RABIA ALTHANI 18, 1441 AH SUNDAY, DECEMBER 15, 2019

28 Pages Max 21º Min 10º 150 Fils Established 1961

ISSUE NO: 18010 The First Daily in the Arabian Gulf www.kuwaittimes.net

Trump to face impeachment N Korea conducts ‘crucial Ali Alghanim & Sons Automotive Liverpool tighten their grip on 6 vote; panel approves charges 9 test’ at Sohae launch site 15 Company inaugurates showroom 28 EPL title as Leicester stumble

US, UK issue travel warnings for NE India as protests rage

Protests turn violent in West Bengal state

GUWAHATI: Protests against a divisive new citizen- on TV about the protests when my nephew left home in ship law raged yesterday as Washington and London the evening. We asked him not to go but he went with issued travel warnings for northeast India following his friends,” the student’s aunt Julie Stafford said. days of violent clashes that have killed two people so Anticipating further unrest, authorities extended an far. Many in the far-flung, resource-rich northeast fear internet ban across Assam till Monday. Most shops the new legislation will grant citizenship to large num- were shut and anxious residents stocked up supplies bers of immigrants from neighboring Bangladesh, who yesterday when the curfew was relaxed during the day. they accuse of stealing jobs and diluting the region’s The Citizenship Amendment Act allows for the fast- cultural identity. tracking of applications from religious minorities Several thousand protesters rallied in the capital including Hindus and Sikhs from Pakistan, Afghanistan New Delhi yesterday evening, urging Prime Minister and Bangladesh, but not Muslims. Samujjal Narendra Modi’s government to revoke the law, some Bhattacharya from the All Assam Students Union, which holding signs reading: “Stop Dividing India”. “People has been at the forefront of the protests, told AFP the are not gathered here as Hindus, or Muslims, people are group would continue its fight against the new law “in gathered here as citizens of India. We reject this bill the streets and in the court”. that has been brought by the Modi government and we Modi and Japanese counterpart Shinzo Abe post- want that equal treatment as is enshrined in our consti- poned a summit that was reportedly due to be held in tution,” said protestor Amit Baruah, 55, a journalist. Guwahati from today, and the United States and Britain Protests turned violent in West Bengal state, a warned their nationals to “exercise caution” if travelling hotbed of political unrest, with at least 20 buses and to the wider northeast region. Islamic groups, the parts of two railway stations set on fire as demon- opposition and rights organizations say the law is a strators blocked roads and set fire to tyres. No part of Modi’s Hindu nationalist agenda to marginalize injuries were reported. Tensions also simmered in India’s 200 million Muslims. Guwahati in Assam state, the epicenter of the unrest, He denies this and says that Muslims from the three where medical staff said two people were shot dead countries are not covered by the legislation because and 26 hospitalized late Thursday after security they have no need of India’s protection. Modi’s right- forces fired live rounds. hand man Amit Shah yesterday sought to reassure the Friday’s funeral procession of 18-year-old Sam northeastern states, saying the government would Stafford, who was killed in the firing, was attended by protect their “culture, social identity, language and NEW DELHI: A protester displays a placard during a demonstration against the Indian government’s Citizenship hundreds of angry and distraught mourners who shout- political rights”. Amendment Bill in New Delhi yesterday. — AFP ed, “long live Assam”. “We were watching news all day Continued on Page 24

Protests erupt; Sudan’s Bashir Algeria ex-PM sentenced to wins election 2 years in jail

ALGIERS: A former ally of Algeria’s deposed leader KHARTOUM: A Sudanese court yesterday convicted Abdelaziz Bouteflika was elected president of the former president Omar Al-Bashir on corruption charges protest-wracked country in a widely boycotted vote, and sentenced him to two years of detention in a reform sparking another outpouring of anger on the streets facility, the first ruling against the ex-leader ousted by Sudan’s ex-president Omar Al-Bashir Friday. Huge crowds massed once again in Algiers vow- mass unrest. The presiding judge said Bashir, 75, who was ing to keep up their campaign for the total dismantling deposed by the military in April following months of sums of foreign and national currency that were seized of the political establishment, following ex-prime minis- street protests against his three-decade rule, was being are confiscated,” Abdelrahman said. The Sudanese Professionals Association, which spearheaded protests ter Abdelmadjid Tebboune’s victory in Thursday’s poll. Algerian President-elect Abdelmadjid Tebboune sent to the reform facility, rather than a prison, on account Continued on Page 24 of his age. earlier this year, welcomed the verdict as a “political He also ordered the confiscation of millions of euros and moral condemnation” of Bashir and his regime, and Sudanese pounds found in Bashir’s residence when while noting that it was only one of several cases he was toppled. The charges, which included posses- against the former president and his allies. Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) summit held in Saudi sion of illicit foreign currency, carried a maximum From early morning, troops and military vehicles Qatar sees ‘progress’ in Arabia on Tuesday, its highest representation at the meet- prison sentence of 10 years. Bashir’s prosecution is a were deployed in the centre of the capital Khartoum, ing since 2017. test of how fast and how far military and civilian blocking access to the presidential palace and the Asked whether there was progress at the meeting of authorities now sharing power in Sudan will act to Defense Ministry, and there was a heavy security pres- resolving Gulf dispute regional leaders, Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al- overturn his legacy. ence at the court. About 3,000 supporters of the ex- Thani said at the Doha Forum in Qatar that there has been Bashir is also wanted by the International Criminal president’s Islamist movement rallied in the centre of DOHA: There has been small progress in resolving a bit- “small progress, just a little progress”. Court, which issued arrest warrants against him in 2009 the city. “Today we went out to demonstrate to defend ter dispute between Qatar and some of its neighbors, the The premier’s visit followed an intensification of efforts Islamic religion and against secularism,” said 34-year- to resolve the row including unannounced Qatar-Saudi and 2010 on charges of genocide, war crimes and Gulf state’s foreign minister said yesterday, just days crimes against humanity in Sudan’s restive Darfur old protester Ahmed Yassin. after its premier visited Saudi Arabia. Saudi Arabia, the talks in October. There was no public mention of the 2-1/2 Ahmed Ibrahim Al-Tahir, Bashir’s lead defense United Arab Emirates, Bahrain and Egypt cut diplomatic year dispute at the summit. The row has shattered the GCC region. Dressed in traditional white robes and a turban, alliance, a bloc of Sunni-ruled Arab monarchies in the Gulf Bashir watched silently from inside a metal defendant’s lawyer, said he would appeal. “The judge made the rul- and trade links with Qatar in June 2017, accusing it of ing based on political motives, but despite that we still backing terrorism. that have close ties with the United States, including hosting cage while the judge, Al-Sadiq Abdelrahman, read out Doha denies the charge and accuses its neighbors of American military bases. Qatari Finance Minister Ali Sherif the verdict. have confidence in the Sudanese judiciary,” Tahir told seeking to curtail its sovereignty. Qatari Prime Minister Al-Emadi said the world’s biggest liquefied natural gas (LNG) “The convict, Omar Al-Bashir, is consigned to a reporters. Several other judicial cases have been Sheikh Abdullah bin Nasser Al Thani attended an annual exporter remains “a big believer of the GCC”. — Reuters social reform facility for a period of two years...The Continued on Page 24

Kuwait delegation seeks to bolster China relations BEIJING: A Kuwaiti delegation - led by editor-in-chief of Al-Anbaa newspaper Yousef Al-Marzouq - visited China as part of both countries’ efforts to bolster rela- tions on all possible domains. Speaking to the press, Marzouq said that the visit, which included the cities of Beijing, Shanghai and Xi’an, was made possible due to an invitation from the Chinese government. China is keen on developing relations with Kuwait on all possi- ble domains, stated Marzouq, adding that the visit focused on developing relations in particular the politi- cal, economic, and social ties. Meetings with Chinese foreign ministry, media, and economic officials were held during the visit, the Kuwaiti media figure affirmed. He also noted that the Kuwaiti media delegation also met with Ambassador of Kuwait to China Samih Hayat and member of the embassy’s staff with the encounter discussing the huge development in Kuwaiti-Chinese relations since His BEIJING: The Kuwaiti media delegation visits the Xinhua agency. Highness the Amir of Kuwait Sheikh Sabah Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah’s 2018 visit to China. — KUNA 2 Local Sunday, December 15, 2019 ACK hosts 11th Engineering Students Project Exhibition Mechanical, electrical, civil and petroleum engineers showcase projects

KUWAIT: Participants in a group photo. — Photos by Yasser Al-Zayyat

The exhibition’s inauguration. Students during the exhibition.

By Faten Omar Dean of the School of Engineering said that the exhi- announced. The first civil engineering winning project News in brief bition has 28 outstanding projects conducted by 108 that got two awards (Best Civil Project and the Best KUWAIT: The Australian College of Kuwait (ACK) students for the semester of fall 2019. “These projects Project by Australian embassy) is “Optimization of Amir congratulates Bahrain King hosted its 11th Engineering Students’ Graduation show the students’ capabilities and skills. These proj- reinforced concrete design using FRP Laminates” Project Exhibition on Thursday at Boulevard Hall in ects will contribute effectively to building and devel- project by Abdulrhman Soufi, Abir Mohamed, KUWAIT: His Highness the Amir Sheikh Sabah Al- Salmiya, where students from four engineering pro- oping the new Kuwait. Our students have worked hard EilafAshkanani, and Zaid Al-Douri. Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah congratulated Bahrain’s grams - mechanical, electrical, civil and petroleum to meet the specified projects’ requirements with the The second winner in the Mechanical engineering King Hamad bin Issa Al-Khalifa yesterday, some two showcased their projects. help and support of their supervisors. We believe that project is “Radiofrequency (RF) controlled robotic decades after his accession to the throne. In a cable On the sidelines of the event, Prof Isam Zabalawi, these projects are seeds that will illuminate the future vehicle with metal detection” project by Emad he sent to the Bahraini monarch, His Highness the President of ACK expressed his pride in students’ of Kuwait and that our students will be skilled and Nuaman, Faisal Dughaiman and Ala Omar. The other Amir said the Gulf island nation has seen meteoric participation at the exhibition. He said “the projects active engineers in the society,” he noted. winner in the Petroleum engineering project is “Oil development under King Hamad’s watch, wishing Kuwait’s Gulf neighbor continued success and pros- presented by students today are based on a theoreti- He affirmed that the technology and engineering spill remediation using magnetic separation via perity. His Highness the Crown Prince Sheikh Nawaf cal base. Different techniques have been used and are shaping the world and that is why ACK motivates nanoparticles” by Abdullah Hamadah, Abdullah Al- Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah and His Highness the tried inside the laboratories. These projects are con- its students to gain exposure to real-life engineering Mearaj, Ya’qoub Al-Ebrahim, Abdulaziz Al-Shatti and Prime Minister Sheikh Sabah Al-Khaled Al-Hamad stantly and continuously developed and supervised by practice that will prepare them well for their future Hanan Abdullah. Al-Mubarak Al-Sabah sent similar cables to the faculty members.” workplace careers and also contribute towards their This exhibition was sponsored by the Kuwait Bahraini king. —KUNA He added that “some projects have been tried on lifelong learning process. Society of Engineers, Australian Embassy, Kuwait reality to prove their effectiveness. We are working on Meanwhile, the Australian Ambassador to Kuwait Foundation for the Advancement of Sciences and Gulf documenting these projects and to see what project Jonathan Gilbert said that the embassy is proud of the Consult. The exhibition was developed as a platform must be marketed and used in Kuwait. The projects students’ remarkable projects in terms of technical to provide students with the opportunity to present Amir congratulates UK PM will be documented and their results will be published aspects. “The ability of the students of Australian their innovative concepts, reflecting their knowledge, at international conferences.” College of Kuwait is remarkable,” he said. competency and special technical skills acquired dur- KUWAIT: His Highness the Amir Sheikh Sabah Al- Speaking at the event, Dr Mohammed Abdul-Niby, At the end of the evening, the winners were ing their studies at the School of Engineering. Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah on Friday sent a cable of congratulations to UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson on the Conservative Party’s win at the parliamentary elections. His Highness the Amir praised the bilateral Ooredoo Kuwait wins 2 awards and historic ties between Kuwait and the UK, stress- UN official briefed on Kuwait ing the constant aspiration to strengthen these com- mon relations. His Highness the Crown Prince Sheikh at Arab Media Forum Nawaf Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah and His education support programs Highness the Prime Minister Sheikh Sabah Al- Khaled Al-Hamad Al-Sabah sent similar cables to KUWAIT: President of the 74th session tation on Bareeq program, which Prime Minister Johnson. — KUNA of the UN General Assembly Tijjani achieved outstanding success in Mohammad-Bande yesterday com- schools, adding that this was due to the mended the role of Bareeq and cooperation of the program with a team Boomerang programs in spreading pos- that includes a group of educators Kuwait congratulates Algeria itivity among students, admiring the headed by the Program’s Director role of civil society institutions in sup- Ruqaya Hussain. She pointed out that it KUWAIT: His Highness the Amir Sheikh Sabah Al- porting government efforts and financ- aims to spread and promote positive Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah sent a congratulatory ing sustainable development goals. thinking and integrated psychological cable on Friday to Algerian President Mohammad-Bande said in a press well-being for students, eliminating Aabdelmadjid Tebboune, over his victory in the statement, on the sidelines of the visit negativity through a set of interactive to the headquarters of Al-Nuwair activities that are short, simple and easy presidential election of Algeria, commending the KUWAIT: Ooredoo Kuwait officials honored during the event. Positive Initiative (Bareeq), headed by to implement, based mainly on scientific close ties between both sides. Both His Highness Sheikha Intisar Salem Al-Ali Al-Sabah, research results. The fruits of the pro- the Crown Prince Sheikh Nawaf Al-Ahmad Al- that Kuwait supports the UN in many gram seemed clear in the great success Jaber Al-Sabah and His Highness the Prime KUWAIT: Ooredoo Kuwait, the first to Communications Senior Director. Ayoub projects. He thanked Sheikha Intisar Al- that it has achieved in over 39 schools Minister Sheikh Sabah Al-Khaled Al-Hamad Al- launch innovated digital services in Kuwait said: “We are proud of winning such distin- Sabah for giving him the opportunity to of the Ministry of Education to date, Mubarak Al-Sabah expressed similar sentiments is proud to announce that it has won two guished awards, and we dedicate this to our visit this non-governmental and non- including nearly 500 teachers and more in separate cables. — KUNA awards at the seventh Creative Competition beloved customers for believing in us. We at profit organization that is doing a great than 11,000 students, she noted. 2019 held by the Arab Media Forum in the Ooredoo are always striving to connect bet- job in the field of education and is Through the follow-up of the pro- categories of Best Public Relations ter with our customers, which reflects from important in trying to help those who gram, they detected a change among Personality of the Year for Ooredoo our deep rooted values of caring, connect- have difficulty in learning. students, decreased tension and the Amir condoles with Merkel Kuwait’s Senior Director of Corporate ing and challenging. We’re honored to see Mohammad-Bande affirmed the ability to speak in front of the public. Communications, Mijbil Al-Ayoub and our efforts awarded tonight, and we promise depth of the historical relationship that What distinguishes Bareeq program is KUWAIT: His Highness the Amir Sheikh Sabah Al- Advertising Creativity Award for Best to deliver and engage even more with our binds Kuwait to the UN, appreciating the distance from the traditional meth- Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah yesterday sent a cable National Day TVC. customers.” Kuwaiti support for the activities and ods of lectures and seminars, which of condolence to German Chancellor Angela The competition was conducted by the Ayoub further added, “The field of programs of the UN and its organiza- always afflicts the bored recipient, Merkel over the victims of an explosion at a resi- General Secretary of the Arab Media Public Relations has changed over the tions. He said that Kuwait was not only explaining that students enjoy the pro- dential building in the town of Blankenburg, in the Forum Madi Al Khamees and was held last years and the Kuwaiti market is highly edu- a leader of humanitarian issues in the gram activities, she said. After their par- Thursday at Sheikh Jaber Al-Ahmad cated and knowledgeable. We are continu- eastern state of Saxony-Anhalt, which killed one world but was also ready to continue ticipation in the program, parents, Cultural Center (JACC) in Kuwait City. ously working hard to raise the creativity positive engagement with the UN sys- teachers and school administrations person and injured several others. In the cable, His More than 200 TVC’s participated in the benchmark to deliver the best to the market tem, especially in regional issues, noting testified these impressive results, which Highness the Amir wished mercy for the deceased competition from Kuwait, the GCC, and the and to further increase our brand equity in Kuwait’s contribution through its mem- made the General Secretariat of the and a swift recovery for the injured. His Highness Arab World. The event was attended by a the market.” bership in the Security Council that will Supreme Council for Planning include the Crown Prince Sheikh Nawaf Al-Ahmad Al- number of distinguished media personalities The Arab Media Forum awards ceremo- finish by the end of this month. the program. Jaber Al-Sabah and His Highness the Prime and celebrities from Kuwait and the region. ny is considered as one of the renowned Meanwhile, Sheikha Intisar stressed Since its inception in 2013, it Minister Sheikh Sabah Al-Khaled Al-Hamad Al- The awards shed light on Ooredoo’s great events that take place in the region, which that civil society institutions are work- reinforced positivity in Kuwaiti Mubarak Al-Sabah voiced similar sentiments in a efforts to engage with the local community brings together representatives from the ing alongside the Kuwaiti government society, which sought more of it couple of separate cables to the German in creative and innovative ways and in areas different industries in one place to cele- to highlight the cultural image of through various activities and Chancellor. — KUNA and matters of their interest. Commenting brate their tremendous revolutionary Kuwait. Sheikha Intisar gave a presen- events, she emphasized. — KUNA on this, Ooredoo Kuwait’s Corporate efforts in innovation and creativity. 3 Local Sunday, December 15, 2019 NATO chief to lead delegation to Kuwait to celebrate ICI anniversary Stoltenberg praises Kuwait’s efforts for regional stability

BRUSSELS: A North Atlantic Council (NAC) delega- “I was proud to open the NATO-ICI Regional stock of the achievements made and to discuss our tion on the level of permanent representatives to Centre in 2017; and I welcome the opportunity to go common way forward with our partners to make our NATO and led by NATO Secretary General Jens back to Kuwait very soon, together with all NATO partnership even more efficient,” indicated Stoltenberg is set to visit Kuwait today and tomorrow. Ambassadors represented at the North Atlantic Stoltenberg. The NATO-ICI Centre in Kuwait has The NATO chief and NATO Ambassadors will attend Council, at such a historical juncture in the evolution welcomed more than 1,000 officers and experts from a ceremony under the patronage of His Highness of the Istanbul Cooperation Initiative,” said the NATO NATO and the Gulf there, for joint training, coopera- Prime Minister of Kuwait Sheikh Sabah Al-Khaled Al- chief. “I welcome Kuwait’s long-standing efforts to tion and capacity building, he noted. “We are also Hamad Al-Sabah to celebrate the 15th anniversary of contribute to regional stability, including through the working together to develop national expertise and the NATO Istanbul Cooperation Initiative (ICI), where NATO Istanbul Cooperation Initiative,” he underlined. resilience on crisis management, cyber security, ener- Stoltenberg will deliver remarks, noted a NATO press “The security of our ICI partners is of strategic gy security, maritime security, and defense against release Friday. Stoltenberg together with NATO importance to NATO. Through the Istanbul Chemical, Biological, Radiological and Nuclear Ambassadors will be attending a North Atlantic Cooperation Initiative, we have a unique platform threats,” he said. Council (NAC) meeting with the ICI Countries. The where we discuss security issues of common concern,” “Our NATO-ICI Regional Centre in Kuwait offers Gulf Cooperation Council Secretariat, Oman and said Stoltenberg. “Over the years, we have increased us the possibility to step up our cooperation in a num- Saudi Arabia will also participate, it noted. The cere- the quantity and the quality of our cooperation; and ber of areas, including interoperability, which mony and the NAC meeting will take place at the our NATO-ICI Regional Centre in Kuwait has helped enhances our ability to work together to manage NATO-ICI Regional Centre in Kuwait City. ICI was NATO’s outreach to the Gulf Cooperation Council, future crises through joint training,” said Stoltenberg, launched in Istanbul in 2004 to promote long-term Saudi Arabia and Oman. It is the sovereign prerogative a former Prime Minister of Norway. “We also continue security cooperation between NATO and Arab Gulf of these countries, ultimately, to decide how they want - through our NATO Mission in Iraq - to strengthen countries. Currently Kuwait, Bahrain, Qatar and UAE to move this process forward,” he added. the Iraqi military in their fight against international are members of the ICI. Stoltenberg inaugurated the “We can be proud of the past 15 years of partner- terrorism, to ensure that Daesh (so-called Islamic NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg NATO-ICI Regional Centre in Kuwait in 2017. ship under the framework of the Istanbul Cooperation State) can never return,” he stated. “Furthermore, we Initiative. We have conducted a wide range of practi- believe that as a regional organization, the Gulf work to increase security for all,” he stressed. “As a Regional peace cal activities, from military training and education, to Cooperation Council is playing a key role in dealing multilateral organization, we have strengthened part- Stoltenberg had lauded Kuwait’s efforts to promote crisis management, and dealing with natural and man- with the crises affecting the security of its members. A nerships in our neighborhood and beyond, and we regional peace and security and stressed that the made disasters,” he said. All the four Gulf partners in leading principle of our cooperation is non-discrimi- have deepened political dialogue, support, and security of the members of the ICI is of great impor- the ICI have Individual Partnership Cooperation nation of any of our partners. We all have an interest engagement with partner countries and international tance for the Alliance. In an exclusive interview ahead Program with NATO, he noted. Under these agree- in a unified Gulf Cooperation Council,” added the organizations. Over the years, we have increased our of his visit to Kuwait, he noted that Kuwait was cho- ments, a wide range of activities has taken place, NATO Secretary General. He said NATO is following consultations on security issues of common concern; sen as the venue for the major event because it hosts including on energy and maritime security, cyber developments in the region very closely. and on the practical side, our partners have engaged the NATO-ICI Regional Centre. He said this center defense, and civil emergency planning, he stated. He “With instability in the Middle East and North in more focused cooperation activities,” he concluded. “has played a very important role in furthering our said that ICI countries have taken part in many of Africa, NATO’s partnerships are more valuable than ICI was lunched in Istanbul in 2004 to promote long- cooperation with the Gulf Countries-Bahrain, Kuwait, NATO operations and missions, including in Kosovo, ever. At our leaders’ meeting in London on December term security cooperation between NATO and Arab Qatar and the United Arab Emirates-through the Afghanistan and Libya. third and fourth, we reaffirmed that NATO is a defen- Gulf countries. Currently Kuwait, Bahrain, Qatar and Istanbul Cooperation Initiative.” “Our upcoming visit will be an opportunity to take sive Alliance and poses no threat to any country. We UAE are members of the ICI. — KUNA

Ambassador Mansour Al-Otaibi Kuwait calls on North Korea to resume talks

NEW YORK: Kuwait has called on North Korea to return to the negotiat- ing table and resume direct talks over its nuclear program. Kuwait believes that dialogue is the best way to resolve this issue, Kuwait’s Permanent Representative at the UN Security Council Ambassador Mansour Al- Member of the Kuwaiti mission to Otaibi said during a UNSC session on the UN Fahad Hajji the tension in the Korean Peninsula. He, moreover, stressed that the UNSC on propagating preventive Democratic People’s Republic of diplomacy and this was visibly on dis- Korea must comply fully with its inter- play at the council’s June session on national obligations, dispose of its prevention of conflict and mediation. nuclear weapons and illicit programs This statement was delivered by mem- and return to the Nuclear Non- ber of the Kuwaiti mission to the UN Proliferation Treaty as a non-nuclear headquarters in New York Fahad Hajji State. The Kuwaiti diplomat voiced during a UN General Assembly session support to the direct dialogue initia- on the culture of peace late Thursday. tive undertaken by the United States Hajji said that the notion of spread- and others in the region, saying that it ing peace was under threat from enti- has paid off. ties promoting extremist ideologies Kuwait endorsed the resulting and hate speech. The lack of under- agreements which have contributed to standing and forgiveness had paved defusing tensions, he noted. Al-Otaibi the way for violent extremism to the hailed the UNSC’s leading role in issu- point that some individuals are proud ing resolutions condemning the of their crimes on current modes of Democratic People’s Republic of communication, indicated the Kuwaiti Korea’s illicit programs. The council diplomat. He pointed to the New must remain united, firm and keen on Zealand Christchurch terror incident the full implementation of all such res- as an example of how a hateful person olutions while taking into account the was able to broadcast his heinous act need to facilitate the delivery of aid to and white supremacist propaganda on people in need in North Korea. social media. He regretted that the atmosphere of He went on to say that such behav- optimism has begun to vanish after ior should be countered by spreading North Korea’s resumption of ballistic the culture of peace and understand- missile tests.”The path of talks to ing, affirming that such measure was reach the desired goal of denu- part of global goal 16 of the United clearization of the Korean Peninsula is Nations’ Sustainable Development still long and arduous,” But we believe Goals (UNSDG) connected with that the full and sincere commitment peace, justice, and strong institutions. of all concerned parties and the full The UN charter called for resolv- implementation of all relevant UN ing conflicts in a peaceful manner, Security Council resolutions will lead Hajj affirmed, pointing out that to a lasting and comprehensive peace Kuwait’s foreign policy was based on agreement in a nuclear-free Korean spreading peace as an essential tool. Peninsula,” he concluded. He reaffirmed that Kuwait was willing to participate in all regional and Preventive diplomacy international efforts aimed at spread- Meanwhile, a Kuwaiti diplomat said ing the culture of peace and prevent- that his country worked during its ing hate from taking hold of the non-permanent membership in the world. — KUNA 4 Local Sunday, December 15, 2019

Photo of the Day

KUWAIT: Sunrise view at Al-Khuwaisat. — Photo by Hochimin Haridas (KUNA) ‘Humanitarian Center’ ratchets up aid delivery across the globe

KUWAIT: Given its UN-bestowed moniker of ‘Humanitarian Center,’ Kuwait has long been accustomed to doling out aid for the less fortunate around the world, thanks to His Highness the Amir Sheikh Sabah Al-Ahmad Al-Sabah’s penchant for altruism. Kuwait’s humanitarian endeavors run the gamut from food and healthcare aid to educational assistance, where a Kuwait-based charity has just concluded a three-month vocational sewing program for some 150 impoverished women across several Yemeni provinces, allowing them the opportunity to ply their trade. Tawfik Mohammad, a Yemeni official, thanked Kuwait for the copious amounts of aid the country has given Yemen, particularly amid this critical juncture the war-torn Kuwait-based charity doled out water tanks to displaced peo- nation is going through. Such initiatives as the one taken ple in Yemen. by Kuwait Humanitarian Relief Society in the southwestern Yemeni city of Taiz, allow these families to make ends shown “constant willingness” to cooperate to solve issues meet, he explained, while simultaneously narrowing down related to the region and the Islamic world, he emphasized, the unemployment rate in a county suffering from acute saying Kuwait’s contributions are mainly towards matters poverty, added the official. such as human rights, security and development. Fouad Al-Fakiya, another Yemeni official, heaped equal Similarly, Kuwait’s devotion to humanitarian causes was praise on Kuwait for these generous endeavors, saying praised on Wednesday by Nawaf Al-Sherian, a member of such projects help alleviate the misery many Yemenis are the permanent national committee on international human- mired in, going on to wish the country continued prosperi- itarian law. The commission was established last year and ty and development. Elsewhere in Yemen, the same set an action strategy for 2020, he said, revealing that Kuwait-based charity doled out water tanks to displaced Kuwait seeks to sign several agreements and deals with people in Yemen’s Maarib governorate, where some 2,200 similar committees in other countries. families were the beneficiaries of the aid. In a statement, Furthermore, The International Federation of the Red the Kuwaiti charity described the initiative as an “answer Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC) on Tuesday to the pleas of humanity,” saying such projects aim to lift praised Kuwait’s profound contributions towards global thousands of Yemenis out of sheer penury. humanitarian endeavors. Kuwait Red Crescent Society Meanwhile, Kuwait’s “outstanding role” in the humani- (KRCS) is always at the “forefront” of world charities pro- tarian field was acknowledged by UN General Assembly viding urgent aid for some of the world’s most impover- President Tijjani Muhammad-Bande on Thursday, who ished nations, said (IFRC) president Francesco Rocca, as made the remarks amid a visit to the country. Kuwait has he met with KRCS chief Dr Hilal Al-Sayer. — KUNA

Kuwait-based charity concluded vocational sewing program in Yemen.

KUWAIT: Firemen freed a girl whose foot got stuck in the toilet of her parents’ home in Saad Al-Abdullah yesterday. Special tools were used to cut concrete and plastic in order to avoid causing any harm to the girl. — By Hanan Al-Saadoun 5 Local Sunday, December 15, 2019 Zain signs strategic partnership agreement with Al-Qabas To offer the most advanced cloud solutions and data center services

KUWAIT: Zain, the leading digital service provider in experience, making it easier and better for our sub- Kuwait, announced signing a strategic partnership agree- scribers, while also supporting its spread regionally and ment with Dar Al-Qabas Press Printing, Publishing, and internationally as per our set plan. ‘Al-Qabas Premium’ is Distribution Company to offer the most advanced cloud more than just online archives, as it will expand to have solutions and data center services. The agreement aims at more rich content in the future, and its recent expansion driving Al-Qabas newspaper’s digital transformation across the Arab world is a great example on its success”. efforts. Zain recently received the M&O (Management and Zain hosted the agreement signing ceremony at the Operation) Data Center Certification by Uptime Institute Zain Innovation Center (ZINC) in the company’s main - the IT industry’s most trusted and adopted global stan- headquarters in Shuwaikh. The ceremony witnessed the dard for the proper design, build and operation of data attendance of Zain Kuwait’s Chief Enterprise Business centers, making it the first telecom operator in Kuwait and Officer Hamad Al-Marzouq, Al-Qabas Managing Director the third in the region to receive this prestigious certifica- Naser Al-Momen, as well as top executives from both tion. Zain’s certification by one of the world’s leading advi- companies. sory organizations comes to demonstrate the company’s As part of the agreement, Zain will be offering a num- leadership and commitment in adopting the highest inter- ber of innovative cloud solutions to revamp Al-Qabas’ national standards for its data center, which ultimately integrated digital infrastructure. The solutions include Zain reflects on the quality and efficiency of its services target- Business Data Center (ZBDC) services, such as data stor- ed at the Enterprise Segment within the Kuwaiti market. age and industry-leading security and connectivity when hosting digital assets in the MENA region. The agreement also includes network cabling and management services, KUWAIT: Zain and Al-Qabas officials in a group photo after signing the agreement. connectivity, CCTV, service management, and much more. During the signing ceremony, Zain Kuwait’s Chief Enterprise Business Officer Hamad Al-Marzouq said: “this entire world today, and we at Zain offer the most Al-Qabas management’s keenness on keeping up with the is a first step for collaboration between Zain and Al- advanced cybersecurity solutions as per the highest inter- worldwide tech evolution. This is especially true with the Qabas, and we always encourage and support digital national standards. Kuwait has put forward a plan for launch of ‘Al-Qabas Premium’ app and our Al-Qabas transformation projects in Kuwait. We are partners with cybersecurity, and we are steadily following suit. We are Online website, in addition to our social media accounts.” Al-Qabas in their transformation journey, and we com- proud to partner with Al-Qabas to use our extensive Momen continued: “Al-Qabas aspires to offer a faster pletely support their efforts. Providing cloud solutions is experience in this area to protect their data.” and more professional experience when it comes to load- only the first step, as we will move on to 5G, artificial Regarding the expected outcomes of this partnership, ing huge amounts of our information and video clips, intelligence (AI), and Marzouq said: “we have a especially with ‘Al-Qabas Premium’ and Al-Qabas blockchain applications in the plethora of similar successful Online.” Momen added: “we aim to further develop our future”. partnerships with government internal networks and systems, and what pushed us to Marzouq added: “the rea- entities and private sector take on this project more than anything else is the huge son for this collaboration Held at Zain companies. This partnership amount of data of ‘Al-Qabas Premium’, such as articles, between Zain and Al-Qabas is will surely be fruitful in pro- photos, PDFs, and videos. We were keen on increasing to support their transforma- Innovation ducing new levels throughout our cloud storage, as well as have the best tools for sys- tion journey from paper to the next five years, and we tem maintenance, speed, and storage efficiency. This digital, a journey that they are Center look forward to seeing an all- agreement will surely support us in being the best in the considered leaders in across new Al-Qabas, hand in hand future”. the Middle East region. We with Zain.” Al-Qabas Momen explained: “focusing on digital media is of are extremely proud of these Managing Director Naser Al- great importance to the board of directors and the execu- efforts, especially that Al- Momen said: “this agreement tive management. The e-paper’s efficiency in the website Qabas is a leading media organization locally and region- embodies Al-Qabas’ keenness on further driving our digi- and app so far is what made us even more keen on devel- ally in this area”. tal transformation journey. Our partnership with Zain - a oping the tech aspect of our services”. Commenting on information security and cybersecuri- leader in Internet and telecommunications services - is Momen concluded: “today’s signing with Zain will ty, Marzouq said: “this has become a key priority for the longstanding and strategic. The agreement also reflects surely accelerate and improve the ‘Al-Qabas Premium’ InternationalEstablished 1961 SUNDAY, DECEMBER 15, 2019 In Greek migrant camp, women endure hardship

Victorious Johnson urges Britain to move past Brexit divide Page 8 Page 7

WASHINGTON: Ranking Member, Republican Representative Doug Collins, arrives for the start of the House Judiciary Committee’s vote on House Resolution 755, Articles of Impeachment Against President Donald Trump, on Capitol Hill in Washington, DC, on Friday. — AFP Trump to face impeachment vote

Panel’s impeachment vote ‘an embarrassment to our country,’ says Trump

WASHINGTON: US President Donald Trump stood aid and a White House meeting on Ukraine launching came to a surprising late-night end when Nadler the president will be removed from office,” said Senate on the verge of impeachment Friday after a House pan- investigations into Democrats ahead of the 2020 presi- abruptly postponed the votes. Startled Republicans Majority Leader Mitch McConnell, whose Republicans el approved charges he abused his power and dential election. The other charges him with obstructing accused Nadler of running a “kangaroo court,” but hold 53 of the 100 seats. McConnell also told Fox News obstructed Congress, setting up a historic vote in the Congress for refusing to cooperate with the inquiry, a Democrats said they did not want to be accused of he will be in lockstep with Trump, “coordinating with chamber next week. development Democrats say is unprecedented in taking such momentous action against the president in the White House counsel” regardless of his expected In a grave moment for a deeply divided nation, mem- American history. the dead of night. role as impartial juror in the trial. bers of the Judiciary Committee voted along party lines Nadler said the House will act “expeditiously” to Congresswoman Pramila Jayapal, who held up a to approve two articles of impeachment against the vote on the charges. The chamber’s Rules Committee pocket copy of the US Constitution as she voted, said Senate trial president for committing acts that met the constitution- will convene Tuesday morning to lay out guidelines for she was not acting against Trump as a person. “It is a Trump has signaled to aides that he wants a full- al threshold of “high crimes and misdemeanors.” the impeachment debate and eventual vote. vote for the Constitution and for ‘We the People,’” she throated defense in the Senate, with witnesses testify- The panel recommended by 23 votes to 17 that the Impeachment would trigger a January trial in the said, quoting the charter’s preamble. ing in person. Republican leaders, mindful of political Democratic-led House ratify both articles, ahead of a Senate, where the solid Republican majority is expect- But Republicans have circled the wagons around fallout, indicated they would rather not see the process vote by the entire chamber that is expected to make ed to protect the president by voting against conviction the president, insisting he has done no wrong and turn into a drawn-out spectacle. Trump only the third US president in history to be and removal. accusing Democrats of dangerous overreach. “I’ll do long or short,” Trump said Friday when asked impeached, after Andrew Johnson in 1868 and Bill An ever-defiant Trump, who insists there is a witch Republican Debbie Lesko emerged from the ornate whether he wants an extended trial. But he added that Clinton in 1998. hunt against him, called the panel’s impeachment vote hearing room where she cast her vote calling the he “wouldn’t mind a long process” because he wants to “Today is a solemn and sad day,” committee chair- “an embarrassment to our country.” He also insisted the process a “travesty for America.” hear testimony from the whistleblower who triggered man Jerry Nadler said after the vote, which was called divisive process will be “very good for me politically” “I have never, in my entire life, seen such an unfair, the process earlier this year. Pelosi launched the with surprising speed the day after a rancorous 14-hour as Americans face a presidential election next rigged railroad job against the president of the United impeachment inquiry in September after an unidentified debate. “Yet we must meet the challenge posed by a November. But while the White House said Trump looks States.” Fellow Republican Matt Gaetz warned that whistleblower warned in a complaint that Trump, on a president who puts himself before the country, whose forward to a fair trial and due process in the Senate, the Democrats were eager to oust Trump “with no direct telephone call with his Ukrainian counterpart, used the actions pose a direct threat to the integrity of our elec- president lashed out at Democratic “fools” and branded evidence” of criminal behavior. “For Democrats, power of his office to “solicit interference” from the for- tions, and to the separation of powers that safeguard House Speaker Nancy Pelosi a “liar.” impeachment is their drug, it is their obsession,” he said. eign leader in the 2020 election. In the July 25 call our liberty.” Both sides were already girding for Trump’s trial in Trump asked President Volodymyr Zelensky to launch One article charges the president with abuse of ‘Travesty for America’ the Senate, where conviction and removal would an investigation into former US vice president Joe power for conditioning $391 million in critical military The panel’s fractious debate session Thursday require two-thirds of votes. “There is zero chance that Biden, Trump’s potential election rival. — AFP

to the country’s traditional political parties, testers had camped out for weeks. At Hezbollah chief but analysts have warned this could be a tall Top Iraq cleric least 20 protesters and four police offi- order. Nasrallah said he would support a cers were killed and about 80 demon- “government of national partnership”, and denounces strators abducted, medical sources and warns Lebanon one with “the widest possible representation” witnesses said. that did not exclude any of the major parties. The revered Shiite cleric also government He said it could be headed by outgoing protesters’ denounced Thursday’s lynching by premier Saad Hariri or someone the outgoing demonstrators of a teenager accused of premier designated. The names of various killing, abduction attacking protesters in Baghdad, calling could take time potential candidates have been circulated in it “an atrocious crime.” Such actions recent weeks, but the Sunni Muslim estab- “reaffirm once again the importance of lishment on Sunday threw their support KARBALA, Iraq: Iraq’s top Shiite cler- what the marjaiyah (Shiite religious lead- BEIRUT: The head of Shiite movement behind Hariri returning. ic on Friday denounced the murder and ership) has repeatedly called for and that Hezbollah in protest-wracked Lebanon abduction of anti-government protest- is that all weapons must be placed under Friday warned that the formation of a new More US sanctions ers, calling for weapons to be placed the control of the state”, he said. cabinet desperately needed to redress a The international community has urged for under the control of the state. Around Sistani urged authorities to prosecute tumbling economy could take time. Lebanon swift cabinet formation to implement key 460 people have been killed and 25,000 those responsible for the violence and has been swept by unprecedented nation- economic reforms and unlock international wounded, most of them protesters, since called on protesters to keep their wide protests since October 17, demanding aid. The World Bank estimates a third of BEIRUT: An image grab taken from Hezbollah’s anti-government rallies erupted on demonstrations peaceful. Amnesty in its the complete overhaul of a political class Lebanese live in poverty and this could rise al-Manar TV on Friday shows Hassan Nasrallah, October 1 in Baghdad and the Shiite- statements also called on Iraq’s authori- deemed inept and corrupt. The government to half. It has projected a recession of at least the head of Hezbollah, delivering a televised majority south. ties “to step up to their responsibilities.” address from an undisclosed location in stepped down on October 29, but bitterly 0.2 percent for 2019. Since then demonstrators in the capi- Iraq must “take immediate and effective Lebanon. — AFP divided political parties have failed to agree A sworn enemy of neighboring Israel, tal and southern cities have disappeared action to put an end to a growing lethal on a new premier ever since. Hezbollah is the only faction not to have almost daily, in most cases taken from campaign of harassment, intimidation, Hezbollah chief Hassan Nasrallah spoke disarmed after Lebanon’s 1975-1990 civil despite actions including “sanctions.” near their homes as they returned from abductions and deliberate killings of ahead of parliamentary consultations to war. The United States considers Hezbollah On Friday, the US Treasury Department protests. “We strongly denounce the activists and protesters,” it said. nominate a new prime minister tomorrow. a “terrorist” organization, but the move- imposed new sanctions against two alleged killings, abductions and attacks of all “The authorities’ utter lack of action “The consultations are supposed to take ment is also a key political player with min- Hezbollah money launderers and financiers, kinds that have been taking place,” over the past weeks has paved the way place on Monday and we hope that whoever isters in the outgoing government and seats including a diamond trader who collected art. Grand Ayatollah Ali Sistani said in a ser- for this horrifying new stage in what is receives most votes will be designated to in parliament. The United States has target- It accused Lebanon-based Nazem Said mon delivered by his representative in clearly a full-on attempt to crush the form a government,” he said in a televised ed the Shiite party with tough sanctions, Ahmad, whose art collection includes works the shrine city of Kerbala during the protests in Iraq through instilling fear address. “But the formation will be no easy ramped up under the administration of by Pablo Picasso and Andy Warhol, and his weekly Friday prayer. among the population,” said Amnesty’s feat,” he warned. President Donald Trump. companies of helping to launder large sums London-based rights group Amnesty Middle East Research director Lynn In a multi-confessional country often in Nasrallah lambasted comments by US of money for the group. International on Friday urged Baghdad to Maalouf. political deadlock, the name of the new prime officials, including Secretary of State Mike “Ahmad, who has a vast art collection, is clamp down on what it called a “cam- She said government inaction indicat- minister is frequently picked before symbolic Pompeo who Wednesday said the Lebanese one of Hezbollah’s top donors, generating paign of terror targeting protesters.” ed acquiescence and in some cases com- parliamentary consultations. “Until now the were aware of the “risk” of Hezbollah being funds through his longstanding ties to the Protesters accuse pro-Iran armed fac- plicity in the “enforced disappearances, parliamentary blocs have not agreed on a in their country. Nasrallah suggested the ‘blood diamond’ trade,” it said. A second man tions of playing a role in the killings and torture and unlawful killings of people name” for the new premier, Nasrallah said. He United States might be “blackmailing” the based in the Democratic Republic of Congo, abductions. who are on the streets to claim their said it was likely each bloc would “name who Lebanese, and only offering to help in a time Saleh Assi, was sanctioned for laundering Sistani specifically mentioned an human rights.” The mostly young pro- it wanted without any prior agreements.” of economic crisis if they first dealt with that money through Ahmad’s diamond business attack late last Friday, when unidentified testers are angry at a government they The protesters have demanded a govern- “danger.” He alleged the United States had and supporting another alleged financier gunmen stormed and torched a multi- see as corrupt, inefficient and under the ment made up solely of experts not affiliated been unable to neutralize the movement already under sanctions. — AFP storey building in Baghdad where pro- sway of neighboring Iran. — AFP Established 1961 7 International Sunday, December 15, 2019 In face of US opposition, UN renews agency helping Palestinian refugees UN responsible to combat attacks on Palestinian refugees: PLO

UNITED NATIONS: The United Nations General Palestinian rights,” Hamas official Sami Abu Zuhri Assembly on Friday overwhelmingly renewed the told Reuters. mandate for a UN agency supporting Palestinian The US mission to the United Nations did not refugees for another three years amid misconduct immediately respond to a request for comment on allegations and a cash shortfall triggered by a halt in the vote. Last month UNRWA Commissioner- US funding. General Pierre Krahenbuhl resigned amid an investi- The mandate of the United Nations Relief and gation into misconduct allegations. Krahenbuhl has Works Agency for Palestine Refugees (UNRWA) was denied wrongdoing and said his agency was the vic- extended until June 30, 2023, with 169 votes in favor tim of a political campaign designed to undermine it. and nine abstentions, while the United States and Switzerland, the Netherlands and Belgium sus- Israel voted against. pended payments to UNRWA over the inquiry, deep- UNRWA, which was established in 1949, provides ening the budget crisis set off last year by the United education, health and relief services as well as hous- States. UNRWA hopes the management shake-up ing and microfinance assistance to more than 5 mil- will help pacify donors, said a source with knowl- lion registered refugees in the West Bank, Gaza Strip edge of the organization’s thinking. and East Jerusalem, as well as in Jordan, Lebanon The United States has advocated shifting the and Syria. agency’s relief services to refugee host countries. But The agency has faced budgetary difficulties since UNRWA counters it provides a humanitarian lifeline last year, when the United States - its biggest donor and that it safeguards and advances Palestinians’ - halted its aid of $360 million per year. The United rights under international law. States and Israel have both accused UNRWA of mis- Hanan Ashrawi, a senior Palestine Liberation management and anti-Israeli incitement. Organization official, praised the UN vote on Friday Hamas, which runs the Gaza Strip, hailed the UN and said it was the United Nations’ responsibility to vote as a defeat for the United States and a failure of combat what she called US and Israeli attacks on its attempts to pressure UN member-states against Palestinian refugees. “All attempts at trying to limit UNRWA. “We welcome the decision to renew the UNRWA’s mandate or defund it or attack it have failed, international mandate to UNRWA and we see it as and we hope that the international community will GAZA CITY: A Palestinian pupil looks at toys displayed by a street vendor in Al-Shati refugee camp in another failure to hostile US policies to the continue to come to the rescue,” she said. —AFP Gaza City yesterday. —AFP

The UN General Assembly voted on Friday to funding should be increased,” said Faruk Kaymakci, ‘We are nothing’ renew UNRWA’s mandate to provide education, Turkish official says EU a deputy Turkish minister of foreign affairs. “As long health and relief services to more than five million as the crisis is there we have to work together. The Palestinian refugees across the region. UNRWA should boost funding 6 billion euros will not solve the problem when it is without UNRWA’s argues its services are needed “in absence of a finally all spent,” Kaymakci told reporters in solution to the Palestine refugee problem.” of Syrian refugees Istanbul. help, says But Israel refuses the right of return Salameh The EU, which set up the funding in 2015, says and other refugees claim, fearing the country ISTANBUL: The European Union should spend more than 5.6 billion euros have been allocated, more than 3.5 billion contracted and more than 2.4 would lose its Jewish majority. Salameh admits his more than the 6 billion euros ($6.6 billion) already Palestinian refugee billion disbursed. Kaymakci said hosting the hopes for going back remain dim. “We don’t allotted to fund Syrian refugees in Turkey, and speed up the flow of that money, the Turkish foreign refugees costs Turkey some $40 billion in total. BETHLEHEM/GAZA: George Salameh’s family has believe there will be a right of return. It’s like an Europe’s relations with Turkey are strained on lived in the Palestinian city of Bethlehem for 70 anaesthetic, it takes the pain away, but it is not a ministry’s EU point person said yesterday. EU funds support the roughly 3.5 million Syrian several fronts including disagreement over a Turkish years. Still, he prefers his family be called “al- cure,” Salameh said. military incursion in October against a Kurdish mili- In the Gaza Strip, Zakeya Moussa says her refugees in Turkey, after Syria’s more than eight Yafawi”, meaning “of Jaffa”, an ode to the year war killed hundreds of thousands and pushed tia in northeast Syria. Turkey in late October threat- Mediterranean coastal town his family left in 1948 family once owned 16 acres (6.5 hectares) of ened to “open the gates” to allow refugees into land just north of the coastal enclave’s fortified millions from their homes. In turn, Turkey has and still considers home. Salameh, like many agreed to halt further immigration to Europe. “The Europe unless Europeans back its plan to resettle border with Israel. Moussa, 63, has spent her Palestinians whose families were made refugees flow of funds should be sped up and the amount of them in northeast Syria. —Reuters following the mid-20th century war that surround- entire life living in Palestinian refugee camps in ed Israel’s creation, views his presence in the the Strip, which Israel has kept under blockade Israeli-occupied West Bank city as temporary. since 2007 citing security concerns from its Other Palestinian refugees are scattered from Islamist rulers Hamas. the Gaza Strip to Lebanon, Jordan and Syria. Near Moussa’s home in Gaza’s Beach refugee Many still hold iron keys which they say belong camp on the shores of the Mediterranean, to homes they fled or were forced to flee amid Palestinians were unloading sacks of flour they what Palestinians call the “Nakba”, or catastro- receive from UNRWA, which provides aid to over phe, in 1948. half of the enclave’s two million residents. “UNR- Salameh, 59, now runs a falafel, ful and hummus WA gives us flour, plant oil, beans and milk, we restaurant, just off Bethlehem’s Manger Square. get treated for free, we get medication... We are The motto “since 1948” is emblazoned on the nothing without UNRWA,” Moussa said. restaurant’s menus and its waiters’ shirt sleeves. She says her family’s land had a house surround- He says his membership card from UNRWA - the ed by tracts of fruit and vegetable fields, all now UN’s agency for Palestinian refugees - guarantees north of the Strip’s Erez border crossing with Israel. his right under international law to return to his Under different circumstances, it would be just a family’s home in Jaffa, which now sits in central short walk away, she said. “If I started walking now, Israel, some 78 km (nearly 50 miles) away. I would be there in the afternoon.” —Reuters

In Greek migrant camp, women endure hardship

CHIOS: Mired in the mud, living under a plastic tar- paulin next to overflowing bins, 18-year-old Afghan Merziyeh Eskandari knows she faces another hard day in the migrant camp on the Greek island of Chios. The daily routine starts with standing in line for stinking toilets, getting two bottles of water and a portion of rice, and later sleeping in the cold without electricity. The Vial camp on Chios has places for 1,000 CHIOS: A syrian woman sits in her tent with her children in the people but nearly 5,000 are crammed in. Some of Vial refugee camp, on the Greek island of Chios, on December them, like Merziyeh, are camping in a nearby olive 10, 2019. —AFP grove. To keep warm or cook food, the migrants cut branches from the olive trees and make a fire in a the toilet during the night. She fears being raped. metal bucket. Amino Abduhahi Ahmat, a Somali at the Chios The smell of smoke, dirty water and refuse per- camp, told AFP that “at night we have to go to the meates the camp. The UN’s refugee agency and toilets three or four women together because we’re NGOs say a lack of hygiene is not the only prob- afraid of the drunken men”. lem in the camp. It can be a dangerous place — Doctors Without Borders (MSF) runs a support especially for women. “Insecurity, especially at program for migrants who are victims of sexual vio- night, is often mentioned by the women,” UNHCR lence, many of whom are women. Irini says. Papanastassiou, a Greek representative for MSF, said The makeshift camp is home to men of various some women have been victims of rape but it was not nationalities who have migrated alone. Human clear when or where the attacks had happened. Rights Watch recently sounded the alarm, calling Given the overcrowding and dire conditions at on the Greek government to “act immediately to the camp, the Greek government has promised to ensure safe and humane conditions for women and transfer some 20,000 people to the mainland by girls” in the migrant camps. the end of the year. But the influx of new arrivals The rights group urged the authorities to “iden- “has been greater than the number transferred, and tify the vulnerable people, including pregnant the conditions in the camp remain extremely diffi- women and young mothers, victims of sexual vio- cult”, Lida Lakka with UNHCR at Chios told AFP. lence and other violent acts”, as well as the dis- Still, Merziyeh says, despite the hardship in the abled, and offer them appropriate lodging. camp, “of course it’s better here than in Afghanistan”. Fears for safety To escape the war-torn country, she left behind “The simple act of going to the toilets seems too a husband as she took to the road with her parents risky for women and girls,” says Human Rights and two younger sisters. It took them nearly a year, Watch’s Hillary Margolis in a report on conditions including a month in a Turkish prison and six or for women in the Moira camp on Lesbos island. seven attempts to cross from Turkey’s coast to Zubaida, an Afghan woman living at Moria, told the Chios island. “I didn’t have a good life in rights group how she stopped drinking tea at six Afghanistan and I don’t miss it,” she said. “I want a o’clock each evening so she would not have to go to job and education. I want to be a doctor.” —AFP 8 International Sunday, December 15, 2019 Victorious Johnson urges UK to move past Brexit divide ‘Labour collapse’ after losing 59 seats to end up with 203

LONDON: Prime Minister Boris Johnson called on Britons decisive result. “At least it’s clear,” said lawyer Gordon to put years of bitter divisions over the country’s EU mem- Hockey in London. “It’s not necessarily what I wanted but bership behind them as he vowed to use his resounding at least we know where we stand and Brexit will happen in election victory to finally deliver Brexit next month. some form or other.” Johnson’s ruling Conservatives won their best result for three decades on Thursday night after promising to get Trump cheers ‘great WIN’ Britain out of the European Union on January 31, a new Parliament will reconvene on Tuesday and Johnson is deadline set by Brussels. The snap general election turned expected to publish legislation before Christmas needed to into a re-run of the original 2016 EU membership referen- ratify the Brexit deal he agreed with Brussels in October. dum, whose outcome paralysed Britain’s leaders and cre- This should be passed by January but Britain and the EU ated divisions across society. still need to thrash out a new trade and security agreement But in a victory speech in Downing Street on Friday, the — a process that officials have warned could take years. former London mayor struck a magnanimous tone, vowing At an EU summit in Brussels on Friday, the bloc’s lead- to listen to those who opposed Brexit and lead an inclusive ers expressed relief at the clear result and said they would government. “I urge everyone to find closure and to let the work for a swift trade deal. But they warned that any new healing begin,” he said hours after visiting Queen Elizabeth arrangement must uphold European values and norms. II to be reappointed prime minister. German Chancellor Angela Merkel said Britain would Johnson staked his political career on the election, be an economic “competitor at our door” after Brexit. The which created the possibility of the pro-EU opposition result of Britain’s third election in almost five years signals coming to power and calling a new Brexit referendum that a personal victory for Johnson, who remains a polarizing could undo the results of the first. The gambit paid off figure. spectacularly, with his Tories securing 365 seats in the US President Donald Trump tweeted his congratula- 650-seat House of Commons — their biggest majority tions on a “great WIN!” and said London and Washington since the 1980s heyday of Margaret Thatcher. would be able to strike a “massive new trade deal.” He also It also devastated the main opposition Labour party, told reporters on Friday that Johnson’s victory bodes well which suffered its worst result since 1935. Labour’s social- for his own fortunes in next year’s US election. “I want to SEDGEFIELD: Britain’s Prime Minister Boris Johnson has a selfie photograph taken with a supporter dur- ist leader Jeremy Corbyn said he would step down after a congratulate Boris Johnson on a terrific victory. I think that ing a visit to see newly elected Conservative party MP for Sedgefield, Paul Howell at Sedgefield Cricket period of “reflection” within the century-old party. The might be a harbinger of what’s to come in our country. It Club in County Durham, north east England yesterday, following his Conservative party’s general elec- anti-Brexit Liberal Democrats also had a dismal night, was last time,” Trump said. tion victory. —AFP falling to just 11 seats and losing their leader, Jo Swinson. Johnson has promised new free-trade deals with the EU and the United States, and after Thursday’s victory, now radical programme of economic change, including re- Scotland eyes exit Honor the mandate has the political capital at home to press ahead. The US nationalizing some key industries, which failed to woo tra- After winning 48 of 59 seats in Scotland, SNP leader London stocks and the British pound jumped on hopes State Department said Friday it was “committed” to reach- ditional voters. Nicola Sturgeon stepped up the pressure for a new ref- of an end to years of uncertainty, which has hurt invest- ing a comprehensive trade deal with its historically “once it Speaking early Friday, Corbyn defended his “manifesto erendum on independence. “The stunning election win ment and economic growth. Johnson said his party had an formally withdraws from the European Union.” of hope” and maintained his policies were “extremely pop- from last night for the SNP renews, reinforces and “overwhelming mandate from this election to get Brexit ular” during the campaign. But Corbyn has been dogged strengthens the mandate we have from previous elec- done”. He promised to then focus on other public priori- Labour collapse by accusations of sympathizing with proscribed terror tions to offer the people of Scotland a choice over their ties, notably by increasing investment in healthcare, Labour’s support collapsed on Thursday, with the groups and failing to tackle anti-Semitism within the future,” she said. schools and infrastructure. “The work is now stepped up Tories taking many former strongholds in northern Labour party. The first Scotland independence referendum failed in to make 2020 a year of prosperity and growth and hope,” England and Wales that voted to leave the EU. The party After Labour’s fourth successive electoral defeat — 2014, when 55 percent voted in favor of preserving its he concluded, to cheers from aides and activists outside lost 59 seats to end up with 203, after what Corbyn admit- and the second under Corbyn — the party’s ruling execu- membership in the United Kingdom. But Scotland opposed Number 10. ted had been a “very disappointing night.” tive body will meet in January to consider the next steps. Britain’s withdrawal from the European Union in the 2016. Anti-Brexit campaign groups expressed dismay at the Corbyn had promised a second referendum on Brexit in Dozens of protesters marched through London on Friday Sturgeon said Thursday’s outcome gave Johnson a mandate result, which spells the end of attempts to keep Britain in a bid to appeal to half of British voters who still want to evening and two arrests were made in relation to scuffles to take England out of the European Union, but not the European Union, although many voters welcomed a stay in the EU. But he had focused Labour’s campaign on a during the demonstration, police said. Scotland. —AFP

House of Commons into a majority and speaking on Oct. 29, the day the House of a Conservative Party leadership contest News in brief How Johnson’s move his government’s agenda forward. Commons approved an early election. triggered by the resignation of former Notably, that includes Britain - the world’s “The themes are people versus parlia- Prime Minister Theresa May. She had Boy, 13, arrested election gamble fifth largest economy - exiting the ment, let’s get Brexit done and move on, failed to win backing by parliament for a in student’s death European Union by the end of January, and a very merry Brexit to everyone.” Brexit divorce agreement she had negoti- which would mark the country’s most sig- Exit polls Thursday evening suggesting ated with the EU. NEW YORK: New York City police arrested a paid off nificant trade and foreign policy move a major victory for Johnson caught some The new prime minister and his team since World War Two. in the Conservative camp off guard. “I was concluded early on that the only way to 13-year-old boy in connection with the murder of The five-week campaign also saw stunned,” said one member of Johnson’s change the arithmetic in the House of a college student in a Manhattan park, local LONDON: It was a straight forward mes- sage: “Get Brexit done.” The mantra of Johnson facing questions about his per- campaign team, who described the sense Commons was to force a new election. But media reported on Friday, rattling a city in which British Prime Minister Boris Johnson and sonal trustworthiness after his repeated of relief that the campaign strategy to he needed a united front - no easy feat for crime rates have plunged in recent years. Tessa his Conservative Party during the national failed promises during the year to deliver keep on message had worked. a party where the issue of Europe has Majors, 18, was stabbed multiple times with a election campaign was aimed at harness- Brexit by the end of October “do or die.” As the results of the election rolled in caused infighting and played a role in the knife on Wednesday evening during a robbery ing voter frustration at a parliamentary He faced allegations of failing to disclose early Friday, it became clear that the downfall of the previous four Conservative while walking through Harlem’s Morningside Park logjam over Britain’s exit from the close personal ties with a U.S. business- Conservatives had succeeded in scooping prime ministers. near her school, Barnard College, according to European Union. It worked. woman who had received thousands of up seats in districts that had voted Labour During his first weeks in office he over- the New York Police Department. Police believe Beyond the traditional strategy of pounds in public business funding while for generations, including places like saw one of the biggest purges of cabinet there were up to three attackers. Majors was able swaying voters in swing districts held by he had been mayor. Jennifer Arcuri pub- Bishop Auckland and Sedgefield, the seat ministers in modern British history and to stagger out of the park to seek help at a near- the main opposition Labour Party, Johnson licly said during the campaign she had held by former Labour Prime Minister expelled from his party 21 Conservative by school security booth, and was declared dead wanted to strike directly at Labour’s heart- had “a very special relationship” with Tony Blair. However, Johnson’s party had lawmakers who had voted against the at a hospital. She was completing her first semes- lands in the hopes of winning support from Johnson, who has denied any impropri- lost seats in some more pro-EU con- prime minister on Brexit, including the ter at the women-only college after leaving her people who had never voted Conservative ety. A government audit report ruled that stituencies, such as Putney in London. grandson of Winston Churchill. “We home in Charlottesville, Virginia, to move to the but for whom Brexit had come to trump a ministerial department’s decision to “This election means that getting Brexit weren’t bluffing, and they were wilfully city. Morningside Park has long had a reputation even traditional party allegiances. award a 100,000 pound ($128,000) done is now the irrefutable, irresistible, ignorant if they thought differently,” said a for being unsafe and the site of numerous crimes, The Conservatives secured a com- grant to a company run by Arcuri was unarguable decision of the British people,” senior prime ministerial aide at the time, including murders. —Reuters manding victory, winning 365 of the 650 appropriate. said an ebullient Johnson on Friday morn- referring to a message from Johnson to seats in the House of Commons - the par- The plan early in the campaign was to ing. He also addressed those who had vot- lawmakers that he expected loyalty. ty’s largest majority since under Margaret target around 40 traditionally Labour ed Conservative for the first time by say- The election campaign officially started Arizona girl body found Thatcher in the 1980s. The result handed supporting seats in northern and central ing “you may only have lent us your vote” in early November and Johnson sought to Johnson his first national election victory England, a party source close to the cam- and “you may intend to return to Labour convince voters that his party was the paign said. Johnson launched the next time round.” He added: “I and we will only one which could break the impasse PHOENIX: Arizona searchers on Friday recov- but also delivered a dramatic blow to his main competitor, opposition leader Jeremy Conservative campaign battle bus in never take your support for granted.” among politicians in Westminster to ered what was believed to be the body of a miss- Corbyn, whose Labour Party suffered a Middleton in northwest England, in a dis- enable the country to move forward. ing six-year-old girl at a lake northeast of crushing defeat with just over 200 seats. trict with a slim Labour majority but Core message The campaign focused heavily on core Phoenix, the third child to have died when her For 55-year old Johnson, who only which saw 62% of voters back Brexit in His often-ruffled appearance, including Brexit-related messages and was relative- family’s vehicle attempted to cross a rain-swollen entered Downing Street this summer after 2016. a distinctive mop of blonde hair, marks a ly light on policy detail, several members creek, authorities said. Sheriff’s deputies said they his Conservative predecessor resigned, “The strategy is to woo Brexit Party contrast to the discipline and ruthlessness of his campaign team said. “The whole believe they have found Willa Rawlings several calling an election had been a high-stakes supporters of all colors and to specifically he displayed to get to this point. Johnson - point of this campaign was to keep it tight miles from where the family’s military-style truck gamble. But he also considered it a neces- court Labour leave voters especially in the full name is Alexander Boris de Pfeffel and focused,” said one of his team. “It’s all was recovered roughly two weeks ago, a state- sity to convert his party’s minority in the North and Midlands,” said the source, Johnson - took office in July after winning about the messaging.” —Reuters ment from the Gila County Sheriff’s Office said. The family was notified. Law enforcement officials and volunteers had been combing the area by Constitutional change? A lost voice foot since Nov 29, when the truck entered the Election raises Northern Ireland voted by 56 percent to remain in the Thursday’s results stripped Northern Ireland’s creek near a crossing that had been deemed European Union in 2016. Since then, it has become central Democratic Unionist Party of its “kingmaker” role in the impassable and was blocked off by authorities. to a Brexit deal with Brussels. Unease spread about the British parliament — the outcome many analysts believe Some two inches of rain had fallen in the area hopes, fears in prospect of a no-deal Brexit and the re-emergence of a Johnson sought. It had propped up the government of during a powerful winter storm. —Reuters hard border with EU neighbor Ireland to the south. Johnson’s predecessor, Theresa May, after she failed to Northern Ireland Border checks are associated with three decades of secure a majority in the 2017 election. sectarian violence over British rule of Northern Ireland that Some have welcomed the DUP’s loss of influence: as Greta: ‘I need a break’ left some 3,500 people dead. The potential removal of an hardline pro-Brexit unionists and conservatives, the DUP BELFAST: Prime Minister Boris Johnson’s crushing election open border — a plank of the 1998 agreement that ended represented just a 36 percent vote share of the region in victory gives Britain a chance to move past years of grid- TURIN: Tireless teenage activist Greta “The Troubles” — has been seen as an unwelcome return that vote. “They wielded power for themselves, not for the lock over Brexit — especially in Northern Ireland, where to the past. greater good of Northern Ireland,” said McKeever in St Thunberg has been crisscrossing the globe by social and political divides run deep. “We’re leaving limbo,” car, train and boat - but not plane - to demand It also reopened the issue of Northern Ireland’s place in George’s Market. Now a greater spread of parties has been said Orlaith McKeever, preparing food for the lunchtime the United Kingdom with England, Scotland and Wales, elected from Northern Ireland this time, although with an action on climate change. But now even she rush at St. George’s Market in Belfast, a redbrick rabbits’ needs a rest. Fresh from being named Time mag- and the potential of a united Ireland. For the first time, the 80-strong majority, Johnson will not need their votes. That warren of stalls and kiosks. election returned more Irish republican than British union- likely leaves the province with a less central role in the com- azine’s Person of the Year, the 16-year-old Brexit-voting music trader Lawrence John, 69, also ist lawmakers to the UK House of Commons. ing government, although Pow suggested they may have an Swede joined thousands of students in the north reflected relief that the stalled process of extricating The largest republican party Sinn Fein even took the opportunity to play a key role forging relations with the EU. Italian city of Turin on Friday for a protest to Britain from the European Union after nearly five decades seat of North Belfast from unionist hands for the first time pressure the government to take more action to was finally moving ahead. “Like many, many people I’m sick since it was drawn up in 1885. Sinn Fein leader Mary Lou A kickstart curb carbon emissions. Thunberg, who refuses of all this Brexit stuff. Three-and-a-half years ago there McDonald called it a “historic moment”. “The discussion On a wider scale, the DUP’s loss of influence in London to fly, travelled to Turin by train and car from was a referendum to decide whether we were going to around constitutional change is now underway,” she told could help kickstart talks for the resumption of the Madrid after attending a UN climate summit in leave,” he told AFP. Irish broadcaster RTE Friday. devolved legislative assembly in Stormont, Belfast. The the Spanish capital. She arrived in Europe only a “We’re just finally getting news that it can actually hap- “It’s safe to say that Irish unity will be firmly on the assembly has not functioned since January 2017 after the few days earlier aboard a catamaran after pen after all this time,” he said after Johnson’s agenda in a way that it has never been before,” Queen’s power-sharing executive between the DUP and Sinn Fein spending months campaigning in the United Conservatives won their biggest majority since the heyday University Belfast politics lecturer Jamie Pow told AFP. collapsed over a mismanaged heating scheme. States. Now she needs a little downtime. “I will of Margaret Thatcher in the 1980s. Thursday’s snap general But he said the combined republican vote share from With the DUP no longer allied with the Conservatives, be home for Christmas and then I will take a hol- became a re-run of the 2016 EU membership referendum Thursday “still amounts to a minority.” Those describing there are hopes negotiations due to start tomorrow will be iday break because you need to take rest,” she in which Johnson championed the Brexit cause. The prime themselves as neither republican nor unionist will be key given a boost. “The new arithmetic at Westminster will give told reporters in Turin. “Otherwise you cannot minister ran this campaign on the promise to “get Brexit in any vote. They would likely be swayed by changes in the DUP much greater incentive to reach a deal with Sinn done” — a simple but effective message with profound do this all the time.” —Reuters economic or political circumstance, including those Brexit Fein,” said Pow. “If it wants to remain relevant, it will need implications for Britain’s most politically volatile region. is forecast to bring. to show voters that it can deliver.” —AFP 9 International Sunday, December 15, 2019 Divers search for remaining bodies from New Zealand volcanic eruption Death toll rises to 17; minute’s silence to be observed tomorrow

WELLINGTON: Divers searched seas around New tary helicopters under threat of another blast. The Zealand’s volatile White Island yesterday for two peo- recovery had been on hold for days as poisonous ple still missing five days after the volcano erupted, as gases continued billowing from the volcanic vent the death toll rose to 17. Police deputy commissioner and the island remained blanketed in a thick layer of John Tims said the divers faced “unique and challeng- acidic ash. ing conditions” as they searched waters “with The coroner in New Zealand is working through a between zero and two meters visibility”. “robust” process to identify the bodies, authorities They were focusing on an area where a body was said. Most of the people on the island were tourists seen floating in the water earlier in the week. Prime from Australia, the United States, Britain, China, Minister Jacinda Ardern, meanwhile, has called for a Germany, Malaysia and New Zealand who were on a minute’s silence to be observed at 2.11pm (0111 GMT) day trip to see the natural wonder. on Monday in honor of the victims of the eruption. The survivors’ injuries are so severe New Zealand “Together we can express our sorrow for those doctors initially estimated they would need to import who have died and been hurt, and our support for 1.2 million square centimeters (185,000 square inches) their grieving families and friends,” Ardern said, with of skin for grafts. New Zealand police on Saturday the minute’s silence to start exactly one week after the officially identified the first victim as 21-year-old eruption began. Australian woman Krystal Browitt. Of the 47 people on the island at the time of the Browitt was on a family holiday to celebrate her eruption, the number killed rose to 17 with another birthday in New Zealand when she joined her older fatality confirmed yesterday, police said, without sister Stephanie and father Paul on a visit to the island. releasing details of name, age or nationality. Another Her mother Marie stayed behind on the boat, and has 27 remain in hospitals in New Zealand and Australia since been by the bedside of her daughter and hus- with 20 listed as being in a “critical” condition. band who were both originally in a coma in a hospital Scientists monitoring the island said the likelihood burns unit following the eruption, according to a of another eruption over the weekend was decreasing GoFundMe page set up for the family. but the risk remained. “Their new calculation was that “It has been quite difficult,” a friend of the Browitt there is a 35-50 per percent chance of an eruption daughters, Tahlia West said. West remembered occurring,” Natalia Deligne, a volcanic hazard and risk Krystal as “just a beautiful girl, very caring, very gen- modeller, said. tle.” All 13 Australians hospitalized have been repatri- WHAKATANE: This handout photo taken and released on December 13, 2019 by the New Zealand Defense Force shows elite soldiers taking part in a mission to retrieve bodies from White Island after the The remains of six people were retrieved Friday ated. The current condition of Stephanie and Paul is December 9 volcanic eruption, off the coast from Whakatane on the North Island. —AFP in a daring operation by elite soldiers with two mili- unknown. —AFP

that drove more than 730,000 Supporters Rohingya Muslims from Myanmar. It has asked the International Court of throng streets Justice to order “provisional measures” to prevent more harm. North Korea conducts as Myanmar leader Suu Kyi led a team to the Netherlands for three days of hearings, during which ‘crucial test’ at Sohae she denied genocide and argued the Suu Kyi returns U.N. court should not have jurisdiction. launch site: KCNA “Myanmar requests the court to NAYPYITAW: Thousands of supporters remove the case from its list,” Suu Kyi SEOUL: North Korea has conducted another “cru- of Myanmar leader Aung San Suu Kyi said on the final day of hearings on cial test” at its Sohae satellite launch site, state thronged the streets of the capital media reported yesterday, as nuclear negotiations Naypyitaw yesterday to celebrate her Thursday. “In the alternative (the court between Pyongyang and Washington remain stalled arrival back from The Hague, where she should) reject the request for provisional with a deadline approaching. The announcement defended the country against genocide measures submitted by the Gambia.” The comes a day before US Special Envoy on North charges. Nobel Peace Prize laureate’s surprise Korea Stephen Biegun is set to arrive in Seoul for a The Nobel laureate waved as her decision to attend the hearings in person three-day visit, and after the United States tested a black car drove slowly past crowds who has dealt a further blow to her tarnished medium-range ballistic missile over the Pacific waved flags, held up pictures of her face international reputation. Ocean on Thursday. and shouted jubilant greetings. Suu Kyi was long feted in the West as “Another crucial test was successfully conducted “Mother Suu went to the court on a champion of human rights and democ- NAYPYIDAW: Myanmar’s State Counselor Aung San Suu Kyi waves to supporters at the Sohae Satellite Launching Ground from 22:41 behalf of the country,” local farmer Khin racy, and was a high-profile political upon arriving back in Naypyidaw yesterday. —AFP to 22:48 on December 13,” a spokesman for the Maung Shwe told Reuters. “Actually the prisoner during 15 years of house arrest North’s National Academy of Defense Science said accusation was against the army. But she for her opposition to Myanmar’s then in a statement carried by the official KCNA news took the first step of responsibility as a ruling military junta. from former celebrity supporters and many. The proceedings in the Hague agency. The “research successes” will be “applied to leader of the nation.” But her stance on the Rohingya issue other organizations. have galvanized supporters, who have further bolstering up the reliable strategic nuclear Gambia has accused Myanmar of has seen her stripped of many awards, At home however, Suu Kyi, the staged rallies across the country deterrent” of North Korea, the spokesman added. violating the 1948 Genocide calls for the Nobel committee to revoke daughter of Myanmar’s founding chanting “Stand with Suu Kyi” and The statement did not provide further details on the Convention over a military campaign her peace prize and strong criticism father Aung San, is still revered by waving flags. —Reuters test. Sohae, on North Korea’s northwest coast, is ostensibly a facility designed for putting satellites “Today we stand together and we into orbit. But Pyongyang has carried out several Thousands rally want to tell them that we are not rocket launches there that were condemned by the afraid,” he yelled to people chanting US and others as disguised long-range ballistic mis- behind Thai “long live democracy.” Police told AFP sile tests. The North is banned from firing ballistic yesterday that roughly 150 “unarmed” missiles under UN Security Council resolutions, and anti-establishment officers would be deployed to rocket engines can be easily repurposed for use in Bangkok’s tourist-friendly downtown missiles. Frustrated by the lack of sanctions relief frontman shopping district for the rally. after three summits with President Donald Trump, “I don’t think we have a real democ- North Korea has vowed an ominous “Christmas racy,” said 27-year-old Nithiwadee, who gift” if the US does not come up with concessions BANGKOK: Thousands rallied in held a sign calling for the constitution to by the end of the year. Bangkok behind the popular leader of an be amended. “This party has the bravery Some analysts have suggested the North may be upstart anti-establishment party yester- to say what others do not,” she added. referring to an intercontinental ballistic missile day, in the first major protest since Under junta rule which followed a coup (ICBM). Earlier this month the North announced it March elections returned a junta-aligned in 2014 there have been no massive ral- conducted what it called a “very important test” at government to power. lies, and March’s elections — governed the same site in Sohae. “It’s very likely that the Protesters held signs calling for under a military-scripted constitution — North is going to fire something on Christmas day, democracy and flashed a three-finger reinstated former junta chief Prayut and they may call it a rocket system when it actual- salute, a rallying symbol used by the Chan-O-Cha as prime minister. ly is an ICBM,” Ahn Chan-il, a North Korean defec- Future Forward Party that got more than Future Forward’s popularity has rat- tor and researcher in Seoul, told AFP. “The tests at six million votes in the election, thanks to tled the military and its allies, and its Sohae can be seen as a form of preparation for the mostly young Thais weary of the mili- executives have been battered by legal BANGKOK: Thai politician and leader of the opposition Future Forward Party launch — whatever it will be — on December 25.” tary’s role in politics. woes since the election. The latest Thanathorn Juangroongruangkit arrives at a rally in Bangkok yesterday. —AFP The party’s popular billionaire leader threatens the party with dissolution over End-of-year deadline Thanathorn Juangroongruangkit called alleged illegal loans from Thanathorn — North Korean leader Kim Jong Un had agreed to for those who could “no longer tolerate a case submitted Friday to a court that since 2006, with street protests devolv- Thailand’s courts have played a central shutter the Sohae site during a summit last year the current social conditions” to come stripped his MP status last month. ing into blood-soaked disorder. role in taking out political threats to the with South Korean President Moon Jae-in in out in a flash mob demonstration. “We The 41-year-old leader has repeated- In 2010, the military — led by then- establishment and no civilian govern- Pyongyang as part of trust-building measures. Kim want to show the power of the people ly said the cases against him and FFP are army chief Prayut — opened fire on ment has completed its term since has also held three meetings with US President who will not surrender,” he shouted in a politically motivated. Thailand’s political protesters gathered in downtown 2006. The country has seen more than a Donald Trump since June 2018. megaphone to gathered supporters. scene has been dominated by violence Bangkok, killing more than 90. dozen coups since 1932. —AFP But his nuclear negotiations with Washington have been deadlocked since a summit in Hanoi broke up in February, and Pyongyang has issued a Three dead in Drought displaces series of increasingly assertive comments in recent weeks as its time limit approaches. The North this week criticised Washington as Nepal bomb blast thousands of “foolish” for convening a UN Security Council meeting over growing concern about short-range KATHMANDU: Three people, including a police offi- rockets fired from the isolated state. By arranging cial, were killed when a bomb exploded in southern Ethiopians the meeting, Washington “decisively helped us Nepal yesterday. The device detonated outside a local LONDON: Hundreds of thousands of Ethiopians are living make a definite decision on what way to choose,” residence after the owner called the police to report a North Korea’s foreign ministry spokesman said. suspicious object on his premises in Dhanusha district. in camps up to four years after being displaced by drought, researchers said on Friday, warning climate change could Last week, the North’s vice foreign minister “The blast occurred just as our team reached there warned of returning to a war of words with the US, to investigate. The owner, his son and a member of our exacerbate the problem. Ethiopia is home to millions of pastoralists who are particularly vulnerable to climate threatening to resume referring to Trump as a force were killed,” senior police official Pradhumna “dotard” — Pyongyang’s nickname for the US Karki said. Karki said that two more members of the change as they depend on their livestock to survive. A new study by the Internal Displacement leader at the height of tensions in 2017. family and another police officer were also injured and Monitoring Centre (IDMC), which compiles global data, The comments came a day after it warned that if are undergoing treatment. found pastoralists in the Somali region of southeast the US used military force against the North it “We are investigating the case, no one has claimed Ethiopia lost up to 80 percent of their cattle in a 2015- would take “prompt corresponding actions at any its responsibility yet,” he said. Nepal has enjoyed rela- 2017 drought. It said 425,000 were still displaced, level.” Back in 2017 North Korea announced it suc- tive peace since the end of a decade-long civil war many living in camps. “The most important problem cessfully tested an ICBM capable of reaching which concluded with a peace deal struck in 2006. In that they (pastoralists) are facing is that the droughts in Alaska. At the recent NATO summit, Trump boast- May, four people were killed and seven injured in three the last years are more intense and more frequent,” the ed about Washington’s “most powerful military”, blasts in the capital Kathmandu, as members of an out- JANAKPUR DHAM: Local people look at the site of a bomb report’s author Pablo Ferrandez told the Thomson adding: “Hopefully, we don’t have to use it, but if we lawed Maoist faction made a botched attempt to plant blast in Mahendra Nagar, Janakpur, some 300 km southeast Reuters Foundation. The researchers interviewed 219 do, we’ll use it. If we have to, we’ll do it.” —AFP of Kathmandu yesterday. —AFP bombs around the city. —AFP people in July 2019 for the study. —Reuters 10

Sunday, December 15, 2019 Analysis

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5 years of thirst: South Africa’s Eastern Cape battles brutal drought outh African farmer Steve Bothma heaved a sigh of relief when the weatherman finally pre- Sdicted rain. His excitement was short-lived. Just a few days later, the forecast changed. It was back to cloudless sunshine. In South Africa’s Eastern Cape province, no one can remember the last proper downpour. Some say it was five years ago, others six. “This is a disaster,” said Bothma, 51, who in his Britain’s Prime Minister Boris Johnson delivers a speech outside 10 Downing Street in central London, following his Conservative party’s general election victory. — AFP three decades working the land has never seen such dry weather. “Older people who are 70 or 80 years old would tell you exactly the same thing,” he added. Southern Africa is grappling with one of the worst droughts in decades-the outcome of years of absent or erratic rainfall, and temperatures that have How the world is reacting to Johnson’s win reached record highs. Millions are facing hunger due to poor harvests and dwindling livestock. “It is usual- ritish Prime Minister Boris Johnson’s resounding that may also encourage us to be quicker in our deci- large over this campaign, and the British public over- ly beautifully green at this time of the year,” said election victory was largely welcomed by gov- sions,” she said at the same summit. Earlier Merkel whelmingly voted against it in what is, in our opinion, a Bothma, as a hot gust of wind swept through his ernments around the world on Friday, with hopes had issued congratulations to Johnson and said: “I testament to British history and values.” He was refer- sheep pen. B it will put an end to years of Brexit deadlock. But EU look forward to our further cooperation towards the ring to allegations dogging opposition Labor leader “But now even the pine trees are dying.” South leaders warned of the challenges ahead in securing a friendship and close partnership of our countries.” Jeremy Corbyn that he turned a blind eye to growing Africa is one of the world’s driest countries at the trade deal with the bloc after it leaves on January 31, The EU’s Internal Market Commissioner Thierry anti-Semitism in his party. “It serves as an important best of times. Rapid urbanisation and growing water and said they did not want an “unfair” competitor on Breton said the two sides now had to rebuild “bal- milestone in the fight against hatred.” consumption have placed a strain on water reserves their doorstep. Here are some of the initial reactions: anced” relations. Britain, he said, was a very impor- and caused the coastal city of Cape Town to almost tant trade partner for the EU, “but we are by far the ‘Looking forward to stability’ run dry in 2018. But the ongoing drought has com- ‘Massive’ trade deal with US biggest trading partner for Britain”. “Congratulations @BorisJohnson on a resounding pounded the situation. Dam levels dropped danger- “Congratulations to Boris Johnson on his great victory and being returned as UK PM,” tweeted ously low in October, prompting President Cyril WIN!” US President Donald Trump tweeted. “Britain ‘Constructive dialogue’ Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison. “Looking Ramaphosa to call for “drastic measures”. South Africa is in “a dire situation”, said Ramaphosa in and the United States will now be free to strike a mas- “I am sure that the development of constructive dia- forward to the stability this brings and a new deal for October, highlighting that five out of nine provinces sive new Trade Deal after BREXIT. This deal has the logue and cooperation in various spheres would be Oz with the UK. Say g’day to the quiet Britons for us.” were badly hit. potential to be far bigger and more lucrative than any fully in the interests of our countries’ peoples and the deal that could be made with the E.U. Celebrate Boris!” entire European continent,” Russian President Vladimir ‘Closest possible cooperation’ To the slaughterhouse Putin said. His spokesman had said earlier that the “The political situation in Great Britain has become Bothma has had to cull around 60 percent of his ‘Competitor at our door’ Kremlin was not sure the Conservative victory would clearer. Unfortunately, from a Polish point of view, merino sheep, including lambs. Because of the “My hope is that the United Kingdom remains an bring “good relations” with Russia, which have been Brexit will take place soon, but there is something drought, he could only afford to keep 2,000 as ally, a friend and an extremely close partner. The con- strained in recent years. “I don’t know to what extent good in what has happened,” said Polish Prime “breeding stock”. “Usually I keep them until they are dition is to define the rules of a fair relationship,” such expectations are appropriate in the case of the Minister Mateusz Morawiecki. “We can expect a sta- five or six years old,” Bothma explained, as his staff French President Emmanuel Macron said after an EU Conservatives,” Dmitry Peskov told journalists. ble political situation in Great Britain and an early start selected animals for the next trip to the slaughter- summit, amid fears London will seek to lower taxes to negotiations that will clarify a mechanism for the house. and regulations after Brexit. “We do not want Britain ‘Milestone in fight against hatred’ closest possible cooperation between Great Britain The price he gets for his merino wool has plunged to be an unfair competitor.” “This is not just a political victory, it is first and and the European Union and between Great Britain by around 40 percent over the past year due to the German Chancellor Angela Merkel issued a similar foremost a victory of values,” Israeli Foreign Minister and Poland, cooperation in the fields of trade... defense drought and a foot-and-mouth disease outbreak in warning. “There will be a competitor at our door... Israel Katz said. “The spectre of anti-Semitism loomed and of course politics. — - AFP the north of the country. “The wool is full of dust and not very strong,” said Bothma. Years of dry weather have left scars in the landscape. Arid fields flanked the windy gravel road leading to the nearest town of Washington Watch Adelaide, tucked at the bottom of a mountain range. Corbyn: Shattered Cows chewed pieces of wood and sheep ambled in search of food. In town, livestock roamed the streets Overlooked congressional rebuke of dreams of global and nibbled at scorched grass on the golf course. The nearest dam dried up at the start of the year. Trump position on Israeli settlements far-left revolution ‘Can’t wash’ eremy Corbyn had hoped to become the vanguard of a Some of Adelaide’s 15,000 inhabitants had been Dr James J Zogby Israel has also used pressure from their Washington global socialist movement but will step down in humili- without running water for seven months. A South President Arab American Institute lobbyists to insure that not only would Congress refrain ation after overseeing his party’s worst election defeat from taking any measure against Israel, they would also J African aid group, Gift of the Givers, has been help- since 1935. To his supporters, the 70-year-old offered a ing by delivering water to the area since April. On a resident Arab American Institute the most stun- avoid using the term “occupied” in reference to chance to deliver a radical leftist agenda, shaking up the recent water mission, hundreds of people in the ning rebuke to the Trump Administration’s unilat- Palestinian lands. [In 2016, I served as one of Bernie economy and reversing a decade of Conservative public township of Bezuidenhoutville rushed up with an Peral effort to legitimize Israeli settlements didn’t Sanders’ representatives on the Democratic Party’s spending cuts. His vision attracted droves of young sup- array of empty bottles, buckets, iceboxes and even come from Arab and European leaders. Over the years, platform drafting committee. Our efforts to insert the porters, celebrity backing and the endorsement of other fig- paint cans. “We are keeping it for food and drink,” their statements of condemnation have become so pre- words “occupation” and “settlements” were met with ures of the global socialist movement, with high-profile US said Rodney Douglas, 59, pushing a wheelbarrow dictable that both Israel and the US routinely shrug stiff resistance. We ultimately failed in our efforts.] congresswoman Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez sending a sup- piled high with plastic jerrycans. them off. Instead, the most significant response came in In recent years we have witnessed some evolution in portive tweet on polling day. Assanda Sais, 38, complained that she could only the form of a letter sent by Members of Congress to the policy debate over the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. But the wider public failed to warm to him, a situation spare enough water to bathe once a week and that Secretary of State Mike Pompeo. Three of the leading Democratic candidates for the made worse by his refusal to take a position on Brexit and her house was “smelling”. “We keep dirty water to Drafted by freshman Congressman Andy Levin of presidency have criticized Israeli settlements, accusations of anti-Semitism and sympathizing with terror- flush,” she explained. Bezuidenhoutville’s local middle Michigan, the letter was co-signed by 106 other denounced Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin ists. With two seats left to declare, Prime Minister Boris school has had to shorten its week by half a day due Representatives. While it’s true that the Levin letter isn’t Netanyahu’s declared intention to annex parts of the Johnson’s Conservatives inflicted Labor’s worst loss since to the lack of water. Many children were missing a law and, therefore, will have no real impact on policy, West Bank. These Democrats also link future US aid to 1935. One of the first results emphasized Labor’s woes, with class altogether. “Kids have to help parents to carry there are several reasons why it is worthy of note. Most Israel to Israeli policies toward the Palestinians. And last the former safe seat of Blyth Valley in a one-time mining water,” said teacher Zeenat Gangat, sweltering as the important is fact that the letter strongly endorses the week, the House of Representatives passed a bill, that area in northeastern England voting Tory for the first time sun beat down on the container walls of a classroom. applicability of the Fourth Geneva Convention to among other things, did support Palestinian statehood in its history. As he announced he was stepping down as leader, “They can’t wash,” she added. “They complain about Israel’s occupation of Palestinian lands. and strongly opposed Israeli annexation of any part of Corbyn defended his “manifesto of hope” and maintained stomach issues.” The third and final paragraph of the letter to the West Bank. Secretary Pompeo reads: “This State Department deci- his proposals were “extremely popular” during the cam- But none of these efforts have gone as far as the paign. But his message was eclipsed by Brexit. Critics from Poor infrastructure sion blatantly disregards Article 49 of the Fourth Local authorities have tried to ease the situation Levin letter which in an unprecedented manner holds the centre of Labor rounded on the leader, while the hash- Geneva Convention, which affirms that any occupying Israel accountable to international law. While tag #Corbynout was quickly trending on social media. by connecting sections of the town to a reservoir fed power shall not ‘deport or transfer parts of its own by Fish River, around 50 kilometers (30 miles) away. Democrats have been emboldened on Israeli- “Essentially the election was a referendum on Corbyn,” said civilian population into the territory it occupies’...If the Palestinian issues as a result of their disgust with the Andrew Adonis, who served as a minister under former The water is allocated on a rotational basis, but even US unilaterally abandons international and human Trump/Netanyahu marriage, what is impressive Labor premier Tony Blair. then the pipeline to the river is way too narrow. rights law, we can expect a more chaotic and brutal Adelaide deputy mayor Bornboy Ndyebi said the about the Levin letter is that it isn’t tied to or focused twenty-first century for America and our allies...” town’s pipelines were in poor shape, and Thandekile Brexit neutrality This the first time that a substantial number of on Democrats revulsion with both men. Rather, the Mnyimba, who heads the regional district of letter focuses on the importance of the US upholding Bearded and teetotal, with a love of making jam and Members of Congress have embraced the applicability spotting manhole covers, Corbyn was a lifelong campaigner Amathole, told AFP that water trucks supplied by the international human rights law and demands that government had broken down. of the Fourth Geneva Convention to the Israeli- on socialist causes who spent many years happily on the Palestinian Conflict. In fact, in 1999 and 2009 Congress Israel adhere to its requirements - whoever is in fringes of the Labor party. But he put himself forward for South Africa’s main opposition, the Democratic office in Israel or the United States. Alliance (DA), has accused the ruling party of acting passed resolutions denouncing international efforts to the Labor leadership in 2015 to ensure a left-wing voice too late. “It is only when the dam reached a very low hold Israel accountable for its violations of the A final point about the importance of Levin letter was represented - and surprised everyone by winning, pro- level - around four percent-that they woke up,” said Conventions. The principle reason for this was the fact that it was signed 107 Members of pelled to power thanks to grassroots support. He com- DA councilor Ernie Lombard. Ramaphosa has sought Congressional refusal to embrace the Conventions has Congress. There have been strong principled letters mands cult-like adoration from young supporters in to pin the blame on years of poor governance under been in deference to Israel’s insistence that its seizure on Israeli-Palestinian issues in the past, but never one England’s larger urban centers, and in the 2017 election former president Jacob Zuma, whom he succeeded in of Palestinian lands in 1967 was not an occupation. that drew the support of so many. While they were all used this to huge effect. 2018. “Corruption in the water sector has in no small Instead they refer to the territories as “disputed areas.” Democrats, the diversity they represented was He held huge rallies around the country, and that year part contributed to the situation we currently face,” That being the case, Israel has long refused to impressive. There were senior leaders in the party, as tens of thousands sang his name as he addressed the he declared. — AFP accept that the Conventions apply to Palestinian lands, Glastonbury Festival. But he lost some of his sheen for many well as freshman and there were African American, pro-European youngsters with his ambivalent stance on since if they were to apply, then Israel would be guilty Latino, Arab Americans and American Jews. of: “annexing” occupied lands, demolishing Palestinian Brexit, and the wider public were not convinced. He went What was troubling was the fact that the Levin into this election as the most unpopular opposition leader to properties and homes, building settlements for their letter was largely ignored by the US media. Because own citizens on this land, stealing resources from this have contested a British vote. Corbyn caused some trouble it was a letter and not a law, some may have failed to All articles appearing on this page are the land, the expulsion of and denial of repatriation of for Johnson by accusing the prime minister of plotting to sell off the National Health Service in a “toxic” post-Brexit trade personal opinion of the writers. Kuwait Palestinians who inhabited this land, and whole range of grasp the important shift it represents in the political landscape. These changes have been percolating deal with US President Donald Trump. Times takes no responsibility for views human rights abuses committed against the captive His warnings of the impact of years of austerity also Palestinian population including torture, collective pun- under surface for years. Now they are breaking out expressed therein. into the open. This story is still being written. helped shift the debate, with the Conservatives promising ishment, and illegal detention. more money for public services. — AFP Established 1961

SUNDAY, DECEMBER 15, 2019

Caution lingers on US-China Investors slash bets on weaker Kuwait witnesses launch of WaynYo: 12deal as shares gain, oil rises 13 pound after Johnson’s victory 14 Platform rivaling social network sites

GILROY: Employees work with garlic on the production line at Christopher Ranch in Gilroy, California. In trade negotiations with China, President Donald Trump has made it a priority that the Asian giant buys tens of billions of dol- lars in US farm goods. Achieving that goal is another matter. — AFP US, China cool their trade war

Washington, Beijing announce ‘Phase one’; Trade deal cuts tariffs

WASHINGTON: The United States and Manufactured Goods, plus much more,” he would make a big effort to spend an addi- China cooled their trade war yesterday, said. Trump later told reporters at the tional $5 billion a year. “To me it’s an enor- announcing a “Phase one” agreement that White House that he thought China would mously important first step in our relation- reduces some US tariffs in exchange for hit $50 billion in agricultural purchases, ship,” Lighthizer said. “This is China taking what US officials said would be a big jump repeating a promise he made to US farm- real commitments to do real things in a rea- in Chinese purchases of American farm ers in October. At a news conference in sonable period of time, that’s enforceable.” products and other goods. Beijing has Beijing, Chinese officials said the two sides He said China would be free to buy agreed to import at least $200 billion in had agreed on the text of a deal, but things when “it’s the perfect time in the additional US goods and services over the offered no specific details on the amount of market to buy things.” China will import next two years on top of the amount it pur- US goods China had agreed to buy. more US wheat, corn, and rice, China’s chased in 2017, the top US trade negotia- US markets have gyrated on rumors and vice agricultural minister said on Friday, tor said Friday. leaks about the trade deal in recent without elaborating. China has not been a If the purchases are made, they would months, but were muted on Friday on news major buyer of US corn, wheat or rice in represent a huge jump in US exports to it had been agreed. The agreement was the past - though in recent years it has China. China bought $130 billion in US announced as the US House Judiciary been the No 3 or 4 buyer of one particular goods in 2017, before the trade war began, Committee voted to charge Trump with variety of wheat, US spring wheat used and $56 billion in services, US Bureau of abuse of power and obstruction during an for blending. China was a top 5 buyer of Economic Analysis data show. In return, the impeachment inquiry. It also followed US corn from 2011 to 2014 but has not BEIJING: In this file photo US President Donald Trump (left) and China’s President Xi Jinping United States would suspend tariffs on closely on the heels of a deal with the US been a major buyer since. leave a business leaders event at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing. The United States Chinese goods due to go into effect on Congress paving the way for passage of a Soybeans made up half of China’s agri- and China announced a major thaw in their trade war, including immediate cuts to punish- Sunday and reduce others, US officials new North American trade agreement. cultural purchases in 2017. Demand has ing import tariffs, but markets were not impressed. —AFP said. The 86-page agreement is due to be since cratered because the pig herds that signed the first week of January in China AG buys eat it have been reduced by African swine Washington by principal negotiators. Beijing has committed to buying $32 bil- fever, however. Asked about Trump’s $50 Grange, an agriculture advocacy group, agreed to buy more US manufactured “We have agreed to a very large Phase lion more in farm products over the next billion figure, officials in Beijing said on and a beef cattle farmer. goods, energy and services, but provided One Deal with China,” US President two years, or about $16 billion a year, US Friday that details would be disclosed lat- “Are we going to get something in no details. He said the agreement included Donald Trump tweeted Friday morning. Trade Representative Robert Lighthizer er. Some American farmers said they were black and white that says they’re going to specific targets for those broad areas that Officials in China have “agreed to many told reporters at the White House, on top of waiting for more. “Is China going to live buy this much over this much time or this would be published later, and specific tar- structural changes and massive purchases a baseline of $24 billion in Chinese pur- up to their commitment?,” said Burton kind of commodity they’re going to gets for specific products that would of Agricultural Product, Energy, and chases in 2017. In addition, Beijing said it Eller, executive director of the National need?” he said. Lighthizer said China also remain classified. —Reuters

Tariffs The purchases include manufactured goods, agricultural products such as poultry, stronger US security reviews. What’s in the The United States will not proceed with agricultural goods, energy and services, and seafood and feed additives as well as 15% tariffs scheduled to go into effect on are expected to reduce the $419 billion US approval of biotechnology products. Currency Sunday on nearly $160 billion worth of trade deficit with China, officials said. China The currency agreement contains pledges US-China ‘phase Chinese goods, including cell phones, laptop bought $130 billion in US goods in 2017, Intellectual property by China to refrain from competitive curren- computers, toys and clothing. China can- before the trade war began, and $56 billion The deal includes stronger Chinese cy devaluations and to not target its one’ trade deal celed its retaliatory tariffs due to take effect in services, US data show. legal protections for patents, trademarks, exchange rate for a trade advantage-lan- that same day, including a 25% tariff on US- copyrights, including improved criminal guage that China has accepted for years as made autos. The United States will cut by Agriculture and civil procedures to combat online part of its commitments to the Group of 20 WASHINGTON: The United States and half the tariff rate it imposed on Sept 1 on a China has committed to increase pur- infringement, pirated and counterfeit major economies. The deal subjects any vio- China have agreed on the terms of a “phase $120 billion list of Chinese goods, to 7.5%. chases of US agriculture products by $32 goods. The deal contains commitments by lations of currency commitments to the one” trade deal that reduces some US tar- US tariffs of 25% on $250 billion worth of billion over two years. That would average China to follow through on previous agreement’s enforcement mechanism, under iffs on Chinese goods while boosting Chinese goods will remain unchanged, pro- an annual total of about $40 billion, com- pledges to eliminate any pressure for for- which they could incur US tariffs. A senior Chinese purchases of American farm, ener- viding US negotiating leverage for a second pared to a baseline of $24 billion in 2017 eign companies to transfer technology to Trump administration official said the curren- gy and manufactured goods and addressing phase of negotiations next year. before the trade war started. Trump has Chinese firms as a condition of market cy agreement is based on provisions in the some US complaints about intellectual demanded that China buy $50 billion worth access, licensing or administrative US-Mexico-Canada Agreement trade deal, property practices. Following are details of Trade deficit of American farm goods annually. US Trade approvals and to eliminate any government which require the three countries to disclose the deal released by both sides. The broad US officials say China agreed to increase Representative Robert Lighthizer said advantages for such transfers. China also monthly data on international reserve bal- outlines were similar to a deal in principle purchases of American products and servic- China agreed to make its best efforts to agreed to refrain from directly supporting ances and intervention in foreign exchange announced by Trump in October that was es by at least $200 billion over the next two increase its purchases by another $5 billion outbound investment aimed at acquiring markets, along with quarterly balance-of- dominated by increased Chinese purchases years, with an expectation that the higher annually to get close $50 billion. China has foreign technology to meet its industrial payments data and other public reporting to of US agricultural goods. purchases will continue after that period. committed to reduce non-tariff barriers to plans-transactions already restricted by the International Monetary Fund. —Reuters 12 Established 1961 Business Sunday, December 15, 2019 Caution lingers on US-China deal as shares gain, oil rises Pound surges as Conservative Party scores solid majority

NEW YORK: Global equity markets and oil prices rose victory for UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson in that is not going away, that is probably with us for a rose to a 19-month high against the US dollar and on Friday after China and the United States agreed on Thursday’s elections. But US stocks pared initial gains on long time,” he said. MSCI’s gauge of global stock per- shares in Europe rose to near all-time highs as an initial trade deal that rolls back some US tariffs in the news of a preliminary US-China trade deal. Given the formance and the three main US equity indexes hit investors cheered the likelihood of an orderly Brexit. exchange for China’s increased purchase of farm goods, heated nature of the dispute between the world’s two record highs. The Dow Jones Industrial Average rose Sterling last traded at $1.3335, up 1.31%. cooling a contentious trade war. The “phase one” largest economies, investors were slow to embrace the 3.33 points, or 0.01%, to 28,135.38. The S&P 500 The dollar fell against a basket of currencies as the agreement came just ahead of a deadline today for a news fully, as both sides have engaged in brinkmanship. gained 0.23 point, or 0.01%, to 3,168.8 and the Nasdaq prospect of a China-US trade deal and the British elec- new round of US tariffs on almost $160 billion of Investors are weary of the Composite added 17.56 tion results sapped safe-haven demand for the green- Chinese imports. The 17-month-old trade dispute has rhetoric, while on the margin points, or 0.2%, to 8,734.88. back. The dollar index fell 0.21%, with the euro down roiled financial markets and taken a toll on world eco- Johnson’s victory is bigger Earlier in Asia, Japan’s Nikkei 0.09% to $1.1118. The Japanese yen weakened 0.03% nomic growth. news than what could be MSCI’s world climbed 2.5% to a 14-month versus the greenback at 109.36 per dollar. Oil rose to its Beijing agreed to buy $32 billion in additional agri- viewed as trade positioning, high and Shanghai blue chips highest level in nearly three months as investors cheered cultural goods over the next two years, US officials said Jack Ablin, chief invest- index, US advanced 2%. the progress in resolving the US-China trade dispute and said, up from a baseline of $24 billion purchased in ment officer at Cresset Capital stocks hit Sterling gained following the decisive election result in Britain. Brent crude, the 2017, before the trade dispute started. US President Management. “Investors at Johnson’s win of a command- global benchmark, rose $1.02 to settle at $65.22 a barrel. Donald Trump said he thought China would hit $50 bil- this point are tired of the talk record highs ing majority in Britain’s US West Texas Intermediate (WTI) settled up 89 lion in agricultural purchases. The deal was announced and are looking for a hand- Parliament, giving him the cents at $60.07 a barrel. During the session, both con- as the Democratic-controlled US House of shake,” he said. The back and power to deliver a clear exist tracts jumped to their highest levels since Sept 17, with Representatives Judiciary Committee voted to charge forth in trade talks between from the European Union, WTI topping $60 a barrel. Gold prices were little Trump with abuse of power and obstruction during an China and the United States is though trade talks are set to changed as risk appetite was boosted by the progress impeachment inquiry. emblematic of a great power struggle, said James drag on for months, if not years. UK shares exposed to in the US-China trade talks, though investors remained MSCI’s gauge of global equities rose 0.55%, while Clunie, manager of the Jupiter Absolute Return Fund. Britain’s economy surged, with the benchmark FTSE cautious. US gold futures settled up 0.6% at $1,481.20 the pan-European STOXX 600 index gained 1.25%, “If there are two great countries locked in a strate- 100 index gaining more than 2% at one point as the an ounce. US benchmark 10-year Treasury notes rose boosted by hopes of an orderly Brexit after a landslide gic war, which is what a great power struggle is, then rally offset the drag from a jump in sterling. The pound 23/32 in price to yield 1.8191%.—Reuters

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On the eve of their application, Trump sus- NBK Visa Signature and NBK Visa Infinite Credit throughout the year. We are bracing for more iconic year. To learn more about the end of year cashback pends the tariffs for several countries but not China. Cardholders, and is valid on purchases made at the fol- campaigns by 2020, in line with our commitment to campaign and NBK’s Credit Cards, customers can lowing retailers: Cinescape50%, Ooredoo15%, provide our clients with the most secure banking visit nbk.com. July 2018: Tit-for-tat On July 6 the US slaps punitive duties on about $34 This agreement is a road methodolo- billion of Chinese imports including cars, hard disks and aircraft parts. Beijing imposes tariffs of equal size and VIVA, Huawei gy promoting synergies and best prac- scope, including on farm products, especially soybeans, tices in line with the digital transforma- as well as cars and marine products. On August 23, tion to deliver outstanding services to Washington puts new duties on another $16 billion of ink MOU Viva customers not limited to consumers, Chinese goods. China applies 25-percent tariffs on $16 home and enterprise, and driving the billion of US goods, including Harley-Davidson motor- to develop mission of VIVA leading the digital cycles, bourbon and orange juice. On September 24, lifestyle enabler for its customers. “5G Washington slaps 10 percent taxes on $200 billion of advancements in wireless networks will Chinese imports. Beijing retaliates. 5G services take these worlds to the next level and that much closer to truly feeling real,” May 2019: Hostilities resume KUWAIT: VIVA (an STC Company), a Alharbi said. After a truce of several months, Washington reignites world-class digital leader providing “I’m extremely proud of what VIVA its trade war on May 10 by increasing to 25 percent duties innovative services and platforms to cus- and Huawei team have accomplished in on $200 billion in Chinese imports. Opening a new front, tomers, and enabling the digital transfor- our time together through a rare com- Trump on May 15 bars US companies from using foreign mation in Kuwait has signed bination of passion, dedication and telecoms equipment deemed a security risk - a move Memorandum of Understanding with innovation; moving forward, we will aimed at Chinese giant Huawei. On June 1, China increases Huawei Technologies Kuwait Co WLL, in continue to invest in customer experi- its taxes on $60 billion of US imports. On August 1, Trump presence of VIVA CEO Eng Maziad ence and 5G solutions to meet the announces new 10 percent tariffs on another $300 billion Alharbi and Huawei Executive Director needs of our consumers and enterprise in Chinese goods, later increased to 15 percent. of the Board and President of Carrier BG business development,” he added. “We August: Yuan devalued Ryan Ding. VIVA and Huawei will coop- appreciate the trust VIVA Kuwait has In early August, China allows the yuan to fall below erate to advance solutions over 5G with shown in selecting Huawei to launch the Ryan Ding said. “5G in particular also for all participating parties.” The execu- 7.0 to the dollar for the first time in 11 years. the objective of supporting the business nationwide 5G services, as it will bring promises to accelerate Kuwait’s digital tives noted that this should lead to Washington accuses Beijing of manipulating its curren- growth in B2B, B2C and B2H, moreover VR, AR, and other ultra-HD video serv- transformation to various industries from develop Enterprise in the Kuwaiti mar- cy to help its exports, a charge it denies. On August 13, to develop IoT solutions and 5G ecosys- ices such as Mobile Video 3.0 to VIVA oil/gas industry to smart cities to public ket, launch new products and focus on the United States decides to delay until December 15 tem in Kuwait. customers.” safety and achieve new business growth customer business value proposition. imposition of tariffs on some products including cell phones, laptops, computer monitors, footwear and clothing. However others remain in place to take effect made phone calls to World Bank president David dollar and used in everyday transactions, banks have September 1, and existing 25 percent duties on $250 Lebanon seeks IMF, Malpass and IMF managing director Kristalina gradually restricted greenback withdrawals, causing a billion worth of Chinese products due to rise to 30 Georgieva, his office said. “Hariri stressed his com- dollar liquidity crisis that has made imports increas- percent on October 15. mitment to preparing an urgent rescue plan to ingly difficult and expensive. China announces on August 23 it will hit US soy- World Bank’s help resolve the crisis, while waiting for the formation Hariri also spoke to the president of the World beans, lobsters, peanut butter and other imports worth of a new cabinet able to implement it,” it said in a Bank about “the possibility of the bank... increasing BEIRUT: Lebanon’s caretaker prime minister has $75 billion with new tariffs in retaliation for the loom- statement. its contribution to funding international trade to asked international funding bodies for support in ing hikes. It says it will also reimpose a 25 percent tariff “He discussed with both the technical support the Lebanon” to help importers bring in essential goods. on US autos. A day after the US tariffs come into effect drawing up an emergency rescue plan for his protest- Work Bank and IMF could provide in drawing up this Lebanon has been without a cabinet since Hariri on September 1, China lodges a complaint at the World wracked country. Donors including the World Bank plan,” it added. Lebanon has been rocked by stepped down on October 29, with a bitterly divided Trade Organization. On September 4, Trump and the International Monetary Fund have rebuffed a unprecedented popular protests since October 17 political class unable to agree on a new premier ever announces import duties on structural steel from China, plea for financial aid pending the rapid formation of a over official mismanagement and corruption demon- since. Protesters have demanded a new government saying its manufacturers dumped the product on the new government to implement key economic reforms. strators blame for a deteriorating economy. In a composed entirely of independent experts, but ana- US market. —AFP Caretaker premier Saad Hariri on Thursday country where the local currency is pegged to the US lysts say this may be a tall order. —AFP EXCHANGE RATES

Egyptian Pound - Transfer 18.886 Chinese Yuan Renminbi 43.630 Chinese Yuan 0.042070 0.045570 Al-Muzaini Exchange Co. Yemen Riyal/for 1000 1.222 Thai Bhat 11.040 Hong Kong Dollar 0.036878 0.039628 Tunisian Dinar 110.200 Turkish Lira 52.690 Indian Rupee 0.003623 0.004395 EUROPEAN & AMERICAN COUNTRIES Jordanian Dinar 429.140 Singapore dollars 222.941 Indonesian Rupiah 0.000017 0.000023 US Dollar Transfer 304.150 Lebanese Lira/for 1000 0.203 Japanese Yen 0.002705 0.002885 Euro 339.130 Syrian Lira 0.000 Korean Won 0.000249 0.000264 Sterling Pound 401.480 Morocco Dirham 32.117 BAHRAIN EXCHANGE COMPANY WLL Malaysian Ringgit 0.069604 0.075604 Canadian dollar 230.940 Nepalese Rupee 0.002621 0.002961 Turkish lira 52.900 Pakistan Rupee 0.001284 0.002054 CURRENCY BUY SELL Philippine Peso 0.005994 0.006294 Swiss Franc 310.520 Dollarco Exchange Co. Ltd Europe Singapore Dollar 0.219480 0.229480 US Dollar Buying 296.700 British Pound 0.399703 0.413603 Czech Korune 0.005315 0.014615 Sri Lankan Rupee 0.001316 0.001896 ASIAN COUNTRIES Rate for Transfer Selling Rate Taiwan 0.010110 0.010290 US Dollar 303.600 Danish Krone 0.041457 0.046457 Japanese Yen 2.797 Euro 0.331579 0.345279 Thai Baht 0.009729 0.010279 Indian Rupees 4.291 Canadian Dollar 231.260 Vietnamese Dong 0.000013 0.000013 Sterling Pound 402.750 Georgian Lari 0.121300 0.121300 Pakistani Rupees 1.977 Hungarian 0.001145 0.001335 Srilankan Rupees 1.677 Euro 339.825 Arab Swiss Frank 300.840 Norwegian Krone 0.029721 0.034921 Nepali Rupees 2.680 Romanian Leu 0.065109 0.081959 Bahraini Dinar 0.800090 0.808132 Singapore Dollar 224.630 Bahrain Dinar 807.385 Egyptian Pound 0.018909 0.021650 UAE Dirhams 83.060 Russian ruble 0.004891 0.004891 Hongkong Dollar 38.879 Iranian Riyal 0.000084 0.000085 Qatari Riyals 84.300 Slovakia 0.009078 0.019078 Bangladesh Taka 3.544 Iraqi Dinar 0.000199 0.000259 Saudi Riyals 81.855 Swedish Krona 0.028529 0.033529 Philippine Peso 6.004 Jordanian Dinar 0.422716 0.431716 Jordanian Dinar 429.495 Swiss Franc 0.302809 0.313809 Thai Baht 10.083 Kuwaiti Dinar 1.000000 1.000000 Egyptian Pound 18.841 Malaysian ringgit 77.788 Australasia Sri Lankan Rupees 1.679 Lebanese Pound 0.000103 0.000253 Australian Dollar 0.201243 0.213243 Indian Rupees 4.298 Moroccan Dirhams 0.021142 0.045142 GCC COUNTRIES New Zealand Dollar 0.194752 0.204252 Omani Riyal 0.784357 0.792239 Saudi Riyal 81.161 Pakistani Rupees 1.659 Bangladesh Taka 3.540 Qatar Riyal 0.083061 0.083893 Qatari Riyal 83.592 America Saudi Riyal 0.079967 0.081267 Omani Riyal 790.513 Philippines Pesso 5.994 Canadian Dollar 0.225696 0.234696 Cyprus pound 18.065 Syrian Pound 0.001288 0.001508 Bahraini Dinar 808.160 US Dollars 0.300850 0.305150 Tunisian Dinar 0.102822 0.110822 UAE Dirham 82.863 Japanese Yen 3.795 US Dollars Mint 0.300550 0.305350 Syrian Pound 1.590 Turkish Lira 0.045739 0.055584 UAE Dirhams 0.082122 0.082948 Nepalese Rupees 2.690 Asia ARAB COUNTRIES Yemeni Riyal 0.000988 0.001068 Egyptian Pound - Cash 21.900 Malaysian Ringgit 74.060 Bangladesh Taka 0.002971 0.003772 13 Business Sunday, December 15, 2019 Investors slash bets on weaker pound after Johnson’s victory Pound jumps to $1.35 after Conservatives’ election win LONDON: Sterling was well supported tion period beyond December 2020 in yesterday as investors rushed to unwind order to complete negotiations on a future bets on a weaker pound after a resounding trade deal with the EU. During the election election victory for Prime Minister Boris campaign, the prime minister had pledged Johnson’s Conservative Party. Johnson’s not to do this. Moreover, with a strong German central win will allow him to end three years of majority in parliament, “Johnson will not political paralysis and take Britain out of rely on Eurosceptics to hold him hostage,” bank slashes the European Union in an orderly manner Gkionakis said. in a matter of weeks. The pound was last trading up 1.1% at $1.3324, giving up some Rate cut bets scaled back 2020 outlook of the gains it made overnight when it Analysts from HSBC expect sterling to surged to a 19-month high of $1.3516. rise to $1.45 and to 76 pence against the Against the euro, the pound was up 1.3% euro by the end of next year, now that the FRANKFURT AM MAIN: Germany’s central bank on at 83.43 pence, having skyrocketed to a 3- “politically driven undervaluation” has Friday slashed its 2020 growth forecast for Europe’s 1/2-year high of 82.78 pence. been removed. It had previously forecast largest economy in half, but said an export-powered It had jumped more than 2.5% after exit targets of $1.37 and 80 pence. HSBC said rebound was on the cards in the following years. The polls pointing to the scale of the that sterling will again be driven by eco- Bundesbank predicted 0.6 percent expansion next year, Conservatives’ win were published, making nomic data after years of being politically BLYTH: A trawler is seen at the port in the town of Blyth in northeast England after the for- half the pace it had reckoned with in its last outlook in it at that time its biggest one-day gain in driven. In the options market, the premium mer mining town voted in a Conservative MP for the first time in its history contributing to June. That represents little change from the expected nearly three years. This was a remarkable for pound puts over calls-the right to sell the Tory party’s landslide victory. — AFP 0.5 percent reading for 2019, one third of last year’s jump for a currency that has become pounds versus the right to buy them-dur- rate. But in 2021-22 growth should pick back up to extremely volatile since Britain voted to ing the next week shrank to its lowest since moves in sterling. Expectations of aggres- research at wealth manager Brewin around 1.4 percent. leave the EU in a referendum in 2016. mid-November at nearly 1.75%, a day sive rate cuts by the Bank of England were Dolphin. Along with the pound, the mid- “Along with noticeably supportive fiscal policy, very Vasileios Gkionakis, global head of FX after it reached its highest since also scaled back as investors bet the lifting cap stocks index FTSE 250, which is expansive monetary policy and above all exports will be strategy at Lombard Odier, said he had September 2016. of political uncertainty would prompt poli- home to many companies with high UK vital to the improved economic prospects,” Bundesbank now sold sterling after increasing his hold- That means fewer investors expect the cymakers to take a more optimistic view of revenues, surged about 5% to record president Jens Weidmann said in a statement. Export- ing in the currency when it was languishing pound to fall over the coming week. On top the economy. highs. Britain’s 10-year gilt yield also dependent German manufacturers above all have in at $1.26. “From a risk-reward perspective it of that, the three-month sterling implied “The potential for a smooth Brexit jumped to a six-month peak of 0.895% recent months suffered from slowing global growth and makes sense to take profit,” he said. But volatility gauges, which include the Jan. 31 removes some of the downside risk for and was last up 3 basis points at 0.86%. trade and increased uncertainty over US-led trade con- Gkionakis believes sterling could rise to Brexit deadline, have fallen to a five-month the UK economy, and this should be pos- The gap between Irish and German 10- flicts and Brexit. Meanwhile the powerhouse economy $1.40 as there was a chance Johnson could high of 7.13 vol, suggesting traders have itive for both business and consumer year government bond yields shrank to has enjoyed low unemployment and a strong services now seek to extend the post-Brexit transi- removed protection against unexpected confidence,” said Guy Foster, head of its smallest since Jan. 2018. — AFP sector, although economists point to signs industrial weakness is beginning to spread to other areas. Boris Johnson’s resounding victory in British parlia- tions, which will extend the of its treasury operations. It’s also a strategically mentary elections Thursday could reduce one element Murex expands capabilities of the bank’s important announcement for Murex, as we consolidate of uncertainty. The Conservative leader many now have treasury operations and our presence in the Middle East with a string of new the necessary freedom of manoeuvre to see through enable it to extend its client partnerships transforming regional banks’ core systems Brexit and strike a trade deal with the European Union presence; partners solutions offering. and operations.” Commenting on Gulf Bank’s new part- after Britain’s departure. A decisive outcome in the UK Through this new part- nership with Murex, Sami Mahfouz, General Manager - would mean “an element of uncertainty which is proba- with Gulf Bank nership, Gulf Bank will Treasury at Gulf Bank said: “Gulf Bank is committed to bly loosening and will give us a bit more clarity,” deploy Murex’s MX.3 plat- delivering the best solutions for our customers, which is European Central Bank president Christine Lagarde form, providing a robust why we are constantly working to ensure our internal said ahead of the results Thursday. KUWAIT: Murex, an industry leader in trading, risk man- technology infrastructure for processes and core operations are up to the highest In her maiden press conference, she also pointed agement and processing solutions for capital markets, core and support operations, industry standards. more generally to “initial signs of stabilization in the announces that Gulf Bank, one of Kuwait’s largest banks, as well as risk management. By partnering with Murex, we are working with a growth slowdown” that has sapped Europe in recent has selected MX.3 to modernize and digitalize its capital Sami Mahfouz Philippe Helou, Co-founder worldwide leader in technology solutions for capital mar- months. And even as Lagarde was speaking, US markets and treasury IT. The decision to select Murex is and Managing Partner at kets and treasury. We have no doubt that our partnership President Donald Trump tweeted that he was “getting part of Gulf Bank’s wider re-platforming of its IT land- Murex said: “Our partnership with Gulf Bank marks an will further optimize our client centric model and help VERY close to a BIG DEAL with China”, powering scape in which Murex will be delivering a fully integrated exciting step toward the bank’s digital transformation - drive Gulf Bank’s operational excellence across our vari- American stock markets to new highs. — AFP solution for Gulf Bank’s treasury and capital markets func- significantly increasing the sophistication and capabilities ous business functions.” 14 Established 1961 Business Sunday, December 15, 2019 Wall St Ahead: Trade deal removes major hurdle for rally in Apple, tech China to boost imports of US energy, pharmaceutical, agricultural products

SAN FRANCISCO: US President Donald Trump’s limit- “The Street has been laser focused on this additional shares of Apple, its suppliers, like Qorvo and Skyworks demand and on confidence the trade war would be ed trade deal with China removes a major hurdle for 15% next round of tariffs and we believe this ultimately Solutions , and other US technology and trade-sensi- resolved. The global chip market is set to recover by Apple and other technology stocks that have already signals a green light for tech stocks heading into year tive stocks have room to rise. The S&P 500 edged up 5.9% in 2020 after shrinking 12.8% this year, accord- surged this year to record highs. The so-called Phase end with the impending $160 billion tariff no longer a 0.01% on Friday to close at its second record high in ing to a forecast by World Semiconductor Trade One deal announced, but still not signed, on Friday sus- near-term concern,” Wedbush analyst Dan Ives wrote in two days, while Apple rose 1.36% to an all-time high. Statistics. But gains in technology stocks have pends the planned imposition of new 15% tariffs on a note on Friday. Ives estimated that the tariffs that Chip stocks including Qorvo and Advanced Micro stretched their earnings multiples, increasing the risk Sunday that would have hit $160 billion in Chinese con- would have hit iPhone imports on Sunday would have Devices sold off from recent record highs. should their bottom lines not grow next year as much sumer goods just weeks before Christmas, including $115 clipped about 4%, or 50 cents, off of Apple’s 2020 earn- “I wouldn’t be surprised to see some profit-taking,” as expected, or should Trump’s trade deal sour. The billion worth of iPhones, laptops and other electronics. ings per share. said Tim Ghriskey, Chief Investment Strategist at S&P 500 information technology sector is trading at The deal would also see the United States reduce Even amid trade uncertainty, Apple surged over Inverness Counsel in New York. “On the other hand, over 20 times expected earnings, its highest multiple existing tariffs on other goods. China has agreed to 70% this year to all-time highs on broad investor con- the deal could really give corporate management bet- since 2005, according to Refinitiv. boost imports of US energy, pharmaceutical and agri- fidence in recent months that Washington and Beijing ter visibility into the economic outlook, and help them Earnings for the tech sector are expected to grow cultural products, although Chinese officials offered no would eventually strike a deal. Apple’s stock has also start spending again.” Reflecting Wall Street’s mostly by about 10% next year after falling 1% in 2019, details on the amount of US goods Beijing had agreed benefited from progress increasing its services rev- upbeat view toward Apple, BofA Global Research ana- according to Refinitiv’s I/B/E/S data. That is mostly in to buy. If it is signed, Trump’s long-awaited deal will be enue as it diversifies from declining iPhone sales. lyst Wamsi Mohan on Wednesday raised his price tar- line with broader expectations for the S&P 500, with a relief to Apple, among the US companies with the Confidence the trade war would be settled has also get on the company, predicting the eventual rollout of analysts predicting around 10% profit growth next most to lose in the trade war between the world’s two pushed the S&P 500 up 26% in 2019 and fueled a 5G would drive three years of robust iPhone sales. year, up from 1% in 2019. “Markets are clearly seeing largest economies, along with chipmakers who make 44% rally in the information technology sub-index. The Philadelphia Semiconductor Index has surged through this year’s flat S&P earnings and expect much the components in its devices, which are mostly made Still, Investors are divided over whether Trump’s 56% in 2019, as the rollout of 5G wireless technology better results in 2020,” Nicholas Colas, co-founder of in China. trade deal is fully priced into the market, or whether appeared likely to end a downturn in global chip DataTrek, wrote in a note. —Reuters flydubai touches Kuwait witnesses the down in Krabi launch of WaynYo: KUWAIT: flydubai’s inaugural flight has touched down in Krabi in Thailand, becoming the first UAE-based airline to Platform rivaling global offer flights to the popular holiday destina- tion. The daily flights are operated via a social networking sites short stop in Yangon, Myanmar and are codeshared with Emirates. Onboard the KUWAIT: WaynYo, the first trend-focused plat- inaugural flight was a senior delegation led form in the region, officially launched in the Middle by Sudhir Sreedharan, Senior Vice East, with Kuwait as its first operating market. The President, Commercial Operations (UAE, application, available on Google Play and the App GCC, Subcontinent and Africa) at flydubai. Store is a revolutionary way of aggregating content Upon arrival, the aircraft was greeted based on popularity and likes, with the ability to by Somkuan Khanngern, the Vice track most liked and engaged with content within a Governer of Krabi, Attaporn Nuang- certain geolocation. This one-of-a-kind platform udom, the Director of Krabi Airport, was founded by Wissam Tamer and Dany Moghnie, Uthit Limsakul Director of Tourism two telecommunication entrepreneurs - who had a Authority of Thailand (TAT) Krabi Office single-minded vision of empowering people of all and Pichaya Saisaengchan, Director of giving people from Thailand direct between Thailand and the Middle East. are pleased to have flydubai launch its ages with the power to influence and ability to have Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT), access to Dubai’s travel hub”, Also, it is a good chance for enhancing new route to Krabi, which is illustrative their content seen by millions around the region. Dubai and Middle East Office. “We are Sreedharan added. flydubai has become tourism in Southern Thailand. Your dedi- of the UAE being the most comprehen- Commenting on the launch of WaynYo, Wissam delighted to mark the inaugural of our the first carrier in the UAE to operate cation and support for the Thai travel mar- sive market for inbound tourism from the Tamer said: “WaynYoenables users to discover the new route to Krabi and to see our net- flights to Krabi and with the new daily ket means a great deal to all of us. Thank Middle East, as well as the largest. Last trendiest photos and videos circulating in their work grow further East”, said Sudhir service from the UAE, the GCC and you very much. “ Krabi is a popular holi- year, Thailand welcomed nearly 200,000 area. It’s an application that is able to aggregate the Sreedharan, Senior Vice President, those connecting from Europe and the day destination for beach goers and visitors from the UAE, both Emiratis and most liked and engaged with content, so users have Commercial Operations (UAE, GCC, USA on the Emirates network now have adventures alike. While limestone cliffs, residents, and we anticipate that the new an unbiased way of seeking out content that actu- Subcontinent and Africa) at flydubai. more options to explore Asia and the Far dense mangrove forests and the famous flydubai route will further enhance visi- ally trends in a certain area.” “Over the past ten years we have East. Passengers from Thailand have Phi Phi Island will amaze nature enthusi- tor numbers between the two countries. Tamer added, “With WaynYo, we all have the shown our commitment to opening up more opportunities to benefit from direct asts, Krabi also offers activities like diving, As well as providing convenient access power to become influential and to have our con- underserved markets and enabling mil- flights to Dubai and beyond. hiking or exploring the HuayToh Waterfall for travelers, the new link will be great tent seen by anyone and everyone without the risks lions of passengers to travel to more Attaporn Nuang-udom, the Director of in PhanomBencha National Park. opportunity to explore Thailand’s off the of complicated algorithms and advertising implica- places more often. This new route will Krabi Airport said: “ The opening of the PichayaSaisaengchan, Director of beaten path islands and scenic beach tions. It’s a simple formula - the more likes you get, present more travel options for passen- new route (Krabi) is a great opportunity Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT) resorts in the hidden-gem of the the higher your chance of having more people view gers from the UAE and beyond, while to promote and facilitate the connection Dubai and Middle East Office said, “We Andaman sea.” your content.” WaynYo is an open public application, meaning that any content posted can be seen, liked and “super- liked” by any user and can be shared and linked to KFH participates other social media platforms, including Instagram. WaynYo has established a partnership with a Kuwait in 9th Industries based angel investor in being their partner in reaching a wider audience in Kuwait and reaching more poten- and Construction tial users in the region in the upcoming months. To find out more about WaynYo, follow @waynyo_app on Instagram or visit waynyo.com exhibition KUWAIT: Kuwait Finance House (KFH) has participated in the 9th Industries and Construction exhibition, which is currently held at Jumeirah Hotel with the participation of public and private enti- ties, traders, suppliers and companies specialized in materials and construc- tion. Organized by ExpoTag For Exhibitions and Conferences, the exhibi- tion is an opportunity for KFH to com- municate with the participating compa- nies, offering financing services in the KFH booth at the exhibition field of materials and constructions, and collaborating with suppliers and traders to provide all customer needs and explaining KFH’s financing services to ing construction contracts. the best sources and affordable prices, requirements. customers that include all building The campaign has provided integrat- with following up on the implementation Dedicated team of direct sales and requirements. Under “With KFH Your ed benefits to facilitate the financing of work in cooperation with specialized financing services from KFH has partici- Finance is Easier” campaign, KFH show- process, in addition to consulting engi- engineers. As salary transfer is not pated at the exhibition through the cased its funding solutions that are neering before and during construction. required, KFH`s campaign also offered bank’s booth. They were ready to answer designed for customers wishing to pur- The campaign provided consulting on competitive profit margin while profits customer and visitors’ queries, as well as chase construction materials or conclud- building materials and work in terms of are not deducted in advance.

Over its long history, the company has grown into an TOYOTA ranked innovative leader that has enabled vehicle electrification on a mass scale with the development of the Prius hybrid electric car 20 years ago and more recently, the Mirai hydrogen fuel the ‘Best Global cell electric vehicle. As a Mobility Company, Toyota is Committed to Freedom of Movement for All. Toyota will pro- Automotive Brand’ vide a total of around 3,700 mobility products and/or vehi- cles for Tokyo 2020. The majority, or nearly 90 percent, of KUWAIT: Interbrand, a brand consultancy firm has ranked the official vehicle fleet will be electrified. Toyota as the best automotive brand in the Best Global Electrified vehicles include Hybrid Electric Vehicles Brands report for 2019 that was announced recently. (HEV), Fuel Cell Electric Vehicles (FCEV), such as the Considering Interbrand’s unparalleled wealth of 20 years of hydrogen-powered Mirai, Plug-in Hybrid Electric Vehicles brand valuation data, this year’s report examines the world’s (PHEV), the Prius PHV, and Battery Electric Vehicles (BEV), most successful brands through the lens of Iconic Moves, including the “APM” (Accessible People Mover) and the e- investors, or its economic profit,” as well as “the ability of focusing on the end of a traditional approach to brand posi- Palette as well as TOYOTA LQ Concept, which will provide a the brand to create loyalty and, therefore, sustainable tioning and industry leaders’ navigation of the rapid ongoing unique and wide-range of diverse mobility. Among the elec- demand and profit into the future. change among consumers and competitive landscapes. trified vehicles provided, Toyota will include approximately The efforts to improve and increase the diversity of elec- Toyota believes that mobility goes beyond cars; it is about 500 FCEVs and approximately 850 BEVs, the largest of any trified powertrain options is tied directly to Toyota’s overcoming challenges and making dreams come true. The fleet for a Games to date. ‘Environmental Challenge 2050,’ wherein the company aims ‘Start Your Impossible’ initiative reflects these values and high- Interbrand’s ranking of the brands is based on three to achieve annual electrified vehicle sales of 5.5 million units lights the company’s goal to provide freedom of mobility for main factors: brand strength currently,which is how posi- by 2030. To achieve its goal, Toyota unveiled plans to have all. As a worldwide partner of the Olympic Games and the tive is the perception of the brand across the world; what 10 Battery Electric Vehicle (BEV) models available world- Paralympic Games, Toyota aims to encourage creating a value does the brand itself add to the company; and, what wide by the early 2020s, and from around 2025, the compa- peaceful society without discrimination through sports and a plans does the brand have for the future. The firm then cal- ny aims to have an electrified version available for all vehicle commitment to building a sustainable society through mobility. culated “overall financial return to an organization’s models across its global lineup. Established 1961 15 Business Sunday, December 15, 2019

Ali Alghanim & Sons Automotive Company inaugurates new boutique showroom at 360 Mall

Ali Alghanim management in a group photo.

• 400-square-meter showroom facility showcases the most luxurious brands under the company portfolio such as BMW and Land Rover • 8 test drive vehicles available in mall parking near the showroom to offer test drive experiences conveniently to customers

KUWAIT: Ali Alghanim & Sons Automotive seven cars and includes a range of accessories and Mohammed Thunayan Alghanim, Managing Director We are also pleased to be the first car dealer in Company, the exclusive importer for BMW, MINI, clothing from the same car brands. The facility will be of Ali Alghanim & Sons Automotive Company, said: “I Kuwait with the ability to offer test drive experiences Rolls-Royce Motor Cars, Land Rover and McLaren in a fully functional showroom that offers customers the am very delighted and honoured to inaugurate this to our clientele around the mall vicinity”. Kuwait, has opened a new boutique showroom in 360 ability to evaluate, trade-in, purchase and configure new boutique showroom at 360 Mall. This exclusive The operating hours of this new boutique show- Mall, the luxury shopping destination in Kuwait. vehicle specifications on demand, with the ability to location at one of Kuwait’s most high-end retail desti- room at 360 Mall from Ali Alghanim & Sons The 400-square-meter luxury showroom boasts a test-drive one of eight models available in the mall nations demonstrates our vision of offering conven- Automotive Co. will be 10am – 10pm on Sunday to privileged location in the leading shopping destina- parking area near the showroom. ience to our clientele by allowing them to experience Wednesday and 10am – 11pm on Thursday to tion in Kuwait, where this new showroom fits up to Speaking at the launch, Engineer Fahad Ali our products and services in a luxury environment. Saturday. For more information, call 1846464. 16 Health & Science Sunday, December 15, 2019

How ethanol plant shutdowns deepen pain for US corn farmers RACCOON TOWNSHIP: When the US tions are benefiting the petroleum industry drop of 230 million bushels from two years ethanol industry was booming, Indiana at the expense of the ag industry.” Under ago when corn used for ethanol peaked at farmer Paul Hodgen made good money sell- the US Renewable Fuel Standard, oil refin- 5.605 billion bushels. ing about a quarter of his crop to a local ers are required to blend some 15 billion facility that produced the corn-based fuel. gallons of ethanol into their gasoline every Double-edged sword Now that plant has stopped churning out year, but small facilities can be exempted if When an ethanol plant shuts, it hurts grow- ethanol and has instead converted to a compliance would hurt them financially. The ers twice: They lose the demand from the grain elevator for storage, Hodgen still sells Trump administration’s Environmental plant, and competing grain elevators and his corn there, but for a fraction of the Protection Agency, which administers the processors pay less as the unused grains flood price. “We are suffering for demand,” said RFS, has handed out roughly four times into the market. That dynamic played out for Hodgen, a 40-year-old father of four. more exemptions to small refiners than Hodgen this summer. Ethanol producer POET, Hodgen’s troubles reflect the increasing Obama’s EPA. a privately held company, announced it was difficulties faced by America’s corn farmers The Renewable Fuels Association, a bio- converting its plant in Cloverdale, 28 miles as a meltdown in the ethanol industry hits fuel industry trade group, estimates that from Hodgen’s 6,000-acre farm, from a biofu- the corn market - adding strains to farmers waivers given out for the 2016-2018 com- el plant to a grain elevator, in August. Before already facing poor weather and the US pliance years undercut renewable fuel the shutdown, it was offering $4.09 for a trade war with China. Some 13 ethanol blending obligations by 4.04 billion gallons. bushel of corn. The price dropped to $3.59 by plants have shut since November 2018, Both the oil industry and the Environmental early September when the facility completed roughly 4.4% of the nation’s capacity, in a Protection Agency dispute that the expand- its transformation to a grain elevator. decline the biofuel industry blames on the ed waivers have significantly affected US The ripple effect spread with a nearby Trump administration’s expanded use of demand for ethanol. “The only area where processor and river terminal also cutting waivers to exempt oil refineries from blend- there has been meaningful reduction is in prices. For farmers like Hodgen who produce ing ethanol into gasoline. exports, which is likely the result of our more than half a million bushels of corn a year, SCRIBNER: An aerial image shows the farm of Sid Ready near Scribner, Nebraska. — AFP Several other ethanol plants temporarily ongoing trade conflict with China,” said the pennies quickly add up. Farmers in areas reduced production during that time. The Chet Thompson, president of the American affected by ethanol plant shutdowns stand to faced by corn farmers, plant shutdowns have as the Trump administration’s final ruling on issue could test the Farm Belt’s support for Fuel and Petrochemical Manufacturers lose millions of dollars. “Without the ethanol cost about 2,300 jobs. “Think of the number of blending requirements for 2020 under the President Donald Trump in next year’s elec- trade association. industry there to mop up all this excess corn, trucks that run in and out of an ethanol plant RFS. “That’s going to be a Judgment Day for tion: farmers that have largely forgiven the Still, US farmers have become increas- we would have a huge problem in the Farm every day and the rail jobs impacted,” RFA farmers and the biofuels industry on whether administration for the dire impacts of the ingly reliant on the biofuel industry’s Belt,” he said. “I don’t know what other crop President Geoff Cooper said. He added the the administration and the White House truly trade war are less forgiving when it comes demand for corn, the most-grown US crop. we would shift to because there is a glut of livestock industry was also feeling the pinch support our industry and support farmers,” he to its biofuel policy. “That was really felt as Ethanol producers took 37.3% of the US everything else.” because of a reduced supply of distillers’ said. Hodgen says he still supports Trump. But a betrayal,” Hodgen said. corn crop in 2018, more than triple from grains, the low-cost byproduct of ethanol pro- his father, Abe, thinks Trump’s biofuel policy “All of us knew that China was going to 2002, according to Agriculture Department Judgment day duction that can be fed to livestock. shows he is out of touch with farmers. have to be dealt with. It hurt but it needed data. USDA predicts that around 5.375 bil- The Renewable Fuels Association, the Cooper said farmers and ethanol producers “Ethanol is the biggest damn deal that hap- to be done,” said Jeff Gormong, another lion bushels of corn will be needed for nation’s biggest biofuel producer group, esti- will keep a close eye on trade negotiations pened in my lifetime as far as raising corn,” Indiana farmer. “The small refinery exemp- ethanol in the 2019/20 marketing year, a mates that - in addition to the difficulties being between the United States and China, as well Abe Hodgen, 68, said. — Reuters

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CROSSWORD 2385 STAR TRACK

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

You may find yourself wanting to discover more about your roots. Out with the old. Bring on the new, exciting and wild. What a rebel you are! Where did you come from? What obstacles did your ancestors face? This is a If it goes against tradition you are all about it today. You crave excitement and the same great time to do some research and discover more about your heritage. Just as old, same old, just isn’t going to cut it for you. Change is in the air. A new hairstyle, a new the past seems to be of great importance to you, so is the future. You are in a outfit, or a visit to a new place tonight may be just what you need to add a little excite- great frame of mind to do some future planning. Get your affairs in order. Spend ment to your life, Libra. Go have some fun! some time researching the financial investments you have been considering. Change can bring great reward, Aries. This is a great time to develop a financial plan for your future and for the future of your descendants.

Scorpio (O ctober 23-November 21)

Taurus (April 20-May 20) You are a practical person with an abundance of common sense. You are able to use both of these qualities as assets to make your way to the top in the career You may find yourself in a bit of a conflict when it comes to balancing your world. You may be feeling a need to change your focus and tighten your circle a bit. You Home Life and work life. You may find yourself passing an opportunity by at work feel as if you need to spend more of your time and attention on you and yours. At this because it will interfere with time with your family. This may be a hard decision to make point you may have accomplished your goal in the workplace but feel you need to con- at this time, but the payoff with your family will be well worth it. In a time for you to tinue to work on your goal at home. This will be a balancing act to continue to make make sure your priorities are straight. You have a strong appreciation of your past. You sure you thrive in every area of your life. Your communication skills are at all time high are able to reflect and realize the obstacles and problems of your past talk to the lessons and you are able to relate and interact with ease to all who surround you. that made you and you are today. You are able to appreciate hardships and look at them in a more positive manner knowing you will come at a stronger person in the end.

Sagittarius (November 22-December 21) Gemini (May 21-June 20) The sky is the limit for you today. You are optimistic and can accomplish You are a practical person with an abundance of common sense. You are anything you set your mind to. You have faith and are willing to take chances on an emotional level that may bring great reward and happiness your way. ACROSS DOWN able to use both of these qualities as assets to make your way to the top in the career world. You may be feeling a need to change your focus and tighten your circle a bit. You may be deep within your feelings and have a desire to experience something new. 1. Aircraft landing in bad weather in which 1. Offering fun and gaiety. You feel as if you need to spend more of your time and attention on you and yours. At An emotional wanderlust, if you will, is the desire of your heart. Today you are all about the pilot is talked down by ground con- 2. A musical notation written on a staff indi- this point you may have accomplished your goal in the workplace but feel you need to you. Your wants, needs, and desires, take over and all you can do is pursue what your trol using precision approach radar. cating the pitch of the notes following it. continue to work on your goal at home. This will be a balancing act to continue to heart wants. This is a very productive day for you physically and emotionally. You will 4. Situated between the earth and the moon. 3. South American armadillo with three make sure you thrive in every area of your life. Your communication skills are at all find peace and happiness in accomplishing the goals you have set for yourself today, 12. An American doctorate usually based on bands of bony plates. time high and you are able to relate and interact with ease to all who surround you. Sagittarius. Reach for the stars! You may just be the one that can touch them. at least 3 years graduate study and a 4. Being one more than one hundred. dissertation. 5. Any tree or shrub of the genus Inga having 15. Any high mountain. pinnate leaves and showy usually white flowers. 16. (anatomy) A notch or small hollow. ) 17. A plant hormone promoting elongation of 6. White Southerner supporting Cancer (June 21-July 22 Capricorn (December 22-January 19) stems and roots. Reconstruction policies after the Civil 18. An accidental hole that allows something War usually for self-interest. Love and expressing all the deep emotions you have for others becomes very important to you. You may be feeling a need to be needed. Never You may feel as if you are encountering negativity and not everyone is (fluid or light etc.) to enter or escape. 7. Of a pale purple color. supportive when it comes to very sensitive issues you are dealing with in your life. 20. Agile long-tailed nocturnal African lemur 8. North American republic containing 50 doubt that you are. You may find yourself in deep appreciation of everyone and everything around you. You are able to find beauty in every situation and in These issues are very personal, and you may just be sharing with the wrong people. with dense woolly fur and large eyes and states - 48 conterminous states in North You will find someone close to you who will serve as a confidant who is extremely ears. everything that surrounds you. This is time in your life filled with love and others America plus Alaska in northwest North are drawn to your loving ways and kind heart. Be careful today, as all around you understanding and supportive of all that makes you unique. Capricorn, now is a great 22. A rounded thickly curled hairdo. America and the Hawaiian Islands in the becomes so appealing. time to think outside of the box and follow that new path or project that is calling your 23. A flat wing-shaped process or winglike Pacific Ocean. name. You may reap great reward from trying something new. part of an organism. 9. A solid lump of a precious metal (especial- 24. (Welsh) Underworld god. ly gold) as found in the earth. 26. A silvery soft waxy metallic element of 10. Beside one another in a row or rank. Leo (July 23-August 22) the alkali metal group. 11. An intensely radioactive metallic element 27. The blood group whose red cells carry that occurs in minute amounts in urani- You don’t care how, you want it now! This is your attitude when it comes Aquarius (January 20- February 18) both the A and B antigens. um ores. 29. The highest level or degree attainable. to life today. You have taken love a step farther. Obsession is a more appropriate 12. Perennial herb of East India to Polynesia description of how you feel about your goals. This could be an extremely passionate Today is the tomorrow you worried about yesterday. The sun came up this 31. The executive agency that advises the and Australia cultivated for its large edi- time in your world. Jealousy and possessiveness may be emotions that play a role in morning, and you are still here. Try to focus on the present. Stressing President on the federal budget. ble root yielding Otaheite arrowroot your world. You may find your ambition is in overdrive and you will not stop until you ahead rearely changes outcomes. Many of the “what ifs” you fret about will never hap- 32. A river that rises in central Germany and starch. have exactly what your want. pen. Save your energy to deal with the realities. You are flexible, and you have the cop- flows north to join the Elbe River. 13. German chemist who was co-discoverer ing skills to handle whatever comes up. No problem is too large for you to conquer. 35. A highly unstable radioactive element with Lise Meitner of nuclear fission (the heaviest of the halogen series). (1879-1968). 36. A rare silvery (usually trivalent) metallic 14. An informal term for a father. Virgo (August 23-September 22) element. 19. Sluggish tailless Australian arboreal mar- 39. Title for a civil or military leader (espe- supial with gray furry ears and coat. Pisces (February 19-March 20) cially in Turkey). 21. A federally chartered corporation that Family seems to be where your focus is. You desire a strong foundation 40. Of a temperature scale that registers the and have been working hard to establish this in your world. You may find someone purchases mortgages. You are one of a kind. Relationships take on greater meaning in your life. freezing point of water as 32 degrees F 25. A Hindu theistic philosophy. younger seeking advice and looking to you for assistance. You will be able to guide them with ease. Helping others brings great satisfaction to you and in a way will fulfill You want everything in your world in its place and everything running smoothly. One and the boiling point as 212 degrees F at 28. A light strong brittle gray toxic bivalent one atmosphere of pressure. the need to be needed you have been desiring. It is a great time to sit and have a mean- thing out of place will cause stress and tension in for you. You have a talent for bringing metallic element. ingful conversation with a loved one. Virgo, you will be able to relate your ideas with those around you into harmony and this makes you a wonderful leader. You are placing 44. Of or relating to a member of the 30. A percussion instrument consisting of a Buddhist people inhabiting the Mekong ease and grace and this conversation will be very beneficial to your relationship. Today great focus on your marriage or a close relationship with someone dear to you. This is a pair of hollow pieces of wood or bone will find you very successful when organizing the actions of those around you. You are great move and will result in a strong bond you have been craving. Pisces, all is well in river in Laos and Thailand. (usually held between the thumb and fin- your world and the steps you are taking will develop feed the deep roots needed for 46. Small tropical shrubby tree bearing small very focused on those closest to you. These personal relationships are your driving gers) that are made to click together (as force and you are in a very content and peaceful state. lasting love and support from many close to you. yellowish fruit. by Spanish dancers) in rhythm with the 49. Any of various strong liquors distilled dance. from the fermented sap of toddy palms 33. Fungus used in the preparation of punk or from fermented molasses. for fuses. Wordsearch Puzzle Friday’s Solution 52. Someone who works (or provides work- 34. Traveling on horseback. ers) during a strike. 37. A period of 10 years. 53. Essential oil or perfume obtained from 38. Away from the mouth or oral region. flowers. 41. (poetic) Tranquil silence. 54. (Roman Catholic Church) A book con- 42. Genus of South and Central American taining all the prayers and responses heathlike evergreen shrubs. needed to celebrate Mass throughout 43. Bringing death. the year. 45. A mark left by the healing of injured tis- 55. A pilgrim who journeys to Mecca. sue. 56. A quantity of no importance. 47. Indras's thunderbolt. 57. A tray for making cubes of ice in a refrig- erator. 48. A Chadic language spoken in the Mandara mountains in Cameroon. 59. Worn until no longer useful. 61. A state in midwestern United States. 50. Out of bed. 67. An organ in its earliest stage of develop- 51. A city in western Lithuania on the Baltic ment. Sea. 71. A loose sleeveless outer garment made 58. A name for the Old Testament God as from aba cloth. transliterated from the Hebrew YHVH. 72. Organized opposition to authority. 60. Fairly small terrestrial ferns of tropical 75. American professional baseball player America. who hit more home runs than Babe Ruth 62. Big-eyed scad. (born in 1934). 64. A United Nations agency created to 76. The universal time coordinated time assist developing nations by loans guar- when a transmission is sent from Earth anteed by member governments. to a spacecraft or other celestial body. 65. Willing to face danger. 77. The state capital of South Australia. 66. The biblical name for ancient Syria. 79. A user interface in which you type com- 68. Type genus of the family Arcidae. mands instead of choosing them from a 69. Made from or covered with gold. menu or selecting an icon. 70. A town in north central Oklahoma. 80. A sweetened beverage of diluted fruit 73. Leaf or strip from a leaf of the talipot juice. palm used in India for writing paper. 81. A great raja. 74. Brief episode in which the brain gets 82. A condition (mostly in boys) character- insufficient blood supply. ized by behavioral and learning disor- 78. A person who announces and plays pop- ders. ular recorded music.

Friday’s Solution

Daily Sudoku Friday’s Solution Thur

Established 1961 Lifestyle

SUNDAY, DECEMBER 15, 2019

Sumo wrestlers exercise during a training session at a stable in Tokyo. The quintessentially Japanese sport of sumo stops the whole country during the six big tournaments per year, with millions glued to the live action on national broadcaster NHK. — AFP Photos

he sumo champion hauls his giant ranks to become ozeki, the second-highest When in Tokyo, he sometimes gets a frame from the ground, sand and grade after yokozuna (grand champion). taste of home by listening to ancient clay caking his sweaty back and Now known by his Japanese wrestling Georgian polyphonic chants or eating tra- Tfury flashing from his eyes as he name of Tsuyoshi Tochinoshin, he says he ditional fare such as khachapuri - bread chastises himself for his defeat. His 178- “learned everything” in Japan, above all stuffed with cheese - or satsivi, chicken in kilogramme body and white mawashi, or “look after your colleagues because we all a walnut sauce. Back in Georgia, he is belt, are commonplace, but his bright blue have to live together”. The camaraderie is treated as a returning hero and greeted by eyes and Western features instantly mark clear at training as the wrestlers move huge crowds at Tbilisi Airport on his occa- out Georgia-born Levan Gorgadze as dif- around the sumo dohyo, or ring, with sur- sional trips home. “I can only say good ferent in the traditional Japanese sport. prising grace, bringing each other water or things about Levan. Ever since childhood, As a teen in 2006, Gorgadze left his brushing dirt from the back of a defeated he was a good kid. And he has become a mountain village in the Caucasus near the stablemate. successful man the whole village adores,” ancient Georgian city of Mtskheta for the bright lights of Tokyo, a city with 10 times as many people as his entire home country. It hasn’t been an easy path for Gorgadze, one of a growing number of foreign sumo Georgia-born sumo wrestler Levan Gorgadze known by his Japanese stars, who has faced homesickness, injury wrestling name of Tsuyoshi Tochinoshin speaks during an interview with and even being beaten with a golf club on AFP following a training session at a sumo stable in Tokyo. his way to the top of the sport. His story typifies the difficulties encountered by overseas sumos, who started making their mark in the 1980s and have to negotiate the sport’s arch-conser- vatism and spartan lifestyle if they are to succeed. Sumo has also been dogged by multiple scandals in recent years including allegations of bullying, illegal betting and links to organized crime. “My mother was against it but I took the decision on my own,” Gorgadze, 32, told AFP in a rare interview for a sumo, speaking at his stable A sumo wrestler exercises during a training A sumo wrestler takes a break after a training bout at a stable in Tokyo. after training. He quickly found that the life session at a stable in Tokyo. of a trainee sumo wrestler was not for the fainthearted. said one neighbor, 43-year-old Nino A sumo wrestler sweeps the clay ring or ‘dohyo’ after a training session Beaten over a kimono Suramelashvili. His mother has now at a stable in Tokyo. ‘Fastidious rules’ The inspiration for Gorgadze came changed her mind about her son’s unusual Cloistered in a stable, or heya, in the back in 2005 when he watched compatriot career choice. Tokyo sumo district of Ryogoku, the Kokkai, then a low-ranked 24-year-old, “I am very proud, I am very happy that wrestler’s days are filled with chores and defeat Mongolian yokozuna Asashoryu for my son has achieved such success. In the punishing early-morning training sessions. the first time, a win that sent shockwaves sports world, he is a bright star. And One thing he does not lack is food: through the sumo world. As a junior judo besides that, he is a very good person with wrestlers have to consume gargantuan star, Gorgadze took easily to sumo and his human qualities,” says Nunu portions of chankonabe, a high-calorie trained initially at the prestigious club at Markarashvili under the shade of the vines. stew designed to add bulk. The heyas are Nihon University to become one of the And his uncle Tristan Maghradze cries: one of the last vestiges of traditional sport’s expanding cohort of foreigners. His “Long live Tochinoshin. Levan Gorgadze. Japanese life and there is no privacy — the journey to the rank of ozeki was not with- My famous nephew whom I am proud of, junior wrestlers eat, train and sleep as a out incident, however. In 2011, he was one he is a worthy person.” Gorgadze is not group. Despite this, Gorgadze said that “at of three wrestlers beaten with a golf club sure what his future holds but one possi- first, I felt sad and isolated... annoyed by for appearing in public without a kimono. bility is obtaining Japanese citizenship to the (obligatory) wearing of a kimono and He also suffered injuries that ruled him out be able to open his own sumo stable. His fastidious rules”. He pined for his native of several tournaments, or bashos, and has dream is to see “lots of Georgians taking village. “I couldn’t speak Japanese... I didn’t had to win back his rank after demotion. up sumo”. — AFP even have a mobile phone to call home.” He has recently suffered another demotion A sumo wrestler resists as he is pushed in the ring or ‘dohyo’ during a However, he persevered and rose up the after an injury-hit basho. training bout at a stable in Tokyo. 20 Established 1961 Lifestyle Feature Sunday, December 15, 2019

In this photograph taken on Sept 23, 2019, youth climate In this file photograph taken on Oct 3, 2019, Carola Rackete, In this photograph taken on May 16, 2019, US computer scien- In this photograph taken on Jan 23, 2019, Venezuela’s National activist Greta Thunberg speaks during the UN Climate Action German captain of rescue vessel Sea-Watch 3, attends a tist Katherine Bouman speaks during a House Committee on Assembly head Juan Guaido shouts as he speaks to the crowd Summit. European Parliament Committee’s public hearing on the situa- Science, Space and Technology hearing on the “Event Horizon during a mass opposition rally against leader Nicolas Maduro tion of search and rescue in the Mediterranean in view of latest Telescope: The Black hole seen Round the World” in the in which he declared himself the country’s “acting president”, developments and the legal framework in Brussels. Rayburn House office building in Washington DC. on the anniversary of a 1958 uprising that overthrew a military dictatorship, in Caracas. — AFP photos

f the many people who made history in the European Commission in April found that six in now-ousted autocrat Omar Al-Bashir in April. not really affect me”. “On the contrary, I am now 2019, some surprised themselves and the 10 Europeans thought “climate change is one of the Saleh, 22, was propelled to internet fame after a more sensitive to the racism that some people suf- Oworld by emerging from obscurity to most serious problems facing the world,” an increase photograph of her with one hand raised in the air fer and to the discrimination and social justice that make their mark, though one remains of 17 percentage points compared with 2017. singing and cheering along with crowds of pro- exist in the world,” Italian media quoted her as anonymous for the time being - “The testers went viral, earning her the moniker of telling supporters at the book launch. Whistleblower” behind the impeachment probe into Hong Kong students “Kandaka”, or Nubian queen. US President Donald Trump. Following are brief Brandishing Molotov cocktails, black-clad Hong An engineering student, Saleh grew up in a The fairytale rise of Lil Nas X profiles of eight history-makers in politics, climate Kong students cast off their bookish, meek image in middle-class Sudanese family in Khartoum and A little over a year ago, Montero Hill had and humanitarian activism, music and astronomy 2019 to become a global symbol of democratic was relatively unknown until her photograph went dropped out of university, was living with his sis- who were unknown quantities in 2018. resistance in the face of unyielding authoritarian viral during the anti-Bashir protests. But since ear- ter, had no job, car or even a driver’s license. Today power. Crowds have marched peacefully for greater lier this year, she has become a voice for women’s - thanks to record-breaking single “Old Town Trump impeachment ‘Whistleblower’ freedoms since Britain’s handover to China in 1997. rights in the northeast African country, where cen- Road” - he is the millionaire country-rap superstar Although huge efforts have been made to expose But this year saw pent-up anger explode in ways turies of patriarchal traditions and decades of known as Lil Nas X. The song topped the him, the person whose complaint threatens to bring once unimaginable for a financial hub that has strict laws under the former regime have severely Billboard Hot 100 for 19 consecutive weeks down the president of the United States is still always prided itself on stability and safety. restricted the role of women in Sudanese society. between April and August, breaking a record dat- known only as “The Whistleblower”. Reliably What started as a popular protest over a pro- “The existing discrimination and inequality ing to the mid-1990s when Mariah Carey and Boyz reported to be a mid-level, male CIA analyst in his posed bill allowing extraditions to mainland China women face, coupled with conflict and violence II Men spent 16 weeks at number one. Luis Fonsi early 30s who specializes in Eastern European morphed into a popular anti-Beijing revolt and over decades, has resulted in women being sub- and Daddy Yankee with Justin Bieber also topped issues and previously worked in the White House, he turned the city’s tourist shopping districts into brick- jected to a wide range of human rights violations, the charts for 16 weeks with “Despacito” in 2017. filed an anonymous complaint in August charging strewn urban battlegrounds. The typical frontline including sexual and gender-based violence on an All versions of “Old Town Road” have been that Donald Trump pressured Ukraine counterpart protester is university educated and under 30. epic scale,” Saleh said at an open debate at the played more than 1.3 billion times on streaming site Volodymyr Zelensky to help find dirt on his Arrest and injury figures suggest around a third of UN Security Council last month. She told the Spotify. Lil Nas X, 20, composed the song based Democratic rivals - a violation of US laws against those who have taken to the streets are women. Gas UNSC that even wearing trousers or meeting male on a beat he purchased for $30 from a Dutch seeking foreign help in US elections. masks with bright pink filters - dubbed “pig snouts” friends took courage as it was criminalized under record producer. The result merged thumping bass It was a finely written, nine-page memo describ- in Cantonese - became ubiquitous as people sought the former regime. and rap with a twangy banjo sound more associat- ing specific Trump actions, and while it was based to conceal their identities. During Bashir’s 30-year rule, authorities ed with country music. Billboard barred the song on secondary sources - his colleagues in the intelli- In a year that saw major unrest in the streets of enforced a strict public order law that activists from its rankings of country music songs, arguing gence and diplomatic communities - first-hand wit- Catalonia, Chile and Venezuela, the David and said primarily targeted women, through harsh that it did not have enough elements of that genre nesses have corroborated what he said, and more, in Goliath image of the leaderless protest movement in interpretations of Islamic sharia law. On Nov 26, to merit inclusion. the months since it surfaced. By sending his com- Hong Kong caught the global imagination, triggering A few days later, Lil Nas X released a remix of plaint to the inspector general for the US intelligence messages of solidarity from around the world and what was already a hit, starring country star Billy community, The Whistleblower set in motion a series statements of support from the EU, UN and United Ray Cyrus, father of pop star Miley Cyrus. Even States. Embracing the slogan “Liberate Hong Kong, with the added legitimacy of Billy Cyrus, a two- revolution of our time”, protesters have battled with time Grammy nominee in country categories, the riot police, stormed the local legislature and spray- remix was also left out of the country rankings. painted their core issues and demands across the Both versions went on to become number one in city, shredding the notion of a peaceful transition to the main Billboard charts, catapulting the previ- complete Chinese control in 2047 envisaged in the ously unknown artist into the celebrity strato- 50-year “one country, two systems” deal. sphere. Close to 6,000 protesters have been arrested Lil Nas X has also seduced fans with his down- with nearly 1,000 charged. But the crowds keep to-earth personality and humor. He has never hesi- coming and there is little sign the movement’s more tated to don traditional country clothing, including moderate supporters are going to abandon frontlin- cowboy hat, jacket and boots. After successfully ers they have dubbed “the braves”. Faced with regu- achieving a rare marriage of rap and country lar warnings from Beijing of disastrous conse- tunes, the young artist shook the hip-hop world in quences should the unrest continue, the protesters early July by announcing that he is gay. Although have responded with their now omnipresent chant: some female rappers had already come out, such “If we burn, you burn with us.” as Young M.A, Lil Nas X became the first promi- nent male rapper to do so. It was a significant Venezuela’s Juan Guaido development for an industry that, while less macho For a long time he didn’t distinguish himself as than in the past, tends to present a more traditional an outspoken critic of President Nicolas Maduro, side of masculinity. but when he proclaimed himself president in January, Juan Guaido suddenly emerged as the The woman who In this file photograph taken of reviews and then news articles that quickly snow- socialist leader’s main opponent. A key challenge photographed a black hole balled into the House impeachment probe that may now is to continue to inspire a wilting opposition. US computer scientist Katie Bouman became on April 10, 2019, Ala Saleh, a In this photograph taken on Nov 25, 2019, US singer ‘Lil Sudanese woman who pro- see Trump put on trial in the Senate in the new year. When he burst on the scene in January, the 36- an overnight sensation in April for her role in Many whistleblowers stay anonymous, and some year-old lawmaker initially energized a weakened Nas X’ arrives for the 2019 American Music Awards at developing a computer algorithm that allowed pelled to Internet fame after the Microsoft Theatre in Los Angeles. — AFP clips went viral of her leading collect million-dollar rewards for exposing fraud. But opposition whose key leaders were imprisoned, researchers to take the world’s first image of a powerful protest chants this one will not gain a reward and likely will not exiled or in hiding. black hole. The 30-year-old, currently an assistant against President Omar Al- remain unknown. Conservatives have already circu- On January 23, a few days after taking the helm the country’s new transitional cabinet led by Prime professor at the California Institute of Technology Bashir, addresses protesters lated a name and photograph online. Republicans in as speaker of parliament, the only state institution Minister Abdalla Hamdok scrapped the law, (Cal Tech), was a member of the Event Horizon during a demonstration in Congress have tried to expose him, alleging he is a controlled by the opposition, Guaido proclaimed although the ruling sovereign council has yet to Telescope (EHT) Collaboration when the team front of the military headquar- Democrat out to get Trump. But the impeachment himself acting president, declaring Maduro’s re- ratify the move. Saleh has faced criticism for captured the image. ters in Khartoum. — AFP process he sparked now fuels itself, meaning that, election illegitimate. He was swiftly recognized by attracting global attention even as many female Bouman said she first began working on the outed or not, his impact will long be felt in the United States and about 50 other countries. His activists faced brutal punishments during Bashir’s EHT as a graduate student studying computer Washington politics. popularity rating among Venezuelans soared to 63 rule. But many defend her rise to fame. “She was a vision at MIT and found that black hole imaging percent. By October, however, it had dropped more normal person like all others who took to the shared striking similarities with work she had done Greta Thunberg, 16, climate activist than 20 points. streets against the former regime,” said activist on brain imaging based on limited data from an What started as humble protest has turned Greta A trained industrial engineer, Guaido said he has Khalid Tabidi. MRI scanner. The EHT Collaboration had spent Thunberg into the world’s green conscience and the “tried everything” to push Maduro out of office, as more than a decade building an Earth-sized com- voice of a generation’s frustration with inaction on the country endures a deep economic crisis that has Migrants activist Carola Rackete putational telescope that combined signals climate change. It all started in August 2018 when driven 3.6 million people to flee since 2016. With German Carola Rackete was the captain of a received by various telescopes working in pairs Thunberg decided to skip school and sit outside great fanfare on Feb 23, Guaido tried to break a bor- migrant rescue ship in the Mediterranean who around the world. Sweden’s parliament, holding a sign reading “school der blockade to bring stockpiled international food became a left-wing hero in Italy for challenging However, since there were a limited number of strike for the climate”. Within months her struggle and medical aid into the country, calling on the mili- then far-right interior minister Matteo Salvini’s locations, the telescopes were able to capture only gained worldwide attention and the shy 16-year-old tary to abandon Maduro. The gambit failed. “closed ports” policy. The dreadlocked Rackete, some light frequencies, leaving large gaps in infor- - with her piercing eyes and trademark braids - On April 30, a military uprising won support of 31, was skipper of the Sea-Watch 3, one of several mation. In 2016, Bouman developed an algorithm found herself addressing world leaders at the World only a handful of officers and was quickly subdued ships used by international charities to aid named CHIRP to sift through the true mountain of Economic Forum in Davos and at the European by the government. Guaido, married with a two- migrants attempting the perilous sea journey from data and fill in the gaps, producing an image. Parliament. year-old daughter, describes himself as a survivor of North Africa to Europe on rickety boats. On June While the images were captured in 2017, the final Young people from around the world began the “Vargas tragedy” - a Dec 1999 landslide in the 12, Rackete’s ship picked up 53 migrants adrift result had to be independently validated by four staging their own school strikes, and the “Fridays for northern coastal state where he lived with his mother aboard an inflatable raft off the coast of Libya. EHT teams working around the world to avoid Future” movement was born. Following her ethos of and five siblings, which killed thousands. The Italian authorities allowed some of the shared human bias. avoiding air travel, she crossed the Atlantic on a The Venezuelan prosecutor’s office, considered a migrants to be taken in for health reasons but On April 10, 2019, a final image was released - a zero-emission sailboat to attend a UN climate sum- branch of government by the opposition, has filed a refused entry to 43 others, leading to a two-week moment that Bouman, then a postdoctoral fellow at mit in New York in September. The Stockholm-born number of lawsuits against him, for which he could stand-off at sea. As conditions on board worsened, the Harvard Smithsonian Center for Astrophysics, teenager’s eyes brimmed with tears and her voice face up to 30 years in prison. But Washington has Rackete eventually sailed her ship to the island of described as “truly amazing and one of my life’s cracked with emotion as she delivered a fiery speech repeatedly warned Caracas that jailing Guaido Lampedusa despite an order from Italian officials happiest memories”. Testifying before Congress in to world leaders. “How dare you?” she thundered. would be Maduro’s “last mistake”. On Jan 5, his term not to dock there. She was arrested on June 29, May about her research, Bouman praised her team “You have stolen my dreams and my childhood with as parliament speaker officially ends. Agreements although a judge overturned that order on July 2, that included several early-career scientists - like your empty words.” between political groupings could allow him to saying she had acted “out of necessity” because of herself - whose work had been vital to the project. Thunberg, the daughter of an opera singer moth- remain in the post, despite a drop in his ability to the migrants’ condition. “Like black holes, many early-career scientists with er and an actor-turned-producer father, has also inspire mass protests, most Venezuelans having Italy’s highest court is set to rule in January on significant contributions often go unseen,” she said. faced severe criticism and been subjected to a abandoned the street to focus on the daily business whether Rackete’s arrest was warranted. Salvini But that’s not the case with her anymore. — AFP swarm of online conspiracy theories. Some have of survival. described the incident, in which Sea-Watch 3 mocked her youth, called her a puppet of doomsay- allegedly hit a police speedboat, as an “act of war” ers or tried to discredit her because of her Revolutionary ‘icon’ and referred to Rackete as “the German criminal”. Asperger’s syndrome, a diagnosis she has never hid- Ala Saleh of Sudan During a visit to Italy in November to present her den. But no one can deny that the passionate climate Ala Saleh, dressed in traditional white Sudanese book “The World We Want”, Rackete was given a activist’s struggle has helped put climate change garb and standing atop a car, became the symbol police escort after coming under attack from anti- back at the top of the agenda. A survey published by of Sudan’s uprising as she led chants against the migrant groups. But she said the harassment “does Established 1961 21 Lifestyle Features Sunday, December 15, 2019

Flowers left for a father are seen at a grave marker in the Potter’s field at Hart Island, October 25, 2019 in New York. A dinghy sits near the ferry dock and greets visitors to Potter’s field.— AFP photos

once off-limits, eroding island in major development in a years-long cam- AFP a guided tour at the end of October. New York where more than a million paign to make the site, which has signs “Hart Island represents a cross section Apeople are buried in unmarked mass reading “prison property keep out,” more of the diversity of New York City, which is graves dug by prisoners is about to dignified for the dead and their families. why it really ought to be considered become more accessible. For 150 years, Hart Island, in the Long Island Sound sacred ground,” he explained. Between 40 unclaimed bodies, the poor, still-born chil- tidal estuary, became a potter’s field in and 50 exhumations happen every year, dren and AIDS victims have been laid to 1869 after the city purchased it from a pri- according to officials, after relatives trace a rest on the mile-long Hart Island, making it vate landholder to bury unknown and indi- loved one and opt to rebury them in a pri- one of America’s largest public cemeteries. gent residents. Approximately 1,200 buri- vate cemetery. The island has served as a Often referred to as “island of the dead” or als, some of unidentified people, still take prison camp for captured Confederates in place every year. Adults are buried in pine the US Civil War, a mental asylum, a sana- coffins stacked three deep; children five torium for tuberculosis sufferers, a youth deep in plots of 1,000. The boxes are detention center and even a Cold War-era marked with numbers not names, and there missile base. are no gravestones. Small white markers Geese roam the windswept, low-lying indicating the trenches dot the island’s bur- island. Deer and raccoons are also present, ial grounds. while ospreys nest there and seals bob off its shore. The island is in need of an Exhumations upgrade. Several dilapidated buildings lie Inmates from nearby Rikers Island, one abandoned and erosion, worsened by also pledged to start regular ferry services. New York Mayor Bill de of America’s most notorious jails, are paid Superstorm Sandy in 2012, has damaged “It lifts the stigma of city burials,” Melinda Blasio signs legislation to $1 an hour to bury the dead. Around half of its shoreline, unearthing some bones. Hunt, who has been campaigning for three make Hart Island a public the interred are young children, officials Archeologists have been handling remains decades to make the cemetery more park as Elaine Joseph say. Many HIV-positive people were to ensure bones do not get mixed up while accessible, told AFP. Hunt has helped (center behind de Blasio), buried on a separate site there during the this September work began on a $13.2 mil- countless relatives, including Joseph, trace Melinda Hunt (left) and 1980s AIDS crisis, after losing touch with lion project to mitigate the erosion. their loved ones to Hart Island. Herbert Sweat (second left) their families or because private grave- Joseph’s daughter died during a snow- watch in New York on Dec yards refused to take them over incorrect ‘Stigma’ storm that shut down New York. She was 04, 2019. A sign on the ferry dock “jail for the dead,” the islet has for over a fears about contagion. Several nationalities Last month, New York’s city council unable to get to the hospital and amid con- warns against trespassing century been run by the prisons depart- are among the dead, including Chinese, voted to end prison control of Hart Island fusion the city buried the girl in its potter’s on Potter’s field. ment, which heavily restricts access. Nigerian and Nepali people, notes Justin by transferring jurisdiction to its parks field. Authorities first started permitting Relatives are only allowed to visit on von Bujdoss, a prison chaplain who gave department, in a move hailed by activists. It visits in 2007, although relatives were two designated days a month, while cor- restricted to a gazebo away from the burial rectional officers escort media there just plots. After the city settled a lawsuit in twice a year. AFP was on the most recent 2015, relatives have been allowed to visit trip. “I don’t want somebody to tell me gravesites, albeit under controlled condi- when I can visit my baby’s gravesite. I want tions and on the specified dates. to go when I want to go,” Elaine Joseph, Joseph has to apply to the prisons 65, told AFP. Her daughter Tomika was just department for prior approval and is not a few days old when she died in January allowed to use her cellphone or take any 1978 after being born prematurely. Joseph photos while there. Her visiting time is also wasn’t able to visit her burial place until limited. Once the transfer of jurisdiction is 2014. complete, expected in 2021, Joseph hopes Soon, the retired nurse will be able to to finally put up a plaque bearing her pay her respects regularly thanks to plans daughter’s name, date of birth, and a small to open up Hart Island, which Mayor Bill tribute to her. “I want it to be just like any de Blasio signed last Wednesday. It is a other cemetery,” she said. — AFP

White stones mark burial sites at the Potter’s field on Hart Island.

t’s a sunny morning in Mexico City, and more set, some of them seem to doubt lifestyle,” said Javier Ramirez, the buff fitness rates of diabetes and heart disease, according health was poor, and I was getting tired at police officers drip with sweat as they do whether it’s worth it. But those who stick with instructor guiding the beat cops through their to public health experts. Officials have started work,” said officer Graciela Benitez, 36, taking Ipush-ups and squats, part of a program for the program, which was launched three routine. “We want them to be in optimal con- looking for ways to combat the problem. In a break from her crunches. overweight cops in one of the world’s most months ago, say it can be life-changing. “This dition so they can do their jobs effectively.” 2014, the country leveled a tax on soda and She has lost around 10 kilos since she obese countries. The two dozen officers gri- was all completely new to me... The first other sugary beverages. One study estimates started the program, which also includes macing through their workout on the pave- month was tough, both mentally and physical- Obesity epidemic it will save 18,900 lives and more than $983 nutrition counseling sessions to help officers ment of the station house yard — most with ly,” said one, Mauricio Barrera. Three-quarters of adults in Mexico are million over 10 years. eat a more healthful, balanced diet. “I used to round bellies bulging beneath their drenched “But the program has helped me under- overweight or obese, according to national This year, Congress also passed a law feel sleepy after lunch. I was tired when I got T-shirts — are just a handful of the more than stand that obesity is an illness,” the 26-year- statistics. Its obesity rate — nearly one-third requiring manufacturers to put warning labels to work,” said Benitez. “Now, I don’t get tired. 1,000 across the capital who have enrolled in old told AFP. Barrera, who now looks fit and of the adult population — is second only to on junk foods high in sugar, sodium or satu- My body feels the difference.” The authorities the program, “Healthy Police.” trim, cracked a grin when he revealed how the United States in the Organisation for rated fat. are hoping she will serve as an example for They get a bonus of 1,000 pesos (about much weight he has lost since he started: 16 Economic Co-operation and Development more obese police. — AFP $50) a month to participate — though judg- kilos (35 pounds). (OECD), a 36-member group of developed ‘Body feels the difference’ ing by the looks on their faces as their “This program is a way to fight the obesity countries. Mexico City’s 83,000-member police instructor shouts encouragement to finish one problem we have in Mexico, the sedentary Mexico’s obesity epidemic is driving high force is not immune to the problem. “My

Mexican police officers exercise at a police unit in Mexico City.

Mexican police officers exercise at a police unit in Mexico City on December 11, 2019. 1,000 Mexico City police officers have joined a program to lose weight, improve their health and do their work more efficiently, in a country where 75% of the adults are overweight or obese. — AFP photos 22 Established 1961

Sunday, December 15, 2019 Lifestyle Gossip

he 25-year-old singer refuses to pride flags”. Harry said: “In terms of how I wear it less though.’ I think the moment you T publicly define his own sexuality wanna dress, and what the album sleeve’s feel more comfortable with yourself, it all although he is a vocal supporter of gonna be, I tend to make decisions in terms of becomes a lot easier.” Harry also revealed that LGBTQ rights and has been seen on collaborators I want to work with. I want things he doesn’t mind being asked about his sexuali- stage brandishing Pride flags on multiple occa- to look a certain way. Not because it makes me ty but insisted he has no plans to definitively sions but Harry says he is not using the cause look gay, or it makes me look straight, or it provide an answer. He explained: “What I to make himself more interesting. He told The makes me look bisexual, but because I think it would say, about the whole being-asked- Guardian’s Weekend magazine: “Am I sprin- looks cool. And more than that, I dunno, I just about-my-sexuality thing - this is a job where kling in nuggets of sexual ambiguity to try and think sexuality’s something that’s fun. you might get asked. And to complain about it, be more interesting? No.” Harry was also Honestly? I can’t say I’ve given it any more to say you hate it, and still do the job, that’s just asked about his androgynous style and his thought than that. “What women wear. What silly. You respect that someone’s gonna ask. ‘Fine Line’ album sleeve, which, with its pink men wear. For me it’s not a question of that. If I And you hope that they respect they might not and blue stripes, the interviewer suggested see a nice shirt and get told, ‘But it’s for ladies.’ get an answer. could be a “gesture at the trans and bisexual I think: ‘Okaaaay? Doesn’t make me want to

athew Knowles - who managed did not name the alleged perpetrators - told M his daughter’s group Destiny’s Vlad TV: “Now, remember the girls are Child - previously revealed that minors. They’re 16 years old... the guys are when the two groups toured 21 and 22 years old. I have a fiduciary duty together in the early 2000s, he had to “put with minors, by the law, there’s a certain the guys off the bus” in order to diffuse the way I have to manage that. “I got a call from situation. However, after seeing coverage Kelly and Beyonce... saying that they were about his remarks, Mathew told the New constantly being harassed by two of the York Post’s Page Six: “I feel the need to members in Jagged Edge. “I couldn’t have clarify that I did not say the girls were sexu- that. I literally had to put the guys off the ally harassed while on tour with Jagged bus in Baton Rouge. That began all of this Edge in the 2000s. I said ‘harassed’. The drama.” The talent manager was then asked term ‘sexual harassment’ may imply to some how he handled a group of men trying to to mean physical advances. I would classify “sleep” with his daughter. He replied: “We the harassment they encountered more as won’t talk about that on camera.” Jagged unwelcome and inappropriate remarks to Edge denied the allegations by sharing a he 45-year-old star split from ful that Lee and her current partner, Eddie minors from adults who should have known meme on Instagram that read: “A lie don’t T the actor in 2013 after four Boxshall, get along well.She added: “I love better.” Speaking previously, Mathew - who care who tell it.” years of marriage but they what I have now with Betsy and Lee. have maintained a close rela- “Betsy is amazing, she is my main priority tionship for the sake of their nine-year- and we both work to bring her up togeth- old daughter Betsy and she thinks it’s er. And Eddie and Lee get on really well.” “amazing” they can even go off on holiday Meanwhile, the ‘Loose Women’ star together.She told Closer magazine: “It’s recently ruled out having children with amazing because what I have with Lee Eddie because they both have kids from and Betsy works so well. “If I have to previous relationships. She explained: work one week and can’t see her, I don’t “Eddie and I had the conversation last feel bad because I know Lee will be look- year and we probably would have done it ing after her and she’ll be having a great together earlier on in the relationship but time with her dad. “I speak to Lee daily, we didn’t and now we don’t feel like it’s so I always know what’s going on, and something we need to do together, he 40-year-old television presenter was taken Betsy knows how loved she is by both of because we’ve got kids between us and T into police custody on Friday (13.12.19) morn- us. “We even all jetted off to Dubai for a we’re actually in a really nice place with ing, following allegations of a dispute at the family holiday together one year. It’s our lives.” home she shares with her 27-year-old amazing can we do that without there boyfriend Lewis Burton, which took place on Thursday being any problems.” Denise is also grate- and The Sun newspaper reports that Caroline received an accidental injury and was treated by medical profes- sionals. Speaking about the fight, a neighbour told the newspaper: “I was woken by police and paramedics in the early hours of Thursday morning. “There were several police cars at Caroline’s house. I know Caroline and this new man. She’s very friendly and always speaks to us. I he 73-year-old actress joined capital city temporarily, with her main here is this young person who ... she’s not hope things sort themselves out.” A spokesperson for T Jane at her protest in front of goal being to get arrested during a influenced by what other people think. ... Caroline added: “We confirm that police attended the US Capitol yesterday and protest. Jane, 81, was inspired by teenage On the spectrum, if they are interested in Caroline’s home following a private domestic incident. has become the latest star to activist Greta Thunberg, who was “so something, they have a laser focus on that She is co-operating with the appropriate people to be arrested for her actions. In a passion- traumatised” by the threat of climate and whatever the denials and rationalisa- resolve matters. We will not be making any further com- ate speech at the demonstration, Sally change that she “stopped eating and tions the rest of us indulge in, that doesn’t ment for legal reasons.” A Met Police spokesperson told said “the time is now” to act on climate speaking for almost a year”. When asked come into play with her. “And she read MailOnline: “Caroline Flack, 40, of Islington was charged change. She added: “We can not sit back what moved her to protest, Jane said: “I the [Intergovernmental Panel on Climate on Friday, 13 December with assault by beating. She will in our comfort zones, on our couches, and read Naomi Klein’s new book. It’s called Change] report and she realised that the appear on bail at Highbury Corner Magistrates’ Court on wonder what can we do. We can get out. ‘On Fire: The (Burning) Case for a Green crisis was barreling straight at us, like a Monday, 23 December. “This follows an incident at We can do something - in the rain, what- New Deal’. [One of the things about the train, and looked around and people approximately 05:25hrs on Thursday, 12 December after ever it takes.” The demonstration was the book that really changed my life] was the weren’t behaving appropriately. It so reports of a man being assaulted. He was not seriously 10th consecutive weekly protest from way she wrote about Greta. I mean, I traumatised her that she stopped eating. I injured.” Caroline and Lewis have been in a relationship Jane, who was first arrested for her knew about Greta, I didn’t know she was hadn’t realised that she stopped eating since July this year, and the couple recently became the actions back in October. The ‘Gracie and on the spectrum. And I didn’t really and speaking for almost a year. And that subject of engagement rumours. However, a representa- Frankie’ star’s arrest came after she said understand what Asperger’s meant. really hit me.” tive for Caroline insisted in November the pair are “100 she was planning to relocate to the US “When Naomi described it, I realised that percent not engaged”.

he ‘Keeping Up With the up on them with a photographer and he 46-year-old actress body. “This kind of training burns T Kardashians’ star took to shoot our family Christmas card? I T consults with nutrition- the most calories because we are her Instagram account on think I can get this done. All right, so I ist Dr. Goglia - who cre- using the entire body. “It involves Friday (13.12.19) to share can maybe pull this off in about an ates food programmes eight to 10 exercises, then we finish the yearly festive greetings card of hour, but do we want a sister [and] based on the samples - and her the round with a quick two-minute her, her husband Kanye West and mom Christmas card? Or do we want personal trainer, Brad Siskind, also cardio interval, which we repeat. their four children; North, six, Saint, all the kids in it? I mean, I can try and finds the results useful in his work. Finally we stretch.” The ‘Farming’ four, Chicago, 23 months, and Psalm, get the kids here and surprise every- He told OK! magazine: “Without actress previously revealed she seven months, in matching grey track- one. What do I do, guys? Christmas blood work, you’re essentially takes her own packed lunch to set suits. She captioned the photograph: card today?” It’s not known whether throwing darts at the board with with her because she has a lot of “The West Family Christmas Card Kim, Kanye and their children will fea- your eyes closed. “Blood work allergies. She said: “I’m incredibly 2019.” The 39-year-old reality TV ture in an extended family Christmas reveals all truths and then we can self-sufficient and I lwaysa bring beauty has taken a different approach card this year or whether there will create a workout programme to my own food. I’m allergic to he ‘King’s Man’ star is in a everything. She said: “I don’t have a this year as she usually sends a even be one at all. achieve a certain look the client enough things that it’s pointless for Christmas card featuring her extended T relationship with Rory religion but I’m into spirituality. I wants.” The ‘Underworld’ star has me to try the curry. “I have to just Keenan - who she is definitely like the idea there’s some- family - including her sisters Kourtney worked with Brad for two years, make sure I have protein every few and Khloe and mother Kris Jenner - rumoured to have married thing else, and who knows what that and he revealed she always pushes hours or I’ll keel over.” earlier this year - and loves the fact is? “I think I’d feel saddened to think rather than the six of them. Last year, herself hard during their sessions fans were worried they wouldn’t get the ‘War & Peace’ actor is so sup- this is it.” Meanwhile, ‘Summerland’ together. He said: “Kate works her portive towards her ambitions She actress is keen to direct one day, but the annual card as there had been tail off in the gym. She’s focused talks about whether the famous family told Harper’s Bazaar: “He’s amazing not in the near future as she wants to when she’s training and shows up because he believes in me.” The 33- make sure she finds the right project. would or wouldn’t be posing for the ready to work. “We’ve got a great photo shoot alongside their children year-old actress and her partner She explained: “It takes up so much rhythm and the hour just flies by. have added to their household with of your life and it’s all on your shoul- following the drama of 2018. However, She makes my job very easy.” The Khloe, 35, later teased that there the addition of a dog, a cocker ders, so when I do direct, it’s got to pair train for an hour a day, six spaniel named Luca, which she be something I’m going to fight for - would be one on the way. When one days a week, and they have a very fan asked if they would be keeping described as a “silly creature”. She a story I believe in 200 per cent. specific schedule to stick to. Brad gushed: “He’s just a bundle of joy - “Those kinds of projects don’t come with the festive tradition, Khloe wrote explained: “We do whole body on Twitter: “I believe one will be com- the most loving, sweet-natured, silly along very often... [And] I do really training, otherwise known as creature. Rory and I call him our love acting - I wouldn’t want to stop ing very shortly.” Kim said at the time peripheral heart action, which that she was trying to organise a first-born son.” Gemma is “into spiri- doing it, ever.” Gemma also opened involves training the upper then tuality” and has beliefs in a “higher” up on the state of the film industry, spontaneous shoot. She explained: lower body, so that the blood is “We’re on set today for a secret proj- power, and she admitted she would and insisted it’s in a much better continually moving all over the be sad if life on earth was the end of place than it was in the past. ect. I’m here with all my sisters and my mom. Do you think I should pop Classifieds Sunday, December 15, 2019

Indian passport number SHARING ACCOMMODATION N0423196 issued at Kuwait on 31/12/2015 and permanent Sharing accommodation for address is SUNIL BHAVAN, West Filipino ONLY Farwaniya block Of Pandavar Kavu Temple, Sabah Hospital 24812000 4, near Big Jamiya, available on Muthukulam North P.O, December 25, Contact Alappuzha, Kerala, and PIN Amiri Hospital 22450005 55571873. 11-12-2019 690560. I am residing in Kuwait at present, Hereby declare that Maternity Hospital 24843100 Henceforth my name will be CHANGE OF NAME read as under: Given name: Mubarak Al-Kabir Hospital 25312700 SUNIL, Surname: SUNIL BHAVAN I, SUTHAN SUNIL SUNIL BHA- SUTHAN. (C 5477) 13-12-2019 Chest Hospital 24849400 VAN, S/o SUTHAN. Holder of Farwaniya Hospital 24892010 Adan Hospital 23940620 112 Ibn Sina Hospital 24840300 Al-Razi Hospital 24846000 Physiotherapy Hospital 24874330/9 Airlines Kaizen center 25716707

Rawda 22517733 Kuwait Airways 171 Adaliya 22517144 Jazeera Airways 177 Wataniya Airways 22 066 536 Khaldiya 24848075 Turkish Airlines 1884918 American Airlines 22087425 Kaifan 24849807 Jet Airways 22924455 Shamiya 24848913 FlyDubai 22414400 Qatar Airways 22423888 Shuwaikh 24814507 KLM 22425747 Abdullah Salem 22549134 Royal Jordanian 22418064/5/6 British Airways 22425635 Nuzha 22526804 Air France 22430224 Industrial Shuwaikh 24814764 Emirates 22921555 Air India 22456700 Qadsiya 22515088 Air India EXPRESS 22438185/4 Dasmah 22532265 Sri Lanka Airlines 22424444 Egypt Air 22421578 Bneid Al-Gar 22531908 Swiss Air 22421516 Saudia 22426306 Shaab 22518752 Middle East Airlines 22423073 Qibla 22459381 Lufthansa 22422493 PIA 22421044 Ayoun Al-Qibla 22451082 Bangladesh Airlines 22452977/8 Mirqab 22456536 Indian Airlines 22456700 Oman Air 22958787 Sharq 22465401 Turkish Airlines 22453820/1 Salmiya 25746401 Aeroflot 22404838/9

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

Arrival Flights on Sunday 15/12/2019 QTR 1078 Doha 13:35 Departure Flights on Sunday 15/12/2019 JZR 305 Istanbul 11:10 Airlines Flt Route Time QTR 8322 Doha 13:45 Airlines Flt Route Time GFA 214 Bahrain 11:25 IGO 1757 Kochi 00:10 KAC 614 Bahrain 13:50 AIC 988 Hyderabad/Chennai 00:05 JZR 213 Jeddah 12:00 AIC 989 Mumbai 00:10 RBG 211 Luxor 14:10 JZR 215 Jeddah 00:05 JZR 221 Riyadh 12:00 FEG 241 Alexandria 00:30 FDB 059 Dubai 14:20 QTR 1093 Doha 00:25 MEA 405 Beirut 12:55 JZR 254 Amman 00:45 GFA 221 Bahrain 14:40 FDB 072 Dubai 00:35 QTR 1075 Doha 13:00 NIA 561 Asyut 00:45 KAC 774 Riyadh 14:40 BBC 044 Dhaka 00:45 JZR 115 Doha 13:00 JZR 734 Cairo 00:50 KAC 672 Dubai 14:40 AIC 990 Mumbai 01:10 GFA 210 Bahrain 13:05 THY 772 Istanbul 00:50 KAC 742 Dammam 14:45 IGO 1758 Kochi 01:10 MSR 611 Cairo 13:25 KAC 102 London 00:55 SVA 500 Jeddah 14:45 FEG 342 Sohag 01:30 SAW 702 Damascus 13:30 KAC 504 Beirut 00:55 KAC 364 Colombo 14:50 NIA 364 Alexandria 01:40 KAC 781 Jeddah 13:30 PGT 858 Istanbul 00:55 KAC 118 New York 14:50 JZR 119 Dubai 01:55 UAE 872 Dubai 14:15 ETH 3424 Addis Ababa/Bahrain 01:30 KAC 692 Muscat 15:00 KAC 677 Dubai 01:55 AXB 394 Kozhikode 14:15 DLH 625 Dammam 01:30 KAC 618 Doha 15:00 JZR 111 Doha 01:55 RBG 218 Asyut 14:50 THY 764 Istanbul 01:50 KNE 529 Jeddah 15:10 PGT 859 Istanbul 02:00 QTR 1079 Doha 15:00 PGT 840 Istanbul 01:50 KAC 792 Madinah 15:10 KAC 363 Colombo 02:00 FDB 060 Dubai 15:10 JZR 722 Alexandria 01:55 ETD 303 Abu Dhabi 15:15 THY 773 Istanbul 02:20 QTR 8323 Doha 15:15 JZR 002 LGW 01:55 KAC 788 Jeddah 15:25 DLH 625 Frankfurt 02:30 GFA 222 Bahrain 15:25 IGO 1759 Delhi 01:55 JZR 222 Riyadh 15:30 KAC 417 Manila 02:30 KAC 775 Riyadh 15:45 UAE 853 Dubai 02:15 OMA 645 Muscat 15:35 PGT 841 Istanbul 02:50 KAC 673 Dubai 15:50 ETH 620 Addis Ababa 02:15 ETH 3425 Addis Ababa 02:55 SVA 501 Jeddah 16:00 KAC 562 Amman 15:40 KNE 530 Jeddah 16:00 RBG 551 Alexandria 02:25 UAE 857 Dubai 15:45 IGO 1765 Delhi 02:55 KAC 563 Amman 16:00 KLM 446 Bahrain 02:30 JZR 732 Cairo 15:50 ETH 621 Addis Ababa 03:05 KAC 743 Dammam 16:05 GFA 211 Bahrain 02:30 ABY 127 Sharjah 15:55 RBG 552 Alexandria 03:05 KAC 615 Bahrain 16:05 QTR 1086 Doha 02:40 KAC 546 Cairo 16:05 UAE 854 Dubai 03:40 ETD 304 Abu Dhabi 16:20 OMA 643 Muscat 02:55 JZR 212 Jeddah 16:25 KAC 621 Doha 03:50 KAC 785 Jeddah 16:30 RJA 648 Amman 03:05 QTR 1072 Doha 16:35 KLM 446 Amsterdam 03:55 OMA 646 Muscat 16:35 PGT 860 Istanbul 03:05 JZR 612 Tbilisi 16:40 THY 765 Istanbul 04:00 ABY 128 Sharjah 16:35 KKK 1268 Istanbul 03:05 JZR 116 Doha 16:40 QTR 1087 Doha 04:00 JZR 103 Bahrain 16:50 ETD 305 Abu Dhabi 03:10 FDB 051 Dubai 16:45 OMA 644 Muscat 04:00 KAC 283 Dhaka 17:00 MSR 612 Cairo 03:15 SVA 510 Riyadh 17:25 ETD 306 Abu Dhabi 04:00 KAC 503 Beirut 17:05 KAC 414 Bangkok 04:00 GFA 215 Bahrain 17:30 MSR 613 Cairo 04:15 KAC 357 Kochi 17:35 LMU 510 Cairo 04:00 JZR 214 Jeddah 17:45 PGT 861 Istanbul 04:25 KAC 619 Doha 17:35 QTR 1076 Doha 04:00 UAE 875 Dubai 18:00 JZR 713 Sohag 04:30 UAE 858 Dubai 17:45 IGO 1751 Chennai 04:10 FDB 063 Dubai 18:15 KKK 1269 Istanbul 04:35 FDB 052 Dubai 17:45 KAC 418 Manila 04:25 JZR 302 Istanbul 18:15 JZR 707 Luxor 04:40 QTR 1073 Doha 18:00 OHY 352 Istanbul 04:30 MSR 620 Cairo 18:30 LMU 511 Cairo 05:00 KAC 343 Chennai 18:00 KAC 302 Mumbai 04:40 QTR 1080 Doha 18:30 KAC 103 London 05:00 JZR 733 Cairo 18:10 JZR 406 Kochi 04:45 IRA 665 Shiraz 18:35 IGO 1752 Chennai 05:10 SVA 511 Riyadh 18:20 FDB 069 Dubai 05:00 JZR 306 Istanbul 18:55 QTR 1077 Doha 05:30 GFA 216 Bahrain 18:20 KAC 358 Kochi 05:10 RJA 640 Amman 19:10 OHY 351 Istanbul 05:30 KAC 301 Mumbai 18:35 JZR 404 Hyderabad 05:10 KAC 156 Istanbul 19:20 THY 771 Istanbul 06:25 JZR 127 Dubai 18:35 DHX 170 Bahrain 05:10 RBG 555 Alexandria 19:25 JZR 121 Dubai 06:35 JZR 403 Hyderabad 18:40 KAC 382 Delhi 05:20 ABY 123 Sharjah 19:25 JZR 113 Doha 06:40 KAC 381 Delhi 18:45 KAC 784 Jeddah 05:20 GFA 217 Bahrain 19:30 JZR 001D LGW 06:45 JZR 721 Alexandria 18:55 THY 770 Istanbul 05:25 QTR 1090 Doha 19:35 RJA 649 Amman 06:55 FDB 064 Dubai 19:20 JZR 112 Doha 05:35 KAC 744 Dammam 19:45 FDB 070 Dubai 07:05 JZR 253 Amman 19:20 QTR 8511 Doha 05:45 KAC 782 Jeddah 19:50 GFA 212 Bahrain 07:15 UAE 876 Dubai 19:30 JZR 216 Jeddah 05:50 KAC 616 Bahrain 19:50 KAC 167 Paris 07:35 MSR 621 Cairo 19:30 KAC 284 Dhaka 05:55 JZR 104 Bahrain 19:55 QTR 8512 Doha 07:45 IRA 664 Shiraz 19:35 JZR 402 Mumbai 06:05 JZR 540 KTM 20:00 KAC 171 Frankfurt 08:00 QTR 1081 Doha 19:55 KAC 344 Chennai 06:10 FDB 057 Dubai 20:00 IGO 1767 Mumbai 08:10 JZR 653 OSS 20:05 JZR 120 Dubai 06:50 OMS 225 Muscat 20:05 KAC 165 Rome 08:15 ABY 124 Sharjah 20:05 KAC 544 Cairo 07:00 KAC 104 London 20:05 KAC 161 Geneva 08:20 RBG 556 Alexandria 20:05 KAC 678 Dubai 07:05 KAC 776 Riyadh 20:05 FDB 054 Dubai 08:35 RJA 641 Amman 20:10 BAW 157 London 07:10 OMA 647 Muscat 20:20 KAC 545 Cairo 08:50 GFA 218 Bahrain 20:15 IGO 1766 Mumbai 07:10 QTR 1088 Doha 20:30 BAW 156 London 09:00 KAC 345 Ahmedabad 20:25 KAC 204 Lahore 07:15 KAC 166 Rome 20:40 KAC 787 Jeddah 09:00 JZR 501 Lahore 20:40 FDB 053 Dubai 07:50 KLM 445 Amsterdam 20:50 KAC 163 MXP 09:00 FDB 058 Dubai 20:45 KAC 622 Doha 08:00 DLH 624 Frankfurt 20:55 JZR 539 KTM 09:05 OMS 266 Muscat 20:45 QTR 1084 Doha 08:00 JZR 731 Cairo 09:10 KAC 333 Trivandrum 20:50 KAC 674 Dubai 20:55 KAC 353 Bengaluru 20:50 UAE 855 Dubai 08:35 MEA 402 Beirut 21:20 KAC 691 Muscat 09:20 JZR 401 Mumbai 20:55 ETD 301 Abu Dhabi 08:55 ETD 307 Abu Dhabi 21:20 KAC 671 Dubai 09:35 QTR 1091 Doha 21:00 KAC 334 Trivandrum 09:00 ALK 229 Colombo 21:20 QTR 1085 Doha 09:40 OMA 648 Muscat 21:20 ABY 125 Sharjah 09:05 UAE 859 Dubai 21:30 ABY 126 Sharjah 09:45 DLH 624 Dammam 21:45 KAC 304 Mumbai 09:30 KAC 172 Frankfurt 21:30 KAC 101 London 09:45 DHX 171 Bahrain 21:50 KAC 384 Delhi 09:30 RBG 217 Asyut 21:35 KAC 561 Amman 09:45 KLM 445 Bahrain 21:50 FDB 055 Dubai 09:40 KAC 162 Geneva 21:40 ETD 302 Abu Dhabi 09:55 QTR 1089 Doha 21:55 IGO 1753 Ahmedabad 09:40 GFA 219 Bahrain 21:45 UAE 856 Dubai 10:00 RBG 214 Sohag 22:15 QTR 1070 Doha 09:45 JZR 002D LGW 21:55 KAC 117 New York 10:00 KAC 203 Lahore 22:15 SVA 512 Riyadh 10:00 KAC 164 MXP 21:55 KAC 791 Madinah 10:00 JZR 701 Asyut 22:15 JZR 114 Doha 10:20 KAC 168 Paris 22:00 KAC 613 Bahrain 10:05 MEA 403 Beirut 22:20 GFA 213 Bahrain 10:40 KAC 564 Amman 22:00 JZR 301 Istanbul 10:05 ALK 230 Colombo 22:25 JZR 714 Sohag 10:50 KAC 620 Doha 22:00 KAC 773 Riyadh 10:15 ETD 308 Abu Dhabi 22:25 JZR 708 Luxor 10:55 QTR 1082 Doha 22:05 KAC 155 Istanbul 10:20 GFA 220 Bahrain 22:30 JZR 122 Dubai 11:15 ETD 309 Abu Dhabi 22:15 FDB 056 Dubai 10:35 UAE 860 Dubai 22:55 QTR 1074 Doha 11:35 AIC 981 Chennai/Ahmedabad 22:25 KAC 617 Doha 10:35 ETD 310 Abu Dhabi 23:05 MEA 404 Beirut 11:55 KAC 786 Jeddah 22:50 IGO 1754 Ahmedabad 10:40 KAC 383 Delhi 23:20 GFA 209 Bahrain 12:05 GOW 061 CNN 23:00 JZR 211 Jeddah 10:40 QTR 1083 Doha 23:25 MSR 610 Cairo 12:25 QTR 1092 Doha 23:10 JZR 611 Tbilisi 10:45 KAC 411 Bangkok 23:25 SAW 701 Damascus 12:30 MSC 405 Sohag 23:15 QTR 1071 Doha 11:00 KAC 543 Cairo 23:30 UAE 871 Dubai 12:50 JZR 128 Dubai 23:15 SVA 513 Riyadh 11:00 KAC 303 Mumbai 23:40 AXB 393 Kozhikode 13:15 FDB 071 Dubai 23:40 KAC 741 Dammam 11:05 GOW 062 CNN 23:55 24 Established 1961 News Sunday, December 15, 2019

RIYADH: People view the driverless rolling stock of the new Riyadh Metro in the Saudi capital. Saudi Arabia is boosting its infrastructure spending and expanding its railways-including a $22.5 billion metro system under construction in the capital Riyadh-as it seeks to diversify its oil-dependent economy. — AFP

Anger erupts at the UN climate summit MADRID: Major economies resisted calls for bolder major round of talks in Glasgow. If big economies such climate commitments as a UN summit in Madrid limped as China, India, Japan, Brazil, Australia and others fail to towards a delayed conclusion yesterday, dimming agree more meaningful climate action soon, then scien- hopes that nations will act in time to stop rising tem- tists say already slim hopes of averting catastrophic peratures devastating people and the natural world. temperature rises will all but vanish. With the two-week gathering spilling into the weekend, Although no advanced economy is yet on track for campaigners and many delegates slammed Chile, pre- the kind of action scientists say is needed to steer the siding over the talks, for drafting a summit text that climate onto a safer path, all the EU’s 28 member states, they said risked throwing the 2015 Paris Agreement to bar Poland, agreed in Brussels on Thursday to target tackle global warming into reverse. net zero emissions by 2050. Krista Mikkonen, Finland’s “At a time when scientists are queuing up to warn environment minister, speaking on behalf of the EU, about terrifying consequences if emissions keep rising, told the talks it would be “impossible to leave” without and school children are taking to the streets in their agreeing a “strong message” on the need to redouble millions, what we have here in Madrid is a betrayal of pledges to cut emissions next year. people across the world,” said Mohamed Adow, direc- Ministers broke into groups yesterday for eleventh- tor of Power Shift Africa, a climate and energy think- hour negotiations on a tangle of issues, including MADRID: Activists from international climate action group Extinction Rebellion protest after dumping manure outside the tank in Nairobi. finance for climate-vulnerable countries, carbon mar- UN Climate Change Conference COP25 at the ‘IFEMA - Feria de Madrid’ exhibition centre, in Madrid yesterday. —AFP The annual climate marathon had been due to con- kets, and the all-important issue of the strength of the clude on Friday, but dragged on with ministers mired in summit’s final text. With the clock ticking, AndrÈs multiple disputes over implementing the Paris deal, Landerretche, Chile’s summit coordinator, said the goal polling stations and clashed with police on election day, which has so far failed to stem the upward march of was to conclude yesterday. “The vast majority of dele- Protests erupt; residents said. The US on Friday congratulated the global carbon emissions. Long-time participants in the gations are asking for a more ambitious text, and that’s president-elect but called on Algeria to respect the talks expressed outrage at the unwillingness of major what we’re aiming at,” he told reporters. rights of protesters. “The Algerian people have voiced polluters to show ambition commensurate with the Campaigners had said a draft text circulating earlier Algeria ex-PM... their aspirations not just at the ballot box but in the gravity of the climate crisis, after a year of wildfires, was among the worst they had seen at climate negotia- streets... The United States supports the right of cyclones, droughts and floods. tions. “The approach Chile has taken on this text shows Continued from Page 1 Algerians to peacefully express their views,” State The European Union, small island states and many how it has listened to the polluters and not to the peo- Department spokeswoman Morgan Ortagus said. other nations had been calling for the Madrid decision ple,” said Jennifer Morgan, executive director of The 74-year-old former prime minister took just to signal that the more than 190 countries participating Greenpeace International. The Paris process has been over 58 percent of the vote, trouncing his four fellow ‘Mired in crisis’ in the Paris process will submit bolder pledges to cut weakened by a move by US President Donald Trump to contenders without the need for a runoff, electoral Young protesters in the capital slammed those cast- emissions next year. The agreement enters a crucial begin withdrawing the world’s largest historical emitter commission chairman Mohamed Charfi said. ing their ballots as “traitors of the nation”. But some implementation phase in 2020, when countries are sup- from the agreement last month, making it easier for oth- All five candidates served under the two-decade voters said they had turned out because after nearly a posed to ratchet up their ambitions ahead of the next er big countries to backslide. — Reuters rule of Bouteflika, 82, who resigned in the face of mass year of turmoil it was time for a return to stability. demonstrations in April. The deeply unpopular election Tebboune faces a mammoth task to be accepted by the had been championed by the army as a way of restor- electorate in the North African country, where many ing stability after almost 10 months of street protests. citizens see the government as inept, corrupt and The candidates - who included another former prime unable to manage the flagging economy. Addressing minister, Ali Benflis, 75, and an ex-minister, Azzedine reporters on Friday, he vowed to battle corruption and Mihoubi - were widely rejected by protesters as “chil- to form a national conference charged with amending dren of the regime”. the constitution. “There will be a new electoral law and we will defin- Low turnout itively separate money from politics,” he said. Tebboune A record six in 10 Algerians abstained in the vote, served in Bouteflika’s cabinet from 1999 to 2002, Charfi said - the lowest turnout for a multi-party elec- returning in 2012 and briefly serving as prime minister tion since independence from France in 1962. Tens of in 2017. But Bouteflika sacked him after just three thousands rallied on election day in central Algiers, months for criticizing top regime figures, many of whom where police with water cannon and helicopters tried are now in jail on corruption charges. Tebboune is seen to disperse them. as close to army chief Ahmed Gaid Salah, who has On Friday, protesters took to the streets again in emerged as Algeria’s strongman since Bouteflika response to calls on social media under the slogan stepped down. “Tebboune is not my president”. Said, a 32 year-old Since the start of the campaign, Tebboune has engineer from Bouira, said he had made the 100-kilo- sought to distance himself from Bouteflika. The “Hirak” metre journey to the capital to take part in the demon- street movement kicked off when Bouteflika announced strations. “I spent the night here so I could demonstrate in February that he would seek a fifth term in office. again... and say we don’t recognize their election or Protesters have stayed on the streets ever since, their president.” Pensioner Farida mocked the official demanding the total dismantling of the system that has figures after the vote. “Someone added yeast to them to ruled Algeria since independence. They have also vent- get them to rise,” she said. Protests in Algiers dispersed ed their anger at Gaid Salah. “This system is worn out,” calmly in the late afternoon. said Maghreb expert Karima Direche, warning that In the mountain region of Kabylie - home to much of protesters would continue pressing for change. “We are the country’s Berber minority and historically opposed witnessing the death of the system. It will take as long AMSTERDAM: Greenpeace activists hold banners and flags as they protest to denounce airline pollution in the main hall of the to the central government - protesters ransacked as it takes,” she said. —AFP Amsterdam Schiphol airport yesterday. — AFP

first anniversary of the start of the uprising against been this agitation (against) illegal migration from Sudan’s Bashir Bashir. On Friday, the Sudanese military officer in charge US, UK issue travel Bangladesh over many years,” Sanjoy Hazarika, a pro- of removing the powers of the old regime announced fessor at Delhi’s Jamia Millia Islamia University said. that Sudan’s bar association and trade union governing “They feel that their rights to land, to jobs, and the sentenced to... bodies were being dissolved, according to state news warnings for NE... entire social fabric education, existing social services Continued from Page 1 agency SUNA. Continued from Page 1 and so on will be impacted by this.” On Friday universi- He also announced that a committee was being ty students in Delhi clashed with police, who used launched in Sudan against Bashir. In May he was formed to dissolve the assets of Bashir’s National Assam has long been a hotbed of ethnic tensions. In batons and tear gas shells to quell the protests. The charged with incitement and involvement in the killing Congress Party. Protests triggered by a deepening 1983 some 2,000 people, mainly Bengali Muslims, were passage of the bill also sparked angry scenes in both of protesters, and this week he was summoned for economic crisis began to spread across Sudan on butchered in what became known as the Nellie mas- houses of parliament this week, with one lawmaker questioning over his role in the 1989 military coup that Dec 19, 2018. Nearly four months later, a group of sacre. This year a citizenship registry left off 1.9 million likening it to anti-Jewish legislation by the Nazis in brought him to power. military generals removed Bashir from power and people-many of them Muslims-unable to prove that 1930s Germany. Rahul Gandhi of the opposition Authorities running Sudan under a three-year, power- jailed him in Khartoum’s Kobar prison where he had they or their forebears were in Assam before 1971, Congress party has called the law “an attempt to ethni- sharing deal struck in August are eager to demonstrate incarcerated thousands of opponents of his repres- leaving them to face possible statelessness. “There has cally cleanse the northeast”. — AFP progress in the country’s political transition ahead of the sive rule. — Reuters Established 1961 25 Sports Sunday, December 15, 2019 Huge comeback lifts Internationals with Presidents Cup on knife-edge Japan’s Matsuyama and Taiwanese CT Pan score biggest win of the event

MELBOURNE: A gutsy comeback from Marc Internationals,” he added. Despite the Thomas-Fowler Leishman and Abraham Ancer gave Ernie Els’ meltdown, playing-captain Woods said the day was a International team a massive confidence boost at the win for his team. “At one point it looked like we were Presidents Cup yesterday as Tiger Wood’s Americans going to be down 1-9, and for the International team stormed into contention. only to get one point from that point on, for us to fight The pair were five down against Justin Thomas and back and get eight points, was a huge, huge win for us Rickie Fowler after 10 holes in the afternoon foursomes, today,” he said. or alternate shot format, but fought back to halve the tie at the 18th in a demoralising blow for the US. SHOVED HIM Woods’ team won the foursomes 3-1 after losing the After relying heavily on Thomas over the first three morning fourball matches 2.5-1.5 to leave the biennial sessions, where he won three points, his teammates showdown on a knife-edge ahead of today’s 12 singles. finally stepped up to help the US clinch the foursomes The Internationals lead 10-8 as they search for a first and stay in the hunt. Dustin Johnson and Gary victory since 1998 — their lone win at the match play Woodland won, beating veteran Adam Scott and Louis event. “It was unbelievable. You talk about coming back Oosthuizen, while Patrick Cantlay and Xander from the dead — 5-down and 4-down through eight Schauffele also secured a point, overcoming Australia’s and nine holes, come back and get that result, I mean, Cameron Smith and South Korean Im Sung-jae. that’s a turnaround. That gets momentum,” said Els. Matt Kuchar and Tony Finau halved their match with “I mean, we had a lead, it looked like it was going to South Korea’s An Byeong-hun and Chilean Joaquin be wiped away, and the guys absolutely played with Niemann after being 2-up for much of it. Earlier, Japan’s their guts and I could not be more proud and more Hideki Matsuyama and Taiwanese rookie CT Pan happy for those guys in that cabin tonight.” World scored the biggest win of the event so far, crushing number four Thomas had been in a rich vein of form Webb Simpson and Patrick Reed 5 and 3. around the challenging Royal Melbourne sandbelt They blew away the Americans courtesy of MELBOURNE: International Team player An Byeong-hun of South Korea hits out of a bunker during the third day of course, first alongside Woods and then with Fowler Matsuyama’s cool head and Pan’s hot putter and laser- the Presidents Cup golf tournament in Melbourne yesterday. — AFP before he ran out of steam. like iron play — the pairing’s second win. “I just feel we He said he was “speechless” after throwing away the have a chemistry. It’s hard to explain. Our game fits match and it was “unacceptable for us to get a half a each other and that really helps,” said Pan. of the player by spectators. Reed was docked two “I got off the cart and shoved him, said a couple things, point”. In contrast, Leishman was over the moon, calling The match was marred by an altercation between strokes for improving his lie in sand in the Bahamas last probably a few expletives,” Karain said in a statement to the comeback “pretty awesome”. Reed’s caddie Kessler Karain and a fan, who was week, causing Smith to brand him a cheat and he has broadcaster ESPN on the incident. The PGA Tour banned “It’s going to be a big momentum gainer for the shoved as tensions boiled over after endless barracking been targeted by fans in Melbourne. him from carrying Reed’s bags today. — AFP

seeks to recover when it plays Russia at Kuwait suffers 4:10 pm, bearing in mind that Hungary beat Egypt 19-7 yesterday. second loss as In Group D, Greece, the defending champion will not have any problem in NZ Olympic legend moving to the quarter finals when it USA defeat Iran meets Uzbekistan at 10:50 am, while it will be a match of equal chances Snell dies at 80 between Brazil and Australia when they By Abdellatif Sharaa meet at 9:30 am. In Group A it will be a match for the KUWAIT: Kuwait National Water Polo top spot between Serbia and Croatia at team hopes to restore its balance when 5:30 pm, while Japan will meet south it plays against the USA at 21:50 pm Africa at 1:30 pm. today in the fourth round of Group C in The second round which was held the FINA World Men’s Junior Water Polo Friday saw Serbia beat Japan 13-7, Championship being held in Kuwait at China beat South Africa 14-13 in Group HH Sheikh Nasser Al-Mohammad A, Spain beat Egypt 18-4, Canada beat Swimming Pools Complex with 20 coun- Russia 12-10 in Group B, Greece beat tries participating. New Zealand 14-5 and Brazil beat Kuwait’s team suffered its second loss Uzbekistan 23-6 in Group D. in front of Montenegro, a team expected Meanwhile, President of Asian and to win the championship, with the score Kuwait Swimming Federations Sheikh of 7-42 of the second round, which saw Khalid Al-Bader said Kuwait hosting the Director General Dr Humoud Fulaiteh place in the championship, especially the USA beat Iran 27-4. championship place in once again on the and his Deputy Saqer Al-Mulla which that it prepared well. Peter Snell The first round saw Kuwait losing to world’s sports map following a lengthy made it easy to organize the champi- He said the Egyptian federation Iran 7-15, while Italy beat USA 18-11, suspension. He also appreciated the onship, which it coincided with the brought a foreign expert to overlook the DALLAS: Famed New Zealand Olympic middle then Italy beat Iran 16-4 yesterday. patronage of House Speaker Marzouq opening of HH Sheikh Nasser Al- national team’s training. distance runner Peter Snell has died in Dallas at Today’s matches, Spain will face Al-Ghanem of this major event. Mohammad swimming complex. He said Egypt found itself in a tough age 80, the New Zealand Herald reported yester- Canada at 12:10 pm, while Hungary He pointed to the support of Public Egyptian coach Hisham Nafe said his group with teams that are candidate to day. The newspaper reported sports historian which lost to Spain 7-9 in the first round, Authority of Sport (PAS) and its team is trying hard to reach an advanced win the championship. and friend Ron Palenski confirmed Snell had died at his Texas home on Thursday after years of heart problems. Palenski said Snell’s wife Miki had telephoned him to share the news. Snell, considered New Zealand’s greatest athlete, won three Olympic gold medals. He took the 800 metres at the 1960 Rome Games and won both the 800 and 1,500 metres at the 1964 Tokyo Games. He is the only man since 1920 to have won both events at the same Olympics. “Peter Snell was to running what Sir Edmund Hillary was to mountaineering,” friend and Olympic marathoner Barry Magee once said. New Zealand Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern remembered Snell as “a legend, here and around the world. Our thoughts are with Sir Peter’s wife Miki and their family.” Under the guidance of famed coach Arthur Lydiard, the powerfully built Snell became one of the most dominant middle- distance runners in history. He set world records in the mile and 800 metres and also won dual gold at the 1962 Commonwealth Games in Perth. Snell was preparing to celebrate his 81st birthday on Tuesday. His wife Miki told New Zealand’s Stuff her Kuwait women husband was having a good day on Thursday, Badminton ace despite a health scare last month when he passed out while driving and crashed into several parked weightlifters vehicles. Momota closes “He felt good, he had gone and done some win medals activities, and was planning on doing more - he on 11th title wanted to play table tennis,” Miki told the publi- cation. “He lay down to watch the news on TV AMMAN: Bashayer Al-Mayyas and SHANGHAI: Kento Momota eased into the semi- and fell asleep. Tofool Al-Hasan both clinched Kuwait’s finals of the season-ending BWF World Tour Finals “I tried to wake him up but he wouldn’t move. first-ever medals in women’s weightlifting on Friday as the peerless Japanese goes after an The paramedics came in about five minutes but amid a newly-formed national team at an 11th title of the year. they couldn’t wake him.” Snell retired from run- Arab event in Jordan on Friday. The world number one swatted aside Jonatan ning in 1965 and later became a sports scientist The duo won a total six medals, Christie of Indonesia 21-14, 21-14 for his third vic- in the United States. including three silver in the 55kg weight tory on the bounce in the southern Chinese city of His work mainly focused on the kind of categories going to Al-Mayyas, and three Guangzhou. extreme performance he had personally bronze medals across various 49kg The 25-year-old is having a spectacular 2019, achieved. “I really wanted to know what made events for Al-Hasan, at an Arab youth and his run of tournament wins includes the world athletes tick... try to understand why Arthur juniors weightlifting tournament. championships, and will be clear favourite against Lydiard’s training methods worked so well,” he Kuwait Weightlifting Federation is Taiwan’s 19th-ranked Wang Tzu-wei. wrote in “Peter Snell: From Olympian to keen to offer an “equal amount of support Also into yesterday’s last four is the reigning Scientist” in 2007. for women as it does with their male Olympic champion and home hope Chen Long, Although living in the United States, Snell was counterparts,” Secretary Mesailem Al- who faces Anthony Sinisuka Ginting of Indonesia. always admired in New Zealand. He was elevated Adwani told KUNA.The federation offi- Former number one Viktor Axelsen of Denmark to Sir Peter Snell in 2009 and was voted New cial hailed the milestones as an “honour” bowed out after retiring from his match against Zealand’s Sportsman of the Twentieth Century. for the country, saying the results were Ginting complaining of a strained right hamstring “Just reading his name says greatness to me,” “crucial” on the road to Tokyo 2020 muscle and pain in his groin. In the women’s draw, Nick Willis, New Zealand’s two-time Olympic Olympics qualification. Some 35 competi- world number one Tai Tzu-ying of Taiwan sealed her medallist in the 1,500 metres, said on Twitter. tors, representing 18 countries, are par- AMMAN: Al-Mayyas and Al-Hasan both clinched Kuwait’s first-ever place in the semi-finals after defeating Thailand’s “He is the greatest ever. Absolute dominance in ticipating in the regional event, which medals. — KUNA Busanan Ongbamrungphan 21-14, 21-9. — AFP his era.” — Reuters concludes on Tuesday. — KUNA 26 Established 1961 Sports Sunday, December 15, 2019 Australia take huge lead against New Zealand in first Test Labuschagne, fifth Australian to score four centuries in succession

PERTH: Australia was in a commanding position and fifth overall, to score four Test centuries in succes- despite a late batting collapse on the third day of the sion. The only Australian to do so previously was Jack first Test against New Zealand at Perth Stadium yester- Fingleton in 1936. day. Having led by 250 runs on the first innings, the Santner couldn’t get a wicket with his spin, but he home side were 167 for six at stumps, with Matthew was the centre of attention in the field, colliding with Head on eight and Pat Cummins on one — an overall Aleem Dar late in the day and leaving the umpire with a lead of 417. knee injury. Dar, umpiring in a record 129th Test match, Cruising at 131 for one when Marnus Labuschagne spent several minutes lying on the ground and needed (50) and Joe Burns (53) were at the crease, the medical attention before returning to his post. Australians lost five for 29 under lights later in the day Smith’s relatively lean summer continued when he against some spirited bowling from the Kiwis, with Tim holed out to a short ball from Wagner for 16, the first Southee claiming 4-63. Labuschagne, dropped on four time in his entire 71-Test career he has gone three by Colin de Grandhomme from the bowling of Neil matches without a half-century. Wagner (2-40), missed the chance to join elite compa- After the home side made 416 the Kiwis were dis- ny when he pulled a short ball straight to Mitchell missed for only 166 in their first innings as Australian Santner at mid-wicket from the same bowler. paceman Mitchell Starc terrorised their batsmen in con- Without a Test century only a month ago, he was on tinued sweltering conditions. Australia didn’t enforce the track to become just the second Australian batsman, follow-on given the extreme heat and the absence of

SCOREBOARD

Scoreboard at the close on the third day of the first Test between Australia and New Zealand at Perth Stadium yesterday: Australia 1st innings 416 New Zealand 1st innings 2nd innings J. Raval b Hazlewood 1 D. Warner c sub (Blundell) b Southee 19 T. Latham c and b Starc 0 J. Burns c Nicholls b Southee 53 K. Williamson c Smith b Starc 34 M. Labuschagne c Santner b Wagner 50 R. Taylor c Smith b Lyon 80 S. Smith c Raval b Wagner 16 H. Nicholls c Paine b Starc 7 PERTH: Australia’s batsmen Marnus Labuschagne (L) makes a run on day three of the first Test cricket match M. Wade not out 8 N. Wagner b Starc 0 between Australia and New Zealand at the Perth Stadium in Perth yesterday. — AFP T. Head c de Grandhomme b Southee 5 BJ. Watling b Cummins 8 T. Paine b Southee 0 C. de Grandhomme c Smith b Starc 23 M. Santner b Labuschagne 2 P. Cummins not out 1 front line paceman Josh Hazlewood due to injury. out caught behind by Dar to hand Starc his fifth scalp. T. Southee c sub (Neser) b Lyon 8 Extras: (lb3, nb5, w7) 15 Starc claimed 5-52 and troubled the New De Grandhomme tried to fend off a rising delivery Extras: (b1, lb2) 3 Total: (six wickets: 57 overs) 167 Zealanders with his pace and bounce. Only Ross Taylor and the ball deflected off his helmet to Smith in slips, Total: (all out; 55.2 overs) 166 1-44 (Warner), 2-131 (Labuschagne), 3-148 offered meaningful resistance with 80, but he was with Dar believing it also brushed the batsman’s gloves. Fall of wickets: Fall of wickets: 1-1 (Latham), 2-1 (Raval), 3-77 (Williamson), 4- caught at slip by Smith off the bowling of Nathan Lyon. The batsman reviewed and although replays (Burns), 4-154 (Smith), 5-160 (Head), 6-160 (Paine) 97 (Nicholls), 5-97 (Wagner), 6-120 (Watling), 7-147 (Taylor), Bowling: Southee 19-6-63-4 (3w), de Grandhomme 13-2-26-0 8-155 (de Grandhomme), 9-166 (Santner), 10-166 (Southee). Smith took three catches, including his blinder on showed no conclusive evidence of contact with his (1w, 2nb), Wagner 17-2-40-2 (3w, 3nb), Santner 8-0-35-0 Bowling: Starc 18-2-52-5, Hazlewood 1.2-1-0-1, Cummins 14.4-3- the second day to remove Kane Williamson for 34 and gloves, third umpire Marais Erasmus said there was 46-1, Wade 2-0-8-0, Lyon 14.2-2-48-2, M Labuschagne 5-1-9-1. end a 76-run third-wicket stand with Taylor. His third insufficient grounds to overturn the dismissal and Dar’s was contentious, when de Grandhomme (23) was given decision stood. — AFP

Boucher named South Africa Paceman Thakur head coach replaces Kumar in

CAPE TOWN: Former wicketkeeper Mark Boucher India ODI squad has been appointed South Africa’s head coach ahead of the four-test home series against England that starts on Dec. 26, Cricket South Africa confirmed NEW DELHI: The Indian cricket board yesterday yesterday. Boucher, who has been given a contract named paceman Shardul Thakur as replacement for the until 2023, was unveiled by new CSA director of injured Bhuvneshwar Kumar in the upcoming one-day cricket Graeme Smith, with Enoch Nkwe to act as international series against the West Indies. assistant coach and former Test opener Ashwell Kumar, 29, was rested after he complained of pain in Prince to lead the South African A side. his groin following the third and final Twenty20 interna- “I felt at this stage that the Proteas need a hard- tional in Mumbai on Wednesday, the Board of Control ened guy with international experience, one who is NEWLANDS: (From left) Graeme Smith, Cricket South Africa interim director of cricket and former Test cap- for Cricket in India (BCCI) said in a statement. very knowledgeable and tactically very sound, and tain, Enoch Nkwe, the South African Cricket assistant coach, Mark Boucher, the South African Cricket “He underwent an ultrasound scan conducted by a we also know what qualities he has as a man,” Smith coach, and Linda Zondi, Cricket South Africa’s convenor of selectors, pose for a portrait at the Newlands specialist and the BCCI medical team found that his her- said. “We feel Enoch has a lot of qualities that will be Cricket grounds in Newlands. — AFP nia symptoms have resurfaced,” it said. very useful to Mark and it is a good opportunity for A specialist opinion will now be sought and his man- him to advance his own role in South African cricket agement plan will be decided accordingly, the statement going forward.” Boxing Day. “Our confidence is a bit down, we need country’s first-class four-day trophy, two 50-over added. Boucher spent close on a decade with Smith in the to get that back,” Boucher said. “There is a wealth of competition wins and the Twenty20 title. Kumar has been beset by injuries over the last few South African test side, and the pair are known to be knowledge in this country. We need to get consult- He made 147 Test appearances for South Africa seasons. He battled a lower-back injury through most of close. They will now seek to engineer an upswing in ants in and get information through to the players to and took 999 dismissals in all forms of cricket, a 2018 and was sidelined during the round-robin stage of fortunes for the test side that has lost five matches in give them the space to do their best.” world record. He will form part of a selection panel the World Cup with a hamstring strain. Earlier this a row, against Sri Lanka and India. Boucher took over the domestic Titans franchise in that also includes Nkwe, test captain Faf du Plessis week, Indian opener Shikhar Dhawan was ruled out of Boucher will scramble to put together a plan to 2016 and within a year was named Coach of the Year and interim selector Linda Zondi, who will be in the the series after sustaining a deep cut to his left knee. counter England in his next assignment starting on at the annual CSA awards. He has led the side to the role until April. — Reuters India, who won the T20 series 2-1, will play the first of the three ODIs on Sunday in Chennai followed by games on December 18 (Visakhapatnam) and December Panthers. Ridley had already contributed five catch- 22 (Cuttack). Upset-minded es for 76 yards and a touchdown, his seventh of the India’s squad for ODIs: Virat Kohli (captain), Rohit Classy Cooney season, before getting hurt. Sharma, Mayank Agarwal, K.L. Rahul, Shreyas Iyer, Falcons ready While the Falcons were running up 40 points Manish Pandey, Rishabh Pant, Shivam Dube, Kedar puts Ulster in sight against the Panthers, the 49ers were putting up 48 in Jadhav, Ravindra Jadeja, Yuzvendra Chahal, Kuldeep a dramatic, two-point victory over New Orleans. Yadav, Deepak Chahar, Mohammed Shami, Shardul to face 49ers The win produced two rewards for the 49ers: Thakur. — AFP of European Cup Coupled with the Seattle Seahawks’ loss to the Los SAN FRANCISCO: The visiting Atlanta Falcons Angeles Rams, they snatched the top record in the quarter-finals hope to do to the San Francisco 49ers what they did NFC with three games remaining, and Garoppolo to the New Orleans Saints on an earlier trip to was selected as the conference’s Offensive Player of PARIS: Ireland’s John Cooney scored 19 points the Week after passing for 349 yards and four Fourth day’s play called in another impressive display as Ulster moved six Louisiana, when they get another crack at an NFC touchdowns. Both quarterbacks appear to catch a points clear at the top of Pool 3 in the European heavyweight today afternoon. Champions Cup with a 34-10 victory over The NFC West-leading 49ers (11-2) have a break with defensive injuries on the other side of the off in Pakistan Test Harlequins on Friday. chance to clinch their first postseason berth since ball this week. On top of the Falcons losing Ridley, Scrum-half Cooney, 29, who has eight Test 2013 when they open a two-game homestand top cornerback Desmond Trufant is done for the rest appearances but missed out on Rugby World against the NFC South’s last-place club. The Falcons of the season after he sustained a broken arm RAWALPINDI: Overnight rain and poor light continued to Cup selection, crossed twice either side of the (4-9) had lost six in a row before going to the against the Panthers. mar Pakistan’s first home Test in a decade yesterday, with interval as the Irish province remain unbeaten in Superdome and shocking the one-loss Saints 26-9 The 49ers, meanwhile, found themselves ponder- officials calling the fourth day off before play had begun. the tournament ahead of the final two rounds of in Week 10. ing practice-squad and waiver-wire options at nose Groundsmen wiped water from the pitch covers and rolled action in January. Atlanta makes this longer trip to the West Coast tackle this week, with D.J. Jones (serious ankle out a super sopper, but overcast conditions and poor light On Sunday, a Clermont victory over bottom riding the momentum of two consecutive road wins injury) and Jullian Taylor (ligament damage in elbow) forced umpires Richard Kettleborough and Michael Gough side Bath would further Dan McFarland’s outfit’s and a 40-20 thumping of the Carolina Panthers at ruled out. Star cornerback Richard Sherman to call off play at 12:00 local time (0700 GMT). claims for a last-eight spot. “I’m happy with the home last week. Matt Ryan threw for 313 yards and (sprained knee), defensive end Dee Ford (quadri- Both the Pakistan and Sri Lanka teams remained in their hotel in Islamabad. Sri Lanka had won the toss and opted to way it’s going at the moment. We showed a lot of two touchdowns in the victory, reminding 49ers ceps, hamstring) and cornerback K’Waun Williams bat on the first day, but play was called off after 68.1 overs desire,” Cooney told broadcasters BT Sport. coach Kyle Shanahan and quarterback Jimmy (concussion) also won’t play today. due to bad light. Only 18.2 overs were possible on day two “We’re taking those opportunities and it’s a Garoppolo of the Falcons’ run to the Super Bowl in San Francisco’s offense also has a key injury with reflection of the way we’re trying to play,” he and 5.2 on the third. 2016. Shanahan was Ryan’s offensive coordinator starting center Weston Richburg out for the season added. Despite dominating the opening 35 min- Sri Lanka were 282-6 in their first innings with that season, while Garoppolo, 1,000 miles away, after tearing his patellar tendon against New utes, the Irish province only had a 3-0 advantage Dhananjaya de Silva unbeaten on 87 and Dilruwan Perera thanks to a Cooney three-pointer. found himself playing the role of Ryan on the New Orleans. Still, while Falcons linebackers coach Jeff not out on six. For Pakistan, 16-year-old pacer Naseem Shah Quins centre James Lang responded with a England Patriots’ scout team in preparation for the Ulbrich admitted his guys will have their hands full (2-83) and Shaheen Shah Afridi (2-58) were the stand-out penalty of his own before Cooney scored his first championship game. dealing with 49ers powerful tight end George Kittle, bowlers. try of the proceedings in drizzling west London “That was a long time ago,” Garoppolo noted to he believes there’s only one real star of the San There is a clear forecast for today but with so many overs rain. Fly-half Billy Burns broke from his own 22 reporters this week. “It was throw the ball to Julio Francisco show. “It’s one of those games where lost over the four days, there is little chance of a result in the metre line and the ball eventually ended up with (Jones) a lot, I remember, so I’m sure that’s a big you’d like to say trust your reads, trust your keys, match. The second Test is in Karachi from December 19. The Cooney after coming through the hands of Jacob part of the game plan.” Ryan must rely on Jones trust your eyes and your rules, but (Shanahan) is Test is the first in Pakistan since a militant attack on the Sri Stockdale and Matt Faddes and Ulster had a 10- more than usual this week with sidekick Calvin going to test them in every way,” Ulbrich said of the Lankan team bus killed eight people in March 2009, leading 3 lead at the break. — AFP Ridley having been lost for the season with an 49ers coach. “It’s going to take discipline from to the suspension of international cricket in the country as abdominal injury sustained in the win over the beginning to end.” — Reuters foreign teams refused to visit over security fears. — AFP 27 Sports Sunday, December 15, 2019 Harden scores 54 as Rockets breeze past Magic, 130-107 George, Leonard combine for 88 in Clippers’ win over Wolves

CLEVELAND: James Harden delivered another excep- added 42 as Los Angeles showed off its star power and tional scoring performance, and the Houston Rockets held on for a victory over Minnesota in Minneapolis. swept a brief two-game swing against Eastern Leonard and George became the first duo in Clippers Conference opponents, cruising past the host Orlando history to each score at least 40 points in a game. Magic 130-107 on Friday. Two nights after pairing 55 Montrezl Harrell added 18 points off the bench as the points with eight assists in Cleveland against the Clippers won despite playing without a true point Cavaliers, Harden posted 54 points and seven assists to guard. Patrick Beverley sat out after leaving the subdue the Magic, who have dropped three straight Wednesday game at Toronto with a concussion, and games. Harden drilled a franchise record-tying 10 3- Lou Williams also was sidelined with a sore right calf. pointers to lead Houston past the Cavaliers. He then fin- The Timberwolves went to work with their own scor- ished 10-for-15 from behind the arc against Orlando en ing duo as Karl-Anthony Towns scored 39 points and route to his fifth 50-point game of the season. Russell Andrew Wiggins added 34. Towns added 12 rebounds Westbrook chipped in 23 points, seven rebounds and and stayed in the game despite an injury to his left six assists while Ben McLemore shot 6 of 7 from long knee with 1:42 remaining. distance for 18 points off the bench. Houston hit 22 of 39 3-point attempts en route to winning for the sixth PHILADELPHIA 76ERS 116 — NEW time in eight games. Evan Fournier led the Magic with ORLEANS PELICANS 109 27 points, and Aaron Gordon added 21. Tobias Harris scored 31 points, and host Philadelphia defeated New Orleans to remain unbeat- LA LAKERS 113 — MIAMI HEAT 110 en at home while winning its fifth straight game overall. LeBron James compiled 28 points, 12 assists and Ben Simmons added 24 points and 11 assists while Joel nine rebounds while leading visiting Los Angeles past Embiid had 24 points and 11 rebounds as the Sixers Miami for its sixth consecutive victory. The Heat, trail- improved to 14-0 at home. It’s their longest winning ing 112-110 with 8.1 seconds left, couldn’t rebound a streak at home to open a season since coming up with missed free throw by Kentavious Caldwell-Pope. After 22 in the championship season of 1966-67. Brandon another foul and one more Caldwell-Pope free throw, Ingram led the Pelicans with 17 of his 32 points in the Miami’s Jimmy Butler missed a 3-pointer at the buzzer fourth quarter while former Sixer JJ Redick added 19, that could’ve forced overtime. Anthony Davis added a but New Orleans dropped its 11th consecutive game ORLANDO: Mo Bamba #5 of the Orlando Magic shoots the ball against the Houston Rockets at Amway Center in game-high 33 points, 10 rebounds and three blocks for and fell to 2-11 on the road. Orlando, Florida. — AFP the Lakers, who earned their 13th straight road win. Butler, the reigning Eastern Conference Player of the INDIANA PACERS 110 — ATLANTA HAWKS 100 fewest points scored by an NBA team this season. double-digit victories in its own building. Alec Week, scored a team-high 23, but his Heat lost at home Georgia native Malcolm Brogdon collected 19 Miles Bridges added 13 points for Charlotte, which Burks scored 24 points and Damion Lee added 21 for the first time this season, falling to 11-1. points and 12 assists as Indiana posted a victory at won its third game in a row despite scoring its fewest for the Warriors, who have lost seven of their past Atlanta. T.J. Warren scored 18 points and Doug points in a game this season, as well. Bismack Biyombo eight games and 10 of their past 12. Golden State MILWAUKEE BUCKS 127 — MEMPHIS GRIZZLIES 114 McDermott added 16 off the bench for the Pacers, who had 12 points, and Terry Rozier and Cody Zeller fin- fell to 3-13 on the road. Giannis Antetokounmpo returned from a one-game have won 10 of their past 13 overall and seven straight ished with 11 points apiece. Zach LaVine and Ryan absence to post 37 points and 11 rebounds, and visiting against Atlanta. Domantas Sabonis recorded 12 points Arcidiacono shared the team lead with 12 points NEW YORK KNICKS 103 — SACRAMENTO KINGS 101 Milwaukee rallied past Memphis for its 17th consecu- and 14 rebounds to secure his 11th consecutive dou- apiece for the Bulls. Lauri Markkanen and Thaddeus Julius Randle recorded 26 points and nine tive win. Milwaukee now has the second-longest win- ble-double. Trae Young scored a team-leading 23 Young added 10 points apiece for Chicago, which was rebounds, and New York beat host Sacramento to ning streak in franchise history. The record of 20 was points on a 9-for-30 performance from the field for the outscored just 15-10 in the third quarter. notch back-to-back victories for the first time this set during the team’s 1970-71 championship season. Hawks, who misfired on all 13 attempts from 3-point season. Elfrid Payton scored 16 points, and Mitchell Antetokounmpo, who missed Wednesday’s game range in the first half en route to losing for their 14th UTAH JAZZ 114 — GOLDEN STATE WARRIORS 106 Robinson added 14 points and nine rebounds for the because of soreness in his right quad, keyed a fourth- time in 16 games. De’Andre Hunter had 21 points and Bojan Bogdanovic scored 32 points and tied a Knicks, who overcame a 16-point, third-quarter quarter surge that saw the Bucks pull away late. Jaren Jabari Parker added 20 in a losing effort. franchise record with eight 3-pointers as Utah ral- deficit. New York is 2-2 since Mike Miller took over Jackson Jr. scored a career-high 43 points for the lied from a double-digit deficit in the first half to as interim coach after the firing of David Fizdale. Grizzlies, sinking 9 of 15 from 3-point range. CHARLOTTE HORNETS 83 — CHICAGO BULLS 73 beat visiting Golden State. Donovan Mitchell Buddy Hield scored 34 points and collected a Devonte’ Graham scored a team-high 16 points, PJ scored 28 points and Rudy Gobert added 15 points career-high 12 rebounds for the Kings, who had a LA CLIPPERS 124 — MINNESOTA TIMBERWOLVES 117 Washington recorded 13 points and 10 assists, and and 15 rebounds as the Jazz improved to 10-3 at three-game winning streak halted. Sacramento’s Paul George scored 46 points and Kawhi Leonard Charlotte beat host Chicago by holding the Bulls to the home, just the third Western Conference team with Harrison Barnes scored 18 points. — Reuters

of Anderlecht. Kompany’s final years at the club were rav- What has gone aged by injury, but he played a vital role late last season as City won their final 14 league games to pip Liverpool to Matches on TV the title by one point. (Local Timings) wrong for Man City? The Belgian was an inspirational leader and his depar- ture left City without a figurehead when things get tough. Similarly, the issues at left-back were not unforeseen. ENGLISH PREMIER LEAGUE Manchester United v Everton 17:00 LONDON: Manchester City’s Premier League title Mendy has been blighted by injuries since he joined the beIN Sports HD 2 defence appears over before Christmas, with Pep club but City instead strengthened at right-back over the Wolverhampton Wanderers v Tottenham 17:00 Guardiola’s men travelling to Arsenal today already 14 summer with the signing of Joao Cancelo. beIN Sports HD 1 points adrift of runaway leaders Liverpool. Arsenal FC Manchester City 19:30 City have made the extraordinary routine, winning five FOURTH-SEASON FATIGUE beIN Sports HD 2 of the past six major domestic trophies in England but Guardiola is into his fourth season at City, matching his SPANISH LEAGUE have dropped as many points in 16 league games this sea- longest spell at one club. The Catalan quit Barcelona after Getafe CF v Real Valladolid 14:00 son as in the whole of last season. So what has gone four seasons from 2008 to 2012 that left him burned out. In beIN Sports HD 3 wrong for a hugely talented and expensive squad under explaining his decision, he suggested after winning 14 tro- Celta de Vigo v Real Mallorca 16:00 the tutelage of one of football’s greatest coaches? phies in four seasons at the Camp Nou that the Barcelona beIN Sports HD 3 players needed a new message. Guardiola’s intense RCD Espanyol v Real Betis 18:00 INJURIES beIN Sports HD 3 demands can also have a physically and mentally draining Sevilla v Villarreal 20:30 Even a squad as rich in resources as City’s is not effect on players. beIN Sports HD 3 immune to injuries. Leroy Sane and Aymeric Laporte suf- Valencia C.F v Real Madrid 23:00 fered long-term knee injuries in the first few weeks of the END OF AN ERA beIN Sports HD 3 season, with Laporte’s absence leaving a gaping hole at A core of players that have been constants in City’s Pep Guardiola the heart of City’s defence. Fernandinho has had to most successful era but Kompany’s departure signalled a ITALIAN CALCIO LEAGUE LIVERPOOL CHARGE Hellas Verona v Torino 14:30 deputise out of position at centre-back, meaning the changing of the guard. David Silva, 33, Sergio Aguero, 31, beIN Sports HD 4 Brazilian’s influence at the base of City’s midfield has also and Fernandinho, 34, have also been hugely influential, but City have helped create a monster they are now strug- Bologna FC v Atalanta 17:00 been missed. Manchester United cut their local rivals apart are all beyond their prime. Silva has already announced he gling to compete with. Guardiola’s men re-wrote the histo- beIN Sports HD 8 on the counter-attack in winning the derby at the Etihad will leave the club at the end of the season. Aguero, City’s ry books by registering a century of points for the first Juventus v Udinese Calcio 17:00 2-1 last weekend, while Norwich, Wolves and Liverpool all-time leading goalscorer, is out of contract in 18 months’ time in the English top flight in 2017/18 and backed that up beIN Sports HD 4 have also exposed City’s frailties in defensive transition to time. City have put a succession plan in place for AC Milan v Sassuolo Calcio 17:00 with 98 last season. beIN Sports HD 7 inflict defeat on the champions. Benjamin Mendy’s lack of Fernandinho by signing Rodri for a club-record £62.8 mil- Liverpool’s tally of 97 was the third highest ever and AS Roma v spal 20:00 fitness and an injury to Oleksandr Zinchenko has also led lion ($84 million) in July. However, the 23-year-old Spanish yet still not enough to end the wait for a first league title beIN Sports HD 4 to a rotating cast at left-back, with none of the options international has struggled as he adjusts to the rigours of on Merseyside since 1989/90. In most other seasons, Fiorentina v Internazionale Milano 22:45 available to Guardiola inspiring much confidence. the Premier League. City’s return of 32 points from their opening 16 games beIN Sports HD 4 There is a local clamour for Phil Foden to be the long- would at least be enough to keep them in the running. BAD PLANNING GERMAN BUNDESLIGA term replacement for Silva and Gabriel Jesus has shared However, they have raised the bar and Liverpool have Wolfsburg v Borussia Monchengladbach 17:30 Even before Laporte’s injury, City appeared short at the striker’s role with Aguero under Guardiola. But risen to the challenge. A relentless run of 15 wins and one beIN Sports HD 5 centre-back following the loss of captain Vincent Kompany’s departure shows that transition will not be an draw from the European champions has seen them disap- Schalke 04 v Eintracht Frankfurt 20:00 Kompany, who left at the end of last season to take charge easy one. pear over the horizon and surely out of reach. — AFP beIN Sports HD 5

Chelsea, after an unbeaten run of five Rashford adds Premier League games, with Everton to come at home today. Playing mostly on the Mourinho backs Spurs for left side of United’s lightning-quick attack clinical touch alongside Jesse Lingard, Anthony Martial and Daniel James, Rashford frightens top-four Premier League finish to become defenders with his blistering pace and trick- ery. Solskjaer spoke in glowing terms of LONDON: Tottenham boss Jose Mourinho The 56-year-old has had a hectic start to life Rashford after his two goals in the recent 2- believes his side will finish in the top four of at Spurs, with six games in 21 days, and he has complete striker 1 win against Tottenham. the Premier League this season. Spurs’ been unable to put the hours in with this squad “The boy is 22 and he played like he was chances of a fourth successive finish in the to fully implement his ideas. in the backyard, garden or playground with Champions League qualification places looked The fixture schedule eases slightly in LONDON: Marcus Rashford has always his mates,” said United’s Norwegian boss, a lost cause when the Portuguese took charge January and the Portuguese intends to be on had the tools to become a world-class for- who has compared his attributes with for- last month with the club 12 points behind the training ground rather than trying to sign ward. Now he has added a clinical touch to mer United player Cristiano Ronaldo, who Chelsea. new players. “I want to work,” he said. “I’m his searing pace and box of tricks. The 22- also took time to become a prolific Marcus Rashford That gap has been cut to six following three going to have time to work, which until now I year-old already has 13 goals for United this goalscorer. “Sometimes, maybe, there is wins from four under Mourinho, with a game don’t have. season — equalling his best-ever return for expectation and pressure on him because season I’m doing little stuff that shows that against Frank Lampard’s side to come next “I complain every day with my staff, the the club in a single campaign and is the we do expect a lot from him, as he has it’s becoming a bit more natural and easier,” week. They will hope to make further inroads frustration of I want to do a certain kind of undisputed leader of the team’s attack. shown (what he can do) so many times.” he added. against Wolves today in a bid to get back to training. I just can’t do it. It’s frustrating. I love Just weeks ago Rashford was struggling The elegant Rashford says he is tougher Rashford’s dream is to play as the focal where Mourinho says they belong. pre-season to work. I don’t have.” for goals in Ole Gunnar Solskjaer’s misfiring on himself than any critic and has talked point of United’s attack. “We know where we belong, Mourinho said Mourinho got a first real look at some of his team, finding the net just once between the about minor adjustments he has made to his “I want to be able to play in all posi- at his pre-match press conference on Friday. fringe players in the Champions League defeat opening day of the season and the match game. “Just little stuff like, for me holding off tions,” he said. “Number nine is obviously “We don’t belong to the second part of the by Bayern Munich on Wednesday as Ryan against Liverpool on October 20. defenders is a big one,” he said in an inter- the dream but for me in this day and age table where we were, we don’t even belong to Sessegnon, Kyle Walker-Peters, Giovani Lo But then things clicked for the former view with former England player Gary now, it’s ideal to be as effective as you are in position seven or eight where we are in this Celso and Juan Foyth all started for the first United trainee and he has scored regularly Lineker for Goalhanger Films. number nine, on the left and the right.” moment. time under him. for club and country, including three in his “It’s something that I speak about quite Rashford made his debut as a 18-year- “We know where we belong and we believe Sessegnon scored and did well while past two appearances, against Tottenham often a lot with my brothers who see me old under the leadership of Louis van Gaal at the end of the season we are going to be Mourinho singled Foyth out for praise but nei- and defending champions Manchester City. play all the way through. I always say if in February 2016, scoring twice against there.” Mourinho said he needed time but the ther of those players will be in the starting His goals have lifted United to fifth in the you’re trying too hard to do it then you’re Midtjylland and then repeating the feat squad had the “talent and desire” to improve. line-up at Molineux. —AFP table, five points behind fourth-placed not quite at your maximum.” “I feel like this against Arsenal a few days later.—AFP Established 1961 Sport

SUNDAY, DECEMBER 15, 2019

Huge comeback lifts Internationals Australia take huge lead against Harden scores 54 as Rockets 25with Presidents Cup on knife-edge 26 New Zealand in first Test 27 breeze past Magic, 130-107

Salah stretches Liverpool lead to 10 Leicester stumble, Chelsea poor run continues

LIVERPOOL: Liverpool’s Senegalese striker Sadio Mane (C) heads the ball into goal and scores a goal, disallowed by VAR, during the English Premier League football match between Liverpool and Watford at Anfield in Liverpool, north west England yesterday. — AFP

LONDON: Liverpool tightened their grip on the quality in the finishing. to just five points ahead of that meeting had they Frank Lampard’s men have now lost four of their Premier League title race thanks to two Mohamed Salah struck twice as he rounded off a rapid beaten Norwich and Manchester City next weekend. last five Premier League games and had only them- Salah goals in a 2-0 win over Watford to extend their Liverpool counter-attack from a Watford corner eight However, a club record run of eight straight Premier selves to blame as they had 18 shots on goal without lead at the top to 10 points as second-placed minutes before half-time. The Egyptian then settled League wins for Brendan Rodgers’s men came finding a way past Aaron Ramsdale. Leicester were held 1-1 at home by Norwich. the home crowd’s nerves a minute from time when he unstuck against the Canaries. Bournemouth had lost five on the spin, but got their Chelsea were also shocked 1-0 at home to cheekily flicked home Divock Origi’s mishit shot. Teemu Pukki broke clear and finished calmly for reward for staying in the game when Dan Gosling skil- Bournemouth to see their lead over the chasing pack “In December and January especially, you need to his ninth goal of the season to put the visitors in fully flicked a loose ball over Kepa Arrizabalaga five in fourth further cut, while Sheffield United moved into show resilience - that’s the most important thing and front. Leicester levelled before the break when minutes from time and VAR overturned a wrongly- fifth with a 2-0 win over Aston Villa. we showed that,” said coach Jurgen Klopp, whose side Jamie Vardy’s header from James Maddison’s corner raised offside flag against the midfielder. At Anfield, Liverpool kept their first clean sheet at are seven games into a 15-match stretch across five was turned into his own net by Norwich goalkeeper Sheffield United for now are the Blues’ closest home this season but only thanks to Watford’s waste- competitions in 50 days. Tim Krul. challengers as they moved ahead of United and fulness in front of goal as the Hornets showed why “We had to fight, that’s what we did and that’s why But the home side could not make their dominance Tottenham into fifth as John Fleck scored twice in the they are the lowest scoring side in the league. we won.” Leicester will be Liverpool’s next opponents of the second half count to drop points at home for second half to inflict a 2-0 defeat on Aston Villa, while Abdoulaye Doucoure and Ismaila Sarr both failed in the Premier League on Boxing Day after the only the second time this season. Chelsea’s hold on the Jack Grealish missed a late penalty for the visitors. to make a proper connection with the goal gaping in European champions’ quest to win the Club World fourth Champions League place could be down to as Burnley were also victors, 1-0 over Newcastle the first half and the 40-point difference between the Cup in Qatar later this week. little as two points should Manchester United beat thanks to Chris Wood’s close-range finish in a game of sides in the table was shown only in the difference of The Foxes had the chance to cut the gap at the top Everton today as their poor run continued. few chances at Turf Moor. — AFP

Elsewhere, Borussia Dortmund continued their Coutinho scores superb recent form, winning 4-0 away at Mainz to move two points behind Gladbach. Marco Reus scored his first away goal of the season with a stunning volley hat-trick as Bayern from the edge of the box, before Jadon Sancho, Thorgan Hazard and Nico Schulz all scored in the sec- rout Werder Bremen ond half. Sancho has now scored in six games in a row for Dortmund, while Schulz’s goal was his first in Dortmund BERLIN: Philippe Coutinho scored a hat-trick as colours. In Berlin, Hertha registered their first win under Bayern Munich signalled their return to form with a 6-1 former German national team coach Jurgen Klinsmann, thrashing of Werder Bremen in the Bundesliga yester- winning 1-0 over a disappointing Freiburg. A goal from day. The Barcelona loanee was everywhere for Munich Vladimir Darida in the 53rd minute was enough to see at the Allianz Arena, chalking up two assists in addition Berlin claim the three points. to his three goals as Bayern pulled to within four points Struggling Cologne picked up a vital three points at of leaders Borussia Moenchengladbach. home against nine-man Bayer Leverkusen to take them After Bremen’s Milot Rashica opened the scoring in off the bottom of the table. Leverkusen lost Aleksandar the 24th minute for the visitors, it appeared it could be Dragovic and Leon Bailey to red cards in a 15-minute another long afternoon for the champions, who had lost period in the second half and were unable to hold on as their previous two games in the Bundesliga. Cologne won 2-0. Two goals in three minutes at the end of the first half Union Berlin’s recent run of victories came to an end however turned the game on its head, with Coutinho following a 1-1 draw against lowly Paderborn. Union, and Robert Lewandowski both scoring to fire Bayern who had won four of their last five before travelling to into a 2-1 lead. Bayern ran riot after the break, adding Paderborn, started well, scoring through Marcus four more goals - including two more for Coutinho, one Ingvartsen in the seventh minute, before Paderborn more for Lewandowski and a goal for Thomas Mueller. equalised via Kai Proger in the 33rd. Coutinho’s second, a brilliant chip over keeper Jiri RB Leipzig have the chance to go top in a late game MUNICH: Bayern Munich’s German midfielder Serge Gnabry (R) and Bremen’s Swedish defender Ludwig Pavlenka, came right out of the Brazilian trickster’s top when they take on Fortuna Duesseldorf. Gladbach are Augustinsson (L) vie for the ball during the German first division Bundesliga football match Bayern Munich v drawer. in action away to Wolfsburg today. — AFP Werder Bremen in Munich yesterday. —