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SUNDAY, DECEMBER 20, 2015 RABI ALAWWAL 9, 1437 AH www.kuwaittimes.net Ambassador Sanders regains Gandhis get Hiddink sees announces access to voter bail after rare Chelsea win, media trip to files after fight court date Norwich imperil Sharm 4El-Sheikh over data9 breach in11 graft case Van20 Gaal UN unanimously backs Min 07º Max 18º Syrian peace process High Tide 05:52 & 18:57 Opposition reacts coolly to initiative Low Tide 00:18 & 12:31 40 PAGES NO: 16733 150 FILS UNITED NATIONS: The UN Security Council threw its unan- imous support Friday behind a plan to end Syria’s brutal civ- Amir in Morocco il war by summoning rebels and the regime to the negoti- ating table. The US and Russian initiative, which emerged from talks with a 17-nation group, foresees a rapid ceasefire on private visit in the almost five-year conflict, perhaps as early as next month. If the plan brings Bashar Al-Assad’s regime to the table with the armed opposition, it will allow Russian and US-led forces to focus their firepower on the Islamic State group. “In January we hope and expect to be at the table and to be able to implement a full ceasefire,” US Secretary of State John Kerry told reporters. “And that means all the bar- rel bombs will stop, all the bombing, all the shooting, all the attacks on either side.” The Security Council met Friday after the latest round of talks by the International Syria Support Group (ISSG), which had gathered in New York to renew its push for peace. Attention now turns to Moscow and Riyadh, as Russia pressures Assad’s regime to agree to a ceasefire and Saudi Arabia wrangles the opposition to form a negotiating team. The UN special envoy on the conflict, Staffan de Mistura, said he would send out invitations to talks in January. The United States and Arab allies remain convinced Assad must leave office as part of the process, but his allies Moscow and Tehran insist this is a decision for the Syrian people. The resolution does not touch on this vital issue. “Only a Syrian-led, inclusive dialogue can put an end to the untold suffering of the Syrian people,” Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov warned the Security Council. Nevertheless, Kerry -who has “agreed to disagree” with Moscow on Assad’s fate - said the vote would act as a springboard for forging ahead with peace talks. He empha- KUWAIT: HH the Amir Sheikh Sabah Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah is seen off sized that victory over the Islamic State group, also known at the airport by HH the Crown Prince Sheikh Nawaf Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al- by the Arabic acronym Daesh, hinges on a peaceful settle- KUWAIT: A Kuwaiti man takes a selfie with a falcon after the opening ceremony Sabah as he leaves yesterday for Morocco on a private visit. — KUNA ment in the broader Syrian civil war. of the Sheikh Sabah Al-Ahmad Heritage Village yesterday. — Photo by Yasser Continued on Page 13 Al-Zayyat (See Page 2) Erdogan meets Meshaal in Istanbul ISTANBUL: Turkish President Tayyip too long. Israel’s once-strong ties to Turkey Erdogan met with Khaled Meshaal, leader soured in 2010 when Israeli commandoes Arabic lesson of Palestinian militant group Hamas, yes- killed 10 Turkish activists when storming terday in Istanbul, a day after Israel and the Mavi Marmara, a ship in a convoy seek- Turkey said they were close to patching up ing to break an Israeli naval blockade of ignites anger five-year political rift. A source from the Palestinian territory of Gaza. Erdogan’s office said Meshaal “briefed Turkey had demanded Israel apologise in Bible Belt Erdogan on the latest developments in the over the assault, pay compensation and region”, without giving further details. lift the Gaza blockade. For Israel, limiting VERONA, Virginia: With the nation already on edge Islamist Hamas controls the Gaza strip. Hamas activity in Turkey has been key. after the attacks in California, a teacher’s lesson on Israeli officials said late on Thursday Under the preliminary deal between the Islam in Virginia’s Bible Belt sparked an angry meeting that a deal with Turkey was struck to nor- two countries, Saleh Al-Aruori, a senior of outraged parents that mushroomed into a national malize ties following high-level bilateral leader in the Palestinian Islamist group denunciation of the educator in the form of thou- talks in Switzerland. Turkish officials said a Hamas who has been living in Turkey, sands of angry emails and social media postings. As a final agreement was yet to be sealed, but would be barred from the country, the result, an estimated 10,000 students in Augusta that given the progress it would not be Israeli official had said. — Reuters County’s public school system got a one-day jump on US Secretary of Defense Ash Carter speaks to US and French troops on the the Christmas break as a precaution. The cancellation French aircraft carrier Charles de Gaulle in the Arabian Gulf yesterday. —AP of classes Friday also wiped out a holiday concert and weekend sporting events. Some of the tens of thousands of emails and Carter visits French, Facebook posts “posed a risk of harm to school offi- cials” and threatened protests, Superintendent Eric Bond said in a message to parents and employees US warships in Gulf Friday. Augusta County Sheriff Randall D Fisher said the emails slowly began arriving, but picked up in vol- ABOARD THE CHARLES DE GAULLE: US airstrikes launched when the ship was in ume and vitriol after a national conservative radio per- Defense Secretary Ash Carter met yester- the Mediterranean will continue as the sonality discussed the lesson. “They started becoming day with naval commanders on US and ship begins operations in the Gulf. The very threatening, very profane,” he said. “There was a French warships in the Arabian Gulf, say- ship, which is about two-thirds the size lot of hate being spewed in these emails.” ing that there will be more to come in of America’s aircraft carriers and carries Some, Fisher said, had images of beheadings. the battle against Islamic State militants 26 fighter jets, but the aircraft were not Fisher said security has been assigned to Bond, the in Iraq and Syria. Carter visited the flying yesterday during Carter’s visit school’s principal and teacher Cheryl LaPorte, who French aircraft carrier Charles de Gaulle, because the ship had just arrived in the created the lesson. LaPorte is worried about herself which is expected to begin launching area and was not yet positioned for and her family, Fisher said. The school closings came airstrikes against IS soon. He also talked launching operations. one week after the teacher gave Riverheads High to American troops on the USS According to officials, the French are School students an assignment that involved practic- Kearsarge, an amphibious assault ship the second highest contributor of ing calligraphy and writing a statement in Arabic - the ISTANBUL: Turkey’s President Recep Tayyip Erdogan (right) and Palestinian that’s been supporting coalition mis- airstrikes in the coalition’s campaign Continued on Page 13 sions in Iraq and Syria. against IS, with the US providing the Hamas leader Khaled Meshaal pose for a photo yesterday. — AP Carter’s visit to the Charles de Gaulle vast majority. The officials could not say underscores France’s increased partici- what percentage the French provide. pation in the fight, in the wake of the The US and French militaries operate Assad makes rare visit to church Paris attacks last month. IS militants routinely together, and Carter was able claimed responsibility for the Nov 13 to meet with a number of US forces who DAMASCUS: Syrian President Bashar Al-Assad attended attacks that killed 130 people and are stationed on the Charles de Gaulle. Christmas choir preparations in an ancient church close wounded hundreds. “We are completely And while on board he spoke by phone to a frontline area in the capital Damascus where his aligned with France on the mission of with French Minister of Defense Jean- army is engaged in heavy fighting with rebels, state defeating ISIL,” said Carter, using another Yves Le Drian. media said yesterday. State television showed footage acronym for Islamic State militants. Carter flew from the French ship to the of Assad and his wife Asma making the visit overnight “France’s willingness to do more as we USS Kearsarge, which was about seven to the Notre Dame de Damas Church, where he was do more, both in the air and on the nautical miles away. He met with the shown chatting to the choir. He took a seat near the ground, and here at sea ... I was very ship’s commander, Navy Capt Larry Getz altar and listened to a recital of Christmas poems in the gratified to see that in action out aboard and later spoke to sailors and Marines say- main cathedral hall. the Charles de Gaulle.” ing the ship is playing an important role in The surroundings of the church in the old part of the France’s only aircraft carrier was con- the effort to quickly defeat IS. The ship vis- ancient capital were hit by mortar fire on Friday, officials ducting 10-15 missions daily for about its come at the end of a weeklong trip to said. The church is only 2 km away from Jobar, a neigh- 10 days from the Mediterranean Sea the region, including stops in Iraq, Turkey bourhood of the rebel-held eastern Ghouta suburb of before moving into the Arabian Gulf on and Afghanistan. The theme of Carter’s Damascus that has been the focus for months of heavy Friday. Cmdr. Lionel Delort, French Navy visit has been the need to accelerate the aerial bombardments and more recently Russian bomb- spokesman on the carrier, said the ship fight against the Islamic State group, and ing that have left dozens of mostly civilian casualties. will begin launching airstrikes into Iraq he has been meeting with foreign leaders DAMASCUS: Syrian President Bashar Al-Assad and his wife Asma pose for a pic- Rebels have also frequently targeted government-con- and Syria “in the coming hours or days”. and his military commanders all week, ture with a Syrian man as they attend a Christmas choral presentation at the trolled residential parts of central Damascus. He said the “intense rhythm” of the exploring new ideas. — AP Lady of Damascus Catholic Church in the Syrian capital on Friday. — AFP Continued on Page 13 LOCAL SUNDAY, DECEMBER 20, 2015

Deputy Minister of Amiri Diwan Affairs Sheikh Ali Jarrah Al-Sabah, Advisor at the Amiri Diwan Mohammad Daifallah Sherar and officials tour the Sheikh Sabah Al-Ahmad Heritage Village. Heritage Village opens under Amir’s aegis GCC heritage festival kicks off

KUWAIT: The opening ceremony of Sheikh Sabah Al-Ahmad Heritage Village started yes- terday under the patronage of His Highness the Amir Sheikh Sabah Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al- Sabah. The event was mainly attended by Deputy Minister of Amiri Diwan Affairs Sheikh KUWAIT: Deputy Minister of Amiri Diwan Affairs Sheikh Ali Jarrah Al-Sabah is pic- Ali Jarrah Al-Sabah who was received by tured in a group photo during the opening ceremony of Sheikh Sabah Al-Ahmad Advisor at the Amiri Diwan and General Heritage Village. — Photos by Yasser Al-Zayyat Supervisor of the Sheikh Sabah Al-Ahmad Heritage Village Mohammad Daifallah Sherar. In a keynote speech, Sherar said the vil- lage had been established upon the direc- tives of His Highness the Amir, appreciating the support of the GCC member countries for this heritage facility. He thanked His Highness the Amir for ordering the village to be reflec- tive of all the GCC sons’ amity and belonging, saying they share traditional and historical commonalities. He also voiced thanks and gratitude to all those who contributed to the successful establishment of this village, especially the GCC countries which have set up impressive pavilions there, along with artists, craftsmen, salesmen and workers. The general supervi- A traditional items shop at the village. Deputy Minister of Amiri Diwan Affairs Sheikh Ali Jarrah Al-Sabah, and Advisor at the Amiri Diwan sor further highly commended the superviso- Mohammad Daifallah Sherar are seen during an awarding ceremony held as part of the event. ry committee of the village, who actually want nothing but only to serve their nation. Sabah Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah. The event January, reflecting unity among the Gulf On the project, he elaborated that the vil- is held at the Sheikh Sabah Al-Ahmad states. lage covers more than 25 kilometers and Heritage Village amid huge official and popu- In a similar statement, head of the Kuwaiti encompasses six separate GCC pavilions, a lar attendance. Farmers Union Hadi Al-Watari said that their function hall, 11,000-meter lake, a bazaar, The event is driven by His Highness the pavilion at the festival is ready to offer pro- palaces, traditionally-designed gates, restau- Amir’s keenness on offering Kuwaitis and GCC duce of Kuwaiti farms. He added that the rants, cafes, sports fields, family tents, gar- people an opportunity of enjoyment, Deputy Gulf Popular Heritage Festival bears a social dens and a mosque. He boasted the village as Minister of Amiri Diwan Affairs Sheikh Ali Al- and a national message, namely to dissemi- an eye-catching national traditional facility, Jarrah Al-Sabah told reporters after the open- nate love and brotherhood among the peo- which is named after His Highness the Amir ing. ple of the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) Sheikh Sabah Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah. He lauded the distinguished efforts by the countries. The sponsors of the opening ceremony of the festival’s higher organizer committee and Sheikh Ali Al-Jarrah, Advisor at Amiri project were then honored. other government and private bodies that Diwan Mohammed Daifallah Sherar, who is created the Village a landmark tourist site, a also the Village’s General Supervisor, and GCC festival source of joy and delight for Kuwaitis and deputy head of the higher organizer commit- Meanwhile, the 6th Gulf Popular Heritage Gulf people. Sheikh Ali Al-Jarrah underlined tee Sheikh Sabah Fahd Sabah Al-Nasser Al- A falconer trains his bird in preparation for a falconry competition to take place as part of Festival kicked off yesterday under the that the Gulf participation led to emergence Sabah, and senior guests toured the village the festival. patronage of His Highness the Amir Sheikh of heritage museums to be opened in and opened some of its facilities. — KUNA

Vintage cars displayed at the village. A falconer kisses his falcon.

Citizens enjoy a day out at a camp in the village. A police officer salutes the Kuwaiti flag. Citizens sit near a traditional ship.

An artificial lake built at the village. A duck swimming in the artificial lake. A man prepares a traditional Omani sweet. SUNDAY, DECEMBER 20, 2015 LOCAL

Lifting fuel subsidies, rationalizing Local spotlight energy waiting official announcement Marginal laborers MP warns minister over Jahra’s ‘suspicious cafés’

By A Saleh electric grid authority’s CEO Ahmed Ali Al- to classifying the government’s overdue accountable and grill the minister himself Ibrahim stressed that the annual total cost debts with various governmental bodies unless something was done to stop suspi- KUWAIT: A decision to lift fuel subsidies of subsidizing the power sector in GCC and deciding whether they were collecta- cious cafés in Jahra. “We have previously and apply the new water and electricity states was $160 billion. Ibrahim explained ble. “Some of those debts go way before the warned of vice inside some of those cafes By Muna Al-Fuzai consumption prices is ready and only wait- that the sum includes subsidizing fuel and Iraqi invasion”, said sources familiar with the and I was told that a cafe recently busted by ing for an official announcement, well- power. meeting. Moreover, the sources stressed the vice squad was not closed down,” he informed sources said. However, the that the committee stressed the impor- said, urging the commerce ministry to act sources stressed that the government was Financial statement tance of strictness in collecting all forms of immediately. waiting for the Ministry of Commerce and Chairman of the parliament’s budgets tax revenues and fees for using government Industry to decide on effective execution committee MP Adnan Abdulsamad said owned properties as a means to diversify Jaber Hospital [email protected] measures to monitor prices and prevent that the committee discussed the finance the sources of income. A delegation consisting of Ministry of inflation once the decision is put into prac- ministry’s final statement for the fiscal year Public Works (MPW) and the Supreme he subject of expatriate workers has become a major tice in order to avoid consequences similar 2014-2015 and the Audit Bureau’s remarks Private sector Planning Council is due to visit the Jaber issue in the Gulf not only due to their increasing num- to those after lifting diesel subsidies. on it. Abdulsamad said that the committee Finance Minister Anas Al-Saleh is expect- Hospital project today to check work bers, which is a defect in demographics, but because of The sources added that the government agreed to establish an internal auditing ed to brief the parliament’s public fund pro- progress on the site. T the so-called employment of marginal workers. These margin- asked the commerce ministry and other department at the finance ministry to fol- tection committee about a list of compa- departments to give a clear vision about low up certain issues like not activating rev- nies that are set to be sold to the private Down Chemical al laborers pose a social, security and economic problem that monitoring and accountability to prevent enue stamps in several cases and lack of sector in accordance with Kuwaiti laws, Well-informed governmental sources threaten the safety of Gulf societies. This file must be opened price increases at various retail outlets, documents needed for paying retired such as Kuwait International Fair Company. said that the government decided to refer and solved. restaurants and construction material stores. Kuwait Airways employees the sum of KD the Dow Chemical case to the public prose- The problem of marginal laborers is serious. A lack of 45 million. The committee also called for Jahra’s cafés cution in January once a legal brief was income would surely lead to the spread of crimes such as rob- Power subsidization coordination with the foreign ministry con- MP Mohammed Tana Al-Enezi threat- made about the case in view of the parlia- beries and the proliferation of street vendors, as well as their The Gulf Cooperation Council’s (GCC) cerning foreign loans and grants in addition ened to hold commerce ministry officials mentary decision in this regard. possible involvement in the drug trade and prostitution. In addition to the social impact, these unemployed people will have a sense of hatred because they don’t hold suitable jobs and cannot live like their peers in the community. The reason behind this phenomenon in Kuwait is due to administrative corruption, lack of enforcement of laws and allowing some company owners to bring in thousands of people without real work contracts and leaving them in the country without an income and without shelter. It is natural that these people will tend to do any work, whether legal or not, to secure an income, which contributes to the spread of crimes. Another reason is related to visa traders, who could be owners of small businesses, but they are permitted to apply for the employment of a large number of workers, more than what they actually need. On the arrival of these workers to the country, they let them go to look for a job. Some of them find one, while some of them remain a security and economic bur- den. KUWAIT: Speaker of the National Assembly of The Ministry of Social Affairs and Labor has taken a deci- Tajikistan Shukurjon Zuhurov arrived yesterday sion to reduce the number of marginal workers, which on an official visit to the country. The Tajik senior requires reducing expatriate workers by 100,000 every year to lawmaker was received by National Assembly reduce their numbers to a million workers within 10 years. But Speaker Marzouq Al-Ghanim, head of the hon- this decision alone is not enough, and there must be practical orary delegation MP Saud Al-Harji, Tajik ways to implement these decisions in humane ways. After all, Ambassador to Kuwait Dr. Zubaydov Zubaydullo these people are victims of visa traffickers, who are the real Najotovic, and other officials. —KUNA criminals. Reducing the number of expatriate workers in Kuwait should not be an exclusionary policy by nationality, but according to the labor contract and type of work. Because I do Saudi princess lauds A concrete mixing transport truck pictured following an accident at Kabd Road yesterday. not, for example, agree to prevent Pakistanis from entering Kuwaiti efforts to the country as doctors, engineers or professionals, yet allow an Arab laborer to enter with no real work just because his support the disabled Man arrested with country is not on the banned list. The law should emphasize that there is no place for marginal labor in the Kuwaiti labor KUWAIT: Kuwait has made significant strides in promoting the market, regardless of nationality. Statistics issued by the rights of people with disabilities, Chairwoman of the Saudi Society for Parents with Disabilities Princess Latifa Al-Saud said 6,000 tramadol pills General Directorate of Immigration on the number of expats yesterday. After an inter-Arab meeting called for broader rights in the country show that Indians are in the first place, with for females with visual impairment on Thursday, organized by Egyptians second. Bangladeshis are ranked third, Filipinos fourth and in fifth place are Syrian workers. the Institute of Female Development and Peace, Princess Latifa By Hanan Al-Saadoun stressed the need of supporting visually impaired females. There is a need to search for a mechanism through which Moreover, Chairwoman of Kuwait Institute of Female KUWAIT: A man was arrested on drug possession and traffick- the state can be sure of the professionalism of an applicant in Development and Peace Kawthar Al-Jouan, said that the meet- ing charges in Khaitan yesterday. The Egyptian national was order to eliminate the phenomenon of fraud in skilled profes- ing shed light on some of the common social obstacles that reportedly lured to a trap where he was arrested selling 250 sions, which is another reason for this huge increase in work- people with impaired vision face. These people deal with tramadol pills to an undercover agent. Following his arrest, ers, causing a defect in the labor market. tremendous difficulties in a range of issues from education to officers moved to the suspect’s house where they found an The latest census of the population of Kuwait by the end of parenthood, she noted. additional 5,750 pills, bringing the total to 6,000. The suspect 2012 showed a total of 3.824 million people, of which expats The institute strives to protect the rights of those with visual was taken to the Drug Control General Department and then amounted to 2.311 million, representing about 60.7 percent impairment, Jouan asserted. However, she underscored these to the Public Prosecution to face charges. of the total population. The migration of expat workers to Gulf efforts would be fruitful only with support from the Ministry of Council Countries is increasingly linked to projects and plans Driver injured Social Affairs and Labor. Jouan thanked Arab partners who par- for economic development and the construction of infrastruc- ticipated in the meeting, all of whom contributed with research A truck driver was injured when his concrete mixing trans- ture, which is normal, but state intervention is required now to papers and suggestions in a bid to bolster the rights of visually port truck flipped over at Kabd Road yesterday morning. disabled people. The Institute of Female Development and Firefighters rushed to the scene and helped the Asian man confront the marginal ones. All the Gulf states including Peace looks to implement these suggestion to bring the plight out of the vehicle, then handed him over to paramedics who Kuwait will remain open to expatriates with practical skills, transported him to the nearest medical facility. An investiga- such as doctors, teachers, technicians and others who have of visually impaired females to the forefront of prioritized The suspect pictured with the drugs in this hand- issues, she said. —KUNA tion was opened to determine the circumstances behind the real jobs, but not marginal workers. accident. out photo. Capital market ends fourth phase of awareness workshop

KUWAIT: The Capital Market Authority is scheduled to conclude on Monday, the shares in investment portfolios or (CMA) has finalized fourth phase of its with the execution of the fifth and last e-accounts, regulations of securities’ awareness workshop designed to pro- part of the work. During the upcoming transactions and times for banning mote its amended executive by-laws, session, the experts will look into vari- operations, subscription floatation and effective since November 10th, in tune ous other regulations for the financial other terms governing securities, con- with issuance of the CMA constituent market, trades and transactions. ditions for enlisting and various forms laws. The CMA shed extensive light on of investment in the bourse. The In a statement released yesterday, the activity, which had gotten under- Authority has affirmed that enactment the authority reiterated that its five- way by addressing topics such as pro- of its bylaws constitutes a major event stage awareness workshop-each phase portions of sales and purchase by the at the local finance market. lasts for one week-has been accompa- nied with issuing daily SMSs and state- ments on diverse social media means. Participants in the workshops have KUWAIT: Ahmadi Governor Sheikh Fawaz Al-Khaled Al-Hamad Al-Sabah met yesterday with directors discussed rules governing bonds and and staff of Adan ambulance station. The governor lauded the station’s efforts in providing assistance sukuks (Islamic bonds), defining during national celebrations and other events held around the governorate. authorities and parties that issue them, types of sukuks and various related trades and transactions. They have also tackled definition of the “best stocks,” regulations on the parties that own and trade in these shares; profit assem- bling, voting rights, profit sharing, asset surplus, transfer rights, auction- ing, sustainable liabilities, revelations, financial statements and relevant noti- fications. The participating experts have also addressed other issues, such as compa- nies of special target that issue securi- ties; defining these companies as those established with aim of issuing bonds, sukuks or other securities, as well as KUWAIT: A scene from a workshop organized by the Capital Market rules governing their establishment. Authority to promote amended executive by-laws. —KUNA Other topics that were examined were financial safekeeping, regulations “party in control at the listed compa- The workshop agenda included governing various related matters, nies,” ceiling of sell-offs or purchases, clients’ funds and assets, matching companies’ enlisting, amendments durations, revelations’ terms for traded records with accounts, defining meas- regarding Kuwaiti joint stock compa- shares through affiliate companies. ures in defaulting cases, terms of con- nies, namely those that get CMA As to the second workshop, it tack- tracts and accords between the client approval for floating their stocks led general regulations regarding rev- and the licensed individual, type and through public subscription, regula- elations, transparency terms for the objective of the portfolio, fees and tions on enlisting bonds and sukuks of listed companies, rules for the board commissions, work ethics, types of KUWAIT: The Kuwait Fire Services Directorate (KFSD) recently concluded two training courses on basics foreign source, enlisting of foreign meetings during trading and mecha- clients, provisions governing compul- funds, establishment of investment nisms of posting information on the sory acquisitions, duration for assem- of fire prevention and dealing with traffic accidents. Twenty nine trainees from the KFSD, Interior funds and collective enterprise. internet. The third one dealt with inter- bling stocks and rules for voluntary Ministry and other departments attended the courses. The marathon awareness program ests’ disclosure, voting with respect of acquisitions. —KUNA SUNDAY, DECEMBER 20, 2015 LOCAL Ambassador announces media trip to Sharm El-Sheikh

By Faten Omar

KUWAIT: Egyptian Ambassador to Kuwait Yasser Atef announced that the initiative ‘Egypt is Safe’ launched by a member of the Egyptian community in Kuwait supports and promotes the tourism sector in Egypt. During a press conference last Thursday at the Egyptian Embassy, Atef announced that the initiative includes a visit to Sharm El- Sheikh, organized by the embassy in coordination with the Ministry of Tourism in Egypt and EgyptAir, by a number of official Kuwaiti personalities and the media, led by Minister of Information and Minister of State for Youth Affairs Sheikh Salman Sabah Al-Salem Al-Humoud Al-Sabah. “The trip to Sharm el-Sheikh will take place from December 23 to 26 with a large number of Kuwaiti journal- ists as part of the ‘Egypt is Safe’ initiative by Hossam Imam, a member of the Egyptian community in Kuwait,” he said. Atef said that the number of tourists from Kuwait to Egypt KUWAIT: Egyptian Ambassador to Kuwait Yasser Atef is in the 10 months of this year reached 118,000, an increase seen at the press conference. — Photo by Yasser Al-Zayyat of 23 percent, noting that Kuwaiti tourists are one of the security and safety, and it is taking additional security pro- Ooredoo Kuwait CEO and General Manager Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdullah Al Thani speaks at the panel. most important tourist arrivals to the country. “Kuwait is cedures at all Egyptian airports by competent authorities one of the most important countries supporting Egyptian after the Russian plane crash, as well as raise the propor- Ooredoo Kuwait CEO speaks at tourism,” he said, hailing Sheikh Salman for visiting the tion of foreign security guards at the exits and entrances of Heritage Village in Sharm El-Sheikh as part of Kuwait’s sup- airports. port for Egyptian tourism. Regional Director of Egyptair Fathi Nazeh explained that Telecom Review Summit in Dubai He revealed that the embassy will hold an Egyptian cul- the company has 29 weekly flights between Kuwait and tural tourism week in Kuwait in March 2016, in addition to Egypt, and it supports all efforts to promote tourism Ooredoo volunteers program wins award a number of other cultural events in the same year on the through a range of programs that contribute to reducing occasion of the selection of Kuwait as a “Capital of Islamic expenses. “There are two flights a week to Sharm el-Sheikh, Culture”. Atef pointed out that “2010 was the most prosper- every Saturday and Wednesday, and there is big demand KUWAIT: Ooredoo Kuwait CEO and General Manager Sheikh which I dedicate to our 800 volunteers, our partners at the ous year for tourism, when Egypt received 14.4 million and bookings after December 20,” he said, noting that the Mohammed bin Abdullah Al Thani, stressed on the impor- Kuwait Ministry of Social Affairs and Labor, the Ministry of tourists, who booked 147 million tourist nights and rev- airline flies from Kuwait with a number of comfortable tance of customer satisfaction and experience on an ICT Youth, Kuwaiti Red Crescent, and our own team who worked enues amounted to $ 12.5 billion”. He said Egypt enjoys planes including the Boeing 800-737. Leadership Panel, which took place in Dubai on December so hard on this initiative. We feel responsible towards the 13th, 2015. Sitting alongside twelve of the regions’ leading youth segment, and we wanted from this initiative to help in innovators, he described the company’s vision and strategy developing a culture that of volunteerism in this important for deploying high speed LTE mobile infrastructure in Kuwait segment.” and how this has helped Ooredoo Kuwait surprise and delight Ooredoo Kuwait launched the Ooredoo Volunteer Program customers across the country. alongside Kuwait’s Ministry of Social Affairs and Labor, the Ministry of Youth and Kuwaiti Red Crescent, in 2015. The Optimum experience Program offers professional training to young Kuwaitis with Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdullah Al Thani, said: “Ensuring the aim of enhancing the impact of volunteers contributing to an optimum customer experience is at the heart of everything good causes in the country. that we do. Kuwait is a very sophisticated and competitive “This year’s award winners represent the absolute best in market, and our customers are aware of the latest trends in our industry and we are very proud to honor these winners technology. This is why we study the latest trends in the glob- with such a distinguished award,” said Toni Eid, CEO of Trace al telecommunication to ensure giving our customers the best Media International and founder of Telecom REVIEW series. and latest services and technologies.” This is the second time that Ooredoo Kuwait’s Volunteer He added: “When we launched the first LTE+ network in Program has been recognized at a regional telecoms ceremo- Kuwait last year - providing the fastest mobile data with the ny. It was previously shortlisted at the Comms MEA Awards, highest quality and the most efficient cost - we took care to which also took place in Dubai. This and other initiatives deploy the right technologies at the right time and we have reflect the company’s community spirit and corporate values. Chairperson of Al-Nowair Initiative Sheikha Intisar Salem Al-Ali Al-Sabah in a group photo with Gulf University for benefited from this approach” Commenting on the gathering of industry leaders, Jeff Science and Technology’s team. Ooredoo Kuwait’s data services are amongst the fastest Seal, Managing Partner of Telecom Review North America not- growing in the region and traffic has grown by over 600% ed, “Once again Telecom Review has brought together the Al-Nowair to hold 3rd round of since the introduction of LTE. ‘Data services’ now account for a leaders of the ICT/Telecom industry from around the world for strategic proportion of Ooredoo Kuwait’s overall sales and is the most anticipated executive networking event of the year. having a positive ripple effect on data-hungry device sales We look forward to hosting the world’s industry leaders at conference on positive thinking such as smart devices and tablets. The panel was moderated next year’s event.” by Ghazi Atallah, Managing Director at consultancy firm KUWAIT: Chairperson of Al-Nowair Initiative Sheikha Intisar NexGen, who specializes in helping telecommunications serv- Best gathering Salem Al-Ali Al-Sabah announced signing a memorandum of ice providers and Smart Cities realize business value out of The Telecom Review Summit is organized by Trace Media understanding with the Gulf University for Science and their technology investments. and is now in its sixth year. The conference promotes itself as Technology to hold the third chapter of the convention, In addition to participating in a leadership panel discus- the region’s best and largest gathering of high level execu- “think, live and work positively” in April. sion on Digital transformation, Ooredoo Kuwait’s CEO also tives of ICT from around the region, and around the world. Sheikha Intisar said that the university would host, for the accepted the Telecom Review Excellence Award for “Best CSR Trace Media also publishes Telecom Review, the ICT industry’s second time, the activity, which is aimed at promoting peo- Program” from the CEO of Trace Media International, Toni Eid, premier journal in the region. ples’ positive thinking and approach as well as means of for Ooredoo’s Ooredoo’s Volunteer Program, which attracted Other speakers at the Telecom Review Summit included accomplishing objectives in a positive fashion. more than 800 volunteers across Kuwait last summer. The the CEOs of the Etisalat Group, Du, Ooredoo Oman as well as The convention tackles, she added, interesting issues such award was presented at a gala event held at the the senior representatives from PCCW, Qualcomm, Huawei, as ways of establishing “excellent relationships, managing Intercontinental Festival City Hotel in Dubai, following the Google, Ericsson and the Special Envoy of the International time soundly, turning conflicts at work “into something posi- summit, in front of hundreds of officials from the telecommu- Telecommunications Union’s Broadband Commission, Suvi tive and how to live happily.” nications and ICT industry. Linden. Sheikha Intisar while noting that Al-Nowair Initiative is the The Telecom Review Summit is a one-day conference and sole activity of such kind in the whole Middle East, said Volunteerism culture took place at the Intercontinental Hotel Festival City, Dubai- Harvard University conducted studies proving that looking at KUWAIT: Chairperson of Al-Nowair Initiative Sheikha Commenting on the recognition Sheikh Mohammed bin UAE. For more information please visit http://www.telecomre- life from a positive perspective is an individual option. “The Intisar Salem Al-Ali Al-Sabah signs the memorandum of Abdullah Al Thani, said: “I am so grateful to receive this award, view.com/summit/summit-2015/. matter is very simple but very much inspiring for sound living,” understanding with Gulf University for Science and she said. The conference would be held on April 22-24. - KUNA Technology. — Photos by Yasser Al-Zayyat ‘Heading Global 2016’ based on Amir’s view

KUWAIT: The Public Authority for Applied the PAAET vital role for serving the society Education and Training (PAAET) is organizing and pushing ahead the wheel of develop- an event titled ‘Heading Global 2016’ as part ment as a grand academic institution con- of His Highness the Amir Sheikh Sabah Al- cerned with causes of the nation, Azmi Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah’s view of bolstering stressed. competitiveness of Kuwait’s economy to PAAET aims to put forward issues that are develop the country into a financial hub, likely to help realize sustainable develop- spokesperson Fatma Al-Azmi said yesterday. ment and the strategic goals of national The PAAET is hard at work preparing for plans as well as boosting scientific research the event which is slated for November 2016, through the use of technology. Azmi point- Azmi added. It will mainly address knowledge ed to the accelerating changes introduced Ooredoo Kuwait CEO and General Manager Sheikh Mohammed bin Ooredoo Kuwait CEO and General economy. Numerous academics and special- to the economic and business theories Abdullah Al Thani receives the award. Manager Sheikh Mohammed bin ists, both Kuwaitis and foreigners, will take almost on daily basis, and the effect on all Abdullah Al Thani poses with the award. part in the conference, she said. It is part of aspects of life. — KUNA Fatma Al-Azmi Gulf Bank to Participate in Judge’s Panel at AUM’s Capstone Business Project Competition KUWAIT: Gulf Bank will take part in the American University of which should include a full study on starting their business the event on behalf of the Bank will be Barry Stokes, Assistant tations are the final step in the Capstone process. The process the Middle East’s (AUM) Capstone Business Project including: A financial study; a marketing plan; a human General Manager for Human Resources, and Laila Al-Qatami, begins when students first submit their proposals to the facul- Competition, scheduled to take place on Monday, 21 resources component addressing compensation plans and Assistant General Manager for External Communications. ty mentors. Once their topic is approved, they begin their December 2015 from 10:00 am - 3:00 pm. Kevin Smith, Chief recruitment procedures; as well as other details pertaining to Capstone projects are important because they require stu- research and data gathering for their final written presenta- Financial Officer at Gulf Bank, will be among the senior panel their business plan. During the competition, the judges will dents to use the knowledge and research skills they’ve gained tions. Then, they present their work to a panel of judges. of judges for this competition. choose the best five groups out of the 30 participating in the over their education to solve real-world business problems or Gulf Bank is happy to be part of the competition this year AUM’s Capstone Competition will include around 30 groups competition. One winning team will be awarded an internship draft a business plan for an entrepreneurial effort. They also and looks forward to the event. Gulf Bank is strongly commit- of five students from all business majors, who have developed at Gulf Bank. equip students with a hands-on opportunity to build leader- ted to supporting youth events and initiatives and doing its unique business ideas. Each group will present their project, Gulf Bank will be the only bank at the event. Also attending ship and use problem-solving skills. Capstone project presen- part to help empower the next generation of Kuwaitis. E-newspaper campaigns for special needs citizens’ rights

KUWAIT: The Alamal Voluntary Electronic Newspaper Group, ment of the society and nudge the concerned officials shoulder which mainly targets people of special challenges and covers their responsibilities in this respect. their issues, has launched a campaign dubbed ‘tara egdar’ (sure The campaign, due to proceed till end of this month, has I can) aimed at demonstrating support for this segment of the grouped a large number of people of special challenges, their Kuwaiti community on long term basis. families, activists, supporters, art and sports celebrities, he said, The media group founder, Abdullah Al-Shemmari, said in adding that it also aims at supporting the families and encour- an interview with Kuwait News Agency (KUNA) that the cam- aging them demonstrate skills and talents of their dear ones. paign aims at supporting people of special needs, particularly Alamal electronic newspaper was founded in 2009 with aim in cases where their rights are breached or their special facili- of serving this segment and aiding them to be as able as other ties are exploited, occupied or tampered with by the others. citizens in serving the society. The newspaper was honored by The handicapped rights should be safeguarded as stipulated His Highness the Amir Sheikh Sabah Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al- by Kuwait Constitution and the laws, said Shemmari, calling Sabah with Al-Subah Award (first place ) in 2009. It was also for harshest possible penalties against violators. The relevant honored with the Diamond Award, presented by Burgan Bank laws must be enforced to the letter, so that the disabled can as the best voluntary group that serves people with special practice their activities freely and without any harassment, he needs in 2011. It came in third place in the best electronic con- stressed. tainment in Kuwait electronic Award by the Kuwait Center for Up to 150 eminent figures, including the parliament speak- the Advancement of Science in 2012. In the same year, it er, the information minister and Al-Farwaniah governor, have received the Sharjah Award for voluntary work as the best vol- taken part in the campaign, with the intention to aid this seg- untary group in the Arab world. — KUNA KUWAIT: The Commercial Bank of Kuwait (CBK) celebrated the graduation of employees who successfully underwent training programs organized recently by the Institute of Banking Studies.

SUNDAY, DECEMBER 20, 2015 FROM THE ARABIC PRESS

Al-Qabas Al-Anbaa E-media law Their donations Prince of and our donations Upper Egypt By Sami Al-Nisf By Ahmad Al-Sarraf n days like these one hundred years ago, critical inci- hat comes to mind when hearing the name dents took place and changed the history of the Mark Zuckerberg? May be nothing - it is even OEgyptian ruling family at that time, and later Wdifficult to pronounce it, much less remember changed that of Egypt and the entire region as it directly it! But it may tell us about the religion or identity of its brought a weak king - King Farouq - to the throne. And holder, and if we met him at a doctor’s clinic and when the US found him incapable of stopping regional com- noticed the Jewish kippa which he wears on his head, munist expansion, Kermit Roosevelt and Miles Copeland we would avoid talking to or even get close to him, arranged the July 23, 1952 military coup. especially since he seems unlikable with his red hair In 1914, Great Britain had dismissed the governor of and childish look, that does not tell that he is 30. Egypt, Khedive Abbas II Hilmi, the son of Khedive Ismael, The reason for our avoidance of him goes back who had been also deposed for taking the Turks’ side during mostly to our upbringing that taught us the hatred of World War I and replaced Sultan Hussein Kamel who died in Jews and rejecting mixing with them, and being cau- 1917. Kamel’s crown prince and son, Prince Kamal El-Din tious because they are backstabbers, have a special Hussein, rejected the throne while Egypt was still under odor and strange rituals. They are lowly, misers and British mandate, thinking that Turkey would win the war. His hate us and want us to die, so if they catch us, they brother prince Ahmed Fouad was appointed Sultan, then would eat us, and if any of them is caught by the King of Egypt and Sudan. This lasted till his death in 1936 “braves of Daesh” or “Qaeda”, his fate will be definite and his son Farouq did not take the throne until 1937 death, not only because he is a Jew, but because he is because he was still a minor then.

also an American, rich and corrupt. Al-Jarida In the summer of 1952, a coup took place and the US Mark Zukerberg is one of the founders of Facebook prevented Britain from foiling it by its troops quartered in and its CEO. It is a company that was founded in the Suez Canal. King Farouq gave up his throne to his baby California 11 years ago and has 15,000 employees, and son, Prince Ahmed Fouad, but took him along in exile in does not have many buildings, assets or vehicles, and Europe, which made the revolution’s leading council offer despite this its market value is between $230 billion the throne of Egypt and Sudan to Sheikh Abdullah Al-Jaber and $250 billion! This “distasteful Jew” who does not Al-Sabah, who arrived in Egypt and was received at the air- mean anything and is hated by most of us due to our port as a king by President Mohammed Naguib and his PM upbringing, exposed with a stroke of a pen our faults Al-Anbaa Gamal Abdul Nasser. and our bragging that we are the best of people, and The sheikh also saw off King Idris Al-Sanoussi of Libya others are only a bunch of people and grandchildren of alone at the airport on concluding a visit to Egypt in 1953. It monkeys and pigs, who only deserve severing their That is how we got married is said that Sheikh Abdullah Al-Jaber apologized and refused necks, by his large donation, while he is only 30, of 99 the throne on advice from the Amir of Kuwait Sheikh percent of his shares of Facebook for charity. Abdullah Al-Salem Al-Sabah, who foresaw the major chal- lenges Egypt was about to face, such as expelling the British This represents more than $40 billion, and a large By Dr Saleh Al-Ojairi part of this amount will be spent on medicine research from the Suez Canal and the possibility of Sudan’s separa- for many diseases our people are suffering from, and tion. Sheikh Abdullah Al-Jaber was not into collisions and we will be among the largest beneficiaries from his ecades ago, particularly in the years before oil women’s zaghroutas (traditional ululations) and men confrontations in nature. donation, and despite this we will pray for his death was struck in Kuwait, a man’s mother and beating drums, especially if the groom was a sailor. In June 1953, the revolution council scrapped the monar- and demise! The donation of this Jewish youth was not some of her female neighbors and relatives The groom then stayed as a guest at his bride’s chy and appointed Mohammed Naguib as the first president D (though school history books later said that Nasser was the liked by many of the psychologically sick among us, and usually went to propose for a certain girl (kannah as house for one whole week, during which he had first president). In Nov 1954, the revolution council dis- they said the donation is really for his charity establish- we used to call her) on his behalf without even seeing breakfast and lunch with them and dinner with his missed Naguib after he saw off the king of Saudi Arabia, who ment, which will benefit from the shares’ returns, and her. A groom usually depended on the mother-led family. During this week, the bride’s family allocated a by this he will avoid paying any income tax on his prof- had come to bridge the gaps amongst the officers. Thus, the delegation’s description of the bride and once he special housemaid (locally known as hawwafa) to presidency remained vacant from 1954 to 1956 when Nasser its! And that his charity establishment is not totally approved the selection, a dazza (some household serve the groom. charitable. Rather it has other activities, and it decides was elected president by 99.99 percent of the votes; a magi- items, presents and a dowry) was sent to the bride’s Once the first week was over, the bride was taken the names of areas that may benefit from its donations, cal percentage that recurred with other Arab revolutions house. in a celebratory march to her permanent residence at and that may be used for the establishment’s private and was only broken by Saddam Hussein who won 100 per- matters. It is noteworthy to mention that the dowry never her husband’s house. This process was known as cent of the votes of the living and the dead before he was These, of course, are silly justifications, and even if exceeded 100 rupees (the equivalent of KD 7 at that tehwal (shifting or transfer). Three days after tehwal, toppled. During his life, King Farouq held many titles they are true, it is enough for the man to spend one bil- time’s exchange rate). In this regard, I recall that the the groom’s mother and female relatives visited the acquired by powers of the royal decision number 71/1933 lion out of his own money to be a distinguished person dowry paid for a well-known Kuwaiti lady, Fatima bride’s family on the day known as ‘thaleth’ (third) that stated that the Crown Prince Farouq would be known as that deserves all respect from us. The stand of some of Hussein, was only a quarter dinar. After that, the mar- Three days later, the bride’s mother repaid the visit the Prince of Upper Egypt, which mimics British norms in us is strange, who are not satisfied by not donating any- riage contract was usually signed on a Friday evening on the ‘thuwaileth’ day. Oh, that was how we used to naming the crown prince as the ‘Prince of Wales’. Farouq thing for charity, and if they do, it will be for a terrorist at a mosque or at the husband’s house. On the wed- get married without seeing our wives until the wed- came to the throne at the age of 18 and gave it up at the age organization. Rather they attack and criticize someone ding’s evening, male family and friends gathered at ding day. We then got used to them and they became of 32, while Nasser came to power at the age of 32 and who donates, just because he is a Jew. the mosque to pray Isha prayers, then celebrate on the best mothers, giving birth to our nation’s glory! passed away while in office at the age of 50. — Translated by Kuwait Times the way to the bride’s house in a parade amidst — Translated by Kuwait Times — Translated by Kuwait Times

Public prosecutor detains six Crime employees for fingerprint forgery Report Girl escapes family KUWAIT: Following initial investigations, the Ministry of Electricity and Water (MEW) public prosecutor decided to detain six sus- employees who had benefited from the fake seeking ‘more freedom’ pects charged with fingerprint forgery for 10 fingerprints and allegedly had the suspects KUWAIT: A female citizen, who had been reported missing, was days pending further investigations. The sign in and out on their behalf. Moreover, recently arrested at a Salmiya cafè, said security sources. Case public prosecutor also referred the suspects the sources said that the prosecution was papers indicate that a citizen recently informed Mubarak Al- to the central prison and asked forensic now examining CCTV cameras showing the Kabeer police that his daughter had fled the house at night and experts to examine the plastic fingerprints suspects signing in and out on behalf of oth- had not been answering her mobile phone. Tracking her phone’s they had been using and to report accord- ers. “Both the suspects and the beneficiaries signal, police used GPS technology to locate the girl in a Salmiya ingly. will be legally held accountable and the cafè, where they arrested and returned her to her family. The girl Informed sources said that the public sums they unlawfully received will be recov- said that she fled her family’s house seeking ‘more freedom.’ prosecution would summon about 350 ered,” explained the sources. — Al-Jarida Fatal accidents An Indian man was instantly killed while two others were severely injured when their vehicle lost balance and it turned Female employees prefer lower turtle along Mina Abdullah road. A case was filed to investi- gate the circumstances behind the accident. Meanwhile, a ABK receives ‘Best Call Center’ wages to working with males man was killed while four others were injured when their vehicle lost balance and rolled over several times along award from Banker Middle East KUWAIT: Many families still insist that free departments or ones where they Subbiya highway. All attempts to save the deceased’s life at their employed female members do would not have to deal with male Jahra Hospital’s intensive care unit failed. KUWAIT: Al-Ahli Bank of Kuwait (ABK) This year we have been recognized on a not mingle with male colleagues at members of the public for transactions. recently won the ‘Best Call Center’ award number of occasions with awards, and we work. Many of them with graduate and A female employee at the Ministry Murderer speaks out from Banker Middle East, one of the are very proud of these achievements. postgraduate degrees are deprived of of Interior, working at an archive region’s leading banking industry maga- Such recognition serves as a strong motiva- In an interview with Kuwait Arabic daily Al-Anbaa, an Asian man special cadres and allowances because department said that although she accused of murdering an Afghani national at his sponsor’s house zines. The award, which was won in recog- tor for every member of the ABK staff espe- they prefer working in departments holds a degree in accounting, she did nition of the exceptional customer service cially, in this case, our Call Center team”. in Saad Al-Abdullah two months ago said that he did not mean to that require lower degrees and qualifi- not get the accountants’ cadre because kill the victim. He explained that they had a financial dispute as he of the Bank’s main Call Center, was received ABK’s commitment to excellence, sim- cations simply because they prefer not her husband refused having her work by Sawsan Ali, Senior Manager Alternative plicity and transparency and integrity is had given him KD 3,000 to invest it for him, but he neither to deal with male colleagues or mem- at the treasury department to avoid returned the money nor returned his inquiry calls. “We argued and Delivery Channels and Faisal Al-Tamimi, demonstrated through such awards and is bers of the public. dealing with men. “My senior offered to Assistant Manager Call Center. supported by the Bank’s ‘Simpler Banking’ a knife happened to be on the scene, so I used it and stabbed him One of such female employees retain my name at the treasury so as three times. I also cut myself in the fight,” he said. Commenting on this award, Othman strategy, which focuses on presenting cus- stressed that men seek lawmakers’ and not to lose the cadre, but I refused Tawfiqi, AGM Retail Banking Division said, tomers with banking solutions that make senior officials’ wasta to have their because this would be haram”, she “We are very pleased to receive the ‘Best their experience as simple and easy as daughters or wives transferred to male- underlined. Delivery man mugged Call Center’ award from Banker Middle East. possible. A delivery man was recently assaulted by two young men in Jahra, where they stabbed him to the back and stole KD 120 from him, said security sources. A case was filed and further Linking MGRP investigations are in progress. Break-in and robbery to exits detects A citizen reported that after returning from a family visit, he found out that unidentified robbers had broken into his apartment in Salmiya and stolen some jewelry and KD 3,800 in cash. fake employees Meanwhile, a female citizen reported that an unknown person smashed her vehicle’s glass while it was parked outside a wedding KUWAIT: The Manpower and Government hall in Sabahiya and stole her purse with KD 700, a valuable dia- Restructuring Program (MGRP) recently found mond ring, two smart phones, civil IDs and credit cards inside. that considerable numbers of citizens were Cases were filed. involved in fake employment with various com- panies, while they actually lived abroad. In this Fugitive caught regard, informed sources said that the cases were A citizen wanted in eight cases including kidnapping a minor discovered through inspections and exchanging and fraud, was recently arrested in Fintas, said security sources. information with the interior ministry, namely the Case papers indicate that patrol officers had pulled the man border exists department, which showed that over when they found him driving a vehicle that carried no considerable numbers of citizens were registered license plates. Officers had to chase the suspect with their in private sector companies and were paid, while patrol vehicle and force him to stop. On checking the man’s exit records showed they were out of the country. identity, policemen found out that he had been wanted. The sources added that MGRP was currently making lists of the violating citizens and compa- Suspected scam nies pending referring them to the public prose- The remains of a vehicle are seen following a fatal accident in Kuwait earlier this year. A citizen reported to police that he had agreed with a person who cution in a bid to fight fake employment. claimed he wanted to start a business with him, and gave him KD Moreover, the sources explained that MGRP was 90,000 accidents, 375 killed 6,000 to import ladies’ gowns from India within two weeks. The com- currently in process of linking its systems to those plainant said that the Indian man started avoiding him after the two of Kuwait University, various private universities weeks’ period ended and had not been returning his calls. A case was and Public Authority for Applied Education and in road accidents in 2015 filed and the suspect is being summoned for further investigations. Training (PAAET) institutes to prevent some stu- dents’ manipulation of public funds by getting Drugs, liquor possession student allowances while at the same time being KUWAIT: Once more, the Interior road accidents since the beginning of one was not paying enough attention. Ministry warned of the increasing 2015. Well-informed security sources The sources added that 35 percent of A GCC national was recently arrested in Salmiya with posses- paid as employees in some private sector compa- sion of myth and homebrewed liquor, said security sources, nies. — Al-Jarida numbers of road accident victims, stressed that most victims were the victims were citizens aged 21-30, noting that 375 citizens and expats young people and that most of the followed by a larger number in the noting that police patrol officers suspected the man who was had so far been killed in over 90,000 accidents happened because some- age category of 31-40. — Al-Qabas walking bare-footed and holding a co-op plastic bag with him. SUNDAY, DECEMBER 20, 2015 Cameron cornered Taleban rejects Islamic State leader’s claim to be ‘caliph’ on EU migrants as referendum looms Page 11 Page 10

YUBDO: People mourn the death of Dinka Chala who was shot dead by the Ethiopian forces in the Yubdo Village, about 100 km from Addis Ababa in the Oromia region. Dinka Chala was accused of protesting, but his family says he was not involved. — AFP At least 75 killed in Ethiopia protests Security forces shoot dozens of protesters in Shewa

NAIROBI: At least 75 people have been killed during land traditionally occupied by the Oromo people, the in scores dead and a rapidly rising risk of greater blood- open to dialogue.” Writing on Twitter on Friday, weeks of protests in Ethiopia which have seen soldiers country’s largest ethnic group. Demonstrations have shed,” HRW’s Leslie Lefkow said. “The government’s Washington’s UN envoy Samantha Power spoke of “con- and police firing on demonstrators, Human Rights taken place in the towns of Haramaya, Jarso, Walliso labeling of largely peaceful protesters as ‘terrorists’ and cerning rhetoric” from Ethiopia’s prime minister, insist- Watch said yesterday. “Police and military forces have and Robe among others. deploying military forces is a very dangerous escalation ing the government “must use restraint” in its response fired on demonstrations, killing at least 75 protesters of this volatile situation.” With at least 27 million peo- to the Oromo protests. and wounding many others, according to activists,” ‘Dozens’ shot ple, Oromia is the most populous of the country’s fed- Britain’s Foreign Office also expressed concern over HRW said in a statement. Rights groups have repeated- “Human Rights Watch received credible reports that eral states and has its own language, Oromo, distinct the protests in a statement issued on Friday, noting ly criticized Ethiopia’s use of anti-terrorism legislation security forces shot dozens of protesters in Shewa and from Ethiopia’s official Amharic language. that some had “turned violent, resulting in casualties.” to stifle peaceful dissent, with Washington expressing Wollega zones, west of Addis Ababa, in early “There have been heavy clashes including gunfire concern over the crackdown and urging Addis Ababa December,” HRW added. “Several people described see- US ‘deeply concerned’ between protesters and security forces” on December to employ restraint. ing security forces in the town of Walliso, 100 kilome- In a statement issued yesterday, which did not 17, it said, warning Britons against all but essential trav- There was no immediate response from Ethiopian ters southwest of Addis Ababa, shoot into crowds of directly refer to the HRW figures, Washington el to western and southwestern parts of Oromia. Some government, which has previously put the toll at five protesters in December, leaving bodies lying in the expressed grave concern over the unrest. “The United foreign-owned commercial farms have been “looted dead. Government spokesman Getachew Reda said the street.” HRW also said “numerous witnesses” described States is deeply concerned by the recent clashes in the and destroyed” in the protests near Debre Zeit, some “peaceful demonstrations” that began last month had how “security forces beat and arrested protesters, often Oromia region of Ethiopia that reportedly have result- 50 kilometers southeast of Addis Ababa, HRW said. escalated into violence, accusing protesters of “terroriz- directly from their homes at night.” ed in the deaths of numerous protestors,” said the State HRW said the protests-and bloody crackdown-echoed ing the civilians.” The protests began in November Pictures have appeared on social media, apparently Department. “We urge the government of Ethiopia to protests in April and May 2014 when police were when students opposed government proposals to take showing bloodied protestors and armed police firing permit peaceful protest and commit to a constructive accused of opening fire and killing “dozens” of protes- over territory in several towns in the Oromia region, tear gas at student demonstrators. “The Ethiopian gov- dialogue to address legitimate grievances,” it said, also tors. The government said eight people died in the sparking fears that Addis Ababa was looking to grab ernment’s response to the Oromia protests has resulted urging protesters “to refrain from violence and to be 2014 unrest. — AFP

Death toll climbs to 41 as Obama admits ‘challenge’ Philippine floods spread of stopping Islamic State WASHINGTON: President Barack Obama admitted that “lone large majority of the country.” Working with Assad against MANILA: Heavy rains pummeled the entire al calamity”. wolf” jihadist attacks present a vexing new security challenge Islamic State-as suggested by Russia and Iran would make Philippines yesterday, flooding more areas as the The government will control prices of basic Friday, even as he assured Americans the Islamic State group the United States “even more of a target for terrorist activity,” government declared a “state of national calamity”. goods in affected areas, the statement read. The can be defeated. Obama capped a week in which he has tried he added. But even as Obama tried to prod one Middle The death toll after a week of devastating weather weather bureau issued a warning of up to 30 mil- repeatedly to reassure a jittery Americans that his adminis- Eastern leader toward the exit, he was left to defend previous has risen to 41, according to confirmed reports limetres of rain per hour in the central islands of tration can neutralize the terror threat, with an end-of-year US actions in the ever-more-volatile region. from national and local disaster monitoring agen- Cebu, Negros and Bohol, while residents were press conference that only underscored the tough task Obama admitted “a failure on the part of the entire inter- cies. Poor farming communities in the main south- advised to be on alert for possible evacuation. The ahead. national community” in Libya, where the Islamic State now ern island of Mindanao were flooded Saturday three Visayas islands, with a combined population “It is very difficult for us to detect lone wolf plots,” Obama has a foothold. “I think that the United States has some after at least two rivers burst their banks, local dis- of 7.4 million people, are home to major tourism, acknowledged as officials continue to piece together how a accountability for not moving swiftly enough and underesti- aster officials said. The storm, locally named Onyok, trading and agricultural hubs. Close to 10,000 peo- couple shot 14 people dead at a party in California. “Despite mating the need to rebuild government there quickly,” he had weakened into a low pressure area after hitting ple were evacuated from the poor farming region the incredible vigilance and professionalism of all our law said. “As a consequence, you now have a very bad situation.” land late Friday but continued to bring more rains of Caraga in Mindanao before the latest storm. In enforcement... you don’t always see it.” “This is a different kind But from Egypt to Syria to Libya, Obama cautioned against to Mindanao and the central Visayas islands. Agusan del Sur province, large portions of the of challenge than the sort that we had with an organization “revisionist history” that blames the United States for creat- Cold monsoon winds blowing from the north- national highway were inundated after a nearby like Al-Qaeda,” Obama said before leaving for San Bernardino, ing instability by toppling regimes. “We didn’t trigger the east brought rains to Luzon, the main northern river burst its banks, regional civil defense officer the site of the shooting, and on to Hawaii for Christmas. Arab Spring,” he said pointing to regimes who failed to island, where large farming communities have Manuel Ochotorena said. “Essentially, you have ISIL trying to encourage or induce address the wishes of the people. In Libya, Muammar somebody who may be prey to this kind of propaganda.” Gaddafi “had already lost legitimacy and control of his coun- been submerged in mostly waist-deep floods from Another river in Davao del Norte province, Obama is under intense pressure to quickly and decisively try “Obama said. Typhoon Melor, which hit at the start of the week. roughly 100 kilometers away, also burst its banks, end a threat that may take years if not decades of military, In Egypt “we did not depose Hosni Mubarak. Millions of Areas inundated by Melor have barely recovered forcing residents out of their homes, provincial security, diplomatic and economic effort to neutralize. Part of Egyptians did, because of their dissatisfaction with the cor- from floods brought by Typhoon Koppu in disaster officer Romulo Tagalo said. In Luzon, the puzzle, he said, was to end the brutal war in Syria that ruption and authoritarianism of the regime.” During the October. “Almost the entire Philippines is experi- 140,000 people displaced by floods and land- has created fertile soil for the Islamic State to grow. “Our view press conference, Obama again made the case that closing encing rains. More floods are possible,” state slides triggered by Melor remained in evacuation has been that you cannot bring peace to Syria, you cannot the controversial Guantanamo prison would take a way one weather forecaster Robert Badrina said. “We centers. The Philippines, a nation of 100 million, is get an end to the civil war unless you have a government tool for Islamic State recruiters. He refused to rule out expect the rains to peak today. The weather will battered by an average of 20 typhoons per year, that is recognized as legitimate by a majority of that country. bypassing Congress in shutting the facility by executive start to improve tomorrow,” he said. President many of them deadly. In 2013, Super Typhoon It will not happen.” order if needed, vowing to “steadily chip away” at the num- Benigno Aquino ordered state agencies to “hasten Haiyan wiped out entire fishing communities in President Bashar Al-Assad, Obama said, “is going to have ber of inmates being held there. “I’m not going to automati- the rescue recovery, relief and rehabilitation the central islands, leaving 7,350 people dead or to leave in order for the country to stop the bloodletting and cally assume that Congress says no,” Obama said. “I think we efforts,” in a statement declaring a state of “nation- missing. — AFP for all the parties involved to be able to move forward in a can make a really strong argument.” But he admitted, “it will non-sectarian way. He has lost legitimacy in the eyes of a be an uphill battle.”— AFP SUNDAY, DECEMBER 20, 2015 INTERNATIONAL

Shooting of teen attackers sparks concern at Israeli use of force

QALANDIYA: Palestinian mother Maleeha the two girls went to Jerusalem’s central mar- of the Qalandiya refugee camp near Palestinians, as well clashes between A deterrent? Awwad still cannot explain what happened ket and carried out the attack. Nearly a month Ramallah, shaking her head and close to Palestinian youths and Israeli soldiers. Over The case has also turned the spotlight on the day her 14-year-old daughter stabbed a later, Israeli authorities finally released tears. half of the Palestinians killed have been a series of measures adopted by Israel to quell man with scissors and was shot dead by Hadeel’s body on Friday to enable the family The United Nations and human rights attackers. This week a UN spokeswoman assaults, including the demolition of the police. As far as she knew Hadeel had walked to bury her. “I still don’t understand what hap- groups have voiced concern that Israeli voiced deep concern over the “unaccept- homes of some attackers and withholding to school with her cousin Norhan, 16. Instead pened,” Awwad said at her home on the edge security forces are responding to attacks able” wave of attacks, as well as “reports of their bodies. Some politicians have also with excessive force. The Israeli police officer excessive use of force by Israeli forces”. “The encouraged Israeli Jews to carry guns at all who shot the teenagers has been placed response from Israeli security forces has times. Critics say many of the suspects could under investigation-the first such probe resulted in alleged attackers, protesters and be tasered and arrested-as was done this since a wave of violence began on October even bystanders being killed and injured,” month in London when a man stabbed three 1. Security camera footage from the incident said Cecile Pouilly, spokeswoman for the UN people in a train station. Prominent on November 23 appears to show the two human rights office. Palestinian politician Hanan Ashrawi said girls in school uniform chasing a man with Amnesty International’s Philip Luther Israel’s reaction to attacks is worsening the sit- scissors before being shot. welcomed the probe by the justice ministry uation. Israel’s “shoot-to-kill” policy actually Police said the girls had stabbed and as a positive development but warned other “creates more resentment, more anger and is lightly wounded a 70-year-old Palestinian cases did not appear to be getting the same a driving force behind individual cases of nearby, apparently mistaking him for a treatment. “The fact that this is the first such revenge,” she said. “When you kill somebody’s Jew.The footage shows both girls shot and investigation into killings by police since... friend, cousin, sister... there are people who on the ground. The policeman runs back October is deeply troubling, particularly giv- will go out and seek revenge,” she added. towards one of them-apparently Norhan- en the strong indications that many Hadeel’s brother was shot in the head and and opens fire despite her being curled in a Palestinians were killed when they were not killed two years ago during a protest against ball. Norhan was seriously wounded, but posing an imminent threat to life or of seri- the Israeli occupation of the West Bank. survived and has been charged with ous injury,” Luther said. Palestinian president Mahmud Abbas has attempted murder. Lawyers for the police- Earlier this year Luther accused Israel of said that the surge of attacks since October man have said he was concerned that the carrying out “extrajudicial executions”. The was a reflection of anger at Israel’s occupation girls may have been wearing explosive belts. Israeli police dismissed the criticism. “What and the failure of the peace process. Yoram Suicide bombings were common during the does Amnesty understand about split-sec- Schweitzer, a former Israeli military countert- second Palestinian intifada between 2000- ond decisions that police officers have to errorism chief, agreed that the lack of 2005, but have not occurred in the current make when there is a terrorist holding a 30- progress in peace talks was a factor but said unrest. centimetre knife in front of their face, just Palestinian assailants cannot escape responsi- about to cut their throat?” police spokesman bility. “The Palestinians should stop ramming WEST BANK: Palestinians stand next to a car, used by Palestinians in an Split-second decisions Micky Rosenfeld said. “Each attack is differ- and stabbing and inciting to kill Israelis. That attempted ramming attack against Israeli soldiers, in the Qalandiya At least 120 Palestinians and 17 Israelis ent and each different scenario is a split-sec- is what the Palestinians should do,” said have been killed in over two months of stab- ond reaction,” he said when asked about the Schweitzer, a senior research fellow at the refugee camp near the West Bank city of Ramallah. —AFP bing, shooting and car-ramming attacks by November shooting. Institute for National Security Studies. —AFP Fears of new Islamist threat emerge in northern Nigeria Dozens dead as army, radical Shiite group clash

LAGOS: Nigeria, which is still battling that he is trying to create an independ- lar authorities and offering a social around the world, the IMN enjoys politi- Boko Haram militants, now risks ent Shiite state. As a defiant preacher in infrastructure that is not provided by cal and financial support from the Shia unleashing a new Islamist threat after the late 1970s, he described the coun- the state,” said Malte Liewerscheidt, regime in Iran,” Liewerscheidt said. The violent clashes between the army and a try as being run by thieves. “The IMN Africa analyst at Verisk Maplecroft, a army says the hardline rhetoric boiled radical Shiite group, experts say. attracts impoverished Muslim youths research and investment firm. over into violence in Zaria, with the Though no official death toll was by preaching defiance of Nigeria’s secu- “Like other Shiite movements Shiite worshippers allegedly attacking released, at least a dozen members of the convoy of army chief Yusuf Buratai- the Islamic Movement of Nigeria (IMN) a claim denied by IMN. Soldiers were killed in confrontations with the attacked and destroyed a mosque, army during a religious procession last while Zakzaky was severely injured and week in the northern city of Zaria. IMN his house was destroyed. The total toll leader Ibrahim Zakzaky was seriously of the clashes, which continued wounded and arrested by the army between soldiers and hundreds of while his number two was killed during Shiite faithful for two days, is unknown, the clashes. but it is likely to amount to dozens of The military was forced to put out a deaths, according to testimony gath- Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump speaks at a campaign rally denial after rumors spread that ered by AFP. on Dec 16, 2015 in Mesa, Arizona. —AP Zakzaky’s wife died in custody. The vio- “Whilst the final death toll is unclear, lence mirrors the bloody beginning of there is no doubt there has been a sub- the Boko Haram insurrection in 2009, stantial loss of life at the hands of the Republican donor Adelson, when the former leader of the Sunni military,” said M K Ibrahim, director of militant group was executed in police Amnesty International in Nigeria, who Trump ‘aligning’ for Israel custody and the sect took up arms called for a “impartial investigation” into against the Nigerian government. the Zaria events. “Since Nigeria’s securi- MACAU: Top Republican Party donor “We like a lot of the candidates, some Nigeria’s highest Muslim authority, the ty forces are ill-equipped and trained to Sheldon Adelson said on Friday he met presi- more than the others,” Adelson said during Sultan of Sokoto, on Monday urged the deal with riot control, the escalation of dential candidate Donald Trump earlier this the interview in Macau, the world’s largest authorities to show “restraint”. “Don’t a local confrontation with the IMN was week and that the two American billionaires gambling hub, ahead of the formal opening create a new Boko Haram,” warned just a matter of time,” said Liewescheidt. broached the issue at the heart of Adelson’s of his new St Regis hotel in the former Alhaji Muhammad Sa’ad Abubakarr in a “The risk of escalation will be com- political agenda: support for Israel. While the Portuguese colony, “It’s changing every day. I statement. pounded if the military response spirals mega donor didn’t disclose his degree of saw in the news today that Trump said his “The past, with cataclysmic conse- out of control and if due process is backing for the front-runner in the race for percentage approval was 41 percent. Out of quences that Nigeria is yet to recover ignored in the handling of Zakzaky and the Republican nomination, he did say he 14 candidates, 41 percent is unheard of.” from, should not be allowed to repeat his followers who are in custody.” found Trump to be “very charming” and Asked what characteristics he would like the itself,” he added. Battling Boko Haram is However, not everyone sees IMN as called his standing in the crowded candidate Republican party’s nominee to embody, a priority for Nigeria’s President a nascent insurgency. “Nigeria’s small field “unheard of.” “It was very nice,” the gam- Adelson said, “They have got to be able to Muhammadu Buhari, who has vowed Shiite minority is generally well inte- bling tycoon said in a rare interview in Macau win.” to end the insurgency that has claimed grated within Nigerian society,” said when asked if he had met Trump, who leads Trump’s brash, off-the-cuff style has not 17,000 lives. Boko Haram has shifted its Roddy Barclay, analyst at strategy firm in opinion polls of Republican voters. “He was dented his popularity, despite predictions to strategy from raiding villages to relying Africa Practice. “It is important to note very charming.” the contrary. But on Israel, he did find himself on deadly bomb attacks in its quest to that Zakzaky’s Shiite followers would Hours later, Trump returned the compli- in trouble two weeks ago, and he also ment to Adelson, telling Reuters, “Sheldon angered prominent Jewish leaders with his overthrow the government and create LAHORE: Pakistani Shiite Muslims carry placards of Ibrahim find little affinity with Boko Haram’s a hardline Islamist state in the north- ultraconservative Sunni fighters,” he and I have been friends for a long time. He is comments on Muslims. Speaking to the east of the west African nation of some Zakzaky, a Nigerian Shiite radical who wants to set up an said. “However, the personal cult an amazing man. I am the only one who Republican Jewish Coalition in Washington, 170 million people. Islamic Republic, at a protest against the killing of Shiite around Sheikh Zakzaky has been a doesn’t need his money. But I would love his Trump wavered in answering a question Muslims in Pakistan and Nigeria. Hundreds of supporters of source of tension.” “They are small in support.” On the subject of Israel, Trump about whether he would consider Jerusalem ‘Risk of escalation the pro-Iranian Islamic Movement of Nigeria (IMN) marched numbers and somewhat isolated as a added, “Sheldon knows that nobody will be the undivided capital of Israel, drawing boos Zakzaky, who founded IMN in the through the streets of Kaduna’s Unguwar Nupawa area, calling grouping, limiting prospects for an more loyal to Israel than Donald Trump.” The from the crowd. Palestinians want East 1980s, has been monitored by Nigerian for the release of Sheikh Ibrahim Zakzaky, who has been emergent insurgency parallel to that of meeting and Trump’s pro-Israel stance - com- Jerusalem, captured by Israel in the 1967 security forces for years on suspicion detained by the military since December 13. —AFP Boko Haram,” said Barclay. —AFP ing after more ambiguous remarks a few Middle East war, for their future state. Israel weeks ago - could pave the way for a deeper regards all of Jerusalem as its indivisible capi- relationship between the two men, a month tal, a claim not recognized internationally. and a half before the first Republican nomi- A week after Trump spoke to the gather- ‘Rwanda vote’ grants Kagame extra terms nating contest in Iowa. ing of Jewish leaders, and in the wake of a Israel is, by far, the most important issue shooting by two Muslim radicals in California KIGALI: Rwanda has overwhelmingly voted to er has caused turmoil in Africa, where some leaders Frank Habineza said in a statement yesterday, to Adelson, a fierce supporter of the nation that killed 14, Trump proposed barring all change the constitution to allow President Paul have been at the helm for decades. Kigali’s pro-gov- adding the party “will not give up on the struggle to and close friend of Israeli Prime Minister foreign Muslims from entering the United Kagame to potentially rule until 2034, election offi- ernment New Times newspaper said in an editorial make Rwanda a vibrant democracy.” Some Benjamin Netanyahu. Adelson also owns the States. His call drew the immediate ire of cials said yesterday citing partial referendum yesterday that Rwandans had spoken out “regard- Rwandans said they had boycotted the vote as the newspaper with the largest circulation in some prominent Jewish Republicans. Trump results. “We have seen the will of the people. It’s less of the lame attempts to pour water on the outcome was already known. Carina Tertsakian, of Israel, a free daily. The 82-year-old chief exec- does, however, have deep ties to the Jewish clear that what the people want, they can achieve,” process by Rwanda’s closest ‘development partners’” Human Rights Watch (HRW), noted that after “years utive of Las Vegas Sands Corp , the world’s community. He is the only presidential can- said National Electoral Commission chief Kalisa in an allusion to US and European criticism. of government intimidation... open expressions of biggest gambling company by market value, didate who lives, makes deals and hobnobs Mbanda, announcing 98.1 percent had voted “yes” The country’s tiny opposition Green Party also dissent are rare,” and that approval of the referen- made his comments a few days after hosting among some of the world’s most prominent with preliminary results in from some 70 percent of protested that it was impossible to organize a dum was no surprise. “As one man told us: It would the latest debate among Republican Party Jewish power figures on the Upper East Side the country. counter campaign at such short notice. “The oppo- be stupid to vote ‘no’ because it won’t change any- presidential candidates at the Venetian Hotel of Manhattan. He’s also the only Republican “They called for the change of the constitution sition would have won,” Green party president thing,” she added. —AFP in Las Vegas, where and his Israeli-born wife, candidate with Jewish grandkids: his daugh- and they have made it,” the pro-government New Miriam, an accomplished medical doctor and ter, Ivanka, became Orthodox after marrying Times newspaper quoted him as saying. Kagame, philanthropist, live. real estate scion Jared Kushner. The family 58, could now be in power potentially for another Adelson said much of his discussion with keeps kosher, observes the Sabbath and 17 years. “What is happening is the people’s choice,” Trump was about Israel. “He (Trump) had attends the upscale synagogue he told reporters after casting his vote on Friday. talked about potentially dividing Jerusalem Congregation Kehilath Jeshurun. The amendment allows Kagame to run for a third and Israel, so I talked about Israel because seven-year term in 2017, at the end of which the with our newspaper, my wife being Israeli, Buys Las Vegas newspaper new rules take effect and he will be eligible to run we are the few who know more about Israel In Macau, Adelson also made his first pub- for a further two five-year terms. The United States than people who don’t,” Adelson said. lic comments confirming his family’s acquisi- and European Union have denounced the pro- Courted by most of the Republican candi- tion of the Las Vegas Review-Journal newspa- posed amendments as undermining democracy in dates and widely expected to be the party’s per. The $140 million deal to buy the largest the central African country. top donor in the November 2016 presidential paper in the state of Nevada, an important election, Adelson said earlier on Friday dur- swing state, had been shrouded in secrecy. Opposition ‘won’t give up’ ing a news conference that he may wait until Described by Forbes magazine as the 15th On Friday, the EU delegation in Kigali said there February’s primaries to decide who to back. richest man in the United States, Adelson had been a lack of “sufficient time and space for He described the field of Republican candi- said his family had bought the paper as a debate” on the issue, with the date for the referen- dates as “all very good”. financial investment, dismissing speculation dum only announced on December 8 and the draft the deal was aimed at controlling media in of the changes “only published publically less than Recovering from a misstep the United States. “The Review-Journal is one day ahead of the vote.” “The short time Some 14 candidates are still in the race for already on my side of the political spectrum,” between the announcement and the holding of the the Republican Party nomination. The latest Adelson said. “This newspaper has been mak- referendum left little or no opportunity for all par- Reuters/Ipsos poll showed Trump leading the ing money...we left the (everyday) operation ties to present their arguments,” the EU said. field with support of 31 percent of in the hands of the owner from who we Kagame has run Rwanda since his ethnic Tutsi rebel Republican voters, followed by Texas Senator bought it.” “We are not going to hire an edi- army, the Rwandan Patriotic Front (RPF), ended a Ted Cruz at 17 percent, pediatric neurosur- tor, we left it up to them (current manage- 1994 genocide by extremists from the Hutu majori- geon Ben Carson at 13 percent, Florida ment), period. We may take some of the posi- ty, when an estimated 800,000 people were massa- Senator Marco Rubio at eight percent and tive characteristics of our Israeli newspaper cred, the vast majority of them Tutsis. KIGALI: A poll agent removes ballot papers for counting in an election office in former Florida Governor Jeb Bush at seven and add them to there but that’s all just sug- The issue of long-serving rulers clinging to pow- Kigali. —AFP percent. gestions.” —Reuters SUNDAY, DECEMBER 20, 2015 INTERNATIONAL Sanders regains access to US voter files after fight

WASHINGTON: US Democratic presidential by limiting the number of debates and Clinton campaign showed the breach was Manchester, New Hampshire, on Saturday then known as Ready for Hillary PAC that candidate Bernie Sanders regained access to scheduling them on low-viewership periods more extensive than the Sanders campaign night. Stu Trevelyan, chief executive officer of supports Clinton - in December 2013, crucial voter files on Friday after taking the like Saturday nights. “In this case it looks like described, with at least 24 occasions when DNC software vendor NGP VAN, acknowl- according to records filed with the Federal Democratic National Committee to court and they are trying to help the Clinton campaign,” the Sanders campaign “saved” lists of Clinton edged the breach in a statement and called Election Commission. Josh Uretsky, the accusing party leaders of trying to undermine Sanders campaign manager Jeff Weaver said data, from four different users. it a “brief isolated issue” that was fixed and is Sanders campaign staffer fired for accessing his White House bid and help rival Hillary at a news conference on Friday afternoon “We are asking that the Sanders campaign now being reviewed. the voter file, told MSNBC that his intent was Clinton. The DNC had blocked access to the vot- before filing the lawsuit. He accused the DNC and the DNC work expeditiously to ensure According to his LinkedIn account, to document and understand the scope of er data after a Sanders campaign staffer of taking the Sanders campaign “hostage” by that our data is not in the Sanders campaign’s Trevelyan is a former campaign and White the problem so it could be reported. “To my improperly accessed Clinton’s voter files, blocking its access to the files. “We need our account,” Clinton campaign spokesman Brian House staffer for Hillary Clinton’s husband, knowledge, we did not export any records or prompting charges of theft from the Clinton data, which has been stolen by the DNC. Fallon said. Sanders campaign spokesman former President Bill Clinton. He also donat- voter file data that were based on those campaign and setting off a bitter political fight That’s what we want back,” Weaver said. Michael Briggs called the allegation of theft ed $403.20 to Ready PAC - an outside group scores,” he said. —Reuters in what had been a relatively peaceful Clinton campaign manager Robby Mook “outrageous” and said the campaign did not Democratic nominating race. told reporters in a conference call the keep or use any of the voter data. “We are not The DNC agreed to restore access to the files Sanders staff had taken vital data that consti- aware of one piece of data in the possession after Sanders sued the committee in US District tuted a “strategic road map” for the cam- of our campaign that resulted from the DNC Court, accusing it of improperly suspending the paign’s voter turnout models and strategies. vendor’s firewall failure,” Briggs said. campaign’s access to the voter data. The DNC “The Sanders campaign stole data from our said the Sanders campaign had supplied infor- campaign,” Mook said. “There is some dam- Full Access for Weekend mation about the breach and promised to age here that cannot be undone.” He said the campaign would have full cooperate with an investigation. “Based on this The Sanders campaign said the breach of access to the voter files again on Saturday information, we are restoring the Sanders cam- the confidential files, which contain informa- morning, in time for a weekend of campaign- paign’s access to the voter file, but will continue tion such as past voting and donation histo- ing. The incident comes at a bad time for to investigate to ensure that the data that was ry, was an isolated incident and fired a staffer Sanders, the US senator from Vermont who is inappropriately accessed has been deleted and involved. It blamed the breach on the DNC’s trying to stop the heavily favored Clinton is no longer in possession of the Sanders cam- software vendor, Washington-based NGP from running away with the party’s 2016 paign,” DNC Chairwoman Debbie Wasserman VAN, for dropping the firewall between the presidential nomination. Sanders has been Schultz said in a statement. various Democratic candidates’ data. lagging behind Clinton, with 29 percent sup- The political brawl came one day before a The DNC rents access to its master voter port to her 60 percent in recent debate between the presidential rivals, fuel- list to campaigns, which augment the data Reuters/Ipsos polling. ing rising tensions and highlighting com- with their own information. The firewalls are Sanders, Clinton and a third candidate, plaints from Sanders and his liberal allies that supposed to block campaigns from spying former Maryland Governor Martin O’Malley, the DNC is trying to help Clinton, particularly on their rivals. An audit released by the will debate at St Anselm College in Democratic Presidential hopeful Bernie Sanders Cuban migrants in limbo as C America summit ends Costa Rica pulls out of SICA over migrant crisis

SAN SALVADOR: A summit of Nicaragua, though, has been the matter: That the situation should immediate and safe transfer to its Central American leaders in El steadfast in refusing them in. Its be resolved not by Central America territory of the thousands of Cubans Salvador on Friday failed to break a stance spoke to longstanding ten- but by the United States since it is blocked on this dangerous transit regional impasse over the fate of sions with Costa Rica over border the one that has prompted many route.” Several of the other countries 5,000 US-bound Cuban migrants disputes, one of which was this Cubans to want to try to get to it,” represented at the summit, which blocked in Costa Rica for weeks. week ruled in Costa Rica’s favor by Moncada said. included host El Salvador, “There was no solution at this sum- the International Court of Justice. Guatemala, Panama, Belize and the mit to the problem with the Cuban Nicaragua’s alliance with Cuba’s gov- Costa Rica frustrated Dominican Republic, called for a migrants. There was no consensus ernment is also seen as a factor. In a sign of Costa Rica’s frustra- solution, but offered nothing con- over what should be done-each Nicaragua’s deputy foreign minister tion, Solis left the summit before its crete beyond insisting a consensus country has its own point of view on said Costa Rican President Luis close without making a promised was needed. The thousands of the matter,” Nicaragua’s deputy for- Guillermo Solis held bilateral meet- speech on the Cuban migrant issue. Cubans are being put up in schools eign minister, Denis Moncada said. ings Friday with counterparts and Nicaragua’s government issued a and tents in northern Costa Rica, GUANTANAMO BAY: Journalists are given a tour of the detention facility on Nicaragua’s official handling the statement to reporters after the near the Nicaraguan border, waiting Guantanamo Bay US Naval Base in Cuba. —AP He added that his country’s view was that the United States should issue, but no agreement was found. summit that “demands that the for their chance to continue their step in to offer a solution. The “Nicaragua has given its position in United States find a solution for the odyssey north. —AFP Why 9/11 attack case grinds Cubans-another 1,200 of whom are also stranded in Panama-have been on so slowly at Guantanamo left in limbo for a month, since Nicaragua closed its border to them GUANTANAMO: Five men accused of for the accused, and they were arraigned on November 15 and posted sol- directing and financing the Sept 11 plot for a second time 31/2 years ago. Congress diers and police to ensure none were back in their high-security cellblock at later prohibited sending any Guantanamo slipped in. The migrants are the tail the Guantanamo Bay detention center after detainees to the US for any reason, includ- end of a stream of Cubans leaving a pretrial hearing when the general in ing trial. their island in a bid to reach charge of prosecuting them delivered a America, driven by a fear that thaw- somber message for families of people US military trials ing Washington-Havana ties might killed in the attack. “I pledge to you that the The Guantanamo commissions, which put an end to a Cold War-era US pol- nation will never forget, will never lose combine elements of the civilian and mili- interest,” Army Brig Gen Mark Martins said tary justice systems, are the first held by icy of accepting Cubans who step last week to a handful of reporters who the US in decades and the law has evolved foot on US soil. traveled to this US base to view the latest in those years, meaning many basic issues proceedings. “And your government will must be litigated. The court, presided over No consensus continue to pursue justice under law for by an Army colonel who has handled some That stream spiked higher this however long that takes.” of the most prominent recent US military year, before Ecuador ended its visa- It could be a very long time. The prose- trials, has wrestled with what elements of free entry for Cubans this month. cution of the “9/11 five” has been unfolding the Constitution apply to defendants held That shut the door on their principal incrementally at a courtroom built specifi- at Guantanamo or whether a defendant entry point to mainland Latin cally for the proceedings on an abandoned can represent himself, issues long resolved America before an overland slog airfield. And it is likely to be years before in civilian courts. through Central America and Khalid Shaikh Mohammed, the Al-Qaeda Last week, the judge finally considered Mexico to the US border. Costa Rica, SALVADOR: (Left to right) Nicaragua’s Vice-Chancellor Dennis Moncada, Panama’s Vice-President commander who has claimed responsibility but didn’t rule on a defense motion filed which in November dismantled a Isabel Saint Malo, Guatemala’s President Alejandro Maldonado, Costa Rica’s President Luis for the Sept 11, 2001, attack, and his four days after their arraignment that the people-smuggling ring the Cubans Guillermo Solis, Salvador’s President Salvador Sanchez Ceren, Honduras’ President Juan Orlando alleged co-conspirators go before a jury of charges should be dismissed because had been relying on, has been try- Hernandez, Dominican Republic’s President Danilo Medina, Belize’s Foreign Minister Wilfred military officers. The four days of hearings statements by Obama, Bush and other sen- ing in vain to get other Central Elrington and the Secretary General of the Central American Integration System (SICA) Victoria American states to take in the that ended last Friday was the 14th round ior officials about the defendants may Velasquez pose for the official picture of the XLVI Summit of Heads of State and Government of of pretrial sessions since the May 2012 have improperly swayed proceedings. migrants and let them continue arraignment on charges that include nearly Many of these matters are being argued their journey. the SICA, at the Foreign Affairs Ministry in San Salvador on December 18, 2015. —AFP 3,000 counts of murder in violation of the with an eye to later appeals that are likely law of war for deaths in New York, to last years, and ultimately reach the Washington and Pennsylvania on Sept 11. Supreme Court. “There are so many issues Texas police in manhunt for ‘affluenza’ teenager around the structure of the military com- ‘Aren’t going anywhere’ missions and around discovery that there’s WASHINGTON: Police have launched a man- empty with no forwarding address. The statement. Sheriff Anderson admitted the The case is often portrayed as the most almost an incalculable amount of work to hunt for a wealthy Texas teenager described as teenager’s flight, apparently with his mother, young man had slipped through the net. “He complex and expensive terrorism prosecu- be done, to work our way through all these tion in US history. It may ultimately be the problems,” David Nevin, a civilian lawyer suffering from “affluenza,” after he apparently has prompted outrage across the country. got a big jump on us because he was gone longest. That reality has sparked anger and for Mohammad, said in an interview. violated the terms of his probation for causing “This is egregious. ‘Affluenza’ aside, Ethan before any of us knew that he was missing,” he frustration among some observers, includ- The government is barred by law from a deadly drunk-driving accident in 2013. Ethan Couch appears to show blatant disregard for said. “This is a family that knows how to game ing the small groups of victims’ relatives using evidence obtained by coercion dur- Couch was 16 when he crashed his pickup the law, and he must be held accountable,” the system and has done so from the start,” he chosen by lottery to attend proceedings. ing the defendants’ time in CIA prisons. truck into a group of pedestrians and another said Colleen Sheehey-Church, president of added, saying Couch may have fled the coun- More often, the reaction is like that last Prosecutors are expected instead to rely on vehicle, leaving four dead and several serious- Mothers Against Drunk Driving (MADD), in a try. —AFP week of John Olson from Rockville Centre, statements the defendants made to the ly injured. He had a blood-alcohol level of New York, who is simply resigned to the sit- FBI and others at Guantanamo. Lawyers for nearly three times the legal limit. uation. “These guys aren’t going anywhere,” the defendants say anything the men said The son of millionaire parents, Couch made Turkey kills 69 militants said Olson, whose wife, Maureen, was killed while in custody is tainted by their harsh headlines during his trial when a psychologist at her job on the 96th floor of the North treatment, a contention that will likely testifying on his behalf claimed he suffered Tower of the World Trade Center. “Quite form the core of the defense in either the from “affluenza”-a neologism coined from in southeast offensive frankly, if they stay here the rest of their trial or the penalty phase if they are con- affluence and influenza, implying that finan- lives that wouldn’t bother me.” victed. cial privilege made him unable to understand DIYARBAKIR: Sixty-nine Kurdish militants days of operations in Cizre and Silopi, near There are a number of inter-related rea- the consequences of his actions. The manhunt and two Turkish soldiers have been killed in the Syrian and Iraqi borders, had risen to sons the case has advanced slowly. Mostly, The secrecy began after the now 18-year-old missed a four days of fighting across southeast 69. The towns, both under curfew, are cen- though, it stems from the fact that the Issues surrounding the secrecy, and the mandatory meeting with his probation officer Turkey as security forces ramp up opera- tral targets in Turkey’s latest anti-PKK offen- defendants face trial at Guantanamo amid government’s desire to protect classified last week. The FBI and US Marshals Service, tions against the Kurdistan Workers Party sive, in which media reports say 10,000 a broader debate over whether to close the information about their time in CIA custody, which specializes in chasing fugitives, joined (PKK), security sources and the military said police and troops, backed by tanks, are tak- detention center and that they are being are responsible for much of the slow move- the search after authorities put Couch on the yesterday. The military said Turkish war- ing part. The head of the armed forces, tried by military commission, a hybrid sys- ment. Proceedings came to a near halt for country’s most wanted list. “You can run, but planes taking off from their southeastern General Hulusi Akar, visited troops in the tem that has been used throughout US his- 18 months while the judge tried to deter- base in Diyarbakir had also bombarded PKK region yesterday and was briefed on the tory to prosecute battlefield offenses dur- mine if an FBI investigation into potential you’re always going to be looking over your shoulder,” Tarrant County Sheriff Dee Anderson camps in northern Iraq on Friday, destroy- operations, security sources said. ing war time but never for a case like this security breaches on one of the five defense ing shelters and weapon posts. Although traditionally rooted in the one. The defendants were transferred in teams created a conflict of interest. told CNN on Thursday. A two-year ceasefire between Turkey countryside, the group has shifted its focus September 2006 to Guantanamo from CIA The case also detoured when the “We’re not going to give up. We’re going to detention facilities, where they were sub- defense discovered microphones dis- come after you. We’re going to find you, wher- and the PKK fell apart in July, shattering in recent years to towns and cities in the jected to what the government called guised to look like smoke detectors inside ever you are,” he added. Prosecutors had peace talks and reviving a conflict that has southeast, setting up barricades and dig- “enhanced” interrogation, now widely meeting rooms and when several defen- sought 20 years in prison for Couch, but afflicted the mainly Kurdish southeast for ging trenches to keep security forces away. regarded as torture. dants recognized a new Arabic interpreter judges handed him a surprise sentence of three decades, killing more than 40,000 Turkish President Tayyip Erdogan said this President George W Bush directed they as someone they encountered at a secret mental-health treatment and a decade of pro- people. One Turkish soldier was killed and week that Kurdish militants would be “anni- be tried by military commission and they CIA prison. Defense lawyers routinely deny bation. The leniency shocked many another was lightly wounded yesterday in hilated” in their trenches and houses and were arraigned about 18 months later. The they are seeking to delay a trial for men Americans, especially because the teen clashes in Sur district, which has remained that the operations would continue until case was still in the pretrial stage when who could get the death penalty if convict- expressed no remorse and spent not even a under a police curfew for the past two the area was “cleansed” of the militants and President Barack Obama took office pledg- ed. Walter Ruiz, who represents Saudi night behind bars. The controversy reignited weeks, in the predominantly Kurdish their barricades destroyed. Peace talks ing to close the Guantanamo jail. He defendant Mustafa al-Hawsawi, said he this month after the emergence of a video Diyarbakir province. between jailed PKK leader Abdullah Ocalan sought to move the case to a civilian court wants to get on with it to prove his client showing Couch at a party taking part in a One of two soldiers wounded in the bor- and the state ground to a halt early this in New York, but ran into intense political was at most a minor participant in the plot. drinking game, which violated the terms of der town of Cizre on Friday also succumbed year. The PKK is designated as a terrorist opposition. The administration backtracked “He has been in captivity since 2003,” Ruiz his probation. to his injuries, the army said. It said the group by Turkey, the United States and the and sent the case back to a military com- said. “At some point there is a desire for Police showed up at his home to find it number of Kurdish militants killed in four European Union. —Reuters mission with some added legal protections finality.” —AP SUNDAY, DECEMBER 20, 2015 INTERNATIONAL

African Union to send 5,000-strong force to Burundi

ADDIS ABABA: The African Union will send a Christian who believes he has divine backing On the brink 5,000 strong force to stop violence in trou- to rule. The force is mandated to “prevent any Earlier this week UN Secretary General Ban bled Burundi, giving Bujumbura a four-day deterioration of the security situation” as well Ki-moon said he was dispatching an envoy for deadline to agree but warning it would send as to protect civilians and “contribute to the urgent talks to end the crisis, warning that troops anyway. The move comes as interna- creation of the necessary conditions for the Burundi was “on the brink of a civil war that tional alarm grows over spiraling violence in successful holding of the inter-Burundian dia- risks engulfing the entire region.” Ban has also the tiny, landlocked nation which has been logue.” Talks between the government and raised the option of deploying UN peacekeep- mired in bloodshed since April, sparking con- opposition have repeatedly collapsed. No ers to quell the violence but recommended cern it was sliding towards civil war. details were given as to which countries that a UN team be first sent to bolster dia- The AU force “shall have an initial strength might send troops-or when they would be logue. The upsurge in violence has raised of up to 5,000 military personnel and police,” deployed. fears of a return to civil war, a decade after the the AU’s Peace and Security Council (PSC) said The new force, dubbed MAPROBU-the end of a 1993-2006 conflict between rebels in a statement late Friday. Burundi has so far French acronym for the African Prevention from the Hutu majority and an army dominat- dismissed proposals for any peacekeeping and Protection Mission in Burundi-will have ed by minority Tutsis, which left 300,000 peo- force, but the AU said if it refuses to accept an initial renewable mandate of six months. ple dead. The violence escalated dramatically the troops, the bloc would “take additional The bloc urged talks among its members, last week with the killing of 87 people in clash- measures” to ensure its deployment. And it including those in its regional East African es in Bujumbura, many of them youths shot underlined its “determination to take all Standby Force (EASF), “to generate the troops dead by the security forces. AU rights investi- appropriate measures against any party or and police elements needed to quickly reach gators this week returned from a fact-finding actor... who would impede the implementa- the authorized strength.” The 10-nation EASF mission to Burundi expressing “great concern” tion of the present decision.” includes Burundi itself, and is one of five AU after witnessing some of the heaviest fighting Burundi descended into bloodshed in regional bodies with a mandate to boost in the troubled country for months. The AU April when President Pierre Nkurunziza “peace and security”. It has never deployed team said they had reports of “arbitrary killings announced his intention to run for a contro- and is currently a force in principle only, with and targeted assassinations” as well as arrests, versial third term, which he went on to win in the AU calling on the UN Security Council “to detentions and torture. Their concerns have BUJUMBURA: Burundian soldiers withdraw from the restive Cibitoke neighbor- July. Nkurunziza is an ex-rebel and born-again support the deployment”. been widely echoed.— AFP hood in Bujumbura after a police operation during the celebrations. — AFP UK’s Cameron cornered on EU Far above Arctic Circle, a migrants as referendum looms ski resort hosts refugees RIKSGRANSEN: Far above Sweden’s Arctic Circle, was so easy. I made $1,200 a month,” Al-Shater two dozen refugees stepped off a night train said. “It was so safe that my friends and I used to EU leaders voice their concerns onto a desolate, snow-covered platform, their drive 60 kilometers to the beach just to have a Middle Eastern odyssey abruptly ending at a coffee late at night at two in the morning and LONDON: British Prime Minister David Cameron hotel touted as the world’s most northerly ski return home.” But war came. His work day was cut is rolling over his EU renegotiation bid into 2016, resort. It was Sweden’s latest attempt to house a in half as fighting erupted in the streets, and his as member nations seek a deal on the con- record influx of asylum seekers. No one was here father died of a suspected heart attack during tentious issue of welfare handouts for migrants. to greet them. Only a few, swaying lights flickered fighting in Homs. “I could not take him to hospi- Cameron hinted after a Brussels summit on on the otherwise empty platform as women fruit- tal. He died on the street,” Al-Shater said. He paid Friday that he wants to hold Britain’s long-await- lessly wrapped hijabs around their faces to pro- $1,200 to be smuggled by boat to Greece some ed in-out referendum on membership of the tect themselves from the mountain blizzard. 25 days ago and ended up in Riksgransen with European Union next year. Press reports yester- “Where are we? Is this the final destination?” said his wife, an English teacher. “In the end I had no day suggested that Cameron was eyeing a Alakozai Naimatullah, an Afghan who worked as option but to leave or join the killing. Or become June/July referendum, which would follow a US military translator. He wore tennis shoes, a protester and get killed. I had to leave.” British local elections in May. buried in the snow. Sitting along dark corridors, refugees’ faces It looks like Cameron will however have to His words went unanswered in the disorder of are illuminated by flickering smartphone screens. give ground on his demands on curbing welfare arrival. Their bare hands frozen, husbands, wives Some play video games, others Skype friends. payments for citizens from other EU countries and children bent over to drag plastic bags filled Most, like al-Shater, are eager to share memories, arriving in Britain, in the face of opposition from with worldly possessions over a steep, snowy using their phones to swipe through photos. One a string of other European leaders who see his path to hotel lights a hundred meters below. elderly man showed pictures of his wife and proposals as discriminatory. French President They joined around 600 refugees, mainly from daughter at the beach in the Syrian town of Francois Hollande warned Cameron that the Syria and Afghanistan, holed up for two months Latakia, a seaside resort and near a Russian mili- plan was “unacceptable”. in Riksgransen. It is some 124 miles north of the tary airbase. Smoking outside in the freezing While German Chancellor Angela Merkel is Arctic Circle and a two-hour bus ride to the near- dark, he raised his face to the sky, as if bathing in seen as generally supportive of Britain’s position, est town - if the road is not closed by snow. It is an Latakia’s imaginary sun. “Please turn on the sun she stressed that “the fundamental achieve- example of the extremes Sweden is going to in again,” he laughed. Another pale, old man had ments of European integration” such as freedom order to house some 160,000 refugees this year charmed hotel staff with tales of his perfume of movement and non-discrimination were not in a country of 10 million people. Shelters range shop in Syria before he was moved to a Swedish up for debate. This left Cameron talking of a from heated tents to adventure theme parks, hospital due to a heart ailment. “tough” road to a deal at the next summit in straining resources. February after Thursday’s crunch dinner domi- BRUSSELS: British prime minister David Cameron, arrives for a press confer- The sun never rises in Riksgransen at this time Memories nated by the issue. ence, as part of an extraordinary council at the European Union (EU) headquar- of year and temperatures can plummet to minus Trauma and illness abound. Flu and chicken EU President Donald Tusk said other leaders 30 degrees Celsius. But the hotel offers food, shel- pox already spread through the hotel. But the had “voiced their concerns” but were willing to ters in Brussels. — AFP ter and security after a dangerous month-long most common ailment is insomnia, a sure sign, “compromise”. “Cameron faces deadlock over EU trip from the Middle East by boat, train and bus. say nurses, of war trauma. To make matters benefit plan” was The Guardian newspaper’s make the country-which saw record net migra- conference on Friday, Cameron insisted that The jovial hotel manager Sven Kuldkepp has worse, few refugees venture outside, spending headline Friday, while The Sun ran with “Cam tion last year-a less attractive destination. “good progress” had been made at the Brussels helped arrange temporary classes and free days in rooms. Many fear taking children out in pole-axed”. That was a pun on the opposition to With other European leaders pushing back summit and seemed to suggest that the referen- sledges for children. There is a gym and boxing such freezing temperatures, despite tourists his plans from Poland, one of the eastern against that, sources and commentators suggest dum could be held in 2016. classes for adults. A room once used for medita- spending thousands of dollars to visit a place European nations whose citizens have moved to several alternative ways for Cameron to address Reports in Britain suggest June next year is tion has been turned into a mosque. Yoga mats famed for views of the northern lights. “This place Britain in their hundreds of thousands. “Cameron the issue. his preferred date. No date has been officially now face Makkah. But the hotel mostly has the is like a desert island,” said nurse Asa Henriksson has made a rod for his own back with his prom- One could be to impose an emergency brake set, though it must by law happen before the feel of an airport lounge with a delayed flight - in a makeshift clinic by the spa’s swimming pool. ise” on benefits, said Professor Simon Hix of the on migration into Britain, allowing Cameron to end of 2017. “I believe 2016 will be the year we with a two-month wait. Riksgransen will be home “It is surrounded by a wall of mountains.” “When London School of Economics. “He may now have limit migration from the 27 other EU states if its achieve something really vital, fundamentally until the ski season starts in February, but many the aurora comes, we tell people to go outside, to concede on that issue in return for a compro- public services were overwhelmed or welfare changing the UK’s relationship with the EU and face more than a year’s wait until they get news lay down in the snow, and look up,” she added. mise deal.” system was being abused. finally addressing the concerns of the British of asylum requests. “The refugees don’t. Many people here think Another is to withdraw such benefits from people about our membership,” Cameron said. their children could die in this cold.” There have ‘Still more questions’ young Britons as well as EU migrants. “There are Opinion polls suggest the British public is finely Smartphones been cases of bus loads of refugees arriving in While Cameron is pushing for reforms of still more questions than answers but it looks balanced on whether they want to remain in the Some refugees, only a hundred metres from the north overnight, having a glance at the sur- Britain’s relationship with the EU in four areas, it like everyone now has their sights on reaching a EU or leave. Seven months after his May election ski slopes, still dream of Syrian beaches. Wael Al- roundings and refusing to get off, insisting on is the issue of benefit payments to European deal in February,” said Stephen Booth, co-direc- victory which ensured the EU referendum would Shater was a chef at a 60-table restaurant called returning to warmer regions. Some return to migrants which is the most problematic. He tor of think tank Open Europe. “Whether that’s become a reality, Cameron now faces another Sky View in Homs, specializing in chicken. He had southern Sweden while others, like most in wants to force those migrants from EU countries the case will likely depend on whether this long, hard slog in 2016 if he is to secure the aspirations and applied to study as a chef in Riksgransen, accept their lot. In Riksgransen, who have jobs in Britain to wait four years broad political impetus is sufficient to see the result he wants-Britain staying in the EU, but Cyprus, but never got a visa. He had friends in many still want to visit the nearest town of before they can claim state benefits in a bid to process through,” he said. In his closing press with reforms. — AFP Dubai but didn’t want to live outside Syria. “Life Kiruna. — Reuters Suspense as Spain election Cyprus refugees hope courts campaign draws to a close

MADRID: Marked by an acrimonious elections in 2011, the PP’s absolute majori- end 17-year wait on UK base debate, a punch in the face, star turns on TV ty win came as no surprise. “But now, just and four very different main contenders, two days ahead of the election, one in four DHEKELIA SOVEREIGN BASE AREA: When Taj Bashir the United Kingdom,” says Tessa Gregory, of Leigh Day been left to rust. Spain’s election campaign came to an offi- voters remains undecided,” he adds. And saw land after days adrift aboard a ramshackle fishing solicitors, acting for the families. “They want to work “The Cypriots say we are nothing to do with them cial close Friday ahead of this weekend’s that is the main change in this campaign- trawler, he thought his treacherous journey from perse- and contribute positively to society.” and that we are the base’s responsibility,” says Kovan al- general election. For two weeks, incum- from a long-standing bi-party political cution in Sudan to sanctuary in Europe was finally over. Merza, a 20-year-old originally from Iraq’s Mosul. “The bent Prime Minister Mariano Rajoy and his scene, Spanish voters now have four very But 17 years later, he and dozens of fellow passengers ‘Tomorrow like today’ base says the exact same thing. Each one just throws us rivals have criss-crossed the country on a different groupings to choose from as well remain stranded on a British military base on the Although Britain signed a refugee agreement with away to the other.” Kovan was just an infant when his mission to seduce voters whose disillusion- as the usual spattering of smaller-scale con- Mediterranean island of Cyprus, unwitting participants Cyprus in 2005, Gregory believes London’s stance-that family reached Cyprus. He graduated from high school ment over corruption and austerity meas- tenders. in an international dispute that has lasted nearly half his the refugees may stay on British territory but not reset- last year and says there is now nothing for him to do. ures has fuelled the rise of dynamic new Sky-high unemployment, rising inequal- life. “We get used to waiting,” says Bashir, 43, outside the tle in Britain-contravenes international humanitarian “You know that tomorrow is going to be like today,” he parties that could make a splash in ities, corruption scandals and an independ- corrugated steel bungalow that serves as his family law. The government must respond by January, and the shrugs. In the sitting room of their bungalow, a Kurdish Sunday’s polls. ence movement in Catalonia are just some home in Dhekelia Sovereign Base Area, on Cyprus’s case is expected to be heard in London early next year. flag draped on the yellowing wall behind her, Kovan’s “There’s a lot more enthusiasm for poli- of the issues broached during the cam- southern shore. “We don’t have most of our civil rights Those on Dhekelia accuse Britain of seeking to force sister Iman says she dreams of studying at university. tics than four years ago, and everything paign. Rajoy, 60, has positioned himself as a because we are in a military base. Most of the families them from the territory by gradually cutting amenities. The 14-year-old is one of several refugee children born indicates that... there will be high levels of safe pair of hands who dragged the coun- here have been affected physically and psychologically,” Their children used to go to school on the base but on Dhekelia, but she is old enough to realise that her participation,” the centre-right El Mundo try away from economic collapse and put it he says. must now travel outside by bus for classes. Medical pro- situation makes future planning difficult. “I don’t want daily wrote in an opinion piece ahead of on the path of recovery, as evidenced by Bashir and 74 other asylum seekers-mainly Syrian visions were withdrawn and even the children’s play to stay here. I have nothing-no rights, no future,” she the legislative election. Polls predict that Christmas shoppers vying for space in the and Iraqi Kurds-set sail from Lebanon in 1998 but were area at the foot of their pot-holed “main street” has says. — AFP Rajoy’s ruling, conservative Popular Party centre of Madrid. Voters should not accept marooned off another British base on Cyprus, RAF (PP) will win the largest share of the vote the image of a “black Spain which certain Akrotiri, from where Britain is now launching air strikes but without an absolute majority, which people want to paint, it is a lie,” he said at a against the Islamic State group in Iraq and Syria. They will force it to get into bed with another rally in the eastern city of Valencia. Later were moved along the coast to Dhekelia, where around political grouping to wield any kind of during his final rally in Madrid Rajoy half were given refugee status on the base, and told power. warned that Spain “could not afford” to their accommodation — 1960s prefabricated huts But whether it will manage to do so-and “play with experiences, with novelty”. perched on a scrub-covered hill overlooking a firing with whom-remains a mystery as the main Socialist chief Pedro Sanchez, 43, has range-was only temporary. opposition Socialists are expected to come promised to reinstate the rights of work- But their stay has been anything but. “We are like neck-and-neck with two upstart parties ers and immigrants whom he says the PP the leftovers that you throw to the dogs,” says Mustafa campaigning for change, the centrist trampled on with its spending cuts, tax Shirmus, 41, a stateless Syrian Kurd who was on the Ciudadanos and anti-austerity Podemos. rises and controversial health reforms. same boat as Bashir. “I wish the people of the UK knew “I’m convinced that the Spanish will ask for Pablo Iglesias of Podemos, 37, promises what was happening here.” Although Dhekelia is offi- change,” Ciudadanos’s 36-year-old leader to defend “the lower classes” while Rivera cially British sovereign territory, the refugees have been Albert Rivera told supporters in Madrid’s pledges “reasonable change”, more refused permission to resettle in Britain. While they old town at the close of his campaign, after investment in education and less precari- could in theory claim asylum in Cyprus, many on the coming onstage to rousing music and ty in the workplace. Podemos, which had base say they have little prospect of finding work or applause. “I’m convinced that these years of lost steam after a highly-publicised rise permanent residency on the island. weariness, of corruption... are coming to an on the national scene in 2014, appears to The dispute has rumbled on for so long that many end,” he said as people clad in orange be gaining ground again and could even of the refugees have married and had children, all with- scarves-the color of his party looked on. replace the Socialists as the country’s in the boundaries of the seven-square-kilometer out- main left-wing party, polls suggest. post, although they are able to go outside. Now, after One in four undecided Yesterday is an obligatory “day of reflec- 17 years in limbo, six of the families are seeking a judi- DHEKELIA: Stateless children refugees Farah (left) and Belin crack walnuts to eat in Jose Pablo Ferrandiz, head of polling tion” ahead of the vote and no campaign- cial review challenging Britain’s position. “Our clients group Metroscopia, says that at the last ing is allowed. — AFP a street in Dhekelia Sovereign Base Area, along the coast of Larnaca in Cyprus’s wish to have the opportunity to settle and make a life in southern shore. — AFP SUNDAY, DECEMBER 20, 2015 INTERNATIONAL

JALALABAD: Internally displaced girls hold babies after their family left their village in JALALABAD: Afghan students attend a school class under a tent in Jalalabad, capital of Behsood district of Jalalabad east of Kabul, Afghanistan. It is a makeshift camp with thou- Nangarhar province, Afghanistan. —AP sands of people who left their homes to escape what is turning out to be an increasingly vicious war for control of the region between the Taleban and fighters of Afghanistan’s Islamic State group affiliate. —AP IS expands Afghan footprint with terror campaign

JALALABAD: Rahman Wali’s younger broth- summer, extremists pledging allegiance to IS young women. Beheadings and killings with State of Iraq and the Levant - Khorasan Kabul, just 125 kilometers (77.5 miles) to the er was one of 10 Afghan men forced by also surfaced in Nangarhar, where they chal- “buried bombs” - such as the gruesome slay- Province” as an “emergent competitor to oth- west, he added. Islamic State militants to kneel over bombs lenged the Taleban in border clashes. After ing of Wali’s brother - are filmed and posted er violent extremist groups that have tradi- Both Campbell and Kunduzi agree IS may buried in the soil in a lush green valley in see-sawing between the two groups, four on social media to instill fear, they said. Some tionally operated in Afghanistan.” “This may see Jalalabad as its base for expansion in eastern Nangarhar province. The extremists districts - Achin, Nazyan, Bati Kot and Spin spoke on condition of anonymity, fearing result in increased violence among the vari- Afghanistan. “I do not think Daesh will focus then detonated the bombs, turning the pas- Gar - fell under IS control, according to Gen reprisals for relatives back in the districts. ous extremist groups in 2016,” the Dec 16 only on the east,” Kunduzi said, using the toral countryside into a scene of horror. The John F Campbell, the US commander of Mimicking IS’s media outreach in Syria report said. Arabic language acronym for the Islamic August killings were recorded on camera and American and NATO forces in Afghanistan. and Iraq, the Afghan branch also set up a Campbell said some foreign IS fighters State group. Nangarhar’s chief refugee offi- posted on social media like so many IS atroci- radio station in Nangarhar, “Radio Caliphate,” have joined the Afghans from Iraq and Syria. cial, Ghulam Haidar Faqirzai, said that at least ties across the Mideast - reflecting how the So-called ‘caliphate’ broadcasting at least one hour a day to Former residents said they spotted gunmen 25,200 families - or more than 170,000 peo- Islamic State is exporting its particular brand Campbell said in an interview this week attract young Afghan men disenchanted by from Pakistan and Uzbekistan, as well as ple - have been displaced across the of cruelty as the group seeks to enlarge its that IS loyalists in Afghanistan are now trying dim job prospects in a war-torn country with Arabic speakers flush with money and appar- province, either directly by IS or by perceived footprint in Afghanistan. to consolidate links to the mothership - the an overall 24 percent unemployment rate. ently better armed than the Taleban. threats from the group. As the winter sets in, It was through the macabre video that so-called “caliphate” proclaimed on territory The joblessness is even higher among youths Nangarhar is attractive to IS for its mix of needs of the displaced are intensifying, he 44-year-old Wali learned the fate of his broth- IS seized in Syria and Iraq after its blitz there targeted in the IS recruitment drive. insurgent groups, some of which are based warned. er, Rahman Gul, an imam in their remote in the summer of 2014. For the present, IS Meanwhile, the Afghan government forces, across the border in Pakistan, and criminal In a camp on Jalalabad’s eastern outskirts, Shinwar district bordering Pakistan. Gul had ambitions for Afghanistan seem focused on busy fighting the Taleban elsewhere, left the gangs involved in lucrative drugs and miner- 70-year-old Yaqub, who like many Afghan been kidnapped weeks earlier, together with setting up what it calls “Khorasan Province,” two militant groups to battle it out. And bat- als smuggling. Alarm bells rang when stu- men uses only one name, said he left his vil- his wife and six children who were quickly set taking the name of an ancient province of tle they did. Hundreds of Taleban fighters - dents at the prestigious Nangarhar University lage in Maamand Valley in Achin district six free. After his brother’s death, Wali and his the Persian Empire that included territories in disillusioned with the 14-year war to over- staged a pro-IS demonstration on campus in months ago, after “fighters of the black flag” - family fled to the provincial capital of today’s Afghanistan, Iran and some Central throw the Kabul government - switched alle- August, sparking arrests by the Afghan intel- the Islamic State’s banner - dragged him and Jalalabad, seeking refuge in a makeshift Asian states. It parallels names for affiliates giance to IS. ligence agency and a crackdown on universi- his son into prison where they were beaten camp with thousands of others who left their elsewhere, such as the IS branch in Egypt’s Though estimates say that IS fighters ties nationwide. and tortured. He said he still does not know homes in the valleys hugging the border to Sinai Peninsula, which is known as “Sinai number a few thousand nationwide, they are why. “They covered my head with a black escape what is turning out to be an increas- Province.” still far outnumbered by the Taleban, who Fighters of the black flag bag so I couldn’t breathe while they beat me ingly vicious war for control of the region “I think ISIL is really trying to establish a have anywhere between 20,000 to 30,000 in Governor Salim Kunduzi put IS’s battle- for a whole day, and every day they said they between the Taleban and fighters of base in Nangarhar ... and establish Jalalabad their ranks, according to Afghan political ana- ground strength in Nangarhar at around 400 were going to kill me,” he said. Yaqub and his Afghanistan’s IS affiliate. as the base of the Khorasan Province,” lyst Waheed Muzhdah, who worked in the fighters. The province’s mountainous terrain son were released after the family paid their Reports of an IS presence in Afghanistan Campbell said, using an alternative acronym Taleban foreign ministry during their 1996- provides perfect ground for an insurgency, captors 200,000 Pakistani rupees, or almost first emerged early this year in southern for IS. Several residents who fled the four 2001 rule. Still, many admit the IS Afghan and militants can easily resupply from $2,000 - a fortune in Afghanistan, where the Helmand province, where recruiters believed Nangarhar districts say IS’s “reign of terror” branch could pose a serious threat to the Pakistan, he said. The province can also serve average annual income is around $700. to have links to the IS leadership in Syria were there includes extortions, evictions, arbitrary unstable nation. In a report released this as a staging ground for a push north, along “Anything is better than going back there,” killed by a US drone strike in February. In the imprisonment and forced marriage for week, the Pentagon referred to the “Islamic the eastern border and eventually on to said Yaqub. —AP

Pakistan’s Taleban rejects Islamic State leader’s claim to be ‘caliph’

DERA ISMAIL KHAN: Pakistan’s Taleban tants across the region to join its cam- has rejected Islamic State leader Abu paign to set up a global Islamic Bakr Al-Baghdadi’s claim to be the glob- caliphate. al leader of all Muslims, the movement Pakistani authorities say IS has no said in a statement seen by Reuters yes- financial ties with any Pakistani group. terday. The Pakistani Taleban’s statement But there are concerns about further tur- comes after a similar rejection by the moil in the region as US-led foreign Afghan Taleban following pledges of troops withdraw from Afghanistan, with allegiance from low-level commanders groups like the Haqqani network and IS of both Islamist movements to the likely to exploit the security vacuum. Middle East-based Islamic State (IS). The entry of Islamic State, while its Last year, IS, an Al-Qaeda offshoot, numbers remain small, will also compli- proclaimed its leader as “caliph” - the cate Pakistan’s fight against indigenous head of the state. Al-Baghdadi aspires to Islamist militants fighting to overthrow establish a global caliphate with himself the government. The Pakistani Taleban at its head. The latest statement from have been beset by bitter internal rival- the Pakistani Taleban comes amid spec- ries in the recent past, with the influen- ulation that the movement’s leadership, tial Mehsud tribal faction of the group whose goal is to topple the government refusing to accept the authority of of prime minister Nawaz Sharif and set Mullah Fazlullah, who came to power in up a sharia state, is actually wary of IS, late 2013. which is driven by different ambitions IS, in an effort to extend its global that have little to do with South Asia. reach, could exploit these rivalries to its “Baghdadi is not Khalifa (caliph) advantage, wading into a region ripe because in Islam, Khalifa means that he with fierce anti-Western ideology and has command over all the Muslim world, full of young unemployed men ready to while Baghdadi has no such command; take up guns and fight for Islam. In its he has command over a specific people latest statement, the Pakistani Taleban, and territory,” the Pakistan Taleban said like the Afghan Taleban, also condemn NEW DELHI: Vice-President of India’s Congress Party Rahul Gandhi (right) waves as he walks with his mother and party President in a statement. “Baghdadi is not a Islamic the ‘barbarity’ of Islamic State’s rule. Sonia Gandhi towards a media briefing inside All India Congress Committee (AICC) headquarters in New Delhi yesterday, after a Khalifa because his selection is not “Baghdadi’s caliphate is not Islamic court appearance by the pair. —AFP according to Islamic rules,” the statement because in a real caliphate you provide said, adding that the IS leader had little real justice while Baghdadi’s men kill control in Muslim countries like Egypt, many innocent mujahideen (fighters) of India court grants bail to Sonia Libya, Yemen and Afghanistan. The other groups,” the statement said. Pakistani Taleban operate separately Earlier this year, the Afghan Taleban from the Afghan insurgents of the same sent a letter to Al-Baghdadi to stop name, but are loosely aligned with them. recruiting in Afghanistan, saying there and Rahul Gandhi in graft case Late last year, a few breakaway factions is room for only “one flag, one leader- of the Pakistani Taleban declared alle- ship” in their fight to re-establish strict Ghandis accused of acquiring newspaper assets illegally giance to Islamic State and ordered mili- Islamist rule. —Reuters NEW DELHI: An Indian magistrate granted bail to “I have no doubt that the truth will come out. acquiring the now-defunct newspaper’s assets opposition leaders Sonia and Rahul Gandhi min- We are well aware of the campaign of attacks and after buying its publisher through a new private utes after they arrived at a Delhi court yesterday, criticism that our political rivals follow,” Sonia company, Young Indian, using a loan from party over allegations they illegally acquired a newspa- Gandhi said at a press conference following the funds. He alleged that the Gandhis aimed to grab per’s assets. The Congress party leaders, scions of hearing. “They are targeting us and making full property worth $332 million owned by the pub- India’s famous Gandhi-Nehru dynasty, arrived at the use of the state agencies,” she said. It followed a lishing firm, Associated Journals, using fraudulent Patiala trial court waving to their supporters as hun- tumultuous week in Indian politics which saw papers. Both Gandhis are directors of Young dreds of police and paramilitaries stood guard out- members of the embattled Congress and their allies Indian, owning a 76-percent stake in it and the side. “Bail was granted, the matter stands adjourned throw parliament into chaos several times in remaining shares. Sonia and Rahul were first sum- until February 20,” defense lawyer RS Cheema, who protest at the case. The intensely bitter spat moned in the case in June 2014, based on a com- was inside the courtroom, told reporters. After brief between the parties looks set to stall the progress plaint by Swamy but refused to appear in court in proceedings a magistrate granted the mother-son of a landmark sales tax reform in parliament. person, sending their lawyers instead. duo bail without conditions on a personal bond of On December 7 the Delhi High Court turned 50,000 rupees ($754) each, the lawyer said. National Herald down a plea by the Gandhis to quash the latest Sonia’s daughter Priyanka Gandhi and former Separately, Modi clashed with Delhi chief min- summons and exempt them from appearing in per- defense minister AK Antony provided sureties, the ister Arvind Kejriwal, head of the anti-corruption son. The National Herald was founded by lawyer said. Three others accused in the case were also Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) after federal investigators Jawaharlal Nehru who went on to become India’s granted bail. The Gandhis were summoned by the searched the city administration’s headquarters, first prime minister. It first published from the court after a politician from the ruling Bharatiya Janata with Kejriwal branding the premier a “psy- northern city of Lucknow in 1938 and played a MARIB: Armed Yemeni tribesmen from the Popular Resistance Committees, Party (BJP) filed a private criminal complaint accusing chopath”. The AAP in turn caused a storm by prominent role promoting nationalist sentiment them of misappropriating assets of the now-defunct accusing Finance Minister Arun Jaitley of presid- before India’s independence from Britain in 1947. supporting forces loyal to Yemen’s Saudi-backed President Abedrabbo National Herald. They fiercely deny Subramanian ing over financial irregularities when he con- Sonia Gandhi, widow of Nehru’s grandson Rajiv, lat- Mansour Hadi, fire as they hold a position in the area of Sirwah, west of Swamy’s allegations and accuse Prime Minister trolled the capital’s cricket association-a claim he er became the chief patron of the trust that ran it. Marib city. A Yemen ceasefire appeared to have collapsed as government Narendra Modi of waging a political vendetta against vehemently denies. But dogged by bad management, poor circulation forces captured two towns from rebels and an allied Arab coalition accused them and their embattled party, which has been Swamy first filed the case against the Congress and falling revenue, she finally decided to close the insurgents of escalating the conflict by firing ballistic missiles. —AFP struggling since a bitter electoral defeat last year. bosses in 2001. He accused them of illegally publication in 2008. —AFP SUNDAY, DECEMBER 20, 2015 INTERNATIONAL Angry single men stage anti-Christmas rally

TOKYO: Anti-Christmas protesters calling them- Revolutionary Losers’ League. “Christmas is the selves “Losers with Women” marched through most symbolic event for this,” he added. The Tokyo’s streets yesterday, bashing the upcoming man, who identified himself only by the pseu- holiday as a capitalist ploy that also discrimi- donym MarkWater, said the rally was also in nates against singletons. The group of about 20 support of unloved men. - part of the Communist-inspired group that “Unpopular men, who don’t have a girlfriend routinely protests Western holidays-marched or are not married, are overly discriminated. We under angry banners that read “Smash want to break this barrier,” he said amid the Christmas!” in Tokyo’s Shibuya district, where shouting protesters. In Japan, Christmas is not couples and families strolled for holiday shop- an official holiday and is mostly celebrated ping. informally as a romantic event for couples, The scrooges-mostly single men-said they while the New Year’s day is an occasion for fami- were against capitalism and were opposed to ly reunion. The Christian population remains the commercialization of Christmas. “In this small in the Asian country, stores offer special world, money is extracted from people in love, holiday sales and people decorate Christmas TOKYO: Members of a group of men calling themselves ‘losers with women’, march as they shout anti- and happy people support capitalism,” said the trees at home. The group has held past marches Christmas slogans at Shibuya shopping district in Tokyo yesterday. Angry Japanese men hit the streets head of the organization, formally called to denounce imported Western holidays, includ- of downtown Tokyo calling the ‘sham’ Christmas festive mood for happy couples be smashed. — AFP Kakumeiteki Hi-mote Domei, or the ing rallies against Valentine’s Day. — AFP

S Korea presidential hopeful Seychelles president scrapes apologizes over racist joke a wafer-thin third-term win VICTORIA: Seychelles President ‘All must work together’ Kim likens skin color of African student to coal James Michel won a third term in He said he had written to the elec- power by the narrowest of margins of toral commission asking for a recount, just 193 votes, with the opposition while calling for people to “remain calm SEOUL: The frontrunner to be South Korea’s apologize from the bottom of my heart.” He news outlet Focus News. “He said it jokingly. calling for a recount, the election and peaceful and to refrain from provo- next president has apologized after sparking a made the quip while delivering coal briquettes He was laughing.” “Personally I’m a black man... commission said yesterday. “Today cations.” Electoral Commission chief public uproar for jokingly likening the skin col- to the needy in Seoul alongside a group of for- It’s nothing that I am ashamed of.” Asked the people made their choice. The Hendrick Gappy has called for all citi- or of an African student to coal. Kim Moo- eign exchange students earlier on Friday. The whether he thought Kim should apologize to people have said that they wish that I zens to “respect the results and to main- Sung, the leader of the country’s ruling conser- event was part of a charity program which him, Adekunie replied in Korean: continue on the path that I have com- tain a peaceful atmosphere.” Michel, vative Saenuri Party and the leader in polling drew around 40 students from 27 countries as “Guenchanayo (No problem)”. The 26-year-old menced... for me to continue to lead who won elections in 2004 with 54 per- ahead of December 2017 elections, issued the well as 50 young members of the Saenuri student is attending a local university on a apology in the face of public criticism over the Party. “Your face color is the same as the bri- South Korean government scholarship. Kim Seychelles forward in stability, peace, cent of the vote and in 2011 with 55 gaffe. quettes’ color,” the 64-year-old said to a topped a Real Meter survey published last and prosperity,” Michel said in a percent, also called for calm. “The presi- “I failed to realize that showing friendliness Nigerian student while laughing. week on support levels for various presidential broadcast on national SBC television. dent that has been elected is the presi- this way could hurt someone’s feelings,” Kim The student, Babalola Joushua Adekunie, hopefuls with 22.5 percent of respondents “The election has tested the maturity dent of all Seychellois, and we all need wrote on his Facebook page on Friday. “I am said he did not take offence. “I don’t give any backing him. Moon Jae-In of the main opposi- of our democracy.” Michel, 71, won to work together for our Seychelles,” really sorry and there is no excuse. I sincerely special meaning to it,” Adekunie told local tion party was second on 16.1 percent. — AFP 50.15 percent with 31,512 votes in the Michel said. Turnout was high, with 87 unprecedented second round run-off percent of registered voters casting on the Indian Ocean archipelago, their ballots in each of the two rounds. compared to opposition leader Wavel Michel has pledged to boost the econo- Ramkalawan’s 49.85 percent with my and eradicate poverty in the 31,319 votes, according to official Seychelles, long seen as a tax haven for results. the world’s super-rich. “At this point in time, it is neces- Balloting on more remote islands sary, more than ever, that we contin- began on Wednesday but the main ue to create more unity in our coun- vote took place Friday on the main try. Today, more than ever, we need to islands of Mahe, Praslin and La Digue, work together as Seychellois, we need home to most of the Seychelles’ esti- to ensure we bring our people mated 91,000 citizens. Tourism and fish- together,” Michel added. But eries are the pillars of the Seychelles’ Ramkalawan, 54, an Anglican priest, economy, with its white-sand beaches said there were “several irregularities”, and tropical forests a favorite with well- according to the Seychelles News heeled newly-weds. A former British Agency (SNA), and referring to reports colony, the Seychelles is made up of of cash being given to voters ahead of 115 islands lying off the coast of east the polls. “We do not accept the Africa, some scattered up to 1,000 kilo- results of the elections because we meters from the capital Victoria. World thought we were participating in an Bank data estimated 2014 per capita election-but it turned out to be an gross national income at $13,990 auction,” Ramkalawan said, according (around 13,000 euros today), one of the to SNA. highest in Africa. — AFP

Beijing slams ‘provocative’ US South China Sea flypast

BEIJING: Two US B-52 bombers flew close quoted in the newspaper. to islands in the flashpoint South China Sea Beijing’s defense ministry added: “The last week in a “serious military provocation”, United States has continuously sent military BEIJING: Children pass by the Forbidden City during a blue sky day in Beijing. — AP Beijing said yesterday, as tensions simmer ships and planes to make a show of force in the disputed waterway. China insists it and create tensions in the waters and air- has sovereignty over virtually all of the space” of the South China Sea. “The Chinese China names and shames 5 resource-rich sea, conflicting with the vari- army will take all necessary measures to ous claims of several neighboring nations, defend the sovereignty and the security of and US activity in the area has provoked the country.” The United States is critical of Beijing’s ire several times in recent months. China building artificial islands in the dis- tourists over bad behavior “In the morning of 10 December, two US B- puted sea, and has flown other B-52 52 bombers entered air space over the bombers and sailed a guided-missile Chinese Nansha islands and nearby areas destroyer near some of the constructions in BEIJING: China’s tourism authority named and last was a woman who attacked her tour guide the negative impact on China’s image stemming without authorization,” Beijing’s defense recent months. shamed another five tourists for bad behavior and with hot tea after learning the price of her son’s from numerous incidents of bad behavior by ministry said, using the Chinese name for Washington has said China’s transforma- says it is working with airlines on a possible flying ticket to a western China scenic site was not Chinese tourists at home and abroad, ranging the Spratly Islands. tion of the geographical features in the ban. Those added to the list of “uncivilized behav- included in the package. Their names and a from fighting with air crews to defacing cultural “This behavior is a serious military Spratly Islands poses a threat to freedom of ior” by tourists include two women and a man description of their alleged misbehavior were artifacts. Social media platforms have spread provocation which complicates the general navigation in the critical body of water. who brawled after one woman’s seat was bumped entered onto the administration’s list and will descriptions and video clips of the incidents, situation in the South China Sea, (contribut- China’s military conducted war games in during boarding of a flight from Cambodia to the remain there for one to three years. Over that peri- prompting widespread derision among the pub- ing) to the militarization of the region,” the the area this week, with warships, sub- western city of Chengdu. The three were forcibly od, they can be refused service by travel agents, lic and occasional online campaigns to identify ministry said in a statement on its website. marines and fighter jets deployed over a removed from the plane under captain’s orders airlines, hotels and scenic sites. In a further step, the perpetrators. Rising incomes, relaxed regula- During a mission by the two B-52 bombers “range of several thousand kilometers”, the and the flight was delayed for one hour, the China the administration said it was working with major tions and cheap flights have permitted record last week, one of the aircraft unintentionally People’s Liberation Army Daily said. Beijing National Tourism Administration said. Chinese airlines on “enacting definite restrictive numbers of Chinese to travel in recent years. flew within two nautical miles of an artifi- insists it has sovereignty over virtually all of Another man was listed after he was arrested measures” against those on the list, which current- Among other frequent complaints are line-cut- cially constructed island, the Wall Street the resource-rich South China Sea, conflict- in Japan for assaulting a convenience store clerk ly includes 16 names in total. ting, smoking where banned, littering and fouling Journal quoted Pentagon officials as saying ing with the various claims of Vietnam, whom he accused of disrespecting his wife. The The government has grown concerned about public toilets. — AP Friday. This may have been because of bad Malaysia, the Philippines, Taiwan and weather conditions, according to officials Brunei. — AFP Vietnam’s development orientation

KUWAIT: The 12th National Congress of the the cooperative relations. will increase by 4 - 5%; the urbanization rate Communist Party which is scheduled to be In order to guarantee successful integra- will reach 38 - 40%. held in Jan 2016. However, political analysts tion, Vietnam is required to optimize internal According to the current economic model, share the perspective that Vietnam will keep resources, closely associate and promote the all subjects of Vietnam’s economy are equal, actively participating with the world’s eco- improvement of comprehensive national cooperate and compete under law rules. The nomic growth trend. Over the past 30 years, power and competitiveness. It will continue to role of the people in economic - social devel- under the leadership of Communist Party, diversify and multilateralise international eco- opment is protected and promoted. Vietnam due to the process of innovation and eco- nomic cooperation and maintain not to be will keep focusing on industrialization and nomic development, Vietnam’s foreign rela- dependent on any particular market or part- modernization in agriculture sector and rural tions and international integration is increas- ner as well as consider Middle East as the area areas; developing the knowledge economy, ingly intensive and effective. Vietnam so far Vietnam prioritize to cooperate in the future. improving the competitiveness in science and has established diplomatic relations with In term of economic developing orienta- technology; improving the system of regula- over 185 nations and signed more than 90 tion, the Communist Party claim to follow the tion and enhancing economic management. bilateral trading agreements and 10 FTAs model of market-oriented economic model. Moreover, Vietnam is growing the modern excluding WTO. Vietnam has been recognized The model is seen as an advanced and pro- service sector with higher rate than that in by 59 countries as a market status economy gressive; complying with the market princi- manufacturing sector and the GDP growth. country with its products presented in above ples, government’s management and The development concentration will placed 230 nations and territories. Communist Party’s leadership; taking the in advantageous sectors; promoting poten- According to those achievements, there is goal of maintaining rich people, a strong tials and favorable conditions in each local no doubt the upcoming 12th National country, an equitable, democratic and civi- area; constructing a number of economic TOKYO: (From left to right) Indonesia’s Defense Minister Ryamizard Ryacudu, Congress will keep directing Vietnam to make lized society”, specifically: The annual eco- zones to boost growth and testing break- Indonesia Minister of Foreign Affairs Retno Marsudi, Japanese Prime Minister enthusiastic and active international integra- nomic growth during 2016 - 2020 is as high through models of local economic develop- Shinzo Abe, Japanese Foreign Minister Fumio Kishida and Defense Minister tion on the foundation of equality and mutu- as 6,5 - 7%; by 2020, the gross domestic prod- ment. In general, Vietnam’s developing orien- Gen Nakatani pose for photographers during a meeting at the prime minister’s al benefit; to complement all commitments in uct will reach from $3200 to 3500; the pro- tation will keep directing its socialist-oriented ASEAN and WTO and take part in new free portion of industry and service sector in GDP market economy to flourish and push its inte- official residence in Tokyo. Japan and Indonesia agreed December 17 to begin trade agreements. Vietnam will also intensify will exceed 85%; the social labor productivity gration with world’s economy. talks on the transfer of defense technology to Jakarta and to help reduce ten- sions in the South China Sea. — AFP NEWS SUNDAY, DECEMBER 20 , 2015

Children swim in a swollen creek under a flyover in Manila yesterday. Heavy rains pummelled the entire Philippines yesterday, flooding more areas as the government declared a state of national calamity. — AFP Iran closes schools due to air pollution

TEHRAN: Iran is to close schools for two days in Tehran, an will also shut in Alborz province, west of Tehran. Authorities between zero and 50. Peak pollution hit 180 in some ting worse each day, it is stifling. It is like there is a grey official said yesterday, following air pollution three times have asked state employers to grant mothers time off to areas of Tehran, where poor air is worsened due to high haze hanging over the city. We can’t see the mountains,” the acceptable level that has blanketed the city in smog. Air look after children who will be unable to go to school and altitudes - between 1,100 and 1,700 m above sea level - in he said, referring to the snow-capped Alborz range that quality in Iran’s capital was the worst for at least nine urged the elderly, children and sick people to avoid going a basin surrounded by mountains. overlooks Tehran. months this week, media said, and airborne particles from outdoors. Emergency services have also been mobilized. Visibility was low yesterday as a grey fog blanketed the Iran’s government has tried to cut pollution by supply- car emissions were at “seven times the standard level”. “All In Dec 2014, almost 400 people were hospitalized with capital, a megacity of an estimated 14 million people, and ing lower emission fuel in large cities, Masoumeh Ebtekar, schools will be closed today in Tehran and in the... towns of heart and respiratory problems caused by heavy pollu- authorities said they expect pollution to worsen in the a vice president responsible for environmental protec- Shahr-Rey and Islam-Shahr (both south of the capital),” said tion in Tehran, with nearly 1,500 others requiring treat- coming days. Exhaust fumes from five million cars and tion, said this week. In 2012, pollution contributed to the environment official Mohammad Hadi Heydarzadeh. ment. The Air Quality Index on Monday showed an aver- almost as many motorcycles that ply Tehran’s roads each premature deaths of 4,500 people in Tehran and about “If the pollution continues, schools will also be closed on age reading of 162 - a “red status” warning that the air is day make up 80 percent of its pollution, which increases in 80,000 in the country, the health ministry said. According Monday,” he said on state television. Traffic will be limited in unhealthy for everyone, according to World Health winter as emissions fail to rise above cold air. “We cannot to the office in charge of monitoring air quality, the air in the city center and some factories will be closed, media Organization standards. Yesterday, it had dropped slightly breathe. My eyes are itchy and my head hurts,” said a taxi Tehran was “pure for only 219 days” during the past 16 reported. The official IRNA news agency said that schools to 148, still well above the normal healthy level of driver who only gave his first name, Khosro. “Traffic is get- years. — AFP Assad makes rare visit to church UN unanimously backs Syrian peace process Continued from Page 1 impose their version of strict Islam. The church visit Continued from Page 1 between the ISSG parties, some of which sponsor armed fac- came at around the same time as the United Nations tions on the ground, as to which groups should be banned. Assad has portrayed himself in recent interviews Security Council unanimously approved on Friday a “We know that Daesh can never be allowed to gain con- “There was a very rigorous discussion this morning, as you with the Western media as a protector of Syria’s minori- resolution endorsing an international road map for a trol in Syria so we have a global imperative here to deal with might imagine, about who might or might not qualify as a ties, saying his rule was an example of religious toler- Syria peace process, a rare show of unity among major a terrorist entity but also to end the civil war,” he said. terrorist,” he said. He said it was “impossible to reach consen- ance in a country threatened by Islamist insurgents powers on a conflict that has claimed more than a “President Assad in our judgment... has lost the ability, the sus” in the time available and that other countries would now credibility to be able to unite the country and to provide the help Jordan redraft the list in the weeks to come. who have taken swathes of territory and seek to quarter million lives. — Reuters moral credibility to be able to govern it.” Kerry said that most Iran said it would work with Russia, Oman, Egypt, Turkey, ISSG members agreed that Assad would have to go, and Jordan and France to prepare a list of extremist groups it many said so, notably France. “How could somebody bring wants to see banned from talks. “Terrorist groups have no Arabic lesson ignites anger in Bible Belt together a whole people when he has massacred so many?” place in this national dialogue,” Deputy Foreign Minister Foreign Minister Laurent Fabius demanded. Hossein Amir Abdollahian was quoted by the official IRNA Continued from Page 1 think their wanting to take prayer away from school, The resolution enshrines the plan developed by the ISSG news agency as saying. their wanting to take God out of textbooks, that was countries in a series of meetings in Geneva and Vienna. “We Syria’s main opposition group, the Syrian National shahada, a profession of faith recited in Muslims’ really like a slap in the face,” Duff said over dinner at a have a timeframe. That transitional process needs to try to be Coalition, warned that hopes for a ceasefire by Jan 1 were daily prayers. The statement translated to: “There is no fast-food restaurant outside Staunton. She did not achieved within the target time of six months,” Kerry said, unrealistic and demanded that Russia halt its air strikes as god but Allah and Muhammad is the messenger of agree, however, with the hateful emails directed at arguing that the UN vote gave the plan legal force. “The elec- part of that truce. Najib Ghadbian, the SNC’s envoy to the Allah.” The teacher’s lesson was drawn from instruc- LaPorte. “I don’t think that they should be attacking tion needs to take place within 18 months, the same start United Nations, said opposition groups need “a month or so” tional material that also includes Judeo-Christian her in that manner,” Duff said. time, so that after six months of the transition you’re about a to prepare for the political talks that would begin in tandem assignments. School officials said the aim of the lesson At a forum Tuesday, one parent said the assignment year away, or less, from an election.” British Foreign Secretary with a ceasefire. was to illustrate the complexity of the written Arabic promoted a false religious doctrine, while other par- Philip Hammond hailed the plan as a “great step forward”. The plan was also described as unrealistic by the Istanbul- language, not to promote any religious system, and a ents expressed outrage. Some demanded the teacher More than 250,000 people have died since Syria’s conflict based National Coalition, the main Syrian opposition group- different sample text will be used in the future. be fired. LaPorte declined comment. A Facebook group erupted in March 2011, and millions more have fled their ing. The resolution “undermines the outcome of the meet- homes. Friday’s New York talks were the first by the ISSG since ings of revolutionary forces in Riyadh and waters down previ- But some in this deeply religious area in the supporting her had more than 2,000 members Friday. Saudi Arabia gathered a coalition of Syria rebel groups to ous UN resolutions concerning a political solution in Syria,” foothills of the Blue Ridge Mountains said the lesson Many in this Shenandoah Valley community defended form an opposition negotiating team. Jordan’s foreign minis- coalition head Khaled Khoja said on Twitter. Fellow coalition angered them, especially because of what they said LaPorte and the school district. “I think people are mak- ter presented a draft list of “terrorist” groups that the ISSG member Samir Nashar said bombing by the regime and were efforts to marginalize Christianity in the schools. ing a big deal about it for no reason at all,” said 18-year- nations will agree to exclude from the talks. This would Russia must stop for there to be a sustainable ceasefire. Jackie Duff, a Baptist, said LaPorte should have been old Hannah Carey, a former student of LaPorte who include, but may not be limited to, the Islamic State group “Given the reality on the ground and the impasse on the fate mindful of the slayings of 14 in San Bernardino this lives in Waynesboro. “We learned about all different cul- and the Al-Qaeda-linked Al-Nusra Front. of Bashar Al-Assad, the agreement is absolutely not applica- month by a couple who had become radicalized. “I tures, and she was a great teacher.” — AP Kerry said that there were still sharp disagreements ble,” he said. — Agencies SUNDAY, DECEMBER 20, 2015 ANALYSIS

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Focus Catalonia bid ‘hot potato’ of Spanish polls

By Daniel Bosque

atalonia’s bid for independence from Spain has thrust the region’s separatist movement to the forefront of CSunday’s general election, forcing parties to come up with a range of proposals on how best to meet its demands. Years of inaction by Prime Minister Mariano Rajoy’s conserva- tive government, whose ruling Popular Party refused any form of negotiation or compromise with the separatists, “have caused a lot of harm,” says Catalan historian Andreu Mayayo. Backed by hundreds of thousands of protesters, a majority of lawmakers in the regional parliament have called for a Scotland-style referendum on self-determination - a demand that has systematically been rejected by Rajoy. One of Spain’s Washington Watch 17 semi-autonomous regions with its own language and cus- toms, Catalonia already enjoys a large degree of freedom in education, health and policing but it wants more, particularly where taxation is concerned, complaining it pays more to Trump and Co deepening the divide Madrid than it gets back. A 2010 decision by Spain’s Constitutional Court to water down a statute giving the wealthy, 7.5-million-strong region By Dr James J Zogby percent unfavorable and a 26 percent/53 percent net both communities and were more opposed to profiling more powers has added fuel to the fire. From 20 percent five unfavorable rating for American Muslims. them than the population, at large. And, once again, in years ago, support for independence has shot up to more than onald Trump and his GOP colleagues have Similar divergent views were found with regard to each instance, we observed the same demographic 40 percent. To try and force Madrid’s hand, Catalonia president exposed the depth of the divide in attitudes over whether or not voters felt confident that an Arab divide in the make-up of each group. Artur Mas called parliamentary elections in September. He Dthe role of American Muslims in US society. The American or an American Muslim could faithfully carry As significant as this Democratic/Republican divide formed the Together for Yes coalition that went on to win an results of a recent Zogby poll establish that the divide is out their responsibilities in a government position. In might be, it becomes even more dramatic when we com- absolute majority in the regional parliament with the support more existential than merely rhetorical, and is more each case, Democrats agreed that they could, while a pare the attitudes of the sub-set within each camp who of CUP, another more radical separatist party. demographic than simply partisan. It has become a mat- majority of Republicans felt that Arab or Muslim are supporting their party’s leading candidates. While 53 In November, pro-independence lawmakers approved a ter less of competing political philosophies and more a Americans would be unduly influenced by their ethnicity percent of Trump supporters have negative views of Arab resolution launching a process for independence they say will question of the attitudes of the groups that now make up or their religious faith. Americans and 68 percent have negative views of culminate in 2017. The resolution was later annulled by Spain’s the mainstream of each party. And the same divide could be found in response to American Muslims, 69 percent of Clinton supporters have Constitutional Court but Catalonia’s government has vowed To be clear, fear of Muslims is not just a function of questions regarding whether Arab Americans and favorable views of Arab Americans and 63 percent view that the motion is here to stay, creating a deadlock ahead of what this or that candidate says, because what the candi- American Muslims should be profiled or whether Syrian American Muslims favorably. And while only 6 percent of Sunday’s vote. dates are saying is a reflection of what the significant refugees should be admitted to the US, with six in ten Trump supporters believe the President Obama is a parts of the constituent base each party believes. And GOP voters saying that Arab Americans and American Christian (60 percent claiming he is a Muslim), only a What Solutions? the two major parties are increasingly defined by the dis- Muslims should be profiled and the same percentage handful of Clinton supporters say the president is Muslim Rajoy and his three main rivals have all broached the issue tinct demographic groupings of Americans that make up rejecting the president’s goal of accepting 10,000 vetted while 74 percent believe Obama is Christian. during the election campaign, putting forward starkly different their core supporters. Syrian refugees a year. The Zogby poll identifies the magnitude and contours solutions. Anti-austerity party Podemos, for one, has said it When Republican candidates, for example, maintain The most striking gap occurred in response to the of the problem. It is, to be sure, grave, for American would allow an independence referendum, like those held in that Muslims should not be trusted, that Muslim immi- question about the president’s religion with only one in Muslims and for my community of Arab Americans, as Scotland in 2014 and in Quebec two decades before that, both grants be banned, or that Muslims should be profiled, or ten Democrats believing that Obama might be Muslim well. Not only that, it is dilemma for the Republican Party of which resulted in “No” votes. The Socialists have suggested when candidates pledge to block President Obama’s and almost seven in ten Republicans asserting that he and for America - with no easy answers in sight. implementing a US-style federal state, while the centrists at commitment to bring Syrian refugees to the US, or claim was either a Muslim (49 percent) or had no faith at all (19 A short while ago, I had a leading Republican strate- Ciudadanos - which emerged in 2006 in Catalonia to fight that Obama is a closet Muslim - they are echoing the percent). gist on my weekly TV show. I asked why the GOP estab- nationalism - want to re-visit the powers given to Spain’s views of a strong majority of Republican primary voters. In each instance, this partisan split masks a deep lishment wasn’t more decisive in confronting Trump. His regions. Most of these measures, though, would imply a Our polling bears this out and it is a reality that must be demographic divide, with older, white, less educated vot- responses were telling. On the one hand, because Trump, change to Spain’s 1978 constitution, which underpinned the understood and addressed. ers, especially those who are self-defined as “born again Carson, and Ted Cruz are running against the establish- country’s transition to democracy after decades of dictatorship The poll of slightly over one thousand likely voters Christians” making up the largest proportion of ment, attacks by that very group would only strengthen under Francisco Franco. “Once a new government is formed in was conducted by Zogby Analytics in the days after Republicans, and African American, Hispanic, younger, their appeal. And with these three candidates garnering Spain, we will without a doubt have to talk” to find a solution, Trump made his comments calling for a ban on Muslim and more educated voters making up the Democratic almost 60 percent of the GOP vote, the establishment is Rajoy said Thursday. immigrants into the US. It found that Trump continues to side. concerned about the risks involved in alienating such a Spain’s constitution says two-thirds of the lower-house hold a substantial lead over the rest of the GOP field with substantial base of their party. While that may be their Congress and upper-house Senate would have to approve a the support of 38 percent of Republican likely voters and Behavioral Characteristics concern, mine has to be for my community and my coun- process for change, following which new elections would be Hillary Clinton at 56 percent maintains a commanding The poll also defined two important behavioral char- try. called, said political analyst Jaume Lopez. After that, two-thirds lead over her Democratic rivals. acteristics that, in addition to demographics, helped to In recent weeks, some Republican leaders have of the newly-formed chambers would have to give their seal of We also asked all respondents a series of questions shape attitudes of voters on these issues: voters’ sources denounced Trump’s more outrageous positions (though approval, and a national referendum be organized. “The about their attitudes towards Arab Americans and of news and whether or not they know any Arab and some were careful not to denounce Trump, himself). chances are very slim,” Lopez says - and Gabriel Rufian, a pro- American Muslims. The results were deeply disturbing, Muslims. As expected, those who rely on Fox News held Senator Lindsay Graham, however, distinguished himself independence activist standing for office on Sunday, agrees. with the overall views of Democrats and Republicans largely negative views on all these issues, but the same with a full-throated rejection of Trump and his views. “To change the Spanish Constitution we need the seven drag- being near mirror reflections of one another. For exam- was also true of CNN viewers. On the other hand, the 30 Because we are caught up in a horrific situation that we on balls and a unicorn’s blood,” he said recently, in reference to ple, while Democrats had a 51 percent favorable view of percent of voters who rely on Internet or other news must be relentless in confronting - for our present securi- a famous Japanese manga series and Harry Potter novels. But Arab Americans compared with 23 percent who held sources had significantly more favorable views on all the ty and for our future stability - we can only hope that for Mayayo, the time of non-action appears to have come to an unfavorable views and had a 44 percent/28 percent net questions covered in the poll. more GOP leaders will follow Graham’s example. end. “There will have to be a constitutional reform,” he says. favorable view of American Muslims, Republican atti- Similarly, the 30 percent of all voters who knew Arabs NOTE: Dr James J Zogby is the President of the Arab tudes of Arab Americans were 34 percent favorable/44 and Muslims had substantially more favorable views of American Institute ‘Wake-up call’ On the streets of Barcelona, passers-by agree that some- thing needs to be done. Toni Duran, a 48-year-old employee at an insurance company, says the government had ample time Trump mix makes for unorthodox bid to initiate reforms. “But it’s too late now,” he adds. But others like Laura Alvaredo, a 26-year-old designer, believe the situation can still be salvaged. “I’m going to vote for Podemos,” she says. By Julie Bykowicz and Jill Colvin dential contender Steve Forbes both run com- contain any false, misleading, defamatory, Corporate Resources “I’m not a separatist but until there is a referendum no one will panies bearing their name. “From day one, inaccurate or otherwise tortious statements or Some of those who have received Trump stop talking about this and problems will never be properly t can be hard to see where Donald Trump there was no use of any corporate assets in any representations concerning Mr. Trump, his Organization warnings have in turn slammed solved.” Polls show Podemos topping the poll in Catalonia on the business ends and Donald Trump the way, shape or form,” said Bill Dal Col, who ran business or his brand, we will not hesitate to him for what they contend is his illegal use of Sunday with Ciudadanos close behind. “Some may see Ipresidential candidate begins. When rivals Forbes’ unsuccessful 1996 and 2000 White seek immediate legal action to prevent such corporate resources. “Trump and his agents Podemos as a good strategic vote to put pressure for a referen- level political attacks, the Republican fron- House campaigns. “That way you don’t have to distribution and hold you jointly and severally have explicitly directed his corporate attorneys dum,” says Lluis Orriols, a political scientist at Madrid’s Carlos III trunner’s company attorney threatens law- walk the maze of campaign law, and you don’t liable to the fullest extent of the law for any at the Organization to do the dirty work for the University. suits on corporate letterhead. When his cam- expose business or campaign to any liability.” damages resulting therefrom ... and will look campaign,” wrote Charlie Spies, the attorney for But national polls also predict that the PP will win overall, paign needs event space, private businesses Bloomberg also took “enormous care” not forward to doing it.” groups backing Bush, in a reply to Garten. “Just though without an absolute majority, which may see the anti- sometimes provide it free. The political to commingle his business and campaign, Recipients of similar letters from Garten as your client is attempting to quickly learn the independence Ciudadanos party play the role of kingmaker. “A novice’s use of corporate resources - both his said Gross, who was his campaign attorney. include a group backing the candidacy of basics of foreign policy, we wish you personally PP-Ciudadanos pact would be the worst hypothesis,” says Jordi own and those of others - is another tool in his Trump is taking a different path, testing an Ohio Gov. John Kasich and the conservative the best in your attempts to learn election law.” Matas, politics professor at the University of Barcelona. “There asymmetrical bid for the White House. But it area of election law as no other candidate has group Club for Growth, which spent about $1 Spies also has filed an FEC complaint along would not be much action over Catalonia and that could fur- has drawn the attention of federal regulators, before. Reports filed by Trump’s campaign million on TV ads calling Trump “the worst those lines. Gross said Trump’s use of his own ther frustrate those who still hope for an agreement between as well as campaign-law experts who say covering its activities through Sept 30 show kind of politician”. Political candidates rarely company resources, if properly documented the Catalan government and Madrid.” —AFP some of what he’s doing could be illegal. hundreds of thousands of dollars in payments respond to attacks by threatening legal and reimbursed at a fair market rate, could be “The entanglements with his business and to cover reimbursements for campaign space action, because the law gives wide protection permissible, if unusual. What’s murkier is his his campaign are certainly unusual, and at Trump’s Manhattan office tower, political to speech made against political figures, a campaign’s use of the resources of other com- maybe unprecedented,” said Kenneth Gross, use of the corporate jet and the salaries of group that now includes Trump. The Trump panies. On Wednesday, Trump held a rally held an attorney who previously led the Federal Trump Organization employees. Organization argues it has a right to protect its at an airport hangar owned by International Air All articles appearing on these Election Commission’s enforcement division. Trump himself appears to be personally brand, which means protecting Trump. Response, a specialty aerial services provider pages are the personal opinion of “Use of a candidate’s own corporate resources paying for the jet and salaries, and candidates “Those rights are not forfeited by virtue of run by Travis and Bill Grantham in Arizona. the writers. Kuwait Times takes no is highly, highly regulated activity.” At the are allowed to spend as much of their own Mr Trump’s candidacy,” said Hope Hicks, a “They gave us a very good deal,” Trump bragged responsibility for views expressed FEC’s demand, Trump’s campaign on Thursday money seeking election as they wish. But Trump campaign spokeswoman (and Trump at the event. “You know what it is? Nothing. provided regulators with the names of none of the Trump Organization lawyers, Organization employee). The defense of his Thank you, fellas.” therein. Kuwait Times invites read- employees at his real estate and entertain- including general counsel Alan Garten, are brand, she said, “is in no way any form of cam- That might come as a disappointment to for- ers to voice their opinions. Please ment company who are doing work for his being paid through the campaign. Garten has paign activity and does not run afoul of feder- mer Texas Gov Rick Perry, whose campaign in send submissions via email to: opin- campaign - mostly security and communica- fired off angry letters when a rival candidate al election laws.” Bob Biersack, who worked for June paid $40,000 to lease an aircraft from the tions aides. or group attacks Trump. the FEC for 30 years and is now a senior fellow same company to use as a dramatic backdrop [email protected] or via snail Trump’s personal brand is fused with his This month, Mike Fernandez, a billionaire at the Center for Responsive Politics, called as he launched his ill-fated presidential bid. Bill mail to PO Box 1301 Safat, Kuwait. business, making his campaign’s navigation of Miami donor backing Jeb Bush’s White House such reasoning “kind of silly”. He said he had Grantham said fees for the 67,000-square-foot The editor reserves the right to edit election law a particular challenge. He is not bid, called Trump “a destroyer” in newspaper never heard of a business person invoking space that Trump used run from “free to tens of any submission as necessary. the first candidate in this position. Former New ads. Garten warned him and the treasurer of brand protection as a guard against public thousands of dollars”, depending upon the cir- York Mayor Michael Bloomberg and past presi- an unrelated pro-Bush group that if the “ads policy arguments. cumstance. —AP SUNDAY, DECEMBER 20, 2015 SPORTS

Ex-NY Giants player Qatari owner blasts Haryanto seeking $16m gets 30 days in jail ‘well-behaved’ fans to realise F1 dream

NEW YORK: Former New York Giants player Luke Petitgout (PEHT’-ih- PARIS: Owner Nasser Al-Khelaifi has hit out at Paris Saint-Germain’s fans for JAKARTA: Indonesian Rio Haryanto needs to raise 15 million euros ($16.29 mil- goo) will serve 30 days in jail after being convicted of harassing his being too “well-behaved” in an interview published yesterday. Speaking to Le lion) to realise his dream of racing in Formula One with the Manor Marussia team estranged wife and her date. The 39-year-old former offensive tackle Figaro newspaper, the Qatari billionaire said he wants the club’s supporters to next season, the Jakarta Post reported yesterday. The newspaper said Youth was sentenced Friday after being convicted of a harassment make more noise in cheering on their dominant heroes at the Parc des Princes. and Sports Minister Imam Nahrawi was lobbying businesses and state-owned charge in Manhattan Criminal Court. Petitgout was found “We need more atmosphere in the stadium. Sometimes our fans are a bit too enterprises to garner support for the 22-year-old, who well-behaved,” moaned Al-Khelaifi. “We give our time, our heart, our passion for tested for Marussia in Abu Dhabi this month. It added not guilty of misdemeanor assault.Authorities alleged the fans. I’d like them to be constantly behind us, from the first minute to the that while Haryanto can count on some 5 million Petitgout punched his estranged wife and her date last.” Before Al-Khelaifi took control of PSG in 2011, the Parisians had endured euros from sponsors Pertamina, the state-owned during an altercation at a Manhattan cocktail serious problems from violent hooligan groups that more often fought Indonesian oil and gas company, he had less than lounge in June 2014. The Daily News of New amongst themselves than with those ultras of rival teams. Al-Khelaifi even sup- three weeks to raise theremainder.”I need to find a York reports (http://nydn.us/1NBQitV ) that ported the supporter pacification process begun in 2010 by his predecessor, perfect formula for Rio’s financial support to meet Petitgout’s attorney said his client didn’t aimed at rooting out the violent, but noisy, hooligan groups, a move which saw Manor team’s requirement,” Nahrawi was quoted as throw any punches. In addition to the jail the Boulogne Boys and Tigris Mystic disbanded along with several other notori- saying in a statement after meeting State- ous groups. In the interview, Al-Khelaifi also ruled out bringing in new faces sentence, a judge ordered Petitgout to com- owned Enterprises minister Rini Soemarno. during the January transfer window. “Our team is very strong, therefore we plete 26 weeks of a batterer’s counseling pro- Nahrawi had issued a statement earlier in the won’t need new players; we need every player (already) in this team, so we month stating that his ministry would guar- gram. Petitgout played college football at won’t be selling anyone,” he added. Going into Saturday’s trip to Caen, PSG are antee the money in return for branding to Notre Dame and spent eight seasons with the 17 points clear at the top of Ligue 1 and unbeaten in a club record-equalling 27 promote Indonesia and associated con- Giants and one with the Buccaneers. — AP league matches. —AFP panies. —Reuters Felix training to run 200, 400 at Olympics on same day

NEW YORK: American sprinter Allyson Felix’s training is all geared toward the finish line in the 200 and 400 meters at the Rio Olympics. Schedule allowing, she hopes to be in the starting blocks for both races. Problem is, those events are scheduled to happen 75 minutes apart. To facilitate Felix’s pursuit, USA Track and Field recently petitioned the governing body of the sport to amend the Olympic track program, which currently has the 200 preliminaries taking place just over an hour before the 400 final in Rio on Aug. 15. That would leave little opportunity for the six-time Olympic medalist to recover. She won’t be deterred, though, should the rescheduling not happen. She still plans on attempting to make the U.S. squad in both events at the Olympic Trials in June and go from there. “I think she can make the team in both. I think she’s capable of medaling in both. I think she has a great oppor- tunity to win gold medals in both,” her longtime coach, Bobby Kersee said in a phone interview. “She’s very dedi- cated to it. She’s committed to the challenge.” A change to the schedule is not without precedent, even at this late date. Michael Johnson campaigned for a rearrangement of the 200 and 400 events leading up to the 1996 Summer Games in Atlanta. The program was altered, NORTHAMPTON: Northampton’s scrum-half from New Zealand Kahn Fotuali’I places the ball in the scrum during the European Rugby Champions Cup rugby union match between and he became the first male to win both at the Olympics. Northampton Saints and Racing Metro 92 in Northampton on Friday. — AP International Olympic Committee President Thomas Bach said four months ago that the Olympic track program remains flexible. USATF CEO Max Siegel went to bat for the 30-year-old Former rugby star Hayne Felix by contacting the International Association of Athletics Federations to set the wheels in motion for a switch. “Such an achievement would elevate the sport at the Games, and as a federation we owe it to her and to the embracing 49ers’ squad sport as a whole to make the request,” Siegel said in a state- ment. They’re currently in a holding pattern. An email was SANTA CLARA: The 49ers thought so highly of former Australian Hayne said. With his preseason performance, Hayne became one huge. The most reps I took in a row (before that) was probably sent to the IAAF to determine the next step. Sebastian Coe, rugby league star Jarryd Hayne that he was their opening night of Australia’s biggest sports stories after converting from the three or four.” Hayne fumbled his first attempt at a punt return in the head of IAAF, said over the summer that the organiza- punt returner despite playing football for just over seven months. National Rugby League’s Parramatta Eels, where he was one of the the team’s Week 1 win over the Vikings, and then again against tion would be willing investigate such a schedule change. But after three fumbles on punt returns, including his first ever country’s biggest stars. Green Bay in Week 4 and the Ravens in Week 6. “He just needs to Kersee has Felix working as though this kind of double attempt in the season opener, Hayne now finds himself on the Hayne exceeded his initial goal by making the 49ers’ roster for learn the game from the inside and out,” said McGaughey. The could take place. They started training in October, and Felix practice squad. Week 1. He was disappointed about his demotion, but is embrac- 49ers dealt with injuries to their top three running backs, losing will run a limited indoor schedule this winter to stay race “He needs to learn how to play football,” said Thomas ing his opportunity on the practice squad, where he’s received Carlos Hyde to a stress fracture in his left foot and Reggie Bush to sharp. She may also compete at the world indoor champi- McGaughey Jr., the 49ers’ first-year special teams coach. “To learn more practice reps than he did as the fourth-string running back. knee surgery for the season. Rookie Mike Davis was placed on onships in Portland, Oregon, in March. how to run and cover kicks and protect punts. That kind of stuff, “It’s definitely been a great year. I overachieved what I ever injured reserve with the return designation after surgery to repair “I don’t want her to sit around,” Kersee said. “So we’re that’s going to be invaluable for him with his overall skill develop- expected,” Hayne said. “I think what people don’t realize that every a fracture in his hand. treating indoors more like spring training. We’re going to ment.” day for me is like a month to everyone else because of the way I All the while, San Francisco passed over chances to bring perform a couple of times and shut it down and get ready Hayne was released on Halloween after appearing in six pick things up and the way I learn. Hayne back to the active roster, instead opting for Shaun Draughn for outdoor.” games before clearing waivers and signing to the practice squad and Travaris Cadet, who were free agents after being released by Asked what his ideal timetable would be for her to rea- two days later. He broke camp as the team’s punt returner after PRACTISE SQUAD the Browns and Patriots, respectively. sonably compete in Rio - two hours? averaging over 18 yards on returns in the preseason thanks to his “I just feel like in these short six weeks that I’ve been on the “I’m starting to realize when to play slow and when to play Six hours? A day? - Kersee didn’t commit. “I’m just going quick feet and elusiveness in the open field. practice squad, I learned so much. There was two weeks where I fast,” Hayne said. “That’s what the best do.” — AP through our major channels - asking the powers that be to “If I could come this far in seven months, just five me 12 or 14,” literally took every single rep in the look-card squad. That was talk to the other powers that be,” he said. “I’m a better track coach than politician. “It’s been done before. It’s nothing new. If you look at the history and look at the schedule, you know what’s fair Wallaby and you go from there.” This 200-400 undertaking by Felix Renolds maintains lead has been in the works for the last five years. Felix tackled the sprint-distance double at the 2011 world champi- Moore eyes onships in South Korea, winning silver in the 400. A few in Philippine Open days later, she lacked her customary kick and was clearly fourth exhausted in the 200, her signature event. She wound up with bronze. MANILA: Canada’s Lindsay Renolds kept his Typhoon Melor, will end today. 136 - Kalle Samooja (FIN) 69-67, Miguel World Cup Felix didn’t attempt that endeavor at the 2012 London lead and stayed on track to win his first Second-placed Barr needs to improve his Tabuena (PHI) 67-69, Giwhan Kim Games. Instead, she ran the 100 and the 200, winning gold Asian Tour title, shooting a second round 64th place Order of Merit ranking by a notch (KOR) 68-68, Gaganjeet Bhullar (IND) 67- in the latter. She also won gold in both relays. SYDNEY: Wallabies skipper Stephen four-under-par 68 at the Philippine Open on to keep his Asian Tour card next year. “I’m 69 She’s much stronger now, Kersee said, pointing to her Moore says he has set his sights on a Saturday. The Phuket-based Canadian was pleased. Obviously this is a huge week,” said 137 - Keith Horne (RSA) 69-68, Khalin performance at worlds last summer in Beijing. Focusing on fourth World Cup after signing a new followed closely by Scott Barr of Australia, Barr, who said he got a “great” putting lesson Joshi (IND) 70-67, Chinnarat the 400, Felix won the event and then helped the relay three-year deal with Australian rugby. who shot a 66 at the Luisita Golf and with old Asian Tour member Ahmad Phadungsil (THA) 67-70, Niall Turner (IRL) teams to silver medals. Her leg of the 4x400 relay was par- Moore’s new contract with the Country Club. “It is exciting to be in this Bateman. “Obviously when the putter starts 69-68, Jeunghun Wang (KOR) 67-70 ticularly strong. Australian Rugby Union, penned position. My game feels good and I feel rolling, the fairways get wider and every- 138 - Simon Griffiths (ENG) 70-68, “Last season, she was (in her best shape ever),” Kersee Friday, commences in 2017, the same good. I’m not really worried or nervous,” said thing gets easier,” he said. Tirawat Kaewsiribandit (THA) 68-70 said. “Barring injury, we can build off of that. We know we year he joins his former club, the 29-year-old Renolds, who needs to win the Home favourite Miguel Tabuena shared 139 - Mardan Mamat (SIN) 68-71, have a task ahead of us. We’re committed to it. Queensland Reds. The 32-year-old tournament to keep his Asian Tour card next third place with five-time Asian Tour winner Charlie Wi (KOR) 70-69, Charles Hong (PHI) “If we have an athlete that’s capable of maybe wanting stunned his current ACT Brumbies year. “Obviously there’s a lot on the line Gaganjeet Bhullar of India, Kalle Samooja of 71-68, Janne Kaske (FIN) 71-68, Adam to try that, why not give them the opportunity? That’s my team on Thursday when he advised tomorrow but if I play good golf then things Finland and Giwhan Kim of Korea. Groom (AUS) 70-69, Juvic Pagunsan (PHI) Perry Mason argument.” — AP will work out the way it should,” he said. Leading scores: 68-71, Brett Munson (USA) 70-69, Orlan them the 2016 Super Rugby season The Philippine Open, which was slashed 134 - Lindsay Renolds (CAN) 66-68 Sumcad (PHI) 72-67, Goh Kun Yang (SIN) will be his last in Canberra. to 54 holes due to a one-day delay from 135 - Scott Barr (AUS) 69-66 70-69. — AFP Moore, who was a major influence in the Wallabies getting to this year’s World Cup final against New Zealand in London, said he preferred to stay in Australia so he could build on the recent Wallabies’ successes and improve on his 102 Test caps. “I really feel we are building some- thing special at the Wallabies under ‘Cheik’ (Michael Cheika) and his coaching staff but there’s a lot more we want to achieve and I really want- ed to be a part of that,” Moore said in a statement late Friday. “I’ll be 36 at the next World Cup (in Japan) and obvi- ously form and a lot of other factors come into it. “If I am playing well and healthy and I’m the right fit for the team when the time comes, I’d love the opportu- nity to play at another World Cup. “It’s extremely rare for a player to play in four World Cups and I’m under no illu- sions that it’s not going to happen for me without a lot of those factors working in my favour.” Moore said he decided to return to Queensland to be closer to family and BEIJING: In this Aug 28, 2015, file photo, women’s 400- finish his career where it all began, meter gold medalist Allyson Felix celebrates on the podi- DALY CITY: In this Saturday, April 25, 2015 file photo, Juli Inkster hits out of a bunker onto the fifth green of the Lake Merced Golf Club rather than chase a more lucrative um at the World Athletics Championships at the Bird’s during the third round of the Swinging Skirts LPGA Classic golf tournament in Daly City, Calif. Juli Inkster said being the US Solheim Cup stint in Europe as a host of other play- Nest stadium in Beijing. Felix’s training is all geared captain was one of the biggest thrills of her career. Inkster was introduced as captain Friday during a surprise announcement at Des ers have. — AFP toward the finish line in the 200 and 400 meters at the Rio Moines Country Club, the Iowa course that will host the 2017 matches. — AP Olympics. — AP SUNDAY, DECEMBER 20, 2015 SPORTS Diack denies funding Senegal president’s campaign

PARIS: Former world athletics chief Lamine nor to his election campaign expenses,” said a “There were youngsters who mobilised by Le Monde. Senegalese government and Balaknishev Diack denies helping fund Senegal president statement from lawyers Daouda Diop, themselves and I bet on them: I financed “So, I needed finance... Mr Balaknishev was have denied Russian meddling in Senegalese Macky Sall’s election campaign in 2012, his Christian Charriere-Bournazel and Alexandre them,” said Diack, according to Senegalese part of (Russian president Vladimir) Putin’s politics. lawyers said yesterday. Varaut. press reports. Diack denied being friends team and at the time there were these prob- “Lamine Diack, and even less so Russia, Diack has been charged in France with “Everything, in his statements to police with Sall and claimed to have only met the lems with the suspension of Russian athletes, did not finance the campaign... either directly accepting Russian bribes to cover up positive and to the magistrate, demonstrates this. “All new president since his appointment. several months before the world champi- or indirectly,” presidential communications drugs tests when he was president of the contributions from Russia to Senegal had onships in Russia. minister Hamidou Kasse told AFP on Friday. International Association of Athletics nothing to do with the functions or actions of FUNDING CAMPAIGN “We agreed with each other; Russia paid “The campaign of President Macky Sall Federations (IAAF). Mr Lamine Diack in his position as IAAF presi- On Friday, Le Monde published quotes up.” However, Varaut denied there was any was financed by Macky Sall himself and On Friday he was quoted in Le Monde dent. “He repeats that he did not seek nor from Diack, 82, in which he said former link between the payments and allegations through the commitment of activists.” newspaper claiming Russia had donated 1.5 acquire any personal accumulation of Russian Athletics Federation president that Diack accepted bribes to cover up Balakhnishev told Le Monde that “neither I million euros ($1.6 million) to help Sall depose wealth.” Valentin Balakhnishev, an ex-IAAF treasurer, Russian doping. Diack was arrested by French nor my federation were implicated in any Abdoulaye Wade, who was Senegal president The lawyers said media reports had been had made the payments to help Sall’s cam- investigators last month, after which the such discussion or affair with Mr Diack”, from 2000 until his defeat to Sall in March “taken out of their context and hope that the paign. “It was necessary at the time to win International Olympic Committee suspended remarks confirmed by AFP. 2012. “President Lamine Diack insists that he judicial investigation can proceed calmly.” the ‘battle of Dakar’-that is, change those who him as an honorary member. Diack, who “This type of business is not in our interest never gave any money to the candidate However, Diack did admit to Senegalese radio were in power in my country Senegal,” Diack stood down as IAAF chief in August, has since or in our power. We cannot interfere in Macky Sall who became Senegal president, RFM that he had funded supporters of Sall. said, according to taped legal interviews cited resigned from his IOC position. Both the Senegal’s interior affairs.” — AFP Mount Union wins 12th football title

SALEM: Taurice Scott threw three touchdown 55 yards.Mount Union, which was driving into a passes and ran for another score and Mount gusting wind in the third quarter, let Nemeth do Union won its NCAA-best 12th football title, beat- most of the heavy lifting in the final quarter as it ing St. Thomas of Minnesota 49-35 on Friday chewed time off the clock. night in the Division III championship game. Unable to generate any offense moving into Logan Nemeth ran 220 yards and two touch- the stiff wind in the first quarter, Mount Union downs for the Purple Raiders (15-0), who were scored on its first two possessions of the second appearing in the Amos Alonzo Stagg Bowl for the quarter with the wind at its back. Nemeth set up 11th consecutive season. Vince Kehres won his the first score with a 40-yard run, and Scott hit first national championship in three tries as head Lane Clark from 7 yards out for the touchdown. It coach after father Larry led the Purple Raiders to was the 42nd touchdown pass of the season for the first 11 titles. Scott. He later hit Clark for another, from 13 yards, Jordan Roberts ran for 135 yards and two to make it 21-all. After a three-and-out for the touchdowns for St. Thomas (14-1). The Tommies Tommies, Nemeth had runs of 15 and 3 yards, also played for the title in 2012, losing 28-10 to and Scott then hit Namdar for 29 yards and the Mount Union. touchdown, his 20th scoring catch of the season. The Purple Raiders took command in the third The Tommies got help from a pass-interfer- quarter with three four-play touchdown drives ence call in converting a fourth-and-6 play from sandwiched around a turnover and a three-and- the Mount Union 30. After a holding call, Gould out by the Tommies. The burst took just 5:08 and hit Charlie Dowdle for 25 yards. Dowdle initially turned a 21-14 deficit into a 35-21 lead. St. bobbled Thomas got back within a touchdown on a fluky the ball as he passed through the end zone, touchdown, but the Tommies had no answer for but a review ruled he gained possession in time the big-play capabilities of the Purple Raiders. for a touchdown and a 7-0 lead. It was the largest In the 21-0 third-quarter burst, Scott hit deficit the Purple Raiders have faced this season, Roman Namdar for 63 yards to highlight the first and the Tommies doubled it in the second quar- drive, a fumble recovery set up the second, and ter, again with help. It came in the form of a fake Nemeth had a 42-yard run on the third drive punt by Mount Union that failed, giving St. before Scott’s 18-yard scoring run. Thomas the ball at the Purple Raiders 34. Eight St. Thomas fluky touchdown came when Nick runs later, Jordan Roberts ran it in on fourth-and- Waldvogel fumbled on run up the middle, and goal from the 1. It was Roberts’ 33rd rushing the ball bounced sideways and into the hands of touchdown, tops among NCAA players at all lev- WINNIPEG: Connor Hellebuyck #30 of the Winnipeg Jets grabs the puck in second period action in an NHL game against the New York Rangers quarterback John Gould, who outran the defense els this season. — AP at the MTS Centre on Friday in Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada. — AFP Vatrano, Bergeron lead Sports quotes for 2015 TENNIS Nobel Peace Prize. His contribution to the “I don’t want to talk about how disappoint- global humanitarian sphere is colossal.” Bruins past Penguins ing it is for me. If you have any other ques- Russian President Vladimir Putin on sus- tions, I’m open for that.” Serena Williams after pended FIFA boss Sepp Blatter, who is facing her shock US Open semi-final loss to Roberta corruption allegations. “I have pictured it a few PITTSBURGH: Frank Vatrano had three goals for his shot, and then Dave Dziurzynski fired the rebound Andersson, Pavel Datsyuk and Henrik Zetterberg Vinci which ended her bid for a calendar times, but I have to say I never thought it first career hat trick, Patrice Bergeron scored twice, back at net. Stalock got a piece of Dziurzynski’s shot scored for the Red Wings, and Jimmy Howard had 37 Grand Slam. would work out so well.” and the Boston Bruins beat the Pittsburgh Penguins 6- but left the rebound right on the goal line for Pageau saves. Zetterberg tied the game at 3 with 1:07 to play, “There was one time I was at the pizza joint Carli Lloyd after scoring the fastest hat-trick in Palm Beach and I did fall and hit my neck in a World Cup final match in the first 15 min- 2 Friday night to sweep the teams’ home-and-home to poke in. Wideman got the eventual winner and taking a Pavel Datsyuk pass and beating Miller on the and head. I don’t know if that counts as one. I utes as the United States beat holders Japan series. Loui Eriksson also scored for Boston, which is 4- Karlsson provided some insurance with goals later in stick side. Detroit dominated the 3-on-3 overtime, but came to the next morning. Anyways, that was 5-2 in the women’s tournament. “I wasn’t hap- 0-1 in its past five games, 10-1-3 in its past 14 games. the period. Miller stopped Gustav Nyquist and Datsyuk hit the Ryan Spooner added three assists and Brad Marchand it. The pizza never fell. It was perched perfectly py with my medical staff because even if you post. Vrbata also scored in the second round of the in my hand as I slept.” are a medical doctor or secretary on the added two. Conor Sheary - Vatrano’s college team- CANUCKS 4, RED WINGS 3, SO tiebreaker, and Brad Richards tied it for Detroit in the mate at UMass - got his first two NHL points with a Linden Vey, making his season debut, scored in the Serena Williams after being asked if, like bench, you have to understand the game.” third. Eugenie Bouchard, she has ever suffered a Jose Mourinho blasts team doctor Eva goal and an assist, and Trevor Daley scored his first seventh round of the shootout to give Vancouver a concussion. “Have you ever played tennis? You Carneiro who left the club in September and is goal with the Penguins, who are 0-3 since Mike win over Detroit. Jared McCann, Sven Baertschi and JETS 5, RANGERS 2 did? You probably weren’t very good.” Victoria now seeking a claim for constructive dismissal. Bryan Little scored two first-period goals, Blake Azarenka to a chair umpire in her first-round “I’m not under pressure, the refugees are Wheeler had four assists and Winnipeg beat New York. victory at the US Open. “I didn’t even get mar- under pressure.” NHL results/standings Little scored his 11th and 12th goals of the season in a ried in white.” US women’s player Bethanie Jose Mourinho refused to accept he was in 2:31 span for a 2-0 lead. His line - with wingers Boston 6, Pittsburgh 2; Washington 5, Tampa Bay 3; Florida 2, Carolina 0; Ottawa 4, San Jose 2; Mattek-Sands complaining about Wimbledon the midst of a full-blown crisis. “I feel like my Vancouver 4, Detroit 3 (SO); Winnipeg 5, NY Rangers 2. Andrew Ladd and Wheeler - combined for nine points dress code. work was betrayed.” Jose Mourinho accuses after only recording four points as a line over the past his players of betraying him in a 2-1 defeat at Western Conference Eastern Conference four games. Winnipeg also got goals from blue liners CRICKET Premier League leaders Leicester City, his final Atlantic Division Central Division Dustin Byfuglien and Tyler Myers, as well as Ladd on “I have no personal issues with Amir, it’s my match before his sacking. WL OTLGFGAPTS Montreal 20 10 3 101 76 43 Boston 18 9 4 102 82 40 the empty net. J.T. Miller and Dan Boyle scored the personal opinion that I can’t share the dress- Dallas 23 7 2 108 83 48 Detroit 16 9 7 82 83 39 Rangers. Jets goaltender Connor Hellebuyck picked ing room with someone who hurt my coun- RUGBY UNION St. Louis 19 10 4 84 79 42 Ottawa 17 11 5 102 97 39 up his fifth win in seven starts with a 26-save effort. try’s integrity.” Pakistan batsman Mohammad “We talked about what we wanted to do at Minnesota 17 7 6 84 70 40 Florida 17 12 4 88 76 38 Rangers goalie Henrik Lundqvist made 31 saves and Hafeez refusing to play in same Twenty20 half-time. It must have been a terrible speech.” Chicago 18 11 4 89 78 40 Tampa Bay 16 14 3 81 78 35 fell to 15-8-3 on the year. team in Bangladesh with Mohammad Amir, Canada coach Kieran Crowley after his side Nashville 15 11 6 82 83 36 Buffalo 14 16 3 77 86 31 Toronto 10 13 7 72 86 27 the bowler who was jailed after being found fell to the biggest comeback in World Cup his- Colorado 16 16 1 90 89 33 Metropolitan Division PANTHERS 2, HURRICANES 0 guilty of spot-fixing on the Pakistan tour of tory, losing to Romania. “It is like kissing your Winnipeg 15 15 2 90 97 32 Washington 23 6 2 96 67 48 Roberto Luongo made 24 saves, Willie Mitchell England in 2010. sister.” Springbok coach Heyneke Meyer gives Pacific Division NY Rangers 19 11 4 98 84 42 scored 4:09 into the third period and Florida beat “He’s still living off the fact that he coached his view on the joy of having to play a third Los Angeles 20 9 2 81 66 42 NY Islanders 18 10 5 91 79 41 Carolina for its third straight win. Mitchell got his first a team that anyone, even my dog Jerry, could place playoff match. “I had breakfast with my New Jersey 16 12 4 77 80 36 San Jose 16 15 1 85 87 33 goal of the season on a slap shot to put Florida up 1- have coached to world domination.” wife for the first time in a long time. At least I Philadelphia 14 12 6 68 86 34 Ex-Australian Test captain Michael Clarke still think she’s my wife, I don’t know if she still Calgary 15 14 2 83 105 32 Pittsburgh 15 13 3 70 80 33 0. He beat goalie Cam Ward to the glove side, and Vancouver 12 14 8 85 97 32 Carolina 12 15 5 77 98 29 Jonathan Huberdeau and Aleksander Barkov picked slams former coach John Buchanan, following thinks I’m her husband.” Arizona 14 15 2 86 102 30 Columbus 12 19 3 83 105 27 up assists. It was just the 34th goal for Mitchell in 894 the latter’s criticism of his captaincy. “We envi- Eddie Jones after Japan exit the World Cup. Edmonton 14 17 2 87 100 30 Note: Overtime losses (OTL) are worth one point NHL games. Reilly Smith added an empty-net goal sioned the future of having lost your first two in the standings and are not included in the loss with 21 seconds left. Smith has scored in four games, but not by this much.” England captain BOXING Anaheim 11 14 5 56 76 27 column (L). straight games. The Panthers have outscored oppo- Eoin Morgan after his team suffered a second “You’re boring and I want to get you out of humiliating loss at the World Cup. the heavy-weight division. You have about as nents 12-2 during their three-game streak and have much charisma as my underpants. Zero.” Sullivan replaced Mike Johnston as the team’s head Radim Vrbata scored in regulation for the Canucks, beaten Carolina five straight times, including 4-1 in GOLF Tyson Fury before ending Wladimir coach last weekend. Overall, Pittsburgh has lost four in who were without injured captain Henrik Sedin. Ryan the teams’ first meeting Oct. 13. Mitchell’s last goal “This has been the most unpleasant golf Klitschko’s four-year reign as undisputed a row (0-3-1) and six of its past seven to sit 12th in the Miller had 25 saves through overtime. Joakim was on April 2. — AP Eastern Conference. Sidney Crosby had two assists for tournament I’ve seen in my life. I mean, the world heavyweight champion. the Penguins to break a three-game point-scoring man who designed this golf course had to drought. have had one leg shorter than the other.” CYCLING Golf legend Gary Player ranting at the very “If I change all the seconds for firsts, there’s CAPITALS 5, LIGHTNING 3 hilly Chambers Bay Golf Course in Washington not a team that can pay me.” Slovak cyclist Alex Ovechkin and T.J. Oshie both finished with two State which hosted the 2015 US Open. “It Peter Sagan. ‘ goals and two assists and Marcus Johansson got the would be having a more open, honest rela- tiebreaking goal with 5:44 left to help Washington rally tionship with my ex-wife.” NFL from three goals down and beat Tampa Bay. The What Tiger Woods replied after being “You have to be mean to be a football play- Capitals now have won four straight games overall and asked what he would change most in his life er. Some of the best players don’t know how seven straight at home. They fell behind 3-0 midway and career as he approaches 40 on December to be mean, and that’s why they can’t get their through the second period but scored the game’s final 30. “Luckily, that amount of money doesn’t team to the next level. I’m supermean on the five goals - including four in the third period. Johansson sort of mean much to me anymore.” Rory field. If my mom was out there, I’d run over broke a 3-3 tie on his power-play goal from the right McIlroy talks about the possibility of winning her.” Seattle Seahawk defensive end Michael side after a pass from Oshie. Ovechkin also got an the $10 million FedEx Cup bonus. Bennett. assist. Ovechkin scored the team’s other two power- play goals. Oshie added an empty-net goal. Nicklas FOOTBALL ATHLETICS Backstrom earned his 600th career point with an assist “I’m a totally normal guy. I’m the Normal “This whole case smells of a political hit job on the final Oshie goal. Alex Killorn, Andrej Sustr and One.” and nothing more.” Steven Stamkos each scored once for Tampa Bay. Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp as he All-Russia Athletics Federation lawyer faced the media for the first time when asked Artyom Patsev after a World Anti-Doping SENATORS 4, SHARKS 2 how he would describe himself, after Chelsea Agency (WADA) report revealed rampant Bobby Ryan had a goal and an assist, Craig manager Jose Mourinho famously said he was state-sponsored doping in Russian athletics. Anderson made 31 saves and Ottawa got its fourth “a special one” in his first press conference in “We don’t deny that we have problems but straight home win. Ottawa has won just two of its past English football in 2004. they exist around the whole world; we have five games. Jean-Gabriel Pageau, Chris Wideman and “I am a mountain goat that keeps going the same percent as all countries do.” Erik Karlsson also scored. Joe Thornton and Brent and going and going, I cannot be stopped, I Russian sports miniter Vitaly Mutko on the Burns had the goals for the Sharks, and Alex Stalock just keep going.” Sepp Blatter before his WADA report which resulted in Russian ath- made 31 saves. Pageau started and finished the play ROME: People stand around the18th-century Baroque-style Trevi fountain before the start of a reelection for a fifth term as FIFA president. letes being suspended from international that gave the Senators a 2-1 lead 8:22 into the third show to promote Rome’s candidacy for the 2024 Olympic Games, on Friday in Rome. The cities in “That is someone who should be given the competition. — AFP period. After Pageau’s faceoff win, Cody Ceci took a the bid to host the 2024 Olympics are Budapest, Hamburg, Los Angeles, Paris and Rome. — AFP SUNDAY, DECEMBER 20, 2015 SPORTS ICC should fix Windies club v country row: Clarke

SYDNEY: The world governing body balance that allows top players to also “I’d like to see that changed. That will Tests in Melbourne and Sydney. mer captains Chris Gayle, Dwayne Bravo should do more to prevent a repeat of the take part in competitions such as the come down to the ICC (International Anticipated easy wins for Australia has and Darren Sammy who are all on duty club versus country player crisis that Indian Premier League and Australia’s cur- Cricket Council) and West Indies Cricket also turned off fans, with speculation that with their Australian Big Bash franchises, threatens to turn the West Indies-Australia rent Big Bash League. Board trying to get together to make it the Boxing Day crowd on Australian crick- along with fellow Windies players Andre Test series into a farce, Michael Clarke said “The players that are here playing in work.” et’s biggest day of the calendar could be Russell, Samuel Badree and Lendl yesterday. the BBL (Big Bash League) I think it’s really The worst fears for the West Indies the lowest in 16 years. While there is Simmons. The former Australian skipper said disappointing they’re not part of the West series in Australia were realised when widespread discontent with the West “I think international cricket has to be international cricket must remain the pri- Indies Test team,” the recently retired they crashed to an innings defeat inside Indies board, a lack of money in the the priority,” said Clarke, who rarely played ority for players over participation in the Clarke told the Sydney Morning Herald. three days in the first Test in Hobart last Caribbean game is also seen as a key fac- in domestic T20 competitions during his raft of lucrative global Twenty20 tourna- “There’s a number of players in Australia week. tor for many senior players turning their Test career. “T20 tournaments are impor- ments now available to high-profile stars. who would be in their number one There is little confidence the backs on Tests to chase the riches on offer tant and fantastic to watch, but I think But he accepts Tests will only remain the picked Test team. I think it’s disappointing Caribbean tourists can lift their game for in T20s. The Windies’ national team are there’s nothing more special than repre- pinnacle of the game if authorities find a for the game and Test match cricket. the feature Boxing Day and New Year playing the three-Test series without for- senting your country.” — AFP

Lyon hoping to show white ball form ahead of World T20

MELBOURNE: Australia spinner Nathan Cup victory for Australia in march. Lyon fought hard to cement his place in “You’re going to have to ask Rod Marsh the test team and now hopes to convince and the rest of the selectors about that selectors of his white ball prowess in time one,” Lyon told reporters on Saturday of his for the World Twenty20 in India. fleeting appearances in limited-overs crick- Lyon celebrated his 50th test against et. “I want to be the spinner in all three for- West Indies in Hobart last week but played mats. I don’t know how many times I have the last of his eight one-day internationals to say it. more than a year ago and has yet to repre- “That’s my goal and the T20 World Cup sent Australia in a T20 international. is definitely on my radar. I just have to The 28-year-old will have a chance to come out here and perform well for the impress on Sunday when he bowls for the Sydney Sixers and enjoying bowling in the Sydney Sixers in the domestic ‘Big Bash’ T20 BBL.” Lyon will also have to battle for his tournament, a match pitting him against spot in the squad for the March 8-April 3 the Hobart Hurricanes’ Cameron Boyce, the World T20 against spin-bowling all-rounder incumbent spinner in the national team. Glenn Maxwell and Ashton Agar, who Lyon collected eight wickets from his four forced his way into the one-day team on Big Bash (BBL) matches last season and was the tour of England this year. A former one of the Sixers’ best in their opening loss groundsman at Adelaide Oval, Lyon sur- to cross-town rivals Sydney Thunder on passed Hugh Trumble’s 141 test wickets in Thursday. Although he made his test June to become Australia’s most prolific debut in 2011, it took Lyon nearly three off-spinner and now has 175 to his name. years to nail down a permanent place in He said he felt confident he could thrive the side after a number of false starts and with “red ball, white ball or pink ball.” setbacks. Proving himself a contender in “It doesn’t faze me what game I’m the shorter formats has also been a slow playing in, I just want to do well for the process and he was omitted from the team I’m playing for and get the right squad that secured a fifth 50-over World result.” — Reuters

HAMILTON: BJ Watling of New Zealand (R) plays a shot during day two of the International Test cricket match between New Zealand and Sri Lanka at Seddon Park in Hamilton yesterday. — AFP Chameera’s blitz puts Sri Lankans on top

HAMILTON: Sri Lanka fought their way back into the Brisk start playing across the line and getting an edge which was second Test against New Zealand with a destructive Latham and Guptill made a brisk start for New smartly taken by Mathews at first slip. Chameera com- burst by young quick Dushmantha Chameera on day Zealand as they cruised through to 81, giving New pleted the four-over rout to have Taylor caught by two in Hamilton yesterday. Chameera took his first five- Zealand three consecutive half-century opening stands Dinesh Chandimal without scoring. wicket bag as New Zealand slumped from 81 without for the first time in 14 years. Chameera had been kept McCullum, who put away his natural attacking loss in reply to Sri Lanka’s first innings score of 292 to be out of the attack for most of the partnership but when instincts, was initially given out on 17 off 47 balls when 232-9 at stumps. he came in he was on the money almost immediately, caught by Udara Jayasundera in the deep. He was Doug Bracewell was not out 30 after a ninth-wicket having Latham caught by Dimuth Karunaratne at leg called back as he headed off the field as television stand of 31 with Neil Wagner (17) who was dismissed gully for 28. In his next over he took out New Zealand’s replays showed Nuwan Pradeep’s delivery was a no ball. on the last ball of the day. The 23-year-old Chameera, batting kingpin Williamson for one. But he failed to make the most of the reprieve with bowling at up to 146 kilometres per hour (90.6 mph), Again targeting the leg side, as he did with Latham, his eventual dismissal coming one run later when he was used sparingly by captain Angelo Mathews, taking Chameera tempted Williamson into a pull shot which was neatly caught one-handed by Kusal Mendis at three for 17 in his first spell and two for 30 in his second. was skied to Suranga Lakmal at deep square leg. short leg. Santner made 38 and Watling 28 as New SINGAPORE: France’s Kristina Mladenovic of UAE Royals hits a return against In partnership with the wily 37-year-old Rangana Guptill, who had looked solid as he reached 50, Zealand tried to recover but they still ended the day 60 Australia’s Jarmila Gajdosova of Philippine Mavericks during their women’s singles Herath, playing his 67th Test, they took New Zealand escaped the wrath of Chameera only to fall to Herath, runs behind with only one wicket remaining. — AFP tennis match at the International Premier Tennis League (IPTL) tournament in apart when it seemed openers Tom Latham and Martin Singapore yesterday. — AFP Guptill were settling in. SCOREBOARD New Zealand lost four wickets for eight runs in four overs as Chameera claimed the scalps of Latham, Kane HAMILTON, New Zealand: Scoreboard at stumps on day two of the second Test between New Williamson and Ross Taylor while Herath removed Zealand and Sri Lanka in Hamilton yesterday: Guptill. Sri Lanka 1st innings (overnight 264-7) New Zealand 1st innings India recalls Brendon McCullum tried to steer his side out of D. Karunaratne c Watling b Southee 12 M. Guptill c Mathews b Herath 50 trouble and put on 39 for the fifth wicket with Mitchell K. Mendis c Watling b Southee 31 T. Latham c Karunaratne b Chameera 28 Santner before he became Herath’s second wicket. U. Jayasundera run out Santner/Watling 26 K. Williamson c Lakmal b Chameera 1 Yuvraj, Nehra Chameera, who in his second spell removed Tim D. Chandimal c Watling b Bracewell 47 R. Taylor c Chandimal b Chameera 0 Southee and Wagner, was delighted with his perform- A. Mathews c Latham b Southee 77 B. McCullum c Mendis b Herath 18 ance. M. Siriwardana c Taylor b Boult 62 M. Santner c Chandimal b Pradeep 38 NEW DELHI: Veterans Yuvraj Singh month. “This is my fourth Test and I get five wickets so I am K. Vithanage c McCullum b Boult 0 B. Watling c Vithanage b Lakmal 28 and Ashish Nehra yesterday Yuvraj, remembered for his six six- very happy,” he said, adding the wicket he treasured R. Herath run out (Williamson) 4 D. Bracewell not out 30 returned to India’s Twenty20 side for es in an over to Stuart Broad during most was Williamson. The lean fast bowler said Sri D. Chameera c McCullum b Bracewell 4 T. Southee c Jayasundera b Chameera 4 S. Lakmal c Williamson b Wagner 4 N. Wagner c Vithanage b Chameera 17 next month’s limited-overs tour of the inaugural edition of the World Lanka worked out the batsmen would fall for the leg- side trap “because that’s the way they naturally play”. N. Pradeep not out 2 T. Boult not out 0 Australia, where it will play five one- Twenty20 in 2007, was picked as Guptill believed New Zealand were not out of the Test. Extras: (lb11, w12) 23 Extras: (lb3, nb7, w8) 18 day internationals and three India looks for a finisher batting at “We’re not where we’d like to be. Obviously we had to Total (10 wickets; 80.1 overs) 292 Total (9 wickets; 78.4 overs) 232 Twenty20 games. number six or seven for the World weather a bit of a storm after lunch when Sri Lanka Fall of wickets: 1-39 (Karunaratne), 2-44 (Mendis), Fall of wickets: 1-81 (Latham), 2-83 (Williamson), The 34-year-old Yuvraj, who last Twenty20 to be held in India In bowled very well,” he said. “But the fight we showed 3-115 (Jayasundera), 4-121 (Chandimal), 5-259 3-86 (Guptill), 4-89 (Taylor), 5-128 (McCullum), 6- played international cricket at the March-April. down the order through Dougie (Bracewell), Mitch (Siriwardana), 6-259 (Vithanage), 7-264 (Herath), 168 (Santner), 7-196 (Watling), 8-201 (Southee), World Twenty20 in Bangladesh dur- Nehra, 36, last played for India in (Santner) and BJ (Watling) we are still in this game.” Sri 8-284 (Mathews), 9-288 (Lakmal), 10-292 9-232 (Wagner) (Chameera) Bowling: Lakmal 16-4-48-1 (w1, nb1), Mathews ing March-April 2014, was selected the 2011 World Cup but has been Lanka’s first innings wrapped up quickly on the second after some fine performances in fairly consistent over the years in the Bowling: Boult 20-2-51-2, Southee 21-5-63-3 11-7-25-0, Pradeep 17-4-34-1 (w1, nb5), Herath day with only 28 further runs added, half of them by (w1), Bracewell 22.1-4-81-2 (w1), Wagner 9-1-51-1 22-1-75-2, Chameera 12.4-3-47-5 (w2, nb1). domestic one-day games this Indian Premier League. — AP top scorer Mathews who was out for 77, caught at third (w2), Santner 7-0-34-0, Williamson 1-0-1-0. slip by Latham off Southee.

Brathwaite, Blackwood in the runs but Windies collapse again

GEELONG: Opener Kraigg Brathwaite was kind of losing concentration. “I had to carried on his Test form but the West put that behind me and just focus on Indies’ woes were exposed again in anoth- each ball.” Brathwaite, who scored 94 in er batting collapse in their tour game his side’s miserable second innings of 148 against a Victoria XI in Geelong yesterday. in the first Test, picked up where he left off The Caribbean tourists, who were in Bellerive. The 23-year-old retired on 78 smashed by an innings and 212 runs in at tea, having faced 175 balls in a valuable last week’s first Hobart Test, were looking hit-out. to rediscover some confidence ahead of Blackwood scored 69 before he was the second Test, starting at the Melbourne trapped lbw by legspinner Jeremy Hart. Cricket Ground on Boxing Day. But after Darren Bravo, who posted a century in the reaching 226 for three the Windies col- first Test, was rested but otherwise it was a lapsed losing 5-31 on the opening day of full-strength batting order that misfired. their two-game in oppressive heat. Marlon Samuels, who was promoted to Brathwaite and Jermaine Blackwood were first drop in the absence of Bravo, scored the only batsmen to pass 50 as the West 45 off 39 balls before paceman Jackson Indies reached 303 for eight at stumps on Coleman had him out edging. Hart, who day one. Denesh Ramdin finished 38 not is yet to play first-class cricket, snared four out. wickets for 93 and sliced through the mid- Both teams toiled as the temperature dle order. reached over 44 Celsius (112 Fahrenheit), It was the latest sorry story in what has making it the Victorian provincial city’s been a woeful tour. “We got some starts... hottest day in December on record. we just need to convert those starts now,” Blackwood described it as the most sti- Blackwood said. “We’ll just have to go fling playing conditions he has endured in back into the nets and continue to work a match. hard. “We’re just putting in the work and SINGAPORE: India’s Rohan Bopana (L) is watched by Croatia’s Ivan Dodig (R) of Micromax Indian Aces as he plays a return against “I was so tired after running some hopefully it will pay off in the next Test Brazil’s Marcelo Melo and Australia’s Nick Kyrgios of OUE Singapore Slammers during their men’s doubles tennis match at the threes,” he told reporters. “At one point I match.” — AFP International Premier Tennis Match (IPTL) in Singapore yesterday. — AFP SUNDAY, DECEMBER 20, 2015 SPORTS

Ellie Day defends Jason and King James after courtside crash

CLEVELAND: Ellie Day, wife of Australian released on Friday, she received an out- 2 am seeing the ball come toward me. It daughter Lucy, Day was mainly thankful back to another game soon. Love LJ!,” he world number two golfer Jason Day, was pouring of support and concern. was a blur,” she said. her children were not at the game. “I am tweeted. battered and bruised but spent Friday “I am okay!! I am incredibly sore and “To the crazies that think Jason truly touched by the insane outpouring The Days live just outside Columbus, defending her husband and LeBron exhausted. Being tackled by that large should have protected me - if he had of support and those of you covering me Ohio and the PGA Championship winner James as she recovers from a heavy colli- man I would compare to a minor car had time to react, so would have I. Also, I in prayer,” she said. has attended Cavaliers games in the sion with the NBA great. accident. My head and neck hit pretty would not have liked both dudes land- “It could have been so much worse. I past. Ellie suffered concussion symptoms hard so it was really scary. My whole ing on me. LeBron is huge and had such am thankful for so many things. One, Cavs head coach David Blatt said after and bumps and bruises after James acci- body feels like it was hit by a truck,” Ellie momentum he could not have stopped!! that I didn’t have Lucy on my chest in her the game that James “made an honest dentally crashed into her while diving for tweeted on Friday. “Third, people are saying it’s a money carrier, and that I wasn’t still pregnant. attempt” at the basketball, suggesting a loose ball during the Cleveland But there were also factions blaming grab or some crap which is obviously “Also that Dash (their three-year-old son) the fault lay with the court-level seats. Cavaliers’ win over the visiting Oklahoma James and her husband Jason, who was absurd. Much like attending a golf event wasn’t with us.” “It’s always concerned me, the side- City Thunder on Thursday. sitting next to her, for not doing more to and risking getting hit with a ball, sitting After the game, four-time NBA MVP line seats,” he said. “When you’re talking After being stretchered away from protect her, and Ellie went on the offen- court side you risk getting run into.” James apologised via twitter and pri- about players of this speed and physical- her courtside seat in a neck brace and sive defending them. Just five weeks removed from giving vately. “Ellie Day I hope you’re doing ity and effort level, it’s not a simple admitted to hospital before being “It was so fast. I didn’t remember until birth to the couple’s second child, okay! My apologies! Hope u guys come thing.” —Reuters Warriors avenge only loss by rallying past Bucks, 121-112

OAKLAND: Stephen Curry scored 26 points third quarter and by 11 points with less SPURS 115, CLIPPERS 107 and Draymond Green fueled a key fourth- than eight minutes to play before Green LaMarcus Aldridge had 26 points and 13 quarter run that helped the Golden State and Curry took over to improve Golden rebounds as San Antonio remained unde- Warriors avenge their only loss of the sea- State to 26-1. feated at home. Tony Parker scored 10 of his son by beating the Milwaukee Bucks 121- 21 points in the fourth quarter for the Spurs, 112 on Friday night. Six nights after handing PISTONS 147, BULLS 144, 4 OT who are 15-0 at home this season. Chris the Warriors their first loss of the season and Andre Drummond had 33 points and 21 Paul had 27 points and 10 assists for Los ending a 28-game, regular-season winning rebounds to help Detroit outlast Chicago in Angeles. Blake Griffin added 25 points and streak dating to last season, the Bucks near- four overtimes. The Pistons scored the first DeAndre Jordan had 16 points and 17 ly dealt Golden State its first home loss seven points of the fourth OT and hung on. rebounds for the Clippers. since Jan. 27 against Chicago. The game Chicago’s Jimmy Butler, who scored a ended with some heated words between career-high 43 points, made an off-balance Green and O.J. Mayo as the teams left the 3-pointer to cut it to 145-144 with 4.7 sec- RAPTORS 108, HEAT 94 court. Security and a few other players got onds left. The Bulls immediately fouled DeMar DeRozan scored 30 points and in the middle of it before things calmed Reggie Jackson, who made both free Kyle Lowry added 21 as Toronto erased an down and both teams retreated to their throws. Butler then missed a 3 as time 11-point, third-quarter deficit to beat locker rooms. It didn’t come easy, as Golden expired, ending the Bulls’ four-game win- Miami. Luis Scola scored 20 for the Raptors, State trailed by as many as 15 points in the ning streak. who outscored Miami 58-39 after halftime. Bismack Biyombo had 15 rebounds. Dwyane Wade scored 21 for the Heat. The loss denied Miami what would have been its OAKLAND: Golden State Warriors’ Stephen Curry (30) and Milwaukee Bucks’ first four-game winning streak since late in Greg Monroe, right, chase a loose ball during the second half of an NBA bas- the 2013-14 season. ketball game Friday, Dec. 18, 2015, in Oakland, Calif. The Warriors won 121—112. —AP TIMBERWOLVES 99, KINGS 95 Andrew Wiggins had 32 points, 10 rebounds and six assists to lift Minnesota. Karl-Anthony Towns fought off foul trouble for 15 points and eight rebounds, and Trailblazer Hill Shabazz Muhammad added 16 points and seven boards for the Timberwolves. Minnesota had lost eight of its previous dies aged 87 nine games. DeMarcus Cousins had 24 points and 11 rebounds for Sacramento. LONDON: Jimmy Hill, one of the most Rajon Rondo had 13 assists and 11 points in influential figures in English football his return from a one-game suspension for history, died from Alzheimer’s disease directing a gay slur at referee Bill Kennedy. yesterday aged 87. Hill, who had been suffering from Alzheimer’s for several KNICKS 107, 76ERS 97 years, played a major role in the devel- Arron Afflalo had 22 points and seven opment of football in a remarkable life rebounds and Derrick Williams scored 17 off that encompassed virtually every facet the bench as New York won its third win in a of the sport. row. Jahlil Okafor scored 20 points for the In a statement, his agent, Jane Sixers in their ninth straight loss. They fell to Morgan, said: “It is with great sadness 1-27. Kristaps Porzingis added eight points, that Bryony Hill and the children of four rebounds and three blocks for the Jimmy Hill have announced that Jimmy passed away peacefully today aged 87 Knicks in his first matchup against Okafor, a after a long battle with Alzheimer’s dis- fellow top rookie. ease. Bryony was beside him.” Gary Linker, who followed in Hill’s HAWKS 109, CELTICS 101 footsteps as a presenter on the BBC’s Paul Millsap scored 15 of his 20 points in Match of the Day, led the tributes. the fourth quarter and Al Horford finished “Deeply saddened to hear that Jimmy with 21 points and 10 rebounds as Atlanta Hill has left us. A football man through rallied past Boston. Dennis Schroder scored and through who gave the game so Jimmy Hill 22 for the Hawks, including five during an much in so many ways #RIPJimmy,” 11-2 run midway through the fourth quarter Lineker wrote on Twitter. then Second Divisions to lead the team that put them ahead for good. Isaiah BBC pundit and former England into the top-flight, while also finding Thomas scored 29 for the Celtics. Boston led striker Alan Shearer said: “Very sad news time to change the club’s colours to sky by 10 in the first half, but could not over- about Jimmy Hill. Footballers and foot- blue and write the long-standing club come a season-worst 22 turnovers and lost ball have so much to thank him for. A anthem ‘The Sky Blue Song’. its third straight. man who loved the game.” Hill’s appetite for innovation wasn’t Hill made his name as a player with sated by those experiences, which have MAGIC 102, TRAIL BLAZERS 94 Brentford and then Fulham in the since led him to be immortalised in a 1950s, helping the Cottagers to promo- Tobias Harris and Nik Vucevic each statue at Coventry’s Ricoh Arena, and tion to the old First Division and once the London-born milkman’s son left the scored 25 points to propel Orlando past scoring five goals in a match against midlands club in 1967 to work as Head Portland. Elfrid Payton added 19 points and Doncaster. But it was his achievements of Sport at ITV. Victor Oladipo scored 15 points and had six off the field that built his legacy and Having devised the concept of the assists for the Magic, who won their third ensured he will be remembered as a football pundit panel for the 1970 straight game. CJ McCollum led the Trail trailblazing moderniser who helped World Cup, he proceeded to become Blazers with 29 points. revolutionise the sport. the nation’s most recognisable and In his role as Professional Footballers’ influential expert during a long associa- PACERS 104, NETS 97 Association chairman, Hill led the cam- tion with Match of the Day. He made Paul George scored 23 points and reserve paign for the scrapping of £20-a-week more than 600 appearances on the Jordan Hill added 14 points and 11 maximum wage for professional foot- football highlights programme and rebounds for Indiana. Rodney Stuckey had ballers and freedom of movement once occasionally found his out-spoken per- their contracts expired. Hill was influ- PHOENIX: Phoenix Suns guard Brandon Knight (3) drives on New Orleans Pelicans 15 points and seven rebounds off the bench sonality could land him in trouble, most ential in the introduction of three notably when he blamed a ball-girl for forward Alonzo Gee during the fourth quarter of an NBA basketball game, Friday, in in the Pacers’ third consecutive win. Jarrett Jack scored 26 points for Brooklyn. points for a win instead of two in 1981, facilitating Liverpool’s late equaliser in Phoenix. The Suns won 104-88. —AP and also fought for the right for clubs to an FA Cup match at Blackburn in 1991. wear sponsors’ logos on their shirts. Few people can have led such a full MAVERICKS 97, GRIZZLIES 88 football life as Hill, who also served Dirk Nowitzki scored 20 points, leading INNOVATION chairman at Charlton and Fulham in NBA results/standings Dallas over Memphis. Chandler Parsons had Not content with those ground- 1980s, and even took a turn as match 16 points and Zaza Pachulia got 10 points breaking ideas, he commissioned the official when standing in for an injured and 18 rebounds for the Mavericks. Mike first English all-seater stadium during linesman during an Arsenal against Indiana 104, Brooklyn 97; Orlando 102, Portland 94; NY Knicks 107, Philadelphia 97; Atlanta 109, Conley scored 20 points and Marc Gasol had his time at Coventry, introduced the Liverpool match in 1972. Boston 101; Toronto 108, Miami 94; Detroit 147, Chicago 144 (OT); Minnesota 99, Sacramento 95; 16 for the Grizzlies, who have lost four of first electronic scoreboard in 1964 and Hill will be cremated at a private cer- San Antonio 115, LA Clippers 107; Dallas 97, Memphis 88; Utah 97, Denver 88; Phoenix 104, New five. the first colour match-day programme. emony and a service for his friends and Orleans 88; Golden State 121, Milwaukee 112. During that six-year spell at Coventry, colleagues will be held in the new year, Eastern Conference Western Conference SUNS 104, PELICANS 88 he won promotion from the Third and his agent said. —AFP Atlantic Division Northwest Division Eric Bledsoe scored 29 points as Phoenix W L PCT GB Oklahoma City 17 9 .654 - led nearly the entire way in a victory over Asia makes moves on world stage Toronto 17 11 .607 - Utah 11 14 .440 5.5 New Orleans. Alex Len added 19 points and 13 rebounds, including his first 3-pointer of Boston 14 13 .519 2.5 Denver 11 15 .423 6 HONG KONG: An Asian leader of troubled European clubs. China is leading the charge, NY Knicks 13 14 .481 3.5 Portland 11 17 .393 7 the season with 15 seconds to play. Markieff FIFA looks a very real prospect in 2016 after a spurred partly by the ambition of soccer-loving Brooklyn 7 19 .269 9 Minnesota 10 16 .385 7 Morris, playing for the first time in six year in which the world’s most populous con- President Xi Jinping to turn the country into a Philadelphia 1 27 .036 16 games, scored 13 for Phoenix, which had tinent took a bigger role in the world’s most football powerhouse. China has set its sights on Pacific Division lost both previous meetings with New popular game. hosting and even winning a World Cup, and has Central Division Golden State 26 1 .963 - Orleans this season. Anthony Davis had 16 Although Asia is yet to make its mark on the started to put its plans in operation by mandat- Cleveland 17 7 .708 - LA Clippers 16 11 .593 10 points and 12 rebounds for the Pelicans, pitch, the region’s political and economic clout ing football in more and more schools. Earlier Indiana 16 9 .640 1.5 Phoenix 12 16 .429 14.5 who have lost eight of their last 10. Eric made itself felt at European clubs and the this month, a state-backed investment firm Chicago 15 9 .625 2 Sacramento 10 16 .385 15.5 Gordon added 15 but was 2-for-11 from the Zurich-based world body in 2015. Asia’s football took a $400 million stake in English Premier Detroit 16 12 .571 3 president, Sheikh Salman bin Ebrahim Al Khalifa League giants Manchester City, just weeks after LA Lakers 4 22 .154 21.5 field. Milwaukee 10 18 .357 9 of Bahrain, is among the favourites to take over Xi visited the club. scandal-plagued FIFA at an election in February. The Chinese investors have said the deal Southwest Division JAZZ 97, NUGGETS 88 Southeast Division Gordon Hayward scored 26 points and One of his rival candidates to succeed the gives them a chance to learn how to build a Miami 15 10 .600 - San Antonio 23 5 .821 - suspended Sepp Blatter is Jordan’s Prince Ali bin successful football brand, and in the process Dallas 15 12 .556 7.5 Utah beat Denver to snap a season-high, Charlotte 15 10 .600 - four-game losing streak. Trey Burke added Al Hussein, with whom Sheikh Salman has boost China’s domestic game. The initiative Orlando 15 11 .577 0.5 Memphis 14 14 .500 9 sparred in the recent past. comes after a Chinese model car-maker bought Houston 13 14 .481 9.5 13 off the bench for the Jazz and Trevor Even if FIFA doesn’t elect its first Asian presi- 80 percent of Spain’s Espanyol, and real estate Atlanta 16 12 .571 0.5 Booker finished with 12. The Nuggets had Washington 10 14 .417 4.5 New Orleans 7 19 .269 15 dent, the region is making waves in the sport as giant Dalian Wanda snapped up 20 percent of won a season-best four in a row. —AP investors continue to snap up assets at Atletico Madrid in January. —AFP SUNDAY, DECEMBER 20, 2015 SPORTS

Ibrahimovic wondergoal as PSG break points record

PARIS: Paris Saint-Germain go into the giant Swede for the simple power and pre- joining from Manchester United, making it then saved an 84th minute penalty from one win in their last 13 league games. winter break with a Ligue 1 record points cision of his split-second effort, even the 3-0 as he rounded off a slick team effort on Caen’s Andy Delort as the champions Marseille will look to end a difficult year on haul of 51 after a 3-0 away win at Caen lit beaten ‘keeper was left smiling. The win 50 minutes. shone in every area against a side who a high note when they visit Bordeaux on up by a thrilling Zlatan Ibrahimovic strike lifted PSG to a massive 20 points clear of Caen ‘keeper Remy Vercoutre deserves went into the game in fourth place. Third- Sunday night in the last match before yesterday. Already 1-0 up from an early Angers, in action on Sunday at Saint- a special mention himself after saving four place Monaco end a turbulent 2015 at France takes a two-week winter break over Angel di Maria goal Ibrahimovic produced Etienne. It also extends the star-studded stinging shots in a bewildering first-half Troyes later Saturday, with the bottom club the festive period. a stunning 25-yard snap-shot which flew Qatar-backed club’s unbeaten record in goalmouth scramble, two of them spec- still looking for a first win of the season. On Friday teenager Olivier Boscagli sent into the top corner of the Caen goal on 36 the league to 28 games since March. tacular stops with the feet from Lucas Among the other fixtures is a Brittany der- Nice into the French winter break on a win- minutes. Summer-signing Di Maria rounded off the Moura and Ibrahimovic. Not to be out- by between Guingamp, who are in the rel- ning note as he struck the only goal in a 1- As the stadium rose to acclaim the scoring with his sixth Ligue 1 goal since done PSG’s German ‘keeper Kevin Trapp egation zone, and a Rennes side with just 0 victory at home to Montpellier. —AFP Penalty king Mahrez keeps Leicester top

rather than anything more mali- ninth goal in his last eight match- and pushed the ball past Howard cious but that did not concern es and he became the first who clearly tripped him. Referee Everton 2 Algeria winger Mahrez who Everton player to score in eight Jonathan Moss had little option stepped up and calmly converted successive matches in all compe- but to award the penalty and from 12 yards out. The goal actu- titions since Dave Hickson Mahrez was again successful from ally sparked Everton into life and achieved the feat in 1954. After the spot. Leicester City 3 they equalised five minutes later the break, Everton settled faster Leicester’s third then arrived courtesy of in-form striker Romelu although the poor conditions almost immediately as Everton Lukaku. again prevented the encounter fell to pieces at the back. A weak from developing into a classic. clearance was pounced upon by LIVERPOOL: Two penalties from POOR CONDITIONS Leicester striker Jamie Vardy, the Vardy inside the area and after Riyad Mahrez and a fine finish from Barkley was calm inside the Premier League’s star man at pres- feigning to shoot he calmly slot- Shinji Okazaki helped Premier box as he tried to beat Kasper ent, didn’t get his first opportuni- ted the ball for Japanese forward League leaders Leicester to a 3-2 Schmeichel from six yards out and ty until the 58th minute when his Okazaki to finish emphatically. HANNOVER: Bayern’s Thomas Mueller scores the opening goal by penalty win over Everton at Goodison Park during the German Bundesliga soccer match between Hannover 96 and FC yesterday. Claudio Ranieri’s sur- Bayern Munich in Hannover, Germany, yesteday. —AP prise title contenders again under- lined their collective strength with a wonderful team effort that Bayern go 9 pts clear, ensures Leicester go into the Christmas period at the top of the table after their 11th win in 17 wait on Pep decision matches. A quiet opening was the last thing anyone expected as BERLIN: Bayern Munich opened a nine- now nine points behind Bayern after crash- these two sides are amongst the point lead in the Bundesliga yesterday with ing to a 2-1 defeat at Cologne as the hosts most attacking in the Premier a 1-0 win at struggling Hanover as the scored twice in the final 10 minutes. League. Leicester went into the Bavarians wait to learn whether Pep Dortmund took the lead after just 18 contest as the league’s leading Guardiola will leave at the end of the season. minutes when Greece centre-back Sokratis scorers with 34 goals in 16 league Guardiola’s contract as head coach Papastathopoulos headed home a corner games this season, while the expires in June and the club say an swung in by Henrikh Mkhitaryan. Toffees were joint third on that list announcement on the 44-year-old’s future But Cologne took the three points when with 29. plans will be made today when the German Simon Zoller fired home from close range But rainy conditions did not league begins the month-long winter break. on 83 minutes before Anthony Modeste help matters as both teams failed Daily newspaper Bild insist Guardiola will earned a yellow card for ripping off his shirt, to settle and take control of the leave in May and claim Bayern have already yelling a primal scream, after hitting the contest. The game was 10 min- made a verbal agreement for Carlo Ancelotti 90th-minute winner. utes old before the first real threat to take over. Bayer Leverkusen climbed to fourth in was posed as Leicester’s Marc Regardless of who will coach them next the table with a 1-0 win at Ingolstadt as Albrighton fired in a low cross season, Bayern finish 2015 nine points clear Mexico striker Javier Hernandez kept up his that Okazaki reacted to quickest after Thomas Mueller converted a 40th stunning scoring run. but his flicked effort flew over Tim minute penalty for his 14th league goal of “Chicharito” claimed his 17th goal in Howard’s crossbar. At the other LIVERPOOL: Leicester City’s Japanese striker Shinji Okazaki (C) shoots past Everton’s English the season when Hanover captain Christian Leverkusen’s last 14 games in all competi- end, a last-ditch tackle from defender Leighton Baines to score their third goal during the English Premier League football Schulz conceded the spot-kick after the ball tions when he stabbed home his 11th Albrighton on Gerard Deulofeu match between Everton and Leicester City at Goodison Park in Liverpool, north west England hit his arm. league goal of the season since joining from stopped his shot from causing yesterday. —AFP “It was clear that Hanover weren’t going Manchester United. any real damage before Ross to give any points away, so we’re delighted Europa League side Augsburg picked up Barkley miscued a volley inside although the Leicester goalkeeper curled effort beat Howard but Everton did managed to pull to get the win,” Mueller told Sky. But after their third straight win to move away from the box. did well to block Barkley’s first also drifted wide of the far post. one back in the 89th minute when sealing Bayern’s 15th win in 17 league the relegation places into mid-table with a However, it was Leicester who effort - and Andy King did just as However, Vardy was involved Kevin Mirallas rifled a low effort games, Mueller said Guardiola has given no 1-0 victory at Hamburg thanks to Jan took the lead after 27 minutes well to clear the rebound - shortly afterwards when he won past Schmeichel, but although the indication to the squad as to whether he will Moravek’s headed equaliser. when Okazaki was wrestled to the nobody could stop Lukaku smash- Leicester’s second penalty with 64 Goodison crowd urged the Toffees stay or go. “We’ll see what happens. Eintracht Frankfurt picked up their first ground by Ramiro Funes Mori to ing home the loose ball from six minutes on the clock. to find an equaliser, it would not Regardless of who is coach, the squad just win in eight matches when captain Alex concede a penalty. It was clumsy yards out. Lukaku’s finish was his Vardy sprinted into the box come. —AFP wants to keep winning,” added the Germany Meier and Stefan Aigner scored in their 2-1 forward. “We haven’t heard anything, it win at home to fellow strugglers Werder could be that he stays. Besides the media Bremen which left both teams just above normally find out before we do.” the relegation places. Kane marks century milestone But this was the third game in succession Schalke are up to fourth in the table where jaded Bayern have laboured to victo- thanks to Friday’s 1-0 win against struggling ry although the Bavarians have still only Hoffenheim when Cameroon forward Eric by inspiring Spurs stroll dropped five points from their 17 games so Choupo-Moting was credited with a goal far for a season’s tally of 46. which deflected off Hoffenheim’s Czech Second-placed Borussia Dortmund are defender Pavel Kaderabek. —AFP Tottenham climb above Manchester United into Southampton didn’t heed the warning and Kane took fourth place following Pochettino’s second win in three advantage of some sloppy defending to put Southampton 0 meetings with his former club since quitting Pochettino’s side ahead in the 40th minute. Erik Lamela Southampton in May 2014. Mid-table Southampton and Mousa Dembele combined to set Kane sprinting Bournemouth beat are without a win in their last six matches in all compe- clear of flat-footed Saints defender Virgil van Dijk and titions, a barren spell that includes four defeats in their the England star kept his cool to slip a cool finish past Tottenham 2 last five league games. Saints manager Ronald Gazzaniga for his 11th club goal of the season. If that 9-man West Brom 2-1 Koeman had been criticised for adopting a cautious was a generous gift from the Southampton defence, approach in recent weeks as he frets about a potential there was another pre-Christmas present for Tottenham slide towards the relegation zone and this error-strewn to enjoy three minutes later. This time Kyle Walker was ing XI. There were early chances for SOUTHAMPTON: Harry Kane marked his 100th display will do nothing to silence the doubters. Initially, allowed to advance unchecked to the Southampton both teams, West Brom goalkeeper it seemed they had refound their rhythm and Senegal area before crossing to the back post, where England West Brom 1 Boaz Myhill parrying from Junior Tottenham appearance with the clinical finish that lift- ed his side into the Premier League’s top four with a 2-0 winger Sadio Mane’s early shot was deflected over by international Alli was left unmarked to slot home as the Stanislas and James Morrison forcing Toby Alderweireld. However, Mane wasted an even home defence stood and looked at each other in confu- Artur Boruc to scramble at the other win at Southampton yesterday. England striker Kane bagged the 47th goal of his Tottenham career five min- better chance when he met Dusan Tadic’s low cross sion. Tottenham had lost more points from winning end with a dipping half-volley. Bournemouth 2 utes before half-time and young midfielder Dele Alli with a tame shot that was too close to Tottenham goal- positions than any other side in the Premier League this Murray also had a shot deflected added the second moments later to give the north keeper Hugo Lloris. Those misses proved fatal because, season. But Saints needed to respond quickly after the behind, but there was little to sepa- Londoners their first win in four Premier League match- after a quiet opening, Tottenham took charge from the interval to induce any anxiety in the visitors and rate the teams until the red mist es. It was the perfect response from Mauricio moment Alderweireld headed onto the roof of the net Graziano Pelle didn’t help their cause by heading limply descended for McClean. The Republic from Christian Eriksen’s free-kick. wide. That was the signal for Southampton to go back WEST BROMWICH: James McClean Pochettino’s team after last weekend’s surprise home of Ireland winger completely cleaned Kane had his first sight of goal with a low drive from in their shell and Tottenham were never seriously trou- and Salomon Rondon were sent off defeat against Newcastle ended their 14-match out Smith with a wild, dangerous an angle that was well saved by Paulo Gazzaniga. bled in a second half stroll. —AFP for West Bromwich Albion as unbeaten league run. challenge and referee Mike Dean Bournemouth claimed a third straight immediately brandished the red card. Premier League victory with a 2-1 Bournemouth are not a team who away win yesterday. Hot-tempered Neville looking need encouragement to attack and Irish winger McClean saw red for a they quickly sought to exploit their for 1st Liga win rash 34th-minute foul on Adam numerical advantage, Murray testing Smith, who put Bournemouth ahead Myhill and Matt Ritchie heading with Valencia early in the second half at The Stanislas’s cross wide from six yards. Hawthorns. Gareth McAuley levelled MADRID: Gary Neville is still searching for West Brom threatened to go ahead with a header, but left-back Charlie his first La Liga win as Valencia boss after early in the second half when Daniels’s emphatic 87th-minute Los Che twice fought back from a goal Rondon’s volley was tipped over by down to draw 2-2 at home to Getafe yester- penalty gave Bournemouth victory Boruc, but it was the visitors who day. All four goals arrived in a 25 minute before Rondon was sent off following drew first blood as Smith ran across period in the first-half as Paco Alcacer can- an altercation with Smith. the box before drilling home a low celled out Pablo Sarabia’s opener. Having beaten Chelsea and shot. Angel Lafita then put Getafe back in Manchester United on their two pre- The 10 men levelled with 11 min- front only for substitute Santi Mina to level vious outings, Eddie Howe’s utes left, McAuley flicking in a near- once more. A point leaves Valencia still six Bournemouth tasted top-flight victo- post header from a corner, and Craig points off the top four, but does at least ry for the third game running — a Dawson should have put them ahead preserve their unbeaten home record in the first since promotion in May. when he headed wide from Craig league stretching back to November last Unbeaten in five league games, Gardner’s free-kick. year. having lost the previous four, they are Neville had manged to get his first win Instead it was Bournemouth who now just a point below Tony Pulis’s in three attempts against third-tier took the points, Daniels slamming a West Brom, who have gone four Barakaldo in the Copa del Rey in midweek. penalty home after Darren Fletcher games without a win and remain But, just as against Eibar in his first taste of was adjudged to have fouled Dan 13th. La Liga action last weekend, Valencia make Gosling right on the edge of the area. Howe submitted an unchanged a poor start and were behind after just 10 Venezuelan striker Rondon com- team, but Josh King, the match-win- minutes. Goalkeeper Jaume Domenech pounded West Brom’s frustration in ner against United, injured his ham- has been Valencia’s player of the year so far stoppage time when he was sent off string in the warm-up, which saw this season, but he reacted late to Sarabia’s after fouling Gosling and then lean- Glenn Murray, scorer of the winning SOUTHAMPTON: St Mary’s Southampton’s Victor Wanyama, left, and Tottenham free-kick and couldn’t prevent the ball find- ing his head towards Smith’s in the ing the top corner despite getting a hand goal at Chelsea, come into the start- Hotspur’s Harry Kane, centre, in action during the English Premier League soccer ensuing stramash. —AFP to it. —AFP match at St Mary’s, Southampton, England, yesterday. —AP Chameera’s blitz Trailblazer Hill puts Sri Lankans dies aged 87 on top

SUNDAY, DECEMBER 20, 201517 18 Penalty king Mahrez keeps Leicester top Page 19

LONDON: Chelsea’s Branislav Ivanovic, left, scores his side’s first goal during the English Premier League soccer match betweenChelsea and Sunderland at Stamford Bridge stadium in London, yesterday. — AP Fans jeer as Chelsea earn post-Mourinho win Hiddink returns to Chelsea as manager the sacking of Mourinho, the struggling gling the Spain pair out as bearing responsi- cross, and Pedro capitalised to beat Costel had failed to gather Younes Kaboul’s header Premier League champions announced. The bility for Mourinho’s demise. Pantilimon for his first goal since September. from Patrick van Aanholt’s free-kick. experienced Dutch coach, 69, returns to a One banner read “You let Jose down, you Chelsea continued to attack, with Willian For the first time in the game, Sunderland Chelsea 3 role he previously performed in 2009, when let us down,” and after Branislav Ivanovic and seeing an effort deflected wide, and after had some momentum and Jermain Defoe he led Chelsea to glory in the FA Cup. “I am Pedro Rodriguez had put Chelsea 2-0 up Sunderland’s Sebastian Coates had gone off and Borini both missed the target, producing excited to return to Stamford Bridge,” inside 13 minutes, there was a deafening to be replaced by Adam Johnson, Oscar was mumblings of discontent from the Stamford Hiddink said in a statement on the Chelsea chant of: “Where were you when we were s...?” denied a third by a fine Pantilimon save. Bridge faithful. Sunderland 1 website. “Chelsea is one of the biggest clubs Nevertheless, Chelsea produced arguably Sam Allardyce’s side were not helping The visitors were much improved, with in the world, but is not where it should be at their best performance of the season against a themselves, another defensive mistake from Defoe driving wide again after Duncan the moment. However, I am sure we can all Sunderland side struggling in the bottom captain John O’Shea letting in Costa, who shot Watmore had headed down Pantilimon’s long turn this season around. three. The hosts added a third goal in the sec- wide. The Spanish forward then headed off- ball. But Chelsea continued to attack as well, LONDON: Chelsea’s fans turned on their own “I am looking forward to working with the ond half through Oscar’s penalty before Fabio target from Oscar’s cross. Oscar finding the side-netting from Willian’s players and chanted support for ex-manager players and staff at this great club and espe- Borini pulled one back. Chelsea’s confidence was slowly returning pass and Pedro miskicking from Ivanovic’s Jose Mourinho as his successor Guus Hiddink cially renewing my wonderful relationship With caretaker Steve Holland taking charge and Pedro saw a shot deflected into the arms cross. Despite the result, Fabregas was booed watched them ease to a 3-1 win over with the Chelsea fans.” of the team while Hiddink watched from the of Pantilimon just before the break. by a section of fans as John Mikel Obi came on Sunderland. But Chelsea’s fans were far from happy, reg- stands along with former Chelsea favourite Borini was sent on for Ola Toivonen for the in his place and Costa also met with a few Mourinho was sacked on Thursday and ularly chanting in support of the Portuguese, Didier Drogba, the home side needed only visitors at the break, but the game was up in jeers when he gave way for Loic Remy. Dutchman Hiddink re-appointed to reprise his and not a single seated supporter could be five minutes to take the lead. the 50th minute when Pantilimon brought The impressive Willian was denied again role as interim manager a couple of hours spotted when they sang “Stand up for the Ivanovic’s header from Willian’s corner gave Willian down in the area. Oscar coolly slotted by Pantilimon and Pedro missed a glorious before yesterday’s Premier League match Special One!” him his first goal of the campaign and just home the spot-kick. chance after being freed by Willian, while kicked off. They had booed the names of Cesc eight minutes later, Chelsea scored their sec- The chants for Mourinho continued, but Thibaut Courtois thwarted Defoe at the oth- Hiddink has returned to Chelsea as man- Fabregas and Diego Costa when they were ond. They were helped by a defensive error Sunderland pulled one back two minutes later er end after Nemanja Matic had given the ager “until the end of the season” following read out on the tannoy prior to the game, sin- from Yann M’Vila, who failed to clear Ivanovic’s as Borini tucked home after Thibault Courtois ball away. — AFP Van Gaal booed again, Newcastle and Aston Villa share the spoils Norwich stun United both sides struggled to establish any momen- tum in a first half riddled with misplaced pass- falling behind, they failed to create enough pres- Newcastle 1 es.Newcastle striker Papiss Cisse should have sure to merit victory. Norwich defended doggedly done better than head straight at Villa keeper Man Utd 1 in the face of early United pressure and ensured Brad Guzan from Daryl Janmaat’s cross and that goalkeeper Declan Rudd was well protected. that was the Senegal international’s last contri- Wayne Rooney, making his 500th United appear- bution as he limped off with a hamstring ance, did have the ball in the net in the 10th A Villa 1 injury. His replacement Aleksandar Mitrovic minute, but both he and Marouane Fellaini were saw a header tipped over by Guzan in the 38th Norwich 2 rightly ruled offside in the build-up. minute and from the resulting corner, Memphis Depay looped an effort over the bar NEWCASTLE: Ghana forward Jordan Ayew res- Newcastle took the lead. Jack Colback’s deliv- from 20 yards, before Rooney rolled a shot wide cued Aston Villa with a stunning equaliser in ery reached the unmarked Coloccini at the far after Juan Mata had brushed aside Gary O’Neil. his side’s 1-1 draw at Newcastle yesterday, but post and, with Villa making little effort to clear, MANCHESTER: Louis van Gaal’s position as Norwich did fire a warning when midfielder Tettey the Premier League strugglers remain deep in the Argentina defender’s scuffed shot beat Manchester United manager will come under easily sidestepped a Chris Smalling challenge trouble. Ayew’s second half curler cancelled Guzan for his first goal at St James’ Park since increased scrutiny after relegation-threatened before rolling a tame shot wide. But more home out Newcastle captain Fabricio Coloccini’s first January 2011. Villa could hardly have been Norwich secured a shock 2-1 win at Old Trafford pressure followed, with Rooney’s outswinging half opener at St James’ Park to give Villa only worse in the first half but they emerged after yesterday. cross from the right aimed at Depay eight yards their third point in six matches since Remi the break with a more dynamic look and Goals from Cameron Jerome and Alex Tettey out, and it needed a well-timed Russell Martin Garde replaced the sacked Tim Sherwood. Yet Jordan Veretout’s low strike from the edge of either side of half-time gave Alex Neil’s team a 2-0 challenge to deny the Netherlands international. Ayew’s fourth Villa goal since his £8 million the area was parried away by Rob Elliot. lead and Anthony Martial’s reply for United could- move from French club Lorient in July hardly With players slipping and sliding on the n’t stop Norwich climbing out of the relegation CONFIDENCE left his team singing in the Tyneside rain. slick surface, it was no surprise Ayew fired zone thanks to their first victory at United since Norwich, having survived the opening 30 min- Villa’s players will sit down for their Christmas wildly over the bar when he attempted an 1989. utes without conceding, began to pose more of a MANCHESTER: Manchester United’s dinner next week with the team bottom of the ambitious volley. But that turned out to be United were booed off at full-time by their dis- threat as they grew in confidence. And they took Anthony Martial, left, fights for the ball table and 10 points from safety. just a sighter for Ayew, who scored Villa’s gruntled supporters and a run of six matches with- the lead seven minutes before half-time, as against Martin Olsson of Norwich City dur- They are on a woeful 16-game winless run equaliser in the 61st minute with a superb out a win in all competitions, a sequence that Nathan Redmond burst forward and played in ing the match. - AP in the league, the longest streak without a vic- strike after Siem de Jong had somehow head- includes elimination from the Champions League Jerome, who broke the challenge of Ashley Young bar, while the home fans demanded the introduc- tory in Villa’s history. The only consolation for ed wide from close-range seconds and falling out of the Premier League’s top four, before beating David De Gea, who could have tion of Ander Herrera - who was brought on with Villa is the teams that were bottom of the earlier.Cutting in from the left side of the will lead to fresh questions about Van Gaal’s suit- done better with a shot that was well within his 30 minutes to go. The home side pulled one back Premier Newcastle area, Ayew took advantage of ability for the job. The Dutchman was taunted by reach. within five minutes of the change, as Rooney got a League on Christmas Day in each of the last Janmaat’s failure to get tight to him and curled Norwich supporters with chants of “Jose As the second half began in pouring rain, flick to Young’s right-wing delivery and Martial two seasons-Leicester and Sunderland-man- an unstoppable shot into the far corner. Mourinho: He’s taking your job”, a reference to the United soon found themselves two goals down. sidestepped the challenges of Robbie Brady and aged to avoid relegation. Newcastle could take Steve McClaren’s side had a golden oppor- former Chelsea manager, who is free to seek Rooney lost the ball to Tettey, who played the gal- Ryan Bennett to lash a shot high into the net. That little more encouragement from a result that tunity to snatch the points when Ayoze Perez another role after being sacked on Thursday. Van loping Jerome forward, and continued his own was the signal for Van Gaal’s team to increase the ruined the momentum of successive wins teed up Georginio Wijnaldum, but the Gaal has faced growing criticism from fans and run to collect the striker’s return pass and drive a pressure in the game’s final quarter, but a big against Liverpool and Tottenham and left Dutchman’s miscued effort was easy for Guzan. former United players over the cautious style of low shot beyond the stationary De Gea. chance for an equaliser came and went as Young’s them one place and three points above the rel- And in the end, Newcastle were indebted to his team’s play. United captain Rooney attempted to make low right-wing ball rolled across goal, with Rooney egation zone. Elliot for a fine save to keep out Rudy Gestede’s And although they made a lively start before amends with an ambitious overhead kick over the unable to stretch to get a touch. — AFP As torrential rain lashed down on Tyneside, header in the closing minutes. — AFP US rates on path to normality

Page 22 Business Kuwait equities remain under pressure SUNDAY, DECEBER 20, 2015 Page 24 Real estate exhibitions offer opportunities Infiniti hosts VIP executives from Kuwait at Dubai Motor Show 2015 for investors Page 26 Page 23

NEW YORK: A shopper walks past a store with a “Help Wanted” sign in the window, in New York. The Labor Department said on Friday that jobless rates fell in 27 states, rose in 11, and were unchanged in 12 states. —AP US Congress clinches huge budget deal Fiscal fights end, Obama signs $1.8 trillion spending bill

WASHINGTON: Brushing aside concerns about ship” between the two. At more than 2,000 invests in our military and our middle class deepening the budget deficit, US lawmakers pages long, the spending portion of the bill without ideological provisions that would have approved $1.8 trillion worth of federal spend- funds the government through next weakened Wall Street reform or rules on big ing and tax breaks on Friday in a rare case of September, preventing a shutdown and effec- polluters.” Some Republicans worry that the bipartisan action after years of damaging fiscal tively taking difficult budget disputes off the $1.15 trillion spending provisions add to the fights in Congress. table as the 2016 presidential campaign enters federal budget deficit and erode the fiscal disci- The Senate voted 65-33 to approve sweep- the primary season. pline that House Republicans have champi- ing legislation that averted a government shut- Most of the US senators running for the oned, particularly since lawmakers aligned with down, locked in billions of dollars of tax breaks White House voted against the bill, including the conservative Tea Party movement did well and scrapped a 40-year-old ban on the export Republicans Ted Cruz and Rand Paul and in 2010 congressional elections. of US oil. Democrat Bernie Sanders. Republican Lindsey But Tea Party momentum has slowed as the Negotiations on Capitol Hill were mostly free Graham voted in favor. Republican Senator federal deficit drops from its peak of $1.41 tril- of the acrimony that has blighted similar talks Marco Rubio, who had been criticized by cam- lion in 2009 due to the economic recovery. The for the past five years and forced lawmakers to paign rivals for missing votes, was absent from deficit was $439 billion for the fiscal year that produce a succession of stopgap measures just Congress on Friday. ended on Sept. 30. The congressional Joint to keep the government running. “I think the Dozens of previously temporary tax breaks Committee on Taxation estimates the legisla- system worked” this time, President Barack will now be permanent under the tax segment tion passed on Friday will increase the 2016 fis- Obama said during a White House news confer- of the bill, which will cost $680 billion over 10 cal year budget deficit by $157 billion and by ence. years and was promoted by corporate lobbyists $95 billion in 2017. He later signed the bill into law in a low-key and low-tax Republicans. Middle-class Tim Huelskamp of Kansas, a leading House Oval Office ceremony. It was a win for new Americans also gain. Students, low-income par- Republican fiscal hawk, said the bill was “an ear- House of Representatives Speaker Paul Ryan, ents and teachers will receive tax aid, attracting ly Christmas present for Donald Trump,” the bil- who managed to keep fiscal hawks in his support for the legislation from the White lionaire businessman seeking the Republican Republican caucus under control during weeks House and congressional Democrats. presidential nomination, because it will fuel the of talks and avoid the kind of infighting that Lawmakers also lifted a four-decade-old ban anti-establishment mood in the country. WASHINGTON: President Barack Obama closes the folio box after signing the budget in plagued his predecessor, John Boehner. on U.S. crude oil exports, a historic move that Conservatives complained that Republican the Oval Office of the White House on Friday in Washington. — AP Obama gave Ryan’s efforts a nod during a nevertheless will have little immediate effect on leaders agreed on the bill’s spending and tax Arkansas said. “Corporate lobbyists had a field is the business research and development tax White House news conference. “Kudos to him oil markets. provisions behind closed doors and then day, but working Americans lost out,” Cotton credit, which will cost $113 billion over a as well,” Obama said, along with “all the leaders rushed the bill through the Senate on Friday said. Some Democrats criticized the tax cuts, decade in lost government revenues. The bill and appropriators who were involved in this DEFICIT WORRIES morning. saying they give more aid to large corporations ratifies International Monetary Fund reforms process.” The Democratic president acknowl- “I’m not wild about everything in it,” Obama “A rotten process yields a rotten result, and and wealthy business owners than to working aimed at boosting the representation of edged he still had basic policy differences with said of the legislation. “I’m sure that’s true for this 2,000-page, trillion-dollar bill is rotten to its families. emerging economies within the international Ryan but described “a good working relation- everybody. But it is a budget that, as I insisted, core,” Republican Senator Tom Cotton of The largest component of the tax package lender. —Reuters Saudi deputy CP draws up new economic reforms Emerging powers rise in Spending reforms, subsidy changes, privatization, taxes IMF, US unblocks reforms DUBAI/RIYADH: Saudi Arabia’s deputy crown prince Monetary Fund has warned. drawing down its reserves, said one of the sources, WASHINGTON: China, India and Russia will soon speak with a louder voice at the has privately outlined plans to reshape the economy Officials at the Ministry of Economy and Planning who attended this week’s meeting. It is not yet clear International Monetary Fund. After years of opposition, the US Congress has disman- to withstand low oil prices, sources said, in what could not immediately be reached for comment. whether the new administration will be able to over- tled the final barrier to reforms that will give the emerging-market powers more say could be the biggest policy shake-up since the king- The ministry and other state bodies have generally come the obstacles that have stood in the way of in the affairs of the 188-nation global crisis lender. dom’s economy was last hurt by cheap oil over a declined to comment on economic policy in recent such reforms in the past. The IMF reforms are part of a $1.1 trillion spending package approved by Congress decade ago. months. Under the reforms described by But Mohammed bin Salman, who is in his early on Friday, and signed into law by President Barack Obama. Adopted in 2010 by the The strategy was presented by Mohammed bin Mohammed bin Salman, the government would 30s, looks set to bring a more aggressive, perform- international community, the reforms were expected to take effect in 2012. Salman at a meeting this week with senior officials, become more cautious about spending. The ance-oriented approach towards managing the But with the United States holding by far the largest share of voting rights at the businessmen and economists. It includes state Ministry of Finance would fund new projects only economy. Ministries and state agencies will regularly IMF, Congress’s refusal to approve the reforms had held up their implementation, to spending reforms and privatizations in the world’s with the approval of the economic council, a power- be given “key performance indicators”, and officials the consternation of IMF management and members. The blockage has been a sore top oil exporting country, the sources said. The ful new body created by the deputy crown prince’s will be held accountable if they do not meet these point between President Barack Obama’s Democratic administration and the opposi- plans, expected to be made public in the next few father when he ascended the throne in January, and targets, the meeting was told. tion Republicans who control Congress. weeks and probably in January, represent a shift of decisions would be closely tied to the government’s A range of Western consultants have been Republicans had rejected the slightest favorable gesture toward the multinational authority over economic policy to Mohammed bin financial situation, the sources said. brought in to advise on policy. One such consultan- organization, the object of some criticism in Washington for its largesse toward Salman, the Council of Economic and Development Some state bodies would be privatized to try to cy, McKinsey & Co, released a report this month say- Greece. Affairs which he chairs, and the Ministry of Economy spur growth, create jobs and cut the financial bur- ing Saudi Arabia could double its gross domestic In recent years, international summits have unfailingly included a pointed and Planning, the sources added. den on the public sector. Last month, the civil avia- product and create jobs for 6 million Saudis by 2030 reminder about the stalled reform process-seen as all the more frustrating since the The two sources, from the private financial and tion authority said it aimed to start privatizing air- if it managed a “productivity- and investment-led United States was among the first countries to call for an IMF overhaul in 2010 amid business sectors, declined to be named because of ports and related services in 2016. In another appar- transformation”. the global financial crisis. political sensitivities. Officials have been talking ent attempt to reduce the burden on the govern- Reforms to the labor market, business regulation At the end of their last summit in mid-November in Turkey, the Group of 20 eco- about some of the reforms discussed at the meeting ment, the creation of non-profit organizations and management of the state budget would be nomic powers said in a statement that they “remain deeply disappointed” with the for years, but they have been blocked by political would be encouraged, especially in health care and needed to achieve this. Otherwise, the kingdom delay in reforms and “we urge the United States to ratify these reforms as soon as pos- opposition, bureaucratic inertia and technical chal- education. could face rapid economic deterioration over the sible.” lenges. Under previous administrations, institutions A system of water and electricity subsidies, which next 15 years, McKinsey said. This week’s meeting The long stall also led the so-called BRICS-Brazil, Russia, India, China and South such as the Ministry of Finance dominated policy, cost the government billions of dollars annually, coincided with new signs that Mohammed bin Africa-to set up an economic alternative, launching in July 2014 their own monetary but they have now been partially sidelined as pres- would be restructured so the benefits went to mid- Salman’s council would take on politically sensitive fund and development bank. sure on the economy has grown because oil prices dle- and lower-income people, not the wealthy. social welfare problems, such as the provision of The US approval will likely ease their frustrations with the 70-year-old IMF, domi- have dropped. The government would do more to diversify its affordable housing and health care. Past administra- nated by the US, Europe and Japan, as well as remove a major headache for the The government has been running an annual sources of revenue beyond oil, which the IMF esti- tions have struggled to solve such problems. A com- Obama administration. budget deficit of over $100 billion, forcing it to liqui- mates will provide over 80 percent of revenues this mentary published on Friday by the Saudi Gazette, a “The IMF reforms reinforce the central leadership role of the United States in the date over $90 billion of foreign assets in the past 12 year. Taxes, such as a levy on tobacco imports, might local newspaper, asked whether the Ministry of global economic system and demonstrate our commitment to maintaining that posi- months to pay its bills - a pattern that is not sustain- be increased. In principle, the government would try Housing was necessary and suggested the council tion,” US Treasury Secretary Jacob Lew said in a statement. — AFP able for more than a few years, the International to cover its deficit by issuing bonds rather than by should take over its role. — Reuters SUNDAY, DECEMBER 20, 2015 BUSINESS Luxury brands shower attention on well-heeled Chinese students in US NEW YORK: Sellers of Western luxury brands Vance, the Beverly Center marketing and ry brands are trying to tap this key Chinese group of well-heeled shoppers - parents and dents in university are able to influence up to eager to capitalize on the new wealth of sponsorship director. The mall sponsors customer base when they reach U.S. shores. family - making it an important new market- 14 trips from China during their years in Chinese consumers are showering attention Chinese student groups with roughly 45,000 Students are snapping up Louis Vuitton ing channel. school. on mainland students in the United States, members in what she called one of its most and Gucci handbags, Tory Burch shoes, as well Some 29 percent of high net-worth parents Chinese tourists and visitors have a long even as sales in China falter. successful marketing plans. as fashions from Fendi, Alexander McQueen, in China who send their children abroad for tradition of buying for friends and family to The strategy is paying off for some, such as Chinese shoppers account for 31 percent of Bottega Veneta and Yves Saint Laurent, among primary school and college choose US institu- avoid taxes and fake goods. In Beijing, Fang the Los Angeles Beverly Center mall, which the $273 billion global personal luxury goods others, according to recent interviews with tions, according to the Hurun Report, which Wen, whose daughter studies at Rice sends buses to pick up Chinese families at the market, according to Bain and Co, and the student shoppers in New York. publishes an annual list of China’s richest peo- University in Houston, said she relies on her to University of California at Los Angeles and the United States is the biggest market outside of It is not clear how much of overall luxury ple. California’s tourism bureau found that a bring back small goods, such as cosmetics, University of Southern California at the begin- Asia. sales can be attributed to purchases by stu- majority of visits from China corresponded apparel and jewelry. ning of the year, when parents drop off their As economic growth in China has slowed dents, but some top brand makers clearly see with back-to-school and graduation and that Companies selling top brands are recogniz- children, and at graduation. and as Beijing’s anti-corruption drive cuts into the group as a financial force in its own right friends and family visited them often. ing that influence and reaching out to stu- “We aren’t just dabbling here,” said Susan sales of high-end goods there, makers of luxu- and as providing access to a much larger Australia’s tourism agency found Chinese stu- dents. —Reuters

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EXCHANGE RATES

Al-Muzaini Exchange Co. GOLD Saudi Riyals 81.970 US Dollars Mint 0.300100 0.305000 20 Gram 217.260 Jordanian Dinar 429.440 10 Gram 111.330 Asia COUNTRY SELL DRAFT SELL CASH Egyptian Pound 38.821 5 Gram 56.350 Bangladesh Taka 0.003466 0.004066 ASIAN COUNTRIES Sri Lankan Rupees 2.127 Japanese Yen 2.500 Indian Rupees 4.583 Chinese Yuan 0.045325 0.048826 Hong Kong Dollar 0.037200 0.039950 Indian Rupees 4.553 UAE Exchange Centre WLL Pakistani Rupees 2.908 Pakistani Rupees 2.903 Bangladesh Taka 3.863 Indian Rupee 0.004327 0.004717 Srilankan Rupees 2.123 Philippines Pesso 6.422 Indonesian Rupiah 0.000017 0.000023 Nepali Rupees 2.849 Australian Dollar 210.98 Cyprus pound 580.645 Japanese Yen 0.002431 0.002611 Singapore Dollar 216.970 Canadian Dollar 225.20 Japanese Yen 3.510 Kenyan Shilling 0.003166 0.003166 Hongkong Dollar 39.265 Swiss Franc 313.71 Syrian Pound 2.610 Korean Won 0.000248 0.000263 Bangladesh Taka 3.862 Euro 338.08 Nepalese Rupees 3.860 Malaysian Ringgit 0.067005 0.073005 Philippine Peso 6.305 US Dollar 304.10 Malaysian Ringgit 71.830 Nepalese Rupee 0.002888 0.003058 Thai Baht 8.477 Sterling Pound 463.73 Chinese Yuan Renminbi 47.390 Pakistan Rupee 0.002703 0.002983 Japanese Yen 2.55 Thai Bhat 9.410 Philippine Peso 0.006410 0.006690 GCC COUNTRIES Bangladesh Taka 3.852 Turkish Lira 104.203 Sierra Leone 0.000068 0.000074 Saudi Riyal 81.190 Indian Rupee 4.545 Singapore Dollar 0.212547 0.218547 Qatari Riyal 83.633 Sri Lankan Rupee 2.123 South African Rand 0.014279 0.022779 Omani Riyal 790.800 Nepali Rupee 2.837 Bahrain Exchange Company Sri Lankan Rupee 0.001768 0.002348 Bahraini Dinar 808.560 Pakistani Rupee 2.920 Taiwan 0.009151 0.009331 UAE Dirham 82.893 UAE Dirhams 0.08275 Thai Baht 0.008124 0.008674 Bahraini Dinar 0.8082 COUNTRY SELL CASH SELLDRAFT ARAB COUNTRIES Egyptian Pound 0.03874 Europe Arab Egyptian Pound - Cash 37.700 Jordanian Dinar 0.4325 British Pound 0.448482 0.457482 Bahraini Dinar 0.801067 0.809067 Egyptian Pound - Transfer 38.929 Omani Riyal 0.7897 Czech Korune 0.004237 0.016237 Egyptian Pound 0.034734 0.037860 Yemen Riyal/for 1000 1.421 Qatari Riyal 0.08385 Danish Krone 0.040295 0.045295 Iranian Riyal 0.000084 0.000086 Tunisian Dinar 151.090 Saudi Riyal 0.08106 Euro 0.326251 0.334251 Iraqi Dinar 0.000201 0.000261 Jordanian Dinar 428.740 Norwegian Krone 0.030871 0.036071 Jordanian Dinar 0.425626 0.433126 Lebanese Lira/for 1000 2.029 Romanian Leu 0.087378 0.087378 Kuwaiti Dinar 1.000000 1.000000 Syrian Lira 2.170 Dollarco Exchange Co. Ltd Slovakia 0.009109 0.019109 Lebanese Pound 0.000153 0.000253 Morocco Dirham 31.307 Swedish Krona 0.031682 0.036682 Moroccan Dirhams 0.022146 0.046146 GCC COUNTRIES Swiss Franc 0.300970 0.311170 Nigerian Naira 0.001260 0.001895 EUROPEAN & AMERICAN COUNTRIES Turkish Lira 0.099721 0.110021 Omani Riyal 0.784748 0.790428 US Dollar Transfer 304.300 US Dollar 304.850 Canadian Dollar 220.310 Qatar Riyal 0.082955 0.084168 Euro 334.430 Australasia Sterling Pound 454.890 Saudi Riyal 0.080340 0.081290 Sterling Pound 459.800 Australian Dollar 0.210322 0.221822 Syrian Pound 0.001291 0.001511 Canadian dollar 222.280 Euro 332.440 New Zealand Dollar 0.199284 0.208784 Swiss Frank 303.440 Tunisian Dinar 0.146269 0.154269 Turkish lira 102.680 Turkish Lira 0.099721 0.110021 Swiss Franc 308.620 Bahrain Dinar 806.500 America UAE Dirhams 83.240 UAE Dirhams 0.081950 0.083099 Australian Dollar`220.470 Canadian Dollar 0.213319 0.221819 Yemeni Riyal 0.001377 0.001457 US Dollar Buying 303.100 Qatari Riyals 84.460 US Dollars 0.300500 0.305000 SUNDAY, DECEMBER 20, 2015 BUSINESS

Real estate exhibitions offer Volume, quality of Chinese opportunities for investors fakes challenge US Customs NEW YORK: The US is not winning the fight open and air bags that will deploy when they Al-Masar Group sees new challenges in 2016: Murad against potentially dangerous fakes, as cor- shouldn’t or brake pads that don’t work. . . rupt investigators in China help counterfeit- You’re talking about every day getting in the ers perfect their art and make it easier for car and putting your life in danger.” By Faten Omar es provided? counterfeit goods to enter global supply A new concern: Hoverboards. The self- Murad: Some of them, yes, but chains. Seizures of counterfeits that can be balancing scooters are a coveted item this KUWAIT: General Manager of Al- others cannot provide basic servic- harmful - including auto parts, semiconduc- holiday season, but customs agents have Masar Group Saud Murad told es. If you are going to organize a tors, and personal care items like toothpaste been intercepting shipments with counter- Kuwait Times that the many real real estate exhibition, you need - are on the rise, according to US Customs feit batteries made in China. Ruiz said the estate exhibitions that are taking basic services such as a media and data. At the same time, the quality of fakes is untested batteries could overheat, explode place in the local market is a advertising campaign, logistics improving, making them harder than ever to or leak. On Friday, customs officers healthy phenomenon. The exhibi- services inside the exhibition in detect, said Stephen Long, deputy chief US announced the seizure of 445 hoverboards tions give investors the opportuni- term of registration, surveys, ques- Customs and Border Protection officer at the worth $170,000 in the Port of Norfolk, ty to learn about real estate market tionnaire at the reception and fol- port of New York/Newark. Virginia. They had batteries displaying coun- prices and choose the best with low-up with visitors and compa- Long and his colleagues touch about 1 terfeit “Samsung” labels. more transparency and credibility. nies, food and drinks inside the percent of the total container traffic at the Counterfeiters are swift to jump on the During the interview, Murad exhibition, and 24-hour standby port, which handles 3.3 million containers a latest consumer craze. “We are expecting a stressed that the increasing num- for any problem. year. Customs employs a sophisticated tidal wave of hoverboards. Fake ones, unsafe ber of participants in the exhibi- KT: What does Kuwait need to screening system to target containers for ones,” Ruiz said. On a recent Wednesday, tions is a sign of success and shows be more successful in organizing inspection, part of an effort to ensure that Long stood in a warehouse with over 10,000 the true reflection of the high pur- international exhibitions? the hunt for fakes does not hinder the flow boxes pulled from some 30 suspicious ship- chasing power in the Kuwaiti real Murad: Kuwait is not ready for of legitimate commerce. ping containers towering around him. estate market, and the confirma- international exhibitions, as it does “There is always this needle in the Dozens of customs officers spend the day at tion of the passion of Kuwaiti citi- not have a larger place to receive, haystack. What we try to do is make the various warehouses sifting through boxes, zens to purchase properties both for example 3,000 visitors, from all haystack smaller,” said CBP spokesman Jaime searching for counterfeits. On an average domestically and in various coun- over the world in one exhibition. Ruiz, adding that “all containers are inspect- day, about 10 percent of the goods at the tries around the world. And no one will pay for transporta- ed one way or the other” because they are warehouses are seized as fakes, more than 90 Al-Masar Group General Manager Saud Murad during the interview. processed through the computer system percent of them from China, officials said. Murad is the founder and GM of — Photo by Yasser Al-Zayyat tion. The major issue is the visa - Al-Masar Group, specialized in Kuwait does not welcome all designed to detect anomalies. Inevitably, One new counterfeiting strategy is to dis- organizing real estate exhibitions nationalities, but only selected things slip through. One reason Long’s job is guise knock-offs as generics, Long said. and conferences, an ex-member of from different angles and provides negative effect in the Kuwaiti ones. getting tougher begins in China. Corrupt Smuggling rings send generic products in the housing consulting committee different uses. We try to be more market? The solution is that Kuwait must investigators can leak proprietary details one shipment and fake labels in another. The and an expert in real estate in both specific and spend more efforts in Murad: It is somehow good and apply the development plan and they learn from brands, which help counter- labels are not affixed to the products until local and regional markets. He defining and targeting the audi- bad. The bad thing about it is that focus on what it needs and where feiters evade legal responsibility and craft after arriving in the United States. Long writes a weekly article about the ence - we try to have a system in some companies can be a loss for is it going. If you do not have an more perfect-looking fakes, said Alex Theil, pointed to a label that read Tough Crew, an latest issues and updates in the selecting participating companies investors if they do not study the aim or goal, so it’s fine not know- who runs an anti-counterfeiting company in unregistered brand. Customs officers tore it industry. in order to provide the market with situation. But after a while the ing where you are going. But Shanghai called Harvest Moon. Theil has off and uncovered a fake tag for True the best companies in this field. investor will be more cautious Kuwait needs to benefit from inter- spent nearly two decades investigating Religion luxury jeans. Same thing with a pair Kuwait Times: Tell us more KT: Why do real estate exhibi- when he sees that there is no national exhibitions because they counterfeit auto parts in China. of boots. Beneath soles marked Megagear about Al-Masar Group? tions need organizing? income from his real estate. bring money from outside. Fake auto parts are of particular concern inspectors discovered Timberland logos. At Saud Murad: Al-Masar was Murad: Since you are bringing The good thing about it is that KT: What is your next exhibi- to US authorities. Seizures of such parts in the New York/Newark port alone, the num- established in 2003. We are a spe- the companies in one place, there there is a variety and more oppor- tion? the US surged 83 percent in fiscal year 2014, ber of counterfeit consumer product safety cialized company organizing exhi- should be consistency and integra- tunity. An exhibition will provide a Murad: Our next exhibition is according to customs data. Among the more seizures nearly doubled last fiscal year, to bitions and events, mainly in the tion in order to deliver a message to rich opportunity for investment for on businesswomen - we are target- than 585,000 parts seized in the last five 110 shipments worth of goods, Long said. real estate sector. We have experi- the investor. An exhibition or show a large segment of the society. It ing women in real estate, invest- years were fake brake parts and counterfeit Among them were counterfeit extension ence of organizing around 14 provides an advantage to investors aims to promote and define the ment and finance, because women Honda, BMW, and Toyota air bags, made in cords, Christmas lights and power strips with events in real estate during the - they can compare the opportuni- direct foreign investment law in are the center of the society and China. Some of the seized air bags not only faked hologram safety seals. past 13 years. We faced many busi- ties, see what’s the latest in the mar- attracting foreign investors to family and there are no special failed to deploy but burst into flames and “They will counterfeit the hologram,” he ness cycles during this time, and ket, get special offers and discounts, invest in Kuwait. offers or packages for them. So we sent shrapnel-like shards toward the driver’s said, “and it will have substandard wiring see new challenges in 2016. We check the prices between competi- For example, there are a lot of need to provide them services to face upon impact. that poses a fire risk that could literally also provide integrated solutions tors and compare services rather shopping malls in Kuwait. Does become better. “Everything within a car can be counter- burn your house down.” Ruiz said the in consultancy, training and the than only visiting one company. If Kuwait need them all? Yes, we KT: What are your future feited and a profit can be made,” said Bruce increase in seizures of dangerous counter- media sector. we do not organize real estate exhi- need them because if we had one plans? Foucart, director of the National Intellectual feits reflects a successful effort “to intercept KT: What makes Al-Masar bitions, there would be no vehicle mall, then it would monopolize Murad: In 2016, we preparing Property Rights Coordination Center, which those products before they enter the US Group different from other com- for measurement for investors and the market and we will be at their to provide new conferences of is jointly run by US Immigration and Customs market.” But he acknowledged, “We are not panies? visitors. mercy. international standards to tackle Enforcement and Homeland Security going to law enforce our way out of this Murad: Al-Masar is a leading KT: There are a lot of real KT: Do you think that the sensitive issues and are waiting for Investigations. “We’re seeing counterfeit problem. This is something that is created company - it is special in its creativ- estate exhibitions in Kuwait. Do organizing companies’ prices the approvals. windshields and tires, safety belts that will by demand.” — AP ity and how it tackles real estate you think they have a positive or are compatible with the servic- Crisis-hit Brazil replaces ‘Scissorhands’ FM

BRASOLIA: Underfire Brazilian under Rousseff’s leftist government. which is currently more than 10 per- arrival of the new minister,” said President Dilma Rousseff replaced Her leadership is in crisis and she cent. Margarida Gutierrez, an economist at Friday the finance minister dubbed faces calls for impeachment proceed- “We will promote fiscal balance, con- Rio de Janeiro Federal University. “Brazil “Scissorhands” for his swingeing spend- ings in a public financing scandal. The trol of inflation and economic growth,” cannot go for easy solutions like raising ing cuts, after credit raters downgraded Supreme Court ruled Thursday that he told a news conference. spending to boost the economy. That the country to junk status in an eco- Congress must restart the impeach- He vowed also to work for longer- will be shooting itself in the foot.” nomic and political crisis. ment proceedings from scratch, howev- term fiscal reforms and control social Brazilian authorities are forecasting US-trained Joaquim Levy will be er, and overhauled the procedure in a spending. “I have total confidence that the economy will shrink by 3.1 percent replaced by current Planning Minister badly needed win for the embattled the Brazilian economy, which is the sev- this year and 1.9 percent in 2016. Fitch Nelson Barbosa, a close ally of Rousseff president. enth biggest in the world, with 204 mil- cut Brazil’s sovereign debt rating to seen as less free-marketeering in his lion in habitants, has the human and junk status on Wednesday-the coun- approach, her office said in a statement. Deepening crises physical capital and the expertise to try’s second downgrade in the current “The president is grateful for the dedi- The political chaos is adding to overcome its challenges.” crisis after that of Standard and Poor’s cation of Joaquim Levy, who played a Brazil’s economic woes, with GDP down Analyst Andre Leite of consultancy in September. “Brazil’s downgrade fundamental role in tackling the eco- 4.5 percent in the third quarter year-on- TAG Investimentos in Sao Paulo said: reflects the economy’s deeper reces- nomic crisis,” it said. Levy, 54, formerly year, and the national currency, the real, “The market considers him the most sion than previously anticipated, con- worked at the International Monetary down one-third against the dollar this normal and likely choice because he is tinued adverse fiscal developments and Fund and in Brazil earned the nickname year. already planning minister” in charge of the increased political uncertainty,” “Scissorhands” for tough spending cuts Also US-trained and a former rowing big public budgets. Fitch said. in Latin America’s biggest economy. champion, Barbosa, 46, is reputed to “He knows how the machine works. Levy had looked increasingly isolat- But the market-friendly politician have a more growth-oriented approach He is a natural choice and the market is ed in Rousseff’s government during the failed to achieve his goal of rebalancing than Levy, closer to the spirit of the viewing him with a certain neutrality.” recession as resistance grew to his BRASILIA: Brazil’s Economy Minister the public finances in a poor country governing Workers’ Party. tough economic cure. Ahead of his Joaquim Levy holds a booklet titled with a big welfare spending bill. He moved to reassure the country Recession, political gloom departure he told reporters that “if we in Portuguese “Evaluation of Public His departure comes just under a after being named as Levy’s successor, Others had doubts about Barbosa’s have not finished, at least we intended” Spending Quality” during a breakfast year after he took up the job of finance promising to work for fiscal stability approach given Brazil’s dire economic to get Brazil’s economy back on track. with journalists at the Economy minister in the recession-hit country and growth and lower the inflation rate, state. “I am very concerned about the “That gives us some comfort.” — AFP Ministry in Brasilia on Friday. — AP

Argentina gets ‘Macri-economic’ shock treatment

BUENOS AIRES: In just a week as Monetary Fund. at Christmas to compensate for having Argentina’s president, conservative Macri says a sharp adjustment is need- their spending power slashed by the cur- Mauricio Macri has passed drastic eco- ed to make the country competitive, rency reforms and by soaring inflation. nomic reforms, drawing praise from for- though economists as well as his political And small domestic producers have eign investors but angry protests from citi- opponents warn it will hurt Argentines’ warned that freeing up exports and zens afraid for their salaries. purchasing power in the medium-term. imports will drive them out of business. The so-called “Macri-economic” shock “There is a sense of relaxation, aside “We will have to wait and see what treatment in Latin America’s third-biggest from the critical economic situation,” said measures the government takes to stop economy saw the peso currency plunge political analyst Gustavo Cordoba. people’s salaries evaporating and more by a third after he scrapped his leftist pre- “One week into its term, the govern- marginal sectors being impacted,” decessor’s dollar exchange controls. That ment’s record is very positive.” But cheaper Cordoba warned. was an even sharper fall than during pesos mean ordinary Argentines will be Argentina’s financial crisis in 2002, when it able to buy less. Labor unions demanded Slashing taxes, boosting investment had to be bailed out by the International the government give vouchers for workers The currency reform was the most dra- matic of Macri’s measures since taking office on December 10. He has also axed a controversial tax on agricultural exports including grain and meat. And he lowered the tax on another major export: soy- beans. “We are racing against the clock. We have no time to lose,” he said, announcing those measures. “The world doesn’t give out presents and neither do we. This is an incentive for investment and innovation.” The freeing up of Argentine farmers’ stockpiles raised fears on world markets that they would be flooded with cheap Argentine produce. European grain prices fell after Macri’s announcement. Argentina is the world’s third-biggest soybean producer but the protectionist policies of Macri’s predecessor Cristina Kirchner stifled exports. Exporters wel- BUENOS AIRES: People walk outside a money exchange house in Buenos comed the agriculture reform. Farmers Aires. Argentina’s currency sharply devalued against the US dollar as the called them a historic move that could new administration lifted deeply unpopular limits on the buying of for- lead them to sow 30 percent more wheat eign currencies. — AP and corn next year. —AFP SUNDAY, DECEMBER 20, 2015 BUSINESS

Kuwait equities remain under pressure BAYAN WEEKLY MARKET REPORT KUWAIT: Kuwait Stock Exchange (KSE) end- ed last week in the red zone. The Price Index closed at 5,623.69 points, down by 1.10 per- cent from the week before closing, the Weighted Index decreased by 1.19 percent after closing at 391.40 points, whereas the KSX-15 Index closed at 902.16 points down by 1.38 percent. Furthermore, last week’s average daily turnover decreased by 6.57 percent, compared to the preceding week, reaching KD 12.43 million, whereas trading volume average was 95.05 million shares, recording a loss of 14.89 percent. three market indices dropped steeply and end of 2014, where it reached then KD 27.98 The three stock market indicators closed the Price Index reached its lowest closing billion. in the red zone for the third consecutive level since 2004; such performance was As far as KSE annual performance, the week, as a result of the continued negative accompanied by an increased liquidity lev- Price Index ended last week recording 13.95 factors in controlling the traders’ behavior in els that crossed 50 percent. percent annual loss compared to its closing the market, especially in light of the contin- On Tuesday’s and Wednesday’s sessions, in 2014, while the Weighted Index ued decline in the oil prices and the nega- the market was able to end it with limited decreased by 13.10 percent, and the KSX-15 tive expected future impact of such prices, gains, which came as a result to the support contracted by 14.89 percent. as the market recorded losses in light of the received by the return of the purchasing selling trend that it has been witnessing for operations executed on some leading Sectors’ Indices some time, and it is including many stocks stocks which declined earlier and reached All of KSE’s sectors ended last week in the of different sectors, especially the leading tempting levels for purchase, in addition to red zone except for one sector. The stocks in Telecommunication and Consumer the quick speculations operations that con- Telecommunications sector headed the los- Goods sectors, which were the most declin- centrated on a number of small-cap stocks. ers list as its index declined by 6.34 percent ing among all the market sectors during the Also, the market could not, at the end of to end the week’s activity at 589.05 points. last week. week session, continue its positive perform- The Consumer Goods sector was second on As per the daily trading activity for the ance that it witnessed in the previous two the losers’ list, which index declined by 3.29 market, the first session of the week wit- sessions, to end it with different losses for percent, closing at 1,052.09 points, followed nessed mixed closings to the three indica- the three indices, among a noticeable by the Basic Materials sector, as its index tors, whereas only the KSX-15 was able to decline in the trading indicators, especially closed at 959.96 points at a loss of 3.27 per- realized limited gains as a result to the ran- the liquidity level, which dropped by more cent. The Industrial sector was the least dom purchasing operations that concen- than 35 percent at the end of the session. declining as its index closed at 1,060.26 trated on some heavy stocks, whilst the The market capitalization for KSE points with a 0.11 percent decrease. On the Weighted and Price indices decreased, reached by the end of the last week KD 25.4 other hand, the Health Care sector was last especially the latter that recorded a notice- billion, declining by 1.77 percent compared week only gainer, which index grew by 2.46 able loss due to the continued strong sell- active speculative operations that has been continued influence of the strong selling to its level in a week earlier, which was KD percent, closing at 968.40 points. ing pressures concentrated on the small- going on for few week. However on the pressures which caused most of the previ- 25.86 billion. On an annual level, the mar- cap and mid-cap stocks, in addition to the next session, the market was subject to the ously traded stocks to decline, therefore the ket cap for the listed companies in KSE Sectors’ Activity declined by 9.21 percent from its value at The Financial Services sector dominat- ed a total trade volume of around 173.28 million shares changing hands during last week, representing 36.46 percent of the total market trading volume. The Real Estate sector was second in terms of trad- ing volume as the sector’s traded shares were 28.76 percent of last week’s total trading volume, with a total of around 136.70 million shares. On the other hand, the Telecommunications sector’s stocks were the highest traded in terms of value; with a turnover of around KD 19.10 million or 30.72 percent of last week’s total market trading value. The Banks sector took the second place as the sector’s last week turnover was approx. KD 15.63 million rep- resenting 25.14 percent of the total mar- ket trading value. — Prepared by the Studies & Research Department, Bayan Investment Co. US stocks tumble on global worries WALL STREET WEEKLY REPORT NEW YORK: US stocks plunged across all sectors in the heaviest The global market went into a similar slide two weeks ago, eye on the words and deeds of central banks in struggling Europe interest rates will remain low for some time. That pleased investors trading of the year Friday as enthusiasm over a long-awaited when the European Central Bank ramped up its stimulus efforts and Japan as well as the US for the foreseeable future. overall, but it eventually put pressure on bank stocks. Banks will increase in US interest rates faded. but didn’t do nearly as much as expected. Stocks rallied after ECB benefit from higher interest rates and have and have rallied over Several other negative factors combined to give the market its President Mario Draghi said the bank is ready to expand its stimu- Banks under pressure the last few months, but the initial benefits won’t be great. second big loss in a row, bringing the indexes lower for the week. lus program further if needed. The Federal Reserve had kept interest rates near zero for seven Goldman Sachs dropped $7.12, or 3.9 percent, to $175.49 and Bank stocks, which investors had bid up in hopes they would Those slumps show that investors will continue keeping an years. Fed Chair Janet Yellen emphasized that despite the boost, ETrade Financial lost $1.13, or 3.8 percent, to $28.82. Citigroup become more profitable as loan rates climbed, fell the most. gave up $1.63, or 3.1 percent, to $51.21. Tech stocks also slumped. Technology shares suffered more declines as a bad December got Apple fell $2.95, or 2.7 percent, to $106.03. The stock has fallen 10 worse for Apple. The world’s most valuable publicly traded com- percent in December and has risen only three days this month. pany sank again, bringing its monthly loss to 10 percent. Microsoft fell $1.57, or 2.8 percent, to $54.13. Overseas, Japan’s market sank after that country’s central bank Transportation stocks also fell. Shares of J.B. Hunt made changes to a stimulus program that fell short of what Transportation surrendered $1.96, or 2.7 percent, to $70.62 and investors were hoping for. Another drop in energy prices sent oil Ryder System lost $2.59, or 4.6 percent, to $54.08. Used car dealer- stocks lower again, and worries about weak global growth ship chain CarMax disclosed disappointing quarterly results, as its weighed on shipping and other transportation companies. profit and sales both fell short of analyst projections. Its stock lost The Dow Jones industrial average dropped 367.29 points, or $3.66, or 6.4 percent, to $53.49. The news wasn’t all bad. Darden 2.1 percent, to 17,128.55. The S&P 500 index fell 36.34 points, or Restaurants, the owner of Olive Garden and other chains, climbed 1.8 percent, to 2,005.55. The Nasdaq composite sank 79.47 points, after the company raised its outlook for the year. Olive Garden or 1.6 percent, to 4,923.08. All 10 Standard & Poor’s 500 sectors fell. sales rose and the company’s profit was better than analysts were expecting. The stock added $4.11, or 7 percent, to $62.50. US Volatility crude fell 22 cents to $34.73 a barrel in New York. Oil is trading at US stock trading was even more volatile than usual Friday its lowest level in almost seven years and has slumped over the because of the simultaneous expiration of several kinds of futures last two days. Brent crude, a benchmark for international oils, and other contracts that investors use to place bets on indexes slipped 18 cents to $36.88 a barrel in London. Natural gas, which and individual stocks. As a result Friday was the busiest trading has sunk to 16-year lows as demand fell, picked up 1.2 cents to day of the year for stocks. $1.767 per 1,000 cubic feet. Offshore oil drilling companies skid- The market ended a tumultuous week slightly lower. Stocks ded. Transocean gave up 74 cents, or 5.7 percent, to $12.26 while had rallied over the first three days and jumped Wednesday after Ensco lost $1.08, or 7 percent, to $14.31 and Diamond Offshore the Federal Reserve raised interest rates for the first time in almost Drilling dipped 70 cents, or 3.3 percent, to$20.47. Wholesale gaso- a decade. The move was a vote of confidence in the US economy. line rose 1.3 cents to $1.275 a gallon and heating oil inched up to But over the next two days stocks were hit by some of the worries $1.107 a gallon. Metals prices also rose Friday. The price of gold that have dogged them all year, like weakness in the Chinese edged up $15.40, or 1.5 percent, to $1,065 per ounce and silver economy, slowing global growth, and skidding prices for energy added 39.3 cents, or 2.9 percent, to $14.096 an ounce. Copper and metals. rose 6.9 cents, or 3.4 percent, to $2.113 a pound. While the Bank of Japan plans to spend a bit more on US government bond prices rose. The yield on 10-year exchange-traded funds for companies that increase hiring and Treasury note fell to 2.21 percent from 2.23 percent. The euro rose investment, investors were hoping for more, according to Ryan to $1.0863 from $1.0805. The dollar dipped to 121.25 yen from Larson, head of US equity trading for RBC Global Asset NEW YORK: A Wall Street sign near the New York Stock Exchange in New York. Asian stocks posted broad gains on 122.85 yen. The dollar had climbed Thursday and is expected to Management. “They were looking for more, and when the mar- Thursday after the Federal Reserve ended protracted uncertainty in markets by raising interest rates for the first gain strength as the Fed raises interest rates while central banks in ket’s disappointed, this is what you get,” he said. time in nearly a decade and signaling that further increases will be gradual. — AP Europe and Japan reduce interest rates. — AP

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This mid-sized car was engineered with If you are looking for a new drive, look no further than a comes to an end, in lieu of receiving a KT: How can Enhanced with the smoothest, quietest and safest drive that suits effective fuel efficiency in mind. The engines were designed Chevrolet Impala, Traverse, Malibu or Tahoe, as they come pension. In the GCC, EoSBs are an enti- EoSBs/savings plans help with every individual and family. The Traverse’s fuel economy esti- to maximize power and different functions work to prioritize with the highest trade-in value and instant cash of up to KD tlement for expat employees who are retention and recruitment costs? mates of 9.8 L/100km for the front-wheel drive, positioning fuel efficiency for your vehicle. Combining smooth han- 1,000. Visit Alghanim Chevrolet today to benefit from this not eligible for a pension from their Kader: In this challenging econom- the Traverse at a highly competitive level with other three- dling, excellent fuel economy and ultimate driving comfort, exclusive offer. country of employment, regardless of ic climate, CFOs are challenging HR whether or not they receive a pension Directors to utilize their resources in their country of origin. EoSBs are cal- more effectively and the most obvious culated as a percentage of basic salary is to recognize EoSB and Savings for every year of service provided by Schemes as part of an employee’s total an employee to their employer, with compensation and reward. Unlike tra- an increase in that percentage once a ditional methods of reward (i.e., bonus certain tenor of employment has been payouts) which can prove costly and exceeded. These benefits are covered do not necessarily ensure the loyalty of by the Labor Laws of the various juris- employees, enhanced EoSB or savings dictions in the GCC. While there are plans give employees a savings goal to some differences in the rates or per- reach for while encouraging perform- centages used to calculate EoSBs from ance and productivity. Savings plans country to country, the concept of can be matched or topped up by EoSB and the Labour Law provisions employers and provide employees covering them are mostly the same with a sense of security that basic EoSB across the GCC. plans cannot offer. Plans like these can With the increased cost of living help boost retention rates as well as Infiniti hosts VIP executives from and more expats now working in the lure top talent looking to stay in the GCC than ever before, EoSB payments region long-term. no longer seem adequate in terms of a Kuwait at Dubai Motor Show 2015 final settlement. SEI can work with cor- KT: Talk us through best practices porates to provide enhanced End of for EoSB management in the region. Service Benefit plans that reward high A best practice approach to EoSBs KUWAIT: Abdulmohsen Abdulaziz Al-Babtain Co, the and welcome the Infiniti QX50 LWB to the line-up. technologies and making bold design statements that performance or tenure. In addition, SEI is based on separating assets from the exclusive agent of Infiniti in the State of Kuwait, one of Executives from high profiled fleet businesses in defy conventional and safe approach synonymous with can help companies reduce their balance sheet and “ring fencing” them the fastest growing premium automotive brands in the Kuwait were able to preview the latest in Infiniti’s design luxury products. exposure to risk by helping to separate in a trust account so the employee’s Middle East hosted VIP executives from key fleet busi- philosophy and engage in several important business The All New Infiniti Q30, is scheduled for a 2016 the funds for EoSB payouts from those entitlement is protected, and then nesses in Kuwait at the recently concluded Dubai related discussions with Infiniti executives to enhance arrival within the region, would widen our scope within on the balance sheet; thereby ensur- making regular contributions as the International Motor Show 2015. mutual cooperation and growing customer needs for the premium compact segment to cater to growing ing employees get their dues even in accrued benefits continue to grow. A Infiniti’s focus during the Motor Show was firmly on Infiniti in Kuwait. youth demands and their passion for distinctive product the case of corporate insolvency. scheme established for such a pur- design and innovation. Infiniti unveiled the Q60 concept The All New Infiniti Q30 took the center stage at the choices. pose can support the CFO and the - Infiniti’s vision for a future sports coupe and Infiniti Q80 Dubai International Motor Show debuting as regional Dubai International Motor Show is the biggest auto- KT: What are the latest findings Finance team in improving dollar-cost Inspiration, the halo model for Infiniti’s design language. premiere. The Q30 garnered much interest and applause motive event in the Middle East, Infiniti Al-Babtain in Kuwait? productivity by providing insight for The event also saw the premium marque showcase the due to its daring design and striking presence. believed that their customers had to experience such Kader: Survey respondents from planning and managing risks associat- all-new Infiniti Q30, the brand’s first premium compact Infiniti has always been at the forefront of pioneering event and view the new product lines. Kuwait were generally optimistic ed with these liabilities. It can also about the economy, with 54% citing help companies assess the impact of business as usual despite the slump in attrition rates and headcount growth Gulf Bank announces winners oil prices. 82 percent also projected on EoSB liabilities and potentially real- headcount growth in light of growing ize long term contribution savings in attrition rates (25 percent of respon- the case of a well-managed scheme of Al-Danah daily draws dents confirmed an attrition rate of 10 that is invested. percent and above). This clearly shows Another key benefit is the encour- KUWAIT: Gulf Bank held its Al-Danah daily draws on 13 lion that while the oil prices have had a agement of employee goodwill by uti- December 2015 announcing the names of its winners for 2) Kuwait’s biggest quarterly cash prizes, up to strong impact on the short term, the lizing EoSB as a component of total the week of 6 December - 10 December 2015. The Al- KD500,000 general consensus is that companies reward. This can be achieved by Danah daily draws include draws each and every work- 3) Two winners of KD1,000 every working day are on a path to continued expansion. designing reward structures that allow ing day for two prizes of KD1,000 per winner. 4) The most opportunities to win (64 draws a year, and With regards to Human Resources, for higher employer EoSB contribu- up to 532 winners) 75 percent of respondents cited Talent tions that recognize performance and The winners were: 5) Only bank that transfers your chances to win from Etihad Airways Management as their top HR goal, loyalty. In addition, companies can (Sunday 6/12): Hawraa Jaafar Hassan Muqeem, year to year with 33 percent interested in a better launch schemes which allow employ- Abdullah Habeeb Mostafa Murad announces deployment solution to EoSB management. ees to make their own contributions (Monday 7/12): Hussain Abdulhassan Essa Abdullah, Win big, live big, with Al-Danah 2015. Enhanced EoSB plans are often over- and select investment funds, helping Reda Hussain Ghloum Shah Al-Danah also offers a number of unique services of Boeing 787s on 5 looked as an asset when it comes to to create a long term savings structure (Tuesday 8/12): Hamida Neghmash Abdullah Naser, including: the Al-Danah Deposit Only ATM card which managing attrition rates. that their employees would not be Dawoud Sulaiman Abdulrahman Al-Foudari helps account holders deposit their money at their con- further routes in 2016 The most notable result was that able to access on their own. In addi- (Wednesday 9/12): Abdulredha Abdullah Hashem Al- venience; as well as the Al-Danah calculator to help cus- Kuwait had the largest appetite for an tion, employees can rest assured that Ali, Ghdeer Fouzi Jassem Al-Qattan (Thursday 10/12): tomers calculate their chances of becoming an Al-Danah ABU DHABI: Etihad Airways, the national airline of the United outsourced solution to investment their benefits are protected should Abdulrahman Hussain Dashti Nazad, Najat Mohammed winner. Arab Emirates, today unveiled plans to fly its Boeing 787s to five services at 46 percent. their employer face financial difficul- Abdulatif Idrees Gulf Bank’s Al-Danah account is open to Kuwaitis and more destinations during 2016. ties in the future. All of this results in Gulf Bank’s Al Danah 2015 draw lineup includes daily all residents of Kuwait. Customers who open an account With a phased delivery of five new 787s over a seven-month KT: What are the main challenges greater employee loyalty. Our report draws (2 winners per working day each receive KD1,000). and/ or deposit more will enter the draw within two days. period, beginning May 2016, the 299-seat 787 Dreamliners will be that face the market in Kuwait? shows that companies in the region The final Al Danah draw for One Million Dinars will be To take part in the Al-Danah 2015 upcoming yearly draw, deployed as replacements for existing aircraft on daily scheduled Kader: Despite the strong shift that have launched EoSB/ Saving held on 7 January 2016. The Al Danah Millionaire will be customers must have an Al-Danah account containing at services to Dusseldorf, Perth, Shanghai, Istanbul and towards better compensation and schemes enjoy significantly higher announced alongside winners of KD250,000 and least KD 200. To be part of the Al-Danah draws, cus- Johannesburg from the airline’s Abu Dhabi hub. Etihad Airways benefits packages, many companies employee retention rates than those KD50,000 cash prizes. tomers can visit one of Gulf Bank’s 56 branches, transfer currently operates five 787s, serving Brisbane, Washington, continue to use traditional methods of who have not. Five reasons why the Al-Danah account is the Best: on line, or call the Customer Contact Center on 1805805 Singapore and Zurich from Abu Dhabi. With a further 66 Boeing 1) Kuwait’s single biggest yearly cash prize of KD 1 mil- for assistance and guidance. 787s due to be delivered over the next few years, the Dreamliners will become Etihad Airways’ flagship long-haul aircraft. James Hogan, President and Chief Executive Officer of Etihad Airways, said: “Since introducing our first 787 into commercial Burgan Bank launches new draw service in February, we have enjoyed excellent feedback from guests of our ground-breaking cabin interiors that have set a benchmark for high service levels in the region and across the to all its Youth Account holders world. “Beginning May next year, Etihad Airways’ newly delivered 787 Dreamliners will replace existing aircraft on our Dusseldorf, KUWAIT: Burgan Bank announced yesterday the launch of The bank’s Youth Account was launched for young indi- sectors, as well as having a growing retail, and private bank Perth, Shanghai, Istanbul and Johannesburg routes, among our the new Youth Account draw. With the introduction of this viduals, between the ages of 15 - 25 , who seek to attain a customer base. Burgan Bank has majority owned sub- most popular markets, giving guests an opportunity to fly on our new draw, customers transferring their Student allowances successful future. There is no KD limit to open an account, sidiaries in the MENAT region supported by one of the next-generation aircraft. to the bank will be automatically enrolled into the draw, and no minimum balance required to maintain it. largest regional branch networks. “Today’s travellers are increasingly looking for greater comfort, whereby for every KD 20 in their Youth Account, customers Furthermore, account holders receive free prepaid card and The Bank has continuously improved its performance higher standards, more choice and better convenience as priori- will be given a chance to win KD 1,000 every quarter. an ATM card which entitles them to discounts at selected over the years through an expanded revenue structure, ties in their decision-making and we, at Etihad Airways, are striv- Additionally, the second and third prize winners will each merchants along with a special and exclusive discount at diversified funding sources, and a strong capital base. The ing to meet their high expectations through innovations such as receive a remarkable gift of two free “unlimited access” to Grand Cinemas. adoption of state-of-the-art services and technology has introducing new planes to the fleet and continuing to upgrade Grand Cinemas for one year.. To find out more about Burgan Bank’s Youth Account as positioned it as a trendsetter in the domestic market and our routes.” Etihad Airways’ newest 787-9 variant will include high- Having now expanded the successful Youth draw to well as the latest promotions, customers are required to vis- within the MENA region. Burgan Bank’s brand has been cre- ly-acclaimed interiors featuring 28 Business Studios and 271 include many valuable prizes, demonstrates the bank’s phi- it their nearest Burgan Bank branch or call 1804080. ated on a foundation of real values - of trust, commitment, Economy Smart Seats, offering superior levels of comfort, enter- losophy of providing greater chances of rewarding its Established in 1977, Burgan Bank is the youngest commer- excellence and progression, to remind us of the high stan- tainment and in-flight connectivity. On-board dÈcor and lighting young customers while encouraging new account holders cial Bank and second largest by assets in Kuwait, with a sig- dards to which we aspire. ‘People come first’ is the founda- have been inspired by contemporary modern Arabian design, to benefit from its unique offers. nificant focus on the corporate and financial institutions tion on which its products and services are developed. complementing the new ‘Facets of Abu Dhabi’ design identity introduced by the airline during its livery relaunch last year. technology SUNDAY, DECEMBER 20, 2015 Bitcoin’s ‘blockchain’ tech may transform banking

NEW YORK: The technology that digital currency company called Abra technology, teaming with tech firms Others moving forward include sonal data secure from hackers. drives the shadowy cryptocurrency “as a way to get a better understand- such as IBM and Intel, stock exchanges Bank of America, Citigroup and But a number of issues need to be bitcoin is drawing interest from the ing of blockchain technology and and major banks including Wells Goldman Sachs, which is working on resolved before virtual currencies and established banking industry, which explore its potential”. Gerstner told Fargo and Mitsubishi UFJ. “Distributed its own virtual currency that could cut blockchain technology become main- sees a potential to revolutionize the AFP that “we believe blockchain tech- ledgers are poised to transform a wide out intermediaries for settlements stream. The anonymity of the transac- sector. Although bitcoin and related nology is playing an important role.” range of industries” including banking between financial institutions. The tions is something that concerns regu- virtual currencies are limited to a The use of blockchain began in and shipping, among others, said Jim technology could help facilitate lators seeking to crack down on mon- small set of transactions and are often 2009 with the introduction of bitcoin Zemlin, executive director at The instantaneous, secure financial trans- ey laundering, and financing of crimi- associated with the underground and other virtual currencies that are Linux Foundation. fers which now sometimes can take nal or terrorist activity. New York state, economy, the so-called blockchain generated by complex chains of inter- days when moving internationally, for example, is pressing to require the technology is gaining currency in the actions among a huge network of Transparency, Lower Costs according to blockchain backers. “This identification of those engaging in financial world. A blockchain is essen- computers around the planet, and are Blockchain technology could lower would change the way settlements of financial transactions. tially a shared, encrypted “ledger” that not backed by any government or the cost for many kinds of consumer securities are traditionally carried Nonetheless, many see blockchain cannot be manipulated, offering central bank, unlike traditional curren- cash transfers that now are handled out,” said Prableen Bajpai, founding technology as the wave of the future. promise for secure transactions that cies. The blockchain offers potential to by companies like Western Union and director of the India-based research “Ultimately, blockchain could become allow anyone to get an accurate the traditional finance sector due to MoneyGram. The banking industry firm FinFix. a way for those around the world who accounting of money, property or oth- its ease of transaction with verification could save $15 billion to $20 billion in The use of a cryptographic currency don’t have a bank account to make er assets. from any point on the platform. “You transaction costs for international such as the one being developed by purchases on the Internet. And that “The blockchain, which is the tech- can imagine a number of potential payments by using the technology, Goldman Sachs “facilitates rapid, could affect the banks, as well as cred- nology behind the encryption and e- use cases for this technology in finan- according to Banco Santander, which secure and confirmed transactions via it card companies like American certification, that is a technology cial services across both business-to- is working on its own virtual currency. network, thereby eliminating the need Express, MasterCard, and Visa,” says Ed which might very well be very useful,” consumer and business-to-business A consortium of global banks includ- for a third party,” Bajpai said. “The Yardeni at Yardeni Research. said Jamie Dimon, chairman and chief transactions - from international mon- ing Morgan Stanley, HSBC, UBS, Credit results are extremely timely and effi- “Blockchain still needs to show that it executive of JPMorgan Chase at a con- ey transfers to stored value,” Gerstner Suisse, Barclays, Societe Generale and cient settlements.” Another advantage can grow to the size of Visa’s or ference earlier this year. Leah Gerstner, said. Commerzbank are working with the is that transactions could be made MasterCard’s networks. But there are a vice president for public affairs at The Linux Foundation recently finance tech startup R3 to use without revealing identities and other certainly many smart folks throwing a American Express, said the financial announced a new collaborative “Open blockchain technology for a wide information -which could be impor- lot of money at the technology, which group made its first investment in a Ledger” project to advance blockchain range of applications. tant for institutions trying to keep per- may one day prove disruptive.” — AFP

US reviews ‘backdoor’ in Juniper Networks code

WASHINGTON: The US government Investigation was probing the matter. is investigating unauthorized code An FBI representative declined com- inserted in software from Juniper ment to Reuters. Networks Inc, which experts warned A former Juniper security execu- could be a “backdoor” used to spy on tive said the flaw appeared to be a the networking equipment maker’s “backdoor”, a reference to rogue code customers, an official told Reuters on secretly inserted into a product to Friday. A senior US official who enable attackers to eavesdrop on declined to be named because of the users. Juniper’s notice to customers sensitivity of the matter said the did not say whether the company Department of Homeland Security is was aware of how the code was working with Juniper as it investi- inserted in the software. “This shines gates the issue. The official said the a light on the fact that kind of attack White House National Security is something intelligence agencies Council had taken an interest in are probably doing,” said Chris Juniper’s rare disclosure that some- Wysopal, chief technology officer EAST RUTHERFORD, New Jersey: (Left) New York Jets fan John Laforte watches a virtual reality video during a presentation at the MetLife body had inserted rogue code into its with Veracode, a maker of software Stadium in on Dec 13, 2015. (Right) New York Jets quarterback Ryan Fitzpatrick warms up before an NFL football game against the Tennessee software. Outside experts told for uncovering coding bugs. Titans as cameras film him at MetLife Stadium. — AP Reuters it was likely planted by a Juniper said on its website that it nation state or sophisticated crimi- had not received any reports of these Jets virtual experience to nals. vulnerabilities being exploited by The incident at Juniper comes at hackers. “However, we strongly rec- the end of a year of several high-pro- ommend that customers update their file hacks on Washington, including systems and apply the patched bring fans even closer at the White House, State releases with the highest priority,” it Department and Office of Personnel added. On Thursday, the Department Management. Juniper warned cus- of Homeland Security’s US Computer Technology is constantly evolving tomers on Thursday that it had Emergency Response Team issued a uncovered “unauthorized code” in the short notice on its website, advising EAST RUTHERFORD, New Jersey: Ryan Fitzpatrick is so close you could tug on the New software that runs its firewalls, saying Juniper customers to install the York Jets quarterback’s beard and wish him luck. it could be exploited to allow an update. Representatives with Better look out, or you’ll be run over by some of attacker to unscramble encrypted Sunnyvale, California-based Juniper those big offensive lineman making their way communications. CNN reported could not be reached for comment out to the field. Well, not in reality, but virtual Friday that the Federal Bureau of on Friday. — Reuters reality. It’s all part of a unique experience - “Jets Virtual Sideline” - the team is working on giving to their fans through some cutting-edge tech- nology. “Man, it’s cool,” said fan Phil Dinhofer of Merrick, New York. “It’s the wave of the future.” Cook bashes The Jets certainly think that’s the case. Using virtual reality technology from STRIVR Labs, the team conducted a beta test at MetLife Stadium during six home games so far this season. talk Apple is Wearing headphones and Oculus goggles, fans have a choice of six experiences: running out to the field with the team (the most popular); tak- dodging taxes ing part in the coin toss; being on field for the national anthem; standing on the sideline dur- SAN FRANCISCO: Apple chief Tim ing a touchdown catch by Brandon Marshall; Cook emphatically rejected accusa- participating in a Flight Crew performance; or tions that the world’s richest compa- being in the crowd for the J-E-T-S chant. ny is sidestepping US taxes by keep- You get 360-degree views and the sounds are ing bundles of cash overseas, sug- vivid, making you feel as though you’re right in the middle of the action. It seems like some- gesting that the claim was political- thing straight out of “Star Wars”. “Oh, it’s great,” a New York Jets video director Tim Tubido demonstrates virtual reality video on a cell phone ly motivated. World leaders last smiling Dinhofer said. “I was ready to join the during a presentation at the MetLife Stadium. month approved a crackdown on cheerleaders and do the dance.” The Jets pur- tax avoidance by multinationals chased the STRIVR technology in the spring and day footage during preseason home games in peeks to fans at other locations, including the such as Apple, Google and began using it during training camp for on-field August, using high-tech cameras in various Coaches Club during pregame. “People’s first McDonald’s, major firms whose drills. Several NFL and college teams have done spots. “We kind of worked out the kinks using it reaction is just the coolness factor,” said Seth rock-bottom tax bills have provoked the same, helping quarterbacks, in particular, for football and figuring out what are the best Rabinowitz, the team’s senior vice president of widespread outrage in the United train and improve performance by providing a ways to shoot things and cut things and how marketing and fan engagement. “You’ve never States and beyond. complete field of vision from practices. fast we could turn it around,” said Tim Tubito, the seen this before, so there’s a ‘wow’ factor. We’re Cook argued that Apple pays the team’s video director. “And then, it kind of still getting a lot of different feedback on what biggest tax tab in the United States Impetus opened up to where are the areas where we can people really want. Do they want to do just a and that it keeps more money over- “The impetus was the football team,” Jets use it on game day to really give the fans a dif- minute, just like a little thrill ride? Or, do they seas than other company because President Neil Glat said. “But we always had in ferent type of experience?” want to do a longer form?” two-thirds of its business is there. the back of our mind when the decision was The team ran its first test in MetLife Stadium’s The team is exploring several options on how Cook’s staunch defense of the made to buy it that we think there’s a fan oppor- Commissioners Club during the home opener - to most effectively use the technology before it California-based technology colos- Tim Cook tunity here as well.” The Jets began filming game and it was a hit. The Jets have also given sneak officially rolls it out. The Jets want to completely sus came during an interview with learn what the technology can do from a fan Charlie Rose in a 60 Minutes news don’t think this is a reasonable thing experience standpoint, what operation issues program interview to be aired on to do.” It comes a year after the are involved and what the fans like. It could end “LuxLeaks” revelations that some of up becoming a 10-minute attraction, something Sunday on CBS. “That’s total political NASA spacewalk crap, there is no truth behind it,” the world’s biggest companies - also in the offseason for fans clamoring for football, including Pepsi and Ikea - had low- used in various areas of the stadium before Cook responded when pressed ered their tax rates to as little as one games - or, all of the above. about the highly contentious tax to fix ISS railcar “I’d say the short-term vision is an enhance- issue in a short preview of the inter- percent in secret pacts with tax ment to a segment of fans at the stadium,” Glat view. “We pay every tax dollar we authorities in Luxembourg. said. “That’s, to me, No. 1. No. 2 is probably owe.” US President Barack Obama, MIAMI: A pair of NASA astronauts will step place ahead of the Wednesday, December Chinese leader Xi Jinping and out on a previously unscheduled spacewalk 23 docking of a Russian cargo resupply something in and around the offseason. And Cook laid the blame on an out- Britain’s Prime Minister David as early as tomorrow to fix a piece of spacecraft,” NASA said. then, we’ll see where we go from there. To me, dated US tax code, calling for it to motorized equipment that stalled outside The Progress spacecraft docks automati- it’s how do we make it better when you’re com- be revamped for modern times. Cameron joined fellow leaders in the International Space Station. The mobile cally so it doesn’t need the robotic arm, but ing out to the stadium?” “This is a tax code that was made for endorsing a clampdown drawn up transporter railcar - used to position the a NASA spokeswoman said it is important The technology is constantly evolving and the Industrial Age, not the Digital by the wealthy nations’ station’s robotic arm - stalled on for the mobile transporter to be latched in could potentially someday be run on a hand- Age,” Cook said. “It’s backwards. It’s Organization for Economic Wednesday just 10 cm from where it began place prior to Progress’ arrival. “It’s currently held device instead of a laptop. “I think you’ll see awful for America.” The impassioned Cooperation and Development. The its move, said the US space agency in a not latched since it stalled while they were this a lot in the mainstream consumer market- response from Cook followed Rose OECD calculates that national gov- statement. trying to move it,” she told AFP. The cause place, like video games and other things,” contending that many members of ernments lose $100-240 billion, or The Canadian-made robotic arm is used of the stall remains unclear, but “experts Rabinowitz said. “You’re going to start to see it Congress believe Apple is perpetu- 4-10 percent of global tax revenues, to reach out and grab approaching US car- believe it may be related to a stuck brake very quickly and, by spring, it’s going to be all ating a scheme to pay little or no every year because of the tax-mini- go ships and was most recently used for handle,” according to ISS mission integra- the rage.” And, Jets fans will be able to reach out taxes on $74 billion in overseas rev- mizing schemes of multinationals. and - virtually - touch their favorite team. “This is the arrival of Orbital ATK’s Cygnus space- tion and operations manager Kenny Todd. enue. Its 15-point plan, adopted after craft on Dec 9. Efforts to correct the prob- A time for the spacewalk has not been a walk-before-we-run thing because it’s great for years of negotiations, seeks to a handful of people to check out and get feed- “I’d love to bring it home,” Cook lem robotically from mission control in announced, but NASA said it will happen no said of cash kept outside the US. oblige multinationals to pay tax in Houston failed. Astronauts Scott Kelly and earlier than tomorrow, or perhaps Tuesday. back,” Glat said. “But if you really want to get the country where their main busi- hundreds and thousands of people through on “But don’t because it would cost me Tim Kopra will float outside the orbiting lab A final decision will be made after a mission 40 percent to bring it home and I ness activity is based. — AFP to move the rail car “so it can be latched in management meeting today. — AFP game day and we’re going to put our name on it, we want it to be really good.” — AP SUNDAY, DECEMBER 20, 2015 HEALTH & SCIENCE Couple who used online network to take in kids faces jail

NEW YORK: A woman who used the at least six boys and girls from 2006 Arizona last spring. They were charged in Easons had connected with Nicole Eason dren in their care. In reality, they had lost Internet to take in unwanted adopted through 2009, lying about their identities US District Court in Illinois with kidnap- through Yahoo groups. Parents used the custody of both of their biological chil- children faces years in prison after a feder- to the children’s adoptive parents. Reuters ping two of the girls that they took in online bulletin boards to discuss their dif- dren. After authorities had removed their al jury convicted her Friday on charges of found other examples of re-homing through re-homing - one in 2007 and the ficulties caring for children they had second child, a newborn, a sheriff’s kidnapping and transporting a minor across the United States, with no govern- other in 2008. They also were charged adopted, and Reuters also found many deputy wrote in his report that the Easons across state lines for the purpose of ment oversight and at great risk to chil- with taking one of the girls across state cases in which parents sought to offload “have severe psychiatric problems as well engaging in sexual activity. The woman, dren. The news agency revealed that the lines with the intent to engage her in sex- those children to strangers. During a five- as violent tendencies.” No US federal law Nicole Eason, 37, was charged after a Easons had created fictitious credentials. ual activity. The girl, who turned 8 while year period, Reuters found that on a sin- specifically prohibits re-homing, and 2013 Reuters investigation exposed an They never disclosed that Nicole Eason’s she was in the custody of the Easons, told gle Yahoo group, a child was advertised Reuters found that state laws restricting illicit network where parents offered chil- biological children had been permanently authorities that both Calvin and Nicole for re-homing on average once a week. custody transfers and advertising of chil- dren they no longer wanted to strangers removed from their custody years earlier, molested and physically abused her. The Yahoo removed the message boards after dren rarely prescribe criminal sanctions they met online. Eason’s husband, Calvin, after social workers concluded the couple other victim said she was expected to the news agency brought them to the and are frequently ignored. In response to 46, pleaded guilty last month to the same had neglected one child and physically sleep next to a naked Nicole Eason but company’s attention. the Reuters investigation, at least six charges. abused the other. was not molested. Living in Illinois at the time, the Easons states have passed new restrictions on Through a practice called private re- As a result of the Reuters investigation, In both cases, the parents who trans- presented themselves as a loving, stable advertising children, transferring custody, homing, the Easons had taken custody of federal authorities arrested the Easons in ferred custody of the children to the family, dedicated to the well-being of chil- or both. — Reuters Painkiller politics: Effort to curb prescribing under fire Bold bid to rein in prescriptions hits roadblocks

WASHINGTON: A bold federal effort to curb prescrib- officials. The Department of Health and Human The pain debate ing of painkillers may be faltering amid stiff resistance Services, which oversees both the CDC and the FDA, Behind the CDC controversy is a decades-long from drugmakers, industry-funded groups and, now, said the guidelines are critical to “tackling the opioid debate over the use of opioids, which include medica- even other public health officials. The Centers for epidemic.” Frieden acknowledged the limited evidence tions like morphine and codeine and illegal narcotics Disease Control and Prevention was on track to finalize comparing various treatments. “But there is no way we like heroin. For most of the 20th century, doctors new prescribing guidelines for opioid painkillers in can wait for better evidence while so many people are reserved opioids for severe, short-term pain - such as January. The guidelines - though not binding - would dying.” Under the proposed guidelines, doctors would after surgery - or chronic pain from deadly diseases like be the strongest government effort yet to reverse the prescribe these drugs only as a last choice for chronic cancer. But in 1990s that changed, as some specialists rise in deadly overdoses tied to drugs like OxyContin, pain, after non-opioid pain relievers, physical therapy argued the drugs could be used safely to treat com- Vicodin and Percocet. and other options. mon ailments like back pain and arthritis. The message But this highly unusual move - the CDC rarely advis- was amplified by multimillion-dollar promotional cam- es physicians on medications, a job formally assigned The CDC’s logic paigns for new, long-acting drugs like OxyContin, to the Food and Drug Administration - thrust the The CDC also wants doctors to prescribe the small- which was promoted as less addictive. agency into the middle of a longstanding fight over the est supply of the drugs possible, usually three days or That drug’s maker, Purdue Pharma, later agreed to use of opioids, a powerful but highly addictive class of less for acute pain. And doctors would only continue plead guilty and pay over $600 million in fines for mis- pain medications that rang up over $9 billion in sales prescribing the drugs if patients show significant leading the public about OxyContin’s risks. But prescrip- tions continued to rise - along with deaths. Purdue declined to comment for this story. Deaths linked to misuse and abuse of prescription opioids climbed to 19,000 last year, the highest figure on record, according A new baby orca whale is seen swimming alongside an adult whale in the to the CDC. Heroin and opioid painkillers caused 28,650 Haro Strait between San Juan Islands, Wash, and Vancouver Island. — AP fatal overdoses in 2014, or 61 percent of all drug-related overdose deaths. CDC’s Frieden says more Americans Another baby: 8th endangered are “primed” for heroin use because of their exposure to painkillers. Pain care advocates say they were blind- orca spotted in Puget Sound sided, though, when the CDC moved to create formal guidelines without first consulting them. “It looks to us like they had a pretty good idea of what they wanted SEATTLE: Whale researchers are cele- by marine vessels. The population is now these things to say, and they wanted to minimize feed- brating the birth of another baby orca in at 84. There were 77 animals last back that was contrary to that,” said Dr. Robert Twillman Puget Sound, the first time in decades December. The newest orca, estimated of the American Academy of Pain Management, a the population has experienced such a to be a few weeks old, was spotted earli- group which represents pain physicians and receives boom. The new baby is the eighth born er this month near San Juan Island by a funding from painkiller manufacturers such as Purdue since last December to the small, endan- member of the Pacific Whale Watch and Teva Pharmaceuticals. Twillman’s group has asked gered population of killer whales that Association. Researchers couldn’t initially Congress to investigate the CDC’s handling of the spend time in the inland waters of determine conclusively from photo- guidelines, including an expert panel of advisers, which Washington state, according to the graphs whether the whale was new. it says is “studded with a number of individuals who are Center for Whale Research, which keeps Photos taken Wednesday, however, publicly on record as opposing the use of opioids.” a census of the orcas for the federal gov- helped confirm that the eyepatch and The CDC had not publicly disclosed the panel’s membership, but Twillman and other pain advocates ernment. other markings on the baby were dis- identified several members, including two who are “It’s wonderful,” said Ken Balcomb, tinct. Each Puget Sound orca is identi- leaders with Physicians for Responsible Opioid senior scientist with the center at Friday fied by unique black and white markings Prescribing, a group working to reduce painkiller pre- Harbor. “We’re hoping this is the future.” or variations in their fin shapes. The scribing. That group is backed by Phoenix House, a net- Decades ago, there were more than 140 baby is the fifth born to the J-pod, one MONTPELIER: Photo shows OxyContin pills are arranged for a photo at a phar- work of rehabilitation clinics. The Washington Legal of the unique animals known as south- of three groups of Puget Sound orcas. It macy in Montpelier, Vt. In a report released by the Centers for Disease Control Foundation - a conservative group which frequently ern resident killer whales. That number was spotted swimming with its mother, and Prevention in December 2015, drug overdoses in the US rose again in represents pharmaceutical interests in court - says CDC declined to a low of 71 in the 1970s grandmother and other family members 2014, driven by surges in deaths from heroin and powerful prescription is in “blatant violation of federal law” for not disclosing when dozens of the mammals were cap- in Haro Strait. Balcomb said the baby its advisers. The foundation wants the CDC to scrap its tured to be displayed at marine parks boom could be due to the fairly good painkillers such as Vicodin and Oxycontin. — AP current guidelines and start over. and aquariums across the country. salmon year on the Columbia River. “I Despite a decade of research, protec- think that sort of allowed these mothers last year, according to IMS Health. Critics complained improvement. The CDC’s logic: Reshaping how primary Battle for influence tion and recovery efforts, the animals to bring their babies to full term,” he the CDC guidelines went too far and had mostly been care doctors use painkillers would result in fewer pre- Many of the patient and physician groups oppos- continue to struggle primarily due to a said. Researchers won’t know for some written behind closed doors. One group threatened to scriptions and, therefore, fewer deaths. By its estima- ing the CDC guidelines are part of a larger coalition lack of food, pollution and disturbances time if the baby is male or female. — AP sue. Then earlier this month, officials from the FDA and tion, deaths tied to these drugs have surged more than called the Pain Care Forum, which meets monthly in other health agencies at a meeting of pain experts four-fold since 1999. But industry-funded groups like Washington to strategize on pain issues. Officials from bashed the guidelines as “shortsighted,” relying on “low the US Pain Foundation and the American Academy of the White House, the FDA, NIH and other agencies quality evidence.” Pain Management warn that the CDC guidelines could have met with the group over the years, according to Isis Pharma changes name to They said they planned to file a formal complaint. block patient access to medications if adopted by state documents obtained by The Associated Press under The CDC a week later abandoned its January target health systems, insurers and hospitals. Such organiza- the Freedom of Information Act. The Pain Care Forum avoid unwanted association date, instead opening the guidelines to public com- tions often look to the federal government for health presents itself as a leaderless collective that does not ment for 30 days and additional changes. Anti-addic- care policies. take formal positions. But most members receive fund- tion activists worry the delay could scuttle the guide- The CDC decision to delay its guidelines followed ing from drugmakers, including OxyContin-maker LOS ANGELES: Isis Pharmaceuticals is want them to think about the life-saving lines entirely. “This is a big win for the opioid lobby,” said months of lobbying by physician and patient groups Purdue, whose chief lobbyist helped found the group changing its name to avoid any unwant- medicines we are developing,” said Dr Andrew Kolodny, co-founder of Physicians for aligned with the pharmaceutical industry, who have and remains at its center. Anti-addiction advocates ed association with the Islamic State Lynne Parshall, chief operating officer at Responsible Opioid Prescribing, a group working to almost always had a seat at the table in federal discus- worry that outside pressure from such groups led the extremist group, the California company Ionis Pharmaceuticals. Wade Walke, reduce painkiller prescribing. CDC Director Dr Tom sions on painkillers. As a result, they have had far more CDC to re-open its guidelines for comment. “Opening said Friday. It will now be called Ionis spokesman for the company, said the Frieden said politics did not play a role and the guide- influence over federal policy than addiction activists, a docket will tack months on to the process and Pharmaceuticals, setting it clearly apart name became “a big problem” after the lines remain a priority. “We want to make sure we don’t according to experts. “They’re very well-funded and increases the likelihood that the guideline might never from the jihadists, whose acronyms Paris attacks last month, which were go so fast that there are questions about our process, they have a lot of pharma money behind them,” said Dr. be released,” said Kolodny, an addiction therapist. It’s a include ISIS, IS and ISIL. “We decided to claimed by the IS extremist group. Ionis but we certainly don’t want to see any further delay,” Lewis Nelson of New York University, an FDA adviser process advocates say has played out before at the change our company name because Pharmaceuticals is known especially for Frieden said. who is also advising the CDC on its guidelines. “And FDA, which as the nation’s top drug regulator writes when people see or hear our name we its drugs for rare diseases. — AFP Frieden said the FDA and other agencies support then you have the anti-addiction groups on the other the prescribing labels that accompany prescription his effort, despite the negative comments from some side, which is clearly much less funded and organized.” drugs.— AP Beijing issues second red alertas choking smog sets in again

BEIJING: Beijing issued its second-ever “Environmental protection is an impor- public criticism of the city’s weak red alert for smog and put its emer- tant objective the Chinese government response to choking smog that settled gency response plan into action once has been firmly working on,” foreign on the city earlier in the month. PM2.5 again as severe pollution hit China’s ministry spokesman Hong Lei said at a rates regularly exceeded 300 micro- capital yesterday. The notice from the regular scheduled briefing in Beijing. grams per cubic metre during the last capital’s environmental bureau ordered But, he added: “We are still facing some red alert. Beijing lifted the alert on factories to close and pulled half of all challenges in environmental protec- December 10, after winds from the private cars off the streets, among other tion”. The national environmental north dispersed the bad air, leaving measures, as bad air flooded into the bureau said that other cities in the skies clear and blue. During an earlier city for the third “airpocalypse” of the region would raise their alert level to airpocalypse at the beginning of the month. The red alert, the highest tier of red, adding it had urged regional gov- month, PM2.5 levels climbed to as high a four-color warning system, will last ernments to “implement heavy air pollu- as 600 micrograms per cubic metre but from Saturday to Tuesday, according to tion emergency response measures”. the government did not issue a red a statement on the Beijing Municipal alert, prompting strong public criticism. Environmental Protection Bureau’s web- Exercising in smog Most of the country’s greenhouse site. The soupy haze did not turn off sev- gas emissions come from the burning It is the second time the highest level eral elderly people who headed to of coal for electricity and heating-par- alert has been issued since the city Beijing’s parks and public squares to do ticularly when demand peaks in win- established a pollution warning system their morning exercises. But residents ter-which is also the key cause of smog. in 2013. Counts of PM2.5 - harmful on social media were seemingly more The recurrent pollution has driven microscopic particles that penetrate bothered by the latest bout of heavy Beijing residents to hospitals in grow- deep into the lungs-were above 260 haze and said the government was not ing numbers, according to a report on micrograms per cubic meter earlier yes- doing enough to tackle the problem. Internet giant Tencent’s news portal. terday, according to the US embassy, “Whether or not I drive my petrol car During the last month’s periods of which issues independent readings. The has little to do with the main causes of severe pollution, it said, trips to med- World Health Organization’s recom- smog,” one user on China’s Twitter ical facilities using hailing app Didi mended maximum exposure is 25 over equivalent Weibo said. “If alternating Kuaidi-backed by Tencent-went from a 24-hour period. traffic is effective in controlling smog, 3.4 percent of all journeys to 4.1 per- By mid-afternoon the reading low- why not set it up permanently?” said cent, an increase of more than a fifth. ered to 140, but the pungent smelling another commenter. The report also cited online retailer smog still reduced visibility in the capi- Beijing issued its first-ever red alert JD.com as saying pollution mask sales tal even though the streets were not as on December 7, declaring emergency soared by as much as 400 percent in clogged with vehicles as usual. pollution measures following scathing response to the bad air. — AFP SHANGHAI: Heavy pollution hangs in the air over elevated motorways in Shanghai. — AFP SUNDAY, DECEMBER 20, 2015 HEALTH & SCIENCE

Arctic posts record warmth over land, less ice in ocean

NEW YORK: The warming Arctic has set another September, was the fourth lowest on record. The record. The average air temperature over Arctic retreat of sea ice is considered a threat to animals land reached 2.3 degrees F (1.3 degrees C) above like walruses, which use it for mating, giving birth average for the year ending in September. That’s and getting out of the water. Walruses can use land the highest since observations began in 1900. The instead to leave the water, but they are crowding new mark was noted in the annual Arctic Report onto beaches where a stampede can be devastat- Card, released Tuesday by the National Oceanic and ing for calves, two editors of the report card said. Atmospheric Administration. The Arctic centers on Walruses have been hauling themselves out on the North Pole and reaches into North America and land in northwest Alaska, a recent phenomenon, Eurasia. “Warming is happening more than twice as Martin Jeffries of the federal Office of Naval fast in the Arctic than anywhere else in the world. Research and Jackie Richter-Menge of the US Army We know this is due to climate change,” NOAA chief Corps of Engineers wrote in a joint email. Snow scientist Rick Spinrad told reporters in San cover in June in both the North American and Francisco at a meeting of the American Eurasian parts of the Arctic was at the second low- Geophysical Union. est level since records began in 1967. Reduced Another record emerged for sea ice, which snow cover lets more sunlight through to the land, appears when Arctic Ocean water freezes. When it which absorbs the energy and gets warmer. Since reached its peak coverage in February, it was the 1979, the extent of June snow cover has been LONGYEARBYEN: A house and a car are snow covered as an avalanche hit several houses in lowest maximum extent since records began in dropping by 18 percent per decade, the study Longyearbyen, Norway yesterday. Several people were injured and missing yesterday after an ava- 1979. The minimum ice coverage, reached in said.— AP lanche buried about 10 houses on the Svalbard archipelago in the heart of the Norwegian Arctic. — AFP

Overdose deaths in US hit record high Health chiefs warn of a surging opioid ‘epidemic’

MIAMI: More people died of interrelated trends” are visible in drug overdoses last year in the the data: a 15-year rise in pre- United States than ever before, scription painkiller deaths and a largely due to disturbing increas- more recent surge in heroin use es in prescription painkillers and and overdose deaths. Both drugs heroin use, health authorities work in similar ways, and when said Friday. Health chiefs warned addicts are unable to get pre- of a surging opioid “epidemic” scription medications to feed that is ripping families and com- their habit, many turn to heroin, munities apart. More than 47,000 which is often cheap and acces- people died last year from drugs, sible. Drugs like oxycodone and higher than during any previous hydrocodone are the most com- year on record, said the report by monly prescribed opioid pain the US Centers for Disease relievers, and “continue to be Control and Prevention (CDC). involved in more overdose Deaths due to opioid over- deaths than any other opioid Migratory birds fly above wetlands in Hokersar, about 16 kilometers north of Srinagar, Indian controlled Kashmir. — AP doses jumped 14 percent in just type,” said the report, noting one year, said the CDC’s deaths from these types of drugs Morbidity and Mortality Weekly increased by nine percent in one Wetland loss, development put Report. Six in 10 of all drug over- year, with 813 more deaths in dose deaths were due to opioids, 2014 than in 2013. which may include either pill- Overdose deaths are up in Kashmir bird migration at risk based medications to dull pain both men and women, in non- or the street drug heroin. Drug Hispanic whites and blacks, and SRINAGAR: The cackle and cry of official count of birds as unreliable, but quickly at high altitudes like the lenge is a rapid change in how people overdose deaths were about 1.5 in adults of nearly all ages, said Kashmir’s annual bird migration has even those numbers show a downward Himalayas. Kashmir itself has warmed are using the land. New neighborhoods times more common than car the report. “Deaths from heroin long been a welcome ruckus for those trend: During the winter of 2009-10, 1.3 degrees Celsius in the past century. are popping up around wetlands, with crash fatalities last year, said the increased in 2014, continuing a living in the Indian-controlled authorities said more than 1 million Local scientists say seasons are shifting little regard to maintaining water flow. report. sharp rise that has seen heroin Himalayan territory. It signals the sum- birds visited Kashmir’s wetlands. Last from their usual patterns, and precipita- Swamps are frequently clogged by “The increasing number of overdoses triple since 2010,” it mer’s end, the coming snows and the year, they counted just over half that tion is more often falling as rain instead garbage. Water-logged rice fields are deaths from opioid overdose is said. Illicitly made fentanyl, a global importance of Kashmir’s environ- number. “The bird numbers have been of snow. “Loss of habitat and climate quickly being converted into orchards. alarming,” said CDC Director Tom short-acting opioid that is ment for species arriving from as far as fluctuating over the years, but now there change are major factors,” wildlife Deforestation is unleashing soils that are northern Europe and Japan. But these is a steady decline,” Bacha said. He called department researcher Samina Amin filling in lakes. Frieden. “The opioid epidemic is sometimes added to heroin and days, wildlife experts say they have nev- for an “urgent and massive effort to said. The birds have long been a high- “I clearly remember a coin swinging devastating American families can make it far more potent, is er seen so few birds - and so few species revive these wetland reserves for pro- light for residents in the famed Kashmir down into the crystal clear water after I and communities. To curb these believed to be responsible for - feeding and breeding around the wet- tecting the birds.” Valley - a vast collection of connected dropped it while crossing a small wood- trends and save lives, we must thousands of deaths per year. lands nestled between the region’s Scientists say unbridled construction, wetlands and waterways known as en bridge,” said businessman Showkat help prevent addiction and pro- US health authorities say they mountain peaks and plateaus. piled up trash and the changing much for its idyllic vistas and flower- Dar, who grew up near a vast swamp vide support and treatment to are promoting more informed A combination of climate change and Himalayan climate - where warmer tem- filled meadows as for its decades-long dense with willow trees and squawking those who suffer from opioid use opioid prescribing practices haphazard urban development are to peratures are melting snows more battle for independence that has killed geese that has since become a high- disorders.” Drug overdoses have among doctors as a way of blame, scientists say. Colorful birds like quickly and playing havoc with the sea- 68,000 people. end marketplace in the main city of killed almost half a million peo- curbing the trend, along with the whooper swan, stiff-tailed duck and sons - are robbing the birds of their tra- The violence has subsided in recent Srinagar. “That coin must be still buried ple in the United States from improved treatment for this in cotton teal have not been seen in the ditional watering holes and, in the case years, with resistance now mostly somewhere under these commercial 2000 to 2014, and the rate of recovery from addiction. area in recent years. While there has of visiting mallard ducks, their nesting expressed through street protests. But buildings.” The loss or degradation of opioid overdoses has tripled Programs are also in place to been little scientific study to quantify areas. Scientists say the Earth’s atmos- the mountainous region is still criss- many wetlands has also left the region the falling numbers, former regional phere has already warmed an average of crossed with thousands of miles of unable to absorb and channel floodwa- since 2000. increase the use of naloxone, a wildlife warden Mohammed Shafi Bacha 0.7 degrees Celsius (1.3 degrees barbed wire and patrolled by hundreds ters, leaving it increasingly exposed to fast-acting antidote that may says he counts only 18 species visiting Fahrenheit) in the last century, thanks to of thousands of Indian troops. The tense flooding. Srinagar was inundated last Heroin, pills revive a person who has recent- today out of 28 that came three decades the release of heat-trapping greenhouse security situation has made addressing year in disastrous floods that caused The CDC said “two distinct but ly overdosed. — AFP ago. gases like carbon dioxide. environmental issues harder. $17 billion in losses to infrastructure Scientists routinely reject the state’s But temperatures are rising more Compounding the environmental chal- and homes. — AP WHAT’S ON SUNDAY, DECEMBER 20, 2015

Kuwait Engineers Forum to hold KINETIC 2016 on April 3

uwait Engineers Forum (KEF) will hold the 3rd Energy, Cyber Security, E-learning and Automations; which introduced poster presentation for university undergradu- nar on “Role of Engineers in Green Economy” by Joseph Technical Conference and Exhibition - KINETIC 2016 have a special relevance to Kuwait. ates and graduate students, as a unique platform for Martin, Ernst and Young. Kon April 3, 2016 at Radisson Blu Hotel, Kuwait. Addressing a press conference, KEF office-bearers said expressing their talents to present their idea on the confer- The meeting was presided by KEF General Convener KINETIC, an annual event will provide a suitable platform there would be technical presentations by experts, profes- ence theme. Further, KINETIC has announced that registra- Anil Kumar K V Ex-officio member Santhosh Kumar G, where the engineering community can directly interact sionals and manufacturers. Executives and technologists tion will be free for university students. General Convener-designate Sree Kumar G, Convenor with technical experts, research scientists and manufactur- from a wide range of industrial sectors will be attending The organizers said KEF is looking forward to active par- finance Jayaraj Kallumpurath, Convener organization ers, thereby share knowledge and expertise. the conference and exhibition. The event offers wide net- ticipation from technical experts in their respective fields, Thomas George, Convenor sponsorship Shyam Mohan, This year, the conference theme is “Sustainable working opportunities to discuss and exchange new ideas and also from the Industry to exhibit their products and Convenor Arts Sony Francis, Convenor Data management Development - Innovation, Opportunities and Challenges.” and to establish/renew contacts. technologies from Kuwait and the region. Kuwait Jeslin Thalapil, Convenor Specialties Edison George, The conference will highlight the trends and emerging Kuwait Engineers Forum has released their technical Engineers Forum (KEF), is a registered association of Indian Convenor Food George K John and Convenor Public challenges in the areas of Global Economic Sustainability, brochure (call for paper and poster presentation) and their Engineers working in Kuwait. Relations, Jyothish Natarajan were also present during the Corporate Social Responsibility, Clean and Renewable exhibitor/sponsorship brochure. This year, KINETIC has Prior to the press conference, KEF held a technical semi- meeting. Malabar launches 5th edition of Gold, Diamonds Festival in GCC, Singapore and Malaysia Showrooms

alabar Gold and A true shopper’s delight, Malabar coupon through which they can any value on the rate of gold. Diamonds, the promi- Gold and Diamonds Festival will win a guaranteed gold coin or up Furthermore, 8 gm gold coins Mnent jewelry retailer captivate the customers by to 100 gold coins instantly. With can be bought from their outlets unfurled details of the 5th edi- exhibiting eye catching designs every diamond jewelry purchase with absolutely no making tion of ‘Malabar Gold and in gold, platinum, diamonds and worth KWD 250, the customers charge during this period. Diamonds Festival’ in GCC, precious stones from different will get 1 gm free gold coin. Keeping up with customer Singapore and Malaysia. The fes- parts of the world to flaunt any To add customer’s delight, the demands, the jewelry chain offers tival that runs from 16 December occasion or event and are well group also offers ‘Zero Deduction a fabulous collection of gold, dia- 2015 to 31 January 2016 will dis- priced too. The festival stands Exchange’ scheme through mond and platinum jewelry to play distinctive pieces of jewelry apart from the usual jewelry which customers can update suit the tastes of both resident from across the world and offers exhibitions and promotions and their old ornaments to the latest and international customers, skill- massive gifts and irresistible as the tag line indicates- collection of Malabar Gold and fully crafted by jewelry specialists offers. ‘Everyone Wins’, i e every cus- Diamonds without any loss. Any from Italy, Singapore, Turkey, This much-awaited festival is tomer gets a chance to be a win- 22 ct old gold ornaments can be Bahrain and India. This is in addi- one of the biggest jewelry events ner through this festival. exchanged with the latest tion to their exclusive branded in GCC and the customers get For every purchase of gold Malabar Gold and Diamonds jewelry - Mine- Diamonds unprecedented opportunities to jewelry above KWD 150, the cus- designs by paying only making Unlimited, Era- Uncut Diamond win a total of 250,000 gold coins. tomers get a ‘Scratch and Win’ charges ensuring they don’t lose Jewelry, Ethnix- Handcrafted Designer Jewelry, Divine- Indian Heritage Jewelry, Precia- Precious KFIC supports employees Gem Jewelry and the unique jew- elry for kids- Starlet. recipients specialized Operating 142 retail outlets globally, the group is always at the forefront when it comes to professional certificates promotions and celebrations. The last four editions of ‘Malabar Gold continuity in the company’s strategic plan to develop the performance and efficien- and Diamonds Festival’ elicited cy of its employees and upgrade their professional qualifications is an element a tremendous response from the Acompany always aspires. Mohamed Al-Eiban, the Vice CEO and Head of HR and jewelry lovers. This time also the Admin stated that the company supported its perceptive employees in receiving the CFA customers are excited to be a part degree, a specialized professional certificate awarded by the Chartered Financial Analyst of this much awaited festival to Institute. This support comes in the context of company’s efforts to urge their employees and encourage them to develop their skills continuously according to the latest programs witness the rarest collection of and keep themselves updated on the recent developments in order to provide proficient jewelry from across the world and services to KFIC clients. It is noteworthy that KFIC also sponsored the activities of the CFA to avail fabulous offers. Society in Kuwait, which is a member of the Chartered Financial Analyst Institute CFA.

Indian MP, KMCC delegation meet ambassador

ndian parliament member and for- 2015” mega conference. They had a interactions with concerned. He mer Kerala Education minister E T cordial reception at the embassy. asserted his commitment to the IMuhammed Basheer, Sayed They had a detailed discussion expatriate causes and assured that he Panakkad Sadikali Shihab Thangal, regarding the matters related to would continue to present the mat- Sidiqali Rangatoor held a courtesy Indian community living in Kuwait. ters to state and national levels. The meeting with Indian Ambassador The historical and cordial relation ambassador mentioned the initiatives Sunil Jain at the Indian embassy. between both countries were high- taken by embassy to improve the Sharafudheen Kanneth - President, lighted. Multiple subjects were plight of Indian community living in Kuwait KMCC and Director-NORKA touched upon. Muhammed Basheer Kuwait and his constant interaction Welfare Board, government of Kerala, specifically mentioned the matters with authorities and sought support Basheer Batha , General Secretary, H related to household sector in specif- from the community to better serve Ibrahim Kutty -Treasurer and Naser M ic and labor class . The importance of them. R were also with the visiting Indian streamlining the recruitment process He also commented the excellent dignitaries during the meeting. The was also mentioned. He explained work being carried out by Kuwait guests were on a visit to Kuwait to the experiences of his visits to other KMCC and other main stream organi- attend Kuwait KMCC “Karunaym GCC and Western countries and his zations in liaison with the embassy.

Standox technical training designed by professionals for professionals

s part of Abdulmohsen ed Nissan Module 1 Training - ‘Train Nissan Al-Babtain is proud of the Abdulaziz Al-Babtain Company The Trainer concept’, at Standox train- high quality produced. What really sets A(AABC), commitment and the ing center, Istanbul, Turkey. Nissan Al-Babtain apart from other continuous support with Standox and The training of refinishers is an body shops though is the excellent Al-Wazzan, has recently conducted a investment in the future for body team. After all, the technical skills of at Regional Nissan - Module 1 Training - shops. Jovani Parina Cerera and Nissan Kuwait refinishers and techni- Train The Trainer concept, in one of the Santosh Kumar Damodaran, are both cians make customers happy and the world’s most modern Standox training experienced Paint Technicians from business so tremendously successful. MahaQuizzer Middle East, Kuwait on Febuary 5 centers in Istanbul, Turkey from (AABC). Participants were shown the Everyone at Nissan Al Babtain does November 9 - 11, 2015. latest products, improved latest appli- their utmost to make the customers he 4th edition of annual solo written quiz conducted School) from 2:00 pm to 3:30 pm Standox brand is recognized cation techniques and faster refinish- feel welcome and, perhaps more by National Institute of Technology Calicut Alumni This is a solo open general written quiz contest for par- around the world as one of the most ing methods to improve the process in importantly, reassured as they entrust TAssociation (NITCAA-Kuwait) in association with ticipants, irrespective of age, nationality. The winners will high-profile, premium brands of refin- the body shop. Hence, achieving the their cars to Nissan Al Babtain care. For Karnataka Quiz Association (KQA), Bangaluru, India named be receiving attractive prizes. All quiz enthusiasts are wel- ish paint systems. Two Paint high quality, efficiency and the cus- any future body repairs jobs on Nissan MahaQuizzer Middle East 2016 will be held on Friday, 5th come to test your quiz talent. For further details and free Technicians from Abdulmohsen tomer satisfaction desired. Standox vehicles please visit NISSAN Body shop February, 2016 simultaneously at 3 centers namely online registration log on to Abdulaziz Al-Babtain Company (AABC) helps professional refinishers achieve centers in Al-Rai and/or Al-Ahmadi Salmiya( Indian English Academy School -Don Bosco), http://www.nitcaakuwait.org/mahaquizzer. Registration -NISSAN, KUWAIT successfully complet- right-first-time results. area or call 1804 888 for any assistance. Ahmadi (FAIPS DPS) and Jleeb Shyoukh (United India open from 15th December 2015 to 30th January 2016. WHAT’S ON SUNDAY, DECEMBER 20, 2015

Zeina Ramadan speaks at the event. ACK Second Annual Marketing Communications Forum

he School of Business at the Australian students to meet professional recruiting per- stores, mobile stores, mobile app stores, tele- Multidisciplinary design tively affect consumer behavior. Music in College of Kuwait (ACK) recently held its sonnel from various fields in order learn the phone sales and any other method of trans- Naji Moujaes, Architect and a founding advertising creates excitement, attracts atten- T“2nd Annual Marketing trade. acting with a customer. Ramadan indicated principal of the inter-disciplinary design and tion and establishes an emotional connection Communications Forum” with this year’s Shawna Arthurs, the AGM of Consumer that marketing is undergoing rapid changes architectural practice PAD10 in Kuwait and with the brand. It alters mood and conveys the theme highlighted as “New Trends in Banking Group in the National Bank of Kuwait and moving from “push” based marketing Beirut, indicated how multidisciplinary design advertising message. Marketing Communications, Challenges and emphasized the importance of collecting data towards more personalized communication concepts which involved urban architecture, As for content marketing, Khalid Al-Zanki, Successes in the Gulf”. The forum brought about the targeted market segment in order with consumers. Marketers now need to pro- landscaping and interior design helped in the CEO of famous “launch-on-fire” podcasts in together leaders from sectors such as bank- to create value for marketing communica- vide a seamless experience, regardless of overall scheme of what is called Kuwait, indicated that content marketing is ing, hospitality management, retail, automo- tions. She added that the right targeting tech- channel or device. Consumers can now “Servicescape”; an important concept of serv- more about connecting a customer with a tive and advertising. niques are very important for the success of engage with a company in a physical store, an ice marketing. product via value-adding content. In coordination with Vigor events, ACK the marketing message. On the other hand, online website, mobile app, through a catalog In relation to experiential marketing, Content marketing is a strategic marketing hosted David Allen as its keynote speaker, Faten Ismael, Sales and Services Manager of or through social media. Ahmad Naji, Marketing Manager of Al Zayani approach focused on creating and distributing founder of Actioneer Inc. and writer of the Ahli United Bank, indicated that the focus of Speaking on sensory and experience mar- Group, indicated that living the driving experi- valuable, relevant, and consistent content to bestseller book “Getting Things Done”. Allen AUB on maintaining and reflecting the keting, Dr Sam Toglaw, Assistant Professor at ence with all senses is essential to influence attract and retain a clearly defined audience, highlighted the importance of processing the Kuwaiti cultural values in all the products they ACK stated that we are moving from informa- customer’s intentions of purchase. Mike Abu with the intention of changing or enhancing skills to implement the five steps of getting offered was a main point of difference for AUB tion-based marketing to relationship market- Ani the Managing Partner of 3is Consultants consumer behavior and, ultimately, to drive things done in the right timeframe. These five Islamic banking. Also, Anwar Al Baghdadi indi- ing which involves customer’s personal expe- shed the light on the application of experien- profitable customer action. steps are: capture, clarify, organize, reflect and cated that AUB marketing strategy will focus rience and senses. However, many brands tial or engagement marketing in engaging Finally, Dr Ahmad Khaldi, the Assistant engage. on the launch of new exciting and value forge emotional associations in the cus- consumers to participate in the evolution of a Professor at ACK, spoke about the future of adding products that will surprise its clients tomers’ minds by appealing to their senses. brand. digital marketing. He explained that mobile Motivational speech and the local market. Amal Al Dahouk the Marketing Manager of Dr Faidon Theo, Assistant Professor at ACK, marketing is the future of digital marketing so Walid Kanafani President of the Zeina Ramadan, the Head of Strategy and Elevation Burger indicated that the company’s presented the role of music in marketing; he there is no question whether it is optional for International Advertising Association - Kuwait Innovation at Chalhoub Group, presented the approach to promote green production of manipulated the background music of an marketers anymore. Therefore, the real chal- chapter, gave a motivational speech in which application of multichannel retailing or Omni organic burgers was not the only success fac- advertisement to demonstrate how music can lenge now is to be able to understand and he highlighted a new apprentice conference channel marketing which is the use of a vari- tor of their fast food chain, but its attempt to change the advertising message and he sug- analyze the preferences of mobile customers coming soon to Kuwait in 2016. This coming ety of channels in a customer’s shopping involve customers senses was a key factor in gested what type of music can be used in dif- in order to know how, when, and what to conference will provide a platform for College experience; including retail stores, online the expansion of Elevation Burger worldwide. ferent service environments in order to posi- communicate with them.

AOU organize training events for staff

he Training Center of the Arab Open held at the AOU-HQ and targeted its staff evaluate your convictions and change them, experience instead of being a challenge. They filter how we can see the world and University (AOU) organized two train- while the second one was organized in coop- how human mind can generalize its convic- Farhan started the two events by saying from which corner we can see it.” pointing Ting events, titled ‘How can convictions eration with Public Authority for Industry tions, the seven convictions of geniuses and “All studies proved that the way in which we out, “At early age, convictions are often of geniuses and succeeders work for our (PAI) for its staff. succeeders and ways of their application, perceive ourselves determines our intelli- established through random situations and favor?’ delivered by Saud Al-Farhan, NLP Addressing several themes on skills devel- new methods of learning how to adopt gence, health, sociality, happiness and suc- opinions of people around us whose points Practitioner at the Society of Neuro opment, Farhan coached the participants on behaviors and convictions of your ideal, and cess.” He confirmed, “Convictions are a main of view important, and through ideals, edu- Linguistic Programming. The first meeting a number of topics such as: learning how to how to make your convictions an enjoyable roadmap in which we can see the world. cation and environment.”

Oriental Restaurant concludes Punjabi Food festival with grand success

ining out is a favorite pastime for citizens and brought in to cook and display his culinary art in cre- to and the impeccable service they’ve come to menu of Indian, Chinese and Continental specialties. residents in Kuwait and cuisines from all over ating unique Punjabi dishes. The festival was a grand expect.” In Kuwait City the restaurant is located in Sharq, Dthe world find a comfortable place in the success and received warm appreciation from Indian “Some of our customers liked our special Punjabi Mubarak Al-Kabeer Street, in Jaza building opposite minds and tastes of people in the country. Over the food lovers in Kuwait. dishes so much that they came back repeatedly Kuwait Chamber of Commerce and Industry. In years, Oriental Restaurant has become a name well- The Managing Director of Oriental Restaurants and along with new guests. The highlight of this unique Salmiya, the branch is located on Hamad Al-Mubarak etched in the minds of food-lovers in the country, as Confectionary, N. Satish Chandra Shetty, expressed festival was when some of our enthusiastic guests Street, which is the hub of eateries in the district. it is often the preferred dining-out destination for his utmost gratitude to all his loyal patrons who and Punjabi food lovers who specially appreciated Oriental serves a wide variety of soups, sizzlers, Kuwaitis and non-Kuwaitis alike. The quality and helped make the distinctive Punjabi Food festival a the unique preparations of Sweety Singh, expressed cocktails, main course dishes and desserts from the taste of food at Oriental along with their superior great success. He added, “The response of Indian their desire to approach and meet the Chef personal- Indian and Chinese cuisines. Now guests can relish personalized service, soothing ambience and value Punjabi food lovers in Kuwait was overwhelming and ly and applaud his magical expertise in creating such the new Punjabi dishes popularized by Sweety Singh for money, has made the restaurant a complete pack- was indicated by the huge turnout of guests, com- superb, mouthwatering dishes,” said Mr. Shetty. He as part of the regular menu at Oriental Restaurant. age for a great evening out, especially for Indian and prising of our all-time loyal patrons as well as a big expressed his commitment to continue to offer the Oriental is a place where you will get good value Chinese cuisines. number of new guests who tried our dishes for the best of his services to all distinguished clients of for money. Cherish the dining experience and return Oriental Restaurant recently organized a Punjabi first time. They were fully satisfied with their visit and Oriental restaurants at all times. again and again to relive the experience with your food festival at their two locations in Sharq and were pleasantly amazed with the distinctive taste, The two Oriental Restaurants in Kuwait are located friends and family. Be there to relish great food, it’s a Salmiya. Popular Indian chef Sweety Singh was the comfy ambience of Oriental that they are so used in Kuwait City and Salmiya, with both featuring a rich tradition in Kuwait. SUNDAY, DECEMBER 20, 2015 TV PROGRAMS

00:35 Zou 06:30 Diners, Drive-Ins And Dives 09:20 David Rocco’s Dolce India 13:45 Doctor Who 00:50 Loopdidoo 07:00 Roadtrip With G. Garvin 09:45 David Rocco’s Dolce India 14:30 Doctor Who: The Day Of The 01:05 Art Attack 07:30 Roadtrip With G. Garvin 10:10 Ariana’s Persian Kitchen Doctor 01:30 Henry Hugglemonster 08:00 Chopped 10:35 Ariana’s Persian Kitchen 15:45 Lapland: Christmas 2011 01:45 Calimero 09:00 Amazing Wedding Cakes 11:00 Hook It, Cook It 17:00 Call The Midwife 00:20 Shocking Survival Videos 02:00 Zou 10:00 The Kitchen 11:25 Street Food Around The 17:55 Call The Midwife 00:45 Alaska: The Last Frontier 02:15 Loopdidoo 11:00 The Kitchen World 18:45 Call The Midwife 06:00 Ice Cold Gold 02:30 Art Attack 12:00 Chopped 11:50 Lee Chan’s World Food Tour 19:40 Lapland: Christmas 2011 06:50 Kindig Customs 02:55 Henry Hugglemonster 13:00 Guy’s Big Bite 12:15 Lee Chan’s World Food Tour 20:55 Sherlock 07:40 Fast N’ Loud 03:05 Calimero 13:30 Guy’s Big Bite 12:40 Wineroads 22:25 The Turn Of The Screw 08:30 Auction Hunters 03:20 Zou 14:00 Diners, Drive-Ins And Dives 13:05 Charlie Luxton’s Homes By 23:55 Lapland: Christmas 2011 08:55 Property Wars 03:30 Loopdidoo 17:00 Chopped The Sea 01:10 Our Queen 09:20 Storage Wars Canada 03:45 Art Attack 18:00 Siba’s Table 14:00 Poh & Co. 02:00 Doctor Who 09:45 Americarna 04:10 Henry Hugglemonster 20:00 Rev Run’s Sunday Suppers 14:30 This Is Brazil 02:50 Doctor Who: The Day Of The 10:10 How It’s Made 04:20 Calimero 21:00 Chopped South Africa 15:25 Exploring The Vine Doctor 10:35 Auction Hunters 04:35 Zou 22:00 Follow Donal... To Vietnam 15:50 Exploring The Vine 11:00 Dynamo: Revealed 04:45 Loopdidoo 23:00 Girl Eat World 16:20 The Food Files 11:50 Dynamo: Magician 05:00 Art Attack 16:45 The Food Files Impossible 05:25 Henry Hugglemonster 17:15 Hook It, Cook It 12:40 Dynamo: Magician 05:35 Calimero 17:40 Tales From The Bush Larder Impossible 05:50 Zou 18:10 Chefs Run Wild 13:30 Dynamo: Magician 06:00 Loopdidoo 18:35 The Best Job In The World 03:14 Grojband Impossible 06:15 Art Attack 19:05 Food Lover’s Guide To The 03:35 Johnny Test 14:20 Dynamo: Magician 06:35 Henry Hugglemonster 00:15 Coronation Street Planet Impossible 06:50 Calimero 01:05 Come Date With Me 19:30 Exploring The Vine 05:05 Transformers: Robots In 15:10 The Carbonaro Effect 07:00 Zou Australia 20:00 Exploring The Vine Disguise 19:20 Outback Truckers 07:20 Loopdidoo 01:30 Come Date With Me 20:25 The Food Files 05:27 Transformers: Robots In 20:10 Property Wars 07:35 Art Attack Australia 20:50 The Food Files Disguise 02:00 The Chase: Celebrity 20:35 Storage Wars Canada 08:00 Calimero 21:15 Hook It, Cook It 05:50 Regular Show 21:00 Lair Of The Mega Shark 08:10 Zou Specials 21:40 Tales From The Bush Larder 06:00 The Amazing World Of 21:50 Spawn Of Jaws: The Birth 08:25 Limon And Oli 02:55 Coronation Street 22:05 Chefs Run Wild 22:40 Wheeler Dealers 08:35 Jake And The Never Land 04:50 Michael Flatley: A Night To 22:30 The Best Job In The World Gumball 23:30 Kindig Customs Pirates Remember 22:55 Wineroads 07:00 Transformers: Robots In 09:05 Sofia The First 05:40 Come Date With Me 23:20 Charlie Luxton’s Homes By Disguise 09:30 Miles From Tomorrow Australia The Sea 07:25 Ninjago: Masters Of Spinjitzu 08:30 Paul O’Grady: For The Love 10:00 Mickey Mouse Clubhouse 07:50 Ninjago: Masters Of Spinjitzu 10:30 Doc McStuffins Of Dogs 11:00 Sofia The First 09:00 Paul O’Grady: For The Love 08:10 Ben 10: Omniverse 00:35 Cosmic Collisions Of Dogs 08:35 Ben 10: Omniverse 02:08 NASA’s Greatest Missions 11:30 Captain Jake And The Never Land Pirates 09:25 The Jonathan Ross Show 09:00 Matt Hatter Chronicles 03:42 What Could Possibly Go 10:20 Seven Days With‚Ķ Wrong? 11:55 Miles From Tomorrow 09:20 Teen Titans Go! 12:25 Henry Hugglemonster 11:15 The Chase: Celebrity 04:29 What Could Possibly Go Specials 00:20 Animal Underworld 09:45 Teen Titans Go! Wrong? 12:55 Loopdidoo 01:10 Original Fight Club 13:10 Sheriff Callie’s Wild West 12:05 Michael Flatley: A Night To 10:10 We Bare Bears - New 07:37 Deadliest Space Weather Remember 02:00 Monster Fish 10:30 Johnny Test 08:00 Deadliest Space Weather 13:35 Mickey Mouse Clubhouse 02:50 Dangerous Encounters 12:55 Midsomer Murders 10:55 The Amazing World Of 08:23 Mythbusters 14:00 Sofia The First 03:45 Outback Wrangler 14:30 Henry Hugglemonster 14:50 Grantchester Gumball 12:08 How It’s Made 15:45 The Syndicate 04:10 Outback Wrangler 15:57 How Do They Do It? 14:45 Calimero 04:40 Animal Superpowers 11:20 Adventure Time 15:00 Doc McStuffins 16:45 The Jonathan Ross Show 16:20 How Do They Do It? 17:35 Seven Days With‚Ķ 05:35 The Bear Evidence 12:05 Regular Show 16:44 Mighty Ships 15:30 Zou 06:30 Sea Strikers 15:45 Mickey Mouse Clubhouse 18:30 Come Date With Me 12:16 Regular Show 17:31 Food Factory Australia 07:25 Monster Fish 12:30 Long Live The Royals 17:54 Food Factory 16:15 Sofia The First 08:20 Wild 24 16:45 Jake And The Never Land 19:00 The Syndicate 12:41 Long Live The Royals 18:18 Strip The Cosmos 19:55 Paul O’Grady: For The Love 09:15 Wild Case Files 19:05 How The Universe Works Pirates 10:10 Top Cats 12:50 Johnny Test 17:10 Aladdin Of Dogs 19:50 Cosmic Collisions 20:15 Paul O’Grady: For The Love 11:05 Ninja Shrimp 13:40 Ninjago: Masters Of Spinjitzu 20:40 Cosmic Collisions 17:40 Adventures Of The Gummi 12:00 The Bear Evidence Bears Of Dogs 14:00 Ninjago: Masters Of Spinjitzu 21:25 Cosmic Collisions 20:45 The Jonathan Ross Show 12:55 Monster Fish 14:25 Teen Titans Go! 22:15 NASA’s Greatest Missions 18:05 Chip n Dale Rescue Rangers 13:50 Dark Side Of Crocs 18:35 Captain Jake And The Never 21:45 The Chase: Celebrity 15:10 Matt Hatter Chronicles 23:00 NASA’s Greatest Missions Specials 14:45 Outback Wrangler 23:45 What Could Possibly Go Land Pirates 15:10 Outback Wrangler 15:35 Ben 10: Omniverse 19:00 Miles From Tomorrow 22:40 Seven Days With‚Ķ Wrong? 23:40 Michael Flatley: A Night To 15:40 Unseen Islands RIDDICK ON OSN MOVIES HD ACTION 16:00 Ben 10: Omniverse 19:30 Sofia The First 16:35 The Living Edens 19:55 Doc McStuffins Remember 16:20 Regular Show 17:30 Wild Case Files 16:32 Regular Show 20:15 Jake And The Never Land 18:25 Caught In The Act 16:44 Regular Show Pirates 19:20 Outback Wrangler 20:45 Sheriff Callie’s Wild West 19:45 Outback Wrangler 16:56 Regular Show 21:05 Mickey Mouse Clubhouse 20:10 Unseen Islands 17:10 We Bare Bears - New 21:35 Sofia The First 21:00 The Living Edens 00:00 Live MSNBC Caught On 17:30 Adventure Time 00:00 Violetta 22:00 The Tigger Movie 00:00 22 Jump Street 00:45 The Hive 00:10 Man V. Viral 21:50 Wild Case Files Camera 17:55 Steven Universe 23:30 Lilo & Stitch 01:00 Breakthrough 00:00 The Ellen DeGeneres Show 02:00 Napoleon Dynamite 00:50 Sabrina: Secrets Of A 22:40 Caught In The Act 01:00 Live MSNBC Caught On 18:20 Ninjago: Masters Of Spinjitzu 02:00 Innovation Nation 23:30 The Bear Evidence 01:00 Chicago Fire 04:00 The Love Guide Teenage Witch 06:00 You Again Camera 18:40 Ninjago: Masters Of Spinjitzu 01:15 Sabrina: Secrets Of A 02:25 Innovation Nation 02:00 Good Morning America 08:00 The Love Punch 02:00 Live ABC World News 19:05 Teen Titans Go! Teenage Witch 02:55 The Border 03:00 Devious Maids 03:50 Megastructures 04:00 The Leftovers 10:00 The Love Guide 02:30 Live NBC Nightly News 19:50 Transformers: Robots In 01:40 Wolfblood 12:00 Napoleon Dynamite 03:00 ABC World News 02:05 Wolfblood 04:45 Breakthrough 05:00 Chicago Fire Disguise New 05:40 Yukon Gold 06:00 Good Morning America 14:00 The Misadventures Of The 03:30 NBC Nightly News 02:30 Violetta 00:00 Keeping Up With The 20:15 The Amazing World Of 06:35 Wicked Tuna: North vs. 07:00 Emmerdale Dunderheads 04:00 NBC Saturday Today Show 03:15 The Hive Kardashians South 00:30 Hot In Cleveland 07:30 Coronation Street 16:00 The Love Punch Gumball 03:20 Sabrina: Secrets Of A 00:30 Fashion Bloggers 06:00 ABC 20/20 07:30 Ultimate Airport Dubai 01:30 Saturday Night Live 08:00 The Ellen DeGeneres Show 18:00 Cuban Fury 20:40 Clarence Teenage Witch 00:55 Fashion Bloggers 11:00 MSNBC All In With Chris 08:25 Car SOS 03:30 2 Broke Girls 09:00 Red Band Society 20:00 Baggage Claim 21:00 Regular Show 03:45 Sabrina: Secrets Of A 01:25 Stewarts And Hamiltons Hayes 09:20 Man V. Viral 04:30 The Tonight Show Starring 10:00 Emmerdale 22:00 All The Wrong Reasons Teenage Witch 02:20 E! News 12:00 MSNBC The Rachel 21:11 Regular Show 10:15 Breakthrough Jimmy Fallon 10:30 Coronation Street 04:10 Wolfblood 03:15 Eric And Jessie: Game On 21:22 Regular Show 11:10 Innovation Nation 06:30 My Name Is Earl 11:00 The Ellen DeGeneres Show Maddow Show 04:35 Wolfblood 03:40 Eric And Jessie: Game On 11:35 Innovation Nation 07:00 Late Night With Seth Meyers 12:00 Drop Dead Diva 13:00 MSNBC Hardball W/ Chris 21:33 Regular Show 05:00 Violetta 04:10 E! Entertainment Special 12:05 Do Or Die 10:30 My Name Is Earl 13:00 Once Upon A Time Matthews 21:50 We Bare Bears - New 05:45 The Hive 05:05 E! Entertainment Special 12:30 Do Or Die 11:00 The Tonight Show Starring 14:00 Red Band Society 14:00 ABC 20/20 22:15 Uncle Grandpa 05:50 Mouk 06:00 Keeping Up With The 13:00 Dog Whisperer Jimmy Fallon 15:00 Chicago Fire 06:00 Lolirock Kardashians 15:00 MSNBC Your Business 22:40 Johnny Test 14:00 Dog Whisperer 12:30 $#! My Dad Says 16:00 Live Good Morning America 01:15 Step Up Revolution-PG15 06:25 Hank Zipzer 06:55 Keeping Up With The 15:30 MSNBC Your Business 00:10 Adventure Time 15:00 Yukon Gold 13:00 Suburgatory 17:00 Drop Dead Diva 03:00 The Disappearance Of 06:50 Girl Meets World Kardashians 16:00 Live NBC Sunday Today 01:40 Transformers: Robots In 16:00 Wicked Tuna: North vs. 13:30 My Name Is Earl 18:00 Once Upon A Time Eleanor Rigby: Her-PG15 07:15 H2O: Just Add Water 07:50 Style Star Show South 14:00 2 Broke Girls 19:00 The Astronaut Wives Club 04:45 The Railway Man-PG15 Disguise 07:40 Wizards Of Waverly Place 08:20 E! News 17:00 Ultimate Airport Dubai 15:30 Hot In Cleveland 20:00 Drop Dead Diva 06:45 Miss Julie-PG15 17:00 Live NBC Meet The Press 02:02 Transformers: Robots In 09:45 Good Luck Charlie 09:15 House Of DVF 18:00 Megastructures 17:00 Late Night With Seth Meyers 21:00 Once Upon A Time 09:00 Step Up All In-PG15 18:00 ABC This Week With G 10:10 Best Friends Whenever 10:15 House Of DVF Disguise 19:00 Yukon Gold 18:00 Marry Me 22:00 Devious Maids 11:00 The Railway Man-PG15 Stephanopoulos 10:35 Girl Meets World 11:10 Fashion Bloggers 02:25 Grojband 20:00 Wicked Tuna: North vs. 18:30 2 Broke Girls 23:00 The Leftovers 13:00 Sunshine On Leith-PG15 19:00 Live MSNBC Melissa Harris- 11:00 Mako Mermaids 11:35 Fashion Bloggers 02:51 Grojband South 19:30 Last Man On Earth 15:00 Song For Marion-PG15 11:25 Dog With A Blog 12:05 E! News Perry 20:50 Ultimate Airport Dubai 20:00 Mulaney 17:00 Step Up All In-PG15 11:50 Gravity Falls 13:05 Keeping Up With The 20:00 NBC Meet The Press 21:40 Megastructures 21:00 Hot In Cleveland 19:00 Two Night Stand-PG15 12:20 I Love Violetta Kardashians 21:00 ABC This Week With G 22:30 Yukon Gold 22:00 Married 21:00 Zulu-PG15 12:30 Frozen Fever 14:05 Keeping Up With The Stephanopoulos 12:45 Mako Mermaids 23:20 Monster Fish 22:30 Silicon Valley 23:00 The Rover-18 Kardashians 23:30 Mulaney 22:00 MSNBC Weekends With 14:25 Cars Toons 15:00 Dash Dolls 00:00 The Hulk Alex Witt Sunday 14:30 Miraculous: Tales Of 16:00 Christina Milian Turned Up 02:30 Riddick Ladybug And Cat Noir 17:00 New Money 04:30 Android Cop 04:35 The Haunting Of... 14:55 Lolirock 17:30 New Money 06:00 Jaws: The Revenge 05:25 The Ghost Inside My Child 15:20 Abominable Christmas 18:00 E! News 08:00 Don’t Look Back 01:00 Against The Ropes 06:15 Crimes That Shook Britain 16:10 Best Friends Whenever 19:00 Keeping Up With The 00:00 Better Call Saul 10:00 Arachnophobia 03:00 White Bird In A Blizzard 00:10 Poh & Co. 07:05 The First 48 16:35 Austin & Ally Kardashians 01:00 Heroes Reborn 12:00 Snitch 04:45 Till Human Voices Wake Us 04:00 Permanent Midnight 00:35 My Sri Lanka With Peter 08:00 The First 48 17:00 Gravity Falls 19:30 Keeping Up With The 02:00 The Blacklist 14:00 Jurassic Attack 06:30 Vanity Fair 05:30 A Star For Two Kuruvita 09:00 The First 48 17:25 Girl Meets World Kardashians 03:00 Minority Report 16:00 The Hulk 09:00 October Sky 07:05 True Heart 01:00 Miguel’s Tropical Kitchen 10:00 Fatal Vows 17:50 I Love Violetta 20:00 Keeping Up With The 04:00 The Whispers 18:30 The Assault 11:00 Till Human Voices Wake Us 08:35 Movers And Shakers 01:25 Charlie Luxton’s Homes By 18:00 Starstruck Kardashians 05:00 The Ellen DeGeneres Show 20:00 The Malay Chronicles: 13:00 The Fold 09:55 Impromptu 11:00 Fatal Vows The Sea 19:30 I Didn’t Do It 21:00 Keeping Up With The 06:00 Castle Bloodlines 15:00 Mood Indigo 11:40 Jakob The Liar 12:00 I Didn’t Do It 02:15 Valentine Warner Eats 19:55 Dog With A Blog Kardashians 07:00 Bones 22:00 Born To Race: Fast Track 17:00 October Sky 13:35 Big Screen 13:00 I Dated A Psycho Scandinavia 20:20 Jessie 22:00 Christina Milian Turned Up 08:00 Resurrection 19:00 The Trouble With Bliss 13:50 If It’s Tuesday, This Must Be 14:00 I Dated A Psycho 02:40 Food School 09:00 The Whispers Belgium 20:45 Good Luck Charlie 23:00 Dash Dolls 21:00 Rent 15:00 I Dated A Psycho 21:10 Good Luck Charlie 03:05 Food School 10:00 Castle 15:30 Music Of The Heart 23:30 Das Boot: Director’s Cut 16:00 I Dated A Psycho 21:35 Wizards Of Waverly Place 03:30 Exploring The Vine 11:00 Bones 17:35 How To Murder Your Wife 22:00 Binny And The Ghost 03:55 Exploring The Vine 12:00 Emmerdale 19:35 It Runs In The Family 17:00 I Dated A Psycho 22:25 Sabrina: Secrets Of A 04:20 The Food Files 12:30 Coronation Street 21:00 The Man In The Iron Mask 18:00 O.J. Speaks: The Hidden Teenage Witch 04:45 The Food Files 13:00 The Ellen DeGeneres Show 00:30 Riddick-18 23:10 Groundhog Day Tapes 22:50 Sabrina: Secrets Of A 05:10 Tales From The Bush Larder 14:00 Resurrection 02:30 Android Cop-PG15 00:55 The Man In The Iron Mask 20:00 Diabolical Women 04:00 Jaws: The Revenge-PG15 Teenage Witch 00:00 Diners, Drive-Ins And Dives 05:35 My Sri Lanka With Peter 15:00 Castle 01:00 Scenic Route-PG15 21:00 Diabolical Women 00:30 Diners, Drive-Ins And Dives Kuruvita 16:00 Emmerdale 06:00 Don’t Look Back-PG15 23:10 Wolfblood 08:00 Arachnophobia-PG15 02:30 The Hundred-Foot Journey- 22:00 Diabolical Women 01:00 Chopped 06:00 Chefs Run Wild 16:30 Coronation Street 23:35 Wolfblood 10:00 Snitch-PG15 23:00 Ms. Murder 02:00 Diners, Drive-Ins And Dives 06:25 The Best Job In The World 17:00 The Ellen DeGeneres Show PG15 12:00 Jurassic Attack-PG15 23:55 Motive For Murder 02:30 Diners, Drive-Ins And Dives 06:50 Food Lover’s Guide To The 18:00 Resurrection 14:00 The Hulk-PG15 04:45 The Hobbit: The Battle Of 03:00 Man Finds Food Planet 19:00 Heroes Reborn 16:30 The Assault-PG15 The Five Armies-PG 00:50 The Last Goodbye 03:30 Man Finds Food 07:15 Food Lover’s Guide To The 20:00 The Blacklist 18:00 The Malay Chronicles: 07:15 Postman Pat: The Movie-PG 01:20 The Last Goodbye 04:00 Food Court Wars Planet 21:00 Scandal Bloodlines-PG15 03:35 Biggest And Baddest 01:45 The Haunting Of... 00:00 Nina Needs To Go 09:00 Testament Of Youth-PG15 05:00 Chopped 07:40 George Clarke’s Amazing 22:00 How To Get Away With 20:00 Born To Race: Fast Track- 04:25 Killer Iq: Lion vs Hyena 02:45 Ms. Murder 00:05 Henry Hugglemonster 06:00 Diners, Drive-Ins And Dives Spaces Murder PG15 11:15 Still Mine-PG15 05:15 The Lion Queen 00:20 Calimero 08:30 Dog Whisperer 22:00 Bro’-18 13:00 Get On Up-PG15 06:02 Into The Pride 15:15 The Signal-PG15 06:49 Into The Pride 17:00 Testament Of Youth-PG15 07:36 Call Of The Wildman 08:00 Call Of The Wildman 19:15 Let’s Be Cops-PG15 08:25 Treehouse Masters 21:00 Life Of A King-PG15 09:15 Treehouse Masters 23:00 Teenage Mutant Ninja 10:10 Treehouse Masters Turtles-PG15 11:05 Treehouse Masters 12:00 Treehouse Masters 07:00 Penn Zero: Part Time Hero 12:55 Austin Stevens: Snakemaster 07:25 Boyster 13:50 Into The Pride 07:50 Supa Strikas 14:45 Into The Pride 08:15 Lab Rats 15:40 Into The Pride 08:40 K.C Undercover 16:35 Into The Pride 09:10 Kickin’ It 01:15 Egon And Donci 17:30 Into The Pride 02:45 The Olsen Gang In Deep 09:35 Kirby Buckets 18:25 The Lion Queen 10:00 Lab Rats Trouble 19:20 Killer Iq: Lion vs Hyena 04:15 Blue Elephant 2 20:15 Biggest And Baddest 10:25 Kickin’ It 06:00 Jungle Shuffle 21:10 Killer Iq: Lion vs Hyena 10:50 Mighty Med 08:00 Back To The Sea 22:05 The Lion Queen 11:15 Supa Strikas 10:00 Krazzy Planet 23:00 River Monsters 11:40 K.C Undercover 11:30 Ploddy Police Car On The 23:55 The Lion Queen 12:05 Penn Zero: Part Time Hero Case 00:50 Austin Stevens: Snakemaster 13:00 The Olsen Gang In Deep 12:35 Kickin’ It 01:45 Into The Pride 13:00 Lab Rats: Bionic Rebellion Trouble 02:40 Into The Pride 14:30 Daddy I’m A Zombie 13:45 The Naughty List 16:00 True Story Of Puss’n Boots 14:30 Star vs The Forces Of Evil 18:00 Krazzy Planet 14:50 Supa Strikas 20:00 Ghatothkach - Master Of 15:15 Supa Strikas Magic 15:40 Kickin’ It 22:00 Daddy I’m A Zombie 16:10 Lab Rats 23:30 True Story Of Puss’n Boots 04:05 Call The Midwife 16:35 Star Wars Rebels 05:00 Teletubbies 17:00 Mighty Med 05:25 The Green Balloon Club 17:25 Star Wars Rebels 05:45 Charlie And Lola 19:10 Annedroids 06:00 Teletubbies 06:25 The Green Balloon Club 19:40 Mighty Med 00:00 Curve-PG15 06:50 Charlie And Lola 20:05 K.C Undercover 01:45 Need For Speed-PG15 07:00 Doctors 20:30 Supa Strikas 04:00 Drumline: A New Beat-PG15 07:30 Doctors 20:55 Star Wars Rebels 06:00 HairBrained-PG15 08:00 Doctors 21:25 Gamer’s Guide To Pretty 08:00 The Fault In Our Stars-PG15 08:30 Doctors Much Everything 10:15 Stolen Child-PG15 09:00 Eastenders 21:50 Lab Rats 09:25 Eastenders 12:00 Ender’s Game-PG15 22:15 Phineas And Ferb 09:55 Eastenders 14:00 40 Days And Nights-PG15 10:25 Eastenders 22:40 Super Matrak 15:45 The Fault In Our Stars-PG15 10:55 The Vicar Of Dibley 23:05 Super Matrak 18:00 Non-Stop-PG15 Christmas Special 1996 23:30 Star vs The Forces Of Evil 20:00 Anna Nicole-PG15 11:40 Our Queen 00:00 Programmes Start At 7:00am BORN TO RACE- FAST TRACK ON OSN MOVIES ACTION HD 22:00 Lost In The Cloud-18 12:30 Lapland: Christmas 2011 KSA Classifieds

SUNDAY, DECEMBER 20, 2015

Kuwait KNCC PROGRAMME FROM THURSDAY TO WEDNESDAY (17/12/2015 TO 23/12/2015)

SHARQIA-1 STRIKE ONE 1:30 PM THE GOOD DINOSAUR 9:00 PM IN THE HEART OF THE SEA 12:30 PM DILWALE - Hindi 3:45 PM DILWALE - Hindi 11:15 PM DILWALE - Hindi 3:00 PM STRIKE ONE 6:45 PM DILWALE - Hindi 6:00 PM IN THE HEART OF THE SEA 9:45 PM AVENUES-4 DILWALE - Hindi 9:00 PM LOAFER - Telugu 3:45 PM THE GOOD DINOSAUR 11:45 AM STAR WARS: THE FORCE AWAKENS 12:05 AM LOAFER - Telugu 6:45 PM DILWALE - Hindi 2:00 PM LOAFER - Telugu 9:45 PM DILWALE - Hindi 5:15 PM SHARQIA-2 IN THE HEART OF THE SEA 12:45 AM Special Show “DILWALE - Hindi” 5:15 PM STAR WARS: THE FORCE AWAKENS 12:30 PM DILWALE - Hindi 8:30 PM THE GOOD DINOSAUR 1:30 PM FANAR-4 STAR WARS: THE FORCE AWAKENS 11:45 PM STAR WARS: THE FORCE AWAKENS 3:30 PM STAR WARS: THE FORCE AWAKENS -3D 12:30 PM STAR WARS: THE FORCE AWAKENS 6:30 PM THE GOOD DINOSAUR -3D 1:30 PM AVENUES-5 STAR WARS: THE FORCE AWAKENS 9:30 PM STAR WARS: THE FORCE AWAKENS -3D 3:30 PM STAR WARS: THE FORCE AWAKENS 1:15 PM STAR WARS: THE FORCE AWAKENS 12:30 AM STAR WARS: THE FORCE AWAKENS 6:30 PM THE GOOD DINOSAUR -3D 1:45 PM STAR WARS: THE FORCE AWAKENS -3D 9:30 PM STAR WARS: THE FORCE AWAKENS -3D 4:15 PM SHARQIA-3 STAR WARS: THE FORCE AWAKENS 12:30 AM Special Show “STAR WARS: THE FORCE AWAKENS” 4:15 PM THE GOOD DINOSAUR 12:00 PM STAR WARS: THE FORCE AWAKENS 7:15 PM DARK MOUNTAIN 2:15 PM FANAR-5 Special Show “STAR WARS: THE FORCE AWAKENS” 7:15 PM THE GOOD DINOSAUR 4:15 PM DILWALE - Hindi 11:30 AM STAR WARS: THE FORCE AWAKENS -3D 10:15 PM THE GOOD DINOSAUR 6:30 PM DILWALE - Hindi 2:30 PM DARK MOUNTAIN 1:15 AM DARK MOUNTAIN 8:45 PM DILWALE - Hindi 5:30 PM DARK MOUNTAIN 10:45 PM DILWALE - Hindi 8:30 PM AVENUES-6 DARK MOUNTAIN 12:45 AM DILWALE - Hindi 11:30 PM DILWALE - Hindi 11:30 AM DILWALE - Hindi 2:30 PM MUHALAB-1 MARINA-1 DILWALE - Hindi 5:45 PM THE GOOD DINOSAUR 12:30 PM DILWALE - Hindi 12:15 PM DILWALE - Hindi 9:00 PM THE GOOD DINOSAUR 2:45 PM DILWALE - Hindi 3:30 PM DILWALE - Hindi 12:15 AM been lost. Anyone finding DILWALE - Hindi 5:00 PM DARK MOUNTAIN 6:45 PM SITUATION VACANT the same or claiming any DILWALE - Hindi 8:00 PM DARK MOUNTAIN 8:45 PM AVENUES-7 interest in it should com- DILWALE - Hindi 11:00 PM DARK MOUNTAIN 10:45 PM IN THE HEART OF THE SEA 1:45 PM DARK MOUNTAIN 12:45 AM IN THE HEART OF THE SEA 4:30 PM A single American- municate with State Life MUHALAB-2 IN THE HEART OF THE SEA 7:15 PM Lebanese male living in office Kuwait. Tel: DARK MOUNTAIN 11:45 AM MARINA-2 IN THE HEART OF THE SEA 10:00 PM Salmiya needs a lady work- 22452208. (C 5099) DARK MOUNTAIN 1:45 PM STAR WARS: THE FORCE AWAKENS 11:45 AM IN THE HEART OF THE SEA 12:45 AM er to help in cooking and 16-12-2015 DARK MOUNTAIN 3:30 PM STAR WARS: THE FORCE AWAKENS 2:45 PM DARK MOUNTAIN 5:15 PM STAR WARS: THE FORCE AWAKENS 5:45 PM AVENUES-8 cleaning. She must under- LOAFER - Telugu 4:00 PM STAR WARS: THE FORCE AWAKENS 8:45 PM STRIKE ONE 1:15 PM stand and speak English LOAFER - Telugu 7:00 PM STAR WARS: THE FORCE AWAKENS 11:45 PM STRIKE ONE 3:30 PM and her timing and salary STAR WARS: THE FORCE AWAKENS 7:00 PM ZINZANA (Emirati Film) 6:00 PM are negotiable. Call 6641- FOR SALE LOAFER - Telugu 10:00 PM MARINA-3 STRIKE ONE 8:00 PM 7504. (C 5100) DARK MOUNTAIN 10:00 PM THE GOOD DINOSAUR 11:30 AM STRIKE ONE 10:15 PM 19-12-2015 Toyota Aurion - Grande - DARK MOUNTAIN 12:05 AM STAR WARS: THE FORCE AWAKENS 1:45 PM STRIKE ONE 12:30 AM DARK MOUNTAIN 1:00 AM THE GOOD DINOSAUR 4:45 PM 2011, full options, km THE GOOD DINOSAUR 7:00 PM AVENUES-9 85000, white color, KD MUHALAB-3 STAR WARS: THE FORCE AWAKENS 9:15 PM STAR WARS: THE FORCE AWAKENS -3D 11:30 AM 2650. Mob: 50994848. LOST STAR WARS: THE FORCE AWAKENS 12:00 PM STAR WARS: THE FORCE AWAKENS 12:15 AM STAR WARS: THE FORCE AWAKENS 2:30 PM (C 5097) STAR WARS: THE FORCE AWAKENS 3:00 PM STAR WARS: THE FORCE AWAKENS -3D 5:30 PM STAR WARS: THE FORCE AWAKENS 6:00 PM AVENUES-1 STAR WARS: THE FORCE AWAKENS -3D 8:30 PM Original document policy KIA Mohave jeep - (6 clr) STAR WARS: THE FORCE AWAKENS 9:00 PM DILWALE - Hindi 12:45 PM STAR WARS: THE FORCE AWAKENS 11:30 PM No. 633003315 of STAR WARS: THE FORCE AWAKENS 12:05 AM STRIKE ONE 2:00 PM 2013, white color, excellent DILWALE - Hindi 4:00 PM AVENUES-10 Muhammad Mali by the conditions, km 87000, KD FANAR-1 LOAFER - Telugu 4:00 PM DARK MOUNTAIN 12:45 PM State Life Insurance 3100. Tel: 66729295. STRIKE ONE 1:15 PM DILWALE - Hindi 7:00 PM DARK MOUNTAIN 2:45 PM Corporation Pakistan, Gulf (C 5098) THE GOOD DINOSAUR 3:15 PM LOAFER - Telugu 7:00 PM DARK MOUNTAIN 4:45 PM Zone is reported to have 15-12-2015 THE GOOD DINOSAUR 5:30 PM DILWALE - Hindi 10:00 PM DARK MOUNTAIN 6:45 PM THE GOOD DINOSAUR 7:45 PM LOAFER - Telugu 10:00 PM DARK MOUNTAIN 8:45 PM STRIKE ONE 10:00 PM STRIKE ONE 1:00 AM DARK MOUNTAIN 10:45 PM STRIKE ONE 12:05 AM DARK MOUNTAIN 12:45 AM Prayer timings AVENUES-2 FANAR-2 DARK MOUNTAIN 11:30 AM AVENUES-11 Fajr: 05:12 DARK MOUNTAIN 12:00 PM DILWALE - Hindi 1:30 PM STAR WARS: THE FORCE AWAKENS - DOLBY ATMOS 12:30 PM DARK MOUNTAIN 2:00 PM STAR WARS: THE FORCE AWAKENS 4:45 PM STAR WARS: THE FORCE AWAKENS - DOLBY ATMOS 3:30 PM Shorook 06:37 DARK MOUNTAIN 4:00 PM DILWALE - Hindi 7:45 PM STAR WARS: THE FORCE AWAKENS - DOLBY ATMOS 6:30 PM DARK MOUNTAIN 6:00 PM STAR WARS: THE FORCE AWAKENS 11:00 PM STAR WARS: THE FORCE AWAKENS - DOLBY ATMOS 9:30 PM Duhr: 11:45 DARK MOUNTAIN 8:15 PM STAR WARS: THE FORCE AWAKENS - DOLBY ATMOS 12:30 AM DARK MOUNTAIN 10:15 PM AVENUES-3 Asr: 14:35 DARK MOUNTAIN 12:15 AM THE GOOD DINOSAUR -3D 12:00 PM 360º1 THE GOOD DINOSAUR 2:15 PM STAR WARS: THE FORCE AWAKENS -3D 12:00 PM Maghrib: 16:53 FANAR-3 THE GOOD DINOSAUR -3D 4:30 PM STAR WARS: THE FORCE AWAKENS -3D 3:00 PM IN THE HEART OF THE SEA 1:00 PM THE GOOD DINOSAUR 6:45 PM STAR WARS: THE FORCE AWAKENS -3D 6:00 PM Isha: 18:16

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

Arrival Flights on Sunday 20/12/2015 SVA 500 Jeddah 14:30 Departure Flights on Sunday 20/12/2015 JZR 786 Riyadh 13:10 Airlines Flt Route Time KAC 672 Dubai 14:45 Airlines Flt Route Time FDB 076 Dubai 13:10 MSC 415 Sohag 00:05 KAC 284 Dhaka 14:45 AIC 988 Hyderabad/Chennai 00:05 KAC 791 Madinah 13:25 JZR 239 Amman 00:25 KAC 788 Jeddah 14:50 FDB 072 Dubai 00:40 SAW 702 Damascus 13:35 JZR 267 Beirut 00:30 GFA 221 Bahrain 15:00 JAI 573 Mumbai 00:55 JZR 176 Dubai 13:45 JZR 539 Cairo 00:40 KNE 472 Jeddah 15:05 MSC 416 Sohag 01:00 MSR 611 Cairo 14:00 FDB 069 Dubai 00:55 OMA 645 Muscat 15:30 UAL 981 IAD 01:10 UAE 872 Dubai 14:15 RJA 642 Amman 01:05 KAC 562 Amman 15:40 KAC 283 Dhaka 02:10 KAC 673 Dubai 15:00 THY 772 Istanbul 01:05 ABY 127 Sharjah 15:45 THY 773 Istanbul 02:30 FDB 058 Dubai 15:10 ETH 3402 Addis Ababa/Riyadh 01:30 UAE 857 Dubai 15:45 DLH 635 Frankfurt 02:35 QTR 1079 Doha 15:10 JZR 535 Cairo 15:50 DLH 635 Doha 01:35 ETH 621 Addis Ababa 02:45 AXB 394 Kozhikode 15:20 QTR 1072 Doha 16:10 ETH 620 Addis Ababa 01:45 ETH 3403 Addis Ababa 03:05 SVA 503 Madinah/Jeddah 15:45 JZR 787 Riyadh 16:25 PGT 858 Istanbul 02:00 KAC 381 Delhi 03:30 GFA 222 Bahrain 15:45 JZR 555 Alexandria 02:25 FDB 051 Dubai 16:30 UAE 854 Dubai 03:45 KAC 617 Doha 15:45 UAE 853 Dubai 02:30 ETD 303 Abu Dhabi 16:40 PGT 859 Istanbul 03:55 KAC 773 Riyadh 15:50 GFA 211 Bahrain 02:30 RJA 640 Amman 16:55 OMA 644 Muscat 03:55 KAC 741 Dammam 15:55 OMA 643 Muscat 02:55 KAC 542 Cairo 16:55 FDB 068 Dubai 04:00 KNE 473 Jeddah 16:05 FDB 067 Dubai 03:05 SVA 510 Riyadh 17:15 MSR 613 Cairo 04:10 ABY 128 Sharjah 16:25 MSR 612 Cairo 03:10 GFA 215 Bahrain 17:30 OMA 646 Muscat 16:30 CEB 7694 Manila 03:15 KAC 678 Muscat/Abu Dhabi 17:50 ETD 306 Abu Dhabi 04:15 QTR 1076 Doha 03:15 MSR 614 Cairo 17:50 KKK 6508 Istanbul 04:20 JZR 266 Beirut 17:05 KKK 6507 Istanbul 03:20 JZR 777 Jeddah 17:55 QTR 1077 Doha 05:00 JZR 238 Amman 17:30 ETD 305 Abu Dhabi 03:25 UAE 875 Dubai 18:00 LMU 511 Cairo 05:05 ETD 304 Abu Dhabi 17:30 KAC 544 Cairo 03:35 KAC 502 Beirut 18:00 THY 765 Istanbul 05:15 FDB 052 Dubai 17:35 FDB 063 Dubai 18:05 LMU 510 Cairo 04:05 CEB 7695 Manila 05:20 QTR 1073 Doha 17:40 KAC 792 Madinah 18:10 DHX 170 Bahrain 05:40 JZR 560 Sohag 06:10 JZR 538 Cairo 17:45 UAL 982 IAD 18:15 THY 770 Istanbul 05:55 FDB 070 Dubai 06:30 UAE 858 Dubai 17:45 JZR 177 Dubai 18:20 QTR 8511 Doha 06:10 JZR 164 Dubai 06:55 RJA 641 Amman 17:55 KAC 786 Jeddah 18:30 FDB 5061 Dubai 06:30 RJA 643 Amman 07:05 ABY 123 Sharjah 18:45 SVA 511 Riyadh 18:15 BAW 157 London 06:40 THY 771 Istanbul 07:05 QTR 1080 Doha 18:55 GFA 216 Bahrain 18:20 KAC 412 Manila/Bangkok 07:20 FDB 5062 Dubai 07:10 KAC 742 Dammam 19:05 JZR 184 Dubai 18:40 FDB 053 Dubai 07:25 KAC 774 Riyadh 19:25 GFA 212 Bahrain 07:15 MSR 615 Cairo 18:50 QTR 1086 Doha 07:40 GFA 217 Bahrain 19:30 QTR 8512 Doha 07:40 JZR 124 Bahrain 19:10 SVA 512 Riyadh 07:50 KAC 166 Paris/Rome 19:30 FDB 054 Dubai 08:10 FDB 064 Dubai 19:20 KAC 302 Mumbai 07:50 KAC 618 Doha 19:35 QTR 1087 Doha 08:40 ABY 124 Sharjah 19:25 OMA 641 Muscat 08:00 JZR 483 Istanbul 19:35 BAW 156 London 08:45 UAE 876 Dubai 19:30 KAC 354 BLR 08:15 KAC 674 Dubai 19:45 SVA 513 Riyadh 08:50 UAL 982 Bahrain 19:30 KAC 206 Islamabad 08:25 KAC 102 New York/London 19:55 JZR 534 Cairo 08:55 GFA 218 Bahrain 20:15 KAC 346 Ahmedabad 08:30 FDB 061 Dubai 20:20 OMA 642 Muscat 08:55 KAC 361 Colombo 20:45 KAC 352 Kochi 08:30 OMA 647 Muscat 20:20 KAC 171 Frankfurt 09:05 KAC 351 Kochi 20:50 UAE 855 Dubai 08:40 MSR 606 Luxor 20:45 KAC 787 Jeddah 09:25 QTR 1081 Doha 20:50 KAC 332 Trivandrum 08:50 FDB 5053 Dubai 20:50 ABY 126 Sharjah 09:40 OMA 648 Muscat 21:20 KAC 362 Colombo 08:50 JAI 572 Mumbai 20:55 UAE 856 Dubai 09:55 FDB 062 Dubai 21:20 ABY 125 Sharjah 09:00 DLH 634 Frankfurt 20:55 KAC 117 New York 09:55 ETD 301 Abu Dhabi 09:20 MSR 619 Alexandria 21:45 MEA 402 Beirut 21:20 KAC 541 Cairo 09:55 QTR 1070 Doha 09:25 DLH 634 Doha 21:45 ETD 307 Abu Dhabi 21:20 KAC 561 Amman 10:00 FDB 055 Dubai 09:40 ALK 229 Colombo 21:25 DHX 171 Bahrain 21:50 KAC 671 Dubai 10:05 IRA 665 Shiraz 09:40 UAE 859 Dubai 21:40 FDB 5054 Dubai 21:50 ETD 302 Abu Dhabi 10:25 IRC 528 Ahwaz 10:00 GFA 219 Bahrain 21:45 JAI 571 Mumbai 21:55 KAC 501 Beirut 10:30 GFA 213 Bahrain 10:40 QTR 1082 Doha 22:00 JZR 502 Luxor 22:00 UAE 873 Dubai 11:05 JZR 125 Bahrain 22:00 JZR 482 Istanbul 10:35 FDB 056 Dubai 10:35 KAC 301 Mumbai 22:10 SYR 341 Damascus 11:25 KLM 417 Amsterdam 22:05 ETD 308 Abu Dhabi 22:10 AIC 981 Chennai/Ahmedabad 22:25 IRA 664 Shiraz 10:40 JZR 165 Dubai 11:30 MEA 403 Beirut 22:20 ETD 309 Abu Dhabi 22:25 KAC 677 Abu Dhabi/Muscat 10:50 AGY 682 Asyut 11:40 ALK 230 Colombo 22:25 MEA 404 Beirut 11:55 FDB 059 Dubai 22:30 QTR 1071 Doha 11:00 GFA 220 Bahrain 22:30 SAW 701 Damascus 12:20 KAC 172 Frankfurt 22:35 IRC 529 Ahwaz 11:00 UAE 860 Dubai 22:55 FDB 075 Dubai 12:25 MSC 501 Alexandria 23:00 GFA 214 Bahrain 11:25 QTR 1083 Doha 23:05 JZR 561 Sohag 12:45 JZR 239 Amman 23:05 JZR 776 Jeddah 12:20 UAE 871 Dubai 12:50 JZR 185 Dubai 23:15 SYR 342 Damascus 12:25 KLM 417 Dammam/Amsterdam 23:05 MSR 610 Cairo 13:00 UAL 981 Bahrain 23:25 KAC 103 London 12:25 KAC 205 Islamabad 23:10 KAC 382 Delhi 13:50 PIA 205 Lahore 23:40 UAE 874 Dubai 12:30 ETD 310 Abu Dhabi 23:15 QTR 1078 Doha 14:10 FDB 071 Dubai 23:45 AGY 683 Alexandria 12:40 KAC 411 Bangkok/Manila 23:35 FDB 057 Dubai 14:10 THY 764 Istanbul 23:50 MEA 405 Beirut 12:55 FDB 060 Dubai 23:35 AXB 393 Kozhikode 14:20 JAI 574 Mumbai 23:55 KAC 785 Jeddah 13:00 KAC 415 Kuala Lumpur/Jakarta 23:40 DIAL161 FOR AIRPORT INFORMATION stars34 SUNDAY, DECEMBER 20, 2015 CROSSWORD 1115 STAR TRACK

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

You may find a move or some other change in the planning stage at this Your warmth and affection attracts many people to you. It is easy for you to time. Anticipation and preparation is the type of energy for much of today. Chatting with make a good impression. Today, when meeting new people, you should avoid very many friends, you may come up with an idea for a new invention or some new experiment you questions-relax . . . Have fun. You will want be sure that you check out the food allergies want to try. This could be anything such as carpentry, fishing or designing of clothes styles. for those visiting you later today and all will enjoy a grand party or visit in your home. In You will ponder many questions by analysis and deep or penetrating thought. Someone existing relationships and your natural affection could be put to good use to undo ten- close to you may come to you for your psychological perceptiveness and comprehension. sions with friends and loved ones. You may find yourself entertaining or asking for wishes Putting yourself in a position to gather and share information is always important to you. of others. It would not be a bad idea to find tours in your area that would be of interest to You understand hypothetical ideas and know how to present them to those around you. the type of creative things your guests might appreciate. Perhaps you could suggest a Network if possible. planetarium, imax theater or a museum.

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

If, for any reason, you have been procrastinating about having a conversa- You should find yourself in top condition when it comes to any kind of tion with an authority figure concerning anything that needs changing in your city, now is mental activity. You are full of wit and sharp ideas. Having a clear idea of what the public the time. You could communicate the details of some legal matter that will make the law wants and needs at this time is beneficial to you in making practical decisions with regard clear in your area of the state. Perhaps this matter involves a leash law or identification tags to group issues-especially if you find yourself working or volunteering in a group project. for your feline friends. This is a period when you can put your practical insights into words Expect to make some decisions that affect others. You may find yourself wading cau- and convey them to others. A little cleaning and putting things away can be a problem with tiously through some difficulties, blocks or a few hot spots all day long. This afternoon all the decorations lying around; however, you soon have everything looking tip-top shape. there is just enough time for you to kick back and relax, perhaps a hot tub, beautiful You aim to have a place for everything and everything in its place. Step outside to see the music, a little snack or a nice nap. This evening is for fun and dancing and to enjoy the beautiful sunset! company of a loved one who understands you.

Gemini (May 21-June 20) Sagittarius (November 22-December 21) You have your own philosophy about world affairs. Even as a young person, You may be feeling very good about yourself just now and appreciating your you were empathetic and understood the weakness of human beings and own better qualities. You may see value in or feel love for an older person or someone in their emotional suffering. As an adult, you are extremely tolerant, perhaps some would ACROSS 78. A cut of pork ribs with much of the meat authority. You seem to appreciate feelings and movement in general, and could possibly say, too intolerant of humanity. You are dramatic and optimistic and attract the love of 1. Nonresinous wood of a fir tree. trimmed off. find yourself looking for a little romance, or at least enjoying some emotional release. You audiences or groups of people. If there is an injustice or problem, you are the first to help 4. Difficult to penetrate. 80. The cry made by sheep. may just want to get active and walk or exercise. It’s just a wonderful time to be in the com- make a correction. Others could learn from your positive attitude and you may be a bit 12. Aircraft landing in bad weather in which 81. French writer whose novels described pany of others and to work together. A particular job may be just right for someone with more caring for your own concerns. You will want to be around in the future to push the pilot is talked down by ground control the sordid side of city life (1804-1857). your credentials. You may want to consider your path to this new job, beginning with a cou- through the wonderful ideas you have that benefit humanitarian interests. Medicine, wel- using precision approach radar. 82. City in central Iran. ple of paragraphs to the manager of that department about how you think you could be an fare work and the arts attract you. asset. Your ideas are on target! 15. An agency of the United Nations affiliat- 83. 300 to 3000 megahertz. ed with the World Bank. 16. A conical child's plaything tapering to a DOWN steel point on which it can be made to spin. 1. A set of related records (either written or Cancer (June 21-July 22) Capricorn (December 22-January 19) 17. The most common computer memory electronic) kept together. which can be used by programs to perform 2. Goddess of spring and wife of Bragi. Taking the novel approach and trying out new ideas and breakthroughs in This morning is a great time for exercise and especially with a friend, perhaps thinking could be what keeps you busy right now. You just simply feel like try- an early morning run. A good breakfast begins your busy day. necessary tasks while the computer is on. 3. An Indian side dish of yogurt and Congratulations on the recent physical improvements-hard work pays. A hot shower, mas- 18. City in eastern Belgium. chopped cucumbers and spices. ing out something new and unusual. Perhaps you may feel too complacent about your life, or you could be getting bored with the status quo. Adding a little variety to life is what gives sage or a little caffeine and you are off to join your friends. Whether you are away from 20. An honorary degree in science. 4. A highly unstable radioactive element it spice and adds interest. You may want to travel a less-traveled path. Perhaps you can write home or at home just now, there are some fun things to enjoy. You will want to seek excit- 21. Shrubby tree widely distributed along (the heaviest of the halogen series). a story about what it would be like. Growth comes from allowing yourself to make changes, ing and stimulating contact with people today. This may mean you visit a tourist interest or tropical shores. 5. English monk and scholar (672-735). allowing yourself to see things differently. Fear not what awaits you on the other side of any go on a shopping expedition. Your intuition is more active at this time. A new project of 23. A genus of evergreen shrub that grows 6. Tropical African and Indian herbs. adventure-take it by the event and let go. yours has a special creative vent and proves quite successful. in New Zealand. 7. (astronomy) A measure of time defined 25. A person who participates in or is skilled by Earth's orbital motion. at some game. 8. A mechanism that can move automati- 26. A loose sleeveless outer garment made cally. Leo (July 23-August 22) Aquarius (January 20- February 18) from aba cloth. 9. A reptile genus of Iguanidae. When some kind of recognition or extra support comes along it is always Self-expression is accomplished through helping others and you will be happy 27. English aeronautical engineer (1895- 10. Antibacterial consisting of any of several nice, but to get that extra boost that you find coming your way today makes life extra spe- 1937). synthetic organic compounds capable of to help someone out if they ask. The challenges that come up today will be more beneficial for cial. You may have the feeling that you are very much in touch and in harmony with those 30. A soft white precious univalent metallic inhibiting the growth of bacteria that you than you think; keep a positive frame of mind. You may be placed in a working situation around you; the lines of communication are wide open. All of the support that you need will element having the highest electrical and require PABA. today where you will be with a group of people in a small place; patience. Plan to do a little be there for you today. Your taste in art and a curiosity about how things work in general exercise later this afternoon, even if it is only to walk the dog. This will create a picture for you thermal conductivity of any metal. 11. The boy whose upbringing was are heightened. Maybe this is the perfect time to pick out furnishings, colors and so forth- to think about if a situation today gets a bit stuffy. You will be very much in tune with your own the more elegant things in life. Your sense of value is good. This evening is a wonderful time 32. The blood group whose red cells carry described by Jean-Jacques Rousseau. feelings and the feelings of others. Being patient, creative and understanding is your ticket to a both the A and B antigens. 12. Common gray wild goose of Europe. to be around friends and associates and to work together in some sort of effort to make life most positive end result. A lover or child is generous or inspiring this evening. better-perhaps a charity. 33. Being or moving higher in position or 13. An enclosure made or wire or metal bars greater in some value. in which birds or animals are kept. 34. (astronomy) The angular distance of a 14. (Roman mythology) God of love. celestial point measured westward along 19. Cubes of meat marinated and cooked Virgo (August 23-September 22) Pisces (February 19-March 20) the celestial equator from the zenith cross- on a skewer usually with vegetables. ing. 22. A narrative song with a recurrent refrain. A rather eccentric person may temporarily overshadow your humor Watch out-an independent streak seems to be surfacing at this time. Others 35. A narrow thin strip of wood used as 24. Of or relating to the lips of the mouth. today. Your unique qualities are appreciated by those around you and when the will admire your unique and rather unusual way of understanding. Your sense of humor sim- backing for plaster or to make latticework. 28. The sciences concerned with gathering time is right, you will be acknowledged once again. The happenings this day should ply shines at this time, and added to your rather eccentric behavior, should set you apart from the crowd. You should find the benefit of new insights or breakthroughs in your living 38. Formative one-cell-thick layer of tissue and manipulating and storing and retriev- give you some new ways of looking at things or discoveries with respect to your liv- ing situation or life circumstances. Feel free to allow yourself to dream. Since you will situation or life conditions. If you are performing in a comedy club, you have probably dis- between xylem and phloem in most vascu- ing and classifying recorded information. not find these insightful days too often, you should not ignore the opportunity to let covered a completely new set of ideas. Keeping people guessing is part of your allure. People lar plants that is responsible for secondary 29. Malevolent aspect of Devi. your imagination loose. Maybe, later this afternoon, a good book or movie will take love to be entertained by you. A change of scenery this afternoon is just what you need to growth. 31. A semiautomatic rifle. on a more than real dimension. Keep exploring the many possibilities that life seems lighten your spirit. Get away for the afternoon to some place exciting. An amusement park, 42. American novelist (1909-1955). 36. Small often spiny insectivorous mam- to present to you. perhaps with a loved one, could be just the place. 43. A constellation in the southern hemi- mal of Madagascar. sphere near Telescopium and Norma. 37. Old World woody vines. WORD SEARCH PUZZLE 44. A colorless and odorless inert gas. 39. Not reflecting light. Yesterday’s Solution 45. English novelist (born in Poland) noted 40. A mountain range in western Russia for sea stories and for his narrative tech- extending from the arctic to the Caspian nique (1857-1924). Sea. 48. A yellow trivalent metallic element of 41. The Hebrew patriarch who saved him- the rare earth group. self and his family and the animals by build- 49. Erect shrub with small if any spines hav- ing an ark in which they survived 40 days ing racemes of white to yellow flowers fol- and 40 nights of rain. lowed by curved pointed pods and black 46. The seventh month of the Moslem cal- shiny seeds. endar. 52. (Babylonian) God of storms and wind. 47. The sixth month of the civil year. 54. The basic unit of money in Peru. 50. Any activity that is easy to do. 55. A gonadotropic hormone that is secret- 51. A wave that is blown by the wind so its ed by the anterior pituitary. crest is broken and appears white. 56. A holdup man who stops a vehicle and 53. A Kwa language spoken by the Yoruba steals from it. people in southwestern Nigeria. 58. A disorder of the glands of the body. 57. A clique that seeks power usually 61. A river that rises in northern Colombia through intrigue. and flows generally eastward to the 59. A port city of south central Ukraine on Orinoco in central Venezuela. an arm of the Black Sea. 62. Being one hundred more than three 60. Whitish fibrous membrane (albuginea) hundred. that with the cornea forms the outer cover- 63. A crystalline metallic element not found ing of the eyeball. in nature. 64. A drama set to music. 65. Disarrange or rumple. 66. An Eskimo hut. 73. Title for a civil or military leader (espe- 67. A reason for wanting something done. cially in Turkey). 68. A member of a Finnish people of Russia. 74. withdraw from an organization or com- 69. A small cake leavened with yeast. munion. 70. (Babylonian) God of wisdom and agri- 76. The mission in San Antonio where in culture and patron of scribes and schools. 1836 Mexican forces under Santa Anna 71. A woman hired to suckle a child of besieged and massacred American rebels someone else. who were fighting to make Texas inde- 72. A shaped mass of baked bread. pendent of Mexico. 75. A doctor's degree in education. 77. A kind of person. 79. Not out. Yesterday’s Solution

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Gossip Refaeli being investigated for alleged tax fraud

he 30-year-old model has been accused of failing to report discounts on luxury goods and other benefits that report millions of dollars in income earned abroad should have been subject to income tax, such as the free Tand tens of thousands of dollars in “celebrity bene- use of Range Rover and Lexus cars that weren’t registered fits” and was questioned for several hours at the Tel Aviv to her but were provided by companies in exchange for offices of the Israel Tax Authority on Wednesday before a promotional photos. Bar’s lawyer insisted she has done court agreed to release her on $193,000 bail. She must nothing wrong. Speaking to website NRG, Giora Aderet also seek permission if she wants to leave Israel and pay a said: “There is no drama. In the end, this is just a civil dis- $64,000 bond. Bar is accused of trying to hide the fact she pute. No-one cheated anyone else. It will all clear up was a resident of Israel by living in Tel Aviv apartments soon.” registered to her mother Tzipi - who is also under investi- gation - and her brother. Non-resident Israelis are exempt- ed from having to declare income earned abroad. The tax authority also accused the Israeli ‘X Factor’ host - who married billionaire Adi Ezra in September - of failing to Tom Arnold Appleton knew Gallagher has become a was being unfaithful father again

he ‘Sin City Saints’ actor and wife Ashley welcomed daughter Quinn Sophie into the world at 12.39pm on Friday and the little girl Tweighed in at 7lbs 9oz and measured 22in long. The couple - who also have a son, Jax, two - told People magazine: “Our second miracle has arrived and she is perfect.” Tom announced in June he and Ashley were says expecting a daughter. He posted a picture of his son holding an ultra- Patridge sound picture on twitter and wrote: “Jax is very excited, but also a bit confused with the happy news he will have a little sister this fall #grateful (sic)” The 56-year-old actor - who has been married three times before, pregnancy is including to comic Rosanne Barr - has previously been open about his struggles to father a child because of his low sperm count. He previously said: “One day at the hospital I saw a sign asking for sperm donors and it like having a paid $35. I was psyched because, unlike blood, I believed I could donate this stuff three times a day. “Fortunately, they give you a test first and the doctor informed me that I didn’t have many ‘swimmers.’ “However, despite his problems, the ‘True Lies’ star believes having Jax was fate. ‘hangover’ Announcing Ashley’s pregnancy in 2013, he said: “I’ve tried with other he former ‘Hills’ star revealed on Friday she and people, but since there is a God we were unable to conceive. Now God fiance Corey Bohan are expecting their first child said, ‘This is it!’ “ Ttogether, and she has now opened up more about her happy news. She wrote on her website: “So far, I haven’t had any morning sickness, I just feel very tired and like I have a major hangover when I wake up, which is a he All Saints singer split from the Oasis upon prolonged deceit.” The judge also change for me because I’m constantly on-the-go!” she rocker - with who she has 14-year-old son revealed the divorce has cost the former cou- said. “As far as finding out the sex of the baby...We just TGene - in August 2013 after it emerged ple £800,000. He said: “The level of costs in this want it to be healthy:) Girl or boy, we will be ecstatic he had had a daughter, Gemma, with US jour- case, totaling over £800,000, are manifestly either way! “Corey’s mum wants it to be a surprise, but I nalist Liza Ghorbani but she only discovered excessive for the determination of the dispute, don’t know if I’ll be able to wait! I guess we will just have he’d been unfaithful when he warned her the which involves capital sums not much greater to wait and see. “God has a plan for us, and even though it news was about to be made public. In a ruling at the end of the day than £10 million.” He also is all happening so fast, I am confident that I’m ready to be over their divorce settlement, Judge Martin said that Liam and Nicole, who started living a mama!” Audrina - who hasn’t revealed how far along she O’Dwyer - who decided the former couple together 15 years ago, had “lived a very good is in her pregnancy - told her friends and family she was should split their £11 million fortune equally - lifestyle”. Details of the ruling came after a hear- pregnant before making the news public because she said: “It was only when publicity was about to ing at London’s Central Family Court Friday, couldn’t convincingly explain another reason why she occur in April 2013 when Mr. Gallagher told his which involved the judge deciding just how wasn’t drinking alcohol at a dinner party. She said: “I told wife. “The circumstances were extremely unfor- much of the hearing held in October could be everyone I was on a detox cleanse to cover my lack of tunate. The wife was away on holiday and she made public. Liam and Nicole had both been alcohol consumption. “With the combination of my poor was informed by telephone by the husband.” photographed arriving separately at the court lying skills and Corey’s perma-smile, we were given ‘the Nicole was left “greatly distressed” by the news earlier this year to listen to the hearing, but look’ over and over again by our friends and family, so it’s and subsequent breakdown of her five-year were not present for Friday’s ruling. safe to say the secret was not a secret much longer!” marriage. The judge continued: “Ms Appleton was greatly distressed not only because of the earlier incident but also because of the break- down of her relationship, which was based

Hudson’s ‘life-force’ is her mother Goldie Hawn

he ‘Almost Famous’ actress - who has thing everyone I know is trying to accom- sons Ryder, 11, with ex-husband plish is balance. “This book is about being TChris Robinson, and Bingham, four, as mindful as possible when it comes to with former fiance Matt Bellamy - says her your well-being, but still enjoying your life. mom is her biggest inspiration and means I hope it provides some inspiration and everything to their family. She said: “As motivation for making a shift in our much as she means to other people for lifestyles for the better.” Kate’s philosophy other reasons, she is literally the life-force in the book is about “simplicity, accessibili- for me and my family.” The 36-year-old ty, positivity and throwing the idea of ‘per- beauty is preparing for the release of her fection’ out the window.” She explained: “I new lifestyle book, ‘Pretty Happy: Healthy learned a long time ago that trends and Cooper doesn’t think Ways to Love Your Body’ - in which she fads come and go and are not a long-term shares how she became “healthy, strong solution. “We all have to find what works he’d be successful if he and beautiful from the inside out - and best for us and allows us to be our own hopes the guide provides her fans with best version of ourselves.” “inspiration and motivation” to lead a bet- didn’t stop drinking ter life. She told People magazine: “One he ‘Hangover’ actor stopped drinking alcohol in his late 20s and thinks the decision he made to trans- Hudgens has launched Tform his life was both “beautiful and unbelievable”. Speaking to Barbara Walters for her ‘10 Most Fascinating People of 2015’ special he said: “I would never be sitting here with you, no way, no chance, [if I hadn’t quit]. “I her new lifestyle blog wouldn’t have been able to have access to myself or other people, or even been able to take in other people, if I had- he former ‘High School Musical’ ful. Enjoy!” Articles on the blog so far n’t changed my life. “I never would have been able to have actress launched Astral & Opal include a Christmas gift guide, shopping the relationships that I do. “I never would have been able Tbecause she couldn’t find one specif- tips, how to do a soul cleanse, a DIY face to take care of my father the way I did when he was sick. ic website she “needed” in her life and mask suggestion, a quiz on finding your So many things.” The 40-year-old star was inspired to hopes it will “guide” her fans to “inspiration, “spiritual powers” based on birth date and become an actor after his father, Charles Cooper, showed passion and wisdom”. She wrote in a wel- a winter music festival round-up. The site is him 1980 movie ‘The Elephant Man’ when he was 12 years come letter on the site: “Welcome to Astral curated by Vanessa, but uses content sup- old. He recalled: “It floored me. First of all, I was devastated & Opal! I love surfing the web but nothing plied by FanBread, a site which offers up by it. I couldn’t stop crying.” Bradley’s father tragically ever stuck with me. So, I thought it was free “engaging and relevant blogs, listicles, passed away in 2011, meaning he never got to see his son time to create the site I needed in my life. galleries, quizzes and memes from our play the title role in the stage adaptation on ‘The Elephant “As for me, I believe that life is as you make content marketplace”. Man’ on both New York’s Broadway or London’s West End, it. I want to feel good, look good and live a or ‘American Sniper’, the movie he starred in which Clint colorful life full of adventure. You are in the Eastwood directed. The ‘Joy’ star said of his success: “I driver’s seat, on an open road and only get think he wouldn’t believe it. “Thank god he was alive for one lifetime to make it count. We gotta live so many of the successes, but like, the Clint Eastwood it to the fullest! “I hope Astral & Opal thing, he would have really loved. That was one of his guides you to inspiration, passion, wisdom heroes.” and makes your world a little more color- lifestyle SUNDAY, DECEMBER 20, 2015

Gossip Beyonce, Jay Z beats lawsuit over their song ‘Drunk in Love’ onika Miczura, also known as Mitsou, had accused suant to well established law, they are therefore exempted the couple of using a sample from her song ‘Gypsy from the Civil Rights Law.” Mitsou had argued the Civil MLife on the Road’ - which was released in the US in Rights Law applied to the song and video because they 1997 - on the single without her permission and had were used in HBO ads and a series promoting Beyonce’s sought unspecified damages. However, Manhattan concert tour but the judge insisted that use “does not viti- Supreme Court Justice Cynthia Kern dismissed the case ate their character as works of artist expression.” The because the singer was suing under the state Civil Rights Hungarian Roma singer had sued for unspecified monetary Law, which only protects a “name, portrait, picture or voice damages claiming the “blatant unauthorized use of [her] used for advertising or trade purposes without written voice for trade purposes is causing irreparable harm and consent.” She wrote: “Courts have consistently held that emotional distress.” Civil Rights Law does not apply to works of literary and artistic expression. “It is undisputed that the ‘Drunk in Love’ song and video are works of artistic expression and, pur- would like Gallagher Oasis to reform he 43-year-old rocker is keen for his former group - include the marketing of his back catalogue and touring. who split in August 2009 following a string of explo- And the judge stated he felt the ‘Supersonic’ singer had Tsive rows between the singer and his brother and “downplayed” his “prospects for earning”. He continued: “It bandmate Noel Gallagher - to get back together, but is entirely unclear what his potential income is. In his evi- admitted in court evidence relating to his divorce from dence to me he clearly downplayed his prospects for earn- Nicole Appleton that is is very unlikely to happen. Judge ing in the music business in the future. However I have to O’Dwyer - who ruled the former couple should split their base my findings firmly upon available evidence. “I accept £11 million fortune equally - said in his ruling: “[Liam] says that (his) current income is made up from the basics... from there are no plans to reform and, although he would like to his income with Pretty Green Limited and ... from his do so, he does not anticipate there is a possibility currently income from royalties. However, he is a man of worldwide of any such reform.”Subsequent to Oasis, [Liam] formed fame. “He has proved both in his membership of Oasis and another group called Beady Eye but they disbanded in in the formation of Beady Eye that there is the potential for 2014. “Although he expressly would like to re-enter the him to earn much greater sums.” music business, currently he says there is no prospect of that.” Liam had stated much of his income comes from his clothing brand Pretty Green, though he also has “acquired a number of properties” and his other sources of income Blanchett frustrated over Horan looking forward rumors about to ‘doing nothing’

her sexuality he 22-year-old singer and his bandmates Liam Payne, Louis Tomlinson and Harry he 46-year-old actress is happily married to Andrew TStyles have taken a break from the Upton, with whom she has three children. However, as industry after five years as the world’s most Tshe promoted her new movie ‘Carol’, in which she has a famous boyband, and Niall is excited about Morgan says he survived sexual encounter with Rooney Mara, earlier this year, Cate was being able to take a break. Niall said: “I am quoted as saying she had enjoyed relationships with women looking forward to being able to go home and “many times”. Since the interview with Variety magazine was just being able to enjoy the time off. “I’m look- accident to care for his daughter published, Cate has been questioned incessantly about her ing forward to that - I’m looking forward to inclinations, and insisted in a new chat on Friday that she just doing nothing,” As one quarter of One should be allowed to keep her preferences private. She told Direction, Niall can rarely go a second without he 47-year-old comedian - who has “Happiness is simply having something to Australia’s 7.30 program: “It really is of no relevance what my two-year-old Maven with wife Megan look forward to. “[What do I look forward being noticed by fans, but is wondering sexual persuasion is.” Cate continued to insist the media storm whether the hiatus will change that. During a TWoolover - is convinced God had a to?] Grabbing a mic, to going home and that had been caused by her original comments was “really sil- chat on celebrity documentary ‘Celebrity Bites’, “reason” for letting him live after the crash seeing my daughter and my wife: All of that ly”. She added it’s ridiculous to assume she couldn’t play a in June 2014, which left him with a trau- makes me smile, so it makes me happy.” The Niall said: “I wonder now in January if I walk homosexual character if she herself was straight. Cate down the street will people notice me? Is matic brain injury and broken leg and killed ‘30 Rock’ star revealed he was blind for a explained: “What’s been interesting about talking about the his friend James McNair. He said: “I survived week after the crash, and though doctors there a switch that flicks on and off? It proba- film to the media is that people are still interested whether bly won’t happen at all.” One Direction took that crash for a reason. I’m still here for a have told him he hasn’t sustained long- you can play a gay character without being gay? It still some- reason. I guess my room wasn’t ready. Who term brain damage, he isn’t convinced. He over the world when they were formed on UK how has to be one’s sexuality if it’s seen to be outside the television talent show The X Factor in 2010 knows? Maybe He kept me here to raise my said: “When you take a bump like that on mainstream, which same-sex relationships still are seen to be, daughter, raise my family.” And though he’s the head, I don’t think everything’s going to after auditioning as solo singers. But watching I think. “You still have to answer to that. But yet I think the his audition for the program back, Niall admits still recovering from the trauma of the acci- be there 100 percent.” power when people actually see the film and forget all of that dent, Tracy is feeling very happy with his he comes across as a “cocky little idiot”. He stuff is that falling in love is falling in love.” In ‘Carol’, Cate stars said: “There’s something about [‘The X Factor’ life. He told Barbara Walters for her ‘10 Most as the title character, who becomes involved in a relationship Fascinating People of 2015’ special: boss Cowell] Simon - everyone sees him as with Rooney’s character Therese. The movie has wowed critics this, like, God or whatever. He is the X Factor. and is expected to sweep the board during next year’s awards “That’s half the reason I was so nervous at my season. Both Cate and Rooney, as well as the film itself, have auditions and ended up looking like a cocky been nominated for Golden Globe awards at the 2016 cere- little idiot. It was just nerves.” mony. Perry dressed everyone in matching onesies to watch ‘Home Alone’

he 31-year-old singer reportedly designed by the ‘Roar’ singer. The source hired out Los Angeles’ Vista Theatre to added: “Everyone got a onesie Katy Tscreen the 1990 movie for over 100 of designed with Beloved to put on when Fey says change in her family and friends. A source told Us they got there. Even Katy wore one!”Katy Weekly magazine: “It’s one of Katy’s favorite teamed up with the company earlier this holiday movies. So she decided to screen it year to create the one pieces, which retail as her holiday party this year.” “Everyone at $130 for adults and $100 for children. attitude to women in there was people from her original crew. The singer is known for her unique Katy was milling about in the lobby. At sense of style and recently the beginning of the screening, she revealed that if she hadn’t comedy is about money said, ‘Thanks for coming. I’m bad at made it as a singer, she public speaking. Enjoy the would probably have end- he amount of interest that and comedic partner Amy Poelher in movie!’ “While Katy’s celebrity ed up as a stylist. Katy told female comedic actresses are ‘Sisters’. The pair also hosted the friends were noticeably absent America’s People maga- Treceiving at the moment is one Golden Globe Awards on three occa- from the event, her parents zine: “I’d probably want of the most talked about topics in the sions, but have handed the reins over were in attendance. Guests to work in the fashion industry, and Tina has her own to Ricky Gervais for next year’s cere- were treated to pizza, popcorn industry. I would prob- thoughts on what has prompted the mony - something Tina is more than and candy to snack on during ably be a stylist. I change of heart. She said: “I think that happy about. She said during an inter- the film, with hot toddies for love creating looks; I really it is a business and the fact that view on ‘Alan Carr’s Chatty Man’: “Amy the adults and hot choco- do it with all my girl- ‘Bridesmaids’ made a ton of money Poehler and I hosted it three times, late for the children to friends.” and was so funny, and because it and that used to ruin Christmas. They keep themselves fully made money people were more will- would try a dress on us in early fuelled. There was also a ing to let Amy Schumer make money, December and we would have to fit in dress code for the night, because ‘Trainwreck’ was really funny, to it for the Globes right after with everyone dressed in and then hopefully, knock on disco, Christmas and that really put a damp- matching onesies hopefully ‘Sisters’ will make money. ner on my cheese intake. That is “Once one thing happens people fol- Ricky’s problem now. Ricky is doing it low the money. I don’t think anyone this year and I am sure he is starving. has had an amazing change of heart; I’m sure he is on that treadmill.” - it’s all about money.” Tina’s next role Bangshowbiz sees her star alongside close friend lifestyle SUNDAY, DECEMBER 20, 2015

Features ‘Force Awakens’ on track for record $215M-plus weekend tar Wars” fever has spread through movie theaters Fan-friendly return lion on Thursday. Imax and 3-D screenings are helping to propel the record around the globe, even reaching the White House, The international rollout for the film, made for about $200 While “Star Wars” helped create the summer blockbuster, gross. Disney said that 47 percent of the Thursday box office “Sas the franchise yet again began toppling box-office million, has already brought in an estimated total of $72.7 mil- “The Force Awakens” is debuting in the holiday season of came from 3-D showings and $5.7 million from Imax screens. records with waves of lightsaber-wielding fans. lion since opening in a handful of countries Wednesday. “The December, where the previous top opening was the $84.6 mil- A lot is riding on the film for Disney, which paid $4.06 billion Following a record $57 million from Thursday night show- Force Awakens” is simultaneously opening around the world lion debut of 2012’s “The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey.” By for Lucasfilm in 2012. Sequels and spinoffs are already in ings in North America, and packed matinees on Friday, the just about everywhere but China, where it debuts in January. Disney’s estimates, “The Force Awakens” - the widest development for years to come, not to mention an entire cor- Walt Disney Co. projected that “Star Wars: The Force Awakens” It’s setting records overseas, too, including the biggest single December opening ever with 4,134 theaters - blew past that ner of Disneyland devoted to the franchise. will surpass $215 million on the weekend, besting the record day ever in the United Kingdom with an estimated $14.4 mil- number by Friday afternoon. Strong reviews for the film, which is set 30 years after domestic opening of “Jurassic World,” which debuted with “Return of the Jedi,” have added to the fervor for “The Force $208.8 million in June. Awakens.” Critics have hailed it as a fan-friendly return to form Such an outcome would surprise few analysts, but the for the franchise; the American Film Institute listed it among its numbers were nevertheless eye-popping. “The Force top 10 films of the year. Such a positive reaction for “The Force Awakens” was heading toward a Thursday night-Friday total of Awakens” may attract the kind of repeat viewings that made more than $120 million domestically, said Dave Hollis, head of James Cameron’s “Avatar” and “Titanic” the highest grossing distribution for Disney. The previous one-day high was $91.1 films of all time. Whether “The Force Awakens” can come close million set by “Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows, Part 2” in to the global hauls of those films ($2.8 billion for “Avatar” and 2011. $2.2 billion for “Titanic”) won’t be clear for weeks. — AP In such rarified territory, Disney has been cautious about overestimating the box-office force of J.J. Abrams’ seventh chapter in George Lucas’ space saga. Based on the early response, many analysts have the film pegged for a weekend total closer to $250 million - far above “Jurassic World.” Disney’s biggest worry has been that moviegoers will be too daunted by sold-out shows and long lines. More than This photo provided by $100 million advance tickets (also a record) were sold ahead of Lucasfilm shows Peter the opening of “The Force Awakens,” much of those going Mayhew as Chewbacca and toward Thursday and Friday shows. Today will depend more Harrison Ford as Han Solo on traditional walk-up business. Hollis said exhibitors are con- in ‘Star Wars: The Force tinually adding more screenings to satisfy demand. Awakens’. ‘Witcher 3,’ ‘Fallout 4’ lead AP’s top 10 games of 2015

ssociated Press video game critics Lou Kesten and ing to Bethesda Softworks stylish version of a nuclear-rav- Derrik J. Lang’s favorite titles of the year featured mon- aged Boston and the staggering array of choices it pre- Aster hunters, treasure hunters, guardian spirits and sented, but I couldn’t stay away from carving out my own murder suspects: destiny in this special role-playing saga.

2. The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt: From the bonus swag in the LOU KESTEN box to the gratis downloadable content, the third install- 1. The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt: This role-playing drama from ment in CD Projekt Red’s sweeping role-playing series is as Poland’s CD Projekt Red set a new standard for weirdness much of a love letter to fans of monster hunter Geralt of when it sent his hero in pursuit of a flying ghost fetus. For Rivia as it is to the fantasy genre as a whole. This majestic all its baroque touches, Witcher 3 boils down to a domes- entry should be remembered for years to come. tic drama about a jaded warrior and his impetuous adopt- ed daughter - and it’s quite moving. 3. Metal Gear Solid V: The Phantom Pain: After a stunning 28 years of crafting Metal Gear games, Hideo Kojima’s 2. Fallout 4: The latest epic from Bethesda Softworks crams open-world coda brought the walls surrounding protago- in a bunch of genres - role-playing, first-person shooter, nist Snake down for the first time. In a year overstuffed even a civilization-building simulation - and veers from with open-world titles, Phantom Pain was the most tech- hilarious black comedy to heartbreaking tragedy. It’s most nically flawless of them all. Bait Hanayen memorable for its haunting vision of humanity somehow Seventh surviving after nearly destroying itself. 4. Her Story: Sam Barlow’s voyeuristic mystery is a rarity. The game features a provocative performance by actress Viva 3. Super Mario Maker: Nintendo gives its fans all the tools Seifert and gameplay that almost anyone can engage they need to build two-dimensional challenges starring with because it involves simply searching for words on a branch opens at Promenade Mario and his crew. Somewhere out there, kids are learn- screen. If more developers created games like Her Story, ing the ropes on their way to designing the games we’ll the medium would be taken more seriously. be talking about 20 years from now. 5. Rise of the Tomb Raider: Lara Croft is on a roll. After a mall in Hawally 4. Ori and the Blind Forest: This melancholy yet action- much-need reboot of the treasure hunting franchise, packed adventure follows an orphaned spirit creature as it developer Crystal Dynamics keenly avoids a sophomore tries to restore life to a devastated woodland. It’s the year’s slump with a snowy, survival-focused second installment most beautiful game - and one of its most challenging. that meticulously builds on what made 2013’s Tomb Raider an adventure worthy of the iconic heroine. 5. Her Story: Viva Seifert plays a young wife with a missing husband in this time-hopping mystery that takes place 6. Ori and the Blind Forest: This luminescent platformer did entirely within a police interrogation room. I’m not sure something that no Super Mario Bros. has ever accom- it’s even a game, but creator Sam Barlow’s clever plotting plished. It made me tear up - and that’s not just because and Seifert’s nimble performance combine to deliver a it’s so darn difficult. Moon Studios managed to artfully knockout tale. balance intricate riddle solving with an emotional tale about loss and discovery. 6. Rise of the Tomb Raider: Chapter two of the franchise reboot finds young Lara Croft searching for the secret to 7. Sunset: While most games tell war stories from behind immortality. It’s at its best when the Tomb Raider is, you the barrel of a gun, Sunset dared to do so on the other know, raiding tombs, with clever environmental puzzles side of a mop handle. Yes, it sounds boring to play as a that work your brain cells harder than your reflexes. housekeeper tasked with cleaning - and snooping around - her boss’ penthouse. Belgium developer Tale of Tales 7. Pillars of Eternity: A character cursed with mysterious made it a strangely evocative interactive experience. visions tries to find out why babies are being born without souls in this indie role-playing game from Obsidian 8. Splatoon: With an overreliance on a certain bouncy Entertainment. Fans of old-school classics like Baldur’s plumber, Nintendo has long been guilty of playing it safe. Gate and Planescape: Torment will feel right at home. That totally changed this year with the introduction of the loveable paint-wielding squid kids. A splashy aesthetic 8. Undertale: This lo-fi project from Toby Fox turns game con- and adrenaline-pumping action helped Splatoon success- ventions upside-down. A human child is trapped under- fully roll over all other multiplayer shooters. ground - but instead of killing all the monsters he encoun- ters, he can negotiate with most of them. It’s a thought- 9. Batman: Arkham Knight: Rocksteady Studios’ apparent provoking approach, and one I hope more big game pub- swan song in their incredible Arkham series finally lishers will notice. unleashed the Dark Knight across all of Gotham - com- plete with the Batmobile at his disposal - without sacrific- 9. Rock Band 4: The ultimate party game returns, inviting you ing the cerebral storytelling or majestic fluidity of its well- to jam anew with all those fake instruments that have oiled predecessors. Ben Affleck should take note. been gathering dust over the last five years. The ability to he seventh Bait Hanayen branch opened in the download songs you purchased for earlier versions is a 10. Assassin’s Creed: Syndicate: After last year’s buggy and Promenade mall in Hawally in the presence of huge bonus. (Guitar Hero Live, which streams its tunes, is boring edition set amid the French Revolution in Paris, renowned designers, advertising agencies, and pretty good, too.) Ubisoft’s stealth series rebounded in 2015 with a jolly T social media bloggers. The played calming music jaunt to old England. A brilliant recreation of Victorian blended with the ambiance and luxurious display. The 10. Until Dawn: A bunch of teenagers plan a weekend at a London - right down to the pubs - was a spectacular opening was followed by a fashion show displaying secluded cabin. What could go wrong? This thriller initially playground for quirky twin gangsters Jacob and Evie the new 2016 autumn / winter collection was the cen- looks like dozens of slasher movies, but it twists all the Frye. — AP tral focus of the opening. It was sponsored by The familiar tropes into something perversely original. Makeup Store, who took care of the models’ and blog- gers’ makeup for the show. This selection included the DERRIK J LANG latest high-end designs of Abayas and shawls inspired 1. Fallout 4: Despite its unforgiving density, Fallout 4 was by the latest fashion trends. the year’s most captivating title. I wanted to stop return-

This photo provided by CD Projekt RED shows a scene from the video game, “The Witcher III: Wild Hunt.” lifestyle SUNDAY, DECEMBER 20, 2015

Features

Romanian castle

Unawatuna Beach Sri Lanka Jet away this festive season with flydubai

lanning a winter break but looking for something a Top tip: With average temperatures hovering around 3∞C, bit different this holiday season? flydubai has the make sure to pack plenty of warm clothing. Pdestination for you. From Christmas markets in Bucharest to hitting the slopes in Tbilisi, there is a wealth of Flight frequency: Four times a week experiences to get you geared up for the festivities without Prices: Return flights start from KD 170 blowing the budget. Here are just four of the exciting desti- nations to jet away to with flydubai. A place to... have an Arabian A place to hit the slopes adventure TBILISI, GEORGIA MUSCAT, OMAN

Things to do: Forget the classic Alpine-European resorts Things to do: With its open deserts, vast coastline, steep this winter and try something a little different. Just a two- A place to catch some Top tip: Book somewhere to stay as early as possible. and remote rocky canyons and large sand dunes, Oman is an hour drive from Tbilisi Airport, the stunning resort of During the Christmas to New Year holiday season, in particu- off-roading enthusiast’s dream. Once in Muscat, rent a 4x4 Gudauri is the perfect getaway for ski aficionados looking winter sun lar, accommodation on the island can be tight due to the vehicle, stock up on the essentials and head off to discover the for a new adventure. Perched in the heart of the Greater huge influx of visitors. Sultanate’s many wadis (river beds) which are located in the Caucasus and surrounded by a vista of dramatic peaks and mountains and lower spots in the desert. The most scenic breathtaking gorges, skiers both experienced and new can COLOMBO, SRI LANKA Flight frequency: Daily wadis are in the mountains and many are just an hour or two’s revel in idyllic conditions, challenging terrain and beautiful Prices: Return flights start from KD 149 drive from Muscat. Located south of the capital, Wadi Tiwi is backdrops. Renowned for offering some of the finest pow- Things to do: Spend a couple of days in Colombo before one of the steepest and narrowest driving experiences in the der in the Caucasus, Gudauri is famous for Heliskiing. heading south to relax on the unspoilt beach. Wander country leading to the picturesque village of Mibam set Helicopters are granted almost unrestricted access to local through the sprawling collection of ancient artefacts and A place to shop until you drop among a grove of date palm trees. If it’s a classic desert mountains, allowing skiers to experience some of the most colonial-era relics at the must-see National Museum or take a encounter you’re after, make for Wahiba Sand where you can sublime runs in Europe - including mountain tops and gla- quiet walk through nearby Viharamahadevi Park. If you’re arrange an overnight stop in the mountains at a desert camp ciers - at altitudes of between 1,500 and 4,000 metres. But looking to bag a few last-minute holiday gifts for friends and BUCHAREST, ROMANIA through one of the many local tour companies. loved ones, make your way through the mazes of Pettah don’t worry, you’ll be in the hands of highly experienced Things to do: If you’re in need of some festive cheer then Market before relaxing at sunset with a cold drink at the Galle Where to stay: Set amid the sprawling Omani desert, the Al guides. For those looking for something slightly calmer but head to Bucharest’s Old Town and surrounding area to explore Face Hotel’s vintage seaside patio. Craving relaxation? Then Raha Camp in Wahiba Sands is the perfect location for an no less adventurous, cross-country skiing is available down its Christmas markets that run throughout the holiday season. escape the city and take an overnight train to Sri Lanka’s exot- Arabian adventure. The resort has 77 camping style huts with virgin slopes and across remote valleys - all set within the Oozing atmosphere and sparkling with lights, the markets are ic south coast. Head for the serene Goyambokka Beach in attached bathrooms in addition to nine suites all decorated in unforgettable landscape of the Greater Caucasus. For chil- crammed with stalls vying to put on the biggest, brightest Tangalla, the backpacker’s paradise of Mirissa, or to traditional Bedouin style. The camp also provides accommo- dren and beginners, the Sports School offers several tame and prettiest displays. Choose from carved wooden toys, Unawatuna, which is set back from the main road making for a dation in 15 luxurious tents. Secluded, and regally appointed ski runs. Private lessons are also available. handmade candles, wooden and enamel music boxes and less hectic resort. It’ll be tempting to never leave the beach, in traditional weaves and colours of the desert, these tents Christmas tree angels. Not festive enough? Visit the huge but give yourself enough time to visit Galle. Wander through have a small Majlis and balcony and can accommodate up to Where to stay: Check in to the Hotel Gudauri Hut for a Christmas tree in Pia?a Universit??ii (University Square) in the Galle Fort area, and enjoy the rich legacy of the 16th four people. touch of friendly, family-run ski lodge hospitality. Situated downtown Bucharest. on the Kudebi mountain within walking distance from the Century walls while shopping for jewellery and handicrafts. Where to eat: From lavish BBQ dinners to traditional ski lifts in the centre of the resort, the Hut (as the locals call Where to stay: If you’re looking to stay in the lap of luxury, Where to stay: Located in the city centre and overlooking Bedouin food served under the stars, resorts such as the Al it) has some of the most breathtaking views in Gudauri. It’s then the Grand Hotel Continental, located a short journey the Indian Ocean, the Hilton Colombo Hotel transforms itself Raha Camp cater all tastes and travellers. Traditional delicacies perfect for anyone looking for small and cosy accommoda- from the Palace of the Parliament, the world’s largest civilian into Santa’s grotto with fabulous festive feasts and stunning include goat meat marinated in cinnamon, cloves, pepper and tion with traditional Georgian hospitality. building. If you’re travelling as a large group then book your seasonal dÈcor. For travellers on a limited budget there are cumin, served on a platter of cardamom-scented rice. more low-key, affordable alternatives. If you’re heading down very own luxury apartment in downtown Bucharest. They are Where to eat: Refuel after a hard day on the slopes in affordable and come with self-catering facilities if you’re crav- to the coast, stay in one of the hundreds of huts that adorn Top tips: While tour companies provide most of the neces- one of the resorts many restaurants, serving local comfort ing a home-cooked Christmas lunch. food favourites such as khachapuri (cheese-stuffed bread) the country’s beaches. sary camping equipment, a head torch is a handy extra to take and matsoni (sour yogurt). for getting around the camp after dark. Where to eat: Sri Lankan food is all about fresh herbs and Where to eat: Indulge in roasted chestnuts or spicy ginger- bread and warm cold fingers around a hot drink while brows- spices, coconut and sesame oil, the national staple of “rice and Flight frequencies: Daily Top tip: If you have never skied before or feel a little rusty, ing the festive markets. Alternatively, experience the hustle then why not stop in Dubai for a couple of days and head to curry”, seafood and hoppers - fried pancakes served with Prices: Return flights start from KD45 sweet syrup from the Kitul palm. Colombo has a wide selec- and bustle of the Romanian social scene at any of the restau- the world’s biggest indoor ski slope located at Dubai’s Mall rants and cafÈs that line the streets of Sm‚rdan, Francez?, of the Emirates for a few lessons before you go? tion of small restaurants serving local hawker-style favourites such as meat patties, fish buns, egg rolls, lamprais, koththu ?elari, Sf‚ntul Dumitru, Gabroveni and Covaci in the Historic Quarter. Flight frequency: Three times a week roti and biryani. Meanwhile, when in Galle stop for lunch at Prices: Return flights start from KD 291 the colonial Galle Fort Hotel.

Christmas markets in Romania Tbilisi

Galle Fort, Sri Lanka

New Orleans-style mirth marks arrival of ‘The Force Awakens’

n a unique mashup of cultures - one from a galaxy far, far Thursday evening screening was to be followed by a New a conversation he and a friend were having at, fittingly, the ing route through New Orleans neighborhoods each year. away; the other from a New Orleans bar - a Mardi Gras parade Orleans-style “second line” march into the French Quarter. Saturn Bar. Topics included the furry co-pilot of the Millennium Ballard said Thursday’s early “Force Awakens” screenings were Iclub is celebrating the premiere of the latest “Star Wars” movie Members in garb from fantasy and science fiction were to be Falcon spaceship in the “Star Wars” franchise. “It was a barroom arranged for krewe leaders who are instrumental in the group’s with Wookiee and Jedi costumes, a brass band and a parade into accompanied by a brass band playing a medley of “Star Wars” joke,” Ballard said. “If there was a nerd krewe, it should be a community outreach efforts, including food drives and pro- the French Quarter. tunes - including the jaunty music from the cantina full of aliens mashup of Chewbacca and Bacchus, the god of wine.” grams to help disadvantaged children participate in Mardi Gras The Intergalactic Krewe of Chewbacchus (motto: “Saving the in the original film. “It’s a big, spinning, crazy nerd party on Chewbacchus was born. And the group grew from a few events. — AP galaxy one drunken nerd at a time”) planned early screenings of wheels,” krewe co-founder Ryan Ballard said ahead of the march. hundred early participants to roughly 1,000 now. Their annual “Star Wars: The Force Awakens” for 100 of its officers. The first Ballard said the krewe’s genesis dates back about six years to Mardi Gras season parade generally takes a different meander-

Members of the Intergalactic Krewe of Chewbacchus gather in front of a bar in the French Quarter, Thursday, Dec 17, 2015, in New Orleans.— AP ‘Force Awakens’ on track for record weekend

SUNDAY, DECEMBER 20, 2015 38

Fans dressed as Star Wars characters parade outside a movie theater showing “Star Wars: The Force Awakens” yesterday in Taipei, Taiwan. — AP

Fired woman’s Facebook plea Police talk tough on Star Wars spoilers brings help for Christmas hiladelphia’s police department says it would crack down on online Star Wars spoilers if it could. A photo posted on the department’s hen Elizabeth Garcia looked at the bare area under is absolutely ridiculous how many presents are under there,” “And we don’t like the new norm. But it is what it is.” Garcia P Facebook page shows two storm troopers seemingly her Christmas tree and considered the bills that had she said. “If I wouldn’t have put the (Facebook) post up, I prob- was hired by a local laundry, and she’s also selling homemade getting arrested on South Street. The caption reads been mounting since her last job layoff, she knew ably wouldn’t have been able to get my kids any presents at food to get by until she can find another oil field job. She W “No, posting #StarWarsForceAwakens spoilers online she had to do something to give her family a merry holiday. all.” hopes to make North Dakota her permanent home; she likes is not a crime. Yes, it should be.” It adds that “any ille- She turned to social media. Garcia, a single divorced mother who moved to Watford the schools and her kids are happy, she said. gal Sith behavior will still be prosecuted to the fullest Garcia, 33, one of thousands of North Dakota residents to City in the western North Dakota oil patch from Colorado in And that was before the outpouring of support from her extent of the law.” House Speaker Paul Ryan chimed lose their jobs during oil’s current downturn, went public with 2012 to start a new life, was laid off last summer from her job Facebook post. She has lived in many states, she said, and “I in on the matter Wednesday, pinning the police her plight on Facebook. She offered to sell a camper she had with a company building a natural gas plant. She later was laid don’t think this would have happened anywhere else.” “There department’s stance to his Twitter feed with the com- bought earlier this year for $500 so that she could give a real off from welding and carpentry jobs. The North Dakota are more warm people here than anywhere else I’ve ever ment “Knew we forgot to put something in the Christmas to her son, 8, and daughter, 5. Petroleum Council estimates as many as 20,000 workers have lived,” Garcia said. — AP omnibus.” The Wisconsin Republican was referring to Although she got no offers for the camper, the replies lost their jobs in the current oil downturn. a bill that requires one vote but combines several brought her to tears. A store offered to let her pick out pres- “There’s a new norm,” Louis “Mac” McLeod, executive direc- measures. — AP ents for her kids. People donated toys, store gift cards and tor of the Minot Area Homeless Coalition, said of people strug- grocery store cards. “If you saw my Christmas tree right now, it gling and agencies like his working overtime to help them. Mazayin Dhafra Camel Festival

Camels walk along sand dunes in the Mazayin Dhafra Camel Festival in the desert near the city of Madinat Zayed, 150 kms west of Abu Dhabi, on December 19, 2015. The festival, which attracts participants from around the Gulf region, includes a camel beauty contest, a display of UAE handcrafts and other activities aimed at promoting the country’s folklore. — AFP photos

An Emirati man prepares camels for the Mazayin Dhafra Camel Festival in the desert. Emirati competitors take part in the Mazayin Dhafra Camel Festival. Emirati men release their Arabian Saluki dogs.