JUMADA ALAWWAL 25, 1441 AH MONDAY, JANUARY 20, 2020

28 Pages Max 22º Min 08º 150 Fils Established 1961

ISSUE NO: 18039 The First Daily in the Arabian Gulf www.kuwaittimes.net

Syria refugees bring new tastes Deputy foreign minister Zain strategic partner of Liverpool power past Man and traditions to Kurdish Iraq 3 meets Philippine official 10 11 Kuwait Motor Show 2020 28 United, go 16 points clear

Call to end foreign meddling in Libya; monitoring force sought

Erdogan warns Haftar must end ‘hostile’ attitude after commander’s forces choke oil flows

BERLIN: World leaders were poised to commit to end- ing all foreign meddling in Libya’s war at a Berlin summit yesterday, but calls were growing for an international force to ensure that pledges are put into action. The presidents of Russia, Turkey and France were among global chiefs at the talks held under the auspices of the United Nations, which wants foreign powers wielding influence in the region to stop interfering in the war - be it through weapons, troops or financing. Leaders of both warring factions - strongman Khalifa Haftar and the head of Tripoli’s UN-recognized govern- ment Fayez Al-Sarraj - were also in Berlin for the first such gathering since 2018. But pro-Haftar forces upped the ante on the eve of the talks by blocking oil exports at Libya’s key ports, crippling the country’s main income source in protest at Turkey’s decision to send troops to shore up Sarraj’s Tripoli-based Government of National Accord (GNA). Ahead of the talks, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan lashed out at Haftar, saying he needed to drop his “hostile attitude” if Libya is to have any chance at winning peace. The flaring oil crisis underlined the dev- astating impact of foreign influence in the conflict, in which Sarraj’s GNA is backed by Turkey and Qatar while Haftar has the support of Russia, Egypt and the United Arab Emirates. Voicing his “acute concerns over the arrival of Syrian and foreign fighters in the city of Tripoli”, France’s President Emmanuel Macron said as the Berlin summit opened that “that must end”. If all goes to plan, all sides will sign up to a plan to refrain from interfer- ence, and commit to a truce that leads to a lasting end to hostilities, according to a draft of a final commu- BERLIN: World leaders and senior officials pose for a family picture during a peace summit on Libya at the Chancellery yesterday. — AFP nique seen by AFP. Continued on Page 24

budget for 2020/2021, which projected the deficit to MP Riyadh Al-Adasani said Kuwait’s economy and MPs keep up pressure increase to well over KD 9 billion after making the financial position are strong, adding that although pub- deduction for the future generations fund, although lic revenues do not cover spending, “if we take returns spending remained unchanged. on investments into account, Kuwait will post a sur- Gulf carriers still on Aqeel over budget Head of the financial and economic affairs committee plus”. He warned that the government should not con- MP Safa Al-Hashem said the projected budget is only template solutions mentioned by the finance minister fly over Iraq, Iran By B Izzak an estimate and the actual shortfall is expected to be like imposing taxes and raising charges on public serv- between KD 3 to 4 billion. She said the finance minister ices because this will lead to grillings. KUWAIT: Lawmakers continued yesterday their criti- KUWAIT: Gulf airlines still fly in Iraqi and Iranian has provoked the people when she hinted that the MP Shuaib Al-Muwaizri insisted that the budget cism of Finance Minister Mariam Al-Aqeel over her airspace and to cities in both countries, even as wages bill should be rationalized, adding that speaking deficit is not real, but the government wants citizens to controversial remarks about the need to cut spending other international carriers have rerouted planes about salaries in this way is a “big mistake”. Hashem live under fear and anxiety, adding that by focusing on and raise revenues by imposing selective taxes. Aqeel’s said she will not blame lawmakers if they decide to grill the deficit “lie”, the government plans to privatize since the United States and Iran traded military remarks were made last week while presenting the strikes. Executives and analysts said carriers in the the minister over that statement. Continued on Page 24 Gulf, a major transit stop between European and Asian destinations, have few alternative routes to choose from in an area where much of the airspace Yesterday evening, hundreds of pro- is kept clear of civilian aircraft for military use. Protesters testers gathered in the rain in central In the latest flare up, a US drone strike killed a Beirut by a barricaded road that leads to top general in Iraq on Jan 3 and Iran fired mis- regroup after parliament amid heavily deployed secu- siles at US targets in Iraq on Jan 8. In the tense rity forces. For a second night in a row, aftermath, Iran’s air defenses accidentally shot dozens started lobbing stones in the down a Ukrainian airliner. Gulf carriers have Beirut clashes direction of the police behind the metal grown into major airlines even as regional ten- barricade, crying “revolution, revolu- sions in recent decades erupted into conflict. BEIRUT: Dozens of stone-throwing tion”. The Red Cross said that 10 people Rerouting flights hurts profits, they say, although demonstrators defied police water can- had been taken to hospital as a result of they also insist that they take every precaution to nons in the Lebanese capital yesterday, a renewed clashes yesterday evening. keep passengers safe. day after rare violence between both One protester taunted the security Continued on Page 24 sides wounded nearly 400 people. forces with a flame-throwing aerosol, as Unprecedented protests have rocked the others shone bright green laser lights in country since Oct 17, with citizens from their direction. Anti-riot forces respond- all religious backgrounds demanding the ed with water cannons, as well as a ouster of a political class they view as round of tear gas and rubber bullets, an inept, corrupt and responsible for an AFP reporter said. BEIRUT: A Lebanese anti-government protester kicks back a teargas canister fired by Missile, drone ever deepening economic crisis. Continued on Page 24 riot police from behind the barricaded road leading to parliament yesterday. — AFP attack kills 83 were responded to quickly,” he added. Yemen soldiers Snowfall shuts Schools in all districts of Tehran city DUBAI: More than 80 Yemeni soldiers have been killed and some parts of the province were and scores injured in a missile and drone attack blamed schools, delays closed both in the morning and the after- on Houthi rebels in central Yemen, medical and military noon due to the heavy snowfall. Tehrani sources said yesterday. Saturday’s strike follows children took to parks to build snowmen months of relative calm in the war between the Iran- flights in Tehran and start snow fights as the capital was backed Houthis and Yemen’s internationally recognized blanketed in white. The snow dump government, which is backed by a Saudi-led military TEHRAN: Heavy snow covered the caused long delays to flights to and from coalition. The Houthis attacked a mosque in a military streets of Tehran yesterday, causing Tehran’s Mehrabad International Airport. camp in the central province of Marib - about 170 km major flight delays and forcing the clo- “Flights at Mehrabad will go ahead but east of the capital Sanaa - during evening prayers, mili- sure of schools, authorities in the Iranian with delays due to the lack of proper tary sources told AFP. capital said. The snow started falling ear- vision,” said Reza Jafarzadeh, spokesman A medical source at a Marib city hospital, where the ly in the morning and disrupted the flow for Iran’s aviation authority. casualties were transported, said that 83 soldiers were of traffic on some of the city’s main high- But flights were still going according killed and 148 injured in the strike. Death tolls in ways, AFP correspondents said. “We to schedule at Imam Khomeini Yemen’s grinding conflict are often disputed, but the knew that it would snow as of last night International Airport, also in Tehran, he huge casualty list in Marib represents one of the blood- and that it naturally affects traffic,” head added. Flights at Mehrabad resumed iest single attacks since the war erupted in 2014 when of Tehran’s traffic police Mohammadreza around noon after more than 30 had the rebels seized Sanaa. Saudi-owned Al-Hadath tele- Mehmandar told state television. “On been cancelled and others delayed for vision broadcast a video that it said showed the some highways in the north (of Tehran) up to seven hours, state news agency Continued on Page 24 there was a bit of ice... and accidents IRNA said. — AFP TEHRAN: People take part in a snow fight at a park in the Iranian capital yesterday. — AFP 2 Established 1961 Local Monday, January 20, 2020 Amir meets top Kuwaiti officials, visiting Iraqi Defense Minister Sheikh Sabah offers condolences over victims of Algeria accident

KUWAIT: His Highness the Amir Sheikh Sabah Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah meets with His Highness the His Highness the Amir Sheikh Sabah Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah meets with Deputy Prime Minister and Crown Prince Sheikh Nawaf Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah. —Amiri Diwan and KUNA photos Defense Minister Sheikh Ahmad Mansour Al-Sabah, Kuwait Army Chief of Staff Lt Gen Mohammad Al- Khodhr, and Kuwait Army Deputy Chief of Staff Lt Gen Khaled Saleh Al-Sabah.

His Highness the Amir Sheikh Sabah Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah His Highness the Amir Sheikh Sabah Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah His Highness the Amir Sheikh Sabah Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah meets with Iraqi Defense Minister Najah Al-Shammari. meets with National Assembly Speaker Marzouq Ali Al-Ghanem. receives a memento from GCC Secretary-General Abdullatif Al-Zayani.

His Highness the Amir Sheikh Sabah Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah His Highness the Amir Sheikh Sabah Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah His Highness the Crown Prince Sheikh Nawaf Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber meets with His Highness the Prime Minister Sheikh Sabah Al-Khaled meets with Chief Justice Yousef Al-Mutawaa. Al-Sabah meets with GCC Secretary-General Abdullatif Al-Zayani. Al-Hamad Al-Sabah.

KUWAIT: His Highness the Amir Sheikh Sabah Al- Affairs Sheikh Ali Jarrah Al-Sabah. Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah received His Highness the Also yesterday, His Highness the Crown Prince Crown Prince Sheikh Nawaf Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al- received at Bayan Palace Speaker Ghanem, His Sabah at Bayan Palace yesterday. His Highness Sheikh Highness Sheikh Jaber Al-Mubarak, His Highness Sabah also received National Assembly Speaker Sheikh Sabah Al-Khaled, and Justice Yousef Al- Marzouq Ali Al-Ghanem. His Highness the Amir then Mutawaa. His Highness Sheikh Nawaf also received received His Highness Sheikh Jaber Al-Mubarak Al- Zayani, in attendance of Foreign Minister Sheikh Dr Hamad Al-Sabah. Moreover, His Highness hosted His Ahmad Nasser Al-Mohammad Al-Sabah and the head Highness the Prime Minister Sheikh Sabah Al-Khaled of protocol at the Crown Prince Diwan Sheikh Al-Hamad Al-Sabah. His Highness the Amir also Mubarak Sabah Al-Salem Al-Humoud Al-Sabah. His received Chairman of Kuwait’s Supreme Judicial Highness then received Defense Minister Sheikh Council and the Cassation Court, and President of the Ahmad Al-Mansour, Lt Gen Mohammad Al-Khodhr Constitutional Court, Justice Yousef Al-Mutawaa. and Lt Gen Sheikh Khaled Saleh Al-Sabah. His His Highness the Crown Prince Sheikh Nawaf Al-Ahmad Al- His Highness the Crown Prince Sheikh Nawaf Al-Ahmad Al- Furthermore, His Highness received GCC Secretary- Highness the Crown Prince also received Kuwait’s Jaber Al-Sabah meets with His Highness Sheikh Jaber Al- Jaber Al-Sabah meets with Deputy Premier, Interior Minister and General Abdullatif Al-Zayani during his visit to the Deputy Premier, Interior Minister and Minister of Mubarak Al-Hamad Al-Sabah. Minister of Cabinet Affairs Anas Khaled Al-Saleh. country. In the meantime, His Highness the Amir Cabinet Affairs Anas Khaled Al-Saleh. received Deputy Prime Minister and Defense Minister In other news, His Highness the Amir Sheikh Sabah Sheikh Ahmad Mansour Al-Sabah and Kuwait Army Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah sent yesterday a cable of Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah and His Highness the that broke out at home for people with disabilities. Chief of Staff Lt Gen Mohammad Al-Khodhr, accom- condolences to Algerian President Abdelmadjid Prime Minister Sheikh Sabah Al-Khaled Al-Hamad Al- His Highness expressed sorrow over the victims and panied with Kuwait Army Deputy Chief of Staff Lt Gen Tebboune over victims of the collision of two buses in Sabah sent similar cables. wished speedy recovery for those injured. His Khaled Saleh Al-Sabah. In addition, His Highness Still village at El Oued Province, which resulted in Meanwhile, His Highness the Amir Sheikh Sabah Highness the Crown Prince Sheikh Nawaf Al-Ahmad Sheikh Sabah received Iraqi Defense Minister Najah deaths and casualties. In the cable, His Highness wished Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah sent a cable to the Al-Jaber Al-Sabah and His Highness the Prime Al-Shammari on the occasion of his visit to the country. mercy for the deceased and a swift recovery for the President of the Czech Republic Milo Zeman, Minister Sheikh Sabah Al-Khaled Al-Hamad Al-Sabah The meeting was attended by Minister of Amiri Diwan injured. His Highness the Crown Prince Sheikh Nawaf expressing condolences over the victims of the fire sent similar cables. —KUNA Kuwait’s PM meets Iraq’s Defense Minister KUWAIT: His Highness the Prime Minister Sheikh Sabah Al-Khaled Al-Hamad Al-Sabah, with the attendance of Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Defense Sheikh Ahmad Al-Mansour Al-Ahmad KUWAIT: (From left) Kuwait Army Chief of Staff Lt Gen Mohammad Khaled Al-Khodhr, Al-Sabah, received at Bayan Palace yesterday the Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Defense Sheikh Ahmad Al-Mansour Al-Ahmad visiting Iraqi Defense Minister Najah Al-Shemmari Al-Sabah, His Highness the Prime Minister Sheikh Sabah Al-Khaled Al-Hamad Al-Sabah His Highness the Prime Minister Sheikh Sabah Al-Khaled Al-Hamad Al-Sabah meets and his accompanying delegation. Kuwait Army and Kuwait Army Deputy Chief of Staff Lt Gen Khaled Saleh Al-Sabah. —KUNA photos with GCC Secretary-General Abdullatif Al-Zayani. Chief of Staff Lt Gen Mohammad Khaled Al-Khodhr and Kuwait Army Deputy Chief of Staff Lt Gen Khaled Saleh Al-Sabah also attended the meeting. Earlier yesterday, Sheikh Ahmad Al-Mansour and Lt Gen Khodhr introduced Lt Gen Khaled Saleh Al- Sabah to His Highness Sheikh Sabah Al-Khaled. His Highness the Prime Minister Sheikh Sabah Al- Khaled Al-Hamad Al-Sabah also received the visit- ing GCC Secretary-General Abdullatif Al-Zayani and his accompanying delegation, in attendance of Foreign Minister Sheikh Dr Ahmad Nasser Al- Mohammad Al-Sabah. Assistant Foreign Minister of the GCC affairs Ambassador Nasser Hajji Al-Muzain attended the meeting as well. Zayani also met sepa- rately yesterday with Sheikh Dr Ahmad Nasser Al- Mohammad, as well as His Highness Sheikh Jaber His Highness Sheikh Jaber Al-Mubarak Al-Hamad Al-Sabah meets with GCC Secretary- Foreign Minister Sheikh Dr Ahmad Nasser Al-Mohammad Al-Sabah meets with GCC Al-Mubarak Al-Hamad Al-Sabah. —KUNA General Abdullatif Al-Zayani. Secretary-General Abdullatif Al-Zayani. 3 Local Monday, January 20, 2020 Cancer second leading cause of death in Kuwait MP proposes special police unit against domestic violence

By Meshaal Al-Enezi chairman of the conference organizing committee Dr Abdullah Akbar stressed KUWAIT: Cancer is the second lead- 21,000 new cancer patients will be ing cause of death in Kuwait after car- annually diagnosed by 2030. He also diac disease, a Kuwaiti physician noted that breast cancer is the most warned yesterday, noting that cancer widespread type amongst women, is the cause of 15 percent of fatalities while prostate cancer is the most in Kuwait. “Cancer is the second cause widespread amongst men. Akbar of fatalities worldwide, with one out of added the conference aims at dis- every six deaths,” Dr Ali Al-Mosawi, cussing the latest in cancer care and Kuwait Cancer Control Center focuses on exchanging expertise (KCCC) Manager, said yesterday. “It is between doctors from Kuwait, also the second leading cause in Cleveland Clinic and from Abu Dhabi Kuwait after cardiac diseases.” National Labs. Speaking to reporters after inaugu- rating the Tissues and Cells Domestic violence Conference, Mosawi said: “Breast, MP Abdullah Al-Kandari proposed colon, thyroid, leukemia, lymphoma establishing a special police unit spe- and lung cancer cases represent 60 cialized in receiving grievances con- percent of detected cancers in cerning violence committed against Kuwait.” Mosawi added that KCCC women and children and acting upon had been established as part of other them. Separately, MP Khaled Al-Otaibi steps to fight cancer, as it is the only yesterday filed an inquiry to the minis- KUWAIT: Kuwait’s Deputy Foreign Minister Khaled Al-Jarallah meets Kuwait’s Deputy Foreign Minister Khaled Al-Jarallah meets UN’s center specialized in cancer diagnosis ter of education concerning a profes- with the Philippines’ Presidential Advisor on Overseas Filipino Deputy Special Representative for Political Affairs and Electoral and treatment using the most up-to- sor at the Public Authority for Applied Workers Abdullah Mamao. — KUNA photos Assistance Alice Walpole. date diagnoses and lab equipment and Education and Training (PAAET) com- the best treatment protocols by the puter department who has allegedly most qualified Kuwaiti and foreign been treating his female students Kuwait, Philippines meet on labor issues medical staff. Further, Mosawi said harshly, especially those with excellent KCCC has gained regional fame and performances. Otaibi requested KUWAIT: Kuwait’s Deputy Foreign Minister labor ban imposed by Manila on its nationals Kuwaiti deputy foreign minister met with the reputation with its huge lab and five detailed information about the grades Khaled Al-Jarallah held talks yesterday with working in Kuwait. During the talks, the UN’s Deputy Special Representative for buildings including over 600 beds, two given by all computer professors, the the Philippines’ Presidential Advisor on Filipino official praised Kuwait for the legal Political Affairs and Electoral Assistance Alice bone marrow transplant units, 13 oper- results of a project for which a certain Overseas Filipino Workers Abdullah Mamao, procedures the country has taken to address Walpole. Jarallah’s talks with the senior UN ation theatres, various specialized group of students were honored, yet who is on a visit to the country. The discus- the issue, ahead of a meeting between offi- official mainly dealt with Kuwait’s missing cit- departments and a helipad. they failed, and about the measures sions revolved around Kuwait’s ties with the cials from both countries scheduled for next izens in Iraq, in addition to the UN’s Meanwhile, Head of KCCC labs and followed to reevaluate all projects. Southeast Asian archipelago, in the wake of a month, he revealed. Elsewhere yesterday, the Assistance Mission for Iraq. — KUNA Two sports personnel to be prosecuted in Kuwait

KUWAIT: Kuwait’s Public Anti- returning surplus amounts of money. Corruption Authority (Nazaha) Buzber stated further that Nazaha announced yesterday referral of two referred required papers to the Attorney sports personnel, one of them was former General after completing all procedures, sports union president, to the public pros- collecting evidence, hearing witnesses and ecution for suspected public funds’ mis- inquiries from government agencies. He appropriation. In a press statement, emphasized determination of the Public Nazaha spokesperson Dr Mohammad Anti-Corruption Authority to continue Buzber said the Corruption Detection and efforts and procedures regarding the Investigation sector received a notice on investigation, as well as collection of evi- suspicion of offense against public money. dence and inquiries needed. He indicated He indicated that the two personnel were that Nazaha always appreciates role of suspected of receiving checks from the whistleblowers for assisting the authority Public Authority of Sports without sub- that keeps their identity confidential. mitting bills to cover up these financial Nazaha is an independent and neutral allocations fully upon their return from a body established in 2016 in response to championship and a training camp. requirements of the United Nations Moreover, the pair have abstained from Convention against Corruption. — KUNA

Court adjourns ‘MoI hospitality’ case till Feb 2

By A Saleh Online service The finance ministry announced KUWAIT: The criminal court yester- launching the online issuance of cer- day adjourned hearing the so-called tificates of refunding the income tax Ministry of Interior (MoI) hospitality guarantee yesterday. The ministry case till Feb 2 so that the lawyers of 11 explained that the new service will defendants can prepare their argu- enable Kuwait and GCC companies ments and set another hearing on Feb and individuals to refund the sums 16 for the remaining defendants. The withheld by government bodies with court also ordered the continuation of whom they have contracts to pay for detaining the accused already impris- their income tax as stipulated by arti- oned and refused lifting travel bans of cles 37 and 38 of the income tax those who had been released. decree number 3/1955 amended by Meanwhile, speaking before the law number 2/2008. court, the public prosecution stressed The finance ministry stressed that that some of the names included in the the new service aims at facilitating ‘MoI hospitality’ case were of Saudi procedures and automating them nationals who had applied for Saudi upon direct instructions from the non-security jobs online. “The same Cabinet. The finance ministry’s assis- names have been used over and over tant undersecretary for tax and finan- again as MoI guests by changing their cial affairs Aseel Al-Munaifi said the ranks each time,” the public prosecu- certificate will be delivered via email tion said, showing the actual names of without having to check in with the the secret security delegations MoI ministry. had hosted as per State Audit Bureau reports. Jahra campaign In another case, the court of cassa- Jahra municipal inspection teams tion upheld a ruling sentencing a launched a large campaign in Kabd, Kuwaiti man to death for beating his Sulaibiya, Saad Al-Abdullah, Taima daughter to death inside a vehicle and and Salmi. Speaking on the occasion, sentenced the mother to 10 years with Jahra cleaning department manager labor. The court of cassation also sec- Fahd Al-Quraifah said the campaign onded a verdict sentencing Hamed Bu resulted in removing 29 abandoned Yabis to two years imprisonment and vehicles, pasting 25 notice stickers on suspending the verdict for three years others, removing 3,586 cubic meters provided he signs an affidavit and of debris, filing 16 warning notices, pays KD 5,000 bail in a case filed confiscating three tons of inedible against him by the state security for foodstuff and filing 21 citations for blaspheming HH the Amir. various violations including peddling. Meanwhile, the court of misde- meanor sentenced a blogger to pay a Restaurant robbery KD 3,000 fine, sign an affidavit and A lawyer yesterday reported that pay KD 200 bail to suspend the ver- his client’s restaurant in Jabriya had dict passed against him for slandering been broken into and burgled by educating ministry’s assistant under- unidentified thieves, said security secretary Faisal Maqseed on social sources. A case was filed and further media networks. investigations are in progress. 4 Local Monday, January 20, 2020

Photo of the Day

KUWAIT: Sunrise over a fishing pier near Kuwait City. — Photo by Easwar Krishnan (KUNA) Kuwait Institute of Banking Studies honors NBK employees

KUWAIT: Kuwait Institute of Banking Studies (KIBS) has The certificates which the trainees received included, graduated 20 employees at the National Bank of Kuwait, Certified Bank Branch Manager (CBBM), Strategic who took part in the training programs organized by the Management Performance System Certificate (SMPS), institute for those working at the banking institutions. Certified Manager (CM), Certified Bank Branch The Professional Certificate Programs for 2018-2019 Operations Manager (CBBOM), and Risk Management are accredited by the London Institute of Banking and Certificate (RMC). Finance, one of the world’s most prestigious institutions in “The bank’s strategy encourages the employees to pro- the field of vocational education related to banking and ceed with their studies and continue to develop their skills financial services. and knowledge. The bank has set scientific certificates and The certification ceremony was held at the Kuwait training courses, which the employees receive, among oth- Foundation for the Advancement of Sciences (KFAS), at er criteria required to build career, attain promotion, and the Kuwait Chamber of Commerce and Industry, and receive incentives,” stated Emad Al-Ablani, General under the patronage of His Excellency the Governor of Manager - Group Human Resources at NBK. Central Bank of Kuwait, Dr Mohammed Y Al-Hashel. The “As a prominent financial institution, NBK is committed ceremony was also attended by Isam J Al-Sager, Group to help employees earn professional certificates and con- Chief Executive Officer. Director General of the Institute tinuously improve their professional skills. These certifi- of Banking Studies, Dr Yaqoub Alrefaei. Emad Al-Ablani, cates are considered among the most internationally- General Manager, Human Resources Group and Mohamed applied learning tools, which help boost the professional Al-Othman, Head, Consumer Banking Group, Mohammed capabilities of those working in the banking industry, in Al-Kharafi, General Manager- Operations Group at NBK. line with the global developments in the field,” he added.

included the historic Carthage Museum, the Carthage Kuwaiti students Amphitheatre, the Baths of Antoninus along with a sepa- rate stop at the touristic northern coastal town of Sidi Bou Said. Carthage Museum is located at the tip of visit ancient Byrsa Hill, in the center of the northern seaside city. Built in 1875, it houses the largest collection of Carthaginian Carthage sites relics in the world. The city’s amphitheater is known in modern times for hosting global musicians amid the renowned International Carthage Festival. The 7,500- TUNIS: An all-girls group of Kuwaiti high school stu- spectator edifice continues to dazzle onlookers, dents were taken to several historic cultural and tourist despite being built in 2nd Century. The Baths of sites in the northern ancient city of Carthage during a Antoninus, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, are the trip to Tunisia aimed at showcasing Kuwaiti-funded biggest built by the Romans in the African continent humanitarian projects worldwide. The significance of the and the second largest in the history of the great civil- city stems from its historic and cultural significance, the isation. The experience was supplemented by a brief students said, particularly during the centuries-old stopover at the neighboring town of Sidi Bou Said, Carthaginian Empire, and the many grand structures left with its unique architecture and its perfect white behind by this civilization, regarded one of the most houses, contrasted only by large blue intricately-pat- prosperous of the Ancient World. The destinations terned doors. — KUNA 5 Local Monday, January 20, 2020 Kuwait Sadu House introduces traditional weaving art to world

KUWAIT: Sadu exhibition, Sadi, hopes to showcase the creativity of Kuwaiti weavers to the world after the success of last year’s event in Dubai. The event, which was launched once again at Kuwait Sadu House on Saturday as part of the Al-Qurain cultural festival, hosted five practitioners of the traditional wool textile art once only common to the country’s desert dwelling Bedouin community. “The exhibition’s par- ticipants have excelled in uncovering the harmony of sadu art and have applied this to their own works, through spinning and weaving in various patterns and rich colors,” honorary president Sheikha Altaf Al- Sabah said. Kuwait Sadu House, a not-for-profit organization, is keen on introducing the event to a wider international audience following its success across several Gulf countries. Sadi is an “ambitious initiative aimed at encouraging creativity and innova- tion” amongst local sadu practitioners, she added. “It gives these artists the opportunity to unearth differ- ent aspects of this textile heritage and rethink and re- interpret these traditions in a contemporary manner - each artist has their own way of interacting with the fabric,” she said. — KUNA KUWAIT: Officials attend a press conference to announce the Sadi Exhibition. — KUNA photos A 3D model simulating Sadu weaving.

An Egyptian cotton handmade tent. ‘Sadu eye;’ mixing various material and models. Sadu prepared for weaving.

Kuwait prioritizes ‘Ukraine Week’ kicks off at Sheikh Jaber Stadium elderly care: Official

KUWAIT: Providing better care for the own homes, he said amid a gathering elderly is among Kuwait’s chief objectives, devoted to elderly care. Kuwait’s health besides being a major sustainable devel- ministry is in the process of putting in opment goal, said its ministry of social place a better healthcare plan for elders, affairs yesterday. Through close conjunc- according to Dr Amani Tabtabie, the tion with Kuwait’s health ministry, the min- director of the ministry’s elderly care istry of social affairs seeks to bring all eld- department. Granting elder citizens ‘prior- erly care plans to fruition, said Abdulaziz ity cards’ allowing them preferential treat- Shaaib, the ministry’s undersecretary. ment when getting transactions done Some 23 medical teams are working across various state bodies is among the nationwide to provide quality healthcare ministry’s top accomplishments, added the for elder citizens in the confines of their official. — KUNA

KUWAIT: Officials attend a press conference yesterday to announce the ‘Ukraine Week.’ — Photo by Yasser Al-Zayyat

By Ben Garcia we are ready to help in anything. Ukraine ences of Ukraine’s hospitality to share. is a country full of talents. I have already Events yesterday included fit ball, gym KUWAIT: A six-day ‘Ukraine Week’ kicked received many requests for training in workout and a football match. Events off yesterday with a photo exhibit at Sheikh gymnastics, football and several other today include a piano concert, photo Jaber Al-Ahmed Stadium. Dr Oleksandr sporting activities. We want good cooper- exhibit and kids expo. Tomorrow, there is Balanutsa, Ukrainian Ambassador to ation and promote and share our experi- a ‘Business Outreach Ukraine’ event. Jan Kuwait, graced the occasion along with an ences and the best from our side,” 21: Ukraine arts, fashion and music. Jan official from the Public Authority for Youth. Balanutsa said. 22: Discussion on medical and tourist “I started my tenure in June 2019. I am In a short video presentation, Ukraine potentials in Ukraine and Kiev classical here to showcase Ukraine so we can ben- was presented as a country full of positive orchestra concert. Jan 23: Tree planting, efit from our strong relationship. We know people, described as artistic, fashionable, international students’ conference, diplo- we can offer more to Kuwait - likewise intelligent, progressive, creative, powerful matic receptions and Day of Unity of Kuwait to Ukraine - especially in sports. I and unique. Attendees at the press confer- Ukraine. Coach Oleg Andricychuk was am happy that the ban on Kuwait on par- ence included a coach from Ukraine and two flown in from Qatar to join the Ukraine ticipation in the Olympics was lifted. Now Kuwaiti citizens who had their own experi- ‘Week in Kuwait’.

Interior Minister meets ambassadors

By Hanan Al-Saadoun to Kuwait Ayse Hilal Sayan Koytak in his office ambassador thanked Kuwait for its care of the at the Interior Ministry yesterday. The minister Turkish community in the country. Minister KUWAIT: Deputy Premier, Interior Minister welcomed his guest and spoke about the strong Saleh also received Croatia’s Ambassador to and State Minister of Cabinet Affairs Anas relations between the two countries, as both Kuwait Amir Muharemi, as he lauded the level of Khaled Al-Saleh received Turkish Ambassador sides discussed issues of mutual interest. The cooperation between Kuwait and Croatia.

KUWAIT: Deputy Premier, Interior Minister and State Minister of Deputy Premier, Interior Minister and State Minister of Cabinet Cabinet Affairs Anas Khaled Al-Saleh meets with Turkish Ambassador Affairs Anas Khaled Al-Saleh meets with Croatia’s Ambassador to to Kuwait Ayse Hilal Sayan Koytak. — Interior Ministry photos Kuwait Amir Muharemi. International MONDAY, JANUARY 20, 2020 After Modi Amazon snub, BJP slams Eight killed in blaze at Czech home for disabled Page 8 Washington Post Page 9

NAJAF: Anti-government protesters stand before tire smoke at a makeshift roadblock during a demonstration in this central shrine city yesterday. —AFP Iraqi youth angry at slow pace of reform Protests swell after thinning out in recent weeks amid rising Iran-US tensions

BAGHDAD: Iraqi youth angry at their gov- turned the sky behind him a charcoal grey. seven days. That deadline ends tonight,” protests themselves has dropped slightly, ernment’s glacial pace of reform ramped up “We want to send a message to the govern- Kadhim told AFP. activists say they face an escalating cam- their protests yesterday, sealing streets ment: Stop procrastinating! The people A fellow protester, 20-year-old univer- paign of intimidation, kidnapping and with burning tyres and threatening further know what you’re doing,” he said, adding sity student Mohammad Kareem, said assassination attempts. Young protesters escalation unless their demands are met. ominously: “Tomorrow the deadline ends, more escalation could come. “We gave the are also apprehensive about a rival Starr, Dershowitz join The rallies demanding an overhaul of the and then things could get totally of control.” government a timeframe to implement our protest on January 24 organized by fire- ruling system have rocked Shiite-majority Protesters are demanding early elec- demands, but it looks like it doesn’t care brand cleric Moqtada Sadr in order to Trump defense team parts of Iraq since October, but had tions based on a reformed voting law, a one bit,” he said. “We will keep up our pressure US forces to leave. thinned out in recent weeks amid rising new prime minister to replace current movement and keep escalating to confront Last week, Sadr urged Iraqis to hold “a Iran-US tensions. Protesters had feared caretaker premier Adel Abdel Mahdi and this government, which continues to pro- million-strong, peaceful, unified demon- Iraq would be caught in the middle of the that officials deemed corrupt be held to crastinate,” Kareem told AFP. stration to condemn the American pres- geopolitical storm and last Monday gave account. Abdel Mahdi resigned nearly two Rallies also swelled in the cities of Kut, ence and its violations”. Iraqi political fig- the government one week to make months ago, but political parties have thus Diwaniyah and Amara, where most govern- ures have ramped up their calls for foreign progress on reform pledges. far failed to agree on a successor and he ment offices, schools and universities have forces - including some 5,200 US troops - A day before the deadline expires, hun- has continued to run the government as a been shuttered for months. In the holy city to leave the country following a US drone dreds of angry young people descended caretaker. of Najaf, youth wrapped in checkered strike that killed Iran’s revered Quds Force on the main protest camp in Baghdad’s black-and-white scarves and carrying Iraqi chief Qasem Soleimani and top Iraqi mili- Tahrir Square as well as nearby Tayaran ‘Deadline ends tonight’ flags lit tyres and began a sit-in on a main tary official Abu Mahdi Al-Muhandis. Both Square. They burned tyres to block high- Demonstrators have publicly rejected road leading to the capital. Further the were key brokers in Iraq’s political scene, Alan Dershowitz Robert Ray Kenneth Starr ways and bridges, turning back cars and the names circulating as possible replace- south in the oil-rich port city of Basra, stu- which has been left reeling by their causing traffic jams across the city. At ments and are furious that other sweeping dents gathered in an ongoing strike in sup- absence. least 10 people including police officers reform measures have not been implement- port of the rallies elsewhere. Iraq’s parliament voted on Jan 5 in WASHINGTON: Ken Starr, who was at the center of Bill were wounded when security forces tried ed. “We began to escalate today because favor of ousting foreign forces but the Clinton’s impeachment in the 1990s, and America’s biggest to clear the sit-ins with tear gas and pro- the government did not respond to our Rival rallies legal procedure for doing so remains celebrity lawyer Alan Dershowitz were announced Friday testers responded by throwing rocks, med- demands, notably forming an independent The protests are the largest and blood- murky. Bases where US forces are sta- to be joining President Donald Trump’s Senate impeach- ical and security sources told AFP. government that could save Iraq,” said iest grassroots movement in Iraq in tioned have been under a steady stream of ment defense. The administration has yet to unveil the full “This is only the first escalation,” one Haydar Kadhim, a demonstrator in the decades, with nearly 460 people dead and rocket attacks for several months that team but confirmed that White House counsel Pat Cipollone protester with a scarf wrapped around his southern protest hotspot of Nasiriyah. over 25,000 wounded since they erupted have killed one American contractor and will be lead lawyer, backed by Trump’s personal attorney face told AFP, as smoke from the tyres “Last Monday, we gave them a deadline of on Oct 1. While the violence at the one Iraqi soldier. —AFP Jay Sekulow. “President Trump has done nothing wrong and is confi- dent that this team will defend him, the voters, and our democracy from this baseless, illegitimate impeachment,” the was the loss of the HRH “royal highness” title that White House said in a statement Friday evening. But where Harry and Meghan really made Palace history. “Even when Edward VIII Cipollone is ultra-discreet, and rarely speaks on the record, abdicated (in 1936) he dropped from being His Dershowitz and Starr will bring the legal world’s equivalent begin life as ordinary Majesty The King to HRH the Duke of Windsor,” he of rock stardom when the trial begins on Tuesday. said. Arbiter noted that Princess Diana was not born a US media reports said Starr, the special prosecutor in royal and had her HRH “obtained through marriage”. the 1998 Clinton impeachment saga, was joining the Trump people (almost) legal team. He is a hero to many on the right, even if Clinton ultimately was acquitted in the Senate. Among the first to ‘The point of life’ LONDON: Britain’s Prince Harry and his wife react - with expletive-laden astonishment - was Monica Few know what Meghan - an American former TV Meghan began a new life yesterday as somewhat Lewinsky, whose affair with Clinton was the subject of ordinary people with financial worries and security actress with a huge social media following and A-list Starr’s investigation. “This is definitely an ‘are you f***ing celebrity friends such as Oprah Winfrey and the kidding me?’ kinda day,” she tweeted. No less controversial concerns after being stripped of their royal titles is the choice of Dershowitz, whose past clients include dis- and public funding by the Queen. The settlement Obamas - thinks of the British brouhaha about ancient acronyms. The 38-year-old frankly admitted graced financier Jeffrey Epstein, as well as film director announced by Buckingham Palace on Saturday saw Roman Polanski and former heavyweight boxing champion the 93-year-old monarch assume her painfully on UK television in October that she “really tried to Mike Tyson, both embroiled in notorious rape cases. familiar role of managing a family crisis that adopt this British sensibility of a stiff upper lip. I Dershowitz himself has been accused of being a witness threatened the very foundations of one of Britain’s tried, I really tried.” But she admitted sadly: “That’s and participant in Epstein’s sex crimes - allegations he oldest institutions. not the point of life. You’ve got to thrive.” strenuously denies. Dershowitz’s most famous case was the The “Megxit” mess began when the young cou- Harry has also talked about still being haunted by successful defense of former NFL star O J Simpson, whose televised 1995 murder trial riveted the nation. In the Senate, ple gave up their font-line family duties and his mother’s death in a 1997 car crash involving a Harry and Meghan chasing pack of paparazzi. He and Meghan filed a Dershowitz, who teaches at Harvard University, says he’ll announced plans to chart a “progressive new role” be pursuing loftier matters. In a post on Twitter Friday, series of lawsuits against UK media outlets in in North America on Jan 8. They did so without one of the areas being worked through,” the royal Dershowitz said he would “present oral arguments at the October - a step that predictably outraged the winning Queen Elizabeth II’s permission or seem- aide told the paper. “That translates as: ‘The Queen Senate trial to address the constitutional arguments against tabloids and renewed debates about the royals’ role ingly knowing how it was all going to work out. A isn’t at all sure’,” The Sunday Times wrote. But impeachment and removal.” mad rush of royal family meetings and screaming in public life. Harry is expected to join Meghan and Arbiter stressed that Diana’s “global appeal” was in Lead lawyer Cipollone is the author of the Republican president’s uncompromising strategy to stonewall the headlines in the tabloid papers culminated with a their baby son Archie on a resort island near the no way affected by her losing the HRH tag. ruling Saturday that The Daily Telegraph called “the southwestern Canadian city of Vancouver this com- Democrats’ impeachment investigation, calling it “partisan and Harry was already been seen talking to a Disney unconstitutional”. Another high-powered player will be hardest Megxit possible”. ing week. Royal observers think they will spend little boss in December about Meghan’s interest in doing time in Britain once - in the restrained words of Sekulow, a stalwart in the White House pushback against a voiceover. There has also been speculation about the two-year probe by special counsel Robert Mueller into ‘Absolutely unprecedented’ Buckingham Palace - “this new model” takes effect couple teaming up with Netflix. The Palace said the Trump’s controversial dealings with Russia. A Supreme Court The couple lost their right to be called “his and “in the spring of 2020”. separate issue of who pays for their pricey security veteran and a big name on the right-wing evangelical Christian her royal highness” (HRH) - much as Harry’s late detail will have to be resolved by the UK govern- scene, he won’t be dazzled by the bright lights of Washington’s mother Princess Diana did when she divorced Prince ‘Stuck in public’s throats’ ment at a later date. ultimate fight. Rounding off the roster will be Robert Ray, Charles in another family drama that upset the The immediate question facing Harry and Meghan another figure from the investigations into Clinton that rocked Prime Minister Boris Johnson gave little of the Washington in the 1990s, US media reported. Queen in 1996. They further agreed to repay £2.4 is how they will make ends meet. Sky News said game away when pressed by a British TV crew in million ($3.1 million) of taxpayer’s money spent on Prince Charles will continue paying his son some Trump has been impeached by the House of Berlin. “I said before that I am sure that the royal Representatives on accusations that he abused his office to renovating their Frogmore Cottage home near money from his private income. Harry has undis- family - it’s been a round a very long time - will find try and force Ukraine into digging up dirt on leading Windsor Castle. “No royal has ever paid back mon- closed millions of pounds in savings and Meghan has a way forward,” Johnson said with a smile. But royal Democratic presidential candidate Joe Biden. He was also ey,” former royal press secretary Dickie Arbiter enjoyed a lucrative acting career. She is now thinking biographer Penny Junor said the idea of the couple impeached for allegedly obstructing Congress. But the wrote in The Sun yesterday. “It is absolutely of starting her own line of health and “wellness” in any way profiting from their royal titles has really White House enters the Senate trial with a massive advan- unprecedented.” products. “stuck in the public’s throats”. “Harry is who he is tage: Trump’s Republicans have 53 of the 100 seats and the Harry was also stripped of the military titles and The Sunday Times asked a royal aide if Harry and simply by accident of birth,” said Junor. “If he was party is in lockstep. The majority leader, Senator Mitch patronages he was awarded after serving two tours in Meghan will be able to cash in on the “Sussex Royal” McConnell, echoes Trump’s claim that the impeachment is a able to make squillions of pounds from that it would political hit job. —AFP Afghanistan with the British Army. But Arbiter said it brand they trademarked in December. “That is still be wrong.” —AFP Established 1961 7 International Monday, January 20, 2020 Iran to examine black boxes; no plan to send them abroad Bodies of Ukrainian victims of downed plane repatriated from Iran

DUBAI: Iran is trying to analyze the black boxes of a Ukrainian airliner that its military shot down this month, Solemn ceremony the state IRNA news agency reported yesterday, deny- The bodies of 11 Ukrainian victims were brought ing a report that a decision had been taken to send the home yesterday in a ceremony at Kiev airport. plane’s recorders to Ukraine. All 176 people on board Ukrainian Foreign Minister Vadym Prystaiko said that the plane were killed in the Jan 8 crash. Canada, which “bereaved families and the whole nation have an had 57 citizens on board, and other countries that lost opportunity to pay their respects”. The plane was nationals have said the flight data and voice recorders brought down when the military was on high alert in the should be analysed abroad. tense hours after Iran launched missiles at US targets in The plane disaster has heightened international Iraq in response to the killing of a top Iranian com- pressure on Iran as it grapples with a long-running dis- mander in a US drone strike on Jan 3 in Baghdad. pute with the United States over its nuclear program Around a thousand people including President and its influence in the region that briefly erupted into Volodymyr Zelensky bid farewell to the victims. open conflict this month. The military has said it Zelensky laid flowers on the flag-draped coffins of the downed Ukraine International Airlines flight 752 in 11 Ukrainian victims - nine flight crew and two passen- error in the aftermath of tit-for-tat strikes by the United gers - during the solemn ceremony at Kiev’s Boryspil States and Iran. But authorities delayed admitting this, airport and briefly spoke to their relatives. prompting days of protests on Iran’s streets. The caskets were to remain for several hours at the “We are trying to read the black boxes here in Iran. terminal so that relatives, Ukraine International Airlines Otherwise, our options are Ukraine and France, but no staff and ordinary Ukrainians could say their last good- decision has been taken so far to send them to another byes. The funerals are expected to be held today. country,” Hassan Rezaifar, a director in charge of acci- Earlier yesterday, the black-clad Ukrainian leader, dent investigations at Iran’s Civil Aviation Organization, Prime Minister Oleksiy Goncharuk and top officials told IRNA. Rezaifar had been quoted by Iran’s semi- stood on the tarmac outside the terminal to see the cas- official Tasnim news agency on Saturday as saying the kets with the remains of the downed plane’s nine black boxes could not be decoded in Iran and would be Ukrainian flight crew and two passengers being sent to Ukraine after Kiev’s repeated requests. IRNA removed from the aircraft. KIEV: Honor guards carry the flag-draped coffins of 11 Ukrainians who died in a plane mistakenly shot also reported yesterday that the official had made simi- Ukraine International Airlines staff, some in tears, down by Iran during a spike in tensions with Washington at Boryspil airport yesterday. —AFP lar comments a day earlier. stood nearby clutching flowers. The airline staff and rel- It was not immediately clear what prompted Rezaifar atives formed two lines to make a corridor through to backtrack. The Boeing 737-800 was en route from which the honour guard carried the caskets draped in cumstances of the tragedy and the punishment of the those responsible to account. The Revolutionary Tehran to the Ukrainian capital. Most of those on board the yellow-and-blue flag of Ukraine. Some men fell to guilty,” he added. Ukrainian Foreign Minister Vadym Guards also issued profuse apologies, as protesters were Iranians or dual nationals. Ukraine has previously one knee to honor the victims. The honor guard also Prysta?ko said on Twitter he was “deeply grateful for raged against the Guards, an elite military force that said it expected the recorders to be handed over, while held flags of the countries whose citizens perished in the messages of condolence & solidarity that we have was set up to protect the clerical system. The Islamic Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau has said France the crash. received from around the world.” Republic’s supreme leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, was one of the few countries with the ability to read “Deep condolences to the relatives and eternal said on Friday that “some tried to use it as an excuse information on the recorders. France’s air accident memory to the victims,” Oleksiy Danilov, secretary of ‘Unforgivable error’ to overshadow the martyrdom of our great command- agency BEA said on Saturday it was awaiting an official Ukraine’s Security Council, said on Facebook. “Our Iranian President Hassan Rouhani has called the er” Qassem Soleimani, the powerful general killed in request for assistance. work will not end until the full clarification of the cir- downing an “unforgivable error” and promised to hold the US strike. —Agencies

competing armed factions vying for con- African states trol. In the chaos, militants and migrant Jordan parliament smugglers expanded their influence. Libya’s security vacuum allowed the seek more say spread of fighters, arms and explosives passes law to ban across its borders into Mali, Niger and in Libya crisis Burkina Faso, which face increasing vio- gas from Israel lence despite a regional campaign to NIAMEY, Niger: Victims of increasing counter Islamist militancy. AMMAN: Jordan’s parliament yesterday approved a militant attacks, African states bordering The North African state remains in draft law to ban imports of Israeli gas to the country Libya are pushing for more say in efforts chaos, mostly split now between Haftar’s just days after they started under a multibillion-dollar to end the crisis in their northern neigh- forces in the east and the UN-recog- deal struck in 2016 which is opposed by much of the bor whose conflict risks becoming a nized government in Tripoli. Haftar’s population. The motion was passed unanimously by growing source of regional instability. forces launched an offensive on the capi- Jordan’s 130 lawmakers and will be referred to the cab- European powers, Turkey and Russia tal in April. “The international community inet to be made law, although legal hurdles may prevent joined a Libya peace conference in is responsible for what is happening to it coming into force. The government has previously Berlin yesterday, the latest international us through its disastrous decision to said it was a deal between companies rather than a effort to end fighting between eastern intervene in Libya,” Niger President political matter. commander Khalifa Haftar and the UN- Mahamadou Issoufou said in December, The $10 billion supply deal was originally struck recognized government in Tripoli. referring to the 2011 NATO campaign. between Jordan’s state-owned utility and a US Israeli African Union Chairman Moussa Faki “Libya is African, we cannot solve the BERLIN: Protesters hold a banner reading “Stop war in Libya, Haftar and mercenar- consortium led by Texas-based Noble Energy, to provide also joined the Berlin talks hoping to Libyan problem by keeping the AU on ies” during a protest near the chancellery during the peace summit on Libya at the gas to the country’s power plants for electricity genera- bring a focus on the continent’s perspec- the sidelines,” he told AFP. Chancellery yesterday. —AFP tion. It was not referred to parliament for approval. tive, but it will not be an easy mission. Chad President Idriss Deby said solv- Although US ally Jordan has a peace treaty with Israel “The neighboring countries like Chad, ing Sahel violence was directly linked to the security situation in the Sahel,” a African continent would be ineffective the deal, which supplies Jordan for 15 years, has faced Sudan, Algeria, Tunisia, Egypt, fellow AU ending Libya’s instability. “Libya’s Western diplomat said. and counter-productive,” Sassou much popular opposition, with lawmakers arguing it members and beyond are suffering the chaos... remains the main source of Nguesso said earlier this month. makes the kingdom dependent on its neighbor for energy. consequences” of the crisis, said Ebba destabilization for the whole of the ‘Counter-productive’ An emissary of the Congolese head of Many Jordanians are also the descendants of Kalondo, Faki’s spokeswoman. “The AU Sahel,” he said in Rome in December. In One sign of possible increasing state this month travelled to Algeria, a Palestinians who moved to the country after the cre- has consistently asked for a more central 2019, attacks killed 4,000 people in African involvement is that the African key country in negotiations between ation of Israel in 1948, and view Israel as an erstwhile role in the processes underway, but has Burkina, Mali and Niger, despite the Union’s Libya committee, inactive for Libyan rivals, to discuss how to “ener- enemy that expelled their ancestors from their homes. consistently been ignored.” presence of several thousand French months, has been back in session in gize” the peace process, the Algerian The Jordanian government said after the agreement Sahel and African nations have long troops, a UN peacekeeping mission in recent weeks led by Congolese presidency said. The Algeria talks also was signed in 2016 that securing stable energy prices been at the sharp end of Libya’s crisis. Mali and the G5 Sahel cooperation President Denis Sassou Nguesso. “Libya discussed the role of AU on reviving for the next decade could achieve annual savings of After the NATO-backed rebellion oust- among the armies of five regional is an African country and the victims are Libya’s peace process. Algiers has been at least $500 million and help reduce a chronic budg- ed and killed dictator Muammar Gaddafi nations. “Africa is looking to get more of essentially in Africa. So any strategy to long been involved in negotiations with et deficit. —Agencies in 2011, Libya collapsed into a conflict of a hearing now with the deterioration of end the Libya crisis that marginalizes the Libyan factions. —AFP

observe the terms of the 2015 deal curtailing its the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA). Iran warns of nuclear program, while Tehran accuses the bloc of Since May 2019, Iran has progressively scaled back inaction over US sanctions. some commitments under the agreement in response The EU three insisted they remained committed to to the US sanctions and Europe’s inability to circum- Twelve dead repercussions the agreement, which has already been severely vent them. It has stressed, however, that they can be undermined by the US exit from it in 2018 and its reversed if Tehran’s interests are realized. after Algeria for IAEA reimposition of unilateral sanctions on key sectors of Iran’s latest and final step in January entailed for- Iran’s economy. “What the three European countries going the limit on the number of machines used to did regarding Iran’s nuclear issue... is unfortunate,” make uranium more potent. The 2015 nuclear deal - buses collide TEHRAN: Iran’s parliamentary speaker yesterday parliamentary speaker Ali Larijani was quoted as known as the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action warned of unspecified repercussions for the UN’s saying by state news agency IRNA. (JCPOA) - was struck in Vienna by Iran, the EU ALGIERS: Twelve people were killed and another 46 nuclear watchdog if European nations that launched “We clearly announce that if Europe, for any rea- three, the United States, China and Russia. It has a injured when two buses collided early yesterday in a dispute mechanism against the Islamic republic act son, uses Article 37 of the nuclear agreement unfair- provision that allows a party to claim significant Algeria’s northeast, emergency services said, in the “unfairly”. Britain, France and Germany launched a ly, then Iran will make a serious decision regarding non-compliance by another party before a joint latest tragedy of its kind in the North African country. process last week charging Iran with failing to cooperation with the agency,” he said, referring to commission. —AFP Emergency teams arrived at “around 1:10 am (0010 GMT) following a fatal accident, a collision between two buses, on the state highway near the city of Astil” least six tunnels were discovered in the in the province of Biskra, 500 km southeast of Israel installing operation dubbed “Northern Shield” Algiers, a statement said. “Twelve people, aged 19 to along the border where a United 73, were killed and 46 were injured,” it added. sensors along Nations peacekeeping force is deployed. Public radio quoted Ahmed Baoudji, director of Conricus said the drilling is “not related emergency services for the nearby city of El Oued, as to any new intelligence” and all military saying preliminary investigations indicated speeding Lebanon border activity would take place on the Israeli was the probable cause. Algerian President side of the border. Abdelmadjid Tebboune offered his condolences to the JERUSALEM: Israel’s army said it would Work at Misgav Am is expected to victims’ families and asked Prime Minister Abdelaziz start drilling to install ground sensors last a number of weeks before the sen- Djerad to oversee assistance, the radio added, while along its border with Lebanon yesterday, a sors are installed along other sections of Interior Minister Kamel Beldjoud and Health Minister year after an operation to destroy tunnels the border. “We understand that our Abderrahmane Benbouzid went to the scene. dug across the frontier. “We are deploying activity might be seen, and most proba- According to the national road safety commission, a defensive system into the ground...in var- bly will be heard, on the Lebanese side,” a government agency, 3,275 people were killed in ious locations” along the border, said Conricus. Israel has notified the road crashes in Algeria in 2019 and more than spokesman Lieutenant Colonel Jonathan UNIFIL peacekeeping force which 30,000 injured - fewer than in previous years. It also Conricus told journalists. Work will get patrols the “blue line” drawn by the UN reported a small decrease in the number of accidents underway yesterday at the Israeli kibbutz to mark Israel’s withdrawal from southern - almost 22,000 - compared to 2018. Last month town of Misgav Am, he said, to deploy the Lebanon in 2000. Lebanon and Israel are Tunisia and Morocco, which neighbor Algeria, were new noise-detecting technology. still technically at war. A month-long in mourning after two bus crashes that were among The move comes a year after Israel conflict in 2006 between Israel and MISGAV AM: This picture taken yesterday shows a general view of the Israel- the deadliest in the region. On Dec 1, 30 people died concluded a weeks-long operation to Hezbollah killed more than 1,200 Lebanon border as Israeli army forces begin deployment of infrastructure for a in northwest Tunisia, and at least 17 were killed the destroy tunnels it accused Lebanese Lebanese, mostly civilians, and more than ground “defensive system” along the fence. —AFP same day in the north of Morocco. —AFP Shiite group Hezbollah of building. At 160 Israelis, mostly soldiers. —AFP 8 International Monday, January 20, 2020 Mexican troops block US-bound caravan travelers on border 1,500 Central American migrants urged to maintain ‘order and respect’

CIUDAD HIDALGO, Mexico: Mexican troops urged and had arrived Saturday morning at the bridge over some 1,500 Central American migrants to maintain the Suchiate River, which forms the border between “order and respect” on Saturday after the group Guatemala and Mexico to the north. attempted to force entry into the country from Some of the migrants insisted on getting in but oth- Guatemala in the hopes of trekking onward to the ers in groups of around 20 turned around and headed United States. Standing on the wall above the Rodolfo back to migration holding facilities on the Guatemalan Robles International Bridge that connects Mexico with side of the frontier. its southern neighbor, National Guard General Vincente Hernandez told migrants they would be allowed to Security beefed up cross the border in a “controlled” manner. Mexico had beefed up its forces at the border cross- “With order and respect, all will be served. There are ing as it anticipated the arrival of a caravan of some opportunities for everyone,” said Hernandez, who also 3,000 people mainly from Honduras and El Salvador. coordinates the National Guard operations along the On Friday, Mexican President Andres Manuel Lopez Suchiate River, the natural border between Mexico and Obrador offered 4,000 jobs to members of the caravan Guatemala. “We understand the situation, you are our in an attempt to dissuade them from traveling on to the brothers from Honduras, El Salvador, Guatemala,” United States. Hernandez told the caravan. His speech was met with Mexico has come under pressure from US President applause. Donald Trump to slow a surge of undocumented Some 800 migrants agreed to regularize their sta- migrants who arrived at the US-Mexican border last tus and seek employment in Mexico, an official from year. Trump threatened in May to impose tariffs on the National Institute of Migration (INM) said. Mexico if the government did not do more to stop Earlier Saturday, troops had blocked the caravan, them. scuffling with the migrants as they attempted to Lopez Obrador’s administration then deployed cross the border. 27,000 National Guardsmen to tighten its borders. One National Guard soldier standing guard at the He has also allowed the United States to send more bridge and speaking over a bullhorn told the travelers than 40,000 asylum-seekers back to Mexico while they could not enter without a visa or migration docu- their cases are processed, under the so-called “Remain National Guard troops stand guard at a crossing point in Ciudad Hidalgo to prevent migrants from ment, and that sneaking in was dangerous. “Do not in Mexico” policy. entering Mexico. —AFP expose yourself to people traffickers. Your life is in Human Rights Watch accused Mexico on Tuesday of danger,” said the agent, who also told them the idea violating migrants’ rights by failing to guarantee the Tens of thousands of Central American migrants and seeking safety in numbers from the dangers of the that the United States will grant them asylum is false. security of those returned by the United States and crossed Mexico toward the US last year in large cara- journey. That prompted Trump to warn of an “invasion” Most of the migrants left last Tuesday from Honduras detaining others in “inhumane conditions.” vans, fleeing chronic poverty and brutal gang violence and deploy nearly 6,000 US troops to the border. —AFP

Gavdunova as saying the clients of the At least eight home had tried to set it on fire in the past, and that the home was heavily understaffed. People from the town tried Russian activists die in blaze to help when the fire broke out but eight clients suffocated. “The deputy mayor at Czech ran into the fire to help the clients and he take aim at paid for it. He’s now in hospital under observation,” said Gavdunova. Putin in march disability home She told DNES the clients could walk around town freely, and that the home PRAGUE: At least eight people died and had fire sensors but only at the toilets against repression thirty were injured after a fire at a home used by the clients as smoking rooms. for people with learning disabilities in a “We should not be so benevolent with MOSCOW: More than a thousand opposition western Czech town early yesterday, people whose mental age is six to twelve activists of various stripes marched in central rescuers said. “A total of 38 people were years,” said the mayor. Moscow yesterday after President Vladimir Putin affected by the fire, of them eight unfor- It was the second deadliest blaze in proposed re-drafting the constitution, unleashing tunately died,” emergency services the country’s three-decade post-com- political upheaval. Protesters-mostly young anti- spokesman Prokop Volenik told AFP. munist history. In 2010, a fire in an aban- fascist activists-chanted “Revolution” and “No to He said 30 people were taken to hos- doned building often used by homeless dictatorship” and some carried copies of the pital-one in critical condition, three with PRAGUE: Fire fighters trying to rescue people from a disabled home yesterday. people in Prague killed nine people. A At least eight people died and thirty were injured after a fire at the home for constitution. serious injuries and 26 with light or no hotel fire in the capital in 1995 killed The annual sanctioned march was called to com- injuries. Czech media said the fire was people with learning disabilities in a western Czech town early yesterday, res- eight. The fire at the Vejprty home start- cuers said. —AFP memorate the memory of lawyer Stanislav reported at 0349 GMT and that it has ed in one room before spreading to Markelov and journalist Anastasia Baburova who been put out. “The fire broke out in the three, Michal Zavoral, commanding offi- were gunned down in Moscow by ultra-nationalists boys’ section of a home for the mentally cer of the region’s fire services, told state clients of the home... are part of our the investigation, calling the fire a “huge in 2009. handicapped,” said Jitka Gavdunova, the broadcaster Czech Television. Police said city,” she said, adding that there were tragedy”. Poor weather prevented heli- A number of independent local deputies includ- mayor of Vejprty, a small town on the the home had 35 residents. One police fire detectors in the home but not in the copters from being able to help transport ing Yulia Galyamina and opposition-minded German border some 100 kilometers (60 officer was among those injured. area where the fire started, she said. injured people. Vejprty is on the coun- Russians joined the march, carrying copies of the miles) northwest of Prague. Volenik said Four people were seriously injured, The cause of the fire was not yet try’s northwest border with Germany and constitution and chanting “Putin leave!”. all of those affected were adults. said Vejprty Mayor Jitka Gavdunova. “It known. Prime Minister Andrej Babis trav- German rescue units took part in the About ten people including a protester who car- The broadsheet DNES daily quoted is, for our city, a great tragedy because elled to the site and promised help with operation, officials said. —Agencies ried a placard urging Putin to quit power were detained by police. Pyotr Alyoshin, a 54-year-old lawyer, said at the march he was against changing given to opening arguments from the pros- the country’s basic law. “The constitution that I Trump trial ecution and defense, and questioning by hold in my hands protects our rights and basic the senators-the jury in the case. freedoms,” he told AFP. Galyamina, who had earlier said it was important to protest against Putin’s could be over The key issue: witnesses attempts to cling to power and urged ordinary Democrats are demanding that the people to join the march, acknowledged the meager in two weeks Senate agree to subpoena crucial docu- turnout but said average Russians were confused. ments and four current and former senior “We will explain it to them,” she told AFP. “I think White House officials to testify. They people will be joining the fight to prevent a state WASHINGTON: Bill Clinton’s 1999 include former national security advisor coup in Russia.” impeachment trial lasted five weeks; John Bolton and Trump acting chief of staff More than 1,400 people took part in the march, Andrew Johnson’s went on for three months Mick Mulvaney. said the White Counter group which monitors in 1868. If the White House and Both are believed to have first-hand political protests. The march took place after Putin Republicans have their way, President knowledge of what Trump is accused of: stunned the nation on Wednesday by proposing Donald Trump’s trial will be over in two using his powers illicitly to pressure sweeping amendments to the constitution, the first weeks, just in time for him to celebrate his Ukraine to help his 2020 reelection cam- major changes to the country’s basic law since it expected acquittal in the February 4 State paign by investigating his potential was adopted under Boris Yeltsin in 1993. The move of the Union Address. But that depends on Democratic opponent Joe Biden. The White triggered the resignation of his government. Republicans being able to block Democrat House blocked the impeachment investiga- demands to subpoena documents and wit- tion in the House of Representatives from NEW YORK: People participate in the annual Women’s March in front of the Opposition caught off guard nesses that could strengthen the case accessing the witnesses and documents, Trump International Hotel on Saturday in New York City. In the fourth iteration of Observers say Putin’s proposals are designed to against the president. and shows no sign of giving in now. the Women’s March, thousands are marching in cities across the world to draw ensure his grip on power after he leaves the So far, Republicans, led by Trump’s McConnell says the issue won’t be focus on immigration, climate change and abortion rights. —AFP Kremlin and his critics have accused him of orches- tough protector, Senate Majority Leader decided until after the trial’s initial argu- trating a “constitutional coup”. But yesterday’s Mitch McConnell, have the upper hand. ments and questioning take place, and has “The president should be acquitted. We deny the witnesses. Unless four Republican turnout paled in comparison to the protests of last Trump’s trial for abuse of power and made clear he doesn’t see the need anyway. think it’s going to happen and going to senators break ranks, at the end of the summer when tens of thousands took to Moscow’s obstruction of Congress opened with a The White House signalled this week happen readily.” arguments McConnell can defeat any streets to protest against the exclusion of opposi- solemn, ceremonial reading of the charges what it expects will happen: no witnesses. motion to subpoena witnesses, and then tion candidates from local elections, leading to in the Senate on Thursday, but the rules and “I think it’s extraordinarily unlikely it will Controlling the rules can easily hold a vote to acquit Trump- wide-scale arrests and long jail terms for a number schedule have not been set. That will be be going beyond two weeks,” a White McConnell oversees a 53-47 Republican meeting the White House timeframe. of demonstrators. —AFP decided on Tuesday, with the 100 senators House official told reporters. He said there majority in the body, giving him all the Democrats are pressing Republicans to debating voting on procedures: the time is no need to go any longer. power he needs to set the rules his way and support a witness resolution. —AFP

as the “yellow vest” anti-government ral- department said. The authorities said 60 smashing storefronts and bus stops or Macron’,” Gerard Tafanel, who owns the French inquiry lies that began more than a year ago. people were detained during the demon- burning vehicles and trash bins. bistrot with his brother Serge, told AFP. In the incident filmed during a “yellow stration, which was again marked by Unions have called for a new day of demon- vest” protest on Saturday, a man with a sporadic clashes between protesters and Bistrot blaze strations on Friday, when the government is opened over bloodied head is seen being held down on police, with 45 held for questioning Prosecutors have also opened an inquiry expected to present a final version of its his back by a helmeted officer, who then afterwards. after a posh brasserie favored by Macron hotly contested pensions overhaul to police assault strikes him hard on the face. The protests were the latest of the was targeted in what is being treated as an Macron’s cabinet for approval. The Paris prosecutors’ office said it weekly Saturday demonstrations held by arson attack before dawn on Saturday. But labour leaders at the Paris transport ordered the police oversight body to yellow vests since November 2018, and Firefighters quickly put out the blaze and operator RATP voted Saturday to suspend of protester launch an investigation into “intentional which have been boosted by opponents traces of combustible fuel were later found a crippling metro and bus strike now in its violence by a person in a position of pub- of a planned pensions overhaul. on the bistrot’s heavily damaged terrace- 46th day, which also led to mass disruptions PARIS: French prosecutors said yester- lic authority”. Another video of the inci- President Emmanuel Macron warned where Macron drew the ire of critics after of national train services. The strike had day that an inquiry had been opened after dent, filmed near the Gare de l’Est train last week that the “unacceptable behav- hosting a lavish party just after winning the already eased recently after the govern- a riot police officer was seen punching a station by AFP TV, shows the man ior” of some officers risked undermining first round of the 2017 presidential vote. ment temporarily dropped a measure that detained protester at a demonstration in screaming in pain on his stomach as the the “credibility and dignity” of the force. “When there are marches and so on, you would have required people to work until Paris, a scene that was caught on camera officer pins down his elbow with his knee. But he also denounced the violence of hear people saying ‘Death to the Rotonde, 64 to have a full pension. However, an Ifop and went viral. The move comes after sev- “The police chief has asked the some extremist protesters who have Death to Macron’-it happens all the time: poll released yesterday showed that 51 per- eral alleged incidents of police brutality department of public order to give a full hurled paving stones and other projectiles anonymous phone calls, people who enter cent of respondents backed the strike, while against pension reform protesters as well account of this incident,” the Paris police at security forces during protests, while in the middle of the day saying ‘Death to 33 percent were opposed. —AFP 9 International Monday, January 20, 2020 Evacuees pray for safety at Sunday mass amid Philippine volcano threat Philippine city helps others rebuild after volcano TAGAYTAY CITY, Philippines: Hundreds of people who Shrouded in ash have fled their homes near a restive volcano on the A Philippine city shrouded in ash from the nearby Taal Philippines’ main island Luzon attended a Catholic mass at volcano has turned adversity into an opportunity to help a temporary shelter on Sunday, praying for safety amid neighboring towns hit by the natural disaster. The mayor of fears of a violent eruption. Binan has ordered residents to collect ash blanketing Some residents danced and brought wooden replicas of homes, cars and roads and put it in sacks to be sent to a the Infant Jesus, locally known as “Santo Nino”, to cele- state-owned factory and turned into bricks. brate the feast of the Holy Child. Many worshippers in “When the ash came, we thought we’d exchange the Asia’s biggest Catholic nation believe the statues can grant white sand which we mix with plastics to be converted into miracles. “We prayed that we can rise up, put a stop to this bricks with ash. We did it and they came out sturdy,” Binan calamity to allow us to return back to our homes,” said 44- Mayor Walfredo Dimaguila, 48, told Reuters. The facility year-old evacuee Annie Villanueva. “A lot of families like us can produce up to 5,000 bricks a day which will be used want to be together in our own homes and stand up.” to rebuild schools damaged since Taal, one of the More than 70,000 people have been evacuated since Philippines’ most active and deadliest volcanoes, began the Taal, one of the Philippines’ most active volcanoes, spewing massive clouds of ash, steam and gas on Sunday. began spewing clouds of ash, steam and gas on Jan. 12. “What we plan is to turn them into hollow blocks and The volcano alert level remains at 4, just a notch below bricks and sell them to interested companies,” Dimaguila the highest, which means that “hazardous explosive erup- said, adding that the proceeds would be donated to people tion is possible within hours to days”. “We feel afraid, directly affected by the restive volcano. Several buildings especially for our families because we don’t know our fate, in lakeside towns near Taal volcano, located about 70 km if we will be safe,” Villanueva said. (45 miles) south of the capital, were destroyed as heavy Nearly 800 volcanic earthquakes were recorded ash weighed makeshift roofs and toppled trees, and tens of overnight within the danger zone, indicating “intense seis- thousands of people have fled their homes. mic activity (that) likely signifies continuous magmatic Some of the evacuees are unsure if they have home and intrusion beneath”, the Philippine Institute of Volcanology livelihood to return to. “When Batangas is in recovery, we and Seismology (Phivolcs) said in an advisory. High-risk will bring the bricks there for building schools, community areas within a 14-km (9-mile) radius of the volcano’s main halls and livelihood centers so what we can give back what crater should remain strictly off-limits to people, Maria Taal has given us,” Dimaguila said, referring to the province MANILA: Devotees carry their religious icons of Santo Nino (holy child) to be blessed by priests during the Antonia Bornas, chief science research specialist at where Taal is located. Binan is in the neighboring province annual festival in Manila yesterday. The Philippines is Asia’s bastion of Catholicism and Santo Nino is one Phivolcs, told reporters. “We continue to record earth- of Laguna. “The misfortune of our neighbors in Batangas is among dozens of religious festivals honoring various saints and religious icons, a legacy of three centuries of quakes, and that is why we can’t relax,” she said. there. Let’s transform this into opportunity.” — Reuters Spanish rule across the archipelago. — AFP

media reports said Rajapaksa will travel to China-his sec- India, Sri Lanka ond foreign visit since coming to power-while his prime minister brother Mahinda will visit India on his first over- seas trip. No exact dates have been announced, but official seek closer sources said it could happen within weeks. Modi’s party slams Sri Lanka has traditionally been allied to India, but military ties as China invested and loaned billions of dollars to the island Bezos-owned nation during the decade-long reign of Rajapaksa’s elder brother, Mahinda. Chinese investments grew under the China clout grows previous Colombo government too. China’s foreign minis- Washington Post ter Wang Yi held talks with President Rajapaksa on Tuesday during a brief transit stop in Colombo and the COLOMBO: Sri Lanka and India vowed to strengthen mil- NEW DELHI: Indian Prime Minister Narendra two men discussed the president’s impending Beijing visit. itary ties and widen maritime links with neighbors after Modi’s ruling party slammed editorial policies of security talks, the president’s office said yesterday, as “As Sri Lanka’s strategic partner, China will continue to stand by Sri Lanka’s interests,” Rajapaksa’s office quoted billionaire Jeff Bezos-owned Washington Post, even China’s economic clout increases in the region. Wang as saying. as his e-commerce firm Amazon announced plans China has been widening its footprint in the region, COLOMBO: India’s National Security advisor Ajit Doval with The visit will focus on technology, tourism and infra- to create a million jobs in the country by 2025. including building ports and expressways and upgrading Sri Lanka President Gotabaya Rajapaksa. structure as well as other areas, the president’s office said Vijay Chauthaiwale, chief of the Bharatiya airports in Sri Lanka and the Maldives. India’s National last week. Rajapaksa in December warned India and Janata Party’s (BJP) foreign affairs department, Security Advisor Ajit Doval met Saturday with recently observers. It said the two countries also discussed closer Western nations that Sri Lanka would be forced to seek said there was “a lot of problem” with the news- elected Sri Lanka President Gotabaya Rajapaksa and dis- military and coastguard cooperation. more finance from China if they do not invest in the island. cussed setting up a maritime research coordination center, paper’s coverage of India, but gave no examples. The meeting followed Rajapaksa’s visit to New Delhi in Sri Lanka was forced to hand over the strategic The swipe at the Post came a day after a cabinet Rajapaksa’s office said in a statement. late November for talks with Prime Minister Narendra Hambantota port south of Colombo to China in 2017 on a minister gave short shrift to Amazon’s investment It did not give details of the proposed center, but said Modi, who offered $450 million in aid to Sri Lanka after 99-year lease after the government at the time said it was plans for India. other nations in the region should be included as his landslide victory in the presidential election. Local unable to repay loans taken to build it. — AFP Bezos has praised India during his visit, saying the 21st century will be the Indian century and call- ing the country’s dynamism and energy “something special”. “I am not opposing Amazon as a company, Deadly kite in fact I am a regular customer ... Jeff Bezos should go home tell Washington Post what is his impres- sion about India,” Chauthaiwale told Reuters. strings kill 150 “The Washington Post editorial policy is highly biased and agenda driven.” birds in India In a statement to Reuters, The Washington Post said it “has covered India fairly and accurately, even when the government has imposed tight SANAND, India: More than 150 birds have been restrictions on the flow of information.” The Post’s killed by razor-sharp kite strings in an annual reli- Opinions department is independent from the gious festival in western India that attracts millions of news division and publishes different perspectives revelers. Volunteers raced to the rescue of pigeons, starlings and storks but 152 birds died before they from within India and around the globe, the news- could be treated, officials said Friday. paper added. Hundreds of others were injured in Gujarat and Chauthaiwale has in the past criticized foreign Maharashtra states after getting entangled in strings media’s reporting, including on the disputed which are coated with a paste of powdered glass and Kashmir region claimed by both India and glue to make them sharp in order to sever the strings Pakistan, saying coverage has been biased against of rival kites. Harshil Shah, who works for a volunteer Modi. Amazon did not respond to an email seek- bird rescue group, said their centers in Maharashtra ing comment on Chauthaiwale’s remarks. In its and Gujarat had received some 750 distress calls on statement announcing the job-creation plans, January 14 and 15 when the festival of Makar Sakranti Bezos said “we’re excited about what lies ahead.” is celebrated with fervor. “We try to lessen response Still, street protests this week by small retailers time during an emergency call to save as many birds and adverse comments from politicians have made as possible but 20 percent of the birds have suc- Bezos’ visit a public relations nightmare for cumbed to their injuries after getting entangled in the Amazon. India’s shopkeepers have been a core strings,” he told AFP. constituency for the BJP since the party’s early A bird rescue camp in suburban Mumbai reported days. Sources told Reuters that Modi, who has treating injured owls, koels (cuckoo) as well as a squirrel. AFP images showed a volunteer trying to courted other foreign investors, was unlikely to rescue a painted stork from the top of a tree in meet Bezos during his visit despite repeated KATHMANDU: Trekkers arrive after a rescue operation from the Annapurna circuit, at the airport of Pokhara, some requests by Amazon. Gujarat’s Sanand district. 200 km west of Kathmandu, on Saturday. — AFP In Surat, emergency calls were made after rev- ellers were injured while chasing loose kites or Souring sentiment falling from rooftops. On Wednesday, metro train Helicopters were sent out on Saturday to rescue about India last year enforced stringent rules for for- services in northern Lucknow city were halted for 12 Heavy snow 200 people stranded around Annapurna and other nearby eign investment in e-commerce, which forced minutes after a kite string got entangled in the high mountains after the incident. Guesthouses and the trekking Amazon to rework its business structures and voltage overhead electric wires, the fourth such route were blanketed in a thick layer of snow. “The snow strained ties between New Delhi and Washington. instance in the past 10 months. The use of Chinese hinders search was very deep and it took us more than double the time to India’s antitrust body this week launched a probe sharp strings or manjha is banned in New Delhi and dig through and walk,” said Jeevan Dahal, a guide who was into Amazon and Walmart’s Flipkart e-commerce elsewhere but weak enforcement means it continues for missing Korean, rescued by helicopter. service. India’s brick-and-mortar retailers say to be widely used. Road accidents where two- “We saw the avalanche-hit area from the helicopter. Amazon and Flipkart have flouted regulations and wheeler riders are hit by manjha, sometimes fatally, Nepal trekkers Everything was white.” Tek Gurung, a guesthouse owner burned billions of dollars to offer steep discounts. are also common. — AFP aiding the search operation, said more than two meters of The companies deny the allegations. snow (6.6 feet) had fallen on the trekking trails and it was On Thursday, Bezos attended a company event KATHMANDU: Avalanches, heavy snow and poor visibili- “extremely difficult” to search the snow-covered area on in Mumbai with Bollywood actors such as Shah ty hampered the search yesterday for four South Koreans foot. Six of the missing were part of the same expedition, Rukh Khan and said the company would “double and three Nepalis caught in an avalanche in the popular while one Nepali porter was escorting a different group. down” its investments on its video streaming serv- Annapurna region of the Himalayas, officials said. Relatives The four foreigners-two men and two women-were ice, Prime Video. of the missing Koreans have arrived in Kathmandu along- part of an 11-member team of South Korean nationals. But the event was largely overshadowed by side several officials sent by Seoul to help with the emer- Others have safely descended. Education officials in Seoul comments from India’s trade minister Piyush gency rescue efforts, Ang Dorjee Sherpa of the Korean said they were part of a team of volunteer teachers work- Goyal, who raised questions about the compa- Alpine Federation told AFP. ing with children in Nepal. ny’s business practices while addressing a secu- Two more South Koreans were due to arrive in Nepal The missing group was near the Annapurna base camp rity conference in New Delhi and said Amazon to help with the search, the country’s foreign ministry said. around 3,230 meters (10,600 feet) above sea level when had done no big favor to India by announcing a the avalanche struck after heavy snowfall on Friday. “Our Sherpa said it had snowed heavily around Annapurna in recent days, making the trek risky. “The weather and snow $1 billion investment. Industry executives and team reached the area but could not proceed with their their advisers told Reuters on Friday that Goyal’s search because of more avalanches. We are exploring got worse and, feeling it was becoming dangerous and dif- remarks were likely to put off foreign investors, ways to move the operation forward,” said Mira Acharya ficult, they decided to turn. As they were heading back the denting India’s economic growth which is from Nepal’s tourism department. avalanche hit,” Sherpa told AFP on Saturday. Rescuers were working with Korean officials to deploy Annapurna is an avalanche-prone and technically diffi- already projected to fall to a 11-year low this drones in the search on Monday, said Dilip Gurung of the cult mountain range with a higher death rate than Everest, year. “This clearly is unbecoming, and it will hurt SANAD: A volunteer trying to save a stork after it was tourism management committee in Chhomrong, which lies the world’s highest peak. Thousands of trekkers visit the how the world views India as a destination,” said entangled in a kite string. More than 150 birds died on the trekking route. route every year for its stunning views of the Himalayas. A a senior executive of a US-based company before they could be treated, officials said Friday. — AFP “It is difficult for people to go. We will try to fly drones snowstorm killed about 40 people on the circuit in 2014, in operating in India. — Reuters to help find something,” Gurung said. one of the biggest trekking tragedies to hit Nepal. — AFP 10 Analysis Monday, January 20, 2020

Established 1961 The First Daily in The Arabian Gulf THE LEADING INDEPENDENT DAILY IN THE ARABIAN GULF ESTABLISHED 1961

Founder and Publisher YOUSUF S. AL-ALYAN Editor-in-Chief ABD AL-RAHMAN AL-ALYAN EDITORIAL : 24833199-24833358-24833432 ADVERTISING : 24835616/7 FAX : 24835620/1 CIRCULATION : 24833199 Extn. 163 ACCOUNTS : 24833199 Extn. 125 COMMERCIAL : 24835618 P.O.Box 1301 Safat,13014 Kuwait. Email: [email protected] Website: www.kuwaittimes.net

Lost and damaged: Philippine volcano steals livelihoods

ecimated fish, scarred coffee plants and van- ished tourists: the Taal volcano eruption in the DPhilippines has inflicted significant damage on the livelihoods of tens of thousands and is expected Iraqi Kurdish men gather at a shop that serves Syrian coffee in the central bazar of Erbil, the capital of the northern Iraqi Kurdish autonomous region, on Dec 21, to cause more. When Taal exploded to life Sunday it 2019. — AFP photos spewed towering columns of fine grey ash, which officials said destroyed crops and killed off potential- ly tonnes of fish raised in the lake that rings the vol- cano. “We lost a lot of money because all our fish are gone,” said Cesario Rodriguez, 34, a fish farmer. “We just need to find a way to survive.” It didn’t help either when government health offi- cials warned people not to eat the fish as it could have been contaminated with volcanic sulphur, though the nation’s health agency told AFP no formal ban is in place. The warning of a further, potentially catastrophic eruption, also led authorities to urge the thriving tourism industry near the volcano - a popu- lar attraction - to suspend activity as a precaution. The nation’s seismological agency has issued its second-highest alert, saying Taal could unleash an “explosive eruption” at any time. With scores of bookings cancelled and many restaurants and hotels shuttered, the eruption will hurt, but no one knows how much yet. “It going to be negative... 90 percent of the tourism establishments in Tagaytay are closed,” said Elinia Sanggalang, a local tourism offi- cial, referring to the resort town with stunning views of the volcano.

‘We’re still lost’ The town alone draws about 5.5 million tourists per year, in part because it is a mere 60 km south of the hot and crowded capital Manila. Estimates of the An Iraqi Kurdish man prepares Syrian coffee. A Syrian Kurdish man sells sweets. harm to farmers and fishermen are already coming in to focus, and authorities say the amount could grow. The agriculture agency said Friday it estimates so far the volcano caused about $59 million in damage to the industry, which is just about four percent of what Syrians bring new tastes, traditions to Kurdish Iraq the region produced in 2017. In the Philippines life is already hard for those t first, no one in the Iraqi Kurdish capital Erbil Turki, who has lived with her Syrian Kurdish husband in they speak a more pure Kurdish than Syrian Kurds, whose who have not benefitted from the nation’s rapid would drink the bitter coffee at Syrian refugee Arbil since 2014, said it used to surprise her how few dialect was banned in Syria,” Dewani said. Syria’s govern- growth in the past decade. Millions still live on less AAbdussamad Abdulqadir’s cafe. But now it’s a hit, women she would see in public in Arbil after dark. But now ment had long prohibited Kurds from speaking their lan- than $2 a day. However the pain for some, like coffee part of a growing cultural exchange. Since conflict broke women - Syrian and Iraqi Kurds - are shopping and even guage or celebrating their festivals and had even refused growers, will take years before it can be fully calcu- out in Syria in 2011, many ethnic Kurds living in the coun- working in markets and shopping malls until late. “This was Syrian nationality for the community, worried they would lated. That’s because it takes about two years for try’s northeast fled across the border to Iraq’s autonomous the impact of Syrian refugees because in Syria, it was nor- threaten the state with calls for independence. coffee plants to mature and begin bearing fruit, said Kurdish region. mal for women to work in markets and be out at night,” But in Iraqi Kurdistan, radio channels, government Arnold Bay, an official with a cooperative of about Despite their similar ethnic origins, the two communi- said Turki, who holds a master degree in sociology. statements and street signs are mostly in Kurdish. Dewani 150 small growers. ties speak distinct dialects and have different cultural Around the world, communities faced with an influx of said he has picked up the Sorani dialect of the region but There are already signs their plants were heavily habits, but in recent years they have traded customs. When newcomers often react with xenophobia, because of an also taught his colleagues some of the Kurmanji dialect damaged, though they hope to still harvest some of Abdulqadir fled his northeast Syrian hometown of instinctive fear that change would mar the host culture. used in Syria. “When I arrived, I heard some Kurdish their crop. “It will be difficult for us and for our Qamishli six years ago, he settled in Erbil and opened a Kurds in northern Iraq have carved out an autonomous words which I used to hear from my grandmother and they clients,” said Bay. “It will take two years for the farm- cafe in its bustling market. During his opening week, he enclave where they speak the Sorani Kurdish dialect, have were all lost generation after generation,” he recalled. ers to have their livelihood back.” The process of sent free cups of coffee to neighboring shopkeepers to their own television channels and government bodies. Dewani, also from Qamishli, has decorated his Arbil recovering is far from started, especially for the over win new customers, but they complained it was undrink- They, too, initially rejected Syrian Kurdish customs, but apartment with musical instruments including guitars and 60,000 people forced out of homes near the volcano ably bitter. the slow integration in recent years “has deconstructed the daf, a frame drum. He learned to play the daf in his new and into evacuation centers. They can’t go home “Business was bad,” the 45-year-old told AFP, saying that historical rejection”, said Hawzhen Ahmed, an Arbil- hometown, which he said hosts some of the best drum while the threat of a new, powerful eruption remains, Iraqi Kurds typically prefer instant coffee or tea so sugary based academic who holds a doctorate in cultural studies. musicians and instructors. The 33-year-old said the well- so they will live in limbo for now. “We don’t know it resembles syrup. With persistence and charm, Abdulqadir Around 300,000 Syrian refugees - most of them Kurds developed Iraqi Kurdish music culture had also seeped what to do next,” Dandy Belencio, 43, a fish vendor first converted his neighbors to drinking coffee with sugar - now live in Iraqi Kurdistan, with the threat of a Turkish into Syrian Kurdish music, and that Syrian Kurds were whose home was destroyed in the eruption. “We’re - then, eventually, to the original bitter drink. He now has so offensive last year pushing thousands into displacement now wearing more traditional attire that resembled their still lost on what will happen to us,” he said. — AFP much business that he opened a second quaint cafe in the camps in the north. “Syrian refugees have proved the his- counterparts in Arbil. market. “Now I sell between 200 and 300 cups of coffee torical argument that host cultures become more vibrant Empathy and shared norms have blossomed in recent every day and 90 percent of my customers are Iraqi Kurds and enjoyable when mixed with different traditions and years, said Rodi Hassan, a Syrian physician working in who drink the coffee without sugar,” he said proudly. norms,” Ahmed told AFP. Iraqi Kurdistan. Hassan arrived in Iraqi Kurdistan in 2008, three years before Syria’s uprising began, to study medi- More vibrant ‘Strong empathy’ cine. “When I arrived, we had very little information about The changes go beyond caffeine, with restaurants Integration is a two-way street, said Hussein Dewani, a each other, and it was all stereotypes,” he told AFP. “But adopting Syrian food, architects fusing Iraqi and Syrian Syrian musician and schoolteacher in Erbil since 2012. now it is completely different. There is a strong empathy, styles and even musical and linguistic exchanges. Jumana “Iraqi Kurds helped us revive our Kurdish language since friendship and intermarriage between us,” he said. — AFP

occupations in Delhi. Srijan Chawla, a student protest Fearless Delhi women leader in Mumbai, said “Shaheen Bagh has inspired a lot of women in this country to go on the streets and protest. Be it Kolkata, be it Delhi, be it here in Mumbai”. protesters inspire Hundreds of protesters have spent nearly three weeks on public land in Gaya in Bihar. A huge poster of Mahatma national movement Gandhi hangs over one entrance. More than 10 other non-stop protests are taking place in the eastern state, including at Sabzi Bagh near the capital Patna. “It is like efiant women who have been blocking a New Delhi another Shaheen Bagh,” said Afzal Imam, a former mayor highway for more than four weeks in protest of Patna. “We cannot sit silent at home when the govern- Dagainst a bitterly disputed citizenship law have ment is hellbent on stealing our citizenship,” said inspired thousands across India to copy their challenge to Shagufta Amin an activist at Sabzi Bagh, where weekend the Hindu nationalist government. Supported by volunteers crowds swell to thousands. who bring biryani meals, chai and blankets, groups have started occupation protests in about 20 cities across the ‘Like a mountain’ In this file photo taken on Jan 6, 2020, protesters hold country of 1.3 billion people to demand the repeal of the The government in neighboring Uttar Pradesh state is placards as they listen to speakers in Shaheen Bagh, law that opponents say is anti-Muslim. fiercely loyal to right wing Prime Minister Narendra Modi which has been blocked off by demonstrators protesting Nearly all pay tribute to the 200 grandmothers and and has cracked down on protesters. Many of the 19 peo- against India’s new citizenship law, near the Jamia Millia housewives and students who sit and sleep across the ple killed there were allegedly hit by police bullets. Some Islamia university in New Delhi. — AFP main road in the Shaheen Bagh district of Delhi, fighting a 6,000 people were detained for taking to the streets. law that would give passports to “persecuted” religious Hundreds of women camped in a park in Varanasi, Modi’s A cat eats fish hanging from an ash-covered stall, signalled that Indians wanted to defend the equality and minorities from three neighbouring countries but only constituency, face eviction notices after police filed a case damaged by the eruption of the nearby Taal volcano, in justice enshrined in the constitution and shattered stereo- non-Muslims. Hundreds of thousands of people have taken for “disobedience”. “This protest is like a mountain, we will Buso Buso yesterday. — AFP types about Muslim women. “Muslim women would not part in rallies across India since parliament passed the not move from here until our demands are met,” Nasreen normally come out on streets to protest but now they are Citizenship Amendment Act on December 11. Zafar, one of the women, told reporters. leading the fight for equality and justice,” Priyam told AFP. Many of India’s 200 million Muslims fear the govern- In the central city of Indore a protest by hundreds of While Hindus and other religions have joined the ment is getting ready to draw up a national citizenship people in a central park has also faced police attempts to protests, the public has not always appreciated the disrup- All articles appearing on this page are the register that could strip them of their nationality, though evict them. Some opposition ruled states have quietly tion to their lives however. Delhi commuters increasingly personal opinion of the writers. Kuwait New Delhi denies this and calls the law a “humanitarian” encouraged the protesters though. In West Bengal, hun- complain about the Shaheen Bagh women who have gesture. Though at least 27 people have died in violence Times takes no responsibility for views dreds of supporters of the ruling Trinamool Congress par- caused huge morning and evening traffic jams. “We are for around some demonstrations, protesters have taken over ty camp out on a road in the capital Kolkata. Police protect the right to protest but blocking a road and holding up expressed therein. parks and streets in Bihar, Uttar Pradesh, West Bengal, some 150 women occupying a park. commuters for over a month is as obnoxious as the con- Kerala and Madhya Pradesh states as well as two new Political commentator Manisha Priyam said the protests demned law,” said Delhi resident Mihir Tripathi. — AFP Established 1961

MONDAY, JANUARY 20, 2020 Business

Global market uncertainties ease UK looks to offshore wind Huawei keeps strong R&D pace 12as US, China ink ‘Phase One’ deal 13 for green energy transition 14 as 5th top investor worldwide

Zain strategic partner of Kuwait Motor Show 2020 Kuwait’s biggest automobiles and motorcycles event opens at 360 Mall

KUWAIT: Deputy Minister of Amiri Diwan Affairs Sheikh Mohammad Al-Abdullah Al-Mubarak Al-Sabah and Zain Vice Chairman and Group CEO Bader Nasser Al-Kharafi along with ambassadors, diplomats, and officials from both public and private sectors during the inauguration of Kuwait Motor Show 2020 at 360 Mall.

KUWAIT: Zain, the leading digital service provider in 360 Mall, where the company will offer its exclusive Kuwait, took part in the inauguration of the 9th edition of offers and latest services to the show’s visitors. The the Kuwait Motor Show 2020 as part of its strategic company will also offer visitors a free chance to enter partnership with the biggest show for automobiles, vehi- the draw of its latest campaign, ‘Score with Zain’ cles, and motorcycles in Kuwait. The event, which offers a through its booth. comprehensive platform for local dealerships to engage The Kuwait Motor Show 2020 is considered the with the public, continues from 16 - 25 January at 360 biggest event of its kind in Kuwait. The show’s last eight Mall under the patronage of Deputy Minister of Amiri seasons witnessed tremendous success, with over 150 Diwan Affairs Sheikh Mohammad Al-Abdullah Al- vehicles showcased from the world’s biggest car manu- Mubarak Al-Sabah. facturers, numerous exclusive offers from local dealer- The opening ceremony witnessed the attendance of ships, unveiling 24 all-new cars, some of which for the Deputy Minister of Amiri Diwan Affairs Sheikh first time in the Middle East, over 312,000 visitors last Mohammad Al-Abdullah Al-Mubarak Al-Sabah, Zain season, and more. Vice Chairman and Group CEO Bader Nasser Al- Zain is aware of the important role private sector Kharafi, as well as many ambassadors, diplomats, and companies play in encouraging such initiatives that con- officials from both the public and private sectors. tribute to supporting Kuwait’s national economy, espe- Zain’s strategic partnership with the event comes in cially that it is one of the leading national companies in line with its Corporate Sustainability and Social the private sector. Zain’s participation at this event fur- Responsibility strategy, through which the company - ther reflects its keenness in developing the various inno- being a leading national company in the Kuwaiti private vative efforts in the community, which bursts with dedi- sector - is keen on supporting the various innovative cated talents who have vibrant ideas that offer viable efforts that contribute to further pushing the national solutions for the market needs. economy wheel. This is especially true as the event offers Zain’s support to this event comes in line with its car enthusiasts with an opportunity to learn more about core objectives that aim at shouldering the advance- the latest innovations from the world’s biggest car manu- ment of the community as a whole on all levels, where facturers and exclusive offers from local dealerships. the company reaffirms the principal of partnership Zain will be present in the Kuwait Motor Show via through similar efforts with the aim of contributing to its own dedicated booth throughout the ten days at the further progress of national economy. KUWAIT: Al-Kharafi briefs Al-Abdullah with Volvo vehicle features.

a partial trade deal with China and passing a revamp of soon as late January, given the lack of progress in agreement. Trump, EU chief the North American Free Trade Agreement, he will trav- negotiations. The pact offered Iran sanctions relief if it curbed its el to the World Economic Forum where he is expected “Things are not really going anywhere,” said one of nuclear work, but Trump withdrew from the deal in to discuss deepening trade disputes with the European the sources, a European official, despite frequent talks 2018 and reimposed US sanctions, saying he wanted a to meet in Davos Commission president. between French Finance Minister Bruno Le Maire, US tougher deal. Tensions in the region have heightened The White House and the European Commission did Treasury Secretary Steve Mnuchin and top US trade after the United States killed Iran’s most powerful mili- as US tariffs loom not immediately respond to requests for comment. negotiator Robert Lighthizer. “The US is not really tary commander in a drone strike. Iran’s foreign minis- Among the raft of trade issues dividing the allies, ready to compromise in terms of having some sort of ter, Mohammad Javad Zarif, canceled plans to attend Washington’s most immediate concern is France’s plan digital services tax,” he added. the forum. over digital tax to impose a 3 percent digital services tax, which the US European Union Trade Commissioner Phil Hogan on Trump and von der Leyen, Germany’s defense minis- government believes would harm US technology giants Thursday, ended a round of talks with senior US offi- ter, know each other well after sparring over Berlin’s WASHINGTON: Donald Trump is expected to meet like Alphabet Inc’s Google and Amazon.com Inc, with a cials in Washington, saying that negotiations were off to failure to reach NATO’s 2 percent defense spending with EU leader Ursula von der Leyen in Davos, host of other countries poised to follow suit. a “good start” but there was more work to do. Iran will target. In a December 2016 interview, von der Leyen Switzerland, next week, three sources said, as tensions In retaliation, the US trade representative last month also likely be high on the agenda, after Britain, France defended her shocked reaction to Trump’s election, mount between the allies over tariff threats and the US threatened to impose a 100 percent tariff on French and Germany triggered a dispute mechanism in the saying, “I am not a political machine, but a human being president faces an impeachment trial at home. Champagne, handbags, cheese and other goods and 2015 nuclear pact with the country, following Tehran’s ... and I heard exactly what he said during the cam- Just days after Trump scored big victories by inking services. Trade experts say those tariffs could hit as decision to begin scaling back its compliance with the paign, also as a woman.” — Reuters 12 Business Monday, January 20, 2020

NBK MONEY MARKETS REPORT Global market uncertainties ease as US, China ink ‘Phase One’ deal Muted inflationary pressures puzzle Fed policymakers

KUWAIT: The US and China have finally signed the January 6. On the other side of the Pacific, Asian shares all 2020. At the same time, financial markets aren’t pricing in members have verbally stated to back a rate cut this month “Phase One” deal after 18 months of tit-for-tat tariffs that cheered with Japan and South Korean shares jumping to any significant changes to US interest rates in 2020. and two more members are needed to seal the deal. almost plunged the global economy into a recession. 15-month highs. Dovish MPC member Gertjan Vlieghe stated that he would Beijing has agreed to elevate its purchases of US goods In the FX sphere, most of the major currencies barely US consumer confidence vote for a rate cut later this month if key data do not show and services by $200 billion over the next two years. In fluctuated after the news reached markets. It seems that American consumers ended 2019 on a solid footing, a bounce in the economy. Likewise, earlier dovish remarks addition, China also agreed for greater financial market the FX market had already priced in the possibility of a which supported retail sales in the final month of the year. from the BoE Governor and MPC Silvana Tenreyro had access, promised to refrain from devaluing its currency, trade truce. The most affected pair was the USD/JPY, ris- Retail sales increased for a third consecutive month in already signaled that a rate cut at the end of this month is and protect intellectual property. As a result of China’s ing to an 8-month high of 110.28 from 109.77. Since the December and registered a 0.3 percent m/m reading. more than just talk. consensus, the White House canceled a new round of tar- start of the year, the dollar has gained 1.39 percent versus Control sales, which ignore items like vehicles, petrol and Since the Conservative party won the election, the iffs that were supposed to be implemented last month and its yen counterpart as risks to the global economy dimin- building materials, soared by 0.5 percent, the largest surge pound has been more influenced by economic fundamen- lowered the tariff rate on $112 billion from 15 percent to ish. The main winner in the FX market was the Chinese since July and surpassed expectations for a 0.4 percent tals than it did before. The latest economic readings have 7.5 percent. Yuan, appreciating 0.75 percent on a weekly basis against increase. It is evident in the data that US shoppers have been dark indeed. UK’s consumer inflation has fallen drasti- Despite signs that both sides are willing to play ball, the the USD. Year to date, the CNY has soared by 1.50 per- been lifting the economy through consumer spending, cally below the 2 percent target to a three year low of 1.3 majority of levies will remain intact until a “Phase Two” cent against the US dollar. which accounts for more than two-thirds of US economic percent. In November, the economy contracted by 0.3 per- deal is concluded and if the US administration believes activity. However, recent economic figures revealed that cent m/m. On a three-month basis, which reduces volatility that China is not living up to its promises, it can easily Fed stance on rates consumer spending is losing some momentum after in the monthly GDP figures, the economy was 0.9 percent impose new tariffs on Chinese goods. Overall, the Phase Muted inflationary pressures have puzzled Federal recording a 3.2 percent annualized rate in Q3. Economists larger than a year earlier with this growth rate having fallen One trade deal has reduced uncertainty around the globe, Reserve policymakers who expected that a falling unem- expect that consumer spending will diminish to around 2.5 through the year from 2.2 percent in March. The last time it but a complete resolution between the two nations is far ployment rate will lift wages and price pressures. However, percent in Q4, combined with weaker wages seen in the was lower was in November 2011. The British economy has from being resolved. The Phase One deal does not encom- the aforementioned scenario has failed to come to life. The latest labor report may pressure future sales data. In con- been uncomfortably frail which will keep alive prospects for pass most of the core issues between the two largest monthly consumer price index barely rose by 0.2 percent clusion, the recent sales data are mostly optimistic and is a rate cut and could keep the pound on the defensive in the economies and it will take time for the second part of the last month, its weakest reading since September. As for the supporting the economy to offset the weaknesses seen in coming weeks. The most crucial forward looking data will deal to be achieved. Hence, the tariffs theme may persist core reading, which excludes volatile items like food and the manufacturing sector. be released on the 24th of January, encompassing the con- for a while. petrol edged higher by 0.1 percent m/m. The annual rate struction, manufacturing and service sectors. The results of Looking at the equities market, Wall Street registered for both readings is at 2.3 percent. The FED’s preferred Sterling pressured the readings will likely dictate the BoE’s future stance on a trio of record highs last week as all major indices traded indicator on inflation (Core PCE) has missed its 2 percent The pound sterling’s downward trajectory witnessed at interest rates. Year to date, the GBP has lost 1.87 percent of in uncharted territories. The signing of the trade truce target throughout 2019 and is currently at 1.6 percent. US the start of the year has gathered further momentum last its value to the US dollar. combined with decent retail sales figures and a positive wages has been on a decline despite an unemployment week as expectations for a rate cut soared. At the com- start to the earnings season paved the way for a rally. As rate near a 50-year low of 3.5 percent. Overall, the FED is mencement of 2020, the UK rate market attached less than Kuwait stocks rose, the S&P volatility index declined to a three- concerned that price growth may fall even lower, which a 10 percent probability for a rate cut on January 30, Kuwaiti dinar week low of 11.75, way below the high of 16.39 seen on supports the FED’s neutral outlook on interest rates for which is now hovering around 65 percent. Three MPC USD/KWD opened at 0.30365 yesterday morning.

Founder of S Korean between the Malaysian minister and the Indian trade India says no minister at Davos,” he said, asking not to be named as he was not a government spokesman. retail giant Lotte dies “As part of a larger meeting of trade ministers they meeting with may be both together, but there’s no meeting. The schedule is already finalized, and it’s full.” India last SEOUL: The founder of South Korea’s sprawling retail Malaysia in Davos week imposed curbs on refined palm oil, which a conglomerate Lotte Group has died at the age of 97, com- source in New Delhi with direct knowledge of the mat- pany officials said yesterday. ter said could be used to deny or delay imports from Shin Kyuk-ho’s reputation was tarnished in his final KUALA LUMPUR/NEW DELHI: India’s trade minis- Malaysia. India has been Malaysia’s top palm market years when the wheelchair-bound tycoon was convicted ter will not meet with his Malaysian counterpart in for five years. of professional malpractice and embezzling from the firm Davos next week because of his tight schedule, an The row dragged benchmark Malaysian palm to benefit his relatives in late 2017. He was sentenced to Indian trade ministry official said yesterday, as a spat futures to their biggest weekly decline in more than 11 four years in prison but was allowed to stay out of jail on simmers between the top buyer of palm oil and its years on Friday. Malaysia’s Leiking has sent a message health grounds. biggest supplier. to Goyal wishing him well for the Davos meeting, Born in the southern city of Ulsan, Shin stowed away on Hindu-majority India has repeatedly objected to according to the message reviewed by Reuters. a ship to Japan at the age of 18 to seek his fortune and Malaysian Prime Minister Mahathir Mohamad speak- Spokespeople for the trade ministries of India and established Lotte to manufacture chewing gum in Tokyo ing out against a new citizenship law which critics say Malaysia did not immediately respond to queries from soon after World War II. The business later grew to discriminate against Muslims. Malaysia, a Muslim- Reuters. Mahathir, the world’s oldest premier at 94 and include dozens of subsidiaries in the food, retail and hotel Shin Kyuk-ho, founder and honorary chairman of South majority nation, is the second biggest producer and one of the Muslim world’s biggest voices, has said he industries. Korean retail giant Lotte Group. — AFP exporter of palm oil and India’s restrictions on the would continue to speak out against “wrong things” Lotte is one of the biggest of the South Korean family- refined variety of the commodity imposed last week even if his words cost his country financially. run “chaebol” conglomerates that powered the country’s have been seen as a retaliation for Mahathir’s criticism “Why is he harming his own country by his erratic decades of runaway economic growth-but which are founder’s eldest daughter and mistress. The daughter was of New Delhi. actions?” the Indian official said, referring to Mahathir. sometimes accused of murky business practices and over- jailed for two years, while the mistress-a former model A Malaysian government spokesman said on Friday “The comments he’s making are very unprecedented.” ly-close ties with politicians. Shin’s two sons made head- and actress 39 years Shin’s junior, who came to his atten- that trade ministers from India and Malaysia could Responding to a question on India’s new religion- lines in 2015 with a bitter public fight for control of the tion after winning a beauty pageant-was given a sus- meet on the sidelines of the World Economic Forum’s based citizenship law, Mahathir said last month the group, each accusing the other of mismanagement, per- pended sentence. annual meeting in Davos. But the Indian trade ministry country was trying to “deprive some Muslims of their sonality flaws, and of manipulating their frail and aged Shin was also found to have disposed of company assets official, who said he was speaking on behalf of the citizenship”. At the UN General Assembly in father. His younger son Dong-bin eventually took over the in violation of his responsibilities as chairman by the pre- ministry, said no meeting was planned between India’s September, he said India had “invaded and occupied” reins as chairman but both he and Shin were accused of siding judge in his 2017 trial. He had been suffering from Piyush Goyal and Malaysia’s Darell Leiking. Kashmir, a disputed Muslim-majority region also causing $72 million in damages to the group by renting dementia and other diseases of old age before his death, “I can tell you fair and square there’s no meeting claimed by Pakistan. — Reuters out Lotte Cinema concessions at discounted rates to the according to South Korea’s Yonhap news agency. — AFP

EXCHANGE RATES

Aviation Show. Thai Bhat 10.995 Euro 342.410 Chinese Yuan 0.042980 0.046480 AL-MUZAINI EXCHANGE CO. Sterling Pound 401.030 Turkish Lira 52.070 Hong Kong Dollar 0.037251 0.040001 Canadian dollar 235.680 Singapore dollars 225.000 EUROPEAN & AMERICAN COUNTRIES Turkish lira 52.960 Indian Rupee 0.003669 0.004441 Swiss Franc 319.520 Indonesian Rupiah 0.000018 0.000024 ASIAN COUNTRIES US Dollar Buying 297.050 BAHRAIN EXCHANGE COMPANY WLL Japanese Yen 0.002681 0.002861 Japanese Yen 2.765 Korean Won 0.000252 0.000267 Indian Rupees 4.289 CURRENCYBUYSELL Malaysian Ringgit 0.071385 0.077385 Pakistani Rupees 1.965 DOLLARCO EXCHANGE CO. LTD Nepalese Rupee 0.002626 0.002966 Srilankan Rupees 1.676 EUROPE Nepali Rupees 2.676 Pakistan Rupee 0.001295 0.002065 British Pound 0.389959 0.403859 Philippine Peso 0.005906 0.006206 Singapore Dollar 228.520 Rate for Transfr Selling Rate Hongkong Dollar 39.192 Czech Korune 0.005465 0.014765 Singapore Dollar 0.220874 0.230874 Danish Krone 0.041306 0.046306 Bangladesh Taka 3.546 US Dollar 304.150 Sri Lankan Rupee 0.001319 0.001899 Euro 0. 330826 0.344526 Philippine Peso 5.987 Canadian Dollar 233.520 Taiwan 0.010129 0.010309 Thai Baht 10.045 Georgian Lari 0.114211 0.114211 Sterling Pound 397.310 Thai Baht 0.009694 0.010244 Malaysian Ringgit 77.877 Hungarian 0.001148 0.001338 Euro 338.775 Vietnamese Dong 0.00013 0.000013 Norwegian Krone 0.030213 0.035413 Swiss Frank 296.905 GCC COUNTRIES Romanian Leu 0.065258 0.082108 Arab Saudi Riyal 81.254 Bahrain Dinar 808.850 Russian Ruble 0.004980 0.004980 Bahraini Dinar 0.801547 0.809595 Qatari Riyal 83.688 UAE Dirhams 83.210 Slovakia 0.009104 0.019104 ani Riyal 791.423 Qatari Riyals 84.450 Egyptian Pound 0.019098 0.021839 Bahraini Dinar 809.090 Saudi Riyals 82.000 Swedish Krona 0.028051 0.033051 Iranian Riyal 0.000084 0.000085 UAE Dirham 82.959 Jordanian Dinar 430.270 Swiss Franc 0.308493 0.319493 Iraqi Dinar 0.000199 0.000259 Egyptian Pound 19.245 Jordanian Dinar 0.424573 0.433573 ARAB COUNTRIES Sri Lankan Rupees 1.677 Australasia Kuwaiti Dinar 1.000000 1.000000 Egyptian Pound - Cash 21.850 Indian Rupees 4.277 Australian Dollar 0.201470 0.213470 Lebanese Pound 0.000103 0.000253 Egyptian Pound - Transfer 19.243 Pakistani Rupees 1.966 New Zealand Dollar 0.195571 0.205071 Moroccan Dirhams 0.021022 0.045022 Yemen Riyal/for 1000 1.223 Bangladesh Taka 3.550 Omani Riyal 0.785782 0.793672 Tunisian Dinar 114.910 America Qatar Riyal 0.082983 0.083817 Jordanian Dinar 429.750 Philippines Pesso 5.987 Canadian Dollar 0.227886 0.236886 Lebanese Lira/for 1000 0.203 Cyprus pound 18.095 Saudi Riyal 0.080113 0.081413 Syrian Lira 0.000 Japanese Yen 3.760 US Dollars 0.300400 0.304950 Syrian Pound 0.001291 0.001511 Morocco Dirham 32.357 Syrian Pound 1.590 US Dollars Mint 0.300900 0.304950 Tunisian Dinar 0.104084 0.112084 Nepalese Rupees 2.678 Turkish Lira 0.045110 0.054955 EUROPEAN & AMERICAN COUNTRIES Malaysian Ringgit 75.815 Asia UAE Dirhams 0.082271 0.083097 US Dollar Transfer 304.500 Chinese Yuan Renminbi 44.780 Bangladesh Taka 0.002917 0.003718 Yemeni Riyal 0.000990 0.001070 Established 1961 13 Business Monday, January 20, 2020 UK looks to offshore wind for green energy transition Wind energy to help Britain’s transition to carbon neutrality

LONDON: Britain, a global leader in offshore wind energy, plans to make the sector one of the pillars of its transition to carbon neutrality in the coming decades. The country aims to quadruple its offshore electricity production capacity by 2030 by utilizing the windswept North Sea and a favorable policy environment. “It’s more conducive to build offshore in the UK than anywhere else in Europe,” said James Brabben, of Cornwall Insight energy consultancy. “There’s quite a consensus of support around offshore wind from the public and politics,” he told AFP. Prime Minister Boris Johnson’s government, returned to power with a thump- ing majority last month, pledged in its election manifesto to increase power from offshore wind from 10 to 40 gigawatts this decade. It wants Britain to be carbon neutral by 2050, with onshore wind, solar, hydro and biomass also set to contribute to its energy mix. The country already produces almost 40 percent of its elec- This file photo, New Brighton lighthouse is pictured at sunset, in New Brighton, at In this file photo, the Burbo Bank Offshore Wind Farm on the Burbo Flats in tricity from renewable sources, according to figures the mouth of the river Mersey, in north-west England with the Burbo Bank Liverpool Bay, operated by DONG Energy, is pictured from the window of an air- published last week for the third quarter of 2019. Offshore Wind Farm visible on the horizon. —AFP Photos craft flying over the Irish Sea, off the west coast of northern England.

Planned expansions concentration of British offshore farms, thanks to the ‘Sustainable technology’ bigger investment in technological innovation is needed Britain plans to favor the development of colossal windy weather conditions created by their geography. The sector is also trying to account for the so-called “to further increase their sustainability”. He expects offshore wind farms given the country’s relatively small Several other projects are also under way, including “global cost” of building and running a wind turbine on that will allow turbine producers to “move away from land mass. There were 38 operational sites comprising at Hornsea and Dogger Bank off the coast of Yorkshire, the planet. Danish manufacturer Vestas has estimated it carbon intensive raw earth materials and implement the around 2,000 turbines at the end of 2018, according to which will compete for the title of largest offshore wind takes between five and 12 months of use to offset the highest level possible of recycling to insert wind within the last available figures from the Crown Estate, the turbine field in the world. energy cost of a turbine, the difference depending on the circular economy”. Offshore wind power had a hereditary land and property portfolio of the royal fam- Johnson has also touted rolling out floating wind the model and wind conditions. “As turbines repay their record year in 2019, with the completion of projects off ily which owns most of Britain’s seabed. farms, which utilize cutting-edge technology still being entire carbon footprint in such a short space of time, the coasts of China, Taiwan, Britain and the Nearly 1,000 more turbines are already in the plan- developed, to tap into windy marine areas with deeper they are excellent examples of sustainable technology Netherlands, among others. The International Energy ning stages. seabeds. Maritime wind farms have not proved univer- in action,” Robert Norris, of industry trade association Agency (IEA) has highlighted the almost “unlimited Two of the biggest projects are Walney Extension, in sally popular among residents when visible from the RenewableUK, told AFP. potential” of offshore wind power, as production costs north Wales, and London Array, at the mouth of the shore, while some NGOs have concerns over the Alastair Dutton, who heads a task force at the Global fall and technological progress increases turbines’ River Thames. The two sites are home to the highest impact on marine mammals and migratory birds. Wind Energy Council (GWEC) industry group, believes power and efficiency. —AFP

offering goods and entertainment to its Tough love 1.3 billion consumers, with monthly sub- scription to Amazon Prime costing just 999 rupees (around $14) a year. for Amazon’s But it and Walmart-which bought Yemen’s rival Flipkart for $16 billion in 2018 — have Bezos in India been accused of driving small firms out powers battle of business by selling heavily discounted NEW DELHI: Amazon boss Jeff Bezos goods at a loss to win market share. promised to create a million new jobs in Small traders are seen as important over banknotes India in a farewell love letter to the trading bloc for Modi’s ruling Bharatiya SANAA/ADEN: Yemen’s warring sides opened a country, after ending a tough visit that Janata Party (BJP), which won a second new front in their five-year conflict - a battle over reportedly included a snub by Prime term in a landslide election victory last old and new banknotes that threatens to create two Minister Narendra Modi. Hundreds of year. Bezos reportedly wanted a meeting economies in the same state. small traders staged protests during his with Prime Minister Modi during his visit- As of midnight, the Houthi movement which con- visit to the giant South Asian market this which also saw him hobnob with trols the capital Sanaa outlawed the use and pos- week, which came as anti-trust authori- Bollywood stars in Mumbai-but it was session of crisp new Yemeni riyal bills issued by its ties launched a probe into the e-com- unclear whether he met any leading gov- rivals in the internationally recognized government merce behemoth and its main rival ernment member. “They may have put in a based in the southern port town of Aden. The Iran- Walmart-owned Flipkart. billion dollars but then if they make a loss allied Houthis, who say people should only use the A government minister dismissed of a billion dollars every year then they jol- old bills, have defended the ban as a move against Bezos’s announcement that Amazon ly well have to finance that bill,” Commerce inflation and what they call rampant money-print- would invest $1 billion, and a leading rul- Minister Piyush Goyal said Thursday. ing by the government. ing party member hit out at his owner- “Where did the loss come from? How The government has branded the ban an act of ship of the critical Washington Post. can a market place make such a loss economic vandalism. And the population, as ever, “I fall more in love with India every unless they are engaging in predatory have been left stuck in the crossfire. Yemenis from time I return here. The boundless energy, pricing or some unfair trade practices,” both sides told Reuters the ban had effectively cre- innovation, and grit of the Indian people Goyal said at a New Delhi conference. ated two currencies with diverging values, adding always inspire me,” Bezos said in a The Indian government has also been to the turmoil in a state already governed by two farewell love letter to the country posted angered by the editorial stance of the powers and brought to its knees by the war. on Amazon’s local website on Friday. Washington Post, which is owned by In the one-month build up to the ban, people in The $1-billion investment will “digitize Bezos, the world’s richest man, particu- Houthi-controlled areas have been queuing to try to micro and small businesses in cities, larly over New Delhi’s actions in disput- exchange their new riyal notes for old, turning the towns, and villages across India”, he ed Kashmir. Vijay Chauthaiwale, the grubby and torn bills into a prized and relatively said, vowing Amazon would export $10 head of the BJP’s foreign affairs depart- scarce commodity. The riyal stood at about 560 to ment, was quoted by local media as say- AHMEDABAD: Mobile dealers and members of Ahmedabad Mobile Dealer’s billion of Indian-made products annually Association hold placards as they protest against online shopping platform the dollar across Yemen before the ban was ing that he was “definitely against what and create one million new jobs by 2025. Amazon outside their closed mobile shops in Ahmedabad. —AFP announced in mid-December. The rate has since Amazon has invested heavily in India the Washington Post is writing”. —AFP slipped a little in Houthi-controlled areas to around 582, but slumped much further to 642 in the south, an retaliatory duties on $2.4 billion of area now awash with new bills. That relative strength France makes French products from wines to leather might look like a boon for northerners, if only they handbags still hanging in the air. Le could get hold of enough of the old notes in time to Maire declined to unveil details about keep afloat in the largely cash-based economy. proposals to the proposals or whether France had “We go for the exchange and they won’t take made a gesture on the implementation of [the new notes] from us. Or say they need three, US to resolve the tax that would hit US firms like four or five days,” craftsman Abdullah Saleh Al- Netflix and Amazon. “We are going to Dahmasi told Reuters on a Sanaa street a week keep that to ourselves for the moment, before the ban came into force. “The new one isn’t tech tax row but I think there is a path to a possible accepted and the old one is worn out, they have to compromise between the United States find a solution,” the 27-year-old said. A few days PARIS: France has made proposals to and France on the issue which would before the ban came in, around 20 angry men and the United States to resolve the dispute permit both to advance towards the only women were turned away from one exchange over taxing multinational tech giants that reasonable solution: an international which said it had filled its quota for the day. Many aims to seal the framework for a global solution via the OECD,” he added. had been coming there for three days in the hope deal by the end of the month, Finance The deadline coincides with a sched- of swapping their cash. North-south trade has Minister Bruno Le Maire said. uled meeting on the topic at the World become far more expensive as traders have to buy “There are possibilities available, we Economic Forum meeting in Davos from and sell two types of riyal - told apart by the state are working with (US Treasury January 21 to 24. France last year of the paper and the different sizes and designs. Secretary) Steven Mnuchin. I made sev- approved a levy on tech firms as interna- eral proposals to him,” Le Maire said tional efforts dragged on to find a new Two central banks days before self-imposed deadline to DAVOS: In this file photo taken on January 24, 2019 (From left) EU Commissioner Many people in Sanaa told Reuters they felt the model for taxing companies who operate for Trade Cecilia Malmstrom, Cathay Capital Private Equity Founder and President find a resolution expires. mostly over the internet. Currently, they ban was needed to constrain inflation. But they were On January 7, Paris and Washington Cai Mingpo, Deutsche Bank CEO Christian Sewing, moderator Paula J Dobriansky, facing difficulties in the short-term. “When people often pay little tax to countries in which UPS Chairman and CEO David Abney and World Trade Organization (WTO) Director- set a two-week deadline to end a row they are not physically present even saw that new currency come into circulation, they over a French tax on multinational tech General Roberto Azevedo attends a session during the World Economic Forum held onto it as it was new and shiny. But now it’s a though they earn lots of revenue in them (WEF) annual meeting in Davos, eastern Switzerland. —AFP giants, with a US threat of sky-high via online sales and advertising. —AFP problem that they have it,” said 28-year-old Abdallah Bashiri, a private sector worker in Sanaa. In that city, legal exchanges will swap 100,000 Yemeni riyals (around $172) in new notes for electronic cur- Cyprus says Turkey of prizes throughout the year clarifying that Al-Najma rency that can be spent on things like phone credit Al-Tijari announces Account will offer weekly prize of KD 5,000, monthly prize or electricity bills, for a small fee of around $1.50. of KD 20,000 and a semi-annual prize of KD 500,000 in But things get more challenging when it comes ‘pirate state’ in gas winner of Al-Najma addition to the largest prize - linked bank account payout of to actual paper that can be spent in food markets. KD 1,500,000. Al-Najma Account can be opened by Sanaa residents said unofficial exchanges are offer- depositing KD 100, and customer should maintain a mini- ing to change 100,000 riyals of new notes into 90- drilling dispute weekly account mum amount of KD 500 to be eligible to enter all draws on 96,000 riyals of the scarcer old. After the Houthis Al-Najma Account prizes. As for the chances of winning, the stormed the capital Sanaa in 2014 and ousted the NICOSI: Cyprus yesterday accused Turkey of “piracy” more balance a customer maintains in Al-Najma Account, government of President Abd Rabbu Mansour Hadi, after Ankara announced new plans to drill for oil and gas in KUWAIT: Commercial Bank conducted the weekly draw on the divided island’s maritime zone, despite the threat of EU Al-Najma Account. The draw was conducted in the pres- the more chances the account holder will get to win, where Yemen’s central bank split into two branches - one sanctions. “Turkey is turning into a pirate state in the east- ence of Ministry of Commerce and Industry representative each KD 25 will give the customer one chance to win, the in Sanaa, under Houthi control, and one internation- ally recognized branch in Aden, which has access to ern Mediterranean,” the presidency said in a statement. Ana’am Al-Fadhli. The winner was Tawfeeq Ali Al-Attar - the account also offers additional benefits like the ATM card, a money printers. —Reuters “Turkey insists on going down the path of international prize of KD 5,000. The bank stated that the account prizes credit card against customer’s account and all CBK banking illegality it has chosen,” it said. —AFP this year is featured by the highest cash prize and diversity services that customer can enjoy. 14 Established 1961 Business Monday, January 20, 2020 Huawei keeps strong R&D pace as 5th top investor worldwide Company ranked in 2019 EU Industrial R&D Investment Scoreboard

KUWAIT: Huawei has been ranked fifth on the recently released 2019 EU Industrial R&D Investment Scoreboard as one of the biggest investors in research and development worldwide. The Scoreboard is made up of the 2,500 companies investing the largest sums in research and development in the world, with data col- lected from companies’ annual reports and accounts. As a result of its R&D investments focus, Huawei has been able to lead the development of 5G technologies globally and the Middle East region specifically. This has been powered by investments of USD4 billion in 5G research since 2009-more than the total 5G investment from all major equipment vendors in the US and Europe combined. Huawei began 5G research in 2009 and has submitted a total of 23,600 contributions to the 3GPP, Huawei top 5 R&D investor worldwide which would be a stack more than 10 meters tall if printed out on A4 paper. Huawei now owns 3,367 families of 5G patents the foundation for the digital transformation of indus- accounting for more than 20 percent of the total and tries in the Middle East and abroad. Globally, more than ranking first among all ICT vendors. The company has 700 cities and 228 Fortune Global 500 companies have established nine 5G standards and research centers chosen Huawei as their digital transformation partner. A worldwide, has more than 500 experts working on focus on innovation has also kept Huawei’s popular standards, and holds positions in over 100 standards smartphone range as a preferred global brand, achiev- organizations. As Q3 2019, Huawei had been awarded ing robust growth in 2019 with a total of 240 million more than sixty 5G commercial contracts, including 11 units shipped. in the Middle East, shipping over 400,000 5G base The latest ranking comes at a time when Huawei stations globally. leadership estimates that its global sales revenue will Outside of the 5G arena, Huawei’s enterprise busi- have topped $122 billion in 2019, an increase of roughly Huawei headquarters ness has also benefited from R&D advancements to lay 18 percent year-on-year. ABK launches Burgan Bank ‘Friendship announces Thursday’ KUWAIT: Al-Ahli Bank of Kuwait winners of (ABK) launched its Friendship Thursday Initiative during the last Yawmi draw quarter of 2019 as part of its dedication to promoting a cohesive, and inclusive KUWAIT: Burgan Bank announced yesterday the work environment. names of the daily draw winners of its Yawmi Friendship Thursday is a weekly account draw, each taking home a cash-prize of KD program where a small group of ABK 5,000. staff from different divisions meet for a morning coffee outside the office. The The lucky winners are: initiative is welcomed by staff, who 1. Fuad Naser Abbas Al-Salman seize the opportunity to exchange sto- 2. Sami Mijbel Nasser Hassan ries, and strengthen interdepartmental 3. Mohamed Sayed Galal Tawfik ties. It is also an opportunity to banish In addition to the daily draw, Burgan Bank also silos, which can become a barrier to offers a quarterly draw with more chances to win communication and growth in an organization. higher rewards, offering the chance to one lucky ABK’s strategic initiative, Solidarity, customer to win KD 125,000 every three months. a culture of one, aims to connect staff The Yawmi Account offers daily and quarterly and build relationships that contribute draws, wherein the quarterly draw requires cus- to individual, team and business suc- tomers to maintain a minimum amount of KD 500 cess. The initiative does not only aim to in their account for two months prior to the draw foster a friendly and welcoming work date. Additionally, every KD 10 in the account will environment but encourages a collabo- entitle customers to one chance of winning. If the rative culture while maintaining each account balance is KD 500 and above, the account member of staff’s authentic self. ABK’s holder will be qualified for both the quarterly and focused on driving relationships behaviors that support all staff to reach integral part of a wider campaign organizational ethos are centered on between staff that create value for the their full potential. focused on achieving an inclusive daily draws. respecting and valuing the importance Burgan Bank encourages everyone to open a employees, clients and society. It is also The initiative, spearheaded by ABK’s workplace in order to maximize pro- of a cohesive work culture. The initia- testament to ABK’s efforts to promote HR and Service Quality teams will enter ductivity, attract new talent and Yawmi account and/or increase their deposit to tive is the latest in a series of events maximize their chances of becoming a winner. The an inclusive culture which rewards a new phase in 2020 and will form an increase employee commitment. higher the level of the deposit, the higher the likeli- hood to win. with Europe and disruption to the Brexit’s new cross-Channel economy to a minimum. Theresa May’s government had pro- posed a “dynamic alignment”, where Law on enforced chapter: The London would match EU rules on the environment, state aid and other stan- ‘impossible’ dards to allow UK companies easy receipts sets access to Europe. Johnson will instead pursue a far more Germans trade deal minimal trade deal that will seek zero tar- iffs and quotas on goods. “The prime BRUSSELS: With just two weeks to go minister has been clear that he wants a grumbling before Brexit, European diplomats are Canada-style free trade agreement with preparing for the next phase: intense no alignment,” a UK official told AFP. FARNKFURT: In January it became law in Germany that negotiations to hammer out a future with This refers to the EU’s trade deal with retailers must print a receipt for every last transaction in a Britain after its EU divorce. Brussels is Canada that Europeans consider ambi- bid to fight tax evasion, but shopkeepers, customers and braced for new rounds of Brexit battles, tious as a trade deal, but too narrow for industry groups are already bucking against the scheme. aware that a bullish Prime Minister Boris an important neighbor like Britain. “Small shops’ cash registers already have electronic chips Johnson is feeling reinvigorated after an that tax officials can read any time. Why should we go back electoral victory in December. Threat to unity to the old system?” asked Christian Koch, owner of Here are the main battle lines revealed to A mere trade deal would be an eco- LONDON: Pro-Brexit demonstrators hold up placards outside the Houses of Hammett, a specialist crime novel shop in Berlin. AFP in interviews with 18 European officials nomic blow to Britain, but also to the Parliament in central London. —AFP “It’s a pain, of the 50 tickets I print each day I’ll throw and diplomats closely involved in the talks: UK’s closest trading partners-such as 49 straight in the bin,” he added. Ireland, France, Belgium and the No extension Even bakers selling rolls for a few dozen euro cents each Netherlands. No alignment on EU stan- from any other non-EU country. Many European capitals abhor the lat- Throughout his campaign, Johnson must now print a receipt for every transaction-even when dards means custom checks, paperwork “Zero tariffs, zero quotas, zero dump- ter, spooked by the EU’s confused ties with said he would seal a trade deal by their customer doesn’t want one. With their high numbers and all sorts of new limits to trade. “Our ing,” the EU’s chief negotiator Michel Switzerland, which are governed by over December 31, the deadline set by the EU- of small sales each day now generating reams of unwanted first choice is that nothing changes,” Barnier said on recent visit to Sweden. 100 deals. “We would favor a more organ- UK divorce agreement, though London documentation, bakeries and snack stands are especially lamented a diplomat. “But that is not Diplomats warn there were not many ized structure,” an EU diplomat told AFP. can request an extension of one or two outraged by the change in the law. going to happen, so we must now be ways to enforce the level playing field in more years. This marked the EU’s first “I’ve already emptied this once,” said a worker at realistic.” a simple trade deal, except through ‘Negotiation tables’ reality check-only reluctantly accepted. Frankfurt sausage stand “Best Worscht in Town”, pointing Johnson’s low-bar strategy could be threatening tariffs that can take months Months of intense discussions, to They no longer expect Johnson to ask for to a bin overflowing with discarded slips of paper during the biggest challenge to European unity or even years to impose. alternate between London and Brussels, a delay. That leaves only eight months, the busy lunch hour trade. “It’s a really stupid idea for the since the Brexit referendum in 2016, As a sign of London’s good faith, will be coordinated by EU chief negotia- from March to October, to reach an environment.” diplomats said. Member states will be Europeans will be keeping a close eye on tor Michel Barnier and his UK counter- agreement and allow time for ratification. Obligatory receipts were voted through in 2016, but pulling in different directions with some British compliance with the withdrawal part, probably David Frost. The tight “It’s an impossible task,” warned one the law slipped under the public radar until shortly before like France, Belgium and Denmark con- agreement, in particular the customs deadline allows “about 40 days of pure European diplomat. it came into effect on January 1. Economy Minister Peter cerned about fishing while land-locked arrangements on the Irish border. “If they negotiation” in eight to 10-week sessions, “At the end of the year, we could get Altmaier asked Finance Minister Olaf Scholz to give up on eastern Europeans and Germany will play around with that, the impact on an official warned. the skeleton of a trade agreement plus the plans, especially because receipts printed on thermal want a deal on cars. trade talks will be immediate,” one diplo- This is a far cry from the years devot- something on internal and foreign securi- paper cannot be recycled. Since then, retailers’ federation mat warned. ed to trade deals with Canada, Japan or ty, but there is no guarantee,” the diplo- HDE has also written to Scholz, asking him to exempt ‘Zero-dumping’ South Korea. mat added. Talks can begin as soon as EU businesses that issue more than 500 receipts per day on Referred to as keeping a level playing Big deal? Another diplomat said negotiators ministers agree their joint mandate on average. field, member states with the most trade One question nagging Europeans, would open about ten “negotiating February 25. “That’s one receipt per minute for a shop open nine with Britain will be dead-set on ensuring notably France, is the future structure of tables” with some done in parallel. “We hours a day,” the group said in the document, seen by AFP. that British companies gain no unfair the EU’s relationship with Britain. Will it will give each subject two or three weeks Johnson is not May Until now Scholz has resisted all such calls, saying the fight advantage after Brexit. When British be something formal, with clearly set joint and see what is possible. If the divisions Johnson’s campaign promised “to get against tax evasion-estimated at around 10 billion euros by goods and services come knocking on institutions, or a looser arrangement are too great, we move on. Some issues Brexit done” and to do away with his tax officials-must include preventing shops and restaurants Europe’s door, they will insist that UK structured by separate deals on trade, will be well advanced, others will go predecessor’s goal to keep close ties from failing to record transactions properly. —AFP goods are subject to checks like those security and other topics as necessary? nowhere,” he said. —AFP Established 1961 15 Monday, January 20, 2020 What’s On

Left to right: Sheikha Maymona Al-Sabah, General Supervisor of Kuwait’s Historical Archive Center Museum, Dr Ameera Al- Hassan, Head of United Nations Human Settlements Programme, Abdullah Buwair, Director of Kuwait’s historical Archive Center Museum and Head of the consultations group for small-sized enterprises Dr Mustafa Behbehani. Kuwait’s Historical Archive Center Museum opens

By Faten Omar Buwair praised HH the Amir Sheikh Sabah Al- Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah’s effort in developing uwait’s Historical Archive Center Museum Kuwait, wishing the Amir good health and wellbeing opened yesterday at Kuwait University in after his return from treatment in the United States. K Shuwaikh. Director of the museum Abdullah Sheikha Maymona, General Supervisor of the Buwair said that the idea of the museum was Archive Center Museum, said the museum contains important to the Amiri Diwan. “The idea started historical documents of the history of Kuwait, and seven years ago, and after hard work and continu- they are in the process of bringing more documents ous efforts, the museum is open to the public in cooperation with various sectors. “The museum today,” he said. was supposed to open last Sunday, but it was post- “Sheikha Maymona Al-Sabah offered us this place poned after the tragic death of Oman’s Sultan at Kuwait University to turn it to Kuwait’s historical Qaboos bin Said last week, where the countries of Archive Center Museum. The rooms are divided into the Cooperation Council lost one of the wisest men in sections. The first room has the belongings of the Gulf. Best of luck to Oman’s new sultan, Haitham Kuwait’s martyrs during the Iraqi invasion war and bin Tariq,” said Sheikha Maymona. the martyrs of Imam Al-Sadiq Mosque. Another hall Dr Ameera Al-Hassan, Head of United Nations is dedicated to the rulers of Kuwait and the history of Human Settlements Program, explained that the main folklore. A room called ‘The Diwan and Heritage Hall’ goal of the museum is to document the history of includes books and documents about the history and Kuwait and introduce it to the next generation, prais- rulers of Kuwait, along with old secret documents ing the opening of the museum for its value to edu- related to Kuwaiti heritage,” he added. cate the next generation about the history of Kuwait.

day from 5-6 pm under the title of “ LOYAC conducts Seminars on The Rising Food and Beverage Trends in Kuwait “ for speakers Khaled Al- food and Baqer; Ventri Group founding partner blood donation and CEO, Mohammed Al-Wehaib; Seazen Group general manager, Chef campaign beverages for Frank Bordoni; Al-Shaya Group and Nawwaf Al-Hussein; Qout Market local firms founding partner. ut of its humane vision, LOYAC The second day seminar will be recently launched its 8th annual blood held the same time on the second day Odonation campaign under the slogan n preparation for opening Horeca under the title of “Ideas & Trends In of “Your Blood, Their Hope”, which its dedi- 2020, due Monday-Wednesday at Today’s Catering Industry” to be pre- cated to support cancer patients. Hall number 8 of Mishref sented by Ibrahim Al-Houtti; MMC The campaign was held at the Sharq I International Fair Grounds, Leaders Catering company CEO, Shawqi Market under auspices of ABK and in collab- Group company announced that this Barakat; Barakat Foods Company oration with The Tri Star Motorcycles, the year’s activities would include three manager and Bibi Hayat; founder and bikers team and Kuwait Central Blood Bank. main symposiums for specialized owner of Bibi Hayat Events. The launching ceremony was attended by speakers to discuss the future of the The third day seminar will be titled LOYAC general manager, Al-Razi Al-Bedaiwi, to add value to their societies”, he added urg- sectors on display. “Privileges of Online Restaurant ABK board chairman, Fauzi Al-Thonayyan ing parents to accompany children while they A statement made by Leaders Ordering Systems & Benefits for and Tri Star executive manager, Ja’far donate blood to develop this value in them at Group, which organizes the exhibition Restaurants” to be presented by Bahbahani. early ages. in collaboration with Hospitality speakers Hamad Al-Jedai’; founder Speaking on the occasion, Al-Bedaiwi said On his part, ABK’s Fauzi Al-Thonayyan Services (Lebanon), said that this and chairman of Zyda company, that even since establishing LOYAC 18 years expressed his joy and pride for sponsoring year’s exhibition includes a record Waseem Makarem; TALABAT App earlier, the value of benevolence was the base the campaign for the fifth year. number of participants in addition to general manager and Ahmed Salamah; of all youth activities. “The equation is so Ja’far Bahbahani; Tri Star, stressed the sig- hundreds of contesters in over 25 cat- partner in Bilbayt. simple, Give youth due trust, care and oppor- nificance of this particular year’s campaign as egories of cooking competitions. Notably, all three seminars will be tunities, they give time, effort and dedication it is dedicated to children with cancer. The committee explained that the moderated by Nada Alameddine, first seminar would be held on the first Partner - “Hodema Consulting Services. Jumeirah Group Institute of Fashion Technology-NIFT ICSK flags off New Delhi conducted separate sessions announces for the first time in the Middle East, to mega Higher guide the students towards the right 2020 MICE offer career path. The world renowned Career Guru & popular columnist Dr Education B.S. Warrier (Indian universities) and in Abu Dhabi prominent USA based career guidance specialist Jihad Yaacoub (Foreign uni- umeirah Group, yesterday announced its Fair 2020 versities) conducted the career guid- diverse meetings, incentives, conferences ance seminars and clear all the queries and event (MICE) offering for 2020 at J regarding various career prospects two of its renowned hotels in Abu Dhabi. he Indian Community School, enabling the students benefit from the Jumeirah at Saadiyat Island Resort provides a Kuwait (ICSK), took pride in wide range of opportunities available beautiful beach option with luxury ocean Thosting the Higher Education Fair views, in contrast to the vibrant downtown 2020, a mega event, on the 17th and before them. These seminars were free location of the acclaimed Jumeirah at Etihad 18th of January 2020. ICSK conducted of cost. Towers, complemented by panoramic views this Education Fair for the second time The spotlight was on more than 50 of the capital. as the school is commemorating the universities & colleges from around the Whether guests are corporates or individ- ing, based on the size and nature of meetings. Chairman Suite. A dedicated pre-function 61st year of its glorious existence. The world who participanted in this exclu- uals participating in local events, Jumeirah Those looking to host C-Suite meetings can area is also available for use, with a spectacu- school had conducted this fair last year sive programme. They will be extending Group’s hotels in Abu Dhabi offer distinctive make the most of the complete array of plan- lar crystal installation serving as a focal point for the first time as a part of its their plethora of opportunities to the environments, each providing a unique and ning services offered by the property, with of design, within the MICE facilities. Diamond Jubilee celebrations. career aspirants. tailored backdrop to meet all MICE require- prices starting at AED 350 per person inclu- Conference packages start from 150 AED per ICSK launched this unique event The Press conference on 15th ments, both locally and internationally. Guests sive of dining, while corporate team building person inclusive of a coffee break and lunch through a press conference held on January 2020 was attended by at meetings and events held in the heart of the is also catered to via unique packages start- or dinner. 15th January 2020 at ICSK Senior, Azharuddin Amer Mohammed - Hon city, can enjoy access to the one of a kind ing at AED 150 per person. The one of a kind Linda Griffin, General Manager of Salmiya. The education fair is an enter- Secretary - Board of Trustees, Vinu Observation Deck, located on the 74th floor team building provision spans beach activi- Jumeirah at Saadiyat Island, comments: prising venture, offering career talks, Kumar Nair - Hon. Vice Chairman - of Jumeirah at Etihad Towers. The platform is ties, water sports and Bodyism classes, to “Jumeirah Group’s dedicated event offerings aptitude tests, career counselling and Board of Trustees, Dr V. Binumon - the highest vantage point in Abu Dhabi where ensure a seamless experience for corporate in Abu Dhabi have been inspired by the city’s multiple courses in a single program. Principal and Senior Administrator - visitors can relish an uninterrupted birds-eye guests. Guests can also take advantage of the standing as a regional leading MICE destina- The Education Fair supplies a platform Indian Community School Kuwait, view of the city’s skyline, the Corniche, and luxurious spa and proximity to the Gary tion. This has been further spearheaded by to interact with many of the leading Senior , K. Gangadhar Shirsath - Arabian Gulf. Player designed course at the Saadiyat Beach its reputation as a cultural hub and its success universities from around the globe. The Principal, Indian Community School Jumeirah at Saadiyat Island Resort, the Golf Club. hosting a broad range of global events.” fair offered unlimited opportunities to Kuwait, Khaitan, Mrs. Susan Rajesh Jumeirah Group’s first luxury “eco-con- Jumeirah at Etihad Towers houses one of Savino Leone, General Manager of students who wish to pursue higher Pothan - Vice Principal, Indian scious” resort, located 20 minutes away from Abu Dhabi’s largest conference centres, Jumeirah at Etihad Towers adds, “We recog- education at various Universities. The Community School Kuwait, Senior, Mrs Abu Dhabi airport, has the capacity to host inclusive of 13 cutting edge meeting rooms, a nise the importance of this segment and have entry was free to this distinctive pro- Mini Shaji - Deputy Vice Principal - exhibitions, product launches and parties. In ballroom with a capacity of 1,400 guests in a developed our MICE portfolio across our gramme. Indian Community School Kuwait, addition to this, the versatile meeting space conference setting or 1,000 guests for seated properties in the capital, to meet the needs of This year, Indian Institute of Senior and Vinod Lakshmanan - Project can be utilised with flexibility as a key offer- banquet dinner; as well as a Bridal and local and international organisations.” Technology-IIT Roorkee & National Director, Higher Education Fair 2020. 16 Health & Science Monday, January 20, 2020 China says 17 new cases in virus outbreak, Wuhan restricts gatherings BEIJING: China said yesterday that 17 more people had Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome (SARS), which killed become infected with a new coronavirus strain, fanning fears nearly 800 people globally during a 2002/03 outbreak that Little known about virus itself it will spread further as hundreds of millions of people travel also started in China. What we know Chinese authorities says the outbreak is strongly to celebrate the upcoming Lunar New Year. linked to a seafood market in Wuhan, but some patients Three of those patients are seriously ill, according to a Screening strengthened diagnosed with the new coronavirus deny exposure to statement issued by the health commission in the central city Wuhan will strengthen oversight of large-scale events and so far about new this market. Health officials say there is no clear evi- of Wuhan, where all 62 of the cases in China have occurred. reduce the number of public gatherings, state media quoted dence the virus spreads easily from one person to Two people have died. Two cases have also been reported in Chen Yanxin, the city’s deputy mayor as saying yesterday. virus outbreak another, but they cannot completely rule out the possi- Thailand and one in Japan - both involving people who trav- Wuhan officials said since Jan 14 they are using infrared ther- bility of human-to-human transmission. Wuhan munici- elled from Wuhan. One of the two patients in Thailand has mometers at airports, railway stations and other passenger BEIJING: Chinese authorities and the World Health pal authorities released information about a married recovered. terminals in the city to strengthen screening. Organization (WHO) say a new strain of coronavirus couple that contracted the virus on Jan 15. The hus- Wuhan officials have been providing updates on new cases The outbreak has stoked worries globally as many of is behind the outbreak of pneumonia in the central band, who got sick first, worked at the market but the almost daily since Jan 11, and 17 is the highest number report- China’s 1.4 billion people will travel both domestically and city of Wuhan, which has erupted just ahead of the wife denied any exposure to the market in question. ed since then. The 17 new patients began exhibiting symptoms overseas during the Lunar New Year holidays that begin next Lunar New Year, the country’s biggest festival. The authorities did not explicitly state whether this was such as a fever or cough before Jan 13, the statement said. week. Airport authorities in the United States as well as most Health officials say the strain does not appear as a case of human-to-human transmission, however. The World Health Organization said in a tweet yesterday Asian nations are screening passengers from Wuhan. lethal as some other strains of coronavirus such as that some of the new cases appear not to be linked to the Although some experts at Georgetown University say cur- Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome, which killed Countermeasures Huanan seafood market, believed to the center of the out- rent evidence shows the new virus may not be as deadly as nearly 800 people worldwide during a 2002/03 out- There is no vaccine for the new virus. Symptoms break. Due to China’s efforts to implement broader screen- SARS, there is little known about its origins and how easily it break that also originated from China. include fever, difficulty in breathing as well as pneu- ing, new cases may be identified in the coming days and can spread. monic infiltrates in the lungs. Chinese authorities weeks, it added. A report by the London Imperial College’s MRC Centre for Known cases have stepped up monitoring and disinfection efforts “The fact that three cases have been exported to Thailand Global Infectious Disease Analysis said there are likely to be As of yesterday, there were 65 confirmed cases of ahead of the lunar new year holiday in late January, and Japan without connection to the Huanan Seafood Market “substantially more cases”. It estimated that by Jan 12 there patients with pneumonia caused by the new strain of when many of the country’s 1.4 billion people will suggests that the virus has spread beyond the Huanan were 1,723 cases in Wuhan City with onset of related symp- coronavirus. All patients were either Wuhan resi- travel domestically and overseas. Airport authorities Seafood Market into the community,” said David Hui, a pro- toms. News about the outbreak was trending on Weibo, a dents or people who recently went to the city. Their in the United States as well as many Asian countries, fessor of respiratory medicine at the Chinese University of microblogging platform in China, yesterday morning. Weibo symptoms included fever, cough and difficulty including Japan, Thailand, Singapore and South Hong Kong. Chinese health authorities did not immediately regularly filters content that is deemed sensitive. breathing. Of the 62 patients in Wuhan itself, two Korea, have stepped up screening of passengers respond to requests for comment. There has been some local-level censorship however. Two have died and 19 have been discharged. Thailand has from Wuhan. The World Health Organization sent The Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention, a individuals told Reuters they were ordered by police to also reported two confirmed cases of the pneumonia, directives to hospitals around the world on infection national level body, issued a large infographic on Saturday on remove social media posts. Many on social media called on both of whom were Chinese tourists from Wuhan. prevention and control. It has advised against travel social media, urging people not to believe rumors about the people to be careful. “We’re about to celebrate the New Year, Japan has also confirmed one case of a Japanese cit- or trade restrictions based on available information, virus and stressing it is not SARS. The unknown virus howev- hope everyone is safe. Don’t go to places where there’s a lot izen who visited Wuhan. however. — Reuters er is from the same large family of coronaviruses that includes of people,” said one user. — Reuters 17

Monday, January 20, 2020

To advertise on this Page

Call: 24833199 ext:101,102 or Direct line: 24835616 / 24835617 or email: [email protected] 18 Established 1961 Stars Monday, January 20, 2020

CROSSWORD 2414 STAR TRACK

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

Not all friendships are the same, Aries. You may have learned that the hard way, but Have you been wanting to talk to your partner about something important, that's OK. Today you could feel like putting your friendships in some kind of order Libra? Well, it's up to you to make the first move. In fact, that's just what your and getting a bit of perspective on things. It's time to figure which of your friends are partner is waiting for you to do. Take advantage of your day today to tell your really there for you when you need them, which of them show you how much they partner exactly what you expect from him or her and to share some of your care about you, and which ones do not. Each kind of friendship can be useful to you worries. You're someone who is lucky enough to know what you want, but it in its own way. Don't be afraid to admit this. isn't always easy for you to tell other people what that is. Be strong.

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

Not only do you want to live life to the fullest every second, you also feel the need You enjoy your freedom, Scorpio. You're a very independent person and you to leave your special mark on the world you live in. You just have to be creative in hate it when anything gets in your way. That's all right, but you may want to life, Taurus. You can't help it. That great project you've been thinking about for a take a look at your financial situation even if that's not really your thing. You while is just beginning to take shape. Today you may find some of the materials you tend to resent having to deal with these lowly material questions, but if you needed to really get things going! A financial gift or the gift of someone's time? don't, you could severely restrict your freedom to live life to its fullest. Be rea- Someone's generosity could really make your day! sonable about things.

Gemini (May 21-June 20) Sagittarius (November 22-December 21)

Your mind is in a period of great activity, and your curiosity about the world Today is a good day to take chances, Sagittarius. You may be quite successful if around you is practically insatiable. You're interested in anything and everything. you're ready to defend the things you really care about. Pretend that you're the You want to be able to understand everything from the simplest to the most director of a film and that you've just met a potential producer for your movie. You ACROSS 6. A hard gray lustrous metallic element that is complicated. Nothing could get in the way of your thirst for knowledge. So get a just happen to have your script in hand. Are you ready to move up in the world? Are 1. One millionth of a gram. highly corrosion-resistant. good supply of books about the things you would like to learn about and try and you ready for success? 4. A thrombolytic agent (trade name Activase) 7. A native or inhabitant of Iran. meet some new people. that causes fibrinolysis at the site of a blood 8. A malicious fierce-tempered woman. clot. 9. The sign language used in the United States. 12. 100 pyas equal 1 kyat. 10. Slanderous defamation. 15. Fermented alcoholic beverage similar to but 11. (Akkadian) God of wisdom. heavier than beer. 12. A folded part (as a fold of skin or muscle). 16. A personal attractiveness that enables you 13. An expensive vessel propelled by sail or Cancer (June 21-July 22) Capricorn (December 22-January 19) to influence others. power and used for cruising or racing. 17. Resinlike substance secreted by certain lac 14. Red pear-shaped tropical fruit with poi- It's very difficult for you to reconcile your desire for creativity and originality in You have a kind of creativity that knows no bounds today, Capricorn, and a kind of insects. sonous seeds. your life to the constraints that society puts on you to be an efficient, productive originality that knows no limits. How are you going to go about expressing this rich 18. A collection of objects laid on top of each 19. Fig tree of India noted for great size and person, Cancer. This is one of the great dilemmas facing a lot of people these days. creativity that abounds inside of you? If your environment doesn't allow you to other. longevity. It's as if you have to hide your real personality in order to live up to what other express this creativity, change environments and try to make a new reality for your- 20. A shaft on which a wheel rotates. 21. A member of a North American Indian peo- people expect of you. Some advice for today: don't be so hard on yourself. You're self. This is the only way you'll be able to use this incredible energy productively. 22. God of fire. ple of southeastern California and northwest- only human. 23. Sheet glass cut in shapes for windows or ern Mexico. doors. 24. A murderer (especially one who kills a 25. Any member of Athapaskan tribes that prominent political figure) who kills by a treach- migrated to the southwestern desert (from erous surprise attack and often is hired to do Arizona to Texas and south into Mexico). the deed. 27. An enzyme produced in the stomach that 26. A fractional monetary unit in Bangladesh Leo (July 23-August 22) Aquarius (January 20- February 18) splits proteins into peptones. and India and Nepal and Pakistan. 29. Having branches. 28. The 7th letter of the Greek alphabet. You seem to have a lot of resentment toward someone who may have hurt you. This is an ideal day to take a look at your financial situation, so get out your 30. A written account of what transpired at a 31. The formation of frost or ice on a surface. Don't keep these feelings inside or they'll eat away at you, Leo. Take advantage of bank statements or dividend reports. Try and pretend that you're with your meeting. 32. An extreme state of adversity. your day today to put all your cards on the table and forget about revenge, 34. Being one more than one. 33. A bachelor's degree in religion. banker and describing your situation as objectively as possible, without over- 35. White Southerner supporting 36. A Russian prison camp for political prison- because it could just turn against you. Instead, why don't you try to reach out to estimating what you bring in or underestimating what you spend. You won't Reconstruction policies after the Civil War usu- ers. that person and explain your feelings to him or her? The good energy you get regret this process, since it could prevent you from making some big mistakes ally for self-interest. 38. The content of cognition. from this experience could be very beneficial to you tomorrow. later on. 37. Make unable to perform a certain action. 39. A murderer (especially one who kills a 42. A resource. prominent political figure) who kills by a treach- 43. An ancient Assyrian city on the River Tigris erous surprise attack and often is hired to do

and traditional capital of Assyria. the deed. Virgo (August 23-September 22) Pisces (February 19-March 20) 45. An official prosecutor for a judicial district. 40. Relating to or applicable to or concerned 46. (computer science) Memory whose con- with the administration of a city or town or dis- Today, Virgo, you may feel like hiding yourself away in your ivory tower and tents can be accessed and read but cannot be trict rather than a larger area. You may have been worrying about something you did recently that you aren't watching the performance that is going on before your eyes. And why not, if changed. 41. Make improvements or corrections to. very proud of. Today you'll discover that all that worrying was for nothing. The this allows you to get the perspective you need on things? Use this period in 47. Expressive of contempt. 44. An intensely radioactive metallic element reality you've been trying to run away from lately will be right before your eyes 50. Satisfy (thirst). that occurs in minute amounts in uranium ores. your life to give things their real value and to see where certain people actually and you'll see that it isn't so bad after all. You'll be rewarded for all your hard 52. A loss of the ability to write or to express 48. The capital and largest city of Bangladesh. fit into your world. You're a very lucky person to be able to find this kind of bal- work, as if life were trying to give you a lesson about being optimistic. So don't thoughts in writing because of a brain lesion. 49. An ancient Hebrew unit of dry measure ance in your life. be so negative! 54. Tranquilizer (trade name Ativan) used to equal to about a bushel. treat anxiety and tension and insomnia. 51. A member of the Algonquian people for- 56. A Kachinic language. merly inhabiting the Maritime Provinces of Wordsearch Puzzle Yesterday’s Solution 59. (archaic) Of persons. Canada. 60. The 3 goddesses of fate or destiny. 53. Step on it. 63. The part of the small intestine between the 55. The 19th letter of the Greek alphabet. jejunum and the cecum. 57. Swiss psychologist remembered for his 65. The United Nations agency concerned with studies of cognitive development in children atomic energy. (1896-1980). 68. Title for a civil or military leader (especially in 58. A Dravidian language spoken in south cen- Turkey). tral India. 72. A communist nation that covers a vast terri- 61. American professional baseball player who tory in eastern Asia. hit more home runs than Babe Ruth (born in 76. Mythical bird of prey having enormous size 1934). and strength. 62. Reconnaissance (by shortening). 77. A cut of pork ribs with much of the meat 64. The branch of engineering science that trimmed off. studies the uses of electricity and the equip- 79. A flat wing-shaped process or winglike part ment for power generation and distribution of an organism. and the control of machines and communica- 80. Used of a single unit or thing. tion. 81. Any of several plants of the genus Hepatica 66. A blow from a flat object (as an open hand). having 3-lobed leaves and white or pinkish 67. A village in eastern Ireland (northwest of flowers in early spring. Dublin). 82. A slight amount or degree of difference. 69. Any of various small biting flies. 70. Goddess of the dead and queen of the DOWN underworld. 1. A member of the Siouan people formerly liv- 71. (Babylonian) God of storms and wind. ing in the Missouri river valley in NE Nebraska. 73. A hormone secreted by the anterior pitu- 2. Large swift fly the female of which sucks itary gland that controls the degree of pigmen- blood of various animals. tation in melanocytes. 3. Wild or seedling sweet cherry used as stock 74. Any of various primates with short tails or for grafting. no tail at all. 4. A radioactive element of the actinide series. 75. A loose sleeveless outer garment made 5. A member of an Algonquian people who from aba cloth. lived west of Lake Superior. 78. Being nine more than ninety.

Yesterday’s Solution

Daily SuDoku Yesterday’s Solution Established 1961 Lifestyle

MONDAY, JANUARY 20, 2020

A model presents a creation by Balmain, during the men’s Fall/Winter 2020/2021 collection fashion show in Paris. — AFP

stolen 15th-century book by pensioner had in fact collected hun- the famed Persian poet Hafez dreds of ancient manuscripts-but Ahas been recovered by a that they were all gone. In 2011 Dutch art detective after an interna- German police recovered 174 of tional “race against time” that drew them raiding the home of another the alleged interest of Iran’s secret Iranian pensioner who had befriend- service. The gold-leafed volume ed Ghazy. worth around one million euros ($1.1 “But the most important piece, million) was found to be missing one of the earliest and most accu- from the collection of an Iranian rate copies of the famous ‘Divan of antiques dealer after his death in Hafez’, was still missing,” said Brand. Germany in 2007. It sparked a German police announced a decade-long search for one of the 50,000-euro reward and issued a oldest surviving copies of the “Divan flyer describing the book in 2016 of Hafez”-the collected works of the but there was still no trace of it, until poet who remains extremely popular late 2018. in Iran and has inspired artists Brand then received a phone call worldwide. from an Iranian dealer, asking the But Arthur Brand, dubbed the Dutchman to “urgently” meet him in A picture taken at the apartment of Dutch art crime investigator Arthur Brand “Indiana Jones of the Art World” for Germany. “The man told me he was in Amsterdam shows a rare 15th-century book of poems by Shams-ud-din tracing a series of lost works, finally visited by two officials who said they Muhammad Hafiz’s “Divan”. — AFP photos tracked down the tome via the murky were ‘linked to the Iranian embassy’.” stolen arts underworld. “This is a The men-alleged by the dealer to be hugely important find for me, Iranian secret agents-told him to because this is such an important “report any news of the missing This file image shows Police officers standing by a painting stolen over 20 book,” Brand said as he showed AFP Divan”, Brand said. “My informant years ago and for which initial indications suggest that it was painted by the recovered book at an Amsterdam was clearly scared, felt threatened Austrian painter Gustav Klimt, found by chance in the gardens of a museum apartment. Along with Rumi, Hafez- and decided to call me into the in Piacenza, northern Italy. — AFP full name Shams al-Din Muhammad case,” Brand told AFP. Hafiz Shirazi-is one of the best Iran had already shown an inter- painting found stashed known mystical bards. American est in the case, saying it would take inside a wall at an Italian Wrapped in a bin bag essayist Ralph Waldo Emerson called “all legal means” to get back the Amuseum has been confirmed In December, gardeners remov- him the “Prince of Persian poets”. manuscripts that were found in 2011, as the stolen “Portrait of a Lady” by ing ivy from a wall found a small Hafez’s Divan can still be found in after Germany gave two back but Austria’s Gustav Klimt, prosecutors ventilation space and discovered most Iranian homes where it is tradi- decided most of the rest were legally said on Friday, two decades after the painting inside, without a frame tionally read out during family cele- owned by the collector, German the artwork went missing. The cen- and wrapped in a black garbage brations for the Persian New Year. news reports said. “After my inform- tury-old painting was discovered bag. The ivy covering the space had ant was contacted, I knew that Iran concealed in an external wall by not been cut back for almost a ‘Scared and threatened’ was also looking for the missing gardeners at the Ricci Oddi Gallery decade. Chicca said further tests of Modern Art in Piacenza, north- would determine whether the paint- The theft of the manuscript, which Divan and I started a race against London to meet an unnamed man er was shocked and furious. After all, east Italy, last month. The museum ing had been lingering inside the dates from 1462 to 1463, was discov- time to see if I could find it first, as “who became extremely nervous” he was sold a stolen book and now ered by the family of book dealer the book belonged to Ghazy’s fami- estimates that the 55-by-65-cen- wall space since it was stolen, or when shown the flyer of the missing everybody including the Iranian gov- timetre (21-by-26-inch) expres- whether it had been hidden there at Djafar Ghazy after he died in an old ly,” Brand said. book, and confessed he had seen it as ernment was looking for it,” Brand people’s home in Munich in 2007. sionist work could be worth a later date. “At the moment, we a friend of his had sold it to a major said. By now afraid, the buyer flew to between 60 and 100 million euros can’t say whether it has been there While going through Ghazy’s com- ‘Rare and valuable’ buyer. By then Iranian agents were Paris to demand his money back from puter, they realized the reclusive The Dutchman then flew to ($67-111 million), but notes the dif- all along,” the prosecutor said. also in London asking questions about the original seller.—AFP ficulty in estimating the work as it Once those tests were complet- the manuscript, Brand said. “The buy- has never been sold on the market. ed, the painting will hopefully be “It is with no small emotion that returned to the gallery’s walls, she I can tell you the work is authentic,” said. Art expert Guido Cauzzi stud- prosecutor Ornella Chicca told ied the work under infrared and reporters. Museum officials had ini- ultraviolet light, comparing images tially said they could not immedi- to those taken during tests per- ately determine whether the paint- formed in 1996. “The correspon- ing was indeed the stolen Klimt dence between the images allowed until scientific tests were undertak- us to determine that it’s definitely en. Painted in 1916-1917, the the original painting,” Cauzzi said. expressionist work depicts the face The condition of the painting was and torso of a young woman with “relatively good,” he said. “It’s brown hair, over an emerald green gone through a few ordeals, but background. The painting went only needs some routine care, noth- missing in February 1997 while the ing particularly complicated,” museum was closed for work. Cauzzi added. — AFP 20 Established 1961 Lifestyle Fashion Monday, January 20, 2020

Picture shows materials at French designer Paloma Casile’s shop in Paris. — AFP photos This picture shows red ribbon at French designer Paloma Casile’s shop in Paris. This picture shows straps at French designer Paloma Casile’s shop in Paris.

n a tiny workshop in central Paris, Paloma remains a niche within a sector that was Chains sign up Vivier-Guerin, marketing director for a lin- lus,” she noted. Casile puts finishing touches on eco- worth an estimated 2.4 billion euros ($2.7 bil- “When we started out, finding eco-friend- gerie show in Paris. In particular, suppliers National brands such as Etam have taken Ifriendly lingerie that she hopes will catch lion) in France alone last year. ly materials was harder, but we see now that are offering wider ranges of fabrics that note, and now offer collections made from on at an international show a few days hence. “As a consumer, I did not find a brand that things are starting to move,” says Mathilde respect the environment, she said. recycled lace as well. “Everyone understands Below her chic little shop on the Rue du Jour, offered sexy outfits that were completely de Sacy, 28, who created the Olly brand with They include classic recycled cotton, or that it is an important factor consumers look the designer pieces together bits of lace, responsible along the entire production a friend three years ago. “We use certified satin, or bra shells made from coffee fibre. A for,” says Gildas Minvielle, head of the sometimes combined with lurex, taking care chain,” explains Margot Dargegen, 25, who material, organic GOTS cotton, lace made Swiss company offers a line of lingerie that is Economic Observatory at the French Fashion to gather up scraps to be used in other mod- founded Nenes Paris with recycled lace a with recycled fibres and Oeko-Tex 100 dyes. completely biodegradable. In a sector that Institute. That said, “100 percent ecological is els or donated to fashion schools. “I was year ago. “Scraps of fabric and plastic bot- We also wanted the work to be done in has stagnated in recent years, “it encourages hard to attain,” admitted Casile, who empha- always careful when it came to cutting, I have tles are ground up and turned into fibres that Europe to ensure proper working condi- consumers to buy better quality products sizes that brands interested in the idea must go worked in factories and seen the waste” gen- become thread that you can then make the tions,” she adds. “Consumers pay more and that require less transport and add value,” beyond the purely marketing aspect. — AFP erated by industrial processes, says the 30- material you want to from,” she adds. more attention to such things,” notes Cecile Vivier-Guerin said. “It’s a significant stimu- year-old who intends to create another line to be made in Morocco. Casile launched her eponymous line in 2012, with most suppliers in France and a standardized production process to limit losses. All the fittings are identical, “and they’re made from zamak, which requires half the water compared to other metals,” she notes in reference to an alloy of zinc, aluminum, magnesium and copper. Casile also limits her range of colors and uses cer- tified Oeko-tex dyes that are free of toxic substances. Finally, she repairs her wares for up to four years. “Ok, it keeps the client on board, but it is also with a view towards not seeing them thrown away,” she explains. The approach has begun to gain ground in the fashion industry as environmental con- cerns encourage more and more companies to explore sustainable methods. Young French lingerie designer Paloma Casile shows lace fabric at her workshop in Paris. French lingerie designer Paloma Casile works on a model of bra at her workshop in Paris. designers are spearheading the trend, which

Models present creations by Berluti, during the men’s Fall-Winter 2020/2021 collection fashion show in Paris. — AFP photos

erluti had earlier gone hell for leather for out in the street.” “My job is to bring beauty to luxury in a day marked by a strong streak the world,” Van Assche declared. The Dior and Bof decadence. Kris Van Assche, the Berluti shows were further proof that Paris fash- Belgian creator who has rebooted the high-end ion was turning away from streetwear, which has French cobbler into a major fashion player, made dominated the catwalks for several seasons, a pitch to be the tailor of choice for the gods of towards a new and often eye-catchingly eccen- global showbiz. With hundreds of screaming tric classicism. fans waiting outside the Opera Garnier to catch Dries Van Noten, the Belgian “Prince of a glimpse of Korean K-pop heartthrob Sehun Prints”, talked about the emergence of a new and Taiwanese-Canadian actor Eddie Peng, Van “playful decadence” as he sent his models out Assche produced a collection that was as sensu- with false fox furs and jewels draped around al to the touch as it was to the eye. check jackets and coats. Japanese designer The former Dior designer has long been a Junya Watanabe tried to combine the two com- prophet of a return to serious tailoring, and the peting currents, splicing bomber jackets and rest of fashion seems to have caught up, with a sportswear into tweed jackets and coats in a battalion of other labels this week revisiting the valiant attempt to have the best of both worlds. classic men’s suit. Rethought double-breasted But Vetements, the rebel label founded by suits came in rich reds and decadent purples and fashion’s current enfant terrible Demna Gvasalia, greens, with supermodel Bella Hadid rocking a was there to kick convention between the legs. mothball-blue one in the co-ed show whose Its first show without Gvasalia, who is now con- front row was crammed with American rappers. centrating on designing for Balenciaga, was typ- Van Assche further played with people’s minds ically iconoclastic. It featured a Kate Moss by making a puffer coat in feather-light patent, lookalike sprayed with fake tan (the real one was as well as Prince of Wales pattern overcoats and in the front row of the Dior show) and a baseball bomber jackets finely woven with leather. cap with the legend, “Gvasalia for President” above a T-shirt that warned sarcastically, “No Fake Kate Moss social media thank you.” Balmain, meanwhile, “It is that little bit of originality that people sought out elegance in the desert in the show come to Berluti for,” the designer told AFP. that round off the evening, with silky draped “Sure, we are a traditional shoe company, but sand-coloured combos that often echoed that doesn’t mean our clothes should not stand Tuareg attire. — AFP Established 1961 21 Lifestyle Fashion Monday, January 20, 2020

Designer for Balmain, Olivier Rousteing (center), acknowledges the public at the end of his men’s Fall/Winter 2020/2021 collection fashion show in Paris. — AFP

Models present creations by Balmain, during the men’s Fall/Winter 2020/2021 collection fashion show in Paris.

and the whole world needs to know that,” he insisted. career as a striking Paris runway model that really The 51-year-old former dancer dreams of “opening reignited his passion for fashion. That re-awoke child- up a new path for Africa” in an “alternative way of doing hood memories of cutting up and re-sewing his moth- luxury fashion”. With his show called “Akouma” or er’s and his aunt’s old dresses. Yet Ayissi-whose show “wealth”, Ayissi has tried to create a debut collection closes haute couture week Friday-has been far from an that nods both to the depth of indigenous African overnight success. know-how and the fact that haute couture is also pre- He staged his first Paris fashion show in 1993 “for his serve of the ultra rich. friends” with some 200 dresses, of which “only one or two” really worked, he remembers with laugh. He has Ancient African techniques come a long way since, with his last collection, which While every piece is painstakingly handmade, as helped get him in the door of the extremely select haute haute couture demands, the designer has had recourse couture club, centred on ecological concerns. is father was undefeated boxing champion of to African materials and techniques rarely if ever seen It included dresses in black and mauve embroidered Africa, now Imane Ayissi is making history himself on the Paris catwalk. Strip fabric kente woven by the with plants and fish using an appliqued technique Hby becoming the first sub-Saharan designer to Akan people of Ghana and the Ivory Coast, which was Imane Ayissi inspired by Abomey tapestries from Benin and the colo- show in the elite Paris haute couture week. Not only is originally worn only by nobles, has been transformed nial era Asafo warrior flags from Ghana, then called the he joining fashion’s creme de la creme, the Cameroonian into elegant evening wear, with spectacular dresses Gold Coast. One particularly striking dress called “The couturier is shaking up the stereotype of what “African decorated with obom, the bark of a tropical tree. Ayissi from his mother, a former Miss Cameroon. “Within the Black Sea” was embroidered with a blue whale and materials” are by refusing to use wax prints which he has also played with African luxury tropes by using a family we had boxing and dancing clans, and a bit of large-eyed fish. Ayissi said the dress was a reference to dismisses as “colonial”. Cameroonian tie dye technique “which is expensive and modelling too, and mother loved all that,” the designer the “black tides (of pollution) on the one hand and sad- Highly colorful wax cotton prints flooded West slow to do” called “Mon mari est capable” (roughly said. “I did a bit of boxing-it was obligatory, it was the ness on the other.” Africa after Dutch mills began turning out millions of translated as “My husband can handle it”), which is all family tradition after all-then I started to dance.” But ironically his own insistence on trying to use only rolls of the material with patterns borrowed from about showing you how deep your pockets are. natural dyes and organic cotton means that he has to Indonesian batik in the 19th century. “Still when we talk Like his late father, Jean-Baptiste Ayissi Ntsama-who Dancing with the stars buy a lot of material in France and then send it to Africa about African fashion it’s always wax, which is a real founded his own political party after quitting the boxing His dance career mixed ballet, modern dance and to be made. “If we buy there it will have come from pity, because its killing our own African heritage,” Ayissi ring-Ayissi wants to become a champion for African tal- pop, including dancing in videos for superstars Sting Asia and probably won’t be organic. It’s costly, but it’s a told AFP. “We only started wearing wax during the ent. His childhood home was a crossroads of many and Seal as well as touring with French tennis star- choice I make,” he said. — AFP colonial era. Africa has more to show for itself than that- worlds: politics and boxing from his father and fashion turned-singer Yannick Noah. But it was his parallel 22 Established 1961 Lifestyle Features Monday, January 20, 2020

The young Chinese children and their parents enthralled the audience for two hours with their skillful performance at the National Library of Kuwait. The program was organized by the president of Chinese community Zhang Yongda and the chief guest, Economic and Commercial Counselor Cheng Young Ru. The Chinese New Year falls on January 25, 2020 celebrating the Year of the Rat.

private Catholic girls’ school where she is remem- bered for her strong sense of right and wrong. Aged 11, her letter-writing campaign got the consumer goods giant Procter & Gamble to change a wash- ing-up commercial, referring to people rather than just women. Determined to give herself options, she studied theatre and international relations at Northwestern University. The future duchess graduated in 2003, after which she landed a six-week internship as a press officer at the US embassy in Argentina. eghan, the Duchess of Sussex, was hailed as a breath of fresh air for the royal family ‘Suits’ springboard Mwhen she married Prince Harry, but the Returning to Los Angeles, in 2004 she fell in love fairytale quickly turned sour. Saturday’s announce- with go-getting film producer Trevor Engelson, who ment from the Queen Elizabeth and Buckingham helped her get on the acting ladder as she struggled Palace set the seal on her withdrawal from royal life. for bit parts. They married in Jamaica in 2011. Soon It came less than two weeks after the couple’s shock after their engagement, Meghan had landed her sig- announcement that they wanted to step back from nature role in “Suits”. While she filmed in Toronto, their frontline duties. It had already become clear her relationship with her then husband became a that Meghan was struggling to cope with royal life, long-distance one. A series of flops followed for especially since the birth of their son Archie last May. Engelson while the struggling actress became a star, Since entering the family, the 38-year-old former and the marriage collapsed in 2013. television star appeared determined to do things her Through a mutual friend, she met Queen own way. But in the end, the strictures and scrutiny Elizabeth II’s grandson Harry in July 2016 while vis- that come with the monarchy appeared too much, iting London. Their romance quickly blossomed on a A high school team runs down an empty boardwalk in Ocean City, New Jersey. — AFP spurring her and Harry to take a step back. Meghan made her name as savvy paralegal Rachel Zane in izza joints and popcorn stands jostle for attention all street. “People appreciate the fact that it being dry improves the US legal drama series “Suits”, but cultivated a along the boardwalk in Ocean City, New Jersey-but the value of life here, but it doesn’t mean that they don’t like high profile for herself outside the show. She Pgood luck finding a drink. A full century after the alcohol,” said the bearded young entrepreneur-himself a fan of became a United Nations advocate for women’s Prohibition era began in America, being dry has become a craft beers. “It just means that it’s something that we can hold empowerment and a global ambassador for the trademark for the beachside resort. In between ads for local on to as a claim to fame.” World Vision Canada relief agency. churches, signs posted all along the Atlantic serve as a stern So when a local business owner in 2012 gathered enough The Los Angeles-born actress had more than warning to anyone tempted to crack open a beer on the beach: signatures to hold a referendum on whether customers could two million followers on her personal Instagram “Alcoholic beverages prohibited. Strictly enforced. Fine $275.” bring their own bottle of beer or wine into restaurants, some, account and ran a successful lifestyle blog, The Tig, Although Prohibition ended nationwide in 1933, the island of like Drew Fasy, saw it as a threat to the city’s image. “If you but closed them both as she entered the royal family. 11,000 residents is one of hundreds of American cities and have a successful brand, you don’t mess with it. Nobody is Meghan was also revealed as the anonymous blog- jurisdictions that continue to ban alcohol sales. gonna change McDonald’s golden arches,” said the former real ger behind The Working Actress, which chronicled Restaurant menus offer a choice of hot drinks, water and estate agent. He is adamant about not letting Ocean City go the struggles of hustling for parts in Hollywood. sodas, and-although as many as 150,000 people flood the the way of other Jersey shore towns, which are “built around “She’s very focused and someone who has been resort during summer weekends-it doesn’t have a single bar. alcohol,” in his opinion. very ambitious,” said royal writer Andrew Morton, Founded in the late 19th century by Methodists who wanted to who has penned a biography of Meghan. “Her great turn it into a Christian resort, Ocean City is what is known as a ‘Gray area’ phrase is ‘make the change’,” he told AFP. In this file photo Britain’s Prince Harry stands with “dry town.” The 2012 BYOB (“bring your own bottle”) referendum his fiancee US actress Meghan Markle as she Alcohol production and sales have been outlawed there sharply divided the city. Opponents were accused of being Ancestors royals and slaves shows off her engagement ring whilst they pose for since 1909, a decade before Prohibition was ushered in nation- religious zealots. Supporters of seeking to open the flood Rachel Meghan Markle was born on August 4, a photograph in the Sunken Garden at Kensington wide on January 17, 1920. A century later, very little has gates to debauchery. Chris and Sharon Hoffmann, owners of 1981 to Thomas Markle, a white, Emmy Award-win- Palace in west London, following the announcement changed. You can drink a glass of wine in the privacy of your the Captain Bob’s restaurant, said they have been boycotted ning television lighting director who worked on top of their engagement. —AFP own home, but to do so you need to trek to one of the large for calling for a little more flexibility when it comes to alcohol. US shows like “Married With Children”, and Doria liquor stores strategically placed at the end of the bridges onto “It was a little nervewracking,” recalled Sharon Hoffman. Ragland, a black social worker and yoga instructor. the island-often jammed with traffic during high season. “People who would make reservations but not show up. We On her mother’s side, her ancestors were slaves on whirlwind camping trip to Botswana. After their had people who smashed our flower pots, someone who sliced cotton plantations in Georgia. Her mother’s surname engagement was announced in November 2017, Tense referendum my tire. It was heated.” is taken from a slave owner. Meghan’s parents sepa- Markle immediately began accompanying Harry on Drinkers or not, residents have embraced their town’s sobri- As it turned out, the “no” to BYOB won a comfortable two- rate when she was two and divorced five years later. public events, with a focus on women, youth ety with a certain pride, particularly in comparison to less vir- thirds majority, but the couple has since found a way to work She is now estranged from her father and his other empowerment and the Commonwealth. tuous neighbors along the Jersey shore. The city’s slogan is around local alcohol laws by privatizing their restaurant. children, her older half-sister and half-brother. After their glittering wedding, seen as a moment “America’s greatest family resort.” The casinos and strip clubs Patrons pay $10 per year to join the “Foodies Dinner Club” and Ahead of the wedding in May 2018, her father set of renewal for the royal family, media coverage of neighboring Atlantic City, a major hub for organized crime are then able to bring their own bottle, as if they were going himself up for staged paparazzi photos which back- became increasingly negative. Reports appeared of during Prohibition, are less than half an hour away by car. Most over to a friend’s house to eat. Approved by local authorities, fired, then suffered chest pains and needed heart a rift with her sister-in-law Kate, the Duchess of of the surrounding beaches are filled with hordes of young the concept is catching on in the island-where high-end surgery, causing him to miss her big day. His leaking Cambridge, of her staff quitting in droves, and a partiers. Eric Plyler, a graphic designer who spent his child- restaurants are almost nonexistent due to the fact owners are to the press of a handwritten letter from Meghan new nickname “Me-Gain” to reflect her allegedly hood vacations in Ocean City, created the “Dry Island” brand unable to offer alcoholic beverages with meals. “Why should I pleading with him to stop serially leaking to journal- pushy style. A vastly expensive, celebrity-laden to celebrate its “most unique characteristic.” have to leave the island to get a good dinner?” lamented Chris ists seems to have done irreparable damage to their New York baby shower also attracted criticism. The design, drawing visual and verbal inspiration from the Hoffmann. That said neither he nor his wife would dream of relationship. His actions had, it said, already “broken Surviving in the royal spotlight has proved to be her Prohibition era, is emblazoned on mugs, baseball caps and T- pushing for alcohol to be legalized throughout the city. “You my heart into a million pieces”. Meghan went to a toughest role yet. — AFP shirts filling the shelves of the 26-year-old’s store on main have to respect the culture,” he said. —AFP Classifieds Monday, January 20, 2020

from Pritesh to Pritesh Nilesh CHANGE OF NAME Neve, son of Mr. Nilesh Ashok Neve. Here in after all his docu- I, Mohammad Rahmat Ali hold- ments will be known by name ing Indian Passport No. Pritesh Nilesh Neve. His Passport Sabah Hospital 24812000 K8033943 residing at Mahbola No. S0930833. (C 5617) Kuwait, need to change my 20-1-2020 Amiri Hospital 22450005 name as Mohammad Rahmat. ( C 5615) ALAUDEEN S/o SHAIK BABA, Maternity Hospital 24843100 holder of Indian Passport No. I, Mohd Mushtaq S/o Sainf Ali P1094143 & Civil ID No. Mubarak Al-Kabir Hospital 25312700 R/o Khadrian, Tehsil Kalakote 274071201684 has changed my District Rajouri do hereby declare name from ALAUDEEN to SHEIK Chest Hospital 24849400 that my name is wrongly written ALAUDEEN (Given Name). in my Passport (J1801610) as (C 5614) 19-1-2020 Farwaniya Hospital 24892010 Mustaq Ahmed instead of cor- rect name Mohd Mushtaq and SHARING ACCOMMODATION also my father name was wrong- Adan Hospital 23940620 ly written in same Passport Sanifo instead of Sainf Ali, I want Sharing accommodation for Ibn Sina Hospital 24840300 to correct my name in Passport. Filipino ONLY Farwaniya block (C 5616) 4, near Big Jamiya, available on Al-Razi Hospital 24846000 December 25, Contact I have changed my son’s name 55571873. 16-1-2020 Physiotherapy Hospital 24874330/9 112 Kaizen center 25716707 Rawda 22517733 Adaliya 22517144 Khaldiya 24848075 Kaifan 24849807 Shamiya 24848913 Airlines

Shuwaikh 24814507 Kuwait Airways 171 Jazeera Airways 177 Abdullah Salem 22549134 Turkish Airlines 1884918 Nuzha 22526804 FlyDubai 22414400 Qatar Airways 22423888 Industrial Shuwaikh 24814764 KLM 22425747 Royal Jordanian 22418064/5/6 Qadsiya 22515088 British Airways 22425635 Air France 22430224 Dasmah 22532265 Emirates 22921555 Air India 22456700 Bneid Al-Gar 22531908 Air India EXPRESS 22438185/4 Shaab 22518752 Sri Lanka Airlines 22424444 Egypt Air 22421578 Qibla 22459381 Swiss Air 22421516 Saudia 22426306 Ayoun Al-Qibla 22451082 Middle East Airlines 22423073 Lufthansa 22422493 Mirqab 22456536 PIA 22421044 Bangladesh Airlines 22452977/8 Sharq 22465401 Oman Air 22958787 Turkish Airlines 22453820/1 Salmiya 25746401

Directorate General of Civil Aviation Home Page (www.kuwait-airport.com.kw) DIAL161 FOR AIRPORT INFORMATION

Arrival Flights on Monday 20/1/2020 RBG 553 Alexandria 14:05 Departure Flights on Monday 20/1/2020 AXB 890 Mangalore 12:10 Airlines Flt Route Time KNE 231 Riyadh 14:10 Airlines Flt Route Time MEA 405 Beirut 12:55 PIA 239 Sialkot 00:05 UAE 877 Dubai 14:10 JZR 215 Jeddah 00:05 JZR 115 Doha 13:00 IGO 1757 Kochi 00:10 FDB 059 Dubai 14:20 AIC 982 Ahmedabad/Chennai 00:05 QTR 1075 Doha 13:00 AIC 989 Mumbai 00:10 KAC 752 ELQ 14:20 MSC 412 Asyut 00:15 MSR 611 Cairo 13:25 JZR 716 Sohag 00:35 GFA 221 Bahrain 14:40 QTR 1093 Doha 00:25 KAC 781 Jeddah 13:30 JZR 254 Amman 00:45 KAC 672 Dubai 14:40 FDB 072 Dubai 00:35 JZR 123 Dubai 13:40 JZR 734 Cairo 00:50 KAC 774 Riyadh 14:40 PIA 240 Sialkot 01:05 KAC 105 London 14:00 THY 772 Istanbul 00:50 SVA 500 Jeddah 14:45 AIC 990 Mumbai 01:10 UAE 872 Dubai 14:15 PGT 858 Istanbul 00:55 KAC 742 Dammam 14:45 IGO 1758 Kochi 01:10 RBG 554 Alexandria 14:45 KAC 102 London 00:55 KAC 364 Colombo 14:50 JZR 111 Doha 01:55 QTR 1079 Doha 15:00 KAC 504 Beirut 01:05 KAC 118 New York 14:50 KAC 363 Colombo 02:00 KNE 382 Taif 15:00 DLH 625 Dammam 01:30 KAC 286 Dhaka 14:55 KAC 285 Dhaka 02:00 FDB 060 Dubai 15:10 RJA 642 Amman 01:40 KAC 618 Doha 15:00 PGT 859 Istanbul 02:00 GFA 222 Bahrain 15:25 THY 764 Istanbul 01:50 KNE 529 Jeddah 15:10 KAC 677 Dubai 02:10 UAE 878 Dubai 15:40 IGO 1759 Delhi 01:55 ETD 303 Abu Dhabi 15:15 THY 773 Istanbul 02:20 JZR 722 Alexandria 01:55 KAC 788 Jeddah 15:25 KAC 775 Riyadh 15:45 JZR 119 Dubai 02:25 KAC 673 Dubai 15:50 UAE 853 Dubai 02:15 JZR 222 Riyadh 15:30 KAC 417 Manila 02:30 ETH 620 Addis Ababa 02:15 OMA 645 Muscat 15:35 KAC 563 Amman 16:00 DLH 625 Frankfurt 02:30 SVA 501 Jeddah 16:00 KLM 446 Bahrain 02:30 KAC 412 Bangkok 15:40 IGO 1765 Delhi 02:55 GFA 211 Bahrain 02:30 KAC 562 Amman 15:40 KNE 530 Jeddah 16:00 ETH 621 Addis Ababa 03:05 KAC 743 Dammam 16:05 QTR 1086 Doha 02:40 UAE 857 Dubai 15:45 UAE 854 Dubai 03:40 KAC 541 Cairo 16:20 OMA 643 Muscat 02:55 JZR 732 Cairo 15:50 KLM 446 Amsterdam 03:55 ETD 305 Abu Dhabi 03:10 ABY 127 Sharjah 15:55 THY 765 Istanbul 04:00 ETD 304 Abu Dhabi 16:20 MSR 612 Cairo 03:15 JZR 152 Mashhad 16:00 QTR 1087 Doha 04:00 KAC 785 Jeddah 16:30 QTR 1076 Doha 04:00 JZR 212 Jeddah 16:25 OMA 644 Muscat 04:00 OMA 646 Muscat 16:35 IGO 1751 Chennai 04:10 QTR 1072 Doha 16:35 ETD 306 Abu Dhabi 04:00 ABY 128 Sharjah 16:35 KAC 418 Manila 04:25 JZR 116 Doha 16:40 MSR 613 Cairo 04:15 KAC 615 Bahrain 16:45 OHY 352 Istanbul 04:30 FDB 051 Dubai 16:45 KAC 621 Doha 04:20 JZR 103 Bahrain 16:50 KAC 302 Mumbai 04:40 KAC 546 Cairo 16:45 JZR 707 Luxor 04:40 KAC 283 Dhaka 17:00 JZR 702 Asyut 04:50 KAC 502 Beirut 16:45 IGO 1752 Chennai 05:10 KAC 361 Colombo 17:30 FDB 069 Dubai 05:00 KAC 516 Tehran 16:50 QTR 1077 Doha 05:30 KAC 357 Kochi 17:35 DHX 170 Bahrain 05:10 SAW 705 Damascus 17:00 OHY 351 Istanbul 05:30 KAC 619 Doha 17:35 JZR 404 Hyderabad 05:10 FEG 341 Sohag 17:20 JZR 101 Bahrain 05:50 UAE 858 Dubai 17:45 KAC 358 Kochi 05:10 SVA 510 Riyadh 17:25 THY 771 Istanbul 06:25 FDB 052 Dubai 17:45 KAC 784 Jeddah 05:20 GFA 215 Bahrain 17:30 JZR 121 Dubai 06:35 KAC 331 Trivandrum 17:55 KAC 382 Delhi 05:20 JZR 214 Jeddah 17:45 JZR 113 Doha 06:40 QTR 1073 Doha 18:00 THY 770 Istanbul 05:25 UAE 875 Dubai 18:00 RJA 643 Amman 06:55 SAW 706 Damascus 18:00 JZR 654 OSS 05:25 FDB 063 Dubai 18:15 FDB 070 Dubai 07:05 JZR 733 Cairo 18:10 JZR 112 Doha 05:35 JZR 302 Istanbul 18:15 GFA 212 Bahrain 07:15 JZR 715 Sohag 18:15 JZR 124 Dubai 18:20 JZR 502 Lahore 05:35 UAE 874 Dubai 07:15 FEG 342 Sohag 18:20 KAC 346 Ahmedabad 05:45 MSR 620 Cairo 18:30 KAC 413 Bangkok 07:30 SVA 511 Riyadh 18:20 UAE 873 Dubai 05:50 QTR 1080 Doha 18:30 KAC 167 Paris 07:35 GFA 216 Bahrain 18:20 JZR 216 Jeddah 05:50 JZR 306 Istanbul 18:55 KAC 284 Dhaka 05:55 RJA 640 Amman 19:10 RBG 214 Sohag 07:50 JZR 127 Dubai 18:35 JZR 402 Mumbai 06:05 KAC 156 Istanbul 19:20 IGO 1767 Mumbai 08:10 KAC 301 Mumbai 18:35 KAC 344 Chennai 06:10 ABY 123 Sharjah 19:25 KAC 173 Munich 08:20 JZR 403 Hyderabad 18:40 KAC 544 Cairo 07:00 GFA 217 Bahrain 19:30 FDB 054 Dubai 08:35 KAC 381 Delhi 18:50 BAW 157 London 07:05 QTR 1090 Doha 19:35 JZR 001 LGW 08:40 JZR 721 Alexandria 18:55 KAC 678 Dubai 07:05 KAC 744 Dammam 19:45 KAC 787 Jeddah 09:00 JZR 253 Amman 19:20 RBG 213 Sohag 07:10 KAC 782 Jeddah 19:50 KAC 501 Beirut 09:00 FDB 064 Dubai 19:20 IGO 1766 Mumbai 07:10 JZR 104 Bahrain 19:55 JZR 539 KTM 09:05 UAE 876 Dubai 19:30 KAC 204 Lahore 07:15 KNE 381 Taif 20:00 JZR 731 Cairo 09:10 MSR 621 Cairo 19:30 JZR 120 Dubai 07:35 FDB 057 Dubai 20:00 BAW 156 London 09:10 QTR 1081 Doha 19:55 FDB 053 Dubai 07:50 JZR 540 KTM 20:00 KAC 545 Cairo 09:30 ABY 124 Sharjah 20:05 QTR 1084 Doha 08:00 KAC 776 Riyadh 20:05 QTR 1085 Doha 09:30 RJA 641 Amman 20:10 KAC 354 Bengaluru 08:25 OMA 647 Muscat 20:20 KAC 671 Dubai 09:35 GFA 218 Bahrain 20:15 KAC 622 Doha 08:30 QTR 1088 Doha 20:30 KAC 101 London 09:45 KAC 345 Ahmedabad 20:25 UAE 855 Dubai 08:35 KAC 616 Bahrain 20:30 KAC 561 Amman 09:45 KAC 353 Bengaluru 20:35 ETD 301 Abu Dhabi 08:55 KAC 174 Munich 20:45 ABY 126 Sharjah 09:45 FDB 058 Dubai 20:45 JZR 102 Bahrain 08:55 DLH 624 Frankfurt 20:55 JZR 151 Mashhad 09:55 KNE 232 Riyadh 20:50 IRA 667 Esfahan 09:00 KAC 674 Dubai 20:55 ETD 302 Abu Dhabi 09:55 JZR 401 Mumbai 20:55 KAC 334 Trivandrum 09:00 ALK 229 Colombo 21:20 KAC 751 ELQ 10:00 QTR 1091 Doha 21:00 ABY 125 Sharjah 09:05 ETD 307 Abu Dhabi 21:20 KAC 117 New York 10:00 OMA 648 Muscat 21:20 UAE 856 Dubai 10:00 KAC 384 Delhi 09:30 MEA 402 Beirut 21:20 DLH 624 Dammam 21:45 IRA 666 Esfahan 10:00 KAC 304 Mumbai 09:30 UAE 859 Dubai 21:30 DHX 171 Bahrain 21:50 KAC 613 Bahrain 10:05 IGO 1753 Ahmedabad 09:40 GFA 219 Bahrain 21:45 QTR 1089 Doha 21:55 FDB 055 Dubai 09:40 KLM 445 Amsterdam 21:50 JZR 301 Istanbul 10:05 KAC 773 Riyadh 10:15 KAC 203 Lahore 22:15 QTR 8511 Doha 09:40 KAC 168 Paris 22:00 JZR 701 Asyut 22:15 QTR 1070 Doha 09:45 KAC 620 Doha 22:00 KAC 155 Istanbul 10:20 KAC 617 Doha 10:35 MEA 403 Beirut 22:20 JZR 114 Doha 10:20 KAC 564 Amman 22:00 ETD 308 Abu Dhabi 22:25 GFA 213 Bahrain 10:40 FDB 056 Dubai 10:35 QTR 1082 Doha 22:05 ALK 230 Colombo 22:25 AXB 395 Kozhikode 10:50 ETD 309 Abu Dhabi 22:15 JZR 211 Jeddah 10:40 JZR 708 Luxor 10:55 IGO 1754 Ahmedabad 10:40 GFA 220 Bahrain 22:30 AIC 975 Chennai/Goa 22:25 KLM 445 Bahrain 22:50 AXB 889 Mangalore/Bahrain 11:10 KAC 786 Jeddah 22:50 QTR 1071 Doha 11:00 JZR 122 Dubai 11:15 KAC 741 Dammam 11:05 UAE 860 Dubai 22:55 GOW 061 CNN 23:00 ETD 310 Abu Dhabi 23:05 QTR 1074 Doha 11:35 QTR 1092 Doha 23:10 JZR 305 Istanbul 11:10 KAC 352 Kochi 11:35 QTR 8512 Doha 11:25 KAC 783 Jeddah 23:15 MSC 411 Asyut 23:15 KAC 383 Delhi 23:20 MEA 404 Beirut 11:55 JZR 128 Dubai 23:15 GFA 214 Bahrain 11:25 MSR 610 Cairo 12:25 AXB 396 Kozhikode 11:50 QTR 1083 Doha 23:25 JZR 002 LGW 23:15 KAC 543 Cairo 23:30 UAE 871 Dubai 12:50 FDB 071 Dubai 23:40 JZR 221 Riyadh 12:00 KAC 303 Mumbai 23:40 QTR 1078 Doha 13:35 KAC 542 Cairo 23:45 JZR 213 Jeddah 12:00 KAC 614 Bahrain 13:50 KAC 515 Tehran 12:10 GOW 062 CNN 23:55 24 Established 1961 News Monday, January 20, 2020

Iraqi anti-government demonstrators block a bridge with debris and burning tyres in the southern Iraqi city of Nasiriya yesterday. — AFP

Middle East director Michael Page. The authorities lowing a signing ceremony between Qatari state firms, Protesters must act quickly “to end this culture of impunity for Gas-rich Qatar inks France’s Total and Japan’s Marubeni. police abuse”, he said. “Eight-hundred megawatts will be the largest (solar pow- Saturday’s clashes began after dozens of protesters er plant) built by Total,” said the French energy giant’s chief regroup after... threw stones and plant pots at security forces, and tried $470m solar deal executive, Patrick Pouyanne. By contrast, Abu Dhabi’s to charge police lines near parliament with traffic signs. Sweihan plant, one of the world’s largest solar projects, pro- Continued from Page 1 The security forces responded with water cannon and DOHA: Gas-rich Qatar signed a $470-million deal yesterday duces 1,177 megawatts. The capital cost of the venture is 1.7 thick tear gas. Protesters had called for a week of to build its first solar energy plant, capable of meeting up to billion riyals ($470 million), Kaabi said, with state firms tak- On Twitter, the security forces called for protesters to “anger” over the political leadership’s failure to form a one-tenth of peak national power demand. The Al-Kharsaah ing a 60-percent stake and foreign investors 40 percent. avoid throwing “explosives and stones” at personnel. The new government even as the country sinks deeper into plant, near the capital, is a 10-sq-km joint venture with French Marubeni will take 51 percent of the minority holding, while majority of protesters huddled nearby, in rain coats or a financial crisis. and Japanese partners due for completion in 2022 ahead of Total will have 49 percent. “It’s a pilot project, you have to bright waterproof ponchos, with some clutching umbrellas. The state-run National News Agency said around the football World Cup. “Eight times the solar power pledged assess how successful it is,” added Kaabi. Earlier, a 34-year-old protester called Mazen said he 30 people were briefly detained after the violence in the World Cup bid will be produced,” Energy Minister Gulf states, heavily depend on oil and gas, have invested and others were “fed up with politicians”. “After three Saturday. Security forces said they had opened a probe Saad Al-Kaabi told a media briefing in Doha. tens of billions of dollars in clean energy projects, mainly in months of revolution, they have proven to us that they after a video shared online showed police beating up Qatar’s ruler, Amir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al-Thani, solar and nuclear. But critics say many such projects are slow to get off the drawing board. The United Arab Emirates said don’t change, don’t listen, and have nothing to give,” he people believed to be protesters as they were brought vowed at the United Nations last year that the tournament last week its first nuclear power plant would start operating said. On Saturday, at least 377 people were wounded - to a Beirut police station. “Another day without a gov- would be carbon neutral, but gave little detail on how this within months after repeated delays to meet safety and reg- both protesters and members of the security forces - ernment, another night of violence and clashes,” UN would be achieved. “Production capacity will be around 800 ulatory conditions. — AFP according to a toll compiled by AFP from figures pro- envoy to Lebanon Jan Kubis said on Twitter. megawatts and 10 percent of peak demand,” said Kaabi fol- vided by the Red Cross and Civil Defense. An AFP pho- Outgoing prime minister Saad Hariri, who stepped tographer at the scene said security forces fired rubber down on Oct 29, urged political parties to “stop wast- “We are surely, and I hope this is true and I hope it bullets at stone-throwing protesters as thick clouds of ing time”. “Form a government and pave the way Missile, drone will remain so, witnessing one of the quietest periods of tear gas covered central Beirut. towards political and economic solutions,” he said. this conflict,” he said in a briefing to the UN Security Yesterday, local television aired the testimonies of Political factions agreed on Dec 19 to appoint former Council on Thursday. “Experience however tells us that relatives of two young men they said were hit in the education minister Hassan Diab as the new premier but attack kills 83... military de-escalation cannot be sustained without eyes by rubber bullets. Human Rights Watch con- have since squabbled over proposed ministers. Diab political progress between the parties, and this has demned what it called “the brutal use of force yesterday evening met President Michel Aoun to dis- Continued from Page 1 become the next challenge.” unleashed by Lebanon’s riot police against largely cuss the matter, NNA said. Protesters have demanded a A year after Yemen’s warring sides agreed to a UN- peaceful demonstrators”. “Riot police showed a bla- new government be comprised solely of independent gruesome aftermath of the attack. Body parts can brokered truce for the key Red Sea port city of tant disregard for their human rights obligations, experts, and exclude all established political parties. be seen on the floor, among shredded debris, and with Hodeida and its surroundings, fighting in the province instead launching tear gas canisters at protesters’ The World Bank has warned the poverty rate in blood pooled on the carpet and spattered against the has subsided but the slow implementation of the deal heads, firing rubber bullets in their eyes and attacking Lebanon could rise from a third to half of the popula- walls. The drone and missile strike came a day after has quashed hopes for an end to the conflict. The land- people at hospitals and a mosque,” said its deputy tion if the political crisis is not resolved soon. — AFP coalition-backed government forces launched a large- mark agreement signed in Sweden in Dec 2018 had scale operation against the Houthis in the Nihm region, been hailed as Yemen’s best chance so far to end the north of Sanaa. Fighting in Nihm was ongoing yester- fighting that has pushed the country to the brink of He said four government bodies together own over 48 day, a military source said according to the official famine. MPs keep up percent of the bank and the planned acquisition involves Saba news agency. “Dozens from the (Houthi) militia Tens of thousands of people, mostly civilians, have suspicions and clash of interests, adversely affecting were killed and injured,” the source added. been killed and millions displaced in the war that has public funds. MP Adasani also threatened to grill Yemeni President Abedrabbo Mansour Hadi con- ravaged the country, triggering what the UN describes pressure... Electricity and Water Minister Khaled Al-Fadhel after demned the “cowardly and terrorist” attack on the as the world’s worst humanitarian crisis. Saudi Arabia he allegedly failed to provide details about a contract at mosque, Saba reported. “The disgraceful actions of the and its allies intervened in the conflict to back the gov- Continued from Page 1 a power station for a consortium of two companies. Houthi militia without a doubt confirm its unwillingness ernment against the Houthis in March 2015, shortly MP Adel Al-Damkhi meanwhile sent explanations to (achieve) peace, because it knows nothing but death after the rebels seized control of Sanaa. A senior UN education and health services and sell public companies. demanded by Minister of Social Affairs and Labor and destruction and is a cheap Iranian tool in the official warned Thursday that certain key factors that He also charged that the government is using the deficit as a Ghadeer Al-Aseeri over a grilling Damkhi filed against region,” it quoted Hadi as saying. threatened to trigger a famine in Yemen last year were pretext to borrow and to show that mismanagement of her. In his reply, Damkhi insisted that the grilling is very The president also stressed the importance of once again looming large, including a plunge in the val- government agencies is because of the shortfall. clear and is based on events that took place after the increasing military vigilance “to foil hostile and ue of the national currency. Muwaizri also threatened to grill HH the Prime minister had been sworn in, and accordingly the grilling destructive plans and maintain security and stabili- “With a rapidly depreciating rial and disrupted Minister Sheikh Sabah Al-Khaled Al-Sabah if a top is in line with the constitution. The grilling is scheduled ty”. The Houthis did not make any immediate claim of salary payments, we are again seeing some of the Kuwaiti bank completes the acquisition of another bank. to be debated tomorrow after a two-week delay. responsibility and the Saba report did not give a key conditions that brought Yemen to the brink of death toll. The uptick in violence comes shortly after famine a year ago,” Ramesh Rajasingham, who coor- United Nations envoy Martin Griffiths welcomed a dinates humanitarian aid in Yemen, told the UN With the idea gathering pace, British Prime sharp reduction in air strikes and the movement of Security Council. “We must not let that happen Call to end foreign Minister Boris Johnson said London would be ready ground forces. again,” he said. — AFP to send “people and experts” to help monitor a Libya ceasefire. Italian Prime Minister Giuseppe Conte like- meddling in Libya... wise said his country “is ready to bring its contribu- its network that flies through its Doha hub operating. tion”. Russia also appeared open to the idea, with Gulf carriers At the same time, many other international carriers Continued from Page 1 President Vladimir Putin’s special representative have rerouted flights to avoid Iraq and Iran since the Mikhail Bogdanov saying that the “idea must be dis- still fly over Iraq... military strikes this month, including Lufthansa, Air That document also urges all parties to re-commit to cussed on the basis of consensus.” France, Singapore Airlines and Qantas. Some regional a much-violated UN arms embargo and raises the Although Sarraj’s government is recognized by the carriers have also rerouted changed their routes. prospect of intra-Libyan political talks in Geneva at the UN, powerful players have broken away to stand behind Continued from Page 1 Bahrain’s Gulf Air has redirected European flightsaway end of the month. But with warnings multiplying that Haftar - turning a domestic conflict into what some have from Iraqi airspace and now flies longer, more fuel- pledges are often little respected in reality, calls have described as a proxy war in which international powers “Iranian airspace is important for all carriers in this consuming routes over Saudi Arabia and Egypt. “We grown for international monitors to police the promises. jostle to secure their own interests. Russia has been region,” said Adil Al-Ghaith, Emirates’ senior vice presi- want to take the safest option even if it costs us a little Libya has been torn by fighting between rival armed accused of sending in mercenaries to help Haftar as dent, commercial operations, Gulf, Middle East and Iran. bit more for a period of time. We can live with that,” factions since a 2011 NATO-backed uprising killed dic- Moscow seeks to extend its influence in the region, alle- Dubai-based Emirates and sister carrier flydubai togeth- Gulf Air Deputy Chief Executive Waleed Abdulhameed tator Muammar Gaddafi. Most recently, Sarraj’s troops gations it denies. er serve 10 cities in Iran and Iraq, and have continued to Al-Alawi told Reuters. in Tripoli have been under attack since April from For Turkey, the fall of Sarraj’s GNA could jeopardize use the airspace of both countries for other flights. The UAE regulator told its carriers - Emirates, Haftar’s forces. Clashes since April have killed more than a maritime boundary agreement the parties signed. It Kuwait Airways and Abu Dhabi-based Etihad Airways Etihad, flydubai and Air Arabia - this month to “evalu- 280 civilians and 2,000 fighters and displaced tens of gives Ankara extensive rights over the eastern have continued using Iranian and Iraqi airspace. ate flight path risks” although it said it was up to the thousands, until a fragile ceasefire backed by both Mediterranean where the recent discovery of undersea “We will continue to fly to Iran because Iran is an airlines to make the final decision on the routes they Ankara and Moscow was put in place on January 12. gas reserves has triggered a scramble by littoral states. important country to us and it is our neighbor and we chose. “Gulf carriers face a big challenge but that does- In the latest apparent ceasefire violation, GNA forces Erdogan has repeatedly urged Europe to stand united want to serve the people of Iran,” Qatar Airways Chief n’t mean that risks can be taken - even if that inflicts behind Sarraj’s government, warning that Tripoli’s fall yesterday accused Haftar’s militia of opening fire on Executive Akbar Al-Baker said on the sidelines of a damage on the business model,” independent aviation them in southern Tripoli. Sarraj has issued a plea for could allow groups like the Islamic State or Al-Qaeda to Kuwait aviation conference. Qatar has forged closer regroup. He has also cautioned that further unrest could consultant John Strickland said. Ukrainian International international “protection troops” if Haftar were to keep economic ties with Iran since 2017 when neighboring prompt a new wave of migrants to head for Europe. Airlines flight 752, bound for Kiev, was shot down in up his offensive, echoing a similar call by the EU’s chief Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates and other Arab diplomat Josep Borrell, who stressed that monitors must Underlining the stakes involved, German Foreign error after taking off from Tehran on Jan. 8, killing all states cut relations with Doha in a diplomatic row. The be present to check that any ceasefire and weapons Minister Heiko Maas said “we have to make sure Libya 176 people aboard. Iran said on Saturday it was send- Qatari state carrier turned to Iranian airspace to keep embargo are respected. doesn’t become a second Syria.” — AFP ing the black boxes to Ukraine. — Reuters 25 Sports Monday, January 20, 2020 Ovechkin leads Capitals with second straight hat trick Merzlikins blanks Devils as Jackets win 4th straight

NEW YORK: Alexander Ovechkin recorded a hat trick to bye week and All-Star Game break with 57 points, one pass Hall of Famer Mario Lemieux for 10th place and tie point behind the Pacific Division-leading Canucks. Leon Steve Yzerman for ninth place on the NHL’s all-time goals Draisaitl and Ryan Nugent-Hopkins each added two list and the Washington Capitals rallied for a 6-4 victory assists for Edmonton. Mike Smith finished with 27 saves. over the host New York Islanders on Saturday afternoon. Ovechkin tied Lemieux midway through the first period CANADIENS 5, GOLDEN KNIGHTS 4 (SO) with a breakaway goal but after his 690th goal, the Tomas Tatar scored the game-deciding goal in the Capitals did little offensively until their comeback bid in shootout as host Montreal handed Vegas coach Peter the third to win their third straight game. Ovechkin got his DeBoer his first loss with his new team. Tatar and Ilya 691st career goal on a spectacular play 5:18 into the third Kovalchuk potted goals as the Canadiens won the extra when he scored while falling to the ice after making a session 2-1 after allowing two late goals to force overtime. move through the right circle. He then tied Yzerman by Jonathan Marchessault scored for the Golden Knights, but capping Washington’s comeback with an empty-net goal Canadiens goalie Carey Price stuffed Reilly Smith’s tying with less than a minute remaining. Ovechkin recorded his bid to end the shootout in the bottom of the fourth round. 26th career hat trick and posted a hat trick for the second Nick Cousins scored twice, Kovalchuk and Joel Armia straight game. contributed goals, Dale Weise assisted on two markers and the Canadiens were victorious for the fourth time in their CANUCKS 4, SHARKS 1 last five games despite blowing a three-goal lead. Tanner Pearson collected one goal and one assist, while goaltender Thatcher Demko made 17 saves as host BLUE JACKETS 5, DEVILS 0 Vancouver beat San Jose and moved atop the Pacific Rookie goaltender Elvis Merzlikins stopped 41 shots for Division standings. The Canucks, who have won four of this third shutout of the season, and Columbus defeated five games overall and eight straight at home, are one point visiting New Jersey for its fourth straight win. With No. 1 ahead of the Edmonton Oilers, Calgary Flames, Vegas goaltender Joonas Korpisalo sidelined by a knee injury, Golden Knights and Arizona Coyotes in the standings. It’s Merzlikins has posted shutouts in three of his last four the first time the top five teams in a division have been games, with the only exception when he allowed two goals separated by one point since it happened with the Norris on 34 shots to Carolina in Thursday’s win. Cam Atkinson NEW YORK: Ovechkin #8 of the Washington Capitals moves past Scott Mayfield #24 of the New York Islanders to Division on Jan. 1, 1987. San Jose, which managed only scored twice, and Jakob Lilja, Nick Foligno and Alexander score at 5:18 of the third period at NYCB Live’s Nassau Coliseum on January 18, 2020 in Uniondale, New York. With three shots in the first period, received a boost when Wennberg also scored for Columbus, which is 14-2-4 in its his second goal of the game, Ovechkin passed Mario Lemieux (690) for the 10th most goal in NHL history. — AFP Barclay Goodrow made it a one-goal game at 7:09 of the past 20 games. The Blue Jackets are 7-1-1 in the past eight third period. Goalie Aaron Dell made 35 saves for the home games, outscoring the opposition 30-12. for its longest of the season, came to an end. Wings, who lost their fourth straight game. Sharks, who have dropped three straight games and have fallen 12 points behind the Canucks. BLACKHAWKS 6, MAPLE LEAFS 2 SENATORS 5, FLAMES 2 FLYERS 4, KINGS 1 Jonathan Toews scored twice and added two assists, Brady Tkachuk, Connor Brown and Vladislav Travis Konecny scored two goals and James van AVALANCHE 5, BLUES 3 Dominik Kubalik had two goals and an assist and visiting Namestnikov each had a goal and an assist and Marcus Riemsdyk added one goal and two assists to carry host Cale Makar and Andre Burakovsky scored 22 seconds Chicago defeated Toronto. Drake Caggiula added a goal Hogberg stopped 40 of 42 shots as Ottawa snapped a Philadelphia past Los Angeles. Joel Farabee contributed apart late in the second period, Nathan MacKinnon and and an assist, and Brandon Saad also scored for the nine-game losing streak with a victory over visiting one goal and Claude Giroux had two assists for the Flyers, Tyson Jost also scored, and Colorado beat St. Louis in Blackhawks, who have won four in a row. Erik Gustafsson Calgary. Chris Tierney and Colin White also scored goals who improved to 16-4-4 at home. Flyers goaltender Brian Denver. MacKinnon and Burakovsky each added an assist, chipped in with two assists for Chicago. William Nylander for the Senators, who won for the first time since before Elliott made 34 saves. Dustin Brown scored the lone goal Ian Cole had two assists and Philipp Grubauer stopped 21 and Alex Kerfoot scored for the Maple Leafs, who have Christmas, a 3-1 home victory over Buffalo on Dec. 23. It for the Kings, who fell to 7-17-4 on the road. Kings goal- shots. Gabriel Landeskog scored into an empty net with lost five of their past six games. Tyson Barrie contributed was Brown’s third consecutive multi-point game and the tender Jack Campbell stopped 22 shots. 1.8 seconds left. David Perron and Alex Pietrangelo each two assists for Toronto. second career win for Hogberg. Mark Jankowski and Noah had a goal and an assist, Oskar Sundqvist also scored and Hanifin scored goals and David Rittich finished with 16 WILD 7, STARS 0 Zach Sanford and Ryan O’Reilly had two assists each for PREDATORS 2, SABRES 1 saves for Calgary, which lost for just the second time in the Jason Zucker scored his first goal since returning from the Blues. Craig Smith scored a tiebreaking power-play goal in the last eight games. injury and added two assists as Minnesota stomped visiting third period as Nashville gave new coach John Hynes his Dallas. Zucker fractured his fibula during a Dec. 15 game OILERS 7, COYOTES 3 first home victory by defeating Buffalo. Ryan Johansen also PANTHERS 4, RED WINGS 1 against the Chicago Blackhawks, blocking a slap shot from Connor McDavid scored two goals and Riley Sheahan scored, and goaltender Pekka Rinne made 30 saves for the Sergei Bobrovsky made 27 saves to lead Florida to a Brent Seabrook. He had surgery and returned to the ice had a goal and three assists as Edmonton earned a victory Predators, who evened their record at 3-3 since Hynes took win at Detroit. The Panthers won their sixth straight game Jan. 12 against the Vancouver Canucks, but had been held over visiting Arizona. Josh Archibald had a goal and two over for the fired Peter Laviolette on Jan. 7. They had lost against the Red Wings and fourth straight overall, in what off the scoreboard. Mattias Janmark had the Stars’ best assists and Sam Gagner, Kailer Yamamoto and Joakim their first two home games under Hynes. Sam Reinhart was the first of a six-game road swing. Evgenii Dadonov, chance of the third period to end Minnesota’s shutout bid, Nygard also scored goals for the Oilers. Edmonton won scored for the Sabres, and goalie Linus Ullmark stopped 35 Mark Pysyk, Aleksander Barkov and Denis Malgin each trying to sneak a wrister past goaltender Alex Stalock, who for the sixth time in its last eight games and heads into its of 37 shots. Buffalo’s three-game winning streak, which tied scored. Dylan Larkin scored the lone goal for the Red turned away all 27 shots by Dallas. — Reuters

Chequered flag falls on ultra-tough 2020 Dakar Rally in Saudi Arabia

JEDDAH: The offroad odyssey of over 7,500 kilometres that was the 2020 Dakar Rally in Saudi Arabia has crossed the finish line. Competitors across five categories were pushed to the limit over 12 stages on unfor- giving terrain. It’s not just the winners that are celebrating tonight, everybody making it to the end of the Dakar is a motorsports hero. In the car race a third Dakar title has been secured by Carlos Sainz (ESP) and his co-dri- ver Lucas Cruz (ESP). The champions put their Mini Buggy in pole position on Stage 3 and stayed on top of the general classification all the way to Qiddiya. “It makes the victory even nicer when the battle is so tough. On top of that I win in a third different car, I’m very proud of that.” - Carlos Sainz El Matador Sainz was pushed all the way by Nasser Al-Attiyah (QAT) and Stephane Peterhansel (FRA). The Spanish champion Nasser Al-Attiyah needed to call on all his offroad experience and expertise to keep the challengers at bay. second and fourth overall. “Congratulations to The 2020 Dakar Rally bike race will be Kuwait to meet Iran in At the conclusion of Stage 12, Al-Attiyah was the crew of Andrey Karginov. We are grateful remembered for the fatal crash suffered by in second overall and Peterhansel third. This to all the fans and partners of our team for Paulo Goncalves (POR). Goncalves was a trio now have a grand total of 19 Dakar wins their support.” - Anton Shibalov much loved and respected rider within the handball championship between them. Building his own legacy at the Dakar is bivouac and his passing on Stage 7 led to “The fight with Carlos (Sainz) and Ignacio Casale (CHI) who claimed his third Stage 8 being cancelled for the bikes and By Abdellatif Sharaa Kuwait coach Aameen said all quarter Stephane (Peterhansel) has been tough. There quad bike title. Casale put together an unas- quads in honour of the former Dakar runner- were three drivers at the front of the race giv- final matches are considered finals as far sailable lead in the opening stages, so when up. The bike race in Saudi Arabia was won by KUWAIT: Kuwait National Handball team as he is concerned, adding that all teams ing it everything to win. Well done to both he did suffer a navigation error on Stage 10 Ricky Brabec (USA) on a Honda, the first time will face its Iranian counterpart at 8 pm at in the second group are tough. He said his Carlos and Stephane because we were all he was able to stay in top spot. “We worked in 19 years that the fastest Dakar rider had Sheikh Saad Al-Abdallah hall in group 2 goal is to reach the World Cup finals in involved in a great race.” - Nasser Al-Attiyah hard all year long with the mechanics and not been on a KTM. Brabec was followed competition of the second round of the 2021, to have Kuwait handball restore its Also equipping himself well on the Dakar’s now I can celebrate this win. Thanks a lot and home in second place by Pablo Quintanilla Asian championship which qualify for the normal status. debut in the Middle East was Giniel De Viva Chile!” - Ignacio Casale (CHI) on a Husqvarna. world cup. Meanwhile Qatar will play Assistant coach Mohammad Mubarak Villiers (ZAF). A fifth place finish for the History was made in the side-by-side race Third place gave Red Bull KTM Factory South Korea at 6 pm. said that his team thinks about the match South African gives him his 13th Top 5 at the when Cyril Despres (FRA) - alongside co- Team rider Toby Price (AUS) his fifth Dakar In Group 1 UAE will play Bahrain, and with Iran only, because it is a well devel- Dakar. Meanwhile, Kuba Przygonski (POL) driver Mike Horn (SUI) - became the first podium result. The two-time Dakar winner Saudi Arabia will play Japan. The first and oped team, and winning this match means battled back from a tough first week to show Dakar competitor to win stages in three dif- maintains his incredible record of landing in second teams in each group qualify for getting strongly into competition within impressive speed in the closing stages and ferent categories (bike, car and SxS). the Top 3 every time he has finished motor- the world cup directly, as well as the the quarter finals, which is more difficult. rose to a Top 20 finish. Despres’s result was one of six stage wins sports’ ultimate test of endurance. semi-finals. He said the rest day will be beneficial “This was not an easy Dakar, we had some collected by Red Bull Off-Road Team USA as “It’s not the result we came for but with Kuwait was on top of Group 4 with 6 for preparations, and “we promise the technical issues. However, in the end our they debuted their OT3 by Overdrive vehicle the two weeks we’ve had I’m quite happy to points after defeating UAE 20-17 during fans with a good result, and ask them for speed was quite good. Now we think about at the Dakar. Despres and Horn coached and keep my podium streak going. Now we’re the match, as UAE was second, Iraq third their support in the court as always.” and Hong Kong fourth. The first group the next Dakar and one year of hard prepara- mentored young drivers Mitch Guthrie Jr. going to regroup ahead of Dakar 2021. I’ll be Kuwait players were pleased for being was headed by Bahrain, which qualified tion.” - Kuba Przygonski (USA) and Blade Hildebrand (USA) through- back and looking to get the #1 plate again.” - on top of Group 4 through three wins, and Following nine Dakar truck wins in 11 years along with Iran to the second round, New promised to give better performance dur- out the rally in Saudi Arabia. Toby Price It was fifth and sixth place finishes Zealand was third. Qatar and Japan quali- while the rally was hosted in South America, “There’s still a lot work to go into this pro- for Price’s KTM team-mates Matthias ing the quarter finals, as Mahdi Al-Qallaf Team Kamaz Master have continued their fied in Group 2 as China was third. The said qualifying with the full six points gram to get it to where we want it to be, but Walkner (AUT) and Luciano Benavides third group saw Saudi Arabia and Korea winning record in Saudi Arabia. Andrey there were lots of positive steps at this (ARG) respectively. “It’s been a tough Dakar made Kuwait fans happy, as they were qualify, while Australia was third. always behind the players. Karginov (RUS) won his second Dakar title Dakar.” - Blade Hildebrand and there’s been some really bad crashes. I’m Kuwait team will have a tough task Goalkeeper Ali Safar congratulated his and the nearest non-Kamaz truck to him was Chaleco Lopez (CHI) arrived at the 2020 pleased to get over the line safely.” - Matthias when it faces Iran’s team which is a teammates for being on top and thanked more than two hours back in the general clas- Dakar as the defending SxS champion and Walkner There were also strong results in the strong and experienced team and sification. “It was important for us to confirm dug deep to come away with a podium finish bike race for Stefan Svitko (SVK), top placed shoots very well from the nine meters fans for attending the ongoing matches. the first position of Kamaz in the truck cate- at this latest edition of the world’s toughest female rider Laia Sanz (ESP) and Original by line, with solid defence. Kuwait players Captain of Bahrain team Hussein Al- gory of the Dakar and to show the advantage rally. “We had a huge problem the day before Motul competitor Martin Freinademetz must comply with instructions of the Sayyad lauded the performance of his of our vehicles in this new region for the ral- yesterday, so a podium place isn’t that bad (AUT). “I’ve started 10 Dakars and I’ve fin- coaches, and not to hasten attempts of teammates during the third match with ly.” - Andrey Karginov after all. The first edition in Saudi Arabia was ished all 10. This is something that is really scoring, as the zone defence of 5-1 or Iran, adding that the win against Iran was Karginov’s team-mates Anton Shibalov interesting, I’m sure the rally will be even bet- difficult and it’s an achievement I’m very 3-2-1 will be ideal against a team that very difficult, especially that some of its (RUS) and Dmitry Sotnikov (RUS) finished ter next year.” - Chaleco Lopez proud of.” - Laia Sanz shoots from a distance. players play in European teams. 26 Sports Monday, January 20, 2020 Clinical India, Rohit outplay Australia to clinch ODI series India chased down their target of 287 in 47.3 overs

BANGALORE: A sparkling century by Rohit Sharma SCOREBOARD and inspired bowling helped India to a series-clinching seven-wicket win over Australia in the third one-day Scoreboard of the third and final one-day international between international yesterday. Sharma made 119 and put on a India and Australia in Bangalore yesterday: key 137-run second-wicket stand with skipper Virat Kohli, who made 89, as India chased down their target Australia of 287 in 47.3 overs in Bangalore. D. Warner c Rahul b Shami 3 The hosts fought back in the series after a 10-wicket A. Finch run out (Jadeja//Iyer/Shami) 19 drubbing in the opening game to go past the Aaron S. Smith c Iyer b Shami 131 Finch-led tourists 2-1. Paceman Mohammed Shami M. Labuschagne c Kohli b Jadeja 54 claimed four wickets to lead the bowling charge with M. Starc c (sub) Chahal b Jadeja 0 the hosts restricting Australia to 286 for nine on a good A. Carey c Iyer b Yadav 35 A. Turner c Rahul b Saini 4 batting pitch despite Steve Smith’s 131. A. Agar not out 11 Sharma took the attack to the opposition with a P. Cummins b Shami 0 steady flow of boundaries — eight fours and six sixes A. Zampa b Shami 1 in his 128-ball knock — and completed his eighth cen- J. Hazlewood not out 1 tury against the Aussies. Extras (lb 14, w 13) 27 He finally fell to Adam Zampa’s leg spin as the senior Total (9 wickets, 50 overs) 286 batsman attempted a big hit but the ball top-edged off Fall of wickets: 1-18 (Warner), 2-46 (Finch), 3-173 (Labuschagne), his bat to be caught by Mitchell Starc at long-on. Kohli 4-173 (Starc), 5-231 (Carey), 6-238 (Turner), 7-273 (Smith), 8-276 kept the chase on track with an attacking Shreyas Iyer, (Cummins), 9-282 (Zampa) unbeaten on 44, as the pair put on 68 runs before the Bowling: Bumrah 10-0-38-0 (w8), Shami 10-0-63-4 (w4), Saini 10- captain was bowled by Josh Hazlewood. 0-65-1, Yadav 10-0-62-1 (w1), Jadeja 10-1-44-2 Indian opener Shikhar Dhawan did not bat after injuring his shoulder while fielding in the fifth over India (target 287) Australian innings. He went for an X-ray later and TV BANGALORE: India’s cricketers pose for a team photograph with the trophy after winning the third and last one R. Sharma c Starc b Zampa 119 pictures showed the batsman’s arm in a sling. day international (ODI) cricket match of a three-match series between India and Australia at the M. Chinnaswamy KL Rahul lbw b Agar 19 India though did not feel his absence as Sharma and Stadium in Bangalore yesterday. — AFP V. Kohli b Hazlewood 89 wicketkeeper-batsman KL Rahul put on 69 runs to set S. Iyer not out 44 up the chase. Rahul was given not out by the on-field M. Pandey not out 8 umpire after being trapped lbw off Ashton Agar for 19 lay the foundation for Australia’s total after they elected ing to make it back. Smith kept the scoreboard ticking Extras (lb2, w8) 10 but Australia successfully reviewed the decision in their to bat. Shami struck first to send David Warner trudg- with singles and twos and the occasional boundary Total (3 wickets, 47.3 overs) 289 favour. ing back to the pavilion for three after the left-handed with partner Labuschagne, who got a maiden ODI fifty Did not bat: S. Dhawan, R. Jadeja, N. Saini, K. Yadav, M. Shami, J. opener edged to wicketkeeper KL Rahul. Finch and after making his debut in the opening match of the Bumrah SMITH CENTURY Smith started to build, but their partnership was cut series. Fall of wickets: 1-69 (Rahul), 2-206 (Sharma), 3-274 (Kohli) Earlier Smith followed up his 98 in the second match short by a big mix up between the two batsmen with Left-arm spinner Ravindra Jadeja broke the partner- Bowling: Cummins 7-0-64-0 (w5), Starc 9-0-66-0 (w2), with his ninth ODI hundred and his first since January Hazlewood 9.3-1-55-1 (w1), Agar 10-0-38-1, Zampa 10-0-44-1, the captain being run out for 19. ship with the wicket of Labuschagne for 54, and struck 2017 — a period during which he served a one-year Labuschagne 1-0-11-0, Finch 1-0-9-0. Smith played the ball to short third man and Finch twice in his ninth over to pull Australia back. Smith Result: India won by 7 wickets. ban between March 2018 and 2019. Smith put on 127 ran for a single only to get stuck with his partner at the played a lone hand before falling to Shami as the middle runs for the third wicket with Marnus Labuschagne to striker’s end, and fell well short of the crease while try- and lower order did not fire. — AFP

Kuwait’s veteran tennis players meet

Conor McGregor By Abdellatif Sharaa KUWAIT: President of Arab and Kuwait Tennis demolishes Cerrone Federations Sheikh Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Abdallah Al-Jaber Al-Sabah brought together veteran Kuwaiti Tennis players who represented Kuwait during the past thirty years in in 40-second tournament events most important of which is the men’s world cup (David Cup), and left good impressions on LAS VEGAS: Conor McGregor made a triumphant return Kuwait’s tennis over many years. to the UFC octagon on Saturday, pummelling Donald Kuwait Tennis Federation held a dinner banquet that “Cowboy” Cerrone for a technical knockout victory in just was attended by Deputy Chairman of Kuwait Tennis 40 seconds. The mixed martial arts superstar from Ireland Federation Abdelsamad Al-Aryan, Secretary General Faleh — returning to the Ultimate Fighting Championship for Al-Otaibi, Assistant Secretary Ali Hayat, Technical the first time since he was battered into submission by Driector Abbas Al-Busairi and National Teams Sueprvisor arch-rival Khabib Nurmagomedov in October 2018 — Abdelredha Al-Shatti. overpowered his American foe without ever being tested. The surprise of the dinner which was the presence of After charging in with a left and missing, McGregor the long term coach of the national team during the 1980s immediately bloodied a clinching Cerrone’s nose with an and 1990s until 2002, during which many achievements upward shoulder strike — quickly followed by another. As where made at many levels and Kuwait was on top of soon as Cerrone stepped back, McGregor caught him on GCC countries and had a monopoly over the Gulf champi- the jaw with a high kick, then buried him under a hail of onships for all age groups, he is coach Damian Sancilio, punches. Referee Herb Dean stepped in to call a halt to from USA. Sheikh Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Abdallah thanked the welterweight bout 40 seconds into the first round at the veteran players for accepting the invitation and lauded the T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas. “I made history here tonight,” McGregor said. “I’m the first UFC fighter to their efforts in establishing the tennis game in Kuwait. secure knockouts in featherweight, lightweight and now He told them KTF is in need for their experience and welterweight. opinions to develop the game. He also urged them to stay “Etch my name in the history books one more time,” he in touch with the federation for the good of tennis. Sheikh said. “For the Irish people. For my mom back home.” Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Abdallah also thanked American McGregor who took his record to 22-4, was the first UFC coach Damian Sancilio for accepting the invitation adding fighter to hold two championship belts at the same time. that his presence gave the event warmth and brought He achieved that feat in 2016, when he stopped Eddie memories of the past. Alvarez in a lightweight title fight, adding that belt to his featherweight title. But he hadn’t won since. That triumph was followed by a loss to boxing great Floyd Mayweather Leonard’s fifth consecutive game with more than 30 points absence because of a sore knee. Andrew Wiggins had a in a cross-combat superfight in 2017, his loss to LeBron double lead in the absence of second-leading scorer Paul George. triple-double in the defeat, scoring 18 points with 10 Nurmagomedov, announcements of retirements and Despite being with George because of a hamstring injury, rebounds and 11 assists. returns to fighting. the Clippers had plenty of help. Montrezl Harrell added 24 Along the way there were brushes with authorities Lakers by Rockets points, and Landry Shamet scored 11. The Clippers MILWAUKEE BUCKS 117 - BROOKLYN NETS 97 outside the octagon. He pleaded guilty to hitting a man in outscored New Orleans 31-20 in the fourth quarter. Derrick Giannis Antetokounmpo encountered little difficulty col- a bar in Ireland and was accused of smashing a fan’s HOUSTON: LeBron James produced his 31st double-dou- Favors (10-for-10 from floor) had 22 points and 11 rebounds, lecting 29 points and 12 rebounds as Milwaukee led most of phone in Florida. The New York Times reported he is the ble, Kyle Kuzma chipped in 23 points and the visiting Los Brandon Ingram scored 21, JJ Redick tallied 19 while Lonzo the way and cruised to a victory over Brooklyn in New subject of two alleged sexual assault investigations in Angeles Lakers turned a third-quarter defensive clinic into a Ball had a triple-double with 18 points, 11 assists and 10 York. Antetokounmpo posted his 37th double-double while Ireland. Nevertheless, McGregor remains the most popu- 124-115 win over the Houston Rockets on Saturday. The rebounds for New Orleans. also tying his career-high with eight turnovers, including lar fighter in UFC history, and his return brought out stars Lakers delivered an efficient offensive display without their four offensive fouls. The star forward made 12 of 20 shots including British heavyweight Tyson Fury and New leading scorer, Anthony Davis, by following James’ lead. OKLAHOMA CITY THUNDER and hit two 3-pointers, as the Bucks pushed their winning England Patriots superstar quarterback Tom Brady for the James paired a team-high 31 points with a game-high 12 119 - PORTLAND TRAIL BLAZERS 106 streak to six games and beat the Nets for the 16th time in sold-out show. And McGregor didn’t disappoint against assists to steward the Lakers. Their defensive might turned Chris Paul tied his season high with 30 points to lift the past 19 meetings. Khris Middleton added 20 points as Cerrone, an experienced veteran whose 36 wins included the tide in the third, which they won 32-17. JaVale McGee Oklahoma City to a win over visiting Portland. Paul was 11 of the Bucks led for the final 40:33, shot 50.6 percent (45 of the most knockouts (20) in UFC. and former Rockets center Dwight Howard recorded three 15 from the floor in the game and added seven assists. 89) and led by as many as 25 points. Former Nets center “He destroyed me,” Cerrone, said, “100 percent I’ve blocks each, while Danny Green had four steals. The Lakers Portland was without guard CJ McCollum, who suffered a Brook Lopez contributed 12 points, while Donte DiVincenzo never seen anything like it. I got my ass whipped early.” posted 13 steals and nine blocks while limiting the Rockets sprained left ankle Friday. The Blazers’ bench was further and Wesley Matthews finished with 11 points apiece. Although there was no title at stake, McGregor said the to 12-for-37 shooting from behind the arc. Russell depleted before the game when swingman Kent Bazemore outcome was a harbinger of things to come. Westbrook (35 points, nine rebounds, seven assists) and and forward Anthony Tolliver were reportedly traded to the PHILADELPHIA 76ERS 90 - “I like this (welterweight) division,” he said. “I feel real- James Harden (34 points, seven assists) paced the Rockets, Sacramento Kings. According to ESPN, Portland will NEW YORK KNICKS 87 ly good. I came out of here unscathed. I’ve got work to do who have dropped three straight and four of five. Houston receive Trevor Ariza, Wendell Gabriel and Caleb Swanigan Tobias Harris drained a go-ahead 3-pointer with 28.2 to get back to where I was.” McGregor has expressed committed 20 turnovers. in the deal. Rookie Darius Bazley, starting at forward in seconds remaining in the fourth quarter as Philadelphia won interest in a rematch with Nurmagomedov, who is sched- Danilo Gallinari’s absence (rest), had a career-best 13 at New York. Ben Simmons scored 21 points to reach the uled to defend his lightweight title in April against Tony PHOENIX SUNS 123 - BOSTON CELTICS 119 rebounds for the Thunder. Shai Gilgeous-Alexander scored 20-point plateau in a career-best fourth straight contest for Ferguson. Devin Booker scored 39 points and fell an assist shy of 22 points. Dennis Schroder added 15 — all in the final 15 the 76ers, who snapped a six-game road losing skid and At welterweight there is the enticing prospect of Jorge his first career triple-double as visiting Phoenix held off minutes. improved to 8-14 away from the City of Brotherly Love. Masvidal. UFC boss Dana White said he was “blown undermanned Boston. Booker added 10 rebounds, Deandre Josh Richardson scored 18 points, and Furkan Korkmaz away” by McGregor’s performance. “He looked fast, he hit Ayton had 26 points and 15 boards and Mikal Bridges TORONTO RAPTORS 122 - added 17, one night after he erupted for a career-best totals hard, he had a game plan and he finished a real tough kid scored a career-high 26, as the Suns won for the fourth time MINNESOTA TIMBERWOLVES 112 in points (24) and 3-pointers (six) in the 76ers’ 100-89 vic- who came to win,” White said, adding that in his opinion in their last five. Dario Saric scored 13 with 11 rebounds and Fred VanVleet scored 29 points in his return from a ham- tory over Chicago. the obvious fight to point McGregor toward was a five assists. Marcus Smart scored a career-high 37 points string injury, and Kyle Lowry added 28 points as visiting rematch with the 28-0 Nurmagomedov. on a team-record-setting 11 3-pointers, but the Celtics fell Toronto used a third-quarter charge to earn a victory over UTAH JAZZ 123 - SACRAMENTO KINGS 101 “Khabib is the fight to make,” White said. “We’re look- for the sixth time in their last eight. Jayson Tatum scored 26 Minnesota. Norman Powell scored 20 points, and Pascal Bojan Bogdanovic made six 3-pointers and scored 30 ing at Hagler-Hearns. We’re looking at, like, Ali-Foreman, with 10 rebounds, and Gordon Hayward had 22 points, sev- Siakam added 14 as the Raptors continued to get their reg- points to help Utah roll over Sacramento at Salt Lake City. Ali-Frazier. This is a massive fight with global appeal.” en boards and seven assists. Boston played without starters ulars back on the court. Powell and Siakam returned from Rudy Gobert recorded a season-high 28 points on 9-of-11 White was unruffled by the chance that his top draw Kemba Walker (left knee) and Jaylen Brown (thumb sprain). injury last weekend. Marc Gasol returned Friday. VanVleet shooting and also had 15 rebounds and three blocked shots. McGregor could be lured back to the boxing ring, for a was the latest to see the court again after missing the last Donovan Mitchell scored 22 points as the Jazz won for the Mayweather rematch or even a clash with Filipino fight LOS ANGELES CLIPPERS 133 - five games. Jarrett Culver scored 26 points, and Robert 16th time in their past 18 games. De’Aaron Fox recorded 21 king Manny Pacquiao. “These are great problems to NEW ORLEANS PELICANS 130 Covington added 22 as the Timberwolves lost their fifth points and eight assists for the Kings, who have lost four have,” White said. — AFP Kawhi Leonard scored 39 points, and Lou Williams had consecutive game. Karl-Anthony Towns scored 12 for straight games and 13 of their past 16. Marvin Bagley III 32 as visiting Los Angeles defeated New Orleans in Minnesota in his second game back from a 15-game scored 17 points, and Buddy Hield added 14.—Reuters 27 Sports Monday, January 20, 2020 Lewandowski strikes again as Bayern go second in Bundesliga Lewandowski, Werner first players in Bundesliga history to score 20 goals

BERLIN: Robert Lewandowski hit his 20th league goal valid after doubts emerged last week over whether the this season as Bayern Munich climbed to second in the certificate earned in 2000 had expired. There was little Bundesliga yesterday with a 4-0 romp at Hertha Berlin else to cheer Hertha fans as Bayern established to trim RB Leipzig’s lead to four points. supremacy with nearly 70 percent possession as the Having seen RB Leipzig go five points clear with a 3- defending champions struggling however to break 1 win over Union Berlin on Saturday, Bayern climbed a Hertha’s defence. place in the Bundesliga with second-half goals in the The breach finally came on 60 minutes when Leon capital by Thomas Mueller, Lewandowski, Thiago Goretzka put a cross to the far post, Perisic headed Alcantara and Ivan Perisic. After Leipzig’s Germany back and Mueller crashed home the shot. Lewandowski striker Timo Werner had edged ahead of him as the had a header disallowed soon after when the video league’s top scorer with two goals against Union, assistant referee spotted the striker made contact with Lewandowski drew level with his main rival’s tally on 20 Hertha goalkeeper Rune Jarstein, who had claimed the league goals by converting a penalty. cross a millisecond before. Lewandowski and Werner are now the first players However, when Bayern were awarded a penalty after in Bundesliga history to have scored 20 goals after 18 Goretzka was upended, Lewandowski sent Jarstein the games in their challenge to Gerd Mueller’s record of 40 wrong way to put Bayern 2-0 up with 73 minutes gone. goals in a Bundesliga season, set in 1971/72. Alcantara added a third with superb finishing after the After a groin injury last month, Lewandowski proved Hertha defence had again been shredded and Perisic his fitness with an lively display at Berlin’s Olympic was finally rewarded for a good display when he head- Stadium. He now has 31 goals in 26 games in all compe- ed home with six minutes left with an assist from titions, including 10 in just five Champions League Mueller. games. The victory in Berlin sets Bayern up for Saturday’s There was good news before kick-off for Hertha crunch home clash against fifth-placed Schalke, who BERLIN: Bayern Munich’s Canadian midfielder Alphonso Davies (C) vies with Bayern Munich’s New Zealand midfielder coach Jurgen Klinsmann as the German Football beat fellow title contenders Moenchengladbach 2-0 in Sarpreet Singh (R) during the German first division Bundesliga football match Hertha Berlin v Bayern Munich in Berlin, Association (DFB) confirmed his coaching licence is Gelsenkirchen on Friday. — AFP yesterday. — AFP

In November, leading Australia’s charge to win the behind Karolina Pliskova. Barty eyes home Fed Cup against France in Perth, she suffered an upset Williams, who has for years thrived under the pres- loss to Kristina Mladenovic which ended her team’s sure of expectation that faces Barty, has won seven of Matches on TV hopes of winning the trophy for the first time in 45 her 23 Grand Slam singles in Melbourne but faces a dif- (Local Timings) party as Serena years. ferent test in the twilight of her illustrious career. Yet Barty, who regained her number one spot in She was eight weeks pregnant when winning in ITALIAN CALCIO LEAGUE continues chase September after holding it for seven weeks following Melbourne in 2017 but similar success in Slams has her Roland Garros triumph, says she is ready for the proved elusive since she returned to the circuit as the Atalanta v Spal 22:45 next daunting chapter. “Having a number next to your mother of baby Olympia. She has lost four finals in her beIN SPORTS MELBOURNE: Ash Barty faces the double burden of name doesn’t guarantee anything. It doesn’t guarantee quest for a 24th Grand Slam singles title to equal being world number one and the focus of an expectant wins. You still have to go out there, do the work — put Margaret Court’s all-time record but last week enjoyed host nation as she seeks to win the Australian Open all those kind of runs on the board, I suppose — and her first WTA singles title in almost three years at the amid challenges from record-chasing Serena Williams work from there,” the former cricketer told reporters in Auckland Classic. and a host of other Grand Slam winners. Adelaide this week. “It’s pretty satisfying to get a win in a final,” Williams Chelsea rocked The 23-year-old Queenslander Barty spectacularly “All you can do is try and do your best every single told reporters. “That was really important for me. “I climbed to the top of the women’s rankings in 2019 and match.” Japan’s Naomi Osaka knows all about the want to build on it. Obviously it is a step towards the as Hayden’s late will start her Melbourne Park campaign next week hav- struggles of coping with the pressure of being world next goal in Melbourne.” While Melbourne will miss the ing won her maiden Grand Slam at the French Open number one but she will defend her crown having US Open winner Bianca Andreescu, of Canada, who and the WTA Finals in Shenzhen. rediscovered her confidence. Osaka started 2019 by pulled out with a knee injury, there will be plenty of strike lifts Newcastle Her successes saw her become the first Australian lifting her second straight Grand Slam title in others who have tasted major success before in what Melbourne following her success at the 2018 US Open looks a wide open field. woman since Evonne Goolagong-Cawley to gain the NEWCASTLE: Frank Lampard admitted he wants to but subsequently suffered early exits at the French Last year’s finalist Petra Kvitova and Simona Halep world number one accolade and also raised hopes that sign a new striker after Newcastle damaged Chelsea’s Open and Wimbledon. are equipped to add to their multiple majors while the she could end the country’s 42-year wait for a home bid for a top-four finish in the Premier League with a The 22-year-old, who appointed her third coach of 2018 Australian Open champion Caroline Wozniacki winner in Melbourne. dramatic 1-0 win at St James’ Park on Saturday. the year in Belgian Wim Fissette in December, also dis- will aim to bow out from the sport on the highest note. She will be the cynosure of the sports-loving nation With Tottenham held by Watford earlier in the day appointed in the defence of her US Open title. Yet Angelique Kerber, Sloane Stephens, Garbine and the local media when the year’s first Grand Slam and Manchester United facing runaway leaders Osaka regained some end-of-season form with the Pan Muguruza, Jelena Ostapenko, Venus Williams and kicks off on Monday but going by what happened in Liverpool on Sunday, Chelsea would have cemented Pacific Open and China Open titles and, after having Maria Sharapova are the other Grand Slam winners the recent past, handling the pressure could prove their grip on fourth place with a win on Tyneside. dropped to number four, is back to third in the world who are outside the top 16 seeds. — Reuters arduous for Barty. But Lampard’s side were unable to muster the cut- ting edge required to break down stubborn Newcastle and fell to Isaac Hayden’s header with just 20 seconds left in stoppage-time. Chelsea’s first defeat in four Inter Milan trip league matches leaves them five points clear of fifth- placed United and Lampard is growing tired of his team’s struggles against defensive opponents. up again as Lecce “We know we have problems at the top of the pitch in terms of we don’t get enough goals. If you don’t earn Serie A draw score you are always liable for a sucker punch and they got it,” Lampard said. “If we are looking for people to bring in to the areas to win games when you are con- MILAN: Inter Milan were held to a 1-1 draw by relega- trolling it, it is scoring goals. tion-battling Lecce in Serie A yestrday, as Antonio “We can’t work anymore in training on finishing. You Conte’s side dropped points for the second weekend in need to have that killer instinct in front of goal. We a row. Inter substitute Alessandro Bastoni headed in a need to score more goals from front-line areas if we are second-half opener four minutes after coming on, but going to get to where we want to be. Lecce soon drew level through captain Marco Mancosu. “It’s quite clear from what I am saying now that we Marcelo Brozovic hit the post for Inter in the first half know where we need to strengthen but we shall see.” but Lecce, who went into the game on a four-match los- After four league games without a victory, this was a ing run and without a home win all season, went close to much-needed success for Newcastle, but a wasted grabbing a late victory when Filippo Falco’s free kick opportunity for Chelsea to open up a bigger gap in the struck the woodwork. race to qualify for the Champions League. Inter, who were held to a 1-1 draw by Atalanta last “We dominated every aspect of the game. The lads Saturday, are second and one point behind leaders have got their heads down in there. But the brutal reali- Juventus, although they will be cut four points adrift if ty of football is if you don’t score, teams stay in the the champions beat Parma later on Sunday. game and something like that happens at the end,” Lecce remain in 17th place on 16 points, one above Lampard said. the relegation zone. “We are a team who have to go at “We have had more possession than any of our 100 kilometres per hour,” Conte told Sky Sport Italia. “If opponents in every game this season. It is a sign we someone is below par, or off the pace, we cannot afford have a lot of the ball but we are not scoring enough.” that and will end up drawing a game we comfortably Miguel Almiron opened up Chelsea down the right should have brought home. flank early on and Allan Saint-Maximin met the cross “If we hold an average pace, we cannot get victories. with a header that looped over. Newcastle’s lengthy We had to go at full pelt throughout the first half of the injury list gained another casualty inside 12 minutes season. Once we don’t do that, we become a perfectly when Jetro Willems was stretchered off after taking a LECCE: Inter Milan’s Italian defender Alessandro Bastoni (3rdR) heads the ball to score the opening goal during the normal team.” Lecce squandered a good early chance knock in a challenge on Callum Hudson-Odoi. Italian Serie A football match Lecce vs Inter Milan yesterday at the Via del Mare stadium in Lecce. —AFP when the unmarked Mancosu blasted over with just the Chelsea were dominating possession but Newcastle goalkeeper to beat, before Brozovic went close for Inter striker Joelinton, his confidence lifted by an FA Cup with a shot that came back off the post. goal against Rochdale in midweek, went close to his The Video Assistant Referee (VAR) saved Inter on first league goal since August when his powerful header the brink of halftime when a penalty was awarded to cannoned back off the bar. Reece James signed a new Lecce for handball, only for the decision to be over- Bryan backs ‘madman’ contract with Chelsea this week as a reward for his turned following a review on the pitchside monitor. impressive breakthrough campaign and the young Conte made his first change in the 68th minute by Murray to march on right-back gave a glimpse of his potential when his pin- bringing on centre back Bastoni and within four minutes point pass found N’Golo Kante for a shot that Martin the move had changed the game, as the defender rose to Dubravka saved with his leg at the near post. power in a header from a Cristiano Biraghi cross. MELBOURNE: Doubles legend Bob Bryan is back- his numbers are off the charts, he tests the speed and Chelsea remained vulnerable at the back and However, Inter’s lead lasted just five minutes before ing “madman” Andy Murray to play for “many more the strength. Federico Fernandez headed wastefully over from a Mancosu tucked in a Zan Majer cross from close range, years” despite the Briton being forced out of the “He’s right back where he was when he was num- Jonjo Shelvey free-kick. Willian squandered a good and Falco nearly turned the game on its head when his Australian Open with another injury. The veteran ber one, which is incredible. That’s good to hear.” opportunity from a Chelsea counter early in the second looping free kick clipped the outside of the post. American had a major hip operation in 2018 but Murray has taken inspiration from Bryan as the half when the Brazilian dragged wide from the edge of Elsewhere, substitute Mario Balotelli was sent off bounced back to continue his hugely successful dou- Briton attempts to recapture a semblance of the form the area. Chances were at a premium and Cesar eight minutes after coming on as a substitute as his bles partnership with twin Mike. and fitness that made him world number one in 2016. Azpilicueta’s long-range effort lacked the power to beat Brescia side held Cagliari to a 2-2 draw. Brescia striker Three-time Grand Slam champion Murray had Bryan said that he has no issues with his hip — Dubravka before Shelvey finally had Newcastle’s first Ernesto Torregrossa and Cagliari forward Joao Pedro similar, career-saving surgery 12 months ago and in Murray has consistently said that he is also now shot on target in the 59th minute. Chelsea’s frustration scored two apiece, before Balotelli picked up two book- October won his first title since going under the pain-free, but the pelvic problem is a fresh setback. mounted when James limped off injured and moments ings late on for a clumsy challenge followed by dissent. knife. But the 32-year-old pulled out of the The American cited a recent documentary about later Tammy Abraham, teed up by Azpilicueta’s header, Fabio Borini came off the bench to score a debut Australian Open with a pelvic injury and last week Murray which charted the Briton’s painstaking come- saw his effort turned away by Dubravka’s brave save. goal and rescue a point for Hellas Verona as they further delayed his comeback, renewing fears for his back. “If anyone saw the documentary, you’ll know Emerson fired just wide with an angled drive and in earned a 1-1 draw at Bologna. Mattia Bani put the tennis future. how crazy he is with the work, he’s a madman,” the fourth minute of stoppage-time Chelsea paid for home side in front in the first half before being sent off “I talked to him last week,” the 41-year-old Bryan Bryan said. “He’s going to put it in, he’s going to do their profligacy. Saint-Maximin had space to whip in a for a second booking after the break, and Borini head- said yesterday in Melbourne. “He’s got something everything he can. “I expect to see him playing for teasing cross and Hayden got behind Antonio Rudiger ed in an 81st-minute leveller less than a week after unrelated to the hip injury — his hip feels great. “All many more years, winning.” — AFP for a close-range header that keeper Kepa Arrizabalaga joining from AC Milan. — Reuters could only push into the net. — AFP Established 1961 Sport

MONDAY, JANUARY 20, 2020

Ovechkin leads Capitals with Clinical India, Rohit outplay Lewandowski strikes again as 25second straight hat trick 26 Australia to clinch ODI series 27 Bayern go second in Bundesliga

Liverpool power past Man Utd Burnley fight back to sink Leicester

LIVERPOOL: Liverpool’s Dutch defender Virgil van Dijk (L) battles with Manchester United’s Belgian-born Brazilian midfielder Andreas Pereira (R) during the English Premier League football match between Liverpool and Manchester United at Anfield stadium in Liverpool, north west England yesterday. — AFP

LIVERPOOL: Liverpool stretched their Ole Gunnar Solskjaer’s game plan was Shorn of injured top scorer Marcus Earlier, Burnley recovered from a goal Burnley goalkeeper Nick Pope kept out commanding lead at the top of the Premier undone by a simple set-piece as Van Dijk Rashford, United failed to even muster a down to beat high-flying Leicester City 2-1 Jamie Vardy’s weak penalty. The turnaround League to 16 points and advantage over rose highest to power home Trent shot in anger for the first 40 minutes until at Turf Moor yesterday, ending their four- was complete, with 11 minutes remaining, Manchester United to 30 as goals from Alexander-Arnold’s corner. The Norwegian Anthony Martial pulled his effort wide of match losing streak in the Premier League. when Ashley Westwood blasted in after a Virgil van Dijk and Mohamed Salah earned had set up with a back five, with Luke Shaw the near post. However, they could easily Sean Dyche’s Clarets failed to score a first- Charlie Taylor cross from the left to ensure a 2-0 win over their historic rivals at forced to deputise out of position as a third have been level against the run of play half goal for an 11th successive league Burnley took all three points, lifting them to Anfield. A 13th straight league win since the centre-back, and only a great challenge moments later when Andreas Pereira could game, and their problems worsened when 14th place in the table, five points above the sides last met at Old Trafford in October from the former Southampton left-back not stretch to turn home Aaron Wan- midfielder Harvey Barnes put the visitors relegation zone. continues Liverpool’s relentless run towards denied Sadio Mane a certain second as he Bissaka’s ball across the face of the goal. ahead with a stunning solo effort in the 33rd “I thought we deserved to win the a first league title in 30 years, while United burst onto Roberto Firmino’s pass. At the other end, De Gea had one more minute. game but we didn’t take our chances,” remain five points off the top four in fifth. Jurgen Klopp’s men did have the ball in key intervention before the break as he Jack Cork lost the ball in midfield and said Leicester boss Brendan Rodgers. “A Liverpool also have a game in hand to the net twice more before the break, but saved with his feet from Mane’s driven Burnley-born winger Barnes broke forward, mixture of their keeper making some bril- come on closest challengers Manchester VAR and the offside flag came to United’s effort. However, the hosts held out for a racing goalwards and past Ben Mee before liant saves and our finishing and we some- City and could have been more comfortable rescue to keep the score down. seventh consecutive clean sheet in all firing home. The hosts responded after the how lost the game,” he added. Pope, who winners after seeing two first half goals Firstly, Firmino’s brilliant strike was ruled competitions and took another giant step interval with striker Chris Wood scoring the made some vital saves in the second half, ruled out and a host of clear chances go out as Van Dijk was penalised for an aerial towards the title as Salah secured the equaliser from a rebound after Leicester was delighted the team’s losing streak was astray. United are the only team to take challenge with David de Gea after a VAR three points with virtually the last kick of goalkeeper Kasper Schmeichel saved a over. “It’s a massive win for us. The lads Premier League points off the European review. Georginio Wijnaldum then slotted the game. The Egyptian was picked out header from Mee. worked so hard and the atmosphere was champions this season, but it rarely looked past the Spaniard after a brilliant through by goalkeeper Alisson Becker and ran Leicester, third in the standings, had an electric. You go on bad runs during the like lightning would strike twice once the ball from Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain, but the from inside his own half before slotting opportunity to reclaim the lead when Mee season so to snap them quickly is impor- hosts went in front on 14 minutes. Dutchman had strayed marginally offside. under De Gea. brought down Barnes in the box but tant,” he said. —Agencies

expect it,” said the skier from the French Alps. chasing her first win of 2020, claimed that her Direz shocks “I didn’t know I could be capable of something red course was slower than the adjacent blue in parallel GS because it’s my first. “It’s pretty course over the final four gates. “I don’t like to outstanding, I’m trying to enjoy the moment talk about luck playing a role even yesterday, Shiffrin to right now.” .01 out, I feel like that was in my control,” said Her only previous win had been a gold medal Shiffrin. “But these two courses are not the in the giant slalom at the 2012 Winter Youth same at all. “I’m a little bitter, this event is still claim maiden Olympics in Innsbruck. “(Winning) brings confi- new and there are so many things to work out,” dence and with confidence you can take more Shiffrin added. “But it’s fun and people like to WCup win risks when we ski and then we go faster,” she watch it. It’s just a work in progress to make it said of yesterday’s victory. the best it can be.” “I do hope it will help me for my giant The figures backed up Shiffrin’s claim with SESTRIERE: France’s Clara Direz won the slalom.” Moerzinger, 22, also took her first 17 wins on the blue course from the last 16 women’s parallel giant slalom in Sestriere yes- podium competing in just her fifth World Cup round compared to three on the red. But Dinez terday, eliminating US star Mikaela Shiffrin on race. Shiffrin suffered more frustration after was not to worried: “I don’t know if it’s really the way to her first World Cup victory. The 24- also finishing third in Saturday’s giant slalom fair or not. “I’ve been lucky because I was year-old edged Austria’s Elisa Moerzinger by just 0.01sec behind Federica Brignone and always on the blue coures for the last run. I’ve 0.22sec in the final, with Italy’s Marta Bassino Petra Vlhova, who shared first place. been a little bit lucky, so I won’t complain finishing third in the Italian Alps. The American nevertheless extended her about that.” Direz had beaten three-time overall World lead in the overall World Cup standings to 249 For Bassino it was a fourth podium this sea- Cup champion Shiffrin in the earlier rounds. The points ahead of Vlhova, with Brignone 11 points son, after achieving her first World Cup win the American finished ninth overall. It was also a further back in third. But the two-time Olympic giant slalom in Killington, Vermont in first podium for the French skier whose previ- champion was unhappy about the format for the November. She was followed by fellow Italians ous best had been a seventh-place finish in the new competition where two skiers compete Brignone and Olympic downhill champion Sofia slalom at Lienz, Austria, in December. against each other. Goggia, fourth and fifth respectively, with Clara Direz “What a day! It’s unbelievable, I didn’t The 24-year-old from Colorado, who is still Vlhova finishing 18th. —AFP