ministry saidyesterday. MuntadherAliSalehAl- kingdom’s restive EasternProvince,theinterior movement organized byShiiteresidentsofthe wanted inconnectionwitha 2011protest RIYADH: world’s keyoilproducers. cerns aboutthefutureleadershipofone advanced ageandpoorhealthhaveraisedcon- to remaininhospital.Inrecentyears,his without sayinghowlongthekingwouldneed stability andsuccess,”thestatementadded, “Thanks betoGod,thatstepwascrownedwith tube onFridayevening,”astatementsaid. which requiredtheprovisionalinsertionofa for checks.Examination“revealedpneumonia, Abdulaziz MedicalCityinRiyadhonWednesday 90 yearsold,wasadmittedtotheKing long-ailing king,whoisbelievedtobearound condition, theroyalcourtsaidyesterday.The breathing withtheaidofatube,butisinstable lier thisweek,issufferingfrompneumoniaand RIYADH: reckless drivers cracks downon Interior ministry ister andstaunchallyoftheSyriangovernmenthasdiedatage80.—AFP during hisfuneralinthenortherncoastalcityofTripoliyesterday.Theformerprimemin- TRIPOLI: PeoplecarrythecoffinofLebanon’sfirstpost-warprimeminister,OmarKarame, SUBSCRIPTION Saudi KingAbdullah,hospitalizedear- Saudis arrestsuspect in 2011Shiiteunrest Saudi policehavearresteda man Saudi King‘suffers from pneumonia’ News 4 150 Fils Kuwait companiesjackuppricesasdieselsubsidiesgo AUDY AUR ,21 RB LWA 2 46A No:16391 SATURDAY, 1436 AH RABI ALAWWAL JANUARY 3,2015 12, amid fearsofpricerise Al-Mudej warnsfirms with theUnited Nations inNewYork. signed andratified documentsofaccession lows a60-daywaiting periodafterdepositing the courtonfirstdayof monththatfol- Statute, thePalestinianswillbecome apartyto Palestinian people.According totheRome order toseekjusticeforcrimes againstthe reporters, addingthatthestepwas necessaryin “This isaverysignificantstep,” Mansourtold firmed thehandoveratUnitedNations. Mansour, andUNspokesmanFarhanHaqcon- al treaties.ThechiefPalestinianobserver,Riyad Court andmorethanadozenotherinternation- Rome StatuteoftheInternationalCriminal ters signeddocumentationonjoiningthe mission yesterdaydeliveredtoUNheadquar- UNITED NATIONS: lion ShiitesintheSunni-majoritykingdom. Eastern Province,hometomorethantwomil- connection withprotestsandviolencein as saying.Sabityisoneof23Saudiswantedin SPA newsagencyquotedaministryspokesman operation inthetownofAwamiya,official Sabity wasdetainedonThursdayeveninginan Palestinians deliverpapers to joinwarcrimescourt politics, dies in NY,liberal Cuomo, agiant 14 The PalestinianUNobserver in brief monitoring system tocontrolpricesandprotect Al-Tameemi urged thegovernmenttosetupa ment nottooverburdencitizens, MPAbdullah liamentary termwhenheurged thegovern- the occasionofinauguration of thenewpar- quences ofrisingprices. makers warnedthegovernment oftheconse- inspection teamstocontrolprices, manylaw- made bytheCommerceMinisteronforming ket. prices ofconstructionmaterialsinthelocalmar- that theministryiskeenonensuringstabilityof and referthemtoprosecution.Heunderlined prices. Itwouldinitiatelegalactionagainstthem monitor thecompaniesthathadraised increasing thepricesofconstructionmaterials. globe ensuresthatthereisnorealreasonfor that thecurrentdropinoilpricesacross other commoditiesinthemarket.Headded monitor thepricesofconstructionmaterialsand ministry’s commercialcontroldepartmentto goods. market includingfoodstuffandconsumer the pricesofallothercommoditiesinlocal warned thatthenewdieselpriceswouldaffect soared fromKD152to180.Thesourcesalso KD10 whilesandandgraveltruckpricesalso 3,000 gallonwatertankerjumpedfromKD5to informed sourcesnotingthatthepriceofa increased pricesbyupto100percent,said nies, watertankerandsandsuppliersalso sidy. Takingcuefromtheconstructioncompa- crete blamingtheincreaseoncutindieselsub- prices byKD3.5/KD4.5percubicmeterofcon- industry. without notifyingtheministryofcommerceand have increasedthepricesoftheirmaterialseven immediately informedtheirclientsthatthey of 2015,manylocalconstructioncompanies sion toincreasedieselpricesbythebeginning cut willnotapplyonlocalfactories. Mudej saidThursday,notingthatdieselsubsidy pretext ofdieselsubsidycutisunjustifiable,”Al- Raising thepricesofcommoditiesunder nies areraisingthepricesoftheirmaterials. subsidy. “Wehavenoticedthatsomecompa- the pretextthatgovernmentlifteddiesel jacking uppricesoftheircommoditiesunder Mudej warnedconstructioncompaniesagainst Commerce andIndustryAbdulmohsenAl- KUWAIT: By ASaleh&Agencies The ministersaidthathehaddirectedthe Recalling HisHighnesstheAmir’s speechon Meanwhile, inresponsetothestatements The ministersaidthatthedepartmentwould Some localready-mixcompaniesincreased In aquickreactiontothegovernment’sdeci- Deputy PrimeMinisterandof Monitoring head abroad Liverpool, Gerrard toleave 48 soaring prices?”, he wondered. ing willourcitizens havewhilesufferingfrom vide decentliving forcitizens...whatdecentliv- ernment andtheNationalAssembly shouldpro- “Kuwaiti constitutionstatesthat boththegov- role oftheconsumerprotection apparatus. by thecommerceministryfornot activatingthe kerosene subsidiesandblamed itrepresented ment ofconsequenceslifting dieseland increase theirprices. and consumergoodscompaniesanexcuseto silent onthematterwouldgiveotherfoodstuff panies legallyaccountablebecausekeeping in vain”,hesaidcallingforholdingthosecom- zens topurchaseconstructionmaterialswillgo means thattheKD30,000grantgiventociti- that havealreadyincreasedtheirprices.“This government’s silencetowardsthecompanies follow suit.Healsoexpressedsurpriseatthe brought undercontrol,morecompanieswould prices ofconstructioncompaniesarenot long”, hewarnedtheminister. grilling, don’tbe.Thissafetywillnotholdfor zens’ suffering.“Ifyoufeelsafeafterthelast merce ministertoworkharderalleviateciti- decision. Commerce andofFinanceblamingthemforthe takes,” hesaidaddressingtheministersof decisions andwehavetocorrectyourmis- at random.“Itseemsthatyoumakeone-sided citizens, especiallysincethedecisionwasmade MP MadhiAl-Kandariwarnedthegovern- MP, FaisalAl-Kandariwarnedthatunlessthe MP DrAbdulHameedDashtiurgedthecom- Abdulmohsen Al-Mudej Max Min 23º 07º LOCAL SATURDAY, JANUARY 3, 2015

Kuwaiti volunteers distribute aid to Syrian refugees

AMMAN: A group of Kuwaiti volunteers working on behalf of Al-Rahma International Charity, an affiliate of Al-Eslah Society (Islamic Society for Social Reform) in Kuwait, distributed relief aid to about 130 Syrian refugee families, a spokesperson for the volunteers said yesterday. Up to 14 Kuwaiti volunteers took part in the relief aid distribution to these families, said Abdullah Al- Anbaei, the spokesperson, in a statement to KUNA. The 130 families are part of a total of 628 families the volunteers will be helping out in days to come, he said, noting that the relief aid cost about $171,000. The work of the Kuwaiti volunteers in Jordan is car- ried out through an existing office of the Al-Rahma Charity, said the office supervisor Basil Shahada who stressed that the Charity was involved in a multitude of charitable functions in Jordan for the expressed benefit of Syrian refugees there. For instance, the Charity and its subsidiaries in Jordan are in charge of building schools, orphanages, and centers for training the refugees to enter the job market in Jordan, he CAIRO: His Highness the Amir Sheikh Sabah Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah meets Egyptian President Abdelfatah Al-Sisi said. — KUNA during His Highness’ visit to attend Sisi’s inauguration in Cairo on 8 June 2014. — KUNA Sisi in Kuwait Monday to expand strong ties

KUWAIT: A new chapter of Kuwaiti-Egyptian relations will be returned the favor to Kuwait in 1990 during the Iraqi invasion written next Monday when Egyptian President Abdelfatah Al- through its stern support of the Kuwaiti right to liberate its Sisi arrives in Kuwait on an official visit which will include a land from the aggressors. meeting with His Highness the Amir Sheikh Sabah Al-Ahmad More recently, HH the Amir’s participation in Sisi’s inaugu- Al-Jaber Al-Sabah. ration, and Sisi’s visit to Kuwait in 2013 as interim President Sisi’s visit to Kuwait is the first since his inauguration as were clear indications of the two nation’s strong political ties. President last June. Both leaderships are looking forward to The relations on the economic, financial, and commercial lev- further expanding relations on all possible domains. els have also been strong with several agreements signed Discussions on regional and international developments are between the two nations since 1960s. expected to be including in the meeting between HH the Amir Kuwait also showcased strong support to Egypt, granting Sheikh Sabah Al-Ahmad and President Sisi. $1 billion last November to help the fellow Arab country to The relations between the two Arab nations have always overcome its critical economic situation. Commercial been strong and such fact was evident in Kuwait’s support to exchange between Egypt and Kuwait have also reached Egypt during the 1967 and 1973 wars against Israel. Egypt around $405 million in recent years. — KUNA Arab League, GCC condemn interference in Bahraini affairs

CAIRO/RIYADH: Arab League Secretary Arab-Palestinian draft resolution calling for General Nabil Al-Araby yesterday condemned the end of Israeli occupation of Palestinian Iran’s interference in the internal affairs of the territories by 2017. Kingdom of Bahrain. “The US customary rejection of draft laws In a press statement, Araby said that the against Israel was not the only disappoint- recent statements made by senior Iranian offi- ment felt by Arabs but the abstention by a cials about the situation in Bahrain are tanta- number of friendly countries and the against- mount to violations to international law and vote by Australia compounded the Arabs’ dis- UN principles of non-interference in internal appointment regarding a draft law that only affairs of countries and respecting their sover- sought the implementation of international eignty and stability. He added that such state- law,” Jarwan said in a press statement on ments jeopardize neighborliness relations, Thursday. complicate the situation and threaten the sta- “The abstention by some and the against- votes were tantamount to sanctioning the bility of the Arab Gulf region. Arab League Secretary GCC Secretary-General Dr Arab Parliament President Israeli occupation and illegal settlement of On Thursday, Gulf Cooperation Council General Nabil Al-Araby Abdullatif Al-Zayani Ahmad Al-Jarwan (GCC) Secretary-General Dr Abdullatif Al- Palestine which fly in the face of international Zayani expressed total rejection of Iranian ceptable interference in the internal affairs of of the Bahraini Representatives’ Council law,” he said, stressing that the Arab interference in the domestic affairs of the the Kingdom of Bahrain,” he said. Ahmed bin Ibrahim Al-Mulla on Thursday Parliament, over which he presides, would Kingdom of Bahrain. He strongly denounced Zayani said that investigations with Al- lambasted Iran’s “irresponsible” statements double its efforts to promote the Palestinian the responses and statements of the Iranian Wefaq official “are based on the laws and reg- about the situation in Bahrain. cause and avail the Palestinians of their rights Foreign Ministry regarding the investigations ulations enforced on all citizens without dis- for an independent state with Jerusalem for being conducted by Bahrain’s Public tinction.” The GCC Chief expressed full confi- UNSC vote its capital. He, furthermore, emphasized Arab Prosecution with a senior member of the dence in the Bahraini judicial system’s fairness Separately, Arab Parliament President support for the Palestinian leadership in all its opposition Al-Wefaq National Islamic Society. and competence, as well as its ability to Ahmad Al-Jarwan expressed his regret over steps to gain these rights including seeking to “The Iranian statements constitute an unac- ensure the rights of all citizens. Also, Speaker the UN Security Council’s rejection of the join the ICC. — KUNA LOCAL SATURDAY, JANUARY 3, 2015

KUWAIT: His Highness the Crown Prince Sheikh Nawaf Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah welcomes His Highness the Amir Sheikh Sabah Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah is welcomed by National His Highness the Amir Sheikh Sabah Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah. — KUNA photos Assembly Speaker Marzouq Al-Ghanem. Amir returns home after private visit

KUWAIT: His Highness the Amir Sheikh Sabah Al-Ahmad Al- HH the Amir was received at the airport by HH the Crown Affairs Minister Sheikh Nasser Sabah Al-Ahmad Al-Sabah, Jaber Al-Sabah returned home yesterday after a private visit Prince Sheikh Nawaf Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah, National First Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Sheikh to the Sultanate of Oman, accompanied by Deputy Chief of Assembly Speaker Marzouq Al-Ghanem, HH Sheikh Nasser Sabah Al-Khaled Al-Hamad Al-Sabah, and Deputy Prime the National Guard Sheikh Mashaal Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al- Al-Mohammad Al-Ahmad Al-Sabah, HH the Prime Minister Minister and Interior Minister Sheikh Mohammad Al-Khaled Sabah. Sheikh Jaber Al-Mubarak Al-Hamad Al-Sabah, Amiri Diwan Al-Hamad Al-Sabah. — KUNA ‘Payroll’ referred Ministry mulls solutions Kuwaiti boy first to parliament for railway obstacles newborn in 2015 KUWAIT: Government sources predicted that the KUWAIT: A Kuwaiti baby boy became the first Cabinet’s financial and legal committee would By A Saleh moving the railway’s route so as to reduce the newborn of 2015 in Kuwait, while the first refer the payroll strategic alternative to the cabinet damage expected on farms located in the project’s female newborn this year, born two hours lat- this month for approval pending referring it to the KUWAIT: The Ministry of Communications is cur- planned route in Wafra and Abdali. er, was also Kuwaiti, according to the Ministry parliament. The source said that the fall in oil prices rently preparing a comprehensive memo regard- of Health’s records. The first baby was born in would not affect the government decision to pass ing the GCC railway project, including suggested Development plan Jahra Hospital at 1:00 am Thursday morning, the project that is expected to save millions annu- solutions to the technical and legal obstacles delay- The parliament’s economic and financial com- followed by another boy at 1:36 am, according ally if approved. ing execution as per the Municipal Council’s mittee will meet on January 11 to review the statis- to Ministry of Health sources. Meanwhile, the The sources also added that His Highness the request. Ministry sources said that the step reflect tics of the first year of the development plan (2015- first girl born in 2015 was delivered at Adan Prime Minister Sheikh Jaber Al-Mubarak Al-Sabah its commitment to begin the project’s execution, in 2016), panel chairman MP Faisal Al-Shaya said. The hospital at 3:00 am. The sources added that a emphasized that the payroll strategic alternative accordance with Kuwait’s obligation to the Gulf first year is expected to witness offering build-oper- third boy was born in the Maternity Hospital at should achieve justice and equality amongst the Cooperation Council states to insure that the proj- ate-transfer (BOT) projects for bidding in accor- 3:50 am then a Kuwaiti girl was born at Adan government employees. Further, the sources said ect is completed on schedule by 2018. dance with the new public-private-partnership hospital at 4:39 am. that the project would fairly end the current imbal- The Municipal Council’s technical committee (PPP) law, he noted. It is also expected to feature a The sources added that the first expatriate ances in incentives and salaries paid to public had recommended that the ministry coordinates large number of construction projects that would baby born in 2015 was a Syrian boy born at employees and unify cadres and bonuses for them with the Public Authority for Agricultural Affairs have a significant impact on boosting the state’s Farwaniya hospital at 1:06 am—Al-Rai all, including those working in independent gov- and Fish Resources, to discuss the possibility of economy and development, he added. ernment establishments. — Al-Jarida LOCAL SATURDAY, JANUARY 3, 2015

Crime Suspect’s family threaten officer Report By Hanan Al-Saa’doun

KUWAIT: A police officer recently filed a case against the Cable theft recorded mother and brother of a fugitive he had arrested for drug abuse, kidnapping, and to serve a five-years in jail sentence. 1st 2015 case The officer accused the two of threatening him to release the suspect, said security sources. They noted that no legal meas- KUWAIT: The first case in 2015 was registered when Ahamdi ures were taken so far to protect the officer, his family or the detectives arrested an Asian bus driver with possession of a police station he worked in. Case papers indicate that after 40-meter-long electric cable he confessed of stealing from a receiving the fugitive and interrogating him by the public major company. The cables were found cut in small parts and prosecutor, the prosecution ordered that he is referred to the covered by a piece of cloth inside the bus. Criminal Investigations Department to be questioned over connection to a kidnap case, and after that be sent to the Central Prison. The officer said that he received a text message Jewelry theft on the way to the prison, containing murder threats to force Drug smuggling foiled An Indian jeweler reported that while leaving his Japanese him to release the suspect. He then received a phone call from Two Asian men were recently arrested on arrival at car outside a Gulf Road restaurant, a person smashed its the same number, in which someone who identified himself Kuwait International Airport with possession of marijuana window and stole KD 8,000 in cash and some KD 14,000 as the suspect’s brother said that he would kill him outside his and hashish, said security sources. They explained that one worth golden jewelry from inside. Investigations went house unless he released the suspect. Moreover, the officer of the suspects was arrested after arriving on a Kuwait underway to identify and arrest the suspect. said that the suspect’s mother called the police station, and threatened to destroy the whole station unless her son was Airways flight. Fifteen marijuana packages mixed with meat released. were found with his possession. The suspect admitted that Drugs, weapon possession he attempted to smuggle the drugs into Kuwait. The sus- A citizen was recently arrested with the possession of psy- Fugitives nabbed pects were taken to the proper authorities to face charges. chotropic pills and a shotgun near Um Al-Haiman, said securi- Three citizens were recently arrested with the possession of ty sources. They noted that the suspect ignored orders to pull 18 cell phones, drugs, a fake ID, a security force’s jacket and that one of them is wanted to serve a five-years jail sentence, over, and was chased by a police patrol then forced to stop. handcuffs, said security sources. Case papers indicate that the whereas another was sentenced to two-years. The suspects suspects were arrested in Waha, while police also discovered were referred to the proper authorities for further action. Drug dealer caught An unemployed Egyptian man was recently arrested for drug trafficking, said security sources. They noted that Interior Ministry cracks the man was also homeless, that he slept in his car, and used it to deliver the drugs to his clients in Jahra. Separately, a bedoon (stateless) drug dealer was arrest- down on reckless drivers ed during the last hours of 2014 with possession of 6 kilograms of hashish, said security sources. Case papers indicate that detectives had been tipped off concerning 33 drivers arrested, 44 cars impounded the suspect’s activity in smuggling drugs from a neigh- boring country inside trucks without the drivers’ knowl- KUWAIT: Up to 33 drivers were arrested and 44 cars edge. Marking a truck and monitoring it for a week, were impounded during a police crackdown on reck- detectives learned that the suspect would try collecting less driving. The Ministry of Interior launched a com- the drugs that had been hidden inside the truckís prehensive operation targeting mostly youthful driv- engine. The man was arrested red-handed while collect- ers who use late hours in the night to drive their cars ing the drugs. A case was filed. recklessly, endangering themselves and the general public, a ministry press statement said. These young drives take advantage of distant out- Liquor possession lying areas, especially in Wafra, to practice screeching An Asian man was arrested with possession of 112 home- and smoking the tires of their cars as they rev up their made liquor bottles and a number of pornographic CDs in engines to the maximum redline causing booming Mirqab, said security sources. Case papers indicate that patrol noise and creating plumes of acrid smoke, said the officers pulled a driver over after suspecting his vehicle, then statement. noticed the bottles on the back seat. Often they do “donut” turns (ie circular motions) burning rubber and puffing hard to breath pungent smoke as they try to outdo themselves in this reckless Smuggling foiled handling of their cars which are mostly jalopies A passenger was arrested at Kuwait International Airport unsuitable for driving, said the statement. Many of for attempting to illegally bring a number of homing the cars impounded in the operations had their pigeons into the country, said security sources. They license plates removed to evade the authorities from added that the pigeons were tied and hidden inside a card identifying their owners, it indicated. box. The man failed to produce a license from the Public The current crackdown on these drivers and their Authority for Agricultural Affairs and Fish Resources to venues of practicing reckless driving has resulted in import the birds, the sources said. the discovery of a livestock pen used by them to store car spare parts including fresh tires to replace the Drunk policeman ones they shredded in their tire smoking shenani- A policeman was recently arrested in Bayan when he insulted gans, said the press statement, urging the families of people in public while being heavily intoxicated, according to these young misguided drivers to be aware of what security sources. The man was dressed in civilian clothes upon their children were involved in. — KUNA his arrest, and police discovered after checking his ID that he was a comrade. A case was filed.

Harassers leave girls injured A 19-year-old citizen sustained spinal injuries while her two companions suffered a nervous breakdown when their car hit a cement barricade at Fahaheel Highway after they were harassed by a group of young men, said security sources. Case papers indicate that the men were following the girls who apparently rejected their advancements. Eventually, the men hit the girls’ vehicle from behind, causing the driver to lose control over the car which hit the barrier. The suspects fled the scene afterwards.

SATURDAY, JANUARY 3, 2015 Two jailed Jazeera journalists Italy takes control of Pakistani boat blows up off seek deportation from Egypt 8 drifting migrant ship 10 coast after India navy chase 11

BAGHDAD: Islamic State group militants stand with a captured Iraqi army Humvee at a checkpoint outside Beiji refinery, some 250kilometers (155 miles) north of Baghdad. It took 30 days as Lt Gen. Abdul-Wahab Al-Saadi’s force made an agonizingly slow journey for 40 kilometers (25 miles) through roadside bombs and suicide car attacks, then successfully laid siege to the oil refinery city of Beiji. — AP Gunmen kill 3 Sunni clerics in Basra 2014 deadliest year in Iraq since 2006-7 bloodshed

BAGHDAD: Gunmen killed three Sunni clerics near the mostly Baghdad on New Year’s Eve. Al-Abadi on both visits spoke June out of Anbar province leading to widespread clashes with Shiite city of Basra in southern Iraq, a government spokesman said emphatically about the need for all of Iraq’s religious and ethnic security forces. yesterday, an apparent sectarian attack that drew immediate calls communities to close ranks in the face of the threat posed by the “Yet again, the Iraqi ordinary citizen continues to suffer from for calm. Interior Ministry spokesman Saad Maan said that the Islamic State group. An association of Sunni clerics also called for violence and terrorism ... This is a very sad state of affairs,” said assailants ambushed a car on Thursday night carrying the clerics in calm in a statement issued Friday, arguing that the attack was car- Nickolay Mladenov, head of the UN political mission in Iraq, in a the mostly Sunni district of Bab Al-Zubeir near Basra, shooting ried out to ignite sectarian violence in Basra. Speaking later on statement released on Thursday. Islamic State fighters still control dead the three and seriously wounding two other clerics traveling state Iraqi television, the association’s head, Khaled Al-Mullah, said roughly a third of Iraq. The army and Shiite and Kurdish militia with them. The ministry, he said, was investigating the killings. He the Islamic State group and its supporters were the only benefici- continue to battle the insurgents. The figures show that violence gave no other details. There was no claim of responsibility for the aries of the attack. has not abated since 2013 when 7,818 civilians were killed, the UN ambush and no reports of retaliatory attacks by Sunnis. In other violence yesterday, a roadside bomb exploded in cen- said. The bloodshed remains below the levels seen in 2006 and Iraq’s sectarian violence peaked in 2006-07, when thousands of tral Baghdad, killing four civilians and wounding 12, police and 2007 when sectarian Shiite-Sunni killings reached their peak. Shiites and Sunnis perished in attacks. The violence later eased but hospital officials said. They spoke on condition of anonymity In December, the body said that a total of 1,101 Iraqis were has partially resumed after Sunni militants of the Islamic State because they were not authorized to speak to journalists. killed in acts of violence, including 651 civilians, 29 policemen and group swept across much of northern and western Iraq last year. a further 421 members of the security forces. Thousands of com- Shiites make up a majority of Iraq’s estimated 30 million people Deadliest year batants have been killed in clashes involving Iraqi army forces, and have dominated successive governments since the 2003 Violence in Iraq in 2014 killed at least 12,282 civilians, making it militia, Islamist militants, tribal forces and Kurdish Peshmerga. ouster of Saddam Hussein, a member of the Sunni minority who the deadliest year since the sectarian bloodshed of 2006-07, the Fighting in urban areas has taken a particular toll on civilian popu- oppressed the Shiites during his rule. United Nations said in a statement. The majority of the deaths - lations. The bloodshed was worst in Baghdad in December, where The attack followed a visit to Basra this week by Shiite Prime nearly 8,500 - occurred during the second half of the year follow- 320 civilians were killed, followed by Anbar province to the west Minister Haider Al-Abadi and his tour of a Sunni area north of ing the expansion of the Sunni Muslim Islamic State insurgency in with 164 dead. — Agencies INTERNATIONAL SATURDAY, JANUARY 3, 2015 Two jailed Jazeera journalists seek deportation from Egypt

SYDNEY/CAIRO: Two of three Al-Jazeera journalists jailed in Egypt have applied to be deported under a new law after the country’s highest court ordered their retrial but did not free them as their families had hoped. Australian Peter Greste, Canadian- Egyptian Mohamed Fahmy and Egyptian Baher Mohamed were sentenced in June to seven to 10 years in jail for spreading lies to help a “terrorist organisation” - a reference to Egypt’s outlawed Muslim Brotherhood. Egypt’s High Court ordered their retrial on Thursday citing procedural flaws in the original trial, which was condemned by human rights groups and Western governments. The reporters’ imprisonment is a thorny issue for Egyptian President Abdel Fattah Al-Sisi, who ousted his Islamist predecessor in July 2013 KOBANI: Children stand in a trench built for mortar attacks by Islamic State group fighters against the civilians in the buffer and cracked down on the Brotherhood, as he seeks to prove his zone near the Turkish border in Kobani, Syria.— AP commitment to reform. Their families say they are paying the price for a deterioration in ties between Qatar, which owns Al Jazeera, and Egypt following the Brotherhood’s expulsion from Syrian oppn to discuss power. Doha supported the Brotherhood during its year in power but a recent Saudi push to heal the rift had raised expectations the reporters would be freed. The November law allows for foreign Russian peace plan convicts or suspects to be transferred to their country to serve their sentences or to be tried there. It was not clear how it might be applied in the Al-Jazeera case since it has yet to be used and 19 killed in rebel fire in Aleppo there are no precedents. Greste’s lawyer Mostafa Nagy told Reuters in Cairo he had pre- BEIRUT: The main Western-backed Syrian opposition group ment losses in the north and south as well as growing resentment sented the prosecution with a deportation request last month opened a three-day meeting yesterday to discuss a range of toward Assad among his traditional supporters - particularly after but received no response. He planned to make a new request in issues, including a Russian initiative to hold peace talks in the mass killings of soldiers by militants. light of Thursday’s ruling and hoped it would be accepted. Moscow to broker a resolution to Syria’s civil war. Greste’s brother, Andrew, echoed those hopes. “Now that The Syrian National Coalition is also expected to elect a new 19 killed in rebel fire Peter is essentially an innocent man, he’s not convicted any more, president during the closed-door proceedings that opened yes- At least 19 people were killed overnight by Syrian rebel fire on it does allow for some room to move and for him (Sisi) to step in terday in Istanbul. The meeting comes amid a push by Russia, a government-controlled parts of the northern city of Aleppo, a ... and deport him,” he told reporters in Brisbane. Fahmy’s brother key supporter of President Bashar Assad, to try to bring the Syrian monitor said yesterday. The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights Adel also told Reuters in Cairo that his lawyers had formally asked government and the opposition together in Moscow for talks to said the dead included at least five children, three of whom were Egypt’s presidency and prosecution that he be pardoned or end a civil war that has killed more than 200,000 people. Russian killed with their mother when a rocket hit the car they were in. deported.—Reuters diplomats have been shuttling between the sides in recent weeks The Britain-based group said at 32 people were wounded in to sound out their willingness to attend the meeting that the Thursday night’s violence in the western part of the city. Once Kremlin has said it hopes to convene after Jan 20. The Coalition Syria’s economic hub, Aleppo has been ravaged by fighting that has not ruled out participating, but has so far insisted that any began there in mid-2012. The city is divided with government negotiated settlement be based on the so-called Geneva plat- forces controlling the western part and rebels controlling the form, which states that there should be a political transition east. However, government forces have advanced steadily toward democracy through the formation of a transitional gov- around the eastern outskirts of the city, threatening to besiege erning body with full executive powers. opposition-held districts. More than 200,000 people have been Assad’s government has said it’s ready to attend “preliminary” killed in Syria since the beginning of the conflict in March 2011, talks, but says they should pave the way for a conference in Syria according to the Observatory. itself. Russia has said that the first stage of talks would include Activists say the US-led coalition has carried out more than a members of both the government-tolerated internal opposition dozen airstrikes in and around the Islamic State group’s de-facto and opposition groups based abroad, including the Coalition. In capital in northeastern Syria. The air raids struck several areas the next stage, they would be joined by Syrian government repre- overnight on the outskirts of the city of Raqqa along the sentatives. Euphrates River. It was the heaviest round of coalition strikes on Elsewhere, UN envoy Staffan de Mistura is attempting to the city since Islamic State group militants captured a Jordanian decrease the level of carnage in Syria through a plan that calls for pilot after his F-16 jet went down near Raqqa on Dec 24.The anti- “freezing the conflict” in the northern Syrian city of Aleppo as a Islamic State activist group called Raqqa is Silently Being BRISBANE: The brothers of jailed Australian journalist building block for a wider solution to the war. Slaughtered reported yesterday at least 13 coalition strikes. The Peter Greste, Mike (left) and Andrew Greste (right), speak So far, there is little to suggest that the UN plan or the Russian Britain-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights and the Local to the media during a press conference in Brisbane yester- initiative has a real chance of success. But analysts say there is a Coordination Committees activist collective also confirmed the air day. — AFP greater chance now for a settlement as a result of recent govern- raids. — Agencies Seven killed in Shabaab attack at Somali base

MOGADISHU: Somalian Al-Shabaab militants from Baidoa. Idow said Somali soldiers killed attacked a military base in the outskirts of the three Al-Shabaab insurgents during the town of Baidoa yesterday morning, killing at attack. A spokesman for Al-Qaeda-linked Al- least seven soldiers, a Somali military official Shabaab said the group had briefly seized the said. base and killed more than 10 soldiers. Al- The attack came two days after the United Shabaab often cites a higher death toll than States said it had killed the chief of al the number given by officials. Shabaab’s intelligence and security wing, “We fiercely attacked the military base Tahliil Abdishakur, in a drone strike. Al- near Baidoa,” Sheikh Abdiasis Abu Musab, Al- Shabaab seeks to topple the Western-backed Shabaab’s military operation spokesman, told Mogadishu government and impose its own Reuters. In a separate incident in central strict version of Islamic law. Somalia yesterday, Al-Shabaab ambushed a “Al-Shabaab attacked our base unexpect- government convoy carrying food aid, killing edly, early in the morning today. We lost sev- one soldier, according to Somali officials. A NABLUS: A Palestinian protestor throws back a tear gas canister towards member of the Israeli en soldiers,” Captain Ahmed Idow, a Somali spokesman for Al-Shabaab confirmed the security forces during clashes following a demonstration against the expropriation of Palestinian military officer, told Reuters by telephone group was behind the attack.— Reuters land by Israel in the West Bank village of Kfar Qaddum, near Nablus yesterday. — AFP INTERNATIONAL SATURDAY, JANUARY 3, 2015 Kenyan court suspends parts of new security law

NAIROBI: Kenya’s High Court yesterday suspended some anti- terrorism measures signed into law two weeks ago by President Uhuru Kenyatta, in a partial victory for opposition groups who had argued they threatened basic liberties and free speech. High Court Judge George Odunga suspended eight clauses, including a cap on refugees, and asked the chief justice, the head of the judiciary, to set up a constitutional court to scrutinize the new law. The ruling is a setback for Kenyatta, who has faced mounting pressure to boost security since Somali al Shabaab rebels killed 67 people in a Nairobi shopping mall in September 2013. After further attacks in 2014, he replaced the interior minister and police chief last month. There was no immediate comment from the government. Odunga left intact some of the most controversial amendments, including a fourfold increase to 360 days in the length of time suspects can be held without charge, and penalties for media NAIRO: Egyptian men entering the courtroom in Cairo. A video, filmed aboard a Nile riverboat, shows what prosecutors that print material “likely to cause fear or alarm.” said was a gay wedding ceremony, with two men in the centre kissing, exchanging rings and cutting a cake with their The clauses he suspended included a limit of 150,000 on the picture on it. — AFP number of refugees allowed in Kenya at any one time. “The gov- ernment is obliged to take all lawful measures to nip acts of ter- rorism in the bud, and such measures ought to be supported by Egyptian gays living in Kenyans of all walks of life,” Odunga said in his ruling. “Such moves, however, must pass constitutional and legal muster.” Kenyatta said when he signed the law on Dec. 19 that it did not go against the bill of rights or any provision of the constitu- fear under Sisi regime tion. Yash Ghai, a Kenyan constitutional law expert who has been critical of the measures, said Odunga’s ruling paved the way for more than 150 people arrested since NoV 2013 legal arguments on all of the new security measures. “The parties didn’t really have time to argue about specific CAIRO: Since the night police stormed into a Cairo bathhouse Egyptian Initiative for Personal Rights. provisions but that will now come,” he said. “I have no doubt that and dragged out a group of near-naked men, Hassan Sherif fears “The state could be trying to prove that it’s more Islamic than this act is deeply flawed.” Odunga also criticized the manner in a widening police crackdown on homosexuals in Egypt. The 32- the Islamists ... or it could be a message to show the return of the which the law was passed. A brawl broke out in parliament dur- year-old gay man, who lives with his boyfriend in a Cairo apart- police,” she said. The police are also spearheading a deadly crack- ing the debate, when opposition legislators threw books at the ment, feels they could be among the next targets of police action down against supporters of Islamist president Mohamed Morsi, Speaker, shouted, chanted and sprinkled water over his deputy. that activists say has intensified under President Abdel Fattah Al- Egypt’s first freely elected leader who was ousted by then-army Opposition politicians who had filed the legal challenge, led Sisi. “There is a constant fear and anxiety. I never had this kind of chief Sisi in July 2013. by former prime minister Raila Odinga, greeted the ruling with feeling in my life. Now you are afraid in your own home,” said Since then at least 1,400 people have died in the crackdown. jubilation. They punched the air, chanting: “A people united shall Sherif, who did not give his real name for fear of retribution. Bothaina Halim, a 34-year-old vivacious gay woman living in an never be defeated!” — Reuters A doctor by profession, Sherif is still haunted by television upscale Cairo neighborhood, is also extremely worried after the images of the December 7 night-time raid on the public bath- arrests of suspected gays. “It shows that we are less protected house. Police targeted the hammam after television presenter than we think ... We are the perfect target for the state,” said the Mona al-Iraqi tipped them off, saying the bathhouse had become aspiring writer who is in a serious relationship. a “den of male sex trafficking”. “For most Egyptians, homosexuality is a crime or a disease.” Days later she aired the footage of the raid on “The Hidden,” a Halim told her friends at 18 that she was a lesbian, but she refuses weekly program shown on pro-regime private satellite channel to discuss her sexuality with her family with whom she lives. Al-Qahira Wel Nas. On Sunday, a Cairo court will hold the second A report by the US-based PEW Research Centre said only three hearing in the case of 26 men arrested for alleged debauchery percent of Egyptians accept homosexuality. amid accusations of homosexual activity at the public bath. In another case, eight men were recently sentenced to one ‘State must ban filth’ year in prison for broadcasting a video which prosecutors said “We are the punching bag for the state ... The state is trying to was of a gay wedding on a Nile riverboat. show they are the guardians of Islam,” said Sherif. “I remember a “The problem is not the family, or society,” said Sherif. He time when everyone used to go to the same parties, and hang pointed instead to the police, saying: “They are scaring us.” out in the same places... Now we live in clusters,” he said, acknowledging that he had previously visited the Cairo bath- ‘Systematic clampdown’ house that was raided. Egyptian law does not expressly ban homosexuality, but gays Al-Azhar, Sunni Islam’s most prestigious seat of learning that is have previously been arrested and charged with debauchery in a closely linked to the Egyptian bureaucracy, defends the police Muslim society that is deeply conservative. The authorities have crackdown. “There is a difference between freedoms and degen- regularly conducted controversial forensic anal tests on eration,” said Sheikh Abbas Shoman, a senior official at Al-Azhar. detainees, and homosexuals have been jailed on charges ranging “The state is not the guardian of religion, but it is the protector of from “scorning religion” to “sexual practices contrary to Islam”. religious values ... If the state and the president don’t ban such NAIROBI: Kenya’s opposition leader Raila Odinga (center) Activists feel Sisi’s regime is targeting homosexuals with filth, what is their job then?” walks out of the court with his supporters yesterday in renewed force, with more than 150 people arrested since Halim sees a “super bleak” future for Egyptian gays. “It’s a con- Nairobi after the High Court suspended key parts of the con- November 2013 for alleged debauchery and prostitution. “There stant struggle to adjust not just in the space the state has troversial new security law, which was enacted two weeks is a systematic security clampdown against homosexuals,” said allowed, but also within us to reaffirm ... that we have the right to ago despite fierce opposition. — AFP researcher Dalia Abdel Hameed of the human rights watchdog our own bodies,” said Halim. — AFP Seven killed in Yemen clashes between army, tribesmen

ADEN: Clashes between the Yemeni army and tribesmen in es between the two sides led to the death of five soldiers and between the government and the tribesmen, who agreed Marib province left seven dead and more than 15 injured late two tribesmen and injured another 15 soldiers and tens of to hand over the weapons they had seized to the ministry on Thursday, tribal sources said. The sources told Reuters that tribesmen, the sources said. of defense. No one from the Yemeni government was tribesmen in the region had intercepted a brigade from the Westerns diplomats and Yemeni officials also say the immediately available to comment. Yemen’s main petrole- army that was traveling from the southern province of Shabwa Houthis are getting support from Saleh, who came under um export route is in Marib, an eastern province where oil towards the country’s capital, Sanaa. UN Security Council sanctions last year for threatening flows at a rate of around 70,000 barrels per day. Western The tribesmen believed the troops were being led by fol- Yemen’s peace and stability, something he denies. The powers are worried about the volatile situation in Yemen, lowers of former president Ali Abdullah Saleh, who they Marib tribesmen managed to seize the equipment and which is fighting both Al-Qaeda militants and separatist believe supports the Shiitee Houthis and planned to arm the weapons belonging to the troops, a tribal source said. rebels. The country shares a long border with Saudi Arabia, group in their region, the tribal sources said. The violent clash- Tensions are easing now, the source said, after talks the world’s largest oil exporter. — Reuters INTERNATIONAL SATURDAY, JANUARY 3, 2015 Ex-Irish minister to form new party

DUBLIN: Ireland’s former Europe minister Lucinda see her compete for votes with her former party and in a pitch aimed at voters who had “turned away in Creighton said she will form a new political party ahead fellow centre-right opposition party Fianna Fail rather despair” from the political system. Two other inde- of scheduled parliamentary elections next year that than the left-wing Sinn Fein, more aligned with anti- pendent members of parliament have said they may polls predict will signal a major shift away from domi- austerity parties gaining popularity around Europe. also form new parties or a catch-all group of non-party nant parties. Despite an upturn in the economy, gov- “My concern is that what we are seeing now in MPs to capitalize on a frustration that spilled over last ernment support slumped throughout last year at the terms of the economic agenda is an exact replica of year into the largest series of anti-austerity protests expense primarily of independents, raising the what was there in the boom period,” Creighton, 34, since Ireland’s financial crisis began in 2008. prospect that any new party could have a considerable told a news conference yesterday in a long anticipated This opposition saw Kenny’s party drop to third place say in the forming a fresh coalition in 2016. announcement. “Pumping up the property market to behind Sinn Fein in an opinion poll last month, hitting Creighton, the highest profile member of Prime recreate the artificial boom of the early 2000s is not a an 11-year low of 19 percent compared to the 32 per- Minister Enda Kenny’s Fine Gael party to be expelled in solution... We have a huge over-reliance on FDI (foreign cent who said they would vote for “independents and 2013 for opposing an easing of Ireland’s restrictive direct investment) and we have absolutely nothing others”. “All polls are showing an anti-party vote so it will abortion laws, said the as yet unnamed party would happening to stimulate the domestic economy.” be difficult for this new party to put clear water between include a number of elected representatives and seek She also focused on the uneven spread of recovery itself and Fine Gael and Fianna Fail,” said Gary Murphy, a to run at least one candidate in every constituency. She between urban and rural Ireland and on small business politics professor at Dublin City University (DCU), refer- laid out a pro-small business platform that will likely owners who she said were discriminated by high taxes ring to Ireland’s two dominant parties. — Reuters Italy takes control of drifting migrant ship 4 more under probe in Greek ferry fire

BRINDISI, Italy: Italian sailors yesterday managed to take boat Tyr, which was in the area on a mission with Frontex, control of a crewless merchant ship as it drifted toward the the European Union’s border agency. The Tyr was able to country’s southern shores in rough seas with 450 migrants draw alongside the runaway ship, but the weather condi- on board, in the second such incident in two days. tions made boarding impossible. The Icelandic vessel has Six coastguard officers were lowered from a helicopter three doctors on board who are waiting to be winched on to onto the deck of the Ezadeen as it floated some 40 kilome- the merchant ship by helicopter to treat any unwell passen- tres (25 miles) off Crotone on Italy’s heel, the navy said. gers, the air force said. It marked the second such drama in days for Italy, which MADRID: People wait to re-enter Madrid’s Atocha railway station yester- is struggling with a record wave of migrants making the per- Series of dramas day after false alert when a man threatened to blow himself up forcing ilous journey across the Mediterranean, after the navy on On Wednesday Italian sailors intercepted a freighter car- Wednesday stopped another crewless “ghost” ship with rying nearly 770 migrants which had been drifting towards the evacuation of the station. Police said a man claiming to be carrying a hundreds of migrants on board. the rocks off Italy’s southeastern shore on autopilot, aban- bomb in his backpack was arrested, but nothing was found. — AFP Yesterday’s rescue bid involved the 73-metre-long (240- doned by the people smugglers who had steered it from foot-long) livestock carrier the Ezadeen, which was meant to Turkey via Greek waters. The Moldovan-registered Blue Sky Spain bomb attack: Station be travelling between Famagusta in northern Turkish-con- M cargo ship got to within five miles-or 45 minutes sailing trolled Cyprus and the southern French port of Sete, the time-of a disaster before six navy officers were lowered on to evacuated after false alert navy said. A shipping website, however, said the Sierra the ship by helicopter and succeeded in bringing it under Leone-registered vessel had begun its voyage in the Syrian control. MADRID: Madrid’s Atocha station, the scene of the worst terror attack in port of Tartus. Thousands of the refugees who have ended The vessel’s human cargo included some 60 children Spanish history, was evacuated yesterday after a false alert when a man threat- up in Italy this year had fled the war-torn country, but most and two pregnant women, one of whom gave birth on ened to blow himself up. Police said a man claiming to be carrying a bomb in have come via North Africa. board as the boat steamed towards catastrophe, according his backpack was arrested, but nothing was found. Islamist militants killed 191 Prior to apparently running of fuel, the almost 50-year- to the Italian Red Cross. Many of the migrants on the ship people and injured nearly 2,000 in a series of coordinated backpack bomb old ship had been moving at a brisk seven knots and had were treated for hypothermia and broken limbs. The attacks on trains travelling to the station on March 11, 2004, that became been spotted by a coastguard plane 80 miles offshore short- migrant boat dramas have come as Italy grapples with the known as the 11-M attacks. “We searched a train and the rails but we found ly after nightfall. A woman refugee on board was able to aftermath of the Norman Atlantic ferry disaster in which at nothing,” police said. — AFP operate the ship’s radio and told the coastguard that the least 13 people have died following an onboard fire that crew had jumped ship, Italian navy spokesman Captain erupted before dawn on Sunday in waters off Albania. They Filippo Marini said. also come after a record year for people fleeing conflict and Moscow: Nationalist march “We are alone, they is no one, help us!” she cried, he said. poverty in the Middle East, Africa and Asia attempting to The coastguard asked for assistance from Icelandic patrol reach Europe by sea. shows Ukraine ‘on Nazi path’

MOSCOW: A torch-lit march held in Kiev to honor a controversial anti-Soviet resist- The Norman Atlantic ferry is being towed ance leader shows Ukraine is following in the footsteps of the Nazis, a senior into the port of Brindisi, Italy, yesterday. Russian foreign ministry official said yesterday. The blaze that broke out Sunday and “Torch-lit marches in Ukraine demonstrate that it is continuing to move along torched the ferry has killed at least 11 the path of the Nazis! And this is in the centre of civilised Europe!” Konstantin people and authorities prepared to Dolgov, the foreign ministry’s human rights envoy, wrote on Twitter. Dolgov was search it for possible more dead. — AP referring to a procession attended by thousands in Kiev on Thursday to celebrate the 106th birthday of Stepan Bandera, leader of World War II-era Ukrainian insur- gents who battled against both the Soviets and the Nazis, but at times collaborat- ed with Nazi forces who had invaded the Soviet Union. Russian President Vladimir Putin has branded Bandera “Hitler’s accomplice,” while Russian media frequently refers to all those who back Kiev in the conflict in Ukraine as “Banderovtsy” or Bandera supporters. However, in Ukraine Bandera is widely seen as a nationalist hero who took on the Communist regime. Dolgov’s comments came as the Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov pushed for the reopening of Ukraine peace talks between representatives of Ukraine, the pro-Russian rebels, Russia and the OSCE that stalled last month. In a call between Lavrov and his Ukrainian, German and French counterparts, “The need was emphasized for the next meeting of the contact group to be held as soon as possi- ble,” the ministry said. Dolgov condemned the nationalist marchers in Kiev for attacking Russian journalists reporting for the pro-Kremlin Russian channel Life News, which many Ukrainians see as especially biased, even against the back- ground of a fierce information war between the two countries.—AFP INTERNATIONAL SATURDAY, JANUARY 3, 2015 Delhi rapes increase by one third in 2014

NEW DELHI: The number of rapes reported in New Delhi increased by nearly a third in the last year, police said yesterday, highlighting the alarming levels of sexual violence against women in the Indian capital. At an annual briefing with reporters, Delhi Police Commissioner Bhim Sain Bassi said that a total of 2,069 rape cases were reported in New Delhi in the 12 months leading up to December 15, against 1,571 reported the previous year, an increase of 31.6 percent. The city sealed its reputation as India’s “rape capital” two years ago when a medical student died after being gang-raped on a moving bus, prompting mass protests and triggering a series of policing and legal reforms. The figures were released the same day that an Uber taxi driver accused of raping a female passenger in Delhi last month made his second appearance in court. Shiv Kumar Yadav, 32, was remanded in custody for another three days over the alleged December 5 attack. But the police commissioner insisted the new figures did not necessarily indi- cate that the city was becoming more dangerous for women but rather highlighted a growing willingness of victims to come for- ward. “More cases are being reported now as women feel more confident about approaching us,” he told reporters, while adding that more still needed to be done to change attitudes and increase sensitivity about sex crimes. “Both society and police’s mindset needs to change for crimes (against women) to be reported and registered,” he said. Bassi said that police received another 36,284 complaints on oth- NEW DELHI: Wife of Uber taxi driver and accused rapist Shiv Kumar Yadav, (center/left) walks with her lawyer outside a er issues at women’s help desks in the city’s police stations, which court in New Delhi yesterday. The number of rapes reported in New Delhi increased by nearly a third in the last year, have mostly been established in the recent years. In the last two police said. — AFP years, there has also been an increased emphasis on training offi- cers to handle of rape cases as well as a drive to attract more female police recruits. Pakistani boat with explosives Bassi said that the city police solved 62 percent of all crimes reported against women within a week. “As for crimes against women, we are taking different steps including self-training class- es for women,” the commissioner added. — AFP blows up off Indian coast Sri Lanka leader asks Tamils Four on board fishing vessel killed to re-elect ‘known devil’ NEW DELHI: A Pakistani fishing boat JAFFNA: Sri Lanka’s embattled President Mahinda Rajapakse urged minority Tamils to back him in next week’s election, calling laden with explosives bound for India himself the “known devil”, as he pitched for votes in the country’s blew up, killing all four people on board, former war zone yesterday. after the Indian coast guard tried to stop While he remains popular among ethnic majority Sinhalese and search it, the Indian government voters, Rajapakse is widely detested by members of the country’s said yesterday. biggest minority after overseeing the brutal crushing of a 37-year It was not possible to independently Tamil rebellion. The main Tamil party has already endorsed verify the Indian account. In a first reac- Rajapakse’s chief rival Maithripala Sirisena in the January 8 elec- tion, Pakistan’s foreign ministry said it tion but the incumbent told voters in the northern Jaffna region was unclear whether the incident had that he was committed to improving their livelihoods, pointing happened at all. to improvements in infrastructure.“This is my 11th visit to Jaffna Indian intelligence said the crew was as president,” Rajapakse, who has been in power for nearly a planning “an illicit transaction” when the decade, told a rally. vessel was intercepted on New Year’s “The devil you know is better than the unknown angel,” he Eve in the Arabian Sea, 365 km (225 said in Sinhala, speaking through a translator. “I am the known miles) off India’s western coast, accord- devil, so please vote for me.” The 69-year-old, who is South Asia’s ing to a government statement. longest-serving leader after coming to power in 2005, then listed India put security agencies on nation- a series of infrastructure projects that had been completed since wide alert for a militant strike last month the end of the Tamil separatist conflict in 2009. “We gave you in the lead-up to a visit by US President electricity, we gave you new schools and now we want to give Barack Obama at the end of January. you proper water supplies,” he said, in a region that was devastat- ed by the separatist conflict. Rajapakse had been due to inaugu- Ajay Kumar Pandey, a spokesman for the rate the latest stretch of a reopened rail link from the capital Indian Coast Guard, declined to com- ment when asked whether the explo- This handout photograph released by The Indian Ministry of Defense yester- Colombo to Jaffna but he cancelled his plans at the last minute, day is said to show a burning vessel off the coast of the western Indian state of leaving his transport minister to do the honors. —AFP sives believed to be on board the boat, which sank, were intended for use in a Gujarat in the Arabian Sea. possible attack. nation’s financial capital. will look to connect the dots after gath- The Indian defence ministry released Ten Pakistani gunmen arrived on a ering more details,” KR Nautiyal, deputy blurred nighttime photographs of a rubber boat in Mumbai for the comman- director general of operations at the burning fishing boat, with timestamps do-style assault on two luxury hotels, a Indian Coast Guard, said. “We will look at around 4 a.m. on New Year’s Day. No train station and a Jewish centre that what was their design and what was name or other distinguishing character- killed 166 people. Since the attack, India their intention.” istics were visible on the burning boat. has upgraded coastal security, spending Ajai Sahni, executive director of No other physical evidence was present- money on patrol vessels, helicopters and Institute for Conflict Management in ed by the Indian government. building a coastal radar network. New Delhi, said it was too early to say The Indian Coast Guard chased the whether the interception showed India Pakistani boat for almost an hour and SECURITY ALERT had improved coastal security. “We need fired warning shots before it stopped, Clashes between India and Pakistan to know precisely how this was done,” the Indian statement said. The crew hid have risen of late in the disputed Sahni told Reuters. Fishermen are fre- below deck and set the boat on fire. Himalayan territory of Kashmir. Indian quently arrested by both countries as India’s vulnerability to militant attacks border forces killed four Pakistani troops the maritime border in the Arabian Sea is VAVUNIYA: Sri Lankan president Mahinda Rajapaksa along its long coastline was exposed in on New Year’s Eve, ending a year in poorly defined and fishing boats often interacts with his supporters during an election campaign 2008 after the seaborne assault by which hopes for reconciliation between lack the technology to know their pre- rally in Vavuniya, Sri Lanka, yesterday. — AP Pakistani gunmen on Mumbai, the the nuclear-armed neighbors faded. “We cise location. — Reuters INTERNATIONAL SATURDAY, JANUARY 3, 2015 Indonesia official: Some victims belted in seats

PANGKALAN BUN, Indonesia: After yesterday, many of them by a US Navy air traffic. It remains unclear what caused it board are still within the fuselage, which nearly a week of searching for the victims ship, according to officials. to plunge into the sea. Col. Yayan Sofiyan, has not been located. Several countries of AirAsia Flight 8501, rescue teams bat- The Airbus A320 carrying 162 passen- commander of the warship Bung Tomo, involved in the massive effort are using tling monsoon rains had their most suc- gers and crew went down Sunday, halfway told MetroTV five bodies pulled in by his sophisticated sonar equipment and metal cessful day yet yesterday, more than into a flight from Surabaya, Indonesia’s crew were still fastened in their seats. detectors to scour the relatively shallow tripling the number of bodies pulled second-largest city, to Singapore. Minutes Indonesian search and rescue chief Henry ocean floor for the wreckage - and the from the Java Sea so far. An Indonesian before losing contact, the pilot told air-traf- Bambang Soelistyo said he knew of only plane’s black boxes. “We will focus on navy official said some of the dead were fic control he was approaching threaten- two victims found in their seats, but said a underwater detection,” said Indonesia’s still strapped to their seats. Of the 30 ing clouds, but was denied permission to total of 30 bodies have been recovered. Search and Rescue Agency chief Henry corpses recovered in total, 21 were found climb to a higher altitude because of heavy Rescue teams hope many of those on Bambang Soelistyo. — AP Mourning and fury over China stampede deaths

SHANGHAI: The bitter pain of bereavement turned to tears of anger yesterday for relatives of the 36 killed in a New Year’s Eve crush in Shanghai, as they accused authorities of failing to control the crowds. Li Juan was only a few metres away from her younger sister Li Na on the Bund when the accident hap- pened on a wide stairway leading to a waterfront promenade. “It all feels like a dream and I still cannot believe that she is gone,” she said, weeping uncontrollably and struggling to get her words out. The 23-year-old victim worked as an assistant teacher in an early learning centre. “The government is responsible for the accident,” Li said, adding she only saw six to eight police on the staircase. “I couldn’t see any other police on the plaza” below, she added, before collapsing in grief on the floor. The stampede took place as vast numbers of people crammed into a square named for Chen Yi, Shanghai’s first Communist mayor. Most of the fatalities were young women, authorities said, and Li was from one of three families who spoke yesterday about their lost loved ones. Qi Xiaoyan, a 21-year-old migrant worker, came to Shanghai from nearby Anhui province just four months ago to earn money to support her family back home, her cousin said. “I cannot imagine something like this would ever happen in a city like Shanghai,” said Cai Jinjin, who has lived in Shanghai for 10 years. “Besides the sadness, I’m more bitterly disap- pointed in this city.” Members of the National Search And Rescue Agency carry coffins containing the body of the victims aboard AirAsia All but four of the dead on a list of 32 identified victims Flight 8501 to transfer to Surabaya at the airport in Pangkalan Bun, Indonesia, yesterday. — AP released by the city government were aged 25 or under, and 21 were female. The youngest was a 12-year-old boy, Mao Recovery teams narrow AirAsia search Yongjie. He became separated from his mother in the over- whelming flow of revellers, news magazine Caixin reported, 30 bodies, more debris recovered so far and efforts by hospital staff to save his life failed. His mother spent New Year’s day crying until she passed out from exhaus- PANGKALAN BUN, Indonesia: ority area to locate the body of the plane,” fied, including flight attendant Khairunisa tion, Caixin added. The crush is Shanghai’s worst accident Indonesian recovery teams narrowed the he said, voicing hope for a “significant Haidar Fauzi, who had recently posted an since a fire in a high-rise residential building killed 58 people search area for AirAsia Flight 8501 yester- result”. KNKT chief Tatang Kurniadi told Instagram picture with the message “I love in 2010, and a black mark for the commercial hub’s interna- day, hopeful they were closing in on the AFP that 40 divers, including 20 deep sea you from 38,000 ft” for her boyfriend. “I’m tional reputation. The official news agency Xinhua said munic- plane’s crash site, with a total of 30 bodies experts, arrived Friday from Russia to help, arriving in Surabaya to take Nisa (Fauzi) ipal authorities had been caught in a wave of criticism for “not and more debris recovered from the sea. along with two planes, one amphibious. home to Palembang. I cannot describe making effective preparative measures to cope with the French and Singaporean investigators how I feel. There are no words,” AirAsia crowds that flock the Bund”. joined the hunt for the Airbus A320-200, Extreme weather chief Tony Fernandes tweeted. The oldest fatality was Du Shuanghua, 37, whose wife told which disappeared from radar during a The search is now focused on an area Also named was Grayson Herbert AFP he was the family’s only breadwinner and she had not storm Sunday en route from Indonesia’s of 45 by 35 nautical miles centered about Linaksita, 11, who was travelling with his told their eight-year-old son that his father was dead. Fan Ping second city of Surabaya to Singapore with 75 nautical miles southwest of Pangkalan parents and 12-year-old sister for a holi- showed AFP pictures of the family together on her phone, but 162 people on board. The search teams Bun, a town in Central Kalimantan on day. His great-uncle Bagyono Linaksita, 73, struggled to find the one she wanted her husband to be have deployed side-scan sonar equipment Borneo. With the search area narrowing, told AFP was dreading breaking the news remembered by, before refusing to look at it herself. —AFP to survey the seabed and pinger locators Indonesian official S.B. Supriyadi said they to the children’s grandmother, who was to fine-tune their search for the plane’s were pressing on despite rough condi- on holiday in the Czech Republic. black boxes, crucial to determining the tions, with high winds and 3-4 metre (10- “She doted on her two grandchildren why the plane crash into the Java Sea off 13 foot) waves. “The search is still proceed- and would send and fetch them from Borneo. Rough weather has in recent days ing in systematic way, despite the extreme school every day,” he said. “We have not hampered the search for the plane’s fuse- weather,” he told a press conference. He told her the news that the whole family lage, which is believed to be in relatively said ships equipped with sonar may had died in a plane crash. Grayson was her shallow water of around 25-32 metres (82- search through the night, but high waves favourite grandchild. She will certainly 105 feet). Search and rescue agency chief were hampering the use of equipment to faint.” A crisis centre for identifying the Bambang Soelistyo said yesterday’s opera- find the black boxes. victims has been set up at a police hospital tion was focused on an area of 1,575 Two South Korean Orion surveillance in Surabaya with facilities to store 150 square nautical miles-a tenth of the size of planes Friday spotted six bodies, bodies. Thursday’s search-with 29 ships and 17 air- Indonesian air force spokesman Hadi Before take-off, the pilot of Flight 8501 craft engaged in the operation. “There are Tjahjanto said in a press release. “After had asked for permission to fly at a higher two main tasks in this priority sector: first, sweeping the area for more than two altitude to avoid a storm. But his request to locate the biggest part of the plane’s hours, at 11:58 the (Orions) found three was not approved due to other planes body,” he told a press conference. bodies sitting in one row,” he said, and above him on the popular route, accord- “The second task is to find the position another three just minutes later. They ing to AirNav, Indonesia’s air traffic con- of the black boxes, or flight recorders, informed warships by radio and fired flares trol. In his last communication, Captain which will be carried out by the KNKT to indicate the location for retrieval, he said. Iriyanto, an experienced former air force (National Transportation Safety pilot, said he wanted to change course to Committee) which start working today.” More victims identified avoid the menacing storm system. Then all SHANGHAI: A couple place flowers at the site of the New “Divers are already on standby at the Relatives were preparing to hold funer- contact was lost, about 40 minutes after Year’s Eve stampede in Shanghai yesterday. — AFP navy ship Banda Aceh to dive on that pri- als after three more victims were identi- the plane had taken off. —AFP INTERNATIONAL SATURDAY, JANUARY 3, 2015 ‘A living hell’ for slaves on remote S Korean islands

SINUI ISLAND, South Korea: He ran the first to a months-long investigation by the AP based activists and police found another 63 unpaid or “These are people who are neglected and mis- chance he got. The summer sun beat down on the on court and police documents and dozens of underpaid workers on the islands, three-quarters treated, people who have nowhere to go,” Hong shallow, sea-fed fields where Kim Seong-baek was interviews with freed slaves, salt farmers, villagers of whom were mentally disabled. Yet some Chi-guk, a 64-year-old salt farmer in Sinui, told the forced to work without pay, day after 18-hour day and officials. Although 50 island farm owners and refused to leave the salt farms because they had AP. “What alternative does our society have for mining the big salt crystals that blossomed in the regional job brokers were indicted, no local police nowhere else to go. Several freed disabled slaves them?” mud around him. Half-blind and in rags, Kim or officials have faced punishment - and national told the AP they will return because they believe On the night of July 4, 2012, a stranger grabbed another slave, and the two men - both police say none will, despite multiple interviews that even the salt farms are better than life on the approached Kim in a Seoul train station where he disabled - headed for the coast. showing some knew about the slaves and even streets or in crowded shelters. In some cases, rela- was trying to sleep; Kim had been homeless since Far from Seoul, the glittering steel-and-glass stopped escape attempts. tives refused to take the disabled back or sent salt fleeing creditors a decade earlier. The man offered capital of one of Asia’s richest countries, they were Slavery has been so pervasive that regional farmers letters confirming that they didn’t need to him lodging for the night and promised him food, now hunted men on this tiny, remote island judges have shown leniency toward several per- pay the workers. cigarettes and a “good job” in the morning. where the enslavement of disabled salt farm petrators. In suspending the prison sentences of Kim’s former boss, Hong Jeong-gi, didn’t Hours later, Kim stood in the muck of a salt workers is an open secret. “It was a living hell,” Kim two farmers, a court said that “such criminal activi- respond to multiple requests for comment farm owned by Hong, who had paid an illegal job said. “I thought my life was over.” Lost, they wan- ties were tolerated as common practice by a large through his lawyer, but argued in court that he agent the equivalent of about $700 for his new dered past asphalt-black salt fields sparkling with number of salt farms nearby.” didn’t confine the two men. Hong is set to appear worker, according to court records. a patina of thin white crust. They could feel the The AP findings shine a spotlight on the under- next week in court to appeal a 31/2-year prison Kim, visually disabled and described in court islanders they passed watching them. Everyone belly of an Asian success story. After decades of sentence. documents as having the social awareness of a 12- knew who belonged and who didn’t. war, poverty and dictatorship, South Koreans now Other villagers, including paid salt workers, say year-old, had no money, no cellphone and only Near a grocery, the store owner’s son came out enjoy a vibrant democracy and media, and an farmers do the best they can despite little help the vaguest idea of where he was. The afternoon and asked what they were doing. Kim broke entertainment industry that’s the envy of the from the government, and add that only a few of his first full day on the farm, Hong erupted as down, begged for help, said he’d been held region. But amid the country’s growing wealth bad owners abuse workers. Farmers describe Kim struggled with the backbreaking work, against his will. The man offered to take them to and power, the disabled often don’t fit in. Soon themselves as providing oases for the disabled according to the prosecutors’ indictment that a the police to file a report. Instead, he called their after the national government’s investigation, and homeless. judge based Hong’s sentence on. The owner boss, who beat Kim with a rake - and it was back grabbed him from behind and flipped him onto to the salt fields. the ground, screaming, “You moron. If I knew “I couldn’t fight back,” Kim said, in a recent you’d be so bad at this, I wouldn’t have series of interviews with The Associated Press brought you here.” In the next weeks, Hong whose details are corroborated by court records punched him in the face for not cleaning floors and by lawyers, police and government officials. properly. He beat him on the buttocks with a “The islanders are too organized, too connected.” wooden plank for raking the salt in the wrong Slavery thrives on this chain of rural islands off way. “Each time I tried to ask him something, his South Korea’s rugged southwest coast, nurtured punch came first,” Kim told the AP. “He told me to by a long history of exploitation and the demands use my mouth only for eating and smoking. He of trying to squeeze a living from the sea. said I shouldn’t question things and should be Five times during the last decade, revelations thankful because he fed me and gave me lodging of slavery involving the disabled have emerged, and work.” each time generating national shame and out- It was just as bad for the other slave, Chae Min- rage. Kim’s case prompted a nationwide govern- sik, a tiny man whose disabilities are so severe that ment probe over the course of several months last he struggles even with basic words. year. Officials searched more than 38,000 salt, fish Only a week after his first capture, Kim began and agricultural farms and disabled facilities and to plan another escape. “Angel Islands,” the found more than 100 workers who had received Salt farms owners and workers attend a meeting with lawmakers as a part of human rights regional tourist board calls the 1,004 islands clus- no - or only scant - pay, and more than 100 who inspection on Sinui Island, South Korea. Slavery thrives on this chain of rural islands off South tered in the sun-sparkling waters off South Korea’s had been reported missing by their families. Korea’s rugged southwest coast, nurtured by a long history of exploitation and the demands southwestern tip, because the Korean word for Yet little has changed on the islands, according of trying to squeeze a living from the sea. — AP “1,004” sounds like the word for “angel.”—ÅP INTERNATIONAL SATURDAY, JANUARY 3, 2015 First baby of 2015? It’s a secret in many places

PHILADELPHIA: Bye, bye Baby New Year. The crowning company. She pointed to guidance from the National would need to look elsewhere for news on the usually of the year’s first baby is being kept secret in many com- Center for Missing & Exploited Children, which has sug- slow holiday. The company’s Pennsylvania spokes- munities as hospitals say safety concerns trump tradition. gested health care providers obtain parental consent woman, Renita Fennick, said doctors will still let parents Community Health Systems - one of the country’s largest and eliminate home addresses and other identifying know if their baby arrived first and that new moms and health care operators - recently ordered its 207 facilities information from birth announcements or stop provid- dads could still contact the media on their own - so long to stop publicizing the first baby of the year, citing the ing them to media. as reporters and photographers stayed away from the potential for abductions and identity theft. Other US hos- Still, the head of the center’s missing children division maternity ward. The Geisinger Health System, which com- pitals have either removed themselves from the new said, the tradition of publicizing a hospital’s first birth of petes with Community Health in Pennsylvania, said it year’s tradition altogether or limited the amount of infor- the year is relatively low-risk. “We’ve never given direc- would eliminate hometowns from its 2015 New Year’s mation provided to the media. tion to hospitals that they shouldn’t do it,” said the cen- birth announcements. Galin said Community Health’s “We know the birth of the new year baby is a joyous ter’s Robert Lowery, stressing caution, not overreaction. policy change came after several of the company’s hospi- and exciting event, but protecting patient safety and pri- Community Health’s decision to opt-out of the New tals stopped publicizing New Year’s births on their own. vacy is our most important responsibility,” said Tomi Year’s baby business made front-page headlines this She described it as a preventative measure and that it was Galin, a spokeswoman for the Franklin, Tennessee-based week in many states after local journalists learned they not a reaction to threats or abduction attempts.—AP

NEW YORK: Democratic vice presidential candidate Geraldine Ferraro and NEW YORK: New York Gov Andrew Cuomo (left) is congratulated by his parents, former Gov Mario Cuomo New York Gov Mario Cuomo share a jovial moment while marching in New (center) and mother, Matilda, during a private swearing-in ceremony at the Executive Mansion in Albany, NY. York’s Columbus Day parade. — AP photos Mario Cuomo died Thursday, the day his son started his second term as governor, the New York governor’s office confirmed. Shooting at Canada Mario Cuomo, a giant in New Year’s party kills one, injures six NY, liberal politics, dies

MONTREAL: Seven people were shot at a New Year’s party in the Canadian city of Calgary, including one victim who has A determined champion of progressive values: Obama died of his wounds, news reports said yesterday. The shoot- ers were not among the victims, and police said they fled the ALBANY, New York: Mario Cuomo had a loud and liberal voice that Andrew was re-elected governor of New York. The frail-looking patri- scene after they opened fire. “Apparently the offenders left inspired a generation of politicians to turn to public service, and a arch and his son raised their arms together in victory at the election in a vehicle,” a police source said. It is not clear how many story of humble beginnings that he wove into calls for social justice night celebration. Andrew Cuomo said he showed his second inau- shooters there were or why gunfire erupted at the party. during his three terms as New York governor and years as a national gural speech to his father, who declared it was good, “especially for a Police received several calls at 5:05 am (1205 GMT) Thursday figure and hesitant presidential candidate Cuomo died Thursday of second-termer.” Mario Cuomo’s big political break came in 1982 reporting gunfire at the private party, where some 50 people natural causes due to heart failure, just hours after his son Andrew when, as New York’s lieutenant governor, he won the Democratic had gathered. Emergency workers took five people to the began his second term as New York’s chief executive. He was 82. The nomination for governor in an upset over New York Mayor Ed Koch. hospital, including two with life-threatening injuries. “Two son of Italian immigrants, Mario Cuomo played minor league base- He went on to beat conservative millionaire Republican Lewis others wounded went on their own to the hospital,” police ball before embarking on a legal and political career. His oratory and Lehrman. His reputation for eloquence was secured at the 1984 said, adding that they were not considered suspects. The his dedication to progressive policies made him a political star, but Democratic National Convention when he delivered his “Tale of Two Canadian Broadcasting Corporation (CBC) later reported that despite calls to seek the White House, he never made a run for presi- Cities” keynote address, in which he told of the lessons he learned as one shooting victim had died. Photos on social media dent. Hours before his father’s death, the younger Cuomo delivered the son of a grocer in New York City. showed the streets around the house where the shooting an inaugural address in which he honored the Democratic stalwart. “I watched a small man with thick calluses on both his hands work occurred sealed off with police tape. —AFP “He is in the heart and mind of every person who is here,” Andrew 15 and 16 hours a day,” Cuomo told the crowd. “I saw him once literal- Cuomo said. “He is here and he is here, and his inspiration and his ly bleed from the bottoms of his feet - a man who came here unedu- legacy and his experience is what has brought this state to this point. cated, alone, unable to speak the language - who taught me all I So let’s give him a round of applause.” President Barack Obama tele- needed to know about faith and hard work by the simple eloquence Two officers, suspect phoned Cuomo Thursday and offered his condolences. In a state- of his example.” The electrified delegates in San Francisco cheered, ment, the president called Mario Cuomo “a determined champion of “Mario! Mario! Mario!” and some wondered whether they had chosen shot in shootout progressive values, and an unflinching voice for tolerance, inclusive- the wrong presidential candidate in Walter Mondale. While Mondale’s ness, fairness, dignity, and opportunity.” Cuomo served as New York candidacy stumbled, Cuomo took his oratorical skill to Notre Dame LEWISBURG, West Virginia: Two West Virginia police officers governor from 1983 through 1994 and became nationally celebrated University, where as the nation’s most famous Roman Catholic sup- for his ability to blend the story of his humble upbringing with ring- porter of abortion rights, he argued the church should not expect him were injured in a New Year’s Day shootout after they pulled over ing calls for social justice. to press for outlawing abortions, given that many Catholics them- two vehicles, one of which was stolen and had two bodies inside, He was also known for the presidential races he stayed out of in selves were having them. Cuomo was an unusually cerebral politician, authorities said. The two Lewisburg officers stopped an SUV and 1988 and 1992. Cuomo agonized so publicly over whether to run for given to musing at length about anything from fiscal policy to the a truck around 4 pm Thursday on a highway outside of the city, Lt the White House that he was dubbed “Hamlet on the Hudson.” Jesuit philosopher Pierre Teilhard de Chardin. He was prickly as well as Michael Baylous of the West Virginia State Police said in a press In 1991, Cuomo left a plane idling on the tarmac at the Albany air- eloquent. Cuomo regularly sparred with reporters, Republicans, fellow release. The SUV had a North Carolina license plate that showed it port rather than fly to New Hampshire and jump into the battle for Democrats and even children. He once said “I didn’t come into this had been stolen. the presidential nomination at the last minute. He left the door open business to be bland,” and he rarely was. Complaining about what he As the officers were conducting the stop, the driver of the for a lesser-known governor, Bill Clinton of Arkansas. saw as anti-Italian stereotyping, Cuomo once said the Mafia was “a truck shot at them with a handgun, wounding both officers, word invented by people” and “a lot of baloney.” He once had a little Baylous said. One officer returned fire, wounding the suspect in Public appearance boy near tears after asking how old he was and then pressing the the leg.—AP Cuomo’s last public appearance came in November, when child on how he could be sure of that.—AP Iraq birds of mercy take Fast-food resolution: Stampede shows gleaming Businessflight from din of war 16 Transform junk image 18China’s hidden weakness 19 SATURDAY, JANUARY 3, 2015 Failure to stop scandal could haunt Rousseff 20

NEW YORK: Traders work on the floor of the New York Stock Exchange yesterday morning. — AFP ECB chief assures danger is limited Draghi sees risk of deflation

BERLIN: The European Central Bank cannot entirely react to too long a period of too low inflation,” would be enough to return all eurozone members nomic growth across the eurozone are a major rule out the risk of the deflation in the eurozone, but Draghi said. The ECB’s policy-setting governing to growth in 2015. Governments must press ahead source of concern for policymakers at the ECB, it’s that danger is limited, its chief Mario Draghi said in a council “is unanimous about this,” he said. with much-needed structural reforms to get their too-low inflation that’s prompting the speculation newspaper interview yesterday. “The risk cannot be economies in order, Draghi said. of further action. Inflation in what is now the 19- ruled out completely, but it’s limited,” Draghi told ‘QE’ on the cards “My complaint is that there is too much bureau- country eurozone - Lithuania adopted the euro on the business daily Handelsblatt. “If inflation is too So far, the ECB has cut its interest rates to new cracy and taxes are too high,” he said. “In Europe, Thursday - stands at 0.3 percent, far below the low for too long, then it can happen that people will all-time lows, made unprecedented amounts of the tax burden is one of the highest in the world. ECB’s annual target of just below 2 percent. bet on a further fall in prices and postpone spend- cheap loans available to banks via its LTRO and That is a serious competitive disadvantage.” All the The worry is that too-low inflation turns into an ing. We haven’t reached that point yet. But we have TLTRO programs, and embarked on asset purchase necessary structural reforms - more flexible labour outright drop in prices - though that sounds good to prepare for that risk,” Draghi said. programmes (ABSs and covered bonds) to pump markets, less bureaucracy and lower taxes - “these in principle, deflation can choke the life out of an At just 0.3 percent in November, eurozone infla- liquidity into the financial system. But given the are all going much too slowly, Draghi complained. economy if consumers put off purchases in the tion is alarmingly low and could even fall further as stubbornly low level of inflation, the ECB has also For many in the markets, that’s a clear hint from hope of future bargains. Proponents of QE say the a result of falling oil prices. Low inflation or even started considering possibility of large-scale pur- Draghi that the bank stands ready to back a full- policy can help shore up a recovery and support falling prices may sound good for the consumer. chases of sovereign debt, so-called “quantitative blown bond-buying program on the lines of those prices by reducing the borrowing costs for busi- But from a central bank’s point of view, they can easing” or “QE”. This is a policy used by other cen- undertaken by other central banks, such as the US nesses, households and governments. But many in trigger a vicious spiral where businesses and house- tral banks to help jump-start their moribund Federal Reserve and the Bank of England. Many Germany, Europe’s most powerful economy, have holds delay purchases, throttling demand and economies, but which the ECB has so far shied experts think the ECB could make the announce- voiced concerns about such a program, worried causing companies to lay off workers. away from, not least because the measure has ment Jan 22 at its next monetary policy meeting. In that it would amount to throwing money at profli- The ECB has already rolled out a raft of different many opponents in Europe, including the mighty the wake of his comments, the euro fell 0.5 percent gate states. measures to try and push inflation back up to the German central bank or Bundesbank. to $1.2025, its lowest level since the summer of Success is not guaranteed, as evidenced by 2.0 percent it regards as economically healthy. But Critics see QE as a licence to print money to get 2010, when the currency was reeling in the wake of Japan’s return to recession even though the coun- the risk that the central bank will not be able to ful- governments out of debt, which the ECB is strictly Greece’s first bailout and mounting speculation try’s central bank is enacting its own bond pur- fil its price stability mandate “has increased com- forbidden from doing under its statutes. Turning to that other EU members were in acute financial diffi- chase program. “The comments suggest the ECB pared to six months ago,” Draghi said. As a result, the economic situation in the euro area, Draghi said culties. The euro has been in retreat for months on will soon adopt sovereign debt QE which may the ECB “is currently technically preparing to adjust the single currency bloc likely faces “a long period the back of expectations that the ECB will back a come as soon as their next meeting,” said Lee the size, speed and composition of our measures at of weakness more than a crisis.” But he said he was further stimulus as traders anticipate more of the Hardman, a currency analyst at Bank of Tokyo- the start of 2015, should it become necessary to “cautiously optimistic” that the bank’s measures currency in circulation. While anemic levels of eco- Mitsubishi UFJ. — Agencies BUSINESS SATURDAY, JANUARY 3, 2015

US factory sector suffers end-of-year chill WASHINGTON: The US factory sector grew at its slow- also were trading higher. Still, the data suggests weak- should be coming off the boil,” said Paul Dales, an est pace in six months in December, a sign that weak- ness abroad and a surge in the value of the dollar, economist with Capital Economics, “But the strength of ness in the global economy is weighing on the United which is near its strongest level since 2005, are inflicting domestic demand will ensure that industry and the States. The Institute for Supply Management (ISM) said pain on key parts of the US economy. A gauge of facto- wider economy still perform particularly well in 2015.” its index of national factory activity fell to 55.5 last ry exports fell to 52 in December from 55 in the previ- The data suggested that employment in the factory month from 58.7 in November. A reading above 50 ous month. sector rose more in December than analysts had indicates expansion in the manufacturing sector, and At the same time, the weakness in global demand expected, marking the 18th consecutive month of the reading remains well above its two-year average. also has pushed oil prices lower, enabling American expansion in manufacturing employment sentiment. A That means the slowdown appears unlikely to derail a consumers to spend more and boost the US economy. separate report showed US construction spending broader strengthening of the US economy. The economy went on a tear in the third quarter, when unexpectedly fell in November, held back by a drop in “These were readings that in any ordinary time it grew at a 5 percent annual rate, and many econo- government outlays and by less money spent by busi- would be considered excellent,” Guy Berger, an analyst mists expect a generally strong showing in the second nesses on projects other than homes. Construction with RBS Securities, said in a note to clients. Prices for half of 2014 will continue into this year, leading the US spending fell 0.3 percent, the first decline since June, to US Treasuries rose and the US dollar was up against a Federal Reserve to raise interest rates sometime in an annual rate of $975 billion, the Commerce basket of currencies after the data. US stock indexes 2015. “It makes sense that manufacturing activity Department said. — Reuters Austria labor minister urges tax reform

VIENNA: Austria’s labour minister yesterday urged the govern- ment to push ahead with tax reform to boost growth after the unemployment rate in December jumped to its highest for at least two and a half years. Rudolf Hundstorfer’s Social Democrats want to introduce a tax on the super-rich to help finance tax cuts for people on lower incomes but coalition partner the People’s Party opposes such changes. Hundstorfer listed the tax reform, a housing construction programme and a European Union-wide Ä315-billion ($380-billion) investment plan as crucial steps to fight unemployment. His statement echoed comments made after previous jumps in the jobless rate. He told ORF radio he did not expect any improvement in the job market until the second half of the year and no real change of trend in unemployment until 2016. Data showed unemployment rose to 10.2 percent in December, compared with 8.7 percent in November and 9.5 percent in Dec 2013. Under seasonally-adjust- ed EU definitions, the rate is 5.1 percent, second-lowest in the bloc after Germany. Austria’s main economic research institutes slashed their 2014 and 2015 growth forecasts for the export-dependent economy IRBIL, Iraq: In this Dec 29, 2014, photo, starling seller Mohammed Jamil shows a bird after it was purchased by a customer to last month as a tepid euro zone recovery and the conflict in set it free. — AP Ukraine tensions weigh on sentiment. The dispute over tax reform threatens to bring down the coalition of social democrats and conservatives should they not agree on a package by a self- imposed March deadline. The finance minister has said the tax Iraq birds of mercy take reform would aim to reduce the initial income tax rate from 36.5 percent on incomes over Ä11,000. Austria’s ministry of labour and social affairs provides monthly data for the jobless rate under flight from din of war the national definition that dates back consistently until March 2011, with December’s rate at its highest since then. — Reuters Trappers say flocks have thinned

SAEBERAN, Iraq: Khalil Ibrahim watches from his tent as the Every afternoon from December through February, the trap- orange light of dusk is darkened by a flock of European starlings pers bury their nets in fallow winter fields on the outskirts of the arriving on their annual migration to northern Iraq. He prepares Kurdish regional capital, Irbil, careful to conceal the ropes under to trigger his nets as they circle the field, but at the last minute a the rust-colored soil. They sprinkle a mix of sesame seeds and child throws a stone in the distance and the birds vanish over the grain over the traps and then sit in nearby tents waiting for the dimly lit horizon. birds to take the bait. He and other trappers capture the starlings during their two- If successful, they will send the caged birds to market, where month migration and sell them in the bazaar of nearby Irbil. Some they fetch around 85 cents apiece. A single customer might buy will buy the birds to eat them as a delicacy, but most will pay for 200 birds just to set them free in an act of clemency. These days, their freedom as an act of mercy believed to bring good luck. This families stop to admire the birds - whose black feathers are mot- year, however, the trappers say war has driven many of the skit- tled white and lit with traces of green, purple, and red - but no tish birds away.”The sound you heard now, compared to gunfire, one is buying them. “Because of the situation and the lack of was quiet, but what about bombs or explosions?” fellow trapper money people are freeing fewer birds,” says bird-seller Khalas Tasin says after he and Ibrahim gather up their empty nets. Mohammed Jamil, 20. “They will flee from the entire area. They are scared of noise and The diversion of a few thousand starlings is hardly the most explosions so if they hear anything they will fly away.” devastating consequence of a war that has claimed thousands of The frontline in the war between the Islamic State extremist human lives and driven hundreds of thousands from their homes. group and the Kurdish forces defending northern Iraq is less than And the idea of holding birds for ransom might strike outsiders as 50 km away, and warplanes from the US-led coalition circle over- a bit absurd. But when passer-by Anwar Waleed sees the caged head. There are no firm statistics on the number of birds here, but starlings, he feels moved to perform a small act of kindness. “It is trappers whose families have been catching them for generations like someone held prisoner, held captive and you are coming to say the flocks have thinned. “Every year at least 3,000 to 4,000, free them. Those poor birds. The feeling comes from my heart,” sometimes up to 7,000 or 8,000 birds can be caught if you are in a the 65-year-old says after purchasing five starlings. “They could KOLKATA: An Indian man carries chickens on his bicycle to a good spot in the two-month season” Ibrahim says. “This year, in have chicks,” he adds. And then one by one, he lifts them up, market for sale yesterday. — AFP my opinion, if I can catch 2,000 to 3,000 I’ll be lucky” he said. opens his hands and watches them spiral away into the sky. — AP Business SATURDAY, JANUARY 3, 2015 Oil hits new five-year low below $56

NEW YORK: Brent crude reversed early saying producer countries across the crude for February delivery was down 63 record high in 2014. In Libya, a senior oil gains yesterday to fall to a fresh post-2009 Middle East will be hurt unless the slump is cents a barrel at $52.64, after reaching an official said a major fire in an oil storage low below $56 a barrel, as a glut of oil that reversed. But Saudi Arabia has indicated it intraday high of $55.11 shortly after the tank at the North African country’s largest has halved prices since June overshadowed is prepared to ride out lower prices so it can start of trading. Traders said a number of crude export port had been extinguished. investor positioning at the start of the year retain market share. “With no production buy orders would have been placed ahead The jump in oil prices earlier Friday for a possible eventual recovery. Brent has cuts in the offing and a significant demand of the start of trading in the new year, with was also capped by surveys showing slumped to its lowest in more than five response years away, oversupply looks to some willing to bet prices will bounce this weak factory activity in China and Europe years as top exporter Saudi Arabia and oth- be with us for a while,” said RBN Energy year as expensive oil projects are potential- in December, underlining tepid growth er large Gulf producers continue to pump analyst Rusty Braziel in a note. “$100 a bar- ly shuttered or canceled. that has slowed oil demand and weighed oil amid fast-growing US shale oil output, rel crude oil prices are in the rear view mir- Prices faced additional pressure on signs on prices. In the United States, bench- despite pleas from other Organization of ror, at least for a couple of years.” Brent that output from some of the world’s mark oil prices took some support from the Petroleum Exporting Countries mem- crude for February delivery was down $1.21 largest oil producers continues to rise. Iraq, data on Wednesday showing inventories bers to rein in production and shore up at $56.12 a barrel by 1323 GMT, almost 5 OPEC’s second-largest producer, said fell by 1.8 million barrels in the last week, prices. percent below the day’s high at $58.54. December exports hit their highest since but an increase of 2 million barrels at the Iran’s deputy foreign minister on Prices touched a post-2009 low of $55.48, 1980, averaging 2.94 million barrels per US crude contract’s delivery hub of Thursday urged its regional rival Saudi having averaged around $110 a barrel day, while output in Russia, the largest Cushing, Oklahoma kept prices under Arabia to take action to support oil prices, between 2011 and 2013. Front-month U.S. exporter outside OPEC, hit a post-Soviet pressure. — Reuters

Gold falls on strong dollar

LONDON: Gold gave up earlier gains and fell to a one-week low yesterday, surrendering to a stronger dollar and falling oil markets, and looked set to post its third straight weekly loss. Spot gold, firmer initially, fell to its lowest since Dec. 26 at $1,172.95 an ounce in earlier trade and was down 0.4 per- cent at $1,176.80 by 1257 GMT. Liquidity was thin in post-holiday trading, with Chinese and Japanese markets closed. Prices were heading for a 1.6 percent weekly decline, the third straight week of losses. US gold futures for delivery in February fell 0.6 percent at $1,177.40 an ounce. Bullion ended 2014 down nearly 2 per- cent, following a 28 percent slump the previ- ous year. Anticipated US interest rate hikes and a recovering economy may strengthen the dollar’s appeal in 2015. Higher rates weigh on non-interest-bearing bullion, while a stronger dollar makes gold more expensive for holders of foreign currencies. “An almost unchanged gold price in 2014 was quite SEOUL: Korea Exchange Chairman Choi Kyung-soo (right) with Seoul Economic Daily News Paper President Lee Jong-whan hangs a impressive considering that we had a 12 per- garland on a bull during the opening ceremony for trading in the Year of the Ox at the Korea Exchange yesterday. — AP cent rise in the dollar during the same time,” Saxo Bank senior manager Ole Hansen said. “But as long as we continue to see expecta- tions for a rising dollar, investors will not Euro, oil and stocks start to suddenly look at gold as an invest- ment opportunity.” The dollar rose to its highest level in near- ly nine years, up 0.6 percent against a basket slip after weak data of six major currencies, mostly on a lower euro, which hit a 4-1/2 year low after the European Central Bank fanned expectations it would take bolder steps on monetary stim- Euro touches lowest since June 2010 ulus later this month. NEW YORK: The euro fell further against the US pressure on the ECB to take measures when it percent lower. Treasuries prices rose after the US The benign impact of lower European dollar to start 2015, with the European Central meets later this month.” data, with benchmark 10-year notes last up 16/32 equities after subdued manufacturing data Bank likely soon to embark on outright money- The ECB, which targets inflation at just below 2 in price to yield 2.116 percent, near the lowest in from the eurozone and muted trading, was printing, while Brent crude fell more than 3 per- percent, holds its next policy meeting on Jan 22. two weeks. Thirty-year bonds gained 10/32 in more than offset by a stronger dollar and cent before paring losses in a volatile session. Wall The greenback’s broad strengthening included a price to yield 2.690 percent. falling oil prices. Gold is usually seen as an Street’s equity benchmark was slightly lower yes- rise to 120.74 yen. The dollar index hit 91.892, the Yields on government bonds issued by the hedge against oil-led inflation. terday, with dividend plays among the only S&P highest since March 2006. Business surveys euro zone’s heavily indebted southern member Holdings in SPDR Gold Trust, the world’s 500 sectors in the black for the day. The S&P 500 showed the global economy ended 2014 in a frag- states, which the ECB would likely buy in a quanti- largest gold-backed exchange-traded fund, on Wednesday closed its third consecutive year of ile state as factories struggled to maintain growth tative easing program, fell on Friday after Draghi fell 0.25 percent to a fresh six-year low of double-digit percentage gains, though it ended across Europe and Asia, adding to pressure on cen- said the risk of the ECB falling short of its mandate 709.02 tonnes on Wednesday. Redemptions about 1 percent below its all-time closing high. tral banks to implement more stimulus. In the on inflation targeting had risen compared with six in 2014 reached 140 tonnes, well below the The euro threatened to dip below $1.20 for United States, the pace of manufacturing growth months ago. 460 tonne outflow seen in 2013. the first time since June 2010, hitting a low of slowed more than expected in December. The Oil prices remained fragile after tumbling in the Silver rose 0.3 percent to $15.68 an ounce $1.2007. The divergence between European and weak data weighed on equity indexes. second half of 2014. US crude futures fell 0.5 per- after posting a 19.3 percent decline in 2014. US monetary policy dominated currency markets’ The Dow Jones industrial average, after climb- cent to $53.01 a barrel, while Brent was off 1.7 per- Platinum fell 0.8 percent at $1,196.70 an thinking last year, and ECB President Mario ing early in the session, was down 32.05 points, or cent at $56.36. ounce, having fallen 12 percent last year. Draghi’s saying that the bloc’s central bank was 0.18 percent, to 17,791.02, the S&P 500 lost 8.14 “With no production cuts in the offing and a With an 11 percent jump, palladium was the preparing for more action added to expectations points, or 0.4 percent, to 2,050.76 and the Nasdaq significant demand response years away, oversup- it will step in soon. “The risk is on the downside Composite dropped 32.44 points, or 0.68 percent, ply looks to be with us for a while,” RBN energy best-performing precious metal in 2014, for the euro after these comments,” said Niels to 4,703.62. A modest New Year rally in European analyst Rusty Braziel said in a note. “One hundred mostly on supply concerns from top produc- Christensen, an FX strategist at Nordea in stocks quickly fizzled after the disappointing man- dollar a barrel crude oil prices are in the rear view er Russia. Prices were unchanged at $788.30 Copenhagen. “It could break below $1.20 since ufacturing data. The pan-European FTSEurofirst mirror, at least for a couple of years.” Spot gold an ounce. — Reuters there is a risk of a very low inflation reading out 300 index was down 0.5 percent. An MSCI gauge edged up 0.1 percent to $1,183 an ounce, while sil- of the euro zone next week. That will just add to of major equity markets worldwide also ticked 0.5 ver prices rose 0.4 percent. — Reuters Business SATURDAY, JANUARY 3, 2015 UK recovery more lopsided

LONDON: Hopes that Britain’s economic Britain’s upturn - one of the strongest old for growth, the manufacturing PMI fell to ticularly among smaller firms which have recovery will become less reliant on big- among advanced economies in 2014 - will 52.5 from November’s 53.3, well short of the historically found it hardest to get credit. Net spending consumers ebbed further yester- remain biased towards consumption rather Reuters poll consensus of 53.7. Growth in lending to non-financial businesses dropped day as data showed manufacturing growth than other sources of growth such as invest- new factory orders also dropped to a three- by 149 million pounds, the smallest decline weakened at the end of last year while lend- ment and exports. With a national election month low and export orders stagnated. For since August, and lending to small business- ing to individuals soared. Sterling hit a 16- due in May in which the economy will take the fourth quarter, the PMI showed the es rose by 286 million - the biggest increase month low after the Markit/CIPS UK centre stage, signs of weaker manufacturing weakest growth in a year-and-a-half - bod- since records started in May 2011. Manufacturing Purchasing Managers’ Index, growth may concern finance minister ing ill for official manufacturing data for the Year-on-year, both types of lending are a closely-watched monthly business survey, George Osborne. “This morning’s UK data end of 2014. down by around 2 percent, the smallest hit a three-month low in December, missing releases show that the long hoped-for eco- declines since records started in 2012. The all forecasts in a Reuters poll. Separate data nomic rebalancing story is not playing out as Credit-Fuelled Recovery? BoE data also added to evidence that from the Bank of England showed lending to envisaged,” said James Knightley, economist The BoE credit data showed consumer Britain’s housing market has cooled off consumers surged at its fastest rate in nearly at ING. “With employment and real house- lending beat economists’ expectations to markedly. The number of mortgages a decade in the three months to November, hold disposable income set to rise robustly rise at an annualised 8.3 percent in the three approved dropped to its lowest since June and business lending showed signs of pick- in 2015 consumer spending looks set to months to November, a pace last seen in Oct 2013, though the size of the decline in ing up despite a slowing housing market. become the UK’s main growth engine once 2005. There were also signs that businesses’ November was less than economists had Taken together, the figures suggested again.” While holding above the 50 thresh- reluctance to borrow from banks eased, par- expected. — Reuters

India prepares reform roadmap Fast-food resolution: for ailing banks Transform junk image PUNE, India: India’s top bankers have gathered in the western city of Pune in a one-of-a-kind huddle to discuss long- pending reforms vital to improving the Chains rethink use of chemicals health of ailing public sector banks in Asia’s third-largest economy. NEW YORK: Fast-food chains have a New Year’s The country’s more than two dozen ineffi- resolution: Drop the junk. As people express dis- cient state-run banks have been con- taste for food they think is overly processed, strained by a pile of bad loans and corpo- McDonald’s, Taco Bell and other chains are trying rate governance issues. to shed their reputation for serving reheated They also lag their private sector rivals in meals that are loaded with chemicals. That profitability. For years, political interfer- includes rethinking the use of artificial preserva- ence and union opposition have thwarted tives and other ingredients customers find objec- major reforms. Many industry observers tionable. “This demand for fresh and real is on remain sceptical about big changes being the rise,” said Greg Creed, CEO of Yum Brands, implemented in the near future, especially which owns Taco Bell, KFC and Pizza Hut. with the economy still recovering from its During the presentation for analysts and worst slowdown since the 1980s. investors last month, Creed said the company If reformed, however, the country’s needs to be more transparent about ingredi- mega state lenders offer investors the ents and use fewer preservatives. Recasting best exposure to any sustained upswing fast-food as “fresh” and “real” will be tricky, in in India’s economy. large part because it’s so universally regarded as “When the country is trying to achieve cheap and greasy. Another problem is that accelerated growth in economic develop- terms like “fresh,” “real” and “healthy” have neb- ment it is absolutely essential that bank- ulous meanings, making it hard for companies ing reforms are thought about, deliberat- to pin down how to approach transformation. WILLIAMSVILLE, New York: In this Jan 26, 2009 file photo, a customer looks at the menu ed upon and implemented also,” One way chains are looking to redefine at a McDonald’s drive-thru. — AP Hasmukh Adhia, financial services secre- themselves is by purging recipes of chemicals tary in the finance ministry, said on Friday. yoga mats. The ingredient, azodicarbonamide, raised without antibiotics, said sales at estab- people might find unappetizing. Already, pack- Besides the heads of all public sector is approved by the Food and Drug lished locations surged 19.8 percent in the most aged food and beverage companies have refor- banks, the two-day meeting ending on Administration and widely used as a dough recent quarter. And Panera vowed this summer mulated products to remove such ingredients, Saturday will also be attended by Prime conditioner and whitening agent. to remove artificial colors, flavors and preserva- even while standing by their safety. PepsiCo, for Minister Narendra Modi, Finance Minister Chick-fil-A said in 2013 it would remove tives from its food by 2016. instance, said it would remove brominated veg- Arun Jaitley and Reserve Bank of India high-fructose corn syrup from buns and artifi- The ethos of wholesome ingredients is etable oil from Gatorade after a petition by a Governor Raghuram Rajan. cial dyes from its dressings. A couple months increasingly being embraced across the indus- teenager noted it isn’t approved for use in some The issues to be discussed include later, it said it plans to serve only chicken raised try. But not without some challenges. Dan markets overseas. industry consolidation, restructuring of without antibiotics within five years. Carl’s Jr. Coudreaut, executive chef at McDonald’s, has And fast-food chains are indicating they state banks for better efficiency and gov- last month introduced an “all-natural” burger noted the difficulties in changing recipes. In an want to jump on the “clean label” trend too: ernance, as well as asset quality. Instead with no added hormones, antibiotics or interview last year, he said McDonald’s is look- Last month, McDonald’s USA President Mike of “imposing any recommendation”, the steroids. “We are obviously looking at other ing at ways to use culinary techniques to Andres outlined improvements the company is government and central bank will be con- products on our menu to see which ones can be replace the functions of certain ingredients. “If working on, including the simplification of sulting with all stakeholders in the state made all natural as well,” said Brad Haley, the you take (an ingredient) out, what are you giv- ingredient labels. Without providing details, he banking sector, Adhia told reporters in chain’s chief marketing officer. ing up?” he said. said to expect some changes in early 2015. The Pune. Michael Jacobson, executive director of the remarks came after the company reported a 4.6 State lenders recorded the highest lev- Growing Competition Center for Science in the Public Interest, said percent decline in US sales for November, cap- el of stressed loans at 12.9 percent of their It’s not clear how far fast-food companies there are likely many cases where artificial ping two years of struggling performance. “Why total advances in September last year, will go in reformulating recipes. But the preservatives or colors could be replaced with do we need to have preservatives in our food?” while the same ratio for private sector nation’s biggest chains are facing growing com- natural alternatives without significant costs. Andres asked, noting McDonald’s restaurants banks was at 4.4 percent, according to the petition. In the latest quarter, customer visits to Since their functions vary, he said companies go through supplies quickly. “We probably latest central bank data. traditional fast-food hamburger chains declined would have to evaluate recipes product by don’t.” State banks account for more than 70 3 percent from a year ago, according to market product. “Sometimes, food additives can be Subway, a privately held company that does percent of total outstanding loans in the researcher NPD Group. Fast-casual chains - crutches or insurance policies. If a food is frozen, not disclose sales, started airing TV ads sector. Public sector lenders are estimated which are seen as a step up from traditional germs aren’t going to grow. But preservatives Thursday for its new chicken strips free of artifi- to need as much as $60 billion in capital fast-food - saw visits rise 8 percent. might be added just in case, or they may be cial preservatives and flavors. After suffering over the next four years to meet upcom- Part of the appeal of fast-casual chains is that used just because their supplier has been using bad publicity, the company said earlier last year ing global regulations and to build a they position themselves as being higher in it for so long,” he said, adding that such it would remove an ingredient from its bread buffer against rising bad loans. — Reuters quality. Chipotle, which touts its use of organic changes are “not a big deal” in terms of the that an online petition noted was also used in ingredients and meat from animals that were overall health. —AP BUSINESS SATURDAY, JANUARY 3, 2015 Moscow-led bloc begins in troubled times

MOSCOW: The Eurasian Economic Union, a trade bloc of with the EU. Although the EEU is nominally only a trade hydrocarbons and raw materials and the worldwide former Soviet states, expanded to four nations yesterday bloc, its economic heft could be a “soft power” political decline in commodities prices could bite sharply. when Armenia formally joined, a day after the union lever for Moscow. Armenia’s economy is comparatively underdeveloped and between Russia, Belarus and Kazakhstan began. The the benefits it can derive from the trade bloc may be Russian-dominated bloc has been politically controversial Tough Times for Members undercut by the fact it is not contiguous with the other and its early days are being overshadowed by the sharp The bloc’s formation culminates nearly a decade’s drive members. deterioration of Russia’s economy in recent months. by Russia, whose fortunes have changed sharply over the past year. Once an economy luxuriating in a cornucopia of Political Tensions in the Bloc A look at the bloc, its implications and its prospects: oil and gas revenues, the collapse of world oil prices in Both Kazakhstan and Belarus appear worried about Why Create A Union? 2014 has left Russia suddenly vulnerable. Added to that is Russia’s dominance of the trade bloc for political reasons. The union aims to create a single integrated market for the effect of Western sanctions against Russia for its Putin and other Russian officials have justified the annexa- the free movement of goods and services over a total pop- annexation of Crimea and its support for separatist rebels tion of Crime and its support for Ukraine’s separatist rebels ulation of more than 180 million people, something like in eastern Ukraine. Most painfully, the sanctions deny partly on the grounds that these areas were once part of the 28-nation European Union. Unlike the EU, the bloc Russian businesses access to Western credit markets. The the Russian empire. But both Kazakhstan and Belarus did does not have a single currency, but is expected to try to ruble also lost about 45 percent of its value against the not exist as independent states before the collapse of the establish one at some point. The former Soviet republic of dollar in 2014. Soviet Union. Kyrgyzstan is expected to join by mid-year and Tajikistan is The ruble’s decline in value is likely to have serious con- Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko has resis- also a prospective member. sequences for the other countries in the bloc. “Russia’s ted Russian attempts to win control of his country’s eco- Moscow pushed hard for Ukraine to join, hoping its 45 economic troubles are already creating problems for cur- nomic assets, warning Russia “if you try to hurt us, we million people and large-scale heavy industries would be a rencies, inflation levels, remittances and trade patterns in won’t tolerate that. We aren’t puppies to be taken on a key piece of the trading bloc. But many Ukrainians detest- the new economic bloc,” the U.S.-based Stratfor analysis leash.” Lukashenko and Kazakh President Nursultan ed the idea, seeing it as Russian President Vladimir Putin’s group wrote. The problems are especially visible in Belarus, Nazarbayev last month made back-to-back visits to Kiev in attempt to reconstitute the Soviet Union and exert more which has largely retained a Soviet-style command econo- which they expressed support for Ukraine. “Both influence on their country. The issue was key to inciting my. As the Russian ruble tanked, Belarus feared a run on its Kazakhstan and Belarus want to distance themselves from protests that eventually drove Ukraine’s Russia-friendly own banks and imposed a 30 percent fee on foreign cur- Russian policies in Ukraine ... Naturally, none of this helps President Viktor Yanukovych from office in February. rency transactions. to consolidate the EEU,” Carnegie Moscow Center analyst Ukraine has since signed an agreement to deepen ties Kazakhstan, too, is largely dependent on revenues from Alexey Malashenko wrote in a commentary. — AP

Cyprus warns Turkey against energy moves

NICOSIA: Cyprus warned Turkey yesterday that if it re-entered the exclusive economic zone where Nicosia has licensed exploratory drilling there would be no chance of resuming stalled UN-brokered peace talks. Government spokesman Nicos Christodoulides said any such a move would be a “worrying develop- ment” and would only “validate the reason for not returning to the talks”. Last October, a Turkish ship encroached on Cyprus’s EEZ off its south coast, after Ankara had given notice SHANGHAI: The sun rises behind buildings on the skyline opposite the Bund yesterday. — AFP that a Turkish seismic vessel would carry out a survey in the same area where Italian-Korean energy consortium ENI-Kogas is operating. Stampede shows gleaming In response, Cyprus suspended its partici- pation in UN-led peace talks launched in February. Warning against another incident, Christodoulides told the Cyprus News Agency China’s hidden weakness yesterday: “While knowing such an action would not allow for talks to resume, it will unfortunately send the international commu- nity a negative message regarding the possi- Incident a ‘wake-up call’ bility of a resumption of talks.” Turkish Cypriot media reports say that SHANGHAI: Dozens of deaths from a crush in led to the New Year crush, which also injured 49. economy is still a developing country which has Turkey is ready to issue a new maritime notice Shanghai highlight China’s enduring vulnerabili- Chinese police are not accustomed to handling fragile social management,” it said. for its survey ship Barbaros from Jan 5. Nicosia ties even as the country races ahead economi- spontaneous large groups in a country where is unhappy that Ankara is determined to cally, commentators say, with authorities’ man- the Communist authorities normally keep strict ‘No Stranger to Incidents’ - search for oil and gas in the same region agement outpaced by new buildings and control of major gatherings. A comment by a “Similar incidents causing heavy casualties where it has already licensed exploratory advanced transport. A New Year’s Eve celebra- police officer that fewer personnel were dis- are rare in developed countries,” it added, citing drillings. Turkey opposes the government’s tion on Shanghai’s signature waterfront Bund patched to the Bund for New Year than China’s mine disasters and industrial accidents as other exploitation of offshore energy reserves turned deadly, killing 36 people, most of them National Day celebration last year has stoked symbols of the hazards of rapid growth. But before a deal is reached to solve the decades- young women, in a city that hosted the World the controversy. while China was “working on achieving its long division of the east Mediterranean island. Expo in 2010 and where the stock market went “I believe this is a major case of negligence dream of rejuvenation”, Xinhua said, it was “no Turkish troops invaded and occupied the up more than 50 percent last year. Shanghai has by government safety agencies,” said a stranger to such incidents”. northern third of Cyprus in 1974 in response been at the forefront of China’s decades of rapid microblog poster using the handle Shenshan The country’s coal mines are among the to an Athens-engineered coup aimed at unit- development and now boasts the world’s sec- Laohan 96886. “Because they made this wrong world’s most dangerous, while factory accidents ing it with Greece. ENI-Kogas began drilling ond-tallest building and its first commercially judgement call, didn’t take measures at the often occur as owners evade regulations or off Cyprus for possible gas in September in a operated magnetic levitation - or maglev - train, scene, it led to the tragedy.” Police have said bribe officials to ignore safety violations. second block to undergo exploratory tests. It part of the biggest high-speed rail network on through state media that a more-than-normal “Improving people’s lives should become a found no evidence of gas reserves in its first earth. It is the location of China’s first free trade 700 officers in the area responded quickly to the yardstick against which national development is test drill and is preparing to try again over the zone and has stated intentions of becoming an incident, despite witnesses saying emergency measured,” Xinhua said. “There is no develop- next three months. In 2011, US firm Noble “international city” and a global centre for vehicles had trouble gaining access due to the ment worth people’s lives.” The Shanghai crush Energy made the first find in the Aphrodite finance, trade and shipping, echoing its history crowds. In an unusually critical commentary, was centred on a wide stairway linking a raised field, which is estimated to contain 102 billion before the Communists took power in 1949. China’s own official news agency Xinhua said riverfront promenade with a plaza below, part to 170 billion cubic metres (3.6 trillion to six But despite those major achievements and the Shanghai stampede was a “wake-up call” of a major urban reconstruction project in the trillion cubic feet) of gas. — AFP tall ambitions, residents question how police over the push for economic growth at the 1990s that transformed the Bund, which began nevertheless failed to control the crowds that expense of people. “The world’s second-largest as a muddy towpath in the 19th century.—AFP BUSINESS SATURDAY, JANUARY 3, 2015 ‘Connected life’ at heart of CES show

WASHINGTON: In the air, in your car, on your back - new While 4K television has been around a few years, the heart-monitoring straps and bands which are “effective technology at the upcoming Consumer Electronics Show market may be ready now, says Bob O’Donnell at the but uncomfortable,” McIntyre said. More important than is showcasing the growing number of ways to live the research firm Technalysis, with prices for TV sets falling the wearable items themselves will be the platform behind “connected life”. The so-called “Internet of Things” is lead- below $1,000. The 4K format “is more 3D-like than 3D,” them. Users will be looking for ways to use the data in a ing to a wider range of wearable tech, from sports shirts to O’Donnell said. “The quality is so high it makes you feel like productive way, said IDC analyst Ramon Llamas. “A wear- smart watches to sleep monitors to connected refrigera- you’re there.” able device can tell you that you have walked 10,000 steps. tors. The vast 2015 International CES, one of the world’s Curved and bendable screens should be on display, But we need more than that,” Llamas said. “People are biggest electronics fairs to be held in Las Vegas Jan 6-9, and perhaps some folding ones as well. In the air, CES will looking for devices which tell us when we need to go to shows how technology is permeating virtually all sectors for the first time have a dedicated space for drones to sleep earlier, skip dessert, or get up and take a walk around of life - from entertainment to automobiles to kitchen accommodate the growing interest in unmanned flying the office.” appliances, in sectors including health, fashion and sports. devices. This comes with interest in drones for everything A major battle is taking place to be the software plat- “The ‘Internet of Things’ is the hottest topic in tech from law enforcement to crop management to search- form for wearables, with Google, Apple, Microsoft and oth- right now,” said Karen Chupka of the Consumer Electronics and-rescue missions. A separate robotics zone will be 25 ers seeking domination. “There is no dominant company Association, which organizes the annual event. “It’s all percent bigger than last year, with at least 18 exhibitors. yet,” McIntyre said. “What we will be seeing is a shift from about the opportunity to connect everyday items like cars, Some robots are connected to the Internet cloud, or con- the device and its app to having an integrated account home security systems and kitchen appliances to net- trollable by mobile device and capable of seeing, hearing, where people can get insights about their fitness and worked devices like PCs and smartphones for greater con- feeling and reacting to the environment. health not just from one device but from several wear- trol and management of our everyday lives.” ables.” Smart glasses and watches will also be out in force, Also on view will be the newest and biggest television Tech on Your Sleeve even before the commercial launch of items such as displays featuring “ultra high definition” that is catching on A wider range of wearable technology will also be on Google Glass and the Apple Watch. Rivals will be looking with consumers. So-called 4K television sets are coming display at the show, in a key segment among the 35,000 to get into these markets, although consumers may want down in price and becoming mainstream, and some exhibitors. While smart watches and fitness bands have to wait for anticipated products, such as the Apple Watch, reports suggest the show may feature newer, even more been on the market, “I expect to see more smart garments, due sometime in 2015. O’Donnell said the successful smart realistic “8K” displays. Roger Kay, analyst at Endpoint including smart shirts and smart bras,” said Angela watches will pay close attention to style. “The watch is a Technologies Associates, said that 4K “is a really obvious McIntyre, analyst at the research firm Gartner. “We’ll be very personal device, it’s much more personal than a play for the industry and consumers” because it can mean seeing more traction with smart garments next year.” phone you put in your pocket,” he said. “That’s going to big-ticket purchases, and deliver a better image. These garments are likely to replace more restrictive lead to experimentation.” —AFP Failure to stop scandal could haunt Rousseff Problems with oversight

RIO DE JANEIRO/BRASILIA: When federal investi- They included the Abreu e Lima refinery in north- gators first identified signs of corruption at east Brazil, the biggest single investment project in Petrobras in 2009, Dilma Rousseff insisted Brazil’s Petrobras’ history. state-run oil company had nothing to hide. The TCU advised both the government and “Petrobras has one of the most accurate account- Petrobras’ directors in a report that was sent direct- ing standards in the world,” said Rousseff, who was ly to Rousseff and her board. Investigators say they then chairwoman of its board and is now Brazil’s would have uncovered even more abuses if president. “If it wasn’t the case, investors would not Petrobras hadn’t refused to provide key docu- be seeking out the company as one of the great ments. The TCU’s findings were “a clear warning investment targets.” sign of bigger problems and likely corruption,” Today, it’s clear her confidence was misplaced. Saulo Puttini, who was one of the auditing officials, Petrobras now acknowledges it overpaid on con- told Reuters. “What’s happening now is not a sur- tracts for years. Prosecutors say engineering firms prise to us at all.” BRASILIA: Brazil’s President Dilma Rousseff (left) waves as she heads to the National paid bribes to win Petrobras contracts, systemati- Congress to take the oath of office for her second term on Thursday. — AFP cally overcharged it to the tune of billions of dollars Deep Involvement and funneled a cut of the money to corrupt execu- Rousseff said in a statement on Nov 22 that she tives, vendors and political parties, including reacted properly to the TCU report and noted it Rousseff’s ruling Workers’ Party. A Reuters review of detailed only a portion of the wrongdoing that has a 2009 federal investigation of Petrobras, and inter- since been uncovered. A spokesman referred recent Free delivery at high cost views with those who conducted it, indicates queries regarding Petrobras to that statement. A Rousseff missed opportunities to stop the graft senior official close to Rousseff said Petrobras’ deci- SAN FRANCISCO/CHICAGO: For top US retail- The number of online purchases in the before it erupted into a crisis so big it could push sion not to share more information with the TCU at ers, free delivery is now the norm. That is good United States with free delivery hit a high of 68 Brazil’s slow-growing economy back into recession the time was made by Rousseff’s subordinates. “It news for shoppers, but not so much for percent in the third quarter of 2014, according next year. Rousseff says she did not know about never crossed her desk,” the official said. Overseeing investors. During the just-ended holiday season, to industry-data tracker comScore, up from 44 the corruption, or participate in it, when she was Petrobras was not Rousseff’s only job, though peo- outlets from Target to Wal-Mart to Amazon percent the previous year. Amazon said this Petrobras’ chairwoman from 2003 to 2010. ple who worked with her say it was her passion. An expanded their free-delivery options, adding week that it saved customers $2 billion in ship- Opposition leaders say they believe her and economist with a zeal for energy issues, she was more items eligible for free shipping. They also ping fees over the holidays. Much of those sav- that she is unlikely to face impeachment. Polls also energy minister from 2003 to 2005 and did away with minimum spending thresholds to ings came via Amazon’s Prime program, which show her popularity has suffered only slightly. Still, President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva’s chief of staff qualify for the perk. Yet as more US shoppers offers free shipping on most items for a $99 she faces mounting scrutiny over whether she did until 2010. Rousseff oversaw Petrobras during a rise view free shipping as their right, retailers strug- annual fee. enough to halt the corruption at Brazil’s biggest in its fortunes that paralleled Brazil’s commodities- gle to make a profit online. That struggle will The company declined to share the previous company by revenue. The scandal could haunt her driven economic boom. She attended monthly become evident in coming weeks when compa- year’s figure. Nor would it share estimates on in her second term as president, which began on board meetings, weighed in on investment priori- nies report financial results for the holiday quar- how much more Prime customers bought com- Thursday. Petrobras’ stock has fallen nearly 50 per- ties and successfully pushed for a rewrite of Brazil’s ter, analysts said. pared with others, which would provide some cent in the last six months and its market value is oil law to make Petrobras a mandatory partner in “For most companies, it is a very expensive insight into how much Prime might boost down more than 80 percent from its peak in 2008. new deep-sea finds. “She was involved deeply and proposition to try to offer fast and free,” Steve Amazon’s revenue. Forrester Research analyst Two top former executives and three dozen emotionally in Petrobras,” said Ildo Sauer, the for- Osburn, director of supply chain for consulting Sucharita Mulpuru estimates that Amazon loses other suspects allegedly involved in the scheme mer head of its natural gas and energy unit who firm Kurt Salmon, said in an interview. “It’s really $1 billion to $2 billion a year on US Prime ship- have been indicted. The accounting standards that worked with Rousseff during those years. Petrobras eating away at the margin dollars at some of ments. Rousseff praised are now in such disrepute that found huge new offshore oil resources starting in these retailers.” Shipping remains a key battle- Other retailers, including Target Corp and independent auditors have refused to certify 2006 and its market value soared to more than $290 ground in the escalating war between brick- Wal-Mart Stores Inc, are removing minimum- Petrobras’ quarterly results because, pending fur- billion in 2008 from $15 billion a decade earlier. But and-mortar retailers and Amazon.com Inc, with spending thresholds on free shipping to entice ther investigation, they are unable to put a value problems were cropping up. The TCU, which is an both sides spending big on logistics. Offering consumers, consultants said. Just over half of on its assets. Records from the Federal Audits office of Congress and audits federal spending, in free shipping has long been standard practice companies surveyed by Kurt Salmon eliminated Court, or TCU, show that investigators detected 2008 began reviewing contracts for the Abreu e during the holidays, but in 2014, retailers leaned those thresholds for the 2014 holiday season, widespread over-charging on contracts and irregu- Lima refinery after spending estimates started to on it heavily all year long. up from 5 percent the previous year.—Reuters lar tendering practices at major Petrobras projects. rise sharply.—Reuters 2015 SATURDAY, JANUARY 3, 3, JANUARY SATURDAY, www.kuwaittimes.net

A member of the South Philly Vikings performs in ‘Day of the Avatar: Master of the Elements,’ at the Mummers Fest and Fancy Brigade Finale at the Pennsylvania Convention Center on Thursday, Jan 1, 2015, in Philadelphia. — AP

SEE PAGE 24 SATURDAY, JANUARY 3, 2015

Sudanese children sit in one of the rooms of the Halfaya A Sudanese man prepares a film for projection at The Palace Sudanese film enthusiast Ali Al-Nur prepares a film for pro- Cinema, which is now closed, in the Sudanese capital, of Youth and Children in the Omdurman district, one of just jection at The Palace of Youth and Children. Khartoum. — AFP photos three functioning cinemas left in Khartoum. Sudan’s cinema lovers dream of better days tanding in his dimly lit projection room, Ali al-Nur longs for Bashir took a dim view of cinema. “They did not outright say cine- the days when Sudanese filmgoers filled the rows of plush ma was haram (religiously forbidden) or banned, but they took Sred seats below, enthralled by American blockbusters, steps to decrease screenings,” Ibrahim said, including closing the Egyptian comedies and Bollywood extravaganzas. The Palace of state cinema institution, a final blow for many cinemas. One of the Sudanese watch a film at The Palace of Youth and Children. Youth and Children where Nur, 55, works is one of just three func- open-air cinemas, the Halfaya, limped on until 2005. Built in 1955, tioning cinemas left in a city of 4.6 million people. Today few visit its peeling green facade looms over a quiet street. The only people the squat, concrete hall, its outside plastered with sun-faded using its 15-foot screen are the children of its caretaker, who use it posters for the years-old Indian action films it screens. as a goal as they play football. Although Khartoum’s upmarket Afra mall has a screen, the They live in what was once the ticket office, with smouldering Palace is a rare survivor of the heyday of the capital’s cinemas. Indian film stars looking down from tattered posters. Above the Many stand empty after closing their doors because of the eco- lobby, the cinema’s 60-year-old projectors are still intact, covered in nomic hardship and government policies that followed the 1989 droppings from the pigeons that have made the room their home. Islamist-backed coup that brought President Omar al-Bashir to Abdallah Halfaya, the cinema’s director when it closed, started power. working there in 1970. “It was a very, very good time,” he says. A Nur started working in the cinemas as a teenager in his home- black-and-white portrait still hanging in the cinema’s office shows town of El Obeid, before studying film engineering in Cairo and Halfaya in the 1970s, wearing a floral shirt and smiling out from arriving in Khartoum in 1983, where he worked in three other cine- under a frizzy mass of hair. “At the moment, the cinemas are shut, mas. At the time Khartoum had some 15 cinemas, all packed on for many reasons,” he says, adding he is optimistic they can reopen weekends. “In the past, people used to call to reserve tickets and in and has heard the governor of Khartoum met key figures from the the week there was a program with English-language films on film industry, although he admits it’s a distant hope. Sunday, Arabic on Tuesday,” Nur says amid the whirr of his projec- Sudanese men look at posters advertising films at the Palace tion room. Today the Palace fills just a handful of seats and many of ‘In love with film’ of Youth and Children. its customers are young couples seeking somewhere private to talk With more than 60 percent of Sudan’s population under the age rather than the delights of the silver screen. “Cinema’s in a bad of 24, many young people have no memory of their country’s love state now. There’s no cinema really,” Nur sighs. for cinema. Talal Al-Afifi hopes to change that. He runs the Sudan Film Factory based out of an airy house in the upscale Khartoum 2 Economic woes neighborhood, and he and his team give training and equipment The Sudanese economy suffered badly after 1989, particularly to prospective filmmakers. when the United States imposed a trade embargo in 1997 over They also started the Sudan Independent Film Festival, and are allegations that included rights abuses, and cinemas struggled to already planning to hold its third edition soon. Afifi, now in his 30s, afford foreign releases, prompting many to buy cheaper Indian grew up in Khartoum’s Kobar area, opposite the Al-Wihda open-air films. The capital’s open-air movie theatres-auditoriums with hun- cinema. It “spread voices, songs and light to the whole neighbor- dreds of seats laid out in front of huge screens-were worst hit. hood,” he remembers. “Since those days, I can say, I was in love Fearful of demonstrations, Bashir’s regime imposed a curfew with films”. And although the SFF has focused on helping young around the capital for several months. “All the screenings were in directors and producers hone their talents in making film, he is also the evening, so they stopped,” says Suleiman Ibrahim, a senior aiming to have Sudanese films screened in the capital’s movie the- member of the Sudan Film Group. atres again. — AFP Sudanese men walk past the Palace of Youth and Children. He helped set up the association to promote cinema in Sudan in April 1989, but the hardline Islamists who came to power with

Sudanese children walking in front of the 15-foot screen of the Halfaya Cinema. A disused antique movie projector and empty films at the Halfaya Cinema, which is now closed. SATURDAY, JANUARY 3, 2015

People listen to a concert at the “Costello Club” in Madrid on December 5, 2014. — AFP photos Groups of people chat in front of a club entrance in Madrid. Adios, Movida: The crisis killing Madrid’s nightlife adrid is famed worldwide for its wild nightlife-but locals “Madrid used to be a city like Berlin or London are now, full of business is striking. “Thursday used to be like part of the week- say recession, unemployment and higher sales tax are opportunities. It used to have more on offer,” said one bar-goer, end,” with the bars packed, said Marin. “Now it is just another day Mchanging partying habits in the Spanish capital. “There’s Juan Canadas, strolling in Madrid’s trendy Malasana district. “It of the week. That is the most remarkable change we have seen.” no denying the crisis. It affects the whole country, and Madrid’s has lost a bit of its magic.” The crisis drove up unemployment to a Madrid city hall insists it is working to support restaurants and bars and nightclubs are no exception,” said Dani Marin, joint own- current rate of 24 percent and prompted tough economic austeri- bars, which it says are two of its main tourist draws. er of Costello, one of the city centre’s hundreds of drinking estab- ty measures by the conservative government. These included With fewer drinkers coming out to play, bar owners are adapt- lishments. On a Friday night around Christmas, its basement raising sales tax from eight to 21 percent in 2012, which has ing to survive. “We have been reinventing ourselves, doing all throbs with live rock music, while upstairs drinkers chat leaning cramped consumption. “I love Madrid. At our age you find every- sorts of things,” German Hughes, manager of the La Palma cafe, on the bar to the mellower rhythms of a DJ. It is a typical bar thing you want,” said another festive local, Quiara Lopez, a stu- which has been open for 20 years. “We used to have three con- scene in a country devoted to partying out on the town but peo- dent of 20, out for a night on the town with a friend. “You have all certs here a week. Now we have five, plus two book launches and ple in the business say Spaniards are spending less on that pas- kinds of places to go and you can do what you want. But you have a play. We are putting on more activities so that people have time. to watch what you spend.” more incentives to come.” After six hard years, figures suggest “Consumption has fallen a lot,” said Marin. “Sometimes the bar that consumer spending is slowly taking off again in Spain. As the still gets as busy and lively as it was six years ago, but overall our Shorter weekends economy gradually heats back up, bar owners hope this city’s revenues are down by about half.” After the death of longtime With 75,000 people working in them, Madrid’s bars, casinos, nightlife will do the same. dictator Francisco Franco in 1975 the Spanish capital responded theatres, restaurants and nightclubs are crucial for the region. “Madrid has changed enormously since the Movida,” said to the country’s newfound freedom with an explosion in creativi- They generate up to 7.5 billion euros ($9.1 billion) in revenues a Hughes. “But we who work in nightlife are continuing to fight. We ty in theatre, music and nightlife dubbed “La Movida Madrilena”, year, about 4.7 percent of the region’s economy, according to continue to believe that like everything in life, this is part of a which loosely translates as the Madrid scene. Times have some estimates. The decline in nightlife has erased nearly one cycle that soon will turn better.” — AFP changed, however. The economic crisis that erupted in 2008 due percentage point from the region’s output, said Vicente Pizcueta, to the collapse of a decade-long property bubble altered things. spokesman for a Madrid leisure business association. The drop in Erasure revels in synth-pop roots for new year

rasure a year ago released a Christmas album, but with guitars. Last year’s “Snow Globe” was among the most unique the latest holiday season upon us, the duo’s biggest sur- for Erasure, as the duo created a synth-pop Christmas out of Eprise was not a Yuletide carol but a celebration of synth- covers of traditional carols as well as original songs. pop’s roots. Performing before a sold-out and dance-sweaty crowd of 3,000 at New York’s Terminal 5 club on Tuesday, Sleeveless shirt, gold shorts singer Andy Bell announced that Erasure would play an old In an intriguing musical reference for an Abba disciple, Bell favorite for the first time in 20 years. That song was a respect- performed at Terminal 5 in sleeveless Joy Division shirt, a ful cover of “Voulez-Vous” by Abba, who in the 1970s pio- shout-out to the bleak Manchester rockers who were reborn neered the synth-pop sound of instantly danceable keyboards with keyboards as New Order in 1980. Bell also sported infini- that was embraced a decade later by chart-topping, mostly tesimal metallic gold shorts, showing off his body as he British acts such as Erasure, Depeche Mode and the Pet Shop moved to the rhythm between two female dancers in giant Boys. kinky wigs. Clarke, in true synth-pop keyboardist decorum, Erasure devoted an entire EP to Abba renditions in 1992 at kept to himself in the corner behind strobe lights. the pinnacle of the duo’s fame. In New York, Bell and key- Erasure’s concert Wednesday will have an added dimen- boardist Vince Clarke obliged the crowd-most old enough to sion, besides the New Year’s celebrations, as two members of remember them when they started-by performing a string of the American synth-poppers Book of Love will reunite to per- Erasure’s own hits including “Oh L’Amour,” “Chains of Love,” form an opening set. Book of Love built a niche audience in “A Little Respect” and “Blue Savannah.” Erasure will play a sec- the 1980s by touring with Depeche Mode and-more signifi- ond show at Terminal 5 for New Year’s Eve, the final date of a cantly in retrospect-broke taboos of the era by openly dis- four-month tour of North America and Europe in support of cussing the AIDS crisis in the dance-club hit “Pretty Boys and the duo’s 16th studio album, “The Violet Flame,” a collection Pretty Girls.” More recently, Bell has spoken out about being of dance anthems with introspective ballads cast into the mix. HIV positive in an effort to build awareness about preventing Despite the devotion in concert to old hits, Erasure’s career the virus that leads to AIDS. — AFP has not been without experimentation, with Bell and Clarke in the late 1990s bringing in long synthesizer solos, Gospel Andy Bell, the singer of Erasure, performs at the Terminal 5 singers and even-to the dismay of synth-pop purists-acoustic club in New York on December 30, 2014. — AFP SATURDAY, JANUARY 3, 2015

Elvis Presley’s personal jets could fetch more than $10 million Elvis Presley

lvis Presley’s pair of personal jets, one complete with gilded wash basin and plush sleeping quarters, will Ego under the hammer in a sealed-bid auction for a piece of mile-high rock and roll memorabilia, Julien’s Auctions said yesterday. Jets “Lisa Marie” and “Hound Dog II” that the late King of Rock and Roll designed him- In this July 20, 2011 file photo, Bono, right, and Adam Clayton, from the rock group U2, perform in concert as part of self will be offered together to bidders and are expected U2’s 360 Tour at the New Meadowlands Stadium in East Rutherford, NJ. — AP to fetch between $10 million and $15 million, the Beverly Hills, California, auction house said. They are no longer airworthy, but have been on view Bono says may never play for visitors at Graceland - Presley’s Memphis, Tennessee estate - for the past three decades. Presley bought the Convair 880 jet from Delta Air Lines in 1975, two years before his death at age 42, for $250,000. He named it “Lisa guitar again after bike fall Marie” after his daughter. Presley spent more than $300,000 refurbishing the jet with a penthouse bedroom, frontman Bono said he may “I personally would very much miss finger- is where we live or die... We have some executive conference room, bar and videotape system never play the guitar again ing the frets of my green Irish falcon or my extraordinary ideas up our sleeve for this linked to four TVs. He had the plane painted red, white after a bicycle accident that (RED) Gretsch. Just for the pleasure, aside tour I’ve just got to be rebuilt by 14th May,” and blue with his motto “TCB” - “Takin’ Care of Business” - U2 injured his hand, shoulder, elbow and face, from writing tunes,” he added. He said the he said. He posted an X-ray photo of his on the tail. the Irish rocker said on his website. Bono injury has forced him to cancel all public elbow on the band’s site, showing several He purchased the eight-to-10 passenger “Hound Dog fell off his bicycle in New York’s Central Park appearances and communications for the titanium pins connected to his arm bone. II,” a Lockheed Jetstar, also in 1975 for about $900,000 in November and underwent hours of first half of 2015. U2 said this month they “Here is my titanium elbow for a laugh,” he while waiting on the refurbishment of the “Lisa Marie.” intensive surgery to wash out his elbow and were planning a 2015 tour, set to start in quipped. The four-engine 28-passenger Convair could fly Presley, repair the bone with three metal plates and May, which will be the Irish band’s first since He said despite the physical injuries he who preferred to travel at night, up to 3,000 miles (4,800 18 screws. Bono said in a post on his web- 2009-2011, which was the highest-grossing sustained, the more serious damage was to kilometers). Only 65 of the Convair 880 model jets were site late Thursday that the accident was tour in history. his ego. “I broke my hand, my shoulder, produced from 1959 to 1962. The buyer also has the more serious than he thought, and may pre- After the accident, U2’s three other my elbow and my face but the real injury option to purchase several acres adjacent to Graceland to vent him from playing the guitar ever again. members said they expected the singer to this year was to my Irish pride as it was dis- display the jets, independent of the Presley museum. An “Recovery has been more difficult than I make a full recovery and that the band covered that under my tracksuit I was agreement between Graceland and the jets’ current own- thought. As I write this, it is not clear that I would be playing again soon. Bono said he wearing yellow and black Lycra cycling ers, whose identity was not disclosed, is set to expire at will ever play guitar again,” he wrote in a would focus on getting better ahead of the shorts,” he wrote. “Yes, LYCRA. This is not the end of April. — Reuters New Year post titled “Bono’s A to Z of 2014.” scheduled tour start. “U2 is a live band. Live very rock ‘n’ roll.” — AFP West and McCartney team up on lullaby

anye West and Paul McCartney, two legendary performers West’s label Def Jam recordings. from different musical traditions, have teamed up in an “The process that would result in ‘Only One’ began with a sim- Kunlikely collaboration on a new single released Thursday ple brainstorming session between the two, with McCartney called “Only One”. The soft ballad, which West said was inspired improvising on the keyboards and Kanye vocally sketching and by his daughter, features the vocals of the world-famous rapper shaping ideas in a stream-of-consciousness riff,” it said. The song and former Beatle McCartney on the organ. The lullaby-like col- was inspired by West’s daughter North, who was sitting in his lap laboration has been in the works since early 2014, when the two when he sang to her, “Hello my only one.” West said his own met in a bungalow in Los Angeles, according to a statement from mother used to sing those words to him as a child. “My mom was singing to me-and through me-to my daugh- ter,” said the hip hop artist, whose first name also means “only one”. Def Jam called the collaboration “one of the most powerful and unexpected music collaborations in modern history”. The sin- Guitarist Slash files for gle was released late New Year’s Eve, and will be available on iTunes in 119 countries for one week. West, 37, is married to US divorce after 13 years reality television star Kim Kardashian, who sent a tweet about the new tune to her 27 million followers. uitarist Slash has filed for divorce from his wife of 13 years. “People always ask me what my favorite Kanye song is and it’s Court documents filed Tuesday in Los Angeles cite irrec- ‘Only One’. Kanye feels like his mom sang thru him to our daugh- Goncilable differences for Slash and Perla Hudson’s split. ter,” Kardashian wrote on Twitter. Slash’s real name is Saul Hudson. The former Guns N’ Roses per- “I cry every time I hear this song,” she wrote. West has fre- former and Perla were married in 2001, and he also filed for divorce in 2010, citing irreconcilable differences. The couple have quently paired up with other musicians-from rapper Jay Z to two sons, 10-year-old Cash and 12-year-old London. Tuesday’s British rockers Coldplay-on his albums. Liverpool-born documents say the couple separated June 15. The 49-year-old McCartney, who linked to audio of the new song on his Twitter musician has had success as a solo star and in the bands Velvet page, is one of two surviving members of the Beatles. He contin- Revolver and Guns N’ Roses, with whom he was inducted into ues to play music and tour around the world. This is the first time the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2012. —AP Kanye West and Paul McCartney the duo have worked together on a song. — AFP SATURDAY, JANUARY 3, 2015

A 16-Year wait finally pays off for ‘Unbroken’s’ Matthew Baer

he socko box office for “Unbroken” (the to you to solve that on your budget.” Baer smiles.) So he pursued the rights and third-highest Christmas opening ever) “There were many production chal- brought it to Universal. The story was so Tis a testament to Louis Zamperini-and lenges,” says Baer, including the fact that inspiring, Baer says, “I couldn’t believe no Box office: ‘The Hobbit’ to the persistence of Universal and producer three lead actors-Jack O’Connell, Domnhall one had made a movie of this.” Matthew Baer. Baer first optioned rights to Gleeson and Finn Witrock-needed to appear Actually, they had tried. According to a edges ‘Unbroken’ Zamperini’s life story in 1998, long before onscreen at both their normal weight and 1955 Daily Variety, indie producer Harry Laura Hillenbrand’s book became a best- very skinny. After experiences with “Jaws” Tatelman was circling rights to “Devil at My seller. Baer brought the project to Universal and “Waterworld,” Universal wanted to Heels,” Zamperini’s book written with Helen on New Year’s Eve 16 years ago, and they stayed with it through ensure that the extensive ocean filming Itria. By 1957, rights had landed at Universal, multiple owners and studio administrations. would stay on schedule. There are only two with a script by Syd Boehm and Howard Pine “Universal’s support was always there; tanks that can accommodate those needs, to produce as a Tony Curtis vehicle. So that was never an issue,” says Baer. “The the “Titanic” one in Mexico, and another in Universal’s 1998 interest was bringing the main problem was finding the right director. Australia. It turns out that Oz was the answer project full circle. The 1998 script, then called Plus, it’s not a traditional studio-tentpole to many of the budget problems, since the “Iron Man,” was written by Robert movie.” The pricetag was lower than the tra- country offers “great labor rebate, stage Schenkkan. At various times over the years, ditional tentpole: $65 million, with a chunk of space and great crews,” says Baer. other writers weighed it, but the studio that going to above-the-line work, including couldn’t find the right director. Between a half-dozen high-profile screenwriters. (Final Right director 1998 and 2010, Universal was owned by credits go to Joel Coen, Ethan Coen, Richard The entire 65-day shoot was done Down Seagram, Vivendi, GE and NBCUniversal, with LaGravenese and William Nicholson.) That Under, with Australia doubling for Torrance, a number of changes in studio administra- budget is modest for a film that spans sever- Calif., Berlin and Japan, among other loca- tions. With each new team, Baer would say, al decades and continents, features big-scale tions. Baer became aware of Zamperini’s sto- “Please let me try again,” working to assem- air battles and a lot of lensing on water. As ry in 1998 when he saw a 35-minute CBS ble a package and/or gather funding. the wry Coens noted when they signed on, documentary by Draggan Mihailovich about Meanwhile, Hillenbrand had become “‘Unbroken’ should be a big movie, and the Olympic runner-turned-POW. (“That film interested in Zamperini’s story when we’re going to write it as a big movie. It’s up is like a Cliff’s Notes version of ‘Unbroken,’” researching her book “Seabiscuit.” Someone told her that the only person faster than obbit” fans led by way on the final day of 2014 at Seabiscuit was Louis Zamperini, and she the US box office as New Line-MGM’s “The made a note to look into him. After “HHobbit: The Battle of the Five Armies” grossed $6 ‘Selma’ to be shown for “Seabiscuit” came out in 2001, it was translat- million to lift its total to $189.5 million after 15 days. “Five ed to film in 2003 at (of course) Universal. Armies” edged Universal’s holiday hit “Unbroken,” which took free in Selma, Alabama Hillenbrand spent two years creating an out- in $5.9 million on New Year’s Eve to finish its first week at line for a Zamperini book and submitted it to $62.5 million. Disney’s seventh day of “Into the Woods” fol- n a gesture of appreciation, U. Since the studio already had underlying lowed closely with $5.3 million to push its one-week gross Paramount Pictures has decided to rights to his story, there was nothing for past $64 million. Ishow civil rights drama “Selma” them to option, but the execs told The top three put a positive note at the end of a disap- free of charge at the Selma Walton Hillenbrand, “Come back when you’re ready pointing 2014 with grosses falling 5.2% to $10.3 billion. “Five Theater in the city of Selma, Ala, with the book.” Armies” is outperforming last year’s “The Hobbit: The beginning Jan 9. “With deep gratitude Desolation of Smaug” by 9% at this point of its run. It’s about to the people of Selma, Alabama, we Here we go again 5% behind 2012’s “The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey,” are proud to share this powerful film It took her another six years, but in 2010, which crossed the $200 million mark on its 15th day on its depicting the historic events that took her “Unbroken: A World War II Story of way to a $303 million total in the US. Fox’s “Night at the place there 50 years ago,” said Oprah Survival, Resilience, and Redemption” came Museum: Secret of the Tomb” finished fourth on New Year’s Winfrey on behalf of the film’s produc- out and became an immediate bestseller, Eve with $4.9 million to push its 13-day total past $69 million. ers. “I hope generations will watch the Paul Garnes for their leadership, and adding energy to a film project. “Every pro- Sony’s “Annie” followed with $3.9 million for a cume of $57 film and share their stories of remem- all of the cast for selecting Selma to ducer has a passion project, but the odds of a million in two weeks. brance and history together.” produce this movie.” passion project becoming a bestselling book Sony’s much-debated comedy “The Interview” finished its “Selma,” directed by Ava DuVernay, Evans also alluded to the contro- are a billion to one,” says Baer. Francis first week with $170,000 at 331 sites-mostly from arthouse Lawrence was to direct, but then got the opened Christmas Day and has per- versy over the film’s historical accura- screen-to lift its total to $3.5 million. The studio added 239 offer to direct the second “Hunger Games” formed impressively, with $1.2 million cy with regard to its portrayal of the film when Gary Ross exited. (Another coinci- locations yesterday. Sony launched “The Interview” on VOD at 19 locations in its first week. relationship between Dr Martin Luther dence: Ross directed “Seabiscuit.”) via YouTube, Google Play, Xbox and on its own dedicated site Paramount will expand the film King Jr. and President Lyndon B. With Lawrence’s exit, Baer thought, “You and saw $15 million in revenues in its first four days. The stu- nationwide on Jan 9. “I’m so happy Johnson. “We must keep in mind that have to be kidding me. Here we go again.” dio reached agreements this week with top US cable, satel- that the movie ‘Selma’ will be shown the movie is just that, a movie and not The script became an open directing assign- lite and telco TV providers to distribute “The Interview” via in Selma when it’s released to the a documentary,” he said. “May God ment, and Angelina Jolie immediately got video-on-demand and pay-per-view services, including nation,” said George P. Evans, the continue to bless Selma.” David interested. “She was so passionate, and her Comcast, Time Warner Cable, Cox and Bright House Networks city’s mayor, in a statement. “I’m so Oyelowo stars as King with Tom vision of the film was very clear,” he says. (affiliates of InDemand); DirecTV; Verizon FiOS TV; and grateful of the fact that Selma has Wilkinson as Johnson in the film, set They began to assemble a team including Charter Communications, Cablevision and AT&T U-verse been blessed to have a movie named during the voting rights campaign in d.p. Roger Deakins, production designer TV (affiliates of Vubiquity). Relativity’s “The Woman in Black 2: after it. I’m thankful to the producers, 1965. Winfrey portrays activist Annie John Hutman, costume designer Louise Angel of Death” will become the first movie of 2015 to open director Ava, and executive producer Lee Cooper. — Reuters Frogley, casting director Francine Maisler with a launch Friday at 2,602 theaters. — Reuters and composer Alexandre Desplat. —Reuters SATURDAY, JANUARY 3, 2015 Tasmania’s lavender bear smells potential of Chinese market

hen Chinese President Xi Jinping Estate in 2007, his first goal was to return it to stepped on to the airport tarmac in the peak farming condition it was in several WAustralia’s smallest state Tasmania he decades ago. was presented with a purple-colored fluffy toy called Bobbie. The welcome gift he received, New products stuffed with lavender and wheat, was not in the He was also keen to boost the tourism poten- shape of the southern island’s iconic Tasmanian tial of the almost 100-year-old farm, which uses devil, but instead a teddy bear that has captured lavender descendent from a crop specially har- the hearts and wallets of Chinese consumers. vested from the French Alps in 1919 and ‘Bobbie’ has been an overwhelming success in brought to Tasmania in 1921 by an English fami- China with a remarkable following-the bear’s ly. “We looked to create new products which success has helped creator Robert Ravens, the would attract young visitors, and that came owner of the lavender farm in north-east through food,” Ravens said. An early product, Tasmania, secure an inaugural Australia-China lavender ice cream, started to attract Chinese business award for entrepreneurship. tourists to the 260-acre (105-hectare) farm, an Tasmania has long had the nation’s weakest hour’s drive from Tasmania’s second-largest city economy, but it is hoping to boost its fortunes Launceston. But it was through the bear that by using its natural resources to attract an afflu- Ravens, a former chief executive of a leading ent Asian market looking for quality products. chemicals firm, struck a winning formula. When Ravens bought the Bridestowe Lavender “We were experimenting with various shapes and colours. One day, five years ago or more, we showed a bear to a young Chinese girl in a Blues musician shop,” Ravens told AFP as his staff filled the This photo taken on November 19, 2014, shows lavender farm owner Robert Ravens at the plush toys with dried lavender before hand- Bridestowe Lavender Estate posing with teddy bears called ‘Bobbie’, stuffed with lavender and stitching them shut. “She said ‘so cute’ and she wheat, near Launceston in the southern island state of Tasmania. — AFP photos Melvin was carrying it like a baby, and you could see the where high costs are covered by higher premi- bond form between the buyer and the bear. As um prices. Tasmania has already been working Jackson dies soon as we saw that, the light went on and we to boost the hospitality industry as China knew that was the right configuration.” Even the becomes its number one source of tourists, with name was designed to attract Chinese con- 20,400 visiting in the year to June. The state gov- sumers, Ravens said. “You can say Bobbie pho- ernment has sponsored a “China Ready” guide netically in Cantonese and Mandarin.” for tourism operators that suggests offering slip- Ravens courted the celebrity market and pers, cup noodles and fancy condoms to guests, when a Chinese model posted a picture of her- with the lure of Bobbie the bear an added self with the bear online last year, demand for bonus.— AFP the furry creature-which doubles as a heat pack- reached stratospheric levels. The farm had to limit sales to one per customer, temporarily halt online shopping and even contend with fake toys piggy-backing on Bobbie’s fame. Kathy Lam, a Hong Konger who was visiting the farm, said she liked the bear as it also had a medical function, with the heat used to relieve pain. “I wanted to see the farm as it makes me feel that Lavender farm owner Robert Ravens. the lavender is very natural,” she said. “The feel- behind during the unprecedented mining ing is very different from a supermarket.” investment boom on the mainland that helped Visitor numbers to the farm have soared from Australia avoid recession for more than two 23,000 in 2007 to more than 65,000 last year, decades. Tasmania was hurt by the boom’s side and it now produces 40,000 bears annually. “In effects such as the strong local currency, which Blues musician Melvin Jackson poses for Australia, you become successful and you have squeezed the agriculture, tourism and manufac- a photo at his home in Las Vegas. — AP 26 million potential customers. In China, you turing industries. But what it does have is an have a billion. The scale is so phenomenal,” said abundance of natural resources such as fresh lues musician Melvin Jackson, who Ravens. “I think the answer is to be authentic water, fertile soil and stunning landscapes. performed for years with legends and to target the market as acutely as you can. And the fact Tasmania is counter-seasonal to BB.B. King and Bobby “Blue” Bland, We are aiming always to be a boutique market, the northern hemisphere allows it to cater to has died. He was 79. Jackson died not a mass market.” demand for crops such as tulips and onions. As Tuesday evening at a hospice facility in such, Bank of America Merrill Lynch economist Las Vegas after suffering from Alzheimer’s ‘China ready’ Saul Eslake said niche industries-including gour- Staff at the Bridestowe Lavender Estate disease, said his niece, Valerie Jordan. The Catering to the demands of the rising Asian met wine, wool, wagyu beef and aquaculture- stuffing teddy bears called ‘Bobbie’ with trumpeter and saxophone player started middle class is key for a state economy left were where the growth opportunities lay, and lavender and wheat. performing as a child with his father, who was also a musician. “He practiced every single day, even when he knew the music,” she said. Drummer Tony Coleman, who worked with Jackson for years as a member of King’s band, says Jackson was a consum- mate professional and an excellent musi- cian. Jackson performed with Bland and King for decades traveling to more than 90 countries and only quit performing this September. He was versatile and his music had a good blues feel, Coleman said. “He’s always been extremely serious about performing,” Coleman said. “There were no excuses - be on time, be profes- sional, do your best - that’s how he was.” Jackson was born in Nashville, Tennessee, in 1935 but had lived in Las Vegas for This file photo taken on November 18, 2014 shows China’s President years, his niece said. He is survived by Xi Jinping and his wife Peng Liyuan being presented with a ‘Lavender three daughters. — AP Staff at the Bridestowe Lavender Estate stuffing teddy bears called Bear’ as they arrive in the Australian city of Hobart. The welcome gift ‘Bobbie’ with lavender and wheat. Xi received, stuffed with lavender and wheat. SATURDAY, JANUARY 3, 2015

In this Dec 3, 2014, photo, Jim Foster talks about his career at his Foster Family Christi Foster Nunnally, left, shows a grand piano to customers Al and Jill Music Center piano store, in Bettendorf, Iowa. — AP photos Jorgensen in the Foster Family Music Center piano store showroom. Piano stores closing as fewer children taking up instrument

hen Jim Foster opened his piano store 30 years ago, he ‘Foxcatcher’ Wrestler had 10 competitors selling just pianos. When he closed WFoster Family Music in late December, not one was still apologizes for Twitter rage selling pianos in the Quad-Cities area of Iowa and Illinois.”We did try hard to find a buyer,” Foster said. There were no takers. Stores dedicated to selling pianos like Foster’s are dwindling across the country as fewer people take up the instrument and those who do often opt for a less expensive electronic keyboard or a used piano. Some blame computers and others note the high cost of new pianos, but what’s clear is that a long-term decline in sales has accelerated. The best year for new piano sales in the US was 1909, when more than 364,500 were sold. But after gently falling over the years, piano sales have plunged more recently to between 30,000 and 40,000 annually. Larry Fine, a Boston-based piano technician, consultant and author, said it is an indication of a changing socie- Sold sign is taped to a piano at the Foster Family Music ty. “Computer technology has just changed everything about Center piano store. what kids are interested in,” said Fine, who also publishes a web- site offering consumer information on new and used pianos. “People are interested in things that don’t take much effort, so the idea of sitting and playing an hour a day to learn piano is not what kids want to do.”

ark Schultz, the real-life focus of the wrestling drama Music education “Foxcatcher,” has removed this week’s blasts against the Youth sports demands also compete with music studies. Mfilm and director Bennett Miller, saying, “I may have “Children these days are being recruited for so many other activi- tweeted out of anger.” But in the Jan 1 statement on his Facebook ties, whether it’s soccer, gymnastics, or swimming,” said Robin page, in which Schultz apologizes for the “harshness of my lan- Walenta, CEO of West Music, a music retailer with a chain of stores guage,” he adds, “I in no way regret standing up for myself, nor do in Iowa and Illinois. To succeed now, Walenta said retailers must I regret calling out the only other man who has had decision mak- engage families in music education. Her company offers an early ing power concerning my image and legacy these past years,” childhood music program that starts with 3-month-old babies. A referring to Miller. The negative tweets and Facebook post on keyboard exploration program is available for youngsters until Dec. 31 caught many people by surprise, since the Olympian has they’re ready to begin individual lessons at age 7 or 8. supported the film since its Cannes premiere, appearing at a half- Foster Family Music survived because it took a similar dozen screenings, including the New York Film Festival and The Foster tweeting praise for the films, particularly the actors. approach, offering digital pianos and acoustic pianos with built-in Family Music In the past weeks, Schultz has grown more ambivalent on electronics for student lessons and hosting thousands of students Center piano social media, and has frequently plugged his book, which came in large performance events, Foster said, sitting at a Wi-Fi and fiber store sign out mid-November, “Foxcatcher: The True Story of My Brother’s optic-equipped Yamaha Disklavier grand piano. Walenta said alerts passing Murder, John du Pont’s Madness and the Quest for Olympic those types of features on pianos help ensure the instrument con- traffic of the Gold.” As recently as Dec 21, he showed this dichotomy, tweet- tinues to be a mainstay for children learning music. “On a digital store’s closing. ing, “How can you not love Bennett Miller?” and “I think the piano they can practice with a harpsichord sound or a trumpet actors in Foxcatcher should all win Oscars.” But that same day, he sound. It makes it more fun,” she said. “Kids these days need that piano would cost.” The average cost of a new grand piano last year also wrote, “‘Foxcatcher’ could not have portrayed me more inac- kind of interaction to be interested.” was just over $16,000. Well-maintained pianos can make music for curately if they tried” and again plugging his book. 50 to 70 years, said Peter Stumpf, a piano technician for the On Dec 31, he offered a series of tweets, often all in capital New piano sales Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra and Carnegie Mellon University, letters, blasting the film and Miller, including “Everything I’ve When Dennis Saphir recently closed his piano store in the also in Pittsburgh. Stumpf acknowledged new piano retailers are ever said positive about the movie I take back” and and repeat- Chicago suburb of Wilmette, it was the end of a business his family challenged by technicians like him who restore well-made used ing “I hate it” seven times. His Jan 1 statement on Facebook said: started six generations ago in Vienna. He took it over from his pianos and sell them at a fraction of the cost. “My story and my life are real. I am a real human being. While I father who brought the business to the US during World War II. The piano’s design, durability and new flexibility brought by may have tweeted out of anger, I in no way regret standing up Saphir said new piano sales are challenged by fewer parents technology helps keep the instrument created by Italian for myself, nor do I regret calling out the only other man who has requiring youngsters to take lessons as part of their upbringing Bartolomeo Cristofori more than 300 years ago relevant today, had decision making power concerning my image and legacy and a glut of instruments already in homes. said Joe Lamond, president and CEO of the National Association of these past years. I apologize for the harshness of my language, “We actually found ourselves competing with our own pianos Music Merchants, a music products industry trade association. but I am firm in where I stand. I will gladly go to any lengths to that came back on the market and, frankly, nothing was wrong “Having all the notes laid out in front of you spatially is really an protect and safeguard the integrity and truth of my story, my life, with those pianos,” he said. “We had serviced them and made sure important way to learn music,” he said. “It’s why it’s one of the my character and my legacy. If that’s not worth fighting over customers took care of those pianos. There were lots of really most important instruments for people to begin on. That’s not while I’m still alive, I don’t know what is.” —Reuters excellent pianos on the market for a fraction of what the new going to change.”— AP SATURDAY, JANUARY 3, 2015

This photo shows a panoramic view from the Claremont Canyon trail in Berkeley, Calif, one of several free attractions the famous college town has to offer. 5 free things to do in Berkeley and Oakland his famously liberal college town is known as the cradle of ward walk, another option is Claremont Canyon, which offers a the Free Speech Movement, but speech isn’t the only thing short climb to the ridge top with sweeping views of campus and Tthat’s free here. Whether you’re strolling the redwood-shad- San Francisco Bay. This is especially lovely at sunset, although be ed University of California, Berkeley, campus, or slipping across aware the last part of the trail is both steep and slippery. the Oakland border for a dose of Golden State history, you can A plaque marks one of the birthplaces of the Free Speech exercise your limbs and your intellect without giving your wallet a Smell the roses, and the puya raimondi Movement on the steps outside Sproul Hall on the University workout. Here are five suggestions to get you started on your Oakland and Berkeley both have rose gardens tucked into resi- of California campus in Berkeley. gratis gallivanting. dential areas. The Berkeley garden is a Works Progress Administration project and has a terraced amphitheater and red- Hike wood pergola. The Oakland garden, officially the Morcom Rose Set in the hills above Berkeley, Tilden Park is the jewel of Garden, is a relaxing oasis not far from bustling Grand Avenue Berkeley’s many green spaces. You can take one of the many hik- with its eclectic mix of restaurants, coffee bars and stores. For ing trails - Nimitz Way is popular with bikers, hikers and equestri- major flower power there’s the UC Berkeley Botanical Garden, ans-or picnic in one of the meadows. If you have young ones in which has more than 13,000 plants from around the world, tow, a stop by the Little Farm is mandatory; take along some cel- including the puya raimondi plant, known as the “Queen of the ery or lettuce to feed the placid animals. Andes,” that’s in the South American section. There’s a $10 fee to If you do decide to spend a little cash, there are modest fees to visit most days, but the garden is free on the first Wednesday of enter the Lake Anza swimming beach, ride the vintage carousel each month. or ride a miniature steam train. If you’re looking for a straightfor-

In this photo taken Sunday, Dec 21, 2014, a record store advertises their vinyl selections on Telegraph Avenue in Berkeley, Calif. — AP photos

People make their way to Heinhold’s First and Last Chance Late light falls on Sproul Hall behind the Sather Gate on the University of California campus in Berkeley, Calif. Saloon at Jack London Square in Oakland. SATURDAY, JANUARY 3, 2015

A statue of Jack London is silhouetted at sunset at Jack London Square in Oakland. The sun goes down behind a waterfront trail at Jack London Square in Oakland.

Step into history Jack London was born in San Francisco but spent his boyhood on the Oakland waterfront and you’ll find him immortalized there by way of a bronze statue at Jack London Square, a retail and restaurant complex. There’s also a replica of his log cabin next to Heinold’s First and Last Chance Saloon where London studied as a schoolboy and later made notes for his books. Not far away you’ll find the Oakland Museum of California which features exhibits on art, history and the natural sciences and charges no admission on the first Sunday of the month.

See the street scene You haven’t really visited Berkeley unless you’ve strolled Telegraph Avenue, a collection of bookstores, cafes and other stores lined by vendors selling various arts and crafts. Stop in to Amoeba Music to see the huge record collection and take in the mural at the corner of Haste Street and Telegraph commemorat- ing the creation of People’s Park, a UC-owned block of land taken over by student and community activists in 1969.

Get schooled Set close to downtown, the UC Berkeley campus is easily accessible. Here you can stroll along redwood-lined creeks or stretch out on the grass and watch the world go by. Check out the landmark bell tower (Campanile). It costs $3 to take the eleva- tor and stairs to the top, but you can enjoy the sound of the tow- er’s 61 bells anywhere on campus. Music plays at various times with longer concerts on Sundays at 2 pm. Don’t miss Sproul Plaza, which is near the Telegraph Avenue entrance to campus. A gran- ite circle set into the paving stones commemorates the 1964 Free Speech Movement. The protest is also memorialized at the Free Speech Movement CafÈ at the entrance to the Moffitt Library. Here you will find four wall-mounted cases with rotating exhibits Wheeler Hall, South Hall and the Campanile on the University of California campus in Berkeley. as well as occasional forums, panels and other exhibits. If you do have cash in your pocket, this would be a good place to get a cup of organic, fair trade coffee. Sure, the best things in life are free. But caffeine is pretty good, too. — AP

Racks of tie-dyed t-shirts are shown for sale on Telegraph Avenue. A man dances by himself on Sproul Plaza on the University of California campus in Berkeley. TECHNOLOGY SATURDAY, JANUARY 3, 2015

Tom Standage: Your phone is getting spookily good at Dave Coplin: Technology should transform work. Deloitte’s Paul Lee predicting what you want to do. Look-ahead 2015 Fly into the future and other predictions

LONDON: This is a not uncommon reaction to enough people find it useful, rather than reading the Technology of business predic- spooky. But just how much spookiness is too tions for the coming year. The tree might still much is an open question, the answer to be up, but I wouldn’t advocate finishing off which should become clearer in 2015. the last of the turkey unless you’re keen to If your preferred headgear is generally have a good reason to call in sick on Monday. fashioned from tinfoil, you’re probably going Never fear! Things to be cheerful about to want to consider ditching your smart- include the annual Technology of business phone. lookahead. Grab the last of the Turkish delight and tuck in. In the first part, our experts are Dave Coplin, Chief Envisioning predicting cyber attacks, ubiquitous drones, Officer, Microsoft spooky smartphones and the continuing rise I believe 2015 will be the year that the of wearable technology. Although possibly word digital dies in our professional lives. not all in one day. What do I mean by that? The idea of becom- ing digital has been helpful to move us from Tom Standage, digital editor, The our analogue world of work, but in a realm Economist where there are few places that technology One of the trends to watch out for in 2015 has not touched, digital has become the is that your smartphone will get smarter - pos- working equivalent of breathing - we don’t sibly so smart that it’s almost spooky, in fact. think about it, we just do it. Technology Already, phones are getting better at pre- should transform work dicting what information you might need, or There are several growing trends that I what actions you might want it to perform. expect will feed into this; wearables in the Our phone is getting spookily good at pre- office, heightened online security (both per- evolve, enjoy and explore the incredible Moving onshore, domestic and commer- dicting what you want to do. sonally and professionally) and algorithms potential that technology offers. Google cial builders can use drones for inspection - When you’re wandering around an unfa- that can overtake core processes, such as Glass. It might make you look a bit of a prat in again it saves on cost, by not having to bring miliar city, for example, your phone might answering emails. the pub but the technology has real and ladders or erect scaffolding. suggest nearby attractions; if traffic is bad, it The key point is that our definition of pro- growing applications in the workplace. Journalists and film crews are using the might pop up an alert telling you to leave ear- ductivity is changing and technology is at the machines to capture footage - exploiting the ly for a dinner date; if you’re late for a meeting very core of this fundamental shift. At some Paul Lee, head of technology, media drones’ small size to film in locations not it might offer to send a message to the other point, we need to wake up to the fact that and telecommunications research, Deloitte accessible via helicopter. attendees. This is called anticipatory comput- even when we use new, better technology, Drones have been prominent in news bul- We expect the value of the drone market ing or predictive intelligence. The best-known we are too often using it to replicate old ways letins recently, with attention focused on con- will be a few hundred million pounds in 2015. example is Google Now, but Apple, Microsoft of working: technology should transform sumer usage. But the bigger opportunity may But the bigger opportunity may be from serv- and a host of start-ups are working on it too. what we do, not just help us work in an old be for businesses. ice revenues. Drones are likely to tap into and Because it depends on being able to way slightly more quickly. We don’t think this will be for deliveries to expand the £600m aerial viewing market, analyse your e-mail, calendar, location and As technology becomes more ingrained in our homes - the cost per trip is prohibitively which is currently dominated by helicopters. web history, not everyone will feel comfort- everyone’s lives, we need to realize that high - but it’s rather for the many tasks that Regulators are currently working out how able trading a bit of personal privacy for a lit- unless we change what we do, the hamster require some form of aerial observation. best to incorporate drones into existing air tle added convenience - and the occasional wheel of productivity will just keep spinning Drones are being used today to inspect the space. An irresponsibly piloted semi-profes- feeling that your phone has read your mind. quicker and quicker and we will struggle to outsides of off-shore wind turbines. It’s quick- sional 2kg drone, whose battery expires mid- The technology is finding its way into more keep pace. er and cheaper to send a drone up to shoot flight above a crowd, might cause injury. But a and more handsets, and could spread to cars, With that, my prediction (and hope) for video footage, than to have someone scale up drone used for search and rescue missions wearable devices and smart homes, provided 2015 is that we as humans will continue to with ropes and harnesses. could save lives.

NEW DELHI: In this photograph, Miss India International 2014 Jhataleka Malhotra (3R/stage) poses during the launch of a mobile phone in New Delhi. India’s Bollywood actors and actresses are seemingly an omnipresent fixture in the lives of the population. If they are not seen on the large screen at a cinema starring in their latest epic, endorsing the latest mobile telephone or even the most up to date cement, then they can also be seen at parliament where a number of them grace the benches of power of the world’s largest democracy. — AFP TECHNOLOGY SATURDAY, JANUARY 3, 2015 Kenya’s technology push leaves investors cold

Millions uses mobile phones to beat poor infrastructure NAIROBI: Kenya’s technology rush gave hope that new ideas would help millions of Africans use their mobile phones to circum- vent poor infrastructure but local start-ups are failing to draw major investors or create profits. Lack of talent, problems in attaining In this 2013 file photo, Lyft passenger Christina Shatzen seed capital and ideas that cannot be sold gets into a car driven by Nancy Tcheou, in San Francisco. to a mass market or easily monetized have Lyft has managed to avoid much of the controversy that’s so far held back hundreds of Kenyan start been dogging Uber, and the image it projects appears to ups. be a kinder, gentler one. — AP Many were drawn to the tech sector by the Kenyan government’s push for a “digital In with the new: future”, plentiful Western donor funding and foreign media coverage about “Africa’s Silicon Savannah”. Snappy apps for 2015 “From co-founders of Facebook to the biggest tech funds you can find in Silicon NEW YORK: Uber, Facebook, Instagram - sure, they’ve been all the Valley, they’ve all been here to look and rage, but as 2014 winds down we’re all ready for something fresh. they have all gone home shaking their From ride-hailing to photo sharing, here are a few up-and coming heads,” said Nikolai Barnwell, a Nairobi- apps and startups to watch in 2015. Which will be the breakout hit of based director of 88mph, a tech seed fund. the new year? His fund, which has seeded almost 20 ed revenues worth 27 billion shillings ($300 many African investors have little under- companies in east Africa’s biggest economy, million) in the last financial year. standing of technology. TELL A STORY is taking a break from investing in Kenyan But similar ideas to harness that eco- “Tech is very risky and there are so many Instagram, which is owned by Facebook Inc., now has 300 million start-ups to focus on Nigeria where he nomic power have been elusive. other low lying fruit for investment, why users - more than Twitter. believes the tech ecosystem is more profit- Safaricom’s chief executive, Bob Collymore, take the risk with tech,” said Dorothy Scrolling through its snapshot feeds gives users a quick glimpse focused and there is less “fluff”. At least 70 has urged entrepreneurs to innovate to Gordon director general of the Kofi Annan into the lives of friends and strangers. (At least the parts that include percent of start-ups in Kenya are “not earn- solve Africa’s inherent problems: access to centre of technology excellence in Accra, empty beaches, cappuccinos with perfect foam hearts and smiling ing enough to maintain business and living water, healthcare and education. “There’s Ghana. Jeremy Gordon, founder of Nairobi- babies in clean clothes.) Its simplicity is part of its appeal. But what if expenses for a small team,” according to a no shortage of innovation, there’s just a based Echo Mobile, said recruiting is tough you want to tell a longer story? recent “Digital Entrepreneurship” survey by shortage of useful innovation that meets and tech start-ups spend a large amount of Enter Storehouse, a mobile app that promises to let you share GSMA, a global association of mobile opera- need,” he said in a recent GE Look Ahead capital on engineering talent. “your stories, as they happen.” Instead of sharing one-off photos, tors. It’s survey contacted more than 230 interview. “Equity is less attractive to engineers in Storehouse lets users combine photos, videos and words to share start-ups across Kenya. Kenya when weighed against salary, which anything from a detailed recipe, to travel memories or a first-person Major exceptions include Wananchi NO ROADMAP is not surprising given the nature of the documentary on the Yakuza. Storehouse was founded by Mark Group, one of east Africa’s biggest cable With mobile phone use nearing 80 per- start-up space, availability of funding, and Kawano, who previously worked at Apple as a User Experience and internet-based phone companies, cent, cheap data and soaring smartphone the Kenyan economy,” he said. Evangelist, helping developers design iOS and Mac apps. which is valued at over $100 million. uptake, Kenya provides one of sub-Saharan Mark Kaigwa, founder of Nairobi-based “Writers always had a great platform for blogging,” Kawano said Another is Craft Silicon, a software firm Africa’s most appealing environments for tech consultancy Nendo, said Kenyan recently. “But that hasn’t happened with photographers yet.” Other believed to be worth tens of millions. tech entrepreneurs. techies broadly focus on the business-to- photo apps, he said, are basically just status updates in a visual form. Safaricom, Kenya’s biggest telecoms firm, is Kenyan farmers receive updates on the consumer market that grabs headlines even Storehouse hopes to change that. a model of how technology can be used to latest crop prices via text messages, while though most of the profitable start-ups financially include millions of people with coffee-sipping urbanites can shop and hail service the business-to-business segment. HAIL A RIDE mobile telephones but without access to taxis through smartphone apps. Yet critics “You have a swarm of developers who are If you haven’t heard of Uber, you must never leave your house or traditional infrastructure such as the banks say only a small percentage of Kenya’s 44 looking at business-to-consumer apps but watch the news. Many people also are familiar with Uber’s smaller that are available to the wealthy or those liv- million people use these services. with no roadmap,” said Kaigwa. Shortage of rival Lyft, which burnishes its kinder, gentler image by slapping huge ing in cities. Forced to play catch up on development investment, a perennial African problem, is pink mustaches on the front of its cars. But more companies are Safaricom in 2007 pioneered its M-Pesa issues, engineers hope Africa can jump to another impediment. Early seed capital pro- queuing up to squire you around town. mobile money transfer technology, now the front of the technology revolution. But vided by the likes of 88mph and a handful of In 10 cities in the US, including San Francisco, Seattle, Chicago used across Africa, Asia and Europe. It Barnwell said talent tends to move into real other funds is scarce. And with interest rates and Los Angeles, you can order up a Sidecar. The service differenti- proved that money can be made from peo- estate or banking, sectors which offer huge on Kenyan loans often topping 20 percent, ates itself by letting passengers input their destinations when they ple who earn a few dollars a day. It generat- rewards with less risk, particularly since bank debt is expensive. — Reuters book rides and sort drivers based on price, shortest ETA and favorites. In Los Angeles, there’s also Opoli, which lets drivers bid for your ride so you can decide which one to go with. You can pick your Seek muscular male with quality rump? vehicle too, and make a reservation. Unlike many other app-based car services, Opoli also allows its drivers to work for competitors. Opoli doesn’t take a commission on a fare; its drivers pay a subscrip- SAINT-PRIX, France: Described as blond, muscular and from a race, as well as what characteristics they are looking to improve in tion fee to use the service. good family, Bariton’s online profile has caught the eye of Sylvain their herd: milk, growth, muscular development or calving Frobert, who is thinking of hooking him up with Anita, or prowess. Once this is done, dozens of profile pictures appear on COOK A MEAL Henriette. He could also be a good match for Desiree. Or maybe the screen, and the hardest part is deciding from among the beefy Food-ordering apps such as Seamless have made it easy to order even all three? But Frobert is not a matchmaker in the traditional bevy of French-bred bulls. in. And if you want to venture outside, OpenTable and smaller com- sense. He is a farmer in Saint-Prix in the centre of France raising 160 petitors such as Reserve help you quickly book a table with their Charolais cows for meat. And he needs just the right genetic mate- An ‘exceptional rump’ smartphone apps. But if you’d rather give your loved ones the per- rial to boost his herd. What about Cyrano, a Charolais bull who boasts a “breathtaking sonal touch, new DIY services will provide carefully measured ingre- Like many desperately seeking the right partner, the 33-year- body”? But there is also Arlequin, a Blonde d’Aquitaine-a breed dients and detailed recipes for even the clumsiest of cooks. old has turned to the Internet, where the website trouverlebontau- from southwestern France-who despite his rural upbringing has a Sites such as HelloFresh, Plated and Blue Apron deliver weekly reau.com (“find the right bull” in English) has hundreds of profiles “Parisian elegance”. The cream-coloured bull Euskadi is targeting boxes of raw ingredients - even including spices and, at least in the of potential mates. “females who live for blondes”, while Braise boasts an “exceptional case of HelloFresh, water. The only things you’re assumed to have in Farmers like Frobert can log onto what looks very much like a rump”. But unfortunately for Bariton the bull and Desiree (or your pantry are salt, pepper, oil and possibly butter. An upcoming traditional online dating website, to admire the muscular curves of Henrietta or Anita) their love will remain virtual, with no long walks “family plan” box for Blue Apron, for example, features chicken hundred of bulls, as well as an extensive family tree to determine or passionate moments in a French field. Once Frobert makes his under a “brick” with rosemary, roast potatoes and broccolini; their all-important breeding. “Matches for demanding cows!” pro- choice it all gets rather clinical, and a specimen of the bull’s semen New England-style shrimp rolls with warm potato and kale salad; claims the site, in a play on a catchphrase used by several popular is dispatched to him for artificial insemination. fresh pappardelle Bolognese with romaine, celery and apple salad local dating sites which advertise themselves as being for With the falling price of meat, genetic progress has allowed and two-cheese pizza with iceberg chopped salad. The meals are “demanding singles”. farmers to breed animals that are “profitable, super efficient and quick to prepare, so if you’re tired of takeout and live in their delivery The website was launched in France in October by a group of adapted to the market,” said Pascal Soulas of Charolais Univers, location, these services could spice up your diet. Or maybe help with breeding associations during the country’s Farming Summit. which carries out artificial inseminations and uses biotechnology that “eat-healthy” New Year’s resolution? — AP Breeders can input details about their cow such as her age and to tweak the genetic profile of the breed. — AFP TV listings SATURDAY, JANUARY 3, 2015

07:50 Diners, Drive-Ins & Dives 14:00 Chasing UFOs 08:15 Food Network Challenge 15:00 Predator CSI 09:05 Siba’s Table 16:00 Ancient Megastructures 00:30 My Family 09:30 Have Cake, Will Travel 17:00 Naked Science 01:00 The Mimic 09:55 Have Cake, Will Travel 18:00 Inside 01:25 Casualty 10:20 Barefoot Contessa - Back To 19:00 Predator CSI 02:15 Blackadder II Basics 20:00 Ancient Megastructures 02:45 Sherlock 10:45 Barefoot Contessa - Back To 21:00 Naked Science 04:15 The Weakest Link Basics 22:00 Inside 05:00 Woolly & Tig 11:10 Siba’s Table 23:00 Beyond Magic with DMC 05:05 Show Me Show Me 11:35 Siba’s Table 05:30 Gigglebiz 12:00 Guy’s Big Bite 05:45 Charlie And Lola 12:25 Unique Eats 06:00 Nina And The Neurons: In The 12:50 Unique Eats Lab 13:15 Hungry Girl 06:15 Woolly & Tig 13:40 Hungry Girl 06:20 Show Me Show Me 14:05 Diners, Drive-Ins & Dives 00:30 The Daily Show With Jon 06:45 Gigglebiz 14:30 Diners, Drive-Ins & Dives Stewart 07:00 Charlie And Lola 14:55 Diners, Drive-Ins & Dives 01:00 Community 07:15 Nina And The Neurons: In The 15:20 Diners, Drive-Ins & Dives 01:30 Married Lab 15:45 Barefoot Contessa - Back To 02:00 The League 07:30 The Weakest Link Basics 02:30 The Big C 08:15 Doctor Who 16:10 Barefoot Contessa - Back To 03:00 The Neighbors 09:00 My Family Basics 03:30 How I Met Your Mother 09:30 Outcasts 16:35 Siba’s Table 04:00 New Girl 10:20 Michael McIntyre’s Comedy 17:00 Siba’s Table 04:30 The Tonight Show Starring Roadshow 17:25 Diners, Drive-Ins & Dives Jimmy Fallon 11:05 The Weakest Link 17:50 Diners, Drive-Ins & Dives 05:30 My Boys 11:50 Doctor Who 18:15 Diners, Drive-Ins & Dives 06:00 Til Death 12:35 My Family 18:40 Barefoot Contessa - Back To 06:30 My Name Is Earl 13:05 Casualty Basics 07:00 Late Night With Seth Meyers 13:55 Eastenders 19:05 Barefoot Contessa - Back To 08:00 New Girl 14:25 Eastenders Basics 08:30 My Boys 14:55 Eastenders 19:30 Siba’s Table 09:00 The Neighbors 15:25 Eastenders 19:55 Siba’s Table 09:30 Brooklyn Nine-Nine 15:55 The Weakest Link 20:20 Diners, Drive-Ins & Dives 10:00 Young & Hungry 16:40 Sinbad 20:45 Diners, Drive-Ins & Dives 10:30 My Name Is Earl 17:25 Sally Lockhart Mysteries 21:10 Barefoot Contessa - Back To 11:00 The Tonight Show Starring 19:00 Doctor Who: A Christmas Carol Basics Jimmy Fallon 20:00 Alan Carr: Chatty Man 21:35 Barefoot Contessa - Back To 12:00 Til Death 20:45 Michael Mcintyre: Hello Basics 12:30 New Girl Wembley! 22:00 Diners, Drive-Ins & Dives 13:00 My Boys 21:40 The Royle Family: Christmas 22:25 Diners, Drive-Ins & Dives 13:30 Welcome To The Family 2012 22:50 Fast Food Gone Global 14:00 How I Met Your Mother 22:40 The Weakest Link 23:40 Diners, Drive-Ins & Dives 14:30 Brooklyn Nine-Nine 23:25 Sinbad 15:00 Young & Hungry 15:30 The Daily Show With Jon Stewart 16:00 Community 16:30 Til Death 00:15 DIY SOS: The Big Build 17:00 Late Night With Seth Meyers 00:40 Four Weddings UK 18:00 Men At Work 01:05 How To Cook Like Heston 01:30 Holiday Heaven On Earth 01:30 Come Dine With Me: South 18:30 How I Met Your Mother 02:00 Paul O’Grady: For The Love Of 19:00 2 Broke Girls Africa Dogs 02:20 Come Dine With Me: South 19:30 Young & Hungry 02:25 Paul O’Grady: For The Love Of 20:00 The Tonight Show Starring Africa Dogs 07:35 How To Cook Like Heston Jimmy Fallon 02:55 Emmerdale 21:00 The Daily Show Global Edition 08:00 Antiques Roadshow 03:20 Emmerdale 08:55 Antiques Roadshow 21:30 Community 03:45 Emmerdale 22:00 Saturday Night Live 12:20 Holmes On Homes 04:05 Emmerdale 13:05 Holmes On Homes 23:00 The Big C 04:30 Emmerdale 23:30 Late Night With Seth Meyers 13:55 DIY SOS: The Big Build 05:00 Coronation Street 14:45 How To Cook Like Heston 05:45 Coronation Street 15:10 Come Dine With Me: South 06:10 Coronation Street Africa ONG BAK 3 ON OSN ACTION HD 06:35 Coronation Street 16:00 Bargain Hunt 07:05 Cilla 21:25 Dukes Of Haggle 12:15 Dog With A Blog Kardashians 16:45 Bargain Hunt 08:00 Murdoch Mysteries 00:00 Rake 21:50 Dukes Of Haggle 12:40 Mako Mermaids 06:55 Keeping Up With The 17:30 Antiques Roadshow 08:50 Murdoch Mysteries 01:00 Warehouse 13 22:15 Dukes Of Haggle 13:05 Binny And The Ghost Kardashians 18:25 Antiques Roadshow 09:45 Derren Brown: The Great Art 02:00 American Horror Story: Freak 22:40 Dukes Of Haggle 13:30 Girl Meets World 07:50 Style Star 19:15 Phil Spencer: Secret Agent - Robbery Show 23:05 Airplane Repo 13:55 I Didn’t Do It 08:20 E!ES Specials 11:10 Who’s Doing The Dishes 03:00 Supernatural 23:55 Street Outlaws 14:20 Sabrina: Secrets Of A Teenage 09:15 #RichKids Of Beverly Hills 20:05 Bill’s Kitchen: Notting Hill 12:00 Holiday Heaven On Earth 04:00 Switched At Birth Witch 09:45 #RichKids Of Beverly Hills 20:30 Rick Stein’s India 12:25 Paul O’Grady: For The Love Of 05:00 Grey’s Anatomy 14:55 Gravity Falls 10:15 E!ES 21:20 Antiques Roadshow Dogs 06:00 Rake 15:20 Dog With A Blog 11:10 THS 22:15 Antiques Roadshow 12:55 Paul O’Grady: For The Love Of 07:00 Helix 15:45 Jessie 12:05 Giuliana & Bill 23:05 Antiques Roadshow Dogs 08:00 C.S.I. 16:10 Austin & Ally 13:05 Giuliana & Bill 13:15 Tricked 09:00 Switched At Birth 16:35 Girl Meets World 14:05 Giuliana & Bill 14:05 The Jonathan Ross Show 10:00 Grey’s Anatomy 17:00 Liv And Maddie 15:00 Fashion Bloggers 15:00 Keep It In The Family 11:00 Warehouse 13 17:25 Disney Sing-Along 15:30 Fashion Bloggers 15:55 Big Star’s Little Star 13:00 The Ellen DeGeneres Show 00:00 Violetta 17:50 Disney Sing-Along 16:00 House Of DVF 16:50 Derren Brown: The Great Art 14:00 C.S.I. 00:45 The Hive 18:15 Disney Sing-Along 17:00 House Of DVF Robbery 15:00 Rake 00:20 Kindig Customs 00:50 Art Attack 18:40 Disney Sing-Along 18:00 House Of DVF 18:05 Breathless 18:00 C.S.I. 01:10 Highway To Sell 01:15 Art Attack 19:05 Disney Sing-Along 19:00 E!ES 19:00 Keep It In The Family 19:00 Switched At Birth 02:00 Fast N’ Loud 01:40 Jungle Junction 19:30 Binny And The Ghost 20:00 Kourtney And Khloe Take The 19:55 Derren Brown: The Great Art 20:00 The Blacklist Special 02:50 Storage Hunters 01:50 Jungle Junction 19:55 Gravity Falls Hamptons Robbery 21:00 The Strain 03:15 The Liquidator 02:05 Jungle Junction 20:20 Wizards Of Waverly Place 21:00 Kourtney And Khloe Take The 21:25 Cilla 22:00 Sons Of Anarchy 03:40 Dukes Of Haggle 02:15 Jungle Junction 20:45 Suite Life On Deck Hamptons 22:20 The Jonathan Ross Show 23:00 Supernatural 04:05 How It’s Made 02:30 Violetta 21:10 Hannah Montana 22:00 THS 23:15 Coronation Street 04:30 How It’s Made 03:10 The Hive 21:35 That’s So Raven 23:00 The Soup 05:00 Treehouse Masters 03:20 Art Attack 22:00 Suite Life On Deck 23:30 House Of DVF 06:00 Close-Up Kings 03:45 Art Attack 22:25 A.N.T. Farm 06:50 Magic Of Science 04:10 Jungle Junction 22:50 Shake It Up 07:15 Magic Of Science 04:20 Jungle Junction 23:10 Wolfblood 07:40 Troy 04:35 Jungle Junction 23:35 Wolfblood 08:30 Get Out Alive With Bear Grylls 04:45 Jungle Junction 00:00 Unforgettable 00:05 Chopped 00:00 Battleground Brothers 09:20 Hell Road Russia 05:00 Art Attack 01:00 Light At The Edge of The World 01:00 Good Morning America 10:10 Manhunt 05:25 Art Attack 00:55 Amazing Wedding Cakes 03:00 Grimm 01:45 BBQ Crawl 02:00 Megacities 11:00 Fast N’ Loud 05:50 Mouk 03:00 Mega Factories: Supercars 04:00 The Leftovers 11:50 Fast N’ Loud 06:00 Dog With A Blog 02:10 BBQ Crawl 05:00 Good Morning America 00:00 #RichKids Of Beverly Hills 04:00 Engineering Connections 12:40 Fast N’ Loud 06:25 Liv And Maddie 02:35 Pizza Cuz 08:00 The Ellen DeGeneres Show 00:30 #RichKids Of Beverly Hills 05:00 Live Free Or Die 13:30 Fast N’ Loud 06:50 So Random 03:00 Pizza Cuz 09:00 24 00:55 Extreme Close-Up 06:00 Ape Man 14:20 Fast N’ Loud 07:15 Gravity Falls 03:25 Charly’s Cake Angels 11:00 The Ellen DeGeneres Show 01:25 E!ES 07:00 Knights of Mayhem 15:10 Fast N’ Loud 07:40 Jessie 03:50 Amazing Wedding Cakes 12:00 Burn Notice 02:20 Kourtney And Khloe Take The 08:00 Battleground Brothers 16:00 Gold Rush 08:05 Liv And Maddie 04:40 All You Can Meat 13:00 Unforgettable Hamptons 09:00 Light At The Edge of The World 16:50 Gold Rush 08:30 Binny And The Ghost 05:05 Roadtrip With G. Garvin 14:00 24 03:15 Kourtney And Khloe Take The 10:00 Megacities 17:40 Alaskan Bush People 08:55 I Didn’t Do It 05:30 Reza’s African Kitchen 16:00 Live Good Morning America Hamptons 11:00 Beyond Magic with DMC 18:30 Get Out Alive With Bear Grylls 09:20 Dog With A Blog 05:50 Siba’s Table 17:00 Burn Notice 04:10 E!ES 12:00 Diggers 19:20 Hell Road Russia 09:45 Girl Meets World 06:10 Sweet Genius 18:00 Unforgettable 05:05 E!ES 12:30 Diggers 20:10 Manhunt 10:10 Wizards Of Waverly Place 07:00 Tastiest Places To Chowdown 19:00 24 06:00 Keeping Up With The 13:00 Hard Time 21:00 Dukes Of Haggle 10:35 Read It & Weep 07:25 Diners, Drive-Ins & Dives 20:00 Burn Notice TV listings SATURDAY, JANUARY 3, 2015

00:00 Unforgettable 06:00 Timer-PG15 23:00 Filth-R 08:39 Live ABC Nightline 18:00 Pawn Stars 12:00 I Spy 01:00 Good Morning America 08:00 Old Stock-PG15 OSN MOVIES KIDS 09:06 MSNBC The Rachel Maddow 18:30 Pawn Stars 13:45 Her Husband's Betrayal 03:00 Grimm 10:00 Home Alone-PG 01:00 The Legend Of Sasquatch Show 19:00 Storage Wars 15:30 XXX 04:00 The Leftovers 12:00 It’s A Disaster-PG15 02:45 Dino Time 11:00 MSNBC Morning Joe 19:30 Storage Wars 17:45 Seven Years In Tibet 05:00 Good Morning America 14:00 Parental Guidance-PG 04:15 Luke And Lucy: The Texas 15:00 Live NBC Saturday Today 20:00 WWI: The First Modern War 08:00 The Ellen DeGeneres Show 16:00 Old Stock-PG15 Rangers Show 21:00 Storage Wars 20:00 Casanova 09:00 24 18:00 What To Expect When You’re 06:00 The Ugly Duckling And Me 17:00 MSNBC Up W/ Steve Kornacki 21:30 Storage Wars 22:00 National Security 11:00 The Ellen DeGeneres Show Expecting-PG15 08:00 Unstable Fables: Tortoise vs. 18:57 MSNBC Hardball W/ Chris 22:00 Pawn Stars 23:30 The Station Agent-PG 12:00 Burn Notice 20:00 Bachelorette-PG15 Hare Matthews 22:30 Storage Wars 13:00 Unforgettable 22:00 The Love Guru-18 09:45 Back To The Sea 19:38 MSNBC The Rachel Maddow 23:00 Pawn Stars 14:00 24 OSN MOVIES DRAMA HD 11:30 Barbie And The Magic Of Show 23:30 Pawn Stars 16:00 Live Good Morning America 01:00 Kon-Tiki-PG15 Pegasus 21:00 ABC 20/20 17:00 Burn Notice 03:00 The Trouble With Bliss-PG15 13:00 Dino Time 22:00 Live MSNBC News 18:00 Unforgettable 05:00 Peace, Love & 14:30 The Great Bear 03:30 Brothers And Sisters 19:00 24 Misunderstanding-PG15 16:00 Dr. Seuss’ Horton Hears A 04:30 Castle 20:00 Burn Notice 07:00 Quartet-PG15 Who 21:00 Unforgettable 09:00 The Butler-PG15 18:00 Back To The Sea 05:30 Happy Endings 22:00 Grimm 11:15 Peace, Love & 20:00 Eleanor’s Secret 05:55 Happy Endings 23:00 The Leftovers Misunderstanding-PG15 22:00 The Great Bear 06:30 The Bridge 13:00 The Trouble With Bliss-PG15 23:30 The Ugly Duckling And Me 02:00 Hero Indian Super League 03:40 Long Island Medium 07:30 The Bridge 15:00 Straight A’s-PG15 Highlights 04:05 Say Yes To The Dress 08:30 Castle 04:30 ICC Cricket 360 16:45 The Butler-PG15 04:30 Say Yes To The Dress 09:30 According To Jim 19:00 Collaborator-PG15 09:00 Hero Indian Super League 05:00 Toddlers & Tiaras Highlights 06:00 Something Borrowed, 10:00 Criminal Minds 21:00 White Bird In A Blizzard-PG15 11:00 Brothers And Sisters 23:00 The Bang Bang Club-18 11:30 Futbol Mundial Something New 12:00 PDC World Darts 06:25 Your Style In His Hands 12:00 Brothers And Sisters 00:00 D-Tox Championship 07:15 Craft Wars 13:00 Castle 02:00 Hellraiser: Revelations 00:00 21-PG15 16:00 Trans World Sport 02:15 Vehicle 19-PG15 08:05 Secret Eaters 14:00 Happy Endings 04:00 Marvel’s Doctor Strange 17:00 Hero Indian Super League 08:55 Say Yes To The Dress 06:00 Ong Bak 3 04:00 Dark Tide-PG15 14:30 Happy Endings Highlights 09:20 Say Yes To The Dress 15:00 The Bridge 08:00 Red Dawn 05:45 Chinese Zodiac-PG15 18:30 Live Top 14 08:00 Someday This Pain Will Be 09:45 Cake Boss 10:00 Maximum Conviction 00:30 The Last King Of Scotland-18 20:30 Hero Indian Super League 16:00 The Bridge Useful To You-PG15 10:10 Jon & Kate Plus 8 12:00 Appleseed: Alpha 03:00 Texas Killing Fields-PG15 Highlights 17:00 Grey's Anatomy 10:00 Epic-PG 10:35 Little People, Big World 13:45 The Rock 05:00 Spiderwick Chronicles-PG 21:30 Volvo Ocean Race Highlights 18:00 According To Jim 12:00 Dark Tide-PG15 11:00 Toddlers & Tiaras 16:00 Red Dawn 07:00 Reviving Ophelia-PG15 22:00 Live PDC World Darts 18:30 The Walking Dead 14:00 Despicable Me 2-PG 11:50 Say Yes To The Dress 18:00 The Philly Kid 09:00 Bully-PG15 Championship 16:00 Someday This Pain Will Be 12:15 Say Yes To The Dress 19:30 The Walking Dead 20:00 Maximum Conviction 11:00 Deadly Spa-PG15 Useful To You-PG15 12:40 Your Style In His Hands 20:30 According To Jim 22:00 The Scorpion King 13:00 Escape From Polygamy-PG15 18:00 Skyline-PG15 13:30 The Next Great Baker 21:00 Melissa & Joey 15:00 Twist Of Faith-PG15 20:00 Stand Up Guys-PG15 14:20 Ultimate Shopper 17:00 Bully-PG15 22:00 Gangster Squad-18 15:10 Something Borrowed, 19:00 Kandahar Break: Fortress Of Something New War-PG15 03:00 Miracle Rising 15:35 Cake Boss 21:00 For Greater Glory-PG15 05:00 Appalachian Outlaws 00:00 Hellraiser: Revelations-R 16:00 Craft Wars 23:30 Network-18 06:00 Counting Cars 16:50 Jon & Kate Plus 8 03:35 Son Of Lassie-FAM 02:00 Marvel’s Doctor Strange-PG 06:30 Counting Cars 04:00 Ong Bak 3-PG15 17:15 Little People, Big World 05:15 Flipper's New 00:00 Live MSNBC Now With Alex 07:00 Mountain Men 17:40 Toddlers & Tiaras 06:00 Red Dawn-PG15 08:00 American Pickers Adventure-FAM 08:00 Maximum Conviction-PG15 Wagner 18:30 Something Borrowed, 07:00 Day Of The Evil Gun-PG 09:00 American Restoration Something New 10:00 Appleseed: Alpha-PG15 01:00 Live MSNBC The Ed Show 08:35 They Died With Their 02:00 Live MSNBC Politicsnation 09:30 Cajun Pawn Stars 18:55 Say Yes To The Dress 11:45 The Rock-PG15 10:00 Storage Wars Texas Boots On-FAM 14:00 Red Dawn-PG15 01:45 Pawn-PG15 03:00 Live NBC Nightly News 19:20 Say Yes To The Dress 03:15 Madea’s Witness Protection- 03:30 ABC World News With David 10:30 Counting Cars 19:45 Your Style In His Hands 10:55 East Of Eden-PG 16:00 The Philly Kid-PG15 11:00 Pawn Stars 12:50 Adventures Of Don 18:00 Maximum Conviction-PG15 PG15 Muir 20:35 Cake Boss 05:15 Zambezia-PG 04:00 Live MSNBC All In With Chris 11:30 Pawn Stars 21:00 The Face UK Juan-FAM 20:00 The Scorpion King-PG15 12:00 Storage Wars 22:00 Shooter-PG15 07:00 Safe Haven-PG15 Hayes 14:40 Across The Wide 09:00 Closed Circuit-PG15 05:00 Live MSNBC The Rachel 12:30 Storage Wars 13:00 American Pickers Missouri-FAM 11:00 The Hunger Games: Catching Maddow Show 16:00 The Band Wagon-FAM Fire-PG15 07:00 NBC Nightly News 14:00 Duck Dynasty 14:00 The Hobbit: The Desolation Of 14:30 Duck Dynasty 17:50 Ziegfeld Follies-FAM 07:30 ABC World News With David 19:40 Anchors Aweigh-FAM Smaug-PG Muir 15:00 Storage Wars 04:15 Armageddon 00:00 Free Samples-PG15 17:00 Closed Circuit-PG15 07:57 NBC Nightly News 15:30 Storage Wars 06:45 Her Husband's Betrayal 22:00 The Outfit 02:00 It’s A Disaster-PG15 19:00 The Immigrant-PG15 08:18 ABC World News With David 16:00 American Pickers 08:15 Coyote Ugly 23:45 The Treasure Of The 04:00 Men At Work-PG15 21:00 House Of Versace-PG15 Muir 17:00 WWI: The First Modern War 10:00 Hanna Sierra Madre-PG

THE LAST KING OF SCOTLAND ON OSN MOVIES FESTIVAL WHAT’S ON SATURDAY, JANUARY 3, 2015

RWM wins football tournament

he Regency Wealth Management charity football tourna- their respective groups and met in the final. In a hard fought strives to promote and apply best advice in the offshore market ment in association with PSA Everton was held on Tuesday game RWM won 2-0, and went on to graciously donate winnings place. Regency provide tailor made solutions to international T16th December 2014 at Bayan football fields. Eight teams back to the cause. All proceeds from the event will be donated to investors worldwide. Regency aims to set the benchmark for the representing the expat community competed in the league based LINK ETHIOPIA registered charity no. 1112390. industry and create long lasting wealthwww.regency-wealth.com tournament followed by a winner takes all final. The event’s main sponsor was Regency Wealth management . The Premier Sport Academy aims to provide the best opportuni- After both qualifying groups were decided by the finest of (www.regency-wealth.com)along with fellow sponsors PSA ties for young players to maximize their potential in a safe, con- margins “Regency Wealth Management” and “Old Guys” topped Everton (www.psa-kuwait.com). Regency Wealth Management trolled and fun environment www.psa-kuwait.com

Heritage Festival contests resume

KUWAIT: Competitions of Kuwait’s Fifth National Heritage Festival sponsored by His Highness the Amir Sheikh Sabah Al- Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah continued amid wide official and popu- lar turnout. Kuwaitis dominated the top five ranks in an Arab sheep contest held Thursday, beating fellow breeders from other Gulf states. The carrier-pigeon hunt competition in which 430 people are taking part, with 10 rivals competing daily, resumed on Thursday as well. Only one competitor qualified for the next round after his Shaheen falcon hunted one bird. Four perspective winners only are to advance to the finals. — KUNA WHAT’S ON SATURDAY, JANUARY 3, 2015

uwait Science Club (KSC) inaugurated a paragliding camp in Khairan, during an event Kthat was attended by KSC board members, offi- cials and members. The camp is open until the middle of March 2015. HEALTH SATURDAY, JANUARY 3, 2015

Fake bar part of research into anti-drinking drug

WASHINGTON: There’s no skunky bar odor work best in which drinkers. “Alcoholics treatment get it, and of those, less than 10 back, if they have a particular gene variation amid the beer taps. Instead of booze, colored come in many forms,” explained Dr George percent receive medications. mostly found in people of European descent. water fills the bottles. The real alcohol is Koob, director of NIH’s National Institute of Three drugs are approved by the Food Back in NIH’s bar lab, one of about a locked away but still close enough for the Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism, which has and Drug Administration to treat alcohol dozen versions around the country, the focus extra temptation of smell - and to test the published new online guides, at abuse. One, naltrexone, blocks alcohol’s feel- is on ghrelin, the hormone produced in the safety of a new drug designed to help heavy www.niaaa.nih.gov, explaining who’s at risk good sensation by targeting receptors in the stomach that controls appetite via receptors drinkers say “when” sooner than usual. and what can help. brain’s reward system - if people harbor a in the brain. It turns out there’s overlap The replica of a fully stocked bar inside particular gene. The anti-craving pill acam- between receptors that fuel overeating and the hospital at the National Institutes of Low risk prosate appears to calm stress-related brain alcohol craving in the brain’s reward system, Health is an important part of the experi- What’s the limit? NIAAA says “low-risk” chemicals in certain people. The older explained NIAAA’s Leggio. In a study pub- ment. Researchers believe that sitting in the drinking means no more than four drinks in Antabuse works differently, triggering nau- lished this fall, his team gave 45 heavy-drink- dimly lit bar-laboratory should cue the volun- any single day and no more than 14 in a sea and other aversive symptoms if people ing volunteers different doses of ghrelin, and teers’ brains to crave a drink, and help deter- week for men, and no more than three drinks drink while taking it. Recent research sug- their urge to drink rose along with the extra mine if the pill they’re testing counters that a day and seven a week for women. Genes gests a handful of drugs used for other disor- hormone. urge. “The goal is to create almost a real- play a role in who’s vulnerable to crossing the ders also show promise: Scientists at the Now Leggio is testing whether blocking world environment, but to control it very line into alcohol abuse. So do environmental Scripps Research Institute found the epilepsy ghrelin’s action also blocks those cravings, strictly,” said lead researcher Dr Lorenzo factors, such as getting used to drinking a drug gabapentin reduced relapses in drinkers using an experimental Pfizer drug originally Leggio, who is testing how a hormone certain amount, not to mention how your who’d recently quit, and improved cravings, developed for diabetes but never sold. The named ghrelin that sparks people’s appetite own brain’s circuitry adapts. mood and sleep by targeting an emotion- main goal of this first-step study is to ensure for food also affects their desire for alcohol, Treatment can range from inpatient related brain chemical. mixing alcohol with the drug is safe. But and if blocking it helps. Amid all the yearly rehab and 12-step programs to behavioral researchers also measure cravings as volun- resolutions to quit, alcohol use disorders therapy and the few medications available Alcohol addiction teers, hooked to a blood pressure monitor in affect about 17 million Americans, and only a today. Koob, who specializes in the neurobi- A study by NIAAA and five medical cen- the tiny bar-lab, smell a favorite drink. Initial small fraction receives treatment. ology of alcohol, says it usually takes a com- ters found the anti-smoking drug Chantix safety results are expected this spring. “Our There’s no one-size-fits-all therapy, and bination and ultimately, “you have to change may help alcohol addiction, too, by reducing hope is that down the line, we might be able the NIH is spurring a hunt for new medica- your life.” Yet a recent review for the Agency heavy drinkers’ cravings. University of to do a simple blood test that tells if you will tions that target the brain’s addiction cycle in for Healthcare Research and Quality estimat- Pennsylvania researchers found the epilepsy be a naltrexone person, an acamprosate per- different ways - and to find out which options ed that less than a third of people who need drug topiramate helped heavy drinkers cut son, a ghrelin person,” Koob said. — AP

Turkish minister faces Italian Ebola patient flak over ‘career of motherhood’ comment released from hospital ISTANBUL: Turkey’s Health Minister Mehmet Muezzinoglu yesterday faced a barrage of criticism on social media after suggesting that women should WHO reports 7,905 Ebola deaths prioritize the “career” of motherhood before any- thing else. “Women of the world have the career of ROME: Italy’s only Ebola patient is fully motherhood that no one else can experience,” Turkish media quoted Muezzinoglu as saying on recovered and was released from hospi- Thursday at a hospital where he welcomed the first tal yesterday more than a month after baby born in Istanbul on New Year’s Day. being flown to Rome from Sierra Leone “Mothers should not prioritize another career oth- where he worked as a doctor treating er than the career of motherhood. They should focus others stricken by the disease. The 50- on the raising of good generations.” The comments year-old Sicilian man has been identi- caused a furore on social media, with many women fied only by his first name, Fabrizio. He venting their anger at what they saw as the latest in contracted the haemorrhagic virus a string of sexist comments by the Islamic-rooted while working for humanitarian group Turkish leadership. The criticism was led by best-sell- Emergency during the worst Ebola out- ing Turkish author Elif Safak who tweeted: break on record. “For the first few days, “Motherhood is not a ‘career’ anyway. partly to keep my mind active, I tried to “Turkish women should decide their own paths in examine every symptom I was experi- life (not male politicians from above).” Aylin encing scientifically,” Fabrizio told Nazliaka, an MP of the opposition Republican reporters in his first public appearance People’s Party (CHP) and prominent champion of since contracting the disease. women’s rights, said the government’s “glorification “Then there came a moment when I of motherhood” was insincere. “They want to posi- lost consciousness of what was going tion women as second class citizens,” she wrote on on around me and I don’t remember Twitter. President Recep Tayyip Erdogan has infuriat- anything that happened for about two ed secular Turkish women by recently claiming that women were not equal to men and describing birth weeks,” he said, thanking those who control as “treason”. Erdogan has urged Turkish cared for him during his illness. He said women to have at least three children, saying: “One that after he regains his strength he (child) means loneliness, two means rivalry, three may return to Sierra Leone to continue means balance and four means abundance.” treating Ebola patients. Ebola survivors Visiting the newborn at the hospital in the are generally believed to be immune to Istanbul district of Zeytinburnu, Muezzinoglu future infection from the strain that ROME: Fabrizio Pulvirenti, an Italian doctor who contracted Ebola in November expressed satisfaction that the boy was the couple’s made them sick. while working in Sierra Leone, talks to the media during a press conference, third baby. “You are among the people who listen to His blood, which contains antibodies yesterday. — AP advice,” Turkish media quoted him as saying. He also that fight the virus, will be sent to Sierra 5, where he received respiratory assis- epidemic. An update released late urged women to breastfeed and to avoid Cesarian Leone to help in treatment, a doctor tance. He was treated with a combina- Wednesday by the WHO says that new sections, reaffirming advice repeatedly given by the who treated Fabrizio at the Lazzaro tion of an experimental drug never used cases in Liberia have mostly declined in ruling Justice and Development Party (AKP). Pressed Spallanzani hospital said. The virus is before in Italy, and plasma taken from the past six weeks. again on the controversy yesterday, Muezzinoglu still spreading in West Africa, especially survivors of the disease. Meanwhile, the In Sierra Leone, there are signs the reiterated his stance. “Motherhood is not a career in Sierra Leone, and the number of World Health Organization says the increase of new cases has slowed, but that everyone can have. It’s not a career that men known cases globally has exceeded number of reported Ebola deaths in the agency says “the country’s west is can have. It’s an undisputable and divine career,” he 20,000, with 7,905 dead, the World West Africa has risen to 7,905. The WHO now experiencing the most intense added according to the official Anatolia news Health Organization (WHO) said on says altogether some 20,206 cases of transmission of all the affected coun- agency. Critics accuse Erdogan and the AKP of inter- Wednesday. Ebola virus disease have been reported tries.” The situation of the epidemic in fering in women’s private lives and imposing a After his arrival in Rome on Nov 25, since the outbreak in December 2013. Guinea is fluctuating, with between 70 creeping Islamisation of Turkey’s officially secular society. — AFP the patient’s condition worsened and Guinea, Liberia and Sierra Leone have and 160 confirmed cases over the past he was moved to intensive care on Dec been the hardest-hit countries in the 15 weeks. — Agencies HEALTH SATURDAY, JANUARY 3, 2015 Explained: The enigmatic death of Mrs Oscar Wilde

PARIS: For decades, historians of lit- which acute episodes were inter- women lay with lesions in the A professor of gynecology at being shot dead in his consulting erature have mulled the untimely spersed with periods of recovery, uterus and ovaries, for which sur- Genoa University and a fellow of the room in 1919 by the jealous hus- death that met Constance, the wife according to the Lancet review. But gery was essential. Weakened by British Gynecological Society, Bossi band of a patient. “Ultimately,” of the exuberant, scandalous writer in the last two years, “her disability vomiting and dehydration after fell out with his colleagues for notes the paper, “both Bossi and Oscar Wilde. An early pioneer for became permanent with gradual Bossi’s surgery to remove a uterine championing surgery to fix now-dis- the hapless Constance met their women’s rights and a published deterioration... (and) subsequently fibroid, Constance probably died of credited “pelvic madness.” He was end tragically: he by the bullet of an author, Constance had two children developed into secondary progres- an obstructed intestine or blood eventually suspended from his pro- assassin and she by the knife of an with Wilde but fled London with sive multiple sclerosis,” it said. poisoning, the documents suggest. fessorship for two years, before irresponsible surgeon.”— AFP them in 1895 to escape a backlash Constance was dealt a doubly tragic after her husband was jailed for blow. Multiple sclerosis was homosexual acts. But mysterious ill described in 1868 by a ground- health-headaches, body pains, breaking French neurologist, Jean- weakness and trembling in the Martin Charcot. Twenty years later, limbs, partial facial paralysis and the diagnosis was fine-tuned by an exhaustion-dogged her throughout eminent British doctor, Sir William her self-imposed exile. Gowers. In despair, practically house- bound, she turned to a high-society Nerve fibers Italian surgeon, Luigi Maria Bossi, But it took years for awareness of who vowed to restore her to health this novel disease to spread among with a radical gynecological proce- physicians of the day. “Constance’s dure. Five days after going under doctors of the 1890s might have the knife, she was dead, aged just been unaware of this newly defined 40. What had happened? A slew of diagnosis and, therefore, puzzled by unpublished letters, unveiled by her unusual symptomatology,” Constance’s and Oscar’s grandson, according to the Lancet study, co- Merlin Holland, could provide the authored by Holland and Robins. A answer, The Lancet reported online disease of the immune system, in yesterday. Analyzed by clinical which the body’s defenses attack pharmacologist Ashley Robins at the protective myelin sheath the University of Cape Town around nerve fibers, multiple sclero- Medical School in South Africa, sis remains incurable today, Constance’s symptoms point to a although there are drugs to slow its disease that, today, is very well progression and ease symptoms. known: multiple sclerosis. Constance’s second great misfor- The letters suggest that for its tune was to fall under the spell of JAPAN: An elephant cleans himself with a broom before receiving a banana from a zookeeper for otoshi- first seven years, the disease was of Bossi, who believed that insanity dama, or New Year’s gift, at the Ueno zoological garden in Tokyo yesterday. The zoo gave gifts to their ani- the “relapsing-remitting” type, in and neurological problems in mals to attract visitors as the zoo reopened after closing for a four-day year-end holiday. — AFP SATURDAY, JANUARY 3, 2015

Kuwait KNCC PROGRAMME FROM THURSDAY TO WEDNESDAY (25/12/2014 TO 31/12/2014)

SHARQIA-1 MARINA-2 NIGHT AT THE MUSEUM: SECRET OF THE TOMB 2:15 PM VICE 12:45 PM THE WOMAN IN BLACK 2 ANGEL OF DEATH 11:30 AM NIGHT AT THE MUSEUM: SECRET OF THE TOMB 4:30 PM VICE 2:45 PM THE WOMAN IN BLACK 2 ANGEL OF DEATH 1:45 PM NIGHT AT THE MUSEUM: SECRET OF THE TOMB 6:45 PM 090 (Kuwaiti Film) 4:45 PM NIGHT AT THE MUSEUM: SECRET OF THE TOMB 9:00 PM INTO THE WOODS 6:30 PM NIGHT AT THE MUSEUM: SECRET OF THE TOMB 4:00 PM NIGHT AT THE MUSEUM: SECRET OF THE TOMB 11:15 PM 090 (Kuwaiti Film) 9:00 PM THE WOMAN IN BLACK 2 ANGEL OF DEATH 6:15 PM VICE 10:45 PM NIGHT AT THE MUSEUM: SECRET OF THE TOMB 8:30 PM AVENUES-11 VICE 12:45 AM THE WOMAN IN BLACK 2 ANGEL OF DEATH 10:30 PM THE WOMAN IN BLACK 2 ANGEL OF DEATH 12:30 PM THE WOMAN IN BLACK 2 ANGEL OF DEATH 12:45 AM THE WOMAN IN BLACK 2 ANGEL OF DEATH 2:45 PM SHARQIA-2 THE WOMAN IN BLACK 2 ANGEL OF DEATH 5:00 PM THE WOMAN IN BLACK 2 ANGEL OF DEATH 11:30 AM MARINA-3 THE WOMAN IN BLACK 2 ANGEL OF DEATH 7:15 PM THE WOMAN IN BLACK 2 ANGEL OF DEATH 1:30 PM LEGEND OF THE NEVER BEAST-3D 11:45 AM THE WOMAN IN BLACK 2 ANGEL OF DEATH 9:30 PM ACCOMMODATION THE WOMAN IN BLACK 2 ANGEL OF DEATH 3:30 PM UNBROKEN 1:30 PM THE WOMAN IN BLACK 2 ANGEL OF DEATH 11:45 PM NIGHT AT THE MUSEUM: SECRET OF THE TOMB 5:45 PM LEGEND OF THE NEVER BEAST-3D 4:15 PM THE WOMAN IN BLACK 2 ANGEL OF DEATH 7:45 PM LEGEND OF THE NEVER BEAST-3D 6:00 PM 360º- 1 Sharing accommodation THE WOMAN IN BLACK 2 ANGEL OF DEATH 10:00 PM 090 (Kuwaiti Film) 8:00 PM VICE 12:15 PM available in Abbassiya with a THE WOMAN IN BLACK 2 ANGEL OF DEATH 12:15 AM UNBROKEN 9:45 PM VICE 2:15 PM UNBROKEN 12:30 AM VICE 4:15 PM Keralite family near Highway SHARQIA-3 VICE 6:15 PM center, fully furnished, sepa- LEGEND OF THE NEVER BEAST 11:30 AM AVENUES-1 VICE 8:15 PM rate bathroom, couples or LEGEND OF THE NEVER BEAST 1:15 PM INTO THE WOODS 1:00 PM VICE 10:15 PM working ladies. Contact: LEGEND OF THE NEVER BEAST 3:00 PM INTO THE WOODS 3:30 PM VICE 12:15 AM UNBROKEN 4:45 PM INTO THE WOODS 6:00 PM 66130689. LEGEND OF THE NEVER BEAST 7:30 PM INTO THE WOODS 8:30 PM 360º- 2 (C 4896) UNBROKEN 9:15 PM INTO THE WOODS 11:00 PM 090 (Kuwaiti Film) 1:15 PM 1-1-2015 090 (Kuwaiti Film) 12:05 AM 090 (Kuwaiti Film) 3:15 PM AVENUES-2 090 (Kuwaiti Film) 5:15 PM MUHALAB-1 090 (Kuwaiti Film) 12:15 PM 090 (Kuwaiti Film) 7:15 PM CHANGE OF NAME UNBROKEN 12:15 PM 090 (Kuwaiti Film) 2:15 PM 090 (Kuwaiti Film) 9:15 PM ANNIE 3:00 PM 090 (Kuwaiti Film) 4:15 PM 090 (Kuwaiti Film) 11:15 PM INTO THE WOODS 5:30 PM 090 (Kuwaiti Film) 6:15 PM 090 (Kuwaiti Film) 1:15 AM Periyasamy Kamu, son of UNBROKEN 8:00 PM 090 (Kuwaiti Film) 8:15 PM Kamu bearing an Indian 090 (Kuwaiti Film) 10:45 PM 090 (Kuwaiti Film) 10:15 PM 360º- 3 UNBROKEN 12:30 AM 090 (Kuwaiti Film) 12:15 AM INTO THE WOODS 11:45 AM Passport No. F3327466 hav- INTO THE WOODS 2:15 PM ing an address 8.3.14, MUHALAB-2 AVENUES-3 INTO THE WOODS 5:00 PM Bhagyavathi Amman Kovil LEGEND OF THE NEVER BEAST 12:45 PM UNBROKEN 11:45 AM INTO THE WOODS 7:30 PM St, Sithayankottai, Dindigul LEGEND OF THE NEVER BEAST 2:30 PM UNBROKEN 2:45 PM INTO THE WOODS 10:00 PM LEGEND OF THE NEVER BEAST 4:15 PM UNBROKEN 5:45 PM INTO THE WOODS 12:30 AM Dt, Tamilnadu 624708 had VICE 6:00 PM UNBROKEN 8:45 PM embraced Islam and 090 (Kuwaiti Film) 8:15 PM UNBROKEN 11:45 PM AL-KOUT.1 changed the name as VICE 10:00 PM LEGEND OF THE NEVER BEAST-3D 11:45 AM Mohammed Ali Jinna. VICE 12:05 AM AVENUES-4 THE WOMAN IN BLACK 2 ANGEL OF DEATH 1:45 PM NIGHT AT THE MUSEUM: SECRET OF THE TOMB 11:30 AM LEGEND OF THE NEVER BEAST-3D 4:00 PM (C 4895) MUHALAB-3 THE WOMAN IN BLACK 2 ANGEL OF DEATH 1:30 PM THE WOMAN IN BLACK 2 ANGEL OF DEATH 5:45 PM 1-1-2015 THE WOMAN IN BLACK 2 ANGEL OF DEATH 11:30 AM THE WOMAN IN BLACK 2 ANGEL OF DEATH 3:45 PM THE WOMAN IN BLACK 2 ANGEL OF DEATH 8:00 PM THE WOMAN IN BLACK 2 ANGEL OF DEATH 1:45 PM Special Show “NIGHT AT THE MUSEUM: SECRET OF THE TOMB” THE WOMAN IN BLACK 2 ANGEL OF DEATH 10:15 PM THE WOMAN IN BLACK 2 ANGEL OF DEATH 4:00 PM 4:00 PM THE WOMAN IN BLACK 2 ANGEL OF DEATH 12:30 AM SITUATION WANTED THE WOMAN IN BLACK 2 ANGEL OF DEATH 6:15 PM THE WOMAN IN BLACK 2 ANGEL OF DEATH 6:00 PM NIGHT AT THE MUSEUM: SECRET OF THE TOMB 8:30 PM Special Show “LEGEND OF THE NEVER BEAST” 6:00 PM AL-KOUT.2 THE WOMAN IN BLACK 2 ANGEL OF DEATH 10:30 PM Special Show “VICE “ 6:00 PM VICE 11:30 AM An MBA, LLB job aspirant THE WOMAN IN BLACK 2 ANGEL OF DEATH 12:45 AM THE WOMAN IN BLACK 2 ANGEL OF DEATH 8:15 PM VICE 1:30 PM with 13 years of experience in THE WOMAN IN BLACK 2 ANGEL OF DEATH 10:30 PM 090 (Kuwaiti Film) 3:30 PM FANAR-1 THE WOMAN IN BLACK 2 ANGEL OF DEATH 12:45 AM VICE 5:15 PM banking, insurance, construc- UNBROKEN 11:45 AM 090 (Kuwaiti Film) 7:15 PM tion, construction materials UNBROKEN 2:30 PM AVENUES-5 Digital (2D) 9:00 PM sales and purchase manage- UNBROKEN 5:30 PM VICE 12:00 PM 090 (Kuwaiti Film) 11:00 PM ment as senior manager is 090 (Kuwaiti Film) 8:15 PM UNBROKEN 2:00 PM VICE 12:45 AM 090 (Kuwaiti Film) 10:00 PM VICE 4:45 PM looking for a senior manage- UNBROKEN 11:45 PM UNBROKEN 6:45 PM AL-KOUT.3 rial positions. Contact: PERSONAL DVD 7:00 PM NIGHT AT THE MUSEUM: ECRET OF THE TOMB 12:00 PM 97341053. FANAR-2 Special Show “UNBROKEN “ 6:45 PM UNBROKEN 2:00 PM (C 4897) VICE 12:45 PM VICE 9:30 PM UNBROKEN 4:45 PM VICE 2:45 PM Special Show “VICE “ 9:30 PM NIGHT AT THE MUSEUM: ERET OF THE TOMB 7:30 PM 1-1-2015 NIGHT AT THE MUSEUM: SECRET OF THE TOMB 4:45 PM UNBROKEN 11:30 PM UNBROKEN 9:30 PM VICE 6:45 PM UNBROKEN 2:15 AM NIGHT AT THE MUSEUM: SECRET OF THE TOMB 8:45 PM AVENUES-6 VICE 10:45 PM VICE 1:15 PM AL-KOUT.4 VICE 1:00 AM VICE 3:15 PM LAGGIES 11:30 AM VICE 5:15 PM LAGGIES 1:15 PM FANAR-3 VICE 7:15 PM ANNIE 3:15 PM 112 INTO THE WOODS 1:00 PM VICE 9:15 PM LAGGIES 6:00 PM 090 (Kuwaiti Film) 3:45 PM VICE 11:15 PM THE WATER DIVINER 7:45 PM INTO THE WOODS 5:30 PM VICE 1:15 AM LAGGIES 10:00 PM THE WATER DIVINER 8:00 PM THE WATER DIVINER 11:45 PM THE WATER DIVINER 10:30 PM AVENUES-7 090 (Kuwaiti Film) 12:45 AM PADDINGTON 1:00 PM BAIRAQ-1 LAGGIES 3:00 PM LEGEND OF THE NEVER BEAST-3D 11:45 AM FANAR-4 PADDINGTON 5:00 PM THE WOMAN IN BLACK 2 ANGEL OF DEATH 1:30 PM THE WOMAN IN BLACK 2 ANGEL OF DEATH 12:30 PM LAGGIES 7:00 PM LEGEND OF THE NEVER BEAST-3D 3:45 PM THE WOMAN IN BLACK 2 ANGEL OF DEATH 3:00 PM LAGGIES 9:00 PM LEGEND OF THE NEVER BEAST-3D 5:45 PM THE WOMAN IN BLACK 2 ANGEL OF DEATH 5:00 PM 090 (Kuwaiti Film) 11:00 PM THE WOMAN IN BLACK 2 ANGEL OF DEATH 7:30 PM THE WOMAN IN BLACK 2 ANGEL OF DEATH 7:30 PM 090 (Kuwaiti Film) 1:00 AM THE WOMAN IN BLACK 2 ANGEL OF DEATH 9:45 PM THE WOMAN IN BLACK 2 ANGEL OF DEATH 9:30 PM NIGHT AT THE MUSEUM: SECRET OF THE TOMB 12:05 AM THE WOMAN IN BLACK 2 ANGEL OF DEATH 12:05 AM AVENUES-8 P.K -HINDI 1:30 PM BAIRAQ-2 FANAR-5 ANNIE 4:15 PM UNBROKEN 12:45 PM LEGEND OF THE NEVER BEAST 12:00 PM ANNIE 6:45 PM INTO THE WOODS 3:30 PM LEGEND OF THE NEVER BEAST 1:45 PM P.K -HINDI 9:15 PM P.K -HINDI 6:15 PM LEGEND OF THE NEVER BEAST 3:30 PM THE WATER DIVINER 12:15 AM UNBROKEN 6:15 PM LEGEND OF THE NEVER BEAST 5:15 PM UNBROKEN 9:00 PM Prayer timings P.K -HINDI 7:00 PM AVENUES-9 UNBROKEN 11:45 PM P.K -HINDI 9:45 PM LEGEND OF THE NEVER BEAST-3D 11:30 AM Fajr: 05:18 THE WOMAN IN BLACK 2 ANGEL OF DEATH 12:30 AM LEGEND OF THE NEVER BEAST-3D 1:30 PM BAIRAQ-3 LEGEND OF THE NEVER BEAST 3:30 PM 090 (Kuwaiti Film) 11:30 AM Shorook 06:43 MARINA-1 LEGEND OF THE NEVER BEAST-3D 5:30 PM 090 (Kuwaiti Film) 1:15 PM VICE 12:30 PM LEGEND OF THE NEVER BEAST 7:30 PM VICE 3:00 PM Duhr: 11:52 INTO THE WOODS 2:45 PM LEGEND OF THE NEVER BEAST 9:30 PM 090 (Kuwaiti Film) 5:00 PM VICE 5:30 PM THE WATER DIVINER 11:30 PM PADDINGTON 6:45 PM Asr: 14:43 INTO THE WOODS 7:45 PM 090 (Kuwaiti Film) 8:45 PM VICE 10:15 PM AVENUES-10 VICE 10:30 PM Maghrib: 17:01 VICE 12:15 AM NIGHT AT THE MUSEUM: SECRET OF THE TOMB 12:00 PM VICE 12:30 AM Isha: 18:23 information SATURDAY, JANUARY 3, 2015 DIAL 161 FOR AIRPORT INFORMATION

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Arrival Flights on Saturday 3/1/2015 UAL 982 IAD 17:55 ETD 302 Abu Dhabi 10:20 Airlines Flt Route Time JZR 777 Jeddah 17:55 KAC 561 Amman 10:25 JAI 574 Mumbai 00:10 UAE 875 Dubai 18:00 JZR 356 Mashhad 10:30 JZR 239 Amman 00:25 SVA 500 Jeddah 18:00 FDB 056 Dubai 10:35 JZR 267 Beirut 00:30 JZR 177 Dubai 18:20 IRM 1181 Mashhad 10:50 JZR 539 Cairo 00:40 KAC 542 Cairo 18:25 QTR 1071 Doha 11:00 KLM 413 Amsterdam/Dammam 00:40 KAC 118 New York 18:30 KAC 541 Cairo 11:05 THY 772 Istanbul 00:45 FDB 063 Dubai 18:40 KAC 165 Rome/Paris 11:15 FDB 069 Dubai 00:55 ABY 121 Sharjah 18:40 GFA 214 Bahrain 11:25 QTR 1084 Doha 01:00 CLX 856 Luxembourg 18:50 KAC 741 Dammam 11:45 RJA 642 Amman 01:05 QTR 1080 Doha 18:50 RBG 554 Alexandria 11:55 DLH 637 Dammam 01:15 KAC 618 Doha 19:15 JZR 776 Jeddah 12:20 SAI 441 Lahore 01:30 KAC 674 Dubai 19:25 MSC 402 Alexandria 12:25 PGT 858 Istanbul 01:35 GFA 217 Bahrain 19:30 UAE 874 Dubai 12:30 MEA 406 Beirut 01:40 KAC 176 Geneva/Frankfurt 19:45 SYR 342 Damascus 13:00 ETH 620 Addis Ababa 01:45 IRA 669 Mashhad 19:50 IRM 1189 Mashhad 13:10 GFA 211 Bahrain 02:30 KAC 104 London 19:55 JZR 176 Dubai 13:45 UAE 853 Dubai 02:35 KAC 774 Riyadh 19:55 MSR 611 Cairo 14:00 JZR 553 Alexandria 02:45 JAI 572 Mumbai 20:00 MRJ 4814 Mashhad 14:10 JAI 526 Chennai/Abu Dhabi 02:50 KAC 614 Bahrain 20:00 UAE 872 Dubai 14:15 FDB 067 Dubai 02:55 MSR 618 Alexandria 20:05 IAW 158 Al Najaf 14:20 MSR 612 Cairo 03:10 JZR 189 Dubai 20:15 JZR 324 Al Najaf 14:25 ETD 305 Abu Dhabi 03:10 FDB 061 Dubai 20:20 AGY 685 Sohag 14:40 KKK 6507 Istanbul 03:20 OMA 647 Muscat 20:20 IRC 527 Mashhad 14:55 OMA 643 Muscat 03:25 KNE 474 Jeddah 20:25 KAC 673 Dubai 15:00 QTR 1076 Doha 03:45 ABY 123 Sharjah 20:35 MSR 576 Sharm el-Sheikh 15:00 MSC 401 Alexandria 04:05 DLH 634 Frankfurt 20:50 KAC 785 Jeddah 15:00 KAC 546 Alexandria 04:10 KAC 786 Jeddah 21:05 QTR 1079 Doha 15:05 JZR 503 Luxor 05:25 FDB 8057 Dubai 21:05 FDB 058 Dubai 15:10 THY 770 Istanbul 05:35 ALK 229 Colombo 21:10 KAC 617 Doha 15:15 DHX 170 Bahrain 05:40 MEA 402 Beirut 21:20 TBZ 5484 Mashhad 15:20 BAW 157 London 06:40 ETD 307 Abu Dhabi 21:30 KNE 473 Jeddah 15:20 JZR 563 Sohag 06:45 FDB 073 Dubai 21:35 JZR 188 Dubai 15:40 KAC 416 Kuala Lumpur/Jakarta 06:45 UAE 859 Dubai 21:40 GFA 222 Bahrain 15:45 KAC 412 Manila/Bangkok 07:10 GFA 219 Bahrain 21:45 KNE 471 Jeddah 15:50 FDB 053 Dubai 07:45 QTR 1074 Doha 21:55 OMA 646 Muscat 16:00 QTR 1086 Doha 07:50 KNE 480 Taif 22:00 RJD 136 Abu Dhabi 16:05 KAC 352 Kochi 08:10 JZR 135 Bahrain 22:05 KAC 501 Beirut 16:15 KAC 302 Mumbai 08:20 KLM 415 Amsterdam 22:15 KAC 773 Riyadh 16:20 KAC 206 Islamabad 08:25 ETD 309 Abu Dhabi 22:15 ABY 128 Sharjah 16:25 UAE 855 Dubai 08:40 MSC 409 Sharm el-Sheikh 22:20 KNE 463 Madinah 16:30 KAC 344 Chennai 08:45 AIC 975 Chennai/Goa 22:30 KAC 613 Bahrain 16:35 KAC 362 Colombo 08:45 FDB 059 Dubai 22:30 KNE 481 Taif 16:50 ABY 125 Sharjah 09:00 MSC 403 Sohag 22:45 FDB 052 Dubai 17:00 ETD 301 Abu Dhabi 09:20 FDB 8063 Dubai 22:45 JZR 266 Beirut 17:05 IRM 1186 Tehran 09:40 JZR 157 Dubai 23:05 NIA 252 Alexandria 17:15 FDB 055 Dubai 09:40 UAL 981 Bahrain 23:10 QTR 1073 Doha 17:40 QTR 1070 Doha 10:00 JZR 185 Dubai 23:15 UAE 858 Dubai 17:45 GFA 213 Bahrain 10:40 AGY 681 Sohag 23:15 JZR 538 Cairo 17:45 UAE 873 Dubai 11:00 THY 764 Istanbul 23:35 ETD 304 Abu Dhabi 17:50 RBG 553 Alexandria 11:15 FDB 071 Dubai 23:45 RJA 641 Amman 17:55 KAC 204 Lahore 11:25 IRM 1187 Tehran 18:15 MSC 405 Sohag 11:25 Departure Flights on Saturday 3/1/2015 SVA 511 Riyadh 18:15 JZR 165 Dubai 11:30 Airlines Flt Route Time GFA 216 Bahrain 18:20 IRM 1188 Mashhad 11:45 AIC 976 Goa/Chennai 00:05 JZR 156 Dubai 18:30 SYR 341 Damascus 12:00 JZR 562 Sohag 00:05 JZR 184 Dubai 18:40 UAE 871 Dubai 12:50 PIA 206 Lahore 00:40 IZG 4162 Mashhad 18:45 JZR 241 Amman 12:55 FDB 072 Dubai 00:45 JZR 238 Amman 18:50 MRJ 4815 Mashhad 12:55 JAI 573 Mumbai 01:10 JZR 134 Bahrain 19:10 MSR 610 Cairo 13:00 KLM 413 Amsterdam 01:55 UAL 982 Bahrain 19:15 IAW 157 Al Najaf 13:20 KAC 203 Lahore 02:00 ABY 122 Sharjah 19:20 JZR 779 Jeddah 13:35 DLH 637 Frankfurt 02:15 SVA 505 Jeddah 19:30 AGY 685 Sharm el-Sheikh 13:40 KAC 283 Dhaka 02:25 UAE 876 Dubai 19:40 KAC 382 Delhi 13:45 MEA 407 Beirut 02:40 QTR 1081 Doha 19:50 IRC 526 Mashhad 13:50 ETH 621 Addis Ababa 02:45 FDB 064 Dubai 19:55 KAC 672 Dubai 13:55 THY 773 Istanbul 02:55 GFA 218 Bahrain 20:15 QTR 1078 Doha 14:05 PGT 859 Istanbul 03:25 CLX 856 Hong Kong 20:20 MSR 575 Sharm el-Sheikh 14:15 KAC 381 Delhi 03:40 IRA 666 Esfahan 20:50 TBZ 5483 Mashhad 14:20 UAE 854 Dubai 03:50 KAC 361 Colombo 20:50 KNE 472 Jeddah 14:25 FDB 068 Dubai 03:55 JAI 571 Mumbai 21:00 FDB 057 Dubai 14:30 ETD 306 Abu Dhabi 04:05 JZR 554 Alexandria 21:05 JZR 175 Dubai 14:45 MSR 613 Cairo 04:10 MSR 607 Luxor 21:05 KAC 742 Dammam 14:45 KKK 6508 Istanbul 04:10 KNE 475 Jeddah 21:10 KNE 470 Jeddah 14:55 OMA 644 Muscat 04:25 KAC 331 Trivandrum 21:10 RJD 135 Abu Dhabi 14:55 QTR 1085 Doha 04:30 ABY 124 Sharjah 21:15 OMA 645 Muscat 14:55 MSC 406 Sohag 05:05 KAC 351 Kochi 21:15 GFA 221 Bahrain 15:00 QTR 1077 Doha 05:15 FDB 062 Dubai 21:20 KAC 284 Dhaka 15:15 THY 765 Istanbul 05:40 OMA 648 Muscat 21:20 KAC 788 Jeddah 15:40 FDB 070 Dubai 06:30 FDB 8058 Dubai 21:50 KNE 462 Madinah 15:45 JAI 525 Abu Dhabi/Chennai 06:35 DHX 171 Bahrain 21:50 ABY 127 Sharjah 15:45 JZR 164 Dubai 06:55 ALK 230 Colombo 22:10 UAE 857 Dubai 15:45 RJA 643 Amman 07:05 ETD 308 Abu Dhabi 22:15 FDB 051 Dubai 16:00 JZR 240 Amman 07:15 KAC 301 Mumbai 22:15 KNE 460 Riyadh 16:00 GFA 212 Bahrain 07:15 MEA 403 Beirut 22:20 JZR 535 Cairo 16:10 THY 771 Istanbul 07:30 FDB 074 Dubai 22:30 NIA 251 Alexandria 16:15 JZR 778 Jeddah 07:55 GFA 220 Bahrain 22:30 KAC 562 Amman 16:20 FDB 054 Dubai 08:25 UAE 860 Dubai 22:50 JZR 357 Mashhad 16:30 BAW 156 London 08:45 KNE 461 Riyadh 22:50 JZR 257 Beirut 16:30 QTR 1087 Doha 08:50 KAC 205 Islamabad 22:55 QTR 1072 Doha 16:40 JZR 256 Beirut 09:05 ETD 310 Abu Dhabi 23:00 RJA 640 Amman 16:55 JZR 534 Cairo 09:15 MSC 410 Sharm el-Sheikh 23:00 ETD 303 Abu Dhabi 16:55 KAC 671 Dubai 09:25 QTR 1075 Doha 23:05 IRM 1180 Mashhad 17:00 ABY 126 Sharjah 09:40 KLM 415 Dammam/Amsterdam 23:15 SVA 510 Riyadh 17:15 KAC 101 London/New York 09:50 KAC 543 Cairo 23:20 GFA 215 Bahrain 17:30 KAC 787 Jeddah 09:50 FDB 8063 Dubai 23:25 IZG 4161 Mashhad 17:45 UAE 856 Dubai 09:55 KAC 411 Bangkok/Manila 23:30 JZR 325 Al Najaf 17:50 JZR 174 Dubai 10:10 MSC 404 Sohag 23:45 Directorate General of Civil Aviation Home Page (www.kuwait-airport.com.kw) SATURDAY, JANUARY 3, 2015

3. (Norse mythology) Ruler of the Aesir. Word Search Puzzles 4. English translator and Protestant martyr. CROSSWORD773 5. (classical mythology) A hero noted for his strength. 6. A soft yellow malleable ductile (trivalent and univalent) metallic element. 7. Enlarged prostate. 8. Not out. 9. Tall grass of New Zealand grown for plumelike flower heads. 10. A former agency (from 1946 to 1974) that was responsible for research into atomic energy and its peacetime uses in the United States. 11. An island in the south Pacific. 12. Large lipoproteins rich in triglycerides. 13. A Russian river. 14. A mass of small bubbles formed in or on a liquid. 19. Type genus of the family Arcidae. 21. (Babylonian and Assyrian) Goddess of love and fertility and war. 23. A literary language of Chinese Turkestan (named for one of the sons of Genghis Khan). 28. A condition (mostly in boys) characterized by behavioral and learning disor- ders. 30. Tropical American tree bearing a small edible fruit with green leathery skin and sweet juicy translucent pulp. 31. A name that has been assumed temporarily. 33. An immunosuppressive drug (trade name Imuran) used to prevent rejection of a transplanted organ. 34. Speak in a nasal voice. 35. An Indian gum from the dhawa tree. 38. Tropical American tree grown in southern United States having a whitish pink- tinged fruit. 39. A region of Malaysia in northeastern Borneo. 43. The shorter of the two telegraphic signals used in Morse code. 44. A heavy brittle diamagnetic trivalent metallic element (resembles arsenic and antimony chemically). 46. French painter (1868-1940). ACROSS 51. A United Nations agency created to assist developing nations by loans guaran- 1. A position in a grammatical linguistic construction in which a variety of alterna- teed by member governments. tive units are interchangeable. 52. United States neuroscientist noted for his studies of the neural basis of vision 5. The type of environment in which an organism or group normally lives or (born in 1926). occurs. 54. A toxic nonmetallic element related to sulfur and tellurium. 12. 3 to 30 kilohertz. 55. An associate degree in nursing. 15. Gully or streambed in North Africa and the Middle East that remains dry except 57. An intensely radioactive metallic element that occurs in minute amounts in during rainy season. uranium ores. 16. Normal relaxed breathing. 59. Lake in northwestern Russia near the border with Finland. Yesterday’s Solution 17. A zodiacal constellation in northern hemisphere between Cancer and Virgo. 60. Of or relating to or affecting a lobe. 18. Pertaining to one of the small sacs (as in a compound gland). 61. American professional baseball player who hit more home runs than Babe 20. New Guinea echidnas. Ruth (born in 1934). 22. Small often spiny insectivorous mammal of Madagascar. 63. (used with singular count nouns) Colloquial for `not a' or `not one' or `never a'. 24. A New England state. 64. A distinct part that can be specified separately in a group of things that could 25. Muslims collectively and their civilization. be enumerated on a list. 26. A town and port in northwestern Israel in the eastern Mediterranean. 65. Fabric dyed with splotches of green and brown and black and tan. 27. Profane or obscene expression usually of surprise or anger. 67. An amino acid that is found in the central nervous system. 29. A member of the Siouan people formerly inhabiting the Black Hills of western 68. Someone who works (or provides workers) during a strike. South Dakota. 71. An associate degree in applied science. 32. Putting something (as a literary work) into publishable form. 74. A soft silver-white ductile metallic element (liquid at normal temperatures). 36. A unit of length equal to 1760 yards. 75. A yellow trivalent metallic element of the rare earth group. 37. Armor plate that protects the chest. 76. A public promotion of some product or service. 40. A woman hired to suckle a child of someone else. 41. Black tropical American cuckoo. 42. Food mixtures either arranged on a plate or tossed and served with a moist dressing. Yesterday’s Solution 45. An upward movement (especially a rhythmical rising and falling). 47. A sock with a separation for the big toe. 48. Any of various long-tailed rodents similar to but larger than a mouse. 49. (Akkadian) Father of the gods and consort of Tiamat. 50. Italian violin maker in Cremona. 53. (Old Testament) The first of the major Hebrew prophets (8th century BC). 56. A sultanate in northwestern Borneo. 58. A fine powder produced by the anthers of seed-bearing plants. 62. An organic compound that contains a hydroxyl group bonded to a carbon atom which in turn is doubly bonded to another carbon atom. 66. Oval reproductive body of a fowl (especially a hen) used as food. 69. Cubes of meat marinated and cooked on a skewer usually with vegetables. 70. Essential oil or perfume obtained from flowers. 72. A radioactive element of the actinide series. 73. Any culture medium that uses agar as the gelling agent. 77. An aromatic ointment used in antiquity. 78. English writer (1840-1893). 79. A light touch or stroke.

DOWN Maze 1. A sharp blow. 2. A cord that is drawn through eyelets or around hooks in order to draw together two edges (as of a shoe or garment).

Daily SuDoku Yesterday’s Solution SPORTS SATURDAY, JANUARY 3, 2015 Buckeyes rally and Ducks rout

NEW ORLEANS: The Ohio State Buckeyes and Oregon Ducks earned victories in the Sugar and Rose Bowls on Thursday, booking spots in the national championship as American college football entered a new era with its first ever playoff games. The fourth ranked Buckeyes stunned top-seeded Alabama Crimson Tide 42-35 in New Orleans, as quarterback Cardale Jones threw for 243 yards, rallying his team from a 21-6 deficit in the second quarter. Jones put his team ahead to stay with a 47-yard touchdown pass to Devin Smith in the third quarter, while running back Ezekial Elliott ran for 230 yards in the game. “(Elliot)’s probably the most under- rated back in the country,” Buckeyes head coach Urban Meyer told reporters. “A lot of respect to our opponent. That was a sledgeham- mer game.” Earlier, second ranked Oregon crushed the unbeaten Florida State Seminoles 59-20 in Pasadena. By PASADENA, California: Oregon wide receiver Devon Allen (left) is winning the first ever semi-finals, tackled by Florida State linebacker Reggie Northrup during the first the Buckeyes and Ducks will head to half of the Rose Bowl NCAA college football playoff semifinal on Arlington, Texas for the national Thursday. — AP championship game on Jan 12. The to out-team them,” Oregon head of Heisman Trophy-winning quar- playoff replaces the poll system that coach Mark Helfrich told reporters. “I terbacks with this year’s winner decided which teams would meet in think our defense played very, very Marcus Mariota of the Ducks going the national championship and the well in the second half... offensively, head-to-head against last year’s NEW ORLEANS: Ohio State running back Jalin Marshall (17) is hit by Ducks left no doubt that they we just tried to do enough to make recipient Jameis Winston. Mariota Alabama linebacker Reggie Ragland (19) as Alabama defensive back belong in the title game after end- a difference. “We’ve got a great completed 26-of-36 passes for 338 Landon Collins (26) looks on in the second half of the Sugar Bowl NCAA ing the third ranked Seminoles’ 29- team. A great team of guys.” yards and a pair of touchdowns and college football playoff semifinal game on Thursday. — AP game winning streak. “We just tried The game was also a showdown ran for another score. — Reuters NBA results/standings Rose leads Bulls over Nuggets Chicago 106, Denver 101; Sacramento 110, Minnesota 107. CHICAGO: Derrick Rose scored 13 of Eastern Conference his 17 points in the fourth quarter, and Atlantic Division the Chicago Bulls beat the Denver W L PCT GB Nuggets 106-101 on Thursday night. Toronto 24 8 .750 - Jimmy Butler scored 26 for Chicago, and Pau Gasol added 17 points, nine Brooklyn 15 16 .484 8.5 rebounds and a career-high nine Boston 11 18 .379 11.5 blocks. The late surge by Rose lifted NY Knicks 5 29 .147 20 the Bulls to their 11th win in 13 games. Philadelphia 4 26 .133 19 The 2011 NBA MVP missed his first Central Division eight shots, including all seven in a Chicago 23 10 .697 - scoreless first half, but the point guard Cleveland 18 14 .563 4.5 dominated down the stretch, coming Milwaukee 17 16 .515 6 up with one big basket after another. Indiana 12 21 .364 11 Wilson Chandler led Denver with 22 Detroit 8 23 .258 14 points. Ty Lawson scored 20, while Southeast Division Arron Afflalo had 19 points. Kenneth Atlanta 23 8 .742 - Faried added 18 points and 19 Washington 22 9 .710 1 rebounds, but the Nuggets fell to 4-12 Miami 14 19 .424 10 on the road. Orlando 13 22 .371 12 Charlotte 10 23 .303 14 Kings 110, Timberwolves 107 Western Conference Rudy Gay had 21 points, and the Northwest Division Kings handed the Timberwolves their Portland 26 7 .788 - 10th straight loss. DeMarcus Cousins Oklahoma City 16 17 .485 10 had 19 points and seven rebounds Denver 13 20 .394 13 after being ejected one night earlier, Utah 11 21 .344 14.5 and the Kings shot 54 percent while Minnesota 5 26 .161 20 each of their starters scored in double Pacific Division figures. Darren Collison scored 21 Golden State 25 5 .833 - points and Derrick Williams had 17 LA Clippers 22 11 .667 4.5 points, including a big 3-pointer down Phoenix 18 16 .529 9 the stretch. Andrew Wiggins had 27 Sacramento 14 19 .424 12.5 points and nine rebounds, but the LA Lakers 10 22 .313 16 Timberwolves couldn’t take advan- Southwest Division tage when Cousins and Gay both Memphis 23 8 .742 - fouled out in the fourth quarter. Troy Houston 22 9 .710 1 Daniels’ 3-point attempt at the buzzer was partially blocked. Gorgui Dieng Dallas 23 10 .697 1 added 15 points and 10 rebounds for San Antonio 20 14 .588 4.5 CHICAGO: Chicago Bulls’ Taj Gibson celebrates after dunking during the second half of an NBA Minnesota, and Shabazz Muhammad New Orleans 16 16 .500 7.5 basketball game against the Denver Nuggets on Thursday. — AP also scored 15. — AP SPORTS SATURDAY, JANUARY 3, 2015 Fans embrace ice hockey’s outdoor roots

WASHINGTON: You need a good reason acoustics amplify the roar of the crowd, to brave near-freezing New Year’s Day Thursday’s Winter Classic was a bit of a temperatures, perhaps nursing a hang- culture-clash experience. Center ice was over, and trek all the way out to a base- located around where second base ball stadium. Like ice hockey, played out- would be on a baseball diamond, leaving doors. Nearly 43,000 fans did just that a wide chasm between fans and players - Thursday to watch the hometown a vacuum filled to a meager extent by Washington Capitals beat the Chicago the stadium audio system relaying the Blackhawks 3-2 at Nationals Park, home sounds of skates, sticks and pucks. to Major League Baseball’s Washington An American flag as big as the rink Nationals. That’s well over double the itself was unfurled for the playing of the maximum capacity of 18,500 at the US national anthem, as fireworks shot up Capital’s usual home ice, the downtown high into the sky and two US fighter jets Verizon Center, and symbolic of the pop- performed a screaming fly-by. Live enter- ularity of open-air professional hockey. tainment veered wildly from 1980s “We play hockey in baseball stadi- punk-pop star Billy Idol doing “Rebel ums because we can,” quipped Matthew Yell” before the game, to a US military Tucker, 23, sporting a red Capitals jersey choir belting out “The Army Goes Rolling as he hung out with friends - Blackhawk Along” at the second intermission. fans, actually - before the match. “If you WASHINGTON: Hockey fans stream into Nationals stadium on Thursday for the The players, in vintage uniforms, took get back to the roots of the game, you 2015 National Hockey League Winter Classic. — AFP to the ice via a scale-model replica of the played outside,” added Tucker, who US Capitol and a miniature, frozen grew up playing hockey on frozen ponds League Baseball season. The weather at brave the elements,” added his compan- Reflecting Pool. Concession stands in upstate New York. Most NHL games Thursday’s game was chilly, with bright ion Molly Dudas, 26, as they discreetly offered pretzels and cotton candy. The unfold in comfortable heated indoor are- blue skies and six degrees Celsius at the polished off a tiny pre-game flask of stadium’s branch of Washington’s iconic nas, with the gladiatorial action playing opening face-off, but not a deterrent for cheap whiskey. Ben’s Chili Bowl diner quickly sold out its itself out on pristine artificial ice. fans. For many Americans in northern signature dish. The rink itself was the climes, near-freezing temperatures are Hometown Fans Rule product of 20,000 gallons of water, kept Marquee Event par for the course for American football Capital fans vastly outnumbered their frozen by one of the world’s largest But the Winter Classic, played every in the run-up to the Super Bowl, which Blackhawks rivals, although they were mobile refrigeration systems. Tickets for New Year’s Day since 2008, has become falls on February 1 this year. The Winter united in the color of their respective Thursday’s game sold out long ago at the NHL’s marquee event. That’s special, Classic is “an event that real fans go to,” teams’ jerseys, turning Nationals Park $79 to $349 a pop - and remained almost given that the finals for NHL’s Stanley said Blackhawks fan James Felke, 30, into a sea of crimson in the afternoon impossible to score at the last minute Cup championship typically go into mid- who made the trip down from Chicago sun. For anyone used to indoor hockey, from illegal ticket sellers outside the June - two months into the Major for his third outdoor NHL experience. “To where seating begins at rink side and the main gate. — AFP

Ovechkin leads resilient NHL results/standings

Washington 3, Chicago 2; Los Angeles3, Capitals to dramatic win Vancouver 2. Western Conference WASHINGTON: The Winter Classic began Pacific Division with perhaps a bit too much sun. By the end, W L OTL GF GA PTS seat cushions were falling from the sky. The Anaheim 24 9 6 107 104 54 latest NHL outdoor game had a cliffhanger Los Angeles 19 12 8 106 96 46 ending Thursday, with Troy Brouwer scoring Vancouver 21 12 3 105 97 45 with 12.9 seconds remaining to give the San Jose 20 13 5 104 96 45 Calgary 21 15 3 114 103 45 Washington Capitals a 3-2 win over the Arizona 14 19 4 86 121 32 Chicago Blackhawks in the league’s annual Edmonton 8 22 8 82 131 24 showcase. Many of the 42,832 fans at Central Division Nationals Park celebrated by flinging their Chicago 25 11 2 119 81 52 commemorative red cushions high into the Nashville 24 9 3 106 78 51 air, an exclamation point to an event that St. Louis 22 12 3 108 93 47 helped validate the nation’s capital as an Winnipeg 19 12 7 96 92 45 established hockey town. Dallas 17 14 5 108 118 39 The seventh Winter Classic featured a Minnesota 17 14 4 100 98 38 replica of the Capitol in center field, through Colorado 14 15 8 96 112 36 which the players entered the ballpark. They Eastern Conference stood on a sheet of blue ice meant to repre- Atlantic Division sent the Reflecting Pool during the national Tampa Bay 24 11 4 127 100 52 anthem, then faced off under a gorgeous Montreal 24 11 2 100 86 50 blue sky - too gorgeous, if truth be told. The Detroit 20 9 9 108 95 49 sun’s glare on the white ice of the main rink Toronto 21 14 3 128 114 45 made it difficult to see the puck, and Boston 19 15 4 101 103 42 Florida 16 10 9 82 93 41 Capitals defenseman Karl Alzner made good Ottawa 15 14 7 97 99 37 on his plan to play the game wearing sun- Buffalo 14 21 3 76 128 31 glasses. Metropolitan Division The teams switched sides at the 10- WASHINGTON: Marcus Kruger #16 of the Chicago Blackhawks fights with Troy Brouwer Pittsburgh 23 9 5 111 87 51 minute mark of the first period to even #20 of the Washington Capitals during the second period of the 2015 NHL Winter NY Islanders 25 11 1 117 103 51 things out as the shadows from the stands Classic at Nationals Park on Thursday. — AFP Washington 19 11 7 108 96 45 began to cover the rink. It seemed totally skate. Eric Fehr and Alex Ovechkin also the game on a power-play goal with 2:07 NY Rangers 20 11 4 107 89 44 unfair when Patrick Sharp launched a sun- scored for the Capitals. Brandon Saad had left before Stoll scored the winner with 1:14 Columbus 16 16 3 89 110 35 to-shade slap shot that beat goalie Braden the other goal for Chicago. to go. Dwight King had the other goal for Philadelphia 14 16 7 103 113 35 Holtby on a power play for Chicago’s first Los Angeles, which got 14 saves from New Jersey 13 19 7 83 111 33 goal. The NHL considered delaying the start, Kings 3, Canucks 2 Jonathan Quick. Radim Vrbata had a goal Carolina 10 23 4 73 100 24 concerned that the sunny skies would com- Justin Williams and Jarret Stoll scored 53 and an assist, and Alexandre Burrows also Note: Overtime losses (OTL) are worth one promise ice conditions and player safety, but seconds apart late in the third period to ral- scored for Vancouver. Ryan Miller stopped point in the standings and are not included in the go-ahead was given after the pregame ly Los Angeles past Vancouver. Williams tied 37 shots. — AP the loss column (L). SPORTS SATURDAY, JANUARY 3, 2015 Nadal shrugs off Murray loss in Abu Dhabi

ABU DHABI: Rafael Nadal shrugged off his 6-2, 6-0 match helps me and the defeat does not affect me defeat to Andy Murray at the Mubadala World too much. I felt I was dominating the points a lot of Tennis Championships yesterday, insisting he’ll be times, but I am missing competitive spirit. I am fighting fit when his 2015 season starts in Qatar going to keep working hard to get that.” next week. The 14-time Grand Slam title winner Murray goes on to face world number one was making his first appearance since undergoing Novak Djokovic in today’s final after the Serb eased an appendectomy late last year having also missed past Australian Open champion Stan Wawrinka 6-1, most of the second half of the 2014 season with a 6-2. “I have been working very hard on my speed wrist problem. and movement around the court - maybe that The Spaniard’s rustiness was obvious against made the difference,” said Murray after his win over Murray, who had played for more than two hours Nadal. Wimbledon champion Djokovic was playing in seeing off Feliciano Lopez in his first match at the his first match in a month having completed his Abu Dhabi exhibition tournament on Thursday. 2014 campaign by featuring in the International “This was not the best start possible against a Premier Tennis League. “I haven’t played in over a tough rival in Andy Murray,” the 28-year-old Nadal month, so to play at such a high level against such told the Gulf News. “But there are only small things a class player was nice,” said the 27-year-old I need to adjust. 6-2, 6-0 is too much. I had a lot of Djokovic, who won seven titles in 2014, including a ABU DHABI: Spanish tennis player Rafael Nadal returns the ball to Scottish player Andy chances to have a closer result. I have to improve, seventh major at Wimbledon and the World Tour Murray during their semi-final tennis match at the Mubadala World Tennis Championship yes- that’s obvious, and I’m going to improve. This Finals in London. —AFP terday. — AFP Ramdin in fightback after Harmer triple

CAPE TOWN: Debutant off-spinner Simon Harmer took three wickets before West Indian captain Denesh Ramdin led a fightback against South Africa on the first day of the third and final Test at Newlands yesterday. At stumps at Newlands, West Indies, who are attempting to square the series, were 276 for six. Ramdin (53) and Jermaine Blackwood (45 not out) put on 94 for the sixth wicket to enable the tourists to finish with a respectable total after it seemed they had squandered the advantage of winning the toss and batting first on an easy-paced pitch. Harmer took three for 67 and was mainly responsible for the West Indies slipping to 172 for five, dismissing Devon Smith, Leon Johnson and Shivnarine Chanderpaul during an impressive first day of Test cricket. Harmer, 25, replaced leg-spinner Imran Tahir in the only change from the South African team that played in the rain-hit drawn second Test in Port Elizabeth. He made an early impact by taking a wicket with the last ball of his fourth over. It was also the last ball before lunch and came from a disappointing shot by Smith, who made 47 and seemed to be settling down after being beaten several times early on by the South African fast bowlers. Smith tried to cut a ball which was too close to his body and chopped the ball onto his stumps. Johnson played some handsome strokes in making 54 off 84 balls with nine fours. He added 51 for the third wicket with Marlon CAPE TOWN: West Indies’ Devon Smith (left) loses his wicket as South African players celebrate during a cricket Test match yesterday. — AP Samuels before he was deceived by a quicker cessive failure in a series in which he has grass, and South African captain Hashim timers Van Zyl and Dean Elgar bowled eight ball from Harmer which curved in with the scored only 41 runs in four innings. Ramdin, Amla used Harmer for 25 overs, while part- and two overs respectively. — AFP arm and struck the batsman on his front pad whose previous highest score in eight Tests deep in his crease. against South Africa was 32, struck the ball The leg before wicket decision was so solidly in making his half-century before Scoreboard obvious that Johnson did not even contem- falling to Dale Steyn shortly before the close. plate asking for a review, departing for the He mistimed a slower ball to offer a return CAPE TOWN: Scoreboard at the close on the first day of the third and final Test between dressing room immediately. Samuels looked catch to the fast bowler. South Africa and the West Indies at Newlands yesterday. in good form, scoring 43 off 70 balls, but Steyn took the first wicket of the day when hung his head in shame after playing a loose he had Kraigg Brathwaite caught at gully. His West Indies, first innings Fall of wickets: 1-30 (Brathwaite), 2-80 drive against the first ball sent down by part- two wickets for the day took him to 391 Test K Brathwaite c Elgar b Steyn 7 (Smith), 3-131 (Johnson), 4-162 Samuels), 5- time bowler Stiaan van Zyl, bowling at a gen- wickets and second place on South Africa’s D Smith b Harmer 47 172 (Chanderpaul), 6-266 (Ramdin) L Johnson lbw b Harmer 54 Bowling: Steyn 21-5-59-2 (3w), Philander tle medium pace. The ball went straight to Faf all-time wicket-taking list, one ahead of M Samuels c Du Plessis b Van Zyl 43 16-2-54-0 (1nb), Morkel 18-1-74-0 (1nb, 1w), du Plessis at cover. Makhaya Ntini and behind only Shaun Worse for the West Indies was to follow S Chanderpaul st De Villiers b Harmer 9 Harmer 25-5-67-3, Van Zyl 8-2-13-1, Elgar 2-0- Pollock, who took 421. Blackwood was picked J Blackwood not out 45 6-0 with the first ball after tea. In what appeared as an extra batsman in place of left-arm seam- to be a planned move, Harmer fired the ball D Ramdin c and b Steyn 53 To bat: J Taylor, S Benn, S Gabriel er Kenroy Peters and justified his selection J Holder not out 5 South Africa: H Amla, A Petersen, D Elgar, F down the leg side and Chanderpaul was with a dogged innings. There was less assis- Extras (lb3, nb2, w8) 13 du Plessis, A de Villiers, S van Zyl, T Bavuma, V smartly stumped by AB de Villiers. tance than expected for the seam bowlers, Total (6 wkts, 90 overs) 276 Philander, S Harmer, D Steyn, M Morkel. Chanderpaul was out for nine - his fourth suc- despite the pitch having a good coverage of SPORTS SATURDAY, JANUARY 3, 2015

Preview FA Cup brims over with third-round deja vu LONDON: After a frantic festive period, Premier League upsets. Wimbledon, dubbed the ‘Crazy Gang’, subse- competition on three occasions, in 1970, 2009 and 2010. clubs enter the FA Cup this weekend in a third-round pro- quently left south-west London and became the Milton Sheffield Wednesday, meanwhile, could be excused a gram thick with historical resonance. Improbably, the Keynes Dons due to falling attendances and an inability sense of trepidation ahead of their visit to Chelsea’s very first tie out of the hat in December’s draw, which to build a new stadium, with AFC Wimbledon formed by Premier League co-leaders Manchester City, having been took place in Hull, was a rematch of last season’s final fans opposed to the move.“It is one of the most impor- annihilated 7-0 at the Etihad Stadium in the League Cup between Arsenal and Hull City. Hull manager Steve Bruce, tant milestones in our development - from finally getting in September. Aside from Burnley’s game against Spurs, whose side lost 3-2 at Wembley last May, described the out of the Ryman Premier League to getting the rights to the only other all-Premier League ties are Newcastle coincidence as “amazing”, and it was to prove the first of our stadium,” said Wimbledon chief executive Erik United’s trip to Leicester City on Saturday and Everton’s no fewer than four final repeats. Samuelson. “To be playing against a Premier League home game with West Ham United on Tuesday. Sunderland host Leeds United in a repeat of the 1973 team for the first time - it has to be up there with them.” Three Premier League teams face fifth-division oppo- final, when Don Revie’s all-conquering Leeds were beaten sition, with Crystal Palace visiting Dover Athletic, Stoke 1-0 by second-tier Sunderland in a match remembered for ‘Massive Underdogs’ City hosting Wrexham and Tony Pulis taking charge of a stunning double-save by Jimmy Montgomery. At Turf One of the most evocative ties of the round takes West Bromwich Albion for the first time against Moor, Burnley and Tottenham Hotspur will face off in a place on Sunday when third-division Yeovil Town wel- Gateshead. The lowest-ranked team left in the competi- remake of the 1962 final, which Spurs won 3-1 after a come 11-time cup-winners Manchester United to Huish tion, Blyth Spartans of the seventh-tier Northern Premier cagey encounter to defend the trophy they had lifted as Park. The teams have met only twice before, with both League, tackle Championship side Birmingham City at part of the Double 12 months previously. games coming in the FA Cup. United crushed Yeovil 8-0 their 4,435-capacity Croft Park home. “There is no doubt Liverpool travel to fourth-tier AFC Wimbledon in a tie in the fifth round in February 1949, having beaten them whatsoever that we are the massive underdogs, but we that will rekindle memories of the 1988 final, when the 3-0 in the third round 11 years earlier. Chelsea, crushed 5- will go out and give it our all,” said Blyth centre-back original Wimbledon stunned the newly crowned league 3 by Spurs in the league on Thursday, visit second-tier Nathan Buddle. “Who knows what might happen on the champions 1-0 in one of the competition’s biggest Watford, who they have beaten en route to glory in the day?” — AFP

Mourinho backs Chelsea Preview to recover from shock Hibs can stop

LONDON: Jose Mourinho insists Chelsea’s New Year’s day He’s still young. But it’s impossible to hide him because of Hearts: Allan meltdown against Tottenham at White Hart Lane will prove his performances,” said Pochettino. “We try to help him to be a one-off. Mourinho’s side began 2015 in the worst improve every day and, if the national team manager GLASGOW: Hibernian midfielder Scott Allan has warned city possible fashion with a 5-3 drubbing in Thursday’s London believes in him and wants to give him the opportunity. It’s rivals Hearts their unbeaten start to the season is in danger derby. Chelsea, who at one point looked to be running not my decision. In the last few months Harry has had the when the sides meet in Saturday’s Edinburgh derby. The away with the Premier League title having held an eight- possibility to play more and start to show his qualities. We Jambos are the runaway league leaders in the Championship and hold a 19 point advantage over Hibs in third place as the point advantage, have now been pegged back by second are really happy with that.” two sides battle it out with Glasgow giants Rangers for the one placed Manchester City. Tottenham are right back in the Champions League automatic promotion spot to the Scottish Premiership. Hibs The champions and Chelsea are level on goal difference hunt after an upturn in results and Pochettino added: “In lost the first derby of the season before having their hearts and goals scored, so the Blues are top only on alphabetical football, always, it changes very quickly the situation. broken by the Jambos in the second fixture when an Alim order. But Mourinho is not concerned about Chelsea’s title “We’ve started to improve a lot in the last few months. I Ozturk wonder strike in stoppage time sealed a 1-1 draw. chances just yet and, unhappy his team didn’t get two think that we are more strong now.” — AFP However, the Easter Road side are in a rich vein of form hav- penalties at Spurs, he instead focused his attentions on the ing won their previous three matches, including a 4-0 thrash- standard of referees in the English games and the amount ing of Rangers on their last outing. Allan, who was instrumen- of games his players faced over the congested festive peri- tal in that win over the Gers, says confidence is high in the Hibs od. “We didn’t lose because of the group of players. Against camp and insists Alan Stubbs’ side will be a different proposi- Newcastle we had Nemanja Matic suspended but John Obi tion to the one that lost on their previous visit to Tynecastle. Mikel played a very good game,” Mourinho said. “We’ve put three wins together so obviously it’s a good tester “We lost then because we were unlucky and Newcastle for us on Saturday,” said Allan, instrumental in the Easter Road were lucky. Mr Atkinson (the referee) had a completely side’s 4-0 rout of Rangers last weekend. clean performance. It was a different story against “Hearts have been the most consistent team in the league, Tottenham and against Southampton in our previous getting results at difficult grounds and they’ve built on that. game it’s again a similar story. But there’s nothing we can But, to be honest, records can be broken and I fancy us to go do. The only thing we can do is work and play well.” there and get something. We want to put on a good perform- ance, get the win this time and be the first team to beat them. Roughhouse Tactics We’re starting to put some good performances and results together because earlier in the season we were playing some The games come thick and fast for Chelsea with an FA good football but weren’t coming away with the results, so it’s Cup third round tie with Watford looming this week. starting to click into place. If we manage to get back-to-back Mourinho will rest his key players against the wins against the two teams above us then that would be a real Championship side, saying he has no choice but to give confidence booster going into the second half of the season.” them a break as his flair players are also not being protect- Allan’s manager agrees with his assessment and, despite ed. He fears Eden Hazard will be kicked out the English Hearts’ 18 match unbeaten run, Stubbs feels Hibs are a match came by roughhouse tactics. “We are going to do what we for the Tynecastle club. “Hearts have had a fantastic start to the are doing up to now, knowing clearly that, in 20 league season and are rightly where they are, but we feel as if we are a matches, the most offensive team, the team with more cre- match for them,” the Hibs boss said. “We’ll to have a good go, ative players in the attacking area, we had two penalties in the players’ confidence is at an all-time high.” Despite the com- 20 matches and I also think that people in love with foot- manding lead they hold over their rivals, Hearts manager ball in this country, people must be in love with Eden Robbie Neilson has also warned his players of the danger a Hazard,” Mourinho said. resurgent Hibs will pose his side. “Hibs have hit a fantastic peri- “The way match to match he’s being punished by oppo- od of form. They are playing well and they will be confident nents and not protected by referees, maybe one day we coming to Tynecastle. It will be a very difficult game for us to won’t have Eden Hazard. “It’s one, two, three, four, five and win,” Neilson said. “We get ready, prepare properly and we go 10 aggressive fouls against him. They kick and kick and again for the derby. It will be a different game from Livingston, kick, and the kid resists. He’s a very honest guy in the way we will change our shape again, work on a couple of things in he plays, but that’s another problem.” training and look forward to it. It’s a fantastic game to play in. Meanwhile, in-form striker Harry Kane, who scored twice “Fifteen points is a great cushion to have but it can be eaten LONDON: Chelsea’s Portuguese manager Jose Mourinho away. We now have another three huge games in Hibs, to enhance his growing reputation at Tottenham, won’t be laughs as a decision goes against his team during the English Dumbarton and Rangers.” — AFP ignored by England for much longer, according to Spurs Premier League football match between Tottenham Hotspur boss Mauricio Pochettino. “We need to be careful with him. and Chelsea at White Hart Lane on Thursday. — AFP SPORTS SATURDAY, JANUARY 3, 2015

PREVIEW Van Gaal rues injury woes as United draw

STOKE-ON-TRENT: Manchester United after such a busy festive program of match- took a point from a game in which his side club. But he said: “It’s a measure of how far manager Louis van Gaal complained that es. “You have seen, for example, that were far from their best. we have progressed that we are disap- the New Year had brought no change of Ashley Young could not bear that load,” he “I think we have known before the pointed with a point from a game against fortune on the injury front following his said. game already that this shall be a tough one of the top clubs in Europe. “We created side’s 1-1 draw at Stoke City. His year got Young will be one absentee when game,” he said. “Stoke are a well-organised by far the better opportunities and had the off to the worst possible start as United fell United begin their FA Cup campaign with a team and play with the long ball. “We start- better momentum to our play.” Hughes behind to an early Ryan Shawcross goal at potential banana skin at League One strug- ed very badly by conceding from a set play can now look forward to welcoming his the Britannia Stadium on Thursday and glers Yeovil Town tomorrow. Van Gaal that we had prepared for. They scored the home-town club Wrexham to the Britannia although they equalised, they also lost added: “I will have to check on my players same way we had thought. That’s a big dis- Stadium in the FA Cup. Ashley Young to injury. Young, who has tomorrow (Friday) and then again the day appointment.” He added: “I think Stoke “It is an occasion I am looking forward flourished under Van Gaal in the absence after before we can begin to plan for the City deserved more the victory and at the to,” he said. “It will be a great FA Cup game, of injured team-mates, limped off with a FA Cup match. “The FA Cup is the shortest end a draw is good. I cannot say we were because Wrexham will be bringing 5,000 hamstring injury and could be sidelined for route to success, so we are very interested the better team today. I have said that fans. “It means so much to them as a club a month. and my players are also very interested I many, many times before, but today I can- because it will boost their finances, but we “It looks like four weeks, but I am not a think.”Following his experience in the not say that. We could have passed the ball will be looking to go as far we can in the doctor,” said Van Gaal, whose side earned a League Cup, where United were humiliat- quicker I think. The crosses were not so competition. “I watched my first live foot- point thanks to a 26th-minute equaliser by ed 4-0 by third-tier Milton Keynes Dons, good. I don’t think one cross was good.” ball game at Wrexham when they played in Radamel Falcao. United’s manager was Van Gaal knows his side are in for another Stoke City manager Mark Hughes was the sixth round of the FA Cup so I desper- quick to highlight once again the concerns tough test in the West Country. He wore frustrated that his side had only one point ately want to see them enjoy good times that he has for the health of his players the look of a relieved man after United to show for their efforts against his former again in the future.” — AFP

PREVIEW PREVIEW Dyche backs City winner Lampard Burnley to beat the drop faces cloudy future

NEWCASTLE: Burnley remain in the Premier League relegation MANCHESTER: Frank Lampard’s future zone after a 3-3 draw at Newcastle, but Sean Dyche is confident became the subject of fresh speculation after his team will beat the drop. The Clarets coped with the loss of he sent Manchester City joint-top in the three players through injuries and illness in the opening half and Premier League with the winning goal in a 3- almost triumphed despite going behind on three occasions at St 2 victory over Sunderland. Lampard came off James’ Park on Thursday. And Dyche’s disappointment at his the bench to score a 73rd-minute winner in side’s failure to achieve a badly-needed win was tempered by the the New Year’s Day game, hours after City way his team coped with the various setbacks they encountered confirmed that he will remain at the club during a hugely entertaining game. until the end of the season. City officials “It was certainly an interesting day at the office,” Dyche said. claimed that Lampard has been loaned to “We have hit the woodwork four times and created other chances, the club from Major League Soccer franchise so I’m scratching my head about how we didn’t come away with a New York City FC, City’s sister club, who he win. “I’ve also not experienced a situation before where three signed for after leaving Chelsea at the end of players had to go off so early in the game, but we dealt with it fan- last season. He had initially been due to join tastically well. “I couldn’t be more proud of my players. We talk up with the American outfit on Jan 1. about their effort and organisation, but some of the quality shown But it emerged that Lampard has not was outstanding. Newcastle were excellent for 25 minutes and on signed a loan deal with the defending the front foot but we hung on. People were probably thinking it Premier League champions, but has in fact would be tough for us, but you saw the desire and belief of the signed an extension to the short-term con- players. “We are relentless in how we play and there is a mentality tract that saw him join Manuel Pellegrini’s here that is very, very strong. Our performances over the squad in August. It calls into question the Christmas period have been outstanding.” exact nature of Lampard’s contract with New York City and when asked whether the Battling Burnley 36-year-old midfielder would ever play for Newcastle, playing for the first time since manager Alan the MLS side, City manager Pellegrini Pardew’s departure, led on three occasions through Steven Taylor, refused to answer. “We are only finishing Jack Colback and Moussa Sissoko, but Burnley responded every December,” the Chilean said in response to time, starting with an own goal from the Newcastle defender Paul the question. “I think you can’t have all dif- Dummett. Danny Ings, a player linked with Newcastle, and George ferent questions about Frank Lampard. MANCHESTER: Manchester City’s English midfielder Frank Lampard scores Boyd added the other goals for Burnley as they scored twice in the “Frank Lampard will stay now with us until their third goal during the English Premier League football match between second-half, just as they did when they drew 2-2 at Manchester the end of the season. In the month of May, Manchester City and Sunderland at the Etihad Stadium on Thursday. — AFP City in their previous game. you can start thinking about what will hap- However, Burnley knew the game could have been out of their pen in the future.” New York City supporters because other people, other cubs were and-neck with Jose Mourinho’s side at the reach by the interval. Newcastle were quick and imaginative have been vocal in their dissatisfaction with involved in this situation,” he said. “I under- summit. throughout the first half as caretaker manager John Carver intro- City’s handling of the Lampard affair, even stand perfectly New York fans want to see Meanwhile, beaten manager Gus Poyet duced a more attacking style than they had displayed under though their club have yet to play a game. A Frank playing because for the fans to see refused to condemn City for their handling of Pardew, but he is concerned at their failure to close the game statement from supporters’ group the Third Frank Lampard playing in New York City is the Lampard issue and said they deserved down after taking the lead so frequently. “I would love to know Rail claimed that Mansour bin Zayed Al- amazing. I hope he will be there next year, credit for the manner in which they had used what changed at half-time. I’ve never been involved in a game Nayhan, who owns both clubs, was treating but I think at this moment it is the best deci- the regulations to sign the former Chelsea where the cliche of a game of two halves was more appropriate,” the New York version as an inferior member sion for him, for the club, for New York, for star. “For me it’s clever, it’s smart,” said the he said. of his football stable. him to stay here with us until the end of the former Chelsea midfielder. “It’s legal, so I’ve “It could have been 3-0 at the interval, then we came up against season.” Lampard scored a dramatic winning got no problem with that. a direct style of play and didn’t know how to deal with it. Burnley Poyet Admires City Cunning goal, his fifth of the league season, three But his goal? Yes, I do have a problem should have won the game. I told Sean afterwards that we got away But Pellegrini said that even if City were minutes after coming on against Sunderland with that! “That’s more something I can con- with a point. We didn’t deserve it.” Newcastle now face Leicester in to exit the Champions League knock-out after his side had squandered a lead handed trol. When you’re playing away at the cham- the FA Cup and will be without Taylor, who could miss the rest of stages early, there is no possibility of to them by Yaya Toure and Stevan Jovetic. pions and you find yourself 2-0 down, you the season after suffering an Achilles tendon injury. “Unfortunately, Lampard making a move across the Atlantic Former City players Jack Rodwell and need to do something very special to come we have lost Steven Taylor. It looks like he has ruptured his Achilles before May. “That’s why, every time you Adam Johnson, with a penalty, equalised for back, so after coming back we needed to do tendon - and it’s not the one he did previously, so I think that’s the asked me what was happening about Frank Sunderland before Lampard’s winner. With better. “It’s Frank Lampard, we know what he end of him now for the season,” Carver said. — AFP Lampard in December, I repeated that we former leaders Chelsea subsequently losing does. He’s going to arrive late in the box so were trying to keep Frank, but it was not easy 5-3 at Tottenham Hotspur, it left City neck- we need to mark (him).” — AFP SPORTS SATURDAY, JANUARY 3, 2015 Other Suarez too young to seize City chance

BARCELONA: Former Manchester City starlet Denis Suarez, now flourishing at Sevilla, believes he was too young to make the most of his chance in the Premier League. City have pumped £200 million ($308 million) into a new academy and training complex, but Suarez was a promising youth player who chose to leave due to limited first-team opportunities. Suarez, now 20, is in the first season of a two-year loan deal from Barcelona and, given the chance to show off his attacking flair, has become a favourite with the Sevilla crowd. His dribbling and passing skills have made him an integral part of the Andalusian side, who lie sixth in La Liga and are pushing for a European place. A jewel in Celta Vigo’s youth ranks, Suarez was chased by a number of top European clubs before he decided to join City in 2011, aged 17. But City’s big- spending meant opportunities for young players were slim and after a couple of seasons in which he made less than handful of first-team appearances he signed for Barcelona. “I am now hav- ing the continuity that I need and I am having a good season,” Suarez told Reuters. “City is a club which is growing and it was a great opportunity for me to go there but I was too young when I went to Manchester to really take advantage. “I was there for two years and I have no real regrets about what happened. It was the right decision to move there so as to have a new expe- rience in a different culture. Who knows one day I may go back. (Roberto) Mancini was the manager when I signed and I think PARIS: Paris Saint-Germain’s Uruguayan forward Edinson Cavani arrives at the club’s headquarters yesterday at the Camp-des- he is a great coach who has had a lot of success and he gave me Loges in Saint-Germain-en-Laye in western Paris. — AFP my debut. The problem was that there were good players ahead of me like (David) Silva and (Samir) Nasri who had already won a lot.” Premier League clubs Less Physical Suarez feels that now the Premier League is less physical it is a good place for Spanish players to thrive in. “I had a great time in Manchester and the only problem was the weather,” he said. to dominate window “I like English football a lot with the full stadiums and the atmosphere. “English football is becoming more technical and so players like Silva, Cesc (Fabregas) and (Santi) Cazorla are PARIS: The January transfer window in Europe is poised to Nevertheless, midfielder Sami Khedira is out of contract in the doing very well.” Suarez became good friends with Silva during open, with the bulk of the spending set to be done by clubs in summer so can now negotiate his next move, and the reigning his time in England. “I think City are now signing fewer players the English Premier League. Among the continent’s leading European champions could replace him with Brazilian and giving young players more of a chance,” he said. “I went to nations, clubs in Spain will be the first ones to be able to sign prospect Lucas Silva, of Cruzeiro. Barcelona and there it was very different. I don’t think any other reinforcements, with the window there opening yesterday Meanwhile, Barcelona cannot sign any new players until club trains the same way as they do, although City are techni- and shutting on Jan 30. In England, Germany and France, the 2016 after the Court of Arbitration for Sport upheld a one-year cally strong and Pellegrini likes to play a passing game.” After a window opens today and will not shut until Monday, Feb 2, transfer ban imposed by FIFA for breaching rules on signing season with the Barcelona B team, Suarez moved out on loan to while a shorter window in Italy opens from Jan 5. youth players. Instead they must focus their energy on offer- Sevilla but there is a chance that he could be recalled early due Premier League teams splurged a record £835 million ($1.3 ing new terms to right-back Daniel Alves, who is out of con- to the transfer ban imposed on the Catalan club. “I am concen- billion) in the summer and they should again be the busiest in tract in the summer. Atletico Madrid have already moved to trating on Sevilla at the moment and we are fighting for a top- this shorter window. Most of the movement is unlikely to bring back former idol Fernando Torres, who arrives after a six finish,” Suarez said. “I am enjoying my football here and we come before the final, crazy days of the window, but in the disappointing six months in Italy with AC Milan. Moving in the will see in the future if I go back to Barca or not.” — Reuters meantime much of the talk will surround Manchester United, other direction is former Torino man Alessio Cerci, who only who are said to have no upper limit on the amounts they can departed Serie A in the summer. spend. Much of the transfer speculation in Italy surrounds champi- The Old Trafford club spent a net sum of £122m in the sum- ons Juventus, who appear unlikely to get Bayern Munich’s mer, but manager Louis van Gaal still needs to strengthen at Xherdan Shaqiri but have been linked with a move for Matches on TV the back in particular. He has been linked with moves for fel- Galatasaray’s Wesley Sneijder, and Inter, who recently brought (Local Timings) low Dutchman Ron Vlaar, of Aston Villa, and Borussia back Roberto Mancini as coach. January is not usually a busy Dortmund’s Mats Hummels, while Dutch midfielder Kevin time in Germany, where Bayern are likely to be busiest trying Spanish League Strootman of Roma is another target. Elsewhere, Manchester to offload Shaqiri, while Wolfsburg have signed China mid- City’s spending potential is limited because of Financial Fair fielder Zhang Xizhe and struggling Dortmund have captured Atletico v Levante 18:00 Play, but Chelsea are set to sign Croatian striker Andrej Slovenia midfielder Kevin Kampl from Salzburg. beIN SPORTS 16 HD Kramaric from Rijeka for £7 million and loan him to Dutch side In France, Paris Saint-Germain - hampered by Financial Fair beIN SPORTS 2 HD Vitesse Arnhem. Play restrictions - need to sell before they can buy, while Lyon beIN SPORTS 13 HD Southampton have agreed a deal to bring in Dutch winger president Jean-Michel Aulas has dismissed claims that he will Sevilla v Celta 20:00 Eljero Elia on loan from Werder Bremen and new managers - listen to offers for leading scorer Alexandre Lacazette. beIN SPORTS 7 HD Tony Pulis at West Bromwich Albion and possibly Alan Pardew Meanwhile, attacking duo Ezequiel Lavezzi and Edinson beIN SPORTS 13 HD at Crystal Palace - will be given funds. In contrast, Liverpool Cavani finally returned to the Paris Saint-Germain training beIN SPORTS 16 HD manager Brendan Rodgers has said he will be quiet this ground yesterday afternoon after missing their team’s first Elche v Villarreal 22:00 month. “There won’t be a lot of activity, if any, in January,” he training session of 2015. The South American duo were the beIN SPORTS 2 HD said. “I don’t think it is a good time to spend. Last year we nev- notable absentees from training yesterday morning, having beIN SPORTS 11 HD er brought anyone in. “We brought in a lot of players (in the already missed a training camp in Morocco which culminated beIN SPORTS 13 HD summer) who we felt could develop and they are starting to in a 1-0 friendly win over Inter Milan on Tuesday. adapt. My job is to coach and manage the players here and Their absence from that winter camp had further fuelled Sunday maximise that talent.” speculation that one or both could be leaving the club during Deportivo v Bilbao 0:00 the January transfer window. Inter Milan coach Roberto beIN SPORTS 5 HD Khedira, Alves on Move? Mancini, meanwhile, said that the Italian club had not been in Malaga v Almeria 0:00 In Spain, Real Madrid are seemingly focusing their energy contact with Lavezzi. “Lavezzi is a great player, but he’s a PSG beIN SPORTS 2 HD on the pursuit of Dortmund and Germany star Marco Reus player. There is no contact and it’s not for me to contact him,” beIN SPORTS 11 HD while dismissing suggestions they will allow Gareth Bale to said Mancini. However, Andre-Pierre Gignac and Andre Ayew beIN SPORTS 13 HD depart. “We would never listen to any offer for Bale regardless will be out of contract at Ligue 1 leaders Marseille in the sum- of the amount,” said Madrid president Florentino Perez. mer so can negotiate moves elsewhere. — AFP SPORTS SATURDAY, JANUARY 3, 2015 Early exit beckons Kuwait in tough group

KUWAIT: Kuwait has a history of the Asian Cup is very difficult, as we FACTBOX punching above its weight at the have Australia and Korea Republic who Asian Cup but will struggle to launch a played at the FIFA World Cup, and giant-killing run in Australia. Kuwait there also is Oman, who defeated Asian Cup record proudly hoisted the 1980 trophy in Kuwait at the Gulf Cup,” Maaloul said their third tournament when West on his appointment early in December. Previous appearances in finals: (9) 1972, 1976, area, was a reminder of the threat he poses. Asian sides ruled the roost, but have “However, we want to put in a good 1980, 1984, 1988, 1996, 2000, 2004, 2011. FIFA world ranking Dec 2014: 124. failed to advance beyond the group performance at the Asian Cup, as we Best performance: Winners 1980. Drawn in How they qualified: Second in Group B qualifying stage in their last two appearances in will not be there just to take part.” Group A with Australia, South Korea and Oman. behind Iran with two wins, one loss and three draws. 2004 and 2011. Getting out of a group Maaloul’s tenure began with a disap- Coach: Nabil Maaloul. Former Tunisian interna- Squad: Khaled Al-Rashidi (Salmia SC), Amer that includes hosts Australia, South pointing 1-1 draw against Iraq in tional Maaloul took on the Kuwait job scarcely a Almatoug Alfadhel (Qadsia SC), Fahad Awad Korea and Oman may also be beyond Sharjah on Dec. 22, his team conceding month out from the start of the tournament after his Shaheen (Kuwait SC), Ali Hussain Fadhel (Al Wahda, the world 124th-ranked Kuwaitis, a late penalty. The coach will hope predecessor, Brazilian Jorvan Vieira, was sacked in UAE), Fahad Alhajeri (Salmia SC), Khaled Alqahtani whose bosses sacked Brazilian coach long-serving forward Bader Al-Mutawa the wake of the team’s disappointing Gulf Cup of (Qadsia SC), Talal Alfadhel (Kazma SC), Saleh Sheikh Jorvan Vieira in November following a can fire in Australia after being one of Nations. Maaloul also coached Tunisia for less than a Alhendi (Qadsia SC), Abdullah Al-Buiraiki (Kuwait disappointing Gulf Cup of Nations the few Kuwaiti players to leave the year, quitting after the team suffered a shock loss to SC), Abdulaziz Alenezi (Qadsia SC), Fahed Al- campaign. Gulf Cup with his head held high. Cape Verde Islands last year to miss out on qualify- Ebrahim (Qadsia SC), Sultan Alenezi (Qadsia SC), Former Tunisian international Nabil The 29-year-old has made over 100 ing for the World Cup in Brazil. Mesaed Alenzi (Al Orouba, Saudi Arabia), Talal Al- Maaloul was hastily recruited and giv- appearances for Kuwait and his blis- Key player: Bader Al-Mutawa. Age: 29. Amer (Qadsia SC), Faisal Alenezi (Salmia SC), Faisal en a month to turn around their for- tering equaliser in the team’s 2-2 draw Midfielder. A member of the 2004 and 2011 Asian Zayed Alharbi (Jahra SC), Bader Al-Mutawa (Qadsia tunes. The ‘mission impossible’ nature against United Arab Emirates was a Cup teams, Mutawa has been a Kuwait stalwart SC), Khaled Ebrahim Hajiah (Qadsia SC), of the task was underlined by Kuwait’s reminder of his class. Kuwait play since his teen years, debuting in the 2003 Gulf Abdulrahman Alsammari (Naser SC), Yousef Naser demoralising 5-0 loss in their last Gulf Australia in the tournament opener at Nations Cup and earning over 100 caps since. His Alsulaiman (Kazma SC), Ali Maqseed (Arabi SC), Cup match against fellow Middle Melbourne’s Rectangular Stadium on stunning equaliser in the 2-2 draw against United Nawaf Al-Khadi (Qadsia SC), Hameed Youssef Eastern minnows Oman. “Our group at Jan 9. — Reuters Arab Emirates, a 25-metre rocket from outside the (Arabia SC) Rout leaves Chelsea, City neck-and-neck

LONDON: Harry Kane starred as Tottenham momentum after drawing 1-1 with Stoke City at a Hotspur crushed Chelsea 5-3 in a New Year’s Day windy Britannia Stadium, where Radamel Falcao blockbuster to leave Jose Mourinho’s side dead- cancelled out Ryan Shawcross’s second-minute level with Manchester City at the Premier League opener. “We didn’t deserve any more than a summit. Kane, a 21-year-old Spurs youth-team draw,” said United manager Louis van Gaal, graduate, scored twice and had a hand in two whose side have drawn three of their last four other goals as Mourinho conceded five goals for games. “They were closer to a winning goal than only the second time in his managerial career. It us. We should have played better today.” left Chelsea and City with completely identical Southampton tightened their grip on fourth records, after former Chelsea midfielder Frank place and closed to within a point of United by Lampard had scored the decisive goal in the winning 2-0 at home to Arsenal, who fell three champions’ 3-2 win over Sunderland. points off the Champions League places as a “It shows how good we are,” said Kane, whose result. Sadio Mane curled home from a narrow side leapfrogged Arsenal into fifth place. “To angle on the right after Arsenal goalkeeper score five against one of the best defences in the Wojciech Szczesny went walkabout in the 34th world shows how we’re coming together as a minute, with Dusan Tadic adding a second in the team.” Diego Costa put Chelsea ahead in the 18th 56th minute after a defensive mix-up. minute at White Hart Lane by tapping in Oscar’s shot after Eden Hazard had hit the post, but Kane Pardew Watches Palace drilled in from the edge of the box on the half “We have a good team and can beat the big hour. Danny Rose put Spurs ahead in the 44th ones if we show the spirit we did today,” said minute and Andros Townsend extended the Southampton manager Ronald Koeman. hosts’ lead from the penalty spot in first-half stop- “Everything is possible.” Freshly appointed West page time after Kane had been felled by Gary Bromwich Albion manager Tony Pulis watched Cahill. Nacer Chadli teed up Kane to make it 4-1 from the stands as his new club drew 1-1 at West early in the second half and Kane returned the Ham United, with Saido Berahino cancelling out favour after Hazard had reduced the arrears, with Diafra Sakho’s neatly constructed 10th-minute Chelsea captain John Terry netting a further con- opener. The result kept West Brom a point above solation in the 87th minute. “I think we made the relegation zone. Second-bottom Burnley some defensive mistakes, some individual defen- showed extraordinary spirit to come from behind sive mistakes,” Mourinho told BT Sport. “The play- three times and force a 3-3 draw at Newcastle ers tried a lot, but the fifth goal killed a bit our fan- LONDON: Tottenham Hotspur’s English midfielder Andros Townsend (left) vies with United, whose manager, Alan Pardew, is on the tastic reaction.” Chelsea’s Spanish defender Cesar Azpilicueta during the English Premier League football verge of joining Crystal Palace. match between Tottenham Hotspur and Chelsea at White Hart Lane on Thursday. — AFP Steven Taylor, Jack Colback and Moussa Lampard Rescues City Sissoko scored for Newcastle, but Burnley, who Earlier, Lampard had celebrated the extension lost three players to injury in the first half, hit back of his loan move from City’s sister club New York EPL results/standings each time through a Paul Dummett own goal and City FC by coming off the bench to score the win- goals from Danny Ings and George Boyd. Pardew ner against Sunderland at the Etihad Stadium. was in the stands to watch Palace draw 0-0 at City, who left goalkeeper Joe Hart on the bench, Results and standings from the English premier league matches on Thursday. Aston Villa, ahead of his expected appointment as went 2-0 up through a sensational 22-yard shot Aston Villa 0, Crystal Palace 0; Hull City 2, Everton 0; Liverpool 2, Leicester City 2; Manchester the successor to the sacked Neil Warnock. from Yaya Toure and a neat finish by Stevan City 3, Sunderland 2; Newcastle United 3, Burnley 3; Queens Park Rangers 1, Swansea City 1; Liverpool’s recent momentum was curbed as they Jovetic. But just as they had done in Sunday’s 2-2 Southampton 2, Arsenal 0; Stoke City 1, Manchester United 1; Tottenham Hotspur 5, Chelsea threw away a 2-0 lead to draw 2-2 at home to bot- draw with Burnley, City allowed Sunderland back 3; West Ham United 1, West Bromwich Albion 1. tom club Leicester City, which left them seven into the game, with City old boys Jack Rodwell points below the top four in eighth place. A pair and Adam Johnson, with a penalty, drawing the P W D L F A Pts Newcastle 20 7 6 7 25 31 27 of first-half Steven Gerrard penalties put Liverpool visitors level. However, just three minutes after Chelsea 20 14 4 2 44 19 46 Stoke City 20 7 5 8 22 24 26 in control, but two goals in two minutes by David replacing Jovetic, Lampard headed home a cross Man City 20 14 4 2 44 19 46 Aston Villa 20 5 7 8 11 22 22 Nugent and Jeffrey Schlupp prevented Brendan from Gael Clichy to claim his seventh goal of the Man United 20 10 7 3 34 20 37 Everton 20 5 6 9 29 33 21 Rodgers’s side from registering a third successive campaign. “I think Frank Lampard is a very impor- Southampton 20 11 3 6 34 15 36 Sunderland 20 3 11 6 18 30 20 win. Substitute Wilfried Bony earned Swansea tant player, particularly in these cases when you Tottenham 20 10 4 6 29 27 34 Hull City 20 4 7 9 20 26 19 City a 1-1 draw at Queens Park Rangers, can- need a goal,” said City manager Manuel Pellegrini. Arsenal 20 9 6 5 34 25 33 QPR 20 5 4 11 22 35 19 celling out Leroy Fer’s 20th-minute thunderbolt West Bromwich20 4 6 10 19 29 18 “But we played a very good 90 minutes, we West Ham 20 9 5 6 31 24 32 with a cool stoppage-time strike. Meanwhile, moved the ball well and the only mistake was to Crystal Palace 20 3 8 9 20 30 17 Ahmed Elmohamady and Nikica Jelavic scored Liverpool 20 8 5 7 28 27 29 Burnley 20 3 8 9 17 32 17 give away a second goal from a penalty.” Swansea City 20 8 5 7 25 24 29 unanswered goals as Hull City condemned Third-place Manchester United lost further Leicester 20 3 5 12 19 33 14 Everton to a fourth straight loss. — AFP Nadal shrugs off Murray loss in Abu Dhabi SATURDAY, JANUARY 3, 2015 JANUARY SATURDAY, SportsSports 43

MANCHESTER: A picture taken on March 16, 2014, shows Liverpool’s English midfielder Steven Gerrard celebrating after scoring his team’s second goal during the English Premier League football match between Manchester United and Liverpool at Old Trafford. Gerrard, who announced his departure from boyhood club Liverpool yesterday, is a player destined to be remembered as much for his extraordinary achievements as for his agonising near-misses. — AFP Gerrard to leave Liverpool

LONDON: Liverpool captain Steven Gerrard with a move to MLS franchise LA Galaxy, while for the team to find another player like him in decision to quit. announced yesterday he is leaving the club clubs from the Middle East have also report- the future,” he said. Striker Daniel Sturridge “This has been the toughest decision of where he has spent his entire career at the edly expressed an interest. added: “Stevie will always be a legend, not my life and one which both me and my family end of the season to head abroad, prompting The player made clear his desire to return just for Liverpool but to England as well.” have agonised over for a good deal of time,” a flood of tributes. The 34-year-old midfielder to Anfield in the future, saying: “It is my sin- Former England star Gary Lineker, now a tele- Gerrard said. He said he hoped his announce- has captained the Reds for 12 years and cere hope and wish that one day I can return vision pundit, said he was “one of the finest ment now would end the distracting specula- amassed a cabinet of silverware, although the to serve Liverpool again, in whatever capacity players to have graced the Premier League. A tion about his future, but said he would be Premier League title has eluded him and he best helps the club.” Liverpool owner John W top, top player.” committed to the club until his last game. experienced much heartbreak in 14 years Henry and chairman Tom Werner said there “Liverpool Football Club has been such a playing for England. Gerrard said leaving was would always be a place for the club for a ‘Experience Something Different’ huge part of all our lives for so long and say- the “toughest decision of my life” but, with his player whose contribution was “almost Gerrard joined Liverpool’s academy at the ing goodbye is going to be difficult, but I feel best days now behind him, said he would beyond measure”. Manager Brendan Rodgers, age of eight and has made 695 first-team it’s something that’s in the best interests of all continue his footballing career outside Britain. who joined in 2012, added: “This is an era appearances, scoring 180 goals. He won the involved, including my family and the club “I’m going to carry on playing and where the word ‘legend’ is vastly overused, Champions League, two FA Cups, three itself,” he said. although I can’t confirm at this stage where but in his case it actually doesn’t do him jus- League Cups and the UEFA Cup among other Gerrard said he wanted to “experience that will be, I can say it will be somewhere that tice.” honours, although he also suffered agonising something different in my career and life and means I won’t be playing for a competing Gerrard’s teammates paid fulsome tribute near-misses, notably never laying his hands I also want to make sure that I have no club and will not therefore be lining up to the player, with striker Mario Balotelli com- on the Premier League trophy. His perform- regrets when my playing career is eventually against Liverpool - that is something I could paring him to legendary Italian midfielder ances have been below his previous high over”. He thanked Rodgers, the owners, his never contemplate,” Gerrard said. Speculation Andrea Pirlo. “Vision, technique but he is pow- standards for much of this season, and the teammates and the staff, saying: “I am leaving had been growing for months that he would erful as well. Stevie can do anything, he’s an prospect of being a substitute in more on great terms. It is a very special place to be leave and Gerrard has already been linked amazing player. It’s going to be very difficult matches next season will have affected his part of.” — AFP