SUBSCRIPTION

THURSDAY, JANUARY 7, 2016 RABI ALAWWAL 27, 1437 AH www.kuwaittimes.net

Bahrain busts ‘terror’ Min 07º Max 23º cell linked to Tehran High Tide 11:03 & 21:19 Low Tide Djibouti cuts Iran ties • Qatar recalls envoy • Jordan summons ambassador 03:33 & 15:37 40 PAGES NO: 16748 150 FILS DUBAI: Bahrain said yesterday it had dismantled an Iran- Assembly panel linked “terror” cell that was planning attacks in the king- Amir returns home dom, amid a growing diplomatic crisis between Gulf debates revised Arab states and Tehran. The cell was allegedly linked to Iran’s Revolutionary Guard and Lebanon’s Tehran-backed Hezbollah militia and planning to carry out a “series of anti-graft law dangerous bombings” on the tiny Sunni-ruled kingdom, an interior ministry statement said. Members of the Deal on e-crimes law “secret terrorist organization” have been identified and many arrested, said the statement on the official BNA By B Izzak news agency, adding that others remain at large. Among those arrested were 33-year-old twins Ali and KUWAIT: The National Assembly’s legal and legislative Mohammed Fakhrawi identified as leaders of the group. affairs committee discussed yesterday a new law for the The cell is allegedly linked to the little-known Al-Ashtar establishment of the Anti-Corruption Authority after its Brigades which has reportedly claimed responsibility for law was annulled by the constitutional court over pro- bombings in the Shiite-majority kingdom, including one cedural flaws. The panel’s secretary MP Ahmad Al- outside a Sunni mosque in 2013. It is also linked to sus- Qudhaibi said the committee will vote on the new law pects involved a July 28 bombing that killed two police- on Sunday to be ready for an Assembly debate on Jan men and wounded six others. Al-Ashtar Brigade, as well 12. He said the main amendment to the law is the inclu- sion of a definition on profiteering and granting the as Lebanese Shiite movement Hezbollah, are on Bahrain’s authority powers to search without a prior warrant from list of “terrorist groups”. the public prosecution. The authority has also been The twins have travelled to Iran on several occasions empowered under the new law to follow up cases with to obtain financial and logistical support, relying on their investigation authorities. relations with “terrorist elements” that have strong ties After the constitutional court’s decision last month, with the Revolutionary Guard and Hezbollah, the state- the government dissolved the Anti-Corruption ment said. Ali Fakhro and two other suspects also met in Authority which was established about a year ago and 2012 with Hezbollah chief Hassan Nasrallah and his assumed its duties in the past few months. But the gov- deputy who offered them “$20,000 in support of their ernment immediately prepared a new law to avoid the organization,” Bahrain said. The tiny but strategic US ally shortcomings in the previous law and sent it to the has seen frequent unrest since a Shiite-led uprising Assembly for approval. The law was scheduled to be erupted in 2011 demanding a constitutional monarchy. debated on Dec 22, but the death during the session of Bahrain frequently accuses Tehran of backing the unrest. MP Nabil Al-Fadhl forced the suspension of Assembly Saudi Arabia accused Iran Saturday of sponsoring “terror- meetings. ism” recalling Iran-linked cells that have been uncovered Justice Minister Yaqoub Al-Sane said there are no dif- smuggling explosives and arms to Bahrain and Kuwait. ferences between the government and MPs over the Iran warned Saudi Arabia yesterday to stop working new draft law, adding the new law affirms the inde- KUWAIT: HH the Amir Sheikh Sabah Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah (right) is welcomed at the airport by against it as their diplomatic crisis intensified despite pendence of the authority and that it follows the justice HH the Crown Prince Sheikh Nawaf Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah after he returned home from efforts to defuse a row that has raised fears of greater ministry in small administrative affairs only. Morocco yesterday evening after a private visit. — KUNA regional instability. Continued on Page 13 Continued on Page 13 3,781 arrested in Bneid Al-Gar raid

KUWAIT: As part of its ongoing security dency permits and not hire anyone with- campaign to arrest lawbreakers, the out residency documentation or with an News Ministry of Interior raided Bneid Al-Gar, expired one to avoid legal accountability. in brief where it arrested 3,781 persons, a press The Bneid Al-Gar raid also saw security statement by the ministry said yesterday. personnel entering residences to check A strong show of force was carried out by the documents of people living there. Gas leak at Ahmadi ministry personnel in the area to prevent For the past two weeks, the interior refinery injures worker lawbreakers from fleeing, said the state- ministry has launched major crackdowns KUWAIT: A gas leak that occurred at a major refinery in ment. It stressed that all expat residents in Jleeb Al-Shuyoukh and Industrial Kuwait yesterday injured a worker but did not affect must carry with them at all times identifi- Ardiya, arresting thousands of residency the plant’s operations, state news agency KUNA report- cation documents to avoid being arrest- violators. The current campaign is the ed. Workers were able to control the leak in the second ed and potentially at some point being second major crackdown on illegal line of a gas liquefaction plant in the Mina Al-Ahmadi deported. expats and criminals since 2013, when refinery, Ali Abdullah, vice president for financial and Furthermore, it urged businesses, citi- thousands of people were summarily administrative affairs at Kuwait National Petroleum Co, zens and residents to ensure that those deported for residency violations and told KUNA. “The leak did not result in any ... material whom they hire for work have valid resi- even traffic offenses. — Agencies damage as the refinery and gas liquefaction plant’s PYONGYANG: This picture taken from North Korean TV yesterday shows North operations were not affected,” Abdullah was quoted as Korean leader Kim Jong-Un signing a document of a hydrogen bomb test. — AFP saying, adding that the injured contractor was treated at the scene. N Korea ‘successfully’ Netflix streaming TV conducts H-bomb test now in 190 countries LAS VEGAS: Netflix’s streaming TV service is now SEOUL: North Korea said yesterday it device. The television showed North operating in 190 countries, with the addition of had carried out a “successful” miniatur- Korean leader Kim Jong-Un’s signed 130 new markets, the company announced yes- ized hydrogen bomb test - a shock order - dated Dec 15 - to go ahead with terday. “Today you are witnessing the birth of a announcement that, if confirmed, the test, with a handwritten exhortation new global Internet TV network,” said co-founder would massively raise the stakes in the to begin 2016 with the “thrilling sound and chief executive Reed Hastings at the hermit state’s bid to strengthen its of the first hydrogen bomb explosion”. Consumer Electronics Show. “With this launch, nuclear arsenal. The announcement South Korean President Park Geun- consumers around the world - from Singapore to triggered swift international condemna- Hye condemned what she described as St Petersburg, from San Francisco to Sao Paulo - tion but also skepticism, with experts a “grave provocation” and called for a will be able to enjoy TV shows and movies simul- suggesting the apparent yield was far strong international response as the UN taneously - no more waiting.” While English is the too low for a thermonuclear device. Security Council planned to hold an main language for most of the new markets, “The republic’s first hydrogen bomb test emergency meeting later yesterday. The Netflix said it has added support for Arabic and has been successfully performed at North’s main ally China voiced its strong Korean, along with simplified and traditional 10:00 am (0130 GMT),” North Korean opposition, while the White House said Chinese to the 17 languages it now uses. Users state television announced. it was still studying the precise nature of can access Netflix through an app on a smart TV, a “We have now joined the rank of the test and vowed to “respond appro- videogame console, a streaming player, a smart- advanced nuclear states,” it said, adding priately”. phone or a tablet. KUWAIT: Policemen check the documents of workers in their residence in Bneid that the test was of a miniaturized Continued on Page 13 Al-Gar yesterday. — KUNA

Embassy denies Tweets too Why ‘Creed’ Amla quits as Ethiopian short? Twitter was Sylvester South Africa maids abused mulling 10,000 Stallone’s skipper after in Jahra3 jail characters27 toughest38 role Test18 draw LOCAL THURSDAY, JANUARY 7, 2016

KUWAIT: His Highness the Deputy Amir and Crown Prince Sheikh Nawaf Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah meets His Highness the Deputy Amir and Crown Prince Sheikh Nawaf Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah meets Kuwait’s Kuwait’s Ambassador to the Islamic Republic of Iran Majdi Al-Dhafiri. — KUNA Ambassador to Italy Sheikh Ali Al-Khaled Al-Jaber Al-Sabah. Crown Prince receives envoys to Iran, Italy Acting Speaker meets advisors KUWAIT: His Highness the Deputy Amir Defense Minister Sheikh Khaled Al-Jarrah their efforts, proved through the constitu- on the government projects and provides Guidance and Public Relations Department and Crown Prince Sheikh Nawaf Al-Ahmad Al-Sabah. tional and legal documents during the last a careful study of various aspects in order said in a press statement. The Kuwaiti min- Al-Jaber Al-Sabah received at Bayan Palace period. to avoid mistakes. ister hailed deep relations between both yesterday Kuwait’s ambassadors to the Advisors Ghanem praised the prominent role friendly countries and stressed mutual will- Islamic Republic of Iran Majdi Al-Dhafiri, In other news, Acting National Assembly played by the Secretary-General of the Defense Minister ingness to promote and develop them, it and to Italy Sheikh Ali Al-Khaled Al-Jaber Speaker Adel Al-Jarallah Al-Kharafi stressed National Assembly Allam Ali Al-Kandari; Separately, Defense Minister Sheikh added. Meanwhile, Sheikh Khaled Al-Jarrah Al-Sabah. National Assembly Speaker Marzouq Ali Al- employing legal and constitutional expert- Khaled Al-Jarrah met yesterday with met with Italian Ambassador in Kuwait Earlier, His Highness received Acting Ghanem’s keenness on development of the ise of the Secretariat for organizing the Turkish Ambassador in Kuwait Murad Giuseppe Scognamiglio on a number of Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Sheikh administrative and technical systems in the structure of the Technical Office, which Tameer on several issues of mutual inter- issues and matters that concern both sides. Sabah Al-Khaled Al-Hamad Al-Sabah, General Secretariat of the National includes legal and constitutional advisers est. During the meeting, the ambassador He lauded deep relations between both Deputy Prime Minister and Interior Assembly. During his meeting with the in the Council. He pointed out that the delivered a letter to Sheikh Khaled Al- friendly nations, pointing to mutual will- Minister Sheikh Mohammad Al-Khaled Al- consultants yesterday, Kharafi conveyed constitutional views would enrich the Jarrah from Turkish Defense Minister Ismet ingness to bolster and develop bilateral Hamad Al-Sabah and Deputy Premier and Ghanem’s greetings and appreciation for debate through parliamentary comment Yilmaz, the Defense Ministry’s Moral cooperation. —KUNA Envoy hails KRCS’ aid to Palestinians

KUWAIT: The Kuwait Red Crescent Syrian refugees Society (KRCS) has been instrumental in Meanwhile, Deputy Head of Delegation providing the Palestinian people with at the International Committee of the Red much-appreciated humanitarian aid over Cross (ICRC) in Lebanon Marco Succi com- the years, a Palestinian official said yes- mended KRCS’ hard work in support of the terday. After meeting earlier today with Syrian refugees. The KRCS makes great KRCS Deputy Chairman Anwar Al- efforts to provide the needs of Syrians in Hasawi, Palestine’s Ambassador to Lebanon, Succi told KUNA after a meeting Kuwait Rami Tahboob told KUNA he dis- with head of the KRCS volunteers’ depart- cussed with Hasawi the possibility of ment Dr Musaed Al-Enezi. He said they appreciate the KRCS’s work to alleviate KRCS providing a hospital in Al-Quds refugees’ sufferings, adding that they look (occupied Jerusalem) with essentials for forward to furthering bilateral cooperation tending patients and training Palestinian to assist Syrian and Palestinian refugees in journalists on personal safety tactics Lebanon. when reporting from crisis regions. In the meantime, regional media coor- Ambassador Tahboob expressed dinator of the International Red Cross and appreciation for KRCS’s efforts last month Red Crescent Movement Salah Debaka at brining humanitarian aid to Gaza Strip, lauded the rapid response of the KRCS to saying it was timely and much sought- help the refugees. Since the eruption of after. Meanwhile, Hasawi noted KRCS’s the Syria crisis, the KRCS has been active readiness to coordinate efforts with offering assistance to thousands of existing relief aid organizations in refugees all over Lebanon, he told KUNA. Palestine to avail the Palestinian people He congratulated the KRCS on its 50th with the humanitarian aid they seek. anniversary. — KUNA KUWAIT: Minister of Information and Minister of State for Youth Affairs Sheikh Salman Sabah Al-Salem Al-Humoud Al-Sabah leaves orf Bahrain yesterday. — KUNA Info minister heads to Bahrain for GCC event

KUWAIT: Minister of Information and that Kuwait participation in the event was continuous cooperation. Sheikh Salman Minister of State for Youth Affairs Sheikh to show support to Bahrain’s tourism sec- affirmed that the GCC region was witness- Salman Sabah Al-Salem Al-Humoud Al- tor. He noted that the festival was part of ing a number of cultural activities chiefly Sabah headed yesterday to Bahrain to par- the GCC plan to support tourism in the amongst them was the celebration of KUWAIT: KRCS Deputy Chairman Anwar Al-Hasawi meets Palestine’s Ambassador to take in the Manama ‘GCC tourism capital region, stressing that developing the Kuwait as the capital of Islamic culture for Kuwait Rami Tahboob. — KUNA for 2016’ festivities. Sheikh Salman said tourism sector in the Gulf States required 2016. — KUNA World Government Summit in Dubai to discuss innovative future solutions

DUBAI: More than 150 governments and Gergawi said: “The World Government a smart application to provide effective com- on ‘Digital coins: The Future of Money’. A ses- of sciences and the future of governments in international organizations will come together Summit research and studies will cover several munication between the participants. The sion on the future of innovation and ways to cooperation with The Economist. A survey will for the World Government Summit, organized sectors, including future of education, future eighth change is the ‘Edge of Governments’ develop environments will be hosted by be launched on digital transformation of the by the UAE government in Dubai from of economy, future of technology, future of exhibition, aimed at enabling 15 governments Christopher M. Schroeder, an entrepreneur, government in collaboration with Deloitte. In February 8 to 10, 2016, to share knowledge health care, future of development, future of to share their experiences and knowledge on advisor and investor in interactive technolo- addition, a report on the future of teaching and experiences in the efforts to improve gov- government work, sustainability and future of applied disruptive innovations. gies and social communications. methods will be released in cooperation with ernment work and offer better services to the environment, cities of the future, and Oxford Analytica, while another report on the humanity. future of human capital management in the Successful projects Specialized reports upcoming major innovations will be launched In a major transformation, as part of the labor market.” As the ninth change, an annual guest of the The World Government Summit will launch in collaboration with Harvard University. Summit a number of global initiatives and Summit will showcase various experiences, a number of reports in cooperation with The Summit will also set the stage for sev- research studies will be released throughout Creating knowledge while the tenth change is the launch of a new knowledge partners, both during the Summit eral other events, including the Museum of the year, highlighting the Summit’s status as The World Government Summit will wit- annual award - World Government Summit as well as throughout the year. These include the Future, which will focus on the robotics an organization that works constantly to find ness ten major changes. The first is the new Award - to honor the best minister in the reports on artificial intelligence, development and artificial intelligence sector. innovative solutions in government services. the name and the logo, while the second world who has led a new and successful quali- Announcing the Summit, Mohammed change is the transformation of the Summit tative government project. Abdullah Al-Gergawi, Minister of Cabinet from a Forum to an organization that offers As in previous editions, the Summit this Affairs, and Chairman of the Organizing integrated knowledge services for more than year will honor the winners of the third edition Committee of the World Government Summit, 150 governments and global organizations of the m-Government Award. Besides, a num- said: “The previous editions of the Summit with the goal of foreseeing future govern- ber of meetings will be organized on the side- have been successful in establishing a global ments, creating knowledge and organizing lines of the Summit to discuss the implemen- platform for best practices in innovation for events throughout the year. tation of sustainable development goals. the development of government services. The Thirdly, the summit will answer tomorrow’s new name of the Summit reflects the goal of questions by preparing for the future and pro- Vital sectors expanding its role on the international level posing solutions to challenges. Fourthly, the The World Government Summit will discuss and strengthening partnerships with major Summit will issue government research and the latest topics of relevance to future techni- global and regional organizations such as reports and launch global development indi- cal applications. One of the sessions, hosted United Nations, Arab League, Gulf cators constantly throughout the year. by Tim O’Reilly, founder of O’Reilly Media, will Cooperation Council, World Bank, look at the future of government work and Organization for Economic Cooperation and ‘Edge of Governments’ explore the new generation of smart govern- Development, and World Economic Forum.” The fifth change will be visible in the nature ment. Another topic related to cities of the Gergawi said the World Government of the sessions, with their duration and mech- future, will be discussed in a session titled, ‘The Summit has now transformed into the largest anisms enhanced to ensure better dialogue future of road transportation’, hosted by Jim platform for the next generation of govern- between speakers and the audience. The sixth Al-Khalili, professor of physics at the University ments leaders, and aims to prepare for the change includes the development of a smart of Surrey. future and improve the lives of nearly seven application and the website of the World The future of the digital economy will billion people by gathering the world under Government Summit as knowledge platforms. attract much attention with discussions one umbrella. The seventh change will be the introduction of spread across multiple sessions, including one Mohammed Al-Gergawi with partners of the World Government Summit. THURSDAY, JANUARY 7, 2016 LOCAL Ethiopian maids jailed in Jahra now home: Embassy

By Ben Garcia them with the authorities. They were arrested by the police at a checkpoint. There are crackdowns going on in Kuwait KUWAIT: The Ethiopian Embassy in Kuwait denied social against expats who are in violation of immigration policies, media reports that some Ethiopian women were beaten and these Ethiopians were among those people who were and abused by police in a Jahra prison. “No, they were not arrested. They were rounded up and taken by the police, beaten or abused by the police. Probably verbal tussles and after a few days, they were transferred to the deporta- occurred, but they were not abused or mistreated,” clarified tion facilities in Jleeb where they were treated fairly, and Zenebe Kebede, Deputy Head of Mission and Minister following deportation procedures, they were sent back Counselor at the Embassy of Ethiopia in Jabriya. “We imme- home,” Kebede explained. diately attended to the case when we received the reports “I call it an isolated case. They were treated fairly like any from social media and concerned people. We visited the other violator and they were placed in the deportation prison immediately, but found no harassment or abuse center for a few days only. Now all of them are in Ethiopia. took place.” We are working with the police officials here with mutual A cellphone video circulated on Facebook and respect and understanding of laws. We know they are very Ethiopian websites in December, showing more than 10 supportive when Ethiopians are detained and they let us know about it. We then process the necessary travel docu- ments,” he mentioned. There are about 54,000 Ethiopians in Kuwait, 50,000 of them working as domestic workers. The Ethiopian govern- ment has banned sending domestic helpers abroad includ- ing the Middle East and Kuwait. “The ban, or suspension, is in place to address the issue of human trafficking. What we MP Talal Al-Jallal MP Fares Al-Otaibi MP Majed Moussa do now is that we negotiate with countries over the rights and obligations of both the employers and workers. If the agreement is clear, only then we send domestic workers MPs adamant in ‘protecting citizens abroad,” Kebede noted. rights’ against subsidy cuts No shelter Unlike other domestic labor exporting countries like the By A Saleh joined lawmakers rejecting Speaker the Iranian attacks on the Saudi Philippines and Sri Lanka, Ethiopia does not have its own Marzouq Al-Ghanem’s call to hold a embassy and consulate in Iran. The shelter at the embassy. “We do not have a shelter because KUWAIT: MP Talal Al-Jallal reiterated his closed-door session to discuss regional statement stressed that those attacks we have few runaways, and because they can be accom- demands against overburdening citi- concerns and attacks on the Saudi come within a series of Iranian aggres- modated in the facilities run by the government. We try to zens or deprive them of rights men- embassy and consulate in Iran. “The sions and expansions in the region and help by negotiating with employers - for example if their tioned in the Kuwaiti constitution. “The Kuwaiti people have every right to that Iran had been interfering in Iraq, Zenebe Kebede, Deputy Head of Mission and Minister salaries are not paid, we demand the employer to pay government must put His Highness the know their representatives’ attitudes in Syria, Yemen and others countries Counselor at the Embassy of Ethiopia them and provide them with air tickets to return home,” he Amir’s words during the opening of the this matter, especially since the session along with Kuwait. “The recent arrest of asserted. parliamentary term into practice,” he will discuss the regional Iranian men- an Iranian terrorist group and weapons As part of its escalating “Kuwaitization” strategy, Kuwait said, noting that the recommendations ace,” he underlined. and the arrest of a network of saboteurs women in a single cell, several of them lying on the floor, has cracked down on undocumented migrant workers in made by the finance ministry on reduc- In the meantime, the Islamic and spies earlier are examples of such explaining their pitiful conditions in Amharic and claiming recent years - authorities deported over 25,000 expats ing subsidies were against the Amir’s Constitutional Movement (ICM) yester- interference,” ICM stressed, expressing they were beaten and abused. “The room was probably through the Talha deportation prison last year alone. Most instructions. Expressing strong rejec- day issued a statement condemning full consolidation with Saudi Arabia. small but they were transferred immediately to well-main- deportees belonged to 10 nationalities, with Bangladeshis, tion to increasing fuel prices, Jallal tained deportation facilities,” Kebede said. Ethiopians, Sri Lankans and Indians topping the list. instead welcomed any government Authorities claim they try to expedite deportations to effort to diversify sources of income Runaway maids avoid overcrowding, as Talha prison can only accommo- instead of relying on oil as the state’s Kuwait wins best Reports said the women may have been imprisoned for date 800 persons. The Ministry of Interior no longer sole source of national income and up to a week before the video leaked last month. Kebede depends exclusively on Kuwait Airways to secure depar- urged Finance Minister Anas Al-Saleh to confirmed the women were detained at the Naeem prison ture tickets for deportees, but still often waits for sponsors act accordingly. Meanwhile, MP Fares research on desert in Jahra. “They were housemaids who had run away from or embassies to process documents and arrange travel Al-Otaibi stressed that he was serious their employers and had absconding cases filed against documents. about filing a grilling to the finance plants award minister the moment the government takes a ‘step forward towards lifting DOHA: Dr Ali Mohammad Al- boost the concept of environ- subsidies.’ He explained that his motion Dosari, a member of the Kuwaiti ment and raise awareness over Justice Palace fight would include four main points - lifting National Committee on its significance. He added that of subsidies, privatization, the Capital Combating Desertification, has the encouragement of the politi- Markets Authority and public funds expressed his pride over winning cal leadership, fronted by His hearing set for March 7 squandering by the investment authori- an award on the best research on Highness the Amir Sheikh Sabah ty. plants in GCC member states. Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah, as Otaibi added that the government Following the winners’ honoring well as the Kuwait Institute for Five acquitted of joining IS was very late in cancelling the privi- ceremony on Tuesday, Dosari, Scientific Research, contributed leges given to ministers and senior offi- also a Kuwaiti researcher, said highly in obtaining the award. cials such as vehicles. “Nevertheless, By Meshaal Al-Enezi and A Saleh labor over charges of possessing a firearm and shooting that the award encourages He noted that his research during a wedding in Jahra and acquitted him. paying ministers and senior officials a KD 250 allowance in return is a waste of researchers in GCC countries to included 15 kinds of these KUWAIT: The court of misdemeanors yesterday set a hear- take part in similar competitions, plants. — KUNA ing on March 7 to review a case related to a fight between Fugitives caught public funds,” he remarked. the sons of the late Sheikh Fahd Al-Ahmad and Lo’ai Al- Capital governorate detectives arrested three expats In other news, MP Majed Moussa Khorafi and Ibrahim Al-Kandari at the courts complex. wanted for financial claims, said security sources, noting Notably, the public prosecution office had referred sheikhs that the first suspect, a Filipina, had been wanted over KD Athbi, Khaled and Dhari Al-Fahd to court for trading blows 1,332, the second, an Egyptian, had been wanted for KD and insults with Khorafi and Kandari in the Palace of Justice 2,342 and the third was a Pakistani wanted over a debt of while hearing the ‘Fintas Group’ case. KD 1,468.

Citizens acquitted Man found dead The criminal court yesterday acquitted five citizens of A citizen died at his ranch along Salmi highway, said charges of joining the Islamic State (IS) group. The five citi- security sources, noting that the man was not feeling well zens had been facing charges of joining and illegally com- and an ambulance was dispatched to the ranch where municating with a banned organization. paramedics tried to save him, but he had died before they arrived. The body was referred to forensics to decide on the Trafficker’s case adjourned cause of death, that initially appears to be natural. A court yesterday adjourned a case filed against a for- mer senior Ministry of Interior official, who is also a ruling Ministry reshuffle family member, for trading in visas sold to some Egyptian Deputy Prime Minister and Interior Minister Sheikh expats along with some other businessmen and women Mohammad Al-Khaled Al-Sabah issued ministerial deci- pending summoning some of the defendants. Notably, the sions appointing a number of senior officials. The deci- court had charged around 25 people of forgery and visa sion included appointing Major General Farraj Al-Zobi as trafficking. Mubarak Al-Kabeer security director, Major General Ali Madhi as deputy security director in Jahra, Brigadier Firearm possession Abdul Rahman Al-Suhail as director of the weapons The criminal court yesterday annulled a previous verdict detectives department and Colonel Waleed Musaed as sentencing a citizen in absentia to three years in jail with his assistant. 3 kg marijuana busted with passenger

By Hanan Al-Saadoun

KUWAIT: An Asian man was arrested at Kuwait International Airport with pos- session of marijuana which he admitted of attempting to smuggle into Kuwait. A total of three kilograms of the drug were found hidden in cases of nuts inside the suspect’s luggage, said Suleiman Al- Fahad, Airport Customs Supervisor. The man, who faces capital punishment if convicted with drug trafficking, was referred to the proper authorities for fur- ther action.

KUWAIT: Director of Kuwait Fire Services Directorate (KFSD) Lieutenant General Yousuf Al-Ansari received Deputy CEO of Petroleum Industries Company (PIC) Abdallah Suwailem and PIC Director of Safety and Vocational Health Eng Salem Al-Azmi. Both sides discussed matters of mutual concern. — By Hanan Al-Saadoun THURSDAY, JANUARY 7, 2016 LOCAL

In Brief Minister, Bureau Kuwait proponent of Entertainment City’s discuss celebrations fighting corruption spring break timings KUWAIT: Minister of Information and Minister of State RIYADH: Kuwait is totally committed to bolstering KUWAIT: The Touristic Enterprises Company (TEC) for Youth Affairs Sheikh Salman Sabah Salem Al- principles of transparency and fighting corruption in announced special working hours for the Humoud Al-Sabah met on Tuesday with Assistant all its forms locally, regionally, and internationally, Entertainment City during the spring break. Undersecretary of the Amiri Diwan and Martyrs Bureau Zakariya Al-Ansari, assistant undersecretary for legal During the period from January 10, 2016 and Chief Fatema Al-Amir to discuss planned activities affairs at the Kuwaiti Ministry of Justice said. He made January 21, 2016, the facility welcomes visitors marking national festivals. Sheikh Salman hailed the his statements following the conclusion of the second from 1:00 pm to 10:00 pm every day, said Saqer Al- bureau’s national role to remember the martyrs of meeting for GCC officials in charge of monitoring cor- Bader, Public Relations and Marketing Director at Kuwait and their heroic deeds. — KUNA ruption and safe-guarding transparency in govern- TEC. Female visitors have exclusive entrance on ment work. — KUNA Mondays, Saqer added. Photo of the day

KUWAIT: An aerial view showing the junction between the First Ring Road and the Essa bin Salman Al Khalifa Road, commonly known as the Fahaheel Expressway or ‘Road number 30,’ in Kuwait City. — Photo by Yasser Al-Zayyat. PIC achieves financial saving of $188 million

KUWAIT: Kuwait’s Petrochemicals activities, both here and abroad, said Industries Company (PIC) has realized PIC Vice Executive Chief for adminis- financial saving at the value of more trative and financial affairs in Saad than $188 million through successful Abu-Khousa. The company is planning implementation of projects, and com- to hit a distinguished position on the pletion of more than 533 Six Sigma international scene of the industry, he ones, CEO Asaad Al-Saad announced added. yesterday. Saad made the remark in a Meanwhile, Vice Executive Chief PIC statement on the occasion of the for aromatics Hadi Abul pointed to ‘Think-K’ event sponsored, and the various challenges facing the attended by, Kuwait Petroleum petrochemicals industry globally. Corporation (KPC) CEO Nizar Al- The company’s policy seeks to Adsani. Asaad Al-Saad enhance development in at home The projects that contributed to holders totaled 128 employees, while and abroad, and as well as bolstering such savings include financial enter- black belt ones hit 28. added value by further integration prises to decrease spending or The PIC is willing to continue among oil projects, he said. increase profits, in addition to others implementing Six Sigma and training ‘Think-K’ event organized by PIC, to realize social environmental 25 percent of its staff, besides enhanc- aims to focus attention on sharing the responsibility. Others targeted reduc- ing cooperation with other similar best practices and experiences in oil ing implementing operations periods, companies operating in the field. The projects in line with the 2030 strategy and curbing faults, Saad noted. He company desires to achieve a remark- of KPC and affiliated companies, as said that a large number of employees able position by expanding in the well as projects of health and environ- were trained to obtain the green and field of high value petrochemicals, mental safety to achieve maximum black belts of Six Sigma. Green belt and enhancing integration with KPC benefit from the oil sector. — KUNA Oil supplies reach 97 million bpd: Report

KUWAIT: Oil supplies last October reached 97 million barrels per day; however, that would not necessarily lead to any hike in the global crude price, according to a report released yesterday. The report by the Diplomatic Center for Strategic Studies said that any chance for a hike in the price will rely on OPEC’s deci- sion to lower down its production. The report indicated that produc- tion from outside OPEC had increased the commercial reserves of crude oil to around three billion barrels in October 2015, adding that OPEC pumped in around 31.750 million bar- rels per day during the same month. The report went on saying that the International Energy Agency (IEA) also predicted that oil prices will remain low in the upcoming five years due to the increase in supplies and decrease in demands on part of developed nations. By 2020, the forecasted price of oil will be at $80 per barrel, predict- ed the report which added that the Despite the lackluster performance going towards Al-Zour refinery, a proj- current prices might reach as low as for the oil price in 2015, major oil ect aiming at producing clean fuel ener- $20 per barrel. It also addressed fore- exporters are planning to increase their gy and petrochemical byproducts. The casts for the prices in 2016-17, indicat- production, said the center’s report, report also said that Kuwait was focus- ing that several speculative reports adding that Kuwait recently allocated a ing on increasing oil production with and researches pointed at the possi- sum of $120 billion for the development the discovery of new oil reservoirs north bility of US crude reaching the prices of the energy sector in the upcoming of the country as part of its 2030 devel- of $50 to 60 per barrel. five years with $50 billion of that money opment strategy. — KUNA LOCAL THURSDAY, JANUARY 7, 2016 Kuwait well positioned despite lower prices ‘Year in Review 2015’ by Oxford Business Group

By Oliver Cornock in 2016 and beyond. Indeed, the IMF to around 11.3 percent in 2017. banking sector has remained resilient, with estimated 15-20 percent in 2015 as a result expects non-oil GDP growth to roughly the IMF reporting sector-wide capital ade- of efforts to upgrade transport networks KUWAIT: The need for economic diversifi- double the pace of overall expansion over Capital markets slump, quacy of 16.9 percent, a 2.8 percent non- and deliver government-funded housing - cation was underscored this past year as the medium term as the impact of recent banks stay strong performing-loan ratio, and a provisioning with a new metro system and 45,000 hous- the Kuwaiti economy came under pressure investments takes effect. Capital markets also faltered over the ratio of 172 percent as of the end of June ing units laid out under the latest five-year from lower oil revenues. course of the year, with prices on the 2015. plan. However, the country remains well posi- Oil impact hits hard Kuwait Stock Exchange (KSE) dropping by As of mid-October, some $30bn worth of tioned to weather both lower prices and Kuwait’s fiscal position has deteriorated 16 percent year-on-year as of the end of Construction, non-oil projects had been awarded year-to-date, global volatility and continues to benefit notably as a result of lower energy prices, August, reflecting weakening demand in growth to lead in 2016 according to MEED, compared to $24bn in from a healthy banking system, rising pub- declining from a surplus of 11.7 percent of China, falling commodities prices and glob- With the country’s non-oil economy con- all of 2014, for a combined $251bn worth of lic spending on new infrastructure, and for- GDP in 2013/14 to a deficit of 4.4 percent in al volatility. Since the beginning of 2014 at tinuing to lead growth, the government builds either planned or under way. eign direct investment (FDI) reforms aimed 2014/15. After compulsory transfers to its least 24 of the KSE’s 211 listed firms have released the latest five-year economic at improving investment inflows. sovereign Future Generations Fund, and announced plans to delist, with another development plan in January. Although a FDI reforms excluding investment income, IMF projec- five companies delisted by the authorities detailed implementation strategy has yet Perhaps most promising for the nation’s Falling forecast tions indicate the country’s overall fiscal to be released for the scheme, which will future economic growth, however, was the In April 2015 the IMF World Economic balance narrowed from a 34.7 percent sur- run through to 2020, the vision includes release in December 2014 of regulations Outlook Report projected Kuwait’s eco- plus in 2013/14 to 17.3 percent in 2014/15. KD34.15bn ($112.4bn) in infrastructure clarifying the 2013 Direct Investment Law. nomic growth would reach 1.7 percent in Despite promising developments in spending, improved economic diversifica- The executive regulations, which are the 2015 before rising to 1.8 percent in 2016. government spending cuts - including tion and regulatory reforms to attract final step in the law’s implementation, However, in its most recent World reductions in costly fuel, water and elec- investment and boost private sector partic- include efforts to reduce red tape and Economic Outlook, released in October, the tricity subsidies, as well as travel and oth- ipation in the economy - all of which could lengthy procedures by establishing a one- organization revised its forecast slightly er allowances for government employees push Kuwait towards more robust econom- stop shop for licensing businesses. Five downward to 1.2 percent in 2015, but pre- and payments to Kuwaiti nationals seek- ic growth in the coming year. months after the announcement, US tech dicted growth would recover to 2.5 percent ing medical treatment abroad - the coun- Construction spending is expected to giant IBM announced it had received the by next year. try’s current account surplus has contin- continue its forward momentum in 2016, first license to establish a 100 percent for- The slowdown is largely attributed to ued to decline, largely as a result of due to inactivity and accumulated losses. with investment firm Alpen Capital report- eign-owned Kuwaiti company under the falling oil prices. Still, the government con- remaining subsidies. The IMF predicts According to bourse authorities, the total ing in June that at $123.6bn, the value of new law, suggesting the government’s tinues to benefit from relatively high finan- Kuwait’s current account surplus will value of traded shares fell by 12 percent to Kuwait’s ongoing construction projects approach to attracting FDI is already paying cial buffers, which are enabling increased shrink from 31.2 percent of GDP in 2014 KD2.45bn ($8.06bn) during the first half of ranked third highest in the GCC in 2014. dividends. public investment in infrastructure - a key to 10.2 percent and 8.9 percent in 2015 the year. According to the report, the country’s infra- — Oliver Cornock is Managing Editor of factor expected to support non-oil growth and 2016, respectively, before recovering However, the state’s well-regulated structure sector was on track to grow by an Oxford Business Group THURSDAY, JANUARY 7, 2016 From the Arabic press

Crime Al-Qabas Report Dropping the Grocer foils Daesh card

robbery attempt By Abdelmohsen Jamal KUWAIT: A thief stormed a grocery store in Riggae and beat the grocer, but when he failed to steal anything, he ince the forceful interference by Russia in escaped. The grocer filed a complaint at Andalus police sta- Syria and the continued air strikes on the tion. A security source said an Indian man who works in the Sterrorist sites, as well as the international grocery store came to Andalus police station with a med- acceptance of Security Council resolution num- ical report stating that he sustained bruises and swelling in ber 2254, asks all countries around the world to his left eye, and told them he was beaten by a man who take all the necessary steps to fight this new type stormed the grocery store in an attempt to steal. of terror, which relies on the wrong religious Detectives are working on the case. dimension, which is facilitated by stray fatwas issued by some clergymen who have a wrong Subsidies Camp theft reading of Islamic fiqh. Daesh is not a new understanding of Islam, but Jahra detectives are looking for a camp guard who it is the result of a wrong reality that began hun- stole the contents of his sponsor’s camp and power Parliament Government dreds of years ago and caused many tragedies for generator before escaping. A security source said a cit- Muslims and others. Yet with the development of izen went to Qashaniya police station and told them civilization, and the advent of modern state prin- his Bangladeshi guard stole from the camp and disap- ciples, democratic systems and Western influ- peared. ence, the activity of this extreme religious under- Al-Jarida standing diminished. Fight But it rose again after the fall of dictator Saddam Hussein’s regime and the dismantling of A fight between a citizen and a bedoon in Maidan Hawally the Iraqi army and escape of its senior leadership, resulted in the bedoon sustaining a head injury. The TSC joins Horeca as who found the opportunity after the appearance injured man was taken to hospital while the other was tak- of the Arab Spring, and having several Arab coun- en to the police station. tries exposed to political chaos and international golden sponsor interference. They found their opportunity in Employee insulted cooperating with extreme religious sides and formed a new power and were harbored by some An employee of Al-Sabah health zone filed a complaint KUWAIT: In view of the growing num- most important exhibitions, bringing parties and found the so-called Islamic state in against a woman who insulted her over a transaction. ber of major companies joining the hospitality and food industries experts Iraq and Levant in cooperation with Al-Qaeda A security source said the employee went to Shuwaikh Horeca Kuwait 2016 exhibition, The from Kuwait and the Middle East first, then split from it later. police station and said a woman came in while she was Sultan Center (TSC) announced its together under one roof. “This opens Daesh became a suitable cradle for all those at work, then when she asked her to bring certain doc- intention to join the event as a golden the door for establishing future deals uments, she got angry and insulted her in front of oth- with extreme religious preferences, and benefited sponsor. In this regard, Bassam and partnerships and expanding er employees. Police are investigating. from the weak grips of Syria and Iraq, and con- Zantout, TSC’s Commercial and cooperation with other companies,” he trolled vast areas and cities in those two coun- Operations Director said that TSC is underlined pointing, out that taking tries overnight, then declared its religious state Cross-dresser caught one of the leading regional companies part in Horeca provides direct contact and appointed a caliph, and asked all Muslims listed in Kuwait Stock Exchange with with seekers of quality products and including their leaders to pledge allegiance to A bedoon man was taken to the criminal detectives annual revenues of over $1 billion. He services. him! department after being arrested in Sulaibiya wearing added that the group business portfo- “TSC is keen on introducing its vari- women’s clothes and having an imported bottle of liquor, lio includes retail, restaurants, ety of products, especially those carry- This matter encouraged many of their support- shabu and drug paraphernalia. Jahra police patrols noticed telecommunications, investments, ing the TSC brand and sold for suitable ers to go to Syria and Iraq to fight the “infidel” a car being driven erratically by a girl, and when they information technology, real estate prices in addition to an integrated vari- Muslims. Also, some of those who were natural- stopped it and approached the driver, they smelled liquor and security solutions. ety of needs that make TSC a complete ized in Western countries surfaced as they carried and spotted the bottle next to him. Zantout also stressed that through shopping center saving customers’ out terrorist operations in the countries that har- its commitment to basic values, pro- time and effort,” Zantoun explained. bored them! All that made the West and East pay viding a multicultural environment Notably, Horeca 2016 has attracted attention to this new danger, even when they Officer punished and focusing on service quality, TSC is over 60 participants of the world’s lead- benefited from it for some time to shake some the prime shopping option for con- ing hospitality, food industries and Deputy Premier and Interior Minister Sheikh Arab regimes, but after failing to do so, and when sumers in the GCC and Middle East hotel equipment companies, in addi- the danger reached Europe, and after the Russian Mohammad Al-Khaled Al-Sabah issued a decision regions with over 10,000 employees, tion to several travel agencies and transferring a director of a traffic department from his interference on the side of the Syrian regime, 65 branches and 21 restaurants in offices. The event is organized by everyone had to get that UN resolution to fight job to become an inspector at the supervision and Kuwait, Jordan, Lebanon, Bahrain and Leaders Group in collaboration with inspection department as a disciplinary action follow- Oman. He added that TSC serves over Hospitality Services Company. It takes extreme religious organizations before control is ing a complaint against him by employees, accusing 600,000 customers on a weekly basis, place on January 18-20, 2016 at lost and things reach grave consequences. him of processing traffic transactions for his family’s providing them with a variety of Badriya Ballroom in Jumeirah Messilah With the issuance of that resolution, and drop- company and giving them preference at the expense goods, foodstuff, fresh products, Beach Hotel and Spa, under auspices ping the Daesh card and removing it from the of others. Security sources said the complaint accused household appliances and equipment, of Minister of Information and Minister international game, the countdown began for the this officer, a colonel, of discriminating between electronics and sports. of State for Youth Affairs Sheikh end of “Khayal Maatah”, as betting on it is over. employees contrary to legal and administrative rules Further, Zantoun said that Horeca Salman Sabah Al-Salem Al-Humoud —Translated by Kuwait Times and regulations. —Al-Rai Kuwait has become one of Kuwait’s Al-Sabah. Bassam Zantout Burgan Bank sponsors World Wheelchair KIPCO recognized for Fencing Titleholder Tariq Al-Qallaf NUKS-USA Conference support KUWAIT: Burgan Bank announced that it is sponsoring Tariq Al Qallaf, Kuwait’s world champion wheelchair KUWAIT: The Kuwait Projects fencer, for the second time on his Company (KIPCO) was recognized by journey to the USA Fencing the National Union for Kuwaiti Championship. The championship will Students - USA Branch (NUKS-USA) for take place in Louis, Missouri from 8 - its Platinum Sponsorship of the stu- 11 January, 2016. The bank’s sponsor- dent body’s 32nd conference. The ship falls under its corporate social conference was recently held in San responsibility umbrella, to supporting Diego, California. Kuwait’s world titleholders in reaching KIPCO’s Vice Chairman (Executive), greater heights and raising the Faisal Al-Ayyar, received the student Kuwaiti flag at worldwide arenas. representatives and commended Qallaf participated in more than 70 them on their efforts to provide sup- competitions across the region and port and assistance for close to 11,000 the world over the past 30 years, bag- Kuwaitis studying in the United States. ging 29 gold medals. During his par- KIPCO’s Group Communications ticipation in the US Fencing Director, Eman Al-Awadhi, said: Championship in October 2015, he “Supporting Kuwait’s young genera- won three gold medals along with the tion is at the heart of KIPCO’s contri- title of ‘Best Fencing Champion’. butions to the society. We believe in Qallaf is now well on his way to the instrumental role that young peo- take part in the USA Fencing Hessa Al-Najadah, Senior PR Officer at Burgan Bank (right) with ple will play in the development of Championship for the second time, Tareq Al-Qallaf our country, and our participation in KIPCO’s Vice Chairman (Executive) Faisal Al-Ayyar (right), receiving where he aims to retain his worldwide the NUKS-USA conference offers us a commemorative plaque from NUKS President Fahad Al-Jadaan. title and achieve 1st place. Burgan top accolades at international cham- part of the continued development of the opportunity interact with tomor- Bank’s sponsorship of Qallaf springs pionships. the bank’s overall social responsibility row’s leaders and to better under- The student representatives fifth consecutive year. This year’s con- from its belief that his talent has The bank will continue sponsoring framework that adds more value to stand their visions and aspirations for expressed their appreciation for ference was attended by around 3,500 defied all odds and has led him to win many more athletes in the future, as the local community. Kuwait and its future.” KIPCO’s support of this event for the Kuwaitis studying in the United States. By-elections on Feb 20 or Mar 5 Coordination with 3 Gulf states to KUWAIT: Well-informed ministerial sources in the elections would be allowed to regis- said by-elections in the third electoral con- ter with the elections committee for 10 reveal dual citizens: Sheikh Mazen stituency to elect a lawmaker to fill in the days starting on the day following the pub- position of late MP Nabil Al-Fadhl might be lication of the interior minister’s decision in KUWAIT: Interior Ministry passed against him, was able to benefited much more than held on Feb 20 or Mar 5. The sources this regard, which includes Fridays and explained that candidates applying to run public holidays. —Al-Anbaa Assistant Undersecretary for hide because he has nationality what they paid to get the Nationality and Passports of another country in a different nationality and its advantages Affairs Major General Sheikh name and continued entering such as housing loans, housing Objections delay rationalization Mazen Al-Jarrah said uncover- and leaving Kuwait and contin- care, marriage loan and student ing forgeries of Kuwaiti nation- ued with his criminal act. scholarships, Jarrah said the KUWAIT: Official governmental sources said a might probably be postponed until the new ality continues, adding that Jarrah regretted that one of issue “is not as easy as some report by Ernst & Young on lifting subsidies was budget was approved by the parliament in what had been exposed lately is the suspects in this case worked imagine, because it requires referred for further study and consideration in April, when the finance ministry is expected to view of the public and parliamentary rejection explain the measures it took to cut expenditure. just a small part of a larger at the nationality department, checking and follow up, in addi- to increase fuel and services prices. ìPrices have ‘The government wishes to share the responsi- crime. Jarrah said the sector he and also that the suspects were tion to prosecution warrants to be reconsidered, especially those of fuel,î bility of such a historic decision of lifting subsi- heads is determined to put an “Kuwaitis who found the Kuwait and assurances so that it will be stressed the sources. ‘Some decisions on lifting dies or maintaining current situations and accu- end to the manipulation of the nationality cheap to a point possible to arrest a forger”. He subsidies require parliamentary approval,’ mulating deficits with lawmakers,’ the sources nationality file, and said there is that they added those who do reminded of the report of added the sources, noting that the entire matter concluded. —Al-Anbaa direct security cooperation with not deserve the honor of get- Sheikh Thamer in checking the Gulf counterparts to identify ting it in their file, instead of manipulation of nationality School library books to be reviewed dual citizens, and “this is going their children, who are in other tests, which had many facts that on currently with Saudi Arabia countries in exchange for a few prove that the issue is not tran- KUWAIT: The Ministry of Education’s (MoE) assis- books and decided removing them from and will expand soon to Qatar dinars”. sient and that there are many tant undersecretary for activities and educational libraries. and UAE”. Sheikh Mazen Al-Jarrah manipulators”. development Faisal Al-Maqseed stressed that fol- Meanwhile, MoE decided cancelling the social He said Kuwait-Gulf coopera- Parliamentary panel He said nationality manipu- lowing the withdrawal of eight books from studies book for grade 10 and using a new one tion to discover dual citizens He appreciated the parlia- great effect on supporting the lation is almost non-existent school libraries that had illicit photos and ideas, that had already been prepared under the title efforts of security departments. the ministry decided making field visits to vari- ‘Kuwait History’, with more information about contributes to a largest extent mentary panel dealing with this since the past two years due to to preventing manipulation of issue, and pointed to the adop- When asked about the delay a new plan that was made to ous school libraries to review all books to remove Kuwait instead of some of the topics deemed diffi- in revealing such files, especial- any similar ones. Maqseed added that he had cult by many students. Informed sources said that Kuwaiti nationality, especially tion by MP Abdullah Al-Turaiji investigate and monitor with since one of the accused in the of the issue in addition to other ly that some issues go back to a its discovery systems, most received several complaints from educationalists the new book was being currently printed to be few years through which the and parents about books with illicit content and distributed to high schools by the beginning of forgery of a nationality file who MPs. He said their defense of important of which are DNA that he personally inspected the concerned the next school year. —Al-Anbaa and Al-Jarida escaped from a sentence this national issue will have a forgers who became Kuwaitis tests.—Al-Rai THURSDAY, JANUARY 7, 2016

Palestinian violence Bangladesh upholds death sentence for Islamist leader marked by an increased female role Page 11 Page 8

Sweden, Denmark agree to lift border checks

BRUSSELS: Sweden and Denmark have agreed to lift tempo- under huge strain, as many countries have reintroduced border rary border checks as soon as possible but must first slow controls to deal with the flow of migrants trying to reach migrant flows, the EU said yesterday after emergency talks wealthy Germany, Sweden and other countries from the main Europe’s passport-free Schengen zone. EU Migration landing point in Greece. Commissioner Dimitris Avramopoulos called the meeting after Schengen rules mean checks can be reintroduced for up to Denmark this week slapped spot checks on its border with six months. Swedish migration minister Morgan Johansson said Germany, and Sweden imposed its own controls on travellers the new checks “should not be put in place longer than we from Denmark. need”. He said the controls were necessary because his country “We agreed to keep (the measures) to a minimum and has taken in more asylum seekers per capita than any other EU return to normal as soon as possible. This means the flows have nation — 160,000 asylum requests last year, including 26,000 to be slowed down,” Avramopoulos said following the talks in unaccompanied minors, with 115,000 of them in the last four Brussels with officials from Sweden, Denmark and Germany. months. Danish immigration minister Inger Stoejberg said they “We all agreed that Schengen and free movement must be were “monitoring the situation by the hour” but added that “in safeguarded,” Avramopoulos added. Denmark we don’t wish to be the final destination for thou- More than a million refugees and migrants arrived in sands and thousands of asylum seekers.” German interior min- Europe in 2015 — many of them fleeing the war in Syria-in the istry official Ole Schroeder said part of the problem was that an worst crisis of its kind to face the continent since World War II. EU scheme to relocate 160,000 refugees from frontline Greece The EU’s cherished passport-free Schengen area has come and Italy to other member states was not working. — AFP

COLOGNE: In this Dec 31, 2015 picture, people gather at the Cologne main station. — AP Merkel under fire after New Year sex assaults Victims blamed men of ‘Arab or North African’ appearance

BERLIN: German Chancellor Angela Merkel came under border controls due to the migrant crisis. mounting pressure yesterday over her welcoming The two countries agreed to lift temporary border stance toward migrants, which opponents have linked checks as soon as possible, but only after migrant flows to a shocking rash of apparently coordinated sex decline. Merkel has urged a thorough investigation of attacks in Cologne on New Year’s Eve. the “repugnant” attacks in Cologne, which she said Police in the western city said they have received required “a tough response from the state”. Witnesses more than 100 complaints by women reporting assaults said groups of 20-30 young, intoxicated men out of a ranging from groping to two rapes, allegedly commit- crowd of about 1,000 people had surrounded victims, ted in a large crowd of revelers during year-end festivi- assaulted them and in several cases robbed them. A ties outside the city’s main train station and its famed plain-clothes policewoman was reportedly among Gothic cathedral. those attacked. Victims described terrifying scenes in Victims blamed men of “Arab or North African” the marauding mob. Steffi, 31, said she saw “countless appearance, inflaming a heated public debate about weeping women” when she arrived at the station and Germany’s ability to cope with the nearly 1.1 million was hit with a volley of sexist slurs shouted in German asylum seekers the country took in last year. Authorities as she made her way through the crowd. “I saw a girl... have said there is no concrete indication that the perpe- who was crying, with ripped stockings, her skirt askew- trators were asylum seekers who arrived in last year’s she was just wrecked,” she told the daily Sueddeutsche record influx. No arrests have been made. Zeitung. However critics of Merkel’s liberal refugee policy “A young guy came out of the crowd and made vul- charged that the Cologne assaults proved she was play- gar comments. ‘Can I help you? I know I can help you’ he ing with fire without a clear strategy to integrate the said with a strong accent and made obscene gestures mainly Muslim newcomers who will settle in Germany. with his hand. When she wanted to get away, he fol- The right-wing populist Alternative for Germany (AfD) lowed her. I told him to piss off.” Authorities urged vic- party, which hopes to gain seats in three regional elec- tims to file complaints after facing accusations of initial- tions in March, charged the attacks were “a result of ly playing down the rampage. “We assume more people unchecked immigration”. Late Tuesday 200-300 people, will come forward,” said police Chief Wolfgang Albers, according to police estimates, gathered in front of who yesterday dismissed calls for his resignation. The Cologne cathedral calling for more respect for women. northern port city of Hamburg said it had received 53 One female demonstrator held a sign reading: “Mrs reports of similar attacks at New Year’s street parties. Merkel, what are you doing? This is scary”. ‘General suspicion’ ‘Countless weeping women’ Justice Minister Heiko Maas warned against scape “If asylum seekers or refugees carry out these kind goating refugees over the assaults, which he said of attacks... it will bring their stay in Germany to an “appeared to be coordinated”. “No one should exploit abrupt end,” warned Andreas Scheuer, general secre- the attacks to smear refugees as a group,” he told tary of Merkel’s Bavarian allies, the Christian Social news agency DPA. Interior Minister Thomas de Union, which has demanded she set a strict upper lim- Maiziere lashed out at Cologne police for failing to it of 200,000 newcomers per year. Merkel was due to stop the assaults. speak at a meeting of the CSU in Bavaria, just weeks “The police cannot work in this way,” de Maiziere told after its leader Horst Seehofer gave her a humiliating public TV channel ARD late Tuesday. “I am urgently dressing-down over her position on refugees at anoth- demanding clarification.” Faced with accusations of self- er party event. censorship of the inflammatory case, which took four Meanwhile in Brussels, EU Migration Commissioner days to hit national media outlets, public broadcaster Dimitris Avramopoulos hosted an emergency meeting ZDF apologized for delays in reporting on the melee. of ministers from Sweden, Denmark and Germany amid “The news situation was clear enough,” wrote deputy concerns for the Schengen passport-free zone after chief editor Elmar Thevessen on Facebook, calling it a Stockholm and Copenhagen this week tightened their “mistake” not to cover the incidents sooner.— AFP Chinese gay man sues for right to marry

BEIJING: A court has accepted China’s first bureau in June but was rejected by an official same-sex marriage case, lodged by a gay who told him “marriage had to be between a man against a civil affairs bureau for denying man and woman”. him the right to marry, in a decision hailed Officials at the Furong district civil affairs as a step forward for gay rights. While homo- bureau could not be reached for comment sexuality is not illegal in China, and large and a court official in Furong, where the case cities have thriving gay scenes, same-sex will be heard, said the court “will not com- marriage is not legal and same-sex couples ment on cases before they are heard”. have no legal protections. Sun Wenlin, 26, China is becoming more tolerant of homo- told Reuters a court in Changsha, the capital sexuality, which until 2001 was listed as a of Hunan province, had accepted his lawsuit mental disorder, but many gay people remain on Tuesday. under heavy pressure to stay in the closet. “I think from a legal point of view, we Activists said the court’s acceptance of the should be successful,” Sun said. “Our marriage case was significant and would likely lead to law says there is the freedom to marry and more such cases. “In China, courts often reject gender equality. These words can be applied politically sensitive cases, so the fact that the to same-sex marriage.” Sun said he had filed lawsuit is accepted signals some official will- the lawsuit in December because he wanted ingness to address discrimination against to form a family unit with his 36-year-old LGBT (lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender) partner. people, which is encouraging,” said Maya Sun said he had tried to register to marry Wang, a China researcher at New York-based his boyfriend at the Furong district civil affairs group Human Rights Watch. —Reuters THURSDAY, JANUARY 7, 2016 INTERNATIONAL

Oman regrets ‘unacceptable’ anti-Saudi attacks in Iran

MUSCAT: Oman yesterday said it regretted and its consulate in Iran over Saudi Arabia’s published by the official ONA news of the six-nation Gulf Cooperation Council Iran and order its diplomats to leave the the “unacceptable” attacks on Saudi mis- execution of Sheikh Nimr Al-Nimr, a promi- agency. (GCC), led by regional heavyweight Saudi kingdom. Saudi allies Bahrain and Sudan sions in Iran but did not announce any nent Shiite cleric accused of fomenting Oman stressed the “need to find new Arabia. Media reports in Tehran said have followed suit and the United Arab measures against the Islamic republic, after sedition in the Sunni-ruled kingdom. The rules that prohibit any form of interference Oman’s foreign minister was expected in Emirates downgraded its ties with Tehran. some Gulf nations downgraded diplomatic sultanate “expressed its deep regret” over in the internal affairs of other countries.” the Iranian capital yesterday. The assaults Qatar, another GCC member, also “strongly ties. The Omani reaction comes four days the attacks, which it described as “unac- The sultanate is known for its historically on its missions prompted Riyadh on condemned” the attacks, but like Oman it after protesters torched Riyadh’s embassy ceptable” in a foreign ministry statement strong ties with Iran but is also a member Sunday to break off diplomatic ties with did not take any measures. —AFP Palestinian violence marked by an increased female role Brewing desperation of a younger generation

NABLUS, West Bank: When Palestinian troubled by TV images showing the potato peelers. Palestinian, mistaking him for an youths began a wave of grassroots and death of young Palestinians killed in At least 132 Palestinians have Israeli, with a pair of scissors near a often suicidal stabbing attacks against attacks and clashes with Israel. been killed, of whom 11 were popular Jerusalem marketplace. Israeli soldiers and civilians several She had memorized the entire women. Israel has identified 91 of Security camera footage captured a months ago, it wasn’t his three sons that Quran and cited religious and nation- the Palestinians killed as attackers; police officer shooting one of them Ramiz Hassoneh was worried about - it alistic motives for her desire to strike the rest died in clashes with Israeli dead and wounding the other. was his daughter. at Israelis. Unlike her younger broth- troops. Israel says the violence is the Ibrahim Awwad, the father of 16-year- Ignoring her father’s warnings, 20- ers, who busied themselves with daily result of incitement by Palestinian old Norhan, who was wounded, said year-old Maram took a kitchen knife life, her father said Maram was an leaders and on social media sites. he was shocked by their botched to an Israeli military checkpoint on independent thinker who couldn’t be The Palestinians say it stems from attack and could only speculate that Dec 1 and was shot dead as she tried swayed from her convictions, even frustration over nearly 50 years of they were driven by the daily life in to attack the soldiers, according to the after serving six months in prison for occupation, failed peace talks and the Qalandia refugee camp north of Israeli military. The deadly mission put another unsuccessful stabbing continued Israeli settlement con- Jerusalem, where they often woke to her among some 20 young females attempt on a soldier two years earlier. struction. the sounds of shootings. TEHRAN: Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif, (right) and his Iraqi who have been involved in attacks on In previous rounds of violence, “If I knew they were going to carry counterpart Ibrahim Al-Jafari depart after their joint press conference. —AP Israelis in recent months - a new trend ‘Sensitive to corruption’ women were expected to stay home out an attack, I would have tied them that has confounded both Palestinian “Girls are more sensitive to the while the boys fought. But women’s up in the house,” he said. “But every- Fears of more strife as Iraq families and Israeli security officials. occupation. They are more emotion- increased presence online, where thing was normal. There were no signs.” Police spokesman Micky in middle of regional row Rosenfeld said that because females didn’t fit the typical profile of an attacker, they aroused little suspicion BAGHDAD: Sectarian attacks south of port against the jihadists have already been and had an easier time getting Baghdad have aroused local fears that an jockeying for influence on its soil. around Israeli checkpoints. That has escalating row between the region’s Sunni now changed. and Shiite powerhouses could plunge Iraq Too uneven for war Hanan Ashrawi, the most senior back into all-out civil conflict. Wedged But analysts believe Iraq is unlikely to female Palestinian official, said the between Saudi Arabia and Iran, Iraq is the slide back into a full sectarian conflict. surge in attacks reflects an overall only country to have borders with both of Michael Knights, of the Washington more active political approach of the the feuding giants-but analysts say a return Institute, said that because Baghdad is younger generation. She said that to the kind of communal bloodletting that strongly supported by the US, any Saudi Israeli measures had provoked all raged a decade ago was unlikely. attempt to wage proxy warfare in Iraq Palestinians and that women feel On Monday, two Sunni mosques were “would be fighting the US by extension”. “they are just as affected by this reali- bombed, a Sunni muezzin and a displaced He saw Syria and Yemen as more likely ty.” Deeper religious devotion was Sunni man were killed in the Hilla and battlegrounds for the Iranian-Saudi rivalry. also a factor, she added. Taha Iskandariyah areas south of the capital. The Knights said that one of the main reasons Qatanani said his 16-year-old daugh- nature and location of the violence was rem- preventing a repeat of the mid-2000s blood- ter Ashraqat’s greatest wish was to iniscent of some of the darkest moments of shed was also that the war yielded a winner pray at the Al-Aqsa Mosque in the civil war in Shiite-majority Iraq in 2006 and that much of the cleansing had already Jerusalem, and when he was unable and 2007. been done. to get her the necessary permits, she Already tense relations between Iran’s “There has been a lot of sectarian accused him of letting her down. Shiite leadership and Sunni-ruled Gulf homogenisation of Iraq, reducing the social Tensions at the site, the third-holiest monarchies took a turn for the worse when overlap between sectarian groups and mak- in Islam, and rumors that Israel was Saudi Arabia executed a prominent Shiite ing unrestrained sectarian cleansing less NABLUS: Ramiz Hassoneh holds a photo of his daughter, Maram, in the West Bank city of Nablus. trying to expand its presence there cleric on Saturday. Sunni residents of those likely,” he said. “Also the (Shiites) clearly won Maram, a top English student at An-Najah University and a devout Muslim, was shot and killed enraged her, Qatanani said. areas that are still mixed are particularly the civil war and the number of Sunnis will- fearful that they could pay the price for the ing to fight a losing battle is declining.” when she tried to stab Israeli soldiers at a West Bank checkpoint. —AP On Nov 22, she pulled out a knife at the entrance to a West Bank mili- abrupt diplomatic flare-up between Iraq’s The rise of IS two years ago-and of the tary base when a settler driving by neighbors. Shiite militias battling it-has all but sup- While battling Israel was once a al about these things,” said most of the rallying cries to violence veered off the road and struck her Ali Hamza, a 27-year-old who lives near pressed any other form of Sunni power in role restricted to Palestinian men and Hassoneh, sitting in his Nablus home take place, and general advancement with his car. A soldier then shot her one of the two mosques destroyed this Iraq, analysts said. Saudi Arabia’s influence boys, the current wave of violence under a large poster of his late in society have emboldened many to dead. “As long as there is occupation week, said “many families are beginning to over Sunni tribes in the vast neighboring has seen an unprecedented spike in daughter wearing a headscarf. “She partake in the “national struggle,” said there will be resistance,” said fear a return of terror, as during the height of Iraqi province of Anbar has dwindled, said female involvement. And where the believed that she would inspire the Jihad Harb, a Palestinian researcher Qatanani, who served several stints the conflict”. The civil war saw the reign of Ayham Kamel, Middle East and North Africa few women who did engage in boys to do something ... She looked and commentator. in Israeli prisons for his activity in the death squads and horrific communal vio- director at Eurasia Group. attacks in the past were typically at me and said: ‘When our men who “Social media has opened a new Islamic Jihad movement. lence that killed tens of thousands of people “Moreover, Baghdad has become a underprivileged females seeking sit in coffee shop see (a girl) killed, horizon for the new generation. They In the family living room on the and displaced more than four million, Shiite-dominated city, the Iraqi army is in a redemption after being rejected by they will move.’” His wife, Hanan, sit- interact and build their thoughts in a outskirts of Nablus, there was a reshaping the confessional map of a country much better position in mixed Sunni-Shiite their families, the attackers are now ting next to him with a gold neck- new way that gives girls the same makeshift shrine to Ashraqat featur- in which up to 65 percent of the Muslim areas, and Shiite militias have been brutal, largely ideological, educated women lace featuring Maram’s image, said chances of boys,” he said. The Israeli ing her image against a backdrop of population is Shiite. yet effective in preventing a mass Sunni from supportive homes. her sorrow was mixed with pride. military says that of 152 attacks Al-Aqsa and a wooden carving in her No group claimed Monday’s attacks, and uprising in Shiite areas,” he said. Iraqi officials Palestinians consider the trend to “I’m happy she is a martyr, but I miss recorded, 22 were by women. It honor with a bloodied knife piercing their link to the execution of Saudi cleric even say Baghdad-given its location and be a combination of rising Islamist her a lot,” she said. attributed the rise to a new, bolder through a map of historic Palestine. “I Nimr Al-Nimr is not proven, but the authori- diverse foreign partners-could play a part in zeal, the growing role of women in Since the violence erupted in generation of Palestinian women that would have much more relief if my ties moved quickly to call for calm. “Some de-escalating the Iran-Saudi crisis. the conservative society and the mid-September, 21 Israelis and an did not belong to the established mil- son had done it,” Qatanani said over people want to create the spark that will According to the official Iranian news brewing desperation of a younger American Jew have been killed, itary organizations and did not ask for tea, pointing to 18-year-old Yassin. reignite war among Iraqis and we must stop agency IRNA, Iraqi Foreign Minister Ibrahim generation with few prospects. In mostly in stabbing attacks carried anyone’s permission to act. “My masculine mentality says the them because such acts only serve the ene- Al-Jaafari was due in Tehran yesterday for Maram’s case, her family said she had out by young Palestinians in their man should do it. But I consider the mies of Iraq,” said Mohammed Abdelfattah, a talks on the latest developments. According a burning drive to resist the Israeli late teens or 20s. Many attackers Botched attack girl doing it a much stronger mes- cleric from Hilla’s Al Jazaer neighborhoods. to media reports, his counterpart from occupation somehow. A top English were doomed to failure from the One of the most notable incidents sage ... when it gets to the degree As Iraq fights its war against the Islamic Oman, which has often played a mediating student at An-Najah University and a start, armed with only crude involved a pair of cousins, aged 16 that a girl carries out an attack it State group that took over swathes of the role in the region, was expected in the devout Muslim, Maram was deeply weapons such as knives, scissors and and 14, who stabbed an elderly means there is nothing else.” —AP country in 2014, partners offering their sup- Iranian capital at the same time. —AFP Despite tensions, Russia’s ‘Syria Express’ sails on Erdogan arch foe, police chiefs ISTANBUL: It’s an occasional but regular sighting in Disrupt Syria Express? December 4 with a MANPAD shoulder launched Istanbul. Out of the mist on the Bosphorus that The ships come from Russia’s Black Sea naval missile aimed at the shore. The Kilo-class Russian go on trial over graft claims divides Europe and Asia looms the hulk of a Russian port or its Sevastapol base in Crimea, the Ukrainian submarine Rostov na-Donu was also followed by a warship purposefully making its way to the peninsula annexed by Moscow in 2014 in a move Turkish patrol vessel during its passage through the ISTANBUL: A US-based Turkish preacher who acolytes in the judiciary and police. Erdogan, Mediterranean. Most likely the ship is part of opposed by much of the international community Bosphorus last month. has emerged as an arch-enemy of President his son Bilal, son-in-law Berat Albayrak and Moscow’s so-called “Syria Express”, a key supply line including Turkey. After entering the Black Sea Almost all the naval traffic in the Bosphorus is Recep Tayyip Erdogan went on trial in absen- Turkey’s spy chief Hakan Fidan are among the for naval deliveries from its Black Sea ports to mili- mouth of the Bosphorus, they sail through the icon- Russian. However, the Arleigh Burke class US tia yesterday along with several former police plaintiffs in the case, along with four former tary operations backing the regime of President ic waterway in full view, passing famous landmarks destroyer USS Ross made a passage in mid- chiefs charged over the corruption allega- ministers who lost their jobs over the corrup- Bashar Al-Assad in Syria. tions that hit the Turkish leader in 2013. tion allegations. Dozens of Russian warships, auxiliary naval car- Fethullah Gulen, a former ally of Erdogan The allegations, based on bugged conver- go ships and sometimes even submarines have turned chief foe, was not present at the start sations, enthralled Turkey like a soap opera. In passed through the Bosphorus Strait, northbound of the proceedings in Istanbul, with one leaked tape, Erdogan allegedly told Bilal and southbound. Every month since Russia Washington failing to respond to Turkish to dispose of some 30 million Euros in cash. stepped up operations inside Syria last year, accord- requests for the cleric’s extradition from his Erdogan has dismissed the recordings as a ing to maritime experts. But the sight of a Russian secluded compound in Pennsylvania. “vile montage”. The top suspects are charged warship in Istanbul is striking given that Moscow Gulen is being tried along with dozens of with plotting to topple the Turkish govern- and Ankara are experiencing their worst relations former police officers; including the former ment with the graft allegations, as well as since the end of the Cold War after the shooting head of Istanbul police Yakup Saygili and the membership of a “terrorist group”. down of a Russian warplane by Turkish jets on the city’s ex-deputy criminal police chief Kazim “There is no concrete evidence that my Syrian border on November 24. Aksoy, both of whom are said to have client has been involved in any violence, not a The two countries back opposing sides in Syria’s ordered the graft probe. The pair have been single document,” Gulen’s lawyer Nurullah almost five-year civil war, with Russia the key sup- held in detention since September 2014 and Albayrak said. “We have never seen such a porter of the Damascus regime while Turkey argues were both in court at the start of the trial. murky investigation in the history of our that the ouster of Assad is essential to solving the A total of 69 people, including Gulen, are country.” The scandal was seen as one of the Syrian crisis. on trial, facing terms ranging from seven biggest challenges to the dominance of then Analysts say that Turkey is bound by the 1936 years to 330 years. The judge at Istanbul’s Prime Minister Erdogan. He survived the alle- Montreux Convention on the Dardanelles and main courthouse opened the proceedings by gations, however, and went on to become Bosphorus, a treaty that gives Ankara full control conducting a roll call of the defendants and president in August 2014. over the two Straits while committing it to allowing the plaintiffs before lawyers began their Investigations related to the allegations the free passage of naval traffic from Black Sea lit- statements, an AFP correspondent said. were closed and the authorities moved to toral states. Under its terms, Turkey can only block Eight defendants, including Saygili and expel Gulen supporters from the police and Russian naval shipping if war is declared or if it feels Aksoy, who had been remanded in custody judiciary. Despite living outside of Turkey, under an imminent threat of war. ISTANBUL: This file photo taken on September 26, 2015 shows a Turkish flag flying on a ferry as Russian warship the BSF Saratov 150 sails through the Bosphorus off were brought to the courthouse from the Gulen built up huge influence in the country “Since there is no declared war between these prison. Aside from Gulen, the other suspects through allies in the police and judiciary, two countries it is not possible for Turkey to close Istanbul en route to the eastern Mediterranean sea. —AFP had been released from custody pending tri- media and a vast network of cramming the Straits to Russian warships,” said Cem Devrim al. Two other suspects-Gulen aide Sinan schools designed to make up for deficiencies Yaylali, Istanbul-based Turkish naval expert and edi- like the Ottoman-era Dolmabahce and Topkapi December, possibly in a show of NATO support to Dursun and former deputy police chief in the state education system. tor of the Bosphorus Naval News website. He said Palaces. Turkey at the peak of the crisis with Moscow. After Hamza Tosun-are at large and considered Ankara now accuses Gulen of running that even “in the worst days of the Cold War”-pitting They then sail across the Sea of Marmara before one of its planes was shot down just on the Syria fugitives. what it calls the Fethullahaci Terror NATO member Turkey against the Soviet Union- passing through the Dardanelles and turning south border, Moscow has discouraged Russians from Organisation/Parallel State Structure Ankara and Moscow both observed the treaty. towards the Mediterranean coast of Syria and travelling to Turkey dealing a blow to the tourism ‘No concrete evidence’ (FeTO/PDY) and seeking to overthrow the Mikhail Voitenko, Russian maritime expert and edi- Russia’s naval base at Tartus, its only such facility industry and also imposed sanctions on selected The corruption allegations directly impli- legitimate Turkish authorities. Gulen support- tor of the Maritime Bulletin website, said that the outside the ex-USSR. Their passage, however, has goods. But it stopped short of using the full poten- cated some of Erdogan’s inner circle, includ- ers decry the accusations as ridiculous, saying supplies delivered via the Bosphorus were a “lifeline” not been without tensions in recent weeks. tial array of sanctions and analysts say Russia may ing his son Bilal. The government denied the all he leads is a more informal group known for the Syria campaign. “Without the Syrian Express, Turkey accused Russia of “provocation” when a be mindful that Turkey could still disrupt the transit claims, which it said came from Gulen and his as Hizmet (Service). —AFP the Syrian campaign would choke in days or weeks.” soldier aboard the Tsezar Kunikov was spotted on of materials to Syria. —AFP INTERNATIONAL THURSDAY, JANUARY 7, 2016 Cruz downplays Trump raising concerns over Canadian birth ‘Precarious issue many people are talking about’

SIOUX CENTER: Ted Cruz tried to make a joke “What the American people are interested in is dential run, less than a year after he released his Tuesday out of Republican presidential rival Donald not bickering and back and forth,” Cruz told birth certificate. But that didn’t stop Trump from rais- Trump raising questions about whether the Texas reporters before a town hall in Sioux Center that ing the issue Tuesday. “Republicans are going to senator’s birth in Canada could be a liability if he drew hundreds of people. Cruz was concluding the have to ask themselves the question: ‘Do we want a becomes the party’s nominee. Trump told the second day of a six-day swing through Iowa before candidate who could be tied up in court for two Washington Post in an interview published Tuesday the Feb 1 caucuses, while Trump was holding a rally years?’ That’d be a big problem,” Trump said in The that Cruz’s Canadian birthplace and his holding a in New Hampshire. Washington Post interview. “It’d be a very precarious double passport was a “very precarious” issue that “a one for Republicans because he’d be running and lot of people are talking about.” ‘Natural born citizen’ the courts may take a long time to make a decision. Trump has ramped up his attacks on Cruz since The US Constitution says only a “natural born You don’t want to be running and have that kind of the Texas senator sprinted ahead of the billionaire Citizen” may be president. Legal scholars, however, thing over your head.” real estate mogul in some opinion surveys in Iowa generally agree the description covers foreign-born Trump was one of the loudest voices questioning whose caucuses kick off the state-by-state nominat- children of US parents. Cruz was born in Calgary, whether President Obama was born in Kenya and ing contests. Cruz, in response to questions about Alberta, in 1970 while his parents were working in thus not eligible to be US president. Obama is an Trump’s comments, said the best way to respond the oil business there. His mother, Eleanor, is from American citizen born in Honolulu; his father was was to laugh it off and “move on to the issues that Delaware, while his father, Rafael, is a Cuban who Kenyan, his mother American. Previous foreign-born matter.” He first reacted on Twitter, posting a link to a became a US citizen in 2005. Cruz has said that Americans - notably Republicans John McCain and video from the 1970s television show “Happy Days” because his mother is a citizen by birth, he is also George Romney - have run for president with some showing the character Fonzie water skiing over a one. Under US law, anyone born to a US citizen is mention, but no serious challenges, of their eligibili- shark. The moment, known as “jumping the shark,” granted citizenship no matter where the birth takes ty. The comments mark a reversal for Trump, who in has come to refer to the use of a gimmick to halt the place. Cruz renounced his Canadian citizenship in IOWA: Republican Presidential candidate Sen Ted Cruz, R-Texas, campaigns at Penny’s September downplayed Cruz’s birthplace in an decline of a television show or other effort. 2014, amid speculation he was preparing for a presi- Diner in Missouri Valley. — AP interview with ABC. —AP Questions about Obama’s executive plan on guns Effect on gun violence could prove to be small

WASHINGTON: President Barack Obama’s trusts or corporations from buying dangerous wants them to become ingrained and harder plan to strengthen controls on guns in the US weapons without background checks. to rescind when the next president takes over. is meeting swift resistance from gun rights After the Newtown shooting, Obama in 2013 groups, Republicans and even a few Would this have stopped sought far-reaching, bipartisan legislation that Democrats who say it’s up to Congress to recent mass shootings? went beyond background checks to ban cer- enact new policies on firearms. Yet the overall Probably not. An Associated Press review tain assault-style weapons and cap the size of effect on gun violence could prove to be rela- shows that Obama’s executive actions would have ammunition clips. tively small. Some questions and answers had no impact in keeping weapons from suspects When the effort collapsed in the Senate, about Obama’s presidential actions on gun in several of the deadliest incidents, including the White House said it was working to identi- control: Newtown, Connecticut; San Bernardino, fy every legal step he could take on his own. California; and Aurora, Colorado. The shooters in But a more recent spate of gun-related atroci- What action is Obama taking? Newtown and San Bernardino, for example, used ties, including in San Bernardino, California, Obama announced a 10-point plan to try to weapons purchased by other people. spurred the administration to give the issue keep guns from people who shouldn’t have Obama’s actions could potentially reduce another look. them. The centerpiece is new federal guidance other gun deaths - especially suicides, which that seeks to clarify who is “in the business” of cause two-thirds of gun deaths. But it’s unclear Can the president do this alone? selling firearms and has to get a federal whether the steps will significantly curb Obama says he can. Republicans and gun license. unregulated gun sales. Millions of guns are rights advocates say he can’t. The White House Licensed dealers must run background sold annually in informal settings outside of says Obama is acting fully within his legal checks on prospective buyers, but private sell- gun shops, including many through private authority, by clarifying existing laws that ers don’t. Obama is aiming to narrow that sales arranged online. The Obama administra- Congress has already passed. It’s an argument loophole so that more firearms sold at gun tion acknowledged it couldn’t quantify how Obama has used before when opposition in shows, flea markets or online are subject to many gun sales would be newly subjected to Congress has led him to take sweeping execu- background checks. Other steps include 230 background checks. Nor could it say how tive action on immigration, climate change new examiners the FBI will hire to process many currently unregistered gun sellers would and other issues. background checks. have to obtain a license. Still, Obama readily concedes the executive And Obama is directing federal agencies to steps will be challenged in court. One likely research smart gun technology to reduce acci- Why now? option for opponents is to challenge Obama’s dental shootings and asking Congress for Obama is running out of time. With barely a authority to define what it means to be $500 million for mental health care. Further year left in his presidency, he has to act quick- “engaged in the business” of selling guns, since steps aim to better track lost guns and prevent ly to roll out new policies, especially if he that definition isn’t laid out in the law. — AP THURSDAY, JANUARY 7, 2016 INTERNATIONAL

Indian army launches search for suspicious men near base

NEW DELHI: The Indian army and about 51 kilometers from Pathankot. but the search is still on,” he added. rare targeting of an Indian military part to take “firm and immediate action” police launched a search operation yes- “The local villagers informed us Indian security agencies have been installation outside disputed Kashmir- against those behind the attack, adding terday near Pathankot where a week- about two suspicious men in army on a high alert since the attack over the threatens to undermine improving rela- that New Delhi had passed on “specific end attack on an air force base left sev- fatigues close to the army cantonment weekend on the air base by six gunmen tions with Pakistan. and actionable information” about the en soldiers dead, after villagers com- area,” Gurpreet Singh Toor, senior super- with suspected linked to the Pakistan- It came just about a week after incident. The Pathankot attack coincid- plained about two suspicious men in intendent of Gurdaspur police said. “We based militant group Jaish-e- Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi ed with a 25-hour siege near an Indian the area. The search was focused in have since launched a search operation Mohammed. paid a surprise visit to Pakistan, the first consulate in Afghanistan that left at Gurdaspur district in the northern state along with the army in that area. We All the attackers were killed in the by an Indian premier in 11 years. Modi least one policeman dead and 11 others of Punjab, close to Pakistan border and haven’t yet come up with anything yet two days of gun battles. The attack-a on Tuesday urged his Pakistani counter- wounded. —AFP Venezuela opposition takes congress, defies president Breaks govt’s 17-year grip on legislature

CARACAS: Venezuela’s opposition stressed. “We are looking at a staged a walkout from the opening The Supreme Court last week on Tuesday broke the govern- change in outlook, a change in the session of the new assembly. They upheld a request by Maduro to sus- ment’s 17-year grip on the legisla- system, at changing what is bad, were outraged by opposition law- pend the three opposition lawmak- ture and vowed to force out very bad-and soon will get worse.” makers’ attempts to propose an ers. One pro-Maduro deputy target- President Nicolas Maduro despite The provisional loss of its three amnesty for numerous politicians ed by the same fraud allegations failing for the time being to clinch deputies leaves the opposition who the opposition says are politi- was also suspended. The commis- its hoped-for “supermajority.” The with a still-powerful three-fifths cal prisoners. sion in charge of swearing in the National Assembly swore in majority, enabling it to remove new deputies, led by a government deputies to 163 of the 167 seats, cabinet ministers from their posts, Crisis in oil state ally, declined to accept those four with four lawmakers-three opposi- among other powers. The opposition MUD coalition until the court case is resolved. tion and one pro-government-sus- But it removes, at least tem- has vowed change in the oil-rich, Maduro has vowed to defend pended pending a lawsuit over porarily, some powers Maduro’s crisis-hit South American nation the welfare programs of the social- alleged electoral fraud. opponents would have had with a after 17 years of socialist rule. But ist “revolution” launched by his late PARIS: A special edition of the satirical newspaper Charlie Hebdo that marks predecessor Hugo Chavez, who came to power in 1999. But voters one year after, “1 an apres” the attacks on it, on a newsstand yesterday at a punished him for the state of the train station. —AFP economy, in the toughest chal- lenge yet to his authority. Charlie Hebdo publishes special Venezuela has the world’s biggest known oil reserves but has suffered edition one year after attack from a fall in the price of the crude on which its government relies. It is PARIS: French satirical weekly Charlie Hebdo go above one religion or another.” “It is the idea in deep recession, with citizens suf- published a special edition yesterday on the eve of God itself that we, at Charlie, contest. You fering shortages of basic goods and of the anniversary of a jihadist attack that wiped need to shake up people’s ideas or they stay soaring inflation. out most of its staff, prompting protests from stuck in their positions.” The special edition the Vatican over a cover lampooning God. devotes several pages to the topic of secular- Fears of unrest In typical Charlie Hebdo fashion, the special ism, as well as reflections on the terrifying min- The tense political struggle has edition features a bloodstained, bearded God- utes when the Kouachi brothers burst into an raised fears of fresh unrest after figure in sandals with a Kalashnikov slung over editorial meeting spraying gunfire. street violence sparked by anti- his shoulder under the headline: “One year on: In one article on secularism, a cartoon government protests left 43 people the killer is still at large.” The Vatican criticized the depicts a masked gunman saying: “First kill dead in 2014. Maduro carried out cover for failing to “acknowledge or to respect those who do not pray, it will convince the oth- further maneuvers to resist his believers’ faith in God, regardless of the religion.” ers that God exists.”In his editorial Riss, wrote opponents shortly before the new “Behind the deceptive flag of uncompromis- that the team was keenly aware of the fact that assembly was formed. He pub- ing secularism, the weekly is forgetting once since publishing images of the Prophet lished a presidential decree that more what religious leaders of every faith Mohammed, seen as forbidden by many gives him the power to appoint the unceasingly repeat... using God to justify hatred- Muslims, “many hoped someone would one day heads of Venezuela’s Central Bank. is a genuine blasphemy, as Pope Francis has said put us in our places.” That snatches away the assem- several times.” The provocative cover is typical of The attack, claimed by Al-Qaeda’s branch in bly’s power to influence monetary the fiercely-secular publication whose drawings the Arabian Peninsula, was not the first on the policy, one of the key levers for of the Prophet Mohammed (PBUH) drew the publication, which was firebombed in 2011. He change in the current economic cri- fury of Muslims around the world and inspired said the Charlie team had often thought of sis. Maduro also said he would try the bloody attack on its offices on January 7 last death-albeit the economic kind-as the weekly CARACAS: A government supporter carries a painting of Venezuela’s late President Hugo to get the assembly to support a year. constantly flirted with financial ruin with circu- Chavez near Miraflores presidential palace. —AFP new economic emergency plan, Eight Charlie staff were gunned down by lation hovering at 30,000. Ironically, the attack setting up yet another political brothers Said and Cherif Kouachi as well as sev- made it one of the best known publications in The new opposition speaker of two-thirds “supermajority”, includ- Maduro still holds many of the clash. eral others in and around the building in the the world with the hashtag #JeSuisCharlie the assembly, Henry Ramos Allup, ing the ability to put legislation to cards under the presidential sys- The US State Department assault, which kickstarted three days of terror in sweeping the Twitterverse and sales of 7.5 mil- said his side soon would take steps a referendum and convene an tem. “The assembly can approve expressed concern over the case of the French capital that would eventually leave lion copies the week after. to force Maduro from office. “Here assembly to draft a new constitu- whatever laws it likes, but the pres- the suspended deputies, in a state- 17 dead. The bloodshed stunned a nation that and now, things will change,” he tion. The opposition could use ident is the one who endorses ment by its spokesman John Kirby has become a prized target of jihadists and was ‘Two idiots in balaclavas’ said. The head of the opposition those powers to seek to force them,” said the assembly’s outgo- on Tuesday. He called for political again plunged into grief in November when 130 And Charlie has continued to raise ire, refus- group in congress, Julio Borges, Maduro from power before the end ing speaker, Diosdado Cabello. “If prisoners to be released. “We people were killed in coordinated attacks ing self-censorship in the wake of the attacks, vowed it would find “a method, a of his term in 2019. It was not there is any disagreement, the remain concerned by the contro- around Paris. working from ultra-secure offices in a top-secret system to change the government immediately clear what path with- president can veto a law or refer to versy surrounding the seating of location. When Riss pictured Aylan Kurdi, the through constitutional means.” The in the constitution they might use. the Supreme Court.” some elected representatives and ‘Shake up people’s ideas’ Syrian toddler found dead on a Turkish beach speaker said the process would be But Maduro said he would defend The MUD won a supermajority call for a resolution of this dispute The attack on Charlie, as well as a Jewish this year, under a McDonald’s sign in what was worked out within six months. Venezuela’s democracy and stabili- of 112 seats in the assembly in elec- in a manner that is transparent and supermarket and police, brought millions into intended to be criticism of the consumer socie- “Change is not dependent on ty “with an iron fist.” tions on December 6, but Maduro reflects the preferences of the the streets in protest and led to much soul- ty, he was accused of racism. any time-frame,” Ramos Allup Lawmakers loyal to Maduro has taken steps to curb its powers. Venezuelan voters,” he said. —AFP searching over the country’s cherished secular- The cartoonist said in his editorial he was ism as well as societal issues such as integration. often asked how he managed to continue after “It was unthinkable that in France in the 21st what had happened. “We want to beat the crap century, journalists would be killed by religion,” out of those who wanted us to die more than cartoonist Riss, who lost the use of his right arm ever. “It is not two little idiots in balaclavas who Ivory Coast government resigns in the attack, wrote in the editorial of the special are going to screw up our life’s work. It is not edition. “We saw France as an island of secular- they who will kill Charlie, it is Charlie who will ABIDJAN: Ivory Coast’s government Reelected for a second-five year term Duncan explained that the decision to ism, where it was possible to tell jokes, draw, see them die.” However those killed are never far from the minds of the cartoonists. “I ask resigned yesterday in a move President on October 25, Ouattara has said he resign was motivated by Ouattara’s laugh, without worrying about dogma, fanat- ics.” myself sometimes if I am making the newspa- Alassane Ouattara said would bring more wants to deepen national reconciliation desire to bring “greater efficiency” to the In an interview with AFP, he said that with per they would have made. To me, they are no “efficiency” to the West African state just and draw up a new constitution which management of government affairs. “At the latest cover, which he drew, he “wanted to longer there but they are not gone.” —AFP two months after he was re-elected. Prime he plans to put to a referendum. Other the last 2015 cabinet meeting on Minister Daniel Kablan Duncan presented aims include redistributing uneven December 23, you expressed your wish his resignation and that of his government wealth and tackling high youth unem- to inject a new dynamic into government at what was to have been the first cabinet ployment. action, undertaking a government Gambia orders female civil reshuffle targeting greater efficiency in dealing with our fellow citizens’ primary servants to cover hair concerns,” he said. BANJUL: Female civil servants in the West mid-December as “an Islamic state”. “In view of this, and as you embark on African country of Gambia, recently “Gambia’s destiny is in the hands of the your second term, I would like.. to pres- declared “an Islamic state” by its president, Almighty Allah... We will be an Islamic state ent to you my resignation as prime minis- have been ordered to cover their hair at that will respect the rights of the citizens,” ter,” Kablan Duncan said. A respected work, a leaked government memo showed. he said. At the time he warned against try- member of Ivory Coast’s Democratic According to a copy of the memoran- ing to impose a dress code on women. “I Party (PDCI), which was founded in the dum obtained by AFP, “all female staff with- have not appointed anyone as an Islamic 1940s by former president Henri Konan in the government ministries, departments policeman. The way women dress is not Bedie, Kablan Duncan, took over as prime and agencies are no longer allowed to your business,” he said. An impoverished minister in November 2012. expose their hair during official working former British colony famed for its white- hours effective December 31, 2015. sand beaches, the Gambia has a population He formed a broad team of figures “Female staff members are urged to use of nearly two million, 90 percent of whom drawn from the coalition which pro- head tie and neatly wrap their hair.” are Muslim. pelled Ouattara to power although sever- A senior official in the education min- Of the remainder, eight percent are al key posts were reserved for tech- istry confirmed that the note had been cir- Christian and two percent are defined as nocrats. Kablan Duncan replaced fellow culated among government departments. having indigenous beliefs. Jammeh, 50, a PDCI member Jeannot Kouadio The new rule comes hot on the heels of military officer and former wrestler has Ahoussou, a surprise casualty of dis- President Yahya Jammeh’s categorization of ruled the country with an iron fist since he agreements which emerged within the the small predominantly Muslim country in seized power in a coup in 1994. —AFP coalition. Kouadio Ahoussou served as premier for eight months in 2012, replac- ing Guillaume Soro who served in the Split Labur fires rebels post for five years. Before becoming pre- mier, Soro headed the Patriotic LONDON: The role of an opposition should be the constraints imposed on the party’s official Movement rebel force which led a 2002 to challenge the government, but Britain’s spokespeople. rebellion against former president Labur Party has begun the new year at war with Corbyn’s changes - dubbed a “revenge ABIDJAN: This file photo taken on September 17, 2015 shows Ivorian Prime Minister Laurent Gbagbo, which triggered the first itself as leader Jeremy Corbyn struggles to reshuffle” in the press - were announced after Daniel Kablan Duncan speaking during the Africa Islamic Finance Forum. —AFP civil war. Soro is now head of the assert his authority over restive lawmakers. two days of closed-door meetings, and were National Assembly. The veteran left-winger was the surprise win- more limited than many had anticipated. meeting of the year in a move expected ‘A new dynamic’ Last year’s poll took place without inci- ner of Labur’s leadership election last year, Corbyn did not move foreign policy spokesman strongly supported by the party’s membership Hilary Benn, who publicly opposed his leader observers said was expected. Following the vote, which observers dent in Ivory Coast, a key West African but opposed by most Labur lawmakers. He has during a House of Commons debate on Syria A new cabinet will be “put in place in hailed as generally smooth and peaceful, economy and the world’s prime cocoa clashed with centrist Labur legislators over issues airstrikes last month. While Corbyn opposed the the coming days-targeting greater cohe- Ouattara himself indicated he wanted to producer, enabling the country to turn including his opposition to nuclear weapons and strikes as “reckless,” Benn argued Britain should sion and more efficiency of government see fresh faces in government, including the page on a wave of bloodshed and to British airstrikes on IS targets in Syria. play its part in defeating Islamic State group action,” Ouattara declared. He did not indi- more women in cabinet posts. But he violence which claimed some 3,000 lives Early yesterday, Corbyn moved defense “fascists.” cate whether he would retain Kablan praised Kablan Duncan’s team, express- in the wake of Ouattara’s initial election spokeswoman Maria Eagle, who opposed him More resignations could follow as Labur Duncan, a 73-year-old economist, as pre- ing gratitude for “your competence, your triumph over Gbagbo in 2010. Now 74, on nuclear weapons, to another post, and fired struggles to remain united. Corbyn has prom- mier or select a new head of government leadership and your action at the head of Ouattara-a former high-flying economist- two other members of his top team who had ised a new style of politics to re-energize a party as he moulds a “new Ivory Coast” to draw a the government”, and hailing the cabinet won a solid victory in the October elec- criticized him. Legislator Jonathan Reynolds lat- that has lost two consecutive elections to Prime line under the turmoil engendered by the for its “good conduct” in state affairs. tions, cementing Ivory Coast’s return to er resigned as Labur’s railway spokesman, say- Minister David Cameron’s Conservatives, most civil war in 2011. Addressing the president, Kablan stability after years of turbulence. —AFP ing he wanted to be able to speak out free of recently in May.—AFP INTERNATIONAL THURSDAY, JANUARY 7, 2016 Bangladesh upholds death sentence for Islamist leader ‘Long and painful wait for justice for the families’

DHAKA: Bangladesh’s highest court yesterday three out of four charges. We’re very happy,” cripple” the fledgling nation, they said. upheld the death sentence for the leader of the prosecutor Tureen Afroz told reporters. “Most country’s largest Islamist party for crimes during importantly, the death penalty was upheld for ‘Terrible conflict’ its 1971 independence struggle, paving the way the killings of the intellectuals.” Nizami, 72, Security was tight across the country after for his execution within months. The Supreme Jamaat’s leader since 2000 and a minister in a previous convictions of the Jamaat officials trig- Court dismissed an appeal by Motiur Rahman former Islamist-allied government of 2001-2006, gered the country’s deadliest violence since Nizami, head of the Jamaat-e-Islami party, who faces the gallows within months unless his case independence with some 500 people killed, was convicted of murder, rape and orchestrating is reviewed by the same court or he is granted mainly in clashes between Islamists and police. the killing of top intellectuals when he was the clemency by the president. “We’ve stepped up security. It is sufficient to pre- leader of a ruthless militia during the conflict. Three senior Jamaat officials and a key leader vent any violence,” deputy police commissioner “The court upheld the death sentence in of the main opposition have been executed Maruf Hossain Sorder said ahead of the verdict. since December 2013 for war crimes, despite Following the verdict, Jamaat called for a global criticism of their trials by a controversial nationwide strike on Thursday, saying the war crimes tribunal. The court swiftly dismissed charges against Nizami were “false, baseless and previous reviews of those four opposition lead- imaginary” and the case was “aimed at killing” ers on death row, leading to their execution, the him. “The government wants to steer the coun- latest in November last year. try towards terrible conflict in a planned way by Hundreds of secular protesters who have killing Motiur Rahman Nizami in cold blood DHAKA: Bangladeshi activists campaigning for capital punishment for war criminals been campaigning tirelessly for the trials of the through its own fixed blueprint,” the party said in celebrate outside the Supreme Court after a review petition of Jamaat-e-Islami par- Islamist leaders for their roles in the 1971 war a statement posted on its website, calling him an ty’s senior leader Motiur Rahman Nizami’s appeal against his death sentence was burst into impromptu celebrations at a square in “internationally acclaimed Islamic scholar”. dismissed. —AP central Dhaka as the news of the court’s decision Jamaat said Nizami would now seek a review came. “This verdict brings an end to the long of the judgment. Defense lawyer Khandker and painful wait for justice for the families of the Mahbub Hossain told reporters that they would victims of the war,” Imran Sarker, head of a secu- decide their next course of action after consult- lar group, said, showing a V-sign to reporters. ing with him. Since it was established by Prime “We now want his quick execution.” Minister Sheikh Hasina’s government in 2010, Prosecutors said Nizami was the leader of a the war crimes court, called the International student wing of Jamaat during the war and Crimes Tribunal, has sentenced more than a turned it into the Al-Badr pro-Pakistani militia, dozen opposition leaders for war crimes. which killed top professors, writers, doctors Rights groups have criticized the trials, saying and journalists in the most gruesome chapter they fall short of global standards and lack any of the conflict. Their bodies were found blind- international oversight. The secular government folded with their hands tied and dumped in a maintains the trials are needed to heal the marsh on the outskirts of the capital. The wounds of the conflict, which it says left three killing was carried out based on a hit-list he million people dead. Independent researchers Motiur Rahman Nizami ordered and the aim was to “intellectually put the toll much lower. —AFP India court challenges Delhi to show car ban cuts smog

NEW DELHI: An Indian court yesterday chal- India news agency. “You will have to think about transport minister Gopal Rai told news channels lenged the Delhi city government to prove that the inconvenience caused to public at large,” the after the court order. its restrictions on cars were improving air quality judges said, responding to a handful of petitions “Vehicular pollution, which is the most harm- in the world’s most polluted capital. The Delhi against the scheme. ful of PM 2.5, has come down significantly in the high court said a trial ban, that allows most pri- Air quality, which traditionally worsens in interior part of Delhi,” he said. PM2.5 refers to vate cars to use the roads only on alternate days, winter as the cooler air traps pollutants and peo- microscopic particles that penetrate deep into was causing inconvenience to the public due to ple start lighting fires, remains poor despite the the lungs and are particularly harmful to health. inadequate public transport. trial restrictions which are due to last 15 days. India’s state-run System of Air Quality Weather With pollution levels still running at 10 times Environmentalists, however, say it would be Forecasting and Research showed PM 2.5 con- the international safe limits, it ordered the gov- unrealistic to expect a rapid improvement and centrations at a “very unhealthy” 272 level yes- ernment to submit data for January 1-7 by Friday attribute the smog to low winds and a fall in terday and advised against going outside. so the impact of the ban could be assessed. The daytime temperatures. It recorded Delhi’s PM 2.5 concentration hov- Delhi government launched the trial ban last The Delhi government defended the scheme, ering between “very poor” and “severe” levels Friday in an attempt to thin the toxic blanket of saying it had helped decongest the city’s since January 1, with Monday’s reading spiking smog that has settled over the city. clogged roads and resulted in less pollution to 280, well above the World Health “In these six days you must have collected from cars. “We have increased the frequency of Organization safe limit of 25. A 2014 WHO survey data related to pollution level, we think it’s suffi- the metro, increased the number of buses, peo- of more than 1,600 cities ranked Delhi as the cient for you,” the bench of Judges G Rohini and ple are carpooling... all of Delhi has come most polluted, partly because of the 8.5 million Jayant Nath said, according to the Press Trust of together to support this campaign,” the city’s vehicles on its roads. —AFP THURSDAY, JANUARY 7, 2016 INTERNATIONAL

UN HR chief demands Thai action on disappearances

GENEVA: The UN human rights chief case of Somchai Neelapaijit, a Muslim tims to truth, justice and redress in cases of Five police officers eventually stood tri- “There is a lack of adequate legal and urged the Thai government yesterday to lawyer who vanished in 2004 while he was involuntary and enforced disappearance.” al over the incident after eyewitnesses institutional framework for the victims and do more to determine the fates of 82 peo- defending suspected Islamic militants who Somchai disappeared from the streets reported seeing Somchai bundled into a their families to seek justice in enforced ple listed as disappeared, including a had accused authorities of torturing them of Bangkok under the government of car on the night he vanished. But since disappearance cases in Thailand,” he said. prominent human rights lawyer missing while in custody. Late last month, Thaksin Shinawatra during a surge in fight- Thailand does not recognize the crime of This is of particular concern, the UN rights for 12 years. “All of the families of those Thailand’s Supreme Court upheld the 2011 ing between the army and Islamist mili- enforced disappearance, the court only office statement said, since “the issue of who have disappeared have the right to acquittal of five police officers accused of tants in Thailand’s deep south. Thaksin, considered charges of robbery and coer- enforced disappearances in which state know the truth regarding the disappear- involvement in his abduction and disap- who was eventually deposed in a military cion, not for disappearing him or murder, officials have been implicated remains a ance of their kin, as well as any progress pearance. coup, was on record as saying the lawyer the UN rights office said. Zeid called on the serious concern.” Somchai’s unsolved case and the results of investigations,” Zeid Zeid harshly criticized that decision, had been killed by at least four govern- Thai government to criminalise enforced is just one of 82 enforced disappearances Ra’ad Al Hussein said in a statement. accusing the Supreme Court of missing “an ment officials, although his body has never and voluntary disappearance, in line with recorded in Thailand by a group of UN He voiced particular concern about the opportunity to protect the rights of the vic- been found. international standards. experts since 1980, it pointed out. —AFP Historic South Korea-Japan deal stumbles over statue Struggle over diminutive but daunting obstacle

SEOUL: A landmark deal sation from Tokyo. Last week, embassy official to protest what percent of people opposed to between South Korea and Japan Japan offered an apology and a it called Kishida’s provocative the slightest relocation. to end a decades-old feud over one-billion yen ($8.3 million) comments. wartime sex slaves is struggling payment to the 46 surviving South Korea’s foreign ministry Tricky balancing act to overcome a diminutive but Korean comfort women under has also stressed that because Bong Young-Shik, a senior daunting obstacle in the form of an agreement which both coun- the statue was put up by civic research fellow specializing in the small statue of a teenage tries described as “final and irre- groups, it has no right to order Japan at the Asan Institute for girl. “I am here to defend the versible”. But the deal has trig- its removal. And the group that Policy Studies in Seoul, said the peace monument,” 22-year-old gered confusion over the fate of spearheaded the campaign to row placed the South Korean government in a tight spot, giv- en the substantial political capi- tal it has already expended on MANILA: Harry Roque, Emilia Mangilit, Isabelita Vinuya, Avelina Culala Four making the deal with Japan. of the remaining 32 alleged WWII sex slaves clench their fists along with “The issue of the wartime sex their legal counsel Harry Roque, (center) to demand compensation and slaves is a highly emotive issue apology from the Japanese Government during a news conference. —AP in Korea and the statue is its symbol,” Bong said. “The public is Filipinos raped by Japanese WWII infuriated by Japanese attempts to remove the statue, but even troops demand compensation more outraged because it looks like the Korean government is MANILA: A group of elderly Filipino women ‘Is there a difference?’ collaborating,” he added. raped by Japanese troops during World War “Is there a difference in the rape of a The bronze figure that has II called for compensation from Japan yes- South Korean and a Filipino woman?” Harry stared across the road at the terday, following Tokyo’s pledge of $8.3 mil- Roque, the Filipino victims’ lawyer, said at Japanese embassy for the past lion for South Korean women forced into yesterday’s news conference. “The answer is Japanese military-run brothels during the there should be none, because rape is a four years was set up with public war. crime against women and is prohibited by donations totaling 30 million The women’s lawyers said they were also international humanitarian law and is recog- won ($25,000). An empty chair exploring the possibility of filing cases with nized as an international crime.” next to the young woman repre- United Nations bodies and holding He noted that South Korea’s Supreme sents the victims who have died Philippine President Benigno Aquino III Court had ordered the government to fight since the war, while a shadow liable for allegedly failing to support the for the rights of the Korean victims, but that engraved into the base of the case of the women against Japan. the Philippines’ top court dismissed in 2010 statue is that of a frail old Isabelita Vinuya, the 84-year-old presi- a case filed by Vinuya and 70 other women woman-reflecting the agony dent of Malaya Lolas - a group of Filipino urging the court to compel the government that still haunts the survivors. women abducted and raped by Japanese to press their claims against Japan. The troops in their village - urged the Philippine Philippine court also denied an appeal filed The statue has proved to be government to support their demand for by the women. an extremely potent and popu- justice from Japan. “We have appealed Vinuya said she was 13 when the lar symbol, and is regularly more than once or twice to our government Japanese troops raped women and children wrapped in clothing with the to help us, support us before Japan so that in her village of Mapaniqui in Pampanga SEOUL: Korean students stage a sit-in protest against a recent agreement between South Korea passing seasons-such as a wool- we can be given justice for the sufferings province, around 60 kilometers (37 miles) and Japan near a statue (right) of a teenage girl symbolizing former “comfort women” who served ly hat and scarf in winter. More we went through during World War II,” north of Manila. The troops also razed as sex slaves for Japanese soldiers during World War II, in front of the Japanese embassy. —AFP than two dozen similar monu- Vinuya said at a news conference, adding homes and killed men in the village. Three ments have been erected that many of the women have died without other women at yesterday’s news confer- Jung Woo-Ryung defiantly the comfort woman statue, create and erect the bronze is around South Korea, and anoth- seeing justice. Japan and South Korea ence said they were teenagers when they declared, as she stood guard which has now become a focus adamant that it isn’t going any- er dozen or so abroad in the announced last week that they had settled were raped during the siege. Vinuya said their decades-long standoff over wartime that only 32 of more than 90 women from Tuesday beside the seated for South Korean activists who where. The statue cannot be “a United States, Canada and else- sex slaves, with Japanese Prime Minister her victims’ group are still alive. Only 70 of bronze figure that was erected accuse the government of sell- condition or means of any where. Outside the Japanese Shinzo Abe apologizing and agreeing to 174 from another such group, the Lila- on the pavement opposite the ing out to Tokyo. agreement,” the Korean Council embassy, Jung Woo-Ryung said contribute 1 billion yen ($8.3 million) for a Filipina, are alive, according to its head, Japanese embassy in Seoul in for the Women Drafted for she would keep guarding the foundation to help support the victims. Richilda Extremadura. Extremadura also 2011. A confused deal Military Sexual Slavery by Japan statue as long as necessary. Historians say tens of thousands of women called on Japan to compensate former sex Depicting a young, barefoot Japan insists the agreement said in a statement on its web- Jung belongs to a student from around Asia were sent to front-line slaves and rape victims from the Philippines woman, dressed in a traditional included a clear undertaking site. organization that is one of a military brothels to provide sex to Japanese and 11 other countries and urged President Korean hanbok dress and with from South Korea to remove the “And the Korean government number of groups who have soldiers. Aquino to initiate talks with Japan. —AP her fists clasped tight in her lap, statue, with Japanese Foreign cannot mention anything about organized a rotating round-the- the statue is both a symbol of Minister Fumio Kishida stating the removal or moving of the clock vigil to keep the bronze the suffering endured by so- Monday that he understood it monument,” it added. South where it is. “We are demanding Indonesia turns to China as called “comfort women” forced would be “relocated appropri- Korean public sentiment about that the issue be resolved by to work in Japanese military ately”. But Seoul says it only the overall agreement is evenly meeting the demands of the vic- Uighurs join Islamist jihadis brothels during World War II, promised to look into the possi- divided, but on the specific issue tims. I will continue to come and of their struggle to extract bility of moving the bronze and of the statue passions run high, here as long as the protest goes JAKARTA: Indonesian authorities are adding that an Indonesian team went a formal apology and compen- called in a senior Japanese with surveys showing up to 75 on,” she said. —AFP working with their counterparts in to China to interview members of the China to stem a flow of ethnic Uighur man’s family, who would not confirm militants seeking to join Islamist that they were related to him. There jihadists in the world’s most populous was no immediate comment from Taiwan’s Tsai urges answers Muslim country, Indonesia’s counter- China’s foreign ministry on whether terrorism chief said. Beijing is collaborating with Indonesia. Saud Usman Nasution’s comments “As far as China is concerned, these come amid mounting concern in people are running off, some of them on Hong Kong booksellers Indonesia about possible attacks by taking part in jihad and planning to sympathisers of the Islamic State group strike back,” said Pan Zhiping, a terror- TAIPEI: Taiwan’s presidential frontrunner Tsai election in which she is tipped to unseat the been declared by Taiwan. “(I) hope that Hong and follows the arrest of 13 men across ism expert at the Xinjiang Academy of Ing-wen urged authorities in Hong Kong and Beijing-friendly ruling Kuomintang (KMT) par- Kong and Beijing authorities... will give a clear the island of Java, including a Muslim Social Sciences. “Of course we must Uighur with a suicide-bomb vest. stop them. I believe, in terms of jointly Beijing yesterday to explain the disappear- ty, raising questions over cross-strait relations. explanation,” Tsai said yesterday at a cam- The appearance among Indonesian guarding against extremism, it is neces- ance of five Hong Kong booksellers feared Tsai, who leads the Beijing-sceptic opposition paign event in Taipei. “At the same time, militant networks of Uighurs, who come sary that we cooperate.” detained by mainland Chinese authorities. Democratic Progressive Party (DPP), has said (they) should implement concrete measures from the Xinjiang region in far-western Bilveer Singh of the Rajaratnam The missing men all worked for the same she wants to preserve the “status quo” with to ensure freedom of speech in Hong Kong,” China, is likely to add to Beijing’s con- School of International Studies in Hong Kong-based publishing house known China if she becomes president-but oppo- she said. “Taiwanese people care deeply cerns that exiles will return to their Singapore said the direct involvement for books critical of the Chinese government, nents say she would destabilise ties. about freedom of speech, because Taiwan homeland as experienced and trained of Chinese Uighurs in Southeast Asian in a case that has sparked anger in the city. The DPP traditionally leans towards assert- after all went through a very difficult period jihadists. China says Islamist militants militancy added “an external dimension Tsai’s comments come the week before an ing independence, which has never formally to win our freedom of speech.” and separatists operate in energy-rich to the existing home-grown terrorist The island was ruled under martial law by Xinjiang on the borders of central Asia, threat”. “It could also complicate ties KMT leader Chiang Kai-shek until 1987. where violence has killed hundreds in with a rising China, which may want to Large-scale protest movements flared in both recent years. play a bigger counter-terrorism role in Hong Kong and Taiwan in 2014, with protest- the region,” Singh said in a Eurasia Culture and religion Review article. ers angry at growing Chinese influence. Rights groups say much of the unrest Taiwan split from China in 1949 after a civil can be traced back to frustration at con- ‘Serious concern for China’ war on the mainland, but Beijing still consid- trols over the Uighurs’ culture and reli- Indonesia’s security forces have giv- ers it part of its territory awaiting unification- gion, and that most of those who leave en Santoso, who styles himself as the by force if necessary. are only fleeing repression not seeking commander of the Islamic State army in Hong Kong is semi-autonomous after it to wage jihad. China denies repressing Indonesia, until Jan. 9 to surrender was handed back to China by Britain in 1997 rights. Nasution, who heads the along with his force of about 40 men on and enjoys freedoms unseen on the main- National Counter-Terrorism Agency, the far-flung island of Sulawesi. land, but there are increasing fears those are told Reuters in an interview on Tuesday However, security analysts believe a under threat. The KMT’s China-friendly policy that several Uighurs had responded to a larger threat is emerging across the has been a major source of criticism. But its call last year by Santoso, Indonesia’s populous island of Java as networks of presidential candidate Eric Chu also voiced most high-profile backer of Islamic support for Islamic State grow. concern Tuesday about the disappearances. State, to join his band of fighters. Indonesia has been largely success- Islamic State and human trafficking ful in disrupting domestic militant cells “The Hong Kong or Chinese authorities networks helped them travel via since the bombing of two nightclubs on must provide a clear answer... as pursuit of Myanmar, Thailand and Malaysia to the resort island of Bali in 2002, and democracy and freedom is a universal ideal,” Santoso’s hideout in an equatorial jun- sporadic attacks have been mainly tar- he said during a campaign event in southern gle of eastern Indonesia, he said. geted at the police. The government is Taiwan, according to the Apple Daily. However, the would-be suicide bomber now worried that the influence of China’s Foreign Minister Wang Yi did not arrested on Dec. 23 was hiding in a Islamic State, whose fighters hold reply directly when asked Tuesday whether house just outside the capital, Jakarta. swathes of territory in Syria and Iraq, China had detained the booksellers, but said “We are cooperating with China and could bring a return of jihadi violence TAIPEI: Taiwan’s Democratic Progressive Party, DPP, presidential candidate Tsai Ing- policy towards Hong Kong remained investigating evidence such as ATM and strikes against foreigners and soft wen, (center in black) speaks to supporters at a temple in the Beitou area. —AP unchanged. —AFP cards and cellphones,” Nasution said, targets.—Reuters NEWS THURSDAY, JANUARY 7, 2016

Bulgarians plunge into the icy winter water of a lake in Sofia to catch a cross during Epiphany Day celebrations yesterday. — AFP

Bahrain busts ‘terror’ cell linked to Tehran N Korea ‘successfully’ conducts H-bomb... Continued from Page 1 ties with Tehran. At a press conference in the capital, Foreign Continued from Page 1 day’s explosion was thermonuclear in nature. There were Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif said Riyadh must end pro- expressions of concern but no public panic on the streets of Tensions widened between Saudi Arabia and Iran after longed efforts to confront Iran. A hydrogen, or thermonuclear, bomb uses fusion in a chain Seoul, where people have become largely inured to North protesters torched the kingdom’s diplomatic missions in the Citing longstanding differences that became a full-blown reaction that results in a far more powerful explosion than the Korea’s provocations over the years. Islamic republic following the Saturday execution of Shiite split after Saudi Arabia executed Shiite cleric and activist fission blast generated by uranium or plutonium alone. Last Most experts had assumed Pyongyang was years from cleric Nimr Al-Nimr. Riyadh cut ties with Tehran in response Nimr Al-Nimr, Zarif said the Sunni-ruled kingdom had sought month Kim suggested Pyongyang had already developed such developing a hydrogen bomb, while assessments were divided and was joined by some of its Sunni Arab allies including systematically to inflict damage. “For the past two-and-a-half a device. That claim was questioned by international experts at on how far it had gone in developing a miniaturized warhead the time and there was continued skepticism over yesterday’s to fit on a ballistic missile. Whatever the nature of the device, it Bahrain and Sudan. The United Arab Emirates also downgrad- years, Saudi Arabia has opposed Iran’s diplomacy,” he said at test announcement, which took the international community was North Korea’s fourth nuclear test and marked a striking act ed relations with Iran and Kuwait recalled its ambassador. the press conference with Iraqi Foreign Minister Ibrahim Al- by surprise. of defiance in the face of warnings from enemies and allies alike Djibouti, the tiny Horn of Africa nation and ally of Saudi Jaafari. “Saudi Arabia has moved against our efforts and, “The seismic data that’s been received indicates that the that Pyongyang would pay a steep price for moving forward Arabia, said yesterday that it too had broken diplomatic ties unfortunately, they opposed the nuclear agreement,” Zarif explosion is probably significantly below what one would with its nuclear weapons program. with Tehran. “Djibouti cut its diplomatic ties with Iran out of said, also accusing Riyadh of “taking measures against the expect from an H-bomb test,” said Australian nuclear policy and The North’s official news agency was unrepentant. US “impe- solidarity with Saudi Arabia,” Foreign Minister Mahamoud Ali Iranian people” through its efforts to keep oil prices low. “This arms control specialist Crispin Rovere. The test, which came just rialists” had escalated the situation on the Korean peninsula to Youssouf told Reuters in a text message. trend of creating tension must stop. We need to stand unit- two days before Kim Jong-Un’s birthday, was initially detected the brink of war, defying the North’s calls for a peace treaty, it Jordan summoned Iran’s ambassador to protest the ed... and stop those who are adding fuel to the fire,” he as a 5.1-magnitude tremor at the North’s main Punggye-ri said. “The more frantic the hostile forces get in their moves to attacks on Saudi missions. Amman expressed its “strong con- added. nuclear test site in the northeast of the country. The weapons isolate and stifle the DPRK (North Korea), the stronger its demnation” of Saturday’s attacks by protesters on the Saudi The spike in tensions comes after Iran last year secured a yield was initially estimated at between six and nine kilotons - nuclear deterrent will grow, bringing them to deathbed repen- embassy in Tehran and its consulate in Iran’s second city historic nuclear deal with world powers led by the United similar to the North’s last nuclear test in 2013. The first US tance.” Mashhad, a foreign ministry spokesman told official news States, causing major concern in longtime US ally Riyadh. hydrogen bomb test in 1952 had a yield of 10 megatons. The three previous tests in 2006, 2009 and 2013 triggered agency Petra. “The attacks on the Saudi embassy and con- That deal, when finally implemented, will end sanctions on Bruce Bennett, a senior defence analyst with the Rand waves of UN sanctions. Their failure to prevent a fourth detona- sulate constitute a flagrant violation of international conven- Iran’s oil and gas industry and could see the Islamic republic Corporation, said if it was an H-bomb that was tested, then the tion will put the Security Council under intense pressure to take tions,” the spokesman said. challenge Saudi Arabia’s role as the Middle East’s dominant detonation clearly failed - at least the fusion stage. “If it were a more drastic action this time around. It throws down a particu- Late yesterday, Qatar recalled its ambassador to Iran. “The energy and economic power. The dispute has raised fears of real H-bomb, the Richter scale reading should have been about lar challenge to US President Barack Obama, who, during a visit ministry summoned this morning Qatar’s ambassador to an increase in sectarian tensions in the Middle East that a hundred times more powerful,” Bennett told AFP. South to South Korea in 2014, vowed sanctions with “more bite” if Tehran against the backdrop of attacks on the embassy of could derail efforts to resolve pressing issues including the Korea’s defence ministry also told reporters it doubted yester- Pyongyang went ahead with another test. — AFP the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia in Tehran,” QNA quoted Khalid wars in Syria and Yemen. Ibrahim Abdulrahman Al-Hamar, the director of the Asian Zarif reiterated that the embassy’s ransacking had no offi- Affairs Department, as saying. Qatar’s foreign ministry called cial blessing. “All Iranian officials condemn it,” he said. Jaafari, Assembly panel debates revised anti-graft... the embassy attack a “violation of international charters and who was to also hold talks with Rouhani, said Iraq was seek- Continued from Page 1 it will be sent to the Assembly for debate and norms that ensure the security and protection of diplomatic ing a potential diplomatic role to help resolve the crisis and approval. Awdah said he believes the Assembly will missions and their members”. echoed the concerns about sectarianism. “I have spoken to Meanwhile, the head of the Assembly’s educational approve the law in two rounds after discussions with Staff at Iran’s embassy in Riyadh and its consulate in the foreign ministers of some of the Arab countries to reduce and guidance committee MP Awdah Al-Awdah said the government. The law applies to electronic web- Jeddah flew home yesterday, Saudi state news agency SPA the consequences of this issue and prevent enemies from yesterday the committee held an informal meeting sites and news bulletins which do not come under the reported. Iran’s state broadcaster IRIB said a plane carrying 54 dragging the region into a war that can have no winners,” with Information Minister Sheikh Salman Al-Humoud existing press law. Iranian diplomats and their families had landed at Tehran’s Jaafari said. Shiite-majority Iraq has close ties with Tehran. Al-Sabah and ministry advisors to review the final text Also, four lawmakers submitted a proposal calling Mehrabad Airport. As its diplomats arrived home, Shiite- About 2,000 members and supporters of powerful Iraqi of the electronic crimes law. He said the two sides on the government to give priority of employment to dominated Iran fired the latest verbal salvo in a dispute that Shiite militias demonstrated in Baghdad yesterday against were in agreement over the amendments made by the children of Kuwaiti women married to foreigners has seen Riyadh and some Sunni Arab allies cut diplomatic Nimr’s execution. — Agencies committee on the government-sponsored bill and that immediately after Kuwaiti citizens. THURSDAY, JANUARY 7, 2016 ANALYSIS

THE LEADING INDEPENDENT DAILY IN THE ARABIAN GULF ESTABLISHED 1961

Founder and Publisher YOUSUF S. AL-ALYAN Editor-in-Chief ABD AL-RAHMAN AL-ALYAN EDITORIAL : 24833199-24833358-24833432 ADVERTISING : 24835616/7 FAX : 24835620/1 CIRCULATION : 24833199 Extn. 163 ACCOUNTS : 24835619 COMMERCIAL : 24835618 P.O.Box 1301 Safat,13014 Kuwait. E MAIL :[email protected] Website: www.kuwaittimes.net

Focus Afghan Taleban seek leverage in winter surge

By Issam Ahmed

he Afghan Taleban have launched an unprecedented winter surge that points to a desire for an upper hand in Tpeace talks, analysts say, while some suggest rogue Pakistani elements may be bolstering the effort to derail over- tures by Islamabad to India. Taleban fighting normally quiets down in winter months with the insurgents resting ahead of an annual spring offensive, but this year has seen a series of fierce attacks - many focused on Kabul in recent weeks, including three in the capital since Friday. Some say the ongo- ing fighting is a bid by Taleban leader Mullah Akhtar Mansour to consolidate his position ahead of four-way talks between Afghanistan, Pakistan, the US and China slated for next week, a precursor to a revived peace dialogue between Kabul and the insurgents. Experts skeptical over N Korea H-bomb claim Ahmed Rashid, a leading expert on the Afghan Taleban, said Mansour was tightening his grip on power through the high-profile attacks, after a shootout between rival insurgent By Hwang Sung-Hee guising it as a hydrogen test because Kim Jong-un men- increasing power of the blasts heightened the prospect commanders in Pakistan in December left him wounded. tioned it before,” Choi said. A thermonuclear bomb uses of triggering an earthquake and the release of radiation “We’ve never had such a winter offensive before from the uclear experts cast doubt yesterday on North fusion in a chain reaction that results in a far more pow- from the underground test site, a source of great con- Taleban. That winter is going to roll into a continuous spring- Korea’s claimed first successful test of a miniatur- erful explosion than the fission blast generated by ura- cern to Chinese people across the border. summer offensive,” he told AFP. “That is looking very danger- Nized hydrogen bomb, saying the detected seis- nium or plutonium alone. Asked about next steps, Bennett said: “We have to be ous. Mansour is consolidating his position. If he’s seen as a mic activity suggested a less powerful device. The The North has made many unverifiable claims about concerned because he has this separate party congress military success they will remain loyal to him. “Military success announcement followed hints last month by leader Kim its nuclear weapons strength, including the ability to that he’s planning to do in May, which is a huge political also de-legitimises the anti-Mansour faction that is emerging,” he said, referring to the recent formation of a splinter group Jong-Un that Pyongyang had already developed a strike the US mainland, which most experts dismiss - at deal. And he’s done a test now which most people and challenging his rule. hydrogen, or thermonuclear, bomb - a claim greeted least for now. In September, however, the Washington- most experts in the world will say didn’t work. Is he “The insurgents are trying to show to the world that they with skepticism by experts at the time. Crispin Rovere, based Institute for Science and International Security going to be forced before May to do another test to have presence in the country and get more concession in the an Australia-based nuclear policy and arms control spe- had raised a red flag over what appeared to be a new demonstrate that they can get it to work? And that’s the peace talks,” said Dawlat Waziri, a defence ministry cialist, said the 5.1 magnitude tremor detected at the “hot cell” facility under construction at the North’s main ultimate instability.” spokesman. But Pakistan - seen as one of the few countries North’s Punggye-ri nuclear test site was too small to Yongbyon nuclear complex. South Korea’s National Intelligence Service, which with influence over the insurgents - is also playing a role, support Pyongyang’s claim. briefed lawmakers after the North’s announcement, also regional analysts said. “The Taleban do not have the authority “The seismic data that’s been received indicates that Radiation Fears said it was unlikely to have been a hydrogen bomb. A to decide on peace talks, they are controlled by others,” said the explosion is probably significantly below what one Analysts at the think tank said satellite images sug- member of the parliamentary intelligence committee Zalmay Wardak, a Kabul-based military analyst, referring to Pakistan. would expect from an H-bomb test,” Rovere told AFP. gested it could be an isotope separation facility capable who attended the briefing said the NIS had seen no tell- “So initially it seems to be that they’ve successfully con- of producing tritium - a key component in the design of tale signs of an explosion powerful enough to be attrib- Three in the Bed ducted a nuclear test but unsuccessfully completed the thermonuclear weapons. Bruce Bennett, a senior uted to an H-bomb. The North’s first two nuclear tests in In recent years Pakistan has officially re-oriented its second-stage hydrogen explosion,” Rovere said. The test defence analyst with the Rand Corporation, was also 2006 and 2009 were of plutonium devices, while the Afghan policy, disavowing the use of surrogate fighters such came just two days before Kim Jong-Un’s birthday. unconvinced by the H-bomb test claim. “If it were a real third in 2013 was believed - though not confirmed - to as the Taleban to achieve its foreign policy goals in Analysts said the North’s leader had been looking for a H-bomb, the Richter Scale reading should have been have used uranium as its fissile material. Afghanistan, where it is seen as fighting a proxy war with major achievement to highlight at a rare ruling party about a hundred times more powerful than what we Seong Chai-Ki, senior research fellow at the Korea India. Islamabad and Delhi recently agreed to relaunch peace congress scheduled for May - the first gathering of its saw, which would have been in the range of seven or Institute for Defense Analyses, said yesterday’s was talks and Indian premier Narendra Modi made a surprise visit kind for 35 years. so,” he told AFP. Bennett assessed yesterday’s explosion more likely a boosted fission test - generally seen as a to Pakistan in December, the first by an Indian prime minister “I don’t think it was a hydrogen bomb test. The as in the 10-15 kiloton range, just less than the precursor to a full H-bomb detonation. “There has been in 11 years, immediately after his first tour of Kabul. But two spectacular attacks on Indian interests since the explosion had to be larger if it was a hydrogen bomb Hiroshima blast in 1945. He said the fusion element of speculation that North Korea would first test its boosted weekend - a 25-hour siege on India’s mission in the northern test,” said Choi Kang, vice president of the Seoul-based the explosion may have failed entirely, or the fission ele- fission weapon rather than going directly to a hydrogen Afghan city of Mazar-i-Sharif that ended Monday, and a Asan Institute for Policy Studies. “I think they are dis- ment did not operate correctly. But Bennett said the bomb test,” Seong said. — AFP bloody weekend assault on an air base in India - could signal the desire of elements within the powerful Pakistani military to scupper peace efforts between the two countries, one ana- Dangerous political, religious divisions exposed lyst suggested to AFP. Observers in Pakistan believe it is nearly impossible that the prime minister would have been allowed to hold a break- By John Kemp political risks affecting the kingdom. The potential for serious 2012, the Commission found: “There are no Shi’a ministers in through meeting with his Indian counterpart last month with- unrest is one of those low probability, high consequence risks the government, only 5 of the 150-member Shura out the consent of the army, widely understood to dictate for- audi Arabia’s execution of Shiite cleric Sheikh Nimr Al- that are difficult to estimate properly but which should not be (Consultative Council) are Shi’a Muslims, and there are very few eign and security policy. But Khadim Hussain, a political ana- Nimr has exposed the dangerous political, religious and ignored. Shia Muslim leaders in high-level government positions, partic- lyst based in the Pakistani city of Peshawar, said the attack on Ssocio-economic fault lines which run through the king- Unrest remains a tail risk rather than a central risk. It is much ularly in the security agencies.” “In predominantly Sunni Muslim the air base along with a Taleban surge in Afghanistan indicat- dom and the Gulf. News of the execution sparked some unrest more likely the Eastern Province will remain peaceful, and areas of the country outside the Eastern Province, Shia and ed that elements of the Pakistani military were not on board among Shiite communities in Saudi Arabia’s oil-rich Eastern much less likely that it will see social upheaval. No one will Ismaili Muslims face harassment, arrest and detention,” it con- with the negotiations. “The attack in India and the surge in Province and in neighboring Bahrain as well as in southern make money betting on political instability in Saudi Arabia or cluded (“International Religious Freedom Report 2012”). attacks in Afghanistan could be seen as a joint strategy,” he Iraq. Iran’s supreme leader effectively called for the overthrow unrest in the oilfields because the probability in any given year told AFP, clarifying that it was unclear whether such decisions of the Saudi monarchy, drawing a furious response from the is low. The risk of unrest could be as low as 5 percent or even 1 Violent Protests were sanctioned at the highest levels. “It’s not spur of the Saudi government, which accused the Islamic Republic of percent but that is not the same as zero. The same could have Sectarian tensions between Sunnis and Shi’ites have peri- moment. It’s planned, conscious, and the immediate result is interfering in the kingdom’s internal affairs. been said about the risk of upheaval in Egypt or Tunisia before odically resulted in unrest in the Eastern Province - including they would like to derail the peace process,” he said. Iranian protesters stormed the Saudi embassy in Tehran, 2011. The risks are real enough that they are perceived as a two major labour strikes against the Arabian American Oil Arif Rafiq, a Pakistan analyst at Middle East Institute added: and Saudi Arabia responded by breaking off diplomatic rela- serious danger by the Saudi government, which continues to Company (Aramco) in 1953 and 1956, a full-scale uprising in “While it’s plausible that the militants responsible for these tions and encouraging allied Sunni governments to do the maintain a heavy security presence in the area, and they help 1979/80, and demonstrations in 2011. attacks receive direction from elements in the Pakistani mili- same. Saudi Arabia’s ambassador to the United Nations told explain why the confrontation between Riyadh and Tehran is The 1953 and 1956 strikes “were sparked by grievances over tary, it’s also quite possible that they are acting on their own, reporters on Monday “we are not natural born enemies of Iran”. so bitter and so personal. low wages, poor working and living conditions, and racism,” attempting to secure a veto power over the process of Indo- But restoring diplomatic relations would only be possible if according to historian Toby Jones of Rutgers University Pak normalization.” There were other signs of the army’s displeasure with the Iran were to “cease and desist from interfering in the internal Complex Kingdom (“Desert Kingdom: How Oil and Water Forged Modern Saudi India-Pakistan initiative: Twitter accounts associated with the affairs of other countries, including our own”. In most parts of the Middle East, national boundaries do Arabia”, 2010). “From the beginning, Aramco was acutely aware powerful Inter Services Intelligence slammed Modi’s visit, The rivalry between the two big powers in the Gulf is often not correspond to religious, cultural, linguistic or tribal divi- of compatibility issues between Sunni and Shiite Muslims,” the while one nightly news anchor said he had been asked by simplified to a contest between a conservative Sunni monar- sions, and Saudi Arabia is no exception. The kingdom is an company’s former chief executive Frank Jungers wrote in his intelligence officials to express pessimism on his show. The chy and a revolutionary Shi’ite republic; the reality is more amalgamation of the conservative central region (Najd) with memoir (“The Caravan Goes On: How Aramco and Saudi Arabia regional tug-of-war between Islamabad, Delhi and Kabul will complicated and worrying. Saudi Arabia’s Eastern Province lies the western coast (Hijaz) and the eastern oases along the Gulf Grew Up Together” 2013). continue to fuel the Taleban’s 15-year-long insurgency, sug- at the dangerous intersection of great power rivalry between coast (Al-Hasa), all of which were separately administered until “The Shiites were definitely in the minority nationally but gested Rashid. Iran and Saudi Arabia, sectarian conflict between Sunni and comparatively recently made up the majority in the Eastern Province and tended to In September of last year, the Kabul government briefly Shi’ite, social and economic grievances, and the world’s largest King Abdulaziz, ruler of the Najd, conquered Al-Hasa in live in separate areas. The company was careful as a matter of lost control of northern Kunduz, a stinging psychological oil reserves. 1913 from the disintegrating Ottoman Empire, and added the policy not to allow this religious difference to become a factor blow to Afghan forces after years of training by Western forces Hijaz in 1924/25, finally unifying the country in 1932. But there in the training or evaluation of an employee,” Jungers which spent tens of billions of dollars to improve their capaci- Fault Lines are still major cultural and religious differences between the explained. ty. According to Rashid, the Taleban could have more ambi- Researchers at Columbia University have put together an regions and even within them. Much of the ruling political and Aramco worked hard to professionalize its labor force, but tious goals. “What do the Taleban want? Do they want a city or outstanding collection of maps illustrating the cultural, reli- religious elite is drawn from the Najd, which is also identified the fact Jungers mentioned religious differences so prominent- province so they can install a government in exile, as it were? gious, tribal and linguistic divisions across the Gulf region. They with the austere Wahhabi form of Islam. ly underscores the potential for tension. In 1979, protests That is also a possibility - everything is open and talks are very show Shiite majority areas stretching in an arc up through Iran, Hijaz was the home of more liberal interpretations of Islam erupted in Qatif and a number of other Shiite areas of the unlikely until Pakistan is prepared to stop some of the sup- across southern Iraq and down along the eastern coast of while the majority of the population in Al-Hasa followed Shiite Eastern Province, as well as in neighboring Bahrain, and plies and persuade Mansour to talk.” — AFP Saudi Arabia into Bahrain, with a further output in the high- forms of Islam. As part of an effort at nation-building, conser- became violent following confrontations with the security lands of northern Yemen. vative religious views from the Najd have been imposed on forces. The unrest, which had a strong sectarian element, came Iran has taken a special interest in the Shiite communities in other parts of the country. According to the US government’s only a few months after the shah was violently overthrown and all these countries; and in some cases the government in Commission on International Religious Freedom, the modern the Islamic Revolution brought to power Ayatollah Ruhollah All articles appearing on these Tehran, especially the Revolutionary Guards and other hardline Saudi state “privileges its own interpretation of Sunni Islam Khomenei in Iran. pages are the personal opinion of elements, have tried to export their influence and encouraged over all other interpretations” and “restricts most forms of pub- The new government in Tehran sought to export its revolu- the writers. Kuwait Times takes no unrest. But it is also clear that many of these Shiite communi- lic religious expression inconsistent with its particular interpre- tionary ideology and openly encouraged Shi’ite communities ties have strong local grievances and much of the unrest has tation of Sunni Islam”. in neighboring Iraq, Kuwait, Bahrain and Saudi Arabia to revolt responsibility for views expressed local roots rather than simply being stirred up by Iran. One result is a long history of tension between Sunnis, against their Sunni rulers. Khomenei’s government broadcast therein. Kuwait Times invites Shiite communities in Iraq, Bahrain and Saudi Arabia have especially those following a strict Wahhabi interpretation, and its revolutionary message by beaming a powerful radio signal all suffered discrimination and marginalization at the hands of the Shiite communities in Al-Hasa, now renamed the Eastern directly into the Eastern Province. “There is little doubt that the readers to voice their opinions. Sunni-dominated governments and societies over the last cen- Province. “Authorities continue to repress and discriminate Iranian Revolution helped galvanize politics and energize dis- Please send submissions via email tury. What adds to the destabilizing cocktail is that areas that against dissident clerics and members of the Shia community” sent among Shiites in neighboring countries,” according to are home to many Shiite communities are also where most of the Commission on International Religious Freedom wrote in Jones. “The revolution helped explain both the timing and to: [email protected] or the region’s oil and gas fields and remaining reserves are. its latest annual report. some of the forces that encouraged Saudis to take to the via snail mail to PO Box 1301 Southern Shiite-dominated Iraq contains far more oil and gas “The Shia community also faces discrimination in educa- streets.” than the Sunni-majority areas in the centre of the country. tion, employment, the military, political representation, and In 2011, there were again violent protests in the Eastern Safat, Kuwait. The editor reserves And in Saudi Arabia, Eastern Province is where almost all the judiciary” the Commission concluded. The Saudi govern- Province and Bahrain as part of the wider Arab Spring, again the right to edit any submission the country’s oil and gas reserves are to be found. Conditions ment denies any discrimination. Recent reports have noted mostly involving Shiite communities, which were put down by in the Eastern Province remain relatively opaque because progress towards ending official discrimination, but how much the security services. Following Nimr’s execution, hundreds of as necessary. access and reporting are controlled by the Saudi government, unofficial discrimination remains is unclear because the Saudi protesters marched through Qatif on Saturday, according to which also strongly discourages international discussion about government strongly discourages research. As recently as eyewitness reports. — Reuters THURSDAY, JANUARY 7, 2016 SPORTS

O’Donovan banned eight Madrid mad to Liverpool sign weeks for head-butt appoint Zidane Serbian Grujic SYDNEY: Irish striker Roy O’Donovan was slapped with an eight-week ban yes- BERLIN: Real Madrid’s decision to appoint Zinedine Zidane as their terday for head-butting, one of the longest suspensions ever handed out by LIVERPOOL: Liverpool completed a deal for Red Star Belgrade’s 19- new coach has been described as “madness” by former Bayern Munich year-old Serbian midfielder Marko Grujic yesterday in Juergen Klopp’s Australia’s A-League. The 30-year-old, who plays for Central Coast boss Ottmar Hitzfeld in an interview with Swiss daily Blick. “For him Mariners, was cited for his attack on Wellington Phoenix player first signing since he took over as manager in October. Grujic, who has (Zidane) it is like winning the lottery jackpot. It is madness,” said the played for Serbia at under-21 level and was a member of Manny Muscat over the New Year period. Only former 66-year-old Hitzfeld, who ended a stellar coaching career after taking Mariners goalkeeper Danny Vukovic has received a bigger sus- the under-20 squad that won the World Cup in 2015, Switzerland to the 2014 World Cup. Hitzfeld added that the former will return to Red Star on loan to the end of the pension in the A-League with a nine-month ban for striking a France great “is only living off his illustrious name as a player.” Zidane’s referee in 2008. O’Donovan pleaded guilty to violent conduct. season. The Premier League club did not disclose only previous experience as a coach is his 18 months at the helm of a transfer fee but British media reported it to be Muscat was earlier banned for two matches for his part in the Real Madrid’s second team, Castilla, in the regional third tier of confrontation. The Mariners said they were “extremely disap- about 5.1 million pounds ($7.5 million) with the Spanish football. “Zidane has proved nothing as a coach and he is player said to be contracted to the club until pointed” and may appeal against the decision. “The dispari- now in charge of the biggest stars in the world. It is an incredibly diffi- ty in sanctions issued for this match highlights the 2020. He has scored five goals in 21 league cult task although I hope it goes well for him,” said Hitzfeld. Pep appearances for Red Star this season. “We’re very flaws in the system,” club chief executive Shaun Guardiola was appointed Barcelona coach despite his only prior expe- Mielekamp said. “The media circus around the inci- pleased because Marko is a big talent and we’ve rience being leading Barca’s B team to promotion from the Spanish seen him a lot of times,” Klopp told the club’s web- dent has a high impact on the result and we will look fourth tier. For Hitzfeld, who won the Champions League as coach of at our avenues for appeal.” O’Donovan is in his first site (www.liverpoolfc.com). “When I came here, both Borussia Dortmund and Bayern, a great player does not always our scouts showed me some footage of a season with the Mariners after stints with make a great coach because “it also depends on his natural authority Sunderland, Coventry City, Blackpool and very skilled player from Red Star as the boss.” Zidane, 43, was appointed Madrid coach on Monday Belgrade. — Reuters Northampton Town in England. —AFP night after the sacking of Rafael Benitez. —AFP

TERMAS DE RIO HONDO AND JUJUY: Peugeot’s French driver Sebastien Loeb and co-driver Daniel Elena from Monaco, compete in the Stage 3 of the 2016 Dakar Rally between Termas de Rio Hondo and Jujuy, Argentina, on Tuesday. — AFP Loeb fires broadside with second stage win

SAN SALVADOR DE JUJUY: Sebastien Loeb’s ings. Mini-driving defending champion Nasser Loeb, who has been racing in the World Touring career at the wheel of a Citroen. “At the moment Elena. Argentina’s Kevin Benavides, on a Honda, sensational Dakar Rally debut continued on al-Attiyah of Qatar sits in fifth place overall, 6min Car Championship since effectively retiring from we are on tracks... so I’ve got a good feeling on won the motorcycle section of the stage, short- Tuesday when he topped the podium for the 50sec adrift of Loeb, and just behind the Mini of WRC rallying after the last of his nine consecu- this type of road. But when we go to the desert ened because of bad weather, after the initial second time in two days with victory in the third Finland’s Mikko Hirvonen, Loeb’s former WRC tive world titles in 2012, added: “For the it will be different, with long and hot stages. winner Joan Barreda Bort was handed a one- stage of the gruelling two-week rally-raid. rival who is also making his race debut. moment, for sure, I’m enjoying it. It has been That is something that I don’t know very well, so minute penalty for speeding. France’s nine-time world rally champion, “It seems that the times will be very close two good days for me. we will see. That bumped the Spanish Honda rider down driving a Peugeot, clocked 2hr 9min 39sec over between the drivers,” said the 41-year-old Loeb, “The car is going very well. I have a good “We will continue for the moment and I’ll try to fifth on the stage, with Portugal’s Paulo 190km between the Argentinian towns of adding that the desert stages would be a real feeling with the car. It’s performing well so at to do my best and we’ll see where we are in a Goncalves (Honda) and Frenchman Antoine Termas de Rio Hondo and San Salvador de Jujuy test. “I pushed hard and I had a good stage with the moment I’m enjoying it,” said the few days,” said Loeb, accompanied by long-time Meo (KTM) moving up to second and third to consolidate his place atop the overall stand- no mistakes. Everything is ok at the moment.” Frenchman, who spent his illustrious WRC co-driver and fellow rally-raid novice Daniel respectively. —AFP Hirscher beats Kristoffersen to win World Cup slalom

SANTA CATERINA VALFURVA: Marcel ish to win the men’s 15-kilometer race. incredibly fast in the lower section.” Hirscher earned his 36th career win on the Poltoranin finished in 35 minutes, 35.9 sec- Kristoffersen was reluctant to speculate World Cup circuit yesterday, edging onds, one-tenth of a second ahead of about a duel with Hirscher for this year’s Norwegian rival Henrik Kristoffersen by 0.21 Cologna, who was 0.6 seconds ahead of World Cup slalom title, which the Austrian seconds in a men’s slalom. The four-time Italy’s Francesco de Fabiani. won the past three seasons. “It’s still a long overall champion from Austria was third After five of eight races in the Tour de Ski, way until (the final races in) St. Moritz,” he after the opening leg but posted the fastest Norway’s Martin Johnsrud Sundby still leads said. “Now I think Marcel is the best, and I second-run time to finish in 1 minute, 54.54 compatriot Petter Northug Jr. am close behind him.” seconds. It was the third time in three slaloms this Kristoffersen remained in the lead of the Meanwhile, Therese Johaug beat Ingvild season that Hirscher and Kristoffersen discipline standings with 280 points, 20 Flugstad Oestberg in the women’s 10-kilo- shared the top-two spots - though the first clear of Hirscher. Aleksander Khoroshilov of meter mass start to cut her Norwegian time with the Austrian on top. “It’s super Russia is third with 114 points. Eyeing his teammate’s lead in the Tour de Ski to just cool,” Hirscher said about his rivalry with the second victory after winning in Schladming 12.2 seconds yesterday. 21-year-old Norwegian. “It gives me new a year ago, Khoroshilov led Hirscher by 0.10 Norwegians completed the top four, with motivation, new strength. Also in training I after the opening run. Johaug winning in 26 minutes, 37.6 seconds try to make another step forward.” - 9.9 seconds ahead of Oestberg. Heidi Kristoffersen still led Hirscher by 0.07 AMAZING JOB Weng was 19.7 behind in third. Weng is toward the end of his final run but had a However, he was already half a second 2:33.1 behind Oestberg in the Tour de Ski costly mistake in the last few gates before behind the Austrian at the first split of his standings. the finish. “That is ski racing. But one mis- second run and finally came third, 0.32 off Alexey Poltoranin of Kazakhstan edged take is OK,” the Norwegian said. “I am satis- the winning time. Dario Cologna of Switzerland in a photo fin- fied. It was a good run. I heard Marcel was “The feeling was pretty good, especially

OBERSTDORF: Norwegian Therese Johaug celebrates during the winner ceremony of the ladies 10 kilometer classic competition of the “Tour de Ski” Cross Country World Cup yes- terday in Oberstdorf, southern Germany. — AFP

in the second run,” Hirscher said. “Henrik Hirscher went top of the overall stand- and Aleksander did an amazing job as well ings again, leading Aksel Lund Svindal of so it was pretty close as it’s been all season Norway by 85 points. Svindal doesn’t com- so far.” pete in slaloms. Hirscher matched retired Benjamin World slalom champion Jean-Baptiste Raich’s total of 36 World Cup wins. They Grange of France finished 2.60 behind are runners-up to Austrian record holder Hirscher in 18th. David Chodounsky, who Hermann Maier, who won 54 times. It also was third in the discipline standings was the Austrian’s 17th slalom win, which before the race, failed to finish his first run put him third on the all-time list. Only while none of his five American team- Ingemar Stenmark of Sweden (40) and mates managed to qualify for the final run Alberto Tomba of Italy (35) had more wins either. The race was moved from Zagreb in the discipline. because of a lack of snow. It was the first “It is nice. I am skiing a couple of years in a series of five slaloms within three more so we will see at the end how far I weeks. can (go in) the rankings,” Hirscher said. This weekend, a giant slalom and a “Anyway, records are only for retired ath- slalom will be contested in Adelboden, SANTA CATERINA: From left, second placed Henrik Kristoffersen of Norway, winner Marcel Hirscher of Austria, and third placed Alexander letes, who are sitting in their seat and with further slaloms to follow in Wengen, Khoroshilov of Russia celebrate on the podium of an alpine ski, men’s World Cup slalom, in Santa Caterina, Italy, yesterday. — AP drinking a glass of red wine.” Kitzbuehel and Schladming. -—AP THURSDAY, JANUARY 7, 2016 SPORTS

US ski jumper Fairall returns to scene of crash a year later BISCHOFSHOFEN: Olympic ski jumper a news conference. “I have been ski though he avoided injuries and dam- an Austrian clinic before flying home Cups since his debut at the traditional Nick Fairall is sitting on top of the 140- jumping since I was six years old. It’s aged only his skis. and starting a two-month rehab at the New Year’s event at Garmisch- meter Paul Asserleitner Schanze in such an amazing sport. It’s a sport that I In qualifying, he landed a routine Kessler Institute in New Jersey. “Each Partenkirchen, Germany, in 2009. Later Bischofshofen, Austria, staring down for want to return to. Even today, I wanted jump of 123 meters, but leaned forward day I am making progress, little by little,” that month he won a competition on a silent moment. Just like he did a year to jump again so badly.” too much, lost balance, and fell awk- he wrote on his Facebook page in June. the lower-ranked FIS Cup circuit in ago. This time, however, the American Visiting Bischofshofen and the ski fly- wardly head-first. “I now have more feeling in my legs and Eisenerz, Austria. doesn’t speed down the hill and fly. ing world championships in nearby “The moment I hit the ground, I just some movement in my thighs. My recov- A year before the crash, Fairall won Instead, he rolls back his wheelchair and Tauplitz next week enables Fairall to per- stuck,” he said. “I kind of knew I was ery is an ongoing process and each day I the American trials to qualify for the takes the lift down. On Tuesday, Fairall sonally thank “our ski jumping communi- going to fall ... I tried to fight the fall but continue to work towards my goal of ski Sochi Olympics, where he placed 35th returned to the venue where a bad crash ty that has been absolutely outstanding” unfortunately the radius pulled me in, jumping again.” on the individual large hill. in qualifying for the final stop of the in financially supporting his rehabilita- and I hit the ground pretty hard. The The following month, Fairall posted a “Now, in this difficult time of my life, 2015 Four Hills Tour severely hurt his tion. “So many people have come out of moment I hit the ground, I knew I hurt video of him taking his first steps with where I had to make a ton of changes, I spine. The main damage was a fractured the woodwork; people I don’t even something.” crutches. In December, he went back on am using the same mental skills I used and dislocated vertebra, which triggered know, fellow jumpers, colleagues, fans of snow on adapted skis for the first time. during that preparation for success,” he paralysis in his legs. the sport,” he said while fighting tears. “I INTERNAL BLEEDING “I’ve been working exhaustingly on my said. Fairall said he’s planning to get his Slowly but steadily recovering, the am so grateful, I can’t say it in words. I Fairall fractured two ribs, punctured rehab,” he said. “But in the meantime, I pilot’s license and to write a book about 26-year-old Andover, New Hampshire, am super excited to be back here, to be his right lung, bruised a kidney, and had still spent time to make sure I was enjoy- his recovery. And his dream of returning native is still hoping to return to ski able to thank everybody.” Fairall remem- mild internal bleeding. The main issue, ing life, seeing my friends, seeing my as a ski jumper wasn’t over yet. “It will jumping one day. bers every detail of that day he crashed. however, was the dislocated teammates, seeing all the people that I always remain a goal of mine,” he said. “I “Being here now is bittersweet, but it Just two hours beforehand, he had a vertebrae.Immediate surgery stabilized love in my life.” will make whatever improvements I can is the environment that I love,” he said at similar crash during trial jumping, him, and he spent nearly four weeks in Fairall has competed in 13 World to reach that goal.” —AP Bonds, Clemens likely to get boost from Hall vote changes

NEW YORK: Barry Bonds, Roger Clemens and other tainted stars of the Steroids Era appear likely to get a boost in Hall of Fame balloting, but not enough to enter Cooperstown this year. Ken Griffey Jr. seems assured of elec- tion on the first try yesterday, possibly with a record vote of close to 100 per- cent. Mike Piazza, Jeff Bagwell and Tim Raines also were strong candidates to gain the 75 percent needed for base- ball’s highest honor. Following the elimination of about 100 retired baseball writers from the electorate, Bonds and Clemens were on track for a 5-10 percentage point increase. After drawing about 37 per- cent of the ballots last year, they were in the 48 percent range this year according to www.bbhoftracker.com which tabulated public votes adding to more than one-third of the total. Last July, the Hall’s board of direc- tors cut eligible voters from approxi- mately 575 to roughly 475 by purging writers who had not been covering the game for more than a decade. Previously, the electorate included peo- ple who had been active members of the Baseball Writers’ Association of America for 10 consecutive years at any point. Barry Bonds INDIANAPOLIS: New York Giants head coach Tom Coughlin hold up the Vince “We have a somewhat different elec- Lombardi Trophy during a news conference after NFL football’s Super Bowl XLVI in torate,” John Thorn, Major League Indianapolis. Tom Coughlin, who returned the Giants to NFL prominence by winning Baseball’s official historian, said two Super Bowls, resigned Monday, after missing the playoffs for the fourth consec- Tuesday. “I think possibly the current utive year. — AP electorate was not content to keep kicking the PED crowd down into a In Giants’ farewell, Coughlin hole and leaving the Hall of Fame with a crater in its plaque room.” says may not be done coaching Marc Maturo, a reporter covering New York baseball for Gannett in the 1970s and ‘80s, was among those who EAST RUTHERFORD: Tom Coughlin didn’t experiences that I’ve had. I’m better for the lost voting rights. He said he would fade away in his goodbye to the New York people that I’ve had a chance to coach and have voted for Bonds, Clemens, Griffey Giants. The 69-year-old, who led the Giants be with. I’m better for that.” and Raines. to two Super Bowls in a 12-year tenure, was Winning two Super Bowls was his legacy “The whole process I think was done Tom Coughlin to the end. with one of the NFL’s founding franchises, In an emotional and poignant farewell but he said what he will remember most too quickly, wasn’t given enough Tuesday, Coughlin talked about things that will be relationships developed over the thought,” he said. Now a writer for the mattered to him: values, relationships, past 12 years. It showed in the audience in weekly Rockland County Times, Maturo character, loyalty, team, family and love. “I front of him. Eli Manning and fellow current pointed out players who received one can tell you right now it has become the Giants Victor Cruz, Rashad Jennings, Zak or two votes in recent years, such as source of drive for me, is that when our DeOssie and Mark Herzlich sat in front of Armando Benitez, Aaron Boone, Bret players, whether they’re in their career, him, along with former players Shaun Boone, Darin Erstad, Kenny Rogers, J.T. after their career, when they come back to O’Hara, Rich Seubert and Chris Snee, his Snow and B.J. Surhoff. me and they say: ‘Coach, I love you,’ “ son-in-law. Coughlin said. “They follow that up by say- “Winning, losing, playing hard, playing FRIENDSHIP VOTES ing they’ve become better men, better hus- well, doing it for each other, winning the “They call these courtesy votes or bands, better fathers, better friends right way; winning the right way is a very, friendship votes,” he said, “That should because of their experience having been a very important thing to me and all of our eliminate you. They’re not Hall of New York Giant.” coaches,” Coughlin said. “That’s what moti- Famers by anyone’s imagination. But Speaking a day after stepping down as vates and inspires us. Championships are people vote for them. To me, that’s coach after four straight seasons out of the won by teams who love one another, who wrong.” A 13-time All-Star who is sixth playoffs, Coughlin called the Giants’ job a love and respect one another, who play for with 630 homers, Griffey was a lock to dream come true for a youngster from a and support one another.” be inducted at Cooperstown on July small town in upstate New York. He nearly Giants co-owner John Mara lauded 24. The former Cincinnati and Seattle HOUSTON: File photo, Houston Astros pitcher Roger Clemens (22) grits his teeth after New York Mets’ broke into tears thanking his wife, Judy, for Coughlin as everything the organization star appeared on all 166 ballots count- Mike Piazza, right, fouled off a pitch during the second inning of a baseball game in Houston. Barry being his quarterback through the ride. could have wanted from the man who ed by bbhoftracker and could chal- Bonds, Roger Clemens and other tainted stars of the Steroids Era appear likely to get a boost in Hall of Coughlin surprised no one in saying his replaced Jim Fassel in 2004. He added that lenge the record of 98.84 percent set Fame balloting, but not enough to enter Cooperstown this year. —AP coaching career may not be over. He still Coughlin was offered a job within the by Tom Seaver when he was picked by has that competitive fire. It showed in his organization 425 of 430 voters in 1992. goodbye, which began with a litany of peo- “He’s a Hall of Fame coach, a Hall of Piazza was at about 87 percent in his ple he had to thank. Coughlin sounded as if Fame person. He leaves big shoes to fill,” fourth appearance after falling short by he were addressing a congregation during Mara said. While there is no timetable to 28 votes last year, when Randy Racism exists in sport his 18 minutes on stage, stressing the val- find a new coach, Mara wants to find the Johnson, Pedro Martinez, John Smoltz ues of winning the right way, building char- right man sooner than later with five other and Craig Biggio became the first quar- acter and preparing players for life after teams (Browns, 49ers, Dolphins, Eagles and tet elected by the BBWAA in one year of boxing: Mayweather football. Titans) looking for new men to lead their since 1955. “I don’t know if I’m any different,” teams. Bagwell was third at 80 percent in LOS ANGELES: Floyd Mayweather says “racism boxer Ward and Japanese WBC bantamweight Coughlin said. “I’ve changed and I’ve grown Mara and Reese will do the initial inter- his sixth appearance, followed by still exists in the sport of boxing” and he cited champ Shinsuke Yamanaka. and I’ve developed and I’ve learned. You views. Current offensive coordinator Ben Raines at 78 percent in his ninth. Last UFC champion Ronda Rousey’s name in an “I can’t believe they [Ring Magazine] got better do that or you’re dead. So I’ve done McAdoo and defensive leader Steve year, the actual percentage was about attempt to bolster his argument. Andre Ward ranked No. 4 in the pound-for- that. I’m better for it. I’m better for the Spagnuolo will be interviewed. —AP 5 percent under the pre-announce- Mayweather also mentioned unified WBA, pound list,” Mayweather said. “Without Andre ment figure on the vote-tracker. IBF, WBC and IBO champ Gennady Golovkin and Ward losing a fight, he has to be No. 2. I mean, Bonds, the only seven-time MVP, former Olympic gold medallist Andre Ward but he wins his fights not in good fashion, but in and Clemens, the only seven-time Cy added the problem isn’t limited to just the men’s great fashion, and they have him at No. 4? side of the sweet science. “They got some guy ranked No. 9, I don’t real- Zimmerman, Howard sue Al Young Award winner, are both making Mayweather compared Rousey to former pro ly know his full name, so I don’t want to be dis- their fourth appearance and are eligi- boxer Laila Ali who retired with a perfect 24-0 respectful. But they got a Japanese guy ranked Jazeera over doping report ble for up to six more years. Reliever record and is black. No. 9. They got Andre Ward No. 4, and this guy Trevor Hoffman, on the ballot for the WASHINGTON: The Washington Football League players, had received “You look at things like this, Ronda Rousey, that’s ranked No. 9, we don’t even know who he first time, was at 62 percent on the you know, I think she fought somewhere like 11 is. “I truly believe that racism still exists in the Nationals’ Ryan Zimmerman and supplies of Delta-2, a banned hormone vote-tracker and seemed likely to fall Philadelphia Phillies’ Ryan Howard sued supplement. or 12 fights. Laila Ali went undefeated and was sport of boxing.” short. dominating too,” Mayweather said in an inter- Asked in the interview to back up his claim, the Al Jazeera America television net- Al Jazeera did not immediately Mark McGwire, one of the first big work for defamation on Tuesday over a respond to a request for comment. view Wednesday with FightHype.com. Mayweather said, “You gotta really look at things stars to admit using steroids, was at 13 “After Ronda Rousey fought I think nine, 10, like this, when Bernard Hopkins was a mid- report that the Major League Baseball Major League Baseball has said it would percent in his final ballot appearance - players used a performance-enhancing investigate the allegations. The source 11 fights, it didn’t even take that long, she got all dleweight trying to fight Oscar De La Hoya, nearly half his peak of 23.6 percent in types of endorsements, movies, and everything. Shane Mosley, and Felix Trinidad, they [the drug. for the story, Charles Sly, also told an Al 2008. Alan Trammell, also on for the last The two suits, filed in US District Jazeera undercover reporter that he Laila Ali did the same thing in better fashion. media] said he was calling out smaller guys. time, was at 47 percent. Sammy Sosa “Ronda Rousey, she’s a good looking woman “When the guy Triple G (Golovkin) does it, Court in Washington, accuse the net- had supplied Denver Broncos quarter- was at 8 percent in his fourth attempt. work of libel and invasion of privacy. back Peyton Manning with human when she put it on. Laila Ali is a drop-dead gor- they don’t say shit. Once again, I’m not racist; I’m Following the board’s decision not They are seeking punitive and other growth hormones to recover from neck geous woman. I mean a naturally beautiful just saying racism still exists.” to accept the BBWAA’s recommenda- damages as well as a court order that Al surgery in 2011. Manning has denied woman and can kick ass, but you never heard Mayweather has been accused of using racist tion that voters be allowed to select up Jazeera retract false and defamatory the allegations. Sly has recanted his them (the media) saying when she had I think remarks in the past once saying he would make to 12 candidates rather than 10, next statements, according to the court fil- comments, saying the network record- somewhere around 10, 11, 12 fights that she Manny Pacquiao “make me a sushi roll and cook ing. ed him without his knowledge or con- year’s ballot could force more tough was the baddest woman to ever fight on the me some rice.” Al Jazeera reported on Dec. 27 that sent. The suit also names reporter decisions. Manny Ramirez, Ivan planet.” He also claimed in a tweet that NBA player Zimmerman and Howard, both first Deborah Davies and her assistant, Liam Rodriguez, Vladimir Guerrero and Mayweather took issue with the ranking sys- Jeremy Lin was getting all the attention basemen, along with some National James Collins, both Britons. — Reuters Magglio Ordonez are eligible for the tem and how it relates to super middleweight “because he’s Asian.” — AFP first time. — AP THURSDAY, JANUARY 7, 2016 SPORTS Brit Broady prevails after racquet row in Auckland

AUCKLAND: A fired up Naomi Broady let Broady, who knocked out former world her racquet do the talking as she stormed number one Ana Ivanovic in the first round back to beat Jelena Ostapenko in an ill- on Tuesday, settled quicker to take the tempered Auckland Classic clash marred by tiebreak and force a deciding set but she an on-court row after the Briton called for looked down and out as she trailed 5-1 in the Latvian to be disqualified. the third. Tensions boiled over in the second set of But the British qualifier saved a second the low key second round clash when, after match point as she stormed back to prevail a winner by Broady, the 18-year-old 4-6 7-6(4) 7-5, helped by 21 aces, and book Ostapenko’s racquet came out of her hand, a spot in the quarter-finals where she will bounced off the blue hard court and face American fifth seed Sloane Stephens. against the back wall towards the ball boy. Both players shook hands at the end of “She threw the racquet and hit the ball the contest but bad blood remained with boy, no way was that accidental,” the 25- Broady clearly angry about the incident year-old Broady complained to the umpire. and repeating her accusation that Play was delayed as the umpire and ball Ostapenko intentionally threw her racquet boy had a conversation. The umpire opted in the second set. for a code violation over a disqualification The umpire attempted to quell the trou- after the Latvian wildcard argued the rac- ble as the players continued their verbal quet slipped from her hand but a clearly volleys. “Jelena commented that my behav- upset Broady called for another official to iour was terrible,” Broady said. “Which I adjudicate. thought was a bit out of order, considering “I asked for the tournament referee to the events that had gone on in the match. I come down onto the court to give his opin- don’t think I did anything disrespectful to ion,” Broady was quoted as saying by local her, or anyone else on the court. “So I’m not media. really sure where that came from, but ten- “But as he isn’t the chair umpire, he goes sions were high, adrenalin was going. We by what the chair umpire says and his opin- had a bit of a confrontation, but she’s going ion was that it had slipped from her hand, to be a fantastic player and I’m sure we’ll as Jelena had said, so it was just a code vio- both learn from any mistakes we made lation and move onto the next point.” today and move forwards.” — Reuters Azarenka advances to q-finals at Brisbane

BRISBANE: After two injury-interrupted Andrea Petkovic had a 7-5, 6-4 win over seasons, Victoria Azarenka is emerging Ekaterina Makarova to move into a quarter- DALLAS: Dallas Mavericks guard Deron Williams (8) shoots a 3-pointer in the final second of the second overtime in an NBA basketball game from the shadows of some highly-ranked final against U.S. qualifier Samantha against the Sacramento Kings on Tuesday, in Dallas. The Mavericks won 117-116.— AP rivals who have either withdrawn from Crawford, who had an upset 7-5, 7-5 win Australian Open warmup events or lost in over seventh-seeded Belinda Bencic. the early rounds. Petkovic, who has struggled in the past Mavs win in 2 OTs, make it 22 The two-time Australian Open champi- with serious injuries, attributed the high on reached the quarterfinals of the attrition rate in January to the extra work Brisbane International - a tournament she players are putting into the conditioning won in 2009 - with a 6-3, 6-2 win over over the off-season. straight at home over Kings Ysaline Bonaventure. “If I know them well, the top players, Bonaventure, a lucky loser from qualify- they still will be in good shape when it DALLAS: Deron Williams hit a 3-pointer at the scored 23 points, and New York almost lost a 16- the first quarter and Stephen Curry added 17 ing, was cast into the second round on comes to the Australian Open,” Petkovic buzzer in the second overtime, and the Dallas point lead before holding off Atlanta to give the before sitting out the fourth to rest his ailing leg Wednesday as a replacement for top-seed- said. Mavericks beat Sacramento 117-116 Tuesday Knicks their second win over the Hawks in three in Golden State’s victory over the Los Angeles ed Simona Halep, who had a bye before night for their 22nd consecutive home victory days. The Knicks led by 16 in the third quarter Lakers. Kobe Bryant sat out his third straight withdrawing from a scheduled second- NISHIKORI UNTROUBLED over the Kings. Williams took an inbounds pass but saw the lead reduced to two points in the game with a sore right shoulder for the Lakers, round match with Azarenka because of an In the men’s draw, second-seeded Kei from Devin Harris with 2.3 seconds left, pump final minute before Jose Calderon scored on a whose three-game winning streak ended in Achilles tendon problem. Nishikori opened with a 6-3, 6-4 win over faked to get Rudy Gay to fly by him in the left drive with 18 seconds remaining. Kristaps Golden State’s 33rd win in 35 games. Curry The No. 2-ranked Halep withdrew within Mikhail Kukushkin to move into the quar- corner and the ball went in after the buzzer Porzingis had 17 points and 11 rebounds for stayed in the game after taking a blow on his left an hour of defending champion Maria terfinals against seventh-seeded Bernard sounded. Dirk Nowitzki hit an earlier 3 as the New York. Anthony finished with 11 rebounds leg in the third period, but briefly limped with Sharapova pulling out of the tournament Tomic, a 7-6 (6), 4-6, 7-6 (4) winner over Mavericks scored the last eight points after and seven assists. Paul Millsap led Atlanta with obvious frustration on his face. The reigning with a left forearm injury. Top-ranked Radek Stepanek. falling behind 116-109 with 1:20 left in the sec- 19 points. MVP missed two games with a bruised lower left Serena Williams withdrew from the Third-seeded Marin Cilic beat Chung ond overtime. DeMarcus Cousins scored 35 for leg last week before returning for Golden State’s Hopman Cup in Perth after skipping her Hyeon 7-5, 7-6 (3), and No. 8 Dominic his third straight 30-point game for the Kings, WARRIORS 109, LAKERS 88 last two games. Curry went to the locker room first match and retiring in the second set of Thiem had a 6-3, 6-2 win against Denis including a buzzer-beating layup for a 98-all tie Klay Thompson scored 22 of his 36 points in before the fourth. — AP the U.S. team’s second against Australia Kudla to advance. at the end of regulation. Former Dallas guard Gold because of inflammation in her left At the Hopman Cup mixed teams event Rajon Rondo was out with back spasms in his knee. in Perth, Western Australia, Germany lev- first visit since an acrimonious split after an ill- NBA Results/Standings Venus Williams and Ana Ivanovic - the eled its record at 1-1 with a 2-1 win over fated half-season with the Mavericks. The Kings top two seeded players at the ASB Classic France, which lost for the second time. haven’t won a regular-season game in Dallas Atlanta 101, New York 107; LA Lakers 88, Golden State 109; Dallas 117, Sacramento 116 (OT); Chicago 117, in Auckland, New Zealand - were beaten in Alexander Zverev gave Germany a 1-0 since Feb. 27, 2003. Sacramento did win a game Milwaukee 106. the first round. lead with a 6-2, 6-2 win over Kenny De in Dallas during a five-game playoff series victo- Eastern Conference Western Conference Azarenka conceded an early service Schepper, but Caroline Garcia beat Sabine ry over the Mavericks in 2004. Atlantic Division Northwest Division break against Bonaventure and had seven Lisicki 6-2, 7-6 (5) to send the match to a W L PCT GB Oklahoma City 24 11 .686 — double-faults in the first set, but otherwise mixed doubles decider, which the German BULLS 117, BUCKS 106 Toronto 21 15 .583 — Utah 15 18 .455 8 Boston 19 15 .559 1 dominated after converting her fifth break- pair won 6-4, 6-7 (6), 10-6. Jimmy Butler had 32 points and a season- Portland 15 22 .405 10 New York 17 19 .472 4 Denver 12 23 .343 12 point chance in a fourth game that lasted In a night match, Andy Murray lost to high 10 assists to lead Chicago over Milwaukee Brooklyn 10 24 .294 10 more than 17 minutes and went to deuce Australia Green’s Nick Kyrgios. Heather for its season-best fifth straight win. Pau Gasol Minnesota 12 23 .343 12 Philadelphia 4 33 .108 17.5 Pacific Division 11 times. Watson was playing Daria Gavrilova in a bid scored 26 points with 11 rebounds, and Taj Central Division Golden State 33 2 .943 — Azarenka who dropped to a year-end to keep Britain alive. Cleveland 23 9 .719 — Gibson added 11 points and 14 boards as the LA Clippers 22 13 .629 11 No. 22 ranking in December after being In New Zealand, third-seeded Caroline Chicago 21 12 .636 2.5 Bulls led the entire way. Derrick Rose returned to Sacramento 14 21 .400 19 restricted to just 23 events across 2014 and Wozniacki resisted the fate of other seeded Indiana 19 15 .559 5 the Bulls after missing three straight games with Phoenix 12 25 .324 22 ‘15, is working her way back into form. players at the tournament with a 6-0, 6-2 a sore right hamstring. He showed no effects of Detroit 19 16 .543 5.5 Milwaukee 14 23 .378 11.5 LA Lakers 8 28 .222 25.5 “I definitely missed playing since I win against Christina McHale and No. 5 the injury and finished with 16 points. Khris Southwest Division haven’t in a while,” she said. As for the Sloane Stephens beat Carina Witthoeft 3-6, Southeast Division Middleton scored 26 for Milwaukee, and Michael Miami 21 13 .618 — San Antonio 30 6 .833 — broader issue of injuries, she said: “I’m just 6-1, 6-3. Carter-Williams had 20 points and 12 assists. Atlanta 21 15 .583 1 Dallas 20 15 .571 9.5 going to try to take care of myself right Austrian qualifier Tamira Paszek beat Orlando 19 16 .543 2.5 Memphis 19 17 .528 11 now, and hopefully everybody will be two-time Grand Slam champion Svetlana KNICKS 107, HAWKS 101 Charlotte 17 17 .500 4 Houston 17 19 .472 13 ready for the Australian Open.” Kuznetsova and British qualifier Naomi Arron Afflalo and Carmelo Anthony both Washington 15 17 .469 5 New Orleans 11 22 .333 17.5 Fourth-seeded Angelique Kerber beat Broady reached the quarterfinals with a 4- Madison Brengle 6-3, 6-0 to set up a meet- 6, 7-6 (4), 7-5 win over Jelena Ostapenko of ing with Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova, while Latvia. — AP Djokovic eases into Qatar quarter-finals

DOHA: Novak Djokovic breezed through to the quar- ter-finals of the Qatar Open yesterday, losing just four games in a comprehensive defeat of Spain’s Fernando Verdasco. The World Number one triumphed 6-2, 6-2, in one hour nine minutes. It matched the score of his first round victory against Dustin Brown and means the Serb has spent just two hours on court in the first two rounds. “Both of the matches went very well,” said the Serb immediately afterwards, adding he had put in a “very solid performance” yesterday. Ominously for his rivals, Djokovic looked already to be getting back to his dominant form of 2015. In warmer temperatures experienced in Doha than in the rest of the week-around 20 degrees Celsius (68 Fahrenheit) — Djokovic controlled the match from the very beginning. He first broke Verdasco’s serve in the fourth game to 15 and was rarely troubled after that. The Serb squan- dered another break point just two games later but eventually closed out the set on Verdasco’s serve to go one up in just 31 minutes. Verdasco, the world number 49 who had beaten Djokovic four times in their 11 previous meetings, offered some resistance in the second set but only enough to delay the inevitable. The Spaniard, who may have been feeling the effects of his first round victory less than 24 hours before, missed two break opportuni- ties in the second set and was made to pay. Djokovic, was watched on by coach Boris Becker, the first winner of the Qatar Open back in 1993. It is not yet known who Djokovic’s third round oppo- nent will be, but it was at that stage last year that he crashed out of the Qatar Open, losing to Croatia’s Ivo Karlovic. Rafael Nadal plays his second round match later yes- terday, against Robin Haase of the Netherlands. Earlier DOHA: Novak Djokovic of Serbia celebrates after winning against Spain’s Fernando BRISBANE: Victoria Azarenka of Belarus hits a return against Ysaline Bonaventure of Jeremy Chardy won an all-French clash beating compa- Verdasco during their tennis match in the Qatar Open tournament yesterday, in Belgium during their women’s singles match on the fourth day of the Brisbane Doha. — AFP International tennis tournament yesterday. — AFP triot Paul-Henri Mathieu6-2, 6-4. — AFP THURSDAY, JANUARY 7, 2016 SPORTS

Cricketer’s sexism storm worsens with new allegations

SYDNEY: The storm surrounding star the Big Bash League on Saturday. But Fox is a known womaniser, and that’s a really tural indifference... done in jest”. He dis- cricketer Chris Gayle over an attempt to Sports reporter Neroli Meadows branded awful word, but that’s what he is.” missed a more lurid allegation against flirt with an Australian presenter on live the Jamaican a “creep”. “He does this con- McLaughlin found herself being asked Gayle reported in the media on TV intensified yesterday as new allega- stantly,” she told the Australian out for a drink after Gayle blasted 41 runs Wednesday as “opportunistic”. tions about his behaviour towards Broadcasting Corporation. “He’s a creep, off 15 balls late Monday. The opener was apologetic on women emerged. he has creepy behaviour.” She said Gayle Gayle said he was happy to be inter- Tuesday, but insisted the on-air flirt had More female journalists aired com- came on to her during a 2011 interview viewed “just to see your eyes for the first been blown out of proportion. “There plaints against the West Indian after he saying, “Sorry, I was totally distracted by time”. “Don’t blush, baby,” the Jamaican wasn’t anything meant to be disrespect- was fined US$7,000 on Tuesday for his your pretty face-could you repeat the added, before saying, “Sorry!” and break- ful or offensive to Mel,” Gayle said. “If she approach to Network Ten reporter Mel question?” Nine News reporter Yvonne ing into a big laugh. Cricket Australia felt that way, I’m really sorry for that. McLaughlin. Gayle apologised and tried Sampson said Gayle had also asked her chief James Sutherland said no one “There wasn’t any harm meant in that to brush off the exchange with on a date after watching her carry out an should have to face such comments, particular way... It was a simple joke. The McLaughlin as a harmless joke. interview. “I had a notification via Twitter which were “completely out of line” and game was going on. Entertainment, His team, the Melbourne Renegades, that Chris Gayle would like to take me out “inappropriate”. Renegades CEO Stuart things get out of proportion.” McLaughlin played down calls for sterner action and to dinner,” she said. Coventry offered a formal apology but accepted the apology, saying it was time Chris Gayle said their star signing would play again in “I’d never met him. I think Chris Gayle described it as “a one-off scenario... a cul- to move on. — AFP Rare double washout blights Sydney Test

SYDNEY: A second consecutive day’s play It is only the fifth time in Australia that was washed out Wednesday consigning two consecutive days of play have been the third Australia-West Indies Test to an lost to rain, and the first time in almost 26 unwelcome postscript in Australian cricket. years. The rain-hit Test joins Australia’s Play was abandoned at lunch on the matches against South Africa at the Gabba rain-sodden fourth day at the Sydney in Brisbane in 1931-32, India at the SCG Cricket Ground (SCG) amid forecasts the 1947-48, England at the SCG in 1954-55 downpour would continue for the rest of and Pakistan at the SCG 1989-90. the day. Australia have already won the series The stands were near empty for a sec- and retained the Frank Worrell Trophy after ond day with only a handful of diehard fans huge wins in the Hobart and Melbourne hoping to see some cricket in the 50,000- Tests. Only 86.2 overs have been bowled so capacity SCG and four security guards far in the final Test with the West Indies under umbrellas standing around the cov- remaining at 248 for seven since Monday. ered pitch area. The weather has now Denesh Ramdin was on 30 with Kemar claimed the third and fourth days of the Roach yet to score. The SCG has recorded forlorn Sydney Test, making a draw more than 100mm (4in) of rain since the inevitable. Test began on Sunday. — AFP

Jagr, Panthers beat Sabres for team-record 10th straight win BUFFALO: Jaromir Jagr scored his team-lead- lation and finished their three-game trip to ing 14th goal, and the Florida Panthers the New York area 0-2-1 against New extended their franchise-record winning Jersey, the Islanders and Rangers while get- streak to 10 games with a 5-1 win over the ting outscored 15-9. Buffalo Sabres on Tuesday night. Derek MacKenzie, Jonathan Huberdeau, Brandon WILD 4, BLUE JACKETS 2 Pirri and Corban Knight also scored for Zach Parise scored his fourth career hat Atlantic Division-leading Florida in the open- trick and second this season to lead CAPE TOWN: England’s batsman Benjamin Stokes (C) plays a shot before getting caught out during day 5 of the second Test match between er of a season-high six-game road trip. Minnesota past last-place Columbus. England and South Africa at Newlands stadium yesterday in Cape Town. — AFP Roberto Luongo made 31 saves to improve Parise’s empty-net goal with 57 seconds his career record against Buffalo to 18-7. Ryan left gave Minnesota a 3-1 lead. Nick Foligno O’Reilly scored for the Sabres, who have lost cut the deficit to one 41 seconds later, a England hold on for draw five straight games in regulation and fell to 0- goal that was challenged by the Wild but 4-1 in their last five home games. upheld. Mikael Granlund won the ensuing faceoff and scored into Columbus’ empty BLACKHAWKS 3, PENGUINS 2 net again 2 seconds later. The two goals 2 as weather has final say Artemi Panarin beat Marc-Andre Fleury seconds apart tied an NHL record. 3:47 into overtime to lift Chicago past Granlund also had two assists, as did Ryan Pittsburgh. Panarin finished with two goals, Suter. Wild forward Mikko Koivu went hard CAPE TOWN: Poor weather brought a limp end etkeeper Quinton de Kock off Kagiso Rabada’s capitalise on the reprieve and scored 12 more including the winner off a feed from Patrick into the boards after a shove by David to a compelling second test as England survived bowling with just the eighth ball of the morning. runs before being bowled by Morris to leave Kane as Chicago fended off resilient Savard and was taken to the hospital. There a final day onslaught from South Africa to draw He went for eight with England having added a England on 55-3. Nick Compton (15) fell 10 min- Pittsburgh, which rallied from a 2-0 deficit was no immediate update on his status. the match and keep up their 1-0 lead in the single to their overnight total. utes before lunch after playing straight to Faf du in the third period behind goals from Cam Atkinson scored for the Blue Jackets. series. Plessis at short mid-wicket as he became the first Sidney Crosby and Kris Letang. Jonathan England were 159 for six in their second REPRIEVE of three victims for Dane Piedt. Toews got his 14th goal of the season for FLYERS 4, CANADIENSD 3 innings, with Jonny Bairstow (30) and Moeen Ali Alex Hales (5) was then snagged by a brilliant After the interval, the off spinner dismissed Chicago. Kane finished with two assists to Brayden Schenn had a goal and two (10) unbeaten, before drizzle and bad light halt- diving one-handed catch from Chris Morris at Ben Stokes, caught at deep square leg for 26, boost his point total to an NHL-best 59. assists to help Philadelphia beat Montreal ed play soon after tea yesterday. South Africa’s slip to give Morne Morkel a deserved wicket and James Taylor, who got a nasty bounce up Corey Crawford made 34 saves for the to snap a three-game losing streak. Wayne quick bowlers made inroads in the morning to after some fiery bowling. Joe Root was caught onto his gloves and was caught by Temba Blackhawks, who have won four straight. Simmonds, Shayne Gostisbehere and Sean offer the likelihood of a remarkable come-from- in the slips by AB de Villiers off Morkel on 17 but Bavuma at short leg for 27. Crosby scored his 12th of the season and Couturier also scored for the Flyers. behind victory after England had dominated the television replays showed the bowler had The third test will be at the Wanderers in sixth in six games to start Pittsburgh’s Brendan Gallagher, Daniel Carr and Alex opening two days to amass 629 for six declared stepped over the line. Johannesburg from Jan. 14-18. England won the comeback. Letang added his fourth with a Galchenyuk netted goals for the Canadiens, in their first innings. But England’s top-ranked batsman failed to first test in Durban by 241 runs. —Reuters shot from the point with 2:50 to play to who capped an eight-game road stretch 2- South Africa clawed back over the next two force overtime. Fleury stopped 27 shots in 6. The Canadiens will return home on days, keeping England in the field on hot, ener- SCOREBOARD the first game of a home-and-home with Wednesday night New Jersey for their first gy-sapping days as they slowly regained a the defending Stanley Cup champions. game at the Bell Centre since Dec. 17. foothold and eventually declared just two runs CAPE TOWN: Final scores on the fifth and final day of the second Test between South Africa Montreal has lost 12 of 15 overall. short of the visitors’ total. and England at Newlands yesterday: CAPITALS 3, BRUINS 2 A four-wicket burst before lunch yesterday Evgeny Kuznetsov had a goal and an FLAMES 3, LIGHTNING 1 suddenly offered the tantalising possibility of a England, first innings, 629-6 dec M. Ali not out 10 assist and the Washington beat Boston to Matt Stajan and David Jones gave result and two more in the second session South Africa, first innings, 627-7 dec Extras (lb4, nb5) 9 end a season-high two-game skid. Andre Calgary the lead, and Karri Ramo stopped brought South Africa even closer to scuttling out England, second innings (overnight 16-0) Total (6 wkts, 65 overs) 159 Burakovsky and Marcus Johansson also 30 shots to lead the Flames. Lance Bouma England before chasing down a modest target. A. Cook c De Kock b Rabada 8 Fall of wickets: 1-17 (Cook), 2-19 (Hales), 3-55 scored for the Capitals, who beat the Bruins added an empty-netter with just under a But dogged resistance from Bairstow and Ali, in A. Hales c Morris b Morkel 5 (Root), 4-85 (Compton), 5-115 (Stokes), 6-116 for the fourth straight time and moved into minute left and Mark Giordano had two an unbroken 43-run partnership, and the N. Compton c Du Plessis b Piedt 15 (Taylor) the NHL lead with 61 points. Braden Holtby assists to help the Flames move past gloomy weather dashed South Africa’s hopes of J. Root b Morris 29 Bowling: Morkel 16-7-26-1 (3nb), Rabada 13-2- faced only 14 shots through the first two Anaheim and into third place in the Pacific pulling off a remarkable victory. England started J. Taylor c Bavuma b Piedt 27 57-1 (2nb), Morris 12-4-24-1, Piedt 18-8-38-3, periods and finished with 29 saves for Division. Ramo, coming off a 26-save the day on 16-0 in their second innings, with a B. Stokes c Morkel b Piedt 26 Elgar 6-2-10-0 Washington. Capitals captain Alex shutout against Colorado on Saturday lead of 18 runs, but captain Alastair Cook was J. Bairstow not out 30 Result: Match drawn. Ovechkin had just two shots and remained night, extended his scoreless streak to a strangled down the leg side and caught by wick- at 496 career goals. Patrice Bergeron had a personal-best 152 minutes, 55 seconds goal and assist and Loui Eriksson also before Tampa Bay’s Steven Stamkos found scored for Boston. Tuukka Rask made 26 the back of the net with 1:39 left in the saves. third period. Ben Bishop made 21 saves for Amla quits as the Lightning. RANGERS 6, STARS 2 Derek Stepan scored two goals and JETS 4, PREDATORS 1 S Africa captain Ricky Nash had three assists to lead the Drew Stafford scored a pair of power- Rangers past Western Conference-leading play goals to lead Winnipeg past Nashville. CAPE TOWN: Hashim Amla said yesterday he was step- Dallas. Jayson Megna had a goal and an Ben Chiarot and Alexander Burmistrov also ping aside as South Africa’s cricket test captain with assist, Kevin Klein had two assists and Keith scored and Connor Hellebuyck made 43 immediate effect, a day after a double century rescued Yandle, Derick Brassard and Viktor Stalberg saves for the Jets. Hellebuyck turned aside his country from possible defeat in the second test added goals for the Rangers, who 17 shots in the first, 12 in the second and against England. improved to 22-14-4. Henrik Lundqvist 14 in the third. Colin Wilson had the lone The 32-year-old made the surprise announcement stopped 22 of 24 shots. John Klingberg and goal for Nashville, which has lost three of just minutes after the test at Newlands ended in a draw Antoine Roussel scored for Dallas, which four. Winnipeg scored the only goal of the and after Amla had led a fight back to haul his team fell to 28-10-4. Antti Niemi made 23 saves. first, when Stafford connected on the pow- from a precarious position. The Stars lost their second straight in regu- er play at 10:43. —AP AB de Villiers will take over as captain for the last two tests against England. “Naturally this decision is not an easy one but the more I think about it the more I believe I can be of greater value to the Proteas as a fully focused batsman and senior player at this time or rebuilding our team,” he told reporters on Wednesday. “I am deeply grateful and privileged to have been the test captain and I wish to thank Cricket South Africa for the honour of captaining my country. It was enjoy- able and indeed a great learning experience. “I kind of felt someone else could do a better job. I made my decision two weeks before the first test against England,” Amla added. The Durban-born bats- man, who made his debut against India in 2004, is a vet- eran of 90-tests and has scored over 7,000 runs in the longest format of the sport. “We respect Hashim’s decision and the manner in which he thought about it and then communicated with me,” Cricket South Africa chief executive officer Haroon Lorgat said. “He still has a huge role to play in shaping the suc- PITTSBURGH: Nick Bonino #13 of the Pittsburgh Penguins is tripped by Phillip cess of our team without the need for a leadership title. Danault #24 of the Chicago Blackhawks during the game at Consol Energy Center on He is just that type of a person and we are very fortu- Tuesday in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. — AFP nate to have him in our stable.” — Reuters South African captain Hashim Amla. THURSDAY, JANUARY 7, 2016 SPORTS

‘We’ll shoot ourselves’ if England fail at Euros: Dyke

LONDON: England Football Association manager Hodgson after the debacle in in London at the launch of a year of cel- Brazil but they bounced back to record out in the next few days whether I chairman Greg Dyke declared “We’ll all Brazil, but said a repeat this year would ebrations to commemorate the 50th victories in all 10 of their Euro 2016 decide to stand again for another year,” shoot ourselves” if Roy Hodgson’s team mean heads would roll. anniversary of England’s 1966 World qualifiers. Dyke said. fall at the group stage of Euro 2016. “I think we’ll all shoot ourselves if we Cup success. “The FA is the richest FA in Dyke also announced he will decide Dyke was joined by England World England face Wales, Russia and don’t get out of the group,” Dyke said. the world, the most income. The FA has in the next few days whether to stand Cup-winning heroes Geoff Hurst, Slovakia in the tournament in France “We’ve got to get out of that group. If to take some of the blame,” Dyke said. for re-election as FA chairman this sum- Gordon Banks, Martin Peters and from June 10, haunted by the memory we don’t, that really is bad news for “We should have won a tournament in mer. His three-year term ends in July, George Cohen at the event in of the 2014 World Cup where they were English football.” the last 50 years. We haven’t. But we will but he would be allowed to serve one Kensington’s Royal Garden Hotel, where eliminated at the group phase for the The 68-year-old former BBC director- win in the next 50 years, hopefully long year of a new term before exceeding the the draw for the 1966 finals was made first time since 1958. Dyke stood by general was speaking on Tuesday night before.” England failed to win a match in job’s age limit of 70. “We will sort that 50 years ago. —AFP

Soriano at the double as Samp edge Genoa in thriller

MILAN: Roberto Soriano struck twice as but we never gave up.” visitors Sampdoria edged Genoa 3-2 in a Veteran striker Antonio Cassano, making thrilling city derby on Tuesday that was a rare start for the visitors, played a role in delayed on two occasions due to fans all three of Sampdoria’s goals. The former throwing smoke flares. Genoa had won Italy international’s through ball was only one of the previous six editions of the deflected into Soriano’s path, and the latter ‘Derby della Lanterna’ and Gian Piero smashed a low volley past Mattia Perin for Gasperini’s men were again left second an 18th-minute lead. best at the clubs’ shared Luigi Ferraris Cassano was involved again when ground as Sampdoria held on amid an Carlos Carbonero won back possession in exciting finale. his own half to power down the right. Sampdoria only claimed their first win Carbonero’s cutback was poorly cleared under new coach Vincenzo Montella prior and fell to Eder, who sidestepped his mark- to the festive break, but the visitors fully er to slot the ball inside Perin’s near post. deserved their 2-0 lead at the interval Genoa’s woes deepened only four min- thanks to Soriano’s opener and Eder’s 39th- utes after the restart, Cassano providing an minute strike. Soriano struck again just assist for Soriano that the forward swept after the break, but Sampdoria were lucky easily into the net to claim his second, to claim all three points after Leonardo prompting the ire of the home fans. The Pavoletti twice reduced arrears late in the fixture had already been delayed by several second half to claim his first brace in Serie minutes before kick-off because of the A and inspire the hosts to a grandstand fin- poor visibility caused by smoke flares, and ish. Soriano’s second prompted Genoa fans to The win moved Sampdoria up to 11th throw several flares onto the pitch, prompt- place ahead of the remaining midweek fix- ing the intervention of firemen. tures on Wednesday, while Genoa remain Yet the incident appeared to fire up the in 17th, just one point above the drop hosts, who launched a rousing comeback zone. only to be denied a share of the points at “It’s always good to win, even winning the death. Pavoletti reduced the arrears in like this,” Montella told Sky Sport. “They the 69th minute when he rose above the STOKE ON TRENT: Liverpool’s Jordon Ibe scores past Stoke City’s goalkeeper Jack Butland during the first leg of the English League Cup semifi- suffered more than us and we should focus Samp defence to fire a header into the net, nal soccer match between Stoke City and Liverpool at the Britannia Stadium, Stoke on Trent, England, Tuesday. — AP on the good points of tonight without for- and moments later Darko Lazovic saw his getting we have to work on the little mis- low drive inch just wide of the post. takes we made. “But we totally deserved Pavoletti grabbed his second nine min- the win.” utes from time when he headed into an Advantage Liverpool as Ibe Gasperini’s men have now lost five on empty net from a yard out after Emiliano the trot, prompting speculation about his Viviano mistimed his attempted intercep- future. tion after rushing out of his goal. downs Stoke in League Cup He said: “This season we have to think Genoa spurned several chances for a about staying up. After five straight defeats, late leveller, Viviano blocking Serge Gakpe it’s obvious that has to be our focus. “We and Pavoletti before palming the ball off LONDON: Jordon Ibe came off the bench to was tempered by yet more injury woe as scuffed shot fell into the path of Ibe who con- made some glaring mistakes tonight which the line when a shot ricocheted dangerous- drive home the winner as Liverpool took a big Philippe Coutinho and Dejan Lovren succumbed trolled the ball neatly before dispatching his left- made it difficult to get back into the match, ly in front of goal. —AFP step towards reaching the League Cup final with to hamstring problems in a high-paced first half, footed shot low into the net. a 1-0 victory at Stoke City in the first leg of their while Toure was limping at the finish. Liverpool’s Roberto Firmino was denied by a last-four tie on Tuesday. Ibe was summoned into “It’s a strange feeling,” Liverpool’s German last-ditch tackle from Ryan Shawcross, but Stoke Italy Serie A results/standings the action early and the winger fired home left- coach told Sky Sports. “I’m proud as it was a per- did finish the half with their best two chances as footed in the first half as Juergen Klopp’s side fect reaction from the last game (a 2-0 defeat to Marko Arnautovic headed wide and former AC Milan 0, Bologna 1; Chievo Verona 3, AS Roma 3; Juventus 3, Verona 0; Lazio 0, Carpi 0; Palermo 1, grabbed a narrow but potentially priceless West Ham United). “But of course we have two Liverpool fullback Glen Johnson drew a good Fiorentina 3; Sassuolo 2, Frosinone 2; Udinese 2, Atalanta Bergamo 1. advantage ahead of the return leg on Jan. 26. bad injuries and that’s why I’m not lucky save from Simon Mignolet. P W D L F A Pts Udinese 18 7 3 8 17 25 24 Liverpool’s hopes of a record-extending ninth tonight.” The eight-times winners were sharp Stoke brought on striker Jonathan Walters for Fiorentina 18 12 2 4 36 16 38 Chievo Verona18 6 5 7 24 21 23 League Cup title were given a stern examination and incisive as they pinned Stoke back in the the second half and piled men forward but cre- Inter Milan 17 11 3 3 23 11 36 Sampdoria 18 6 5 7 27 28 23 in the second half as Stoke piled forward in early stages although they again looked to be ated few chances from a sustained period of Juventus 18 11 3 4 31 14 36 Torino 16 6 4 6 21 20 22 search of an equaliser. However, a makeshift lacking a killer instinct in front of goal. It was pressure, until the substitute pulled an effort Napoli 17 10 5 2 31 13 35 Bologna 18 7 1 10 20 24 22 defence featuring Lucas Leiva and Kolo Toure substitute Ibe who broke the deadlock for the wide in stoppage time. AS Roma 18 9 6 3 35 21 33 Palermo 18 5 3 10 18 29 18 Sassuolo 17 7 7 3 22 17 28 stood firm. The prize on offer is a place in the visitors, putting the finishing touch to a swift At the other end, Liverpool had penalty AC Milan 18 8 4 6 24 22 28 Genoa 18 4 4 10 17 26 16 final against Manchester City or Everton who counter attack after 37 minutes. appeals turned down when Allen and Nathaniel Empoli 17 8 3 6 23 22 27 Frosinone 18 4 3 11 19 36 15 play the first leg of their semi-final at Goodison Adam Lallana beat the offside trap down the Clyne were barged over in the box, while Ibe hit Atalanta 18 7 3 8 20 21 24 Carpi 18 2 5 11 15 33 11 Park on Wednesday. Klopp’s delight at victory right flank and squared for Joe Allen, whose the side netting. — Reuters Lazio 18 7 3 8 20 26 24 Verona 18 0 8 10 12 30 8

Ali blasts ‘irresponsible’ Blatter and Platini

LONDON: Sepp Blatter and Michel Platini business executives face US charges over were “totally irresponsible” to agree a pay- more than $200 million of bribes for televi- ment that has brought ignominy to world sion and marketing deals. football, according to Prince Ali bin Al Prince Ali faces opposition from former Hussein, who hopes to take over FIFA next FIFA official Jerome Champagne, UEFA gener- month. al secretary Gianni Infantino, South African The Jordanian crown prince said the glob- tycoon Tokyo Sexwale and Asian Football al governing body would be heading for a Confederation president Sheikh Salman Bin new “catastrophe” if it doesn’t elect the right Ebrahim Al Khalifa. But he insists that he is candidate to succeed Blatter in the vote on the right man to clean up FIFA. February 26. FIFA FACING VOTE ‘CATASTROPHE’ “It would be a catastrophe for the organi- sation if things do not go on the right way,” he told reporters in London after unveiling a new manifesto. “Having talked to national associations across the world, they recognise that this is an incredibly important moment for the future of the organisation. “Everybody recognises that this is the last chance to get it right. We don’t want the situation where one year or two years down the line, more scan- dals come out. “But I’m determined that we save FIFA and do it from within. There are a lot of good peo- ple around the world who want a good, strong and solid FIFA, and I’m one of them.” Prince Ali’s revised 23-page manifesto includes a limit of two, four-year terms for the president and full publication of the report by former US prosecutor Michael Garcia into bid- ding for the 2018 and 2022 World Cups. He also wants to make FIFA’s multi-billion dollar Prince Ali Bin Al Hussein accounts public and end the practice of EMPOLI: Inter Milan’s forward from Argentina Mauro Icardi (C white) fights the ball with Empoli’s defender from Argentina Leandro Paredes “awarding commercial contracts without bids during their Italian Serie A football match Empoli vs Juventus, yesterday at Empoli’s “Carlo Castellani” comunal stadium. — AFP Eight year bans against Blatter and Platini or via a secretive process”, as well as expand- have left the pair in disgrace and fighting to ing the World Cup from 2026. The prince said save their names. Prince Ali said however the World Cup bidding process has to be there was no way they could avoid trouble cleaned up after the shadow cast over the over a two million Swiss francs ($2 million/1.8 2018 and 2022 tournaments. He wants FIFA Athletic Bilbao edge Cup million euro) payment approved by Blatter to to hold a public vote, rather than the secret Platini in 2011. The two football leaders said ballots in 2010 that awarded the 2018 tourna- the payment was for work carried out by ment to Russia and the 2022 event to Qatar. Platini for FIFA between 1999 and 2002. Prince Ali says members should not be thriller with Villarreal Prince Ali said it was the sort of dark practice allowed to visit candidate countries prior to that had to be rooted out. the vote. Prince Ali received 73 of the 209 “In this day and age, to have an oral agree- votes from FIFA’s member associations in last BARCELONA: Second half goals from Inaki a good team move after 16 minutes and converting a Benat free-kick from a tight ment is totally irresponsible,” he said. “You year’s election, which Blatter won before Williams, Aritz Aduriz and Aymeric Laporte Samu Castillejo then sent a defence splitting angle after 80 minutes. A poor second half have to be open, it has to be accountable. announcing he would step down four days saw Athletic Bilbao come from behind to beat pass for Garcia, who rounded keeper Iago for Villarreal also saw the dismissal of Mario That’s just a normal way of doing business.” later. He would not disclose how many votes high-flying Villarreal 3-2 in the first leg of their Herrerin and knocked the ball into an empty Gaspar with three minutes to go. Holders The prince, a former FIFA vice-president, he has been promised this time. But he said King’s Cup last 16 clash yesterday. net. Barcelona face city rivals Espanyol later lost to Blatter in an election on May 30 but is he had “broad support from all the different A confident Villarreal had won their previ- Williams led the comeback with a 53rd while La Liga leaders Atletico Madrid have a standing again as corruption scandals-includ- regions in the world”. Prince Ali is president ous five matches and went ahead through minute strike, after being set up by Benat derby against Rayo Vallecano. Real Madrid ing the Platini payment-cripple football’s gov- of the Jordan Football Association, which pits Leo Baptistao and Samu Garcia but Bilbao Etxebarria, and then found Aduriz to score were disqualified from the cup for fielding erning body. him against AFC chief Salman, who is from came back fighting after the break. from the centre of the penalty area. an ineligible player against Cadiz in the last Thirty-nine football officials and sports Bahrain.— AFP Baptistao slotted home clinically following Laporte completed the turnaround by round. — Reuters Hirscher wins Amla quits as World Cup slalom S Africa captain

THURSDAY, JANUARY 7, 201615 18 Ali blasts ‘irresponsible’ Blatter and Platini Page 19

TURIN: Juventus’ Alvaro Morata, center, jumps for the ball during a Serie A soccer match between Juventus and Verona at the Juventus stadium, in Turin, Italy, yesterday. — AP Juventus continue resurgence, Fiorentina go top

ROME: Champions Juventus continued their resur- continued when they twice let a lead slip to draw 3-3 The Turin side took the lead when Dybala scored his from Alberto Paloschi and Dario Dainelli. gence by beating Hellas Verona 3-0 at home yesterday at Chievo, leaving them fifth on 33 points and increas- ninth league goal of the season, curling a fine free Roma’s Iago Falque made it 3-2 with a low strike in for an eighth successive Serie A victory as Fiorentina ing the pressure on coach Rudi Garcia. kick into the corner of the net in the eighth minute the 71st minute, but the home side equalised again provisionally went top of the table with a 3-1 win at Roma, who took the lead when teenage striker after Samuel Souprayen had brought down Stephan when goalline technology showed that Simone Pepe’s Palermo. Juventus, who took one point from their Sadiq Umar scored for the second game running in Lichtsteiner. Dybala was decisive again when his effort had crossed the line. opening three matches and were 11 behind the lead- his first league start, have won one of their last nine superb free kick was met emphatically by Bonucci in Fiorentina’s Ilicic opened the scoring against ers on Oct. 31, are now third on 36 points after goals games in all competitions and recently exited the the 45th minute and Paul Pogba set up Zaza with Palermo in the 13th minute by knocking the ball from Paulo Dybala, Leonardo Bonucci and Simone Italian Cup to second-tier Spezia. Bologna’s Emanuele eight minutes remaining to leave winless Verona bot- between Edoardo Goldaniga’s legs and finishing Zaza earned them a comfortable win. Giaccherini scored in the 82nd minute to secure a sur- tom on eight points. beneath Stefano Sorrentino. The midfielder added a Chasing a fifth consecutive Italian title, Juve are prise 1-0 win at AC Milan, while Frosinone and Roma’s Umar had found the net as they ended a sublime second in the 42nd minute, making space two points behind Fiorentina, who were helped to vic- Sassuolo drew 2-2, Udinese defeated Atalanta 2-1 and seven-game winless run against Genoa before the on the edge of the box before slamming home a tory by two goals from Josip Ilicic, and level with Inter Lazio’s clash with Carpi finished goalless. winter break and struck again in the seventh minute curling effort. Alberto Gilardino halved the deficit in Milan, who can return to the summit with a win at With Serie A returning from its winter break, against Chievo. Alessandro Florenzi added a second the 77th minute, but Jakub Blaszczykowski added a Empoli later yesterday. AS Roma’s stuttering season Juventus continued where they left off in December. 30 minutes later, but Chievo drew level with goals late third. — Reuters

Former Chelsea Negredo hat-trick as doctor Carneiro Valencia beat Granada VALENCIA: Striker Alvaro Negredo scored a hat-trick, including two second half penalties, as Valencia thrashed Granada 4-0 in attends tribunal the first home leg of their King’s Cup last 16 clash yesterday. Negredo has been given a new lease of life under coach Gary LONDON: Former Chelsea team of their care of duty. Neville and the win was a confidence boost for Valencia who have doctor Eva Carneiro attended a tri- Yesterday’s hearing will also yet to pick up a victory in La Liga under the former Manchester bunal hearing yesterday regarding address witness statements and the United and England player. her constructive dismissal case disclosure of documents from each He robbed the ball off Diego Mainz and stroked it into the cor- against the club. side, as well as any legal disputes ner past keeper Ivan Kelava after seven minutes. Santi Mina laid Wearing a long, grey coat and that may exist between them over the second on a plate for Rodrigo Moreno and then Mina was holding hands with her husband, procedural matters. fouled by Uche Agbo with Negredo scoring the subsequent Carneiro made no comment to the Reports suggest a date for a full penalty after 62 minutes. media as she arrived for the hearing hearing could be fixed for June, but Negredo, the former Manchester City player who has had flanked by her legal team in the parties may agree to a settle- appendicitis and was frozen out by former-coach Nuno Espirito Croydon, south London. ment before the case is heard. Santo, scored his third from the spot in the 83rd after he himself The preliminary hearing at Carneiro is also believed to have was fouled by Matheus Doria. London South Employment tabled a separate legal claim against Second half goals from Inaki Williams, Aritz Aduriz and Aymeric Tribunal is being held in private Mourinho for alleged victimisation Laporte earlier saw Athletic Bilbao come from behind to beat before an employment judge and and discrimination. Mourinho was high-flying Villarreal 3-2. A confident Villarreal had won their pre- will outline the timetable for the cleared by the Football Association case. of making discriminatory remarks vious five matches and went ahead through Leo Baptistao and Carneiro, 42, left Chelsea in to Carneiro. Samu Garcia but Bilbao came back fighting after the break. September after being removed But she complained that she Baptistao slotted home clinically following a good team move from first-team duties by manager had not been asked by the FA to after 16 minutes and Samu Castillejo then sent a defence splitting Jose Mourinho, who was sacked by make a statement about what pass for Garcia, who rounded keeper Iago Herrerin and knocked the Premier League champions last had happened. “I was surprised to the ball into an empty net. month. learn that the FA was allegedly Williams led the comeback with a 53rd minute strike, after Mourinho had rebuked her and investigating the incident of being set up by Benat Etxebarria, and then found Aduriz to score physiotherapist Jon Fearn for run- August 8 (the date of the Swansea from the centre of the penalty area. Laporte completed the turn- ning onto the pitch to treat Eden game) via the press,” Carneiro said. around by converting a Benat free-kick from a tight angle after 80 Hazard during his side’s 2-2 draw “I was at no stage requested by minutes. with Swansea City on the season’s the FA to make a statement. A poor second half for Villarreal also saw the dismissal of Mario opening day, which temporarily left “I wonder whether this might Gaspar with three minutes to go. Holders Barcelona face city Chelsea with nine men. Mourinho be the only formal investigation in rivals Espanyol later while La Liga leaders Atletico Madrid have a called Carneiro and Fearn “impulsive this country where the evidence derby against Rayo Vallecano. Real Madrid were disqualified from and naive”, but the Premier League of the individuals involved in the LONDON: Former English Premier League Chelsea soccer team doctor Eva the cup for fielding an ineligible player against Cadiz in the last Doctors’ Group said failure to treat incident was not considered rele- Carneiro with her husband Jason De Carteret arrives for an unfair dismissal round. — Reuters Hazard would have been a breach vant.” — AFP hearing in south London, yesterday. — AP Saudi cuts crude price to Europe, hikes it for Asia Page 22

Ahli United Bank announces usiness Grand Hassad Prize winner B Page 26 THURSDAY, JANUARY 7, 2016 Why I can’t buy Minion Fitbit ‘smart fitness watch’ disappoints market toys with Chinese yuan Page 25 Pages 25

SAKHIR: The sun sets behind an oil pump in the desert oil fields of Sakhir, Bahrain. Oil futures spiked briefly after Saudi Arabia cuts diplomatic ties with Iran, a development that could be seen as a threat to oil supplies. Investors quickly discount- ed those fears, however. — AP Iran trying to avoid oil price war Tehran pledges to moderate exports

NEW DELHI: Iran wants to avoid an oil price global oil glut, which has already cut crude words from Iran come a week after relations Ballooning oversupply seas, Qamsari said, without specifying countries or war with rival producers and only gradually lift prices by two-thirds since 2014, hurting energy with its main Middle East rival and top oil Iranian crude oil exports have fallen to around companies. Using its crude in refineries instead of exports once sanctions against it are lifted, a firms and oil exporting nations. “We don’t want exporter Saudi Arabia broke down over the 1 million barrels per day (bpd), down from a peak selling it into the market unprocessed would be senior official said, in what would be a major to start a sort of a price war,” Mohsen Qamsari, execution of a prominent Shiite cleric who of almost 3 million bpd in 2011, before western similar move to other Gulf producers such as Saudi shift away from planning to ship as much fuel director general for international affairs of the was revered in Iran. sanctions against Tehran started. Iran previously Arabia, although Iran’s challenge would be to raise as soon as possible. Iran, which has some of National Iranian Oil Company (NIOC), told A more moderate re-entry into markets said it planned to raise oil output by 500,000 bpd financing as its existing overseas oil sale revenues the world’s biggest petroleum reserves, has Reuters by telephone. “We will be more subtle would suit Saudi Arabia and other Middle East post-sanctions, and by another 500,000 bpd short- are frozen as part of the sanctions. Refiners in India, repeatedly urged fellow members within the in our approach and may gradually increase OPEC members who are already locked into an ly after that. Even a gradual increase in its exports Iran’s second biggest oil client after China, owe Organization of the Petroleum Exporting output,” Qamsari said. “I have to say that there aggressive fight for market share. On Tuesday, would come at a time of a global glut, with pro- almost $6 billion to Tehran. Qamsari said Indian Countries (OPEC) to make room for a supply is no room to push prices down any further, Saudi Arabia signaled that the new rift would ducers around the world pumping hundreds of refiners including Reliance Industries , which has jump from the Islamic Republic, pledging to given the level where they are.” not affect talks on the Syria civil war. Iran’s most thousands of barrels of crude every day in excess halted imports of Iranian oil because of the sanc- ramp up exports as soon as sanctions on its oil He did not give any detail on how much senior oil official, oil minister Bijan Zanganeh, of demand. tions, were interested in taking higher volumes industry are lifted under a nuclear deal with Iran would be prepared to moderate a rise in said last weekend Iran would not seek to dis- Oil prices are near 11-year lows below $37 per from NIOC. Indian refiners were interested in buy- world powers. its shipments but said Iran would not offer fur- tort the markets but will make sure it regains barrel and some analysts like Goldman Sachs say ing West Karun grade, a blend of oil from 4-5 reser- A move to limit export growth would be a ther discounts to lure customers. its market share. Beyond only gradually lifting prices may tumble as low as $20 a barrel as supplies voirs, he said. Sanctions have crippled Iran’s econo- major shift in Iran’s policies in an environment Currently, Iran offers 90-day credit, free it exports, Qamsari said Iran wanted to invest keeps rising. To sell additional barrels but avoid my and forced it to resort to gasoline imports, and when most OPEC and non-OPEC producers are shipping and some discounts on crude into refining capacity to use its crude, but did adding to ballooning oversupply, NIOC is looking at Qamsari said Tehran hoped to halt gasoline fighting for market share despite a growing prices to buyers in India. The more cautious not give details. buying stakes in existing and new refineries over- imports within a year, post sanctions. — Reuters Saudi to save $7 billion Volkswagen launches ‘smart’ from energy reforms electric revamp of minivan RIYADH: Saudi Arabia is expected to save greater scrutiny” of capital spending, Fitch LAS VEGAS: Meet the revamped Volkswagen $7 billion a year after it introduced unprece- said. The International Monetary Fund and Kombi. Once a hippie favorite, the minivan has dented energy price rises in a bid to offset other agencies had forecast the Saudi been transformed into an electric, connected the low cost of oil, a report said yesterday. budget deficit last year to be as much as vehicle of the future. BUDD-e, unveiled late Jadwa Investment said direct savings from $130 billion. Tuesday in Las Vegas, is “a new concept for the kingdom’s price hike on diesel are esti- Saudi Arabia normally overspends its long-distance electric vehicles,” explained VW mated at $2.75 billion (2.56 billion euros), budget projections. Fitch said last year saw brand chief Herbert Diess on the eve of the offi- and gasoline levies are expected to save an the lowest overspend since 1999 at just cial opening of the Consumer Electronics Show. additional $2.5 billion. The rest of the sav- 13.4 percent, compared with a 10-year aver- The electric minivan is rather modern but clear- ings will come from price rises on natural age of 24 percent. ly a nod to that symbol of the hippie move- gas, fuel oil and propane, it added. The total “Without the one-off cost of royal ment of the 60s and 70s-and idol of surfers and cost of energy subsidies in the world’s top decrees after the accession of King Salman families-known as the Kombi or Bulli. oil exporter was estimated at $61 billion and additional military and security spend- Volkswagen officially stopped production last year. Indirect costs include the impact ing... spending would have been almost on on the environment, road accidents and budget,” the agency said. of the microbus about two years ago. The new overconsumption because of cheap prices. Revenues in 2015 dropped to $162 bil- version is filled with technology that makes it Saudi Arabia posted a record budget lion, the lowest since the global financial “intelligent” and “social,” with a new electronic deficit of $98 billion in 2015, 15 percent of crisis in 2009, due to a massive $123 billion interface that is both intuitive and interactive. GDP, and is projecting a shortfall of $87 bil- fall in oil revenues. The contribution of oil “Door handles are so 2016,” Diess proclaimed, NEVADA: Attendees look at Volkswagen’s BUDD-e, a long distance electric vehicle, dis- lion this year. It posted an $18 billion deficit income to revenues dropped to just 73 per- as he noted how the model responds to verbal commands or gestures. BUDD-e can also com- played during a press event at CES 2016 at The Cosmopolitan of Las Vegas on January 5, in 2014. Last month, the OPEC heavyweight cent in 2015, from an average of 90 percent 2016 in Las Vegas, Nevada. — AFP raised the price of gasoline, diesel, crude oil, in the past decade. To finance the budget, municate with connected devices at home. ethane, natural gas, fuel oil and electricity the Saudi government withdrew from its So you can check from the comfort of your van average car running on a full tank. Although it’s mands and gestures replacing buttons, which by up to 80 percent. The Fitch ratings huge fiscal reserves and issued bonds on if there’s enough beer left in the fridge before just a prototype for now, “BUDD-e could be a real- has a new generation of infotainment systems agency said yesterday that Saudi Arabia’s the domestic market. Reserves dropped inviting friends over to watch a soccer match or to ity by the end of the decade,” Diess said. and is compatible with almost any smart- 2016 budget contained significant reforms from $732 billion at the end of 2014 to $632 see who’s come knocking at your door to let them phone, and can also be charged wirelessly. You and followed key expenditure restraints billion in November. The kingdom is esti- in or ward them off. It’s also based on the future ‘Smartphone on wheels’ can also use a smartwatch to unlock the car, during the second half of 2015. mated to have issued domestic bonds modular production platform for VW electric vehi- The auto group also presented a second turn on the heat or air conditioning from a dis- “The lower-than-expected 2015 deficit worth around $30 billion since July, raising cles, with a more efficient battery that is located electric prototype, the e-Golf touch, which is tance while the vehicle is still charging, or mainly reflects measures to contain spend- public debt to $38 billion, or 5.8 percent of under the floor. It charges up to 80 percent in just due to hit the market within a year, according receiving notifications when someone else-say ing introduced during the year-including GDP, Jadwa said. — AFP 30 minutes and can travel up to 373 miles (600 to VW’s Volkmar Tanneberger. He called it a a teen-is driving the car and is driving too fast kilometers) on a full charge-equivalent to today’s “smartphone on wheels,” with verbal com- or exiting a predefined zone. —AFP THURSDAY, JANUARY 7, 2016 BUSINESS Saudi cuts crude price to Europe, hikes it for Asia OPEC heavyweight fights for market share

RIYADH: Saudi Arabia has cut the February price kingdom also slightly cut the price of some the Islamic republic in 2012 over its nuclear pro- of its export oil to Europe as the OPEC heavy- export grades to the United States and Middle gram. The price of Arab Light crude for Asia was weight continues to fight for market share amid a East, but raised the prices of all export grades to raised by 60 cents a barrel, but remained 80 cents huge glut on the market. The Saudi move comes Asia. A statement issued by national oil conglom- below the benchmark price, the statement said. as arch-rival Iran, a fellow OPEC member, pre- erate Aramco said the price of Arab Light crude The prices of all grades to Asia were increased by pares to resume oil exports to Europe when for the northwest European market was cut by $0.70 to $1 a barrel. Brent oil prices tumbled yes- sanctions are lifted following its nuclear deal $0.60 a barrel from January to $4.85 a barrel terday below $35 for the first time in 11 years, with world powers last year. below the benchmark price. Prices of other plagued by the abundant oversupply and the It also comes amid a mounting crisis between grades were also cut by 40 to 50 cents a barrel, row between Iran and Saudi Arabia. At about Riyadh and Tehran, which has seen Saudi Arabia the statement said. 1030 GMT, European benchmark Brent North Sea cut diplomatic ties with Iran after weekend Europe was a traditional market for Iranian oil crude oil for February delivery sank to $34.83 per attacks on its missions in the Islamic republic. The before international sanctions were slapped on barrel-the lowest level since July 1, 2004. —AFP

Lulu moves ahead with Bahrain expansion plans LULU Group opens 5th hypermarket in Juffair

KUWAIT: Middle East retail major Lulu. Bahrainis have excellent peo- LULU Group which is on a vast ple skills and have been the back- expansion mode opened its 5th bone of our business growth. We are Hypermarket in the Kingdom of proud of their participation in our Bahrain at Juffair. The 120th Lulu multi-cultural employee force” he Hypermarket of the group was inau- added. gurated by HE Shaikh Khaled bin The new 120,000 sq. ft. Lulu Abdulla Al Khalifa, Deputy Prime hypermarket will serve the residents Minister of Bahrain in the presence of Juffair, Hoora, Gudaibiya, Adliya of HE Zayed Al Zayani, Minister of and Umm Al Hassam areas with its Industry & Commerce, HE Jameel widest range of products from all Humaidan, Labor Minister, HE over the world. As always Lulu ShaikhKhalifa Bin Daij Al Khalifa, hypermarket provides the widest President of Crown Prince Court, HE range of quality and value-for- Shaikh Ahmed Khalifa Al Khalifa, money products all under one roof. Crown Prince Court, and other sen- It has separate sections for fresh ior Govt officials and various ambas- fruits and vegetables, meat and sadors at Juffair Mall. poultry, dairy products, ready-to-eat Prominent dignitaries present products and a state-of-the-art live during the inauguration included bakery and Hot Foods kitchen. The H.E Alok Kumar Sinha, Indian product mix in Lulu Juffair will also Ambassador, HE William Roebuck, include a wide selection of premium US Ambassador, HE Simon Martin UK and US goods, including special CMG, UK ambassador and other products air-flown for freshness. prominent industry & business lead- “As announced earlier, we are ful- ers. Speaking to media after the ly committed to our BD 100 million inauguration, Yusuffali MA, investment plans for Bahrain and Chairman of LULU Group said “the our sixth hypermarket will open success of Lulu Hypermarket in soon at Galleria Mall, Ahli Club, Zinj” Bahrain, since it opened its doors added Yusuffali. Speaking about the here in 2007 has been due to the group’s stress on providing training leaders and the people of the coun- and employment opportunity to the try. I take this opportunity to thank educated Bahraini youth, Yusuffali His Majesty King Hamad bin Isa Al said “we have always believed that Khalifa, HRH Prince Khalifa bin its our duty to nurture the local tal- Salman Al Khalifa, the Prime Minister ent and currently there are more and HRH Prince Salman bin Hamad than 1100 Bahrainis who work with Al Khalifa, the Crown Prince and First us not only here but in other GCC Deputy Premier for their transforma- countries also. Our goal is to provide tive leadership and the Government “Lulu Hypermarket has built its of Bahrain have responded so employment to another 500 people for its transparency, accessibility and brand on the quality promise and warmly to the range of products, the with the opening of our new proj- effectiveness.” we are very happy that the people cost-effectiveness and top quality of ects”. EXCHANGE RATES

Al-Muzaini Exchange Co. GOLD Saudi Riyals 81.970 US Dollars Mint 0.301000 0.305000 20 Gram 216.710 Jordanian Dinar 429.440 10 Gram 111.050 Asia CURRENCY BUY SELL Egyptian Pound 38.821 5 Gram 56.210 ASIAN COUNTRIES Sri Lankan Rupees 2.119 Bangladesh Taka 0.003481 0.004081 Japanese Yen 2.573 Indian Rupees 4.582 Chinese Yuan 0.045182 0.048682 Hong Kong Dollar 0.037200 0.039950 Indian Rupees 4.570 UAE Exchange Centre WLL Pakistani Rupees 2.904 Pakistani Rupees 2.908 Bangladesh Taka 3.878 Indian Rupee 0.004213 0.004603 Srilankan Rupees 2.121 Philippines Pesso 6.458 Indonesian Rupiah 0.000018 0.000024 Nepali Rupees 2.876 Australian Dollar 213.03 Cyprus pound 580.645 Japanese Yen 0.002472 0.002652 Singapore Dollar 213.445 Canadian Dollar 223.33 Japanese Yen 3.550 Kenyan Shilling 0.003166 0.003166 Hongkong Dollar 39.323 Swiss Franc 308.51 Syrian Pound 2.380 Korean Won 0.000247 0.000262 Bangladesh Taka 3.883 Euro 333.77 Nepalese Rupees 3.860 Malaysian Ringgit 0.066674 0.072674 Philippine Peso 6.489 US Dollar 304.65 Malaysian Ringgit 71.015 Nepalese Rupee 0.002888 0.003058 Thai Baht 8.435 Sterling Pound 451.93 Chinese Yuan Renminbi 47.105 Pakistan Rupee 0.002642 0.002922 Japanese Yen 2.57 Thai Bhat 9.410 Philippine Peso 0.006395 0.006675 GCC COUNTRIES Bangladesh Taka 3.884 Turkish Lira 103.155 Sierra Leone 0.000068 0.000074 Saudi Riyal 81.323 Indian Rupee 4.577 Singapore Dollar 0.210698 0.216698 Qatari Riyal 83.771 Sri Lankan Rupee 2.120 South African Rand 0.013601 0.022101 Omani Riyal 792.100 Nepali Rupee 2.862 Bahrain Exchange Company Sri Lankan Rupee 0.001751 0.002331 Bahraini Dinar 809.984 Pakistani Rupee 2.904 Taiwan 0.009165 0.009345 UAE Dirham 83.029 UAE Dirhams 0.08290 Thai Baht 0.008124 0.008674 Bahraini Dinar 0.8096 COUNTRY SELL CASH SELLDRAFT ARAB COUNTRIES Egyptian Pound 0.03881 Europe Arab Egyptian Pound - Cash 39.300 Jordanian Dinar 0.4333 British Pound 0.441402 0.450402 Bahraini Dinar 0.801067 0.809067 Egyptian Pound - Transfer 38.993 Omani Riyal 0.7911 Czech Korune 0.004204 0.016204 Egyptian Pound 0.034582 0.037708 Yemen Riyal/for 1000 1.423 Qatari Riyal 0.08400 Danish Krone 0.040146 0.045146 Iranian Riyal 0.000084 0.000086 Tunisian Dinar 149.411 Saudi Riyal 0.08120 Euro 0.324002 0.332002 Iraqi Dinar 0.000201 0.000261 Jordanian Dinar 429.689 Norwegian Krone 0.030281 0.035481 Jordanian Dinar 0.425626 0.433126 Lebanese Lira/for 1000 2.032 Romanian Leu 0.087378 0.087378 Kuwaiti Dinar 1.000000 1.000000 Syrian Lira 2.173 Dollarco Exchange Co. Ltd Slovakia 0.009109 0.019109 Lebanese Pound 0.000153 0.000253 Morocco Dirham 30.944 Swedish Krona 0.031795 0.036795 Moroccan Dirhams 0.021580 0.045580 GCC COUNTRIES Nigerian Naira 0.001260 0.001895 EUROPEAN & AMERICAN COUNTRIES Swiss Franc 0.297354 0.307554 US Dollar 304.850 US Dollar Transfer 304.800 Turkish Lira 0.098813 0.109113 Omani Riyal 0.784748 0.790428 Euro 329.488 Canadian Dollar 220.900 Qatar Riyal 0.082955 0.084168 Sterling Pound 448.513 Sterling Pound 449.420 Australasia Saudi Riyal 0.080340 0.081290 Canadian dollar 217.869 Euro 331.525 Australian Dollar 0.210960 0.222460 Syrian Pound 0.001291 0.001511 Turkish lira 101.674 Swiss Frank 306.125 New Zealand Dollar 0.198737 0.208237 Tunisian Dinar 0.146950 0.154950 Swiss Franc 303.736 Bahrain Dinar 806.500 America Turkish Lira 0.098813 0.109113 Australian Dollar 218.389 UAE Dirhams 83.240 Canadian Dollar 0.213476 0.221976 UAE Dirhams 0.081950 0.083099 US Dollar Buying 303.600 Qatari Riyals 84.460 US Dollars 0.300500 0.30500 Yemeni Riyal 0.001377 0.001457 THURSDAY, JANUARY 7, 2016 BUSINESS US auto sales score new high

CHICAGO: US auto sales touched a new in 2000, industry data showed Tuesday. according to Autodata. Sales were up six “It’s truly remarkable that the auto “As we look towards 2016, we are com- high in 2015 as easy credit, hot new vehi- Some 17.47 million vehicles were sold in percent from the 16.52 million vehicles industry is finishing off its best year ever mitted to rebuilding trust in the brand and cles and strong consumer confidence the United States last year, nearly 70,000 registered in 2014. just six years after the depths of the Great would like to thank our customers and pushed sales slightly above the record set more than the record set 15 years earlier, The boom comes after sales collapsed Recession,” said Jessica Caldwell, an ana- dealers for their continued patience and to lows not seen in decades in the wake lyst with the automotive website loyalty,” said Mark McNabb, chief operat- of the 2008 financial crisis which knocked Edmunds.com. While easy credit terms ing officer for Volkswagen of America. GM General Motors and Chrysler into bank- and low gas prices are making it easier for sales rose six percent in December to ruptcy. That downturn accelerated much- consumers to buy or lease new cars, 290,230 vehicles while total 2015 sales for needed restructuring at the Detroit Three Caldwell said the attractiveness of prod- the largest US automaker were up five carmakers, which began racking in record uct offerings is sealing the deal. “If you’re percent at 3.1 million vehicles. Ford sales profits when the economy improved and buying a new car today, you’re getting a were up eight percent in December at sales started climbing again. safer, more fuel-efficient and more tech- 239,242 and rose five percent in 2015 to The good times are expected to keep nologically packed vehicle than ever 2.6 million vehicles.Fiat Chrysler sales on rolling in 2016. “The US economy con- before,” she said in a statement. jumped 13 percent in December to tinues to expand and the most important “Automakers are doing a great job giving 217,527 while 2015 sales were up seven factors that drive demand for new vehi- the people what they want in a new car.” percent at 2.2 million vehicles. cles are in place, so we expect to see a Toyota sales increased 11 percent in second consecutive year of record indus- VW sales hit by scandal December to 238,350 and were up five try sales in 2016,” said Mustafa Nearly every major carmaker shared in percent in 2015 at 2.5 million. Both of the Mohatarem, GM’s chief economist. “The the gains. But embattled German Japanese automaker’s brands-Toyota and single most important pieces are the automaker Volkswagen bucked the trend Lexus-posted record-breaking December ongoing gains in employment and the as sales were hit by a massive pollution- sales while its Corolla, RAV4 and growth in personal income. When you cheating scandal. VW sales fell nine per- Highlander vehicles smashed records for add in lower energy prices, it’s easy to see cent to 30,956 in December and were the year. “2015 was a standout year for why consumer spending is strong.” Total down five percent in 2015 at 349,400 the auto industry,” Bill Fay, general man- industry sales rose nine percent in vehicles. The results were nonetheless ager for the Toyota division, said in a FLORIDA: A 2015 Chevrolet Silverado 2500 4WD LTZ Crew Cab pickup December, to 1.64 million vehicles, better than the 25 percent drop regis- statement. Honda sales rose 10 percent according to Autodata. The results come tered in November after VW stopped sell- in December to 150,893 and were up truck is on display at Miami Lakes AutoMall in Miami Lakes, Fla. days before carmakers are set to reveal a ing diesel-engine vehicles shown to have three percent for the year at 1.5 million. Automakers reported December and full-year sales on Tuesday, Jan 5, host of new products at the Detroit auto been equipped for years with software Nissan posted an eight percent gain in 2016. —AP show, where the mood is expected to be that intentionally subverted clean-air reg- December at 139,300 while its 2015 sales exuberant. ulations. rose seven percent to 1.4 million.—AFP

News in brief

Saudi Electricity signs $1.4 billion 3-yr loan with banks DUBAI: Saudi Electricity Co (SEC), the Gulf’s largest utili- ty firm, said yesterday it had signed an agreement for a $1.4 billion loan with seven international banks to be used as a back-up credit facility. The facility has a lifes- pan of three years and was provided by Bank of Tokyo- Mitsubishi UFJ, Mizuho Bank, Sumitomo Mitsui Banking Corporation, HSBC, JP Morgan, Credit Agricole and Deutsche Bank. On Dec 16, SEC said it signed an agree- ment for a reserve credit facility worth up to 2.5 billion riyals ($666.1 million) with National Commercial Bank and Samba Financial Group. The transaction announced yesterday brings the company’s total revolving facilities to a value of 7.75 billion riyals, the statement added.

Euro-zone economy set for robust year LONDON: The 19-country euro-zone’s economy is poised for a year of “robust expansion” following its best quarterly performance in 4 1/2 years, a closely watched survey indi- cated yesterday. Financial information company Markit said its purchasing managers’ index - a measure of activity across the manufacturing and services sectors - rose to a four-month high of 54.3 points in December from 54.2 the previous month. That monthly growth rounded off the best quarterly performance since the middle of 2011, according to Markit. “The euro-zone economy starts 2016 on a solid footing and well placed to enjoy a year of robust expansion,” Markit’s chief economist Chris Williamson said. Despite the findings, Williamson said the euro-zone econo- my is still not running on all cylinders. Overall growth in 2015 is only expected to be around 1.5 percent and France, Europe’s second-largest economy, continues to lag. In December, France barely grew at all - its PMI survey read- ing was 50.1, just ahead of the 50 threshold that marks expansion and contraction. “Germany, Italy, Spain and Ireland are all enjoying strong expansions, but France is showing signs of stalling once again,” he said. DENPASAR: Tuna fish are loaded onto a truck at Benoa harbour in Denpasar on Bali island yesterday. Indonesian President Joko Widodo has unveiled a Malaysia Airlines does series of stimulus measures to lift slowing growth in South-East Asia’s top economy and shore up the country’s plunging currency. —AFP U-turn on suitcase ban KUALA LUMPUR: Less than 24 hours after telling Europe-bound passengers they were not allowed to Britain services growth slows, take check-in baggage because of “unseasonably strong headwinds”, Malaysian Airlines did a sudden U-turn yes- terday. The troubled carrier, whose MH370 flight went missing in 2014 on its way to Beijing and has still not pointing to a soft end to 2015 been found, had said it was limiting baggage to reduce weight. It cited concerns about its planes being able to carry enough fuel as they had to fly a longer and differ- EU vote, spending cuts and higher rates are 2016 risks ent route due to its own “risk assessment” and handle strong headwinds “in excess of 200 knots”. The airline did not specify what the risk specifically was. Economy LONDON: Growth in Britain’s dominant services industry third quarter of 2015. “The relapse in the services PMI adds est since 2013. Williamson said factors such as government class passengers flying from Kuala Lumpur to London, slowed slightly in December, suggesting the economy to evidence showing the recovery lost further momentum spending cuts, a potential interest rate hike, uncertainty Paris and Amsterdam would only be allowed to take expanded only modestly ahead of a new year in which it towards the end of 2015,” Pantheon Macroeconomics chief about the global economy and the prospect of a referen- one small piece of hand luggage with them, the compa- faces significant risks, a closely watched survey showed yes- UK economist Samuel Tombs said. Financial markets showed dum on Britain’s membership of the European Union posed ny announced on Tuesday. Those in business class could terday. British economic growth slid to its joint-weakest in little reaction to the news, which left Britain still in a better “significant downside risks” to economic growth this year. carry two. Suitcases could be checked in on other nearly three years in the three months to September, and position than most of its euro zone peers. Despite recent The Bank of England is expected to raise interest rates in financial data company Markit said its December survey of downward revisions to its growth numbers for 2015, Britain the second quarter of 2016, according to a Reuters poll of flights, but would arrive much later than their owners, purchasing managers pointed to only a marginally faster is expected to have headed the pack of major economies. economists. But with inflation close to zero and earnings the company had said. The move was blasted as “ludi- expansion in late 2015. But it has relied heavily on the services industry for growth, growth sluggish, it may find this difficult and financial mar- crous” and “strange” by industry analysts. But in a sud- The Markit/CIPS UK services purchasing managers’ index frustrating hopes for a more balanced recovery. kets only price in a move around the end of the year. Input den about-face on Wednesday, Malaysia Airlines edged down to 55.5 last month from 55.9 in November, “The services sector remained the key driver of the UK’s prices and prices charged rose marginally in December, the ditched its baggage rules and said passengers could broadly in line with economists’ forecasts in a Reuters poll, economic upturn ... (but) a rosy outlook is by no means PMI survey showed, but were both below long-run averages. carry the normal amount of luggage. while a broader composite measure dipped to a three- assured,” Markit’s chief UK economist Chris Williamson said. Separate figures from the British Retail Consortium, also month low. Markit lowered its estimate of fourth-quarter A solid measure of new business was offset by the weakest released on Wednesday, showed shop prices in December GDP growth to 0.5 percent from 0.6 percent a month ago, pace of job creation in the sector since July, while long-term were 2.0 percent lower than a year earlier, almost matching China sets yuan currency which compares with a sub-par 0.4 percent recorded in the expectations for business activity among firms were the low- November’s joint-record 2.1 percent decline. —Reuters level near five-year low SHANGHAI: China’s central bank yesterday set the value of the yuan currency against the US dollar at its lowest since US manufacturing slowdown stokes fears about oil demand April 2011, according to the national foreign exchange market, raising worries over the health of the world’s sec- LONDON: Growing signs of weakness in associated with a contraction in manufac- ond-largest economy. The People’s Bank of China (PBoC) the US economy are helping keep oil turing activity (http://tmsnrt.rs/1Rhzgry). set the daily reference rate at 6.5314 to $1.0 yesterday, prices under pressure even as tensions The index is strongly cyclical and not down by 0.22 percent from the previous day, according to escalate across North Africa and the every slowdown heralds an economic the China Foreign Exchange Trade System. It was its weak- Middle East. US manufacturers reported recession (not least because manufactur- est for nearly five years. The move marked the seventh ses- business activity contracted for the sec- ing now accounts for less than 15 percent sion the PBoC has weakened the yuan, reviving concerns ond month running in December, accord- of GDP). over a shock devaluation of the currency in August, when ing to the Institute of Supply Management But US manufacturers have reported (ISM). The ISM’s composite manufacturing slowing growth since the middle of 2015 it guided the unit down nearly five percent in a week. index was below 50 in both November which turned into an outright contrac- “Market forces are exerting strong pressure on the yuan to and December 2015 for the first time since tion towards the end of the year. The depreciate against the US dollar,” senior international econ- November 2012 and before that July 2009. drop in the index is consistent with other omist for PNC Financial Services Group, Bill Adams, said in The Institute contacts around 300 pur- indicators pointing to a pronounced a research note yesterday. “Chinese economic growth is chasing managers each month to enquire slowdown in manufacturing activity in weak, Chinese foreign trade is contracting, the PBoC has about changes at their firms in produc- the second half of 2015. Freight move- cut interest rates six times since November 2014, US inter- tion, new orders, employment, inventories ments by road, rail, barge and pipeline VIRGINIA: A car pulls up to a Shell Gas Station in Woodbridge, Virginia. Oil est rates are rising and capital is flowing out of China,” he and the speed of supplier deliveries. The have been flat for the past year, ending said. At 4:30 pm (0830 GMT), the onshore yuan was quoted results are used to produce the purchas- five years of strong growth, according to prices fell further January 5 as the crude supply glut overshadowed a diplo- at 6.5575 to $1.0, down 0.58 percent from the same time ing managers’ index. In the past, index the US Bureau of Transportation Statistics matic row between key producers Saudi Arabia and Iran as fuel prices in the on Tuesday. readings below 50 have generally been (http://tmsnrt.rs/1R6Wct7). —Reuters US have fallen below $2 per gallon. —AFP BUSINESS THURSDAY, JANUARY 7, 2016 Stocks hit by China worries, North Korea nuclear test MSCI world share index down for 5th day as Asia, Europe slides

LONDON: World stocks fell for a fifth day yes- Alvin Tan said. “The CNH (offshore yuan) is ic data to digest, too, with a PMI survey show- Arabia and Iran. South Korea’s KOSPI also helped push yields on German 10- terday as China fuelled fears about its econo- down 2 percent since New Year’s Eve ... if they ing services sector activity expanded at its and the won both fell and Japan’s year Bunds to their lowest since the my by allowing the yuan to weaken further allow this to continue this has very serious slowest rate in 17 months in December. State Nikkei extended losses to close down 1 ECB’s last meeting in December, which and a nuclear test by North Korea added to a repercussions for global markets.” Chinese media meanwhile reported that a percent. In Europe, a 2.5 percent fall in delivered less in terms of policy stimulus growing list of geopolitical worries. European Traders and economists fear the yuan’s selling ban on major shareholders brought in mining and natural resource stocks left then most traders had been expecting. markets followed Asia into the red, with depreciation may mean the world’s second- to help arrest a market crash last summer the FTSEurofirst 300 0.7 percent lower The 10-year US Treasury yield fell by Britain’s FTSE, Germany’s DAX and France’s biggest economy is even weaker than had would remain in place until the government at 1,400. Another PMI showed growth about 3 basis points to 2.22 percent. CAC all 0.7 percent lower in early trading, to been expected and that it could trigger publishes new rules on such disposals. That in Britain’s dominant services sector “European government bond markets leave MSCI’s 46-country All World index down another wave of competitive devaluations helped drive China’s blue chip shares sharply slowed slightly in December, suggest- are enjoying a (balanced) environment, 0.3 percent. around Asia and in other key economies. The higher, with the CSI300 index closing up 1.75 ing one of Europe’s best performing with sliding inflation expectations aug- Souring sentiment toward riskier assets in People’s Bank of China surprised yesterday by percent and the Shanghai Composite finish- economies over the last couple of years menting the lingering emerging market turn lifted safe-havens such as the Japanese setting the yuan’s official midpoint rate at its ing 2.3 percent better off. expanded only modestly in the final concerns,” Commerzbank rate strategist yen, US Treasuries, German Bunds and gold, weakest level in 4-1/2 years at 6.5314 per dol- They were among very few risers, howev- part of 2015. Michael Leister said. Adding to the risk- while the pressure was firmly back on oil as lar. That triggered further selling in the ‘off- er, as North Korea’s announcement that it off mood, crude oil prices hit new 11- both Brent and WTI fell $2 to near $35.50 a shore’ yuan, which slumped to 6.6956 per had successfully conducted a test of a Oil pressure year lows as the face-off between Saudi barrel. “The moves in yuan have been very dollar, its lowest since trading began in 2010. hydrogen nuclear device added to geopoliti- The mood was similarly cautious in Arabia and Iran over Riyadh’s execution interesting,” Societe Generale FX strategist There was more gloomy Chinese econom- cal worries stirred by a row between Saudi currency and bond markets, with the of a Shiite cleric was seen extinguishing yuan’s accelerated fall dragging down any chance of major producers cooper- other emerging currencies like the ating to cut production. Global bench- Malaysian ringgit and Thai baht. The dol- mark Brent crude was trading at $35.75 a lar touched a near three-month low of barrel at 0930 GMT, down 67 cents or 1.9 118.35 yen while euro slid to a nine- percent from the previous day’s settle- month trough of 127.465 yen and ment and the lowest since 2004. US dipped to $1.0720 as a top European crude futures were down 46 cents at Central Bank policymaker reiterated its $35.51 per barrel after slipping 79 cents willingness to keep printing money. That on Tuesday. — Reuters

SINGAPORE: A vessel docks along the bay at the container terminal port in Singapore yesterday. Singapore’s trade-dependent economy grew by an estimated 2.1 percent in 2015, its worst performance since the 2009 recession, as global demand for Asian exports slumped, official data showed on January 4. — AFP Oil hits 11-year low LONDON: Oil prices hit their lowest in revenues and to keep market share. over 11 years yesterday, as the row Adding to this oversupply, Iranian oil between Saudi Arabia and Iran was exports are widely expected to increase seen making any cooperation between in 2016 as Western sanctions against major exporters to cut output even Tehran for its alleged nuclear weapons more unlikely. Evidence of slowing program are likely to be lifted. “Shale economic growth in China and India production and increasing capacity has fuelled fears that even strong from countries like Russia who need to demand elsewhere may not be protect revenue combined with expec- enough to mop up the excess crude tations of further Iranian supply mean that has resulted from near-record pro- actual production as well as expecta- duction over the last year. tions of future production are rising,” The furor over Saudi Arabia’s execu- Hewson said. Still, a senior Iranian oil tion of a Shiite cleric has stripped near- official said the country could moderate ly 8 percent off the price of oil in the oil export increases once the sanctions last three trading days alone and has are lifted to avoid putting prices under killed speculation that OPEC members further pressure. might agree on production cuts to lift Also feeding into broad market prices. “There are rising stockpiles and weakness, a survey showed that the tension between Iran and Saudi China’s services sector expanded at its Arabia make any deal on production slowest pace in 17 months in unlikely,” said Michael Hewson, head of December, following on from weak fac- strategy at CMC Markets. tory data on Monday which also Benchmark Brent crude futures were knocked markets globally. The People’s at $35.07 a barrel at 1120 GMT, down Bank of China set a weaker midpoint $1.35 on the day, and at their lowest for the yuan, prompting concerns that since early July 2004, having staged the economy of the world’s largest their largest one-day drop in percent- energy consumer could be in worse age terms in nearly five weeks. US crude shape than believed. In the United futures were down 88 cents at $35.09 a States, concerns over mounting oil barrel after already slipping 79 cents the stock levels persisted, with crude previous day. Oil has slumped from inventories likely to have risen by above $115 in June 2014 as shale oil 439,000 barrels last week, according to from the United States has flooded the a Reuters poll of eight analysts. The US market, while falling prices have Energy Information Administration prompted some producers to pump (EIA) will publish its closely watched even harder to compensate for lower weekly data at 1530 GMT. — Reuters Gold extends gains

LONDON: Gold hit a four-week high yes- to weaken further, and a nuclear test by terday, extending gains for a third ses- North Korea added to a growing list of sion, as persistent concerns over the political worries. Chinese economy battered stock mar- North Korea said it successfully tested kets, while tensions simmered in the a miniaturized hydrogen nuclear device Korean peninsula and the Middle East. yesterday, setting off alarm bells in The metal is closing in on key chart lev- Japan and South Korea. Relations els, including the December high at between Saudi Arabia and Iran collapsed $1,088.70. A push above $1,088 would over the weekend after the Kingdom’s indicate that gold may have bottomed execution of a Shiite cleric, a prominent out for now after twice rebounding from critic of Saudi policy, set off a storm of the $1,045 area in December, technical protests in Tehran. “The metals are likely analysts said. Spot gold was up 0.6 per- to continue to take direction from cent at $1,083.76 an ounce at 1047 GMT, moves in equities, developments in while US gold futures for February deliv- China, US dollar swings and to a lesser ery were up $5.10 an ounce at $1,083.50. extent geopolitical factors in the short Earlier it reached its highest since Dec 7 term,” MKS said in a note yesterday. at $1,085.60. Traders will examine the minutes of “Some risk aversion prompting safe the Federal Reserve’s last meeting when haven flows has helped gold to stabilize they are released later for clues about and now test resistance,” Societe the US central bank’s plans for interest Generale analyst Robin Bhar said. rate hikes. Gold fell 10 percent last year “Physical demand has been pretty strong on fears higher US rates would lift the at the lower levels.” “As we go higher, we opportunity cost of holding non-yielding could see some of that physical demand bullion. The Fed raised rates for the first beginning to slow. Now we need time in nearly a decade last month and is investors to jump back in and look to expected to hike rates further this year. hedge some of the uncertainties over Silver was up 0.3 percent at $13.98 an global growth, over China, with position- ounce, while platinum was down 0.3 per- ing in gold.” World stocks fell for a fifth cent at $883.75 an ounce and palladium day yesterday as China fuelled fears was down 1.4 percent at $529.40 an about its economy by allowing the yuan ounce. — Reuters BUSINESS THURSDAY, JANUARY 7, 2016 Fitbit ‘smart fitness watch’ disappoints market LAS VEGAS: Fitbit yesterday unveiled its company, which leads the wearable tech beyond simply selling devices,” the ana- “smart fitness watch,” aiming to get into market with its wrist-worn trackers but is lyst said. IDC analyst Ramon Llamas said the growing smartwatch segment with being challenged by the rise of smart- Fitbit shares may have been unfairly pun- upgraded fitness tracking features. But the watches from Apple and others, said its ished by the news. Llamas said that it company’s share price plunged amid dis- $199 Fitbit Blaze watch was available for appears that “a modular smartwatch does appointment over its prospects for keep- pre-order and would be in retail stores not appeal to a lot of people” but that ing pace with rivals like Apple Watch. The globally in the coming months. Fitbit still has the opportunity to improve Speaking at an unveiling ahead of the its offerings and expand its large user Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas, base. “I think (Blaze) is unfairly being com- Fitbit chief executive and co-founder pared to Apple Watch,” he said. “But there James Park said the new device “strikes a are still a lot of oars in the ocean to pull balance between fitness and style.” The Fitbit forward.” Under Armour meanwhile Blaze contains a module that can be linked announced its “Connected Fitness prod- with smartphones running Apple, Android uct portfolio” which may grab market or Windows systems and removed to snap share from Fitbit. into different bands for workouts, the The Baltimore-based group announced office or nights on the town, Park said. its UA Band designed to be worn all-day, It will also allow for notifications of every day to track daily activity, workouts calls, text and calendar alerts, and can and sleep, a compact heart rate monitor control music playing from a phone. It NEVADA: The new FitBit Blaze is seen at a press conference on CES Press Day in which can measure workout intensity and also features a high-resolution color dis- Las Vegas, Nevada ahead of the CES 2016 Consumer Electronics Show. Fitbit on a connected scale that enables weight and play and a battery that can last up to five January 5 unveiled its ‘smart fitness watch,’ aiming to get into the growing body fat percentage readings. “For 20 days. “It puts fitness first and has the right smartwatch segment with upgraded fitness tracking features. — AFP years, Under Armour has changed the way set of features that don’t overwhelm the athletes dress and now we will change the user,” he told the news conference. Fitbit Not enough its rivals. The analyst said in a research note way athletes live,” said Kevin Plank, founder led the global market for wearable tech Fitbit shares plunged 18 percent on the new smartwatch appears to be a “fash- and CEO, in a statement. apparent disappointment the company fell ionable (Fitbit) Charge fitness band” which NEVADA: Casio President and COO devices in the third quarter with a 22.2 “We are taking connected Fitness to short in its strategy of countering Apple “offers a much smaller fraction of the func- Kazuhiro Kashio displays Casio’s new percent market share and unit sales of 4.7 another level. With the HealthBox suite of and other rivals. Also weighing on Fitbit tionality (of rivals), as a not-so-smart watch smart watch WSD-F10 that was million, according to research firm IDC. products being introduced, athletes will be was a launch by Under Armour of a suite of with limited apps platform play.” announced during a press event for But many analysts expect Apple to take empowered with the information to make connected fitness devices. Sterne Agee “We see the company still needing to CES 2016 at the Mandalay Bay the lead in the sector with its new smart- better decisions and ultimately enrich their analyst Rob Cihra said the new watch is prove it can build out a sustainable soft- Convention Center on January 5, watch that connects to iPhones and also lives in a way that’s never been done “not likely enough” to boost Fitbit against ware and services platform that goes 2016 in Las Vegas, Nevada. — AFP has fitness-tracking features. before.” — AFP Group hopes to jumpstart momentum for trade pact

WASHINGTON: Leading business groups, Congress would pass the trade pact, even often at odds with President Barack Obama, though lawmakers just last year passed legis- are looking to give momentum to one of his lation designed to speed TPP’s passage with- top priorities before he leaves office: out the threat of amendments or filibuster. approval of a trade pact linking 12 nations Support from business groups could ease along the Pacific Rim that make up 40 per- some lawmaker’s concerns about the political cent of the world economy. environment. The Business Roundtable, made up of The trade group representing manufactur- chief executive officers from large US compa- ers came out with its endorsement Monday. nies, endorsed the Trans-Pacific Partnership The group has frequently clashed with the agreement on Tuesday. A trade group repre- Obama administration over new environmen- senting manufacturers did the same Monday. tal regulations and recently sued to stop Their influence could make supporters in stricter limits on smog-causing pollution. Congress more eager to take the agreement “This is an organization that typically does up in an election year. Senate Majority Leader not endorse priorities of the Obama adminis- Mitch McConnell recently urged Obama to tration, but I think is a clear example of how hold off on sending the agreement to even Democrats and Republicans can agree Congress before the elections, warning that it that the Trans-Pacific Partnership would do didn’t have the votes. John Engler, president good and important things for the US econo- of the Business Roundtable and a former my,” White House spokesman Josh Earnest Republican governor of Michigan, said his said on Tuesday Labor unions have come out organization is hoping Congress will approve overwhelmingly against the trade agreement, the pact before its August recess. “The hope is saying it will drive wages down, and it’s clear to send the signal now that we’re getting that for Obama to get a legacy-setting victo- pretty comfortable with the agreement, and ry, he’ll have to rely on the GOP to push the let’s get ready to give it serious consideration,” legislation to victory. Engler said he’s confi- Engler told the Associated Press. dent that the pact would end up getting The trade agreement took more than five more votes than the fast-track legislation that years to stitch together. Participating nations passed last year. would reduce or eliminate thousands of tar- Engler said not all members of the LAS VEGAS: Sphero’s BB-8 technical prototype with Force Band is displayed during a press event for CES 2016 at the Mandalay Bay Convention iffs that apply to foreign-made goods. The Business Roundtable supported TPP, but Center in Las Vegas, Nevada. Sphero partnered with Lucasfilm to build the app-enabled toy from the droid character in the film ‘Star Wars: The agreement also rolls back regulatory require- there was broad consensus. “We cannot have Force Awakens.’ — AFP ments, such as the need to establish an office a robust economy if the goal is to make in a particular country or partner with a local things here and sell it to ourselves,” Engler entity, in order to access their markets. said. Earnest said the endorsements demon- Why I can’t buy Minion Several presidential candidates in both par- strate political momentum on a key adminis- ties as well as members of Congress have tration priority. panned the Trans-Pacific Partnership since “I think we are realistic that there is some agreement on the deal’s terms was deeply entrenched opposition in the toys with Chinese yuan announced in October. Donald Trump said Democratic Party to these kinds of measures, it’s a “terrible deal.” Democrat Hillary Clinton but there is bipartisan support for them in the said “it didn’t meet my standards.” Congress, and we’re looking forward to mak- That’s led to questions about whether ing that case,” Earnest said. — AP UK importers’ experience jars with yuan’s emergence

BASILDON: British businessman Tony Brown is economic and financial hierarchy. Data from bank- bank accounts and that’s where they handle all ready to pay in Chinese yuan for the cuddly toys ing network Swift show the yuan, also known as the their foreign sales. So when we tried to pay in yuan and other funfair stall prizes he buys from a handful renminbi or RMB, is now the fifth most-used curren- they changed it into US dollars, and then they trans- of Chinese factories. But they just don’t want it. He cy for international payments. fer it from US dollars back into RMB. So we couldn’t thought using the local currency for the purchases, The big bank-to-bank trading platforms report a see any logic or benefit.” worth several million pounds every month, would surge in its usage that often makes it among a be a selling point with his Asian partners, a sign of handful of their most traded currencies. A decade of Rate play good faith and presumably easier to do. They would huge dollar earnings for Chinese companies, how- All of that is hard to square with the flood of cor- rather have dollars. ever, allied to ultra-low US interest rates since 2008, porate promotion of the yuan, chiefly by banks This is a familiar experience for hundreds of has reinforced the greenback’s day-to-day usage in such as HSBC, Standard Chartered, Citi and others small and medium-sized British companies which investment and trade. for whom it is a rare growing market at a time when deal with Chinese factories and firms. It also jars The International Monetary Fund’s admission trading operations and profits have been slashed. with the big headlines over the past year proclaim- last year of the yuan into its benchmark currency The Swift numbers point to a disparity between ing the emergence of the yuan as a major currency, basket should soon mean the Chinese unit makes Asia and the rest of the world. The yuan is used, for and London as its main international trading hub. up closer to 10 percent of global central bank example, for about 7 percent of payments between “We have tried but there is no appetite,” says Brown, reserves. However, even after two years of substan- Japan and China, compared with the 2 percent who has 19 years of experience in working closely tial growth, the yuan is worth just 2 percent of all global figure. with Chinese suppliers. Flows among some of the international payments compared with 52 percent Still, the yuan offers better returns than dollars, major banks and speculative financial investors for the dollar, and it is used for less than 0.5 percent compensating for higher conversion costs due to have surged, and the yuan is an increasingly heavily of trade in goods and services. Chinese companies the wider gap between buy and sell rates. Bankers used trading currency in Asia. But its visibility in the still hold around $1 trillion of short-term debt in US say trade in the yuan in London has boomed in the day-to-day economy in the West is next to nil. currency and are repaying it, and the interest, in bil- past six months and that bigger corporate clients NEW YORK: Trader Peter Tuchman (foreground right) works on the floor of the New Some of the thousands of British managers who lions of dollars monthly. Much of that money comes have been paying in the currency for over a year. York Stock Exchange. — AP regularly deal with China say this is due to the diffi- in to offshore accounts and never lands in China. “We’re doing a lot of it now,” says Tobias Davis, who culty of changing established practices, the Chinese Another AFEX client, Bob Latham, pays around sells hedging and options products to bigger cor- firms’ need for dollars to pay off debt and other $100,000 every month for the reinforced composite porates for Western Union in London. Turkish lira slips international dues and a lack of faith in the current and glazing materials he buys from Chinese facto- “Especially on forwards and options there’s a lot value of the yuan, now in the throes of its second ries to sell on to clients in the West. “We did offer to of benefit in settling direct in yuan. Interest rates major devaluation since last August. “Historically pay the factories in RMB. It’s in our interest to make are above 4 percent so while you’re holding the to 3.0 per dollar they desperately wanted dollars and it has just con- it as easy as possible for them to sell to us, so that position you get that interest rate carry. That offsets tinued. We’ve had discussions about paying in local we’re the easiest route to market,” he says. “But it all the marginally wider spreads you will get on the ISTANBUL: The Turkish lira weakened to a antipathy to high rates was influencing currency. But they just have limited exposure in tended to get a little bit crazy. They have foreign yuan compared to the dollar.” —Reuters three-month low against the dollar yester- central bank policy. The lira was also hit by yuan so they would rather have dollars,” said Brown. day as fears about China’s stalling economy the Chinese yuan’s grim start to 2016. Asian If you’ve played fairground or funfair stall games and North Korea’s nuclear test shook markets fell on Wednesday after the over the past few years in Britain, the chances are investors already concerned about the People’s Bank of China allowed the curren- your prize has been imported by his company, Standard Chartered among independence of Turkey’s monetary policy. cy to weaken further, fuelling concerns that Whitehouse Leisure, based in the town of Basildon The lira broke through the symbolic thresh- the world’s second-biggest economy could just outside London. The biggest seller in the past banks in China’s forex ban old of 3.0 against the dollar for the first be even weaker than thought. year has been fluffy Minion toys, made famous by time since early October, and weakened as As Iran and Saudi Arabia continued a the kids’ movie “Despicable Me” and distributed to SHANGHAI: Standard Chartered is among three bank has asked the People’s Bank of China to far as 3.0145 before edging back to 3.0085 face-off over Riyadh’s execution of a Shiite points ranging from the Legoland theme park to lenders that China’s central bank last week sus- shorten the suspension. at 0928 GMT. cleric, North Korea’s announcement that it small mobile funfairs that set up around Britain. pended from conducting some foreign exchange A spokesman for Standard Chartered The main BIST 100 share index fell 0.25 carried out its first successful test of a It’s good business and Whitehouse Leisure is a business until the end of March, two sources declined to comment. When contacted by percent in early trading. The benchmark hydrogen bomb further heightened leading client of AFEX, among the biggest in a group with direct knowledge said yesterday. Reuters Reuters last week, Deutsche Bank declined to 10-year government bond yield rose to geopolitical tensions. Turkish stocks have of London-based currency brokers specialising in reported on Dec 30 that China’s central bank had comment. China’s central bank did not respond 11.27 percent from a spot close of 11.07 also suffered in recent months, with the dealing for companies whose needs aren’t quite suspended Deutsche Bank and two other lenders to requests for comment. percent on Tuesday. Global pressures on BIST 30 the sixth worst performer in a bas- large enough to get the premium rates and services from conducting some of their foreign exchange Standard Chartered made $720 million from emerging currencies added to domestic ket of emerging markets in the last year to that banks offer top corporates. AFEX sales director business, China’s latest bid to stem capital fleeing foreign exchange trading globally in the first half concerns about political interference in date, down 4.39 percent. On Tuesday, the James Collins says that of the 150 corporate clients the country in the face of a weakening yuan. of 2015, according to its half-year financial state- monetary policy and political uncertainties central bank said tax hikes introduced at on his books, none is doing any major business in The notices sent to banks did not give a rea- ment, equivalent to 8.5 percent of the lender’s which pushed the lira 20 percent lower the beginning of the year on tobacco and yuan due to Chinese reluctance. “We’ve offered it, son for the suspension, but the sources for that total operating income. Chinese authorities are against the US currency last year. alcohol would add a further 0.7 percentage and lots of people have looked at it, but there has story said their banks might have been targeted starting to police the nation’s foreign exchange Pressure on the lira resumed on Dec. 23 points to inflation. Monday’s inflation data just been no take-up from the other side,” he says. due to the large scale of their cross-border forex market in a way currency traders have rarely seen when Turkey’s central bank shocked mar- showed consumer prices rose 8.81 percent Surge businesses. One of the sources for the involve- before, levying penalty payments for aggressive kets by failing to hike interest rates despite year-on-year in December, above forecasts China has pressed ahead with efforts to interna- ment of Standard Chartered, which is currently in trading and prompting some banks to turn down stubbornly high inflation. That prompted and significantly higher than the central tionalize the yuan in the past year, regarding this as the middle of a global restructuring, said the business. — Reuters fresh fears that President Tayyip Erdogan’s bank’s 5 percent target. — Reuters a crucial element of its future place in the global THURSDAY, JANUARY 7, 2016 BUSINESS

MENA markets end 2015 in red over decline in oil prices Markaz Monthly Market Research Report

KUWAIT: Kuwait Financial Centre ‘Markaz’ recently ditures in anticipation of the country’s first fiscal released its Monthly Market Research report. In this shortfall in 15 years, was released on 16th December report, Markaz examines and analyzes the perform- 2015. Expenditures are forecasted at $55.6bn next ance of equity markets in the MENA region as well as year, which is a 7.3% decline from the last fiscal year, the global equity markets for the month of December. despite the increase in outlays on government Most MENA markets ended in red during the month salaries, wages and major projects - such as major of December 2015, with Saudi Arabia (-4.5%) declin- transportation initiatives and preparations for the ing the most, followed by Kuwait price (-3.2%) and 2022 World Cup. Saudi Arabia unveiled a $223.8bn weighted (-2.9%) indices. budget, as the Kingdom attempts to further diversify Decline in oil price by over 16% during the month its revenues in an era of low oil prices. and declaration of deficit laden budgets has led to the The government incurred a deficit of $97.9bn (15% regional market response. Saudi markets fell the most of GDP in 2015), and with the 2016 budget it aims to slipping on oil and after the release of its 2016 budg- cut that to $86.9bn. Spending has been forecasted to et, which forecasted a cut in spending and a deficit of decline to $224bn, down from the $260bn actually $87bn. Speculation about other possible measures spent in 2015. Efforts are being undertaken to ensure including possible subsidy and tax reforms, also government projects are more efficient, necessary weighed in on the markets. and affordable. Omani government expenditures and For the year 2015, Egypt declined 24%, due to fal- revenues for 2016 are estimated at $30.9bn and tering reforms and forex shortage, while Tadawul’s $22.3bn, respectively, leading to an estimated deficit TASI index declined 17%. All MENA indices ended in of $8.6bn, lesser than the $11.7bn deficit expected for red for the year 2015, with most witnessing double 2015. The expenditures for 2016 are 15.6% less than in digit declines. Oil price fall, regional and global politi- increasing by 388% and volume traded increasing by announcing investments in Data Centre Solutions. 2015 ($36.6bn), while revenue estimates declined by cal developments, the recent Fed hike, and Euro-zone 360%. Overall MENA liquidity for the year was down QNB acquired Turkey’s Finansbank for $2.94bn in 25.86%, compared to the previous year’s $30.1bn. woes were the much spoken themes for the year. S&P 30% compared to previous year, with $559bn value the month, one of the largest takeovers to date by a Threat of new sanctions over Iran did little to stem GCC declined 2.4% in December, making it a cumula- traded in 2015. GCC lender outside its domestic market. Fall in oil the oil price slide, as Brent crude price dropped 16.4% tive decline of 17.4% for 2015. Qatari companies had a reversal of fortunes this price affected SABIC’s fortunes in the market (-14.5%), in Dec’15, extending the overall annual loss to 35%, MENA markets liquidity continued its momentum month, with Ooredoo (Qatar) gaining 13.6% in as the company slipped the most in the month, fol- and closing the year at $37 per barrel. This reflects a in December, with volume increasing by 4% and value December, followed by Industries Qatar (Qatar) and lowed by Kuwait Food (-11.5%) and Emirates NBD (- drop of 68% since the highs seen in Jun’14 ($115 per traded by 14.1%. With the exception of Bahrain, QNB (Qatar), which gained 10.5% and 9.4%, respec- 7.5%). Emirates Telecom was the top performer in barrel). With production in US and OPEC growing over Kuwait, Qatar and Abu Dhabi, other MENA markets tively. Ooredoo had a busy month, signing a MoU 2015, gaining 61.7%, as the company recuperated the last few months, the supply glut could take a witnessed rise in market liquidity, with Morocco, with Qatar Airways for onboard Wi-Fi, achieving from the accounting scandal that affected perform- while to clear. Brimming oil inventories across the Oman and Jordan leading the charge. Morocco speeds up to 375Mbps with the launch of LTE- ance in 2014. globe implies low oil prices in the near- to medium- showed the most improvement with value traded Advanced (LTE-A), expanding services to Maldives and Qatar’s 2016 budget, which includes cut in expen- term.

Gulf Bank mega trio Draw Ahli United Bank announces winner ‘biggest event of the year’ of KD 250,000 of Grand Hassad Prize KUWAIT: Gulf Bank’s exciting 3-in-1 mega trio draw is to take place today in The Grand Avenues at The KUWAIT: On December 30, 2015, Ahli through the Al Hassad Awards for Islamic weekly prizes, the largest number of weekly Avenues Mall starting at 7 pm. This event is the United Bank conducted the draw on the Saving program. winners. biggest of the year as it includes the Al Danah draw quarterly grand prize (Life Long Salary) The lucky winner had reaped a prize All customers interested in winning and for 1 Million Kuwaiti Dinars, plus cash prizes of KD which the bank offers within the Hassad totaling KD 250,000 payable through con- achieving profits conforming to Islamic 250,000 and KD 50,000, which will also be awarded Islamic Saving Prizes Program. The lucky tinuous monthly payments of the award. Sharia can open an Al Hassad Account for to lucky Al Danah account holders. This mega-trio winner was HASNA MOHD ALHUWAIDY Ahli United Bank invites all its customers, Islamic Saving with a minimum KD 100 draw event will additionally have the Salary and who won the grand prize of the KD 250,000 existing and new, to take the opportunity deposit Minors can also open the account Red account holders draw take place and the prizes to be paid monthly over 250 months. The of Hassad Account thereby increasing their through their legal guardians or custodians. include a brand new Cadillac SRX and cash prizes draw was held on the 30 December and the winning chances in this program. This pro- Through these simple steps to open Al up to KD 1,500. Furthermore, the yearly Salary draw will take place with 2 cash prizes of KD 25,000 winner of the quarterly award (lifetime gram offers prizes with the highest value Hassad Account, Ahli United Bank confirms Account customers who have opened an account each. As with all Gulf Bank’s draws, the event will salary) provided by Ahli United Bank reaching KD 3.4 million annually with 26 it is the ideal choice to increase the value of and transferred their student allowance or salary be held in the presence of a representative from its customer’s’ savings along with realizing are eligible to enter the monthly cash draws for a the Ministry of Commerce and Industry. their dreams through the first and only chance to also win up to KD 1,500. In addition, the To participate in the Al Danah draws, customers awards program conforming to Islamic quarterly car draw will be for 1 lucky winner who must have an Al Danah account containing a mini- principles and provisions. will have a chance to win a new Cadillac SRX. Plus, mum of KD 200. Customers can open a new Al I Ahli United Bank is a leading Islamic 2 salary winners will also be announced during the Danah account at any one of the 56 Gulf Bank Bank in Kuwait with over 74 years history. yearly salary draw who will each win a cash prize of branches in Kuwait. Those who have an account The Bank successfully converted to operate KD25,000. For further information about the Al can increase their chances of winning by increasing according to Islamic principles in April Danah, Salary and Red accounts and prize draws, the amount they have deposited in their Al Danah 2010. Since then the Bank has received visit one of Gulf Bank’s 56 branches, or call Gulf account. This will also increase their chances of excellent evaluations from major rating Bank’s Customer Contact Center on 1805805. winning one of the two KD1,000 prizes, which are institutions. It has also obtained a number General information about Gulf Bank’s products drawn each working day. of awards including the Best Islamic Bank in and services can also be found at the Bank’s web- Furthermore, new Red Account or Salary Kuwait in 2015 for the third consecutive site at www.e-gulfbank.com. year. The award was provided by the International “The Banker” magazine. For more information about the “Al Hassad Islamic Saving Program” added to the Investment Saving Account, the prizes and eligibility criteria, please visit any of Ahli Hasna Alhuwaidy receives the prize from Mohammad Al Qahtani, the head of branch- United Bank branches, or call “Hayyakum” at es at AUB. 181,2000.

KAMCO Research GCC’s fixed income market expected to grow further KUWAIT: The MENA fixed income market is against the EUR, Yen and a number of currencies. prices. The Kingdom issued an average of SAR expected to continue to grow during 2016 after Meanwhile, in terms of bond preference, munici- 20 Bn (USD 5.3 Bn) every month since it started a marginal growth of 4% in 2015. Sukuk issuance pal bonds in the US were preferred that gener- the program. Nevertheless, the market contin- IIHS recognizes in MENA is expected to outpace bond issuance ated higher total return as compared to junk cat- ues to be dominated by Egypt that issued USD in 2016 (as against a 38% decline in sukuks in egory bonds and corporate bonds. 33.8 Bn in bonds during the year, an increase 2015) primarily due to still abundant liquidity in of 40% over the previous year level. The total that market as against tight liquidity with con- US & MENA rate hikes number of issuances witnessed an increase of Nissan vehicles ventional banks. Also supporting the expected Following the US Fed rate hike announce- merely 4.5% during 2015 to reach 253. However, issuance is the oil price led fiscal deficit gap and ment, Saudi Arabia, Kuwait and Bahrain raised the average size of the bond offering in MENA DUBAI: The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) Maxima trim levels include the Nissan Advanced Air the need to invest in infrastructure by the sover- their benchmark rates. Saudi Arabia raised its was much larger as compared to the previous recognized four Nissan vehicles with Top Safety Pick Bag System (AABS) with supplemental front air eigns. overnight reverse repo rate by 25 bps to 50 year. Plus (TSP+) or Top Safety Pick (TSP) designations for bags with seatbelt and occupant classification sen- The year 2015 saw higher issuances by sover- bps but left its benchmark repo rate Government institutions continue to be the 2016. These latest announcements underscore Nissan’s sors; front seat-mounted side impact supplemental eigns led by Saudi Arabia which tapped the mar- unchanged at 2.0%. Meanwhile, the Central biggest issuers of bonds in the region with total commitment to continuous improvement to passenger air bags; roof-mounted curtain side impact supple- ket after an eight year hiatus. However, corpo- Bank of Kuwait (CBK) raised its benchmark dis- issues having more than doubled to USD 88.8 safety across its entire lineup. IIHS awarded the all-new mental air bags with rollover sensor for front and rate issuers in the GCC pulled back from the count rate by 25 bps to 2.25%, whereas bn during 2015. Issues by banks totaled USD 2016 Nissan Maxima a “Top Safety Pick Plus” (TSP+)safe- rear-seat outboard occupant head protection; front bond market resulting in a decline of almost Bahrain, while keeping the repo rate 13.5 bn in 2015 as against USD 12.2 Bn during ty rating, which is the group’s highest designation. seat belts with pre-tensioners and load limiters and 22% in this segment during 2015. For 2016, unchanged at 2.25%, raised its overnight inter- 2014. In terms of the share of total issuance, The 2016 Nissan Maxima joins the previously adjustable upper anchors; and LATCH System Saudi Arabia has already announced that it est rate by 25 bps to 0.5% and its rate for one sovereign bonds accounted for 85% of total announced 2016 Murano with the TSP+ rating. The (Lower Anchors and Tethers for Children). Every would tap the international bond market to plug week also by 25 bps to 0.75%. issues in 2015, a much higher share as com- Maxima scored “Good” in all five TSP categories and Maxima also offers child safety rear door locks; the expected budget deficit during the year. In The move by the three gulf countries was pared to 66% in 2014, whereas the share of earned TSP+ status with a “Superior” rating for front Zone Body construction featuring front and rear addition, the excellent credit ratings of the GCC expected since the GCC countries have corporates slumped from 30% in 2014 to crash prevention for those models equipped with crumple zones and occupant zone; Nissan sovereigns should make their fixed income pegged their respective currencies against the merely 14% in 2015. Bond issues in Kuwait saw Forward Emergency Braking. The 2016 Nissan Sentra Immobilizer system and anti-theft alarm system. issuance attractive to investors globally. USD (with the exception of Kuwaiti Dinar a significant jump from USD 1.6 Bn in 2014 to joins the 2016 Rogue in earning an IIHS “Top Safety Pick” Maxima offers a variety of advanced technolo- On the international front, a process of nor- which is pegged against a basket of currency USD 5.2 Bn in 2015 primarily on the back of rating. The2016 Sentra will offer Forward Emergency gies that are standard on three trim levels include malization was finally initiated during December dominated by the USD). The rate hike, as also higher issuance by the government further Braking. Once that system is tested by IIHS the Sentra Intelligent Cruise Control (ICC), Blind Spot Warning -15 when the US Fed raised benchmark rates highlighted by Fitch Ratings, is primarily to supported by capital boosting bonds lau nched has the potential to be upgraded to a TSP+ rating. (BSW), class-exclusive Predictive Forward Collision after almost 8 years of a zero rate policy. maintain the currency peg and does not by NBK in order to meet Basel III requirements Nissan’s top selling 2016 Altima will undergo IIHS test- Warning (PFCW), Forward Emergency Braking (FEB), However, the initial response to the rate hike represent any urgency or fiscal/ monetary and to boost Tier 2 capital. ing this month with the possibility of achieving a TSP+ and Rear Cross Traffic Alert (RCTA). Maxima offers by the year-end was a flattening yield curve. pressure. On the other hand, absence of a The bond market outlook for 2016 largely rating as well. Around View Monitor (AVM) with Moving Object Short term interest rates saw an upward trend rate increase would have put pressure on the shows a grim picture with a majority of the “Nissan is proud to again have our core vehicles rec- Detection (MOD) system that features four small by year-end reflecting the increase in Fed local currencies and in the longer run lured fund managers expressing a more bearish view ognized by IIHS for vehicle safety,” said PierreLoing, vice superwide-angle cameras mounted on the front, benchmark rates. On the other hand, long term investors to sell their local assets in the gulf for the overpriced bond market as compared to president, Product Strategy and Planning, Nissan North sides and rear of the vehicle that provide a “bird’s interest rates are yet to see the same pace of region and invest in higher-yielding dollar- compelling valuations for the equity markets. America, Inc (NNA). “The new Maxima, like the Murano, eye” virtual 360∞ view around the vehicle. It pro- increase in response to the benchmark rate based investments. The rate hike decision in Saudi Arabi a, Kuwait is setting high standards in its class for styling, perform- vides additional selectable split-screen close-ups of hike, which points towards a lack of confidence The trend in the global sukuk index and the and Bahrain following the US rate hike in ance and interior refinement. The 2016Nissan Rogue the front, rear and curb views, helping the driver in the long term growth of the US economy. MENA fixed income indices highlight the diver- December-15 has pushed up short-term inter- and Sentra demonstrate Nissan’s commitment to high maneuver the car in or out of tight spots. Rear Cross This has raised concerns of an “inverted curve” or gent trends in these markets and clearly reflects est rates and reduced bond yields thereby quality and safety standards, and we are gratified that Traffic Alert helps alert the driver of an approaching recessionary pressure in the long run. the weakness in sukuk issuances during 2015. resulting in shrunken buying for Gulf bonds. these outstanding vehicles have been recognized for vehicle when backing out of a parking spot. In fact, in 2015 the yield on 2-year US The sukuk market got a boost as sovereigns con- In addition, the severe decline in oil revenues excellent design.” Moving Object Detection builds on the capabili- Treasury note posted the biggest yearly rise tinued to diversify their funding sources and the has affected deposits with local banks resulting For this year, IIHS has tightened its standards by ties of the AVM system, helping enhance the dri- since 2006. A number of factors were responsi- trend is expected to be stronger in 2016. in significantly tight liquidity conditions. requiring a “Good” or better rating in all five of the ver’s situational awareness by providing visual and ble for this, including a steep decline in oil prices, Total bond issuance in the MENA region Nevertheless, expected issuance in 2016 crashworthiness categories to earn a “Top Safety Pick” audible warnings(front, side or back range object recurring concerns of slowing global growth touched USD 105.7 Bn during 2015, a strong include international bond issue by Saudi and making an available front crash prevention system detection) if the system detects moving with continued slowdown in Europe, a bumpy leap of 67% or USD 42.3 Bn as compared to t Arabia as indicated by the country’s finance mandatory for all awards. To earn the IIHS “Top Safety objects(such as another vehicle) within the dis- landing expected in Chinese economy as well as he previous year. Bond issuance activity got a minister. Moreover, the yield on the expected Pick Plus” designation, a vehicle must earn a “Good” or played image in situations such as pulling out of a the Yuan devaluation in August-15. In terms of boost from Saudi Arabia after the Kingdom bond issuance would largely depend on oil pr better on all five crashworthiness categories and also parking space. Using sophisticated image process- international focus, demand for US bonds have issued bonds worth USD 30.6 Bn as compa red ice. The yield spread over US treasuries would receive an “Advanced” or “Superior” rating for front crash ing technology, the system detects moving objects increased globally resulting in a capital flight to no issues in the previous year. Saudi Arabia be much larger if oil price continues to be at prevention. within the virtual “bird’s eye view” (when the vehi- from emerging markets and some Asian resumed issuing local currency bonds to banks low levels but if it increase to USD 50/ b level, cle is in Park). When starting off or backing up, it economies as they seek safer bets. The higher in July -15 for the first time since 2007 in order yields spreads could be in the range of 200-250 Safety and Security Features detects moving objects crossing within the front or investment was also due to a strengthening USD to cover budget deficits due to the fall in oil bps over US Treasuries. Standard safety and security features on all 2016 rear views, respectively. technology THURSDAY, JANUARY 7, 2016 EMC wins STC ‘Innovation Award 2015’

DUBAI: EMC yesterday announced that Chaudhary, Head of IT Procurement. digitization. On the occasion, STC con- agility and cost efficiency. In addition, the technologies to help enterprises in Saudi the company has been awarded the STC Celebrated every two years, the gratulated EMC for their innovation two companies came together to Arabia to adopt a digital mindset to help Innovation Award 2015 for the transfor- awards aim to recognize vendor excel- backed approach to technology, consult- announce the STC Building Capabilities engage and retain the increasingly con- mation driven approach to technology lence and highlight strong relationships ing and services, helping organizations Program that is designed in collaboration nected customer, Through its transforma- and consulting. The announcement was between STC teams and different ven- identify the right combination of solu- with EMC Education Services division. tion into a true service provider offering made at the STC Vendors Day, a bi-annual dors. The 2015 edition of the awards con- tions to cater to the changing needs of The program built on EMC’s value based enterprises a combination of best in class event, bringing STC together with its larg- sisted of three key categories- Value- customers in this information driven gen- Knowledge and Skills Analysis Service is technology and service expertise STC er community of vendors and partners. added, Innovation and Cooperation. EMC eration. aimed to help identify any gaps in knowl- together with its vendor partners like The fourth edition of the STC Vendors Day was recognized for their market leading In recent months, EMC and STC have edge and training to achieve defined EMC has pioneered the application of took place in the presence of Dr. Khalid technologies that are designed to help announced a number of strategic initia- business objectives and better support leading third platform technologies to Bin Hussain Al-Biyari, CEO of STC along organizations establish an agile founda- tives including a landmark cloud com- existing and planned IT deployments. enhance routes to market and drive busi- with Cyrill Pourrat, VP of Procurement & tion to transform IT and business opera- puting agreement aimed at enabling STC EMC and STC continue to work ness agility to reinforce the overall cus- Support Services, and Mr. Jawad tions in an era of increasing mobility and and its customers to power scalability, together to innovate and introduce new tomer experience. Tweets too short? Twitter mulling 10,000 characters

WASHINGTON: Twitter’s 140 char- enthusiastic about the possible did not confirm the plan for a taken note of how many people acter limit on tweets has long frus- new limit, bashing the company in 10,000 character capacity, but said use such screenshots to surmount trated and challenged its most ver- characteristically terse missives. the company is “not going to be the text limit. “What if that text was bose users. Now the company “140 characters is not NEARLY shy about building more utility and actually text? Text that could be could offer a solution, according to enough to express my outrage that power into Twitter.” searched. Text that could be high- tech news website re/code: the Twitter is raising the character limit Using himself a popular method lighted. That’s more utility and 10,000 character tweet, which to 10,000,” tweeted writer Brian for getting past the 140 character power,” Dorsey said. “As long as it’s could be available as soon as Phillips, in 111 characters. “Twitter limit-attaching a screen shot of a consistent with what people want March. Re/code reported Tuesday really going hard after those stub- longer text to the tweet-Dorsey to do, we’re going to explore it.” that Twitter has been studying how born 300 million people who don’t called the current format “a beauti- Investors did not take to the idea, to allow users to say more, after hate it yet,” quipped Rusty Foster in ful constraint.” “It inspires creativity either: Twitter shares closed down restricting them to 140 characters just 87 characters. In his own tweet, and brevity. And a sense of speed.” 2.8 percent to $21.92 after the for 10 years. Twitter chief executive Jack Dorsey Nevertheless, he said, Twitter has report.—AFP That limit was based on the LAS VEGAS: The Panasonic OLED 4K PRO TV is on display during a press capacity of the original messaging event for CES 2016 at the Mandalay Bay Convention Center on January 5, software used, and though frustrat- 2016 in Las Vegas, Nevada. CES, the world’s largest annual consumer tech- ing for many, unleashed a tidal nology trade show, runs from January 6-9 and is expected to feature 3,600 wave of ultra-concise commentary exhibitors showing off their latest products and services to more than across the web. Now more than 300 million regular Twitter users send 150,000 attendees. —AFP hundreds of millions of messages every day-news reports, personal Ultra-thin, high-definition updates, advertisements, political pitches, photos and videos and, most often, just witty and innocu- TVs battle for CES crown ous comments. Re/code says the company Titans fielding new slim, smart models already allows 10,000 characters in a LAS VEGAS: A battle for the title of best new 6.6 mm and a new flagship 8K television commercial product called Direct television opened Tuesday at the Consumer measuring 98 inches diagonally. Messages, so the technology is no Electronics Show, with titans fielding new longer a barrier. The company is slim, smart, ultra high-definition models. LG Samsung steps up game testing a version that would still Electronics fired an opening salvo with a Later in the day, leading television maker only display 140 characters in a mes- new OLED television no thicker than four Samsung unveiled a new line of ultra-high- sage, but carry much more, and a stacked credit cards. The South Korean con- definition LCD televisions capable of not reader would have to click on the sumer electronics colossus opened a packed only streaming games or shows from the tweet to see the rest. The move is a day of press conferences at the annual tech Internet but able to serve as command cen- part of Twitter’s efforts to expand its extravaganza in Las Vegas with a line-up ters for smart home devices, from locks and user base and advertising sales and that included an OLED Signature panel tout- lights to thermostats and appliances. other sources of income. Twitter ed as “quite literally, a picture on glass.” The Samsung Electronics visual display business continued to lose money over the television measures an unprecedented 2.57 president Hyun Suk Kim pulled back the cur- first three quarters of last year. In mm, LG Electronics USA marketing vice tain on new SUHD Quantum Dot televisions October it reported a third quarter loss of $132 million, on a disappoint- president David VanderWaal said during an that he said marked the “start of a new era of NEW YORK: Photo shows the logo of Twitter on the front of the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE) on-stage presentation. “Our passion and TV.” ing 11 percent year-on-year increase in regular users to 320 million. in New York. Twitter’s 140 character limit on tweets has long frustrated and challenged its most commitment for OLED has never been “This year we are focused on bringing the verbose users. —AFP stronger,” VanderWaal said. television experience into the future,” Users however were not entirely “OLED TV is already recognized as the Samsung Electronics America executive best TV ever.” OLED displays have pixels that Dave Das said. “The new SUHD TV is a giant emit their own light, while pixels in LCD TVs leap forward in time.” New models have soft- Green cars in Norway win the biggest market share are illuminated by backlights. OLED screens ware designed to better consolidate tradi- boast deeper blacks, allowing for a wider tional and online content, and remote con- OSLO: Zero emission cars accounted for 17.1 Information Council for Road Traffic said. The numerous incentives to encourage buyers to range of color than LCD displays. They also trols that automatically detect and com- percent of new car registrations last year in most sold models were the electric version of opt for green cars: while regular cars are heavily tend to come with higher price tags. LCD tel- mand accessories with no set-up needed. evisions remain “the king of screens” with Samsung’s new SUHD televisions will also Norway, the industry said yesterday, the highest Volkswagen’s Golf, the Tesla S, Nissan’s Leaf, the taxed, green car owners benefit from tax sizes trending up, according to the allow people to play more than 500 video market share for clean vehicles anywhere in the BMW i3 and the Renault Zoe. In 2014, zero exemptions, and, under certain conditions, the Consumer Technology Association, the trade games, including blockbusters such as world. “Never has the market share of electric emission cars made up 12.5 percent of the use of collective transport lanes and free park- group behind CES. One in every five televi- “Assassin’s Creed” streamed online in part- cars been as high as in 2015,” Christina Bu of the Norwegian market. The Scandinavian country is ing. Authorities plan however to very gradually sions sold this year is expected to be 50 nership with Sony’s PlayStation Now service, Norwegian Association for Electric Cars said. cementing its role as a pioneer in the field. reduce some of benefits, controversial due to inches or more, measured diagonally, and without needing consoles. Almost 26,000 zero emission cars-all of them By comparison, in neighboring Sweden their high cost. “The choice of a zero emission feature ultra high-definition 4K resolution. electric except for nine hydrogen vehicles-were green cars represented four percent of new car car has to remain profitable. The electric car Smart home hubs registered last year in the Scandinavian country, registrations last year, while in France they market is still not viable without subsidies,” ‘Premium’ certification The TVs will also act as command centers out of a total of 150,700 private new cars, the accounted for just 0.9 percent. Norway offers insisted Christina Bu. —AFP LG was among the TV makers here intro- in smart homes by incorporating technolo- ducing new models that will come with a gy from Silicon Valley start-up SmartThings, freshly minted Ultra-High Definition which Samsung bought in 2014, allowing Premium Certification signaling that they them to control devices synched to the plat- Kia sees autonomous cars meet standards freshly established by an form. “I think this is really a big step forward alliance representing manufacturers, tech- for opening up the market,” SmartThings nology companies and studios creating con- founder and chief Alexander Hawkinson tent. “The criteria established by this broad said. “You can have a smart home basically by 2030 under ‘drive wise’ cross-section of the Ultra HD ecosystem for free as a starting point; it is pretty amaz- enables the delivery of a revolutionary in- ing.” SmartThings is based on open stan- home experience,” UHD Alliance chairman dards, letting tens of thousands of develop- Hanno Basse said in a release. “And, the Ultra ers tailor applications to work with the plat- LAS VEGAS: South Korean 2030 under a new initiative dubbed 2020 and at the Consumer autonomous driving technology to HD Premium logo gives consumers a single, form. “In 2016, we’re going beyond anything automaker Kia said yesterday it envi- “drive wise.” Kia, a unit of Hyundai, Electronics Show announced its the market,” Kia vice president identifying mark to seek out so they can pur- we’ve done before to offer a remarkable syn- sions introducing an autonomous had previously indicated plans for a ambition for a fully self-driving car. Seung Ho Hwang told the technol- chase with confidence.” ergy of design, engineering and craftsman- car using its own technology by partially autonomous vehicle by “By 2030, Kia will bring the fully ogy gathering in Las Vegas. “By Analysts said they expected adoption of ship,” said Hyun Suk Kim. 2020, Kia will commercialize the 4K ultra-high definition televisions to pick up speed this year as prices get in reach of more Sony streaming service partially autonomous driving tech- consumers and the displays become market- Sony unveiled a new flagship LCD televi- nologies. place norms. LG built Dolby Vision technolo- sions and boasted that it is ramping the To this end, Kia will invest up to gy into its new televisions. “Dolby Vision cre- quality of displays with “high dynamic $2 billion in developing necessary ates a picture so lifelike you will forget you range” technology that appeared to be a technologies by 2018.” Kia is the lat- are looking at a TV screen,” Dolby Labs senior rage at CES. The Japanese consumer elec- est of several automakers to invest vice president Giles Baker said during the tronics and entertainment colossus said it in self-driving cars along with presentation. Dolby Vision has been used in has also broadened its line of ultra-slim Google. Analysts see this as a grad- major films including box-office record- Bravia televisions. Sony also introduced an ual process starting with automat- breaker “Star Wars: The Force Awakens,” Ultra 4K streaming service that taps into the ing some functions like parking and according to Giles. The LG television line-up company’s film and television library and is crash avoidance. included “Super UHD” LCD displays as slim as optimized for Bravia models. —AFP Hwang said that making autonomous driving ubiquitous “is possible by reducing its cost” and that this is happening with the cost of sensor technology coming Huawei wants to be the down. Autonomous driving is among the key themes at CES, with ‘leader in smartphones’ several automakers expected to dis- cuss their plans along with a hand- FRANCFORT: Chinese electronics giant ambition, Yu said: “Perhaps in three or ful of automotive technology Huawei hopes to overtake US rival four years.” At the end of December, the groups. Apple and Korea’s Samsung to become group’s chief Guo Ping said revenues Ford has said it will boost the the world’s leading maker of smart- rose 35 percent in 2015, driven largely number of cars testing phones in “three or four years,” a top by smartphone sales which topped the autonomous driving from 10 to 30 executive said in a newspaper interview 100 million level. Huawei this week in the United States and has pre- yesterday. Asked by the daily Die Welt unveiled its new flagship smartphone dicted that self-driving cars would whether Huawei was satisfied in being called Mate 8 at the Consumer be is use in the US market by 2020. the current number three, Huawei’s Electronics Show in Las Vegas. Some say a number of hurdles, consumer devices chief, Richard Yu, Samsung was the biggest rival in the replied: immediate term, Apple in the longer both technical and legal, need to be “No. We’ll move up to number two term, Yu said. “We sell more devices overcome. “We need to not only and then number one very quickly. At than Samsung on the Chinese market,” solve driving when it’s easy, but also the end, we’ll be the world leader.” he said. “But Apple is the leader in the LAS VEGAS: Hyundai Motor Group’s Executive Vice President Vehicle IT Development Center when it’s difficult,” Toyota Research Asked about the time frame for such an premium segment.” —AFP Seung Ho Hwang speaks during a Kia press event for CES 2016 at the Mandalay Bay Convention Institute head Gil Pratt said during a Center in Las Vegas, Nevada. —AFP CES event. —AFP THURSDAY, JANUARY 7, 2016 HEALTH Not just scribbles: How tots start learning text is symbolic

WASHINGTON: Celebrate your child’s the alphabet chart. Appreciating that writ- should be read the same way each time, dren said the puppet was mistaken. But tot’s scribbles. A child might say, “I’m writ- scribbles. A novel experiment shows that ing is “something that stands for some- while a canine drawing might appropriate- they more often accepted synonyms for ing my name,” and eventually the crayon even before learning their ABCs, young- thing else, it actually is a vehicle for lan- ly be labeled a dog, or a puppy, or even the drawings, showing they were starting scribble can become smaller and closer to sters start to recognize that a written word guage - that’s pretty powerful stuff,” said their pet Rover. Treiman and colleagues to make a distinction between text and the line than the larger scrawl that the tot symbolizes language in a way a drawing Temple University psychology professor tested 114 preschoolers, 3- to 5-year-olds drawing, Treiman said. One question is proclaims is a picture of a flower or mom, doesn’t - a developmental step on the path Kathy Hirsh-Pasek, a specialist in literacy who hadn’t received any formal instruction whether children who undergo that devel- she said. to reading. Researchers used a puppet, line development who wasn’t involved in the in reading or writing. Some youngsters opmental step at a later age - say, 5 or 6 Previous studies have shown it’s helpful drawings and simple vocabulary to find new work. As for tots’ own scribbling, what were shown words such as dog, cat or doll, instead of 3 or 4 - might lag on pre-literacy to run a finger under the text when read- that children as young as 3 are beginning they call a family portrait may look like a sometimes in cursive to rule out guessing skills. That’s not clear, cautioned Brett ing to a youngster, because otherwise kids to grasp that nuanced concept. “Children bunch of grapes but “those squiggles, that if kids recognized a letter. Other children Miller, an early learning specialist at the pay more attention to the pictures, Miller at this very early age really know a lot ability to use lines to represent something were shown simple drawings of those National Institute of Child Health and said. If the words aren’t pointed out, “they more than we had previously thought,” bigger, to represent something deeper objects. Researchers would say what the Human Development, which helped fund get less exposure to looking at text, and said developmental psychologist Rebecca than what is on that page, is the great word or drawing portrayed. Then they’d the research. less opportunity to learn that sort of rela- Treiman of Washington University at St. open door into the world of symbolic bring out a puppet and ask the child if they Scientists have long known that read- tionship - that text is meaningful and text Louis, who co-authored the study. thought,” Hirsh-Pasek said. thought the puppet knew what the words ing to very young children helps form the relates to sound,” he said. Make sure chil- Yesterday’s report, being published in The idea: At some point, children learn or drawings were. foundation for them to later learn to read, dren see you that you write for a purpose, the journal Child Development, suggests that a squiggle on a page represents by introducing vocabulary, rhyming, and maybe by having them tell you a story and an additional way to consider reading something, and then that the squiggle we Text and drawing different speech sounds. But it’s important watch you write it out, adds Hirsh-Pasek. readiness, beyond the emphasis on pho- call text has a more specific meaning than If the puppet indicated the word “doll” to include other activities that bring in “That’s much richer than just learning what netics or being able to point out an “A” in what we call a drawing. “Dog,” for example, was “baby” or “dog” was “puppy,” many chil- writing, too, Treiman said. Look closely at a a B or a P is.” — AP Health agency takes on advertising for electronic cigarettes NEW YORK: The nation’s lead public health nationwide; most states now ban the sale of agency on Tuesday focused its attack on elec- e-cigarettes to those under 18. The federal tronic cigarettes on the issue of advertising, health agency has been taking an unusually saying too many kids see the ads. There are hard stand against e-cigarettes, at a time bans on TV commercials and some other when scientists still trying to determine if types of marketing for regular cigarettes but they are harmful. E-cigarettes have only there are no restrictions on advertisements for been sold in the United States for about the e-cigarettes. About 7 out of 10 kids said past nine years. they’ve seen the ads, mostly in stores, accord- ing to survey results released Tuesday by the Developing brain Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. E-cigarettes heat liquid nicotine into an About 22,000 high school and middle inhalable vapor. Users get nicotine but not the school students were asked in 2014 if they thousands of chemicals, tar, or odor of regular saw e-cigarette ads - in stores, online or in cigarettes. Scientists say nicotine is highly magazines, movies and television. The report addictive and can be harmful for the develop- doesn’t prove advertising is actually causing ing brain. CDC Director Dr Tom Frieden said e- more kids to pick up e-cigarettes and a trade cigarettes can be a benefit if they help adult group said the survey is flawed. But CDC offi- smokers quit, but kids should not be using them. “They are not harmless,” Frieden said Tuesday, in a call with reporters. The Smoke- Free Alternatives Trade Association - an e-cig- arette industry trade group - criticized the sur- vey and CDC’s stance. “The CDC continues to mislead the public about the benefits of vapor products as far ST LOUIS: File photo shows water swells on Highway 141, underneath a closed Interstate 44 overpass in Fenton, Mo, a suburb of St Louis. — AP photos less harmful alternatives to smoking,” the group’s executive director, Cynthia Cabrera, said in a statement. Floodwaters draw warnings “The CDC also fails to mention that teens are exposed to many other adult issues on the Internet, TV and movies, such as violence, anew about wastewater, pollutants sex and alcohol.” Cabrera said her group sup- ports age restrictions on e-cigarette sales. CHICAGO: In this April 23, 2014 file pho- While smoking of traditional cigarettes has ‘It came up through the sewers’ to, a man smokes an electronic cigarette plummeted to about 9 percent among high in Chicago. — AP schools students, e-cigarette use has become KANSAS CITY: Veronica Tate knew from the Prevention warns that direct contact with inun- Environmental Protection Agency. But Crow cials worry e-cigarettes may hook a new gen- more common. Last year, about 13 percent stench that sewage was among the 8 feet of dations and the fecal bacteria in them could insists the city’s water supply remains safe and eration on nicotine, and lead some to take up said they’d used an e-cigarette in the previ- water that swamped the basement of her ranch- cause gastrointestinal illness or other infections. exceeds state environmental standards, noting cigarettes - possibly reversing a long and ous month. style home after the nearby Meramec River over- that sewage in the engorged Mississippi “is so gradual decline in smoking rates. The US Food and Drug Administration has flowed. The larger concern for residents of her Environmental standards diluted when it gets to us.” “Unfettered marketing of e-cigarettes been working on new rules for e-cigarettes and suburban St Louis neighborhood is the unknown “The best way to avoid problems is to stay out “We monitor it, but at this time there’s no level has the potential to compromise decades of other, newer tobacco products. The regulations of what else the noxious blend might have con- of the water completely unless you have to be in of concern,” he said at the water plant, which treats progress,” said Brian King, a CDC expert on - first proposed in 2014 and currently under tained. “It came up through the sewers, I guess,” them,” Whitley said. “Let the water go down, then roughly 1.5 million gallons of water a day during smoking issues. Youth e-cigarette smoking White House review - are not expected to con- Tate, a customer service representative for an do your recovery. It’s safer all around.” In Chester, the winter. The rains that caused this winter’s flood, rates have risen at a similar trajectory as tain advertising restrictions. Advocates want insurance company, said of last week’s flooding. Illinois, 60 miles southeast of St Louis, the blamed already for at least 25 deaths in Missouri spending on advertising, say officials at the limits. “It’s time for the White House to issue a “When you get down there and look at it, there’s Mississippi rolling by is the 8,600-resident city’s and Illinois and damage to hundreds of homes and Atlanta-based CDC. And researchers say strong final rule and end this unregulated a smell. There’s an odor.” sole supplier of drinking water, Chester water businesses, ended a week ago. But the water con- advertising has, in the past, been a big driv- experiment that threatens our kids,” Matthew L. Wastewater was a certainty in her Arnold plant supervisor Tim Crow said Tuesday. During tinued rising Tuesday in southern Missouri and er of youth smoking of traditional ciga- Myers, president of the Campaign for Tobacco- neighborhood, given that two nearby treatment inundations that could impact Chester, Crow said Illinois. Several other states along the Mississippi rettes. Cigarette sales to minors are banned Free Kids, said in a statement. — AP plants failed when the Meramec flooded in he relies on guidance from the Illinois still were bracing for the crest. — AP record fashion after days of unrelenting rain. The inundation has spewed tens of millions of gal- lons of untreated human waste, according to the sewer district’s website, on a path toward the Mississippi River and an unavoidable southward trek to the Gulf of Mexico. Those plants remained offline Tuesday. But the floodwaters also could include such things as fertilizers, pesticides and herbicides washed away from farmland, not to mention live- stock waste, industrial chemicals, dead animals, fuel from convenience stores and toxins from railroad tracks. Even pollutants from things as small as the gas can in a flooded garage. “You certainly don’t want to expose bare skin to an unknown cocktail of chemicals,” said Chris Whitley, a regional US Environmental Protection Agency spokesman in Lenexa, Kansas. “We recog- nize it’s a balancing act between the desire to have things normal again versus sitting around BEIJING: A woman wearing a mask to protect herself from pollutants walks past waiting for the water to go down or other things office buildings shrouded with pollution haze. — AP to happen to clean up your property. The (health) consequences posed by these other hazards can Beijing says pollution lessened be much longer lasting.” Much of the pollution eases its way into the Meramec and other rivers in 2015 despite smog alerts that feed into the Mississippi, for many commu- nities the source of drinking water. ST LOUIS: Flood water surrounds homes and businesses. BEIJING: Environmental authorities in Beijing PM2.5. The “number of days of most serious say the Chinese capital’s air quality in 2015 was PM2.5 pollution is falling each year,” Beijing’s Sustained damage better than the year before despite the city’s first municipal environmental protection bureau said By Tuesday, the inundation from last week’s Poor sales prompt Sanofi to pull two red alerts for pollution late in the year. Monday. It was, however, still more than twice flooding had been cleared from Tate’s home, and China has been setting national and local tar- China’s own standard of 35 micrograms per the 55-year-old woman’s basement soon will be plug on Mannkind inhaled insulin gets to reduce its notorious air pollution as citi- cubic meter, and seven times higher than an gutted to eliminate another potential health con- zens have become increasingly aware of the annual mean of 10 that the World Health LONDON: French drugmaker Sanofi is to stop never met even modest expectations and we do health dangers. Beijing’s municipal government Organization gives as its guideline for safe air. cern - dangerous mold that can infest soaked sheet rock, flooring and furniture. There’s not yet selling an inhalable insulin developed by not project Afrezza reaching even the lowest has been replacing coal-fired boilers with natu- Other pollutants also fell, including sulfur diox- Mannkind, following disappointing sales of the patient levels anticipated at the time of entering ral gas-powered facilities, forcing older, more ide by 38 percent and nitrogen dioxide by 12 an official tally of homes and businesses in the product since its launch in February 2015. The the license and collaboration agreement, while polluting vehicles off the road, and closing or percent. The environmental protection bureau area that sustained damage, though Missouri decision to terminate the collaboration marks a costs are projected to remain very high for a sig- moving factories that are heavy polluters. attributed the lowering of sulfur dioxide to the Gov Jay Nixon said Tuesday the flooding affected The city’s average concentration of PM2.5 - phasing out of coal-fired heating systems. about 7,100 buildings in four St Louis-area coun- blow for the idea of delivering insulin through an nificant period of time,” he said. Afrezza was small, inhalable particles that can penetrate Beijing’s air gets especially bad in the winter, ties alone. An estimated half-million tons of inhaler, rather than by injection, and shares in developed in the shadow of another failed deep into the lungs and are considered a reli- when the burning of coal in northern China debris needs to be removed, he added. Even sog- US-based Mannkind fell 40 percent after the inhaled insulin from Pfizer, called Exubera, which able gauge of air quality - was 81 micrograms increases and weather patterns add to the gy sandbags, touted as last-ditch defenders companies announced the move on Tuesday. was approved in 2006 but eventually withdrawn per cubic meter in 2015. That was a drop of 6 smog. Beijing issued its first two red alerts in against floodwaters, can’t be kept for reuse Rights to Afrezza will revert to Mannkind from due to poor sales. percent from 2014, and 10 percent lower than December under a four-tier warning system that because the inundations turn them into moun- Sanofi in the next 90 to 180 days and Mannkind Under the Afrezza marketing deal struck with 2013, when Beijing started publishing data on has been in place for two years. —AP tains of smelly, polluted sacks ultimately destined said it was reviewing strategic options for the Sanofi in 2014, Mannkind secured an upfront for landfills, along with flood-ruined household product, although analysts questioned if the payment of $150 million and had the right to Hong Kong on holiday health wares like sodden flooring, furniture and appli- drug had any future. potential further milestone payments of up to ances. Well over a million sandbags were put to Sanofi first signed up the rights to Afrezza in $775 million, plus a share of profits. alert after China bird flu death use in Missouri and Illinois since Christmas Day, August 2014 in the hope that an inhaled insulin Those payments, however, depended on the according to governmental figures. With each would boost its flagging diabetes business, drug’s success and Sanofi reported Afrezza sales HONG KONG: A woman in the southern Chinese in place, a department spokesman said. bout of broad flooding, such pollution threatens although many investors were skeptical from the of just 5 million euros ($5.4 million) in the first city of Shenzhen has died after being infected The department was also notified by the to sicken anyone who wades into the water, start. Afrezza, which is delivered via a whistle- nine months of 2015. Given such poor sales, with the highly contagious H5N6 bird flu virus, Guangdong health authority on Jan 1 that a 40- prompting health officials to urge affected resi- sized inhaler, acts more rapidly than insulin Sanofi’s decision to ditch Afrezza - albeit after an days after she was admitted to hospital, Hong year-old woman from Zhaoqing city in the same dents - and even reporters - to proactively keep injections made by Sanofi or rivals such as Eli orderly transition - came as no great surprise to Kong’s Health Department said yesterday. The province was infected with H5N6 and was in a current on tetanus shots if they’re unable to stay Lilly and Novo Nordisk, but it also carries risks. many analysts and the French company’s shares 26-year-old woman’s death last week comes critical condition. The government has not away from direct contact with the floodwaters. The product can cause acute bronchospasm, or ended 1.2 percent higher in Paris. “We can’t ahead of the Chinese New Year holiday in early banned poultry imports from the mainland so constriction of the airways of the lung, in imagine that another legitimate diabetes com- Floodwaters may contain more than 100 February when millions of Chinese travel to their far, according to a spokesman from the city’s patients with asthma and chronic obstructive pany would show serious interest in this asset,” types of disease-causing bacteria, according to a home towns to celebrate with their families, with Food and Environmental Hygiene Department. pulmonary disease. JP Morgan analysts said in a note. “With little 2012 report by the Union of Concerned chicken a popular festive meal. All border check Hong Kong culled thousands of chickens and A Sanofi spokesman said Afrezza continued hope for resuscitating Afrezza and a dismal bal- Scientists. And while the frequency of water- points between Shenzhen and Hong Kong, and suspended imports of live poultry from main- to suffer from a low level of prescriptions, ance sheet (net debt), we see Mannkind in an borne illnesses due to flooding is not immediate- the airport, had already introduced disease pre- land China in December 2014 after a H7 bird flu despite substantial sales efforts. “The product increasingly precarious position.” — Reuters vention measures with thermal imaging systems strain was discovered in live chickens. —Reuters ly clear, the Centers for Disease Control and THURSDAY, JANUARY 7, 2016 HEALTH & SCIENCE Five health insurance resolutions to consider for 2016 ealth insurance may not be the sexi- UnitedHealth Group Inc expanding cover- est New Year’s resolutions subject, age and the drugstore chain Walgreens Hbut thinking about it could be just pushing a smartphone app that lets as important as vowing to drop a few patients see a doctor without leaving home pounds or quit smoking. The cost of health or work. Doctors have used video feeds care rises every year and coverage has and other technology for years to treat been shrinking, which leaves a greater por- patients in rural areas or remote locations. tion of the doctor bill to patients. It could But experts say growing smartphone use be very beneficial to your fiscal health in and customer demand are fueling a rapid 2016 if you make a few promises to your- expansion of telemedicine into everyday self. care. If you’re worried about a high deductible, you might want to think about Get familiar with your coverage adding to your insurance coverage. Know the limits of your insurance before Companies like Sun Life Financial offer acci- you start using it. No one wants to begin dent coverage that will provide cash that the year with a nasty case of sticker shock helps cover costs left behind by shrinking from a steeper-than-expected doctor’s bill. insurance. The particulars of your plan may have changed compared with last year, and per- Use it, don’t lose it haps you missed the letter or email from This applies to flexible spending your employer or insurer. An outpatient accounts, which employers provide to let surgery that would have cost you $700 last their workers set aside income before taxes year might run more than $900 this year if to cover health-related expenses. Resolve the plan increased your coinsurance to use your entire balance before you lose HOT SPRINGS, Arkansas: In this photo Glendon Bassett does a cardio workout at the Family YMCA. — AP photos responsibility, or the amount you have to it. Check with your employer on how that pay after meeting a deductible. Your might happen. Some companies may deductible also may have jumped, which require you to spend your money by the Medicare is changing: means you might have to spend more this end of the year or give you a grace period year before most of your coverage begins. into the new year. Many also allow you to carry over as much as $500. These accounts Shop for care can help pay for bandages, condoms or What’s new for beneficiaries Shopping for health care is the wave of cough drops, among an array of eligible the future. Many employers and insurers items, so think creatively if you need to WASHINGTON: Whether it’s coverage for end- “We’re all trying to understand where is that es, and a care coordinator. The coordinator shep- are convinced that health care costs can be spend a leftover balance. Those who can’t of-life counseling or an experimental payment threshold when things will flip,” said Kavita Patel, herds patients to avoid gaps in care. The nurses controlled better if providers are forced to spend down their accounts generally wind scheme for common surgeries, Medicare in 2016 a Brookings Institution health policy expert who can be an early warning system for the doctor. compete for your business. Insurers are up forfeiting less than $100, according to is undergoing some of the biggest changes in its also practices as a primary care doctor. It could Bassett said he had a history of circulatory providing online tools that let patients WageWorks Inc, which administers benefits 50 years. Grandma’s Medicare usually just paid be like the switch from snail mail and interoffice problems in his legs, but this was different. “It compare prices and quality measurements accounts for employers. the bills as they came in. Today, the nation’s flag- memos to communicating via email, she says, was scary,” he said. “Within a week’s time it for a wide range of non-emergency care. ship health-care program is seeking better ways but “I’m not sure we have reached critical mass.” turned from red to dark.” He thought about the Doing that could save hundreds of dollars Learn deadlines to balance cost, quality and access. The effort Glendon Bassett, a retired chemical engineer, emergency room, but he got in right away to see on an outpatient procedure for people with If you don’t like your coverage, you can could redefine the doctor-patient relationship, says he can vouch for the teamwork approach the nurse practitioner working with Dr Gary high-deductible plans. But you don’t need change it. But you have to know when the or it could end up a muddle of well-intentioned that Medicare is promoting. Earlier this year, a Bevill, his longtime physician. The nurse fetched an app or some online tool to shop for all next chance will arrive. Employers hold but unworkable government regulations. The primary care team at SAMA Healthcare in El other clinicians to look at Bassett’s swollen right care. Drugstores and grocers have been open enrollment periods every year, gener- changes have been building slowly, veiled in a leg. He was immediately given antibiotics. And squeezing clinics into their store spaces for ally in late fall for coverage that starts Jan 1. fog of acronyms and bureaucratic jargon. the doctor referred him to a cardiologist for an years. The world’s largest retailer, Wal-Mart, That’s the main window in which people So far, the 2016 change getting the most outpatient procedure that has since improved also has been developing in-store clinics can adjust coverage, unless they have a life- attention is that Medicare will pay clinicians to his circulation. While the medical treatment may that charge $59 per office visit. That’s much changing event, like a marriage or the birth counsel patients about options for care at the have followed fairly standard protocols, Bassett cheaper than the $100 a patient with high- of a child. Likewise, coverage sold outside end of life. The voluntary counseling would have believes the team approach prevented serious deductible coverage might pay for a doctor the employer-sponsored market also must been authorized earlier by President Barack consequences. “If I hadn’t seen the nurse practi- visit. The cost of an office visit can vary be purchased largely during an open- Obama’s health care law but for the outcry tioner when I did, I feel like I would have been in depending on factors like where the doctor enrollment window. For 2016 coverage, that fanned by former Republican vice presidential the hospital,” he said. Bassett has since moved to is located. If you haven’t met your window closes Jan 31. If you miss the open candidate Sarah Palin, who charged it would Hot Springs, in another part of the state, but deductible yet for the year, check with your enrollment windows and have no coverage, lead to “death panels.” Hastily dropped from the stays in touch. Medicare is weighing whether to insurer or the doctor’s office to determine consider a short-term or limited benefits law, the personalized counseling has been reha- expand the primary care model. Conway said the cost of a visit before making an plan. These can provide some protection bilitated through Medicare rules. more data is needed. Other notable changes appointment. from a big medical bill, but they generally coming in 2016: Telemedicine is supposed to be all the offer skimpier coverage than what you can Accountable Care Organizations rage in 2016, with big insurers like get through an employer. — AP But experts who watch Medicare as the stan- Hip and Knee Surgery dards-setter for the health system are looking Joint replacements are the most common elsewhere in the program. They’re paying atten- surgical procedure for Medicare beneficiaries. Brazil cuts vaccine doses as tion to Medicare’s attempts to remake the way Starting in April, hospitals in 67 metro areas and medical care is delivered to patients, by foster- communities will be responsible for managing health system under pressure ing teamwork among clinicians, emphasizing the total cost of hip and knee replacements. The timely preventive services and paying close experiment covers a 90-day window from the RIO DE JANEIRO: Brazil has cut the diminishing stocks. The ministry did not attention to patients’ transitions between hospi- initial doctor’s visit, through surgery and rehabil- number of doses for vaccinations given say how much money would be saved tal and home. Primary care doctors, the gate- itation. At stake for the hospitals are potential by the public health service to counter by reducing the number of doses. keepers of health care, are the focus of much of financial rewards and penalties. Medicare’s effort. Medicare’s goal is to improve quality while human papillomavirus (HPV) and pneu- Brazil’s health system has been hit HOT SPRINGS, Arkansas: Glendon Bassett vis- Patrick Conway, Medicare’s chief medical offi- lowering cost. But hospitals worry about finan- monia, as Latin America’s largest econ- hard by falling government revenues. its with Tamara Hess-Adams team leader of cer, says that nearly 8 million beneficiaries - cial consequences and advocates for patients omy looks to reduce health costs in the The state of Rio de Janeiro declared a the fitness center at the Family YMCA. midst of a deep recession. In a state- state of emergency in December after it about 20 percent of those in traditional say there’s a potential to skimp on care. “What ment late Tuesday, the Health Ministry ran out of money to pay for equipment, Medicare - are now in “Accountable Care Dorado, Arkansas, prevented what Bassett we are discovering with all this change is that said the changes were “routine” and supplies and salaries. Revenues for the Organizations.” ACOs are recently introduced feared would turn into an extended hospitaliza- trying to get to value over volume is very diffi- networks of doctors and hospitals that strive to tion. It started with a swollen leg. cult to do,” said Herb Kuhn, who heads the would not alter the efficacy of the vac- state, which is Brazil’s main petroleum deliver better quality care at lower cost. Missouri Hospital Association. cinations but also noted the cost of the oil hub, have been particularly hard hit “Five years ago there was minimal incentive ‘It was scary’ national program had risen 140 percent by a slump in international petroleum to coordinate care,” said Conway. “Physicians SAMA is part of Medicare’s Comprehensive Hospice Flexibility over the past five years. prices. The health ministry said the dos- wanted to do well for their patients, but the Primary Care Initiative, an experiment in seven Patients choosing Medicare’s hospice benefit In 2015, the cost of distributing es for vaccination against HPV, a group financial incentives were completely aligned regions of the country that involves nearly at the end of their lives have traditionally had to nearly 300 million immunobiologicals, of sexually transmitted viruses that can with volume.” Under the ACO model, clinical net- 400,000 beneficiaries and a much larger number give up most curative care. Under Medicare’s such as vaccines, totaled 2.9 billion cause cancer, will be reduced to two works get part of their reimbursement for meet- of patients with other types of insurance. The new Care Choices model, patients with a termi- reais ($720 million), the ministry said. from three. The doses for vaccines giv- ing quality or cost targets. The jury’s still out on insurers pay primary care practices a monthly nal illness will be able to receive hospice services Sources familiar with the matter said en to babies to fend off pneumonia will their long-term impact. Still, a major expansion fee for care coordination, and the practices also without giving up treatment. A cancer patient Brazil has been reducing imports of be cut to two, with a booster, from is planned for 2016, and beneficiaries for the first have the opportunity to share in any savings to could continue to get chemo, for example. vaccines over the past year, resulting in three and a booster. — Reuters time will be able to pick an ACO. Currently they Medicare. The primary-care teams at SAMA con- Seventy hospices will start the experiment Jan 1, can opt out if they don’t like it. sist of a doctor, a nurse practitioner, three nurs- and another 70 will join in two years. — AP WHAT’S ON THURSDAY, JANUARY 7, 2016 Indian Education Exhibition this weekend at Crowne Plaza

fter the grand success of The expo will give a good expats in Kuwait. This will give in the same hall by university open to everyone. IIK EDU EXPO in March opportunity to the parents and students an opportunity to meet professionals. Platinum Sponsor of the event A2014 and January 2015, students seeking admissions for face-to-face with representatives In a unique opportunity, IIK is Amity University, Diamond popular community portal higher education in India. from Indian Residential Schools, offers the visitors to the expo a Sponsor is SRM University and IndiansinKuwait.com (IIK) Reputed residential schools, Universities and Institutions unique chance to win a Toshiba Gold Sponsors are Acharya, Nitte announces a one of a kind Indian medical and engineering col- directly and ask them their burn- Notebook by pre- registering for University, Bits Pilani, Yenepoya Education Exhibition “IIK EDU leges, universities in India will ing questions, get advice on the expo. Those who wish to University, Institute of EXPO 2016”in Kuwait. The IIK Edu be participating in the expo to their applications and more. attend the expo can pre-register Management Technology, Amal Expo will be held here for two showcase the latest educational Career consultants from reputed their names at http://www.indi- Jyothi College of Engineering, days, 8th and 9th January 2016. opportunities available in India. universities will give free coun- ansinkuwait.com/EduExpo2016/. Manipal University and Sona The two day expo will be at This pioneering endeavor seling to the students at the ven- Pre-Registered lucky winner may College of Technology. This Crowne Plaza, Al Afrah Ballroom, from IndiansinKuwait.com will ue. There will be free seminars win Toshiba Notebook at the end event is sponsored by High Farwaniya, Kuwait from 10:00 AM be a one-stop destination that for students on various career of the expo. Admission is free to Sierra and organized by to 8:00 PM. caters to the needs of young opportunities on both the days the expo on both days, and it is Lemonade International.

Bangladesh Embassy hosts ‘Book Festival’

angladesh Embassy in Kuwait celebrated a “Book enthusiastic students and their guardians were very happy to Bangladesh since 2010. This year a massive total of 334 million the students across Bangladesh to participate at their new Festival” and distributed text books of all classes of pri- receive the new books on the very first day of 2016. Earlier the copies of text books of classes from pre-school to Year-10 have academic classes with new sets of text books. As a part of the Bmary education in Bangladesh on 01 January 2016 text books were duly received by the Embassy from the con- been distributed among 44.9 million students all over festive programs across Bangladesh the Embassy of among the Bangladeshi school-going children in Kuwait. cerned authority in Bangladesh. Bangladesh. The day is a special day for school going students. Bangladesh in Kuwait also tried to share the similar sentiments Students of Class One to Class Five attended the distribution The government of Bangladesh has also been distributing The jovial students and their guardians participated in the joy- among the school-going Bangladeshi students and their program of new and free text books at the Chancery. The free text books to the all primary and high school students in ous programs. The well-coordinated “Book Festival” ensures all guardians living in Kuwait on the 1st of January 2016.

Wintery Weekends at The Sultan Center

inter is here... The Sultan Center (TSC) cele- brated the season by organizing various Wexciting activities and contests for children to enjoy which took place at TSC stores in Salmiya, Shaab and Sharq. Under the theme “Winter Christmas and New Year celebrated at IISM (KG) Greetings!” a special corner was decorated with snow princess and snowman to reflect the spirit of the sea- ISM team of aesthetic teachers from KG organized the remarkable ‘New Year’. At IISM KG atrium was decorated The occasion was graced by the presence of Director son. Cookie decorations and give-a-ways for children Christmas and New Year celebrations for their tiny tots with gaiety and jubilation. The tiny tots of KG sang carols Malayil Moosa Koya, Principal FM Basheer Ahmed, Sr Vice made the events fun for the whole family. Iunder the guidance of Nilofar Qazi, KG Head. and performed a dance passionately. The bondless joy of Principal Narinder Kaur and Vice Principals. They blessed The advent of winter season brings joy of Christmas celebrating the festivals was aptly visible on the faces of the students on this festive occasion and gave good wishes To spice it up, TSC held a social media contest, which marks the birth of Jesus (PBUH) Christ followed by the tiny tots. for a prosperous New Year. where children took pictures with the snowman or snow princess, posted it on Instagram and had the chance to win exciting gifts. The events where held on December 25th and 26th, 2015 as well on January 1st and 2nd, 2016 giving TSC customers the chance to enjoy the celebration with their families and friends.

Birthday Greetings

appy birthday to our beloved HIbrahim Ismael Al-Shennawi. The very best wishes from all his family and friends.

What’s On - Submission Guidelines All photos submitted for What’s On should be minimum 200dpi. Articles must be in plain text and should include name and phone numbers. Articles and photos that fail to meet these requirements will not be published. Please send them to [email protected] WHAT’S ON THURSDAY, JANUARY 7, 2016 Alghanim Industries joins judging panels for student capstone projects at AUM

lghanim Industries, one of everything from financial analysis AUM for the invitation and looks the largest private compa- to a complete HR organizational forward to long, prosperous collab- Anies in the region, joined structure. Satish was a judge for orations on similar initiatives mov- the judging panels for the the Capstone Engineering Project ing forward. Capstone Business Project Competition, which included 9 It is part of Alghanim Industries’ Competition at the American groups that had to come up with a strategy to find, encourage and University of the Middle East new operational solution or educate future leaders about the (AUM). Tom Hatton, Senior process enhancement for an exist- company and provide them with Director-Talent Management and ing company. Each of the compa- the resources to make informative Organizational Development, and nies represented on the panel, decisions related to their careers. Satish Kadkol, Manager-Kirby Post- including Alghanim Industries, will In line with that strategy, Alghanim Sales Engineering, were invited to give one of the students from the Industries participated in a num- join the judging panels, represent- winning team a month-long ber of events recently, namely the ing Alghanim Industries. internship opportunity. NUKS-USA conference in San Tom was a judge for the The presentations allowed stu- Diego. Apart from NUKS, the Capstone Business Project dents to showcase their creative, biggest event gathering of Kuwaiti Competition, in which 8 finalist business driven ideas to a panel of students outside of Kuwait, groups presented an idea for a well-respected executives from dif- Alghanim Industries also took part new company. The students pre- ferent companies. Alghanim in region-wide university career pared their business plan, covering Industries gives a special thanks to fairs.

Al Mulla Exchange provides a musical start to the New Year

l Mulla Exchange provided a great 1967, he was honored with the Padma Shri opportunity for music lovers to jour- award by the Government of India. Aney back in time to the golden hits The tribute was showcased by Shrikant of India’s man with the golden voice, Narayan, famed playback singer who has Mohammed Rafi. The event titled ‘Rafi Ki got into The Limca Book of Records for his Ruhaniyat’ was held on Jan 1 and 2, 2016, continuous rendition of Rafi songs. Touted at the American International School, as a as a singer whose voice is perfectly near to tribute to the legendary singer. The music Rafi’s, Shrikant was able to put the crowd show had capacity turnouts of more than into a rapturous mood of nostalgia. He was 1,200 guests on both days. able to bring in the various moods of Rafi Mohammed Rafi, who passed away at with his wide range of vocal prowess. 56 in 1980, left behind a treasure trove of Al Mulla Exchange organized the music melodious songs which he sung during his show to give their customers a melodious illustrious career as one of Indian film start to the New Year, in line with its tradi- industry’s most famous playback singers. tion of providing the best promotions, Rafi was notable for his versatility, his offers and festivities to customers. On Jan songs ranged from classical numbers to 1, 2016, Al Mulla Exchange, also launched patriotic songs, sad lamentations to highly the Transfer and Win Gold Festival, which romantic numbers, qawwalis to ghazals gives customers a chance to win 1 gm gold parts of the world. “His songs are evergreen and bhajans. daily for 3 months and 1 kg gold grand and people from all generations enjoy He was known for his ability to mold his prize at the end of the promotion. them, and we thought of giving our cus- voice to the persona of the actor, lip-synch- Al Mulla Exchange’s General Manager, tomers a chance to relive those golden ing the song. Between 1950 and 1970, Rafi Rakesh Joshi, said Mohammed Rafi is one memories from the yesteryears. We are was the most sought after singer in the of the legendary singers in India who has a happy to bring Shrikant Narayan to Kuwait Hindi film industry. He received six Filmfare large fan following even after 25 years of for this and crowd’s acceptance of the pro- Awards and one National Film Award. In his death, not only in India but in many gram is a testimony of our reach”. Kuwait Continental Hotels Group holds annual celebration

he management of Kuwait Continental opened by the hotel General Manager, Kamal employer from each department of the hotel stiff competition and the emergence of many Kamal Hussein also honored the companies Hotels Co held the usual annual celebra- El-Din Hussein, who explained how the devel- as their hard working. new Hotels. Kamal Hussein also congratulate who shared to present gifts to the staff that Ttion of the hotels’ staff and their families opment and expansion witnessed by the Kamal Hussein thanked and commends the all the staff with the latest branch “New Born also contributed to the success of the concert to strengthen the loyalty of them and to high- Hotels Group during the past eighteen years. staff for their efforts during 2015 which was Branch” as he called, which joined latest the at the end of the ceremony, the General light their role in advancing & success the Kamal Hussein thanked and honored Mr impact on the sales last year with 10% and Hotels Group; it’s “Continental Inn Suites “ Manager, Kamal Hussein delivered the annual work during 2015. Abdu, Mrs Wessam, Mr Abu Al Khair, Mr Kumar average occupancy rate of over 75%, and Before leaving staff to enjoy the ceremony, bonus; a month’s salary for all staff of the The ceremony was held in Gardenia Hall of and Mr Mushtaq and Mr Balu as Ideal sometimes in some group branches reaches which included different Staff competition of Hotels Group which was ordered by Mr Fouad Kuwait Continental Hotel, the reception was Employers of year 2015 and also honored one the percentages of occupancy to 90% despite the, great and exciting and wonderful games . Al-Ghanim the CEO. THURSDAY, JANUARY 7, 2016 TV PROGRAMS

19:15 The Will 04:30 Diners, Drive-Ins And Dives 07:00 Switched At Birth 20:05 Deadly Affairs 05:00 Guy’s Grocery Games 08:00 Odyssey 20:55 True Crime With Aphrodite 06:00 Chopped 09:00 The Fosters Jones 07:00 Man Fire Food 10:00 Covert Affairs 21:45 California Investigator 07:30 Man Fire Food 11:00 Switched At Birth 00:20 Fast N’ Loud 22:10 Who On Earth Did I Marry? 08:00 Chopped 12:00 Coronation Street 01:10 Mythbusters 22:35 Who On Earth Did I Marry? 09:00 Guy’s Grocery Games 12:30 Coronation Street 02:00 The Carbonaro Effect 23:00 Deadly Affairs 10:00 The Kitchen 13:00 The Ellen DeGeneres Show 02:25 The Carbonaro Effect 23:50 Swamp Murders 11:00 Barefoot Contessa 14:00 Odyssey 02:50 You Have Been Warned 11:30 Barefoot Contessa 15:00 Live Good Morning America 03:40 Auction Hunters 12:00 Chopped 17:00 The Ellen DeGeneres Show 04:05 The Liquidator 13:00 Guy’s Big Bite 18:00 Odyssey 04:30 Storage Wars Canada 13:30 Guy’s Big Bite 19:00 American Idol 05:00 What Happened Next? 14:00 Diners, Drive-Ins And Dives 21:00 Blindspot 05:30 How It’s Made 00:00 Violetta 14:30 Diners, Drive-Ins And Dives 22:00 Empire 06:00 Ice Cold Gold 00:45 The Hive 15:00 Man Fire Food 23:00 Secrets And Lies 06:50 Wheeler Dealers 00:50 Sabrina Secrets Of A 15:30 Man Fire Food 07:40 Fast N’ Loud Teenage Witch 16:00 Chopped 08:30 Auction Hunters 01:15 Sabrina Secrets Of A 17:00 The Kitchen 08:55 The Liquidator Teenage Witch 18:00 Siba’s Table 09:20 Storage Wars Canada 01:40 Wolfblood 18:30 Grandma’s Secret Cookbook 09:45 What Happened Next? 02:05 Wolfblood 19:00 Chopped 00:00 The Ellen DeGeneres Show 10:10 How It’s Made 02:30 Violetta 20:00 Guy’s Grocery Games 01:00 Good Morning America 10:35 Mythbusters 03:15 The Hive 21:00 Rev Run’s Sunday Suppers 03:00 Mistresses 11:25 The Carbonaro Effect 03:20 Sabrina Secrets Of A 21:30 Rev Run’s Sunday Suppers 04:00 Grimm 11:50 The Carbonaro Effect Teenage Witch 22:00 Siba’s Table: Fast Feasts 05:00 Good Morning America 12:15 You Have Been Warned 03:45 Sabrina Secrets Of A 22:30 Siba’s Table: Fast Feasts 07:00 Coronation Street 13:05 Auction Hunters Teenage Witch 23:00 Reza, Spice Prince Of 07:30 Coronation Street 13:30 The Liquidator 04:10 Wolfblood Thailand 08:00 The Ellen DeGeneres Show 13:55 Storage Wars Canada 04:35 Wolfblood 23:30 Reza, Spice Prince Of 09:00 Parenthood 14:20 Ice Cold Gold 05:00 Violetta Thailand 10:00 Coronation Street 15:10 Wheeler Dealers 05:45 The Hive 10:30 Coronation Street 16:00 Fast N’ Loud 05:50 Mouk 11:00 The Ellen DeGeneres Show 16:50 What Happened Next? 06:00 Lolirock 12:00 C.S.I. 17:15 How It’s Made 06:25 Hank Zipzer 13:00 Shark Tank 17:40 Predators Up Close With 06:50 Girl Meets World 14:00 Parenthood Joel Lambert 07:15 H2O: Just Add Water 15:00 Chicago Fire 00:10 Pick Me! 16:00 The Voice 18:30 Deadly Islands 07:40 H2O: Just Add Water 01:05 Emmerdale 19:20 Manhunt With Joel Lambert 08:05 Austin & Ally 18:00 Shark Tank 01:30 Coach Trip 19:00 Parenthood 20:10 The Liquidator 08:30 Austin & Ally 02:00 Coronation Street 20:35 Storage Wars Canada 08:55 Sabrina Secrets Of A 20:00 C.S.I. 02:30 Murdoch Mysteries 21:00 Shark Tank 21:00 Predators Up Close With Teenage Witch 03:25 The Syndicate Joel Lambert 09:20 Sabrina Secrets Of A 22:00 Mistresses 04:20 Safe House 23:00 Grimm 21:50 Deadly Islands Teenage Witch 05:15 The Chase 22:40 Treasure Quest: Snake 09:45 Jessie 06:10 Paddock To Plate Island 10:10 Jessie 07:05 Coach Trip 23:30 Wheeler Dealers 10:35 How To Build A Better Boy 07:30 The Syndicate 12:15 Disney Mickey Mouse 08:25 Safe House 12:20 Hank Zipzer 09:20 Murdoch Mysteries 00:00 RoboCop 12:45 I Didn’t Do It 10:15 The Chase 02:00 Berlin Job 13:10 I Didn’t Do It 11:10 Coach Trip 04:00 I, Frankenstein 13:35 Liv And Maddie 11:35 Pick Me! 06:00 Falcon Rising 00:35 Mythbusters 14:00 Liv And Maddie 12:30 Paddock To Plate 08:00 King Arthur 01:20 How It’s Made 14:30 H2O 13:25 Emmerdale 10:15 Stranded 01:44 How It’s Made 14:55 H2O 13:50 Coach Trip 12:00 I, Frankenstein 02:08 Strip The Cosmos 15:20 Jessie 14:20 Coronation Street 14:00 Justice League: Throne Of 02:55 What Could Possibly Go 15:45 Jessie 14:45 Murdoch Mysteries Atlantis Wrong? 16:10 Violetta 15:35 Pick Me! 16:00 Falcon Rising 03:42 How The Universe Works 17:00 The Next Step 16:30 Midsomer Murders 18:00 Superfast 04:29 Mythbusters 17:25 Liv And Maddie 18:20 Paddock To Plate 20:00 Stranded 05:16 Strip The Cosmos 17:50 Jessie 19:10 Coronation Street 22:00 Escape Plan 06:03 What Could Possibly Go 18:15 Austin & Ally 19:35 Pick Me! Wrong? 18:40 I Didn’t Do It 20:30 Midsomer Murders 06:50 Mega Builders 19:05 H2O 22:20 Coronation Street 07:37 How Do They Do It? 19:30 Violetta 22:50 Emmerdale 08:00 How Do They Do It? 20:20 The Next Step 23:15 Paddock To Plate 20:45 Good Luck Charlie 08:23 Mythbusters 00:00 Berlin Job-18 09:08 How The Universe Works 21:10 Good Luck Charlie 21:35 Wizards Of Waverly Place 02:00 I, Frankenstein-PG15 09:53 Mega Builders 04:00 Falcon Rising-PG15 10:38 How It’s Made 22:00 Binny And The Ghost 22:25 Sabrina Secrets Of A 06:00 King Arthur-PG15 11:00 How It’s Made 08:15 Stranded-PG15 11:23 Food Factory Teenage Witch 22:50 Sabrina Secrets Of A 00:30 Cristela 10:00 I, Frankenstein-PG15 11:45 Food Factory 12:00 Justice League: Throne Of 12:08 What Could Possibly Go Teenage Witch 01:00 The Nightly Show With Larry 23:10 Wolfblood Wilmore Atlantis-PG15 Wrong? 14:00 Falcon Rising-PG15 12:53 Mega Builders 23:35 Wolfblood 01:30 The League 02:00 The League 16:00 Superfast-PG15 13:38 Mythbusters 18:00 Stranded-PG15 14:23 How It’s Made 02:30 The Big C 03:00 Your Family Or Mine 20:00 Escape Plan-PG15 14:46 How It’s Made 22:00 Freezer-PG15 15:10 How The Universe Works 03:30 Benched 15:57 Food Factory 04:00 Men At Work 04:30 The Tonight Show Starring 16:20 Food Factory 00:00 Keeping Up With The Jimmy Fallon 16:44 What Could Possibly Go Kardashians 05:30 Young & Hungry Wrong? 00:55 The Grace Helbig Show 06:00 Til Death 17:31 Mega Builders 01:25 Keeping Up With The 06:30 New Girl 18:18 How The Universe Works Kardashians 00:00 Deliver Us From Eva 07:00 Late Night With Seth Meyers 19:05 Mythbusters 02:20 E! News 02:00 The Devil Wears Prada 08:00 Men At Work 19:50 How The Universe Works 03:15 #RichKids Of Beverly Hills 04:00 UHF SUPERFAST ON OSN MOVIES HD ACTION 08:30 Young & Hungry 20:40 What Could Possibly Go 04:10 Beyond Candid With 06:00 The Lego Movie 09:00 Your Family Or Mine 05:00 The Ghost Inside My Child Pirates Wrong? Giuliana 08:00 When In Rome 19:00 The Brass Teapot 23:30 Dixie And The Zombie 09:30 Community 06:00 The Haunting Of... 22:25 Jake And The Never Land 21:25 How It’s Made 05:05 E! Entertainment Special 10:00 UHF 21:00 Short Term 12 Rebellion 10:30 New Girl 07:00 Homicide Hunter Pirates 21:50 How It’s Made 06:00 Keeping Up With The 12:00 The Devil Wears Prada 23:00 Rush 11:00 The Tonight Show Starring 08:00 Surveillance Oz 22:55 Jake And The Never Land 22:15 How The Universe Works Kardashians 14:00 Simon Birch Jimmy Fallon 09:00 Surveillance Oz Pirates 23:00 How The Universe Works 06:55 Keeping Up With The 16:00 When In Rome 12:00 Til Death 10:00 Frenemies 23:20 Lilo And Stitch 23:45 What Could Possibly Go Kardashians 18:00 Blues Brothers 2000 12:30 Men At Work 10:30 Frenemies 23:45 Cars Toons Wrong? 07:50 Style Star 20:15 Fading Gigolo 13:00 Young & Hungry 01:00 The Liability-PG15 11:00 Crimes That Shook Britain 23:50 Zou 08:20 E! News 22:00 The Babymakers 00:00 Devil’s Knot-PG15 13:30 New Girl 03:00 Not Safe For Work-PG15 12:00 Crime Stories 00:05 Henry Hugglemonster 09:15 Giuliana & Bill 02:00 Admission-PG15 14:00 Benched 05:00 How To Train Your Dragon 2- 13:00 Homicide Hunter 00:20 Calimero 10:15 Giuliana & Bill 04:00 The Good Witch’s Wedding- 14:30 Community PG 14:00 I Survived 00:35 Zou 11:10 #RichKids Of Beverly Hills PG15 15:00 Baby Daddy 07:00 Step Up All In-PG15 15:00 Frenemies 00:50 Loopdidoo 11:35 #RichKids Of Beverly Hills 06:00 Penguins Of Madagascar- 15:30 Cristela 09:00 Red Sky-PG15 15:30 Frenemies 01:05 Art Attack 12:05 E! News PG 00:40 Who On Earth Did I Marry? 16:00 The Nightly Show With Larry 11:00 Lizzie Borden Took An Ax- 16:00 Crimes That Shook Britain 01:30 Henry Hugglemonster 13:05 WAGs 08:00 The Numbers Station-PG15 01:05 Who On Earth Did I Marry? Wilmore 01:00 Shadow Witness-PG15 PG15 17:00 Crime Stories 01:45 Calimero 14:05 New Money 10:00 Christmas With Holly ¬†- 01:30 The Haunted 16:30 Til Death 03:00 Lords Of London-PG15 13:00 Breathe In-PG15 18:00 The First 48 02:00 Zou 14:30 New Money PG15 02:20 Ghost Lab 17:00 Late Night With Seth Meyers 05:00 Middle Of Nowhere-PG15 15:00 Life Of A King-PG15 19:00 I Survived 02:15 Loopdidoo 15:00 Kourtney And Khloe Take 11:45 The SpongeBob Movie: 03:10 Scorned: Crimes Of Passion 18:00 Last Man Standing 07:00 A Valentine’s Date-PG15 17:00 Red Sky-PG15 20:00 Homicide Hunter 02:30 Art Attack The Hamptons Sponge Out Of Water-PG 04:00 Deadline: Crime With Tamron 18:30 Benched 09:00 The Truth About Emanuel- 19:00 Let’s Be Cops-PG15 21:00 Crime Stories 02:55 Henry Hugglemonster 16:00 Kourtney And Khloe Take 13:30 Billy Elliot The Musical-PG15 Hall 19:00 Community PG15 21:00 Mortdecai-PG15 22:00 Crimes That Shook Britain The Hamptons 16:15 The Numbers Station-PG15 04:45 Who On Earth Did I Marry? 19:30 Baby Daddy 11:00 Middle Of Nowhere-PG15 23:00 The Conjuring-18 23:00 50 Ways To Kill Your Lover 17:00 Fashion Bloggers 18:00 Unbroken-PG15 05:10 Who On Earth Did I Marry? 20:00 The Tonight Show Starring 13:00 Romeo & Juliet-PG15 00:00 Private Crimes 17:30 Fashion Bloggers 20:15 The Remaining-PG15 05:30 The Haunted Jimmy Fallon 15:00 Atlas Shrugged Part 2: The 00:30 Private Crimes 18:00 E! News 22:00 300: Rise Of An Empire-18 06:20 Deadly Affairs 21:00 Cristela Strike-PG15 01:00 Britain’s Darkest Taboos 19:00 House Of DVF 07:10 True Crime With Aphrodite 21:30 The Nightly Show With Larry 17:00 The Truth About Emanuel- 02:00 Britain’s Darkest Taboos 07:00 Penn Zero: Part Time Hero 20:00 Keeping Up With The 01:30 Marco Macaco Jones Wilmore PG15 07:25 Boyster Kardashians 03:00 Bolts And Blip 08:00 Dr. G: Medical Examiner 22:00 Web Therapy 19:00 Nightcrawler-PG15 07:50 Supa Strikas 21:00 Dash Dolls 04:30 Minuscule: Valley Of The 08:50 On The Case With Paula 22:30 Girls 21:15 Scenic Route-PG15 08:15 Lab Rats 22:00 E! News Lost Ants Zahn 23:00 The Big C 23:00 Only God Forgives-18 08:40 K. C. Undercover 23:00 The Soup 06:00 Pim And Pom: The Big 01:00 Live MSNBC Mtp Daily 09:10 Star vs The Forces Of Evil 09:40 Fatal Encounters 23:30 Late Night With Seth Meyers Adventure 10:30 Murder Shift 23:30 Sex With Brody 03:30 ABC World News With David 09:35 Kirby Buckets 08:00 The Heart Of The Oak 03:05 Calimero 11:20 Deadly Affairs Muir 10:00 Lab Rats 10:00 The Adventures Of Don 03:20 Zou 12:10 True Crime With Aphrodite 04:00 Live MSNBC All In With Chris 10:25 Kickin’ It Quixote 03:30 Loopdidoo Jones Hayes 10:50 Mighty Med 02:00 Se Puder... Dirija! 11:30 Kikoriki: Team Invincible 03:45 Art Attack 13:00 The Will 05:00 Live MSNBC The Rachel 11:20 Supa Strikas 03:30 We Gotta Get Out Of This 13:00 Bolts And Blip 04:10 Henry Hugglemonster 13:50 I Almost Got Away With It 00:00 Justified Maddow Show 11:45 K. C. Undercover Place 14:30 Cher Ami 04:20 Calimero 14:40 California Investigator 01:00 Marvel’s Agents Of 06:00 Live MSNBC The Last Word 12:10 Penn Zero: Part Time Hero 00:00 Diners, Drive-Ins And Dives 05:15 Sleepless In Seattle 16:00 Dixie And The Zombie 04:35 Zou 15:05 Dr. G: Medical Examiner S.H.I.E.L.D. W/ Lawrence O’Donnell 12:35 Annedroids 00:30 Diners, Drive-Ins And Dives 07:15 Lost Christmas Rebellion 04:45 Loopdidoo 15:55 Fatal Encounters 02:00 The Flash 07:30 ABC World News With David 13:00 Even Stevens The Movie 01:00 Chopped 09:00 Awakenings 18:00 The Adventures Of Don 05:00 Art Attack 16:45 On The Case With Paula 03:00 American Horror Story: Hotel Muir 14:30 Phineas And Ferb 02:00 Chopped South Africa 11:15 Se Puder... Dirija! Quixote 05:25 Henry Hugglemonster Zahn 04:00 The Fosters 08:18 ABC World News With David 14:45 Phineas And Ferb 03:00 Man Fire Food 13:00 1911 20:00 Memory Loss 05:35 Calimero 17:35 Murder Shift 05:00 The Ellen DeGeneres Show Muir 15:10 Disney Mickey Mouse 03:30 Man Fire Food 15:00 Secret Window 22:00 Cher Ami 05:50 Zou 18:25 I Almost Got Away With It 06:00 Covert Affairs 17:00 Awakenings 09:06 MSNBC The Rachel 15:15 Rocket Monkeys 04:00 Diners, Drive-Ins And Dives Maddow Show 06:00 Loopdidoo 15:40 Penn Zero: Part Time Hero 10:00 MSNBC The Last Word W/ 06:15 Art Attack 16:05 Star vs The Forces Of Evil Lawrence O’Donnell 06:35 Henry Hugglemonster 16:30 Kirby Buckets 11:00 Live ABC World News Now 06:50 Calimero 16:55 Gamers Guide To Pretty 11:30 Live ABC World News Now 07:00 Zou Much Everything 12:00 Live NBC Early Today 07:20 Loopdidoo 17:25 K. C. Undercover 12:30 Live ABC America This 07:35 Art Attack 17:50 Supa Strikas Morning 08:00 Calimero 18:15 Lab Rats 13:00 Live ABC America This 08:10 Zou 18:40 Mighty Med Morning 08:25 Loopdidoo 19:10 Annedroids 13:30 Live ABC America This 08:40 Jake And The Never Land 19:35 Kickin’ It Morning Pirates 20:00 K. C. Undercover 14:00 Live ABC America This 09:05 Sofia The First 20:25 Supa Strikas Morning 09:30 Miles From Tomorrow 20:55 Lab Rats 14:30 MSNBC First Look 10:05 Mickey Mouse Clubhouse 21:20 Gamers Guide To Pretty 15:00 Live NBC Today Show 10:35 Doc McStuffins Much Everything 19:38 MSNBC The Rachel 11:00 Sofia The First 21:45 Kickin’ It Maddow Show 11:30 Jake And The Never Land 22:10 Phineas And Ferb 20:19 MSNBC The Last Word W/ Pirates 22:40 Super Matrak Lawrence O’Donnell 12:00 Miles From Tomorrow 23:05 Super Matrak 21:00 Live MSNBC Live With 12:25 Special Agent Oso 23:30 Boyster Thomas Roberts 12:50 Handy Manny 00:00 Programmes Start At 7:00am 23:00 Live MSNBC Live With Kate 13:15 Jungle Junction KSA Snow 13:30 Mickey Mouse Clubhouse 14:00 Sofia The First 14:25 Sofia The First 14:50 Miles From Tomorrow 15:15 Jake And The Never Land Pirates 04:15 Death Rides A Horse 15:40 Jake And The Never Land 03:00 Mountain Men 06:10 Beat Street Pirates 04:00 Appalachian Outlaws 07:55 Natural Causes 16:05 The Adventures Of The 05:00 Hunting Hitler 09:25 Teen Witch Disney... 05:50 American Pickers 10:55 The Man In The Iron Mask 16:35 Miles From Tomorrow 06:45 American Restoration 13:05 Clifford 17:00 Sofia The First 07:35 Shipping Wars 14:35 Movers And Shakers 17:25 Aladdin 08:25 Big Rig Bounty Hunters 15:55 Saved! 17:50 Gummi Bears 09:15 Mountain Men 17:25 Puckoon 18:15 Chip ‘n’ Dales Rescue 10:05 Down East Dickering 18:50 The Man In The Iron Mask Rangers 11:00 American Restoration 21:00 Breaking Bad 18:40 Jake And The Never Land 12:00 Storage Wars Texas 22:00 LA Bamba Pirates 13:00 American Pickers 23:50 No Mercy 19:05 Miles From Tomorrow 14:00 Storage War 01:40 Joseph Andrews 19:30 Sofia The First 15:00 Pawn Stars 19:55 Doc McStuffins 16:00 Shipping Wars 20:15 Captain Jake And The Never 17:00 Ax Men Land Pirates 18:00 Mountain Men 20:45 Sheriff Callie’s Wild West 19:00 American Pickers 21:05 Mickey Mouse Clubhouse 20:00 Storage Wars 03:00 Crime Stories 21:35 Sofia The First 21:00 Big Rig Bounty Hunters FALCON RISING ON OSN MOVIES ACTION 04:00 Crimes That Shook Britain 22:00 Jake And The Never Land 22:00 Pawn Stars Classifieds

THURSDAY, JANUARY 7, 2016

Kuwait KNCC PROGRAMME FROM THURSDAY TO WEDNESDAY (07/01/2016 TO 13/01/2016)

SHARQIA-1 APARTMENT NO. 6 - Kuwaiti Film 1:45 PM DADDY’S HOME 12:00 PM PAPARAZZI -Arabic 3:30 PM APARTMENT NO. 6 - Kuwaiti Film 2:00 PM APARTMENT NO. 6 - Kuwaiti Film 5:45 PM DADDY’S HOME 4:00 PM PAPARAZZI -Arabic 7:30 PM DILWALE - Hindi 6:00 PM PAPARAZZI -Arabic 9:45 PM DILWALE - Hindi 9:00 PM PAPARAZZI -Arabic 12:05 AM DADDY’S HOME 12:05 AM FANAR-4 SHARQIA-2 THE REVENANT 12:15 PM THE REVENANT 12:15 PM APARTMENT NO. 6 - Kuwaiti Film 1:30 PM APARTMENT NO. 6 - Kuwaiti Film 1:30 PM THE REVENANT 3:15 PM THE REVENANT 3:15 PM THE REVENANT 6:15 PM THE REVENANT 6:15 PM THE REVENANT 9:15 PM THE REVENANT 9:15 PM THE REVENANT 12:15 AM THE REVENANT 12:15 AM FANAR-5 SHARQIA-3 DILWALE - Hindi 12:00 PM THE GOOD, THE BAD, AND THE DEAD 11:30 AM DILWALE - Hindi 3:00 PM THE GOOD, THE BAD, AND THE DEAD 1:15 PM WAZIR - Hindi 6:00 PM THE GOOD, THE BAD, AND THE DEAD 3:00 PM DILWALE - Hindi 8:30 PM THE GOOD, THE BAD, AND THE DEAD 4:45 PM DILWALE - Hindi 11:30 PM PAPARAZZI -Arabic 6:30 PM PAPARAZZI -Arabic 8:45 PM MARINA-1 THE GOOD, THE BAD, AND THE DEAD 11:00 PM THE GOOD, THE BAD, AND THE DEAD 11:45 AM THE GOOD, THE BAD, AND THE DEAD 12:45 AM THE GOOD, THE BAD, AND THE DEAD 1:30 PM THE GOOD, THE BAD, AND THE DEAD 3:15 PM MUHALAB-1 THE GOOD, THE BAD, AND THE DEAD 5:00 PM DADDY’S HOME 11:30 AM PAPARAZZI -Arabic 6:45 PM DADDY’S HOME 1:30 PM PAPARAZZI -Arabic 9:00 PM EXTRACTION 3:30 PM THE GOOD, THE BAD, AND THE DEAD 11:15 PM DADDY’S HOME 5:30 PM THE GOOD, THE BAD, AND THE DEAD 1:00 AM DILWALE - Hindi 7:30 PM DADDY’S HOME 10:30 PM MARINA-2 EXTRACTION 12:30 AM DADDY’S HOME 11:45 AM DADDY’S HOME 1:45 PM MUHALAB-2 POINT BREAK 3:45 PM THE GOOD, THE BAD, AND THE DEAD 11:45 AM DADDY’S HOME 6:15 PM THE GOOD, THE BAD, AND THE DEAD 1:30 PM EXTRACTION 8:15 PM WAZIR - Hindi 3:15 PM THE REVENANT 10:15 PM PAPARAZZI -Arabic 5:30 PM EXTRACTION 1:15 AM PAPARAZZI -Arabic 7:45 PM PAPARAZZI -Arabic 10:00 PM MARINA-3 THE GOOD, THE BAD, AND THE DEAD 12:15 AM THE REVENANT 12:30 PM THE GOOD DINOSAUR 1:30 PM MUHALAB-3 THE GOOD DINOSAUR 3:30 PM THE REVENANT 11:30 AM THE REVENANT 5:45 PM ACCOMMODATION CHANGE OF NAME THE REVENANT 2:30 PM THE REVENANT 8:45 PM THE REVENANT 5:30 PM THE REVENANT 11:45 PM Accommodation available I, Gunasekaran R (Hindu), THE REVENANT 8:30 PM for bachelor (partition) in a THE REVENANT 11:30 PM AVENUES-1 S/o Ramalingam, DOB GET SQUIRRELY 12:30 PM room in Salmiya. Call: 02.06.1974. Passport No: FANAR-1 GET SQUIRRELY 2:45 PM 66711141. (C 5110) F5807434, residing at No. DADDY’S HOME 11:30 AM GET SQUIRRELY 5:00 PM 28, Pillaiyar Koil Street, DADDY’S HOME 1:30 PM APARTMENT NO. 6 - Kuwaiti Film 7:15 PM Sharing accommodation in SiruPuliyur THE PEANUTS MOVIE 3:30 PM APARTMENT NO. 6 - Kuwaiti Film 9:15 PM a 2 bedroom C/AC flat 1 Eswarakandanallur, DADDY’S HOME 5:30 PM APARTMENT NO. 6 - Kuwaiti Film 11:15 PM room separate bathroom, Villupuram, 607204 has FATHERS AND DAUGHTERS 7:30 PM APARTMENT NO. 6 - Kuwaiti Film 1:15 AM new finger office DADDY’S HOME 9:45 PM converted to Islam with the THE REVENANT 11:45 PM AVENUES-2 Farwaniya, (family only) from Jan 30. Phone: name of R. Nazir on 30th EXTRACTION 1:00 PM November 2015. (C 5108) FANAR-2 EXTRACTION 3:15 PM 99482666. (C 5109) THE GOOD, THE BAD, AND THE DEAD 12:30 PM EXTRACTION 5:30 PM 6-1-2016 6-1-2015 PRAYER TIMINGS THE GOOD, THE BAD, AND THE DEAD 2:30 PM CHARLIE- Malayalam 7:45 PM Fajr: 05:19 THE GOOD, THE BAD, AND THE DEAD 4:30 PM EXTRACTION 10:30 PM Sharing accommodation EXTRACTION 6:30 PM EXTRACTION 12:45 AM available for a bachelor Shorook 06:43 THE GOOD, THE BAD, AND THE DEAD 8:30 PM EXTRACTION 10:30 PM AVENUES-3 with a Mangalorean Duhr: 11:54 THE GOOD, THE BAD, AND THE DEAD 12:30 AM DILWALE - Hindi 11:30 AM Catholic bachelor near Asr: 14:46 DILWALE - Hindi 2:30 PM Khaitan cinema Garnatha FANAR-3 DILWALE - Hindi 5:45 PM bus stop. Contact: Maghrib: 17:05 APARTMENT NO. 6 - Kuwaiti Film 11:45 AM DILWALE - Hindi 9:00 PM 66036893. (C 5107) 112 Isha: 18:27 5-1-2016

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

Arrival Flights on Thursday 7/1/2016 SVA 500 Jeddah 14:30 Departure Flights on Thursday 7/1/2016 KAC 785 Jeddah 13:00 Airlines Flt Route Time KAC 284 Dhaka 14:45 Airlines Flt Route Time FDB 076 Dubai 13:10 MSC 415 Sohag 00:05 KAC 672 Dubai 14:45 AIC 976 Goa/Chennai 00:05 MSC 402 Alexandria 13:30 KLM 411 Amsterdam/Dammam 00:20 KAC 788 Jeddah 14:50 JZR 528 Asyut 00:05 KAC 537 Sohag 13:35 JZR 267 Beirut 00:30 GFA 221 Bahrain 15:00 BBC 044 Dhaka 00:10 JZR 176 Dubai 13:45 JZR 539 Cairo 00:40 KNE 472 Jeddah 15:05 PIA 216 KHI 00:40 JZR 786 Riyadh 13:45 AGY 782 Alexandria 00:45 NIA 251 Alexandria 15:30 FDB 072 Dubai 00:40 MSR 611 Cairo 14:00 FDB 069 Dubai 00:55 OMA 645 Muscat 15:30 MSC 404 Asyut 00:55 UAE 872 Dubai 14:15 RJA 642 Amman 01:05 KAC 562 Amman 15:40 JAI 573 Mumbai 00:55 THY 767 Istanbul 14:45 THY 772 Istanbul 01:05 ABY 127 Sharjah 15:45 MSC 416 Sohag 01:00 KNE 481 Taif 14:50 SAI 441 Lahore 01:30 UAE 857 Dubai 15:45 KLM 411 Amsterdam 01:35 KAC 673 Dubai 15:00 RBG 555 Alexandria 01:35 JAD 301 Amman 15:55 AGY 783 Sohag 01:45 QTR 1079 Doha 15:10 DLH 635 Doha 01:35 QTR 1072 Doha 16:10 KAC 283 Dhaka 02:10 FDB 058 Dubai 15:10 ETH 620 Addis Ababa 01:45 JZR 535 Cairo 16:10 RBG 556 Alexandria 02:15 AXB 394 Kozhikode 15:20 PGT 858 Istanbul 02:00 JZR 779 Jeddah 16:10 THY 773 Istanbul 02:30 JZR 188 Dubai 15:40 UAE 853 Dubai 02:30 FDB 051 Dubai 16:30 SAI 442 Lahore 02:30 GFA 222 Bahrain 15:45 GFA 211 Bahrain 02:30 JZR 257 Beirut 16:30 DLH 635 Frankfurt 02:35 KAC 617 Doha 15:45 OMA 643 Muscat 02:55 KNE 474 Jeddah 16:35 ETH 621 Addis Ababa 02:45 KAC 741 Dammam 15:50 PGT 5620 Istanbul 03:05 ETD 303 Abu Dhabi 16:40 KAC 203 Lahore 03:05 KAC 773 Riyadh 15:50 FDB 067 Dubai 03:05 RJA 640 Amman 16:55 KAC 381 Delhi 03:30 KAC 613 Bahrain 15:50 MSR 612 Cairo 03:10 KAC 542 Cairo 16:55 UAE 854 Dubai 03:45 SVA 505 Jeddah 16:00 QTR 1076 Doha 03:15 JZR 787 Riyadh 17:00 PGT 859 Istanbul 03:55 KNE 473 Jeddah 16:05 KKK 6507 Istanbul 03:20 SVA 510 Riyadh 17:15 OMA 644 Muscat 03:55 ABY 128 Sharjah 16:25 ETD 305 Abu Dhabi 03:25 GFA 215 Bahrain 17:30 FDB 068 Dubai 04:00 OMA 646 Muscat 16:30 LMU 510 Cairo 04:05 MSR 614 Cairo 17:50 MSR 613 Cairo 04:10 NIA 252 Alexandria 16:30 JZR 503 Luxor 04:25 KAC 678 Muscat/Abu Dhabi 17:50 ETD 306 Abu Dhabi 04:15 JAD 302 Amman 16:40 QTR 8511 Doha 04:40 KAC 118 New York 17:55 KKK 6508 Istanbul 04:20 KAC 563 Amman 16:45 DHX 170 Bahrain 05:40 JZR 777 Jeddah 17:55 PGT 5621 Istanbul 04:25 JZR 266 Beirut 17:05 THY 770 Istanbul 05:55 UAE 875 Dubai 18:00 QTR 1077 Doha 05:00 KNE 475 Jeddah 17:25 FDB 5061 Dubai 06:30 KAC 502 Beirut 18:00 LMU 511 Cairo 05:05 ETD 304 Abu Dhabi 17:30 BAW 157 London 06:40 FDB 063 Dubai 18:05 THY 765 Istanbul 05:15 FDB 052 Dubai 17:35 JZR 529 Asyut 06:50 UAL 982 IAD 18:15 QTR 8512 Doha 06:10 QTR 1073 Doha 17:40 KAC 412 Manila/Bangkok 07:20 JZR 177 Dubai 18:20 JZR 560 Sohag 06:10 UAE 858 Dubai 17:45 QTR 1086 Doha 07:40 KAC 786 Jeddah 18:30 FDB 070 Dubai 06:30 JZR 538 Cairo 17:45 FDB 053 Dubai 07:45 ABY 123 Sharjah 18:45 JZR 164 Dubai 06:55 RJA 641 Amman 17:55 KAC 302 Mumbai 07:50 KAC 742 Dammam 18:55 RJA 643 Amman 07:05 SVA 511 Riyadh 18:15 SVA 512 Riyadh 07:50 QTR 1080 Doha 18:55 THY 771 Istanbul 07:05 GFA 216 Bahrain 18:20 KAC 206 Islamabad 08:25 KAC 614 Bahrain 19:10 FDB 5062 Dubai 07:10 JZR 184 Dubai 18:40 KAC 346 Ahmedabad 08:30 KAC 774 Riyadh 19:25 GFA 212 Bahrain 07:15 JZR 238 Amman 18:50 KAC 344 Chennai 08:30 GFA 217 Bahrain 19:30 JZR 240 Amman 07:15 MSR 615 Cairo 18:50 KAC 352 Kochi 08:30 KAC 618 Doha 19:35 FDB 054 Dubai 08:30 JZR 554 Alexandria 19:10 UAE 855 Dubai 08:40 KAC 104 London 19:40 QTR 1087 Doha 08:40 JZR 124 Bahrain 19:10 KAC 362 Colombo 08:50 KAC 674 Dubai 19:45 BAW 156 London 08:45 FDB 064 Dubai 19:20 KAC 332 Trivandrum 08:50 KAC 154 Istanbul 19:45 SVA 513 Riyadh 08:50 ABY 124 Sharjah 19:25 IRA 667 Esfahan 09:00 KAC 176 Geneva/Frankfurt 19:55 JZR 256 Beirut 09:05 UAE 876 Dubai 19:30 ABY 125 Sharjah 09:00 MSR 618 Alexandria 20:05 JZR 534 Cairo 09:15 UAL 982 Bahrain 19:30 ETD 301 Abu Dhabi 09:20 KAC 538 Sohag 20:05 KAC 787 Jeddah 09:25 GFA 218 Bahrain 20:15 QTR 1070 Doha 09:25 KNE 480 Taif 20:10 ABY 126 Sharjah 09:40 KAC 353 BLR 20:40 FDB 055 Dubai 09:40 JZR 189 Dubai 20:15 UAE 856 Dubai 09:55 KAC 351 Kochi 20:50 OMA 641 Muscat 10:05 FDB 061 Dubai 20:20 KAC 101 London/New York 09:55 QTR 1081 Doha 20:50 IRM 1180 Mashhad 10:10 OMA 647 Muscat 20:20 KAC 541 Cairo 09:55 KAC 543 Cairo 20:55 IRA 673 Ahwaz 10:10 ABY 121 Sharjah 20:35 IRA 668 Mashhad 10:00 KAC 343 Chennai 21:00 GFA 213 Bahrain 10:40 FDB 5053 Dubai 20:50 KAC 561 Amman 10:00 MSR 619 Alexandria 21:05 SYR 341 Damascus 10:55 DLH 634 Frankfurt 20:55 KAC 671 Dubai 10:05 KNE 461 Riyadh 21:10 UAE 873 Dubai 11:05 JAI 572 Mumbai 20:55 ETD 302 Abu Dhabi 10:25 ABY 122 Sharjah 21:15 RBG 553 Alexandria 11:15 MEA 402 Beirut 21:20 JZR 778 Jeddah 10:30 OMA 648 Muscat 21:20 JZR 165 Dubai 11:30 ETD 307 Abu Dhabi 21:20 KAC 501 Beirut 10:30 FDB 062 Dubai 21:20 AGY 682 Asyut 11:40 ALK 229 Colombo 21:25 FDB 056 Dubai 10:35 DLH 634 Doha 21:45 NIA 151 Cairo 11:55 UAE 859 Dubai 21:40 KAC 153 Istanbul 10:40 FDB 5054 Dubai 21:50 MEA 404 Beirut 11:55 GFA 219 Bahrain 21:45 KAC 677 Abu Dhabi/Muscat 10:50 DHX 171 Bahrain 21:50 JZR 125 Bahrain 21:55 JAI 571 Mumbai 21:55 KAC 204 Lahore 12:20 QTR 1082 Doha 22:00 QTR 1071 Doha 11:00 FDB 075 Dubai 12:25 KAC 165 Rome/Paris 11:00 KAC 301 Mumbai 22:10 KLM 417 Amsterdam 22:05 ETD 308 Abu Dhabi 22:10 MSC 401 Alexandria 12:30 AIC 981 Chennai/Ahmedabad 22:25 OMA 642 Muscat 11:05 JZR 561 Sohag 12:45 ETD 309 Abu Dhabi 22:25 IRA 672 Ahwaz 11:10 MEA 403 Beirut 22:20 JZR 241 Amman 12:50 KAC 564 Amman 22:25 IRM 1181 Mashhad 11:25 ALK 230 Colombo 22:25 UAE 871 Dubai 12:50 FDB 059 Dubai 22:30 GFA 214 Bahrain 11:25 GFA 220 Bahrain 22:30 MSR 610 Cairo 13:00 JZR 185 Dubai 23:15 SYR 342 Damascus 11:55 UAE 860 Dubai 22:55 THY 5866 Istanbul 13:45 UAL 981 Bahrain 23:25 RBG 554 Alexandria 12:00 QTR 1083 Doha 23:05 KAC 382 Delhi 13:50 PIA 205 Lahore 23:40 JZR 776 Jeddah 12:20 KLM 417 Dammam/Amsterdam 23:05 KNE 460 Riyadh 13:50 FDB 071 Dubai 23:45 UAE 874 Dubai 12:30 KAC 205 Islamabad 23:10 FDB 057 Dubai 14:10 THY 764 Istanbul 23:50 AGY 683 Alexandria 12:40 ETD 310 Abu Dhabi 23:15 QTR 1078 Doha 14:10 JAI 574 Mumbai 23:55 MEA 405 Beirut 12:55 KAC 411 Bangkok/Manila 23:35 AXB 393 Kozhikode 14:20 MSC 403 Asyut 23:55 NIA 152 Cairo 12:55 FDB 060 Dubai 23:35 DIAL161 FOR AIRPORT INFORMATION stars34 THURSDAY, JANUARY 7, 2016

CROSSWORD 1130 STAR TRACK

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

Today marks the advent of a good time as far as career and social life are Today and tomorrow present opportunities to make extra money. This sec- concerned. A time of dues paying is over; real accomplishment is now possi- ond job may eventually become your priority job. A conventional economic approach is ble. You present your ideas and show off your ability to express them to others. the best way to start your family’s income plan. You are motivated to use your creative Information gained from one person and transferred to another person can be miscon- mind today as you hear comments and are caught up in the passion of inventions, tech- strued. Refer others to the source of your information. This afternoon you may want to talk nology and creative expression as well. You may feel a sense of urgency in some of the budget with a loved one. There will be an acceptable plan for future enjoyment. This could projects that are presented to you. This afternoon you confirm appointments and sched- mean the purchase of a home, a vacation or future education for a young person. ule your time for the next few days. You may find that your job, or the motivation it cre- Consider a vacation where you can trade places with some friends or family that may be ates, is more enjoyable than usual. Conversations with siblings could be confusing this living outside of your state. Good manner and clear communications make this a winner. evening. You might enjoy playing word games tonight.

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

You feel a love of order and law-an appreciation for responsibilities and This is one of your better days for money. You are able to find successful duty. Problems and obstacles that have previously been confusing, should find easy expla- ways to increase your income. Stay on the job and do not plan any trips, if possible, until nation under your keen examination. Today is as if you have overcome some invisible later this month. As you introduce ideas of moneymaking to others, you will benefit as obstacle and this is making you feel very powerful. You are very motivated to improve all well. This could be through advising others toward their professional goals, investments, areas of your life. You may be sitting with an elderly person this afternoon and find he or real estate, etc. If you are in real estate or if you want to sell your home, or perhaps a car, she lights up with interest when asked about some event of the past. This person will be you will find a nibble becomes a commitment. Balance your social and business affairs so pleased that you took the time to listen to what he or she has to say. This interest usually that your energies are not depleted. Neighbors or siblings have a big impact on your goals promotes a feeling that a person matters, which is a good thing. This communication may and make a big impression. If work has not been too exhausting today, this evening could give you ideas for further plans to help with retired individuals. be a wonderful time to interact with friends.

Gemini (May 21-June 20) Sagittarius (November 22-December 21)

You will be working on ways to improve your professional skills now. Pay You have your own philosophy and may see the world through multicol- attention to the details-you will be glad you did. Acting on impulse or instinct can lead to ored glasses. As a young person, you seemed to be empathetic of others false starts-so count to ten before starting anything important. This is a time when you can and their emotional suffering. As an adult, you are extremely tolerant of humanity. You are put your businesslike ideas into words and convey them to others. Authority figures are optimistic and attract the love of audiences or groups of people. This may be a time when ACROSS DOWN paying attention to your communication skills. The way you handle yourself when some- you find yourself creative in the arts. You are magnetic as your positive attitude captures 1. An independent ruler or chieftain (especial- 1. Any plant of the genus Erica. one needs advice is very important just now. The pursuit of success takes on a high priori- the imagination. You have ideas that benefit humanitarian or charitable interests and counseling may occupy some of your time. You must be free to travel to places where you ly in Africa or Arabia). 2. A woman of refinement. ty. This is a successful day, with the realization that you have accomplished much, at work 5. Any of various evergreen plants of the and in your life progress. There is a dreamy manner about you tonight and the young peo- are needed, as you enjoy being needed. Medicine, welfare work and the arts are only a genus Pavonia having white or yellow or 3. A river in southeastern France. ple in your home will enjoy your stories. few of the areas that attract you. purple flowers. 4. Undergo resorption. 12. Inquire about. 5. A tricycle (usually propelled by pedalling). 15. Tear down so as to make flat with the 6. A genus of tropical American plants have Cancer (June 21-July 22) ground. sword-shaped leaves and a fleshy com- Capricorn (December 22-January 19) 16. Line of descent traced through the mater- pound fruits composed of the fruits of Ambition, practicality and achievement are admirable, but they are means nal side of the family. There is a drive for disciplined work today. It may be a bit difficult to concen- 17. A health resort near a spring or at the sea- several flowers (such as pineapples). to an end-not ends in themselves. Enjoy and appreciate the experiences that come your way. Many times you will find that just when you think you are right where you want to be, trate from time to time, considering the celebrations that you know will come later this side. 7. In a vacant manner. evening. This could be a challenging day but you are motivated. You will want to give all you will see new challenges to budge you into another direction. Others value your deci- 18. In the Roman calendar. your attention over to whatever you are involved with just now. If you find yourself 8. (of securities) Not quoted on a stock sion-making abilities and you will know how to proceed in matters concerning the public. 19. The capital and largest city of Bangladesh. exchange. becoming distracted, take a little break . . . Walk a little for the exercise. New opportunities Support and harmony are yours without asking. Any hot spots can be worked through by are on the horizon. Check out all ideas before you act and do not let the obvious opportu- 20. (Akkadian) Mother and earth goddess in thinking before you act-patience will expel any arguments. You may want to check out the Gilgamish epic. 9. A B vitamin essential for the normal func- nities pass you by without your investigation. Efficiency at work will finally end with an tion of the nervous system and the gas- study of herbs-you have a natural tendency toward the medicinal and aromatic type of evening of play. You may think about the future and find that a friend will offer some wise 22. The area of the states of North Carolina plants. The psychic realm is fascinating to you. and South Carolina. trointestinal tract. advice. Enjoy your evening. 24. Being ten more than one hundred ninety. 10. (Greek mythology) A maiden seduced by 26. An elaborate song for solo voice. Zeus. 27. Of or relating to the United States of Leo (July 23-August 22) Aquarius (January 20- February 18) America or its people or language or cul- 11. (Irish) Mother of the ancient Irish gods. ture. 12. Earlier a god. You have a flair for presenting yourself in a positive and well-groomed manner-regardless of the stress you may be feeling at times. This first impression will serve There is much to be said about competition; however, in the place of busi- 28. The god who fathered the islands and 13. Small branch or division of a branch. ness it may be better to compete with your own record than that of others. Unless a fair you well in your communications with others. If you are feeling nervous and not quite up gods of Japan with his sister Izanami. 14. An island of Hawaii northwest of Oahu. game has been indicated . . . Set your own pace. This could be a challenging day-keep the to a particular task-practice some of the breathing techniques that the yogi masters teach. 30. A living organism characterized by volun- 21. A cyst on the underside of the tongue. challenges on a level that is manageable. You can set an example for others to follow tary movement. If you do not know the techniques, you might consider taking a class or buying a book on 23. A statement that deviates from or perverts when you turn difficult situations into solutions that you or others can handle. This may 31. (Babylonian) God of wisdom and agricul- the subject. This afternoon you are close to making a discovery that will help you to save mean you work with the public. A good conversation with those you love is possible this ture and patron of scribes and schools. the truth. your company many problems or financial responsibilities-keep your focus. You will be evening. You may have missed being outside lately but if weather permits, you and your 32. The month following March and preceding 25. A male monarch or emperor (especially of pleased by the results that your efforts bring forth. Working with your favorite hobby this family might bundle up and go on a discovery walk early in the evening. There could be evening will help you relax. May. Russia prior to 1917). some good surprises right around the block! 35. A chronic inflammatory collagen disease 29. A port city in southwestern Iran. affecting connective tissue (skin or joints). 33. Walk heavily and firmly, as when weary, or 36. English courtier (a favorite of Elizabeth I) Virgo (August 23-September 22) who tried to colonize Virginia. through mud. Pisces (February 19-March 20) 40. Fleshy spore-bearing inner mass of e.g. a 34. A network of intersecting blood vessels or You and your co-worker friends may seek answers to some long-unan- The workday is full of surprises and demands for quick decisions to be puffball or stinkhorn. intersecting nerves or intersecting lymph swered questions. Finding the answer to some of your questions will have you wondering made. You do well in processing the information you get. Don’t be afraid to 45. Indigo bush. vessels. where the time went. You meet your obligations automatically and display your flexible ask questions-someone may be holding back information. You may have to do some 46. A building having a circular plan and a way of working your magic. You leave positive impressions with people. Your superiors are reassessing and reevaluating with regard to priorities. Be careful not to overdo or over- dome. 37. Advanced in years. very happy with your work and your co-workers appreciate working with you. Your mon- 38. Wheelwork consisting of a connected set work today and think about creating an opportunity to exercise. Others value you for your 50. Common black-and-gray Eurasian bird ey problems could find some relief today. Dive into some form of art expression this after- ability to make practical decisions concerning group issues. You could be solving some noted for thievery. of rotating gears by which force is trans- noon-you will find this a great stress valve. The more you enjoy your creative side the public-relations problems this afternoon. You have a natural sense of what the public 51. Type genus of the Adelgidae. mitted or motion or torque is changed. more you will come to know your spiritual side. This evening is a great time to just sit back wants at this time. Clear decisions affecting others could be made. You can create a peace and enjoy what you have. Romance is possible. 52. A medieval country in northern Europe 39. The hole that an anchor rope passes of mind this evening and enjoy the company of a loved one as well. that included regions now parts of north- ern France and Belgium and southwest- through. ern Netherlands. 41. Having a bulb. Word Search Yesterday Solution 54. annoy continually or chronically. 42. Marked by extreme anger. 56. An associate degree in nursing. 43. A city in northwestern Switzerland. 57. Any of several related languages of the 44. Large genus of African trees bearing kola Celts in Ireland and Scotland. nuts. 58. A swelling that is the characteristic lesion of tuberculosis. 47. Give a description of. 61. An official language of the Republic of 48. A radioactive transuranic element. South Africa. 49. Having the slant of a bevel. 63. Someone who races the luge. 53. The event of dying or departure from life. 64. An independent agency of the United 55. A technician who is highly proficient and States government responsible for col- lecting and coordinating intelligence and enthusiastic about some technical field counterintelligence activities abroad in (especially computing). the national interest. 59. Relating to or near the ulna. 66. Asian rat snakes. 60. A game in which numbered balls are 69. A hotel providing overnight lodging for drawn and random and players cover the travelers. 70. A piece of dishware normally used as a corresponding numbers on their cards. container for holding or serving food. 62. Strike with disgust or revulsion. 72. The 11th letter of the Hebrew alphabet. 65. A Loloish language. 74. (astronomy) The angular distance of a 67. According to the Old Testament he was a celestial point measured westward along pagan king of Israel and husband of the celestial equator from the zenith crossing. Jezebel (9th century BC). 75. Kamarupan languages spoken in north- 68. A island in the Netherlands Antilles that is eastern India and western Burma. the top of an extinct volcano. 77. Small genus of western African evergreen 71. Marked by skill in deception. trees and shrubs bearing fleshy capsular 73. Aromatic bulb used as seasoning. three-seeded fruits edible when neither unripe nor overripe. 76. A very poisonous metallic element that 80. (Greek mythology) God of love. has three allotropic forms. 81. The ball-shaped capsule containing the 78. A unit of magnetomotive force equal to vertebrate eye. 0.7958 ampere-turns. 82. A loose sleeveless outer garment made 79. A white metallic element that burns with a from aba cloth. brilliant light. Yesterday’s Solution

Daily SuDoku Yesterday’s Solution THURSDAY, JANUARY 7, 2016 information

For labor-related inquiries and complaints: INTERNATIONAL CALLS Call MSAL hotline 128

Afghanistan 0093 Luxembourg 00352 GOVERNORATE PHARMACY ADDRESS PHONE Albania 00355 Lesotho 00266 Algeria 00213 Macau 00853 Ahmadi Sama Safwan Fahaeel Makka St 23915883 Andorra 00376 Macedonia 00389 Sabah Hospital 24812000 Abu Halaifa Abu Halaifa-Coastal Rd 23715414 Angola 00244 Madagascar 00261 Amiri Hospital 22450005 Danat Al-Sultan Mahboula Block 1, Coastal Rd 23726558 Anguilla 001264 Majorca 0034 Maternity Hospital 24843100 Jahra Modern Jahra Jahra-Block 3 Lot 1 24575518 Antiga 001268 Malawi 00265 Madina Munawara Jahra-Block 92 24566622 Argentina 0054 Malaysia 0060 Mubarak Al-Kabir Hospital 25312700 Capital Ahlam Fahad Al-Salem St 22436184 Armenia 00374 Maldives 00960 Chest Hospital 24849400 Khaldiya Coop Khaldiya Coop 24833967 Australia 0061 Mali 00223 Austria 0043 Malta 00356 Farwaniya Hospital 24892010 Farwaniya New Shifa Farwaniya Block 40 24734000 Ferdous Coop Ferdous Coop 24881201 Bahamas 001242 Marshall Islands 00692 Adan Hospital 23940620 Modern Safwan Old Kheitan Block 11 24726638 Bahrain 00973 Martinique 00596 Ibn Sina Hospital 24840300 Bangladesh 00880 Mauritania 00222 Hawally Tariq Salmiya-Hamad Mubarak St 25726265 Barbados 001246 Mauritius 00230 Al-Razi Hospital 24846000 Hana Salmiya-Amman St 25647075 Ikhlas Hawally-Beirut St 22625999 Belarus 00375 Mayotte 00269 Physiotherapy Hospital 24874330/9 Hawally & Rawdha Hawally & Rawdha Coop 22564549 Belgium 0032 Mexico 0052 Ghadeer Jabriya-Block 1A 25340559 Belize 00501 Micronesia 00691 Kindy Jabriya-Block 3B 25326554 Benin 00229 Moldova 00373 Ibn Al-Nafis Salmiya-Hamad Mubarak St 25721264 Mishrif Coop Mishrif Coop 25380581 Bermuda 001441 Monaco 00377 Kaizen center 25716707 Salwa Coop Salwa Coop 25628241 Bhutan 00975 Mongolia 00976 Rawda 22517733 Bolivia 00591 Montserrat 001664 Bosnia 00387 Morocco 00212 Adaliya 22517144 Botswana 00267 Mozambique 00258 Khaldiya 24848075 Brazil 0055 Myanmar (Burma) 0095 Brunei 00673 Namibia 00264 Kaifan 24849807 Bulgaria 00359 Nepal 00977 Shamiya 24848913 Burkina 00226 Netherlands 0031 Burundi 00257 Netherlands Antilles 00599 Shuwaikh 24814507 Cambodia 00855 New Caledonia 00687 Abdullah Salem 22549134 Cameroon 00237 New Zealand 0064 Canada 001 Nicaragua 00505 Nuzha 22526804 Cape Verde 00238 Nigar 00227 Industrial Shuwaikh 24814764 Cayman Islands 001345 Nigeria 00234 Central African 00236 Niue 00683 Qadsiya 22515088 Chad 00235 Norfolk Island 00672 Dasmah 22532265 Chile 0056 N. Ireland (UK) 0044 Bneid Al-Gar 22531908 China 0086 North Korea 00850 Colombia 0057 Norway 0047 Shaab 22518752 Comoros 00269 Oman 00968 Qibla 22459381 Congo 00242 Pakistan 0092 Cook Islands 00682 Palau 00680 Ayoun Al-Qibla 22451082 Costa Rica 00506 Panama 00507 Mirqab 22456536 Croatia 00385 Papua New Guinea 00675 Cuba 0053 Paraguay 00595 Sharq 22465401 Cyprus 00357 Peru 0051 Salmiya 25746401 Cyprus (Northern) 0090392 Philippines 0063 Czech Republic 00420 Poland 0048 Jabriya 25316254 Denmark 0045 Portugal 00351 Maidan Hawally 25623444 Diego Garcia 00246 Puerto Rico 001787 Djibouti 00253 Qatar 00974 Bayan 25388462 Dominica 001767 Romania 0040 Mishref 25381200 Dominican Republic 001809 Russian Federation 007 W Hawally 22630786 Ecuador 00593 Rwanda 00250 Egypt 0020 Saint Helena 00290 Sabah 24810221 El Salvador 00503 Saint Kitts 001869 Jahra 24770319 England (UK) 0044 Saint Lucia 001758 Equatorial Guinea 00240 Saint Pierre 00508 New Jahra 24575755 Eritrea 00291 Saint Vincent 001784 West Jahra 24772608 Estonia 00372 Samoa US 00684 Ethiopia 00251 Samoa West 00685 South Jahra 24775066 Falkland Islands 00500 San Marino 00378 North Jahra 24775992 Faroe Islands 00298 Sao Tone 00239 Fiji 00679 Saudi Arabia 00966 North Jleeb 24311795 Finland 00358 Scotland (UK) 0044 Ardhiya 24884079 France 0033 Senegal 00221 Firdous 24892674 French Guiana 00594 Seychelles 00284 French Polynesia 00689 Sierra Leone 00232 Omariya 24719048 Gabon 00241 Singapore 0065 N Khaitan 24710044 Gambia 00220 Slovakia 00421 Georgia 00995 Slovenia 00386 Fintas 23900322 Germany 0049 Solomon Islands 00677 Ghana 00233 Somalia 00252 Gibraltar 00350 South Africa 0027 Greece 0030 South Korea 0082 Greenland 00299 Spain 0034 PRIVATE CLINICS Grenada 001473 Sri Lanka 0094 Guadeloupe 00590 Sudan 00249 Guam 001671 Suriname 00597 Guatemala 00502 Swaziland 00268 Ophthalmologists Plastic Surgeons Paediatricians Endocrinologist Guinea 00224 Sweden 0046 Dr. Abidallah Al-Mansoor 25622444 Dr. Mohammad Al-Khalaf 22547272 Dr. Khaled Hamadi 25665898 Guyana 00592 Switzerland 0041 Dr. Abd Al-Naser Al-Othman 25339330 Dr. Samy Al-Rabeea 25752222 Dr. Abdal-Redha Lari 22617700 Dr. Abd Al-Aziz Al-Rashed 25340300 Haiti 00509 Syria 00963 Dr. Masoma Habeeb 25321171 Dr. Abdel Quttainah 25625030/60 Dr. Zahra Qabazard 25710444 Dr. Ahmad Al-Ansari 25658888 Holland (Netherlands) 0031 Serbia 00381 Dr. Mubarak Al-Ajmy 25739999 Family Doctor Dr. Sohail Qamar 22621099 Honduras 00504 Taiwan 00886 Dr. Mohsen Abel 25757700 Dr. Kamal Al-Shomr 25329924 Dr Divya Damodar 23729596/23729581 Dr. Snaa Maaroof 25713514 Hong Kong 00852 Tanzania 00255 Dr Adnan Hasan Alwayl 25732223 Physiotherapists & VD Hungary 0036 Thailand 0066 Psychiatrists Dr. Pradip Gujare 23713100 Dr. Abdallah Al-Baghly 25732223 Dr. Zacharias Mathew 24334282 Dr. Deyaa Shehab 25722291 Ibiza (Spain) 0034 Toga 00228 Ear, Nose & Throat (ENT) Dr. Esam Al-Ansari 22635047 Iceland 00354 Tonga 00676 Dr. Ahmed Fouad Mouner 24555050 Ext 510 Dr Eisa M. Al-Balhan 22613623/0 Dermatology Dr. Musaed Faraj Khamees 22666288 India 0091 Tokelau 00690 Dr. Abdallah Al-Ali 25644660 Gynaecologists & Obstetricians Dr. Mohammed Salam Rheumatologists: Indian Ocean 00873 Trinidad 001868 Dr. Abd Al-Hameed Al-Taweel 25646478 DrAdrian arbe 23729596/23729581 Bern University 23845955 Indonesia 0062 Tunisia 00216 Dr. Sanad Al-Fathalah 25311996 Dr. Verginia s.Marin 2572-6666 ext 8321 Dentists Dr. Adel Al-Awadi 25330060 Dr. Mohammad Al-Daaory 25731988 Iran 0098 Turkey 0090 Dr. Fozeya Ali Al-Qatan 22655539 Dr Anil Thomas 3729596/3729581 Dr. Ismail Al-Fodary 22620166 Dr. Khaled Al-Jarallah 25722290 Iraq 00964 Tuvalu 00688 Dr. Majeda Khalefa Aliytami 25343406 Dr. Shamah Al-Matar 22641071/2 Dr. Mahmoud Al-Booz 25651426 Ireland 00353 Uganda 00256 Dr. Ahmad Al-Khooly 25739272 Dr. Anesah Al-Rasheed 22562226 Internist, Chest & Heart General Practitioners Italy 0039 Ukraine 00380 Dr. Abidallah Al-Amer 22561444 Dr. Mohamme Y Majidi 24555050 Ext 123 Dr. Salem soso 22618787 DR.Mohammes Akkad 24555050 Ext 210 Ivory Coast 00225 United Arab Emirates 00976 Dr. Faysal Al-Fozan 22619557 General Surgeons Dr. Yousef Al-Omar 24719312 Dr. Mohammad Zubaid Jamaica 001876 United Kingdom 0044 Dr. Abdallateef Al-Katrash 22525888 Dr. Tarek Al-Mikhazeem 23926920 Dr. Amer Zawaz Al-Amer 22610044 MB, ChB, FRCPC, PACC Japan 0081 Uruguay 00598 Dr. Abidallah Al-Duweisan 25653755 Dr. Kathem Maarafi 25730465 Dr. Mohammad Yousef Basher 25327148 Assistant Professor Of Medicine Jordan 00962 USA 001 Dr. Abdallah Ahmad Eyadah 25655528 Dr. Bader Al-Ansari 25620111 Internists, Chest & Heart Head, Division of Cardiology Kazakhstan 007 Uzbekistan 00998 Dr. Nabeel Al-Ayoobi 24577781 Neurologists Mubarak Al-Kabeer Hospital 25339667 Dr. Adnan Ebil 22639939 Kenya 00254 Vanuatu 00678 Dr. Dina Abidallah Al-Refae 25333501 Dr. Sohal Najem Al-Shemeri 25633324 Dr. Mousa Khadada 22666300 Consultant Cardiologist Kiribati 00686 Venezuela 00582 Urologists Dr. Jasem Mola Hassan 25345875 Dr. Latefa Al-Duweisan 25728004 Dr. Farida Al-Habib 2611555-2622555 Kuwait 00965 Vietnam 0084 Dr. Ali Naser Al-Serfy 22641534 Gastrologists MD, PH.D, FACC Dr. Fawzi Taher Abul 22639955 Dr. Nadem Al-Ghabra 25355515 Kyrgyzstan 00996 Virgin Islands UK 001284 Dr. Sami Aman 22636464 Inaya German Medical Center Dr. Khaleel Abidallah Al-Awadi 22616660 Dr. Mobarak Aldoub 24726446 Laos 00856 Virgin Islands US 001340 Dr. Mohammad Al-Shamaly 25322030 Te: 2575077 Dr. Adel Al-Hunayan FRCS (C) 25313120 Dr Nasser Behbehani 25654300/3 Latvia 00371 Wales (UK) 0044 Dr. Foad Abidallah Al-Ali 22633135 Fax: 25723123 Dr. Leons Joseph 66703427 Lebanon 00961 Yemen 00967 Soor Center Liberia 00231 Yugoslavia 00381 Psychologists [email protected] Tel: 2290-1677 Kaizen center Noor Clinic William Schuilenberg, RPC 2290-1677 Libya 00218 Zambia 00260 /Psychotherapists www.soorcenter.com Zaina Al Zabin, M.Sc. 2290-1677 Fax: 2290 1688 25716707 23845955 Lithuania 00370 Zimbabwe 00263 THURSDAY, JANUARY 7, 2016 l i f e s t y l e F e a t u r e s

American-Beninese actor Djimon Hounsou (center) walking barefoot in proces- Voodoo worshippers walking barefoot in procession, dressed in white robes American-Beninese actor Djimon Hounsou (left) supervising the shooting of sion with voodoo worshippers dressed in white robes through the dusty and draped with long strings of multicolored beads, through the dusty streets voodoo worshippers walking in procession through the streets of the Heve vil- streets of the Heve village, near Come, southwest Benin, during a film shoot. of the Heve village, near Come, southwest Benin, during a film shoot. “ lage. — AFP photos ‘Blood Diamond’ star returns to Benin to film ‘true’ voodoo

s the drumming rumbles on, Hollywood actor Djimon ulation practices voodoo-an official religion in the country- Hounsou walks shirtless with a voodoo procession while 27 percent are Catholic and 24 percent are Muslim. Amaking its way through the dusty streets of Heve in his However, such figures mask the reality that many Beninese, native Benin. “I am like an African who has come home, who whether they go to church or attend mosque, have voodoo needs to know and learn about his culture,” says Hounsou, shrines in their homes. who has starred in blockbusters like “Blood Diamond” along- side Leonardo DiCaprio and “Gladiator” with Russell Crowe. ‘A story badly told’ The American-Beninese actor is now making and starring in “After spending so much time in Europe and the US, seeing his own film documenting his quest to understand voodoo in African diaspora traditions that resemble ours, I began to ask this west African state where it was born, before history questions,” says Hounsou, dabbing sweat off his brow. Working spread it overseas. with Hounsou on his bid to document voodoo in Benin is co- “The practices here are not bad and they aren’t savage,” director and star Sorious Samura, a well-known journalist from says the tall 51-year-old with a shaved head and a salt-and- Sierra Leone. The two met nine years ago on the set of “Blood pepper goatee, decrying the negative image often depicted Diamond”, a film that was based on Samura’s documentary “Cry on the silver screen of back-alley sorcerers casting malicious Freetown” which dealt with the civil war gripping his country. spells. One classic is the 1973 James Bond film “Live and Let “Voodoo is a story that is very badly told, full of witchcraft, mag- Die” where a Caribbean dictator uses voodoo to frighten and ic and evil-even Africans believe that,” says Samura, adding that manipulate his island. But Hounsou says such images under- such ideas have been “buried deep in our psyche.” mine the religion. A film crew following voodoo worshippers dressed in white robes and walking barefoot in a procession. The two directors hope their film, entitled “In Search of “That concept dates back to slavery. That is why we need to Voodoo: Roots to Heaven,” can help change that misconception. clarify what defines voodoo,” Hounsou tells AFP, explaining Worshipping ancestors ing as a guide for Hounsou and his crew. “Imported religions With less than a month until they finish shooting, Hounsou says that racism in the past is still perpetuating negative stereo- By mid-morning, the heat in Benin, a country of more than didn’t take hold so it’s a purer practice.” Spirits play a central role they are not seeking to win converts. “Voodoo has existed for types about voodoo. In the village of Heve, which lies at the 10 million people, is already intense. As technicians set up in voodoo, acting as a link between the living and the dead in a centuries. It doesn’t force itself on you,” he says. Shooting of the western edge of Benin’s coastline, the people have long prac- equipment in the town square, girls draw water from a tap. The religion which is built upon the worship of both ancient ances- film is expected to finish on January 10, when a huge voodoo ticed voodoo, celebrating air god Dan and water god Mami village, with its devoted voodoo cult, was not chosen at ran- tors and the four elements: earth, water, wind and fire. festival will be celebrated across the country. — AFP Wata. As the worshippers file through the streets, resplendent dom. “These spirits are very well preserved and people kept In the wake of the slave trade, voodoo practices spread from in white robes and draped with multicolored beads, dedicating themselves truly to voodoo,” explains priest David west Africa to the West Indies, Brazil and the United States. Hounsou’s crew films everything. Koffi Aza, who practises F‚ a system of divination-and is work- According to the last census in 2002, 17 percent of Benin’s pop-

Beauty company looking to help change red carpet chatter

hose in Hollywood looking to broaden the red car- pet conversation beyond the inevitable “Who are Tyou wearing?” have a powerful new ally: beauty giant L’Oreal Paris. The company is promoting use of the hashtag “WorthSaying” on Twitter during Sunday’s Golden Globe Awards and will break out the best posts Your eyes choose the cleansing expert for use in digital advertising. Kristen Comings, a company vice president, said Tuesday the idea is to urge women everywhere to expand the red carpet chatter beyond pplying makeup is a very important part of many tively removes even waterproof mascara and eye-make-up, pretty dresses. women’s daily routine. Here in this region especially, while the aqueous phase protects and cares for the eye lashes “We really wanted to be part of that conversation,” she Aapplying kohl is a strong Arabic tradition that goes with its caring formula, without leaving an oily residue. With said. “It’s really about engaging beyond beauty and fash- back to Ancient Arabs, and remains an important part of an objective to unleash the secrets of Arabian beauty, NIVEA ion to more substantive questions on the red carpet. women’s make-up regime. However, removing stubborn eye Face Care has partnered with Emirati make-up & skin care These are amazing women who should be known for makeup can irritate the skin, especially since some kohls and expert Asma Lootah. more than just a beautiful face. Many of the actresses mascaras can require incessant rubbing to get it off due to oil As part of the campaign, Asma will help women learn the become frustrated by those conversations.” Brand ambas- or fat based ingredients that repel water. right cleansing and make-up techniques and reveal the sadors Julianne Moore, Karlie Kloss, Eva Longoria, Freida NIVEA, the number one face cleansing brand, has the solu- secrets behind cleansed radiant skin. These are revealed in Pinto and Liya Kebede are among those who plan to par- tion with its NIVEA Face Care Double Effect Eye Make-Up videos exclusively available on Nivea Middle East’s website. ticipate. L’Oreal has been a broadcast sponsor of the Remover that eliminates even the most resilient waterproof NIVEA Double Effect Eye Make-Up Remover is the perfect Golden Globes for 13 years. The new hashtag is a play on mascara with a gentle swipe while protecting the eye-area at addition to every woman’s Arabian Beauty regimen! Available the company’s 40-year-old tagline, “Because You’re Worth the same time. in leading supermarkets across the GCC, NIVEA Double Effect It.”—AP Suitable for all skin types, the NIVEA Double Effect Eye Eye Make-Up Remover is available at a price of Dhs 22. Make-Up Remover is also suitable for contact lens wearers. The oil phase, particularly extracted from sunflowers, effec-

Actress Ruby Rose poses for a portrait in Los Angeles. — AP Ruby Rose trades jailbird jumpsuit for designer denim

ow sought-after for her edgy, androgynous style, actress Ruby Rose initially struggled to find her niche. N“When I first started in the industry back home in Australia at 18 there was a lot of push and shove as to how I should dress, if I was allowed to cut my hair short, if I had too many tattoos, “ said Rose in an interview Tuesday. “If I didn’t The Nest pliable plastic earphone storage Photo shows the Nest pliable plastic ear- get a campaign or if I didn’t get a role, they would always In this photo provided by In this photo Lissan Loi’s clever knitted golden container has an inner spool that you wrap phone storage container. come back to ‘well she dresses like a boy.’” AsianFreckles, Lissan Loi’s clever knit- snitch. the cords around, and tuck the earbuds Times have changed for the “Orange is the New Black” ted golden snitch, inspired by the into the center. — AP photos breakout star who recently swapped her Litchfield Prison uni- Harry Potter series, is a fun receptacle form for distressed overalls and cutoff shorts as the face of for earbuds. Denim & Supply Ralph Lauren. Rose, who counts Vivienne Westwood, Annie Lennox and Madonna among her style icons, teamed with model Hailey Baldwin for the brand’s latest Products and ideas for tangle-free earbuds social media and global ad campaign. She credits her hit Netflix series along with Amazon’s “Transparent” for sparking a dialogue about gender identity and acceptance in the enter- nyone who’s wrestled with tangled earbuds knows how options. The Sinch is a little rubber band that slips over a er; it’s made from just felt, Velcro and thread. Cord tacos - discs tainment industry and beyond. hard it can be to keep the little devils from becoming a phone’s cord port. Wrap the cords around the phone and that folds in half, with a simple closure - work for any tech “People were waiting to start this conversation,” said Rose. Ascrambled bunch of knots, no matter where or how you secure with the built-in magnet. cords, including earbuds. You can devise your own out of “Someone had to ignite it and once that happened, it was just store them. Here’s the latest in cord technology designed to The Spyder Byte is a black, plastic, spider-shaped clip that scraps of material, or find distinctive leather ones online. a snowball effect where you had celebrities and all different solve this messy problem: attaches to the cords to clasp and secure them. Knitters can create a menagerie of cute earbud holders, people coming out and saying ‘I’m gender fluid’ or ‘I’m trans- The Nest is a pliable silicone case with an inner spool to including turtles, fish, frogs and mice. Tiny pouches secured gender’ and people feeling more comfortable in their skin.” Product ideas hold earbuds. Pull one of the earbuds to release them from with small buttons or snaps can be made quickly. Harry Potter The 29-year-old also praised Louis Vuitton’s latest wom- Zipbuds’ Juiced 2.0 and Pro Mike models have an actual the spool when needed. For kids or those after a bit of whim- fans might like a crocheted Golden Snitch; find Lissan Loi’s enswear campaign featuring actor-rapper Jaden Smith. “I zipper between the cords; the glow-in-the-dark green version sy in their tech accessories, Storenvy has a silicone 3-D rabbit pattern on her Etsy.com site, Asian Freckles. mean he’s so amazing but the reason that’s so special is would be easy to dig out of the dark recesses of a bag. The that offers storage in its rear and room for a phone up front. It because that’s how he dresses,” said Rose. “It’s not like they just Slide model employs a tiny zipper attachment like the ones on comes in a slew of hues. Technique went ‘OK we’re going to grab a guy that’s popular, that people re-sealable plastic containers. However you decide to store your earbuds, you might first like, and we’re going to put him in a dress.’ It’s not done in a From Beats by Dre, urBeats have a flat, bright-red cable DIY want to explore whether there are ways to coil them so they tasteless way. It’s just this is who he is.” Though it has not yet that resists tangling and is easy to see. Look online for ideas on repurposing tape dispensers, won’t get tangled. YouTube’s got a half-dozen or more helpful been announced if her “Orange” character, Stella Carlin, will thread spools, badge clips, credit cards, small snack boxes, folk who think they’ve got it figured out, and are willing to return for season four, Rose is busy with upcoming films Storage ideas travel-size swab holders, gum dispensers, bandage holders share. — AP including “John Wick 2” and “Resident Evil: The Final Chapter.” If you’re not in the market for new earbuds but are just and contact lens cases into earbud storage. “Acting is my life. It’s what I live and breathe,” said Rose. — AP looking for a way to store them smoothly, there are lots of Crafty types might tackle the bunny, butterfly or bear hold- THURSDAY, JANUARY 7, 2016 l i f e s t y l e Music & Movies

Various cast members of ‘The Hateful Eight’ and director Quentin Tarantino (second right) attend a cere- Director Quentin Tarantino is honored with hand/foot- Director Quentin Tarantino is honored at the hand and footprint ceremony. mony honoring Tarantino with a hand/footprint ceremony at the TCL Chinese Theatre IMAX, in print ceremony. Hollywood, California. — AFP photos Tarantino makes his mark-on Hollywood sidewalk scar-winning American director Quentin Tarantino made to put my hand and footprints in the Grauman Chinese Theatre Unchained” in 2013 working with Tarantino. “Quentin baffles, he comedy western “Django Unchained” in 2013 and cult favorite another mark in Hollywood Tuesday, leaving his hand- courtyard way before I ever had a career,” he said of the longtime exhilarates, he perplexes, he surprises, but most of all he enter- “Pulp Fiction” in 1995. “The Hateful Eight” is nominated for Oprints on the sidewalk outside the legendary Grauman’s Hollywood tradition at the cinema house, where thousands of tains us,” Waltz said. “We want more and more of these imprints Golden Globes for supporting actress for Jennifer Jason Leigh, Chinese Theatre. Out promoting his latest movie “The Hateful stars have cast hand- and footprints in the cement. and always in 24 frames per second.” Just two weeks ago, best screenplay and original score for composer Ennio Eight”-which has been nominated for three Golden Globes- “This is something I have wanted to do my entire life,” he Tarantino got his star on the better-known Hollywood Walk of Morricone. — AFP Tarantino, 52, said he was delighted by the honor. “Actually, it’s added. Tarantino was joined by Austrian actor Christoph Waltz, Fame. The filmmaker, who dropped out of high school insisting not that I have wanted to do this my whole career, I have wanted who won Oscars for “Inglourious Basterds” in 2010 and “Django he could learn more on his own, won Oscars himself for black Bollywood’s ‘Deadly Dutt’ set for prison release

ollywood actor Sanjay Dutt will be Maharashtra Home Minister Ranjit Patil had released from prison next month after granted Dutt remission, clearing his release for Bserving a sentence for possessing February 27. Calls and text messages to the weapons supplied by gangsters behind the minister by AFP went unanswered. The 56- 1993 Mumbai bomb blasts, reports said yester- year-old actor shot to fame in the mid-1980s in day. The disgraced star will walk free from a string of action movies in which he per- Yerwada Central Jail in the western state of formed his own stunts, earning him the nick- Maharashtra on February 27, slightly ahead of name “Deadly Dutt”. schedule, the Press Trust of India (PTI) report- He is best known for playing a mobster ed. Dutt was originally sentenced to a six-year with a heart of gold in the popular term after being convicted in 2006 of possess- “Munnabhai” series. The 1993 attacks were ing guns supplied by mafia bosses who believed to have been staged by Muslim orchestrated the series of bombings in underworld figures in retaliation for religious Mumbai that killed 257 people. riots in which mainly Muslims died, following He spent 18 months in prison before being the razing of an ancient mosque at Ayodhya in released on bail in 2007, pending an appeal. In Uttar Pradesh state. Dutt was found guilty of March 2013, the Supreme Court upheld his possession of an automatic rifle and a pistol, conviction but cut his prison term from six which he insisted were only meant to protect years to five. Dutt was later granted four extra his family in the tense atmosphere in Mumbai weeks of freedom to work on unfinished following the mosque’s destruction. In 2007, movies and went back to jail in May that year he was acquitted of more serious charges of to serve the remaining three-and-a-half years conspiracy in the deadly blasts, which also Sanjay Dutt of his sentence. PTI said yesterday that wounded more than 700 people. — AFP French avant-garde

In this photograph Indian Bollywood actress Kriti Sanon looks on during a promotional event for the composer Pierre Boulez forthcoming Hindi film ‘Dilwale’ in Mumbai. — AFP Bollywood star dies aged 90

shames man orld-renowned conductor-compos- er Pierre Boulez, considered one of watching pirated Wthe most influential voices in con- temporary classical music, has died aged 90, his family said yesterday. “For all those who film on flight knew him and who appreciated his creative energy, his artistic rigour, his openness and Bollywood star posted a series of angry tweets his generosity, his presence will remain alive after a passenger sitting next to her on a flight and intense,” the family said in a statement Abrazenly started watching a pirated copy of one from the Philharmonie de Paris, which Boulez of her films. Actress Kriti Sanon was travelling to Delhi Picture taken on October 17, 2008 shows French conductor and composer Pierre Boulez spearheaded. As well as being an expert last week when the man seated beside her and her conducting the SWR Symphony Orchestra during the opening concert of the interpreter of the works of Stravinsky, mother started using an iPhone projector to watch Donaueschinger Musiktage music festival in Donaueschingen, southern Germany. Schoenberg and Scriabin, the Frenchman Hindi blockbuster “Dilwale”. The $15 million movie, found himself, with KarlHeinz Stockhausen, a which sees Sanon star alongside Bollywood icon Shah seminal figure in the mid-20th century exper- imental avant-garde. Rukh Khan, had only been released in cinemas 10 days This file photo taken on December 20, previously. Later in the 20th century, he would push back the frontiers of music still further with 2011 shows French composer and conduc- “Someone watchin pirated version of Dilwale in tor Pierre Boulez directing the Paris front of me on phone in the flight! Annoyed!! computer-generated music at his Paris studio. Born in 1925 in the small provincial town of Orchestra under the Louvre Pyramid dur- #SayNoToPiracy,” the 25-year-old posted on Twitter. The ing a free concert in Paris. tweet, which has been liked almost 3,000 times, was Montbrison, in central France, Boulez studied accompanied by a photo showing the passenger under Olivier Messiaen at the Paris home in the southwestern German city of watching the movie. It also included an angry emoji Conservatoire during the war years, where he Baden-Baden in the early 1960s, where he face. Shortly afterwards she tweeted again. “Sad to c was influenced by his teacher’s own abstract, eventually died. Boulez’s compositions were the hardwork of so many ppl bein watched in such atonal style with irregular rhythm. A frequent noted for their difficulty, with one of his pathetic quality! Please enjoy films in cinemas guest conductor for great orchestras on both defining works, “Le Marteau Sans Maitre” #SayNoToPiracy,” Sanon wrote. sides of the Atlantic, Boulez famously (“The Hammer Without a Master”), drawing It was accompanied by another picture of the pas- shunned the baton, always conducting with inspiration from surrealist poetry and lacking senger, who appeared to be enjoying the movie. A third his hands. any bass line. French President Francois tweet followed, in response to a user who said that He led the BBC Symphony Orchestra and Hollande offered his condolences to Boulez’s watching pirated movies was a criminal offence. from 1971-77 was music director of the New family and hailed someone who “made “Yup..told him politely that he would enjoy the film York Philharmonic, where he favored con- French music shine throughout the world.” more in a theatre. but he was busy showin off his pro- This file photo taken on January 9, 1984 shows French conductor and composer Pierre temporary works over the classics beloved by “As a composer and conductor, he always jector!,” she wrote, this time including two angry emoji Boulez (right) talking with US composer and guitarist Frank Zappa (center) and French his acclaimed predecessor Leonard reflected his era,” said Hollande. — AFP faces. — AFP Ministre of Culture Jack Lang (left), at the Theatre de la Ville in Paris, where he directed Bernstein. It was his exasperation with the three works of Zappa. — AFP photos relative conservatism of the French musical world that prompted Boulez to make his Italian screen siren Madonna’s Singapore Pampanini dead at 90 concert is for adults only he Singapore leg of pop superstar classified by the Media Development ilvana Pampanini, an Italian actress and became a symbol of Italian beauty around the Madonna’s global Rebel Heart Tour Authority, which also regulates the film beauty who was one of the country’s world. The brunette was seen as having paved has been restricted to fans aged 18 and broadcast industries. leading post-war cinema stars, has died at the way for fellow screen sirens Sophia Loren T S and above, the concert’s local coordinator The Straits Times newspaper noted the age of 90, local media reported yesterday. and Gina Lollobrigida. Pampanini never mar- said yesterday. The one-night-only event that Madonna’s concert tour setlist Pampanini, who had been hospitalized since ried but was reported to have sparked the on February 28, Madonna’s first-ever con- includes a segment involving dancers October according to Corriere della Sera, romantic ardour of a string of famous men, cert in the city-state, will be held at the dressed as scantily-clad nuns pole-danc- starred in over 50 films during her 1950s hey- from Cuban leader Fidel Castro and Egypt’s 55,000-seat National Stadium, entertain- ing on cross-shaped stripper poles. day. She came to prominence as a Miss Italy King Farouk I to Orson Welles and Omar Sharif. ment firm MediaCorp Vizpro said. “Please Affluent Singapore, often ridiculed as a contestant in 1946 (her failure to win caused a Described as both a devout Catholic and a life- note that this concert is rated ‘R18’ with “nanny state” for its tradition of social con- tabloid outcry) and went on to work with a long diva, she worked only occasionally after the consumer advisory on ‘Sexual trol, has eased censorship in recent years long list of famous film figures, including Buster giving up full-time acting to look after her eld- References’. Only those above 18 years of and become an Asian entertainment hub. Keaton, Marcello Mastroianni, Alberto Sordi, erly parents in the mid-1960s. — AFP age will be permitted into the venue,” it But the authorities say its population is Toto and Jean Gabin. With her voluptuous, wide-eyed looks, Nini said on its Facebook page. Concerts and still largely conservative. — AFP Pampan, as she was nicknamed in France, other forms of public entertainment are THURSDAY, JANUARY 7, 2016 l i f e s t y l e M o v i e s

Why ‘Creed’ was Sylvester Stallone’s toughest role

early 40 years after Sylvester Stallone Warner Bros release, financed for $35 million by Jordan says. “I was down for a minute.” script to “Rocky” in a fever dream. Before he was before Apollo’s death. “There’s a lot there,” introduced audiences to Rocky Balboa, MGM and New Line, was directed and co-written Stallone exposed himself to emotional punch- sucked into the action-movie vortex, he wanted Stallone says, adding that he recently bumped Nthe actor’s return for his seventh shot at by Ryan Coogler, the 29-year-old Sundance wun- es that were far more painful. He first met with to star as Edgar Allan Poe in a biopic. into Weathers, who looked as imposing as ever. the character in “Creed” has propelled him into a derkind behind “Fruitvale Station,” who grew up Coogler in mid-2012. The young director had Throughout his career, the more intellectual side “I can’t believe I got in the ring with him,” surprise awards-season contender-a status he watching the boxing movie series with his dad. wanted to make a new “Rocky” because it was a of his personality often came into conflict with Stallone says. hasn’t claimed for a long time. “I actually am star- In this latest chapter, Rocky isn’t the main attrac- franchise he loved watching as a kid. When the meatheads he portrayed onscreen. To find tled,” says Stallone, 69, in a recent interview at an tion. He coaches Adonis Johnson (Michael B. Coogler’s dad got sick from a rare vitamin defi- other creative outlets, he not only launched side ‘Rambo V’ upscale Beverly Hills hotel. “It’s a character that I Jordan), the son of his late rival and pal Apollo ciency that caused his muscles to atrophy, he got jobs as a screenwriter (“First Blood,” “Cliffhanger”) “Even if it was play fighting.”Coogler is star- love and never thought I’d play again. I didn’t Creed (Carl Weathers). The surprise success of the idea for a “Rocky” reboot in which the charac- and director (“Staying Alive,” “The Expendables”), tled to hear that Stallone has already let the cat think it would resonate like it did, especially with “Creed,” which grossed more than $100 million ter fell ill. “I wanted to see my dad’s hero go he also moonlights as a painter who creates out of the bag about their plan. “Oh no!” he says a newer generation. I never went into the film domestically, has given Stallone a renewed through something similar to what we were Kafkaesque portraits on large, colorful canvases, with a sigh. “There are no secrets with Sly.” Jordan thinking this is going to be a transformative per- spring in his step. The performance has earned going through,” Coogler says. Yet “Creed” isn’t just with subjects that range from his mother to sounds more skeptical. “So it’s going to be a CGI formance. I just thought Rocky has a lot of issues, him his first Golden Globe nomination since a son’s homage to his father. It’s also a dad’s Rocky himself. “He had an exhibit in Russia,” says version of Sly?” he teases, adding that he’d like to a lot of problems. He’s like all of us.” “Rocky” and a National Board of Review award as valentine to his boy. In July 2012, Stallone’s son Kellan Lutz, a friend. “I would like to buy one or be in the next film. Sylvester Stallone and best supporting actor. Sage died of a heart attack at 36, shortly after that two.” Burgess Meredith in ‘Rocky’ REX/Shutterstock. As first meeting with Coogler. Stallone was devastat- By now, the story of how Stallone became for his non-”Rocky” career, Stallone is more Stretching his muscles ed. Sage had played Rocky’s son in 1990’s “Rocky famous by penning the screenplay for 1976’s ambivalent about continuing as an action star. For many years, Stallone tried to stretch his V,” and Stallone would often think about his son “Rocky” in a few days, insisting that MGM cast He hopes that “Creed” finally leads the way to muscles as a serious thespian without much luck. while on the “Creed” set. “I wanted to pay respect him as the star, is well known. “Rocky” director more dramatic roles. “I had never, ever thought It’s ironic that the role that typecast Stallone for to him,” he says, “and share those feelings with John G. Avildsen says that he wasn’t excited to of myself as an action person,” he says. “I’m just most of his career, paving the way for all those people who have undergone a tremendous loss.” crack open the script, because he had no interest not that athletic. I’m not naturally a mesomorph. “Rambo” and “Expendables” sequels, has finally “Creed” honors Sage in a gut-wrenching in boxing. “I finally read it,” he says. “On the sec- I’m actually kind of thin. But I do like the physical set him on a dramatic path. “It’s changed every- moment that brings Stallone’s pain to the screen. ond and third page, the guy is talking to his tur- challenge.” He adds that shooting tenptole thing,” says the actor, who lives in Los Angeles In a scene midway through the film, Adonis tle, and I was charmed.” Stallone says that the action movies is physically grueling. “I never got with his wife, Jennifer Flavin. “Now my kids will holds up a picture of Rocky’s son, who has Hollywood movie-making business is markedly tremendous fulfillment from it. Because it actually listen to me for five minutes. Like, ‘Oh- moved to Vancouver to escape the shadow of his different now than it was in the ‘70s. “It’s less becomes a tug of war between exasperation and you got nominated for something.’ I get some famous father. The image-a young Sage, wearing instinctual and more mercurial,” he notes, exhaustion. Very rarely does it all go well. respect.” “Creed” was the hardest “Rocky” for It’s kind of like one of those triathlons.” Stallone. He wasn’t sure if he even wanted to Stallone had previously said publicly that he was step back into the ring, since he’d already con- working on “Rambo V,” but he thinks the charac- cluded 2006’s “Rocky Balboa,” which was sup- ter is done. “The heart’s willing, but the body posed to be the franchise’s finale, on an upbeat says, ‘Stay home!’” he says. “It’s like fighters that note. “To resurrect Rocky under the premise that go back for one last round and get clobbered. you’re dying is a tough sell,” Stallone says of the Leave it to someone else.” He’s also not involved subplot in “Creed,” in which Rocky’s diagnosed in the “Rambo” TV series, which focuses on the with cancer. “I kept saying, ‘I’d be interested, but character’s son. “I don’t want to cast aspersions,” can the neighbor be sick, and Rocky helps?’ I did- Stallone says, “but it’s delicate to try to replace a n’t know if people wanted to see him sick.” character with his son. I’ve seen the son of Flicka, Stallone allowed Coogler the freedom to the son of Tarzan, the son of King Kong. It’s a very work on the first draft of “Creed” with co-writer difficult premise.” Aaron Covington. But Stallone, also a producer of With more than 20 scripts to his name, the film, was active in shaping Rocky’s journey- Stallone admits that he’s struggled to come up If Stallone sounds like a retired champ, the and his dialogue. “When it comes to Rocky,” with new stories. “I find writing very debilitating, story line fits his real life. In the ‘80s and ‘90s, Stallone says, “his world is the size of a match- exposing,” he says. “It can be a very noisy, angry Stallone-along with Bruce Willis and Arnold book cover. It’s very tight. The more simplified neighbor.” He wonders whether he’s inspired by Schwarzenegger-ruled the action industry with you keep it, the better.” He recalls studio execu- the same material he once was. “What would I tough-guy hits like “Rambo,” “Demolition Man,” tives offering notes over the years for the differ- write today?” he asks “I don’t know. I would have “Cliffhanger” and “Cobra.” But those kinds of mid- ent U-turns Rocky has faced. “Rocky never exist- to retool my thinking and realize it would not be budget action films are no longer an essential ed,” Stallone says. “It’s a fairy tale. It’s a myth. I some grand adventure. It would be about some- part of a movie industry that relies on comic- love allegories, and I love very much ‘The Iliad’ thing biographical-the journeys of a young man book sagas and reboots. The real draw of “The and ‘The Odyssey.’ I wasn’t doing a documentary. trying to make it in the world.” As for his Oscar Fast and the Furious” franchise isn’t Vin Diesel’s I was trying to create a modern-day fable.” “You prospects, Stallone is unfamiliar with the award biceps, but the cars. And many of the less macho think with age you acquire a surety of choice and season gauntlet. That may explain why he hasn’t leading male stars of today-Ryan Gosling, Jake perception,” Stallone says. “Quite often it’s just been as present at cocktail parties and lunches Gyllenhaal, Joseph-Gordon Levitt, James Franco, the opposite.” as some of the other aspiring nominees. He’s not Oscar Isaac and Michael Fassbender-tend to be even sure he should join the campaign trail. “Do slender, sensitive types.Art Streiber; Location: Art Streiber for Variety boxing gloves, posing with Stallone in front of a explaining how all studio executives make deci- you think it makes a difference?” he asks. SLS Hotel, Beverly Hills Even though Rocky is part of his DNA, punching bag-is from a family album. “I remem- sions based on numbers. “I think it makes the If Stallone does land an Oscar nomination, Stallone turned to an acting coach to prepare for ber the first time I saw the photo, I was heartbro- movies worse. ‘Rocky’ today would have been a he’ll at least be better dressed for the occasion Main attraction “Creed”-the first time he’s done that for a role ken,” says Coogler, who urged Stallone to give footnote in a cancelled office meeting. It just this time around. He remembers attending the Stallone says that Rocky’s appeal has always since 1997 drama “Cop Land.” “I just started to him the picture. “I thought it wouldn’t be right wouldn’t have worked.” 1977 ceremony in a rented tux. As his car pulled been that he’s an Everyman. Although he’s noth- understand how you break down moments,” not to have a representation of Sage in the Stallone is gunning to make more “Creed” up to the show, his bow tie broke. “Bam!” Stallone ing like Rocky in real life-he’s soft spoken, a poet Stallone says. “What are the obstacles you’re movie.” “It’s a character that I love and never films. “There’s no doubt that we’re making a says. “The chauffeur said, ‘Hey do you want to not a fighter, and he peppers references to overcoming? Who is this character you’re play- thought I’d play again. I didn’t think it would res- ‘Creed 2,’ “ says MGM CEO Gary Barber. Stallone borrow my tie?’ I go, Shakespeare and Homer in conversation, often ing? Who do they remind you of in real life?” onate like it did, especially with a newer genera- says that he’s not sure Coogler-who is in talks for ‘Nah I don’t think it’s going to matter.’ I put my sounding like a high-school English teacher-he’s Stallone compares himself to a professional ath- tion.” Marvel’s “Black Panther”-will return in the direc- collar on the outside. The undershirt was show- managed to age with his on-screen alter ego in lete who enlists a trainer to stay in shape. “You tor’s chair. “There’s a diminishing time accept- ing. It was just so street. And by the way, I was real time. “You just take from your own life expe- need that perspective to push you over that Sylvester Stallone ance of a sequel,” Stallone says. “Three years is a perceived as being arrogant. No, I’m just poorly riences, and I’ve had many peaks and valleys,” chasm of fear,” he says. This was the rare “Rocky” Stallone had originally resisted the idea. “It little much.” But if he’s not back as the director, dressed. I had no style.” He lost for actor, but was Stallone says. “It’s confounding, because you in which he isn’t physically hit. “I’m just carrying took a while,” he says, his voice softening. “I really Coogler will be an executive producer, and he’s brought up onstage when “Rocky” was named think with age you acquire a surety of choice and over the injuries from the other movies,” he jokes. didn’t want to do it-I swear to you. It’s just too already been batting around ideas with Stallone best picture over “All the President’s Men” and perception. Quite often, it’s just the opposite. “I start to walk toward the ring, and I bleed.” It painful. It’s rough. There is no closure. There is for the next installment. One option would be a “Taxi Driver.” “I felt as though I peaked in 1977,” You realize the older you get, the less certain was his co-star who took a beating in “Creed.” nothing. The wonderful thing about acting is linear story with Adonis that mirrors the plot of Stallone says. “Your film got an award. Now everything is.” He’s had to ask friends if “Creed” During the film’s final fight, Coogler noticed that that it’s a release. I can take some solace in that.” “Rocky IV.” “You’ll have him face a different oppo- what? It was an incredible amount of success really is a good movie. “I’m not sure if I trust my a slow-motion blow to Jordan’s face didn’t look Stallone, who grew up on the East Coast, was nent, which I would say is a more ferocious, big from nowhere.” He likes to tell young actors to own impressions anymore,” he admits. convincing. Stallone finally suggested that born to a working-class family. He harbored Russian,” Stallone says. But Stallone lights up savor every moment. “When you’re in the center The movie, which opened in November, is the Jordan take the shot for real. “The expression ‘I dreams of acting, and was-according to when he reveals another idea they are consider- of the storm, you miss all this incredible energy,” first “Rocky” film Stallone didn’t write himself. The saw stars’-I now know what that looks like,” Hollywood lore-dead broke when he wrote the ing: a “Godfather II”-like sequel set in the past, Stallone says. “It’s like a tsunami.”— Reuters THURSDAY, JANUARY 7, 2016 l i f e s t y l e Music & Movies

Matt Damon, left, and Luciana Barroso attend the National Actor Finn Wittrock, from left, director Adam McKay and actor John Magaro. Actor Nicholas Hoult, left, and director George Miller. Board of Review Awards gala at Cipriani 42nd Street on Tuesday in New York. — AP photos Damon credits Stallone for launching his career at NBR dinner

he National Board of Review dinner on Brie Larson from shooting in Africa. “You allowed me to Tuesday night in Manhattan doubled as Brie Larson continued her awards streak make this film without trying to destroy the Ta victory lap for an old Hollywood by landing a best actress statue for “Room.” vision of what we were working for,” he said. champ, as Sylvester Stallone was showered “I’ve been working since I was a kid, and “Thanks for protecting me.” The night wasn’t with multiple tributes. watched fancy things on TV, and never without a pair of swipes at a certain thought real people go to them-I thought Republican frontrunner. When emcee Willie Matt Damon you were bred and born into it,” she said. “I Geist brought up the Twitter feud Samuel L. Early in the evening, Matt Damon-this didn’t know a girl from Sacramento could Jackson was having with Donald Trump, the year’s winner for best actor in “The Martian”- make it this far.” actor offered a quip: “I’d say f-k him, but this is revealed that when he was shopping around a polite crowd.” Later, “Inside Out’s” Lewis Actor Sylvester Stallone. 1997’s “Good Will Hunting,” the fact that Jennifer Jason Leigh Black (who voices Anger) was presenting Stallone starred in “Rocky,” after writing the Jennifer Jason Leigh, named best support- best-animated film to director Pete Docter, screenplay, kept him from letting another ing actress for “The Hateful Eight,” called her and he suggested that if he’d seen the Pixar actor from stealing his movie. “Believe me, part in the Quentin Tarantino Western the role hit as a kid, he would’ve saved himself years they really wanted to take it away from us,” of a lifetime. “It was freezing, the costumes of therapy. “I think if Donald Trump had seen Damon said, as he credited Stallone with both weighed 100 pounds, I was covered in blood this film when he was 10, he’d be a better per- his and Ben Affleck’s acting careers. He and chained to another actor for six months,” son today,” Black said. “For those of you who revealed that studio executives thought, she said. “Honestly, I’ve never had more fun.” didn’t applaud, I pray for your souls.” “God, Leonardo DiCaprio would be so good in Meanwhile, Stallone, 69, managed to this” of the screenplay he co-wrote. But, he Ridley Scott cement his status as the perennial underdog added, “every time they said, ‘You can’t do Ridley Scott, the best director winner for in his acceptance speech. He leapt on the this,’ we said, ‘It’s been done before.’” Then “The Martian,” described his film as a drama, a stage, and gave Coogler a big embrace. “You came Stallone’s award for best supporting comedy and an action movie all rolled into are the future,” he said. “I’m the past.” He actor for “Creed.” one. “I’m proud of ‘The Martian,’ because it talked about his passion for storytelling. “I could only be fulfilled with my special team,” love all artists,” he said. “As we get older, we Ryan Coogler he said, including the actors who “made it fly.” become better actors. Quite often, the oppor- Director Ryan Coogler took the stage with Jessica Chastain introduced the prolific tunity doesn’t present itself.” — Reuters a sprawling introduction to his hero-he director, as she recalled the first time she saw watched Stallone growing up in all the “Alien” as a girl. “I remember sitting in my “Rocky” movies. On the first day on the room with that borrowed VHS,” she said. “At “Creed” set, Coogler was surprised to see that young age, that film had brought a novel Stallone arrive with four pages of notes for a concept to my childhood home-there’s more Robert De Niro, left, and Grace Hightower. character he’s played since 1976. “He was like than one kind of role for an actress.” a malleable piece of clay, but a piece of clay that’s been a movie star for 40-plus years,” Jason Segel Coogler said. He noted that he’s often asked Jason Segel shared a story about meeting how he directed Stallone. “I still don’t know,” Jacob Tremblay from “Room,” who won the Coogler admitted. “I tried to see him for who best newcomer award. The 9-year-old actor he was.” recognized him by asking: “Are you the The National Board of Review gala, where Muppets guy?” “I told him I was and we the winners are announced in advance, is became fast friends,” Segel said. “Later, he always like the un-televised rehearsal dinner came back eager to introduce me to his new for the Golden Globes. Yet this year’s ceremo- friend Johnny Depp. I told him I was too shy. ny at Cipriani 42nd Street, held as the Oscar In reality, I was worried it would look like I ballots are due in mere hours, could actually used a 10-year-old to meet Johnny Depp.” influence the Academy Awards nominations Tremblay’s speech had the crowd oohing. next week. When the NBR announced “Mad Standing on a crate, he told the audience he Max: Fury Road” as best picture last month, needed a minute. “This is my first award and the selection drew snickers around the blo- that makes me really happy,” he said. “The gosphere. But that was before the action tent- mind of me is so blown.” He shared the break- pole starring Tom Hardy became the surprise through prize with Abraham Attah from darling of many critics’ groups. Director “Beasts of No Nation,” who flew in from Ghana George Miller proved to be the night’s best for the ceremony. Attah noted that after the Actress Jessica Chastain. over-sharer. shoot, one of the producers on the film He said that Nicholas Hoult, who intro- enrolled him in a private school, where he’s duced him, had been suffering from a “tum- now studying. my bug” and hadn’t eaten a bite. He also offered his surprise at collecting year-end Cary Fukunaga accolades. “I didn’t think we would still be Cary Fukunaga accepted the NBR’s talking about it,” Miller said of his epic. “Yet Freedom of Expression Award for “Beasts of here we are, still in conversation. In my home, No Nation.” He extended his appreciation to our kids called it the National Board of Woo- the producers at Red Crown Productions for hoo!” standing by him, even as the budget for his indie ballooned due to unexpected costs Jennifer Jason Leigh

Emily Blunt, left, and Benicio del Toro.

Actress Brie Larson. Kristen Stewart Jason Segel Director Ridley Scott and wife Giannina Facio-Scott. Samuel L. Jackson, left, and Jennifer Jason Leigh. Damon credits Stallone for launching his career at NBR dinner

THURSDAY, JANUARY 7, 2016 39

Visitors walk through the China Ice and Snow World during the Harbin International Ice and Snow Festival in Harbin, northeast China’s Heilongjiang province on January 5, 2016. Over one million visitors are expected to attend the spectacular Harbin Ice Festival, where buildings of ice are bathed in ethereal lights and international ice sculptors compete for honors. — AFP

he teeming Indian metropolis of Mumbai-home to The small mobile museum will open in February for Following the success of “Slumdog Millionaire”, the the neighborhood made famous by the film two months and display everything from pottery and slum has become a tourist attraction and guides offer T“Slumdog Millionaire”-is to get the world’s first textiles to recycled items, Rubio added. The organizers of tours of its hundreds of workshops. In 2010 Britain’s India’s Mumbai to get slum museum, organizers said yesterday. The museum ‘Design Museum Dharavi’ say they want to challenge Prince Charles cited Dharavi as a role model for sustain- will showcase some of the myriad of objects that are pro- people’s perceptions of slums by highlighting the cre- able living, praising its habit of recycling waste. Last year duced every year in Dharavi, one of Asia’s biggest slums ative talent that resides in them. More than a million the slum hosted its first art biennale. More than half of and the setting for Danny Boyle’s hit 2008 movie. “It people live in the maze of alleyways that make up Mumbai’s 20 million inhabitants live in slums, enduring ‘world’s first slum museum’ will be the first museum ever created in a slum,” Spanish Dharavi with many working in the area’s mini-factories, cramped conditions, poor ventilation and a lack of toi- artist Jorge Rubio, who is behind the initiative, told AFP. which produce every kind of goods imaginable. lets. — AFP Florida Indian tribe’s last alligator wrestler bows out

n billboards across the Florida Everglades, a burly Native some 2,000 people, which shares a historical connection to the Far from a punch-out, smack-down event as the name “alli- American man pries open an alligator’s mouth, pressing Miccosukees. Those that remain “have decided to do it very gator wrestling” might imply, Jim became famous for pulling Ohis face dangerously close to the reptile’s 80 glinting deliberately, not for a tourist attraction as it once was, but as a wild, hissing alligators heavier than his own 278-pound (125- teeth. “Adventures Await,” the ads promise, as motorists whiz by. way of keeping traditional Seminole culture alive,” Weisman kilogram) frame out of the water by their tails, then tip-toeing Alligator wrestler Pharaoh Gayles wrestling an alligator at The man’s name is Rocky Jim, Jr, a 44-year-old Miccosukee said. around them, stroking them, tapping them, even getting close the Miccosukee Indian Village in Miami, Florida. Indian who has been wrestling alligators for 31 years, entertain- enough to touch his nose to the snouts of the most aggressive ing countless tourists from a sand pit and pond beneath a chic- ‘Read their body language’ among them. His secret? “We just respect them,” he said. When kee hut along the Tamiami Trail, a two-lane road linking Miami Jim was 13 when he learned to handle alligators from his he first saw Jim perform, Pharaoh Gayles, a 25-year-old wrestler to the port city of Tampa. father, Rocky Jim, Sr They would go out in the canals of the of Puerto Rican, African-American and Seminole descent, But on the final Sunday of 2015, the last remaining Everglades in search of turtles, and the elder would demon- “thought he was a little bit crazy.” But he watched, and learned. Miccosukee Indian in the century-old tradition of wrestling alli- strate how to move the creatures away without hurting them, “He just really knows what he is doing and he has an under- gators decided it was time to step down, leaving no successors or getting hurt. “Just see how they are moving and how they standing of the animal.” in sight among the tribe of around 600 people. The end came are going to react,” Jim recalled his father saying. “Just read their just minutes into the 1 o’clock show, when Jim coaxed the alli- body language.” Jim was in his 30s when the tribe asked him to An owl and a shadow gator’s mouth open by gently tapping its snout, then placed his perform at the Indian Village, a tourist stop that sells crafts, Recently, arthritis in his knee began to slow Jim down, and hand inside. The move is perilous only if something touches the offers airboat rides and hearty foods like pumpkin fry bread and he cut back to part time. But this winter, an annual festival beck- alligator’s palate-a drop of sweat, a grain of sand-causing the catfish. He agreed. oned. He performed five shows on the first day, as Gayles knelt jaw to reflexively snap shut. While pulling out his hand, he rotat- in the pit with him and narrated for the audiences. Driving ed it slightly and accidentally grazed a tooth. home that evening to his home in a Miami suburb, Jim saw a The feeling was like “a door slamming on your hand. With shadow of a man by the side of the road. A couple of yards later, sharp teeth,” Jim said in an interview later. But in the moment, an owl flew in front of him. “For us, an owl means somebody as he looked down at his palm and forearm encased in the alli- will pass, and a shadow is the same thing, so when they are gator’s jaw, he had only one thought: “Don’t shake.” “If it shakes, together it is a bad thing,” Jim said. The next day, the alligator my hand is going to go with it,” he told AFP, describing the bit him. On billboards across the Florida Everglades, a burly Native thrashing motion alligators use to slice up fresh meat, much the Fortunately, the animal did not thrash. Gayles helped open American man pries open an alligator’s mouth, pressing his same way as sharks. “Its natural instinct is to do that,” said Jim, its jaws, which left Jim with seven puncture wounds, and his face dangerously close to the reptile’s 80 glinting teeth. who had been bitten several times before. mind made up to retire. “I was just really waiting for the right time. I guess this was the right time,” he said. For Gus Batista, Native tradition who wrestles alligators on a Seminole reservation, Jim “has Alligator wrestling is considered a Native American tradition, been a big partaker in this beautiful art” and “has earned the first popularized in the early 1900s by a white man, Henry right to bow out honorably.” And while Jim’s absence leaves a Coppinger, Jr, the US-born son of Irish immigrants, according to void, he has already begun teaching his 13-year-old son to historian Patsy West. Coppinger himself wrestled alligators, and catch baby alligators-not necessarily to make it his trade, but to recruited natives-who lived alongside the reptiles and hunted keep a tribal tradition alive. — AFP them-to perform, too. Paying crowds flocked to see men climb on alligators’ backs, open their jaws and flip them over-with the effect of making them go limp for a few minutes. But today, the tradition is waning. Animal rights group have criticized the shows, casino revenue rather than alligator tourism often pro- vides cash flow for native tribes, and Indian youths are increas- ingly turning to careers in modern society. Rocky Jim, Jr, a 44-year-old Miccosukee “The skills are not as common as they once were,” said Indian who has been wrestling alligators Alligator wrestling is considered a Native American tradi- author and anthropologist Brent Weisman. Some native alliga- for 31 years, entertained countless tion, but animal rights group have criticized the shows. tor wrestlers still remain among the larger Seminole tribe of tourists. — AFP photos