Established 1961 Friday ISSUE NO: 173407 RABI ALAWWAL 27, 1439 AH FRIDAY, DECEMBER 15, 2017

Darwaza Al-Abdul Razzaq A different Gitmo: Detainee Thunder defeat Pacers in 4 a heritage and cultural site 23 art on display in New York 43 George’s return to Indiana

Fishing in Kuwait See Page 6 2 Friday Local Friday, December 15, 2017

Do what you can Kuwait: Haven for expatriates selves off and waiting for better times. This is a natural tendency Scribbler’s Notebook and makes sense but it will not help a society or a country to thrive. Moreover, in times of uncertainty, it feels like the individ- By Jamie Etheridge ual is powerless to bring about positive change. Yet there are still things one can do, even if they seem small or unimportant, [email protected] that can have a huge and constructive impact on society. Volunteering helps not only those in need but also everyone Local Spotlight here has been an enormous amount of negativity in else in a society. It alleviates the suffering and difficulties faced by Kuwait of late. From the regional political situation to the those in need and at the same time, helps the rest of us gain an Tstagnant economy, everyone seems stressed, worried and understanding of the different challenges people can face in life. more than a little insecure about what the future will hold. We become more empathetic and more grateful for our own cir- By Muna Al-Fuzai In uncertain times, people often hunker down, closing them- cumstances, no matter how difficult or challenging they may seem. [email protected]

Abeer2 uwait is a haven for all expats. I know saying such Abeer2 works with people mental disabilities in collabora- a thing may not please everyone, including some tion with parents under the umbrella of the Voluntary KKuwaitis, but let me tell you why I believe so. Work Center in Kuwait. There are main five reasons for this. Firstly, Kuwait has a http://www.abeer2.com/index.php/en/ct-menu-item-13 tax-free environment. Where would you find a place today that doesn’t levy taxes if you are not a citizen but merely an expat who doesn’t even have a permanent Abolish153 house or a guarantee not to be fired or deported for any reason? There are none - at least not in the Arab world. Local human rights and women’s right activist group advo- Not to mention the West, many of whose citizens flee cating for women’s equality before the law. to other countries, including the Arab Gulf countries to http://abolish153.org/ avoid taxes. But they find themselves trapped with the same problem, with the high rate of value-added tax (5 AlKout Youth Group percent). I am not opposed to paying a tax for a service, but in the Arab world, a person may pay a tax without A youth volunteer group that believe in doing good and getting any worthwhile service. The problem is that the serving society and the country. only victim here is the citizen and the expatriate, because +965 66878712 merchants raise prices only to keep their financial status safe and secure, and the consumer suffers. But Kuwait has BAACH not imposed VAT yet and may not do so until 2019. The second reason is that Kuwait is a family-oriented Bayt Abdullah Children’s Hospice provides care and support society. Here you can raise your family or start one. There to children with life limiting or life threatening illnesses. is not much to do outside of work, so being alone leads http://www.bacch.org/volunteering/ Kharafi Activity Kids Center many to consider having a partner. Because cohabiting Provides play-based learning environment for children with without marriage is not permitted in Kuwait - as a Muslim Basta Kuwait disabilities and special needs. country - many single women and men tend to find love http://www.kharafi-akc.org.kw/en/ and marry in Kuwait. A local and sustainable non profit organization that focus- The third reason Kuwait is wonderful is due to Internet es on buying, selling and donating clothing, home goods prices and being widely open to all Internet apps. You can Kuwait Cancer Control Center and books. download any app you wish and enjoy long-distance calls and videos without any interruption or being blocked by [email protected] Provides care and support for people with cancer. greedy communication companies, or pay for it. It’s free! Contact the KCCC Social Work department at 2484-9100 Don’t say this is not good! ext. 5097/5092/5132. Dar Al-Athar Al-Islamiyyah The fourth reason is that medical services are accessi- http://www.kuwaitcancercenter.com/index.php ble to all. In the UAE, you cannot be admitted to a hospital Local cultural organization and museum that provides educa- or get a consultation without insurance or paying a large tional opportunities for children, cultural programs and view- cash amount in advance, and this applies to all, including ing of the Al-Sabah collection. Kuwait Red Crescent Society GCC citizens. In Kuwait, for many years expats used to http://darmuseum.org.kw/learning/docents/ Provides aid and relief for communities in need. Training for enjoy all medical services for free, until recently when the volunteers available. government started to put limits due to their excessive use Injaz-Kuwait krcs.org.kw and overcrowding, because some expats began to bring their visiting relatives to the hospital too. Works with students ages 11-24 years through implement- Loyac Finally, Kuwait is safe. Yes, you hear and read about ing programs in middle schools, high schools, vocational sporadic incidents of fights and beatings. But is there any colleges and universities to prepare them for the future. Organizes a variety of social and community based pro- country in the world today that doesn’t have such inci- http://www.injaz-kuwait.org/ grams for the enrichment of Kuwait. dents - even killings - every day? https://www.loyac.org/Local/Community/VolunteeringPr I know that some criticize Kuwait because it has no ograms_EN.aspx development projects or a pleasant nightlife and the avail- KAACH ability of alcohol in public places, but this has not Kuwait Association for the Care of Children in Hospital helps chil- ReFood deterred the arrival of scores of expatriates. We are not a dren and their families cope with the stresses of hospitalization. tourist spot or an industrialized country, but a desert http://www.kacch.org/volunteering.html Local food back that provides food for those in need. country where life is not easy. There is no state in the http://www.refoodkuwait.org/volunteer world that is free of discrimination on the basis of color, Kareq8 race and religion - not these days. Spread Passion Life in countries outside home is no longer as easy or A local animal protection organization that adopts or feasible as it was in the past. Yet more and more expatri- helps rescue abandoned animals. Local volunteering organization focused on charitable works. ates come to Kuwait, as it is still a good location despite http://www.kareq8.com/volunteer/ http://spreadthepassion.org/volunteer-lounge/ all the difficult circumstances and political uncertainties in the GCC and the world.

4 Friday

Local Friday, December 15, 2017

Story and photos by Athoob Al-Shuaibi The pedestrian underpass under the intersection has four exits - the first leads to Souq Mubarakiya, Souq Bin hen you reach the intersection of Abdul Razzaq Duaij and Souq Kuwait. The second exit takes you to the Square in Kuwait City, you arrive at one of the stock exchange, Sharq and Abdul Razzaq Mosque. Wmost important historical spots in the country. The third leads to Sharq and Sawaber, while the fourth This used to be the site of Darwaza Abdul Razzaq, the exit will take you to the ninth commercial area and the gate to the second Kuwaiti wall called Al-Medfa’a (cannon). joint bank center. Friday 5

Local Friday, December 15, 2017

Darwaza Abdul Razzaq used to be a horse stable and camel passageway, where water and food were sold. In addition, it was the spot where the late Sheikh Hamad Al- Mubarak Al-Sabah loved to have his coffee. The place thrived during the holidays, with horse and donkey carts and swings. Today, it is a circular underpass under the intersection with wide vestibules. However, small business owners are aware of the verve of this area and the possibility of developing it commercially. The center of the underpass has a column covered with blue porcelain tiles, like water towers, topped with beautiful geometrical lines. Adding to the aesthetic touch are old- fashioned fans. The underpass has a clement tempera- ture, even during the summer, which is likely to be a success if cafes are opened here, un- like the area of Mubarakiya, where life dies during the summer due to extremely high temperatures. Some cafes have opened at the Safat Square underpass, but they lack pri- vacy and coziness, in contrast to Darwaza- Abdul Razzaq. It’s worth noting the cautious comeback of posters as marketing gimmicks for small businesses, but these efforts are still in their infancy. However, we can suppose that this is an attempt to revive commercein this area and make Darwaza a vital place for social gatherings for young people. 6 Friday Local Friday, December 15, 2017

By Ben Garcia living on land. If we encounter bad weather, we tend to stay put. We are used to the waves, and if there ish are abundant in Kuwaiti waters, but ac- is no reason to give up, we do not give up that easily. count for only 20 percent of the stocks sold in We persevere because we want to feed our fami- Fthe Kuwaiti market, with the remaining im- lies,” he said. ported from Pakistan, India, Indonesia, Iran, Thai- Suresh aims for a big catch once he and his team land and Sri Lanka. There are no Kuwaiti fishermen go out fishing, as they are contracted on a “half and either - most hail from Egypt and India. half” system. “We do not get regular wages. Our Fishing is no easy task. According to some fish- salary comes from the ‘half and half’ scheme we ermen who spoke to Kuwait Times, they are at sea agreed on accepting our job,” said Mitesh, another with their fishing boats for four to five days before Indian fisherman. “So we lwaysa want a big catch they return. The docking once we head out to sea. For areas for fishermen are in example, if our catch is worth Sharq and Fahaheel. Only KD 1,000, half of the amount

Egyptians and Indians are al- will go to fish market manage- lowed in this job, according to For many years I have ment, while the other half will Suresh, a captain of a fishing be divided among the fisher- boat stationed in Sharq. “Re- “lived in Kuwaiti waters. “ men and crew,” he said. gardless of the weather, we go Big fishing vessels usually out to fish. There are 250 Life on a boat is not as have six to eight crewmem- boats of this kind,” he said. bers, including the captain and four times a week, they can earn much more,” he While they have every- steady as living on land. co-captain. These boats are said. “They also go out with two crewmembers, so thing at sea - from food sup- allowed to fish even outside they get more benefits. On the other hand, the num- plies to first aid kits - the waters of Kuwait, as far as bers of small fishing vessels are limited,” he told emergencies can happen Iran and Iraq. “There are ter- Kuwait Times. without warning. According to Suresh, in times of ritorial water boundaries, but we have fishing Kuwait waters are rich in fish resources and emergency or sickness, there are teams that re- agreements, so we can go out of Kuwaiti waters as there are certain months when catching some spond. “If we fall sick at sea, they respond to emer- long as we have the permits with us,” Mitesh said. Kuwaiti seafood favorites is banned. For example, gency calls. For the last 13 years of my work with Muhammad, an Egyptian supervisor at the catching local zubaidi is banned by the Public Au- them, I haven’t faced any problems,” he said. docking port of Sharq, said smaller fishing boats thority for Agricultural Affairs and Fish Resources Suresh, 37, has been doing this work since 2003. also go out to fish regularly. “They are only allowed (PAAAFR) from June 1 to July 15 to allow replen- He likes his job, but said there can be no alternative to fish in Kuwaiti waters, plus they need to come ishment of stocks. Besides zubaidi, shrimping is to life on dry land. “I will retire soon because I want back on the same day. These smaller fishing vessels banned from Jan 1 to Aug 31. Zubaidi, hamour, to live on dry land - for many years I have lived in make more money. They return with a catch worth nuwaibi and maed are just some of the variety of Kuwaiti waters. Life on a boat is not as steady as KD 300-KD 500 daily. If they go out even three or fish prized by many in Kuwait. Friday 7

Local Friday, December 15, 2017

Picnicking in old Kuwait Social life is like chocolate!

By Jeri Al-Jeri

[email protected]

When I was at a festival at Mishref’s house of arts that celebrated different countries’ cultures, I was pondering to myself - what are the values that all these societies appreciate the most? Is it love? Or honor? Or is it something else? In Kuwait, we seek more and more luxuries from material life, causing us to have less and less tight family bonds. adha’s Side, Four Sidr Trees and Hawally are used to When I reached the Mexican booth, be destinations for Kuwaitis to hold picnics in the old I was offered a free cup of Mexican hot Wtimes, where they usually went on foot to enjoy the na- chocolate. When I took my first sip, I re- ture, stroll around and spend times of relaxation. This was usually membered the articles I published in Al- done either within or outside the city walls to enjoy the cool Jarida about the seductive relationship weather after the long hot summer. between patience and pleasure in this Speaking about picnics in the past, Kuwait heritage researcher life, and how this philosophy is perfectly Hussein Al-Qattan said people used to launch the picnic season personified by chocolate! To illustrate, at the beginning of winter and spring, when the land turned green. the chemical structure of any piece of He added that people used to head away from neighborhoods, solid chocolate is made up of rows of houses, the market and the port to the inner side of the wall for crystals that are stacked together. This picnicking. finding allowed scientists, after years of However, after vehicles arrived in Kuwait, it became easier to research, to find the answer to the ques- go picnicking as far as Hawally and Fintas outside the wall. People tion: How is it that the longer a morsel of usually prepared for the picnic the night before, so that they could chocolate stays in our mouth, the more head out first thing in the morning. Women usually cooked a layers of “coco goodness” we taste? lunch of ‘momaouwash’ (rice and lentil cooked together). They Not only that, but scientists did in fact used to cover the pot with canvas to keep it warm. Preparations discover that the nutritional benefits de- also included readying tea and coffee flasks, dates and some tra- ditional desserts. They used to return home by sunset due to the rived from chocolate protect us from lack of street lighting then. heart attacks. These microscopic rows Once a group arrived at the picnic site, they usually picked a of crystals cannot be fully absorbed by shady spot beneath sidr trees, where women started preparing the our bodies, and can only be unlocked by place, lighting up a fire to make tea and coffee and warm up lunch, the secretion of saliva. This means that while kids played around and hunted migrating birds with a ‘nab- we have to be patient during the time we batah’ (a traditional handmade catapult used to hurl small stones). are chewing on a bar of chocolate in Qattan added that boys sometimes went out on separate pic- order to receive more of its nutritional nics. He noted that the most famous picnicking sites in old value. But what does all of this have to Kuwait included the Four Sidr Trees area in Sharq and Wadha’s say to a meditative mind? Side, which was small hill on top of which trees and truffle grew. Countless quotes and sayings from It was called Wadha because it was noticeable from afar. An- different religions and psychologists other spot was the Al-Shaab sidr tree, which was near Hawally, encourage everyone to implement the while Hawally itself was popular, as it had freshwater wells and age-old art of respect for one another - leafy trees. — KUNA the respect that demands us to be pa- tient, listening to everyone’s ideas and feelings. This is greatly important to us in Kuwait, given this time of distress we are suffering from due to the less pop- ular ministers who were chosen to lead us in the course of 2018. We people do not give them a chance to prove them- selves, and we also cannot seem to manage quite effectively the insane rates of divorce. Respect is the value that connects all of humanity, because whether it is in business or romance, the more layers we unlock of a person’s identity in our process of empathizing with him or her, the more tasteful our collective social life becomes. So let us allow others a chance to melt. 8 Friday

Local Friday, December 15, 2017 Kuwait oil production to hit 4.75m bpd by 2040

Work at joint Duqm refinery to begin mid-2018

KUWAIT: Kuwait is seeking to boost its oil produc- market factors of supply and demand. He pointed to tion capacity up to 4.75 million barrels per day by the emergence of several positive indicators in the 2040 in line with Kuwait Petroleum Corporation’s world oil market, which are predicted to speed up strategy, Minister of Oil Bakheet Al-Rasheedi said market recovery and rebalance, hailing the compli- yesterday. Rasheedi, who doubles as Minister of ance of OPEC and non-OPEC member producers, Electricity and Water, made the press remark while mainly Saudi Arabia and Russia. receiving well-wishers who congratulated him on Rasheedi said that up to $5 billion is due soon being selected as minister. The 2040 strategy is ex- from global banks for the financing of Oman’s Duqm pected to be approved soon by the KPC’s board, refinery, a joint venture of Oman Oil Company then it will be referred to the Supreme Petroleum (OOC) and Kuwait Petroleum International (KPI). Council, he said. Work on the project is expected to be launched The oil output cut agreement between OPEC mid-2018, Rasheedi told well-wishers. On resuming and non-OPEC producers has led to an over 50 production from the joint neutral zone shared with percent drop in stocks since it was put in place in Saudi Arabia, the minister noted that consultations January, the minister added. However, the minister on technical aspects are underway with partners, said it is too early now to talk about a strategy to voicing optimism on concluding solutions soon. Re- exit the oil output cut agreement. He also spoke ferring to the joint Nghi Son Refinery project with highly of a recent decision to extend the agreement Vietnam, he said minor units are already operational. till the end of next year, saying that it would create Full commercial operation of the facility is expected KUWAIT: Minister of Oil Bakheet Al-Rasheedi receives well-wishers yesterday. — KUNA balance amid a notable improvement in the basic during the first half of 2018. — KUNA

forum on Wednesday evening. The CRIMES Warning over photo Kuwait Arts event, being held under auspices of Sheikha Dr Suaad Al-Sabah, falls within IS funders remanded ban at holy mosques Association the framework of the KAA’s efforts to foster talented artists, KAA chairman KUWAIT: The criminal court ordered the continued de- tention of six expats (five Syrians and an Iraqi) over By Meshaal Al-Enezi opens int’l and head of the Union of Arab Artists Abdulrasould Salman said. charges of funding the Islamic State terrorist organization in Syria with around KD 11 million ($36 million) they col- KUWAIT: The min- The forum gathers 30 creative artists lected as charity in Kuwait. Informed sources explained istry of awqaf and Is- arts forum from Arab and European countries, and that the suspects had been using a money exchanger in lamic affairs yesterday its agenda includes a workshop on live issued a directive to drawing, he said at the opening ceremony. Mubarakiya to pass the sums to IS without using any all Kuwait hajj convoy KUWAIT: As part of its golden jubilee The KAA celebrations marking its 50th electronic databases or records of the remittances they owners, reminding celebrations, Kuwait Arts Association anniversary started on Dec 10 and will made. The sources also said that the suspects used to them of a recent Saudi (KAA) opened the international arts continue until April 11, 2018. — KUNA send money to terrorists in Syria and Turkey via a GCC decision number ban- state where they owned another money exchange office. ning all types of pho- tography within the False abuse accusation two holy mosques in Makkah and Madinah. A Filipina maid filed a complaint at Jabriya police against The directive said that her 69-year-old Egyptian sponsor, accusing him of sex- in a bid to avoid ual harassment. Security sources said the man totally de- Kuwaiti pilgrims violating Saudi laws and regulations nied the charges and investigations proved his innocence. and due to the disturbance and provocation of other A case was filed against the maid and further investiga- pilgrims’ feelings by taking photos inside both tions are in progress to find out her motives. mosques, all pilgrims should be notified and warned not to use regular or video cameras or any other pho- Man found hanging tography devices to avoid having the photos or videos KUWAIT: Sheikha Dr Suaad Al-Sabah opens the international arts forum. — KUNA deleted or even the devices confiscated. A citizen in his 60s was found hanging in his house in Mubarak Al-Kabeer. Security sources said initial inves- tigations showed that the man had been suffering from psychological disorders and that had a file at the psychi- Blaze at atric diseases hospital.

Mirqab bldg Lonesome caller A search is on for an unidentified caller who harassed a fe- male police operator, said security sources. Case papers By Hanan Al-Saadoun indicate that a female police operator (receiving calls on 112) reported that a man called asking her “what can some- KUWAIT: A fire broke out yesterday in a one missing person another do?”, adding that when she Mirqab building located opposite the old edu- expressed exclamation, the caller repeated the same words cation ministry building. Security sources said before playing an Iraqi love song for her. The operator filed firemen from Hilali and Capital stations rushed a case and on inquiring about the caller’s number, it was to the scene and found the fire was on the third found registered in a female citizen’s name. Further inves- floor. The building was evacuated and the blaze tigations are in progress to identify the caller. — Al-Rai was controlled without any casualties. Friday 9 Local Friday, December 15, 2017 Kuwait keeps discount rate unchanged at 2.75%

Other Gulf states follow US rate rise

KUWAIT: The Central Bank of Kuwait (CBK) decided yester- the interest rates on loans of these banks’ as per the current day to keep the discount rate unchanged at 2.75 percent. discount rate, he noted. The local banks are vying for borrow- Meanwhile, the Gulf’s dollar-pegged economies followed a US ers under the low credit rates and the modest growth rates of interest rate hike to maintain the value of their currencies but the non-oil sector, Hashel pointed out. The CBK governor re- Dubai opens at the risk of denting efforts to stimulate their flagging called the last decision on June 14 to keep the discount rate economies. Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, Qatar and unchanged while the Federal Reserve Bank decided at the Bahrain all raised their key benchmark interest rates by 25 same time to increase the interest rate. $10m camel basis points after the move by the US Federal Reserve late on There was need to enhance the KD’s competitive edge as Wednesday. Kuwait, whose dinar is pegged to a broader bas- an attractive facility for local savings and boost the local credit ket of currencies, is battling to boost its economy, which is growth, he added. Hashel reaffirmed the CBK’s commitment hospital forecast by the International Monetary Fund to shrink by 2.1 to monitor the latest economic, fiscal and banking develop- percent this year. ments and take the necessary measures to bolster up the eco- On the basis of a thorough study of latest data, the CBK’s nomic recovery. DUBAI: Pristine operating theatres and state-of-the-art medical board of directors maintained the discount rate at current level The Saudi central bank said it was raising one of its bench- equipment are featured in a new Dubai hospital that opened last to enhance the atmosphere of economic recovery and the at- mark rates to 1.5 percent although that was counterbalanced week - exclusively for camels. Camels remain an important part of tractiveness and competitiveness of the national currency, the by a government announcement of $19.2 billion in stimulus the Gulf Arab state’s heritage. Camel races and camel beauty pag- CBK said in a press release. The Central Bank continues to use funds for the private sector. The kingdom reported a negative eants are a favorite recreation for locals, and some beasts fetch mil- the available means of the monetary policy with a view affirm- inflation rate in October and economic forecasts say the re- lions of dollars at auctions in the country. Preserving that heritage ing the status of the national currency as a credible and prof- gion’s largest economy is likely to shrink this year. The United is part of the purpose of Dubai Camel Hospital, which cost 40 million itable facility for local savings, it said. Arab Emirates central bank raised its benchmark short-term dirhams ($10.9 million) and is the first of its kind in the world, said As part of the regular surveys of the economic, fiscal and borrowing rate to 1.5 percent while Bahrain raised its key rate Mohamed Al-Bulooshi, the hospital’s director. banking trends, the outlook of the interest rates on major cur- to 1.75 percent and Qatar raised its to 2.5 percent. There was “We found that we must care for camels not only by breeding rencies, notably the US dollar, and the recent decision of the no immediate word from Oman. and raising them, but also by being able to medically treat them,” US Federal Reserve Board of Governors, the CBK decided to Raising interest rates is a tool normally used to cool heating Bulooshi said. Staffed by a team of international veterinarians, the keep the discount rate unchanged at 2.75 percent, the state- economies and check inflation but the Gulf states are suffering hospital, can treat 20 camels. It’s also equipped with a mini-race ment affirmed. The CBK is keen on boosting the non-inflation- from the reverse problem - economic contraction and defla- track to get the camels up and running after their medical proce- ary recovery in the non-oil economic sectors and maintaining tion. Gulf oil exporters have been hit hard by the slump in dures. Its customized equipment was adapted from equestrian med- the fundamentals of its fiscal policy, Governor Dr Mohammad world prices for crude, which provided a major part of their ical equipment to accommodate camel treatment. A surgery starts Al-Hashel said. finances. Huge budget deficits have forced them to cut public at $1,000 and an X-ray or ultrasound at $110. The hospital intends Recent data show that the local banks are able to accom- spending and seek to restructure their economies away from to help in the research and development of camel medicine, Ahsan modate to the CBK measures, notably those relating to ratch- oil. They have all been keen to boost lending to expand their Ul Haq, the facility’s head of marketing and finance, in an effort “to eting up the interest rates on KD deposits under the ceiling of private sectors. — Agencies unfold the secrets of this strange desert animal,” he said. — Reuters Arad Fort: Witness to Bahraini history

MANAMA: Arad Fort, on Muharraq Island east of Manama, is an important location in the kingdom, dating back to the 15th century. The fort was renovated in the 1980s. Its name was derived from Aradous, an ancient Greek word referring to the island of Muharraq. — KUNA

InternationalFriday FRIDAY, DECEMBER 15, 2017

China, S Korea eye warmer ties Israel closes Gaza border after Palestinian rocket strikes Page 12 following tensions Page 17

MOSCOW: Russian President Vladimir Putin speaks during his annual press conference in Moscow yesterday. —AFP Putin praises Trump’s ‘achievements’ Putin’s main challenge will be to convince Russians to vote

MOSCOW: Russian President Vladimir Putin said yesterday Don- Moscow radio station on why Putin was seeking re-election. “To Carnival atmosphere ald Trump had made “significant achievements” as US leader, re- improve quality of life for Russians,” said Putin, who has been in Putin also addressed the doping scandal that has seen jecting claims that Moscow meddled in the election that brought power since 1999. He could become the country’s longest-serving Russia barred from competing in next year’s Winter Olympics the American president to power. leader since Joseph Stalin if he wins a fourth term. and athletes from the country only allowed to take part under Putin was speaking in a wide-ranging annual press conference Putin said he would stand for election as an independent can- a neutral flag. that also touched on Olympic doping and Arctic exploration. The didate rather than with the backing of his traditional party, United He said he hoped Russia could work “constructively” with marathon event, which has in the past lasted up to almost five Russia. A journalist asked about the state of the opposition in the World Anti-Doping Agency and the International Olympic hours and this year saw more than 1,600 journalists accredited, polls in which Putin will face only nominal competition and is all Committee, which banned the country over state-sponsored was Putin’s first major public appearance since announcing he but certain to cruise to victory. doping. But Russia would “defend the interests of our ath- would seek a new six-year term in March 2018 elections. According to a survey published by independent pollster Lev- letes, including in civil courts,” he said. “We can see several quite significant achievements in the short ada on Wednesday, 75 percent of Russians would be prepared to Putin acknowledged that doping violations took place but time he has been at work,” Putin said when asked to assess vote for Putin in March, despite having yet to hear any specific claimed that the scandal was politically motivated. The pres- Trump’s time in power. “Look at how the markets are reacting, campaign pledges. “Is it up to me to form the opposition myself?” ident typically addresses the economy at the annual event. they are growing. This shows confidence in the American econ- Putin replied. “I think in politics, as in the economy, there should On Thursday he said it was “obvious” the Russian economy omy. With all due respect to (Trump’s) opponents, these are ob- be competition. I will strive for this.” was growing and reported “brilliant” grain exports, while jective facts,” he said. One of these opponents is Ksenia Sobchak, a former socialite highlighting Arctic exploration and mineral extraction as a turned liberal TV presenter who many suspect is running as a priority. Call for political competition Kremlin “spoiler” candidate to split the opposition and boost in- As in previous years, there was a carnival atmosphere in But he said that accusations Moscow had interfered in last terest in the polls. Sobchak, whose father was Putin’s political the press conference hall. Journalists held signs to attract the year’s US presidential election to swing the result had been “made mentor and who is rumoured to be the president’s goddaughter, president’s attention and one reporter even dressed as the up” by US opposition to discredit Trump’s work in the White was at yesterday’s event as a journalist for opposition television Russian equivalent of Father Christmas, an AFP correspon- House. He referred to contact between Trump’s team and repre- channel Dozhd. She was expected to be allowed to ask a question. dent said. sentatives of the Russian government, which he said was normal Putin’s main challenge will be to convince Russians to vote at Signs offered an indication of the sort of question the re- diplomatic practice. “What is so transgressive in this case and all in an election that he is widely expected to win. According to porters would ask if given the floor by the president. Slogans why should it take on this spy-thriller tone?” Putin asked. Levada, only 28 percent of Russians said they were certain to vote included “children,” “agriculture,” “Krasnoyarsk is choking,” The press conference kicked off with a question from a in March. and “spiritual foundations”. —AFP 12 Friday International Friday, December 15, 2017 Israel closes Gaza border crossings after Palestinian rocket strikes

Tensions spike since Trump’s Jerusalem declaration

JERUSALEM: Israel announced the closure of long the closure would last. its Gaza border crossings yesterday in response Some 15 rockets have been fired into south- to daily rocket fire from the enclave over the past ern Israel since Trump’s Dec. 6 announcement, week after US President Donald Trump’s recog- and none of the projectiles has caused serious nition of Jerusalem as Israel’s capital stoked injury or damage. The attacks have drawn Israeli Palestinian anger. air strikes that have killed two Hamas gunmen. Israeli aircraft struck three facilities belong- Two other Palestinians have been killed in con- ing to Hamas, the militant group that controls the frontations with Israeli troops during stone- Gaza Strip, before dawn yesterday after the lat- throwing protests along the border. est rocket attacks, Is- Israeli cabinet min- rael’s military said. ister Tzachi Hanegbi It said it targeted said on Israel Radio training camps and that while Hamas, weapons storage com- Attacks met which last fought a pounds. Hamas usually by Israeli war with Israel in evacuates such facili- 2014, was not carrying ties when border ten- air strikes out the rocket strikes, sions spike. Two of the it needed to rein in rockets fired by mili- militants from “break- tants were intercepted away groups” or it by Israel’s Iron Dome anti-missile system and a would “find itself in a situation where it has to third exploded in an open area. There were no contend” with the Israeli military. reports of casualties on either side of the fron- In Istanbul on Wednesday, a summit of more GAZA CITY: Hamas leader Ismail Haniya (L) and Hamas’s leader in the Gaza Strip Yahya tier. The military said in a statement that “due to than 50 Muslim countries condemned Trump’s Sinwar wave during a rally marking the 30th of the founding of the Islamist movement, in the security events and in accordance with se- move and called on the world to respond by Gaza City, yestetday. — AFP curity assessments” Kerem Shalom crossing - recognising East Jerusalem, captured by Israel the main passage point for goods entering the along with the West Bank in a 1967 war, as the Gaza Strip, and the Erez pedestrian crossing - capital of Palestine. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu as a links to Jerusalem, a city that is also holy to Mus- would be shut as of Thursday. It did not say how Trump’s declaration has been applauded by recognition of political reality and Jews’s biblical lims and Christians. — Reuters

Forces. Weeks later, the US announced it was pulling 500 Marines Russian forces have also trained Kurdish fighters further west With IS in tatters, from its nearly 2,000-strong force in Syria and “amending” its in Afrin-where there is no IS presence-and manage a buffer zone support to the YPG. But the jihadists are “not finished yet,” said between Kurds and Turkish-backed rebels. And Moscow has been Syria Kurds fear Nassrin Abdallah, a commander in the militia’s female branch, the particularly outspoken in support of Syria’s Kurds having a seat Kurdish Women’s Protection Units (YPJ). Sleeper cells still stage at the negotiating table at talks in Geneva. “The relationship be- attacks and IS fighters are active in the eastern province of Deir tween the YPG and the Russian military is becoming a special one. US to abandon them Ezzor, she said. “It is important for the coalition forces to stay to The Syrian Kurdish region of Afrin is solely dependent on the guarantee security and stability, since the threat from Daesh still Russian military, not the Americans, for protection from Turkish exists,” Abdallah added, using the Arabic acronym for IS. “Turkey attack and occupation,” says Heras.—AFP QAMISHLI: Syria’s Kurds fear the steadfast ally they found in is also a threat to the Kurdish people.” the US to successfully take on Islamic State group jihadists may now leave them to face threats from Turkey and Damascus alone. ‘Gravest’ danger is Turkey Across Syria’s north, Kurdish authorities have spent more than The Kurds’ rising profile had enraged Damascus, which insists four years steadily building public institutions including elected it wants to recapture every inch of territory lost since Syria’s up- councils, security forces, even schools. rising erupted in 2011. But it especially alarmed Turkey, which They felt they had found an international sponsor in the United feared the semi-independent administration in northern Syria States, which relied primarily on the fighters of the Kurdish Peo- would inspire similar ambitions among its own Kurdish commu- Iraq hangs 38 ple’s Protection Units (YPG) to roll back IS in northern and east- nity. Ankara considers the YPG as “terrorist” because of its ties ern Syria. But with IS holding just five percent of Syria, Kurds to the outlawed Kurdistan Workers’ Party (PKK). English teacher worry the US could withdraw support, costing them the key po- Nada Abbas says she, too, fears the US “will abandon the Kurds members of IS litical and territorial gains they scored in the chaos of war. after the end of the battle against Daesh.” “We are afraid of America, which has been using us as a card “This would be a gift to Turkey, which doesn’t accept Kurds NASIRIYAH: Iraq hanged 38 jihadists belonging to the Is- to play for a long time,” said Rafea Ismail, a 37-year-old who sells becoming stronger,” says the 30-year-old. “It would attack us like lamic State group or Al-Qaeda for terrorism offences yester- women’s accessories on the hood of his car in the city of Qamishli. it did in the past. The Turkish threat will not end,” Abbas adds. day in the southern city of Nasiriyah, provincial authorities “When they’re done using us, they’ll forget us,” he said. Nicholas Heras, a fellow at the Centre for a New American Se- said. It was the largest number of executions in a single day Qamishli is the main hub of the autonomous administration the curity think tank, says Turkey poses “the gravest threat to the since September 25 when 42 people were put to death in the Kurdish authorities have run since regime forces withdrew from Kurds in Syria”-even more than Syrian President Bashar al-Assad same prison. swathes of northeast Syria in 2012. “All countries should support or IS. Turkish President Recep Tayyip “Erdogan has made it crys- “The prison administration executed yesterday in the pres- us because we fight terrorism. We liberated Raqa, and America tal clear that as soon as the Americans are no longer in the way, ence of Justice Minister Haidar al-Zameli, in Nasiriyah prison, should not abandon us and ally with Turkey,” said Nawal Farzand, he intends to crush the Syrian Kurds, all of whom he views as 38 death row prisoners belonging to Al-Qaeda or Daesh (IS) a 45-year-old Kurdish language teacher. PKK,” Heras tells AFP. accused of terrorist activities,” said Dakhel Kazem, a senior In March 2016, Kurdish parties announced they would seek to official in the provincial council. Amnesty International has establish a federal system there after ousting IS from much of the ‘Russia is the insurance policy’ voiced repeated concerns about the use of the death penalty area with the help of the US-led coalition. Fears of an American withdrawal may be drawing Syrian Kurds in Iraq, which it ranks as one of the world’s top executioners Their biggest win was Raqa, once IS’s de facto Syrian capital into Russia’s orbit. The YPG recently announced that its anti-IS behind China, Iran and Saudi Arabia. — AFP but captured in October by the YPG-led Syrian Democratic operations in east Syria had received air support from Moscow. Friday 13 International Friday, December 15, 2017 Cameroon’s Anglophones flee to Nigeria as crackdown grows

IKOM: When soldiers burst into her village in at least six soldiers and police officers. southwest Cameroon last month with guns blazing, The United Nations refugee agency UNHCR is small farmer Eta Quinta, 32, raced into the forest preparing for up to 40,000 refugees. Quinta and with three of her children. her children walked for three days through the “I found a canoe and I used it to cross over with dense forests to reach a border crossing at the Ag- my kids, not knowing where my husband and my bokim Waterfalls. They remain without news of the (other) two kids are,” she told Reuters across the rest of the family. border in Nigeria, where thousands of English- “There are many pregnant women in the for- speaking Cameroonians have fled in past weeks. est,” Quinta said as she held her sick two-month- What began last year as peaceful protests by old baby whose head was covered by a white Anglophone activists against perceived marginal- wooly hat. “I have friends in the forest and am not isation by Cameroon’s Francophone-dominated sure if I will get to see them again or their kids.” elite has become the gravest challenge yet to Pres- At the end of World War One, Germany’s ident Paul Biya, who is expected to seek to renew colony of Kamerun was carved up between allied his 35-years in power in an election next year. French and British victors, laying down the basis Government repression - including ordering for a language split that still persists. thousands of villagers in the Anglophone south- English speakers make up less than a fifth of the west to leave their homes - has driven support for population of Cameroon, concentrated in former a once-fringe secessionist movement, stoking a British territory near the Nigerian border that was lethal cycle of violence. joined to the French-speaking Republic of IKOM: Cameroon’s worsening Anglophone crisis calls for strong measures. The secessionists declared an independent Cameroon the year after its independence in 1960. state called Ambazonia on Oct. 1. Since then, 7,500 French speakers have dominated the country’s pol- people have fled to Nigeria, including 2,300 who itics since. justifies their crackdown. The new arrivals in The integration, a UNHCR official said, was made fled in a single day on Dec. 4 fearing government Cameroonian authorities say the English- Nigeria live mainly with host families who have easier by the pidgin English spoken on either side reprisals after raids by separatists militants killed speaking separatists pose a security threat that supported them with food, clothing and shelter. of the border. —Reuters 14 Friday International Friday, December 15, 2017 Suicide bomber kills at least 18 at police academy in Somalia’s capital

‘Police continue their work despite death’

MOGADISHU: A suicide bomber disguised as a militant Islamist group al Shabaab claimed re- policeman blew himself up inside a police train- sponsibility for the attack and gave a higher ing camp in Somalia’s capital Mogadishu yester- death toll. day and killed at least 18 officers, officials said. “We killed 27 police (officers) and injured Police spokesman Major Mohamed Hussein more,” Abdiasis Abu Musab, the group’s military said the attacker strapped explosives to his body operations spokesman, told Reuters. Al Shabaab and infiltrated the General Kahiye Police Train- carries out frequent bombings in Mogadishu and ing Academy during an early morning parade. other towns. “Police were preparing for the 74th anniver- The group, which is allied to Al-Qaeda, is sary of police day. As waging an insurgency they wanted to start against the UN- exercise, a suicide backed government bomber came in and and its African Union blew up himself. We People burying allies in a bid to topple lost 18 police officers bodies at the the weak administra- and 15 others were in- tion and impose its jured,” Muktar Hussein police academy own strict interpreta- Afrah, Somalia’s tion of Islam. deputy police com- The militants were mander, told reporters driven out of Mo- at the blast scene. gadishu in 2011 and have since been steadily los- “Police will always continue their work de- ing territory to the combined forces of African spite death.” Police earlier put the death toll at Union peacekeepers and Somali security forces. 15. Reuters witnesses who attempted to visit the On Tuesday, the US Africom said the US mil- MOGADISHU: File photo shows a Somali man reacts next to a dead body on the site where site of the blast said police had sealed it off. itary had conducted an air strike on a vehicle a bomb exploded at the center of Mogadishu. — AFP Hours later when they were allowed in, a witness they said was strapped with explosives some 65 saw body parts suspected to be from the km southwest of Mogadishu. Thursday’s attack bomber on the ground in the field where police comes at a time when the African Union is final- Shabaab could find it easier to stage attacks as Qaeda currently in Yemen, the experts said. The officers had been training. ising plans to trim its peacekeeping mission the peacekeeping forces are reduced because peacekeepers were deployed to help secure a The witness said the ground nearby had also called AMISOM. government forces will find it hard to replicate government that has struggled to establish cen- been washed to remove blood stains and people The 22,000-strong AU force is scheduled to their work. At the same time, Somalia could be- tral control in a country that plunged into civil were burying bodies at the police academy. The leave by 2020 and some security experts say al come a safe haven for militants linked to Al- war in the early 1990s. — Reuters

hope for the future.” has helped to nurture kinship and respect be- UK remembers May joined the mourners for the service, Dogs shielding tween humans and their dogs in the township in after being forced to try to restore confidence southeastern KwaZulu-Natal province. tower blaze, in the public inquiry into the fire. “We will wel- S Africa’s youth “Coming here has taught me to treat dogs come her, but she will have to come and face us with respect,” Sihle Dubazane, 13, said, while ca- and we will be asking those questions of her. It’s ressing his four-year-old crossbreed, Lion. “A six months on not much to ask,” said Sandra Ruiz, who lost her from violence dog has to be treated nicely, it has blood, it can niece in the fire. feel.” In a classroom nearby, children and their Retired appeal court judge Martin Moore- puppies sat quietly on cream-coloured rubber LONDON: Britain marked yesterday the six- Bick is presiding over the probe. However, a MPOPHOMENI: When Thobani Gasa took his mats, listening attentively to a tutor. In the play- month anniversary of London’s Grenfell Tower 16,000-strong petition called for a diverse panel puppy for obedience training a few years ago it grounds outside, children and their dogs are fire that killed 71 people, with most survivors still to assist him, fearing he would not have an un- was just for fun. But soon his own behaviour clustered into three classes-ordered from be- awaiting permanent housing and sagging confi- derstanding of issues like living in public hous- started to change thanks to his canine compan- ginners to seniors, depending on their dog’s level dence in a public probe into the tragedy. ing. A separate police investigation is also under ion. Many townships in South Africa are noto- of obedience. A better understanding of animal Those who escaped the inferno and the fam- way and will determine whether any criminal rious for gang-related violence but in behaviour has helped the youngsters to under- ilies of the dead were joined by the royal family charges can be brought against individuals or Mpophomeni, near the southeastern town of stand their own. Violence against or involving and Prime Minister Theresa May in a national corporate entities. It is expected to run until late Howick, pet dogs are helping lead the way to a children in South Africa is alarmingly common, memorial service at Saint Paul’s Cathedral. While 2018. In the immediate aftermath of the tragedy, more peaceful future. according to several children’s charities. A 2016 the service was an opportunity for quiet reflec- May promised that survivors would be guaran- On a hot Friday afternoon with their dogs in study revealed that in some parts of South Africa tion, anger at the disaster is still simmering, while teed new homes on the same terms, within three tow, dozens of children filed neatly into the more than half of children are abused by care- the aftermath remains unresolved. weeks, as close as possible to the north Kens- grounds of the Zamuthule primary school for the givers, teachers or relatives. Children who ex- The fire, which started with a faulty refriger- ington area where they had been living. weekly training session. “I was part of the gangs, perience or witness violence are at a ator on the fourth floor, engulfed the 24-storey However, of the 208 households needing re- but this programme changed my life,” said Gasa, significantly heightened risk of becoming west London tower in the early hours of June 14, housing, 118 are facing Christmas in emergency 20, now a trainer. abusers themselves later in life, according to the rapidly spreading up the new cladding on the accommodation-many in hotels-or living with “When I started learning about dogs, I June report of the Cape Town-based Children’s outside. friends, said Grenfell United. Some 42 families started to focus on the dogs and abandoned Institute entitled “Out of Harm’s Way?”. The painstaking process to identify all the re- have moved into permanent accommodation, gangster life.” Eight years ago, volunteer dog Vuyani Dube, 11, has been taking his dogs to mains found in the tower took months. “Decem- while a further 48 have accepted offers for per- trainer and retired teacher Adrienne Olivier Funda Nenja for just three months and already ber 14 will be a special day for our community,” manent new housing but are still living in tem- started teaching children how to treat pet dogs. his family has noticed the change in his behaviour. said Shahin Sadafi, who chairs the Grenfell porary quarters. Every week some 100 children aged between “He wasn’t this disciplined and he wasn’t this re- United survivors’ group. “We are coming to- Many families do not want to accept tempo- eight and 15 go with their animals for the training sponsible,” said Siphesihle Dube, referring to his gether to remember the loved ones we lost in the rary accommodation, fearing they will be parked she pioneered. The project, which is called nephew as he walked back home from the school fire, to unite as a community and to start to build there and forgotten about. —AFP “Funda Nenja”-Zulu for “learn with the dog” — with one of the family’s three dogs.—AFP Friday 15 International Friday, December 15, 2017 Firefighters defend homes as huge California wildfire rages on

Nearly 8,000 firefighters battling the blaze

LOS ANGELES: Firefighters grappling with a Santa Barbara counties, an area larger than New wildfire that has burned out of control for 10 York City. The conflagration has destroyed 709 days on California’s scenic coastline, destroying single-family homes, damaged 164 others and more than 700 homes, sought on Wednesday to displaced more than 94,000 people. It was 25 defend homes from flames whipped by resur- percent contained as of Wednesday afternoon. gent Santa Ana winds. On Tuesday, some of the nearly 8,000 fire- The so-called Thomas Fire, already the state’s fighters battling the blaze took advantage of the fifth-largest wildland blaze on record, remained lighter winds to set controlled burns in a canyon a threat to the communities of Santa Barbara, near Carpinteria to deprive the flames of fuel, Carpinteria, Summer- Cal Fire Captain Steve land and Montecito Concialdi told re- despite gains made by porters. crews during a lull in U.S. Representa- the winds a day earlier. Fifth-largest tive Julia Brownley, “Very high fuel wildland blaze whose congressional loading, critically low district includes Ven- fuel moistures, above on record tura, said on Tuesday average temperatures the fire could take an- and single-digit rela- other week to contain. tive humidities will The efforts have so far continue to support fire growth on the west, east cost more than $61 million, according to author- and north sides of the Thomas Incident,” the ities. Many public schools in the Santa Barbara California Department of Forestry and Fire Pro- area canceled classes this week and will not re- MONTECITO: The Thomas Fire approaches a home in Montecito, California. The Thomas Fire tection said in a statement. open until the annual winter break is completed has spread across 365 miles so far and destroyed about 800 structures since it began on “Firefighters will remain engaged in structure in January. December 5 in Ojai, California. —AFP defense operations and scout for opportunities Some of the other fires burning over the past to establish direct perimeter control,” the de- week in San Diego and Los Angeles counties partment said. The Thomas Fire, which broke out have been largely brought under control. building at a winery owned by billionaire media more than 4,000 acres (1,620 hectares) in north- on Dec. 4 near the community of Ojai, has trav- Investigators determined that the Skirball mogul Rupert Murdoch, was started by a cook- ern San Diego County and destroyed 157 struc- eled 27 miles (43 km), blackening more than 368 Fire, which destroyed six homes in Los Angeles’ ing fire at a homeless encampment, authorities tures, was 95 percent contained by Wednesday, square miles (953 square km) in Ventura and wealthy Bel-Air neighborhood and scorched a said on Tuesday. The Lilac Fire, which burned Cal Fire said. — Reuters

explosive devices, unexploded cluster munitions and Landmine deaths other remnants of war, as well as from mines. Earlier this year, Britain’s Prince Harry called for soar with greater global efforts to rid the world of landmines by western and eastern India and is mostly 2025, two decades after his mother, Princess Diana, Police ambush inhabited by underprivileged tribes. The walked through a minefield in Angola to highlight the state was once a hotbed of Maoists record number plight of victims. Maoist rebels, rebels, but has managed to curb the in- Production and use of landmines has fallen since the surgency through welfare schemes for of child victims Mine Ban Treaty - which prohibits their use, stockpiling tribal groups and a security crackdown. and transfer - was adopted in 1997. But campaigners killing eight Jha said hundreds of police were still said Islamic State forces in Iraq and Syria produced searching the dense forests after the siege improvised mines on an “industrial scale” this year. for any rebels who may have escaped. The report said armed groups had also used mines LONDON: A record number of children were re- NEW DELHI: At least eight suspected He said police seized two semi-auto- in at least seven other countries in the last year: ported killed or hurt by landmines and other explosives Maoist rebels were killed in a gunfight matic rifles, hand grenades and ammuni- Afghanistan, India, Myanmar, Nigeria, Pakistan, last year, with a handful of conflicts contributing to a with police who ambushed their hideout tion from the site after a gunbattle lasting Ukraine and Yemen. Myanmar and Syria are the only “horrific” toll for the second year running, experts said in southern India yesterday. The deaths several hours. The Maoist insurgency has countries where government forces continue to use yesterday. are the latest in a long-running conflict claimed around 10,000 lives since it mines, it said. The annual Landmine Monitor report recorded between Indian authorities and the leftist started in the 1960s, and is considered Experts told a teleconference briefing there was ev- 8,605 casualties in 2016, the second highest figure rebels, who say they are fighting for the India’s most serious internal security idence earlier this year that Myanmar had laid mines since 1999 when it began gathering data. The spike was rights of marginalised tribal groups. Po- threat. along border areas where Rohingya refugees were fuelled by violence in Afghanistan, Ukraine, Yemen and lice said they came under fire from the The rebels operate from jungle bases, crossing into Bangladesh, and that there had been Libya. group when they ambushed a suspected but often descend on villages to demand reports of women and children killed. Algeria and About three-quarters of known casualties were forest hideout in Bhadradri Kothagudem protection money and recruit young men Mozambique both declared themselves free of land- civilians, including more than 1,000 children who were district in the southern state of Telangana. and women to their ranks. mines in 2017, but 61 countries and disputed regions injured and nearly 500 who were killed, the report said. “Special police forces launched a They also oppose efforts to build new are still known to be contaminated. Just over half are “A few intense conflicts, where utter disregard for civil- search operation in the forest on roads and infrastructure in remote areas parties to the Mine Ban Treaty, which calls for clear- ian safety persists, have resulted in very high numbers Wednesday night to capture a group of because it undermines their long-running ance of contamination within 10 years. But experts of mine casualties for the second year in a row,” said extremists,” district police chief Ambar campaign against India’s security forces. said only four countries appeared set to meet their co-editor Loren Persi. Kishor Jha told AFP. “They came under Since his election in 2014, Prime Minister deadlines. “The high number of casualties is hor- He described the spike as “alarming”, adding that fire and eight of the extremists were Narendra Modi has been seeking to stem rific,” the Landmine and Cluster Munition Monitor’s the true number of victims would be significantly killed.” Telangana is part of the so-called the insurgency by earmarking develop- editor Jeff Abramson said. “States need to stay higher due to gaps in data from several countries, par- “red corridor” that passes through re- ment funds for revolt-hit areas and im- committed to reach the goal of a mine-free world ticularly Syria and Iraq. The toll - more than twice that source-rich areas of central, southern, proving policing. — AFP recorded in 2013 - includes deaths from improvised by 2025.” —Reuters 16 Friday International Friday, December 15, 2017 America presses Thailand to downgrade ties with N Korea Some of the sanctions are starting to bite

BANGKOK: The US has urged Thailand to Yun’s visit is part of a December 11-15 trip to downgrade diplomatic and trade ties with North Asia-including a stop in Japan-”to discuss ways Korea, a senior Thai official said yesterday after to strengthen the pressure campaign following meeting with an American envoy, as the Trump the DPRK’s latest ballistic missile test,” the US administration pushes ahead with a global cam- State Department said, referring to the Demo- paign to further isolate the nuclear-armed pariah cratic People’s Republic of Korea, the North’s state. General Wanlop Rugsanoah, secretary official name. The US embassy in Bangkok con- general of Thailand’s National Security Council, firmed Yun’s meeting with the National Security told AFP the request was made during his meet- Council chief took place but declined to provide ing with US special more details on the envoy for North Korea discussion. Joseph Yun, who ar- Wanlop insisted rived in Bangkok there were no meet- Wednesday evening Bangkok reduced ings planned between for a two-day trip to its trade volume American and North the kingdom. Korean officials in “The US asked with Pyongyang Thailand. In August, Thailand to put more US Secretary of State pressure on North Rex Tillerson stopped Korea, put more trade in Bangkok to pres- and diplomatic pressure,” Wanlop said after his sure the government to crack down on North sit-down with Yun in Bangkok. He stressed that Korean shell companies that use the Thai capital Bangkok had already significantly reduced its as a trading hub. BANGKOK: This handout taken and received by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Thailand trade volume with Pyongyang-down to around Thailand said this week it had drastically yesterday, shows United States Special Representative for North Korea Policy Joseph Yun $1.5 million a year-and would curtail visas to slashed trade with North Korea this year, down (L) meeting with Thailand Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs Virasakdi Futraku. — AFP North Korean citizens. 94 percent compared with 2016. Pimchanok Thailand, one of America’s oldest allies in the Vonkorpon, director of the Thai Commerce Min- region, is one of several Southeast Asian coun- istry’s Trade Policy and Strategy Office, said of UN sanctions against Pyongyang but has so timated 100,000 North Koreans who send some tries to host a North Korean embassy, and once “there will be no export or import of goods be- far resisted calls to shut a crude oil pipeline con- $500 million in wages back to the regime. enjoyed valuable economic ties with the reclu- tween Thailand and North Korea” by the end of sidered crucial to North Korea’s economy. US President Donald Trump’s administration sive regime. But the UN and the US have in- 2017. Outside of Southeast Asia, Washington has However, some of the sanctions are starting has swung back-and-forth between contradict- creasingly leaned on regional leaders to do more focused most on Beijing to counter Pyongyang, to bite. The UN Security Council had ordered ing approaches to the crisis on the Korean to squeeze North Korea as international sanc- urging the North’s longtime ally and economic countries to stop providing guest work permits peninsula, with Tillerson adopting a more diplo- tions have not resulted in Pyongyang halting its lifeline to rein in leader Kim Jong-Un and his nu- to North Koreans after Pyongyang’s sixth nu- matic attitude amid fiery threats from the White nuclear and long-range ballistic missile tests. clear programme. China has accepted a series clear test in September. The ban impacts an es- House. — AFP

Indian court der and life sentence for rape,” B. A. Aloor, anti-Muslim campaign, police officer Anand Islam’s lawyer told AFP. He said his client was Indian tried to Shrivastava said. More than 700 people from not treated to a fair trial and the defence team across India deposited 300,000 rupees sentences man would appeal the sentence in a higher court. ($4,665) into the account. Aloor said Islam was framed by police for the raise money with “The accused wanted to become a Hindu crime to cover up for their botched investigation, hero after killing a Muslim man, his main aim was to death for which drew protesters to the streets in the to collect money after committing the hate coastal state. Police took nearly two months to video of killing crime,” said Shrivastava. Regar’s video went identify a suspect, angering women’s activists viral on social media before authorities took it rape, murder who accused investigators of bungling the case. down. Police investigators had frozen the bank The victim, a member of India’s lowest Dalit of Muslim: Police account and were tracking down donors, Shri- caste who was studying to become a lawyer, vastava said. NEW DELHI: An Indian court yesterday lived with her mother who was not at home NEW DELHI: A Hindu man in India tried to raise Shrivastava said the video had showed Regar handed down the death penalty to a man found when the murder took place. money for a campaign against minority Muslims claiming to be a proud Hindu trying to stop “love guilty of raping and murdering a law student in The prosecution described the crime as un- by issuing an appeal for donations with a video jihad” - a term used by Hindu hardliners who ac- a brutal knife attack in southern Kerala state. provoked but some media reports say the attack he took and posted online showing him killing a cuse Muslim men of entrapping Hindu women The murdered student was found dead in a pool was motivated by revenge over a disagreement. Muslim, police said yesterday. and girls on the pretext of love in order to con- of blood in her home in Perumbavoor town on The level of brutality in the attack sent shock- The killing last week is the latest to roil vert them to Islam. April 28, 2016, with nearly 30 stab wounds and waves through India and was quickly compared India’s minority Muslims who have faced attacks The government of Prime Minister Narendra bite marks on her severely disfigured corpse. to the fatal gang-rape of a 23-year-old medical from mobs who accuse them of killing cows, Modi, who leads the Hindu-nationalist Bharatiya Muhammed Ameerul Islam was convicted by student on a moving bus in New Delhi in 2012. which Hindus consider sacred. Hindu fringe Janata Party, has been criticised for failing to do a district court in Kerala over the gruesome at- That crime shone a spotlight on the rising groups also campaign against Muslim men mar- enough to stop attacks on Muslims. The govern- tack which sparked nationwide outrage and levels of violence against women in India, rying Hindus. ment rejects that. Modi has condemned violence drew comparisons with the high-profile gang- sparked mass protests and led to an overhaul of The Hindu man, Shambu Lal Regar, has been in the name of protecting cows. rape and murder of a Delhi student in 2012. rape laws that increased penalties for offenders arrested on suspicion of hacking and burning a Muslims account for 172 million of India’s 1.32 Prosecutors successfully sought the death and accelerated trials through courts.India has Muslim labourer in the western state of Ra- billion citizens and Modi’s critics say Hindu penalty for the crime, describing it as “rarest of a grim record of sexual crimes against women, jasthan, police said. groups linked with his ruling party are trying to the rare” in its violent nature. with nearly 39,000 rape cases reported in 2016, Regar had posted a video of the attack along marginalise them. The BJP denies any bias “The court sentenced him to death for mur- according to government data. — AFP with his bank details for donations to finance his against Muslims. — Reuters Friday 17 International Friday, December 15, 2017 China says war must not be allowed on Korean peninsula

White House says N Korea must improve behavior before talks

BEIJING: War must not be allowed to break out The United States has said all options were on the Korean peninsula and the issue must be on the table in dealing with North Korea, in- resolved through talks, Chinese President Xi cluding military action. Jinping said yesterday, while UN Secretary- While South Korea and China share the goal General Antonio Guterres warned of the danger of getting North Korea to give up its nuclear of “sleepwalking” into conflict. weapons and stop testing increasingly sophis- Xi made his comments to visiting South Ko- ticated long-range missiles, the two have not rean President Moon Jae-in just days after US seen eye-to-eye on how to achieve this. Secretary of State Rex Tillerson offered to Meeting in Beijing’s Great Hall of the People, begin direct talks with North Korea without Xi told Moon that the goal of denuclearising pre-conditions. the Korean peninsula must be stuck to, and war But the White House said on Wednesday that and chaos cannot be allowed, Chinese state no negotiations could be held until North Korea media said. improved its behavior. “The peninsula issue The White House has must, in the end, be re- declined to say whether Strike on North solved via dialogue and President Donald consultation,” Xi was Trump, who has taken a Korea could have cited as saying. tougher rhetorical line catastrophic China and South toward North Korea, Korea have an important BEIJING: South Korean President Moon Jae-In (L) and Chinese President Xi Jinping (R) shake hands approved Tillerson’s result shared interest in main- at the end of a signing ceremony at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing yesterday. — AFP overture. taining peace, and China Russian President was willing to work with Vladimir Putin said South Korea to promote ‘Dramatic circumstances’ said he hoped South Korea would continue to Tillerson’s offer of di- talks and support North China has been furious about the deployment “appropriately handle” the issue. rect contacts with North Korea was “a very and South to improve relations, Xi said. of the U.S.-made Terminal High Altitude Area Guterres, speaking to reporters in Tokyo good signal”, while warning that a US strike South Korea’s Yonhap news agency said Xi Defence (THAAD) anti-missile system in South after meeting Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo on the North would have catastrophic con- and Moon agreed war on the peninsula would Korea, saying its powerful radar can see far into Abe, said Security Council resolutions on North sequences. not be tolerated and they would cooperate in China and will do nothing to ease tension with Korea’s nuclear and missile programmes must be North Korea tested its most advanced inter- applying sanctions and pressure on North North Korea. fully implemented by Pyongyang and other continental ballistic missile on Nov. 29, which it Korea. China and South Korea agreed in October to countries. “Security Council resolutions must be said could put all of the United States within The apparently warm tone of their talks fol- normalise exchanges and move past the dispute, fully implemented, first of all by North Korea, range, in defiance of international pressure and lowed nearly a year of tense relations between which froze trade and business exchanges. but by all other countries whose role is crucial,” U.N. sanctions. the two countries. Xi reiterated China’s position on THAAD and Guterres said. — Reuters

crowded and unsanitary camps in Bangladesh,” Over 6,700 MSF’s medical director Sidney Wong said. “What we uncovered was staggering, both in terms of the numbers of people who reported a Rohingya killed 1,530 boxes from Yokohama port, south- family member died as a result of violence, and the Japan arrest west of Tokyo, to North Korea via Singa- in ‘horrific’ horrific ways in which they said they were killed or pore in 2014. severely injured.” Gunshots were the cause of death three over The boxes contained food and other in most cases. Others were beaten or burned to items worth 7.16 million yen ($63,500). Myanmar violence death in their houses. “We heard reports of entire “They allegedly loaded the boxes onto a families who perished after they were locked inside ‘illegal food vessel and exported them without permis- their homes, while they were set alight,” Wong said sion,” a spokesman at the Kyoto Police De- KUALA LUMPUR: At least 6,700 Rohingya Mus- in a statement. Mainly Buddhist Myanmar denies exports’ to partment, told AFP. lims, including many children, were killed in the first atrocities against Rohingya, and said in September Earlier in the day, investigators raided month of violence that erupted in Myanmar’s trou- that nearly 400 people died in the fighting, mostly several places in connection with the arrest. bled Rakhine state in August, Medecins Sans Fron- Rohingya insurgents. N Korea According to local media, police raided a tieres (MSF) said yesterday. A top United Nations human rights official said Tokyo-based commercial association affili- The medical charity said the first major survey last week that Myanmar’s security forces may be ated with the General Association of Korean on the scale of mortality was the “clearest indica- guilty of genocide against the Rohingya. TOKYO: Japan’s police yesterday arrested Residents in Japan, known as Chongryon, the tion yet of the widespread violence” that began on Bangladesh and Myanmar have agreed to cooper- two Japanese and one South Korean for al- de-facto North Korean embassy in Japan. August 25, which has driven over 600,000 Ro- ate on the repatriation of the displaced Rohingya leged shipments of food to North Korea that Police also raided a firm in Tokyo, the hingya across the border to Bangladesh. but rights groups have cautioned against any hasty would contravene sanctions, officials said. Asahi Shimbun said. During last month’s visit Based on interviews at refugee settlements in return before peace and stability is restored. Save Japan has banned trade with North Korea by US President Donald Trump in Tokyo, Bangladesh’s Cox’s Bazar region, MSF estimated at the Children said last week that testimonies from as part of sanctions imposed on the country Prime Minister Shinzo Abe pledged to least 6,700 Rohingya - including some 730 chil- pregnant women and mothers who were subjected over its missile and nuclear programmes as freeze the assets of North Korean groups dren below the age of five - were killed by violence to brutal violence must serve as a warning. “It is ab- well as the abduction of Japanese nationals. and individuals. between August 25 and September 24. horrent to make these people return to a place they Police suspect the three-two Japanese The issue of abductions to North Korea The charity, also known as Doctors without Bor- have just recently fled with no guarantee they will businessmen both aged 47 and a 59-year- is a highly-charged one in Japan, which sus- ders, said the figures were “the most conservative” be safe and will not be left at the mercy of their per- old South Korean national working at a pects dozens of people were kidnapped by estimates. “We met and spoke with survivors of vi- secutors once again,” its Bangladesh director Mark transportation company-shipped some agents from the isolated country. — AFP olence in Myanmar, who are now sheltering in over- Pierce said in a statement. — Reuters 18 Friday

International Friday, December 15, 2017 UN resolutions on N Korea must be fully implemented: Guterres N Korea appears to have little interest in negotiations with US

TOKYO: UN Secretary-General Antonio “It is very clear that the Security Council Guterres said yesterday that United Nations resolutions must be fully implemented first of Security Council resolutions regarding North all by North Korea but by all other countries Korea’s nuclear and missile programmes must whose role is crucial to ... achieve the result we be fully implemented by Pyongyang and other all aim at, which is the denuclearization of the countries. Korean Peninsula,” Guterres said. Guterres made the comments to reporters Japan has insisted that now is the time to after meeting with Japanese Prime Minister keep up maximum pressure on Pyongyang, not Shinzo Abe in Tokyo start talks on the just days after US Sec- North’s missile and nu- retary of State Rex Tillerson offered clear programmes. Tillerson offered to Tillerson’s overture begin direct talks with direct talks with came nearly two weeks North Korea without after North Korea said pre-conditions. N Korea without it had successfully The White House pre-conditions tested a breakthrough said Wednesday that no intercontinental ballistic negotiations could be missile (ICBM) that put TOKYO: UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres and Japan’s Prime Minister Shinzo Abe (R) attend their joint held with North Korea the entire United States news conference at Abe’s official residence in Tokyo yesterday. —AFP until it improves its behaviour. The White mainland within range. In September, North House has declined to say whether President Korea fired a ballistic missile over the northern Donald Trump, who has taken a tougher Japanese island of Hokkaido, the second to fly has developed the ability to hit the US main- Feltman, who visited Pyongyang last week, said rhetorical line toward Pyongyang than Tiller- over Japan in less than a month. land with a nuclear-tipped missile, something on Tuesday senior North Korean officials did son, gave approval for the top US diplomat’s North Korea appears to have little interest most experts say it has still not proved. not offer any type of commitment to talks, but overture. in negotiations with the United States until it United Nations political affairs chief Jeffrey he believes he left “the door ajar”. —Reuters

meet police officials over dinner on the outskirts of Yangon. UN chief: Arrest of The authorities have not confirmed where the journalists are being held and, as of Thursday morning, Reuters had not China fumes over journalists shows been formally contacted by officials about their detention. Britain raises concern potential US navy erosion of press The British embassy in Yangon expressed deep concern about the arrests, and said in a statement that journalists freedom in Myanmar “must be allowed to work freely and without intimidation”. visits to Taiwan “We have raised our concerns with the Burmese govern- ment, urging them to explain these arrests and allow imme- BEIJING: China said yesterday it lodged an official protest TOKYO/YANGON: The arrest of two Reuters journalists in diate access to the two journalists,” it said. with the United States after President Donald Trump signed a Yangon this week was a signal that press freedom is shrink- Myanmar is also known as Burma. The Foreign Corre- defence budget that opens the possibility for US warships to ing in Myanmar and the international community must do all spondents Club of Myanmar said it was “appalled” by the visit self-ruled Taiwan. Foreign ministry spokesman Lu Kang it can to get them released, UN Secretary-General Antonio arrests and “gravely concerned” about the state of press charged that the legislation, while non-binding, violates the Guterres said yesterday. freedom in the country. In a statement, it called on the au- one-China policy and “constitutes an interference in China’s Guterres said his main concern over Myanmar was the thorities to ensure the safety of the reporters and allow their domestic affairs”. “We firmly oppose any form of official ex- “dramatic violations of human rights” during a military families to see them. changes or military links between Taiwan and the US, as well crackdown in Rakhine State that forced more than 600,000 The foreign correspondents’ club in neighbouring Thai- Rohingya Muslims to flee the country for southern as US arms sales to Taiwan,” Lu told a regular news briefing. land said it was “alarmed by the use of this draconian law Bangladesh, and the arrest of the journalists was probably “We hope that the US can fully grasp the damaging nature” with its heavy penalties against journalists simply doing their related. “It is clearly a concern in relation to the erosion of of the legislation’s Taiwan clause, he said. Trump on Tuesday jobs”. “Wielding such a blunt legal instrument has an intim- press freedom in the country,” he told a news conference in signed the budget, which includes a clause saying the United idating effect on other journalists, and poses a real threat to States should “consider the advisability and feasibility of Tokyo, referring to the detention of Wa Lone and Kyaw Soe Oo, who had been working on stories about the strife in media freedom,” the Foreign Correspondents’ Club of Thai- reestablishing port of call exchanges between the United land said in a statement, calling for the journalists to be re- States navy and the Taiwan navy”. Chinese media reported last Rakhine State. “And probably the reason why these journalists were ar- leased. week that a diplomat from the Chinese embassy in the United It said journalists should be given access to Rakhine State States had warned that Beijing would take Taiwan back by rested is because they were reporting on what they have seen in relation to this massive human tragedy,” he added. so that they can report accurately on developments there. force the day that a US warship enters a Taiwanese port. Rohingya refugees in Bangladesh say their exodus from the The island has been a thorny issue in China-US relations, Myanmar’s Ministry of Information said in a statement on Wednesday that the Reuters journalists and two policemen mainly Buddhist nation was triggered by a military offensive as Trump began his transition into office by taking a prece- in response to Rohingya militant attacks on security forces dent-breaking phone call from Taiwanese president Tsai Ing- faced charges under the British colonial-era Official Secrets at the end of August. wen. Trump mended ties by vowing to uphold the one-China Act. The 1923 law carries a maximum prison sentence of 14 The United Nations has branded the military’s campaign policy shortly before Chinese President Xi Jinping’s visit to his years. The reporters “illegally acquired information with the “a textbook example of ethnic cleansing” of the minority Florida Mar-a-Lago resort, but infuriated Beijing again this intention to share it with foreign media”, the ministry said in summer by approving a $1.3 billion arms sale to Taiwan. its statement, which was accompanied by a photo of the two Rohingya. Guterres said the international community China and Taiwan split after a civil war in 1949, and while reporters in handcuffs. should do everything possible to secure the journalists’ re- Taiwan sees itself as a sovereign nation, it has never formally Reuters President and Editor-in-Chief Stephen J. Adler lease and freedom of the press in Myanmar. declared independence. Beijing says Taiwan is a part of Chi- said in a statement on Wednesday: “We are outraged by this He called for aid to be delivered, violence contained and nese territory and will be brought back into the fold at some blatant attack on press freedom. We call for authorities to reconciliation promoted in Rakhine State, and for the Ro- point. —AFP release them immediately.” Wa Lone and Kyaw Soe Oo went hingyas’ right of return to be fully respected and imple- missing on Tuesday evening after they had been invited to mented. —Reuters www.kuwaittimes.net

FRIDAY, DECEMBER 15, 2017

Ildo Damiano poses for pictures in the Atrium lobby of the Monte Carlo Casino, decorated under the theme “Let’s fall in Diamonds” by the artist, as he arrives for a Surrealist Dinner Party in Monaco. — AFP

Films on Yazidi plight, Arab displacement honored in Dubai Page 20 20 Friday

Friday, December 15, 2017 Lifestyle | Music/Movies Films on Yazidi plight, Arab displacement honored in Dubai

Film director Mohammad Bakri (center) receives a price from Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al-Maktoum (left) and from the di- The Chairman of Dubai’s Film Festival Abdulhamid Juma (center) chats rector of the Dubai International Film Festival (DIFF), Masoud Amralla Dhyaa Joda holds an award he received for his short film “Sabyea.” with a Star Wars Startrooper during the closing ceremony of the Dubai Al Ali (right), during the closing ceremony of the Dubai International International Film Festival. Film Festival in Dubai on Decemb. —AFP photos

ilms about Yazidi suffering at the hands of the Islamic Displacement State group, Syrian laborers cut off from home and Modern suffering in the Middle East was also portrayed in India orders movie moguls FPalestinians estranged from family earned top awards “Taste of Cement”, a documentary by Syrian director Ziad Wednesday at the Dubai film festival. As industry stars Khalthoum, which took the prize for best non-fiction produc- crowded the red carpet for this year’s glitzy showcase event tion. The work focuses on the lives of seasonal Syrian con- to avoid the Weinstein effect the troubles roiling the surrounding Middle East region were struction workers in Lebanon who were cut off from their brought sharply into focus on the big screen. Dhyaa Joda’s homeland by the outbreak of the war in 2011. In Lebanon, a ndia has issued a rare diktat to its powerful movie short film “Sabyea” won the special jury prize for its unflinch- country of four million where half a million Palestinian refugees moguls, reminding Bollywood to keep women safe ing portrayal of the persecution of the Yazidi religious minority already live in purgatory, the Syrians find themselves increas- Ifrom the sort of sex abuse allegations poisoning the by IS jihadists. ingly unwelcome. US film industry. India’s minister for women and child In 2014, the Sunni extremists overran Yazidi villages in Forbidden to leave the building site after dusk, the men welfare Maneka Gandhi wrote to major production northern Iraq, slaughtering thousands of men, taking women gather at night around a communal television, watching anx- houses on Wednesday, asking them to comply with the and girls as sex slaves and sending boys to military training iously for news from home. The issue of displacement and a Sexual Harassment at Workplace Act, which stipulates a camps. The United Nations has called the massacres of loss of roots in a region wracked by conflict was a recurrent series of processes to protect women at work. “Bolly- Yazidis-dubbed heretics by the IS jihadists for their non-Mus- theme at the festival. Annemarie Jacir’s “Wajib”-the Palestinian wood filmmakers are ethically and legally accountable for lim faith-a genocide. entry for the 2018 foreign language film Oscar-scooped the the safety of not only their direct employees but of all In “Sabyea” (a Koranic term for concubine), a Yazidi woman top prize for the best feature film and best actor gongs for fa- outsourced and temporary staff as well,” read a tweet waits with her young daughter in a deserted village for her ther-and-son duo Mohammad and Saleh Bakri. posted by Gandhi’s ministry, quoting from her letter. husband to return. Among the woman’s meagre possessions It is the tale of a Palestinian man who returns home to Indian firms with 10 or more employees must set up are a rifle and a radio, which gives horrific daily dispatches on Nazareth from Rome to help his father hand-deliver wedding committees to look into complaints of sexual harassment the IS advance, as well as a mirror she uses to burn her daugh- invitations for his sister’s big day. The pair, who live two very and ensure that female staff know their workplace rights. ter’s face to make her uglier to potential captors. A young different lives, are compelled to reconcile as they go about Despite such laws, activists say very few of cases of sexual Yazidi man stumbles up their mountain one day with news of their task. The cross-generational Palestinian tale was feted as harassment are reported to the police in an industry, like mass killings, only to die of his wounds the next morning. The Arab and Muslim leaders on Wednesday urged the world to Hollywood, that is run by men and operates by its own messenger confirms the woman’s deepest fears, and she will recognize occupied East Jerusalem as the capital of Palestine. rules. eventually sacrifice herself but save her daughter. The film US President Donald Trump last week sparked international drew applause from the festival’s Arab audience, which in- condemnation by recognizing Jerusalem as the capital of Is- Film families cluded conservative Muslim women in face coverings with rael, further throwing into doubt the right for Palestinian The vast majority of Bollywood’s biggest producers only their eyes showing. refugees to ever return home. —AFP and film-makers come from prominent film families who until recently controlled most of the high-profile and lu- crative industry. Tales of sexual harassment have begun to surface in Mumbai, home to the world’s biggest film in- dustry, following a wave of similar accusations against Hollywood producer Harvey Weinstein. More than 50 women have claimed that Weinstein sexually harassed or assaulted them over the past three decades. Weinstein has denied having non-consensual sex with anyone. But Bollywood has all the same elements that make it easy for men to exploit wannabe stars eager for fame and fortune. Thousands of young boys and girls flock to the Bol- lywood capital Mumbai every year seeking film parts and are often exploited by agents who promise roles in ex- change for favors. While some big Bollywood names have Guests, dressed in cosplay, arrive for the screening of Star Wars: The A cast member gets dressed as Gamorrean Star Wars character ahead been charged with rape and harassment, they have rarely Last Jedi” after the closing ceremony of the Dubai International Film of appearing on the red carpet. lost their peers’ support. —Reuters Festival. Friday 21

Friday, December 15, 2017 Lifestyle | Features Dwayne ‘The Rock’ Johnson honored with Hollywood star

e’s been named “sexiest man alive” and ing gratitude for the opportunities he’d been af- “world’s highest paid film star” — now forded and the friends and family who’d helped HDwayne Johnson can celebrate being ac- him along the way. “This moment is so significant cepted into the Hollywood establishment with a because it’s full circle. 2018 will mark 18 years in Walk of Fame star. The 45-year-old football Hollywood and that is a very long time of blood, player turned wrestling pro and then actor sweat and earning respect,” he added. Johnson sported a sharp black suit and was joined by announced Monday on Instagram that he and longtime partner Lauren Hashian and their al- Hashian were expecting a second child, hours be- most two-year-old daughter Jasmine at the cer- fore they stepped out for the premiere of his lat- emony on Hollywood Boulevard. “I didn’t want est movie “Jumanji: Welcome to the Jungle.” to write anything down. I figured this is such a monumental moment and significant time for me it’s probably best I just speak from the heart and from my gut,” the Herculean father-of-two said. He told cheering fans the 2,624th star on the Walk was the result of years of hard work, voic-

Actor Dwayne Johnson (center) watches as his Hollywood Walk of Fame Star is unveiled in Hollywood, California. “global superstar with hundreds of millions of He played defensive tackle at the University of fans and billions of dollars in box office.” John- Miami and went on to a stint on the practice ros- son’s recent work includes “Baywatch,” “The ter of the Calgary Stampeders of the Canadian Fate of The Furious,” “Central Intelligence” and Football League in 1995. Johnson became a Dwayne Johnson, Jasmine Johnson and singer “San Andreas,” as well as the HBO comedy professional wrestler in 1996, following his fa- Lauren Hashian attend a ceremony honoring “Ballers.” Reputed to be one of the hardest- ther, Rocky Johnson, and grandfather, High Chief Dwayne Johnson with the 2,624th star on the working stars in Hollywood, he has been in 14 Peter Maivia. He would become an eight-time Hollywood Walk of Fame. — AFP photos movies in just four years, including previous in- World Wrestling Federation/World Wrestling stallments of the “Fast and Furious” franchise, Entertainment champion. Nicknamed “The Tom Rothman, chairman of Sony Pictures “Hercules,” “Snitch,” “G.I. Joe: Retaliation,” “Em- Rock” due to his strength in the ring and rough- Motion Picture Group, paid tribute to the actor, pire State,” “Pain and Gain,” and “Moana.” hewn features, he was declared “sexiest man who has entertained the possibility that he might Born on May 2, 1972, in the San Francisco Bay alive” by People magazine in November 2016. It run for president in 2020. “Dwayne said he Area and raised in Hawaii and Pennsylvania, was a good year for the actor, who was also Dwayne Johnson attends a ceremony honoring would use me as a bar bell if I didn’t show up,” Johnson grew to six foot five inches (196 cen- named the world’s highest paid film star by him with the 2,624th star. Rothman joked, before describing his friend as a timeters) and weighs 245 pounds (111 kilograms). Forbes magazine.— AFP Berlin’s town hall takes techno scene under its wing t’s a familiar story across the Western world: each weekend more than 12.7 million in 2016 ac- a heated property market and complaints cording to official statistics. “Politicians used to Ifrom the neighbors are squeezing nightlife in talk about Berlin clubs as something nice on the the big city. But in Berlin-known for its nightlife fringes,” 32-year-old Koessler-who still calls and understated cool-the town hall is stepping himself a dedicated clubber points out. “But in to defend its legendary techno scene. “Techno very surprisingly, even our opponents in the culture has given so much to Berlin, using some (conservative) CDU are suddenly very passion- taxpayer money to support it is the least we can ate about this subject, which they call the ‘night do,” says local Greens party lawmaker Georg economy’,” he adds. Koessler, the initiative’s most ardent supporter. City representatives are set to approve Late-night lobby Thursday a million-euro ($1.2 million) fund to Many clubs sprang up after German reunifica- This file photo shows German techno producer and dj Frank Muller playing at Berlin’s Suicide Circus cover soundproofing and additional staff to cool tion in 1990 in derelict or abandoned industrial night club. — AFP partygoers’ exuberance, a big gesture for the spaces in the once-divided city’s east. Now with chronically indebted administration. They hope 30 years of experience, club owners won’t limit lishments among its ranks. The latest campaign is “If you’re offering ‘free entry for ladies’ or the cash can help brake a wave of closures that themselves to waiting around for one-off hand- for recognition as artistic venues, which could ‘buy one get one free’ on beer, we’re (Club have struck in recent years. Since 2011, 170 clubs outs from city authorities. “We’re aware of the grant techno havens a seven percent VAT rate Commission) not going to spring to your de- have shut down their lasers, sound systems and power we have, so we press home the benefit the rather than the 19 percent paid by bars and fence.” Techno pilgrimage site Berghain was smoke machines for good. city draws from us, from tourism to the property restaurants. Such cash incentives underpin noble the first to talk its tax rate down in 2016, con- That leaves some 500 for the 3.5 million peo- market to startups,” says Lutz Leichsenring, sentiments about keeping the sacred techno flame vincing the state that clubgoers came for its ple of Germany’s largest city and the armies of spokesman for the “Club Commission” which alight. “We want to stay on the sharp edge of con- line-ups of star DJs rather than booze, sex tourists disgorged from trains, planes and buses counts some 220 of the city’s best-known estab- temporary music culture,” says Leichsenring. and drugs. — AFP 22 Friday

Friday, December 15, 2017 Lifestyle | Features ‘He was my monster’: Actress Salma Hayek alleges Harvey Weinstein misconduct exican-born actress Salma Hayek has joined the ranks of Hollywood women accusing movie producer Harvey MWeinstein of sexual misconduct, calling him a “mon- ster” in an article published by the New York Times on Tuesday. “For years, he was my monster,” Hayek wrote in the opinion piece in which she included descriptions of sexual harassment, bullying and threats. Holly Baird, a spokeswoman for Weinstein, issued a statement on his behalf on Wednesday night disputing This file photo shows Hayek’s account and calling her allegations of sexual miscon- fans taking duct inaccurate. photographs with a More than 50 women have claimed that Weinstein sexually mural of Prince at the harassed or assaulted them over the past three decades. We- Governors Ball instein has denied having non-consensual sex with anyone. Music Festival in Reuters has been unable to independently confirm any of the New York. — AFP accusations against Weinstein. Hayek’s spokeswoman had no immediate comment on Wednesday. Police in New York, Los Angeles, Beverly Hills and London have said they are investi- gating allegations of sexual assault or rape by Weinstein. Ultra-rare Prince vinyl Hayek wrote in the article that she was inspired to share her experiences after other women came forward. ‘Black Album’ resurfaces Her account largely centered around the time she was in- volved with making the 2002 ne of the world’s rarest records has resurfaced-several vinyl came upon five copies. Gold said that the executive, who requested film, “Frida,” in which she copies of Prince’s “Black Album,” which the eccentric pop leg- anonymity, had been sending records to his own daughter, who had portrayed Mexican painter Oend had demanded destroyed 30 years ago. Recordmecca, a bought a first turntable amid vinyl’s rebirth. Sifting through his col- Frida Kahlo. Hayek wrote collector’s site owned by a former executive on Prince’s Warner lection, the executive discovered two envelopes distributed within that she was pleased to have Brothers label, on Wednesday was selling a coveted sealed vinyl copy Warner. Inside were five copies of the “Black Album.” the opportunity to work with of the album for $15,000. The “Purple Rain” star, then at the height “For 30 years, the two mailers had sat unopened among their other Weinstein and Miramax, of his fame, in December 1987 sought to release music like no one boxed-up vinyl,” Gold wrote. The former executive decided to sell which he then owned, be- had attempted before-sending it to stores completely secretly, with- three copies. Gold was offering one copy online, saying he already cause it was “synonymous out his name or any art on it. sold another one directly and would list the third one later. Gold said with quality, sophistication Warner, with which he had legendary feuds, discouraged Prince he would attach certificates of authenticity. Prince in late 1994 finally and risk taking in films.” But, but eventually relented and ordered the pressing of the vinyl-which released the “Black Album” on limited-edition CDs and cassettes but she wrote, she found herself Salma Hayek has no actual title but was informally called the “Black Album” for its not vinyl, making the record a holy grail for record collectors. rebuffing sexual advances blank, dark cover. But Prince soon afterward declared that he had a Prince resented Warner’s constraints and in the 1990s changed his and requests from Weinstein. “No to letting him give me oral sex,” spiritual revelation that the album was “evil” and demanded the de- name to an unpronounceable symbol in hopes of getting out of con- Hayek wrote as one of several examples. “And with every refusal struction of all copies. Warner largely succeeded in seizing and de- tractual conditions. He finally made peace with Warner in 2014 in a came Harvey’s Machiavellian rage.” stroying the more than 500,000 copies at their factories. But deal that gave him control over his classic albums. He died two years Recordmecca owner Jeff Gold, who worked with Prince at Warner, later at his Paisley Park estate in Minnesota from an accidental over- ‘Nervous breakdown’ said he was recently contacted by a fellow former executive who dose of painkillers. — AFP Hayek wrote that Weinstein was threatening to shut down the production of “Frida” and that he pressured her into doing a sex scene with another woman in the film. Hayek said that when she went to film the scene, “... for the first and last time in my career, I had a nervous breakdown.” The actress, who called Oscar Isaac: Happy to Weinstein a “passionate cinephile, a risk taker, a patron of talent in film, a loving father and a monster,” wrote, “I never showed Harvey how terrified I was of him.” “Until there is equality in our industry, with men and women having the same value in be alive in Star Wars every aspect of it, our community will continue to be a fertile ground for predators,” she wrote. Baird issued a statement on behalf of Weinstein that dis- scar Isaac is very happy Poe tal way. He took away the one thing he was puted Hayek’s version of events. “Mr Weinstein regards Salma Dameron wasn’t killed off in ‘Star good at which was blowing things up and Hayek as a first-class actress and cast her in several of his OWars: The Force Awakens’. The 38- so he had to deal with being grounded and movies, among them ‘Once Upon a Time in Mexico,’ ‘Dogma,’ year-old actor stars as the Resistance X- I was really fortunate to have scenes with and ‘Studio 54.’ He was very proud of her Best Actress Academy wing fighter pilot and one of the most trusted Laura (Dern) and it did feel like it was an Award nomination for ‘Frida’ and continues to support her operatives for General Leia Organa (Carrie intimate set. You know we were all sort of work,” the statement said. Fisher), and he was originally supposed to walking around in our jeans and T-shirts “While Jennifer Lopez was interested in playing Frida and have met a grisly end in the 2015 movie. rehearsing it and talking about different at the time was a bigger star, Mr Weinstein overruled other in- However, the character survived being tor- motivations.” vestors to back Salma as the lead,” it said. tured by First Order enforcer Kylo Ren As well as appearing with Dern - who The statement also said Miramax put up half of the money (Adam Driver) and Isaac is back in the role plays Resistance officer, Vice Admiral Ami- in a film with a budget of more than $12 million, and also noted in Rian Johnson’s new movie ‘The Last Jedi’ lyn Holdo - Isaac also got plenty of scenes that there was “creative friction” on the film, which it said and he admits it was really exciting to get to with the late Fisher making her final appear- “served to drive the project to perfection.” “Mr Weinstein does see his character develop. ance as Leia and he very much enjoyed get- not recall pressuring Salma to do a gratuitous sex scene with a During the European press conference on ting to work closely with the ‘Star Wars’ female costar and he was not there for the filming,” the state- Wednesday at the Corinthia Hotel in London, legend. He said: “It was great to be able to ment said. “All of the sexual allegations as portrayed by Salma Isaac said: “It’s definitely good to be alive. I take our time with scenes in such a huge are not accurate and others who witnessed the events have a was really excited to see what Rian created movie and obviously to have scenes with different account of what transpired.” — Reuters for Poe, the conflict that he has in a very bru- Carrie was great.” — Bang Showbiz Friday 23

Friday, December 15, 2017 Lifestyle | Feature A different Guantanamo Detainee art on display in NY

he art is striking-a miniature three-masted just having an art class-how important that must ship in cardboard, with bits of T-shirt for the Yemeni artist and have been just to keep you sane,” Robert Fulmer, a Tsails and threads from a prayer cap for detainee Moath coffee importer from San Francisco, told AFP. The ropes. A picture of a huge mosque at water’s edge. Al-Alwi’s, three-masted exhibit has apparently caused a stir at the Penta- A shadowy and faceless Statue of Liberty. The cardboard ship is gon, after reports that some patrons wanted to buy pieces are all part of a surprising exhibit in New viewed part of an the works on display. Spokesman Benjamin Sakris- York with an unlikely source-the US military prison exhibit from son confirmed to AFP that the release of artworks at Guantanamo Bay, Cuba. The John Jay College of Guantanamo Bay, Cuba from Guantanamo was being suspended amid a Criminal Justice is offering art lovers a chance to at John Jay College of “re-examination” of the policy. examine the works of eight presumed jihadists now Criminal Justice in New or once held at the detention center, which has be- York. —AFP photos come a symbol of America’s “war on terror”-and of the excesses committed in its name. The prison was opened in 2002 at the US naval base on Cuba’s southern coast. Some 800 sus- pected jihadists, swept up by American forces in Afghanistan after the September 11, 2001 terror at- tacks, have passed through its cells. Former US president Barack Obama promised to close the prison amid reports of torture or arbitrary treat- ment. But 41 detainees remain, and President Don- ald Trump, vowing a relentless war on extremists, wants to keep them there. The exhibit of paintings and other objets d’art made by detainees is called “Ode to the Sea” and the water is indeed an omnipresent theme-even though prisoners were able to see it only once. A 2014 hurricane briefly forced the US military to re- move the tarps blocking the detainees’ view, said Erin Thompson, a co-curator of the exhibit and an length about the art courses that Guantanamo first pearance, a form of erasure,” Kassem said. assistant art professor at John Jay. offered in 2009, and he asked if his work could eventually be displayed in the outside world. Jacob ‘Caged bird sings’ No ‘glorification’ received clearance from Guantanamo officials to Judging by the exhibit’s guest book, visitors While the sea apparently fed the dreams-and take a few of his works off the island, and she often leave feeling both surprised and moved. “The the nightmares-of detainees, it is also a theme that showed them to artist friends in New York. Thus caged bird sings,” wrote one who did not leave a passes the rigorous standards of Guantanamo cen- was born the idea of an exhibit. Other detainees, or name. “To be there all this time, and to be alone and sors, who have rejected some artworks as “overly former detainees who had left Guantanamo along political or angry,” Thompson said. Censors did, with their artworks, asked to take part. however, approve a drawing entitled “Vertigo at These men “know they have been demonized,” Jacob said. “What they hope by this is that people Guantanamo”-a dizzying spiral of blue, green and A clock art piece by Khalid Qasim. red dots. Pakistani detainee Ammar al-Baluchi, the will see them not as the worst of the worst but as exhibit’s only artist to have been charged formally people, as humans, as people who have feelings The Defense Department had not realized be- over the 9/11 attacks, wanted to convey to his and emotions, who appreciate beauty, who try to fore the exhibit opened that works considered US lawyers the precarious feeling he says he has suf- create that beauty. “It’s almost a cry for under- property “could be sold,” he said. Thompson con- fered since being “tortured by the CIA,” Thompson standing.” For other detainees, the exhibit is a firmed that some visitors to the exhibit, which runs explained. “This art is not here to glorify him as an chance to “reaffirm (their) existence,” said Ramzi through January 26, had expressed an interest in artist-it’s here so we can learn about his experi- Kassem, a law professor at the City University of purchasing certain works. But only those by former ence, his life,” she said. Of the 30 works on display, New York, who has also represented Guantanamo detainees would be made available for sale, she 16 come from a single detainee: Muhammad Ansi, detainees. said. Kassem said he feels certain the potential a Yemeni. Released from Guantanamo and trans- Yemeni detainee Moath al-Alwi-the creator of sales are only a pretext for the Pentagon to change ferred to Oman in January 2017, Ansi is, in a way, the three-masted cardboard ship-was one of the course. “The moment these prisoners begin to ex- the man behind the exhibit, explained his New York first to arrive in Guantanamo, in January 2002, after press themselves, that they are able to show that lawyer, Beth Jacob. his arrest at the Afghan-Pakistan border. “He has they are human beings like everyone else... that’s a seen all these other prisoners leave, and he is still threat,” Kassem said. “It runs immediately counter ‘Demonized’ there for no real reason. He has never been to the narrative that justifies not only Gitmo but the An art piece by Khalid Qasim is viewed. During their first meeting, Ansi spoke to her at charged, never been tried, so it is a form of disap- entire war on terror.” — AFP

Yemeni artist and detainee Moath Al-Alwi’s, three-masted cardboard ship is viewed part of an exhibit from Guantanamo Bay, Cuba. A painting by detainee Ahmed Robbani. Art by detainee Mohamad Ansi. 24 Friday

Friday, December 15, 2017 Lifestyle | Features London museum to honor fashion giant Alaia with 2018 show

rench-Tunisian fashion designer Azzedine Alaia will be honored by London’s Design Museum Fwith a major exhibition next year following his Mary J Blige death on November 18 at the age of 77. “Azzedine Alaia: The Couturier” will run from May 10 to October 7, showcasing more than 60 pieces personally se- on her transformation lected by the iconic designer. “Azzedine Alaia was recognized throughout his life as a master couturier for ‘Mudbound’ who expressed the timeless beauty of the female form in the most refined degree of haute couture,” the mu- f all the names that came up dur- she was nominated for best supporting seum said. ing a typically contentious Golden actress at the Screen Actors Guild “The Design Museum will now present this unique Globes nominations announce- Awards, seen as a better bellwether for exhibition planned by Alaia himself, exploring his pas- O sion and energy for fashion as he himself intended it ment in Beverly Hills this week, Mary J. Oscars success than the Globes. to be seen.” Alaia was born to a farming family in Photo shows late French-Tunisian fashion designer Blige’s was perhaps the least controver- Azzedine Alaia. — AFP sial. Critics have lavished praise on the ‘Mesmerizing’ Tunisia in 1940 and studied sculpture at the fine arts soul queen’s magnetic turn as Florence Rex Reed of the New York Observer school in Tunis before working at a modest neighbor- known as the King of Cling for his form-fitting gowns. Jackson, a stoic housewife in Dee Rees’s describes Blige as “mesmerizing” in hood dressmaker’s shop. He rose to fame in the 1980s, “I like women,” he told AFP in a 2013 interview. “I civil rights drama “Mudbound,” many “Mudbound,” while for Peter Travers of refusing to march to the beat of international fashion never think about doing new things, about being cre- noting how she disappeared completely Rolling Stone, she “imbues Florence with weeks and instead releasing his collections in his own ative, but about making clothing that will make women into the role. Blige, who got an acting such grit and radiant grace” that she de- time, with scant concern for publicity. He became beautiful.”—AFP coach to help her prepare, revealed at an serves an Oscar nomination. The adapta- awards season screening of the low-bud- tion of Hillary Jordan’s 2009 novel tells get Netflix movie in Los Angeles last the sprawling, epic story of a black and a week that Rees wanted to strip away the white family living and working side by star’s diva persona. side in the rural American south during Richie Sambora excited the Jim Crow era of segregation and open discrimination. Bound together as tenant and owner on shared farmland in the Mis- sissippi Delta, the relationship between for Bon Jovi reunion the neighbors is strained when young men from each clan return from the hor- rors of World War II. ichie Sambora is excited to Straits, the Moody Blues, Nina Si- The film stands out as a rare example celebrate Bon Jovi’s career at mone and ‘Early Influence’ Sister of a Western which employs women in Rthe Rock and Roll Hall of Fame Rosetta Tharpe. the lion’s share of creative jobs, with Rees ceremony in April 2018. The leg- Sambora - who explained he de- relying on a trusted inner circle including endary guitarist - who spent 31 years cided to leave the band because of a cinematographer Rachel Morrison, in the ‘Livin’ On A Prayer’ band be- desire to work on other projects and makeup head Angie Wells, composer fore leaving four years ago - said spend time with his family - added Tamar-kali, sound engineer Pud Cusack, their induction will be a “joyous” oc- that being inducted was a huge and editor Mako Kamitsuna. “I think casion as he reunites with his former honor. He explained: “It’s great to be women are the center, period. We always bandmates for the show. Speaking to recognized for anything you do. It’s hold things together. We suffer quietly Billboard, he said: “It’s the Rock and fabulous to be in line with the greats because we have to, but we are powerful Roll Hall of Fame - it’ll be a joyous and your heroes that you grew up people,” said Blige, to cheers from the au- occasion. I was there for 31 years listening to and emulating. dience in Los Angeles. and we sold 150 million records or “When you put me in line with Richie Sambora “Mudbound” co-stars Carey Mulligan something and we put a lot of a**es the Rolling Stones and Bob Dylan 14. He recently said: “He was my right This file photo shows Mary J Blige at- and Jason Clarke as white sharecroppers in seats in stadiums around the world and the Beatles and everyone else hand for a long time, so there was tending the ‘Mudbound’ screening dur- Henry and Laura McAllan, Jason Mitchell and made a lot of people happy. “I who’s there, it’s a big honor.” Mean- never ill will, just like I told every- ing the 55th New York Film Festival at as the Jacksons’ eldest son Ronsel and did so many different jobs in that while, frontman Jon Bon Jovi - who body. [He] just didn’t show up any- Alice Tully Hall in New York City. —AFP Garrett Hedlund as Henry’s brother Jamie. band, so, yeah, I’m showing up for currently completes the line-up more. “We went on, but he was there A central theme of the movie is the man- that. Everybody should have a smile alongside - David Bryan, Tico Torres, for three decades and he should be “Dee just said, ‘Get rid of Mary J. ner in which people focus on their hatred on their face and a smile in their Phil X and Hugh McDonald - sug- there to celebrate the moment. So Blige, period’ and it was hard to pull away of “the other” as a means of avoiding their hearts and it should be a celebration gested there was never any doubt he’ll be invited to join the rest of the from her because, you know, she’s been own problems. of what we did.” The group will be Sambora would be back for the cer- band in all of the festivities.” around. But Dee kept her foot down and recognized alongside The Cars, Dire emony - which takes place on April — Bang Showbiz said Florence doesn’t need to have any- Manifest destiny thing to be beautiful,” said Blige, 46. “She “After the hate goes away-because it’s really put into perspective the things that something to hang onto, an excuse, an I was holding onto that deem me beauti- obstacle-we’re forced to deal with our- ful, like lashes and stupid stuff like that. selves, and a lot of people don’t want to Women accuse rap mogul Russell Simmons of rape But Florence liberated me once she was deal with themselves,” said Blige, who born. She helped give me a whole bunch was speaking before her nominations t least three women say that they were pattern of behavior by the enormously influ- of new confidence.” were announced. “That’s where the raped by hip-hop mogul Russell Sim- ential Def Jam Recordings co-founder, who The New York native joined an exclu- problem comes in-the world is afraid to Amons, who recently left his business was accused of preying on women entering sive club when she was nominated for look in the mirror. So I’m hoping that this empire following abuse allegations, The New the industry. Tina Baker, a singer who has per- best supporting actress and again, sec- film is making everyone look in the mirror, York Times reported Wednesday. The 60- formed back-up for Madonna and Bruce onds later, for her song “Mighty River,” because it’s definitely a direct reflection year-old hip-hop legend denied the rape ac- Springsteen, said Simmons was her manager written specially for the movie. Only six of where we are today.” In “Mudbound” cusations-which date back to 1988 — and when he invited her to his apartment in 1990 voiced support for the growing movement of or 1991. She told the newspaper that he pinned performers had previously earned song- that fear is manifested in the racist reac- Russell Simmons writing and acting nominations for the tion to Ronsel and Jamie striking up a women speaking out against abusive men. her down and raped her. The Times said the Globes, the last of them John C Reilly for friendship after their return from Europe, Simmons announced on November 30 that he was step- account was confirmed by four people close to her in- “Walk Hard” a decade ago. The real icing but it is an issue which resonates beyond ping down from his business roles after two women ac- cluding her ex-husband and therapist. “I didn’t have sex on the cake came on Wednesday, when the Jim Crow era, says Rees. — AFP cused him of assault, which he also denied. with a man for almost nine years” afterward, Baker told But The New York Times article described an alleged the newspaper. “I went into a cocoon.” — AFP Friday 25

Friday, December 15, 2017 Lifestyle | Fe a t u r e s

Military school students dance during their annual ball in Moscow, Russia, Tuesday. — AP photos Moscow’s cadet ball mixes pomp, discipline and inclusivity

oscow’s International Kremlin Cadet Masha Pavlenkova, one of a family of six. “I don’t Ball is a picture of discipline, pomp and want to make a mistake.” More than 1,000 stu- Msplendor. Girls in billowing dresses twirl dents, from both general and military schools, across the dance floor, immaculately dressed travelled to Moscow from 42 different regions for young men line the hall in orderly rows, and the ball, including the Sakha Republic in Russia’s teachers bark out orders, trying to get their stu- Arctic North and the Crimea annexed from dents to keep time. Backstage, however, chaos Ukraine in 2014. “The main thing is to do your reigns. As lipstick is applied and hair frantically best, to study well and to believe in yourself,” said braided, girls jostle for position in front of floor- 13-year-old Andrei Amurskov. Patriotic pride un- length mirrors, trying to derpinned the evening. capture the perfect selfie. Lyudmila Vanina, one of “Red lipstick is ab- the ball’s organizers, says solutely forbidden!” the event offers children shouts a teacher, causing Red lipstick an opportunity to meet the room to go silent. is absolutely and talk with war veter- “Cadet girls should be ans and heroes of the So- girly, not womanly!” For forbidden viet Union. many at Tuesday’s ball, Contrary to its image, it’s a fairytale chance to the ball is not the preserve experience the grandeur of the rich - many children of Russia’s czarist traditions. With its string quar- come from poor family backgrounds or orphan- tets, traditional dance routines and patriotic ages. “There are lots of people from different family speeches, the event harks back to a bygone era. backgrounds, anyone can be a cadet and that’s re- “I’m a bit scared, to be honest,” said 13-year-old ally shown here,” said Leonid Dontsov, 16. For a group of orphans from Krasnoyarsk in eastern Siberia and a cadet school from Yakutia in the Far North, the event offered students their first chance to visit the Russian capital. Natalya Miroshkina, a teacher from Samara, noted the “huge diversity” of children from dif- ferent schools, regions and backgrounds. “For us, this was a unique opportunity to represent Samara at this wonderful event,” she said. “We have to teach our children the importance of pa- triotism. They need to value their history, love their past and protect their future.”—AP 26 Friday

Friday, December 15, 2017 Lifestyle | Fo o d Veggie-filled spring rolls offer the perfect holiday detox

Vegetable Spring Rolls

Ingredients: 1 cup plain yogurt Zest and juice from 1 lemon Sea salt, to taste 6 to 8 leaves lacinato (or Tuscan) kale 2 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil 12 spring roll wrappers 1 cup hummus 1 kohlrabi, peeled and julienned 1 watermelon radish, peeled and juli- enned 2 tablespoons Egyptian dukkah spice blend, plus more as needed 4 green onions, thinly sliced 3/4 cup cilantro or mint leaves 1 daikon radish, peeled and julienned 4 red radishes, julienned 3 small (or 1 medium) beets, peeled and julienned Freshly ground black pepper, to taste Toasted black sesame seeds

By The Culinary Institute of America recipes. Dukkah is commonly used as a season- into a good mood. the water and soak until just pliable, about 10 ing on traditional flatbreads, but once you try it, For science reasons (enzymes, compounds), seconds. Remove from the water and lay on a f you are up to your eyeballs in eggnog, you’re you’ll be hard pressed to find something that kale benefits from a literal massage, where you clean work surface and blot the wrap to remove probably in desperate need of a detox. And by couldn’t use a sprinkle. It should be easy to find take the leaves and rub them together until they any excess water. Idetox, we mean a truckload of fresh fruits and at your local grocery store or specialty market. soften. You will see a notable change in the ap- Starting at about 1 inch from the lower edge, vegetables prepared as minimally as possible, be- To pair with the spices, we’ve added some of pearance of the leaves, which will turn a more vi- place a square of the massaged kale, then cause you have things to do! And we’re not just our favorite crunchy cruciferous veggies, which brant shade of green, and they will also be much spread about 1 tablespoon of hummus across talking any vegetables. We’re talking super cru- also happen to be vibrant in flavor and color. softer and tenderer. The kale will also be the kale. Top with a thin layer of kohlrabi and ciferous vegetables, full of the good fuel that your Each vegetable, from the kohlrabi (kind of like sweeter. watermelon radish. Sprinkle with about Ω tea- body needs to rev up for the new year. radish/broccoli) to the watermelon radish, lends Serve these spring rolls as a light lunch, on a spoon of dukkah, about 1 tablespoon of green Though the term may be unfamiliar, crucifer- a new flavor and texture to the spring roll, so platter as a party snack, or alongside a nice veg- onion, and about 1 tablespoon of herbs. Top ous vegetables are not. Arugula, broccoli, Brus- each bite is unique. The beauty of this recipe is gie soup for a satisfying dinner. And if a raw, with a layer of daikon, red radish, and beet, sels sprouts, kale, and radishes are among many that you can mix and match your favorite flavors, vegetarian spring roll is going a little too cold then season with additional dukkah or salt and vegetables in the cruciferous family, which are adding broccoli, shredded cabbage, or even tofu. turkey, we’ll look the other way if you want to pepper, to taste. prized for their flavor, texture, and nutrients. We call for most of the vegetables to be juli- add some grilled shrimp or chicken. Maybe just Dampen your fingertips. Carefully, but firmly, Chef Katherine Polenz says, “Cruciferous veg- enned, which is a cut in the shape of a thin not that leftover prime rib. pull the lower edge of the wrap up and over the etables are underutilized, but are so rich in an- matchstick. This cut is perfect for a spring roll, filling to start the roll. After the first full rotation, tioxidants, vitamins, and nutrients. Dark leafy because it’s big enough to be crunchy, but thin Directions: fold in each side of the wrap to close in the ends kale is high in minerals and proteins, and pro- enough to bite through. The best way to cut a In a small bowl, combine the yogurt, lemon and continue to roll closed, ending with the vides a great textural addition.” julienne is to slice each vegetable about 1/8-inch zest, lemon juice, and a pinch of salt. Stir to com- seam-side down. This Vegetable Spring Rolls recipe is packed thick, then cut those slices into matchsticks. A bine, then cover and refrigerate. Transfer the completed roll to a platter, and full of these super-vegetables, which means it’s mandolin will do it twice as fast, if you have one. Trim the stems from the kale leaves and cut then continue to form 12 rolls. Do not stack the also full of antioxidants; fiber; vitamins C, E, and Once you have your juliennes in order, it’s the leaves into 4-inch squares (you will need 12 finished rolls, as they will stick together if touch- K; and folate. We’ve added some creamy hum- time to give the kale a little extra attention. Kale total). Transfer the kale to a large reseal-able ing. Cover the finished rolls with lightly oiled mus and the ultra-flavorful dukkah spice blend. is a needy vegetable though to be fair, it really bag and add the olive oil and a pinch of salt. Seal parchment paper and refrigerate until ready to An aromatic spice blend with Egyptian roots, does a lot of work for us, and we probably owe the bag and gently massage the leaves to ten- serve. To serve the spring rolls, use a very sharp dukkah is unique because it includes seeds and it a good massage from time to time. If you’ve derize the kale. knife to cut each roll in half. Drizzle with the re- nuts, like hazelnuts, pistachios, and sesame seeds, ever declared, “Ugh, I hate kale,” it’s probably Fill a large shallow bowl with warm water. served lemon yogurt sauce and sprinkle with which adds a welcome richness to vegetarian because it wasn’t properly coaxed and coddled One at a time, dip the spring roll wrappers into sesame seeds. Friday 27

Friday, December 15, 2017 Lifestyle | Food Make delicious chicken and rice under pressure - in a cooker

Under Pressure Quickie Chicken and Rice

Ingredients: 1 pound of mushrooms, cleaned and sliced (optional) 1 1/2 cups brown jasmine rice (White rice cooks too quickly and will be mushy and overcooked) 2 cups chicken stock 1/2cup white wine 1/8pound butter (half a stick) 2 teaspoons kosher salt 1 teaspoon smoked paprika 1 teaspoon granulated garlic 1 teaspoon onion powder 1 teaspoon dried thyme 1/2teaspoon ground white pepper 1/8teaspoon cayenne pepper 4-6bone-in chicken thighs, or 8 boneless chicken thighs 1 16-ounce bag of frozen peas and carrots 1-2 sprigs of fresh thyme Special Equipment: Electric Pressure Cooker

By Elizabeth Karmel moment. And, until recently, I had never used the liquid, and added unsalted butter for flavor pressure cooker pot. Meanwhile, mix salt and one. My sister bought one and bragged about and texture. But I also used a bag of frozen veg- dried spices together. hicken and Rice is having a moment. making chicken soup in 15 minutes. I thought she etables for convenience. Season chicken and set aside. Add remaining Whether you make the Spanish staple, was dreaming. or had made a chicken soup so I am partial to lima beans, but I figured that spice mixture to rice and stock. Stir to mix. Add CArroz con Pollo or make up your own ver- devoid of taste that no one would want to eat it. most people would prefer peas and carrots so the mushrooms, if using, and the frozen vegeta- sion, it is soul-satisfying and perfect for the But all that changed when I got my hands on that is what I used. I had some fresh thyme so I bles and place the chicken on top. Add the sprigs cooler weather. A few weeks ago, I made a ver- a pressure cooker. I chose a simple model from added that to the pot, but if you don’t have it you of fresh thyme. sion of Arroz con Pollo that a friend remembered Cuisinart that would let me chose between high can use dried thyme. Lock the pressure cooker according to man- from his favorite childhood restaurant. It was and low and set the time. As someone new to I had a pound of fresh mushrooms that ufacturer instructions. Make sure the valve is in green with cilantro and creamy with cheese and pressure cookers, I am not going to bake a cake needed cooking so I sliced and sauteed them the pressure position. Set the pressure on high sour cream. or make yogurt in one of them. before putting everything in the pressure cooker and set time for 23 minutes. I made a casserole that combined three Thinking about the simple and crave able but they could be optional. After 23 minutes, I The pressure cooker will take about 20 min- recipes, my Green Rice, Poached Chicken and a combination of chicken and rice, I experimented was rewarded with a surprisingly delicious one- utes to build pressure. After that, it will begin to creamy cheese sauce. All this was topped with with throwing it all in a pressure cooker and see- bowl meal that was the very definition of whole- time the cooking process so the whole cooking buttered breadcrumbs and took me about four ing what would happen. I didn’t saute onions or some comfort food. It was bursting with flavor time is 43 minutes. hours to make. It was delicious but it was so even use them or brown the chicken which you and made me dream of what else I could make Once the pressure cooker has cooked for 23 much work! Even the more traditional Spanish could certainly do and it would only make it bet- in the pressure cooker. With food this good, and minutes, let it release naturally. Open and stir to Chicken and Rice is a multi-step recipe that takes ter. I made it by putting everything in the pres- this fast, there is no excuse not to cook from make sure the rice is done. If it is too al dente, a lot of time. In my world, I can make rice on the sure cooker and turning it on. scratch. continue cooking on simmer or pressure cook stovetop and grill chicken thighs in less time with I did stack the flavor deck a little. I used for another 3-4 minutes. The chicken skin will not less mess, but that is not what most people think chicken stock and white wine to cook the brown Directions: be brown or crispy. If you want the skin crispy, of when they think of Chicken and Rice. jasmine rice and the chicken. I seasoned the If using mushrooms, saute and set aside. Meas- place in a heat proof serving piece and crisp the Electric pressure cookers are also having a chicken thighs with a spice rub and added it to ure out rice, stock, wine and butter, and place in skin under the broiler. 28 Friday Lifestyle Friday, December 15, 2017

CROSS WORD

Sudoku Friday 29

Lifestyle | Kids Friday, December 15, 2017

DID YOU KNOW? Spot the difference

now forms when water vapor in the at- protection help absorb the ultraviolet rays. mosphere freezes into ice crystals. A number of winter sports rely on snow, in- S cluding skiing and snowboarding. Snowflakes form in a variety of different Recreational activities such as snowball shapes. fights, tobogganing and making snowmen are Snow is a form of precipitation, other forms also popular in the snow. of precipitation are rain, hail and sleet. Skis, sleds and snowmobiles are useful trans- Light and fluffy snow is often called ‘powder’. port options through snow. Heavy snowfalls are often called ‘snow- Snow can lower visibility, making driving storms’. conditions dangerous. Snowstorms with high winds are often called The highest snowfall ever recorded in a one ‘blizzards’. year period was 31.1 meters in Mount Rainier, Snow reflects a high level of ultraviolet radia- Washington State, United States, between Feb- tion and can cause snow blindness (photokerati- ruary 19, 1971 and February 18, 1972. tis). Sunglasses, goggles and other eye

Make Glowing Water

What you’ll need: What’s happening? A black light (you can find them at sta- The ultra violet (UV) light coming from your tionery and hardware stores) black light lamp excites things called phos- Tonic water or a highlighter pen phors. Tonic water and the dye from highlighter A dark room to do the experiment pens contain phosphors that turn UV light (light we can’t see) into visible light (light we Instructions: can see). That’s why your water glows in the Maze If you are using a highlighter pen carefully dark when you shine a black light on it. break it open, remove the felt and soak it in a Black lights are used in forensic science, small amount of water for a few minutes. artistic performances, photography, authenti- Find a dark room. cation of banknotes and antiques, and in many Turn on the black light near your water, how other areas. does it look? 30 Friday Lifestyle | Book review Friday, December 15, 2017 Paula Hawkins’s ‘Into the Water’ Dives Into Murky Skulduggery

By Janet Maslin

aula Hawkins has followed up “The Girl on the Train,” her 2015 monster Phit, with another bookload of skuldug- gery. And rather than mimic her proven for- mula for success, she has tried something very different. There you have it: All the good news about her new one, “Into the Water.” If “The Girl on the Train” seemed over plotted and confusing to some readers, it is a model of clarity next to this latest ef- fort. “Into the Water” is set in the rural British town of Beckford, an extremely un- healthy habitat for women. Beckford has cliffs, a bridge, a river and a drowning pool. It also has a long history of women falling off, stepping into or other- wise dying via any of the above. Libby, mur- dered by men in the prologue, turns out to be an accused witch from the 17th century. But Hawkins starts with just the spookiness, withholding the date and the full, pointless story for a long time. The rest of the novel takes place over the course of one month, that it’s possible to buy milk and a newspa- August 2015. per somewhere, but everyone seems most Hawkins plagues little Beckford with drawn to the sinister, wet, lethal outskirts contemporary watery deaths, grieving of town. about other watery deaths and the discov- ‘So much for prose’ ery of a manuscript about the town’s history Patrick is the father of Sean Townsend, a of watery deaths. Her goal may be to build detective assigned to look into Nel’s death. suspense, but all she achieves is confusion. Sean has his own traumatic history involv- “Into the Water” is jam-packed with minor ing a drowned Beckford woman, but no- characters and stories that go nowhere. body thinks to bring it up before he’s given What happened to the Paula Hawkins the case. Sean’s partner is Erin Morgan, who structured “The Girl on the Train” so who likes to run on the riverbank and does ingeniously? That book, and the ensuing her best not to wonder what kind of crazy movie starring Emily Blunt, used a cleverly place this is. And Sean is married to but devised unreliable narrator, focused on in- separated from Helen, head of the local terrelated couples, revealed all its charac- school, who knew a lot about Katie and ters to be untrustworthy and came close to Lena’s friendship. bursting at its seams. But that story radiated A teacher on Helen’s staff, Mark Hender- sheer serenity compared with the three-ring son, knows all the local teenagers, has had circus that “Into the Water” becomes. enough of the school system and would The new one properly begins in 2015 dearly love to get out of town. Finally, and with the death of Nel Abbott. (Make a chart. why not, there’s the psychic. Her name is A big one.) Nel was the mother of 15-year- Nickie Sage and she looks and dresses like old Lena, whose best friend, Katie Whit- a goth witch. She knows a lot more than the taker, died in the water only a few weeks police do about Beckford’s endless parade earlier. Nel has a chilly estranged sister, Julia of secrets. Hawkins does not so much intro- (known as Jules), who’s been gone so long duce these characters as throw them at the she doesn’t know her niece Lena, but now reader in rapid succession. comes back to town to impose her presence There’s no time to process who’s who, on the orphaned girl. Lena has no idea who and not much detail about any of them. The her father was. But he must have been a man writing doesn’t help: Nel’s high school and therefore likely a terrible monster. boyfriend (not even mentioned above) is Every man in “Into the Water” has the po- “tall, broad and blond, his lips curled into a 386 blank pages and hit the best-seller lists. “Clues” isn’t quite the right word, since no- tential to be one. perpetual sneer.” One detective describes So on the bright side for those who insist: body in this book behaves logically, schemes Louise Whittaker, Katie’s mother, walks Beckford as “a strange place, full of odd A few of the book’s many killings happen for cagily, has legitimate motives or relies on the path beside the river daily as she people, with a downright bizarre history.” unexpectedly powerful reasons. The one any sane staples of the murder story. mourns her daughter. Patrick Townsend, So much for prose. As for dialogue, Jules ac- that occurs in 1920 delivers a particularly “Into the Water” chugs off to a slow, per- the oldest man in the book, is a frequent tually leans over Nel’s corpse and whispers: strong shock. And even though Hawkins plexing start, but it develops a head of walker too. There’s more walking here than “What did you want to tell me?” Many of us does a lot of needless obfuscating just to steam at an unlikely moment. It has exactly in the average Jane Austen novel, and not are going to read this novel anyway. keep her story moving, she blows enough one smart, perfectly conceived Hitchcockian much else to do in Beckford. We do learn Hawkins could have published a book of smoke to hide genuinely salient clues. page: its last. Friday 31

Comic Friday, December 15, 2017

Word Search solely the razorbill. 40. Diabetes caused by a relative or ab- CROSSWORD 1785 3. Evergreen tree of eastern Asia and solute deficiency of insulin and charac- Philippines having large leathery leaves terized by polyuria. and small green-white flowers in com- 42. An informal term for a father. pact cymes. 43. A pilgrimage to Mecca. 4. 3 to 30 gigahertz. 47. (Greek mythology) Goddess of the 5. Very slow in tempo and broad in man- earth and mother of Cronus and the Ti- ner n. tans in ancient mythology. 6. A chronic disease of the nose charac- 48. An area of sand sloping down to the terized by a foul-smelling nasal dis- water of a sea or lake. charge and atrophy of nasal structures. 51. A garment that covers the head and 7. An ambitious and aspiring young per- face. son. 53. 30 to 300 gigahertz. 8. Government agency created in 1974 54. The bony skeleton of the head of to license and regulate nuclear power vertebrates. plants. 57. State in eastern India on the Bay of 9. United States swimmer who in 1926 Bengal. became the first woman to swim the 58. Of or relating to Samoa or its people English Channel (1903- ). or language or culture. 10. A complete metric system of units of 60. A Bantu language spoken by the measurement for scientists. Chaga people in northern Tanzania. 11. The capital and largest city of Yemen. 61. Any of various organs that synthesize 12. A natural protective covering of the substances needed by the body and re- body. 13. A man who is the lover of a girl or lease it through ducts or directly into the young woman. bloodstream. 14. A large number or amount. 62. A metric unit of length equal to one 21. A complex inorganic compound that quadrillionth of a meter. contains ammonia molecules. 64. A kind of danceable music popular 23. Desert shrub of Syria and Arabia among black South Africans. having small white flowers. 65. Cubes of meat marinated and cooked 26. Any plant of the genus Hoya having on a skewer usually with vegetables. fleshy leaves and usually nectariferous 66. Small terrestrial lizard of warm re- flowers. gions of the Old World. 30. Humorously vulgar. 68. A theocratic republic in the Middle ACROSS 44. An alien who paid a fee to reside in 31. A city in southern Turkey on the Sey- East in western Asia. 1. Experiencing or showing sorrow or an ancient Greek city. han River. 69. A bluish shade of green. unhappiness. 45. A local computer network for com- 34. Not reflecting light. 72. A woolen cap of Scottish origin. 4. Unskillfulness resulting from a lack of munication between computers. 35. Departing or being caused to depart 73. A self-funded retirement plan that al- training. 46. The blood group whose red cells from the true vertical or horizontal. lows you to contribute a limited yearly 12. The compass point that is one point carry both the A and B antigens. 36. Joint capital (with Riyadh) of Saudi sum toward your retirement. west of due south. 49. Considerate and solicitous care. Arabia. 77. A hard malleable ductile silvery 15. A user interface in which you type 50. Speaking a Slavic language. 38. A young woman making her debut metallic element that is resistant to cor- commands instead of choosing them 52. English economist noted for his stud- into society. rosion. from a menu or selecting an icon. ies of international trade and finance 16. Small genus of shrubs and subshrubs (born in 1907). Yesterdayʼs Solution of western United States having flowers 55. A public promotion of some product that change color as they mature. or service. 17. Large brownish-green New Zealand 56. (Greek mythology) The winged god- parrot. dess of the dawn in ancient mythology. 18. A legal document codifying the result 59. Seizure of a vehicle in transit either of deliberations of a committee or soci- to rob it or divert it to an alternate desti- ety or legislative body. nation. 19. A republic in western Europe. 63. One of the six playing periods into 20. Submerged aquatic plant having nar- which the game of polo is divided. row leaves and small flowers. 67. 1,000 millimes equal 1 dinar. Yesterday’s Solution 22. A flat-bottomed volcanic crater that 70. A constellation in the southern hemi- was formed by an explosion. sphere near Telescopium and Norma. 24. (British) Informal term for informa- 71. A military action in which besieged tion. troops burst forth from their position. 25. Type genus of the Rhamnaceae. 74. Fleshy spore-bearing inner mass of 27. (possibly Roman) Goddess of horses e.g. a puffball or stinkhorn. and mules and asses. 75. Airtight sealed metal container for 28. A rich soil consisting of a mixture of food or drink or paint etc.. sand and clay and decaying organic ma- 76. A port city is southern Indonesia. terials. 78. A rapid escape (as by criminals). 29. The fleshy part of the human body 79. Either extremity of something that that you sit on. has length. 32. A church associated with a 80. Taxonomic kingdom comprising all monastery or convent. living or extinct animals. 33. (Islam) The man who leads prayers in 81. A loose sleeveless outer garment a mosque. made from aba cloth. 37. The dressed skin of an animal (espe- cially a large animal). DOWN 39. (biology) Of unlike parts or organs. 1. A fraudulent business scheme. 41. A unit of current equal to 10 amperes. 2. Type genus of the Alcidae comprising

Daily SuDoku Yesterday’s Solution 32 Friday

Friday, December 15, 2017 TV Listings

19:05 Life Or Something Like It 21:45 Shanghai 12:30 The View 09:00 Giada At Home 20:50 Elizabethtown 23:30 Cypher 13:15 The Chew 09:30 Giada At Home 22:55 The Parole Officer 14:00 APB 10:00 Desperate Landscapes 15:00 Live Good Morning America 10:30 Desperate Landscapes 17:00 Bones 00:00 Married At First Sight 11:00 Kitchen Cousins 18:00 Time After Time 01:00 Married At First Sight 11:30 Kitchen Cousins 19:00 Survivor: Heroes v. Healers v. 02:00 Mom vs. Matchmaker 12:00 Flea Market Flip 00:00 Man Of The Year Hustlers 02:30 Mom vs. Matchmaker 12:30 Flea Market Flip 00:05 Wyrmwood: Road Of The 02:00 Acceptable Risk 20:00 The Amazing Race 03:00 Fashion StartUp 13:00 Tiny House, Big Living Dead 00:10 Carol 03:00 The Code 21:00 This Is Us 04:00 Project Accessory 13:30 Tiny House, Big Living 01:50 Resident Evil: Vendetta 02:10 A Birder’s Guide To Everything 04:00 Body Of War 22:00 Empire 05:00 Fashion Star 14:00 House Hunters 03:30 Operation Chromite 03:50 The Wave 05:30 Touchy Feely 23:00 Time After Time 06:00 Married At First Sight 14:30 House Hunters 05:25 Crossfire 05:45 Every Thing Will Be Fine 07:00 Lock Charmer (A.K.A El Cerra- 23:50 Claws 07:00 Married At First Sight 15:00 Beachfront Bargain Hunt 07:00 The Tower 08:00 Operation Avalanche jero) 08:00 Mom vs. Matchmaker 15:30 Beachfront Bargain Hunt 09:05 Savage Dog 09:45 Every Thing Will Be Fine 08:20 Border 08:30 Mom vs. Matchmaker 16:00 The High Low Project 10:40 Iron Man 3 12:00 An Inconvenient Truth 09:55 3 Backyards 09:00 Fashion StartUp 16:30 The High Low Project 12:50 Shanghai Knights 13:45 East Side Sushi 11:25 Movie Talk Legends: Lauren 10:00 Project Accessory 17:00 Renovation Raiders 14:50 Crossfire 15:50 New York Stories Bacall 11:00 Fashion Star 18:00 Going Yard 16:25 Captain America: The First 18:05 The Apartment 11:55 It Might Get Loud 12:00 Married At First Sight 18:30 Going Yard Avenger 20:20 Stand By Me 13:35 A Small Section Of The World 00:00 The Knick 13:00 Married At First Sight 19:00 Vacation House For Free 18:30 War Of The Worlds 22:00 The Man Who Knew Infinity 14:40 Stutterer 01:00 Girls 14:00 Mom vs. Matchmaker 20:00 Beachfront Bargain Hunt 20:30 Knight And Day 23:55 Scent Of A Woman 15:00 Lock Charmer (A.K.A El Cerra- 01:30 Girls 14:30 Mom vs. Matchmaker 20:30 Beachfront Bargain Hunt 22:30 Assassins Tale jero) 02:00 Snowfall 15:00 Fashion StartUp 21:00 Yard Crashers 16:20 Border 03:00 Michelle Wolf: Nice Lady 16:00 Project Accessory 21:30 Yard Crashers 17:55 3 Backyards 04:00 Mr. Robot 17:00 Mistresses 22:00 House Hunters 19:25 Paper Covers Rock 05:00 Plastic Disasters 18:00 Project Runway 22:30 House Hunters 21:00 Movie Talk Legends: Audrey 06:05 Path To War 19:00 Project Runway 23:00 Giada Entertains Hepburn 08:50 Into The Storm 20:00 Making Mr. Right 23:30 Giada Entertains 01:05 Victor And The Secret Of Croc- 21:30 Movie Talk 10:30 Hard Times: Lost On Long Is- 21:00 Grey’s Anatomy 00:05 South Park 01:10 Code Of Silence odile Mansion 22:00 Music Of The Heart land 22:00 Grey’s Anatomy 03:00 Man Down 02:55 Amila’s Secret 11:30 Empire Falls: Part I 23:00 Grey’s Anatomy 04:40 Captive 04:15 Back To The Sea 13:20 Empire Falls: Part II 06:30 Close Range 06:00 Emilie Jolie 14:45 Tsunami: The Aftermath (Part 08:05 Code Of Silence 07:20 Back To The Sea 1) 09:55 Man Down 09:00 Ivan The Incredible 16:25 Tsunami: The Aftermath (Part 11:35 Captive 10:25 An American Tail: Fievel Goes 2) 00:30 Idiotsitter 13:25 The Hollow One West 00:15 Mom 18:00 From The Earth To The Moon 00:55 Lip Sync Battle UK 15:10 Tell Me How I Die 11:45 Louis & Luca And The Snow 00:40 Mom 19:00 Beware The Slenderman 00:00 Jenny And Reza’s Fabulous 01:20 Lip Sync Battle UK 17:05 Pressure Machine 01:05 The Middle 21:00 Chance Food Academy 01:45 Graves 18:45 The Blair Witch Project 13:10 Victor And The Secret Of Croc- 01:30 The Middle 22:00 Berlin Station 00:30 Jenny And Reza’s Fabulous 02:15 Chappelle’s Show 20:15 Runaway Jury odile Mansion 01:55 Bette! 23:00 Jerrod Carmichael: Love At Food Academy 02:40 Real Husbands Of Hollywood 22:30 Deception 15:05 Amila’s Secret 02:20 Angie Tribeca The Store 01:00 Private Chef 03:00 The Daily Show With Trevor 16:25 Free Birds 02:45 The Good Place 01:30 Private Chef Noah 17:55 Louis & Luca And The Snow 03:15 Late Night With Seth Meyers 02:00 Diners, Drive-Ins And Dives 03:25 Idiotsitter Machine 04:00 The Tonight Show Starring 02:30 Diners, Drive-Ins And Dives 03:50 Lip Sync Battle UK 19:20 Micropolis Jimmy Fallon 03:00 Man Fire Food 04:15 Lip Sync Battle UK 21:00 Hocus Pocus Alfie Atkins 04:50 The Ellen DeGeneres Show 03:30 Man Fire Food 04:40 Workaholics 22:20 Free Birds 05:40 Brothers 00:00 American Crime 04:00 Chopped 05:05 Workaholics 01:00 True Heart 23:45 Ivan The Incredible 06:05 Bette! 01:00 The Art Of More 05:00 Guy’s Grocery Games 05:30 Workaholics 02:35 Get Santa 06:30 The Goldbergs 01:50 Claws 06:00 Barefoot Contessa 05:55 Workaholics 04:20 The Good Dinosaur 06:55 Imaginary Mary 02:40 Lethal Weapon 06:25 Barefoot Contessa 06:20 Workaholics 05:55 Rio 07:20 Late Night With Seth Meyers 03:30 S.W.A.T. 06:50 Bake With Anna Olson 06:50 I Live With Models 07:35 True Heart 08:10 The Ellen DeGeneres Show 04:20 American Crime 07:15 The Kitchen 09:20 Punk’d (Bet) 09:10 Alvin And The Chipmunks: 09:00 The Tonight Show Starring 05:20 The Night Shift 08:05 The Pioneer Woman 09:45 Important Things With Demitri Chipwrecked 02:10 The Runner Jimmy Fallon 06:10 APB 08:30 The Pioneer Woman Martin 10:40 The Good Dinosaur 03:45 I Am Number Four 09:50 The Simpsons 07:00 Good Morning America 08:55 Siba’s Table 10:10 Important Things With Demitri 12:15 Pirates Who Don’t Do Any- 05:40 The SpongeBob Movie: 10:15 The Last Man On Earth 09:00 The View 09:25 Siba’s Table Martin thing Sponge Out Of Water 10:40 Dr. Ken 09:45 The Chew 09:55 Bake With Anna Olson 10:35 Important Things With Demitri 13:45 Alvin And The Chipmunks: The 07:15 Creed 11:05 Bette! 10:30 Supergirl 10:25 Bake With Anna Olson Martin Road Chip 09:30 Die Hard 11:30 The Ellen DeGeneres Show 11:20 The Night Shift 10:55 The Kitchen 11:00 Kroll Show 15:20 Zootropolis 11:50 I Am Number Four 12:20 The Goldbergs 12:10 APB 11:45 Cooking For Real 11:25 Kroll Show 17:10 The Kids From 62-F 13:45 Bridge Of Spies 12:45 Imaginary Mary 13:00 Time After Time 12:10 The Pioneer Woman 11:50 Kroll Show 18:50 The Adventure Club 16:15 Nacho Libre 13:10 Mom 13:45 Lethal Weapon 12:35 The Pioneer Woman 12:15 Kroll Show 20:20 Pirates Who Don’t Do Any- 17:55 Seven Years In Tibet 13:35 Mom 14:30 The View 13:00 Siba’s Table 12:40 Kroll Show thing 20:15 Hudson Hawk 14:00 The Middle 15:15 The Chew 13:30 Siba’s Table 13:05 Disaster Date 21:50 Alvin And The Chipmunks: The 22:00 Black Snake Moan 14:25 The Middle 16:00 APB 14:00 Diners, Drive-Ins And Dives 13:30 Disaster Date Road Chip 14:50 Dr. Ken 17:00 Live Good Morning America 14:30 Diners, Drive-Ins And Dives 13:55 The Dude Perfect Show 23:25 The Kids From 62-F 15:15 The Simpsons 19:00 Bones 15:00 Chopped 14:20 The Dude Perfect Show 15:40 The Last Man On Earth 20:00 Time After Time 16:00 The Kitchen 14:45 Ridiculousness Arabia 16:05 The Ellen DeGeneres Show 21:00 Survivor: Heroes v. Healers v. 17:00 Bake With Anna Olson 16:00 Important Things With Demitri 17:00 The Goldbergs Hustlers 17:30 Bake With Anna Olson Martin 17:30 Imaginary Mary 22:00 The Amazing Race 18:00 Chopped 16:25 Important Things With Demitri 18:00 Mom 23:00 WWE Experience 19:00 Holiday Baking Championship Martin 01:20 The Untouchables 18:30 Mom 20:00 Extreme Cake Wars 16:50 Lip Sync Battle UK 00:15 Resident Evil: The Final Chap- 03:25 Hollywood On Set 19:00 The Middle 21:00 Paul Hollywood - City Bakes 17:15 Lip Sync Battle UK ter 06:45 Hollywood On Set 19:30 The Middle 22:00 Diners, Drive-Ins And Dives 17:40 Friends 02:05 Bravetown 07:15 Stolen From The Womb 20:00 Life In Pieces 22:30 Diners, Drive-Ins And Dives 19:45 Detroiters 04:00 Aloha 08:45 Aaliyah: The Princess Of R&B 20:30 Fresh Off The Boat 23:00 Chopped 20:07 Workaholics 05:45 Finding Dory 10:15 It Could Happen To You 21:00 The Tonight Show Starring 20:30 Graves 07:20 Hello, My Name Is Doris 12:00 Days Of Our Lives S12 Jimmy Fallon 00:55 Anacondas: The Hunt For The 21:00 The Daily Show With Trevor 08:50 Aloha 15:20 The Fifth Monkey 22:00 Man Seeking Woman Blood Orchid Noah 10:35 Captain America: Civil War 17:00 Virtuosity 22:30 Dr. Ken 02:35 The Magicians 21:30 South Park 13:05 Queen Of Katwe 18:45 Awakenings 23:00 Powerless 03:25 Snow White: A Tale Of Terror 22:00 Amy Schumer-Mark Normand: 15:10 Pete’s Dragon 20:45 Ironweed 23:25 Late Night With Seth Meyers 05:10 Warehouse 13 Don’t Be Yourself 16:55 Monster Trucks 23:02 Awakenings 06:00 Stargate SG-1 22:50 Comedy Central Roast Of 21:00 Smurfs: The Lost Village 06:50 Stargate SG-1 Charlie Sheen 22:35 Lights Out 07:40 Stargate SG-1 08:30 Stargate SG-1 00:00 Island Life 09:20 Stargate SG-1 00:30 Island Life 10:10 Stargate SG-1 01:00 Renovation Raiders 11:00 Smallville 02:00 Beachfront Bargain Hunt 00:35 Drunk Wedding 00:40 Lethal Weapon 11:50 Smallville 02:30 Island Life 02:05 The Mexican 01:00 Havoc 01:30 S.W.A.T. 12:40 Smallville 03:00 Caribbean Life 04:10 Are We Done Yet? 02:15 Meskada 02:20 American Crime 13:30 Smallville 03:30 Caribbean Life 05:45 Spy Hard 03:45 Begin Again 03:20 The Night Shift 14:20 Smallville 04:00 Island Life 00:25 Holby City 07:10 Big Mommas: Like Father, Like 05:30 Dr. T And The Women 04:10 APB 15:10 Face Off 04:30 Island Life 01:20 Bad Move Son 07:30 Million Dollar Baby 05:00 Good Morning America 16:00 Face Off 05:00 Caribbean Life 01:55 Uncle 09:00 Leap Of Faith 09:45 Into The Woods 07:00 The View 16:50 Evan Almighty 05:30 Hawaii Life 02:20 Mum 10:50 The Guilt Trip 11:45 02:22 07:45 The Chew 18:30 Dark Matter 06:00 Extreme Homes 02:50 Last Tango In Halifax 12:30 Spy Hard 13:30 Ask The Dust 08:30 Supergirl 19:20 Face Off 07:00 House Hunters 03:45 Call The Midwife: Christmas 13:55 Big Mommas: Like Father, Like 15:30 Havoc 09:20 The Night Shift 20:10 Face Off 07:30 House Hunters Special 2015 Son 16:45 Henry’s Crime 10:10 APB 21:00 The Mummy 08:00 House Hunters 04:25 EastEnders 15:45 Undercover Brother 18:30 The Time Being 11:00 Time After Time 23:10 Anacondas: The Hunt For The 08:30 House Hunters 04:55 Doctors 17:15 The Family Fang 20:00 Cinderella 11:45 Lethal Weapon Blood Orchid 05:30 Bad Move Friday 33

Friday, December 15, 2017 TV Listings

06:00 EastEnders 14:15 Who’s Doing The Dishes? 07:25 Destroyed In Seconds 16:47 Street Customs 2008 Sea 06:30 Casualty 15:10 The Chase 07:50 Origins 17:32 Fast N’ Loud 09:00 George Clarke’s Amazing 07:25 Holby City 16:00 I’m A Celebrity...Get Me Out Of 08:15 Origins 18:22 Fast N’ Loud Spaces 08:15 Doctors Here! 08:40 How It’s Made 19:12 Garage Gold 09:55 What’s For Sale? 08:50 Doctors 17:00 5 Star Family Reunion 09:05 How It’s Made 19:42 Garage Gold 10:20 What’s For Sale? 00:40 Mythbusters 09:20 Doctors 17:50 Murdoch Mysteries 09:30 Nextworld 20:10 Gold Rush 10:50 Stepping Out 01:30 How Do They Do It? 09:50 Doctors 18:45 Emmerdale 10:20 Ultimate Survival 21:00 Street Outlaws 11:15 Stepping Out 01:55 Food Factory USA 10:25 Doctors 19:15 Emmerdale 11:10 Kids Do The Craziest Things 21:50 Garage Rehab 11:45 Bad Trip 02:20 Street Science 10:55 Casualty 19:45 Coronation Street 11:35 Kids Do The Craziest Things 22:40 Misfit Garage 12:40 Food Lover’s Guide To The 02:45 Street Science 11:50 Holby City 20:10 The Chase 12:00 Deception With Keith Barry 23:30 Gold Rush Planet 03:10 Space Pioneer 12:45 EastEnders 21:00 I’m A Celebrity...Get Me Out Of 12:50 How It’s Made 13:05 Food Lover’s Guide To The 04:00 Prototype This 13:20 EastEnders Here! 13:15 How It’s Made Planet 04:48 Mythbusters 13:50 EastEnders 22:00 5 Star Family Reunion 13:40 Nextworld 13:35 Charlie Luxton’s Homes By The 05:36 How Do They Do It? 14:20 EastEnders 22:50 Emmerdale 14:30 Destroyed In Seconds Sea 06:00 Food Factory USA 14:55 Casualty 23:15 Emmerdale 14:55 Destroyed In Seconds 14:30 George Clarke’s Amazing 06:24 Street Science 15:50 Doctors 23:40 Coronation Street 15:20 Origins 00:00 Million Dollar Genius Spaces 06:48 Street Science 16:20 Doctors 15:45 Origins 01:00 Ultimate Guide To The... 15:25 What’s For Sale? 07:12 Space Pioneer 16:55 Doctors 16:10 Ultimate Survival 02:00 Clash Of Warriors 15:50 Cesar’s Recruit: Asia 08:00 How Do They Do It? 17:30 Doctors 17:00 Kids Do The Craziest Things 03:00 Missing In Alaska 16:20 Stepping Out 08:26 Prototype This 18:00 Doctors 17:25 Kids Do The Craziest Things 03:50 Ancient Aliens 16:45 Stepping Out 09:14 Mythbusters 18:35 Casualty 17:50 Troy 04:40 Decoding The Past 17:15 Bad Trip 10:02 Space Pioneer 19:30 The Detectorists 18:40 Nextworld 05:30 Million Dollar Genius 18:10 Bad Trip 10:50 How Do They Do It? 20:00 Poldark 00:50 Untamed & Uncut 19:30 How It’s Made 06:20 Ultimate Guide To The... 19:05 What’s For Sale? 11:14 Food Factory USA 21:00 Poldark 01:45 Treehouse Masters 19:55 How It’s Made 07:10 The Universe 19:30 Cesar’s Recruit: Asia 11:38 Street Science 22:00 Line Of Duty 02:40 Cats 101 20:20 Destroyed In Seconds 08:00 Clash Of Warriors 20:00 Stepping Out 12:02 Street Science 22:55 War And Peace 03:35 Meet The Orangutans 20:45 Destroyed In Seconds 09:00 Missing In Alaska 20:30 Stepping Out 12:26 Prototype This 23:50 Doctors 04:00 Meet The Orangutans 21:10 Kids Do The Craziest Things 10:00 Ancient Aliens 21:00 Bad Trip 13:14 Mythbusters 04:25 Whale Wars 21:35 Kids Do The Craziest Things 11:00 Decoding The Past 22:00 Bad Trip 14:02 How Do They Do It? 05:15 Whale Wars 22:00 Troy 12:00 Million Dollar Genius 22:55 Food Lover’s Guide To The 14:26 Food Factory USA 06:02 Deadly Islands 22:50 Ultimate Survival 13:00 Ultimate Guide To The... Planet 14:50 Space Pioneer 06:49 Untamed & Uncut 23:40 Origins 14:00 Clash Of Warriors 23:20 Food Lover’s Guide To The 15:38 Prototype This 07:36 Orangutan Island 15:00 Missing In Alaska Planet 16:26 Street Science 08:00 Orangutan Island 16:00 Ancient Aliens 23:50 Charlie Luxton’s Homes By The 16:50 Street Science 00:20 Say Yes To The Dress UK 08:25 Meet The Orangutans 17:00 Decoding The Past Sea 17:14 Mythbusters 00:42 Say Yes To The Dress UK 08:50 Meet The Orangutans 18:00 The Universe 18:02 Space Pioneer 01:05 90 Day Fianc?: Happily Ever 09:15 Treehouse Masters 19:00 Ultimate Guide To The... 18:50 Prototype This After? 10:10 Cats 101 20:00 Clash Of Warriors 19:40 Mythbusters 01:50 Say Yes To The Dress 11:05 Deadly Islands 21:00 Missing In Alaska 20:30 How The Universe Works 02:35 Oprah: Where Are They Now? 12:00 Meet The Orangutans 22:00 Ancient Aliens 21:20 How Do They Do It? 03:20 Little People, Big World: Wed- 12:28 Meet The Orangutans 00:50 Guilty Rich 23:00 Cowboys & Outlaws 21:45 Food Factory USA ding Farm 12:55 Whale Wars 01:45 Hollywood Horror Story: Peo- 22:10 Space Pioneer 04:05 Toddlers & Tiaras 13:50 Whale Wars ple Magazine... 00:10 Straits Dreams 23:00 How The Universe Works 04:50 Ultimate Shopper 14:45 Cats 101 02:40 Murder By Numbers 01:00 Supercar Megabuild 23:50 Prototype This 05:35 Say Yes To The Dress UK 15:40 Deadly Islands 03:35 Reasonable Doubt 02:00 Airport Security: Colombia 2.5 06:00 Outdaughtered: Busby Quints 16:35 Untamed & Uncut 04:30 Guilty Rich 03:00 Science Of Stupid 06:45 Outdaughtered: Busby Quints 17:30 Treehouse Masters 05:25 The Locator 03:30 Science Of Stupid 07:30 Little People, Big World: Wed- 18:25 Keeping Up With The Kruger 05:50 The Locator 00:21 Ultimate Wheels 04:00 Straits Dreams ding Farm 19:20 Wildest Africa 06:20 I Almost Got Away With It 01:11 American Pickers 05:00 Crowd Control 08:15 Outdaughtered: Busby Quints 20:15 Cats 101 07:10 Swamp Murders 02:00 Swamp People 05:30 Crowd Control 09:00 Say Yes To The Dress UK 21:10 Shamwari: A Wild Life 08:00 The Locator 02:50 Counting Cars 06:00 Taiwan: Tropic Of Extremes 05:00 Bali 09:25 Obsessive Compulsive Clean- 21:38 Shamwari: A Wild Life 08:25 Deadline: Crime With Tamron 03:15 American Pickers 07:00 Facing... 05:15 Chuck And Friends ers 22:05 Keeping Up With The Kruger Hall 04:05 Time Team 08:00 Seconds From Disaster 05:40 Om Nom Stories 10:10 Obsessive Compulsive Clean- 23:00 Wildest Africa 09:15 The Locator 05:00 Counting Cars 09:00 Crowd Control 05:50 Kids Crafting ers 23:55 Deadly Islands 09:40 The Locator 05:25 Counting Cars 09:30 Crowd Control 05:55 Boj 10:55 Love, Lust Or Run 10:10 Swamp Murders 06:00 Aussie Pickers 10:00 Airport Security: Colombia 2.5 06:10 Lucky Fred 11:17 Love, Lust Or Run 11:05 Shadow Of Doubt 06:50 Aussie Pickers 11:00 Hard Time 06:25 Thomas And Friends 11:40 Love, Lust Or Run 12:00 Evil Stepmothers 07:40 Ultimate Wheels 12:00 Brain Games 06:40 Chirp 12:02 Love, Lust Or Run 12:55 Deadline: Crime With Tamron 08:30 Hunting Hitler 12:30 How To Win At Everything 06:55 My Little Pony 12:25 Love, Lust Or Run Hall 09:20 Hunting Hitler 13:00 Supercar Megabuild 07:20 Angelina Ballerina 12:47 Love, Lust Or Run 13:50 I Almost Got Away With It 10:10 Hunting Hitler 14:00 Seconds From Disaster 07:35 Sandra, The Fairytale Detec- 13:10 Oprah: Where Are They Now? 14:45 Swamp Murders 11:00 Aussie Pickers 15:00 Facing... tive 13:55 Oprah: Where Are They Now? 00:00 Homicide: Hours To Kill 15:40 Shadow Of Doubt 11:50 Aussie Pickers 16:00 Airport Security: Colombia 2.5 07:50 Playdate 14:40 Cake Boss 01:00 The First 48 16:35 The Perfect Murder 12:40 Alone: Lost And Found 17:00 Hard Time 08:00 Barney And Friends 15:02 Cake Boss 02:00 Britain’s Darkest Taboos 17:30 Deadline: Crime With Tamron 13:30 Pawn Stars South Africa 18:00 The Long Road Home 08:30 64 Zoo Lane 15:25 Cake Boss 03:00 It Takes A Killer Hall 13:55 Pawn Stars South Africa 19:00 No Man Left Behind 08:45 Transformers: Rescue Bots 15:47 Cake Boss 03:30 It Takes A Killer 18:25 The Locator 14:20 Ice Road Truckers 20:00 Airport Security: Colombia 2.5 09:10 Om Nom Stories 16:10 Cake Boss 04:00 Homicide: Hours To Kill 18:50 The Locator 15:10 Ice Road Truckers 20:50 Hard Time 09:20 Kids Crafting 16:35 Cake Boss 05:00 The First 48 19:20 I Almost Got Away With It 16:00 Ice Road Truckers 21:40 The Long Road Home 09:25 Littlest Pet Shop 17:00 Little And Looking For Love 06:00 Britain’s Darkest Taboos 20:15 Swamp Murders 16:50 Ronnie O’Sullivan’s American 22:30 No Man Left Behind 09:50 Franny’s Feet 17:50 Meet The Putmans 07:00 Homicide Hunter 21:10 Shadow Of Doubt Hustle 23:20 Brain Games 10:15 Mouk 18:50 Outdaughtered: Busby Quints 08:00 Nightmare In Suburbia 22:05 Murder Calls 17:40 Ronnie O’Sullivan’s American 23:45 How To Win At Everything 10:30 Boj 19:40 Cake Boss 09:00 It Takes A Killer 23:00 American Monster Hustle 10:45 Kit ‘n’ Kate 20:10 Say Yes To The Dress UK 09:30 It Takes A Killer 23:55 I Speak For The Dead 18:30 Ultimate Wheels 10:55 What’s The Big Idea? 20:35 Say Yes To The Dress UK 10:00 Homicide Hunter 19:20 Cars That Made America 11:00 Transformers: Rescue Bots 21:00 Outdaughtered: Busby Quints 11:00 Homicide: Hours To Kill 21:00 The Warfighters 11:25 Bali 21:50 Sister Wives 12:00 Escaping Polygamy 21:50 New Age Of Terror 11:40 My Little Pony 22:40 My Giant Life 13:00 Leah Remini: Scientology And 23:30 Hunting Hitler 12:05 Lucky Fred 23:30 Return To Amish The Aftermath 00:20 Hyena Queen 12:20 Thomas And Friends 14:00 It Takes A Killer 01:10 Jobs That Bite! 12:35 Angelina Ballerina 14:30 It Takes A Killer 00:20 Street Outlaws 02:00 Savage Island Giants 12:50 Transformers: Rescue Bots 15:00 Homicide Hunter 01:05 Finding Escobar’s Millions 02:50 Wild 24 13:15 Barney And Friends 16:00 Homicide: Hours To Kill 01:50 Treasure Quest: Snake Island 03:45 Wild Case Files 13:45 64 Zoo Lane 17:00 The First 48 02:35 The Wheel: Survival Games 04:40 Photo Ark 14:00 Chirp 18:00 It Takes A Killer 03:20 Diesel Brothers 00:15 Lee Chan’s World Food Tour 05:35 Savage Island Giants 14:15 What’s The Big Idea? 00:10 Who’s Doing The Dishes? 18:30 It Takes A Killer 04:05 Deadliest Catch 00:45 Lee Chan’s World Food Tour 06:30 Wild 24 14:25 Kit ‘n’ Kate 01:00 Emmerdale 19:00 Homicide Hunter 04:50 Alaska: The Last Frontier 01:10 Rustic Adventures Italy 07:25 Wild Case Files 14:30 Playdate 01:30 Coronation Street 20:00 Homicide Hunter 05:35 How Do They Do It? 01:40 Food Lover’s Guide To The 08:20 Photo Ark 14:40 Franny’s Feet 02:00 Coronation Street 21:00 Homicide Hunter 06:00 Strip The City Planet 09:15 Snakes In The City 15:05 Thomas And Friends 02:30 The Chase 22:00 Homicide: Hours To Kill 06:45 Boy To Man 02:05 Food Lover’s Guide To The 10:10 Nature’s Greatest Talents 15:20 Mouk 03:25 I’m A Celebrity...Get Me Out Of 23:00 When Life Means Life 07:30 How Do They Do It? Planet 11:05 The Miracle Cheetah 15:35 Boj Here! 00:05 Origins 07:53 How Do They Do It? 02:35 Charlie Luxton’s Homes By The 12:00 Shark Men 15:50 Sandra, The Fairytale Detec- 04:50 Gino’s Hidden Italy 00:30 Destroyed In Seconds 08:15 Boy To Man Sea 12:55 Croc Inside Out tive 05:15 Murdoch Mysteries 00:55 Destroyed In Seconds 09:00 Gold Divers 03:30 George Clarke’s Amazing 13:50 Animal Fight Club 4.5 16:05 Littlest Pet Shop 06:10 Who’s Doing The Dishes? 01:20 Weather Gone Viral 09:45 Strip The City Spaces 14:45 Cameramen Who Dare 16:30 My Little Pony 07:05 The Chase 02:10 Bermuda Triangle Exposed 10:30 Auction Kings 04:25 What’s For Sale? 15:40 Photo Ark 16:55 Looped 08:00 I’m A Celebrity...Get Me Out Of 03:00 Ultimate Survival 11:00 Auction Kings 04:50 What’s For Sale? 16:35 Snake City Compilations 17:10 Barney And Friends Here! 03:50 Destroyed In Seconds 11:25 How Do They Do It? 05:20 Stepping Out 17:30 Wild 24 17:40 Angelina Ballerina 09:10 Catchphrase 04:15 Destroyed In Seconds 11:50 How Do They Do It? 05:45 Stepping Out 18:25 1000 Days For The Planet 17:55 Lucky Fred 10:05 Murdoch Mysteries 04:40 How It’s Made 12:17 Auction Kings 06:15 Bad Trip 19:20 Cameramen Who Dare 18:10 Qumi Qumi 10:55 Who’s Doing The Dishes? 05:05 How It’s Made 12:47 Fast N’ Loud 07:10 Food Lover’s Guide To The 20:10 Photo Ark 18:25 Transformers: Rescue Bots 11:50 The Chase 05:30 Origins 13:37 Fast N’ Loud Planet 21:00 Snake City Compilations 18:50 What’s The Big Idea? 12:45 Emmerdale 05:55 Origins 14:27 Misfit Garage 07:35 Food Lover’s Guide To The 21:50 Wild 24 19:00 Bali 13:15 Emmerdale 06:20 Nextworld 15:17 Street Customs 2008 Planet 22:40 1000 Days For The Planet 19:15 Kit ‘n’ Kate 13:45 Coronation Street 07:00 Destroyed In Seconds 16:02 Street Customs 2008 08:05 Charlie Luxton’s Homes By The 23:30 Shark Men 19:25 Littlest Pet Shop 34 Friday

Stars Friday, December 15, 2017

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

Afghanistan 0093 Jordan 00962 Albania 00355 Kazakhstan 007 You may have some heavy responsibility today. However, this is a good In the workplace, conference calls and other means of communication Algeria 00213 Kenya 00254 time for you to show off your capabilities—you are in a high achievement Andorra 00376 Kiribati 00686 that will help you be part of some decision-making action have positive mode. You may find that you enjoy your job or the responsibility of your Angola 00244 Kuwait 00965 results. Later, this afternoon, you are enthusiastic in making new friends position more than usual. You are empowered with a clear and inquisitive Anguilla 001264 Kyrgyzstan 00996 and becoming involved in some new activity. Now is the time for showing mind. You will be discussing ideas with co-workers and higher-ups— Antiga 001268 Laos 00856 off your talents. In the past, you may have been encouraging others to be this can be most rewarding. New insights or breakthroughs are possible Argentina 0054 Latvia 00371 expressive but for now, it is your turn to enjoy the art of expressing your- Armenia 00374 Lebanon 00961 with authorities or someone older. Communal activities, which take place self. Perhaps a creative writing course or a dancing contest is in order. Australia 0061 Liberia 00231 after work, should be both well-attended and successful. Austria 0043 Libya 00218 Bahamas 001242 Lithuania 00370 Bahrain 00973 Luxembourg 00352 Bangladesh 00880 Macau 00853 Barbados 001246 Macedonia 00389 Taurus (April 20-May 20) Belarus 00375 Madagascar 00261 Scorpio (October 23-November 21) Belgium 0032 Majorca 0034 Belize 00501 Malawi 00265 Benin 00229 Malaysia 0060 Bermuda 001441 Maldives 00960 Your ability to truly understand and have a handle on things of a conceptual This time period in the workplace may open up several opportunities for and spiritual nature certainly won’t hurt your popularity in a social situation. Bhutan 00975 Mali 00223 you to involve yourself with some highly ambitious projects. The accent Bolivia 00591 Others appreciate the time that you take to listen or share in conversations. Malta 00356 is on charisma at this time. Manners and respectful actions will bring many Bosnia 00387 Marshall Islands 00692 Take a long hard look at your own personal situation. Those around you could listeners to your attention. You will have the co-workers you need to help Botswana 00267 Martinique 00596 come to you for your observant, psychological viewpoint and understanding. you with the unexpected workload. Persistent follow-through will find Brazil 0055 Mauritania 00222 A possibility of some changes in your environment is at hand. Getting down you and your teammates completing what you thought were impossible. Brunei 00673 Mauritius 00230 to the basics and making sure that everything around you is taken care of` If you cannot get yourself invited to some kind of a social function later Bulgaria 00359 Mayotte 00269 Burkina 00226 could be where your emotional orientation is concentrated now. this evening, then do not hesitate to create one—you should shine. Mexico 0052 Burundi 00257 Micronesia 00691 Cambodia 00855 Moldova 00373 Cameroon 00237 Monaco 00377 Canada 001 Mongolia 00976 Cape Verde 00238 Montserrat 001664 Cayman Islands 001345 Morocco 00212 Gemini (May 21-June 20) Sagittarius (November 22-December 21) Central African Republic 00236 Mozambique 00258 Chad 00235 Myanmar (Burma) 0095 Chile 0056 Namibia 00264 China 0086 Nepal 00977 You could be tempted to let office gossip interfere with the normal flow of This is a good time to lead the way in a particular project. Your originality business today. This is an excellent time to emphasize practicality and realism Colombia 0057 Netherlands (Holland)0031 is at a high—you are ready to apply those creative ideas to the work in Comoros 00269 Netherlands Antilles 00599 in any endeavor in which you are engaged. It is also important to effectively front of you now. If you give your best effort considerable success will Congo 00242 New Caledonia 00687 communicate your ideas to co-workers and those who work under you. follow. Everything is moving in your direction to put together a great sales Cook Islands 00682 New Zealand 0064 Ideas and technologies that change the way people live—not just one per- package or some presentation package. What a day to make a deal fa- Costa Rica 00506 Nicaragua 00505 son, but many—are a major new focus in your life now. Your powers of cre- vorable for any business, financial or legal ventures! Your mind is alert— Croatia 00385 Nigar 00227 ativity are great—placing problem-solving difficulties in the past. You are your objectives are clear. Your cheerful confidence will help you to win Cuba 0053 Nigeria 00234 particularly witty in social surroundings and this evening you make for stim- your way. At this time, athletic energy is also high. Cyprus 00357 Niue 00683 ulating company. Cyprus (Northern) 0090392 Norfolk Island 00672 Czech Republic 00420 Northern Ireland (UK)0044 Denmark 0045 North Korea 00850 Diego Garcia 00246 Norway 0047 Djibouti 00253 Oman 00968 Cancer (June 21-July 22) Dominica 001767 Pakistan 0092 Capricorn (December 22-January 19) Dominican Republic 001809 Palau 00680 Ecuador 00593 Panama 00507 Egypt 0020 Papua New Guinea 00675 You gain profound insights and you want to improve the world. Be very clear El Salvador 00503 Paraguay 00595 in all the things you do and say. Also, make sure you have complete informa- You will find that pleasant surroundings in the workplace or at home make England (UK) 0044 Peru 0051 tion before gambling with an investment. You may experience abrupt changes for good vibrations. You could be in the limelight, especially with superiors Equatorial Guinea 00240 Philippines 0063 in fortune—in a relatively short period of time—good or bad. You may find or in relation to your work. Bigger and better is the theme when it comes Eritrea 00291 Poland 0048 Estonia 00372 Portugal 00351 yourself in the pursuit of recognition at this time. This could bring into focus to creativity, romance and self-expression now. This is a time when taking chances in these areas of your life pays off beyond your wildest imagina- Ethiopia 00251 Puerto Rico 001787 the practical, the successful and the sensible—whatever it takes to get you Falkland Islands 00500 Qatar 00974 ahead in the long run. Your ambition will increase and you will take a more tion. Your emotions in particular, or the feelings of those around you, are very clear at this time. Others should find it easy to understand how you Faroe Islands 00298 Romania 0040 serious approach at taking better care of yourself. Fiji 00679 Russian Federation 007 feel and will lend advice—if that is what you need. Finland 00358 Rwanda 00250 France 0033 Saint Helena 00290 French Guiana 00594 Saint Kitts 001869 French Polynesia 00689 Saint Lucia 001758 Gabon 00241 Saint Pierre 00508 Leo (July 23-August 22) Aquarius (January 20- February 18) Gambia 00220 Saint Vincent 001784 = Georgia 00995 Samoa US 00684 Germany 0049 Samoa West 00685 Ghana 00233 San Marino 00378 An outgoing and very expressive cycle of experience has begun. You may A very powerful need for nurturing is a larger-than-life issue just now. Gibraltar 00350 Sao Tone 00239 have a mad desire to do nothing but communicate and exchange ideas You could be feeling the need to care for other people or to have them Greece 0030 Saudi Arabia 00966 today. You could shoot the breeze with someone for hours, if given the care for you. This could be on a public rather than a private level—service Greenland 00299 Scotland (UK) 0044 opportunity. There could be a temptation, however, to play devil’s advo- or health care oriented. Your needs are very strong and you feel the needs Grenada 001473 Senegal 00221 cate or analyze things to death. Just enjoy the interactions and give the of others, as well. Being able to bring the two together in harmony is what Guadeloupe 00590 Seychelles 00284 other guy a chance. Also, if too much time is taken up in conversation dur- Guam 001671 Sierra Leone 00232 will make the day move along smoothly. This could be political and will Guatemala 00502 Singapore 0065 ing your work time today, higher-ups could be unhappy. You face many have a positive outcome because of your attention. Others will find you responsibilities with loved ones this evening. Guinea 00224 Slovakia 00421 most sensitive and intuitive. Guyana 00592 Slovenia 00386 Haiti 00509 Solomon Islands 00677 Holland (Netherlands)0031 Somalia 00252 Honduras 00504 South Africa 0027 Hong Kong 00852 South Korea 0082 Hungary 0036 Spain 0034 Virgo (August 23-September 22) Pisces (February 19-March 20) Ibiza (Spain) 0034 Sri Lanka 0094 Iceland 00354 Sudan 00249 India 0091 Suriname 00597 Indian Ocean 00873 Swaziland 00268 A kind of romantic dreaming characterizes your approach to life now. This It may come as a big surprise for you to be given some extra support or Indonesia 0062 Sweden 0046 could mean a longing for a soul mate or a yearning to save the world—it recognition—perhaps in relation to your work. Some kind of a little boost Iran 0098 Switzerland 0041 could mean carrying a torch as well. Secret loves, lost loves—all you need will definitely be yours now. You should be feeling as though those around Iraq 00964 Syria 00963 is love. There could be a more dynamic and outgoing quality to your way you are in touch and harmony with you at this time. You will not want for Ireland 00353 Taiwan 00886 of life now. Beating others in the heat of competition and taking on a lead- support—it will be there when you need it. Mentally, you are very per- Italy 0039 Tanzania 00255 ership role may mean more to you now than in the past. Second best just ceptive, with sharp ideas and clear thoughts. It should be an excellent Ivory Coast 00225 Thailand 0066 Jamaica 001876 isn’t good enough. You have plans and the coming year will show a great time to make decisions and to take care of any mental task. Great practical Toga 00228 Japan 0081 Tonga 00676 deal of success. job-related thoughts and ideas will be yours today. Friday 35

Health Friday, December 15, 2017 Indonesia’s asbestos ‘time bomb’

JAKARTA: The symptoms were mild and seem- shock,” said the rail-thin Sriyono, who like many In- toxic material blamed for more than 100,000 an- zation (WHO). Banned in more than 60 countries, ingly innocuous at first: mostly coughing and fa- donesians goes by one name. nual deaths globally. He was awarded 57 million ru- including all members of the EU, the carcinogenic tigue. But it wasn’t long before Sriyono got a grim “There was no information telling us that as- piah ($4,200) by the government this year, and he material is still widely used in developing countries diagnosis-he had asbestosis-an incurable scarring bestos could cause diseases like cancer when I got may not be the last: a local NGO is pushing for for construction, textiles, brake pads and cheap in- of the lungs that often leads to cancer. It was caused into the industry,” he said. The soft-spoken father compensation in 15 similar cases. sulation. Canada, once the world’s top producer of by decades of inhaling asbestos fibers at the factory of three is the first person to win compensation for Asbestos fibers that lodge in the lungs can cause asbestos, announced a ban last year, but some other where the 44-year-old still works outside the exposure to asbestos in Southeast Asia’s biggest diseases including lung cancer, mesothelioma and countries, including Russia and India, have resisted sprawling capital Jakarta. “There was a feeling of economy-one of the world’s top consumers of a asbestosis, according to the World Health Organi- global efforts to outlaw it. —AFP ClassifiedsEstablished 1961 Friday, December 15, 2017

CHANGE OF NAME

I, Dias Lily Roney D/o Peter Stephen holder of Indian Passport No. L3462505 & Civil ID No: 267121103885 has changed my name to Lily Eugin hereinafter in all my dealings and documents. (C 5369) 11-12-2017

SITUATION WANTED

Admin/ facilities/ accommo- dation/ transportation manag- er with 20 years experience in Gulf, seeking suitable place- DAAYY: 7KXXUUVGD\  99DDOLG )URP  $0 7R  30 ment. Contact: +965 55259659. AIRLINES Expected WWeeather for the Next 24 Hours (C 5366) 7-12-2017 American Airlines 22087425 %< '$$<< ::DDUUPPZLWK  OLJKW  YDULDEOH  ZLQG  WR OLJKW  WR PRGHUDWH  VRXWK  HDVWHUO\  ZLLQG  ZLWWKK VSHHG  RI     NPPK  DQG VRPH KLJK FORXGV  ZLOO DSSHDUU 22087426 Kuwait Airways 171 %< 1,*+7 3DUUWWO\ FORXG\ WR FORXG\ ZLWK OLJKW WR PRGHUDWH VRXWK HDVWHUO\ ZLQGQ WR OLJKKWW YDULDEOH ZLQG ZLWWK VSHHG RI     NPK  ZLWK  D FKDQFH IIRRU  VFDWWHUHG  OLJKW  UDLQ Jazeera Airways 177 :($$77+(5::$$51,1* 1R &XUUHQW ::DDUQLQJV Jet Airways 22924455

FlyDubai 22414400 STTAAATTION 0$;(;33 0,1 5(& 6)& &+$57   87& 112 Qatar Airways 22423888 .8::$$,7 &,7<  ƒ&  ƒ& KLM 22425747 .8::$$,7 $,5325577  ƒ&  ƒ& Air Slovakia 22434940 $%'$//<<  ƒ&  ƒ& %8%<<$$$11  ƒ&  ƒ& Automated Olympic Airways 22420002/9 -$+55$$  ƒ&  ƒ& enquiry about Royal Jordanian 22418064/5/6 ))$$,/$.$ ,6/$$11'  ƒ&  ƒ& the Civil ID card is Reservation 22433388 6$/0,<<$$+  ƒ&  ƒ& British Airways 22425635 1889988 $+0$',  ƒ&  ƒ& 18::$$,6,%  ƒ&  ƒ& ::$$)5$  ƒ&  ƒ& 6$/0<  ƒ&  ƒ&

4 DAAYYS FORECAST Temperatures DAAYY DAATTE WEAATTHER Wind Speed MAX. MIN. Wind Direction 3DUWO\FORXG\ZLWK DFKDQFH IIRRU VFDWWHUHG OLJKW GOVERNORATE PHARMACY ADDRESS PHONE )ULGD\  UDLQ  ƒ&  ƒ&95%6(      NPK 6DWWXXUGDD\\  ::DDUUPP  ƒ& ƒ& 1(95%      NPK Ahmadi Sama Safwan Fahaeel Makka St 23915883 6XQGD\  ::DDUUPP  ƒ&  ƒ& 1:95%      NPK Abu Halaifa Abu Halaifa-Coastal Rd 23715414 0RQGD\  ::DDUPDDQQG VRPH  VFDWWWWHUHG  FORXGV  ZLOO DSSHDU  ƒ&  ƒ& 1:95%      NPK Danat Al-Sultan Mahboula Block 1, Coastal Rd 23726558 PRAAYYER TIMES RECORDED YESTERDAAYY AATT KUWWAAIT AIRPORT Jahra Modern Jahra Jahra-Block 3 Lot 1 24575518 Fajr  MAX. Temp.  °C Madina Munawara Jahra-Block 92 24566622 Sunrise  MIN. Temp.  °C Zuhr  MAX. RH  % Capital Ahlam Fahad Al-Salem St 22436184 Asr  MIN. RH  % Khaldiya Coop Khaldiya Coop 24833967 Sunset  MAX. WWiind :  km/h Isha TOTTAALL RAINFFAALLL IN 24 HR.  mm Friday

FRIDAY, DECEMBER 15, 2017 Business

Central Asia yet to ECB keeps policy unchanged, Philippines passes 39 adjust to cheaper oil 40 leaving money taps wide open 41 major tax reform law

HONG KONG: This picture shows a section of the Hong Kong-Zhuhai-Macau Bridge (HKZMB) still under construction in Hong Kong.—AFP Marvel or mishap? Hong Kong’s troubled mega bridge Bridge to boost business, cut travel time

HONG KONG: Billed as the world’s longest sea Hong Kong enjoys rights unseen over the land,” said pro-democracy lawmaker Claudia “We cannot go against this trend.” bridge connecting Hong Kong, Macau and main- border but challenges from young pro-democ- Mo, also on the transport panel. “To Beijing it’s However, some analysts including commen- land China, it has been touted by supporters as racy activists and the emergence of a fledgling one big gigantic symbol to link Hong Kong to tator Stephen Vines see the billions being spent an engineering wonder. But critics say the multi- independence movement have riled Chinese au- the mainland.” on the bridge and other infrastructure links, in- billion dollar infrastructure mega-project is po- thorities, who have warned they will not tolerate cluding a new high-speed rail connection, as litically driven and a costly white elephant. threats to China’s sovereignty. The Chinese gov- Loyalty test predominantly a political calculation-not only by Dogged by delays, budget overruns, accusations ernment is “trying to blur the boundaries be- Officials cast the bridge as part of the the Chinese central government, but also by of corruption and the deaths of construction tween Hong Kong and the other parts of the Greater Bay Area project to create an economic local authorities. “The political leadership in workers, there is little prospect it will open by mainland”, said pro-democracy lawmaker Kwok hub linking nine southern mainland cities to Hong Kong wants to prove its loyalty to the the end of 2017 as hoped. Ka-ki, who sits on the legislature’s transport Hong Kong and Macau, also a semi-autonomous leadership in Beijing,” Vines said. Ip said she ex- Building started in 2009 on the 55-kilometre panel. With its dire housing shortage and grow- Chinese territory. Pro-Beijing Hong Kong law- pects the bridge crossing to open in the first crossing, which includes a snaking road bridge ing wealth gap there are also questions over maker Regina Ip says the bridge will help con- quarter of 2018. Hong Kong’s highways depart- and underwater tunnel, linking Hong Kong’s whether the bridge is a good use of the Hong nections all the way to Southeast Asia, as part of ment said it could not give a time frame. Lantau island to the southern mainland Chinese Kong government’s money-all three jurisdictions China’s “One Belt, One Road” initiative to link city of Zhuhai and the gambling enclave of pay a portion of the costs. The total price tag for with Africa, Asia and Europe through a network View from the ground Macau, across the waters of the Pearl River Es- the project, which includes artificial islands, link of ports, railways, roads and industrial parks. Officials put the current cost overrun of the tuary. Officials say it will boost business and cut roads and new border-crossing facilities, is un- “Although we have a boundary, we are still part main bridge section at 10 billion yuan, partly travel time, but opponents in Hong Kong see it clear but some estimates run to over 100 billion of China and economic integration has been driven by engineering challenges, which have as another attempt by Beijing to tighten its grip yuan. “Hong Kong doesn’t really need it-we’ve happening in a market-driven way for the past included problems with the drifting of re- on the semi-autonomous city. got air, land and sea connections to the main- few decades,” Ip said of Hong Kong’s position. claimed land. —AFP 38 Friday Business Friday, December 15, 2017 European stocks, euro dip as central banks dominate Pound, euro, await BoE, ECB decisions

LONDON: European shares and the euro dipped yes- mained “highly valued”. Against a basket of currencies, terday as cautious comments on inflation from the US the dollar was largely unchanged, still nursing a 0.8 Federal Reserve gave investors pause before a series percent loss in the wake of the Fed’s decision. The Fed of central bank decisions in Europe. The European projected inflation to remain shy of its goal for another Central Bank and the Bank of England are due to an- year, giving policymakers little reason to accelerate the nounce their final policy decisions of the year later in expected pace of rate increases. “The make-up of the the day, with both expected to keep benchmark rates Federal Reserve is going to change a lot in the next few on hold. Weakness in bank stocks contributed to a months and with that we can’t necessarily put too much downbeat open in Europe, as the pan-European weight behind the statement last night,” said David STOXX index fell almost 0.2 percent. Madden, CMC markets analyst in London. The financial sector caught the cold from US and Asian trading, which suffered from a less hawkish than Asian stocks bounce expected tone from the Fed after it raised rates as ex- Asian stocks rose yesterday after the Fed decision, pected on Wednesday and and the MSCI World Index, stuck to a projection for which tracks stocks in 47 three hikes next year. Banks countries, was up 0.1 per- were the worst-performing Asian cent. China’s central bank sector in Europe as cautious also raised rates, though comments from Fed Chair stocks marginally. While Chinese NEW YORK: Traders and financial professionals work on the floor of the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE) Janet Yellen on persistently shares slipped, the wider ahead of the closing bell in New York City. —AFP low inflation rattled in- rise impact was limited. “The vestors. Surveys of pur- key takeaway from the Fed chasing managers indexes meeting was the degree of ported MSCI’s broadest index of Asia-Pacific shares Malaysia. Japan’s Nikkei lost 0.3 percent, hurt by from Germany and the euro concern shown towards low outside Japan, but by afternoon its gain had been dollar weakness after the Fed decision. zone came in stronger than expected, but failed to inflation, which likely led to two dissenting votes,” said pared to 0.15 percent. In commodities, US crude futures rose 0.15 per- boost the euro, which fell 0.1 percent in morning trade. Junichi Ishikawa, senior FX strategist at IG Securities China’s yuan was firmer and Shanghai shares cent to $56.61 per barrel, lifted by the weaker dollar In a session packed with central bank decisions, the in Tokyo. were lower after the People’s Bank of China hiked after two days of losses. Brent advanced 0.3 percent Norwegian crown rose over 1 percent against both the “The 10-year Treasury yield fell sharply on the the reverse repo rate and the one-year medium- to $62.63 per barrel. Spot gold was flat after rising dollar and the euro after the central bank in Oslo Fed’s stance and lackluster US CPI, which shows that term lending facility (MLF) rate by 5 basis points as to a one-week high of $1,259.11 an ounce. Copper and brought forward its forecast for when rates might rise. the markets don’t necessarily see the Fed hiking Beijing seeks to prevent destabilizing capital out- nickel also advanced. A lower dollar generally makes The Swiss franc fell against the dollar and the euro after rates three times in 2018.” After dropping overnight, flows without hurting economic growth. South dollar-priced commodities such as oil, gold and in- the Swiss National Bank maintained its ultra-loose the 10-year Treasury yield crawled up to 2.3761 Korea’s KOSPI climbed 0.5 percent. Other gainers dustrial metals cheaper for non-US investors, boost- monetary policy stance and said the local currency re- percent. The Fed’s less hawkish statements sup- included equities from Taiwan, Thailand and ing demand.—Reuters Saudi king orders With Fed out of way, $19bn stimulus emerging markets for private sector RIYADH: Saudi King Salman yesterday is- await Turkish cbank sued a decree allocating 72 billion riyals of stimulus funds to support the Saudi private LONDON: Emerging equities rose to a near two-week high yesterday after sector. The package aims to boost the role the US Fed delivered a widely-expected rate rise but remained cautious on of the private sector in light of economic the inflation outlook, while Turkey’s lira slipped before a central bank meeting. reforms to diversify the Saudi economy MSCI’s benchmark emerging equities index gained 0.2 percent after the Fed- away from oil following a slump in crude eral Reserve raised rates by a quarter percent but said weakness in inflation remained a concern. prices. The funds will be used to finance 16 The average yield spread of emerging dollar debt over US Treasuries nar- initiatives, the largest of which earmarks rowed to 287 basis points (bps), off a two-week high of 291 bps. “We would $5.7 billion to provide subsidized housing need to see an incredible pickup in inflation and rate hikes to impact emerging TOKYO: Pedestrians walk past a stock quotation board flashing the Nikkei 225 loans to citizens, according to the official markets but at present there is no basis for such an assumption (that there key index of the Tokyo Stock Exchange in Tokyo. —AFP news agency SPA. would be pick up in pace of rate hikes),” said Esther Reichelt, a strategist at The decree states that $1.33 billion will Commerzbank in Frankfurt. “Generally, markets are correct to be calm.” act despite the political pressure, otherwise markets will lose all trust in the be used as a first installment for the newly The dollar weakened against a basket of currencies and US yields fell, central bank.” She added that if the bank failed to meet market expectations, established exports promotion fund which but some emerging currencies struggled nonetheless to make gains as in- the lira could go into a “depreciation spiral”, breaching the key 4 (per dollar) will eventually have capital of $8 billion. vestors awaited central bank decisions. The most closely-eyed is Turkey, mark. Earlier, China’s yuan hit two-week highs and stocks fell 0.6 percent More than $2.6 billion will be used to sup- where a Reuters poll predicted the bank to raise its late liquidity window after the central bank raised money market rates to prevent destabilizing port projects and $3.7 billion will be allo- rate by 100 bps to combat inflation at 14-year high, even though President capital outflows. cated to support construction technology, Tayyip Erdogan opposes higher rates. The lira eased 0.5 percent, slipping Ten-year Chinese bond yields fell 2-3 basis points as some had expected the decree said. The remaining funds will off one-month highs. It has firmed recently on the back of strong economic a bigger move, a trader said. The South African rand weakened 0.4 percent. growth and rate rise expectations. While data showed the current account deficit narrowing slightly , politics be spent on a string of smaller projects car- “If they don’t deliver we definitely see a higher risk for the lira to depre- weighed, with a judge instructing President Jacob Zuma to set up a judicial in- ried out by the private sector with the aim ciate,” Reichelt said. “They need to prove to the market they are ready to quiry into state influence-peddling. —Reuters of strengthening the competitiveness of the Saudi economy.—AFP Friday 39 Business Friday, December 15, 2017 Central Asia yet to adjust to cheaper oil Chinese FDI could help the region

WASHINGTON: Countries across energy-rich by Central Asia’s 70 million inhabitants are adjust- Central Asia are a long way from readjusting to ments in the neighboring China’s economy and lower oil prices and will need to carry out large- global technological changes, he said. scale reforms to regain competitiveness, a senior Timmer compared the situation to the early World Bank economist said in an interview. Failure 1990s when the former Soviet republics were to do so could undermine ruling elites and create plunged into poverty and chaos by the collapse of serious political risks, said Hans Timmer, chief the Soviet Union and had to reform quickly and economist for the Europe and Central Asia region under pressure. “I think this risk (of the events of of the World Bank. the early 1990s repeating) is there, and everybody “Anxiety among the population... should be has to learn from that experience,” he said. “Not taken seriously. Remember the Arab Spring? Or transforming is a huge risk.” populism in Europe and the United States? Some- thing like that could happen in Central Asia if no Uber for tractors adjustments are made,” Timmer said by telephone Economies in the region lost their competitive from Astana. Although edge during the oil-fu- only Kazakhstan, Turk- eled boom, while a lot of menistan and Uzbekistan investment went into sec- are energy exporters, tors producing non-trad- Kyrgyzstan and Tajikistan Not able goods such as the BASRA: This picture shows the Bin Omar natural gas facility, part of the Basra Gas Company, north of the have also benefited from transforming construction and prop- southern Iraqi port of Basra.—AFP petrodollars, largely erty industry, Timmer thanks to remittances is a huge risk said. The primary con- from hundreds of thou- cerns now are govern- of all opportunities, he said, for example develop- Flexibility sands of their citizens ment finances - states ing horticulture in Uzbekistan, where farmers need China could also serve as a good exam- working in Russia. across Central Asia are access to credit, a level playing field and help with ple of policy flexibility for the region, which Following the plunge borrowing to finance implementing new technology. Uzbekistan could is dominated by autocratic governments of global oil prices, all five Central Asian states spending - and financial sectors, which are riddled also benefit from “an Uber-like system” for renting where vested interests sometimes stand in have seen their currencies fall sharply against the with bad debt. But fundamentally, reforms need to tractors and other agricultural machines, he said. the way of change, Timmer said. Asked if dollar and their economic growth significantly focus on improving the business environment, he China’s evolution into an exporter of foreign direct deep structural economic reforms were slow. “The main challenge (for Central Asian na- added. investment and its “Belt and Road” infrastructure possible without political ones, he said: “It tions) is rebalancing their economies to adjust to “Ultimately, the goal should be creating an en- project was another opportunity for the region all depends on the extent to which the ex- the new economic reality of lower oil prices seen vironment where new jobs are being created,” which, after currency devaluations, can offer isting political powers see the urgency and since 2014,” Timmer said. Other major issues faced Timmer said. The region needed to take advantage cheaper labor than China itself. the need to reform.” —Reuters

- production hedging, or contracts producers use to lock in prices on future Investors pour cash output - also is on the rise this year. Hedging acts as insurance against price drops, letting producers drill into US shale despite with more certainty they can earn a profit. Forty midsize producers tracked Bank of England by researcher PetroNerds LLC hedged 45 percent of their production in the third quarter, up from 36.5 percent a year earlier. Those same companies questions on returns boosted capital spending by nearly two-thirds this year. holds interest

HOUSTON: Financiers keep pouring cash into the shale oil sector, provid- Rising output, spending rate at 0.5% ing producers with a path to keep US output rising through the middle of In response to investor pressure for better profits, producers are touting efficiencies from newer well designs and their efforts to shed less productive the next decade. The United States is on track to deliver up to 80 percent LONDON: The Bank of England kept its of the world’s oil production gains through 2025, the International Energy shale acreage as evidence that they can lift returns and output at the same time. A 39 percent increase in crude prices since June also has helped shale key interest rate at 0.5 percent at its final Agency estimates, increases fueled in part by easy access to capital. Rising meeting of the year, it said yesterday while US production is undermining OPEC’s attempts to curb global supply and producers deliver better returns while boosting spending. ConocoPhillips - which has sold properties in the Canadian oil sands, along with less prof- keeping an eye on Britain’s Brexit-fuelled boost prices, forcing the oil cartel to continue restraining output through inflation. The BoE sat tight at the meeting the end of 2018. itable shale holdings - recently said that its capital budgets from 2018 to on Wednesday after lifting the rate in No- Hedge funds and private equity firms have given producers a range of 2020 will average $5.5 billion annually, up from about $4.5 billion this year, vember for the first time in a decade, from new and traditional financial levers they can pull as needed to keep shale because of higher production and cash flow. a record-low 0.25 percent, faced with high rigs drilling, according to interviews with more than a dozen financiers, ad- “This is not a supply source that is going away any time soon,” said Ryan inflation that could see the central bank lift visers and executives. The money continues to flow despite rising pressure Lance, Conoco’s chief executive, in a recent interview. The rising investment from some investors for drillers to prioritize better profit margins over ex- marks a reversal from the period following the 2014 oil price collapse, which borrowing costs further in 2018, according panded production. Producers holding land in prime fields with oil trapped triggered scores of oil-firm bankruptcies and caused banks to abruptly pull to analysts. in shale rock are having little trouble financing their fracking projects, said back on lending to oil and gas producers. In their place, private equity firms, “Our Monetary Policy Committee has Buddy Clark, co-chairman of the energy practice group at Haynes Boone hedge funds and others have added to investments and unleashed new ways voted unanimously to maintain Bank Rate law firm in Houston. “If you’ve got the rocks, you can get the money,” he to finance drilling. “You’ve seen this marriage of necessity between private at 0.50 percent,” said minutes of the latest said. The IEA predicts US shale oil output, now about 6.17 million barrels equity and independent producers needing to drill acreage,” said Hillary regular meeting. per day (bpd), will rise another 8 million bpd by 2025. That would turn the Holmes of Gibson Dunn, a Houston law firm specializing in energy finance. The “The committee also voted unani- world’s largest oil-consuming nation into a net exporter of oil. The United retreat of banks and other lenders opened “a finance vacuum that we’re look- mously to maintain the stock of corporate States already is a net exporter of natural gas. ing to fill,” said Mark Stoner, a partner at Houston private equity fund Bayou bond purchases and UK government bond Through the third quarter of this year, private equity firms have put City Energy, which has financed about 80 new shale wells since last year. purchases” under the bank’s cash stimulus $20.26 billion into energy-related deals, 36 percent more than all of last One innovation that emerged is DrillCos, which allow investors to finance program that is pumping £445 billion year, according to financial data provider Preqin. Initial stock offerings for new wells and control their cash flow for a few years until double-digit rates ($597 billion, 505 billion euros) around the US-listed oil and gas firms raised $2.93 billion this year, up from $1.52 billion of return are met. Such partnerships have contributed at least $2 billion to economy. —AFP in 2016, according to Thomson Reuters data. Another way to finance drilling producers since 2015. —Reuters 40 Friday Business Friday, December 15, 2017 ECB keeps policy unchanged, leaving money taps wide open

Asset buys set to go until end Sept

FRANKFURT: The European Central Bank kept could finally end. But the economic run is its ultra-easy policy stance unchanged yester- stronger than most have expected. Indeed, the day, promising to hold rates low for an extended euro zone purchasing managers’ index rose to period and even maintaining a pledge to provide a seven-year high this month, data yesterday more stimulus if needed. Six weeks after agree- showed, while Germany’s Ifo institute unveiled ing to halve asset buys from January, the bank surprisingly bullish forecast for the euro zone’s reiterated its commitment to continue bond pur- biggest economy. chases at least until the end of September, and This rapid expansion is fuelling arguments to keep reinvesting cash from maturing debt among more conservative policymakers that the until much later to support a rebound in growth ECB is moving too slowly and should be more and inflation. decisive in signaling the end quantitative easing Attention now turns to ECB President Mario to preserve its remaining firepower after the cri- Draghi’s news confer- sis tested its limits. Shift- ence at 1330 GMT, ing the ECB’s message where he will present Rapid on stimulus may have fresh economic fore- been made easier by a casts and may discuss expansion benign market reaction whether hawkish policy- to the Federal Reserve’s makers continued to fuels third, well telegraphed FRANKFURT AM MAIN: This file photo shows the building of the European Central Bank (ECB) in Frankfurt am push for a shift in the arguments interest rate hike this Main, western Germany. —AFP bank’s guidance on year late on Wednesday. bond buys. Having faced This was a sign that five years of anemic in- investors were confident Forecasts Analysts see the figure in the 1.7-1.8 percent flation, the ECB has deployed its entire policy enough in the state of the global economy not The first clue to future policy will come range and while the target is intentionally arsenal, cutting rates into negative territory, giv- to fear a continued, albeit very gradual, increase from the ECB’s new economic projections, vague, Draghi has said that 1.7 percent is con- ing banks cheap loans and hovering up bonds, in the cost of borrowing dollars - the currency which are likely to show better growth for the sidered a miss so any figure at the bottom of all in the hope of boosting growth and rekin- that underpins much of world trade. Indeed, year ahead and a broadly unchanged or mar- expectations would make it difficult to argue dling inflation. policy hawks in Frankfurt are likely to have ginally improved inflation path. The key num- for an exit. But a benign 2020 projection could Its work has paid off as the euro zone recov- pushed Draghi to keep preparing markets for an ber to watch will be the ECB’s initial forecast rekindle the debate about the end of asset ery is now well into its fifth year thanks to nine end to asset buys sometime next year, arguing for 2020 inflation to see whether rising oil buys. In October several influential policymak- million new jobs, letting policymakers curb stim- for changes in the bank’s message to set up a prices push the inflation path higher and how ers argued that the ECB should amend its ulus from next year and raising the prospect formal decision by mid-year on ending a 2.55 far it is from the bank’s target of close-to-but- guidance, cutting the direct link between infla- that the lavish bond buys it started in early 2015 trillion euro ($3 trillion) bond purchase scheme. below 2 percent. tion and bond purchases. —Reuters

Savings clubs are not a new phenomenon Backyard savings in Zimbabwe. The first is thought to have been started in 1963 by a Catholic missionary, clubs on the money Brother F. Waddelove, launching what became The bank is accused of failing to deliver to known as Zimbabwe’s savings movement. In Commonwealth Bank AUSTRAC on time reports for cash transactions recent years, with the economy in the dol- of Aus$10,000 (US$7,700) or more at ATMs amid Zimbabwe drums and inflation high, the savings societies accused of more between November 2012 and September 2015, resurfaced - this time giving citizens precious with a total value of Aus$624.7 million. The fi- cash crisis ‘very serious’ rule nancial giant could face a massive fine, with the access to scarce hard currency. matter due in court in March. But the lender HARARE: Bank clients wait in a meandering said it would defend more than 100 other claims Way out of poverty breaches queue at Barclays along First Street in Harare, regarding its alleged failure to disclose suspi- Even economists agree indigenous savings cious transactions on time, or not at all. Zimbabwe’s capital - but those wanting to clubs are the way to go as Zimbabweans try SYDNEY: Australia’s financial intelligence Adding to its woes, AUSTRAC filed a further withdraw cash may be on a hopeless mission to avert the deepening cash deficit. “Without agency expanded an anti-money laundering 100 additional alleged contraventions yester- as often there is no money available. Out in the cash at the country’s banks, you should expect probe into Commonwealth Bank yesterday to day, which were identified since its earlier crowded suburb of Mabvuku, Lynet Sigauke, Zimbabweans to do everything to survive the include new claims that it failed to adequately charges were made. They include two instances 41, does not have a bank account, and says she crisis - and that is why savings clubs have be- monitor suspected terrorist financiers. The where the bank is accused of failing to inform has not felt the effects of cash shortages in the come a big hit,” said Kingston Nyakurukwa, lender, the country’s largest company by market the regulator of its suspicions relating to the fi- southern African nation. She is a pioneer mem- an independent economist based in Matabele- capitalization, was already facing a civil case by nancing of terrorism within the required 24 ber of the Shingairai Savings Club formed by land North Province. Thanks to the clubs, AUSTRAC in August. It alleged the bank en- hours. It is also accused of not reporting 54 a group of local people who circulate hard many like Sigauke say their lives have changed gaged in “serious and systemic non-compli- suspicious matters either on time, or at all, in re- currency among themselves to avoid the for the better. ance” of anti-money laundering laws involving lation to accounts and individuals being inves- country’s liquidity crunch. “Before, I was extremely poor - in fact a char- thousands of transactions. tigated by police. “As soon as we sensed that money was ity case - but after I became a member of Shin- In its first response, Commonwealth late “These allegations are very serious and re- going to become a problem, we built our gairai Savings Club, I now have a home under Wednesday admitted 53,506 breaches, saying it flect systemic non-compliance over approxi- stocks as a savings club through individual construction here in Harare,” said Sigauke, who was due to a “systems-related error”, but added mately six years,” AUSTRAC chief executive contributions,” Sigauke said. Anyone borrow- also owns a thriving transport business ferrying that it would defend a host of others claims Nicole Rose said. The initial AUSTRAC case ing money from the club, including individuals children to and from private schools by mini-bus. brought against it. “We contest a number of alle- prompted other regulators to launch inquiries recommended by members, must pay it back Like other club members, she was able to bor- gations but admit others, including the allegations into the embattled bank over its handling of in hard cash at an interest rate of 15 percent. row money to invest in her own projects to gen- relating to the late submission of 53,506 threshold the issue and its organizational culture. A class Sigauke, who is treasurer of the 30-strong erate income. There are no official statistics transaction reports (TTRs), which were all caused action has also been filed over non-disclosure Shingairai club, said members take turns to about the number of savings societies that have by the same single systems-related error,” it said. issues. —AFP make contributions of $300 each into its cof- sprung up in Zimbabwe, as scores of them are fers, to ensure adequate levels of cash. operating illegally. —Reuters Friday 41 Business Friday, December 15, 2017 Philippines passes major tax reform law

Duterte to launch golden age of infrastructure

MANILA: The Philippines has passed a tax re- cludes a rise in the excise tax on coal, the fuel form bill at the heart of President Rodrigo that runs almost half the country’s power plants. Duterte’s economic agenda, officials said yester- The coal tax will increase incrementally to ten- day, raising levies on coal, cars, soft drinks and fold or 100 pesos ($1.98) a ton by 2020 accord- cosmetic surgeries to finance the country’s ing to the version passed in Congress late crumbling infrastructure. Economists and envi- Wednesday. ronmentalists have praised the package, with the The act also significantly raised excise taxes Philippines winning a credit rating upgrade this on automobiles, petroleum products including week from Fitch Ratings and green campaigners diesel, gasoline and cooking gas, and jacked up hailing the higher tax on coal. mining levies. The effort to raise revenues also Officials said the tax led to a “sweetened bev- reforms, the most signif- erage tax”, an excise tax icant revenue-boosting on “cosmetic proce- measure introduced dures, surgeries and since Duterte took of- body enhancements”, fice last year, would fi- Sweetened and the doubling of tax nance increased rates on dollar deposits, spending on infrastruc- beverage tax capital gains tax and ture to ease the cost of stock transactions. The doing business. “The tax affected sectors have reform (act) seeks to warned of an inflation achieve a simpler, fairer, spike but Congress has and more efficient tax system characterized by described the legislation as pro-poor for lower- lower rates and a broader base, to encourage in- ing income tax rates and exempting some small vestment, job creation, and poverty reduction,” businesses from paying a sales levy. MANILA: This general shot shows vehicles stuck in traffic in Manila.—AFP Finance Secretary Carlos Dominguez said in a Duterte has vowed to launch a “golden age statement. The government has warned that bad of infrastructure,” with spending of about $170 roads, crowded trains and poor internet speed billion for roads, railways and airports during his on Monday. beverages, which would more than offset a low- have hindered the country’s competitiveness and six-year term. International credit rating agency “We estimate the bill to be net revenue pos- ering of personal income taxes,” Fitch said in a threaten to derail efforts to lift millions out of Fitch had earlier cited the impending passage of itive, reflecting an expansion of the VAT (value- statement. Congress this week also passed a poverty. The key provisions of the bill, which the tax reforms as one of the reasons behind its added tax) base and higher taxes on petroleum 3.767-trillion-peso national budget for 2018, a Duterte is expected to sign later this month, in- decision to upgrade the Philippines’ credit rating products, automobiles and on sugar sweetened 12.4-percent increase from last year.—AFP

Greece strikes against budget Finisar deal helps cuts, labor reforms Apple block rivals’

ATHENS: Some 20,000 people demonstrated in Greece yester- path to AR features day as a general strike against new budget cuts and labor reform paralyzed the civil service and disrupted transports. Around 16,000 mainly Communist demonstrators marched in Athens SAN FRANCISCO: Apple Inc’s $390 million deal with chip while another 4,500 protested in Thessaloniki, local police said. supplier Finisar Corp announced on Wednesday helps lock in Some of the protesters held banners in support of Palestine and the supply of a component that Apple believes will play a big against the US decision to name Jerusalem as the capital of Israel. role in its future products by bolstering augmented reality Greek unions called the 24-hour labor action against new budget features. And because the parts Finisar supplies are new and cuts and plans to revamp labor mobilization rules. in extremely limited supply, the deal also helps Apple lock out In addition to shutting down the public sector, the strike side- Samsung Electronics Co Ltd, Huawei Technologies Co Ltd lined trains and ships, disrupted some domestic flights and the and other competitors in the premium smartphone space that operation of public hospitals and schools. The budget goes to a are working to develop similar features, analysts said. vote in parliament on December 22. The Greek finance ministry GREECE: Members of the Greek Communist labor The investment will enable Apple to “get better supply is maintaining high taxation with the aim of collecting a budget union take part in a 24-hour general strike in Thes- and better pricing, and it makes it more difficult for Android surplus equivalent to 3.8 percent of gross domestic product saloniki.—AFP phones to compete,” said Gene Munster, a longtime Apple (GDP), excluding debt payments in 2018. The country’s EU-IMF watcher at Loup Ventures. Apple awarded Finisar $390 mil- creditors have also demanded a revision in labor law, setting a lion from a $1 billion fund dedicated to American manufac- higher worker participation requirement for strikes to be held at enough “fiscal room” was achieved to permit tax cuts after 2018, turing. Finisar, a much smaller firm with a market primary union level. when the country is scheduled to exit its third multi-billion EU- capitalization of $2.2 billion, was quick to say that the deal Greece has tougher targets to meet this year, as the primary backed bailout. Official data yesterday showed unemployment fell did not represent debt or equity investment but “antici- surplus goal mandated by its international creditors is 3.5 percent, to 20.2 percent in the third quarter of the year-the height of pated future business between the companies over a period up from 1.75 percent this year. The ministry last month said that Greece’s busy tourist season-from 22.6 a year earlier.—AFP of time.”—Reuters 42 Friday Sports Friday, December 15, 2017 Lehtonen - the 33rd goalie in NHL history to record 300 career wins Dallas Stars beat New York Islanders 5-2

Kari Lehtonen became the 33rd goalie in NHL history to record 300 career wins Wednesday night, when he carried a shutout into the third period and recorded 32 saves as the Dallas Stars defeated the New York Islanders 5-2. The win capped a milestone-filled night for Lehtonen. The game appearance was the 624th of his career, break- ing a tie with Miikka Kiprusoff for the most games played by a Finnish-born goaltender. Lehtonen is also the second goalie in as many nights to reach 300 career wins. Carolina Hurricanes netmin- der Cam Ward recorded his 300th victory Tuesday in a 3-2 shootout win over the Vegas Golden Knights. Ward and Lehtonen are the fifth and sixth active goalies with 300 wins. Tyler Pitlick scored twice for Dallas. The Islander fell behind 5-0 before getting two goals from Anders Lee.

PREDATORS 7, CANUCKS 1 Defenseman P.K. Subban scored two goals on a pair of strange plays to help Nashville defeat Vancouver. Subban’s first goal was a fluttering shot from the faceoff circle that opened the scoring in the first period. His second was a slapshot from center ice that gave the Predators a 3-0 advantage early in the second period. Craig Smith had a goal and two assists while Kevin Fiala and Filip Forsberg added a goal and an assist for the Predators, who are 9-1-2 in their last 12 games. Viktor Arvidsson and Calle Jarnkrok also scored. Ryan Johansen had two assists in his return after missing the past three games. Alexander Burmistrov scored for the Canucks, who lost their fourth straight game. Henrik Sedin collected his 800th NHL assist.

SENATORS 3, RANGERS 2 Ottawa stopped a five-game losing streak by earning only its second victory in 14 games. Bobby Ryan, Cody Ceci and Zack Smith scored the Ottawa goals. Michael Grabner and Pavel Buchnevich replied for New York. Craig Anderson made 27 saves in the Senators net while Henrik Lundqvist stopped 27 shots for the Rangers.

BRUINS 3, RED WINGS 2 (OT) Brad Marchand’s goal 35 seconds into overtime gave Boston the win over Detroit. Marchand also had an assist, and Noel Acciari and David Pastrnak also scored for Boston, which won its third straight. Tuukka Rask stopped 31 shots. Tomas Tatar and Dylan Larkin scored for Detroit, which has lost 10 of its last 11 (1-5-5). Jimmy NEW YORK: Kari Lehtonen #32 and Esa Lindell #23 of the Dallas Stars defend against Andrew Ladd #16 of the New York Islanders during the first period Howard made 29 saves.—Reuters at the Barclays Center on December 13, 2017 in the Brooklyn borough. —AFP

tutionalized doping, though athletes who are deemed FBI ‘controlling “clean” can compete under the Olympic flag. Rod- chenkov is in the FBI’s witness protection program American settlers of European descent. “We whistleblower and has made further revelations about doping. Putin In elaborate hoax, created this action to show the NFL and the accused Rodchenkov of having psychological prob- Washington Football franchise how easy, pop- lems and having been involved in doping. Redskins renamed ular and powerful changing the name could Rodchenkov’ “How is it that this individual came to head our be,” Rebecca Nagle of the Cherokee Nation anti-doping agency?” Putin asked. “This is the mis- said in a news release that identified her as MOSCOW: Grigory Rodchenkov, who is the source as the Redhawks take of those who made the decision, and I know very “one of the organizers of the stunt.” “What of revelations about state-sponsored Russian doping, well who made the decision.” Putin promised that we’re asking for changes only four letters. Just WASHINGTON: Native American advocates “is under the control of the American secret service”, Russia “will cooperate” with the World Anti-Doping four letters! Certainly the harm that the mascot launched an elaborate hoax on Wednesday, Vladimir Putin said yesterday. “He is under the con- Agency (WADA) and the International Olympic does to Native Americans outweighs the very, creating authentic-looking web pages of trol and the protection of the FBI. For us it’s not a Committee (IOC) “to correct the problems that we very minor changes the franchise would need good thing: it means he is working under the control have”. But he added that Russia would “defend the major media that purported to report that the to make,” Nagle said. of American secret services,” Putin said in his annual interests of our athletes, including in civil courts.” “I National Football League’s Washington Red- All the online pages added disclaimers an- press conference. “What are they doing to him? know that many international officials don’t want that, skins had changed their name to the Red- nouncing the website as a parody and not en- What substances are they giving him to say every- but what can we do? We will be forced to help our hawks. The campaign, led by a group called dorsed by nor affiliated with sites they were thing they need him to say,” Putin added. athletes to stand up for their honor and dignity in civil the Rising Hearts Coalition, created web imitating. A Washington Post spokeswoman Rodchenkov is the former director of the Moscow courts,” he said. pages that appeared strikingly similar to the provided a link to the newspaper’s own report anti-doping lab. He fled to the United States in 2016 The 25 Russian athletes suspended by the IOC real pages of those of The Washington Post, on the stunt, but declined to comment further. saying he feared for his life after the sudden death of for doping in Sochi have announced their intention ESPN, Sports Illustrated and Bleacher Report, US President Donald Trump regularly derides to go to the Court of Arbitration for Sport. If they plus one for the team itself with a new Red- the mainstream media as “fake news,” raising two senior officials in the Russian Anti-Doping lose, they could appeal to a Swiss federal tribunal and hawks logo. the stakes for news organizations that might Agency (RUSADA). He then provided information finally the European Court of Human Rights. Russia Some Native Americans consider the Red- be victims of a hoax. The Redskins have long which led to an investigation of doping at the Sochi has always vehemently rejected accusations of state- skins name highly offensive and evocative of declined to change their name, saying their Winter Games in 2014. sponsored doping while accepting that some of its the genocide of North American tribes by fans support keeping it. —Reuters As a result, Russia was last week barred from the Winter Games in Pyeongchang in February for insti- athletes did take banned drugs. —AFP Friday 43 Sports Friday, December 15, 2017 George shows off skill, juggles emotions in return to Indiana

Wizards overwhelm Grizzlies 93-87

LOS ANGELES: Paul George was held to 12 with inflammation. The Wizards went 4-5 with- points in his return to Indiana, but Steven Adams out the four-time All-Star. Andrew Harrison scored 23 points and grabbed 13 rebounds to scored 20 points for the Grizzlies, who shot 38.3 lead the Oklahoma City Thunder to a 100-95 percent and lost for the 16th time in 17 games. victory over the Pacers on Wednesday night. JaMychal Green totaled 15 and 15 rebounds George was booed loudly when introduced and while Marc Gasol finished with 15 and 10. every time he touched the ball throughout the game. The four-time All-Star was traded to Celtics 124, Nuggets 118 Oklahoma City in exchange for Victor Oladipo Kyrie Irving returned from a one-game ab- and Domantas Sabonis after he told the Pacers sence caused by a quad bruise and scored 33 he didn’t plan to re-sign with the team following points as Boston beat Denver. Jaylen Brown the 2017-18 season. George shot 3-of-14 on added 26 points and Aron Baynes had 17 as the Wednesday. Thunder guard Russell Westbrook, Celtics overcame a career-high 36 points by despite shooting 3 of 17 from the field, delivered Nuggets guards Gary Harris and 28 by Jamal his ninth triple-double of the season with 10 Murray. Irving added seven assists, and Boston’s points, 17 rebounds and 12 assists. Oladipo led Jayson Tatum scored 15 points. the Pacers with 19 points but shot 9 of 26 from the floor. Bojan Bogdanovic added 15 for Indi- Trail Blazers 102, Heat 95 ana, and Thaddeus Young had 11 points, 10 re- CJ McCollum scored a game-high 28 points bounds and seven steals. and Damian Lillard came alive late as the Port- land rallied from a 16-point, second-half deficit Rockets 108, Hornets 96 to defeat Miami. Lillard, who has scored more Chris Paul posted a season-high 31 points, than 30 points 10 times this season, was held to INDIANAPOLIS: Victor Oladipo #4 of Indiana Pacers shoots the ball against the Oklahoma City Houston seized control with a 25-0 run bridging nine points through three quarters. However, he Thunder at Bankers Life Fieldhouse on December 13, 2017 in Indianapolis, Indiana. —AFP the first and second quarters to extend their finished with 18 points to help the Trail Blazers winning streak to 11 games with a victory over snap a season-worst, five-game losing streak. nine rebounds, and Robin Lopez scored 16 as bounds, and Elfrid Payton scored 13 points. Charlotte. Paul added 11 assists and seven re- The Heat were led by reserve guard Wayne Chicago beat Utah for its fourth straight victory. Mario Hezonja, in his second start of the season, bounds to his ledger and dominated the game Ellington, who had 24 points. The Bulls, who have not lost since snapping a managed 17 points and nine rebounds. on both ends as Houston extended its winning 10-game losing streak last week, had all five streak to 11 games and improved to 12-0 with Pelicans 115, Bucks 108 starters reach double figures. Denzel Valentine Raptors 115, Suns 109 Paul in their lineup. James Harden added 21 DeMarcus Cousins scored a team-high 26 and Kris Dunn each added 13 points for Chicago, DeMar DeRozan scored 18 of his 37 points points and eight assists while Eric Gordon points, including a 3-pointer from the left wing which also got 12 points from Justin Holiday. in the third quarter, and Toronto wrapped up a scored 17 points off the bench for Houston. with 22 seconds left, and Anthony Davis added Rookie Donovan Mitchell scored a game-high 3-1 Western Conference road trip with a win Dwight Howard paced the Hornets with 26 25 points to power New Orleans to a victory 32 points to pace the Jazz, who dropped their over Phoenix. The Raptors, who got 21 points points, 18 rebounds and three blocks. Kidd- over Milwaukee. The Pelicans trailed 94-87 early fourth straight and fell to 2-10 on the road. and 13 rebounds from Serge Ibaka and 20 points Gilchrist added 18 points and 11 boards while in the fourth quarter but outscored the Bucks and 11 rebounds from Jonas Valanciunas, fol- Kemba Walker was held to 13 points. 28-14 in the final 10 minutes. Cousins added 13 Clippers 106, Magic 95 lowed up wins over the Memphis Grizzlies and rebounds, and Davis had 10 boards. E’Twaun Reserve Lou Williams scored 31 points, and Sacramento Kings by sweeping the season se- Wizards 93, Grizzlies 87 Moore scored 21 points for New Orleans. Mil- Los Angeles beat Orlando. DeAndre Jordan ries from the Suns for only the fourth time in Bradley Beal scored 18 points and John Wall waukee’s Giannis Antetokounmpo finished with dominated around the basket with 16 points and team history. Troy Daniels had a career-high 32 had 13 in his return from a left knee injury as a game-high 32 points. 20 rebounds. Sam Dekker had 12 points for the points including seven 3-pointers for Phoenix. Washington fended off struggling Memphis. Clippers, who won their third straight. Jonathon The Suns lost their fifth in a row and fell to 0-4 Wall sat out the previous nine games after re- Bulls 103, Jazz 100 Simmons led the Magic with 20 points and eight since losing star Devin Booker to an adductor ceiving injections in his knee Nov. 25 to deal Nikola Mirotic scored 29 points and grabbed assists. Nikola Vucevic had 14 points and 12 re- injury.— Reuters

but they’re a big club,” said Monaco coach Jardim. same from their captain. Madrid in the last 16 in February. Monaco look “They have been at the top of the table in recent PSG bid to stretch further clear - PSG have al- Alongside Monaco nine points adrift are Lyon years. We have to respect them and play at 100 ready ensured they will head into the winter break and Marseille. Those two teams go head-to-head to revive title percent to get the three points.” It has been a dif- top of the table, but have shown signs of weakness in the big match on Sunday, as the race for a top- ficult season for the principality club after losing this month with losses to Strasbourg and Bayern three spot and a place in the Champions League Kylian Mbappe, Tiemoue Bakayoko, Bernardo Silva Munich. But they brushed aside Strasbourg in the takes centre stage. Marseille will put a 12-match challenge and Benjamin Mendy during the transfer window, French League Cup on Wednesday without Ney- unbeaten run in the league on the line at Lyon, who while Djibril Sidibe and Thomas Lemar have strug- mar and Mbappe, who are both expected to return will be looking to bounce back from a 4-1 League gled with injuries. to the starting line-up at the weekend. Neymar will Cup loss at Montpellier. PARIS: Leonardo Jardim’s Monaco head to Saint- There was more bad news for Jardim on return to training on Thursday after a trip to his na- Etienne today hoping to put a recent slump in form Wednesday, as Brazil midfielder Fabinho said he tive Brazil for a ‘family problem’, having also been Player to watch firmly behind them with a third straight Ligue 1 vic- expects to leave Monaco at the end of the season. suspended for last week’s win over Lille. Argentinean Guido Carrillo has hit form for tory. The reigning French champions sit nine points But with their European campaign brought to an The world’s most expensive player hasn’t had Monaco in recent days, with close-season addi- adrift of league leaders Paris Saint-Germain, who abrupt end by a string of poor performances and a the smoothest of seasons off the field since joining tions Stevan Jovetic and Keita Balde both strug- visit Rennes, after following back-to-back defeats bottom-placed finish in their Champions League PSG from Barcelona, and Brazilian website gling for consistency, scoring three goals in his last with successive wins over lowly Angers and Troyes. group, Monaco’s depleted squad can now turn Globoesporte suggested the player could have two games. “He knows how to seize the opportu- They should face a tougher test against Saint-Eti- their attentions solely to domestic matters. Colom- been at the birthday party of his friend’s father. But nities that I give him. It’s no coincidence that he’s enne, although Les Verts are also struggling at the bian Radamel Falcao has led from the front with 18 Unai Emery’s men will be heavy favorites to see off already our second leading scorer,” said Jardim wrong end of the table after an eight-match winless goals in all competitions, including a remarkable Rennes, as the Spanish coach will be keen to see Carrillo has only made two Ligue 1 starts this term streak. 50-yard strike in Tuesday’s League Cup win over his side move further clear before they return to but two of his four goals came last weekend “Saint-Etienne are going through a difficult time Caen and Monaco will be hoping for more of the Champions League action against holders Real against Troyes. — AFP 44 Friday

Sports Friday, November 17, 2017 High-flying Inter look to defend Serie A lead

Inter coach laughs off Mourinho comparisons

MILAN: Inter Milan coach Luciano Spalletti has first 11 games and with no European football to laughed off any comparisons between himself distract his side, unlike Roma, Napoli and Juven- and Jose Mourinho, yet the Italian has done tus, he has a real chance of adding to the club’s more than the club’s previous 10 coaches to em- 18 league triumphs. ulate the Portuguese’s success at San Siro. For Against Udinese they will be looking to con- the first time since Mourinho led them to a con- tinue their imperious home form, which has seen secutive league triumph in 2010 before leaving them win seven of eight league games at San for Real Madrid, Inter are serious Serie A title Siro, although defender Andrea Ranocchia be- contenders and can cement their position at the lieves teams are more determined to try and top of the table at home to Udinese on Saturday. beat Inter now they are riding high. “Being at the Title rivals Napoli and Juventus face poten- top of the league annoys people, but it’s normal tially tricky away trips to Torino and Bologna re- that you have more enemies when you are at the spectively, with the latter fixture taking place on top than when you are not,” he said. “But we are Sunday. Inter displayed their resilience under calm, we are aware of our qualities. We are former AS Roma coach Spalletti by holding Juve building something important with this coach to a goalless draw last week, mimicking their 0- (Spalletti) and his staff. The teams we face will 0 stalemate at Napoli in October and becoming always give 100 percent against us but we must the first team to keep a clean sheet away to the remember what team we are and keep going as champions since August 2015. we are.” Spalletti heavily rotated his side for Tuesday’s Napoli, who also drew their last game 0-0, Coppa Italia game against Serie C minnows Por- at home to Fiorentina, are still likely to be with- denone which almost backfired as Inter only out injured forward Lorenzo Insigne when they squeezed through to the quarter-finals by win- visit Torino, who are unbeaten in their last six ning a penalty shoot-out following a goalless games and won 3-1 at Lazio last weekend. Ju- draw. Before the game with Pordenone, Spalletti ventus, meanwhile, are still missing captain Gi- asked journalists to stop comparing him to anluigi Buffon and veteran defender Giorgio Mourinho, saying: “I’ve been here for two days, Chiellini for their trip to 11th placed Bologna. he made history”. Yet Spalletti has already made Also, the poor form of playmaker Paulo Dybala, TURIN: Inter Milan’s Italian coach Luciano Spalletti enters the pitch prior to the Italian Serie history with Inter, overseeing their best ever who was left out of the game at Inter, continues A football match between Juventus and Inter Milan at The ‘Allianz Stadium’. — AFP start to a season in taking 29 points from their to be a big talking point in Italy.— Reuters

with his replacement Ousmane Dembele still in- Barcelona jured, Barca have lacked the excitement of re- cent years and become increasingly reliant on looking to the consistency of Lionel Messi to keep them bottom club Cologne on Wednesday but miss- ahead of their rivals. Bayern look ing a hatful of chances in a 1-0 win. Barca have developed into a more reliable “We already have a busy schedule behind recover sparkle outfit under coach Ernesto Valverde, however, for strong us and still got two big matches coming up,” gaining extra control in midfield and a tougher Heynckes said in explaining his team’s lacklus- against Deportivo edge, and Deportivo goalkeeper Ruben Martinez tre performance on Wednesday. The coach, believes they are as difficult to beat as they have finish as winter who led Bayern to a treble in 2013 including the ever been. “In football, the most important thing Champions League, said his players were miss- is results and for me Barcelona are at the same ing their usual spark and precision, while his BARCELONA: Barcelona have managed to get level as before... in fact they are much more effi- break looms away with some lacklustre displays recently and defense was a step too slow. “After taking the cient than in other years,” he said. Deportivo lead the team knew very well that there are still Sunday’s visit of struggling Deportivo La should make for more accommodating opponents BERLIN: Bayern Munich will be looking to end two more matches left this year,” said Bayern’s Coruna offers them a chance to recapture their for Barca than those in their last three games as the year in style when they travel to VfB Thomas Muelller. “We do not have 100 percent sparkling early season form a week before the the Galicians have only taken five points from Stuttgart tomorrow, with the champions intent left in the reserve tank at this point.” ‘Clasico’ against Real Madrid. Victory over seven league away trips and are hovering above on carrying their nine-point lead into the win- But it was still enough to send Bayern nine Depor would see Barca move 11 points clear of the relegation zone ahead of the Nou Camp visit. ter break. The Bavarians, who face Borussia points clear of second-placed Schalke 04, their bitter rivals before the crunch game at the “We’re focusing on how we can cause them harm. Dortmund in the German Cup last 16 next who are on 29 points. Schalke, unbeaten in Santiago Bernabeu on Dec. 23, as Real, eight We need to be concentrated for the entire game, week in their last competitive game of the year, their last 10 league matches, travel to in-form points adrift of Barca in fourth, are away on Club we have to be positive, we know it’ll be difficult are on course for a record-extending sixth Eintracht Frankfurt, who have only two losses World Cup duty in Abu Dhabi. but we have to try,” Martinez added. Second- straight Bundesliga crown. in their previous 10 Bundesliga games. Borus- Barca remain unbeaten in the league and placed Valencia scraped a 2-1 win over Celta Revitalized after Jupp Heynckes took over sia Dortmund, who notched their first win have a healthy five-point cushion at the top of Vigo last week with the help of a highly contro- from Carlo Ancelotti two months ago, Bayern since September on the debut of new coach the standings over Valencia despite trundling versial late penalty and will need to raise their have had to cope with injuries to goalkeeper Peter Stoeger on Tuesday to move into sixth along in their last three games, in which they game when they visit Eibar if they want to stay Manuel Neuer and then his replacement Sven on 25 points, will be hoping their recovery will have drawn twice. They were held by Valencia on Barcelona’s tail. Atletico Madrid are one point Ulreich, which forced 36-year-old Tom Starke continue against visitors Hoffenheim tomor- and Celta Vigo, who have proved to be their behind Valencia and searching for a fourth con- out of retirement. The absence of Arjen row. Bayer Leverkusen, fourth on 27, have bogey team in recent years, while their 2-0 win secutive league win against Alaves, who are in the Robben and Thiago Alcantara due to injury has quietly climbed up the table on the back of an at Villarreal in their last outing owed a lot to op- relegation zone but experiencing a revival under also hindered them up front, with Bayern hav- 11-game unbeaten run and face Hanover on posing midfielder Daniel Raba’s second half dis- new coach Abelardo Fernandez, who has won ing more than 75 percent possession against Sunday.—Reuters missal. Shorn of Neymar’s speed and flair, and both of his games in charge.— Reuters Friday 45 Sports Friday, December 15, 2017 Paris Saint-Germain cruise into League Cup quarters

PSG brush off the absence of Neymar

PARIS: Paris Saint-Germain brushed off the ab- Grimm, who has been with the club throughout sence of Neymar to ease into the French League their rise from the third tier, slotted into the cor- Cup quarter-finals with a 4-2 victory at Stras- ner. The hosts battled hard in the second period bourg on Wednesday. The Ligue 1 leaders but their resistance was finally ended when gained a measure of revenge for their shock 2-1 Thomas Meunier crossed for fellow full-back league defeat by Strasbourg less than a fortnight Dani Alves to tap in from close range. German ago as they started their bid for a fifth straight international Julian Draxler impressed in a three- League Cup title. PSG will take on Amiens in the man attacking midfield alongside Di Maria and last eight, after the newly-promoted top-flight Javier Pastore, and drilled in to end a nine-game club edged out second-tier Tours 2-1. “We goal drought for club and country. Jeremy needed to improve from the league game and Blayac came off the bench to score a late con- the team was more focused from the start,” said solation for Strasbourg, but PSG had long since PSG coach Unai Emery. secured their place in the quarters. “Maybe we could have scored more goals Elsewhere, a much-changed Lyon were and played better after it went to 4-2, but we are stunned 4-1 at Montpellier despite taking a still happy.” With Neymar having only just re- 10th-minute lead through teenager Myziane turned from a visit to his native Brazil, Emery Maolida, as Souleymane Camara scored twice opted to play Edinson Cavani up front on his for the hosts. Nice goalkeeper Yoan Cardinale own with Kylian Mbappe on the bench. Home was the hero as Lucien Favre’s men edged past hopes of a repeat performance for Strasbourg managerless Lille on penalties after Mario were dashed in only the 12th minute, as Yoann Balotelli had rescued the a 1-1 draw for the vis- Salmier sliced Angel Di Maria’s cross into his itors. Monaco will be Nice’s last-eight oppo- own net. Argentina international Di Maria made nents, after the principality outfit saw off Caen it two midway through the first half, capitalizing on Tuesday. Rennes beat Marseille in a penalty STRASBOURG: Paris Saint-Germain’s Brazilian forward Lucas (2nd-right) falls down in front of Paris Saint- on a goalkeeping error by Alexandre Oukidja to shootout after an entertaining 2-2 draw at Germain’s Argentinean midfielder Javier Pastore (right), Strasbourg’s French midfielder Jeremy Grimm slot in his fourth goal of the season. Roazhon Park, where Kostas Mitroglou and (2nd-left) and Strasbourg’s French defender Ernest Seka during the French League Cup round of 16 football But Strasbourg pulled one back before half- Valere Germain scored for the visitors, but to match between Strasbourg (RCSA) and Paris-Saint-Germain (PSG) on December 13, 2017. — AFP time against the run of play as midfielder Jeremy no avail. — AFP

despairing Gary Woods. Ntcham seemed to be A clinical shooting every time he had sight of the Hamilton goal and only a fine diving save from Woods kept first-half display another effort on the half-volley from sneaking in. China clubs try to their only World Cup appearance in It looked like it was just a matter of time before 2002, before an Arie Haan-coached team Celtic had a second, but Hamilton grabbed an reached the final of the Asian Cup on home lifts Celtic equalizer out of the blue. urged to soil two years later. Since then, China have struggled, with Missed chances the number of youngsters in the country playing the game diminishing as a number GLASGOW: A clinical first-half display helped Darian MacKinnon’s pass from the left found develop youth of factors, including match fixing scandals, Celtic to a 3-1 win over Hamilton on Wednesday as Redmond at the edge of the box and he spun to blighted the sport’s progress. Soccer-loving the Scottish champions extended their unbeaten send a superb looping effort over Craig Gordon and or lose licenses Xi Jinping’s rise to become the Chinese domestic run to 69 matches. Olivier Ntcham fired into the top corner. The goal handed Hamilton hope, president in 2012 has helped reinvigorate Celtic in front with a superb volley in the 12th but Celtic quickly reasserted control. A clever pass the sport’s popularity, with state and private minute before Daniel Redmond leveled for Hamilton from Stuart Armstrong played in Forrest, who beat entities throwing huge sums into the devel- against the run of play. However, two goals in a the offside trap to round Woods and slot home. The TOKYO: Chinese soccer authorities are set opment and promotion of the game. High- minute from James Forrest and Scott Sinclair winger turned provider for Sinclair, who took a to impose strict new regulations on the profile imports such as Carlos Tevez, Luiz handed Celtic a two-goal cushion at the break and couple of touches just inside the box before ex- country’s clubs, using the threat of losing Felipe Scolari, Andre Villas-Boas and Oscar they saw out the win to move onto 41 points at the pertly curling the ball into the far corner. Celtic their professional licenses as a spur to es- are among those who have worked in the top of the Scottish Premiership. looked to pick up where they had left off after the tablish a more comprehensive youth devel- Chinese Super League in the last 12 months, “We made some changes and tried something break, with Odsonne Edouard’s effort blocked by opment program. According to Titan Sports, while the clubs have become more promi- slightly different tonight, but I thought the players the legs of Woods before Armstrong sent a shot the Chinese Football Association (CFA) will nent on the continental scene. worked it really well,” Celtic manager Brendan narrowly wide. Hamilton should have pulled another introduce rules in 2019 that force clubs in The national team continues to struggle, Rodgers said. “It was a good win for us because goal back in the 69th minute when Greg Docherty’s the top two tiers of the domestic league to however, with coach Marcello Lippi calling Hamilton have had some really good victories this cross found Rakish Bingham unmarked in the box, create youth teams ranging from the under- for patience as the nation seeks to make an season.” Rivals Rangers remain five points behind but the striker sliced his effort wide of the target. 13 bracket up to the under-19 level. impact on the global stage. “When you talk in second place as they came from behind to claim Docherty’s pace then caused panic in the Celtic The teams would play in competitions about China, you have to think about the a 2-1 win over Hibernian at Easter Road, while Ab- defense as he burst into the box before Bingham hit organized by the CFA and, claim Titan culture and the time China has spent with erdeen stay third on goal difference following their the post with a low angled strike as Hamilton ex- Sports, a failure to comply would see clubs football,” he said after Tuesday’s loss to 3-0 win at St Johnstone. The supporters who erted more pressure without any reward. Hamilton forfeit their registration to play profession- Japan in the East Asian Championship. “It’s packed into a bitterly cold Celtic Park were warmed manager Martin Canning bemoaned his side’s ally. The CFA have yet to respond to a very different to Europe. I’m having to grow up by four superb first-half strikes. missed chances. “We created three or four real Reuters request for a comment on the mat- a team almost from scratch.” Under the Ital- Moments after coming close with a curling ef- good opportunities in the second half that we prob- ter. The move marks the latest CFA direc- ian, China recorded their best performance fort, French midfielder Ntcham’s stunning strike ably should have done better with,” he said. “Ulti- tive to enhance the future prospects of the in World Cup qualifying since 2002, but the handed Celtic the lead. Sinclair burst to the byline mately the two goals just before half-time killed the national team, who have struggled to make country still missed out on a place at next and floated a cut-back to the far post, where game for us, but I was pleased with the effort, com- an international impact in the last decade- year’s finals in Russia. — Reuters Ntcham was on hand to smash a volley beyond the mitment and quality from the boys.”— AFP and-a-half. Bora Milutinovic led the coun- 46 Friday Sports Friday, December 15, 2017 Unstoppable City break record, United edge out Bournemouth

Liverpool frustrated again in West Brom stalemate

LONDON: Manchester City set a new top-flight end of last season despite taking them to the record of 15 consecutive wins as their seemingly League Cup final. unstoppable march towards the Premier League City hardly broke sweat as they turned their title continued with a 4-0 romp at bottom club trip to south Wales into a training session de- Swansea City on Wednesday. David Silva struck spite making four changes to the side that won twice for Pep Guardiola’s side as they went past 2-1 at Manchester United on Sunday. Silva Arsenal’s 14-match winning sequence, although opened the scoring from Bernardo Silva’s cross unlike the London club’s, City’s streak has been and Kevin De Bruyne made it 2-0 with a free in a single season. kick. It was all over when the silky Silva played Manchester United kept up a distant pursuit a one-two with Raheem Sterling to make it 3-0 as they toiled to a 1-0 defeat of Bournemouth at early in the second half with his fourth goal in Old Trafford to remain 11 points adrift in second his last three games. Sergio Aguero, back in the place, Romelu Lukaku’s ninth league goal of the side with Gabriel Jesus rested, fired past Lukasz season proving just enough. Liverpool and Ar- Fabianski to complete another masterclass from senal could only draw 0-0 with struggling West Guardiola’s City slickers. Bromwich Albion and West Ham United respec- tively, allowing Tottenham Hotspur to move into City form fourth spot behind Chelsea thanks top a 2-0 win While the purists are purring at City’s form, SWANSEA: Manchester City’s Spanish midfielder David Silva (center) celebrates after scor- over Brighton and Hove Albion as Serge Aurier you could only sympathize with Swansea boss ing their third goal with teammates during the English Premier League football match be- scored his first goal for the club. Paul Clement who summed up what many of his tween Swansea City and Manchester City at The Liberty Stadium in Swansea on December City have 49 points to United’s 38 with cham- peers might be feeling. “At times it was horrible 13, 2017. — AFP pions Chelsea, who won at Huddersfield Town to be on the sideline watching that, seeing my on Tuesday, on 35. Tottenham have 31, ahead of side trying but suffering for long periods,” he Liverpool on goal difference while Arsenal said. “It was hard to watch at times because they Manager Jose Mourinho, distracted by reports players,” he said. “They were difficult opponents dropped to seventh with 30 points. It was an en- were so dominant. One of the best sides I’ve ever of a fracas after the City defeat in which he was and difficult conditions. If we had scored the joyable night for managers returning to former come across.” reported to have had milk thrown at him, admit- second it would have been a calm night.” clubs as Sam Allardyce watched his Everton side United looked flat after their chastening de- ted his side had been low on energy. “It was dif- Liverpool were left to rue a late disallowed win 1-0 at Newcastle United and Claude Puel’s feat against City and were indebted to Lukaku’s ficult match. They had one more day’s rest than goal for Dominic Solanke as they could find no fast-improving Leicester City triumphed 4-1 at powerful header and several good saves by us, they were fresher than us, and mentally way past West Brom, their second home draw in Southampton, the club who sacked him at the David de Gea against a plucky Bournemouth. fresher because a big match takes more from our four days. —Reuters

England pair Chris Smalling and Phil Jones had side would not finish the season in seventh. Mourinho established themselves as Mourinho’s centre- Wenger refuses “The table is the table, but it is not a definitive back pairing of choice until Marcos Rojo re- one today,” he said. “Let’s see after Christmas reveals Bailly turned from a long-term injury lay-off of his to give up on and January. There is a long way to go until May. own recently. “Our performances are not reflected by the re- “Tonight, we had Smalling and Jones,” said sults. Against Manchester United we had 33 could be Mourinho. “Lindelof was on the bench, Blind EPL title shots, but we didn’t win. “Southampton was sim- was on the bench, Marcos Rojo was injured, but ilar to tonight. There is a difference in what we nothing serious. “During the whole season we create to what we score, but it will not out for season had problems with central defenders but be- LONDON: Arsene Wenger has refused to give last.”West Ham beat champions Chelsea 1-0 on cause we now have four or five (of them) we al- up on the Premier League title despite a goalless Saturday to give David Moyes a first victory as ways manage. And Chris Smalling is playing draw at West Ham United that left Arsenal 19 manager and the Scot said he would certainly amazingly well now, for seven or eight matches points adrift of leaders Manchester City. Arsenal have taken four points prior to the two London MANCHESTER: Jose Mourinho admitted he is in a row. So we are fine.” One player who was are seventh, below Burnley, having added just derbies. not certain if Manchester United defender Eric not involved in the victory over Bournemouth two points in three games after a 3-1 defeat at The Hammers remain in the relegation places, Bailly will play again this season after revealing was midfielder Henrikh Mkhitaryan, who has home to Manchester United and a 1-1 draw at but appear to be moving in the right direction. he may need surgery on a persistent ankle in- started just one league game since the end of Southampton before Wednesday’s stalemate. Substitute Javier Hernandez almost won it for jury. Bailly, 23, has not played for United since October, and has been left out of the squad en- The manager of third-placed Chelsea Antonio West Ham late on with a shot that hit the bar and a defeat at Chelsea at the start of last month, tirely in recent games. Conte and his counterpart at fourth-placed Tot- bounced short of the line and Moyes credited having sustained the injury while on interna- tenham, Mauricio Pochettino, have both con- Arsenal goalkeeper Petr Cech with a vital tional duty with the Ivory Coast. And United Determination ceded City will be impossible to overtake, but touch.”If you hang in and stick with it you can manager Mourinho, who signed the centre- “I can only have six players on the bench,” Wenger says he will not abandon hope of a first get yourself opportunities and we got one right back from Villarreal last year, admits he is con- said Mourinho. “And I try to have some bal- Arsenal title since 2004. at the end,” he said. cerned by the lack of progress. ance on the bench.” United won the game to “That’s good to make headlines, but we have “I thought it had gone in, but the goalkeeper Speaking after Wednesday’s 1-0 victory start their recovery from the damaging week- to focus on the next game,” the Arsenal manager saved it. Four points against Chelsea and Arse- over Bournemouth, Mourinho said: “I think it’s end defeat by league leaders City in the Man- said. “City are too far away to talk about the title nal, we have got that. We have done a pretty serious. I don’t know. It’s an injury that comes chester derby. And, although his team remain at the moment, but it’s one thing to be far away, good job against these two teams.” Adrian has from last time he went to the national team. 11 points behind Pep Guardiola’s in-form it’s another thing to give up. “You don’t give up. taken over in goal from England goalkeeper Joe “Since then we were trying a conservative league leaders, Mourinho refused to concede Our job is to fight as long as we can. I don’t listen Hart after the latter was unable to play against treatment but if that conservative treatment is the title race is over. Mourinho said: “I said we too much to all that stuff. Our job is to fight and his parent team City three games ago. The not resulting how we want, he will either have play match after match and the next we have to continue to give everything and see where Spaniard put in a good performance in a 2-1 de- surgery or a procedure. Let’s wait a little bit to try to win, we have a difficult one at West you finish.” Arsenal are only one point off fourth feat at the Etihad Stadium and has followed that more. “I’m not a doctor, probably the doctor Brom and we try match after match. “It is only place but did not look like a side going places up with two clean sheets against top-quality op- can inform you, there is nothing to hide. I don’t over in May, if it is over now I go on holiday to despite enjoying the majority of possession position. “At this moment in time Adrian has got want to be pessimistic.” In Bailly’s absence, Brazil or Los Angeles.”—AFP against West Ham. Wenger was confident his the shirt,” Moyes said. “He played well.”— AFP Friday 47 Sports Friday, December 15, 2017 Malan inspires England with first ton of series

Opening day overshadowed by fixing allegations

PERTH: England batsman Dawid Malan plays a shot on day one of the third Ashes cricket Test match against Australia in Perth yesterday. — AFP

PERTH: Dawid Malan struck England’s first cen- spells before the tea interval, but the quicks were SCOREBOARD tury of the Ashes series as the tourists saw off let down in the field by three dropped catches. Australia’s marauding pace attack to emerge on The last of them reprieved lefthander Malan PERTH, Australia: Scoreboard at stumps on day one in the third Ashes Test between Australia top of an enthralling first day of the third test at on 92 off the first delivery with the second new and England in Perth on Thursday: the WACA yesterday. The middle order bats- ball from a frustrated Mitchell Starc late in the man’s unbeaten 110 anchored a flourishing 174- day. Coaxing a thick edge from the England England first innings Extras (b8, lb2, nb1, w1) 12 run stand with wicketkeeper Jonny Bairstow (75 number five, Cameron Bancroft dived across Cook lbw b Starc 7 Total (for four wickets; 89 overs) 305 not out), the pair pushing England to 305 for from third slip in front of his captain Steve Smith Stoneman c Paine b Starc 56 Fall of wickets: 1-26 (Cook), 2-89 (Vince), 3- four at the close of a glorious day in Perth. Eng- to grass the chance. “Obviously no one goes out Vince c Paine b Hazlewood 25 115 (Root), 4-131 (Stoneman). land captain Joe Root and his predecessor Alas- trying to drop catches but I think when the Root c Paine b Cummins 20 Bowling: Starc 19-3-79-2, Hazlewood 20-7- tair Cook may have failed with the bat, but the wicket’s that flat and it’s that hard for our Malan not out 110 62-1 (1nb), Cummins 21-6-60-1 (1w), Lyon 19- skipper won perhaps the most important contest bowlers, it’s certainly disappointing,” Australia Bairstow not out 75 4-61-0, Marsh 7-1-25-0, Smith 3-1-8-0. of the day when he guessed correctly at the toss wicketkeeper Tim Paine said. The 30-year-old and opted to bat first. Malan went on to raise Criticised for elect- his century in style, holders seek to claw back from a 2-0 deficit in Starc appeared to graze Stoneman’s right glove ing to bowl in the sec- pulling paceman Josh the five-match series. They weathered some but the caught behind appeal was turned down ond test defeat in Hazlewood to the fence nervy moments. Bairstow, promoted to sixth in Australia reviewed and third umpire Aleem Adelaide, Root was re- Root wins toss, to trigger a standing the order, all but played onto his stumps during Dar overruled Marais Erasmus on the strength warded this time with ovation from a crowd of all-rounder Mitchell Marsh’s third over when on of a noise picked up on the ‘snicko’ technology three of his batsmen opts to bat first 22,148. 39. Opener Mark Stoneman was out for 56, hav- England number three James Vince contributed passing 50. “Tomorrow ing twice been dropped after reaching his sec- 25 in a 63-run stand with Stoneman before being the first hour is crucial Nervy moments ond half-century of the series and also struck on caught behind off Hazlewood before lunch for us,” Malan told re- Bairstow played a the helmet with a vicious short ball by Hazle- Cook’s 150th test started sourly, the 32-year-old porters after celebrating fine support role on his wood. He was first put down by Mitchell Marsh opener lasting just 16 balls in the morning before his maiden ton in his eighth test. “We’re going to return to the city where he drew unwanted at- in the slips, then a diving Nathan Lyon was un- being trapped lbw by Starc for seven. Day one have to be quite ruthless the way we play tomor- tention for ‘head-butting’ Bancroft at a local bar able to complete a difficult low chance at point. at the WACA was overshadowed by spot-fixing row morning and put them under pressure, get on the first night of the tour. The pair came to- Root was out softly for 20, caught down the leg- allegations in a British newspaper. The ICC said some more overs into their legs.” Australia’s gether with England 115 for three just after lunch side by wicketkeeper Tim Paine, and Stoneman it took the accusations “seriously” but said there pacemen were generally superb through much and their ability to survive for nearly two ses- followed in controversial circumstances. Paine was no evidence to implicate any of the match’s of the day and breathed fire in some hostile sions will have inspired Root’s team as the Ashes leapt high to take a fine one-handed catch after players or officials.— Reuters

seriously” but do not think the match has been fixing occurs when corrupt players agree to dence to the International Cricket Council, who No evidence compromised, global cricket’s governing body manipulate part of a match by, for example, said they would be investigated by its Anti- said yesterday. The Sun reported that under- bowling a wide on a particular delivery or en- Corruption Unit. Ashes test under ground bookmakers from India had offered to suring a particular run rate. The corruption “From my initial assessment of the material sell undercover reporters from the newspaper in- does not usually affect the overall outcome of there is no evidence, either from The Sun or via formation about spot-fixing in the test between the match but gamblers in the know can use our own intelligence, to suggest the current test fixing threat Australia and England, which started in Perth the information to beat the betting market. The match has been corrupted,” Alex Marshall, ICC yesterday. Cricket Australia said the report was underground bookmakers told the reporters General Manager Anti-Corruption, said in a a “serious concern”, while the England and Wales they had previously manipulated matches in statement. PERTH: The ICC are taking allegations in a Cricket Board (ECB) said they were “aware” of the Indian Premier League and were also tar- “At this stage of the investigation, there is no British newspaper about attempts to organize the allegations even if there had been no sugges- geting Australia’s Twenty20 Big Bash League. indication that any players in this test have been spot-fixing during the third Ashes test “extremely tion any England players were involved. Spot- The newspaper said it had passed all the evi- in contact with the alleged fixers. —Reuters Established 1961 h i il i h bi lf

FRIDAY, DECEMBER 15, 2017 www.kuwaittimes.net

SWANSEA: Manchester City’s Spanish midfielder David Silva (center) scores their third goal past Swansea City’s Polish goalkeeper Lukasz Fabianski during the English Premier League football match between Swansea City and Manchester City on December 13, 2017. — AFP

Man City roll over Swansea for 15th straight league win

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