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THURSDAY, JANUARY 15, 2015 RABI ALAWWAL 24, 1436 AH www.kuwaittimes.net Expats urged to Kerry, Zarif The Real Fouz: Saudi Arabia join ‘Positive resume How to get floor North Kuwaiti’ nuclear talks the best shape Korea after initiative3 in Geneva7 for37 your brows early20 scare Assembly passes law to Min 04º Max 22º collect illegal weapons High Tide 06:42 & 18:31 Low Tide MP slams Iranian president’s comments on oil 00:46 & 12:08 40 PAGES NO: 16403 150 FILS

Omair admits oil By Staff Reporter KUWAIT: The National Assembly yesterday unanimously drop unexpected passed in the first reading a law allowing the interior min- istry to collect unlicensed and illegal firearms and stipulat- KUWAIT: The depth of the oil price drop was unexpect- ing hefty jail sentences against violators. The second read- ed, Kuwait’s oil minister said on yesterday, repeating ing of the law will be debated and voted after two weeks. too that OPEC had made the right decision in not cut- The law stipulates a jail term for seven years and a fine of ting its output. The comments by Ali Al-Omair reflect KD 20,000 for those who trade in unlicensed firearms and how even core Gulf OPEC producers who had led the explosives or in materials for manufacturing them. The decision in November, blocking a call for a cut by oth- penalty applies also to those who smuggle such arms or ers, did not predict the scale of the price collapse of strike deals with terror organizations or cells to sell or buy about 60 percent in the last six months. Omair told the arms. In all cases, seized materials will be confiscated. Kuwaiti parliament the “unexpected fall in oil prices It also stipulates a three-year jail sentence and a fine of affects Kuwait and the other crude-exporting coun- KD 3,000 for those caught with unlicensed firearms or tries,” state news agency KUNA reported. explosives after the grace period to be provided by the law. Brent was trading at around $46 a barrel yesterday. The grace period is for a period of four months starting Some non-Gulf OPEC producers have already voiced from the day of publishing the law in the official gazette. their growing scepticism on whether the decision was The law gives powers to the public prosecutor to authorize correct or not. Saudi Oil Minister Ali Al-Naimi has said the interior ministry to search individuals, houses, vehicles he convinced his fellow OPEC ministers that it is not in and the like during a specific duration and for a specific the group’s interest to cut oil output however far mission after producing serious evidence. Those who sur- prices may fall. “We harbor no ill will towards anyone, render unlicensed firearms within the four-month grace and it is not possible for Kuwait to participate in what period will be exempted from any penalty, the law stipu- others see as oil price wars,” the Kuwaiti minister was lates. quoted as saying. Interior Minister Sheikh Mohammad Al-Khaled Al-Sabah The firm stance of Saudi Arabia, the UAE and other said the implementation of the law will be preceded by a Gulf Arab producers in the Organization of the concerted media campaign to convince people to hand Petroleum Exporting Countries - who account for more over all illegal firearms they have. The minister assured MPs than half of the group’s production - is causing dismay that the law will be implemented within the spirit of the among some other oil exporters who need higher oil Kuwaiti traditions and habits, adding that the ministry has prices to balance their budgets. KUWAIT: MPs and ministers are seen during a session at the National Assembly yesterday. — Photo by Continued on Page 13 trained female personnel to conduct house searches. Yasser Al-Zayyat Continued on Page 13 ‘Sex slave’ jumps for life

By Ben Garcia manager and supervisor were intro- duced to me. One came to me, shook KUWAIT: Forced into the sex trade in my hand and placed a towel to my Kuwait, a mother of six had to jump face. I started to lose consciousness, from a window to escape her captors, and was taken to a room in a nearby and is now in hospital with multiple building,” she said. “After I awoke, I fractures and a bleak future. After noticed three Pakistanis waiting for working for a year and a half as a me, all of whom raped me. I was still domestic helper in Kuwait, Maribel, in a haze,” she said. not her real name, met fellow Filipina The following day, Maribel was ‘Liza’, who convinced her to work in a moved from Farwaniya to Jleeb Al- restaurant in Farwaniya and offered Shoukh. She heard her captors telling her a higher salary. “I had a one- her that she was part of a prostitution month part-time job in Jahra when I ring and told her to do whatever they met Liza. She told me to try the job, say or she’ll be killed. “The following and assured me I could learn quickly. I day in Jleeb, the men queued up to was tempted because the work was in have sex, one after the other - I think a restaurant with a better salary, so I 25 men every day. Another Filipina in This NASA image obtained yesterday shows the first notable solar flare of 2015. thought it would be great to try it the room shared the same fate. When The sun emitted a mid-level solar flare, peaking at 11:24 pm EST on Jan 12, 2015. out,” she told Kuwait Times. I had my monthly period, they inject- NASA’s Solar Dynamics Observatory, which watches the sun constantly, captured So Maribel, 41, went to the small ed me with some medicine to stop this image of the event. Solar flares are powerful bursts of radiation. Harmful radi- restaurant in Farwaniya, where Liza the bleeding,” she cried, recalling her ation from a flare cannot pass through Earth’s atmosphere to physically affect introduced her to her alleged employ- ordeal. KUWAIT: ‘Maribel’ is seen in a hospital bed after humans on the ground, however - when intense enough - they can disturb the ers. “At the restaurant, a Pakistani Continued on Page 13 escaping from a prostitution den. atmosphere in the layer where GPS and communications signals travel. — AFP Qaeda claims French France arrests Anger, calls for calm attack, derides rally comedian for over new cartoons CAIRO/ISTANBUL: Muslim clerics in the leaders around the world have strongly Middle East who have denounced last condemned the attack that killed 12 DUBAI: Al-Qaeda in Yemen claimed ‘hate speech’ week’s attack on Charlie Hebdo criticised people, many said the decision to print a responsibility for the attack on French PARIS: Controversial French comedian Dieudonne the French satirical weekly yesterday for new cartoon of Muhammad (PBUH) was satirical newspaper Charlie Hebdo, say- was arrested yesterday over a comment suggesting he publishing a cartoon depicting Prophet a provocation that would create a further ing it was ordered by the Islamist militant sympathized with one of the Paris attackers as France Muhammad (PBUH) in its first issue after backlash. group’s leadership for insulting Prophet cracked down on those who condone terror. The the killings. While mainstream Muslim Continued on Page 13 Muhammad (PBUH), according to a video arrest was one of 54 cases for “condoning terrorism” or posted on YouTube. Gunmen killed a “making threats to carry out terrorist acts” opened total of 17 people in three days of vio- since Islamist gunmen last week killed 17 people in a lence that began when they opened fire three-day shooting spree targeting satirical magazine at staff in Charlie Hebdo’s offices last Charlie Hebo, police and a Jewish supermarket. week in revenge for publication of satiri- Nasser bin Ali Al-Ansi In the midst of a mounting debate on the limits of cal images of the Prophet (PBUH). One get, laid the plan and financed the oper- free speech, prosecutors started a case against the Western source said no hard evidence of ation is the leadership of the organisa- comedian Monday after he posted a Facebook mes- a direct operational link to Al Qaeda in tion”, without naming an individual. sage saying “Tonight, as far as I’m concerned, I feel like the Arabian Peninsula (AQAP) had yet He added without elaborating that Charlie Coulibaly”. The message was a mix of the been found. the strike was carried out in “implemen- catch-cry “Je suis Charlie” used in global homages to But this was the first time that a group tation” of the order of overall Al-Qaeda the slain magazine journalists and the name of one of officially claimed responsibility for the leader Ayman Al-Zawahri, who has called the gunmen, Amedy Coulibaly, who shot dead four attack, led by two French-born brothers for strikes by Muslims in the West using Jews at the supermarket on Friday and a policewoman of Algerian extraction, Cherif and Said any means they can find. Ansi also gave the day before. Kouachi, who had visited the poor credit for the operation to slain AQAP The comedian’s lawyer David de Stefano said his Arabian peninsula country in 2011. propagandist Anwar Al-Awlaki, a preach- arrest was “shocking”. “We are in the land of freedom of Authorities in France hunting possible er cited by one of the gunmen in remarks expression? This morning, the government provided accomplices say they are on alert for fur- to French media as a financer of the the demonstration of that,” he said sarcastically. ther attacks. “As for the blessed Battle of attack. It was not clear how Awlaki, killed Dieudonne is a controversial figure who has often Paris, we...claim responsibility for this by a US drone in 2011, had a direct link made headlines, most notably with his trademark operation as vengeance for the to the Paris assault, but he inspired sever- “quenelle” hand gesture that looks like an inverted Messenger of God,” said Nasser bin Ali Al- al militants in the United States and Nazi salute, but which he insists is merely anti-estab- lishment. Ansi, an AQAP ideologue, in the record- Britain to acts of violence. TUNIS: Tunisian protesters shout slogans against Charlie Hebdo and its new Continued on Page 13 ing. Ansi said the “one who chose the tar- Continued on Page 13 front cover during a rally yesterday. — AFP THURSDAY, JANUARY 15, 2015 LOCAL Crime Report Fake cop assaults pedestrian

KUWAIT: A thief posed as the head of the Hawally police station and dragged an Egyptian man on the road before taking two mobile phones from him. The victim was sur- prised by a person asking him to stop, telling him he was the head of the Hawally police station. The Egyptian obliged and gave him his ID, but he searched him and took the phones. The Egyptian, who realized that he was cheat- ed, ran after the car of the suspect and clung to it, but the suspect sped off, dropping the victim in the process. The victim went to the police station and told them about the incident. Investigations are underway.

Bad blood Humanitarian aid delivered A citizen put an end to old differences with a friend by beating him in a camp and damaging his car. The victim told Jahra police that he was beaten by his friend, who escaped. Detectives are looking for the to Syrian refugees suspect.

IRBID/MAFRAQ: Kuwait Red Crescent been ongoing since March 2011, said the ernorates of Mafraq, northern the country, added that this team is part of Al-Rahma’s Break in, robbery Society (KRCS) delivered yesterday relief aid official. and Zarqaa, eastern Amman. relief groups to aid the Syrian people in A thief smashed the window of a citizen’s car in to around 900 Syrian refugee families in the Meanwhile, a team from Al-Rahma Cash coupons were given to 165 fami- Jordan and other countries in the region in Rumaithiya, stole a debit card and withdrew KD 909. northern Jordanian city of Irbid. Head of International Charity, an affiliate of Kuwait’s lies in Mafraq and 170 others in Zarqaa, facing winter storms. Investigations are underway. A thief in Jahra stole KD 1,500 the KRCS delegation Abdullah Al-Nassar Al-Islah Society (Society for Social Reform), $140 per family, in addition to supplies A-Rahma International provided a from a car parked in a mosque’s parking lot. Investigations told KUNA that the relief aid mission was distributed aid to Syrian refugees in Jordan such as food, heaters, and winter clothes, total of $600,000 worth of aid and sup- are underway. instructed by the Kuwaiti leadership to Tuesday as part of an urgent campaign, Yahya Al-Aqaili, Al-Rahma’s general secre- plies over the past 12 days, including deliver aid to the Syrian refugees who are launched by Kuwaiti people, to help tariat, stated to KUNA. heaters, fuel, clothes, blankets, cash, and Family assaulted in desperate need for help especially dur- refugees face freezing temperatures and Aqaili stressed importance of Al-Rahma food, he said, pointing out that the num- A person stormed the house of a citizen in Dhahr, ing the harsh and cold winter season. blizzards. The $50,000 Kuwaiti campaign, team’s visit to the Kingdom in order to get ber of the Kuwaiti Charity’s campaigns to beat him and his family, then torched the family car Kuwait will continue to serve the Syrian offered by philanthropists, would help 335 acquainted closely with urgent relief efforts aid Syrian refugees in the region has before escaping. Police are investigating. refugees during their plight which has Syrian families living in flimsy tents in gov- in Jordan, Lebanon, Turkey, and Syria. He come to 185 so far.

Car stolen Four persons attacked an Indian man and stole his car Eagle Resolve and KD 85 before disappearing. A police source said the Indian’s car was found flipped over on 4th Ring Road near planning Jabriya. Police are investigating. Generator theft commended An Egyptian man stole a power generator from a mosque under construction in Bayan after a Syrian KUWAIT: Heads of the delegations of the Exercise Eagle contractor did not pay him. The contractor accused the Resolve 2015 countries have applauded the final planning Egyptian blacksmith of the theft, and he confessed to meeting of the event being held in Kuwait. it because the Syrian contractor owed him money. Major General Rick Mattson, Director of Exercises and Training at US Central Command, has stressed the impor- tance of the annual Exercise to bolster partnership and build joint capabilities of the participant countries, according to the Directorate of Moral Guidance and Public Relations at Kuwait’s Defense Ministry yesterday. Mattson expressed gratitude to the Kuwaiti Ministry for hosting the major multi- national exercise in the Gulf area, with the participation of more than 20 countries. Head of the of the of Peninsula Shield Forces (JPSF) dele- KUWAIT: Ahmadi Governor Sheikh Fawaz Al-Khaled Al-Sabah received Ambassador of the United Arab Emirates to gation, Brigadier-General Hamed Al-Ghamdi, said Eagle Kuwait Rahma Al-Za’abi at the governorate’s dewan recently. Discussions between the two sides focused on the Resolve is among the biggest drills in the Middle East. strong bilateral ties between the two countries, and means of boosting cooperation in local management systems. Speaking on behalf of JPSF Commander, Ghamdi said that hosting the event proves Kuwait’s leading status on the world level. For his part, Commander of Qatar’s National Defense and Crises Management Center, Brigadier Jassem Ahmad Al- Mohanndi said that the planning gatherings witnessed unprecedented presence on the regional and world levels, offering an opportunity for exchanging expertise, which likely to guarantee success for the event.

Joint action The Eagle Resolve 2015 is part of activating the joint mili- tary action in the Arab world, head of the Egyptian delega- tion Brigadier Essam-Eddin Abdelsamee said, lauding the team in charge of the planning meetings. Brigadier Mohammad Salem Ali Jaradat head of the Jordanian’s Doctrine and Training Command, thanked Kuwait for inviting the Kingdom to take part in the exercise. He said that work over the past months produced accurate and well-organized planning for the Exercise thanks to the Kuwait Army General Staff. Three injuries in By the same token, head of the Omani delegation to the meeting Colonel Mohammed bin Abdullah Al-Mukhaini said drug dealer’s pursuit his country’s participation in the Exercise is part of the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) joint military action. Mukhaini By Hanan Al-Saadoun added that Exercise Eagle Resolve 2015 is a chief one that simulates regional threats and challenges, through joint KUWAIT: Two policemen and a bedoon girl were injured operational planning to counter potential emergencies. after a chase of a drug dealer that started in Fintas and ended in Mahboula. A security source said a police patrol Favorable environment suspected a car with a man and a woman in it, but when Head of the Bahraini delegation, Lieutenant Colonel asked to stop, he refused, hit the patrol car, pulled a firearm Osama Hussein Ali commanded the persistent efforts by the and sped off. A hot pursuit ensued until he entered Kuwaiti Armed Forces for providing a favorable environ- Mahboula and hit the patrol car again before he was arrest- ment for planning the Exercise. The outcome is a compre- ed. The woman was injured, two policemen sustained frac- hensive and integrated scenario, for exchanging expertise tures, while 25 shabu envelopes, an air gun, knives and 23 and unifying visions and concepts. prepaid phone cards were found. The man was sent to con- UAE’s participation in the Exercise is not confined to cerned authorities. the Armed Forces as several police officers are also par- taking, head of the UAE delegation Lieutenant Colonel Arrests, citations in police campaigns Khalid Ibrahim Al Ali said. Similar positive remarks on Hawally police issued 1,018 traffic citations, arrested 426 the planning of Exercise Eagle Resolve 2015 came from persons without IDs, 144 persons in violation of iqamas the heads of the Pakistani, Bangladeshi and French dele- and 56 persons reported absconding during a campaign at gations who attended the final session.This 13th version the instructions of acting Hawally security director Brig of Exercise Eagle Resolve will take place on stages in Abdullah Hamad Al-Ajmi and the participation of the direc- March 2015 for unifying visions on how to coordinate tor of the operations and patrols department in Hawally Lt efforts on countering terrorism, border security and Col Salah Al-Shimmari. Also, 170 persons were arrested for managing crisis and catastrophes. Bahrain hosted the security reasons, 22 on felony cases and 13 roaming ven- first Exercise in 2000.— KUNA dors, while 29 cars were impounded. Meanwhile general security campaigns against crime and iqama violations resulted in the arrest of 104 persons without IDs and FM departs to Egypt expired iqamas, 39 wanted persons, 38 absconders and three persons who were ordered arrested. Also, 59 persons to attend Arab were arrested on drug charges, while 29 cars were impounded in addition to 15 others, eight roaming ven- League meeting dors were arrested and two for cross-dressing. KUWAIT: First Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Sheikh Sabah Al-Khaled Al-Hamad Al-Sabah left for Egypt to attend an Arab League meeting at the level of ministers today in Cairo. Sheikh Sabah Al-Khaled is going to chair the Arab Peace Initiative Committee with the attendance of the Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas to discuss the latest developments on the Palestinian file, the Foreign Ministry said in a statement yesterday. Sheikh Sabah Al-Khaled is accompanied to Egypt by his office director Sheikh Dr Ahmad Nasser Al- Mohammad Al-Sabah, Director of Arab World Department at the Foreign Ministry Ambassador Abdulhameed Ali Al-Failakawi, Kuwait’s Permanent Delegate to the Arab League Ambassador Aziz Al- Dihani, and a number of officials from the Foreign Ministry. The minister was seen off by Director of protocols Ambassador Dhari Ajran Al-Ajran and other officials from the Ministry. — KUNA THURSDAY, JANUARY 15, 2015 LOCAL Ipsos, Socialobby partner up for Digital, Social Media awareness

KUWAIT: Ipsos MediaCT, the Globally special- growth of usage and population moving for- ized company in media research solutions ward”. Data will be published on Socialobby’s under the leading research company in the and Ipsos social media channels and popular MENA region, Ipsos, partnered with socialob- awareness blog and online news papers, in an by.com in Kuwait to help spreading awareness available viral format to benefit all users, and better understanding of the digital mar- enhancing their understanding of the digital ket promises and indications. platforms in the GCC, Middle East and North Socialobby; The first Kuwaiti Social Media Africa. firm that provides social consultation, training courses, online marketing services, Social Dominating platforms media campaigns and solutions since 2011, On the other hand and from Ipsos will be working hand on hand together with MediaCT Kuwait, Bilal Al Mourad expressed his Ipsos MediaCT on creating viral informative as pride in being part of such a partnership with well as interactive data which acts as support Socialobby stated: “We are excited towards in spreading more awareness towards online this collaboration and tapping on the digital and digital marketing as well as the impor- age and Social Media as they are pretty much tance of Social Media to companies and busi- dominating platforms in the Arab World and nesses. Specialized reports will be developed across the world. Customers will have special combining both online and offline media con- access to relevant data which will be available sumption whether locally or in the MENA during special training courses, seminars and region provided by Ipsos MediaCT which be workshops conducted by Socialobby.” “We are KUWAIT: The participants during the seminar at Kuwait Times diwaniya on Tuesday. — Photos by Yasser Al-Zayyat presented to clients for a more comprehen- constantly providing new services and round- sive planning process. ed studies to our clients and users across the world and the MENA region, through our vari- Expats urged to join ‘Positive 3 billion users ous brands Ipsos Marketing, Ipsos MediaCT, Hind Al-Nahedh , CEO of Socialobby high- Ipsos ASI, Ipsos Loyalty, Ipsos Public Affairs lighted “since the internet users have reached and Ipsos Observer. With Socialobby, we aim Kuwaiti’ initiative its 3rd billion in 2014, according to internet to enhance understanding on digital plat- live stats website - This kind of information forms in the country and the region and make and reports online is needed to better under- the data available and virally beneficial to all Shared responsibility in area development stand, forecast and plan according to this users.” He added.

By Faten Omar together and need them to be part of the movement and do KUWAIT: Ejabia Kuwaitia not want them to feel they are KIB awarded Banker’s ‘Best (Positive Kuwaiti) team and the different,” said Ahmed Home Finance Product’ prize Healthy Cities project on Tuesday Al-Shatti, national coordinator urged expats to join their health of Healthy Cities and manager of KUWAIT: Kuwait International Bank added movement in a bid to encourage Gheras. “Kuwait is full of exciting yet another achievement during 2014 with participation of non-citizens, dur- activities, but unfortunately no Banker Middle East Magazine, the premier ing a seminar at the Kuwait one takes advantage of them. We regional banking publication, naming it Times’ diwaniya. “The team was only talk and do nothing. That’s ‘Best Home Finance Product’ in Kuwait. formed as a result of love why if you start a great project, “The ‘Best Home Finance Product’ award towards Kuwait and to change you need supporters or partners affirms more than 40 years of leadership as our country for the better, and one of them should be from Kuwait’s preferred bank for real estate according to WHO standards, and the media. This way you can financing, a crucial societal function which to improve in all areas,” said attract all people to participate greatly benefits Kuwaiti families,” explained Nargis Al-Shatti, Chairwoman of with their experiences and ideas Loai Muqames, CEO of Kuwait Ejabia Kuwaitia. to make a difference in the com- International Bank. The award was granted The team seeks to inculcate in munity. All the mayors and gov- based on 40,000 unique votes from Banker Middle East’s subscribers taking place over citizens and residents the con- ernors want to make people KIB CEO Loai Muqames cept of shared responsibility and remember them and remember Ahmed Al-Shatti, national coor- Nargis Al-Shatti, Chairwoman a period of four weeks, with a total of 90 authorities, banking institutions, invest- their role in the development of what they accomplished,” he dinator of Healthy Cities and of Ejabia Kuwaitia banking institutions competing in 21 cate- gories. ment and real estate companies. Moreover, various areas. “(Interior Minister) added. manager of Gheras Lamia Al-Hanian is a model of Muqames credited KIB’s employees for KIB is one of few entities authorized to Sheikh Mohammed Al-Khaled Al- that serve the development of a good citizen, who joined Ejabia their continued success as a full-fledged appraise debts settlement real estate. Community incentive Sabah welcomed our positive healthcare in the country, includ- to serve Kuwait. She comes from Islamic bank offering a wide range of bank- Since its 2007 transformation into an idea and encouraged us to com- Amal Al-Yahya explained the ing the Healthy Cities project, in a family that has been involved in ing services. “Behind every step of KIB’s Islamic bank, KIB has greatly expanded its plete the journey. We have cho- Healthy Cities project is a com- order to add value to the balance volunteer work for the past 45 successful journey are our employees who operations into retail and commercial sen team members from every munity incentive by the World of health achievements of Kuwait years. “I joined the team to make put into action the bank’s clear vision, high banking with highly competitive products ministry and institution,” she said. Health Organization. “We want to regionally and globally. She a difference for the positive standards and exceptional care for cus- and services in those areas. transform cities from ordinary reviewed the achievements of development of Kuwait, improve tomers,” added Muqames. The public may learn more about KIB’s All together people living the way they are the team in registering Yarmouk facilities, cultivate the spirit of KIB enjoys an unrivaled reputation in achievements, products and offers by con- “The Healthy Cities initiative into healthy cities,” she said. as the first Kuwaiti healthy city volunteerism and try to form a the field of real estate finance, with its Real tacting “Al-Dawli Weyak” at 1866-866 or by welcomes everyone without any Yahya stressed the support for and work is on to register volunteer team in every area,” she Estate Appraisal Division acting as a key visiting the KIB website at discrimination because we are all projects and quality programs Adailiya and Ahmadi too. enthused. reference for numerous governmental www.kib.com.kw THURSDAY, JANUARY 15, 2015 LOCAL Head of Greek Orthodox Church congratulates Amir on UN honoring

KUWAIT: Primate of the Greek Orthodox Patriarchate of Antioch Patriarch John X Yazigi congratulated His Highness the Amir Sheikh Sabah Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah for naming him a Humanitarian Leader and Kuwait as a Humanitarian Center by the UN. The visiting Patriarch made this remark to the press yesterday after his meeting with HH the Amir. In the meeting, the Patriarch expressed his appreciation to all the philanthropic work that has been done by HH the Amir that helped to alleviate the sufferings of both Muslims and Christians across the globe. He added that the aim of his visit is to appoint a new bishop at the Greek Orthodox Church in the country. HH the Amir meanwhile received at Bayan palace yesterday First Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Sheikh Sabah Al-Khaled Al-Hamad Al-Sabah who was accompanied by Yemini Foreign Minister Abdullah Mohammad Al-Sayadi. The Yemeni minister presented HH the Amir with a letter from the Yemeni President Abd Rabbuh Mansur Hadi that dealt with the promotion of bilateral ties. HH the Amir also received the visiting former President of the United Nations General Assembly Vuk Jeremic, and met chairman of the organizing committee for the sea heritage fes- tival Sheikh Salem Nawaf Al-Ahmad Al-Sabah and committee members. All meetings were attended by Deputy Minister of Amiri Diwan Affairs Sheikh Ali Jarrah Al-Sabah. Also yesterday, HH Sheikh Sabah met Sheikha Dr Suad Mohammad Al-Sabah, who presented His Highness with an English copy of a book entitled: “Mubarak Al-Sabah...founder of the Modern State”. Religious tolerance KUWAIT: His Highness the Amir Sheikh Sabah Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah in a group photo with Primate of the Greek Orthodox Sheikha Dr Suad Mohammad Al-Sabah Meanwhile, HH the Crown Prince Sheikh Nawaf Al-Ahmad Patriarchate of Antioch Patriarch John X Yazigi and his accompanying delegation. — KUNA photos delivers a copy of the book to His Highness Al-Jaber Al-Sabah received at Bayan Palace Patriarch John X the Amir Sheikh Sabah Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Yazigi, and affirmed Kuwait’s firm stance in regards to religious Al-Sabah. co-existence and tolerance. HH the Crown Prince also met chairman and members of the organizing committee for the sea heritage festival, as he stressed the importance of such fes- tivals in preserving the history and heritage of Kuwait for future generations, wishing the organizers all the best during the course of the event. HH Sheikh Nawaf also received Sheikha Dr Suad Al-Sabah who presented him with a translat- ed copy of her book. In the meantime, HH the Prime Minister Sheikh Jaber Al- Mubarak Al-Hamad Al-Sabah received Patriarch John X Yazigi, Yemeni Foreign Minister Abdullah Mohammad Al-Sayadi, as well as the visiting former President of the United Nations General Assembly Vuk Jeremic. On his part, Foreign Minister Sheikh Sabah Al-Khaled Al- Sabah met Jeremic, as well as Ambassador Nicholas Burns, Faculty Director of the Middle East Initiative at Harvard Kennedy School (HKS). The meeting, attended by Kuwait Foundation for the Advancement of Science (KFAS) Director General Dr Adnan Shihab-Eldin, focused on regional and international developments. Later, Sheikh Sabah held an offi- cial luncheon in honor of visiting Yemeni Foreign Minister His Highness the Prime Minister Sheikh Jaber Al-Mubarak Al-Sabah dur- His Highness the Crown Prince Sheikh Nawaf Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah receives a memento from Abdullah Mohammad Al-Sayadi, during which they dis- members of the organizing committee for the sea heritage festival. cussed bilateral ties and several regional and international ing his meeting with Yemeni Foreign Minister Abdullah Mohammad Al- issues. — KUNA Sayadi. Sheikh Jaber - Founder of ‘Harvard Kennedy School values Kuwait’s economic renaissance working with KFAS’

KUWAIT: The Harvard Kennedy School (HKS) is very 9th death anniversary falls today proud to work with the Kuwait Foundation for the Advancement of Sciences (KFAS) over the last 15 years, Ambassador Nicholas Burns, Faculty Director of KUWAIT: The ninth anniversary of the late Amir Sheikh Jaber other sources of income. was a unique leader who maintained Kuwait’s security and Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah’s passing falls today, as he passed He also established the State Audit Bureau in 1964, as well stability and helped it acquire much higher standing on the the Middle East Initiative at HKS, which oversees the away on January 15, 2006, with the Kuwaiti people still as Future Generations’ Reserve Fund in 1976, which greatly international and regional levels through his stances and wise Kuwait Program, said yesterday. In an exclusive inter- mourning his death with great sorrow and sympathy. contributed in financing Kuwait during the Iraqi invasion in policies of opening up to the world and founding balanced view with Kuwait News Agency (KUNA), Ambassador Late Sheikh Jaber was named ruler of Kuwait on December 1990. The Central Bank of Kuwait was also founded during his relations with world countries based on mutual respect and Burns, who is currently visiting the country to meet 31, 1977, following the death of late Sheikh Sabah Al-Salem reign in 1977. non-interference in internal affairs,” Sheikh Mubarak said. KFAS’s new Board of Directors, as well as other Kuwaiti Al-Sabah, making him the 13th ruler of Kuwait. Sheikh Jaber Late Sheikh Jabber also established the Public Institution officials and entities, said that KFAS has made it possi- was the third Amir during the state’s constitutional era that for Social Security (PIFSS), which guaranteed retirement pen- International support ble through its support to bring students from the started on November 11, 1961. sions for all employees in the governmental, private and oil He highlighted Sheikh Jaber’s role of luring international Arab world to study at KHS, “as well as bringing pro- The first post he assumed was the vice governor of Al- sectors. He also proposed the establishment of a 30-member support against the 1990 blatant Iraqi aggression, namely his fessors and distinguished scholars to be part of our Ahmadi Governorate in 1949, as he was appointed by his consultative council during the Gulf summit of 1996 in Doha, effort, with aid of the late Father Amir Sheikh Saad Al- community.” father Sheikh Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah- who was the ruler of Qatar, as a procedure to provide the GCC leadership with sug- Abdullah Al-Salem Al-Sabah, and the (current) Amir His Commending its critical role, Burns said that KFAS Kuwait back then. Sheikh Jaber, since then, showed great gestions that would improve decision-making process. Highness Sheikh Sabah Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah for estab- has been “our most loyal friend in the region.” He interest in the distinguished design and structure of Al- lishing an unprecedented international military alliance to lib- pointed out to the visit of Dr Abbas Al-Mejren from Ahamdi city due to the presence of oil companies that were Financial aid erate the country. Kuwait to HKS, “had a great and positive presence operating there. Sheikh Jaber was also founder of Kuwait Fund for Arab He underlined that the late Amir left undeniable marks on over students, all thanks to the funding of KFAS.” Dr In 1959, he was responsible of the administrative office for Economic Development (KFAED), with the Fund pioneering in philanthropic and development domains across the world, Mejren is a professor of economics at the College of the state’s public funds and property management, besides providing financial aid for developing and poor countries, all especially in the poor countries. Business Administration at Kuwait University. taking tasks at office of oil affairs and housing, as he started to out of eight percent of the country’s GDP. Sheikh Mubarak cited as examples Sheikh Jaber’s adoption “Another aspect of our cooperation is to help value home units to be bought by the government from Late Sheikh Jaber in 1988, during a speech at the United of proposal to found the Kuwait Fund for Arab Economic Kuwaitis through ‘executive’ education, or short cours- Kuwaitis to allow the country to commence the modern Nations headquarters, decided to cancel the debt interests on Development (KFAED) which now finances development proj- es, either for special training in special areas, or the urban comprehensive renaissance. poor countries, besides reducing the total basic debt ects in nearly 100 countries as well as his announcement ones on women development and leadership, in amounts. He also, made the same initiative during the tough- about writing off debts of the poor countries to Kuwait. addition to ones on decision-making, management Progress and prosperity est times Kuwait suffered during the Iraqi invasion in 1990. He shed light on the leading role played by Sheikh Jaber among others,” he noted. Since becoming Faculty In the same year, he was appointed as Kuwait Monetary Meanwhile, KUNA Chairman and Director General Sheikh on the region particularly his proposal to found the Gulf Chair four years ago, “we’ve made a big effort to try to Council’s president, significantly contributing in the issuance Mubarak Al-Duaij Al-Ibrahim Al-Sabah recalled Kuwaitis and Cooperation Council. “He believed that the strength and sta- build our knowledge of the Arab world, which coin- of the first Kuwaiti currency following Kuwait’s independence world’s admiration of the late Amir’s wisdom. bility of Gulf countries depends on their unity,” KUNA Chief cided with the Arab revolutions that began in January in 1961. “Kuwaitis are remembering with all respect and pride the said. He concluded that late Sheikh Jaber’s achievements are 201... To build the ability to understand the terrible On January 23, 1963, late Sheikh Jaber was appointed as march of late Amir Sheikh Jaber Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah major positive parts of in the political, military, economic, and and tragic war in Syria, or the rise of radical Islam rep- deputy prime minister and minister of finance and industry, who steered the country to safety amid tremendous storms social history of Kuwait. — KUNA resented in groups like ISIS.” with the country witnessing a new phase of progress and that hit the region in the last two decades of the twentieth Burns is a member of Secretary of State John prosperity in all fields, especially in the economic domain. century,” KUNA Chairman said yesterday. “The whole world Kerry’s Foreign Affairs Policy Board at the US He founded a number of projects, including Shuwaikh admired the wisdom and far-sighted policy of late Sheikh Department of State. He also serves on the boards of Port, the sea water desalination plant, and Kuwait National Jaber in dealing with challenges.” several non-profit organizations. Petroleum Company (KNPC). He laid down the foundations of He noted that Sheikh Jaber’s wisdom had protected investments in the country through investing the surpluses of Kuwait security and stability without dragging into the Competitive basis the country’s oil revenues, while putting into consideration regional and international conflicts. “Late Amir Sheikh Jaber The Kuwait Program at HKS includes sending two HKS scholars and experts from Kuwait and the Arab region to teach, conduct workshops and interact with Harvard research fellows, as well as sponsoring two students per year, on a competitive basis, who wish to continue their post graduate studies. It also supports executive training programs for senior executives of the public and private sector. The Program sponsored 23 Kuwait senior executives, in addition to six partici- pants from the Arab countries in 2013. “Mainly, I am here to thank the Kuwaiti Government and Kuwait Foundation for the Advancement of Sciences for all the support they’ve been giving to our university and to discuss future programs and finally to educate our- selves about Kuwait,” he underlined. KFAS was established on December 12, 1976 by an initiative of late Amir Sheikh Jaber Al-Ahmad Al- Sabah supported by the Kuwaiti Shareholding Companies represented by the Kuwait Chamber of Commerce and Industry. KFAS funding is provided through the annual contribution of the shareholding companies representing 1 percent of their net annual profit. His Highness the Amir Sheikh Sabah Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah is the Chairman of the Board of Directors. KFAS’s programs include, among others, the Harvard Business School Program in 2000; KUWAIT- MIT Center for Natural Resources and the The late Amir His Highness Sheikh Jaber Al-Ahmad Al- The late Amir His Highness Sheikh Jaber Al-Ahmad Al- The Amir of hearts. Environment in 2005; Kuwait University and KISR and Jaber Al-Sabah arrives home after Kuwait’s liberation Jaber Al-Sabah during a police graduation ceremony. Kuwait Program at LSE in 2007. — KUNA from the Iraqi Invasion. THURSDAY, JANUARY 15, 2015 LOCAL ‘Zain Great Idea’ accelerator program launched Chance for 12 participants to visit Silicon Valley

By Nawara Fattahova mercial and social services, due to Zain’s international investors,” he noted. Foundation located in Silicon Valley in In better preparing for this occasion, belief that the current technological The Boot Camp is facilitated by world- California. “This phase will take place participants will follow-up with Brilliant KUWAIT: If you have a technology-relat- boom has and continues to enrich the class educational institutions featuring between Feb 28 to Mar 21, 2015. The Lab attending one-to-one consulta- ed idea and think it can be used in a lives of societies around the world. Also, facilitators from Harvard University, participants will spend three weeks tions, focusing on their individual busi- project, then don’t miss registering in the participants will have a chance to Stanford University, the IE Business accompanied by a group of business nesses. They will receive final guidance the third edition of the ‘Zain Great Idea’ work with us, as this is our field,” he School and the MIT Enterprise Forum. owners from around the world who will in developing and consolidating their accelerator program starting from Jan added. “This will take place between Feb 8 to share their experiences and provide own business plans, and then showcase 17, 2015. Zain, the leading telecommu- Khashti also explained the phases of 24, 2015. Participants will undergo an proper guidance and advice for partici- their businesses at ZGI demo day,” con- nications company in Kuwait, the program. “ZGI III has an exciting line- intensive training program held over pants to improve their projects. The cluded Khashti. announced the third edition of the pro- up, and participants will be guided three weeks at Zain’s headquarters, experience will include informative field Lisa Heilbronn, Public Affairs gram after the previous editions proved Counselor at the US Embassy said: “I am to be extremely successful. This was delighted to learn of this international announced during a press conference exchange and training program. We yesterday at its headquarters. strongly support young Kuwaitis who “The launch of the third edition of are interested in becoming successful this program forms an integral part of entrepreneurs, and we are proud that Zain’s corporate social responsibility and Silicon Valley is one of the training loca- sustainability strategy, which encour- tions. This program gives wide opportu- ages young people to make the most of nity for participants to express their the training and opportunities. There is ability.” no age limit or nationality restriction to apply for the program, but priority is Adoptive environment given to those having US visas,” said Neda Al-Dihany, Founder of Brilliant Waleed Al-Khashti, Corporate Lab, stated that ZGI extended its part- Communications and Relations Director nership with Brilliant Lab after their suc- of Zain, during the conference. cessful partnership last year. “Our main ZGI aims to support and encourage aim is to help foster the growth of young people to bring their most inno- entrepreneurs in Kuwait, and we are vative ideas to life by acquainting them cooperating with Mind the Bridge, with internationally certified programs which aims at providing an adoptive that will guide them to realize their cre- environment for youth to accelerate ative ideas and form active businesses. their business ideas,” he noted. “This “ZGI III is a clear indication of the over- year we decided to hold the boot camp whelming success the program achieved in Kuwait, as the training camps held in the past. Previous participants have abroad are restricted to a limited num- had the opportunity to learn and grow ber of participants. For instance, last on numerous levels after being exposed year only 35 people benefited from the to a vast amount of valuable informa- training camp, while this year as it’s tion. The previous editions were over- held here, more participants will be able whelmingly successful with many of the to join,” added Dihany. participating projects officially regis- “This year we will take them to San tered at Kuwait’s Ministry of Commerce Francisco, where they will receive infor- and Industry, and are currently practic- mation and experience from business ing businesses,” added Khashti. owners from around the world who will KUWAIT: (From left) Neda Al-Dihany, Founder of Brilliant Lab, Waleed Al-Khashti, Zain’s Corporate Communications and share their experiences and provide Relations Director, and Lisa Heilbronn, Public Affairs Counselor at the US Embassy, during yesterday’s press conference. Economic development proper guidance and advice for partici- — Photo by Yasser Al-Zayyat Zain is committed to the develop- pants to improve their projects. The ment of the national economy, and is experience will include informative field keen to help achieve this by promoting through four major phases in the pro- where they will be tutored on the plan- trips to Google, Facebook, LinkedIn and trips to Google, Facebook, LinkedIn and the skills and capabilities of young peo- gram aimed at developing their ideas on ning procedure of their projects and Twitter headquarters. This will be com- Twitter headquarters to inspire them ple in the country. The company is keen local and international levels. The first of prepared for the submission stage. The plemented by daily seminars and cours- with successful stories of success. Their to ensure that all participants of the ZGI these phases is the registration and judges in turn will nominate the 12 best es by international speakers in prepara- projects may become as successful as program receive access to international- qualifying phase, where participants can projects to accelerate to the third phase tion of the finalization of the projects,” Google. I know it may be difficult, but ly certified courses by collaborating with submit their projects at of the program, including 2 Zain he pointed out. it’s nice to dream and try to realize the some of the world’s leading institutions. ZainGreatIdea.com from Jan 17 until Feb employees,” stressed Khashti. Upon their return to Kuwait, the dream, and who knows, it may come This year’s program is focused on 4, followed by a ZGI boot camp, then the fourth and final phase, ZGI demo day, true. I consider ZGI as the accelerator of technology-related projects. “This field Silicon Valley international experience Silicon Valley will be held in April 2015. “The partici- small projects and there are many provides creative technical solutions and finally the ZGI demo day, where par- In the third phase, 12 participants pants will have the opportunity to pres- investment opportunities in Kuwait such as mobile applications and interac- ticipants will have the chance to pitch will enjoy an international experience ent their final projects to various finan- from which the participants can bene- tive websites that provide both com- their ideas and businesses to local and by visiting the ‘Mind the Bridge’ cial institutions and potential investors. fit,” he told Kuwait Times. Mabrook, Morooj join Horeca as diamond, golden sponsors

KUWAIT: Preparations for the Horeca Kuwait 2015 exhibition are steadily progressing and attracting more companies to take part in it as an event provid- ing a golden opportunity to scientifically exchange expertise that matches the local market’s needs and future expansion plans. The exhibition is due to be organized by Leaders Group in collaboration with Hospitality Services Co at Badriya Ballroom, Messila Jumeriah Hotel in the period of Jan 19-21, 2015. In this regard, Mabrook Hotel Supplies Co partner and manufacturing manager Mahmoud Moghniya recently announced the company’s intention to take part in the exhibition, especially after the remarkable success Horeca has achieved over the three past years. Moghniya added that his company is very keen on taking part in local and regional specialized exhi- bitions to display its latest products including smart Mahmoud Moghniya Wael Al-Farhan kitchens using modern technology to provide com- panies and hotels and central kitchens with their turing BLAST CHILLER and SHOCK PREER in addition needs of tools, kitchens and equipment. to an exclusive agency from the Austrian CITROCASA Moghniya expressed Mabrook’s pride in the status company that specializes in automatically preparing it has so far achieved in the Kuwaiti market and that citrus juices,” he explained, adding that the company developing it and meeting the demands of its clients also provides a variety of hotel, restaurants and cen- was on top of its priorities as a leading company with tral kitchens’ needs manufactured in Mabrook’s fac- a long record of achievements ever since its founda- tory in Subhan and exports them to some GCC coun- tion 55 years ago. tries in addition to Lebanon and Jordan. Moghniya explained that during its participation Meanwhile, Al-Morooj Hotel and Restaurants Co in the past two Horeca exhibitions, Mabrook had dis- announced its intention to take in the Horeca 2015 played its latest products including UNOX ovens and exhibition as a golden sponsor. Morooj deputy direc- that it would also present new products this year, tor Wael Mohammed Al-Farhan stressed strong belief namely stainless steel ones like AISI and ASME that in Horeca’s significance as the best forum to display provide the best international quality standards. “In and market the company’s products in the presence addition to the international brands we present, we of the best Kuwaiti and international experts in hos- won an exclusive marketing agency for the famous pitality and food industries. Italian IRINOX machines that specialize in manufac- Farhan added that Al-Morooj Hotels and Restaurants company was founded in 1998 as a sub- sidiary of Al-Morooj General Trading Co that was founded in 1982. He added that Al-Morooj special- izes in supplying quality international kitchen brands ranging from small kitchenware to heavy-duty kitchen equipments, service tables, uniforms and some food products and special beverages. Farhan noted that thanks to its customers’ delight and quali- ty services, Morooj activities cover GCC states and some Arab countries in addition to the Kuwaiti mar- ket. He added that Morooj always has as its top prior- ity the full satisfaction of its customers, whose trust is its greatest bond achieved after years of hard work and excellent services to both local and international customers. Portugal livestock banned

KUIWAIT: The Public Authority For Agriculture and Fish Resources (PAAFR) announced yesterday a temporary ban on the importation of all kinds of livestock from Portugal. This banning came following reports issued by World Organization for Animal Health (OIE) about the discovery of a number of mad cow disease cases in Portugal, PAAFR said in press statement. — KUNA THURSDAY, JANUARY 15, 2015 LOCAL

In my view kuwait digest Kuwait’s A censored developmental challenge movie

By Thaar Al-Rasheedi

ave you watched an American movie rated ‘R’ in Kuwait? If you have, you surely did not By Labeed Abdal Hunderstand anything because our censor- ship board most probably shredded it, cutting vari- ous scenes from it in a way that makes it impossible to follow the sequence of events. You might even watch the whole movie without understanding any- thing. This is exactly the political situation in Kuwait. [email protected] We view it as an ‘R’ rated movie that has been cut to pieces by censors, leaving us with only half or even he cabinet and the Supreme Council of Planning one quarter of the story and you, dear ‘viewer’, will and Development agreed during a recent meet- have to imagine the censored scenes in order to completely comprehend what is going on, which is ing on amendments to the development plan, T your own responsibility and problem and not that and giving the private sector a more major and lead- of the censor! ing role in projects’ implementation. The importance Al-Jarida However, part of the political game recently of such decision comes in light of the drop in oil prices, started to unfold, especially when the opposition and the necessity of continued government spending got divided over some internal disputes in a way to stimulate the struggling local economy. that realizes the old saying that can be translated as The government said following the meeting that it “thieves are exposed when they disagree on split- seeks steps to achieve balance between reality and kuwait digest ting their loots”. This was what happened last week ambition, while focusing on the development plan when some members of the opposition bloc dis- and its strategic goals in increasing the gross domestic agreed, which helped to show many of the opposi- product, improving citizens’ living conditions, support- tion’s attitudes in black and white. ing human and social development, enhancing hous- Why destroy our heritage? ing policies and government management, and tak- ing care of young people’s projects. This is exactly the kind of direction that Kuwait needs, and requires sup- By Zaben Hamad Al-Bathal port in all fields. The opposition And in order to achieve those goals, efforts are ach and every country worldwide has its own preserve their heritage in the form of old souks and needed to construction and developmental strategic is currently going projects, such as focusing on developing the northern heritage that tells its history and the events it buildings and battlefields where various wars and parts of the country, improving the electricity and Ehas gone through. Most countries protect and battles took place. Such sites are usually well-kept, water services, as well as developing the oil, educa- respected and protected against weather conditions. through a phase tion, health, infrastructures, transportations, tourism Some public servants are even appointed as guides and environment sectors. In addition, efforts are to explain their significance and the role they played of purification, required to improve the investment environment, “That empty land in the country’s history to visitors. In other words, address the labor market’s flaws, elevate the govern- these sites become more like museums and touristic ment’s performance and reinforce youth empower- attractions, financially and spiritually benefiting the refinement, filtering- ment capabilities. used to house your The entire society, including citizens and expatri- country. ates, deserve to live through a renewed and positive However, things are different here in Kuwait you name it era in Kuwait - which can be achieved through collab- grandparents’ house, where everything is neglected and left to the wind, orative efforts to accomplish the development plan’s rain and stray animals. Old buildings like schools, goals and projects. security posts and some palaces are completely It does not matter who favors whom or who is Furthermore, the amendments to the foreign that had an old clinic deserted and unattended amidst a rapidly growing against whom. The whole image about Kuwait’s investments law, as well as the new trade law need to jungle of modern buildings and commercial com- long, boring political ‘movie’ is now clear. Now we be activated, in order to help eliminate beaurcracy plexes. The disaster actually happens when such know who is in favor of whom, who opposes whom and encourage economic cooperation and trade. and there was an old sites are demolished and historical landmarks are and who belongs to whom. It took us three years to The ball is now in the government’s court to carry comprehend the Kuwaiti political movie but we out a development plan for Kuwait of the future, and destroyed. finally know the whole story. that through cooperation with the parliament in order market selling all How on earth can new generations learn about Most importantly, none of the opposition bloc or to legislate the required legislations, in addition to the the history of their own country? Will they only settle anyone else can act heroically now that the whole General Secretariat of Planning and Development’s kinds of goods” for reading history books about them? Why are our political game’s details have been exposed, espe- vital role in cooperation with state departments to youth and children being deprived of the chance to cially after knowing what the censored scenes prepare the necessary budgets without delay. see them? Nowadays, if you want to talk to your kids included and we realized, as viewers, the number about their ancestors’ legacy and history, you can and multitude of alliances and moves to do so ever since the movement started. only do so verbally. “That empty land used to house The opposition gets sick but never dies. This is a your grandparents’ house, that had an old clinic and fact that ought to be realized by all parties. Yes, there was an old market selling all kinds of goods”. indeed. The opposition is currently going through a This is how you would tell them about history. phase of purification, refinement, filtering - you Destruction is much easier than construction. The name it. The most important thing is that the peo- bygone era can never be retrieved and there is no ple will eventually see everything in black and white use of bringing this topic up now, but my words are and distinguish between the pure ‘whites’ and the hypocrite ‘blacks’. The whole image will get clearer but a plea to the government to maintain the and this will be far much better for the opposition remaining heritage showing our true identity in as well as for the whole country. order to protect it and our nation’s legacy from dis- A real opposition will remain forever while the appearing and make our children and grandchildren fake one will always fall. This is not my opinion. proud of it! Reading facts and studying experiences suggest so. — Translated by Kuwait Times from Al-Anbaa — Translated by Kuwait Times from Al-Anbaa

kuwait digest Fighting obesity, diabetes

By Shamlan Al-Essa

spend the midyear break in Phuket, Thailand, where others and quickly go ahead with the metro and train proj- there are nice beaches, clean sea and healthy food of ect to link GCC countries. What is required from us as a Ifish, vegetables and various fruits away from meat and state and society is to build modern roads for bicycles and milk derivatives. What I like about this country is its good encourage youth to use them instead of cars, especially people and their excellent treatment of their tourist inside residential areas, because it is a modern tool avail- guests. Thailand is going through a media campaign led able in all countries of the world, and through this we can by Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha to fight pollution fight obesity and the increasing rates of diabetes among resulting from traffic congestion and many cars, so he pre- children. sented creative alternatives to the people to reduce con- gestion and promote physical fitness. The alternatives Thailand began with, besides riding trains, buses and mass transport means, is paving new We as people are fed lanes in all cities for bicycles and walking, which is cheap, clean and beneficial for the human being and environ- ment. The prime minister began with himself by opening up from the many two new lanes for bicycles, and rode his own on an eight- kilometer lane, and urged the government to use bicycles complaints against or walk and avoid using cars to reduce congestion. Officials in Thailand’s municipality began preparing lanes for bicycles in all areas of the country, while the private the government and sector shares in the costs of paving the roads. We in Kuwait are in more need than Thailand to reduce congestion and preserve the environment instead of hav- Assembly, but no one ing the interior ministry take measures against Kuwait’s guest workers, such as not issuing or being strict in issuing among the people driving licenses. We as people are fed up from the many complaints against the government and Assembly, but no one among the people takes the initiative to blame him- takes the initiative to self, because we are lacking in presenting ideas and alter- natives that help reduce traffic congestion, like the Thai blame himself people have done. The NGOs along with the private sector are required to take the initiatives in presenting and urging state employ- ees and students to use mass transport, and this idea is not What we are presenting are not new ideas, and all lead- new. I remember very well in Kuwait during the ‘50s and ers of world countries use buses, provided that there is a ‘60s, government buses used to take us to our schools and fast lane on roads designated for buses and cars that carry finance ministry cars used to transport government more than four persons, and it is regretful to see buses employees to their offices and bring them back home at used by poor laborers only. What is required today is to the end of the workday. We are aware that things have modernize buses and set special lanes for bicycles and changed in the country today, while state employees and walking. These are not costly to the general budget, while students are not committed to work to start with, as they the private sector can donate such lanes. The question - do sign in, then escape. you think our country will accept what citizens present in Now after the drop in oil prices and the expectations of the form of ideas? The matter is up to the government and reconsidering all government subsidies, we as people Assembly to make decisions, or as always the case has should urge members of parliament and the government been, to form committees to study matters, then bury to modernize means of public transport such as buses and them. — Translated by Kuwait Times from Al-Watan THURSDAY, JANUARY 15, 2015

Romney sparks new competition UN begins ‘long and difficult’ Libya talks among Reps Page 8 Page 9 US, Iran talk to hasten nuke deal Zarif suggests Charlie Hebdo makes dialogue harder

GENEVA: Top diplomats from Iran and the United the cover of French satirical weekly Charlie States met yesterday for talks aimed at speeding Hebdo’s Jan 14 edition, which features a cartoon up negotiations for a nuclear deal as a third dead- of Prophet Muhammad (PBUH). line for an historic accord looms. US Secretary of “Unless we learn to respect one another, it will State John Kerry and his Iranian counterpart be very difficult in a world of different views and Mohammad Javad Zarif huddled in an upscale different cultures and civilisations, we won’t be Geneva hotel, ahead of full negotiations with glob- able to engage in a serious dialogue if we start al powers here on Sunday. They are seeking to disrespecting each other’s values,” Zarif said. “We break a stalemate which has caused them to miss believe that sanctities need to be respected. I two previous deadlines for a full agreement to rein think we would have a much safer, much more in Iran’s suspect nuclear program. Zarif told prudent world if we were to engage in serious dia- reporters yesterday’s talks were “important”. “I think logue, serious debate about our differences, and it will show the readiness of the two parties to then we will find out that what binds us together move forward to speed up the process.” But asked is far greater than what divides us,” he said. if there would be a comprehensive deal by the new July 1 deadline, he remained cautious reply- Clock Ticking ing: “We’ll see.” Kerry, who was accompanied to yesterday’s Past negotiations have stumbled reportedly talks by his chief negotiators Wendy Sherman and over Iran’s insistence that it retain the right to Bill Burns, told reporters earlier this week that he enrich some uranium - which can in some cases be hopes to “accelerate the process to make greater used to make an atomic bomb - for what it says is a progress”. The two teams met for two hours yes- peaceful civilian nuclear program. There has also terday morning, broke for a short pause, and then been disagreement over global sanctions, with resumed their negotiations. Diplomats fear that Tehran calling for an end to an iron-fisted regime time may be running out, after two earlier dead- which has crippled Iran’s economy, while the US lines for a deal were missed. The new Republican- has insisted on a temporary, gradual suspension. controlled Congress is already considering a bill Negotiators have been tight-lipped about their which would slap new sanctions on Iran despite differences and Zarif would not go into detail attempts by the Obama administration to hold when asked about the thorniest matters still them off. clouding the talks. “All issues are hard until we Washington’s UN envoy Samantha Power said resolve them and all issues are easy if you resolve Monday that ratcheting up sanctions against Iran them,” he told reporters travelling with Kerry. would likely torpedo the negotiations. “Imposing Kerry has said the aim of his talks with Zarif yester- new sanctions will almost certainly end a negotia- day is to “take stock” and provide guidance for tions process that has not only frozen the advance GENEVA: US Secretary of State John Kerry (right) speaks with Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif as they walk in this city yes- their negotiating teams ahead of fresh discussions of Iran’s nuclear programme, but that could lead terday during a bilateral meeting ahead of the next round of nuclear discussion. — AP by global powers known as the P5+1 here on us to an understanding that would give us confi- have arrived at the stage where the other party weapon. Under an interim deal between world frozen in bank accounts around the world. But Sunday. dence in its exclusively peaceful nature,” Power must take decisions so we can go forward”. “New powers and Tehran in force since Jan 2014, Iran two deadlines for a comprehensive accord with Zarif also said serious dialogue with the West told a US think-tank. “If we pull the trigger on new proposals must be put forward. We are ready to agreed to limit its uranium enrichment. the P5+1 group of nations the United States, would be easier if it respected Muslim sensitivities, nuclear-related sanctions now, we will go from discuss all the issues, but we will have to see if the In return, Iran received limited relief from a Britain, China, France, Russia plus Germany - have ruffled by the latest Charlie Hebdo cartoons. Zarif isolating Iran to isolating ourselves,” she said. other side is ready,” he said, repeating Iran’s insis- network of global sanctions, obtaining about $7 since been missed as they have tussled to nail sought to explain why Iranians are dismayed by But earlier Zarif told Iranian television that “we tence that it is not seeking to obtain a nuclear billion from more than $100 billion in oil revenues down a complex, technical deal. — AFP INTERNATIONAL THURSDAY, JANUARY 15, 2015

Insecurity dominates as crunch vote looms for Nigeria

LAGOS: Boko Haram violence is threatening Nigeria’s firmation of either figure. presidential elections next month, with no let-up in Yesterday, scores of Boko Haram fighters tried to raid attacks and vast tracts of territory effectively struck off the town of Biu, 200 km south of the Borno state capital, the electoral map. President Goodluck Jonathan, his Maiduguri, but were pushed back by the military. At main opponent Muhammadu Buhari and the 12 other least 19 people were killed in Maiduguri last weekend, candidates for the February 14 vote, on Wednesday all when explosives strapped to a young girl thought to be vowed to conduct peaceful campaigns at a UN-spon- aged just 10, detonated. Security analysts believe the sored event. But as they did so, Boko Haram militants upsurge in violence is a further attempt by radical Sunni launched a renewed assault in the restive northeast, group to undermine the legitimacy of the government where they now control swathes of land, making voting and the election. The US State Department said on impossible for hundreds of thousands of people. Tuesday it was concerned by the “sharp escalation” in On Tuesday, the Independent National Electoral violence but believed the election should still go ahead. Commission (INEC) admitted that it was “unlikely” that elections would go ahead in the rebel-controlled areas Close-Run Vote of Yobe, Borno and Adamawa states. The electoral body Political analysts say 57-year-old Jonathan, who is is scrambling to make arrangements to allow the inter- looking for a second four-year term, will be run close by nally displaced, many of them in camps, to vote outside former military ruler Buhari, 72, and a second round of their home towns and villages. Political commentator voting may even be needed. An APC victory would Chris Ngwodo said INEC faced a “logistical nightmare” in dump the PDP out of power for the first time since organising the vote in a region riven by almost daily Nigeria returned to civilian rule in 1999. Buhari and the attacks and increasingly slipping out of government APC have lambasted Jonathan for failing to protect control. Nigerian lives, land and properties in the northeast, as Nigeria’s main opposition All Progressives Congress well as his record on corruption and handling of the (APC) has already said the overall result could be invali- stalling economy. dated if voters in its northeastern stronghold are disen- ABUJA: Former United Nations secretary-general Kofi Annan (left) speaks to Nigerian President and presi- Jonathan and the PDP for their part portray Buhari, franchised. Lawyer Jiti Ogunye warned of a “very serious dential candidate of the ruling People’s Democratic Party (PDP) Goodluck Jonathan (center) and leading Nigeria’s military ruler from December 1983 to August constitutional crisis” if elections were not held in Boko opposition All Progressive Congress presidential candidate Mohammadu Buhari during a general election 1985, as a “dangerous” man of the past with outdated Haram-occupied areas, which would put the winners’ sensitization workshop yesterday. — AFP ideas and no national appeal. No independent polling is legitimacy to rule in doubt. “Under the Nigerian consti- leading oil producer has a precedent for election-linked There have already been skirmishes between sup- available to indicate voting intentions but the APC is tution, a candidate must win a majority and 25 percent violence, stoking fears of a repeat this time around. At porters of Buhari’s APC and Jonathan’s ruling Peoples seen by some as in front. “It’s going to be very close,” of votes cast in two-thirds of the country or a state,” he the 2011 vote, widely considered the cleanest since the Democratic Party, but Boko Haram is posing the greater said Jideofor Adibe, a political scientist at Nasarawa told AFP. “So, if some towns and villages have been tak- return to civilian rule in 1999, nearly 1,000 people were threat this time round. Hundreds or more civilians were State University. “I think the odds favour the president en by Boko Haram, where will the two-thirds come killed in the religiously divided central region. Former feared killed in what may prove the worst atrocity in a despite everything because of the power of incumben- from?” United Nations secretary-general Kofi Annan was in six-year insurgency that has claimed more than 13,000 cy... (But) Jonathan has to find a way to stop the Abuja on Wednesday and called for a peaceful cam- lives, after they stormed Baga, on Lake Chad. The mili- momentum. “The momentum right now is with the Waves of Attacks paign, warning that violence could set back the country tary claims 150 died in the January 3 attack but with the APC... Whatever he (Jonathan) does, he has to do it Africa’s leading economy, most populous nation and and the continent as a whole. town still in rebel hands, there was no independent con- quickly.” — AFP Netanyahu leads the pack in Israeli polls

JERUSALEM: In the cold reality of politics, the remained neck-and-neck, with his party best killing of four French Jews in a Paris supermarket positioned to form a governing coalition with seems to have helped Prime Minister Benjamin smaller factions after the March 17 ballot. The Netanyahu deliver a strong message to Israeli Israeli leader even won grudging praise in the voters that he has their back. With two months leftwing Haaretz newspaper - one of his to go until Israel’s national election, Netanyahu - strongest critics - for reminding French Jews that who marched with dozens of world leaders at a they can always migrate to the Jewish state. memorial rally for the victims of last week’s “Contempt for his ... pushiness shouldn’t obscure Islamist militant attacks in the French capital - the fact that he succeeded in sending a clear heads a crowded pack of candidates despite the message over the head of ... Hollande, and to be challenge of a new centre-left alliance. honest, over the heads of all the leaders of Accusing Netanyahu of missteps, critics saw Israel’s political system: ‘Come home. I’ll protect comedy amid the tragedy as he manoeuvred his you,’” Haaretz commentator Tal Niv wrote. way into a front-row position at the rally in hon- Back home, after arranging for the four our of the 17 dead in the shooting assaults on Jewish victims of the supermarket attack to be the satirical journal Charlie Hebdo and in the buried in Israel, Netanyahu attended their funer- kosher market. It even spawned an on-line al in Jerusalem and railed in his eulogy against GENEVA: United Nations special envoy to Libya Bernardino Leon (3rd right) poses with representatives of Libya’s warring factions prior to talks game, “Push the Bibi” - Netanyahu’s nickname - the “poisonous fanaticism” of militant Islam. It yesterday. — AFP in which players could propel him through the was a familiar theme of a Likud campaign that crowd to occupy pride of place next to French has hailed Netanyahu, seeking a fourth term as President Francois Hollande and German premier, as the Israeli leader best able to keep Chancellor Angela Merkel. the country safe. An opinion poll published yes- UN begins ‘long and Despite the ridicule, opinion polls show no terday by the Israel Democracy Institute and Tel real change among the two top contenders in Aviv University showed that 34 percent of the Israeli race, in which the rightwing Jewish voters in Israel believed Netanyahu was Netanyahu has made security and the threat of a best suited to be the next prime minister. Labour difficult’ Libya talks radicalised Middle East the main issues. Party chief Isaac Herzog took second place, with Netanyahu’s Likud and centre-left Labour just 17.7 percent.—Reuters Meeting makes faltering start, seeks unity govt

GENEVA: The United Nations yesterday kick-start- economic collapse may be a matter of days or Haftar established a militia in eastern Libya that ed peace talks between Libya’s warring factions in weeks,” he said, and that in addition there were was initially disavowed but later embraced by Geneva with a warning they could be the last “terrorist attacks... very strong fighting in different internationally recognised Prime Minister Abdullah chance to prevent all-out chaos in the oil-rich areas and some international calls for military inter- Al-Thani. Haftar has led repeated offensives against country. The North African nation has been vention.” Islamist militias in Libya’s second city Benghazi gripped by deepening conflict since the overthrow Speaking on the eve of the talks the EU’s foreign since May, which have succeeded in wresting back of dictator Muammar Gaddafi in a NATO-backed policy chief Federica Mogherini urged the various control of large areas. Those militias are led by the uprising in 2011, with rival governments and pow- factions to seize “an opportunity the Libyans can- Ansar al-Sharia group, blacklisted by the United erful militias battling for control of key cities and not afford to miss”. “I want to praise both sides par- Nations for its links to Al-Qaeda. The battle for the nation’s oil wealth. It has taken the UN months ticipating and encourage all those in Libya that Benghazi, a city of about one million people, has to get the opposing sides back to the negotiating have not yet decided on participation... to do so”. killed hundreds of civilians, drawing repeated calls table after a single round of talks in September. Representatives of the most powerful commander from the United Nations and Western governments “It’s going to be a long process, it’s going to be on the recognised government side, Khalifa Haftar, for a ceasefire. The Islamic State group that has difficult,” the UN special envoy for Libya, Bernardino have not been invited to Geneva. seized large areas in Iraq and Syria is also thought Leon, said. “We are not expecting to have a break- A former Gaddafi general turned rebel leader, to have gained a foothold in eastern Libya. — AFP through tomorrow or the day after tomorrow,” said Leon, who is overseeing the dialogue in the Swiss city. “There is a gap between the parties, which is becoming more complicated with more fighting Unity frays, hurting Gaza on the ground. We are proposing an agreement and we are proposing a new unity government to start solving their political differences. The second rebuilding and statehood goal is to stop the fighting. I’m sure you all know GAZA: Escalating tension between Islamist crat government cannot begin to administer that Libya is falling very deeply into chaos.” group Hamas and its Western-backed rival Fatah Gaza until Hamas fully relinquishes control, Analysts warn that the negotiations are unlikely has pushed their “unity” government to the brink including over border crossings with Egypt and to have any real impact unless the leaders of all the of collapse, harming efforts to rebuild the Gaza Israel. But there is no sign of that happening. armed groups - some of whom are absent from the Strip and complicating Palestinian statehood For its part, Hamas accuses Palestinian negotiations - become directly involved. The talks ambitions. Five months after a devastating war President Mahmoud Abbas, who leads Fatah are aimed at reaching agreement on a unity gov- with Israel, Gaza’s residents are still occasionally and controls the PA budget, of trying to throttle ernment to replace the rival administrations, jolted by explosions. But the blasts now are the group into submission, including by refus- whose battle for power has left hundreds dead more often the result of the internal conflict ing to pay its 50,000 public-sector employees. over the past six months. They also seek to “put in tearing at the fabric of Palestinian politics. “Abbas must first show solidarity with his own ANKARA: Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan (right) and Palestinian President place the necessary security arrangements for Hamas, which seized Gaza in a brief civil war in people, whom he deprives of salaries and Mahmoud Abbas shake hands in front of 16 soldiers who represent the 16 Turkish states bringing about a total cessation of armed hostili- 2007, remains the dominant force in the territory rebuilding,” said Mahmoud Zahar, a senior founded in the past at the presidential palace on Jan 12, 2015. — AFP ties” and to “secure a phased withdrawal of all - even after it agreed last June to a “reconcilia- Hamas official. The Islamist group has also lam- armed groups from all major towns and cities.” tion government” that would assert control and basted Abbas for not visiting Gaza since the Warriors to welcome more Libya’s internationally recognised government oversee post-war reconstruction. war with Israel. decamped last summer to the eastern city of That government’s inability to fully carry out Tobruk after an Islamist-backed militia alliance its work has stalled rebuilding in Gaza, where Darkening Outlook foreign leaders to Turkey seized the capital Tripoli and set up its own admin- around 100,000 homes were damaged or The upshot is that the Palestinians are now as istration. The alliance known as Fajr Libya (Libya destroyed in the war, and undermined a polarised as ever, with Hamas overseeing Gaza ANKARA: Warriors from Turkic history, some Leading Kurdish politician Selahattin Dawn) also holds the third city, Misrata. It launched Palestinian statehood bid at the United Nations. and its 1.8 million people, while Fatah is in in chainmail, others bearing spears, will be a Demirtas, who lost to Erdogan in last year’s a bloody offensive in December to seize control of In recent weeks the Hamas-Fatah stand-off has charge in the West Bank, just 60 km to the north- regular feature of Turkish President Tayyip presidential poll, told local TV channel key oil terminals but was repelled by the army. spiralled into violence, although it is not always east, where 2.8 million live. Foreign governments Erdogan’s welcome for foreign leaders, Haberturk that Erdogan could have com- Most countries pulled out their diplomats from clear who is behind it. On Friday, bombs explod- that last October contributed $5.4 billion to a sources at his office said, after their first out- pleted the picture by dressing up as Tripoli after the city was taken by Libya Dawn. ed at a major Gaza bank used by the unity gov- fund for the Palestinians, including Saudi Arabia, ing drew ridicule from opponents. Months “Ibrahim the Mad”, a 17th century sultan. ernment to pay most of the 70,000 public sector Turkey, Qatar and others in Europe, have indicat- after the inauguration of a vast new palace Presidential sources said each soldier repre- ‘Running Out of Time’ workers hired before Hamas took over the nar- ed that they cannot fully follow through on their complex, Erdogan’s efforts to imbue more sented a period of Turkic history, from the Although all factions are represented in Geneva, row, coastal enclave. commitments until the unity government is in pomp into the previously largely ceremonial central Asian Hunnic Empire of 200 BC all according to Leon, the Tripoli arm of Libya Dawn is At the weekend, pictures emerged of Fatah charge as a single authority. role of head of state took an unexpected turn the way through to the Ottoman Empire holding out and will only take a decision on activists in Gaza who said they had been The risk for Hamas is that if it gives up power during this week’s visit of Palestinian that was dissolved in 1922. They also said attending on Sunday. “If you refuse to talk the only stripped, beaten and left in freezing tempera- now it may not regain it - while it won the last President Mahmoud Abbas. the soldiers would be a feature of future alternative is war. This is not acceptable to the tures by Hamas security men. Hamas, mean- Palestinian elections in 2006, there are no signs Official pictures from the welcome cere- welcoming ceremonies. international community and to many Libyans,” while, accuses Fatah of rounding up its party of a new vote being held. For Fatah, if it does not mony on Monday showed Abbas and Celebrating Turkic historical might is not Leon said, adding he hoped to start talking to the members in the West Bank, where the Fatah-led exert itself via the Palestinian Authority, it can- Erdogan posing at the bottom of a staircase, without its supporters, particularly among “military actors” in the conflict “as early as next Palestinian Authority (PA) prevails. “Whenever not hope to be taken seriously by the rest of the with 16 soldiers arrayed behind them in a nationalists loyal to the ruling AK Party, keen week”. Political analyst Mohammed Al-Ferjani pre- Hamas is with its back against the wall, it reacts world as it prepares to join the International range of historical costumes, complete with to bolster its support in the run-up to parlia- dicted however that the dialogue would fail with some fighting,” said Mattia Toaldo, a Middle Criminal Court and make another statehood ornate helmets, swords and spears. The pic- mentary elections in June. “Those who are “because the UN has not chosen the right actors”. East expert at the European Council on Foreign attempt at the United Nations. What is more, tures sparked a storm of reaction on social disturbed by the 16 guardians at the presi- “The participants are politicians and have no pres- Relations, although he described that as a worst- even if that bid makes progress, opinion polls media - some of it ridicule - with digitally dency, tell them to go join a crusader army,” ence or influence on the ground,” he said. Leon case scenario that remained unlikely for now. show Hamas will win the next elections, when- altered mock-ups replacing the costumed wrote one prominent AKP supporter on warned that Libya was “running out of time” and Palestinian Prime Minister Rami Hamdallah, ever they are held, greatly complicating the guards with characters from the films Star Twitter, likening the Queen of England’s car- the Geneva talks could be a crucial last-ditch bid to who is based in the West Bank, says his techno- statehood agenda.—Reuters Wars and Lord of the Rings. riage to that of Cinderella. — Reuters avert what he called “total chaos”. “Financial and THURSDAY, JANUARY 15, 2015 INTERNATIONAL Amid struggles, Puerto Rico enjoys drop in crime

SAN JUAN, Puerto Rico: The crime drop of 40 percent since murders whose son was fatally stabbed during a commit other crimes. The bureau and decide where to assign daily patrols. wave that marred Puerto Rico’s image in reached a record high of 1,164 three holdup in 2011, is among the Puerto other federal agencies also flew in per- Puerto Rico’s drop in crime comes amid recent years appears to have ebbed, years ago. Violent crime overall fell 17 Ricans who have helped turn the tide. sonnel from the US mainland to help a long-term trend of declining rates of with homicides decreasing and both res- percent over the same period. Following the death of his 20-year-old bring Puerto Rico’s crime wave under violent crime across the region. In idents and police adopting new meas- Credit for the decline goes to a num- son, Romero used his skills as the owner control. As a result, the island has experi- Jamaica, killings in 2014 were the lowest ures to track problems and improve ber of factors, from increased efforts to of a telecommunications services com- enced a “dramatic” improvement in pub- in 11 years and down roughly 40 per- public safety. The island of 3.7 million prevent crime to a broader trend of pany to create a mobile app that allows lic safety since 2011, said Carlos Cases, cent compared with a record 1,680 in people had 681 homicides in 2014, the declining violence across the United users to anonymously report suspected the FBI special agent in charge for the 2009. Trinidad and Tobago saw a 27 per- lowest number in nearly 15 years and a States and the Caribbean. Luis Romero, crimes to police. So far, it’s been down- island. “The streets of Puerto Rico at the cent drop in killings from the 2008 high loaded more than 40,000 times and has time, especially in the San Juan metro- of 547. And in the Dominican Republic, been used to send in more than 6,800 politan area, were essentially no man’s there were fewer than 2,000 killings in tips. “The people have said enough is land,” he said. each of the past two years for the first enough,” Romero said. “Puerto Rico got time in more than a decade. fed up with the level of crime.” Cooperation Still, parts of the Caribbean remain 2011 was seen by many as a low Use of the crime-tip mobile app, led violent as a drug-trafficking corridor point for Puerto Rico. Not only did homi- by an anti-crime organization known as awash in weapons, often smuggled out cides peak, but the FBI expanded its “Basta Ya PR” meaning “Enough is of the United States. Even in places like involvement in the US territory after a enough, Puerto Rico,” has been part of Puerto Rico and Jamaica where the Justice Department report found wide- the change. The app allows people to numbers are falling, much of the crime spread problems in the island’s police easily alert police to suspected crimes involves gang battles or people seeking force, including corruption, illegal such as assault, robbery, domestic vio- cash or valuables to feed a drug habit, killings and civil rights violations. lence and child abuse. “The cooperation like the 15-year-old mugger who Seeking to crack down on the most seri- of citizens has been key in helping us attacked Romero’s son. ous crimes, the FBI and other federal solve murders and seize weapons,” said Romero said more remains to be agencies took charge of cases that Lt Ricardo Haddock, sub director of done. Puerto Rico should reduce overall involved armed suspects with previous criminal investigations in the north violent crime by 70 percent and aim for criminal records. Suspects detained by municipality of Carolina. “Everything’s so no more than 582 killings for 2016, half federal agents are subject to being held much faster with technology now. of that reported in 2011. He plans to without bond, and the system has a 97 People are cooperating more than ever.” continue working with police to make percent conviction rate. For its part, the Puerto Rico Police the island safer. “When your son has The FBI also expanded its authority in Department last year began using a sys- been killed, it’s hard to talk about the SAN JUAN: Cars drive along the junction of PR-52 and PR-22 highways on Jan handling carjacking cases, a key to tem that tracks the locations of reported subject constantly,” he said. “But it has to 13, 2015. — AP deterring criminals from stealing cars to gunfire in greater San Juan in order to be done.” — AP

Romney sparks new 2016 competition among Reps

DES MOINES, Iowa: Three high-profile After repeated denials that he would Republicans from the party’s mainstream run again, Romney electrified the political are suddenly competing for the same establishment when he told donors at a group of elite donors and staffing talent private New York meeting Friday that he with Mitt Romney’s eyeing a third run for was, in fact, now considering another run president in 2016. And that list - Romney, for president. Romney, the former New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie and former Massachusetts governor who lost to Florida Gov Jeb Bush - doesn’t even include McCain in the 2008 primary and to Obama Midwestern governors like Wisconsin’s in the 2012 general election, has spent the Scott Walker, who also fit the mold of last four days phoning leading Republicans accomplished, economic-minded execu- and key former supporters across the US to tives driven as much by a pragmatic signal serious interest in a 2016 campaign. approach to governing as their conserva- Romney’s potential leap into the race tive ideology. seemed unthinkable a week earlier, when David Price Mark Warner In the race for the Democratic nomina- Bush and Christie were seen as more than tion, Hillary Rodham Clinton has emerged capable of satisfying the establishment’s as an early frontrunner, although she has desire for mainstream candidates with not yet declared her candidacy. Nor have White House-worthy resumes. Bush is the Diminished in Congress, any of the ambitious Republicans formally brother of George W Bush. “By and large, entered the race yet. But more than a they’re all going after the same base (of dozen candidates are preparing for what is donors),” said former Missouri Sen Jim Democrats weigh future widely seen as a once-in-a-generation Talent, a senior adviser to Romney’s 2012 opportunity - an open White House and no campaign and among those he called in Republican heir apparent with a claim to recent days to talk about another run. “One the nomination. of the things you have to determine is Obama veto power will limit GOP The abundance of Republican presiden- whether you can raise the money, and I WASHINGTON: Congressional Democrats are in with filibusters, will limit GOP success in don’t personify fresh ideas. The House’s top three tial prospects who put economic policy think that’s one of the things he’s calling retreat in more ways than one this week. As Congress over the next two years. Meanwhile, Democratic leaders - Pelosi, Steny Hoyer and ahead of polarizing social issues comes around about now,” Talent said. “I would Democratic senators gather in Baltimore to talk congressional Democrats are limiting their James Clyburn - are in their mid-70s. So is Senate after Republican congressional leaders suc- feel pretty confident about that with him. strategy and lick election wounds, their party ambitions and hoping for at least a partial thaw Democratic Leader Harry Reid. More troubling to ceeded last year in beating back primary He’s always been pretty good at mobilizing faces diminished powers in Congress, GOP in partisan gridlock. Democrats is Republican dominance of local pol- challenges from farther-right, tea party- support.” dominance in many states and a shrinking pool Democratic Sen Mark Warner of Virginia said itics in states that are competitive in presidential affiliated candidates on their way to A spokeswoman for Jeb Bush welcomed of potential candidates for future elections. In he hopes both parties will move beyond cam- and Senate races. Obama carried Florida, reclaiming control of the Senate. It also sets Romney to the race this week, but she sug- the November elections, Democrats lost their paign rhetoric and “get to a point where we can Michigan, Ohio, Pennsylvania and Virginia twice, up a potential primary contest of main- gested the former Massachusetts governor eight-year Senate majority, and saw their House actually move the ball on some issues.” He point- and North Carolina once. Yet Republicans hold stream Republicans not seen since 2000, efforts wouldn’t affect Bush’s own plans. numbers fall to the lowest level in seven ed to a series of events this year “that could actu- big majorities in these states’ legislative cham- when George W Bush was the favorite in a There’s also no shortage of fiery conserva- decades. ally see breakthroughs or another breakdown, bers, except Virginia, where their Senate majority crowded field that also included John tive prospects with untested mainstream In the states, Republicans will hold 31 gover- from the debt ceiling to Social Security disability is narrow. Of the 99 US House seats in these six McCain, or 1988, when then-Vice President appeal, including Texas Sen Ted Cruz, norships, and more state legislative seats than to infrastructure.” states, Democrats hold 30. George H W Bush was the heavy favorite in Kentucky Sen. Rand Paul and former neuro- they’ve had since 1928. It especially vexes Congressional Republicans will naturally take These discrepancies can’t be blamed entirely a race that included Bob Dole. surgeon Ben Carson. —AP Democrats to see Republicans dominate the US credit for any legislative achievements, Warner on gerrymandering, said Steve Schale, a top House delegations and the state governments said. However, he said, “a functioning govern- Florida Democratic strategist. Too often, he said, in several states that President Barack Obama ment, when you’ve got a Democratic president, “we’ve done a lousy job of recruiting candidates” won, including huge legislative majorities in actually still helps Democrats.” Many Democrats at all levels. Strong candidate recruitment - start- Florida, Michigan, Ohio and Wisconsin. “I think say the party needs to sharpen its messaging. ing with mayors and state legislatures - builds a there’s a lot of frustration,” said Rep John They note that voters in several states last fall farm team of potential candidates for governor Yarmuth, a Kentucky Democrat who said the approved referendums to raise the minimum and Congress, Schale said. “We’ve gotten away party has “failed to do something that I think wage, and simultaneously ousted Democratic from a lot of that basic blocking and tackling,” he represents an opportunity for us. We really senators who backed the proposals. “We believe said. He said the November election of haven’t talked to the American people about we’re on the right side of the issues, and all we Democratic Rep Gwen Graham - who ousted a what government does for them.” can do is keeping making the case,” Yarmuth said. Republican House member from the Tallahassee The big gap between Democratic success at “Hopefully we’ll get better at that.” area - proves that a well-funded and articulate the presidential level and elsewhere “is a real House Democratic Leader Nancy Pelosi of Democrat can prosper even in a strong GOP dilemma, I think, for democracy really, not just California on Tuesday announced a new messag- year. the Democratic Party,” said Rep David Price of ing team led by Steve Israel. “We need a mes- Presidential politics remain the Democrats’ North Carolina, a 14-term congressman and for- sage,” Israel said. “An effective message doesn’t brightest spot. They’ve won the popular vote in mer Duke University political scientist. He said tell voters what to think. It builds on what they five of the last six presidential races, and they Ohio, Michigan, Pennsylvania, North Carolina feel.” Democratic Sen Tim Kaine of Virginia said have high hopes for a 2016 field that could fea- and Virginia display the “most egregious” exam- Democrats must do a better job of highlighting ture Hillary Rodham Clinton. Still, some ples of gerrymandered districts for congression- economic improvements and a dramatic increase Democrats worry that Clinton might come al and state legislative races. in energy production under Obama’s watch. They across as a stale, too-familiar politician. If This long-practiced brand of partisan map- should talk about initiatives, such as a higher Republicans nominate Jeb Bush or Mitt making, Price said, helps Republicans control minimum wage, and better training for workers, Romney, however, that issue might be negated. the legislatures of states that vote Democratic not as government programs but as common- Price predicts Republican lawmakers will turn for president. But in a sign of local Democrats’ sense ways to help workers, he said. “We’re not off moderate voters by placating conservative struggles to change voters’ minds, Price said the battling to increase government,” Kaine said, hardliners. “We see the most extreme elements best prospect for reversing the trend - in the “we’re battling to help everyday people.” of the conference getting their wish list,” Price South, at least - is in lawsuits that allege racial said. That gives Democrats a natural opening BOSTON: In this Jan 8, 2015 file photo, New Jersey Gov Chris Christie greets people bias in the way Republicans drew district No Fresh Ideas with “more reasonable and more moderate vot- on the floor of the House Chamber at the Statehouse before inaugural ceremonies boundaries. Obama’s veto power, plus Some Democrats note that their congression- ers,” he said. “The tea party agenda is energiz- for Charlie Baker. —AP Democratic senators’ ability to block some bills al leaders have been around for decades, and ing,” he said, “believe me.” —AP House takes broad aim at Obama on immigration

WASHINGTON: In a broad assault on one of mised, the full and effective functioning of our “Dreamers.” The amendment, which is opposed President Barack Obama’s top domestic priori- Homeland Security Department” at a time of by some of the more moderate Republicans in ties, Republicans pushed legislation toward heightened security risks. the House, would ultimately expose those House passage yesterday that would overturn Republicans were voting on one amend- young people to deportation. his immigration policies and remove protec- ment to undo executive actions Obama Republicans are six votes shy of the 60-vote tions for immigrants brought illegally to the announced in November that provided tempo- majority needed to advance most legislation in country as kids. Despite a White House veto rary deportation relief to some 4 million immi- the Senate, and even some Republicans in the threat, Republicans were poised to attach lan- grants in the country illegally. Another amend- Senate have expressed unease with the House guage blocking Obama’s immigration initia- ment would delete Obama’s 2012 policy that’s GOP approach, especially given the importance tives to legislation providing nearly $40 billion granted work permits and stays of deportation of funding the Homeland Security Department to finance the Homeland Security Department to more than 600,000 immigrants who arrived in light of the Paris terrorist attacks. Some through the rest of the budget year. in the US illegally as kids. The changes Obama House Republicans acknowledged that the Republicans said Obama’s executive actions announced in November especially enraged Senate was likely to reject their approach, per- on immigration were an unconstitutional over- the GOP because they came not long after haps forcing them in the end to pass a reach that must be stopped. “If in the future a Republicans swept the midterm elections, tak- Homeland Security funding bill stripped of con- Republican president does the same thing I will ing control of the Senate and increasing their troversial provisions on immigration. be the first to be here with you to stand against majority in the House. Republicans pledged “They’re not going to pass this bill,” Rep that to fight back,” said Rep Mick Mulvaney. then to revisit the issue once Congress was fully Charlie Dent said in predicting the Senate out- “Law is not made at the White House.” Rep Luis under their control. come. Homeland Security money expires at the Guiterrez, accused Republicans of “viciousness” But even with Republicans in control of the end of February so House leaders have left for trying to make it easier to deport immigrant Senate the bill faces tough chances there, espe- themselves some weeks to reach the end game. WASHINGTON: Rep Jan Schakowsky, joined by Rep Juan Vargas (left) and Rep Luis brought to the US as children. Rep David Price cially because House GOP leaders decided to Immigrant advocates warned Republicans that Gutierrez, a leading advocate in the House for comprehensive immigration reform, called the GOP effort “a political vendetta,” satisfy demands from conservative members by yesterday’s votes risked alienating Latino voters speaks during a news conference on Capitol Hill on Tuesday on the implementation adding, “It’s a reprehensible, reckless tactic including a vote to undo the 2012 policy that who will be crucial to the 2016 presidential of US President Barack Obama’s executive actions to spare millions from immediate which will compromise, has already compro- deals with younger immigrants known as election. — AP deportation. —AP p10 2_Layout 1 1/14/15 10:30 PM Page 1

THURSDAY, JANUARY 15, 2015 INTERNATIONAL

Swiss seek to avert EU immigration clash with ‘safeguard’ clause

ZURICH: The Swiss government hopes through quotas without angering European Union, but also allows for out- labour, has not been compromised. Baer, deputy secretary of the SVP, told to negotiate for a right to cap immigra- Brussels, which has said any curb on the liers. Although Switzerland is not in the Reuters on Wednesday. tion from the European Union so as to influx of EU workers would violate Foreigners made up almost 24 per- EU, it has in effect accepted those prin- The EU said it would not take a view keep its access to EU markets when it treaties that give Switzerland access to cent of the Swiss population at the end ciples in exchange for market access. until it received an official proposal. Two writes into law a popular vote requiring EU markets. of 2013, one of the highest proportions The government’s proposal has diplomats familiar with the matter said strict limits on migration. Berne diplomats are now exploring in any Western economy, up from below gained support from the business it would be very hard for the bloc, cur- The referendum passed narrowly adding a “safeguard clause” that would 15 percent 30 years ago. Net immigra- establishment, but will be hard to sell to rently dealing with its own pressures to almost a year ago despite vehement let Switzerland cap immigration from tion is about 1 percent a year, about the right-wing Swiss People’s Party limit internal migration, to stomach the opposition from the government and the EU once certain levels were hit, twice that of Germany. (SVP), which launched the referendum. safeguard clause. Other proposals for from the Swiss banks, drugmakers and according to two sources familiar with The proposal is meant to reassure “We want a bill that adheres to the responding to the referendum have other industries that rely heavily on the matter who declined to be named. Swiss voters that a perceived siege by constitutional change, and it doesn’t ranged from re-running it in the hope of skilled workers from the EU. Curbs would be imposed when foreign workers will be tackled, while seem that adding a safeguard clause reversing the narrow “Yes” vote to tak- This handed the government the immigration tops a number that is persuading the EU that one of its funda- would do so. It does not set quotas or ing a hard line and risking breaking the problem of how to manage immigration linked to average immigration in the mental principles, free movement of give priority to Swiss residents,” Silvia treaties. —Reuters Tanzania says ready to take on Congo rebels Kikwete denies Tanzania avoiding a fight

DAR ES SALAAM: Tanzania is ready to take on Tanzania’s mind,” Kikwete said. backed military action, Pretoria said it was com- Rwandan rebels in eastern Democratic Republic “They claim that Tanzania has no intention of mitted to the “neutralisation of negative forces of Congo (DRC), President Jakaya Kikwete said, taking on rebel groups in the DRC. These are in the eastern DRC”. suggesting a joint offensive with UN-backed, bizarre people because Tanzania, like South The United Nations has been under pressure South African forces is imminent. Africa and Malawi, has troops in the DRC with a to take out remaining guerrilla movements in In a statement issued late on Tuesday after firm United Nations mandate.” eastern Congo after the intervention force talks with South African Defence Minister South African President Jacob Zuma was in defeated a 5,000-strong force of M23 rebels in Nosiviwe Mapisa-Nqakula, Kikwete dismissed Luanda on Wednesday for talks with his Angolan 2013. talk he was reluctant to send in troops against counterpart, Jose Eduardo dos Santos, that are However, its Office for the Coordiation for the Democratic Forces for the Liberation of expected to focus on security in eastern Congo, Humanitarian Affairs said the offensive being VILNIUS: European Council President Donald Tusk, left, and Lithuania’s President Rwanda (FDLR). home to an estimated 1,400 seasoned FDLR planned with the assistance of Congolese gov- Dalia Grybauskaite pose for photographers prior to their meeting at the President The United Nations Security Council backed guerrillas. ernment troops would affect hundreds of thou- palace in Vilnius, Lithuania, yesterday.—AP plans a week ago for a 3,000-strong South The militia, which includes ethnic Hutu sol- sands of civilians. African, Tanzanian and Malawian intervention diers responsible for carrying out Rwanda’s 1994 Earlier this month, UN and Congolese forces force to begin military operations against the genocide, failed to meet a January deadline to launched strikes against remnants of a smaller guerrilla group, which has been at the heart of disarm and surrender. South Africa’s foreign min- Burundian rebel group that a diplomat said was 10 dead as Texas years of conflict in central Africa’s Great Lakes. istry did not comment on Zuma’s discussions. aimed at clearing the way for an offensive “There are people who pretend to read But in a statement after the UN Security Council against the FDLR. —Reuters prison bus plunges

WASHINGTON: A bus carrying 15 prison this morning,” Sergeant Gary Duesler of the inmates and staff plunged off a Texas high- Ector County Sheriff’s Department told AFP. way overpass and onto railway tracks “For whatever reason, whether it was for below, where it was hit by a train yesterday, icy conditions or whatever, it went down killing 10 people. the embankment and into the path of an “Two correctional officers and eight oncoming train,” Duesler said. offenders have died from injuries sustained Officials said the accident scene was in the accident,” a spokesman from the horrific. “It’s as bad as you can imagine. In Texas Department of Corrections said in a 32 years it’s as bad as anything I’ve seen,” statement, adding that five people were Kavin Tinney, chief of a firefighter battalion, hurt. told the Odessa American newspaper. “One staff member and four offenders Texas prison officials, who said an investi- have been transported to the Medical gation was underway, lamented the loss of Center in Odessa and are receiving medical life. treatment,” the statement said. “It’s with a heavy heart that we mourn Jason Clark, director of public informa- the loss of those killed and injured this tion for the Texas Department of Criminal morning in a tragic accident. Justice, told AFP that the accident occurred “Their loved ones will be in our on a busy stretch of highway shortly after thoughts and prayers,” Brad Livingston, dawn, as the bus carried inmates from one Executive Director of the Texas Department prison facility in Abilene in western Texas to of Criminal Justice, said in a statement. another in the city of El Paso. Duesler said sheriff’s deputies worked to “The bus left the roadway and made secure the scene as the investigation con- contact with the train,” Clark said. tinued. Officials said they did not know what “We’ve got the road closed off because caused the bus to leave the roadway, but it’s a major accident scene,” he told AFP. said that visibility at the time was poor and “There are some inmates that were trans- the roadway was slick, with temperatures ported to the hospital, and of course, hovering around freezing. they’re still inmates, so we’re providing “The conditions were less than favorable security for them,” he said. — AFP

Tanzania bans witchdoctors to stem grisly albino murders

ARUSHA: Tanzania has banned witchdoc- West, it affects just one person in 20,000. tors to try and stem a surge in murders of KIEV: Ukrainian deputies observe a minute of silence yesterday for the 12 victims of the January 13 shelling on a bus in the small eastern albinos, whose body parts are sold for Cross-border raids Ukrainian city of Volnovakha at the Parliament in Kiev. The placard set on the platform reads: “I am Volnovakha”. Twelve Ukrainian civilians witchcraft, officials said yesterday. In August, a UN rights expert warned were killed and nearly 20 injured on January 13 when a long-range Grad rocket apparently fired by pro-Russian insurgents hit an intercity bus The ban follows the kidnapping last that attacks against albinos were increas- in the separatist east. — AFP month of a four-year-old girl by men ing as Tanzania’s October 2015 national armed with machetes, who took her from elections loomed, encouraging political her home in the northern Mwanza region. campaigners to turn to witchdoctors for Police have since arrested 15 people, good luck. The Malian singer Salif Keita, including the girl’s father and two uncles, himself an albino, has led an international Russia, Ukraine trade but she remains missing. campaign against the trade hoping to “These so-called witches bear responsi- change attitudes. bility for the attacks against albinos,” inte- Tanzania’s Daily News newspaper, in an rior ministry spokesman Isaac Nantanga editorial earlier this month, condemned blame for bus attack told AFP yesterday. the “disgusting” trade and said it had At least 74 albinos have been murdered brought “shame to the nation”. The attack- in the east African country since 2000, ers “stalk unsuspecting people with KIEV: The death toll from a stray rocket that spokeswoman Viktoria Kushnir told AFP. loss of civilian life since the warring sides according to United Nations experts. After albinism, pounce on them, hack off their hit a Ukrainian bus climbed to 12 yesterday as signed a September 5 ceasefire that only par- a spike in killings in 2009, the government body parts and run away with them.” Moscow and Kiev traded blame for the sepa- ‘Undermines peace efforts’ tially stemmed the fighting and did little to placed youngsters with albinism in chil- Teams will launch the education cam- ratist war’s bloodiest incident since a Russia issued no immediate comment. But resolve the insurgents’ independence claims. dren’s homes to protect them. paign this month in Tanzania’s northern September truce. the foreign ministry’s rights envoy called the The rocket strike also damaged Albino body parts sell for around $600 regions of Geita, Mwanza, Simiyu, The long-range Grad rocket exploded on bus incident “another crime of the Kiev mili- Poroshenko’s efforts to set up a peace summit in Tanzania, with an entire corpse fetching Shinyanga and Tabora, areas notorious for Tuesday near a commuter bus travelling tary”. where Putin could personally sign a truce $75,000, a fortune in the impoverished attacks, abductions and killings of albinos. towards the pro-Russian rebel stronghold of “We are outraged,” Konstantin Dolgov told under which the Kremlin assumes responsibil- country. As well as the ban, the govern- Mwanza region TAS chairman Alfred Donetsk from Ukraine’s southeast coast. the TASS new agency. “This undermines all ity for disarming the militias and dispelling ment has launched an education cam- Kapole welcomed the decision but said it Images of the yellow bus’s shattered frame peace settlement efforts.” their independence claims. paign to end the killings. needed to be applied countrywide to standing in a field of bloodied snow under- The insurgents and Kiev frequently blame German Chancellor Angela Merkel-the “We are keen on addressing the issue ensure success. scored how distant a truce in the nine-month each other for stray rocket and artillery fire West’s main mediator in Europe’s deadliest of abductions and killings of people with “It needs people from all parts of the uprising remains after the death of 4,700 peo- that kills and wounds civilians on an almost conflict since the Balkan wars of the 1990s- albinism once and for all,” Home Affairs country to get maximum cooperation,” he ple and effective destruction of Ukraine’s daily basis. argues that such a meeting would be prema- Minister Mathias Chikawe said. told AFP, complaining that discrimination industrial base. The Donetsk city administration said one ture with violence still raging. However, the ban does not cover tradi- was still rampant in the east African coun- Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko told more resident was killed and another injured Putin has argued that the revolt was a nat- tional healers who use herbs to help the try. “Politicians are giving us lip service... the nation the rocket was fired by rebels while in overnight shelling around a city that stands ural response by ethnic Russians to their “per- sick. Chikawe said the government and they are not serious,” he added. responsibility rested on “those who stand abandoned by half of its one million residents. secution” by the more nationalist leaders who the Tanzania Albino Society (TAS) agreed Albino Kenyan MP Isaac Mwaura said behind them-those whose hand feeds them Kiev said a two-year-old girl also died of ousted a Moscow-backed administration in on Tuesday to form a task force for con- Tanzanian gangs were even crossing into and arms them, drills them and inspires them head wounds suffered in shelling south of Kiev in February last year. ducting special operations against the kid- neighbouring Kenya to carry out abduc- to commit bloody crimes.” Donetsk. One Ukrainian soldier was reported Ukraine has since signed a landmark EU nap, abduction and murder of albinos. tions. The transparent reference to Moscow- killed and 17 more wounded in the past day pact whose rejection by the old regime “We are against those who cheat peo- “You can clearly see people in politics charges President Vladimir Putin rejects-was of fighting. sparked protests that led to its downfall. ple (telling them) that they will be rich by going for these concoctions. People will followed by Kiev claims of the fighters The UN Security Council adopted a unani- Kiev now also plans to apply for NATO possessing charms, as well as fortune kill people with albinism in return for what employing a massive 30-barrel flamethrower mous statement backed by Russia calling for membership-a defensive shift that the tellers and those distributing talismans,” they believe is this good fortune, and that that is used by Russia but not Ukraine. an investigation and assigning no blame for Kremlin views as both confrontational and a Chikawe said. is totally wrong,” he told the BBC. The 220-millimetre-calibre TOS-1 was the attack. global security threat. “People should also be repeatedly told “This problem has now become a deployed by the Soviet army in Afghanistan But the White House said US Vice President A new NATO delegation arrived in that the only way of becoming rich is regional problem because of Tanzania not and Russian forces during their second cam- Joe Biden expressed “regret at the increasing Ukraine yesterday for a week-long visit through hard work and not possessing having taken strong measures to curb it.” paign in Chechnya. Kiev said insurgents used number of ceasefire violations by Russia’s focused on “military and technological charms.” Mwaura, who said he had to provide it for the first time overnight to attack the proxies” in a call Tuesday to Ukrainian Prime cooperation”. The vague diplomatic term A hereditary genetic condition which protection to two Kenyan albino children eastern village of Vesele. Minister Arseniy Yatsenyuk. usually refers to arms deliveries. Kiev causes an absence of pigmentation in the in border regions with Tanzania, said the This type of system “only exists in the oper- defence officials said the NATO delegation skin, hair and eyes, albinism affects one ban was “a step in the right direction, ational service of the Russian army. It is not NATO weapons would visit Ukraine’s main arms manufactur- Tanzanian in 1,400, experts say. In the although it may not be enough.” —AFP operated by us,” Ukrainian defence ministry Tuesday’s incident was the biggest single er and the Antonov aviation plant. — AFP THURSDAY, JANUARY 15, 2015 INTERNATIONAL

Indian court charges Uber driver with rape, kidnapping

NEW DELHI: A New Delhi court charged cence. He has been in custody since a 25- occurring almost exactly two years after a States and elsewhere, including a lawsuit Uber security chief Philip Cardenas an Uber cab driver on Tuesday with rape, year-old woman filed a police complaint young woman was fatally gang raped on in California alleging that it exaggerates pledged last month to “build new safety kidnapping and criminal intimidation in a alleging he assaulted her after she hired a bus in the capital. It has sparked new how comprehensive its driver background programs and intensify others,” according case that has renewed a national fury over him for a ride home on Dec. 5. demands for better protections for checks are. to a blog entry on the San Francisco- chronic sexual violence in India. Authorities, meanwhile, were still women. It also dealt a blow to Uber, which After the rape case in New Delhi, Indian based company’s website on the same Authorities are still investigating whether investigating the possibility of criminal has attracted global praise and controver- police questioned an Uber official about day that an Uber driver in Massachusetts Uber should also be charged. charges against the company for allegedly sy with a service that lets passengers sum- the company’s claim it conducts compre- was arraigned on charges including rape Judge Kaveri Baweja ordered the case misrepresenting the safety of its service, mon cars through an app in more than hensive background checks. The company and kidnapping. Cardenas said the to begin today in a special fast-track court police official Brijendra Kumar Yadav said. 250 cities around the world. was also banned in the capital as well as in changes would include creating teams set up in 2013 to bypass India’s lumbering “That is a separate case, and will take The taxi alternative, valued at $40 bil- the southern technology hub of that can rapidly respond to safety-related judicial system. The 32-year-old suspect, some time,” he said, without giving details. lion, faces multiple legal and regulatory Hyderabad and the entire southern state reports and new ways to screen would-be Shiv Kumar Yadav, entered a plea of inno- The case has appalled many in India, challenges as it expands in the United of Karnataka. drivers. — AP

4 dead in Bangladesh bus firebomb attack

DHAKA: A firebomb attack on a bus killed when Zia was premier, had been seriously four people yesterday, including a young injured Tuesday night after unidentified child, while an aide to opposition leader attackers shot at him. Khaleda Zia survived an assassination “He was shot four times from close attempt in a new upsurge of political range by at least three unidentified attack- unrest in Bangladesh. ers. They also firebombed his car. His condi- The attack on the bus in the northern tion is now stable,” Dhaka police inspector town of Mithapukur was carried out as anti- Rafiqul Islam told AFP. government activists tried to enforce a The 74-year-old Rahman has been transport blockade as part of efforts to advising Zia since 2007. In the past week, force the downfall of Prime Minister Sheikh unidentified attackers have firebombed the Hasina. houses of several of Zia’s aides. The bus It was the deadliest incident since an attack took the death toll in the latest outbreak of violence at the turn of the year unrest to 17 with hundreds more injured. when Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) Zia ordered the blockade last Tuesday as leader Zia was confined to her office after part of a campaign push to force Hasina to calling for Hasina to stand down. Zia stand down in favour of a neutral govern- remains stuck in the compound. ment that would organise fresh elections. The police chief in Mithapukur, Rabiul She blamed the government for the Alam, said the packed bus was firebombed attack on Rahman, terming it “an act of as it travelled to the capital Dhaka, blaming cowardice and terror.” In protest, her party the attack on followers of an Islamist party called a nationwide strike today. which is part of a BNP-led alliance. In a statement the United States said it “At least 14 people were burnt in the was “shocked and saddened” by the attack, attack. Four of them died, including a child calling it “outrageous and cowardly”. whose body was charred beyond recogni- “We call on all parties to exercise tion,” Alam told AFP. “Three of the victims restraint and eschew violence and intimida- are in a very critical condition.” tion, and we urge the government to Eight activists from the radical Jamaat- ensure people can freely exercise their right e-Islami party had been arrested over the to peaceful political expression,” it said. COLOMBO: Pope Francis greets members of the Buddhist community as he visits the Agrashravaka Buddhist Temple in Colombo, Sri Lanka, yes- attack, Alam added. The BNP has denied British High Commissioner to Bangladesh terday. Pope Francis made a last-minute change to his schedule to visit an important Buddhist temple in the capital, becoming only the second that any parties in its opposition alliance Robert Gibson expressed concern at the pontiff to visit a Buddhist place of worship after St. John Paul II paid his respects at a Thai temple in 1984. — AP were involved in the bus attack. violence and urged all parties “to come In Dhaka, police confirmed that Riaz together in a dialogue to break the cycle of Rahman, a state minister for foreign affairs violence and disruption”. — AFP Pope leads million-strong mass on Sri Lanka seafront 700 prisoners released to mark pope’s visit

COLOMBO: A million worshippers packed the As a choir sang welcoming hymns, the pontiff the Virgin Mary, whose 450-year-old statue Colombo seafront to greet Pope Francis as he greeted people in wheelchairs who had been graces the church. canonised Sri Lanka’s first saint yesterday in the pushed forward to the front of the vast crowd to He called on Sri Lankans to ask “for the grace biggest public celebration the city has ever wit- receive his blessing. to make reparation for our sins and for all the evil nessed. Many held up mobile phones to film the 78- which this land has known”. Many had waited through the night to see the year-old, who smiled but appeared tired as he The pope’s visit comes just days after an elec- first pope to visit the island in two decades made his way to the specially-constructed stage. tion that exposed bitter divisions on the island canonise Joseph Vaz, a 17th century missionary Police estimate a million people attended the and saw the surprise exit of strongman president who disguised himself as a beggar to evade per- mass, making it the city’s biggest ever public cel- Mahinda Rajapakse. secution. The pope called on the sea of people, ebration. On Tuesday, Francis said the “pursuit of truth” many holding umbrellas to shield themselves Many worshippers clutched photographs of was necessary to heal the wounds of the conflict, from the blazing sun, to follow Vaz’s example of loved ones who could not attend, among them weighing into a fierce debate over the investiga- religious tolerance as he delivered his homily on 54-year-old Srimathi Fernando, whose husband tion of alleged abuses under Rajapakse. Colombo’s imposing Galle Face Green. is recovering from a heart attack. New president Maithripala Sirisena ordered Francis, whose visit has focused on post-war “I came early to grab a spot in front so that I the release of nearly 700 prisoners to mark the reconciliation, said the missionary had shown can show this picture to the Holy Father and get pope’s visit, after earlier declaring Wednesday a “the importance of transcending religious divi- a blessing for him (her husband),” she told AFP. national holiday. sions in the service of peace”, ministering to Archbishop Malcolm Ranjith said the pope Only around six percent of mainly Buddhist Sri those in need regardless of their creed. had brought “great joy” to the island as it strug- Lanka’s 20-million-strong population is Catholic, “I pray that... the Christians of this country gled to recover from the war and asked him to but the religion is seen as a unifying force may be confirmed in faith and make an ever help Sri Lankans find “the strength to ask pardon because it includes people from both the Tamil greater contribution to peace, justice and recon- from each other”. and majority Sinhalese ethnic groups. PESHAWAR: A Pakistani student looks out from a vehicle on his way home outside ciliation in Sri Lankan society,” he said. Vaz is credited with reviving the Catholic the Army Public School, which was targeted by Taleban militants last year, in “This is what Christ asks of you. This is what Warzone church church on the island at a time of persecution by Peshawar, Pakistan, yesterday. Children and staff returned to a school in northwest- Saint Joseph teaches you. This is what the Later yesterday, the pope flew to a small Dutch colonisers. ern Pakistan where Taleban gunmen nearly a month ago killed 150 people - almost Church needs of you.” church in the jungle that was on the front lines of He travelled from village to village ministering all of them students. — AP the conflict between government troops and to both Tamil and Sinhalese, disguised as a beg- ‘Great joy’ guerrillas seeking a separate homeland for the gar because the Dutch had banned Catholic Yesterday’s mass on the shores of the Indian country’s Tamil minority. priests from the island. The pope’s trip comes just Ocean was a colourful mix of the country’s Hundreds of people from across the ethnic five months after he visited South Korea, sig- S Lanka’s ex-president diverse cultures, with hymns sung in both the and religious divide watched him say a prayer at nalling the huge importance the Vatican places Sinhala and Tamil languages as well as traditional the Our Lady of Madhu shrine in the mainly Tamil on Asia and its potential for more followers. faces graft complaint dancers and drummers from around the island. north of the island. Today he will travel to the Philippines, a bas- Crowds leaned in to touch the pope as he “There are families here today which suffered tion of Christianity in the region, where he is set COLOMBO: Sri Lanka’s Marxist opposition including former finance secretary Punchi arrived in a customised open-topped car, before greatly in the long conflict which tore open the to attract one of the biggest-ever gatherings for party has filed corruption complaints Banda Jayasundera and ex-central bank kissing the altar to mark the start of the service. heart of Sri Lanka,” the pope said in a prayer to a head of the Catholic Church. — AFP against former president Mahinda governor Nivard Cabraal. Rajapakse and his family and asked the They have been accused of foreign anti-graft body to prevent them from leav- exchange fraud, land grabs and misusing ing the country, a spokesman said yester- state property. Indian state targets day. The anti-corruption unit, a statutory The JVP, or People’s Liberation Front, has body, has been ineffective since its incep- lodged complaints against Rajapakse, his tion due to political interference, but new illegal liquor sales legislator son Namal and two brothers-Basil President Maithripala Sirisena has pledged and Gotabhaya-who held powerful posi- to introduce laws making it more inde- LUCKNOW: Authorities in a north lons) of illegal liquor across the vast tions in the former president’s administra- pendent and giving it more power to pros- Indian state suspended 23 officials yes- and impoverished state, where unli- tion that was ousted after last week’s elec- ecute offenders. terday in a crackdown on illegal liquor censed liquor is popular because it’s tions. Rajapakse on Tuesday said he would not sales, as the death toll among villagers cheap, Inspector General A. Satish The election was partly fought on claims flee the country and wanted to stay in poli- who drank from a bad batch of cheap Ganesh said. of misuse of public funds and nepotism, tics, while also denying allegations he alcohol climbed to 38. Villagers said many poor families with the Rajapakse family accused of attempted a coup to retain power after it Investigators were looking into rely on the illicit, untaxed trade for amassing huge wealth during the ex-presi- became clear that he had lost the election. whether officials neglected to halt ille- their only income. “The economy of at dent’s 10-year rule. The new government has vowed to “The main objective of our complaint is investigate claims made by Sirisena’s top gal liquor sales, possibly accepting least a half-dozen nearby villages is to ensure that the Rajapakse family is aides that Rajapakse tried to mobilise the bribes to ignore the trade, District based on the manufacture and sale of brought to justice,” JVP lawmaker Sunil military to keep him in office. Magistrate Raj Shekhar said. illicit liquor,” Rudra Pratap Rawat, Handunetti told AFP. “We want to prevent The new government is also investigat- Hospitals were still treating more whose father was among the killed in them from fleeing the country and escap- ing the disappearance of a fleet of luxury than 100 people poisoned by home- the latest tragedy in Datli village, about ing justice.” cars from the president’s office as made alcohol bought Sunday night 30 kilometers (20 miles) southwest of In another blow to the family, the ex- Rajapakse vacated his official residence. from a village shop in Uttar Pradesh, the state capital, Lucknow. president’s nephew, Sashindra Rajapakse, His family has been accused of massing India’s most populous state. Officials Datli’s leader, Vijay Nandini, blamed was toppled Wednesday as head of a wealth as they controlled nearly two thirds said many people lost their eyesight poverty, unemployment and illiteracy southern provincial council after his Sri of the country’s national budget. and eight are in critical condition. for the flourishing trade, with bootleg- Lanka Freedom Party lost a majority when During the election campaign, allega- lawmakers defected to the opposition. tions emerged that the Rajapakse family Authorities have seized chemicals gers working out of homes and hidden “I have sworn in (local opposition had padded the price of a new highway to from the shop for testing. Doctors say warehouses to mix chemicals into gen- leader) Harin Fernando as the new chief $16 million per kilometre-allegedly more the victims’ symptoms indicate the uine alcohol to create huge volumes of minister because he now has the support than double the actual cost. drinks contained methyl alcohol, which cheap swill. of 18 out of the 34 members (of the coun- The family was also accused of inflating despite being toxic is sometimes Police on Tuesday arrested the own- GUWAHATI: Indian villagers participate in community cil),” Uva provincial governor Nanda the cost of a new Chinese-built railway to mixed with ethyl alcohol to make a er of the Datli shop that had sold the fishing during the Bhogali Bihu celebration at Mathew said. more than 12 times the actual price at $18 cheaper brew. alcohol on Sunday night. Indian media Goroimari Lake in Panbari village, some 50 kms from On the corruption complaints, million per kilometre. An Indian company Meanwhile, police raided shops and reported another 12 people had been Guwahati, yesterday. Bhogali Bihu is a harvest festival Handunetti said a total of 12 individuals built an equivalent track for $1.5 million per seized at least 1,700 liters (450 US gal- arrested yesterday. — AP celebrated in India’s northeastern Assam state which have been named as alleged offenders kilometre. — AFP started yesterday. — AFP THURSDAY, JANUARY 15, 2015 INTERNATIONAL

Singapore tightens anti-graft measures after scandals

SINGAPORE: Prime Minister Lee Hsien reviewed. Singapore fell two spots to civil servants posted on his Facebook executive of a supplier company in they hurt our reputation internationally,” Loong has unveiled stiffer measures seventh place in global watchdog page late Tuesday. The CPIB was rocked return for business advantages. Lee said in his speech. against corruption after high-profile Transparency International’s 2014 index in 2013 after a senior official, Edwin Yeo The former head of the narcotics Large-scale graft cases remain rare in graft scandals in the last two years that of perceived corruption released last Seow Hiang, was found to have misap- police was cleared of similar charges Singapore, a thriving business hub and have tarnished Singapore’s reputation month, but it was still ranked as the propriated Sg$1.76 million ($1.3 million) after a trial that captivated Singapore financial centre, and the government for clean government. cleanest Asian country. Denmark topped worth of government funds to finance with its lurid details of sexual liaisons. has jealously guarded its reputation for Lee said a one-stop corruption the list. “We can guess and surmise that his gambling habit. Smaller cases of irregularities involv- being among the least corrupt in the reporting centre will be set up, the man- it could have something to do and must The same year, Peter Lim, former chief ing procurement have also surfaced over world. Singapore pays its civil servants power of the Corrupt Practices have something to do with the high pro- of the Singapore Civil Defence Force the past two years. some of the world’s highest government Investigation Bureau (CPIB) will be file cases that we have seen in the last (SCDF), was jailed for six months for “These cases hurt our reputation-they salaries in what it says is a deterrent to increased and procurement laws will be couple of years,” Lee said in a speech to receiving sexual favours from a female hurt our reputation with Singaporeans, corruption. — AFP

Singapore navy finds main body of crashed AirAsia jet

PANGKALAN BUN: A Singaporean navy huge international hunt for the plane, ship yesterday located the main body of which also included US and Chinese ships. the AirAsia plane that crashed into the Java Sea late last month, believed to be Vital black boxes the resting place of most of the 162 vic- The so-called black boxes-which are tims. actually orange in colour-have been flown Flight QZ8501 crashed on December 28 to Jakarta, where Indonesia’s National in stormy weather during a short, routine Transport Safety Committee is leading a flight from the Indonesian city of Surabaya probe into the accident, helped by experts to Singapore. from countries including France and the The discovery of the fuselage is the lat- United States. est boost in a slow-moving search opera- The country’s meteorological agency tion often hampered by bad weather. It fol- has said bad weather may have caused the lowed the recovery this week of both the crash but only the black boxes will be able plane’s black boxes, which contain vital to provide definitive answers. information to determine what caused the Investigators have started retrieving crash. data from the recorders and converting it “The MV Swift Rescue has located the into a usable format, which will take fuselage of the AirAsia plane in the Java around a week, before the lengthy analysis Sea,” said Singapore’s Defence Minister Ng process can begin, committee head Tatang Eng Hen in a Facebook post, adding that Kurniadi told AFP. Indonesian search and rescue officials had The flight data recorder holds a wealth been informed. of information about every major part of “The accident is a tragic event resulting the plane, with details such as the jet’s in the loss of many lives. I hope that with speed and the direction it was heading in, the fuselage located, some form of closure while the cockpit voice recorder stores can come to the families of the victims to radio transmissions and sounds in the ease their grief.” cockpit. His post was accompanied by underwa- The committee has said a preliminary ter photos of what appeared to the fuse- report on the accident will be produced lage. The words “now” and “everyone” are within a month, and a final report after a visible, apparently from AirAsia’s motto year. At a port near Pangkalan Bun, the “Now Everyone Can Fly” painted on the search headquarters on Borneo island, plane’s exterior. Indonesian investigators and their French HONG KONG: Pro-democracy legislators hold up yellow umbrellas and banners stating “I want real universal suffrage” and “Leung Chun-ying Indonesia’s national search and rescue counterparts also began examining the Step down” as they walk out of the Legislative Council during Hong Kong Chief Executive Leung Chun-ying’s annual policy address in Hong chief Bambang Soelistyo confirmed that tail, which was lifted out of the water at Kong, yesterday. — AP the fuselage had been found by the the weekend. Singaporean ship and said divers would Before take-off, the plane’s pilot had head to the wreckage on Thursday. asked for permission to fly at a higher alti- “It’s dark today, its not possible to dive, tude to avoid a major storm but the HK leader Leung warns of so we will dive tomorrow. The main focus is request was not approved due to other to find victims in the fuselage,” he told AFP. planes above him on the popular route. “If it’s difficult we will lift (the fuselage) up In his last communication, the experi- either in part or in whole.” enced pilot said he wanted to change ‘anarchy’ in key speech Finding the main body of the Airbus course to avoid the storm. Then all contact 320-200 has been seen as vital, as most of was lost, about 40 minutes after take-off. the victims are believed to be still trapped All but seven of those on board the ‘Authorities in HK, Beijing branded mass protests illegal’ inside. Just 48 bodies have so far been flight were Indonesian. The foreign nation- recovered. als were from South Korea, Singapore, HONG KONG: Hong Kong leader Leung Chun- cy”. They say they would rather have no vote speech. Carrying banners and yellow umbrellas, The Singapore navy ship was part of a Malaysia, Britain and France. — AFP ying warned yesterday that demands for fully than one in which the candidates are restricted, the symbol of Hong Kong’s pro-democracy free elections risked “anarchy” as he pledged and have consistently called for Leung-who was movement, they shouted: “Down with CY Leung! allegiance to Beijing and pro-democracy law- himself appointed by a pro-Beijing committee- True universal suffrage!”. makers staged a dramatic walk-out. to resign. But Leung reiterated that any vote for Security guards surrounded two members of Leung took a hard line on political reform in the city’s top post must adhere to Beijing’s ruling the People Power party who refused to leave his annual address, saying there would be no on vetting candidates. and were shouting “shameful” at Leung. Chan deviation from Beijing’s framework for the city’s “The selection of the chief executive compris- Chi-chuen and Chan Wai-yip were eventually leadership elections in 2017. es both the elements of election and appoint- carried out. “The rule of law is the foundation of Hong ment,” he said. Leung, whose address was delayed for 15 Kong. The democratic development of Hong He added that students-who led two months minutes, gave a faint smile and busied himself Kong must therefore be underpinned by the of mass protests which ended in December- reading through his speech as the protests con- same. As we pursue democracy, we should act in ”should be guided towards a full understanding” tinued. Political analyst Joseph Cheng described accordance with the law, or Hong Kong will of Hong Kong’s relationship with Beijing in order the strong tone of his address and its content as degenerate into anarchy,” he said. to prevent “fruitless” discussions. “unprecedented”. “It was unprecedented (for a In his first speech to Hong Kong’s legislature policy address). CY was clearly showing there are since huge street rallies calling for free leader- ‘Unprecedented’ speech no concessions with regards to political reform ship elections, Leung made no concessions to Leung’s comments echo a white paper hand- issues, toeing Beijing’s line,” he told AFP. protesters and questioned their understanding ed down by Beijing’s cabinet in June which lit The chief executive usually lays out domestic of the intricacies of politics in the semi- the touch paper for the pro-democracy move- policies for the year ahead in the annual address, autonomous Chinese city. ment after it asserted that China had “compre- which this year also covered issues including the Authorities in Hong Kong and Beijing consis- hensive jurisdiction” over governing Hong Kong. economy, housing, transport and support for the tently branded the mass protests illegal. “Hong The city is ruled under a “one country, two elderly. But it had a much heavier political mes- Kong’s power originates from the central author- systems” structure since former colonial power sage than usual, said Cheng. He said it was “sig- ities (in Beijing),” said Leung. “Hong Kong’s Britain handed it back to China in 1997, giving it nificant” that Leung had driven home the inextri- autonomy... is a high degree of autonomy, not greater freedoms than seen on the mainland. cable link between Hong Kong politics and an absolute autonomy.” But there are growing fears over increasing Beijing. Beijing has ruled that candidates for the city’s Chinese influence. “The pro-democracy movement should first ever public vote for its chief executive in Around 20 pro-democracy lawmakers walked understand that it is a long-term struggle politi- 2017 must be vetted by a loyalist committee, out of the legislative council chamber and two cally and there is no significant breakthrough in which campaigners denounce as “fake democra- were bundled out by security before Leung’s the foreseeable future,” he added. —AFP

Philippines father-priests seek papal blessing

LAMBUNAO: Every Sunday morning, dozens of ing priests to marry as they can in the Anglican, culture. African Archbishop Emmanuel Milingo was Roman Catholics gather at a small chapel on an Protestant and Orthodox Churches. “It is a rule of life famously excommunicated in 2006 for ordaining island in the central Philippines to listen to Father that I appreciate very much and I think it is a gift for four married men as priests as part of his group Jess Siva share his personal experiences as a priest, the Church but since it is not a dogma, the door is “Married Priests Now”. Milingo himself married a and as a parent. always open,” he said. Korean woman. Africa and Asia have the fastest Siva, 54, has been celebrating Mass in the town of The Church teaches that a priest should dedicate growing Catholic populations, and today they are SURABAYA: A student of Petra Christian University holds a flower near the memorial Lambunao for the past 15 years, giving communion, himself totally to his vocation, essentially taking it as home just over a quarter of the world’s more than 1.2 walls of their friends who were on board of the ill-fated AirAsia Flight 8501, at their performing last rites for the dying, hearing confes- his spouse, in order to help fulfill its mission. Some billion Catholics. The rule of celibacy has also been campus in Surabaya, East Java, Indonesia, yesterday. A Singaporean navy ship has sions and officiating at marriages. But while his small have cited celibacy as one reason for the decline in questioned in the Pope’s own backyard. Last year, 26 located the fuselage of the crashed AirAsia plane in the Java Sea, Singapore’s flock admire him, Church leaders in the Philippines men entering the priesthood. women in love with priests in Italy wrote a letter urg- defense minister said yesterday. — AP consider him persona non grata for failing to adhere In Africa, Catholic priests have openly questioned ing him to make celibacy optional, describing the to one of the most important tenets of the priest- the celibacy rule, saying it is incompatible with their “devastating suffering” caused by celibacy.— Reuters hood - abstaining from sex. “This is a very serious problem within the Church,” US couple goes on trial Siva, who is the father of two boys from a relation- ship with a member of his congregation’s choir, told Reuters. “I hope Pope Francis will recognize us.” over suitcase murder Although celibacy is not expected to be directly DENPASAR: An American man and his cutor Eddy Arta Wijaya told the district raised during the Pope’s visit to the Philippines this teenage girlfriend went on trial on court in the Balinese capital Denpasar, as week, some in the Church hope that the pontiff will Indonesia’s resort island of Bali yesterday he read out the 21-year-old’s indictment. in time listen to their pleas for change. charged with murdering the woman’s “Wiese tried to push the handle towards In the Philippines, which accounts for about half mother and stuffing her body into a suit- Schaefer and it hit his mouth, making him of Asia’s Roman Catholics, Siva is not alone. A handful case outside an exclusive hotel. angrier and more emotional. Using both of priests have been asked to leave the priesthood Heather Mack, who is pregnant, and hands, Schaefer blindly hit her as hard as for fathering children. On Jan. 11 Siva baptized the Tommy Schaefer could face the death he could between her eyes and nose with five-month-old son, and fourth child, of fellow penalty if found guilty of the premeditated the fruit bowl.” Catholic priest Hector Canto. Siva officiated at Canto’s murder of Sheila von Wiese Mack, 62, He then continued hitting her face on marriage in 1997. whose body was found in the case in the the bed “until she stopped moving”, he There are already high hopes the Argentine Pope boot of a taxi in August. added. The indictment said that 19-year- will change the Church’s traditional approach to Prosecutors alleged that Schaefer, who old Heather Mack hid in the bathroom dur- issues such as sexual morality by becoming more wept as he entered court, “blindly hit” Von ing the attack before the couple stuffed the welcoming to gays and easing restrictions on Wiese Mack with a bowl in a fit of rage after victim’s body in a suitcase. Mack and divorced and remarried Catholics. Last year, Francis she directed a racial slur at him during an Schaefer, who went on trial separately, said he believes priests should be celibate but that argument. Schaefer is black. refused to speak to reporters after the trial. the rule, which dates back over a thousand years, MANILA: Filipino devotees hold limited edition Pope Francis dolls that are sold by the De La “The defendant, overwhelmed with The next hearing will be on January 21. could be changed someday. Salle University in Manila, Philippines yesterday. Well before Pope Francis’ plane touches emotion and anger, picked up the glass The victim and the suspects are all from “Celibacy is not a dogma,” he said when asked by down today in this Asian bastion of the Roman Catholic faith, Filipinos have been snapping fruit bowl and swung it at her face,” prose- the Chicago area. — AFP a reporter whether the Church might consider allow- their selfies beside his life-sized cutout image in churches and malls. — AP NEWS THURSDAY, JANUARY 15, 2015

Anger, calls for calm over new cartoons Continued from Page 1 ing conservative cleric, Grand Ayatollah Nasser Makarem-Shirazi, said the publication of new satirical Such cartoons “fuel feelings of hatred and resentment images of Mohammad “amounts to declaring war on all among people” and publishing them “shows contempt” Muslims”. Egypt’s Al-Azhar, a thousand-year-old seat of for Muslim feelings, said the Grand Mufti of Jerusalem Islamic learning that has described the Paris attack as a and Palestinian lands, Mohammed Hussein, in a state- criminal act, called on Muslims to ignore the magazine’s ment. Algeria’s independent Arab language daily cartoons, labelling them “hateful frivolity”. Saudi cleric Echorouk responded with a front page cartoon of its Iyad Ameen Madani, Secretary General of the own, showing a man carrying a “Je suis Charlie” placard Organisation of Islamic Cooperation, denounced the next to a military tank crushing placards from Palestine, new cartoon as “insolence, ignorance and foolishness”. Mali, Gaza, Iraq and Syria. Above, the headline reads: “We “Freedom of speech must not become hate-speech,” he are all Muhammad” (PBUH). said. “No sane person, regardless of doctrine, religion or “You’re putting the lives of others at risk when you’re faith, accepts his beliefs being ridiculed.” taunting bloodthirsty and mad terrorists,” said Hamad Many people on the streets in the Middle East said it Al-Farhan, a 29-year old Kuwaiti doctor. “I hope this was time to move on. “The cartoons have no meaning, doesn’t trigger more attacks. The world is already they should not affect us. We as Muslims are bigger and mourning the losses of many lives under the name of stronger than some cartoon. We should not pay atten- religion.” tion, and if we react we should react with word for word While Charlie Hebdo was denounced across much of and cartoon for cartoon,” said Samir Mahmoud, a retired the Middle East, there were notable exceptions in engineer in Cairo. Emad Awad, a Christian in Cairo, said Turkey, the country with the region’s strongest tradition he understood the anger of his Muslim neighbours but of secularism. An opposition newspaper there, hoped there would be no more unrest: “Now that Cumhuriyet, printed a special section of excerpts from they’ve made their point, I really hope this is the last the Charlie Hebdo edition. It printed small, black-and- time they do this. I don’t think it will lead to more vio- white versions of the cover in two of its columns, but did lence, but they missed an opportunity to leave the sub- not use the image in the special section itself, after ject in the past and move forward.” “many consultations”, its editor in chief Utku Cakirozer In Lebanon, the Shiite Muslim militant group said on Twitter. Hezbollah said the depiction was “a provocation of the Arctic sea smoke rises on the Royal River in Yarmouth, Maine, as a worker uses a push boat to break ice form- Police cordoned off its Istanbul headquarters over feelings of more than 1.5 billion Muslims in the world ... ing around a dredging operation yesterday morning. The temperature at sunrise was minus 8 degrees. Sea security concerns and searched trucks leaving its print- and directly contributes to supporting terrorism, fanati- smoke occurs when extremely cold air passes over warmer water. — AP ing press. At the paper’s Ankara offices, protesters hung cism and extremists”. In Jordan, the Muslim Brotherhood banners on a nearby wall that read: “The Charlie provo- said it would stage a protest after Friday prayers in cation continues”. A Turkish court ordered some website Amman in response to the cartoon. Spokesman Murad France arrests comedian for ‘hate speech’ pages that reproduced the Charlie Hebdo cover image Adaileh said the Brotherhood strongly condemned both to be blocked. News website T24, nevertheless, ran the the killings and the “offensive” against the Prophet Continued from Page 1 and could bring others to say: ‘If he tells us it’s OK, we image on its site. “This became a clear freedom of (PBUH). That was a widely expressed sentiment. Ghassan must do it’.” expression issue and no longer about religious senti- Nhouli, a grocer in the Lebanese port city of Sidon, said Branded a “peddler of hate” by the government, Under a law adopted in France late last year to fight ments. We published this to defend the values of free the magazine and the killers “are both wrong”. “It is not Dieudonne has also attracted anger over sketches widely the threat of jihadism, actions condoning or inciting ter- expression,” its editor, Hazal Ozvaris, told Reuters. permitted to kill and also it is not permitted to humiliate viewed as anti-Semitic that have occasionally prompted rorism are subject to much harsher sanctions than Such attitudes were rare in the region. In Iran, a lead- a billion Muslims,” he said. — Agencies local authorities to ban his shows. But the polemicist’s before. On Monday, a 34-year-old man who hit a car arrest over his Facebook post has sparked debate over while drunk, injured the driver, and subsequently praised where freedom of expression starts and ends, particularly the acts of last week’s gunmen when police detained Qaeda claims French attack, derides rally after millions took to the streets in support of free speech him, was sentenced to four years in prison. And a 22- following the killing of the Charlie Hebdo journalists. year-old in the Paris suburb of Nanterre was sentenced to Continued from Page 1 cited by Western officials as Al-Qaeda’s most dangerous The magazine has also repeatedly provoked outrage a year in jail for posting a video mocking one of the branch. AQAP has recently focused on fighting enemies in the past. One Charlie Hebdo front cover currently cir- policemen shot dead last week. AQAP mocked a big solidarity rally in Paris on Sunday at home such as government forces and Shiite rebels, but culating on social networks, which dates from October Ader said he was shocked by the length of that sen- for the victims, saying the shock on display showed fee- says that it still aims to carry out attacks abroad. 2012, is titled “Mohamed Merah, come back! They’ve tence, adding that the current emotion and “psychosis” in bleness. “Look at how they gathered, rallied and sup- Two senior Yemeni sources that both Cherif and Said gone mad.” Merah is the Al-Qaeda militant who went on France were likely to have been a factor. Dieudonne has ported each other; strengthening their weakness and Kouachi, who carried out the Charlie Hebdo attack, had a killing spree in southwestern France in March 2012, since removed the remark from his Facebook page, dressing their wounds,” it said of Western leaders who travelled to Yemen via Oman in 2011, met Awlaki and murdering seven people including Jewish children and which Interior Minister Bernard Cazeneuve this week attended the event. “Look carefully at their gathering. underwent weapons training in the eastern province of soldiers. The magazine at the time said it wanted to mock deemed “contemptible”. But he has left his response on They are the same who fought us in Afghanistan and Marib. A Marib tribal leader denied that the brothers had the proliferation of ultra-radical Islamist networks. “I can’t Facebook to the minister’s comment, accusing the gov- Caucasus, in Gaza, the Levant, Iraq, Somalia and Yemen.” trained there in 2011 or that Awlaki used to be present stand Dieudonne and his nauseating clique, but it seems ernment of trying to “ruin my life” when “I am only trying Al-Qaeda offshoot Islamic State released a video it in the province. AQAP’s Yemeni leader, Nasser Al- there are double standards for freedom of expression in to make people laugh”. said showed interviews with three French fighters in Wuhayshi, was once a close associate of Al-Qaeda leader France,” one Twitter user said. Ader said that where comedians are concerned, Syria praising the attacks, the SITE monitoring service Osama bin Laden, whose father was born in Yemen, a Basile Ader, a lawyer specialising in media law, said judges tread a fine line between respecting their right to reported. One said: “I say to the French people who think neighbour of Saudi Arabia. there was a difference between mocking religion and humour and respecting the law. But he said he believed that the Islamic State will not reach Europe: With permis- Yemeni President Abd-Rabbu Mansour Hadi com- condoning terrorism. “Charlie Hebdo mocks religions, “there is no ambiguity” about Dieudonne who “clearly sion from Allah the Almighty, we will reach Europe - all plained yesterday that Yemen was subject to a politi- which is not banned in France as the offence of blasphe- makes anti-Semitic comments and can no longer benefit of Europe.” One Western source described Ansi as an Al- cised media campaign over the attackers’ 2011 visit, my is no longer in our legislation,” he said. “Dieudonne from this impunity given to humorists, even if he makes Qaeda hawk reputed to be an advocate of a merger state news agency Saba said. “The person reported to condones an act of terrorism that has just taken place people laugh.” — AFP between the group and Islamic State, an even more have travelled to Yemen to learn in three days how to hardline organisation. fire a pistol had been detained and under investigation It was not immediately possible to verify the authen- for two years in France,” Saba quoted Hadi as saying. ‘Sex slave’ jumps for life ticity of the AQAP recording, which carried the logo of Al- Hadi wondered why such suspicious elements came to Qaeda’s media group Al-Malahem. The purported claim Yemen and returned home without being questioned, it Continued from Page 1 a chance,” Maribel said. of responsibility puts a new spotlight on a group often said. — Agencies Maribel is thankful that she’s still alive after her terrible “I told my captors and customers to stop and have mer- ordeal. She found out in the hospital that she had jumped cy on me, but they didn’t care. This continued for three from the third floor. “Thank God I am alive. I am very lucky - weeks. On Dec 27, I begged for my life, saying I have my maybe God wants me to live longer because I have six chil- Assembly passes law to collect illegal... monthly period and told them to allow me to rest. Then I dren and they need me,” she cried. Before coming to heard them saying I will be sold off to a Sri Lankan in Kuwait, Maribel worked in Bahrain for more than a year. Continued from Page 1 Iraqi dictator Saddam Hussein just ahead of the Iraqi “The salary I was getting there was really low, so I took this invasion and occupation of Kuwait in Aug 1990. Hawally. They covered my face and brought me to Hawally. But when I reached Hawally, I heard them talking to each job as a housemaid in Kuwait, but look what happened,” All MPs who spoke in the debate supported the law Saddam had charged Kuwait, United Arab Emirates and other in Arabic, saying I am old and useless so it’s better she lamented. Medical staff told Kuwait Times that Maribel and said it was high time for the country to collect all other Gulf states of flooding the market with crude to that I should be killed instead. There I got the chance to has suffered multiple bone and spinal cord fractures, and unlicensed firearms amid regional turmoil and high ten- dampen prices, thus hurting the Iraqi economy. escape by jumping out of a window. It was high, but I took will have to undergo a series of surgeries and operations. sions. Rouhani told a gathering on Tuesday that Kuwait and MP Youssef Al-Zalzalah said that Kuwait urgently Saudi Arabia will eventually suffer more than Iran from needs to implement the law to prevent plots by certain the sharp fall in oil prices. people. MP Jamal Al-Omar insisted that without sealing Oil Minister Ali Al-Omair said that Kuwait has no evil Omair admits oil drop unexpected Kuwait’s borders, the interior ministry will not be able to intentions against other countries and that no one had prevent the smuggling of arms and explosives into the expected oil to fall to this low level. He reiterated that Continued from Page 1 ing no sign of backing down from OPEC’s insistence to country. In another development, Omar said he was sur- the OPEC decision to maintain production was the best defend its market share and stick to its November deci- prised at the government’s silence towards the state- option for the cartel. Omair later told reporters that the Gulf countries have sufficient financial reserves to sion. “We see that our (OPEC) decision was right,” Omair weather the fall in oil prices. A diplomatic push by OPEC said. “If Kuwait reduced its production it is possible that ments of Iranian President Hassan Rouhani in which he ministries of finance and oil have studied the oil price to price hawks Venezuela and Iran for an OPEC oil output our market shares... would go to other producers.” He indirectly accused Saudi Arabia and Kuwait of being be adopted in calculating the budget and it is almost cut has failed to soften the refusal of the group’s Gulf said there had not been any requests for an emergency behind a plot to reduce oil prices. likely that a price of $45 a barrel will be adopted. Oil rev- members to do so for now, delegates told Reuters this OPEC meeting. The group is set to meet next in June. Omar described Rouhani’s statements as a “hidden enues in the current year’s budget are calculated on the week. Iran and Algeria have both called on OPEC to cut output threat” and said it reminded him of the threats of former basis of a price of $75 a barrel. Kuwait echoed UAE’s comments on Tuesday, show- in the face of the slide in oil prices. — Reuters THURSDAY, JANUARY 15, 2015 ANALYSIS

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Issues Anti-Muslim calls shake up German politics

By Madeline Chambers

eekly marches by the German anti-Islam movement PEGIDA may not spread much beyond the city of WDresden where they began, but their message is having a profound impact on mainstream political parties. The sight of 25,000 people waving German flags in the dark and chanting “Luegenpresse” (Lying press), a Nazi term, and “Wir sind das Volk” (We are the people), taken up before the Berlin Wall fell, leaves a strong impression. This week’s record number of marchers were emboldened by the Islamist attack on French magazine Charlie Hebdo. Co-founder Lutz Bachmann, 41, says his ‘Patriotic Specter of fascist past haunts Europe Europeans Against the Islamisation of the West’ campaign, born on Facebook three months ago, represents the silent majority and has huge potential across Germany and By Jacob Heilbrunn the libertarian party Alternative for Germany, maintains, Europeans Against the Islamization of the Occident” or Europe. “This is the tip of the iceberg,” Bachmann, who has a “Everyone who has until now laughed or scoffed at the PEGIDA. Last October the turnout was roughly 500. At criminal conviction for burglary, told Reuters in an interview. hen up to a dozen world leaders and roughly 1.5 apprehensions of people of a looming Islamic threat are least 25,000 marched Monday - despite condemnations While PEGIDA leaders deny they are racist and are careful to million people gathered in Paris on Sunday to being punished by this bloodshed.” And Farage, of the UK from mainstream politicians, including Merkel. distinguish between Islamists and most of Germany’s 4 mil- Wmourn the murder of 10 editors and cartoonists Independence Party, which wants to leave the European In the Netherlands, populist leader Geert Wilder’s lion Muslims, slogans like ‘No Sharia!’ and ‘In 2035 Germans of the satirical newspaper Charlie Hebdo and seven other Union, says that a jihadist “fifth column” exists in France, Freedom Party is leading the polls. In Greece, the neo- will be a minority!’ betray a hostility to foreigners. people by three French-born Islamist radicals, they want- one that is the result of multi-cultural policies. In the May Nazi Golden Dawn Party entered parliament in 2012 with At Monday’s rally, Bachmann called on politicians to force ed to demonstrate that Europe will always embrace liber- EU elections, his party bested both the Conservative and the slogan, “So we can rid this land of filth.” In Sweden, immigrants to integrate. “Every religion is welcome in al and tolerant values. But the more telling event may the Labour Party, winning 28 percent of the vote, a big the anti-immigrant Sweden Democrat Party vaulted to 13 Germany. But you can’t try to influence German culture and turn out to be a counter-rally that took place at a 17th- jump from its 16.5 percent in 2009, the last EU election. percent of the vote in 2014. Though parties of the right life,” Kathrin Oertel, a PEGIDA co-founder, told Reuters. To the century town hall in Beaucaire, France, that was led by Twenty years ago, it only drew 1 percent. have a history of squabbling with one another, they have 35,000 people who joined a state-organised protest against Marine Le Pen, the leader of the far-right National Front. The vitality of all these parties is a direct result of the begun to cooperate in the European parliament. PEGIDA on Saturday in Dresden and about 100,000 across In Beaucaire, the crowd ended Le Pen’s rally by singing failure of mainstream political elites. Exhibit A is the self- If Le Pen were to win the French presidency in 2017, it Germany on Monday, the movement is openly racist. “They are using a fear of Islam to put chauvinism and racism on the the French national anthem and chanting, “This is our destructive austerity policy that Germany under could spell the end of the European Union and perhaps street,” said Michael Nattke of Dresden’s Culture Office. home.” Chancellor Angela Merkel has espoused. Haunted by the return the continent to a collection of feuding nation- Angela Merkel has condemned the movement as racists Le Pen is at the forefront of a European-wide national- memory of the soaring inflation that helped destroy states. Franco-German cooperation, which has been at “with hatred in their hearts”, strong language for the chancel- ist resurgence - one that wants to evict from their home- Germany’s post-World War One democratic Weimar the heart of and essential to the European Union since its lor. The debate has exposed divisions among her conserva- lands people they view as Muslim subversives. She and Republic - leading to Hitler’s rise - Berlin has demanded inception, would come to an abrupt end. The European tive supporters on how to tackle rising immigration, and a other far-right nationalists are seizing on some legitimate budget cuts and opposed stimulus programs that could Union has functioned as a way for Germany to leave new protest party, the Alternative for Germany (AfD), is gain- worries about Islamic militancy - 10,000 soldiers are now help revive the struggling economies of southern behind an assertive nationalism that led to two world ing ground as a result. deployed in France as a safety measure - in order to label Europe. wars and create a new and peaceful identity as part of a all Muslims as hostile to traditional European cultural and This is perverse. It has had the effect of miring the democratic Europe. If La Pen wins in 2017 many could Dresden Special religious values. Le Pen herself has likened their presence eurozone in unemployment and deflation - thereby help- view it as a repudiation of that vision. The long shadows PEGIDA owes much of its success to the peculiarities of to the Nazi occupation of France. ing create conditions reminiscent of the 1930s, when cast by the Nazi past would make it too difficult for any Dresden, a Baroque city destroyed by the Allies in 1945 and Le Pen herself espouses an authoritarian program that economic misery helped radicalize the middle and work- German chancellor to work with an authoritarian leader since painstakingly restored. Mark Arenhoevel, a politics pro- calls for a moratorium on immigration, a restoration of ing classes. Today, a new generation of leaders on the like Le Pen in the heart of Europe. fessor at Dresden’s Technical University, says Dresden is less the death penalty and a “French first” policy on welfare right has seized on Europe’s economic malaise to argue Certainly Europe’s democratic institutions are far mixed than other cities. “There is more xenophobia than in benefits and employment. Long after World War Two, fas- that the real culprit is Islamic immigrants taking jobs stronger than they were in the 1930s. But this is no rea- some other cities so there is big potential for mobilising sup- cism is a specter that still haunts the continent. But away from the native-born. The underlying sentiment - son for complacency. A revived European leadership that port,” he said. In Communist times, Dresden was known as the demonization of an “out” group - recalls the wave of addresses immigration and the economy is essential - or “Valley of the Clueless” because western media signals could whether Le Pen’s stances - and those of other nationalist not be picked up. It has a tradition of holding some of leaders in Europe - qualify as fascist is questionable. The anti-Semitism that helped propel fascist political parties the decades-long dream of a united Europe will disinte- Europe’s biggest neo-Nazi marches on Feb 13 to commemo- borderline between the kind of populism they espouse to triumphs during the 1930s. grate, to be replaced by combative nation-states headed rate the firebombing of the city during the final months of and the outright fascism of the 1920s and 1930s, when by nationalist leaders. Merkel and other leaders on the World War Two. Nattke estimates 2,000 neo-Nazis and right- Adolf Hitler and Benito Mussolini espoused doctrines of Islamic Invasion continent, for example, will have to allow Britain to opt wing soccer hooligans attend PEGIDA rallies, joining ordinary racial superiority, is a slippery one. Scholars continue to The credo of nationalist parties today is that Europe, out of the European Union’s insistence on free movement conservatives. Bachmann has no intention of weeding out debate whether Mussolini was even fascist - or simply an the cradle of Western Civilization, is directly threatened within EU borders. neo-Nazis. “No one has ‘I am a Nazi, I am a hooligan’ written opportunistic nationalist. by a new influx of Muslims intent on reenacting the For British Prime Minister David Cameron intends to on their forehead,” Bachmann said. “This is a public event and The real aim of today’s would-be authoritarians - Islamic invasion of Europe that took place in the eighth strengthen his island-nation’s border controls. He wants to as the organiser I don’t have the authority to refuse people.” politicians who appeal to the public’s desire for an iron century and was only stopped by Charles Martel at the tightly restrict EU immigrants’ rights, prohibiting claims for Added to a traditional conservatism, many people in hand - is to present themselves as legitimate leaders Battle of Poitiers in 732. It’s a message that’s attracting British benefits or public housing for four years and Dresden and the surrounding state of Saxony are disillu- who are saying what the public really thinks but is afraid new adherents - some of them Jews, who feel threatened deporting those who do not get a job within six months sioned with politics because the same party - Merkel’s to say. And these far-right leaders are indeed increasing- by Muslims. Otherwise, he will be outflanked on the right by Farage’s Christian Democrats (CDU) - has ruled the state since reunifi- ly popular. The card they are playing is populism pre- Skepticism of European unity and immigrants has also UK Independent Party, with the possibility of British voters cation 25 years ago. “I’m not a Nazi but everyone who enjoys sented as an aggrieved nationalism. They depict proved a potent political move in France’s neighbor, approving a referendum for withdrawal from the EU. The our hospitality must mix in and respect our culture,” said a Europeans as victims of rapacious Muslim immigrants. Germany. The anti-euro Alternative for Germany party demons that European leaders tried to suppress after sign held by Dresden resident Joerg Schultz, 45. Xenophobia Le Pen, Britain’s Nigel Farage of the UK Independence has entered state parliaments in Thuringia, Saxony and 1945 are back. It won’t be easy to exorcise them. is also fed by the city’s low number of immigrants and dis- proportionately small Muslim population. Party and others aim to come across as reasonable and Brandenburg in the past year and its leading figures are socially acceptable, while sounding dog whistles to their making common cause with anti-immigrant groupings. NOTE: Jacob Heilbrunn is the author of “They Knew They A poll last week showed that about 70 percent of non- Were Right: The Rise of the Neocons” and editor at The Muslim Germans in Saxony feel threatened by Muslims. A followers about immigrant social parasites who are In Dresden, for example, weekly rallies against immi- National Interest. sharp rise in the number of immigrants and asylum seekers either stealing jobs from “real” Europeans or living off grants are taking place under the rubric Patriotic has fuelled a debate in Germany, as in other European coun- welfare. tries, with some politicians calling for tighter immigration Unlike in the 1930s, Le Pen and her compatriots do rules. Although its asylum laws are among the most liberal in not deliver spittle-beflecked speeches calling for the the western world, Germany has never become a genuine extermination of other races. Le Pen avoids the kind of melting pot of cultures. demagogic language used by her father Jean-Marie Le Pen, a former intelligence officer in France’s vicious war in Boost for AFD? Algeria, who called the Holocaust a mere “detail”. Indeed, PEGIDA’s leaders, who have in the past voted for the pro- Le Pen is now wooing some Jewish voters frightened of business Free Democrats, refuse to back any single party. terrorism. She is essentially offering a slicker form of “We are above party politics but have common ground with authoritarianism that brands Muslim immigrants as a every party, even the Greens and the Left party,” said new internal enemy. The new nationalist argument is that Bachmann. “But we want to influence the political agenda.” the individual countries of Europe must safeguard their Among the demands Bachmann shouted to the crowd this traditional values by rejecting the liberal chimera of a sin- week from his open van were a new immigration law based on a points system according to people’s skills, enforcing an gle, united Europe with open borders. ‘obligation to integrate’ on immigrants, and direct democra- cy via referendums. Analysts predict they will run out steam Nationalism and point out that only a few hundred show up to PEGIDA This has paid off for Le Pen’s Front National, which in demonstrations in other German cities. However, PEGIDA May led the field in France’s European Union elections, has exposed deep divisions among Merkel’s conservatives drawing 25 percent of all votes. And these numbers are with some calling for new, more restrictive immigration laws, only predicted to increase. After World War Two, national- and others accusing Merkel of boosting the AfD by ignoring ism went into remission in Europe. Until recently, nation- her party’s right wing. —Reuters alist parties were largely regarded as a noisy but fringe phenomenon. The notion that they would gain public respectability - let alone wield power - seemed out- All articles appearing on these pages landish. No longer. In France, Germany, Greece, Sweden, the Netherlands and Britain, nationalist leaders are seiz- are the personal opinion of the writ- ing on the tragic events in France to argue that they have ers. Kuwait Times takes no responsibil- been right all along. They argue that the open borders ity for views expressed therein. Kuwait and liberal tolerance championed by the European Times invites readers to voice their Union are allowing a virulent virus to infect their coun- tries. opinions. Please send submissions via Le Pen insisted the day after the Paris attacks that “the email to: [email protected] or absolute rejection of Islamic fundamentalism must be via snail mail to PO Box 1301 Safat, proclaimed loudly and clearly” and called on French Kuwait. The editor reserves the right President Francois Hollande to suspend the Schengen Accords that allow for visa-free movement inside Europe. French far-right Front National (FN) party president Marine Le Pen and Front national party’s member of parlia- to edit any submission as necessary. Meanwhile, Alexander Gauland, a leading member of ment Gilbert Collard take part in a Unity rally “Marche Republicaine” on Jan 11, 2015 in Beaucaire, southern France. — AFP p15_Layout 1 1/14/15 10:19 PM Page 1

THURSDAY, JANUARY 15, 2015 SPORTS

Nastasic moves to Schalke Uphill task for Dortmund City add more firepower BERLIN: Schalke 04 completed the signing of Matija Nastasic on loan from BERLIN: Avoiding relegation is the only thing that matters for Borussia LONDON: Manchester City have bolstered their attacking arsenal with the Manchester City until the end of the season yesterday with the Serbia Dortmund despite continuing hopes in the Champions League and German signing of Ivory Coast forward Wilfried Bony from Swansea City, the English defender already training with the Bundesliga club. Cup, chief executive Hans-Joachim Watzke said yesterday. The 2011 and 2012 champions said yesterday. Schalke have agreed with City, who have the player under contract until German champions, who also reached the 2013 Champions League final, have Bony, who scored 20 goals in the 2014 calendar year, more than any 2017, an option to buy Nastasic at the end of his loan spell, the German imploded this season and are in 17th place, level on points with last-placed Premier League player, has joined for a fee of about 30 million pounds club said in a statement. Freiburg. “The mission is clear. Our aim is to stay up and in such a way that it ($45.48 million) according to British media. Nastasic flew out early yesterday to join the team at can be seen as a good performance in hindsight,” Watzke told reporters at the The 26-year-old, who is preparing for this moonth’s their training camp in Qatar, the club said. The tall 21-year- team’s training camp in Spain. “We will not deal with any other issues, especial- African Nations Cup with the Ivorian squad, joined old joined City as a teenager in 2012 on a five-year deal but ly those coming from outside.” One of the issues constantly in the headlines is Swansea from Dutch side Vitesse Arnhem for 12 mil- has been unable to force his way into Manuel Pellegrini’s the future of winger Marco Reus, back in training following an ankle injury he lion pounds in 2013. side. Nastasic has made one appearance for City this sea- sustained in November. The Germany international, who had an injury-plagued “As a player it’s always good to be part of one of the son, in the 3-0 Community Shield defeat by Arsenal in 2014 that also saw him miss the World Cup, has a buyout clause in his contract biggest clubs in the world and it’s a good opportunity August. Schalke, who are fifth in the Bundesliga, with Dortmund that has attracted the interest of several top European clubs.He for me to be in that situation now-I’m really proud,” have conceded 21 goals in 17 league games com- has, however, yet to announce a decision. Bony told City’s website (www.mcfc.com). “I felt excited pared to leaders Bayern Munich’s four. The Ruhr val- “I can understand Marco. He first wants to play again and then he wants to to wait for this moment and now it’s come, it’s fantas- ley club face Real Madrid in the Champions League see which direction to take,” Watzke said.”I have a legitimate hope that he will tic.” City have suffered with injuries to strikers Sergio round of 16 next month. Nastasic has not featured stay for the long term. If not it is something we will have to accept.” Dortmund, Aguero, Edin Dzeko and Steven Jovetic this sea- in any Champions League games this season. The still contenders for the German Cup, have lost 10 of their 17 league games so son but still closed an eight-point gap to Bundesliga resumes on Jan. 30 after the winter far and have picked up just 15 points despite qualifying for the Champions Premier League Chelsea and now trail by break. —Reuters League Round of 16 where they face Juventus next month. —Reuters two.—Reuters Williamson absence could be blessing in disguise for NZ

WELLINGTON: Kane Williamson’s the spot for the global showpiece after absence for possibly the next three captain Brendon McCullum reverted to matches against Sri Lanka could be a opening the batting. He belted a 19-ball blessing in disguise for New Zealand, half century in the first match in with the batting order given the oppor- Christchurch, which gave the hosts a fly- tunity to fine tune plans for the World ing start in pursuit of the 219 runs need- Cup. ed for victory. Test opener Tom Latham will bat in The recalled Elliott batted at five in Williamson’s place at number three in the the three-wicket win in the first match at second game against Sri Lanka in Hagley Oval and was expected to play Hamilton today, top-order batsman Ross there today, added Taylor, though the all- Taylor said yesterday. rounder was absent from training due to Williamson, who is out for about sev- a family issue yesterday. en to 10 days with a slight shoulder A decision on his availability may not injury, has scored 722 runs, including be made until today. Elliott’s selection at seven half centuries and one century, at five was not an indication he had the 72.20 in the past 12 months and is con- inside track on the job for the World Cup, sidered crucial to the co-hosts World Cup Taylor said. hopes. Statistics suggest Latham’s best posi- New Zealand co-host the Feb. 14- tion is at the top of the order, where has March 29 World Cup with Australia. “It’s time to build an innings. Latham has probably a good thing,” Taylor said of scored 146 runs at 24.33 in his last eight Williamson’s enforced absence. “We want ODI innings, all in the middle order, while to see how these guys handle them- his highest career score, 86, came as an selves under pressure. “Kane has been opener. “I wouldn’t say because Grant is the go-to guy for the last 12-18 months. batting there at the moment that he has It will be different but exciting as well to the number on Tom,” Taylor said. “Tom see how (these guys) go under pressure, gets to bat up the order and that gives (which) bodes well for the World Cup.” you a little bit more time. Five is a diffi- New Zealand must also explore cult spot to bat but three has a little bit options at number five, with Latham and more time and hopefully he can take his Grant Elliott thought to be contesting opportunity there.”—Reuters NEW YORK: Martin St. Louis No. 26 of the New York Rangers and Nikolay Kulemin No. 86 of the New York Islanders battle for the puck during their game at Madison Square Garden. —AFP Awesome Kenyan foursome to race in London Marathon Islanders cool off Rangers

Priscah and Mary will be doing their best LONDON: London Marathon champion NEW YORK: Frans Nielsen’s short-handed tally also scored for Pittsburgh. Sidney Crosby had and David Krejci had two assists each for the Edna Kiplagat will face two former win- to regain the number one spot. capped the Islanders’ three-goal second period, three assists for the Penguins, who had little trou- Bruins, who held the Lightning to 16 shots. ners and the fastest half-marathon run- Keitany made an impressive return Jaroslav Halak made 27 saves in his fourth ble with the floundering Wild. Marc-Andre Fleury Pastrnak, called up from Providence of the ner ever - all four of them Kenyans - in last year when she won the New York shutout of the season, and Long Island’s team made 30 saves, including several key stops early AHL on Jan. 6, scored his first two career goals this year’s race, organisers said yesterday. City Marathon in November after taking cooled off the New York Rangers with a 3-0 victo- to give his teammates time to find a rhythm. Saturday in Boston’s 3-1 win at Philadelphia. Double world marathon champion a year out in 2013 to have her second ry on Tuesday night. Niklas Backstrom stopped 29 of the 35 shots Boston’s first-round draft pick in 2014, Pastrnak Kiplagat beat half-marathon world child. Undefeated over the London The Rangers had won five straight and 13 of before being pulled following Letang’s goal mid- doubled his total against the Lightning as the record holder Florence Kiplagat by three course, she has the quickest personal 14 - a run punctuated by a three-game California way through the third period. Jonas Brodin and Bruins continued gaining ground in the Eastern seconds in the closest women’s London best in this year’s lineup by more than a sweep last week - but the Eastern Conference- Justin Fontaine scored for the Wild, who never Conference standings by improving to 5-0-3 in Marathon for 17 years in 2014. minute with 2:18.37 and is aiming to leading Islanders finished a seven-game road trip led. Minnesota has lost six straight and 12 of its their last eight games. Steven Stamkos scored Pushing them all the way this year will become the fourth woman to win the with their third straight win. last 14. two goals for Tampa Bay, giving him 25 for the be 2013 champion Priscah Jeptoo and London Marathon three times. Shortly after the Islanders had a goal waved season. Ben Bishop had 30 saves. Mary Keitany, winner in 2011 and 2012. Feyse Tadese and Tigist Tufa of off because of interference in the crease, Anders RED WINGS 3, SABRES 1 The field contains 10 women who have Ethiopia look the only realistic chal- Lee broke the scoreless deadlock at 8:49 of the Petr Mrazek made 25 saves in his first start in BLUES 4, OILERS 2 sub-two hour, 25 minute times to their lengers to the Kenyans, while the second with his 11th goal. Nikolay Kulemin made place of injured starting goalie Jimmy Howard, Vladimir Tarasenko scored his 24th goal and name. “Winning my first London European challenge is led by three it 2-0 with 3:39 left, and Nielsen capped the scor- and Detroit beat Buffalo. had an assist, defenseman Barret Jackman Marathon title on my fourth attempt last women who have all run sub-2:25 — ing with the Islanders’ NHL-leading seventh Darren Helm, Gustav Nyquist and Tomas Tatar earned his second two-point night of the season, year was a special moment for me,” said Russia’s 2012 Olympic bronze medal- short-handed goal of the season in the final scored for the Red Wings, who have won three of and St. Louis won its fifth straight. Edna Kiplagat, 35, who was third on her list Tatyana Arkhipova, Ukraine’s minute of the period. four. Mike Weber scored for the Sabres, who have Benoit Pouliot scored twice in the third period lost eight straight. The Sabres honored Hall of for Edmonton, but the Oilers mustered a season- London debut in 2011 and has twice Tetyana Gamera-Shmyrko and last JETS 8, PANTHERS 2 Fame goalie Dominik Hasek by retiring his No. 39 low 15 shots and never got closer than a two- year’s European champion Christelle been runner-up. “Now I have tasted suc- Mathieu Perreault scored four goals to tie a in a pregame ceremony. Hasek starred for Buffalo goal deficit. David Backes also had a goal and cess in London, I am determined to win Daunay of France. Britain’s world record franchise record as Winnipeg cruised past Florida. from 1992-01, winning six Vezina Trophies and assist while Jaden Schwartz and Alexander Steen again. But I know it will be tougher than holder and three-times London winner Dustin Byfuglien added two goals and an assist consecutive Hart Memorial Trophies in 1997 and had goals for St. Louis, which allowed just 15 ever in 2015. Paula Radcliffe also plans to take part and Jay Harrison and Evander Kane also scored 1998, before being traded to Detroit, where he shots - a season best - to make it somewhat easy “Florence will be hungry to win after in what she says will be her final for the Jets, who have coach Paul Maurice his won Stanley Cups in 2002 and 2008. on goalie Jake Allen. getting so close last year, and both marathon.—Reuters 500th win as a head coach. The eight-goal output Ben Scrivens made 25 saves but fell to 0-5-5 was a season high for the Jets, one short of the HURRICANES 3, AVALANCHE 2 on the road for Edmonton, which is 0-7-6 during franchise record. Victor Rask and Elias Lindholm scored a 13-game road losing streak. The Oilers are last Perreault tied the franchise record for most shootout goals, while Anton Khudobin stoned overall in the NHL with a league-low two road goals in a game. Ilya Kovalchuk was the last to do both Colorado shots as Carolina stymied the victories. it for the Thrashers in 2005 and Pascal Rheaume Avalanche’s comeback. Jordan Staal scored his had the first one. Dave Bolland and Brad Boyes first of the season and Patrick Dwyer the other PREDATORS 5, CANUCKS 1 scored for Florida, which finished 4-2-0 on a six- goal for the Hurricanes, who have won five Colin Wilson had two goals and two assists game trip. straight home games against the Avalanche with and Craig Smith added a power-play goal to lead one in overtime and the other in the shootout. Nashville. The Predators lost goalie Pekka Rinne, SHARKS 3, COYOTES 2 Matt Duchene and John Mitchell scored third who leads the NHL with 29 wins, to a lower-body Brenden Dillon scored his first goal of the sea- period goals for the Avalanche. Khudobin had 28 injury in the third period. He had stopped 20 of son in the third period and Antti Niemi stopped saves for the Hurricanes, 4-1-1 in their last six, 21 shots before being replaced by Carter Hutton. 27 shots to lift San Jose past Arizona. while Colorado’s Calvin Pickard stopped 44 shots. Filip Forsberg and Mike Fisher also scored for Joe Pavelski scored his 22nd goal early in the Carolina has not allowed a power-play goal in a Nashville, winners of four straight. Mike Ribeiro second period and Tomas Hertl scored just over a franchise-record 11 games. Each team was penal- had two assists. Rinne was hurt when Vancouver minute later for the Sharks. Dillon scored his first ized just once during the game. forward Chris Higgins drove toward the goal in 62 games early in the third period on a Predators net and became entangled with deflected shot and Niemi made some big saves BRUINS 4, LIGHTNING 3 Nashville defenseman Anton Volchenkov. The down the stretch to give San Jose a victory Rookie David Pastrnak scored twice for the pair then collided with Rinne, and their momen- before opening a seven-game homestand. second straight game and Milan Lucic had a goal tum carried the Finn into the end boards. Mikkel Boedker scored in his third straight and an assist as Boston won its fourth straight. Alexander Edler had the lone goal for Vancouver, game and Shane Doan also had a goal before sit- Brad Marchand also scored and Torey Krug which has lost its last three.—AP ting out most of the third period with a right leg injury. Devan Dubnyk stopped 22 shots for Arizona, which has lost four of six. NHL results/standings

SENATORS 5, STARS 4 Boston 4, Tampa Bay 3; Detroit 3, Buffalo 1; NY Islanders 3, NY Rangers 0; Pittsburgh 7, Minnesota 2; Carolina 3, John Klingberg scored two goals in a four- Colorado 2 (So); St. Louis 4, Edmonton 2; Nashville 5, Vancouver 1; Winnipeg 8, Florida 2; Dallas 5, Ottawa 4; San goal second period when Dallas rallied from two Jose 3, Arizona 2. down to take a two-goal lead. Trevor Daley and Western Conference Montreal 26 12 3 111 95 55 Erik Cole also scored in the second, as Dallas took Pacific Division Detroit 23 11 9 120 107 55 a 5-3 lead. WLOTLGFGAPTS Boston 23 15 6 117 114 52 Anders Lindback stopped all 14 Ottawa shots Anaheim 27 10 6 121 118 60 San Jose 23 16 5 119 120 51 Florida 20 12 9 102 113 49 in the period. He made 34 saves and gave up two Los Angeles 20 13 10 121 112 50 Toronto 22 18 3 137 132 47 goals in relief. Starter Kari Lehtonen allowed two Vancouver 23 15 3 114 109 49 Ottawa 17 17 8 114 118 42 goals in five shots while playing just 10:30 before Calgary 22 18 3 123 114 47 Buffalo 14 27 3 82 150 31 his earliest exit this season. Arizona 16 22 4 99 139 36 Metropolitan Division Edmonton 10 25 9 99 149 29 Ottawa’s Mike Hoffman, Clarke MacArthur and NY Islanders 29 13 1 134 116 59 Central Division Jared Cowen each scored in the first period. Nashville 29 9 4 130 94 62 Pittsburgh 26 10 6 129 100 58 Milan Michalek added a third-period goal. Dallas’ Chicago 28 13 2 134 95 58 Washington 23 11 8 125 106 54 Cole and Ales Hemsky each had a goal and an St. Louis 27 13 3 140 107 57 NY Rangers 24 12 4 124 98 52 assist. Winnipeg 22 14 8 121 111 52 Philadelphia 17 19 7 119 129 41 Dallas 19 16 7 131 139 45 Columbus 18 19 3 104 131 39 PENGUINS 7, WILD 2 Colorado 18 17 9 115 127 45 Minnesota 18 19 5 113 128 41 New Jersey 15 21 8 96 124 38 David Perron scored twice and added an Eastern Conference Carolina 14 24 5 91 114 33 assist to lead Pittsburgh. Paul Martin, Kris Letang Atlantic Division Note: Overtime losses (OTL) are worth one point in the and Chris Kunitz each had a goal and an assist for Tampa Bay 27 14 4 146 122 58 standings and are not included in the loss column (L). Edna Kiplagat the Penguins. Marcel Goc and Brandon Sutter p16_Layout 1 1/14/15 10:18 PM Page 1

THURSDAY, JANUARY 15, 2015 SPORTS

NBA results/standings

Minnesota 110, Indiana 101; Atlanta 105, Philadelphia 87; Washington 101, San Antonio 93; Phoenix 107, Cleveland 100; Golden State 116, Utah 105; Dallas 108, Sacramento 104 (OT); Miami 78, LA Lakers 75. Eastern Conference Atlantic Division W L PCT GB Toronto 25 12 .676 - Brooklyn 16 22 .421 9.5 Boston 13 23 .361 11.5 Philadelphia 7 30 .189 18 NY Knicks 5 35 .125 21.5

Central Division Chicago 26 13 .667 - Milwaukee 20 19 .513 6 Cleveland 19 20 .487 7 Indiana 15 25 .375 11.5 Detroit 14 24 .368 11.5

Southeast Division Atlanta 30 8 .789 - Washington 26 12 .684 4 Miami 17 21 .447 13 Charlotte 15 24 .385 15.5 Orlando 14 27 .341 17.5

Western Conference Northwest Division Portland 30 8 .789 - Oklahoma City 18 19 .486 11.5 Denver 17 20 .459 12.5 Utah 13 26 .333 17.5 Minnesota 6 31 .162 23.5

Pacific Division Golden State 30 5 .857 - LA Clippers 25 13 .658 6.5 Phoenix 23 18 .561 10 Sacramento 16 22 .421 15.5 LA Lakers 12 27 .308 20

Southwest Division Houston 27 11 .711 - Memphis 26 11 .703 0.5 Dallas 27 12 .692 0.5 San Antonio 23 16 .590 4.5 PHOENIX: Cleveland Cavaliers’ James Jones (1) and Tristan Thompson (13) battle Phoenix Suns’ Markieff Morris for a rebound during the second half of an NBA basketball New Orleans 18 19 .486 8.5 game. —AP Suns shine over Cavaliers

PHOENIX: LeBron James scored 33 points in had 10 for the Timberwolves (6-31), who won ble, scoring 21 points with 10 rebounds and rebounds and nine assists for the Kings. Enes Kanter and Rudy Gobert each added a his return from a two-week layoff but it wasn’t for the first time since beating Portland 90-82 10 assists to lead Atlanta to its ninth straight Darren Collison had 18 points and seven double-double for Utah. Kanter finished with enough to prevent the Cleveland Cavaliers on Dec. 10. CJ Miles had 22 points and CJ win. rebounds, 13 points and 10 rebounds, while Gobert had from going down to their sixth straight loss, Watson added 17 for the Pacers (15-25), who The Hawks easily thumped the Sixers even Rajon Rondo broke out of a scoring slump 16 points, 11 rebounds and three blocked 107-100 to the Phoenix Suns on Tuesday have lost three of four. Williams surpassed the while resting 60 percent of their starting line- with 21 points and seven assists for Dallas, shots off the bench. night. 46 points scored this season by both Carmelo up. Leading scorer Jeff Teague, Paul Millsap which rallied from a 24-point deficit to beat Markieff Morris scored a career-high 35 Anthony and Pau Gasol, which had been tops and DeMarre Carroll all sat out with the team the Kings on Nov. 11. Tyson Chandler had 16 HEAT 78, LAKERS 75 points on 15-of-21 shooting for the Suns, who in the NBA. in a stretch of four games in five nights. points and 17 rebounds, Dirk Nowitzki scored Mario Chalmers scored nine of his 19 outscored the Cavs 11-3 over the last 3:31. The Hawks have won 23 of 25 and also 15 points and Chandler Parsons finished with points in the fourth quarter, Hassan Whiteside The Cavaliers rallied from a 19-point, third- WIZARDS 101, SPURS 93 won their ninth straight road game. They are 13. added 15 and Miami completed a Staples quarter deficit to go ahead in the fourth, the John Wall broke yet another personal 0-for- in first place this late in the season for the first Center sweep. first of eight lead changes down the stretch. forever streak, this one against an entire team, time since they won the East in 1993-94. WARRIORS 116, JAZZ 105 Chris Bosh scored eight points on 4-of-17 JR Smith, who joined the Cavaliers during scoring 25 points with eight assists in Michael Carter-Williams scored 20 points for Stephen Curry scored 27 points and ignit- shooting for the Heat, who followed up their James’ absence, scored 29, going 8 of 14 on 3- Washington’s win that gave him his first taste the Sixers. ed a decisive third-quarter run to lead Golden surprise victory over the Clippers two days pointers. James, who took time off to rest his of success against the reigning NBA champs. State over Utah. Draymond Green scored 15 ago by winning an ugly game against the sore left foot and lower back, made 11 of 18 Wall had been 0-7 against the Spurs since he MAVERICKS 108, KINGS 104 points while Harrison Barnes and Klay Lakers despite losing Dwyane Wade to a shots, 6 of 8 in the second half. was drafted No. 1 overall in 2010, and the Monta Ellis scored six of his 28 points in Thompson added 12 apiece to lift the strained left hamstring late in the first half. Wizards as a whole had not beaten San overtime and added 10 assists, and Dallas Warriors (30-5) to their franchise-best seventh Kobe Bryant scored 12 points on 3-of-19 TIMBERWOLVES 110, PACERS 101 Antonio since Nov. 12, 2005 - a streak of 17 beat Sacramento. The Mavericks rallied from a consecutive victory by double figures. shooting in his return to the Lakers’ lineup Mo Williams scored a career-high 52 games. Tim Duncan had 11 points and 12 10-point deficit in the fourth quarter to avoid Derrick Favors had 22 points and 11 after missing three of the last four games to points, most in the NBA this season, and rebounds, and Tony Parker scored 14 points their first four-game losing streak of the sea- rebounds for the Jazz, who could not over- rest. Minnesota snapped a 15-game losing streak. for the Spurs. son. Dallas was coming off two humbling come blistering third-quarter shooting by Bryant’s 3-pointer with 31 seconds to play Williams made six 3-pointers, including one losses to Detroit (118-105) and the Clippers Golden State. Utah allowed 44 points on 16- trimmed Miami’s lead to three points, but he that gave Minnesota a 102-96 lead. Andrew HAWKS 105, 76ERS 87 (120-100). DeMarcus Cousins, who fouled out of-26 shooting in that period. missed a potential tying 3-pointer with 2 sec- Wiggins added 20 points and Gorgui Dieng Al Horford had his first career triple-dou- late in the fourth quarter, had 32 points, 16 Gordon Hayward scored 17 points while onds left. —AP McIlroy opens Fowler eyes Abu defining year seeking Dhabi tourney first win in Abu Dhabi

DUBAI: Rickie Fowler was golf’s nearly man in 2014 as ABU DHABI: Rory McIlroy isn’t divulging what is on his list of seven Rory McIlroy re-established himself as the sport’s top goals for 2015 that he jotted down on the back of his boarding pass player, but the American is confident last year’s consis- on a flight to Dubai last week. tency can help him challenge his friend and rival this Completing a career Grand Slam at the Masters in April? Surely that season. was No. 1. A court case against his former management company, Fowler finished two shots adrift of McIlroy at the scheduled for February, is also a defining early year date for the British Open and US PGA Championship, the Northern world’s top-ranked player. Irishman winning both to take his career majors tally to Winning this week’s Abu Dhabi Championship may not have been four, while the Californian was also joint-fifth at the US on the list, but it would end years of frustration for McIlroy at what has Masters and joint-second at the US Open. become his traditional year-opening tournament. Fowler had a combined score of 32 below par for McIlroy has finished second at Abu Dhabi Golf Club in three of the 2014’s four majors - five shots better than McIlroy - yet last four years. On two of those occasions, he was hit with rule penal- he is still searching for a first tournament win since ties that ultimately cost him victory. 2012’s Wells Fargo Championship, his solitary US tour “One of the goals this week is just to have no penalty shots when I don’t need them,” he said. “And see where I end up at the end of the victory. week.” That record compares unfavorably with world num- Losing out to Spain’s Pablo Larrazabal in a thrilling end to last year’s ber one McIlroy, who is five months his junior. “I don’t tournament was one of the few regrets for McIlroy in a stunning 2014. feel like my game is any weaker than his,” Fowler, 26, He won the British Open and the US PGA Championship to double told a news conference ahead of the Abu Dhabi HSBC his tally of major titles, returned to the top of the rankings, and was Golf Championship, which begins today. one of the stars of the European team that retained the Ryder Cup at “I feel I’ve putted better than he did through the Gleneagles. McIlroy wants more. summer last year. He has strengths that maybe out- “I didn’t achieve everything that I wanted to last year,” he said. It has weigh mine: when he is on top of his driving game he is become something of a ritual for him to write down his objectives for very tough to beat and he drove it well through the the season on his boarding pass on his flight out for his first tourna- summer. I think it frees up the rest of his game to play ment of the year. He puts the list in his wallet and memorizes it. some fairly effortless golf. “I’ll take that boarding pass out at the end of the year and see how “I’m looking forward to 2015, having some great well I’ve done,” McIlroy said. match-ups with him.” Fowler’s consistency led him to “I feel 2014 has really set me up for another great year. I’m coming break into the world top 10 for the first time in in with a nice little bit of momentum, and (my) game is feeling good.” September and he hopes to become a household name With McIlroy having had a month off, his rivals in Abu Dhabi will hope outside the United States. Boy Wonder is rusty. “I want to play different parts of the world and It is another strong field, with No. 2 Henrik Stenson, US Open cham- become more of a global player,” said Fowler ahead of pion Martin Kaymer, No. 6 Justin Rose and American star Rickie Fowler his Abu Dhabi debut. - making his debut in the desert - among the other entries. Fowler was part of the US team humbled at last McIlroy and Fowler are in the same group for the first two days, year’s Ryder Cup, with Europe’s five-point victory - the marking the first time they have played together since the singles at continent’s eighth victory in 10 competitions - prompt- the Ryder Cup. McIlroy put on an awesome performance that Sunday, ing the PGA to form a task force to see how the US can winning 5 and 4. improve. Kaymer is a three-time winner (2008, ‘10 and ‘11) in Abu Dhabi, and “Their main goal is to have more players involved in was one stroke off first place in 2009. The German is one of the few players to have a better record on the course than McIlroy, who was the process and feeling like we field the team together third in 2010 and tied for fifth in 2009 before his run of runner-up fin- as one,” added Fowler. ishes. “In the final year leading up, I don’t think you can “It’s a golf course I’ve always felt comfortable on, one that has really over-prepare as far as spending time as a suited me, and I have played well here,” McIlroy said. “This is my team...because if you go into that week without any eighth year in a row starting the season off here, so I’m pretty famil- kind of preparation and just go ‘you’re going to play iar with the place, and looking forward to another strong start to with this guy’, it’s hit-or-miss.—Reuters Rory McIlroy the season.”—AP p17 2_Layout 1 1/14/15 10:16 PM Page 1

THURSDAY, JANUARY 15, 2015 SPORTS Del Potro, Kvitova win in Sydney

SYDNEY: Former US Open champion Juan “I just need to play a lot of backhands Martin del Potro stepped up his comeback during the point, and if I do that I will get from another wrist surgery by toppling top confidence very soon to play aggressive as seed Fabio Fognini at the Sydney well. International yesterday. He will face qualifier Mikhail Kukushkin The 4-6 6-2 6-2 victory was only the sec- in the quarter-finals after the Kazak over- ond match the towering Argentine had came sixth seed Pablo Cuevas of Uruguay played in 11 months since surgery to fix an 7-5 7-5. The ATP 250 event is one of the issue with his left wrist and he felt the final tournaments before the Australian burn. Open, the first grand slam of the year, gets The defending champion, competing underway on Monday. on a wildcard after his ranking slumped to In the women’s tournament, Tsvetana 338, was given a code violation after taking Pironkova continued her winning run in too long at a change of ends. Sydney to 14 matches after she reached “This is my second match on tour after the semi-finals with a 6-4 6-1 win over one year. I need to breathe more than the Barbora Zahlavova Strycova. other players,” he told reporters. Del Potro The Bulgarian world number 67 was a hit 11 aces against one double fault in a shock winner in Sydney last year after com- solid serving display but admitted his ing through three qualifying rounds to backhand, still shaky following the surgery, make the main draw. needed work. She will now face Wimbledon champion “My game is to serve strong and try and Petra Kvitova who survived a two-hour make winners with my forehand,” he said. epic duel with Australian wildcard Jarmila “If my backhand is okay, I will be aggressive Gajdosova 4-6 6-3 6-4. with it in the future. “But now I think I just Elsewhere, no play was possible at the need to hit the ball as well as I can and Hobart Invitational, where heavy rain don’t try to make winners with my back- washed out both day and night sessions at hand. the women’s event. —Reuters Sorensen named Big Ten Wrestler

IOWA CITY: University of Iowa redshirt two technical falls. He is 22-2 overall, and freshman Brandon Sorensen was named his last three wins have been against co-Big Ten Wrestler of the Week by the con- ranked opponents, including two in the top ference office Tuesday. five. The weekly honor is the first of his Sorensen, a native of Cedar Falls, Iowa, career and the second for Iowa this season. scored a pair of takedowns and added 1:58 Bobby Telford was honored Dec. 31. of riding time to defeat second-ranked Josh Sorensen shares the weekly honor with Kindig of Oklahoma State, 6-1, on Sunday. Ohio State’s Kyle Snyder. The win helped top-ranked Iowa roll to a Iowa (8-0, 3-0) returns to action Friday, 30-7 win at No. 8 Oklahoma State, and Jan. 16 hosting No. 13 Illinois (8-1, 2-0) on vaulted Sorensen to No. 3 in the national Mediacom Mat inside Carver-Hawkeye rankings at 149 pounds, the highest rank- Arena. Admission is $12 for adults and $8 ing of his career. for youth 18 years and younger. UI students Sorensen leads Iowa with 22 wins, and children 5 years old and younger are including six major decisions, five pins, and free. —AP Australia rocked by slew of positive tests

MELBOURNE: Australian thoroughbred returned a positive urine sample following racing has been rocked by a string of posi- victory in the UCI Stakes at the same race DENVER: Denver Broncos wide receiver Wes Welker (left) can’t make the catch in this file photo. —AP tive tests involving horses from stables of meeting at Flemington. some of the country’s leading trainers. Three of O’Brien’s horses-Caravan Rolls Racing Victoria, the governing body of On, Bondeiger and De Little Engine-had all racing in Australia’s southern state of tested positive for three separate races in Broncos to Manning: Victoria, said on Wednesday that horses November. trained by Peter Moody, Mark Kavanagh Racing Victoria (RV) chairman of stew- and Danny O’Brien had returned samples ards Terry Bailey said the cases were being of cobalt above the permitted threshold. investigated. “Our investigations will deter- ‘We want you back’ Although naturally occurring in horses, mine whether any or all of the trainers will cobalt at elevated levels is performance- be charged with a breach of the rules of enhancing, stimulating red blood cell pro- racing. They have the presumption of inno- NEW YORK: Denver Broncos quarterback Peyton ‘The last thing we’re going to do at this point in “He did have a strain in one quad but he said duction, which allows horses to perform at cence and are free to continue racing at Manning was noncommittal about his NFL time, having been through what you’ve been it felt fine,” said Elway. “Whether he reinjured it peak level longer before the onset of this time,” Bailey said. Kavanagh and Moody future after his team’s playoff loss on Sunday but through, is talk about your future.’ “I told him, during the game or not, I don’t know. I don’t fatigue. Lidari, prepared by Melbourne- released statements saying they were sur- there was no ambiguity concerning the team’s ‘Just know how much we want you back, but know how much it did affect him or didn’t affect based Moody, the trainer of undefeated prised by the findings. general manager when it came to the future Hall you need time to get away from this.’” Manning, him.” Australian sprinter Black Caviar, tested posi- “This has come as a complete shock to of Famer. a five-time league most valuable player chasing Elway, who was speaking less than 24 hours tive after finishing second in the 2,000- me as I have always placed great emphasis Broncos General Manager John Elway told a second Super Bowl title, completed 26 of 46 after the Broncos parted ways with head coach metre Turnbull Stakes at Flemington on integrity and operating within the rules reporters on Tuesday he believes the 38-year-old passes for 211 yards and one touchdown in his John Fox, said he wants the team’s next head Racecourse in October, Racing Victoria said of racing,” Kavanagh said. Moody said: “I Manning, who led Denver to a Super Bowl berth team’s 24-13 divisional playoff loss to the coach to already have a Super Bowl win on his in a statement. have no knowledge or understanding as to and three division titles since joining the team in Indianapolis Colts. resume. The Turnbull Stakes is one of the coun- how this could occur and will work with the 2012, has another season left in him. After the game, when Manning was asked by Elway said the thing that most hurt about the try’s top races in Victoria’s annual Spring Racing Victoria Integrity Services “The bottom line is we want him back and it’s reporters if he would be back next season, the loss to the Colts was the Broncos did not go Carnival, which also includes the high-pro- Department to bring this matter to a con- going to come down to what Peyton wants to record-setting quarterback was noncommittal down “kicking and screaming.” He said the team file Melbourne Cup. clusion as soon as possible.” Trainers in do,” said Elway, adding that he will give Manning about returning to Denver for a fourth season. would evaluate every player in the coming days Kavanagh, who trained Shocking for vic- Victoria face bans of up to three years if a month consider his plans. Elway confirmed reports that Manning and, with so many players entering free agency, tory in the 2009 Melbourne Cup, is also found to have deliberately doped their “I did have a great conversation with Peyton played Sunday’s game with a thigh injury but did not rule out wholesale changes, especially under scrutiny after gelding Magicool horses.—Reuters (on Monday). We talked about the game. I said, did not comment on the severity of it. on the offensive line.—Reuters Federer, Sharapova gun for more Australian glory

MELBOURNE: Veterans Roger Federer and up a jaw-dropping 1,000th victory on a 1,007th win, which would give him the the day, I’ve got to do the running, I’ve got year,” said the American, who is the defend- Maria Sharapova head into the opening Sunday by beating Canadian Milos Raonic title at Melbourne Park. “Yeah, I do believe to do the clutch play when it matters the ing US Open champion but has not won the Grand Slam of 2015 next week as the form to win the Brisbane International, laying that,” Federer said when asked if he could most.” Australian Open since 2010. players, but there is a heady mix of youth down the Australian Open gauntlet to arch- claim a fifth Australian Open and his 18th In contrast to his flying start to 2015, “I am going to try and improve that and I and experience snapping at their heels. rivals Novak Djokovic and Rafael Nadal. Grand Slam. world number one Djokovic’s preparations know I can so but I am getting there.” Along Evergreen Swiss great Federer, 33, brought The world number two is now aiming for “Then again, it’s just talk. At the end of were cut short by giant Croatian Ivo Karlovic with a revitalised Ivanovic, world number in the Qatar Open quarter-finals. three Simona Halep of Romania is shaping It was even worse for Nadal, who suf- as a threat after winning the warm-up fered a shock defeat in his first match of the Shenzhen Open on Saturday, although she season in Doha to German qualifier Michael pulled out of this week’s Sydney Berrer as he continues to recover from International with gastroenteritis. The dan- appendix surgery. gerous Agnieszka Radwanska is another to The Spaniard, a 14-time Grand Slam win- watch, having beat Williams in Perth. China’s ner, has played few matches since Li Na won the women’s crown last year, bat- Wimbledon last July but brushed off his tling past surprise package Dominika shaky start. Cibulkova of Slovakia, but has since retired. “It’s a big motivation to be back at my There is plenty of incentive to win with best level as quickly as possible, and that’s the prize money bumped up to a record what I am trying to do,” he said. Swiss Stan Aus$40 million (US$32 million), with the sin- Wawrinka is the defending men’s champion gles winners taking home Aus$3.1 million after his breakthrough four-set win over each. Nadal last year and spearheads a host of Held in the height of the southern hemi- challengers, including Britain’s Andy Murray sphere summer, weather is always a wild- and new guard Raonic and Japan’s Kei card in Melbourne with temperatures Nishikori. known to fluctuate up to 20 Celsius from Erratic Williams one day to the next. Sharapova, who has been a fixture on the Last year, extreme heat forced organisers tennis circuit since 2002, continues to shine to suspend play for several hours following with victory over Ana Ivanovic in Brisbane days of complaints about “inhumane” condi- handing her a 34th career title. tions which left some players fainting and She won her only Australian Open in vomiting. At the time Murray warned organ- 2008, beating Ivanovic in the final. The isers were risking a tragedy as temperatures Russian’s closest rival, world number one hit 42 Celsius (107.6 Fahrenheit), while Serena Williams, is gunning for a sixth Canada’s Frank Dancevic said he hallucinat- Australian Open title but was unimpressive ed a vision of cartoon dog Snoopy before at the mixed-teams Hopman Cup in Perth blacking out. Temperatures for the opening this month. day on Monday are forecast to be a mild 21 The American, aiming for a 19th Grand Celsius. The impact of the weather will be Slam crown, spluttered her way through minimised this year with the installation of a with moments of brilliance interspersed third retractable roof at Melbourne Park. with extended periods of erratic play. The Rod Laver and Hisense Arenas already AUSTRALIA: Maria Sharapova of Russia hits a backhand return during a tennis training session in Melbourne. Top players are arriving in “I do feel like I am getting back into the had this facility and Margaret Court Arena Melbourne ahead of the Australian Open tennis tournament starting on January 19. —AFP groove, I am not moving as well as I was last has now joined them. —AFP THURSDAY, JANUARY 15, 2015 SPORTS Nations Cup to start after Ebola controversy

MALABO: The African Nations Cup final- Ebola and damage Morocco’s tourist champions at the end of the three-week Mali have won the bronze medal at the presence while South Africa and Zambia ly gets underway on Saturday after a industry were seen as alarmist by the event. last two editions and Ghana have played are the only two sides from the south of controversial build-up to the 30th edi- Confederation of African Football (CAF), Algeria, who reached the second in the last four semi-finals. the continent. Tiny Cape Verde Islands tion which included a hasty late switch who rejected the request and then round at last year’s World Cup in Brazil, return after their shock run to the quar- of hosts to Equatorial Guinea in the stripped Morocco of their hosting rights. are Africa’s top-ranked team and would SENEGAL’S CREDENTIALS ter-finals two years ago and they are wake of concerns over the Ebola virus. From a country with plentiful have been a firm favourite were the Senegal, who will have one of the even stronger this time with the poten- Sixteen nations again line up for the resources, who have previously bid to event still taking place in Morocco. strongest squads, have never won the tial to provide more surprises. biennial continental championship, host the World Cup, the Nations Cup is So too would Tunisia, who were Nations Cup but arrive with top creden- The tournament will be played at four seeking Africa’s top sporting prize at the now being played in one of Africa’s impressive in an unbeaten qualifying tials. The Ivory Coast have often been venues. Stadiums in Bata and Malabo tournament which starts on Saturday smallest and most enigmatic countries. run in a preliminary group competition favourites but crashed out at the last five were extensively renovated for the co- and finishes on Feb. 8. Equatorial Guinea is a family-ruled that lasted three months from tournaments, unable to add to their one hosting of the 2012 finals since when Few previous editions have had such former Spanish colony which has new- September to November. success in 1992. This time the Ivorians, smaller venues have been built in the a dramatic backdrop with the hosting of found oil wealth and is revelling in res- But north African teams are rarely get now without their talismanic striker towns of Ebebiyin (8,000 seats) and the 2015 finals being switched two cuing the continent’s most eagerly antic- into their stride in the difficult condi- Didier Drogba, stumbled through the Mongomo (15,000) on the far eastern months ago after Morocco asked for a ipated sporting event. tions of central Africa. Holders Nigeria qualifiers. It could be a country close to border of the country. The latter is made postponement in the wake of the spread It was the only country willing to step did not qualify but there is still the the hosts that will win. Neighbors up of an island in the Atlantic Ocean, of the Ebola virus in west Africa. in at the last moment, saving the finals perennially strong challenge from the Cameroon have enjoyed a remarkable where the capital Malabo is situated, That request precipitated a crisis that from being moved to Qatar. It is a tour- west African region with Ghana, Guinea, resurgence since their controversial and a block of real estate on the African left the tournament having to be organ- nament that this time has no clear the Ivory Coast, Mali, Senegal and World Cup in Brazil. Congo, the mainland where Groups A, B and C will ised almost from scratch in a few weeks. favourites and in which almost all the Burkina Faso, who were surprise run- Democratic Republic of Congo and be hosted. Bata will stage the opening Fears that travelling fans could spread teams will believe they can emerge as ners-up in South Africa two years ago. Gabon also offer a strong central African match and the final. —Reuters Brazilian clubs seeking slice of American pie

SAO PAULO: European teams have been American market, showing off its brand making inroads into the U.S. with transfer and its players,” Marcelo Teixeira, deals, franchise partnerships and pre- Fluminense’s executive director of foot- season tours and now Brazilian clubs are ball, said of the Florida tour. seeking a slice of the action on and off US clubs are waking up to the interest, the field. Brazilians are investing in US with Orlando creating a Portuguese-lan- clubs and two Brazilian teams are in guage website and tourism packages for Florida this week for pre-season training Brazilians. and challenge matches against German “After Canadians, Brazil represents the sides. biggest group of foreign visitors to Edu Gaspar, the former Arsenal player Orlando,” Orlando City’s Brazilian presi- who is now Corinthians Director of dent Flavio Augusta da Silva told Reuters Football, said: “For a long time now the in an email. club has been looking for an opportunity “Brazilians spend billions of dollars to promote itself in the US.” each year in Florida. And Orlando City “We have managed to find an impor- will be an integral part of Brazil’s most tant competition with clubs that are beloved tourism route.” equally important and under conditions Fluminense and Corinthians under- that suit us.” Corinthians will this week lined the importance of marketing and play in the Florida Cup, a four-team tour- TV coverage, with the Florida Cup games nament that includes Bayer Leverkusen, being broadcast live to 125 countries. 1. Cologne and Rio de Janeiro’s Fluminense. PACKAGE DEALS Corinthians play Cologne and The Brazilian clubs also believe they Fluminense face Leverkusen in Orlando can make money from their own fans by on Jan 15. Two days later Corinthians selling package deals to see the games take on Leverkusen and Fluminense as well as to watch training sessions and meet Cologne in Jacksonville. even fly with the team. The Brazilian clubs will use the games “In addition to what the club will as warm-ups for the state championships receive for competing in the Florida Cup, which begin at the end of the month but we can also generate revenue from more important than facing top pitch-side advertising, TV rights and the BATA: In this file photo taken on Monday, Feb. 6, 2012, a man looks at Zambia’s soccer team bus approaching the training ground in the village European sides are the commercial pos- sale of travel packages that include tick- of Machinda, east of Bata, Equatorial Guinea.—AP sibilities. ets to the game and for visits to the train- ing centre to watch training sessions,” GROWING STATURE said Alexandre Ferreira, Corinthians’ mar- Gyan leads Ghana in The US game is growing in stature, keting manager. with New York City FC signing a franchise Fluminense have a partnership with deal with part-owners Manchester City Gatorade, and Corinthians have deals and top players like Liverpool captain with Fox Broadcasting to advertise The search of fifth Africa Cup Steven Gerrard signing for LA Galaxy, Simpsons and with Disney. who he will join after the Premier league The other blossoming relationship MALABO: Skipper Asamoah Gyan once again season. comes in ownership. In addition to Silva or 85 percent of the players were from the U20 what I have to do to psyche the boys up and leads a youthful Ghana side in quest of a fifth team and there was no hope. But we were able make sure we approach the tournament with a Brazilian football, meanwhile, is in the at Orlando, three Brazilians own Fort Africa Cup of Nations title but first in over four to get to the final, we came very close and lost in positive mind - no distractions. doldrums on and off the pitch thanks to Lauderdale Strikers. decades starting in Equatorial Guinea on the final. “This time also there are a lot of young “With the quality we have, we can go decades of mismanagement. Almost all Orlando make their MLS debut in Saturday. players in the team.”It’s not going to be easy, but through.” The squad’s confidence has been fur- the top clubs are heavily in debt, with March, while the Strikers play in the Ghana’s all-time top scorer was one of a we will go there and do the right thing and then ther boosted by the appointment of former many owing players and managers North American Soccer League (NASL), handful of experienced campaigners when the qualify from the group stage and then think Chelsea manager Grant as coach. months of back pay. the second level of US football. Black Stars were pipped by Egypt in the final of about maybe winning the cup or something.” Despite the fact that he now plays his football Even with 12 new stadiums built for Former Brazil, Real Madrid and Inter the 2010 Nations Cup in Angola. He added: “For us the players, it is always on in the backwater league in the UAE after stints in the World Cup, the average first division Milan striker Ronaldo last month snapped Ghana also reached the last four in 2012 and our mind that we should do something before Italy, France and England, Gyan has remained crowd last year was 16,562, less than in up a piece of Fort Lauderdale and 2013 and they will again be one of the favourites the next generation. “We want to break the jinx one of Africa’s most consistent scorers. Japan, Mexico, China-and the United declared he was looking to the future. in this year’s competition even though they last (of not winning the tournament since 1982). He was named in the CAF Africa Best XI for States. “There are no doubts that the beautiful won it in 1982. Gyan, who on his official website That is what Ghanaians want and it is something 2014 and also made the final nominees for the Brazilian clubs can see US football is game is growing exponentially in the US, declared his 2015 wish is to lead Ghana to win we the players also want.” Player of the Year Award won by Yaya Toure. the tournament, is confident of another good But the 29-year-old United Arab Emirates- This will be his fifth Nations Cup appearance growing-some Major League Soccer and I guarantee you that the NASL will run by Ghana despite the youthfulness of Avram based striker admits they are in a difficult first and besides the goals he will be expected to matches are now broadcast live in Brazil- play a key role in the rise of professional Grant’s squad. “I think so (exceeding expecta- round group comprising Senegal, Algeria and a score in Equatorial Guinea, he would also be and they want to form closer ties with soccer here,” Ronaldo said. Ronaldo tions at the 2015 Africa Cup). We have done it resurgent South Africa. expected to lead younger teammates like the the country. played for Corinthians and the Sao Paulo before - we did it in Angola (in 2010),” he said of “We have to first think of our group because Ayew brothers, Andre and Jordan, David Accam “This is one more opportunity for the side are using the Strikers’ training centre his team’s chances. we are not in an easy group,” he said. “What we and Christian Atsu to glory to the relief of mil- club to establish a presence in the North as their US base.—Reuters “I remember that time (2010 tournament) 80 have to do is stay focused. As a captain I will do lions of long-suffering Ghana fans.—AFP Gloves off as goalie Adrian strikes West Ham’s winner

LONDON: In one of the most before, but never scoring a goal. It memorable moments in an was my first goal in my career and absorbing match, West Ham it’s an amazing day.” West Ham next United goalkeeper Adrian dramati- play at League One (third tier) cally ripped off his gloves before Bristol City in the fourth round scoring West Ham United’s win- after coming through what could ning penalty in their FA Cup tie be one of the last FA Cup matches against Everton. played at the Boleyn Ground The Spanish keeper had the fate ahead of their move to the of the third round replay in his Olympic Stadium at the end of hands before scoring against com- next season. patriot Joel Robles to give West In an exhilarating match worthy Ham a 9-8 penalty shootout victo- of any swan song, West Ham went ry after a superb end-to-end ahead when Enner Valencia beat thriller ended 2-2 after extra time Robles with an angled shot after 51 on Tuesday. Robles had failed to minutes. Everton then had Aiden beat Adrian when he struck the bar McGeady sent off for a second yel- with the preceding penalty, leav- low card four minutes later but the ing the scores level at 8-8 before 10 men equalised when Kevin the West Ham keeper slotted home Mirallas struck with a stunning the 20th penalty of the night. free-kick after 82 minutes. The Spaniard was so confident Romelu Lukaku put Everton 2-1 he was going to score, he took his ahead in the seventh minute of gloves off as he prepared for his extra time, before substitute kick. “I didn’t have any nerves,” he Carlton Cole equalised with his first told reporters. “I thought ‘I’ll take touch in the 113th minute. off my gloves, this game is over’ The momentum then swung in and I struck the ball. West Ham’s favor in the shootout “It was an unbelievable game when Steven Naismith missed and I feel really happy. Joel made Everton’s second penalty but with some unbelievable saves for the scores at 4-4, Robles saved Everton but we played well and Stewart Downing’s potential deserved it in the end. “I took my match-winning spot kick. The next gloves off so quickly as I worried four penalties were converted that the referee might blow his before Robles cracked his effort whistle and book me for time- against the bar, allowing Adrian to LONDON: West Ham United’s goalkeeper Adrian scores the winning penalty kick following extra time and penalties during their English FA Cup third round wasting. throw down his gauntlets and win replay soccer match against Everton. —AP “I have celebrated my saves it for West Ham. —Reuters THURSDAY, JANUARY 15, 2015 SPORTS Barca planning future with Messi — Enrique

MADRID: Barcelona coach Luis Enrique fuelled the rumour mill once more by 1-0 defeat in their opening game of the “It hurts me because it comes from best atmosphere possible. “That is what is insisting a future without star player saying “I don’t know where I’ll be next year away to Real Sociedad and then here, from Barcelona, from people that we look for, although we know that Lionel Messi has never been considered year” during a press conference ahead of missed training the next day, claiming to love the club, or say they do. It doesn’t things can change in five seconds. I see as speculation over the Argentine’s the Ballon d’Or gala in Zurich. have suffered from a stomach bug. come from Madrid like it has in the past,” unity in every aspect.” Enrique’s men are future continues to mount. “I don’t know what the future will Later that day he followed Chelsea said Messi. “It is not good that they look back in action on Thursday night when Tensions have been simmering at bring,” said Enrique when asked if he and two of their players Thibaut Courtois for rivalry between Luis Enrique and I they face Elche in the second leg of their Barcelona with the coach insisting Messi thought Messi would win a fifth Ballon and Filipe Luis on social media site because there isn’t any.” And Enrique last 16 of the Copa del Rey. play a wider role in the line-up. Messi d’Or whilst at Barcelona. “We all think Instagram and sources in the Catalan repeated his assertion that there is no The match should be a mere formali- had appeared to rule out a move follow- that Messi will be at Barcelona for the press then claimed Messi had met with division in the dressing room ahead of a ty with Barcelona having won the first ing a stunning individual performance in coming years, it is what all the fans want. Barca president Josep Maria Bartomeu demanding schedule in the coming leg 5-0 last week and Enrique confirmed Sunday’s 3-1 win over La Liga champions We are not even planning a squad with- to ask for the former Barca captain weeks as Barca battle to advance in the that a host of the club’s academy players Atletico Madrid. out Messi.” Enrique to be replaced as coach. Both Copa del Rey and the Champions would get a chance to prove their worth “I have never demanded anything to The speculation has arisen due to a Messi and Bartomeu have since denied League, as well as clawing back a one- with a much tougher test in either Real ensure that I stay because I have never reported breakdown in communications those claims, with the former particular- point deficit on La Liga leaders Real Madrid or Atletico Madrid lying in wait had any intention of leaving,” he told between Messi and Enrique. Messi was ly aggrieved that the reports surfaced in Madrid. “The dressing room is united. We should Barca progress to the last Barca TV. However, the following day he left on the bench as Barca fell to a shock the Catalan press. avoid the controversy and look for the eight.—AFP

SPAIN: Real Madrid’s Portuguese forward Cristiano Ronaldo (left) and Real Madrid’s Welsh forward Gareth Bale react in this file photo. —AFP Ancelotti wants ‘positive aggression’

MADRID: Real Madrid coach Carlo Ancelotti September. Real have struggled to cope with Wednesday. September’s La Liga defeat by Atletico. Ancelotti said. wants what he termed “positive aggression” Atletico’s high-intensity pressing game and “Aggression means working hard to get As well as the Cup reverse to their neigh- “I think the important thing is not to rush from his players in today’s King’s Cup clash at Ancelotti said the team will need to match the ball back when you don’t have it, aggres- bors, they also lost 2-1 at Valencia in La Liga things and we don’t have to be in a hurry to home to Atletico Madrid, when the holders their opponents for aggression if they are to sion means running fast to block an oppo- this month, prompting suggestions their vic- score early.” Barca, the record Cup winners, will seek to overturn a 2-0 deficit from last make it to the quarter-finals and set up a like- nent’s cross, aggression means marking effec- torious trip to the Club World Cup in have a 5-0 lead ahead of their second leg at week’s last 16, first leg. ly meeting with Barcelona. tively at set pieces,” added the Italian. December may have taken a toll on fitness. Elche yesterday. Atletico have had the upper hand over “Obviously I ask the players to be aggres- “Aggression in football is an important word “We know it’s an important game at an impor- Espanyol and Malaga are already through their city rivals this term, beating them 2-1 on sive in all the games because aggression in and also a positive one.” Real have stuttered at tant moment of the season and we are to the last eight and Sevilla, Athletic Bilbao aggregate in August to win the Spanish Super defence is a very important component,” the start of 2015 after a Spanish record run of preparing for it with calm as only if we remain and Villarreal will join them if they can protect Cup and 2-1 at the Bernabeu in La Liga in Ancelotti told a news conference on 22 straight victories that began following calm will we be able to play our best,” first-leg advantages late yesterday. —Reuters Espanyol see off Valencia

MADRID: Espanyol’s Felipe Caicedo came off ed his contract until June 2018 and effec- before he earned a second yellow card and the bench and netted two late goals to tively ended their hopes of silverware this was sent off in the 89th minute when he secure a 2-0 win at home to 10-man Valencia season. handled the ball into the net in search of his on Tuesday that sent the Barcelona-based The club failed to qualify for Europe last hat-trick. Malaga, who have never reached club through to the King’s Cup quarter-finals term but hopes are high they can revive past the final, will probably meet Athletic Bilbao 3-2 on aggregate. glories in coming years following a recent in the last eight. The Basque club’s tally of 23 Valencia won last week’s last 16, first leg takeover by Singapore billionaire Peter Lim. Cup triumphs is only bettered by Barcelona’s 2-1 at their Mestalla stadium but were dealt “Obviously it’s a day of pain and sadness,” 26 and they host Celta Vigo late yesterday a blow in the 14th minute of the return Nuno told a news conference. “It’s very after winning the first leg in Galicia 4-2. when defender Shkodran Mustafi was tough when you are a man down,” added Atletico Madrid have a 2-0 lead over hold- shown a straight red card for hauling back the Portuguese. “But this team has shown ers Real Madrid ahead of their second leg at Sergio Garcia when the Espanyol captain that it recovers after a bad result and we Real’s Bernabeu stadium today, with the was through on goal. have to give our fans some joy on Saturday,” winners almost certain to play Barca in the The visitors held out against waves of at home to Almeria in La Liga. quarters. Espanyol attacks until the 80th minute when Malaga joined Espanyol in the last eight The Catalans hold a 5-0 advantage over Caicedo outjumped goalkeeper Yoel and despite throwing away a 2-0 lead and losing Elche heading into Thursday’s second leg. nodded into the empty net. 3-2 at Levante, a 2-0 victory in the first leg This season’s edition of Spain’s domestic Cup The powerful Ecuador forward made it 2- securing a 4-3 aggregate success for the competition is the first since 1969-70, when 0 a minute from time when he controlled Qatar-owned club. teams from lower divisions began compet- the ball in the penalty area and lashed a low Levante substitute David Barral scored ing, that only top-flight sides reached the shot into the net. The victory for the 2006 twice for the home side to level the match last 16. —Reuters winners set up a likely last-eight clash against Sevilla, who will start with a 2-1 lead over Granada when they host their Ronaldo’s son is a Messi fan Andalusian rivals on Wednesday. “It was a perfect night for all Espanyol ZURICH: Cristiano Ronaldo’s son Cris junior is Real Madrid’s Portugal captain Ronaldo fans,” Garcia told reporters. “The players a Lionel Messi fan the boy’s father said after told his arch-rival Messi: “He watches a video showed they want to give some joy to the they met up with the Argentina captain at on the internet of all of us and he talks about supporters and that we take this competi- the Ballon D’Or ceremony in Zurich on you,” prompting a coy reaction from his son. tion seriously,” added the former Spain inter- Monday. Barcelona forward Messi chuckled and national. “The sending off was a key After Ronaldo was named 2014 Ballon asked the young Cristiano how he was doing. moment but that does not detract from our D’Or winner, beating four-time winner Messi “You are embarrassed now!” Ronaldo then into second place, the two players had a laughed to his son. Ronaldo received his third achievement. We played a great match.” friendly exchange in the lobby of Zurich’s Ballon D’Or on Monday with the Portuguese Valencia’s exit from the competition they Kongresshaus when Cris pointed at Messi and or Messi having won the award every year have won seven times, most recently in then stood up to greet him. since 2008.—Reuters 2008, came a day after coach Nuno extend- Felipe Caicedo Suns shine over Gyan leads Cavaliers Ghana in search of fifth 16 Africa18 Cup THURSDAY, JANUARY 15, 2015

Ronaldo’s son is a Messi fan Page 19

AUSTRALIA: Zhang Chengdong of China fights for the ball with Shavkatjon Mulladjanov of Uzbekistan during the first round Asianup C soccer match. — AFP Sun Ke fires China into q-finals Saudi Arabia eliminate North Korea MELBOURNE: Super-sub Sun Ke fired China into the Striker Ahmad Hayel could miss the game against again as hosts in 2004 and now suddenly dark horses Mohammed Al Sahlawi poked the Gulf side in front Asian Cup quarter-finals yesterday as North Korea Palestine Friday after he was made to drink “several for a first Asian Cup title. China did it the hard way, seven minutes after the break, before profiting from crashed out and Jordan fumed over a botched dope litres of water” as he tried to provide a urine sample fol- going behind to Odil Ahmedov’s deflected shot after some horror defending to roll in a third as North Korea test that left a player ill. Sun’s superb solo effort after 68 lowing Monday’s 1-0 defeat by Iraq, according to the 22 minutes. began to unravel. minutes, moments after coming on, gave China a pul- Jordanian FA. They dragged themselves back into the match, how- Nawaf Alabid added a fourth and Saudi Arabia, who sating 2-1 victory over Uzbekistan and sent them into Asian Cup organisers insisted the correct protocol ever, Wu Xi equalising with a sharp finish 10 minutes won the last of their three Asian Cup titles in 1996, face the knock-out stages for the first time since 2004. had been followed as they also busied themselves put- into the second half before Sun’s cracker triggered wild 2011 semi-finalists Uzbekistan for the right to join China China coach Alain Perrin promised to crack open ting out fires after several refereeing controversies. celebrations on the Chinese bench. in the knockout stages on Sunday. some expensive bubbly later back the team hotel as his Iran coach Carlos Queiroz, who launched a scathing China’s barnstorming comeback spelled doom for “I knew North Korea would be dangerous and they players celebrated by diving into ice baths after secur- attack on match officials after his side’s 2-0 win over North Korea at the other end of the table, while the gave us trouble,” he said. “But I was confident we would ing top spot in Group B. Bahrain, reacted sarcastically after being asked by the Saudis breathed new life into their campaign after wear them down. We had to take some risks. Sometimes “I will open maybe two bottles of good champagne,” Asian Football Confederation not to comment on refer- being upset 1-0 by the Chinese. you have to assume risks to win.” beamed the Frenchman. “I think I will ask my players to ees in his official news conferences. North Korea took an early lead when Japan-based Pyongyang frequently lavishes cars and apartments join us.” However, there was bitter disappointment for “I don’t know if we’re entitled to give opinions about midfielder Ryang Yong-Gi slammed in the rebound after on athletes who bring glory to the state, but the North North Korea, who scored their first Asian Cup goal for 23 refs,” said the former Real Madrid manager, dubbed Pak Kwang-Ryong’s fierce drive had been parried by Korean players at least had the consolation of being years but still lost 4-1 to Saudi Arabia and were eliminat- “Rottweiler” by former Manchester United boss Alex goalkeeper Waleed Abdullah. cheered to the rafters by a crowd of 12,000 in ed.Away from the pitch, Jordan lodged a formal protest Ferguson during two spells as assistant at Old Trafford. But Naif Hazazi equalised with a clinical finish against Melbourne for their plucky display. after claiming a bungled doping procedure had left one “After 32 years of my work in football I was never the run of play eight minutes before the interval. The “We began well but we conceded a soft second goal of their players vomiting, in a “semi-coma” and suffering told I cannot give an opinion about the game.” It was a Saudi forward’s joy was unbridled, having fluffed a and that caused us a lot of mental stress,” Jo said. “After with hypothermia. red letter day for the Chinese, runners-up in 1984 and penalty against China at the weekend. that we just lost concentration.” — AFP Ajmal clears unofficial Jordan protest after dope test makes striker ill bowling action test MELBOURNE: Jordan lodged a formal received) no medical care presence from KARACHI: Suspended Pakistan spinner trademark swing) were within 15 protest at the Asian Cup yesterday after the AFC. No ambulance was called for the Saeed Ajmal yesterday claimed to have degrees.” claiming a bungled doping test had made player. He was suffering low blood pres- cleared a private bowling action test, Under the ICC rules all bowlers are one of their players vomit. sure, and we had to take the player back to but it remains uncertain whether he will allowed to straighten their bowling arm Striker Ahmad Hayel could miss the the hotel by private car, in a wheelchair, feature in this year’s World Cup. by 15 degrees, beyond which the action game against Palestine Friday after he was while he was unconscious.” The private test was conducted in a is deemed illegal. made to drink “several litres of water” as a Jordanian football chief and FIFA presi- laboratory in Edgbaston in England and Ajmal’s first assessment in August last result of being unable to provide a urine dential hopeful Prince Ali bin Al Hussein Ajmal now needs to clear an official year revealed his arm extension went to sample following Monday’s 1-0 defeat by also checked up on the condition of Hayel reassessment in an International Cricket 43 degrees. Ajmal, however, remained Iraq. It caused him to vomit and feel dizzy, by phone, according to Zureikat. Council (ICC) accredited laboratory in unsure whether he would be able to according to the Jordanian FA and a team “The player was one of two players cho- Chennai, India on January 24. The 37- feature in the World Cup or not. doctor said the test had to be cancelled. sen by lots for a mandatory dope test,” year-old was suspended over illegal “Look, I want to be as confident in my Jordanian FA general secretary Fadi team doctor Adel Skirji told the Jordanian bowling action in September last year bowling as I was before (suspension) Zureikat said the association had made a FA’s website. and last month withdrew from the and want to be effective, so (whether) I formal protest to the Asian Football “Ahmad Hayel was unable to give a World Cup to be held in Australia and can still play the World Cup or cannot Confederation (AFC) complaining about sample, which is normal as he had lost a lot New Zealand in February-March. play, remains to be seen. the “unhealthy procedure taken in doping of fluid during the game and needed more His withdrawal came after remedial “I want to do what is best for my test for Ahmad Hayel”. time to rehydrate. “When (testing officials) work carried out under former Pakistan country and for my team.” Pakistan The AFC insisted that the proper proto- tried to making him drink lots of water it spinner Saqlain Mushtaq to alter his Cricket Board chairman Shaharyar Khan col had been followed. But Zureikat added: quickly reduced his temperature and he bowling action fell short. on Tuesday ruled out Ajmal’s participa- “Ahmad Hayel arrived at the hotel after the began to throw up and feel dizzy.” Ajmal said he is confident he can tion in the World Cup, saying it was too doping test (in a) semi-coma, and with Jordan coach Ray Wilkins was said to be clear the official test after success in the late to consider it. Ajmal was included in hypothermia. The doping control room furious at the incident, which could private assessment. “I cleared the pri- the preliminary 30-man squad for the was too cold. The player was given water deprive him of the player for Friday’s game vate test,” Ajmal told AFP. “The tests were World Cup, but after his withdrawal was to drink for four hours (only water without in Melbourne, slamming the dope testers conducted in Edgbaston and all my dropped from the 15-man party any liquids containing salts or electrolytes). for acting in a “dangerous” manner after deliveries including the ‘doosra’ (his announced last week. — AFP Saeed AJmal “Ahmad Hayel began vomiting (and the match in Brisbane. — AFP Mixed earnings, weak oil dampen Gulf markets

Page 22 Business Japan approves record $814 billion budget after tax hike THURSDAY, JANUARY 15, 2015 Page 25 Russia’s financial crisis may bury Putin’s NBK Capital appoints Faisal Al-Hamad as CEO Eurasian dream Page 26 Page 23

SEOUL: A vendor warms himself before a heater at his stall in a market in Seoul yesterday. South Korea enjoyed record exports last year, data showed on January 1, despite slow economic growth in key market China and a sluggish recovery in Europe. — AFP EU court adviser paves way for ECB bond-buying

LUXEMBOURG: The European Central Bank won crucial While not binding, his opinion is typically followed by backing yesterday for its pledge to do whatever it takes the court’s judges, who are due to deliver their ruling in to support the euro when a top EU legal adviser removed the coming months. a key hurdle to the bank’s plans to buy government Crucially, the advocate general cautioned against lim- US retail sales records bonds to bolster the economy. iting the ECB’s room for manoeuvre, warning against the Pedro Cruz Villalon, advocate general to the European imposition of a cap on the amount of bonds the ECB Court of Justice, said a 2012 ECB bond-buying plan, could buy. That has important implications for its next largest decline in 11 months designed at the height of the euro zone crisis to avert a move to print fresh money. break-up of the single currency and unused so far, did Setting such a limit “would seriously undermine the WASHINGTON: US retail sales recorded their largest decline in than two-thirds of US economic activity. not break EU law. effects which the intervention on the secondary markets 11 months in December as demand fell almost across the December’s surprise decline prompted economists to lower The opinion was a clear rebuff to German critics of the seeks to achieve, with the risk of triggering speculation”, board, tempering expectations for a sharp acceleration in con- their estimates for consumer spending in the final three plan, who argue the ECB has exceeded its mandate by he said. sumer spending in the fourth quarter. months of 2014 as well as growth forecasts for the quarter, planning to buy bonds. He also expressed doubt about granting the ECB any The Commerce Department said on Wednesday retail sales which had been sharply raised following last week’s reports “The OMT programme ... falls within the monetary seniority over other creditors in the event of a default-an fell 0.9 percent last month after a 0.4 percent increase in showing a smaller November trade deficit and larger wholesale policy for which the (EU) Treaty makes the ECB responsi- issue of particular importance to investors whose sup- November. inventories. ble,” said Cruz Villalon, in an opinion which was met by port is needed for any ECB intervention to work. It was the biggest decline since last January and exceeded A second report from the Commerce Department showed enthusiasm on financial markets. “If the status of preferential creditor were granted to economists’ expectations for only a 0.1 percent drop and retail inventories excluding automobiles barely rose in The euro tumbled to below its launch level for the first the ECB, that would call into question the position of implied a slower pace of consumer spending at the end of November. December’s weak retail sales saw traders cut bets time in a decade after the court opinion was published, other creditors,” he said in his written opinion. 2014. Still, economists saw the decline as temporary, citing a on an anticipated June interest rate increase from the Federal as investors took the view that the ECB had received a One German critic of the ECB, Gunnar Beck, a legal strengthening labor market and lower gasoline prices. Reserve. The data combined with concerns over the global green light to push ahead with its plans. expert at the University of London, said that if followed “This isn’t the start of a collapse in activity as that doesn’t fit economy to push US stocks down. Prices for US government The adviser’s opinion, which is usually a guide to how by the court, the opinion would make the central bank with the strength of employment growth and consumer confi- debt rose, while the dollar fell against a basket of currencies. the court will rule, was a milestone in a long-running dis- “untouchable”. dence. Retail sales will strengthen again before too long,” said Retail sales were weighed down by declines in receipts at pute about printing money and the limits of central bank Paul Diggle, an economist at Capital Economics in London. electronic and appliance, clothing, building materials and gar- powers between the ECB and Germany, the largest mem- Cheap finance Economists at BNP Paribas in New York blamed the decline den equipment stores, as well as auto dealerships. ber of the 19-country bloc. “This effectively grants the ECB and the crisis manage- on difficulties adjusting the numbers for seasonal fluctuations Online sales also fell as did receipts at sporting goods It was a setback for those in Germany’s conservative ment of the euro zone an exemption from the law. It is a in December because of volatility in holiday spending. Other stores. Lower gasoline prices weighed on service station sales, financial establishment who want to stop ECB plans to suspension of the rule of law in Europe,” he said. economists said consumers were saving the extra income from with receipts falling 6.5 percent - the biggest decline since print fresh money to buy government bonds and a boost Cruz Villalon did, however, set some conditions, warn- lower gasoline prices. December 2008. Receipts at furniture stores and restaurants for the Frankfurt-based central bank. ing against a potential conflict from the ECB’s continued Excluding automobiles, gasoline, building materials and and bars rose. In a separate report, the Labor Department said ECB Executive Board member Yves Mersch said the role on the team of inspectors that manage countries in food services, sales fell 0.4 percent last month after a 0.6 per- import prices fell 2.5 percent last month as the cost of energy opinion showed that the bank had “considerable discre- an emergency aid programme. cent rise in November. Economists had expected the so-called plummeted. It was the largest decline since December 2008 tion” over policy. Speaking in a German newspaper, ECB President core retail sales, which correspond most closely with the con- and followed a 1.8 percent drop in November. The weak import Marcel Fratzscher, president of the Berlin-based Mario Draghi meanwhile said a loose monetary policy is sumer spending component of gross domestic product, to rise prices pointed to subdued inflation pressures over the coming German Institute for Economic Research, said the opin- needed to achieve price stability in the euro zone and 0.4 percent last month. Consumer spending accounts for more months. — Reuters ion was a victory for the ECB. “Such a strong and over- that its Governing Council is determined to deliver this - whelming support for the ECB is surprising and could not another clear signal that it was poised to act. have been expected,” he said. “I expect this recommenda- Nonetheless, he faces considerable political obstacles. tion to strengthen the position of the ECB and make a Germany’s Bundesbank and many of the country’s Citigroup loses appeal over new ECB purchase programme of government debt more prominent economists believe it would seed euro zone likely.” governments with cheap finance, allowing them to avoid Abu Dhabi fund’s arbitration The bank is on the verge of announcing a QE scheme, economic reform, with the risk that the bill ultimately possibly as early as next week, to combat deflation and lands on the German taxpayer. NEW YORK: Citigroup Inc yesterday lost an appeal aiming to which it accused Citigroup of fraudulently inducing its invest- put the struggling economy back on a steady footing. Markets are expecting Draghi to finally deliver on a block Abu Dhabi Investment Authority from pursuing a second ment, in part by issuing preferred shares to other investors that But it has yet to decide on crucial details of that plan, promise to do ‘whatever it takes’ to save the euro. arbitration over the sovereign wealth fund’s $7.5 billion invest- diluted its stake. An arbitration panel rejected the ADIA’s claims including whether it is limited or open-ended, whether Germany’s Constitutional Court, asked to rule on com- ment in late 2007 to shore up the then-struggling bank. in October 2011, and US District Judge George Daniels in risk is shared or remains with national central banks, and plaints by a group of Eurosceptic politicians and lawyers, The 2nd US Circuit Court of Appeals in New York ruled that Manhattan confirmed that ruling in 2013. Daniels’ ruling was whether it covers all euro zone states or excludes those said last year there was good reason to believe the OMT Citigroup had not demonstrated a basis for an injunction based upheld by the 2nd Circuit in February. whose debt is rated below investment grade, such as plan broke rules forbidding the ECB from funding gov- on its argument that the case was precluded after a federal court But the ADIA in August 2013 sought a second arbitration, Greece and Cyprus. ernments. confirmed the results of an earlier arbitration it won. US Circuit raising two claims it had raised in the first: breach of contract, It referred the case to the European court for its view Judge Peter Hall wrote that “it is the arbitrators, not the federal and breach of an implied covenant of good faith and fair Shot across bows but implicitly reserved the right to give its final ruling. courts, who ordinarily should determine the claim-preclusive dealing. In his opinion, the adviser fired a shot across the bows Regardless of the outcome of the case, opposition effect of a federal judgment thatconfirms an arbitration award.” Citigroup sued to block ADIA’s case, which sought $2 billion of the German Constitutional Court, which had referred from Germany’s influential Bundesbank and a sceptical Sanford Weisburst, a lawyer for the fund at Quinn, Emanuel, of damages or to rescind its investment. But U.S. District Judge the question to Europe’s top court, saying it was hard for public may limit the size or scope of any QE scheme. Urquhart & Sullivan, said the fund was pleased with the ruling. A Kevin Castel in Manhattan rejected its bid in November 2013. courts to call the ECB into question as they had little Bundesbank chief Jens Weidmann has compared it with Citigroup spokeswoman declined comment. The case arose As part of its investment, the ADIA received securities from expertise to do so. drug addiction. from Citigroup’s efforts to shore up its capital base, in the wake Citigroup that could be converted to common stock at prices “The ECB must have a broad discretion when framing “The Germans never wanted the euro,” said Bert Van of billions of dollars of writedowns tied to subprime mortgages. between $31.83 and $37.24 from March 2010 to September and implementing the EU’s monetary policy, and the Roosebeke of the Centre for European Policy, a German Citigroup ultimately required three federal bailouts, which it has 2011. Citigroup shares trade at a little over one-tenth of their lev- courts must exercise a considerable degree of caution think tank. since repaid. In November 2007, the ADIA invested the $7.5 bil- el when the Abu Dhabi fund made its investment, after account- when reviewing the ECB’s activity, since they lack the “They were happy with the Deutschmark. They now lion in exchange for a 4.9 percent stake in Citigroup, surpassing ing for a reverse stock split. On Wednesday morning, the stock expertise and experience which the ECB has in this area,” don’t want the ECB to buy bonds en masse to finance the Saudi Prince Alwaleed bin Talal as the New York-based bank’s was trading at $48.83 a share. The case is Citigroup Inc v. Abu a statement said. budget of Italy.” — Reuters largest individual shareholder. Dhabi Investment Authority, 2nd U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals, Two years later, the fund began arbitration proceedings in No. 13-4825. — Reuters BUSINESS THURSDAY, JANUARY 15, 2015 Mixed earnings, weak oil dampen Gulf markets Shell ends $6.5bn Qatar project

DUBAI: Gulf stock markets may slow their analysts’ estimates. has rendered it commercially unfeasible, partic- advance yesterday after local firms reported a Qatar National Bank (QNB), the largest lender ularly in the current economic climate prevailing mixed set of fourth-quarter earnings and oil in the Gulf, posted a 3.3 percent rise in fourth- in the energy industry”. prices extended losses. quarter net profit on Tuesday, slightly missing The joint venture between the Anglo-Dutch Oil slid in early Asian trade yesterday after estimates. QNB made a net profit of 2.45 billion energy giant and state-owned Qatar Petroleum touching its lowest in nearly six years in the pre- riyals in the quarter; the average forecast of ana- had been signed in December 2011. vious session, with analysts predicting further lysts polled by Reuters was 2.57 billion riyals. At the time it was envisioned that a huge falls as oversupply plagues the market. Brent However, QNB’s proposed 2014 dividend of “world-scale petrochemicals complex” would be crude is around $46 a barrel. 7.5 riyals per share may sweeten the pill as ana- built in Ras Laffan, an industrial city some 80 Falling oil prices will directly affect the earn- lysts had expected the payout to be flat at 7.0 kilometres (50 miles) north of Doha. ings of petrochemicals companies, but stocks in riyals. In Kuwait, shares in food company The Qatari company was to own 80 percent DAVOS: A file photo taken on January 24, 2012 shows World Economic Forum (WEF) the sector have already suffered heavy losses Americana may come under pressure after of the project, and Shell the remaining 20 per- founder and executive chairman Klaus Schwab gesturing during a briefing session and may now be less sensitive to oil. sources familiar with the matter told Reuters on cent. Last year it was reported that the project entitled “The World Economic Forum’s Vision and Mission” during the WEF annual Some may even gain on earnings announce- Tuesday that the firm’s sale was close to being would be completed in 2018. meeting in Davos. The WEF is to provide today a list of participants to its January 21- ments, such as Saudi Arabia’s Yanbu National put on hold, partly due to differences on price. However, the decision not to proceed was 24 meeting of the rich and powerful at the posh Swiss ski resort, which comes amid Petrochemical Co (Yansab), which on Tuesday Private equity funds KKR and CVC were taken, said Shell, after “careful and thorough a spate of global crises, including the worst post-Cold War stand-off between Russia reported a 39.7 percent rise in fourth-quarter among the main contenders for the business in evaluation of commercial quotations”. and the West and renewed fears of financial turmoil. — AFP net profit. Yansab, a unit of Saudi Basic a lengthy bidding process that also attracted “The fall in oil prices is clearly playing its part,” Industries, made a net profit of 617.8 million interest from Saudi food producer Savola Group, said analyst Keith Bowman at UK-based stock- riyals ($164.6 million) in the three months to among others. Savola shares have been boosted broker Hargreaves Lansdown about the collapse Gold edges down Dec. 31 while analysts polled by Reuters had on by speculatiom that it may take over Americana. of the project. average forecast 558.3 million riyals. Meanwhile, Qatar Petroleum and Royal Dutch “The estimated return on their investment for However, banking sector results were less Shell have scrapped plans for a petrochemicals both companies will have fallen,” he told AFP. from 12-week high impressive on Tuesday after a series of estimate- project, worth an estimated $6.5 billion, due to Global oil prices have dived since last beating reports from Saudi Arabian banks earlier the slump in global oil prices. June and continued to fall yesterday after this week. In a statement issued on Wednesday, Shell major crude producers insisted they would LONDON: Gold edged down from the the same time, there are people who are Saudi Investment Bank reported a 14.8 per- said the Al Karaana project would not go ahead maintain current output levels despite over- previous day’s 12-week high yesterday as interested in selling.” cent rise in fourth-quarter profit, in line with because of the “high envisaged capital cost that supply. — Agencies a rout in other commodities pressured “At the moment, there’s a fight the metal and Asian buying slackened, between two camps. The whole risk sen- though volatility in the wider markets timent issue is giving support, (but) low- lent support as investors sought a haven er inflationary pressures are not good for from risk. gold.” Falling raw materials prices are Malaysian banks Commodities and stocks fell sharply seen as easing inflation pressures. on Wednesday after the World Bank cut Oil prices fell more than 1 percent call off mega its growth forecasts for 2015 and 2016, after hitting a near six-year low on fuelling fears that the benefits of cheaper Tuesday, while copper slid 6 percent. oil may be offset by anaemic growth and In the physical bullion markets, buyers $20bn merger the threat of deflation. turned cautious in Asia after gold failed Spot gold was down 0.1 percent at to hold on to the previous session’s KUALA LUMPUR: Two Malaysian finance firms con- $1,229.70 an ounce at 1028 GMT, while highs. firmed yesterday reports that they have scrapped a US gold futures for February delivery Premiums in top consumer China fell proposed merger worth $20.3 billion that would have were down $5.00 an ounce at $1,229.40. to around $3 an ounce over the global created the country’s biggest bank citing poor eco- Spot prices hit a 12-week high at benchmark from $4-$5 in the previous nomic conditions. In a joint statement to the media, banks CIMB $1,243.60 an ounce on Tuesday as tur- session. Group and RHB Capital Berhad together and property moil in the wider financial markets sent “Shanghai...was not attracting a lot of lender Malaysia Building Society Berhad (MBSB), said investors scurrying for assets seen as attention today, so the intraday longs discussions had ended after they failed to make the lower risk, like the Japanese yen, U.S. and quickly began covering positions and merger attractive for all parties. German bonds, and bullion. putting pressure on the metals,” precious “Whilst we remain convinced that the combination The metal came under pressure on metals house MKS said in a note. “Gold of our three franchises follows sound strategic logic, Wednesday however as the commodities subsequently fell through $1,230, draw- we ultimately were not able to arrive at a value creat- sector was hit by heavy selling. A failure ing out a light round of intraday stops ing transaction for all stakeholders,” said Zafrul Tengku to break decisively above the $1,245 an and touching the day’s low.” Abdul Aziz, Acting Group Chief Executive, CIMB ounce level has also taken some wind Among other precious metals, silver Group. out of gold bulls’ sails, technical analysts was down 2.2 percent at $16.63 an WOODBURY: This May 24, 2009 file photo shows the sign for a Wells Fargo bank in “Protecting and creating stakeholder value is para- said. ounce, giving up the bulk of the previous Woodbury, Minnesota. Wells Fargo, the biggest US mortgage lender, reported a mount to all parties and given the changes in environ- “On the upside, when you get up to session’s hefty gains. Spot platinum was slight increase in quarterly profit yesterday, as net interest income rose. Net ment we could not conclude a case to proceed fur- $1,240-$1,250, gold runs out of steam,” down 0.7 percent at $1,225.80 an ounce, income applicable to the bank’s common shareholders rose to $5.38 billion, or ther,” said Kellee Kam, group managing Director at ABN Amro analyst Georgette Boele said. while spot palladium was down 3.2 per- $1.02 per share, in the fourth quarter from $5.37 billion, or $1.00 per share, a year RHB Capital. “The bulls tried to push it higher, but at cent at $786.80 an ounce. — Reuters earlier. — AFP Concerns about the economic outlook are mount- ing in Malaysia, with falling oil prices expected to slash the petroleum-exporting country’s trade rev- enue and the ringgit currency at five-year lows. Burberry hit by falling Ratings agency Fitch had warned last year when news of the impending deal first emerged that it was fraught with risk, particularly difficulties achieving integration. sales in Hong Kong The three institutions had proclaimed in October that they would create a “financial powerhouse” and a BERLIN: A fall in sales in Hong Kong in the final quarter of Burberry said retail sales rose 14 percent to 604 million percentage sales growth from double-digit growth in the “mega-Islamic bank”. 2014 could hit Burberry’s full-year profitability, the British pounds ($916 million) in October-December, its fiscal third previous six months, as sales in the high-margin market of It was to be the country’s largest bank, surpassing luxury brand said yesterday, even as a relaunch of its trade- quarter, with comparable growth of 8 percent, steady on Hong Kong fell slightly, even though mainland China and current leader Maybank, and Southeast Asia’s fourth- mark trench coat boosted demand elsewhere. Pro-democ- the previous quarter and beating analysts’ average expec- South Korea held firm. biggest, they said. Islamic banking fuses principles of racy protests began choking parts of the Asia financial cen- tations. Burberry shares, trading at a premium to luxury “China was still robust ... we did see some slowdown in Islamic sharia law and modern banking methods. tre in late September, disrupting business in one of the rivals such as LVMH and Kering on 21 times forecast earn- number of transactions and value, but it is still growing for Islamic funds are banned from investing in companies world’s top markets for luxury companies, which accounts ings, were down 1.4 percent to 1,640 pence at 0855 GMT, us,” finance chief Carol Fairweather told reporters. Even associated with tobacco, alcohol or gambling. Interest for about 10 percent of Burberry’s global sales. broadly in line with the UK’s benchmark FTSE-100 index. before the protests, luxury goods companies had been on accounts is also banned as usury. However, Burberry made up for the dip with double- “The market does not seem to give much credit to under pressure from an anti-corruption campaign in China. Malaysian authorities have sought to position the digit percentage sales growth in the Americas and Europe, Burberry’s superior sales momentum,” said Citi analyst Burberry said the slowdown in Hong Kong and fewer country as a leading centre for Islamic finance and Middle East and Africa, helped by the relaunch of its trade- Thomas Chauvet, adding this could be due to uncertainty high-margin sales had more than offset a modest also have encouraged consolidation in Malaysia’s mark trench coats with camel, red and black-check pat- over profit margins and potential cost cutting. He has a improvement from exchange rate movements, which it banking sector to heighten its regional profile and terned linings, backed by ads featuring British models Kate “neutral” rating on the stock. had said in November could hurt its full-year competitiveness. — AFP Moss and Cara Delevigne. Burberry said Asia-Pacific slipped to low single-digit retail/wholesale margin. — Reuters EXCHANGE RATES

Al-Muzaini Exchange Co. UAE Exchange Centre WLL Syrian Pound 2.710 Philippine Peso 0.006505 0.006785 Nepalese Rupees 3.945 Sierra Leone 0.000065 0.000071 Malaysian Ringgit 87.645 Singapore Dollar 0.217962 0.223962 ASIAN COUNTRIES COUNTRY SELL DRAFT SELL CASH South African Rand 0.019654 0.028154 Japanese Yen 2.460 Chinese Yuan Renminbi 48.035 Australian Dollar 231.31 229.31 Sri Lankan Rupee 0.001862 0.002442 Indian Rupees 4.658 Thai Bhat 9.885 Canadian Dollar 253.86 254.86 Taiwan 0.009119 0.009299 Pakistani Rupees 2.913 Turkish Lira 131.225 Swiss Franc 295.89 293.89 Thai Baht 0.008644 0.009194 Srilankan Rupees 2.227 Euro 353.27 354.27 Nepali Rupees 2.908 US Dollar 294.65 297.65 Arab Singapore Dollar 224.280 Sterling Pound 450.33 453.33 Bahrain Exchange Company Hongkong Dollar 37.933 Bahraini Dinar 0.775503 0.783503 Japanese Yen 2.51 2.53 Bangladesh Taka 3.763 Egyptian Pound 0.038824 0.041924 Bangladesh Taka 3.775 4.045 CURRENCY BUY SELL Philippine Peso 6.605 Iranian Riyal 0.000082 0.000083 Indian Rupee 4.631 4.931 Thai Baht 8.946 Europe Iraqi Dinar 0.000196 0.000256 Sri Lankan Rupee 2.229 2.664 Irani Riyal transfer 61.555 Belgian Franc 0.007680 0.008680 Jordanian Dinar 0.411740 0.419240 Irani Riyal cash 121.740 Nepali Rupee 2.898 3.433 British Pound 0.442061 0.451061 Kuwaiti Dinar 1.000000 1.000000 Pakistani Rupee 2.928 2.790 Czech Korune 0.004477 0.016477 Lebanese Pound 0.000146 0.000246 GCC COUNTRIES UAE Dirhams 80.07 80.53 Danish Krone 0.042837 0.047837 Moroccan Dirhams 0.024086 0.048086 Saudi Riyal 78.498 Bahraini Dinar 782.03 784.10 Euro 0.344538 0.352538 Nigerian Naira 0.001200 0.001835 Qatari Riyal 80.871 Egyptian Pound 41.08 41.68 Norwegian Krone 0.034657 0.039857 Omani Riyal 0.759694 0.765374 Omani Riyal 764.880 Jordanian Dinar 418.66 424.31 Romanian Leu 0.084560 0.084560 Qatar Riyal 0.080263 0.081476 Bahraini Dinar 781.850 Omani Riyal 764.12 771.42 Slovakia 0.008654 0.018654 Saudi Riyal 0.077977 0.078677 UAE Dirham 80.166 Qatari Riyal 81.14 81.69 Swedish Krona 0.0327121 0.037721 Syrian Pound 0.001748 0.001986 Saudi Riyal 78.49 78.89 Swiss Franc 0.284469 0.294669 Tunisian Dinar 0.152906 0.160906 ARAB COUNTRIES Turkish Lira 0.126775 0.133775 Turkish Lira 0.126775 0.133775 Egyptian Pound - Cash 42.250 UAE Dirhams 0.079282 0.080431 Egyptian Pound - Transfer 41.069 Dollarco Exchange Co. Ltd Australasia Yemeni Riyal 0.001331 0.001411 Yemen Riyal/for 1000 1.374 Australian Dollar 0.233897 0.245397 New Zealand Dollar 0.225163 0.234663 Tunisian Dinar 158.880 Rate for Transfer Selling Rate Jordanian Dinar 415.430 Al Mulla Exchange US Dollar 291.750 Lebanese Lira/for 1000 1.975 America Canadian Dollar 260.085 Syrian Lira 2.098 Canadian Dollar 0.243185 0.251686 Sterling Pound 456.630 Currency Transfer Rate (Per 1000) Morocco Dirham 330.620 US Dollars 0.290700 0.295400 Euro 366.500 US Dollar 293.950 US Dollars Mint Swiss Frank 303.035 Euro 351.450 EUROPEAN & AMERICAN COUNTRIES 0.291200 0.295400 Bahrain Dinar 775.760 US Dollar Transfer 294.250 Asia Pound Sterlng 447.150 UAE Dirhams 79.330 Euro 358.130 Bangladesh Taka 0.003456 0.004056 Canadian Dollar 249.900 Qatari Riyals 80.935 Sterling Pound 459.320 Chinese Yuan 0.046051 0.049551 Indian Rupee 4.650 Saudi Riyals 77.975 Canadian dollar 255.980 Hong Kong Dollar 0.035924 0.038674 Egyptian Pound 41.095 Jordanian Dinar 411.660 Turkish lira 126.180 Indian Rupee 0.004406 0.004807 Sri Lankan Rupee 2.223 Egyptian Pound 40.707 Swiss Franc 300.260 Indonesian Rupiah 0.000019 0.000025 Bangladesh Taka 3.749 Sri Lankan Rupees 2.225 Australian Dollar 243.640 Japanese Yen 0.002404 0.002584 Philippines Peso 6.528 Indian Rupees 4.716 US Dollar Buying 293.050 Kenyan Shilling 0.003277 0.003277 Pakistan Rupee 2.920 Pakistani Rupees 2.867 Korean Won 0.000260 0.000275 Bahraini Dinar 782.700 Bangladesh Taka 3.759 GOLD Malaysian Ringgit 0.080029 0.086029 Philippines Pesso 6.481 UAE Dirham 80.050 20 gram 238.100 Nepalese Rupee 0.003013 0.003183 Cyprus pound 715.865 Saudi Riyal 78.500 10 gram 121.740 Pakistan Rupee 0.002755 0.003035 5 gram 61.560 Japanese Yen 3.480 *Rates are subject to change BUSINESS THURSDAY, JANUARY 15, 2015

Peugeot sales power ahead, China now biggest market

PARIS: Peugeot Citroen yesterday reported a million vehicles. in China in 2014. tling low growth, conditions were more “diffi- turnaround in sales in 2014 after three years of In China, sales of Peugeot brands grew the France remains the group’s second-biggest cult”, the group said. decline, spurred by runaway growth in China, fastest, surging 43.1 percent to 386,565 units, market, accounting for 637,682 vehicles sold last Peugeot Citroen is on a drive to restore prof- now the carmaker’s leading market ahead of one-third of which were SUVs. Peugeot Citroen’s year. Sales in Europe as a whole, where the car itability by slashing costs and excess manufac- France. Europe’s second-biggest carmaker sold inroads in China came in a year which saw market is rebounding from years of crisis, grew turing capacity while upscaling its brands. 734,000 vehicles in China, up 31.9 percent on China’s Dongfeng Motor and the French state 8.1 percent to nearly 1.8 million vehicles. Net losses in 2013 came in at 2.32 billion 2013, taking its share of the Chinese car market acquire stakes in the troubled carmaker as part In other parts of the world, such as Russia, euros ($2.73 billion), down from 5.01 billion to 4.4 percent. The group’s global sales grew at a of a 3-billion-euro ($3.76 billion) bailout pack- which has been hit by Western sanctions and euros the previous year. Full-year figures for more stately pace of 4.3 percent, reaching 2.9 age. Peugeot also opened 100 new dealerships plummeting oil prices, and Brazil, which is bat- 2014 have yet to be released. — AFP

California oil drillers hit hard by tumbling prices

LONDON: California’s oil industry is The state has around 35,000 stripper being hit harder than any other state by wells which produced on average just 3.4 falling prices because of the comparative- barrels per day each in 2012. These highly ly poor quality of its crude and its aging marginal wells accounted for 116,000 fields. barrels per day of the state’s total output, The number of active drilling rigs in more than 20 percent of the total, accord- the state has more than halved since ing to the Interstate Oil and Gas Compact June 2014, from 48 to just 21, according Commission. to oilfield services company Baker Posted prices for Midway-Sunset, Hughes (http://link.reuters.com/ruz73w). Belridge Heavy and Kern River crude have The California rig count is the lowest fallen to $38, $34 and $34 respectively, since October 2009, when producers down almost two-thirds from an average were struggling with low prices in the of $100, $97 and $97 in June 2014, aftermath of the global financial crisis according to bulletins from Plains and deep recession that began a year ear- Marketing. lier. The result has been a huge drilling California’s high-cost and low-produc- crunch, with rigs idled and crew layoffs. tivity oil industry has always been vulner- Ensign Energy Services issued Worker able to falling prices and exhibits deep Adjustment and Retraining Notification especially cycles in activity rates. (WARN) letters about possible layoffs to It is still the third-largest oil producing 700 employees in Bakersfield in mid- state in the union, producing almost December. 560,000 barrels per day, according to the Ensign told the Calgary Herald news- US Energy Information Administration. paper subsequently: “We are not exiting Oil fields in the Los Angeles Basin and California. Just looking at the low oil price around Bakersfield in Kern County were environment we’re in, we’re anticipating once among the largest and most pro- there will be less demand for drilling serv- ductive in the United States. ices in the future, hopefully not, but we But the state’s output has been steadi- don’t know.” ly declining since 1986. Unlike other “If there is a possibility (of layoffs), major producing states such as Texas, under California law, we have to put them North Dakota and Oklahoma, the shale on notice that a number of people could revolution has bypassed the state. be affected,” the company said (“Ensign MOSCOW: Panelists, from left: Former Russian Finance Minister Alexei Kudrin, Russian economist and Deputy Premier Olga Golodets, Russian California’s very mature fields pro- source confirms warning of possible lay- Economic Development Minister Alexei Ulyukayev, Russian Finance Minister Anton Siluanov, Sberbank head German Gref, Danone Group CEO duced 3 billion barrels of water and just offs in California” Jan 2). Emmanuel Faber and Harvard University Prof. Kenneth Rogoff attend the Gaidar Forum in Moscow, Russia, yesterday. Russia faces its worst economic 200 million barrels of oil in 2012 - 15 bar- The state’s fields are all conventional downturn in 15 years. — AP rels of water for every barrel of oil - rather than shale plays and mostly very according to state regulators. old so decline rates are slow. Production Most of the oil is heavy and viscous. did not surge in 2010-2014 and for the Russia’s financial crisis may More than half of state production, same reason it is unlikely to collapse now including big fields like Kern River, even if drilling rates decline. The drilling Belridge and Midway-Sunset, has an API slowdown will not contribute much to bury Putin’s Eurasian dream gravity of 20 degrees or less. the rebalancing of the global oil market. In 2009, California operators had to But the price collapse has killed off inject 500 million barrels of steam and plans to frack in the state’s giant Monterey ‘Russia accounts 19% of Ukraine’s export’ almost 1.4 billion barrels of water into shale formation. It illustrates the intense declining fields to maintain pressure and financial squeeze on all high-cost low pro- MINSK/ALMATY/TBILISI: Growing damage from For Central Asia’s Kyrgyzstan, one of the former working conditions. improve flow to produce just 230 million ductivity producers across North America Russia’s financial crisis on neighbouring former Soviet Soviet Union’s poorest countries which is due to “(This) will lead to an increase of cash remittances barrels of oil. as prices tumble. — Reuters states could bury President Vladimir Putin’s dream of accede to the bloc in May, business could not be by our workers,” said Asel Sultanaliyeva, economist at creating an economic union to rival the United States worse for many after its som currency depreciated by the Kyrgyz national bank’s balance of payments and and European Union. 19.7 percent last year against the dollar. external debt division. Many in neighbouring oil pro- From Belarus on the European Union’s fringe to The official rate stood at 59.90 to the dollar yester- ducer Kazakhstan took advantage of the plunging Kazakhstan on the border with China, some of those day, but exchange booths were buying the U.S. cur- rouble to buy up television sets and cars across the once firmly in Moscow’s grip are now questioning rency at 60.00-60.50 soms. “I don’t understand this - border. But as the shopping spree subsided, many are whether Russia has what it takes to lead. maybe it’s the wrong season or people have no spare now watching the tenge currency. While some, such as Belarus, have been forced by cash, spending all the money they have to buy dol- Murat, a Kazakh businessman who invests in grain the economic blowback from Russia to devalue their lars,” said Nuriya, a 43-year-old seller of women’s farming, said he did not hold even $100 in tenge currencies, others, such as Azerbaijan, are spending clothes in the capital Bishkek. Kyrgyzstan, like many cash. Many analysts expect a devaluation soon and millions of dollars to keep exchange rates steady. former Soviet republics, also relies on worker remit- suggest the central bank is propping up the currency Officially, the heads of the neighbouring states are tances for about 30 percent of its gross domestic by using reserves. Official data showed reverses grew sympathetic to Russia’s plight and several outwardly product and more than 1 million of its citizens work to $28 billion on Dec. 31 from $27.9 billion on Nov. 30. back Putin’s Eurasian Economic Union (EEU), which he abroad, mainly in Russia. Worker remittances grew to “If you have a big neighbour and a trade partner hoped could recoup the potential lost when the $1.943 billion in January-October last year from whose currency is sharply depreciated while you wish Soviet empire collapsed more than two decades ago. $1.874 billion in the same period of 2013, central to protect your currency and not to devalue it, the But the Russian rouble’s more than 40 percent fall bank data showed. It is unclear what effect the col- only way to do so is to build a safe and solid new against the dollar in 2014 and its continued weakness lapse of the rouble will have on full-year remittances Great Wall of China,” said Oraz Jandosov, a former this year has loosened some tongues, most notably but some hope joining the EEU will mean better head of Kazakhstan’s central bank. — Reuters that of President Alexander Lukashenko in Belarus, which briefly imposed a 30 percent tax on buying for- eign currency to prevent a run on dollars. Futures lower on global growth, It has now lowered the tax to 10 percent for com- panies and scrapped it for individuals. “The task has JPMorgan falls in premarket been set - to trade not in roubles but in dollars ... With BEIJING: A woman walks past the stand of Saga Fur during the 2015 China Fur and Leather Russia, we should have long ago worked with and NEW YORK: US stock index futures fell yesterday, US stocks ended lower on Tuesday in a volatile Products Fair in Beijing yesterday. The China Fur and Leather Products Fair is being held at demanded that they should pay us in hard currency,” putting equities on track to extend their three-day session, weighed by the energy and materials sec- China’s National Convention Center in Beijing from January 13 to January 16. — AFP Lukashenko said in December. losing streak, as global demand worries continue to tors to give the benchmark S&P index its third He later criticised Russia’s “stupid and brainless” put pressure on commodities such as oil and cop- straight decline and eighth drop in 10 sessions. The curbs on the transit of meat products from Belarus, a per. Copper prices touched their lowest level since S&P is down 3.2 percent from its last record high on European stocks slide as move intended to stop attempts to sell banned July 2009 and were last down 5.1 percent at Dec. 29. Economic data expected on Wednesday Western produce in Russia. Russia curbed imports in $5,353.25 a tonne after the World Bank cut its global includes December retail sales and import prices at retaliation for US and EU sanctions over Ukraine. forecast for economic growth in 2015 and next year. 8:30 a.m. (1330 GMT), with business inventories deflation fears persist While much of Lukashenko’s bluster is aimed at a Shares of Freeport McMoRan lost 4.4 percent to scheduled for 10 a.m. local electorate that has seen the Belarussian rouble $20.11 before the opening bell. Tesla shares dropped 7.7 percent to $188.62 LONDON: Europe’s leading stock markets fell politicians and academics who charged the fall 25 percent against the dollar since mid-December, Brent crude fell to a low of $45.59 before bounc- before the opening bell after Chief Executive Officer sharply in early trading yesterday as deflation ECB was over-stepping its powers. trade restrictions and demands to use foreign curren- ing back to trade up 0.2 percent to $46.66, while Elon Musk said the company might not be prof- worries sweep across the region, while tum- “The reason why this ruling was so impor- cy strike at the heart of the EEU, which offers free U.S. crude was down 0.2 percent at $$45.82 after itable until 2020. The drop in oil and copper also bling commodity prices sent mining and oil tant was because of the implications it could movement of labour and trade. falling as low as $45.01. The Energy Information weighed on Asian and European shares, although share prices crashing. have had for QE (stimulus), which the ECB is Administration’s oil inventory report is due at 10:30 the latter managed to pare losses after an advisor to In morning deals, London’s FTSE 100 index expected to announce next week,” said Craig ‘Really happy’ a.m. (1530 GMT). Adding to pressure were shares of Europe’s top court said an ECB bond-buying pro- slumped 1.60 percent to 6,437.95 points com- Erlam, market analyst at Alpari trading group. The Kremlin saw Ukraine, the third biggest econo- JPMorgan, which fell 1.3 percent to $58.10 after the gram was legal under some conditions. pared with Tuesday’s close, as shares in min- “Stock markets seem to be torn a bit at the my behind Kazakhstan and Russia in the biggest U.S. bank by assets reported a 6.6 percent Futures snapshot at 7:18: S&P 500 e-minis were ing group collapsed after copper prices moment between anticipation that the ECB Commonwealth of Independent States, a loose group- drop in quarterly profit. Earnings from Wells Fargo down 7 points, or 0.35 percent, with 238,475 con- slumped to near six-year low points. Crude will implement some form of QE as early as ing of 11 former Soviet republics, as a vital member of are also expected yesterday. tracts changing hands. Nasdaq 100 e-minis were futures are also stuck around the lowest levels their next meeting on the 22nd January and the new union. But after Crimea was annexed by Fourth-quarter earnings are expected to show down 10.75 points, or 0.26 percent, in volume of since 2009. increasing global growth concerns which Russia in March last year and Moscow supported sep- growth of 3.7 percent from a year earlier, according 49,630 contracts. Dow e-minis were down 69 Frankfurt’s DAX 30 meanwhile shed 0.82 explains the heightened intra-day volatility aratists in eastern Ukraine, the country’s central bank to Thomson Reuters data, down from the 11.2 per- points, or 0.39 percent, with 47,402 contracts percent to 9,859.33 points and the CAC 40 in seen over the past few days,” said Markus chief, Valeriia Gontareva, summed up Kiev’s position cent growth expected on Oct. 1. changing hands. — Reuters Paris slid 1.0 percent in value to 4,247.11. Huber, senior analyst at broke Peregrine & towards Moscow. Meanwhile the rate of return on 10-year Black. “As a person I am really happy about what’s hap- French government bonds fell to a record low The World Bank cut Tuesday its global pening with the Russian rouble,” she said in December. level in the wake of weak inflation data and as growth forecast for this year to 3.0 percent “But as a central bank head it can’t make me happy, as expectations mount that the European from 3.4 percent. For developing countries Russia remains an important trade partner.” Central Bank will unveil more stimulus at its which have been the biggest contributors to Russia accounted for 19 percent of Ukraine’s policy meeting next week. global growth in recent years, the World Bank exports and 25 percent of its imports in the first nine European Central Bank president Mario cut its 2015 forecast by 0.6 percentage points months of 2014, official data show. The hryvnia fell Draghi on Wednesday said it does not have to 4.8 percent. about 50 percent against the dollar last year. many options left apart from sovereign bond “With little respite for investors amid defla- Few if any of Russia’s former Soviet neighbours can purchases to ward off deflation in the euro tion concerns and the World Bank lowering its escape the impact of its crisis, deepened by oil prices area. One possible problem for an ECB stimu- outlook for the growth prospects of the glob- plunging to almost six-year lows, and the pain may lus programme of a large-scale buying of al economy the volatility of late is set to con- encourage some to think more independently. government bonds known as quantitative tinue,” said Andy McLevey, head of dealing at Oil-producing Azerbaijan, which sold nearly $1.13 easing or “QE” was removed yesterday. stockbroker Interactive Investor. billion to support its manat currency in December, has A senior lawyer at the EU’s top court found And Britain too faces the threat of nega- shown no interest in joining Putin’s Union and that a hugely controversial earlier bond-buy- tive inflation, dampening the prospect of the Georgia, also in the South Caucasus, says the turmoil ing programme readied by the European Bank of England raising its record-low interest in Russia should cement its Western-leaning policies. Central Bank is legal. Advocate General Cruz rates this year. There also seem to be few benefits for Armenia, LOS ANGELES: This August 8, 2014 file photo shows a JPMorgan sign outside the office tower Villalon at the European Court of Justice said The euro slid on the rising expectations the EEU’s newest member, with Anush Sedrakyan, housing the financial services firm’s Los Angeles, California offices. JPMorgan Chase yesterday in an opinion that the programme was “in that the ECB would pump more money into vice-chair for the opposition Free Democrats Party, reported a dip in fourth-quarter earnings as hefty legal expenses once again weighed on principle” in accordance with European the economy, dropping to $1.1736 to from saying the country received no subsidies, “neither results. — AFP treaties, after a legal challenge by German $1.177 late on Tuesday. — AFP financial nor political benefits”. BUSINESS THURSDAY, JANUARY 15, 2015

Congress moves toward easing bank, Wall Street rules

WASHINGTON: The US House of Representatives ance with a new banking rule. being whisked through the House in the first days week ago - only the second day of the new is moving toward softening a post-crisis law that In debate Tuesday night in a nearly empty of the new Congress without the chance for dis- Congress - but failed under fast-track rules that brought the strictest rules for banks and Wall House chamber, Democratic lawmakers cussion or changes at the level of congressional required a two-thirds vote. This time it’s likely to Street since the 1930s, more than six years after denounced the move as a giveaway to the largest committees. The Democrats were blocked late pass under rules that require a simple majority. the financial crisis struck. U.S. banks, which hold the bulk of the securities in Monday from bringing about a dozen amend- Republicans in the House have been trying for Under a veto threat from the White House, the question. Rep. Maxine Waters of California, senior ments to a vote on the floor. years to chip away at the Dodd-Frank law, which bill pushed by the newly bulked-up Republican Democrat on the House Financial Services Republicans insisted that because most of the Congress enacted with mostly Democratic sup- majority came under discussion in the House on Committee, called it “this gift to a handful of the provisions of the bill already had been voted on port to tighten regulation with an eye to prevent- Tuesday for the second time in less than a week. biggest Wall Street banks.” by the House in the last Congress as separate ing another crisis. Republicans have denounced This time it’s likely to pass, with a vote expected The bill’s author, Rep. Michael Fitzpatrick insist- measures, ample opportunity was provided to the law as an excessive expansion of regulatory Wednesday that would advance a Republican pri- ed it makes “smart, technical reforms.” It would consider them. The bill would revise the so-called authority that’s stifling the competitiveness of the ority. The bill would alter sections of the 2010 have the effect of “reining in out-of-control Volcker rule, a key part of the financial overhaul financial industry. Dodd-Frank financial overhaul. Most notably, it Washington regulators” and helping small busi- law, which would limit banks’ riskiest trading bets. As passage appeared closer, the Obama White would give U.S. banks two extra years - until 2019 nesses create jobs by reducing their compliance That kind of risk-taking on Wall Street helped trig- House issued a veto threat Monday, saying the - to ensure that their holdings of certain complex burden, Fitzpatrick said. ger the 2008 crisis. bill “would weaken and undermine” the Dodd- and risky securities don’t put them out of compli- The Democrats also objected to the measure The bill won a 276-146 majority in the House a Frank law. — AP

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Tata wins central bank approval to buy DoCoMo stake in India

MUMBAI: India’s central bank has DoCoMo originally paid for the invest- fair commitment in the contracts in rela- er in India has been losing money in a per share - half the price DoCoMo had allowed conglomerate Tata Sons Ltd to ment. The RBI has requested for the tion to an investment and a downside hugely crowded market for years. paid in 2009. buy Japanese telecom firm NTT DoCoMo finance ministry’s view. protection of an investment, rather than Under the original deal signed in Pricewaterhouse & Co LLP, engaged Inc’s stake in their struggling Indian ven- The RBI approval, also confirmed by a assured return,” the central bank said in 2009, when DoCoMo invested $2.2 bil- by Tata Sons, had determined the fair val- ture, paving the way for the completion source directly involved in the process, is the memo. “Besides, our strategic rela- lion in the mobile carrier, in the event of ue of the shares at 23.34 rupees a share. of the long-delayed $1.1 billion deal. part of the government’s bid to simplify tionship with Japan in recent times in an exit it would get the higher of either A senior policymaker directly involved in In a memo to the finance ministry dat- and scrap some of the more obscure relation to FDI (foreign direct investment) half the original investment or a fair val- the approval process said the central ed Dec. 22 seen by Reuters, the Reserve rules that have curbed foreign invest- flows is also a matter to be kept in view,” ue. Tata Sons told the central bank in bank would keep reviewing rules that Bank of India (RBI) said it was “inclined to ment. A rule change brought in last year it said. November that it had been unable to make it hard for foreign firms to recover accept” the proposal from Tata to buy prevented foreign investors from selling DoCoMo said in July last year that it find a buyer for the DoCoMo stake, and their investments, and hold back outside DoCoMo’s stake of around 26 percent in stakes in Indian firms at a pre-deter- would sell its stake in Tata Teleservices. sought the regulator’s approval to pur- investors. “We cannot be stuck with one Tata Teleservices Ltd at half the price mined price. “The larger issue here is of a The seventh-biggest mobile phone carri- chase the stake itself at 58.045 rupees policy forever,” he said. — Reuters Asia markets hurt as oil extends losses, yen rises

HONG KONG: Oil prices fell further yester- Nowotny, a governor of the Austrian central day, heading to six-year lows, while crude’s bank and a member of the ECB governing weakness continues to test investor confi- council, highlighted the need for policy mak- dence, pushing the yen up and weighing on ers to tackle the threat of deflation. Asian equities. “It is important that one takes deflation The euro edged up against the dollar after risks seriously and addresses them,” Nowotny diving Tuesday on comments from a key said, according to Bloomberg News, adding member of the European Central Bank that that the bank was weighing several stimulus fanned expectations it will unveil a bond-buy- measures. “We shouldn’t wait too long with a ing scheme at its policy meeting next week. reaction.” Analysts said the remarks were a On oil markets US benchmark West Texas sign the ECB may act when it meets on Intermediate for February was down 58 cents January 22, in part because Nowotny is not at $45.31, a level not seen since March 2009, known for being particularly interventionist. and Brent slipped 54 cents to $46.05, its low- ECB President Mario Draghi warned, how- est since April 2009. ever, that the central bank does not have Both contracts were hammered Tuesday many options left if it wants to ease monetary after two members of OPEC said the cartel conditions in the single currency area still fur- could not prevent prices from plunging fur- ther to ward off deflation. ther, despite losing more than 50 percent Gold, meanwhile, was $1,228.48 an ounce, since June. Ministers from the United Arab compared with $1,238.84 on Tuesday. Emirates and Kuwait also said prices could In other markets: drop further unless there was a cut in boom- Mumbai fell 0.29 percent, or 78.91 points, ing shale oil output in the United States. to end at 27,346.82 points. Sesa Sterlite slid Analysts say richer cartel members-such as 7.63 percent to 188.85 rupees, while the UAE and Saudi Arabia-have been ready to Hindustan Unilever gained 4.21 percent to accept falls in the hope they will force higher- 921.95 rupees. cost shale producers out of the market. Bangkok fell 0.76 percent, or 11.73 points, The weak prices have hit buying senti- to 1,523.24. Pruksa Real Estate slipped 4.00 ment for global equities, with the Dow, S&P percent to 30.00 baht, while Bangchak 500 and Nasdaq all sinking in New York. Petroleum dropped 2.31 percent to 31.75 TOKYO: Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe (C) shares a light moment with Economic Revitalization Minister Akira Amari (L) and Finance Tokyo tumbled 1.71 percent, or 291.75 baht. Minister Taro Aso (R) during a cabinet meeting at his official residence in Tokyo yesterday. Japan approved the largest-ever defence budget for points, to finish at 16,795.96, while Sydney Malaysia’s main stock index dropped 0.39 the next fiscal year, as hawkish Prime Minister Shinzo Abeeyes to strengthen the surveillance of territorial waters in face of the growingly sank 0.95 percent, or 51.1 points, to 5,353.6 percent, or 6.89 points, to end at 1,742.01. aggressive giant neighbour, China. — AFP and Seoul fell 0.18 percent, or 3.48 points, to AMMB Holdings shed 0.62 percent to close at 1,913.66. Shanghai-which surged more than 6.41 ringgit while Malayan Banking lost 2.67 50 percent last year on hopes for government percent to 8.39. British American Tobacco measures to boost the economy-fell 0.40 per- went up by 4.13 percent to 67.50 ringgit. Japan approves record $814 cent, or 12.86 points, to end at 3,222.44, while Jakarta closed down 1.05 percent, or Hong Kong slipped 0.43 percent, or 103.37 54.69 points, at 5,159.67. Bank Permata rose points, to 24.112.60. 0.66 percent to 1,520 rupiah while palm oil billion budget after tax hike producer Astra Agro Lestari fell 3.86 percent ECB stimulus talk to 24,900 rupiah. On currency markets a flight to safer Singapore closed down 0.45 percent, or Approves biggest ever defence budget investments saw the yen advance. The dollar 14.91 points, at 3,326.16. OCBC Bank fell 1.53 was at 117.14 yen Wednesday, down from percent to Sg$10.28 while Oil rig maker TOKYO: Japan’s Cabinet approved a record 96.3 corporate income taxes by 2.5 percentage points est allocation previously was 4.96 trillion yen 117.90 yen in New York and well off rates Keppel Corp closed down 0.86 percent to trillion yen ($814 billion) government budget for in the fiscal year that begins April 1, to 32.11 per- earmarked in 2002. above 118 yen seen in Tokyo earlier Tuesday. Sg$8.10. the coming fiscal year yesterday after a tax hike cent. Further cuts are planned. The trend reflects Abe’s wish to build a more The euro was at 138.35 yen compared with Taipei shed 0.56 percent, or 51.57 points, to accommodate rising outlays for social security The government is also tweaking tax rules to active military, a push supporters say is in 138.84 yen in US trade. to 9180.23. Taiwan Semiconductor and defense. encourage elderly Japanese, who hold about 60 response to the raising of tensions with China, “The drop in oil prices is quite severe, so Manufacturing Co. fell 1.89 percent to Rising revenues following the sales tax percent of the country’s 1.6 quadrillion yen with which Tokyo is at odds over the ownership whenever there’s some weakness in oil we Tw$130.0 while smartphone maker HTC rose increase last April enabled Prime Minister Shinzo ($13.6 trillion) in private savings, to spend more of islands in the East China Sea. Japan is increas- tend to see risk aversion,” Hiroichi Nishi, an 1.02 percent to Tw$149.0. Abe to raise spending without increasing the on their children and grandchildren. ingly wary of Beijing, which is seen by several equities manager at SMBC Nikko Securities Wellington added 0.21 percent, or 12.02 proportion financed by new government bonds, The increase in revenues thanks to the April 1, countries in the region as becoming aggressive Inc. in Tokyo, told Bloomberg News. points, to 5,648.63. Genesis Energy was up though the total national debt is still about 2014 increase in the national sales tax to 8 per- over various sovereignty claims. “It’s also heightening concerns of a nega- 1.44 percent at NZ$2.12 and Air New Zealand twice the size of the economy. cent from 5 percent has enabled the govern- But detractors point to Abe’s desire to bolster tive influence on materials and infrastructure- was flat on NZ$2.62. Abe’s government must tread a fine line ment to slightly reduce the share of the budget the military more generally, and to shrug off the related industries in the US, which would low- Manila surged 1.24 percent, or 91.88 between spending enough to support growth funded by issuing new bonds, to about 38 per- shackles of pacifism. China responded cautious- er inflation and push out the timing of a pos- points, to 7,490.88. Universal Robina added and slowing the rise in debt, which is the high- cent from over 40 percent. ly to the announcement, urging Tokyo to pay sible interest-rate hike.” 1.88 percent to 200.40 pesos and SM est, proportionately, among industrialized coun- An economic recovery would further improve heed to the past. “Japan’s moves in its military The euro edged up against the dollar, buy- Investments advanced 2.64 percent to 873.50 tries. national finances, but a decision to put off a sec- and security policies have long drawn the atten- ing $1.1800 against $1.1777 in US trade. The pesos, while Ayala Land ended 2.05 percent Passage of the budget approved yesterday ond sales tax hike planned for October until tion of its Asian neighbours and of the interna- single currency took a hit Tuesday after Ewald higher at 34.85 pesos. —AFP morning is almost certain since the ruling Liberal April 2017 is likely to hinder progress on trim- tional community. They indicate whether or not Democratic Party’s coalition with the small ming total national debt. Japan can follow the path of a peaceful develop- Komeito party has majorities in both houses of ment,” said foreign ministry spokesman Hong Myanmar set to open first parliament. Defence budget Lei. The premier had wanted to alter the consti- As Japan’s population ages quickly, welfare Japan also approved its largest-ever defence tution to reduce restrictions on the armed stock exchange by October costs are soaring. Social security spending will budget for the next fiscal year, as hawkish Prime forces, but was unable to muster sufficient pub- account for about a third of the budget. The Minister Shinzo Abe looks to strengthen surveil- lic support, and moved instead to reinterpret the YANGON: Myanmar’s deputy finance min- Wednesday. economy is in recession but the government has lance of territorial waters in the face of a contin- relevant clause to allow the military to come to ister has said the country will launch its first The newspaper quoted Maung Maung forecast growth at 1.5 percent this year, after an uing spat with China. the aid of an ally under attack. official stock exchange by October, as the Thein as saying Myanmar was one of only estimated 0.5 percent contraction in 2014. For the year to March 2016, Tokyo will spend “We hope that the Japanese side will emerging economy takes another step nine countries in the world, including To balance his conflicting priorities, Abe is 4.98 trillion yen ($41.97 billion), the government regard history as a mirror and follow the towards opening up after decades of isola- North Korea and Brunei, without a stock increasing outlays targeting families and other said, indicating a budget rise for the third path of a peaceful development and play a tion. exchange. households that are struggling as wages lag straight year. “This is the largest budget ever,” constructive role to promote regional peace Maung Maung Thein said the former “We will be able to exit the list of coun- behind price increases. But he also intends to cut said a defence ministry official, adding the high- and stability.” — Agencies junta-run nation was on track to launch the tries with no stock exchange soon,” he said. bourse in the country’s main commercial Since the end of outright military rule in hub of Yangon. “Our target date is October 2011, Myanmar has moved to liberalise its 2015 at the latest. But it may be earlier,” he economy as part of wider reforms aiming India inflation inches told AFP on Tuesday from the capital to lure international companies as the once Naypyidaw, adding that “no more than five cloistered nation seeks to rebuild its econo- companies” would be listed on the stock my. exchange to begin with. Japanese businesses in particular have up 0.11% in December Myanmar’s central bank signed a joint been active in the country with strong venture agreement with Japan Exchange backing from Tokyo, which has cancelled Group and Daiwa Institute of Research, the billions of dollars of debt and offered mas- NEW DELHI: India’s wholesale inflation rose marginally in December research arm of Daiwa Securities Group, sive aid grants. thanks to a increase in food costs, data showed yesterday, but ana- last month to set up and run the Yangon In 1996, Daiwa and the central bank set lysts said hopes were still high of an interest rate cut next month. Stock Exchange following years of discus- up the Myanmar Securities Exchange The Wholesale Price Index (WPI), India’s inflation measure with the sions. Centre, which allows over-the-counter sales biggest basket of goods, rose a lower-than-expected 0.11 percent Myanma Economic Bank will own the of shares in two firms, a Myanmar timber from a year earlier as food prices ended their six-month drop. controlling 51 percent-stake in the Yangon company and bank. But the planned The figure, which was below analyst forecasts of about 0.4 per- Stock Exchange Joint-Venture Company bourse would be Myanmar’s first official cent, compares with zero percent recorded in November-the lowest with the remainder divided between the stock exchange, which will be located in rate since July 2009. Analysts say Reserve Bank of India (RBI) gover- Japanese partners, the state-backed Global the former central bank building in down- nor Raghuram Rajan’s aggressive policies to curb price rises, which New Light of Myanmar reported town Yangon. —AFP hit hard millions of poor, appear to be paying off overall. The sharp fall in global crude oil prices has also recently helped keep inflation in check in India, which imports most of its fuel. “Another very favourable reading for the WPI in December has rein- forced the case for the RBI to begin a monetary policy easing cycle soon,” said Rajiv Biswas, Asia-Pacific Chief Economist for IHS. A hopeful Siddharth Roy, economic advisor to vehicle-to-steel giant Tata Group, said “the RBI should not wait any longer” to cut rates. Business has been clamouring for a reduction in borrowing costs to boost investment and stimulate the faltering economy, which has been mired in the biggest slowdown since the 1980s. Expectations of a cut dwindled a little on Monday when figures showed consumer inflation rose for the first time in five months, to 5.0 percent. But promising figures for the economy released simulta- neously showed a growth in monthly industrial output, reversing a sharp fall. The RBI has resisted calls to loosen rates, insisting on first winning the battle against high prices. “The message I have been sending is that we don’t want to flip-flop back and forth. That’s not how a cen- tral bank operates,” Rajan said late last month. The RBI, which will review its monetary policy on February 3, has YANGON: People walk past a building in downtown Yangon where Myanmar’s gov- not cut rates since May 2013. India’s economy grew 4.7 percent last ernment hopes to locate the country’s first stock exchange, in Yangon yesterday. year and the RBI expects it to expand 5.5 percent this year-far below HYDERABAD: Indian Bollywood actress Tamannaah Bhatia poses with the Myanmar plans to open the stock exchange in October, as the emerging economy the near double-digit growth needed to generate employment for newly-launched Celkon Octa-Core 510 mobile phone at a press conference takes another step towards opening up after decades of isolation. — AFP tens of millions of new entrants to the job market. —AFP in Hyderabad yesterday. The phone retails for 8,999 rupees ($145). — AFP THURSDAY, JANUARY 15, 2015 BUSINESS

Thinking business analytics - Here’s what you need to address

By Jyoti Lalchandani Group come with embedded analytics so as to the LoB heads who brought up the issue ics, data quality is a critical factor that provide reports on the data that is being of business analytics even before IT. can impact the type of value the organi- ver the past few years, IT invest- captured or generated. And while there Marketing departments, for example, zation will ultimately see. Resolving data ment in the Middle East has led are a wide range of solutions available in are particularly interested in customer quality is crucial given that various sys- Oto a massive enterprise infra- the market, there are a number of analytics in order to help improve their tems may be capturing data differently; structure sprawl. This has been accom- aspects that CIOs must address if they product/service positioning. there may be multiple iterations of the panied by spending on applications are to ensure a successful and - more Another important step is to secure data, and IT may not know all the factors aimed at streamlining business process- importantly- useful business analytics agreement on the key performance indi- that are being taken into account while es and, crucially, the digitization of infor- deployment. cators (KPIs).IT needs to work with the creating Excel reports. IT heads will have mation. The inevitable byproduct of all business heads to define the relevant to work closely with business leaders to this has been increased complexities The Business Aspect KPIs, and this should be done from the better understand this aspect. around IT management as organizations The first priority is to justify the use time of project initiation so as to ensure IT will also need to work with busi- across the region are now generating case. When it comes to implementing that the correct data is being filtered out ness on the issue of data governance - huge amounts of data. Indeed, nearly business analytics solutions, it is not sim- and recycled for reporting purposes. defining data assets, standardizing the 69% of all Middle East CIOs expect data ply a case of IT deploying the solution Given the amount of unstructured data way data is captured, and determining growth to be in the 20-30% range over and expecting the organization to use it floating around organizations, ad-hoc exactly what data can and cannot be the next 12 months, the majority of it to aid decision making; executive buy-in requests are inevitable, but it will always accessed. There needs to be cross-func- largely unstructured1. Making sense of is required from senior management. be more efficient to have the relevant tional ownership of this data, with all this massive amount of data and using This will help develop a clear picture of stakeholders define a set of KPIs so that stakeholders working together to this information to improve decision how the technology can be leveraged to the right data streams can be leveraged. ensure the governance framework is both business and IT when it comes to making, inform strategy, and drive com- gain better and faster insights in a timely The aspect that can really decide managed effectively. This goes hand in business analytics is skills. For IT, you may petitive advantage is becoming increas- manner rather than just generating ad- whether a business analytics solution hand with the issue of data security, as have employees who can deploy the ingly critical for organizations, and this hoc reports and dashboards. This will be successful or not is change man- business analytics solutions gain access solutions, but your teams are not neces- has led to growing interest in business sounds tricky, but the good news is that agement. Once the KPIs have been to a wide variety of data right across the sarily data scientists. And for the busi- analytics investments across the region. at times it will be the executive board agreed upon and the project is about to organization. It is therefore important ness, the issue will be around the fact Middle East CIOs ranked business members themselves that initiate the go live, IT and business need to work that the data being accessed is secure that departments may not have the ana- analytics as the third most important discussion for IT to deploy a BA solution. hand in hand to ensure that the organi- and that any relevant security guidelines lytical skill sets required to effectively transformation technology for their Once this buy-in has been secured it zation is ready to adopt the changes and legislation are adhered to at all leverage the analytical solutions. Finding organizations in 20142, but what exactly is important to gain support from the they are about to experience. Educating times. The biggest technology aspect the required skills for new technologies is business analytics? At IDC we define various lines of business (LoB) across the users on how to use the data and that IT needs to address is data integra- is a persistent challenge across the business analytics as being software organization. While the executive board reports is critical, and some employees tion, ensuring that data is being proper- Middle East, and companies need to tools and application markets, with the may seek financial metrics, the LoB man- will inevitably need a certain amount of ly integrated into the relevant business either invest heavily in training or seek to functionality to aggregate, manage, agers will be more interested in how basic skills training. They will also need analytics systems given the various ensure that the majority of their business organize, analyze, access, and deliver they can leverage the data that is most to be fully on board with the fact that application silos in existence across the analytics processes are automated. structured and unstructured data; this relevant to their particular teams. decision making within the organization organization. It is also important to keep The columnist is group vice president includes business intelligence tools, per- Gaining this LoB backing is crucial as it is about to change. in mind that not all data is created equal and regional managing director for the formance management and analytics will help justify the business use case and that certain applications may create Middle East, Africa, and Turkey at global applications and data warehousing plat- and budget, and we have even seen The technology aspect more data volume than others. ICT market intelligence and advisory firm forms. Many business applications now examples of organizations where it was When implementing business analyt- The one aspect that is common to International Data Corporation (IDC). AMG to showoff Ford, Lincoln line up at 360 Mall’s Auto Moto 2015

KUWAIT: Arabian Motors Group (AMG), the With the new power plant, Expedition Ford and Lincoln importer-dealer in Kuwait will be among the full-size SUV leaders for will showcase the latest Ford and Lincoln capability, generating an impressive 365 products at the upcoming Auto Moto show horsepower and 420 lb.-ft. of torque. Add taking place next weekat the 360 MALL. best-in-class maximum cargo space for the Ford and Lincoln models will be dis- extended-length version and available played in two separate stands at the mall, best-in-class towing of up to 9,200 pounds while offering visitors the chance to experi- when properly equipped, and customers ence the drive via test-drives at dedicated will find a truly useful utility vehicle. spots in the Mall’s parking lot. “We are truly excited to present our Ford F-150 2015 lineup to our customers in Kuwait,” The all-new 2015 Ford F-150 is the rein- said Ian Partridge AMG’s Group Sales vention of America’s favorite truck. It is the Operations manager. “Show visitors will be toughest, smartest and most capable F-150 delighted when they see the 2015 models ever - setting the standard for the future of Faisal Al-Hamad Amjad Ahmad Nabil Maroof of nameplates they have grown to love, like trucks. The all-new F-150 delivers an the iconic all-new 2015 Ford Mustang impressive combination of power, capabili- along with the all new F150 as well asthe ty and efficiency - from advanced materials newly refreshed 2015 Lincoln Navigator that improve durability and inhibit corro- NBK Capital appoints and the first-ever Lincoln MKC. sion, to faster processors that enhance driv- “We carefully chose the vehicles on dis- ing performance, to breakthrough cargo play to demonstrate the wide variety of our management and towing solutions. offering to the public,” he A range of four engines provides more Faisal Al-Hamad as CEO added.”Complementing the superb line up power to meet almost any customer need. is an excellent opportunity for our cus- A new 2.7-liter EcoBoost with standard tomers to test drive the models on the Auto Start-Stop and a 3.5-liter V6 engine KUWAIT: NBK Capital announced the appoint- anMBA from Harvard Business School and a BA ed NBK Capital Partners. Amjad Ahmad, Senior spot.” with twin independent variable camshaft ment of Faisal Abdullatif Al-Hamad as the new from the University of Chicago. Managing Director and Head of Alternative Leading the Fordcharge are the 2015 timing join the proven 3.5-liter EcoBoost Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of the company. Faisal Al-Hamad commented, “I am excited Investments at NBK Capital, is appointed as the models Ford Mustang, Ford Fusion, Ford and 5.0-liter Ti-VCT V8. The 2.7-liter His appointment follows the move of his prede- about the opportunity to lead a phenomenal Chief Executive Officer of NBK Capital Partners. Expedition and the all-new Ford F-150 - EcoBoost engine features a lightweight, cessor, Salah Al-Fulaij, to the position of CEO of team at NBK Capital and look forward to build- This reorganization of the Alternative which just walked away with the ultimate compact design to deliver the same power NBK - Kuwait. ing upon our past successes as we approach our Investments Group reflects the firm’s ongoing crown of the North American Truck of The as some mid-range V8s. Nabil Nayef Maroof, Senior Managing 10th anniversary this year.” Adding, “NBK Capital efforts to foster future growth of investment Year earlier this week at NAIAS in Detroit. Director of Asset Management at NBK Capital, is will continue to implement its current set strate- opportunities in the region. All four models show the advance tech- Ford Fusion also appointed of as Deputy Chief Executive gy and strengthen its position as a leading NBK Capital will continue to provide Asset nologies developed by Ford Motor Ford Fusion is a game-changer on all Officer of the firm. investment firm in the region.” Management, Brokerage & Research and Company from engine choices to driver- fronts thanks to its rich array of unexpected Al-Hamad has been with NBK Capital since In addition to the management changes at Investment Banking services. NBK Capital assist and safety features and technologies features and segment-first or even seg- 2007 and was most recently the Managing NBK Capital, the Alternative Investments Group Partners, based in Dubai, manages private equi- such as the widely acclaimed EcoBoost(r) ment-exclusive technologies that truly Director of Brokerage & Research. Faisal holds will be separated into a new entity and rebrand- ty and mezzanine funds in the MENA region. engine, Lane Keeping System, Adaptive make it stand out from the rest. We are con- Cruise Control, Active Park Assist, Blind fident it will witness the same level of Spot Information System with Cross-Traffic response here as it does globally. Alert, SYNC(r)with MyFordTouch(r)and The Fusion mid-size sedan offers an many more. unprecedented portfolio of segment lead- ing driver assistance and convenience tech- Ford Mustang nologies based on sensors, cameras and Loaded with innovative technologies radar that enable the car to see and and delivering high levels of performance respond. In the Lincoln stable, two strong and style, the all-new Mustang is the next contenders in the luxury utility vehicle seg- chapter in the life of one of the world’s ment take center-stage, the full-size Lincoln most iconic cars. The Mustang is the first Navigator and the compact, first-ever car to offer four-, six- and eight-cylinder Lincoln MKC. Both vehicles exhibit what engines that each produces at least 300 luxury vehicles should be - enhanced driv- horsepower. With more powertrain options ing dynamics, innovative technologies and to choose from, there is a Mustang to fit safety features, refined elegance in both any lifestyle. The 3.7-liter V6 and upgraded interior and exterior design and utmost 5.0-liter V8 are joined by an all-new 2.3-liter comfort. EcoBoost(r) engine that brings state-of-the- art technology to Mustang. Lincoln MKC The clean-sheet design of both Mustang The all-new Lincoln MKC is a unique cre- fastback and convertible evokes the essen- ation from the ground up with an assort- tial character of the brand, retaining key ment of first-in-class features. Its all-new design elements - including the long 2.3-liter EcoBoost engine offers excellent sculpted hood and short rear deck - with performance while its ingeniously imple- contemporary execution. mented wraparound liftgate is an example of masterful customer convenience. Ford Expedition The luxurious interior embraces driver The 2015 Expedition arrives with a and passengers alike, and its new and inno- refreshed new look, an EcoBoost(r) Twin vative technology personalizes the MKC Guinness book of records certifies Turbo engine with a quieter cabin and ownership experience. Lincoln MKC follows more technology than previous-generation the MKZ sedan to become the second all- vehicles. It will be the latest Ford name- new Lincoln in as many years as the brand ‘Dubai celebration chain’ as plate to offer a high-end Platinum series. continues its reinvention. world’s longest handmade chain

DUBAI: Joyalukkas has helped manufacture the pieces of this inspiring memento available to 5 kilos - 2 winners). world’s longest handmade gold chain which purchase, hence would urge UAE residents and “Joyalukkas Group is proud to be associated was officially certified by the esteemed tourists to not miss the opportunity to purchase with historic initiative and I thank our team for Guinness Book of World Records at a public cer- it,” said Joy Alukkas, Chairman & MD, Joyalukkas working tirelessly on making this milestone emony yesterday. The 5.5 km is completely Group. happen, The Dubai Celebration Chain is a once handmade and is an initiative that celebrates Customers purchasing the ‘Dubai in a life time creation and very few people will the 20th edition of DSF and the world beating Celebration Chain’ at Joyalukkas will also get the get the opportunity to own a piece of this,” said spirit of Dubai. The historic memento will now opportunity to win 100 kilos gold. The total win- Mr. John Paul Joy Alukkas, Executive Director, be available to purchase in the form of bracelets ning of 100 kgs gold will be divided as daily, Joyalukkas Group. and 4 different sizes of chains across all weekly and mega prizes. Every variant of the Joyalukkas Jewellery also completely Joyalukkas showrooms. ‘Dubai Celebration Chain’ will entitle buyers to refreshed its jewellery collections to meet the “This is our tribute to the Dubai Shopping raffle coupons to win the 100 kilos gold prize. demands of the shopping festival shoppers. The Festival and the dynamic spirit of Dubai. We The 100 Kilo prize, can be won by shoppers as; collections have been designed in gold, dia- thank the rulers, Dubai Festival & Retail daily prize - 1 kilo gold (one winner), weekly monds, precious stones, polki, pearl & platinum Establishment and Dubai Gold & Jewellery prize - 5 kilos gold (one winner) and a mega by renowned designers around the world based Group for giving us the opportunity to be a part draw wherein 4 winners will take away a total of on the latest trends and customer aspirations in of this historic initiative. There are very limited 40 kilos (20 Kilos - 1 winner, 10 kilos - 1 winner & jewellery. THURSDAY, JANUARY 15, 2015 technology Pentagon learns perils of social media exposure

WASHINGTON: If so-called “cyber jihadists” want to and effective way for the US military to communicate institution that prides itself on its vast security and to its internal networks, something the military has launch another social media attack on America’s mili- with its own personnel and families about everything image of unrivalled global power. devoted vast resources to defending, analysts say. tary, they will have plenty of targets: the US Army alone from on-base social events to power outages. The hackers posted what officials said appeared to “It’s really not that difficult to gain access to some- lists more than 2,000 links to feeds on Facebook, “We are certainly looking at our systems and will be authentic, but unclassified, rosters of current and one else’s social media or e-mail account,” said Michael Twitter, YouTube and other accounts. refine them as needed,” said Warren. Although a review retired top brass, including some private email address- Smith, principal and chief operating officer of Kronos In the wake of Monday’s breach of US Central of the incident was under way, he said, there had been es. They also posted messages, including: “American Advisory, a private intelligence group focused on coun- Command’s Twitter and YouTube feeds by apparent no specific department-wide instructions issued since soldiers, we are coming, watch your back.” terterrorism. Smith said such incidents occurred often sympathizers of the Islamic State militant group, US Monday to strengthen security across social media. Unlike most high-profile accounts, the Twitter feeds at Twitter. officials updated passwords and some distributed tip- The Twitter and YouTube breach is far different than used by Central Command were not “verified,” which In 2013 hackers took control of the Associated Press sheets to help bolster online security. the one in 2008, when malware believed to have been would have added another layer of security and Twitter account and sent a false tweet about explosions But they showed no sign of shifting a social media crafted by a foreign intelligence service infiltrated required harder-to-break government email accounts in the White House that briefly sent US financial mar- strategy that has seen thousands of Facebook, Twitter Central Command’s internal computer systems. That to be set up, officials told Reuters. kets reeling. and other accounts blossom as the world’s most pow- attack was a dramatic illustration of the risks to military Still, it is unclear such steps would have prevented “Hacking a Twitter is about the equivalent of spray- erful military establishes an Internet presence that and defense-related networks critical to US security, the hack, which is being investigated by the FBI and the painting a subway car,” a former senior U.S. intelligence matches the global reach of its forces. and triggered a massive expansion of cyber-defense military. A source familiar with the inquiries said investi- official said. That large online profile carries unique risks for the efforts. gators were examining whether cyber attackers sent Senator Dan Coats, a member of the Senate Select military. “It’s their public face,” said Ben FitzGerald at the “phishing” messages that tricked Central Command Committee on Intelligence, said the incident highlight- Center for a New American Security think tank. “WATCH YOUR BACK” personnel into revealing shared logins and password ed cyber security risks. But he said the solution was bet- “So someone sitting in Baghdad isn’t going to nec- Monday’s hack also did not lead to any theft or dis- information. ter cooperation between the public and private sectors, essarily pick up the nuance that this is a non-military closure of classified information, officials said. But it President Barack Obama said Tuesday’s hack and not retrenchment from social media. network and not a significant hack. So they’re looking delivered a highly symbolic blow by compromising the others show “how much more work we need to do, “If the US military - or State Department, White silly and they’re looking weak.” social media accounts of the military command over- both public and private sector, to strengthen our cyber House, members of Congress - stayed off Twitter, The US Department of Defense has “thousands and seeing sensitive operations in Iraq and Syria during a security.” YouTube and other social media sites because of the thousands” of social media accounts, said Colonel Steve time of conflict. Still, hacking into Central Command’s Twitter feed is vulnerabilities inherent in those services, then the ter- Warren, a Pentagon spokesman. They are seen as a fast It was a reminder of the perils of social media for an far easier - and entirely different - than gaining access rorists win,” Coats said. — Reuters

Facebook ‘likes’ reveal your true personality

MIAMI: A computer program that analyzes researchers said. your Facebook “likes” may be a better The “myPersonality” app also allowed judge of your personality than your closest these users to invite friends and family to friends and family, according to a research. judge the users’ psychological traits by tak- The study in the Proceedings of the ing a short, 10-item personality test. National Academy of Sciences was led by More than 17,000 of the original group researchers at the University of Cambridge were judged by one family member or and Stanford University. friend for the analysis, and more than Through data analysis, computers can 14,000 were judged by two. be a better judge of people’s personalities The study showed that a computer and psychological traits, the authors said. could predict a user’s personality better “In the future, computers could be able to than a co-worker based on just 10 infer our psychological traits and react Facebook “likes,” or those “thumbs-up” indi- accordingly, leading to the emergence of cations that users click on when they see a emotionally-intelligent and socially skilled page or a group with which they agree. machines,” said lead author Wu Youyou, The computer was better than a friend from Cambridge’s Psychometrics Center. or roommate at predicting personality The findings also raise concerns about traits given just 70 Facebook likes; a parent privacy, leading the study authors to call or sibling with 150; and a spouse after 300. for policies that give users full control of The average Facebook user has “liked” their digital footprint. 227 pages, said the study. Co-author TOKYO: A computer monitor shows a feeling of dog during the a mock presentation of Anicall wearable device at the first Wearable Device The study used a sample of 86,220 vol- Michal Kosinski, a researcher at Stanford, Technology Expo. The device will be on sale in March. — AP unteers on Facebook who completed a said machines can sift though lots of data 100-item personality questionnaire using and not get bogged down in a few partic- an app called “myPersonality.” They also ularly memorable moments from a per- gave researchers access to their Facebook son’s life. Apple granted patent “likes.” The subjects’ self-reported personal- “Big Data and machine-learning pro- ity scores showed where they stood in vide accuracy that the human mind has a terms of openness, conscientiousness, hard time achieving, as humans tend to extraversion, agreeableness, and neuroti- give too much weight to one or two exam- ples, or lapse into non-rational ways of for wearable cameras cism-the five major personality traits. Researchers found that a person’s psycho- thinking,” he said. Previous research from logical profile could also be revealed by the University of Cambridge has shown NEW YORK: Apple Inc has been granted a patent JMP Securities analyst Alex Gauna, however, have endorsed the cameras. which pages they “liked.” For instance, lik- that Facebook “likes” could predict a range for a wearable camera that could possibly chal- said it was premature to assume that Apple Intellectual property blog Patently Apple ing “Salvador Dali” or “meditation” would of psychological and demographic charac- lenge action cameras made by GoPro Inc. would soon launch a wearable camera. reported earlier in the day that Apple’s patent, suggest a high degree of openness, the teristics. — AFP The patent, which cites specific weaknesses in “It does not seem to me that launching an which was filed by the company in 2012, incor- GoPro’s cameras, includes details about a camera action camera accessory is the most logical prod- porates some intellectual property from Eastman system that can be mounted on bike helmets or uct extension for Apple to pursue right now,” Kodak Co that the company acquired in scuba masks, Apple said in an application filed Gauna said. November 2013. With Tuesday’s decline, GoPro Smarten up your home with the US Patents and Trademark Office. Apple declined to comment, while GoPro was shares are now down 51 percent since their high (http://1.usa.gov/1wbah95) not immediately available for comment. “I think of $98.47 last October. Still, the stock is up 73 per- Shares of GoPro, whose cameras can be that it will have about the same impact on GoPro cent since its IPO last June. with Apple HomeKit mounted on helmets, surf boards, bikes and dog as the iPhone has had on camera makers and “We look at it as a buying opportunity at JMP, harnesses, fell as much as 15 percent. that impact is that there are fewer cameras sold because what we saw out of the Consumer LAS VEGAS: Apple didn’t attend last week’s its Cortana voice assistant. Of course, if mak- Apple’s newly patented camera system can but the number isn’t zero,” Wedbush Securities Electronics Show at Las Vegas last week is that gadget show but its presence was felt. Many ers of smart-home products enable multiple also be used under water to take pictures and analyst Michael Pachter said. Videos shot with GoPro remains the undisputed leader in the companies have designed “smart” home systems - and some of them plan to - con- record sounds, according to the application. GoPro’s cameras have created a buzz on the action capture device category,” Gauna said. products that integrate with Apple’s sumers won’t have to worry about which A potential entry by the iPhone maker into Internet, attracting millions of views on YouTube. GoPro shares were down 11.8 percent at $50.10, HomeKit, an emerging technology for con- device works with what.) the action camera market could also put pressure Olympic gold medal winning snow boarder while Apple was up 1.37 percent at $110.76 in trolling lights and appliances through a OK. Now you’ll need a HomeKit-capable on privately held Polaroid Corp, which makes the Shaun White and 11-time world champion surfer late-afternnon trading on the Nasdaq on mobile app. There are other efforts to unify product; those will start coming out in a few small and colorful Cube cameras. Kelly Slater are among well-known athletes who Tuesday. — Reuters smart-home devices, but many of them rely months. HomeKit-enabled products certi- on individual partnerships. That approach is fied by Apple will carry a HomeKit logo. slower than simply having everyone use a The easiest way to start is with a common set of tools - in this case, HomeKit. HomeKit power plug, such as ones that iHome, iDevices and Grid Connect soon SO WHAT IS HOMEKIT? plan to sell for $40 to $80 each. Your appli- Think of HomeKit as a way to unify ance hooks into that plug, which then goes smart-home products from different manu- into a regular electric outlet. The HomeKit facturers. Currently, if Acme Co. makes a power plug has a HomeKit-certified chipset light switch, you need to download Acme’s with a wireless connection to get instruc- app to control it remotely. Buy a garage tions from the app. door opener from Widget Inc., and you need Insteon, a maker of more than 200 to use Widget’s app. With HomeKit, compa- automated products including thermo- nies can integrate their apps into a single stats and light bulbs, also plans to sell a software platform that you control from hub to make all of its existing and future your iPhone or iPad. (One note of caution: products compatible with HomeKit. The Companies aren’t required to make rival HomeKit-compatible hub will sell for $150. products work with their apps; although By contrast, it sells a $40 hub that lets you many say they will, it’s best to check before control Insteon devices through an app, you buy.) but it won’t work with HomeKit products from other companies. WHAT’S THE BIG DEAL? Meanwhile, a garage-door opener from HomeKit’s strength is its ability to group Chamberlain and door locks from Schlage products into “rooms,” “zones” and “scenes.” will be enabled for HomeKit from the start, With one tap, you can turn off every with no need for an intermediary power HomeKit product in a room, such as lights plug. Elgato’s Eve home-monitoring system and stereos. You can also do that with a will have sensors to measure air quality, The most affordable Lumia devices to date group of rooms, or zone. You can even use temperature, humidity, air pressure, energy the Siri voice assistant to control your home. and water consumption. Other products to Saying “I feel hot” might prompt Siri to turn come will likely include wireless speakers, Microsoft Lumia 435 and Lumia 532 on the air conditioner and lower the shade lamps and security cameras. As you start for you. adding more HomeKit plugs and HomeKit- DUBAI: Microsoft Corp. announced today the “When we launched the first Lumia devices cloud storage. Tap a “party” scene and the stereo and enabled products, you can define zones and Microsoft Lumia 435 and Lumia 532 smart- over three years ago, we said we were commit- • Easily manage work and personal corre- disco lights could turn on while your regular scenes to tap into HomeKit’s power. phones, the most affordable Lumias to date. ted to bringing devices to as many people and spondence on the fly, with Microsoft Outlook lamps dim. Setting up a “bedtime” scene If you have a third-generation Apple TV Offering the latest Windows Phone 8.1 capabili- price points as possible,” said Jon French, Vice straight out of the box. might involve leaving just the nightlight on, streaming device (released in 2012), you can ties at an incredible price, both Lumia 435 and President Middle East, Microsoft Mobile Devices. • Capture photos quickly and easily with while locking the front door and lowering use Siri to control your home from else- Lumia 532 deliver smartphone experiences that “With the Lumia 435 and Lumia 532, we have Lumia Camera right out of the box, and take, the heat downstairs. where. Otherwise, you need to tap on the help people do more on the go. With many peo- realized our goal of creating the most affordable edit and share great selfies with the front-facing Sure, you can already control a set of app and use Siri only when you’re on your ple looking to upgrade from a feature phone to Lumia devices to date, opening up the opportu- camera and Lumia Selfie app. lights and appliances by attaching them to home wireless network. a smartphone for the first time, Lumia 435 and nity to reach those people who are buying a • Stay up-to-date with the best new features a power strip with an on-off switch, but your Lumia 532 provide a balance of features and smartphone for the very first time. through regular Windows updates too. options are limited to all on or all off. With THE PROMISE power, while also bringing Windows Phone 8.1 Lumia 435 and Lumia 532 deliver competitive Lumia 435 and Lumia 532 will begin rolling HomeKit, you have the option of creating For users of Apple devices, HomeKit will experiences to new price points. hardware alongside innovative software that will out to key markets in January. Both devices will multiple combinations to match whatever be an easy way to automate your home. Lumia 435 is the first 400 series Lumia and continue to receive the very latest updates and be available in bright green, bright orange, ambiance you prefer. Apple says it will review products to ensure the most affordable Lumia yet. With core smart- enhancements, keeping users up-to-date with white and black, and will be available in single they are easy to use and meet its privacy phone features, the best Windows Phone experi- the best new features.” and dual SIM variants, with the latter SIM setup WHAT DO YOU NEED? and security guidelines. What will be ences and access to the latest apps, it opens up With the latest Lumia, users will be able to: also coming equipped with Smart Dual SIM to The first requirement is an iPhone or an tougher is outfitting your home with the the Lumia Windows Phone experience to even • Switch effortlessly between voice and video easily manage calls and texts to either number iPad with iOS 8. (Sorry, Android and necessary equipment, especially at $40 or more people. Lumia 532 is a powerful quad core calls with built-in Skype integration and a front- in use. Windows users, you’ll need a different sys- more per plug. smartphone that builds on the success of the facing camera. Pricing will vary by market and operator, but tem. Google is starting to enable similar But as you replace lights and appliances Lumia 530. With a premium layered design, • Read, review, edit and share on the go with is estimated to be around 69 EUR before taxes functionality through its Nest smart thermo- you can start building a smart home, or just Glance screen, front facing camera and more the full Microsoft Office suite coming pre- and subsidies for Lumia 435 and around 79 EUR stat and smoke detector and Microsoft is buy HomeKit plugs for the essential things memory, Lumia 532 enables people to achieve installed. before taxes and subsidies for Lumia 532. Middle trying to enable smart-home controls using you want automated. — AP their goals with the best of Microsoft’s experi- • Keep photos, videos and Office documents East pricing and availability will be announced in ences. safely backed up with 30GB of free1 OneDrive due course. THURSDAY, JANUARY 15, 2015 HEALTH & SCIENCE

Thai surrogate mothers seek custody of babies

BANGKOK: The surrogate mothers of though she rejected the accusation. “We nine babies fathered by a Japanese man never said the mothers cannot get the and taken into care by Thai authorities children back... but they need to pass last year have launched legal proceed- through the ministry’s process,” Suvanna ings to regain custody of the infants, an said. official said yesterday. The alleged father, That process includes proving they who was at the time was reported by can care for the children and have a child- Japanese media to be the son of an IT safe family background, the official millionaire, left Thailand as a surrogacy added. Thailand’s shadowy commercial scandal erupted in August following the surrogacy industry was thrust into the discovery of nine babies in a Bangkok limelight in August 2014 following accu- apartment. sations that an Australian couple aban- Tests revealed he is the biological doned a baby born with Down’s syn- father of at least 15 babies born to surro- drome, but took his healthy twin sister. gates in the kingdom, although his The couple denied deliberately leaving motives for fathering so many children the boy, called Gammy, with the Thai sur- remain unclear. Thai social services have rogate mother, who was paid around been caring for the nine infants for the $15,000 to carry the twins. last six months, although the mothers Paid surrogacy is officially banned by have been allowed regular visits. Six of the Medical Council of Thailand and the mothers, who police said were each authorities moved to close several IVF paid around $12,500 to be surrogates, clinics in the weeks after the scandal. A have now launched civil proceedings to new law to tighten loopholes is also get their babies back. under consideration by the kingdom’s National Legislative Assembly. It carries Australian couple tough penalties that could see anyone “They are seeking custody of the chil- found guilty of involvement in the trade dren,” Suvanna Pinkaew, an official from jailed for 10 years. Dozens, possibly hun- the Ministry of Social Development and dreds, of foreign couples are thought to Human Security, told AFP. Their lawsuit, have been left in limbo after entering filed at a juvenile and family court, into surrogacy arrangements through alleges that authorities are failing to care clinics in the kingdom before the sum- for the children adequately, she added, mer’s scandals. — AFP

IRAN: Mohammad Reza Ghaderi, who is a national cycling champi- Working too hard can on suffering from cancer, waves to his pupils at Ayatollah Masoumi primary School. (Inset) Iranian pupils, who shaved heads to show respect and in solidarity with their sports teacher, drive you to booze Mohammad Reza Ghaderi (C-top) who is a national cycling cham- pion suffering from cancer, pose for a picture at Ayatollah PARIS: It’s true: working too hard can said. More than a dozen developed Masoumi primary School in the city of Hamadan yesterday. — AFP drive you to drink, said researchers yes- economies were covered by the research, terday who warned of the health risks of including Belgium, Britain, Canada, such dual excess. An overview of studies Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, covering more than 400,000 people Japan, New Zealand, Spain, Sweden, showed that individuals who exceed 48 Taiwan and the United States. Cancer-stricken Iranian working hours per week-the European “This meta-analysis supports the long- Union’s suggested maximum-are likelier standing suspicion that among workers to consume “risky” quantities of alcohol, subjected to long working hours, alcohol they said. The paper, published in The can seem like a fast acting and effective teacher’s pupils shave heads BMJ journal, reported that long working way to dull work-related aches and pains hours boosted the likelihood of higher and smooth the transition between work alcohol intake by 11 percent overall. life and home life,” Cassandra Okechukwu TEHRAN: It is a disease that strikes tens of After a cycling career that included appear- lift his morale so I talked to the school’s offi- People who worked 49-54 hours a of the Harvard School of Public Health thousands of Iranians each year, but for 300 ances in major championships, Ghaderi, now cials and they welcomed the idea,” he added. week ran a 13-percent higher risk of wrote in an editorial. Long working hours pupils news that their teacher had cancer 36, became a physical education teacher and Cancer is the third-highest cause of death developing a “risky alcohol use” habit have previously been linked to cardiovas- prompted an unusual response-they shaved now works at Ayatollah Masoumi School in in Iran and mortality rates have risen in recent compared to counterparts who worked a cular disease, depression and anxiety. their heads in sympathy. “They did it out of Hamedan, around 300 kilometers (190 miles) years. The chairman of the Cancer Research 35-40-hour work week. Those working 55 The increased risk of developing a respect to a teacher and a champion,” from Tehran. “I am so happy to have the pupils’ Center of Iran, Mohammad Esmail Akbari, told hours or more were 12 percent more at “risky” drinking habit from over-work Abdollah Jafari, an education official in affection and love. I feel God has given me a state media in January 2014 that 41,000 risk. “Risky” alcohol use was defined as was small in absolute terms, Okechukwu Hamedan province who witnessed the pupils’ new life,” he was quoted as saying by the Iranians die from different cancers each year. more than 14 units per week for a said. Also, having a job was associated en-masse gesture after morning classes yester- agency. The report did not specify what kind Around 85,000 new cancer sufferers are diag- woman and more than 21 for a man-lev- with a lower prevalence of alcohol con- day, told Mehr news agency. Pictures on state of cancer he was suffering from. One of his nosed annually, he said at the time, with 18 els that have been linked to a higher risk sumption and a higher chance of recov- media showed the teacher, Mohammad Reza friends arranged the head-shaving ceremony. percent of cases relating to children and 50 for liver and heart disease, cancer, stroke ery from alcohol misuse than being Ghaderi, a former top cyclist and national “Mohammad Reza spends the money he earns percent of those cases become fatal. Air pollu- and mental disorders. unemployed. Even so, the risk should be champion several times in the 1990s, sur- from teaching on buying balls, bicycles and tion from substandard fuel used in cars and at An alcohol unit is the equivalent of a taken seriously. “Any exposure associat- rounded by dozens of smiling children who sports wear for his pupils. He loves his pupils,” power-generation facilities is thought be a third of a pint of medium-strength beer, ed with avoidable increases in disease or now had matching bald heads. said the friend, Majir Khezriyan. “I wanted to major cause in Iran’s rising cancer rates.— AFP half a 175-millilitre (six fluid ounces) glass health damaging behavior, or both, war- of red wine with 12 percent alcohol by rants careful examination,” said volume, or a 25 ml-shot of whisky, The Okechukwu. “Indeed, these findings findings add statistical backing to anec- could add impetus to further regulation dotal evidence for a link between exces- of working hours as a public health Helping chronic fatigue patients sive work and alcohol abuse, the authors intervention.” — AFP over fears eases symptoms

LONDON: Helping patients with chronic fatigue beliefs can be changed by directly challenging the way they respond to symptoms, and GET, a syndrome to overcome their fears that exercise such beliefs, or by simple behavior change with personalized, gradually increasing exercise pro- or activity will make their symptoms worse is a graded approach.” gram, helped around 60 percent of CFS patients one of the most important factors behind thera- CFS, sometimes called myalgic improve. In this latest study, Calder’s team pies that can make them better, scientists said encephalomyelitis or ME, is a debilitating condi- sought to find out how the treatments worked yesterday. Presenting an analysis on a trial show- tion characterized by disabling physical and for some patients, with a view to allowing thera- ing how cognitive behaviour therapy (CBT) and mental fatigue, poor concentration and memo- pies to be improved or adapted to help more. graded exercise therapy (GET) help reduce ry, disturbed sleep and muscle and joint pain. Of all the mediating factors analyzed, the fatigue and improve physical function in people There is no cure and scientists don’t know what researchers found the strongest-accounting for with chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS), the causes it, but it affects around 17 million people up to 60 percent of the effect- was reducing researchers said misguided but understandable worldwide. Many sufferers say they think their fears that exercise would make symptoms fears about being active were key. illness started after a viral infection. But suggest- worse, something they described as “an under- “You’re not going to ask somebody who ed links to a virus known as XMRV were shown standable reaction to having CFS”. Professor hasn’t been going out or engaging in any exer- in a scientific paper in 2010 to have been based Peter White of Queen Mary, University of cise for several years to suddenly get on their on contaminated samples in a lab. London, who worked on Calder’s team, stressed bike-you would want to do these things very Exercise program that neither this nor the original PACE study gradually and carefully,” Trudie Chalder of King’s Calder worked on a 2011 study called the was able to find the root causes of CFS, but College London’s Institute of Psychiatry told a PACE trial. It found that CBT, where a health pro- only to analyze how therapies can improve briefing. “(But) our results suggest that fearful fessional helps patients understand and change symptoms. — Reuters Fling or ring? Men’s Health, not money, inspires matingpreferences people to save power MIAMI: Telling people how pollution can harm kids’ health inspires them not hard wired to use less electricity than telling them how much money they could save Plants versus ants: Voracious by cutting back on power use, US researchers said. The study in the NEW YORK: From scientific studies to sitcoms, society portrays men as Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences centered on people liv- vegetation is victorious wired to prefer sexual flings and spurn commitment, and evolution ing in 118 apartment units in Los Angeles. wanted it that way. In a study published on Tuesday, anthropologists Over the course of about four months, residents were given weekly WASHINGTON: A tricky insect-eating plant plant secretes sugary nectar that primes the present evidence that male promiscuity is not a human universal wired feedback about their energy usage. Some were told how their electricity from Borneo is living proof that one need trapping surface to become wet through into the brain by evolution. Instead, mating strategies are flexible, use compared to a more energy-efficient apartment nearby, and how not have a brain to outsmart the opposition. condensation at lower humidity levels than responding to circumstances such as gender ratios. In short, when much money they could save by turning off the lights and using less pow- women are scarce, men prefer long-term committed relationships, said Scientists say the tropical carnivorous plant other plant surfaces. That activates the trap er. Another group was given similar feedback, but were also told about Ryan Schacht of the University of Utah, who led the study published in regularly exploits natural weather fluctua- during afternoons when many day-active how much their energy use contributed to pollutant emissions, and how tions to adjust the slipperiness of its pitfall insects are still out and about. Royal Society Open Science. And women, contrary to stereotype, can be just as interested in one-night stands. air pollution can cause childhood health problems like cancer and asthma. traps in order to capture and dine on batch- “Of course a plant is not clever in the A control group received no feedback at all. The apartments that es of ants at a time rather than individual human sense - it cannot plot. However, nat- The idea that evolution shaped men to be Lotharios seemed solidly grounded in theory. The more women a man had sex with, and the less received the health-related warnings began using an average of eight per- ants. ural selection is very relentless and will only cent less power than the control group. If there were kids in the house- The research involved an Asian species of reward the most successful strategies,” said he tied himself to one woman and their children, goes the argument, the more offspring to whom he would pass on his genes, the measure hold, apartment dwellers reduced their electricity use by 19 percent, said pitcher plant, so named because its leaves biologist Ulrike Bauer of Britain’s University the study. form cup-shaped insect traps that look like a of Bristol, who led the study being pub- of evolutionary success. In experiments, male college students typically said they preferred flings to commitment, leading to the claim that the Apartments that were told about cost savings from using less energy pitcher. When the rim of the plant becomes lished on Wednesday in the scientific jour- barely changed their habits at all. Researchers said that touting monetary wet, it gets extremely slippery and ants nal Proceedings of the Royal Society B. behavior was wired in by evolution. Schacht and Monique Borgerhoff savings may not have worked, in part because electricity in the United walking on the surface fall victim to the There are about 600 species of carnivo- Mulder of the University of California, Davis, tested that idea in the States is already fairly inexpensive. “For most people at our field site, the voracious vegetation. rous plants known worldwide. The pitcher Makushi, Amerindians of Guyana. In the eight communities they exam- In hot, sunny weather, however, the sur- plants generally grow in nutrient-poor ined, the ratio of adult men to women varied from 1.43 to 0.93. savings for cutting back to using the same as their most efficient neighbor face dries and becomes safe for ants to visit. habitats, which is why they capture animal The more men outnumbered women, the less likely they were to fit would only be $4 to $6 per month. That’s a fast-food combo meal or a cou- Individual ants serving as scouts for their prey to feed on. Most species trap insects. A stereotypical, flings-over-commitment behavior. That makes evolution- ple of gallons of milk,” said co-author Omar Asensio, a doctoral student colonies discover and collect sweet nectar few attract small mammals and collect ary sense, Schacht said. For one thing, commitment increases the num- studying economics and environmental sciences and engineering at the from the trap and return to their nest to tell their feces for nourishment. “What superfi- ber of “mating opportunities” men have compared to when they have University of California, Los Angeles. their fellow ants where to find a nice meal. cially looks like an arms race between nec- to keep attracting new partners. “The best strategy is to find one But changes in daily habits could be significant on a large scale Numerous ants then march unwittingly tar robbers and deadly predators could in woman and stick with her,” Schacht said. Infidelity and promiscuity because residential and commercial buildings account for more than two- into the trap in search of food and are cap- fact be a sophisticated case of mutual ben- defeat that. thirds of US energy usage, according to the study. “We’re finding that you tured because the plant has made its trap efit,” Bauer said. “As long as the energy gain In addition, while natural selection favors behaviors that increase a have to bundle the public good with the private good,” said lead author slippery and inescapable. So by letting the (eating the nectar) outweighs the loss of man’s number of children, it favors even more strongly behaviors that Magali Delmas, an environmental economist at the University of individual scouts escape, the plant eventual- worker ants, the ant colony benefits from maximize those who grow up and become parents themselves. That is California, Los Angeles (UCLA) Anderson School of Management. “Our ly manages to capture much more prey. To the relationship just as much as the plant more likely, Schacht said, when men stick around to protect and pro- message about health and the environment reminds people that environ- control when its trap is slippery, the pitcher does.” — Reuters vide rather than moving from fling to fling. —Reuters mentalism is also about them and their kids.” — AFP THURSDAY, JANUARY 15, 2015 HEALTH & SCIENCE

Saudis organize public run to tackle rising obesity

RIYADH: Levels of diabetes and obesity are rising Running will not be obligatory-participants can practices a conservative brand of Islam, and high cholesterol levels,” Adnan bin Sulaiman Al- in Saudi Arabia, an official said yesterday, as also walk or jog, organizers said. The run “is a great women are required to dress in black from head to Abdulkarim, Riyadh’s director general of health Riyadh announced its first publicly organized run motivation towards a healthier, more active life”, toe when outside their homes. affairs, said in a statement. Over the past 30 years, to promote a more active lifestyle. The “Run 4 Riyadh governor Prince Turki bin Abdullah said at a An oil-rich desert nation, Saudi Arabia lacks diabetes has spread from two percent of the popu- Riyadh” will take place in the Saudi capital on press conference. The run is only open to males public sport facilities but Western-style fast food lation to 13 percent, he said, while obesity affects February 28 over five kilometers (three miles), and a separate women’s event organized by a local restaurants are widespread. The kingdom is con- around one-third of men and women. Organizers from King Abdullah Park to Prince Faisal bin Fahd university will be held on a different date. The sex- fronted by the “epidemic spread of several diseases said they hope the run, which costs 50 riyals Stadium. es are strictly segregated in Saudi Arabia, which such as diabetes, obesity, blood hypertension and ($13.33) to enter, will be held annually. — AFP

Woman dies in Egypt of H5N1 bird flu, second death this year CAIRO: A 65-year-old Egyptian Egypt, including four deaths. woman has died from the H5N1 strain This was the highest ever monthly of bird flu, the health ministry said number of human cases in Egypt, the yesterday, the second victim of the UN public health agency said. The virus this month. The World Health WHO has warned that whenever bird Organization (WHO) says there has flu viruses are circulating in poultry, been a recent jump in the number of there is a risk of sporadic infections or H5N1 infections in people in Egypt, small clusters of human cases. In its but says there does not appear to report on Tuesday, it said there were have been any major genetic change “reports of an increased number of in the flu strain to explain the rise in outbreaks and detections” of the human cases. H5N1 strain in poultry in Egypt, The latest victim came from the adding that this was the probable central province of Assiut, the health cause of the higher number of cases ministry said in a statement. Egypt’s of infection in people. H5N1 cases have largely been in poor “Although all influenza viruses rural areas in the south, where vil- evolve over time, preliminary labora- lagers tend to keep and slaughter tory investigation has not detected poultry in the home. Seven other cas- major genetic changes in the viruses es are currently being treated and isolated from the patients or animals,” three have recovered this year, the the WHO said. High pathogenic H5N1 ministry said. bird flu first infected humans in 1997 At least 10 people died from the in Hong Kong. It has since spread disease in Egypt in 2014. The Geneva- from Asia to Europe and Africa and based WHO said on Tuesday that has become entrenched in poultry in between Dec 4 to Jan 6, there had some countries, causing millions of been 18 new laboratory-confirmed poultry infections and several hun- human cases of H5N1 infection in dred human deaths. — Reuters Al-Sayer Medical Company successfully Replacement for BPA in acquires ISO Certification plastics also suspect KUWAIT: Reflecting the commitment to entire team of Al-Sayer Medical Company physiotherapy, rehabilitation, medical furni- comply with the latest International for the great achievement and wished suc- ture and patient home care. CALGARY: A chemical thought to be a as “BPA Free”. The US Food and Drug Standards in Quality Management Systems, cess in all its future endeavors. Meanwhile Being one of the recently established safe replacement for one banned for use Administration banned BPA from baby Al-Sayer Medical Company, one of the Al- Mubarak Naser Al-Sayer appreciated the business unit of the Group, Al-Sayer Medical in baby bottles also causes developmental bottles in 2012, but said there was not Sayer Group Holding Companies estab- cooperation of Dr Hossam Afify, General Company is one of the fastest companies to issues in fish embryos, according to a enough evidence for a more widespread lished its Quality Management System Manager of Al-Sayer Medical Company be awarded the ISO standard certification, study released on Monday. In a study pub- ban and has found the chemical safe at based on the applicable requirements of along with the efforts of Nawraz Ibrahim adopting the corporate principles of Best in lished on the Proceedings of the National very low levels. ISO Standard 9001:2008.The certification Agwa, Assistant Manager and Mazhar Ali the Business approach of the Group. Since Academy of Sciences, researchers from the The American Chemistry Council, an body Bureau Veritas, Kuwait certified Al- Masroor, Senior Officer from the Quality inception the Company has rapidly grown University of Calgary found that bisphenol industry trade association, said the study Sayer Medical Company to ISO Standard Assurance team under the supervision of Dr in to full-fledged operational business unit 9001:2008 upon completing the Khaled Al-Enizi, Senior Manager, Corporate reaching full capacity performance, repre- S (BPS), the chemical that replaced may overstate the effect of BPA on Certification Quality Audit successfully. Events &Quality Assurance of Al-Sayer senting leading and world class medical Bisphenol A (BPA) after that was connect- humans. “The relevance of this limited Faisal Bader Al-Sayer Vice Chairman, Group Holding. brands in Kuwait apart from building ties ed to obesity, cancer, and childhood anxi- study on zebra fish to human health, as Mubarak Naser Al-Sayer CEO from the Dr Hassam Afify, General Manager of Al- with associates in the industry in order to ety and hyperactivity, also causes changes asserted by the authors, is not at all clear,” Board, Paul Reynolds COO from the Top Sayer Medical Company said: we are proud strengthen the commitment to best serve in brain development in zebra fish that Steven Hentges, with the council’s Management of Al Sayer Group along with to acquire the international ISO standard the community. caused them to become hyperactive. Polycarbonate/BPA Global Group, said in a Royan Britto, Chief Executive and Abhay 9001:2008 Certification which reflects Al- As the healthcare industry in the region The study subjected the fish to the statement. “The study examines effects of Sariya Certification Manager from Bureau Sayer Medical Company’s standards and is experiencing a major development, the same levels of both chemicals that are relatively high concentrations of BPA on Veritas Kuwait attended the award ceremo- behind this achievement there is a dedicat- government is implementing initiatives to found in Alberta’s Bow and Old Man rivers, zebra fish embryos in water, and the ny. ed professional team insales, marketing, modernize and improve the healthcare which flow east out of the Rocky authors claim the results are directly rele- The achievement of International after sales services and back office support infrastructure, and the private sector is Mountains, and found that both BPA and vant to humans, in particular to women Standard ISO Certification is mirrored in the who dealing with the customer services and increasing its participation in the delivery of BPS caused changes in the brain develop- during the second trimester of pregnancy. operations of the medical company, and satisfaction as top priory in line with the health care, the Company’s business model this reflects the commitment to achieving usual philosophy of Al-Sayer Group holding has enabled us to successfully gain a com- ment of the zebra fish embryos. “I was In contrast, humans are exposed to only high standards in all aspects of the in business. petitive advantage to respond to these actually very surprised at our results. This trace levels of BPA through the diet ... and Company’s medical business (quality prod- Our Company provides wide healthcare plans and meet the notable growth in the was a very, very, very low dose, so I didn’t quickly eliminate it from the body.” ucts, services offered andcustomer satisfac- facilities for clients from various sectors healthcare industry. think using a dose this low could have any The University of Calgary researchers, tion). The Company has a set Vision to have both private and public institutions in The goal of Al-Sayer Medical Company is effect,” said Debra Kurrasch, the lead which include Hamid Habibi and a significant role and to contribute to the Kuwait, with cutting-edge and innovative to excel and expand the delivery of our researcher from the university’s Cumming Cassandra Kinch, said further research is development of healthcare infrastructure in pharmaceutical and medical technologies. services and our commitment to offer School of Medicine. needed to determine if the BPS also Kuwait and the region, thus, to become the The scope of activities addresses a wide what’s new and unique in the medical and The study could be a blow to plastics affects human fetuses but recommended preferred destination for healthcare service range of offerings including healthcare technology market to become manufacturers who replaced BPA with BPS pregnant women limit their exposure to providers and professionals. Pharmaceutical, Dental and Medical equip- the destination for all healthcare facilities and labeled water bottles and other items items containing bisphenols. — Reuters Faisal Bader Al-Sayer congratulated the ment and supplies and complete range of and professionals in Kuwait. WHAT’S ON THURSDAY, JANUARY 15, 2015

Mercato presents a ‘world of entertainment’ during Dubai Festival

ercato, with its distinguished Italian design, and the strategic Mpartner of Dubai festivals and retail establishment, will celebrate the 20th edition of Dubai Shopping Festival in a dis- tinguished fashion. It plans to present many activities and entertainment shows, the Italian way, suitable for all family mem- bers from all nationalities, and for a whole month. The activities include theater and direct mobile shows. Mercato will be the ideal place to visit and shop from January 1st until Feb 1st (32 days) where discounts up to 75% will be offered. Mercato will grant its customers a chance to participate in a draw for prizes offered to shoppers for every AED 200 they spend. Prizes include two 2015 Alfa Romeo Julieta Cars in addition to two jewelry coupons at AED 25,000 each, in addition to a coupon from Areej cosmetics valued at AED 20,000.

Indian Community Welfare Fund (ICWF)

or the welfare of Indian Community present in Kuwait, the Government of India has been providing financial assistance to distressed Indian nationals. During the year 2014, the Embassy raised Kuwaiti Dinars 1.59 lakh (about Indian Rupees 3.4 crore) as fees/contributions towards ICWF. An expenditure of FKuwaiti Dinars 39,000 (about Indian Rupees 84 lakh) was made for providing assistance to Indian nationals in Kuwait. In addition, a total contribution of over Kuwaiti Dinars 11 lakh (Indian Rupees 23 crore) for evacuation of stranded Indian nationals in Iraq and Libya was made.

2. The Embassy has been providing monetary help from the ICWF in following circumstances: i) Boarding and lodging for distressed Indian Workers in domestic sectors (Article 20 visa); ii) Extending emergency medical care to the Overseas Indians; iii) Providing air passage to stranded and distressed Overseas Indians; and AOU kicks off ‘knowledge iv) Expenditure on incidentals and for airlifting the mortal remains to India of the deceased Overseas Indians in cases where sponsors are unable or unwill- ing to do so as per the contracts and the families are also unable to meet the cost.

without border’ 3. The number of cases during the year 2014 in which Embassy provided air ticket, medical care and contingency travel expenses to the distressed Indian Workers are as under:- he Arab open university (AOU) higher education to Arab youth without Kuwait branch kicked off its cam- geographical barriers or regardless reli- Tpaign entitled “knowledge without gion, social or gender discrimination. During the year 2014 border” said Dr Naif Al-Mutiri, Director of He also added that this campaign the AOU Kuwait branch. works to deliver the various university Description No. of air tickets No. of Indian nationals provided AOU seeks to disseminate knowledge materials including books in various disci- contingency/travel expenses and science in Kuwait or overseas plines to all Kuwait libraries, embassies through distributing various booklets and and knowledge seekers as the principal of Destitute workers accommodated in Embassy shelters (male/female) 278 KD 15,894 brochures of the university to all commu- the campaign is to disseminate knowl- No. of Indian nationals provided for repatriation of hospitalization/escorts overseas Indian nity sectors, pointing out that knowledge edge to all. nationals to India. KD 11,628 is a weapon used to understand life, over- Dr Mutiri hoped that all libraries, 727 come its barriers and experience it, added embassies, knowledge interested and UN Airlifting of patients +escorts 25 KD 6,955 Dr Mutiri, saying this campaign is a in Kuwait contact the university to pro- Airlifting of mortal remains to India 29 KD 4,013 human investment that civilizations are vide them with required materials Miscellaneous services 02 KD 510 pillared in so knowledge should be with- through the hot lines 24394242- Total 1, 061 KD 39,000 out borders and this is in pursuit of the 24394435 and to arrange for visits to university’s vision that aims at providing these places. 4. You are aware that a surcharge of KD 0.500 is collected by the Embassy on all passport, visa and consular services towards the ICWF. Kuwait Kannada Koota elects new office bearers

n the recently concluded elections at the Annual General Body meeting, the Ioffice bearers to run the activities of KKK for the year 2015 were elected. The elec- tions were conducted by the ex president of the Koota Dr Surendra Nayak. Sudhir Shenoy as the President, Girish Shenoy as the vice president, Deepak Katti as the Secretary and Kiran Bhat as the treasurer of the Koota. The newly elected office bearers recently also met Ambassador of India to Kuwait His Excellency Sunil Jain in the Indian Embassy and narrated him about the activities of Kuwait Kannada Koota. KKK is a premier Kannada association from Karnataka founded in the year 1984 and is now in the 31st year of running its activi- ties show-casing the rich cultural heritage of our homeland to its younger generation and making them to realize the social and human values other than their academic education. WHAT’S ON THURSDAY, JANUARY 15, 2015

New Year and Pongal Festival

he Kuwait Tamil Sangam, a non-profit organiza- Lakshman Sruthi team gave a non-stop rocking per- tion, celebrated the New year and Pongal festival formance for 7.30 hours. Tin a grand manner on January 1, 2015 at the Sponsors of the Event were given mementos by KTS American International school Maidan Hawally. team. KTS wholeheartedly thanking all our Mega spon- The program started off at 5:15 PM with lighting up sors, Event sponsors, Main sponsors and Co-sponsors of the Kuthu Villakku by our committee members and for their generous helping hand. With all your support, family, followed by welcome address by the KTS presi- wishes, and co-operation, we were able to make the dent Ramadoss. The chief guest of the evening was the event Grant Success. Indian Ambassador to Kuwait His Excellency Sunil Jain, KTS Souvenir for the event was released by our chief who very well appreciated the show and Pongal decora- guest, His Excellency Sunil Jain. The souvenir copies tion done by KTS committee members. were distributed to all our sponsors and KTS members. Mega Musical Night program, was performed by Vote of thanks given by Joint Secretary Radhakrishnan. Lakshman Sruthi orchestra team, who has done a world The program was anchored by Priya Ambalavanan, record of 36 hours non-stop performance. Singers Vanaja Pandian, Hanif. Delicious dinner served for all Malathi, Hariharasudhan, Anitha was also part of the sponsors, members, and guests. A New Year gift bag Mega Musical Night. Comedian Vadivel Ganesh and his was given to all KTS members and sponsors. It was a team also kept the audience entertained and trans- memorable evening for everyone, who attended the formed the audience into a world of happiness. show.

Defying gravity in the presence of kings and queens

By Domenique Delafield we contemplate how to actually defy gravity. Also, the technical jumps and turns gained popularity under the Academie de Artistic Director at the Academy of Ballet - Kuwait and physical skill required to dance on your toes develops your Danse, commissioned Royal School of King Louis XIV of France. muscles and alertness of mind like absolutely nothing else on There in 1780 Marie Camargo discovered that taking the heel off y the shining lights of the full stage of professional balleri- the planet. of her shoes allowed for higher, more agile jumping and ease of nas twirling and standing on their satin clad toes as if sus- The year 1877 saw the first Ballet Imperial in Russia per- pirouettes. In 1850, Italian ballerina Maria Taglioni was the first Bpended in mid-air, the Tzar Alexander II Romanov formed on toes. This major turning point in human history fol- to dance on her toes in satin clad shoes in the ballet of La applauds in delight at the spectacle and pride of being the first lowed by two thousand years of the Greeks jumping and run- Slyphide. Somehow learning to defy gravity whether in speed theater in the world to grace humanity with ultimate innovation ning Olympic competitions and followed three hundred years or height takes us on an adventure and we feel expanded in art and science. The beauty and lightness of being was behind Leonardo Da Vinci’s study of the flying machine. beyond our imaginations. About 100 years after the first ballet unmatched anywhere. Seeing a ballerina pirouette and float Dancing on the tips of the toes did, however, 30 years precede performed on pointe for Tzar Alexander II Romanov in Saint across stage takes your breath away by the sheer wonder at the Wright brothers first airplane. Learning to defy gravity is Petersburg, Russia - July 20, 1969 saw the landing of American how beautiful it is - like an other worldly butterfly, spirit, or bird. somehow in our nature. We want to go faster, fly higher! Neil Armstrong on the Moon! Life becomes so much fun on Fairies - do they actually exist? Our imaginations can soar when Actually, the art of dancing while defying gravity in high those adventures. Domenique Delafield THURSDAY, JANUARY 15, 2015 TV PROGRAMS

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Garvin 17:00 Ultimate Airport Dubai 11:35 Rev. 22:40 The Fighters 18:00 Hard Time 12:05 Only Fools And Horses 03:00 Roadtrip With G. Garvin 23:30 Airplane Repo 03:25 Charly’s Cake Angels 19:00 My Dog Ate What? 12:35 2 Point 4 Children 20:00 Light At The Edge of The 13:10 Eastenders 03:50 Amazing Wedding Cakes 04:40 Reza, Spice Prince Of World 00:00 Olympus Has Fallen 13:40 Doctors 21:00 Ultimate Airport Dubai 14:10 Being Erica Thailand 02:00 Broken City 05:05 Roadtrip With G. Garvin 22:00 Hard Time 04:00 The Philly Kid 14:55 The Omid Djalili Show 23:00 Caught In The Act 15:25 Rev. 05:30 Reza, Spice Prince Of 06:00 Hellboy: Sword Of Storms 15:55 Only Fools And Horses Thailand 08:00 Recoil 05:50 Siba’s Table 10:00 Brave 16:25 The Weakest Link 00:00 Violetta 06:10 Sweet Genius 12:00 The Philly Kid 17:10 Eastenders 00:45 The Hive 07:00 Roadtrip With G. Garvin 14:00 Olympus Has Fallen 17:40 Doctors 00:50 Art Attack 07:25 Roadtrip With G. Garvin 16:00 The Chronicles Of Riddick 18:10 Being Erica 01:15 Art Attack 07:50 Diners, Drive-Ins & Dives 18:00 Drop Zone 19:00 Only Fools And Horses 01:40 Jungle Junction 00:30 The Daily Show With Jon 08:15 Chopped 20:00 Recoil 19:30 The Omid Djalili Show 01:50 Jungle Junction Stewart 20:00 Mad Dogs 09:05 Barefoot Contessa - Back To 22:00 Maximum Conviction 02:05 Jungle Junction Basics 01:00 Two And A Half Men 20:50 Waking The Dead 02:15 Jungle Junction 01:30 Brickleberry 21:40 Waking The Dead 09:30 Farm Kings 02:30 Violetta 10:20 Recipes That Rock 02:00 The League 22:30 The Mimic 03:10 The Hive 02:30 Louie 23:00 Sherlock 10:45 Reza, Spice Prince Of 03:20 Art Attack Thailand 03:00 Back In The Game 03:45 Art Attack 11:10 Roadtrip With G. Garvin 03:30 About A Boy 04:10 Jungle Junction 04:00 New Girl 00:00 Broken City-18 11:35 Grandma’s Secret Cookbook 02:00 The Philly Kid-PG15 04:20 Jungle Junction 12:00 Chopped 04:30 The Tonight Show Starring 04:35 Jungle Junction Jimmy Fallon 04:00 Hellboy: Sword Of Storms- 12:50 Siba’s Table 06:00 Recoil-PG15 04:45 Jungle Junction 13:15 Jenny Morris Cooks The 05:30 My Boys 05:00 Art Attack 06:00 Last Man Standing 08:00 Brave-PG15 Riviera 10:00 The Philly Kid-PG15 00:45 Nordic Cookery With Tareq 05:25 Art Attack 13:40 Mystery Diners 06:30 The Simpsons Taylor 05:50 Mouk 07:00 Late Night With Seth Meyers 12:00 Olympus Has Fallen-PG15 14:05 Guy’s Grocery Games 14:00 The Chronicles Of Riddick 01:15 Nigellissima 06:00 Dog With A Blog 14:55 Roadtrip With G. Garvin 08:00 New Girl 01:40 Baking Mad With Eric 06:25 Liv And Maddie 08:30 My Boys 16:00 Drop Zone-PG15 15:20 Diners, Drive-Ins & Dives 18:00 Recoil-PG15 Lanlard 06:50 So Random 15:45 Farm Kings 09:00 Back In The Game 02:05 Celebrity MasterChef 07:15 I Didn’t Do It 09:30 Melissa & Joey 20:00 Maximum Conviction-PG15 16:35 Chopped 22:00 Gangster Squad-18 02:55 Bargain Hunt 07:40 Jessie 17:25 Jenny Morris Cooks The 10:00 Hot In Cleveland 03:40 Come Dine With Me 08:05 Austin & Ally Riviera 04:05 The Little Paris Kitchen 08:30 Binny And The Ghost 17:50 Reza, Spice Prince Of 10:30 The Simpsons 04:30 The Planners 08:55 Suite Life On Deck Thailand 11:00 The Tonight Show Starring THE CONJURING ON OSN MOVIES HD 05:25 Nordic Cookery With Tareq 09:20 Wizards Of Waverly Place Jimmy Fallon 18:15 Diners, Drive-Ins & Dives 15:30 The Expatriate-PG15 14:30 MSNBC First Look Taylor 09:45 Hannah Montana 18:40 Siba’s Table 12:00 Last Man Standing 00:00 Jason Manford Live 2011 17:30 The Hunger Games: 15:00 Live NBC Today Show 05:50 Nigellissima 10:10 That’s So Raven 19:05 Grandma’s Secret Cookbook 12:30 New Girl 02:00 Along Came Polly-PG15 06:15 Baking Mad With Eric 10:35 Harriet The Spy: Blog Wars 13:00 My Boys 04:00 RV-PG Catching Fire-PG15 18:57 MSNBC Hardball W/ Chris 19:30 Mystery Diners 20:00 Machine Gun Preacher- Lanlard 12:15 Austin & Ally 19:55 Burger Land 13:30 The Simpsons 06:00 Straight Talk-PG15 01:00 Texas Killing Fields-PG15 Matthews 06:40 Celebrity MasterChef 12:40 Jessie 14:00 About A Boy 08:00 Jesus Henry Christ-PG15 03:00 The Internship-PG15 PG15 19:38 MSNBC The Rachel 20:20 Guy’s Grocery Games 22:30 Riddick-PG15 07:30 The Little Paris Kitchen 13:05 I Didn’t Do It 21:10 Amazing Wedding Cakes 14:30 Melissa & Joey 10:00 Hope Springs-PG15 05:00 Ender’s Game-PG15 Maddow Show 15:00 Hot In Cleveland 08:00 Bargain Hunt 13:30 So Random 22:00 Amazing Wedding Cakes 12:00 Ghost Dad-PG 07:00 The Bag Man-PG15 20:19 MSNBC The Last Word W/ 08:45 Come Dine With Me 13:55 Liv And Maddie 15:30 The Daily Show With Jon 22:50 Siba’s Table 14:00 Along Came Polly-PG15 09:00 Red Tails-PG15 Lawrence O’Donnell 09:10 The Planners 14:20 The Adventures Of Disney Stewart 16:00 Jesus Henry Christ-PG15 11:15 The Croods-PG 23:15 Siba’s Table 21:00 Live MSNBC Ronan Farrow 10:00 Nordic Cookery With Tareq Fairies 23:40 Burger Land 16:00 Two And A Half Men 18:00 BASEketball-PG15 13:00 The Fifth Estate-PG15 16:30 Last Man Standing Daily Taylor 14:55 Jessie 20:00 It’s A Disaster-PG15 15:15 Lincoln-PG15 00:00 Live MSNBC Now With Alex 10:25 Nigellissima 15:20 I Didn’t Do It 17:00 Late Night With Seth Meyers 22:00 Live MSNBC The Reid 22:00 Me, Myself And Irene-18 17:45 Red Tails-PG15 Wagner 10:50 Rachel’s Favourite Food For 15:45 Liv And Maddie 18:00 The Neighbors 20:00 47 Ronin-PG15 Report 01:00 Live MSNBC The Ed Show Living 16:10 Austin & Ally 18:30 How I Met Your Mother 22:00 The Conjuring-18 23:00 Live MSNBC The Cycle 11:20 Celebrity MasterChef 16:35 Binny And The Ghost 19:00 Brooklyn Nine-Nine 02:00 Live MSNBC Politicsnation 12:10 The Little Paris Kitchen 17:00 I Didn’t Do It 00:40 The Hungry Sailors 19:30 Hot In Cleveland 03:00 Live NBC Nightly News 12:35 Bargain Hunt 17:25 Jessie 01:30 Paul O’Grady: For The Love 20:00 The Tonight Show Starring 03:30 ABC World News With David Of Dogs Jimmy Fallon 01:00 The Trouble With Bliss-PG15 13:20 Come Dine With Me 17:50 Prank Stars Muir 02:00 Top 14 13:45 The Planners 18:15 Dog With A Blog 02:00 Emmerdale 21:00 The Daily Show With Jon 03:00 Safe Haven-PG15 02:25 Emmerdale 04:00 Live MSNBC All In With Chris 04:00 Super Rugby Final Highlights 14:35 Nordic Cookery With Tareq 18:40 Good Luck Charlie Stewart 05:00 The Last Harbor-PG15 02:55 Coronation Street 01:00 Dragon Hunters Hayes 04:30 Hero Indian Super League Taylor 19:05 I Didn’t Do It 21:30 Two And A Half Men 07:00 There Be Dragons-PG15 02:45 The Happets 03:25 The Great Fire 05:00 Live MSNBC The Rachel Highlights 15:00 Nigellissima 19:30 Liv And Maddie 22:00 Family Guy 09:00 Love And Honor-PG15 04:15 Back To The Sea 15:25 Delicious Iceland 19:55 Austin & Ally 04:20 Chasing Shadows 22:30 The League Maddow Show 07:00 Futbol Mundial 11:00 The Last Harbor-PG15 06:00 Eleanor’s Secret 15:55 Rachel’s Favourite Food For 20:20 Wizards Of Waverly Place 05:15 Murdoch Mysteries 23:00 Louie 06:00 Live MSNBC The Last Word 07:30 Snooker - The Masters 06:10 The Jonathan Ross Show 13:00 Safe Haven-PG15 08:00 Barbie As Rapunzel Living 20:45 Suite Life On Deck 23:30 Late Night With Seth Meyers 09:45 Luke And Lucy: The Texas W/ Lawrence O’Donnell 11:30 Live Cricket 07:05 Paul O’Grady: For The Love 15:00 My Last Day Without You- 16:20 Celebrity MasterChef 21:10 Hannah Montana Rangers 07:00 NBC Nightly News 15:00 NFL Gameday 17:15 Bargain Hunt 21:35 That’s So Raven Of Dogs 17:00 Love And Honor-PG15 07:30 ABC World News With David 07:30 The Great Fire 11:30 Space Dogs 15:30 Top 14 Highlights 18:00 Come Dine With Me 22:00 Suite Life On Deck 18:45 Great Expectations-PG15 Muir 08:25 Chasing Shadows 13:00 The Happets 16:00 Live Snooker - The Masters 18:25 The Planners 22:25 A.N.T. Farm 21:00 The Immigrant-PG15 14:30 The Legend Of Sasquatch 07:57 NBC Nightly News 09:20 The Chase 00:00 White Collar 21:30 European Tour Weekly 19:15 Marbella Mansions 22:50 Shake It Up 23:00 End Of Watch-18 16:00 A Cat In Paris 10:15 Murdoch Mysteries 02:00 Legends 08:18 ABC World News With David 22:00 Live Snooker - The Masters 20:00 Food Glorious Food 23:10 Wolfblood 18:00 Luke And Lucy: The Texas 11:10 Emmerdale 03:00 Mistresses Muir 20:45 Bill’s Kitchen: Notting Hill 23:35 Wolfblood Rangers 11:35 Emmerdale 04:00 Top Gear (UK) 08:39 Live ABC Nightline 21:10 Sweet Baby James 20:00 Barbie Magic Of The 12:00 Coronation Street 05:00 Marvel’s Agent Carter 09:06 MSNBC The Rachel 21:35 Celebrity MasterChef Rainbow 12:30 The Hungry Sailors 06:00 White Collar 22:00 Rachel’s Favourite Food For 22:00 The Legend Of Sasquatch Maddow Show 03:00 Live NHL 13:25 The Jonathan Ross Show 07:00 Necessary Roughness Living 01:00 A Dangerous Woman-18 23:30 A Cat In Paris 10:00 MSNBC The Last Word W/ 06:00 Trans World Sport 22:25 Bargain Hunt 14:20 Paul O’Grady: For The Love 08:00 Psych Lawrence O’Donnell Of Dogs 03:00 The Best Man-PG15 08:30 Live PGA European Tour 23:10 Come Dine With Me 00:00 House Of DVF 10:00 Top Gear (UK) 11:00 Live ABC World News Now 00:55 Extreme Close-Up 14:45 Murdoch Mysteries 11:00 Marvel’s Agent Carter 05:15 Blackfish-PG15 11:30 Top 14 Highlights 11:30 Live ABC World News Now 01:25 Keeping Up With The 15:35 Big Star’s Little Star 12:00 Emmerdale 07:00 The Great Train Robbery-PG 12:00 Inside The PGA Tour Kardashians 16:30 Tricked 12:30 Coronation Street 09:00 Centre Place-PG15 12:00 Live NBC Early Today 12:30 European Tour Weekly 12:30 Live ABC America This 02:20 E! News 17:25 Keep It In The Family 13:00 The Ellen DeGeneres Show 11:00 My Piece Of The Pie-PG15 00:00 Evil Dead-R 13:00 Live PGA European Tour 03:40 #RichKids Of Beverly Hills 18:20 The Jonathan Ross Show 14:00 Psych 13:00 Alfie Boe: The Bring Him 02:00 Death Clique-PG15 Morning 16:00 Ryder Cup Official Film 19:10 Coronation Street 13:00 Live ABC America This 00:20 The Big Brain Theory 04:10 E!ES 15:00 White Collar Home Tour-PG15 04:00 Closed Circuit-PG15 18:00 WWE Bottomline 19:35 Big Star’s Little Star 01:10 You Have Been Warned 05:05 E!ES 16:00 Emmerdale 06:00 A Common Man-PG15 Morning 20:30 Tricked 15:00 A Cool Dry Place-PG15 19:00 WWE NXT 02:00 Fast N’ Loud 06:00 Kourtney And Kim Take 16:30 Coronation Street 08:00 The Expatriate-PG15 13:30 Live ABC America This 21:25 Keep It In The Family 17:00 Centre Place-PG15 20:00 WWE Main Event 02:50 Auction Hunters Miami 17:00 The Ellen DeGeneres Show 10:00 Dr Seuss’ Cat In The Hat-PG Morning 22:20 Coronation Street 18:45 Ray-PG15 21:00 NFL 03:15 The Liquidator 06:55 Kourtney And Kim Take 18:00 Psych 11:30 Closed Circuit-PG15 14:00 Live ABC America This Miami 22:50 Emmerdale 19:00 Suits 21:30 Silver Linings Playbook 03:40 Dallas Car Sharks 13:15 42-PG15 Morning

OLYMPUS HAS FALLEN OSN MOVIES ACTION HD Classifieds

THURSDAY, JANUARY 15, 2015

Kuwait KNCC PROGRAMME FROM THURSDAY TO WEDNESDAY (15/01/2015 TO 21/01/2015)

SHARQIA-1 I -Tamil 3:00 PM 090 (Kuwaiti Film) 11:30 PM THE THEORY OF EVERYTHING 12:45 PM I -Tamil 6:15 PM 090 (Kuwaiti Film) 1:15 AM THE THEORY OF EVERYTHING 3:15 PM I -Tamil 9:45 PM NIGHT AT THE MUSEUM: SECRET OF THE TOMB 6:00 PM TAKEN 3 1:00 AM AVENUES-8 SEVENTH SON 8:15 PM THE IMITATION GAME 12:30 PM SEVENTH SON 10:30 PM MARINA-1 I -Hindi 3:00 PM TAKEN 3 12:45 AM THE WOMAN IN BLACK 2 ANGEL OF DEATH 11:30 AM I -Hindi 6:30 PM TAKEN 3 1:30 PM THE IMITATION GAME 10:00 PM SHARQIA-2 THE SNOW QUEEN 2 3:45 PM THE IMITATION GAME 12:30 AM TAKEN 3 12:30 PM THE SNOW QUEEN 2 6:00 PM TAKEN 3 3:00 PM THE WOMAN IN BLACK 2 ANGEL OF DEATH 8:00 PM AVENUES-9 TAKEN 3 5:30 PM TAKEN 3 10:30 PM LEGEND OF THE NEVER BEAST 12:15 PM TAKEN 3 7:45 PM THE WOMAN IN BLACK 2 ANGEL OF DEATH 12:45 AM THE SNOW QUEEN 2 2:00 PM TAKEN 3 10:00 PM LEGEND OF THE NEVER BEAST-3D 3:45 PM TAKEN 3 12:15 AM MARINA-2 THE SNOW QUEEN 2 5:30 PM TAKEN 3 12:30 PM THE SNOW QUEEN 2 7:15 PM SHARQIA-3 TAKEN 3 3:00 PM UNBROKEN 9:00 PM FROM A TO B 1:00 PM TAKEN 3 5:15 PM UNBROKEN 12:05 AM THE SNOW QUEEN 2 3:30 PM TAKEN 3 7:30 PM THE SNOW QUEEN 2 5:15 PM TAKEN 3 9:45 PM AVENUES-10 THE THEORY OF EVERYTHING 7:00 PM TAKEN 3 12:05 AM SEVENTH SON 12:00 PM THE THEORY OF EVERYTHING 9:30 PM SEVENTH SON 2:15 PM THE THEORY OF EVERYTHING 12:05 AM MARINA-3 SEVENTH SON 4:30 PM THE THEORY OF EVERYTHING 12:15 PM SEVENTH SON 6:45 PM MUHALAB-1 THE THEORY OF EVERYTHING 3:00 PM SEVENTH SON 9:00 PM FROM A TO B 12:15 PM SEVENTH SON 5:30 PM SEVENTH SON 11:15 PM SEVENTH SON 2:30 PM THE THEORY OF EVERYTHING 7:45 PM SEVENTH SON 1:15 AM THE WOMAN IN BLACK 2 ANGEL OF DEATH 4:45 PM SEVENTH SON 10:15 PM SEVENTH SON 7:00 PM THE THEORY OF EVERYTHING 12:30 AM AVENUES-11 FROM A TO B 9:15 PM TAKEN 3 -DOLBY ATMOS 12:30 PM TAKEN 3 11:45 PM AVENUES-1 TAKEN 3 -DOLBY ATMOS 3:00 PM FROM A TO B 12:00 PM TAKEN 3 -DOLBY ATMOS 5:30 PM MUHALAB-2 FROM A TO B 2:15 PM TAKEN 3 -DOLBY ATMOS 8:00 PM LEGEND OF THE NEVER BEAST 11:45 AM FROM A TO B 4:30 PM TAKEN 3 -DOLBY ATMOS 10:30 PM THE THEORY OF EVERYTHING 1:30 PM FROM A TO B 6:45 PM TAKEN 3 -DOLBY ATMOS 1:00 AM THE SNOW QUEEN 2 4:00 PM FROM A TO B 9:15 PM THE SNOW QUEEN 2 5:45 PM FROM A TO B 11:45 PM 360º- 1 THE THEORY OF EVERYTHING 7:30 PM SEVENTH SON 11:30 AM THE THEORY OF EVERYTHING 10:00 PM AVENUES-2 SEVENTH SON 1:45 PM THE THEORY OF EVERYTHING 12:30 AM INTO THE WOODS 11:30 AM SEVENTH SON-3D 4:00 PM INTO THE WOODS 2:00 PM SEVENTH SON 6:15 PM MUHALAB-3 INTO THE WOODS 4:45 PM SEVENTH SON-3D 8:30 PM SEVENTH SON -3D 11:30 AM THE WOMAN IN BLACK 2 ANGEL OF DEATH 7:15 PM SEVENTH SON 10:45 PM TAKEN 3 1:30 PM THE WOMAN IN BLACK 2 ANGEL OF DEATH 9:45 PM SEVENTH SON 1:00 AM TAKEN 3 3:45 PM THE WOMAN IN BLACK 2 ANGEL OF DEATH 12:05 AM TAKEN 3 6:00 PM 360º- 2 TAKEN 3 8:15 PM AVENUES-3 LEGEND OF THE NEVER BEAST 12:15 PM TAKEN 3 10:30 PM THE WATER DIVINER 11:45 AM LEGEND OF THE NEVER BEAST 2:15 PM TAKEN 3 12:45 AM I -Tamil 2:30 PM 090 (Kuwaiti Film) 4:15 PM I -Tamil 6:00 PM P.K -HINDI 6:15 PM FANAR-1 I -Tamil 9:30 PM 090 (Kuwaiti Film) 9:15 PM THE THEORY OF EVERYTHING 11:30 AM THE WATER DIVINER 12:45 AM 090 (Kuwaiti Film) 11:15 PM THE THEORY OF EVERYTHING 2:00 PM 090 (Kuwaiti Film) 1:15 AM THE THEORY OF EVERYTHING 4:30 PM AVENUES-4 No: 16403 THE THEORY OF EVERYTHING 7:00 PM TAKEN 3 11:30 AM 360º 3 THE THEORY OF EVERYTHING 9:30 PM TAKEN 3 2:00 PM INTO THE WOODS 12:00 PM THE THEORY OF EVERYTHING 12:05 AM TAKEN 3 4:30 PM INTO THE WOODS 2:30 PM TAKEN 3 7:00 PM INTO THE WOODS 5:00 PM FANAR-2 NO THU THE IMITATION GAME 7:30 PM FROM A TO B 12:30 PM Special Show “TAKEN 3” 7:00 PM THE IMITATION GAME 10:00 PM FROM A TO B 3:00 PM THU THE IMITATION GAME 12:30 AM FROM A TO B 5:30 PM TAKEN 3 9:30 PM FROM A TO B 7:45 PM TAKEN 3 12:05 AM AL-KOUT.1 THE WOMAN IN BLACK 2 ANGEL OF DEATH 10:00 PM TAKEN 3 1:00 PM FROM A TO B 12:15 AM AVENUES-5 TAKEN 3 3:30 PM THE THEORY OF EVERYTHING 1:00 PM TAKEN 3 5:45 PM FANAR-3 SEVENTH SON-3D 3:30 PM TAKEN 3 8:00 PM SEVENTH SON 1:00 PM THE THEORY OF EVERYTHING 5:45 PM TAKEN 3 10:15 PM THE SNOW QUEEN 2 3:15 PM SEVENTH SON 8:15 PM TAKEN 3 12:30 AM THE SNOW QUEEN 2 5:00 PM THE THEORY OF EVERYTHING 10:30 PM THE SNOW QUEEN 2 6:45 PM SEVENTH SON 1:00 AM AL-KOUT.2 THE IMITATION GAME 8:30 PM NIGHT AT THE MUSEUM: SECRET OF THE TOMB 11:30 AM SEVENTH SON 10:45 PM AVENUES-6 THE SNOW QUEEN 2 1:30 PM SEVENTH SON 1:00 AM THE THEORY OF EVERYTHING 11:30 AM THE SNOW QUEEN 2 3:15 PM THE THEORY OF EVERYTHING 2:00 PM THE SNOW QUEEN 2 5:00 PM FANAR-4 THE THEORY OF EVERYTHING 4:30 PM FROM A TO B 6:45 PM 090 (Kuwaiti Film) 11:30 AM THE THEORY OF EVERYTHING 7:00 PM FROM A TO B 9:15 PM TAKEN 3 1:15 PM THE THEORY OF EVERYTHING 9:30 PM FROM A TO B 11:45 PM TAKEN 3 3:30 PM THE THEORY OF EVERYTHING 12:05 AM TAKEN 3 5:45 PM AL-KOUT.3 TAKEN 3 8:00 PM AVENUES-7 THE THEORY OF EVERYTHING 11:30 AM TAKEN 3 10:15 PM NIGHT AT THE MUSEUM: SECRET OF THE TOMB 12:45 PM THE THEORY OF EVERYTHING 2:00 PM TAKEN 3 12:30 AM NIGHT AT THE MUSEUM: SECRET OF THE TOMB 3:15 PM THE THEORY OF EVERYTHING 4:30 PM NIGHT AT THE MUSEUM: SECRET OF THE TOMB 5:15 PM THE THEORY OF EVERYTHING 7:00 PM FANAR-5 NIGHT AT THE MUSEUM: SECRET OF THE TOMB 7:30 PM THE THEORY OF EVERYTHING 9:30 PM TAKEN 3 12:45 PM 090 (Kuwaiti Film) 9:45 PM THE THEORY OF EVERYTHING 12:15 AM

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

Arrival Flights on Thursday 15/1/2015 AGY 680 Alexandria 14:15 UAL 981 Bahrain 23:10 TBZ 5484 Mashhad 12:50 Airlines Flt Route Time THY 766 Istanbul 14:20 JZR 185 Dubai 23:15 MEA 405 Beirut 12:55 BBC 043 Dhaka 00:05 KNE 472 Jeddah 14:25 AGY 684 Sohag 23:20 SYR 342 Damascus 13:00 KAC 502 Beirut 00:05 SVA 500 Jeddah 14:30 THY 764 Istanbul 23:35 KAC 785 Jeddah 13:00 JAI 574 Mumbai 00:10 FDB 057 Dubai 14:30 PIA 205 Lahore 23:40 JZR 176 Dubai 13:45 JZR 239 Amman 00:25 MPH 951 Amsterdam 14:35 FDB 071 Dubai 23:45 MSR 611 Cairo 14:00 JZR 267 Beirut 00:30 KAC 538 Sohag 14:50 Departure Flights on Thursday 15/1/2015 UAE 872 Dubai 14:15 KLM 411 Amsterdam/Dammam 00:40 RJD 135 Abu Dhabi 14:55 Airlines Flt Route Time QTR 8647 Doha 14:25 JZR 539 Cairo 00:40 KNE 470 Jeddah 14:55 AIC 976 Goa/Chennai 00:05 KAC 617 Doha 15:00 THY 772 Istanbul 00:45 GFA 221 Bahrain 15:00 FDB 072 Dubai 00:45 KAC 673 Dubai 15:00 FDB 069 Dubai 00:55 OMA 645 Muscat 15:00 JAI 573 Mumbai 01:10 QTR 1079 Doha 15:05 QTR 1084 Doha 01:00 KAC 788 Jeddah 15:10 BBC 044 Dhaka 01:35 FDB 058 Dubai 15:10 RJA 642 Amman 01:05 KAC 284 Dhaka 15:15 KLM 411 Amsterdam 01:55 AGY 685 Sohag 15:15 KAC 546 Alexandria 01:10 JZR 175 Dubai 15:20 DLH 637 Frankfurt 02:15 THY 767 Istanbul 15:20 DLH 637 Dammam 01:15 UAE 857 Dubai 15:45 KAC 283 Dhaka 02:25 KNE 473 Jeddah 15:20 SAI 441 Lahore 01:30 ABY 127 Sharjah 15:45 SAI 442 Lahore 02:30 JZR 188 Dubai 15:40 PGT 858 Istanbul 01:35 FDB 051 Dubai 16:00 ETH 621 Addis Ababa 02:45 GFA 222 Bahrain 15:45 ETH 620 Addis Ababa 01:45 KNE 460 Riyadh 16:00 THY 773 Istanbul 02:55 KAC 773 Riyadh 15:50 MSC 403 Sohag 02:30 JZR 535 Cairo 16:10 PGT 859 Istanbul 03:25 KNE 471 Jeddah 15:50 GFA 211 Bahrain 02:30 JZR 779 Jeddah 16:10 MSC 404 Sohag 03:30 SVA 505 Jeddah 16:00 UAE 853 Dubai 02:35 NIA 251 Alexandria 16:15 KAC 381 Delhi 03:40 OMA 646 Muscat 16:00 JZR 553 Alexandria 02:45 KAC 562 Amman 16:20 UAE 854 Dubai 03:50 MPH 951 Dubai/SIN 16:05 JAI 526 Chennai/Abu Dhabi 02:50 JZR 257 Beirut 16:30 FDB 068 Dubai 03:55 RJD 136 Abu Dhabi 16:05 FDB 067 Dubai 02:55 QTR 1072 Doha 16:40 ETD 306 Abu Dhabi 04:05 KAC 501 Beirut 16:15 ETD 305 Abu Dhabi 03:10 RJA 640 Amman 16:55 MSR 613 Cairo 04:10 ABY 128 Sharjah 16:25 MSR 612 Cairo 03:10 ETD 303 Abu Dhabi 16:55 KKK 6508 Istanbul 04:10 KNE 481 Taif 16:50 KKK 6507 Istanbul 03:20 SVA 510 Riyadh 17:15 OMA 644 Muscat 04:25 FDB 052 Dubai 17:00 OMA 643 Muscat 03:25 GFA 215 Bahrain 17:30 QTR 1085 Doha 04:30 KAC 741 Dammam 17:00 QTR 1076 Doha 03:45 UAL 982 IAD 17:55 MSC 406 Sohag 05:05 JZR 266 Beirut 17:05 MSC 401 Alexandria 04:05 JZR 777 Jeddah 17:55 JZR 560 Sohag 05:10 NIA 252 Alexandria 17:15 JZR 503 Luxor 05:25 UAE 875 Dubai 18:00 QTR 1077 Doha 05:15 JZR 156 Dubai 17:35 THY 770 Istanbul 05:35 JZR 177 Dubai 18:20 THY 765 Istanbul 05:40 QTR 1073 Doha 17:40 TZS 170 Bahrain 05:40 KAC 118 New York 18:30 FDB 070 Dubai 06:30 UAE 858 Dubai 17:45 BAW 157 London 06:40 AFG 415 Kabul 18:30 JAI 525 Abu Dhabi/Chennai 06:35 JZR 538 Cairo 17:45 KAC 412 Manila/Bangkok 07:10 ABY 121 Sharjah 18:40 JZR 164 Dubai 06:55 ETD 304 Abu Dhabi 17:50 TAR 327 Tunis 07:45 KAC 786 Jeddah 18:45 RJA 643 Amman 07:05 RJA 641 Amman 17:55 FDB 053 Dubai 07:45 QTR 1080 Doha 18:50 GFA 212 Bahrain 07:15 SVA 511 Riyadh 18:15 QTR 1086 Doha 07:50 FDB 063 Dubai 19:10 JZR 240 Amman 07:15 GFA 216 Bahrain 18:20 IRA 673 Ahwaz 07:50 KAC 618 Doha 19:15 THY 771 Istanbul 07:30 JZR 184 Dubai 18:40 SVA 512 Riyadh 07:55 AXB 393 Kozhikode 19:15 KAC 537 Sohag 08:20 JZR 238 Amman 18:50 IRA 667 Esfahan 08:10 KAC 774 Riyadh 19:15 FDB 054 Dubai 08:25 JZR 134 Bahrain 19:10 KAC 352 Kochi 08:10 KAC 674 Dubai 19:25 TAR 327 Dubai/Tunis 08:35 UAL 982 Bahrain 19:15 KAC 302 Mumbai 08:20 KAC 541 Cairo 19:25 BAW 156 London 08:45 ABY 122 Sharjah 19:20 KAC 206 Islamabad 08:25 GFA 217 Bahrain 19:30 IRA 672 Ahwaz 08:50 AFG 415 Jeddah 19:30 KAC 332 Trivandrum 08:30 KAC 176 Geneva/Frankfurt 19:45 QTR 1087 Doha 08:50 UAE 876 Dubai 19:40 UAE 855 Dubai 08:40 KAC 104 London 19:55 SVA 513 Riyadh 08:55 QTR 1081 Doha 19:50 KAC 362 Colombo 08:45 JAI 572 Mumbai 20:00 JZR 256 Beirut 09:05 FDB 064 Dubai 19:55 ABY 125 Sharjah 09:00 KAC 742 Dammam 20:00 IRA 668 Mashhad 09:10 AXB 393 Kozhikode 20:15 ETD 301 Abu Dhabi 09:20 MSR 618 Alexandria 20:05 JZR 534 Cairo 09:15 GFA 218 Bahrain 20:15 FDB 055 Dubai 09:40 JZR 189 Dubai 20:15 KAC 787 Jeddah 09:25 KAC 361 Colombo 20:50 QTR 1070 Doha 10:00 OMA 647 Muscat 20:20 KAC 671 Dubai 09:25 KAC 343 Chennai 20:55 GFA 213 Bahrain 10:40 FDB 061 Dubai 20:20 ABY 126 Sharjah 09:40 JAI 571 Mumbai 21:00 UAE 873 Dubai 11:00 ABY 123 Sharjah 20:35 KAC 101 London/New York 09:50 MSR 619 Alexandria 21:05 IZG 4161 Mashhad 11:10 DLH 634 Frankfurt 20:50 UAE 856 Dubai 09:55 JZR 554 Alexandria 21:05 RBG 553 Alexandria 11:15 ALK 229 Colombo 21:10 ETD 302 Abu Dhabi 10:20 KAC 331 Trivandrum 21:10 MSC 405 Sohag 11:25 MEA 402 Beirut 21:20 KAC 561 Amman 10:25 ABY 124 Sharjah 21:15 JZR 165 Dubai 11:30 ETD 307 Abu Dhabi 21:30 JZR 778 Jeddah 10:30 KAC 351 Kochi 21:15 JZR 561 Sohag 11:45 FDB 073 Dubai 21:35 FDB 056 Dubai 10:35 FDB 062 Dubai 21:20 TBZ 5483 Mashhad 11:50 UAE 859 Dubai 21:40 JZR 174 Dubai 10:45 OMA 648 Muscat 21:20 MEA 404 Beirut 11:55 GFA 219 Bahrain 21:45 QTR 1071 Doha 11:00 TZS 171 Bahrain 21:50 SYR 341 Damascus 12:00 QTR 1074 Doha 21:55 KAC 165 Rome/Paris 11:15 ALK 230 Colombo 22:10 UAE 871 Dubai 12:50 KNE 480 Taif 22:00 GFA 214 Bahrain 11:25 ETD 308 Abu Dhabi 22:15 QTR 8646 Doha 12:55 JZR 135 Bahrain 22:05 RBG 554 Alexandria 11:55 KAC 301 Mumbai 22:15 JZR 241 Amman 12:55 JZR 157 Dubai 22:10 KAC 542 Cairo 12:05 MEA 403 Beirut 22:20 MSR 610 Cairo 13:00 KLM 417 Amsterdam 22:15 IZG 4162 Mashhad 12:10 FDB 074 Dubai 22:30 KAC 382 Delhi 13:45 ETD 309 Abu Dhabi 22:15 JZR 776 Jeddah 12:20 GFA 220 Bahrain 22:30 KAC 672 Dubai 13:55 FDB 059 Dubai 22:30 MSC 402 Alexandria 12:25 UAE 860 Dubai 22:50 QTR 1078 Doha 14:05 AIC 981 Chennai/Hyderabad/Ahmedabad 22:30 UAE 874 Dubai 12:30 KNE 461 Riyadh 22:50 DIAL161 FOR AIRPORT INFORMATION stars34 THURSDAY, JANUARY 15, 2015 CROSSWORD 785 STAR TRACK

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

You are able to express your feelings to others in a positive way. This is a If you find yourself having to work or choosing to work today, for the most good day to reflect and help others. On the subject of spending money . . . Care and judi- part, you should try to combine both work and pleasure in the best productive way possi- cious thought must be given to the practical use of money. You should take caution in ble. Communicating with friends and family is at a high just now. Your timing should be engaging in enterprises that entail the accruing of much debt. The emphasis now is perfect and those around you should find you most natural and alive. While you have a mostly on your communicative abilities. This is an excellent time to sway others to your fine ability to detect another person’s true feelings, you should not let your high aspira- cause through clever arguments, for your thinking is most lucid and grasping. Be careful, tions cloud your judgment of other people’s abilities and talents. Try and see people for though, of taking it to the extreme in trying to find a logical reason for every event that who they truly are. Expressing affection should come easily at this time and can do much occurs–especially the actions of loved ones. Family matters that need attention will good for your disposition. Romance is heightened in your personal relationships–there is receive closure. This evening there is time to enjoy your friends. time to actively cultivate a special relationship tonight.

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

This is the time you could be asking some questions about your progress in There may be numerous romantic interests or, at the least, opportunities in life. You may be in a reflective mood. Perseverance should be exercised as much as possi- your life. This period marks a time when you seek intellectual stimulation in both social ble since slow and steady win the race. The old zen saying that, “when you look for and leisure activities. As such, you may spend a great deal of time and effort balancing approval, you become a prisoner,” is not too far off-center for you just now. At this time, commitments. Your emotions should be sailing on relatively calm seas, giving you an you may actively become concerned about the welfare of others and how you fit into unhurried chance to sit down and take stock of things. Follow advice offered by a mentor their life. You may gain many answers for yourself when you volunteer and give of your or elder family member. Your understanding of the needs of others places you as the key time and talents. Your efforts will be rewarded. You desire to succeed. You concentrate character that people come to when they are in need of an understanding ear. You enjoy on the new ways to invest as well as the personal appeal. This is a good time to lead or the attention your friends and family give you and you make it a point to be around these plan a new project, for your imagination is unusually heightened. people often. You work hard to make time for your family.

Gemini (May 21-June 20) Sagittarius (November 22-December 21) You may feel as though you could conquer the world today. Work issues Your nature will most likely be very enduring, as you take a positive attitude are taken care of quickly and customer relations are positive. You look for- to just about all aspects of your life. This is an excellent time to sit down ward to the end of the day when you can do a little gym exercise or ride your bicycle alone and get many things accomplished. You enjoy your many intellectually-based ACROSS 82. A flat wing-shaped process or winglike part through the neighborhood. Additionally, this is a time when your powers of creativity are friendships. Your ability to truly appreciate friends and family is increased. You should 1. A flexible container with a single opening. of an organism. great. You may encourage your co-worker friends into taking an interest in some evening experience all the benefits of your platonic relationships. Your creative energy is in sync 4. American frontiersman and Tennessee politi- 83. A nonmagnetic housing for a ship's com- restaurant that has a little entertainment. There is plenty to talk about and you will find with your loved one and this time could prove most rewarding. This may mean a business cian who died at the siege of the Alamo (1786- pass (usually in front of the helm). yourself getting to know your co-workers better than you know your neighbors. This in the home, creative teaching, enhancing your living quarters, etc. You have arrived at a 1836). 84. A loose sleeveless outer garment made seems to be the time of year when you get a lot of mail, perhaps catalogs too. You may place in your life where you are feeling in balance with your life and you can be a good spend the evening clearing away all the mail and looking through a few catalogs. 12. The sense organ for hearing and equilibri- from aba cloth. example or mentor for others. Tonight is for relaxing. um. 15. A constellation in the southern hemisphere DOWN near Telescopium and Norma. 1. Capital city of the Apulia region on the 16. Blood disorder in which there is excess fluid Adriatic coast. Cancer (June 21-July 22) Capricorn (December 22-January 19) volume compared with the cell volume of the 2. (Greek mythology) Greek god of war. This is a good day to dive in and work in teams or groups. There may be a bit of blood. 3. Mentally or physically infirm with age. You will feel intellectually competitive, but take care when trivialities begin to competition but it seems to make the work and time go faster. Before you know it 17. The 21st letter of the Greek alphabet. 4. Grayish baboon of southern and eastern irritate you. If you remember your priorities, it can be a very productive day. You are most like- the work and the day have ended. You may sense that family status or conditions are changing 18. Popular music originating in the West Africa. ly able to spend some time with co-workers and people apart from work. This could mean an and you look around your living area to see what you can do to update and provide space to Indies. 5. The seed of the cereal grass. opportunity to network or to build on friendships. You look to the social setting to improve those who might enjoy visiting with you. There could be additions to the family circle through 20. (used of persons or the military) 6. A doctor's degree in optometry. your professional standing–certainly, you know an opportunity when you see it. Try to keep marriage or new birth. Also, this is a time when you may spend a great deal of time engaged in Characterized by having or bearing arms. 7. The part of a continent that is stable and some sense of reality in your interactions with friends. Try not to put undue strain on any per- intellectual pursuits. This may be a good time to work out of your home or take in a boarder. Your sense of humor is sharpened and you want to have some fun so you might enjoy planning 21. An ugly evil-looking old woman. forms the central mass of the continent. sonal relationships at this time. This is a good time to engage in some kind of physical activity. You have a desire to do something completely different now. the next gathering for family or friends. 22. (Old Testament) The second patriarch. 8. United States writer who was a leading fig- 25. A unit of luminous flux equal to the amount ure of the beat generation (1922-1969). of light given out through a solid angle of 1 9. Large-holed Swiss cheese. steradian by a point source of 1 candela inten- 10. Neckwear consisting of a long narrow piece Leo (July 23-August 22) Aquarius (January 20- February 18) sity radiating uniformly in all directions. of material worn (mostly by men) under a collar 26. A lawyer who pleads cases in court. and tied in knot at the front. You are obliging to others and can be more influential than you realize. You have done well these last few days, considering the load of responsibil- 28. Australian shrubs and small trees with ever- 11. A slight amount or degree of difference. There may be many opportunities for you to succeed as well as help others succeed as ities. All of that warmth and affection that you have shows through to everyone. Today green usually spiny leaves and dense clusters 12. An ancient Hebrew unit of dry measure you may be teaching new techniques or training new people. The powers that be tend to your friendly attitude carries over to those you do not know and as usual . . . You make a life customer from any person that stops to ask a question. You enjoy teaching and if you of showy flowers. equal to about a bushel. like having you in the same job identification because they trust your reasoning powers and your ability to get along with everyone. When you are ready to move forward in your ever get tired of what you are doing or you decide to take on an extra job, you could con- 31. Related on the mother's side. 13. According to the Old Testament he was a job position, you will need to create a file that will demonstrate your abilities to move into sider coaching or teaching. Relaxation comes through fun activities in the afternoon. Your 32. Mild yellow Dutch cheese made in balls. pagan king of Israel and husband of Jezebel new areas . . . Leaving no arguments. There is a steadiness in your emotional life. Some secret for happiness is that you usually give of your time and energy without expectations. 36. An independent ruler or chieftain (especial- (9th century BC). project you are working on at home this evening could get plenty of positive publicity if You are entering a period of personal change and you may decide that it is time to update ly in Africa or Arabia). 14. Port city that is the capital and largest city that is what you want. your wardrobe. A new suit or jacket would be a nice touch. 37. The syllable naming the fourth (subdomi- of Latvia. nant) note of the diatonic scale in solmization. 19. A coterie of undesirable people. 38. The capital of Australia. 23. A large group of islands in the south Pacific Virgo (August 23-September 22) Pisces (February 19-March 20) 40. Walk or tramp about. including Melanesia and Micronesia and 42. A hard malleable ductile silvery metallic ele- Polynesia (and sometimes Australasia and the Your sharp and alert mind is full of opinions and information that you are If you take the initiative, a work goal that seemed beyond your reach earlier ment that is resistant to corrosion. Malay Archipelago). dying to share with everyone–especially those with whom you may be working on some may be obtainable now. In-depth discussions and probing conversations find you at your 44. The unwanted discharge of a fluid from 24. Having a smooth, gleaming surface. volunteer project. Also, you are eager to take in all sorts of information from everyone mental best. Around a conference table today, you are able to hold everyone’s attention. some container. 27. Roman statesman and philosopher who else–leading to frequent encounters and a busy telephone. This should be a very electric Be prepared for questions because you will gain their interest. Your analytical abilities are 45. The seventh and last day of the week. was and advisor to Nero (circa 4 BC - 65 AD). day! Your communication skills are sharp. On a more mundane level–it is an excellent day at a high point. Some long-term projects can be completed this afternoon. This afternoon is a good time to try and foster a sense of togetherness among family members. 46. Concerning those not members of the cler- 29. A member of the Semitic speaking people to talk on the phone. This evening, you could be susceptible to acting spontaneously, without thinking clearly about the implications involved. Take time before making any Expressing affection comes easily and can do positive things for everyone’s disposition. gy. of northern Ethiopia. Your understanding of the needs of others is in perfect balance with the knowledge of major decisions or conclusions just now. This period marks an excellent time to be with 48. A heavy odorless colorless gas formed dur- 30. In working order. your own needs. People are your best friends–enjoy. loved ones–particularly to celebrate a special event. ing respiration and by the decomposition of 33. Any of numerous low-growing cushion- organic substances. forming plants of the genus Draba having 49. A decree that prohibits something. rosette-forming leaves and terminal racemes of 50. One of four subclasses or superorder of small flowers with scapose or leafy stems. WORD SEARCH PUZZLE Yesterday’s Solution Monocotyledones. 34. Wild sheep of semidesert regions in central 52. An esoteric or occult matter that is tradi- Asia. tionally secret. 35. An unnaturally frenzied or distraught 54. A percussion instrument consisting of a pair woman. of hollow pieces of wood or bone (usually held 39. African tree having an exceedingly thick between the thumb and fingers) that are made trunk and fruit that resembles a gourd and has to click together (as by Spanish dancers) in an edible pulp called monkey bread. rhythm with the dance. 41. A folded part (as a fold of skin or muscle). 55. An official prosecutor for a judicial district. 43. Made agreeably cold (especially by ice). 57. A colorless and odorless inert gas. 47. (Babylonian) God of storms and wind. 58. A state in the Rocky Mountains. 51. A hidden storage space (for money or pro- 59. Someone who is morally reprehensible. visions or weapons). 60. In the Arabian Nights a hero who tells of the 53. (informal) Exceptionally good. fantastic adventures he had in his voyages. 56. An ascocarp having the spore-bearing layer 64. The Hebrew patriarch who saved himself of cells (the hymenium) on a broad disklike and his family and the animals by building an receptacle. ark in which they survived 40 days and 40 61. Of or relating to a seizure or convulsion. nights of rain. 62. Relating to or accompanying birth. 67. An indehiscent fruit derived from a single 63. (Irish) Chief god of the Tuatha De Danann. ovary having one or many seeds within a fleshy 65. A translucent mineral consisting of hydrat- wall or pericarp. ed silica of variable color. 69. A short labored intake of breath with the 66. A Loloish language. mouth open. 68. A primeval personification of air and breath. 72. Activity involved in maintaining something 70. Someone who works (or provides workers) in good working order. during a strike. 75. A favorite saying of a sect or political group. 71. A metabolic acid found in yeast and liver 77. Aircraft landing in bad weather in which the cells. pilot is talked down by ground control using 73. A gradual decline (in size or strength or precision approach radar. power or number). 78. The longer of the two telegraphic signals 74. Hawaiian dish of taro root pounded to a used in Morse code. paste and often allowed to ferment. 79. Of or relating to Bohemia or its language or 76. Used of a single unit or thing. people. 80. A colorless explosive liquid that is volatile 81. A light touch or stroke. and poisonous and foul-smelling. Yesterday’s Solution

Daily SuDoku Yesterday’s Solution THURSDAY, JANUARY 15, 2015 information

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Gossip

Brad Pitt joins ‘The Big Short’

rad Pitt will star in and produce ‘The Big Short’. The financial drama - which parts each star already signed up will play. Brad and DeDe Gardner which also stars Christian Bale and Ryan Gosling - is another adapta- want to produce the film, which is backed by Paramount studios, under Btion of a Michael Lewis nonfiction book, and after the success of the actor’s Plan B company. Brad was last seen in ‘Fury’ and has since ‘Moneyball’, it is no surprise that the 51-year-old actor wants to join the worked on ‘By The Sea’ with his wife, Angelina Jolie, as both actor and cast. Adam McKay, the director of ‘Anchorman’, has been developing this director. Christian is currently on screen playing Moses in ‘Exodus: Gods drama for a while, basing it on ‘The Big Short: Inside the Doomsday and Kings’ whilst Ryan has just finished filming alongside Russell Crowe for Machine’, a book about several key people who made millions after creat- the thriller, ‘The Nice Guys’. No start date has been confirmed for ‘The Big ing a toxic credit bubble that led to the global economic meltdown Short’ as of yet. between 2007 and 2010. Adam will both write and direct the upcoming film and is believed to be looking for a group of big-time movie stars to fill the film’s main roles. However, there is not any indication as of yet on Bay desperate to play ‘big gigs’

ames Bay is desperate to play “big gigs” in 2015. The rapidly rising star has gained praise for his debut sin- Jgle ‘Hold Back The River’ and now has his sights set on a string of huge performances in the next 12 months. He exclusively told BANG Showbiz: “I just want to play big gigs!” The 24-year-old singer-songwriter - who last month was named as the recipient of the 2015 Brits Critics’ Choice Award - admitted he is also keen to let people hear his debut album ‘Chaos and the Calm’, which will be released on March 23 in the UK, because he wants to hear his fans singing his songs. He explained: “My album is coming out this year which is still something I find hard to believe but I am also burning to get it out because I want people to hear it. “With the EPs I’ve released I’ve heard people singing the words at my gigs to my songs, so I want to show the people all the material now, so they can sing all the songs... if they want to!” The handsome musician per- formed as part of BBC Radio 1’s Future Festival last night alongside other hotly-tipped artists including Years & Years, Shura and Coasts, and is hoping he will have plenty more concerts in store for the rest of the year because it is Affleck and Fincher what he enjoys most about being a musician. He added: “I’m excited to play loads of shows. It’s the simple stuff but reunite for ‘Strangers’ it’s why I do it all.” en Affleck and David Fincher are the details remain under wraps as of now, reuniting for ‘Strangers’. The 42-year- according to Deadline, so fans will have to Bold actor and the 52-year-old direc- wait and find out how their adaptation will tor - who worked together on the box compare to the original 1951 film. Gallagher blasts Sheeran office hit, ‘Gone Girl’ - are both on board to Hitchcock’s version - which was adapted remake the Alfred Hitchcock film, from a novel by Patricia Highsmith - follows ‘Strangers On A Train’. The thriller - which is the story of tennis professional, Guy Haines oel Gallagher “can’t live in a world” music scene, explaining that it was a currently known as ‘Strangers’ - is updating (played by Farley Granger), who meets a where Ed Sheeran is playing “strange time” for music. He told NME mag- the story told by Hitchcock and is expected man on the train and they agree to swap NWembley Stadium. The former Oasis azine: “It’s a strange time, and it seems like to follow the plot of a film star, whose pri- murders hoping that they can get away lead guitarist and vocalist has blasted the the whole thing is embedded for good vate plane breaks down mid-Oscar cam- with it. Warner Bros studio were eager to ‘Thinking Out Loud’ hitmaker, who will play now, for forever.”It’s not all over, but it’ll go paign, forcing him to hitch a ride to Los have this remake and are hoping Ben can three dates at iconic 80,000 capacity stadi- back to the way it was in the early ‘80s Angeles with a business man, which starts squeeze the film in between ‘Live By Night’, um in north-west London later this year. where indie bands are the alternative the chain of complicated events. The pair which he is both directing and acting in, Referring to the concerts, the 47-year-old thing, the lower level. In the early ‘80s are also recruiting the help of author Gillian and ‘The Justice League Part One’. musician said: “I don’t think I can live in a everyone at indie labels, even major labels, Flynn, who adapted her own novel for the world where that’s even possible.”When were trying to push this music to the fore 2014 movie of the same name. The rest of you hear that kind of polished pop and because everything else was not, and then there’s a ginger guy with a guitar it maybe it’ll happen again, but I don’t see it seems subversive, but it’s not.” The 23-year- for the next decade.” old singer/songwriter responded to the comments by Noel, writing on Twitter: “I can live in it, its really enjoyable (sic)”Noel also slammed the state of the current Meghan Trainor: My mum Lucas wanted to direct Star Wars: The Force Awakens used to do my makeup eghan Trainor’s mum used to do her and is considering a bold lip color. She added: eorge Lucas initially wanted to direct ‘Star Wars: The makeup. The ‘All About That Bass’ “I haven’t done it yet, but I love rocking a red Force Awakens’. The 70-year-old creator of the sci-fi Mhitmaker - who recently collaborated lip. It depends on what color my dress is, but I Gfranchise had been planning to make the new movie with cosmetics brand Clinique to create a love it because my lips are teensy weensy and Hawking admits to being and release it in 2015, before selling on his production compa- makeup bag full of her favorite lip products - [red lipstick] shows, ‘Whoa! She has lips!” ny Lucasfilm. However, Lucas said the commitment needed has admitted she wasn’t always as knowl- Meghan has designed the crazy and colorful for a ‘Star Wars’ trilogy, allied to Disney’s interest in buying the edgeable about beauty and was forced into limited-edition makeup bag - which contains franchise, prompted him to give up creative control. He said: wearing lipstick by her mother. She shared: “I her favorite Clinique product, Chubby Sticks - ‘astounded’ by Jones “It’s better for me to get out at the beginning of a new thing didn’t wear makeup for a long time because I to coincide with the launch of her debut and I can just remove myself. The time is more important to didn’t know what I was doing. My mum used album ‘Title’. ane Hawking was “astounded” by because she had my mannerisms, she me than the money.” Lucas - who is also responsible for the Felicity Jones’ portrayal of her in ‘The had my speech patterns. It was a very to try to put makeup on me. “I was in middle ‘Indiana Jones’ franchise - said he is looking forward to watch- school, and she was like, ‘Just put lipstick on!’ Theory of Everything’. The 31-year- weird experience.” The film is based on J ing the much-anticipated new And I was like, ‘Ugh, I don’t want to! It tastes old actress starred as Professor Stephen Jane’s memoir, ‘Travelling to Infinity: My ‘Star Wars’ film as a fan. He bad!’ She was like, ‘Well, you don’t eat it!’ And I Hawking’s on-screen wife alongside Life With Stephen’, and she’s thrilled with told USA Today: “The only was like, ‘OK it’s on my mouth!’ I didn’t get it. Eddie Redmayne, and Jane - who was the adaptation. Jane told the Guardian thing I really regret about Star But I figured it out - kind of.” The 21-year-old married to the theoretical physicist from newspaper: “They made a beautiful film Wars is the fact I never got to star is still learning about creating different 1965 until 1995 - admits to being and I had to reconcile myself to the com- see it - I never got to be blown looks using makeup and has been picking up stunned by her performance. She reflect- promises that one has to make for the out of my seat when the ship tips everywhere she goes. She told PEOPLE ed: “When they were filming, she came film industry. Stephen’s colleagues all came over the screen. The magazine: “My dancers just taught me this. All to dinner several times and we talked became one character called Brian who next one, I’ll be able to enjoy you really need, if you’re running out, or if you and we talked. I thought, ‘What is she is always there as his companion. Sadly, I it like anybody else.” ‘Star have friends coming over and you don’t want going to make of me?’ “But she is a didn’t seem to have any friends or rela- Wars: The Force Awakens’ to look like you tried, you need foundation to method actress and when I saw her on tions at all.” opens in cinemas in make your skin look like butter. And then the screen in those first shots when she December 2015. brows! The brows are everything. I had no arrives at the party I was just astounded. idea. You fill [them] in!” The blonde beauty is I thought, ‘She’s stolen my personality!’ already thinking of what kind of makeup she wants to wear at the Grammys next month One Direction recording new album ne Direction have started recording their next experts Wayne Hector, who co-wrote ‘Best Song Ever’ and album. The five-piece band - featuring Harry Styles, ‘Steal My Girl’, and Julian Bunetta, who was responsible for OZayn Malik, Niall Horan, Louis Tomlinson and Liam ‘You And I’ and latest single ‘Night Changes’. Wayne - who Payne - confirmed in December they had started thinking has previously written hits for Nicki Minaj, Olly Murs and about their next LP, and have now headed into the studio Westlife - recently confirmed he would be returning to to begin work on the collection. A source revealed: “There write with the band following sessions with drum and bass has been a bit of a question about the timing of the fifth group Sigma. He said: “I’m finishing off some songs with album but there was never any doubt it would be released, Sigma then I’m going to start writing for the new One despite the ridiculous speculation.” The chart-topping Direction album. “I’m really looking forward to it-they’re group released their latest album, ‘Four’, in November, and always great to work with.” Despite enlisting the help of are now hoping to have their fifth record completed in their long-term songwriting collaborators, the world- time to release before Christmas - as they have done with renowned band - who scooped the American Music Award all of their previous albums - despite considering taking a for Artist of the Year at the 2014 ceremony in November - break. The source continued: “Initially the guys thought will have “control” over the music and the direction of the they might want more time away from the studio because band. The source told The Sun newspaper: “The reality is they’ve been busy promoting ‘Four’. “But they’ve been itch- that after nearly five years together they are very much in ing to get back recording again because it’s what they love control of their sound and the process.”— Bang showbiz to do, so it’s full steam ahead.” As with their previous albums, the lads have enlisted the help of songwriting lifestyle THURSDAY, JANUARY 15, 2015

Features How to get the best shape for your brows!

erfectly groomed eyebrows can definitely balance and frame your features. We’ve all been there, where a few years back we Pthought having threads as eyebrows was the thing! More than ever now, a full brow is the trend, and quite frankly, classic! You can never go wrong with a fully defined brow - BUT a more natural looking brow, not the bar-looking eyebrows. There’s an actual study that was made to analyze people’s personali- ties from their brows, which I found a bit weird because usually we choose how we want them shaped. Here is what it says about eyebrow shapes:

1. Short Brows: Are a sign of someone who can’t deal well with stress, nor listens to other people’s problems. 2. Long Brows: Are people who can deal with stress well, and tend to listen to friends’ problems and help them out. 3. Naturally Thin Arches/Sparse brows: Symbolize people who doubt themselves and listen to what they are told. They also live life very carefully. 4. Naturally Full Brows: Represent people who are more active, secure and have a good head on their shoulders. 5. Eyebrows with high arches: Means these people aren’t approach- Try to follow the natural shape of your brow, unless you have almost no able, but they also tend to be perfectionists and have good taste. hair on your brow, which would be even more fun because you get to 6. Arches that are low: Are more approachable and friendly. They shape your brow however you want! (stay positive). Use this line a also stick to their promises. guideline to how thick you want your brows to be, always keep in mind 7. Rounded Eyebrows: Represent people who are super kind, and that having really thick brows can sometimes not look so realistic. Draw helpful. They always want to create a win-win situation for every- in the hairs use hair-like strokes to give your brows more definition and one. ALWAYS have the beginning of your brow lighter and less defined than 8. Straight Eyebrows: They’re thinkers that value logic, and usually the arch and tip. aren’t very emotional. Reading through this study was a bit annoying for me only because, Step 4: Shape your arch I disagree with it. Every time I read about a certain type of brow I relate If you already have straight brows, I suggest you keep them, some to someone I know and it doesn’t work. actually look really good, especially if you have sharp features. However, for those who want to create an arch, it should be on top of the end of your iris (pupil) and should be placed right on your brow bone. After this point you should shape the tail of your brow. Brows really do change the way you look and make a huge differ- ence in how your features turn out. With age, having thicker brows can make you look much younger. Proper grooming, some essential oils and a little bit of make up on your brows can go a long way! Ditch the full marker brows and go for a more natural lighter brow to help you achieve a more softer and classic look! Till next week! Fouz xo

Pluck the perfect brow! Understanding how you can perfect your dream brow is all it takes to achieve it. With makeup, it’s all about practice. Sometimes I look back to some photos of my makeup, and I have no idea what was going on in my head that made me do that. These steps below will help you with defining your brow and them practice perfecting it!

Step 1: Your starting point If you were to take your tweezersor a small eye shadow brush and flip it (use the bottom tip) and place it vertically alongside the outer edge of your nose (nostrils), that is where your eyebrow should start.

Step 2: Your end point Lay the tweezers or small brush against your cheek starting from the same outer corner of your nose on an angle so that is reaches the outer corner of your eye. The area where the tweezers/brush overlaps your eyebrow is where it should end, so pluck any hairs beyond this point.

Step 3: Brow thickness Use a brow pencil or powder to define your lower brow by drawing a line along the bottom edge of your brow, and above any spray hairs.

Citrus caviar: France discovers Australia’s exotic condiment

rench wholesaler Alain Cohen is the gastronomic equivalent of grated, contains notes of lemongrass and lemon balm. The version a gold digger, constantly on the lookout for new culinary treas- developed by the Baches resembles a big olive, with a pink skin Fures. When he makes what he thinks is a major find he presents tinged with green and pearly pink seeds that are less sharply acidic it to French celebrity chef Alain Ducasse-usually to discover Ducasse and have a grapefruit or red fruits aroma. Adding to its appeal, as got there first. With one exception. “The only time I caught him out Michel points out, is the fact that it has “no pips!” was with citrus caviar,” says Cohen, who specializes in fruits and veg- “Demand has not stopped growing since 2000,” said Georgie etables. Plucked from the obscurity of the Australian rainforest, the MacDougall of Australia’s Wild Fingerlime Group, who exports the small gherkin-shaped citrus is the hottest new thing in French cui- delicacy to Europe. The celebrated Spanish chef Ferran Adria, who sine. When squeezed, the “microcitrus australasica”-also known as fin- pushed the boundaries of cuisine with hi-tech methods to decon- ger lime releases tiny caviar-like pearls of tart juice. struct and rebuild food in surprising ways, is touted as one of the first A few seeds on an oyster, sushi, salmon or salad packs a powerful to use it on the continent. “You must think of it as a condiment that alchemical punch. “The first time I tasted it I was overwhelmed,” can be used on sweet or savory dishes,” says Heerah. Antoine Heerah, a Paris chef who trained under Michelin three-star “On its own, it’s perfect on raw food, like carpaccio of scallops or supremo Alain Passard, says, describing the fruit as “both playful and sea bass. It creates a spectacularly attractive effect.” Removing the revolutionary”. Playful, because the tiny pearls roll under the tongue caviar gently from the fruit he lays it on a “creme chiboust”, a type of and explode in the mouth, releasing a bitter, citrus flavor that is more pastry cream, that he has blended with a lime frozen parfait, then acidic than a lime but softer than a lemon. For Heerah, who runs the adds a drizzle of honey and pours on a coulis made from another Chamarre Montmartre restaurant, the new ingredient is “very 21st fashionable citrus fruit, the Japanese yuzu. century”-simple to use but with the power to turn the mundane into the magical. ‘Explodes in the mouth’ Renowned chocolate sculptor Patrick Roger uses citrus caviar ‘Playful and revolutionary’ seeds in a lemon ganache, wrapped in a half sphere of dark choco- Both Cohen and Heerah are disciples of Michel and Benedicte late. “The chocolate surrounding the citric acid creates alchemy and Baches. At their farm near Perpignan in southern France the couple explodes in the mouth,” he says. As the word gets out, the lime’s luxu- both cultivate new citrus fruits and inject new life into existing vari- ry cousin is finding its way onto the high street, into France’s luxury Australians are getting back into the fruit, and the Californians and French nurseryman Michel eties. Michel happened upon the fruit about 25 years ago, shortly grocers. With a retail price of about 100 euros ($117 euros) a kilo (2.2 Baches looks at Australian after Australian citrus growers brought it in from the wild and started pounds) — about two euros a piece and more than twice the price in Israelis are also starting to grow their own, but for the moment, citrus caviar is still-as befits the name - a niche business. — AFP Finger Lime (Citrus aus- cultivating finger lime. Using imported seeds he began growing and Australia-it’s one of the world’s most expensive citrus fruits. tralasica) also known as experimenting with natural hybrids until he came up with his own The high cost reflects the limited supplies of the produce. Baches, “lime caviar”. variety, which he named “citron caviar” (citrus caviar). the only known grower of citrus caviar in France, produces some 800- The Australian fruit contains yellow seeds that are spicy in the 900 kilos a year. He is currently working on a new variety crossed with mouth, with an acidic aftertaste. The skin, which can be dried and blood oranges, which should yield red seeds. Outside of France, the

French chef Antoine Heerah, native of Mauritius, uses A person holds an Australian Finger Limes (Citrus australa- A chef prepares an Australian Finger Lime (Citrus australa- French chef Antoine Heerah, native of Mauritius, uses Australian Finger Lime (Citrus australasica) also known as sica). sica) also known as “lime caviar”. Australian Finger Lime (Citrus australasica). “lime caviar”, as he cooks in his kitchen. — AFP photos lifestyle THURSDAY, JANUARY 15, 2015

Music & Movies Madonna, AC/DC to play Grammys ceremony

op icon Madonna and veteran hard rockers AC/DC The Grammys also tapped heavy metal veterans last will join younger stars in performing at the Grammys year with a performance by Metallica, who played the 25- Pon February 8, organizers of the music industry’s pre- year-old song “One” with classical pianist Lang Lang. mier awards show announced Tuesday. Other musicians Another musician scheduled to play this year’s Grammys is chosen to play at one of the year’s most-watched concerts the country star Eric Church, who is in contention for four include the English singer and songwriter Ed Sheeran, awards. — AFP whose “X” is up for the Grammys’ prestigious Album of the Year, and the child star turned pop singer Ariana Grande, who is nominated in two categories. Madonna, who has won seven Grammys over her three- decade career, is scheduled in March to release a new album, “Rebel Heart,” in which she goes further in a hip- hop direction. She abruptly released six songs from the album in December after versions leaked on the Internet. Madonna, who has a large following in the gay community, also played the Grammys last year in a surprise move, join- ing Macklemore and Ryan Lewis in their same-sex marriage anthem, “Same Love,” as 33 couples of diverse backgrounds got married on the Grammys floor in Los Angeles. AC/DC will take the stage after tumult among the veter- an Australian hard rockers as drummer Phil Rudd faced allegations of hiring a hitman in New Zealand and found- ing member Malcolm Young retired to a special care home as he suffers dementia. AC/DC, who released a 15th solo In this March 23, 2009 file photo, members of Australian In this February 5, 2012 file photo singer Madonna (top) performs with Redfoo and Sky Blu of LMFAO during the NFL album, “Rock or Bust,” last year, is due to play at the legendary hard rock band AC/DC Brian Johnson and Super Bowl XLVI game halftime show at Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis, Indiana. Coachella music festival in southern California two months Angus Young perform at the Laszlo Papp Arena in later. Budapest. — AFP photos Joel, Mumford & Sons, Lamar set for Bonnaroo

he 2015 Bonnaroo Music and Arts Festival will feature a star-studded lineup including Billy Joel, Mumford & TSons and Kendrick Lamar. Robert Plant, Deadmau5, and Florence + the Machine will also perform during the four-day event that kicks off June 11 in Manchester, Tennessee. Tickets go on sale Saturday. More than 125 bands and 20 comedians will perform across 12 stages. Earth, Wind & Fire, My Morning Jacket, Bassnectar, Alabama Shakes, Childish Gambino, Hozier and Gary Clark Jr will also per- form. Kanye West headlined the Bonnaroo festival last year. More performers for this year’s festival will be announced at a later date. — AP Garth Brooks tops Elvis on

US all-time list In this May 22, 2014 file photo, Mumford & Sons winning the International Achievement Awards at the 59th Ivor Novello Awards at the Grosvenor House in London. ountry star Garth Brooks, who came out of retirement last year, has surpassed Elvis Presley Cas the solo artist to sell the most albums in the United States, industry figures showed. But Brooks remains well-below the all-time top-sellers in US his- tory-the Beatles, who according to the Recording Industry Association of America have sold 178 mil- lion albums. Brooks and Presley, who died in 1977, have repeatedly swapped spots for number two on the list. Brooks’ career soared in the 1990s as his country songs won a crossover audience. After a break in which he raised a family, Brooks released his first album in 13 years, “Man Against Machine,” in November. The industry association last week certi- fied “Man Against Machine” as platinum-meaning it has sold at least one million copies. With the certifi- cation, Brooks has again risen to the top-with 135 million albums against 134.5 million for The King. Presley’s estate has in the past disputed such rankings as the industry association focuses on sales of albums rather than singles. Presley had a long string of blockbuster hits, released on 45-RPM records, starting in the 1950s. The recording associa- tion lists Led Zeppelin in fourth place for all-time US album sales, followed by the Eagles, Billy Joel and Michael Jackson. — AFP In this Oct 2, 2014 file photo, Kendrick Lamar performs In this May 9, 2014 file photo, Billy Joel performs at In this June 28, 2014 file photo, Robert Plant performs on during We Day at the Air Canada Centre in Toronto, Madison Square Garden in New York. the Pyramid main stage at Glastonbury music festival, in Canada. England.— AP photos Woody Allen returns to Sienna Miller on acting, ‘American Sniper’

ith long dark hair and an American accent, British Q: How intimidating was it playing Taya? TV roots with Amazon series actress Sienna Miller disappears into her role as the A: In playing a real person you want to do your best to cap- Wwife of a US Navy SEAL sharpshooter in the film ture as much as possible of their energy and spirit ... You just try scar-winning filmmaker Woody Allen is going back to his Tonight Show”-a venerable late-night program that he also wrote “American Sniper.” Blond, blue-eyed Miller has ramped up her to capture the essence of someone and then lean on Clint TV roots in a deal with online giant Amazon to write and for in his youth. career since the birth of her daughter in 2012. Next month, she Eastwood. — Reuters Odirect his own series that will premiere next year. The news More recently, in 2001, Allen wrote and directed a three- takes over as singer Sally Bowles for the final weeks of “Cabaret” comes as the world’s biggest online retailer celebrates its first minute television comedy short called “Sounds from a Town I on Broadway. The musical set in pre-World War Two Berlin is a Golden Globes for its transgender-themed sitcom “Transparent”-a Love” about his beloved hometown New York in the wake of the world away from her role in “American Sniper” as Taya Kyle, breakthrough in its efforts to catch up with streaming pioneer 9/11 attacks. Amazon said Allen would deliver “a full season” of whose husband Chris, played by Bradley Cooper, was the dead- Netflix. Amazon said the “Untitled Woody Allen Project” will run half-hour episodes that subscribers to its Prime Instant Video serv- liest marksman in Navy history. sometime next year on its growing Amazon Prime Instant Video ice will be able to see in the United States, Britain and Germany. The Clint Eastwood film opens in US theaters tomorrow and service. “Additional details, including casting information, will be made depicts the impact of war on a soldier and his family. Kyle sur- “I don’t know how I got into this. I have no ideas and I’m not available in the future,” it said. vived four tours in Iraq but was killed by a disgruntled US veter- sure where to begin,” the 79-year-old Allen said in a statement an at a gun range near his Texas home in 2013. Miller, 33, spoke from Amazon Studios, the company’s TV content arm. “My guess ‘Visionary creator’ about film choices, motherhood and playing real people. is that (Amazon Studios chief) Roy Price will regret this,” he added A season of original TV programming for the Internet typically in his trademark wry humor. The project is a coup for Amazon’s runs about a dozen episodes, released simultaneously. “Woody Q: What attracted you to playing Taya? on-demand Internet video streaming service, which alongside Allen is a visionary creator who has made some of the greatest A: The story was so interesting to me. It is so culturally far Netflix is upending the traditional broadcast television business films of all-time, and it’s an honor to be working with him on his removed from where I’ve grown up and the world I have lived model. first television series,” Price said. in. It is undeniably compelling and the idea, as a new mother, of “From ‘Annie Hall’ to ‘Blue Jasmine,’ Woody has been at the cre- being in that position of having children and not knowing Allen’s TV background ative forefront of American cinema, and we couldn’t be more every day whether your husband would survive, and what that Amazon said the show would be the first TV series to be writ- excited to premiere his first TV series exclusively on Prime Instant would be like. ten and directed by Allen-but it’s by no means his first experience Video next year.” Allen has won four Oscars-three for best screen- with the small screen. In the mid-1950s, as television took center play for “Annie Hall,” “Hannah and her Sisters,” and “Midnight in Q: Has motherhood changed your career choices? stage in America’s living rooms, Allen found lucrative work as a Paris,” and a best director statuette for “Annie Hall.” News of his A: I felt for awhile that I had done work that I was proud of in gag writer for comedian Sid Caesar and variety show host Garry Amazon deal comes nearly a year after his adopted daughter films before and then been maybe disappointed with the ulti- Moore. He wrote and appeared in some episodes of “Candid Dylan Farrow alleged he molested her when she was seven years mate result. I knew what I was capable of and I knew what I was Camera,” turned up as a guest panelist on “What’s My Line?” and ago in the early 1990s-a claim that he strongly denied. exploring, but I never had the experience of working with the recorded a one-off stand-up comedy special for British television Irish technology and pop culture writer Mic Wright, on the best directors. And somehow having a baby changed things. in 1965, “The Woody Allen Show.” TNW.com tech news website, said Amazon, by signing up Allen, For American public television, Allen in 1971 directed and was delivering “a smack in the face” to child abuse survivors. In Q: You’ve recently played American characters. Why did starred in a mock documentary, “Men of Crisis: The Harvey November, Netflix postponed a comedy special with another US you go after those roles? Wallinger Story,” lampooning then-president Richard Nixon. Its bit- entertainment icon, Bill Cosby, as several women came forward A: It’s more interesting to me to explore something that is ing satire proved too much for television executives who nixed with allegations of sexual assault, which he denies. — AFP far away from what I am. Bradley and I went on to do another the flick at the last minute, fearing Nixon might retaliate with a film after “American Sniper” and I play someone English and I funding cut. “Men of Crisis” endures on video websites. The same sound like myself and I just felt so self conscious through the year, Allen also did a turn as guest host of NBC television’s “The whole process. lifestyle THURSDAY, JANUARY 15, 2015

Music & Movies Kazim Al-Saher to perform in the opening concert of Sharjah World Music Festival elebrated Iraqi singer Kazim Al Saher will perform most successful and celebrated Arabic singers. With 24 The first edition of the Sharjah World Music Festival was live at the inaugural concert of the 2nd Sharjah albums in his repertoire over three decades, he has per- run at Al-Qasba in Sharjah in the beginning of 2014. As a CWorld Music Festival, which will start at 10:00 pm on formed at hundreds of concerts in the Arab region and the result of the resounding success and increasing public Friday, January 16. entire world, received awards and accolades from top Arab attention, it was decided to expand the festival across vari- Presented by the Sharjah Investment and Development and international festivals, and sang lyrics by the best Arab ous venues in the emirate of Sharjah. Authority (Shurooq) and organized by Furat Qaddouri poets, including Nizar Qabbani, Karim Al-Iraqi, Manea By organizing the festival, Shurooq seeks to boost the Music Centre, the festival will take place from 16th to 25th Saeed Al- Ottaibah, and Farouq Jwaidah. cultural and art presence of Sharjah and the UAE, intro- of January 2015 at Al Majaz Amphitheatre, Al-Majaz On Saturday, January 17 (9:00 pm), Al-Majaz Waterfront duce various musical cultures around the world to the UAE Waterfront, Al-Qasba, Heart of Sharjah, and Flag Island, will host a high-level musical concert, featuring perform- community, and add a new product to the Emirate’s list of with participation of international singers, artists and ance of Furat Qaddouri Music Centre’s choir, composed of tourist, art, and cultural attractions. ensembles from 12 countries: UAE, Iraq, Syria, Lebanon, a group of the centre’s male and female talented students. Egypt, Jordan, Oman, France, Italy, Spain England, Audience at the same venue will, also, enjoy a perform- Moldova, Bulgaria, India, Cuba, and Argentina. ance by Moldovan violin master Pasha Cazan on Sunday, Since his first solo “Ya Ward Al Ishiq” was released in January 18 (9:00 pm). Both concerts are open to public for 1981, Kazim Al-Saher has established himself as one of the free.

Muslim man excels in Polanski says he ‘trusts’ Polish classical Indian dance authorities weighing extradition ilmmaker Roman Polanski said he “trusts” Poland’s justice Polanski was accused of raping Samantha Geimer after a pho- for Hindu women system as it weighs extraditing him to the United States for to shoot in Los Angeles in 1977 when he was 43. He pleaded n Indian man in the southern state of Kerala has Fsentencing on charges he raped a 13-year-old girl in 1977. “I guilty to unlawful sex with a minor, or statutory rape, avoiding a become the first Muslim to receive a doctorate in will comply with the legal proceedings,” Polanski told private trial, but then fled the country fearing a hefty sentence. US offi- Aa classical dance rooted in Hindu mythology Polish television station TVN24 in an interview on Monday. “I trust cials have pressed for his extradition regularly to no avail. which is traditionally the preserve of women. K.M. Abu, the Polish justice system. I hope everything will go well.” The lat- American prosecutors forwarded their latest request on Monday 47, has performed Mohiniyattam at more than 50 venues est extradition request comes months after the United States to Polish authorities which have said Polanski’s extradition in Kerala in the past three decades and says that unlike attempted to have the French-Polish director arrested for sex remains possible. some of his Muslim peers he had never been ostracized offences when he travelled to Warsaw for the opening of a However, even if a court approves the US request, Poland’s for daring to break with tradition in Hindu-majority India. Jewish museum in October. justice ministry would still need to give the final go-ahead. “It shows that the people are interested in the per- At that time, Polish prosecutors questioned the 81-year-old Polanski, who became a French citizen in 1976 after moving formance rather than the performer,” said Abu, who maker of “The Pianist”, “Chinatown” and “Rosemary’s Baby” but there from Poland, was arrested in Switzerland on an internation- teaches the dance form at a university in the town of allowed him to walk free. Polanski told the television he is in al warrant in 2009. He was released after nine months under Picture taken on May 17, 2014 shows Polish-French direc- Poland to work on a film about France’s Dreyfus Affair, the case of house arrest. Polanski’s lawyers had requested a new hearing to Kalady in the sun-drenched state. Mohiniyattam, which tor Roman Polanski as he arrives for the screening of the in the regional Malayalam language means “dance of the an army captain wrongly convicted in 1894 of espionage and try to close the case on procedural grounds, but a Los Angeles film “Saint-Laurent” at the 67th edition of the Cannes Film treason. The story of the captain’s ordeal has become a symbol of judge refused last month. — AFP enchantress”, depicts Hindu deity Vishnu assuming the Festival in Cannes, southern France. — AP form of ethereal beauty Mohini to seduce demons and injustice and anti-Semitism. win the nectar of immortality for the gods. Other story- lines and characters have been added over the years. The temple dance form is believed to have originated 500 years ago and is a solo recital with several parts Cameron says ‘Avatar’ sequel played by the woman performer, usually dressed in a pristine off-white sari with a rich golden border. Abu said he tries out various costumes. Abu is the only man delayed until late 2017 among eight dancers to get a doctorate from the Kerala irector James Cameron said yesterday the design. So we’ve designed all the crea- Kalamandalam, a major centre for the Indian performing that writing three “Avatar” sequels is tures and the environments.” arts. He wrote his thesis on the life of Kalyanikutty Dsuch a complex job he’s delaying the Cameron said he thought it was important Amma, a 20th-century dancer who popularized first new film a year and it will now be that each film linked forward to the next one Mohiniyattam. released in late 2017. Cameron plans to film in a satisfying way but also came to a resolu- The increasing participation of non-Hindus in tradi- the highly-anticipated sequels at one time tion so that the audience wasn’t left hanging. tional Hindu dance forms is being seen as a sign of reli- and then release the three films over consec- Released in 2009, “Avatar” is the highest- gious tolerance in Kerala, a progressive state with a high utive years. grossing film in history, with a box office take rate of literacy. “People have realized that art has no reli- The first had been due in late 2016, but he of nearly $2.8 billion. It was named best dra- gion,” said P.N.Suresh, vice-chancellor of the Kerala said the writing process had proved to be ma at the Golden Globes and won Academy Kalamandalam. But it was not always so. Kalamandalam “very involved” and that the initial target date Awards for cinematography, visual effects Hyderali, a Muslim singer famous for his association with was probably too ambitious. “There’s a layer and art direction. the classical Indian dance-drama of Kathakali till his death of complexity in getting the story to work as a Cameron shot the original movie in New in 2006, was often forced to sing from outside the temple saga across three films that you don’t get Zealand and is planning to shoot the sequels while dancers were performing inside. — Reuters when you’re making a stand-alone film,” he there. Producer Jon Landau, who is working said in Wellington, New Zealand, where he with Cameron on the movies, said the team is was helping promote the local film industry taking greater security precautions following with other directors including Peter Jackson. the recent hack against Sony: “I will only say Cameron said the goal was to have the ‘yes’ but will not tell you how,” he joked. The three scripts completed this month. He’s lead- films will be made by Lightstorm Entertain- ing the writing team. “We’re writing three ment and Twentieth Century Fox. — AP simultaneously. And we’ve done that so that Movie director Peter Jackson talks to reporters at an event to promote the New Zealand everything tracks throughout the three films. film industry yesterday in Wellington, New Zealand. — AP We’re not just going to do one and then make up another one and another one after that,” he said. “And parallel with that, we’re doing all Peter Jackson helping to open WWI museum after ‘Hobbit’ wrap irector Peter Jackson said yesterday “That’s where most of my time is now, he’s putting his energy into helping which is good,” Jackson said yesterday. “It’s Dlaunch a museum to commemorate fun. And it’s free. The exhibits will be very, World War I after finishing his “Hobbit” movie very interesting, and I’m enjoying it.” Jackson trilogy. If he has any plans for future block- said he was also enjoying getting some rest busters, he’s not saying. Jackson was speak- after finishing the “Hobbit” - although he was- ing at his New Zealand post-production facili- n’t entirely done, because he was still working ty where he was helping host an event to pro- on an extended version for DVD release. But mote the local film industry. Directors Jane he said he was happy to take a break from Campion and James Cameron also attended. new film projects for a while. Jackson is a World War I history buff who “It’s the first time in five years that I haven’t owns a number of planes from the era. He woken up in the morning and had deadlines” said the plan for the Wellington museum was he said. “... no phones ringing, screaming to open during April to mark the 100th ‘When are we going to see this? When are we anniversary of the Gallipoli battle. He said going to do that? And I’d forgotten what more galleries would be opened over the that’s like. So I’ll let that last for a little bit coming four years to mark other battles in longer before I destroy it.” The trilogy finale, which New Zealanders fought. The New “The Hobbit: The Battle of the Five Armies,” Zealand Herald newspaper reported earlier has earned $545.3 million globally after open- KM Abu, a dancer to get a doctorate on classical that Jackson had been recruited by the gov- ing in most places in mid-December. — AP dance form Mohiniyattam, does not believe that Director James Cameron speaks in Wellington, New Zealand to announce that he will ernment to curate the museum, and he was the dance form is a forte of women. shoot three sequels to his 2009 sci-fi blockbuster movie “Avatar” in the country. — AP expected to gather aircraft, tanks and other artifacts from private and public collections. Iranian dissident film, Kidman movie due at Berlin fest

new movie by dissident Iranian director Jafar of a Chambermaid” with Lea Seydoux and Vincent Panahi and a period drama starring Nicole Lindon. AKidman and Robert Pattinson will premiere at And Vietnamese director Phan Dang Di, a European next month’s Berlin film festival, organizers said yester- festival favourite, will screen “Big Father, Small Father day. The 65th annual event running February 5 to 15 and Other Stories”. Panahi won the Berlinale’s Silver will feature the first screening of “Taxi” by Panahi, who Bear award for best screenplay in 2013 for “Closed was detained for a documentary he tried to make on Curtain”, a film he made in secret, prompting a protest the unrest following Iran’s disputed 2009 presidential from the Iranian government. election and officially banned from making more films The festival announced last week that Spanish for 20 years. director Isabel Coixet’s “Nobody Wants the Night” star- The event known as the Berlinale said German vet- ring French actress Juliette Binoche would open the eran Werner Herzog would unveil “Queen of the 11-day event. Desert” featuring Kidman as British adventurer and spy New movies by Terrence Malick, Kenneth Branagh Gertrude Bell and the former “Twilight” heartthrob and Peter Greenaway are also on the programme, as Pattinson as T.E. Lawrence, better known as Lawrence well as a screening of the adaptation of erotic best- of Arabia. seller “Fifty Shades of Grey”. The Berlinale, the first The keenly awaited picture also stars James Franco major cinema showcase of the year in Europe, said it Iranian director Kambuzia Partovi holds the and Damian Lewis. Also featuring in the main show- would reveal its complete competition lineup next Silver Bear for Best Script award he received in case will be acclaimed Chinese director Jiang Wen’s lat- week. US director and screenwriter Darren Aronofsky place of Jafar Panahi (not pictured) for the est film, “Gone with the Bullets”, and British production (“Black Swan”) will serve as president of the jury hand- movie “Parde” (Closed Curtain) during a press “Mr Holmes” by Bill Condon (“The Fifth Estate”) starring ing out the Golden and Silver Bear prizes. — AFP conference following 63rd Berlinale awards cer- Ian McKellen and Laura Linney. French filmmaker In this Sat, Jan 10, 2015 file photo, Nicole Kidman, left and Paddington Bear arrive at the emony in Berlin on February 16, 2013. —AFP Benoit Jacquot (“Farewell, My Queen”) will debut “Diary Los Angeles Premiere of Paddington at the TCL Chinese Theatre, in Los Angeles. — AP Citrus caviar: France discovers Australia’s exotic condiment

THURSDAY, JANUARY 15, 2015 37

A reveler in disguise takes part in a carnival procession through south-western Macedoniaís village of Vevchani, on January 13, 2015. The Vevchani carnival is 1400 years old and is held every year on the eve of the feast of Saint Basil which also marks the beginning of the New Year according to the Julian calendar, observed by the Macedonian Orthodox Church. — AFP

Huge luxury suite on ship will run $5,000 a person per night

new luxury cruise ship debuting in trouble selling the high-priced suite. On any 2016 will have one of the largest and ship, she said, “the top-priced suite and the Amost expensive suites ever offered at cheapest cabins are always the first to go.” The sea. Regent Seven Seas will charge $5,000 a Explorer is expected to launch in July 2016. The ship will spend its first season in Europe, and the first of its 11 sailings will be from Monte Carlo to Venice. The ship will carry 750 guests. It’s Regent’s first new ship since 2003, though the cruise line has just completed a $150 million refur- bishment of its other three vessels. All fares on the ship include dining, shore excursions and tips, but the price of the Regent Suite also includes unlimited spa treatments, laundry services, a private car with driver and guide for port calls, an onboard on-call butler and limousine trans- portation to and from the ship. Spencer Brown said the new ship is part of a trend in which cruise lines “are replicating resort-like experiences” with ships that feel This photo of a rendering night, per person, for a luxury suite the size of like “high-end luxury small resorts” where you provided Tuesday by Regent a house - with 3,875 square feet of space (360 barely feel like you’re at sea. She added that Seven Seas Cruises depicts square meters) - onboard its new Regent the Explorer “is large but not carrying that the living room from a one- Seven Seas Explorer ship. The Regent Suite many passengers. Will you ever run into a of-a-kind luxury suite on the will include a grand piano, two bedrooms, queue at the bar or having trouble finding a cruise line’s forthcoming views from three sides of the ship, and a per- seat in the lounge before dinner? No. What ship, the Seven Seas sonal spa retreat with a private sauna, steam you’re paying for is that you never have to Explorer, which is expected room and treatment area. It’s designed for a wait.” — AP to debut in the summer of minimum of two people, maximum four. 2016. — AP photos Carolyn Spencer Brown, editor in chief of CruiseCritic.com, predicts Regent will have no This photo depicts the cruise lineís forthcoming ship, the Seven Seas Explorer, which is expected to debut in the summer of 2016. ‘Nerd Girl’ seeks perfect date for Tokyo birthday dinner coring a table at the Tokyo pop-up of the world’s from the San Francisco Bay area-before making a final zine for four of the past five years, including 2014, finest restaurant for your 39th birthday is hard. decision by Friday. Noma is at Tokyo’s Mandarin Oriental hotel from SFinding the perfect date to join you can be even The winner must pay his own way to Japan, and January 9 until February 14. harder. Mobile tech entrepreneur Stephanie Robesky get his own accommodation. But Robesky will pick up It welcomes no more than 44 guests for lunch and was among the lucky few to get a reservation at the tab at Noma, which runs at 64,900 yen (nearly dinner, with a set menu and wine pairings, and Noma, open only until Valentine’s Day in the Japanese $550) for the multi-course meal with wine pairings- Redzepi himself in the kitchen with his 50-strong team capital, out of 60,000 who applied. before tax and tip. So heated is the competition that brought over from Copenhagen. Robesky, whose big Even better, it’s on her birthday, during the last 82 friends of one hopeful, software engineer Kyle circle of friends mostly consists of gay men and mar- week of January. But with no one special in her life VanderBeek, have signed an online petition at ried couples, and who gave up on her online dating right now, the San Francisco single gal posted a date- Change.org urging Robesky to pick him. accounts on New Year Day, concedes her approach is wanted notice on her Nerdgirl.com blog with a “If you ask the undersigned, ‘Who would you want bold. “I know what I want and I’m successful at what I demanding set of criteria. Single. Male. Between 28 to break bread and sup deadly hornet larvae with?,’ we do, and if that is seen as a bad quality for women, and 46 years of age. Good conversational skills. “Easy the undersigned would unanimously choose. Kyle,” which I think it is sometimes, I don’t care,” she said. on the eye,” in her words, and capable of using a fork they said. “Kyle’s your guy.” On her blog, she describes herself as five-foot-six and knife correctly. and “slim shady.” She enjoys reading, movies and “bad “I was thinking, if I got 10 people who applied, that Likes: Reading, movies and good food TV,” scuba diving, playing the ukelele, bald cats and would be nice,” she told AFP by telephone on Tuesday. Robesky’s quest got an unexpected boost when eating “good food.” But on her mission to find the right Bulgarian ‘Kukeri’ dancers pose with their masks as they take part in the Kukeri Carnival in “And then it just got crazy.” As of Tuesday, more than Noma’s 37-year-old chef Rene Redzepi-who founded companion, ready to cross the Pacific for her one-of-a- the village of Sirishnik, on January 13, 2015. The Kukeri Carnival is a festival which marks 300 applications had come through, and Robesky Noma in 2003 in Copenhagen-gave it a shout out on kind birthday dinner, she’s learned that “there are a lot the beginning of Spring. Every participant makes his own multi-colored personal mask, expects still more to trickle in before she calls a group his Twitter feed on Sunday. “Single ‘Nerd Girl’ wants of interesting people out there.” “This has renewed my covered with beads, ribbons and woolen tassels. The heavy swaying of the main mummer is of friends over to help her come up with a short-list. Bay area dude for epic Tokyo Dinner,” the Danish faith in dating in the Bay area.” — AFP meant to represent wheat heavy with grain, and the bells tied around the waist are intend- She’ll then invite the three most interesting prospects champion of New Nordic cuisine wrote. Crowned the ed to drive away the evil spirits and the sickness. — AFP out for coffee-hence the stipulation they must all be world’s best restaurant by Britain’s Restaurant maga-