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WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 25, 2017 RABI AL-THANI 27, 1438 AH www.kuwaittimes.net Mothers of Palestinian ‘La La Land’ Venus, Federer Kuwaiti kids teen’s case casts dances away back in the protest against spotlight on with record thick of a allowance4 halt Israel detentions8 1436 Oscar nods Grand20 Slam NATO opens new center in Min 07º Kuwait to boost Gulf ties Max 18º High Tide 11:33 & 21:42 FM to deliver letter to Tehran • Trump ‘fully’ committed to NATO Low Tide 05:05 & 15:59 40 PAGES NO: 17121 150 FILS KUWAIT: NATO chief Jens Stoltenberg yesterday called for boosting security cooperation with the Gulf states as the Western military alliance opened its first office in the region. “It will be a vital hub for cooperation between the alliance and our Gulf partners,” Stoltenberg said at the inauguration of the center in Kuwait in the presence of HH the Prime Minister Sheikh Jaber Al-Mubarak Al- Sabah. The center is based on the Istanbul Cooperation Initiative (ICI), which was launched by the NATO leaders in 2004 and aims to boost security links with the Middle East, in particular Gulf Arab states. Kuwait, Qatar, Bahrain and the United Arab Emirates are members of ICI, while the remaining two Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) states - Saudi Arabia and Oman - plan to join. Kuwaiti Foreign Minister Sheikh Sabah Al-Khaled Al-Sabah said the region is facing seri- ous challenges that require cooperation with interna- tional organizations. “We face common security threats like terrorism, weapons proliferation, and cyber attacks. And we share the same aspirations for peace and for stability,” Stoltenberg said. “So it is essential that we work more closely together than ever before. We have now devel- oped individual cooperation programs with all our Gulf partners,” he said. Stoltenberg said that over the past year, NATO has trained hundreds of Iraqi officers in Jordan to better fight the Islamic State group. “We are now extending our training and capacity-building efforts into Iraq itself,” he said. NATO continues to fight terrorism in other ways, including with direct support to the anti-IS coalition, he said. The center will strengthen the military-to-military cooperation and the fight against terrorism and extrem- ism, Stoltenberg said. The center will help the Gulf states by providing advanced training courses on cyber security, energy security, chemical, biological and nuclear weapons. Kuwait’s foreign minister added he will visit Iran to deliver a letter from HH the Amir on the troubled ties between the Islamic republic and its Arab neighbors in the Gulf. The letter from HH Sheikh Sabah Al- Ahmad Al-Sabah to be delivered today deals with “Gulf-Iranian relations and the basis of dialogue and cooperation” between the two sides, said Sheikh Sabah Al-Khaled. “Gulf states have a true desire that relations with Iran are normal and based on interna- tional law,” he told reporters after attending the inau- guration of the NATO center. “We are partners in this KUWAIT: (Top) A general view shows the meeting between members of the North Atlantic Council (NAC) and the Islamic Cooperation Initiative (ICI) attended by NATO region and have common interests and huge poten- members at the newly-opened NATO Istanbul Cooperation Initiative (ICI) Regional Centre in Mishref. (Above left) HH the Amir Sheikh Sabah Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah tial,” Sheikh Sabah said, calling for a “normalization of meets NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg. (Above right) HH the Prime Minister Sheikh Jaber Al-Mubarak Al-Sabah and Stoltenberg open the new NATO-ICI ties and opening dialogue”. Regional Center in Mishref. — Photos by Yasser Al-Zayyat, AFP and KUNA Continued on Page 3 News Three-way bid to boost Syria truce in brief ASTANA: Russia, Iran and Turkey agreed initiative and come as Russia has made to bolster a fragile truce in Syria yester- itself the main powerbroker in Syria with Extreme cold weather day but a lasting political solution to the its game-changing military support for till Jan end: Saadoun conflict appeared distant after two days leader Bashar Al-Assad. KUWAIT: Extreme cold weather will be prevalent in of talks between Damascus and rebels. The meeting was expected to see Kuwait starting today until the end of the month, said The three main sponsors of the negotia- the first face-to-face negotiations Adel Al-Saadoun, a Kuwaiti astronomer and historian. tions in Astana announced the creation between the regime and the armed Speaking to KUNA, Saadoun said that the current cold of “a trilateral mechanism to observe and opposition since Syria’s conflict erupted weather was due to northwesterly winds, which usually ensure full compliance with the cease- in 2011, but the rebels backed out and bring temperatures down, especially in the early hours fire” in place since late December. The mediators were forced to shuttle of the morning. Saadoun added that Kuwait’s desert and three powers also agreed armed rebel between the two sides. Rebel negotia- open areas will also see a sharp drop in temperature. groups should take part in a new round tor Mohammad Alloush told AFP the of peace talks set to be hosted by the “intransigence of Iran and the regime” United Nations in Geneva next month. was responsible for “no notable Dubai center penalized “There is no military solution to the progress” in the negotiations. for hosting Kardashian Syrian conflict and... it can only be solved Regime negotiator Bashar Al-Jafaari DUBAI: UAE authorities have penalized a center through a political process,” said the final said after the end of the talks that the for disabled people in Dubai for hosting US reality statement by Russia, Iran and Turkey, meeting “succeeded in achieving the read out by Kazakh Foreign Minister goal of consolidating the cessation of television star Kim Kardashian, describing its invi- ASTANA: Kazakh Foreign Minister Kairat Abdrakhmanov (center) reads a final Kairat Abdrakhmanov. The two days of hostilities for a fixed period paving the tation as “pointless”, media reported yesterday. statement on Syria peace talks as UN envoy for Syria Staffan de Mistura (right) meetings in Astana - which have left the way for dialogue between Syrians”. The social development ministry said that the looks through his papers yesterday. — AFP Rashid Centre for the Disabled violated regula- West sidelined - were mainly a Kremlin Continued on Page 13 tions after receiving Kardashian without a permit, the Emirat Al-Youm newspaper said. The ministry Govt given ultimatum said it would not have granted a permit because it Dubai airport still is “pointless to receive her”. During Kardashian’s visit, the students wore T-shirts featuring her pic- over fuel, fees hikes ture that the management said were distributed top for int’l traffic by the American star. The center’s administration said it did not seek permission because time was MP threatens to grill PM limited. The ministry said it was still investigating By B Izzak not in line with the constitution. The law- CEO offers to help US hubs the case, warning that the penalty could extend to maker criticized the government for DUBAI: Dubai International busiest in terms of interna- closing the center. KUWAIT: The National Assembly’s financial ignoring the first three points in the eco- cemented its title as the tional passenger traffic in and economic affairs committee yesterday nomic reforms package and going world’s busiest airport for 2014. “With our new forecast gave the government two weeks to provide directly to implement the fourth point, international passengers in for 89 million passengers in Real drop cross for its views over two draft laws that would which is hiking charges and prices. 2016, with a 7.2 percent 2017, DXB is closing the gap Mideast clothing deal effectively prevent the government from She said that the committee has decid- increase in traveller num- on Atlanta and Beijing for the DUBAI: The club crest of Spanish soccer team Real raising charges or fuel prices. Rapporteur of ed to invite the governor of the Central bers to 83.6 million, its oper- top spot in overall traffic,” Madrid will be altered to remove the traditional the committee MP Safa Al-Hashem said the Bank for a discussion over the govern- ator said yesterday. Dubai Dubai Airports chief execu- Christian cross from clothing apparel sold in some two bills relate to prevent the government ment’s plan to raise debt through issuing Airports said “near record tive Paul Griffiths in a state- Middle East countries under a regional deal. Marka, a from raising charges on public services or bonds in the international market and the numbers” in December had Paul Griffiths ment. retailing group in the United Arab Emirates, has been hiking fuel prices without a law by the cost of the process, adding that the com- pushed annual traffic at the The airport announced in Assembly, while the second calls to scrap mittee wants to inquire why the govern- granted exclusive rights to “manufacture, distribute and Gulf hub to 83,654,250 passengers, February it was expanding its annual the recent hike in petrol prices. ment always accepts recommendations by compared with 78,014,838 in 2015. The capacity to 90 million passengers with sell Real Madrid products” in the UAE, Saudi Arabia, Hashem said Finance Minister Anas the World Bank and the International airport, which serves as the home of the opening of a new concourse. Qatar, Kuwait, Bahrain and Oman, the company said in a Al-Saleh, who attended the meeting, Monetary Fund. Emirates airline, became the world’s Continued on Page 13 statement yesterday. (See Page 19) pointed out that the second draft law is Continued on Page 13 LOCAL WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 25, 2017

His Highness the Crown Prince Sheikh Nawaf Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah meets with Advisor at the Amiri Diwan KUWAIT: His Highness the Amir Sheikh Sabah Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah meets with board members of the Dr Yousef Al-Ibrahim and Founder of ‘The Proteges’ program Shamlan Al-Bahar, along with students and other Arabian Horse Center.—KUNA photos officials from the program. Amir applauds efforts to organize equestrian gala

KUWAIT: His Highness the Amir Sheikh Sabah Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah commended the Arabian Horse Center for its efforts to hold a ceremony slated for next month, to be held under the auspices of His Highness the Amir. In a meeting with the honorary Chairman of the Arabian Horse Center Mohammad Al-Marzouq and the head of the center’s Board of Trustees Alaa Al-Roumi yesterday, His Highness the Amir wished the center continued success. Moreover, Marzouq thanked His Highness the Amir for his persistent support, noting that next month’s gala is set to be a monumental one in terms of the expected turnout and wide participation. On the success of the center, he attributed it to the support of His Highness the Amir, as he hoped that the ceremony will leave the audience with something to remember. He also pointed out that the center holds numer- ous cultural events, activities and champi- onships year-round. Similarly, Roumi spoke of the center’s growth over the years, noting that it is home to around 8,000 pure Arabian horses. His Highness the Amir Sheikh Sabah Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah meets with Minister of Meanwhile, His Highness the Amir received Information and Minister of State for Youth Affairs Sheikh Salman Sabah Al-Salem Al- His Highness the Amir Sheikh Sabah Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah meets with the outgoing Minister of Information and Minister of State for Humoud Al-Sabah and NCCAL officials. Swazi Ambassador to Kuwait Mlondi Dlamini. Youth Affairs Sheikh Salman Sabah Al-Salem Al- Humoud Al-Sabah, Secretary General of the of the Amiri Diwan Affairs Sheikh Ali Al-Jarrah His Highness the Crown Prince Sheikh Nawaf Yousef Al-Ibrahim and Founder of ‘The head of protocols at His Highness the Crown National Council for Culture, Arts, and Letters Al-Sabah. Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah have separately Proteges’ program Shamlan Al-Bahar. Bahar, Prince’s Diwan Sheikh Mubarak Sabah Al-Salem (NCCAL) Ali Al-Youha, as well as NCCAL Advisor His Highness the Amir also received the out- met with His Highness Sheikh Nasser Al- along with the community’s officials, offered Al-Humoud Al-Sabah. His Highness the Crown Dr Mohammad Al-Roumaihi. going Swazi Ambassador to Kuwait Mlondi Mohammad Al-Ahmad Al-Sabah. Furthermore, His Highness the Crown Prince an explanation Prince also met with Dr Salah Kassab Al- The officials informed His Highness the Dlamini. The envoy later met with His Highness His Highness the Crown Prince received over activities designed to allow youth the Thufairi who presented him with a copy of his Amir on the cultural activities organized by the the Prime Minister Sheikh Jaber Al-Mubarak Al- Chairman of the Board of Commissioners of opportunity to hone their skills, which drew doctorate on educational management devel- NCCAL recently. They also briefed His Highness Hamad Al-Sabah as well. The meeting was the Capital Market Authority Nayef Falah Al- applause from His Highness the Crown Prince. opment, and Dr Jawad Fadel Abu Al-Hassan on the council’s future plans. His Highness the attended by head of His Highness the Prime Hajraf, as well as Sheikh Abdullah Ali Al- His Highness the Crown Prince commended who presented him with a copy of his doctor- Amir Sheikh Sabah lauded the NCCAL for their Minister’s Diwan Sheikha Itimad Khaled Al- Abdullah Al-Sabah. Kuwaiti youth for doing the nation proud, ate on human knee improvement. His relentless efforts in spreading culture and arts. Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah. In the meantime, His Highness the Crown describing them as the cornerstone of national Highness the Crown Prince appreciated their The meeting was attended by Deputy Minister In other news, His Highness the Amir and prince received Advisor at the Amiri Diwan Dr development. The meeting was attended by efforts. —KUNA

BEIRUT: Lebanese President Michel Aoun receives Representative of His Highness the Amir Sheikh Sabah Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah, Minister of State Qaruh Island marks for Cabinet Affairs Sheikh Mohammad Abdullah Al-Mubarak Al-Sabah.— KUNA liberation anniversary Amir conveys greetings

KUWAIT: Despite being Kuwait’s smallest yesterday its 26th anniversary of libera- to Lebanese President Island, Qaruh holds a significant place in tion. Located around 37 kilometers from the hearts of Kuwaitis for being the first the Kuwaiti mainland, the island’s name BEIRUT: Representative of His tions in all fields. land to be liberated from the Iraqi ‘Qaruh’ was derived from the presence of Highness the Amir Sheikh Sabah Al- After the meeting, Sheikh Invasion in 1991. The Island celebrated tar (Qar) residues on the Island. —KUNA Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah, Minister of Mohammad said he was honored to State for Cabinet Affairs Sheikh meet the Lebanese leader, describing Mohammad Abdullah Al-Mubarak Al- bilateral relations as strong and unique Sabah conveyed greetings yesterday on many levels. Sheikh Mohammad also on behalf of the Amir to Lebanese expressed gratitude and appreciation for President Michel Aoun congratulating the warm welcome and reception he him on assuming the new post. Sheikh received during his meeting, wishing the Mohammad conveyed a verbal mes- best for the Lebanese leadership and sage to the Lebanese leader, inviting people. Sheikh Mohammad Al-Abdullah him to visit Kuwait in the near future to also met with Lebanese Parliament boost the exceptional bilateral rela- Speaker Nabih Berri. —KUNA

Sheikh Mohammad Abdullah Al-Mubarak Al-Sabah visits Lebanese Parliament Speaker Nabih Berri. WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 25, 2017 LOCAL

KUWAIT: His Highness the Prime Minister Sheikh Jaber Al-Mubarak Al-Hamad Al-Sabah (eighth from left), NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg (seventh from left), and other officials pose for a group photo during the opening of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization’s (NATO) Istanbul Cooperation Initiative (ICI) Regional Center yesterday. —Photos by Yasser Al-Zayyat and KUNA Foreign Minister urges increased efforts to fight ‘terror scourge’

ICI center vital hub for NATO-Gulf cooperation: Stoltenberg

KUWAIT: It is imperative to bolster coopera- tion with regional and international organiza- tions to cope with grave threats, chiefly, the ‘scourge of terrorism,’ Kuwaiti Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Sheikh Sabah Al-Khaled Al-Hamad Al-Sabah said yesterday. Sheikh Sabah Al-Khaled made the remarks in a speech during the opening ceremony of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization’s (NATO) Istanbul Cooperation Initiative (ICI) Regional Center, held under the auspices of His Highness the Prime Minister Sheikh Jaber Al-Mubarak Al-Hamad Al-Sabah, who was also in attendance. Moreover, he spoke of Kuwait’s firm belief in how instrumental the new cen- ter, located in Mishref’s Diplomatic Zone, will be in strengthening cooperation, which in turn, will uphold global peace and security. In his speech, the Kuwaiti Foreign Minister thanked state officials for their contributions A handout picture released by the NATO Media Library yesterday shows Kuwaiti First A handout picture released by the NATO Media Library yesterday shows Foreign Minister to such a monumental event, commending all Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Sheikh Sabah Al-Khaled Al-Sabah signing an Sheikh Sabah Al-Khaled Al-Sabah, His Highness the Prime Minister Sheikh Jaber Al- those involved for their “diligent efforts” to agreement with NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg. Mubarak Al-Hamad Al-Sabah and NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg. hold the ceremony. saying it was designed to contribute to long- partner and for your long-standing leadership Security Bureau (NSB) Sheikh Thamer Ali Sheikh Khaled Al-Jarrah Al-Sabah, Secretary Meanwhile, Sheikh Sabah Al-Khaled not- term regional stability. “Today I am honored in promoting regional security,” said the NATO Sabah Al-Salem Al-Sabah said that Kuwait is General of the GCC Dr Abdullatif bin Rashid ed that Kuwait joined the ICI back in 2004 to celebrate the opening of the ICI-NATO chief. Stoltenberg stressed that the partner- steadfast in its efforts to promote regional Al-Zayani, Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs and ties with NATO have since blossomed to Regional Centre. In doing so, we mark two ships will strengthen through this Centre are peace and security. Speaking during the cere- Khaled Suleiman Al-Jarallah, in addition to a include fields such as strategic analysis and important milestones: A milestone in the vitally important to NATO. “Because the secu- mony, Sheikh Thamer Al-Ali noted that the number of GCC and Foreign diplomats. disaster management. He added that the friendship between NATO and Kuwait; And a rity of Gulf countries is directly linked to the center, which was Kuwait’s brainchild, aims to After Sheikh Thamer Al-Ali, Sheikh Sabah idea to initiate the ICI center came about in milestone in the blossoming partnership security of all Allies, we face common security align the views of ICI member nations on var- Al-Khaled, and NATO’s Secretary General 2012 and was subsequently approved during between NATO and the entire Gulf region,” he threats like terrorism, weapons proliferation, ious issues, through courses, lectures and Stoltenberg delivered speeches, an accord for a NATO summit in May of that year, as he said in his inaugural speech while opening and cyber-attacks. And we share the same workshops to be held in the new ICI center. the establishment and operation of the ICI touted this center as the “first of its kind” in the ICI center in Kuwait. aspirations for peace and for stability. So it is On topics to be covered in courses offered center was signed between Sheikh Sabah Al- the region. He said this Centre is a historic first: NATO’s essential that we work more closely together by the center, he said it includes electronic Khaled and Stoltenberg. A documentary, Sheikh Sabah Al-Khaled highlighted a first such presence in the Gulf region. It will than ever before,” he said. “We have now security and crisis management, adding that showcasing Kuwait’s efforts in hosting the plethora of joint activities held by NATO and be a vital hub for cooperation between the developed individual cooperation programs the world is rife with political and economic center, was displayed during the event. Kuwait, including conferences, meetings and Alliance and our Gulf partners, as well as with with all our Gulf partners. Because modern conflicts with ripple effects all across the Stoltenberg met with Sheikh Sabah Al- lectures, in addition to the impending forma- Saudi Arabia, Oman, and the Gulf Cooperation security institutions and well-trained local globe. Moreover, Sheikh Thamer Al-Ali said Khaled after his arrival to Kuwait on tion of a special Kuwaiti delegation to NATO. Council, including in our important fight forces represent our best weapons in the fight that conflict abounds in the Gulf region Monday evening. During the meeting, On “pervasive challenges and threats”, he against terrorism. against violent extremism,” he said. The NATO despite an abundance of wealth, as he under- Sheikh Sabah Al-Khaled reaffirmed keen- said it behooves Kuwait to step up efforts to He said that they will work together in a chief said he is extremely pleased that the scored the significance of closer ties between ness to expand cooperation with the NATO, enhance its ties with the international com- range of different areas, including: strategic three other ICI partners are represented here Kuwait and NATO. adding that Kuwait’s cooperation with the munity to stifle the rise of terrorism, adding analysis; civil emergency planning; military- today: Bahrain, Qatar and the United Arab organization witnessed a turning point that the new center will be a Launchpad for to-military cooperation. “We owe a debt of Emirates. “I am also glad to welcome the Senior officials when the Arab Gulf country joined the increased cooperation. gratitude to Sheikh Thamer Ali Al-Sabah. So I Secretary General of the Gulf Cooperation, Other officials who attended the ceremony Islamic Cooperation Initiative (ICI) in 2014. thank him for his leadership and steadfast and the representatives from Saudi Arabia included Bahraini Foreign Minister Sheikh Stoltenberg thanked Kuwait for hosting the Vital hub support. I also want to thank the State of and Oman,” he added. Khaled bin Ahmad Al-Khalifa, Former Deputy Regional Center, commending the Arab Gulf NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg Kuwait in hosting and the people of Kuwait Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs country’s “important and constructive” role had earlier inaugurated the NATO-Istanbul for your generosity and in hosting this Centre, Regional stability Sheikh Mohammad Sabah Al-Salem Al-Sabah, to security and stability at the regional and Cooperation Initiative (ICI) regional center, for being such a strong and valued NATO In the meantime, Chairman of the National Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Interior international levels. —KUNA

NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg meet with Chairman of the First Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Sheikh Sabah Al-Khaled National Security Bureau (NSB) Sheikh Thamer Ali Sabah Al-Salem Al- Al-Sabah poses for a picture with NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg Sabah. following their meeting.

NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg (right) and Kuwaiti First Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Sheikh Sabah Al-Khaled Al-Sabah attend the meeting.

NATO opens new center...

Continued from Page 1 ted to NATO and the transatlantic partnership,” Stoltenberg said. He Meanwhile, Stoltenberg said said he also spoke with Mattis on the new US administration was Monday, “who expressed strong “fully committed” to the Western support to NATO”. “I am absolute- NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg and Kuwaiti First Deputy Prime NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg (right) talks with Chairman of the military alliance despite strong ly certain that the new US admin- Minister and Foreign Minister Sheikh Sabah Al-Khaled Al-Sabah speak as National Security Bureau (NSB) Sheikh Thamer Ali Sabah Al-Salem Al- criticism from President Donald istration ... will support strength- they arrive to attend the meeting. Sabah, during the meeting. Trump. “I am absolutely certain ening NATO,” he said. that President Trump and the new The NATO chief said he totally US administration will be fully agreed with Trump and Mattis that committed to NATO and to the European financial contributions transatlantic partnership,” to NATO must increase. “European Stoltenberg said. The NATO chief allies have to spend more, have to also said he had received assur- invest more on defense... We have ances from both Trump and his seen some progress but there is a Defense Secretary James Mattis of long way to go,” Stoltenberg said. continued US support for the The Pentagon said on Monday alliance. that Mattis reassured NATO allies “I spoke with President Trump that Washington had an “unshake- a few days after he was elected in able commitment” to the military November and he conveyed a alliance, despite Trump having Members of NATO countries attend a meeting between members of the Representatives from NATO countries attend a meeting between members very strong message to me that previously deriding the organiza- North Atlantic Council (NAC) and the Islamic Cooperation Initiative (ICI) at of the North Atlantic Council (NAC) and the Islamic Cooperation Initiative he personally was very commit- tion as “obsolete”. — Agencies the NATO Istanbul Cooperation Initiative (ICI) Regional Center. (ICI) at the NATO Istanbul Cooperation Initiative (ICI) Regional Center. WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 25, 2017 LOCAL Panel meets again to discuss Sawaber’s fate

By Meshaal Al-Enezi some of them still refuse to accept financial compensations or alternative homes locat- KUWAIT: A Municipal Council committee ed in Northwest Sulaibikhat to leave their tasked with following up with the structur- properties. al plan for the Sawaber area will discuss Built in 1981 with designs by famed during its next meeting recommendations architect and urban planner Arthur with regards to the municipality’s vision for Erickson, Al-Sawaber represents a distinct the area and how it is going to be used. architectural, economic and cultural period Committee Chairman Ali Al-Mousa said in Kuwaiti history. It is one of the first high members will discuss the possibility of issu- density complexes in the country. Located ing a decision by the Municipal Council to on approximately 245,000 square meters of privatize the area located in the heart of prime real estate property in the heart of Kuwait City. A decision would also be need- Kuwait’s financial district, the complex ed to find a quick solution for the problems includes 33 buildings and more than 520 of residents still living in the complex and residential apartments. who have not evacuated their apartments yet, according to Mousa. The committee New locations also seeks to coordinate with the Finance The Justice Ministry asked lawyers and Ministry and government bodies on the all litigants to go to family courts in their possibility of putting up the site for invest- new locations designated by the ministry ment, he added. from Feb 1. The courts will start receiving There are plans to demolish all buildings lawyers and the public at various depart- that constitute the Sawaber residential ments in the new locations, as the family compound and turn the wide area it inhab- appeals court in Mubarak Al-Kabeer will its either into a touristic destination or a more from the Ahmadi Courts Complex to KUWAIT: Women and their children demonstrate outside the National Assembly’s building yesterday in protest against a decision to cut their financial center. The Cabinet had issued a block 2 in Sabah Al-Salem. The Ahmadi social allowances. — Photo by Fouad Al-Shaikh decree last year for the removal of all resi- family appeals court will move from dents of the complex by March 2016. Most Sabahiya to Mahboula, while courts in tenants have evacuated since then, but Hawally will move to block 34 in Hawally Stateless women protest there have been conflicting reports that near Qadisiya Sports Club. against suspended allowances Death sentence for our families

By A Saleh adding that the decision also affected Kuwaiti Mutawa stressed that the ministry is keen on fin- women married to non-Kuwaitis. ishing maintenance operations in Hadiya and KUWAIT: For the second day in a row, a number Riqqa. Speaking during a tour of both areas of stateless mothers of Kuwaiti children demon- ‘Chaotic’ bonus payments accompanied by MPs Nayef Al-Merdas and strated outside the National Assembly’s building Minister of Commerce and Industry Khaled Majed Al-Mutairi, Mutawa stressed that both in protest against a Ministry of Social Affairs and Al-Roudhan issued a new administrative deci- areas’ residents were suffering from bad public Labor (MSAL) decision to suspend their social sion to stop the process by which annual bonus- services. He added that maintenance would allowance. Demonstrators threatened to organ- es were paid to ministry employees who are rat- include changing the entire rainwater and ize a sit-in unless the ministry revokes the deci- ed as ‘excellent’ in their job evaluation reports; a sewage drainage grids and that the work would sion they described as a ‘death sentence for our process that was described to be ‘chaotic’. be done as soon as possible. families’. Protestor Um Hamad said she is a non- According to directive number 2/2017, hard- Kuwaiti and mother of three Kuwaiti children. working employees and irresponsible ones used Subpar performance KUWAIT: This file photo shows Al-Sawaber Complex (right) in Kuwait City. “Undersecretary Hassan Kathem told us that we to be treated equally and they all got the bonus- Chairman of the parliament’s budgets and do not meet the conditions because our children es according to the moods of their bosses. The final statement committee MP Adnan do not work. How can my seven-year-old child new directive quoted a Civil Service Commission Abdulsamad said that a meeting was held with Kuwait has rich, deep work?” she asked, noting that Kathem promised (CSC) stipulation which says that public employ- Education Minister Mohammed Al-Fares to dis- to write a memo requesting to amend the law. ees have to actually work a minimum of 180 cuss the State Audit Bureau’s report about Another stateless mother, Um Abdullah, said days a year to get the bonus. The directive also Education Ministry’s budget for the fiscal year civilization: Researchers she is a Kuwaiti citizen’s ex-wife. She added she explained that employees working shifts will 2015-2016. Abdulsamad said that the commit- pays KD 350 in rent and KD 100 in installment for have to work at least 70 percent of those shifts tee recommended setting up an auditing KUWAIT: Two Kuwaiti researchers lectured discoveries in Kuwait, Al-Duweesh said fol- her car. “After this unfair decision, me and my to get the bonus. Moreover, the directive department within the ministry. The committee Monday about discoveries of relics in lowing the lecture. Excavations in Kuwait dis- kids will become homeless and I might go to explained that actual working days would be also stressed that despite spending over KD 15 Kuwait, and affirmed that Kuwait has “rich covered four major writings: Sumerian, prison,” she said, noting that the decision was calculated after deducting all leaves and vaca- billion on education in the last 10 years, the out- and deep” civilization. Dr Sultan Al- Aramaic, Old Arabic and Greek, he said. like a death sentence for over 3,000 families that tions, except sick leaves. Commenting on the come of educational facilities was subpar, and Duweesh, director of antiquities and muse- “There is no doubt that the land of Kuwait is had been receiving the social allowance. decision, observers said that it was a very bold more efforts were needed to improve education- ums at the National Council for Culture, Art rich with different antiquities which began “Is MSAL’s social allowance given to us the one at a time when other ministers have failed in al quality. The committee recommended recon- from the stone age and the bronze age as reason behind Kuwait’s budget deficit? How will tackling this issue. sidering the recruitment of expatriate teachers well as other historic ages,” added Duweesh. we feed our children, how will we pay rent and and instead hire bedoons (stateless) to tackle The most ancient writings were the Sumerian how will we be able to educate our kids so that Bad services the lack of teachers in some subjects (rare spe- of the Dilmun civilization, and discovered in they can find jobs?” Um Hussein exclaimed, Minister of Public Works Abdulrahman Al- cialties) such as physics and mathematics. Failaka Island, he said. “We have found 20 Sumerian documents in Failaka, all talking about importance of Dilmun and the big trade relations between Dilmun and old Iraq,” News he said. Some of these documents also In Brief described the area of Dilmun. Meanwhile, Mutairi said discoveries of antiquities in Kuwait were evidence on exis- Bogus domestic tence of population, social and economic help office busted KUWAIT: Dr Sultan Al-Duweesh (right) and activities in ancient times. He talked about Dr Hamed Al-Mutairi attend a lecture discoveries made at Saeeda Village in Failaka about ancient writings in Kuwait. — KUNA Island, like pottery ovens, weights of fishing By Hanan Al-Saadoun nets, bones of animals and fish, and glassy and Letters (NCCAL), gave a lecture about bracelets. Mutairi said a mosque of Saeeda KUWAIT: Residency detectives arrested a gang that ancient writings in the land of Kuwait. Dr Village was discovered in 2001. This mosque, ran a bogus domestic help office by harboring Hamed Al-Mutairi, director of surveillance he said, consisted of two corridors and a yard. absconding persons and making them work in vio- and excavation at NCCAL, talked about It is surrounded by a number of rooms. This is lation of the law. The gang, mostly consisting of results of excavation of the Gulf mission. one of the oldest mosques discovered in Ethiopian nationals, used to send absconding The ancient writings are one of the major Kuwait, he said. — KUNA domestic helpers to other employers, then the maids later escaped and returned to the office again. Five Ethiopians reported as absconding were Trees help protect arrested and sent to concerned authorities. Meanwhile, the domestic help department at the archaeological sites Interior Ministry held several inspection tours in all governorates and placed stickers to close down sev- from sandstorms eral offices in violation of the law. HAVANA: Kuwaiti students pose for a group photo with Cuba’s President of the National Fake passports Institute for Water Resources Ines Maria Chapman. — KUNA Criminal investigators recently arrested an Iranian national on charges of forging Cuban, Albanian Portuguese passports for himself and his kids, based on which they got residency visas as officials hail KFAED’s Portuguese citizens, said security sources. Case papers indicate that investigations went under- way based on information that detectives support to development received, which indicated that the man had changed his and his children’s nationality. After HAVANA/TIRANA: Senior Cuban official Shop in central Havana, and were briefed on contacting the Arab and International Criminal praised yesterday Kuwait’s efforts and role in its heritage and history. The students’ tour is supporting development in her country part of the “be amongst the outstanding Police Department and the INTERPOL, it was through the Kuwait Fund for Arab Economic ones” a cooperation between the Ministry of discovered that the new passports that the sus- Development (KFAED). President of the Education and KFAED, which kicked off in pect obtained were fake. Based on that, the sus- National Institute for Water Resources Ines 2010. It involves the annual selection of a pect was arrested and later confessed that he Maria Chapman made her statements after number of high achieving 11th grade stu- paid an amount of money to an unidentified meeting Kuwaiti visiting students touring dents who are sent on accompanied trips to person who helped him forge the passports, the the institute. see first-hand KFAED and Kuwaiti develop- Interior Ministry said in a statement. Police Chapman hailed as well the humanitari- mental contributions and efforts. searched the suspect’s home and found 12 fake an role played by His Highness the Amir of Portuguese passports, three Iranian passports Kuwait Sheikh Sabah Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al- Vital projects KUWAIT: The second phase of a project to perimeter of those trees and plants would and seven cancelled Kuwaiti passports. Sabah in supporting communities and Separately, Albanian officials credited plant trees at various archaeological sites in be planted in another phase. developing economies in most countries KFAED contributions for helping their coun- Bahra in Subbiya north of the country start- around the world. The Director added tries develop several vital projects. They made ed yesterday, with participation of a num- Waste management Liquor ‘factory’ stormed Kuwaiti-Cuban relations, dating back to their statements yesterday during a visit by ber of government and voluntary bodies, In other news, the Public Authority for 1974, remain exceptional, deep, and historic. Kuwaiti students, organized by KFAED in such the Green Line Group, the Teaching Agricultural Affairs and Fish Resources Ahmadi security led by Director General Brig On a different front, Chapman said cooperation with the Ministry of Education. Staff Society and the Public Authority for (PAAAFR) said it intends to allocate certain Abdullah Saffah Al-Mulla busted a local liquor ‘facto- KFAED provided five loans to Cuba totaling They added that last March saw the signing of Agricultural Affairs and Fish Resources collection points for agricultural waste for ry’ in Khairan residential area. The Interior Ministry’s at KD 31 million, noting that four of those a loan agreement with the Kuwaiti Fund to (PAAAFR). Teaching Staff Society member recycling. PAAAFRS deputy director for Relations and Security Information Department said loans were for water related projects. The restore the Vlora River road at a total cost of Dr Shamlan Al-Qenae said the first phase botanical wealth Faisal Al-Siddiqi said the that after police confirmed information received fifth loan presented by KFAED to Cuba KD 12 million ($48.8 million) involved planting trees and plants to authority had been receiving many com- earlier about the brewery, patrol officers stopped a focused on the establishment of 34 semi- The Albanian Fund officials hoped that the secure archaeological sites in Failaka plaints about agricultural waste dumped in vehicle driven by an Asian man who left the house. electric power stations in various areas in two sides will continue such cooperation in against sandstorms that affect and gradual- yards and alleys. “Such acts cause pollution Police searched the vehicle and found 480 bottles, Cuba, she added. Meanwhile, the visiting the future to help bolster bilateral relations. ly bury them. Qenae added that more trees and lead to flies, insects and stray animals 12 cooking gas cylinders and other equipment Kuwaiti students toured the National The visit by the students aims to highlight the that pose a threat to human health,” he and fungal plants were planted yesterday inside. When police entered the house, 400 sacks Institute for Water Resources and were fund’s projects in Albania since 1993. in Subbiya to do the same. Green Line warned, adding that the waste also causes each containing 12 bottles - 4,800 bottles in total - briefed by senior officials on the role of the Seven loans were provided by the fund Group’s President Khaled Al-Hajri said the bad odors that sometimes get carried else- institute. Earlier the students visited Morro to Albania worth KD 33.438 million, ($113.6 60 drums, seven steel distilling drums, five steel tree planting was done on a request from where by the wind. Siddiqi added that, Castle in Havana which shares its name with million) to finance projects within agricul- the National Council for Culture, Arts and accordingly, the Municipality was contact- burners, 29 cardboard boxes, 50 gas cylinders, 30 structures in Santiago de Cuba and the ture, transportation, and infrastructure. On Letters (NCCAL) in a bid to protect archaeo- ed to allocate special sites to collect waste sacks of sugar and five boxes of yeast were found. Castillo de San Felipe del Morro in San Juan, an annual basis, KFAED organizes trips to logical sites and hold the soil around them in Kabd and Wafra to recycle and reuse it as The suspect and the material were sent to con- Puerto Rico. showcase Kuwait’s huge role in providing together. Hajri added that a second fertilizer and fodder. cerned authorities. The students also visited popular Feira assistance to other countries. — KUNA WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 25, 2017 LOCAL

In Brief US Dollar stable No H5N8 KUNA chief against KD 0.304 human infection meets envoys KUWAIT: The Ministry of Health emphasized Monday KUWAIT: Director General and Chairman of KUNA Sheikh Mubarak Duaij Al-Ibrahim Al-Sabah KUWAIT: The rate of the US Dollar against the that no human infection of the deadly H5N8 virus was detected in Kuwait. The ministry’s Assistant met yesterday with the Algerian Ambassador to Kuwaiti Dinar was stable at KD 0.304, the same case Kuwait Abdulhamid Abdawi, as talks centered on with the euro which stood at KD 0.327, said the Undersecretary Dr Majeda Al-Qattan stated that no reports about receiving H5N8-inftected people were increased cooperation in the media sector. Central Bank of Kuwait (CBK) yesterday. The CBK said Moreover, the KUNA Chairman also received that the Sterling Pound went up to KD 0.381 while received from hospitals and medical centers and insti- tutions across the country. Qattan assured that the Egypt’s Ambassador to Kuwait Yasser Atif, as the the Swiss Franc was stable at KD 0.305. The Japanese Egyptian diplomat commended KUNA’s efforts Yen stood firm at KD 0.002. — KUNA highly contagious H5N8 is spreading among poultry, but the likelihood of human infection is low. — KUNA to bolster relations with Egypt. — KUNA Photo of the day

KUWAIT: ‘Kushk Mubarak’ in the historical Souk Al-Mubarkiyah. Established circa 1897, the kiosk was used by Kuwait’s seventh ruler Sheikh Mubarak Al-Sabah (Mubarak the Great) as the seat of government during the early years of his reign before the construction of Seif Palace. The property was renovated by the National Council for Culture, Arts and Letters and reopened to the public in 2011 as a historical monument. — KUNA photo Kuwait allocates $10 million for Syrian refugees in Iraq’s Kurdistan

IRBIL: Kuwait has allocated $10 million for province, and added that the $10 million after a meeting with the mission, said the Syrian refugees in Iraq’s Kurdistan province, an would be used to improve public services in refugee camps needed further funding to official from Kuwait Fund for Arab Economic three camps in Dahuk and Irbil. overcome problems caused by the large num- Development (KFAED) said Monday. Sheikh Dr Hanan Hamdan, head of UNHCR office ber of refugees. Ahmad Ali Al-Sabah, member of KFAED’s mis- in Kuwait, said her agency was happy with the He said the hospital in the province in gen- sion visiting Iraq’s Kurdistan, said that the cooperation with KFAED to support the Syrian eral and Irbil in particular were stretched with financial aid would be used to carry out proj- refugees in Iraq’s Kurdistan. She said the visit the large number of patients. Dr Omar Al- ects for Syrian refugees in collaboration with aimed at studying the remaining details relat- Kanderi, the State of Kuwait General Consul in UNHCR, the UN refugee agency. ed to special agreements to support the Irbil, reaffirmed Kuwait’s keenness to help the He said the visit of the mission aimed at Syrian refugees in camps in the province. Syrian refugees either bilaterally or through IRBIL: Member of KFAED’s mission Sheikh Ahmad Ali Al-Sabah meets with Iraq’s evaluating the refugee projects in the Governor of Irbil Nawzad Hadi, in remarks the UN agencies. — KUNA Kurdistan officials. — KUNA

Health ministry stresses importance of early detection of cervical cancer

KUWAIT: A senior official at Kuwait’s Ministry of Health on Monday affirmed the significance of the early detection of cervi- cal cancer so as to control the disease in its first phases. Speaking at a news conference, head of media office of Ministry of Health Dr Ghalia Al-Mutairi said a campaign entitled ‘Do not turn your back to cervical cancer’ will kick off next month and will run throughout the year. The campaign aims to raise women’s aware- ness on risks and symptoms of the disease, she added. The ministry is currently considering importing cervical cancer vaccine which is used at the private sector hospitals, she noted. She pointed out that the campaign coincides with other events that mark World Cancer Day on February 4 and the Gulf Cancer Awareness Week on February 1-7 every year. Meanwhile, Dr Abdelmohsen Al-Anjari, a consultant for obstetrics and gynecology, said the total cases diagnosed with cervical cancer in Kuwait has reached 350 over 10 years and 38 cases were detected in 2013. Only married women are vulnerable to the disease which is caused only through the process of intercourse, he emphasized. He said the cervical cancer turns slowly into a cancer cell, indicating that the disease can be treated when it is detected early. He urged necessarily married women to make cervix screening annually. Dr Waleed Al-Jassar, a consultant for obstetrics and gynecolo- gy at Kuwait University’s Faculty of Medicine, said Kuwait would be amongst the region’s countries that imports cervical cancer vaccine. Providing vaccine to young people will strengthen their immune systems and decrease disease rates, he said. He stated that Australia gives vaccines to both men and women as males are the transmitters of the disease. — KUNA

KUWAIT: Ministry of Health officials attend a press con- ference held to announce an awareness campaign against cervical cancer. — KUNA WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 25, 2017 From the Arabic press

Crime They’re going to protect human rights. Al-Anbaa Report They’re going to use air-conditioned busses Body found in to transport expats straight to the airport! Truth about hate mall parking lot KUWAIT: The body of an Egyptian was turned to the coro- By Salah Al-Sayer ner after he was found dead in a car behind a mall in Farwaniya. Police received a call about a person sleeping in aying that the West antagonizes Islam is baseless his car, so patrols went to the area. When they knocked on and is mainly built on illusions to spread hate the window, there was no response, so they obtained a Samong human beings. The West long ago sur- warrant and smashed the glass. Paramedics at the scene passed the issue of religious beliefs and thus built declared him dead. Police are investigating the cause of states and communities governed by law. One can live death, because there may be foul play involved. in Europe for years without being asked about his reli- Human rights and the gion. People there respect the individual’s right to demographic structure! choose or change beliefs. You might even find a family Woman raped with a Christian father, Jewish mother, Buddhist son A Thai woman told police a man tricked and raped her. and an atheist daughter, because these individuals The victim said a man she knows, who had promised to believe and follow the Arab saying of “Everyone has marry her, invited her for dinner, but instead of going to the restaurant, he took her to an isolated area and raped her. She filed a complaint at Salmiya police station. Separately, a case was reported involving a driver who took a flight attendant to a mall, then invited her for a cup of coffee in his apartment, where he raped her. Detectives The West hates are working on the case to identify the suspect.

Policeman caught with drugs and detests radical A policeman and his friend were arrested with shabu, chemical narcotic pills and two liquor bottles. A police Al-Anbaa patrol spotted the car the two were in being driven political Islam unsteadily, so they stopped it and found them in an abnormal state. The car was searched and the drugs were found. that antagonizes Al-Jarida Flag dishonored A citizen charged with desecrating the Kuwaiti flag the entire world was sent to state security for questioning. What’s on this evening?

By Mudaffar Abdullah Wife charged the freedom of belief and may Allah help him!” A Jordanian man told police his wife insulted him, threw “Be it atheists, Muslims or Jews, no one should be ibrant cultural activities are slowly advancing in where the activities are held. Building new cultural deprived of rights because of their religion,” said his mobile phone at him and damaged it. A case was filed Kuwait but they still need more care and manage- establishments is a great feat that Kuwait deserves. and referred to the concerned authorities for investigations. Thomas Jefferson, the second president of the United Vment - they can be utilized within a touristic However, it would be a wasted effort unless they are States (1801-1809). In Canada, the first mosque was recreational policy that a certain body can invest in. For properly managed. We do lack enough training for built in 1938. The British elected a Muslim man of starters, the parliament is due to discuss Kuwait’s human resources specializing in recreation. Jaber Al- Neighbors’ fight Pakistani origin as London’s Mayor. There are over demography on Feb 2; I Ahmad and Abdullah Al- A Syrian woman accused her Lebanese neighbor of 2,500 mosques in Germany. A Muslim of Somali origin hope the discussion will Salem centers are so huge beating her following previous differences. She gave was elected as the Senator of Minnesota in the United focus on visa traffickers and call for considering the police his details along with a medical report to back instead of on expats. Yes, Building new issue of training. States. The French government allocated Ä 9 million to her claims. The suspect is being sought by detectives equip mosques with security surveillance systems to — Translated from the Arabic press indeed I do. Now, we can Archaeological expedi- for questioning. take our family members tions have become more protect Muslim worshippers. The government funds out to theatres and various cultural establishments active in recent years and in Islamic centers in Norway, and there are many such recreational venues around 2016 alone, over seven examples. the country. A week hardly is a great feat that teams from Gulf Cooperation As a matter of fact, the West hates and detests radi- passes nowadays without a Council countries and other cal political Islam that antagonizes the entire world. cultural activity is held, as foreign states visited Kuwait One look at the actions of the Islamic State (IS) group various cultural bodies like Kuwait deserves. to dig out a lot of regional or Taliban are enough for believers, and spares them a the National Council for history and encourage more lot of explanation and slipslops. Neither the West nor Culture, Arts and Letters people to visit Failaka, the East antagonizes Islam as a religion. Religions are (NCCAL), Yarmouk and the Subbiya and other areas on safe and well-organized no longer a motive for hate among civilized peoples American Cultural Centers, Sabah Al-Ahmed Heritage excursions. For those describing this movement as that had never experienced Islamophobia and suspi- Village, the Sheikh Jaber Cultural Center and the Writers ‘shamelessness,’ we have to assert that it is art. All of cions about Muslims until after the rise of political Syndicate have been so active. these artistic activities take place in theatre, galleries, Islam in the Middle East. It also started after the spread What we can do today is take care of recreational crafts, cinema, workshops for kids, inter-cultural com- of political Islam’s terrible practices, starting from the activities for both citizens and residents or even munication and making cultural and music agreements, US embassy hostages crisis in Tehran after Khomeini’s tourists. Starting at the airport where special media and seminars and symposiums. It is unacceptable to sum- Islamic revolution, all the way through the September publicity centers should be put to promote those marize all these efforts in one abusing and unjust word 11th attacks and the repeated assaults on innocent establishments’ programs. Transportation services like ‘shamelessness.’ people in Europe in the name of Islam. should also be created to carry people to the venues —Translated by Kuwait Times —Translated by Kuwait Times Zain main sponsor of NeedLab Kuwait Matters

KUWAIT: Zain, the leading telecommunications company in Kuwait, announced its main sponsorship of NeedLab Workshop Series, an educational initiative that takes place in several countries around the world starting from Kuwait. The event aims at introducing a unique architectural-social experience using advanced technology. Zain’s sponsorship of this initiative came under its Corporate Sustainability and Social Responsibility umbrel- la, which closely focuses to contribute in the development of the education sector and technological innovation. The Nawaf Najia company partners with leading organizations locally and globally to invest in education, an essential element of the KIB sponsors the Late further progress of national economy. NeedLab aims at increasing general awareness about Khalifa Al-Jeri architecture and local craftsmanship, as well as strengthen the skills and talents of architecture students and intro- Environmental Award duce them to the role of advanced technology solutions in the development of the modern design methods. KUWAIT: In an effort to help raise environmental aware- NeedLab kick-started with a workshop that was hosted ness amongst the younger generations, Kuwait last weekend in the College of Engineering and Petroleum reality. The pavilion will be built in Shaheed Park at the skills, ultimately contributing to the further progress of International Bank (KIB) announced its sponsorship of the of Kuwait University. The event will also feature a series of end of the workshop. national economy. ‘Late Khalifa Al-Jeri Environmental Award,’ organized by Al- workshops and lectures featuring a number of experts, Zain’s support to NeedLab springs from the company’s As a leading national company, Zain firmly believes in Jeri Group. The Award is initially set to take place across the designers, and architects, both from local and internation- core Corporate Sustainability and Social Responsibility the importance of contributing to the progress of the edu- Group’s own schools throughout the current academic al levels. Additionally, participants will build a pavilion strategy. The company believes that supporting initiatives cation sector, and looks to empower and prepare the year, and will later expand to include all schools in Kuwait. plaque using locally produced materials, responding to such as this one provides young people with skills and nation’s youth for the important roles they will play in the Launched as part of a memorandum of cooperation the climate and visualizing the effect using augmented tools necessary to help them highlight and develop their further progress of the country. signed between Al-Jeri Group and the United Nation’s associated Renewable Energy Developmental Organization (REDO), the Award will feature sixteen schools competing in ten different categories. A number of awareness work- shops are also set to take place in parallel, seeking to encourage environmental conservation amongst students. Nawaf Najia, Manager of the Corporate Communications Unit at KIB, said “KIB’s sponsorship of this Award stems from our strong belief in the importance of its message of envi- ronmental consciousness - especially given that it focuses on promoting conservational awareness within schools and amongst students. At KIB we are acutely aware of the need to spread environmental education amongst the younger generation, in an effort to help them build a sustainable and healthy future for their country.” Green Flame Gas Co presents latest gas equipment at Horeca

KUWAIT: The Green Flame Gas Company participated in the Horeca Kuwait 2017; an important event and an annual attraction in the hotel and restaurant industry. Engineer Bashar Al-Qattan was present at the company’s booth along with the Sales Department officers. Bashar has stated the importance at the exhibition to present and introduce the GFGC is a leading company in the state of Kuwait and Gulf Countries, in the field of Design and Built the Gas Piping Network with specification that serve all important sectors such as Residential, Commercial and Industrial. Would also like to highlight that the Avenues Mall was one of the Companies Land Mark Project in addition to the 14 international companies that the company represented in Kuwait for the Gas field. The Green Flame Gas Company has obtained (ISO) 9001 Certified in 2008, 2009 and (ICC) in 2007 and (NFPA) in 2008. The Green Flame Gas Co is a company that adheres to the international specification and high standard that gives the KUWAIT: The Commercial Bank of Kuwait (CBK) sponsored a campaign organized recently by the Farwaniya Governorate to distribute winter clothes to municipality workers company the edge among one of the best company in Kuwait. and people in need. WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 25, 2017 UK parliament must approve Hopes fade for justice for Sri Lanka’s lost journalists start of talks on Brexit Page 12 Page 10

WASHINGTON: US President Donald Trump during a reception with Congressional leaders on January 23, 2017 at the White House. — AFP Trump undercuts bipartisan effort No evidence for President’s claim of rampant voter fraud

WASHINGTON: Even as President Donald one ornate room of the White House to anoth- piece of Barack Obama’s attempts to counter In addition to his executive action on TPP, Yet he appeared to suggest that Trump would Trump starts reaching out to lawmakers and er as he played host to business, labor and China and deepen US ties in Asia. Trump signed memorandums freezing most not move quickly - or perhaps at all - to rein- business leaders to sell his policies, he’s still Congressional leaders. Again and again, he For Trump, the move was a fulfillment of a federal government hiring - though he noted state deportations for young immigrants pro- making false claims about election fraud. ordered aides to summon journalists from central campaign promise. He has repeatedly an exception for the military - and reinstating tected from deportation under the Obama During a reception with lawmakers at the their West Wing workspace at a moment’s cast the 12-nation trade pact - which was a ban on providing federal money to interna- administration. White House Monday evening, Trump claimed notice for unscheduled statements and photo eagerly sought by U.S. allies in Asia - as detri- tional groups that perform abortions or pro- Spicer said Trump’s focus would be on peo- the reason he’d lost the popular vote to his opportunities mental to American businesses “Great thing vide information on the option. The regula- ple in the US illegally who have criminal Democratic rival was that 3 million to 5 million for the American worker what we just did,” tion, known as the “Mexico City Policy,” has records or who pose a threat. “That’s where immigrants living in the US illegally had voted. Business friendly Trump said in brief remarks as he signed a been a political volleyball, instituted by the priority’s going to be, and then we’re That’s according to a Democratic aide familiar Yesterday, Trump summoned the heads of notice in the Oval Office. The Obama adminis- Republican administrations and rescinded by going to continue to work through the entire with the exchange who spoke on condition of the big three American automakers, General tration spent years negotiating the Pacific Rim Democratic ones since 1984. number of folks that are here illegally,” he said. anonymity to discuss the private meeting. Motors, Ford Motor Co and Fiat Chrysler, for a pact, though the mood in Washington on Spicer - making his first appearance at the There is no evidence to support Trump’s breakfast meeting at the White House. He trade soured over time. Obama never sent the Day one proposals briefing room podium since his angry tirade claim. He made a similar statement on Twitter pledged to scrap regulations and reduce taxes accord to Congress for ratification, making The actions were among the long list of against the press on Saturday - also appeared in late November that he had won the elec- on corporations that keep jobs in the US, Trump’s actions Monday largely symbolic. steps candidate Trump pledged to take on his to back away from Trump’s assertion that he toral college in a “landslide” and “won the pop- though he did not specify his plans for either. The start of Trump’s first full week in office opening day as president. But other “Day One” could move the US Embassy in Israel from Tel ular vote if you deduct the millions of people His administration, he said, will “go down as had begun as a reset after a tumultuous week- promises were going unfulfilled, including Aviv to Jerusalem. who voted illegally.” one of the most friendly countries” for busi- end dominated by his and his spokesman’s plans to propose a constitutional amendment While presidential candidates have long Hillary Clinton won the popular vote by ness. The president was also expected to take false statements about inauguration crowds imposing term limits on members of Congress made similar pledges, all have abandoned the nearly 2.9 million votes despite losing the executive actions yesterday related to manu- and their vigorous complaints about media and terminating Obama’s executive actions idea over concerns that following through electoral college. The assertion appeared to be facturing. Trump has moved swiftly to center coverage of the celebrations. While Trump’s deferring deportations for some people living would further inflame tensions in the volatile part of a developing pattern for Trump and his his first full week in office on jobs and the advisers have long accepted his tendency to in the US illegally. region. “We are at the early stages in this deci- new administration in which falsehoods over- economy. On Monday, he signed an order become fixated on seemingly insignificant Spokesman Sean Spicer said Monday that sion-making process,” Spicer said of the possi- shadow outreach efforts. withdrawing the United States from the issues, some privately conceded that his focus Trump intended to follow through on his pro- ble embassy relocation. “If it was already a After a contentious weekend, Trump began sweeping Trans-Pacific Partnership, using one on inauguration crowds was unhelpful on the posals, though on a more extended timeframe decision, then we wouldn’t be going through his first full week as president bounding from of his first actions in office to reject a center- opening weekend of his presidency. to ensure maximum attention for each move. a process.” — AP Iraq cleric warns US on Israel embassy move

NAJAF: Moving the US embassy in Israel from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem would be a declaration of war on Islam, influential Iraqi cleric Moqtada Al-Sadr said yesterday. “Transferring the US embassy to Jerusalem would be a public and more-explicit-than-ever declaration of war against Islam,” he said in a statement. In a break with previous administrations, new US President Donald Trump has pledged to recognise Jerusalem as Israel’s capital and relocate the US embassy there from Tel Aviv. Sadr, a firebrand Shiite cleric whose militia once fought US occupation forces in Iraq, called for the “for- mation of a special division to liberate Jerusalem were the decision to be implemented.” Sadr said the Cairo- based Arab League as well as the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation, the world’s main pan-Islamic body, should take a decisive stand on the issue or dissolve themselves. The Najaf-based cleric also called “for the immediate closure of the US embassy in Iraq” should Washington go ahead with its promised embassy trans- fer in Israel. Sadr supporters protesting against the lack of services and widespread corruption in the Iraqi state stormed the so-called “Green Zone” in Baghdad twice last year. The protesters entered the parliament build- ings and the prime minister’s office but did not attempt anything against the US embassy there, which is Washington’s largest foreign mission. The United States works with Iraq on a range of issues, notably with military backing for the Iraqi offen- sive to retake large parts of the country seized by the Islamic State group. The final status of Jerusalem is one of the thorniest issues in resolving the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. Israel considers Jerusalem-including the east- ern Palestinian sector it annexed in 1980 — as its indi- visible capital. The Palestinians want to make east Jerusalem the capital of their future state. The White House on Sunday appeared to play down suggestions that a move was imminent, with press secretary Sean Spicer saying: “We are at the very beginning stages of even discussing this subject.” — AFP INTERNATIONAL WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 25, 2017 Jammeh ‘allowed to keep’ his luxury cars collection

BANJUL: Gambian ex-president Yahya tion victory. “What is very clear is that Rolls Royce and one (Mercedes) Benz” Jammeh could leave with them. Bentleys or three smaller cars, eventually Jammeh will be allowed to keep his collec- arrangements were made and the govern- were loaded onto a Chadian cargo plane, Yesterday, the source added, “10 cars” opting for the Mercedes and the Rolls tion of 13 luxury cars and fly them out to ment was fully prepared and supportive of while others await shipment. The were still earmarked for future shipment, Royces on the night he left the country. his exiled home in Equatorial Guinea, a ex-president Jammeh to leave and as a spokesman added that the decision was which diplomats and others familiar with the “They were trying to check which one fits. If spokesman for new president Adama result they found it is better to leave with also aimed at minimizing return visits by matter confirmed included a Bentley, Land they took the bigger cars they could only Barrow said yesterday. all his properties instead of coming down Jammeh. “He leaves with all his properties Rovers, a red Mini Cooper, and another take two,” he said. The news is likely to anger Barrow’s spokesman confirmed to AFP and checking properties,” spokesman so he is not coming up and down to Mercedes. “No information or orders have Gambians who have also learnt Jammeh an agreement had been struck to facilitate Halifa Sallah told AFP. check,” Sallah said. Another Barrow been given by this new government to stop took off with $11 million of state funds, leav- Jammeh’s exit on Saturday in order to end An airport source who saw the cargo spokesman had alluded angrily to the lux- shipping the cars,” the airport source told ing the coffers nearly empty. An “entry-level” a weeks-long impasse caused by the ex- being prepared on Saturday night when ury cars on Sunday, but did not say that AFP. He described Jammeh’s entourage as Rolls Royce costs $250,000, and most leader’s refusal to recognize Barrow’s elec- Jammeh flew out of the country said “two the new president had agreed that struggling between the choice of two larger Gambians live on less than $2 a day. — AFP Fears for Mosul civilians as Iraq plans west bank assault

MOSUL: Three quarters of a million civil- soned elite forces, whose engineers some ians living in west Mosul are at “extreme reports said were already working on risk”, the United Nations warned yesterday assembling pontoon bridges for a cross-riv- as Iraqi forces prepared for a push into the er assault. jihadist bastion. A hundred days into a All bridges across the Tigris in Mosul massive offensive to retake the Islamic were either bombed by IS or hit by air State group’s last major stronghold in Iraq, strikes carried out by the US-led coalition federal forces and jihadists took up posi- that has helped Iraq reclaim about two tions on either side of the Tigris River that thirds of the territory it lost to IS in 2014. divides Mosul. The three months it took to “The Iraqi forces have over the course of reconquer Mosul’s east saw some tough their battle against Daesh (IS) in this coun- fighting, but even deadlier battles are try developed the capability to do bridg- expected on its west bank, which is home ing, including bridging while under fire,” to the narrow streets of the Old City and coalition spokesman Colonel John Dorrian some of IS’s traditional redoubts. said. The coalition has meanwhile sought “We hope that everything is done to to prevent IS from moving on the Tigris, protect the hundreds of thousands of peo- destroying more than 100 boats in the ple who are across the river in the west,” the Mosul area over a period of six days, it said. United Nations’ humanitarian coordinator The UN had feared an exodus of unprece- for Iraq, Lise Grande, said in a statement. dented proportions before the Mosul “We know that they are at extreme risk and offensive began on October 17, but while we fear for their lives.” Iraqi forces have 180,000 people did flee their homes, the retaken all central neighborhoods in east majority stayed. Mosul, and yesterday were clearing It now estimates that 750,000 people Rashidiyah, which lies on the northern still live in Mosul’s west bank, either edge of the city and is the east bank’s last because they did not want to leave their area still to be secured. homes or were prevented from doing so by Tens of thousands of other security per- IS, which has routinely used civilians as sonnel are deployed north, south and west human shields in this conflict. “We don’t of Mosul, meaning that the jihadists are know what will happen in western Mosul RAMALLAH: In this Thursday, Jan 5, 2017 photo, Palestinian Hamza Hamad,16, rides his horse at his home, in the village of Silwad. — AP trapped in the city where their leader Abu but we cannot rule out the possibility of Bakr Al-Baghdadi proclaimed his “caliphate” siege-like conditions or a mass exodus,” in 2014. Residents of west Mosul and civil Grande said in the statement. Palestinian teen’s case casts activists told AFP on Monday that IS fight- ers had forced civilians along the riverfront Death blow to leave their shops and homes. “To date, nearly half of all the casualties from Mosul are civilians. It’s terrifying to light on Israeli detentions Bridges bombed think of the risks families are facing,” she “The group forced us to leave our said. The Norwegian Refugee Council, homes... without allowing us to take our which assists some of the displaced fami- Controversial policy tows line between injustice and caution belongings,” a resident of Al-Maidan said. “It lies, also said the lack of access to west deployed gun positions and posted snipers Mosul was a source of great concern, given on roofs and at windows.” Facing them the humanitarian crisis that fighting in the SILWAD: High school student Hamza Hamad detainees. The tedium of watching TV and walk- tion, singling out two hunger strikers and across the river are some of Iraq’s most sea- east had already caused. — AFP spent 10 months in an Israeli jail for alleged links ing in the yard was only interrupted by a weekly Mohammed Abu Sakha, a trainer at the to the Islamic militant Hamas group, but was Arabic lesson. Hamad said he’ll try to graduate Palestinian Circus School. The school runs an never charged with a crime. The 16-year-old is this year, even though he lost two semesters in after-school program, teaching basic circus arts one of the youngest among thousands of school, and was most passionate about tending and other skills to 280 youths, including mental- Palestinians who have been held in so-called to his horse, mule and two dozen chickens. ly disabled children. administrative detention in half a century of Israel’s Shin Bet security service said Hamad is The diplomats issued their statement days Israeli military occupation. The teen’s case spot- an activist in Hamas and has ties with senior fig- before Abu Sakha, 25, received a third six-month lights one of Israel’s perhaps most contested ures in Hamas and in Tanzim, an offshoot of term. Abu Sakha will be released in June, at the policies, under which it can hold suspects for Hamas’ rival Fatah. “His testimony raises suspi- earliest. A cousin said the greatest challenge for months or sometimes several years without cions that he acted toward advancing terror Abu Sakha, a tight-wire artist, is not being able charges. Israel says the policy is a key tool in pre- activities against Israeli targets,” the agency said. to work out in detention. “Now he is just sitting,” venting attacks on civilians, but rights activists It gave no specifics and did not mention said the relative, Alaa Abo Alrob, 22. say it violates due process. Hamad’s father, Muayyad, who is serving seven The Shin Bet alleges that Abu Sakha is active Numbers of detainees have fluctuated, from a life terms for his role in the killing of seven Israeli in the Popular Front for the Liberation of few dozen to hundreds at any given time, with soldiers as a member of a Hamas cell in the sec- Palestine, a faction that - like Hamas - has carried spikes during violent periods. Detainee figures ond uprising. Hamad’s mother, an English out attacks against Israelis. The agency said his are up again since October 2015, when teacher, said she told her son and his two activities “pose a threat” to security, but gave no Palestinians, mostly acting on their own, began younger siblings to get a good education and specifics. Pnina Sharvit Baruch, a former Israeli stabbing or ramming cars into Israelis in a series do well in life. “From the beginning, after army legal adviser, said the overall security situa- of deadly attacks. Muayyad was arrested, I raised my kids not to tion helps determine who is placed in detention Israeli officials also indicated they would repeat this experiment,” she said. Palestinian and that different criteria might be used at dif- expand the use of administrative detentions to activists say Israel currently holds more than 700 ferent times. deter possible attacks inspired by the extremist administrative detainees, while Israel’s prison “If everything is rather calm, you would say Islamic State group. Israel’s security Cabinet service said there were 554 in December, a dis- only very serious cases would warrant adminis- MOSUL: Iraqi students run in a school yard at a school in Mosul’s eastern Gogjali approved the idea after a Palestinian, with pur- crepancy apparently stemming in part from trative detention,” said Sharvit Baruch, a neighborhood on January 23, 2017, as scores of schools resumed their activities in ported sympathies for the group, rammed his quick turnover and different counting methods. researcher at the Institute for National Security the areas government forces recently recaptured from the Islamic State (IS) group truck into soldiers earlier this month, killing four. Studies. At times of heightened threat, “you during the government’s ongoing military operation against Islamist jihadists. — AFP Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu com- Special attention could also detain people that are considered less pared it to truck ramming attacks in Europe, Some cases have received special attention. dangerous,” she said. HRW’s Bashi said individual which has seen some debate about administra- In recent years, administrative detainees cases are difficult to assess because purported Confident about Saudi military tive detentions as a means of countering a mili- launched hunger strikes, some for more than evidence is kept secret, but that patterns of tant threat. France and Britain used administra- two months, with grave risks to their health, to arresting dissidents, journalists and rights aid to Lebanon, French FM says tive detentions in conflicts in Algeria and win release. Some said open-ended detention is activists suggest “we should be very skeptical.” Northern Ireland, but no longer permit it. harder to bear than a prison term. EU diplomats “And I cannot think of a single reason why a Instead, they impose some controls on some last month voiced concern about what they said child should be placed in administrative deten- RIYADH: French Foreign Minister Jean-Marc Lebanon. Asked if the package would be Ayrault said yesterday he was confident that a restored, Ayrault said things were moving in suspects who have not been charged, including is Israel’s extensive use of administrative deten- tion,” she said. — AP Saudi-funded military aid package for Lebanon “a good direction. So I am confident.” The house arrest. The United States has held suspect- would be restored. On a visit to Riyadh where potential turnaround comes after a visit to ed militants without trial at its Guantanamo he is to meet senior Saudi officials, Ayrault said Riyadh earlier this month by Lebanese naval base in Cuba. Under the cover of night, Syrian the package was needed to help bring stability President Michel Aoun, who was elected in a to Lebanon. “It’s a country that should be November vote that ended a two-year dead- Open-ended military occupation wounded seek help from Israel helped,” Ayrault told reporters. “And I know that lock between Iran- and Saudi-backed blocs in Rights activists say Israel’s practice stands out the Lebanese army is a factor for unity. So it’s the Lebanese parliament. because it presently uses administrative deten- GOLAN HEIGHTS: It happens nearly every which shows only fitful signs of being true that aid can help stabilize things.” A member of Aoun’s delegation said dur- tions as part of an open-ended military occupa- night. After dark, the Syrian wounded come resolved. The trail to Israel is full of risks. The $3 billion aid package is to see Riyadh ing the visit that Riyadh and Beirut had tion. Israel captured the West Bank, Gaza Strip to known locations on the Israel-Syria front Those who spoke to Reuters at Ziv medical fund the transfer of vehicles, helicopters, agreed to hold talks on how to move forward and east Jerusalem in 1967, but attempts have in the Golan Heights, driven by desperation Center in Safed, northern Israel, did so freely drones, cannons and other military equip- with the package. Ayrault arrived in Riyadh failed to negotiate the terms of a Palestinian to seek help from an enemy army. Israeli sol- but asked not to be identified by name or ment from France to the Lebanese army. It is late Monday to reaffirm the “strategic partner- state on occupied lands. “These exceptional diers on lookout or patrol spot them waiting have their faces photographed or filmed for seen as a crucial show of support for ship” between France and Saudi Arabia. measures are still being used in a very routine by the fence and whisk them away to a rear fear of retribution back home. Lebanon’s military and will provide a boost to Ayrault, on his first ministerial visit to the way,” said Sari Bashi of the group Human Rights position where army medics soon arrive, The Israeli army helped facilitate access to Watch. “Military necessity can become greater French efforts to increase arms sales in the kingdom, “will discuss the main regional according to army officials operating in the the hospital, perhaps concerned to counter during times of tension and escalation, but Middle East. Saudi Arabia halted the program issues, particularly the situations in Yemen, area that was seized by Israel in the 1967 the negative image it has in most of the Arab administrative detention needs to be an last year in protest at what it said was “the Iraq, Libya and Syria,” the French foreign min- Middle East war. world. One man, his legs pierced by shrap- absolute last resort,” she said. “Israeli practice stranglehold of Hezbollah on the state” in istry said in a statement. — AFP Israel refuses to accept refugees fleeing nel, survived a bomb attack in his village in suggests that it is being abused.” Israel says it needs a means of deterrence. It the nearly six-year conflict in Syria, a country which 23 people were killed. “In the past we says more than 1,300 Israelis have been killed with which it remains technically at war. But used to know Israel as our enemy. That’s since the second Palestinian uprising began in it has allowed in more than 2,600 Syrians for what the regime used to tell us,” he said. 2000. Administrative detention is only permitted medical care. On one bitterly cold January “When we came to Israel we changed our if a trial could compromise intelligence sources, night, gunfire and explosions could be heard minds, there is no enmity between us. the Justice Ministry said. Judges monitor any in the near distance as Israeli medics dressed “In the end we discovered that our regime extension of the initial term, usually six months, the injuries of two Syrian men, one suffering is the enemy of us all,” he said, referring to and detainees can appeal to the Supreme Court, a head wound. “We’re doing everything we Syrian president Bashar Al-Assad. In a nearby the ministry said. can to save their lives, to stabilize them and room sits a seven-year-old Syrian girl, her Lawyers say a proper defense is impossible evacuate them to hospital,” said Captain mother by her side. She was hit by shrapnel because they and their clients can’t see the Aviad Camisa, deputy chief medical officer of from a mortar shell about two months ago state’s purported evidence. Hamad was first the Golan brigade. and suffered life-threatening injuries; her arrested in August 2015, at the age of 15, and The medics lift the wounded men onto internal organs and three of her limbs were held for 22 days at a Jerusalem compound an army ambulance which slowly drives off badly hurt. “In the first weeks we try not to where interrogators beat him and asked about down a dirt road. A Syrian family-two grand- ask them many questions because we are weapons, said his mother, Worood. Last parents, a mother, father and a child aided afraid that it will be more stress,” said Issa February, a month after Hamad’s 16th birthday, by a walker-pass by as they prepare to cross Fares, an Israeli Arab Christian social worker Israeli soldiers seized him again from his home in back into Syria in the dead of night. “Some at the hospital, where many of the staff are the village of Silwad. He was taken to the nearby of the stories stir your emotions. When chil- native Arabic speakers. Ofer detention center. His four-month stretch in dren come, as a father, it touches me per- Israel has not formally taken sides in the administrative detention was renewed twice sonally,” Camisa said. Syrian conflict. It opposes the presence of before his release in December. Iranian forces and the Lebanese militia In an interview earlier this month, the teen Full of risks Hezbollah ranged alongside Assad, but is BEIRUT: Lebanese President Michel Aoun, left, meets with French presidential can- said there had been “no reason” for his deten- Millions have fled and hundreds of thou- also alarmed by the hardline Islamist groups didate and former French Economy Minister Emmanuel Macron, at the tion. He said he was held in a cell with nine other sands have been killed in Syria’s conflict, fighting against him. — Reuters Presidential Palace. — AP minors, most of them not administrative INTERNATIONAL WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 25, 2017 Trump’s health secretary faces new Senate hearing

WASHINGTON: A second Senate commit- permanently extend that deduction. The provided coverage and subsidizing many tee is ready to interrogate President measure went nowhere but would have of them, and expanding Medicaid to more Donald Trump’s pick for health secretary, a benefited the three companies. lower-income people. The nonpartisan nominee who’s backed by Republicans Congressional Budget Office estimated but under fire from Democrats for his sup- Scuttling Obama’s law last week that repeal without a replace- port for tearing down President Barack Yesterday’s Senate Finance Committee ment would cost 18 million people their Obama’s health care overhaul and his past hearing comes as GOP lawmakers intent insurance in the first year and spike pre- stock trades. on repealing Obama’s law continue trying miums for individual coverage - not pro- Trump’s selection, Rep. Tom Price, R-Ga, to figure out how they would replace it. vided by companies - by up to 25 percent. 62, is a veteran conservative congressman That remains a top priority for Trump and Price has signed a government ethics and orthopedic surgeon from Atlanta’s congressional Republicans, and GOP law- agreement to sell his stock, but suburbs who has long favored voiding makers plan a retreat in Philadelphia later Democrats have suggested he’s gotten Obama’s 2010 law and wrote his own pro- this week to discuss what to do. Trump special deals and inside information for posed substitute for it. Chairman of the has been pressuring Republicans to move some purchases. Price has said he’s done House Budget Committee until recently, quickly on legislation scuttling Obama’s nothing wrong. A bipartisan Finance pan- he’s also favored revamping Medicare and law and replacing it. el staff memo obtained by The Associated Medicaid, which Democrats vehemently The hearing also follows an executive Press said that in disclosure forms he’s resist and Trump as a presidential candi- order Trump issued Friday, his first day in filed, Price undervalued around 400,000 date said he opposed. office, that vaguely empowers federal offi- shares of stock he purchased last August Democrats at yesterday’s Senate cials to curb fiscal burdens Obama’s over- in an Australian drug company. Finance Committee hearing were expect- haul imposes and give states more flexi- The memo said Price reported the ed to pursue questions raised at an earlier bility to interpret it. That could let agen- shares were worth $50,000 to $100,000, hearing this month about Price’s stock cies take steps like stopping fines of peo- WASHINGTON: Health and Human Secretary-designate Rep Tom Price, R-Ga, based on the purchase price then. Those acquisitions. That followed a Wall Street ple who don’t buy coverage or easing the arrives on the West Front of the US Capitol on Friday, Jan. 20, 2017, in shares were worth up to $250,000 when Journal report that over the past four law’s requirement that insurers cover birth Washington, for Donald Trump’s inauguration ceremony as the 45th president of he filed his forms to the Finance commit- years, Price traded more than $300,000 control, but there could be procedural the United States. — AP tee, the report said. Price said his figures worth of shares in around 40 health-relat- and political pitfalls to exercising those were a “good faith valuation” but agreed to ed companies, even as he pushed legisla- powers. In prepared remarks, committee remarks. He said Price’s plan would “tell For example, he could weaken the recalculate the value, the memo said. The tion that could affect the firms’ values. Chairman Orrin Hatch, R-Utah, praised vulnerable Americans that their health statute’s requirements that people buy shares are in Innate Immunotherapeutics In a new detail Democrats seemed like- Price for having “the experience and quali- care will go only as far as their bank insurance and larger employers provide it Ltd, which Democrats have accused Price ly to raise, congressional records show fications” needed for the post. He accused accounts will take them.” to workers by granting broader exemp- of purchasing based on insider informa- that Price bought shares last March in Democrats of a “level of partisan rancor” tions, or reduce the extent of coverage tion. Price has denied that. The Senate three drug firms - Amgen, Bristol Meyers he said he’d not seen before in trying to Enormous power insurers must provide for 10 types of man- Health committee held an initial hearing Squibb and Eli Lilly - that each benefited derail Price and other Trump nominees. As head of the huge Health and dated health services. on Price last Tuesday, but only the Finance from a tax deduction for having facilities The top Democrat on the panel, Ron Human Services Department, Price would Obama’s law has provided coverage to Committee has the jurisdiction to vote on in Puerto Rico. That provision expired on Wyden of Oregon, called Price “the archi- have enormous power to decide how 20 million people by creating online mar- his nomination. The full Senate would Jan 1. Last June, Price introduced a bill to tect of repeal and ruin” in prepared Obama’s law is interpreted and enforced. ketplaces for those without employer- then vote on confirmation. — AP Elder Bush out of intensive care, wife Barbara released

CHICAGO: Former US president George ‘Therapy for each other’ HW Bush was being transferred out of Barbara Bush was discharged but intensive care on Monday as he recovered expected to return to remain by her hus- from pneumonia, while his wife Barbara band’s bedside, where she has been for was discharged from the hospital after a much of their hospitalization. “They really, bout of bronchitis, doctors said. The 41st truly are therapy for each other,” Mynderse president and former first lady were admit- said. “When she’s not there, he’s looking for ted to Houston Methodist Hospital on her.” The couple “thank their fellow Wednesday. Americans and friends from around the George HW Bush, 92, was suffering from world for their prayers and good wishes,” bacterial pneumonia and was intubated Bush family spokesman Jim McGrath said in during a 48-hour period to help him a tweet. He posted a photo showing the breathe. He is now breathing on his own former president sitting in a hospital bed, and could be discharged as early as Friday dressed in a gown and smiling. Barbara or this weekend. Barbara Bush, 91, who had Bush is at his side, her hand on his arm, viral bronchitis, was hospitalized as a pre- wearing a lavender sweater set and her caution. Physicians Amy Mynderse and trademark pearls. The former president and Clint Doerr said at a news conference that first lady have received many messages of the two were recovering well, but full support, the doctors said, including from a recovery could take another week or two. family who hand-delivered a get-well card. “X-rays continue to improve, so no obvious The card is in Bush’s hospital room, they re-accumulation of material in his airways said. The couple has been surprised by the that would then again put him behind the public concern. Mynderse said that before eight ball (at a disadvantage),” Doerr said she headed to the Monday news confer- about the former president, adding that he ence, George HW Bush asked her: “People will need a “fairly aggressive combination want to know about me?” “They’re very of breathing medications” and a full course grateful for the love that people showed of antibiotics. them, and just are extremely humbled and Bush has Parkinson’s disease, which has I think a little bit awed by how beloved left him in a wheelchair, but doctors said it they are,” Mynderse said. LILLE: A person works on a protective cybersecurity system yesterday in Lille, during the International Cybersecurity Forum. — AFP was not a major factor in this latest illness. The Bushes were the only former White His is a less-common version of Parkinson’s House residents who did not attend that only affects the lower body. Advanced Friday’s inauguration of Donald Trump, due EU security chief issues wake-up age was of greater concern. “This age to their health. The couple watched the cer- group doesn’t have as much reserve as a emony from the hospital. Their son George decade ago, let alone 40, 50 years ago. It W Bush, the 43rd US president, had a prime call over growing cyber threats doesn’t take much, from a respiratory seat on the inaugural platform in standpoint, to get into trouble,” Doerr said. Washington. — AFP ‘Cybercrime cost the economy nearly 60 billion euros’

BRUSSELS: EU security commissioner Julian damage they caused. “Our efforts are more effec- suspects. The EU this week wants to make King says Europe faces a growing threat of cyber tive if we avoid giving all the details,” he said. progress in managing the information so that attacks from criminals and those plotting to police officers, border guards and others can destabilize the 28-nation bloc politically. In an More biometric information consult on one data base all the files they have interview with AFP, King urged the European In his other work in fighting terrorism, King access to. The EU will also work on setting up a Union to shore up its defenses in the face of a admitted that sharing information among mem- “unified system” for managing biometric and mounting danger. He gave the example of the ber states “runs up against issues of internal other information. “In recent attacks, including European Commission, the EU’s powerful execu- organization or different traditions among mem- the one in Berlin, we see that the suspects used tive, which was hit by a 20-percent surge in ber states,” but he said the mindset is changing. aliases,” King said. “With biometric information, cyber-attacks last year. He said there are plans to improve the exchange we have the possibility of bolstering our defens- “Cybercrime cost the European economy of information that allow EU states to identify es against these abuses,” he said. — AP nearly 60 billion euros ($64 billion) in 2016” and the bill will continue to rise, King said ahead of a cyber security conference in the northern French Brussels airport bombers city of Lille yesterday. “An increasing number of hackers use cyber space to spread doubt about our political systems,” he said. “The people who targeted US, Jews: Probe are trying to do that, with criminal or other objectives, would like to work in the dark,” the BRUSSELS: The Islamic State suicide bombers with later investigations, including with Abrini’s European commissioner and former British who attacked Brussels airport last year targeted alleged confession,” the source said. ambassador to Paris said. “So the first thing we passengers travelling to the United States and Mohamed Abrini is the so-called “man in the can do is to shine a light to what is going on in also Jewish people, several sources told AFP. The hat” who fled the airport without detonating his HOUSTON: In this photo provided by Office of George HW Bush on Monday Jan 23, order for people to realise what is going on,” said Belgian-led investigation believes a check-in suitcase bomb after his accomplices set off 2017, former President George HW Bush and his wife Barbara pose for a photo at King, who will likely be Britain’s last top EU offi- counter for an American carrier was one of the theirs. He was captured a month later. Four Houston Methodist Hospital. — AP cial as the country prepares for Brexit. targets in the March 22, 2016 attacks, the sources Americans were killed at the airport and several US spy chiefs have pointed to suspected said on condition of anonymity. They also sus- injured, while two Israelis aged 23 and 28 were Russian hacking in the American presidential pect that travelers to Israel may have been in the treated in Jerusalem after the attacks. Israeli election and say the Chinese government runs crosshairs, and that airport security camera media identified the pair as members of the Belz Storms kill 20 in South US cyber espionage against the US government, footage shows one bomber apparently pursuing Hassid ultra-Orthodox religious sect, who had allies and corporations. Experts in Europe have ADEL: Bonnie and Wayne Collier were jolt- somewheres dead.” Collier returned Monday Hasidic Jews seconds before one of the blasts. been scheduled to fly from Brussels airport to also warned of the risk of interference in upcom- ed awake in their mobile home by a cell- to pick through the wreckage, pulling out Islamic State (IS) bombers Najim Laachraoui Ben Gurion. Sources close to the investigation ing French and German polls. Bolstering phone weather alert early Sunday. They clothes and family photos with a mix of and Ibrahim El Bakraoui killed 16 people at added that camera footage never released to European “resilience” to cyber-threats requires a jumped up, turned on the TV, saw a tornado smiles and tears. She laughed as 5-year-old Zaventem airport. Around an hour later the public showed that Laachraoui had been response from all players, King said. Private citi- warning and decided to run. “We heard the granddaughter Rylee ran up, holding a pho- Bakraoui’s brother Khalid attacked a metro sta- standing among some 60 high school students zens, he said, must follow bank security guide- Code Red,” said Bonnie Collier, 65. “He told to and excitedly shouting “Mimi! This one’s tion near EU headquarters, killing another 16. before deciding to pursue two Orthodox Jews. lines, while the public and business sector must me, ‘Get up. We’ve got to get out.” Quickly, of you.” But moments earlier, she choked One source close to the investigation told AFP, “The attacker seemed to rush towards two ensure the security of their networks and mem- they headed to a friend’s nearby building back sobs talking about how she could which contacted investigators in several coun- Orthodox Jews,” one of the sources said. “He ber states reinforce cooperation. just down the road from their mobile home have lost much more than her home. tries, that one of the airport bombers “attacked really, clearly wanted to kill a Jew.” A US govern- near Cecil, Georgia. There they met up with “Material things can be put back and the Delta Airlines check-in”. ment source said separately that Lachraoui was ‘Ransom on line’ their son, daughter-in-law and three grand- replaced and family can’t. And I’m just glad “We know they wanted to target Americans,” targeting a Hasidic Jew. Hasidic men are easily The EU Commission “has just launched a new children - ages 5, 7 and 9. we got out OK,” she said, wiping away a tear. said the source, who asked not to be named. “It’s recognizable because they wear dark suits over public-private partnership which we hope will They arrived just ahead of a tornado, Mobile homes were especially vulnerable to clear they had quite specific targets.” Asked if white shirts, have long beards, hats and curly generate 1.8 billion euros ($1.9 billion) in invest- part of an unusual midwinter barrage of tor- the storms, with seven people alone killed these targets included the check-in counter for a sidelocks. Investigators “are very confident they ment in research” in cybersecurity, he said. King nadoes and thunderstorms that killed at early Sunday in one trailer park community flight to Israel, he replied: “We know they were (bombers) were targeting US, Russia and Israel,” highlighted for example initiatives involving the least 20 across the Deep South over the a few miles away - Sunshine Acres - in the obsessed with the Israelis too.” The possibility the US government source said. Israeli security private sector and Europol, the EU police weekend. “My husband yelled, ‘Get under community of Adel. that they targeted Russian travelers was an measures have dramatically increased since the agency, to fight “ransom on-line,” where crimi- the tables!’ and then it just came right over Just the day after Devocheo Williams “option” that had to be clarified, he said. attacks, an airport source added. nals demand money from individuals or firms to the top of us like a freight train.” When they moved into Sunshine Acres, his mobile A Belgian press report said investigators had unblock computers they have hacked. emerged, the home they had been sleeping home - and many of those around him - ‘Wanted to kill a Jew’ found an electronic message from Khalid El “There is a whole range of software. We can in was blown clear across the street, flat- were demolished as the winds descended There were casualties from at least 40 nation- Bakraoui saying flights departed every Tuesday provide the tools to unblock them without the tened and shattered to pieces. Her car and before dawn with terrifying swiftness. “The alities in the Brussels attacks, but investigators from Brussels to the United States, Russia and user being forced to pay. More than 2,500 com- his pickup truck were buried under debris. whole trailer park was gone in 15 seconds,” and sources believe the Zaventem bombers had Israel, but investigators would not confirm that. puters were decrypted this way for free in Europe Williams said, describing a funnel cloud that specific targets. “Even early on (in the investiga- However the attack did occur around 8:00 am last year,” he said. He said the Commission itself Smiles and tears appeared to loop back around and hit the tion) there were indications that they targeted on a Tuesday, shortly before scheduled flights to experienced a 20-percent increase in cyber “If we had been five minutes later, they place a second time. “It looked like a ball of US, Russian and Israeli check-in counters,” a US all three countries by United, American, Delta, El attacks last year. “We are targeted and sometimes probably would have found us out here fire was going 100 mph.” Williams said law enforcement source told AFP on condition Al, Brussels Airlines and Russia’s Aeroflot, accord- they are rather serious attacks,” he said without of anonymity. “That understanding has held up ing to airport and other sources. — AFP elaborating on the nature of the incidents or any INTERNATIONAL WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 25, 2017 Reporting like a Dalit girl: A publication shows how MUMBAI: Covering elections in the archy and find little representation in the every week in the nearest big city, state, also has among the highest crime many times,” Joshi said. Dalits and other low- northern Indian state of Uttar Pradesh, media. “The mainstream media only car- Allahabad, five hours away by road. From rates, with violence rife against women and er-caste people make up nearly a fourth of seen as the country’s key battleground ried stories about the big cities, and the a print circulation of about 10,000 copies, lower-caste people. The month-long Uttar India’s 1.3 billion population. As far back as state, is generally a test for journalists for reporters were mostly educated, English- readership has grown with the digital Pradesh polls starting Feb. 11 will see 1996, Kenneth J. Cooper, then a reporter for its intrigue and drama. No one is more speaking men belonging to upper castes,” shift, Joshi said. Published in the local lan- Mayawati, a former leader known as the the Washington Post in India, wrote about prepared for the upcoming poll than the said co-founder Shalini Joshi. “Dalit guages of Bundeli, Awadhi and Bhojpuri, Dalit Queen, pitted against the ruling party. being unable to find a single Dalit journalist all-woman, all-Dalit team of ‘Khabar women are the most marginalised, so we the topics range from dowries and farmer Khabar Lahariya’s reporters struggled initial- in the country. Ten years later, a survey Lahariya’ (News Wave), a regional-lan- made a conscious decision to only hire compensation to politics and cricket. “To ly, as they would not be invited to press con- found no Dalits among more than 300 sen- guage weekly that reports from some of them, so they could report news that is people in these districts, English and ferences, and their calls not be returned, ior figures in the media. Meanwhile, Khabar the state’s most disadvantaged areas that truly local,” she told the Thomson Reuters Hindi are the languages of the elite, of Joshi said. But they persisted, taking on Lahariya plans to expand to more districts in do not generally make the news. Foundation. Initially, six women with those in power, whereas the local lan- politicians and local leaders. There are now Uttar Pradesh, and other states including It was founded in 2002 by a non-profit some basic education were hired in guage is seen as second-class,” Joshi said. 30 women reporters in 10 districts in the Bihar, Rajasthan and Madhya Pradesh, Joshi group, Nirantar, that works in women’s lit- Chitrakoot in southern Uttar Pradesh, and state. “It’s very hard to be a journalist there, said. “After all these years, they are still the eracy and with low-caste Dalits, who are trained to report and write stories, and Intimidated (especially for) a woman of a lower caste. only Dalit women journalists in their dis- on the bottom rung of India’s social hier- take pictures. The publication was printed Uttar Pradesh, India’s most populous They have been threatened and intimidated tricts,” she said. — Reuters UK parliament must approve start of talks on Brexit: Court

Landmark judgment also said regional lawmakers have no say

LONDON: The British government must win parlia- ment’s approval before starting talks to leave the EU, the Supreme Court ruled yesterday, in a land- mark judgment that also said regional lawmakers had no say. While the ruling is a blow to Prime Minister Theresa May, the government insisted it would do “nothing” to change the timetable for triggering Article 50 — the formal procedure for leaving the EU-by the end of March at the latest. But the main opposition Labour party and the Scottish National Party (SNP) have said they will table amendments to any government legislation to start Brexit, which could potentially cause a delay. “The Supreme Court rules that the govern- FARINDOLA: The coffin of Alessandro Giancaterino, one of the victims of the ava- ment cannot trigger Article 50 without an act of lanche which buried the Hotel Rigopiano, is shoulder carried outside the San Nicola parliament authorizing it to do so,” Supreme Court church during the funeral service. — AP president David Neuberger told a packed court- room in London. Italy avalanche toll at 15 as He said a majority of the 11 judges had agreed that withdrawing from the EU meant there would have to be changes to Britain’s domestic laws, and helicopter crash adds pain therefore national parliament had to be consulted. The government had argued that it enjoyed execu- FARINDOLA: The death toll from an ava- have refused to give up hope of finding more tive powers to withdraw from international treaties. lanche that swamped an Italian mountain people alive with morale amongst the Lawmakers in Scotland, Northern Ireland and Wales hotel rose to 15 yesterday, with 14 still miss- exhausted rescuers having been boosted on have no say in the process, however, the judges ing, as a nearby helicopter crash dealt anoth- Monday when three live puppies were said, in a setback for Scottish First Minister Nicola er blow to a region reeling from earthquakes retrieved from under the rubble. Sturgeon. SNP leader Sturgeon has argued that and the heaviest snowfall in decades. The Italian authorities are meanwhile investi- since Scotland voted to stay in the EU, it should not emergency response helicopter, which had gating the chain of events leading to the ava- be taken out “against its will” and has warned it is six people onboard, came down near Campo lanche to see if the tragedy could or should “very likely” she will call a referendum on inde- Felice, a popular ski resort 120km (75 miles) have been avoided. A preliminary manslaugh- pendence. Northern Ireland also voted against east of Rome, during the evacuation of an ter investigation has been opened with the Brexit. “UK ministers are not legally compelled to LONDON: Gina Miller, co-founder of investment fund SCM Private (C) makes a statement fol- injured skier. prosecutor in charge looking into whether consult the devolved legislatures... Relations with lowing the judgment in a case to decide whether or not parliamentary approval is needed There were reports of a loud explosion environmental risks were properly taken into the EU are a matter for the UK government,” before the government can begin Brexit negotiations, outside the Supreme Court, opposite being heard. “The area where it came down is account during the construction and subse- Neuberger said. the Houses of Parliament. — AFP hard to access at the best of times, and thick quent renovation of the hotel. Events on the fog is making it even more difficult,” a police day of the disaster itself, when guests were ‘Parliament must deliver’ spokesman told AFP. “Several teams are try- unable to leave because of snow-blocked Attorney General Jeremy Wright said the gov- Brexit: What we know ing to get there.” Campo Felice, located at 710 access roads, are also in the spotlight. ernment was “disappointed” but the ruling was meters altitude but with pistes up to just over widely expected and draft legislation is already LONDON: Britain is set to become the first supported Britain staying in the EU but many 2,000 meters, is close to the epicentres of Tunneling into wreckage being prepared in order to meet May’s Brexit European Union member to leave the bloc have said they will now respect the result of earthquakes that struck the region last The local council had only one functioning timetable. Brexit minister David Davis will address following a referendum last year in which the referendum. The government has said it Wednesday and were followed by the killer road-clearance vehicle and had deployed it to MPs later on Tuesday to provide details. “Supreme a majority voted for Brexit. Here is what expects no change and has already prepared avalanche. reach isolated hamlets with elderly residents Court has spoken. Now parliament must deliver we know so far, following yesterday’s rul- draft legislation. May has also promised that Police said there was no apparent link rather than clearing the road to the hotel. A will of the people we will trigger A50 by the end of ing by the Supreme Court that Prime any final deal on Britain’s future relations with between the crash and the seismic activity or second snow plough had broken down earli- March. Forward we go!” Foreign Secretary Boris Minister Theresa May must seek parlia- the EU would go before both chambers of the avalanche. But it came as firefighters and er in the month and staff were awaiting Johnson, a leading Brexit advocate during the ref- mentary approval before she can start parliament for a vote. mountain police grappled with their after- authorization to get a 25,000-euro ($26,845) erendum campaign, said on Twitter. Brexit negotiations. math. A team of first responders who had repair done. The lead claimant, investment fund manager Transition deal been helping the rescue effort at the Hotel The hotel, a four-star spa facility where Gina Miller, said: “No prime minister, no govern- Referendum In a major speech on January 17, May said Rigopiano was dispatched to the helicopter George Clooney once stayed, was built into a ment can expect to be unanswerable or unchal- On June 23, 2016, Britons voted by 52 per- she wanted a “phased approach” to ensure sta- crash site. The tally of bodies found in the hillside at 1,200 meters altitude on the eastern lenged.” She added: “Today’s decision has created cent in favour to 48 percent against leaving bility for businesses between the moment ruins of the Rigopiano rose to 15 on the sixth slopes of Monte Gran Sasso. Campo Felice is legal certainty based on our democratic process.” the EU, although most voters in Scotland, Britain leaves the EU and the implementation day of an increasingly forlorn search through on the other side of the near 3,000-metre peak David Greene, a lawyer for another claimant, hair- Northern Ireland and London backed remain- of its new relationship with the bloc. “We will the snow-covered wreckage. that dominates the region. The survivors dresser Deir Dos Santos, hailed the ruling as a “vic- ing part of the bloc. Former prime minister seek to avoid a disruptive cliff edge,” she said. Eleven staff and guests survived the disas- pulled from the ruins on Friday were all treated tory for democracy and the rule of law”. David Cameron, who took office in 2010, May added that all existing EU laws that apply ter, two men who we outside when the ava- for mild hypothermia, suggesting anyone still Yesterday’s decision follows a High Court ruling called the referendum in a bid to end long- in Britain will be turned into British laws under lanche struck and nine people, including four alive nearly four days later would have had to against the government in November, in a case standing divisions in his Conservative party a “Great Repeal Bill” and parliament will then children, who were found on Friday. Rescuers have found some way of keeping warm. which attracted protests, as well as death threats and stem the rise of the UK Independence be able to choose which ones to keep, reject and racist taunts against Miller. “I have been Party (UKIP) but his campaign to stay in the EU or amend. shocked by the levels of personal abuse I have failed. He resigned hours after the referendum received from many quarters,” the 51-year-old results came in. Immigration businesswoman said outside court. She said peo- May has said she will make cutting immi- ple in power should be “much quicker” in con- Timing gration a priority in negotiations, after the demning this abuse. Anger was also directed at Cameron’s successor May has said she issue dominated the referendum campaign. the High Court judges, with one newspaper wants to trigger Article 50 — the formal pro- Hundreds of thousands of people, mainly branding them “Enemies of the People”. cedure for leaving the EU under the Lisbon from eastern and southern Europe, move to Treaty-by the end of March. The government Britain each year. May has given no detail of Opposition amendments has said this timetable will not change even what the new entry criteria will be for Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn said his party though the Supreme Court ruled yesterday Europeans and has refused to confirm that EU would not “frustrate” the process for invoking that parliament will have to first pass a bill citizens already in Britain can stay after Brexit Article 50 but would seek to amend the legislation. authorizing May to begin Brexit negotiations. until similar guarantees are offered to Britons “Labour is demanding a plan from the govern- Finance minister Philip Hammond has said living elsewhere in the bloc. ment to ensure it is accountable to parliament he expects negotiations to begin before the throughout the negotiations and a meaningful summer. Article 50 foresees a maximum two- Trade vote to ensure the final deal is given parliamentary year time period for the negotiations. If no May said she wants “maximum possible approval,” he said. deal is in place by then, Britain would have to access” for British companies to the single mar- The party wants provisions included in the bill leave without any agreement on future ties ket even though Britain will not be a member, urging the government to negotiate tariff-free with the EU, unless the timeframe can be and also called for a new customs arrange- access to the EU’s single market and agree to extended by unanimous agreement of all ment with the EU. She has said full customs KABUL An Afghan refugee who was deported from Germany arrives with his belong- abide by EU-level protection of workers’ rights. member states. The EU’s top Brexit negotiator union membership would prevent Britain from ings at the international airport. — AFP May has said she wants to leave the single market Michel Barnier has said there should be an striking its own trade deals with other coun- in order to be able to restrict immigration and agreement in place by 2018, ahead of the tries but said the nation could remain a signa- Germany sends second batch negotiate a new customs deal with the EU, but will 2019 European Parliament elections. tory to some parts of the customs union. May seek “maximum possible access” for British compa- has also warned EU member states against of Afghan refugees to Kabul nies. She has also said Britain will incorporate all Parliament pushing for harsh exit terms for Britain, saying existing EU legislation and then parliament will Lawmakers are widely expected to give it would be “an act of calamitous self-harm” for KABUL: Deported after years of living in learning to speak his adopted tongue “perfect- get to choose which laws to adopt, repeal or their go-ahead for the government to begin the EU. She has threatened that she could Germany, 26 young Afghans arrived in Kabul ly”. “I cannot say anything negative about this amend. May has promised to give both Houses of Brexit talks, although the main opposition “change the basis of Britain’s economic mod- yesterday with only one thought in mind: flee- country that helped me. I respect its decision Parliament a vote on the final deal but some par- Labour Party has said it wants to table amend- el”-for example by slashing business taxes-if ing this war-torn country. Escorted by 80 but now I’m living a nightmare. I’ve left behind liamentarians are concerned that this could come ments to the proposed legislation. This could, British companies were excluded from access- German police officers, their plane landed short- my three-month pregnant girlfriend, I won’t find at the last minute and effectively give them no in theory, delay the start of Brexit. Most MPs ing the single market. — AFP ly after 7.30 am (0300 GMT) — the second batch work here and there’s no security,” he said. choice but to approve. — AFP deported under a disputed Afghan-EU deal Afghanistan has been battling an insurgency signed last October and aimed at curbing the since a US-led coalition toppled the hardline influx of migrants. Taliban in late 2001. The conflict caused some “What would you have me do here? There is 9,000 deaths or injuries among civilians in the Thousands of Cambodians to only death!” said 19-year-old Ramid Afshah, first nine months of 2016, according to the returning from Germany after five years-a coun- United Nations, which is to publish its annual try it had taken him six months to reach. Airport report by the end of the month. In 2015 the police spokesman Mohammad Adjmal Fawzi number of civilians killed or wounded was more evacuate after US bombs found said at least one of the 26 was “suffering” and than 11,000, the highest recorded since 2009, showing signs of psychological distress, adding: with children paying a particularly heavy price, PHNOM PENH: Thousands of Cambodian vil- lage in Svay Rieng province. “We will have to in the province at the time. Nearly three “He could be brought back to Germany.” according to UN figures. lagers will be evacuated after two US tear gas evacuate students because the bombs contain decades of civil war starting in the 1960s left Several of the migrants told AFP they had Some 250 people staged a protest against barrel bombs from the Vietnam war era were chemical and explosive substances,” he told AFP. Cambodia, along with neighboring Laos, one of been arrested Monday morning at dawn and the deportations at Frankfurt airport on Monday sent to Kabul with just a small piece of luggage night, Sarmina Stuman of the Afghan Refugees found near a primary school, a demining team Heng Ratana said the two barrel bombs are the most heavily bombed and mined countries or a backpack containing their belongings. “The Movement told AFP. “Afghanistan is simply at said yesterday. The 200-kilogram bombs are believed to be packed with CS-a form of tear gas in the world. police came to pick us up yesterday morning at war, which is why we are protesting against thought to have been dropped by US warplanes that was extensively used by American forces to Between the late 1960s and early 1970s, the 4 am and we were treated like animals,” said expulsions to a country like Afghanistan,” she in February 1970 against communist forces on smoke out enemies from jungle hideouts. United States dropped upwards of 2.7 million Arash Alkozai, 21. said. In December German interior minister Cambodia’s southeastern border with Vietnam. The bombs are believed to be among a total tons of bombs on Cambodia during its efforts to Alkozai, who had come to Germany when he Thomas de MaiziËre justified the expulsion of Heng Ratana, director general of the of four pieces of ordnance dropped over the cut off supply routes to northern Vietnam. was 16, was living in Munich with his family Afghans in order to preserve the “right” of asy- Cambodian Mine Action Center (CMAC), said vil- province by US warplanes in February 1970. Unexploded ordnance has killed nearly 20,000 before taking a room in the city. After leaving lum in the country, the only one in Europe to lagers, including 200 students, will have to be Locals told CMAC that two of the bombs people and maimed tens of thousands of others school he had studied auto repair, all the while open its doors wide to refugees. — AFP evacuated before deminers move into the vil- exploded and damaged a Buddhist dinning hall since 1979, according to official estimates. — AFP

WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 25, 2017 INTERNATIONAL Nude painting of S Korea president sparks violence

SEOUL: A nude painting of impeached a prostitute stares boldly out at the view- years ago-sinks outside her window. Two reaction”. Pyo Chang-won, the opposi- sidies and private investment, as well as South Korean president Park Geun-Hye er while a black servant brings her flow- puppies cavort on her thighs and Choi tion lawmaker who organized the exhibi- being placed under state surveillance. met a violent end at the country’s parlia- ers. In Lee Koo-Young’s version, entitled takes the place of the servant. tion, has been referred to an ethics panel The Constitutional Court last month ment yesterday, reports said, as support- “Dirty Sleep”, Park’s features are trans- by his own Democratic Party over the urged Park’s defense counsel to clarify ers tore the work-which evokes Edouard posed onto a nude Asian woman who ‘Violent reaction’ picture, which provoked accusations of the mystery surrounding her seven-hour Manet’s Olympia-off the wall and clasps a missile from the Terminal High A group of some 20 Park supporters sexism and bad taste. However, he absence during the Sewol disaster. destroyed it. The image was part of an Altitude Area Defence (THAAD) system went on a rampage at the exhibition, defended the painting. “It surely does Unconfirmed media reports have sug- exhibition at the National Assembly fea- to her bosom. South Korea’s Yonhap news agency not suit my taste,” Yonhap quoted him as gested a wide range of theories about turing works by 22 artists lampooning Park last year agreed with the US gov- reported, wrecking the work. A 63-year- saying. “But I believe it is within the her whereabouts, including a romantic Park and her confidante Choi Soon-Sil, ernment to deploy the system in South old member of a rightist group was boundary of the freedom of arts.” liaison, participation in a shamanistic rit- who is at the centre of the corruption Korea in response to the threat of mis- arrested and another was being sought Painter Lee is one of nearly 10,000 ual, cosmetic surgery or a 90-minute hair scandal that led to Park’s impeachment. siles from the nuclear-armed North, infu- by police, it said. On its website the artists on a “blacklist” drawn up by the styling. Park flatly denied those allega- In Manet’s 19th-century original, on riating China. She is also depicted dozing Musee d’Orsay describes Manet’s paint- conservative government for voicing tions as groundless, asserting that she display in the Musee d’Orsay in Paris, a as the Sewol ferry-which went down ing as a “profanation of the idealized criticism of Park. Those named are said to kept monitoring the tragedy and issuing naked white woman widely identified as with the loss of nearly 400 lives three nude”, adding that it “provoked a violent have been deprived of government sub- orders to rescue any survivors. —AFP Hopes fading for justice for lost Sri Lankan journalists Dozens of journalists remain dead, missing after civil war

COLOMBO: Hope is fading fast that Sri Lanka’s of journalists were killed, abducted and tortured, ing that he appoint a presidential commission to government will take action against those or fled the country fearing for their lives. Scores investigate the abductions. The campaign was responsible for the deaths and disappearances more were killed or disappeared during the civil organized to mark what organizers call “Black of dozens of journalists during and after the war that ended in 2009 with the defeat of Tamil January,” a commemoration of the killings and abductions of journalists and the destruction of television studios that occurred in the month of January between 2005 and 2010.

Corruption, nepotism Among those participating was Sandya Ekneligoda, who has fought for seven years to discover what happened to her abducted hus- band, Prageeth Ekneligoda. Prageeth, a journal- ist and cartoonist, wrote about corruption, nepotism and Rajapaksa’s leadership of the mili- tary campaign against the rebels. He was abducted two days before a 2010 presidential election in which he actively supported Rajapaksa’s rival. Ekneligoda said the Sirisena government brought hope for justice, but its MEHERPUR: In this photograph taken on January 20, 2017, Bangladeshi father and recent steps have dented her confidence. One fruit vendor Tofazzal Hossain (top R-standing), who has sparked a debate over assist- reason, she said, was a speech by Sirisena in ed suicide, is seen with his family. — AFP which he criticized police for holding the sol- diers suspected in Prageeth’s abduction longer than necessary. Days after the speech, a court Bangladeshi dad seeks mercy released the suspects on bail and the military promptly reinstated them to their earlier posi- killing of ill sons, grandson tions, which Ekneligoda said was a clear mes- DHAKA: Desperate to end their suffering, AFP. An AFP correspondent’s attempt to ask sage that the suspects have the state’s backing. an impoverished Bangladeshi father has the son about his father’s desperate appeal “Clearly the manner of the president today is begged permission to kill three terminally was met with stern rebuke from Hossain, HOMAGAMA: In this Monday, Jan 23, 2017 photo, Sandya Ekneligoda, wife of disappeared not what we saw when we brought him into ill members of his family, sparking a rare who said it would hurt them. Mahbubul journalist Prageeth Ekneligoda, turns pages of their wedding album while speaking to the power in 2015. He has a totally different atti- debate about euthanasia in a deeply con- Alam, a doctor who has treated the Hossain Associated Press at her residence. — AP tude,” she told The Associated Press. Sirisena has servative society. “I have taken care of them family, said there was no cure for their con- said his speech was not meant to influence the for years. I took them to hospitals in dition and they lived in extreme pain. “It’s a country’s long civil war, activists and relatives Tiger rebels. Two years into Sirisena’s presidency, court. During the country’s 26-year civil war, Bangladesh and India, I sold my shop to humanitarian case. Everyone should come said yesterday. President Maithripala Sirisena there is little sign that the suspects, mostly mili- both the government and the Tamil Tiger rebels pay for their treatment but now I’m broke,” forward (and help).” campaigned on a promise of ending a culture of tary soldiers, will be punished. were accused of killing and abducting critics. said Tofazzal Hossain as he describes his impunity when he defeated former President Yesterday, dozens of journalists and activists The government’s war victory in 2009 ended the years-long struggle to cope with the costs An act of murder Mahinda Rajapaksa in a January 2015 election. gathered in Colombo to commemorate the rebels’ campaign for an independent state for of looking after his two sons and grandson. A government official who visited the During Rajapaksa’s nine-year tenure, dozens missing and write postcards to Sirisena demand- ethnic minority Tamils. — AP “The government should decide what it family after Hossain’s appeal grabbed wants to do with them. They are suffering national headlines said the request was and have no hope of recovery. I can’t bear it “the plea of a helpless father”. “He asked for any longer.” their medical assistance, or permission to China says it will not back Hossain, a fruit vendor from the rural kill them. But who will give the permission west of the country, wrote to his local dis- to kill?” he told AFP. Authorities were trying trict administration pleading for them to to find ways to help Hossain bear the cost down on South China Sea either help care for his loved ones-who suf- of their care, the official added. fer from an incurable form of muscular dys- Their plight has sparked a rarely-seen trophy-or “allow them to be put to death debate about euthanasia in Bangladesh, BEIJING: China warned Washington yesterday China Sea within a so-called “nine dash line,” win a conventional frontal conflict with the US,” with medicine”, he told AFP. One of Asia’s where even attempted suicide can land that it would not back down over its claims in the including waters claimed by several of its neigh- Valerie Niquet of French think tank Foundation poorest countries, Bangladesh lacks any one in prison. So-called “mercy killing” is disputed South China Sea, following vows by the bours. Under President Barack Obama’s adminis- of Strategic Research told AFP. kind of free health care and medical treat- forbidden both under the secular law of Trump administration to defend US and interna- tration, Washington insisted it was neutral on “China is therefore seeking to develop capaci- ment is often beyond the reach of the tens the land, and by religious code adhered to tional interests there. China’s artificial islands in the question of sovereignty over the islets, reefs ties that would restore its freedom to maneuver of millions of inhabitants who live below by the Muslim-majority population. the sea, some with the potential for military use, and shoals. by pushing Washington to hesitate before a the poverty line. “Euthanasia is completely illegal in Islam. It are considered a potential flashpoint and tough But, while calling for the dispute to be potentially costly intervention in Asia.” On is the government’s duty to take responsi- comments from White House spokesman Sean resolved under international law, the US sup- Tuesday leading Chinese newspaper the Global Incurable diseases bility for every citizen,” top Islamic cleric Spicer and Trump’s nominee for secretary of state ported freedom of navigation by sending naval Times called for the country to expand its An estimated 600,000 Bangladeshis suf- and scholar Fariduddin Masoud told AFP. have raised the temperature. patrols through Chinese-claimed waters. Hua nuclear arsenal to “force the US to respect it”. fer from incurable diseases, yet the country The overwhelming majority of “China has indisputable sovereignty over the said China “firmly upholds freedom of naviga- Citing Trump’s calls for the US to acquire more has just one palliative care centre and no Bangladeshis not only disapprove of mercy South China Sea islands and their adjacent tion and overflight in the South China Sea in atomic weapons, the popular paper, known for hospice services. killings but would oppose the mere discus- waters,” foreign ministry spokeswoman Hua accordance with international law” and urged its inflammatory rhetoric and hawkish views, This leaves few treatment options for sion of it, said Nur Khan Liton, head of local Chunying told a regular press briefing, adding the US to “fully respect the efforts of regional said that Beijing’s nuclear forces “must be so Hossain’s sons, aged 24 and 13, and eight- rights group Ain O Salish Kendra. “They that the country is “firm in safeguarding our countries to safeguard peace and stability”. strong that no country would dare launch a mili- year-old grandson, who are afflicted with consider it an act of murder. It’s the duty of rights and interests”. “The United States is not a tary showdown” with it. Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy. This rare the government and society to look after party to the South China Sea issue.” ‘Not worried’ In recent days, Chinese social media has car- genetic disorder is characterized by pro- these victims,” he told AFP. But sympathy Spicer said Monday that the US “is going to Despite the recent escalation in rhetoric, ried pictures purporting to show an advanced gressive muscle degeneration and patients for Hossain’s family has run deep on social make sure we protect our interests” in the sea. “If China is “not worried” about rising tensions with intercontinental ballistic missile system rarely live beyond 30 years of age. media, where many have offered thoughts those islands are, in fact, in international waters Washington, Hua said. Beijing asserts sovereign- deployed in the northeast. The Dongfeng-41 is Hossain said his sons were aware of their and prayers amid calls for the government and not part of China proper, yeah, we’ll make ty over almost all of the resource-rich region reportedly a nuclear road-mobile missile condition but could do little for them- to improve its paltry health services. sure we defend international interests from despite rival claims from Southeast Asian neigh- thought to have a payload of 10-12 warheads selves, unable to move and confined to Nezamuddin Ahmed, the head of being taken over by one country,” he said. bors and has rapidly built reefs into artificial and a range of 14,000 kilometers, according to their beds. The grandson can still go to the Bangladesh’s sole palliative care centre in Trump’s nominee for secretary of state, Rex islands capable of hosting military planes. the Global Times. The newspaper said some washroom, but his condition is worsening. the capital Dhaka, said it was time for an Tillerson, said last week China’s access to the Though it lags behind the US in raw military media claimed the People’s Liberation Army “I told them about the letter. I told them “honest discussion” about the issue and islands might be blocked-raising the prospect of power, experts say China is counting on a strate- leaked the photos as a warning to Trump. “They (about seeking permission for their deaths). improving care for those suffering from a military confrontation. gy of deterrence to keep the world’s most pow- think this is Beijing’s response to Trump’s They did not take it seriously. Perhaps they incurable diseases.” I think this will lead to China lays claim to a vast swathe of the South erful navy at bay. “Beijing knows that it cannot provocative remarks on China,” it added. — AFP did not understand the severity of the situ- healthy debate about assisted death,” he ation,” he said. said. “But before launching into this, the His eldest son, 24-year-old Mohammad government should strengthen palliative Abdus Sabur, said he spent his days watch- care services here. There has to be some- ing television and talking with their father. thing we can all do to ease the suffering of “I tell father not to worry too much,” he told these helpless people.” — AFP Afghanistan orders arrest of VP guards in abuse case KABUL: Afghanistan’s attorney general al’s office, told AFP. “The team has also has ordered the arrest of nine body- asked Mr Dostum to either respond to guards of Vice President Abdul Rashid the queries himself or through his legal Dostum for sexually abusing and tortur- channels. But he has not responded ing a rival, an official said yesterday. yet,” he said. Dostum, a former warlord who has a cat- Dostum was not immediately avail- alogue of war crimes to his name, has able for comment but has previously been accused of abducting Ahmad denied the allegations, proposing to Ishchi in November last year during a tra- resolve the matter by the traditional ditional game of Buzkashi, or polo using mediation of tribal elders rather than an animal carcass, in the northern through conventional courts. The con- province of Jowzjan. troversy has once again drawn atten- Dostum allegedly kept Ishchi as a tion to how Afghan warlords and hostage in his private compound for five strongmen operate with impunity, hob- days, where he was said to have been tor- bling Western-backed efforts to restore tured and sodomized. The country’s peace and rebuild the nation after attorney general launched an investiga- decades of conflict. tion into the allegations after local media Observers have been skeptical the said Ishchi underwent a medical exami- government will sack or bring charges nation at the US air base at Bagram north against Dostum, who has survived all of Kabul to confirm the abuse. previous allegations of abuse. Despite his “The investigating team has issued human rights record, Dostum was invited an arrest warrant against nine of Mr to join the National Unity Government in Dostum’s bodyguards who were 2014 in an attempt by President Ashraf involved in the case,” Jamshid Rasuli, Ghani to attract the support of his mostly MANILA: Environmental activists display placards as they picket the Chinese Consulate to protest alleged military build-up by China on the dis- the spokesman for the attorney gener- ethnic Uzbek constituency. —AFP puted group of islands at the South China Sea, in the financial district of Makati east of Manila. — AP NEWS WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 25, 2017

Govt given ultimatum over fuel, fees hikes Continued from Page 1 ernment, and accordingly, if these issues remain unre- solved, he will file to grill him. Mutair said that he will wait Hashem said that the government does not have any until after national holidays late next month before filing to studies on the impact of hiking charges or imposing taxes grill him. and called on the government to submit such studies. Another opposition MP Shuaib Al-Muwaizri also strong- She said the government has failed to stop squandering ly criticized the prime minister for holding “side meetings” of public funds used to send patients for treatment abroad with MPs in a bid to divide the Assembly. Muwaizri also crit- that cost public coffers KD 1 billion, adding that the govern- icized Speaker Marzouq Al-Ghanem over his statement ment agreed to allow the withdrawal of $7 billion from regarding a request by several lawmakers to meet HH the state reserves for armament deals. Amir, saying this is unacceptable and that the door of the Opposition MP Mohammad Al-Mutair warned yesterday Amir is always open for all lawmakers. The lawmaker said that he will file to grill Prime Minister HH Sheikh Jaber Al- that practices by Ghanem show that he is trying to return Mubarak Al-Sabah if the government fails to resolve a num- to his previous behavior, “which is totally unacceptable”, ber of important issues, especially reinstating the revoked adding that he had warned him against this in the opening citizenships and scrapping the hike in petrol prices and the session of the Assembly. Muwaizri said MPs will not allow planned increase in power and water prices. He said that Ghanem to return to his previous style, because lawmakers the prime minister is responsible for the policy of the gov- have their own opinions and these must be heard.

Two persons watch the sun setting on the Old City of Jerusalem, with the Dome of the Rock mosque in the center. —AFP Dubai airport still top for int’l traffic Continued from Page 1 Gulf-based airports to experience prodigious growth in recent years. More than 100 airlines fly to around 260 Three-way bid to boost Syria truce Griffiths said at the time that Dubai Airports was destinations from the international hub. The rapid Continued from Page 1 There was profound rancor and mudslinging expecting to receive 85 million passengers in 2016 - growth has angered US carriers, which allege Emirates, between the delegations from Damascus and the something he blamed on the economic, political and Abu Dhabi-based Etihad and Qatar Airways receive There were, however, no concrete details given rebels. It also remained to be seen how the sides could terror-related turmoil of the past year. “We know that unfair government subsidies. The three Gulf airlines immediately on the three-way mechanism to strength- patch up differences on the role of the talks’ three the global economy has slowed a little bit and the repeatedly have denied the allegations. en the ceasefire and how it would resolve the thorniest organizers, Russia, Turkey and Iran. A member of the propensity for travel has dropped, but I think that 2016 Asked about Trump’s protectionist stance, Griffiths hotspots. UN Syria envoy Staffan de Mistura said his rebel delegation told AFP on Monday that the group was quite an unparalleled year,” Griffiths told AP. said it would hurt consumers the worst. “The result of organization was ready to assist in developing the would agree to have Russia serve as a guarantor of the “Fortunately, our numbers are still holding up.” that is reduced choice for the consumer and higher mechanism and “ensure that it helps strengthen the current ceasefire but not Iran, which controls troops on Griffiths also said Dubai International Airport - often prices,” he said. He added that the Dubai airport would quality of the ceasefire”. The rebels have called for a halt the ground fighting for Assad. The Syrian regime, mean- lauded by US President Donald Trump during his cam- welcome any discussions with US officials about how to to regime attacks on Wadi Barada, an area 15 km north- while, said it would refuse to hold government-level paign - would welcome a call from the Trump adminis- improve their airports. “If America and President Trump west of Damascus, but Jafaari insisted operations would talks with Turkey and sign any document bearing the tration on ways to improve American airports. Situated would like some of the expertise from Dubai, I’m sure continue there. signature of a Turkish official. — AFP on transcontinental air routes, Dubai is one of several we’d be pleased to assist.” Griffiths said— Agencies WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 25, 2017 ANALYSIS

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Focus Tajik women train to shoulder work men left behind

earing blue overalls, trainee mechanic Marjona Abdulloeva carefully examines a car Wchassis at a government-run training center in Tajikistan, an ex-Soviet republic hit hard by the reces- sion in Russia. The 20-year-old hopes to be the first woman to earn a car mechanic’s diploma at the Dushanbe centre, as a growing number of women seek work to help make ends meet in the socially conserva- tive and impoverished country. Undeterred by the social stigma of shedding their traditional home-based role, the women are stepping into jobs left vacant by menfolk, many of whom moved to Russia to find work. “Repairing cars is considered man’s work, but I do not care what my friends think about my choice,” Abdulloeva told AFP. “The work you do should interest you. I want to make a life for myself.”

Russian recession Historically heavily reliant on Russia, the Muslim- majority nation of some eight million has been hit by the two-year recession suffered by its ex-Soviet masters. Brexit plans unlikely to be slowed by defeat At least 860,000 Tajik citizens - the vast majority men - are working in Russia, according to Russian migration rime Minister Theresa May’s plans Senior ministers in May’s Conservative backed staying in the EU, most now say Conservatives and the opposition Labour authorities, sending back good wages to provide for to start the process of Britain leav- government, which had been expecting they would back Brexit, especially those Party have told Reuters there was scope their families at home. Ping the European Union by the end to lose the case, have already drawn up in England and Wales whose constituents for a bill to be accelerated through parlia- But many have been thrown out of work as Russia’s of March are unlikely to be hindered or a series of options, including a short, had strongly backed leaving the bloc. ment, without restricting debate, to ensure economy was hit by plunging oil prices and Western slowed by yesterday’s Supreme Court rul- tight bill which will quickly be put MPs voted overwhelmingly to support it could pass before the end of March. sanctions over Moscow’s actions in Ukraine. The col- ing the government must seek parlia- before parliament’s lower chamber, the the timetable of May’s Conservative gov- Labour, though, faces a particular lapse in the Russian ruble’s value has also left a sharp mentary approval. In the ruling, judges House of Commons. ernment for invoking Article 50 before problem as many of its traditional work- dent in the money they send home. In 2015, the on Britain’s top judicial body upheld an Although before June’s referendum April in a non-binding vote in December. ing class supporters voted to leave the amount of money transferred back to Tajikistan fell to earlier High Court decision that lawmak- the vast majority of MPs in the Commons Sources from both May’s ruling bloc and have been wooed in recent $1.3 billion from $3.8 billion a year earlier when remit- ers had to give their assent before May years by the anti-EU UK Independence tances represented nearly half of the country’s GDP, can invoke Article 50 of the Lisbon Treaty Party (UKIP). Whilst not blocking Brexit, according to the Russian Central Bank. which formally starts two-years of Corbyn, who himself was an EU critic for divorce talks. many years, has said he would fight for ‘Don’t look back’ However, the legal defeat, while an Britain to have full access to the single To make ends meet, women have had to find new inconvenience and embarrassment for market “with reasonable management of sources of income. Women make up about 60 percent of the government, is not expected to delay migration”. Labour could try to amend the new enrollees at the Dushanbe training center, said its Brexit timetable or, as some investors any bill to ensure this, attracting support its director Shukhrullo Salomov. “Many of them choose and pro-EU supporters hope, make it from some Conservative MPs, who typically male professions, successfully complete their possible to stop Britain leaving the bloc. oppose a “hard Brexit”, and other smaller courses and don’t look back,” he told AFP. Even with a Part of this is because the opposition is parties such as the Scottish Nationalists qualification, the job market is tough: Although divided. “We will not block Article 50,” and Liberal Democrats. Tajikistan has significantly reduced poverty in the last Jeremy Corbyn, leader of the main oppo- The greatest potential threat to May decade, unemployment remains stubbornly high. sition Labour Party which campaigned comes from parliament’s unelected “Of the 130,000 young people that finish school against Brexit, said last week. “All Labour upper chamber, the House of Lords, every year, more than 60,000 enter the ranks of the MPs (members of parliament) will be where many peers remained strongly unemployed,” Saimuddin Dustov, a Moscow-based Tajik asked to vote in that direction next week, opposed to Brexit and do not have voters analyst, told AFP. In theory this could prompt women or whenever the vote comes up.” to worry about. If the Lords were to vote like Abdulloeva to head abroad too. But they could face Not all Corbyn’s colleagues may go against approving the triggering of a double stigma if they leave the country to find work: along, but May can get the votes she Article 50, the Brexit timetable could be Both xenophobia, which Tajik men say they suffer needs for overall passage. However, severely delayed. However, the govern- abroad, but also suspicions about exactly what kind of what the decision could do is give an ment is confident the bill will pass work they are doing. “Young women migrants often opportunity for Labour and other law- through the Lords because there would find themselves targets of (Tajik) society’s suspicion if makers who oppose a “hard Brexit” - an be a constitutional crisis if unelected they find work abroad, because some female migrants agreement with the EU that puts immi- peers were to thwart the will of the peo- fall into prostitution,” said researcher Alla Kuvatova, gration curbs above access to the single A man carries a box, resembling Ready Brek porridge, but with the logo modified to ple expressed both through the referen- who studies gender issues in the country. market - to have a greater influence on read ‘Ready Brexit’ as he arrives to queue to enter the Supreme Court opposite the dum and from their representatives in what the final deal should look like. Houses of Parliament in central London yesterday. — AFP the Commons. — Reuters Social pressure Even at home, Tajik society “doesn’t welcome” women taking up work that is usually done by men, she added. A 2010 census, whose data was published in Zimbabwe in-laws steal houses from widows 2013, showed that about 1.1 million women in Tajikistan work, most of them in agriculture. In his s Maliyaziwa Malunga mourns her dead husband, widows and would act to enforce the law more widely. the volume to condemn such practices... It is critical we December address to the nation, veteran President she also battles against his relatives who plot to “This practice contravenes the law which entitles the sur- investigate this issue as we need to get to the bottom of it.” Emomali Rakhmon summed up the sentiment, deplor- Aseize her house in a custom that affects thousands viving spouse to inherit property,” Ivan Dumba, an official HRW said that, according to Zimbabwe’s 2012 census, ing that women were “more often than not doing of women in Zimbabwe each year. A Human Rights Watch from the ministry of women affairs, told a press conference there were about 590,000 widows in the country, and that heavy, physically taxing work”. report released on Tuesday details how in-laws in the coun- in Harare where the report was launched. “We will increase most women over 60 were widowed. — AFP Rakhmon, who came to power during a ruinous five- try routinely expect to take property and money from year civil war in the country during the 1990s, called on bereaved widows soon after their husbands die. the service industry to employ more women instead. When Malunga’s husband died in 2013, his relatives Taxi driving has drawn some of Tajikistan’s unemployed locked her in her home, forced her to open her cash box, Housing bias turning but few women have been able to get into the business. and stole $4,000 and the title documents to her property. “I “Behind the Wheel”, a 2013 award-winning short docu- lock my doors always fearing some of those in-laws will mentary film, tells the story of a Tajik woman, who quit come and harass me,” Malunga, who is still in a legal tussle to ghettoize India cities taxi driving after repeated arguments with male clients, fight off the relatives, told AFP. “It is so painful to go to courts preferring to fix tyres instead. “Of thousands of taxi driv- and it is stressful. I lose sleep, my blood pressure is high and I n the inauguration of US President Donald basis of religion, caste, food preferences and even pro- ers in the major cities - Dushanbe, Khujand and Kulyob - have lost weight because of stress,” the 53-year-old said. Trump, an Indian real estate company ran an fessions. The divide grew after bloody Hindu-Muslim probably fewer than 10 are women,” said analyst Dustov. HRW said Zimbabwean widows who are thrown out of Oadvertisement with the slogan ‘Homes that riots in 1992-93 and still persists, said Zakia Soman, a their homes by their in-laws often have little chance of jus- don’t discriminate’, calling for an end to prejudice in co-founder at Bharatiya Muslim Mahila Andolan, a No regrets tice because many marriages are under customary law and India’s housing market based on gender, religion or non-profit organization for Muslim women. A Despite grim employment prospects across the not registered. “My advice is for married women to go to caste. While the ad was unusual, the sentiment was Facebook group called ‘Indians Against Discrimination’ board, however, many women graduates from the court and have a wedding certificate and we will not have familiar to millions of Indians who have tried to rent or was set up in 2015 after a young Muslim woman was Dushanbe training centre don’t regret their choices to problems like this one,” said Malunga. “Widows must fight buy city homes only to be denied because they were asked to leave her flat a week after she moved in, attend courses. Zarina Nabieva, who trained as a for their rights, they should be strong and should not give single, ate meat, were of a certain caste or from a cer- because of her religion. plumber, said her new skills had already helped her save up,” she added, recalling that her husband’s relatives tain region. “When it comes to living spaces, we have become money on handymen. “We are not looking to take any- engaged in fistfights over her house in Chitungwiza, out- Informal rules and discrimination by Indian land- very insular,” Soman said. “The city is getting increas- one’s place,” the 47-year-old said. “Everything we do, we do side Harare. lords to keep out religious minorities and single peo- ingly ghettoized as a result, weakening our social fab- for the well-being of ourselves and our families.” — AFP ple are eroding the multi-cultural nature of India’s ric and polarizing us further. That doesn’t bode well,” ‘Happy to see us suffer’ cities and dividing communities into ghettos, analysts she said. Local courts have ruled against discrimina- The HRW report called for the government to protect say. “It’s 2017 - and we’re still encountering discrimina- tion by housing associations in several cases, but vulnerable, often elderly widows. “The impact of property tion,” said Rishi Dogra of NestAway Technologies that there have also been contradictory rulings. All articles appearing on these pages grabbing on widows is devastating,” said its author Bethany ran the ad. “People should be able to move freely and Brown. “Women whose property was taken from them find a living space anywhere in the country,” said Discrimination are the personal opinion of the writers. spoke of homelessness, destitution and loss of livelihoods”. Dogra, marketing head for the company founded by In a 2005 case, India’s top court ruled in favor of a Kuwait Times takes no responsibility The report is based on interviews with 59 widows across four young male graduates after they had trouble Parsi housing society in Ahmedabad, saying it could Zimbabwe’s 10 provinces last year.” (My brother-in-law) has finding a home in Bengaluru. limit its membership to Parsis and not admit others. for views expressed therein. Kuwait taken all of my fields,” Deborah, 58, from Mashonaland East, Such discrimination has forced many people to the “The constitution guarantees our right to equality, but Times invites readers to voice their told researchers. “Now, he says that I cannot walk on ‘his’ suburbs, making Indian city centers less diverse and housing societies can still frame their own guidelines fields... Maybe he is really happy to see us suffer.” cosmopolitan, with high rents already making them which may be discriminatory,” said Vinod Sampat, a opinions. Please send submissions via The Legal Resources Foundation (LRF), an organization unaffordable to poorer workers. Mumbai, India’s finan- real estate lawyer. A draft housing policy for email to: [email protected] or helping widows in Zimbabwe, said it alone had handled cial hub and a magnet for migrants from across the Maharashtra state, where Mumbai is located, has at least 1,700 cases in the last three years. “Women have country, has traditionally had enclaves for Catholics, dropped a clause that prevents discrimination in via snail mail to PO Box 1301 Safat, to register their estates and they should do so immediate- Parsis, Bohri Muslims and others. They set up housing housing. This may leave those looking to rent or buy Kuwait. The editor reserves the right to ly after the deaths of their husbands,” Lucia Masuka- societies, or co-operatives, to help other community property with fewer protections, Sampat said. Zanhi, legal programs director at LRF, told AFP. “Women members. Government officials have said non-discrimination is edit any submission as necessary. can assert their rights through the courts and each case As the city grew and drew more migrants, powerful already protected by the constitution, so there is no will be decided on its facts.” housing societies have often denied homes on the need for the clause. —- Reuters The government said it supported better protection for WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 25, 2017 SPORTS

Corini resigns as Cricketer Sunny denied Ryan Mason making Palermo coach bail in snaps case ‘excellent progress’

DHAKA: A court refused to grant bail to Bangladeshi crick- LONDON: Hull City midfielder Ryan Mason is making “excellent progress” PALERMO: Eugenio Corini resigned as Palermo coach yesterday after guiding eter Arafat Sunny yesterday after he was charged with posting after fracturing his skull but will remain under close observation in hospital, the Sicilian club to only one win in seven matches. The move came two days “intimate” photos of his girlfriend on social media. the Premier League club said yesterday. The 25-year-old suffered serious after Palermo was beaten 1-0 at home by Inter Milan. “This is a decision that I’ve Metropolitan magistrate Zakir Hossain said another court injury when he accidentally clashed heads with Chelsea’s Gary Cahill in the taken with integrity and lucidness, which makes me feel great pain, but which which deals with internet-related crime would instead hear 14th minute of the 2-0 loss at the Premier League leaders on Sunday. Mason seems the fairest and most logical option right now,” Corini the bail application, meaning the 31-year-old spinner would was rushed to the nearby St Mary’s Hospital in west London said, according to the ANSA news agency. Corini was hired remain behind bars on remand at a Dhaka prison. “The court and underwent surgery. “The club can confirm that Ryan in November as Palermo’s third coach of the season. directed us to move to the cyber court to seek bail. It also Mason continues to make excellent progress after sustain- Davide Ballardini coached the club for the opening two asked the jail authorities to look after the health of Sunny as ing a skull fracture in Sunday’s game against Chelsea,” rounds then was replaced by Roberto De Zerbi, who he was sick,” Sunny’s lawyer M. Muradduzaman told AFP. said a Hull statement. “He will continue to be closely was fired to make room for Corini. With only two wins Police arrested the left-arm bowler in a Dhaka suburb on monitored by staff at St Mary’s Hospital over the next few in 21 matches, Palermo is one point above last-place Sunday after his longtime girlfriend Nasrin Sultana, 23, filed a days, whilst also remaining in contact with our medical Pescara in Serie A. Palermo president Maurizio complaint two weeks ago. In her complaint Sultana said team to assess his progress.” Hull said they would only Zamparini has made about 60 coaching changes in 30 Sunny opened up a fake Facebook account in her name and release more information when there are changes to years as a club owner. Last season alone, Zamparini posted “intimate photos” which she found “offensive and Mason’s condition, adding: “We also ask that people respect changed coach eight times. No immediate replace- defamatory”. She also claimed that they had been married Ryan and his family’s privacy whilst he remains in hospital.” ment was named, although there were reports since 2014 and filed a separate lawsuit against Sunny on Hull announced Monday that Mason was conscious and that Zamparini was considering rehiring Monday, accusing the player of seeking dowry worth millions able to speak following a visit by captain Michael Ballardini. —AP from her family. —AFP Dawson and club officials.—AFP Formula One’s new owners plan US street race

LONDON: Formula One’s new owners plan closely with the media mogul since 1988 to add a street race in the United States in and was a former president of 21st Century an attempt to improve a sport which they Fox. Ecclestone was criticized for overlook- feel stagnated under Bernie Ecclestone’s ing historic popular race venues to move control. Chase Carey, who ended into new, wealthier markets including Abu Ecclestone’s four-decade reign as F1’s chief Dhabi, Bahrain and Azerbaijan, which held executive, told The Associated Press yester- its first race last year. The German Grand day that the sport will no longer be run as a Prix has been dropped from the 2017 cal- “one-man show.” endar because of Hockenheim’s financial Carey, though, will be as dogged as the difficulties, while the British race at 86-year-old Ecclestone in negotiations with Silverstone is at risk because of hosting circuits, insisting that less-lucrative races in costs. “Western Europe is important for us heartlands like Britain will have to prove and to some degree we have to engage to they can become more profitable rather make those races bigger and better than than being allowed to renegotiate hosting they are while respecting their heritage,” fees. International sports and entertain- Carey said, while ruling out cut-price deals ment firm Liberty Media, which is con- to keep historic races. trolled by 75-year-old tycoon John Malone, “We are willing to invest in the sport but completed its takeover of F1 on Monday we are the new guys so everyone wants to from investment fund CVC Capital Partners. come in and figure it’s a chance to renego- Driving growth in the United States is tiate. So I don’t think that’s the right mind- seen as a priority for Liberty, which also set. We think these races (in places like owns baseball’s Atlanta Braves and has Britain and Germany) should be bigger and investments in cable TV companies. F1 cur- more profitable and we are willing to work rently only makes one stop during the sea- with promoters to figure out how to son in the United Sates - to Austin, Texas - achieve that. That’s our goal.” but adding a street race is high on Liberty’s The takeover, which gives F1 an enter- agenda. “We would like to add a destina- prise value of $8 billion and an equity value tion race in the US in a location like New of $4.4 billion, comes as the series is poised York, L.A., Miami, Las Vegas,” Carey said in a for a shakeup. Changes such as wider tires, telephone interview. “We think we can cre- car design, louder engines, and more over- ate something that will be a really special taking opportunities are set to make F1 event. Obviously the US is all upsides for us. more exciting in a bid to win back a large We haven’t invested in the way we need to chunk of unhappy fans amid flagging build the US market.” attendances at some races. “We can certainly do things to make the ONE-MAN SHOW race day more engaging, more exciting - The sport has remained stuck in the make the race itself more exciting,” Carey past, making “events feel a little tired,” while said. “I have gone around and talked to lot SINGAPORE: This is a Thursday, Sept. 18, 2014 file photo of Formula One boss Bernie Ecclestone, center, as he walks with his wife, Fabiana Flosi, the modern media landscape was not of people and hear many of the same left, at the Marina Bay City Circuit for the Singapore Formula One Grand Prix. Bernie Ecclestone’s reign of Formula One ended after Liberty grasped by Ecclestone, according to Carey. things about predictability, rules too com- Media officially completed its takeover of the series on Monday.— AP “Bernie really ran a one-man show,” Carey plicated, engineers overtaking drivers, the said. “I don’t plan to run a one-man show.” engines could be faster, louder, cheaper. Although Ecclestone remains on board “And so there are a number of things we as an honorary chairman and will be an F1 can do to improve the race, the race day.” F1 needs fresh start from adviser, power clearly now rests with Carey, Such as tapping into the “excitement and who is a veteran Fox executive. “The last buzz” found at the NFL’s showpiece game half dozen years I think the business has and turning races into week-long festivals not reached its potential,” Carey said. “With in host cities. ‘one-man dictator’: Carey all the things you need to do to be compet- “What I would like to have is 21 Super itive in an increasingly fragmented online Bowls,” Carey said. “Priority 1 is to make the world, you need an organization doing races bigger and better. We have some many things at the same time.” great races like Singapore, Mexico and Abu Ecclestone, the racing Napoleon, forced into exile Carey, who played rugby at Colgate and Dhabi but we have to make all the races holds a Masters degree from Harvard, is a have an energy and excitement that really LONDON: Bernie Ecclestone’s four-decade input. But he said that F1 “needs to be run dif- it needs to be. Clearly it has to be improved. friend of Rupert Murdoch. He has worked makes them unique events.” —AP reign as a “one-man dictator” of Formula One ferently than for the last four or five years”. One of the benefits we bring is a fresh start.” had to end if the sport is to have the fresh “He has run this sport for his entire adult Carey added that Formula One had not start it needs, new chairman and chief execu- life and I respect completely that this is a diffi- grown as much as it needed to and that tive Chase Carey says. cult change,” Carey said. Liberty could exploit new technologies to do Ecclestone’s time as the colourful ringmas- “We have tried to deal with him with the just that. But he stressed the new owners ter of the Grand Prix circuit was effectively fin- respect he’s due, which is why we offered him would protect historic races, insisting there ished on Monday when US-based Liberty the chairman emeritus title. “I have been sin- would still be a British Grand Prix amid specu- Media completed its takeover of motorsport’s cere in saying I value his help and advice as lation the Silverstone course-which has had most prestigious brand in a deal valued at we go forward. “He calls himself a dictator. He several run-ins with Ecclestone over staging about $8 billion. has run it as a one-man dictator for a long fees-would be stripped of the event in 2019. While the 86-year-old Ecclestone, a former time. I think the sport needs a fresh perspec- “We needed a sport that while respecting car salesman, was widely credited with trans- tive. “But he has a lot to continue to offer and what made it great has a sense of energy and forming Formula One into a multibillion glob- he will always be part of the F1 family.” innovation,” Carey said. al business, there have been growing com- “In many ways, in a simplistic sense, the plaints in recent years that the sport has failed INNOVATION sport said ‘no’ too much and we have to start to modernise under the Englishman’s no-non- The American Carey, a vice-chairman of the saying ‘yes’-not gimmick it up but find ways to sense leadership. 21st Century Fox media conglomerate, has a do new and exciting things to have the sport There has also been the view inside and proven record in expansive sport-media continue to grow and interest and excite peo- outside the sport-and a concern shared by growth and expertise in the value and ple.” As part of the new management struc- IDALHO: In this Thursday, July 11, 2013 file photo, Chase Carey, President and Chief Carey-that it is wrong for one man to wield as exploitation of sports rights, notably in the US ture, Carey will have highly respected former Operating Officer, 21st Century Fox, walks during a break at the Allen & Company much power as Ecclestone did in Formula market, where Formula One has struggled to Mercedes F1 team boss Ross Brawn and Sean Sun Valley Conference in Sun Valley, Idaho. Formula One’s new owners plan to add a One. Despite sidelining Ecclestone to an advi- gain a foothold. Bratches, once a sales executive with North street race in the United States in an attempt to improve a sport which they feel stag- sory role as “chairman emeritus” Carey “Bernie is a one-man team. It was not right American sports television channel ESPN, run- nated under Bernie Ecclestone’s control.—AP stressed to the BBC that he had “tremendous in today’s world,” added Carey. ning the sporting and commercial sides of F1 respect” for Ecclestone and will value his “The decision-making is not as effective as respectively under him. —AFP Pacquiao says ‘nothing final’ on next fight

MANILA: WBO welterweight world cham- definitely in boxing, not in an MMA fight,” pion Manny Pacquiao said yesterday the he said. But the 1.69 metre (5ft 6in)-tall details of his next fight have yet to be Pacquiao also said he was not giving up his determined, despite widespread reports he position as a playing coach in the will face Australian Jeff Horn. Asked in an Philippines’ highly-competitive profession- interview with ABS-CBN television about a al basketball league, despite criticism of his Horn fight, Pacquiao, said “not yet done, hardcourt performance and Senate duties. the negotiation is not yet done”. “We are Pacquiao, who plays for the Mahindra still negotiating about that. Nothing is real- Floodbuster team but who has missed ly final, the date, who is the opponent. practice because of his other roles, said he There are a lot of offers from other coun- was not giving up his place on the squad. tries.” Pacquiao’s promoter, Bob Arum, has “I just make sure that whatever I do out- been widely quoted in international media side does not affect my work in Senate,” he as saying that the 38-year-old Filipino said. Pacquiao has previously used his fame dubbed “Pac-Man” will get into the ring to earn a fortune as a TV host and has even with Horn in April, possibly in Australia, but made forays into singing and acting. The Pacquiao himself has not confirmed this. Filipino southpaw briefly retired from the The Philippine boxing hero, who par- ring after beating American Tim Bradley in layed his sporting fame into election to the Las Vegas in April but soon made a come- influential Senate last year, also reiterated back, saying he still felt like a youngster. his willingness to fight mixed martial arts In his last fight in November, Pacquiao star Conor McGregor if his potential super- reclaimed the World Boxing Organization YEONGAM: This is a Thursday, Oct. 21, 2010 file photo of Formula One boss Bernie Ecclestone, centre, poses for a photo with from left, McLaren fight with Floyd Mayweather fails to materi- welterweight title for the third time with a driver Lewis Hamilton, Ferrari driver Fernando Alonso, Red Bull driver Mark Webber, McLaren driver Jenson Button, 2nd right, and Red Bull alise. “It could be possible if there is an unanimous-decision victory over former Sebastian Vettel at the Korean International Circuit venue for the Korean Grand Prix in Yeongam, South Korea, Bernie Ecclestone’s reign of intention to negotiate (for) the fight but champion Jessie Vargas in Las Vegas. —AFP Formula One ended after Liberty Media officially completed its takeover of the series on Monday. — AP WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 25 , 2017 SPORTS Russia could miss 2018 Winter Games: IPC chief

LONDON: Russian athletes could sport, the IPC banned the country from “I don’t know and I don’t think many Committee allowed individual sports they will return to the fold before long. remain banned for next year’s Winter competing at last year’s Paralympic people do,” he told the BBC, in com- federations to decide whether or not “Russia is a great sporting nation Paralympics in Pyeongchang, the presi- Games in Rio de Janeiro. ments published on Tuesday, when to suspend Russian athletes from the and without them being here, they are dent of the International Paralympic Russia has since made efforts to get asked if Russian competitors would be Rio Games, the IPC opted for a blanket missed in a sporting sense,” he said. Committee (IPC) has revealed. its house in order, but IPC president allowed to return. ban. Russian athletes will be absent “But we can’t have nations compet- After a World Anti-doping Agency Philip Craven said he cannot guarantee “I’m not looking for someone to say from this week’s IPC Para Alpine World ing when their performances have (WADA) report unearthed evidence of the country will be allowed to compete sorry, but let’s get it fixed.” Championships in Tarvisio, Italy, where been tarnished by what’s gone on state-sponsored doping in Russian in South Korea. Whereas the International Olympic Craven was speaking, but he hopes before.” —AFP

105-game losing streak weighs down Russian hockey team

KURGANOVO: It’s been 105 games and Sverdlovsk and Biryusa players in October more than three years since one Russian went viral in Russia (Sverdlovsk lost the women’s pro hockey team last won, and its game 9-2). whole season is a struggle to stay positive. A losing streak like Sverdlovsk’s is rare in “We’re totally screwed,” goalie coach hockey - for comparison, the NHL record Irina Votintseva said after a 5-1 loss on stands at 17 games, set by the San Jose Monday, the latest failed attempt to shake Sharks. In international soccer, the off the unwanted record. European mini-state of San Marino has yet When the Sverdlovsk Region Select to win a game in qualification for the Team from Russia’s Ural mountains last European Championship or World Cup won, 4-3 in a shootout in October 2013 despite more than two decades of trying. against Kometa Mozhaisk, Barack Obama However, it was victorious in an officially- was less than a year into his second term as recognized friendly game against similarly US president, Ukraine still administered tiny Liechtenstein back in 2004. Crimea and Russia was looking forward to Unlike San Marino, however, Sverdlovsk hosting the 2014 Sochi Olympics. has a genuine history of success. Since the streak began, the club has Back in 2000, under its previous name changed its coaches, almost all of its play- Spartak Mercury, the club won the Russian ers and even its name. Its roster is now championship and its players were main- packed with young players - some as stays on the Russian national team. Eight young as 16 - who embrace any sign of years ago, however, a dispute over coach- progress. ing styles caused many players and staff to “We were losing games by big scores, leave. Deprived of its stars and many prom- but now not so much. We’ve started scor- ising juniors, the club never really recov- ing,” forward Regina Yumaguzhina, who at ered. Perova was brought in last year to 18 is already an assistant captain, said at help turn the club around and is the only training last week. “We’re angry and we female head coach in the Russian women’s want (to win), and no one’s giving up.” pro league. On Saturday, the team had its best Since she took over, matters have mar- chance of victory in more than a year. With ginally improved, with fewer blowout loss- two minutes remaining of the third period es, and one young goaltender has even on home ice against Biryusa Krasnoyarsk, made the Russian junior national team. Yumaguzhina scored to reduce Biryusa’s Still, time may be running out. The club lead to 3-2. Sverdlovsk’s players pushed to is financed by the regional government - a send the game to overtime, but couldn’t common arrangement for pro hockey in Tiger woods score another goal. Russia - and some at the club worry the “We’d like things to be better, of course,” authorities may lose patience and pull their head coach Yulia Perova said. funding, forcing the club to close. Sverdlovsk’s players don’t live luxurious- With perhaps the toughest job in world Woods hopes to shake off ly. Most are paid about 15,000 rubles ($250) hockey, Perova said her recipe for motivat- a month, plus free accommodation, and ing players is simple. “First, love what you many are training to be teachers outside do and the rest will come,” she tells them. “If the rink. On the ice, it’s far from glamorous, you want to learn, you first have to play rust with busy calendar too. Many games are played in near-empty hockey, love the game, play your best. Then arenas with little media interest, except all the fame, fortune and wins will come by when video of a prolonged brawl between themselves.” — AFP LOS ANGELES: Tiger Woods said Monday he smiled and said, “Not today. It is too wet out who has won three tournaments so far this is confident that his battered 41-year-old there.” In addition to finding his form, Woods season. Woods says he hasn’t lost the fire body can withstand the rigours of playing in will be facing in 2017 a new crop of rising and passion for the game that made him four golf tournaments over the next five young stars such as top ranked Aussie Jason one of the best of all-time. “I am very excit- weeks. The 14-time major winner, who Day, Japanese ace Hideki Matsuyama, four- ed about getting the season started. I miss Tokyo venue under fire for returned to golf in December at the Hero time major winner Rory McIlroy, eight-time playing and competing,” said Woods, whose World Challenge following a 15-month injury PGA Tour winner Jordan Spieth and the 14 major titles is second to only Jack barring female members layoff, has committed to a hectic schedule hottest player on the Tour Justin Thomas, Nicklaus’ record of 18. — AFP which will see him open his 2017 season at TOKYO: A Japanese nonprofit group has course. The uproar adds to a list of trou- this week’s Farmers Insurance Open in San demanded the golf tournament of the bles for Japanese organisers, who had Diego. Bengals’ Jones issues apology 2020 Tokyo Olympics be shifted from the recently been considering moving three “I have played one time in the last 18 Kasumigaseki Country Club which does other venues because of soaring costs months,” American Woods said during a news not accept women as full members. before sticking to their planned locations conference Monday at the Riviera Country after police release video The Japan Golf Council, unaffiliated at a lower price. Club in Los Angeles. “I just need to get in some tournament golf. I am looking forward CINCINNATI: Cincinnati Bengals player Adam comment on pending legal cases. with the sport’s domestic governing In a statement, the Tokyo 2020 organ- “Pacman” Jones has apologized through his “We are extremely disappointed with body, the Japan Golf Association-said ising committee noted that to it.” After the Farmers at the Torrey Pines course, Woods will fly off to United Arab attorneys after Cincinnati police released Adam’s behavior,” the team said. “The behav- yesterday that it had sent a letter to Kasumigaseki had hosted various nation- video showing his raucous, often-vulgar reac- ior in the video is not what we expect from Emirates for the Dubai Desert Classic from International Olympic Committee (IOC) al competitions, including the 1999 tion to his latest arrest. our players. The club is aware that Adam has President Thomas Bach proposing an Japan Women’s Open, and that it fully February 2-5, followed by the Genesis Open at “Adam Jones is deeply embarrassed and put forth his own apology. However, we also alternative venue. met the requirements for hosting Riviera on February 16-19. remorseful for his conduct and language offer an apology to the public and to our loy- The membership policy “is quite con- Olympic-level golf competitions. But the He then travels home to Florida to take after being arrested in early January,” the al fans.” Jones has said he’ll be exonerated of trary to the spirit of the Olympic Games,” committee added that it “would contin- part in the Honda Classic in Palm Beach statement said. “Mr. Jones has the utmost the charges. said Eiko Ohya, chairwoman of the coun- ue studying the club owner’s policy on Gardens (February 23-26). The Farmers Open respect for law enforcement and the difficul- Hamilton County Prosecutor Joe Deters cil. The Kasumigaseki Country Club, a the membership eligibility and respons- will be Woods’ first full field tournament since ties police encounter on a daily basis.” said recently he wanted to know what pun- private club in neighbouring Saitama es to the public discussion.” undergoing back surgery in 2015. The statement from attorneys Timothy ishment the NFL plans for Jones, whose case prefecture, lets women play Monday Hiroshi Imaizumi, general manager at Asked if he is physically up to the task with Schneider and Alex Triantafilou that was was continued until Feb. 10. The NFL could through Saturday but bars them from the Kasumigaseki Country Club, told all the injuries he has endured the past several released Monday night says that Jones “sin- suspend Jones for the start of next season becoming full members and from play- Reuters that the club had about 215 years, Woods said: “That is a concern but I am cerely apologizes” to the officers, Bengals under its player conduct policy. A league ing on Sundays. female Monday-Saturday members. He looking forward to it. I feel I am strong organization and the fans. It adds that Jones spokesman said recently the case was under The council has not received a said the club was not considering chang- enough to handle the workload. is committed to counseling and anger man- review. Arrests and suspensions had nearly response from the IOC but feels it is mak- ing its membership system now but agement. ended Jones’ career before the Bengals ing headway after Tokyo Governor Yuriko would think about it if it were contacted READY FOR THE MASTERS He was arrested after an altercation at a signed him in 2010. downtown hotel the night after Cincinnati’s The former West Virginia star was the sixth Koike recently criticised the policy. by the IOC. “I sat out long enough. I have been on the season ended with a 6-9-1 record. The 33- overall pick in the 2005 draft. His off-field The council wants the venue to be Several notable country clubs have sidelines so long.” Woods admitted Monday that he once doubted whether he would ever year-old cornerback was charged for the con- problems started with a strip club melee in moved to Wakasu Golf Links, a public changed their policies to allow female frontation and for allegedly spitting on a Las Vegas in 2007. He pleaded the equivalent course on Tokyo Bay located much closer members in recent years. return to golf. “There was a time when I didn’t know if I could ever swing a golf club again nurse as he was processed at the county jail. of no contest to a misdemeanor charge, but to the Olympic Village. In 2014, the Royal and Ancient Golf Cincinnati police released a video on was blamed for instigating violence that led and play with my kids,” he said. Beyond the membership issue, the Club of St Andrews decided to allow Monday showing Jones’ behavior in the back to someone else shooting two club employ- council believes Wakasu would be more women to join after 260 years of exclu- The former world number one Woods seat of a police car as he was taken to the jail. ees, one of whom was left paralyzed from the cost-effective due to its proximity to cen- sion, and Augusta National, home of the may be far from his top form, but he says he Jones asks what charges he’s facing and waist down. He was ordered to pay more tral Tokyo and have greater legacy value US Masters, ended its men-only mem- still has his sights set on competing in the when he’s told two misdemeanors, he than $12.4 million in damages. The NFL sus- for the people because it is a public bership in 2012. — Reuters majors and his first order of business is the unleashes a stream of profanity toward the pended Jones for the 2007 season. Masters in April. police officers. At one point, Jones tells one: “I He was traded to the Cowboys, and was “I am hoping to get everything right so I hope you die tomorrow.” suspended again in 2008 for six games over can play,” he said. “I am thinking about it The Bengals took the unusual step of issu- an alcohol-related altercation with a body- (Masters) now.” Woods has won the PGA ing an apology; the team usually declines guard that the Cowboys provided. — AP Tour’s Torrey Pines tournament seven times in 1999, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2008, 2013. “It was the first PGA tournament I went to,” Woods said. “So I got exposed to pro golf there.” Woods last won a major title at the 2008 US Open at Torrey Pines by beating Rocco Mediate in an epic 19-hole playoff despite playing with a gimpy left knee that later required surgery. His last PGA title was at the 2013 WGC event in Akron, Ohio. When he tees it up at historic Riviera in just over three weeks it will be his first appearance in the event in 11 years. “I have always loved playing this course. I just never played it well,” Woods said. “I played here as a junior, an amateur and a profession- al. It is special place.” Last month, Tiger Woods played golf with then-President-elect Donald Trump at Trump International Golf Club in Florida. Woods described Trump as a big hitter and TOKYO: Japan Golf Council Chairwoman Eiko Ohya, center, listens to a reporter’s said the 70-year-old was able to walk the question with vice chairmen, Yutaka Morohoshi, left, and Masayuki Tamaki, during a entire 18 holes with him. press conference at the Foreign Correspondents’ Club of Japan in Tokyo, yesterday. “For a person who is 70 he hits it hard,” said The course that will host the 2020 Olympic golf tournament says it is open to chang- Woods. “He keeps himself in pretty good ing its membership policy to include women. The Kasumigaseki Country Club came shape. We walked all 18 holes and had a great under scrutiny recently when the International Olympic Committee inquired about time.” Asked if Trump could shoot a score of the club’s membership practice. —AP under 80 at the Riviera course, Woods paused, Adam Jones WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 25, 2017 SPORTS

Briton Cooke questions Sky’s drug-free credentials

LONDON: Former British cyclist Nicole Shane Sutton, whose evidence Cooke bag contained Fluimucil, a legal decon- unlike him, she did not race immediately purse, should have been concentrating Cooke questioned Team Sky’s drug-free said did not “ring true”, also gave evi- gestant, although no written evidence after her injections. “I was aware that this on his own job rather than delivering the credentials and said she was “sceptical” dence to the committee. has been provided to back this up. was performance-enhancing and I had a package to Wiggins. of Bradley Wiggins’ use of Therapeutic Cycling has been rocked by revela- Cope said he did not know what he significant discussion about that with the “Cope was doing what he was told to Use Exemptions (TUEs) in powerful evi- tions that a mysterious jiffy bag contain- was transporting. “I do find it very sur- medical team and the coaching team do,” she said. “Shane Sutton states he dence delivered to a British ing medication was transported to prising that Simon Cope transported before we agreed it should be adminis- approved Cope’s trip with the jiffy bag. Parliamentary committee yesterday. France by British Cycling women’s team something internationally without tered. It was a case of injection or sur- Nobody in the organisation anywhere The 33-year-old former Olympic and manager Simon Cope for Wiggins and knowing what was in it,” she told MPs. gery,” she said. In her earlier written evi- would have asked the question - hasn’t world champion launched a fierce attack Team Sky at the 2011 Criterium race. “I find that astonishing and the fact dence, Cooke was critical of the way the Cope got another job to do?” on measures in place to combat doping It has also been revealed that that when British Cycling were asked for whole process is overseen. “If the TUE Cooke frequently stressed that there which she described as “the wrong peo- Wiggins, who suffers from asthma, the records they weren’t able to find the process were to be reliably controlled, was a lack of governance and accounta- ple fighting the wrong war, in the wrong applied for three TUEs for the substance documentation, I find that surprising.” then an athlete would not be able to bility at the heart of British cycling and way, with the wrong tools”. triamcinolone acetonide between 2011 Cooke supplied written evidence fol- abuse its use out of competition to pre- UK Sport. She also bemoaned the sexism Painting a damning picture of how “a and 2013. “Taking TUEs just before major lowed by an hour’s testimony via video pare for a big event...It would not be lost that existed. “The facts are they did noth- sport run by men for men” is governed, events, it raises questions for me,” Cooke link from Paris. on many of the unscrupulous that a TUE ing for the women. Whilst a deluxe pro- Cooke was the latest prominent figure to said. “It makes me sceptical of what they was a very convenient way of masking a gram ran out for the men’s London 2012 appear before parliament’s Culture, have done. “I find the stance of being the KNEE INJURY doping programme,” she said. bid, Emma Pooley and myself self-fund- Media and Sport Committee which is cleanest team, yet Dave Brailsford not She revealed that she had obtained Cooke also hit out at what she said ed our flights to and accommodation in investigating doping in sport. being able to say what a rider took, defi- four TUEs during her career, three for a was sexism at the heart of British cycling, Australia,” she said. Asked if sexism was Team Sky chief Dave Brailsford and nitely makes it hard to back up that knee injury and one for asthma, using pointing out that Cope, whose salary as culturally embedded in British cycling British Cycling’s former technical director claim.” Brailsford told the committee the the same drug as Wiggins although, women’s coach came from the public she said: “Yes I do”. —Reuters

NEW ORLEANS: New Orleans Pelicans forward Anthony Davis (23) shoots against New Orleans Pelicans forward Terrence Jones (9) and guard Langston Galloway (10) during the second half of an NBA basketball game, Monday, in New Orleans. The Pelicans won 124-122. — AP MIAMI: Hassan Whiteside #21 of the Miami Heat drives to the basket during a game against the Golden State Warriors at American Airlines Arena on Monday in Miami, Florida. — AFP London Welsh kicked out of pro rugby Warriors stunned by Heat, LONDON: Cash-strapped London Welsh appointing day for everyone connected Cavs tumble to Pelicans were kicked out of professional rugby with London Welsh, including players, staff union yesterday and removed immediately and supporters, and the sadness at the loss from England’s second-tier Championship. of this club from the professional ranks will LOS ANGELES: Dion Waiters hit a 3-pointer apiece, Garrett Temple chipped in 11 and Matt Houston and a snap a five-game losing streak England’s governing Rugby Football be shared throughout the game.” Union (RFU) said the club’s “untenable” Founded by a group of Welshmen living from the top of the key in the final second, Barnes added 10. with a victory at the Bradley Center. Giannis position left it with little alternative given in London in 1885, London Welsh’s greatest giving the lowly but suddenly hot Miami Heat Antetokounmpo scored 31 points and Jabari London Welsh’s failure to provide it with days came more than 40 years ago. a 105-102 upset of the NBA’s best team, SPURS 112, NETS 86 Parker had 28 to lead the Bucks, who shot sufficient assurances about its They supplied seven players to the vic- Golden State Warriors, on Monday night at Patty Mills scored 10 of his 20 points late in 58.2 percent from the floor and made 11 of 23 finances.Monday saw a judge dismiss an torious 1971 British and Irish Lions squad in AmericanAirlines Arena.Waiters matched his the first half when the short-handed Spurs 3-point attempts. Houston shot 50.6 percent, attempt by British tax authorities to New Zealand, a figure that remains a record career high with 33 points for the second con- took control, and San Antonio rolled to a rout making 39 of 76 shots, 14 of 35 3-point tries. London Welsh, once one of English rugby’s for the number of players from one club in secutive game. Golden State’s Kevin Durant of Brooklyn. Mills missed five of his first six Patrick Beverley (18 points) knocked down major teams, wound up after the club went a Lions squad. tied the score with 11.7 seconds left on a shots, and he returned to action when the four from long distance, while Ryan Anderson into liquidation in December An earlier London Welsh greats John Dawes, JPR baseline dunk, setting the stage for Waiters’ Spurs trailed by one with about 5 1/2 minutes and Eric Gordon added three apiece. hearing was told the club owed more than Williams, Gerald Davies, John Taylor and heroics with six-10ths of a second left. The remaining in the second quarter. Mills helped £90,000 ($112,000, 104,000 euros) in tax. Mervyn Davies all starred for Wales during Warriors (38-7) had their seven-game win the Spurs surge ahead to a 52-42 halftime THUNDER 97, JAZZ 95 London Welsh were granted a temporary their golden era of the 1970s. streak snapped. It was only Golden State’s lead in differing ways. The reserve guard sand- Russell Westbrook drilled a jumper to break licence that expired on January 21, with a But the club, now in English rugby’s sec- fifth loss in regulation this season. The Heat wiched two 3-pointers around a 19-footer and a tie with 1.4 seconds left as part of his 22nd new board asked to provide evidence of ond-tier Championship, had two disastrous (15-30) have a season-best four-game win a 20-footer in a span of 2:15, and San triple-double of the season and lifted funds to pay creditors and a business plan. one-season stays in the elite Premiership. streak, as they completed a 4-0 homestand. Antonio’s lead never dipped into single digits Oklahoma City to a victory over Utah. Russell But English rugby chiefs were uncon- These coincided with an ill-fated three- again. Mills finished three shy of his season Westbrook had 38 points, 10 assists and 10 vinced and RFU chairman Andy Cosslett year spell in Oxford where they moved PELICANS 124, CAVALIERS 122 high by shooting 7 of 13 and making four 3- said Tuesday: “It is deeply regrettable that when their longstanding home of Old Deer rebounds. Victor Oladipo added 18 points Terrence Jones, subbing for the injured pointers. and Enes Kanter chipped in with 14 off the we should arrive at this point, but with Park in Richmond, southwest London-to Anthony Davis, tied his career high with 36 London Welsh in liquidation and unable to which they have since returned-was bench. Oklahoma City snapped Utah’s six- points and guard Jrue Holiday added a sea- WIZARDS 109, HORNETS 99 satisfy conditions to compete in The deemed unsuitable for top-flight rugby. game winning streak. Greene King IPA Championship as a profes- Tuesday’s decision does not affect the son-high 33 points and 10 assists to overcome John Wall scored 24 points and Markieff a 49-point effort by Kyrie Irving and spark Morris added 23, and Washington rolled to a sional club, participation in the competi- status of London Welsh Amateur RFC, KNICKS 109, PACERS 103 New Orleans to a victory over Cleveland at the victory over Charlotte at the Spectrum Center. tion became untenable. which will continue as a voting member of Carmelo Anthony hit a baseline jumper “We know this will be an extremely dis- the RFU. — AFP Smoothie King Center. The Pelicans led by 20 Wall outplayed Charlotte’s Kemba Walker in a points at halftime and by 17 two minutes into head-to-head battle of All-Star hopeful point with 23.4 seconds remaining, and Courtney the fourth quarter, but they had to hold on for guards. He had 18 points in the first half, help- Lee sank four consecutive free throws during the victory as Irving led the Cavaliers back ing the Wizards pull out to a 12-point halftime the final 15.1 seconds, leading New York to a Hogg wants Scotland to with 35 second-half points. The loss was the lead. Walker scored 21 points but struggled, victory against struggling Indiana. Anthony sixth for the Cavaliers in their last 10 games. going 7 of 24 from the field. The Wizards have led the Knicks with 26 points, Derrick Rose follow Glasgow’s lead The Cavaliers also got 26 points from LeBron now won five of their last six. They were in had 20 points and six assists, Indianapolis James and 22 points and 16 rebounds from control throughout the game, leading by as native Lee added 14, Willy Hernangomez Kevin Love. many as 16 points in the third quarter and 15 scored 14 and Justin Holiday had 13. Paul LONDON: Stuart Hogg hopes Scotland can visit to Edinburgh next month. midway through the fourth. George led Indiana with 31 points and seven take a leaf out of Glasgow’s book by beat- CLIPPERS 115, HAWKS 105 rebounds, Myles Turner had 22 points and 10 ing the major powers in Europe when the ‘SCARED’ Things are looking up for Los Angeles, BUCKS 127, ROCKETS 114 rebounds and Al Jefferson added 13 off the Six Nations gets underway next month. “I’m not going to lie, there was times in which won for the first time since losing Chris A late 11-0 run helped Milwaukee hold off bench. — Reuters Hogg was a member of the Glasgow years gone by when we were scared about Paul to thumb surgery and is on the verge of side that thrashed two-time European what was going to happen. “But now we’re getting Blake Griffin back. Austin Rivers champions Leicester 43-0 at the English confident about going down and getting scored 27 points and Jamal Crawford helped NBA results/standings giants’ Welford Road ground on Saturday the job done. We believe we have the play- hold off a comeback bid by Atlanta in the — arguably the most remarkable result in ing staff, the structures and the coaching fourth quarter as the Clippers defeated the Oklahoma City 97, Utah 95; Milwaukee 127, Houston 114; New Orleans 124, Cleveland 122; NY Knicks 109, Indiana the history of continental club rugby union. staff to get us victories. “We will concen- Hawks 115-105 on Monday night. Crawford, 103; San Antonio 112, Brooklyn 86; LA Clippers 115, Atlanta 105; Miami 105, Golden State 102; Sacramento 109, Detroit 104; Washington 109, Charlotte 99. Victory saw the Warriors into the quarter- trate on Ireland first up and then after that who had been in a slump, hit a 3-pointer after finals of the Champions Cup, Europe’s pre- we will look at the next opposition.” Atlanta had pulled within 102-98 with three Eastern Conference Western Conference mier club tournament, for the first time in Glasgow coach Gregor Townsend will minutes left and followed with two more late Atlantic Division Northwest Division their history. The win was secured in grand take over as Scotland boss at the end of the baskets as he scored 14 of his 19 points in the W L PCT GB Utah 29 17 .630 - style, Glasgow scoring six tries to inflict only season and now the challenge for Vern second half. Toronto 28 16 .636 - Oklahoma City 26 19 .578 2.5 Leicester’s second home European defeat of Cotter in his final campaign in charge of the Boston 26 17 .605 1.5 Denver 18 25 .419 9.5 all time. Now Scotland fullback Hogg wants Dark Blues is to make sure the confidence NY Knicks 20 26 .435 9 KINGS 109, PISTONS 104 Portland 19 27 .413 10 the national side to throw off their shackles several of his key players have gained at Philadelphia 15 27 .357 12 Minnesota 16 28 .364 12 DeMarcus Cousins powered for 22 points Brooklyn 9 35 .205 19 after years of fearing the worst against Test club level is not lost when they return to Pacific Division and 14 rebounds, and Sacramento snapped a Central Division rugby union’s leading nations. Their first the international arena. Golden State 38 7 .844 - chance comes when they welcome Ireland, “If we can harness that feel-good factor five-game losing streak with a victory over Cleveland 30 13 .698 - Indiana 22 22 .500 8.5 LA Clippers 30 16 .652 8.5 now a major force in global rugby union, to the guys are enjoying at club level and Detroit at The Palace. The Kings own just two Sacramento 17 27 .386 20.5 wins in their past 10 games, both against Chicago 22 23 .489 9 Murrayfield for a Six Nations opener on replicate it here, we feel that definitely Milwaukee 21 23 .477 9.5 Phoenix 15 29 .341 22.5 February 4. Hogg, asked if Scotland could gives us a chance,” said defence coach Matt Detroit. Sacramento also ended a six-game Detroit 21 25 .457 10.5 LA Lakers 16 32 .333 23.5 match Glasgow’s progress, said: “I don’t see Taylor, who works with both Glasgow and losing streak at The Palace. Its last victory in Southeast Division Southwest Division why not. Scotland. “The boys have come in with a Michigan occurred Feb. 10, 2010. Ty Lawson Atlanta 26 19 .578 - San Antonio 35 9 .795 - “Finn Russell has been playing awe- spring in their step. They’re really excited tied his season high with 19 points off the Washington 24 20 .545 1.5 Houston 34 14 .708 3 some at 10 for Glasgow, so if we can get and full of confidence-and I’m sure that will bench for the Kings. Sacramento also had four Charlotte 23 22 .511 3 Memphis 26 20 .565 10 outside him for Scotland, I think we’ll translate into performances in the Six other players in double figures: Willie Cauley- Orlando 18 28 .391 8.5 New Orleans 18 27 .400 17.5 Miami 15 30 .333 11 be grand,” he added ahead of Ireland’s Nations.” —AFP Stein and Darren Collison supplied 12 points Dallas 15 29 .341 20 WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 25, 2017 SPORTS

Impatient Chinese chase glory at all costs BRIEFS Sunderland sign Lescott BEIJING: European clubs Inter Milan, “not enough just to pay wages”. According to Peter Kenyon, former GLOBAL GOAL Aston Villa and Sochaux have had a high Even as China’s willingness to splash chief executive of Manchester United OL president Jean-Michel Aulas said LONDON: Sunderland have signed central defender turnover of managers since Chinese out on foreign talent has drawn top man- and Chelsea, “The smart people under- IDG carried out “a real investigation” Joleon Lescott on a contract until the end of the sea- takeovers, sparking fears that their trig- agers such as Manuel Pellegrini (Hebei stand it’s not about acquisition, it’s... before arriving at a decision and has son, the Premier League basement side said yesterday. ger-happy new owners have little Fortune), Andre Villas-Boas (Shanghai what you do with it (afterwards). since put “no pressure” on the club’s The 34-year-old played under Sunderland manager patience and no strategy. SIPG) and Sven Goran Eriksson “I think we are going to see good pur- recruitment of Chinese players. David Moyes at Everton and has now followed former “Many buyouts are irrational and defy (Shenzhen FC) to the country, many have chasers and bad purchasers but the ones “We have never imagined controlling Toffees team-mates Victor Anichebe and Steven the laws of the market,” Zhou Jiming, a not made it past a few months. Eriksson that I’ve been involved with are long- Lyon. We are not good, not competent to Pienaar, who also know Moyes from their time on football analyst and director at the offi- was ousted from Shanghai SIPG despite term, they’ve got a strategy,” said manage a football club,” said Li Merseyside, to the Stadium of Light. “Joleon Lescott cial China Sports Journal, told AFP. “The leading them to a third-place finish in Kenyon, who now advises on football Jianguang, who led the operation at IDG. has joined Sunderland AFC on a short-term contract,” majority of investors lack patience,” he the 2016 Chinese Super League, Fabio business deals. Some Chinese owners Chinese President Xi Jinping, a football said a club statement. “The defender has put pen to said. That certainly appears to be the Cannavaro was dismissed from have proven to be patient: West fan, wants the country to host and win a paper on a deal with the Black Cats until the end of case with Aston Villa, currently under Guangzhou Evergrande just six months Bromwich Albion, bought in September World Cup, a target which has prompted the season.” Sunderland are a point adrift of relegation their third manager, after a takeover by into the job while Jean Tigana fared even by entrepreneur Guochuan Lai, retained a flood of money into top-flight teams as rivals Hull and Crystal Palace at the bottom of the Chinese businessman Tony Xia last June. worse at Shanghai Shenhua, sacked after its manager, as did French side Auxerre, well as heavy investment and promotion Premier League after a 2-0 loss away to West Xia spent 38 million euros ($40 million) only five games in charge in 2012. currently one place off the foot of French of the sport nationally. Chinese Super Bromwich Albion on Saturday. to hire Roberto Di Matteo as manager, second division, following a takeover by League clubs, encouraged by the gov- hoping the 2012 Champions League LEICESTER LESSON China’s ORG Packaging in October. “The ernment’s vision of turning China into a Toure dismisses lure of China winner would be able to lift Villa’s flag- Chinese investors in football would do smart ones... want to have a say, but football superpower by 2050, have bro- LONDON: Yaya Toure says he wants to remain at ging fortunes. well to look at Vichai Srivaddhanaprabha, understand it’s not about them picking ken the Asian transfer record five times in Manchester City and is not interested in moving to But Di Matteo was sacked just 11 the Thai president of Leicester City, reign- the team. It’s a serious investment”, said less than a year, with Shanghai SIPG pay- China, amid reports of a big-money offer from the games later and replaced by Steve Bruce. ing English Premier League champion, Kenyon, who has worked on some ing 60 million euros to lure Oscar from Chinese Super League. Reports last week said Toure, Meanwhile Inter Milan, who are owned for pointers, said analyst Zhou. “He has Chinese acquisitions, including the Chelsea. 33, had rejected an approach from a Chinese club that by Chinese electronics retailer Suning, in done a lot of substantive, solid basic Wanda Group’s purchase of a 20 percent The push to buy European clubs is would have seen him paid around £430,000 November named Stefano Pioli as their work, and the success has been there. stake in Atletico Madrid in 2015. part of a larger drive to secure China’s ($536,000, 499,000 euros) a week. With his contract up third manager in just four months, in a Chinese investors lack this kind of That level of seriousness has been the place in the global football arena, a quest at the end of the season, the former Ivory Coast mid- desperate bid to restore their reputation. involvement,” he said. The shopping case with Chinese fund IDG Capital with heavy political overtones. “Sport fielder faces an uncertain future, but he says he has no Their struggles prompted Chievo presi- magnate bought the club in 2010, over- Partners which acquired a 20 percent gives you huge visibility, so if it’s success- interest in joining the likes of Oscar and Carlos Tevez dent Luca Campedelli to question seeing the greatest rags to riches story in stake in the French club Olympique ful it reflects well on them, and well on in China. “I always say that if I went to China I would Suning’s commitment to football, mock- football when his 5,000-1 shots won the Lyonnais (OL) as part of a “long-term” the country,” Kenyon said. “If it’s not suc- end up feeling angry there,” Toure said, in comments ing the Chinese accent and saying it was Premier League last year. investment, according to the firm. cessful it reflects really badly.” — AFP carried by several British newspapers on Tuesday. “Do you play football because you love football or do you play because you want to make money? What’s the purpose? “Me, I just want to play football because I enjoy it, I love playing. I enjoy helping my team-mates, Celtic on verge I enjoy playing against the big players and teams. I of becoming want to carry on in that way. Algeria coach quits

history Bhoys PORT GENTIL: Algeria’s George Leekens became the first coaching casualty of the African Nations Cup, GLASGOW: Celtic stand on the verge of resigning yesterday after his team were eliminated reaching a historic milestone when they less than three months after taking the job. “Given the return to league action today. The runaway pressure exerted on the federation and the national league leaders have been in cold storage for team, I prefer to stop my contract. For the good of all, I the past three weeks as the Scottish prefer to leave even if I do it with a sore heart while Premiership took a winter break but took a wishing all the success in the world to the national step closer to a domestic treble on Sunday team,” said a statement on the Algerian Football with a 3-0 defeat of Albion Rovers in the Federation website (www.faf.dz). Algeria failed to win Scottish Cup. a game in Group A, finishing with a 2-2 draw against That result means the Hoops could now Senegal in Franceville on Monday for only a second point from three matches. They had been among the equal a club record run of 26 domestic games pre-tournament favourites but were held in their unbeaten at the start of a season with a draw opening game by outsiders Zimbabwe and lost to or a win against St Johnstone today. That neighbours Tunisia. It was the second spell in charge record was set by the legendary Lisbon Lions of the Algerian team for the 67-year-old who has also side managed by Jock Stein, who became the coached the national sides of Belgium and Tunisia. first British club to lift the European Cup in 1967, and present day manager Brendan Rodgers admitted it was a honour for the cur- rent crop to be mentioned alongside them. “To be talked of in the same breath as guys Sevilla title challenge who created the legend of this club would ‘a reality’: Sampaoli obviously be a huge privilege,” Rodgers said. “I LIBREVILLE: Tunisia’s midfielder Wahbi Khazri (R) challenges Zimbabwe’s midfielder Willard Katsande during the haven’t really thought on it, to be honest, I just 2017 Africa Cup of Nations group A football match between Zimbabwe and Tunisia at the Stade de l’Amitie Sino- BARCELONA: Sevilla have serious aspirations to win La try to look to win our games, irrespective of Gabonaise in Libreville on Monday. —AFP Liga for the first time since 1946 after gate-crashing what the consequences of that means. “But, of the usual two-horse race between Real Madrid and course, anywhere you’re mentioned in that Barcelona, their coach Jorge Sampaoli said yesterday. same breath as those guys, it gives a great Sevilla are second in the standings, one point ahead privilege but we have a lot of hard work to do Tunisia advance as of champions Barca and one behind Real Madrid, who they beat this month to become the first team to top- and St Johnstone will be a tough test for us. ple Zinedine Zidane’s side since last April. “They’ve done very well with Tommy and Real have a game in hand on both their title rivals. particularly away from home they’ve done Argentine Sampaoli has proved a roaring success at well, so we know it will be a good test of our Algeria bow out Sevilla since taking over from triple Europa League qualities but it’s another game we’re looking winner Unai Emery last year although up to now he forward to.” LIBREVILLE: Tunisia trounced with the victory over Zimbabwe. scored the lone second-half goal. has been cautious about his team’s title hopes. The match against St Johnstone should But after securing their biggest ever points total in also see club captain Scott Brown reach his Zimbabwe 4-2 in Gabon Monday to “We regained possession well dur- Algeria coach Georges Leekens ing the first half and created scoring took some consolation from the early the first half of a season following Sunday’s 3-2 win at own personal landmark with the midfielder reach the Africa Cup of Nations quar- ter-finals as star-stacked Algeria were chances,” said the Poland-born han- exit as Algeria continued to underper- Osasuna, a fifth straight league victory, the coach said set to make his 400th appearance for the eliminated after the first round. dler. “It was a satisfactory perform- form at the Cup of Nations since a he was deadly serious about the title tilt. Hoops. Brown joined Celtic from Hibs in 2007 Naim Sliti, Youssef Msakni, Taha ance and I congratulate my players. lone title when 1990 hosts. “We’re not being deluded, it’s a reality, we’re going and Rodgers was full of praise for the 31-year- Yassine Khenessi and Wahbi Khazri Now we face Burkina Faso, a quality “I had warned that Senegal were to fight for the title. We may not have the strength in old’s contribution to the club. scored in Libreville as the Tunisian team with good technique and one of the big favourites and we the end and we may not be capable of doing it but “It’s a remarkable achievement by a top- Carthage became the first side at the attacking combinations.” showed that we could respond in dif- we’re going to fight for it,” Sampaoli told radio station class professional,” he said. “I didn’t know 2017 finals to score four goals in a Zimbabwe coach Callisto Pasuwa ficult circumstances, which is impor- Onda Cero. “Our hope is to take an extra step forward. that’s what it was but to play that number of match. Algeria drew 2-2 with a virtual said: “We lost the match in the early tant for the future,” he said. We have managed to instill an idea of play which the games at a club this size, your professional- Senegal ‘B’ side in Franceville at the stages due to a lack of concentration. “Overall it is a disappointment, but players like and enjoy, the idea of playing the same ism, enthusiasm, energy for the game and same time with star striker Islam “I think we have potential, but we need to use this to grow in the way against every team, always taking the initiative, commitment to being a top professional has Slimani finally finding form to bag a must prepare better. A lesson from future,” he added as Algeria are left to and our aim is to be even stronger in the second half to be there. “I’ve said it on many occassions brace. This was the second 2-2 draw this tournament is that players have focus on trying to qualify for the 2018 of the season.” Sampaoli had no playing career and earned his rep- since I’ve walked in the door here. My for the Algerian Desert Foxes after a to remain focused throughout a World Cup in Russia. utation as a coach in Peru, Ecuador and Chile before impressions of him were very positive. He’s a similar result against Zimbabwe, and a game.” Tunisia scored four goals in a “I am still sure of what I have to do. 2-1 loss to neighbours Tunisia in Cup of Nations match for the fourth It was not a gift for me to come here taking charge of the Chile national team in 2012, lead- remarkable leader. “They take a great lead ing them to the Copa America, their first major trophy, from him, the players in the changing room. between proved costly. time as they ripped the Zimbabwe but we will make it to Russia. I think Many pundits had placed Algeria defence to shreds during a first-half my players showed they could react.” in 2015. He’s at the very front from the first steps we He took his first foray into European soccer last year make on to the training field. “The warm-up, among the title favourites given the goal fest which ended with the win- Slimani gave Algeria the lead on 10 presence of stars like new African ners 4-1 ahead. minutes and after Diop levelled just to succeed Emery, who had been head-hunted by Paris right from the start he sets an incredible St Germain after leading Sevilla to an unprecedented example in his performance level and I think Footballer of the Year Riyad Mahrez, The tempo inevitably slowed after before half-time, he struck again early half-time with both teams playing for in the second half only for Sow to three Europa League triumphs in a row.—Reuters he’ll go on and make a raft of more appear- Slimani and Yacine Brahimi. Pre-tournament fears about the the third time in nine days and Ndoro equalise within a minute.—AFP ances. “He shows a great example to the defence proved well founded, howev- players and he’s been playing at the top of er, as they conceded two goals in each his game this season, so 400 will be great for group game. him but I feel there’s more to come as Senegal, breaking a pre-match well.”— Reuters promise of coach Aliou Cisse that he would field a full-strength side, equalised first through Papa Diop and Moussa Sow. Assured of finishing first before the last mini-league matches, Senegal topped the Group B standings with seven points followed by Tunisia (six), Algeria (two) and Zimbabwe (one). Senegal stay in southeastern Gabon to face Cameroon Saturday three hours after Burkina Faso and Tunisia meet in the first quarter-final in Libreville.

THRILLED Cameroon beat Senegal on penal- ties in the 2002 final in Mali and hosts Burkina Faso also won on penalties when they met Tunisia in a 1998 quar- ter-final. Ghana are also through to the last eight and the other three quarter-finalists will be decided today with six countries in contention. All the Group C teams-Democratic Republic of Congo, Morocco, defend- ing champions Ivory Coast and Togo- can advance to the knockout phase. In Group D, either record seven- IBRARRA: Peru’s player Luis Adrian Ugarriza (L) vies for time champions Egypt or Mali will the ball with Venezuela’s player William Velasquez dur- accompany Ghana to the quarter- ing their South American Championship U-20 football finals. Henryk Kasperczak coached match in the Olimpico stadium in Ibarra, Ecuador on Tunisia to the 1996 final during a pre- PORT-GENTIL: Egypt’s soccer players attend a training session at the Stade de Sogara in Port-Gentil, Gabon, yesterday, ahead of their Monday. — AFP vious spell in charge and was thrilled African Cup of Nations Group D soccer match against Ghana. — AP WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 25, 2017 SPORTS

Owen urges Rashford to bide time at Man United

LONDON: Former Manchester United Ibrahimovic’s arrival has seen him Star Sixes tournament in London on United for years to come, once his turn Fortunately for him, he’s at a place striker Michael Owen believes Marcus used either on the flanks or on the Tuesday. “As soon as those two players comes.” where he’s going to be playing and Rashford can be the club’s first-choice bench and he has scored only three are no longer at the forefront for Owen, who spent three years at honing his skills with the best, so centre-forward for “years to come”, but Premier League goals, but Owen Manchester United, which isn’t going United, believes training alongside you’d think that that would help him.” told AFP he will have to be patient. believes he is in exactly the right to be very long, then it’ll be really players like Ibrahimovic, Rooney and Owen is due to play in an England Rashford, 19, exploded onto the place. “Wayne (Rooney) and interesting to see who’s the next per- Anthony Martial will prove beneficial team captained by Steven Gerrard at scene with United last season, scoring Ibrahimovic at some point are going son to carry the can. “One of those in to Rashford in the long-run. “It Star Sixes, a six-a-side indoor tourna- eight goals in his first 18 appearances to retire and it’s who’s going to take line for it is Rashford. I’d say he’d be depends how you look at it,” said the ment for former international players and breaking into England’s Euro 2016 the mantle on as the regular number foolish to move now because he could former England striker. “Unfortunately, taking place at London’s O2 Arena in squad. This season, Zlatan nine?” Owen said at the launch of the be the number nine for Manchester he’s got a load of traffic in front of him. July. —AFP

Barcelona chief relaxed despite Messi speculation

BARCELONA: Barcelona sporting director deals to Neymar, Sergio Busquets and Robert Fernandez insists he is sure Lionel Javier Mascherano in the past year. Messi will sign a new deal with the Catalan And Fernandez is hopeful of also pining giants despite continued speculation over down captain Andres Iniesta, Ivan Rakitic the five-time World Player of the Year’s and Marc-Andre ter Stegen in the coming future. Messi has just 18 months left on his months. current contract and would have no short- “I am very calm, but I was very calm in age of lucrative offers should he decide to the case of Mascherano, Neymar, Busi leave the club where he has spent the (Busquets), and I am very calm with the entirety of his glittering career. subject of Andres, Ivan, Marc and Leo However, Fernandez believes negotia- because I have a lot of confidence that they tions over a new deal are progressing “very are going to remain with us,” he added. well.” “There were many comments and “I am totally convinced that the four people who want to intoxicate this situa- players will continue at Barcelona.” —AFP tion, but we have been working on it for a long time and we are calm,” he told Catalan radio station Rac1. Simmering tensions between the Barca Matches on TV board and squad boiled over a fortnight ago when the club’s CEO Oscar Grau (Local Timings) claimed Barca had to negotiate any new contracts with “common sense” given their Spain Copa del Rey spiralling wage budget. Eibar v Madrid 21:15 However, star striker Luis Suarez, who beIN SPORTS recently signed a new deal to 2021, Vigo v Real Madrid 23:15 responded angrily to those comments. beIN SPORTS “With Messi what you have to do is give him a new contract, not have common Italian Cup sense,” said the Uruguayan. Juventus v Milan 22:45 Messi, who will turn 30 in June, has been beIN SPORTS in spectacular form this season, scoring 28 times in just 26 appearances. French Cup “Leo has got to the stage where he Monaco v Lorraine 23:00 IBARRA: Argentina’s player Juan Marcos Foyth vies for the ball with Bolivia’s player Carlos Abelardo Ribera during their South American seems he is better now than he was two, beIN SPORTS Championship U-20 football match at the Olimpico stadium in Ibarra, Ecuador on Monday. —AFP three, four or five years ago. That is the feel- ing he gives us, that he gets better all the African Nations Cup time and plays as he wants,” added Egypt v Ghana 22:00 Fernandez. beIN SPORTS Injury-hit Real wait on “There is no doubt that Leo is the best Uganda v Mali 22:00 player in the world. That is the reality.” As beIN SPORTS well as Suarez, Barca have handed new Ronaldo for Cup comeback

MADRID: Real Madrid boss Zinedine Zidane hopes Cristiano Ronaldo will shrug off a foot problem in time to lead the European champi- ons’ bid to overcome a Copa del Rey deficit at Christian cross dropped Celta Vigo today. Zidane’s squad, down 2-1 from the quarter-final first leg at home, has been hit from Real logo in ME by a series of injuries with Marcelo and Luka Modric joining Gareth Bale, James Rodriguez, Dani Carvajal and Pepe on the sidelines after DUBAI: The club crest of Spanish soccer team limping off in Saturday’s 2-1 win over Malaga. Real Madrid will be altered to remove the tra- Ronaldo also suffered a blow to his right foot ditional Christian cross from clothing apparel at the weekend, but Zidane expects the World sold in some Middle East countries under a Player of the Year to feature as Real aim to keep regional deal. their quest for a first ever treble on course in Marka, a retailing group in the United Arab Galicia. Emirates, has been granted exclusive rights to “It is something that has bothered him until “manufacture, distribute and sell Real Madrid now, but he is fine. It is just a knock,” said Zidane products” in the UAE, Saudi Arabia, Qatar, yesterday. “He will be with us tomorrow.” After a Kuwait, Bahrain and Oman, the company said glorious 2016 for club and country, Ronaldo has in a statement yesterday. endured a frustrating start to the new year. The But Marka Vice Chairman Khaled al-Mheiri Portuguese has scored just once from open play told Reuters by phone the crest would be and was even jeered by sections of the Santiago altered due to cultural sensitivities. “We have Granit Xhaka Bernabeu crowd on Saturday. “We all want the to be sensitive to parts of the Gulf that are and crest. Sales will start by March, al-Mheiri same thing, which is to do our best to win sensitive to products that hold the cross,” said said. The deal does not cover replica jerseys, things,” added Zidane. al-Mheiri, who owns a Real Madrid cafe in which are sold in Dubai featuring the cross. “Whistles have always been heard in this sta- Dubai. The six Gulf Arab countries Marka will Real Madrid did not immediately respond to Arsenal’s Xhaka dium and others, and that isn’t going to change. sell and distribute Real Madrid products in are an emailed request for comment. But it is not The only thing I will say is that we need the fans all Muslim-majority The redesigning of the the first time the symbol has been altered. interviewed by cops on our side.” Zidane admitted his annoyance at crest would require only a minor change with In 2014, Real Madrid removed the Christian the crowd’s reaction and the number of injuries the original featuring a very small Christian cross from its crest when used by its sponsor that have blighted Madrid throughout the sea- cross at the top of a crown on the crest. the National Bank of Abu Dhabi. Dubai-based LONDON: Arsenal midfielder Granit Xhaka staff in German. “Police were called at son, despite tasting defeat for the first time in The agreement allows Marka to sell cloth- airline Emirates is Real Madrid’s main shirt was interviewed by police after allegedly 19:29hrs on Monday, 23 January following the campaign just nine days ago at Sevilla. ing apparel such as t-shirts, polo shirts and sponsor, whilst the club is also sponspored by racially abusing a worker at Heathrow air- an allegation that a member of staff had However, the Frenchman challenged the less swim wear featuring the Real Madrid name Abu Dhabi investment fund IPIC. — Reuters port, British media reported yesterday. been racially abused at Heathrow Airport, heralded members of the Madrid squad to take The incident happened on Monday, lit- Terminal Five,” a Metropolitan Police their chance to shine at Celta Vigo. “It does tle more than 24 hours after Xhaka was spokesman said. annoy me that some players are out, but we sent off in a Premier League match against “The allegation was made by a third par- can’t do anything about it,” he said. Burnley, a dismissal that will probably incur ty. Officers attended and spoke with a man “Throughout the season players will get a four-game ban. in his 20s. He was not arrested. He voluntar- injured and now we have to continue with those Xhaka had travelled to the airport to see ily attended a west London police station that are ready. “It is a difficult, but great game to off a friend flying to Germany, but reacted where he was interviewed under caution.” play. Now and again we also like to come from badly when his companion was refused Xhaka has now been sent off nine times behind in these types of games.” entry after arriving late for the flight at in three seasons. If he is banned for four In contrast to Madrid’s ailing squad, Celta Terminal Five, the reports said. games he will miss Arsenal’s FA Cup fourth- should be well rested to spring another surprise The Independent reported that a wit- round clash with Southampton and league after coach Eduardo Berizzo made eight changes ness said the 24-year-old Switzerland inter- matches against Watford, Chelsea and Hull from the side that won at the Bernabeu last national had racially abused a member of City. — Reuters week for Sunday’s 1-0 defeat to Real Sociedad. “The game on Wednesday has a real impor- tance,” said Berizzo. “It is a game of life or death Hot shot Warner happy to and to prepare for that game it is necessary to hand a rest to those that have accumulated rest for tough India Test many matches.” BARCA IN COMMAND SYDNEY: Australia’s player of the year series against Pakistan after losses to South The other three quarter-final ties to be com- David Warner has welcomed a rest before Africa and a tough tour of Sri Lanka and pleted this week look far more predictable. touring India next month saying it’s tough Warner admitted to feeling the strain. Barcelona ended a 10-year wait for a victory preparing for sub-continental conditions. “I felt probably the first two especially away at Sociedad thanks to Neymar’s penalty Warner, who won back-to-back Allan one-dayers this series with Pakistan, I’ve last week to carry a 1-0 lead into their second leg Border medals on Monday night, has been felt quite, not lazy, but my feet weren’t at the Camp Nou tomorrow. excused from the three one-day games in moving,” he said. The Catalans have also been afflicted by New Zealand starting next week after a “Sometimes they don’t move at all, but injury with Sergio Busquets set to miss the next hectic southern summer. they were just quite fatigued. few weeks due to ankle ligament damage. “We’re running ragged in the outfield ... Australia face Pakistan in Adelaide in Andres Iniesta and Rafinha are also doubtful, but we’re giving everything we can, and I’ve their final one-dayer tomorrow having Lionel Messi, Luis Suarez and Neymar are run as hard as I can for every ball,” the 30- already wrapped up the series 3-1. With a expected to start again up front after all three year-old told reporters after the medal cer- need to get on the front foot batting in scored in Sunday’s 4-0 rout at Eibar. emony. “So that does take its toll,” the open- India, Warner said he could look forward to Sociedad may also have their La Liga visit to ing batsman added. Warner said he would training after the break. the Bernabeu on Sunday in mind as they chase fly out on February 5, “So I’ve got a bit of “We are going to be working our back- Champions League football. time at home which is great”. sides off physically and mentally as well Atletico Madrid have the healthiest lead of “I’m grateful that you know Cricket before we even think about playing the all as they carry a 3-0 advantage into their sec- Australia allowing me to get over some lit- game of cricket (in India),” the vice-captain ond leg at Eibar on Wednesday. And Alaves are tle niggles and having a little bit of rest at said. “That’s what gets you mentally tough on course to reach the last four for just the third home to get me ready for India and there’s and ready for those conditions. It’s not the time in their history as they welcome second- no excuses there.” wicket it’s not the opposition, the condi- division Alcorcon with a 2-0 first-leg lead yes- PORT-GENTIL: Democratic Republic of the Congo supporters arrive to attend the 2017 Africa Cup Australia has won Test and one-day tions.—AFP terday. — AFP of Nations group C football match between Togo and DR Congo in Port-Gentil yesterday. — AFP Ecclestone, the Tokyo venue under racing Napoleon, fire for barring forced15 into exile female16 members WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 25, 2017

Impatient Chinese chase glory at all costs Page 18

MELBOURNE: Switzerland’s Roger Federer hits a return against Germany’s Mischa Zverev during their men’s singles quarter-final match on day nine of the Australian Open tennis tournament in Melbourne yesterday. — AFP Federer rolls into all-Swiss semi

MELBOURNE: Roger Federer was just one step away the tournament would progress, maybe I would fade upsets of the tournament with a fourth-round win over Zverev bravely remained true to his serve-volley from his first Grand Slam final in 18 months yesterday away with energy,” Federer said. “I think now that I’m in world number one Andy Murray, and he didn’t play game, coming to the net, but often being passed by after he demolished giant-killer Mischa Zverev to set up the semis, feeling as good as I am, playing as good as I badly against Federer, making only 13 unforced effors. crisp Federer volleys. an Australian Open semi-final with Stan Wawrinka. am, that’s a huge surprise to me. Zverev didn’t win a game in their most recent meet- Zverev picked up his game in the second set and Federer, 35 and considered past his prime after an “If someone would have told me I’d play in the semis ing at 2013 Halle, but he broke Federer’s serve in the broke Federer with three break points in the fourth injury-ruined 2016, rolled back the years with a master- against Stan, never would I have called that one for me. fourth game of the second set and won a total of eight before the Swiss quickly broke back. ful 6-1, 7-5, 6-2 win in just 92 minutes on Rod Laver For Stan, yes, but not for me.” games. Federer ripped through the opening set in just Zverev’s serve again came under attack and he fell Arena. The four-time champion will next take on his It will be the Swiss legend’s record 13th Australian 19 withering minutes, breaking Zverev’s serve twice and three break points down with Federer hitting two sub- Swiss Davis Cup team-mate and world number four semi-final appearance and 41st Grand Slam semi-final. It not having one break point on his own service. lime backhand winners to take the break. Wawrinka in what promises to be an enthralling semi- was a dominant performance from Federer, hitting 65 The Swiss legend helped himself to 18 winners with He raced to three set points on his next service final showdown. winners to just 13 unforced errors and breaking left- just five errors as he laid down the markers for Zverev. before taking a two sets lead in a total of 55 minutes. Federer, to his surprise, has now won five matches in hander Zverev’s serve six times. Zverev was backing up after his superb tactical suc- Federer uncorked another gorgeous backhand pass his comeback from a six-month injury break, with hopes “I think it definitely went as good as it possibly could cess over world number one and five-time finalist Andy to take the decisive break in the fifth game of the final rising of a record-extending 18th Grand Slam title in have gone,” Federer said. “I think I played great. Mischa Murray. But this was a far different proposition as set. Zverev was taken to 10 deuces in the seventh game Melbourne. “I felt I was always going to be dangerous has had a wonderful tournament.” Federer’s speed around the court, shot variation and before Federer broke on his sixth break point for a 5-2 on any given day in a match situation. But obviously as Zverev, ranked 50, had pulled off one of the major attacking intent flummoxed the German. lead and to serve out for the match.— AFP Vandeweghe overcomes nerves and Muguruza to meet Venus Murray left out of Britain’s MELBOURNE: “Fake it ‘til you make it,” sarily. I never have. Growing up, I’ve Coco Vandeweghe said after her fourth always just been wanting to prove peo- Davis Cup team round upset of world number one ple wrong in a lot of different regards. Angelique Kerber this week and if the “I think it’s more I take it as a chal- LONDON: Andy Murray was left out of Great American is indeed hiding her nerves lenge. I take it as an enjoyable challenge. Britain’s initial four-man team for next week’s Davis under a patina of confidence, she’s doing It’s what I want to do. It’s where I want to Cup World Group first-round meeting with Canada, a great job of it. be. which was announced yesterday. The big-hitting 25-year-old world “To face the best players is definitely Captain Leon Smith says Murray needs rest fol- number 35 blasted her way past seventh an accomplishment, to say for myself lowing his shock Australian Open fourth-round seed Garbine Muguruza 6-4 6-0 at the that I’ve gotten to the point that I’ve beat defeat at the hands of Germany’s Mischa Zverev. Australian Open yesterday to reach the and face these top players.” But he has not ruled out drafting the world num- semi-finals of a grand slam for the first That competitive edge may have ber one into the team if he changes his mind about time. derived from growing up in a family competing in the Ottawa match, which begins on French Open champion Muguruza where sporting excellence was the norm. February 3. was left simply stunned. “I think she Her grandfather was former New York “We will continue to speak with Andy in the com- played unbelievable. Three times we Knicks basketball player Ernie ing days regarding his potential involvement and if played in the past, she didn’t show this Vandeweghe, she is the niece of former he decides he would like to be part of the team, level,” the Spaniard said. NBA player Kiki Vandeweghe and her then we can of course change the nominations as “I have zero regrets about my per- mother Tauna was a swimmer who rep- necessary,” said Smith. formance. I think when you play with resented the United States at the 1976 In Murray’s expected absence, Dan Evans, Kyle someone that has the power to disturb Olympics. Edmund, Jamie Murray and Dominic Inglot are due like this, to hit these kind of shots, and “In my family, if you think you’re too to line up for Britain at the TD Place Arena. has a good day, I mean, it’s difficult hon- high, you’ll get put down really fast. The winners of the tie will play either France or estly.” They’re good about that,” she said. “It’s a Japan in the quarter-finals in April, with the losers Vandeweghe said the “calming voice” very competitive family, whether it’s just facing a relegation play-off after the US Open in of her experienced coach Craig Kardon playing cards around the table, or if it MELBOURNE: Coco Vandeweghe of the US serves against Spain’s Garbine September. had helped ease her nerves before the does end up coming to sports. But, you Muguruza during their women’s singles quarter-final match on day nine of the Murray’s next tournament is scheduled to be the contest but also posited that perhaps the know, I like to think I’m smart enough Australian Open tennis tournament in Melbourne yesterday.— AFP Dubai Duty Free Championships at the end of butterflies in her stomach were neces- not to mess with anyone in their said February. sary. sport that they like to play. low American Venus Williams, 11 years grew up watching,” she said. “But to do it He inspired Britain to glory in the 2015 Davis “Maybe I play better nervous and “They’re quick to bring me back down her senior and seven-times a grand slam at this stage of a grand slam is kind of Cup-their first triumph in the tournament since 1936 scared,” she said. “I don’t know. I think I off my pedestal if I get too high.” Next up champion. crazy. I mean, I can’t really put it into — but they fell to eventual champions Argentina in don’t shy away from a challenge neces- for Vandeweghe in the semi-finals is fel- “It’s a dream to play someone you words.” — Reuters last year’s semi-finals. — AFP Ailing lira fails to rally after Turkey rate hike Page 22

Samsung says Q4 profits up 50% despite Note 7 recall Page 23 BWEDNESDAY, JANUARYusiness 25, 2017 Hogan to leave Caesars Travel Group: Soaring to new heights Etihad Group in H2 of 2017 Page 25 Page 26

RIYADH: A general view of the construction site under the contract of French company ALSTOM as part of the Riyadh metro main line in the Saudi capital. — AFP Australia invites China as Trump dumps TPP EU-Canada trade deal clears crucial hurdle SYDNEY: Australia said yesterday it was working to recast the Indonesia or China or indeed other countries to consider join- transparent, and win-win" trade pacts. RCEP talks were press- tious accords. Members of the European Parliament's power- Trans-Pacific Partnership without the United States and ing," Ciobo told the Australian Broadcasting Corporation. ing ahead, she said, stating they "should be concluded at an ful trade committee voted 25 in favour of the deal, known as opened the door for China to sign up after President Donald "This is very much a live option and we are pursuing it and early date". CETA, with 15 against, during a heated session in Brussels that Trump ditched the huge trade pact. it will be the focus of conversations for some time to come." Alan Oxley, the first Australian to chair the General was interrupted by a protestor. The deal included a dozen Asia-Pacific nations which New Zealand Prime Minister Bill English noted that Beijing Agreement on Tariffs and Trade (GATT), the World Trade CETA now goes to a showdown vote in a full session of the together account for 40 percent of the global economy, but "hasn't been slow to spot the opportunity" to cast itself as a Organization's predecessor, said Chinese involvement in the European Parliament on February 15, where the EU leadership Trump declared Monday he had "terminated" it in line with free trade supporter. TPP was unlikely at this stage. hopes for a symbolic show of support for a global trade sys- election pledges to scrap the "job killer" pact. Canberra is There was a willingness toward "making an effort to find "China's certainly interested in the long run... but the tem in the face of rising protectionism championed by new floating a "TPP 12 minus one", with Prime Minister Malcolm out what we can do with TPP, rather than just dropping it and prospect of them tying into the TPP now, given their own US President Donald Trump. Boosters of CETA describe it as a Turnbull saying his government was in "active discussions" waiting and hoping to get a call (from Washington) about domestic economic problems, has got to be considered very new kind of deal that not only breaks the usual barriers but with other signatories including Japan, New Zealand and bilateral agreements sometime", he told reporters in low," Oxley, who heads the Australian APEC Study Centre at enshrines high standards for international trade. "With CETA, Singapore on how to salvage the agreement. Wellington. Trump said he would pursue bilateral deals with RMIT University, told AFP. we are rejecting unfettered globalization and laying the foun- "It is possible that US policy could change over time on TPP signatories to secure terms more favorable to the US. But The most likely option for TPP nations was "let the dust set- dations for a new era of rules-based trade," social democrat this, as it has done on other trade deals," Turnbull told English said a US-New Zealand pact would be challenging giv- tle" and wait for possible changes in US attitudes toward mul- MEP David Martin, a key backer of the deal, told AFP. But reporters in Canberra, adding that the nominee for US secre- en Trump's insistence that Washington would dictate terms. tilateral pacts, he said. CETA's opponents slam it as a gift to multinationals who will tary of state Rex Tillerson and Republicans supported the TPP. Analysts in Japan said the TPP would not make sense use the deal to lower health and environmental standards and "There is also the opportunity for the TPP to proceed with- Chinese interest without the US. "Japan thinks it's worth patiently maintain- circumvent government regulation. out the United States," he added. Beijing has long been noncommittal on the idea of joining ing the (TPP) framework even until the United States possi- "It's a defeat," Greens MEP and French presidential candi- "Certainly there is the potential for China to join the TPP." the TPP, choosing to back an alternative trade pact, the bly comes back to it under the next administration," Yoko date Yannick Jadot told AFP after the packed committee ses- The agreement, the biggest trade deal in history, was seen as Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP), a Takeda, chief economist at Mitsubishi Research Institute, sion. "The European Parliament has ignored all the lessons of a counter to China's rising economic influence. It was signed more modest deal that calls for lower and more limited regu- told AFP. Trump's decision to walk away from it "could be a Trump's victory and the Brexit vote in giving more power to last year but has not gone into effect. Trade Minister Steven latory standards. It includes the 10 members of the Southeast negotiating bluff," he said. corporations and reducing the power of citizens," Jadot said. Ciobo said Australia, Canada, Mexico and others had can- Asian grouping ASEAN plus China, India, Japan, South Korea, The EU and Canada formally signed the landmark free vassed for a pact without the US at a World Trade Organization Australia and New Zealand, but notably excludes the US. At a EU-Canada trade deal trade deal in October after seven years of tough talks, over- ministerial meeting in Davos. regular press briefing yesterday, Chinese foreign ministry Meanwhile, a contested EU-Canada free trade deal cleared coming last-minute resistance from a small Belgian region "There would be scope for China if we were able to refor- spokeswoman Hua Chunying remained coy about Beijing a key hurdle yesterday as EU lawmakers defied rising anti- that blocked its national government from approving the mulate it to be a TPP 12 minus one, for countries like joining the TPP, simply noting that China supports "open, globalization sentiment to back one of Europe's most ambi- accord. — AFP Saudi continues rebound, Trump urges US automakers to Kuwait rises, Egypt drops MIDEAST STOCK MARKETS make big push for new plants WASHINGTON: US President Donald Trump wants to see new auto plants built in the United ahead of the meeting with automakers, saying he DUBAI: Saudi Arabia's stock market contin- jumped 5.4 percent on Monday. Kuwait's pushed the chief executives of General Motors Co, States. "We have a very big push on to have auto would discuss US jobs with the chief executives. US ued rebounding yesterday in a generally index climbed 0.9 percent as trading vol- Ford Motor Co and Fiat Chrysler Automobiles NV plants and other plants," he told reporters. automakers have been reluctant to open new US strong Gulf region, while a drop by shares in ume remained extremely high, though it fell yesterday to increase production in the United The new Republican president, who took office auto plants in recent years, but they have expand- real estate firm Emaar Misr dragged down slightly from Monday's level. The index is up States and boost American employment. last Friday, vowed to cut regulations and taxes to ed some operations at existing plants. Egypt. The Saudi index climbed 1.1 percent, 17 percent since the end of last year, causing Trump opened a meeting with GM CEO Mary make it more attractive for businesses to operate in Trump has criticized automakers for building adding to Monday's 1.7 percent gain. With funds and individual speculators to pile into Barra, Ford CEO Mark Fields and Fiat Chrysler CEO the United States. "I want new plants to be built cars in Mexico and elsewhere and has threatened the fourth-quarter earnings reporting sea- the market to catch the momentum. Sergio Marchionne at the White House, saying he here for cars sold here!" Trump said in a tweet to impose 35 percent tariffs on imported vehicles. son more or less over, many Saudi firms Dubai's index rose 0.3 percent as GFH The meeting is the latest sign of Trump's uncom- have posted flat or weak profits because of Financial , a speculative favorite and the mon degree of intervention for a US president into government austerity steps and a sluggish most heavily traded stock, jumped 11.2 per- economy. Over half a dozen major firms, cent. It also soared during the day on corporate affairs as he has repeatedly pressured including food maker Savola and several Monday but gave up all its gains by the automakers and other manufacturers to "buy banks, missed analysts' estimates by wide close on that day. In Qatar, the index rose 1.0 American and hire American." margins. percent as Islamic bank Masraf Al Rayan, the Yesterday's gathering was the first time the But stocks in most companies which most heavily traded stock, rose 4.6 percent CEOs of the big three automakers have met jointly missed estimates have recovered strongly, to a 14-month high. Egypt sank 0.9 percent with a US president since a July 2011 session with suggesting investors are looking towards as Emaar Misr dropped 4.3 percent to 2.67 former Democratic President Barack Obama to tout improvement in the non-oil economy this Egyptian pounds, confirming a break of a deal to nearly double fuel efficiency standards to year as the government's introduction of technical support at 2.80 pounds, the bot- 54.5 miles per gallon by 2025. Fiat Chrysler is the austerity measures slows. Mouwasat tom of its range since mid-November. Italian-American parent of the former Michigan- Medical Services jumped 3.5 percent after That triggered a bearish right triangle based Chrysler. White House spokesman Sean saying its board was recommending a cash formed by the highs and lows since Spicer said on Monday that Trump was looking for- dividend of 2.5 riyals per share for 2016, up November and pointing down to the area of ward at the meeting "to hearing their ideas about from 2 riyals in the previous year. The com- 2.30 pounds. Sidi Kerir Petrochemicals how we can work together to bring more jobs back pany reported an estimate-beating 34.2 per- jumped 10 percent to 19.89 pounds, howev- to this industry." US and foreign automakers have cent rise in fourth-quarter profit last week. er. Last week Beltone Financial raised its fair been touting plans to boost American jobs and Savola surged 3.3 percent. It had value estimate for the stock to 32.3 pounds investments in the face of Trump's comments. dropped 2.0 percent on Sunday after report- from 17.68 pounds, citing stronger global oil Trump, a New York real estate developer, often sin- ing a shock fourth-quarter net loss, but prices among other factors. — Reuters WASHINGTON: President Donald Trump speaks to automobile leaders during their meeting in the gled out Ford's Mexico investments for criticism Roosevelt Room of the White House in Washington yesterday. — AP during his election campaign. — Reuters WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 25, 2017 BUSINESS Ailing lira fails to rally after Turkey rate hike CB keeps main policy rate on hold

ANKARA: The Turkish central bank yesterday despite President Tayyip Erdogan’s vocal aver- warning a “significant rise in inflation” was hiked its main interest rate by 75 basis points in sion to high borrowing costs. “It hasn’t quite expected in the short term. The bank pointed to a bid to boost the ailing lira but failed to impress convinced the markets ... My sense is that further food price volatility as one of the main factors markets looking for even sharper action. The interest rate hikes are likely in the coming that could drive up prices after inflation was monetary policy committee of the bank said the months,” said William Jackson of Capital reported at 8.5 percent in December, compared overnight lending rate was being lifted to 9.25 Economics in London. with 7.0 percent the previous month. “The com- percent from 8.5 percent, the second rate hike The bank increased the rate at its late liquidi- mittee decided to strengthen the monetary since November last year. ty window, where it has been increasingly tightening in order to contain the deterioration But the committee kept its one-week repur- encouraging lenders to source lira, to 11 percent in the inflation outlook,” it said. chasing (repo) rate unchanged at 8.0 percent from 10 percent. Economists had largely expect- Economists said the decision showed the bank and the overnight borrowing rate was kept at ed an increase, with estimates ranging between was not convinced by the need for radical action 7.25 percent. But with markets hoping for even a hike of 50-300 bps. “Inflation expectations, to halt the plunge in value of the lira. “We feel the more and taken aback by the absence of any pricing behavior and other factors affecting bank still thinks that this Turkish lira depreciation move in the repo rate, the lira initially lost 1.95 inflation will be closely monitored and, if need- will be a temporary one and its impact on infla- PHNOM PENH: A Cambodian worker (R) rides his motorbike past a building under percent in value against the dollar after the ed, further monetary tightening will be deliv- tion will be temporary,” said Ozgur Altug, chief construction in Phnom Penh yesterday. From glitzy malls and high-rise flats to five- announcement. ered,” the bank said in a statement. The lira has economist at BGC partners in Istanbul. Deputy star hotels, a luxury building boom in Phnom Penh is transforming a capital once It later stabilized to trade at 3.77 to the green- lost a quarter in value against the dollar over the Prime Minister Mehmet Simsek said on Twitter reduced to a ghost town into one of Asia’s fastest growing cities. —AFP back, a loss in value of 0.5 percent. Some econo- last year, alarming the government ahead of a the move indicated the bank was tightening mists expected interest rates to be increased by referendum expected in April on changing the monetary policy and willing to “tighten further”, 100 basis points or a full percentage point-after constitution to give President Recep Tayyip adding: “Price stability remains the top priority.” Shale revival looms over the lira lost seven percent of its value against the Erdogan more power. dollar in the first four weeks of 2017 alone.The ‘First priority economy’ decision had been seen as a critical test of the ‘Tighten further’ The ruling Justice and Development Party oil prices and spreads bank’s credibility. Investors were hoping for a The bank said in a statement that domestic (AKP) has dominated Turkish politics since win- LONDON: Saudi Arabia’s energy minister Traders are watching the rebound in shale significant rate hike to stem the lira’s falls, demand in Turkey was on a “weaker” course, ning its first majority in 2002 and the economy’s has predicted production cuts by OPEC and drilling carefully to see how many extra strong performance and investment in public non-OPEC countries will reduce global oil barrels will make their way onto the mar- infrastructure has been a pillar of its success. inventories by 300 million barrels by the ket. Shale producers have added 108 extra Hurriyet daily’s well-connected columnist middle of 2017. Six months of full compli- rigs over the last 13 weeks, after adding 72 Abdulkadir Selvi said the economy would be the ance with the agreement would cut inven- extra rigs over the previous three months, first priority on the government’s agenda as the tories to their five-year average and make and 28 in the three months before that. country headed to the referendum. any extension of the accord unnecessary, Even under conservative assumptions “The aim of the government is to breathe life according to Khalid Al-Falih. about drilling times and delays in the into the economy before the referendum to Crude exporters have been talking up arrival of fracking crews, those extra rigs calm the public,” Selvi wrote yesterday. The lira’s compliance with the pact over the last two will all be adding to new production by the performance has been the worst of any emerg- weeks to validate market expectations and middle of 2017. Most forecasters believe US ing markets currency with the country hit by steady prices. But traders have become oil production will increase this year multiple challenges in the last 18 months, more wary as the initial surprise from the though there is considerable uncertainty including terror attacks raising fears over securi- ambitious OPEC and non-OPEC deals fades about the extent. The US Energy ty and political instability. and the market becomes more watchful. Information Administration forecasts Since the failed coup on July 15 which tried The focus has shifted to questions of onshore production from the continental to overthrow Erdogan, the government has compliance and the resurgence of shale United States will rise by around 300,000 launched widescale purges, detaining, sacking production in the United States. barrels per day (bpd). Output is set to or suspending thousands of people in the public increase from a low of 6.62 million bpd in sector. Ankara insists it is dealing with an SOFTER SPREADS September 2016 to 6.92 million bpd by extraordinary threat but critics say Erdogan’s Spot crude prices have stalled since the December 2017, according to the EIA opponents are also being targeted. The fragile middle of December and calendar spreads (“Short-Term Energy Outlook”, EIA, January economy has also been hit by a series of poor have been weakening after both jumped 2017). The International Energy Agency data including last week’s unemployment rate following the deals. The calendar spread for predicts US light tight oil production will which rose to 11.8 percent in October, the high- WTI between June and December 2017 has rise by 170,000 bpd in 2017 (“Oil market est in more than six years. fallen to around $1 per barrel contango report”, IEA, January 2017). And Saudi from flat on Dec 12. Brent’s time spread for Arabia’s energy minister Falih put the the second half of 2017 has also fallen to increase in US shale output at around Egypt committed to around 55-60 cents contango from flat on 200,000 bpd this year in a recent interview. Iran’s SLAL bought about Dec. 13. Nearby price discounts in Brent repaying $3.5bn to and WTI are still not wide enough to cover MARKET SHARE AGAIN 130,000 T barley in tender the cost of storing and financing barrels in Shale production increases of 200,000 to foreign firms: Govt the second six months of the year. On bal- 300,000 bpd would be easily absorbed by HAMBURG: Iranian state-owned animal chased at around 185 euros ($198.5) a ton ance, traders expect the market to record a rising global oil demand and will not worry feed importer SLAL has purchased about c&f in two 65,000 ton consignments. A series LONDON: Egypt is committed to repaying the $3.5 bil- supply deficit and draw down stocks of OPEC too much. But shale output has often 130,000 tons of feed barley in an interna- of origins come into question but Australia lion it owes in arrears to foreign oil companies but a for- crude and refined products during the first surprised, usually on the upside, as produc- tional tender which closed last week and was seen as likely. The tender had sought eign currency shortage has made the drawing down of half and into the second. ers have proved more innovative, efficient had sought up to 180,000 tons, European shipment in February and March. Iran has a those debts more difficult, Petroleum Minister Tarek El But the weaker calendar spreads imply and resilient than expected. traders said yesterday. large surplus of milling wheat after a good Molla said yesterday. that traders expect a somewhat higher lev- The EIA has already revised its forecast for SLAL made no purchase of 120,000 tons harvest this summer but has been regularly “We are committed and we will continue decreasing el of inventories in the second half than lower-48 oil production (excluding the Gulf of of corn in the tender which closed on importing animal feed grains. the numbers as we have done over the last three years,” before. Prices and spreads arguably over- Mexico) at the end of 2017 up from 6.42 mil- Thursday because of a lack of offers, they SLAL has taken a back seat in Iran’s El Molla told Reuters. Insufficient foreign currency reacted to the surprising ambition of the lion bpd at the time of its October outlook to said. SLAL had required offers to be placed grain purchasing in recent years and its reserves mean that the repayment schedule was taking OPEC and non-OPEC agreements and the 6.92 million bpd in the January edition. If US in a sealed envelope in a submission box in renewed activity may be a sign that the time, he said. He said, however, Cairo was making market is now correcting. onshore output rose by 500,000 bpd or more Iran instead of offer submissions by email country’s imports are returning to tradi- monthly payments to foreign operators, enabling it to in 2017, which is possible, the drawdown in or fax. This prevented many trading houses tional patterns after Tehran reached a prevent overall debts from growing further. SHALE REDIVIVUS stockpiles might prove more gradual. If US from submitting offers. nuclear sanctions deal with Western pow- El Molla said Egypt would resort to the spot market Compliance with the OPEC and non- shale output starts rising briskly, OPEC would The optional-origin barley was pur- ers, traders said. — Reuters and to inter-governmental deals to close the gap OPEC deal appears to be fairly high though almost certainly be forced to respond by between its gas production and consumption through it will be some weeks before it can be allowing its output curbs to expire and start- Gold retreats from late 2016 imports of liquefied natural gas. assessed properly. But OPEC and non-OPEC ing to raise production again to protect mar- State-run EGAS issued an import tender in late compliance is only one half of the story. ket share. — Reuters highs on dollar recovery October for 96 LNG cargoes for delivery in 2017 and 2018, with an option to buy 12 additional cargoes in LONDON: Gold slipped from a two- to opt for gold, which is often seen as an 2017. “As we go during the course of the year, we will Libya needs $19bn to boost oil month peak yesterday as investors took alternative investment during times of see what are the remaining quantities that we need to stock of US President Donald Trump’s first geopolitical and financial turmoil. It rose to close the balance of the month and the balance of the output to 2.1m bpd by 2022 policy moves and a recovery in the dollar its highest level since Nov. 22 during season,” he said. “Therefore, we’ll go on as we need and from recent lows. Trump formally with- Tuesday’s session before giving back gains. as it may require on smaller tenders or we might have LONDON: Libya needs $19 billion in invest- by a different set of protesters. The second drew from the Trans-Pacific Partnership Spot gold was down 0.4 percent at $1,212.6 some direct deals.” ment over the next five years in order to largest western field, El Feel, remains shut. trade deal on Monday and told US manu- an ounce from an earlier high at $1,219.59. Once a net gas exporter, Egypt turned into a major meet its goal of boosting production to 2.1 Sharara is currently producing 161,000 bpd, facturing executives he would impose a U.S. gold futures slipped 0.2 percent to importer of LNG as growing demand outstripped pro- million barrels per day (bpd), its oil chief Sanalla said. National Oil Corp chief hefty border tax on firms that import $1,213. The dollar index, which measures duction. The country is currently producing 4.45 billion told Reuters yesterday. Mustafa Sanalla said he expects production products after moving American factories the greenback against a basket of curren- ft3 of gas a day, El Molla said. But the discovery by Eni of Libya’s production has been slowly inch- to rise to around 1.2 million bpd by the end overseas. “It’s all been flagged and it’s all cies, inched up 0.2 percent at 100.340. In the giant 850 billion cubic meters Zohr oilfield in 2015 is ing up since a deal was brokered in mid- of this year should the security situation playing out according to the well- the previous session, it hit a more than sev- likely to transform its fortunes. 2016 to end a multi-year blockade of its remain stable and as the central bank and rehearsed script of Trump and his advis- en-week low of 99.899. The field is expected to come into production at the eastern oil export terminals by a section of treasury unlock funding. ers,” Robin Bhar, Societe Generale’s head of “Regardless of Trump, the main story for end of the year and will save Egypt billions of dollars in metals research, said. gold is negative interest rates in the US. We the Petroleum Facilities Guards. The crash A deal was reached for tranches of fund- “The high in gold is an opportunity to are not expecting the Fed to raise rates in hard currency that would otherwise be spent on in output has crippled the OPEC member’s ing to be released every three months in take a bit of profit,” Bhar said, adding that March and it’s just going to be two hikes imports. Egypt scrapped plans for a third floating and economy that depends on oil sales for rev- 2017. Sanalla declined to give a figure. “This price was stuck in a $1,120-$1,220 range. and that’s roughly priced in to the market,” storage regasification unit (FSRU) due to plans to enues. Output has been fluctuating around (output goal) requires urgent money to be Trump’s protectionist statements and a lack said Dominic Schnider of UBS Wealth increase its natural gas production. — Reuters 700,000 bpd since the restart of the major allocated to make the repairs of the infra- of detail on policy have led some investors Management in Hong Kong. — Reuters western oilfield, Sharara, that was blocked structure,” Sanalla said. — Reuters EXCHANGE RATES

Chinese Yuan Renminbi 44.870 Al-Muzaini Exchange Co. Swiss Franc 307.230 Indonesian Rupiah 0.000018 0.000024 Australian Dollar 232.870 Thai Bhat 9.625 Japanese Yen 0.002594 0.002774 US Dollar Buying 304.800 Turkish Lira 81.470 ASIAN COUNTRIES Kenyan Shilling 0.003003 0.003003 Japanese Yen 2.670 GOLD Korean Won 0.000250 0.000265 Indian Rupees 4.494 20 Gram 247.740 BAHRAIN EXCHANGE COMPANY WLL Malaysian Ringgit 0.065229 0.071229 Pakistani Rupees 2.919 10 Gram 126.790 Nepalese Rupee 0.003146 0.003316 Srilankan Rupees 2.043 5 Gram 64.240 CURRENCY BUY SELL Pakistan Rupee 0.002762 0.003052 Nepali Rupees 2.810 Europe Singapore Dollar 215.490 Philippine Peso 0.006059 0.006359 Hongkong Dollar 39.446 Dollarco Exchange Co. Ltd British Pound 0.372786 0.382785 Sierra Leone 0.000068 0.000074 Bangladesh Taka 3.865 Czech Korune 0.004111 0.016111 Singapore Dollar 0.209238 0.219238 Philippine Peso 6.144 Danish Krone 0.039972 0.044972 South African Rand 0.016289 0.024789 Rate for Transfer Selling Rate Thai Baht 8.687 Euro 0. 322801 0.331801 Sri Lankan Rupee 0.001696 0.002276 US Dollar 305.650 Norwegian Krone 0.032405 0.037605 Taiwan 0.009670 0.009850 Canadian Dolla 230.220 GCC COUNTRIES Romanian Leu 0.084806 0.084806 Thai Baht 0.008332 0.008882 Saudi Riyal 81.654 Sterling Pound 379.810 Slovakia 0.009174 0.019174 Qatari Riyal 84.101 Euro 328.770 Swedish Krona 0.030385 0.035385 Arab ani Riyal 795.218 Swiss Frank 306.490 Swiss Franc 0.299606 0.310606 Bahraini Dinar 813.070 Bahraini Dinar 0.805100 0.813600 Bahrain Dinar 810.255 Turkish Lira 0.077162 0.087462 UAE Dirham 83.367 Egyptian Pound 0.013197 0.022450 UAE Dirhams 83.610 Iranian Riyal 0.000085 0.000086 Qatari Riyals 84.830 Australasia ARAB COUNTRIES Iraqi Dinar 0.000182 0.000242 Australian Dollar 0.223417 0.235417 Egyptian Pound - Cash 19.350 Saudi Riyals 82.435 Jordanian Dinar 0.426542 0.435542 Egyptian Pound - Transfer 16.259 New Zealand Dollar 0.213816 0.223316 Jordanian Dinar 432.270 Kuwaiti Dinar 1.000000 1.000000 Yemen Riyal/for 1000 1.229 Egyptian Pound 16.511 Lebanese Pound 0.000148 0.000248 Tunisian Dinar 134.510 Sri Lankan Rupees 2.040 America Jordanian Dinar 431.200 Moroccan Dirhams 0.020137 0.044137 Indian Rupees 4.489 Canadian Dollar 0.224376 0.233376 Lebanese Lira/for 1000 2.040 Nigerian Naira 0.001268 0.001903 Pakistani Rupees 2.915 Georgina Lari 0.138207 0.138207 Syrian Lira 2.182 US Dollars 0.301900 0.306300 Omani Riyal 0.788384 0.794064 Morocco Dirham 31.003 Bangladesh Taka 3.871 US Dollars Mint 0.302400 0.306300 Qatar Riyal 0.083239 0.084689 Philippines Pesso 6.138 Saudi Riyal 0.080513 0.081813 EUROPEAN & AMERICAN COUNTRIES Cyprus pound 167.850 Asia Syrian Pound 0.001298 0.001518 US Dollar Transfer 306.000 Japanese Yen 3.665 Euro 329.560 Bangladesh Taka 0.003667 0.004251 Tunisian Dinar 0.129493 0.137493 Syrian Pound 2.425 Sterling Pound 380.360 Chinese Yuan 0.043135 0.046635 Turkish Lira 0.077162 0.087462 Canadian dollar 230.770 Nepalese Rupees 3.800 Hong Kong Dollar 0.037388 0.040118 UAE Dirhams 0.081888 0.083588 Turkish lira 81.760 Malaysian Ringgit 69.600 Indian Rupee 0.002832 0.005512 Yemeni Riyal 0.000995 0.001075 WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 25, 2017 BUSINESS UAE real GDP growth poised to strengthen in 2017 and 2018

NBK ECONOMIC REPORT

KUWAIT: Following two straight dential price growth pick up on the Thanks to the UAE govern- to a projected 5.7 percent in 2017 years of softer growth, real GDP in back of stronger demand. ment’s abundant financial reserves and 6.8 percent in 2018. the UAE is set to gather pace in The value of real estate transac- that stand at over 200 percent of Non-oil exports may continue 2017 and into 2018 as the non-oil tions continued to trend lower GDP, the fiscal deficits have been to face some headwinds going for- sector is likely to stage a healthy throughout 2016, while growth in manageable. This has widely ward due to the stronger dirham. recovery and offset some of the the number of transactions helped both Dubai and Abu Dhabi The stronger dollar has led to an moderation in the oil sector. We remained subdued but steady; the maintain their high levels of public appreciation in the dirham’s trade- foresee real GDP growth edging up latter may be reflective of the pock- spending, particularly on infra- weighted index, increasing the from an estimated 2.5 percent in ets of strength in the “more afford- structure projects. In Dubai, infra- cost of exports and making it a 2016 to a solid 3.0 percent in 2017 able” housing sector. The recent structure spending is expected to more expensive place to visit and and 4.0 percent in 2018. Whilst we surge in the real estate transaction accelerate in the run-up to the invest in. Trade with Asian markets may see gains in the real oil econo- value may also be indicative of a Expo 2020 event. has been most affected by the SEOUL: This file photo taken on October 27, 2016 shows visitors looking at Samsung my capped by planned oil produc- nascent recovery in the luxury hous- Nonetheless, the major emirates stronger dirham, which has seen Galaxy S7 and S7 Edge devices during the Korea Electronics Grand Fair at an exhibi- tion cuts, the healthy recovery in ing segment. have embarked on some fiscal their currencies weaken against a tion hall in Seoul. — AFP non-oil activity is likely to more adjustment and reform, including stronger US dollar. than make up for that, as we see Inflation to face some subsidy cuts and the introduction Tourism, however, has been less Samsung says Q4 profits up the hospitality and construction upward pressure of fees on certain services. affected, given that a majority of sectors propelled forward especial- After continuing to trend lower According to official reports, Abu tourists are from the GCC, and so 50% despite Note 7 recall ly in the run-up to the Expo 2020 for most of 2016, inflation in the con- Dhabi has cut back or delayed has investment in real estate, event in Dubai. sumer price index (CPI) has been spending on a number of projects which depends far more on UAE Growth in the oil economy is gaining some traction of late, as designated as low-priority. Efforts nationals. The gains in the tourism SEOUL: Samsung Electronics’ profits looking forward to 2017, Greg Roh, an ana- expected to be limited in at least housing inflation (which weighs have also been made to rely more and real estate sectors are expect- leaped in the fourth quarter, it said yester- lyst at HMC Investment Securities, told AFP: the near-to-medium term on the more heavily in the index) appears to heavily on the private sector for ed to more than offset the costs of day, despite the humiliating Galaxy Note 7 “We are expecting Samsung to post record- back of planned production cuts. be reversing its downward trend. implementation of some projects. a stronger dollar. This should help recall that hammered the reputation of the high profits this year on the back of rising On 30 November, OPEC agreed to The latest numbers showed overall Furthermore, it increasingly non-oil exports continue to log in a world’s largest smartphone maker. chip prices.” For the full year 2016, the firm an oil production cut for the first inflation rising from 1.4 percent y/y looks like the UAE will be one of the decent performance. The South Korean tech giant took said in a statement, “Samsung achieved sol- time in eight years, in an attempt another blow when prosecutors began id results despite the Note 7 discontinua- to prop up oil prices. The 13-mem- Banking liquidity investigating its involvement in a corrup- tion in the second half”-the only reference ber group agreed to cut output by Following almost two years of tion scandal, which has seen the country’s to the debacle that saw the company with- 1.2 million barrels per day for six moderation, we expect lending president impeached, and sought the draw its much-publicized device, originally months starting January 2017. To activity to gradually rise in 2017 arrest of the firm’s de facto leader Lee Jae- intended to compete with Apple’s iPhone. that effect, we see real growth in and 2018 as growth in the real Yong. In a statement, the group’s flagship Samsung was forced to discontinue the the oil sector slowing from an esti- estate and construction sectors subsidiary Samsung Electronics said it post- Galaxy Note 7 in October after a chaotic mated 2.4 percent in 2016 to 1.6 improves. ed operating profits of 9.22 trillion won recall that saw replacement devices also percent in 2017 before rising to The latest data is pointing to (US$7.9 billion) during the October to catching fire. In total 3.1 million smart- around 2.8 percent in 2018 as pro- early signs of stabilization in lend- December period, up 50.2 percent year-on- phones were recalled as authorities in the duction is gradually restored to its ing activity. In October, lending year. Net profits for the quarter were 7.09 US and elsewhere banned them from use pre-production cut levels. growth remained modest and rela- trillion won, up 120 percent. on planes and even from being placed in The non-oil economy is forecast tively stable at around the 6.0 per- Earnings were “driven by the compo- checked luggage. to witness a healthy bounce in cent mark for the third straight nents businesses, mainly the memory busi- Earlier this week Samsung blamed faulty 2017 and maintain that stronger month. Whilst we may see loan ness and the display panel segment”, it batteries from two different suppliers for momentum going into 2018, as the growth ease somewhat on the back said, with the stronger US dollar also boost- the incidents, which the firm previously transport, construction and of the 25 bps policy hike in mid- ing profits. Analysts say memory chip estimated would cost it $5.3 billion. tourism sectors (some of the December, which came on the prices have been driven up by stronger Samsung has also come up with elaborate biggest contributors to non-oil heels of a similar increase in the US demand as Chinese smartphone makers step-by-step safety verification procedures GDP growth) gather pace. Activity Federal funds rate, we expect release devices with high resolution cam- for future products to prevent similar disas- in the residential real estate sector growth to recover soon after as eras and bigger storage in a bid to catch up ters, although some analysts remained is also seeing signs of stabilization, loan demand, particularly in the with Samsung and Apple. As the market sceptical. The findings suggested a lack of after almost two years of slowing construction and real estate sec- leader in multiple segments Samsung’s attention to product testing and a tenden- growth. We anticipate a jump in tors, picks up. own chip division “is the biggest benefac- cy to rush to market for competitive rea- real non-oil growth from around Growth in bank deposits has tor”, said Tom Kang, research director at sons at the expense of quality control, said 2.6 percent in 2016 to 3.6 percent been trending gradually upwards, Counterpoint Technology. Samsung said it Jan Dawson, chief analyst at Jackdaw and 4.5 percent in 2017 and 2018, but any significant gains have been expected “huge growth” in the sector, and Research. — AFP respectively. The latest data on the mitigated by weaker government UAE’s Markit Purchasing Managers’ deposit growth, which has been Index (PMI), a good gauge of non- weighed down by lower oil Warba Bank names Clements oil sector growth, also suggest that receipts. However, with oil earn- non-oil sector activity is set to rise ings set to pick up in 2017 and chief Retail Banking Officer in the near-to-medium term. The 2018, this should give government headline PMI rose from 53.3 in deposit growth a boost. Deposit KUWAIT: Warba Bank has announced yes- October to 54.2 in November, as growth jumped from 3.3 percent terday that, with immediate effect, Simon relatively stable local economic y/y in August to 5.0 percent y/y in Clements has been named Chief Retail conditions helped offset the weak- September before steadying at Banking Officer, taking over the responsi- ness in external demand. The PMI’s around that mark in October; the bilities for Warba’s Retail Banking Group. employment component also recent recovery in oil prices and In this role as Chief Retail Banking trekked upwards, rising to a four- bond issuances could be behind Officer, Clements will work toward month high of 51 and dispelling the improvement in growth. enhancing customer experience and fears of weaker business and Growth in the broad money developing new and personalized prod- employment conditions. supply (M2) remained soft ucts and services for our customers, signifi- throughout 2016. In October, it cantly bettering our capability to support Overall non-oil economy stood at 3.1 percent y/y. Growth in the Bank’s growing presence in the region- Much of the resilience of the this segment may continue to be al retail banking market. non-oil economy continues to capped in the near term following Clements joined Warba Bank in July stem from Dubai’s hospitality and the December hike in the policy 2014 as Chief Operations Officer with a construction sectors. The number rate. However, with deposit growth track record of extensive professional at two major banks in the region delivering of passengers passing through set to pick up, we should subse- experience as having previously held sen- enhanced growth and profitability Dubai International Airport contin- quently see growth in banking liq- ior executive positions heading operations through the execution of aggressive ues to hold strong. In October, this uidity edge higher as well. Both the and technology divisions at a number of strategic plans. number reached 6.4 million pas- three-month and one-month inter- leading banks throughout Europe, Asia Clements started his career with major sengers, up 2.7 percent year-on- bank rates have reached multi-year and the Middle East. US bank, Chemical Bank (now JP Morgan year (y/y). Despite the ongoing highs recently on tighter liquidity He has over 30 years of experience in Chase), where he progressed to the posi- decline in average daily room rates constraints and following the key operations, IT and retail banking functions tion of VP, UK operations after having suc- at hotels in Dubai over the past policy rate hike in December. We in financial institutions during which he cessfully established the bank’s branches year, the demand for hotel rooms should see these rates ease, at least has developed and implemented winning in Hong Kong and the Philippines. He remained relatively solid as reflect- in the medium term, as liquidity strategies. In more recent years, he has holds a business degree from Manchester ed in the average occupancy rate, conditions improve. successfully managed the retail operations University in the UK. which came in at a still high 75.6 percent in October. SME market reform Dubai’s construction sector will Small and medium-sized enter- also continue to be a key driver of prises (SME) account for over 95 non-oil growth. Construction activity percent of companies in Dubai and is expected to remain robust, espe- are a major driving force behind cially as Dubai prepares for the Expo the emirate’s economy. Yet, the 2020 event. Projects include the con- SME sector was hindered by the struction of buildings, metro expan- absence of a robust and fair bank- sions, roads and bridges. The con- ruptcy law, with knock-on effects struction sector is also set to benefit in September to 1.9 percent in first GCC nations to implement a on the banking sector. This is from plans to foster the UAE’s Vision October. As well as seeing some VAT. The first phase of implementa- expected to change thanks to the 2021 and long-term strategy to upward pressure from housing infla- tion, scheduled for 2018, will introduction of a long-awaited establish a post-oil “knowledge tion, a mild acceleration in food infla- include UAE companies with annu- bankruptcy law in 4Q16. economy” via the “UAE Strategy for tion recently also pushed the overall al revenues greater than $1 million Under the previous regulatory the Future” blueprint. The strategy inflation rate higher. However, food (Dh 3.75 million). umbrella, any unpaid debt or a aims to bolster the nation’s non-oil inflation remained soft after coming At 5 percent, the VAT is expected bounced check would land the economy and enhance its economic in at 2.3 percent y/y. to generate around $3.3 billion (Dh owner in prison and do little to diversification. Looking ahead, we expect CPI 12 billion) in tax revenues or help resolve arrears. The weaker The resilience in Dubai’s non-oil inflation to gradually edge higher around 1 percent of GDP. In an external environment and a vulner- economy is reflected in the in 2017 and average at around 3 attempt to preserve foreign assets, able trading sector have led to a Emirates NBD Dubai Economy percent for the year, as a recovery the UAE has also tapped into inter- jump in defaults and bringing the Tracker Index (DET) (Chart 4). The in global oil markets pushes infla- national debt markets to plug its issue to attention of policymakers. DET is a forward-looking index sim- tion in the transport & communica- budget gap. In April, Abu Dhabi Under the new insolvency law, Johnson & Johnson cautious in ilar to the PMI which tracks non-oil tions segment up and housing sold $5 billion in sovereign bonds, banks and company owners will activity in Dubai. It recently wit- inflation gathers pace. With the the first issuance since 2009. be able to negotiate ways to outlook, shops diabetes care nessed a healthy pick-up thanks to housing market seeing some nas- Thus far, sovereign issuance has restructure their debts. This buoyant levels of activity in the cent signs of a recovery, we may been at the level of individual should help improve banks’ credit KUWAIT: Johnson & Johnson edged Wall Street Research. The conglomerate also saw revenue travel & tourism and wholesale & see those gains gradually feed into emirates rather than at the federal quality and instill confidence in profit expectations for the fourth quarter but climb about 1.7 percent to $18.11 billion in the retail trade segments. housing inflation over the course of level. This is about to change, with SMEs, and subsequently boost announced a lower-than-expected 2017 fore- period, led by growth in consumer products and 2017 and 2018. the UAE in the process of finaliz- lending to the sector. cast and said it would start shopping its dia- prescription drugs, its largest business. The total betes care businesses. matched Street forecasts. Dubai residential property price ing a federal debt law by early Johnson & Johnson said yesterday that it A surge in beauty product sales helped Following almost two years of Fiscal balance 2017 allowing the federal govern- Markets would start seeking a possible sale, joint venture worldwide sales of the consumer segment grow slowing growth amid tighter regu- We expect the fiscal balance to ment to issue bonds. With Both the main Abu Dhabi and or operating partnerships for LifeScan Inc., 3.4 percent to $3.43 billion. Pharmaceutical rev- lations, higher housing supply and remain in deficit, albeit a manage- investors globally in search for Dubai markets rallied toward the Animas Corp and Calibra Medical Inc. to spark enue climbed 2.1 percent to $8.23 billion even risk aversion, residential property able one, in 2017 before returning yield amid a low global rate envi- end of 2016 on a recovery in oil future growth and maximize shareholder value. though sales of top-seller Remicade slipped. price growth in Dubai appears to to a surplus in 2018 on the back of ronment, UAE bonds are likely to prices and the agreed merger The maker of Band-Aids, medical devices and The biologic immune disorder drug’s rev- have largely stabilized. According higher revenues. The fiscal balance attract healthy demand. between the National Bank of Abu prescription drugs also said it expected full-year enue dropped 3.3 percent to $1.62 billion in the to the latest data published by slipped into a deficit in 2015 for the Dhabi and First Gulf Bank, which adjusted earnings of $6.93 to $7.08 per share on quarter. Remicade treats rheumatoid arthritis, Asteco, prices of apartments fell by first time in six years, after a drop in Current account surplus could make it the second largest $74.1 billion to $74.8 billion in sales. psoriasis, Crohn’s disease and colitis and has approximately 2.0 percent y/y in oil prices sent oil revenues tum- The surplus in the current bank in the Middle East. Increased Analysts expect, on average, earnings of made tens of billions of dollars for J&J since its 3Q16 versus a decline of 2.8 per- bling. But against a backdrop of a account balance is projected to enthusiasm following the US presi- $7.11 per share on $75.07 billion in revenue, 1998 launch. cent y/y in 2Q16; prices of villas fell global recovery in oil markets, expand for the first time in four dential elections also helped lift according to FactSet. Shares of the world’s But it is facing competition from Pfizer’s by 3.4 percent y/y in 3Q16 versus together with some fiscal reforms, years in 2017, as oil export earnings UAE markets, as it has global and biggest maker of health care products slipped in Inflectra, a near-copy of the injected biologic the 4.0 percent y/y decline in the the deficit is seen narrowing from recover and non-oil export growth regional markets, on the expecta- early morning trading. For the final quarter of drug. Shares of the New Brunswick, New Jersey, previous quarter (Chart 5). We an estimated 3.3 percent of GDP in gathers steam. tions that the new administration 2016, J&J’s earnings jumped 19 percent to $3.81 company slipped $1.16 to $112.75 in premarket expect the stabilization period to 2016 to 1.1 percent in 2017, before We foresee the current account will usher in a wave of expansion- billion. Adjusted earnings came in at $1.58 per trading yesterday. The company’s shares had continue at least until the end of turning into a slight surplus of 0.5 surplus rising from a six-year low of ary fiscal policy and boost US and share. That topped average analyst expectations climbed around 19 percent in the last 12 2017, after which we may see resi- percent of GDP in 2018. around 4.6 percent of GDP in 2016 global growth. by two cents, according to Zacks Investment months. — AP WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 25, 2017 BUSINESS Dollar steadies, sterling rides out Brexit ruling

LONDON: The dollar steadied yesterday, recov- its banks. They made additional ground as pause,” said Saxo bank’s head of FX strategy lowest since late November. Its 1.7 percent there is a growing sense of scepticism, not ering from a dip on fears that US President Britain’s top court ruled that the UK government John Hardy. loss on Monday was the largest since July 29 helped by the tone of Friday’s inaugural Donald Trump’s focus on protectionism over fis- must get parliamentary approval to start the “The dollar rally needs to find some support though it had recovered to stand at 113.21 address and subsequent spat with the cal stimulus suggested his administration might Brexit process, though sterling briefly dipped on pretty soon otherwise we are facing a potential- yen by 1015 GMT. media.” Doubts about exactly how much be content to gain a competitive advantage news Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland’s ly serious correction.” Sentiment had taken a fiscal stimulus might be forthcoming had through a weaker currency. The talk of trade assemblies would not have to give their assent. knock on Monday when US Treasury Secretary SCEPTICISM GROWS helped Treasuries rally. Yields on 10-year wars came in the face of more data pointing to It was largely fine-tuning however. Both the nominee Steven Mnuchin told senators that he While Trump promised huge cuts in tax- notes steadied at 2.42 percent in European a revival in activity worldwide. A survey of euro and sterling had already been pushed would work to combat currency manipulation es and regulations on Monday, he also for- trading, having enjoyed the steepest sin- Japanese manufacturing showed the fastest back by the dollar as it clawed back from an but would not give a clear answer on whether mally withdrew from the Trans-Pacific gle-day drop since Jan. expansion in almost three years, as French busi- overnight tumble that had taken the dollar he thought China was manipulating its yuan. Partnership (TPP) trade deal and talked of Two-year yields were around 1.16 per- ness activity hit a 5-1/2 year peak. index below the 100 point threshold. “Most of In written answers to a Senate Finance border tariffs. “It’s interesting that markets cent, narrowing the dollar’s premium European stocks gained 0.3 percent as the the PMIs around the world have been quite Committee, Mnuchin also reportedly said an did not respond positively to a reaffirma- over the euro to 183 basis points from a upbeat data combined with a 2-1/2 year high in strong so there is no bad news here, but the excessively strong dollar could be negative in tion of lower taxes and looser regulation, recent top of 207 basis points. The recent commodity stocks and on a 1 percent jump in protectionism above stimulus story (from the short term. The dollar duly skidded as far as reinforcing the impression that all the drop in the dollar boosted industrial met- Italian stocks following a merger deal for two of Trump) has given the dollar bulls reason for 112.52 yen, breaking last week’s trough and the good news is discounted for now,” wrote als including copper and iron ore, while analysts at ANZ in a note. gold was near two-month high at $1,212 “As week one in office gets underway, an ounce. — Reuters

TOKYO: A man walks past an electronic stock indicator of a securities firm in Tokyo yesterday. Asian shares were mixed yesterday as uncertainty mounted over US President Donald Trump’s trade and regulatory policies.— AP WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 25, 2017 BUSINESS Caesars Travel Group: Soaring to new heights An interaction with Caesars Travel Group CEO P N J Kumar

By Jins M Jose find it very difficult to convince the passengers. In Q: Do you think, airlines are taking advantage brief, I have to say that airlines are taking an upper- of passengers by charging different rates as per KUWAIT: In an industry where biggest is not always hand over travel agents now and trying to reach the their whims and fancies? the best, Caesars Travel Group incorporated in the passengers directly which is causing lots of bad A: In the passenger’s perspective, you are right year 1992 started with a small profile is heading to name to travel agents, tarnishing our image in the and the travel agent’s credibility has also affected become a competitive as well as innovative compa- industry. If a passenger directly accessing through due to this price wars among airlines. If an airline ny at par with the key players in the aviation indus- an airline web site, mostly getting better fares than can operate with the fares by slashing down, which try in Kuwait. Business in every industry is dealing the travel agency offers to them, the reason being means they are able to run the airline by meeting with increased competition and travel agencies are an airline is going to save lots of middlemen their expenses with these fares, why are they then no exception, therefore, it’s always a curiosity to expenses, especially the charges they are supposed increasing the fares without any logic during sea- know more about Caesars Travel Group that within to pay for the reservation system (it is technically sonal times, which means to a passenger, trying to the span of these 25 years, how they have managed called us Global Distribution System-GDS) and this utilize the situation at maximum. to grow to the current levels apart from the many will give them an advantage of putting lower fares In this situation, travel agents are also finding it turbulences happening in the aviation industry at in their web sites. As a travel agent, I have to say very difficult to convince the passengers as they the moment. In an interview with Kuwait Times, that they are trying to avoid the travel agents where used to see us always as an airline office and the CEO of Caesars Travel Group, P.N.J. Kumar, who is once upon a time, these airlines were established in enmity is targeted towards the travel agents. working with the industry for the last 25 years in a the market due to the same travel agent support. According to me, let the airline adjust their fares dignified position and is the backbone of the steady Yes, I agree that passengers are getting lower fares based on the seasons but only reasonably and not growth of Caesars Travel Group, spoke about how when purchasing tickets through airline websites exorbitant increase, the reason being passengers the group has grown as one of the biggest travel but at the same time, you have to understand that can easily understand that when they introduce the services providers, dealing with many diversified how many of them losing their money when trying low fares, at which they can operate without any activities under one travel platform. Excerpts: to change their reservations as it’s always a trap that interruptions and by increasing the same, they are the rules and regulations put in the website of air- really cheating the passengers by collecting huge KT: How did you manage to develop your lines are so tough that many of them never go amounts, giving the impression to the passengers company as one of the leading travel companies through it, just only looking at the fares and later, that it’s a game to gain more money. Airline man- with rapid expansions that we have noticing losing their entire money paid to the airlines which agements should understand that the passengers now? will never happen when they are purchasing their are their revenue grosser and to play with their sen- A: Caesars Travel Group’s aim is to become one tickets through travel agents as we are always timents is not at all advisable as in this industry, Caesars Travel Group CEO P N J Kumar of the key supporters of our valued clients and responsible to them. once the trust is lost, everything is lost and that’s keeping this aim in mind, my first vision was to give A: it’s a very good question as this is really affect- what is going on now. them maximum accessibility for approaching our Q: How you count the Low Cost Carriers, ing the goodwill of travel agents, passengers curs- offices, that’s the result why we have opened these offering competitive fares than the full serviced ing us and there are many occasions that the pas- Q: Missing baggage is very common with many number of offices with a slogan of “interior to carriers? sengers are coming to the travel offices to make airlines now and most of the airlines are not giv- interior”, means, offices in residential areas to give A: At this point in time, I don’t believe there is issues about it. The new science of airline is that ing compensation to passengers, how do you the privilege for our passengers to visit our offices much difference between Low Cost Carriers with whoever buying the ticket in advance will get the see about it? without depending on transport. Commercial Carriers. You will not be surprised when maximum competitive fare and that too, there are A: This is mainly happening due to the disorgan- I have to say that sometimes, commercial carriers many classes for the best bargain prices among ized way of airline booking procedures by over- Q: How Caesars can play a key role in support- are offering more competitive fares than Low Cost these competitive fares. If the passenger purchases booking the flights, resulting in offloading the bag- ing the passengers? Carriers, having the privilege of food and other facil- a ticket few hours before the journey, the cost will gage, sometimes, offloading the passengers even. A: The concept of a travel office is not just issu- ities on board which the Low Cost Carriers are not be double compared to those who have purchased As per the rules of IATA convention, airline has to ing tickets to passengers but there are many infor- offering. There are certain Low Cost Carriers which in advance and it is no surprise that the money paid compensate the passengers in such occasions but mation/supports that a travel agent has to give to has started serving food on board. Based on this by the passengers occupying the next seat in the unfortunately, the rules are in the log book only, the passengers, especially in this confused situation conflicting situation, it’s my assumption that within same aircraft may have paid different prices for the very few of them are taking care of such situations. where there are many sorts of advanced technology few years, the terminology between LLC and full- same seat and ultimately, it’s the usual discussion Yes, the passengers can lodge the complaint but is in practice now. This needs academically quali- fledged carriers will totally vanish from the aviation among passengers that the travel agent is taking there are cases that these airlines will not respond fied staff that has got the interacting skills with pas- field and everyone will follow the same practice of advantage out of it. We always educate the passen- to them for months and years! sengers which is one of the main visions of our following the rules of low cost carriers such as buy- gers to take the tickets in advance to avail of the These days the passengers are also to be blamed company. Secondly, we are trying our level best to ing the services such as food, seat selection, bag- benefit of cheaper prices, but in Middle East, it’s not because there is no proper identification on the cater to all sorts of services, starting from ticketing gage etc. which has already started by the commer- possible for every passenger to plan their travel baggage. Once the new generation bags are intro- to holidays, ground services and many more, which cial carriers at the moment. dates in advance as there are many personal prob- duced to the market, it seems to me that most of is available under one roof of Caesars, that’s the oth- lems and professional limitations. Many of the pas- the passengers are very reluctant to put these er tool which are trying to support passengers oth- Q: It’s a common complaint during these days sengers still have the wrong notion that travel details on their bag which is one of the reasons, it is er than running a mere ticketing office. from passengers that for the same sector and agents are fixing the cost of air tickets whereas we difficult for an airline to identify it. class of travel on a particular day on the same are only the silent spectators to the airline fixing the Therefore, it’s my suggestion to all passengers Q: Currently, passengers always complain aircraft, passengers have to pay different prices prices who escape from dealing with these hassles. that you should strictly put some identification on about the travel agency fares with airline website for purchasing their tickets and many of them Otherwise, they should come forward to make your bags as this will help the airline to find out fares as travel agency fares are always high, why? are upset with the travel agents, blaming that awareness in the market which very seldom few air- your baggage easily from any location wherever if it A: There is always a science behind it which we you are the culprits behind it? lines are doing at the moment. is misplaced. (To be concluded) Eurozone starts year with strong economic growth

Manufacturers driving solid performance, but risks loom

LONDON: The eurozone started 2017 by main- stocks gained 0.3 percent as markets were com- year earlier. The ECB wants inflation below, but taining solid economic growth as a weaker cur- forted by the euro zone growth data, combined close to 2 percent and has bought more than a rency boosted orders for goods and services, a with a 2-1/2 year high in commodity shares and trillion euros worth of eurozone government survey showed, but rising political risks could on a 1 percent jump in Italian stocks following a bonds, putting cash into the banking system with soon take their toll. Growth in Germany’s pri- merger deal for two of its banks. the aim of stimulating price rises in the economy. vate sector slowed slightly in January but in “In all, the survey has brought some more encour- France activity rose to levels not seen in more MOMENTUM MAINTAINED aging news. But, as headline inflation rises and 5-1/2 years on expectations the country’s presi- IHS Markit’s Euro Zone Flash Composite political uncertainty damages investment, we still dential election will yield a more business Purchasing Managers’ Index, seen as a good see growth slowing somewhat this year,” said friendly environment. overall growth indicator, only dipped slightly Jennifer McKeown at Capital Economics. Activity Campaigning on plans to cut corporate tax from December’s five-year high of 54.4 to 54.3, in the bloc’s manufacturing industry increased at CHARLESTON: In this March 17, 2016 file photo, BMWs manufactured at the compa- and slash public spending, conservative former comfortably above the 50-point line that indi- the fastest pace since April 2011. Its PMI was 55.1, ny’s plant in Greer, SC, are driven onto a ship in Charleston, S.C — AP prime minister Francois Fillon is leading the polls cates growth. up from 54.9 and above the median forecast of to win a May 7 runoff in France’s two-round pres- A Reuters poll had predicted a modest uptick 54.8 in a Reuters poll of 48 economists. idential election. But a surge in support for pop- to 54.5. “While the PMI edged slightly down in An index measuring output, which feeds into How a Trump tariff could ulist and eurosceptic political parties across the January, this should not be taken as a sign of the composite PMI, nudged down to 55.9 from continent could rekindle some of the concerns weakness. Momentum in the euro zone econo- December’s 32-month high of 56.1. New export sideswipe auto industry about fragmentation that were evident in 2012, my remains fairly strong,” said Bert Colijn at ING. orders, which includes trade amongst member Fitch ratings agency warned. Markit said the PMI, if maintained, pointed to countries, held steady at last month’s 54.8, the DETROIT: The threat from President Donald “border tax,” which would tax companies’ “Using a composite financial shock of bank- first quarter economic growth of 0.4 percent, in highest reading since the start of 2014. Trump to tax Mexican-made cars sold in the US imports. That’s forcing automakers to consider ing, bond and stock markets, we find that the line with a Reuters poll published earlier this “The weakening of the euro provides some would throw the industry into disarray, analysts a number of options. real economic costs would be high in all large month. A sub-index measuring prices charged tailwind here, as businesses report that stronger say, forcing some uncomfortable choices: Raise euro zone members,” said Gergely Kiss, a director spent its third month above the break-even mark new orders in manufacturing are often coming car prices or swallow the cost. Stop selling STAY THE COURSE in Fitch’s economics team. Uncertainty from ris- although it ticked down to 51.6 from December’s from outside the euro zone,” Colijn said. Mexican-made cars in the US but risk losing Abandoning Mexico and moving production ing protectionist sentiments after the Brexit vote 51.7, which was the highest since July 2011. The PMI for the bloc’s dominant service customers. Move production to the US but to the US, as Trump demands, would cost the in June and Donald Trump’s US election win Any signs of ongoing inflationary pressures, industry slipped to 53.6 from 53.7, confounding make less money. industry billions and scuttle plans that are years meant economists in Reuters polls have said the however weak, will be welcomed by policymak- the prediction for a rise to 53.9. But in a sign that “I don’t think the auto industry would turn in the making. Audi, for example, just opened a bloc does not have enough momentum to with- ers at the European Central Bank who for years growth will probably be maintained in coming up its feet and die, but it would be a terrible plant in Mexico that it decided to build five years stand any major political change. have been unable to get prices to rise anywhere months, the PMIs showed an increase in shock. It would create mayhem with their prof- ago. “It’s very difficult to turn on your heels Elections are also due this year in Germany, near as fast as they would like. Prices in the 19- demand. The new business index rose to 53.6 itability,” said Marina Whitman, a business pro- quickly in the auto industry,” said Laurie the Netherlands and possibly Italy. European member bloc rose 1.1 percent in December on a from 53.5, its highest in a year. — Reuters fessor at the University of Michigan and a for- Harbour-Felax, a manufacturing consultant and mer vice president at General Motors Co. president of Harbour Results Inc. Before he was to host a breakfast meeting In recent weeks, Volkswagen, GM, Toyota UK offshore wind early yesterday with the heads of General and BMW have all said they won’t shift their ABK revamps Mastercard Gold Motors, Ford Motor Co. and Fiat Chrysler production plans, while stressing the amount costs fall nearly a Automobiles, Trump demanded on Twitter that they’ve invested in the U.S. BMW, for example, annual fees - zero for life! automakers they build new factories in the US. said it’s proceeding with a $1 billion plant in third in four years “I want new plants to be built here for cars sold Mexico that will make the 3 Series sedan start- here,” his tweet said. He has warned of a “sub- ing in 2019. The German automaker also noted LONDON: The cost of producing electricity from stantial border tax” on companies that move that its SUV plant in South Carolina is its largest wind farms off the coast of Britain has fallen 32 manufacturing out of the country and prom- plant worldwide. percent in the past four years, meeting a gov- ised tax advantages to those that produce Trump’s border tax would hurt some ernment target four years early, an industry domestically. automakers more than others. Volkswagen, for report released yesterday said. For more than two decades, Mexico has example, imports 32 percent of the vehicles its Britain plans to increase its offshore wind been an oasis for the auto industry, offering sells in the US from Mexico, according to LMC. capacity to help bridge a looming electricity cheap labor and access to dozens of markets But Honda imports just 11 percent, and that’s supply gap as old nuclear plants and coal-fired through free-trade deals. Whitman says Detroit expected to fall this year after it moves produc- power stations close. Offshore wind farm costs automakers can’t build small cars profitably in tion of the CR-V SUV from Mexico to Indiana. fell to an average of 97 pounds ($120.82) per the US, where a unionized auto worker can In early January, Ford made the surprise megawatt-hour (MWh) in the 2015-2016 finan- make $58 an hour in wages and benefits. By announcement that it would halt construction cial year, from 142 pounds/MWh four years earli- comparison, a Mexican auto assembly worker of a $1.6 billion plant in Mexico slated to build er, the report commissioned by the Offshore makes a little more than $8. the compact Focus. It also announced plans to Wind Program Board said. That helps to explain why automakers have invest $700 million of that savings into a This means the industry has met ahead of announced $24 billion in Mexican investments Michigan plant where it will make new electric schedule a government target to cut costs to over the last six years, according to the Center and autonomous cars. for Automotive Research, a Michigan think Ford said declining sales of small cars, not below 100 pounds/MWh by 2020. It also puts tank. In all, $50.5 billion in vehicles and $51 bil- Trump, influenced the Mexico plant decision, the cost of offshore wind close to that of new lion in auto parts were shipped to the US from and the company will still make the Focus in nuclear plants, with the government contract Mexico in 2015, US government data show. Mexico at a different plant. awarded to France’s EDF for its Hinkley C reactor KUWAIT: Al-Ahli Bank of Kuwait (ABK) has The card itself has also been completely Mexico’s auto sector, while still smaller than But Ford CEO Mark Fields noted that project in southwest England at 92.50 relaunched its Mastercard Gold credit card. redesigned with a fresh new look and is fully the US, is growing at a faster clip. Mexico’s vehi- Trump’s promise to lower corporate taxes and pounds/MWh. “Thanks to the efforts of develop- The new card, which is available now and up to date with the very latest international cle production capacity is expected to rise 49 ease regulations would make it more attractive ers, the UK’s vigorous supply chain and support completely free for customers, offers unbeat- security protocols. percent to 5.5 million vehicles by 2023, accord- to do business in the US Fields also said he’s from government, renewables costs are continu- able value, with annual fees reduced from For special needs customers the card can ing to LMC Automotive, a forecasting firm. US not worried about the possibility of tariffs ing to fall,” Britain’s energy minister Jesse Norman 40KD to zero for life. The new Mastercard Gold include a photo ID to increase customer card capacity will grow 13 percent to 14.2 million Others appear more nervous. Speaking to said in a statement with the report. customer membership includes a wide range security and protection. For more informa- vehicles in the same period. But Trump could reporters at the Detroit auto show, Fiat Chrysler “Offshore wind will continue to help the UK of regularly renewed exciting and exclusive tion about Al Ahli Bank of Kuwait please visit change that. In frequent tweets targeting the CEO Sergio Marchionne said his company to meet its climate change commitments, as offers and benefits, as well as a comprehensive eahli.com or contact a customer service agent auto industry, he has proposed both a 35-per- might withdraw from Mexico altogether if tar- well as delivering jobs and growth across the Mastercard Gold travel insurance package. via ‘Ahlan Ahli’ at 1899899. cent tariff on Mexican-made imports and a iffs got too high. — AP country,” he said. — Reuters WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 25, 2017 BUSINESS Kuwait slips in Agility emerging markets rankings

Hurt by budget gap and struggles to find new revenue, encourage private-sector growth BAAR, Switzerland: After running its Agility. Ti noted that all Gulf economies to No. 18 in Index. In Agility’s survey of to No. 2 in the Index and impressed India and China. One reason for their first budget deficit in 17 years, Kuwait are dealing with a “new normal” of low logistics executives, Iran climbed to 9th logistics executives responding to the optimism: nearly 57% expect commodi- fell to No 26 in Agility’s closely watched oil prices and are struggling to diversify from No. 15 among countries with the survey. Even so, India’s surprise decision ty prices to rebound in 2017, although index of the world’s 50 top emerging their economies, find new sources of rev- most potential to grow as logistics mar- to remove high-denomination bank most do not expect significant increases. markets. Kuwait dropped three spots in enue, and wean their populations from kets. Iran’s gains were the largest of any notes from circulation and encourage Transport Intelligence (Ti), a leading the 2017 Agility Emerging Markets subsidies and welfare state benefits. country in the 2017 Index or the survey. cashless payments could be jarring for analysis and research firm for the logis- Logistics Index despite the fact that its Kuwait has announced ambitious China, the world’s second-largest the economy in 2017. tics industry, compiled the Index. business conditions ranked 10th-an plans to stimulate private sector job cre- economy, remains the world’s leading Despite upbeat views of India and John Manners-Bell, Chief Executive of area of the Index that was dominated ation, spur competition, attract foreign emerging market ahead of India, which Iran, industry professionals sounded Ti, said: “Uncertainty and volatility have by Gulf states. investment and use public-private part- climbed past UAE to No. 2 in the latest notes of caution about the broad out- characterized many emerging markets The Index, now in its eighth year, nerships to drive big development proj- rankings. In the survey, supply chain look for emerging markets. Nearly 69% in 2016. This has been compounded by ranks emerging economies based on ects. Many of those plans remain in the executives identified the direction of expressed concern that the UK’s Brexit the political environment in Europe and their size, business conditions, transport early stages or have yet to produce China’s economy as the factor most likely vote and the failure of global and region- the US, which will have direct conse- infrastructure and ocean/air connections results. to drive global economic and trade al trade initiatives signal a threat to quences on trade with Latin America, - factors that make them attractive to Kuwait scored poorly - 31st-in logis- growth in 2017. Seventy-six percent said trade. A sizeable minority - 43% — said Asia and Africa. However there have logistics providers, freight forwarders, tics infrastructure and transport connec- China’s economy is slowing, but only the International Monetary Fund is too been many positives too-for example, shipping lines, air cargo carriers and dis- tions behind countries such as Peru, 17% said the slowdown is significantly optimistic in forecasting 4.6% growth for the strong performance of India. More tributors. Agility also surveyed more Kenya and Ukraine. hindering the transport and logistics emerging markets in the coming year. than ever, the Index identifies and con- than 800 supply chain industry profes- sector. Nearly 66% said slower growth Africa’s biggest economies - Nigeria trasts those markets which will prosper sionals for their views logistics markets. 2017 Index highlights: will not alter their plans in China. and South Africa - were among the from the most vulnerable and poorest China and India topped the Index at Turkey improved and ranked No. 9, Outside of the Gulf countries and countries that fell most sharply in the performing.” No. 1 and No. 2. Among Gulf countries, moving up one spot ahead of Russia, Turkey, Egypt (20) and Morocco (22) Index. Smaller African markets - Uganda, Note: 2016 Index results were recalcu- United Arab Emirates (3), Saudi Arabia despite fallout from an attempted coup were the MENA countries ranking high- Ethiopia, Tanzania, and Kenya - lated for 2017 because five countries - (5), Qatar (12), Oman (13) and Bahrain and extremist violence. est in the Index. Algeria (31) and Jordan improved their rankings in 2017. Iran, Ghana, Myanmar, Angola and (13) ranked highest. Bahrain climbed five Logistics executives picked Syria, Libya (33) improved their rankings slightly in Brazil held its No. 7 Index ranking Mozambique were added. After recalcu- spots in the latest Index and was among and Iraq, all in the grip of violence and the latest Index. Tunisia (42) slid five despite a painful recession and the lation, Kuwait’s original 2016 ranking the countries showing the biggest gains. war, as the three emerging markets coun- spots; Libya (46) and Lebanon (47) each impeachment of President Dilma was adjusted to No 23. Ti calculated Transport Intelligence (Ti), a leading tries with the least logistics potential. fell three spots. Rousseff. In the survey, logistics execu- 2016 scores for each of the new coun- analysis and research firm for the logis- Iran, emerging gradually from years of Robust growth and long-anticipated tives again picked Brazil as the the mar- tries to provide a basis for year-to-year tics industry, compiled the Index for international isolation, leaped eight spots tax and economic reform pushed India ket with the most logistics potential after comparisons. Cadillac Alghanim wows the crowd at GulfRun exhibition Escalade Platinum Edition, ATS-V and CTS-V showcased

KUWAIT: Yusuf A Alghanim & Sons Automotive, the sole distributor of Cadillac vehicles in Kuwait, continues to participate in interactive events that offer fans and customers alike an exclusive look to the luxurious world of Cadillac. Among the latest of such offering is Cadillac Alghanim’s outstanding participation in the Gulf Run event, which took place at Murouj, from the 19th to the 21st of January. Attendees were welcomed to visit Cadillac’s stand and marvel at the range- topping Platinum Collection of the Escalade, and This file photo taken on January 20, 2015 shows Australian James Hogan President the brand’s inaugural luxury performance cars, and CEO of Etihad Aviation Group and Vice President of Alitalia speaking during a the Cadillac ATS-V and CTS-V. press conference in Rome to promote the new Alitalia service. — AFP The Escalade Platinum Collection is designed to provide passengers with unsurpassed com- James Hogan to leave Etihad fort and convenience. Heated and cooled 18- way power front seats are standard, and include a massaging function on the driver’s seat. A pair Aviation Group in H2 of 2017 of seven-inch LCD screens, embedded in the front head rests, supplement the overhead 9- ABU DHABI: The Etihad Aviation Group and Jeff Wilkinson as CEO of Etihad Airways inch screen, while a cooled center console com- Board of Directors yesterday announced Engineering. Darren Peisley is Acting partment can keep chilled beverages handy. that James Hogan will step down as Managing Director of Hala, the company’s Platinum models also include premium floor top speed of 189 mph. It is backed by a six- showcases the company’s commitment to President and Chief Executive Officer of the destination marketing and global loyalty mats and Platinum-branded door sill plates. speed manual - with Active Rev Match, no-lift enhance customers’ unique Cadillac experience company in the second half of 2017. The unit. A further strengthening of the Group The Escalade adds even more sophistication, shifting and launch control - or a paddle-shift by offering customers peace of mind with a com- Board and Mr. Hogan first initiated the tran- structure was announced earlier this with advanced technology and hand-tailored eight-speed automatic transmission featuring prehensive insurance program. In addition, all sition process last year with the formation in month with the creation of Etihad Airport craftsmanship, differentiating itself from other lux- launch control and Performance Algorithm Shift. Cadillac owners will enjoy service and mainte- May of the Etihad Aviation Group, a diversi- Services led by Managing Director Chris ury SUVs; in addition to a powerful 6.2L V8 with Building on the V-Series legacy and leveraging nance for four years or 100,000 km, warranty for fied global aviation and travel organization. Youlten. In addition, the Group Chiefs lead- Active Fuel Management, Spark Ignition Direct the strength of the award-winning CTS architec- 4 years or 100,000 km, 24-hour roadside assis- Commenting on Hogan’s time at Etihad ing the core corporate functions include Injection (SIDI) and Variable Valve Timing (VVT), ture, the Cadillac CTS-V is considered the most tance anywhere in the Middle East for four years Mohamed Mubarak Fadhel Al-Mazrouei, Kevin Knight, Strategy and Planning; Ray which also includes aluminum block construction. capable V-Series ever: A luxury sedan with sophisti- (unlimited miles) plus a courtesy transportation Chairman of the Board of the Etihad Gammell, People and Performance; Rob Meanwhile, the ATS-V is the first-ever in its cated road manners and unprecedented perform- and a replacement vehicle upon availability. Aviation Group said: “We are very grateful to Webb, Technology and Innovation; and segment - offered as a coupe and sedan - to ance, with true track capability straight from the Adding to the luxury experience, Cadillac James. In just ten years, he has overseen the Harsh Mohan, Executive Affairs. introduce class-leading twin-turbocharged pow- factory. Backed by Cadillac’s paddle-shift eight- offers its customers in Yusuf Ahmed Alghanim growth of the company from a 22 plane er and a comprehensive suite of design and per- speed automatic transmission featuring launch the highest quality of services. The service cen- regional carrier into a 120 aircraft global air- Notable Highlights — 2006-2016 formance systems, expanding the ATS product control and Performance Algorithm Shifting, the ter is equipped with a large variety of the most line and aviation group, with seven airline Hogan took the helm at Etihad Airways line and advancing the V-Series legacy with its CTS-V is powered by a new supercharged 6.2L V-8 advanced equipment operated by a team of equity partnerships which together serve in 2006, with a mandate to develop a safe, first turbocharged entry. Rated at a SAE-certified engine SAE certified at 640 horsepower (477 kW) skilled professionals and effective consultants more than 120 million guests every year. It is best-in-class airline, operating on a sustain- 464 horsepower (346 kW) and 445 lb-ft of torque and 630 lb-ft of torque (855 Nm). who ensure timely service. a business which has set new benchmarks able commercial basis and contributing to (601 Nm), the twin-turbocharged engine is the Visit Cadillac Alghanim showroom today at for service and innovation. Under his leader- the future economic success of Abu Dhabi. segment’s highest-output six-cylinder and Premium care program the Fourth Ring Road next to Safat Alghanim. ship, the company has provided new oppor- The Group operates on a core commit- enables 0-60 performance in 3.8 seconds and a Yusuf Ahmed Alghanim & Sons Automotive’s For more information, please call 24969000. tunities for thousands of Emiratis and has ment to safety. The airline has had a 100 been a critical element in the remarkable per cent safety record under Hogan and progress of Abu Dhabi and the UAE. We look was recognised in January 2017 as one of forward to James’ continued association the ten safest airlines in the world. Ashok Leyland conferred with Abu Dhabi in new ways.” Its core airline operation today serves James Hogan commented: “Along with 18.5 million guests, reaching 112 destina- the Board and my 26,000 colleagues, I am tions with a fleet of 120 aircraft, with anoth- very proud of what we have built together er 178 on order. It has been named World the 2016 Deming Prize at Etihad and of the company’s substantial Travel Awards’ World’s Leading Airline for contribution to the UAE and to the devel- each of the last eight years and was recent- opment of Abu Dhabi. The last decade has ly recognised by Skytrax as one of just nine seen incredible results but this only repre- five-star airlines in the world. It won the Recognition for successful implementation of TQM sents a first chapter in the story of Etihad.” prestigious Air Transport World Airline of Commenting on current priorities for the Year award in 2016. KUWAIT: Bahrah Trading Company (BTC) one of the business, Mazrouei said: “To position Its strategy of minority equity invest- the Al-Sayer Group Holding Company proudly the company for continued success in a ments in key strategic partners - Air Serbia, announces that their principal associate Ashok challenging market, the Board and man- Air Seychelles, airberlin, Alitalia, Etihad Leyland India have won the prestigious “2016 agement team will continue an ongoing, Regional, Jet Airways and Virgin Australia - DEMING PRIZE” awarded by the Union of company-wide strategic review. We must has created the world’s seventh largest air- Japanese Scientists and Engineers, becoming ensure that the airline is the right size and line grouping, serving more than 120 mil- the first commercial vehicles manufacturer in the right shape. lion passengers a year, with a fleet of more India and the second in the world to win this hall “We must continue to improve cost effi- than 700 aircraft reaching almost 350 mark of Total Quality Management (TQM). The ciency, productivity and revenue. We must unique destinations. award ceremony was recently held at Japan. progress and adjust our airline equity part- The airline’s codeshare and equity part- nerships even as we remain committed to nerships are a core element of its growth, the strategy.” delivering 5.5 million passengers onto Last month, Etihad Airways unveiled Etihad Airways’ flights in 2016. plans to create a new European leisure air- Etihad Aviation Group’s diversified oper- line group in a joint venture with TUI AG. A ations now cover a range of businesses, new codeshare agreement with Lufthansa each of which is significant in its own right. and an aircraft leasing agreement between They include Etihad Cargo, Etihad Airways airberlin and Lufthansa were also Engineering, Hala Abu Dhabi, Etihad announced. As a minority shareholder, Airport Services, Etihad Flight College and Etihad is actively participating in the next the Global Loyalty Company, which is phase of Alitalia’s restructuring plan. bringing together a range of frequent flyer Mazrouei added: “Etihad is a great busi- programs, in addition to the core Etihad Prestigious Deming Prize ness with strong fundamentals and a Airways operation. Winning the Deming prize, known as the deeply experienced aviation and airline The Group now has more than 26,000 equivalent of Nobel prize in the field of quality management team. These assets, along employees. Its award-winning management is a remarkable and coveted with a realigned organization, provide Emiratization programs, for roles including achievement and a strong testimony to the high more agility and added focus as Etihad Cadet Pilots, Technical Engineers and quality of products from Ashok Leyland. Globally leading truck and bus Venture partners include Nissan enters the next phase of its development.” Graduate Managers, have helped increase manufacturer Motor Company (Japan) for Light Hogan will join an investment company the number of Emirati employees from less One of the most fully-integrated Over 70 million passengers use Commercial Vehicles, John Deere along with Etihad Aviation Group CFO than 100 when Hogan joined to more than manufacturing companies our buses to get to their destinations (USA) for Construction Equipment, James Rigney, who will also leave the com- 3,000 today. Ashok Leyland, with a history spanning over every day while over 700,000 trucks Continental AG (Germany) for pany later this year. A global search for a It is estimated that during 2016, the six decades of producing, marketing and servic- keep the wheels of economies mov- Automotive Infotronics and the new Group CEO and a new Group CFO is Group delivered a core economic contribu- ing commercial vehicles in India for both domes- ing. With the largest fleet of logistics Alteams Group for the manufacture already underway. tion of more than $9.6 billion to Abu Dhabi; tic and international markets are the path break- vehicles deployed in the Indian Army of high-press die-casting extruded The Group has developed a senior man- this is expected to grow to $18.2 billion by ing pioneers that developed transport infra- and significant partnerships with aluminum components for the agement structure with strength in depth, 2024. It works closely with the Tourism & structure in India. armed forces across the globe, to help keep bor- automotive and telecommunications sectors. led by a highly-regarded senior team. This Culture Authority, as well as other key Producing a wide range of trucks and buses ders secure. Bahrah Trading Company representing Ashok team includes Peter Baumgartner, CEO, and stakeholders, in developing Abu Dhabi and at the state of the art facilities across India in the Ashok Leyland’s manufacturing footprint Leyland in Kuwait, shares the joy of this Richard Hill, COO, of Etihad Airways; Bruno the UAE as a world class destination for mid-east, Ashok Leyland products signify relia- spreads across the globe with 8 plants; includ- mementos occasion and conveys their hearty Matheu as CEO of Airline Equity Partners; business and leisure travellers. bility and lasting value for money. ing one at Ras Al-Khaimah (UAE). Our Joint congratulations. WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 25, 2017 t e c h n o l o g y Philips profits more than double in 2016 THE HAGUE: Dutch electronics giant Philips said molecular imaging, as well as household appli- Amsterdam-based Philips said it continued to arising from past inspections in and before 2015." yesterday its bottom-line profit more than doubled ances such as electrical toothbrushes and kitchen focus on long-term strategic partnerships in the The issue mainly relates to defibrillators, with in 2016, buoyed by gains from the flotation of its equipment. health sector that saw it clinch 15 new deals val- Philips warning "while discussions have not yet lighting business and the strong performance of its The group, which sold its first light bulb a few ued at 900 million euros in 2016 -- with four in the concluded, we anticipate a meaningful impact on health technology division. Net profit soared by years after it was founded in 1891, listed its Philips fourth quarter alone. These included a 74-million- the operations of this business." 126 percent to 1.49 billion euros ($1.6 billion) last Lighting division at the end of May, netting pro- euro decade-long agreement with Russia's Expert Van Houten yesterday however played down year, while sales edged up by just one percent to ceeds of 750 million euros. Philips still holds a stake Group for imaging systems to improve heart care the issue, saying defibrillator manufacturing is a 24.5 billion euros. On a comparable basis, or adjust- of 71.23 percent but intends to sell it entirely in the and a 15-year deal with US-based Banner Health "relatively small business in the US." Dutch news ed for changes in the composition of the group, future. In December, it announced the sale of an for high-tech in-hospital and home-based care agency ANP said FDA inspections at the time found sales expanded by three percent. 80.1-percent stake in its Lumileds LED lighting busi- equipment. "imperfections" in the defibrillator manufacturing "Overall, 2016 was a defining year," said chief ness to funds managed by US-based Apollo Global In China, profits were boosted in particular by process but the "appliance's quality was not in executive Frans van Houten, pointing to the listing Management for $1.5 billion. the sale of oral healthcare and air purifying equip- doubt." "When these discussions come to a close of Philips Lighting and deals to sell the Lumileds ment, where Philips claims to be the "number one we will inform the market of exactly what it means," LED and automotive businesses. Philips is best New deals brand." It said it would propose a dividend of 0.80 Van Houten told Bloomberg news when pressed on known for the manufacture of light bulbs, electrical In the fourth quarter alone, Philips booked net euros per ordinary share at Philips' annual general the issue. Meanwhile, Philips Lighting announced appliances and television sets. profit of 640 million euros, compared with a loss of meeting in May. Philips pointed out however that Monday it clocked 185 million euros in profit in But it has pulled out of these activities in face of 39 million euros a year earlier. Fourth-quarter sales in the United States it was "currently in discussions 2016, down 23 percent from the year before, blam- fierce competition from Asia to focus on health rose by two percent to 7.24 billion euros, driven by on a civil matter with the US Department of Justice, ing brand licensing fees, separation costs and technology such as computer tomography and higher revenues in the health tech division. representing the Food and Drug Administration, financial expenses for the loss. — AFP

Software giant SAP sees silver lining in global upheaval BERLIN: Software giant SAP said yesterday that Brexit and figures, applauding "remarkable" growth in cloud sales which geopolitical upheaval would boost rather than hinder future saw SAP outstrip competitors. The German company has been growth as it upped sales and profit targets for the next few elbowing its way into the cloud computing sector-managing years. SAP, the German Dax index's biggest company by mar- customers' digital information at a distance for a monthly fee- ket capitalization, said demand for its cloud services in a for several years. Such relationships contrast with its classic changing world would provide the bulk of coming growth. software business, under which clients buy a license for an The company made the forecast as it released its 2016 results, SAP program once at high cost and then manage their own which showed net profit at 3.6 billion euros ($3.9 billion), up data on their own servers. 18 percent on 2015's figure, as revenues grew six percent to Revenues from cloud subscriptions and associated support 22 billion euros. services remain five times smaller than software in SAP's In a conference call yesterday, CEO Bill McDermott dis- books. But the newer business area grew 31 percent in 2016, agreed with analysts' fears that geopolitical turbulence, espe- compared with 4.0 percent for classical software sales. cially Brexit, could lower corporate spending on IT. "Public or Looking forward, the firm hopes cloud subscriptions will private sector entities, they are going to need digital transfor- prove a more predictable source of revenue and outpace soft- mation to handle new processes and new outcomes" in a ware income in 2018. Finance director Luka Mucic looked for- changing world, he said. In a separate statement, McDermott ward to "yet another year of profitable growth in 2017," with pointed to "strong software sales, fast cloud growth and oper- "high level 2020 ambition" in the firm's statement. ating income expansion" as factors giving him "enormous SAP forecasts that its revenues from the cloud will reach confidence in our accelerated 2020 ambition." Using non-IFRS between 3.8 and 4.0 billion euros in 2017, up from 3.0 last accounting rules-excluding certain costs but always used by year. Total revenues would reach as high as 23.6 billion SAP to provide forecasts-the firm increased underlying, or euros, compared with 22 billion in 2016, the firm continued, operating, profit 4.0 percent to 6.6 billion euros. for an operating profit of up to 7.0 billion-up from 6.6 in 2016. The company offered all its forecasts under non-IFRS Get onto my cloud accounting and at constant exchange rates. By 2020, SAP SEOUL: Dennis Hwang (left), art director of Niantic Inc, and Lim Jae Boem, chief executive of Pokemon Korea, pose for Revenues on software and cloud services grew 8.0 percent hopes to hit 28-29 billion euros in revenue-an increase from photographs during a news conference in Seoul, South Korea, yesterday. — Reuters at constant exchange rates, close to the upper bound of SAP's its previous prediction of 26-28 billion-with an operating guidance. "Cloud growth and software revenue remain profit of between 8.5 and 9.0 billion, upping the lower robust," DZ Bank analyst Harald Schnitzer commented on the bound by 500 million euros. — AFP Pokemon Go unleashed Yahoo delays sale on game-mad South Korea of core business Game released six months late to Verizon SEOUL: Nintendo Co's smash hit Pokemon Go was "We used various publicly accessible data sources," said unleashed on South Korea yesterday, six months after it Dennis Hwang, art director of Niantic Inc. There was a slight SAN FRANCISCO: Yahoo said Monday its $4.8 billion deal to was released elsewhere in the world, a delay caused by hitch in the morning when the game was unavailable for sell its core internet assets to US telecom titan Verizon has security fears over Google Maps. The popularity of aug- download, but that was soon cleared up. One group of people been delayed several months. The closing originally set for mented-reality Pokemon Go around the world has generat- had their eyes fixed to their smart phones near Seoul's central this quarter has been pushed into next quarter due to "work ed crowds of people in parks and other public places as Gwanghwamun Square where Pokemons are said to appear required to meet closing conditions," the California online users search for monsters to train, but with temperatures often. "It was sad that it came to Korea a bit late but I'm glad pioneer said in a statement, adding that it was "working well below freezing, there was no sudden, noticeable buzz that I can play the fun game translated into Korean," said Kim expeditiously to close the transaction as soon as practicable." on the streets of Seoul. Ga-on, 10, who was playing separately with his mother and The news came in an earnings release showing Yahoo "We have waited very long and worked very hard to launch sister. "It's good exercise and it's fun to catch Pokemons." swung to a profit of $162 million in the final three months of Pokemon Go in South Korea," said Lim Jae Boem, chief execu- South Korea is the world's fourth-biggest gaming market last year. The deal with Verizon, which would end Yahoo's run tive of Pokemon Korea. after China, the United States and Japan, according to of more than 20 years as an independent company, has The game was jointly developed by Nintendo and Niantic Amsterdam-based research firm Newzoo. In July, some impa- been thrown into doubt following disclosures of two huge Inc. Pokemon Go relies on Google Maps to work. But in most tient Pokemon fans rushed to Sokcho, a city close to the bor- data breaches. Yahoo said it is ramping up security as it of South Korea those functions have been limited by the gov- der with North Korea - an area where the game can be played grapples with the aftermath of epic hacks. "Our top priority LIMA: This file photo shows Facebook CEO and chairman ernment, which is technically still at war with North Korea, for as it has not been classified as South Korean territory in continues to be enhancing security for our users," Yahoo Mark Zuckerberg at the Lima Convention Centre to speak national security reasons. Neither Niantic nor Pokemon Korea Google Maps data. Nintendo's stock closed down 1 percent chief executive Marissa Mayer said. She added that "approxi- at a session of the APEC CEO Summit in Lima. — AFP specified how they managed to work around the Google yesterday. Hysonic Co Ltd, the company in charge of the game mately 90 percent of our daily active users have already tak- Maps challenge. release, rose 30 percent. — Reuters en or do not need to take remedial action to protect their Zuckerberg charity accounts, and we're aggressively continuing to drive this number up." Yahoo boasted having more than a billion users buys AI startup to monthly in 2016, with more than 650 million of those people China's Alibaba connecting from mobile devices. quarterly battle disease Hack aftershocks SAN FRANCISCO: A charitable foundation backed by Mark The US Securities and Exchange Commission has opened revenue surges Zuckerberg and his wife said Monday it has bought a an investigation into whether Yahoo should have informed Canadian artificial intelligence startup as part of a mission investors sooner about two major data breaches, The Wall 54% to $7.7bn to eradicate disease. The Chan Zuckerberg Initiative did not Street Journal reported Sunday, citing people familiar with BEIJING: Chinese e-commerce giant Alibaba disclose financial terms of the deal to acquire Toronto-based the matter. US law requires companies that fall victim to said yesterday its revenues leapt 54 percent Meta, which uses AI to quickly read and comprehend scien- such hacks to disclose them as soon as they are deemed to year-on-year for the quarter ended in December, tific papers and then provide insights to researchers. Meta affect stock prices. Yahoo announced in September that spurred by rapid growth in Chinese online shop- capabilities will be unified in a tool made available for free hackers in 2014 stole personal data from more than 500 mil- ping. Revenue for the company, seen as a bench- to scientists. "We are very excited about what lies ahead," lion of its user accounts. It admitted another cyber attack in mark for China's increasingly crucial consumer Meta co-founder and chief executive Sam Molyneux said in December, this one dating from 2013, affecting more than a sector, reached 53.25 billion Yuan ($7.7 billion) in a statement. billion users. The SEC's investigation is focusing on why it the quarter, it said in a statement. Its net income Zuckerberg and his doctor wife, Priscilla Chan, in took Yahoo several years to reveal the 2013 and 2014 attacks. attributable to ordinary shareholders was 17.9 September pledged $3 billion over the next decade to help The data breaches have been a major embarrassment for a billion Yuan ($2.57 billion) in the quarter, up 43 banish or manage all disease, pouring some of the Facebook former internet leader that has failed to keep up with percent over the same period the previous year. founder's fortune into innovative research. "This is a big goal," Google, Facebook and other rising stars. The cyber attacks, PARIS: Inscription reading Autonomous shuttle is seen on an experiment- and how notifying users was handled, has also raised con- The result "demonstrates the strength of the Zuckerberg said at a San Francisco event announcing the ing self-driving shuttle linking two train stations, yesterday in Paris. — AP cerns by investors that Verizon may seek to pay a lower price Chinese consumer and Alibaba's ability to create effort of the philanthropic entity established by the couple in for Yahoo or even back out of the deal. When companies are value across our vast ecosystem", said Daniel 2015. "But we spent the last few years speaking with experts in the process of being acquired, earnings that hit or surpass Zhang, chief executive officer of Alibaba Group. who think it is possible, so we dug in." In the field of biomedi- Paris experiments targets typically don't knock matters off course. "The bigger Alibaba is China's dominant player in online cine alone, thousands of research papers are published daily, things are the breaches; those have Verizon reconsidering commerce, with its Taobao platform estimated initiative science president Cori Bargmann and chief technolo- the deal," analyst Rob Enderle of Enderle Group said. "I think with driverless buses to hold more than 90 percent of the consumer- gy officer Brian Pinkerton said in a post on the charity's the merger is at risk; the delay would point to that as still a to-consumer market. Its Tmall platform is Facebook page. PARIS: Paris began its first experi- trains known as RERs. "We dream one possibility." believed to handle over half of business-to-con- Meta artificial intelligence can analyze insights across mil- ment with driverless buses on day of having buses like these parked Monday, with city officials saying near RER stations which would come sumer transactions. But China's largest online lions of papers, finding connections and patterns at scales and Courting Mavens shopping portal has been on the defensive since speeds impossible for humans to match unassisted, according they were eager to prepare for the to collect passengers on demand," she The earnings report showed Yahoo swung to profit a year coming "revolution" of autonomous told reporters at the launch. the office of the US Trade Representative put to Bargmann and Pinkerton. "Meta will help scientists learn Taobao on its annual blacklist in December, say- after a massive $4.4 billion loss in the same period a year ear- vehicles. Two box-shaped electric The advent of self-driving vehicles from others' discoveries in real time, find key papers that may ing it was not doing enough to curb sales of fake lier, resulting from a large write-down on the value of its vehicles capable of carrying around poses a series of regulatory, ethical have gone unnoticed, or even predict where their field is and pirated goods. Although inclusion on the holdings. Revenue in the fourth quarter rose to $1.47 billion 10 people have been deployed-with- and economic questions which poli- headed," Bargmann and Pinkerton said. "The potential for this blacklist carries no penalties in itself, it dealt a from $1.27 billion a year earlier. Yahoo reported a loss of in the safety of a special lane-on a cymakers will have to grapple with as kind of platform is virtually limitless." blow to Alibaba's efforts to improve its image $214 million for the full year on revenue that inched up to bridge connecting two railway sta- the technology improves and grows and boost international sales. In January the $5.2 billion from $5 billion in 2015, according to the earnings tions to the east of the city centre. more widespread. One of them is: AI at home company's billionaire founder Jack Ma met report. Mayer has been driving a shift to mobile, video, social "Autonomous vehicles represent a What happens to the humble bus Zuckerberg said last month that he built an artificial intelli- Donald Trump and made a bold pledge to create and native advertising offerings at Yahoo, and revenue in revolution for every city on the plan- driver? "We need to start thinking gence-imbued software "butler"-named Jarvis-that even plays one million jobs in the US, a move which ana- those areas-which she dubbed "Mavens," continued to et... which will change our urban from today about how to train drivers with his family. The Facebook chief took on the personal proj- climb. Mavens revenue for last year slightly topped $2 billion lysts said was intended to win goodwill and ect last year, devoting about 100 hours to making a system environment and public space in a so they can shift into the new jobs hedge against political risks. The company, often as compared to $1.7 billion in 2015. spectacular fashion over the next 20 created by autonomous vehicles," inspired by "Iron Man" film character Jarvis as a virtual assis- "I'm very pleased with our Q4 results and incredibly compared to eBay or Amazon of the United years," Paris deputy mayor Jean-Louis Missika, who is a transport expert in tant to help manage his household. Jarvis is not a physical proud of the team's execution on our 2016 strategic plan, States, has expanded outside its core e-com- Missika told reporters. the mayor's office, said. robot, but an application Zuckerberg can access through his particularly given the uniquely eventful past year for Yahoo," merce business into sectors ranging from sports The test unveiled Monday, which In October, delivery drivers got an phone or computer to control lights, temperature, music, Mayer said. Yahoo shares were up a little more than one per- to entertainment. will last three months, is the first stage uncomfortable glimpse of the future security, appliances and more. cent to $42.88 in after-market trades that followed release of Revenue from digital media and entertain- of the city's embrace of self-driving when a self-driving truck built by The software learns his tastes and patterns, as well as new the earnings figures, which topped Wall Street expectations. ment jumped 273 percent to $585 million due to vehicles which use a combination of Uber's Otto unit successfully deliv- words or concepts, and can even entertain his one-year-old Mayer will quit the company's board after its merger with increasing earnings from mobile services such as lasers and cameras to detect other ered a beer shipment. Cars with daughter Max, according to Zuckerberg. Zuckerberg plans to Verizon, according to an SEC filing, though she is expected news feeds and game publishing and consoli- objects and people around them. The some autonomous functions are continue improving Jarvis, and says he expects AI technology to remain with the core Yahoo business. Yahoo is selling its dating its management team, it said. In October head of the Paris transport network, already on our roads, and more than to improve greatly in the coming five to 10 years.AI is getting main operating business as a way to separate that from its Alibaba Pictures took a minority shareholding in a foothold in people's homes, starting with devices such as more valuable stake in Chinese internet giant Alibaba. The Elisabeth Borne, said she envisaged a dozen automakers including BMW, Steven Spielberg's Amblin Partners, a film cre- Amazon Echo and Google Home speakers that link to person- share-tending entity, to be renamed Altaba, Inc, will act as an the buses being used one day to con- Kia, Volkswagen and General Motors ation company that includes DreamWorks stu- al assistants to answer questions and control connected investment company.--AFP nect homes and railway stations in the are racing to get fully self-driving cars dios. Sales in Alibaba's core commerce unit rose devices. — AFP suburbs, which are served by overland to market by 2020. — AFP 45 percent year-on-year to $6.7 billion.—AFP WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 25, 2017 HEALTH & SCIENCE Measles outbreak strikes LA’s Orthodox Jewish community LOS ANGELES: A measles outbreak has largely been limited to unvaccinated peo- strict vaccine law went into effect. A tions are not allowed under the new law. that lives in the nose and throat of an infected at least 18 people in the Los ple in a single social group and the dis- measles outbreak that originated at Gunzenhauser said the new outbreak of infected person, and can linger in the air Angeles area, health officials said ease is spreading among personal con- Disneyland in 2014 sickened 145 people measles is affecting individuals older for hours, according to the US Centers for Monday, noting that most of those affect- tacts in the group,” Jeffrey Gunzenhauser, across the United States and dozens than 12 years old, who would not be Disease Control and Prevention. ed could show no proof of vaccination. interim health officer at the LA County more in Canada and Mexico. That directly concerned by the new law. He Symptoms include a reddish rash, white Officials indicated that at least 16 of the Department of Health, said. episode led to the new law in California said the first person was diagnosed in bumps inside the cheeks, a fever, runny cases involved people of the same social “There have been no infections that requires that all children be vacci- early December and 16 more cases were nose and cough. Severe complications group, with local media saying most spreading in the general community.” nated unless a doctor submits an reported in the last three weeks of 2016. can occur, leading to miscarriage in preg- belonged to the Orthodox Jewish com- The outbreak of the highly contagious exemption for medical reasons. The last case was diagnosed last week. nant women as well as the risk of death munity. “We can say that the outbreak has virus comes six months after California’s Personal and religious belief exemp- Measles is a highly contagious virus by pneumonia or brain swelling.—AFP Doubt over Everest’s true height spurs fresh expedition NEW DELHI: Scientists will take the tape peak, said India’s surveyor general Swarna measure to Mount Everest to determine Subba Rao. “We will re measure it,” Rao was whether a massive earthquake in Nepal quoted as saying by the Press Trust of India really did knock an inch off the world’s (PTI) news agency, adding the team would tallest peak. India’s top surveyor said yes- set off in two months. “Two years have terday a team of scientists would be sent passed since the major Nepal earthquake to neighboring Nepal to measure Everest and there’s doubt in the scientific commu- in the hope of putting to rest a debate nity that it did in fact shrink.” about the true height of the towering The exercise will require a month for mountain. A deadly 7.8-magnitude earth- observation and roughly another fortnight quake struck Nepal in 2015, killing thou- for the data to be officially declared. Another sands and altering the landscape across official told AFP that a five-member team the Himalayan nation. would depart for the expedition at winter’s Satellite data at the time suggested the end, and would take measurements using impact of the quake reduced Everest’s instruments on the ground to gauge the peak-which officially stands at 8,848 meters peak’s real height. The earthquake, Nepal’s above sea level-by anywhere between a deadliest disaster in more than 80 years, is few millimeters and an inch. But lingering also believed to have shifted the earth doubt among the scientific community has beneath the capital Kathmandu several prompted a fresh expedition to size up the meters to the south.—AFP Bangladesh plants million trees to cut lightning toll DHAKA: Bangladesh has begun planting in part from a lack of trees whose branches one million palm trees nationwide to help can absorb the impact of lightning. prevent hundreds of people being killed by While the trees are damaged, it means lightning strikes every year, a top official the electric charge does not course said yesterday. Authorities last year through the earth. Kamal said a similar pro- declared lightning a natural disaster as offi- gram in Thailand had already yielded cial tallies recorded more than 200 deaths results, adding that a team of Bangladeshi in 2016, with 82 people dying on a single officials had also travelled to Vietnam to day in May. Experts say the real number study how authorities there protect farm- PENNSYLVANIA: The Pro-Life Coalition of Pennsylvania holds a rally in July 2016. —AFP was actually much higher, with one inde- ers along the Mekong delta. A top meteor- pendent monitor saying 349 people were ologist who has conducted some research killed by lightning strikes in 2016. Many on lightning said the tree planting should Trump bans federal funding for people living in rural areas do not report help ultimately help reduce the number of deaths to the police. deaths, but the benefits would only be felt Disaster officials have spent several some way down the line. foreign NGOs supporting abortion months looking at ways to reduce the toll “Palm trees take years to grow. But defi- and the tree planting program is likely to nitely, this is a good move by the govern- ‘The president takes a stand for the unborn’ be the first of several measures brought in ment. It will reduce deaths,” Shah Alam, a by the government. “We’ve already started former head of Bangladesh Meteorological WASHINGTON: President Donald Trump on already apprehensive US family planning and Anti-abortion forces planting palm trees in rural areas in an Department, said. Alam said the number of Monday signed a decree barring US federal women’s rights organizations. Meanwhile, anti-abortion activists cheered effort to reduce the number of deaths due lightning strikes has increased in funding for foreign NGOs that support abortion, “The world’s most vulnerable women will the move. “Recognizing and affirming the uni- to lightning,” Shah Kamal, the government’s Bangladesh amid increased deforestation re-launching a battle that has long divided suffer as a direct result of this policy, which versal ideal that all human beings have inherent disaster management secretary, said. “We’ll in rural areas where farmers often chop Americans. “The president, it’s no secret, has undermines years of effort to improve worth & dignity, is vital to making America great plant one million palm trees by June this down trees so they can grow more rice and made it very clear he’s a pro-life president. He women’s health,” said Planned Parenthood again,” tweeted Family Research Council leader year.” Experts say the high death toll stems other crops.—AFP wants to stand up for all Americans, including president Cecile Richards. “This will cause Tony Perkins, reprising Trump’s campaign slo- the unborn,” White House spokesman Sean clinic closures around the world-resulting in gan. The restrictions were first put in place in Spicer said. “The reinstatement of this policy is more unintended pregnancy and unsafe 1984 by Republican president Ronald Reagan. not just something that echoes that value, but abortion, not less.” She vowed her group, the Later eliminated by Democratic president Bill respects taxpayer funding as well.” biggest US provider of family planning, will Clinton, they were reinstalled by his Republican The restrictions prohibit foreign non-govern- “never stop fighting” for access to reproduc- successor George W. Bush, and annulled again mental organizations that receive US family plan- tive health services. after Barack Obama took office. ning assistance from using non-US funding to Trump’s executive order is a “clear assault Galvanized by Trump’s November 8 election, provide abortion services, information, counsel- on both access to health care and free abortion opponents in states where Republicans ing or referrals. They are also barred from engag- speech,” the American Civil Liberties Union hold power moved swiftly last month to adopt ing in advocacy to promote abortion. The move said. Stenny Hoyer, a Democratic leader in the draconian anti-abortion measures that in some comes just two days after women led a massive House of Representatives, sharply criticized cases pose challenges to constitutional liberties. protest march in Washington-with satellite rallies Trump for using his first week in office “to And the new president has surrounded himself across the country and around the world-to attack women’s health.” “It should be no sur- with senior officials openly hostile to abortion defend their rights, including to abortion. And it prise to the millions of women and men who rights. While signing the executive order, he was also comes a day after the 44th anniversary of gathered in protest this weekend across the surrounded by a dozen men, including Vice Roe v. Wade, the landmark US Supreme Court country-and around the world-that President Mike Pence, who has long sought to dry decision that legalized abortion in 1973. Republicans are focused more on making it up federal funding for Planned Parenthood. harder for women to access health care than Trump, meanwhile, has pledged to nominate an Women will suffer on the serious economic and security chal- anti-abortion justice to the Supreme Court, which Trump’s move deepened concern among lenges we face,” he said. could lead to overturning Roe v. Wade.—AFP Dwarf galaxies shed light on dark matter PARIS: The first sighting of clustered dwarf galaxies bol- sters a leading theory about how big galaxies such as our Milky Way are formed, and how dark matter binds them, researchers said Monday. Theorized but never seen, the bundled galaxies were discovered using the largest optical survey of the night sky ever compiled, they reported in the journal Nature Astronomy. Seven clusters of three-to-five galaxies are each 10 to 1,000 times smaller than the Milky Way. Unlike our home galaxy, all have long-since stopped giving birth to new stars. “We suspect these groups are gravitationally bound and thus will eventually merge to form one larger, intermediate- mass galaxy,” said lead author Sabrina Stierwalt, an astro- physicist at the National Radio Astronomy Observatory in Charlotteville, Virginia. The findings shed light on several big questions about how structures such as galaxies formed INDONESIA: This file picture shows a helicopter operated by Indonesia’s National in the early Universe, she said. A leading theory predicts Disaster Mitigation Agency (BNPB) dropping water over a fire in Kampar, Riau that, after the Big Bang some 13.7 billion years ago, smaller province. —AFP things joined together to form bigger ones. But there has been frustratingly little observational evi- JAPAN: Japan’s H-IIA rocket carrying the Kirameki-2 satellite is launched from Indonesian province declares dence of such mergers occurring on a scale as small as dwarf Tanegashima Space Centre in southern Tanegashima island, Kagoshima prefecture, galaxies, Stierwalt explained. One reason is that dwarf galax- yesterday. —AFP alert as haze fears grow ies are hard to see. Only two-known at the Magellanic Clouds-are visible to the naked eye. As of a decade ago, no Japan launches satellite JAKARTA: An Indonesian province that suf- The alert status in Riau-below the more more than a dozen had been identified by astronomers. And fers annual outbreaks of haze-belching significant “state of emergency”, which typi- even as bigger telescopes made their discovery common- fires said yesterday it was declaring an early cally indicates a large number of fires burn- place, those found were either isolated “field dwarfs,” or to modernize military alert to prevent blazes burning out of con- ing fiercely-was set to remain in place until “satellite dwarfs” being cannibalized by larger galaxies. trol after forecasters predicted a dry 2017. April and allows the province to request “Independent groups of only low-mass galaxies-like the communications Riau, on the western island of Sumatra, more resources from central government. ones we found-reveal a possible formation mechanism for announced the move after a few “We are preparing helicopters for water- larger ones such as our Milky Way,” Stierwalt said. The clus- TOKYO: Japan yesterday launched a satellite ministry would be able to swiftly share “hotspots”-areas of extreme heat detected bombing to help the regional government,” ters are between 200 million and 650 million light years to modernize its military communications information about ballistic missiles by satellites which often indicate fires-were disaster agency spokesman Sutopo Purwo away from Earth. “That sounds like a lot, but it is relatively and reportedly to better monitor North launched by North Korea or videos of sighted this month. It came a day after Nugroho said. Several provinces were criti- nearby given the vast size of the Universe,” she said. Korean missile launches. The Kirameki-2 will Japanese troops deployed overseas. President Joko Widodo urged local authori- cized in 2015 for failing to declare emer- enable ground, sea and air units of the mili- Japan is on constant alert for moves by ties to take early steps to prevent a repeat gencies quickly enough. Hunting dark matter tary-known as the Self-Defense Forces-to North Korea, which conducted two under- of the haze crisis of 2015. The blazes typically start earlier in Riau The researchers spotted the galaxies by combing communicate directly with each other, a ground nuclear tests and more than 20 The fires occur every year on Sumatra due its high concentration of carbon-rich through a massive library of star maps compiled under a defense ministry official said. “We’ll be able missile test-launches last year. Kirameki-2 and the Indonesian part of Borneo island, peat land and a widespread practice of using project known as the Sloan Digital Sky Survey, made public to exchange a large amount of data more is one of three defense communications typically during the months-long dry sea- fire to clear land. The Meteorology, in 2008 and upgraded regularly since. The team then used quickly,” the official said. satellites that will replace the current civil- son later in the year. The fires are deliber- Geophysics and Climatology Agency has telescopes-including one at the Apache Point Observatory “We currently share information with ian ones. ately started to clear land quickly and predicted that this year will be drier than in New Mexico, and the Walter Baade Telescope at the Los voice and by fax” due to limitations in the The total cost for the three comes to cheaply for palm oil and pulpwood planta- 2016, when an unusually long rainy season Campanas Observatory in Chile-to confirm their findings. speed and capacity of the three civilian 230 billion yen ($2.48 billion), the ministry tions. The 2015 blazes were among the prevented major outbreaks of fires. Widodo Dwarf clusters are also natural laboratories for better satellites the ministry currently uses, he said. The ministry planned to launch worst on record and sent clouds of toxic urged efforts to stop the blazes including understanding the mysterious substance known as dark said. An H-IIA rocket carrying the satellite, Kirameki-1 last year but it is undergoing smog floating across Southeast Asia, lead- setting up fire prevention task forces. He told matter, thought to account for a quarter of the Universe, which means “sparkle” in English, blasted repairs after being damaged when being ing large numbers to fall ill. A US academic a meeting of ministers and senior officials: “It the study found. Likely made up of unknown sub-atomic off from the southern island of transported to a launch site in French study estimated that the crisis may have is only January but it is already looking dry, particles, dark matter can only be inferred through its grav- Tanegashima at 4.44 pm local time (0744 Guiana. Its launch is now scheduled for led to over 100,000 premature deaths. therefore we cannot be careless.”—AFP itational pull on other objects in space. — AFP GMT). Public broadcaster NHK said the March 2018 at the earliest.—AFP WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 25, 2017 HEALTH & SCIENCE Kenyan irrigation app aims to cut water waste, crop losses KUNENE, Kenya: Dressed in brown over- hope to expand it to thousands across alls, gumboots and a hat, John Njeru kneels Meru County - and potentially the rest of and scoops up a handful of soil at his small the country if the system proves successful,” farm in central Kenya, where he grows Maitethia said. The combined app and irri- tomatoes, spinach and carrots. “Not only gation system cost 50,000 Kenyan shillings has there not been enough rain in the past ($480) per quarter of an acre, including few months, it’s also been unevenly distrib- solar panels and two drip irrigation lines. uted,” he said, picking through the earth in The system can be expanded to an addi- his hand. “This destroys our crops.” Dealing tional quarter acre for 5,000 Kenyan with more unpredictable and irregular rain- shillings ($48). fall associated with climate change is a challenge for many farmers, and one made Cost and benefits worse by water-wasting, inefficient irriga- While Maitethia acknowledges the tion systems, experts say. upfront cost of the system is high, he But scientists from Kenya’s Meru believes it will not only curb water waste University of Science and Technology have but save labor costs as it does not require come up with one way to deal with the farmers to physically monitor it. “If there is a problem: a mobile app that monitors the glitch in the system, the farmer receives a need for water in fields and controls irriga- text message notifying him of the prob- tion equipment to deliver just what is lem,” he explained. “A technician employed needed. “Farmers in the region traditionally by the university will then help the farmer water crops with cans or buckets”, an ineffi- remotely with instructions, or physically cient way of getting water to plants, said come to the farm if needed.” Depending on Daniel Maitethia, an electronics lecturer at the severity of the problem, a consultation Meru University. with a technician can cost the farmer up to “The lack of measuring also means they 500 Kenyan shillings (about $5). water crops unevenly so some may get too Njeru, who paid 75,000 Kenyan shillings much water, and others not enough,” he ($721) to install the app and irrigation sys- said. The “sensor-based automatic irrigation tem on his 1.5-acre farm, said that “although system” app, launched last year, uses sen- the app is expensive, it’s a cost worth pay- iors placed throughout a field to determine ing when I compare my current harvest to if soil is moist enough. previous years.” “I used to lose up to 70 per- If it’s too dry, a control unit uses solar cent of my produce as a result of dry weath- panels to open the valve of a water tank, er and inefficient irrigation, compared to then close it again when the soil is damp only 10 percent now,” he said. Njeru used to enough. Initially tested at the university’s occasionally hire other farmers to help own farm, the irrigation system is now water his farm on a day-to-day basis. Now being rolled out to the public - including he no longer needs to do so, he said. “That farmers like Njeru. “We can’t yet quantify saves me 20,000 Kenyan shillings ($192) per how many farmers are using the app, but month,” he said. —Reuters New bird flu virus type confirmed on turkey farm HAMBURG: A bird flu outbreak in north birds in Germany in recent weeks and isolat- Germany this week was of a new subtype ed outbreaks on farms have been occurring called H5N5, the first time the strain has despite tougher hygiene rules and orders to been confirmed on a German farm, the keep poultry indoors in high-risk areas. country’s national animal disease centre But German outbreaks are at a much said yesterday. The H5N5 strain was found lower level than in France, where a mass Multiple Sclerosis cases on a turkey farm in Germany in Steinburg in culling of around 800,000 ducks was the northern state of Schleswig-Holstein, undertaken after bird flu hit southwest the Friedrich Loeffler Institute said, The France, the country’s main foie gras pro- H5N5 strain has been found previously in ducing region. A series of European coun- on the rise in Kuwait wild birds in the Netherlands, Italy, tries as well as Israel have found cases of Montenegro and Italy and Croatia, the insti- H5N8 bird flu in the past few weeks and r. Raed Alroughani, Consultant prevalence of multiple sclerosis in the region grown to develop a strong commitment to tute said. It has also been found in wild birds some ordered poultry flocks be kept Neurologist and Director of MS Clinic at nearby (31-55 MS per 100,000 individuals), with patients by continuously investing to support in Germany this week. indoors to prevent the disease spreading. D Al Amiri Hospital said, “Multiple Sclerosis more prevalence increasing in recent years. their varied needs. The institute is not changing its bird flu Different bird flu strains have also spread is a rising concern in the Kuwait. The diagnostic Multiple sclerosis’ signs and symptoms may dif- We pride ourselves with more than 29 years risk assessment, it said. There have been no in Asia in recent weeks leading to the process has improved despite the complexity fer considerably from person to person and over of history in delivering data and patient insights recorded cases of H5N5 spreading to slaughter of millions of birds in South and variability of symptoms which may vary the course of the disease depending on the for effective treatment. Moreover, the company humans, it added. The contagious H5N8 bird Korea and Japan, and some human infec- from one person to the other. It can be a chal- location of affected nerve fibers. has developed a 360∞ support system for multi- flu strain has been found in hundreds of wild tions in China. —Reuters lenging condition to live with, but new treat- Amongst these symptoms are numbness in ple sclerosis patients which focuses on driving ments have considerably improved the quality limbs, partial or complete loss of vision in one patient education and training needs. We have of life of people with the condition.” His remarks or both eyes, tingling or pain in body parts, also developed auto injectors to make the drug Australia zoo urges people to catch were highlighted at a medical conference that fatigue, dizziness, double vision, slurred speech, injection experience comfortable and more deadly spiders as antidote runs low was organized by Bayer recently in the United and loss of bladder control. “There is no cure for importantly, safe for patients.” As part of its Arab Emirates. multiple sclerosis, however, treatment focuses patient commitment, Bayer’s BETACONNECT SYDNEY: An Australian zookeeper yester- killer is the Sydney funnel-web spider, The event focused on the prevalence and on relieving the condition’s symptoms. They auto injector, designed to deliver tailored, day urged people to catch and donate found in the Sydney region and as far north management of multiple sclerosis in the region. work to alter the course of the disease by halt- actionable information based on patient data to deadly funnel-web spiders, to help replen- as Newcastle and south to Illawarra, the The event included prominent medical experts ing the disease activity through controlling the provide a more personalized approach to ish stocks of antidote running low after a park says on its website. “The large fangs from Kuwait, and the region as well as senior relapse, disability progression and MRI changes. patient support, is the first component of an spate of spider bites. The Australian Reptile and acidic venom make the bite very representatives from Bayer. According to recent Successful management of the disease requires innovative dose delivery system for multiple Park, the country’s sole supplier of funnel- painful,” it said, noting that a major bite can studies, in Kuwait, the disease has a prevalence early intervention. sclerosis treatment. web venom to antidote producers since cause death within an hour if left untreated. rate of 85.05 for every 100,000 persons. Multiple Patients may choose to use BETACONNECT 1981, relies on the public to hand in spiders After milking the spiders, the park deliv- Sclerosis is a chronic condition which can affect Auto injectors independently or as part of a complete software that are milked for the venom used to pro- ers the venom to a division of the blood the brain and/or spinal cord, causing a wide That is why efforts need to be concentrated based system designed to track injection histo- duce an antidote. plasma and vaccine maker CSL Ltd, which range of potential symptoms, including prob- on driving stronger awareness initiatives in ry and share important treatment information The anti-venom program was now at risk converts it into the life-saving antidote. lems with vision, limb movement, sensation or Kuwait in addition to patient education pro- with healthcare providers. “At Bayer, we are after too few spiders were donated last year Australia has had two funnel-web spider balance. It is caused when an individual’s own grams that ultimately aim at enhancing pleased to continue facilitating leading discus- and a recent heat wave encouraged more attacks in two weeks, media have said, one immune system attacks healthy cells and tissue. patients’ adherence to treatment and enhanc- sions that focus on best practices in multiple spider activity and bites, the park’s general of them involving a woman bitten by a spi- manager, Tim Faulkner, said yesterday. “We der while she was asleep. Despite the terri- When this occurs, myelin - the protective ing their quality of life,” added Dr. Raed sclerosis care and management. We believe that rely on community support to keep this fying reputation of Australian wildlife, insulation surrounding nerve fibers of the cen- Alroughani. Phil Smits, Bayer Middle East’s Vice the only way this disease can be brought under program alive,” Faulkner said in a telephone nobody has died from the bite of a funnel- tral nervous system (CNS) - is destroyed. President also said, “Being diagnosed with mul- control is through the joint efforts and close col- interview. “We have tried to catch enough web spider since the anti-venom program Ultimately, this damage interferes with nerve tiple sclerosis is a critical life event, however laboration of all entities across the healthcare spiders ourselves and we just can’t.” began in 1981. Catching venomous spiders communication between neurons in the CNS. with the new treatments in hand, patients can spectrum. We are guided by a clear determina- Funnel-web spiders live throughout is safe, as long precautions are followed, During the event, medical experts highlighted alleviate the conditions that arise from the dis- tion to provide sustainable solutions that place southeastern Australia, but the only known Faulkner said. — Reuters that recent studies suggest a moderate-to-high ease. In the field of multiple sclerosis, Bayer has patients at the core,” added Phil Smits. WHAT’S ON WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 25, 2017 Ooredoo awards its employees

uwait’s fastest network, held an awarding cer- we at Ooredoo have a comprehensive human emony for its distinguished employees in the resources policy to train employees and improve second and third quarters of 2016. The award- their capabilities, talent and expertise,” he added. King ceremony took place in Ooredoo’s head office Ooredoo Star Awards are presented to outstanding Monday afternoon. employees every Commenting on quarter. A special this, Acting Chief of committee assesses Human Resources all employees and and Administration selects winners Services Omar Al- based on certain Bassam said, “Our strong performance and leading competence and performance criteria. The awards position in the market is the direct result of our are given to employees in the categories of most employees’ outstanding performance, hard work outstanding persons in technology, finance, market- and dedication. Rewarding our employees for their ing, human resources, customer care and other excellent performance is one way to express our departments within the company. Other categories pride in their achievements and to recognize their include VOCE (Voice of the Customer Experience) hard work.” and Ooredoo Way Accomplisher for outstanding per- He added, “Any company’s achievements begin formance. with a solid investment in its human resources, and A female winner receiving her prize from Sheikh Mohammed Bin Abdullah Al Thani and the administration

A winner receiving his prize from Sheikh Mohammed Bin Abdullah Al Thani A winner with Sheikh Mohammed Bin Abdullah Aal Thani and the adminis- A female winner receiving her prize from Sheikh Mohammed Bin Abdullah and the administration tration Aal Thani and the administration

Omar Al-Bassam speaking during the ceremony Frederic Debord delivering his speech Ireland Visa Application Centre launched in Kuwait

esidents of Kuwait can now apply in sure it will result in many more of our Kuwaiti Professional staff with local language capabili- Kuwait City for visas to Ireland at a mod- friends choosing to visit Ireland, whether for ty to handle queries and applications ern and centrally-located Visa business, education or tourism.” Vinay Well-appointed centre for enhanced comfort RApplication Centre launched in cooperation Malhotra added, COO - Middle East & South of applicants with the Embassy of Ireland. Applicants can Asia, VFS Global, “We are delighted to launch Automated queue governance for smooth visit the VFS Global centre, located at Level 30, this centre for the Government of Ireland in flow of applicants Arraya Center, Alshuhada Street, Kuwait City, Kuwait that will provide streamlined visa serv- Dedicated website for easy access to informa- Kuwait, to submit visa applications. The centre ices and uncompromised service quality to tion including visa categories, requirements, was formally inaugurated by HE Patrick travellers to Ireland. The launch of this centre check-list and applicable fees Hennessy, Ambassador of Ireland to Kuwait, serves the needs of the ever-expanding travel 100% secure handling of passports, docu- on 19 Jan 2017. Kuwait is the first country in trade in this region and we are confident it ments and personal information the Gulf region where applicants can apply for will deliver services that exceed the expecta- Door-step delivery of passports a visa to Ireland from the professionally tions of our client.” Premium Lounge for personalised and com- appointed VFS Global Visa Application Centre. The key features of the centre include: fortable service The new Ireland Visa Application Centre Convenient and centrally-accessed location caters to the growing needs of outbound Asian themed nights at Jumeirah travellers from the country. With Ireland being a popular destination for tourism, business Messilah Beach Hotel & Spa and higher education, travellers from Kuwait will experience enhanced convenience and umeirah Messilah Beach Hotel & such as Asian salads, sashimi counter, ease when applying for their visas through Spa invites you to try signature stir fry station, Asian BBQ, assorted customer-centric and professionally managed Asian themed nights with a buffet dumplings, and a hot buffet including services offered at the centre. VFS Global has Jof exotic offerings in Garden Cafe all desserts. Every Thursday from 7 pm to been serving the Government of Ireland since day dining Restaurant. With selections 11:30 pm. 2004, and currently serves the client in 10 countries from 41 visa application centres globally. The company has been operating visa processing services in Kuwait since 2005, Govt of India bans and today serves 13 client governments in the country. Thuraya phones Speaking at the launch, HE Patrick Hennessy, Ambassador of Ireland to Kuwait, said, “I warmly welcome the new visa service he Government of India has action as per provisions of the law. This banned the use of Thuraya phones Press Advisory is issued for the benefit of launched in cooperation with VFS Global. It in the country. All State Police foreigners going to India and asking means those living in Kuwait will be able to TAgencies have been asked to seize them not to carry Thuraya/Irridium satel- apply in person for an Irish visa, and will bene- Thuraya/Iridium sets in India and take lite phones into India. fit from this smooth and efficient service. I’m WHAT’S ON WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 25, 2017

AUB distributes Iftar meals in Ramadan AUB sponsors ‘Color Your Life’ activity AUB’s 2016 social responsibility program hailed as a great success

hli United Bank’s (AUB) 2016 corpo- blood donation campaign which was Ramadan. The program was developed in tribution in a fun filled atmosphere. bers of society that require care and rate social responsibility program launched earlier by the Central Blood cooperation with LOYAC, which aims at AUB’s initiative to sponsor the celebra- appreciation for their many years of pro- has been hailed as a great success. Bank under the theme “Be the first to strengthening ties amongst members of tion that marked Kuwait as the capital of fessional service and expertise. The Bank TheA Bank participated in an extensive and donate blood”. The event was held in line the society, and encouraging a sense of Islamic culture, which was organized by has reaffirmed its leading social position diversified range of activities throughout with the World Donors Day, which is cele- happiness during the holy month. Special the Ministry of Education in November in similar events which aims at improving the year that added value to the wider brated on June 14 each year. The Bank needs comes at the core of the Bank’s 2016, was part of its support toward retired professionals’ lives and is line with social community in Kuwait. Throughout sponsored the second gastroenterology activities during the year, where AUB cele- spreading the Islamic culture and reinforc- its overall objective of providing banking the year, the Bank took part in a number disease conference, which was organized brated Girgean with the Kuwait Down ing its values, and human nature, which is services that meet their needs. of events which included its underlying In line with the Bank’s strategic impera- support to children with autism, an event tives of empowering youth, being the that took place at the Arabian Gulf beach, backbone of the country’s future, AUB has and was patronized under the President welcomed the sponsorship of the charity of Civil Development Society, Sheikha Dr. dinner organized by Mentor Arabiaheld Maimouna Al-Sabah under the theme of under the patronage His Highness the “You’re welcome, Run with Us, Supporting Amir of Kuwait, Sheikh Sabah Al-Ahmad our children.” Al-Jaber Al-Sabah. The dinner was A large number of the Bank’s executive attended by the Representative of His management and staff participated, who Highness the Amir, Sheikh Ali Jarrah Al found that this event was a strong plat- Sabah - Deputy Minister of AmiriDiwan, form to create a good level of awareness HM Queen Silvia of Sweden - President of around autism in Kuwait. As part of its Mentor International, HRH Prince Turki continued efforts to reinforce its services Bin Talal Bin Abdelaziz Al Saud - to special needs clients, AUB organized a Chairman of the Board of Trustees of wide number of specialized training Mentor Arabia, and Faisal Al Mutawa, the courses throughout the year that aimed at Vice Chairman of the Board of Trustees of providing an educational base for Mentor Arabia, with the objective being employees to learn more about sign lan- to participate in the organization’s efforts guage, with a primary objective of facili- in safeguarding youth from drug abuse, tating communications with special needs and raising more awareness around its customers, and helping them receive the dangers across society. best possible banking services that are in The event was attended by a number line with their varied needs. of senior executives from AUB who have In a clear message that supports the shared their gratitude and respect importance of encouraging special needs towards the role that the Mentor Arabia athletes, and showcasing their true poten- plays in empowering the youth and pro- tial, AUB supported the Kuwait tecting them from negative practices, Paralympics team that participated in the namely drug abuse while creating a sense Paralympics which took place in Brazil of awareness amongst the youth around from Sept 7 to 19, 2016. This popular ini- In collaboration with LOYAC, AUB sponsors ‘Service is My Joy’ the dangers of drugs. This is in line with tiative was widely endorsed by represen- the Bank’s social role and its commitment tatives from the Kuwait Disabled Sports by the Kuwaiti Gastroenterology Board Syndrome Society and Souad Al Sabah considered a core aspect of the Bank’s toward the younger members of the soci- Club, who have commended the Bank’s during May 2016. The event aimed at Special Needs Care Center, where the management philosophy. AUB sponsored ety. Richard Groves, Chief Executive support towards its athletes. At the same qualifying the skills and potentials of all Bank distributed gifts as well as shared the “Service Is My Joy” Program within the Officer of Ahli United Bank, said, “Since time, it also shed light on the overall Kuwaiti doctors and increasing their over- the joy of Ramadan with the participants. framework of its strategic partnership the Bank’s operations were launched 75 developmental role the Bank plays to all knowledge base. In line with World Throughout the month, the Bank also with LOYAC Kuwait. The Bank’s latest years ago, and as the first bank to operate facilitate the necessary needs for special Diabetes Day which is held on 14 Nov organized a Quran recitation competi- alliance reflects its effort to reinforce its in Kuwait accommodating the most needs citizens, a core social segment of each year, AUB organized a health drive tion at its headquarters. The competition extensive range of social activities and important milestones across the Kuwaiti the wider community that is able to rep- for its employees, in cooperation with Dar included 4 groups - male and female underlying support for Kuwaiti society. economy throughout its history. resent Kuwait in a number of activities, Al Shifa Hospital. employees, employees’ children, and The ‘Service Is My Joy’ initiative aims at AUB was able to develop a strong foot- whether sports, cultural and scientific The hospital’s team visited the Bank’s children from the general public. As part helping various social segments. The ini- print across the local banking sector and amongst others. main branch, and were given a large con- of its continued efforts to support the tiative involves participants aged 16 and support its economic development. At the The Bank continued the social respon- ference room to conduct the necessary society and contribute in charitable ini- above taking part in volunteering com- same time, the Bank has ensured that its sibility program during 2016 with an tests that aim at preventing diabetes. tiatives during the holy month of mittees and collaborating with a number social development role in Kuwait grows. entertaining event that was held under These included measuring blood glucose Ramadan, AUB launched a program that of volunteering centers such as KAACH, Social responsibility has long been a core the theme of “Color your life”, which was levels, blood pressure as well as BMI lev- aimed at breaking the fast for fasting Paradise Institute and Abeer 2. part of the Bank’s strategy, especially held at the Al-Kharafi Children Special els. Moreover, a live discussion with the underprivileged individuals near its Throughout the program, activities range when the Bank operates under the Shari’a Needs Center. The event was held to cele- hospital’s nutritionist was facilitated, branches across Kuwait. between learning how to perform first aid law, which adds more depth and value to brate World Special Needs Day which is where a range tips were provided to the AUB, being a core member of Kuwaiti at the Kuwait Red Crescent Society as well the Bank’s overall role in society.” marked on Dec 3 each year, and included staff after performing the tests on them society, participated in the national cele- as providing support services to the elder- Grovesadded, “Our understanding on the a variety of fun filled activities, where chil- and raising their awareness levels around brations, with an aim of spreading happi- ly. As part of its efforts to support all social role reflects our commitment to dren of all age groups participated with diet and nutrition that suit their health ness and joy across social groups. The members of the society, AUB sponsored establishing a robust social role. To that the objective of creating an encouraging needs and helps prevent diabetes or man- Bank organized a special celebration to the first national conference that focuses extent, our commitment continues to and competitive spirit amongst partici- age their conditions. Dar Al Shifa mark Kuwait’s National Day, which was on investing the capabilities of retired drive more comprehensive social respon- pants. The event also included distribu- Hospital’s team provided booklets that held at the Bank’s complex. The celebra- professionals. sibility activities, through a diverse range tion of gifts to all those who took part. included the necessary information tion included a segment of national songs The conference was held on the 30 May of initiatives that help achieve a more sus- The Bank has placed healthcare around the disease, its complications and in front of a large crowd. The Kuwaiti flag 2016 under the patronage of Mr Marzouq tainable society, and which helps create amongst its list of priorities. To that prevention mechanisms. was also distributed amongst the audi- Ali Al Ghanem, Parliament Speaker, and an understanding and culture of social extent, AUB launched its annual initia- ence, along with sweets. The Bank also was attended by a number of the coun- obligation.” tive, in line with World Humanitarian An integrated social program organized an open day for its employees try’s officials. AUB’s support is reflected in Day, which was held on the 19 Aug 2016, As part of its annual drive, AUB and their families at Al Shaheed Park, supporting retired professionals due to where a number of the Bank’s female launched its integrated social responsibili- which included a wide range of surprises their leading roles over a number of years employees volunteered in a visit to the ty program during the Holy Month of and entertaining segments and gifts dis- who are also considered important mem- Hayat Breast Cancer Association, which is also known as “Ruqayah Abdulwahab Al Qatami Association.” In a special event that was held by Hayat Breast Cancer Association in Al Shuwaikh District, AUB’s volunteering team met patients as well as cancer survivors, with an objec- tive of communicating with them, sup- porting their treatment and recovery process as well as distributing gifts to raise their morale. In an humanitarian initiative that aims at supporting social wellbeing and giv- ing amongst members of the society, AUB organized a number of blood dona- tion drives which were in support of the Blood Bank. The blood donation cam- paigns, which were held at the Bank’s headquarters, were widely received and well attended by the Bank’s employees, who donated their blood. The initiative reflects the overall increased awareness levels around the importance of driving reserves at the Blood Bank, and support- ing its role of saving patient lives who require transfusions. AUB has also sponsored the national AUB’s blood donation campaign TV PROGRAMS WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 25, 2017

05:40 Impractical Jokers 13:05 Shake It Up 14:05 How Do They Do It? 02:30 Diners, Drive-Ins And Dives 06:05 Ridiculousness 13:30 Shake It Up 14:30 The Liquidator 03:00 Man Fire Food 06:30 Bondi Ink. 13:55 Disney Mickey Mouse 14:55 The Liquidator 03:30 Man Fire Food 07:20 Life Or Debt 14:00 Welcome To The Ronks 15:20 Alaska: The Last Frontier 04:00 Chopped 08:15 Disorderly Conduct: Video On 14:15 Gravity Falls 16:10 What On Earth? 05:00 Guy's Grocery Games 01:00 Duplicity Patrol 14:40 Hank Zipzer 17:00 Deadliest Catch 06:00 Barefoot Contessa 03:15 Black Rose 09:05 Impractical Jokers 15:05 Frozen: Magic Of The Northern 17:50 Fast N' Loud 06:30 Barefoot Contessa 05:00 Memorial Day 09:30 Ridiculousness Lights 18:40 Wheeler Dealers 07:00 The Kitchen 07:00 Reign Of Assassins 09:55 Tosh.0 15:10 Austin & Ally 19:30 How Do They Do It? 08:00 The Pioneer Woman 09:15 Ladder 49 10:20 Key And Peele 15:35 Austin & Ally 19:55 How Do They Do It? 08:30 The Pioneer Woman 11:30 Jurassic Hunters 10:45 Workaholics 16:00 Jessie 20:20 What On Earth? 09:00 Siba's Table 13:30 Sword Of Vengeance 11:10 The It Crowd 16:25 Jessie 21:10 The Liquidator 09:30 Siba's Table 15:30 Fantastic Four 11:35 Ridiculousness 16:50 Rolling To The Ronks 21:35 The Liquidator 10:00 Valerie's Home Cooking 17:30 Reign Of Assassins 12:00 Life Or Debt 17:15 Sunny Bunnies 22:00 Blowing Up History 10:30 Valerie's Home Cooking 19:30 Ladder 49 12:50 Brotherhood 17:20 Miraculous Tales Of Ladybug And 22:50 Mega Shippers 11:00 The Kitchen 21:45 Ant-Man 13:15 Workaholics Cat Noir 23:40 Impossible Engineering 12:00 The Pioneer Woman 13:40 The It Crowd 17:45 Elena Of Avalor 12:30 The Pioneer Woman 14:05 Disorderly Conduct: Video On 18:10 Bunk'd 13:00 Siba's Table Patrol 18:35 Descendants Wicked World 13:30 Siba's Table 14:55 Ridiculousness 18:40 Girl Meets World 14:00 Diners, Drive-Ins And Dives 15:20 Urban Tarzan 19:05 Bizaardvark 14:30 Diners, Drive-Ins And Dives 00:00 Lone Star Law 15:45 Urban Tarzan 19:30 Liv And Maddie 00:00 Programmes Start At 6:00am KSA 15:00 Chopped 00:55 Gator Boys 16:10 Brotherhood 19:55 Best Friends Whenever 07:00 Danger Mouse 16:00 The Kitchen 01:50 River Monsters: Lair Of Giants 16:35 Ridiculousness 20:20 Disney Mickey Mouse 07:25 Gravity Falls 17:00 Valerie's Home Cooking 02:45 Going Ape 17:00 Impractical Jokers 20:25 The Next Step 07:50 The 7D 17:30 Valerie's Home Cooking 03:10 Going Ape 17:30 Workaholics 20:50 Austin & Ally 08:00 Star vs The Forces Of Evil 18:00 Chopped 03:40 Lone Star Law 17:55 Tosh.0 21:15 Star Darlings 08:15 Counterfeit Cat 19:00 Iron Chef America 04:35 Tanked 18:25 Workaholics 21:20 Shake It Up 08:40 Supa Strikas 20:00 Chopped 05:25 Weird Creatures With Nick Baker 18:50 Lip Sync Battle 21:45 Backstage 09:10 K.C. Undercover 21:00 Food Network Star 06:15 Gator Boys 19:15 Lip Sync Battle 22:10 Liv And Maddie 09:35 Star Wars Freemaker Adventures 22:00 Kitchen Casino 07:02 River Monsters: Lair Of Giants 19:39 The It Crowd 22:35 Cracke 10:00 Lab Rats 23:00 Iron Chef America 07:49 Lone Star Law 20:03 Life Or Debt 22:40 The Next Step 10:25 Lab Rats 08:36 Meet The Orangutans 20:50 Brotherhood 23:05 Best Friends Whenever 10:50 Danger Mouse 09:00 Meet The Orangutans 21:13 Impractical Jokers 23:30 Mako Mermaids 11:20 Supa Strikas 09:25 Pit Bulls & Parolees 21:37 Ridiculousness 23:55 Tsum Tsum Shorts 11:45 Supa Strikas 10:15 Lone Star Law 22:00 The Daily Show With Trevor Noah 12:10 Counterfeit Cat 11:10 Weird Creatures With Nick Baker 22:30 The Meltdown With Jonah And 12:35 Pair Of Kings 00:15 Coronation Street 12:05 Tanked Kumail 13:00 Pair Of Kings 00:40 Coronation Street 13:00 Pit Bulls & Parolees 22:54 Key And Peele 13:30 Future-Worm! 01:10 The Chase 13:55 Going Ape 23:18 Another Period 13:55 Lab Rats 02:00 Emmerdale 14:20 Going Ape 23:42 Another Period 00:00 Doc McStuffins 14:20 Lab Rats 02:30 Coronation Street 14:50 Lone Star Law 00:30 Doc McStuffins 14:45 Atomic Puppet 03:00 Coronation Street 15:45 Gator Boys 00:55 PJ Masks 15:10 Disney Mickey Mouse 03:30 Come Dine With Me Couples 16:40 Weird Creatures With Nick Baker 01:20 Henry Hugglemonster 15:15 Marvel's Avengers: Ultron 04:25 Murdoch Mysteries 17:35 Tanked 01:35 The Hive Revolution 05:20 Murdoch Mysteries 18:30 River Monsters: Lair Of Giants 01:45 Loopdidoo 15:40 Gamer's Guide To Pretty Much 06:15 Grantchester 19:25 Wild Animal Rescue 02:00 Henry Hugglemonster Everything 07:10 Don't Tell The Bride 20:20 The Pool Master 00:15 What Happened Next? 02:15 Calimero 16:05 Lab Rats Elite Force 08:10 Come Dine With Me Couples OTHER PLANS ON OSN MOVIES COMEDY HD 21:15 Tanked 00:40 Ultimate Survival 02:30 Art Attack 16:30 Disney Cookabout 09:00 Murdoch Mysteries 04:45 Dangerous Encounters 22:10 Weird Creatures With Nick Baker 01:30 Nextworld 02:50 Zou 16:55 Danger Mouse 10:00 Murdoch Mysteries 11:10 American Pickers 05:40 Real Angry Birds 23:05 Wild Animal Rescue 02:20 Australia Smashes Guinness 03:05 Loopdidoo 17:25 K.C. Undercover 11:00 Grantchester 12:00 Hunting Hitler 06:35 Snake Paradise World Records 03:20 Henry Hugglemonster 17:50 Future-Worm! 11:55 Don't Tell The Bride 12:50 Time Team 07:30 Dangerous Encounters 02:45 Australia Smashes Guinness 03:35 Calimero 18:15 Gravity Falls 12:55 Come Dine With Me Couples 13:40 Swamp People 08:25 Dangerous Encounters World Records 03:50 Zou 18:40 Lab Rats: Bionic Island 13:45 Emmerdale 14:30 Ax Men 09:20 Real Angry Birds 03:10 Guinness World Records 04:05 Art Attack 19:05 Disney Mickey Mouse 14:15 Coronation Street 15:20 Mountain Men 10:15 Battle Of The Swamp Dragons Smashed UK 04:30 The Hive 19:10 Supa Strikas 14:45 Coronation Street 16:10 Ice Road Truckers 11:10 Deadly Instincts 04:00 What Happened Next? 04:40 Loopdidoo 19:35 Supa Strikas 15:10 Don't Tell The Bride 17:00 Counting Cars 12:05 Man And The Wild 00:05 Ripper Street 04:25 What Happened Next? 04:55 Henry Hugglemonster 20:00 Atomic Puppet 16:10 Come Dine With Me Couples 17:25 Counting Cars 13:00 When Sharks Attack 01:00 Doctors 04:50 Ultimate Survival 05:10 Art Attack 20:25 Gamer's Guide To Pretty Much 17:00 Doctor Thorne 17:50 Pawn Stars 13:55 Tiger On The Run 01:30 Call The Midwife 05:40 How It's Made 05:35 Loopdidoo Everything 17:50 Shetland 18:15 Pawn Stars 14:50 Dangerous Encounters 02:25 Silent Witness 06:05 How It's Made 05:50 Calimero 20:55 K.C. Undercover 18:50 Arthur & George 18:40 Mountain Men 15:45 Dangerous Encounters 03:30 Silent Witness 06:30 Storm Chasers 06:05 Art Attack 21:20 Counterfeit Cat 19:45 Emmerdale 19:30 Swamp People 16:40 World's Deadliest 04:35 Ripper Street 07:20 Mythbusters 06:30 Henry Hugglemonster 21:45 Mighty Med 20:15 Coronation Street 20:20 Ax Men 22:10 Pickle And Peanut 20:45 Coronation Street 21:10 American Pickers 17:35 America's Deadliest 22:40 Disney Mickey Mouse 21:10 Come Dine With Me Couples 22:00 Counting Cars 18:30 Badass Animals 22:45 Marvel's Avengers: Ultron 22:00 Doctor Thorne 22:25 Car Hunters 19:25 Man And The Wild Revolution 22:50 Shetland 22:50 Forged In Fire 20:20 Dangerous Encounters 23:10 Ultimate Spider-Man 23:50 Emmerdale 23:40 Forged In Fire 21:10 World's Deadliest 23:35 Boyster 22:00 America's Deadliest 22:50 Badass Animals 23:40 Man And The Wild

00:00 Ancient Aliens 00:20 Miguel's Tropical Kitchen 00:00 E! News 01:00 The Universe 00:45 Street Food Around The World 00:15 Mariah's World 02:00 Patton 360 01:10 Street Food Around The World 01:05 Mariah's World 03:00 Mud Men 01:35 Wineroads 00:00 Sunlight Jr. 01:55 Mariah's World 04:00 America's Book Of Secrets 02:00 Glamour Puds 02:00 Life Of A King 02:50 E! News 04:50 Ancient Aliens 02:25 Places We Go 04:00 Frontera 03:50 WAGs 05:40 Ancient Aliens 02:50 Places We Go 06:00 The Harvest 04:45 WAGs 06:30 The Universe 03:15 My Restaurant In India 08:00 First Response 05:40 WAGs 07:20 Patton 360 03:40 My Restaurant In India 10:00 Every Thing Will Be Fine 06:30 Celebrity Style Story 08:10 The Universe 04:05 Tom's Istanbul Delight 12:00 Life Of A King 07:00 Kourtney And Khloe Take The 09:00 Mud Men 04:30 David Rocco's Dolce India 14:00 Red Wing Hamptons 10:00 America's Book Of Secrets 04:55 Cesar's Recruit: Asia 16:00 Boychoir 07:55 E! News 11:00 Ancient Aliens 05:20 Carnival Eats 18:00 Every Thing Will Be Fine 08:10 Kourtney And Khloe Take The 12:00 Ancient Aliens 05:45 Eat Street 20:00 Lucky Them Hamptons 13:00 The Universe 06:10 A Is For Apple 22:00 Haunting In Hollow Creek 09:10 E! News 14:00 Patton 360 06:35 Eat: The Story Of Food 10:10 Kourtney And Khloe Take The 15:00 Mud Men 07:25 Miguel's Feasts Hamptons 16:00 America's Book Of Secrets 07:50 Glamour Puds 11:10 Kourtney And Khloe Take The 17:00 Ancient Aliens 08:15 Places We Go Hamptons 18:00 Ancient Aliens 08:40 Places We Go 12:05 Kourtney And Khloe Take The 19:00 The Universe 09:05 My Restaurant In India 00:00 Pet Pals In Windland Hamptons 20:00 Patton 360 09:30 My Restaurant In India 02:00 Big Baby 13:00 E! News 21:00 Mud Men 09:55 Tom's Istanbul Delight 04:00 House Arrest REIGN OF ASSASSINS ON OSN MOVIES ACTION 13:15 Kourtney And Khloe Take The 22:00 America's Book Of Secrets 10:20 David Rocco's Dolce India 06:00 Max 10:45 Cesar's Recruit: Asia 08:00 The Wild Thornberrys Movie 05:30 Doctors 08:00 Do You Know? 06:45 Zou Hamptons 23:00 Ancient Aliens 11:10 Carnival Eats 10:00 Pet Pals In Windland 06:00 The Musketeers 08:15 Doki 07:00 Art Attack 14:10 Kourtney And Khloe Take The 11:35 Eat Street 12:00 Max 07:00 Doctors 08:35 Dick 'n' Dom Go Wild 07:30 Henry Hugglemonster Hamptons 12:00 A Is For Apple 14:00 Bark Ranger 07:30 Doctors 09:00 My Cat From Hell 07:45 Loopdidoo 15:05 Kourtney And Khloe Take The 12:25 Eat: The Story Of Food 16:00 Minions 08:00 Doctors 09:45 How It's Made 08:00 Zou Hamptons 13:15 Miguel's Feasts 18:00 Goosebumps 08:30 Holby City 10:05 How It's Made 08:15 Calimero 16:00 E! News 13:40 Glamour Puds 20:00 Clockstoppers 09:25 Stella 10:30 Nextworld 08:30 Loopdidoo 16:15 Mariah's World 00:30 American Pickers 14:05 Places We Go 22:00 Monsterville: The Cabinet Of Souls 10:20 The Musketeers 11:20 Mythbusters 08:45 Henry Hugglemonster 17:15 Mariah's World 01:20 Time Team 14:35 Places We Go 11:20 Doctors 12:10 Storm Chasers 09:00 Minnie's Bow-Toons 18:10 Mariah's World 02:10 Mountain Men 15:00 My Restaurant In India 11:55 Doctors 13:00 My Cat From Hell 09:05 PJ Masks 19:05 Mariah's World 03:00 Swamp People 15:30 Sara's Australia Unveiled 12:30 Death In Paradise 13:50 Ultimate Survival 09:15 Goldie & Bear 20:00 E! News 03:50 Storage Wars 16:00 Tom's Istanbul Delight 13:25 Stella 14:40 How It's Made 09:30 Jake And The Neverland Pirates 21:00 Botched 04:15 American Pickers 16:30 Grandma's Boy 00:00 Captain America: Civil War 14:20 The Musketeers 15:05 How It's Made 09:45 Miles From Tomorrow 22:00 Hollywood & Football 05:05 Pawn Stars 17:00 Cesar's Recruit: Asia 02:30 True Story 15:15 Doctors 15:30 Storm Chasers 09:55 The Lion Guard 23:00 Hollywood & Football 05:30 Pawn Stars 17:25 Carnival Eats 04:15 Insurgent 15:45 Doctors 16:15 Mythbusters 10:20 Doc McStuffins 06:00 Mountain Men 17:50 Eat Street 06:15 Before We Go 16:15 Death In Paradise 17:00 Doki 10:35 Goldie & Bear 07:00 Ice Road Truckers 18:15 A Is For Apple 08:00 90 Minutes In Heaven 17:10 Stella 17:20 Dick 'n' Dom Go Wild 10:50 Sheriff Callie's Wild West 07:50 Shipping Wars 18:40 Eat: The Story Of Food 10:00 Insurgent 18:05 The Musketeers 17:45 Do You Know? 11:00 PJ Masks 08:15 Shipping Wars 19:35 Miguel's Feasts 12:00 Daddy's Home 19:00 Doctors 18:00 Wildest Africa 11:15 Jake And The Neverland Pirates 08:40 Counting Cars 20:05 Tom's Istanbul Delight 14:00 Love The Coopers 19:30 Eastenders 18:50 Finding Bigfoot 11:30 Minnie's Bow-Toons 00:00 Diners, Drive-Ins And Dives 09:05 Counting Cars 20:30 Grandma's Boy 16:00 Pan 20:05 Death In Paradise 19:40 Nextworld 11:35 Sofia The First 00:30 Diners, Drive-Ins And Dives 09:30 Pawn Stars 21:00 Cesar's Recruit: Asia 18:00 A Kind Of Murder 21:00 Poldark 20:30 How It's Made 12:00 Sofia The First 01:00 Man Fire Food 09:55 Pawn Stars 21:25 Carnival Eats 19:45 Joy 22:00 Call The Midwife 20:55 How It's Made 12:30 Doc McStuffins 01:30 Man Fire Food 10:20 Storage Wars 21:50 Eat Street 22:00 Spotlight 22:55 Ripper Street 21:20 Mythbusters 12:55 Doc McStuffins 02:00 Diners, Drive-Ins And Dives 10:45 Storage Wars 22:15 A Is For Apple 23:50 Wallander 22:10 Wildest Africa 13:20 Sheriff Callie's Wild West 22:40 Eat: The Story Of Food 23:00 Finding Bigfoot 13:50 Sheriff Callie's Wild West 23:30 Miguel's Feasts 23:50 What Happened Next? 14:15 Gummi Bears 14:40 Mickey Mouse Clubhouse 23:55 Glamour Puds 15:10 Mickey Mouse Clubhouse 15:35 Jake And The Never Land Pirates 00:00 The First 48 16:00 Jake And The Never Land Pirates 01:00 Other Plans 01:00 It Takes A Killer 16:30 Little Mermaid 03:00 Norbit 01:30 It Takes A Killer 16:55 Unbungalievable 05:00 Passed Away 02:00 Deadly Wives 17:00 Miles From Tomorrow 00:20 Access 360 World Heritage 07:00 Baby Mama 01:10 Sea Of Hope 09:00 Angus Thongs And Perfect 03:00 Killer Kids 00:00 Binny And The Ghost 17:30 Jake And The Never Land Pirates 02:00 Wicked Tuna Snogging 04:00 The First 48 00:25 Sabrina Secrets Of A Teenage 17:55 The Lion Guard 03:00 Air Crash Investigation 11:00 Passed Away 05:00 It Takes A Killer Witch 18:20 Goldie & Bear 03:55 Live Free Or Die 13:00 Norbit 05:30 It Takes A Killer 00:50 Sabrina Secrets Of A Teenage 18:50 PJ Masks 04:50 Sea Of Hope 15:00 All About Steve 06:00 Deadly Wives Witch 19:15 Sofia The First 05:45 The Great Food Revolution 17:00 Angus Thongs And Perfect 07:00 Killer Kids 01:10 Hank Zipzer 19:40 Doc McStuffins 06:40 Paranatural Snogging 08:00 Gangs Of Britain... 01:35 Binny And The Ghost 20:05 Jake And The Never Land Pirates 07:35 Dog Whisperer 19:00 Ghostbusters 09:00 Evil Up Close 02:00 Violetta 20:30 Little Mermaid 08:30 Dino Mania 21:00 Blue Streak 10:00 Gangs Of Britain... 02:45 The Hive 21:00 Doc McStuffins 09:25 Seconds From Disaster 23:00 Bad Words 11:00 Homicide Hunter 02:50 Sabrina Secrets Of A Teenage 21:30 Doc McStuffins 10:20 The Great Food Revolution 12:00 Crimes That Shook Britain Witch 22:00 Unbungalievable 11:15 Cesar's Recruit: Asia 13:00 Crimes That Shook Britain 03:15 Sabrina Secrets Of A Teenage 22:05 Goldie & Bear 11:40 Desperate Hours 14:00 Crimes That Shook Britain Witch 22:35 Miles From Tomorrow 12:10 Sea Of Hope 15:00 Crimes That Shook Britain 03:40 Hank Zipzer 23:00 Sheriff Callie's Wild West 13:05 Reagan: The Assassination 16:00 Evil Up Close 04:05 Binny And The Ghost 23:25 Gummi Bears Attempt 00:30 Black Swan 17:00 The First 48 04:30 Violetta 23:55 Minnie's Bow-Toons 14:00 Seconds From Disaster 02:30 The Truth About Emanuel 18:00 Homicide Hunter 05:15 The Hive 15:00 Dino Death Match 04:15 Ironweed 19:00 Gangs Of Britain... 05:20 Sabrina Secrets Of A Teenage 16:00 Dog Whisperer 06:45 Walking On Sunshine 20:00 Gangs Of Britain... Witch 17:00 Cesar's Recruit: Asia 08:30 Bottle Rocket 21:00 Nightmare In Suburbia 05:45 Sabrina Secrets Of A Teenage 17:30 Hacking The System 10:00 The Fold 22:00 The First 48 Witch 18:00 Operation Sumatran Rhino 12:00 The Truth About Emanuel 23:00 Evil Up Close 06:10 Hank Zipzer 00:30 Fast N' Loud 19:00 Explorer 14:00 Ricki And The Flash 06:35 Binny And The Ghost 01:20 Wheeler Dealers: Trading Up 20:00 The Real Saddam Hussein 16:00 Middle Of Nowhere 07:00 Violetta 02:10 The Island With Bear Grylls 21:00 Cesar's Recruit: Asia 18:00 The Fold 07:45 The Hive 03:00 Bear Grylls: Mission Survive 21:25 Hacking The System 20:00 Changeling 07:50 Mouk 03:50 Venom Hunters 21:50 Operation Sumatran Rhino 22:30 The Express 08:00 Jessie 04:40 Fast N' Loud 22:40 Explorer 00:05 Tosh.0 08:25 Jessie 05:30 The Liquidator 23:30 The Real Saddam Hussein 00:30 The Daily Show With Trevor Noah 08:50 Miraculous Tales Of Ladybug And 06:00 How Do They Do It? 01:00 Key And Peele Cat Noir 06:30 How Do They Do It? 01:25 South Park 09:15 Tsum Tsum Shorts 07:00 Deadliest Catch 01:50 South Park 09:20 Elena Of Avalor 07:50 Wheeler Dealers: Trading Up 00:45 K-9 Adventures: Legend Of The 02:15 Tosh.0 09:45 Bunk'd 08:40 Fast N' Loud Lost Gold 02:40 Inside Amy Schumer 10:10 Gravity Falls 09:30 What On Earth? 00:30 Shark Attack Experiment(Cut 02:15 The Three Dogateers 03:05 South Park 10:35 Wizards Of Waverly Place 10:20 The Liquidator Down) 03:45 Jock The Hero Dog 03:30 South Park 11:00 Wizards Of Waverly Place 10:45 How Do They Do It? 01:20 Tigers Of The Snow 05:15 Ghatothkach - Master Of Magic 04:00 The Daily Show With Trevor Noah 11:25 A.N.T. Farm 11:10 How Do They Do It? 02:10 Wild Russia 07:00 Baby Geniuses And The Mystery 04:25 Disorderly Conduct: Video On 11:50 A.N.T. Farm 11:35 The Island With Bear Grylls 03:00 Snake Paradise Of The Crown Jewels Patrol 12:15 Good Luck Charlie 12:25 Bear Grylls: Mission Survive 03:50 Dangerous Encounters 08:45 The Adventures Of Don Quixote 05:15 Key And Peele 12:40 Good Luck Charlie 13:15 Venom Hunters BEFORE WE GO ON OSN MOVIES HD Classifieds

WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 25, 2017

CHANGE OF NAME KNCC PROGRAMME FROM THURSDAY TO WEDNESDAY (19/01/2017 TO 25/01/2017) I, Iddin Kunhi Pallibali Abbas S/o Abbas Pallibali, Passport No. L1458495 & SHARQIA-1 BALLERINA 1:30 PM AVENUES-1 Civil ID No. 281060107647. AL ATR -Kuwaiti Film 12:30 PM BALLERINA 3:30 PM SURF’S UP 2: WAVEMANIA 11:30 AM have changed my name as AL ATR -Kuwaiti Film 2:30 PM BALLERINA 5:30 PM THE GREAT WALL 1:30 PM Aboobakkar Siddiq vide AL ATR -Kuwaiti Film 4:30 PM A MONSTER CALLS 7:30 PM SURF’S UP 2: WAVEMANIA 1:30 PM AL ATR -Kuwaiti Film 6:30 PM PATRIOTS DAY 9:45 PM A MONSTER CALLS 3:45 PM affidavit dated 14.12.2016 AL ATR -Kuwaiti Film 8:30 PM PATRIOTS DAY 12:30 AM PATRIOTS DAY 6:00 PM before notary Sirajuddin, AL ATR -Kuwaiti Film 10:30 PM A MONSTER CALLS 8:45 PM Mangalore (C 5259) AL ATR -Kuwaiti Film 12:30 AM FANAR-2 THE GREAT WALL 11:00 PM AL ATR -Kuwaiti Film 12:45 PM xXx: RETURN OF XANDER CAGE 1:15 AM I, Jamil Lobo wife of Patrick SHARQIA-2 AL ATR -Kuwaiti Film 2:45 PM Lobo holder of Indian xXx: RETURN OF XANDER CAGE 1:00 PM AL ATR -Kuwaiti Film 4:45 PM AVENUES-2 Passport No. G3196491 and AL ATR -Kuwaiti Film 6:45 PM xXx: RETURN OF XANDER CAGE 3:00 PM xXx: RETURN OF XANDER CAGE -3D -4DX 12:15 PM Civil ID No. 282062803579 xXx: RETURN OF XANDER CAGE 5:00 PM AL ATR -Kuwaiti Film 8:45 PM xXx: RETURN OF XANDER CAGE -3D -4DX 2:15 PM has changed my name to xXx: RETURN OF XANDER CAGE 7:00 PM AL ATR -Kuwaiti Film 10:45 PM xXx: RETURN OF XANDER CAGE -3D -4DX 4:15 PM Jamil Avelino Fernandes xXx: RETURN OF XANDER CAGE 9:00 PM AL ATR -Kuwaiti Film 12:45 AM xXx: RETURN OF XANDER CAGE -3D -4DX 6:15 PM xXx: RETURN OF XANDER CAGE 11:00 PM xXx: RETURN OF XANDER CAGE -3D -4DX 8:15 PM hereinafter in all my deal- FANAR-3 xXx: RETURN OF XANDER CAGE 1:00 AM xXx: RETURN OF XANDER CAGE -3D -4DX 10:15 PM ings and documents, I will DANGAL -Hindi 12:30 PM xXx: RETURN OF XANDER CAGE -3D -4DX 12:15 AM be known by name of Jamil SHARQIA-3 THE GREAT WALL 4:00 PM Avelino Fernandes. (C 5260) BALLERINA 12:00 PM DANGAL -Hindi 6:15 PM AVENUES-3 23-1-2017 DANGAL -Hindi 2:00 PM DANGAL -Hindi 9:30 PM BALLERINA 5:15 PM THE GREAT WALL 12:45 AM PATRIOTS DAY 1:00 PM THE GREAT WALL 7:15 PM THE GREAT WALL 1:30 PM PATRIOTS DAY 9:30 PM FANAR-4 PATRIOTS DAY 4:00 PM ACCOMMODATION PATRIOTS DAY 12:15 AM xXx: RETURN OF XANDER CAGE 12:15 PM KHAIDI NO. 150 -Telugu 4:00 PM xXx: RETURN OF XANDER CAGE 2:15 PM KHAIDI NO. 150 -Telugu 6:45 PM Sharing accommodation MUHALAB-1 xXx: RETURN OF XANDER CAGE 4:15 PM PATRIOTS DAY 9:45 PM for Filipino Bachelor ONLY DANGAL -Hindi 11:45 AM xXx: RETURN OF XANDER CAGE 6:15 PM PATRIOTS DAY 12:30 AM BALLERINA 3:00 PM xXx: RETURN OF XANDER CAGE 8:15 PM near Big Jamiya Farwaniya. BALLERINA 5:00 PM xXx: RETURN OF XANDER CAGE 10:15 PM 360º- 1 Available already, Contact BALLERINA 2:00 PM xXx: RETURN OF XANDER CAGE 12:15 AM AL ATR -Kuwaiti Film 12:00 PM 66826412 or 97512782 KHAIDI NO. 150 -Telugu 4:00 PM AL ATR -Kuwaiti Film 2:00 PM 19-1-2017 KHAIDI NO. 150 -Telugu 7:00 PM MARINA-1 AL ATR -Kuwaiti Film 4:00 PM DANGAL -Hindi 9:45 PM THE GREAT WALL 11:45 AM AL ATR -Kuwaiti Film 6:00 PM xXx: RETURN OF XANDER CAGE 1:00 AM BALLERINA 2:30 PM AL ATR -Kuwaiti Film 8:00 PM FOR SALE MOANA 4:45 PM NO FRI MUHALAB-2 THE GREAT WALL 7:00 PM Special Show “xXx: RETURN OF XANDER CAGE” 8:00 PM For sell new white faux fur AL ATR -Kuwaiti Film 12:00 PM PATRIOTS DAY 9:15 PM FRI AL ATR -Kuwaiti Film 2:00 PM xXx: RETURN OF XANDER CAGE 12:05 AM (artificial) coat size M And AL ATR -Kuwaiti Film 4:00 PM AL ATR -Kuwaiti Film 10:00 PM pre owned like new black BALLERINA 4:00 PM MARINA-2 AL ATR -Kuwaiti Film 12:05 AM leather coat size M made in AL ATR -Kuwaiti Film 6:00 PM AL ATR -Kuwaiti Film 12:00 PM Turkey, Tel. No: 55020291 AL ATR -Kuwaiti Film 8:00 PM AL ATR — -Kuwaiti Film 2:00 PM 360º- 2 AL ATR -Kuwaiti Film 10:00 PM BALLERINA 4:00 PM DANGAL -Hindi 1:45 PM AL ATR -Kuwaiti Film 12:05 AM AL ATR -Kuwaiti Film 6:00 PM DANGAL -Hindi 5:00 PM PRAYER TIMINGS AL ATR -Kuwaiti Film 8:00 PM DANGAL -Hindi 8:15 PM AL ATR -Kuwaiti Film 10:00 PM MUHALAB-3 DANGAL -Hindi 11:30 PM Fajr: 05:19 xXx: RETURN OF XANDER CAGE 12:15 PM AL ATR -Kuwaiti Film 12:05 AM 112 xXx: RETURN OF XANDER CAGE 2:15 PM 360º- 3 Shorook 06:41 xXx: RETURN OF XANDER CAGE 4:15 PM MARINA-3 THE BYE BYE MAN 11:45 AM xXx: RETURN OF XANDER CAGE 6:15 PM xXx: RETURN OF XANDER CAGE 12:45 PM SURF’S UP 2: WAVEMANIA 2:00 PM Duhr: 12:00 xXx: RETURN OF XANDER CAGE 8:15 PM xXx: RETURN OF XANDER CAGE 2:45 PM SING 4:15 PM Automated enquiry xXx: RETURN OF XANDER CAGE 10:15 PM xXx: RETURN OF XANDER CAGE 4:45 PM THE BYE BYE MAN 6:30 PM xXx: RETURN OF XANDER CAGE 6:45 PM about the Civil ID Asr: 15:00 xXx: RETURN OF XANDER CAGE 12:15 AM THE BYE BYE MAN 8:45 PM xXx: RETURN OF XANDER CAGE 8:45 PM THE BYE BYE MAN 11:00 PM card is FANAR-1 xXx: RETURN OF XANDER CAGE 10:45 PM Maghrib: 17:20 THE BYE BYE MAN 1:15 AM AL ATR -Kuwaiti Film 11:30 AM xXx: RETURN OF XANDER CAGE 12:45 AM 1889988 Isha: 18:40

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

Arrival Flights on Wednesday 25/1/2017 KAC 154 Istanbul 15:55 KAC 417 Manila 02:00 KNE 382 Taif 14:50 Airlines Flt Route Time SAW 705 Damascus 16:00 THY 773 Istanbul 02:25 KAC 673 Dubai 15:00 JZR 267 Beirut 00:30 SVA 504 Madinah 16:00 KAC 285 Dhaka 02:25 KAC 561 Amman 15:00 JZR 539 Cairo 00:40 JZR 535 Cairo 16:10 DLH 635 Frankfurt 02:55 FDB 060 Dubai 15:05 KAC 102 London 00:55 QTR 1072 Doha 16:10 MSC 406 Sohag 03:30 KAC 785 Jeddah 15:15 THY 772 Istanbul 00:55 KAC 788 Jeddah 16:20 PGT 859 Istanbul 03:35 GFA 222 Bahrain 15:25 FDK 803 Damascus 01:00 JZR 357 Mashhad 16:25 UAE 854 Dubai 03:45 IRC 6512 ABD 15:30 QTR 1086 Doha 01:15 JZR 787 Riyadh 16:25 KKK 6505 Istanbul 03:55 QTR 1079 Doha 15:40 THY 764 Istanbul 01:50 FDB 051 Dubai 16:25 OMA 644 Muscat 03:55 SVA 501 Jeddah 15:45 DLH 635 Doha 01:55 KAC 662 Abu Dhabi 16:35 THY 765 Istanbul 04:00 KNE 530 Jeddah 15:55 PGT 858 Istanbul 02:00 RJA 640 Amman 16:55 ETD 306 Abu Dhabi 04:10 KNE 684 Madinah 16:00 MSC 405 Sohag 02:30 KAC 118 New York 17:00 MSR 613 Cairo 04:10 KAC 619 Doha 16:00 GFA 211 Bahrain 02:30 SVA 510 Riyadh 17:15 QTR 1077 Doha 04:40 KAC 777 Riyadh 16:00 UAE 853 Dubai 02:30 GFA 215 Bahrain 17:30 KAC 103 London 04:45 JZR 554 Alexandria 16:10 OMA 643 Muscat 02:55 JZR 777 Jeddah 17:45 CEB 0019 Manila 05:20 ETD 304 Abu Dhabi 16:20 KKK 6506 Istanbul 02:55 SYR 341 Damascus 17:55 QTR 1087 Doha 05:50 ABY 128 Sharjah 16:30 FDB 069 Dubai 03:05 UAE 875 Dubai 18:00 JZR 560 Sohag 06:05 OMA 646 Muscat 16:35 KAC 346 Ahmedabad 06:25 FDB 063 Dubai 18:10 FDB 070 Dubai 06:30 SAW 706 Damascus 16:55 BAW 157 London 06:40 JZR 177 Dubai 18:20 UAE 874 Dubai 06:50 SVA 505 Madinah 17:00 KAC 204 Lahore 07:15 KAC 502 Beirut 18:30 THY 771 Istanbul 06:50 JZR 266 Beirut 17:05 FDB 5061 Dubai 07:15 MSR 620 Cairo 18:30 KAC 153 Istanbul 06:50 JZR 240 Amman 17:15 FDB 053 Dubai 07:45 JZR 483 Istanbul 18:40 JZR 164 Dubai 06:55 FDB 052 Dubai 17:25 KAC 302 Mumbai 08:20 QTR 1080 Doha 18:50 RJA 645 Amman 07:05 QTR 1073 Doha 17:40 UAE 855 Dubai 08:40 KAC 512 Mashhad 19:20 KAC 171 Frankfurt 07:05 KAC 363 Colombo 17:40 KAC 382 Delhi 08:45 ABY 123 Sharjah 19:25 GFA 212 Bahrain 07:15 UAE 858 Dubai 17:45 KAC 362 Colombo 09:05 GFA 217 Bahrain 19:30 KAC 541 Cairo 07:15 JZR 538 Cairo 17:45 ABY 125 Sharjah 09:05 KAC 778 Riyadh 19:35 FDB 5062 Dubai 07:55 RJA 641 Amman 17:55 ETD 301 Abu Dhabi 09:05 KAC 674 Dubai 19:45 KAC 563 Amman 08:00 KAC 331 Trivandrum 18:00 KAC 352 Kochi 09:10 FDB 057 Dubai 19:50 BAW 156 London 08:40 SVA 511 Riyadh 18:15 QTR 1070 Doha 09:30 KAC 104 London 19:50 JZR 702 Taif 08:45 KAC 353 BLR 18:15 FDB 055 Dubai 09:40 KAC 620 Doha 19:50 FDB 054 Dubai 08:55 GFA 216 Bahrain 18:20 IRC 6511 ABD 09:55 KNE 381 Taif 19:55 KAC 743 Dammam 09:00 KAC 205 Islamabad 18:25 MSC 415 Sohag 10:15 KAC 694 Muscat 20:00 KAC 117 New York 09:00 JZR 184 Dubai 18:40 IRA 665 Shiraz 10:40 OMA 647 Muscat 20:10 JZR 534 Cairo 09:15 SYR 342 Damascus 18:55 GFA 213 Bahrain 10:40 QTR 1088 Doha 20:35 KAC 513 Tehran 09:30 FDB 064 Dubai 19:05 AXB 889 Mangalore/Bahrain 11:10 KAC 562 Amman 20:40 KAC 101 London 09:35 JZR 124 Bahrain 19:15 IRM 1188 Mashhad 11:15 MSR 606 Luxor 20:45 ABY 126 Sharjah 09:45 UAE 876 Dubai 19:30 JZR 165 Dubai 11:30 DLH 634 Frankfurt 20:45 UAE 856 Dubai 09:55 MSR 621 Cairo 19:30 JZR 482 Istanbul 10:00 MEA 404 Beirut 11:55 FDB 5053 Dubai 20:50 QTR 1081 Doha 19:50 KAC 172 Frankfurt 21:15 KAC 671 Dubai 10:05 IAW 157 Al Najaf 12:00 ABY 124 Sharjah 20:05 KAC 744 Dammam 12:10 KAC 786 Jeddah 21:15 ETD 302 Abu Dhabi 10:10 GFA 218 Bahrain 20:15 JZR 561 Sohag 12:40 MEA 402 Beirut 21:20 KAC 613 Bahrain 10:10 FDB 058 Dubai 20:35 FDB 075 Dubai 12:50 ETD 307 Abu Dhabi 21:20 KAC 787 Jeddah 10:15 KNE 232 Riyadh 20:55 UAE 871 Dubai 12:50 ALK 229 Colombo 21:25 JZR 356 Mashhad 10:25 KAC 545 Cairo 21:00 MSR 610 Cairo 13:00 UAE 859 Dubai 21:40 FDB 056 Dubai 10:35 OMA 648 Muscat 21:10 CLX 792 Luxembourg 13:15 GFA 219 Bahrain 21:45 KAC 161 Geneva 10:35 KAC 345 Ahmedabad 21:30 KAC 614 Bahrain 13:30 QTR 1082 Doha 22:00 QTR 1071 Doha 10:40 QTR 1089 Doha 21:35 KAC 564 Amman 13:40 JZR 125 Bahrain 22:05 KAC 501 Beirut 10:55 DLH 634 Doha 21:35 KAC 514 Tehran 13:55 ETD 309 Abu Dhabi 22:15 IRC 6522 Lamerd 11:00 JZR 703 Taif 13:55 AIC 975 Chennai/Goa 22:25 MSC 416 Sohag 11:15 MSR 619 Alexandria 21:45 KNE 231 Riyadh 13:55 JZR 241 Amman 22:45 GFA 214 Bahrain 11:25 DHX 171 Bahrain 21:50 QTR 1078 Doha 14:10 JAI 574 Mumbai 23:00 IRA 664 Shiraz 11:40 FDB 5054 Dubai 21:50 SVA 500 Jeddah 14:15 JZR 185 Dubai 23:15 KAC 661 Abu Dhabi 12:05 KAC 351 Kochi 22:00 FDB 059 Dubai 14:20 JZR 555 Alexandria 23:20 JZR 776 Jeddah 12:05 ETD 308 Abu Dhabi 22:15 KAC 414 Bangkok 14:35 PIA 239 Sialkot 23:40 AXB 890 Mangalore 12:10 KAC 203 Lahore 22:15 GFA 221 Bahrain 14:40 FDB 071 Dubai 23:45 IRM 1189 Mashhad 12:30 KAC 413 Bangkok 22:15 IRC 6521 Lamerd 14:40 KAC 162 Geneva 23:50 MEA 405 Beirut 12:55 MEA 403 Beirut 22:20 KAC 542 Cairo 14:45 BBC 043 Dhaka 23:55 IAW 158 Al Najaf 13:00 ALK 230 Colombo 22:25 KAC 672 Dubai 14:50 JZR 786 Riyadh 13:10 JZR 528 Asyut 22:25 KNE 529 Jeddah 14:55 Departure Flights on Wednesday 25/1/2017 KAC 511 Mashhad 13:15 GFA 220 Bahrain 22:30 KNE 683 Madinah 15:05 Airlines Flt Route Time JZR 176 Dubai 13:45 KAC 301 Mumbai 22:45 ETD 303 Abu Dhabi 15:15 AIC 988 Hyderabad/Chennai 00:05 MSR 611 Cairo 14:00 KAC 381 Delhi 22:45 KAC 286 Dhaka 15:20 JAI 573 Mumbai 00:30 FDB 076 Dubai 14:05 UAE 860 Dubai 22:55 OMA 645 Muscat 15:35 FDB 072 Dubai 00:40 UAE 872 Dubai 14:15 JZR 502 Luxor 22:55 UAE 857 Dubai 15:45 FDK 804 Damascus 01:55 CLX 792 Hanoi 14:30 ETD 310 Abu Dhabi 23:05 ABY 127 Sharjah 15:50 TXC 1624 IQA 02:00 KAC 693 Muscat 14:30 QTR 1083 Doha 23:20 s34 ta r s WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 25, 2017

CROSSWORD 1501 STAR TRACK

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

Remember that last week was a week of cleaning up old debts, decorations You might like to ignore responsibilities and do some socializing, but reali- and old business, etc. This week could be in focusing on new business. New ties demand you tend to business. The crowd may ignore you and leave you to take care advertising ideas or jingle suggestions and upbeat slogans are ripe for developing. of business. Time seems to be slowed but you are pleased to accomplish the tasks set Regarding this year's contribution for a charity, it would be good to consider a year to help before you. You are able to complete unfinished business and you pace yourself for the support a food bank in your city. The pressures you have been feeling lately are about to next project. You see the lighter side of most issues and create a sense of gratitude for end-problems have been repaired, completed or deleted. A young person or persons others to absorb as well. You may have insights or breakthroughs with regard to your liv- could need encouragement-perhaps anticipation of change is what you feel. This young ing situation or life circumstances. People rely on your independence and unique quali- person is getting an award, or perhaps, going out on a first date. Special words of opti- ties. A relative may express the desire for you to visit-you should consider the possibility of mism are worth the extra effort on your part. family camping at a nearby campground as you schedule in a visit.

Taurus (April 20-May 20) Scorpio (October 23-November 21) There is a tendency to be too strict with yourself, to insist that whatever does not contribute to security and other long-term goals is trivial. Your ambition is inten- Any old business is completed this morning and you could find yourself in a sified. You should be able to get much accomplished, especially if you spend some quiet planning committee meeting before the end of the morning. It is a good time to get down time becoming focused before you begin a project. When you go through this process of to the basics and take care of integrating some of the changes the overall company has becoming focused you and others are continuously surprised and pleased with the dis- anticipated in the past. Obligations may come to your attention later in the day that coveries and insights you gain. Your mental discipline should come easily and obstacles involve someone older or in authority. Teamwork is the active word today. This can be a will disappear when you shine the light of knowledge on them. You may want to change positive time. Your thinking is resourceful, original and along the technical lines of busi- your plans this evening. Good feelings and a special time with someone you love are pos- ness. The old way of doing things demands a change. You have a natural sense of what the sible now. A sense of support and harmony creates happy times. public wants at this time. Plan a trip to the country soon, perhaps a bed-and-breakfast sort of accommodations-relaxation.

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

The workday and work habits come into sharp focus now. This is a progres- Perhaps you are in management-you know that we can all find ways to sive period in which many work problems are easy to solve. Be as cooperative as you can improve. The energies today are pushing you to encourage others to be bet- today. Working with others will be easy. Helpful precautions can be employed for impor- ter achievers. The rewards are in the feeling of accomplishment and soon you will be able tant matters when using a backup system or a comprehensive support system. This is a to show visiting managers just how enthusiastic and accomplished a team of professionals ACROSS 82. Heavy and compact in form or stature. great time to learn to lighten up and take life as it comes. Your taste in art and appreciation can become. For you, the time is now for examining and thinking about what is important 1. (of securities) Not quoted on a stock 83. A loose sleeveless outer garment made of life in general are heightened. This is a great time to just sit back and enjoy what you and of lasting value-bringing your own goals into focus. If you do not have clear short-term exchange. from aba cloth. have. Remember that this is a planning month and rewards from your past efforts may not and long-term goals, you need to refocus. Relax; new talents are working their way to your 4. A genus of Carangidae. come when you expect them. There is an opportunity to understand those around you attention. A good exercise program that has begun this week is fun and you look forward 12. The cry made by sheep. DOWN and to have a special time with someone you love. to having a more firm body and a cache of good energy from proper foods. 15. Type genus of the family Myacidae. 1. Of or relating to Oman or its people. 16. Grown for its thickened edible aromatic 2. Written on a typewriter. root. 3. A hidden storage space (for money or provi- 17. Any of various trees of the genus Ulmus. sions or weapons). Cancer (June 21-July 22) Capricorn (December 22-January 19) 18. A drug combination found in some over- 4. A very light brown. Today, you may see things differently. You have an attitude of completing the-counter headache remedies (Aspirin 5. Towards the side away from the wind. what you begin. It is easy for you to handle difficulties and you think about how you might Your workload increases today with a successful outcome. This is a good day and Phenacetin and Caffeine). 6. A person with albinism. keep today's frame of thinking for future situations. All that is needed is a gentle trying. for money and you may even find yourself talking about money. You may feel that you can afford to purchase some item you have been wanting for a long time. Compare prices and 19. A refund of some fraction of the amount 7. Wheelwork consisting of a connected set of You are just plain witty this afternoon and the ideas roll off your tongue. This is a real time then go for it! You will be learning the secrets of your success this year and this day holds paid. rotating gears by which force is transmit- for communication-in any form. Your mind is clear. Today and throughout the week, you one of the hints. Listen to what others tell you and hold on to it for a while, especially from 20. Small terrestrial lizard of warm regions of ted or motion or torque is changed. will make money when you least expect it-perhaps by using your gifts of persuasion. Work those that are unbiased-absorb the words. Ambitious schemes and the pursuit of success the Old World. 8. Studies intended to provide general knowl- is easy to get through, whether it is a new customer or a change in employment-you and status take on a high priority. Co-workers are eager to share job tips this afternoon. 22. Indian statesman and leader with Gandhi edge and intellectual skills (rather than know how to handle whatever develops. You have the ability to handle difficulties calmly You have noticed a health problem that has been bothering you begins to clear up now. in the struggle for home rule. occupational or professional skills). and efficiently. Follow your intuition. Spending time with friends is enjoyable tonight. 24. The bureau of the Treasury Department 9. Neckwear consisting of a long narrow piece responsible for tax collections. of material worn (mostly by men) under a 26. The content of cognition. collar and tied in knot at the front. 29. The United Nations agency concerned with 10. A state in midwestern United States. Leo (July 23-August 22) Aquarius (January 20- February 18) civil aviation. 11. The act of scanning. This has been a high-energy month-much has been accomplished. 31. Of or relating to or characteristic of Tibet or 12. A man who is the lover of a girl or young Continue to complete unfinished business before the day is ended. Avoid creating inter- Going into work this morning is a fun happening! You are in control and you look forward to the work that needs accomplishing; after all, it is the best attitude to take. its people or their language. woman. ruptions for yourself-if possible. A period of great mental activity and heightened commu- Surprises happen all day and many of those surprises come from you. Because you are tal- nication with others begins. You may find yourself on a committee or a school board 36. Someone who walks at a leisurely pace. 13. Voluntary contributions to aid the poor. ented in many types of artistic ways, you make suggestions for improving business as well meeting this evening. Intellectualism, the exchange of ideas and the idea of being smart 40. Shrub bearing oval-fruited kumquats. 14. A woman hired to suckle a child of some- as possibly creating the next fun advertising scheme. You have a good sense of humor; 41. Clover ferns. one else. as a fox are the things that have a special appeal. In order to make a difference in a school use it to teach the people you work with to lighten the day a bit. Create an advertisement 42. The second day of the week. 21. Norwegian composer whose work was board meeting tonight, the footwork will have to be away from the meeting place. You that will be remembered in positive ways. Writing a proposal or creating an artistic presen- 43. The capital and largest city of Japan. often inspired by Norwegian folk music will be successful in this endeavor, but do not overextend this interest-remain flexible. To tation is where you will see many profits. Put down your pen and go out with the gang 44. A bachelor's degree in science. (1843-1907). your relief you will find others want to help carry on the job. tonight; this is your time. 45. Resinlike substance secreted by certain lac 23. A bar or bars of rolled steel making a track insects. along which vehicles can roll. 48. A populous province in northeastern 25. (Norse mythology) Ruler of the Aesir. Virgo (August 23-September 22) Pisces (February 19-March 20) China. 27. A town in southeastern New Mexico on the You are able to sway others to your way of thinking. Finally, something 50. African tree having an exceedingly thick Pecos River near the Mexican border. You will be presented with a financial opportunity now and you will want trunk and fruit that resembles a gourd and 28. A highly unstable radioactive element (the very important to you in the workplace is being recognized. Your friends are running to investigate this opportunity as it looks most profitable. You are alert and has an edible pulp called monkey bread. heaviest of the halogen series). behind schedule on a project and may need your help. This is a great time to play or work quick-witted and your self-assured attitude will bring success. You seem to attract good 52. A progressive disease of the central nerv- 30. Tropical American trees with palmately with others. Your sense of humor is in fine form as you make the hours seem like minutes. luck in money matters and if you have found a few extra dollars to invest, you might be ous system marked by increasing lack of compound leaves and showy bell-shaped There are social and political benefits in pleasing these friends or co-workers of yours, but surprised at the results. Church or spiritual matters that you have planned and looked for- coordination and advancing to paralysis flowers. your true calling today is in that sense of willingness to open your heart up to others in ward to may be on your mind this afternoon-you look forward to a planning committee that loving way of yours. Be careful not to indulge too much in rich foods or alcohol. You and death within a year of the appearance 32. German organist and contrapuntist (1685- meeting. In your business and personal life, anything that does not serve you successfully also seem to want to spend a large amount of money-perhaps buying everyone's meal should be considered part of the past. It may be the only successful way to move in a for- of symptoms. 1750). for a get-together on the home front. 54. Open-heart surgery in which the rib cage is 33. A resort city in western Florida. ward direction. Healings are possible at this time. opened and a section of a blood vessel is 34. Naked freshwater or marine or parasitic grafted from the aorta to the coronary protozoa that form temporary artery to bypass the blocked section of pseudopods for feeding and locomotion. Word Search Yesterday Solution the coronary artery and improve the 35. Grandson of Amaterasu and first ruler of blood supply to the heart. Japan. 55. Projectiles to be fired from a gun. 37. A woman of refinement. 56. A radioactive element of the actinide 38. A cleaning implement for sweeping. series. 39. One of several parallel sloping beams that 58. English theoretical physicist who applied support a roof. relativity theory to quantum mechanics 46. Fearless daring. and predicted the existence of antimatter 47. Baby bed with high sides. and the positron (1902-1984). 49. English scholastic philosopher and 60. The branch of computer science that deal assumed author of Occam's Razor (1285- with writing computer programs that can 1349). solve problems creatively. 51. A white native of Cape Province who is a 61. (prefix) Within. descendant of Dutch settlers and who 63. Away from the mouth or oral region. speaks Afrikaans. 65. Green algae common in freshwater lakes of 53. Amphibians that resemble lizards. limestone districts. 57. A gum resin from the conium hemlock 68. A committee in the executive branch of tree. government that advises the president on 59. The mountain peak that Noah's ark landed foreign and military and national security. on as the waters of the great flood reced- 70. Having a woven pattern. ed. 73. A river in north central Switzerland that 62. An intricate traditional dance in India per- runs northeast into the Rhine. formed by professional dancing girls. 74. Someone who puts to good use. 64. (Irish) Chief god of the Tuatha De Danann. 77. Aircraft landing in bad weather in which 66. Swift timid long-eared mammal larger than the pilot is talked down by ground control a rabbit having a divided upper lip and using precision approach radar. long hind legs. 78. A self-funded retirement plan that allows 67. An Arabic speaking person who lives in you to contribute a limited yearly sum Arabia or North Africa. toward your retirement. 69. Speaking a Slavic language. 79. Former usage synonymous with Antedon. 71. Someone who works (or provides workers) 80. A barrier constructed to contain the flow or during a strike. water or to keep out the sea. 72. God of love and erotic desire. 81. A long projecting or anterior elongation of 75. Having a toe or toes of a specified kind. an animal's head. 76. Type genus of the Suidae.

Yesterday’s Solution

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Afghanistan 0093 Lithuania 00370 GOVERNORATE PHARMACY ADDRESS PHONE Albania 00355 Luxembourg 00352 Algeria 00213 Macau 00853 Ahmadi Sama Safwan Fahaeel Makka St 23915883 Andorra 00376 Macedonia 00389 Sabah Hospital 24812000 Abu Halaifa Abu Halaifa-Coastal Rd 23715414 Danat Al-Sultan Mahboula Block 1, Coastal Rd 23726558 Angola 00244 Madagascar 00261 Amiri Hospital 22450005 Anguilla 001264 Majorca 0034 Maternity Hospital 24843100 Jahra Modern Jahra Jahra-Block 3 Lot 1 24575518 Antiga 001268 Malawi 00265 Madina Munawara Jahra-Block 92 24566622 Argentina 0054 Malaysia 0060 Mubarak Al-Kabir Hospital 25312700 Capital Ahlam Fahad Al-Salem St 22436184 Armenia 00374 Maldives 00960 Chest Hospital 24849400 Khaldiya Coop Khaldiya Coop 24833967 Australia 0061 Mali 00223 Austria 0043 Malta 00356 Farwaniya Hospital 24892010 Farwaniya New Shifa Farwaniya Block 40 24734000 Azerbaijan 00994 Marshall Islands 00692 Ferdous Coop Ferdous Coop 24881201 Adan Hospital 23940620 Modern Safwan Old Kheitan Block 11 24726638 Bahamas 001242 Martinique 00596 Bahrain 00973 Mauritania 00222 Ibn Sina Hospital 24840300 Hawally Tariq Salmiya-Hamad Mubarak St 25726265 Bangladesh 00880 Mauritius 00230 Al-Razi Hospital 24846000 Hana Salmiya-Amman St 25647075 Barbados 001246 Mayotte 00269 Ikhlas Hawally-Beirut St 22625999 Belarus 00375 Mexico 0052 Physiotherapy Hospital 24874330/9 Hawally & Rawdha Hawally & Rawdha Coop 22564549 Ghadeer Jabriya-Block 1A 25340559 Belgium 0032 Micronesia 00691 Kindy Jabriya-Block 3B 25326554 Belize 00501 Moldova 00373 Ibn Al-Nafis Salmiya-Hamad Mubarak St 25721264 Benin 00229 Monaco 00377 Mishrif Coop Mishrif Coop 25380581 Kaizen center 25716707 Salwa Coop Salwa Coop 25628241 Bermuda 001441 Mongolia 00976 Bhutan 00975 Montserrat 001664 Rawda 22517733 Bolivia 00591 Morocco 00212 Adaliya 22517144 Bosnia 00387 Mozambique 00258 Botswana 00267 Myanmar (Burma) 0095 Khaldiya 24848075 Brazil 0055 Namibia 00264 Kaifan 24849807 Brunei 00673 Nepal 00977 Bulgaria 00359 Netherlands 0031 Shamiya 24848913 Burkina 00226 Netherlands Antilles 00599 Shuwaikh 24814507 Burundi 00257 New Caledonia 00687 Cambodia 00855 New Zealand 0064 Abdullah Salem 22549134 Cameroon 00237 Nicaragua 00505 Nuzha 22526804 Canada 001 Nigar 00227 Industrial Shuwaikh 24814764 Cape Verde 00238 Nigeria 00234 Cayman Islands 001345 Niue 00683 Qadsiya 22515088 Central African 00236 Norfolk Island 00672 Dasmah 22532265 Chad 00235 N. Ireland (UK) 0044 Chile 0056 North Korea 00850 Bneid Al-Gar 22531908 China 0086 Norway 0047 Shaab 22518752 Colombia 0057 Oman 00968 Comoros 00269 Pakistan 0092 Qibla 22459381 Congo 00242 Palau 00680 Ayoun Al-Qibla 22451082 Cook Islands 00682 Panama 00507 Costa Rica 00506 Papua New Guinea 00675 Mirqab 22456536 Croatia 00385 Paraguay 00595 Sharq 22465401 Cuba 0053 Peru 0051 Cyprus 00357 Philippines 0063 Salmiya 25746401 Cyprus (Northern) 0090392 Poland 0048 Jabriya 25316254 Czech Republic 00420 Portugal 00351 Denmark 0045 Puerto Rico 001787 Maidan Hawally 25623444 Diego Garcia 00246 Qatar 00974 Bayan 25388462 Djibouti 00253 Romania 0040 Russian Federation 007 Mishref 25381200 Dominica 001767 Dominican Republic 001809 Rwanda 00250 W Hawally 22630786 Ecuador 00593 Saint Helena 00290 Sabah 24810221 Egypt 0020 Saint Kitts 001869 El Salvador 00503 Saint Lucia 001758 Jahra 24770319 England (UK) 0044 Saint Pierre 00508 New Jahra 24575755 Equatorial Guinea 00240 Saint Vincent 001784 Eritrea 00291 Samoa US 00684 West Jahra 24772608 Estonia 00372 Samoa West 00685 South Jahra 24775066 Ethiopia 00251 San Marino 00378 Falkland Islands 00500 Sao Tome 00239 North Jahra 24775992 Faroe Islands 00298 Saudi Arabia 00966 North Jleeb 24311795 Fiji 00679 Scotland (UK) 0044 Finland 00358 Senegal 00221 Ardhiya 24884079 France 0033 Seychelles 00284 Firdous 24892674 French Guiana 00594 Sierra Leone 00232 French Polynesia 00689 Singapore 0065 Omariya 24719048 Gabon 00241 Slovakia 00421 N Khaitan 24710044 Gambia 00220 Slovenia 00386 Georgia 00995 Solomon Islands 00677 Fintas 23900322 Germany 0049 Somalia 00252 Ghana 00233 South Africa 0027 Gibraltar 00350 South Korea 0082 Greece 0030 Spain 0034 Greenland 00299 Sri Lanka 0094 PRIVATE CLINICS Grenada 001473 Sudan 00249 Guadeloupe 00590 Suriname 00597 Guam 001671 Swaziland 00268 Guatemala 00502 Sweden 0046 Ophthalmologists Plastic Surgeons Paediatricians Endocrinologist Guinea 00224 Switzerland 0041 Dr. Abidallah Al-Mansoor 25622444 Dr. Mohammad Al-Khalaf 22547272 Dr. Khaled Hamadi 25665898 Guyana 00592 Syria 00963 Dr. Abd Al-Naser Al-Othman 25339330 Dr. Samy Al-Rabeea 25752222 Dr. Abdal-Redha Lari 22617700 Dr. Abd Al-Aziz Al-Rashed 25340300 Haiti 00509 Serbia 00381 Dr. Masoma Habeeb 25321171 Dr. Abdel Quttainah 25625030/60 Dr. Zahra Qabazard 25710444 Dr. Ahmad Al-Ansari 25658888 Holland (Netherlands) 0031 Taiwan 00886 Dr. Mubarak Al-Ajmy 25739999 Family Doctor Dr. Sohail Qamar 22621099 Honduras 00504 Tanzania 00255 Dr. Mohsen Abel 25757700 Dr. Kamal Al-Shomr 25329924 Dr Divya Damodar 23729596/23729581 Dr. Snaa Maaroof 25713514 Hong Kong 00852 Thailand 0066 Dr Adnan Hasan Alwayl 25732223 Physiotherapists & VD Psychiatrists Dr. Pradip Gujare 23713100 Hungary 0036 Togo 00228 Dr. Abdallah Al-Baghly 25732223 Dr. Zacharias Mathew 24334282 Dr. Deyaa Shehab 25722291 Ibiza (Spain) 0034 Tonga 00676 Ear, Nose & Throat (ENT) Dr. Esam Al-Ansari 22635047 Iceland 00354 Tokelau 00690 Dr. Ahmed Fouad Mouner 24555050 Ext 510 Dr Eisa M. 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MUSIC & MOVIES ’La La Land’ ties record with 14 Oscar nominations

omantic showbiz musical "La La Land" "Hidden Figures" and Garth Davis's family topped the Oscars nominations list yes- drama "Lion." Rterday with a whopping 14 nods, tying the all-time record set by "Titanic" and "All Tough competition for supporting actress About Eve." The movie-a whimsical tribute to In the running for best supporting actress Hollywood's Golden Age of musicals, set in are three black actresses: past nominee Viola modern-day Los Angeles-earned nods for Davis for "Fences," Oscar winner Octavia best picture, director for 32-year-old Damien Spencer for "Hidden Figures" and Naomie Chazelle, and for its two stars, Ryan Gosling Harris for "Moonlight." They will compete and Emma Stone. In second place were sci-fi against past Oscar winner Nicole Kidman movie "Arrival" and coming-of-age drama ("Lion") and Michelle Williams ("Manchester "Moonlight," tied at eight nominations each. by the Sea"), who was nominated three times This year's crop of nominees clearly reflected before. In the best supporting actor category, a push by the Academy of Motion Picture Arts Jeff Bridges ("Hell or High Water") will take on and Sciences to show more diversity after the Mahershala Ali of "Moonlight," Dev Patel #OscarsSoWhite controversy of the past two ("Lion"), Lucas Hedges ("Manchester by the years, with multiple black actors and filmmak- Sea") and Michael Shannon ("Nocturnal ers earning nods. Animals"). For best actor, Gosling will be vying for a The foreign films nominated are "Land of golden statuette at the February 26 Oscars Mine" (Denmark), "A Man Called Ove" bash along with Golden Globe winner Casey (Sweden), "The Salesman" (Iran), "Tanna" Affleck ("Manchester by the Sea"), Andrew (Australia) and "Toni Erdmann" (Germany). Garfield ("Hacksaw Ridge"), Viggo Mortensen The nominations were revealed in the pre- ("Captain Fantastic") and Denzel Washington dawn hours in Los Angeles in an online ("Fences"). In the best actress category, broadcast, not at the traditional press confer- France's Golden Globe winner Isabelle ence. Unlike previous years, this year's nomi- Huppert was nominated for her performance nees include a number of black actors and in the rape-revenge thriller "Elle," along with filmmakers, a move that should ease the Stone, Ruth Negga ("Loving"), Natalie diversity row that has cast a shadow over the Portman ("Jackie") and Meryl Streep, who Oscars for the past two years. earned her 20th nomination for "Florence Almost half the 683 people invited last Foster Jenkins." year to join the 6,000 plus Academy members Industry watchers had predicted that that bestow the Oscars were women and Chazelle's "La La Land"-buoyed by a record nearly as many people of color. All 20 nomi- seven Golden Globe awards earlier this nees in the main acting categories at last month-will triumph at the nominations. But year's Oscars were white for the second year few thought it would tie for the all-time running, prompting calls to boycott the glitzy record set by "Titanic" and "All About Eve." "La event and an angry social media backlash La Land" will vie for best picture honors with under the hashtag #OscarsSoWhite. The eight other films (current rules allow for up to Academy's board of governors has vowed to 10 nominees in this category) including double the number of female and ethnic "Arrival," grim family drama "Manchester by minority members by 2020. Late night funny- This file photo shows the cast and crew of ‘La La Land,’ winner of Best Motion Picture - Musical or Comedy posing in the press room during the 74th the Sea" and "Moonlight." Others in the covet- man Jimmy Kimmel will host the Oscars on Annual Golden Globe Awards at The Beverly Hilton Hotel in Beverly Hills, California. — AFP ed top category are the film adaptation of February 26. — AFP August Wilson's play "Fences," Mel Gibson's bloody WWII drama "Hacksaw Ridge," the western "Hell or High Water," the real-life tale of NASA's black female mathematicians After life performing Tchaikovsky, Nominees in main Oscars categories conductor keeps discovering

Best picture Best documentary feature "Arrival" "Fire at Sea" "Fences" "I Am Not Your Negro" "Hacksaw Ridge" "Life, Animated" "Hell or High Water" "OJ: Made in America" "Hidden Figures" "13th" "La La Land" "Lion" Best original screenplay "Manchester by the Sea" "Hell or High Water" - Taylor Sheridan "La La "Moonlight" Land" - Damien Chazelle "The Lobster" - Yorgos Lanthimos and Efthimis Filippou "Manchester Best director by the Sea" - Kenneth Lonergan "20th Century Denis Villeneuve, "Arrival" Women" - Mike Mills Mel Gibson, "Hacksaw Ridge" Damien Chazelle, "La La Land" Best adapted screenplay Kenneth Lonergan, "Manchester by the Sea" "Arrival" - Eric Heisserer Barry Jenkins, "Moonlight" "Fences" - August Wilson "Hidden Figures" - Allison Schroeder and Best actor Theodore Melfi "Lion" - Luke Davies Casey Affleck, "Manchester by the Sea" "Moonlight" - Barry Jenkins and Tarell Alvin Andrew Garfield, "Hacksaw Ridge" McCraney Best cinematography: Ryan Gosling, "La La Land" "Arrival" - Bradford Young Viggo Mortensen, "Captain Fantastic" "La La Land" - Linus Sandgren Denzel Washington, "Fences" "Lion" - Greig Fraser "Moonlight" - James Laxton Best actress "Silence" - Rodrigo Prieto Isabelle Huppert, "Elle" This file photos show French ballerina Leonore Baulac of the Paris Opera Ballet performing during Ilyich Tchaikovsky’s Swan Lake (Lac des cygnes) at Ruth Negga, "Loving" the Bastille Opera house, in Paris. — AFP photos Natalie Portman, "Jackie" Best original score "Jackie" - Mica Levi Emma Stone, "La La Land" s a boy in Saint Petersburg, Semyon Bychkov faded despite his difficult past with his homeland. tion at all but a protest against dying," Bychkov says. "La La Land" - Justin Hurwitz Meryl Streep, "Florence Foster Jenkins" would scrounge to buy second-hand Not so with Shostakovich, arguably Russia's great- However, "whether he committed suicide or not, I "Lion" - Dustin O'Halloran and Hauschka Tchaikovsky scores with pocket change from est 20th-century composer, who struggled under the don't think we will ever know." "Moonlight" - Nicholas Britell A Best supporting actor lunch money given by his mother. Living in a com- stifling control of the Soviet authorities. "There was a "Passengers" - Thomas Newman Mahershala Ali, "Moonlight" munal apartment with other families in the city period of about five years that I could not hear the Balance between famous and obscure Jeff Bridges, "Hell or High Water" then called Leningrad, he recalls that by age 12, he sounds of his music, let alone perform it, because it Bychkov has included some of Tchaikovsky's com- Best original song Lucas Hedges, "Manchester by the Sea" would spend nights in the kitchen-the only room brought me back to what I left," Bychkov says. paratively obscure works in the festival, including "Audition (The Fools Who Dream)" from "La La Dev Patel, "Lion" with both lights and privacy-waving an imaginary Tchaikovsky, however, "is in a way something that has Piano Concerto No. 2, to be played by Yefim Bronfman, Land" "Can't Stop The Feeling" from "Trolls" Michael Shannon, "Nocturnal Animals" baton as if guiding orchestras to Russia's most always been in my life and always will." and the "Manfred" Symphony based on Lord Byron's "City of Stars" from "La La Land" "The Empty treasured composer. poem. Orchestras have often shied away from the Chair" from "Jim: The James Foley Story" "How Best supporting actress Bychkov went on to become a renowned conduc- New look at final work complex "Manfred" Symphony, which evokes the Alps Far I'll Go" from "Moana" Best visual effects: Viola Davis, "Fences" tor, fleeing the Soviet Union for the West after reach- Although Bychkov's relationship with Tchaikovsky over nearly one hour. The legendary conductor Arturo "Deepwater Horizon" Naomie Harris, "Moonlight" ing adulthood to escape anti-Semitism and official never ebbed, it has evolved. "The music remains the Toscanini condensed it. Bychkov says directors should "Doctor Strange" Nicole Kidman, "Lion" suspicion of his political views. Now 64, the maestro same," he says. "We change the way we perceive it, or be confident in each piece they choose because it "The Jungle Book" Octavia Spencer, "Hidden Figures" has put together a Tchaikovsky festival at the New York the way we interpret it." He points to Tchaikovsky's "simply cripples the creation" if they try to alter it. "Kubo and the Two Strings" Michelle Williams, "Manchester by the Sea" Philharmonic, an in-depth exploration through per- Symphony No. 6, or "Pathetique," which the composer "It is our challenge to bring it to life in a way that "Rogue One: A Star Wars Story" formances from yesterday until February 11. Scholars premiered in 1893 days before his death. Tchaikovsky will reveal that it is a genuine masterpiece." Bychkov Best foreign language film have persistently debated whether Tchaikovsky was officially died from cholera, but many have long spec- will also conduct Symphony No. 5, one of "Land of Mine" (Denmark) Number of nominations for films with three uniquely Russian or an extension of the Western classi- ulated that he killed himself after the discovery of his Tchaikovsky's most recognizable works besides his "A Man Called Ove" (Sweden) or more nods cal tradition. homosexuality. Bychkov-who will close the ballet suites for "The Nutcracker" and "Swan Lake." For "The Salesman" (Iran) "La La Land" - 14 Although he sees both sides, Bychkov stresses Tchaikovsky festival with "Pathetique," which he Bychkov, even the most famous works can deliver new "Tanna" (Australia) "Arrival" - 8 Tchaikovsky's connection to national identity, saying recently recorded for Decca Classics with the Czech meaning. "If performances have real commitment, real "Toni Erdmann" (Germany) "Moonlight" - 8 that even Russians with little education revere the Philharmonic Orchestra also believed the suicide conviction and a real quality, music that is very familiar "Hacksaw Ridge" - 6 composer. "Say Tchaikovsky and their eyes begin to hypothesis. will be revealed in a new light-first to ourselves, and Best animated feature "Lion" - 6 swell," Bychkov, who speaks with clear delight about But he began questioning the theory in recent then to an audience." — AFP "Kubo and the Two Strings" "Manchester by the Sea" - 6 the 19th-century composer, told AFP. The former years after studying the original score, deciding that "Moana" "Fences" - 4 music director of the Orchestre de Paris who holds Tchaikovsky wanted the last movement to be more "My Life as a Zucchini" "Hell or High Water" - 4 conducting posts in London at both the BBC dynamic and have a faster tempo than how orchestras "The Red Turtle" "Hidden Figures" - 3 Symphony Orchestra and the Royal Academy of have historically performed it. "Its coda, which offered "Zootopia" "Jackie" - 3 --AFP Music, Bychkov says his passion for Tchaikovsky never a proof of resignation, in fact for me is not a resigna-

#LivetheOscars with OSN

SN, the region's leading pay-TV network, is gear- Entertainment's Live from the Red Carpet, and Fashion The month-long Academy Award action continues ing up for the 89th Academy Awards, bringing you Police. with 'Oscars on demand' content throughout February. Oat-the-minute coverage of the nominations and In the lead up to Hollywood's biggest night and all Winning and nominated titles will be available on OSN exclusive live access to the main event, in a month-long month long, OSN Movies Festival HD brings a stellar line- Store; whilst OSN On Demand and OSN Play will have celebration of all things 'Oscars'. up of Oscar winning and nominated blockbusters from dedicated folders of the biggest blockbusters. You won't miss a beat, with the live 2017 Oscar nomi- years gone by to your living room. Every night in February, Missed the Oscars live, or want to relive the excite- nations kicking off yesterday on OSN.com and OSN Play, from 6pm (KSA), enjoy films -such as 2016 winners ment? Catch a repeat of the main event at 7pm and 11pm giving on-the-go access to the live event. Then, on Spotlight (Best Picture and Best Original Screenplay); The (KSA) on February 27 on OSN Movies Festival HD and OSN February 27, from 4:30 pm (KSA) on OSN Movies Festival Revenant (Best Director and Best Actor); The Danish Girl Play. For detailed schedules and to join the conversation, HD and simultaneously streaming on OSN Play, watch (Best Supporting Actress); Bridge of Spies (Best Supporting visit www.osn.com Get social with OSN on Twitter, OSN's live and exclusive coverage of the 89th Academy Actor) and the movie that swept the Oscars taking the Facebook and Instagram @OSN #livetheOscars Awards, as host Jimmy Kimmel takes to the stage. Viewers prize in six categories, Mad Max: Fury Road (Best Makeup, can also revel in all the pre-event glitz and glamour, with Best Sound Editing, Best Sound Mixing, Best Production Red Carpet coverage starting from 1am (KSA) with E! Design, Best Film Editing, and Best Costume Design). WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 25, 2017 l i f e s t y l e

FASHION Dior designer debuts Paris couture as Dunst talks girl power

labyrinth and a scented secret garden led to Christian Dunst speaks on women's movement Dior's enchanted collection Monday - the hugely antici- Dunst, whose latest film "Hidden Figures" features the Apated couture debut from new designer Maria Grazia untold story of three African-American women working at a Chiuri. The collection in Paris' Musee Rodin kicked off Paris' racially discriminatory NASA in the 1960s, said there was no week of spring-summer couture shows - the fashion industry's better time for the movie to come out. The 34-year-old actress ideas factory spanning four days and 24 collections. Star said that the "inspiring message is hugely important in the guests including actresses Kirsten Dunst, Diane Kruger and world today" as it crossed lines of both gender and race at a rapper ASAP Rocky marveled at a gargantuan magical tree moment of political transition in the US. "With the (President constructed inside the venue, decorated colorfully with bead- Donald Trump's) inauguration, it couldn't be a better time for ing, lights and philosophical quotes. Perhaps inspired by the this movie to come out. I'm so proud of its success," Dunst told decor, Dunst moved beyond fashion to talk to The AP about The AP. "This film inspires women to come out and support female empowerment. Here are some highlights Monday: other women in the arts and all women everywhere. It shows a movie's real power to shape attitudes," she said. Dior's forest fantasy Fairytale music conjured up a sensuous, magical atmos- phere at Chiuri's spring-summer show that didn't fully trans- late to the couture. Taking over the creative reins of such a his- toric house as Dior is a daunting task, and so who can blame the talented Italian-born designer for playing it a little safe? The finely executed styles - floppy hoods, smooth signature peplums, feather tiaras, delicate sheer black animal masks and butterfly chokers - were pared down on sometimes minimalist silhouettes. The tulle and silk velvet gowns strongly evoked a fairytale or black-magic theme echoed by the forest decor and "Thought Tree" glistening with Tarot cards and gold coins. The binary palette - of mainly white and black, with flashes of satin red and forest green - highlighted a fairytale morality of good and bad, producing some of the show's most beautiful looks. Full, floor-length skirts hid the elfin-like models' legs, so that they appeared to float across the mossy runway floor.

Models present creations for Christian Dior during the 2017 spring/summer Haute Couture collection on January 23, 2017 in Paris. — AP/AFP photos WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 25, 2017 l i f e s t y l e

FASHION

Models present creations for Schiaparelli during the 2017 spring/summer Haute Couture collection on January 23, 2017 in Paris.

Schiaparelli goes Chinese revamped a few years ago, still has some way to go before German artist Ester Stocker to create visual distortion - to cre- 1950s. Silken full skirts in white and pastel shades successfully Popstar Kylie Minogue and actress Thandie Newton were the designs gain confidence and liberate themselves from ate "a conflict of light and shadow," so said the house. The sparkled down the runway worn on models with sharp, Asian- front row for Schiaparelli's couture feast - held in the old Place the overly referential. theme of imperfection was handled perfectly in the couture, style bobs. But the 55 styles felt incongruous as a whole. Vendome atelier-apartment of fashion icon Elsa, who died in which played on textures in black and white. Uber-minis of the 1960s sexual revolution met with 1973. Once the place where writer Jean Cocteau and artist Iris Van Herpen High-tech material formed bumps and glistened as if wet designs that showcased the clubbing visor and exposed Salvador Dali mingled, on Monday fashion insiders were pre- Blurring the lines between fashion and art, Dutch on flat-fronted mini dresses that evoked gossamer and midriff of the 1990s. Elsewhere, one structured pink satin sented a spring-summer show that revisited the design Wunderkind Iris Van Herpen's cerebral couture collection weightlessness. Elsewhere, fragmented patterns resemble the gown embodied 1980s decadence and almost evoked the TV house's shocking pink as well as art deco and 1930s designs. explored imperfections and "gaps" in fashion and in science. grooves of a fossilized shell. Copper-plated diagonal high show "Dynasty." Still, there were plenty of red-carpet gowns to The show channeled the Asian styles that the eccentric coutu- The catwalk of short-circuiting lines of electricity was lit heels also disrupted the balance of the shoe, leaving a rectan- satisfy the nascent house's burgeoning clientele that includes rier would wear around the famed apartment - including silk patchily so that the eyes of the spectator had to keep read- gular gap for the very thought-provoking show. Beyonce and Gwyneth Paltrow. — AP Japanese kimonos and Chinese hanfus. justing to focus in on the 16 organic, diaphanous creations. The signature "lobster dress" - influenced by Surrealist It had fashion insiders initially looking bemused as they Ralph & Russo Dali - was revisited with inserts alongside menswear jacket tried in vain to take photos of the show. But they soon realized Rapper Nelly and Dunst hit the eclectic Ralph & Russo cou- silhouettes that riffed on geometry. The house, which was this was art. The haphazard lighting was, in fact, the work of ture show that revamped the bygone glamour days of the

Models present creations for Iris Van Herpen during the 2017 spring/summer Haute Couture collection on January 23, 2017 in Paris. WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 25, 2017 l i f e s t y l e

FASHION

Models present creations by Ralph and Russo during the 2017 spring/summer Haute Couture collection. 'La La Land' ties record with 14 Oscar nominations

WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 25, 2017 36

This photo taken shows Chinese people visiting a lantern display for the upcoming Lunar New Year at a park in Beijing. The Lunar New Year, known locally as the Spring Festival, falls on January 28 this year and marks the Year of the Rooster in the Chinese calendar. — AFP Cock of the walk: Trump to thrive in Year of the Rooster

president Donald Trump will strut through the marriage or how to fight a major battle. Year of the Rooster, thriving as Hong Kong geo- Yeo still rolls coins to make predictions but uses a cup not a USmancers predict 2017 will be marked by the argu- turtle shell. Others use a metal shell replica. To divine the ments and aggression-characteristics attributed to the animal. future, Yeo says the geomancer's heart must be "very quiet". With Trump at the top of the pecking order, the volatile traits "Whether or not you can communicate with the heavens is a of the rooster-combined with the year's signature element of gift," he adds. Yeo says the world will be like a "sick ox" in 2017, fire-mean rocky times ahead, particularly in the western with an even less favorable outlook than tumultuous 2016. "It world, feng shui masters say. "The rooster likes to pick fights, can barely even get up to eat the grass around it," he says, loves to have verbal arguments and is combative," Hong Kong adding that Europe will fare particularly badly. soothsayer Thierry Chow told AFP. Trump's inauguration was met with mass protests in the US and he has already riled China, prompting fears of a trade war between the world's top two economies. Chow predicted he would ruffle more feathers in his first year as president. "There will be a lot of strikes and even riots," says Chow. Although born in the Year of the Dog, Trump can afford to be cocky due to his flock of faithful followers and his personal "bazi" element of earth, which is compatible with the fire element defining 2017. According to the philosophy of feng shui, all events are dictated by the varying balances in the five elements that make up the universe: metal, wood, Feng shui master Alion Yeo posing as he speaks with AFP in Hong Kong about the predic- water, fire and earth. "Bazi" are fate-setting traits linked to the tions for the Year of the Rooster as the 2017 Lunar New Year approaches. — AFP photos exact time and date of a person's birth. "The year will have all these elements, these people, these things and environment which will help him personally as a president," says Chow. Celebrity feng shui master Alion Yeo said the US economy would benefit due to the rooster's signature element of metal, which also represents money and stocks. "Trump's 'bazi' shows he will be prosperous, so the US stock market will per- form well in 2017," Yeo said. But he says Trump's good luck will only be temporary as the elements turn against him in future years. "He will have a good run in 2017, but this won't be the case for 2018 (the Year of the Dog)," says Yeo.

'Communicate with the heavens' The rooster's metal element signifies western countries, A man walking past potted Feng shui-literally meaning "wind-water"-is influential in especially Europe, and will come under pressure from the kumquat plants, a symbol many parts of Asia, where people adjust their lives and care- year's fire element, explains Yeo. Brexit and the refugee cri- of good luck and prosperi- fully position items such as a cup of wine or pieces of ivory in sis will drive more chaos for the continent in 2017, says ty, on sale in Hong Kong. offices and homes to maximize their luck and wealth. Those Chow, who uses the "flying star" system to make her predic- who practice the ancient philosophy were highly sought-after tions based on constellation positions. "I wouldn't say by Chinese dynastic rulers as far back as 1,000 years ago. "We things are calming down," she said. "It will be a year of very were government workers in the past and would help the heated arguments." — AFP emperors ask the heavens whether the year was going to be a good one or not," Yeo said. One traditional method was to shake three coins in a turtle shell and see which way they fell Feng shui master Thierry Chow holds up a metal rooster in her Hong Kong office. in order to judge important topics, including picking dates for

People looking at a stall in Hong Kong selling decorations for the Year of the Soft toys for sale at a stall in Hong Kong ahead of the Year of the Rooster as the A woman (right) taking a selfie with a man (center) in traditional Chinese dress Rooster as the 2017 Lunar New Year approaches. 2017 Lunar New Year approaches. as he hands out "laicee" packets in Hong Kong for the Year of the Rooster as the 2017 Lunar New Year approaches.