JAMADA ALAWWAL 22, 1439 AH THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 8, 2018

Max 27º 32 Pages Min 10º 150 Fils Established 1961

ISSUE NO: 17452 The First Daily in the Arabian Gulf www.kuwaittimes.net

Crown Prince represents Amir N Korean leader’s sister to visit Los Angeles Times sold to Cavs buried by Orlando as 3 at Saudi Al-Janadriyah festival 8 S Korea for Winter Olympics 11 local biotech billionaire 16 Harden bags 15,000th point

‘Murdered maid’ found in freezer of closed flat

Alleged ‘killer couple’ left Kuwait more than a year ago

By Ben Garcia and A Saleh

KUWAIT: The body of an unidentified woman was found in the freezer of an apartment by police yesterday. The body of the woman, thought to be a Filipina domes- Zain reports KD 160 million in net tic helper, was discovered after police entered the flat in Salmiya after a court order was issued. The apartment had been closed since its renters left Kuwait in income for 2017; Q4 profit up 16% November 2016. KUWAIT: Zain Group, a leading mobile For the fourth quarter of 2017, Zain Police allegedly found fatal stab wounds on the telecom innovator in eight markets across Group recorded consolidated revenues woman’s neck and torture marks across her body, and the Middle East and Africa, announces its of KD 262 million ($868 million), a similar identified her employers as the prime suspects in the consolidated financial results for the full- level to the same period in 2016. EBITDA case, a security source said. Two suspects - a Lebanese year 2017, and fourth-quarter ended Dec for the quarter reached KD 98 million man and his Syrian wife - who were renting the flat are 31, 2017. Zain now serves 46.6 million cus- ($326 million), reflecting an EBITDA wanted for questioning in the case. No immediate cause tomers, reflecting a 1 percent decrease margin of 38 percent. Net income for the of death has been announced and the woman’s identity year-on-year (Y-o-Y). For the full-year period reached KD 37 million ($124 mil- remains uncertain. 2017, Zain Group generated consolidated lion), reflecting a 16 percent increase, Philippine Ambassador to Kuwait Rene Villa was revenues of KD 1.03 billion ($3.4 billion), and representing earnings per share of 9 Chairman of the Board of Directors of Zain Vice-Chairman and Group CEO unaware of the case until contacted by Kuwait Times. down 5 percent Y-o-Y, while consolidated fils ($0.03). Zain Group Mohannad Al-Kharafi Bader Al-Kharafi “We are coordinating with the police, and while there is EBITDA for the period decreased by 19 Commenting on the results, the such a report, we are not sure about the nationality (of percent Y-o-Y to reach KD 414 million Chairman of the Board of Directors of forex challenges we face across our gy upgrades and cost optimization ini- the deceased),” the ambassador later told Kuwait Times. ($1.37 billion), reflecting an EBITDA mar- Zain Group Mohannad Al-Kharafi said: footprint.” Zain Vice-Chairman and tiatives is proving successful as we Philippines President Rodrigo Duterte recently imple- gin of 40 percent. Consolidated net “The company’s performance during Group CEO Bader Al-Kharafi said: “The recorded growth in several key financial mented a ban on Filipinos working in Kuwait, citing cas- income reached KD 160 million ($527 mil- 2017 and especially the last quarter of ongoing implementation of our digital metrics across many of our key markets es of abuse and mistreatment including a high profile lion), up 2 percent and reflecting earnings the year is very pleasing given the vari- lifestyle strategy combined with sub- for the full-year and fourth-quarter of case of a Filipina domestic helper committing suicide. per share of 39 fils ($0.13). ous operational, regulatory, social and stantial investment in network technolo- 2017.” (See Page 17) There are about 265,000 Filipinos in Kuwait, of which 165,000 are working as domestic helpers.

not final. The two lawmakers were convicted among 67 Opposition MPs opposition MPs and activists for storming the National Assembly building in 2011 following a street demon- stration against corruption. stage sit-in for Meanwhile, the Assembly yesterday was adjourned prematurely for a lack of quorum, and as a result, could jailed lawmakers not vote on a draft law setting the number of stateless people or bedoons who could be naturalized this year, By B Izzak and another legislation to allow bedoons to join the Kuwaiti army. After a brief debate, acting speaker Essa KUWAIT: About 15 opposition MPs yesterday staged Al-Kandari adjourned the session as he did not have a sit-in at the National Assembly in support of calls to the required number to vote on the bills, although 14 release two jailed opposition lawmakers and activists MPs submitted a motion for not ending the session on charges of storming the National Assembly. During before a vote. the Assembly session, the lawmakers placed the pic- Some opposition MPs charged that the lack of quorum tures of MPs Waleed Al-Tabtabaei and Jamaan Al- was deliberate and orchestrated by the government to Harbash on their seats to press for calls to release them prevent the vote. About 110,000 bedoons live in Kuwait, after almost two and a half months in jail. some of whom are deprived of basic human rights of After the session was adjourned prematurely, the employment and even marriage. A number of MPs even lawmakers moved their protest to the members’ hall in doubted that the new legislation is sufficient to guarantee the main building and sat there for some time. The pro- that bedoons will be employed in the army. Others testers included MPs Al-Humaidi Al-Subaei, Riyadh Al- demanded that the law should guarantee that bedoons Adasani, Mohammad Hayef and others. The lawmakers secure jobs everywhere and not only in the army. have been demanding that Harbash and Tabtabaei In other business, the Assembly voted unanimously should be released because they are sitting MPs and to ask the government to refer a report on suspected KUWAIT: Opposition MPs - one of them holding a portrait of jailed MP Jamaan Al-Harbash - stage a sit-in at the enjoy parliamentary immunity, and that their sentence is Continued on Page 11 National Assembly yesterday. — Photo by Fouad Al-Shaikh

Rescuers scour tilting World’s biggest buildings after quake rocket soars HUALIEN, Taiwan: Rescue workers quake hit the popular tourist city late toward Mars after pulled survivors and bodies from Tuesday. The national fire agency said buildings tilting precariously in the seven people had been killed across Taiwanese city of Hualien yesterday the city, and 260 were injured. Some perfect launch after an overnight earthquake killed at 67 people remained unaccounted for CAPE CANAVERAL: The world’s most pow- least seven people, injured more than late yesterday evening. erful rocket, SpaceX’s Falcon Heavy, blasted 250 and left dozens missing. There were grave concerns for the off Tuesday on its highly anticipated maiden Emergency responders were focusing badly leaning Yun Tsui residential test flight, carrying CEO Elon Musk’s cherry on a 12-storey apartment block and a building, which also housed a restau- red Tesla Roadster toward an orbit near Mars. nearby hotel, both of which were lean- rant, shops and a hostel. Dozens of Screams and cheers erupted at mission control ing dangerously with their lower floors residents - and several pets - were in Cape Canaveral, Florida as the massive pancaked after the 6.4-magnitude Continued on Page 11 rocket fired its 27 engines and rumbled into the blue sky over the same NASA launchpad that served as a base for the US missions to This still image taken from video shows “Starman” sitting in SpaceX CEO Elon Musk’s the Moon four decades ago. cherry red Tesla roadster after the Falcon Heavy rocket delivered it into orbit around the “The mission went as well as one could Earth on Tuesday. — AFP have hoped,” an ecstatic Musk told reporters after the launch, calling it “probably the most exciting thing I have seen literally ever”. “I Galaxy”. The Roadster was also outfitted with After surviving a five-hour journey had this image of a giant explosion on the pad a data storage unit containing Isaac Asimov’s through the Van Allen Belt - a region of high with a wheel bouncing down the road with science fiction book series, the Foundation radiation - the car now embarks on a journey the Tesla logo landing somewhere,” he said. Trilogy, and a plaque bearing the names of through space that could last a billion years “Fortunately that is not what happened.” 6,000 SpaceX employees. and take it as far as 400 million km from Loaded with Musk’s red Tesla and a man- Musk posted a live video showing the Earth, the same as a trip around the equator nequin in a spacesuit, the monster rocket’s “Starman” mannequin appearing to cruise, its 10,000 times. “Maybe it will be discovered by historic test voyage captured the world’s gloved hand on the wheel, through the dark- some future alien race,” Musk told reporters. imagination. ness of space, with the Earth’s image reflect- “What were these guys doing? Did they wor- SpaceX’s webcast showed the Tesla ed on the car’s glossy red surface. He tweeted ship this car?” he mused. Roadster soaring into space, as David Bowie’s late Tuesday night that the rocket’s upper About two minutes into the flight, the two “Space Oddity” played in the background - stage had made a successful final burn, send- side boosters peeled away from the center HUALIEN, Taiwan: Rescue workers block off yesterday the area outside a build- with the words “DON’T PANIC” visible on ing the car and its mannequin passenger out core and made their way back toward Earth ing which tilted to one side after a strong quake rocked eastern Taiwan. —AFP the dashboard, in an apparent nod to the sci- of Earth’s orbit, into an orbit around the Sun for an upright landing. fi series the “Hitchhiker’s Guide to the that brings it close to Mars. Continued on Page 11 2 Established 1961 Local Thursday, February 8, 2018 Kuwait to host international NGOs conference to feed 1 billion people 70 organizations partake in humanitarian conference

WASHINGTON/KUWAIT: Kuwait will host an annual The conference on providing humanitarian support international NGOs partnership conference to feed one aims at easing the suffering and healing the wounds of billion people, said Chairman of the International Iraqi victims, without discrimination based on race, Islamic Charitable Organization (IICO) Abdullah Al- religion or any other considerations, only consistent Maatouq. The announcement came as a response to an with its principles, human and moral values. initiative to feed the poor of all religions and ethnicities, Sumait pointed out that the Kuwaiti Cabinet has launched during the Alliance of Virtue for the Common entrusted IICO to organize the conference, noting as Good conference, held in Washington late Tuesday. In well that IICO has formed a higher committee to pre- his speech during the conference, Maatouq, also Amiri pare for the conference and established a number of Diwan Advisor, said that the event aims to promote dia- administrative and logistics teams. IICO chief noted logue and peace between all religions and protect also that his organization has also coordinated efforts human rights. He noted that Islam is based on tolerance, with the Kuwaiti Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Kuwait dignified living and equality among all humans. Fund for Arab Economic Development (KFAED) along Maatouq added that the world is in desperate need with the Iraqi officials, to ensure the success of the for peaceful dialogue in conference and achieve the light of the ongoing its humanitarian goals. religious extremism and Sumait pointed out conflicts. Meanwhile, he that the IICO has sent said that participants in invitations to more than KUWAIT: Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs Khaled Al- WASHINGTON: Chairman of the International Islamic Charitable the conference are push- Kuwait aids 100 local, regional and Jarallah delivers a speech during the ninth seminar on Organization Abdullah Al-Maatouq speaks during the Alliance ing to create an interna- international organiza- Kuwait’s humanitarian work yesterday. of Virtue for the Common Good conference. — KUNA photos tional alliance for all reli- disaster-struck tions and many leading gions and peace activists figures and active inter- humanitarian platform to collect and activate local, Fund for Arab Economic Development (KFAED) which to face the growing chal- countries national organizations in regional, and international humanitarian aid, and to ful- executed projects in 106 countries, as well as Kuwait lenges. The conference is the humanitarian field, in ly comprehend the humanitarian situation in Iraq, Red Crescent Society (KRCS), Zakat House, Awqaf attended by hundreds of addition to the confer- including announcing pledges and contributions in General Secretariat and charitable societies. The sem- people of different reli- ence’ agenda, its vision support of the humanitarian situation in the affected inar, held in cooperation with the United Nations High gions around the world. and objectives, indicat- areas of Iraq. Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR), aims to shed The event includes a dis- ing that the response so Sumait said that the conference is expected to wit- light on Kuwait’s great humanitarian role to aid those cussion seminar on the role of religious virtue and far is great and exceeds expectations, which are impor- ness a number of meetings during which prominent affected by natural disasters and conflicts, he said. common good, as well as the Washington Declaration tant indicators regarding the conference. figures that work in the humanitarian field, at home and Meanwhile, the Deputy Foreign Minister noted that which will be issued at the end of the conference. abroad to share and talk about the humanitarian situa- Kuwait’s Direct Aid Society had provided over $1.5 Prominent entities tion in Iraq, exchange experiences of some organiza- billion to the African continent since 1981, while Rahma Iraq’s support Sumait said that among prominent entities partici- tions in the relief of the affected and the basic needs of International charity provided about $1 million since In the meantime, IICO announced yesterday that 70 pating in the conference are the International the millions of displaced Iraqis. 2003. Kuwait also donated $200 million to Iraq and humanitarian organizations, including 30 regional and Committee for the Red Cross (ICRC), United Nations With regard to follow-up mechanism after the con- $100 million for Yemen to boost education, health and international agencies, 25 from Iraq and 15 Kuwaiti High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR), the United ference, Sumait said that IICO is scheduled to issue water networks in these two countries deeply affected organizations, will participate at the NGO Conference Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian periodic reports on implementation of the pledges, and by war and conflicts. Moreover, he spoke of Kuwait’s to Support the Humanitarian Situation in Iraq sched- Affairs (OCHA), and the International Federation of they have called upon participating organizations to international conference to reconstruct Iraq to be held uled on Monday. Chairman of the Higher Committee Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC), and provide the committee with quarterly reports on its next week, as part of Kuwait’s commitment to aid peo- and IICO Director General Bader Al-Sumait made the many other international organizations. humanitarian programs to be implemented in Iraq dur- ple in need everywhere. The conference will see the remarks in a press conference yesterday. Sumait added that GCC organizations participating ing the year 2018. participation of about 70 countries and over 2,000 Sumait announced readiness to host the conference in the conference are the International Islamic Relief companies and businessmen. of non-governmental organizations to support the Organization in Jeddah, the Royal Foundation of Humanitarian projects Jarallah added that Kuwait had pledged about $1.6 humanitarian situation in Iraq, and the reconstruction Bahrain, the Qatar Charity Association, as well as Separately, Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs billion in donors conferences for Syria. The country’s of Iraq conference, which will be hosted in Kuwait next Kuwaiti charitable societies, the Kuwaiti Red Crescent, Khaled Al-Jarallah said that Kuwait continues to exe- recent pledge at London’s donors conference for Syria week. Sumait added that supporting the humanitarian the Turkish Iraq, Qatar, and Bahrain Red Crescents. cute humanitarian projects around the world to devel- was $300 million to be provided within three years. It situation in Iraq comes within the framework of Sumait pointed out that the aim of the conference is op life for people in need. Kuwaiti governmental bod- also donated $15 million to support the Rohingya Kuwait’s pioneering humanitarian stance, which is to have an active humanitarian assistance, basic needs ies and NGOs are continuously exerting efforts to sup- Muslims during an international conference on the reflected in its hosting the Kuwait International in the affected areas in Iraq, and activate efforts of port economic and social growth in disaster-struck matter. As for the meeting of the US-led international Conference for the Reconstruction of Iraq (KICRI) local, regional and international humanitarian organiza- countries, Jarallah said in his opening speech at the coalition against the so-called Islamic State (IS) on during the same week, and under the patronage and tions to implement their programs and projects in Iraq. ninth seminar on Kuwait’s humanitarian work, organ- Foreign Ministers level to be held in Kuwait on leadership of His Highness the Amir Sheikh Sabah Al- He stressed that the International Islamic Charitable ized by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs yesterday. February 13, Jarallah said the meeting will be the first Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah. Organization looks forward to the conference as a In this matter, he mentioned the efforts of Kuwait since the defeat of IS in Iraq. — KUNA

Council should also abide by other articles Kuwait calls for of the Charter to boost its legitimacy and Kuwait’s Finance credibility, like imposition of sanctions and enhanced formation of peacekeeping forces. Otaibi referred to the use of veto by Minister pins the UNSC permanent members, and said UNSC role “over-use of veto by some of the five per- hopes on Iraq manent countries contributed in many towards global cases to undermining the credibility of the decision-making process.” The veto, he reconstruction peace, security added, also banned the UNSC from car- rying out its role to maintaining interna- conference tional peace and security. “The use of veto NEW YORK: The UN Security Council’s by some of the permanent members over (UNSC) role could be enhanced to enable the past years showed how these coun- KUWAIT/BAGHDAD: A Kuwait-hosted con- it carry out its responsibility in line with tries were eager to defend their national ference on reconstruction in war-battered the UN Charter, the State of Kuwait said interest or interest of their allies,” he said. Iraq could prove instrumental in taking bilat- KUWAIT: A group photo of Kuwait’s Finance Minister Dr Nayef Al-Hajraf with a contingent of Iraqi Tuesday. UN member countries’ contribu- Kuwait, said Otaibi, was among the sig- eral ties to new levels, Kuwait’s finance minis- journalists taken yesterday in Kuwait. — KUNA tions to decision-making is still weak natories of a document in which UNSC ter said yesterday. Kuwait’s ties with its Gulf because of work mechanism and lack of members pledged not to oppose draft neighbor goes far beyond their intertwined transparency, all under pretext of main- resolutions that address crimes against fates, Dr Nayef Al-Hajraf said on the sidelines conference, where international organizations European and Gulf countries. taining efficiency and fast decision-mak- humanity, genocides and war crimes. “We of his meeting with a contingent of Iraqi jour- and dozens of governments are expected to Participation requests by firms in the event ing process, Mansour Al-Otaibi, Kuwait hope we can reach an agreement through nalists, ahead of the ‘Kuwait International announce financial aid to Iraq. have exceeded the number of assigned seats, permanent representative to the UN, said. which no veto will be used in humanitarian Conference for the Reconstruction of Iraq’ he said, noting the conference has asked the He was speaking before a formal issues like allowing delivery of urgent next week. The Kuwaiti minister stressed that Large investments participating countries to invite their major UNSC open discussion session about the relief assistances for civilians, medical his country is proud to host an event of such Iraq’s Prime Minister Haidar Al-Abadi had companies to the event. The Iraqi Premier council’s work methods, aimed at improv- evacuation and humanitarian truce,” he magnitude, expressing hope that the His predicted his country to host a large number also affirmed his country’s willingness to host ing way the council works to improve its said. Kuwait hopes this UNSC open dis- Highness the Amir-hosted meeting will lead to of investments by several internationally large investments after the conference, noting capabilities to maintaining global peace cussion, the first since July 2016, would success. renowned companies after Kuwait’s confer- Iraq has now become an attractive business and security. allow all parties to express their views to Hajraf pointed out that stability in Baghdad ence on reconstruction in Iraq. Investors are venue for investors. No miracles are expected Otaibi, who chairs UNSC for February, improve work methods of the Council. is key to keep security in the region intact, no longer worried about security issues in from the conference,” he said, explaining that said the Security Council witnessed many “We wish to hear views of everybody so noting that Kuwait will always live up to its Iraq, Abadi said in a press conference the event, however, is part of a number of improvements over the past 25 years, we can keep working to improve working reputation as a bastion of humanity and Tuesday, adding Baghdad has received con- steps within a comprehensive program for including flow of information to and from methods of the Security Council, and to peace. The Iraqi journalists will be meeting firmations by a number of key countries to reconstruction of Iraq. Over 400 international the UNSC, the increase in formal sessions, build upon previous efforts of our prede- with officials from across Kuwait’s political attend the conference, including the United businesses are expected to attend the event, participation of NGOs and civil society cessors,” he said. spectrum in the run up to the February 12-14 States, China, and Japan, in addition to alongside dozens of governments. — KUNA groups. “These are positive improvement Otaibi commended role of Japan which specially for non-permanent members,” he contributed to issuing Memo 507 last said. Although these improvements August. This memo, he added, has great improved transparency of UNSC, he said, benefits because it allowed new members, “we think it is not enough and believe in like Kuwait, to monitor UNSC sessions involvement of member countries, espe- three months before start of their mem- cially those related to the question being bership. Such practice, among many oth- raised, and to have consultations before ers, allows new members to blend adoption of resolutions, in line with smoothly into the council working mecha- Articles 31 and 32 of the UN Charter.” nism, he said. Kuwait is in its second He said at a time Article 25 of the month of its UNSC membership, said Charter called for member countries’ Otaibi, but exerted efforts to guarantee compliance with UNSC resolutions, the transparency and inclusiveness. — KUNA

KJA holds general assembly

KUWAIT: Kuwait Journalists for half an hour, after which it will be Association (KJA) invited members to held with whoever is present as stipulat- an ordinary general assembly meeting at ed by article 29 of KJA’s chart. Only KUWAIT: The Ambassador of Iran to Kuwait Dr Ali Enayati hosted a reception on the occasion of his country’s national day. Senior offi- 3:30 pm on Monday, February 12, 2018. members who paid their annual sub- cials, diplomats, cross section of the Iranian community and media persons attended the event which took place recently at Salwa Al- KJA also announces that in case of lack scriptions as of Thursday, February 1st, Sabah Hall. — Photos by Yasser Al-Zayyat of quorum, the meeting will be delayed 2018 are eligible to attend, KJA noted. Established 1961 3 Local Thursday, February 8, 2018 Crown Prince represents Amir at Janadriyah opening Defense Minister holds talks with Saudi official

KUWAIT: First Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Defense Sheikh Nasser Sabah Al- RIYADH: His Highness the Crown Prince Sheikh Nawaf Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah attends the inauguration ceremony of the 32nd Janadriyah Ahmad Al-Sabah meets with the Advisor at the Saudi Royal Court Prince Turki bin festival. — KUNA photos Mohammad bin Fahd bin Abdulaziz.

RIYADH/KUWAIT: Representative of His Nasser Sabah Al-Ahmad Al-Sabah discussed Highness the Amir Sheikh Sabah Al-Ahmad yesterday with the visiting Advisor at the Al-Jaber Al-Sabah, His Highness the Crown Saudi Royal Court, Prince Turki bin Prince Sheikh Nawaf Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al- Mohammad bin Fahd bin Abdulaziz issues of Sabah, yesterday attended the inauguration common concern. The Ministry of Defense ceremony of the 32nd national festival for her- said in a statement that Minister Sheikh Sabah itage and culture ‘Janadriyah’. The cultural and Al-Ahmad lauded the bilateral ties between folkloric festival is themed ‘Glory and Vision’. the State of Kuwait and the Kingdom of Saudi His Highness Sheikh Nawaf’s visit came in Arabia. Saudi Ambassador to Kuwait Dr response to an invitation extended by the Abdulaziz Al-Fayez attended the meeting. Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Separately, Minister Sheikh Nasser Salman bin Abdulaziz to His Highness the Amir received the Turkish Ambassador to Kuwait, to attend the inauguration ceremony which Aisha Hilal, holding talks on issues of common took place in Riyadh. interest. Similar discussions were held with First Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Defense Sheikh First Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Defense Sheikh In other news, Kuwait’s First Deputy Prime the Algerian Ambassador to Kuwait Nasser Sabah Al-Ahmad Al-Sabah meets with Turkish Ambassador Nasser Sabah Al-Ahmad Al-Sabah meets with Algerian Minister and Minister of Defense Sheikh Abdulhamid Abdawi. — KUNA to Kuwait Aisha Hilal. Ambassador to Kuwait Abdulhamid Abdawi.

break into her home in Al-Nabi Saleh Kuwait renews village in the West Bank in late December, 2017. Roudhan arrived in Ramallah from commitment to Jordan aboard a helicopter to take part in the two-day conference. He was Palestinian warmly welcomed by Palestinian President who appreciated Kuwait sup- port to the Palestinian people. The con- cause ference follows the decision of the Islamic youth forum for dialogue and cooperation - the youth arm of the RAMALLAH: Representative of His Organization of Islamic Cooperation Highness the Amir of Kuwait, Minister (OIC), to show solidarity with the of Commerce and Industry Khaled Al- Palestinian people particularly the Arab Roudhan on Tuesday evening reaf- residents of Jerusalem. firmed his country’s commitment to supporting the Palestinian people. Great support In an address to the opening session Meanwhile, Abbas welcomed as of the ‘Jerusalem Islamic Youth Capital great demonstration of support the 2018’ conference on Tuesday evening, conference of the conference which Roudhan said he is attending the con- was held in the West Bank city of ference to convey a message of solidar- Ramallah. “This great demonstration is ity from His Highness the Amir Sheikh a timely response to the allegations of Sabah Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah, some people to associate the holy city the government and people of Kuwait. to parties other than the Arabs, Muslims The event was attended by Palestinian and Christians,” he said at the opening President Mahmoud Abbas. “Kuwait - ceremony of the conference on Tuesday the country of peace and freedom - evening. President Abbas thanked the believes in the fair cause of Palestine attendees for offering the much-needed which remains to be the top cause of political and moral support to the the Muslim world,” he stressed. Palestinian people, voicing hope that “As Humanitarian Leader, His “the Arab and Muslim brothers” will Highness the Amir and the government continue their support until a political and people of Kuwait remain steadfast settlement to the conflict with Israel is in support of Palestine reached. question,”Roudhan, also minister of Referring to the US decision to rec- state for youth affairs, pointed out. He ognize Jerusalem as capital of Israel, he noted that he came from Kuwait, the reiterated that the US decided to capital of Arab youth 2017, to join the undermine its own credibility as media- celebration of Jerusalem designation as tor and sponsor of the Middle East Islamic Youth Capital 2018. He peace process. The US administration expressed hope that the Muslim youth seeks to exclude from the agenda of the would work diligently for the progress Palestinian-Israeli final status peace and prosperity of their countries. talks not only Jerusalem issue but that Roudhan added that Palestine - the of the refugees as well, he said, citing cradle of holy faith, and Jerusalem - the the recent US decision to withhold big capital of the State of Palestine - will part of funding for the UNRWA. The remain the main concern and central conference, hosted by the Palestinian question for every Muslim. He paid presidency, gathered senior level dele- tribute to Ahed Al-Tamimi - a gates from the Arab countries, including Palestinian female teenager who was Representative of His Highness the Amir detained by the Israeli occupation of Kuwait, Minister of Commerce and forces for resisting their attempt to Industry Khaled Al-Roudhan — KUNA

RAMALLAH: Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas gestures during the ‘Jerusalem Islamic Youth Capital 2018’ conference. —KUNA 4 Established 1961 Local Thursday, February 8, 2018

Photo of the Day

KUWAIT: Ariel view of Kuwait City during sunset. —KUNA KFSD looks to benefit from int’l experiences in major event Fifth International Firefighting and Safety Conference and Exhibition By Nawara Fattahova “They discussed issues such as training on dealing with high-rise buildings and researches, studies and others. Due KUWAIT: The Kuwait Fire Service Directorate (KFSD) to our interest in training, we signed a cooperation proto- will hold the Fifth International Firefighting and Safety col with a German university specialized in firefighting sci- Conference and Exhibition from March 6 to 8, 2018 titled ences,” stressed Tarkait. ‘Researches and Studies’. It will be held under the patron- Director of the Ahmadi Fire Service Directorate and head age of His Highness the Prime Minister Sheikh Jaber Al- of the Shamel 4 team Moath Al-Hamadi noted that the next Mubarak Al-Sabah. training session will be in cooperation with various local The event will be attended by representatives of fire- authorities and will be part of the upcoming event. “The fighting departments from training will consist of deal- the GCC countries and ing with fire and explosions Jordan, in addition to sev- at an oil refinery, unlike the en international organiza- previous three trainings tions. “We are keen to Encouraging that dealt with traffic acci- benefit from international dents, a collision between conferences, especially firefighters to two aircraft with debris the recommendations of falling in a residential area, these conferences,” said follow latest and dealing with floods,” Acting Director General he pointed out. of KFSD and Deputy researches Dr Hani Al-Habani, Director General of the supervisor of the work- Human Resource shops, said the main goal Development Affairs of the conference is to Sector Maj Gen Khaled encourage the firefighters Al-Tarkait during a press conference held yesterday at the to follow the latest international researches. “This year’s Regency Hotel to announce the event. conference will include the Shamel 4 exercise, which is one “The previous conferences were behind launching the of the most important exercises in Kuwait, in which 13 pub- hazardous material center and the technical rescue center. lic authorities will be participating,” he said. The supervisor These two centers played a key role in dealing with many of the event Abbas Ali highlighted the fact that all the previ- major accidents, the latest of which was two days back ous conferences were very useful for all participating bod- KUWAIT: Acting Director General of KFSD Maj Gen Khaled Al-Tarkait (center) and other KFSD officials when poisonous gases spread in a house in Khaldiya,” he ies. He added they are considering holding live training attend the press conference. —Photo by Joseph Shagra said. The previous conferences focused on many issues. exercises at event sites, but this proposal is under study.

Kuwait funds WHO nies, as well as small and medium-size Kuwait Expo enterprises. The expo, said Roumi, would contribute to better economic, trade and efforts to address investment cooperation, as well as 2018 launched exchanging of expertise and building a network of relations. Investors will have a health crises KUWAIT: Minister of Public Works good venue to seal deals during Expo, he Hussam Al-Roumi said Tuesday Kuwait said, and Kuwaiti manufacturers would be GENEVA: A Kuwaiti diplomat said yesterday that his country is eager to Expo 2018 was part of efforts to honor displaying their products. There are 140 finance the World Health Organization’s (WHO) Contingency Fund for His Highness the Amir’s vision to trans- companies from 30 countries participat- Emergencies (CFE). The $500,000 initiative is being done on a voluntary form Kuwait into a regional and interna- ing in the Expo. basis to prop up a funding mechanism established to scale up WHO’s tional financial and commercial hub. New Kuwait 2035 vision aims at mak- responses to global epidemics, Kuwait’s permanent delegate to the United Roumi, also Minister of State for ing the North Gulf country a lucrative Nations Ambassador Jamal Al-Ghunaim said. Municipal Affairs, told reporters after foreign investment environment, said As he emerged from a meeting with the Executive Director of WHO’s inauguration of Kuwait Expo 2018, held Roumi. The government and parliament emergencies program Peter Salama, Ghunaim said that the purpose of the of Kuwait, said Roumi, produced a num- under auspices of His Highness the Amir Kuwaiti aid is to ensure the UN health body is fully equipped to deal with GENEVA: Kuwait’s permanent delegate to the United Nations ber of financial, economic and invest- Sheikh Sabah Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al- critical cases. He spoke of Kuwait’s robust relationship with WHO and the Ambassador Jamal Al-Ghunaim (left) meets with the Executive ment laws that would make the economic Sabah, that Expo was part of a series of country’s close rapport with the health organization in an effort to amelio- Director of WHO’s emergencies program Peter Salama.— KUNA environment more “open, transparent events contributing to “the development rate the healthcare system in Kuwait. and attractive.” The five-day Expo of relations in different domains.” Meanwhile, Salama revealed that WHO will be attending a Kuwait- includes side-line exhibitions, like the causes, “the WHO official pointed out, saying the meeting would help Kuwait Expo 2018, he added, would be hosted conference on reconstruction in Iraq, a country whose healthcare SMEs, Maker Fair and knowledge-based put Iraq on the path to stability.” He echoed the Kuwaiti envoy’s senti- a suitable opportunity to know first-hand sector lies in ruin after years of warfare. “This star-studded conference economy. —KUNA ments and noted that WHO shares a very special relationship with the local, regional and international compa- is a testament to Kuwait’s profound contributions towards humanitarian Gulf country. —KUNA Established 1961 5 Local Thursday, February 8, 2018 Twenty-five projects to help address traffic jams: Official Pre-project monitoring hinders implementation

By A Saleh

KUWAIT: Director of the roads and land transport authority Ahmed Al-Hessan said the authority has 25 Municipality praised projects in progress and that most of them will be inau- gurated this year. Hessan added that the most important for tackling of those projects are the southern roads linking Mina Abdullah, Wafra and Sabah Al-Ahmad City, as well as the northern ones linking North Khairan, Sabah Al- violations Ahmad and the Zour-Wafra road. Hessan said like other government bodies, the By Meshaal Al-Enezi Ministry of Public Works (MPW) has suffered a lot because of lengthy paperwork, adding that the roads KUWAIT: Former municipal council member Ali Al- authority is trying to overcome such deterrents. “We Moussa hailed the measures taken against construc- tion violations as well as against officials who had not been doing their duties properly. Moussa described the measures taken by Kuwait Municipality in coordi- nation with the Interior Ministry to remove violations Kuwait 390th in by force as a ‘brave decision’ that proves that execu- tives are working on putting an end to such a negative global traffic phenomenon. Moussa added that many citizens had violated scorecard construction laws by building extra unlicensed floors in various areas, which is illegal and alters the gener- al aesthetic features of any residential area. “Some citizens have gone too far by building up to five floors,” he added, highly commending the decision by are trying to cancel pre-project monitoring, which Minister of State for Municipal Affairs Hossam Al- had been hindering many projects. We are almost the Roumi and Kuwait Municipality Director Ahmed Al- only country in the world to have such a system,” he Manfouhi to face this issue and equally enforce the said, adding that several other projects will com- law on everyone. mence this year. Meanwhile, Manfouhi stressed that the Municipality does its best to enhance its supervisory 390th worldwide role, and in order to do so, it plans to use satellite KUWAIT: Vehicles drive by an overpass under construction in Kuwait. images by the beginning of 2019 and thus become a According to the INRIX 2017 Global Traffic — Photo by Yasser Al-Zayyat Scorecard about the most congested cities in the world, pioneer in using this modern technology. He was speaking after signing a contract with the Openware Los Angeles topped the list, while Kuwait was ranked company for computer consultancies of a total value 390th, following last year’s ranking of 325. The study (which came ninth) with 69 hours. Administrative interference of KD 97,000 to provide the service. also showed that individuals spent around 22 hours a Country-wise, the study showed that Thailand The government performance follow-up agency Openware General Manager Eyad Arab said the year behind the wheel in traffic jams (ie 10 percent of topped the list of countries where drivers spent the urged various ministries to counter any administrative contract will go into effect within a month and time daily). longest hours behind the wheel, followed by Indonesia, interference in services and liabilities with the aim of stressed that his company is completely ready to meet Asia-wise, Kuwait came fifth amongst Arab cities Colombia and Venezuela, while Russia came sixth fol- simplifying procedures, improving government per- all the terms and conditions in the contract. “We are after Riyadh, Dubai, Jeddah and Fujairah, and 22nd in lowed by the US and Brazil. The INRIX study analyzed formance and enhancing work efficiency. The Ministry thrilled with this project which will track changes in Asia. The study also showed that commuters in Los data collected from 38 countries and 1,360 cities, and of Commerce and Industry denied any contradictions urban areas around Kuwait through satellite images,” Angeles spent 102 hours last year in traffic congestions, estimated the cost of the time wasted by drivers in of liabilities with the Central Bank and the Capital he said, noting that the new technology will help the followed by those living in Moscow and New York, who America as $1,445 annually (that includes their own as Market Authority, and stressed that the three bodies Municipality take the right decisions. Arab also noted spent 91 hours, Sao Paulo 86 hours, San Francisco 79 well as working time), which adds up to $300 billion in only cooperate according to a number of memos of that the new system will save much in terms of effort, hours, Bogota 75 hours, London 74 hours and Paris a country that has 211 million vehicles. understanding signed in this regard. manpower, time and cost.

printers, two computers, and a total of 3,978 forged 3,978 forged stamps that he admitted to making and preparing for sale. The man was taken to the proper authori- stamps found ties to face charges. Workers hurt Two laborers fell unconscious in a building under By Hanan Al-Saadoun and Agencies construction in Khaldiya while using a material to prevent water leakage. Shuhada and technical rescue KUWAIT: Police arrested a man who was under the fire centers responded and rescued the two from the influence of drugs before they discovered his basement where they had collapsed. The high con- involvement in government stamps’ forgery. centration of the material also affected one firefight- Criminal Investigation Department detectives found er and two rescue men, who were taken along with drugs and paraphernalia on the Bangladeshi man, the two workers to the hospital. All were later dis- before moving to his place where they found two charged after their condition stabilized. International THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 8, 2018 Misery for commuters as snow paralyses Paris Pakistan court convicts 31 over ‘blasphemy’ lynching Page 7 Page 8

BERLIN: (Left to right) German Chancellor Angela Merkel, leader of the conservative Christian Democratic Union (CDU), Horst Seehofer, leader of the conservative Christian Social Union (CSU) and Martin Schulz, leader of the social demo- cratic SPD party, arrive to give a press conference in Berlin yesterday after conservatives and the Social Democrats sealed a deal on a new coalition, potentially ending four months of political standstill in Europe’s top economy. — AFP German parties reach coalition deal Merkel’s conservatives make big concessions

BERLIN: German Chancellor Angela may be increased scope for government Schulz would quit as SPD leader and parlia- ties collapsed last November. Both camps and public patients, a negotiating source Merkel’s conservatives and the Social spending and investment. mentary floor leader Andrea Nahles was have seen their support wane. An Insa poll said, adding that whether it was ultimately Democrats (SPD) yesterday agreed to a In a message posted alongside a photo ready to take over. on Monday had support for the SPD drop- introduced would depend on its feasibility. coalition deal, taking Europe’s economic of Schulz and other SPD negotiators smil- Hamburg Mayor Olaf Scholz is slated to ping to 17 percent, below its election result Doctors tend to get more money for powerhouse closer to a new government ing, the SPD negotiators wrote: “Tired but take over as finance minister, according to of 20.5 percent. The conservatives slipped to treating private patients under the current after months of uncertainty that unnerved happy. There is a treaty! Finally. Now the sources familiar with the negotiations. 30.5 percent, suggesting there would be no system, so often favour them over public allies and investors. In a move likely to mean final details are being worked into the text.” Merkel’s Christian Democrats (CDU) will get majority for a grand coalition if an election patients. Florian Hense, an economist at a shift in Germany’s euro zone policy, media The agreement should allow German to the economy and defense ministries while were held now. The two blocs had aimed to Berenberg, said the labor and healthcare reported the SPD would take the finance resume its leading role in international their Bavarian allies, the Christian Social strike a deal on Sunday, but repeatedly reforms, along with more generous pension ministry, a post held until recently by conser- affairs and, at least for now, put an extended that deadline as they grap- entitlements, could be expensive. “Germany vative Wolfgang Schaeuble, widely despised end to questions about how long pled with reforms to health insurance may pay a price for them with slightly in struggling euro zone states during his Merkel will stay in her job. The full and employment policy demanded by reduced trend growth and a less solidly eight-year tenure for his rigid focus on fiscal set of 91 negotiators were to meet at the SPD. financed budget after the next recession.” discipline. 2 pm to give the deal the green light, CSU to get Interior That prospect may be a way off, however. SPD leader Martin Schulz said earlier this negotiators said. Labor measures The DIHK Chambers of Industry and week that his party had ensured an agree- Ministry; After a marathon all-night ses- Commerce raised its 2018 growth forecast ment with the conservatives would put an Multiple challenges sion, the parties ultimately agreed to for the German economy to a robust 2.7 end to “forced austerity” and set up an Investors and partner countries CDU gets cap at 18 months fixed-term con- percent. investment budget for the euro zone. had been concerned by Merkel’s fail- tracts imposed by employers with- Record-high employment, increased job Handing over the crucial finance ministry ure to assemble a government in more economy, defense out justification, down from 24 security, rising real wages and low borrow- suggests the conservatives had to make big than four months at a time when months under current rules, a source ing costs have helped to spur a consumer- concessions to get the SPD to agree to Europe faces multiple challenges, involved in coalition negotiations led upswing, strengthened recently by a renew the ‘grand coalition’ that has governed including the need for euro zone said. The source said they also rebound in exports and company invest- Germany since 2013 and secure Merkel’s reform and Britain’s looming depar- agreed to ban the endless renewal of ments. “Companies have never been more fourth term in office. ture from the EU. A negotiating source said Union (CSU), will provide the interior minis- such contracts. upbeat,” DIHK said in its latest business sur- Bruised by its worst election result in the the SPD would have the finance and labor ter in the form of Horst Seehofer, who talks The SPD had wanted to give employees vey, adding that German firms are boosting post-war era, the SPD had planned to ministries while media reported the party tough on migration, media reported. The more security by totally banning employers investment plans at an unprecedented pace. revamp itself in opposition and only agreed would also secure the justice, family and news agency DPA said the conservative act- from imposing short-term contracts without Alice Weidel, leader of the far-right to the coalition talks reluctantly. Its 464,000 environment ministries. Bild newspaper ing finance minister, Peter Altmaier, would justification. But conservatives balked, Alternative for Germany (AfD), the biggest members still have the chance to veto the reported that Schulz would become foreign become economy minister. arguing that firms needed hiring and firing opposition party, tweeted: “Things could not deal in a postal ballot. While the talks have minister, despite having previously vowed The conservative bloc and the SPD began flexibility to be competitive. On healthcare, get worse for Germany,” calling the coalition dragged on, Europe’s biggest economy has not to take a cabinet position under Merkel. talks about renewing their alliance after the parties agreed to set up a commission deal “insane” as it did not contain an upper moved into overdrive, suggesting that there Newspaper Sueddeutsche Zeitung said Merkel’s coalition talks with two smaller par- to work on a joint fee structure for private limit for migration. — Reuters

Palestinian shot dead after “All these 46 cases are from specific ‘Fake’ doctor localities within our district,” Unnao’s chief medical officer S.P. Choudhary stabbing Israeli said. “This is when we decided to dig accused of deeper. Some of the infected blamed HEBRON: A Palestinian stabbed a security the quack and his use of a single guard at the entrance to an Israeli settlement infecting syringe.” But Choudhary said Yadav, and was shot dead yesterday, the army said, who is still on the run, was unlikely to in the latest violence in the occupied West 46 Indians be the sole factor in the high number of Bank. The guard was lightly wounded at the cases. “We don’t think that the quack entrance to the Karmei Tzur settlement north doctor alone could be a factor for of Hebron, the army said in a statement. with HIV these numbers,” he said. “The area has Another security guard opened fire on the a high migrant trucker population, and HEBRON: Israeli forces check the scene at the entrance of the Israeli settlement of Karmei Tzur, north NEW DELHI: India is investigating assailant and killed him, it added. the prevalence of unprotected sex of Hebron in the occupied West Bank, after a Palestinian stabbed a security guard and was shot dead claims an unlicensed doctor infected at Palestinian security sources named him as could be the likely reason.” yesterday. — AFP least 46 people with HIV by re-using Hamza Zamareh, 17, from Halhul, near the India has 2.1 million people infected syringes, the latest case to expose the scene of the attack. Local residents said that with HIV, according to the United paucity of healthcare in the country of Israeli troops arrived at the family home Shevach. In a pre-dawn raid on the village of heroes in the occupied West Bank wrote a Nations, although the rate of infection 1.25 billion. Police in Uttar Pradesh shortly after the attack and began interrogat- Yamoun, near Jenin, troops shot dead 22- heroic epic that made the Zionists lose sleep is falling. It has an estimated 840,000 have registered a criminal case against ing relatives, while young villagers hurled year-old suspect Ahmad Jarrar, a member of and put their security establishment on alert,” doctors-one for every 1,674 people-far Rajendra Yadav, who provided cheap stones at the soldiers. The Karmei Tzur the militant Islamist group Hamas. The Shin the Al-Qassam Brigades said in a statement. fewer than the one per 1,000 people door-to-door medical services to poor attack was the fourth deadly incident in the Bet Israeli security agency said that he was It said a “Qassam bullet” was responsible for recommended by the World Health villagers in the northern state. India has West Bank since Israeli rabbi Itamar Ben Gal armed. Jarrar was the son of a Hamas figure the murder, though it was unclear if the Organization. Last week the govern- only limited public healthcare services was stabbed to death on Monday near the killed by Israeli forces during the second Hamas leadership was claiming direct ment announced a national healthcare and that, combined with a lack of regu- settlement of Ariel. intifada of the early 2000s. responsibility for the attack or whether the scheme for half a billion people, but did lation, has allowed unlicensed doctors In an apparent search for his attacker, cell acted on its own. Israeli forces had been not give details of how much it would to thrive, particularly in rural areas. The Israeli forces raided the West Bank city of ‘Qassam bullet’ hunting for the assailants since the murder, cost or how it would be funded. India latest case was exposed when govern- Nablus late Tuesday, sparking clashes that Hamas’s armed wing, the Ezzedine al- with roadblocks and checkpoints set up fol- spends a little over one percent of GDP ment medical screenings uncovered a left a Palestinian dead. Earlier on Tuesday, Qassam Brigades, claimed Jarrar as a mem- lowing the attack. Two Palestinians were on public healthcare-one of the lowest high concentration of human immunod- Israeli forces shot dead the suspected ber and welcomed the January 9 attack in killed during earlier raids which Israeli secu- proportions in the world-a sum the eficiency virus (HIV) cases in the Palestinian mastermind of a fatal January which Shevach was shot dead in what Israeli rity services said were launched to find government is aiming to increase to 2.5 Unnao district of Uttar Pradesh. ambush on another settler rabbi, Raziel media said was a hail of 22 bullets. “Our Shevach’s killers. — AFP percent by 2025. — AFP Established 1961 7 International Thursday, February 8, 2018 Maldives top court makes a U-turn, reverses rulings Maldives president back in control

MALE: Maldives President Abdulla Yameen later this year in the honeymoon islands. A pelago. The streets of the capital Male were appeared yesterday to have gained the upper statement on Yameen’s website yesterday said calm yesterday with only a limited police pres- hand in a bitter power struggle after a dimin- his administration welcomed the court’s U-turn, ence and no sign of any repeat of the opposition ished Supreme Court reinstated the convictions which the judges had said was made “in light of protests that broke out last week. of high-profile political dissidents including the the concerns raised by the president”. Yameen has had almost all the political exiled leader of the opposition. The tiny island Nasheed, the first democratically elected opposition jailed since he came to power, in an nation, whose palm-fringed sandy beaches are a leader of the Maldives, has accused the presi- escalating crackdown on dissent. This week he major tourist draw, was plunged into crisis last dent of acting illegally and urged international ordered the arrest of his estranged half-brother, week when the top court ordered the release of intervention in the crisis. On Tuesday he called former president Maumoon Abdul Gayoom, who nine political prisoners, saying their convictions on regional superpower India to send in troops last year sided with the opposition. Gayoom- were flawed. to free the judges and the political detainees. president for 30 years until the country’s first The ruling appeared to pave the way for the But that is not considered likely in a country democratic elections in 2008 - was the only return of Mohamed Nasheed, the country’s first where Chinese influence is on the rise. In a senior opposition figure still at liberty in the democratically elected president and now leader statement, India said it was “disturbed” by the Maldives before his arrest on Monday. of the opposition, two years after he left his president’s latest moves and was monitoring the Nasheed yesterday demanded his release, homeland following a controversial terrorism situation closely, but did not directly address saying the 80-year-old former leader had not conviction. But Yameen refused to comply with Nasheed’s request. been eating since his arrest. He also urged the the ruling and instead declared a 15-day state of release of Supreme Court judge Ali Hameed, who emergency, curtailing the powers of the judici- Streets calm he said had been ill-treated in detention. Police ary and the legislature, before ordering the The worsening political turmoil has led sev- have arrested three close relatives of Hameed, arrest of the chief justice and another top judge. eral countries to warn against travel to the who was admitted to hospital early yesterday. On Tuesday the three remaining Supreme country, which depends heavily on tourism, at Judge Hameed and Chief Justice Abdulla Saeed Court judges reversed last week’s ruling, rein- the peak of the holiday season. On Tuesday UN are accused of accepting bribes to impeach the MALE: Photo shows the exterior of the Maldives Supreme Court building in stating the convictions against Nasheed and Secretary General Antonio Guterres urged the president. Meanwhile police in the Maldives raid- Male. The Maldives president yesterday welcomed a Supreme Court move to eight others. That means the leader of the oppo- government to lift the state of emergency, say- ed a resort owned by another exiled opposition reinstate the convictions of high-profile political prisoners after he arrested sition risks re-arrest if he returns as promised to ing he was “seriously concerned about the leader, Qasim Ibrahim, and arrested his son on two top judges and declared a state of emergency, plunging the upmarket run against Yameen in presidential elections due unfolding situation” in the Indian Ocean archi- unspecified charges. —AFP holiday paradise into chaos.—AFP

Pakistan’s court convicts 31 over campus lynching

PESHAWAR: A Pakistani court yesterday convicted 31 people over the campus lynching of a university stu- dent who was falsely accused of blasphemy, and sen- tenced one of them to death, a defense lawyer said. The killing of student Mashal Khan, 23, last year sparked an outcry and raised fresh questions about the misuse of a harsh blasphemy law, which carries a death sentence for insulting Islam or the Prophet Muhammad (PBUH). Barrister Ameerullah Chamkani told Reuters one of the 31 accused had been sen- tenced to death, five were jailed for life and the other 25 were jailed for four years. The court acquitted 26 others out of a total of 57 people indicted by a court late last year. Chamkani said one of the convicts, Imran Ali, had been sen- tenced to death because he had shot Mashal three times. The accused were students, teachers and some officials of Abdul Wali Khan University named after a secular political leader in northwest Pakistan. They all pleaded not guilty in the trial conducted at a high- security prison due to threats to defense lawyers and government prosecutors, Chamkani said. Khan was known as an intellectually curious and religious student who liked to debate controversial social, political and religious issues. He was attacked and killed by a mob on the campus on April 13 after a dormitory debate about religion. Blasphemy is a highly sensitive issue in Pakistan, where insulting Islam’s prophet is punishable by death. Even a rumor of blas- phemy can spark mob violence and there have been cases of people misusing the law to settle scores. At least 67 people have been killed over unproven blas- phemy allegations since 1990, according to human rights groups. In 2011, a bodyguard assassinated Punjab provin- cial governor Salman Taseer after he called for the blasphemy laws to be reformed. His killer, Mumtaz Qadri, who was executed last year, has been hailed as a martyr by religious hardliners. A political party founded in Qadri’s honor has made blasphemy its cen- tral issue in the run-up to a general election later this year. The party last year forced the government to retract within a day a change in electoral laws that it deemed blasphemous. Party supporters also blocked the main road into Islamabad for nearly three weeks last year in a protest against a law minister they accused of blasphemy. The government eventually gave in, agreeing to an army- brokered deal that included the resignation of the minister. Khan’s younger brother, Aimal Khan, told reporters he was not happy about the acquittals and his family would decide whether to challenge the court decision. Khan’s family say they have been threatened since his death and his two sisters have had to drop out of school while police guard his grave.—Reuters

HARIPUR: Pakistani local journalists take images of the court verdict against suspects accused in a blasphemy lynching case past- ed on a notice board outside the central jail yesterday. —AFP 8 Established 1961 Thursday, February 8, 2018 International North Korea leader’s sister Kim Yo Jong to visit S Korea Kim Yo Jong to make her debut on the world stage SEOUL: North Korean leader Kim Jong Un’s 28-year-old logue with South Korea.” The opening ceremony will also be sister will make her debut on the world stage when she visits attended by US Vice President Mike Pence, Japanese Prime South Korea to attend the opening ceremony of the Winter Minister Shinzo Abe and other world leaders. Olympics tomorrow, Seoul’s Unification Ministry said. Pence said after talks with Abe in Tokyo yesterday that Pyongyang told Seoul that Kim Yo Jong would accompany Washington would soon unveil its toughest ever economic Kim Yong Nam, North Korea’s nominal head of state, along sanctions on North Korea, calling the country the “most with Choe Hwi, chairman of the National Sports Guidance tyrannical and oppressive regime on the planet”. Choi Kang, Committee, and Ri Son Gwon, who led inter-Korean talks vice president of the Asan Institute for Policy Studies in last month, according to the ministry. Seoul, said, “The United States would be unhappy to see Kim Yo Jong would be the first member of the Kim family, South Korea trying to undermine all the rigid sanctions that born on the sacred Mount it had worked so hard to Paektu, which is a center- put in place by granting piece of the North’s idoliza- exemptions for the sake of tion and propaganda cam- the Olympics. “Personally, paign, to cross the border to Pence would feel uncom- the South. Her inclusion in S Korea reviewing fortable just being in the the delegation is “meaning- same place with the ful” as she is not only the North Koreans.” sister of the country’s leader request to refuel but has a significant position N Korea’s vessel Top policymaker as a senior official of the rul- Having previously only ing Workers’ Party, the occasionally appeared in South’s presidential Blue the background, the young House said. “It shows the heiress has moved to the North’s resolve to defuse front and centre of media tension on the Korean peninsula,” Blue House spokesman photos more recently, assisting her brother at numerous state Kim Eui-kyeom told a news briefing. events. In October, Kim Yo Jong was promoted to the party’s But the trip could become a source of contention politburo, an opaque, all-powerful decision-making body that between Seoul and Washington, as she was blacklisted last decides top state affairs. The promotion is a sign Kim Jong Un year by the US Treasury Department over human rights is consolidating his position by drawing his most important abuses and censorship, while Choe faces a travel ban people closer to the centre of power, experts and officials say. PYONGYANG: Photo shows North Korean leader Kim Jong-Un (center) visiting the general tree nursery under con- under UN Security Council sanctions. Kim Yo Jong is vice On Tuesday, Kim Yo Jong was seen in state media greet- struction by the Korean People’s Army as Kim’s younger sister Kim Yo-Jong (right) looks on. Kim Yo-Jong, the director of the party’s Propaganda and Agitation ing a North Korean art troupe that has since departed for sister of North Korean leader Kim Jong-Un, will visit the South this week for the Pyeongchang Winter Olympics, Department, which handles ideological messaging through the South to stage performances during the Olympics. “She Seoul said yesterday.—AFP the media, arts and culture. Choe had previously worked could deliver a message from Kim Jong Un in a way that for the same body. In 2016, South Korea’s former spy chief conveys personal seriousness and commitment that even at the Winter Olympics. Besides the 229-member cheer Oil request said Kim Yo Jong was seen “abusing power”, punishing Kim Yong Nam couldn’t,” Andray Abrahamian, a research squad that formed the bulk of the group, there were 26 taek- After the troupe’s Tuesday arrival on the ferry, which is propaganda department executives for “minor mistakes”. fellow at Pacific Forum CSIS in Hawaii, told Reuters. “It may wondo performers, 21 journalists and four North Korean also being used as accommodation, North Korea asked the “One of the positives of her visit is that she is someone be a sign that Pyongyang is going to pull out all the stops in Olympics committee members, including Sports Minister South to provide oil for refuelling, the Unification Ministry able to deliver a direct message on behalf of Kim Jong Un,” the next couple weeks, in terms of making plans with Seoul.” Kim Il-guk. The delegation celebrated its first night in South said. Oil is a sensitive item and has taken centre stage in said Shin Beom-chul, a professor at the Korea National Korea with a banquet at its hotel, dining on roasted scallops, global efforts to curb Pyongyang’s nuclear and missile pro- Diplomatic Academy in Seoul. “What is problematic is that Jubilant cheerleaders steak, beef marrow soup and shrimp wrapped in thinly sliced grams, with Washington urging a drastic cut in energy sup- she’s coming with Choe Hwi. ... This raises worries that A group of 280 North Koreans arrived yesterday in radish, according to a pool report. They arrived a day after a plies to the isolated country. North Korea has virtually no North Korea likely intends to use this Olympics as a propa- South Korea, one of the largest peacetime crossings of the North Korean ferry crossed the border with a 137-strong domestic oil production, and has traditionally imported its ganda tool, rather than a possible opening to meaningful dia- inter-Korean border, to spur on athletes from the two sides orchestra to perform during the Games. fuel from China and Russia. —Reuters

News in brief loudspeakers that all suburban train con- Misery for nections to Paris had been cancelled for at least several hours. Benedict final ‘pilgrimage’ A dozen perplexed passengers waited commuters outside a railway ticket office at one termi- ROME: Pope emeritus Benedict XVI hinted yesterday nal. “I tried to get into Paris by train. I was that he is nearing death and ready for his final “pil- as snow sitting on a train for half an hour and then grimage” at the age of 90. “In the slow decline of my everyone got up and left,” said Paul physical strength, internally, I am on a pilgrimage to Farberman, a 66-year-old music industry the House (of the Lord)”, Joseph Ratzinger wrote in a paralyses Paris executive who had just flown in from Los letter published in the Corriere della Sera daily, which Angeles. “They said there are no trains had told him many readers were concerned about his and no buses,” he added. “I love Paris. I PARIS: Exceptionally heavy snowfall would just love to get there and see it.” health. The former pope, who will turn 91 in April, said brought public transport in Paris and sur- he was moved that “so many readers want to know Evacuations were still under way for the rounding regions to a near halt yesterday, how this last period of his life is going”. “It is a great 1,500 to 2,000 people stranded on a high- spelling misery for commuters after hun- grace for me to be surrounded, in this last point of a way south of Paris, prompting anger from dreds were forced to abandon their cars to sometimes tiring path, with affection and kindness that drivers who said the route should have I would not have imagined,” Benedict added. —AFP sleep in emergency shelters overnight. Icy been closed to traffic sooner. streets were largely empty as officials One driver, Antonio De Lemos said he urged people to leave vehicles at home fol- had been “stuck in the snow since 5 pm” 5 kids killed in Guinea lowing the 12 centimeters of snow that and spent the night in his car. “It’s a natural blanketed the capital, shutting down some event, but it’s not normal because they tram and commuter rail lines, and almost leave all the roads blocked, without salting CONAKRY: Five young children perished in an arson PARIS: A picture taken yesterday in Paris shows snow covered railways. —AFP attack during clashes in central Guinea on Tuesday, as completely halting bus services. them” to remove the ice, he said. Forecasts anger over alleged fraud during weekend local elec- Officials had opened 46 shelters in the for even lower temperatures are likely to tions turned deadly and tensions mounted ahead of the greater Paris region for more than 600 freeze the heavy snow in place, making for snow and black ice, and more snow is “going from cafe to cafe” near the Gare du results. Sunday’s local elections were the first since the people stranded by the snow, while about conditions even more treacherous, the expected to hit the country from Friday. Nord station in Paris after his train was end of the era of military dictatorship and follow eight 700 had to spend the night at the Meteo France weather service said. “We’re Paris police also urged people to leave cancelled Tuesday night. He had been hop- years of delays blamed on a lack of funds, political Montparnasse and Austerlitz train stations dealing with an exceptional situation,” their cars at home in order to avoid traffic ing to make it home “to take a shower, infighting and the 2013-16 Ebola crisis. Huts and hous- in Paris. Some 230 people were had to interior ministry spokesman Frederic de jams and facilitate the work of rescue serv- change clothes and get back to work at La es were set on fire in the town of Kalinko, and “five sleep as best they could at Orly airport. Lanouvelle told AFP, urging people “not to ices and tow trucks. Police had also closed Defense,” the business district west of the Guinean infants died in the flames”, Territorial Operations were still disrupted at Orly and use their vehicles”. major highways near Paris to lorries, and capital. But “all trains toward the suburbs Administration Minister Boureima Conde said on tele- Paris’s Charles de Gaulle airport yesterday, rail operator SNCF told clients to post- have been cancelled since 5:00 am,” he vision on Tuesday, without specifying their age or iden- with some flights facing delays while other ‘Going from cafe to cafe’ pone their trips if possible. said. In addition, school buses were not tity. Unrest flared in the West African country after the travelers remained stuck. At Charles de Some 25 departments across much of Slobodan, a 46-year-old sales repre- running in several areas near Paris and oth- ballot, and one person was killed in western city of Gaulle airport, officials announced over the northern half of France were on alert sentative, said he had spent the night er northern and central regions.—AFP Kindia when opposition party supporters clashed with security forces during vote counting on Monday.—AFP

UK child abuse images In a new gamble, False tsunami LONDON: One of Britain’s most notorious killers, who far-right Dutch warnings spook in 1993 murdered two-year-old James Bulger when he was only 10 himself yesterday admitted having more Americans than a thousand indecent images of children. Jon MP targets polls Venables served eight years in prison for the torture and murder of the toddler in the northwest English city THE HAGUE: Dutch voters are gearing up for new elections, NEW YORK: False tsunami warnings flashed on cell- of Liverpool, before being released with a new identity with looming municipal polls seen as a gamble for far-right phones along the US East and Gulf Coasts on Tuesday in 2001. He pleaded guilty yesterday to four counts at anti-Islam MP Geert Wilders and a test of the staying-pow- morning when a US National Weather Service (NWS) a hearing at England’s Old Bailey central criminal court er of populist politics. A year ago, Wilders barreled his way systems test went awry, unnerving Americans from in London. Venables admitted to having 392 category into second place in general elections, with his Freedom Maine to Texas. The false alerts appeared to have A images-the most extreme-148 category B and 630 Party (PVV) winning 20 seats in parliament to become the been sent by the private forecasting company category C images, and to having a “paedophile manu- country’s main opposition to a new coalition government AccuWeather, according to cellphone images posted al”. It is the second time he has been convicted of child headed by Prime Minister Mark Rutte’s Liberal VVD party. BRUSSELS: In this file photo, Dutch far-right politician Geert on social media. AccuWeather pointed the finger at pornography offences, having been jailed for two years Buoyed by the showing, Wilders is now hoping to snap up Wilders holds a press conference in Brussels. — AFP the NWS. in 2010 after pleading guilty to downloading and dis- seats across local councils in the March 21 vote. “Yikes!” Trish Milburn, a writer of romance novels tributing child pornography.—AFP Currently the PVV is only present in The Hague and ty we have to sometimes pick among people that we still who lives on Florida’s Gulf Coast, wrote on Twitter. Almere, but Wilders has widened his horizons and is plan- don’t know very well,” he said, quoted by the daily “That warning is not what you want to see when you ning to put up candidates in about 30 municipalities. Parties Volkskrant which has called his fresh election bid “a gam- live less than 10 feet (3 meters) above sea level.” It Central bank heist had until Monday to register candidates, and the municipali- ble”. The result has been a chaotic selection process, and was not the first time this year Americans were roused ties will publish their lists on Friday. Analysts believe howev- some candidates have swiftly left after being signed up, by their cellphones warning of an impending catastro- DHAKA: Bangladesh’s central bank will file a lawsuit in er that support for Wilders is waning, with opinion polls some put off by what is seen as the party’s narrow and over- phe. Last month’s false alarm was a missile headed for New York against a Philippine bank over the world’s showing backing for the PVV down 25 percent from last riding emphasis on its anti-Islam theme. Hawaii. The National Weather Service said its largest cyber heist, the finance minister said yesterday. year. “The PVV’s populism has been halted,” said Rudd Others have been caught out by skeletons in their closets. National Tsunami Warning Center issued a routine Unidentified hackers stole $81 million in February 2016 Koole, Dutch politics professor at Leiden University. In December, Wilders withdrew his choice to head the monthly test message that was misconstrued, spook- from the Bangladesh central bank’s account with the PVV’s list in Rotterdam after revelations about the man’s ing people in cities as far apart as Boston and US Federal Reserve in New York. The money was ‘One-man band’ links to British Holocaust revisionist David Irving. Another Houston. transferred to a Manila branch of the Rizal Commercial Indeed, the PVV’s list of candidates is thinly populated- candidate left after it emerged she had said she wanted to “The test message was released by at least one pri- Banking Corp (RCBC), then quickly withdrawn and only nine are set to stand in The Hague, compared to about “hang” Rutte, a third from Utrecht suggested the local vate sector company as an official Tsunami Warning, laundered through local casinos. With only a small 50 hopefuls from each of the more traditional parties. And mosque should burn, and a fourth from western Zaanstad resulting in widespread reports of tsunami warnings amount of the stolen money recovered and frustration winning new PVV recruits is proving hard. The problem is had apparently harassed his wife for three years. “It shows received via phones and other media across the East growing in Dhaka, Bangladesh’s Finance Minister not fear of being identified with extreme right-wing politics, how vulnerable the party is,” said Aarts. “The party suffers Coast, Gulf of Mexico, and the Caribbean,” the service A.M.A Muhith said last year he wanted to “wipe out” which has “now become accepted, normalized,” said Koole. somewhat from its lack of organization, but so far that had said in a statement. At least some people who clicked RCBC. Yesterday he said Bangladesh Bank lawyers Rather, the issue is the absence of “any party machinery” as not been held against it.” The PVV’s biggest test will come the alert to read the full message saw a disclaimer that were discussing the case in New York and may file a the PVV “remains a one-man show” entirely led by Wilders, in Rotterdam. A majority of residents of Europe’s biggest the alert was in fact a test, according to screenshots said Kees Aarts, a political analyst from the University of joint lawsuit against the RCBC with the US Federal port have foreign roots, including its outgoing, Moroccan- posted online. AccuWeather said the National Weather Groningen. Even Wilders has admitted that he has not had born leader Ahmed Aboutaleb-the country’s first immigrant Reserve.—AFP Service wrongly coded the test as a real warning, con- the widest choice of candidates. “As a relatively young par- and Muslim mayor. —AFP fusing its automated alerts system. —Reuters

10 Established 1961

Thursday, February 8, 2018 Analysis

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

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China tries to charm tech-savvy Taiwan youth

start-up incubator on the outskirts of Shanghai is laying out sweeteners for budding entrepreneurs: AFree office space, subsidized housing rent, tax breaks and in some cases, cash of up to 200,000 yuan ($31,211.47). The main condition? Be from Taiwan. The center, formally called the Jinshan Cross Strait Youth Entrepreneurship Base, is part of the new face of China’s approach towards Taiwan, the self-ruled island Beijing considers a wayward province and over which it claims sovereignty. More than 50 such bases have sprung up in the past three years across the country, attracting scores of Taiwanese start-ups and their young founders. For China, Taiwan’s youth is seen as a key demographic to win over amid souring political relations between Beijing Italy on mission to cut waste, feed hungry and Taipei. But Taiwan’s current government - swept into power with the help of the youth-driven Sunflower he young Roma woman gingerly handwritten sign, “raccolta e distribuzione Globally, one third of all food produced, His organization recruited asylum seek- Movement - is viewing the success of the incubators touched the oranges and cabbages, gratis” (“free collection and distribution”) worth nearly $1 trillion, is wasted every ers from sub-Saharan and north Africa to and other programs with concern. Tbright, fresh and neatly stacked in and give it all away. In a nation proud of its year, according to the United Nations Food collect, recycle and distribute unsold foods Taiwan is one of China’s most sensitive issues and crates. Francesco Fanoli, an anthropologist, produce and with legendary food markets, and Agriculture Organization (FAO). Critics at Porta Palazzo, Europe’s largest open-air Beijing has never renounced the use of force to bring it insisted they were hers to take - for free. the initiative is a ground breaker, helping say food waste is not only unethical in a market, situated in the northern Italian city under Chinese rule. For years its policies towards With a toddler playing in a nearby pram the needy and cutting waste. world of rising hunger but environmentally of Turin. This was to foster better relation- Taiwan have focused on improving ties with traditional and more mouths to feed at home, the destructive. Most waste happens in the ships between communities and to “show businesses, which still continue. However, analysts and mother took the cache gratefully, telling Foodies home but market schemes raise awareness, African volunteers doing something useful the Taiwan government say that Taiwan student protests Fanoli she could not find any work without Food is a cultural cornerstone in Italy said Paulo Hutter, who runs a non-govern- for poor people,” he told the Thomson in 2014 over a trade pact with China, which became an identity card. Next up: A range of yet the most recent government survey of mental organization, Eco dalle Citta. Reuters Foundation. — Reuters known as the Sunflower Movement, caught Beijing’s breads from Viola de Andrade Piroli, a 400 families showed each one wastes the attention. pilates teacher who had just nipped into a equivalent of 85 kg of food, worth a com- “Before 2015, the Chinese mainland government tar- nearby shop. The loaves were gratefully bined €8.5 billion ($10.49 billion), a year. geted mainly commercial or business interests in Taiwan,” received. Earlier figures have put food waste as high said Zhang Zhexin, a research fellow on Taiwan issues at Then moments later, 91-year-old Maria as 145 kg per family, at a cost of €16 bil- the Shanghai Institute for International Studies. “But after Roccatelli turned up - wrapped in a big lion. In 2016, Italy passed a law to limit the Sunflower movement, they shifted their focus to win- green jacket and thick scarf to keep out food waste, making it easier to donate ning the hearts of the younger people, because they see the winter cold, pushed by her son in a unsold food. It is still early to crunch them as the future and they see them as the biggest wheelchair. They picked up a pineapple, numbers but the signs are good, said destructive force.” oranges, beans, chicory and cauliflowers Roberto Moncalvo, president of the and filled two large plastic bags. This Italian agricultural association Coldiretti. Understanding the mainland should help see them through the week, “In 2017, six out of 10 people we inter- There are now at least 53 incubators across China, Roccatelli, who lives in a nearby fourth- viewed said they have reduced food including in cities such as Deyang in China’s central floor apartment, told the Thomson Reuters waste, a sign that families are now aware Sichuan province and Shenyang in the country’s north- Foundation. A regular now, Roccatelli of this issue,” he told the Thomson eastern rust belt, according to a list on the website of the learnt of the project from a stranger on the Reuters Foundation by phone. Taiwan Affairs Office, which manages Beijing’s policies street. “(She) told me, “Go there, they give Still, much remains to be done. Most of towards Taiwan and established the sites. The Jinshan poor people things,” so I came,” she said. the Alberone Market covers just one short Cross Strait Youth Entrepreneurship Base is in an office “Everything helps.” street, but that Saturday, Fanoli and de block in the heart of a sprawling industrial zone. It is Since September, Fanoli and de Andrade Andrade Piroli collected 99 kg of food that styled like a Silicon Valley start-up, with brightly colored Piroli have spent Saturday afternoons at would likely have gone to rot otherwise. walls, rows of vacant computer desks and posterboards the Alberone open-air market, a few metro “At the beginning we were collecting describing companies working there. stops from Rome’s tourist attractions, between 30 to 50 kilos. Then it started to Francesco Fanoli and Viola de Andrade Piroli speaking to Roberta Cantalini, “We want to be a window to young Taiwanese to cajoling shopkeepers to hand over unsold grow. Now we are on an average of 130, who runs a fruit and vegetable stall at the Alberone market, on Jan 13, help them understand the mainland,” said Dong Ji, food and help the hungry. Once the market 150 kilos every Saturday,” said de 2018. — Reuters deputy party committee secretary of the industrial zone, closes, they put up a cardboard box with a Andrade Piroli. which spent about 5 million yuan to set up the center in 2015. Although the centers are open to other mainland and foreign companies, they offer the most financial incentives to those from Taiwan, he said. The facility outside Shanghai now is host to 165 projects, 40 of The finalists, chosen from more than 100 applicants, which are Taiwanese. It aims to increase this number to Sardine-tin lamps, received assistance to develop their products into busi- 100 by next year. He said that the local Jinshan govern- nesses. The aim is to “move away from handouts and focus ment, which also sees the incubator as an opportunity to on empowering the Central Africans to control their own bring young talent into the industrial zone, finances the wooden fridges: future”, said Dermot Hegarty of the Danish Refugee start-ups itself and has given companies 30,000 to Council, which runs the scheme along with aid agencies 200,000 yuan in cash support. Some have also received Meet CAR’s ACTED and Mercy Corps. “Frugal innovation” is important 500,000 yuan worth of other support, such as subsidies in a country like Central African Republic, Hegarty said. and tax breaks, he said. No conditions are placed on “Access to goods and materials is exceptionally difficult, companies interested in registering at the incubator, he ‘frugal innovators’ so you have to be able to use everything at your disposal,” said. “We are working hard, for the cross-straits relation- he explained. The inventions offer simple solutions to ship and Taiwanese youth who come here to start busi- everyday problems. They include a shelling machine for nesses, to create a better environment for them to live the much-loved peanuts sold at markets and a cheese- he discarded sardine tins, used mayonnaise jars and and be entrepreneurs,” he said. maker run by a women’s collective, over half of whom lost old tomato cans jumbled together on Kouassi their husbands to war and disease. Bafounga’s front porch look like a pile of trash some- Brain drain T one forgot to throw out. But retrieving a gleaming lid from Creativity from crisis Such efforts in China come as Taiwan sees talented the mess, he beams as if he has just found a piece of gold. In the United States, the Massachusetts Institute of workers leave the country amid stagnant wages and These everyday objects are treasure to the self-made economic growth that has lagged behind that of its neigh- Technology also has a Fab Lab program and runs a “fab inventor living in Bangui, the capital of war-ravaged Central academy” that includes classes over the internet, director bors. Workers in its tech industry - its strongest sector - African Republic, one of the world’s poorest countries. are also being lured to China by higher pay. Taipei native Sherry Lassiter told the Thomson Reuters Foundation. But In his tiny house of crumbling bricks, Bafounga collects Central African Republic - which ranked bottom of all Andy Yang, 27, was one of those who went abroad. He what others throw away - and turns it into something use- moved to Shanghai in 2015 to set up education technolo- countries in the latest Human Development Index, and has Kouassi Bafounga, inventor of the storm lantern, ful. He cuts shapes from tin cans and fixes them together limited internet access - may seem an unlikely place for poses with his creation in the kitchen of his house gy company Bridge+ with four partners. They registered with glass, string and a little petrol to produce storm-proof their company at the Jinshan center last year. innovators. The country has been riven by sectarian con- in Bangui on Jan 16, 2018. —Reuters lanterns. Bafounga is a shining example of the “frugal inno- flict since 2013 when Muslim-majority Seleka rebels oust- “I looked at some opportunities in Taiwan but felt vation” movement that has its roots in India, inspired by the that the difference between the two markets was very ed President Francois Bozize, triggering a backlash by notion of “jugaad”, a Hindi word meaning “improvising with predominantly Christian and animist fighters. Business ambition big,” he said. “Our mainland compatriots are also very whatever resources are available”. This trend of doing more Joel Henri Baliba, 67, used to work in the air force of curious about Taiwanese people and have in terms of Five years into the conflict, marked by successivewaves with less has spread all over the world. of ethnic cleansing, the humanitarian situation is dire. the infamous self-crowned Emperor Jean-Bedel Bokassa, government policies given us many opportunities, so I Bafounga devised his first lantern in Bambari when he speaks Russian after a training stint in Ukraine in the came.” For Wu Chung-hsin, chief executive of virtual Almost 70 percent of families lack essentials such as clean was 15 and living with his older brother after his parents drinking water, over three-quarters of the population live 1970s, and is the proud inventor of the country’s first reality company Vactor Digital, the Jinshan center has died. Unable to afford school fees and with time on his wooden refrigerator. Though he retired in 2015, when a not only sponsored him but has given him business. It in poverty, and close to one-fifth have fled their homes hands, he began tinkering with scrap materials. Central amid violence, according to the World Bank and the friend drew his attention to the innovation competition, he has commissioned his company to outfit a 400-sq-m African Republic’s second-largest city still has virtually no United Nations. Some say those pressures - combined took up the challenge. “A fridge is important for food con- virtual reality exhibition center that will showcase the street lighting - perhaps not surprising in a country where with mass unemployment - are what drives people like servation and also for medicine, but here most people area’s tourist attractions. little more than 10 percent of people had access to elec- Bafounga to be creative. don’t have fridges,” he said. “The prices are very high, “I would not be able to get these sorts of conditions tricity in 2014, according to the World Bank. Even in fortu- On the streets of Bambari where he grew up, a place most people can’t afford one - that’s why I wanted to make in Taiwan. I asked, but in reality I was advised that what nate homes with one or two ceiling bulbs, the light often where most inhabitants are displaced from their native something that costs less.” I could get was not as good,” he said. Other policies flickers off soon after sunset due to power cuts that plunge villages, children play with toy trucks fashioned from sug- By crafting the outer shell and interior from wood, also focus on Taiwan’s youth. In July, China’s Ministry of most of the town into darkness. Now aged 35, making and ar boxes and plastic bottle tops, held together with wood- which is plentiful, and using the usual refrigeration tech- Education published a directive on its website asking its selling lanterns remains Bafounga’s way to make a living. en toothpicks. On a dusty roadside, two teenage boys sell nology, Baliba can sell his product for up to 100,000 universities to relax entrance requirements for Taiwan “They last until sunrise and cost 1,500 francs ($2.76) lamps consisting of LED bulbs powered by batteries, Central African francs ($184) cheaper than conventional students. These efforts by China have not gone unno- each,” he told the Thomson Reuters Foundation. made brighter by attaching them to old CDs that reflect fridges. “We also allow people to pay in installments,” he ticed in Taiwan. Relations between the two sides have the light. Adolescents living in straw huts in a camp for said, showing contracts signed with customers. Before the worsened in recent months amid an increasing number ‘Fab Lab’ displaced people in the middle of the city are busy ham- competition, Baliba had never tried to invent anything. “But of Chinese military drills near Taiwan and after China Last year, Bafounga was one of 11 winners in a “Fab mering out buckets from curved sheets of metal, some now I have more ideas!” he said. Along with the other unilaterally opened new civilian aviation routes close to Lab” innovation competition run by the French embassy ripped off homes by armed groups in the clashes that finalists, Baliba and Bafounga have received training in Taiwan-controlled islands. —Reuters and Alliance Francaise, a French cultural center in Bangui. have rocked the area since 2014. business and entrepreneurship. — Reuters Established 1961 11 News Thursday, February 8, 2018

LA Times sold to local billionaire ey from Nigeria to Zimbabwe, or from the United States Nigerian crypto to Sudan,” he explained. Banks were “very tedious” and LOS ANGELES: The Los Angeles Times is being sold to payment companies “generally exploitative”, he said. billionaire physician and investor Patrick Soon-Shiong in a “There’s heavy discrimination, definitely. We have to go move aimed at reviving the fortunes of the newspaper craze unfazed by all around them to succeed.” amid recent turmoil, the publisher announced yesterday. Samuel-Biyi’s company, SureRemit, developed its own Publishing group Tronc Inc. said it reached a deal to sell bitcoin plunge virtual token - a kind of custom cryptocurrency like bit- the LA Times and San Diego Union-Tribune to Soon- coin or one of the many alternatives such as ether. The Shiong’s Nant Capital for $500 million plus the assump- LAGOS: While bitcoin and other cryptocurrencies have tokens are used to buy vouchers, which may be used to tion of $90 million in pension liabilities. suffered precipitous falls in recent weeks, the units remain purchase goods and pay bills at participating merchants The move comes after months of newsroom unrest popular in Nigeria where they make it easier to do busi- anywhere in the world, cutting out cumbersome middle- at the storied Los Angeles daily that has seen three edi- ness. On the surface, digital coins may not seem like a men and eliminating fees. In January, SureRemit held its tors in the past six months, and a vote to unionize the good idea in a country where corruption is rampant and “initial coin offering” (ICO), a form of online crowdfund- journalists. “We are pleased to transition leadership of stacks of hard cash are often smuggled overseas. Yet West ing where people purchase the tokens to be put in circu- the Los Angeles Times and The San Diego Union- Africa’s biggest economy has the world’s third-largest bit- lation for use in eight countries, mostly in Africa and the Middle East. Tribune to local ownership, and we are certain that the coin holdings as a percentage of gross domestic (GDP), The 500 million tokens, each worth two US cents, journalistic excellence in Southern California will con- behind Russia and New Zealand, according to Citigroup. sold out in just two days and were snapped up by major tinue long into the future,” said Justin Dearborn, chief That may be because blockchain technology - public, online ledgers that underpin cryptocurrencies - is liberat- cryptocurrency players, including South Korea’s executive of Tronc, the name adopted for the group Hashed, raising $7 million for the company. “We were previously known as Tribune Publishing. ing Nigerians sidelined by the global financial system as it dramatically improves the ease of doing business. expecting scam allegations,” said Samuel-Biyi, referring Soon-Shiong, a South African-born surgeon whose to Nigeria’s unenviable reputation for online financial biotech investments have boosted his net worth to some Olaoluwa Samuel-Biyi, a slight 27-year-old entrepreneur, looks the part of an aspiring corporate disrupter, dressed fraud. “But the world really accepted it.” $7.8 billion, said in the statement: “We look forward to Patrick Soon-Shiong in skinny jeans with dishevelled hair. He first considered If the token system works, SureRemit stands to take continuing the great tradition of award-winning journalism using cryptocurrency when credit card firms and other a chunk of the world’s remittance market, which was carried out by the reporters and editors of the Los Breakthroughs, aimed at developing immunotherapies to worth $429 billion in 2016, according to the World Bank. cure cancer. Soon-Shiong is the latest billionaire to seek established payment providers refused to partner with Angeles Times, The San Diego Union-Tribune and the his global remittance company, deeming the venture too It’s hardly surprising that SureRemit was conceived in other California News Group titles.” to turn around struggling newspapers, following on the Nigeria: Remittance flows that year were worth $19 bil- heels of Amazon owner Jeff Bezos’s purchase of the risky. “They said the markets were too high risk and that The LA Times, like many newspapers, has been down- people could finance terrorism,” he told AFP, laughing. lion - more than four percent of GDP. Sub-Saharan sizing its staff as readers turn away from print to online Washington Post and Boston Red Sox owner John Henry’s Africa has some of the highest remittance costs in the deal for the Boston Globe. “It’s ridiculous.” news platforms. The Los Angeles daily was family-owned He realized that the only way he could solve the prob- world, with the most expensive fees seen within the “I’d say this is good news, but with a caveat,” said Dan for more than a century before being sold to the Chicago- lem was to use cryptocurrency. “It’s so hard to send mon- continent. — AFP based Tribune Co. in 2000. Tribune Co, which split off its Kennedy, a Northeastern University journalism professor broadcast division and renamed its publishing arm Tronc and author of a forthcoming book on the efforts of Bezos (for Tribune Online Content), will continue to own the and Henry to remake American newspapers. “Wealthy Chicago Tribune, Orlando Sentinel, South Florida Sun- local ownership is exactly what the Los Angeles Times sent to jail for traffic offenses, so why shouldn’t they be Sentinel, Baltimore Sun and the New York Daily News. and the San Diego Union-Tribune need, assuming that Dr Opposition MPs punished for major embezzlements. The Assembly also Soon-Shiong, born in South Africa to Chinese parents, Soon-Shiong is willing to be patient and to respect the delayed voting on an agreement for opening an office has been an investor in Tronc and also owns a stake in the independence of the newsroom.” Kennedy noted that the of NATO in Kuwait until the foreign minister is avail- Los Angeles Lakers basketball team. He has been a faculty businessman has in the past criticized “false reporting” stage sit-in for... able to answer questions. MP Saleh Ashour asked why member at the UCLA medical school and has invested in about his own research efforts. “Given that, we’ll have to should there be a NATO office in the country when and donated to medical research. He was a founder of the see which Dr Soon-Shiong shows up in the owner’s suite,” Continued from Page 1 Kuwait is not a member of NATO. MP Abdulkarim Al- Cancer MoonShot 2020 program, renamed Cancer Kennedy said. — AFP Kandari said that MPs did not obtain answers to the graft in the interior ministry hospitality spending to issues of sovereignty and compensation from the for- the public prosecution for investigation. MP Adasani eign relations panel. badly damaged, at least two people were killed when the said that the interior ministry’s hospitality spending The Assembly also completed the debate on the Rescuers scour lower floors collapsed. But most residents got out and increased from a mere KD 2 million to KD 23 million, a housing problem, with lawmakers accusing both the authorities said they believed no more people were sevenfold rise, and the amount is larger than the same government and the Assembly of being unconcerned to trapped inside. President Tsai Ing-wen visited the apart- spending by all other ministries. He said that the inves- resolve the problem. State Minister for Housing Jenan tilting buildings... ment block Wednesday morning. “Now is the prime time tigation reports by the interior ministry itself and the Boushehri said the number of applications for govern- for our rescue efforts, our first priority is to save people,” budgets committee of the Assembly indicate suspicions ment housing dropped from 110,000 last year to of graft and forgery. Continued from Page 1 she said in a Facebook post. Hualien is one of Taiwan’s 96,000 currently, but she said that the path is still too most popular tourist hubs as it lies on the picturesque MP Ali Al-Deqbasi said that ordinary people are long to resolve the problem. rescued with ropes, ladders and cranes. But fire east coast rail line and near the popular Taroko Gorge. department staff at the site told AFP at least four bodies The government said 17 foreigners sought medical treat- had been pulled out of the building in the day. Of those ment for minor injuries. gratulations, tweeting: “This achievement, along with still missing, the Hualien disaster relief center said, 39 are Local resident Blue Hsu said some of those carried World’s biggest @NASA’s commercial and international partners, con- residents at the apartment block and 13 are guests at the out of the hotel were foreigners. “The lower floors sunk tinues to show American ingenuity at its best!” Musk Beauty Stay Hotel - which is on the bottom floors of the into the ground and I saw panicked tourists being res- replied: “Thank you on behalf of SpaceX. An exciting Yun Tsui building. One of the people killed at the apart- cued from the hotel,” Hsu told AFP. Some 830 people rocket soars ... future lies ahead!” The Falcon Heavy launched from the ment block was a woman from mainland China, authori- were in shelters, officials said, while 1,900 houses were same NASA pad that was the base for the Apollo-era Continued from Page 1 ties said. without power. Pope Francis expressed solidarity with Moon missions of the 1960s and 1970s. It is “the most Officials temporarily suspended rescue efforts over the victims and encouraged emergency responders in powerful operational rocket in the world by a factor of Both rockets landed side by side in unison on fears the building might slip further as engineers raced to a statement issued by the Vatican yesterday. “His two,” SpaceX said. launchpads, live video images showed. “New Olympic push large concrete blocks and steel bars to support the Holiness willingly invokes upon all the Taiwanese peo- That means it can carry twice the payload of United sport - Synchronized Landings!” wrote NASA astro- leaning side. Rescue efforts continued as night fell, with ple the divine blessings of strength and peace,” the Launch Alliance’s Delta IV Heavy, at a far lower cost - naut Randy Bresnik on Twitter. The third, center boost- emergency responders wielding crowbars and torches to statement said. about $90 million per launch compared to $350 million er failed to land on an ocean platform - known as a search the lower floors for survivors. Continual after- The quake hit just before midnight (1550 GMT) for its competitor. But the Falcon Heavy is not the most droneship - as planned. “It didn’t have enough propel- shocks forced rescuers searching the apartment block to around 21 km northeast of Hualien, according to the powerful rocket ever - just the biggest in operation lant,” Musk said, adding that it plunged into the ocean run for safety every time they struck. The responders USGS. It followed almost 100 smaller tremors to have hit today. The Saturn V rocket that propelled astronauts to about 100 m away from its landing point. “Apparently it would go back inside when the tremors stopped. the area in the last three days and comes exactly two the Moon could deliver more payload to orbit. The hit the water at 300 miles an hour and took out two of The strongest of them was a shallow 5.7-magnitude years since a quake of the same magnitude struck the Soviet-era Energia, which flew twice in 1987 and 1988, the engines,” he added. quake that was felt as far away as the capital Taipei, southern Taiwanese city of Tainan, killing more than 100 was also more powerful. Experts said the launch would likely catch the eye of around 120 km north of Hualien. One resident who lives people. Most of the deaths from the Feb 2016 earth- The Falcon Heavy is essentially three smaller, Falcon the US space agency NASA, which may consider using nearby told AFP how he watched the tower block par- quake were from the 16-storey Wei-kuan apartment 9 rockets strapped together, adding up to a total of 27 the Falcon Heavy as a way to fast-track its plans to tially collapse. “I saw the first floor sink into the ground. complex, which toppled on its side and buried many res- engines. The 70-m tall rocket is designed to carry near- reach the Moon again for the first time since 1972. Then it sank and tilted further and the fourth floor idents in the rubble. ly 64 metric tonnes into orbit - more than the mass of a Acting NASA Administrator Robert Lightfoot congrat- became the first floor,” said Lu Chih-son, 35, who saw 20 The safety of the building was called into question fully loaded 737 jetliner. It was initially intended to ulated SpaceX and called it a “tremendous accomplish- people rescued from the building. Chen Chih-wei, 80, immediately after the disaster, when metal cans and foam restore the possibility of sending humans to the Moon ment”. Kennedy Space Center Director Bob Cabana said he was sleeping in his apartment on the top floor of were found to have been used as fillers in the concrete or Mars, but those plans have shifted and now the said “the successful launch of a new vehicle on its first the building when the quake struck. “My bed turned and residents said there had been cracks in the structure. Falcon Heavy is being considered mainly as a potential flight is a significant accomplishment they can be very completely vertical. I was sleeping and suddenly I was Five people were found guilty over the disaster, including equipment carrier to these deep space destinations, proud of”. Canadian astronaut Chris Hadfield tweeted: standing,” he told AFP. Chen said he managed to crawl to the developer and two architects. Taiwan lies near the Musk said Monday. Instead, another rocket and space- “What we’re watching is @SpaceX leaving all other a balcony to wait for rescue, adding that the quake was junction of two tectonic plates and is regularly hit by ship combination being developed by SpaceX, nick- rocket companies in the dust. Congrats to everyone the strongest he had felt in more than five decades of liv- earthquakes. The island’s worst tremor in recent decades named BFR - alternately known as “Big F***ing there!” ing in Hualien. was a 7.6-magnitude quake in September 1999 that Rocket,” or “Big Falcon Rocket” - would be the vehicle US President Donald Trump also offered his con- At the Marshal Hotel, which was also leaning and killed around 2,400 people. — AFP eventually certified for travelers. — AFP 12 Established 1961 Sports Thursday, February 8, 2018 Over 200 North Korean cheerleaders spark fashion envy in Pyeongchang

Cheerleaders were carefully selected, screened for looks, skills and loyalty

INJE: More than 200 sharply dressed North Korean in Incheon. One of those in the 2005 group, Ri Sol-Ju, cheerleaders decked out in expensive fur smiled and went on to become the wife of North Korean leader posed for the media and onlookers yesterday after Kim Jong-Un. “I don’t want to say it but North Korea’s arriving in South Korea for the Pyeongchang Olympics. cheering squad is quite pretty. You can throw stones The 229 chic young women wore tailored knee-lenth at me but the truth is the truth,” said another observer scarlet coats with fur hats, fur collars, and matching on Twitter. cuffs to ward off the winter chill. “By the way, I love the North Korean cheering squad’s outfit. It’s quite some- ‘NICE TO MEET YOU’ thing! I want that hat!” said one South Korea fan on The young women were given a quick bathroom Twitter. break at a rest area in Gapyeong, located about “I think they are very pretty,” said a South Korean halfway to their hotel destination. They strutted past onlooker of the women who were part of a 280-mem- South Koreans onlookers, who snapped out their ber delegation who crossed the Demilitarized Zone that smartphones for photos of the rare sight. divides the two Koreas at a border post north of Seoul. In the bathroom, the cheerleaders stood side by side They were immediately in front of the mirror, each whisked away in a convoy to checking and fixing their their hotel in Inje county, a make-up while chatting small rural town located 120 among themselves. Banners kilometres from the Games welcoming the North’s venue in Pyeongchang. Olympic participation in the “I am happy to see you,” North Korea’s February 9-25 Olympics lined said one cheerleader, beam- cheering squad the hilly drive up to the Inje ing broadly but refusing to Speedium, a four-star luxury disclose their cheerleading is quite pretty resort with a car racing routine. “You just wait. If I theme park. INJE: North Korean cheerleaders arrive at the Inje Speedium, a racetrack and hotel complex, in Inje, north of tell you now, it would be less Surrounded by mountains Pyeongchang, yesterday ahead of the Pyeongchang Winter Olympic Games. — AFP exciting when you see it.” and seemingly secluded, the The cheerleaders are resort is seen as an ideal spot the media, who fired questions at the young visitors lapel pins-were seen chatting among themselves at reportedly the product of a careful selection process in for enforcing tight security while at the same time ranging from their halth to the chilly weather. round tables. North Korea, screened for their family backgrounds, maintaining close surveillance on the large group of Most quickly walked into the building without say- “A new era of reconcialiation has been opened,” said looks, skills and loyalty to the ruling Workers’ Party. Northerners. ing a word but some occasionally smiled and waved at a North Korean delegate leading the cheer squads, The North has sent cheer squads to three interna- But hours before the arrival of the guests, the hotel the camera, and said: “Nice to meet you.” rferring to a thaw in North and South Korean relations tional sports events hosted by the South-the 2002 was bustling with media and police officers who had At a dinner banquet hosted by South Korea, the ahead of the Games. The guests were served grilled Asian Games in Busan, the 2003 Summer Universiade put barriers up at all entrances to the resort. The cheer- cheerleaders-in matching bright red two-piece jackets scallops, shrimp wrapped in pickled radish, barbequed in Daegu and the 2005 Asian Athletics Championships leaders got off the bus one by one and scurried past and skirts complete with Kim Il-Sung and Kim Jong-Il beef, beef stew and fruit. — AFP From big air to

Russian President Vladimir Putin, who mixed curling, The invisible had staked his personal reputation on the Games, and the country’s 144 mil- lion people, it was an immensely proud four new events team: Russia moment. But it is that Olympics which helped PYEONGCHANG: From high-flying snow- here but not propel Russia to where they are today boarders to alpine skiers racing side-by-side, at the Olympics: banned and margin- four new events aimed at highlighting drama here at alised, a pariah. Central to blowing the and faster-paced excitement will make their lid on widespread doping across Winter Olympic debuts at Pyeongchang. Russian sport was whistleblower Ahead of Friday’s opening ceremony, AFP Pyeongchang Grigory Rodchenkov, the former head Sport looks at what spectators can expect of Russia’s anti-doping lab. from the four new disciplines. Rodchenkov, who alleged that Putin PYEONGCHANG: There is a grey personally ordered the doping pro- door at the Pyeongchang Winter BIG AIR gramme, fled to the United States in Games media centre with a sign read- Spectacular jumps and spins will be on 2016 in fear of his life. Putin later ing “Olympic Athletes from Russia”, display in Big Air, where snowboarders hurtle ridiculed his claims and called him “an but it is rarely open and inside there down a steep 160-foot (48m) ramp and then idiot”. are no Russian flags or colours. perform as many tricks as they can while fly- That same year, a bombshell report It is a fitting metaphor for the coun- ing through the air. by Canadian lawyer Richard McLaren try’s participation in South Korea, It is a bit like ski jumping, but with twirls. on behalf of the World Anti-Doping PYEONGCHANG: Axel Jungk of Germany takes a corner in the first Men’s unofficial skeleton train- where the Russian team is suspended Athletes’ two top scores will combine for a Agency (WADA) accused Moscow of ing session at the Olympic Sliding Centre, during the Pyeongchang 2018 Winter Olympic Games in over a doping scandal but 167 of its final total. widespread state-sponsored doping Pyeongchang. — AFP competitors deemed to be drug-free Austrian Anna Gasser won the Winter X that reached its climax at Sochi. will take part as “Olympic Athletes Games Big Air crown last month in Aspen There, said the report, Russian from Russia”. and Canada’s Max Parrot won the men’s title. ing. “There’s bumping, there’s drafting, MIXED CURLING secret agents were part of an elaborate Despite officially not competing in Olympic sport does not get much cooler there’s strategy,” Mantia said. “It’s defi- “It’s fast-paced, it’s high energy, a lot of plot to help the country’s athletes the Games, Russia, along with North than this. nitely more exciting to watch than stan- athleticism, a different dynamic on the ice,” cheat their way to gold. The nefarious Korea, has dominated debate in the dard long-track races.” Canada’s Kaitlyn Lawes says. Mixed-doubles scheme included swapping tainted lead-up to tomorrow’s opening cere- MASS-START SPEED SKATING curling is played by two players, one male and urine samples for clean ones using a mony. Russia was suspended from the A pack of up to 28 competitors begin at ALPINE TEAM one female on each team. Just 22 minutes are “mousehole” in the Sochi laboratory Games in December over its systemic the same time for 16 laps of a 400m oval Alpine team competition will feature two available to talk strategy-normally it is 38 wall. Russia’s track and field athletes doping programme, fined $15 million with no lane lines. Expect a few dramatic men and two women from 16 nations in head- minutes. were consequently banned from the and its former sports minister, Deputy tumbles in a race filled with strategy and to-head giant slalom runs on a course that And with only two players instead of the 2016 Rio Olympics and the whole team Prime Minister Vitaly Mutko, was jostling for position. demands short and rapid turns. usual four, more nations could mount a threat. was barred from the Paralympics. They banned for life. South Korea’s Kim Bo-Reum is the It’s on February 24, the penultimate day of “In today’s fast-paced world, I think a 90- remain suspended from the Nevertheless, Russians will still women’s world champion, while American the Olympics, and is the final Alpine ski event. minute game is going to be more popular Pyeongchang Paralympics. make up one of the largest contingents Joey Mantia owns the men’s world title in France captured the world title last year, with than a three-hour game,” says Canada’s John in Pyeongchang, albeit under a neutral a sport he compares to US stock car rac- Slovakia second and Sweden third. Morris. — AFP flag-which means standing to the WHAT HAS RUSSIA SAID? Moscow officials have been united Olympic anthem if they win gold, and a in their fury against Russia’s continued strict absence of Russian colours. isolation at the highest level of sport. Under stringent conditions imposed There was a rare piece of good news Nigerian women by the International Olympic last week when the top court for sport, Committee (IOC), no white-blue-red the Court of Arbitration for Sport Russian tricolours can flutter anywhere (CAS), overturned life bans meted out fight fear to in public-not even from apartments in by the IOC to 28 Russian athletes and the athletes’ village. staff over doping. Even if a spectator hands them a make Olympic But torpedoing any hopes of a late Russian flag, they must refuse it. entry to Pyeongchang, the IOC-who Competitors can hang Russian flags on were stunned by the CAS ruling-on bobsleigh history their bedroom walls, as long as they Monday said 15 of the 28 would not be are out of general sight. Other rules invited to South Korea. govern what the Russian competitors PYEONGCHANG: As they prepare to make The rest of the 28 have either can wear, even when training or in Olympic history in Pyeongchang, Nigeria’s retired or are unavailable for undis- casual gear. women’s bobsleigh team admit they battle closed reasons. That provoked a furi- For instance, they are not allowed to their demons every time they climb into the ous response from Russian Prime wear any combination of clothing that sled. Being billed as “Cool Runnings” Minister Dmitry Medvedev, who would create the Russian tricolour-for reloaded in the West African country’s first branded it “a shameful decision”. “This example white T-shirt, blue trousers Winter Games appearance, Seun Adigun and decision is unfair, unlawful, amoral and and red footwear. Akuoma Omeoga knelt in silent prayer yes- politically charged,” he wrote on Their social media will be monitored terday before hurtling down the track at PYEONGCHANG: Nigeria’s women’s bobsleigh and skeleton team members Seun Adigun, Ngozi Facebook, asserting that “its goal is to to make sure they call themselves breakneck speeds they know could kill them. Onwumere, Akuoma Omeoga and Simidele Adeagbo attend a welcoming ceremony for the team in do political damage to Russia”. “Olympic Athlete from Russia” or “The first time I got in a sled it was hon- the Olympic Village in Pyeongchang ahead of the Pyeongchang 2018 Winter Olympic Games. — AFP The number of Russians at “OAR”. The Russians do, however, estly terrifying,” driver Seun told AFP in an Pyeongchang currently stands at 167 have a strong incentive to comply with interview after training. “The only thing that took the sports world by storm at the 1988 pete in the two-man bobsleigh in September “clean” athletes, but on Tuesday CAS the rules: The IOC is considering lifting saved my peace of mind was that I used to Calgary Olympics-immortalised in the hit 2016. “You have to accept it and embrace it said that Korean-born speed skater Russia’s suspension in time for the be a gamer, so initially I just treated it like a Hollywood movie “Cool Runnings”-Nigeria’s before you can actually apply what you need Victor An and 31 other Russian athletes closing ceremony on February 25. video game,” added the bubbly 31-year-old, women are poised to become Pyeongchang’s to protect yourself. “It’s a ripping run of had launched a last-ditch appeal against who represented Nigeria as a hurdler at the unlikeliest stars. speed and being jolted around and sucked their suspensions. The Russians-includ- HOW DID WE GET HERE? 2012 London Olympics. “That kind of helps But it still takes nerves of steel to launch down into the bottom of the sled, whether it’s ing officials and coaches-at the Winter It is all a far cry from four years ago, dampen the fear because when you get in a yourself down an icy mountain in an over- head first or bum first-you roll with the Olympics will be closely watched by the when Russia hosted the Sochi Winter sled you really don’t know exactly what’s sized tin can at 150kph (93mph). “Of course punches,” she chuckled. “It’s very similar to IOC to ensure they stick to the rules as Olympics and the country soared to going to happen. “We also pray! If there’s a you have to think about the dangers,” said the being thrown down a hill in a trash can-you neutrals. — AFP the top of the medals table. For ritual that we do that’s what it is.” Thirty Texas-based Seun, who invited fellow run- just don’t really know where you’ll end up years after the Jamaican men’s bobsled team ners Akuoma and Ngozi Onwumere to com- sometimes.” — AFP Established 1961 13 Sports Thursday, February 8, 2018 Norway’s comeback king Svindal favourites for Olympic gold

Svindal has the chance to become the oldest man ever to win PYEONGCHANG: Norway’s Aksel Lund G at Kitzbuehel in January. “I’m really hap- Olympic downhill,” he said. Svindal bears all the scars from horrific py I’m back because, honestly, the last two crashes and career-threatening injuries as years were not super easy. A big knee BOUNCING BACK mementos of a tough life on the piste, but at injury is probably the worst injury you can Svindal’s last two seasons have ended the age of 35, he heads into Sunday’s men’s have as a ski racer,” he told Reuters. Svindal prematurely due to knee injuries. Those downhill as one of the favourites for certainly is back. came on top of an absence of nearly a year Olympic gold. He sits second in the World Cup down- following a massive crash in 2007 and In the final chapter of a brilliant another long layoff four years ago with career, Svindal has the chance to become an Achilles tendon injury he sustained the oldest man ever to win an alpine ski- kicking a ball around with his team ing gold medal at the Pyeongchang mates. Games. Durability is something of a trait Nothing epitomises the courage and in Norwegian skiers. Knee injury is durability that Svindal has shown Svindal’s boyhood idol Kjetil Andre probably the throughout his career than the way he Aamodt won Super-G gold at Turin in turned the Colorado venue of Beaver 2006 aged 34, a record until Austria’s worst you can Creek from being the scene of a night- Mario Matt won the slalom at Sochi mare to one of his favourite courses. four years ago, also at the age of 34. have as a ski racer In November 2007, Svindal was at Lasse Kjus won gold in the combined his peak when he tumbled dramatically as a 23-year-old on home snow in down the piste after misjudging a jump Lillehammer in 1994 and was still com- in training while racing along at 120 peting in three events at the Turin Games as hill standings-behind Switzerland’s Beat km per hour on the tricky Golden Eagle Aksel Lund Svindal a 35-year-old. Svindal, who won gold, silver Feuz-and also faces a strong challenge section. and bronze in Vancouver in 2010, failed to from in-form 24-year-old German Thomas He was left unconscious on the slope, months before he returned to action. Yet strength, the Norwegian has since won medal in Sochi and has been plagued by Dressen, who won the prestigious with a deep gash in his left buttock returning to Beaver Creek, a year after that three more downhill World Cup races at injuries in recent years but the Norwegian Kitzbuehel downhill last month. caused by one of his skis. He also broke a bloody crash, Svindal put the bad memories Beaver Creek. Having lost his mother, who looks to have hit form at just the right time. The Norwegian, however, remains bone in his back and had several frac- aside and won both downhill and Super-G died in childbirth when he was eight years So far this season he has won World Cup focused on getting the one prize that has tures to his face. in spectacular style and set up a season old, the popular Norwegian’s friendly races in downhill at Beaver Creek and Val so far eluded him. “If I could choose one He was rushed to hospital where he was where he regained his overall World Cup demeanour has sometimes masked his Gardena, and picked up a victory in Super- race to win this year, it would be the to spend three weeks and it was a full 10 crown. As if to emphasise his mental steely determination. — Reuters

Hirscher wants first gold things happen.” Canada’s Teams Canada and USA have bat- to cap career tled to a near standstill over the last several months in the run-up to the women Pyeongchang Games, which run from PYEONGCHANG: Marcel Hirscher has dom- Feb. 9-25. They split an exhibition inated World Cup skiing for the past six sea- are on a drive series 3-3, but ahead of that, the US sons, but the Austrian admitted yesterday a captured gold at the 2017 women’s first “amazing” Olympic gold medal would be world championships - their fourth the icing on the cake. for five straight in that competition. Despite winning six overall World Cup “I think the rivalry between Canada crystal globes between 2012-17, with 55 vic- and the US has been there since the tories and 120 podiums, Hirscher has just one PYEONGCHANG: The Canadian inception, and that every single time individual medal at a Winter Games, silver in women’s ice hockey team head into the we’ve ever faced the US it has been a the slalom in Sochi in 2014. Winter Olympics as the underdogs to one-goal difference, it’s gone into The 28-year-old finished a heart-breaking a top-ranked US squad, but they know overtime, it’s a back-and-forth hockey fourth in the giant slalom in both Sochi and STOCKHOLM: File photo shows Marcel Hirscher of Austria competes during the FIS Ski World Cup they have a mission to fulfill: a fifth game, it’s best-on-best competition, Vancouver four years earlier, where he also parallel slalom city event in Stockholm, Sweden, on January 30, 2018. — AFP straight gold medal. and I think that’s what makes it so came in fifth in the slalom. “It would be an Canada have failed to take home great,” said Schuler, who played on the amazing success, not a life-changing or “It’s important to win a gold medal, I think this and see where I’m ending up after these gold just once since the women’s game 1998 team that captured silver. career-changing success, but it would be it’s an important piece of rounding out a Olympics.” debuted at the Winter Olympics in Canada open their Olympic cam- really nice to have,” Hirscher said of an legacy like his, but at the same time... it does- Hirscher said the winner on the speed Nagano, Japan, in 1998. Most often paign on Feb. 11 against the Russians Olympic gold. n’t change the fact he’s one of the greatest of events track at the Jeongseon Alpine Centre they have had to get past the United and then take on Finland before meet- “What is 100 percent sure is that I will go all time,” Ligety said. piste could well be the one whose team finds States, winners of that first-ever gold, ing their archrivals on Feb. 14. Schuler’s for it, that’s the plan. Plans don’t always work The American was quick to add: the right “set-up”, nailing down the correctly to earn the top spot on podium. players say they aren’t looking past out, but you never know. “It can be that the “Hirscher’s been very dominant this year, but edged and waxed skis so they work the most This year is sizing up to be no dif- those first two games, though. dream comes true but it can also be that I the Olympics are different from the World efficiently on the hard-packed snow and in ferent, except that a revenge-motivat- “We can’t take any team for grant- finish the Olympic Games with just one sil- Cup so hopefully the race goes differently bitterly cold conditions. ed Team USA are slightly favored and ed. We’re on a mission here,” said for- ver.” Asked whether things were different from how it has been in the World Cup!” The clue was “testing, testing, testing and are as eager to end their own drought ward Meghan Acosta, one of Canada’s now than for Sochi, a relaxed Hirscher said: playing with all the experience we have, the as the Canadians are to extend their assistant captains. “When we look too “Yes! Having 55 World Cup wins and six big A BIG HONOUR whole team, and hoping we’re making the good fortune. far ahead that’s when we lose sight of crystal globes.” “If I’m done tomorrow it will Hirscher dubbed Ligety’s praise “a big right decisions when it comes to waxing, “We’re really confident with where our goals.” be fine anyways, it was an amazing career.” honour”. edging”. “You know if you have the right set- we’re at,” Canada head coach Laura They are also not worried about One of Hirscher’s main rivals in the giant “Every athlete is here wanting a gold up on the race day. You know if you have it Schuler said at a news conference yes- having their southern neighbors seen slalom will be American Ted Ligety, who will medal and hopefully pushing it as hard as after two turns or if it’s a complete mess, but terday. “I know we’ve got a great team, as the team to beat this year, either. be hunting a third Olympic gold despite hav- possible,” he said. not during testing. The race hill is always dif- a great team with probably the best “They’re too shy to say it, but we love ing enjoyed nowhere near the success of the “Now I’m missing that Olympic gold ferent from training hills, but it’s the same for chemistry, the best group of girls that being the underdog,” team Canada Austrian on the World Cup circuit. But medal, I’m here on a mission and we’ll see every racer.” But some good news for Ligety I’ve ever, ever had an opportunity to General Manager Melody Davis said. Ligety said Hirscher’s lack of Olympic suc- how it works. was that Hirscher backed his “on-point” rival coach, and when you have that, good “We’ll take that any day.” — Reuters cess would not detract from his legacy. “The only thing I can do is have fun with to thrive on the snow. — AFP ABK sponsors ‘Guide Their Sight with Your Heart’ walkathon

Ali Al Baghli (ABK) with the winners and KISR officials. Dr Mane Al Sudairawi (KISR) honoring Al Baghli (ABK)

KUWAIT: In celebration of ‘World Braille Day’, Al Under the patronage of Dr Samira A.S. Omar - Communications at ABK was presented with a tro- Louis Braille in helping blind and visually impaired Ahli Bank of Kuwait (ABK) sponsored the ‘Guide Director General of KISR, hundreds of participants phy from the KISR team honoring their long-stand- people to read and write. Non-governmental organ- Their Sight with Your Heart’ Walkathon for the sec- walked the 2 kilometer distance to raise awareness ing commitment to supporting people with special izations (NGOs) around the world use this day to ond consecutive year. The event was organized by on the daily challenges faced by the visually needs. create awareness about the challenges faced by the Kuwait Institute for Scientific Research (KISR) impaired individuals around the world. World Braille Day is annually celebrated on visually impaired individuals and to encourage busi- and took place on Thursday, February 1, 2018, at the In appreciation of ABK’s efforts and sponsorship, January 4, the birthday of the Braille inventor, Louis nesses and governments to create economic and Boulevard, Salmiya. Ali Al Baghli - Senior Manager, Corporate Braille. The day recognizes the contributions of social opportunities for the blind. 14 Established 1961 Sports Thursday, February 8, 2018 Maxwell century powers Australia to T20 win over England 58-ball century including 10 fours and four sixes

HOBART: Glenn Maxwell slammed a last-ball six to SCOREBOARD score a masterful century and lead Australia to a five- wicket victory over England in the second tri-series Twenty20 international in Hobart yesterday. Maxwell, HOBART, Australia: Complete scoreboard in the second who earlier took three wickets in two overs, was man of Twenty20 tri-series match between Australia and England at the match with an unbeaten 103 as the Australians Bellerive Oval yesterday: chased down England’s 155 for nine in the 19th over. England Maxwell, who was controversially dropped from J. Roy c Tye b Richardson 9 Australia’s one-day team for the recent series against A. Hales c&b Agar 22 England, responded with a 58-ball century including 10 D. Malan c Tye b Maxwell 50 fours and four sixes at Bellerive Oval. “It was nice to E. Morgan c Warner b Maxwell 22 get one over the rope and finish the job,” Maxwell said. J. Buttler c Maxwell b Stoinis 5 “For us to start the series the way we have has been S. Billings c&b Agar 10 outstanding. We haven’t had a lot of success in T20 D. Willey st Carey b Maxwell 3 cricket for the last few years. “Missing out on the one- C. Jordan not out 16 day squad and not playing any part in the Ashes, it was A. Rashid c Stoinis b Stanlake 1 T. Curran c Warner b Tye 6 M. Wood not out 5 Extras (lb2, w4) 6 Total (9 wickets; 20 overs) 155 Fall of wickets: 1-16 (Roy), 2-60 (Hales), 3-94 (Morgan), 4-109 For us to start (Buttler), 5-122 (Billings), 6-126 (Malan), 7-126 (Willey), 8-127 (Rashid), 9-137 (Curran) the series the Bowling: Stanlake 4-0-43-1 (2w), Richardson 4-0-27-1, Tye 4- 0-28-1, Stoinis 2-0-16-1 (2w), Agar 3-0-15-2, Head 1-0-14-0, way we have has HOBART: Australia’s batsman Glenn Maxwell (R) plays a shot from the England bowling as wicketkeeper Jos Maxwell 2-0-10-3. been outstanding Buttler (L) looks on during their Twenty20 cricket match at Bellerive Oval in Hobart yesterday. — AFP Australia D. Warner c Hales b Willey 4 Willey finished with three wickets for 28 off three Maxwell, it sparked a middle-order collapse. D. Short c&b Rashid 30 overs. England, troubled by Australia’s spinners, lost Jos Buttler (5) fell cheaply, caught by Maxwell off C. Lynn b Willey 0 G. Maxwell not out 103 obviously where I wanted to be this summer. their last six wickets for 33 in registering a below-par Marcus Stoinis (1-16), while Sam Billings (10) popped a M. Stoinis c Billings b Wood 6 “I had to do a lot of work behind the scenes and I total of 155. Dawid Malan cracked 50 off 36 balls with return catch to Agar. Malan was caught in the deep by T. Head b Willey 6 feel I’ve done that and got back into the Aussie five fours and two sixes but England fellaway after Andrew Tye for Maxwell’s second wicket and David A. Carey not out 5 colours.” Maxwell had a big moment on 59 when his reaching 94 for two in the 10th over. Willey (3) was dismissed next ball to give Alex Carey Extras (lb4, w3) 7 lofted drive found the fingertips of long-off fielder Maxwell captured three for 10 and Ashton Agar took his first international stumping. Total (5 wickets; 18.3 overs) 161 Jason Roy. But Maxwell stood his ground and although two for 15 as Australia sent England’s middle order Maxwell’s hat-trick ball was wide of the leg-stump Fall of wickets: 1-4 (Warner), 2-4 (Lynn), 3-82 (Short), 4-98 umpire Gerald Abood’s soft signal was out, the televi- tumbling. Kane Richardson (1-27) began the damage line. Adil Rashid (1) got the toe end of the bat on a shot (Stoinis), 5-127 (Head) sion umpire deemed Roy did not complete the catch. by removing dangerous opener Jason Roy for nine, off paceman Billy Stanlake and was well caught by Did not bat: A. Agar, A. Tye, K. Richardson, B. Stanlake Australia had a rocky start to their run chase when before Malan hit his lively half-century. Stoinis, while Tom Curran (6) was well held by a back- Bowling: Willey 3-0-28-3 (1w), Wood 3.3-0-26-1, Jordan 4-0- David Willey dismissed David Warner and Chris Lynn He was supported by Alex Hales with 22 from 15 pedalling Warner after failing to pick Tye’s knuckle ball. 34-0, Curran 4-0-39-0, Rashid 4-0-30-1 (2w). in the space of three balls. But Maxwell rebuilt the balls, and captain Eoin Morgan, also 22 from 14 balls. Chris Jordan hit the final ball for six to finish with 16 Result: Australia won by 5 wickets innings with stands with D’Arcy Short (30), Travis Head Hales was the first of two caught-and-bowled wickets from 11 balls, with Mark Wood on five not out. Tye fin- (6) and Alex Carey (5 not out) to secure victory. for Agar. When Morgan went, caught by Warner off ished with 1-28. — AFP

Najla Al-Jeraiwi, ooredoo’s first female brand Ambassador

KUWAIT: ooredoo, is proud to announce spon- soring Kuwaiti triathlete Najla Al-Jeraiwi as its first female brand ambas- sador for the current sea- son 2018-2019. The sponsorship comes in alignment with the com- pany’s commitment to enriching youth and sup- porting their passions became champion of the first wheelchair local basket- whistle. Third place went the Olympic team which and also the company’s ball tournament, which concluded on Tuesday night at defeated Tahreer 55-49. dedication to empower- Aboodka lift Najla Al-Jeraiwi Kuwait Handicapped Sports Club. Best player cup went to Mohammad Hawash, scorer ing women. The final match was attended by the honorary presi- Mohammad Al-Ghareeb. Club treasure and tournament Al-Jeraiwi was the first Wheelchair dent of the club Al-Sheikha Sheikha Al-Abdallah Al- director Saad Al-Azmaa said the tournament was of a Arab female triathlete representative in the 17th Asian Sabah, Undersecretary of Youth Affairs Ministry good technical level, during which several promising Games, South Korea and the first GCC representative Basketball cup Sheikha Zain Al-Sabah, club deputy president Nasser players were discovered and may join the national team. in UCI Road World Championships 2016. She was also Al-Ajmi, Secretary General Abdallah Al-Azmi, He said the tournament that was organized on the the runner-up in the ATU African Triathlon & Pan Arab Treasurer Saad Al-Azmaa, as well as tournament spon- occasion of Kuwait’s celebrations of its national, libera- championship and the GCC cycling champion in both By Abdellatif Sharaa sor Abdallah Al-Jasser. tion days and the 12th anniversary of HH the Amir Time Trial and Road race. Al-Jeraiwi is currently the Aboodka defeated Lakers 44-42 in a very exciting ascension to power, was a good opportunity to prepare national champion of Kuwait in both triathlon and KUWAIT: “Aboodka” handicapped basketball team and competitive match and was decided with the final tournament to be held in Jordan in March. cycling. She has come in the top 3 in multiple regional triathalons - her next race will be this upcoming March in the Abu Dhabi World Triathlon series In a statement regarding this, ooredoo Kuwait’s Corporate Communications Senior Director Mijbil Alayoub said, “We have great pride in the achievement of our young promising Kuwaiti female triathlete Najla Al-Jeraiwi. Our commitment to supporting youth and empowering women is deep-rooted within our core values in ooredoo Kuwait. We hope to see more suc- cess in the future, and we look forward to bigger achievements on an international scale.” Supporting youth and empowering women is among ooredoo’s top priorities through its CSR strategy. The company signed a memorandum of understanding with the Ministry of State for Youth Affairs in 2017, to sup- port youth projects and initiatives. ooredoo is continu- ously working with the Ministry to enrich youth experi- ence in a variety of fields, with a focus on volunteerism.

IEAS and CSK team to meet in the finals

IISM and KIS battled with ICS. ICS came out swinging, Round 2: The second round saw CSK take on KIS taking all three points. Goal scorers of CSK were UGC Interschool scoring minutes after the start. Usama Awadh was the and IISM take on UIS. IISM opened scoring early on Emad, Alric and Alvin. player who gave ICS the deserved lead. ICS were with Atif scoring the goal putting his team 1-0 in the Round 3: IEAS took on UIS in the last round and relentless in their attacking prowess and left KIS with lead. UIS seemed eager to get back on level terms CSK faced ICS. CSK seemed equally matched with ICS under-15 football little choice but to play a more conservative and defen- launching several quick counter attacks in response to as both teams struggled to make a breakthrough but sive game. Anas Khan and Kevin Mahesh seemed to the goal. Nevertheless, the IISM goalkeeper was vigilant could not. The match though quite engaging ended in a tournament 2018 have a good understanding of the game as they kept at his post. After the break, UIS were back in the game goal-less draw. IEAS was on the offensive right from the prodding the KIS defense for a shot on goal. ICS with Adhil scoring the equalizer to make sure his team start, having a lot ball possession. The goalkeeper for KUWAIT: The United Goans Centre (UGC) held its claimed all three points as it headed into the second got one point as the match ended in a 1-1 draw. UIS was impressive; as he saved a lot of the goal-ward Inter-school under-15 football tournament on February round of matches. Simultaneously, CSK opened their own scoring bound shots. The first half ended with a goalless draw 3. The schools that took part were; Indian English On the other side, we had the IEAS and IISM strug- after a good spell of attack. After halftime, CSK but after halftime, Aaron D’Souza from IEAS finally Academy School (IEAS), Unite Indian School (UIS), gled to breakdown each other’s defense. IEAS had to doubled their lead only to have KIS Abdullah score broke the deadlock and gave them the lead. Kuwait Indian School (KIS), Indian Central School dig deep and defend the various attacks in their box but and reduce the goal difference. But CSK were not After what was a riveting day of fast-paced youth (ICS), Carmel School Kuwait (CSK) and India their goalkeeper was well aware of the danger and kept to be held back as they responded brilliantly with football, IEAS will take on CSK in the finals, which will International School Mangaf (IISM). a clean sheet throughout. The game ended in a 0-0 another goal and gaining back their 2 goal cushion. be held with the annual UGC Men’s Football Round 1: In the first round of matches, IEAS took on draw and each team took one point into the next round. The highly entertaining match ended 3-1 with CSK Tournament Final on 2nd March 2018. Established 1961 15 Sports Thursday, February 8, 2018 Swansea hit eight in FA Cup rout, Huddersfield advance Biggest FA Cup win in their history

LONDON: Swansea racked up the biggest FA Cup win Liberty Stadium just a few days after departing the in their history as Tammy Abraham and Nathan Dyer Owls on Christmas Eve, with Swansea beating both inspired an 8-1 thrashing of Notts County in Tuesday’s Liverpool and Arsenal to drag themselves out of the fourth round replay. Premier League relegation zone. Despite fielding a much-changed side, Swansea set- “It is important if it is the best result in the history tled any potential nerves with two goals in the space of (of the club), but the most important thing is the atti- as many first-half minutes at the Liberty Stadium. tude of the players that made all the difference,” Swansea striker Abraham put the Premier League club Carvalhal said. “I spoke to them before the game that in front from close range we have a challenge on 18 minutes, with Dyer tonight. I am very proud swiftly adding another on of the players as they the break. accepted the challenge.” Dyer made it 3-0 on Top-flight strugglers the half-hour with a low Huddersfield Huddersfield will face shot from the edge of the Manchester United in penalty area, before will face the fifth round after win- Noor Husin got County ning 4-1 at second-tier on the scoresheet after Man United Birmingham after extra 36 minutes. There was, time. Birmingham had though, to be no fairytale taken the lead on 52 comeback for the League minutes when Che Two promotion chasers, Adams turned on the as Abraham scored again edge of the penalty area in first-half stoppage time. to drill in a low shot. Huddersfield were soon level when Kyle Naughton made it 5-1 with a deflected volley Blues defender Marc Roberts inadvertently knocked following a corner on 53 minutes and Wayne Routledge the ball past keeper David Stockdale for an own goal. curled in a sixth before midfielder Tom Carroll crashed Steve Mounie headed Huddersfield in front four min- home a well-taken seventh on 65 minutes. utes into extra time. Rajiv van la Parra scored from a SWANSEA: Swansea City’s English midfielder Nathan Dyer (L) vies with Notts County’s Afghan midfielder Noor Husin dur- Daniel James marked his debut with a goal on 84 rebound to swiftly make it three, before Tom Ince drove ing the English FA Cup fourth round replay football match between Swansea City and Notts County at The Liberty minutes to complete the rout. Swansea’s demolition job in a fourth on 106 minutes to secure the Terriers a clash Stadium in Swansea, south Wales on Tuesday. — AFP means boss Carlos Carvalhal can look forward to a fifth against United, who lost 2-1 at the John Smith’s Stadium round trip to Sheffield later, the Championship club in October. book a fifth round home date against either Tottenham dreadful condition of the Spotland pitch to settle a who sacked him earlier this season. Rochdale, struggling in League One, caused an or Newport, who meet at Wembley later. With Millwall scrappy game when he slotted home from close range Carvalhal has made an impact since arriving at the upset as they beat Championship side Millwall 1-0 to fielding a weakened team, Ian Henderson ignored the after 53 minutes. — AFP

Di Maria fuels PSG as Marseille Evra, kicked out hit 9 in French Cup of Marseille,

PARIS: Angel Di Maria scored a hat-trick as holders Paris joins West Ham Saint-Germain defeated second-tier Sochaux 4-1 on Tuesday to reach the French Cup quarter-finals, while Marseille demolished Ligue 2 outfit Bourg-en-Bresse 9-0. on free transfer The Argentine winger headed PSG, who were playing without the rested Neymar, ahead inside the first minute at LONDON: West Ham the Stade Bonal in eastern France, but twice former win- signed former Manchester ners Sochaux levelled through Florian Martin before the United defender Patrice quarter hour. Evra on a free transfer Edinson Cavani restored the lead for Unai Emery’s team yesterday, with the on 27 minutes when he turned in a Layvin Kurzawa cross Frenchman set to link up at the far post, and Thiago Silva then rattled the crossbar again with former boss with a header from a corner. Di Maria added a third just David Moyes. Evra has prior to the hour with a composed finish after he was won multiple league titles released in behind the home defence by a pass from Italian and the Champions midfielder Marco Verratti. He completed his hat-trick just League in an illustrious three minutes later by forcing home a rebound from close Patrice Evra range after Sochaux goalkeeper Lawrence Ati Zigi parried career but his spell at a fierce shot from Cavani. Marseille ended abruptly Dani Alves finished the game in goal for PSG after SOCHAUX: Paris Saint-Germain’s Uruguayan forward Edinson Cavani (L) scores a goal despite Sochaux’s Ghanean goal- in November after he launched a kung-fu kick at a Kevin Trapp was sent off in the closing stages for a foul keeper Lawrence Ati Zigi (R) during the French Cup round of sixteen football match between Sochaux (FCSM) and Paris supporter. outside his area on Sochaux striker Thomas Robinet. “The Saint-Germain (PSG), on Tuesday at the Auguste Bonal stadium in Sochaux. — AFP Evra, who joins the Hammers on a contract until goal today was to advance beyond this round of the the end of June, worked with Hammers manager French Cup without injuries,” said Emery, whose side trav- Bourg-en-Bresse in a heavily lopsided last 16 tie. Rudi to score the fifth before half-time. Argentinian Ocampos Moyes during his time at Old Trafford and is looking el to Real Madrid next week for the first leg of their Garcia’s side, who are second in Ligue 1 after thrashing grabbed his second early in the second half, although he forward to linking up with his old boss. “Im really Champions League last 16 tie. Metz 6-3 last week, romped into a 4-0 lead inside 20 min- was made to wait to complete his treble as Marseille went happy to be a Hammer, to be back in the Premier “We’re very happy with (Di Maria),” added the utes at the struggling Ligue 2 side and showed no mercy a game-high 23 minutes without scoring before he headed League and I love this game,” said the left-back. Spaniard, who has seen the revitalised Argentine score against hapless opponents. “We had an actual nightmare, home. Mitroglou quickly got back in on the act as some “When you have to make a deal and money is not nine goals in 10 matches since the turn of the year. “He the two sides were a world apart,” admitted Bourg-en- more awful defending allowed him to nod in his seventh the issue, the deal could be done in five minutes,” deserves to be in the squad, in the starting XI, like all the Bresse coach Herve Della Maggiore. “We watched them goal for the club, before Clinton N’Jie wrapped up the added the Evra in a statement on the club’s website. other players. My opinion of him hasn’t changed today, play.” Despite making six changes to the starting XI, scoring with number nine from the penalty spot. Marseille “The main thing was for me to join West Ham and to he’s an important player for us.” Marseille ended the tie as a contest with early goals from have now won eight and drawn one of their last nine help my teammates to win as many games as we can. Luiz Gustavo, Dimitri Payet, Ocampos and Mitroglou. matches in all competitions, scoring 30 goals in the “It was the fastest thing I have done in my life, MITROGLOU, OCAMPOS SHINE Greek international striker Mitroglou has struggled to process. because both parties wanted to work together, so it Earlier, both Kostas Mitroglou and Lucas Ocampos nail down a place in the team since joining from Benfica But they fell well short of their record win-a 19-0 was very easy to make an agreement.” West Ham are scored hat-tricks as in-form Marseille crushed a hapless last year, but he strolled through the vacant home defence French Cup victory over Stade Raphaelois in 1933. — AFP 12th in the Premier League with 12 matches to play, but are only three points above the teams in 18th and 19th, two of the three relegation places. Evra’s departure from France came after he lashed out in response to a group of supporters Bayern hit Paderborn who had come to the pitchside to berate him for what they considered sub-par displays. The 36- for six to reach year-old, capped 81 times by France, was hit with a season-long ban that only applies to UEFA club competitions. German Cup semis Alex Ferguson took the Senegal-born player to Manchester United from Monaco in January 2006, MUNICH: Bayern Munich dismantled third-tier Paderborn and won five Premier League titles and the to sweep into the German Cup semi-finals with a thumping Champions League. After spending his final season 6-0 win on Tuesday. The lower league side, who suffered at Old Trafford working under Moyes, the defender successive relegations after playing in the Bundesliga moved to Italian champions Juventus in 2014 and three years ago, began brightly but were swiftly out- enjoyed more domestic success before moving classed by visiting Bayern, who have won the competition back to France in January 2017. a record 18 times. Kingsley Coman gave Bayern the lead after 19 minutes, sweeping home from close range after Evra’s career has been dogged by controversy, Arjen Robben had missed his kick, and the France forward not all of his making. At the 2010 World Cup in then teed up Robert Lewandowski with a delightful pass South Africa he led a revolt of the French players for the second. against coach Raymond Domenech. Bayern effectively ended Paderborn’s resistance four A year later, while playing for United, Evra was minutes before halftime when a beautiful long ball from the target of a racist insult from then Liverpool strik- Mats Hummels found Joshua Kimmich, who beat the keep- er Luis Suarez. The Uruguayan was banned for eight er at his near post with a calm finish. Bayern landed a fur- matches and fined over the incident. — AFP ther blow 10 minutes into the second half when Corentin Tolisso headed home unmarked from a corner. Robben curled the ball home from the edge of the area and then tapped in from close range to complete an emphatic win late on. Bayer Leverkusen also reached the last four after LEVERKUSEN: Leverkusen’s German forward Kevin Volland (R) and Bremen’s Serbian defender Milos Veljkovic (L) vie for Matches on TV fighting back from 2-0 down to beat Werder Bremen 4-2 the ball during the German football Cup DFB Pokal quarter-final match Bayern 04 Leverkusen versus SV Werder Bremen after extra time. Max Kruse and Aron Johannsson had (Local Timings) given Bremen a two-goal lead inside seven minutes, but on Tuesday in Leverkusen.— AFP Julian Brandt scored either side of halftime to drag Leverkusen back into the match. Meanwhile, Mueller has played down fears he could build-up to Kingsley Coman’s opening goal. SPAIN COPA DEL REY Karim Bellarabi and Kai Havertz then scored late in miss Bayern Munich’s home Champions League last 16 Mueller played on, but came off after 32 minutes raising extra time to complete a superb turnaround. The semi-final match against Besiktas in a fortnight after limping out of a fears he could miss Bayern’s home Bundesliga match lineup will be completed when last year’s runners-up German Cup win. Mueller, Bayern’s captain with Manuel against Schalke this Saturday, plus their key home Valencia v Barcelona 23:30 Eintracht Frankfurt host Mainz 05 and VfL Wolfsburg visit Neuer currently injured, badly bruised his thigh colliding European match against Besiktas on February 20, with the Schalke 04 in the remaining quarter-final ties. with Paderborn’s goalkeeper Michael Ratajczak in the last 16 return in Istanbul on March 14.—Agencies beIN SPORTS HD 3 Established 1961 Sport

THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 8، 2018

Over 200 North Korean cheerleaders Maxwell century powers Australia Swansea hit eight in FA Cup 12spark fashion envy in Pyeongchang 14 to T20 win over England 15 rout, Huddersfield advance

ORLANDO: Elfrid Payton #2 of the Orlando Magic shoots the ball against the Cleveland Cavaliers at Amway Center in Orlando, Florida. — AFP Cavs buried by Orlando ‘avalanche’ Harden bags 15,000th career point

LOS ANGELES: LeBron James and the Cleveland the third. A 41-point quarter is hard to come back Harden finished with 36 points as the Rockets bagged a 33 points against his former team. Draymond Green Cavaliers crashed to yet another humiliating defeat from.” James said Lue’s illness had also affected the fifth straight victory to improve to 39-13, two wins back was ejected for the third time this season after lobbing against the Orlando Magic on Tuesday as James Harden team. “Unfortunately he’s sick and that’s all we heard,” from the Warriors. the ball at an official. scored his 15,000th career point to extend Houston’s James said. “He’s the captain of our ship so it’s a tough Chris Paul had 25 points, with Clint Capela adding 18 In Toronto, Kyle Lowry scored 23 points as the winning streak to five games. blow.” The Cavs face the Minnesota Timberwolves on and Gerald Green contributing 16 points from the Raptors closed to within two games of the Boston In Orlando, James scored 25 points but it was not Wednesday back in Cleveland, who have already beat- bench. Harden was bombarded with chants “M-V-P!” Celtics at the top of the Eastern Conference with a 111- enough to prevent the Cavs from slumping to a 116-98 en the Cavs this season. during the game but said afterwards he was not think- 91 victory. Raptors ace Lowry made eight rebounds loss in a roller coaster game. Cleveland looked to be in “We’ve got a great ing about personal hon- with four assists while C.J. Miles came off the bench to the mood for an emphatic win after piling on a massive opportunity tomorrow ours.”Just want to win, score 20 points in 15 minutes on court. DeMar 43 points in the first quarter and powering to 67-51 at against a team that beat and put ourselves in the DeRozan had 15 points, with six assists and three half-time. But Orlando dominated the second half, us up pretty good best position that we can rebounds. Kyrie Irving had 17 points for the Celtics on outscoring the Cavs 65-31 in the final two quarters to before,” James said. “We for post-season and then his return from injury. Irving later shouldered blame for complete a crushing win before their home fans. A grim look forward to the chal- Porzingis’ season we’ll take it from there,” the loss. night for Cleveland also saw coach Tyronn Lue leave lenge. We’ve got to Harden said. “As one of the veterans on this team, I’ve got to be courtside midway through the second quarter with an come out and sustain the over as Knicks Golden State mean- better than that,” he said. “This one is on me. Kind of undisclosed illness. Lue did not reappear and reported- challenge.” while were thumped just taking responsibility and trying to be better going ly watched the remainder of the game from the locker suffer Bucks rout 125-105 by Oklahoma forward.” The Raptors’ win puts Toronto at 37-16, sec- room. Orlando were sparked by 34 points from HARDEN MVP? City Thunder. Paul ond overall in the East. Boston remain in top spot on Jonathon Simmons, on a night when all of Orlando’s In New York mean- George and Russell 39-16. In New York, Knicks star Kristaps Porzingis suf- starters cracked double digits. while, Rockets star Westbrook combined to fered a season-ending knee injury as his team were Cavs star James pinpointed a disastrous third quar- Harden brought up dismantle the Warriors downed 103-89 by the Milwaukee Bucks. Porzingis ter-when Orlando poured on 41 points-for the 15,000 career points on as Houston swept to a 123-113 defence. George finished with 38 points while landed awkwardly after a dunk and twisted his left loss.”They hit some big-time shots in the third quarter,” win over the Brooklyn Nets to maintain pressure on Westbrook added 34. knee. An MRI scan later confirmed a torn anterior cru- James said. “The snowball turned into an avalanche in Golden State at the top of the Western Conference. Kevin Durant led the scoring for the Warriors with ciate ligament. — AFP

take a 3-0 lead in the series. always looking for someone to bat until the end and it’s the first Indian wicket-keeper to reach that mark. Kohli magic leads South Africa’s brittle batting lineup, without injured amazing if you do it as the captain,” Kohli said at the “Everything is disappointing about this. Yet again we stalwarts Faf du Plessis, AB de Villiers and Quinton de post-match presentation. were not up to the mark. We’ve only got ourselves to Kock, were stifled once more by the Indian spinners as “I was cramping towards the end but I knew I had to blame, we have to try harder,” Markram said. India to big win Kuldeep Yadav, who took career-best figures (4-23 in 9 stay until the end to get us to 300. These are the times “We’ve come across them (the spinners) before and overs), and Yuzvendra Chahal (4-46 in 9 overs) stran- you’re tested mentally as well as physically.” When if after all that time we’re still struggling to pick them, it over South Africa gled their innings. South Africa captain Aiden Markram (32) and innings speaks of their quality.” The fourth match will be played at the Wanderers in top-scorer JP Duminy (51) put on a rapid 78 for the CAPE TOWN: India captain Virat Kohli continued his Johannesburg on Saturday. The imperious Kohli now second wicket, the hosts were given hope. Scores in brief: excellent recent form by smashing a sparkling unbeaten has four centuries in his last six 50-over innings. He Yet the introduction of the excellent Chahal and India 303-6 in 50 overs (S. Dhawan 76, V. Kohli 160 not century to lead his side to a comprehensive 124-run survived being given out leg before wicket to Kagiso Yadav, who took eight wickets for 69 runs between out). victory over South Africa in the third One-Day Rabada before he had scored when a review showed he them, pegged the innings back. South Africa 179 in 40 overs (J. Duminy 51; Y. Chahal 4- International at Newlands yesterday. had got the faintest of edges to the ball. Yadav had Markram stumped by MS Dhoni and 46, Kuldeep Yadav 4-23). Kohli made 160 not out from 159 balls as India, who After that he was sublime as he put on 139 for the Chahal ripped through the middle-order, including the Result: India won by 124 runs. had been put into bat, posted 303 for six in their 50 second wicket with Shikhar Dhawan (76 from 63 balls) wicket of debutant Heinrich Klaasen (six). Dhoni’s Series: India lead the six-match series 3-0. overs, before restricting their hosts to 179 all out to to lay the platform for India’s sizeable score. “You’re stumping of Markram took him to 400 ODI dismissals, Toss: South Africa. — Agencies 18 Established 1961 Business Thursday, February 8, 2018 Yas Island showcases region’s #1 family and leisure destination Miral’s CEO hosts company’s first Kuwait roadshow

KUWAIT: As the region’s top family entertainment and Beach, to satisfying luxury shopping desires in the biggest leisure destination celebrates its 10th anniversary year, Yas shopping destination in Abu Dhabi emirate with more than Island yesterday presented its unique portfolio of immersive 2.5 million square footage of retail and entertainment, at experiences and world-class attractions while providing a Yas Mall. ‘sneak peek’ of what’s in store for visitors in 2018 during a Yas Island also features Yas Marina Circuit, one of the roadshow in Kuwait. most technologically-advanced Formula 1 circuits in the Miral CEO, Mohamed Abdalla Al-Zaabi, met with local world and a home for motorsports in the Middle East, as well media to highlight the successful journey of Yas Island over as Yas Marina, a vibrant venue offering dining, fitness and the last decade and how it is constantly evolving and innovat- leisure facilities in a stunning marine setting. ing its attractions, parks and in-bound tourism opportunities In line with its vision to attract more than 48 million visits to become the favorite destination for families in the region. by 2022, Yas Island continues to expand its portfolio of Yas Island yesterday presents a rich portfolio of unique world-class attractions by bringing new theme parks, attrac- attractions and theme parks creating immersive experi- tions and unique projects arriving to the destination in 2018 ences for visitors from the region and around the world all and beyond. in one destination just During the event, Al- seven minutes away from Zaabi confirmed that a new flights arriving into Abu world-class theme park and Dhabi airport. a unique record-breaking The island is home to activity destination are on two world-class theme Yas Island track to launch this year; parks, experiences and attractions coming to Yas Island bring together Bugs Bunny, Scooby Doo, and other famous parks including Ferrari Warner Bros. World Abu appealing to potential Kuwaiti visitors,” said Mohamed characters under a stylized cartoon sky, as well as World Abu Dhabi, the celebrates its Dhabi, with 90 percent Abdalla Al-Zaabi, Miral CEO. “As the number one destination ‘Metropolis’ which will transport guests to a Manhattan- world’s first Ferrari branded construction completed, for families, we are confident that Yas Island will continue to styled city of towering skyscrapers and featuring characters theme park offering unique 10th anniversary will open its doors this attract visitors from all across the GCC especially with the such as Batman, Superman and Wonder Woman. entertainment experience summer; and CLYMB, a new additions coming soon to Yas island” added Al-Zaabi. The other attraction opening its doors this year during the through a winning mix of one-of-a-kind sports and With the excitement starting to build up rapidly for its second half of 2018, the record-breaking sports and enter- 37 Ferrari inspired rides entertainment facility, set to opening this summer, Warner Bros. World Abu Dhabi will tainment venue, CLYMB, will feature a 9.75-meter-wide (32- and attractions, and Yas impress with the widest be home to 29 immersive rides, entertaining shows and foot) flight chamber, the facility will a game-changer for Waterworld, an Emirati- flight chamber ever and the interactive attractions. The fully-immersive world-class indoor skydiving, while also offering the highest climbing wall themed waterpark and home to more than 43 rides, slides world’s tallest indoor climbing wall. park will also include retail outlets featuring a wide collec- at a soaring 43 meters, as well as a series of other walls that and attractions. Together the parks and Yas Island as a desti- In addition, Yas Island’s calendar of major 2018 events was tion of merchandise inspired by Warner Bros. franchises as are suitable for all ages and abilities. nation have been recognized for excellence in more than 17 revealed, with 22 events in the first half of the year on weekly well as a full range of dining options from full-service sit The Miral CEO also emphasized how Yas Island will con- international awards from both the industry and travellers basis until mid-May. Upcoming live entertainment and sport- down to grab and go. tinue to evolve as a leading destination for family entertain- themselves. ing action includes the world-famous Harlem Globe Trotters, The indoor venue will bring together stories and charac- ment and leisure, with evolving smart connectivity and state- Visitors can enjoy a wide variety of options on Yas The Illusionists, a Brazilian Carnival and a total of seven fami- ters from the studio’s renowned portfolio of DC Comics’ of-the-art mobility solutions that will create a seamlessly Island’s catering to all tastes and age groups, from enjoying ly festivals, which are entirely free to the public. superheroes through six immersive themed lands all under connected ‘wall-less’ destination where guests can plan their a tranquil getaway with plenty of fun under the sun at Yas “We are very excited to share these updates on incredible one roof, including the vibrant ‘Cartoon Junction’ which will visit with a simple touch of their smartphone or device. Gulf Bank announces NBK Capital Monthly Markets Review winners of its exciting Global and GCC campaign ‘Spend & markets close first Fly to Europe’ month of 2018 on KUWAIT: Gulf Bank recently announced the names of 25 a positive note lucky winners of its “Spend & Fly to Europe” Campaign, whereby Credit and Debit cardholders were offered the KUWAIT: Global equities have kicked off 2018 with positive chance to win two (2) roundtrip tickets to any of 12 select- performance for the most part. The MSCI All Country World ed destination in Europe on Emirates Airlines, by entering Index is up 5.6 percent in January. In the US, Congress was a raffle draw upon using their Debit Card abroad and unable to agree on a budget for 2018 resulting in a federal using their Credit cards locally or abroad. The draw was government shut-down. This was short lived as Congress held on Sunday 28 January 2018 in the presence of a rep- moved to extend the deadline to February 8, 2018 (today) in resentative from the Ministry of Commerce and Industry. an effort to find common ground. In Europe, Germany’s politi- Gulf Bank would like to congratulate to all 25 lucky cal parties have come to an agreement in terms of forming a winners who won two ( 2 ) Emirates economy roundtrip framework government although a final vote within the Social tickets to Europe: Abdullah Abdulaziz Abdullah Albuti , Democratic Party is still pending. Also, bailout funds were Abdulrahman Ulogi , Mohammed Ali Abdulfatah, released to Greece following its push of additional reforms as Mohammad A D Alaradi, Henry Coutinho, Mohammad H H part of the bailout program. In Asia, the Bank of Japan left its Khalil, Abdulrahiman Valiyakath, Mubarak F G Alazmi, monetary policy unchanged. In terms of commodities, Gold Index (CPI) in December increased by 0.4 percent when on year increased by 1.0 percent surpassing November’s rate Khaled Alhasan, Sara Najeeb Hussain, Bader Milfi and Brent were each up 3.3 percent with Brent closing during compared to the previous month while Retail Sales dropped of 0.6 percent. Retail Trade month on month in December Almutairi, Krishna Kumar, Omar Abdulaziz Almutawa, the month above $70 pbl, its highest in almost four years. 1.5 percent month on month compared to November. grew by 0.9 percent although was below November’s growth Babu Mara, Fathiyah Sulaiman Dawoud, Gulfam Asniq In the US, the January Markit Manufacturing Purchasing Consumer Confidence remains negative although has of 1.8 percent. The Consumer Confidence came in at 44.7 Hussain, Mohammed Khaled Mohammed Aldlamah, Adlah Managers Index (PMI) came in at 55.5 climbing 0.4 from improved from December’s reading increasing from -13 to -9. unchanged from December yet below expectations of 44.9. Alsharhan, Rashelle Tome Gracias, Riad Almousa, Fadel December’s number while the Services PMI held flat at 53.3 GDP for Q4 on a preliminary basis came in at 0.5 percent Mohammed Jaber Almari, Hamad Mekhlef Awad compared to December. Initial Jobless Claims dropped to slightly higher than Q3’s reading of 0.4 percent. Japanese equities Alshemmari, Yaqoub Yousef Abdullah Altemeemi , Hussein 230,000 in its latest reading while the Unemployment Rate In China, the trade balance for December was in a surplus Abdullah Hussein Jassem and Nawal Abdulaziz Ahmed for January came in at 4.1 percent unchanged from UK equities in the red at CNY 362 billion, an increase of 37 percent from the previ- Almusallam. December’s figure. Durable Goods Orders increased to 2.9 In Europe, the Markit Manufacturing PMI held constant at ous month. Imports and Exports for December year on year percent in December from 1.7 percent in November led by 59.6 from December’s reading while the Service PMI increased by 18.7 percent and 10.8 percent, respectively. The aircraft and vehicle orders. Housing Starts and Building increased to 58 from December’s figure of 57.6. On a prelimi- MSCI Emerging Market Index closed up 8.3 percent in Permits in December fell compared to November by 8.2 per- nary basis, the CPI year on year dropped from 1.4 percent in January while the Shanghai SE Composite ended January in cent and 0.1 percent, respectively, while Retail Sales grew 0.4 December to 1.3 percent in January while Consumer the green up 5.3 percent. percent month on month in December. Gross Domestic Confidence held steady in January at 1.3. Retail Sales in The GCC equity market performed well in January with Product (GDP) for Q4 on a preliminary basis came in at 2.4 December on a month on month basis contracted 1.1 percent the MSCI GCC Countries Index up 5.8 percent. Only percent. US equities in January performed positively with the after growing 1.5 percent in the previous month. Oman’s equity market was down for the month of January S&P 500 and Dow Jones closing up 5.6 percent and 5.8 per- shedding 2.0 percent. The best performer in the GCC was cent, respectively. European equities Qatar’s equity market up 8.0 percent followed by Saudi In the UK, the Markit Manufacturing PMI in January In Japan, month on month exports and imports in Arabia up 5.9 percent, Abu Dhabi up 4.6 percent, Kuwait dropped compared to December although remained above December grew by 9.3 percent and 14.9 percent, respectively. up 2.6 percent, Bahrain up 1.4 percent and Dubai up 0.7 50 at 55.3. The Markit Services PMI in January came in at 53 Both exports and imports grew in December by a rate lower percent. Egypt’s equity market was flat registering a mini- decreasing 1.2 from December’s reading. The Consumer Price than that registered in November. The CPI for December year mal gain of 0.2 percent. EXCHANGE RATES

Euro 374.910 Japanese Yen 3.735 Asia Al-Muzaini Exchange Co. Sterling Pound 421.960 Syrian Pound 1.585 Bangladesh Taka 0.003249 0.003833 Canadian dollar 241.290 Nepalese Rupees 2.940 Chinese Yuan 0.046492 0.049992 ASIAN COUNTRIES Turkish lira 80.500 Malaysian Ringgit 78.045 Hong Kong Dollar 0.036364 0.039114 Japanese Yen 2.752 Swiss Franc 324.500 Chinese Yuan Renminbi 48.075 Indian Rupee 0.004188 0.004829 Indian Rupees 4.695 Australian Dollar 239.620 Thai Bhat 10.530 Indonesian Rupiah 0.000018 0.000024 Pakistani Rupees 2.720 US Dollar Buying 299.450 Turkish Lira 80.000 Japanese Yen 0.002667 0.002847 Srilankan Rupees 1.946 Korean Won 0.000266 0.000281 Nepali Rupees 2.957 GOLD Malaysian Ringgit 0.073506 0.079508 Singapore Dollar 228.630 20 Gram 260.52 BAHRAIN EXCHANGE COMPANY WLL Nepalese Rupee 0.002999 0.003169 Hongkong Dollar 38.448 10 Gram 133.18 Pakistan Rupee 0.002522 0.002812 Bangladesh Taka 3.604 5 Gram 67.43 CURRENCY BUY SELL Philippine Peso 0.005829 0.006129 Philippine Peso 5.842 Europe Singapore Dollar 0.222666 0.232666 Thai Baht 9.524 Dollarco Exchange Co. Ltd British Pound 0.413805 0.421305 Sri Lankan Rupee 0.001689 0.002269 Czech Korune 0.006744 0.016044 Taiwan 0.010162 0.010342 GCC COUNTRIES Danish Krone 0.045932 0.050932 Thai Baht 0.009183 0.009733 Saudi Riyal 80.227 Rate for Transfer Selling Rate Euro 0. 366698 0.374198 Qatari Riyal 82.630 US Dollar 300.100 Georgian Lari 0.120704 0.120704 Arab Omani Riyal 781.315 Canadian Dollar 242.420 Hungarian 0.001111 0.001301 Bahraini Dinar 0.790912 0.799412 Bahraini Dinar 798.860 Sterling Pound 425.125 Norwegian Krone 0.034416 0.039616 Egyptian Pound 0.014079 0.019797 UAE Dirham 81.932 Euro 375.360 Romanian Leu 0.063046 0.079896 Iranian Riyal 0.000083 0.000084 Swiss Frank 280.865 Russian ruble 0.005267 0.005267 Iraqi Dinar 0.000197 0.000257 ARAB COUNTRIES Bahrain Dinar 798.075 Slovakia 0.008925 0.018925 Jordanian Dinar 0.419429 0.428429 Egyptian Pound - Cash 19.700 UAE Dirhams 82.110 Swedish Krona 0.033761 0.038761 Kuwaiti Dinar 1.000000 1.000000 Egyptian Pound - Transfer 16.985 Qatari Riyals 83.335 Swiss Franc 0.314836 0.325836 Lebanese Pound 0.000148 0.000248 Yemen Riyal/for 1000 1.207 Saudi Riyals 80.920 Moroccan Dirhams 0.021893 0.045893 Tunisian Dinar 126.860 Jordanian Dinar 424.545 Australasia Omani Riyal 0.774591 0.780271 Jordanian Dinar 424.050 Egyptian Pound 17.024 Australian Dollar 0.228391 0.240391 Qatar Riyal 0.078291 0.083231 Lebanese Lira/for 1000 2.004 Sri Lankan Rupees 1.948 New Zealand Dollar 0.213233 0.222733 Saudi Riyal 0.079087 0.080387 Syrian Lira 0.000 Indian Rupees 4.685 Syrian Pound 0.001273 0.001493 Morocco Dirham 33.406 Pakistani Rupees 2.715 America Tunisian Dinar 0.121829 0.129829 Bangladesh Taka 3.640 Canadian Dollar 0.234701 0.243701 Turkish Lira 0.074562 0.084862 EUROPEAN & AMERICAN COUNTRIES Philippines Pesso 5.830 US Dollars 0.296550 0.300970 UAE Dirhams 0.080430 0.082130 US Dollar Transfer 300.650 Cyprus pound 17.865 US Dollars Mint 0.297050 0.300970 Yemeni Riyal 0.000977 0.001057 Established 1961 19 Business Thursday, February 8, 2018 EU hikes growth projections for eurozone; bloc to expand by 2.3%

ECB urges banks to clean up before next crisis

BRUSSELS: The European Commission raised its France clear of breaching the EU’s deficit limit, which is growth projections for the eurozone yesterday, more set in terms of the size of the economy. confident than ever that the solid economic recovery in Brussels said that the EU-27 as a whole, minus exit- Ahli United Bank Europe will endure through 2019. ing Britain, would expand by 2.5 percent this year and The commission, the EU’s executive arm, said the 19- 2.1 percent in 2019. Britain meanwhile would expand far country single currency bloc’s economy would expand below that level, at 1.4 percent in 2018 and 1.1 percent records a net profit by 2.3 percent in 2018, up from a previous forecast of in 2019. However, the commission, which is also leading 2.1 percent made in November. the EU-Britain divorce talks, markedly increased the of KD 44.5m for 2017 Growth would then UK’s growth estimate for continue at a solid pace 2017 to 1.8 percent. In KUWAIT: Ahli United Bank K.S.C.P. (“AUB”) has next year, with the euro- November, the EU said announced a net profit of KD 44.5 million (2016: zone economy expand- Britain would only reach KD 40.3 million) for 2017. This was a net growth of ing by 2.0 percent in 1.5 percent growth. 10.4 percent derived by strengthening the core 2019, instead of the ear- British growth Powerhouse Germany earnings of the Bank and achieving a net finance lier-predicted 1.9 per- meanwhile, will remain income growth of 18 percent. cent. “The euro area is to drop to above the two percent The Bank achieved a growth in total operating enjoying growth rates threshold, expanding by income of 8.1 percent to reach KD 120.1 million at not seen since before the 1.4% in 2018 2.3 percent in 2018 and the end of 2017 (KD 111.1 million in 2016). The equi- financial crisis,” said EU 2.1 percent next year. BRUSSELS: European Commissioner for ty attributable to shareholders increased by 5.7 Economic Affairs Eurozone banks have Economic and Financial Affairs, Taxation and percent reaching KD 406.9 million, up from share- Commissioner Pierre made progress since the Customs Pierre Moscovici gestures as he pres- holder’s equity of KD 385.1 million recorded at the Moscovici. financial crisis, but must ents the EU Winter 2018 Interim Economic end of 2016. Net operating income increased by “Unemployment and do more to put their Forecast at the European Commission in 5.8 percent reaching KD 81.7 million as compared deficits continue to fall and investment is at last rising in houses in order during economic good times, European Brussels yesterday.—AFP with KD 77.2 million for 2016. The Bank posted a a meaningful way.” All signs are that the European Central Bank (ECB) watchdogs said yesterday. return on equity and a return on assets of 11.4 per- economy, long a global laggard, is now firing on all “Certain banks must do more. In particular, they cent and 1.2 percent respectively at the end of cylinders. Official data last week showed that growth in must clean up their balance sheets,” chief ECB super- financing the real economy,” Nouy said. 2017. Earnings per share has increased from 24 fils the eurozone shot up in 2017 to 2.5 percent, with visor Daniele Nouy told reporters in Frankfurt. Top of “Banks should use the good times to reduce NPLs... in 2016 to 24.4 fils per share at the end of 2017. unemployment currently at a nine-year low. the watchdogs’ list is a 760-billion-euro ($940 billion) once a downturn sets in, it will become much harder,” Total assets, total customer deposits and net The news was especially positive for France, the mass of bad loans that was still weighing on banks’ bal- she added. For its part, the ECB will lay out more clear- finance receivables stood at KD 3,666 million, KD eurozone’s second biggest economy, which saw its ance sheets in the third quarter of 2017, a figure that ly how it expects banks to set aside cash to cover the 2,426 million and KD 2,673 million respectively at forecast revised sharply higher to 2.0 percent for this had fallen by 200 billion over two years. risks of future bad loans in an update to its guidance. the end of 2017. The Bank has announced that it year. This was up from the 1.7 percent prediction just So-called non-performing loans (NPLs) — on which With the banking sector more robust, plans to will recommend a cash dividend of 13 percent and 5 three months ago, and will be the first time the country borrowers have failed to keep up with repayments — establish a eurozone-wide deposit insurance scheme percent bonus shares for the approval of the Bank’s will reach the psychologically important threshold since “drag down profits, they divert resources that could be known as EDIS could advance “a step further”, Nouy forthcoming General Assembly. 2011. It will also likely mean enough growth to keep put to more productive use, and they keep banks from continued. — AFP

and organizations. Based on the role of the X-cite by Kuwaiti Public Relations Association in developing public relations and customer service sectors in government and private Alghanim sectors, the Public Relations and Customer Service Award was created to push these sectors forward and measure the extent to Electronics which their employees apply international standards. These awards recognize the receives three nature of X-cite and the field it operates in, further highlighting the multi-conglomer- ate’s continuous efforts to provide excep- service awards tional and unrivalled service online, in stores and everywhere else. KUWAIT: X-cite by Alghanim Electronics, This award also aims to award excel- Kuwait’s largest electronic retailer, was lence in the realm of public relations and recognized by the Kuwaiti Public Relations customer service. The Association took Association as having the best social media into account the institutional work and the channel, online store and call center in the extent of cooperation between the depart- retail electronics sector in 2017. The event, ments to provide the best services to cus- under the patronage of His Highness the tomers. The ever-evolving art of providing Amir Sheikh Sabah Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al- superb customer service relies on employ- Sabah, was attended by His Highness the ees’ ability and skill to engage with the Amir’s representative, the Minister of public and customers, solid expertise that Social Affairs and Labor and State Minister has been distinguished by the Association for Economic Affairs, Hind Al-Sabeeh, the with these prestigious awards. Head of the Amiri Protocol, Sheikh Khaled The judging committee consisted of Al-Abdullah Al-Sabah and the head of local and international PR and customer Kuwait’s Public Relations Association service experts who evaluated the partici- Jamal Al-Nasrullah, who awarded X-cite pating entities with the highest internation- the prestigious awards as part of its efforts al standards, including serving customers to enhance its communication activities while meeting their needs, distinguished and networks as well as to develop the social contributions, excellent media pres- public relations and customer service sec- ence and other relevant factors. tors in Kuwait. Through its customer-centric concept, Kuwait’s Public Relations Association X-cite offers customers competitive quali- dedicates this prize to shed light on the ty and prices to serve every segment of its distinguished efforts and achievements of customer-base, providing them with the companies and organizations in the fields highest level of service, engaging with of public relations and customer service them through various mediums and earning across all industries from both the public their trust by offering services and promo- and private sectors. The event also fea- tions. X-cite also enables customers to tured a number of workshops about the shop from the comfort of their homes strategies of public relations and customer through its free mobile app and website at service targeted at employees of ministries www.xcite.com.

referred to “a pick-up in global growth” and India’s CB keeps rising commodity and oil prices as likely to contribute to heightened inflation. The bank also said the Indian government’s recent interest rates announcement of financial support for farmers could be an inflationary factor. Rising food and oil prices spurred India’s unchanged retail inflation to a 17-month high of 5.21 per- cent in December, significantly above the MUMBAI: India’s central bank kept interest RBI’s target of around four percent. India is a rates at a seven-year low yesterday, citing net importer of oil and was affected by the concerns over accelerating inflation and ris- jump in world crude prices of around 15 per- ing oil prices as a reason not to cut them. The cent last year. Analysts expect inflation to Reserve Bank of India (RBI) said the bench- rise further after the government announce- mark repo rate—the level at which it lends to ment in the budget earlier this month that it commercial banks—would remain unchanged would raise minimum support prices for agri- at 6.0 percent. cultural produce. India’s economic growth The decision was in line with analysts’ slumped to an annualized 5.7 percent in the expectations. “The MPC (monetary policy first quarter of the current financial year-the committee) notes that the inflation outlook is lowest in three years. The introduction of a clouded by several uncertainties on the upside,” new national goods and services tax last year the RBI said in a statement. “Therefore, need and a controversial 2016 move to withdraw for vigilance around the evolving inflation sce- all high-value banknotes from circulation nario in the coming months,” it added. It were blamed for the dip.—AFP 20 Established 1961 Business Thursday, February 8, 2018 S&P, Dow rise; Europe in jittery recovery

NEW YORK: US stocks overturned early or 0.43 percent, to 2,706.64 and the opening bell in New York. The VIX on the Charles Schwab brokerage said. The However, as the day wore on selling began losses to trade broadly higher yesterday as Nasdaq Composite was down 10.5 points Tuesday hit a more than two-and-a-half Dow index was down around 0.3 percent to kick in. By the end of its session, Tokyo some buyers returned to a market still shak- at 7,102.62. year high above 50, after trading, on aver- at the start of trading, but price fluctua- had added just 0.2 percent-having opened ing from a record fall for the Dow Jones Gains in industrial and consumer dis- age, below 20 for months. European stock tions appeared again to be rapid. almost three percent up-while Shanghai Industrial Average earlier this week. Falls for cretionary stocks led advances on the markets mounted a modest recovery yes- “Volatility is back, and investors had lost 1.8 percent and Seoul plunged 2.3 major technology stocks kept the tech- S&P and the Dow. A wild session on terday but Wall Street appeared headed better get used to it,” said Lee Wild, head percent by the close. heavy Nasdaq just 0.1 percent in the red, Tuesday had seen the Dow swing more for more volatility a day after spectacular of equity strategy at Interactive Investor. Analysts have been eyeing an increase but the Dow and the S&P 500 both recov- than 1,100 points from peak to trough and price swings kept breathless investors on Key European markets clawed back in US bond yields that has been triggered ered from premarket falls of up to 1 percent ended with the benchmark S&P 500 the edge of their seats. around a third of the previous day’s sharp in large part by a recent weakening of the to trade around half a percent higher. recording its best day since just before Earlier, Asian stocks had failed to profit losses. Following recent strong gains, a dollar. The dollar continues to be the main “It looks like a little bit of a stabiliza- President Donald Trump’s election in from a late Tuesday upswing in New York global stocks sell-off began Friday when driver on the currency markets due to “the tion trade overnight,” said John Brady, 2016. Traders are still braced for more as markets nervously pondered the out- bright US unemployment data sparked perception the Fed are going to be more senior vice president at futures brokerage volatility as they try to figure out if the look for leading interest rates and their concern of high inflation and in turn hawkish than anticipated this year,” said R J O’Brien & Associates in Chicago. “I swings of the past week are the start of a potential impact on economic growth. faster-than-expected increases to US David Madden, market analyst at CMC don’t know if it’s over, but a market range deeper correction or just a temporary blip “Coming off yesterday’s whipsaw ses- interest rates. Markets UK. may be established.” in the US market’s nine-year bull run. sion that saw a sharp upside reversal, US Wild noted that “just as markets cannot “There (are) growing concerns (that) By 9:42 am ET (1442 GMT), the Dow The pivotal gauge of S&P 500 volatili- stocks are giving back some gains in early keep rising forever, they must also stop the US central bank will hike interest rates was up 127.27 points, or 0.51 percent, at ty, the VIX, opened at a relatively elevat- action, with the recent spike in volatility falling at some point, but it’s still unclear four times this year.” 25,040.04. The S&P 500 rose 11.5 points, ed 31 points and was at 24.91 just after the keeping the markets skittish,” analysts at whether we’ve reached a level where buy- Bitcoin meanwhile surged once more, ers see value again”. to around $8,000, a day after it slid to stand below $6,000 for the first time Asian rally fades since mid-November. Despite yesterday’s In Asia, traders began the day on a strong recovery, it remains well down on bright note as they took their lead from a its record high of almost $20,000 reached recovery on Wall Street overnight. just six weeks ago. — Agencies Established 1961 21 Business Thursday, February 8, 2018 Al-Sayer hosts Fikra program contestants to experience Lexus 30 applicants out of 350 being screened for Fikra program 3rd edition

KUWAIT: In support of the strategic CSR commitment the Al-Sayer Lexus Tour local activities and mar- Fikra team pitched in with their business ideas, and shared towards national youth, who are pillars of sustainable was to convey the brand’s keting efforts learning and unique experience in Al-Sayer’s Lexus sales, development for the nation, Mohamed Naser Al-Sayer & passion in imaginative According to Mahmoud service and marketing divisions. According to Ibrahim Al- Sons and Lexus a subsidiary of Al-Sayer Holding hosted technology and unmatched Mohamad Abou-Zahr Fouzan Vice Chairman of Sustainability Steering ambitious finalists of the 3rd edition Fikra program at innovative process to 15 final teams Business Director Lexus Committee “ As part of the cultural fabric of Kuwait and Lexus Center Shuwaikh as part of their intensive entre- exhilarate business per- Division “we are glad to wel- Middle East, ALSAYER is committed to advance sustain- preneurship training. formance among the to be selected come the talented team cho- able practices, to make sure our next-generation is Fikra Program 3rd Edition received over 350 applica- enthusiastic Fikra team for sen by Fikra Team. Every empowered to take bold steps towards entrepreneurship. tions to screen 30 applicants to go through the idea pres- their future endeavors. for training process in our Sales, Service, We see our strategic engagement with Fikra Program entation process to select 15 final contesting teams. During the facility tour Marketing and Customer towards building tremendous value for youth community.” the invitees benefited from management operations is Fikra Program is held under the patronage of Khaled Al- Partnership to Empower the walk through and expla- well defined to offer an Roudhan, Minister of Commerce and Industry and Minister New Generation of Entrepreneurs nation of the following: insightful learning experi- of State for Youth Affairs and is proudly supported by Lexus brings the legacy of creating first time technolo- 1. Processes, sales ence. We train our team to Ministry of State for Youth Affairs; The National Fund for gies to the world, and in the same spirit, it partners with tools, capacity, models become a unique Lexus SME Development; Gulf Bank; Al-Hamra Real Estate Fikra program which encourages new ideas. Lexus has varieties, technologies at the sales floor identity for our customers and market, and we hope each Fikra Company; Ali Abdulwahab Al-Mutawa Commercial Co; earned a worldwide reputation for high-quality products 2. Craftsmanship, divisions, service process, Kaizen, potential future entrepreneurs gained valuable inputs to apply Markaz Financial Center; Lexus Kuwait as a part of Al-Sayer with exceptional attention to the detail as well as exempla- Lexus standards at the Service Department. in their business and succeed with bright future. Group; and Grand Cinemas. Fikra Program is managed by ry customer service in each business process. The aim of 3. A presentation about Lexus brand history, global and After the tour and presentation, each member of the Cubical Services Business Incubator.

Treat yourself Automatic to Jazeera check-in for Airways’ special Lufthansa business passengers class offer! for a relaxed start KUWAIT: Lufthansa passengers will now be able KUWAIT: Jazeera Airways, Kuwait’s leading to start their journey feeling more relaxed: From air carrier operating regionally and interna- now on, they will benefit from an automatic tionally, announces a special Business Class check-in procedure for all flights within Germany offer of 25 percent off on all return fares and to destinations in Europe. The boarding pass across the entire network. The seasonal Lounge, situated near the boarding gates, for flights booked up to 24 hours before depar- offer that starts on February 11 and ends with free Wi-Fi, hot and cold food buffet ture will then be sent automatically to the pas- February 15 is accompanied by exclusive and refreshing beverages. senger 23 hours before departure - with no need possible with air travel not completely within the check-in, boarding or baggage claim services. Business Class benefits to ensure a premium On board the flight, travelers can look for any manual check-in. This saves time and Schengen area. In this case, passengers will still experience throughout the journey. forward to being seated in an elegant cabin makes travel preparations easier. In order to use be asked to check in manually. Anyone no longer The Lufthansa iD Return fares start from as low as KD fitted with leather seats and a vacant mid- this new service, the Lufthansa customers only wishing to use the service can deactivate the The Lufthansa iD is the key to enjoying a 105 to Doha, KD 130 to Dubai, KD 150 to dle seat for greater privacy and ample have to deposit their personal details in their option at any time in their customer profile. personalized travel experience. After a quick Hyderabad and KD 155 to Beirut. work space. A complimentary Business Miles & More account or Lufthansa iD profile. Customers with no Lufthansa iD or Miles & and easy registration process, travelers can log Business Class passengers are guaran- class menu is offered as well as a dedicated Want to change your seat or cancel your More profile can also sign up for automatic in on a laptop, tablet or smartphone with their teed a welcoming start at the Kuwait cabin crew. Jazeera Business Class includes check-in? Want to activate an electronic lug- check-in using the link in their booking confir- e-mail address. They then have the chance to International Airport, where travelers can a free baggage allowance of 50kg to all gage tag at home or download eJournals? All mation. The service will then only be valid for store personal details, attitudes and prefer- use dedicated check-in counters and pri- destinations (Egypt 60 kg) and carry -on the services that customers have been able to that particular flight. ences (e.g. seat, meals, preferred airport) in ority passport control. Complimentary allowance of two pieces of hand baggage use so far are now also available with the auto- Last year Lufthansa was awarded the “IATA their profile and to change them at any time. access is provided to the flagship Jazeera weighing up to 15kg. mated check-in procedure. The service is being Fast Travel Platinum Award” for its range of self- This speeds up the booking process, since the offered for flights within the Schengen area as service options. With the award, IATA honors stored information, such as name, contact or well as for bus and train travel on the Lufthansa airlines that offer at least 80 percent of their payment data, are automatically filled in when Express Rail and Bus. Automatic check-in is not passengers self-service options in the area of the flight is booked.

Gulf Bank holds biggest Kuwaiti salary account draw today

KUWAIT: Gulf Bank is holding its Kuwaiti salary account draw today (8 February 2018), where the lucky winner of its big KD 250,000 cash prize will be announced. The Bank is happy to hold this event at The Scientific Center locat- ular ‘Catch the Cash’ money box game, which salaries to Gulf Bank, including the opportunity ed in Salmiya, Kuwait’s premier science and offer the audience a chance to win cash prizes to either receive a KD 100 cash gift upon trans- educational organization. on the spot. Gulf Bank invites people of Kuwait ferring their salaries to Gulf Bank or an interest The event kicks off at 4 pm with fun activities to join this exciting event and enjoy the fun free loan. Customers must have a minimum salary and programs, with a great lineup of children’s activities for both adults and children. The actual of KD 500 and are fully eligible for the offer fol- activities. There will be a performance by Fahed draw will take place at 8pm, and name of the lowing their first salary transfer to Gulf Bank. Al-Salem, who will be singing a medley of lucky winner will be announced on the spot as Additionally, customers can also enjoy a one year Kuwait songs new and old, accompanied by well as live on 88.8 FM Kuwait Pulse radio sta- free of charge Visa or MasterCard credit card, as Mohamad Al-Sarraf of The Concert. Gulf Bank tion, ‘Diwaniyat Al-Yaqout and Al-Ansari show,’ well as a chance to apply for loan up to KD will be represented by MCs - Mijren Al Mijren who will be present at the event and interacting 70,000, or a consumer loan up to KD 15,000. and Nawaf Al-Jazzaf from Corporate with the audience. The Scientific Center is a premier institu- VIVA launches ‘Scratch & Win’ Communications; In addition to Ahmad Al- Gulf Bank’s salary account is tailored for tion in Kuwait, aim to simplify science and Matari, from Human Resources. Kuwaiti customers, and allows them to benefit promote environmental awareness in a fun- offer this Friday at Avenues branch The bank will also be holding its always pop- from many unique offers by transferring their filled learning experience.

KUWAIT: VIVA, Kuwait’s fastest-growing VIVA is the fastest-growing telecom and most developed telecom operator, will operator in Kuwait. Launched in December receive customers on Friday (tomorrow) at 2008, VIVA makes things ‘More’ for its by Embraer’s commercial chief executive fol- be based in Chicago, a person familiar with the its Avenues Mall branch ‘exclusively’ with a customers by transforming communication, Embraer says still lowed a Brazil newspaper report Tuesday that talks told AFP Tuesday. Embraer’s military ‘Scratch & Win’ offer amid amazing information and entertainment experiences. Boeing had presented a plan to Brazil’s gov- operations would not be affected by the trans- February’s offers launched recently. The company has rapidly established a ernment which would give it a stake of up to action and would remain under Brazilian con- Customers will enjoy ‘Scratch & Win’ pioneer position in the market through its in talks with 90 percent in the new venture. trol, that person said. Both companies in vouchers on a ‘first come first serve’ basis customer centric approach. VIVA’s quest is “At this stage, Embraer has not received a December confirmed the talks in a filing to the once they subscribe to any of VIVA’s voice to be the mobile brand of choice in Kuwait Boeing on tie-up proposal,” John Slattery told a media briefing Brazilian securities exchange. or data postpaid plans. The vouchers allow by being transparent, engaging, energetic on the sidelines of the Singapore Airshow. It follows the deal struck by Boeing rival them to instantly win one of plenty valu- and fulfilling. VIVA continues to take a “The reason is that parties continue to act Airbus last year with Canada’s Bombardier, able instant prizes including ATVs, LED considerable share of the market by offer- SINGAPORE: Brazil’s Embraer said yesterday identifying structures that might work.” Boeing which saw the European giant take over the C screens and smart devices. ing an innovative range of best value prod- it was still in talks with US aerospace giant and Embraer have been in talks to combine Series aircraft program. Should both deals go Every Friday during February, VIVA’s ucts, services and content propositions; a Boeing on combining their commercial air their operations, which would see Boeing hold- ahead, it could extend the Boeing-Airbus customers will benefit from special offers state of the art, nationwide network and operations into a new company. The comments ing up to 90 percent of the new company to duopoly into the regional jet market. — AFP at its Avenues Mall’s branch. world-class service. 22 Established 1961 Thursday, February 8, 2018 Technology Huawei launches P smart, the smartphone with personalized photography functions

KUWAIT: Huawei has introduced the all new P smart with Full View display and exceptional features for consumers’ everyday use. Huawei P smart continues the design lan- guage of the sought-after P Series characterized by sim- plicity and elegance - a slim metallic body, flat smooth rear surface, with striking aesthetics. Huawei P smart’s Full View display brings an immersive viewing experience, while the enhanced camera qualities provide advanced bokeh effects and unique photography functions, such as the beauty camera and gesture shot. The smartphone also introduces four intelligent sensing functions- facial recognition, gender recognition, 10-level skin improvement and automatic perception that lets you perfectly capture unforgettable photos and flawless selfies. The P smart skillfully hides three antennas in the upper and lower parts of the metallic body to avoid the tradition- al three-section design’s impact on body aesthetics while ensuring seamless communication experience. With an ingenious architecture and a beautiful body with 2.5D curvy screen design, HUAWEI P smart feels even more ating system (OS) (based on Android 8.0), taking usability compact and comfortable in hand. HUAWEI P smart also to new levels for fast and intuitive feature use. P smart fea- features a unique One-touch Split-screen mode support- tures Kirin 659 processor made with a process for mid- ing the simultaneous running of two apps offering you range and high-end chips characterized by better energy even more possibilities of mobile operations performance. EMUI 8.0 uses the latest enhanced file pro- Combining 13MP + 2MP rear dual cameras and 16-lev- cessing system that reduces and cleans system fragmenta- el dual shot blurring, Huawei P smart makes your photos tion quietly while reducing file fragmentation, allowing impressive and stereoscopic. Further, with high-precision your smartphone to run faster and more smoothly. camera sensors, high-density phase detection pixels, the Huawei P smart Series is equipped with Fingerprint 4.0 13Mp HD camera focuses on real time, accuracy and solution, fingerprint recognition within 0.3 seconds bring- speed, thus accurately capturing exciting moments. In ing an enhanced user experience. Huawei has also com- order to improve photography at night, Huawei P smart bined fingerprint recognition with other functions to features five groups of precision lenses, bringing cleaner, develop ground-breaking apps such as fingerprint naviga- high-quality, convenient scenario experiences, such as Intelligent Power-saving technology 6.0, which supports purer photos in low light. tion, fingerprint shot and alarm clock deactivation with fin- One-touch Split-screen, Phone Clone, Huawei Share and background real-time detection of power-hungry apps, gerprint, realizing a faster, more intelligent user experience Dual Bluetooth Connections. In order to enhance the bat- comprehensive power consumption test and one-key opti- Fast and intuitive feature use from Huawei P smart. Additionally, with Huawei’s artificial tery life of smartphones with a full view, HUAWEI P smart mization to save power significantly and help extend bat- Huawei P smart also includes the new EMUI 8.0 oper- intelligence (AI) technology, HUAWEI P smart offers more features a 3,000-mAh battery in combination with the tery life greatly.

Five features to Elon Musk, the consider before visionary Tesla buying a and SpaceX premium TV

KUWAIT: When it comes to buying TVs founder there’s a lot of different features to consid- er. Traditionally, consumers focused on two SAN FRANCISCO: From cars to rockets, Elon Musk key features; size, and cost. However, this is dreams big. On Tuesday, the South African-born entrepre- a sentiment of the past, and today con- sumers are demanding UHD-quality TV, as neur combined both of those passions, blasting one of his they gain a better understanding of what Tesla electric cars into space aboard his own rocket. It was these features really mean and how much the latest feat for the 46-year-old Silicon Valley billionaire they matter when it comes to increasing who has been hailed as a leading innovator and visionary. immersion. Despite this, it’s not always Born in Pretoria, on June 28, 1971, the son of an engi- easy to know what you should be prioritiz- neer father and a Canadian-born model mother, Musk left ing when buying a high-quality TV, but South Africa in his late teens to attend Queen’s University keeping this in mind, here is a rundown of in Ontario. He transferred to the University of Pennsylvania features that you should consider before after two years and earned bachelor’s degrees in physics purchasing your next TV. and business. After graduating from the prestigious Ivy League school, Musk abandoned plans to pursue further 1 Color Volume studies at Stanford University. Color volume is a standard for evaluat- Instead, he dropped out of school and started Zip2, a ing a TV’s ability to produce accurate col- company that made online publishing software for the ors at all luminance levels; so the higher the media industry. He banked his first millions before the age color volume, the better the TV is at pro- 3 Refresh rate of 30 when he sold Zip2 to US computer maker Compaq ducing rich, and precise colors. This stan- A TV’s refresh rate affects the smooth- for more than $300 million in 1999. Musk’s next company, dard emerged as a way to evaluate a UHD ness of the picture, as it is the number of X.com, eventually merged with PayPal, the online payments of 4K TV’s ability to produce immersive times that an on-screen image is refreshed firm bought by internet auction giant eBay for $1.5 billion viewing experiences, and how well they per second. TVs with a higher refresh rate in 2002. perform under a variety of lighting condi- will, generally, provide a more seamless After leaving PayPal, Musk embarked on a series of ever tions. If a TV’s color volume is low, the show, with minimal motion blur, and will more ambitious ventures. He became the chairman of elec- depicted image will exceed a TV’s peak create a more immersive experience. This tric carmaker Tesla in 2004 and it was a Tesla roadster that luminance, and so will appear washed out will be particularly important to you if you and faded, making the overall viewing was sent into orbit on Tuesday from a Cape Canaveral watch a lot of fast-paced action films, and a experience suffer. Color volume is a fea- launchpad. SpaceX’s webcast showed Musk’s cherry red high refresh rate will take your experience ture which manufacturers are in constant car soaring into space, as David Bowie’s “Space Oddity” to the next level. played in the background-with the words “DON’T PANIC” competition over, and are always exploring ways to deliver peak picture quality. visible on the dashboard, in an apparent nod to the sci-fi 4 HDMI and connections classic the “Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy.” Powering the 2 HDR HDMI is an industry standard which car on its journey towards an orbit near Mars was a mas- transmits visual and audio data between sive Falcon Heavy rocket built by Musk’s space exploration HDR adds much more color, brightness, and contrast to images displayed on HD or devices, and so higher-quality HDMI company SpaceX, founded in 2002. UHD TVs. HDR was developed to provide cables will support higher transfer speeds. whiter whites, blacker black, and colors Therefore there will be more bandwidth to SolarCity and Hyperloop which are more true-to-life, and the results enjoy 4K UHD, and HDR content, and so, Musk serves as chief executive officer and chief technol- are lifelike visuals that portray images how a TV handles its HMDI, amongst other ogy officer of SpaceX, which has become a leading supplier accurately, as the producer intended. connections, can greatly influence its set- over-the-top (OTT) services, as more traditional TV providers. This is all man- of private space launches. In 2012, SpaceX sent its Dragon Where the old technology of SDR might up, and the ease of which the device inte- people are enjoying a dynamic, and aged through the One Remote, which cargo ship to the orbiting International Space Station. After lose details in the shadows or glare, HDR grates into a living space. broad, range of entertainment due to the connects other devices via a single, intu- some early crashes and near-misses, SpaceX has also per- produces sharper contrast through differ- convenience of apps. Samsung’s QLED itive control. So, if you’re looking for a fected the art of landing booster engines on solid ground ent conditions. However, Samsung’s QLED 5 Smart TV TVs have a range of smart apps, services new premium TV, make sure you look for and on ocean platforms, rendering them reusable. TVs support HDR10+, which adds a more Smart TVs are in high demand due to and features which make it easy to enjoy these important features. Determining SpaceX recently announced that two private citizens dynamic range of light and dark ratio to their capability of connecting to the high-quality UHD and HDR content. which features are most important to you have paid money to be sent around the Moon in what images, delivering even greater contrast, internet to allow users to stream video These features also include the TV PLUS will help you make an informed decision would be the farthest humans have ever traveled to deep more vibrant colors, and allows images to content, browse the web, and run a vari- app, which organizers your on-demand as to what TV is best for you, and your space since the 1970s. Besides being the head of SpaceX be enhanced on a scene-by-scene basis. ety of apps. It is now the norm to stream content, and mirrors the channel menus of living environment. and Tesla, Musk is the chairman of SolarCity, a solar panel installer recently bought by Tesla. Musk has also promoted research into an ultra-fast “Hyperloop” rail transport sys- tem that would transport people at near supersonic speeds. to keep close tabs on the movements of the entire Musk’s jokingly-named The Boring Company aims to Chinese police don population. potentially build tunnels for the Hyperloop One super- The rapid development of the technology has trig- high-speed transport project. “He is a visionary who has gered a demand for commercial applications of the some key passions which he pursues with vigor,” Jackdaw high-tech glasses to technology as well, with gyms, restaurants and even Research chief analyst Jan Dawson said of Musk. “He does- public toilets getting in on the facial recognition game. n’t sit around and wait for people to do something about The special glasses are being used by four officers them; he goes out and does it himself.” Some of his ideas capture suspects positioned at the entrances to Zhengzhou’s east sta- have prompted questions and he has raised eyebrows with tion, according to the People’s Daily. The glasses have a theory that the world as it is known may be a computer BEIJING: Chinese police are sporting high-tech a camera connected to a smartphone-like device that simulation. Musk has also said he wants to make humans an sunglasses that can spot suspects in a crowded train allows the officers to take mugshots of suspicious indi- “interplanetary species” by establishing a colony of people station, the newest use of facial recognition technol- viduals and compare them to a database back at head- living on the Mars. —AFP ogy that has drawn concerns among human rights quarters. groups. In a scene reminiscent of the dystopian sci- The app brings up the suspect’s vital information, fi television show “Black Mirror”, officers in the including name, ethnicity, gender and address. It also central city of Zhengzhou are wearing the digital tells officers whether the possible perps are on the run from the law, the address of the hotel where they are shades amid the crush of travelers heading home staying and information related to their internet usage. during Chinese New Year, the busiest time for the Experts say China is racing ahead of Western coun- country’s transit system. tries in deploying facial scanners owing to its compar- So far, the technology has allowed police to nab ZHENGZHOU: This photo taken on February 5, 2018 atively lax privacy laws and because Chinese are used seven suspects accused of crimes ranging from human shows a police officer wearing a pair of smartglasses to having their pictures, fingerprints and other person- trafficking to hit and runs, as well as another 26 people with a facial recognition system at Zhengzhou East al details taken. who were using fake IDs, according to the state- Railway Station.—AFP Banks are beginning to use facial recognition owned People’s Daily, quoting the city’s police depart- instead of cards at cash machines while the travel ment. The system is part of China’s efforts to build a and leisure industry also sees opportunities-China grams have drawn fierce criticism from human rights digital surveillance system able to use a variety of bio- Elon Musk Southern Airlines this year began doing away with organizations and privacy advocates, who are con- metric data-from photos and iris scans to fingerprints- boarding passes in favor of the scheme. But the pro- cerned by their potential for abuse. —AFP Established 1961 23 Health Thursday, February 8, 2018 Red pandas rescued in Laos stir fears over Asia’s exotic pet trade The discovery of red pandas there is virtually unheard of

BANGKOK: The rescue in Laos of three week quarantine period which has allowed pandas as pets may have grown partly in endangered red pandas trafficked from us to move them to larger cages where they response to the increasing number of China has raised fears the rare animals are have more room to climb,” Rod Mabin, “cute” images of the animals shared on increasingly being coveted by exotic pet regional communications director with Free social media. owners. Landlocked Laos, which borders the Bears, told AFP. The group shared “This is a very unusual confiscation as China and Vietnam, is a key transit hub in recent footage of the ring-tailed red pandas red pandas had never before been seen in the global trade in munching on Laos,” Mabin said. “The most likely expla- illegal wildlife, but leaves and eating nation is that the animals were destined for experts say the fresh fruit while either a private zoo or the exotic pet discovery of red occasionally star- trade.” The animals are also targeted for pandas there is ing up in apparent their fur. Ang Phuri Sherpa, Nepal country virtually unheard puzzlement at the director for the Red Panda Network, said of. Six of the cat- Also targeted camera. the mammals are difficult to find outside of sized bears were their habitats in the dense bamboo forests found on January for their fur Highly vulnerable across countries including Nepal, Bhutan, 12 inside northern With habitats India, China and Myanmar. Laos during a ran- under threat in Citing a Laos media report, Sherpa said dom stop of a van the Eastern an initial investigation indicated they were travelling from Himalayas and being brought for the pet trade or on the China, one of their China, red pandas way to Thailand, stressing the need for few remaining habitats. are considered endangered and highly vul- countries to exert “extra effort curbing Three died later after the rough journey nerable to infectious diseases. But their [the] illegal trade.” Discussions are ongo- but the remaining three were sent to a sanc- copper fur, cute appearance and small size ing over where the creatures will live once tuary run by the Free the Bears NGO in the also make them easy candidates for the fully recovered. “Whether that is at the LUANG PRABANG: This handout taken by NGO Free the Bears on January northern tourist town of Luang Prabang, exotic pet trade. According to an assess- sanctuary in Laos or in the wild in China is 15, 2018 and received by AFP yesterday shows one of three red pandas where they are recovering well. “They have ment from the IUCN Red List of yet to be determined,” Free the Bears at the Free the Bears sanctuary after being confiscated from wildlife already made it through their initial two Threatened Species, the interest in red Mabin added. — AFP traffickers. — AFP

Science journal. “This means ants are probably a good species is likely to produce many different compounds effectively taking its body for a ride before killing it. A key Ants used as drug place to look if you want to discover new antimicrobial that could have antimicrobial action,” said Penick. question is why ant-attacking pathogens have not devel- compounds,” study co-author Clint Penick of the Arizona oped resistance to antimicrobials that the insects have State University said. Ants produce the compounds in spe- How do they do it? presumably been using for millions of years, whereas many manufacturers cial glands often referred to as their “chemical factories”. “We have taken the first steps to identify which ant lin- human-developed drugs lose their potency within just “Ants coat their bodies with secretions from these eages have the highest potential to produce antibiotics decades. glands, and some ants distribute these antimicrobials that work against human diseases, but there is much work Another key finding of the study concerned the eight for humans? around their nests similar to how we would use antiseptic left to identify the chemicals that work as antibiotics and ant species which did not produce an antimicrobial, at PARIS: Ants naturally produce powerful germicides cleaners in our homes,” said Penick. The team tested the to figure out how to synthesise them.” Insects which live in least none that was effective against the bacterium being against bacteria and fungi, said a study yesterday that tar- ant-manufactured chemicals on a usually harmless bac- large, tightly-knit social groups-ideal breeding grounds tested. If a species does not produce antimicrobials, it geted the industrious insects as possible drug factories for terium commonly found on human skin, Staphylococcus for disease-have long been thought to be a promising means they must have found another way to protect them- humans. The discovery of ants’ pharmaceutical prowess epidermidis. source of new antibiotics, Penick said. But until now, very selves against disease, the team said. “We are excited to comes as the armoury of effective antibiotics developed Compounds produced by different species varied in few have actually been tested. learn how some of these ant species might be doing that,” by humans over the last 100 years dwindles in the face of their germ-killing effectiveness, the researchers found. The Ants use their chemical defences against a number of added Penick. The UN describes growing drug resistance- growing germ resistance. chemicals have yet to be tested on bacteria capable of microbial invaders. These include several bacteria, and a caused partly by overexposure to antibiotics-as a “global Experiments with 20 ant species found antimicrobials causing human disease. “It is important to note that there fungus that turns the ants into “zombies” by releasing health emergency”, risking a future in which people die of on 12 of them, a team reported in the Royal Society Open have been over 15,000 ant species described, and each chemicals that hijack the insect’s central nervous system, ailments easily curable today. — AFP 24 Established 1961 What’s On Thursday, February 8, 2018 AOU honors former president Prof Moudhi Al-Humoud

By Faten Omar appreciated Prof Humoud for her great efforts throughout her presidency of the ceremony was held under the University that resulted in essential patronage of His Royal Highness changes in all academic, administrative APrince Talal bin Abdulaziz Al and financial areas. He also commended Saud, Chairman of the Board of Trustees her personal qualities, acceptance of of The Arab Open University, to honor other views, humility, cooperation, and former President of the Arab Open sincerity wishing her all success in her University (AOU), Prof Moudhi Al- life. He added “we are here to honor an Humoud. The ceremony was held on icon of Kuwait and a character with a Tuesday at Sheraton hotel in Kuwait city multitude of talents. We are serving in and witnessed a presence of the Board this university to give the right of educa- members and a number of faculty and tion for everyone no matter who or administrative staff of the AOU. where they come from. Humoud was also Advisor to the Amiri Diwan Dr Yousef passionate enough to create a special Hamad Al Ibrahim on behalf of HRH major for deaf and dumb students.” Prince Talal Chairman of the Board, wel- For her part, Prof Moudhi said that comed the attendees into the ceremony. every year she spent in the university He praised the role of the Arab Open was an experience she was tremendously University and honoring Humoud in proud of. “I spend 9 years in the Arab recognition of her great leadership and Open University and we accomplished a efforts throughout her presidency of the lot. Not alone but with our team work University that was characterized by that developed the university all over the integrity and loyalty. The Board world. I thank Kuwait, our glorious HH announced that Prof Mohammad Ibrahim Amir, Prince Talal, university’s staff, stu- Al-Zakri as President of the AOU. dents, my family and all the ones who On his behalf, Zakri thanked and supported me.”

V4 entertains cross-cultural audience at Abdulhussein Abdulredha Theater KFH patronizes Kuwait Riders Bike Show uwait Finance House (KFH) 57th National Day, the 27th patronized Kuwait Riders Bike Liberation Day. The Bike Show not KShow organized by Kuwait only attracted bikers, it was also a Dragons team on the occasion of the family event with live entertainment, national days’ celebrations. The event competitions and exciting contests to brought together over 2000 motor- everyone. Bikers from all around the bikes and 600 classic cars under the Middle East participated in this excit- supervision of a constellation of skill- ing show held in Kuwait. Shaikh ful motorists on the levels of the Arab Mohamed Khaled Al-Jarrah Al-Sabah world and the region. KFH sponsor- honored KFH in recognition of its key ship of the event came as part of its role in assuming the social responsi- eventful program tailored to celebrate bility and supporting the national and the festivities marking the glorious sports activities.

By Ben Garcia

he Visegrad Group, comprising of four countries - Czech Republic, Hungary, TPoland and Slovakia - hosted its first concert in Kuwait. Visegrad, known to many in Europe as V4, jointly arranged the event to celebrate its 27 years of cultural and political alliance at the Abdulhussein Abdulredha Theater in Salmiya. V4 was formed in 1991 for the purposes of advancing military, cultural, economic and energy cooperation among members. Hungary is the current chairman of the alliance, so it invited the famous Hungarian- based performer Iren Lovasz Groove and musicians from Slovakia and Poland also we want to show the world our unity and Voice Trio. They demonstrated a unique demonstrated their talents through songs and cooperation. We have musical bands and fusion of different musical worlds. It was musical instruments. Mihaly Bayer, Hungarian people in the music industry to entertain us. classy ethno-ambient world music which was Ambassador to Kuwait, said the event was We all understand the language of music, so not only magical and spiritual, but also initiated by the four countries headed by we hope to entertain our visitors too, who are Hungary to showcase their culture and com- of different nationalities. This is traditional enthralling. Their music is based on archaic Sheikh Mohamed Khaled Al-Jarrah Al-Sabah honoring KFH. Hungarian folksongs representing the natural mon roots. music that can truly move hearts and souls,” elements of water, fire, earth and air. Guest “We are close allies - we are brothers, so Bayer said.

IMF Middle East Center holds event for Kuwait interns he IMF Middle East Center for detailed presentations about the objectives Economics and Finance (CEF) hosted and work of the IMF, and an overview of its Tan event benefitting 19 young Kuwaiti global operations. They also briefed the par- interns from the Kuwait Capital Markets ticipants on the key mission of the CEF, Authority (CMA) as part of the latter’s which is hosted by the State of Kuwait with Training Program for Recent Graduates. The support from the Kuwait Investment program seeks to introduce the CMA’s young Authority (KIA). The CEF’s central role is to graduates to the financial and economic support the capacity-building efforts of Arab institutions operating in Kuwait, and in gen- League countries through training of public eral help in expanding the participants’ sector officials in economics and finance, as knowledge and skills to enable them to com- well as to produce research and lead confer- pete in the labor market. ences, seminars and symposiums of benefit During the event, CEF officials gave to policymakers in the Arab World. Classifieds THursday, February 8, 2018

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

Arrival Flights on Thursday 8/2/2018 JZR 903 Baku 13:30 Departure Flights on Thursday 8/2/2018 MEA 405 Beirut 12:55 Airlines Flt Route Time KAC 774 Riyadh 13:40 Airlines Flt Route Time JZR 176 Dubai 13:40 JAI 572 Mumbai 00:05 PAL 668 Manila 14:00 AIC 976 Goa/Chennai 00:05 FEG 932 Alexandria 13:40 JZR 267 Beirut 00:30 KNE 231 Riyadh 14:10 JZR 528 Asyut 00:15 FDB 076 Dubai 13:45 KAC 504 Beirut 00:30 SVA 500 Jeddah 14:15 JAI 573 Mumbai 00:30 MSR 611 Cairo 14:00 JZR 539 Cairo 00:50 KAC 618 Doha 14:15 FDB 072 Dubai 00:35 UAE 872 Dubai 14:15 KAC 102 London 00:50 KAC 516 Tehran 14:20 PIA 240 Sialkot 00:40 AXB 394 Kozhikode 14:15 PGT 858 Istanbul 00:55 FDB 059 Dubai 14:20 MSC 412 Asyut 01:00 JZR 124 Bahrain 14:30 THY 772 Istanbul 00:55 QTR 1078 Doha 14:20 JAI 571 Mumbai 01:05 KNE 382 Taif 15:00 RJA 642 Amman 01:05 KAC 672 Dubai 14:25 JZR 502 Luxor 01:30 KAC 661 AbuDhabi 15:00 WAN 416 Beirut 01:05 KAC 412 Bangkok 14:35 JZR 142 Doha 01:45 KAC 673 Dubai 15:05 SAI 441 Lahore 01:30 KAC 352 Kochi 14:35 KAC 677 Dubai 01:50 FDB 060 Dubai 15:10 UAE 853 Dubai 01:45 GFA 221 Bahrain 14:40 KAC 417 Manila 02:00 KAC 691 Muscat 15:20 DLH 625 Bahrain 01:45 KAC 304 Mumbai 14:50 THY 773 Istanbul 02:30 KAC 785 Jeddah 15:25 THY 764 Istanbul 01:50 KNE 529 Jeddah 14:55 PGT 859 Istanbul 02:30 GFA 222 Bahrain 15:25 AXB 395 Kozhikode 02:00 KAC 788 Jeddah 15:10 SAI 442 Lahore 02:30 QTR 1079 Doha 15:30 ETH 620 AddisAbaba 02:15 TZS 356 Tbilisi 15:10 DLH 625 Frankfurt 02:45 SVA 501 Jeddah 15:45 JZR 555 Alexandria 02:15 ETD 303 AbuDhabi 15:15 AXB 396 Kozhikode 02:55 KNE 530 Jeddah 15:45 QTR 1086 Doha 02:20 JZR 787 Riyadh 15:30 KAC 351 Kochi 03:05 KAC 775 Riyadh 15:50 GFA 211 Bahrain 02:30 KAC 502 Beirut 15:30 ETH 621 AddisAbaba 03:05 KAC 743 Dammam 16:05 KLM 446 Bahrain 02:30 KAC 562 Amman 15:30 UAE 854 Dubai 03:40 PAL 669 Manila 16:10 OMA 643 Muscat 02:55 OMA 645 Muscat 15:35 QTR 1087 Doha 03:40 KAC 619 Doha 16:10 KKK 1268 Istanbul 02:55 UAE 857 Dubai 15:45 KAC 563 Amman 16:10 MSR 606 Luxor 03:05 QTR 1072 Doha 15:55 KLM 446 Amsterdam 03:55 ETD 304 AbuDhabi 16:20 ETD 305 AbuDhabi 03:10 SAW 705 Damascus 16:00 KKK 1269 Istanbul 03:55 JZR 188 Dubai 16:30 MSR 612 Cairo 03:15 ABY 127 Sharjah 16:00 OMA 644 Muscat 03:55 OMA 646 Muscat 16:35 QTR 1076 Doha 03:50 KAC 118 NewYork 16:00 THY 765 Istanbul 04:00 LMU 510 Cairo 04:00 JZR 535 Cairo 16:05 MSR 607 Luxor 04:05 ABY 128 Sharjah 16:40 KAC 382 Delhi 04:15 KNE 531 Jeddah 16:05 ETD 306 AbuDhabi 04:05 KAC 615 Bahrain 16:40 KAC 544 Cairo 04:25 JZR 779 Jeddah 16:25 MSR 613 Cairo 04:15 SAW 706 Damascus 16:55 KAC 418 Manila 04:25 FDB 051 Dubai 16:40 LMU 511 Cairo 05:00 KNE 532 Jeddah 16:55 KAC 784 Jeddah 04:35 RJA 640 Amman 16:55 QTR 1077 Doha 05:30 KAC 675 Dubai 17:00 FDB 069 Dubai 04:55 KAC 542 Cairo 17:05 FDB 070 Dubai 05:45 QTR 1073 Doha 17:15 JZR 609 Hyderabad 05:10 SVA 510 Riyadh 17:15 KAC 303 Mumbai 06:05 JZR 240 Amman 17:15 DHX 170 Bahrain 05:20 GFA 215 Bahrain 17:30 JZR 560 Sohag 06:25 JZR 266 Beirut 17:15 JZR 143 Doha 05:25 JZR 125 Bahrain 17:35 DHX 172 Bahrain 06:50 KAC 503 Beirut 17:15 THY 770 Istanbul 05:25 JZR 777 Jeddah 17:40 THY 771 Istanbul 06:50 KAC 283 Dhaka 17:30 KAC 358 Kochi 05:40 UAE 875 Dubai 18:00 JZR 164 Dubai 06:55 FDB 052 Dubai 17:40 KAC 332 Trivandrum 05:40 FDB 063 Dubai 18:10 RJA 643 Amman 07:05 UAE 858 Dubai 17:45 KAC 344 Chennai 05:50 JZR 177 Dubai 18:15 GFA 212 Bahrain 07:15 KAC 357 Kochi 17:45 KAC 302 Mumbai 06:10 MSR 620 Cairo 18:30 KAC 167 Paris 07:35 RJA 641 Amman 17:55 KAC 362 Colombo 06:25 QTR 1080 Doha 18:50 JZR 902 Baku 07:50 KAC 331 Trivandrum 18:00 KAC 678 Dubai 06:30 KAC 744 Dammam 19:10 KAC 501 Beirut 08:00 KAC 343 Chennai 18:00 KAC 284 Dhaka 06:30 KAC 776 Riyadh 19:20 KAC 413 Bangkok 08:10 SVA 511 Riyadh 18:15 WAN 342 Sohag 06:35 KAC 662 AbuDhabi 19:25 KAC 791 Madinah 08:35 JZR 538 Cairo 18:15 JZR 529 Asyut 06:50 ABY 123 Sharjah 19:25 FDB 054 Dubai 08:35 GFA 216 Bahrain 18:20 KAC 206 Islamabad 06:50 RBG 555 Alexandria 19:25 KAC 787 Jeddah 08:40 JZR 184 Dubai 18:30 BAW 157 London 07:10 GFA 217 Bahrain 19:30 BAW 156 London 08:55 JZR 608 Hyderabad 18:40 KAC 204 Lahore 07:10 KAC 156 Istanbul 19:30 KAC 613 Bahrain 08:55 KAC 381 Delhi 18:50 QTR 8511 Doha 07:35 DLH 8456 Frankfurt 19:35 WAN 133 Doha 09:00 FDB 064 Dubai 19:10 NIA 361 Alexandria 19:40 FDB 053 Dubai 07:35 KAC 117 NewYork 09:00 UAE 876 Dubai 19:30 KAC 354 Bengaluru 07:35 KAC 674 Dubai 19:45 MSR 621 Cairo 19:30 FDB 057 Dubai 19:50 QTR 8512 Doha 09:05 JZR 503 Luxor 07:45 JZR 534 Cairo 09:10 QTR 1081 Doha 20:00 WAN 332 Alexandria 08:00 KAC 616 Bahrain 19:55 TZS 357 Tbilisi 20:00 KNE 381 Taif 20:00 KAC 561 Amman 09:40 KAC 384 Delhi 08:00 KAC 741 Dammam 09:45 RBG 556 Alexandria 20:05 UAE 855 Dubai 08:35 KAC 620 Doha 20:15 ABY 124 Sharjah 20:05 OMA 647 Muscat 20:20 KAC 101 London 09:45 IRA 667 Esfahan 09:00 ABY 126 Sharjah 09:45 GFA 218 Bahrain 20:15 DHX 172 Bahrain 20:20 FDB 058 Dubai 20:35 ETD 301 AbuDhabi 09:05 KAC 692 Muscat 20:40 KAC 671 Dubai 09:45 ABY 125 Sharjah 09:05 KAC 515 Tehran 10:00 NIA 162 Cairo 20:40 QTR 1088 Doha 20:45 KAC 345 Ahmedabad 20:40 QTR 1070 Doha 09:10 DLH 624 Frankfurt 20:45 UAE 856 Dubai 10:00 KNE 232 Riyadh 20:50 FDB 055 Dubai 09:40 JZR 189 Dubai 20:55 IRA 668 Mashhad 10:00 KAC 301 Mumbai 20:50 FDK 803 Damascus 10:00 ALK 229 Colombo 21:20 KAC 541 Cairo 10:00 KAC 353 Bengaluru 20:55 SVA 512 Riyadh 10:00 MEA 402 Beirut 21:20 ETD 302 AbuDhabi 10:10 IRA 673 Ahwaz 10:10 DLH 8456 Sarajevo/Hong Kong 21:05 ETD 307 AbuDhabi 21:20 KAC 773 Riyadh 10:10 GFA 213 Bahrain 10:40 KAC 168 Paris 21:20 OMA 648 Muscat 21:20 SYR 341 Damascus 11:00 KAC 617 Doha 10:15 KAC 1543 Cairo 21:20 KAC 786 Jeddah 21:25 QTR 1071 Doha 10:20 WAN 114 Bahrain 11:00 UAE 859 Dubai 21:35 DLH 624 Bahrain 21:30 MSC 403 Asyut 11:15 KAC 155 Istanbul 10:25 JZR 554 Alexandria 21:45 KAC 676 Dubai 21:40 FDB 056 Dubai 10:35 QTR 1074 Doha 11:20 GFA 219 Bahrain 21:45 DHX 171 Bahrain 21:50 JZR 165 Dubai 11:30 JZR 778 Jeddah 10:40 QTR 1089 Doha 22:00 WAN 116 Bahrain 21:50 RSB 7867 IQA 11:00 NIA 161 Cairo 11:35 KLM 445 Amsterdam 21:50 KAC 205 Islamabad 22:05 WAN 134 Doha 11:45 KAC 564 Amman 22:00 SVA 513 Riyadh 11:00 ETD 308 Abu Dhabi 22:10 MEA 404 Beirut 11:55 QTR 1082 Doha 22:05 FDK 804 Damascus 11:00 KAC 203 Lahore 22:10 KAC 614 Bahrain 12:10 ETD 309 AbuDhabi 22:15 IRA 672 Ahwaz 11:10 MEA 403 Beirut 22:20 FEG 933 Sohag 12:40 AIC 981 Chennai/Ahmedabad 22:25 GFA 214 Bahrain 11:25 ALK 230 Colombo 22:25 JZ R561 Sohag 12:45 JZR 241 Amman 22:40 JZR 786 Riyadh 12:00 GFA 220 Bahrain 22:30 FD B075 Dubai 12:45 JZR 185 Dubai 23:10 JZR 776 Jeddah 12:00 KAC 783 Jeddah 22:35 UAE 871 Dubai 12:50 JAI 574 Mumbai 23:15 SYR 342 Damascus 12:00 KAC 383 Delhi 22:40 KAC 742 Dammam 12:50 WAN 836 Sarajevo 23:25 MSC 404 Asyut 12:15 KLM 445 Bahrain 22:50 MSR 610 Cairo 13:00 MSC 405 Sohag 23:30 VIZ 202 IQA 12:30 UAE 860 Dubai 23:00 AXB 393 Kozhikode 13:15 BBC 043 Dhaka 23:30 QTR 1075 Doha 12:30 ETD 310 Abu Dhabi 23:05 KAC 792 Madinah 13:20 FDB 071 Dubai 23:45 NIA 362 Alexandria 12:35 QTR 1083 Doha 23:20 26 Established 1961

Thursday, February 8, 2018 Stars

CROSSWORD 1830 STAR TRACK

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

Aries, charting your course flows in this phase of your life; this is a pros- Libra, your well-being is front of mind. Physical, mental, emotional, spiritual perous time as you accumulate material and financial securities. You encounter rules balance is what you desire and today you do something about it. A strong, positive self- that thwart your effort; study them and figure out how to make them work for you. A image drives everything you do, nothing that doesn’t promote your agenda of being your meeting with superiors goes well when you clearly express your views. Most impor- best is tossed to the side. You reinvent methods of caring for your home and engaging tant now is figuring out how to add to your nest egg. You re called on to take people with your work; you work to overcome temptation to stray off the path you have com- to a certain place by just telling them about it; this could indicate a tournament or mitted to. A like-minded person invites you for a quick lunch; this person agrees with church fair. You shine as you work with others toward a common goal. A dangerous you on an important issue. Domestic disruption is indicated regarding where you live; situation is avoided with your input. You spend time with someone who appreciates this shouldn’t last long. A neighbor may compliment your taste in color, design and com- your tricks and easier way of doing things; you enjoy a special treat tonight, Aries. fort of new furniture; you try a new, interesting beverage tonight, Libra.

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

Taurus, those you’re close to warm your heart and cause you to feel grate- Scorpio, ambition and confidence soar to new heights as you enter a new ful. It s important to you to receive praise concerning your special abilities and talents. cycle of productivity. New work or job opportunities open up with interesting perks. You The energy of taking risks is strong; during this new phase, you should step in and try feel good about the future, no matter what comes; this new attitude is a definite plus in something new such as stock market or other investments that hold your interest. You reaching your goals. An enjoyable group of people invites you to join them on an adven- step in to help when someone is in dire need; your tendencies to assist shine. A difficult ture. Reading and watching certain films generate new thoughts and ideas. Your presenta- situation grows worse until you discover what started the problem in the first place; tread tion goes very well because of your ability to state what you think in an understanding lightly as you move toward repairing this. It is very important to tend to your own busi- way; verbal skill can make the difference in gain or loss! You look forward to the ness and not let the problems of others distract you. Someone surprises you with a approaching weekend and make plans to go somewhere different. Good times ahead as thoughtful gift or card; you find you are secure and happy this evening, Taurus. you continue to look deeply into what motivates your thoughts and actions, Scorpio.

Sagittarius (November 22-December 21) Gemini (May 21-June 20) Sagittarius, you insist on respect from someone in particular; this person is Gemini, friends ask for your help in giving a party like a shower or house a hard one and isn’t able to comply. You stay on the path, tried and true and warming. Your organizational and cooking skills prove very helpful. This refusing to quit. You re relentless when it comes to reaching your goals and accomplish- ACROSS bodily tissues. event should go wonderfully and without a hitch. Your listening skills come in quite ing everything on your list; these are priorities for you at this time. Assigning people to handy as you attend a fast-paced meeting. A clear understanding of your motives and specific duties comes with ease as you build a talented team for an important project or 1. A boy or man. 73. Having lost freshness or brilliance of actions is a positive experience. A serious discussion with someone opens your eyes to 5. Characterized by undue haste and lack color. event. An old friend pops in for a visit and lends a sympathetic ear over lunch or coffee. some unknown facts; as you let this roll through your thoughts you could actually see a You could discover serious problems you had no idea about; emotions could run high of thought or deliberation. 74. (Irish) Mother of the ancient Irish gods. different way to approach a difficult situation. People enjoy your personality and sto- regarding this if you don t handle it in the proper manner. You look closely at the high 11. Consisting of one of two equivalent ry-telling talents; you could find yourself center stage at a gathering after work. This points in your life; you enjoy comforts and privileges many others don t have, Sagittarius. parts in value or quantity. DOWN evening brings an idea for a new look for you or your home or garden, Gemini. 15. Large hairy humanoid creature said to 1. (classical architecture) A molding for a live in the Himalayas. cornice. Capricorn (December 22-January 19) 16. Call forth. 2. Heal or recover. Cancer (June 21-July 22) 17. (Old Testament) The eldest son of Isaac 3. Used in an attack. Capricorn, wanting to learn more is normal for you; you re thrilled to uncov- who would have inherited the 4. Capital of the state of South Dakota. Cancer, you have a desire to reach for the stars, as though nothing is impos- er an unusual opportunity to do so with a noted instructor. We learn valu- sible to achieve. Let this time of confidence serve you well as you take risks Covenant that God made with 5. Sauce for pasta. able lessons in many different settings, not necessarily in a school room! Spiritually, you in new areas things you have kept inside can now comfortably be revealed. Political, reli- seek to see the whole big picture, not just the immediate one. Your personality is bubbly Abraham and that Abraham passed on 6. A genus of tropical Asian and Malaysian gious or other controversial topics stir your blood and could create friction. Everyone is to Isaac. palm trees. and inviting; this works well in a meeting or group discussion later. A new position entitled to their opinion, right you may experience having a hard time staying calm; breath- becomes known and you re tempted to apply; if you wish to do so, the time is definitely 18. The officer below the master on a com- 7. A small low-powered electrically pow- ing and stretching are very helpful in these areas. Someone asks for your input on a per- now according to the stars. Take a deep breath and make a decision. Self-awareness is mercial ship. ered vehicle driven on a special plat- sonal problem; be careful with this one as it could be turned on you. Your favorite place is strongly indicated at this time. You strive to make the changes you know you need; suc- 19. Larval mite that sucks the blood of ver- form where there are many others to home and there just happens to be plenty to do there at this time; later is a perfect time to cess is indicated. Affairs of the heart are likely to be most important now, Capricorn. tebrates including human beings caus- be dodged. finish up a chore or task that takes more than one pair of hands, Cancer. ing intense irritation. 8. An awkward and inexperienced youth. 9. Earlier a god. 20. One of a pair of long straps (usually Aquarius (January 20- February 18) connected to the bit or the headpiece) 10. A wooden pin pushed or driven into a Leo (July 23-August 22) surface. used to control a horse. Leo, a hot, emotional issue is brought to light when someone contacts you Aquarius, your leadership is sought regarding new ways to raise funds; 21. Causing alarm or fear. 11. Of or concerning this. with inflammatory information regarding the past of someone close to you. perhaps this means a charitable organization or a client that needs funding on a new 24. Draw back, as with fear. 12. An association of nations dedicated to You’re drawn to interact with neighbors or members of your immediate family. An unruly project. A social opportunity arises which causes inner conflict; be careful as there 25. American professional baseball player economic and political cooperation in situation arises that causes blocks and levels of frustration you’re not prepared to deal could be someone who is opposed to your involvement with this event. Give this great southeastern Asia. with. Harsh words could be communicated by you to someone else if you re not careful. consideration! You feel great satisfaction in your ability to support and take care of who hit more home runs than Babe yourself. You feel a strong need to break with the mundane, boring or usual ways; there Ruth (born in 1934). 13. The habitation of wild animals. You want very much to tell someone how you feel about behavior they exhibited; be careful, for you might just get some hurtful words in return. A sense of pulling away from may be an opportunity to do just that. There s an idea of a new way to approach some- 27. A famous waterfall in Venezuela. 14. A reserve of money set aside for some thing sensitive in a personal situation; follow your heart on this one. Put your feet up purpose. disruptions and conflicts dominates later today. Surround yourself with the comforts of 29. (sports) The chief official (as in boxing home as you relax and recharge after a trying day that does finally end well, Leo. and relax with a good book or film with a fun partner you enjoy tonight, Aquarius. or American football) who is expected 22. (British) A minicar used as a taxicab. to ensure fair play. 23. A special lineage. 32. A colorless and odorless inert gas. 26. A large fleet. Virgo (August 23-September 22) Pisces (February 19-March 20) 33. A heavy brittle metallic element of the 28. Either of a pair of thick-walled tubes platinum group. that carry urine from the kidney to the Virgo, your determination to reach goals is exploding across all areas of Pisces, your flair for unique and interesting objects is strong. Put your 34. A complex red organic pigment con- urinary bladder. your life. Extreme self-discipline is prominent as you strive to meet physical, mental, emo- thoughts on paper before they evaporate. You share time with someone 30. A medicinal drug used to evoke vomit- tional and material goals. You absorb the positive energy available to you now; every who not only admires your quirks, but shares them. Your lack of attention or comment taining iron and other atoms to which regarding a certain situation could be taken as either agreement or disagreement; some- oxygen binds. ing (especially in cases of drug over- thought, every move, every action you take is preplanned and within your boundaries. dose or poisoning). You take your feelings to task and question why they are what they are; don t dissect and times you just have to be honest. This is a time of creating new and exciting items or plans. 36. A radioactive metallic element that is push yourself too hard for this could cause harm. If you experience the feeling of being You could be reminded of old habits you have long ago abandoned. You are complimented similar to tellurium and bismuth. 31. A small node. on your taste and looks when you attend a special celebration or get together. Look 35. Selected as the best. blocked or cut off from certain people or situations, you could actually enjoy this time 37. A tricycle (usually propelled by ped- away from circumstances that could be sources of stress. You understand the attitudes of deeply into a long standing negative situation that could get worse if you make a mistake; alling). 38. A large Yoruba city in southwestern those you spend time with; take care of you this evening and no one else, Virgo. try to put you prejudices aside as you take an honest look at what is true, Pisces. 39. Filled with a great quantity. Nigeria. 42. The local time at the 0 meridian pass- 40. Of or relating to or consisting of enol. ing through Greenwich, England. 41. Monotypic genus of palms of Wordsearch Puzzle Yesterday’s Solution 43. A soft silvery metallic element of the Australasia. alkali earth group. 44. Either of 2 species of the genus 46. An intensive care unit designed with Roridula. special equipment to care for prema- 45. A particular geographical region of indefinite boundary (usually serving ture or low-birth-weight or seriously some special purpose or distinguished ill newborn. by its people or culture or geography). 47. Cubes of meat marinated and cooked 48. Temporary living quarters specially on a skewer usually with vegetables. built by the army for soldiers. 50. A translucent mineral consisting of 49. The outermost region of the sun's hydrated silica of variable color. atmosphere. 51. Lacking sufficient water or rainfall. 52. A unit of pressure equal to one newton 54. A state in the eastern United States. per square meter. 55. An elaborate song for solo voice. 53. Situated in a particular spot or posi- 57. Expressing pain or agony. tion. 60. Small striped semiterrestrial eastern 56. A percussion instrument consisting of American squirrel with cheek pouch- vertical metal tubes of different es. lengths that are struck with a hammer. 64. The 19th letter of the Greek alphabet. 58. Clothing of a distinctive style or for a 65. Of or relating to the science of particular occasion. acoustics. 59. A metrical unit with unstressed- 68. Angular distance above the horizon stressed syllables. (especially of a celestial object). 61. God of love and erotic desire. 69. A constellation in the southern hemi- 62. A feeling of strong eagerness (usually sphere near Telescopium and Norma. in favor of a person or cause). 70. French symbolist poet noted for his 63. An inactive volcano in Sicily. free verse (1842-1898). 66. An enclosed space. 71. An adult male person (as opposed to a 67. Hormone released by the hypothala- woman). mus that controls the release of thy- 72. A mature blood cell that contains roid-stimulating hormone from the hemoglobin to carry oxygen to the anterior pituitary.

Yesterday’s Solution

Daily SuDoku Yesterday’s Solution 28 Established 1961 Thursday, February 8, 2018 Lifestyle Gossip Metallica’s late bassist honored with Cliff Burton Day

etallica’s late bassist Cliff Burton has been credit for the song ‘To Live Is to Die’ from the honored with his very own ‘Cliff Burton band’s fourth LP, 1988’s ‘...And Justice for All’. He MDay’ in his hometown of Castro Valley, was also inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of California. The musician was just 24 years old Fame with the band - now comprised of James when he died in a tour bus crash in Sweden in Hetfield, Lars Ulrich, Kirk Hammett and current September 1986, and in his memory the local bass player Robert Trujillo - in April 2009, 23 council has permitted the annual day for Burton, years after his death. The memorial day came about who joined the legendary heavy metal band in after a petition was launched on change.org by 1982. Sharing the official document confirming the mega-fan Robert Souza, who called on the Castro celebration of his life on February 10, Metallica Valley Municipal Advisory Council to issue the wrote on Twitter: “It’s official! The Board of request. And after all agreed it was a great idea, it Supervisors from Alameda County has just pro- then went to the Alameda County Board of claimed February 10th, 2018, which would have Supervisors, who finalized the plans yesterday. been Cliff’s 56th birthday, ‘Cliff Burton Day.’ Before joining the ‘Nothing Else Matters’ group, Thanks to all of the fans who got behind this initia- Burton was in the band Trauma, and he was spotted tive. We love that he remains so revered.” The by Hetfield and Ulrich at their concert at the famous iconic bass player performed on Metallica’s first Whisky a Go Go in Los Angeles. They were so three studio albums, ‘Kill ‘Em All’, ‘Ride the impressed with his skills that the whole band relo- Lightning’ and ‘Master of Puppets’. It was whilst cated to San Francisco so that he would take on the touring the latter record that Burton sadly lost his role, as he had refused to move to Hollywood. The life in the tragic incident. However, his legacy lives rocker was replaced by Jason Newsted originally, on and he even received a posthumous writing but Trujillo took over the reins in 2003. BYRNE won’t WARWICK DAVIS return for X-Men: Dark Phoenix is always up for Star Wars roles ing a mixed reaction from fans and critics alike, Davis said he will always love ‘Star Wars’ and will ose Byrne won’t be returning want to go, but so much is out of your always be open to taking on roles in the fran- for ‘X-Men: Dark Phoenix’. The control. I was doing all of this really chise. Speaking to the Metro newspaper, Davis 38-year-old actress has con- heavy, dramatic stuff, and I just need- R said: “I had a cameo in the casino sequence [in firmed that her character Moira ed a break ... You have to be aggres- ‘The Last Jedi’] - it’s always a delight to be asked. MacTaggert won’t be appearing in sive in this business. You have always “I wasn’t aware it had divided opinion but all the next installment of the movie fran- got to push for what you want. movies divide opinion - some people will like it, chise but she is looking forward to Working with Glenn [Close, on some people won’t. I’ll always love ‘Star Wars’. see how Jessica Chastain - who will ‘Damages’], she was the hardest It’s a piece of entertainment, it’s not about making play an unknown character that is worker ever. She was constantly political statements. It’s just there for people to being referred to as Smith - will fare pushing.” And Rose had slammed the enjoy. You go in there and are supposed to lose in the upcoming movie. She told movie industry for being “forgetful yourself in the world the director has created. CinemaBlend: “Unfortunately, Moira and unforgiving”. She shared: “It ‘Star Wars’ has always been a great example of is not showing up. I wish she was. I helps you see how far you’ve come: that - it’s pure escapism and you can forget the had such fun on ‘X-Men: from living on unemployment in LA in 21st century for a couple of hours. That was Apocalypse’. I love that cast. It is a my early 20s until now. And it’s a George Lucas’s philosophy with ‘Star Wars’ - to really fun, what do you call it? great way to do that to yourself and make a fun adventure.” Davis was announced by Superhero film ... ensemble, exactly. I help you to be grateful to be working. Ron Howard to be joining ‘Solo’ after the film’s can’t wait to see what [Jessica It’s really important. But for my life, director subtly revealed the actor will appear in Chastain] does, ‘cause I’m such a fan.” every day is still every day. It accu- the hotly-anticipated movie in a currently Meanwhile, Rose previously insisted mulates slowly in that sense. It’s just unspecified part. Responding to a fan on Twitter, that men still get better acting roles you looking at yourself in the mirror, arwick Davis says it’s “always a the movie’s director Ron Howard wrote: “Glad but she is glad to have seen “some if you know what I mean? So it’s a delight” to be asked to be in a ‘Star you are asking for one! I directed changes” have been made. She said: strange thing to quantify. This busi- Wars’ movie. The 47-year-old first @WarwickADavis for the 1st time in 30 years “Most things I read, I still would much ness is such a forgetful and unforgiv- W starred as Ewok Wicket in ‘Episode VI: Return of today. It made me happy. (sic)” And Davis was rather play the guy. There have been ing one so I’m always a true skeptic the Jedi’ back in 1983, and since has starred in also full of praise for Ron, adding on his own some changes, but I wish there was about any grandiose statements four movies in the hit sci-fi franchise including social media account: “Reminded me what a more ... “You gravitate to where you about my career.” 1999’s ‘Star Wars: Episode I - The Phantom wonderful experience #Willow was, made so by Menace’, 2015’s ‘Star Wars: The Force Awakens’ your expert direction & friendship. After 30yrs, and 2017’s ‘Star Wars: The Last Jedi’, and is set to you’ve still got the magic! (sic)” The film - star- appear in the spin-off ‘Solo: A Star Wars Story’. ring Alden Ehrenreich as a young Han Solo - hits But despite the latest movie ‘The Last Jedi’ hav- cinemas this May.

Mercy star Bailey has no ambitions for adventure

onathan Bailey would rather go up the Thames in a “Jacuzzi dingy” rather than Jcircumnavigate the globe. The 29-year-old actor stars in tragic biopic ‘The Mercy’ about Donald Crowhurst - a yachtsman who tries to complete a circumnavigation without actually circling the world in order to win the 1968 Golden Globe Race. Tragically, Crowhurst nev- er returned home and his last log entry in 1969, revealed he either fell or jumped overboard and drowned. However, for Bailey, this sailing feat is not for him and zzy Osbourne is not retiring from performing he admitted he would completely. The Black Sabbath rocker rather take it easy by Oannounced his final solo world tour, a two-year going up the River jaunt of the globe entitled the ‘No More Tours 2’ - Thames. Speaking which is a reference to a tour of the same name which exclusively to BANG he conducted in 1992 - on Tuesday, but has reassured Showbiz at the world fans that he still plans to do the odd show here and premiere of ‘The there. In an interview with Rolling Stone conducted Mercy’ at Curzon after the announcement, the 69-year-old rocker said: Mayfair in London on “I’m not retiring. “It’s ‘No More Tours,’ so I’m just not THE BACKSTREET BOYS Tuesday night , Bailey doing world tours anymore. I’m still going to be doing illa Jovovich is re-teaming with her hus- said: “No, I’m alright gigs, but I’m not going on tour for six months at a time to collaborate band Paul W.S. Anderson for new sci-fi for adventure. I will anymore. I’d like to spend some time at home.” Ozzy - Maction thriller ‘Hummingbird’. The up the Thames in one known as The Prince of Darkness - wants to spend with the Spice Girls ‘Resident Evil’ star has been announced to play of those Jacuzzi more time with his family after recently welcoming his the lead in the movie, replacing ‘X-Men: dingys.” The new film eighth grandchild into the world, Minnie, his son Jack he Backstreet Boys want to (sic)” Meanwhile, Nick Carter Apocalypse’ star Olivia Munn, who was previous- - which is helmed by Osbourne’s third child. On why he’s giving up touring, collaborate with the Spice previously revealed the ly attached to the project, according to Deadline. ‘The Theory of he said: “I’ve experienced fantastic things; it’s been an TGirls. The ‘I Want It That Backstreet Boys are hoping to do Milla, 42, will play a female assassin whose latest Everything’ filmmaker incredible journey. “I just need to slow it down a little. Way’ hitmakers would love to an “epic tour” with the Spice mission leads her to discover shocking secrets James Marsh - also “I enjoy being a grandfather. “I don’t want to go release a song with the girl group Girls. He said: “There’s been talks about her own past. The Black List script was stars Colin Firth as through another generation of Osbournes without see- - which includes Victoria about it, you know? But I think it’s originally written by John McClain but Milla’s Crowhurst, Rachel ing them grow up.” Ozzy will be doing Black Sabbath Beckham, Geri Horner, Mel B, Mel all about them kind of getting the husband and ‘Resident Evil’ director Paul has Weisz, David Thewlis classics such as ‘Paranoid’ and ‘Crazy Train’ on the C and Emma Bunton - after they girls together, and they’re doing been brought in to pen the rewrite. Milla and Paul and Mark Gatiss and tour, but after the Birmingham band retired themselves set plans in motion for a reunion. things with their families and last worked together on 2016’s ‘Resident Evil: The Bailey admitted he from touring, he insists he didn’t take away anything Sharing a collage of the Spice everything. We’re always open to Final Chapter’, the fifth installment in the fran- was hooked from first hearing the story. He from their final concerts, only that he has “more con- Girls and the Backstreet Boys, AJ going on tour with them. I think it chise. The movie grossed $312 million at the glob- said: “When I met him [James Marsh], he is just trol” now. He said: “Black Sabbath is a completely dif- McLean wrote on Instagram: “I’m would be an epic tour if we ever al box office, including $160 million in China. lovely and brilliant and he is really intelligent ferent thing. When I was in Black Sabbath, I was just a just saying??? Who wants to see did it.” The boy band have also Marcus Kryler and Fredrik Akerstrom, directors and sensitive. The story is unbelievable. I singer with a band called Black Sabbath. Now it’s this dream, and long mentioned been working on new music, with of the video game ‘Battlefield 1’ will helm the hadn’t seen the documentary but it’s a story Ozzy Osbourne, and I have more control over what’s rumor become a reality. Would Steve Aoki recently revealing that movie. Milla has just finished filming the ‘Hellboy’ that’s known in my dad’s generation. You know going on than I did with Sabbath.” Announcing the you come? I know it’s super late he has been making EDM music reboot, in which she plays villain Blood Queen. they know about it. It’s just an extraordinary final tour, Ozzy said: “I’ve been extremely blessed to and I should be asleep which I’m with the group. Speaking about Originally titled as ‘Hellboy: Rise of the Blood feat of insanity so it was a no brainer.” When have had two successful music careers. I’m looking at finally about to be but after I saw the 90s boyband - which includes Queen’, it is being reported that the reboot will speaking about his co-stars, Bailey had noth- this final tour as being a huge celebration for my fans the post earlier today from Nick, Kevin Richardson, AJ, Brian simply go by the name of ‘Hellboy’. Unlike the ing but praise for them but joked he was glad and anyone who has enjoyed my music over the past @emmaleebunton page my eyes Littrell, and Howie Dorough - original franchise by Guillermo del Toro - which he didn’t have to “bear the emotional weight five decades.” The ‘War Pigs’ singer is to be joined by lit up my heart got excited and the said: “We are working on music was PG13 - this film, from ‘Dog Soldiers’ helmer of the film”. He said: “A lot of my stuff is with longtime collaborators Zakk Wylde, Blasko, Tommy wheels in my crazy head started together. If it’s going to be on Neil Marshall, will be R-rated, following in the David Thewlis and he is lovely and so thank- Clufetos and Adam Wakeman on the run, and will be spinning so??? As they say “ if their album or my album, I’m not footsteps of other successful R-rated movies fully our scenes didn’t have to bear the emo- supported by Stone Sour. ‘No More Tours 2’ kicks off you build it they will come “. even sure. We [him and Nick] live including ‘Deadpool’ and ‘Logan’. The upcoming tional weight of the film, so we had a good with a pair of festival shows in Florida - Jacksonville’s #makeithappen #supertour in the same neighborhood so he project has been in the pipeline for some time, time. “And the little scenes I have with Colin Welcome to Rockville and Fort Lauderdale’s FortRock #bsbanspicegirls? Now let that came into my studio. They just but the reboot has gone ahead without original and Rachel were great and they are really bril- on April 27 and 29 respectively - before he jets off thought settle in. Good night all. care about making good music.” director del Toro, who couldn’t agree with the liant in it.” — Bang Showbiz across Central and South America and Europe, before studio’s vision for the movie. heading back to the US in August. Established 1961 29

Thursday, February 8, 2018 Lifestyle Music & Movies

Bollywood movie about an inventor tor) has handled the subject beautifully. quickly his wife and sisters refused to be regularly rake in more than one billion who created a revolutionary machine “People will talk about personal hygiene and guinea pigs any longer. When other women rupees ($15.6 million) at the box office, is no Athat makes cheap sanitary pads hits it will give hope to the younger generation in the village baulked at his requests to try stranger to starring in movies with an impor- screens this week, challenging taboos sur- to do innovative things,” he added. his products he started testing them on him- tant message. Last year’s comedy, “Toilet: rounding menstruation in socially conserva- Muruganantham’s remarkable story self, using a football bladder and animal Ek Prem Katha” (Toilet: A love story), tive India. Arunachalam Muruganantham is began in the late 1990s when he was blood. Muruganantham was mocked and focused on the lack of toilets in India and nicknamed India’s “menstrual man” for ostracized by fellow villagers, and his wife the problem of open defecation. It was a transforming the lives of poor women forced even left him for a while, but he remained soaraway success, grossing upwards of $2 to use items like old rags, sand and leaves undeterred and intensified his search. After billion rupees, but Balki says a film about during their periods. He has been lauded by two years he discovered that sanitary pads periods is an altogether different proposi- India’s government and is now getting the are made from cellulose found on trees. tion. “Pad Man is possibly the riskiest film star treatment with Bollywood A-lister “ Menstruation is Akshay has done because of the taboo, Akshay Kumar portraying him in “Pad Man”, Risky unexplored subject,” he told AFP. releasing on Friday. still a taboo subject in Muruganantham also learnt that the Several million more Indian women are It is the latest socially conscious movie machine which ground down the pulp before now estimated to use sanitary pads thanks to come out of a film industry known more turning it into napkins cost hundreds of to Muruganantham. His company, for producing complex love stories featur- India and a tough “ thousands of dollars so he decided to create Jayaashree Industries, has more than 2,000 ing handsome heroes and elaborate dance his own. In four years he had invented an units across the majority of India’s states routines. Muruganantham hopes the movie subject for a film easy-to-use device which could produce and also exports to dozens of countries. The will help raise awareness about the impor- pads at a third of the cost of the commer- machines also provide employment to thou- tance of menstrual hygiene in patriarchal cially produced ones. The machines them- sands of rural women. In 2014 he was India where women, particularly in rural selves were also vastly cheaper at around included in Time magazine’s list of 100 most areas, are frequently shunned during their 75,000 rupees ($1,170). “I wanted to make influential people in the world. Two years monthly cycles. shocked to discover that his wife was using sure that technically we did not go wrong, later India’s government awarded “Menstruation is still a taboo subject in newspaper and dirty cloths during menstru- so he agreed to supervise,” Balki, the direc- Muruganantham one of the country’s high- India and a tough subject for a film,” he told ation because sanitary pads were too tor, said of Muruganantham’s role on set. est civilian honors. The release of “Pad Man” This file photo shows Indian actor Akshay Kumar AFP by phone from his home state of Tamil expensive. He decided to do something Actresses Radhika Apte and Sonam is set to elevate his fame further but he (right) addressing the media as Gujarat state Chief Nadu in southern India. “But I read the about it and started experimenting with dif- Kapoor star alongside Kumar whose char- insists he won’t be letting it go to his head. Minister Vijay Rupani (left) looks on, during the pro- script and I was also on the sets to guide ferent designs using cotton. His first few acter based on Muruganantham is called “The cause is becoming big, but I am motion of the film ‘Pad Man’ in Ahmedabad. — AFP them. I think (R.) Balki (the writer and direc- prototypes were not very successful and Lakshmi. The 50-year-old actor, whose films remaining the same,” he told AFP. — AFP Ed Sheeran and Little Mix lead The Hollywood Vampires Global Awards nominations are coming to tear up the UK d Sheeran and Little Mix lead the Smooth, Radio X, Gold and LBC - to cre- nominations for the brand new ate a platform to recognize the best in he Hollywood Vampires will tour the UK good.” The UK tour announcement comes after EGlobal Awards. The ‘Perfect’ singer music, entertainment and news. Sam for the first time ever this summer. Alice Cooper said he’d love to have the band play and the girl group - comprised of Perrie Smith, Kasabian, Rita Ora, Andrea Bocelli TCooper, Johnny Depp and Joe Perry’s leg- Somerset’s Glastonbury festival in the future. Edwards, Jesy Nelson, Jade Thirlwall and and Martin Garrix are set to perform at endary supergroup are bringing their electric Speaking exclusively to BANG Showbiz last Leigh-Anne Pinnock - have each been the glitzy bash. The Best Song, Best show to Birmingham, Manchester and Glasgow year, he said “I would love to. I would love to shortlisted in four categories each for the Group, Best Male, Best Female and Best this June, topping off the short run at London’s bring a little vampirism to Glastonbury. I’m just ceremony, which takes place at London’s British Artist or Group categories are The SSE Arena, Wembley on June 20. The trio saying, we’re open to it. The Alice Cooper show Hammersmith Eventim Apollo on March 1. determined by public vote. Voting is will be joined by The Darkness and The Dammed might scare everyone to death but the Vampires They will go head-to-head for Best Song open now via the Global Player app or via at the four concerts. The Vampires began on I think would be OK.” ‘Pirates of the Caribbean’ as ‘Shape of You’ by Ed and the girl’s global.com. Voting closes on February 22. Hollywood’s Sunset Strip at the iconic Rainbow star Depp, 54, is no stranger to Glastonbury, duet with Stormzy, ‘Power’, is up against Bar & Grill’s upstairs bar, and over the years has having already performed a surprise warm up Camila Cabello’s ‘Havana’, Niall Horan’s The Global Awards featured the likes of the late John Lennon and with Kris Kristofferson at the music extravagan- ‘Slow Hands’ and Shawn Mendes, ‘There’s nominations are as follows: The Who’s Keith Moon. Shock rocker Cooper, za last weekend. But whilst Cooper acknowl- Nothing Holdin’ Me Back’. 1. Best Song (public vote) actor and guitarist Depp and Aerosmith star edges the fact Depp is able to jam with anyone, Camila Cabello, ‘Havana’ Perry released their self-titled LP in 2015, which he thinks Hollywood Vampires’ usual set list (feat. Young Thug) featured guest appearances from Sir Paul would be too long. He continued: “He [Johnny] Ed Sheeran, ‘Shape Of You’ McCartney and Foo Fighters’ Dave Grohl. plays with everybody. Johnny will go and play Little Mix, ‘Power’ (feat. Stormzy) Speaking about what rock star credentials with [Paul] McCartney, he’ll play with the Niall Horan, ‘Slow Hands’ are required to be a member, ‘Poison’ hitmaker [Rolling] Stones, he’ll play with everybody. But Shawn Mendes, ‘There’s Nothing Holdin’ Cooper - who founded the group - said: “To join when he’s with our band it’s a full on show. It’s 28 Me Back’ the club, one simply had to out drink all of the songs.” Tickets for the tour go on sale on Friday. members. “I would walk in on a typical night and Hollywood Vampires The Hollywood Vampires’ UK tour dates are 2. Best Group (public vote) John Lennon, Harry Nilsson, Keith Moon - who expect from the forthcoming shows, ‘Pirates of as follows: Clean Bandit would usually be in a costume like a maid or a the Caribbean’ star Depp warned it could get June 16, Birmingham Genting Arena Coldplay chauffeur - Bernie Taupin, Jim Morrison and bloody. He added: “There will be rumbling in June 17, Manchester Arena Little Mix Mickey Dolenz would be there. The next week ears and there might be blood trickling out of June 19, Glasgow The SSE Hydro Take That might be Bernie Taupin, Jimi Hendrix, Jim one ear.” And Perry concluded: “I don’t say June 20, London - The SSE Arena, Wembley. The Chainsmokers Morrison and Mickey Dolenz.” And on what to things like this often, but this band is (bleeping) — Bang Showbiz

3. Best Male (public vote) Ed Sheeran Justin Bieber Liam Payne Niall Horan Shawn Mendes

4. Best Female (public vote) Ariana Grande Camila Cabello Dua Lipa he three Americans who foiled the Thalys The film-which opens in cinemas in the US and Selena Gomez train terror attack in France in 2015 have the UK on Friday-follows the course of the Taylor Swift Treturned to Paris where the Clint friends’ lives, from their childhood struggles to Eastwood film about their heroics opened yes- the series of unlikely events leading up to the 5. Best British Artist or Group terday. Spencer Stone, Alek Skarlatos and thwarted attack. (public vote) Anthony Sadler, who play themselves in “The Dua Lipa 15:17 to Paris”, were reunited in a cinema in the ‘We could all be dead’ Ed Sheeran French capital where emergency services crews Hollywood legend Eastwood’s last two films- Liam Gallagher who tended the injured after the attack were ”Sully” and “American Sniper” were also about Liam Payne among the audience. Some of them also play real-life heroes, but this is the first time he has Little Mix themselves in the drama which retells how the used the real protagonists to play themselves. three childhood friends from California overpow- The 87-year-old, who makes no apology for his 6. Rising Star Award ered a Moroccan jihadist armed with an AK-47 gung-ho patriotism, said he wanted to “make Dua Lipa on the Paris-bound high-speed service from people aware that they have the strength to do Jax Jones Amsterdam carrying more than 500 passengers. (extraordinary) things themselves and I think this Mabel “I hope you like the film. We wanted to be story is a champion of all that. “There could have Stefflon Don exact about what happened,” said Skarlatos, 25, been a lot of people killed, (the attacker) had a Yungen an Oregon National Guardsman who served in lot of ammunition, he had a very reliable gun.” If Little Mix are also up for Best Group Afghanistan. US Air Force Airman Spencer Stone his young stars hadn’t acted it could have been a along with Clean Bandit, Coldplay, Take 7. Mass Appeal Award charged at Ayoub El Khazzan after he wounded slaughter, he said in a filmed interview with the That and EDM duo The Chainsmokers. Ed Sheeran another passenger and managed to disarm him cast released to promote the movie. Ed has stiff competition from Justin James Arthur of the AK-47 and of a pistol which jammed as El Skarlatos, who appeared on the “Dancing Bieber, One Direction bandmates Liam P!nk Khazzan tried to shoot him. Stone was slashed With the Stars” US television show after the Payne and Niall Horan, and Shawn Paloma Faith with a bolt cutter around the neck as Skarlatos (Left)) Director/producer Clint Eastwood, actors attack, said that “knowing each other since we Mendes for Best Male. The flame-haired Sam Smith and Sadler knocked the attacker unconscious Kyle Eastwood, Alison Eastwood and Scott were very young, it was the icing on the cake star and Little Mix will also battle with and then “hog-tied” him. The three were hailed Eastwood arrive for the world premiere of “The that we got to play ourselves. “If anything went Dua Lipa, Liam Gallagher and Liam 8. Best RnB, Hip-Hop or Grime as heroes both in the United States and in 15:17 to Paris” at the Warner Bros Studios SJR the- differently we would probably all have been Payne for Best British Artist or Group. Drake France, where they were awarded the Legion of atre in Burbank, California. dead,” he added. “Never in a million years did I The 26-year-old singer/songwriter has J Hus Honour, the country’s highest decoration. think that we would play ourselves in a Clint been shortlisted for Mass Appeal Award Mabel “I reprised my role as a nurse,” said Nathalie Playing herself made it feel weirdly “less natu- Eastwood movie,” said Stone. “We knew he along with James Arthur, P!nk, Paloma Post Malone Capron, who looked after the injured when the ral”, she told AFP after the preview screening for took a chance on us and we didn’t want to dis- Faith and Sam Smith. While Little Mix are Stormzy train pulled into Arras station in northern France. cast and crew in the French capital last week. appoint him.” — AFP up for Best Pop with Charlie Puth, Liam Payne, Rita Ora and Shawn Mendes. 9. Best Pop Dance Former Oasis stars and bitter siblings Calvin Harris Noel [High Flying Birds] and Liam Craig David Gallagher will battle it out to be crowned David Guetta the winner of Best Indie act, with Martin Garrix Blossoms, Florence + The Machine and Sigala Kasabian also in the running. Ashley Tabor OBE, Global’s Founder & 10. Best Indie Executive President, said: “Today we Blossoms revealed the shortlisted nominees for The Florence + The Machine Global Awards, celebrating the biggest Kasabian stars of music, news & entertainment. We Liam Gallagher can’t wait to honor the winners and nom- Noel Gallagher’s High Flying Birds inees with our listeners on the big night on March 1st in London. It promises to 11. Best Pop be an incredible evening!” Charlie Puth The new awards show was launched Liam Payne by radio brand Global, and aims to com- Little Mix bine its diverse roster of stations - Rita Ora Former US National Guardsman Alek Skarlatos, former US Air Force staff sergeant Director/producer Clint Eastwood arrives for the world premiere of ‘The Capital, Capital XTRA, Heart, Classic FM, Shawn Mendes. — Bang Showbiz Spencer Stone, director/producer Clint Eastwood and Anthony Sadler arrive for 15:17 to Paris’ at the Warner Bros Studios SJR theatre in Burbank, California. the world premiere of ‘The 15:17 to Paris’. — AFP photos 30 Established 1961 Thursday, February 8, 2018 Lifestyle Fashion

Tom Ford has gone vegan - but will still use fur in his designs

he 56-year-old designer has adopted a plant- does not sound very sexy. “I’m selling you a food skin. He told the Los Angeles Times newspaper: “I’m can’t help but “cheat” with his favourite sugary Tbased diet and admitted it has made him question byproduct!” That means cowhide, it means shearling, it also very torn about this because fake fur is terrible for desserts. Discussing his love of donuts, he admitted: “I the use of animal skins in his creations, but he has means not doing fur that is raised purely for its pelt. the environment. People think of fake fur as a dispos- do cheat with baked goods. That’s true. I will eat a decided to “limit” what he uses and in the future will “No mink, no fox. I have used a lot of fake fur this sea- able thing. They buy it, they wear it a few seasons, they baked good that clearly has some eggs in it. But I don’t only use real skins if they are “food byproducts”. He son. I’ve also used some shearling and what is called throw it away, it doesn’t biodegrade. It’s a petroleum eat eggs and I don’t drink milk; I use almond milk. And I said: “I’ve been vegan for about the last year. When pony in the industry but it is not pony, it is cowhide. product. It is highly toxic. don’t eat any animal flesh, I don’t eat fish, I don’t eat you look at how most of our meat, our animal products, There’s longhaired cowhide and shorthaired. “So I “And then, you could argue that tanning leather is a chicken, I don’t eat meat. But yes, I do cheat with some are raised, from a health standpoint, I didn’t feel that I have been very conscious of using animal skins that are highly toxic process. A fur coat gets recycled. People baked goods, because most vegan baked goods just should eat those things anymore. “The fur thing - of food byproducts. Because whether I’m consuming meat wear them for 30 years, they give them to their kids, don’t do it like a box of Hostess doughnuts. And I still course, is a natural thing. [Going vegan] starts to make or not, other people are, so these are things that are then they turn them into throw pillows. So I don’t know eat a lot of sugar. “I mean, I don’t drink. I don’t smoke. you question that. I have started using much more fake collected.” the answer to that. I’ve been very honest, and it’s prob- Now I don’t eat any meat. I’m essentially vegan. But, fur. I’m not yet ready to say that I’m fur-free. Tom also admitted he is reluctant to use fake fur ably going to get me in all sorts of trouble with every- yes, sugar.”— Bang Showbiz “Now, however, I have limited the fur in these col- because it is “terrible” for the environment and it does- body, but I don’t know the answer.” lections and going forward to food byproducts, which n’t get used for anywhere near as long as real animal And though he is vegan, the ‘A Single Man’ director

Designer Tom Ford walks the runway at the conclusion of his Tom Ford Men FW18 Collection at Park Avenue Armory in New York City. — AFP photos Underwear gets the Tom Ford brief at NY Fashion Week

om Ford used his first fully-fledged men’s runway The show comes a decade after the designer, who Tshow in New York on Tuesday to unveil a debut shot to fame at Gucci, launched his eponymous men’s underpants collection, bathe a Manhattan landmark label. Apart from a show to open his London store, he has in violet and give his classic suiting a Los Angeles twist. previously done small men’s presentations. Now based in It was a fall/winter 2018 collection of quintessential Tom Los Angeles, but having previously lived in London, Ford Ford tailoring and statement sunglasses, offering the is best known for his sharp suits, which start at $5,000 international jet-set a blend of James Bond, ski chic, off the rack. “Living in Los Angeles is making my clothes, London mod and California breeze. His models strode out both men’s and women’s, more relevant,” he told WWD. on a violet-carpeted runway at the Park Avenue Armory “Much of the rest of the world, they want luxurious to the strains of Sting and Lana Del Rey, his Tobacco- pieces but they are dressing in a more casual way.” Men’s Vanille fragrance hanging thick in the air and distributed Fashion Week closes Wednesday. Ford will unveil his as party favors at the end. The 56-year-old, Texan-born, women’s fall/winter collection at the same Park Avenue movie-making designer who told Women’s Wear Daily Armory set today. — AFP that he designs “for the hypothetical six-foot-three ver- sion of my 27-year-old self” sent out topless models in a dazzling array of silk, metallic and animal print briefs paired with socks. Launching both the underwear and watches at his show, Ford described the former in his WWD interview as “very sexy” and “very real.” Revealing that he had become a vegan and would limit his use of fur, there were drain-pipe style pants, eyes shielded by science-goggle and Bono-style yellow sunglasses. Sportswear was refer- enced in hoodies, oversized bags and sneaker-style loafers. For evening wear, he offered metallic turtle necks, a sparkly blue snakeskin print jacket, or black and silver shimmering in the light. There was pin stripe and tweed for the boardroom, and suits reimagined in the summery colors of pale yellow and delicate pink-a nod to European tradition given a very American, contemporary makeover.

Models walk the runway at the Tom Ford FW18 Collection at Park Avenue Armory on February 6, 2018 in New York City. Established 1961 31 Lifestyle Fashion Thursday, February 8, 2018

Nicole Richie loves the ‘amazing’ power of make-up he 36-year-old designer - who has children Harlow, 10, and TSparrow, eight, with husband Joel Madden - thinks cosmetics are great for transformation without hid- ing who a person really is. She said: “Make-up has power. You can trans- form yourself into another being, which I think is really amazing. “I know women who feel most like themselves when they have a full face of makeup on and that makes them feel strong about themselves. “We as women have every tool that we need in order to feel our strongest. best self. I don’t think that makeup has to Carlos Campos (center) and his creative team walk hide you. I think it can accentuate the runway during New York Fashion Week Mens’ at what you already have.” But Nicole Skylight Modern. feels most empowered by fashion and her choice of clothes is very much influenced by her mood.

Models walk the runway at the Carlos Campos fashion show during New York Fashion Week Mens’ at Skylight Modern in New York City.

She told People Style: “My fashion choices are extremely emotional. “I am somebody who likes a lot of color around me. It elevates me. I’m very passionate about color and I know that it has a direct effect on the ener- gy that I have around me. “And so when I’m putting something on, that definitely changes the way that I feel and the way that I approach the day.” And at the moment, the ‘Candidly Nicole’ star’s beauty focus is on her hair and she’s enjoying letting her nat- ural locks “breathe”. She said: “I really love my hair ... I was bleaching it, and coloring and doing everything so I just needed to give it a break to let it grow. I’m not shooting right now so I’m not coloring it, I’m just letting it breathe. It feels really nice. “Right now I really do feel 100 percent in my own skin. I feel the most like myself. I could cut it off in a week, who knows? All of my hair decisions have been very much on the fly. But right now I’m really just enjoying living.” — Bang Showbiz

Behbehani Watch World - a new star shines in the Avenues Mall

ith over 55 years of experience in the world of watches, and in a new step towards expansion Wand development in services, Mohammed Saleh and Reza Yousef Behbehani have opened their fourth branch under a new name - Behbehani Watch World - at the Avenues Mall (Phase II) as part of their constant pursuit to satisfy their customers in general and the classic Swiss watches lovers in particular, and to be closer to them wherever they are. With a classy presen- tation and a wide variety of classic and modern watches brands, now you can enjoy a unique experience when specifically visiting this showroom in a distinctive and convenient shopping ambience. Once you enter Behbehani Watch World showroom in the Avenues Mall, you will have a unique sense of com- fort and elegance, and you will be attracted to the aston- ishing decorations and advanced display devices that are professionally distributed around the place, allowing you to easily navigate between all brands exhibited. Also, you will definitely notice the company’s attention to details, starting from the attractive main entrance, through the creatively distributed lighting to allow the visitors to clearly identify all the watches displayed. All the watches have been carefully selected for you Watch World at the Avenues Mall, you can identify the matic watches including the leather covers that pre- It is worth mentioning that Behbehani Watch World from the most famous Swiss Watch Manufacturers to be exceptional collections of the latest Swiss brands that we serve your valuables. Company owns a series of showrooms for various watch- displayed in the best inspiring ways possible. This will represent in Kuwait: On the occasion of the opening of the new branch in es and jewelry brands. In addition to the new showroom enhance your shopping experience and give you the • BALMAIN, ROAMER, MIDO & SILVANA classic the Avenues Mall, Mr. Mohammed Al Kassas, General in the Avenues Mall, our showrooms are located in Al- pleasure of discovering high-end watches artwork that watches Manager of Behbehani Watch World, said: “The out- Salmiya, Salem Al-Mubarak Street “Northern Salmiya represent the top of the Swiss craftsmanship where the • CERTINA, MONDAINE & GLYCINE watches that standing service and the superior style of sales are the Building”, Kuwait City showroom in Abdullah Al-Salem passion and proficiency of watchmakers is shown in combine classic and contemporary cornerstones of Behbehani’s Watch World approach. Our Street and Al-Jahra Showroom in Al-Jahra governorate. every piece designed to represent the personality and • SWISS MILITARY HANOWA, FORTIS & LUMINOX specialized team will give you a pleasant shopping expe- taste of the wearers, and their desires for exceptionality watches with their bold sporty designs rience accompanying you on a tour to identify the world and glam. • Accessories from the English RAPPORT brand, that are of craftsmanship and uniqueness in our brands, which In the unique and prestigious ambience of Behbehani designed to maintain the functionality of the auto- embody the Swiss experience in the watch industry.” Established 1961 Lifestyle

THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 8, 2018

A woman sells decorations ahead of Lunar New Year celebrations in Hong Kong yesterday. The Lunar New Year will be celebrated on February 16, and marks the start of the Year of the Dog. — AFP Kylie Jenner introduces baby Stormi with an Instagram snap

ylie Jenner, the youngest of the celebrity post was titled simply “Stormi.” Jenner lucrative cosmetics line. Stormi is the second of months pregnant with her basketball player Kardashian clan, revealed on Tuesday announced on Sunday that her child with rapper three additions to the Kardashian clan this year. boyfriend Tristan Thompson. Stormi joins Kthat she had named her new baby daugh- TravisScott was born on Feb 1 and apologized Half-sister Kim Kardashian and her rapper hus- Kardashian cousins North, Saint, Reign, Dream, ter Stormi, and posted the first picture of her. for keeping her pregnancy secret from her 101 band Kanye West announced the arrival in Mason and Penelope. — Reuters Jenner, 20, posted a close-up photo on her million Instagram followers and other fans. January of their third child, a girl they called Instagram account showing a baby dressed in Jenner has parlayed her family’s “Keeping Up Chicago, who was born to a surrogate. Jenner’s Kylie Jenner pink clasping her pink manicured thumb. The with the Kardashians” reality TV show into a other half-sister, Khloe Kardashian, is seven Snow beautifies Paris further

Snow covered trees are pictured yesterday following heavy snowfall in Paris. — Photo by Mariam Al-Zanki

A picture shows the castle of Chambord under the snow, in Chambord, central France. — AFP

eavy snow has blanketed beautiful Paris creating additional features of beauty and attraction across the city amid warnings the bad weather may paralyze Hdaily life and transports. Although many Parisians are enjoying the heavy snow fall, authorities fear it will turn into ice as the temperature is falling below zero. — KUNA

Snow covered trees are pictured yesterday following heavy snowfall in Seagulls stand over a snow-covered statue in the gardens of the Palace of People walk through the snow covered alley of the Champ de Mars following heavy snowfall in Paris. — Photo by Mariam Al-Zanki Versailles.—AFP Paris. — AFP