extension deal was final- LONDON: Britain suffered air travel chaos on ing bill, forcing lawmakers to approve an ized. If there is no agreement to extend Friday-just as its peak Christmas season was get- extension of funds to avoid a govern- funding, the government could plunge ting under way-because of a computer failure at ment shutdown as Republicans delayed into shutdown. an air traffic control centre. Flights were unable to a final vote on the must-pass legislation. “We are at the mercy of Republican take off or land at some British airports during the Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid objections,” a Senate Democratic leader- brief breakdown, which caused flow-on delays sought to move quickly on the spending ship aide said. and backlogs at airports around Europe. London’s measure. He and others were eager to The Senate is now scheduled to con- Heathrow Airport-Europe’s busiest hub-said 50 wrap up deliberations and head home vene for a series of votes and to possibly flights had to be cancelled. It warned passengers for the holidays with government fund- ease the impasse. A Republican aide said to check their flight status before setting off. ing intact. And President Barack Obama Reid’s decision to hold votes on a handful After more than an hour in which some said he was “hopeful” the Senate would of controversial nominees, including departures were blocked and arrivals diverted, pass the bill and send it to his desk for his Obama’s pick for US surgeon general, is Britain’s NATS, the main air navigation service, signature. also causing Republicans to stall. In said the system had been restored and flights Reid and Senate Minority Leader October 2013, a bitter budget clash were returning to normal. The London airports Mitch McConnell expressed hope that a between Republicans and Democrats system, including airports such as Gatwick, deal would be reached for a final vote triggered a 16-day government shut- Stansted and Luton, is the busiest hub in the Friday on the bill funding nearly all feder- down. Fueled by their anger over world with around 135 million passengers a year. al operations through next September, Obama’s health care law, many Other British airports were also affected, includ- which passed the House of Republicans refused to accept a budget ing Manchester, Edinburgh, Birmingham and Representatives on Thursday. But conser- agreement unless it placed limitations on Leeds. “Disruption on this scale is simply unac- LONDON: A man rests on seats in the departures lounge in the north terminal at Gatwick vatives, furious that the spending bill so-called Obamacare. ceptable and I have asked NATS for a full explana- Airport, south of London. — AFP failed to roll back Obama’s recent unilat- The shutdown cost 6.6 million in lost tion of this evening’s incident,” transport minister Air France said around 20 of its flights were flights in Britain and Ireland were delayed or can- eral immigration action to shield millions workdays for furloughed federal workers, Patrick McLoughlin said. “I also want to know affected, including one flight headed for Dublin celled last year due to a similar problem. from deportation, demanded an oppor- amounting to $2.0 billion in lost produc- what steps will be taken to prevent this happen- which was forced to turn back to Paris. Two Iberia At Heathrow, Susan Atkinson and her hus- tunity to amend the measure. When Reid tivity, the White House said in a report. ing again.” flights that left Madrid for London also returned band Michael Alcock, from Connecticut in the objected, Republicans signaled they Among the many results of the shut- Brussels-based Eurocontrol, which reported to their departure point. British media reported United States, anxiously awaited news on their would push a final vote to tomorrow or down, Alaskan crab fisherman lost thou- the shut-down in London airspace, said a “mea- that there had been a “radar display issue”. flight to Manchester in northwest England. They later. sands of dollars a day as their season sured recovery” was under way. NATS had earlier Aviation journalist David Learmount said the were heading to see relatives for the first time in “If anybody has the gumption to could not open on time as government said that it was “restricting traffic volumes” follow- computer failure would cause “major disruption” two years. “I just want to get home to see my stand up and object to this abuse of officials were not able to set quota sizes. ing a technical problem at the state-of-the-art but the situation should be back to normal on father and sister. I couldn’t make it last year process, they’re (accused of) shutting the US National Parks which were closed dur- �700-million ($1-billion, 880-million-euro) Saturday. “This impacts not just people within because of ill health,” Atkinson said. “Hopefully government down? What planet are we ing the shutdown lost $500 million in lost Swanwick control centre near Portsmouth on the the UK, it impacts flights heading here from any- we can fly tonight, we don’t have anyone to stay on here?” an irate Republican Senator Jeff visitor spending, the report said. And the southern English coast. “It will take time for opera- where,” he told the BBC. “Anything heading this with here in London.” Her husband added: “The Sessions said. With government funding shutdown forced the NASA space agency tions across the UK to fully recover so passengers way will be told some of them can’t be accepted, word to describe how we’re feeling is disappoint- set to expire midnight yesterday, and the National Institutes of Health to should contact their airline for the status of their and they will have to go back to where they flew ed. “If the hours go by without anything chang- Congress needs to pass another short- furlough four out of five Nobel-prize win- flight,” NATS said. “We apologize for any delays from or consider diverting to other countries.” ing that could become more hostile feelings, term patch. The House on Friday narrow- ning researchers employed by the gov- and the inconvenience this may have caused.” This is not the first time that a technical failure at especially since we don’t really know what is ly passed an extension until next ernment. — AFP “We are investigating the cause of this fault.” Swanwick has caused travel chaos. Hundreds of going on.” — AFP BUSINESS SUNDAY, DECEMBER 14, 2014

Bayt.com report Interview questions to help assess candidate’s cultural fit

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UAE economy resilient on robust non-oil sector

KUWAIT: The UAE economy is expected to remain modestly staggering 260% of GDP, and relatively low breakeven oil price, strong over this year and the next at 2-3% year-on-year (y/y), in NBK ECONOMIC REPORT which is currently below $70/bbl, will help keep the nation’s fiscal spite of constrained oil GDP growth, as the non-oil sector contin- surplus afloat. If the UAE is forced to undergo some public expen- ues to thrive on a booming tourism sector and on buoyant real diture reform, then we may see the start of cuts in subsidy levels estate and construction activity. Growth in oil GDP is expected to (5% of GDP in 2013) and Abu Dhabi federal service levels (7% of be rather limited in the near-to-medium term, amidst lower global GDP in 2013). demand, an abundantly supplied global oil market and relatively lower oil prices. As a result, oil GDP growth is expected to contract Current account surplus in 2014 and 2015, and remain flat in 2016. However, non-oil GDP The current account surplus is expected to narrow from about is set to grow at rates of 5-6% y/y, in 2015 and 2016. Growth in this 15% of GDP in 2013 to around 14% of GDP in 2014, due to lower sector will continue to be driven by the tourism and real estate oil export revenues and higher import growth. The surplus is sectors, especially in the run-up to the Dubai Expo 2020 event. expected to narrow further in 2015, to 13% of GDP before The Markit Purchasing Managers’ Index (PMI) continues to expanding slightly in 2016, as lower oil export earnings and high- ascend, pointing to strong levels of activity in the private non-oil er imports are offset by stronger non-oil export earnings particu- sector. In October it soared to a new historic high of 61.2, under- larly in the tourism industry. pinned by strong domestic and external demand and a positive economic outlook. The employment, new orders and output Bank credit growth indices were among the PMI components that also hit record Two key gauges of bank lending growth, loans & advances highs in 4Q14. In a bid to meet the increases in new orders, the and personal loans, have both been recovering since mid-2011. In stronger demand for staff has been applying upward pressure on September growth in loans and advances jumped from 6.4% y/y wages, which in turn pushed the staff cost index up to a new high in August to 7.8% y/y, while personal loans growth rose from 7.1% as well. The significant appreciation of asset prices, real estate and inflation rate is expected to average at 2.5% in 2014 and 3.0% y/y to 7.9% y/y during the same period. Bank lending was ham- equity, has helped indebted companies (government-related in 2015. pered slightly at the end of 2013, after the local authorities rolled Overheating real estate entities in particular), repay parts of their debt ahead of out more stringent measures to curb excessive lending. Some of Residential property prices in Dubai have come off the worry- schedule, meet their repayment deadlines and/or renegotiate Fiscal surplus these measures included reducing the lending limits on large ing highs seen in 4Q13 and 1Q14, against a backdrop of stringent better terms for their debt. This has enabled companies to The UAE recently approved its 2015 budget, which is projected exposures and imposing new liquidity requirements and caps on regulation and greater housing supply. According to Asteco, a real reallocate their resources towards launching new mega-pro- to remain in surplus in spite of planned increases in public spend- mortgage lending. estate services company, sales prices of apartments and villas in jects and/or bringing stalled projects back to the fore. ing and decreases in oil revenues, amid lower oil prices. About Annual growth in the broad M2 money supply measure has Dubai were up 33% y/y and 22% y/y, respectively, in the third 49% of the budget has been set aside for social development been slowing down since the start of this year. However, it quarter of this year. Although still high, these rates are significantly Consumer price inflation projects, among other benefits for the UAE citizens. The fiscal bal- remains at elevated rates, growing at 19% y/y in September. lower than the appreciation rates witnessed in 4Q13, when apart- Headline inflation has been gradually rising since the end ance is projected to narrow slightly in 2014 to 11% of GDP, and to Interest rates have remained low: the UAE’s three-month and one- ments’ prices grew at a staggering 59% y/y and villa prices at 33% of 2013, primarily due to a recovery and acceleration in hous- 9-8% of GDP in 2015 and 2016, on the back of rising expenditure month interbank rates have remained below 1% so far in 2014. y/y. ing rent growth. The rise in residential property sales prices levels and lower oil revenues. (Chart 5.) Both Dubai and Abu The UAE’s safe haven status (amid an otherwise rather unstable The new and more stringent lending restrictions, a higher has been gradually translating into higher rents. Overall CPI Dhabi are set to maintain high levels of public spending. Dubai is region), improving corporate debt environment and resilient transaction fee and greater housing supply have so far kept more came in at 3.1% y/y in October, whilst housing inflation expected to accelerate its public spending as the Expo 2020 event economy, have helped keep investor sentiments buoyant never- exuberant property price rises at bay. With the local authorities logged in a rate of 4.2% y/y. (Chart 3.) Housing rent inflation edges closer and as it pays off a sizable portion of its maturing theless. The greater confidence is also reflected in the main credit vowing to remain proactive on the property regulation front, and is expected to continue to trend upwards against a back drop debt around the same period. default swaps, which continued to fall in 2014, pointing to lower further rises in housing supply on the horizon, especially in the of rising real estate activity and a strong economy. But infla- Whilst the recent drop in oil prices has raised alarm bells in the risks in the economy. The CDS on five-year Dubai government run up to the Expo 2020 event, it is unlikely that we will see a tion in this segment is expected to rise gradually at least over region about the repercussions on the region’s fiscal balances, the debt stood at 179 basis points at the end of November 2014. This repeat of the excessively high rates of sales price growth in the the medium-term, thanks to increases in housing supply and UAE’s fiscal surplus is expected to remain resilient. The UAE’s diver- is starkly lower than the 940 basis points we witnessed in February near future. the stringent regulations put in place recently. The overall sified economy, abundant financial reserves, which make up a of 2009, during the peak of the financial crisis in Dubai. EXCHANGE RATES

Al-Muzaini Exchange Co. UAE Exchange Centre WLL Syrian Pound 2.710 Philippine Peso 0.006465 0.006745 Nepalese Rupees 3.945 Sierra Leone 0.000065 0.000071 Malaysian Ringgit 87.645 Singapore Dollar 0.219927 0.225927 ASIAN COUNTRIES COUNTRY SELL DRAFT SELL CASH Chinese Yuan Renminbi 48.035 South African Rand 0.019189 0.027689 Japanese Yen 2.460 Australian Dollar 229.17 226.17 Sri Lankan Rupee 0.001872 0.002452 Indian Rupees 4.724 Thai Bhat 9.885 Canadian Dollar 258.98 259.88 Turkish Lira 131.225 Taiwan 0.009234 0.009414 Pakistani Rupees 2.371 Swiss Franc 305.10 303.10 Thai Baht 0.008570 0.009120 Srilankan Rupees 2.220 Euro 364.41 365.41 Nepali Rupees 2.959 US Dollar 292.95 295.95 Arab Singapore Dollar 223.660 Sterling Pound 460.65 463.65 Bahrain Exchange Company Bahraini Dinar 0.769137 0.777137 Hongkong Dollar 37.740 Japanese Yen 2.48 2.50 Egyptian Pound 0.038196 0.041296 Bangladesh Taka 3.741 Bangladesh Taka 3.748 4.018 CURRENCY BUY SELL Iranian Riyal 0.000081 0.000082 Philippine Peso 6.573 Indian Rupee 4.727 5.027 Europe Iraqi Dinar 0.000201 0.000261 Thai Baht 8.926 Sri Lankan Rupee 2.220 2.655 Belgian Franc 0.007614 0.008614 Jordanian Dinar 0.408339 0.415839 Irani Riyal transfer 60.155 Nepali Rupee 2.950 3.485 British Pound 0.453428 0.462428 Kuwaiti Dinar 1.000000 1.000000 Irani Riyal cash 118.945 Pakistani Rupee 2.892 2.790 Czech Korune 0.005218 0.017218 Lebanese Pound 0.000143 0.000243 UAE Dirhams 79.60 80.07 Danish Krone 0.044969 0.049969 Moroccan Dirhams 0.023924 0.047924 GCC COUNTRIES Bahraini Dinar 777.51 779.58 Euro 0.359333 0.367333 Nigerian Naira 0.001185 0.001820 Saudi Riyal 78.045 Egyptian Pound 40.85 41.45 Norwegian Krone 0.036048 0.041248 Omani Riyal 0.753458 0.759138 Qatari Riyal 80.404 Jordanian Dinar 416.24 421.89 Romanian Leu 0.083870 0.083870 Qatar Riyal 0.079604 0.080817 Omani Riyal 760.460 Omani Riyal 759.70 767.00 Slovakia 0.008542 0.018542 Saudi Riyal 0.077337 0.078037 Bahraini Dinar 777.330 Qatari Riyal 80.67 81.22 Swedish Krona 0.034831 0.039831 Syrian Pound 0.001733 0.001953 UAE Dirham 79.703 Saudi Riyal 78.03 78.43 Swiss Franc 0.297222 0.307422 Tunisian Dinar 0.154617 0.162617 Turkish Lira 0.128307 0.135307 Turkish Lira 0.128307 0.135307 ARAB COUNTRIES UAE Dirhams 0.078628 0.079777 Egyptian Pound - Cash 40.536 Dollarco Exchange Co. Ltd Australasia Yemeni Riyal 0.001320 0.001400 Egyptian Pound - Transfer 40.831 Australian Dollar 0.233236 0.244736 Yemen Riyal/for 1000 1.366 New Zealand Dollar 0.221380 0.230880 Tunisian Dinar 158.560 Rate for Transfer Selling Rate Al Mulla Exchange US Dollar 291.750 Jordanian Dinar 413.030 America Canadian Dollar 260.085 Lebanese Lira/for 1000 1.963 Canadian Dollar 0.247663 0.256163 Sterling Pound 456.630 Currency Transfer Rate (Per 1000) Syrian Lira 2.086 US Dollars 0.288300 0.293000 Euro 366.500 US Dollar 291.950 Morocco Dirham 33.240 US Dollars Mint 0.288800 0.293000 Swiss Frank 303.035 Euro 364.150 Bahrain Dinar 775.760 Pound Sterlng 460.300 EUROPEAN & AMERICAN COUNTRIES Asia UAE Dirhams 79.330 US Dollar Transfer 292.550 Bangladesh Taka 0.003467 0.004067 Canadian Dollar 256.950 Qatari Riyals 80.935 Euro 363.640 Chinese Yuan 0.046086 0.049586 Indian Rupee 4.715 Saudi Riyals 77.975 Sterling Pound 460.470 Hong Kong Dollar 0.035614 0.038364 Egyptian Pound 40.815 Jordanian Dinar 411.660 Canadian dollar 256.620 Indian Rupee 0.004615 0.005016 Sri Lankan Rupee 2.215 Egyptian Pound 40.707 Turkish lira 129.230 Indonesian Rupiah 0.000020 0.000026 Bangladesh Taka 3.715 Sri Lankan Rupees 2.225 Swiss Franc 302.850 Japanese Yen 0.002391 0.002571 Philippines Peso 6.554 Indian Rupees 4.716 Australian Dollar 244.570 Kenyan Shilling 0.003264 0.003264 Pakistan Rupee 2.898 Pakistani Rupees 2.867 US Dollar Buying 291.350 Korean Won 0.000254 0.000269 Bahraini Dinar 777.350 Bangladesh Taka 3.759 Malaysian Ringgit 0.080797 0.086797 Philippines Pesso 6.481 UAE Dirham 79.500 GOLD Nepalese Rupee 0.002988 0.003158 Cyprus pound 715.865 Saudi Riyal 78.000 20 gram 232.500 Pakistan Rupee 0.002731 0.003011 10 gram 118.950 Japanese Yen 3.480 *Rates are subject to change SUNDAY, DECEMBER 14, 2014 BUSINESS

Job losses as 175 Australian govt agencies face scrap

SYDNEY: Australia’s government warned largest health insurer Medibank Private public service will be back down to the ing in the net reduction of 20 bodies), commodity prices and weakening of further job losses yesterday as media among other assets and is now planning same level as what it was in 2007, 2008. bringing the total loss to more than 170, demand from China. Opposition leader reports said around 175 government a larger round of cuts. Finance Minister We think that’s appropriate.” the paper said. Bill Shorten said the abolition of scores agencies working in areas as diverse as Mathias Cormann said the government’s The Weekend Australian reported “The goal is to ensure that the gov- of agencies could further damage the Antarctic science and drought will be decision, expected to be formally that 138 government agencies will be ernment is as big as it needs to be but as economy and stifle confidence at a criti- scrapped. The conservative administra- announced on Monday as part of a mid- abolished, including the Vietnam small as it can be,” Cormann told Sky cal juncture. “Australia’s at a crossroads. tion of Prime Minister Tony Abbott which year economic outlook, would mean Veterans Family Study Consultative News. We are narrowly reliant on our mineral came to power in September 2013 has more jobs would go. “If you reduce the Forum, the Antarctic Science Advisory Treasurer Joe Hockey is expected to sales globally to sustain Australia-the consistently argued that government number of government bodies, there will Committee and a High-Level Group on unveil a blowout in the federal deficit in price of our minerals is falling,” he said. had become too big and wasteful under be an impact on jobs across the public Drought. Fifteen more-including the the mid-year economic and fiscal out- “The last thing Australia needs now if we the previous Labor leadership. service,” he told Sky News yesterday. Australian Government Solicitor-will be look Monday, with some estimates of a want to have growth in the future... is for It axed 76 agencies in the May budg- “What we will see is that as a result of our consolidated into government depart- Aus$5 billion (US$4.1 billion) increase to Tony Abbott to be killing jobs and killing et, and has since sold off the nation’s reform efforts so far, that the size of the ments and a further 26 merged (result- Aus$35 billion given sharp declines in confidence.” —AFP IMF looking to stave off looming Ukraine default Poroshenko promises to ram lean, market-friendly budget

KIEV: The second-in-command at Yet the Wall Street Journal reports domestic product-has slowed by a Shock therapy the International Monetary Fund that fears of recession in Europe and fifth and exports to Russia are down Economists believe Poroshenko heads to Ukraine this weekend to slowing growth in China mean the by a quarter. The Ukrainian currency has no choice but to absorb the gauge whether its Western-backed G7 group of most developed has nearly halved in value against fierce public resentment that will leaders are committed enough to economies is only talking about a the dollar, falling from 8.24 hryvnias come from slashing social benefits overhauling their crippled economy $4-billion short-term package. “It’s against the greenback at the start of and hiking prices on everything to justify another financial lifeline. not going to be easy,” another per- the year to 15.76 hryvnias on Friday from electricity to public transport. The Fund’s First Deputy Managing son involved in the negotiations evening. “The only question now is how this Director David Lipton-a White House told the Financial Times. “There’s not And inflation is on track to reach is going to be done. veteran who spearheaded the US that much money out there.” 20 percent for the year. These prob- We are either looking at ‘shock response to the 1998 Asian financial Ukraine has also appealed for $2 bil- lems may be compounded if Russia therapy’ or a more gradual sys- MILAN: Demonstrators clash with anti riot Carabinieri during a march as crisis-will arrive in a war-scarred lion in further help from the demands the early repayment of a tem,” said Parashchiy. Analysts part of a general strike called by several trade union organizations to nation that stands helpless in the European Union. No decision on $3-billion loan it gave the ousted believe that either approach protest against the government’s economic policy. —AFP face of a looming debt default. The former Soviet republic of 45 million has already burned through $8.2 bil- Renzi’s reforms set to lion (6.6 billion euros) in global aid issued since the February ouster of a corruption-stained president who continue after protest survived off Russian support. Those loans were part of a $27- ROME: Prime Minister Matteo Renzi’s unions, which is the second biggest by billion international package that ambitious plans to transform Italy membership, did not back the strike call, included a $17.1-billion pledge from remained on track after a day of protest saying it would be counter-productive in the Fund itself. The architects of the over his government’s economic policies the current context of an economy in package had hoped to use it as an sent tens of thousands onto the streets but recession for the third time in seven years. incentive for Ukraine to wean itself failed to deliver anything resembling a Although he is the leader of the off Communist-era subsidies long abandoned by its smaller but now knockout blow. Labor unions said some Democratic Party, partly rooted in Italy’s far-better-off neighbors in eastern 40,000 people had turned up in Rome to once mighty Communist Party, Renzi has Europe. The Fund also wanted to see been willing to take on the unions over voice their opposition to Renzi’s labor mar- loss-making state firms privatized ket reforms, while many more had stayed their defense of what he sees as an archaic and graft that has permeated both away from work across the country in labor market system. In a break with estab- ministries and local governments response to their call for an eight-hour lished tradition, he has also completely comprehensively punished instead general strike. But with the numbers sidelined union leaders from discussions of being swept under the rug. Few pounding the pavements down from pre- on the country’s economic direction. of those steps have yet been taken- vious waves of demonstrations and the although President Petro tone boisterous rather than explosively Popularity hit Poroshenko has promised to ram a angry, all the signs were that Renzi had That has increased social tensions with lean and market-friendly budget emerged unscathed from his latest toe-to- protests in October and November occa- through parliament by the end of toe with the country’s once influential sionally spilling over into violence. “The the year. But the IMF fears this may labor organizations. government has to choose between con- no longer be enough. The Rome demonstration was one of flict and dialogue,” Susanna Camusso, the around 50 across Italy in what the unions Secretary General of the CGIL, warned on A matter of survival intended to be a show of anger over meas- Friday. UIL leader Carmelo Barbagallo The Fund’s economists now CRIMEA: A woman looks at a US President Barack Obama doll at a street market in Simferopol, ures Renzi has defended as necessary to added: “Today we have brought Italy to a warn that Ukraine, which has been Crimea. —AFP stimulate the country’s moribund econo- standstill in order to start again in the right all but cut off from trade with Russia my and remedy sickly public finances in direction.” Renzi’s popularity has taken a hit and whose industrial heartland has that request has been announced. regime last year in return for its would satisfy Lipton and his IMF line with euro-zone rules. “Today there has over the last month as the debate over his been crippled by a pro-Kremlin refusal to strike a landmark EU deal. team as they seek to keep Ukraine been an extraordinary response from reforms has rumbled on with no sign of a revolt, may grind to a standstill From bad to worse Moscow reserves the right to insist progressing along its bumpy west- workers opposed to the Renzi govern- turnaround in the economy. But he contin- without another immediate pay- Ukraine’s economic statistics on a payback should Ukraine’s debt- ward course. But they stress the ment’s policies,” Maurizio Landini, one of ues to enjoy approval ratings most other ment of $15 billion and additional make for grim reading-even com- to-GDP ratio rise above 60 percent-a president must present some of the most best-known and most militant of leaders would love to have and both polls debt relief. Ukrainian Prime Minister pared to Russia, which is shackled condition economists think has sort of financial recovery blueprint Italy’s union leaders, told a rally in the and anecdotal evidence suggest most vot- Arseniy Yatsenyuk on Thursday by Western sanctions and collapsing already been met. “This is all down that can convince other global northern city of Genoa. “The piazzas are ers back the 39-year-old’s drive to shake-up called it a matter of the country’s energy prices. The economy is on to the radical deterioration in rela- lenders to pitch in. full, not just here in Genoa but in all of Italy. At the end of October, when there was “survival”. Concerned IMF and US course to contract by seven percent tions with Russia and the military “The most important thing the Italy.” Dozens of flights were cancelled or still a chance of blocking the Jobs Act, there officials have been talking up this year and more still in 2015. activities in the (industrial) east,” IMF wants to see is a plan for clean- rescheduled and there was only a mini- were hundreds rather than tens of thou- Poroshenko’s potential as they try to Output in the separatist-controlled Kiev’s Concorde Capital investment ing up state finances,” said Oleksandr mum or partial service on most forms of sands of protestors on the streets of Rome. convince world powers to open up industrial east-once responsible for bank analyst Oleksandr Parashchiy Valchyshen of Investment Capital public transport. The Jobs Act is only the first stage of a their purses for Ukraine once again. 16 percent of Ukraine’s gross said. Ukraine. —AFP The focus of the protests was Renzi’s broader program of reform for Renzi which “Jobs Act,” which seeks to stimulate job cre- also includes an overhaul of the country’s ation and new hiring by making it easier snail-paced judicial system and electoral for companies to lay employees off while reform aimed at producing stable govern- reducing severance rights in the initial ments with clear parliamentary majorities. years of a worker’s contract. Unions also Renzi has often derided the unions as decry what they term as insufficient efforts dinosaurs operating in a world that no to stimulate economic growth against a longer exists, notably saying last month: “If backdrop of record unemployment, which the unions want to negotiate (on economic for 15-25 year-olds now stands at over 43 policy), they should get themselves elected percent. The strike and demonstrations to parliament.” But in his only comment on were scheduled weeks before Renzi suc- Friday’s strike, he struck a more conciliatory cessfully fast-tracked the new labor market tone. “The general strike is a moment of legislation through parliament, leaving protest of great importance. We have a lot Friday’s events with a largely symbolic feel. of respect for it even if I do not agree with The strike was called by Italy’s biggest the reasons for it. Good work to those who union grouping, the CGIL, and two smaller are working and good luck to those who confederations, the UIL and UGL. decide to strike,” Renzi said in a statement The Catholic-linked CISL group of on Thursday. —AFP Fitch downgrades France

WASHINGTON: Ratings agency Fitch cut GDP, with a slower decline to 94.9 percent France’s credit grade by one notch to “AA” of GDP by the end of the decade.” The yesterday, saying Paris’s efforts to trim its agency said the outlook for the rating was fiscal deficit have fallen short to avoid a stable, envisaging no downgrade (or downgrade. “The weak outlook for the upgrade) in the next several months. But it French economy impairs the prospects for said its own fiscal projections for the euro- Adrian Gostuski fiscal consolidation and stabilizing the zone’s second largest economy risk being public debt ratio,” Fitch said. The AA overoptimistic in part “owing to the uncer- grade-two steps below the top triple-A rat- tain outlook for GDP growth and inflation Burgan Bank wins ‘International ing-was decided despite France having in the near term.” reduced its projected deficit for fiscal 2015 Secondly, it cited “increased uncertainty to 4.1 percent of GDP, down from 4.3 per- over the government’s ability to deliver on Diamond Star for Quality’ award cent, under pressure from the European a fiscal consolidation path.” “Reflecting Commission. these concerns, Fitch’s medium-term “On its own, this will not be sufficient growth forecasts are somewhat weaker KUWAIT: Burgan Bank announced that is has award signifies our overall approach of delivering leaders from more than 90 countries who meet to significantly change Fitch’s projections and budget deficits wider than official pro- recently won again and for the second year, the world class processing solutions that meet our annually in London, Paris, New York, Frankfurt of France’s government debt dynamics,” jections,” the agency added. French prestigious “International Diamond Star for customer’s financial demands, and further echoes and Geneva. The selection of the ‘International the agency said. “The 2015 budget Finance Minister Michel Sapin said in Quality” award from Business Initiative Directions our leadership in operations, service and quality.” Star for Quality’ award is assessed across a num- involves a significant slippage against pri- response to the downgrade that the gov- (BID), a world- wide renowned organization that “This was not the first time that BID recog- ber of areas, namely: customer satisfaction, or budget deficit targets.” It noted that the ernment was narrowing its budget gap recognizes companies that implement and pro- nizes our commitment to quality that is driven by innovation, research & development, continu- draft 2015 budget projected government while supporting growth. “In a difficult mote a strong quality culture. The bank’s recogni- our ‘Excellence’ as a core value. The bank was ing education, post sales service, quality, ISO debt to GDP ratio will peak at 98 percent economic environment in Europe, the gov- tion demonstrates its commitment to applying awarded with the ‘International Platinum Star for 9001, environment recycling, business excel- in 2016, higher and later than previous ernment is sticking to its path... pursuing the highest quality control measures across its Quality’ award last year and earlier in 2008, the lence, TQM implementation, profitability, per- projections. But Fitch doubted those tar- the reforms necessary to strengthen operations. bank bagged the ‘International Gold Star for manent growth, brand management, leader- gets could be met. growth and make businesses more com- Burgan Bank’s success was announced during Quality’ award. Pinning down such awards con- ship, and management. Burgan Bank’s achieve- “Even under the official forecast, the petitive,” he said in a statement. “The policy the International Star for Quality Convention, secutively - from the gold to the diamond cate- ment of the Diamond award this year further capacity of the public finances to absorb has begun to produce results, with compa- which took place in London, United Kingdom. gories - reflects the bank’s position in adopting builds on its string of accolades, and is a clear shocks has been significantly reduced,” it nies benefiting from the initial effects of Adrian Gostuski, Group Chief Operations Officer international quality standards across its opera- indication of its constant perusal of excellence said. “Fitch expects the debt to GDP ratio tax reductions, which will continue in the at Burgan Bank, said: “We are proud to have won tions,” added Gostuski. through embracing international quality stan- to peak higher at close to 100 percent of coming years.” —AFP again the ‘International Diamond Star for Quality’ The awardees were selected by the interna- dards, a step that marks its strong position award from Business Initiative Directions. The tional committee, which consisted of company across the banking sector. SUNDAY, DECEMBER 14, 2014 BUSINESS

KSE ends in the red zone, down 4.61%

BAYAN WEEKLY MARKET REPORT

KUWAIT: Kuwait Stock Exchange (KSE) ended last week were able to be redirected upward, among a strong in the red zone. The Price Index closed at 6,463.76 purchasing power concentrated on many large-cap points, down by 4.61% from the week before closing, and small-cap stocks, especially in the Banking and the the Weighted Index decreased by 4.13% after closing at Real Estate sectors, however such rebound did not last 437.70 points, whereas the KSX-15 Index closed at long, as the stock market returned to its downward 1,061.90 points, down by 4.36%. Furthermore, last direction once again by the end of the week’s session, week’s average daily turnover increased by 14.25%, with very strong losses that caused the indices to compared to the preceding week, reaching KD21.66 decline steeply, especially the KSX-15 that returned to million, whereas trading volume average was 159.28 close below the last year closing once again. For the million shares, recording a decrease of 7.09%. annual performance, the price index ended last week The stock market indicators declined steeply for the recording 14.38% annual loss compared to its closing second consecutive week, in light of the continued sell- in 2013, while the weighted index decreased by 3.35%, ing pressures control over the trading activity during and the KSX-15 recorded 0.61% loss. most of the weekly sessions, and included selling oper- ations on most of the traded stocks, which negatively Sectors’ Indices affected all the market indicators, to witness a strong All of KSE’s sectors ended last week in the red zone, drop of more than 4%, ending the week in the red zone except for one sector. The Insurance sector was the on an annual level, for the first time during the current only gainer, and ended last week with a 1.17% increase year. In addition, the stock market initiated its first ses- reaching 1,194.43 point. On the other hand, the sions with a decrease to all of its indices, among a Financial Services sector headed the losers list as its noticeable decline in the trading indicators, especially index declined by 6.86% to end the week’s activity at the value, in light of the selling operations that concen- 833.43 point. The Oil & Gas sector was second on the trated on a number of large-cap stocks, mostly in the losers’ list, which index declined by 5.74%, closing at Oil & Gas and Banks sectors, the most declined among 1,040.77 point, followed by the Banks sector, as its the market sectors by the end of the session. index closed at 1,000.69 point with a loss of 5.33%. However, the three stock indicators continued its decline in the next session affected by the continued Sectors’ Activity selling pressures in controlling the trading activity, The Financial Services sector dominated a total among an increase in the selling operations executed trade volume of 377.41 million shares changing hands on the small-cap stocks, especially the listed stocks in during last week, representing 47.39% of the total mar- the Financial Services and Real Estate sectors, which ket trading volume. The Real Estate sector was second caused the trading value to grow rapidly during the in terms of trading volume as the sector’s traded shares session. On the mid-week session, the stock market were 20.27% of last week’s total trading volume, with a continued its decline affected by the strong drop of the total of 161.40 million shares. On the other hand, the GCC stock markets meanwhile, as the three stock indi- Banks sector’s stocks were the highest traded in terms cators decreased noticeably, due to the selling pres- of value; with a turnover of KD58.74 million or 54.24% sures that included many stocks of all the market sec- of last week’s total market trading value. The Financial tors, except for the Insurance and Health Care sectors. Services sector took the second place as the sector’s Also, the stock market was able to rebound on last week turnover was KD18.72 million represented Wednesday’s session and the three stock indicators 17.29% of the total market trading value.

NBK introduces new features to S Korea keeps its Mobile Banking Application key rate at 2% SEOUL: South Korea’s central bank left its key interest rate Advanced and innovative services unchanged at 2.0 percent for December and warned its forecast of almost four percent growth next year would be “difficult” maintain. KUWAIT: National Bank of Kuwait (NBK) updated always been a reference point in light of the ease The economy is recovering at a slower-than-expected pace, and the its Mobile Banking Application to introduce sever- and convenience it offers to customers, not to Bank of Korea has revised its growth forecast for this year to 3.5 per- al new features. The new features include an mention that it is a free of charge service. cent from 3.8 percent, following growth of three percent in 2013. Arabic version and several other enhancements The new features introduced to this application The bank cut 0.25 percentage points off the rate in August and again designed to cater to its wide and growing cus- include as well locators for Cash Deposit Machine, in October. While export figures were solid, the BOK’s monetary poli- tomer base. “NBK has always taken the promotion locators, participat- cy committee said domestic demand was alternating between posi- lead when it comes to change. The new ing out lets in NBK Rewards pro- tive and negative territories. features added to the Mobile Banking gram, augmented reality and The 2.0 percent rate matches a record low last seen from Application reflect NBK’s commitment to many other services and February 2009 through June 2010, when Asia’s fourth-largest econo- providing its customers with the best and updates. Checking balances, my was trying to recover from the global financial crisis. Signs of most up-to-date banking services,” said transferring funds, Credit Card slowing growth pose an increasing challenge to Seoul policymakers, Mohammed Al Othman, NBK’s Assistant and phone bill payments, order- with a weak yen hurting the price competitiveness of South Korean General Manager, Consumer Banking ing checkbooks, requesting a firms against Japanese rivals in overseas markets. Bank of Korea Group. “The new and enhanced applica- printed account statement, ATM Governor Lee Ju-Yeol told journalists Thursday that the bank would tion in Arabic offers customers with the and branches locater are also struggle to hold to its forecast of a 3.9 percent economic growth added convenience making electronic provided within the application. next year which it issued two months earlier. “Having witnessed banking easier”. NBK’s free Mobile Banking appli- changes over the past two months, I am afraid it would be difficult Al Othman added “Electronic services cation for Android, Apple and for us to maintain the outlook of a 3.9 percent growth”, he said. represent the future of consumer bank- BlackBerry devices enables cus- Europe’s economic struggles have turned out to be “much worse” ing services and NBK always endeavors to Mohammed Al Othman tomers to easily and securely than expected and the slowdown in China is “palpable”, he added. consistently develop its services and products in manage their financials anytime, anywhere as long There have been calls for a further rate cut, but the BOK is concerned order to satisfy the growing financial needs of its as they are connected to the internet. NBK cus- by a surge in household debt as people take advantage of the low customers”. NBK adopts the-state-of-the-art bank- tomers can download NBK Mobile Banking on rate to take out mortgages. Household loans jumped by a monthly ing technologies and standards with the objective NBK.com or by logging into NBK Online. For assis- record of 7.8 trillion won ($7.1 billion) in October alone, according to of providing utmost convenience and ease to cus- tance, customers can visit any of NBK’s branches or the bank. Lee said the household debts were approaching the level tomers. NBK Mobile Banking application has call NBK Call Center at 1801801. where they constrict consumption, adding that total household debt is 1.6 times larger than total disposable incomes. — AFP SUNDAY, DECEMBER 14, 2014 BUSINESS

Malabar Gold & Diamonds reopened its outlet in Souk Al Watya

KUWAIT: Malabar Gold & Diamonds, one growing customer base. ornaments to the latest collection of of the leading jewelry retailers in the To celebrate this occasion, Malabar Malabar Gold & Diamonds without any Middle East reopened its expanded and Gold & Diamonds announced fabulous loss. Any 22 ct old gold ornaments can be restyled outlet in Souk Al Watya, Kuwait inaugural offers. For every purchase of exchanged with the latest Malabar Gold & on 11 December 2014. This renovated & jewelry worth KWD 400, the customers Diamonds designs by paying only making expanded outlet was jointly inaugurated can avail a 1 gm gold coin free from 11 to charges ensuring they don’t lose any val- by Indian Ambassador HE Sunil Jain and 14 December 2014. The outlet will also ue on the rate of gold. Sri Lankan Acting Ambassador HE take part in their largest jewelry event, Furthermore, 8 gm gold coins can be Muhammed Anas, in the presence of Malabar Gold & Diamonds Festival until bought from their outlets with absolutely Shamlal Ahamed M P, Managing Director- 31 January 2015. For every purchase of no making charge during this period. International Operations, Malabar Gold & gold jewelry above KD150, the customers Malabar Gold & Diamonds is always in the Diamonds; Afsal Khan, Zonal Head, get a ‘Scratch & Win’ coupon through forefront when it comes to festivals and Malabar Gold & Diamonds, other direc- which they can win a guaranteed gold celebrations. They have launched an tors, personalities from media and other coin or up to 100 gold coins instantly. exclusive collection in extravagant and well wishers of Malabar Gold & Diamonds. With every diamond jewelry purchase, opulent designs to make this festive sea- Located at one of the busiest streets in the customers get a ‘Scratch & Win’ son memorable. This is in addition to their Kuwait, the showroom features a magnifi- coupon for a guaranteed cash refund and branded jewelry segment that has set a cent and unique collection of gold, plat- get a chance to win up to 100% cash new trend in the jewelry design styles in inum and diamond jewelry in breathtak- back. the international markets. Their branded ing designs, catering to the diverse tastes The customers who buy diamond jew- segment includes Mine - Diamonds of their customers. The outlet is renovated elry worth KD150 or above are eligible to Unlimited, Era- Uncut Diamond Jewelry, just in time to welcome the festive season get both the coupons. To add customer’s Ethnix- Handcrafted Designer Jewelry, starting this December and the expansion delight, the group also offers ‘Zero Divine - Indian Heritage Jewelry, Precia- of the showroom is aimed at providing a Deduction Exchange’ scheme through Precious Gem Jewelry and Starlet - Kids superior shopping experience to its ever which customers can update their old Jewelry.

Petrobras delays results again IMF’s Lagarde ‘disappointed’ as corruption scandal grows by US inaction on reforms RIO DE JANEIRO: Brazil’s state-run oil financial data that it said will not be hit company Petroleo Brasileiro SA said it by asset-price adjustments related to delayed the release of its third-quarter the investigation. It did not release prof- US producer prices fall; inflation in check financial results for a second time on it or loss information. The company may Friday as a result of new developments be forced to write off up to 21 billion WASHINGTON: International Monetary Fund largest single shareholder by far, the US ratifica- index was the steep drop in energy prices, in a widening corruption probe. reais because of the scandal, invest- Managing Director Christine Lagarde said tion is essential to get the necessary endorse- wholesale goods excluding energy also fell for Prosecutors on Thursday indicted execu- ment bank Morgan Stanley said Nov 19. Friday she was disappointed that the US ment of 85 percent of the membership by vot- the second straight month, by 0.1 percent. tives of some of the country’s largest Among the details it released was third- Congress failed this week to ratify crucial IMF ing power. Lagarde earlier this year said IMF Services, which showed a sharp monthly engineering firms for allegedly skim- quarter unaudited net sales of 88.4 bil- reforms supported by other major countries. staff were putting together options for a “Plan gain in October, rose a modest 0.1 percent in ming billions of dollars off overpriced lion reais ($33.4 billion), 14 percent She said the US inaction on the reforms, B” in case US ratification failed. She said Friday November. Year-on-year overall producer prices contracts with the oil giant in a kickback more than the 77.7 billion reais report- delayed now more than two years by that the IMF would move in that direction were up 1.4 percent, the slowest rate of annual and bribery scheme. ed a year earlier. The scandal is putting Washington, would force the global crisis beginning next month. increase since January. Analysts said the slower Petrobras had set Friday as a deadline pressure on President Dilma Rousseff to lender to seek other ways to build its financial “As requested by our membership, we will price gains ease pressure on the Federal for the release, but it said in a statement it remove top management. While resources and modernize its voting structure. now proceed to discuss alternative options for Reserve to move towards an early interest rate has until Jan. 15, 2015, to present the Rousseff chaired the Petrobras board “The IMF’s membership has been calling on and advancing quota and governance reforms and hike. The Fed, which wants inflation to pick up was expecting the United States to approve the ensuring that the Fund has adequate resources, to around 2.0 percent, meets next week amid unaudited results without breaking from 2003 to 2010 she has denied IMF’s 2010 Quota and Governance Reforms by starting with an Executive Board meeting in signs of a pickup in economic growth and some covenants. If broken, the covenants could knowledge of the scheme. year end,” Lagarde said in a statement. January 2015,” she said. Earlier Friday China, the speculation it will raise its benchmark Fed put some of the company’s debt into Opposition leaders on Friday called “Adoption of the reforms remains critical to world’s second largest economy but with only Funds rate off the zero floor earlier than the technical default, forcing early repay- for the replacement of CEO Maria das strengthen the Fund’s credibility, legitimacy, four percent of voting rights in the Fund-barely projected mid-2015 period. ment. Petrobras first delayed the release GraÁas Foster after newspaper Valor and effectiveness, and to ensure it has suffi- larger than Italy’s-said it was “deeply disap- “Suffice it to say, inflation pressures remain of its third-quarter earnings last month Economico reported that she had been cient permanent resources to meet its mem- pointed” in the US inaction. The 2010 reforms very modest in the US, although less so when because of the expanding investigation warned about inflated costs at refinery bers’ needs.” “I have expressed my disappoint- would have increased China’s shareholding one excludes energy, which gives policymak- into bribery and money laundering. As projects from a former executive and ment to the US authorities and hope that they slightly, while leaving the US, Europe and Japan ers more wiggle room to hold back,” said new allegations surfaced, Petrobras’ audi- did not act. The newspaper said continue to work toward speedy ratification.” the dominant powers in the Fund. Jennifer Lee of BMO Capital Markets. Ian tor, PricewaterhouseCoopers, declined to Petrobras management not only failed The IMF was left hanging this week after US “Implementing the 2010 funding and gover- Shepherdson of Pantheon Macroeconomics legislators failed to endorse the reforms in the nance reform is crucial for maintaining the though said much could depend on the serv- certify the company’s accounts. to stop the misuse of funds but trans- final budget legislation of the year. credibility, effectiveness and legality of the IMF,” ices indicator, which has risen against the The corruption accusations have rat- ferred the executive, Venina Velosa da With the White House supportive of the foreign ministry spokesman Hong Lei said. grain for three months and could be a sign of tled the company, which was among Fonseca, to Singapore. Petrobras said in reforms, the IMF had held out hopes that a rati- a pickup in wages, an important inflation sig- the world’s 10 largest by market value a statement that Fonseca’s complaints fication would be included in the huge budget US producer prices nal for the Fed. “We see no inflation threat only six years ago and has seen its were duly investigated. It said Fonseca bill that was passed late Thursday. But Meanwhile, a fall in producer prices in from goods prices, either domestic or import- stock-market value shrink to about $50 was fired last month for threatening to Republicans in Congress prevented the bill November showed US inflation is still in check, ed, for the foreseeable future, but services will billion from nearly $300 billion. divulge alleged irregularities if she did from including Congressional endorsement. according to Labor Department figures be a different story if wages accelerate as we Petrobras did, however, release limited not get a management job. —Reuters Washington officially supported the reforms in released Friday. While the main reason for the expect over the next year,” he said in a client 2010 when they were formulated. As the IMF’s 0.2 percent fall last month in the producer price note.—Agencies Kuwait Real Estate Market Total value of real estate deals rises

KUWAIT: In November 2014, the total Sectoral Monthly Performance KD134.1 million increasing by 68.4% deals were made in the Crafts sector value of real estate deals increased - Having perused the monthly per- compared to last month. This sector for a total value of KD151,000 only. realizing KD441.9 million from 758 formance of different sectors in the witnessed approximately 4.5 times of Two deals were carried out in the deals executed during 21 working market, the residential sector is ranked total deals value of November 2013. Coastal sector for a total value of days. The average deal value indicator the 1st for the second consecutive This value has been reached from 19 KD808,000 only. The Showrooms and reached KD583,000. This increase is month in terms of total real estate deals only. The deal average value is Warehouse Sectors have not conclud- relatively fostered by a significant deals value indicator realizing KD189.3 KD7 million which is 2.5% lesser com- ed any deals this month. deal concluded at Al-Ahmadi million, and slightly increased pared to the average value last Governorate in the Commercial sec- by”25.4%” on monthly basis com- month, while higher by “15%” of the Geographical Monthly tor for an amount of KD92.6 million. pared to “21.3%” for November 2013. average deals value for November Performance Thus, the commercial sector’s share of In addition, the total number of deals 2013. Having perused the market per- market liquidity leaped up to formance on geographical basis, “30.3%”with a total value of KD134.1 Ahmadi Governorate came the first in million from 19 deals. both total trading value indicator (by On the other hand 626 deals were KD229 million) and total count of implemented in the Residential sec- deals indicator (447 deals). tor for a total value of KD”189.3” mil- Meanwhile, Hawally Governorate lion. In the Investment sector “109” came in the second place in the total deals only were concluded for an deals value indicator and the third in approximately total amount of “117.5” the total number of deals indicator, million. Two deals were made in the then followed by the other gover- Crafts and Coastal sectors. As for the norates as shown in the tables below: other sectors this month witnessed All in all, though there are not no deals. According to this month’s plain signs that the Kuwaiti real estate data, real estate market resumed its market is affected by the variations in activity at normal levels without any oil prices yet, there are certain signs clear signs of being affected by the which start to impact the investment changes in the global oil prices or the sector. The indicators dropped, conse- Kuwait Stock Exchange Market fall- quently, for the second month, how- back. Moreover, 2014 broke the in the residential sector increased to As for the investment sector, it ever to decisively affirm that these records of 2007 by realizing KD “4.46” “626” deals realizing an increase of came the third with a liquidity of fallbacks are essentially attributable billion total value of real estate deals 23.5% on both monthly and annual KD117.5 million only, dropping by to the drop of oil prices, additional compared to KD “4.45” billion in 2007. bases. The average monthly value of 19.2% on monthly basis and by 25.2% research and thorough examination In comparison with the correspon- deals increased by 15% only reaching on annual basis. The total count of will be needed. It is expected that the ding months during the period (2007 KD302.5,000 that is a decrease by 18% deals index in this sector declined by coming few months will witness - 2014), November/2014 came the in comparison with November 2013. 15.5% only on monthly basis and by clearer and more obvious indications 2nd after November/2007 in terms of The residential sector’s share of total 17.4% on annual basis with a 109 about the performance of Kuwait total deals value indicator, while came market liquidity reached approxi- deals only. The average deals value Real Estate market and how far it is the 3rd in terms of the deals count. mately 42.8%. indicator reached about KD1.07 mil- correlated to the international and November/2014 is ranked the 1st in The Commercial Sector came the lion only decreasing by 4.4% on local economic changes, which are terms of average deal value indicator second with “30.3%” of total market monthly basis and by 9.5% on annual originally based on changes in oil at an average of KD583,000 per deal. liquidity and with a total value of basis. As for the other sectors, two prices. BUSINESS SUNDAY, DECEMBER 14, 2014 flydubai adds 3 new routes

Network expanded to 89 destinations in 46 countries

KUWAIT: Dubai-based flydubai announced are very excited about the untapped the addition of three new routes to its opportunities in the emerging African mar- growing network. Flights to Chennai, kets, the progress the UAE has made on the Hargeisa and Nejran will commence in the bilateral front in India and the ongoing first quarter of 2015, further expanding the strong ties with Saudi.” The new announced carrier’s footprint to 89 destinations in 46 routes underline flydubai’s commitment to countries. With the addition of Nejran, fly- connecting the UAE to previously under- dubai now operates to 12 cities in Saudi served markets. The carrier has linked Arabia. The carrier is the first to serve Dubai to 56 underserved destinations since Nejran with four weekly flights from the it started its operations in 2009. UAE from 10 January 2015. From 05 March Sudhir Sreedharan, Senior Vice President 2015, flydubai will become the first carrier Commercial (GCC, Subcontinent, Africa) for Mutawa Alkazi Company to operate to Hargeisa, Somaliland from flydubai, said: “We are committed to bring- Dubai with four weekly flights. flydubai has ing flydubai’s high quality and reliable serv- expanded its network in Africa in 2014 to ices to underserved markets like Hargeisa 13 points served by 60 weekly flights. and Nejran, and giving passengers in more launches GAC vehicles Chennai, flydubai’s eighth destination in established markets like Chennai more India, will be served with three flights a options to travel to the UAE and beyond week from 31 March 2015, bringing the through Dubai’s aviation hub. We are sure KUWAIT: In a formal ceremony held at their total number of weekly flights operated by that both our Economy Class and Business Showroom in Tilal Complex, Shuwaikh, Mutawa flydubai to the market to 29. Class will exceed the passengers’ expecta- Alkazi Company celebrated the official launch of the Commenting on the new announce- tions and live up to the Dubai brand we GAC Brand in Kuwait. Senior statesmen and digni- ments, Hamad Obaidalla, Chief Commercial proudly carry in our name.” flydubai has a taries from the Chinese Embassy, executives from Officer at flydubai, said: “2014 continues to brand new fleet of 43 new Next-Generation the automotive industry and other trade sectors be a very busy year for flydubai. We have Boeing 737-800 aircraft and operates more attended the event. The Ceremony began at 6.30 announced 26 new routes since January than 1,200 flights a week across the Middle pm with ribbon cutting by: Yuan Xiaohua, Deputy General Manager of GAC Motor; Cheng Yuli, the and took delivery of eight new aircraft to East, GCC, Africa, Caucasus, Central Asia, Charge D’Affaires of the Chinese Embassy in Kuwait; support the phenomenal growth plans. We Europe and the Indian Subcontinent. Sulaiman Alkazi, Founder and Chairman of MutawaAlkazi Company and Omar Alkazi, CEO of MutawaAlkazi Company. The Celebration continued with a recital from the Holy Quran, followed by a musical performance by a young Chinese violinist, His friends call him Abdullah, who at 10 years of age impressed the audience by his performance and degree of mas- tery. The Master of Ceremonies, Hissa Al Loghani started the official ceremony with an introduction about GAC Motor and their new partnership with MutawaAlkazi Company. Yuan Xiaohua, the Deputy General Manager of GAC Motor, delivered the open- ing speech, in which he stated that the GAC Group was listed as 366th in the Fortune Global 500 in 2014 (an annual ranking of the top 500 corporations worldwide). steps taken by the Company and the circumstances medium-sized car, which has enjoyed great success Yuan highlighted the Group’s major activities as surrounding the agreement of cooperation between in the local market along the past few months since automotive research and development, production MutawaAlkazi Company and GAC Motor. He high- its introduction. and sale of vehicles, in addition to auto parts, lighted that the GAC Motor brand has great future He also spoke about the new models which will finance, insurance, commercial logistics, supply and potential, which has stemmed from the Group’s be introduced to the Kuwait market next year.The investment. He revealed detailed information about many years of experience in automotive production. GA6, a mid-size luxury sedan. Images of this excit- the GAC Group, stating that during the year 2013, The GAC Group also owns factories which pro- ing new vehicle were shown in the documentary the Group achieved production and sales of one mil- duces cars for major international car manufactur- film about the company. GAC Motor will also intro- lion automobiles with over 35 billion dollars sales ers, such as: Toyota, Mitsubishi, Honda, Fiat, duce a smaller-sized SUV, planned to be the market income. He also explained that GAC Motor is a whol- Chrysler, and Hino. The GAC Group is known to have leader in its class. Alkazi stated that MutawaAlkazi ly owned subsidiary of the GAC Group. In order to more partnerships with major automakers from Company will continue to provide the best prod- Wall Street hopes for targeted accelerate the development of GAC Motor, the around the world than any other. He explained that ucts, and do its utmost to provide the highest lev- Group has to date invested 10 billion Yuan (equiva- it was easy for a company that owns such produc- els of service to its valued customers, noting that Dodd-Frank rollbacks next year lent to 1.8 billion US dollars) in its world-class vehicle tion lines and enjoys such a vast experience in this the Company hadreceived many awards for achiev- plant, engine plant and its global Research and field to produce its own brand of cars using compo- ing ‘Number 1’ in Customer Satisfaction for both Development Center. nents from top quality manufacturers from all over Sales and Service over the years. Omar thanked his NEW YORK: Republicans managed to heartened by calls from regulators to GAC Motor has successfully launched a series of the world, such as America, Japan, Sweden and father Sulaiman Alkazi, Founder and Chairman of include some rollbacks to the 2010 exempt more small banks from a different car models such as the GA 5, GS5, GA3, and Canada etc. Alkazi introduced the current model Mutawa Alkazi Company, and stressed the role Dodd-Frank Wall Street reform law in proprietary trading ban known as GA3S. In it’s first year of sales, the GAC Motor brand lineup of GAC vehicles available for sale in their two played by him to support the company and to major legislation in Congress this week. the Volcker rule. Big and small banks achieved 17,000 units in sales in 2011 and reaching Showrooms in Kuwait, being: The GA3 small size ensure its success and ability to compete strongly Experts said the victories likely do not also are pushing for certain securi- 85,000 units in 2013. Estimated sales of cars could sedan; The GA5 middle size sedan; The GS5 SUV in the Kuwaiti market. spell the end of the law, but they pre- ties to be carved out of the rule, reach120,000 in 2014. GAC Motor plans to invest 34 dicted some narrow changes with bipar- which also bars banks from some billion Yuan (US$6.5 billion) in the promotion of 20 tisan support could become law. Here investments. new car models over the next five years, including are some of the Dodd-Frank changes electric powered cars. It is estimated that total sales bank lobbyists, congressional aides, and Consumer bureau will reach 500,000 cars in 2017 and one million vehi- Gulf Bank announces winners political observers say could have legs Republicans want to rein in the cles by 2020. next year: Consumer Financial Protection In January 2014, GAC Motor unveiled its new of the Al Danah Daily Draws Bureau, which was created by Dodd- global strategy for development under the theme of Regional banks Frank to watch out for financial “development and work, a comprehensive frame- KUWAIT: Gulf Bank held its Al Danah Daily money saved and the longer it is in the Regional banks want to change the scams. There could be some conces- work, step by step development and major break- Draws on December 7th, 2014, announcing account, the more chances individuals stand method US regulators use to determine sions, such as assigning the bureau throughs”. GAC Motor is capitalizing on key markets the names of its winners for the week of to win. Every Al Danah prize draws will auto- which are considered big enough that its own inspector general rather than to develop peripheral regions. According to GAC November 30th to December 4th. The Al matically be deposited into the winner’s their failure could threaten markets. having it share a watchdog with the Motor’s strategic scheme of priorities on a global Danah daily draws include draws each work- account within two working days. Al Danah Federal Reserve Governor Daniel Tarullo Fed. But Democrats are likely to fight level, there is great potential for the development of ing day for two prizes of KD1000 per winner. also offers a number of unique services has said the threshold could be raised so bigger changes, such as replacing the Middle East market. MutawaAlkazi Company is The winners were: (Sunday 30/11): Khalid including the Al Danah Deposit Only ATM that fewer banks fall under this defini- the bureau’s director with a biparti- the first international Distributor and partner of GAC Saleh Sulaiman Al-Aftan, Bandar Muhanna card which helps account holders deposit tion, which brings tougher regulations. san board or giving Congress control Motor. Faleh Al-Enezi; (Monday 01/12): Sattam Ahdi their money at their convenience; as well as over its funding. GAC Motor has begun as a medium and high- Fahad Al-Marzouq, Abdullah Yousef Hussain the Al Danah calculator to help customers cal- Bankruptcy code end brand category, to occupy its position through Dashti; (Tuesday 02/12): Ahmed Ismael culate their chances of becoming an Al Danah Regulators are accustomed to Mortgage fees the use of high-quality global resources, and its per- Abdullah Al-Banai, Adelah Ebrahim Jassem winner. unwinding small banks but grappled Bank lobbyists also said Congress manent presence in the field of development. It cre- Maarafi; (Wednesday 03/12): Rozbeh Zarei, Gulf Bank’s Al Danah account is open to during the crisis with numerous Wall might tweak some mortgage rules ated the brand according to international standards Saad Kamel Sharif Al-Fadhly; (Thursday Kuwaitis and all residents of Kuwait. Street banks on the verge of toppling. created under Dodd-Frank. One in the field of safety, superior quality and outstand- 04/12): Mahmoud Faisal Mahmoud Customers who open an account and/ or Dodd-Frank sought to solve this by cre- potential change would be to adjust ing performance. Yuan concluded his speech by Behbahani, Haifa Sadaf Ali Hussain Al-Bahrani. deposit more will enter the draw within two ating a program in which banks would what fees count toward a consumer greeting the audience and the Executive Gulf Bank’s Al Danah 2014 draw lineup days. To take part in the Al Danah 2014 go through bankruptcy if possible. If bureau rule known as the “ability to Management of MutawaAlkazi Company. A docu- includes daily draws (2 winners per working upcoming yearly draw, customers must have not, regulators would step in and repay” requirement. mentary film was introduced, showing the compa- day each receive KD1000). The final Al Danah an Al Danah account containing at least KD restructure them. Republicans think this ny’s advanced capabilities and the philosophy it draw for the Million Dinars will be held on 8 200. To be part of the Al Danah draws, cus- process too closely resembles a bailout, Commodities bills believes in and adopts. The film also reviewed the January, 2015 whereby the Al Danah tomers can visit one of Gulf Bank’s 58 branch- and bank lobbyists are seeking a change Several commodity-related Dodd- cars produced by the company in detail, namely Millionaire will be announced alongside win- es, transfer on line, or call the Customer to the bankruptcy code to make it more Frank changes have already passed GA5, GS5, GA3, and GA3S. ners of KD50,000 and KD250,000. Al Danah Contact Center on 1805805 for assistance and likely failed institutions would be the House with bipartisan support. The next speech was delivered by Omar Alkazi, allows customers to win cash prizes and guidance. Customers can also log on to resolved that way. One could give Wall Street more cer- Chief Executive Officer of MutawaAlkazi Company, simultaneously encourages them to save. www.e-gulfbank.com/aldanahwinners, to tainty by requiring US regulators to who started by greeting the audience and with par- Each KD100 gives the customer 1 chance dai- find out more about Al Danah and who the Volcker rule better coordinate on a joint rule for ticular praise for the Company’s employees, whom ly which accumulates day by day. The more winners are. The financial industry has been cross-border swaps. — Reuters he considered the true heroes and the Company’s most important asset. He then spoke about the Kalyan Jewelers enters Kuwait with 3 signature showrooms Brand Ambassador Amitabh Bachchan to flag off Kuwait foray

KUWAIT: Kalyan Jewelers, one of India’s most trusted jewelry stone for the brand. With the launch in Kuwait, the total number lation. There has been a steady rise in the demand for exquisite With the three showrooms opening in Kuwait, Kalyan brands, has announced its foray into Kuwait with the opening of of showrooms will be 77 across West Asia and India. The Kuwait precious jewelry across West Asia as a whole and we have ambi- Jewellers will have 77 outlets spread across West Asia and India three signature showrooms on December 26, 2014. The show- market is sophisticated and our objective is to provide a wide tious plans for consolidating our position in Kuwait. This foray is including nine in the UAE. It will also add Qatar to its presence rooms will be located in Fahaheel, Al Rai Kuwait and Malia range of designs that will fulfill distinct local tastes of customers, part of our ongoing commitment in expanding our customer shortly. By the end of fiscal 2015, Kalyan Jewellers is targeting (Kuwait City). Amitabh Bachchan, a stalwart of Indian cinema whilst also serving the needs of the significant expatriate popu- reach through investments in new showrooms.” 100 showrooms. Kalyan Jewelers recently attracted a significant and the Brand Ambassador of Kalyan Jewelers will inaugurate investment of USD 200 million from leading private equity the outlets, along with the other Ambassadors Manju Warrier investor Warburg Pincus. The investment is set to accelerate the (Malayalam film actress) and Prabhu Ganesan (Tamil film actor). growth plans of Kalyan Jewelers as it consolidates its leading The Chairman of the group T S Kalyanaraman, and the position in the existing markets and enters global markets Executive Directors Rajesh Kalyanaraman and Ramesh including Singapore and Malaysia. Since the investment from Kalyanaraman will also be present for the inauguration. At the Warburg Pincus, Kalyan Jewelers has added over 15 showrooms inauguration of the stores, the three celebrities will jointly to its network. address the members of the public from a specially erected Kalyan Jewelers is one of the most trusted brands in India stage. Bachchan, Warrier and Ganesan will also grace a gala and has developed a deep connect among its stakeholders with evening celebrating the entry into Kuwait as also surpassing a its brand promise of ‘Trust is Everything’. Kalyan Jewelers has historic figure of 75 showrooms in the Kalyan Jewelers network. developed a distinct image among consumers by smartly lever- The opening of Kalyan Jewelers showrooms in Kuwait is part aging its brand ambassadors. Kalyan was the first jewelry brand of the company’s growth plans to expand its presence in Gulf in the country to have a male as a brand ambassador, successful- Cooperation Council countries and is aimed at providing the ly defying the convention in jewelry marketing. Kalyan Jewelers best jewelry buying experience for customers. The showrooms, has also invested in educational campaigns befriending the con- curated in close partnership with designers and stylists will be sumers with its insights and sharing of knowledge. Amitabh offering an exquisite and extensive collection of jewelry, with Bachchan and Aishwarya Rai Bachchan are the brand ambassa- stunning designs. dors of Kalyan Jewelers. The brand also has regional icons like Speaking on the occasion, TS Kalyanaraman, Chairman & Prabhu Ganesan, Nagarjuna, Shivaraj Kumar and Manju Warrier Managing Director, Kalyan Jewelers said, “This is a momentous associated with the brand. Kalyan Jewelers has been ranked occasion as the Kuwait launch coincides with a significant mile- among Top 10 Trend Setting Brands in India (Pitch, 2013). SUNDAY, DECEMBER 14, 2014 technology

Middle East and Africa PC market reports steady growth

DUBAI: The Middle East and Africa (MEA) PC market posted year-on- “Vendors also had to contend with a general slowdown in PC year growth in Q3 2014, spurred in large part by two significant edu- demand across the region due to the growing popularity of tablets cation deals in Pakistan and the revival of the Egyptian market. The and smartphones,” continues Charakla. “Indeed, an overall regional latest figures announced last week by International Data Corporation decline was only averted by the delivery of 150,000 notebooks into (IDC) show that the market expanded 2.1% in volume terms during Pakistan’s education sector and the return of relative calm to Egypt, the quarter to reach a total of 4.26 million units. As in the previous which saw these two countries become by far the fastest growing quarter, growth was seen across both the desktop and portable PC markets during the quarter.” segments. The three leading PC vendors in MEA remained unchanged from IDC data shows that desktop shipments to MEA increased 3.6% the previous quarter, and it is worth noting that these three vendors year on year in Q3 2014 to total 1.73 million units, while shipments of are the only multinational players to have maintained a stronghold in portable PCs were up 1.1% over the same period to total 2.53 million the region’s commercial segment. HP continued to lead in terms of units. Vendors were seen shipping a growing volume of notebooks market share, posting year-on-year unit growth of 14.4% for the quar- carrying Microsoft’s ‘Bing’ internet search solution to the region, but ter. Second-placed Lenovo continued to benefit from strong con- despite being aggressively priced at around $300, there wasn’t much sumer demand and was again the fastest growing major PC vendor in demand for these devices during the quarter. the region, increasing its shipments 58.2% year on year. Third-ranked “The market overcame ongoing instability in certain parts of the Dell recorded 23.0% year-on-year growth, with one of the previously region to maintain its state of growth in Q3 2014,” says Fouad Rafiq mentioned education deals in Pakistan serving as a major driver for Charakla, research manager for personal computing, systems, and the vendor. infrastructure solutions at IDC Middle East, Turkey, and Africa. “For “Looking to the future, IDC expects the MEA PC market to shrink example, the Nigerian market was hit hard by the outbreak of Ebola, 2.0% overall in 2014,” says Charakla. “The market will remain close to Fouad Charakla while the war-like situation in Iraq greatly inhibited shipments to the flat over the coming five years, and may even experience some minor etrated MEA markets - including Egypt, Pakistan, Nigeria, and some ‘Rest of the Middle East’ sub-region comprising Iran, Iraq, Syria, declines, with demand for both desktops and portable PCs continuing smaller African countries - will continue to experience growth, pre- Yemen, Palestine, and Afghanistan.” to slow in many parts of the region. However, a number of underpen- venting the overall region from experiencing any significant declines.”

The NuForce MMP, a small headphone amplifier, in Decatur, Ga. The amplifier increases The Sphero robotic ball, in Decatur, Ga. The Sphero is con- The Cogito Classic smart watch, in Decatur, Ga. The watch contains Bluetooth technolo- the volume of audio coming from small portable devices to optimize the performance trolled with an app on a smartphone and can roll, glow, gy and can communicate with a smartphone to deliver social media notifications as well of high-quality headphones. spin, shake and dance, all under the direction of the user. as email and calendar alerts. — AP Photos Too many drinks? Small, smart stocking techie stuffers ATLANTA: If you were naughty this year, you might end up with something big and boring, New cellphone app like a vacuum cleaner. If you were good, you might ask for one of these little high-tech gems instead. may tell you so Yes, there is a digital projector that can fit into a Christmas stocking. That, in itself, is an accomplishment. It’s also a hearty performer NEW YORK: A new federally funded cell- pressing a red “brake” button when an phone app allows people who may have image of a pedestrian passes by or a car for its size. had one too many to get an idea just how ahead stops. The app says just how fast - The Asus S1 weighs less than a pound and drunk they are - and hail a ride home. or slow - users react and how much time has a battery that can last up to three hours. Users enter their sex, height, weight, their car would have needed to avoid a That claim held up well during my tests, which and number of drinks consumed to help collision. included hosting a children’s sleepover view- figure out their blood-alcohol level. They The other game shows nine road signs ing of “Frozen” on a large wall. I successfully also can play two interactive games to that blink in different order; users try to connected an Android smartphone and an test reaction time and cognitive agility. recall the order, which gets increasingly Xbox 360 and used the S1 to project what’s on And the app uses GPS technology to call challenging with each round - with or those screens. The most fun came when I cabs and pre-load phone numbers for without drinks. plugged a small Roku Streaming Stick directly potential designated drivers. “The game is meant to be a hook and into the projector’s HDMI port. Within minutes, The app, called ENDUI - pronounced pull you in,” said Tom Gianni, chief of the I was watching Netflix and playing “Angry “End DUI” - was announced Thursday by Maryland Highway Safety Office. “Then Birds” on large walls throughout my house, government and police officials in it’s meant to give you a lesson of, ‘See with no power cords in sight. Maryland. Funded by federal money what can happen. Imagine if you were The S1 has a nice built-in speaker, but I teth- The ASUS S1 digital projector, in Decatur, Ga. The projector has a built-in rechargable battery, reserved for drunken-driving education behind the wheel.’” ered it to a large portable speaker for movie HDMI input port and weighs less than a pound. efforts, the app is among several in a A feature that estimates blood-alcohol night. Cogito Classic smartwatch ($180): If handful of states to tackle drunken driv- levels has users enter their height and you’re going to buy your loved one a nice ing - though Maryland’s is one of the weight, and details about what kind and watch, it might as well talk to your phone. most elaborate. “It’s unique,” said Kara how many drinks they have. For instance, Right? Macek, a spokeswoman at the Governors the app estimates that a 130-pound Highway Safety Association, of the new woman who just drank a glass of red The Cogito Classic does just that, connect- app, which was developed by the wine would have a blood-alcohol level of ing to your phone via Bluetooth and alerting Maryland Highway Safety Office for .04 percent. you when text messages, social media updates about $50,000. The app was funded by Though that’s under Maryland’s legal or phone calls come in. I often tuck my phone the National Highway Traffic Safety limit of .08 percent, the app warns that in a back pocket or backpack when I’m walk- Administration. “driving ability is likely to be impaired.” ing around town or on assignment. With a “I think states are starting to go that “Get a cab or have someone that has not quick glance at the Cogito, I can see who’s try- route because they’re trying to reach been drinking take you home,” the app ing to reach me. I also get calendar alerts with consumers where they are and where advises. some details about upcoming meetings. they spend time, and everyone spends At nearly every step, the app warns Unlike other smartwatches that require dai- time on their phone,” Macek said. “I think users that no matter what the results, “dri- ly recharge, the Cogito Classic uses standard we’re going to see more of that as we go ving with any amount of alcohol in your watch batteries that should last for months. It forward.” system may impair you and be illegal.” also has traditional analog hands alongside a States with similar apps include New Gianni called the driving-related fea- digital time display. York, New Mexico, Colorado, and tures the most important for someone There are a lot of smartwatches, but the The MOS smartphone charging cables, in Decatur, Ga. The cables are reinforced with strong woven California, which launched its version two who’s been drinking. “It kind of takes the Cogito Classic stands out by blending classic material along their length and anodized aluminum protection at the connector ends. weeks ago. guesswork out of a situation where handsome styling and just enough smart noti- Like the other states, Maryland’s app is you’ve had a few drinks and you’re not fications to keep you informed without over- available for free on Android and iPhone. sure what to,” Gianni said. “This takes all burdening you with gobs of information to One of the games on the app involves the brainwork out of it.” — AP read. The Sphero is a plastic ball full of smart electronics and sensors. With a phone or Iran hackers may target US tablet, you can make the ball spin, swim, chase energy, defense firms, FBI warns your dog and even dance in response to com- pleting challenges. For the rugged outdoors, BOSTON: The Federal Bureau of Investigation the campaign, a claim Iran has vehemently you’ll want to outfit the Sphero with a knobby has warned US businesses to be on the alert denied. rubber cover, which is sold separately for $15. for a sophisticated Iranian hacking operation An FBI official did not provide further The Sphero comes with a couple of jump whose targets include defense contractors, details, but said the agency routinely provides ramps. It can quickly reach top speed and go energy firms and educational institutions, private industry with advisories to help it fend flying off the jumps, or you can create your according to a confidential agency document. off cyber threats. own robot obstacle course out of ordinary The operation is the same as one flagged The Pentagon and National Security objects. It is the smart round robot of choice. last week by cyber security firm Cylance Inc as Agency had no immediate comment. Tehran Intel Edison and Arduino Breakout Kit ($100): has been substantially increasing investment targeting critical infrastructure organizations The Edison is an Intel-chip Linux computer worldwide, cyber security experts said. in its cyber capabilities since 2010, when its about the size of an SD memory card. It has Cylance has said it uncovered more than 50 nuclear program was hit by the Stuxnet com- victims from what it dubbed Operation puter virus, widely believed to have been Wi-Fi and Bluetooth capabilities built in, mak- The Intel Edison, a small programmable computer the size of an SD memory card, seated on Cleaver, in 16 countries, including the United launched by the United States and Israel. ing it ripe for developing portable or wear- an electronics expansion board, in Decatur, Ga. The Edison has both Wi-Fi and Bluetooth tech- States. The FBI’s confidential “Flash” report, Cyber security professionals who investigate able devices, or just fun side projects. nology built in, as well as a full distribution of the Linux operating system. seen by Reuters on Friday, provides technical cyber attacks said that they are seeing evi- expansion devices. smartphone came with charging and syncing details about malicious software and tech- dence that Iran’s investment is paying off. NuForce Mobile Music Pump ($60): I tried a kit that included an Arduino The amplifier in your smartphone likely cables. The bad news? They don’t always last niques used in the attacks, along with advice “They are good and have a lot of talent in isn’t strong enough to drive high-quality very long, given the daily use we put them on thwarting the hackers. It asked businesses the country,” said Dave Kennedy, CEO of expansion board, which allowed me to pro- headphones. That’s where a portable head- through. Give the gift of durability with these to contact the FBI if they believed they were TrustedSEC LLC. “They are definitely a serious gram the Edison using both a Mac and a victims. threat, no question.” Windows computer. I connected the Edison to phone amplifier can be useful. tough cables from MOS. Cylance Chief Executive Stuart McClure said Iranian hackers are increasingly being my home Wi-Fi network and got a few lights This matchbox-sized amp from NuForce I tried the company’s Lightning cable for the FBI warning suggested that the Iranian blamed for sophisticated cyberattacks. to blink in sequence. From there, I can incor- pumped up the volume for me while retain- the iPhone 5s and Micro-USB cable for a hacking campaign may have been larger than Bloomberg Businessweek on Thursday report- porate small speakers, proximity sensors and ing clarity and limiting distortion on several Samsung Galaxy S4. They’re better than the its own research revealed. “It underscores Iran’s ed that Iranian hacker activists were responsi- other small add-ons to flesh out the project of larger, over-the-ear headphones I tried. My standard, out-of-the-box cables thanks to a determination and fixation on large-scale ble for a devastating February 2014 attack on my choice. This kit and other Edison-related headphones plugged into the amp, and the spring-relief sleeve where the cable meets compromise of critical infrastructure,” he said. casino operator Las Vegas Sands Corp, which products are great for seasoned electronics or amp plugged into my phone. My music sud- the plug and a rugged woven sheath that The FBI’s technical document said the hack- crippled thousands of servers by wiping them software enthusiasts who like to brew their denly had more bass and more acoustic protects the full length of the cable. They’re ers typically launch their attacks from two IP with destructive malware. It said the hackers own projects around the house. The online range.The NuForce MMP is a nice affordable smartly finished with sleek, anodized alu- addresses that are in Iran, but did not attribute sought to punish Sands CEO Sheldon Adelson retailer SparkFun Electronics sells these kits, companion for the audiophile on the go.MOS minum heads housing the connector ends. If for comments he made about detonating a the attacks to the Tehran government. Cylance along with a multitude of Arduino-friendly phone cables ($30 Lightning of Apple; $20 cables can be sexy, these MOS cables are has said it believes Iran’s government is behind nuclear bomb in Iran. — Reuters Micro-USB for Android): The good news? Your sexy. —AP SUNDAY, DECEMBER 14, 2014 HEALTH & SCIENCE Sierra Leone to ban Xmas parties to curb Ebola spread

DAKAR: Sierra Leone plans to ban parties ning what they have called a “surge” in their and other festivities over the Christmas and response in and around the capital New Year’s holidays and to launch a “surge” Freetown, aimed at stemming the increas- to cut the risk of Ebola spreading further in ing rise of Ebola infections. For several the West African country now with the weeks, most of the new infections have most infections, officials said on Friday. been showing up in and around Freetown. Sierra Leone is struggling to reduce the At least more than five areas in the far west spread of the viral hemorrhagic fever as the and far east of Freetown will be particularly death toll in West Africa continues to rise, targeted where epidemiologists say sick fueled in part by increasing infections in people still refuse to report to treatment the country. centers. Data published by WHO on Friday Figures from the World Health showed that there were some 8,086 cases Organization on Friday showed 6,583 peo- in Sierra Leone, with nearly 1,900 deaths. ple have died from the disease in three The monthlong surge, which will start states in West Africa - Guinea, Sierra Leone on Wednesday, is aimed at strengthening and Liberia - out of 18,188 cases. “The gov- the country’s response, especially in terms ernment is planning to keep people of tracing people who have contracted indoors during Christmas through Boxing Ebola, according to Palo Conteh, the head Day and New Year,” said Jarrah Kawusu- of Sierra Leone’s National Ebola Response Konte, a spokesman for Sierra Leone’s presi- Center (NERC). “We want to get sick people dent. He told Reuters that the government out of their homes and take them to treat- would deploy soldiers across the country to ment centers, more of which we will be enforce the measure, which would include opening next week,” Conteh said in a ban on parties and other gatherings. Freetown. NERC Coordinator Stephen “When you have parties, the risks are very Gaojia said there would be “door-to-door” high. We are very anxious to break the chain visits as people were still dying at home of transmission through parties and gather- because they were refusing to report to ings,” Kawusu-Konte said. He did not specify health facilities even when infected. He the date when the ban would take effect. added that 900 beds would be made avail- able to take in the sick in order to reduce Ebola response surge the transmission rate in the western area MELIANDOU: A child grabs food from a woman in the Guinean village of Meliandou, some 400 miles (600 In addition to the ban on gatherings, after New Year’s Day and to ultimately stop kms) south-east of Conakry, Guinea, believed to be Ebola’s ground zero. —AP Sierra Leonean authorities are also plan- transmission of Ebola. —Reuters UN climate talks run into overtime amid deadlock With rich-poor split, as nations clash

LIMA: UN climate talks went deep Minister Manuel Pulgar-Vidal plead- emissions, but also financial help working on has been stripped down into overtime on Friday as negotia- ed with negotiators. “We need to and adaptation aid to shore up their to its bare bones to accommodate tors struggled to break a deadlock take political decisions.” climate defenses. A format for the the whims of the lowest common between rich and developing Countries disagree on how a pledges must be agreed in the denominator,” said Christian Aid’s nations on the underpinnings of a principle called “differentiation” will Peruvian capital to allow countries Mohamed Adow. “Right now we are world carbon-cutting pact. A years- apply in a process next year of to start their submissions from the facing the prospect of being no fur- old dispute over sharing responsibil- declaring national pledges for curb- first quarter of next year. They will ther forward than we were when we ity for curbing greenhouse gases ing Earth-warming fossil fuel emis- be at the core of a global climate left last year’s meeting in Warsaw.” Green group WWF, also observing the annual negotiations round, said the new draft “contains a mixed bag of options.” “It’s crunch time for nego- tiators here in Lima and everything is still up in the air,” WWF said. The goal of the pact was set down in Durban in 2011, but negotiations on its scope and scale have been a minefield. “Some key elements fell to the cut- ting room floor and are not in the text at all,” Union of Concerned Scientists analyst Alden Meyer said of the latest draft. Dropped text includ- ed language on absolute, economy- wide mitigation targets for devel- oped countries. The current range of options on key points “go from weak or minimal, to barely acceptable, to OK,” said Meyer. And he predicted differentia- tion would remain a tough issue, NEWTOWN: A chalk board painted column is displayed at the center in having been “pretty much scrubbed Newtown, Conn. Founded after the 2012 Sandy Hook Elementary shootings, out of most of the text.” “That may the center offers the community mental and emotional health programs not be acceptable to some” develop- that include art, music and play therapy. —AP ing countries, he said. Another major blocking point is whether or not to have a process to assess the pledges’ Mental health problems global impact on the two degrees goal-with China a key opponent. emerging in Newtown Pope Francis also weighed in on the debate, saying in a letter to Pulgar- NEWTOWN: Anxiety, depression, guilt, couldn’t handle crowds or loud noises,” said LIMA: Activist depicting Canada’s Prime Minister Stephen Harper (left), China’s President Xi Vidal that “time to find global solu- sleeplessness, marital strife, drug and alcohol Hegarty, who took cover under a conference Jinping (2nd left), Russia’s President Vladimir Putin (right), India’s Prime Minister Narendra Modi tions is running out.”“We can only abuse - two years after the massacre at table during the shooting while the principal (2nd right) and Japan’s Prime Minister Shinzo Abe (center) demonstrate on the sidelines of the find adequate solutions if we act Sandy Hook Elementary School, the scope of and psychologist she had been meeting with together,” the Pope said in a message UN COP20 and CMP10 climate change conferences being held in Lima. —AFP the psychological damage to children, par- died. Thursday. ents and others is becoming clear, and the “For my girls, there is less running down There was a “moral imperative to need for treatment is likely to persist a long the hallway in the middle of the night and saw the 12-day negotiations enter a sions. Developing nations insist the pact that nations have agreed to act,” he said. Climate change “affects all time. “Here it is two years later, and it’s still climbing into my bed. They want to go more familiar phase of poker-like holdout, West must bear a bigger burden for sign in Paris in December 2015, to of humanity, in particular the poorest, hard to deal with. But, God, you didn’t want places instead of staying at home all the darkening prospects for the ambi- the carbon cuts, having started enter into effect by 2020, seeking to and future generations.” Scientists say to know me two years ago,” said Beth time.” Newtown has received about $15 mil- tious environmental accord. Hours decades earlier to pollute their way limit average global warming to two two degree Celsius warming is rela- Hegarty, a Sandy Hook mother who hap- lion in grants from the US Education after the scheduled close of the ses- to prosperity. But rich countries degrees Celsius (3.6 degrees tively safe but still no guarantee pened to be inside the school that day with Department and the US Justice Department sion, officials and ministers were point the finger at developing Fahrenheit) over pre-Industrial against damage to the climate sys- her three daughters, all of whom survived. to support its recovery. The Newtown-Sandy engaged in frantic haggling over a giants like China and India furiously Revolution levels. tem. On current carbon trends, the Hegarty and her girls are among the thou- Hook Community Foundation, which over- draft outlining a variety of country burning coal to power their rapid planet is on course for around four sands of people in this close-knit town of sees the biggest pot of private donations approaches-trying to whittle it growth. ‘Crunch time’ degrees Celsius warming this century, 27,000 who have taken advantage of coun- made to Newtown, has about $4 million left down to a consensus text. “We are Developing nations further Campaigners in Lima said they dooming future generations to a plan- seling and other programs made available after paying out more than $7 million to the almost there. We need to make just demand that pledges incorporate feared a weak-willed compromise. et of worsening drought, flood, storm through millions in grants and donations. families of the 26 victims and other children a final effort,” Peruvian Environment not only action on reducing carbon “The latest text which countries are and rising seas, they say.—AFP With the second anniversary of the shoot- who were in the same classrooms but sur- ing rampage approaching Sunday, agencies vived. have been working to set up a support sys- Newtown Youth and Family Services, the tem for the next 12 to 15 years, as the main mental health agency, has quadrupled Records: Cellphone, DNA youngest survivors approach adulthood. its counseling staff, adding 29 positions in Mental health officials say the demand for the months following the shootings, treatment is high, with many people report- Executive Director Candice Bohr said. She ing substance abuse, relationship troubles, said the federal grant money that recently linked man to sex assault disorganization, depression, overthinking or came through will help cover its costs. inability to sleep, all related to the Dec. 14, Jennifer Barahona, director of the foundation 2012, attack in which a young man killed 20 overseeing the private dollars, said the group KANSAS CITY: A damaged cellphone and argued that the defense didn’t have a good said firefighters went to the park near Wichita children and six educators before commit- has been spending about $60,000 a month DNA evidence were used to connect a man reason for the records to be sealed, as State University after a neighbor reported a ting suicide. on one-on-one counseling for people who And some of the problems are just now have no insurance or whose insurers won’t accused of raping and fatally burning a required under a grassfire. There, the firefighters found a nude coming to the surface. “We’ve found the cover such treatment. She said more people woman at a Wichita, Kansas, park to the law that took effect in July. The new law and bloody Davis. The affidavits say Davis told issues are more complex in the second year,” are reaching out for help every day. crime, affidavits released Friday show. A reversed one dating to the 1980s that closed firefighters that someone she didn’t know said Joseph Erardi, Newtown’s school super- The Newtown school system is starting a judge Friday ordered the release of the docu- the records to the public unless otherwise had raped her, beaten her and set her on fire. intendent. “A lot of people were running on long-term program to teach young people ments used to support charges against ordered by a court to be unsealed. Lyndon W In objecting to the release of the records, adrenaline the first year.” The Hegarty chil- from kindergarten through high school how Cornell McNeal after The Associated Press, Vix, an attorney for the five media outlets, McNeal’s defense said the state law provides dren have had trouble sleeping and difficulty to handle their feelings. It is also setting up a The Wichita Eagle and broadcasters KWCH, said Judge Ben Burgess’ ruling “is consistent grounds for sealing affidavits if their disclo- with loud noises and crowds. Whenever they mental health center at the middle school in leave the house, they look for places they January to help those who were affected by KAKE and KSN argued that they are “pre- with what the intent of the Legislature was sure would “endanger the life or physical safe- can hide in case something bad happens. In the tragedy while in elementary school. sumed to be open” under a new Kansas law. when they passed this legislation.” ty of any person.” The defense contends the February, a school counselor suggested the Teachers have been trained to identify stu- McNeal, 26, is jailed on a $1.25 million bond The affidavits provided only few new section applies because prosecutors could family seek help because one of the daugh- dents who might have mental health prob- on charges that include one count of capital details. Among them were that authorities seek the death penalty and because McNeal ters wasn’t paying attention in class; she was lems. Melissa Brymer, director of terrorism murder or an alternative count of first-degree connected McNeal to the attack through could become a target of other inmates. staring at the doorway. and disaster programs at the UCLA-Duke murder in the death of 36-year-old Letitia forensic evidence obtained from a sexual Prosecutors didn’t object to the release of the Hegarty and her children have been National Center for Child Traumatic Stress, “Tish” Davis. assault examination and through a damaged records. Other courts have grappled with the receiving support from Newtown’s Resiliency has been consulting with Newtown to devel- Center, an organization formed after the op a plan to make sure the mental health The mother of four suffered from burns on flip phone found at the park. McNeal told new law. A Douglas County judge agreed in shooting that has seen rising demand for its needs are met for another 12 to 15 years. more than half her body and cuts on her investigators that he got a lighter from a November to release a redacted version of a offerings, which include art, music and play Hegarty said she struggles with survivor head in the Nov. 14 attack and died Nov 22. woman outside a bar in the area on the night previously sealed probable cause affidavit therapy. Hegarty said the programs have guilt, but the Resiliency Center has helped McNeal’s attorney had sought to keep the of the attack but denied having any contact after the Lawrence Journal-World went to helped her become more “even-keeled.” “I her and her children. “Are we 100 percent? records closed. However, the media outlets with a woman in the park. The documents court.—AP was super reactive to everything. I would fly No,” she said. “But will we ever be 100 per- off the handle on a whim. I was emotional. I cent? We might not be.” —AP SUNDAY, DECEMBER 14, 2014 HEALTH & SCIENCE Testing quandary for women with dense breasts

WASHINGTON: More women are breast tissue is very dense have a effect in January. Similar legislation Monday. They modeled what would women consider the trade-offs as UCSF’s Kerlikowske said the real learning their breasts are so dense greater risk of developing breast has been introduced in Congress. happen if women with dense they decide for themselves issue in deciding whether any that it’s more difficult for mammo- cancer than women whose breasts What’s not clear is what a breasts routinely received an ultra- whether to pursue an ultrasound. woman needs extra screening - grams to spot cancer. But new contain more fatty tissue. Laws in 19 woman who’s told her breasts are sound exam after every mammo- About 40 percent of women get- from an ultrasound to a more research suggests automatically states require women to be told if dense should do next, if anything. gram, and calculated such a policy ting mammograms have dense expensive MRI - is her overall risk of giving them an extra test isn’t nec- they have dense breasts after a Some of the laws suggest extra would cost a lot, in extra tests and breasts, either fairly widespread breast cancer. Her team helped cre- essarily the solution. Screening isn’t mammogram, with Missouri’s and screening may be in order. Not so false alarms, for a small benefit. For density or extremely dense tissue. ate an online risk calculator - the only concern. Women whose Massachusetts’ requirements taking fast, a team of scientists reported every 10,000 women who got sup- Fatty tissue appears dark on the https://tools.bcsc- plemental screening between the breast X-rays. Dense tissue - milk- scc.org/BC5yearRisk . Plug in age, ages of 50 and 74, three to four producing and connective tissue - breast density, if a close relative had breast cancer deaths would be pre- appears white. So do potentially breast cancer and a few other vented - but 3,500 cancer-free cancerous spots, meaning they can details. Putting the risk in perspec- women would undergo needless blend in. tive, the calculator compares the biopsies, the study concluded. Mammogram reports to doctors woman’s chance of developing “Not everybody with dense have long included information breast cancer over the next five breasts is going to get cancer. There about breast density. But it wasn’t years with that of an average are people with dense breasts that routinely shared with women until woman the same age. are not at high risk,” explained some cancer survivors, outraged at But to answer, you have to know study co-author Dr Karla not knowing, began spurring state just how dense your breasts are. Kerlikowske of the University of disclosure laws starting in Radiologists divide density levels California, San Francisco, who has Connecticut in 2009. The advocacy into four categories: Almost com- long studied density. Among the group that started the movement pletely fatty, scattered areas of den- questions: How to tell which tracks the laws at http://www.arey- sity, fairly widespread density and women really are at high risk, and oudense.org. What’s a woman to the less common extremely dense. how to better examine that group. make of the information? Monday’s There’s no standard way to meas- “We need to investigate alternative study “reaffirms that we don’t know ure, cautioned the cancer society’s screening strategies for women exactly what the right thing to do is Brawley. And those mailed notifica- with dense breasts,” added epi- when a woman has dense breasts,” tions don’t always give the demiologist Brian Sprague of the said Dr Otis Brawley, chief medical woman’s category, even though University of Vermont Cancer officer for the American Cancer the cancer risk is highest for Center, who led the research pub- Society. Simply finding more extremely dense tissue. Density lished in the journal Annals of tumors won’t necessarily save lives, tends to decrease with age, so a Internal Medicine. cautioned Brawley, who worries woman’s risk will change over time, Topping that list: Scientists are that “we’re legislating something Kerlikowske said. It also can reflect UTAH: St Vincent de Paul Spiritual Care Minister Pam Grant and Intermountain Chaplain beginning to study if a newer tool, that we don’t totally understand.” some other long-known risk fac- Rosemary Baron have a spiritual communion prayer for cancer patient Silvia Boldwyn and her 3-D mammograms, might get The American College of tors, she added. Someone who had family at Intermountain Medical Center in Murray, Utah. Upon check-in at hospitals, patients around the density problem by Obstetricians and Gynecologists children very young probably will indicate their religious or spiritual preference. Hospital chaplains and volunteers will connect essentially viewing breast tissue doesn’t recommend routine addi- have fattier breasts by mammogra- patients with their local congregation, religious group, or family members, provide for their from more angles. Meanwhile, tional testing in women who have phy age than a woman whose first spiritual needs and give them a safe space to heal. —AP Sprague said his study could help no symptoms or other risk factors. birth was in her 30s. —AP

‘Eagle-face’ was US Congress relaxes whole oldest horned dino in America grain standards for schools

MIAMI: Paleontologists working in Montana WASHINGTON: Congress is taking some whole the House’s attempt to allow schools to opt out of expressed optimism that the GOP may get more of grain and sodium standards were among its main have unearthed a skull from the oldest grains off the school lunch line. A massive year-end the standards for a year and a Senate provision that what it wants when the party controls both cham- concerns. The organization’s CEO, Patricia horned dinosaur in North America, and it was spending bill recently doesn’t allow schools to opt called for more study on the whole grains issue. bers next year. While many schools have imple- Montague, issued a statement late Tuesday saying out of healthier school meal standards champi- The changes for sodium standards are far off. The mented the new standards successfully, others the group “strongly supports” the language. The as small as a crow, study said. The newly oned by first lady Michelle Obama, as House 2012 standards already lowered salt levels in school have said they’re not working. Schools have long Agriculture Department has already shown some named dinosaur, Aquilops americanus, which Republicans had sought. But it would ease stan- meals, with even lower sodium levels set to start in been required to follow government nutrition rules flexibility on the whole grain issue. It said earlier means “American eagle face,” is closely related dards that require more whole grains in school two years. The bill says the government cannot if they accept federal reimbursements for free and this year that schools can put off for two years the to its neoceratopsian cousins in Asia, said the foods. The bill also would put off rules to make require the 2017 levels “until the latest scientific reduced-price meals for low-income students, but requirement that all pastas in schools be mostly school meals less salty, suspending lower sodium research establishes the reduction is beneficial for the 2012 standards were much stricter than earlier whole grain if they can demonstrate that they have study in the journal PLOS ONE. However, standards that were supposed to go into effect in children.” standards. had “significant challenges” in preparing the pasta. unlike its cousin the Triceratops, this creature 2017. In a statement after the bill was released, The congressional changes have been pushed Advocates for the healthier meal standards pre- did not actually have horns or a bony neck Some school nutrition directors have lobbied Alabama Rep. Robert Aderholt, the Republican by the School Nutrition Association, a group that dict there will be fewer problems over time as kids frill. The 84-millimeter (3.3 inch) long skull for a break from the standards, which have been chairman of the House subcommittee that over- represents both school nutrition directors and the get used to the new foods and the food industry phased in since 2012, saying the rules have proven sees agriculture issues, said the whole grains waiver food companies that produce many of the school creates tastier and more numerous products that features a hooked beak and sharp, pointed to be costly and restrictive. Some kids don’t like the is “the best bill we that are going to get” with foods. While the group was looking for deeper roll- follow the standards. American Heart Association cheeks. meals, either. House Republicans have said the Democrats still controlling the Senate. He backs than included in the spending bill, the whole CEO Nancy Brown said the changes in the spend- The creature lived during the Early rules are an overreach, and have fought to ease ing bill could harm kids’ health, even if the bill does- them. As the debate escalated this summer, n’t dismantle the school meals program. “If Cretaceous Period some 108 million years Michelle Obama said she would fight “to the bitter Congress hits the pause button now on the sodium ago, making it 20 million years older than the end” to make sure kids have good nutrition in reduction, it’s possible that more children could next known horned dinosaur in the area, said schools. The White House did not have immediate develop high blood pressure and be at risk for the study led by Andrew Farke from the comment on the language in the spending bill. heart disease or stroke before they even become Many schools have complained that the whole adults,” Brown said in a statement. Raymond M Alf Museum of Paleontology in grain standards are a challenge, especially when The year-end spending bill won’t be the last California. “We were surprised that it was preparing popular pastas, biscuits and tortillas. time Congress takes on the school meal stan- more closely related to Asian animals than Food service companies don’t have as many dards, as the overall law governing child nutrition those from North America,” said Farke. That options in the whole wheat varieties, and prepara- policy, including school lunches, expires next year. tion can be more difficult, especially with some Both the House and the new Republican Senate suggests some international migratory event whole wheat pastas that can be mushy and hard to are expected to consider changes to the meal may have occurred, but researchers are con- cook. The spending bill, expected to become law standards as part of legislation renewing the law. tinuing to pin down the possibilities of how before the end of the year, would allow schools On other food issues, the spending bill would this may have happened. Farke said since only that can demonstrate they have had difficulty find- allow fresh white potatoes to be part of the feder- ing and affording acceptable whole grain products al Women, Infants and Children nutrition pro- scattered teeth and skull bones have been like pastas and breads to be exempted from 2014 gram. The Agriculture Department doesn’t cur- found, paleontologists know little about how standards requiring all grain products to be mostly NASHVILLE: US President Barack Obama orders food at Mexican restaurant La rently allow them, even though it allows other this eagle-faced miniature dinosaur lived and whole grain. Those schools would still have to Hacienda in Nashville after he spoke on his executive actions on immigration at fruits and vegetables, because it says people died. —AFP abide by previous guidelines that half of their grain already eat enough white potatoes. The program products be mostly whole grain. the Casa Azafran, a community center and home to a number of immigrant- serves low-income children and pregnant and The final language is a compromise between related nonprofit organizations. —AFP nursing mothers.—AP WHAT’S ON SUNDAY, DECEMBER 14, 2014

Dubai Shopping Festival takes ‘Journey Of Celebrations’ to Kuwait

he Dubai Festivals and Retail Establishment (DFRE), an graphical proximity and the fact that we share the same 100,000 in cash every day to one lucky shopper for 32 days agency of the Department of Tourism and Commerce values and cultural backgrounds. Moreover, families - our of the festival. As a DSF 20th Anniversary Special, shoppers TMarketing (DTCM), held a press conference in Kuwait key audience - constitute the bulk of the visitors from this participating in the Infiniti Mega Raffle will also get the at the Jumeirah Messilah Beach Hotel & Spa, to announce region. Over the past two decades DSF with its family- chance to win additional prizes worth over AED 2 million. the line-up of events, activities and promotions at the mile- friendly calendar of events has evolved from a shopping Another amazing offer is the Gold and Jewellery Mega stone 20th edition of the Dubai Shopping Festival, which festival to become a truly inspiring time to experience Raffle, which will give away a total of 100 kg of gold and 40 will run from January 1st to February 1st, 2015 under the Dubai as a family tourism destination, and we are confi- carats of diamond during the 20th anniversary edition of theme “A Journey of Celebrations.” dent that the 20th anniversary edition will offer visitors DSF - making it the largest-ever gold raffle to be held in the The special anniversary edition organized by DFRE is all even more memorable and rewarding moments.” region. set to be the biggest in the festival’s history, with a spectac- Saeed Mohammed Mesam Al Falasi, Director, Strategic Other popular raffles will include the Nissan Grand ular calendar of events that embraces DSF’s key pillars of Alliances Division DFRE, made a presentation on the DSF Raffle, offering one lucky winner one Nissan car every day Shopping, Entertainment and Winning. Media attendees to 20th edition that provided a glimpse of the exciting line-up for the duration of the festival. the DSF press conference were invited to bring along their of retail activations, entertainment and promotions. To commemorate the 20th edition, the Dubai Gold and children to the venue which was transformed into a DSF- The 20th anniversary edition’s calendar of events Jewellery Group in association with Dubai Festivals & Retail themed carnival with plenty of fun activities that paid trib- includes a range of world-class shows such as the DSF establishment (DFRE), will also be manufacturing the ute to DSF’s position as the longest-running festival of its Concerts series which will celebrate 20 years of DSF in world’s longest handmade gold chain - a 5 kilometer kind and the biggest family extravaganza in the world. grand style by staging the biggest entertainment extrava- (extendable to 8 kilometer) creation that will be made out Speaking on the occasion, Laila Mohammed Suhail, CEO ganza in the history of the shopping festival. A series of 10 of a minimum of 160 kilos of gold in a bid to set a new of DFRE said: “Celebrating the 20th edition is a huge concerts will be staged over the weekends of DSF and will Guinness World Record. achievement for DSF. The festival’s long and rich history mir- feature 20 of the biggest musical artists of the Arab world. Visitors can also prolong their holiday experience rors Dubai’s journey of becoming an international shopping Other highlights include mega fireworks displays every ion events such as Abati and a second edition of the high- beyond DSF, as the city will once again go into celebration destination - with an incredibly diverse range of retail expe- weekend that will add to the citywide illuminations aimed ly-successful Market OTB that will give shoppers the oppor- mode in early February when DFRE organizes the second riences from luxury malls to traditional souks to high street at creating a vibrant festival ambience, a series of celebrity- tunity to indulge in some unique retail therapy. edition of Dubai Food Festival aimed at showcasing Dubai shopping, luxury boutiques and unbeatable bargains. hosted pop-up shops, exciting stage shows including As always, mega raffles will offer visitors and residents as the gastronomy capital of the region. Dubai Food “The GCC has always been a key market for Dubai and “MAMMA MIA!” the smash hit musical and the world pre- the opportunity to win big including the Infiniti Mega Festival 2015 will be held from 6 - 28 February featuring an DSF mainly due to a combination of factors such as its geo- miere of “Smurfs Live on Stage”, as well as high-end fash- Raffle which will offer two luxury Infiniti cars and AED array of food-related events and activities across the city.

Dr Ahmad Nazzal, Waleed Nayef, Nayef Hamad CONGRATULATIONS r Ahmad Shukri Nazzal and Nayef Hamad celebrat- ed the wedding of their children Dina and Waleed Don Thursday in the presence of family members and friends. Abdellatif Sharaa and family wishes the new cou- ple all the best and may their life be filled with happiness and joy. Congratulations. Embassy of Ukraine he Embassy of Ukraine in the State of Kuwait has opened a twitter account (@UKRinKWT) to facili- Ttate communication with the public and media on issues such as political, economic social and securi- ty. Further to that, it will also link up Ukrainian citizens with activities of the mission among others. The official twitter account is: UKR Embassy in KWT @UKRinKWT. AOU honours What’s On - Submission Guidelines graduates of

All photos submitted for What’s On 2013/2014 class should be minimum 200dpi. Articles must be in plain text and nder the patronage of President of Arab Open University Regents Prince Turky should include name and phone Ubin Talal bin Abdelaziz, Kuwait AOU numbers. Articles and photos that branch celebrated the graduation of 2013/2014 fail to meet these requirements will class with a total number of 647 graduates. University President Prof Moudhi Al-Humoud, not be published. Kuwait Branch Rector Dr Nayef Al-Mutairi, and other dignitaries were present at the gradua- Please send them to tion. Maha Islam Al-Sharaa was among the [email protected] graduates, and received congratulations from family and friends in a festive atmosphere. WHAT’S ON SUNDAY, DECEMBER 14, 2014

Jahra hospital organises caring day for infants ahra hospital organized a day on caring for infants and young children. The day focused on nutrition and proper means of hygiene. Sebamed was on hand with its unique products and specific children Jcreams and cleaning preparations that are soap free and highly recommended by doctors and health care professionals.

Training program on ‘Family Academy for Children Medicine’

he training program “family academy for children Head of the Society Dr Hadeel Yaseen Al-Fares said, this Dr Al-Faras said the program aims at increasing aware- Meanwhile, Dr Nahid Abdelrazaq Al-Ateeqi said the pro- medicine”, that was organized by the Developmental is the second course of the program after the success of ness and knowledge about children’s health, and correct gram included several medical lectures over five weeks TMedicine Society in cooperation with the consulta- the first program that was held in March. the wrong behavior by families, it also aimed at strength- about children’s health and how to deal with common chil- tions and training office at the College of Medicine con- The ceremony included the honoring of doctors who ening communications between the medical staff and dren illness. Dr Nahid said a selected group of doctors lec- cluded on Monday December 8, 2014. lectured and sponsors. society. tured in Arabic and ensured to benefit all.

ebamed was one of the sponsors of the marathon which was organised by Ahmed Al Kandary last week. Ayman Al Sharaa of Al Sanabel Al Thahabiyah, sole agents of Sebamed is seen receiving a Smemento from Al Kandary. SUNDAY, DECEMBER 14, 2014 TV PROGRAMS

05:50 Siba’s Table 07:00 Late Night With Seth Meyers 08:00 Life Of Pi-PG 06:10 Have Cake, Will Travel 08:00 Men At Work 10:15 Lakeview Terrace-PG15 06:35 Have Cake, Will Travel 08:30 Better Off Ted 12:15 Dark Tide-PG15 07:00 Tastiest Places To 09:00 Hot In Cleveland 14:15 Marvel’s Ultimate Avengers I Chowdown 09:30 Modern Family 00:00 Immortals-PG15 15:30 Life Of Pi-PG 00:45 The Fighters 07:25 Diners, Drive-Ins & Dives 10:00 New Girl 17:45 Pacific Rim-PG15 01:35 How It’s Made 02:00 Ninja: Shadow Of A Tear- 07:50 Diners, Drive-Ins & Dives 10:30 My Name Is Earl 04:00 Pitch Black-PG15 20:00 Skyline-PG15 02:00 How It’s Made 08:15 Food Network Challenge 11:00 The Tonight Show Starring 22:00 I, Frankenstein-PG15 02:25 How It’s Made 06:00 After Earth-PG15 09:05 Siba’s Table Jimmy Fallon 08:00 Into The Blue-PG15 02:50 How It’s Made 09:30 Have Cake, Will Travel 12:00 Til Death 03:15 How It’s Made 10:00 Pitch Black-PG15 09:55 Have Cake, Will Travel 12:30 Men At Work 12:00 Avengers Confidential: Black 03:40 How It’s Made 10:20 Siba’s Table 13:00 Better Off Ted 04:05 How It’s Made Widow & Punisher-PG15 10:45 Siba’s Table 13:30 My Name Is Earl 00:00 HSBC Sevens World Series 04:30 How It’s Made 14:00 After Earth-PG15 11:10 Siba’s Table 14:00 Modern Family 03:00 Live Cricket 05:00 How It’s Made 16:00 Safe-PG15 11:35 Siba’s Table 14:30 Modern Family 11:00 Hero Indian Super League 05:30 How It’s Made 18:00 Into The Blue-PG15 12:00 Siba’s Table 15:00 New Girl Highlights 06:00 Fast N’ Loud 20:00 Hunt To Kill-PG15 12:25 Jenny Morris Cooks The 15:30 The Daily Show Global 11:30 Sevens World Series 06:50 Philly Throttle 22:00 The Last Stand-PG15 Riviera Edition Highlights 07:40 Classic Car Rescue 12:50 Jenny Morris Cooks The 16:00 The Colbert Report Global 12:00 Live HSBC Sevens World 08:30 Gold Rush Riviera Edition Series 09:20 Gold Rush 13:15 Jenny Morris Cooks The 16:30 Til Death 21:30 NHL 10:10 Alaskan Bush People Riviera 17:00 Late Night With Seth Meyers 23:30 ICC Cricket 360 11:00 Airplane Repo 13:40 Jenny Morris Cooks The 18:00 Hot In Cleveland 00:00 Cops And Robbersons- 11:50 American Guns Riviera 18:30 The Goldbergs 02:00 It’s A Disaster-PG15 12:40 How It’s Made 14:05 Jenny Morris Cooks The 19:00 Dads 04:00 Home Alone-PG 13:05 How It’s Made Riviera 19:30 Baby Daddy 06:00 Parental Guidance-PG 13:30 How It’s Made 14:30 Reza’s African Kitchen 20:00 Friends With Better Lives 08:00 Timer-PG15 01:00 F1 H20 Powerboat World 13:55 How It’s Made 16:35 Charly’s Cake Angels 20:30 Enlisted 10:00 It’s A Disaster-PG15 Champs 14:20 How It’s Made 18:40 BBQ Crawl 21:00 The Daily Show With Jon 12:00 Teen Wolf Too-PG15 03:00 Golfing World 14:45 Game Of Pawns 20:45 Siba’s Table Stewart 14:00 Straight Talk-PG15 04:00 Australian PGA 15:10 Container Wars 22:00 Chopped 21:30 The Colbert Report 16:00 Timer-PG15 Championship Highlights 15:35 Container Wars 22:50 Diners, Drive-Ins & Dives 22:00 Saturday Night Live 18:00 Run For Your Wife-PG15 05:00 Live Australian PGA 16:00 Container Wars 23:00 Legit 20:00 The Incredible Burt Championship 16:25 Container Wars 23:30 Friends With Better Lives Wonderstone-PG15 10:00 Champions Tour 16:50 Garage Gold 22:00 The Love Guru-18 13:00 Live PGA European Tour 17:15 Garage Gold 16:30 NHL 17:40 Garage Gold 19:30 Australian PGA 18:05 Garage Gold Championship Highlights 18:30 Garage Gold 20:30 NFL Gameday 00:00 Suits 18:55 Troy 01:40 Derren Brown - Enigma 21:00 Live NFL 01:00 The Strain 01:15 Inescapable-PG15 19:45 Close-Up Kings 02:55 Emmerdale 20:35 Magic Of Science 02:00 Sons Of Anarchy 03:00 The Perks Of Being A 05:00 Breathless Wallflower-PG15 21:00 Magic Of Science 05:55 Paul O’grady For The Love 03:00 Supernatural 21:25 Gold Rush 04:00 The Blacklist 05:00 Christmas Magic-PG15 Of Dogs 07:00 The Runway-PG15 22:15 Gold Rush 06:20 Derren Brown - Enigma 05:00 Once Upon A Time 23:05 Alaskan Bush People 06:00 Suits 09:00 Chasing Mavericks-PG15 07:35 The Jonathan Ross Show 11:00 Christmas Magic-PG15 00:30 ICC Cricket 360 23:55 Dynamo: Top Ten Moments 08:25 Fast Freddie The Widow And 07:00 Sleepy Hollow 01:00 ICC Cricket World Cup Tales 08:00 C.S.I. 13:00 12 Wishes Of Christmas- Me 15:00 Stolen Child-PG15 01:30 LG ICC Awards 2014 09:45 The Royal Variety 09:00 Once Upon A Time 02:30 ICC Cricket 360 10:00 The Blacklist 17:00 Chasing Mavericks-PG15 Performance 2013 19:00 August: Osage County- 03:00 Live Australia v India 12:00 I’m A Celebrity Get Me Out 12:00 Emmerdale International Test 12:30 Coronation Street PG15 Of Here! 21:00 Suspension Of Disbelief- 11:00 ICC Cricket 360 14:00 C.S.I. 15:00 Big Star’s Little Star 23:00 The Iceman-18 11:30 LG ICC Awards 2014 15:00 Suits 12:30 Australia v South Africa T20I 00:00 Party On 15:55 Tricked 16:00 Emmerdale Highlights 00:30 Fashion Bloggers 16:50 The Jonathan Ross Show 16:30 Coronation Street 13:30 Australia v South Africa T20I 00:55 Fashion Bloggers 17:45 Derren Brown - Enigma 17:00 The Ellen DeGeneres Show Highlights 01:25 #RichKids Of Beverly Hills 19:00 Big Star’s Little Star 18:00 C.S.I. 14:30 Story of the World Cup 1992 01:50 #RichKids Of Beverly Hills 19:55 Tricked 16:00 ICC Cricket 360 02:20 E! News 20:50 The Jonathan Ross Show 19:00 Once Upon A Time 01:30 Being Flynn-18 16:30 LG ICC Awards 2014 03:15 Eric And Jessie: Game On 21:45 Derren Brown - Enigma 20:00 How To Get Away With 03:15 Robot & Frank-PG15 17:30 Australia v South Africa ODI 03:40 Eric And Jessie: Game On 23:15 Breathless Murder 04:45 Goal II: Living The Dream Highlights 04:10 THS 21:00 The Killing 06:45 Silver Linings Playbook- 18:30 Australia v South Africa ODI 05:05 E!ES 22:00 The Americans 09:00 The Last Harbor-PG15 Highlights 06:00 Keeping Up With The 23:00 Supernatural 11:00 Goal II: Living The Dream 19:30 Australia v South Africa ODI Kardashians 13:00 Before And After-PG15 Highlights 06:55 Keeping Up With The 15:00 Veronica Guerin-PG15 20:30 ICC Cricket 360 Kardashians 00:00 Tsunami: The Day The Wave 17:00 The Last Harbor-PG15 21:00 ICC Cricket World Cup Tales 07:50 Style Star Struck 19:00 The Last Weekend-PG15 21:30 ICC Cricket World Cup Tales 08:20 E! News 01:00 Hard Time 21:30 Abandon-PG15 22:00 ICC Cricket World Cup Tales 09:15 House Of DVF 02:00 Evolutions 23:30 Faces In The Crowd-PG15 BEING FLYNN OSN MOVIES FESTIVAL 22:30 ICC Cricket World Cup Tales 10:15 House Of DVF 03:00 Jurassic C.S.I. 00:00 Witches Of East End 23:00 ICC Cricket World Cup Tales 21:00 Happy Endings 08:30 Storage Wars 03:15 I Didn’t Know I Was 11:10 Fashion Bloggers 04:00 Cosmos: A Spacetime 02:00 Good Morning America Odyssey 23:30 ICC Cricket World Cup Tales 21:25 Happy Endings 09:00 Storage Wars Pregnant 11:35 Fashion Bloggers 03:00 Treme 05:00 Naked Science 2.5 22:00 The Bridge 09:30 Storage Wars 03:40 I Didn’t Know I Was 12:05 E! News 04:00 Boardwalk Empire 01:00 Without Men-PG15 06:00 Master Of Disaster 23:00 The Walking Dead 10:00 Storage Wars Pregnant 13:05 Beyond Candid With 06:00 Good Morning America 03:00 Escape From Planet Earth Giuliana 07:00 Beyond Magic With Dmc 10:30 Storage Wars 04:05 Super Saver Showdown 08:00 Tsunami: The Day The Wave 07:00 Emmerdale 05:00 Iron Man & Hulk: Heroes 14:05 Kourtney And Khloe Take 11:00 Pawn Stars UK 05:00 Craft Wars Struck 07:30 Coronation Street United-PG The Hamptons 11:30 Pawn Stars UK 06:00 Something Borrowed, 09:00 Hard Time 08:00 The Ellen DeGeneres Show 06:45 Jobs-PG15 00:00 Brave-PG 15:00 Kourtney And Khloe Take 09:00 Haywire-PG15 12:00 Pawn Stars UK Something New The Hamptons 10:00 Evolutions 09:00 24 01:30 The Pursuit Of Happyness 01:25 The Outrage 11:00 Lovestruck: The Musical 12:30 Pawn Stars UK 06:25 Super Soul Sunday 16:00 Giuliana & Bill 11:00 WWII’s Greatest Raids 10:00 Emmerdale 03:30 Gone In Sixty Seconds 03:05 Guns For San Sebastian-PG 12:00 Salvage Code Red 13:00 Zambezia-PG 05:30 Wreckers-U 13:00 Pawn Stars UK 07:15 Super Saver Showdown 17:00 Giuliana & Bill 10:30 Coronation Street 04:55 The Unfinished Dance-FAM 13:00 Megastructures 15:00 Dawn Rider-PG15 07:00 Jane Eyre 13:30 Pawn Stars UK 08:05 Ultimate Shopper 18:00 E! News 11:00 The Ellen DeGeneres Show 17:00 Haywire-PG15 07:00 Take Me Out To The Ball 14:00 Britain’s Greatest Machines 09:15 Brave-PG Game-FAM 14:00 American Pickers 08:55 Cake Boss 19:00 Eric And Jessie: Game On 12:00 Castle 19:00 Jack Ryan: Shadow Recruit 19:30 Eric And Jessie: Game On 15:00 Family Guns 11:00 Then She Found Me-FAM 08:35 Ask Any Girl-FAM 15:00 Counting Cars 09:45 Cake Boss 16:00 Arctic Kingdom: Life At The 13:00 Witches Of East End 21:00 The Courier-PG15 12:45 John Carter 15:30 Counting Cars 20:00 Kourtney And Khloe Take 10:10 Double Trouble-FAM 10:10 17 Kids And Counting Edge 14:00 24 23:00 Man Of Steel-PG15 15:00 Wreckers-U 16:00 Storage Wars Texas The Hamptons 11:40 Rio Rita-FAM 10:35 Little People, Big World 17:00 Armageddon Outfitters 16:00 Live Good Morning America 16:30 Brave-PG 13:10 The Rounders-PG 16:30 Storage Wars Texas 21:00 Kourtney And Khloe Take 11:00 Toddlers & Tiaras The Hamptons 18:00 Ultimate Airport Dubai 17:00 Castle 18:15 Love Potion No.9-U 14:35 Vengeance Valley-PG 17:00 Storage Wars Texas 11:50 Say Yes To The Dress 22:00 House Of DVF 19:00 Family Guns 18:00 Witches Of East End 20:00 Tomorrow When The War 16:00 Escape From Fort Bravo- 17:30 Storage Wars Texas 20:00 Arctic Kingdom: Life At The Began 12:15 Say Yes To The Dress 23:00 Fashion Bloggers 19:00 24 01:00 The Legend Of Secret Pass FAM 18:00 Storage Wars Edge 21:45 Face Off 12:40 Super Soul Sunday 23:30 The Soup 20:00 Castle 02:45 Dragon Hunters 17:40 Grand Prix-PG 18:30 Storage Wars 21:00 Armageddon Outfitters 20:25 Elvis On Tour-PG 13:30 World’s Worst Mum 21:00 Witches Of East End 04:15 The Missing Lynx 19:00 Storage Wars 22:00 Ultimate Airport Dubai 22:00 Scarecrow-18 14:20 Randy To The Rescue 23:00 WWII’s Greatest Raids 22:00 Treme 06:00 Back To The Sea 19:30 Storage Wars 23:50 Day Of The Evil Gun-PG 15:10 Something Borrowed, 23:00 Boardwalk Empire 08:00 The Ugly Duckling And Me 20:00 Storage Wars 10:00 Sleeping Beauty 20:30 Storage Wars Something New 11:30 Space Dogs 00:00 Fit For Fashion 21:00 Pawn Stars 15:35 Cake Boss 13:00 Dragon Hunters 01:00 The Listener 21:30 Pawn Stars 16:00 Super Saver Showdown 00:05 Barefoot Contessa - Back 14:30 Kong Return To The Jungle To Basics 02:00 The Listener 22:00 Mountain Men 16:50 17 Kids And Counting 16:00 Hammer Boy 03:00 According To Jim 00:30 Barefoot Contessa - Back 00:30 The Daily Show Global 00:00 After Earth 18:00 Sleeping Beauty 23:00 Miracle Rising 17:15 Little People, Big World To Basics 05:00 MasterChef Australia THE HISTORY CHANNEL HD Edition 02:00 Immortals 20:00 Barbie Fairytopia 17:40 Toddlers & Tiaras 00:55 Siba’s Table 07:30 The Bridge 01:00 Ice Road Truckers 01:00 The Colbert Report Global 04:00 Ninja: Shadow Of A Tear 22:00 Kong Return To The Jungle 08:30 How I Met Your Mother 18:30 Something Borrowed, 01:20 Siba’s Table Edition 23:30 Hammer Boy j 02:00 American Restoration Something New 01:45 Diners, Drive-Ins & Dives 06:00 Pitch Black 08:55 How I Met Your Mother 01:30 Saturday Night Live 02:30 American Restoration 18:55 Say Yes To The Dress 02:10 Diners, Drive-Ins & Dives 08:00 After Earth 09:30 Detroit 1-8-7 02:30 Wilfred 10:30 No Ordinary Family 03:00 D-Day: The Lost Films 19:20 Say Yes To The Dress 02:35 Fast Food Gone Global 03:00 Hot In Cleveland 10:00 Into The Blue 05:00 Pawn Stars 03:25 Charly’s Cake Angels 11:30 Army Wives 19:45 Super Soul Sunday 03:30 Modern Family 12:00 Pitch Black 05:30 Pawn Stars 03:50 Siba’s Table 14:00 Fit For Fashion 00:45 Return To Amish 20:35 Cake Boss 04:00 Men At Work 14:00 Avengers Confidential: Black 06:00 Pawn Stars 04:15 Siba’s Table 15:00 The Listener 01:35 Body Bizarre 21:00 Cake Boss 04:30 The Tonight Show Starring Widow & Punisher 16:00 The Listener 06:30 Pawn Stars 04:40 Barefoot Contessa - Back Jimmy Fallon 00:00 Absolute Fear-PG15 02:25 I Didn’t Know I Was 21:50 Ultimate Shopper 16:00 After Earth 02:00 Drillbit Taylor-PG15 17:00 Grey’s Anatomy 07:00 Pawn Stars To Basics 05:30 Better Off Ted Pregnant 22:40 Long Island Medium 18:00 Safe 04:00 Dark Tide-PG15 18:00 Brothers And Sisters 07:30 Pawn Stars 05:05 Barefoot Contessa - Back 06:00 Til Death 02:50 I Didn’t Know I Was 23:05 Family Fat Surgeons To Basics 20:00 Into The Blue 06:00 Marvel’s The Invincible Iron 19:00 Brothers And Sisters 08:00 Storage Wars 06:30 My Name Is Earl 23:55 Hoarding: Buried Alive 05:30 Reza’s African Kitchen 22:00 Hunt To Kill Man-PG 20:00 Castle Pregnant

The Last Stand ON OSN MOVIES ACTION HD Classifieds

SUNDAY, DECEMBER 14, 2014

ACCOMMODATION

Kuwait Looking for room within an KNCC PROGRAMME FROM THURSDAY TO apartment for a couple, preferably A/C with WEDNESDAY (11/12/2014 TO 17/12/2014) attached bathroom in the vicinity of Hawally. Contact: 99745402. (C 4881) SHARQIA-1 GET SANTA 6:15 PM 13-12-2014 KILL THE MESSENGER 11:30 AM THE HOBBIT: THE BATTLE OF THE FIVE ARMIES 8:30 PM THE HUNTED 1:45 PM THE HUNTED 11:30 PM KILL THE MESSENGER 3:30 PM THE HUNTED 1:15 AM SITUATION VACANT KILL THE MESSENGER 5:45 PM THE HUNTED 8:15 PM MUHALAB-3 Full time live in home KILL THE MESSENGER 10:15 PM THE HOBBIT: THE BATTLE OF THE FIVE ARMIES -3D 12:30 PM nurse/nanny to look after THE HUNTED 12:30 AM THE HOBBIT: THE BATTLE OF THE FIVE ARMIES 3:30 PM THE HOBBIT: THE BATTLE OF THE FIVE ARMIES -3D 6:30 PM an 87 year old women who requires assistance with all SHARQIA-2 THE HOBBIT: THE BATTLE OF THE FIVE ARMIES 9:30 PM No: 16372 THE HOBBIT: THE BATTLE OF THE FIVE ARMIES 12:00 PM THE HOBBIT: THE BATTLE OF THE FIVE ARMIES 12:30 AM daily activities (hygiene, THE HOBBIT: THE BATTLE OF THE FIVE ARMIES -3D 3:00 PM meals, dressing etc.) Salary THE HOBBIT: THE BATTLE OF THE FIVE ARMIES 6:00 PM FANAR-1 KD 180 + determined on THE HOBBIT: THE BATTLE OF THE FIVE ARMIES -3D 9:00 PM GET SANTA 1:00 PM experience and qualifica- THE HOBBIT: THE BATTLE OF THE FIVE ARMIES 12:05 AM GET SANTA 3:15 PM tions. Benefits include own GET SANTA 5:30 PM room with bathroom, SHARQIA-3 THE PYRAMID 8:00 PM meals, one day off per GET SANTA 12:45 PM GET SANTA 10:00 PM PENGUINS OF MADAGASCAR 3:15 PM THE PYRAMID 12:15 AM week, one-month holiday GET SANTA 3:15 PM every year, ticket home GET SANTA 5:30 PM FANAR-2 every year. We are also able GET SANTA 7:45 PM KILL THE MESSENGER 11:30 AM to transfer a visa if required. THE HOBBIT: THE BATTLE OF THE FIVE ARMIES 10:00 PM KILL THE MESSENGER 2:00 PM Please call 99633674 before KILL THE MESSENGER 12:45 AM KILL THE MESSENGER 4:30 PM Wednesday December 17th KILL THE MESSENGER 7:00 PM or 99380307 to apply. MUHALAB-1 KILL THE MESSENGER 9:30 PM (C 4882) GET SANTA 11:45 AM KILL THE MESSENGER 12:05 AM 14-12-2014 GET SANTA 1:45 PM KILL THE MESSENGER 3:45 PM FANAR-3 THE PYRAMID 6:00 PM THE HOBBIT: THE BATTLE OF THE FIVE ARMIES 12:45 PM KILL THE MESSENGER 8:00 PM THE HUNTED 1:45 PM THE PYRAMID 10:15 PM THE HUNTED 3:45 PM KILL THE MESSENGER 12:15 AM THE HUNTED 5:45 PM THE HUNTED 7:45 PM MUHALAB-2 THE HOBBIT: THE BATTLE OF THE FIVE ARMIES 9:45 PM THE HUNTED 11:30 AM THE HUNTED 12:30 AM THE HOBBIT: THE BATTLE OF THE FIVE ARMIES 1:15 PM THE HUNTED 2:00 PM FANAR-4 GET SANTA 4:00 PM THE HOBBIT: THE BATTLE OF THE FIVE ARMIES 12:00 PM

Directorate General of Civil Aviation Home Page (www.kuwait-airport.com.kw)

Arrival Flights on Sunday 14/12/2014 KAC 742 Dammam 14:45 Departure Flights on Sunday 14/12/2014 JZR 176 Dubai 13:45 Airlines Flt Route Time IRC 6507 Shiraz 14:50 Airlines Flt Route Time MSR 611 Cairo 14:00 JAI 574 Mumbai 00:10 GFA 221 Bahrain 15:00 AIC 976 Goa/Chennai 00:05 UAE 872 Dubai 14:15 JZR 239 Amman 00:25 KAC 788 Jeddah 15:10 AGY 681 Alexandria 00:15 IRC 529 Ahwaz 14:15 JZR 267 Beirut 00:30 KAC 284 Dhaka 15:15 FDB 072 Dubai 00:45 JZR 328 Al Najaf 14:40 JZR 539 Cairo 00:40 UAE 857 Dubai 15:45 UAL 981 IAD 00:55 KAC 673 Dubai 15:00 THY 772 Istanbul 00:45 ABY 127 Sharjah 15:45 JAI 573 Mumbai 01:10 KAC 617 Doha 15:00 FDB 069 Dubai 00:55 FDB 051 Dubai 16:00 DLH 635 Frankfurt 02:15 QTR 1079 Doha 15:05 QTR 1084 Doha 01:00 JZR 535 Cairo 16:10 KAC 283 Dhaka 02:25 FDB 058 Dubai 15:10 RJA 642 Amman 01:05 KAC 562 Amman 16:20 ETH 621 Addis Ababa 02:45 KNE 473 Jeddah 15:20 PGT 858 Istanbul 01:35 JZR 787 Riyadh 16:25 THY 773 Istanbul 02:55 KAC 513 Tehran 15:30 ETH 620 Addis Ababa 01:45 QTR 1072 Doha 16:40 PGT 859 Istanbul 03:25 SVA 503 Jeddah/Madinah 15:45 GFA 211 Bahrain 02:30 RJA 640 Amman 16:55 UAE 854 Dubai 03:50 GFA 222 Bahrain 15:45 UAE 853 Dubai 02:35 ETD 303 Abu Dhabi 16:55 FDB 068 Dubai 03:55 IRC 6508 Shiraz 15:50 JAI 526 Chennai/Abu Dhabi 02:50 SVA 510 Riyadh 17:15 ETD 306 Abu Dhabi 04:05 KAC 773 Riyadh 15:50 FDB 067 Dubai 02:55 GFA 215 Bahrain 17:30 MSR 613 Cairo 04:10 ABY 128 Sharjah 16:25 MSR 612 Cairo 03:10 GFA 944 LCA 17:50 KKK 6508 Istanbul 04:10 FDB 052 Dubai 17:00 ETD 305 Abu Dhabi 03:10 UAL 982 IAD 17:55 QTR 1085 Doha 04:30 JZR 266 Beirut 17:05 CEB 7694 Manila 03:10 JZR 777 Jeddah 17:55 CEB 7695 Manila 04:40 QTR 1073 Doha 17:40 KKK 6507 Istanbul 03:20 UAE 875 Dubai 18:00 MSC 406 Sohag 05:05 JZR 538 Cairo 17:45 QTR 1076 Doha 03:45 JZR 177 Dubai 18:20 QTR 1077 Doha 05:15 UAE 858 Dubai 17:45 MSC 401 Alexandria 04:05 JZR 329 Al Najaf 18:20 THY 765 Istanbul 05:40 ETD 304 Abu Dhabi 17:50 JZR 555 Alexandria 04:25 KAC 542 Cairo 18:25 FDB 070 Dubai 06:30 RJA 641 Amman 17:55 THY 770 Istanbul 05:35 FDB 063 Dubai 18:40 JAI 525 Abu Dhabi/Chennai 06:35 SVA 511 Riyadh 18:15 TZS 170 Bahrain 05:40 ABY 121 Sharjah 18:40 JZR 164 Dubai 06:55 GFA 216 Bahrain 18:20 QTR 8632 Doha 06:25 KAC 786 Jeddah 18:45 RJA 643 Amman 07:05 GFA 944 Bahrain 18:35 KAC 545 Cairo 06:40 QTR 1080 Doha 18:50 JZR 560 Sohag 07:10 JZR 184 Dubai 18:40 BAW 157 London 06:40 KAC 618 Doha 19:15 GFA 212 Bahrain 07:15 JZR 238 Amman 18:50 KAC 412 Manila/Bangkok 07:10 KAC 774 Riyadh 19:15 THY 771 Istanbul 07:30 JZR 134 Bahrain 19:10 FDB 053 Dubai 07:45 AXB 393 Kozhikode 19:15 QTR 8632 Lahore/Doha 07:55 UAL 982 Bahrain 19:15 QTR 1086 Doha 07:50 KAC 674 Dubai 19:25 FDB 054 Dubai 08:25 ABY 121 Sharjah 19:20 SVA 512 Riyadh 07:55 GFA 217 Bahrain 19:30 BAW 156 London 08:45 UAE 876 Dubai 19:40 KAC 352 Kochi 08:10 JZR 483 Istanbul 19:35 QTR 1087 Doha 08:50 QTR 1081 Doha 19:50 KAC 382 Delhi 08:15 KAC 166 Paris/Rome 19:40 SVA 513 Riyadh 08:55 FDB 064 Dubai 19:55 KAC 302 Mumbai 08:20 KAC 514 Tehran 19:45 KAC 171 Frankfurt 09:05 AXB 393 Kozhikode 20:15 KAC 206 Islamabad 08:25 KAC 502 Beirut 19:50 JZR 534 Cairo 09:15 GFA 218 Bahrain 20:15 KAC 332 Trivandrum 08:30 KAC 102 New York/London 19:55 KAC 787 Jeddah 09:25 KAC 361 Colombo 20:50 UAE 855 Dubai 08:40 JAI 572 Mumbai 20:00 KAC 671 Dubai 09:25 KAC 343 Chennai 20:55 KAC 362 Colombo 08:45 OMA 647 Muscat 20:20 ABY 126 Sharjah 09:40 JAI 571 Mumbai 21:00 ABY 125 Sharjah 09:00 FDB 061 Dubai 20:20 UAE 856 Dubai 09:55 KAC 351 Kochi 21:15 ETD 301 Abu Dhabi 09:20 MSR 606 Luxor 20:45 KAC 117 New York 10:05 FDB 062 Dubai 21:20 FDB 055 Dubai 09:40 DLH 636 Frankfurt 20:50 ETD 302 Abu Dhabi 10:20 OMA 648 Muscat 21:20 QTR 1070 Doha 10:00 ALK 229 Colombo 21:10 KAC 561 Amman 10:25 DLH 636 Dammam 21:35 GFA 943 Bahrain 10:15 MEA 402 Beirut 21:20 JZR 482 Istanbul 10:35 MSR 619 Alexandria 21:45 GFA 213 Bahrain 10:40 ETD 307 Abu Dhabi 21:30 FDB 056 Dubai 10:35 TZS 171 Bahrain 21:50 IRA 665 Shiraz 10:50 FDB 073 Dubai 21:35 GFA 943 LCA 11:00 ALK 230 Colombo 22:10 UAE 873 Dubai 11:00 UAE 859 Dubai 21:40 QTR 1071 Doha 11:00 ETD 308 Abu Dhabi 22:15 SYR 341 Latakia 11:10 GFA 219 Bahrain 21:45 KAC 541 Cairo 11:05 KAC 301 Mumbai 22:15 MSC 405 Sohag 11:25 QTR 1074 Doha 21:55 GFA 214 Bahrain 11:25 MEA 403 Beirut 22:20 JZR 165 Dubai 11:30 JZR 135 Bahrain 22:05 KAC 741 Dammam 11:45 FDB 074 Dubai 22:30 MEA 404 Beirut 11:55 KLM 417 Amsterdam 22:15 IRA 664 Shiraz 11:50 GFA 220 Bahrain 22:30 UAE 871 Dubai 12:50 ETD 309 Abu Dhabi 22:15 KAC 501 Beirut 12:00 UAE 860 Dubai 22:50 MSR 610 Cairo 13:00 KAC 172 Frankfurt 22:25 SYR 342 Latakia 12:10 KAC 205 Islamabad 22:55 IRC 528 Ahwaz 13:15 FDB 059 Dubai 22:30 JZR 776 Jeddah 12:20 ETD 310 Abu Dhabi 23:00 JZR 561 Sohag 13:45 AIC 981 Chennai/Hyderabad/Ahmedabad 22:30 KAC 103 London 12:20 JZR 502 Luxor 23:05 KAC 672 Dubai 13:55 UAL 981 Bahrain 23:10 MSC 402 Alexandria 12:25 QTR 1075 Doha 23:05 QTR 1078 Doha 14:05 JZR 185 Dubai 23:15 UAE 874 Dubai 12:30 KLM 417 Dammam/Amsterdam 23:15 KNE 472 Jeddah 14:25 THY 764 Istanbul 23:35 MEA 405 Beirut 12:55 KAC 415 Jakarta/Kuala Lumpur 23:25 SVA 500 Jeddah 14:30 PIA 205 Lahore 23:40 KAC 785 Jeddah 13:00 KAC 411 Bangkok/Manila 23:30 FDB 057 Dubai 14:30 FDB 071 Dubai 23:45 JZR 786 Riyadh 13:10 FDB 060 Dubai 23:55 DIAL161 FOR AIRPORT INFORMATION stars34 SUNDAY, DECEMBER 14, 2014 CROSSWORD 754 STAR TRACK

Aries (March 21-April 19) Libra (September 23-October 22)

This should be a landmark day to solve problems and make important Take care to plan a budget and stick to it. You give careful consideration to decisions. You will find your way around almost any obstacle and are in control and able the use of money. You are drawn to reading and will find pleasure frequenting a book- to guide yourself with ease. Your sense of inner direction is good and should lead to store or local library. You likely are experiencing desires for the physical this afternoon. social opportunities. This is an easy, calm day for you as you may be having quite a lot of You are the ideal candidate to take charge of a project–your creativity and originality are fun as you dive into the process of helping others to solve problems. Note, today the abnormally high. Luckily, you are presented with many opportunities to release this ener- problems could be in guiding others to win at chess. You may be a chess tutor. Your gy. A friend who needs you, or something that you believe in that needs your support, emotions or the feelings of those around you are very clear. You will find yourself able to gains your attention. You may be called on to lend a helping hand. You love to find ways understand better your own situation, as well as others. You will know just what to do to to help your friends make their dreams come true. A plan to travel is in their future and be a kind but good teacher. Volunteer work can be considered as well. you are good at mapping out a journey. You enjoy the research.

Taurus (April 20-May 20) Scorpio (October 23-November 21)

Purchasing gifts and selecting colors are at a high just now. You enjoy You may find your life taking on a kind of mystical quality on the emotional shopping, particularly today with all the decorations of the season to cheer you as you go. and instinctive levels. Dreams and illusions, forgiveness and understanding of human Circumstances may augment and stimulate appreciation and enjoyment of your life situa- frailties are the things that arouse deep feelings. The past and the future come together– tion. Your system of values may deepen, providing you with a better sense of discrimina- thankfully the stumbling blocks between people go away. This is the key to the greater tion and good taste. You absorb emotional energy and a feeling of protection from princi- psychic and spiritual sensitivity that you may be feeling now. This time also presents an ples, friends and social interaction. You long for the new, the different and the unique. opportunity to resolve health issues. You look for new opportunities to grow. Someone Your mind is quick and you are fun to network with and will probably have a lot to say compliments you today on your decisions or your style. You value your own life situation about most anything this day. You and your partner or sweetheart may talk over career at this time. You take pleasure in being with others and planning and enjoying fun times concerns. It helps to bond on an emotional level. with friends and relatives this evening.

Gemini (May 21-June 20) Sagittarius (November 22-December 21) Now is a great time to find some space to move forward with any unfin- You could be feeling quite ambitious, as a rather practical streak motivates ished personal business. This, however, may not be the best time to make you to get the things in your life organized. You want very much to be any important decisions that could affect your living situation or life conditions. You may ACROSS 5. (folklore) Fairies that are somewhat mis- respected for who you are and what you can achieve for your family and community; this find others challenging your authority or questioning the direction you are taking. This 1. A white linen liturgical vestment with chievous. means a great deal to you now. You are practical when it comes to interacting with oth- time may need you to change the direction you wanted to go today–perhaps it is time to ers. You just seem to have a natural talent for knowing what to do and can take action wash the car or take a trip to the pet store for supplies, etc. You may allow yourself a few sleeves. 6. A smile expressing smugness or scorn with very little fuss or bother. You are often called upon to make use of your natural abili- instead of pleasure. meditative moments which will prove a valuable asset from time to time. You lend a lis- 4. A cellulose ester obtained by treating ties. Being conscientious is of special importance. Taking care of the necessary underpin- tening ear to a dear friend later this afternoon. You might consider taking on a boarder cellulose with caustic soda. 7. (Greek mythology) Daughter of Zeus nings of life–health, work and such–becomes a greater preoccupation. A cultural event around your place soon. If you have the extra room, the extra money will be appreciated. 11. An infectious tropical disease resem- and Demeter. involving your favorite people can be enjoyed this evening. Praise others. bling syphilis in its early stages. 8. A city of east central Mexico (west of 15. A unit of length of thread or yarn. Veracruz). 16. Violating principles of right and wrong. 9. (Zen Buddhism) A state of sudden spiri- 17. A state in the western United States. tual enlightenment. Cancer (June 21-July 22) Capricorn (December 22-January 19) 10. Angular distance above the horizon 18. United States liquid unit equal to 4 You are feeling encouraged. You are motivated to really get serious about taking bet- (especially of a celestial object). This should be a time when you can put your common sense and your insights into quarts or 3.785 liters. ter care of yourself on many levels. The bottom line to all of this is that you simply words and convey them to others. Communication with older members of your family is 19. The vital principle or animating force 11. A member of the Mayan people of the want to continue to feel good about yourself and the way that you do things. Diet, exercise and work within living things. Yucatan peninsula in Mexico. enhanced now. Gather more information before drawing a conclusion or helping with a decision that may mean a move for an older person. Others should find you almost charismatic in speech all somehow mean more to you now. Your ambitions increase and you could find yourself mentally 20. Small tropical American tree bearing 12. Essential oil or perfume obtained from sorting through your accomplishments and goals with logic and practicality these days. flowers. and communication and would probably follow you to the ends of the earth if you asked. The con- edible plumlike fruit. ditions are ripe for your kind of self-expression and this works very well with your particular ideas Organization is the number one key to helping you find success. Sticking to a good program never 21. Jordan's port. 13. A city in east central Texas. and thoughts. Good feelings abound, so take all of the positives that this day has to offer and enjoy hurts anything either. Make your goals attainable and then do not allow yourself to become discour- 23. Edge tool used in shaving. 14. A public entertainment or exhibition. them to the fullest. This kind of day comes too seldom to ignore–enjoy. aged if you do not feel that you are making progress. You will continue to move forward. 25. Beside one another in a row or rank. 22. The dialect of Malay used as the nation- 26. A rare silvery (usually trivalent) metallic al language of the Republic of Indonesia or element. of Malaysia. 28. A Buddhist who has attained nirvana. 24. A blood group antigen possessed by Leo (July 23-August 22) Aquarius (January 20- February 18) 30. Pompous or pretentious talk or writing. Rh-positive people. Try to break out of a routine you find dull this month. You might find your- You may be seen by those around you as just the person to be put in charge 33. Big-eyed scad. 27. The blood group whose red cells carry of some project that requires a conservative mind. Expect challenges, but there is nothing both the A and B antigens. self really enjoying a good book dealing with romantic fantasies or a movie with a similar 37. The capital and largest city of Yemen. theme. Later today you will have an opportunity to visit with a friend or relative that may that you cannot handle today. You may feel elated that a new friend has the same sort of 41. Wrap us in a cerecloth, as of a corpse. 29. A very poisonous metallic element that invite you to a meal. You love people watching and visiting with others. Some conversa- likes and dislikes that you have–it is easy to appreciate this individual. This is a great time 42. The eleventh month of the civil year. has three allotropic forms. tions with this person may involve future ideas and a plan could begin to form that would to shop and choose colors, etc., considering you compare prices and keep within the 43. Rock star and drummer for the Beatles 31. Washing out a hollow organ (especially interest you in a joining a volunteer group. You may discover, through this volunteer boundaries of your budget. You like good food, creature comforts and security–both finan- cial and the emotional kind. This afternoon you may prefer to pay attention to the things (born in 1940). the stomach) by flushing with water. group, how you want to share more of your free time. At home this evening you may decide to create your own greeting card and may consider having it reproduced for send- that need organizing in your personal affairs. You look for new ways to bring the older tra- 46. A coenzyme derived from the B vitamin 32. A motley assortment of things. ditions back into your life and home. nicotinic acid. 34. United States tennis player (born in ing out to family members and friends. 47. Avatar of Vishnu. Czechoslovakia) who won several singles 49. Of or relating to or characteristic of championships. Morocco or its people. 35. The mountain peak that Noah's ark Virgo (August 23-September 22) Pisces (February 19-March 20) 53. System of measurement based on cen- landed on as the waters of the great flood timeters and grams and seconds. receded. Old friends are like gold, new ones like silver, hold on to the new, but cher- Knowing how to manage and direct others will be your calling card now and 54. (Babylonian) A demigod or first man. 36. A night flight from which the passen- ish the old. That could be the sentiment that you feel as a great wave of nostalgia hits you could have someone in authority seeking you out to handle a special project. It’s a great 55. (dentistry) A filling consisting of a solid gers emerge with eyes red from lack of at this time. You may enjoy using your talents in creating gifts for your friends or in time to be involved with other people either personally, or in a work environment. Your sen- substance (as gold or porcelain) fitted to a sleep. designing your own clothing for a party you have decided would be important to attend. sitivity and understanding of others will be appreciated, as your life takes on a kind of mys- Your independent spirit may surface today and need to be dealt with, finding you latching terious quality at the emotional and instinctive levels. Hopes and fantasy are the things that cavity in a tooth and cemented into place. 38. A highly unstable radioactive element onto anything that is unusual or different. Visiting with good friends this afternoon you stimulate deep feelings now. The former and the future combine and any problems 56. A very light colorless element that is (the heaviest of the halogen series). may feel a deep love. At home this evening you may find someone complimenting you on between people seem to magically vanish. This is the key to the greater sensitivity that you one of the six inert gasses. 39. A small nail. something you are doing, or on some of your personal belongings. It should not be hard feel now. Do yourself a favor and pat yourself on the head or on the back; you are on the 59. A colloid in a more solid form than a 40. A logarithmic unit of sound intensity. for you to enjoy and value your own life situation. right path to succeed with your goals. sol. 44. A woman hired to suckle a child of 60. A state in New England. someone else. 61. A brittle silver-white metalloid element 45. An ordered reference standard. WORD SEARCH PUZZLE Yesterday’s Solution that is related to selenium and sulfur. 48. A chronic progressive nervous disorder 63. (Greek mythology) Sea nymph who involving loss of myelin sheath around cer- was a daughter of the Titans Oceanus and tain nerve fibers. Tethys. 50. An organization of countries formed in 66. Chinese fruit having a thin brittle shell 1961 to agree on a common policy for the enclosing a sweet jellylike pulp and a sin- sale of petroleum. gle seed. 51. Of a vivid red to reddish-orange color. 70. Having a woven pattern. 52. Type genus of the Anhimidae. 73. A nearly horizontal passage from the 57. A metrical unit with stressed- surface into a mine. unstressed-unstressed syllables. 74. The 3rd letter of the Hebrew alphabet. 58. Hormone secreted by the posterior 78. An indehiscent fruit derived from a sin- pituitary gland (trade name Pitressin) and gle ovary having one or many seeds within also by nerve endings in the hypothala- a fleshy wall or pericarp. mus. 79. In an idle manner. 62. German composer. 80. A city in southeastern Spain. 64. A public promotion of some product 82. A rotating disk shaped to convert circu- or service. lar into linear motion. 65. The capital and largest city of 83. A telephone connection. Bangladesh. 84. A bar of sand. 85. A loose sleeveless outer garment made 67. Tropical starchy tuberous root. from aba cloth. 68. Oval reproductive body of a fowl (especially a hen) used as food. DOWN 69. A genus of Mustelidae. 1. Primitive chlorophyll-containing mainly 71. Someone who works (or provides aquatic eukaryotic organisms lacking true workers) during a strike. stems and roots and leaves. 72. God of love and erotic desire. 2. An accidental hole that allows some- 75. An adult male person (as opposed to thing (fluid or light etc.) to enter or escape. a woman). 3. A word for chaos or fiasco borrowed 76. Either extremity of something that from modern Hebrew (where it is a loan has length. word from Russian). 77. A workplace for the conduct of scien- 4. An endorsement made in a passport tific research. that allows the bearer to enter the country 81. An official prosecutor for a judicial issuing it v 1. district. Yesterday’s Solution

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Ireland (UK) 0044 Dasmah 22532265 Chile 0056 North Korea 00850 WARNING Bneid Al-Gar 22531908 1R&XUUHQW:DUQLQJV China 0086 Norway 0047 Colombia 0057 Oman 00968 Shaab 22518752 STATION 0$;(;3 0,15(& 6)&&+$57 87& Comoros 00269 Pakistan 0092 Qibla 22459381 .8:$,7&,7< ƒ& ƒ& Congo 00242 Palau 00680 Cook Islands 00682 Panama 00507 .8:$,7$,53257 ƒ& ƒ& Ayoun Al-Qibla 22451082 Costa Rica 00506 Papua New Guinea 00675 Mirqab 22456536 $%'$/< ƒ& ƒ& Croatia 00385 Paraguay 00595 Cuba 0053 Peru 0051 Sharq 22465401 %8%<$1 ƒ& ƒ& Cyprus 00357 Philippines 0063 -$+5$ ƒ& ƒ& Salmiya 25746401 Cyprus (Northern) 0090392 Poland 0048 )$,/$.$,6/$1' ƒ& ƒ& Czech Republic 00420 Portugal 00351 Jabriya 25316254 6$/0,<$+ ƒ& ƒ& Denmark 0045 Puerto Rico 001787 Maidan Hawally 25623444 Diego Garcia 00246 Qatar 00974 $+0$', ƒ& ƒ& Djibouti 00253 Romania 0040 Bayan 25388462 -8/8,$+3257 ƒ& ƒ& Dominica 001767 Russian Federation 007 Mishref 25381200 4$52+,6/$1' ƒ& ƒ& Dominican Republic 001809 Rwanda 00250 Ecuador 00593 Saint Helena 00290 W Hawally 22630786 800$/0$5$'(0 ƒ& ƒ& Egypt 0020 Saint Kitts 001869 Sabah 24810221 4 DAYS FORECAST El Salvador 00503 Saint Lucia 001758 England (UK) 0044 Saint Pierre 00508 Jahra 24770319 Temperatures DAY DATE WEATHER Wind Direction Wind Speed Equatorial Guinea 00240 Saint Vincent 001784 New Jahra 24575755 MAX. MIN. Eritrea 00291 Samoa US 00684 West Jahra 24772608 6XQGD\  6XQQ\ ƒ& ƒ& 6( NPK Estonia 00372 Samoa West 00685 0RQGD\  6XQQ\VFDWWHUHGFORXGVƒ& ƒ& 6( NPK Ethiopia 00251 San Marino 00378 South Jahra 24775066 7XHVGD\  3DUWO\FORXG\VFDWWHUHGUDLQ ƒ& ƒ& 1: NPK Falkland Islands 00500 Sao Tone 00239 North Jahra 24775992 :HGQHVGD\  0RVWO\VXXQ\ ƒ& ƒ& 1: NPK Faroe Islands 00298 Saudi Arabia 00966 Fiji 00679 Scotland (UK) 0044 North Jleeb 24311795 PRAYER TIMES RECORDED YESTERDAY AT KUWAIT AIRPORT Finland 00358 Senegal 00221 Ardhiya 24884079 Fajr  MAX. Temp.  °C France 0033 Seychelles 00284 Sunrise MIN. Temp. °C Firdous 24892674   French Guiana 00594 Sierra Leone 00232 Zuhr  MAX. RH  % French Polynesia 00689 Singapore 0065 Omariya 24719048 Asr  MIN. RH  % Gabon 00241 Slovakia 00421 Sunset MAX. Wind km/h N Khaitan 24710044  1:  Gambia 00220 Slovenia 00386 Isha  TOTAL RAINFALL IN 24 HR.  mm Georgia 00995 Solomon Islands 00677 Fintas 23900322 All times are local time unless otherwise stated. 83  UTC 9 7 ŵŤŚƀ Germany 0049 Somalia 00252 Ghana 00233 South Africa 0027 Gibraltar 00350 South Korea 0082 Greece 0030 Spain 0034 Greenland 00299 Sri Lanka 0094 PRIVATE CLINICS Grenada 001473 Sudan 00249 Guadeloupe 00590 Suriname 00597 Guam 001671 Swaziland 00268 Guatemala 00502 Sweden 0046 Ophthalmologists Plastic Surgeons Paediatricians Endocrinologist Guinea 00224 Switzerland 0041 Dr. Abidallah Al-Mansoor 25622444 Dr. Mohammad Al-Khalaf 22547272 Dr. Khaled Hamadi 25665898 Guyana 00592 Syria 00963 Dr. Abd Al-Naser Al-Othman 25339330 Dr. Samy Al-Rabeea 25752222 Dr. Abdal-Redha Lari 22617700 Dr. Abd Al-Aziz Al-Rashed 25340300 Haiti 00509 Serbia 00381 Dr. Masoma Habeeb 25321171 Dr. Abdel Quttainah 25625030/60 Dr. Zahra Qabazard 25710444 Dr. Ahmad Al-Ansari 25658888 Holland (Netherlands) 0031 Taiwan 00886 Dr. Mubarak Al-Ajmy 25739999 Family Doctor Dr. Sohail Qamar 22621099 Honduras 00504 Tanzania 00255 Dr. Mohsen Abel 25757700 Dr. Kamal Al-Shomr 25329924 Dr Divya Damodar 23729596/23729581 Dr. Snaa Maaroof 25713514 Hong Kong 00852 Thailand 0066 Dr Adnan Hasan Alwayl 25732223 Physiotherapists & VD Hungary 0036 Toga 00228 Psychiatrists Dr. Pradip Gujare 23713100 Dr. Abdallah Al-Baghly 25732223 Dr. Zacharias Mathew 24334282 Dr. Deyaa Shehab 25722291 Ibiza (Spain) 0034 Tonga 00676 Ear, Nose & Throat (ENT) Dr. Esam Al-Ansari 22635047 Iceland 00354 Tokelau 00690 Dr. Ahmed Fouad Mouner 24555050 Ext 510 Dr Eisa M. 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Gossip

Kim, Kanye West spend $1,000 a month on beautician for their daughter

hough little North may only by 17 months old, she has a $10,000-a-month fashion and beauty bill, with her costs including baby massages with organic oil and mini manicure-pedicures, as well as a T$2,000-a-month hair dresser. A source said: “Her hairdresser is also in charge of accessorising and works alongside her stylist to ensure that her hair goes with the look.” North has her own two-person styling team and the stylist and her assistant also spend around $2,000 a month on designer clothes for the youngster, before customising many of her garments. The source told heat magazine: “North has a tailor who makes clothes for her, such as mini versions of her mum’s designer outfits so she can match Kim. “The tailor will often customise clothes too, by embellishing jackets with her name picked out in Swarovski crystals - she even has NW stitched into all her shoes.” The couple have also arranged for North to have her own 2,000 sq ft wardrobe in their new home, complete with Italian marble floors and her own beauty parlour. Karlie Kloss Brad Pitt thinks Taylor Swift should be Victoria’s Secret Angel poked fun at Rihanna and Jay Z at the Diamond Ball he 22-year-old model walked the runway at the brand’s annual show at he ‘Moneyball’ actor introduced the ‘We Found Love’ London’s Earls Court Exhibition Centre while her 24-year-old pop star pal singer’s performance at her charity bash in Beverly Tperformed, with them even stepping down together at one point, and the THills with a mocking speech about “what the hell blonde beauty thinks the ‘Shake it Off’ hitmaker should be an “honorary” face of went wrong” for the 26-year-old star. An old photo of the lingerie company. Karlie told Britain’s Grazia magazine: “Taylor should be an Rihanna appeared on a big screen as Brad said: “I’ve often Angel herself. She looks pretty heavenly out there. I’d say she’s definitely an hon- asked the very questions you yourself are asking right orary one.” This year’s show was the first time it had been held in London and now - what went wrong? “I give you exhibit A. Look at the Karlie and her fellow Angels loved the sense of camaraderie on the trip. She young girl before you, all full of hopes and dreams, living a said: “It’s been like a sorority outing.” Behati Prinsloo - who is married to Adam humble existence in Barbados, her whole life ahead of Levine - added: “It felt like I was back in high school on a hockey trip, it’s been her.” He then recalled how Rihanna moved to New York such an amazing experience.” Taylor performed two tracks at the show earlier when she was just 16 years old but “soon fell in with a bad this month. During her second song ‘Style’, which she played during the Angel crowd led by the dubious and nefarious character known Ball section, Taylor strutted up the catwalk with her close friend Karlie. The two as The Jay Z.” He added to laughter from the audience: “For blondes - who became pals after hanging out at last year’s Victoria’s Secret those you not in the know, The Jay Z was an evil impresa- Fashion Show in New York - were wearing matching black lace underwear for rio known for turning out hit records and ripping insane the moment. Taylor was styled in high-waisted black panties with a matching lyrics and fresh beats. “Needless to say it was all downhill bra top and a lace long-sleeved top over it which had a long flowing train. from there.” The 50-year-old star went on to list Rihanna’s Karlie’s raunchy ensemble was comprised of black stockings, suspenders, briefs, accomplishments, award wins and record sales but plead- high heels, a see-through black lace bodysuit and a huge flowing midnight ed with the crowd to stage an intervention as an altered black cape. Earlier in the show, Taylor performed her latest single ‘Blank Space’ image of the ‘Diamonds’ hitmaker overweight and eating during the Dream Girl segment for which she wore a powder pink satin slip a sandwich appeared on the screen. He said: “I ask that we teamed with a pink satin and black lace robe and fluffy pink peep toe heels. stand together by her side and show her our support and our love and say to her the hard words, ‘Rihanna put down that sandwich, get off your ass and do something.

Beyonce wishes she was anonymous he 33-year-old superstar - who has two-year-old daughter Blue Ivy with husband Jay Z - admits she sometimes finds her fame difficult because there are so many ordinary experi- Tences that she has to miss out on. She said: “Before I was famous I was the girl on the hill with a guitar. I was the girl that just wanted a beautiful view of the beach. Now that I’m famous it’s really, really difficult to do very simple things. “I think it’s the hardest thing to give up, but my mother always taught me to be strong and to never be a victim, never make excuses, never expect anyone else to provide me things that I know I can provide for myself. “I have dreams and I feel like I have a power to actually make those dreams become a reality. When you’re famous, no one looks at you as a human anymore. You become property of the public. There’s nothing real about it.” Elsewhere in a short film entitled ‘Yours and Mine’, the ‘7/11’ singer spoke about how “exciting” she finds being married and having someone to share her life with. She said: “People feel like they lose something when they get married, but it doesn’t have to be that way. There’s Justin Timberlake’s nothing more exciting about having a witness to your life... “You know, everyone’s not good at everything. You know? It’s OK to depend on someone. It’s actually what we’re supposed to do - former ‘ bandmate thinks we’re supposed to depend on each other. And when you find the person that you trust and you he’s going to be ‘a great dad’ love and you feel is going to respect you and take all the s**t that you have and turn it around and bring out the best in you, it feeds you. It is the most powerful thing you can ever feel in your life. oey Fatone says the ‘Not a Bad Thing’ hitmaker, whose wife Jessica Biel is reportedly pregnant, Jwill be a “very hands-on” father. He said: “I think he’s going to be a great dad.” The 37-year-old singer says Justin, 33, looked after his younger stepbrother, Steven, when they were growing up and “took him under his wing.” He also told PEO- PLE.com: “He’s always been great with kids in gen- eral. He’s going to be great. I think he’ll be very hands-on.” Joey predicts Justin will “start slowing down” when he completes his ‘20/20 Experience World Tour’ in January. He added: “He’ll be taking some time off for sure.” The ‘SexyBack’ hitmaker Kat Graham and Cottrell and ‘Total Recall’ star Jessica, 32, have yet to com- ment on rumours she is expecting their first child, but the brunette beauty, who is gearing up to Guidry split up open her first organic children’s restaurant, Au he ‘Vampire Diaries’ actress, who announced her engagement to the actor in October 2012 after four years of dating, Fudge, in Los Angeles, has been hiding her figure recently ended their relationship, but hopes they will remain friends. A source said: “It happened a while ago.” The under loose clothing in recent weeks. A source former couple are still on good terms and the insider told E! News: “There wasn’t any drama and they are still close to the couple previously claimed they are T “worried” about confirming their baby news. The friends.” Kat previously revealed during an interview late last year that their weddings plans were in place, saying: “It’s basically done now.” But it appears they decided to postpone their nuptials earlier this year, as she indicated their wed- insider said: “They’ve been trying for a while to get ding would be taking place “pretty soon” at a Grammy Awards after-party in Los Angeles last January. She said at the time: pregnant, there’ve been some issues so that’s prob- “Next time you see me, I might be a married woman. Any day now.” The 25-year-old beauty also insisted she wanted a ably part of it too, they don’t want to announce it very low-key wedding. She said: “After all these events, the last thing I want to be crazy about is my own wedding. I’m like, until it’s further along and they’re out of the woods ‘No, it’s going to be my day. Chill.’ I know what I want and that makes it a lot easier.” for a miscarriage.” Madonna’s son is ‘mortified’ by her topless photo shoot

he 56-year-old singer recently bared her breasts in Interview magazine and 14-year-old Rocco - her child Twith ex-husband Guy Ritchie - is said to be incredibly embarrassed by the pictures. A source said: “Rocco is morti- fied that his mum is still doing topless photo shoots.” However, the photos were given the seal of approval by Madonna’s 18-year-old daughter Lourdes, who thinks the pictures of her mother - who also has adopted kids David and Mercy, both nine - are empowering. The source added to heat magazine: “Lola thinks it’s rad that her mom flaunts her stuff. She sees it as being all about feminism and cele- brating strong women and the female form. “She is trying to convince Madonna to come and speak at one of her col- lege lectures, covering women’s evolving image in pop cul- ture. “Lola couldn’t be prouder and she tells Rocco to chill out.” In her accompanying interview for the pictures, Madonna revealed she had tried “every drug” at least once but found her experiences dissatisfying. She said: “I mean, I tried everything once, but as soon as I was high, I spent my time drinking tons of water to get it out of my system. “As soon as I was high, I was obsessed with flushing it out of me. I was like, ‘OK, I’m done now’.” lifestyle SUNDAY, DECEMBER 14, 2014

Gossip

‘The Expendables 3’ cast still do their own stunts

he action movie is filled with iconic stars of the screen including Arnold Schwarzenegger, Sylvester Stallone and Harrison Ford, and despite heading into their twilight years, the actors insist they are Tstill more than capable of performing dangerous stunts when filming. Dolph Lundgren - who plays Gunner Jensen in the movie - said: “We really can do this stuff.” The 57-year-old actor attributed their abil- ity to pull off the risky scenes to their grounding in sport and fitness as youngsters, identifying the strengths of the many cast members in the movie series. He explained: “I was a karate champion. Jason [Statham] was an Olympic diver. Stallone has done a lot of training. Arnold, of course, was Mr. Universe. Terry Crews played pro football. We got the MMA champ, Randy Couture, not to mention the new peo- ple. We have a lot of people with real skills.” The star - who rose to fame after appearing as Drago in the 1985 movie ‘Rocky IV’ - insisted it was important for the cast to do as much of the filming as possible in order to create a believable movie. He added: “When Terry picks up a hundred-pound Gatling gun with one hand, that’s him doing it and I think that adds a certain reality to the whole experience.” ‘The Expendables 3’ is available on DVD now.

Drew Barrymore says being a parent is ‘super hard’

he 39-year-old actress, who has daughters Olive, two, and Frankie, eight months, with husband Will Kopelman, admits she is still adjusting to having Ttwo children and they don’t always get along well. The ‘Blended’ star said: “Every day is different. One day [Olive] loves [Frankie] — it’s not even ‘day,’ it’s ‘hour.’ One hour it’s like, ‘I love you, you’re the best little sister,’ and the next minute it’s like, ‘Kid, you’re stepping on my territory.’ I imagine it’s like that for all siblings and all parents, you know. You kind of gush about the good but it’s a tricky journey, you’re trying to keep everybody feeling like number one but there’s two.” Drew returned to work just weeks after giving birth to Frankie earlier this year, but tries to spend as much time as possible with her daughters. She said: “It’s hard. I never lie though. I’m never like, ‘I can do everything and it’s easy.’ It’s super hard and s**t has to fall off the table because I cannot personally do everything. “You try to balance it and it’s not easy. In fact, I think it’s very hard. But you do it, you know? Because I want my daughters to see the fact that I earn a living and that’s what they’re going to have to do and everything is by example.” Meanwhile, the actress recently started working out again in a bid to get back in shape. She told UsMagazie.com: “I went down the rabbit hole. After two kids I just ate everything and I looked like a marsu- pial. It was bad. I could fold my stomach over my pants-big time-not like, a little. Not like, ‘Oh I’ve got muffin top.’ I was like, ‘Here is like a large pizza folded over my jeans.’ “I’m starting to try to pull it back together. You know, it takes nine months to build it, it should take nine months to unbuild it.” But Drew doesn’t think her feet will ever look the same again, as they look like “hocks of meat.” Ellie Goulding Karrueche Tran wants to turn Buckingham sick of Chris Brown ‘making her feel bad’ he 26-year-old stylist reportedly feels the ‘Fine China’ hitmaker, who was placed on Palace into ‘homeless shelter’ probation after beating ex-girlfriend Rihanna in 2009, mentally mistreated her for Tmuch of their relationship and has vowed never to reunite with him again. he 27-year-old pop star says if she could buy any property in London she’d pur- Sources close to the model claim she was referring to the mind games Chris used to chase the royal residence - the London home of Queen Elizabeth II - and convert play on her when she recently said he “repeatedly mistreated” her and he constantly Tit from a palatial palace into a house for people living on the streets. She said: “I’d tried to make her jealous by liking pictures of Justin Bieber’s ex-girlfriend Yovanna (like) to buy Buckingham Palace and turn it into a homeless shelter.” Ellie is a big sup- Ventura on Instagram and sharing photographs of Kendall Jenner, 19, sitting on his lap. porter of homeless charity Streets of London and is hosting a benefit concert, ‘Ellie She also believes he deliberately tried to hurt her by sometimes liking Rihanna’s bikini Goulding & Friends’, on December 16 at the O2 Shepherd’s Bush Empire to raise money pictures and by recently wearing a necklace the ‘Stay’ hitmaker once gave him. for the organisation. The ‘Outside’ singer was able to put the event together because Karrucehe has told friends that she will never take Chris back again after he announced she is having three weeks off for the Christmas holiday period. In an interview with ES he was single while performing in Los Angeles last weekend, saying “I’m single too.” The magazine, she said: “After three years on the road, I don’t have to get on a plane for 25-year-old singer recently apologised to his ex for “airing out” their personal life in pub- three weeks so I’m writing my next album and putting together an acoustic show with lic. He wrote: “Being young and dumb is one of my strong suits and emotional at best. I my friends Bastille, Birdy, Band of Skulls and Tom Odell for the Streets of London charity love hard and react impulsively when I’m hurt at times. I don’t think social media is a to help support shelters over Christmas.” Ellie will be looking forward to opening some place to air out or hash out personal problems and a n***a feel hella WACK for doing it. vintage champagne over the festive season as she collects bottles of the sparkling “So I AM APOLOGIZING I live in a glass house and the same s**t that makes me great wine. She revealed: “(I collect) champagne and black and white photographs of famous also is my curse. Everybody know I love that girl. I don’t care how my image my look to musicians.” the public because I’m still gonna be the best at what I do. I just want baby girl to know I apologize! “. The pair first started dating in 2011, but have broken up on a number of occasions.

Amber Heard tired of Johnny Depp’s ‘erratic behaviour he 28-year-old actress, who confirmed their engagement in January after less than two years of dating, is allegedly thinking about calling off their upcoming wedding. A source said: “She’s realising she might be happier with someone else.” The 51- T year-old ‘Lone Ranger’ actor, who has daughter Lily-Rose, 15, and son Jack, 12, with ex-girlfriend Vanessa Paradis, is said to have “awful mood swings” and “annoys Amber.” But the ‘Pineapple Express’ beauty is still moving forward with their wedding plans for the moment. The insider told Us Weekly magazine: “It’ll be a small ceremony on Amber Beach, part of his island in the Bahamas, that’s Keira Knightley named after her. “They’ll only invite close friends and family.” It confirms pregnancy was previously claimed Amber he ‘Imitation Game’ actress and her musician husband James Righton, 31, will welcome was in no rush to marry Johnny their first child into the world next spring. A spokesperson for the 29-year-old beauty said after his strange presentation at Trumours the couple, who got married in May 2013, are expecting a baby are true, but told an awards ceremony in Los ELLEUK.com today that the actress will not be making any further comment about her preg- Angeles last month, where he nancy. The official announcement comes just one day after multiple sources claimed Keira was appeared to be drunk. Another already in her second trimester. The British star previously revealed she would love to star in a source said: “There’s not rush to film about infertility. Discussing her fantasy film script last summer, she said: “The horrendous marry at the moment. Johnny is issue of trying to have a baby when you can’t. “I’ve seen friends who’ve been through this, it crazy in love with Amber, but seems like one of the most dramatic things that can happen to half of the population - and there is turmoil in the relationship. actually, the other half as well because, my god, the unbelievable toll it takes on male partners - “She is not really ready to settle and there are no good films about it.” The ‘Atonement’ star also previously admitted she was down. Amber flirts and has many eager to have children, but insisted she would never give up her career to raise a family. different kinds of relationships.” Speaking last year, she said: “I don’t want to deny my femininity. But would I want to be a stay- at-home mother? No. On the other hand, you should be allowed to do that, as should men, without being sneered at.” Keira and James started dating in February 2011 and tied the knot in front of just 11 guests in Mazan in the South of France last year. lifestyle SUNDAY, DECEMBER 14, 2014

A selection of US singer Elvis Presley’s jumpsuits are pictured during a photocall for the “Elvis at the O2” exhibition. — AFP photos Graceland arrives in London with rocking Elvis show

conic jumpsuits and a pink Cadillac belonging to Elvis Presley are among 300 artefacts on show at Europe’s largest ever exhibition honouring the King of IRock ‘n’ Roll, which opened in London on Friday. Many of the items on show at the O2 Arena have never previously left Presley’s Graceland mansion in Memphis, Tennessee and include elaborate costumes, instruments and jew- ellery displayed in recreated interiors from his fabled home. Star attractions include the pink Cadillac that Elvis used on tour, before giv- ing it to his mother, and the American Eagle embroidered jumpsuit that he wore at the epic 1972 Aloha from Hawaii concert, which was beamed live to over a billion fans around the world. Other items of clothing include the gold lamÈ jumpsuit worn on stage in 1957 and the black leather outfit worn for the Comeback Special in 1968.“This is huge for us,” explained Elvis’s former wife Priscilla, who is still actively involved in the running of Graceland. “We’ve tried to pick things that would of course have human interest,” she told the Guardian. Also on show will be a set of bongos given to him as a Christmas present by a young Priscilla before they were a couple. “I was so nervous about it because I was only 14 years old and what do I give Elvis Presley for Christmas?” she recalled. Visitors will see the pool table that Presley and The Beatles played on when the Fab Four dropped in for a visit in 1965. “I remember John (Lennon) just staring at him and looking at him and it made Elvis feel uncomfortable,” Presley told the Guardian. “Then Elvis picked up his guitar and started playing- they were just fascinated with him. It was endearing.” Both Priscilla and daugh- ter Lisa Marie will be in Britain over Christmas. Lisa Marie moved to a mansion south of London in 2013 and Priscilla is starring in a pantomime in Manchester, northern England. The exhibition runs until August 31. — AFP US singer Elvis Presley’s American Eagle jumpsuit and cape is displayed during An embroidered American Eagle jumpsuit owned by US singer Elvis Presley is a photocall. displayed during a photocall for the “Elvis at the O2” exhibition in London.

Elvis Presley’s Gibson J200 guitar from the 1968 tv special, is displayed during a photocall for the “Elvis at the O2” exhi- An MG sports car, driven and owned by US singer Elvis Presley in the film “Blue Hawaii”, is displayed during a photocall bition in London. for the “Elvis at the O2” exhibition. DS podium big size chronograph Big character, pure sport

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Since 2005, Certina has been both faces, the dial tastefully brings together case back. It is of course equipped with the DS Official Partner of the Sauber F1 Team and since strong design features such as chronograph Concept. 2013 Official Timekeeper of the FIA WRC World counters with a dark-grey, snailed surface and a The main model in the product line has a Rally Championship. A subsidiary of the world’s contrasting outer band, against the otherwise black dial, stainless steel case and brown leather largest international watchmaking organisation black dial background. Big easy-to-read numer- strap. Other versions include a classy silver-dial Swatch Group, Certina is currently world leader als, bold indicator markings and faceted indices model with a black leather strap, a fully-black in the sport watch segment priced between CHF ensure perfectly clear timing. Hour and minute version with a sporty black rubber strap, as well 300.- and CHF 2,000.-, and is represented in hands are nickelled and treated with as one with a three-row stainless-steel bracelet more than 60 countries. lifestyle SUNDAY, DECEMBER 14, 2014 79 original songs to compete for Oscar he Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences “The Boxtrolls Song” from “The Boxtrolls” “Heart Like Yours” from “If I Stay” “Still I Fly” from “Planes: Fire & Rescue” announced that 79 original songs will contend for “Quattro Sabatino” from “The Boxtrolls” “I Never Wanted to Go” from “If I Stay” “Batucada Familia” from “Rio 2” Tthe 2014 Oscar.That’s a slight jump from last year’s 75. “Ryan’s Song” from “Boyhood” “Mind” from “If I Stay” “Beautiful Creatures” from “Rio 2” The list will be winnowed down to five contenders when “Split the Difference” from “Boyhood” “Everything Is Awesome” from “The Lego Movie” “Poisonous Love” from “Rio 2” Oscar nominations are unveiled Jan. 15. “No Fate Awaits Me” from “The Disappearance of “Call Me When You Find Yourself” from “Life Inside Out” “What Is Love” from “Rio 2” This year’s eligible list includes tunes from animated Eleanor Rigby: Them” “Coming Back to You” from “Life of an Actress The “Over Your Shoulder” from “Rudderless” films (e.g., “Everything Is Awesome” from “The Lego “Brave Souls” from “Dolphin Tale 2” Musical” “Sing Along” from “Rudderless” Movie”), documentaries (“I’m Not Gonna Miss You” from “You Got Me” from “Dolphin Tale 2” “The Life of an Actress” from “Life of an Actress The “Stay With You” from “Rudderless” “Glen Campbell ... I’ll Be Me”), small-scale works (“Lost Stars” “All Our Endless Love” from “Endless Love” Musical” “Everyone Hides” from “St. Vincent” from “Begin Again”) and big epics (“The Last Goodbye” “Let Me In” from “The Fault in Our Stars” “Sister Rust” from “Lucy” “Why Why Why” from “St. Vincent” from “The Hobbit: The Battle of the Five Armies,” by Billy “Not About Angels” from “The Fault in Our Stars” “You Fooled Me” from “Merchants of Doubt” “Glory” from “Selma” Boyd). The animated “Rio 2” has four eligible songs, and “Until the End” from “Garnet’s Gold” “Million Dollar Dream” from “Million Dollar Arm” “The Morning” from “A Small Section of the World” several films have three. “It Just Takes a Moment” from “Girl on a Bicycle” “Spreading the Word/Makhna” from “Million Dollar Arm” “Special” from “Special” There is also an impressive roster of tunes from stars of “Last Stop Paris” from “Girl on a Bicycle” “We Could Be Kings” from “Million Dollar Arm” “Gimme Some” from “#Stuck” the music world, including Coldplay’s “Miracles” from “Ordinary Human” from “The Giver” “A Million Ways to Die” from “A Million Ways to Die in the “The Only Thing” from “Third Person” “Unbroken”; Jonsi’s song “For the Dancing and the “I’m Not Gonna Miss You” from “Glen Campbell...I’ll Be West” “Battle Cry” from “Transformers: Age of Extinction” Dreaming” from “How to Train Your Dragon 2”; and “Yellow Me” “Way Back When” from “Mr. Peabody & Sherman” “Miracles” from “Unbroken” Flicker Beat,” Lorde’s contribution to the “Hunger Games: “Find a Way” from “The Good Lie” “America for Me” from “A Most Violent Year” “Summer Nights” from “Under the Electric Sky” Mockingjay-Part 1” soundtrack. “Color the World” from “The Hero of Color City” “I’ll Get You What You Want (Cockatoo in Malibu)” from “We Will Not Go” from “Virunga” “The Last Goodbye” from “The Hobbit: The Battle of the “Muppets Most Wanted” “Heavenly Father” from “Wish I Was Here” Here’s the complete list Five Armies” “Something So Right” from “Muppets Most Wanted” “So Now What” from “Wish I Was Here” “It’s on Again” from “The Amazing Spider-Man 2” “Chariots” from “The Hornet’s Nest” “We’re Doing a Sequel” from “Muppets Most Wanted” “Long Braid” from “Work Weather Wife” “Opportunity” from “Annie” “Follow Me” from “The Hornet’s Nest” “Mercy Is” from “Noah” “Moon” from “Work Weather Wife”. — Reuters “Lost Stars” from “Begin Again” “Something to Shoot For” from “Hot Guys with Guns” “Seeds” from “Occupy the Farm” “Grateful” from “Beyond the Lights” “For the Dancing and the Dreaming” from “How to Train “Grant My Freedom” from “The One I Wrote for You” “Big Eyes” from “Big Eyes” Your Dragon 2” “The One I Wrote For You” from “The One I Wrote for “Immortals” from “Big Hero 6” “Afreen” from “The Hundred-Foot Journey” You” “The Apology Song” from “The Book of Life” “Yellow Flicker Beat” from “The Hunger Games: “Hal” from “Only Lovers Left Alive” “I Love You Too Much” from “The Book of Life” Mockingjay-Part 1” “Shine” from “Paddington”

Samantha Cameron, wife of Britain’s Prime Minister David Cameron, hosts a Christmas Jumper Jumble at 10 Downing Street in central London, on Friday. Christmas jumpers, once only thought stylish by knitting-needle wielding grannies, are enjoying a renaissance in Britain after being adopted as a festive fashion statement by young revellers. — AFP photos UK falls in love with the Christmas jumper

hristmas jumpers, once only thought stylish by meter this season,” said department store Scandinavian fashion and taste for vintage, the mass knitting-needle wielding grannies, are enjoy- Debenhams, which has recorded a 200 percent of Christmas parties gives socialites the chance to Cing a renaissance in Britain after being adopt- increase in sales from last Christmas. Supermarket show off their purchases all through December and ed as a festive fashion statement by young revellers. Asda has also seen sales take off, with an increase of their unsophisticated designs appeal to Britain’s self- Responding to soaring demand for the colourful 160%. deprecating sense of humour. and eccentric creations, vintage clothing group “The English do like being a bit different and hav- Beyond Retro has opened a temporary store selling 3D designs all the rage ing their own cheesy or individual look,” Tomlenson only Christmas jumpers in London’s trendy Old While bargain-hunters can still snap up cheap fes- said. After picking up her jumper, Nicky Burgess, a Street. tive jumpers — 100 percent acrylic-high rollers can 31-year-old lawyer, told AFP: “It’s kitsch, it’s cheesy “It isn’t just hipsters that are doing it now, it’s easily spend over £200 ($314, 250 euros) on but because it’s this time of the year, people are more everybody, office workers to mums, dads, kids buy- Cashmere or alpaca garments. inclined to get on board with this kind of thing, par- ing them for their whole family, everyone is getting Surfing the trend, British NGO “Save the Children” ticularly on office parties and nights out. involved and that’s what so exciting,” said Ashley has since 2012 run a “Christmas Jumpers Day” on “It’s great fun,” she said. With competition rife to Emerson, head of development at Beyond Retro. December 12, when those wearing seasonal find the most eye-catching knitwear, those incorpo- One happy customer was Louisa Tomlenson, a 33- knitwear are asked to donate a small sum for charity. rating three-dimensional elements, such as year-old housewife. “We’re all going to wear it (on “Last year we were lucky enough to raise £1.5 mil- Rudolph’s nose or Santa’s beard, are especially Christmas Day), my husband, the children and every- lion with over a million people taking part,” said sought after. one,” she said. “It’s everywhere, in lots of shops,” she Tanya Steele, financial director at Save the Children. “A few years ago, people would be like ‘oh no I added. “We’re hoping to double that this year. We already couldn’t wear that’” Emerson laughed. “But this year Times have changed since the 2001 smash film have well over a million people signed up. everyone is being coming in saying ‘I want your crazi- Bridget Jones’s Diary, in which Colin Firth’s character “Christmas Jumpers have been part of the British est jumpers’”. — AFP Mark Darcy is made to look uncool by wearing a psyche and part of Christmas for decades,” she said, green woollen pullover decorated with Rudolph the putting their resurgence down to a combination of Red-Nosed Reindeer. factors. Christmas jumpers modelled in the “Beyond Retro” boutique. “The novelty knit... has rocketed up the cool-o- Their traditional style chimes with the rise of

Retro Christmas jumpers are pictured in the “Beyond Retro” boutique in central London. A leaflet advertising ‘Christmas Jumper Day’ is pictured in the “Beyond Retro” boutique in central London. UK falls in love with the Christmas39 jumper SUNDAY, DECEMBER 14, 2014

People enjoy the Christmas lights on the 700 block of 34th Street in the Hampden community of Baltimore, Maryland on Friday. The display called “Miracle on 34th Street” dates back to 1947 and attracts thousands of tourists each year. — AFP

After big year, streaming tipped for new markets

treaming has rapidly transformed pop “We’ve been around for seven years and mercial alliances. The music industry’s digital music’s landscape but even more dra- we have seen an absolute shift in momen- revenue from Latin America jumped 124 per- Smatic changes could be in store as com- tum,” said Nickhil Jakatdar, Vuclip’s chief exec- cent from 2010 to 2013, well above the global panies eye the vast, barely touched markets utive officer. “It’s the Wild West out there. A average, according to the International of the developing world. year and a half back, we barely saw any com- Federation of the Phonographic Industry. Spotify and its rivals were among the petitors, but now every day I wake up in the Spotify has entered 58 countries or territo- biggest music headlines in 2014 as streaming morning and see that a new competitor has ries but not several big Asian nations, where services quickly pick up new customers and launched,” Jakatdar told AFP. local services have sprouted up. also face intense criticism-most famously The most significant reason, he said, was Gaana.com-operated by Times Internet from pop star Taylor Swift, who was the year’s that mobile Internet access was quickly which is India’s biggest digital network and top artist on the US charts. becoming faster and more affordable, making owned by The Times of India newspaper Swift and other detractors accuse the serv- it feasible for a consumer of limited means to group-lets listeners browse through thou- ices-which allow customers to listen to as watch entertainment on his or her phone. sands of playlists, listen to radio stations and much music as they want at the touch of a Vuclip predicted a growing market for features offerings from the top-20 Hindi songs phone or computer-of poorly compensating videos that last between five and 10 minutes, to classical music. artists and hastening the death of the album. an ideal size to watch during a commute. India, set to surpass the United States as But the debate may soon change markedly Vuclip, which says it has 120 million users, the world’s second largest Internet popula- as streaming grows in emerging economies has also put an emphasis on making billing tion, can expect growth in digital consump- such as China, India and Indonesia-where simple for customers who may be unaccus- tion of music by some 22 percent each year album sales have never been a major revenue tomed to credit cards or complicated monthly until 2016, according to services company source for the world’s record labels. plans. KPMG. New Delhi entrepreneur Ravish Streaming could instead become a Chawla, 28, said that streaming saved him “leapfrog” technology like cellular phones Diverse tastes space. “Ever since Internet speeds improved, finding its way into the hands of a burgeoning Vuclip, which is not present in China, sees I’ve removed all digital music files from my middle class that never had a tradition of particularly strong growth in India, Indonesia, devices. Whatever the number of music files keeping recorded music, — in vinyl, CD or any Malaysia and Thailand, as well as Egypt, Saudi in your phone, it can never match streaming other form. Arabia and the United Arab Emirates. services’ archives,” he said. — AFP Sensing the market changes ahead, Warner But one challenge in emerging markets is Music last month reached a deal with China’s the diversity of tastes, with Hollywood fare-or, Tencent that includes streaming in the first for music streaming, Western pop-unlikely to such agreement for one of the three major meet consumer demand. As a result, compa- record label conglomerates in the world’s nies have to approach each market separately Singer Beyonce (L) and Lee most populous nation. for content licensing. Anne Callahan-Longo, General “The content that consumers care about is Manager of Parkwood ‘Wild West’ for entertainment typically very, very regional in nature. A per- Entertainment and #12 of One company that has noticed the rapid son in India cares about Indian content, and Billboard’s Top 50 Women In changes over the past year is Vuclip, a each state has its own market,” Jakatdar said. Music this year attend the California-based company founded in 2008 In contrast to Asia, Latin American nations 2014 Billboard Women In that provides music videos and other content. share more tastes in common and music Music Luncheon at Cipriani Vuclip leads the market for on-demand streaming services including Spotify, Deezer Wall Street on Friday in New video in emerging markets. and Rhapsody have been quick to form com- York City. — AP