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THURSDAY, JANUARY 1, 2015 RABI ALAWWAL 10, 1436 AH www.kuwaittimes.net

Sydney spectacular leads Min 07º Max 23º New Year celebrations High Tide 09:05 & 20:50 Low Tide Millions ring in 2015 with fireworks, concerts and light shows 02:50 & 14:00 40 PAGES NO: 16390 150 FILS

HONG KONG: A huge display of fireworks lit up Hong Kong early today with brilliant bursts of color over Victoria Palestinians Harbor as the Chinese city rang in 2015 in spectacular style, launching the party for millions across Asia. turn to ICC From New Delhi to Dubai, Johannesburg, New York and Rio, millions around the world will celebrate when the as UN bid fails clock ticks past midnight, ringing in 2015 with fireworks displays, concerts and light shows. RAMALLAH: President Mahmud Abbas yesterday In Hong Kong, hundreds of thousands of people crowd- signed a Palestinian request to join the ed the city’s promenades to watch the eight-minute International Criminal Court, seeking a new Continued on Page 13 avenue for action against Israel after a failed UN resolution on ending the occupation. The Palestinians hope ICC membership will pave the India halts KD720 way for war crimes prosecutions against Israeli offi- cials for their actions in the occupied territories. bank guarantee But Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu KUWAIT: The India government has decided to sus- swiftly hit back, saying the Palestinians have “more pend the KD720 bank guarantee measure that was to fear” than Israel from the Hague-based court. He implemented for the welfare of the Indian domestic cited the Palestinian leadership’s links to Hamas, workers coming to Kuwait, an Indian embassy press the militant group which Israel describes as a “ter- release here said. rorist organization” and which is part of a unity “After discussing this issue with Kuwaiti authori- government with Abbas’s Fatah movement. The ties, it has been agreed to suspend with effect from ICC can prosecute individuals accused of genocide, 12 December 2014 taking any bank guarantees crimes against humanity and war crimes, and from sponsors in Kuwait, while keeping in abeyance Palestinian plans to become a party to the court the attestation of employment contracts of Indian have been strongly opposed by Israel and the female domestic workers,” the press release said. United States. Indian and Kuwaiti sides are constantly engaged Continued pn Page 13 in finding a long-term resolution of this issue. India implemented the KD 720 bank guarantee measure SYDNEY: Fireworks explode over the Opera House and the Harbour Bridge during New Year’s Eve celebra- in September 2014. tions in Sydney, Australia, early today. — AP THURSDAY, JANUARY 1, 2015 LOCAL Arrest warrant for Treasury fire caused by Duwailah issued act of crime: Al-Essa By A Saleh rized expat donation collectors would be deported. KUWAIT: The public prosecution officer yester- day issued an arrest warrant for former MP, Visa transfers, work permits KUWAIT: Education and Higher Education ened following the incident, adding that the inci- with money. The Bangladeshi went to Jleeb Mubarak Al-Duwailah to question him in a case Labor departments all over the country Minister Dr Bader Al-Essa said surveillance cam- dent has become an eye-opener for us regarding police station and filed the complaint. eras show that the fire that broke in the treasury security. He said the windows of oil sills can be filed against him over allegedly slandering Abu are scheduled to resume receiving residency on Sunday was a the cause of deliberate act of opened easily and we are waiting for the investi- Citizens shot Dhabi Crown Prince Sheikh Mohammed Bin visa transfer and work permit transactions crime. Al-Essa said during a surprise tour of the gation report. Meanwhile, the ministry will carry Three citizens working at Sabah Al-Ahmad Zayed. Sunday after a two-week halt to conduct the financial sector that the video clip recorded by out financial inventory hoping to arrest the cul- Reserve in Subiya area came under fire by indi- Notably, the foreign ministry sued Al- annual inventory. cameras is now with the prosecution and results prit. viduals driving 4WD vehicle without license Duwaliah over a TV interview with him that In this regard, the Manpower Public will be known soon. plates. The citizens told Subbiya police about the contained slanderous remarks about Sheikh Authority Director, Jamal Al-Doussary stressed Minister Al-Essa denied that he received any Examination supervisor incident. No injuries were reported. Bin Zayed. In addition, lawyer, Mohammed that work permits would be open for various criminal report regarding the incident adding The appeals court revoked a decision by the Al-Sabti also filed another case against Al- sectors in January. Al-Dousary added that a that “at the moment no one is suspected, but the education ministry to sack an examinations Chinese firm hacked Duwailah for accusing Sheikh Bin Zayed of grace period that had been given to employ- truth will come out soon after the investigation.” supervisor who allegedly leaked French lan- A hacker broke into the account of a Kuwaiti antagonizing Sunni Islam and having person- ers to file absconding reports against labor Al-Essa said the culprit wanted to hide some- guage question paper to two students in 12th establishment in a Chinese bank and withdrew thing or erase some proof in the office related to grade. $95,000. A Syrian expatriate who works in a com- al feuds with certain groups. He added that they sponsor would also end Sunday and that certain suspicious tenders. The fire may be the pany and has an authorization from its owner, such accusations would jeopardize the state’s the department would cancel around 8,000 cause of a deliberate attempt, but we cannot Ethiopians rob Bangladeshi told Jahra police that he was conned by an national interests and relations with other vexatious reports. “Reviewing absconding ascertain it now,” he said. He said no cases have Four Ethiopians stormed the house of a unknown person who got into the establish- brotherly GCC states. reports, the manpower authority received been sent to the prosecution by the tenders. Bangladeshi and robbed him of KD 320. The vic- ment’s accounts in a Chinese bank and trans- 10,000 reports while MOI only received 2,000. Al-Essa said the safety and security proce- tim was surprised by the four in his room who ferred $95,000 in two payments. Police are inves- Maid-slaying lion owner This means that the rest of 8,000 reports were dures at the ministry buildings have been tight- beat him up and then tied him before escaping tigating. released on bail malicious and only used by sponsors to intimi- A court yesterday released the owner of a date the laborers”, said Al-Doussary noted that lion that fatally injured a maid. The man was sponsors had been given a two-week grace released on a KD 500 bail pending further period to either activate their reports or cancel investigations. The suspect had kept a lion at them. Further, Al-Doussay said that sponsors his house and the lion bit a Filipina maid would have to follow standard procedures of causing her fatal injuries. filing a report with the authority conditioning that absconding period is no less than 90 days then would also have to report to MOI’s inves- MSAL deports violators tigations department. The Ministry of Social Affairs and Labor recently removed unauthorized donation col- Municipal bribery lection vans from various areas around the Kuwait Municipality Director Engineer country, said MSAL’s charity organizations Ahmed Al-Subaih said that all the municipali- department Manager, Dr Ahmed Al-Sane’ ty’s financial dossiers would be reviewed in noting that on spotting one of the vans in order to rule out any violation. “Employees Jaber Al-Ali area by an inspection team, those involved in or suspected of receiving bribery operating it fled the scene. He said unautho- will be referred to prosecution”, he stressed. The liquor bottles being destroyed. Woman’s body found in Riggai apartment

By Hanan Al-Saadoun

KUWAIT: Police found the body of a woman in a flat in Riggai and the haris said he did not know that there was a woman inside the flat. Farwaniya prosecutor sent the body of the unknown woman to the coroner to identify her and then identify her killer. Police searched the flat after owner of the building reported to the police that a foul odor was coming out of a flat rented by a citizen. Police are investi- gating the case.

Liquor destroyed The committee formed by ministerial law 3218/2010 destroyed a large quantity of liquor. It destroyed 12,946 bottles, plastic bottles and metal cans.

Fake detectives A citizen told Dhaher police that some persons claiming to be detectives stormed her house, beat her son and destroyed the furniture.

Money stolen A citizen accused an unknown person of withdrawing KD 60 from his bank account.

Drug overdose A citizen reportedly died of drug overdose. He was found dead inside his house. Drugs paraphernalia was found near the corpse.

Filipina arrested A Filipina was placed under police custody while at Mubarak hospital after attempting to abort herself result- ing in profuse bleeding. The attempt caused the death of the infant. Kuwaiti officials meet on fighting corruption

KUWAIT: The Ministry of Interior works hand-in-hand with the nation’s Anti-Corruption Authority for the purpose of rooting out corrupt practices that may be found within government ministries and agencies and elsewhere in soci- ety, a Kuwaiti official said yesterday. Deputy Prime Minister and Interior Minister Sheikh Mohammad Al-Khaled Al-Hamad Al-Sabah made that statement as he chaired a meeting yesterday attended by chief of the Authority Abdul-Rahman Al-Nimash and a bevy of officials from the Ministry and the Authority, said a press statement issued by the Interior Ministry. Sheikh Mohammad Al-Khalid noted that it was the expressed wish of His Highness the Amir Sheikh Sabah Al- Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah to fight rampant corruption in the country that was the impetus behind forming recently the Anti-Corruption Authority, which the Minister said was an essential tool to reach transparency and fairness in the work of the government. “There is no room for anyone anymore to cover up acts of corruption or irregularity in government bodies as we all seek to exercise transparency for the betterment of the people and our nation,” the Minister said. He urged the Authority to establish strong partnerships with these bod- ies in order to enhance its effectiveness. —KUNA Anguish over ban on New Year eve concerts KUWAIT: For the sixth year in a row, New Year eve in Kuwait was celebrated without any concerts honoring the view expressed by Islamists though they never oppose holding concerts on other occasions. For the last six years, no production companies had applied to get the information ministry’s approval to hold concerts on new year eves knowing that such requests would be rejected even though the applications fulfill all conditions. In this regard, well-informed sources at the information ministry said that the ministry’s policy in rejecting requests on holding con- certs on new year eves has led to many companies and event organizers to move to other neighboring countries to hold con- certs for Kuwaitis. The policy is also affecting the tourism industry in the country where other GCC countries take an advantage over Kuwait. The sources called for more transparency on the part of the ministry to attract Kuwaitis wishing to attend concerts of iconic GCC and Arab singers. THURSDAY, JANUARY 1, 2015 LOCAL Deportation rumors keep expats in jitters MoI officials seek to allay fears

By Nawara Fattahova Parking in the place of a disabled is not one of charcoal after she fell asleep on a beachside. She these violations and was not added to it. So if the showed medical reports to Al-Subaih stating KUWAIT: As the country ushered in New Year, the expat committed two serious traffic violations, he that she sustained charcoal burns due to barbe- expats in Kuwait, who make up about 70 percent may be ready for deportation after the third one,î cuing. After listening to her story, Al-Subaih of the countryís population, remained in jitters as he told the Kuwait Times. decided to propose the rule. But I believe if the rumors about new deportation rules gripped fines are imposed rigorously, nobody would KUWAIT: First Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Sheikh Sabah Al- communities in the country. For the last one Ineffective measure dare to violate the rule,î he said. Khaled Al-Hamad Al-Sabah received the chiefs of Kuwaiti diplomatic missions week, the local media has been springing surpris- Another scary news about deporting expats abroad yesterday, in presence of Acting Undersecretary of the Ministry of Foreign es on a daily basis with reports about new regula- for barbecuing on seaside was published two No mistreatment Affairs Mohammad Al-Roumi. During the meeting, they discussed the latest polit- tions or proposals by the government to harass, days ago in the local press. According to an offi- Meanwhile, Director of Public Relations and ical developments on both regional and international arenas, planned diplomatic penalize and eventually deport expats. To make cial in the Kuwait Municipality who sought to Security Information Brig Adel Al-Hashash matters worse, rumors are float across social stay anonymous said this is still a proposal and denied that expats were being mistreated in cas- activities and ways and means of developing relations with sisterly and friendly media networks about the purported govern- was not applied yet. He thinks that such proposal es of deportation saying that nobody was being countries. Senior ministry officials were also present in the meeting. —KUNA ment moves to curtail the number of expat labor is not effective and may even cause more prob- deported without a proper crime punishable force in Kuwait by bringing about new drastic lems. under Kuwaiti law. He also denied any plan to measures. ìThe fine for barbecuing on beaches was deport expats on a selective basis during cele- One of the rumors that has unnerved people is increased from KD 5 up to KD 100. Yet people brations of New Yearís eve. about the reported punishment of deportation didnít stop this habit or refrain from barbecuing. There are orders to ensure security year for parking a vehicle in a slot that is earmarked for This is due to the negligence of the municipality round especially in areas frequented by families the handicapped. A KD10 was previously charged inspectors who are not doing their job properly. for entertainment, Hashash said in statements for this traffic offence. But now the violation will So whatís the use of increasing the penalty if it is published by Al-Rai yesterday. He added that result in towing away the vehicle along with con- not executed properly,î he asked. ìI even believe policemen are working on protecting the coun- fiscation of documents including driving license. that this may cause more problems for inspectors try and people against any violations. Major Naser Buslaib, Head of the Security who go to implement this rule. The erring person Hashash said the Interior Ministry prepared Media Department at the Ministry of Interior can even attack the officer in defiance if he thinks an integrated plan to patrol different areas. explained that the ministry applies the same that he will be deported eventually, ì he said. Detectives will patrol all areas including farms, measure on citizens as well and the news was The official also narrated the story behind the jakhoors, cafes and restaurants. He asked citi- nothing but rumors. ìThe Traffic law set deporta- proposal. ìThe Director General of Kuwait zens and expats to cooperate with the instruc- tion for expats for three serious offences, such as Municipality Ahmad Al-Subaih came with this tions of the police. The official said the govern- drunk driving, crossing red light and overspeed- proposal after receiving a complaint from a ment will apply the law on all without any dis- ing. This rules were issued many years ago. woman who sustained burns from the burning crimination during New Year celebrations.

NBK hosts New Year lunch for staff

KUWAIT: National Bank of Kuwait (NBK) clients and shareholders. Lunch buffets were An annual tradition, the end of year lunch hosted a special lunch buffet for all staff on held in NBK main head offices. NBK Executive buffets helps strengthen the NBK family and the occasion of the New Year in appreciation Management congratulated the employees serve as a token of appreciation for the for their commitment, initiative and unremit- on the occasion of the New Year and thanked staff’s professionalism, dedication and hard ting efforts in serving the bank as well as its them for their efforts and excellence. work. THURSDAY, JANUARY 1, 2015 LOCAL

His Highness the Amir Sheikh Sabah Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah Amir inquires about Saudi King’s health

KUWAIT: His Highness the Amir Sheikh Sabah Al- Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah yesterday sent a cable to Saudi King Abdullah bin Abdulaziz to inquire about his health condition. Two similar cables were sent by HH the Deputy Amir and Crown Prince Sheikh Nawaf Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah and HH the Prime Minister Sheikh Jaber Mubarak Al-Hamad Al-Sabah. Meanwhile, HH the Amir sent cables of condo- lences to the President of Indonesia Joko Widodo, and to King of Malaysia Almu’tasimu Billahi Muhibbuddin KUWAIT: Minister of Information and Minister of State for Youth Affairs Sheikh Sheikh Salman Al-Humoud Al-Sabah speaks to officials during the tour. Tuanku Alhaj sir Abdul Halim Mu’adzam Shah Ibni Salman Sabah Salem Al-Humoud Al-Sabah during his tour at the heritage village. —KUNA photos Almarhum Sultan Badlishah, on the crash of the Malaysian airliner aboard. Similar cables were sent by HH the Deputy Amir and Crown Prince, and HH the Prime Minister. — KUNA Minister hails Amir’s Ration cards: support to Heritage Festival securing food for KUWAIT: The support by His Highness the tions for the event, lauding efforts by the Kuwaitis since 1972 Amir Sheikh Sabah Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al- organizer committee. He stressed how the Sabah to the Fifth National Heritage Festival Village has come to constitute a heritage KUWAIT: Providing food security is amongst the chief pri- has contributed a lot to the prominent sta- edifice that includes exhibitions for the six- orities for the government and since the establishment of tus it has come to enjoy, said Minister of member Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC), as the Kuwait Supplies Company in 1972, ration cards played Information and Minister of State for Youth well as other facilities. A chief characteristic an important role in providing high-quality goods to con- Affairs Sheikh Salman Sabah Salem Al- of the festival is the wide participation by sumers with nominal prices. Humoud Al-Sabah. heritage lovers, both in Kuwait and the Gulf, On an annual basis, the State of Kuwait provides around The Festival proves how Kuwaitis and he said. KD 100,000 million, ($340 million), to cover citizens’ needs Gulf people closely hold on to their rich her- He thanked Amiri Diwan Advisor for food and necessities. Through ration cards, heads of itage, Sheikh Salman Al-Humoud said after a Mohammed Daifallah Sharar, who accompa- households are entitled to rice, fresh and powdered milk, tour in Sabah Al-Ahmad Heritage Village, cit- nied him on the tour, and Deputy Head of Lentil, oil, and sugar. ing the huge interaction by competitors and the Competitions Committee Sheikh Sabah Baby food and milk, dates, frozen chicken, and other visitors. Fahad Al-Nasser Al-Sabah as well as all food necessities were added to the list to cover the citizens’ The Minister added that his visit to the members of the Festival committees for need for supplies and a committee was established by the village, also with Chairman of Public their hard efforts to secure it success. state to look into the inclusion of more goods in the future Authority for Youth and Sports (PAYS) Sheikh For his part, Advisor Sharar said His according to the needs of citizens. Ahmad Mansour Al-Ahmad Al-Sabah and a Highness the Amir pays great attention to Ration cards also went through different phases with host of ministries’ officials, aimed at check- the popular heritage, offering limitless sup- the recent step being the issuance of smart cards that are ing the final arrangements for the official port to its lovers. Visitors are welcome to fol- Sheikh Salman Al-Humoud addresses Amiri Diwan Advisor Mohammed digitally connected to the Ministry of Commerce and launch of the Festival on 9 January, as well low camel, horse, sheep, and hawk races, the press during the tour. Daifallah Sharar Industry’s data-base to ensure and improve methods of as following up current contests. Sharar, Festival Supervisor, said. Cultural and He noted that the organizer committee He lauded the role by the Ministry of supplies distribution throughout the 69 ration centers in all Sheikh Salman Al-Humoud expressed artistic events will be held as part of the aims at developing the Festival into a forum Information and the Kuwaiti media for high- Kuwaiti governorates.—KUNA admiration for the distinguished prepara- popular heritage event. for the Kuwaiti and Gulf families and youth. lighting the prominent event. — KUNA THURSDAY, JANUARY 1, 2015 LOCAL In Brief Warm celebration Laid-off expats Water cut KUWAIT: Sunny and warm weather is expected KUWAIT: The Ministry of Social Affairs and Labor has KUWAIT: Assistant Undersecretary for Consumers during the New Year Day’s holiday and the week- recently laid off expatriate workers who had been in Affairs at the Ministry of Electricity and Water end, while temperatures drop during the night, the service for 30 years in the ministry, well-informed Abdallah Al-Hajiri said cutting power is not part of meteorological department at the General sources said. They added that the laid-off workers the ministry’s methods to collect dues from con- Directorate for Civil Aviation (DGCA) said. The maxi- were given a six-months grace period, until June 30, sumers. The ministry only resorts to cutting water supply after the nonpaying consumer is sent a warn- mum temperature during those three days is 2015 to arrange for retirement and collect their expected to range between 25 and 26 C degrees, ing notice and given a grace period, he added. The indemnities. — Al-Anba ministry collected KD 514 million as of last Tuesday, while the minimum temperature is expected to he further indicated. — Al-Watan reach 7 to 8 C degrees. —KUNA Photo of the day

KUWAIT: Tables prepared for the New Year’s Eve celebration at Jumeirah Messilah Beach Hotel and Spa. With laws that ban outdoor parties to celebrate the new year in Kuwait, hotels and restaurants have grown in recent years to become the only public places where people can mark the beginning of the new year in a festive mood. —Photo by Yasser Al-Zayyat

2015 bears no sign of end to oil price deterioration: Expert KUWAIT: The developments on the oil prices. Behbehani ruled out the success market do not augur well for oil produc- of OPEC’s attempts to decrease prices to ers and exporters as there are no loom- press shale oil industry hard and turn it ing signs for a near end to prices deterio- into loss making. This scenario is ration in 2015, a Kuwaiti oil expert said. doomed to failure as shale oil industry is The technical factors do not uphold getting more adaptive to low prices par- oil producer expectations that prices ticularly with the non-stop development would bounce back soon, Abdul-Samea in the cracking technology and conse- Behbehani, Head of Al-Sharq for quently the decline in production cost. Petroleum Consulting Company, said in a He added that studies projected an statement. increase in the production of non-OPEC The market is oversupplied and the states by 1.35 million barrels a day in demand is stable, he said, adding that oil 2015, against an expected growth in producers particularly OPEC states are demand estimated at 900,000. unable to address the situation amid Behbehani suggested that the fears that any output cut would harm geopolitical factors and the reactions of their market shares. He also highlighted some countries which hardly hit by the the growing impact of the shale oil pro- price slump such as Russia, Venezuela duction, which has jumped to over four and Iran may be the game-changer in million barrels a day, on the supplies and 2015. — KUNA

KUWAIT: Information Minister Sheikh Salman Al-Sabah during the exhibition’s inauguration. — KUNA 7th Ring Road Exhibition key to detour reopened KUWAIT: The seventh Ring Road’s detour, measures related to calibration of expan- located opposite of Abduallah Al-Mubarak sion joints, being of high importance, society service: Minister residential area, was regarding that this ring opened yesterday road is used by heavy evening, Assistant vehicles. KUWAIT: Information Minister Sheikh Salman Sheikh Salman, also Minister of State for Youth lems in the society. Khayyat hoped the ideas and Undersecretary for Road The detour was con- Al-Sabah on Tuesday highlighted importance of Affairs, said in a speech at the inauguration of projects of the students would be properly uti- Engineering Affairs at the structed in order to serve the engineering design exhibition held at the the exhibition. He said the Ministry of Youth was lized to further improve engineering in the Ministry of Public Works the people and meet their Faculty of Engineering and Petroleum at Kuwait keen on supporting youth “because they are the country. engineer Ahmad Al- needs, besides safety con- University (KU). leaders of development in future.” Director of the center of Engineering Hassan announced. cerns, Minister of Public The exhibition, one of methods enabling Dr Hussein Al-Khayyat, Dean of the Faculty of Training and Graduates Center at the Faculty, He added in remarks to Works and Minister of youths to serve their society, is an opportunity Engineering and Petroleum, said the two-day Dr. Ammar Al-Sairafi, said the exhibition was KUNA that closing the Electricity and Water for Kuwaiti engineers to display their designing exhibition would feature graduation projects of part of the graduation pre-perquisites. He said detour at the 7th Ring Abdulaziz Al-Ibrahim said talents in all fields which will contribute to more than 250 students. These projects, he engineering design was a compulsory subject Road was temporary in at the reopening of the achieving the development plan of the country, added, would include solutions to some prob- on all students. — KUNA order to take certain Ahmad Al-Hassan detour. — KUNA THURSDAY, JANUARY 1, 2015 LOCAL

Local Spotlight EXPATRIATES New year and friends

By Muna Al-Fuzai

[email protected]

believe that New Year is the right time for celebration with your beloved ones . Loving ones can be your fam- Iily members or friends. I do believe that true friends will always be around you especially when you celebrate New Year season. As we grow older, our parents may depart us or may live away from you. Similarly, our brothers and sisters could also be away from us leading a busy life. Only our loyal friends will be around to share the moments of joy with us . That is what friends are for. They say a friend in need is a friend indeed. Real friends are there with you not only during the times of happiness and joy. They are there for you to share your feelings on all occasions, be it happiness or sadness. They UPDATING DATA FINES share your pangs during the times of misfortunes and cheer with you in hours of happiness. They wish you nothing but the best. Good friends are committed to sup- porting each other in good and bad times. Sadly, true friends are seldom found these days. As we kuwait digest grow older and become more selective, sober and wise, we will surely be left with less number of true friends. Your social circle could be wider when you work in a big Can Iraq stand united? organization or when you are active in society. Many will know you because of your status in the society or posi- By Dr Shamlan Al-Essa tion in official hierarchy. But how many would still be your good friends once you leave your official position hile the allied countries are preoccupied with fight- Kurdish forces, and it seems that the US in coordination with ship of one of the religious Shiite parties, and Iran partici- and lead a retired life? Very few, I believe . ing Daesh, nobody is looking at the stage after the Iran is heading towards strengthening the three Iraqi enti- pates in supporting and training these militias. The same It is unfortunate that people maintain friendship look- Wremoval of the Islamic State and things are still ties - Kurd, Sunni and Shiite - because the state of a strong goes for the Kurds. All what they think about is the support ing at your social position or financial worth. Those unclear. The sheikhs of Sunni tribes who visited Washington Iraq is over, and attention is now on shredding Iraq into of peshmerga forces to defend their areas, not the Iraqi ter- friends are hypocrites who could belong to both genders. recently said they received American guarantees to form an three entities. ritories. Once their goals are accomplished they would desert organized Sunni force, but the Americans did not give them What is the future of Iraq? And is it possible to find a Political leaders in Iraq have not agreed so far on the you. They are not true friends. any opinion on the status of Sunni governorates after the political system that can unify Iraqis, as former prime minis- political parties law because it calls for transparency and That is why New Year gathering of friends may be a removal of Daesh. ter Iyad Allawi called for, especially that current politicians in disclosure of each party’s accounts, as corruption in Iraq best way to renew our lasting bond of friendship, love The council of Muslim scholars described the lauding of Iraq find it not in their interest for a unified Iraq to return cannot be curbed or be limited because most politicians are and commitment. This can be the right time to reiterate the Iranian military intervention in Iraq by some American with all its components and united social fabric? Iraqi politi- involved in it headed by former prime minister Nouri Al- our commitment to each other and pray for the best for officials as a farce. They said in a statement that this matter cians want their own personal, partisan or sectarian inter- Maliki and the Islamic Daawa party. the New Year. I have only a limited number of true friends is a rebellion against international law and the United ests at the expense of Iraq’s unity. Politicians, whether those It is not in the interest of anyone in Iraq to create animos- and I am very proud of all of them. I have chosen them Nations charter. They added that the lauding is a clear indi- supported by the United States or Iran, do not think about ity between people and create sectarian and ethnic crises with my free will and they have been around me for cation on the breadth of cooperation and coordination bringing back a unified Iraq as a system and the evidence is for them, so will political powers join efforts to rescue Iraq years. No doubt, I trust them with my life. between the United States and Iran on the Iraq issue, apart accepting the idea of a National Guard for each entity with by creating conciliatory policies that serve the interest of This year, I will not make a long list of resolutions for from the American support for the crimes committed by American support. How can the name National Guard be all? The experience of modern Iraq indicate that all attempts 2015. I will not wish for making big money or possessing militias such as kidnapping, killing, blackmail, displacement used, while it has nothing to do with patriotism? to impose one party, one opinion and one leader failed a yacht etc. I will make my list short and resolute. I wish to and burning houses. The Sunni areas have tribal military units that are under because they did not take the interest of all sects of the Iraqi be with my friends as long as I live . I wish to stay in touch American General James Terry said that US allies prom- the leadership of the tribe’s sheikh. The Shiite areas have people into consideration. —Translated by Kuwait Times from Al-Watan with them and share this journey of life with them until it ised to send 1,500 soldiers to Iraq to help train Iraqi and units and Shiite militias, and each group is under the leader- ends. Happy New Year!

kuwait digest Happy holidays from the land of peace

By Labeed Abdal

[email protected]

he way the city of Bethlehem, Palestine practice their rituals freely and safely. was dressed and decorated during TChristmas celebrations asserts the city’s Kuwait-Iraq ties uniqueness as the birthplace of Jesus Christ Iraqi Ambassador to Kuwait Mohammad and the place where the miracle of Jesus’ birth Bahrulolom described the recent visit of took place. Kuwait’s First Deputy Prime Minister and Priests, Muslim guests and others were pres- Foreign Minister Sheikh Sabah Al-Khaled Al- ent at the Church of the Nativity to celebrate Sabah to Iraq as ‘successful,’ and expressed ‘100 Christmas, in a scene that solidifies the land’s percent optimism’ in improvement in bilateral position as a cradle for religions. Thousands of relations. people gathered at the Manger Square and cel- These statements, as well as his announce- ebrated in a scene that sends a message to ment that Iraq was proud of the ‘good results’ extremists whose hands are stained with the that his country’s talks with Kuwait have blood of innocent people. It is also a message achieved, make us feel optimistic and supports of solidarity with our brothers in humanity who calls for opening more channels of cooperation, follow a religion that calls for mercy, and who development and joint investment in oil and are supported by other sector Muslims who call between the for peace, toler- The whole world must join in two neighbor- ance and ing countries. respect. The their calls with those of men, Furthermore, whole world the fact that must join in their women, and children who both sides calls with those signed agree- of men, women, prayed in Bethlehem for peace ments to regu- and children late maritime who prayed in in Palestine, a land that has movement in a Bethlehem for way that pro- peace in always been a place of religious tects mutual Palestine, a land interest, reflects that has always tolerance, and where people of a large sense of been a place of responsibility, religious toler- different religions lived in understanding ance, and where and commit- people of differ- peace and harmony. ment to meet- ent religions ing the require- lived in peace ments of the and harmony. international law. Meanwhile, the agreement to On this occasion, I call for people living in open two Kuwaiti consulates in Erbil and Basra that land to commit to its identity as a land of is also a positive step to boost investment, peace and love for all. Jews, Christians and trade, and movement of persons and goods. I Muslims have called that place home for many hope that the high-level meeting of the joint centuries and had lived together in peace with- committee scheduled to take place next year out denying each others’ religious rights. That according to the Iraqi ambassador, includes land must eventually return as a place where agreements on joint investment and coopera- believers of all Abrahamic religions can live and tion in the oil field. THURSDAY, JANUARY 1, 2015

Saudi king admitted Two-year-old fatally shoots mother in US in hospital Page 9 Page 8

TUNIS: Tunisian newly-elected President Beji Caid Essebsi (inset) arrives in his car for a handover ceremony with his predecessor Moncef Marzouki yesterday the Carthage presidential Palace in Tunis. —AFP 88-year-old Essebsi sworn in Tunisia president Landmark event marks four years after Arab Spring uprising

TUNIS: Anti-Islamist Beji Caid Essebsi, 88, was sworn in as Ali’s rule, was elected president at the end of 2011 by an Essebsi’s Nidaa Tounes movement, which won land- Essebsi said it was his duty to address economic problems Tunisia’s first freely elected president yesterday, four years interim assembly under a coalition deal with the then-rul- mark parliamentary elections in October, includes many “to realize the promises of the revolution: dignity, employ- after an uprising that triggered the Arab Spring. The elec- ing moderate Islamist movement Ennahda. Opponents members of Ben Ali’s old ruling party. Even so, the anti- ment, health and regional equality.” tion of Essebsi, a veteran of previous regimes, is seen as a have accused Essebsi of seeking a return to the era of Ben Islamist lawyer has vowed a fresh start for Tunisia. Essebsi One of Essebsi’s first tasks will be to instruct his party to landmark for the North African nation, where longtime Ali, who clung to power for 23 years, combining authori- took 55.68 percent of the presidential vote in a December form a government with a prime minister able to com- dictator Zine El Abidine Ben Ali was toppled in 2011. tarian rule with a degree of prosperity and stability for his 21 runoff against Marzouki-the first time Tunisians have mand a majority in parliament. His party failed to secure Essebsi’s victory over outgoing president Moncef people. freely elected their head of state since independence in an absolute majority in the October polls, winning 86 of Marzouki capped Tunisia’s sometimes troubled transition During campaigning the new leader accused Marzouki 1956. 217 seats. Ennahda, which came second, has not ruled out to democracy and has won praise from Western leaders. of representing the Islamists, whom he says have “ruined” Parliament speaker Mohamed Ennaceur described the joining a governing coalition. Tunisian newspapers urged Essebsi told parliament after a swearing-in ceremony that the country since the revolution, and many voters oath-taking ceremony as “an exceptional moment in histo- the new leadership to uphold the dreams of the revolu- he would be “the president of all Tunisians” and “the guar- appeared to be seeking a return to stability. Following ry”. The revolution that began in Tunisia spread to many tion. “All the vicissitudes of history during the past 40 antor of national unity”. independence from France in 1956, Essebsi became an parts of the Arab world, with mass protests in Egypt, Libya, years show the importance of respect for human rights,” Le “There is no future for Tunisia without consensus adviser to the country’s founding father and first presi- Syria and Yemen. Temps said. among political parties and members of civil society,” he dent, Habib Bourguiba, holding a number of key jobs In every country except Tunisia the revolution was fol- It said there was “no question of backtracking on said. “There is no future for Tunisia without national recon- under him and then Ben Ali. lowed by violent turmoil or, as in Syria’s case, a devastating respect for freedoms”. La Presse said Tunisia’s experience ciliation.” Essebsi also attended a handover ceremony at He later returned to the public stage as a supporter of civil war. Essebsi and the new government will face major showed that “democracy is compatible with Arab-Muslim the presidential palace where he was embraced by the the 2011 uprising and served as prime minister briefly challenges. Tunisia’s economy is struggling to recover culture”. It added: “Now we must demonstrate that this outgoing leader. after Ben Ali’s ouster while elections were organised for from the upheaval of the revolution and there is a growing democracy can be turned into economic opportunity and Marzouki, an exiled human rights activist during Ben the interim assembly. threat from militants long suppressed under Ben Ali. prosperity.” — AFP

Gambian president home after failed coup BANJUL: Gambia’s iron-fisted ruler Yahya bid “has exposed some flaws in the military UN chief Ban Ki-moon called for a probe Jammeh returned home overnight after a system even though the attackers were of the failed coup as the Security Council failed coup launched while he was outside repelled. Some officers are certain to be sin- met to discuss the turmoil. Ban also urged the country, a military source said yesterday, gled out.” the government, security and defence as fears mounted of possible reprisals by his Major risk of repression forces in Banjul to “act in full respect of regime. A group of heavily armed men led Jammeh claims to have foiled a succes- human rights.” Banjul, a small tropical city by an army deserter attacked the presiden- sion of coup plots and has come under fire which lies on an island in a river leading to tial palace in the capital Banjul before dawn for serious human rights abuses, including the Atlantic Ocean, was tense but calm yes- on Tuesday, but were repelled by Jammeh’s repression of the media and the disappear- terday, but there were many soldiers and forces. Forces loyal to Jammeh, who has ance of rivals. police on the streets. ruled the small west African country for 20 A Dakar-based researcher, Gilles Yabi, “Soldiers armed to teeth are still years, killed three suspects including the warned of a “major risk of repression patrolling the streets of Banjul. Some are on alleged ringleader identified as Lamin extending beyond the military figures foot and some are on board vehicles,” resi- Sanneh, according to a military officer. involved in the coup attempt”. “There are dent Fatu Sall said. Public offices, banks and Jammeh, who had been on a private visit fears the regime could take advantage of shops were open for business after closing to Dubai since the weekend, went directly the situation by blaming people who had on Tuesday while public television and to the presidential palace where he was nothing to do with it”. Jammeh, a former radio, which went off air briefly after the shown the damage caused by Tuesday’s head of military police, has ruled the largely coup bid, were operating again. “Contrary to attack and bodies of the slain assailants, the rural nation of some 1.8 million people since rumors, there is peace and calm in the coun- source told AFP from Bissau. The 49-year-old 1994, when he came to power in a coup try and people are advised to go about their strongman made no public comments but that toppled founding leader Sir Dawda normal businesses. We are praying for peace his demeanour was stern and some men Jawara. The United States and Britain voiced and tranquility to continue,” state radio said “appeared to be nervous”, the source said. concern about the coup attempt in The late Tuesday, quoting a government state- “People were told to be vigilant.” Gambia, which left the Commonwealth ment. Ordinary people were reluctant to The source said there were fears that group of nations in 2013 accusing London speak out about the situation for fear of Jammeh, who himself seized power in a and Washington of lying about its human reprisals by the formidable National GAMBIA: A giant billboard of Gambia President Yahya Jammeh sits on an empty coup in 1994, may launch a purge. The coup rights situation. Intelligence Agency. — AFP street in Banjul Gambia yesterday. — AP p8_Layout 1 12/31/14 8:32 PM Page 1

THURSDAY, JANUARY 1, 2015 INTERNATIONAL Saudi king admitted to hospital for checks

RIYADH: Saudi Arabia’s ailing King Qatar this month, due to the He underwent two operations in Abdullah, 91, was admitted to hos- monarch’s ailing health. The king’s October 2011 and November 2012 pital yesterday for “medical latest hospitalization comes as to correct “ligament slackening” in checks,” the royal court said. The Saudi Arabia holds a high-profile the upper back. Since the death in king, whose age and frequent hos- position in the US-led fight against 1952 of King Abdul Aziz al-Saud, pitalization have raised concerns the Islamic State group, which has the founder of modern Saudi about the future leadership of the seized swathes of neighboring Iraq Arabia, the throne has systemati- key oil producer, was admitted to and Syria. cally passed from one of his sons to the King Abdulaziz Medical City in Saudi warplanes have joined in another, brothers and half-broth- Riyadh, a court statement carried coalition air strikes against the ers. But many of Abdul Aziz’s sons by the official SPA news agency jihadists in Syria, although the have died or are aged. Abdullah’s said. Abdullah’s half-brother ultra-conservative Muslim king- former Crown Princes Sultan and Salman, 77, is next in line to the dom has faced calls to do more to Nayef died in 2011 and 2012 respec- throne. He was named crown halt the flow of funds and fighters tively. In March 2014, King Abdullah prince in June 2012 following the to IS from among its own citizens. named his half-brother Prince death of Prince Nayef bin Abdul The king’s absence from the public Moqren as a second crown prince, in Aziz. gaze for some time last year an unprecedented move that clearly Salman has been representing prompted rumors on social media aimed at smoothing succession hur- RIYADH: A handout picture released by the SPA on September 29 2013 shows the king at most public events, networks that his health was dete- dles. Moqren is the youngest of Saudi’s King Abdullah at the Al-Salam royal palace.—AFP including the latest Gulf summit in riorating. Abdul Aziz’s sons. —AFP At least 33 killed in suicide bombing in central Yemen

SANAA: A suicide bomber killed at least In a text message, the state Saba 33 people in central Yemen yesterday news agency cited the head of Ibb’s when he blew himself up at a cultural police as saying three people had died centre where students were celebrating and 30 had been wounded. Residents Prophet Mohammad’s (PBUH) birthday, reported there was a second explosion medical sources and a resident said. outside one of the two hospitals, al- They said at least 33 bodies, includ- Thawra. No details were immediately ing women and children, had been available or if there were casualties. transferred to two hospitals in the city No one claimed responsibility for the of Ibb. The governor of Ibb province, suicide bombing, but it resembles previ- controlled by the Shiite Muslim Houthi ous attacks carried out by Al-Qaeda in group that dominates Yemen, was the Arabian Peninsula (AQAP), which reported to be among a number of peo- operates in Yemen. AQAP regards ple wounded in the attack, local resi- Shiites, the sect of Islam to which the dents said. Houthis belong, as heretics. —Reuters

Iran urges Bahrain to free jailed opposition chief

TEHRAN: Iran urged Bahrain yesterday as party leader, sparked fresh clashes to free Shiite opposition leader Sheikh Ali between his supporters and police in Salman who stands accused of seeking Shiite villages outside the capital regime change by force in the Sunni- Manama. ruled Gulf state. “We are extremely wor- The prosecution said Monday that the ried about his situation,” foreign ministry 49-year-old cleric had been charged with spokeswoman Marzieh Afkham told “promoting regime change by force, reporters. threats and illegal means and of insulting BAGHDAD: A US soldier walks through a fence at the Taji base complex which hosts Iraqi and US troops and is located thirty kilometres north of “We want him to be released,” she said the interior ministry publicly.” the capital Baghdad. — AFP of Salman, head of the Shiite movement Salman is also accused of inciting Al-Wefaq, which boycotted a parliamen- people to break the law and of “hatred tary election in November having dis- towards a segment of the people”. On For US soldiers, Iraq mission missed it as a farce. “We believe that the Tuesday, officials said he would remain in security measures Bahrain’s government custody for seven days. has adopted to solve its internal issues Strategically located just across the brings unexpected return are wrong,” Afkham added. Shiite Iran has Gulf from Iran, Bahrain is home to the US been accused of interfering in Bahrain’s Navy’s Fifth Fleet, and Britain announced affairs ever since its Sunni ruling family plans earlier this month to build a naval TAJI BASE, Iraq: As Sergeant Michael Lair went ‘A habit’ units, and the 1st Cavalry Division’s unit patch crushed month-long protests led by Al- base of its own there. But authorities from base to base in 2011, moving American Lair also served in Afghanistan, and arriving is painted on a water tower overlooking the Wefaq in 2011 seeking an elected gov- have repeatedly rejected Al-Wefaq’s gear to Kuwait ahead of the US withdrawal from back in Iraq was ultimately a return to the life he base. ernment in the Shiite-majority kingdom. demand for an elected prime minister to Iraq, it seemed unlikely he would be returning. has known for years. “It was comfortable, as Salman’s detention, which came on replace the current government, which is The United States’ nearly nine-year war in the weird as I guess that sounds,” he says. “This is my ‘Like starting over’ Sunday two days after he was re-elected dominated by the royal family. — AFP country was winding down, and the devastating fourth deployment, so this is what I’m used to. I Staff Sergeant Marlon Daley, another soldier violence that killed tens of thousands of Iraqis don’t know anything different. at Taji, who has been sent to Iraq three times, and thousands of American troops was at its “This has become a habit.” Lair is one of including during the initial 2003 invasion, did lowest level in years. But three years later, Lair is about 180 US military personnel now living at not expect to return after leaving in 2011. He on his third Iraq deployment, this time as part of Taji, a number that is set to rise, says Captain describes the IS takeover of Iraq’s second city Saudi beheads 83 people a mission to ready Iraqi soldiers for combat Tyler Hitter. Mosul, an area where he was twice deployed, as against the Islamic State (IS) jihadist group, The base is one of five sites where the US “pretty shocking”. in 2014, the most in years which has overrun large parts of the country. and its allies aim to train 5,000 military person- But “I wanted to come here,” he says. “Most “I didn’t think we were coming back,” Lair nel every six to eight weeks in “the bare mini- soldiers, that’s what they want to do, is deploy RIYADH: Saudi authorities beheaded a London based rights group says at least says, standing on a muddy road lined with sec- mum basics that are needed for counter-attack- and make a difference.” Command Sergeant Pakistani man yesterday convicted of 69 people were executed in 2009. The tions of concrete blast wall in the massive Taji ing,” says Major General Dana Pittard. The US Major Robert Keith is now on his fifth mission smuggling “large quantities” of heroin, countries that carried out the most exe- base complex north of Baghdad, an M4 assault spent billions training and equipping Iraqi to Iraq-a series that has spanned from 2003 to rifle held across his chest. “We would go up forces, but that relationship was scaled back 2011, and now 2014. the kingdom’s state news agency report- cutions on record last year were Iran, through Iraq to all the FOBs (forward operating after the 2011 withdrawal. “I didn’t think I was gonna come back. ed, bringing the number of publicly Iraq, Saudi Arabia and the US, according bases). We would load up all the equipment and American soldiers say Iraq’s troops did not Everything was shutting down, everybody was announced executions to its highest lev- to Amnesty International. Last year’s fig- take it to the port in Kuwait... by road,” he says of carry out the subsequent training needed to pushing back down into Kuwait,” Keith says of el in at least five years. An Associated ures do not include the thousands of the runup to the withdrawal. maintain their skills and that, combined with 2011. Over the years, “I’ve seen a lot of progress Press tally of announcements from the people put to death in China, where such “It was kind of a big stepping stone,” he says. flawed leadership, helped lead to the IS deba- and... a lot of changes,” and having that rolled official Saudi Press Agency shows 83 information is a state secret. “We’re taking our stuff with us-it’s a pretty good cle. Much of Taji has been in use by the Iraqi back by IS is “frustrating,” he adds. It’s like “try- people have been beheaded in Saudi The kingdom follows a strict interpre- sign.” army since US troops departed, but it is still full ing to reinvent the wheel, when you establish Arabia in 2014, including Wednesday’s tation of Islamic law and applies the death But when he deployed to Kuwait in June this of signs of the past American presence, from so much and we come back, it’s like starting execution. Most were executed for drug penalty on a number of crimes, such as year as IS drove south toward Baghdad, sweep- basketball goals to an empty can of over again,” he says. smuggling. Amnesty International says murder and rape, as well as apostasy and ing Iraqi forces aside, it became clear another Copenhagen dip tobacco-a favorite of US sol- But he is glad to be back nonetheless. “I Saudi Arabia has one of the highest exe- witchcraft. Saudi Arabia has come under mission was likely. “I was just telling myself, hey, diers still sitting in an empty hanger. enjoy coming to Iraq, the people are awesome cution rates in the world. The group lists particular criticism from rights groups for get ready to go, ‘cause I guarantee that we’re not Murals accompanied by unit nicknames cov- here, the hospitality,” Keith says. “People call me 79 executions in Saudi Arabia in 2013 executions carried out for non-fatal just gonna sit by and watch it happen,” he says. er a wall near rows of empty white housing crazy when I say that.” —AFP and 2012, and 82 in 2011 and 2010. The crimes. —AP

Syria Kurds control 70% of besieged Kobani

BEIRUT: Kurdish forces have regained its information from sources in Syria, said control of around 70 percent of the Kurdish fighters now control southern Syrian town of Kobani near the Turkish and central parts of the town as well as border after pushing back Islamic State most of the west in an area stretching up fighters that have spent months besieg- to the border. ing it, a group monitoring the war said Rami Abdulrahman, who runs the yesterday. Observatory, said Kobani was the only Backed by US-led air strikes, Kurdish clear example of US-led forces cooperat- forces made significant advances ing with fighters on the ground in Syria overnight on Tuesday after violent clash- to push back Islamic State. “There are air es with Islamic State in the south of the strikes every day, they have destroyed town, the British-based Syrian many Islamic State bases in Kobani. If Observatory for Human Rights said. there had been no air strikes then I think Known as Ayn Al-Arab in Arabic, the Kobani would have been controlled by town has became a symbol in the fight Islamic State by now,” he said. He added between the ultra hardline Islamic State Kurdish forces were close to controlling group and its enemies in Iraq and Syria. all of the town, thanks to the overnight Hundreds of Islamic State fighters gains in strategic positions. launched a sustained attack on the town The United States says it wants to more than three months ago. train and equip “moderate” rebel groups US-led forces have bombed Islamic to fight Islamic State on the ground State positions around the predominant- elsewhere in Syria but rebels say there is ly Kurdish town almost every day this much uncertainty surrounding the SANAA: People walk under decorations erected ahead of the celebrations of the birth of Prophet Mohammed (PBUH) , known in Arabic as “Al- month. The Observatory, which gathers plans. — Reuters Mawlid Al-Nabawi” in the Yemeni capital, Sanaa, yesterday.—AFP THURSDAY, JANUARY 1, 2015 INTERNATIONAL Mom who says she left tot on porch faces charges

COLUMBUS, Ohio: A mother accused male acquaintance left the boy, is scheduled for arraignment in The girl, Cheyenne, later was found red boots and a gray elephant hat. of abandoning a 14-month-old Cameron Beckford, on Friday night Franklin County Municipal Court on at a home on the city’s west side and is Police say he’s black with brown eyes Maryland boy on the front porch of a because they could no longer care for two felonies, including tampering with in good condition, authorities said. She and a Mohawk hairstyle. stranger’s home in central Ohio is him. The area being searched on the evidence. She remains in custody, and has been turned over to Franklin Police in Frederick, Maryland, said scheduled for arraignment yesterday city’s far east side is more than 2 miles online court records listed no attorney County Children Services. the father of the two children called on a child endangerment charge as from the home where Stevens said she for her. Stevens on Monday reported Police said Stevens had legal cus- police on Sunday and reported that police searching for the toddler warn left the child. that Cameron’s 6-year-old sister had tody of both children. The man, who their mother had taken them to an he may be dead. Columbus officers It is now considered a recovery been taken to an unknown location by police aren’t identifying, was jailed on unknown location in Columbus in mid- searched Tuesday near a creek with a effort because of information obtained a friend, and investigators determined unrelated warrants. A missing-child December. Based on the father’s con- dive team and helicopter after by investigators, said Sgt. Rich Weiner, the toddler was missing while ques- alert said the toddler was wearing a cerns, missing-child reports were Dainesha Stevens admitted she and a a Columbus police spokesman. Stevens tioning the woman, police said. puffy black coat, gray pants, black and issued.— AP Low-profile US diplomat helped negotiate with Cuba

WASHINGTON: Just in time for the holi- important qualification for an issue that days, a low-profile presidential aide invited needed to be handled in utmost secrecy - long suffering Judy Gross into his White discretion. “He’s not an attention-seeking House office to personally give her the gift kind of person,” said Restrepo, now a senior she’d been hoping for the past five years. fellow at the Center for American Progress. Her husband, Alan Gross, was being “Cuba policy development has often been released from a Cuban prison and coming notable for how quickly it ends up in the home. The meeting was the culmination of newspaper. That’s not something that two years of quiet negotiations with Cuban Ricardo traffics in.” officials. The man who helped handle those Word of the Cuba negotiations did not negotiations for President Barack Obama leak over nearly two years of negotiations was Ricardo Zuniga, an American diplomat with Cuban officials, in Canada and at the born in Honduras to a prominent political Vatican at Pope Francis’ invitation, with family. Rhodes and Zuniga personally keeping The dealings involved much more than Obama updated. Beyond the negotiations just Gross’ release from a 15-year sentence, with the small island country, Zuniga had a but the re-establishment of diplomatic ties whole hemisphere of concerns to worry between the United States and Cuba after a about, including an influx of children com- half-century of Cold War hostility. Obama ing over the border from Central America tasked two aides with the challenge - Ben and other implications of Obama’s immi- Rhodes, his long-running foreign policy gration policies. adviser, and Zuniga, a foreign service offi- When Obama made a historic phone call cer newly detailed to the White House’s going over final negotiations with Cuban National Security Council as senior director President Raul Castro on Dec 16, Rhodes for Western Hemisphere Affairs. and Zuniga sat in front of the president on Dan Restrepo, who previously held an Oval Office couch, listening with brief- Zuniga’s job, said he recommended the ing books on their laps. A White House Cuba expert to replace him in part because photo taken after Obama hung up shows he knew that relations with the country Zuniga being embraced by his boss, could be an important part of Obama’s sec- National Security Adviser Susan Rice. HAYDEN: People stand inside a Wal-Mart in Hayden, Idaho on Tuesday. A 2-year-old boy accidentally shot and killed his mother after he reached ond-term agenda. Zuniga was serving at Zuniga and Rhodes spent the next day furi- into her purse at the northern Idaho Wal-Mart and her concealed gun fired, authorities said Tuesday.—AP the US Embassy in Brazil at the time, but ously preparing Obama’s remarks to previously had worked at the US Interests announce the thaw, then took a quiet Section in Havana and led the State moment to watch the televised speech Department’s Office of Cuban Affairs. from Rhodes’ West Wing office. Two-year-old fatally “There’s nobody in government who Obama’s announcement was an unex- better knew the mechanics, the policies pected news development during the holi- and politics of Cuba,” Restrepo said. “That’s day season, with Gross flying home on the a very complex set of interactions and laws. second day of Hanukkah. Even Judy Gross shoots mother in US And how they interact and what is movable was skeptical that a breakthrough had real- and not movable is not easy to figure out.” ly come in her husband’s case, which Another important skill that Zuniga Obama had set as a requirement for ‘Proliferation of guns leads to accidental shootings’ brought to the Cuba negotiations was his improving relations with the communist fluent Spanish. He was born 44 years ago nation. LOS ANGELES: A two-year-old in a shopping cart the Kootenai County Sheriff’s deputies as they In 2011, 2,703 young people, ages 0-19, were in the Honduran capital of Tegucigalpa, the Gross family attorney Scott Gilbert was at a Walmart store shot and killed his mother investigate this matter.” KREM television reported killed by gunfire in the United States. There is, grandson of Ricardo Zuniga Augustinus, a with Judy Gross in Zuniga’s office in the with a handgun taken from her purse, in the lat- that Rutledge was in the store with three other however, comparatively little information about conservative who ran unsuccessfully for Eisenhower Executive Office Building on est US shooting tragedy. The accident took place children, which police did not immediately con- how many youths are involved in accidental president in 1981 and supported the mili- Dec 12 when she learned a deal had been Tuesday in Hayden, Idaho, where the victim, firm. Authorities sent psychologists to help shootings that lead to injury or loss of life. tary dictatorship of Oswaldo Lopez. He reached. Zuniga told them Alan Gross Veronica Rutledge, was shopping with her chil- employees needing assistance, it added. The Meanwhile, an increasing number of US states moved to the United States with his would be freed the following Wednesday dren and other family members. store, which was evacuated, will be closed on over the years have adopted laws allowing their American mother as a boy and got a and invited them to come on the US gov- “Her son was seated in the shopping cart and Wednesday. residents to obtain concealed carry permits, like degree in foreign affairs and Latin ernment flight to retrieve him. accessed the victim’s concealed weapon from her the one that allowed Rutledge to take her hand- American studies from the University of “I think after the five years of this, Judy purse and discharged it, striking the victim,” 300 million guns in the US gun on her shopping errands. In December 2011, Virginia. was still somewhat unbelieving even at Kootenai County Sheriff Ben Wolfinger said in a Accidental shootings are not uncommon in the US Government Accountability Office esti- Restrepo said Zuniga is a no-nonsense that meeting and also somewhat in shock,” statement. “Once on scene, deputies found a 29- the United States given the proliferation of guns, mated there were about eight million concealed professional and, although they had talked Gilbert said in a telephone interview. year-old victim was deceased from an apparent but Tuesday’s accident was unusually tragic, and handgun permits, but by June 2014, the number about his Honduran roots in passing, he “My comment to Ricardo was he needed gunshot wound.” led to a torrent of online commentary under the had grown to well over 11.1 million. never mentioned his grandfather or any to get this done so that both he and Alan Idaho, a rugged and largely rural state, is hashtag #IdahoWalmart. “Enough is enough Florida is the US state that has issued the most personal or family politics. could go home for the holidays,” Gilbert among the US states with the highest percent- don’t you think? A 2year old killing with a gun? concealed carry permits-1.28 million. The state “That’s a testament to his professional- added. He said Zuniga also had spent a lot age of Americans who own guns. Rutledge, who Seriously America?!” wrote one Twitter user, while with the highest percentage of residents with ism that I don’t know what his politics are, of time away from wife and two daughters. was spending the holidays in the area, had a con- others expressed concern for the plight of the concealed carry permits is South Dakota, at 12 having worked very closely with him,” “He was extremely committed to trying to cealed weapons permit, the sheriff’s office con- now-motherless toddler. percent. Restrepo said in a telephone interview. accomplish this outcome and worked day firmed, allowing her to legally carry the gun. A leading anti-gun lobby group, the Brady Earlier this year, Americans were shaken by Restrepo said Zuniga had another and night to get it done.” —AP Sheriff’s department lieutenant Stu Miller told Campaign to Prevent Gun Violence, estimates another unintended fatal shooting by a child, local television KHQ that in “instances like this, that there are some 300 million guns in the when a nine-year-old girl learning to fire an Uzi you know I’m a big proponent of a concealed United States-one for almost every individual in submachine gun at a shooting range accidentally weapon for your own safety. However, you have the nation. Much of the research about children killed her instructor. In that incident last August, to be responsible. Unfortunately, in this case, that and firearms has focused on the nearly 20,000 the girl was unable to control the weapon’s recoil just wasn’t.” minors who are killed or injured each year by as she fired it, and an errant bullet struck her Walmart said it was “fully cooperating with guns in the United States. instructor in the head, killing him. —AFP 8 killed in Canada ‘senseless mass murder’

MONTREAL: A man with a lengthy criminal person and returned to the residence. When the owner. Investigators have determined the 9 record killed six adults and two young children they went inside, they found a scene of carnage mm handgun used in the killings was a regis- before taking his own life in Edmonton in what with seven bodies. tered weapon that had been stolen in Surrey, the police chief on Tuesday called the western Neighbor Moe Assiff said he saw officers British Columbia, in 2006. Canadian city’s worst mass murder. Edmonton come out and talk to a woman sitting with a In Edmonton, a city of 878,000 people, mass Police Chief Rod Knecht told a news conference man in a white car outside the house. “She just murders are extremely rare. Knecht said the late Tuesday night that there was no suggestion let out a hysterical scream. It was eerie,” Assiff case was the worst mass killing in the city since of gang involvement and said the motive for the said. “She was screaming about her kids: ‘My at least 1956, when six people were murdered. “senseless mass murder” appears to have been kids! The kids!,’ grabbing her hair and trying to John Etter Clark, a provincial politician who “planned and deliberate” domestic violence. pull her hair out. The cops then ushered her served as a member of the Legislative Two people use their cell phones in the driving rain as the motorcade carrying “It’s terrible for the city,” Knecht said. “The down the road into a police cruiser.” Outside the Assembly of Alberta for four years, killed his President Barack Obama passes en route to a luau at a friend’s house on Tuesday in scene ... has been described as chaotic, horrific. restaurant where the suspect’s body was found, wife, son, three daughters and an employee of Waialua, Hawaii during the Obama family vacation. —AP Particularly when there’s children involved, it police found a parked black SUV that they say their family farm before taking his own life in has a tremendous impact on our folks.” was seen near the location of the first shooting. 1956. Clark had been suffering from frequent Knecht did not release the name of the sus- Knecht said the suspect had a business interest nervous breakdowns in the years before the Hawaii vacation reunites pect, but said the man was well-known to in the restaurant, but would not say if he was killings. —AP police and had a criminal record dating back to Obama and childhood pals September 1987. Cindy Duong, 37, was fatally shot in a home in south Edmonton on Monday, HONOLULU: Since returning to his child- across the island to Titcomb’s beachside while two men and three women between the hood home this month on vacation, home in Waialua, about an hour outside of ages of 25 and 50, and a girl and a boy - both President Barack Obama has spent a good Honolulu on the North Shore. under the age of 10 - were found dead a few part of most days cloistered with three Increasingly, the reunions have become hours later at a home in the northeast. people whose company puts him at ease. the focal point of Obama’s family vacations The suspect was found dead by his own They’re not his wife and daughters, who in his second term, as his teenage daugh- hand in a restaurant in the Edmonton bedroom community of Fort Saskatchewan on Tuesday came with him, but a trio of pals whose ters spend less and less time at their morning. A police tactical team had surrounded friendship dates back to Obama’s high father’s side. Once content to join their par- the area and reportedly smashed through the school days in Hawaii. ents for outings to the aquarium or to get front of the restaurant with a vehicle before The three men - Mike Ramos, Bobby shave ice, Sasha and Malia are now more finding the suspect dead. Duong’s body was Titcomb and Greg Orme - are among the independent. Since arriving more than a found around 7 p.m. Monday when police few people still in Obama’s life who knew week ago, Obama has been out in public responded to a report of a man entering the him long before he was famous. Although with one of his daughters only once, briefly, south-side home, opening fire and fleeing, their paths have long since diverged, during a hike. Knecht said. they’ve made it a point to gather for fre- What Obama and his companions talk An hour and a half later, officers responded quent reunions, in one of Obama’s most about during their many hours alone is to reports of a suicidal man at a northeast resi- visible links to the days when his life was anyone’s guess. But the foursome rarely dence in a quiet cul de sac, the same home much simpler and his problems more mun- goes more than a few months without where the suspect had been arrested in dane. reconvening in one arrangement or anoth- November 2012 and charged with domestic On this visit alone, Obama has spent er. In August, Obama kicked off his 53rd and sexual assault. more than 22 hours with the group on the birthday weekend golfing with the three Family members reported in the call that the lush golf courses that dot the island of friends in suburban Maryland before head- man was “depressed and over-emotional.” Oahu. When it rained, Obama and his pals ing to Camp David, the presidential retreat When officers arrived, no one answered the went bowling, instead. And on Tuesday, in in the Catoctin Mountains. door, Knecht said. They searched the exterior of what’s become a yearly tradition, the men All four were classmates at Punahou the home but found nothing overtly suspicious EDMONTON: Edmonton City Police Chief Rod Knecht arrives to speak about multiple homi- and their families gathered for a luau host- School in Honolulu, which Obama has and did not go inside. “We can’t just arbitrarily cides that took place at different scenes over night in Edmonton, Alberta on Tuesday. Police ed by Titcomb. With rain drizzling over described as “a prestigious prep school, an go into that residence,” explained the chief. have confirmed the deaths of six adults and two young children in what Chief Ron Knecht Oahu, Obama’s motorcade whisked Obama incubator for island elites.” —AP Hours later police were contacted by a second called a “senseless mass murder.” —AP THURSDAY, JANUARY 1, 2015 INTERNATIONAL Small parties to play outsized role in Greek election

ATHENS: Greece’s splintered political land- party of Prime Minister Antonis Samaras, who in opinion polls, although this has narrowed the minimum required to enter parliament, Potami, but both of them will keep denying it scape means small, often relatively new par- imposed unpopular budget cuts under to only about three percentage points in the and may be absorbed by Syriza before the until the right moment,” he said. ties may determine whether the winner of Greece’s international bailout deal, and the run-up to the election, called after parliament election. Polls show 5 to 6 percent support for To elections next month can cobble together a radical leftist Syriza of Alexis Tsipras, who failed to elect a new Greek president this The right-wing Independent Greeks Potami, which insists it is firmly pro-euro and lasting government and avoid a new financial wants to cancel austerity along with a chunk week. But neither may be able to form a gov- would make unusual allies for Syriza, with pro-reform but opposes certain austerity crisis. The Jan 25 vote marks a showdown of Greek debt. ernment alone, even with a 50 seat-bonus which they have little in common apart from measures. It also wants Greece’s debt to be between the conservative New Democracy Syriza holds a lead over New Democracy that the constitution automatically awards to dislike of the bailout deal. Polls show a group settled within a broader resolution of Europe’s the biggest party in the 300-seat chamber, of parties jockeying for third place behind problems. Party leader Stavros Theodorakis leaving one or more of the smaller groups to Syriza, which is now the main force on the has opened To Potami to a deal with either of shape the final outcome. Greek left, and New Democracy. They are the the big parties, describing his natural allies as Dominated for decades by New far-right Golden Dawn, the KKE Communist the “reasonable” members of Syriza or “the lib- Democracy and the Socialist PASOK party, party, PASOK and To Potami. Golden Dawn, erals in New Democracy, not the neoliberals”. Greek politics have been radically reshaped which has a swastika-like emblem, denies it is The other player will be PASOK, whose by the debt crisis that forced the country to neo-Nazi or that it has been involved in vio- support has shriveled from 42 percent of the accept two bailouts worth Ä240 billion ($292 lent attacks. Nevertheless, all other Greek vote just five years ago to 4 to 6 percent. Its billion) from the European Union and IMF. In parties refuse to deal with it, while the KKE future is in doubt, with former Prime Minister return they demanded harsh measures, has ruled itself out of any coalition alliance. George Papandreou expected to set up his which have deepened an anti-establishment That leaves To Potami in prime position to own party with some disgruntled PASOK law- mood and anger against the old order. One of become kingmaker. Set up this year by a makers. “Papandreou’s party is a huge ques- the parties most likely to hold the balance of prominent TV journalist, the party made its tion now,” said Costas Panagopoulos of ALCO power is To Potami (“The River”), a recently- debut in elections to the European pollsters, saying the new group could steal created centrist group which has refused to Parliament in May, when it came fifth with 6.6 votes from Syriza, PASOK and even New define itself as pro- or anti-bailout. The other percent. Democracy. Some analysts speculate that is PASOK, which was in Samaras’s outgoing either faction could prop up Syriza if it toned coalition despite taking an electoral thrashing Taking Fright down its anti-bailout stance. in 2012, and is now expected to split. Financial markets took fright on Monday “If Syriza moderates its program on key “Small parties were on the sidelines in the when Samaras was forced to call the election, issues like the economy and comes closer to past but now will be the determining factor in worrying that Tspiras will win and tear up the our program, we can support a Syriza govern- the coming election,” said a senior official bailout deal that saved Greece from bank- ment without necessarily participating in from the PASOK faction that is expected to ruptcy. However, if Tsipras were to win but fail their government,” said the PASOK official break away in the coming days. Two small to find a coalition partner, Greece could also allied with Papandreou. “Parties that partici- anti-bailout parties, the Democratic Left and face a political crisis. Political analyst John pated in the government during the crisis Independent Greeks, are possible allies for Loulis expected Syriza and To Potami to team took a huge risk - that’s why some of them ATHENS: A police officer places outside the Greek parliament an announce- Syriza. However, the Democratic Left is not up. “Once Tsipras wins, the most stabilising shrank or disappeared. They become unpop- ment of the parliament’s dissolution yesterday. —AFP expected to win 3 percent of popular vote, development will be to cooperate with ular to their voters.” —Reuters Little hope for future as east Ukraine ends nightmare year Small village turned into frontline

MARINIVKA, Ukraine: Larissa and totally unremarkable, ham- street, no house they pass seems several months, people are still Pogorelka began the year look- let of 600 inhabitants. Life was to have escaped undamaged. struggling to work out how the ing forward to seeing her son sometimes tough but it was at Here a roof is missing, there a ouster of former president Viktor graduate college and planning least predictable and people family home is little more than Yanukovych in February could for the future with cautious opti- here had a sense of sleepy stabil- charred remains. have ended up with war coming mism. Now she will end 2014 ity. That, though, has been The two-storey school, once to their doorsteps. “They are in homeless, after her house was turned upside down as a conflict the pride of the community, is shock. People cannot digest destroyed in the fighting that that no one saw coming an empty shell pockmarked by what horrors have happened swept through this region of between Ukrainian troops and gaping holes caused by tank here,” says Valentina’s husband east Ukraine, and counts herself Russian-backed rebels turned shells. “You can see what a night- Alexander Fyodorov. “We were GALLIPOLI, Italy: Aid workers wait early yesterday near the Moldovan- not prepared for this.” Ukraine flagged ship Blue Sky M in the port of this city in southeastern Italy. —AFP and the West blame Russia for artificially stirring the rebellion and even sending its own troops Disaster avoided as over the border, while Moscow paints the uprising in the east as ship stopped off Italy a legitimate reaction to an illegal coup in Kiev. GALLIPOLI, Italy: Italy’s coastguard said But after what now appears to have yesterday it had narrowly averted another been a very cursory check, the vessel was But for those caught up in the high seas disaster by intercepting a allowed to continue its journey. A violence, there is little reason- freighter that was on a collision course with spokesman for Greek port police told AFP able explanation for what has the country’s rocky shoreline with more at the time that an inspection had happened. “The only thing you than 900 Syrian refugees on board. In what revealed “no (mechanical) problems and can put it down to is human was the second maritime drama of recent nothing suspicious on the boat.” Italian days, officers revealed that the huge cargo officials suspect that the vessel was then insanity,” Fyodorov said. “To use ship’s engine had been locked on with the under the control of people smugglers howitzer cannons to shoot at steering set on a direction that would have who later jumped ship, as they frequently peaceful houses - it is just mad- led to it crashing ashore somewhere in the do in the knowledge that their human ness.” In the neighbouring vil- Puglia region on the “heel” of Italy. cargo will be picked up by navy or mer- lage of Stepanivka, former trac- The coastguard, already working flat out chant ships. One man suspected of because of the Norman Atlantic ferry disas- involvement with the traffickers was tor driver Vladimir Samolenko ter, scrambled two helicopters overnight arrested after the port arrived in Gallipoli. glances at the burned-out after realising that the Moldovan-regis- wreckage of a Ukrainian tank as tered Blue Sky M, was headed for disaster. Conflict and Poverty he opens his front gate. Six coastguard officers boarded the vessel The drama came as Italy and Greece Inside his cramped living and, after some frantic moments on the were coping with the aftermath of the bridge, were able to unlock the engines Norman Atlantic disaster, which has left at room, his wife Zinaida is boiling and bring the boat under control just five least 13 people dead and dozens more some water for potatoes as their miles from the coast. “It was a real race unaccounted for. The Italian-owned, granddaughter Katya builds a against the clock,” coastguard spokesman Greek-operated ferry was due to be house out of Lego bricks. “Before Filippo Marini said. “Unlocking the engines towed Wednesday from waters off the war, we at least received was a difficult and delicate operation, but Albania back to Italy. The cause of a killer LISICHANSK, Ukraine: A fighter from the Donbass Ukrainian volunteer battalion wearing a they managed to do it.” In a tweet from its blaze that erupted on the ferry on Sunday Father Frost (the equivalent of Santa Claus) hat stands near this eastern Ukrainian city in the pensions and wages,” says official account, the coastguard said a “mas- remains unknown and investigations Lugansk region yesterday. —AFP Samolenko, 76. “It was possible sacre” had been avoided. aimed at finding out what happened have to live.” Now electricity is a con- been opened in Italy and Greece. lucky just to be alive. “Nobody the village into a front line. marish year it has been for us,” stant problem and money is run- Distress Call Survivors who waited up to 24 hours to ever expected any of this to hap- Over the past eight months, said Valentina Fyodorova, point- ning short after the central The migrants on board, including a be rescued from the burning ship have heavily pregnant woman whose waters highlighted major shortcomings in the pen,” the shopkeeper, 42, told the strategic location has ing to the shrapnel scars in the authorities in Kiev stopped mak- broke during the drama, were taken to the crew’s response to the emergency. AFP. “My home has burnt down swapped hands several times wall of her modest grocery store. ing welfare payments to the port of Gallipoli as an inquest began into Doubts over the accuracy of the passen- and I am living with my parents. between government forces and “We were peaceful people. rebel-held areas. “We hope that how the alarming incident had occurred. ger list have hampered attempts to estab- What have I lived for? In one day the insurgents. Since the end of Things were good, but now they the war won’t return but we feel Greece’s coastguard had on Tuesday after- lish the true scale of the tragedy. The you can just lose everything.” the summer it has been under are bad.” that it is not over yet,” he said. “As noon received a distress call from someone prosecutor in charge of the Italian investi- on board the Blue Sky M who reported that gation has said he expects to find more Just a few kilometres from the separatist control. As a handful for the future, it is impossible to it was being navigated by heavily armed bodies aboard the burnt-out ferry, which Russian border, Marinivka in of local residents trudge through ‘It is Just Madness’ say,” he sighed, tracing a large men. A navy frigate, a helicopter and two was carrying an unknown number of Ukraine’s restive Donetsk region, the snow and brave the icy wind Although the situation has question mark in the air with his patrol vessels were dispatched to intercept stowaways and more than 400 passengers used to be a pleasant, if poor along the main Seleverstova been more or less calm here for finger. —AFP the boat off the island of Corfu. and crew. —AFP Italy presidential choice poses problem for PM

ROME: An expected decision by Italy’s president elections, adding to the political uncertainty sur- members of parliament and representatives from to step down next year would leave Prime rounding the euro zone. the regions. It allows for multiple rounds of voting Minister Matteo Renzi facing one of his most del- Napolitano, a former communist respected in by secret ballot, offering ample opportunity for icate political challenges. After dropping hints for Europe and Washington, reluctantly agreed to a revenge to the many party enemies Renzi has months, 89-year-old Giorgio Napolitano, was second term last year after a deadlocked election made during his whirlwind months in charge. likely to indicate in an end-of-year address yes- threatened to leave Italy politically adrift, but said Former Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi, still terday evening that he will leave his post early he would not serve the full seven years. Months burning with resentment at Napolitano’s pre- next year, although he may not name an exact of speculation about potential successors have sumed role in his tumultuous 2011 downfall, has date. The Italian head of state holds wide but thrown up names ranging from European Central insisted that an agreement on the president will loosely defined powers, including appointing Bank President Mario Draghi to current Economy be needed for his support for wider constitu- prime ministers, and can veto legislation as well Minister Pier Carlo Padoan or Defence Minister tional reforms. But the experience of 2013, when as using the office’s moral weight to influence Roberta Pinotti. former Prime Minister Romano Prodi was reject- the political agenda. Renzi, 39, appointed by Napolitano less than a ed by around 100 disgruntled lawmakers in his If Renzi cannot steer an acceptable candidate year ago as Italy’s youngest-ever prime minister own party, also underlines the danger from through the complicated presidential election said on Monday he was “absolutely certain” a suc- within. That fiasco toppled the then-leader of process, it will raise doubts about his ability to cessor could be elected. But the process is full of the Democratic Party Pierluigi Bersani, who had push through economic reforms and planned hazards that could absorb valuable political ener- proposed Prodi, ultimately paving the way for changes to the constitution and electoral sys- gy as Italy struggles to pull out of recession. Renzi to seize control of the party a few months TIRANA: Albanian Prime Minister Edi Rama (left) takes a selfie with Italian tem. That would fuel speculation about early Electing a president involves about 1,000 voters - later. —Reuters Prime Minister Matteo Renzi after their meeting on Tuesday. —AFP THURSDAY, JANUARY 1, 2015 INTERNATIONAL

Afghan women fear oppression as mission ends

KABUL: No one ever claimed responsibility after a ruled the country, says both the previous Afghan by Afghans and the world as international troops things. “We need a university for girls,” she says, due suicide bomber rammed into the vehicle of celebrat- government and its Western benefactors have failed prepare to withdraw completely.” to the fact that many families will not send girls to ed female parliamentarian Shukria Barakzai. She to defend the hard-won rights of women. “For me, World Bank data show Afghanistan still lags far mixed institutions. walked away from the wreckage after the Nov 16 what they do to support women’s rights is just lip behind even its impoverished neighbours in South Women’s activists have been lukewarm about a blast that killed three civilians and wounded 20.The service, nothing more than that,” says Barakzai, inter- Asia. Only 16 percent of Afghan females above the $216 million United States Agency for International Taleban often take responsibility for suicide bomb- viewed in hospital where she was recovering from age of 15 were active in the labour force compared Development (USAID) program to support women’s ings. They did so for one against the British embassy burns to the left side of her face and her left hand with 57 percent in Bangladesh and 27 percent in advancement. The five-year program, called that killed six people days later. Barakzai, 42, said from the attack. India. The fertility rate in Afghanistan is 7.2 births per Promote, aims to help thousands of women gain Afghanistan’s spy agency had warned her before woman versus 3.1 for all of South Asia. Only 14 per- business and management skills and promote about threats to her life from the insurgents. But an Quotas for Women cent of births in Afghanistan are attended by a women’s rights groups. Noor Safi Gululai, one of the investigation into the attack on the outspoken The US-led coalition invaded Afghanistan in 2001 skilled health worker compared with 36 percent in few women in Afghanistan’s High Peace Council, women’s rights activist has led nowhere. to oust the Taleban, and stayed on, in part to build a South Asia. The literacy rate for 15-24 year-old which is in charge of the so-far fruitless effort to con- Barakzai has no shortage of potential enemies, Western-style democracy, including legal safeguards women was 32 percent compared with 63 percent in vince the Taleban to join peace talks, was critical of including powerful warlords. “Our parliament is a for women. A quota was mandated for women in neighbouring Pakistan. such efforts. “I am afraid this money will also go in collection of lords,” Barakzai once famously said. public offices, such as parliament and provincial the pockets of a few people,” Gululai told Reuters. “Warlords, drug lords, crime lords.” Barakzai was councils. Earlier this year, however, conservative law- University for Girls “Rights will never be taught at conferences. I hope only a few hundred metres from the Parliament makers rolled back the quota for women in provin- Barakzai, a parliamentarian the past decade, has the president will talk to USAID and have them use building, her destination, when the suicide bomber cial councils to 20 per cent from 25 per cent. campaigned against the practice of Afghan men the money to establish good schools and universi- rammed into her armoured car. A strong supporter Last Sunday marked the formal end to the inter- marrying multiple wives; her husband, who runs an ties.” of new President Ashraf Ghani, Barakzai had been national combat mission in Afghanistan. And while oil company, took a second wife without consulting The US Embassy in Kabul said its new program talked about as a candidate to join his government, progress has been made getting millions of girls in her. She stresses the need for long-term investment would encourage lasting change. “Promote will be a perhaps as education or women’s affairs minister. school and putting women in positions of authority, in education to compete seriously for jobs instead of long-term, sustained effort to help women obtain Ghani has promised he will appoint four women to it has had “frustratingly little impact on these power aid programmes for “workshops or seminars”. “If you more leadership positions in government and busi- his cabinet. dynamics,” the U.N.-backed Afghanistan Research see their projects, they are always the same. ness,” an embassy statement said on Wednesday, Barakzai, who rose to prominence when she ran and Evaluation Unit said in a recent report. “Today, Empowering women by a seminar or workshop. Or adding that activities “will be designed by Afghan underground schools for girls when the Taleban women’s rights are ... one of the feared losses shared embroidery, tailoring,” she laughs. “I am tired of these women, for Afghan women”. — Reuters French ceremony marks end of Afghan mission

KABUL: The last French troops in Afghanistan eign forces from this country. “The presence held a ceremony in Kabul yesterday to mark of foreign occupiers is main cause of instabili- the end of their deployment after NATO com- ty and chaos.” bat operations closed down and as a new The Taleban, who ruled Afghanistan from “train and support” mission takes over. About 1996 to 2001, have waged a resilient insur- 150 French soldiers who had been helping gency against NATO and Afghan forces, with run the military airport handed over responsi- violence now at record levels nationwide. The bility to a Turkish unit which will operate United Nations said civilian casualties hit a under the new NATO mission. NATO’s war in new high this year with about 10,000 non- Afghanistan formally ended on Sunday, combatants killed or wounded - 75 percent of when the International Security Assistance them by the Taleban. Insurgents launched Force (ISAF) was replaced by the US-led fol- high-profile strikes in the capital during the low-up mission “Resolute Support”. closing weeks of the ISAF era, targeting for- France, which withdrew all its combat eign guest houses, diplomatic convoys, the troops from the country two years ago, lost French cultural centre and Afghan army bus- 89 soldiers and saw 700 injured in the war es. since 2001. The conflict against the Taleban The end of NATO’s combat mission still rages across Afghanistan, and an estimat- brought “the longest war in American histo- ed 17,000 foreign soldiers will stay on to assist ry... to a responsible conclusion”, US President MIRPUR, Pakistan: In this photograph taken on Oct 25, 2014, 30-year-old Pakistani mother Ghazla Kauser holds her daughter Maryam as she the local police and army, who face a major Barack Obama said. Afghan officials and sen- gives an interview at her home in Mirpur. (Right) In this photo taken Oct 26, 2014, 26-year-old Pakistani mother Zara Bibi poses with a photo- challenge as the international military pres- ior US officers have been pushing Obama to graph of her son, who is in his father’s custody in Britain, at her residence. — AFP ence declines. extend US involvement. US troop numbers “The threat is still present, insurgents con- are set to halve within 12 months and fall to tinue to be active, but what has been accom- almost nothing in two years. President Ashraf plished in 13 years is considerable in terms of Ghani hopes to bring peace to Afghanistan Murder spotlights polygamy governance, development, security,” said after decades of conflict, saying he is open to General Gratien Maire, second in command talks with any insurgent group. of the French military. The soldiers could Since 2001 billions of dollars of aid have among British Pakistanis leave with “the satisfaction of a duty well been spent in Afghanistan on new schools, done” he said. The foreign force next year will hospitals, roads and promoting women’s consist of the 12,500-strong NATO mission, rights. But corruption has been endemic and most of them US troops, and a US counter- progress limited, even in the cities. This year’s Many brides abandoned, face bleak future terrorism operation outside the NATO remit, presidential election, which was meant to be though final numbers remain unclear. the keystone legacy of the development MIRPUR , Pakistan: Pakistani police are investi- Britain after the murder, said Khan was a pious then do not see their fathers. Ghazla Kauser, 30 effort, was marred by fraud and a prolonged gating whether a jealous wife ordered the recent man with no obvious enemies in Pakistan. is one such case. She married 37-year-old Rising Casualties standoff between the two poll rivals that murder of an elderly British man in Kashmir, in a “When he returned to Britain after his third mar- Chaudhry Amraz Khan four years ago. He spent The Taleban issued another statement fanned further unrest. At Kabul airport, case that spotlights polygamy among dual riage, his relations with his second wife wors- three months with his wife and then went back yesterday celebrating the end of NATO’s com- French soldiers handed a flag to their Turkish nationals in the region. Jumma Khan, 70, was ened. He quit his house in the UK and started liv- to England. Kauser was pregnant and gave birth bat mission, adding that no peace talks could successors at an event attended by Afghan shot on the doorstep of his home in Mirpur, in ing with a friend,” he told AFP. to a baby girl named Mariam, now three years happen before all foreign troops leave. officers who will eventually take over the Pakistan-administered Kashmir, the ancestral Shakeel Hussain Jumma, 40, Khan’s son from old. “She always asks about her father, but I have “Today, they are evacuating their invading facility. A memorial in the shape of the Eiffel hometown of much of Britain’s large Pakistani his first marriage, said his father had developed nothing to tell her. He has no contact with us,” forces from Afghanistan while they are bitter- Tower commemorating the French war dead community. Khan’s family claim the second of “serious differences” with his second wife. said Kauser, tears rolling down her cheeks. ly defeated by the just and pious Afghan was also unveiled. Afghan security forces will his three wives - who was in England at the time “During a family function in Britain, people In a highly conservative Islamic society like resistance,” the group said. “The real solution hold celebrations on Thursday marking the - arranged the October hit. heard his second wife making veiled threats to Pakistan, tongues wag about mothers with of the ongoing Afghan crisis is in the com- complete transfer of responsibility from Senior police official Raja Azhar Iqbal told him,” Jumma said. Mohammad Imran, the eldest absent husbands, and Kauser says she has had a plete and unconditional withdrawal of all for- NATO. — AFP AFP that Khan’s eldest son from his marriage to son from Khan’s second marriage who has been tough time. “I went to my in-laws in my hus- his second wife, as well as two of the wife’s bailed over the murder, vehemently denied his band’s home town, but they treated me badly brothers, have been arrested and bailed in con- side of the family had anything to do with the and kicked me out of the house,” she said. nection with the killing. “We are investigating killing. “We are innocent. We are not involved in Another Kashmiri girl Zara Bibi, 26, says she mar- the case on two aspects, property and love jeal- the murder of our father,” the 28-year-old told ried a British national in 2001, at the age of just ousy,” Iqbal said. “We have not reached any firm AFP. 13 - illegal in both countries. “My husband did conclusions but it is likely that his third marriage not meet the legal requirements for me to get could be the reason for his death.” Plight British nationality, so they sent me back to Islam permits men to take up to four wives Pakistan, deceiving me that my mother was ill,” Weddings, Rivalries and while polygamy is illegal in Britain, in prac- she said. “Now I cannot go back to England to Khan’s matrimonial career began when he tice there is little the authorities can do to pre- see my son. My son is now nine years old,” Bibi married his cousin Fatima Bibi in 1963, fathering vent people taking additional spouses in cere- told AFP. six children, who live in Britain. In 1981 he monies overseas. It is not uncommon for elderly, Mohammad Yasin, the lawyer, said the prob- divorced her and married Zubaida Bibi, having well-off British Pakistani men to take additional lem extended to hundreds of women in the four more children with her. Then, in May, he wives from Mirpur, with the promise of British region. The British High Commission in took another wife - Asia Bibi, 40, from the garri- nationality. According to lawyer Mohammad Islamabad said it was providing consular assis- son city of Rawalpindi. It was at this point friends Yasin, who deals with such cases, the women tance to Khan’s family over the murder. But offi- say Khan began to fear for his safety. often face a bleak future, with many husbands cials said the “tragic” issue of wives abandoned Neighbours say Khan, who lived in the north- not returning to Pakistan after going back to by their husbands was beyond their remit. “It is ern town of Wakefield in Britain, used to go to England. difficult to offer any practical assistance to the mosque for prayers five times a day when he The husbands typically spend a few months victims since it often involves Pakistani nationals KABUL: General Gratien Maire, second in command of the French military was in Kashmir, but after his latest marriage was with their new wives before abandoning them. in their own country and is therefore very much inspects the last French troops in Afghanistan during their end of NATO mission rarely seen outdoors. His younger brother Haji In most cases they do not maintain contact and, a matter for the local authorities,” a spokes- ceremony at Kabul International Airport (KAIA) in Kabul yesterday.— AFP Mohammad Ilyas, who arrived in Kashmir from in some, the wives give birth to children who woman said. — AFP Afghan mountain hamlet proving ground for army

DANGAM, Afghanistan: The smoke from mortar taking their battlefield prowess, air support and governor Sheja-ul Mulk Jalala said. Tribal elder Haji and rocket attacks rises from the mountains of medical evacuation assets with them. The war is Muzamel said another 800 families have been Dangam in the remote eastern border region of meanwhile creeping into urban and residential pinned down by the fighting. “The terrorists have Afghanistan as Taleban insurgents battle govern- areas, putting ordinary people at greater risk. very important goals in Dangam, such as estab- ment forces in a bid to establish a permanent Civilian casualties look set to hit 10,000 in 2014, lishing permanent bases or transferring their presence now that the American soldiers who the highest yearly total of dead and wounded bases from the other side of the border, crushing led the fight here for more than a decade have since the UN began keeping records in 2008. the local people’s uprising and of course creating left. Heavy fighting has been raging for almost More than 75 percent of the deaths and injuries problems for Afghan security forces,” said Haseb three weeks, with wave after wave of Taleban mil- are caused by Taleban attacks, according to the Sediqi, spokesman for the National Security itants assaulting this picturesque but poverty- U.N. Directorate intelligence agency. stricken district of Kunar province just four kilo- There are few places where Afghan forces have Officials said that since early December more meters from the border with Pakistan, officials been tested as ferociously as in Dangam, a forest- than 1,000 heavily armed insurgents have turned and residents said. ed valley where life has changed little for cen- up here, including members of the Pakistani The US-led international effort to rid turies. The fighting began when local residents Taleban, or TTP, and Lashkar-e-Taiba, the group Afghanistan of the Taleban officially shifts from a decided they had had enough of the Taleban, who responsible for the attacks on the Indian city of combat to a training band support mission yester- had set up a “shadow” administration and were Mumbai in 2008 in which more than 160 people day, with Afghan forces assuming full responsibili- attempting to take control of the valley, according were killed. The TTP said it was behind the attack ty for security nationwide on New Year’s Day. A to Gen. Mohammad Zaman Waziri, Afghan army this month on a school in Peshawar, in northern residual force of 10,800 Americans and almost corps commander for eastern Afghanistan. Pakistan, in which more than 140 people were 3,000 NATO soldiers will remain, under the banner The Afghan army came to help, he said, and killed, most of them children. It is not unusual for of a new mission called Resolute Support. fighting has been going on ever since. Up to 550 Pakistani fighters - usually referred to by Afghan Over the last 18 months, US and NATO forces families have been forced from their homes, and officials as simply “foreigners” - to fight alongside DANGAM, Afghanistan: In this Dec 24, 2014 photo, an Afghan National Army soldier have been closing their bases across the country, more than 40 houses have been destroyed, Kunar the Afghan Taleban. — AP prays during an ongoing operation in this district of Kunar province. — AP THURSDAY, JANUARY 1, 2015 INTERNATIONAL China to give parents of executed man $330,000

BEIJING: A Chinese court will give the China’s legal system. according to official statistics. But the Communist Party is attempt- gated the teenager for 48 hours, after parents of a teenager wrongfully execut- The court which cleared the teenager The use of force to extract confessions ing to reduce public anger over injustices which he confessed to having raped and ed for murder and rape 18 years ago on grounds of “insufficient evidence,” remains widespread in the country and by lessening the influence of local offi- choked the woman in the toilet of a tex- more than two million yuan ($330,000) said in an online post that his parents defendants often do not have effective cials over some court cases, and revers- tile factory, the state-run China Daily compensation, it said yesterday. would receive 2,059,621.40 yuan in com- defence in criminal trials, leading to regu- ing verdicts in some high-profile cases. A newspaper reported in November. He Hugjiltu, who was convicted, sentenced pensation yesterday. It did not explain lar miscarriages of justice. China has Chinese man who was freed after six was executed 61 days after the woman’s and executed in 1996 at the age of 18, how the precise figure was reached. occasionally exonerated wrongfully exe- years on death row following a wrongful death. Hugjiltu’s family tried for nearly a was exonerated earlier this month by a Acquittals in China’s Communist-con- cuted convicts after others came forward murder conviction is seeking $2.4 million decade to prove his innocence, according court in Inner Mongolia, nine years after trolled court system are extremely rare to confess their crimes, or in some cases in compensation, state-run media said to reports, and the inner Mongolia another person confessed to the crime, 99.93 percent of defendants in criminal because the supposed murder victim last week. Higher People’s Court officially began a in a case that highlighted flaws in cases were found guilty last year, was later found alive. In Hugjiltu’s case, authorities interro- retrial in November. —AFP First bodies from AirAsia plane arrive in Surabaya Bad weather hampers recovery

SURABAYA, Indonesia: Soldiers daughter-in-law Enny Wahyuni. “I Pangkalan Bun, Sunarbowo Sandi, cerns to secure the flight acting as pall bearers yesterday am anxious to know if the rescuers told reporters they had recovered recorders, believed to be with carried coffins containing the first have found their bodies. The presi- a total of seven bodies. According parts of the plane we haven’t two bodies from AirAsia Flight dent has said that they will do the to search and rescue officials AFP found,” said Soelistyo. QZ8501 into Surabaya airport from best they can to find them,” spoke with, none of the victims Britain’s Air Accidents where the ill-fated plane departed, Widjaja told AFP. “But if they really found so far was wearing a lifejack- Investigation Branch has sent an as sombre relatives gave their DNA cannot find them, I will scatter et. investigator carrying “specialist to help identify loved ones. The flowers in the sea here as a way to Debris found so far from the air- technical equipment” that can bodies were taken from an air say goodbye.” craft, which crashed into the Java help to locate flight recorders. force plane to a military ambu- Police in Surabaya said they had Sea southwest of the island of Accompanying Singaporean lance to be transported to a hospi- taken DNA from 30 immediate Borneo during a storm, included experts, the investigator is travel- tal for examination and identifica- family members to assist with the an exit door and several suitcases. ling to the site on an Indonesian tion - but many exhausted families identification of bodies, which is “There were snacks, instant por- naval vessel, according to the were left waiting for news as bad set to take place at a hospital in ridge, and three umbrellas,” com- British embassy in Jakarta. Before take-off the pilot of QZ8501 had GUANTANAMO, Cuba: In this March 1, 2002 file photo, a detainee is escorted asked for permission to fly at a to interrogation by US military guards at Camp X-Ray at the Guantanamo higher altitude to avoid the storm, Bay US naval base. —AP but his request was not approved due to other planes above him on US transfers five Gitmo the popular route, according to AirNav, Indonesia’s air traffic con- trol. In his last communication, the detainees to Kazakhstan pilot said he wanted to change course to avoid the menacing WASHINGTON: Two Tunisian and three Yemeni having any links to Al-Qaeda and insisted he storm system. Then all contact was detainees have been transferred from the US- had travelled to Pakistan to buy medicine when lost, about 40 minutes after the run prison at Guantanamo Bay to Kazakhstan, he was arrested by authorities there after the plane had taken off. the Pentagon said. The former Guantanamo 9/11 attacks. His compatriot, Hakeemy, also inmates, who were flown on a US military air- known as Hkiml, 49, had been described by US ‘Unique Weather Conditions’ craft, arrived in Kazakhstan on Tuesday at 11:15 authorities as a “veteran terrorist” who had “There were some very unique pm Washington time (0415 GMT), US officials allegedly taken part in fighting in Bosnia and weather conditions and let’s wait said. Their transfer is part of President Barack was accused of links with an Algerian Islamist for the investigation to be con- Obama’s push to close the controversial military group. But he has maintained he was working cluded,” AirAsia’s boss Tony prison, which was set up to detain terror sus- as a cook in Italy and had gone to Pakistan to Fernandes told reporters on pects after the Sept 11, 2001 attacks. find a wife. He was arrested by Pakistani authori- Tuesday in Surabaya, after meet- “We are determined to responsibly reduce ties near the Afghan border and held at ing with relatives. “This is a scar the detainee population and you can expect Guantanamo for more than 12 years. Both he with me for the rest of my life,” he additional transfers over the coming weeks,” an and his fellow Tunisian detainee had lived in said. The missing plane was oper- administration official told AFP. The Pentagon Italy as immigrants. ated by AirAsia Indonesia, a unit of said in a statement that the five men “were The three Yemenis who were transferred Malaysia-based AirAsia, which had unanimously approved for transfer” after a thor- were identified as Asim Thabit Abdullah Al- ough review by a task force of several US gov- Khalaqi, Muhammad Ali Husayn Khanayna and SURABAYA: Indonesian soldiers carry coffins containing bodies of victims of AirAsia Flight 8501 previously earned a solid safety record. Of the 162 passengers and ernment agencies. The transfer of the five Sabri Muhammad Ibrahim Al-Qurashi. Khalaqi, upon arrival at the Indonesian military air force base yesterday. —AFP crew on board Flight QZ8501, 155 detainees leaves 127 inmates at the prison, 46, born in Saudi Arabia, had been suspected of were Indonesian. President Joko located at a US naval base in southeast Cuba. serving in Osama bin Laden’s Arab brigade. weather hampered search efforts. Surabaya. Two of the recovered mander of the Bung Tomo warship, Widodo also met the victims’ fami- The number of detainees transferred out of Arrested in Dec 2001in the company of a senior Officials had hoped to recover bodies were being flown there on Colonel Yayan, told a local news lies in Surabaya on Tuesday and Guantanamo in 2014 is now at 28. Details of Al-Qaeda figure, he has been behind bars at most of the bodies but rough con- Wednesday afternoon. Storms channel, referring to the 28 items promised “a massive search” effort, what Kazakhstan had agreed to and what secu- Guantanamo since Jan 17, 2002, among the ditions made it difficult for heli- delayed the start of operations that had been retrieved. National with priority given to recovering rity steps the government might take related to first inmates to be sent to the prison at copters to fly over the area in the yesterday and helicopters were lat- Search and Rescue Agency chief bodies of the passengers and the former detainees remained unclear. The five Guantanamo Bay. Java Sea where several corpses er forced to return to the base in Bambang Soelistyo told reporters crew. inmates, who have never been tried in court The second Yemeni to be transferred out is and debris from the ill-fated Airbus Pangkalan Bun, the town with the the fuselage had not been found, The United States, Australia, and who were cleared for transfer by authorities Muhammad Ali Husayn Khanayna, 46, also A320-200 were found a day earlier. nearest airstrip to the crash site. denying reports that sonar Singapore, South Korea and in 2010 or even earlier, have spent more than 11 known as Muhammed Ali Hussein Khnenah, In Indonesia’s second-biggest city imagery showed the aircraft on Malaysia are among the countries years at the Guantanamo prison, which human who has been held at the prison since June Surabaya, where the plane had ‘We Turned Back’ the seabed. helping in the search effort, which rights groups have condemned as a “legal black 2002. He was arrested at the Pakistan- departed for Singapore early on “For the safety reasons, we During Tuesday’s searches, an comes at the end of an awful year hole”. The facility is approaching its 13th Afghanistan boder in December 2001. US Sunday, drained and emotional turned back,” helicopter pilot air force plane had seen a “shad- for Malaysian air travel. After the anniversary, as the first detainees arrived on Jan authorities alleged he was present at Bin relatives of the 162 people on Tatang Onne Setiawan told AFP. ow” on the seabed believed to be disappearance of Flight MH370 in 11, 2002. Of the 127 inmates still held there, 59 Laden’s hideout in the Tora Bora mountains and board gathered at a crisis centre to “Besides the evacuation of the the missing plane, where all search March, en route from from Kuala are cleared to be transferred to their home that he had stayed at guesthouses known to hand over documents and medical bodies, we also planned to search efforts were now being concen- Lumpur to Beijing with 239 pas- countries or third countries. With the release of serve Al-Qaeda extremists. records. for bigger parts of the plane.” Boat- trated, he said earlier. The hunt is sengers and crew, another the two Tunisian detainees, there is only one The third Yemeni detainee transferred was Among them was Hadi Widjaja, based teams were still trying to now on for the plane’s black boxes, Malaysia Airlines flight - MH17 - Tunisian national still held at the prison. At one Sabri Muhammad Ibrahim Al-Qurashi, 44, who 60, who was preparing a Muslim make progress around the crash which are key to determining the was shot down over Ukraine in point, there were 12 Tunisian inmates at the jail. had been suspected of membership in Al- funeral for his son Andreas and site. A search and rescue official at cause of the crash. “We have con- July, killing all 298 on board. —AFP Yemeni detainees are the largest group at Qaeda and undergoing instruction at one of Guantanamo, with 80 inmates identified as the group’s training camps. He was arrested by Yemeni nationals, of which 50 are considered Pakistani authorities at a known Qaeda safe ready to be transferred. But US authorities have house in February 2002 and was sent to Korean Air boss’ daughter concerns over security given the volatile situa- Guantanamo in May of that year. tion in Yemen. The transfers came just days after Obama’s The Pentagon identified the Tunisian nation- envoy overseeing the release of Guantanamo als transferred Tuesday as Adel Al-Hakeemy, and inmates, Cliff Sloan, resigned from his post. detained in ‘nut rage’ case Abdullah bin Ali Al-Lufti, also known as Lofti bin Sloan had reportedly become frustrated at the Ali. Authorities had approved the repatriation of slow pace of transfers, which have to be Ali in 2006. But a US federal judge in 2007 approved by the Pentagon. Outgoing SEOUL: The daughter of the chairman of Korean the chief steward be removed from the flight at the chief attendant to disembark, arriving in South blocked his transfer, saying he would likely face Pentagon chief Chuck Hagel, who resigned in Air Lines, whose outburst over the way she was John F Kennedy airport in New York on Dec. 5 after Korea 11 minutes late. “The necessity for detention torture and “irreparable harm” at the hands of November, had reportedly come under pres- served nuts in first class prompted widespread out- another flight attendant in first class served her is recognized as the case is grave and there has Tunisian authorities. Ali, 49, has a pacemaker, sure from the White House to move more rage and ridicule, was in custody yesterday facing macadamia nuts in a bag, not a dish. In what media been an attempt to systematically cover up charges suffers heart rhythm problems and takes blood swiftly to approve proposed transfers of charges of violating aviation safety. Heather Cho, dubbed the “nut rage” incident, the Airbus A380, from the beginning,” Lee Kwang-woo, a judge at thinning medication. He has strongly denied detainees. —AFP 40, former head of in-flight service, had demanded which had pushed back from its gate, returned for Seoul Western District Court, said in a text message. She can be held for up to 20 days before prosecu- tors bring charges. Top official in The Transport Ministry had concluded that Cho abused flight attendants and that airline officials Xinjiang transferred may have tried to cover up the episode. Another airline official was detained over allegations that BEIJING: The second most senior official in head of the Xinjiang regional government. he abetted perjury and obtained information on China’s strife-torn Xinjiang region has been The top official in Xinjiang remains Zhang the ministry’s probe to update Cho. The Cho family, transferred, reports said yesterday, after the Chunxian, who was appointed as regional one of South Korea’s most powerful, faced fresh area saw some of its worst violence in party secretary in 2010 after his predecessor decades. Nur Bekri will be replaced as the was sacked in a move widely seen as a bid to criticism yesterday after media said her sister, also area’s vice Communist Party secretary by allay public anger following the riots. an executive with the airline, had sent a text mes- Shohrat Zakir, the official Xinhua news Beijing, which blames Xinjiang-related sage to Cho on Dec 17 saying: “I will surely take agency reported. Both men are Uighurs, the violence on “religious extremists”, “sepa- revenge.” nine-million-strong Turkic-speaking and ratists” and “terrorists”, has responded to the Emily Cho apologized yesterday on Twitter: “I mostly Muslim ethnic minority which current series of incidents by launching a am sorry beyond words for the content of my text counts Xinjiang as its homeland. severe crackdown in recent months, with message that was reported in today’s newspaper. I Bekri will become deputy director of the hundreds of arrests and around 50 death National Development and Reform sentences handed down. The campaign has don’t want to make any excuses. It is all my fault”. Commission, China’s top economic planning extended to academics such as prominent Korean Air had no comment and said that Emily agency, as well as head of the National Uighur scholar Ilham Tohti, who in Cho was not available to comment. Energy Agency, Caixin magazine said. Such September was sentenced to life in prison Flanked by prosecution officials after the a move would make him one of the most for “separatism”. Seven of Tohti’s students court’s detention order late on Tuesday, Heather powerful ethnic minority members of have been jailed on the same charge. Cho said “sorry” several times, her head bowed. China’s central government. Violence linked Rights groups have condemned the tar- The Transport Ministry came under fire after reve- to Xinjiang has intensified over the past year, geting of Tohti, a respected economist and with at least 200 people killed in a series of moderate who had long denounced the lations that some of its officials leaked information clashes and increasingly sophisticated repression of Uighurs. They argue that harsh to the company. Cho’s case aggravated resent- attacks in the resource-rich region and police treatment of the minority as well as ment towards family-run conglomerates, stirred beyond it. Bekri was appointed to the party government campaigns against religious by their dominance of the economy and a widen- post in 2003 and became head of the practices such as the wearing of veils have ing wealth gap. An official at the facility where regional government in 2008, retaining his led to violence. China denies repression, say- Cho was being held said she would not receive job even as unrest spiralled, including 2009 ing it has brought badly needed modernisa- SEOUL: Korean Air heiress Cho Hyun-Ah is surrounded by journalists at a court on Tuesday special treatment. “Whoever comes here, whether riots between Uighurs and China’s ethnic tion and economic development to the vast majority Han that left about 200 people and landlocked region bordering Central after her hearing to review an arrest warrant application on charges including violation of it is Cho Hyun-ah (Heather Cho)...they are treated dead. Zakir is also likely to replace him as Asia. —AFP the aviation safety law, coercion and interference in the execution of duty. —AFP equally.” —Reuters NEWS THURSDAY, JANUARY 1, 2015

H0NG KONG: Fireworks explode over Victoria Harbour in Hong Kong early today. Just like previous years, the city's iconic skyline along Victoria Harbour will light up with an eight-minute pyrotechnic display, as tens of thousdands of partygoers will flock to the waterfront to celebrate. — AFP Sydney spectacular leads New Year celebrations Continued from Page 1 nade handed out free hugs. Earlier, Australia’s biggest brations to ring in the new year. “We are celebrating celled, with many companies instead launching city kicked off the global New Year celebrations with a that we are a multicultural, harmonious community but fundraising campaigns for flood victims. In Indonesia, pyrotechnic display after a year which had seen busy massive fireworks display that lit up Sydney Harbour, we will be thinking about what happened,” Lord Mayor Surabaya was holding a candlelight vigil in the hours thoroughfares paralyzed by pro-democracy protests in defying terrorist fears days after a deadly siege. Clover Moore said in reference to the drama when an leading up till midnight to remember the people on the the final months of 2014. Tons of fireworks exploded over the harbor, watched Iranian-born gunman with a history of violence and plane which departed that city on Sunday. In “I think a more peaceful year would be good for by a crowd estimated at more than one million, stream- extremism took 17 hostages in a cafe. Two hostages and Afghanistan, the last French troops in the country held a everybody,” said Louis Ho, 65. Students on one prome- ing across the sky in one of the world’s first major cele- the gunman died. In the aftermath of the siege, Prime ceremony in Kabul to mark the end of their deployment Minister Tony Abbott warned that “the terror threat after NATO combat operations closed down as a new remains high and... at this level, an attack is likely”. But “train and support” mission takes over. Palestinians turn to ICC as UN bid fails the fireworks display went ahead without incident. Hasselhoff in Berlin Continued from Page 1 ure to win the nine votes necessary for adoption spared Remembrance for lost AirAsia flight The end of another era will be remembered in Berlin Washington having to wield its veto, which would have In China, Beijing’s bid to stage the 2022 Winter with “Baywatch” star David Hasselhoff joining a huge Abbas signed the request along with applications to caused it embarrassment with key Arab allies. Olympics was to be the theme of celebrations. Concert open air concert in front of the Brandenburg Gate, join 20 other international conventions during a meet- But it was also a diplomatic blow for the Palestinians, pianist Lang Lang will be the star performer at an where he famously sang for freedom after the Berlin ing broadcast live on Palestinian television. It came one who had counted on the symbolic victory of nine votes, extravaganza at Olympic Park. The Chinese capital has Wall fell 25 years ago. Dubai has promised to dazzle day after the UN Security Council rejected a resolution even though the resolution would in all likelihood have held New Year countdowns at the historic Temple of again with a pyrotechnic and lights show at Burj Khalifa, on ending the Israeli occupation. The resolution would been vetoed by the United States. Heaven since 2011, but has moved the event to the site the world’s tallest tower. have set a 12-month deadline for Israel to reach a final Speaking yesterday, Netanyahu extended his special of the 2008 summer games to raise the profile of its In Paris, the Champs-Elysees will be reserved for peace deal with the Palestinians, and called for a full thanks to Nigeria and Rwanda. “This is what tipped the winter Olympics bid. pedestrians to let them watch a visual spectacle pro- withdrawal of Israeli troops from the Palestinian territo- scales,” he said. Foreign Minister Avigdor Lieberman said In Taiwan the landmark skyscraper Taipei 101 was at jected onto the Arc de Triomphe 15 minutes before the ries by the end of 2017. the resolution’s failure “should the centre of celebrations, with performances by pop start of the new year. Israel hailed the rejection as a victory, saying it dealt teach the Palestinians that provocations and singers and a firework display at midnight expected to The ticking of the clock past midnight will be signifi- a blow to Palestinian efforts to diplomatically “embar- attempts to force Israel into unilateral processes will not attract hundreds of thousands. cant for Lithuania as it adopts the euro. Another Baltic rass and isolate” the Jewish state. The Palestinians achieve anything-quite the opposite.” But Russia And in Japan, the Meiji Jingu shrine in Tokyo brought state, Latvia, takes over the rotating presidency of the denounced as “outrageously shameful” the failure of the denounced the outcome of the UN vote as “a strategic out stocks of lucky charms and set up large offertory European Union, putting it on the front line of negotia- text to win the necessary nine votes for passage. error.” Arab League chief Nabil Al-Arabi also expressed regret, criticizing the boxes as it prepared to welcome a huge wave of wor- tions with neighboring Russia over the crisis in Ukraine. French envoy summoned African nations that abstained and pledging to con- shippers overnight. The huge shrine expects three mil- In Spain, millions of revellers will descend on Council heavyweights China, France and Russia were tinue “intensive Arab diplomatic activity” in support of lion visitors in the first three days of the new year. Madrid’s Puerta del Sol while in Barcelona a massive among eight countries voting in favour, while the the Palestinian cause. The Palestinians reacted furiously Hundreds of revellers were due to gather around a pop- fireworks display will be held. London stages New Year’s United States and Australia voted against. Nigeria, to the vote. “The UN Security Council vote is outra- ular British-colonial era shopping arcade in central Delhi Eve fireworks along the Thames and Edinburgh will be which had been expected to support the resolution, geously shameful,” said senior PLO official Hanan to greet the New Year, braving unusually chilly weather. holding its traditional Hogmanay street party. was among five abstentions, which included Britain, Ashrawi. “Those countries that abstained demonstrated Pubs and eateries were festooned with fairy lights and Marking 2015 on Copacabana beach in Rio de Rwanda, Lithuania and South Korea. a lack of political will to hold Israel accountable and to brightly colored balloons. Janeiro, more than two million people are expected to Nigeria had assured the Palestinians it would support act in accordance with the global rule of law and inter- But in Malaysia, a sombre mood prevailed after the attend a huge fireworks show that will open celebra- them, but abstained after lobbying efforts by Israel and national humanitarian law.” The Islamist movement crash of AirAsia Flight QZ8501 carrying 162 people in tions marking 450 years since the founding of the city. Washington. Israel yesterday summoned the French Hamas blamed Abbas for the setback, demanding he Indonesia and flooding in the country’s northeast which And in New York about one million revellers are expect- ambassador, saying it was “disappointed and perplexed” “make good” on threats to cut security cooperation with has displaced almost 250,000 people. ed to descend on Times Square to watch the New Year’s by his country’s support for the UN resolution. The fail- Israel and join the ICC. — AFP Year-end countdown celebrations have been can- Eve Ball Drop. — AFP THURSDAY, JANUARY 1, 2015 ANALYSIS

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Focus IMF under pressure to cancel debts of Ebola-hit countries

By Jeremy Tordjman

he International Monetary Fund is under mount- ing pressure to cancel the debts of the three poor TWest African countries hit hardest by Ebola, as their economies stall under the fallout from the disease. The calls for a debt alleviation for Guinea, Liberia and Sierra Leone are coming not only from anti-poverty organizations. In mid-December, a UN commission also urged seri- ous consideration for eliminating at least some of the debts of the three countries. And the United States, the US off war footing at year’s end IMF’s largest shareholder, has taken a stand on the issue as well, exhorting the crisis lender to wipe out around a fifth of the $480 million in debt owed it by the trio. By Robert Burns and Deb Riechman Shortly before the 2003 invasion of approaches the end of his sixth year into the World Trade Center in New Such a move would free resources to restart eco- Iraq, Obama, an Illinois state senator, in office he awaits Congress’ formal York and the Pentagon, America nomic activities in the countries where the disease has aking America off a permanent called it a “dumb war.” He warned of endorsement of his new war against invaded Afghanistan to root out Al- taken more than 7,800 lives, US Treasury Secretary war footing is proving harder unforeseen costs and consequences, Islamic State. The administration Qaeda and topple its host, the Jacob Lew said. Meeting in Australia in mid-November, Tthan President Barack Obama arguing that President George W Bush wants a legal basis for the war, known Taleban. the heads of the G20 group of leading economies may have suggested. US troops are would be smarter to finish what he as an authorization for use of military The war’s architects, including stepped up the pressure when they said that the IMF’s back in Iraq, the endgame in started in Afghanistan. force, rather than continuing to rely Defense Secretary Donald H. promise of $300 million to help fight the epidemic Afghanistan is requiring more troops - Obama’s promise to end the war in on congressional resolution granted Rumsfeld, deliberately kept U.S. troops should include debt alleviation. and perhaps more risks - than once Iraq was a key to winning the White after 9/11 to justify the invasion of levels low, hoping a new Washington- The calls for the IMF, which lends money to expected and Obama is saddled with House in 2008. He delivered on that Afghanistan, wage war in Iraq and friendly Afghan government under economies most in need, but usually with attached a worsening, high-stakes conflict in promise, but the war was not really pursue al-Qaida elsewhere. Hamid Karzai would quickly take con- requirements for reforms and financial discipline, have Syria. Last spring, Obama described to over. Events conspired to pull Obama Obama has not shied away from trol and allow the U.S. to move on. In spurred the institution into intense reflection, and it newly minted Army officers at West back in. In January 2014 the Islamic using limited military force in other February 2002 there were only 2,500 could come up with an initiative in January. Point how “the landscape has State seized the Sunni city of Fallujah, places, such as Pakistan, Yemen and American troops in Afghanistan. “Staff are looking at further options to provide sup- port to the Ebola-hit countries, through reform of an changed” after a decade of war. He cit- scene of the bloodiest fighting of the Somalia, when he decided that terror- In 2003 the US tried to move on. It existing facility,” a Fund spokesman told AFP. ed then-dwindling conflicts in Iraq U.S. war a decade earlier. The military ists there threatened the US Just turned its attention to Iraq, launching Traditionally bound to a narrow, orthodox mission of and Afghanistan. And he said Osama expanded their offensive in June, weeks ago he authorized a US com- an invasion that swiftly toppled financial support and loans to governments that it bin Laden, whose plotting from an Al- sweeping across much of northern mando raid in Yemen to rescue a US President Saddam Hussein but created expects to be repaid, the IMF in reality needs to expand Qaeda sanctuary in Afghanistan gave Iraq and capturing key cities, includ- civilian held hostage by Al-Qaeda’s a security vacuum and sectarian divi- its tools for aiding troubled economies. rise to what became America’s longest ing Mosul. Whole divisions of the Iraqi affiliate there. The hostage, Luke sion. A deadly insurgency followed. After the earthquake disaster in Haiti of 2010, the war, “is no more.” “You are the first Fund did create a mechanism for dealing with natural class to graduate since 9/11 who may catastrophes that hit its borrowers. That made way for not be sent into combat in Iraq or the IMF to eliminate $268 million that the Haitian gov- Afghanistan,” Obama declared to a ernment owed to the fund. burst of applause. But the mechanism is too restrictive to be applied to But once again the landscape has the Ebola epidemic: it is limited to “devastating” natural changed. Once again the US is disasters. According to advocates of the move, even if engaged in combat in Iraq - not by the loans come with zero interest rates, they constitute a constant burden that can financially strangle the gov- soldiers on the ground but by pilots in ernments of Ebola-hit countries. the sky. And the Pentagon is putting “A broad criticism of using loans to help very poor “boots on the ground” to retrain and countries is that, formally, no matter how bad their situ- advise Iraqi soldiers how to fight a ation gets, they must repay every penny,” said David new menace: the Islamic State mili- Roodman, an independent expert on economic devel- tants who have their roots in the Iraq opment. Sierra Leone and Guinea both have had to insurgency that US troops fought make loan repayments this year to the IMF despite the from 2003-2011. Once again there are Ebola crisis, according to Fund data. worsening crises demanding US mili- The World Bank has understood the problem. It has tary intervention, including in Syria. mobilized $500 million for the three countries in the Four months after his speech at the form of grants “which never need to be repaid,” accord- US Military Academy, Obama author- ing to Bank spokesman Phil Hay. ized American pilots, joined by Arab Doing the same is proving more difficult for the IMF. allies, to begin bombing Islamic State “It’s like asking a banker to embrace not getting repaid- it goes against their nature,” said Roodman. The benefits targets in Syria with the aim of under- of a debt writeoff would not be small. “The important mining the group’s base and weaken- thing about financing coming through debt relief is ing its grip in Iraq. that it And once again the US is on a path allows long-term investment on social infrastruc- that could expand or prolong its mili- ture” like strengthening health care systems, said Eric tary role in Afghanistan. The US com- LeCompte of anti-poverty group Jubilee USA. Indeed, bat role there ends Dec 31, but the IMF has been accused of contributing to the weak- Obama has authorized remaining US ening of the health care and disease prevention opera- troops to attack the Taleban if they tions in Western Africa through tough austerity policies pose a threat to US military personnel it required along with loans in the 1980s and 1990s. BAGHDAD: A US soldier patrols the Taji base complex which hosts Iraqi and US troops and is located thirty kilome- who will continue training Afghan ters north of the capital Baghdad. —AFP That is the assessment of a recent study by three security forces for at least the next British institutions. two years. army folded, abandoning tanks and Somers, was shot just as the comman- Meanwhile, in Afghanistan the “Policies advocated by the IMF have contributed to At his final news conference of other American-supplied war equip- dos arrived and died of his wounds in Taleban mounted a comeback no one underfunded, insufficiently staffed and poorly pre- pared health systems in the countries with Ebola out- 2014, Obama spoke just 18 words on ment to the militants. That was not US custody. in Washington seemed to see coming, breaks,” said Cambridge sociologist and lead study Afghanistan, saying, “In less than two just a boon to the militants. It was a Obama insists he has kept his word turning the war there into the longest author Alexander Kentikelenis. But the IMF categorical- weeks, after more than 13 years, our blow to US prestige. to end America’s big wars, the occu- in American history. By the summer of ly rejected their conclusion. “Such claims are based on a combat mission in Afghanistan will be Suddenly, inexplicably, Baghdad pations and nation-building efforts 2006, Rumsfeld got a whiff of Karzai’s misunderstanding, and, in some cases, a misrepresen- over.” seemed within the Islamic State’s that began with such promise in both concern about the Taleban’s growing tation, of IMF policies,” a spokesman said. —AFP As of Dec. 16, a total of 2,215 US reach. Two months later Obama gave Afghanistan and Iraq but ultimately threat. A reporter asked Karzai if he troops had died in Afghanistan and the go-ahead for US airstrikes in Iraq. defied US hopes for clear victories. In was asking for more US troops. “Yes, 19,945 had been wounded. In Iraq, He ruled out sending ground combat his speech Dec 15 at Fort Dix, NJ, much more,” Karzai replied. “And we’ll 4,491 died and 32,244 wounded. The forces, but at some point next year he Obama said 90 percent of the troops keep asking for more. And we will nev- All articles appearing on these wars produced far-reaching changes may face yet another tough choice: that were deployed to war zones er stop asking.” By the time Obama pages are the personal opinion of in how the military operates. Among whether to allow US military advisers when he took office are now home. took office in January 2009, the US the writers. Kuwait Times takes no the most significant: the frequent use to accompany Iraqi ground forces as “The time of deploying large num- had 34,400 troops in Afghanistan, responsibility for views expressed of elite Special Operations forces, they launch major counteroffensives, bers of ground forces with big military according to Pentagon records. He therein. Kuwait Times invites read- including the highly secretive Navy including an expected push to retake footprints to engage in nation-build- tripled the total, to 100,000, in 2010 in ers to voice their opinions. Please SEALs and the Army Delta force. The Mosul. Up to now, US advisers have ing overseas - that’s coming to an end,” a bid to turn the tide and defeat the send submissions via email to: opin- high pace of their counterterrorism been coordinating with Iraqi forces he said. “Going forward, our military Taleban. That aim was never achieved; [email protected] or via snail operations in both Iraq and from a safer distance. will be leaner” but ready for “a range of the Taliban took a heavy pounding in mail to PO Box 1301 Safat, Kuwait. Afghanistan, and occasionally else- Gen. Martin Dempsey, chairman of missions.” This era of US wars began in 2010-2011, but it remains a force to be The editor reserves the right to edit where in the Middle East, has given the Joint Chiefs of Staff, repeatedly Afghanistan. On Oct 7, 2001, less than reckoned with, in part because of the president a more finely tuned tool has said he will recommend ground a month after teams of terrorists sanctuaries it enjoys across the border any submission as necessary. of military power. combat troops if necessary. As Obama hijacked US airliners and flew them in Pakistan. —AP p15_Layout 1 12/31/14 7:13 PM Page 1

THURSDAY, JANUARY 1, 2015 SPORTS

Hughton to coach Brighton Shelvey gets four-game ban Bruce rules out switch LONDON: Brighton & Hove Albion have named former Newcastle United LONDON: Swansea City midfielder Jonjo Shelvey has accepted a charge of LONDON: Hull City boss Steve Bruce has ruled himself out of the running boss Chris Hughton as their manager, the English Championship (second violent conduct and been banned for four matches following an incident for the Newcastle United manager’s job should Alan Pardew complete his tier) club said yesterday. in the Premier League match against Liverpool, the club said yesterday. expected move to Crystal Palace. Bruce, who has been linked by British The 56-year-old replaced Sami Hyypia who quit last week following a “Swansea City has reluctantly accepted the charge issued by The Football media with the Newcastle role, said he was flattered to be tipped for the job run of one win in 18 games which has left Brighton 21st in the standings, Association against Jonjo Shelvey for violent conduct following an incident but was determined to stay at Hull and keep them in the Premier League. one place above the relegation zone. in Monday night’s Premier League defeat at Liverpool,” the club said in a “People know that I am from Newcastle, I was a Newcastle supporter as a “Chris has an excellent record in coaching and manage- statement. “While the club supports Shelvey’s statement that the incident boy and it has been regurgitated since I was a 22-year-old playing for ment,” chairman Tony Bloom told the club website. “Chris is was unintentional, it does not believe the outcome of an appeal would Norwich and Gillingham,” Bruce told reporters yesterday. “It would be also a manager who has a track record for developing talent prove positive for the club or player.” wrong for the speculation to keep carrying on for the club, for the support- at all levels from academy upwards and will embrace the The charge came after the FA examined footage from the match in ers, for the players. “I am determined to see this through and make sure we work we’ve been doing at the club in this area in recent sea- which Shelvey, a former Liverpool player, caught opponent Emre Can with stay in the Premier League and build on the good work we have sons.” Hughton played most of his career as a full back for a flailing arm. The incident was unseen by referee Andre Marriner. Shelvey done in the last two and a half years. The chairman knows the Tottenham Hotspur and won 53 caps for Ireland. He led had said on Twitter that he did not intentionally elbow the Liverpool player way I feel and why would I want to leave now? It’s not right, Newcastle back into the Premier League in 2010 but was in the 4-1 defeat at Anfield and he was defended by his manager Garry and I hope people respect that.” sacked the following season. Monk. Shelvey has been handed the customary three-match ban for vio- Pardew is expected to take up the vacant role at Palace Hughton managed Birmingham City in 2011-12 before lent conduct and an additional match after receiving a red card earlier in after he was given permission by Newcastle to talk to the moving to Norwich City and leading them to 11th place the season. The ban starts immediately and he will miss the New Year’s Day London club on Monday. Palace, who sacked manager Neil in the Premier League in 2013. He left Norwich in April fixture at Queen’s Park Rangers, the FA Cup third-round game at Tranmere Warnock on Saturday, are currently involved in a relegation with the club 17th in the table and they were relegated Rovers and home Premier League matches against West Ham United and battle while Newcastle are 10th in the Premier at the end of the campaign. —Reuters Chelsea.—Reuters League.—Reuters Madison Bumgarner Athlete of the Year

SAN FRANCISCO: Madison Bumgarner there leaving batters baffled. sat in the outfield alongside Jake Peavy On two days’ rest in Game 7, that day before Game 7 of the World Series and he sat with Peavy in Kansas City, he told his teammate exactly what needed pitched five scoreless innings of relief in to happen: Tim Hudson would work a a 3-2 win. Only after that would few innings and get the ball to Bumgarner acknowledge he might need Bumgarner, who would hand it off to the a mental and physical break at last after bullpen to finish the championship. tossing a record 52 2-3 postseason Peavy quickly offered his own predic- innings. tion that Bumgarner would end it him- “You know what? I can’t lie to you any- self. That’s exactly what MadBum did, fol- more,” he said. “I’m a little tired now.” lowing up a pair of World Series wins Pitching coach Dave Righetti began with a save at Kansas City to close out fielding inquiries before the World Series San Francisco’s third title in five years and began about whether Bumgarner had cap a brilliant postseason that made him the chance to make three appearances. a household name - or, at the very least, He knew it could happen, though it was- a household nickname. He is the 2014 n’t exactly planned. Associated Press Male Athlete of the Year. “You don’t realize when you’re in the “I was sitting in the outfield with middle of the eye, ‘Wow, what this guy’s Madison and he was asking me how I doing is so special,’” Righetti said. “That thought this game was going to play really hasn’t been done in years. ... When out,” Peavy recalled this month. “I said to you’ve got a healthy guy who’s on a roll, him: ‘Madison, when you get the ball, those are the kind of guys who change you’re not coming out of the game. big series and do special things.” You’re the best guy we’ve got.’ ... He said, The Giants locked up Bumgarner ‘Man, that’s exactly what I hoped you long-term in April 2012 on a $35.56 mil- would say’ and exactly what he wanted. lion, six-year contract through 2017. It He just needed some confirmation, could keep him in orange and black even somebody to believe in him as well. I longer, given the $12 million options for said, ‘Fight for that ball, man,’ and what the 2018 and 2019 seasons. That almost he did will go down in the ages as the seems like a bargain now given best ever.” The shaggy-haired left-hander Bumgarner’s performance and star pow- who takes as much pride in his pitching er on baseball’s biggest stage. and durability as he does his deep North Bumgarner was MVP of the World Carolina roots, Bumgarner became Series and NL Championship Series, October’s biggest star for a San Francisco going 4-1 during the postseason follow- club that really needed one during ing an 18-10 regular season. another improbable World Series run. From his four-hit, 10-strikeout gem Bumgarner finished first in a vote by that got things started in an 8-0 wild- US editors and news directors. He beat card win at Pittsburgh all the way out Dodgers pitcher Clayton Kershaw - through his brilliant relief outing in who won the National League Cy Young Game 7 of the World Series, Bumgarner and MVP. Retiring New York Yankees star dazzled like never before. “He pitched a Derek Jeter and golfer Rory McIlroy tied different game than we had seen from for third place. The award was him earlier in the season,” Pirates manag- announced Tuesday. er Clint Hurdle recalled recently. “We had After months of the same questions watched video and saw how much about his well-tested left arm, sharper he had gotten as the season Bumgarner made light of it all. He had played out. In the wild-card game he had just thrown 270 innings, including 21 command of all his pitches and lived on with two wins and a save in a World the edges the entire outing. He also used Series that went the distance against the his fastball up in the zone with deadly fellow wild-card Royals. accuracy.” “I got a splinter in my finger the other Bumgarner made the rounds on the day. That was kind of painful,” Bumgarner post-Series appearance circuit, then took quipped, sounding perfectly serious. a break to attend a rodeo. Despite the “Fortunately, it was on my right hand.” heavy workload, Bumgarner will be Bruce Bochy’s 25-year-old workhorse eager for spring training come February. has earned the manager’s trust that he “Everything feels great and we’re look- will speak up if anything ever feels off ing to just keep a normal offseason and a with his arm. Otherwise, he’s going to normal routine,” Bumgarner said. It will keep getting the ball. hardly be normal given the attention and NASHVILLE: Predators center Mike Fisher (12) collides with St. Louis Blues right wing Vladimir Tarasenko (91), of Russia, in the third period of an With that tricky cross-body, three- hype he is sure to generate after a spec- NHL hockey game. —AP quarters delivery - resembling a sling tacular 2014. “I just love the way he’s han- shot - Bumgarner shows hitters the ball dled everything, all the attention,” briefly with an outstretched arm before Righetti said. “It looks like he’s stayed the that rapid release and suddenly it’s right same.” —AP Predators see off Blues

NASHVILLE: Shea Weber scored twice to lead Los Angeles. an illegal hit to the head, and Vancouver the Nashville Predators to a 3-2 win over the Matt Hendricks and Ryan Nugent-Hopkins snapped a four-game road losing streak by St. Louis Blues on Tuesday night. Gabriel scored in regulation for the Oilers (8-22-7), beating San Jose. Bourque added a goal for Nashville, which has who won for just the second time in 22 Bo Horvat and Radim Vrbata also scored for won two of three. games. It was also just their second win the Canucks, who have won their last three Chris Butler and TJ Oshie scored for St. against a Western Conference opponent (2- games in San Jose. Ryan Miller stopped one of Louis, but the Blues lost for the fifth time in six 18-6). Drew Doughty and Jake Muzzin had two penalty shots he faced and made 31 games despite the return of No. 1 goalie Brian goals for the Kings (18-12-8), who lost for the saves in all to beat the Sharks for the seventh Elliott. second time in two nights and dropped their straight time. Joe Thornton converted his Elliott was activated from the injured list fifth straight on the road. penalty shot, and Joe Pavelski missed for the earlier Tuesday after he missed 14 games due Sharks, who had two penalty shots for just the to a lower-body injury. He made 44 saves. CANUCKS 3, SHARKS 1 second time in franchise history. Alex Stalock Weber’s short-handed goal 9:02 into the third Jannik Hansen scored in the second period, made 18 saves as San Jose lost its third period gave Nashville a 3-2 lead. His first-peri- immediately after leaving the penalty box for straight. —AP od tally made it 1-0. He hadn’t scored since Nov. 20 - a span of 16 games. NHL results/standings CANADIENS 2, PANTHERS 1 Pierre-Alexandre Parenteau scored the only Montreal 2, Florida 1 (SO); Nashville 3, St. Louis 2; Edmonton 3, Los Angeles 2 (So); Vancouver 3, San Jose 1. goal in the shootout to lift Montreal over Western Conference Tampa Bay 23 11 4 122 99 50 Florida. Parenteau’s shot glanced off the glove Pacific Division Detroit 19 9 9 105 94 47 of Roberto Luongo and went into the net in W L OTL GF GA PTS Toronto 20 14 3 124 111 43 Anaheim 24 8 6 107 101 54 the third round of the tiebreaker. Florida 16 9 9 80 88 41 Vancouver 21 11 3 103 94 45 Jonathan Huberdeau missed on the ensu- Los Angeles 18 12 8 103 94 44 Boston 19 15 3 98 99 41 ing attempt, and Montreal improved to 5-1 in San Jose 19 13 5 101 96 43 Ottawa 15 14 7 97 99 37 shootouts. The Canadiens have won four in a Calgary 20 15 3 110 100 43 Buffalo 14 20 3 75 123 31 row - including three on the road - and seven Arizona 14 18 4 86 115 32 of eight. Montreal owns a three-game win- Edmonton 8 22 7 79 127 23 Metropolitan Division ning streak against the Panthers. Pittsburgh 22 9 5 109 86 49 Central Division Brendan Gallagher scored in regulation for NY Islanders 24 11 1 112 101 49 Montreal, and Dustin Tokarski had 36 saves in Chicago 25 10 2 117 78 52 Nashville 24 9 3 106 78 51 Washington 18 11 7 105 94 43 his first start in 11 games. Nick Bjugstad St. Louis 22 12 3 108 93 47 NY Rangers 19 11 4 102 87 42 scored Florida’s goal. Luongo stopped 33 Winnipeg 19 11 7 94 87 45 Philadelphia 14 16 6 100 109 34 shots for the Panthers, who lost at home for Minnesota 17 13 4 99 95 38 Columbus 15 16 3 86 109 33 the first time in four games. Dallas 16 14 5 102 118 37 New Jersey 13 18 7 82 108 33 Colorado 13 15 8 92 109 34 Carolina 10 22 4 72 98 24 OILERS 3, KINGS 2 Note: Overtime losses (OTL) are worth one point in Eastern Conference KANSAS: In this Oct. 29, 2014, file photo, San Francisco Giants pitcher Madison David Perron’s shootout goal snapped Atlantic Division the standings and are not included in the loss col- Bumgarner throws during the fifth inning of Game 7 of baseball’s World Series Edmonton’s nine-game losing streak in a vic- Montreal 24 11 2 100 86 50 umn (L). against the Kansas City Royals. —AP tory over defending Stanley Cup champion p16_Layout 1 12/31/14 7:14 PM Page 1

THURSDAY, JANUARY 1, 2015 SPORTS South Africa seek series win

CAPE TOWN: South Africa will literally be trying to make up for lost time when they take on the West Indies in the third and final Test at Newlands tomorrow. Although the West Indies put up an improved performance, South African captain Hashim Amla stopped short of acknowledging their cre- dentials in his post-match comments after the rain-hit second Test in Port Elizabeth ended in a draw. Amla suggested that South Africa’s first innings total of 417 for eight could have been bigger had his team not been trying to force the pace after most of the second day’s play was washed out. He also pointed out that the West Indian reply of 275 for nine was largely due to a third wicket partnership of 176 between Kraigg Brathwaite and Marlon Samuels, who both hit centuries. The next highest West Indian score was 22 by Devon Smith. According to Amla, the South African bowlers performed well on an unresponsive pitch in Port Elizabeth. “I think on a different surface we may have picked up a lot more wickets a lot quicker. We did very well to take seven wickets in 35 overs (on day four) so we have a lot of positives to take into the next game,” he said. Amla clearly felt that South Africa would have been favourites to win if the weather had not cut more than half the playing time from the second Test. The South African bowlers can expect more pace, bounce and possibly seam movement at PAKISTAN: This photograph taken on December 30, 2014, shows Pakistani al- Newlands. South Africa, who lead the series 1-0 rounder Shahid Afridi attends a local event in Karachi. If fan following was a yard- after an innings win in the first Test in Centurion, stick of greatness in cricket, Pakistan’s colorful all-rounder Shahid Afridi would prob- added uncapped off-spinner Simon Harmer to ably be ranked his countryís greatest ever player. —AFP their squad for Newlands. “We would like to have the option of a sec- ond spinner,” said selection convener Andrew Afridi leaves vacuum for Hudson. It would be unusual for South Africa to include two spin bowlers in the same team but fans — and advertisers Harmer, from the Eastern Cape Warriors fran- chise, is also a useful batsman. If he plays he could possibly replace one of KARACHI: If fan following was a yard- gum, with a ubiquity surpassed perhaps the seven specialist batsmen who played in Port stick of greatness in cricket, Pakistan’s only by Sachin Tendulkar in India. Elizabeth if he is not picked ahead of leg-spinner colourful all-rounder Shahid Afridi would “Afridi may not always be the star per- Imran Tahir, who took three wickets but was probably be ranked his country’s great- former but he remains a star,” said Kamil expensive at St George’s Park. The West Indies est ever player. Ahmed, who works for a top advertising will have to choose between bolstering a fragile Ever since he hit a 37-ball hundred in agency in Karachi. “His name can lift a batting line-up or go in with the same bowling only his second one-day international- product, especially those for young peo- line-up that played in Port Elizabeth. against Sri Lanka in Nairobi in 1996 — ple, who are mad for him.” After Centurion, they dropped batsman Afridi has been a cult figure in Pakistan. Afridi, now 34, has had ups and downs Jermaine Blackwood and picked all-rounder His announcement last week that he in his career but his support reached new Jason Holder. It led to an improved bowling per- was quitting one-day cricket after next heights when he became captain in formance but the lower order batsmen, includ- year’s World Cup has left his millions of 2010. ing Holder, crumbled against the pace of Morne fans pondering: who to watch after him? “I am lucky in the sense that people Morkel and spin of Tahir. No cricketer in Pakistan has had the loved me more than anyone else,” Afridi West Indian coach Stuart Williams said his persona and the box office pull of the told AFP. “It’s a great blessing and I team was a “work in progress” and the players hyperactive, big-hitting Afridi, who filled always wanted to play for my country were looking forward to playing at Newlands in stadiums throughout his career-and and for my fans.” what is traditionally South African cricket’s often emptied them when he was out. With age catching up and form slid- biggest occasion. The fervor for watching him bat was ing, Afridi’s fan following started to such that when he was dismissed first diminish two years ago. He was dropped Teams: South Africa (likely, from): Hashim Amla ball by an unknown Zimbabwe bowler in from the one-day side for the tour of (captain), Alviro Petersen, Dean Elgar, Faf du Peshawar a few days after his world India in December 2012 and then for the Plessis, AB de Villiers (wkt), Stiaan van Zyl, Temba record hundred, the crowd chanted: “Try Champions Trophy a year later. Bavuma, Vernon Philander, Dale Steyn, Morne ball, let Afridi bat again!” But in typical style, he won back Morkel, Imran Tahir, Simon Harmer. Girls swooned for a glimpse of him hearts with a blistering 18-ball 34 against West Indies (from): Denesh Ramdin (captain, and many wanted to marry him. In 2004 India to help Pakistan reach the final of wkt), Kraigg Brathwaite, Devon Smith, Leon two women came in bridal dress to a the Asia Cup in March. Johnson, Marlon Samuels, Shivnarine ground and were only convinced to Two sixes off Ravichandran Ashwin in Chanderpaul, Jermaine Blackwood, Jerome leave after meeting him face to face. the last over against arch-rivals India Taylor, Sulieman Benn, Sheldon Cottrell, Jason Afridi won hearts with his unortho- silenced the critics. “When Afridi wins a Holder, Shannon Gabriel, Narsingh Deonarine, dox, buccaneering style-ignoring the game in that manner it feels much more Kenroy Peters, Chadwick Walton (wkt). coaching manual to rely on swagger and than just an ordinary win,” said Umpires: Aleem Dar (PAK), Paul Reiffel (AUS). raw talent. Samiuddin, author of “The Unquiet TV umpire: Billy Bowden (NZL). Match referee: PORT ELIZABETH: South Africa’s Imran Tahir celebrates a wicket during the fourth day of their It was an approach tailor-made for TV Ones”, a new history of Pakistani cricket. Ranjan Madugalle (SRI). —AFP second cricket Test against West Indies in this file photo. —AP and Afridi’s career coincided with the There are those who became exasper- explosion of Pakistani media that fol- ated with Afridi in recent years, seeing a lowed General Pervez Musharraf’s liberal- player whose love for the spectacular isation of the sector in 2002. often came at the expense of his team- Pakistani cricket writer and historian mates. Notre Dame defeat LSU Osman Samiuddin said the exposure But Samiuddin says that for all his meant Afridi’s popularity become virtual- occasional failures, Afridi would be NASHVILLE: Notre Dame’s Kyle Brindza Golson, using both quarterbacks on the win- with Dominick Sanders recording two inter- ly unmatched, in any era. remembered as “a very very good limited kicked a 32-yard field goal as time expired to ning drive. Louisiana State lost for the first ceptions. Quarterback Kyle Bolin made his “He has played in the right age for overs player, among the greatest give the Fighting Irish an upset 31-28 win time this season to a team not from the first career start for Louisville and finished 20 sure, when a booming electronic media Pakistan has seen. against Louisiana State in the Music City Bowl Southeastern Conference’s Western Division. of 40 for 301 yards with two interceptions and has made him a bigger public presence “He has changed the course of match- on Tuesday. Leonard Fournette ran for 143 yards and two one touchdown. Brandon Radcliff ran for 91 than previous stars such as Imran Khan, es with his bowling many times and does The day’s other bowl games were not as touchdowns, and also returned a kickoff 100 yards and a touchdown. Wasim Akram or Waqar Younis,” so with his batting as well,” he said. close: Georgia running back Nick Chubb led yards for a score. Stanford’s quarterback Kevin Hogan threw Samiuddin told AFP. The Afridi effect can Despite bagging 391 wickets in 389 ODIs the Bulldogs to a comfortable win against Georgia’s Chubb ran for a career-high 266 for 189 yards and two touchdowns to lead the be seen in any street game in Pakistan, with his brisk leg-spin, Afridi agrees fans Louisville in the Belk Bowl and Stanford over- yards and two touchdowns to lead the Cardinal to a 45-21 victory over Maryland in where millions of children copy his style- largely come to watch him bat. whelmed Maryland in the Foster Farms Bowl. Bulldogs past Louisville 37-14 in the Belk the Foster Farms Bowl. trying to smash every other ball out of “I know my contributions as a bowler Notre Dame (8-5) stopped a fake field goal Bowl. Chubb averaged 8 yards per carry and Remound Wright ran for three short scores the park. count for little. They want sixes flying all just short of the goal line at the end of the the Bulldogs (10-3) piled up 301 yards rushing as Stanford blew past the Terrapins with the Afridi’s superstardom on the field the time from my bat and I always try to first half and blocked a 40-yard field goal against the nation’s second-best run defense. kind of complete performance that had elud- made him the face of Pakistan off it, and do that,” said Afridi, whose 342 sixes in attempt by Trent Domingue early in the Georgia’s starting quarterback Hutson ed them most of the season. The Cardinal out- his likeness is plastered across billboards 389 matches is a world record. fourth quarter. The Fighting Irish got the ball Mason threw for 149 yards and a touchdown gained Maryland 414 to 222 yards and looked and TV ads everywhere in the country. Whatever his performance at next with 5:41 left and never gave it back, driving before leaving with blurred vision in the sec- right at home at Levi’s Stadium, close to the Even now, in the twilight of his career, year’s World Cup, it will be a long time 71 yards in 14 plays before Brindza finished ond quarter with the Bulldogs ahead 20-7. He Stanford campus. It was the most points Afridi advertises everything from sham- before cricket sees another performer off the win. was replaced by Brice Ramsey, whose primary scored in a bowl game in Stanford history. poo, banking and skin cream to chewing quite like Shahid Afridi.—AFP Coach Brian Kelly gave Malik Zaire his first duty was to hand the ball off to Chubb. Maryland missed a chance for its first postsea- career start, but he also played senior Everett Georgia’s defense made four turnovers, son win since 2010. —AP Australia brace for emotional Test

SYDNEY: Australia may have sealed the “We’ve got to have a couple days off four-test series against India but the final now and try to get through that over the match in Sydney could prove the most next few days.” Warner said Hughes’ pass- emotionally taxing for the hosts as they ing continued to impact his life. “It’s return to the venue where Phillip Hughes going to be in the back of my mind every was fatally struck by a bouncer last time I play,”the hard-hitting opener said. month. “Every time I sit at home and I’m Brad Haddin, Nathan Lyon, Shane thinking about nothing but that. We’ve Watson and David Warner were fielding got to keep pushing on. He’d want us to at the Sydney Cricket Ground when do that.” Apart from being in control of Hughes sustained the sickening blow to their emotions, Lehmann also wants his his neck, never regaining consciousness team to improve their fielding, especially and eventually passing away three days catching, in Sydney. before his 26th birthday. The butter-fingered hosts dropped Australia coped well with the tragedy both Virat Kohli and Ajinkya Rahane in to take an unassailable 2-0 lead against India’s first innings in Melbourne, allow- India and coach Darren Lehmann is in no ing them to post career-best scores in a doubt that emotion will run high as they 262-run partnership. return to Sydney for the fourth test start- “(The fielding was) shoddy at best. ing on Tuesday. We’ve done a lot of work and I can’t com- “I’m sure it’s in the back of their minds plain about the work ethic from the lads, and everyone’s minds around Australia,” but the big one’s that cost us were the Lehmann said. “For us we’ve just got to first innings,” Lehmann said. “It’s not vol- get on with playing the game as best we ume or practice, they’re very good at can.”I actually don’t know how they’ll that.It’s probably more confidence to be NASHVILLE: Notre Dame wide receiver CJ Prosise (20) gets past LSU safety Jamal Adams (33) as Prosise scores a touchdown on a 50-yard run in react, we have to see how we react. honest.”—Reuters the second half of the Music City Bowl NCAA college football game. —AP p17 2_Layout 1 12/31/14 8:39 PM Page 1

THURSDAY, JANUARY 1, 2015 SPORTS A year in golf: Tales from the Tour

CONNECTICUT: Jim Mahoney parted with a tiny piece and his friend walked across the teeing ground. radio, Golf Channel, another radio station, the writers of US Open history with hopes it could change Phil “We’re the only ones there. The marshals gave up,” he and then the PGA Tour’s website. Mickelson’s luck. It was a broken tee in a plastic bag. “A said. “They were the last group to hit. And there’s Phil’s A large crowd behind a gated section began calling Age old problems souvenir that money can’t buy,” Mahoney said in a tele- tee.” Even after it was over, Mahoney’s said his friends out to him as McIlroy walked away, wanting his auto- phone interview from his home in Connecticut. told him he should put the tee on a plaque. Instead, he graph. McIlroy looked at the crowd, then at the club- leave Asian Cup Mahoney brought the tee to the Deutsche Bank stored it in a drawer. He wanted Mickelson to win that house. Championship, along with a letter explaining the cir- day, as did half of New York. He roots for him at every That’s when his caddie, J.P. Fitzpatrick, stepped in. cumstances around it. This was the last tee Mickelson major. “Those kids over there have followed you all day,” he an open race used at Winged Foot in the 2006 U.S. Open. His drive And that’s why he thought it might help to give it told McIlroy. “You need to sign for them.” McIlroy SINGAPORE: The Asian Cup heads to Australia for sailed far to the left on the 18th hole, like so many of his back. Mahoney approached Mickelson’s caddie during reached for the pen in his back pocket, walked over to the first time next month with the scars of a woe- tee shots that Sunday, and caromed off a tent. From the pro-am at the Deutsche Bank Championship in the kids and spent the next 15 minutes with them. ful 2014 World Cup for the continent and the Monday at the PGA Championship was a time to get recurring problems of match-fixing and swift registered, maybe hit a few putts but otherwise take it easy during the busiest stretch of the year. Matt Kuchar sackings leaving the tournament wide open. intended to do just that, and he pulled up a chair at a Holders Japan are favorites to win a record patio table to join Jim “Bones” MacKay, the caddie for extending fifth continental title but dark clouds Phil Mickelson. hang over their coach Javier Aguirre after he MacKay pointed out that Kuchar was sitting in a became embroiled in a Spanish match-fixing case famous chair. OK, it wasn’t the same chair. But it’s where dating back to his time as Real Zaragoza boss. Rocco Mediate was sitting at Valhalla during the 2000 The Mexican has long denied any wrongdoing PGA Championship. Mediate was close to qualifying for but the negative attention has not helped confi- the Presidents Cup that year. The chair broke suddenly dence in Japan, where a mixed start and the and Mediate injured an already tender back. He with- exclusion of form players, like Gamba Osaka for- drew from the final major. He didn’t make the ward Takashi Usami, have raised questions about Presidents Cup team. his suitability. That was before Kuchar joined the PGA Tour. He had The pressure on Aguirre, though, is nothing like never heard the story. Kuchar was running errands that what Ange Postecoglou is under as the hosts wel- afternoon when he was stuck in traffic so long that he come Asia’s biggest tournament for the first time wound up with a sore back. Three days later, he with- since joining the confederation in 2006. drew from the PGA at Valhalla. Beware the chair. Australia, runners up to Japan in 2011, won Jordan Spieth describes her as the girl who keeps the only one match in 2014, a friendly triumph over family grounded, and the funniest member of the Saudi Arabia in September, with defensive lapses Spieth clan. That would be Ellie, his 14-year-old sister in the young side a glaring issue as the coach who was born with neurological challenges. And she struggles to replace a golden generation which was part of the entourage at the Deutsche Bank Championship, watching big brother Jordan on the golf qualified for three consecutive World Cups. course while walking with her other brother, Steven, “Things haven’t been going well prior to this who plays basketball at Brown. She was talking to any- tournament, we have to be brutally honest. We’ve one who would listen about her big brothers and what probably gone a little bit backwards,” former they do. Australia goalkeeper Mark Bosnich told Reuters.. The gallery was held back behind the seventh green Postecoglou was in charge for the predictable while players and their caddies got on carts to take three World Cup defeats in Brazil, where the them to the next tee. Spieth spotted his little sister and Socceroos, Japan, Iran and South Korea all fin- waved her over. Ellie ran to the cart and sat on her big ished bottom of their groups as Asia failed to earn brother’s lap as they drove off. She looked like the hap- a single victory for the first time since 1990. He piest person at TPC Boston. And so did Spieth. British kept his job with the Asian showpiece in mind but humor has no rival in golf. a failure on home soil is sure to spell the end of At the annual caddie awards dinner at the HSBC his tenure. Champions, a slide show presenting the year in golf was on the screen. Bubba Watson won the Masters. Martin MANAGERIAL CHANGES Kaymer won the U.S. Open. Andrew Cotter of the BBC His task is not helped by a tough Group A was the host for the dinner, and according to several including a showdown against South Korea, who caddies in attendance, Cotter mentioned how it wasn’t are now under the guidance of German Uli long before one player took over the world of golf by Stielike, one of 11 coaches appointed by the 16 winning two majors. The dramatic commentary was finalists last year as flagging teams eyed a fresh accompanied by the next photo - Colin Montgomerie. start. On Monday after the AT&T Pebble Beach National Pro-Am, the course was filled with a few corporate part- Bahrain and Jordan have gone through a com- ners and several members of the CBS Sports crew, main- bined six managers since last year, while Saudi ly the staff that never gets attention or publicity for the Arabia and Iraq have loaned coaches from club invaluable work on the broadcast. sides for the Jan. 9-31 tournament in a glaring Jim Nantz treated this Monday like any other. He lives example of the short-sightedness in the region’s not far from the 18th green. His wife, Courtney, was in administrations. “The coach doesn’t have time to impose his WINGED FOOT: This photo taken on Aug. 29, 2014 shows a tee used by golfer Phil Mickelson for his last tee shot at the final months of her pregnancy. Every morning, they style on the team and quite often he will have 2006 US Open golf tournament at Winged Foot. Jim Mahoney, who collected the souvenir tee in 2006, approached take as beautiful of a walk as there is in golf along the Mickelson’s caddie during the pro-am at the Deutsche Bank Championship in September. He simply handed him coast at Pebble Beach to the par-3 seventh green, very little input into selecting the squad,” former an envelope that contained the broken tee and the letter. —AP where they were married. Australia boss Pim Verbeek said of the constant This walk took longer than usual. Each time Nantz chopping and changing. Carlos Queiroz is the there, Lefty made double bogey and finished one shot September. He simply handed him an envelope that passed a group from the CBS crew, they wanted to hear longest serving boss in the tournament but a lack behind. contained the broken tee and the letter. his commentary on their shots. Nantz delivered, as he of adequate warm-up matches leave his defensive The U.S. Open remains the only major keeping him “I will trade the tee for a photo-op,” said the letter, often does. Iran side short of quality action as they seek an from the career Grand Slam. Winged Foot haunts him addressed to Mickelson and Jim “Bones” MacKay. “You Patrick Rodgers of Stanford was honored at the attacking dimension in order to lift a fourth Asian more than his other five runner-up finishes. “I was on can make peace with it and win the Open in 2015. Good Memorial with the Jack Nicklaus Award as college play- Cup. the tee at Winged Foot, me and a friend of mine,” luck.” MacKay was looking for Mahoney after the round er of the year. That included a trip to Muirfield Village While they look forward to a 13th Asian Cup, Mahoney said. “Phil got out his driver and was bouncing for the photo. He never found him. and a presentation hosted by Nicklaus. Palestine are taking part in their first after over- the ball off the face. Phil looked over to the 17th green Moments like these give tournament golf its texture, That was memorable on its own. Typical of Nicklaus, coming a raft of player access issues to qualify by and there’s a scoreboard. It showed that (Colin) stories that go beyond numbers on a scorecard and tro- he stayed around after the presentation to talk with winning the Challenge Cup for emerging nations. Montgomerie had just double bogeyed the 18th. His phies on a mantle. Here are more from this year’s collec- Rodgers and the rest of the winners from the various The West Asians will do well to get anything whole demeanor changed. But he hits this horrendous tion of “Tales from the Tour.” divisions. Looking at Rodgers right in the eye, Nicklaus slice.” Rory McIlroy had a long day at The Players said, “You ever need anything at all, just call me.” from two former winners Iraq and Japan in Group Thousands of fans who had crowded around the tee Championship, and it wasn’t over when he signed his Nicklaus didn’t break the eye contact until Rodgers nod- D, with Uzbekistan, UAE and Qatar more likely to box took off down the sides of the fairway. Mahoney card. There was an interview with Sky Sports, PGA Tour ded back.—AP be tournament dark horses.—Reuters Panathinaikos, Galatasaray make winning starts

BELGRADE: Six-time Euroleague winners Panathinaikos started the competition’s second group stage with an 83-76 home win over holders Maccabi Tel Aviv while Galatasaray beat Zalgiris Kaunas 78-69 in an empty arena on Tuesday. The first round of the Top 16, featuring two groups of eight teams, continues on Friday when Red Star Belgrade entertain Real Madrid in the match of the week and Fenerbahce are at home to CSKA Moscow in the other outstanding fixture. Maccabi made a brighter start in Athens and seemed to be in control after carving out a 35-22 lead in the latter stages of the first half, with the home side unable to counter their fast breaks, which resulted in a barrage of spectacular slam dunks. But Panathinaikos stormed back after their Montenegrin coach Dusko Ivanovic threw 34-year old playmaker Dimitris Diamantidis into the fray, blunting Maccabi’s offence in the fourth quarter. “We were patient and played better defence in the second half to beat a very good Maccabi side,” a delighted Ivanovic told Euroleague television. Uruguayan centre Esteban Batista led the Greek outfit with 16 points, Americans James Gist and AJ Slaughter added 15 apiece and Diamantidis finished with 11 and seven assists. Brian Randle and Nate Linhart netted 18 points each for Maccabi and their athletic centre Alex Tyus also stood out with 14 and 11 rebounds. Galatasaray also overturned a first-half deficit in a match played behind closed doors with the Turkish side serving a three-game crowd ban after fan vio- lence led to the death of a Red Star Belgrade sup- porter before their match in November. Against Zalgiris, playmaker Sinan Guler and Serbian forward Zoran Erceg scored 14 points each for Galatasaray, former NBA guard Carlos Arroyo added 12 and centre Kerem Gonlum chipped in with TURKEY: Zalgiris Kaunas’ Lithuanian center Robertas Javtokas (right) vies for the ball with Galatasaray’s Serbian center Zoran Erceg (LEFT) during a Euroleague Top 16 bas- 10 and six rebounds in a fluid team effort.—Reuters ketball match. AFP THURSDAY, JANUARY 1, 2015 SPORTS

LONDON: Arsenal’s Danny Welbeck (center) celebrates with teammates in this file photo. —AP Arsenal, Southampton launch top-four tussle

SOUTHAMPTON: Arsenal will hope to begin comers Sadio Mane, Graziano Pelle and Welbeck a doubt because of a groin prob- Southampton have selection dilemmas of the new year by reclaiming the top-four Dusan Tadic have all made instant impacts. lem, little-used Germany forward Lukas their own as defensive midfielder Morgan position in the Premier League table that has “He has done a remarkable job,” Wenger Podolski may get a rare run-out. Schneiderlin, a player thought to be on Everton face traditionally been theirs. said of former Netherlands star Koeman, Podolski has been linked with a move to Wenger’s radar, is suspended following his Arsene Wenger’s side travel to who left Feyenoord to take over from Inter Milan once the January transfer win- dismissal in the Chelsea match for two book- Southampton on New Year’s Day in the Mauricio Pochettino. “He has done very well dow opens, but Wenger has declared that an able offences. goalkeeper knowledge that victory at St Mary’s will see and bought very well. He gets them to play Italian exit is not an option for the World That will put the onus on Victor Wanyama them leapfrog their hosts into the very good football. Cup-winner. to protect the defence and the Kenya inter- Champions League places. “They were the surprise because there “He is a player of Arsenal Football Club national believes that Southampton cannot dilemma But Southampton, who drew 1-1 with was a big exodus there at the end of the sea- and I want him to stay,” he said. “I hope that expect any of their opponents to underesti- LONDON: Everton’s bid to arrest an alarming run of leaders Chelsea on Sunday, will be deter- son last year. They did very well, unexpect- he will still be an Arsenal player at the end of mate them anymore. form has been hit by an injury to goalkeeper Tim mined to defend their position and Wenger edly, because they’ve benefited from the January. Inter? That is a joke. Inter is not seri- “Now everyone knows what we can do,” Howard ahead of today’s trip to Hull City in the has admitted he had not foreseen 2014 end- stability at the back and in midfield from last ous.” said the former Celtic player, whose side Premier League. ing with the south-coast club so high in the year. “They added Mane, Pelle and Tadic, Midfielder Aaron Ramsey remains side- have gone three league games without Howard will be out for up to six weeks after damag- standings. who have done very well very quickly. That’s lined by injury, but former Saints starlet defeat following a sticky patch in late- ing his calf in the 1-0 Boxing Day defeat by Stoke City, That was mainly because Ronald why they are where they are.” Theo Walcott could feature, although he is November and early-December. “At the leaving Everton with only 24-year-old Joel Robles-who Koeman, installed as manager during the Arsenal recorded victories over fellow not yet match fit following a lengthy beginning, nobody gave us a chance. We has made only 11 top-flight starts-as back-up. Aside close season, had to make a series of buys to London clubs Queens Park Rangers and West absence due to a serious knee injury. deserved three points against Chelsea and from the Spaniard, the only other goalkeepers on replace a host of departed stars. Ham United over the festive period, but will “Walcott is involved because he was already were unlucky. There was a foul before they Everton’s books are 18-year-olds Jindrich Stanek and No fewer than five players who had take on Southampton without the suspend- in the squad,” Wenger said. “Of course I judge got their goal. “We are at home so we need Russell Griffiths, and manager Roberto Martinez has helped fire Southampton to a surprise ed Olivier Giroud, who was sent off against him a bit short on the competition front, but to have the same spirit and hopefully we can hinted the club may be forced to bring in reinforce- eighth-place finish left the club, but new- QPR. And with England striker Danny on the fitness front he is ready to play.” get a good result.”—AFP ments. “That is something we are going to assess,” Martinez said. “Joel had his first start in the league and Celtic aim to that was a great way of him having an introduction. “We’ve just found out about Tim so we’re going to make a decision. We only have Russell and Jindrich, so get back to we need to assess that over the next few days.” Christmas defeats against Stoke and Newcastle winning ways United have left Everton on a run of six defeats from their last eight games in all competitions and with just GLASGOW: Celtic striker Leigh Griffiths says his side need to one victory from their last seven league matches. The take their chances as they aim to get back to winning ways visit to Hull presents an opportunity to rectify that run, against Partick Thistle in the Glasgow derby today. although Everton’s injury problems extend beyond the After an eight-match winning run, the Hoops have failed to goalkeeper position. record a victory in their past two matches following a defeat England defenders Phil Jagielka and John Stones to Dundee United and Sunday’s frustrating goalless draw at are expected to be missing with ankle injuries, while home to bottom of the table Ross County. The Glasgow giants full-back Tony Hibbert is two weeks from match fit- passed up a host of chances in both matches and Griffiths is ness. backing the club’s strikers to find their form as they aim to Leon Osman, another potential defensive stand-in, remedy their failings against Thistle. has a split tendon in his foot, with no return date cur- “We dominated the game and when we are dominant like rently scheduled, while midfielders Darron Gibson and that we need to win,” Griffiths said of the draw with Ross Steven Pienaar also remain on the long-term injured County. “They came here to frustrate us and did that, but we list. There is even a doubt for Thursday over the fitness will bounce back and will look forward to Partick Thistle away. LONDON: Chelsea’s Eden Hazard (centre) is congratulated by his teammates after scoring a goal during the English of influential midfielder James McCarthy. “At the “We can’t keep controlling games and not win them but we Premier League soccer match in this file photo. —AP moment, we’re a little bit weak and we need to get are back in training and looking forward to today. stronger,” said Martinez. “We were just unlucky on Saturday - Callum McGregor had “When you don’t get results, you are going to get a the shot that came off the bar and John Guidetti was in the Chelsea to visit rivals Spurs lot of doubts and a lot of opinions from outside. Now right place at the right time, but he just put the ball wide our focus has to be very narrow, on a positive perform- when nine times out of 10 he would score, so hopefully on LONDON: Eden Hazard is on course to challengers during the second half of the in place of John Obi Mikel. ance and result from the Hull game.” Thursday we can put things right. becoming one of the world’s top players, campaign. “We know that we lost two Tottenham are beginning to find their Hull’s preparations for the match have been carried “It’s a Glasgow derby and Partick will be up for it and so will according to Chelsea team-mate Filipe points in a difficult stadium but the team feet under new manager Mauricio out amid speculation surrounding their manager, we. We will take a massive travelling support and hopefully we Luis as the Blues travel to White Hart did really well in the second half, and if Pochettino and Sunday’s scoreless draw Steve Bruce. Bruce has been linked with a move to take can get the right result.” Lane today. we play like we did in the second half we with Manchester United consolidated Elsewhere today, Dundee United host Dundee at over as manager of Newcastle United, with Alan Jose Mourinho’s side will attempt to can be in this situation until the end and their standing in seventh, two points off Pardew expected to be named Crystal Palace manager. Tannadice in the Dundee derby. After a good start to their respond to Sunday’s 1-1 draw with keep going at the top of the league,” he fourth place. campaign, newly-promoted Dundee have failed to record a Bruce, who turned 54 yesterday, supported Southampton by claiming victory at told the club’s official website. Pochettino’s side are keen to avenge Newcastle as a boy and has previously expressed win in the league since 1 November. Tottenham Hotspur to guarantee they “It is going to be really difficult the one-sided 3-0 defeat to Chelsea at And despite losing the two previous matches against regret at rejecting the chance to manage the club in retain their place at the head of the because when you are top, everybody Stamford Bridge in early December and 2004. But his immediate priority is to lift his current United this season, Dundee manager Paul Hartley is hoping Premier League table. wants to take you off there and play like winger Nacer Chadli is convinced the team’s morale after their defeat at Leicester City on the derby can act as the inspiration to kick start their season And left-back Luis believes winger Southampton did because they played outcome could be different this time Sunday. again. “I don’t think you should need motivated for a game Hazard will be one of the key figures as really well, but we did enough to win this around. The Tigers had ended a run of 10 matches without a like this,” Hartley said. “It’s a derby with a full house and it’s on the Blues attempt to extend their 10- game. If we play like this, of course we Speaking to the club’s official website, win by beating Sunderland 3-1 on Boxing Day, but TV. It’s a game where you want to go and do well in. game unbeaten run against their London can win things. “We are still top of the the Belgium winger said: “Manchester were brought back down to earth at the KC Stadium as “Sometimes the form goes out the window in derby rivals. league and the first half of the season is United was a difficult game. We showed Leicester snatched a 1-0 victory. games. “It’s a match where the players are focused on doing The Brazil defender said: “Eden Hazard over now. patience and we had some chances but “They are deflated,” said Bruce, whose side have well in. “We know we let ourselves down on Saturday and I can easily win a game for you and open a “The second half of the competition is we have to be realistic also - United had won only once at home this season. “If you get beaten don’t think there’s a better game for us now.” closed defence, and he can be in the top the more difficult one and we have to the bigger chances in the first half and and deserve to, then fine. But when you don’t deserve Hamilton host a revitalised Motherwell in the Lanarkshire three in the world in the next few years keep the level really high because we they played well. it, of course it leaves a bad taste. derby at New Douglas Park. After a poor start to the season, because he has a lot of quality and ambi- know it is going to be really difficult, but “In the end we did our best and we “For all the good work at Sunderland, it has unrav- new manager Ian Baraclough has led Motherwell to two suc- tion to be there. “I am really happy to be we are happy because it is not easy got one point, but I think we put on a elled a bit. That is the way this league works and we cessive victories with the Fir Park side eager to avenge the 4-0 his team-mate because he is one of the being top of the league for the whole good performance. “I think we have a lot have to stay with it. We have a big game on Thursday thrashing they suffered at Hamilton’s hands back in greatest players I have played with.” competition until now. of confidence at this moment, we had a and we go again.” September. Bottom of the table Ross County welcome Chelsea remain three points clear “We feel that if we keep playing in the good draw on Sunday and we have been Bruce will be without midfielders Tom Huddlestone Inverness Caledonian Thistle to Victoria Park for the Highland despite dropping points at St Mary’s second half [of the season] like we are winning games as well. “No games are and Stephen Quinn, who are both suspended, but derby. Twenty-two points and seven positions separate the Stadium thanks to Manchester City’s playing now we can be there at the top easy but Newcastle beat Chelsea so why defender James Chester will return, having served a sides but County will take a boost from the point they picked unexpected failure to beat struggling of the league at the end.” can’t we beat them?” he added. “We have one-match ban. up at Celtic Park on Sunday. Burnley at home in a 2-2 draw. And Luis Luis is being eased into his first sea- to play our game and we’ll see how we Andy Robertson could also return after suffering Aberdeen have the chance to temporarily go top of the believes there were enough signs in the son in England and could make way for go.” Kyle Walker is back in contention and with a knee problem, but Mohamed Diame and table if they can defeat St Johnstone at Pittodrie before Celtic performance at Southampton to suggest Cesar Azpilicueta after starting at will challenge Vlad Chiriches for the Michael Dawson remain sidelined.—AFP kick-off against Partick Thistle in the evening match.—AFP the Blues can continue to fend off all Southampton while Oscar could return right-back slot.—AFP THURSDAY, JANUARY 1, 2015 SPORTS

LONDON: Manchester City’s David Silva (second left) celebrates with teammates after scoring against Burnley in this file photo.—AP Nasri: City has title edge

MANCHESTER: Manchester City midfielder situations. We know how to deal with the pres- “Nobody talks about that record of 10 con- son, meaning Frank Lampard could start in in the last five games. The 23-year-old failed to Samir Nasri has warned rivals Chelsea that his sure. “We know we are good at being second secutive wins. That doesn’t matter. The most midfield. even make the bench for the 0-0 stalemate at side have the experience to chase them down and chasing someone. We’ve done it before. important thing was to finish the year at home Meanwhile, Poyet has challenged Jack Aston Villa on Sunday that kept Sunderland in the race for the Premier League title. We know how to deal with every situation and with a win, with 45 points from the first half (of Rodwell to kick-start his flagging Sunderland four points above the relegation zone. Manuel Pellegrini’s City trail Jose we are ready for it.” the season). “That would have been a good career by showing former club City what they But with midfielders Sebastian Larsson and Mourinho’s league leaders by three points as City spurned a good opportunity to cut thing, but we didn’t do it. All we want to do is are missing. The one-time England midfielder Liam Bridcutt both injury doubts for they prepare to host mid-table Sunderland on Chelsea’s lead to one point on Sunday when win. We couldn’t do that, so let’s be focused for has failed to impress since a £10 million ($15.6 Thursday’s trip to Manchester, Rodwell has New Year’s Day. they squandered a 2-0 lead to draw 2-2 with Sunderland.” million, 12.8 million euros) switch to the been put on standby to face his old club. City won the title last season despite hav- struggling Burnley after the London club were City striker Stevan Jovetic is expected to be Stadium of Light in August, making just 10 “I need him,” said Sunderland coach Poyet. ing trailed both Arsenal and Liverpool for long held to a 1-1 draw at Southampton. fit enough to start the match against Gus league starts and scoring once. “I’m sure he’ll bounce back and probably have periods during the campaign and Nasri It also meant Pellegrini’s men missed out Poyet’s team, having appeared as a substitute Rodwell might have hoped to prove a great opportunity on Thursday with the believes that knowhow gives City an advan- on the chance to register a club-record 10th against Burnley. Pellegrini wrong for showing him the door injuries in midfield.” tage in the current title race. “Everyone is successive victory, but Nasri says the main James Milner has been used as a makeshift after an unhappy two-year spell at the Etihad Larsson is struggling with ankle ligament stronger,” said the Frenchman. “We get older, focus now is on adding to their points total. striker in the absence of Jovetic and Sergio Stadium. damage, while Bridcutt suffered concussion we get more mature and stronger mentally. “We’re frustrated,” he said. “We were aware Aguero and Edin Dezko, both of whom remain But the former Everton player has strug- after clashing with Villa striker Christian “You learn to deal with different situations. At of the Chelsea result and it was a great chance out through injury. Fernando is unavailable gled to make an impact in the northeast and Benteke as Poyet’s side fought out their 11th this club we’ve been through all the different for us to be just one point behind. after collecting his fifth yellow card of the sea- has managed just one substitute appearance draw this season. —AFP Wenger calls on FA to ban divers

LONDON: Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger has called on the Football Association (FA) to ban players who dive in order to rid the game of play acting to win free kicks or penalties. Diving is once again a hot topic in the Premier League after three Chelsea players, Cesc Fabregas, Diego Costa and Willian, were all booked for simulation this month. Chelsea defenders Gary Cahill and Branislav Ivanovic have also recently been accused of diving by opposition managers with Blues boss Jose Mourinho coun- tering that there was an agenda against players at his club. Wenger said the only way to solve the problem would be for the FA to take retrospective action against players who have clearly dived. “I’m against diving,” Wenger told reporters. “We should punish it after the game. The problem will be to decide when it was obvious diving or not. That’s a big issue and sometimes it’s not obvious,” the Frenchman added. “Punish only obvious cases but not mixed ones. “You have to suspend the players, I don’t know how long. It depends. I am not a specialist in this kind of thing. “But the only way that the players will stop doing it, is if they feel they can get punished. Whether it is Arsenal, or Manchester United, or Liverpool or Chelsea, it is for every- body the same.” The Arsenal manager was also quick to dis- miss speculation linking forward Lukas Podolski with a move to Inter Milan. The German has found himself largely out of favour this season, having started only two matches, but Wenger was adamant that any move to Italy was not imminent. “That is a joke. Inter Milan are not serious. There’s only talk,” he said. Arsenal are currently fifth in the standings, level on 33 points with fourth-placed Southampton, who they face today. —Reuters

Matches on TV LIVERPOOL: Liverpool’s Alberto Moreno (second left) celebrates with teammates after scoring during the English Premier League soccer match in this file photo. —AP (Local Timings)

English Premier League Tributes to Rodgers for Liverpool upturn Stoke City v Man United 15:45 LIVERPOOL: Liverpool midfielder Jordan definitely did that against Swansea. We finish the season well. “Of course we can pension, while Andy King is still missing beIN SPORTS 1 HD Henderson has paid tribute to manager got our just rewards for that. finish top-four. We’ve got quality players with a thigh problem, but striker Jamie beIN SPORTS 11 HD Brendan Rodgers as his team leave “This season has been hard on every- here. You saw against Swansea that when Vardy is available after a ban of his own. Southampton v Arsenal 18:00 behind a rollercoaster 2014 with a New one. We’ve gone from winning every we play well, we look a top, top side. We Manager Nigel Pearson is still unable beIN SPORTS 7 HD Year’s Day home game against Leicester week to not winning as often. The manag- just need to be more consistent and make to give a return date for goalkeeper Hull City v Everton 18:00 City. er has always been the same. He has sure we do that every game.” Kasper Schmeichel, who is recovering beIN SPORTS 4 HD After finishing runners-up in the always looked to improve things on the Liverpool will be without defender from an operation to repair a broken Man City v Sunderland 18:00 Premier League in May, Liverpool have training field. “Now it’s down to us as Martin Skrtel, who earned a one-match metatarsal. beIN SPORTS 1 HD struggled to match that form in the cur- players to make sure we do that on match suspension after his booking in the “Kasper is at home at the moment and beIN SPORTS 11 HD rent campaign, although a 4-1 victory days. If we keep playing like that, we’ll get Swansea victory. resting,” said Pearson, whose side moved Aston Villa v Crystal 18:00 over Swansea City on Monday re-ignited that consistency and more good results.” Meanwhile, Rodgers spent Tuesday to within three points of safety after win- beIN SPORTS 2 HD hopes of a top-four finish. Henderson reflected the confidence in awaiting word from the Football ning 1-0 at Hull City on Sunday. QPR v Swansea 18:00 The result was also a relief for Rodgers, the Anfield camp that, with the disap- Association as to whether they would “The next time he will have consulta- beIN SPORTS 6 HD whose methods have come in for criticism pointment of missing out on last season’s punish forward Raheem Sterling retro- tion, we will have a better idea of what during Liverpool’s inconsistent start to title behind them, another top-four finish, spectively, after television pictures sug- the length of time he will be out. That will Newcastle v Burnley 18:00 the season, but whose side have now lost and Champions League football, is again gested he slapped Swansea defender be two or three weeks yet. beIN SPORTS 5 HD only once in seven league outings. within reach. “We had an amazing start to Federico Fernandez. “We have a few bumps and bruises, West Ham v Bromwich 18:00 “The manager has been fantastic ever the year and then the disappointment of Steven Gerrard, rested against but for the most part the biggest things beIN SPORTS 8 HD since he came to the club,” said falling just short in May,” said the England Swansea, can expect a start against bot- from the last few games will be fatigue if Liverpool v Leicester 18:00 Henderson. “He’s working really hard for international. tom club Leicester, while Mario Balotelli anything. beIN SPORTS 4 HD us on the training field to ensure that tac- “We’ve had a difficult start to this sea- may have to be satisfied with a substitute “The question is always, ‘Do you go Tottenham v Chelsea 20:30 tically we are better and improving all the son, but we just have to keep going and place once again. with a similar side and hope, or back your beIN SPORTS 1 HD time. “It’s up to us as players to ensure we playing like that. If we do that we’ll go in Leicester will be without Paul judgement, that they will be able to beIN SPORTS 11 HD put that into practice on the pitch and we the right direction and hopefully we can Konchesky, who serves a one-match sus- reproduce energy levels?’” —AFP Afridi leaves Arsenal, vacuum for fans — Southampton and advertisers launch top-four tussle

THURSDAY, JANUARY 1, 201516 18 A year in golf: Tales from the Tour Page 17

PORTLAND: Trail Blazers guard Damian Lillard (left) is fouled from behind by Toronto Raptors guard Kyle Lowry during overtime of an NBA basketball game. — AP Lakers stop Nuggets, Cavs stumble

DENVER: Kobe Bryant had 23 points, 11 Golden State led by as many as 47 in a The Pelicans made their last eight free assists and 11 rebounds for his 21st career game that was even more lopsided than the throws after hitting only 10 of their previous NBA results/standings triple-double, and the Los Angeles Lakers final score. Warriors coach Steve Kerr pulled 21 attempts. Goran Dragic led Phoenix with held off the Denver Nuggets 111-103 Tuesday his starters early in the fourth quarter, only to 22 points, and Eric Bledsoe added 21. Detroit 109, Orlando 86; Atlanta 109, Cleveland 101; Brooklyn 96, Chicago 82; Memphis 95, San Antonio night to end a three-game losing streak. see his reserves add to the lead. Henry Sims 87; New Orleans 110, Phoenix 106; Dallas 114, Washington 87; LA Lakers 111, Denver 103; Utah 100, Bryant shot 6 of 11 from the floor, giving him had 19 points and seven rebounds for NETS 96, BULLS 82 Minnesota 94; Portland 102, Toronto 97 (OT); Golden State 126, Philadelphia 86. 25,000 field goal attempts for his career. The Philadelphia. The 76ers (4-26) have dropped Brook Lopez had a season-high 29 points, Eastern Conference Western Conference only players who’ve attempted more shots in three straight following back-to-back road Joe Johnson had 20 points and 11 rebounds, Atlantic Division Northwest Division W L PCT GB NBA history are Kareem Abdul-Jabbar wins over Miami and Orlando. and Brooklyn snapped Chicago’s seven-game Portland 26 7 .788 - Toronto 24 8 .750 - Oklahoma City 15 17 .46910.5 (28,307) and Karl Malone (26,210), according winning streak. Brooklyn 15 16 .484 8.5 Denver 13 19 .40612.5 to STATS. MAVERICKS 114, WIZARDS 87 Lopez, playing his fifth game since return- Boston 10 18 .357 12 Utah 11 21 .34414.5 The Lakers star played nearly 32 minutes Monta Ellis scored 20 points in 27 minutes, ing from a lower back strain, started in place NY Knicks 5 28 .15219.5 Minnesota 5 25 .16719.5 in his second game back. He missed three and Dallas handed Washington its most lop- of Kevin Garnett and was 13 for 21 from the Philadelphia 4 26 .133 19 Pacific Division Central Division Golden State 25 5 .833 - games around Christmas because of overall sided loss of the season. Nine of Ellis’ points field. Johnson was 8 for 14. Mike Dunleavy Chicago 22 10 .688 - LA Clippers 21 11 .656 5 soreness. came in the final 2:35 of the second quarter, led the Bulls with 23 points on 9-for-15 shoot- Cleveland 18 13 .581 3.5 Carlos Boozer had 19 points and Ronnie when the Mavericks outscored the Wizards ing, including 5 of 9 on 3-pointers. Jimmy Milwaukee 16 16 .500 6 Phoenix 18 15 .545 8.5 Indiana 11 21 .344 11 Sacramento 13 18 .41912.5 Price added a season-high 18.Ty Lawson and 36-21 for a 63-45 halftime lead. He shot 8 of Butler, who averaged 26.4 points during the LA Lakers 10 22 .313 16 Jusuf Nurkic both finished with 16 points for 15 and finished with four steals without play- winning streak, had just eight points. Derrick Detroit 8 23 .25813.5 Southeast Division Southwest Division the Nuggets, who have lost four of five. ing in the fourth quarter. Rose managed only four. Brooklyn had just Atlanta 23 8 .742 - Memphis 23 8 .742 - The Mavericks’ 10 straight wins over one previous win this season against a team Washington 22 9 .710 1 Houston 21 9 .700 1.5 HAWKS 109, CAVALIERS 101 Washington represent their longest active with a winning record. Miami 14 18 .438 9.5 Dallas 23 10 .697 1 Paul Millsap took over for Atlanta in the winning streak against any team. Chandler Orlando 13 22 .371 12 San Antonio 19 14 .576 5 Charlotte 10 22 .31313.5 New Orleans 16 15 .516 7 fourth quarter to help hold off a Cleveland Parsons had 14 points, Dirk Nowitzki added PISTONS 109, MAGIC 86 comeback, and the Hawks beat the Cavaliers, 13 despite shooting 2 for 8 from the field, and Jodie Meeks scored a season-high 34 who were without LeBron James. James, cele- Rajon Rondo had 11 points and five assists. points off the bench, shooting 9 for 11 on 3- brating his 30th birthday, was held out with a Washington’s John Wall had 11 points and pointers, and Andre Drummond added 17 Van Gaal wants happy sore left knee. eight assists. Dallas, which forced 23 points and 22 rebounds to lead Detroit over The Hawks led by 17 points early in the turnovers, extended its winning streak to Orlando. away-days in 2015 second half but had to hold off a comeback three games and ended the Wizards’ three- Drummond, the NBA’s No. 2 rebounder, sat by Cleveland, which got 35 points from Kyrie game winning streak. out the final 14 minutes after coming within LONDON: Louis van Gaal has challenged defenders Chris Smalling, Luke Shaw and Irving. three rebounds of the league’s season high. his Manchester United players to repli- Rafael da Silva back at full fitness, After a jam by Tristan Thompson cut the TRAIL BLAZERS 102, RAPTORS 97 The Pistons (8-23) have won three straight for cate their impressive home form on the although winger Angel di Maria is still Atlanta lead to 93-90, Millsap scored Atlanta’s Damian Lillard had 26 points and nine the first time since February last season. road ahead of a testing New Year’s Day out with a pelvic problem. next eight points. Millsap led the Hawks with assists to help Portland rally past Toronto in Reserve guard D.J. Augustin had 11 points visit to Stoke City. Midfielder Ander Herrera and winger 26 points, including 10 in the fourth quarter. overtime. LaMarcus Aldridge, who returned and 10 assists. Victor Oladipo led the Magic, Since losing at home to Swansea City Adnan Januzaj, meanwhile, are edging Jeff Teague had 23 points and 11 assists, after missing three of the last four games who were also seeking a third straight win, on the opening day of the season, United ever closer to returns. “Herrera has and Kyle Korver sank five 3-pointers while because of an upper respiratory illness, had with 16 points. Tobias Harris added 15 points have turned Old Trafford into a fortress, trained with us for the first time, but he winning seven and drawing one of the does not have much rhythm,” Van Gaal scoring 19 points. Thompson had 18 points 23 points and 13 rebounds for the Trail and eight rebounds. and 13 rebounds for Cleveland. James’ status Blazers, who won their fourth straight. subsequent eight games on their home said. “Januzaj has also trained for two ses- turf. But they have won just twice on sions, but he was ill and you have to is day to day. The Blazers (26-7) rallied in the fourth JAZZ 100, TIMBERWOLVES 94 quarter after trailing by 13 points, but Amir their travels-victories at Arsenal and recover from illness.” Gordon Hayward scored 11 of his 26 Southampton that the demanding Van Meanwhile, Van Gaal has paid tribute GRIZZLIES 95, SPURS 87 Johnson’s short jumper for the Raptors tied points in the final 4 minutes to rally Utah past Mike Conley had 30 points and six assists, the game at 87 and sent it to overtime. Gaal concedes were fortunate-and the to the backing his team have been skidding Minnesota. Trey Burke set a career Dutchman is demanding an improve- shown by the club’s supporters despite and Marc Gasol added 17 points to help Portland took a 96-90 lead in the extra high with 26 points and Derrick Favors had Memphis defeat San Antonio. Conley con- period on consecutive 3-pointers from Lillard, ment in 2015. their slow start to the campaign. 15. Before the game, the Jazz announced that “When I’m saying that every week we “The fans are fantastic,” he said. “We nected on 10 of 13 from the field, and missed Wesley Matthews and Nicolas Batum. starting guard Alec Burks will have shoulder are improving, then we have to show were at a moment with 10 matches and only one of his five shots from outside the arc Kyle Lowry finished with 24 points, and surgery and miss the rest of the season. that against Stoke City,” said the United 13 points. That’s not good. In spite of as the Grizzlies won their second straight and James Johnson had 14 points and 11 Shabazz Muhammad scored a career-best 30 manager, whose side start the year in that, the fans have supported us always, claimed at least a tie with the Spurs in the rebounds for his first double-double of the points, including a jumper that gave the third place in the table. and in the right way. season series. Tayshaun Prince added 12 season for Toronto (24-8). Timberwolves a 92-84 lead with 4:22 to play. “We have to do it in an away match. “I want to thank the fans for that. They points for Memphis. Marco Belinelli and Cory Utah then mounted its comeback with We have to dominate in away matches always have belief in the players and Joseph scored 18 apiece for the Spurs. San PELICANS 110, SUNS 106 Hayward’s 3-pointer and a steal-and-dunk because we have won everything except their manager. I think the main reason Antonio went 5 of 22 from outside the arc. Tyreke Evans scored 24 points, including sequence. Hayward capped the 11-0 run that Swansea City at home, the first match. that they have supported us is because eight straight for New Orleans in the final 2 “In away matches, (we have beaten) of the fighting spirit of my team. WARRIORS 126, 76ERS 86 minutes, and the Pelicans stopped Phoenix’s gave the Jazz their first lead of the fourth quarter with another steal and layup with only Arsenal and Southampton; then, we “We were not always ahead in match- Marreese Speights scored 23 points, winning streak at six games. were the lucky team. I have said that also. es, but they have fought until the end 1:38 remaining. Stephen Curry added 13 points and nine Anthony Davis had 19 points with a sea- “We have to dominate in away matches, and, a lot of times, with good success.” assists, and Golden State beat Philadelphia. son-high 18 rebounds, and Jrue Holiday Andrew Wiggins scored 21 points but the and I hear from (assistant coach) Ryan Stoke manager Mark Hughes knows Draymond Green had 10 points and 10 scored 17 of his 21 points in the second half Timberwolves have lost nine in a row - their (Giggs) that Stoke City is a very difficult United better than most following his rebounds and Leandro Barbosa scored 17 off for New Orleans. Evans’ step-back jumper worst skid since dropping 11 consecutive pitch. We have to show that in spite of it successful playing days at Old Trafford the bench for the Warriors, who won their with 49.9 seconds left, coupled with a late games in 2012. Meanwhile the Jazz have won being very difficult at Stoke. Maybe we and believes they made the right call by 10th straight home game to improve to an steal by Dante Cunningham, helped the six of eight, extending their best stretch of can show that.” appointing Van Gaal as the successor to NBA-best 25-5. Pelicans hang on. the season. —AP From their long injury list, United have David Moyes.— AFP Mainland’s colonization of Hong Kong economy

Page 23 Business As Lithuania joins euro, concern over emigration THURSDAY, JANUARY 1, 2015 Page 26 Recession-hit Venezuela vows Funds positive on UAE, Egypt stocks New Year reforms Page 22 Page 25

SINGAPORE: This general view of Marina Bay shows 5,000 red spheres (on the water) been added to the wishing white spheres to form a giant number ‘50’ on the bay yesterday to mark Singapore’s 50th anniversary in 2015. Singapore’s Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong said in his New Year message released to the media yesterday that Singapore’s trade-sensitive economy grew at a slower-than-expected rate of 2.8 percent in 2014 as the city-state cut its reliance on foreign workers. — AFP US opens door to oil exports Move to unleash wave of ultra-light shale onto global markets WASHINGTON: The Obama administration on drillers have said it can fetch a premium of port from many quarters, the measures also • Confirmation that lease condensate ket players since the BIS, an office of the Tuesday bowed to months of growing pres- $10 a barrel or more. open the Obama administration to attack by processed through a distillation tower is con- Commerce Department, quietly gave permis- sure over a 40-year-old ban on exports of They follow a year of murky messages and environmentalists and Democrats who may sidered a petroleum product, and therefore sion in 2013 to a small company, Peaker most domestic crude, taking two steps widespread uncertainty over what is or is not see it encouraging more hydraulic fracking can be exported without constraint. Energy, to export minimally treated light oil expected to unleash a wave of ultra-light allowed under a trade restriction that critics and as a sop to big oil companies. • Clarification of what constitutes “distilla- called condensate. Last spring BIS gave per- shale oil onto global markets. The Bureau of say is a relic of a bygone age, when oil was tion” for export, including the fact that pres- mission to export treated condensate in pri- Industry and Security, or BIS, which regulates seen as scarce after the 1970s Arab oil embar- Steps to Clarify sure reduction alone, and flash drums with vate letters to two other companies, Pioneer export controls, said it had granted permis- go. A domestic drilling boom of the past six How the measures will affect flows of con- so-called heater-treaters or separators, would Natural Resources Co and Enterprise Products sion to “some” companies to sell lightly treat- years has transformed the United States into densate is uncertain, particularly given the not be sufficient to qualify oil for overseas Partners LP. ed condensate abroad. Condensate is a form an energy powerhouse, boosting US produc- dramatic slump in global oil markets, where sales. The private nature of the communications of ultra-light crude. Some two dozen energy tion by more than 50 percent and reversing prices have nearly halved since the summer. • A reminder that most petroleum products between the government and the three ener- companies had asked the agency for clarifica- decades of decline. An administration official said that the oil may be “exported to most of the world with- gy companies left a wide range of other tion on permissible exports earlier this year, Output of very light oil has been especially market - not a “fairly arcane clarification” in out a license,” a message seen by many ana- drillers in the dark about investing in expen- but until Tuesday those requests had been strong, leading to a glut that threatens to guidelines - would ultimately determine how lysts as blessing the process of self-certifica- sive infrastructure to process condensate. One put on indefinite hold. overwhelm domestic demand. The con- much oil is exported. That echoed the Obama tion. company, Australia’s BHP, said last month it The BIS also released guidance in the form straints helped fuel bumper profits for refiners administration’s policy on exports of liquefied • And clarification that “a minimum amount would press ahead with exports without hav- of frequently asked questions, or FAQs, to such as Valero Energy Corp and PBF Energy natural gas, or LNG, which are also now gen- of mixing” between exportable foreign crude ing received a formal approval from the BIS, explain what kind of oil was generally allowed Inc, but angered drillers such as Hess Corp erally allowed. The steps on Tuesday were and restricted domestic crude may be but other energy companies have been reluc- under the ban, the first effort by the adminis- that say they were selling at a discount. Jamie “certainly not designed to add or detract from allowed, a note likely making it easier to ship tant to follow suit without further guidance. tration to clarify an issue that has caused con- Webster, the senior director of oil markets at what can be exported. We are trying to make Canadian crude through US pipelines and Domestic pressure has also grown. Several fusion and consternation in energy markets research firm IHS, said the FAQ “takes the the boundary line clearer,” said the official. ports. lawmakers in the House of Representatives for more than a year. The two measures are leash off of (the US Department of) In its FAQ, which the agency has been and Senate have said that unless energy com- clearest signs yet that the administration is Commerce” and signals it may take additional working on for most of this year, the BIS con- Frustration Building panies can export oil to Asia and Europe, the ready to allow more of the booming US shale action on crude exports after several months firmed or clarified a number of nuanced Uncertainty about what kind of petroleum drilling boom will eventually choke on its own oil production to be sold overseas, where of inaction. While likely to draw broad sup- issues related to the rules, including: can be shipped abroad has frustrated oil mar- output. — Reuters Oil price slump erases Gulf stocks 2014 gains Kuwait biggest loser KUWAIT: Stock markets in the energy-rich analyst at Kuwait Financial Center (Markaz). drop came despite the kingdom issuing a Gulf states dived in the fourth quarter due to “Most of the Gulf bourses ended the first highly expansionary budget for 2015 but the slump in oil prices after posting strong three quarters with strong gains but shed which projected a deficit of around $39 bil- gains in the first nine months of 2014. All the most of it due to the impact of oil prices,” lion. seven bourses ended the October to Sabah told AFP. Dubai Financial Market (DFM) Index, which December period in the red amid a wave of He said Gulf shares performed well in the has increased steadily for the past three years, panic sell-offs after oil lost about 50 percent first three quarters despite turbulent geopo- was the most volatile in 2014, surging by of its value because of weak demand, a glut in litical developments especially the expansion about 60 percent in the year before losing production and a strong US dollar. In the of Islamist State jihadists in Iraq and Syria and most of the gains in the fourth quarter. The fourth quarter, the Saudi stock market the start of the US-led air campaign against DFM Index ended the year up 12 percent at slumped 23.2 percent, Dubai dived 23 per- them. The capitalisation of the seven bourses, 3,774.00 points after dipping below the 2013 cent, Oman dropped 15.2 percent and Kuwait however, rose by around $70 billion to $1.04 close in December. Its neighbouring Abu by 14.3 percent. Abu Dhabi dipped 11.2 per- trillion at the end of 2014 from $970 billion a Dhabi Securities Exchange also relinquished cent, Qatar lost 10.5 percent and Bahrain was year ago. But they shed around $131 billion most of the year’s gains but ended 2014 up 3.4 percent down. from their value on September 30. 5.6 percent on 4,528.93 points. But by the end of 2014, four markets - Qatar Exchange, the second largest in the Qatar, Dubai, Abu Dhabi and Bahrain - posted Dubai Most Volatile Gulf, emerged as the top gainer with 18.4 per- annual gains while the Saudi, Kuwaiti and The Saudi Tadawul All-Shares Index (TASI), cent on 12,285.78, after surging close to the Omani bourses recorded dips. Oil income the largest bourse in the region, closed the 14,000-point mark on several occasions. makes up around 90 percent of revenues of year down 2.4 percent at 8,333.30 points after Kuwait Stock Exchange was the biggest loser, most of the Gulf states which are forecast to repeatedly dipping below the 8,000-point dropping 13.4 percent to 6,535.72 points. lose half of their oil revenues, which stood at mark. During the year, TASI had surged by Muscat Securities Market ended 2014 down $729 billion in 2013. “The fall in the fourth over 30 percent but was pulled down mainly 7.2 percent at 6,343.22 points, while the tiny quarter was a direct result to the sharp drop by the leading petrochemicals sector, which Bahrain bourse finished the year up a healthy KUWAIT: Traders are seen at the Kuwait Stock Exchange in Kuwait City yesterday. — in oil prices,” said Humoud Al-Sabah, senior dived 33.7 percent in the fourth quarter. The 14.2 percent at 1,426.57 points. — AFP Photo by Yasser Al-Zayyat BUSINESS THURSDAY, JANUARY 1, 2015 News Funds positive on in brief Turkey unit of KFH secures $350m loan DUBAI: The Turkish subsidiary of Kuwait Finance UAE, Egypt stocks House (KFH) has secured a $350 million syndicated Islamic loan, Kuwait’s largest lender said yesterday. The dual-currency murabaha transaction for Kuveyt Turk was arranged in two tranches, one maturing after two years for $300 million, and the other Asset managers cautious on Kuwait including one- and two-year terms for a combined total of Ä40 million ($48.63 million), KFH said in a statement. Murabaha is a common cost-plus sale DUBAI: The United Arab Emirates and Egypt appear the most arrangement in Islamic finance. ABC Islamic Bank, attractive among major Middle Eastern stock markets in an the Islamic unit of Bahrain-based Arab Banking era of low oil prices, the latest Reuters survey of regional asset Corporation, Abu Dhabi Commercial Bank, Barwa managers suggests. The plunge of oil and equity prices over Bank, Emirates NBD Capital, the Saudi Arabian sub- the last several months has stunned managers, and they may therefore invest their 2015 equity allocations to the region sidiary of Emirates NBD, Noor Bank and Qatar only gradually. “I think the next three months will witness a Islamic Bank were the initial mandated lead wait-and-see approach by most fund managers, as they wait arrangers and bookrunners to the deal, KFH said. to see stability in the equity markets after the wild swings of The participating banks were Boubyan Bank, December,” said Mohammed Ali Yasin, managing director at Kuwait International Bank, Saudi British Bank, Ahli Abu Dhabi’s NBAD Securities. A key question, he said, is “if the United Bank, United Arab Bank and Commerzbank. predictions of more stable oil prices in the range of $65-$75 materialise - that will be a major defining factor for their investment strategy over the rest of 2015.” Bank Muscat sells However, the Reuters survey of 15 leading Middle East brokerage business investment professionals, conducted over the past 10 days, DUBAI: Bank Muscat, Oman’s largest lender, shows the markets’ tumble has not turned funds away from has sold its brokerage business to Gulf Baader regional stocks in general. Forty-seven percent expect to raise Capital Markets, a brokerage firm based in the overall equity allocations in the next three months against 20 sultanate, the lender said. The decision to sell percent who anticipate reducing them. Many fund managers the business was due to the bank’s review of note that the markets’ slide - Saudi Arabia is down 24 percent “strategic alternatives and operational priori- from its September peak - has greatly improved valuations, reducing or eliminating big premiums to other emerging mar- ties”, it said in a statement on Tuesday. Bank kets. Muscat did not give a figure for the value of The big difference shown by the latest survey is that funds the sale. The bank’s brokerage unit will stop have become much more selective about which stock markets operating on Feb. 10, with customers being they plan to buy in coming months. On balance they are still notified of the transition process during the wary of Saudi Arabia, for example; 40 percent expect to lower transfer of the unit to Gulf Baader. Bank Muscat said in June it was considering a sale their equity allocations there and 33 percent to increase them. KUWAIT: A trader follows market movements at the Kuwait Stock Exchange in Kuwait City yesterday. of the unit as one of several options for the That is because petrochemical stocks are heavily weighted in — Photo by Yasser Al-Zayyat the Saudi market and they remain vulnerable to further falls in business. The lender does not break out the oil prices, which would reduce the advantage that Saudi com- overall equity allocations to the UAE in the next three major benefit to its external balance and state finances. A financial performance of the brokerage busi- panies enjoy over foreign rivals due to cheap feedstock. months and 20 percent anticipate reducing them. There third of managers expect to raise their Egyptian equity ness in its annual reports. The division pro- “With oil prices expected to remain low and the petchem are two major reasons. Partly because of the contribution allocations and only 7 percent to reduce them. Turkey may vides stock broking services to foreign and sector weight big in the index, next year will be very interest- of Dubai, economic growth depends less on oil in the UAE also benefit from cheap oil, though that is partly offset by domestic clients, including emerging market ing when it comes to stock picking,” said Bader Al Ghanim, than it does in the other wealthy Gulf states. Also, oil and worries about capital outflows from emerging markets due institutional investors, according to its web- head of asset management at Kuwait’s Global Investment petrochemical firms are weighted only lightly in the Abu to expected rises in U.S. interest rates next year. Twenty site. According to stock exchange data, Bank House. Fund managers are also cautious about Qatar, where Dhabi and Dubai stock markets, which are instead domi- percent of fund managers expect to raise their equity allo- Muscat’s brokerage had the third biggest petrochemical firms such as Industries Qatar are heavily nated by banks and real estate firms. If cheap oil strength- cations to Turkey, and only 7 percent to cut them. share of Oman securities trading last year weighted, and Kuwait, which has one of the richest govern- ens the global economy, that could conceivably help The latest survey also shows managers becoming with 10.6 percent. The total value of securities ments in the region but where bureaucracy and political ten- Dubai real estate stocks by increasing the amount of mon- increasingly bearish on Middle East fixed income as the trading in 2013 was 239.1 million rials ($623 sions have made it hard for authorities to spend money effec- ey flowing into Dubai property from India, Europe and start of the cycle of US interest rate hikes approaches; Gulf million). Gulf Baader Capital Markets manages tively to offset poor global economic conditions. elsewhere. central banks would probably hike soon after the United Egypt looks like the other big beneficiary of cheap oil, States because of their currency pegs to the dollar. Seven assets of more than $140 million and has UAE, Egypt since it is a net energy importer. Low oil prices might percent expect to raise their fixed income allocations and lead-managed several initial public offers, But towards the UAE and Egypt, managers are consider- cause Gulf governments to become a little less generous in 27 percent to cut them. That is the biggest bearish balance according to its website. ably more optimistic. Forty-seven percent expect to raise their foreign aid to Egypt - but not enough to offset the for fixed income since April. — Reuters NBK mobile banking, ATM, online services available during holiday Credit growth seen healthy KUWAIT: National Bank of Kuwait (NBK) has tak- be available 24 hours and ready to serve cus- despite weak October en all necessary measures to ensure providing tomers. customers with the best services during the For customers outside Kuwait, NBK contin- New Year holiday throughout NBK call center, ues to enjoy the widest banking presence with KUWAIT: Credit growth fell to its slowest home purchases. Installment loan growth tive sectors” (i.e. excluding real estate and mobile banking (Android, BlackBerry, iPhone more than 170 branches worldwide. NBK’s inter- pace since 1Q13 on a weak October, reached 15.5 percent y/y in October. securities) also fell to 5.8 percent y/y. and iPad), online and ATM services. national presence spans many of the world’s though the pace for 2014 is expected to be Credit to non-bank financials saw a rela- Private deposits were little changed on All NBK branches will be closed starting leading financial centers including London, healthy. Growth slowed to 5.4 percent year- tively large drop of KD 112 million following the month, helping money supply (M2) from today, January 1, 2015 and will resume Paris, Geneva, New York and Singapore, as well on-year (y/y) on a KD 244 million net a gain last month. The sector, which growth to ease further in October to 2.5 work on Sunday, January 4, 2015. NBK’s ATM as China (Shanghai). Meanwhile, regional cover- decline in lending during the month. Most includes investment companies, has been percent y/y. Most of this weakness Network, NBK call center 1801801, NBK online age extends to Lebanon, Jordan, Iraq, Egypt, of the weakness came from credit to invest- deleveraging since 2009.The sector has appeared in foreign currency deposits, banking, NBK mobile banking and nbk.com will Bahrain, Saudi Arabia, the UAE and Turkey. ment companies, loans for the purchase of seen credit shrink by 14.9 percent y/y. As a which declined by KD 642 million thus far in securities and credit to the real estate sec- result, the share of loans to non-bank finan- 2014.The bulk of this decline took place tor. Deposits were relatively unchanged on cials has declined to 4.6 percent of total during the last five months. In October, the month, helping to further ease money credit. This compares to a pre-2009 high of there was a large movement from site and supply growth. Meanwhile, interest rates 13 percent. Its current share is the lowest in foreign currency deposits towards KD time remained stable. over 20 years and further decline is likely. deposits, which rose by KD 477 million. Household debt (personal facilities ex- All remaining credit dropped by KD 209 Average customer deposit rates on dinar securities) was up by KD 77 million, with million, eroding last month’s healthy gain. time deposits were mostly unchanged. The growth accelerating slightly to 13.1 percent Most of the decline was in lending for the average rates on the 1-month, 3-month, y/y. Adjusted for the Family Fund settle- purchase of securities and the real estate and 12-month time deposits changed by 1 ments, actual household debt growth is sector. Growth in all remaining credit fell to 3basis points (bps) to 0.62 percent, 0.81 estimated to have been stronger, reflecting sharply to 3.8 percent y/y. Securities lend- percent, 1.23 percent. The 9-month time its resilience this year despite expectations ing was down by KD 174 million and real deposit rate remained unchanged at 1.01 of cooling off. As usual, most of the growth estate credit was off by KD 88 million. While percent. KD interbank rates eased on the in household debt has been in installment these two sectors accounted for most of month, with the 1-month KIBOR offer rate loans, which are used primarily to finance the weakness, growth in credit to “produc- shaving off 2bps to 1.11 percent.

EXCHANGE RATES

Al-Muzaini Exchange Co. UAE Exchange Centre WLL Syrian Pound 2.710 Philippine Peso 0.006487 0.006767 Nepalese Rupees 3.945 Sierra Leone 0.000065 0.000071 Singapore Dollar 0.219033 0.225033 ASIAN COUNTRIES Malaysian Ringgit 87.645 COUNTRY SELL DRAFT SELL CASH Chinese Yuan Renminbi 48.035 South African Rand 0.019355 0.027855 Japanese Yen 2.442 Australian Dollar 231.71 228.71 Sri Lankan Rupee 0.001882 0.002462 Indian Rupees 4.622 Thai Bhat 9.885 Canadian Dollar 256.71 257.71 Turkish Lira 131.225 Taiwan 0.009156 0.009336 Pakistani Rupees 2.923 Swiss Franc 302.93 300.93 Thai Baht 0.008608 0.009158 Srilankan Rupees 2.222 Euro 362.08 363.08 Nepali Rupees 2.888 US Dollar 293.55 296.55 Bahrain Exchange Company Arab Singapore Dollar 222.800 Sterling Pound 461.65 464.65 Bahraini Dinar 0.772453 0.780453 Hongkong Dollar 37.842 Japanese Yen 2.49 2.51 Egyptian Pound 0.039542 0.042642 Bangladesh Taka 3.755 Bangladesh Taka 3.761 4.031 CURRENCY BUY SELL Iranian Riyal 0.000081 0.000083 Philippine Peso 6.570 Indian Rupee 4.636 4.936 Europe Iraqi Dinar 0.000195 0.000255 Thai Baht 8.927 Sri Lankan Rupee 2.220 2.655 Belgian Franc 0.007648 0.008648 Jordanian Dinar 0.410110 0.417610 Irani Riyal transfer 61.555 Nepali Rupee 2.893 3.428 British Pound 0.451441 0.460441 Kuwaiti Dinar 1.000000 1.000000 Irani Riyal cash 121.740 Pakistani Rupee 2.918 2.790 Czech Korune 0.004893 0.016893 Lebanese Pound 0.000145 0.000245 UAE Dirhams 79.77 80.23 Danish Krone 0.043874 0.048874 Moroccan Dirhams 0.023945 0.047945 GCC COUNTRIES Bahraini Dinar 779.11 781.18 Euro 0.351227 0.359227 Nigerian Naira 0.001193 0.001826 Saudi Riyal 78.338 Egyptian Pound 40.93 41.53 Norwegian Krone 0.035509 0.040709 Omani Riyal 0.756706 0.762386 Qatari Riyal 80.706 Jordanian Dinar 417.10 422.75 Romanian Leu 0.084229 0.084229 Qatar Riyal 0.079948 0.081161 Omani Riyal 763.320 Omani Riyal 761.26 768.56 Slovakia 0.008600 0.018600 Saudi Riyal 0.077670 0.078370 Bahraini Dinar 780.260 Qatari Riyal 80.83 81.38 Swedish Krona 0.033898 0.038898 Syrian Pound 0.001741 0.001961 UAE Dirham 80.003 Saudi Riyal 78.19 78.59 Swiss Franc 0.290089 0.300289 Tunisian Dinar 0.154429 0.162429 Turkish Lira 0.124870 0.131870 Turkish Lira 0.124870 0.131870 ARAB COUNTRIES UAE Dirhams 0.078969 0.080118 Egyptian Pound - Cash 44.000 Dollarco Exchange Co. Ltd Australasia Yemeni Riyal 0.001326 0.001406 Egyptian Pound - Transfer 40.985 Australian Dollar 0.232307 0.243807 Yemen Riyal/for 1000 1.371 New Zealand Dollar 0.223702 0.233202 Tunisian Dinar 158.730 Rate for Transfer Selling Rate Al Mulla Exchange US Dollar 291.750 Jordanian Dinar 414.580 America Canadian Dollar 260.085 Lebanese Lira/for 1000 1.971 Canadian Dollar 0.247936 0.256436 Sterling Pound 456.630 Currency Transfer Rate (Per 1000) Syrian Lira 2.094 US Dollars 0.289550 0.294250 Euro 366.500 US Dollar 293.000 Morocco Dirham 33.143 US Dollars Mint 0.290050 0.294250 Swiss Frank 303.035 Euro 360.650 Bahrain Dinar 775.760 EUROPEAN & AMERICAN COUNTRIES Asia Pound Sterlng 459.800 UAE Dirhams 79.330 US Dollar Transfer 293.650 Bangladesh Taka 0.003440 0.004040 Canadian Dollar 254.850 Qatari Riyals 80.935 Euro 359.430 Chinese Yuan 0.046134 0.049634 Indian Rupee 4.615 Saudi Riyals 77.975 Sterling Pound 458.830 Hong Kong Dollar 0.035776 0.038526 Egyptian Pound 40.965 Jordanian Dinar 411.660 Canadian dollar 253.580 Indian Rupee 0.004387 0.004788 Sri Lankan Rupee 2.220 Egyptian Pound 40.707 Turkish lira 126.580 Indonesian Rupiah 0.000019 0.000025 Bangladesh Taka 3.740 Sri Lankan Rupees 2.225 Swiss Franc 298.730 Japanese Yen 0.002377 0.002557 Philippines Peso 6.555 Indian Rupees 4.716 Australian Dollar 240.210 Kenyan Shilling 0.003277 0.003277 Pakistan Rupee 2.914 Pakistani Rupees 2.867 US Dollar Buying 292.450 Korean Won 0.000260 0.000275 Bahraini Dinar 780.250 Bangladesh Taka 3.759 Malaysian Ringgit 0.080545 0.086545 Philippines Pesso 6.481 UAE Dirham 79.850 GOLD Nepalese Rupee 0.003001 0.003171 Cyprus pound 715.865 Saudi Riyal 78.300 20 gram 238.100 Pakistan Rupee 0.002765 0.003045 10 gram 121.740 Japanese Yen 3.480 *Rates are subject to change BUSINESS THURSDAY, JANUARY 1, 2015 China stock market goes from bear to bull

SHANGHAI: China’s stock market is set to finish ing platform to breathe life into China’s economy”, 2014 as the second-best performer in the world said Central China Securities strategist Zhang Gang. after soaring almost 50 percent in a borrowing- Officials also realise that rising stock markets are fuelled, government-backed rally following four popular, with most investors being individuals years in the doldrums. The benchmark Shanghai rather than big institutional players, while a down- Composite Index had surged 49.61 percent by the turn in the domestic property market has height- close on Tuesday, the penultimate trading day of ened stocks’ appeal. “The heat has built up in the the year, putting it behind only Argentina among market and that’s what the policymakers want to global markets, according to figures from the Wall see,” said Shen of BOC International. But the abrupt Street Journal’s Market Data Center. By contrast, in turnaround in market sentiment now has regula- recent years it has slumped even as other bourses tors warning of risk, and some analysts question around the world gained, losing more than 35 per- how long the rally can be sustained, while Xinhua cent between 2010 and 2013. has reversed its previous stance. “Beware of the This year’s transformation came despite weaken- mad bull stopping on the way for a rest and weigh ing momentum in the world’s second largest econ- the risks lurking behind the rapid rise of A-shares,” it omy, where growth hit a five-year low of 7.3 per- said in a commentary this month, referring to cent in the third quarter and the slowdown is seen stocks denominated in Chinese yuan and traded on persisting in 2015. “This rally runs contrary to the mainland. macro-economic fundamentals,” said BOC December’s one-day correction came after International analyst Shen Jun. “It’s driven by finan- authorities tightened the use of corporate bonds as cial leverage and encouraged by government poli- collateral for short-term financing - a move that cies.” The leap was triggered by an interest rate cut could curb investors’ ability to trade on margin - in November and powered by liquidity, with a and moved to inspect brokerages’ fast-expanding boom in margin trading - investors using borrowed margin trading business for irregularities. But retail funds to trade stocks with only a small portion of QINGDAO, China: Stock investors talk to each other as they check share prices at a security firm yester- investors could stay for the ride for fear they will money put down as deposit - after authorities loos- day in eastern China’s Shandong province. — AFP miss out on further gains, analysts said. For 2015, ened controls on the practice. expect the Shanghai index to carry on rising in domestic economy and deepen economic reforms. Haitong Securities forecasts the Shanghai index will A long-awaited move to link trading on the 2015 and peak between 3,500 and 3,600 points, peak at around 3,500 before easing gradually to Shanghai and Hong Kong exchanges in November although they expect it to fall back to 3,200 to ‘Heat has Built Up’ end the year at the 3,200 level, and its analyst also raised expectations for a flood of incoming 3,300 by year-end. Authorities are looking to use the stock market Zhang Qi told AFP: “It may be that an advancing capital. In December the market broke above the Earlier this year the government sought to talk to funnel funds to cash-hungry companies, espe- market will bring in more funds.” Experts say they key 3,000-point level - and also recorded its biggest up the market, with China’s official Xinhua news cially private firms that often have difficulties secur- expect greater volatility in the coming year. UBS single-day decline in more than five years, of 5.43 agency publishing nine articles in four days in ing loans as state banks prefer to lend to state- Securities strategist Chen Li wrote in a research percent. It closed Tuesday at 3,165.82. A survey of August highlighting low stock valuations and the owned enterprises, according to analysts. The gov- report: “Fasten your seat belts for a bumpy road five major domestic brokerages showed most need to reinvigorate the market to “revitalise” the ernment wants to turn the exchange “into a financ- ahead.” — AFP Mainland’s colonization of Hong Kong economy Chinese companies consume big chunks of key sectors

HONG KONG: When Xi Jinping wanted to deliver a that would also include the giant southern Chinese A Hong Kong government spokesman said in an political message to Hong Kong as protesters cities of Shenzhen and Guangzhou just across the email response that economic integration with the demanding free elections were threatening to take border. mainland has been mutually beneficial, citing the to the streets, he summoned the tycoons who dom- In 2011, a chapter was dedicated to Hong Kong growing number of mainland companies listed on inate the city’s economy. The words from the for the first time in China’s five-year blueprint for the Hong Kong stock exchange and the city’s role as Chinese leader at the Sept 22 meeting in Beijing national economic development. The 12th Five-Year the largest offshore renminbi centre. The Hong were uncompromising but not surprising. He would plan, covering the years from 2011 to 2015, lays out Kong and Macau Affairs Office in Beijing did not not entertain any demand for full universal suffrage how Beijing wants to connect Hong Kong with the respond to questions from Reuters. in Hong Kong, according to two people who Pearl River Delta’s increasingly prosperous middle attended. class consumers. Not Always Amicable Just six days later, pro-democracy activists made Rather than foster understanding, growing eco- good on their threat, unleashing more than two ‘It Will be Like New York’ nomic integration has at times raised tensions. One months of street demonstrations. But while Xi’s Under the plan, Hong Kong would be a leader source of friction is the real estate market where ZOUPING, China: A worker puts a LED light on a showcase at a factory in eastern China’s message that day in the Great Hall of the People for the region in shipping, trade, services and distri- wealthy mainland Chinese have bought up proper- Shandong province yesterday. — AFP failed to deter the protesters, in speaking directly to bution. In finance, Hong Kong would serve as an ty in Hong Kong, helping to push up home prices the city’s business and professional elite he was offshore market for the mainland currency, the ren- that are already out of reach for many of the city’s China to maintain monetary showing where Beijing believes real power in Hong minbi. New transport links from Hong Kong now residents. “One might have assumed that the inflow Kong resides. under construction, including a high speed rail to of mainland money and companies and people policy, steady credit growth And it is here, in the city’s business sector, that Guangzhou and a bridge across the Pearl River here, and the favorable economic policies of the China is inexorably tightening its grip on the former Delta to the mainland city of Zhuhai near Macau, mainland should have increased emotional integra- BEIJING: China’s central bank said yesterday on Nov 21, while the economic planning British colony. Even as Beijing struggles to tame would allow the rapid movement of commuters tion rather than just economic integration but it it will keep implementing prudent mone- agency has been approving more infrastruc- Hong Kong politically, Chinese companies are con- and visitors. hasn’t,” said David Zweig, chair professor of social tary policy next year and use various mone- ture projects to help spur growth. suming ever bigger chunks of the city’s key sectors “It will be like New York where you have people science at Hong Kong University of Science and tary tools to maintain adequate liquidity The government is expected to including real estate, finance, power, construction working in Manhattan and living on Long Island or Technology. “For the rich people here, the heart has and reasonable growth in credit and social announce more stimulus, such as cutting and the stock market. Many of these industries have in New Jersey and commuting in to work every day,” followed the dollar but for the middle class and for financing. “(The central bank) will continue bank reserve ratios or interest rates, to ward for decades been dominated by the business titans said Hong Kong entrepreneur Allan Zeman, who students it hasn’t.” to implement prudent monetary policy and off a sharper growth slowdown that could who attended the meeting with Xi. Men like Li Ka- developed the Lan Kwai Fong pub and restaurant That’s been evident, at times, on the streets of keep policy continuous and steady,” Central fuel job losses and debt defaults. Activity in shing, Asia’s richest man, casino and hospitality bil- area popular with expatriates. “People who can’t Hong Kong. While the growing influx of mainland Bank Governor Zhou Xiaochuan said in his China’s factory sector shrank for the first lionaire Lui Che-woo and palm oil magnate Robert New Year’s address on the central bank’s time in seven months in December, a pri- Kuok. Now they are witnessing a mainland business website. The People’s Bank of China will pay vate business survey showed on invasion of the city. more attention to fine tune policies when Wednesday, highlighting the urgency One of the most telling signs of change is the necessary, Zhou said. behind a series of surprise easing moves by space mainland Chinese companies lease in Central In a separate statement summarising its Beijing in the past two months. district, the heart of Hong Kong’s financial centre. fourth-quarter monetary policy committee The final HSBC/Markit Purchasing These firms now account for over 50 percent of new leases signed for offices there, according to a meeting, the central bank said it would push Managers’ Index (PMI) for December came September report from Hong Kong-based broker- ahead with interest rate and yuan exchange in at 49.6, just below the 50.0 level that sep- age CLSA. That’s up from 20 percent in 2012, the rate reforms. It also noted that China’s eco- arates growth from contraction. The number report said. The trend is the same in all major busi- nomic growth remained within a reasonable was slightly higher than a preliminary “flash” ness districts. Mainland occupancy of 25 key Grade range. The central bank unexpectedly cut reading of 49.5 but down from the final 50.0 A office buildings, or prime office space, in the dis- interest rates for the first time in two years in November. — Reuters tricts of Central, Admiralty, Sheung Wan and Wan Chai increased from 13 percent in 2008 to 21 per- cent earlier this year, according to commercial real China rail firms look estate services firm CBRE. “We do expect more mainland financial firms moving into Hong Kong,” said Simon Smith, senior abroad with merger director of research and consultancy at real estate services provider Savills Plc in Hong Kong. “They like SHANGHAI: The merger of China’s top two trains crashed near the Chinese city of landmark properties, high-profile buildings. They train makers will create a “world-leading” rail Wenzhou, killing 40 people and sparking an often like naming rights if it’s available.” supplier to compete with foreign players, investigation that found evidence of bribery HONG KONG: Workers sweep after police cleared barricades and tents on a main road in the occu- they said, as enthusiastic investors sent their in railway construction. ‘Price is Not an Issue’ pied areas in the Causeway Bay district in this Dec 15, 2014 photo. — AP share prices surging yesterday. State-owned The office directory at Hong Kong’s 88-floor firms China CNR Corp and CSR Corp will Fast Track International Finance Centre has a growing number have a home here (in Hong Kong) will live in tourists has been good news for the city’s retailers - unite into a single huge conglomerate, pre- The merger still requires approval by of mainland companies on the list. Among them is Shenzhen and be able to come here in 10 minutes.” the number of Chinese visitors catapulted from 28 venting in-fighting between the two as shareholders and government agencies, the China Development Bank International Holdings The mainland’s construction behemoths, includ- million in 2011 to 40.7 million last year - interactions China vies for lucrative rail contracts over- statement said. In the all-share deal, CSR will Ltd, which held its opening ceremony in 2011 and ing state-owned China State Construction between mainlanders and Hong Kong residents are seas against industry giants such as issue new stock to existing CNR shareholders serves as the offshore investment firm of China International Holdings Ltd, are also grabbing mar- not always amicable. In one incident that made Germany’s Siemens and Bombardier of to absorb the other company. The newly- Development Bank, the country’s biggest policy ket share. Hong Kong’s permanent secretary for headlines earlier this year, locals got into a scuffle Canada, analysts said. merged entity will be called CRRC Corp., it lender. “If you go to the International Finance Development (Works), Wai Chi-sing, said in an inter- with a mainland couple who had allowed their tod- In Hong Kong, CNR shares soared 45.17 said. The firms actually share the same origin, Centre now and compare it to five years ago, it’s view that while mainland firms accounted for less dler to urinate in the street. percent to HK$11.12 while CSR surged 32.32 a rail vehicle manufacturer spun off from the very easy to see that there are many more Chinese than 15 percent of public works contracts by value “Hong Kong without the mainlanders would be percent to HK$10.44 in a half-day of trading former railway ministry in 2000 and split into enterprises represented,” property analyst Nicole in the mid 1990s, they now accounted for more a very small city,” says Allan Zeman, explaining the before the New Year holiday. In Shanghai two. Analysts said the new company could Wong, an author of the CLSA report, told Reuters. than a third. While mainland Chinese companies are business elite’s attitude to the growth in tourism. both firms rose by the market’s daily 10 per- potentially undercut rivals on prices by In a market accustomed to stratospheric land rapidly expanding into Hong Kong, Western bank- “Ocean Park and Disney without the mainlanders cent limit by midday, with CNR reaching 7.10 becoming more efficient, while avoiding the prices, state-owned Chinese developers this year ing and financial institutions still have a strong pres- would be nowhere. They’d be losing money.” Zeman yuan and CSR 6.38 yuan. Shares of the com- original firms being rivals for the same deals stunned long-established local property giants with ence in the city. Global bank HSBC Holdings Plc, for developed Ocean Park, one of the city’s main panies had been suspended for two months as in the past. winning bids exceeding auction forecasts by up to instance, employed more than 28,000 people in amusement parks. When Xi met the delegation of pending formal announcement of the merg- “The merger will now give China an edge 20 percent. Of the six available plots sold since the Hong Kong at the end of 2013. tycoons and professionals on the eve of the demon- er, which was flagged by Chinese media in for overseas contracts without them compet- middle of last year in Kai Tak district, one of Hong For Beijing, growing economic clout has not strations, he gave no indication he was worried, October. ing against each other,” BOC International Kong’s largest developments of residential and been mirrored by increased popular support. according to one delegation member who gave “Through the merger, CSR and CNR pro- analyst Shen Jun said. But he added merging commercial complexes, two went to China Frustrated by Hong Kong residents’ lack of identifi- Reuters an account of the Chinese leader’s remarks. pose to build jointly a brand-new, multina- the two firms’ operations could take some Overseas Land & Investment (COLI) and one to Poly cation with the mainland 17 years after the han- Instead, Xi appeared to signal that the city’s trou- tional world-leading supplier of high-end time. “They won’t necessarily have an edge Property Group. dover, China has at times resorted to covert means bles were relatively minor compared to other prob- equipment and systems solutions with rolling over others in terms of technology or produc- “Price is not an issue for them,” said a former sen- to bolster its control. Earlier this month, for instance, lems in his in-tray. stock at its core,” the companies said in a joint tion in the short term because it will still take ior executive of a Hong Kong-listed developer who Reuters reported that retired Hong Kong policemen Before commenting on Hong Kong, Xi gave statement. “The merger is expected to a long time for the two companies to com- was responsible for bidding at land auctions before were part of a mainland-led surveillance operation some of the richest men on earth a tour of China’s improve efficiency in the use of resources, bine their technology and personnel,” Shen he left the company in June. “That’s why they to tail leading pro-democracy figures in the city. foreign policy challenges. He told the tycoons that effectively reduce operating costs and realise said. offered prices that surprised everyone.” A Although the street protests ultimately petered China was now a major force in the world and most the internationalisation strategy, thereby pro- The two firms control the market for high- spokesperson for Poly said the company had no out, at their height they drew tens of thousands, of his attention would be focused on ties with big- moting competition globally,” it said. speed rail in China, each producing trains comment. COLI did not respond to questions sent presenting Xi Jinping with his most serious popular ger nations including the U.S. and Russia, the dele- CNR gained recognition in October by capable of travelling up to 380 km per hour, by email. challenge since he took power two years ago. While gate said. When he eventually turned to Hong securing a deal to supply metro trains to the the official Xinhua news agency said. While it was predictable business ties would the protesters have demanded full universal suf- Kong, Xi said Beijing had no intention of altering US city of Boston. Separately, CSR was part of Together they also account for 80 percent of expand after the 1997 handover, Beijing has made frage, the mainland authorities insist that only a any of its policies and urged the tycoons to support a consortium that won a $3.75 billion high- goods trains and the majority of subway it clear that economic integration is central to rein- handful of Beijing-vetted candidates can stand in the city’s chief executive. He also said the Hong speed railway contract from Mexico in early trains. China’s high-speed rail network is the forcing its sovereignty over Hong Kong, which is the next elections for the city’s political leader in Kong economy was falling behind those of November, but the deal was cancelled shortly largest in the world with more than 11,000 ruled under the one country, two systems model 2017. Hong Kong’s current chief executive, Leung Singapore, Taiwan and South Korea. Li Ka-shing, Lui afterwards amid questions over the legality of km of track in service during 2013, with the that affords the city’s 7.2 million residents broad Chun-ying, got the backing of Xi and Premier Li Che-woo and Robert Kuok, three of the tycoons the bidding process. CSR is also known for a total expected to reach 16,000 km by 2020, personal freedoms. Part of Beijing’s vision is to draw Keqiang during a visit to Beijing last Friday, accord- who were part of the delegation that met Xi, did 2011 scandal in which one of its high-speed according to official media. — AFP Hong Kong into a Pearl River Delta mega-economy ing to reports in China’s state-run media. not respond to questions from Reuters.—Reuters BUSINESS THURSDAY, JANUARY 1, 2015 China stocks, dollar and debt stars of 2014

LONDON: Chinese and US stocks headed the percent higher overall with some striking , after they confirmed a $26 billion merger. over the ruling conservatives had narrowed. The euro, undermined by bets that the list of 2014 top performers while markets else- exceptions, such as near 30 percent losses for “China stocks have done really well this year Reports that Saudi Arabia’s King Abdullah had European Central Bank will have to start buy- where ended the year on a wary note as debt-strained Greece and Portugal. The stand- and the dollar move has also been very inter- been admitted to hospital for tests sent stocks ing government bonds to avert deflation, was another sharp drop in oil and worries about out global equity performer has been China, esting,” said Alvin Tan, an FX strategist at there tumbling, with another oil price fall stuck at $1.2154 having touched a 29-month Greece’s future served as an excuse to take where the CSI300 index ended 2014 with Societe Generale in London. “It barely moved adding to downward pressure. Trade else- trough of $1.2123. ECB policymaker Peter profits. The US dollar lost a little of the recent gains of nearly 50 percent after two final block- against the other major currencies in the first where was thinned by holidays in Japan, Praet told a German newspaper, “If my assess- gains that have made it the year’s star major buster months when hopes grew of more poli- of the year and all the big gains came in the Thailand, South Korea and the Philippines, ment is that there is a need for further accom- currency yesterday, but European bonds yields cy stimulus and foreigners won wider access to second half.” while many markets in Europe were either modation, and if I were willing to cut rates if scored all-time lows following a shockingly Chinese stocks. Among the scraps of news in Europe, two shut or finishing early for New Year festivities. that had been possible, then I should not be sharp fall in Spanish inflation on Tuesday. Yesterday featured hefty gains for China’s polls in Greece published late on Tuesday Europe’s government bond markets were paralysed by the fact that the only option is to European stocks wrapped up the year 3.5 biggest train makers, China CNR and CSR Corp showed the anti-bailout party Syriza’s lead already closed after another year when a glob- buy sovereign bonds.” al flood of cheap money has helped take Having already halved this year, crude Italian and Spanish borrowing costs to record prices slumped another $1.70 to near $56 a lows and given ultra-safe German debt its barrel as weak Chinese manufacturing data strongest year in six. and demand concerns outweighed supply dis- ruptions in Libya. Copper, of which China is the Buy Dollars, Wear Diamonds biggest consumer, looked set to post its The dollar was on track to end 2014 up 12 biggest annual decline in three years at 14 per- percent against a basket of major currencies, cent, while traditional safe-haven gold hov- its best performance since 2005, and anticipat- ered at $1,200 an ounce to end the year rough- ed US interest rate hikes may strengthen its ly where it started. Emerging market stocks appeal in the new year. It eased against the and bonds were on track for their second safe haven yen as US trading began to stand at straight year in the red, especially Russia. The 119.64 from Tuesday’s peak of 120.69, while rouble was down 4 percent on the day as a 43 stock futures pointed to small gains for a Wall percent plunge since January left it heading Street which has jumped 13 percent and hit for its weakest year since Russia defaulted in repeated record highs this year. 1998. — Reuters

MUMBAI: An Indian office-goer walks outside the Bombay Stock Exchange (BSE) watching share prices on a digital broadcast on its facade yesterday. — AFP Oil falls below $56

LONDON: Oil dropped below $56 a barrel yesterday up by OPEC’s last formal decision to cut production. and was heading for its biggest annual decline since In contrast, OPEC at a Nov 27 meeting this year 2008, pressured by weakening demand and a sup- decided against a cutback to defend its market ply glut prompted by the US shale boom and share against shale oil and other competing supply OPEC’s refusal to cut output. Global benchmark sources, despite its own forecasts of a growing sur- Brent crude has fallen 49.5 percent in 2014 as plus in 2015. demand growth slowed, the United States expand- Turmoil in Libya has effectively led to a drop in ed output and OPEC, dropping its strategy of trim- OPEC supply in December to a six-month low, a ming supply to keep oil around $100 a barrel, chose Reuters survey showed on Tuesday, although fore- instead to defend market share. casts still point to a large excess supply next year. Yesterday, prices came under further pressure Later on Wednesday, traders will focus on the latest from a survey showing China’s factory sector shrank US government report on oil inventories to see if it for the first time in seven months in December - a confirms the unexpected increase in stockpiles bearish indication on the strength of oil demand in reported on Tuesday by industry group the the world’s second-largest consumer. “Here we are American Petroleum Institute. US crude inventories on the very last session of the year and Brent is mak- rose by 760,000 barrels last week, the API said, com- ing new lows, again,” said Tony Machacek, an oil bro- pared with analysts’ expectations for a decrease of ker at Jefferies Bache in London. “There’s no reason around 100,000 barrels. The Obama administration to see why the downtrend should not continue.” on Tuesday bowed to months of growing pressure Brent was down $1.91 at $55.99 by 1212 GMT, over a 40-year-old ban on exports of most domestic after dropping as low as $55.93, its lowest since May crude, taking two steps expected to increase the 2009. US crude was down $1.11 at $53.01. The flow of ultra-light oil, or condensate, onto the global annual decline for Brent is set to be the biggest market. “We expect a gradual, but slow increase of since 2008, when demand crumbled in response to stabilized condensate exports over the next year,” the financial crisis. Prices were, eventually, propped analysts at JBC Energy said in a report. — Reuters Gold ends 2014 flat

LONDON: Gold edged down on higher shares percent jump, palladium was the best performer yesterday, but was poised to end 2014 steady among precious metals this year, mostly on sup- around $1,200 an ounce as the impact of a ply concerns from top producer Russia. Prices strong dollar was offset by demand from were unchanged at $800.50 an ounce. — Reuters investors worried about tensions in Russia and political uncertainty in Greece. Bullion was on track for a 0.5 percent fall this year after a turbu- Dollar racks lent 2013, when prices fell by a third after 12 years of gains. Spot gold was down 0.3 percent up strong year at $1,196.90 an ounce by 1257 GMT. On Tuesday, it climbed to a near two-week high of $1,209.90 LONDON: The dollar was set to end 2014 with as concerns over tension between Russia and the a gain of more than 12 percent against a bas- West weakened the dollar and stock markets. ket of major currencies yesterday, its strongest Prices have been relatively less volatile in year in almost a decade and, according to most 2014 compared with last year’s 28 percent slide major banks, just a prelude to a further rise and $500 trading range. Despite falling to a 4- next year. Yearend adjustments to market posi- 1/2-year-low in November, gold has traded in a tions helped the yen and the euro in thin trade $260 range for the year. Gold’s main driver in over the Christmas holidays, but the euro is 2014 has been a buoyant dollar, which was expected to fall below $1.20 in the first quarter. poised to post its biggest yearly gain since 2005, The dollar index, which measures its value and anticipated US interest rate hikes may against a basket of six major currencies, last strengthen its appeal in the coming year. Higher stood unchanged at 89.920. This year, though, rates weigh on non-interest-bearing bullion. the dollar should see its largest gain since it Yesterday, the dollar was unchanged, while climbed nearly 13 percent in 2005, and only European stocks rose, keeping most regional the third year in 30 when it has gained more indexes on track to end a tumultuous year with than 10 percent. modest gains after a late rebound. “Considering The contrast between the US Federal the strong dollar performance in 2014, gold’s Reserve’s path towards raising interest rates downside this year has been a little bit protected next year and looser monetary policies in the by international political events that have euro zone and Japan was the driving force attracted some safe-haven buying, especially in behind the dollar index’s rise to its highest in the first half,” ABN Amro commodity strategist more than 8 1/2 years on Tuesday. “The US Georgette Boele said. “But a new drop in gold economy has outperformed on a relative basis prices driven by a stronger dollar and higher U.S. all the other major economies and that’s interest rate expectations is likely in 2015, when prompted the market to increase expectations we see prices average $1,000 an ounce.” that the Fed will raise rates some times in the Investors continued to run down gold hold- middle of next year,” said Lee Hardman, a cur- ings in 2014, with the world’s largest gold- rency economist at Bank of Tokyo-Mitsubishi backed exchange-traded fund, the SPDR Gold UFJ in London. “The monetary policy diver- Trust, falling by 140 tonnes to six-year lows of gence between the Fed and the other major 710.81 tonnes. Redemptions, however, were central banks will likely widen, so that makes much smaller than in 2013, when the fund saw a the stronger dollar case even more compelling record outflow of 460 tonnes, or 39 percent, to next year.” However, the dollar has come a long around 850 tonnes. Physical demand for gold way in a hurry. It is not clear whether further was boosted by the holiday season and upcom- gains in the first half of next year might put the ing Lunar New Year celebrations in China, when Fed off raising rates. Also, turbulence may grow gold is bought for good fortune and to be given in developing markets, especially China. as gifts, traders said. Political turmoil could again threaten Greece’s Silver fell 1.7 percent to $15.99 an ounce and presence in the euro, adding to concern over was on track for a 17-percent annual decline and growth and the balance of the global financial platinum, down 0.7 percent at $1,205.10 an system. —Reuters ounce, was also headed for a yearly fall. With a 13 BUSINESS THURSDAY, JANUARY 1, 2015 After 2014 party, US investors may face hangover NEW YORK: Revelers ringing in of the new year need Wells Capital Management in Minneapolis, which has easy transition. Fourth-quarter estimates have to be far too pessimistic: On Dec 31, 2013, the fore- to watch out for the next day’s hangover. And $345 billion in assets under management. The S&P plunged in recent weeks, largely in the energy sector cast was for per-share earnings of $120.89 on the S&P investors may experience a similar feeling early in 500’s forward price-to-earnings ratio sat at about 13 as crude oil prices have cratered. Annual growth is 500. With fourth-quarter earnings season approach- 2015 after a two-year run that has propelled US times at the beginning of 2013; it is now closer to 17, now expected to come in at 4.3 percent for the S&P ing, actual and expected earnings were $126.50 per stocks up by nearly 50 percent. Headed into the last according to Thomson Reuters data. 500 in the fourth quarter, down from a forecast of share, according to Reuters data. trading day of 2014, the S&P 500 has gained nearly Since 1940, such a level is associated with S&P 11.1 percent growth on only Oct 1. So far in the fourth quarter, expectations have fall- 13 percent on the year, shaking off concerns about returns (excluding dividends) of about 5 percent over Citigroup’s chief equity strategist Tobias en largely due to the energy industry’s woes, but sec- valuations thanks to improved economic growth and a 12-month period, according to data from Citigroup. Levkovich, in a note on Tuesday, said estimate cuts in tors that could benefit from lower fuel costs, particu- a very accommodative US Federal Reserve. Add in The high valuation concerns are starting to have the next few weeks, when companies typically warn larly the consumer discretionary sector - which dividends and the advance is 15 percent. some impact on trading. Stocks have been noticeably if they expect to report disappointing results, could includes many retailers - have not seen an attendant However, the S&P 500’s forward price-to-earnings more volatile in the last few months; the CBOE lead to some reversals and volatility, as “some of the pickup in expectations. That sector is currently fore- multiple - based on 2015 earnings expectations - is at Volatility Index, or VIX, has averaged 15.4 over the late 2014 S&P 500 gains appear to have been bor- cast to grow 8 percent for the quarter, down from about 17 now, exceeding the 15-year average of past 12 weeks, compared with 12.6 at the end of rowed from 2015’s returns,” he wrote. 13.9 percent estimated on Oct 1. about 15. It means that a pick-up in profits growth August. In perhaps a sign of things to come in the energy Despite the caution, few are calling for a bear mar- may be essential if the market is to continue to add sector, Civeo Corp, which builds temporary housing ket given the U.S. economy’s acceleration. An early to its historic gains. And yet Wall Street analysts’ esti- Share Buybacks for oilfield workers, said revenue could fall by one- December Reuters poll of Wall Street strategists fore- mates for S&P 500 earnings growth for coming quar- If the Fed tightens, the higher rates will not only third due to falling crude prices, and cut its workforce cast the S&P 500 hitting 2200 at the end of 2015. ters are languishing in the mid-single digits. raise financing costs generally but would also be a and suspended its dividend. The company’s shares After December’s big gains, that suggests just a small With the Fed ready to begin raising interest rates deterrent to borrowing to do the share buybacks that lost almost 53 percent Tuesday. Earnings expecta- rally amid a year of short-term advances and retreats. for the first time in a decade, and the strong dollar have helped to propel earnings per share growth and tions for S&P 500 companies for the first half of next That said, it’s not as if 2014 didn’t have its rough providing a headwind for companies with overseas stock prices gains in the past few years. With such year aren’t that encouraging: First- and second-quar- spots, either, and yet the year is ending with a flour- operations, a lot will depend on whether the recent artificial support crumbling, corporate America will ter earnings growth estimates currently stand at 5.3 ish. strong growth in domestic demand can drive corpo- have to rely much more on demand from domestic percent and 5.9 percent, respectively. “In the spring of 2014 the market went nowhere rate profits higher than those estimates. Whether customers to drive earnings growth. Europe is “If you don’t feel that you have the earnings wind for three months. In the summer through the fall the consumers and companies benefit enough from low- expected to grow at just above 1 percent in 2015, at your back, and you don’t have the monetary policy market went nowhere, and the market at its bottom er oil prices to more than offset the effects of the according to Reuters data, Russia has been slammed wind at your back, why pay more than the prices in October was unchanged for the year,” said Dan slide on the energy sector is also critical. by oil’s decline, and China and other major emerging people have paid in many cases since 2000 for Greenhaus, chief strategist at BTIG LLC in New York. “Multiples almost always go down when the Fed markets are struggling with weak demand as well. stocks?” said Mike O’Rourke, chief market strategist at “The question is whether the general environment is raises rates - you’re going to have to depend on earn- Switching to more of a reliance on sales growth JonesTrading in Greenwich, Connecticut. That said, supportive of higher stock prices, and the answer is ings,” said Jim Paulsen, chief investment strategist at rather than the Fed’s cheap money may not be an earnings expectations coming into 2014 turned out still yes.” — Reuters US tobacco auctions all but snuffed out

DANVILLE, Kentucky: Tripp Foy’s sing-song non-contract leaf. Rankin bought up some of chant rang out like a sentimental oldie for the burley when bidding by leaf dealers was die-hard farmers clinging to the old way of too low. Rankin bought it on speculation, selling tobacco, as a small procession of buy- hoping to sell it to tobacco companies or ers shadowed him down long rows of red- dealers. He expects all the leaf to wind up in dish-brown leaf piled in bales. Farmers who cigarettes. have spent their lives tending the aromatic crop in their fields find comfort in Foy’s rat-a- Demand, Prices Depressed tat style, part of an auction system that’s been Total output in burley-production states is all but snuffed out by another way of selling forecast at 211 million pounds this year, with tobacco after years of declining smoking Kentucky accounting for an expected 161 rates. “It’s kind of in our blood,” said tobacco million pounds. Some Kentucky farmers farmer Walter Browning. “But I’m about bled found out in the spring they had been out.” dropped from production contracts, after This tobacco-belt tradition, once as much buying tobacco plants and preparing ground, a part of Kentucky’s fabric as bourbon or Rankin said. They went ahead with the crop, horse racing, is fading away - and it’s taking putting millions more pounds of leaf in the the maestros like Foy with it. “The chant of an auction system at a time when demand and auctioneer can sound as good as a song,” said prices are depressed. Foy, 63, who has spent four decades auction- “These growers grew it in good faith and ing tobacco in Kentucky - the nation’s top did a good job doing it, and they’re spinning burley producer. “You can walk down a row their wheels,” Rankin said. “Some of them are and you can almost dance to the tune of the going to go under.” Other than Foy’s familiar CARACAS: Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro speaks during a press conference at Miraflores presidential palace on Tuesday. — AFP sale.” chant, little else resembled opening days Years ago, multiple auctioneers plied their from the era when every bit of leaf went trade in each of the state’s biggest burley through the auction system. Grim-faced Recession-hit Venezuela markets as sales seasons typically stretched growers watched their burley sell for paltry from late autumn until March. The competi- amounts - generally $1.25 or $1.30 a pound. tion for top auctioneers was fierce as ware- “It’s a sad day,” said farmer Leland Turner. “I house operators looked for any edge to pull never thought I’d see the time when tobacco vows New Year reforms in more business from farmers. Now, most would be so cheap.” burley is sold under contracts between farm- Prices improved slightly in follow-up sales ers and tobacco companies. Contracting at the Danville warehouse, to an average of sprung up a decade ago after the demise of a $1.35 to $1.44 per pound, Rankin said. But Foes scoff at Maduro • Inflation tops 63% federal program of price supports and pro- that’s not nearly enough to cover expenses duction quotas that guaranteed minimum for the crop, unless farmers and their families CARACAS: President Nicolas Maduro vowed on trader at investment bank Caracas Capital Markets, ments posted a surplus of $6.8 billion by the end of prices for most of the 20th century. did all the work themselves. Years ago, the Tuesday to reform Venezuela’s Byzantine currency said he counted Maduro using the phrase “economic the third quarter, with a current account surplus of The new system cut out warehouse oper- auctions signaled the promise of money fil- controls in early 2015 as part of a six-month plan to war” 63 times during Tuesday’s news conference. “The $899 million, and the capital account showing a ators as middle men. Tobacco companies typ- tering through small towns and big cities shake Venezuela out of recession, but foes accused speech was long on excuses and short on adjust- deficit of $568 million. Venezuelan exports, of which ically don’t disclose how much contract leaf alike. For farmers, it was the anticipation of a him of incompetence and inaction. After sitting on ments,” he said. “If Maduro had a million dollars for oil accounts for more than 90 percent, fell 14.2 per- they purchase or for how much to avoid tip- big pay day. If early prices were good enough, GDP data all year, the Central Bank announced that each of his excuses, Venezuela’s economic problems cent to $19 billion in the third quarter, while imports ping their hand to competitors. Excess world the payoff came right before Christmas. OPEC member Venezuela had entered recession, with would be solved.” were down slightly, by 1.4 percent, to $12.2 billion in burley tobacco supplies and lower demand Bankers and merchants kept tabs on how the economy contracting in each of the first three The central bank said Venezuela’s balance of pay- the same period. — Reuters are driving down prices, said University of high the bidding went. quarters: by 4.8, 4.9 and 2.3 percent, respectively. Kentucky agricultural economist Will Snell. There was no festive mood as this year’s Confirming Venezuela as the region’s worst-perform- Last year’s crop averaged $2.06 per pound. sales opened at the Danville warehouse. An ing major economy this year, the bank also said 12- US opening of oil export tap Quality leaf sold under contract is still fetch- ag credit lending agency supplied doughnuts month inflation reached 63.6 percent in November, ing prices in the $1.90s to $2 a pound this for the few dozen people on hand. Rankin the highest rate in the Americas. season, he said. But selling non-contract bur- gave a short speech, thanking the farmers for Maduro, 52, who won election last year to replace widens global market battle ley, especially lower-quality leaf, is “going to their business. For some of the growers look- his socialist mentor Hugo Chavez, blamed political be a struggle,” he said. ing on, the end of the line was coming into opponents for damaging the oil-dependent econo- WASHINGTON/NEW YORK: The Obama adminis- slump in oil markets. Morse said US condensate Droves of farmers got out of tobacco as US focus. Browning said he already decided this my with months of street protests earlier this year. tration has opened a new front in the global battle exports could rise from 200,000 bpd to as much as smoking rates declined. The number of US year’s crop would be his last. He has a factory Maduro vowed to head up a six-month plan to turn for oil market share, effectively clearing the way for 1 million bpd by the end of next year. “This has an tobacco farms dropped from 124,270 in 1992 job and used his tobacco income to pay prop- around the economy in 2015 by reducing inflation- the shipment of as much as a million barrels per interesting impact on the current confrontation to 16,234 during the last federal crop census erty taxes, but he wasn’t sure he would get inducing liquidity, boosting international reserves, day of ultra-light US crude to the rest of the world. between Saudi Arabia and shale,” he said. Among in 2007. Burley, once a $1 billion crop in enough to cover the bill this year. “You spend cutting unnecessary costs, and reforming the three- The Department of Commerce on Tuesday ended a those most at risk from the US shale exports is Kentucky, now generates about $300 million a lot of time on it for what little I get,” he said. tier foreign exchange system. year-long silence on a contentious, four-decade Nigeria, which pumps similarly light, sweet oil. The for the state’s remaining growers. “Instead of going on vacations with my wife, “We are going to perfect the currency system,” he ban on oil exports, saying it had begun approving a OPEC member has already lost the US market to Despite the setbacks, a handful of auc- I’m hauling tobacco.” told a news conference, without giving much further backlog of requests to sell processed light oil shale, with its exports falling from more than 1 mil- tion markets have stubbornly hung on. Foy’s own schedule has slowed consider- detail on that or the other measures. “2015 will be a abroad. It also issued a long-awaited document lion barrels per day to next to nothing; now it will Supporters say they provide a necessary ably. Years ago, he presided over tobacco year of economic recovery ... great economic transfor- outlining exactly what kinds of oil other would-be face US competition in Europe and Asia, too. alternative for tobacco farmers unable or sales for nine months out of the year across mation.” Opponents quickly slammed Maduro’s com- exporters can ship. unwilling to sign contracts or unhappy with the eastern US. Now, he auctions tobacco ments as devoid of detail and real solutions for the ail- The administration’s first serious effort to clarify Just the FAQS prices offered by the companies at contract only at a handful of warehouses in Kentucky. ing economy. “Yet again, no announcements. He an issue that has caused confusion and consterna- The Bureau of Industry and Security (BIS), which receiving stations. About 400,000 pounds of He estimates only a couple of auctioneers doesn’t know what to do,” opposition leader Henrique tion in energy markets for more than a year will like- regulates US export controls, has come under enor- tobacco were available last month on the besides him remain. “I don’t know that I’m the Capriles fumed. “Today makes clear to all Venezuelans ly please domestic oil drillers, foreign trade partners mous scrutiny over the past year because of grow- opening sales day at the Danville ware- last of the breed,” he said. “But unless the that with Nicolas we will not escape the chaos.” and some Republicans who have urged Obama to ing pressure to clarify confusing regulations on house, where Foy presided as auctioneer. industry changes, the ones that are tobacco Venezuela, whose last recession was from 2009-2010, loosen the export ban, which they see as an outdat- exporting crude. While untreated crude oil is gener- Jerry Rankin, the warehouse operator, plans auctioneers now, when we’re all dead and has been handicapped by the plunge in oil prices. ed holdover from the 1970s Arab oil embargo. The ally banned from being exported, refined fuels such twice-weekly auctions for larger supplies of gone, there won’t be any more.” — AP Venezuelan crude, which provides 96 percent of hard latest measures were wrapped in regulatory jargon as gasoline and diesel can be freely sold abroad. currency revenues, has halved from mid-year to $46 and couched by some as a basic clarification of The question that has bedeviled US producers is per barrel. existing rules, but analysts said the message was how the rules apply to “processed condensate,” unambiguous: a green light for any company will- ultra-light oil that has been heated through a very ‘Economic War’ ing and able to process their light condensate basic refining unit. Venezuela’s central bank had not published infla- crude through a distillation tower, a simple piece of On Tuesday, the BIS said it had given permis- tion data since August. The figures released on oilfield kit. sion to “some” companies to ship treated light oil Tuesday put September inflation at 4.8 percent, “In practice this long-awaited move can open but did not give details about what it had October 5.0 percent and November 4.7 percent, com- up the floodgates to substantial increases in approved. Two energy companies, driller Pioneer pared with the same months of 2013. The bank said exports by end 2015,” Ed Morse, global head of Natural Resources and mid-stream firm Enterprise opposition demonstrations during the year had dis- commodities research at Citigroup in New York said Products Partners , have been regularly exporting rupted both distribution and production, causing an in a research note. The action comes at a critical processed condensate since the summer after inflationary spike and the GDP decline. The demon- juncture for the global oil market. World prices have receiving a private permit from the BIS. But sever- strations sparked Venezuela’s worst political violence halved to less than $60 a barrel since the summer al dozen other companies that also raced to file in a decade. Forty-three people, including protesters, as top exporter Saudi Arabia, once a staunch similar requests were left waiting, with no timeline security officials and Maduro backers, died. defender of $100 oil, refused to cut production in for action. Chavez-era welfare policies have long been popu- the face of surging US shale output and tempered The agency also released its first ever written lar among Venezuela’s poor, and the bank said social global demand. guidance on the rules themselves in the form of fre- indicators were all improving despite the poor GDP By opening the door to US crude exports, the quently asked questions (FAQs), clarifying a series of data. It said extreme poverty was down to 5.4 percent administration is offering a bit of relief to some detailed questions that had clouded efforts to of households in 2014, half the level before Chavez domestic drillers that have said that they are forced move forward with substantial exports. The docu- came to power, while unemployment fell to 5.9 per- to sell their shale oil at a discount of as much as $15 ment gives “considerable discretion” that could cent. “Despite the protests and economic war during a barrel versus global markets as fast-rising domes- allow for rising export volumes in the future, meas- 2014, Venezuela’s economic indicators have tic supplies overwhelm local demand. But the ures that could narrow the price gap between U.S. improved,” Maduro said. “This economic war, this fall impending swell of U.S. petroleum into global mar- benchmark WTI crude and global marker Brent, in the oil prices, is a great opportunity for economic kets may intensify what many analysts say is a piv- said Kevin Book, managing director at ClearView change. 2015 is the year of opportunity, for great otal oil market war, with Saudi Arabia and the Energy Partners LLC. On Tuesday, the Brent/WTI change in the economic model.” Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries spread narrowed by more than 50 cents to around Many analysts have been recommending a unifi- (OPEC) unwilling to yield ground. Now they will $3.70 a barrel. In its guidelines, the BIS said that cation of Venezuela’s currency controls and a rise in face even greater competition beyond US shores. most goods can be shipped abroad “without a gasoline prices that are the cheapest in the world. But If they can boost selling prices by even a dollar license” - a reminder that some analysts read as Maduro has balked at such measures so far, perhaps or two, oil producers in places such as the Eagle encouraging shippers to “self-classify” their conden- DANVILLE, Kentucky: In this Nov 18, 2014, photo, auctioneer Tripp Foy (right) hands wary of a social backlash prior to a crucial vote for a Ford of Texas will be better able to withstand the sate, as Reuters reported earlier.—AFP a tobacco purchase ticket to a buyer at an auction. — AP new parliament next year. Russ Dallen, head bond BUSINESS THURSDAY, JANUARY 1, 2015 ECB warns against rise of populism in Europe

FRANKFURT: The rise of populist parties across should be under the illusion that you only need to zone’s rescue. “In the past we have had the unfortu- Praet confirmed that such measures were being con- Europe should act as a wake-up call for governments return to the old system and everything will be better,” nate situation in which the ECB was seen as ‘the only sidered. “We have always emphasised that there are to finally get their economies in order, a top European he argued. game in town’. But I think this is changing,” Praet said. two contingencies for further action: first, our meas- Central Bank official said yesterday. “The rise of pop- Countries had signed up to the single currency “In France, the government for the first time is taking ures taken so far have not been enough to have the ulism should be a wake-up call,” the ECB’s chief econo- because the old system of constant devaluation was real political risks to improve the labour market. In intended effect... and second, the inflation outlook mist Peter Praet told the financial daily Boersen- not working. “What is needed now is to make the Italy there is also significant progress at least in policy itself has deteriorated since we decided on the meas- Zeitung in a wide-ranging interview. “The govern- much needed structural adjustments. A devaluation intentions,” he said. “The authorities have recognised ures we took in the past. Now we have a little bit of ments have to give priority to difficult political deci- policy doesn’t solve structural problems,” Praet said. that muddle-through will not make it. But what is both,” he said. sions and follow through with the much-needed There were institutional flaws in Europe which had to important now is implementation. Now is the There are many critics of QE - not least the mighty reforms.” be resolved, the economist argued. “We have a mone- moment of truth: there is a need for concrete results. German central bank or Bundesbank - who see it as a Praet’s comments came as Greece is preparing for tary union with a very strong central bank - but the Monetary policy alone will not solve our structural licence to print money to get governments out of snap elections with a far-left anti-austerity party Syriza other institutions have been too weak,” he said. problems,” Praet insisted. debt, which the ECB is strictly forbidden from doing leading opinion polls. Syriza pledges to reverse After a raft of different measures last year to stimu- under its statutes. Nevertheless, most observers Athens’ reform commitments and even eventually Ready to Act late the eurozone’s moribund economy, the ECB is believe the question is not “if” but “when” such a pro- take Greece out of the eurozone. “Populist parties in During the long years of crisis, the ECB has been widely expected to take more action again early in gram will be announced, possibly as early as the ECB’s some countries promise quick solutions - but they seen as the only European institution capable of 2015, this time in the form of “quantitative easing” or first policy meeting of the year on Jan 22 or the subse- offer only recipes for disaster,” Praet warned. “Nobody action and has repeatedly had to charge to the euro- QE - the large-scale purchase of sovereign bonds. quent meeting on March 5. — AFP Ex-Soviet republics hit by Russian economic crisis

TBILISI: Russia’s economic turmoil has sent central bank, dollar remittances from Russia fell shock waves across former Soviet republics as in October by around 19 percent year-on-year the ruble’s collapse pushes the crisis into the and its dram currency has lost more than 11 region with strong ties to Moscow, analysts percent against the dollar this year. Armenia’s said. Under the pressure of falling oil prices and 2014 economic growth projection has revised Western sanctions over the Ukraine conflict, down to 3.3 percent from 4.1 percent. “Our the ruble this year plunged by 40 percent economy is tied to Russia. There are 1,200 against the dollar and the euro, pulling the cur- Russian-owned enterprises in Armenia that rencies of many ex-Soviet countries to the bot- control strategic sectors - energy, railroad, com- tom. “Russia is dragging ex-Soviet countries munications,” Aramyan said. “Developments in into an economic crisis,” said Igor Nikolayev, the Russia’s economy shape the economic situation director of the FBK Strategic Analysis Institute. in Armenia.” “Their trade with Russia and remittances by Manvel Gasparyan, who owns a shoe facto- migrants working in Russia shrink as the ruble ry that used to export up to 90 percent of its weakens.” production to Russia, said he was forced to cut Besides the economic fallout, the impact of by five the volume of his Russia exports. “In the Russian crisis on its ex-Soviet neighbours is Russia, the prices of our goods are rising as a likely to have a geopolitical dimension as well. result of the ruble’s devaluation, while people’s On Jan 1, the Russia-led Eurasian Customs incomes are shrinking. The demand fell dra- Union which also includes Belarus, Kazakhstan matically. A very sad picture.” and Armenia is to morph into the Eurasian Economic Union (EEU). But the fate of the proj- Severe Blow ect - championed by President Vladimir Putin Kyrgyzstan and Tajikistan - the ex-Soviet to reassert Moscow’s influence over its Soviet- states in Central Asia with large numbers of era vassals - now looks uncertain, said migrant workers in Russia - have also been buf- Nikolayev. Belarusssian President Alexander feted. Since January, the Kyrgyz som has lost Lukashenko has already demanded that trade more than 17 percent to the dollar, and between the EEU countries be carried out in Tajikistan’s somon nearly 14 percent, according dollars instead of national currencies. “The to official data. “As a result of Russia’s crisis, VILNIUS: Bank staff fill a cash machine with euros on Tuesday as preparations continue for the currency swap-over. — AP Eurasian Union is exposed to a very big risk” Kyrgyzstan has lost up to 70 percent of dollar because of the Russia crisis, said Kazakh leader remittances by migrant workers,” independent Nursultan Nazarbayev. analyst Aleksey Krasin told AFP. As Lithuania joins euro, “The (Russian) crisis could deal a severe ‘A Very Sad Picture’ blow to our economy,” Kyrgyzstan’s central Moscow’s closest allies in the post-Soviet bank governor, Toktogul Abdygulov, told jour- era, the Customs Union member countries nalists this month. He added that the bank, concern over emigration were the first to feel the aftershocks of Russia’s with its scarce foreign currency reserves, “can’t shaken economy, which shrank in November keep the som afloat for long”. After the ruble’s for the first time since October 2009. collapse, “the Tajik migrant workers can’t afford Lukashenko has admitted Belarus - with to send money to their families in Tajikistan. Busy farmer’s village a ghost town now around 40 percent of its exports bound for We will be forced to return to our country,” Russia - has been hit hard by Moscow’s trou- Karomat Sharipov, the leader of the Tajik VILNIUS, Lithuania: When Antanas Zubavicius most Lithuanians are in favor of joining the euro, as the Soviet Union for almost five decades. bles. In December, Belarussians rushed to con- Migrant Workers Movement in Moscow, told turns the light on in his run-down house, it’s the it will cement the country’s ties with the West and “I think it would be a good thing to get closer to vert their savings to dollars and euros, fearing the openrussia.org website last week. only light for miles. He is the last man in keep those richer labor markets open to them. In a the rest of Europe as the only other option is to devaluation of their currency, which has so far However, with their huge oil and natural Dumbliuneliai, a once busy farmers’ village in Nov 26 survey by Berent Research Baltic, 53 percent become friends with (Russian President Vladimir) fallen more than 13 percent against the green- gas resources, the economies of Azerbaijan Lithuania that has gradually been abandoned as its of respondents said they back euro membership, Putin,” said Janina Gailiene, a retired primary school back. The panic forced the country’s central and Turkmenistan have so far withstood the residents emigrated in search of better jobs. “I’m not up from 47 percent in September. Some 39 were teacher in Vilnius. For all the potential economic bank to introduce a 30-percent tax on all for- pressures of a weak ruble and continue to going anywhere. This is my land,” the 60-year-old opposed, down from 49 percent. A total of 1,002 and security benefits, that means business leaders eign currency purchases and raise interest rates expand. Poorer Moldova and Georgia - the says, waving at the abandoned, shuttered houses people were interviewed for the poll, which had a like Avulis will continue to struggle with a shortage to encourage citizens to keep their money in pro-Western ex-Soviet republics which have around him. “When I am gone this village is gone margin of error of 2.5 percentage points. of workers as Lithuania’s economy integrates fur- the bank. Energy-rich Kazakhstan faces an worked hard to reduce their dependence on too”. Skeptics worry about the euro’s recent problems ther with the West. uphill battle to protect the national industry as Moscow and signed this year free-trade agree- As Lithuania prepares to adopt the euro on Jan with government debt and economic stagnation. One solution businesses are lobbying for is to exports to the Customs Union countries fell this ments with the European Union - have suf- 1, it is hoping that membership in the European Pranciskus Sliuzas, a journalist and anti-euro facilitate immigration from countries that have year by more than 12 percent and the domestic fered some side effects from Russia’s economic Union’s official currency will bring a rise in invest- activist, describes joining the euro as “one of the even lower wages - Ukraine, Belarus and even market was flooded with cheap Russian goods distress. ment and trade. But the Baltic country’s increasing most stupid things of all time.” He laments the fact China. There has been little progress by the govern- as the ruble collapsed. In both countries shrinking dollar remit- integration with richer European countries is also that Lithuania is giving up some national powers, ment on that front, however. Sarmite Mikulioniene, Russia’s economic crisis “poses the risk of tances from Russia were “just an additional fac- having a pernicious side-effect: a wave of emigra- such as the ability to determine its interest rates or sociology professor at Mykolas Romeris University, declining demand for our exports and subse- tor behind the economic setback in 2014. tion that is emptying towns and causing worker budget deficit. For others, such economic argu- warns that in time, worker shortages will hurt the quently of an economic slowdown,” Internal factors played a primary role,” Roman shortages. Emigration has been on the rise since ments are of secondary concern to issues like economy, threatening the gains made in the first Kazakhstan’s Finance Minister Bakhyt Sultanov Gotsiridze, the president of Tbilisi-based 2004, when this country of 3 million people joined national security - in particular the fear of an place by joining the EU and euro. “There will simply said last week. The Central Asian nation had Economic Development Centre, told AFP. The the EU, whose membership guarantees freedom of increasingly aggressive Russia. Along with neigh- be no one left to do simple jobs here in 10 or 15 already devalued its currency, the tenge, by 19 Georgian lari has weakened by nearly nine per- movement. bors Latvia and Estonia, Lithuania was occupied by years,” she said. — AP percent in February and allocated $15 billion cent this year against the dollar, “mainly due to During the 2008-2011 financial crisis, more than for infrastructure projects over three years from the widening current account deficit and limit- 80,000 people - almost 3 percent of the population its sovereign wealth fund. In Armenia, “the ed foreign direct investments,” Gotsiridze said. - left every year, mainly to Germany, Britain and oth- Russian economic crisis translates into shrink- In Moldova, the central bank has deliberately er richer economies to earn salaries many times Quiet craft of cheesemaking ing exports to Russia and falling dollar remit- devalued the national currency, the leu, by 20 higher. Experts forecast that trend to continue, or tances by migrant workers”, economy analyst percent “to stimulate exports to the European even increase. In the field of construction, business in war-torn east DR Congo Ashot Aramyan told AFP. Union,” Moldovan economic analyst Roman owners complain it is impossible to keep hold of According to the impoverished country’s Chirca said. — AFP workers, even with massive annual wage increases of 10 to 20 percent. The problem is not confined to KILOLIRWE, DR Congo: Better known for war Innocent Ntwalabakiga, where it is poured into rural villages. Most shopping malls, restaurants and and bloodshed, the lush hills of eastern a huge old tub. All sport the cowboy-like hat businesses in once busy urban areas are increasing- Democratic Republic of Congo are also home to typical of Tutsis. Ntwalabakiga already has a ly short of labor. a surprising, successful craft that has survived wood fire heating up water, which, with whey, “There’s simply no more skilled people left here,” decades of violence: cheesemaking. Though not will be added to convert the milk into cheese. says Arvydas Avulis, CEO of Hanner, a leading real part of the traditional diet, the cheese - a mild- His production chief, James Hakizi, has no mod- estate investor and developer that specializes in tasting hard variety with a yellowish-brown rind ern equipment and total confidence about his high-rise construction. A quick look at wage figures - has managed to win favour across the nation. savoir-faire. I only have to plunge my arm into shows why. A manual worker in Lithuania can But the way up has not been easy. “The his- the mixture “to know if the temperature is expect to earn Ä1.80 ($2.20) an hour compared with tory of cheesemaking goes hand in hand with ready” and conditions right to form curds, sepa- Ä4.30 ($5.24) in Spain and Ä8.60 ($10.50) in Ireland, the land disputes” and conflicts that have shak- rate them from the whey and set the milk into according to the EU statistics agency. en the Masisi territory for more than eight moulds, he said. In the more skilled sectors like computing, medi- decades, said Fidel Bafilemba, a researcher with Final ripening takes about three weeks cine or the services industry, where Lithuania’s edu- Enough Project, a non-governmental organisa- before the pressed, one-kilogram rounds are cational system produces highly qualified gradu- tion working in the region. Variously confiscat- ready for market. Producers sell the Kivu or ates, wage differences are even greater. Euro mem- ed, pillaged, destroyed then reclaimed and Masisi, as it is called, for about $3 a cheese. bership is expected to help Lithuania’s economy, pressed back into production, the rudimentary Goma shops charge a little more, at $4-5, while even though the currency bloc is struggling to farms today provide a living for many locals - in across the country in the capital Kinshasa it grow. Having the same currency as 18 other richer a country where more than 70 percent live costs three or four times that amount - a luxury economies will facilitate commerce and reduce below the poverty line. price for most Congolese. Farmer Kakwiki got investment risks for foreigners. The central bank At first glance, Masisi, in the south of volatile involved in 1971, tending the region’s abundant estimates the government’s borrowing rate would North Kivu province, looks like a land of plenty cows as a 13-year-old. At the time, he said, “milk drop by almost 1 percentage point, which would fil- whose verdant landscape hints little at its trou- was only for drinking, at home with the family.” ter down to the private sector. bled past. In the 1930s, the “Banyarwanda”, eth- Cheese was a “foreign” oddity, brought in by nic Hutus and Tutsis from tiny, populous neigh- Europeans and produced at three Italian-owned Bloc’s Poorest Member bouring Rwanda, starting challenging the local farms. But all three left when late dictator The problem is that Lithuania is the bloc’s poor- native Hunde community in their search for Mobutu Sese Seko seized power in 1965 and MOSCOW: A file picture taken on Dec 16, 2014 shows a woman speaking on her mobile est member and even though its economy is grow- space. By the 1970s, the Tutsis, who control confiscated foreign enterprises, said Kakwiki. phone in front of a screen displaying Sberbank’s - the largest state-owned bank in Russia - ing at a stronger pace than most EU countries, it has today’s cheesemaking, were winning, at the Kilolirwe locals started producing cheese them- share quotations. Russia’s economic woes have sent shockwaves across the former Soviet a long way to develop before it can hope to offer expense of native Hundes. Further ethnic and selves between 1975 and 1980, he recalled, space, analysts said, as the ruble’s collapse turns into a full-blown economic crisis. — AFP wages on a par with other EU states. Unsurprisingly, political conflicts exploded in 1993 into mas- with help from a Catholic Belgian missionary, sacres that claimed thousands of lives. Father Roger Carbonez, who had founded an The village of Kilolirwe, at 2,000 m in altitude agricultural school named Lushebere shortly and 50 km - or two and a half hours by car - after independence in 1960. Kakwiki took to the Indonesia scraps gasoline subsidy from the North Kivu capital of Goma, is still pic- craft, prospered and came to own 35 cows. ture-postcard with small wooden farms dotting But worse was to come: between 1996 and JAKARTA: Indonesia’s government will scrap its In January, the price of gasoline will fall in protests and stone-throwing youths clashed mountain paths. Cows - both African Ndama 2003, the east was the scene of two major wars gasoline subsidy from Jan 1 to free up more line with declining global oil prices to 7,600 with police in Makassar, a protest hotspot on and Zebi varieties and European Friesians and that ravaged Kivu and saw the Tutsis flee to funds to boost the slowing economy, a senior rupiah (61 cents) a litre, from 8,500 rupiah. Sulawesi island, when the new government Brown Swiss cows - graze languidly on steep Rwanda. Despite the presence of 20,000 UN minister said yesterday. The prices of gasoline Diesel will also be lowered to 7,250 rupiah, from hiked fuel prices by more than 30 percent in pastures bordered by eucalyptus trees and peacekeepers, a host of armed local and foreign and diesel in Southeast Asia’s biggest economy 7,500 rupiah a litre. The government also fixed November. Scrapping fuel subsidies is seen as neatly cultivated fields. groups are still active in the region. Like many will float following the market price and will be its diesel subsidy at 1,000 rupiah a litre for 2015. an urgently needed move to boost an econo- farms, Lushebere was looted and its 2,000 cows reviewed monthly, Chief Economic Minister “Diesel fuel is still subsidised because it is used my that is expanding at its slowest pace in five European Oddity killed. Father Benjamin Barumi, the treasurer at Sofyan Djalil said. Djalil said he hoped the move for economic activities and the government years, with growth slipping to 5.01 percent on- Typical is Ernest Kakwiki. After his morning the Goma diocese, said Father Carbonez, back would help accustom Indonesians to price fluc- deems it necessary to subsidise it,” Djalil told year in the third quarter. In the past the pay- milking - by hand - he and some 15 other farm- in Belgium for his final years, died of shock tuations after decades of being insulated by reporters. outs had gobbled up 20 percent of the state ers cart the liquid from their cows to the dairy of when he heard the news.—AFP hefty fuel subsidies. Previous subsidy cuts have sparked violent budget. — AFP technology THURSDAY, JANUARY 1, 2015 Kenya’s technology push leaves investors cold

NAIROBI: Kenya’s technology rush gave At least 70 percent of start-ups in Kenya million) in the last financial year. into real estate or banking, sectors which of investment, a perennial African problem, hope that new ideas would help millions of are “not earning enough to maintain busi- But similar ideas to harness that econom- offer huge rewards with less risk, particularly is another impediment. Early seed capital Africans use their mobile phones to circum- ness and living expenses for a small team,” ic power have been elusive. Safaricom’s since many African investors have little provided by the likes of 88mph and a hand- vent poor infrastructure but local start-ups according to a recent “Digital chief executive, Bob Collymore, has urged understanding of technology. “Tech is very ful of other funds is scarce. And with interest are failing to draw major investors or create Entrepreneurship” survey by GSMA, a global entrepreneurs to innovate to solve Africa’s risky and there are so many other low lying rates on Kenyan loans often topping 20 per- profits. association of mobile operators. It’s survey inherent problems: access to water, health- fruit for investment, why take the risk with cent, bank debt is expensive. Lack of talent, problems in attaining seed contacted more than 230 start-ups across care and education. “There’s no shortage of tech,” said Dorothy Gordon director general It is a familiar problem to Echo Mobile’s capital and ideas that cannot be sold to a Kenya. innovation, there’s just a shortage of useful of the Kofi Annan centre of technology Gordon, who is seeking to raise up to $1 mil- mass market or easily monetized have so far Major exceptions include Wananchi innovation that meets need,” he said in a excellence in Accra, Ghana. lion for his cloud-based mass messaging held back hundreds of Kenyan start ups. Group, one of east Africa’s biggest cable and recent GE Look Ahead interview. Jeremy Gordon, founder of Nairobi- platform that is used in eight countries, Many were drawn to the tech sector by internet-based phone companies, which is based Echo Mobile, said recruiting is tough including Sierra Leone, where IBM is con- the Kenyan government’s push for a “digital valued at over $100 million. Another is Craft “NO ROADMAP” and tech start-ups spend a large amount of ducting Ebola-related community research future”, plentiful Western donor funding and Silicon, a software firm believed to be worth With mobile phone use nearing 80 per- capital on engineering talent. through it. foreign media coverage about “Africa’s tens of millions. cent, cheap data and soaring smartphone “Equity is less attractive to engineers in Rather than pitching to Kenya’s business Silicon Savannah”. Safaricom, Kenya’s biggest telecoms firm, uptake, Kenya provides one of sub-Saharan Kenya when weighed against salary, which is elite, Echo Mobile is currently holding talks “From co-founders of Facebook to the is a model of how technology can be used to Africa’s most appealing environments for not surprising given the nature of the start- with U.S. investors. “East Africa hasn’t seen biggest tech funds you can find in Silicon financially include millions of people with tech entrepreneurs. up space, availability of funding, and the huge tech acquisitions or other types of Valley, they’ve all been here to look and they mobile telephones but without access to tra- Kenyan farmers receive updates on the Kenyan economy,” he said. exits, the events that make early stage have all gone home shaking their heads,” ditional infrastructure such as the banks that latest crop prices via text messages, while Mark Kaigwa, founder of Nairobi-based investments truly pay off,” Gordon said. said Nikolai Barnwell, a Nairobi-based direc- are available to the wealthy or those living in coffee-sipping urbanites can shop and hail tech consultancy Nendo, said Kenyan But there is hope. African economies tor of 88mph, a tech seed fund. cities. taxis through smartphone apps. Yet critics techies broadly focus on the business-to- continue to expand rapidly, Safaricom has His fund, which has seeded almost 20 Safaricom in 2007 pioneered its M-Pesa say only a small percentage of Kenya’s 44 consumer market that grabs headlines even launched super-fast 4G internet and 19 companies in east Africa’s biggest economy, mobile money transfer technology, now million people use these services. Forced to though most of the profitable start-ups serv- million Kenyans are expected to own is taking a break from investing in Kenyan used across Africa, Asia and Europe. It play catch up on development issues, engi- ice the business-to-business segment. smartphones by end of 2017. “We will get start-ups to focus on Nigeria where he proved that money can be made from peo- neers hope Africa can jump to the front of “You have a swarm of developers who another chance. People will come back believes the tech ecosystem is more profit- ple who earn a few dollars a day. It generat- the technology revolution. are looking at business-to-consumer apps when real money is ready to be made,” said focused and there is less “fluff”. ed revenues worth 27 billion shillings ($300 But Barnwell said talent tends to move but with no roadmap,” said Kaigwa. Shortage Barnwell. —Reuters Scorn greets LG, Samsung’s storm in a washing drum

SEOUL: South Korea’s two top tech- glomerates,” said Lee Hyeon-woo, more, and who had a bigger share to let the matter drop. LG has filed nology firms, Samsung Electronics an office worker in Seoul. “The men- of the domestic air conditioning its own complaint with prosecutors and LG Electronics , have a history tality of these companies is not market, and current and former accusing Samsung employees of of bitter rivalry, but their latest spat ‘We’re number one’ but ‘We must workers say they routinely spy on deliberately concealing and tam- over a handful of washing machines take down rival X’.” The cross-town each other at trade shows. pering with evidence. has prompted a barrage of public rivals compete on several fronts, Samsung declined further com- Their energy would be better mockery. “This is all so petty and juvenile,” a reader on online portal Naver said of the dispute, which began in September when Samsung accused LG executives of damaging its washing machines at stores in Germany ahead of an industry NEW YORK: In this Dec. 29, 2014, file photo, new recruits wear bands over event. LG agreed to pay for what it called accidental damage to four their badges in honor of deceased officers Rafael Ramos and Wenjian Liu machines following mediation by during a New York Police Academy graduation ceremony at Madison Square German authorities, but couldn’t Garden in New York. The NYPD is sending its top brass to an in-house resist taking a pot shot at its rival’s “Twitter school” as part of an effort to soften the NYPD’s image and engage build quality. with the people they serve. —AP Samsung railed against those “slanderous claims” and filed a for- mal complaint at home, triggering a NYPD seeks to engage with raid of LG offices by Seoul prosecu- tors on Friday and a travel ban on ‘Twitter school,’ blog LG’s head of household appliances. “This is a mudslinging match,” said NEW YORK: As city officials work to soften the “Don’t engage in a Twitter war with some- Park Ju-gun, head of corporate New York Police Department’s image and one. You won’t ever win,” one trainer said. “I can watchdog CEO Score. change how officers engage with citizens investigate and arrest someone. I just can’t fig- “Both Samsung and LG will have through reforms and training, part of the effort ure out what to say in this tiny little box,” one a hard time getting the public to is happening online. captain said. “I’m going to have to call my understand why things have gone The nation’s largest police department, daughter and have her come help me.” on this way, and there is not a single once a slow adopter of social media, has creat- During one hourslong tutorial at John Jay thing for either party to gain from ed a blog and punched up Facebook use. And Criminal College this month, about a dozen this.” That bemusement, punctuated there are now 101 Twitter accounts depart- commanding officers learned to set up han- by a collective snicker, found a voice ment-wide after top brass were sent to an in- dles and view messages, and were taught the online. “If all that has been said is SEOUL: The logo of South Korea’s LG Group is seen in front of the company’s headquarters in house “Twitter school.” difference between direct messages and regu- true, then this is nothing but a petty Seoul on December 26, 2014. South Korean prosecutors raided the headquarters of LG “We’ve given the commanding officers the lar messages. Trainers used as an example the dispute you’d expect from street Electronics in a probe into the destruction of rival Samsung’s washing machines at stores in tools, the guidelines and the training, and most online demise of former U.S. Congressman corner shops and not global com- Germany, company officials said. —AFP importantly ... the responsibility to do the Anthony Weiner, who accidentally sent out a panies,” said a reader on the Nate work,” said Zachary Tumin, the department’s sexually explicit photo meant for private use. portal. especially televisions and home ment. LG said it has been cooperat- spent responding to the challenge deputy commissioner for strategic initiatives. Commanding officers also sent out their first On the streets, too, the com- appliances, and have a history of ing with prosecutors, who would from Chinese competitors, said “Twitter is part of that work and part of those tweets. “The 63 Precinct is now officially on ments were scathing. “This incident feuding. not disclose details of the investiga- another exasperated commenter on bridges we seek to build and reinforce.” After Twitter. Looking forward to sharing with the shows the problem with the corpo- They have quarrelled publicly tion. Naver. “What are you people the Dec. 20 shooting death of two patrolmen residents of our great community !!! #Brooklyn” rate culture in South Korean con- over whose refrigerator could hold Neither company appears ready doing?” the person asked.—Reuters by a man who vowed online to kill “pigs,” NYPD The precinct links to a copy of the city’s official officers sent out and received dozens of mes- social media policy, and now has 308 follow- sages of support for the slain officers. ers. The department has produced a 34-page The numbers to know when choosing a TV Mayor Bill de Blasio and Police “Twitter handbook” to help officers manage Commissioner William Bratton are trying to the Wild West of the Internet, where even well- rebrand the NYPD to counter criticism that it meaning messages can be undone by legions DUBAI: The market has seen a number of TVs A major innovation to come out of 2014 is tramples on civil rights. The crime-fighting tac- online. that are more affordable and better proofed for the curved TV, and it has created a new ques- tic known as stop-and-frisk is being reformed. Earlier this year, @NYPDnews invited peo- the future through innovative technologies. tion for consumers. As a manufacturer of both Officers are undergoing three days of training ple to post feel-good photos posing with New But, buyers beware: the choices are fewer than curved and flat-panel TVs, Samsung leaves this on use of force and how to communicate with York’s finest with the hashtag #myNYPD. they seem. Whether you like it or not, room to a matter of taste. On flat-panel TVs, the view- the public after the chokehold death of Eric Instead, they found themselves awash in hun- size, personal taste and even the walls in your ing angles are as high as 178 degrees, making it Garner on July 17, and police in several dreds of images of baton-wielding cops arrest- home will beef up or pare down your options. possible for viewers to enjoy high picture quali- precincts are trying out body cameras. ing protesters, pulling suspects by the hair, To cut the confusion, Samsung Gulf TV division ty from almost any angle in the room. New York had largely eschewed the unleashing pepper spray and taking down a has laid out some patented, professional advice Alternatively, the Samsung Curved UHD TV’s Internet until recently, while other, smaller bloodied 84-year-old man for jaywalking. on how to ensure that your next TV is the right panoramic curvature is designed to create the departments embraced it. Boston used Twitter The NYPD community affairs chief sent out TV. most immersive experience in viewing from a to rebut rumors and spread updates after the a message following the grand jury decision A common trap for consumers is size. normal watching distance, putting the viewer Boston Marathon bombings. The Denver not to indict an officer in Garner’s death that Buyers with small spaces often load on bigger right inside the show. Not only does the curve department has more than 20,000 likes on read: “The #NYPD is committed to rebuilding screens than they need, or budge their seats offer a more equal viewing angle across the Facebook since joining in 2012. Toronto’s public trust. #Wehearyou” The effort was closer to the screen to save space. No matter entire screen, but it also contributes to a higher police have more than 300 accounts, and offi- panned because Garner’s last words were “I the cutting-edge density of your TV’s resolu- contrast ratio and significantly less reflections. cers must attend three days of training. In can’t breathe.” tion, if you sit too close, the images on the When it comes to positioning your set, con- Dalton, Georgia, the department’s blog tells And a commander in Harlem remarked on screen will appear pixelated, cutting into your sumers should keep bezel, curve and the walls readers about emergencies and other news his private account about a woman who fell enjoyment and causing you to lose out on your of their home in mind, the experts say. A thin- and provides information on police - including onto the subway tracks and died: “Let me guess, high-resolution TV. To get the best bang for ner bezel gives a cleaner feel to the television, praise and suspensions. driver’s fault right?” he wrote. Online activists your buck, the experts at Samsung advocate which allows viewers to focus on content with- In the past year, the NYPD’s public relations lambasted him, and he apologized and for a normal viewing distance of four meters. out the distraction of the frame. This is especial- unit developed a blog. Bratton has his own removed the link. They also encourage you to think against the ly important if you plan to mount your TV. Twitter account. And the department has There have been some successes, too. An adage that bigger is better. If you’re working According to one manager, “A mounted TV expanded from one main account, image last winter of an NYPD officer giving with a small room, stick to a set of 48” or smaller with a small bezel can look like a floating frame @NYPDNews, to 101 covering every precinct boots a homeless man became national news. for the most detailed image and comfortable against a wall.” and some special commands. Officers are When a subway train derailed last spring, one view. While many curved TVs cannot be mount- encouraged to send out helpful, pithy mes- precinct shared traffic information and alternate When you have more space in play, ed, the Samsung Curved UHD TV comes with sages and respond directly to the communities routes until the problem was resolved. And Samsung recommends the following methods Samsung Wall-mounts and compatibility they serve. Community Affairs Chief Joanne Jaffe tweeted a to determine their ideal screen size. After options with general VSA Wall-mounts. “We want those voices out there,” Tumin photo of a handwritten note left by a passer-by arranging your furniture exactly where you Samsung’s flat-panel UHD TV is equally versa- said. The department also has sent its com- that was tacked to the entrance of 1 Police Plaza: want it, whip out your measuring tape and find tile. No matter which set you choose, a final manders to a “school” taught by in-house “It takes courage and discipline to do your duty your optimal viewing distance, the distance rule of thumb is to keep its back to windows, social media experts who encourage humor in times like these. Thank you for serving and between the viewer and the TV. Multiply this lamps and other light sources. If you’ve paid a and helpfulness and discourage releasing protecting these citizens with respect. Have a by 12.5, and get the best screen size for your premium for a quality TV, there’s no point in investigative details or starting arguments. blessed day.” —AP home. ruining it all with a rookie mistake. Chinese paper blames Google over Gmail blocking

BEIJING: Internet giant Google’s unwillingness to of the Tiananmen Square crackdown on pro-democra- fraction of what it was before the block. China oper- Access problems could be “caused by the China our own interests.” But it may serve the interests of obey Chinese law is to blame for the shutdown of its cy demonstrators. Users could access the service by ates the world’s most extensive and sophisticated side, by Google itself or a combination of the two”, it Chinese businesses. There was a surge in new sign-ups hugely popular email service, state-run media said using third-party mail applications, rather than the Internet censorship system, known as the “Great added. A company spokesman told AFP on Monday for a rival e-mail service run by Netease, according to Tuesday after the last easy way to access Gmail was webpage. But Jeremy Goldkorn, founder of Beijing- Firewall”. Foreign websites such as Facebook, Twitter that internal checks found “nothing wrong on our news website ChinaByte. Netease saw new users at a apparently blocked. based Danwei which tracks Chinese media and the and YouTube are routinely blocked and content that end”. If China did block Gmail, the Global Times said, it rate three to four times normal in the past few days, “China welcomes the company to do business on Internet, said those ways of connecting were also the ruling Communist Party deems offensive is often “must have been prompted by newly emerged securi- ChinaByte reported, citing company officials. Foreign the prerequisite that it obeys Chinese law; however barred in recent days. Some access seemed to be quickly deleted. ty reasons” and users should “accept the reality”. ministry spokeswoman Hua Chunying said she was Google values more its reluctance to be restricted by restored on Tuesday afternoon, with some users say- Google withdrew from China in 2010 after a fallout “We only need to have faith that China has its own “not aware” of the blocking of Gmail when asked Chinese law, resulting in conflict,” the Global Times ing they could download messages. Google’s own with Beijing over censorship issues. “The issue at heart logic in terms of Internet policy and it is made and about the issue at a regular press conference Monday. said in an editorial. Gmail, the world’s biggest email Transparency Report showed a slight uptick in traffic is to what extent Google is willing to obey Chinese runs in accordance with the country’s fundamental “I would like to stress that China always welcomes and service, has been largely inaccessible from within compared with the past two days, although the law, on which China’s attitude is steadfast,” said the interests,” it added. Nonetheless it acknowledged: “We supports foreign investors’ legal business operations China since the run-up to the 25th anniversary in June amount of users accessing Gmail from China was still a Global Times, which is close to the Communist Party. don’t want to be shut off, as it obviously doesn’t serve in China,” she said. —AFP HEALTH & SCIENCE THURSDAY, JANUARY 1, 2015

UN sees ‘limited’ 5 things to know: Obama impact of Bangladesh’s health law again in play Sundarbans oil spill WASHINGTON: New episodes in the nation’s long-run- DHAKA: United Nations experts said yesterday ning political drama over health care are coming via your they found “limited immediate impact” on the news feed in 2015. The fate of President Barack Obama’s ecosystem of the world’s largest mangrove forest in health care law again hangs in the balance as the Bangladesh after a major oil spill early in Supreme Court weighs another legal challenge to the December. Local forestry officials raised the alarm program, now covering millions of people. And a when hundreds of thousands of liters of furnace oil Republican-led Congress prepares for more votes to were spilt into the forest’s vast network of rivers repeal the Affordable Care Act, ignoring threatened and canals after a tanker sank following a collision vetoes by the president. Five things to know about health with another cargo vessel. They warned of a “cata- care in the year ahead: strophic” impact from the spill, fearing harm to rare Irrawaddy and Ganges dolphins and to endan- The main event gered species including Bengal tigers. The biggest health care news of 2015 probably won’t But a UN team sent last week to assess the dam- come from Congress or the White House, but the age ruled out any major fallout from the spill, say- Supreme Court. The court has agreed to hear another law- ing the damage to the 10,000 square kilometer suit that goes to the heart of Obama’s strategy for provid- (3,850 square mile) wildlife sanctuary was not as ing health insurance to people who can’t get coverage bad as feared. “There seems to be limited immedi- through their jobs. The case will be argued early in March, ate environmental impact to the mangrove and with a decision expected late in June. aquatic ecosystems,” said Emilia Wahlstrom, the The plaintiffs contend that the law as written only leader of the 25-member UN team, as she revealed allows the government to subsidize coverage in states a summary of its findings. that have set up their own their own health insurance “The main shorelines — 40 kilometers (25 miles) markets, or exchanges. With Washington currently run- up and downstream-of the site show varying ning the markets in 37 states, much of the law’s coverage degree of pollution. (But) we could not observe any expansion could unravel if the Supreme Court agrees. It visible impact on the mangrove forest floor,” she would be a moment of truth for the law’s opponents and added. She said timely “tides” in the rivers “actually its supporters alike. minimized the penetration of oil into the ecosys- tem. Much of the oil has been washed out along Does anybody have a plan B? WASHINGTON: In this Nov 12, 2014 file photo, the HealthCare.gov website, where people can buy health insur- the Poshur and Shela rivers,” she added. Wahlstrom If the Supreme Court rules against Obama, both sides ance, is displayed on a laptop screen, in Portland, Ore. — AP praised the local communities’ manual clean-up, in would need a fallback plan, and quickly. Opponents of the which hundreds of villagers scooped up oil using health care law would face the prospect of more than 4 sponges, pots and pans. million people losing federal subsidies that cover about But some provisions of the law are also unpopular with got the right amount. If they received too much, their The team saw some impact of the spillage on 75 percent of their premiums. Most of those consumers significant numbers of Democrats, and bills to roll those refunds will get dinged. Those who remained uninsured the mangrove seedlings but also observed new would wind up uninsured again, and presumably none back may emerge from Congress. Examples: a require- will either have to pay the taxman, or show that they qual- growth already, she said. Bangladesh’s forest too happy. The president would have to contemplate ment that 30 hours per week counts as fulltime employ- ify for an exemption. Tax preparation companies are department said two rare otters and several birds going hat-in-hand to the Republican leadership of ment, a tax on medical device manufacturers, and a expecting lots of new business. died in the spill, while the carcass of an Irrawaddy Congress to ask for fixes to his signature legislation, possi- Medicare cost control board. dolphin was found several days after the accident. bly opening up other contentious issues in the law. How many covered, anyway? But Wahlstrom said the damage was not signifi- Republican governors and state legislators would have a Thought health care was complicated? Try taxes At last count, about 6.7 million people got private cov- cant. “When it comes to wildlife, we see limited choice, too. They could establish insurance exchanges, or Obama’s health care law uses the income tax system to erage through the insurance exchanges in 2014. Another mortality and we find some visible oiling and again, watch many of their constituents lose coverage. deliver carrots and sticks. The subsidies that have made 9.7 million got on Medicaid, the insurance program for limited,” she said adding local villagers mopped up premiums affordable for millions are distributed as tax low-income people, expanded under the law by more some 20 percent of an estimated 350,000 litres of Repeal-a-thon credits. And the penalties imposed on those who ignore than half the states. Some of those people would have oil which were spilt. However she said the accident With the Senate and the House both under Republican the law’s mandate to get health insurance are collected as switched from other coverage. was “a wake-up call” for the government and rec- leadership, expect dozens more congressional votes to additional taxes. Still, the number of uninsured Americans has dropped ommended a ban on the movement of vessels repeal “Obamacare,” whether in whole or in part. It’s not In 2015, the law’s connection to the tax system will significantly - by more than 10 million people as of mid- through the Sundarbans, which is a UNESCO- clear that full repeal can get through the Senate, where become clearer for most people. All taxpayers will have to 2014. While the economic recovery doubtless con- declared World Heritage Site.—AFP Democrats retain sufficient strength to block legislation report on their 2014 tax return whether or not they had tributed, Obama’s law does seem to be delivering on a by using procedural maneuvers. insurance. Those who got subsidies will have to show they core promise. — AP Ebola wrecks years of aid work in worst-hit countries Epidemic has set back promising aid initiatives

DAKAR/KOIDU, SIERRA LEONE: Ebola is wrecking years of But Planting Promise’s experience typifies the problems would have knock-on effects. “It means the work they were villages in Liberia. Apollos Nwafor, WaterAid’s West Africa health and education work in Sierra Leone and Liberia fol- of non-government organizations (NGOs) since Ebola hit doing before suffers and next year we will have less food advocacy manager, said the countries hit by Ebola suffered lowing their civil wars, forcing many charity groups to sus- West Africa, infecting more than 20,000 people and killing supply,” he told Reuters. from broken health systems and food insecurity as well as pend operations or re-direct them to fighting the epidem- nearly 8,000. It had spent six years in Sierra Leone develop- a lack of safe water, sanitation and hygiene. ic. More than a decade of peace and quickening economic ing farms and using the profits to fund local schools. The Rethinking strategy WaterAid was now lobbying donors to step up funding growth had raised hopes that the nations could finally project had just become self-financing for the first time In Liberia, the epidemic dashed President Ellen Johnson in these areas. “Ebola has become a hydra-headed crisis,” reduce their dependency on foreign aid and budgetary when the outbreak was detected in March. Sirleaf’s hopes of shifting the focus of aid to investment. Nwafor said. OneVillage Partners, a rural development support; now Ebola has undermined those achievements, After that, things fell apart. Planting Promise was forced “Now Ebola is here and all of those efforts have been agency, started seven years ago with post-war reconstruc- charity workers and officials say. “The impact of Ebola will to withdraw its expatriate staff in June and the following brought to a standstill. We could be starting from scratch tion in villages in eastern Sierra Leone. It has since moved take us completely back to it being a basket case,” said month it closed its five primary schools where nearly 1,000 again,” said Jennah Scott, director of the Liberia into other activities such as micro-loans for small business. Rocco Falconer, CEO of educational charity Planting pupils had studied. It has also shut down its food process- Philanthropy Secretariat, a government agency. “That is Since the Ebola outbreak, it has used its knowledge and Promise in Sierra Leone. “The impact on some activities ing factory. Though sales have dived, it continues to pay very heartbreaking.” The World Bank and other donors relationship with villagers to educate them about Ebola, have been simply catastrophic.” about 120 staff, eating into its reserves. This has forced the have pledged hundreds of millions of dollars in aid. But even though this was not its area of expertise. The group The two countries worst hit by Ebola have struggled to group to return “cap in hand” to donors to ask for more Scott is concerned that money will go mostly to United suspended its programs in July and laid off some staff. recover from the wars that raged through the 1990s until money, Falconer said. Nations agencies and large NGOs, rather than local organi- Now its activities include delivering soap and working with early in the 21st century, killing and maiming tens of thou- The highly contagious disease has brought normal zations. communities to stop the spread of the disease. sands, and devastating already poor infrastructure. In activity to a near halt in the two countries. Governments “We need to get more support to local NGOs because While the virus has set the clock back on years of prom- Sierra Leone, aid made up one-fifth of economic output in have issued strict quarantine orders on communities, they are the ones who stay in Liberia,” said Scott, whose ising aid initiatives, the immediate work of showing local 2010, according to officials, though this had been shrink- restricted people’s movement and closed schools. They organization channels around $20 million in aid a year into people how to avoid becoming infected is vitally impor- ing as growth accelerated thanks to a boom in the coun- have also banned gatherings, communal work and mar- Liberia. The WaterAid organization, which works to tant. “Everywhere we looked, there was just wholesale try’s commodities exports. Britain and the European Union kets. Paul Saquee, the chairman of the council of chiefs in improve access to safe water, hygiene and sanitation serv- denial and a lot of misinformation going around about are the main donors with funds directed to health, educa- Sierra Leone’s eastern Kono region, said disruption to the ices in developing countries, had to suspend plans to drill Ebola,” said Chad McCordic, Community Project Manager tion and social assistance. long-term agricultural development projects of one NGO 100 boreholes in Sierra Leone and provide services to four at OneVillage Partners. — Reuters Australia bans commercial sunbeds over cancer fears

SYDNEY: Most Australian states and territories are set United States and Britain, the Cancer Council said. to ban commercial sunbeds from today, in a crackdown More than 2000 Australians died from skin cancer in on artificial tanning in a country that has one of the 2011, the majority from melanoma, which is caused by highest rates of skin cancer in the world. The ban-which harmful ultraviolet light from the sun, the council comes into force in the states of New South Wales, added. Australia’s proximity to Antarctica, where there is Victoria, South Australia, Tasmania, Queensland and in a hole in the ozone layer which normally filters out UV the Australian Capital Territory today-will make Australia rays, also increases the risk. Previous research suggested the second nation after Brazil to impose such a restric- that the use of sunbeds by people aged 18 to 39 tion, campaigners said. increases their risk of developing melanoma, the most Western Australia has said it would also implement a common form of cancer among young Australians, by ban, though it has yet to announce a start date. There an average of 41 percent. are no commercial solariums in the only other part of The ban was supported by a majority of Australians, Hong Kong: A truck is used to take away bags of dead Hong Kong: A worker prepares bins during a chicken Australia-the hot and humid Northern Territory. Cancer the council said, in a recent survey of 6,300 people, while chickens after they were culled in Hong Kong after the cull in Hong Kong yesterday, after the deadly H7N9 Council Australia welcomed the ban, which it has long fewer adults and youths said they had used a solarium in deadly H7N9 virus was discovered in poultry imported virus was discovered in poultry imported from China. pushed for, adding that it would help to reduce rates of the past year. About one percent of adults and 0.3 per- from China. — AFP photos skin cancer, which affects two out of three Australians cent of youths used a sunbed, the data showed, down by age 70. from 2.2 percent and 1.2 percent a decade ago. Several “Australia has one of the highest rates of skin cancer European countries and American states have also Hong Kong culls 19,000 in the world,” advocacy director Paul Grogan said in a banned the use of sunbeds by minors, according to statement to AFP. “Solariums expose users to extremely research published in the journal Nature. — AFP birds amid avian flu alert highly levels of UV (ultraviolet) radiation, greatly increasing their risk of melanoma and other skin can- HONG KONG: Hong Kong culled thousands of chickens yester- ing southern Chinese city of Shenzhen, although it has not been cers.” Australia is sometimes referred to as the sunburnt day after the potentially deadly H7N9 bird flu virus was discov- confirmed how she contracted the disease. country, where beaches are thronged with bathers ered in poultry imported from China, days after a woman was She remains in critical condition. In response to the new basking under blue skies and the rates of melanoma, a admitted to hospital with the disease. Authorities found the case-the city’s first since early 2014 — Hong Kong announced it potentially fatal form of skin cancer, are the highest in virus in samples taken from 120 chickens imported from the was raising its response level in hospitals to “serious” from “alert”, the world. nearby Chinese city of Huizhou and slaughtered nearly 19,000 with extra precautions implemented from Sunday. Ten people birds, including 11,800 chickens. had previously been diagnosed with H7N9 in Hong Kong, The sunburnt country “The rapid testing showed... that this batch of chickens car- including three who died. All had contracted the virus in main- Public health campaigners have long pushed to pro- ries the H7N9 virus,” the city’s health minister Ko Wing-man said land China, according to Hong Kong’s Centre for Health mote awareness of the dangers of exposure to the sun, yesterday. Televised images showed authorities culling yester- Protection. The H7N9 outbreak emerged on the mainland in urging people to wear sunscreen, hats and sunglasses. day morning, with health officials in white hazmat suits dump- February 2013. Hong Kong last conducted a mass cull in They have also warned that tanning on a sunbed is not ing chickens into green plastic bins. The bins were then pumped January, slaughtering 20,000 chickens after the virus was found safe. “Queensland already has the highest rate of skin with carbon dioxide to kill the birds, a spokeswoman for the in poultry imported from the neighboring southern Chinese cancer in the world and there is no question there’s a city’s agriculture department told AFP. province of Guangdong. A four-month ban on live poultry direct link between regular sunbed use and the inci- The carcasses were sent to landfills for disposal after the imports from mainland China was imposed at the time to guard dence of malignant melanoma,” the state’s interim operation was completed at around 5:30 pm. Poultry imports against the disease. South Korea has culled millions of chickens Health Minister Mark McArdle told Australian from the mainland have been banned for three weeks. A 68- this year in an attempt to stem the spread of bird flu. Japan this Associated Press. The incidence of skin cancers in year-old woman was admitted to hospital with the virus on week ordered 37,000 chickens culled after the third bird flu out- Australia is two to three times the rates in Canada, the December 25 after returning to Hong Kong from the neighbor- break there in less than a month. — AFP HEALTH & SCIENCE THURSDAY, JANUARY 1, 2015

Human feces map Report prompts mixed finds homeless in San Francisco view of health care sign-ups

SAN FRANCISCO: Jennifer Wong has found a way WASHINGTON: The first 50-state report on the latest sign- to track the homeless and determine where help up season under President Barack Obama’s health care law is needed: mapping where people defecate on the shows that more than 4 million people selected plans for streets of San Francisco. Wong, a Web developer, the first time or re-enrolled. The administration called it “an used a city database to create the interactive encouraging start.” More than 3.4 million people enrolled maps, which she dubbed “(Human) Wasteland.” using HealthCare.gov as of Dec 15, and more than 600,000 They dramatically illustrate the problem of home- people selected plans in the state-run marketplaces, lessness in a city of sharp divides between rich according to a Health and Human Services Department and poor. report released Tuesday. The figures are generally up to Wong’s maps won a competition at work. She date through Dec 13. donated some of her winnings to a project that About half of those enrolling are first-timers and half are provides mobile toilets and showers to the home- returning customers, suggesting there are about 2 million less. The maps are based on the database of com- Americans new to the program. The figures look good for plaints about human feces and urine phoned in to the administration meeting its goal of 9.1 million customers the city’s Department of Public Works in 2013. On signed up and paying premiums in 2015, independent the maps, the complaints are depicted with tiny experts said. But they predicted the program won’t meet images of what look like unwrapped chocolate another target: the 13 million enrollments in 2015 forecast Hershey’s kisses. by the nonpartisan Congressional Budget Office.”It would From June-November 2014, more than 5,000 take a massive surge in enrollment over the next six weeks” complaints were phoned in, most of them in the to reach 13 million, said Tenderloin, the downtown neighborhood of the Larry Levitt of the nonpartisan Kaiser Family homeless, shelters and cheap hotels. But the Foundation. Other experts believe that for the program to maps, published on Wong’s website , also show a be sustainable it would have to exceed the goal set by the concentration of poop in much of northeastern San Francisco and in the onetime hippie enclave administration. “I really think they need to get to 13 million of Haight-Ashbury. The maps prompted some this year to have a sustainable program, not this low-ball tongue-in-cheek humor about human excrement. estimate that nobody takes seriously,” said Washington- But they also started a conversation about the based health care consultant Robert Laszewski. “We don’t need for affordable housing in the increasingly know how many of these people are going to pay. And we expensive Bay Area, as well as for toilets, laundry don’t know how many of the existing people are going to re-enroll.” WASHINGTON: In this July 28, 2014 file photo, Health and US Human Services Secretary Sylvia Burwell speaks at facilities and showers for the homeless. the Treasury Department. — AP “There’s not much choice other than the street Young adults still aren’t flocking to the program, which when a homeless person needs a bathroom,” said could increase costs down the road. About 24 percent of including Washington, DC, and the 37 states using changes through Feb 15. “Interest in the Marketplace has Wong. “It’s pretty clear where the need is.” She said the enrollees are 18 to 34 years old, an age group needed HealthCare.gov. It doesn’t include people who are being been strong during the first month of open enrollment,” her curiosity was initially piqued when she to offset the costs of older, sicker enrollees and keep premi- automatically re-enrolled in health plans because that re- Health and Human Services Secretary Sylvia M. Burwell learned that the city tracks feces and urine com- ums from rising. That’s about the same proportion of young enrollment process happened on the federal marketplace said in a statement. “We still have a ways to go and a lot plaints. She found the complaints in the people signing up in the first three months of last enroll- Dec 16-18. The numbers are significantly larger than dur- of work to do before Feb 15, but this is an encouraging Department of Public Works online database as ment season. Laszewski and other independent experts say ing the first month of enrollment last year, when start.” The administration noted that about 87 percent of she was working on a neighborhood tracking that should be closer to 40 percent to help keep premiums HealthCare.gov was plagued with technical problems. people who selected health plans through project for a subsidiary of the real estate company down. Then, the nationwide sign-up total after the first month HealthCare.gov will get financial assistance. The health Zillow. “I grew up in the Bay Area,” Wong said. “San was 106,000. This year, open enrollment runs through Feb care law provides taxpayer-subsidized private insurance Francisco has a reputation as a city that offers lots Technical problems 15. People enrolling by that date will get coverage start- to people who don’t have access to coverage through of services for the homeless. But I realized there’s The report includes figures for 14 state marketplaces ing March 1. Current customers can still make plan their jobs. — AP so much more we should be doing, like providing toilets.” Advocates for the homeless believe the number of people on the street will increase as India to check housing prices climb. The official homeless count Ebola-hit UK nurse treated with in San Francisco is 7,500, although service providers believe it is closer to 10,000. survivor’s plasma, trial drug on toilet use City ‘pit stop’ in ‘real time’ As human waste complaints rose, the LONDON: A British nurse who contracted Ebola in West Her temperature was taken at London Heathrow Department of Public Works launched a pilot pro- Africa is being treated with the blood plasma of someone Airport but did not raise alarms and she was cleared to gram called the Tenderloin Pit Stop in the summer who survived the virus and an experimental anti-viral drug, take a connecting flight home to Glasgow. She was even- NEW DELHI: India’s government yesterday announced to deliver and collect portable toilets for the the doctor supervising her care said yesterday. Pauline tually diagnosed with Ebola on Monday and flown from a a nationwide scheme to check whether people are homeless every day. Complaints in the area have Cafferkey, who had been volunteering at a British-built Glasgow hospital to London on a military plane. using toilets as part of a cleanliness drive championed dropped, and the city is considering expanding treatment centre in Sierra Leone, is being treated at the by Prime Minister Narendra Modi. Since October the the operation to other areas, according to spokes- Royal Free hospital in London, which has the only isolation Treatment went ‘very smoothly’ government has provided 503,142 new household woman Rachel Gordon. ward in Britain equipped for Ebola sufferers. Doctor “Ebola runs a very variable course and the next few days latrines. But experts say most of these end up being Wong, meanwhile, donated some of the win- Michael Jacobs said she was sitting up, reading and talking are going to be very critical,” Jacobs said. “Things may get used as storerooms since many people consider toilets nings from her project to an innovative project to medics from inside her isolation tent but warned that worse; we hope that the treatment will make her better,” he unhygienic and prefer to squat in the open, believing it called Lava Mae - a slight twist on “wash me” in the Ebola virus was unpredictable and that her health said, adding that Cafferkey was in the very early stages of more sanitary to defecate far from home. Spanish - that recently began providing toilets could get worse. the virus and the situation would be clearer in a week’s Sanitary inspectors will go door-to-door to “check and showers on wheels. Lava Mae was launched “We’ve decided to treat her with two things, the first of time. He said the medical team looking after her had dis- and verify the use of toilets” with mobile phones, tablets by philanthropist and former marketing executive which is convalescent plasma,” Jacobs told reporters. “The cussed treatment options with her. She has also been in or iPads and upload the results onto a website in “real Doniece Sandoval, who obtained a decommis- second thing that we’ve given her is an experimental communication with her family through an intercom, time”, a government press release said. “Earlier, the mon- sioned city bus and outfitted it with two private antiviral drug.” The plasma was taken from the blood of a though they can see one another. itoring was done only about the construction of toilets, units with a shower, changing area and toilet. The patient successfully treated in Europe and chosen from a “She’s as well as we can hope for at this stage of the ill- but now the actual use of toilets will be ascertained,” it bus parks outside different homeless facilities shared European stockpile as the most appropriate for ness,” said Jacobs. “She’s had the treatment, it’s gone very said. three times a week, and is hooked up to fire Cafferkey. The antibodies it contains should help her fight smoothly, no side-effects at all.” The British government’s Modi announced the cleanliness drive in his hydrants, with water feeding into a propane- the virus, Jacobs explained. chief medical officer Sally Davies told ITV television that Independence Day speech in August, pledging a toilet in fueled heater. The experimental drug is not ZMapp, the drug used to there would be a review of airport screening procedures every household by 2019. UNICEF estimates that almost Lava Mae hopes to put three more buses on treat fellow British volunteer nurse William Pooley, who even though Cafferkey “had no symptoms” at Heathrow. 594 million people-or nearly 50 percent of India’s popu- the street in 2015. “To have a bit of privacy and get recovered from Ebola, because “there is none in the world “Her temperature was within the acceptable range,” she lation-defecate in the open, with the situation worst in clean can make a big difference in people’s lives,” at the moment”, Jacobs said. “There is no specific treatment said. A doctor who travelled back to London with Cafferkey dirt-poor rural areas. Lack of toilets and other sanitation Lava Mae manager Leah Filler said. The bus is a hit for Ebola that has been proven to work,” he emphasized. had complained of “shambolic” screening procedures in problems costs India nearly $54 billion annually through with the homeless. “People don’t realize how not Cafferkey is the first person to test positive for Ebola in Britain. illnesses such as diarrhoea and lower productivity, a having access to things like showers and toilets Britain and the second to be treated for the virus in the Meanwhile two patients who recently returned to 2012 World Bank study found. The latest government can make our lives so much harder,” said a happy country after Pooley, who has since returned to Sierra Britain from west Africa tested negative for Ebola. The two monitoring program is aimed at motivating people to Jeremy Runcon, 36, at the Youth With a Mission Leone. Cafferkey expressed concern about her tempera- had been tested separately at hospitals in Aberdeen in use the toilet. “Sanitation is a mindset issue. (The aim is homeless facility in the Tenderloin. “How can any- ture to airport officials when she returned to London from Scotland and Cornwall in southwest England. The patients to) create demand by triggering behavior change,” the one get a job when they smell?”— Reuters Sierra Leone via Casablanca in Morocco on Sunday. were unconnected to Cafferkey. — AFP government statement said. — AFP WHAT’S ON THURSDAY, JANUARY 1, 2015

AIP honors meritorious students

ssociation of Indian persed among those awardees who currently pursuing their higher educa- provided official information which dents from all Indian schools in method. Rolling trophies and memen- Professionals (AIP), Kuwait scored an aggregate of 90 percent or tion either in Kuwait, US, Canada, UK, facilitated the final selection of meri- Kuwait are jointly honored at a single tos were presented to these schools Aorganized a grand function on above. Indian Ambassador Sunil Jain UAE or in India were present to share torious awardees. A colorful souvenir occasion. The Ambassador congratu- by the ambassador. December 28, 2014 at the Indian was the chief guest whereas Abhay their academic, social and cultural which included awardees’ photo- lated the awardees and advised all Sunil Jain, Chaturvedi, Wadhawan, Community Senior School, Salmiya, in Chaturvedi on behalf of Kuldeep experiences of their current career graphs and depicting AIP’s vision and students to pursue their career of Ahmad, Angural, Sharma, Sajeev K order to felicitate the meritorious Singh Lamba (a prominent business- span in their respective institutions. mission was released by the chief their own choice. His gracious pres- Peter, Umesh Shahani, and Jagdish Indian students of Class XII. Out of a man), S K Wadhawan (Managing This program provided an excellent guest. ence from the beginning to the end of Joshi distributed cash awards, rolling total of 178 awardees, more than 120 Partner and CEO of Samara Group), F opportunity for junior students and Sunil Jain, while sharing some of the award distribution ceremony trophies, mementos, medals and cer- of them along with their parents M Bashir Ahmed (Principal of India their parents to interact with the sen- his past memorable studentship reflected his interest and sincerity tificates. Joanne Claris John, Shaik attended the function. Awardees were International School, Mangaf) and ior students and rendered very useful experiences, appreciated the efforts of towards the academic wellbeing of Mathar, Swithin Roy Suresh, Sneha selected based on the CBSE examina- Ashok Angural (Regional Director of information about careers and institu- AIP for promoting Indian students Indian students in Kuwait. Sridharan, Juliana Mariam George, tion results declared for the academic TCIL) were the guests of honor. tion options. through motivation, exposure and Fahaheel Al-Watanieh Indian Neil Emmanuel L, Ayesha Nadir, Yash year 2013 - 2014, from all Indian The event was organized as two AIP General Secretary Umesh career guidance programs. He specifi- Private School-FAIPS (DPS) was Dhananjay Thakkar, Sukanya Schools in Kuwait which are affiliated sessions; ‘Meet Your Seniors’ program Sharma welcomed the guests and the cally mentioned that although, meri- adjudged as the winner of ‘AIP Best Subramaniyan, and Shruti Sridhar to the CBSE, India. Along with gold/sil- which was followed by the second audience. He highlighted that the AIP torious students in Kuwait are usually Academic Performance Award’ for anchored the awards distribution cer- ver medals and certificates, cash session of AIP Meritorious Awards dis- Awards have now become the symbol separately honored on different com- class XII of year 2013-14, and India emony. Sangeeta Joshi and Shilpa awards were also distributed among tribution. ‘Meet Your Seniors’ program of excellence. Sharma extended his munity and on school level basis, AIP International School as the runners Sajeev managed awards distribution the gold and silver medalists. Bronze was conducted by Dr T S Srikumar. appreciation and thanked all princi- award function is the one and only up. Best performing schools were flawlessly. Vote of thanks was present- medals and certificates were dis- Seventeen senior students who are pals of Indian schools in Kuwait who event where meritorious Indian stu- selected on the weighted average ed by Umesh Sharma.

New Year Greetings wish everyone a happy New Year and Imay Almighty Allah bring peace and joy to all poets, writers, litera- ture, journalists, singers, politicians, artists, and all readers of Jagoran Magazines and all dearest friends in Kuwait and Bangladesh in coming New Year 2015 May Allah bless you all with best wishes and prosperity in life. With best regards from Abdur Rahim, poet and writers and General Secretary Porbabashi Sahtya Porishad, Chief adviser Barisal Division Expatriate’s welfare council in Kuwait.

Gulf Bank closes during New Year Holiday ulf Bank’s Head Office and all branches will close on Thursday, 1st January 2015 in celebration of the GNew Year, and will commence normal working hours on Sunday, 4th January 2015. During the holiday, customers will continue to have round-the-clock access to their accounts through the Bank’s mobile banking service. Numerous transactions including transfers and payments can be made using the mobile banking application which is available on iPhone, BlackBerry and Android. Customers also have 24 hour access to the Customers Contact Center on 1805805 and the Gulf Bank website, www.e-gulfbank.com Gulf Bank’s management and staff take this opportunity to wish everyone a Prosperous 2015. Indian Embassy As a special gesture, the Embassy will function on Thursday, 1 January 2015 to render Consular, Labour, Visa and Attestation services for the benefit of all. However, the Embassy shall remain closed on Friday, 2 January 2015 and Saturday, 3 January 2015 on account of Milad-un-Nabi (Birthday of Prophet Mohammed). Sunday, 4 January 2015 will be as usual a regular working day in the Embassy. Wishing everyone a Happy, Healthy and Prosperous New Year 2015.

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 Amman branch students excel in ICSK mega arts fest fail to meet these requirements will he students of the Indian Community and 21st of December and featured several won the ‘Kalaprathiba’ title in category I is the result of the hard work and dedica- not be published. School Kuwait Amman Branch per- arts competitions for all the categories. The and Master Kevin Baiju Parakal of Class IV tion of the participants of Amman branch Tformed par excellence and bagged participants were from Class K.G. to XII. The B won the ‘Kalaprathiba’ title in category II. with the guidance, motivation and support Please send them to overall championship trophies in several students of ICSK Amman performed the Miss Afrah Rafi of Class VII G and Miss of the Principal, teachers and parents. It is [email protected] categories at the recently concluded Mega best and bagged the overall trophies for Ashifa Sayed Furkhan Ali won the undeniably a glorious moment for ICSK Arts Fest conducted at ICSK Senior branch. the categories 2, 3 and 4. ‘Kalathilakam’ title in the Category III and Amman as this is their second consecutive The Mega Arts Fest was conducted on 20th Master Misbah Zeus Arakkal of Class I C IV respectively. This proud accomplishment achievement at the Mega Arts Fest. THURSDAY, JANUARY 1, 2015 WHAT’S ON

Royal Jordanian’s Regional Director in Kuwait Mohammad Attari hosted a dinner party on the occasion of the end of mission of Qatar Airways’ Regional Director in Kuwait Mohammad Al-Jumairi. Fadi Hejazeen, the new regional director of Qatar Airways, was also welcomed during the event. —Photos by Yasser Al-Zayyat

Ambassadors and diplomats in Kuwait attended a farewell ceremony held recently in honor of the outgoing Sudanese ambassador Yahya Abduljaleel Mahmoud. —Photos by Yasser Al-Zayyat

The Sudanese Community in Kuwait hosted a farewell ceremony for outgoing Sudanese Ambassador Yahya Abduljaleel Mahmoud and his wife. Former Sudanese President Abdel Rahman Swar al-Dahab, and several ambassadors of African countries in Kuwait attended the event. —Photos by Yasser Al-Zayyat THURSDAY, JANUARY 1, 2015 TV PROGRAMS

21:50 Street Outlaws 07:50 Diners, Drive-Ins & Dives 08:30 My Boys 14:00 Darkman-PG15 22:40 The Fighters 08:15 Chopped 09:00 Raising Hope 16:00 Age Of Heroes-PG15 23:30 Airplane Repo 09:05 Barefoot Contessa - Back To 09:30 Melissa & Joey 18:00 Ninja: Shadow Of A Tear Basics 10:00 Baby Daddy 19:45 Iron Man-PG15 09:30 Chopped Canada 10:30 My Name Is Earl 22:00 Guns, Girls And Gambling-18 03:00 The Turn Of The Screw 10:20 Recipes That Rock 11:00 The Tonight Show Starring 04:30 My Family: Christmas 2008 10:45 All You Can Meat Jimmy Fallon 05:00 Woolly & Tig 11:10 Roadtrip With G. 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PG15 16:10 Austin & Ally 06:10 The Chase 06:00 Rake 05:00 Centre Place-PG15 16:35 Gravity Falls 07:05 Holiday Heaven On Earth 07:00 Helix 07:00 The Glass Man-PG15 17:00 I Didn’t Do It 07:30 Derren Brown: The Great Art 08:00 C.S.I. 09:00 Sense And Sensibility-PG 17:25 Jessie Robbery 09:00 Switched At Birth 11:30 Centre Place-PG15 17:50 Prank Stars 08:50 Paul O’Grady: For The Love 10:00 Warehouse 13 13:00 Hyde Park On Hudson-PG15 18:15 Dog With A Blog Of Dogs 11:00 Marvel’s Agents Of 15:00 The Last Harbor-PG15 03:45 Homes Under The Hammer 18:40 Good Luck Charlie 09:20 Breathless S.H.I.E.L.D. 17:00 Sense And Sensibility-PG 04:35 Homes Under The Hammer 19:05 Liv And Maddie 10:15 Four Weddings UK 12:00 Emmerdale 19:30 Robot & Frank-PG15 05:25 Homes Under The Hammer 19:30 Liv And Maddie 11:10 Emmerdale 12:30 Coronation Street 21:00 The French Minister-PG15 06:15 Homes Under The Hammer 19:55 Austin & Ally 11:35 Emmerdale 13:00 The Ellen DeGeneres Show 23:30 Little Miss Sunshine-18 07:10 Homes Under The Hammer 20:20 Wizards Of Waverly Place 12:00 Coronation Street 14:00 C.S.I. OSN MOVIES HD 08:00 Bargain Hunt 20:45 Suite Life On Deck 12:30 The Hungry Sailors 15:00 Rake 04:45 Planes-PG 08:45 Bargain Hunt 21:10 Hannah Montana 13:25 The Chase 16:00 Emmerdale 06:30 Man Of Steel-PG15 09:30 Bargain Hunt 21:35 That’s So Raven 14:20 Holiday Heaven On Earth 16:30 Coronation Street 09:00 Chasing Mavericks-PG15 10:15 Bargain Hunt 22:00 Suite Life On Deck 14:45 Four Weddings UK 17:00 The Ellen DeGeneres Show 11:00 Thor: The Dark World-PG15 11:00 Bargain Hunt 22:25 A.N.T. Farm 15:35 The Jonathan Ross Show 18:00 C.S.I. 13:00 Iron Man & Hulk: Heroes 11:45 Bargain Hunt 22:50 Shake It Up 16:30 Tricked 19:00 Switched At Birth United-PG 12:30 Bargain Hunt 23:10 Wolfblood 17:25 Big Star’s Little Star 20:00 The Flash 15:00 Admission-PG15 13:15 Bargain Hunt 23:35 Wolfblood 18:20 The Chase 21:00 Warehouse 13 17:00 Chasing Mavericks-PG15 14:00 Bargain Hunt 19:10 Coronation Street 22:00 24: Live Another Day 19:00 Celeste And Jesse Forever- 14:45 Bargain Hunt 19:35 The Jonathan Ross Show 23:00 Supernatural PG15 15:30 Bargain Hunt 20:30 Tricked 21:00 Anchorman 2: The Legend 16:15 Bargain Hunt 21:25 Big Star’s Little Star Continues-PG15 17:00 Bargain Hunt 22:20 Coronation Street 23:00 The Wolf Of Wall Street-R 17:45 Bargain Hunt 03:15 #RichKids Of Beverly Hills 22:50 Emmerdale 18:30 Bargain Hunt 03:40 #RichKids Of Beverly Hills 23:15 Emmerdale 19:15 Marbella Mansions 04:10 E!ES 23:45 Four Weddings UK 20:00 Food Glorious Food 05:05 E!ES 20:45 Bill’s Kitchen: Notting Hill 06:00 Keeping Up With The 03:00 Grimm 21:10 Bargain Hunt Kardashians 04:00 The Leftovers 04:30 Barbie As The Island 22:00 Bargain Hunt 06:55 Keeping Up With The 05:00 Good Morning America Princess 22:45 Bargain Hunt Kardashians 07:00 Emmerdale 06:00 Everyone’s Hero 23:30 Valentine Warner Eats 07:50 Style Star 07:30 Coronation Street 08:00 The Apple & The Worm Scandinavia 08:20 E! News 08:00 The Ellen DeGeneres Show 10:00 Dudley Do Right 23:55 Marbella Mansions 09:15 Giuliana & Bill 09:00 24 Ninja- Shadow Of A Tear OSN ACTION HD 03:00 Diggers 11:30 Pacific Pirates 10:15 Giuliana & Bill 03:30 Diggers 10:00 Emmerdale 13:00 Krazzy Planet Muir 07:30 NFL Gameday 11:10 House Of DVF 04:00 Doomsday Preppers 10:30 Coronation Street 05:55 Melissa & Joey 14:30 Ploddy Police Car 07:57 NBC Nightly News 08:00 European Senior Tour 12:05 E! 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Garvin Jimmy Fallon 04:00 Hellboy: Sword Of Storms- 05:00 Live MSNBC The Rachel 01:30 Grey's Anatomy 08:20 The Band Wagon-FAM 17:40 Treehouse Masters 05:30 Reza’s African Kitchen 02:30 According To Jim 18:30 Airplane Repo 05:30 My Boys 06:00 Darkman-PG15 Maddow Show 10:10 Ziegfeld Follies-FAM 05:50 Siba’s Table 06:00 Til Death 08:00 Ninja: Shadow Of A Tear 06:00 Live MSNBC The Last Word 03:00 The Walking Dead 12:00 Anchors Aweigh-FAM 19:20 Street Outlaws 06:10 Sweet Genius 04:00 The Walking Dead 20:10 The Liquidator 06:30 My Name Is Earl 10:00 Avengers Confidential: Black W/ Lawrence O’Donnell 14:20 Light In The Piazza-PG 07:00 Roadtrip With G. Garvin 07:00 Late Night With Seth Meyers Widow & Punisher-PG15 07:00 NBC Nightly News 03:00 NFL Gameday 05:00 According To Jim 20:35 Dukes Of Haggle 07:25 Roadtrip With G. Garvin 04:30 Currie Cup Final Highlights 16:00 Mogambo-PG 21:00 Airplane Repo 08:00 New Girl 12:00 Bad Company-PG15 07:30 ABC World News With David 05:30 Melissa & Joey

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MUHALAB-3 INTO THE WOODS 6:00 PM NIGHT AT THE MUSEUM: SECRET OF THE TOMB 4:30 PM 1126, Muslim Wada, THE WOMAN IN BLACK 2 ANGEL OF DEATH 11:30 AM INTO THE WOODS 8:30 PM NIGHT AT THE MUSEUM: SECRET OF THE TOMB 6:45 PM THE WOMAN IN BLACK 2 ANGEL OF DEATH 9:45 PM THE WOMAN IN BLACK 2 ANGEL OF DEATH 1:45 PM INTO THE WOODS 11:00 PM NIGHT AT THE MUSEUM: SECRET OF THE TOMB 9:00 PM NIGHT AT THE MUSEUM: SECRET OF THE TOMB 12:05 AM Industrial Road, Bicholim, THE WOMAN IN BLACK 2 ANGEL OF DEATH 4:00 PM NIGHT AT THE MUSEUM: SECRET OF THE TOMB 11:15 PM Goa, hereby changing my THE WOMAN IN BLACK 2 ANGEL OF DEATH 6:15 PM AVENUES-2 BAIRAQ-2 name to Shiva Jaiwant 112 NIGHT AT THE MUSEUM: SECRET OF THE TOMB 8:30 PM 090 (Kuwaiti Film) 12:15 PM AVENUES-11 UNBROKEN 12:45 PM THE WOMAN IN BLACK 2 ANGEL OF DEATH 10:30 PM 090 (Kuwaiti Film) 2:15 PM THE WOMAN IN BLACK 2 ANGEL OF DEATH 12:30 PM INTO THE WOODS 3:30 PM THE WOMAN IN BLACK 2 ANGEL OF DEATH 12:45 AM 090 (Kuwaiti Film) 4:15 PM THE WOMAN IN BLACK 2 ANGEL OF DEATH 2:45 PM P.K -HINDI 6:15 PM 090 (Kuwaiti Film) 6:15 PM THE WOMAN IN BLACK 2 ANGEL OF DEATH 5:00 PM UNBROKEN 6:15 PM THE PUBLIC AUTHORITY FOR FANAR-1 090 (Kuwaiti Film) 8:15 PM THE WOMAN IN BLACK 2 ANGEL OF DEATH 7:15 PM UNBROKEN 9:00 PM UNBROKEN 11:45 AM 090 (Kuwaiti Film) 10:15 PM THE WOMAN IN BLACK 2 ANGEL OF DEATH 9:30 PM UNBROKEN 11:45 PM UNBROKEN 2:30 PM 090 (Kuwaiti Film) 12:15 AM THE WOMAN IN BLACK 2 ANGEL OF DEATH 11:45 PM CIVIL INFORMATION UNBROKEN 5:30 PM BAIRAQ-3 090 (Kuwaiti Film) 8:15 PM AVENUES-3 360º- 1 090 (Kuwaiti Film) 11:30 AM Automated enquiry about the 090 (Kuwaiti Film) 10:00 PM UNBROKEN 11:45 AM VICE 12:15 PM 090 (Kuwaiti Film) 1:15 PM UNBROKEN 11:45 PM UNBROKEN 2:45 PM VICE 2:15 PM VICE 3:00 PM Civil ID card is UNBROKEN 5:45 PM VICE 4:15 PM 090 (Kuwaiti Film) 5:00 PM FANAR-2 UNBROKEN 8:45 PM VICE 6:15 PM PADDINGTON 6:45 PM VICE 12:45 PM UNBROKEN 11:45 PM VICE 8:15 PM 090 (Kuwaiti Film) 8:45 PM VICE 2:45 PM VICE 10:15 PM VICE 10:30 PM 1889988 NIGHT AT THE MUSEUM: SECRET OF THE TOMB 4:45 PM AVENUES-4 VICE 12:15 AM VICE 12:30 AM VICE 6:45 PM NIGHT AT THE MUSEUM: SECRET OF THE TOMB 11:30 AM NIGHT AT THE MUSEUM: SECRET OF THE TOMB 8:45 PM THE WOMAN IN BLACK 2 ANGEL OF DEATH 1:30 PM 360º- 2 PLAZA Prayer timings VICE 10:45 PM THE WOMAN IN BLACK 2 ANGEL OF DEATH 3:45 PM 090 (Kuwaiti Film) 1:15 PM LEGEND OF THE NEVER BEAST 4:00 PM VICE 1:00 AM Special Show “NIGHT AT THE MUSEUM: SECRET OF THE 090 (Kuwaiti Film) 3:15 PM TOMB” 4:00 PM 090 (Kuwaiti Film) 5:15 PM 090 (Kuwaiti Film) 4:00 PM Fajr: 05:17 THE WOMAN IN BLACK 2 ANGEL OF DEATH 5:45 PM FANAR-3 THE WOMAN IN BLACK 2 ANGEL OF DEATH 6:00 PM 090 (Kuwaiti Film) 7:15 PM INTO THE WOODS 1:00 PM Special Show “LEGEND OF THE NEVER BEAST” 6:00 PM 090 (Kuwaiti Film) 9:15 PM COUSINS- MALAYALAM 8:00 PM Shorook 06:42 090 (Kuwaiti Film) 3:45 PM Special Show “VICE “ 6:00 PM 090 (Kuwaiti Film) 11:15 PM THU+FRI+SAT+MON INTO THE WOODS 5:30 PM THE WOMAN IN BLACK 2 ANGEL OF DEATH 8:15 PM 090 (Kuwaiti Film) 1:15 AM VICE 8:00 PM Duhr: 11:50 THE WATER DIVINER 8:00 PM THE WOMAN IN BLACK 2 ANGEL OF DEATH 10:30 PM 090 (Kuwaiti Film) 10:45 PM THE WATER DIVINER 10:30 PM THE WOMAN IN BLACK 2 ANGEL OF DEATH 12:45 AM 360º- 3 Asr: 14:41 090 (Kuwaiti Film) 12:45 AM INTO THE WOODS 11:45 AM LAILA AVENUES-5 INTO THE WOODS 2:15 PM INTO THE WOODS 3:30 PM Maghrib: 17:00 FANAR-4 VICE 12:00 PM INTO THE WOODS 5:00 PM UNBROKEN 6:00 PM THE WOMAN IN BLACK 2 ANGEL OF DEATH 12:30 PM UNBROKEN 2:00 PM INTO THE WOODS 7:30 PM THE WOMAN IN BLACK 2 ANGEL OF DEATH 8:45 PM Isha: 18:22 THE WOMAN IN BLACK 2 ANGEL OF DEATH 3:00 PM VICE 4:45 PM INTO THE WOODS 10:00 PM 090 (Kuwaiti Film) 11:00 PM

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

Arrival Flights on Thursday 1/1/2015 SVA 500 Jeddah 14:30 Departure Flights on Thursday 1/1/2015 MIX 308 Sharjah 15:00 Airlines Flt Route Time FDB 057 Dubai 14:30 Airlines Flt Route Time KAC 673 Dubai 15:00 BBC 043 Dhaka 00:05 MPH 951 Amsterdam 14:35 AIC 976 Goa/Chennai 00:05 KAC 617 Doha 15:00 KAC 502 Beirut 00:05 KAC 538 Sohag 14:50 JZR 562 Sohag 00:05 QTR 1079 Doha 15:05 JAI 574 Mumbai 00:10 RJD 135 Abu Dhabi 14:55 FDB 072 Dubai 00:45 FDB 058 Dubai 15:10 JZR 239 Amman 00:25 KNE 470 Jeddah 14:55 JAI 573 Mumbai 01:10 AGY 685 Sohag 15:15 JZR 267 Beirut 00:30 GFA 221 Bahrain 15:00 BBC 044 Dhaka 01:35 THY 767 Istanbul 15:20 JZR 539 Cairo 00:40 OMA 645 Muscat 15:00 KLM 411 Amsterdam 01:55 KNE 473 Jeddah 15:20 KLM 411 Amsterdam/Dammam 00:40 KAC 788 Jeddah 15:10 KAC 283 Dhaka 02:25 JZR 188 Dubai 15:40 THY 772 Istanbul 00:45 KAC 284 Dhaka 15:15 SAI 442 Lahore 02:30 GFA 222 Bahrain 15:45 FDB 069 Dubai 00:55 JZR 175 Dubai 15:20 ETH 621 Addis Ababa 02:45 KNE 471 Jeddah 15:50 QTR 1084 Doha 01:00 ABY 127 Sharjah 15:45 THY 773 Istanbul 02:55 KAC 773 Riyadh 15:50 RJA 642 Amman 01:05 UAE 857 Dubai 15:45 PGT 859 Istanbul 03:25 SVA 505 Jeddah 16:00 KAC 546 Alexandria 01:10 FDB 051 Dubai 16:00 MSC 404 Sohag 03:30 OMA 646 Muscat 16:00 SAI 441 Lahore 01:30 KNE 460 Riyadh 16:00 KAC 381 Delhi 03:40 MPH 951 Dubai/SIN 16:05 PGT 858 Istanbul 01:35 JZR 779 Jeddah 16:10 UAE 854 Dubai 03:50 RJD 136 Abu Dhabi 16:05 ETH 620 Addis Ababa 01:45 JZR 535 Cairo 16:10 FDB 068 Dubai 03:55 KAC 501 Beirut 16:15 MSC 403 Sohag 02:30 NIA 251 Alexandria 16:15 GFA 211 Bahrain 02:30 KAC 562 Amman 16:20 ETD 306 Abu Dhabi 04:05 ABY 128 Sharjah 16:25 UAE 853 Dubai 02:35 JZR 257 Beirut 16:30 MSR 613 Cairo 04:10 KAC 613 Bahrain 16:35 JZR 553 Alexandria 02:45 QTR 1072 Doha 16:40 KKK 6508 Istanbul 04:10 KNE 481 Taif 16:50 JAI 526 Chennai/Abu Dhabi 02:50 RJA 640 Amman 16:55 OMA 644 Muscat 04:25 KAC 741 Dammam 17:00 FDB 067 Dubai 02:55 ETD 303 Abu Dhabi 16:55 QTR 1085 Doha 04:30 FDB 052 Dubai 17:00 ETD 305 Abu Dhabi 03:10 SVA 510 Riyadh 17:15 MSC 406 Sohag 05:05 JZR 266 Beirut 17:05 MSR 612 Cairo 03:10 GFA 215 Bahrain 17:30 JZR 560 Sohag 05:10 NIA 252 Alexandria 17:15 KKK 6507 Istanbul 03:20 JZR 777 Jeddah 17:55 QTR 1077 Doha 05:15 QTR 1073 Doha 17:40 OMA 643 Muscat 03:25 UAL 982 IAD 17:55 THY 765 Istanbul 05:40 UAE 858 Dubai 17:45 QTR 1076 Doha 03:45 UAE 875 Dubai 18:00 FDB 070 Dubai 06:30 JZR 538 Cairo 17:45 MSC 401 Alexandria 04:05 JZR 177 Dubai 18:20 JAI 525 Abu Dhabi/Chennai 06:35 ETD 304 Abu Dhabi 17:50 JZR 503 Luxor 05:25 KAC 118 New York 18:30 JZR 164 Dubai 06:55 RJA 641 Amman 17:55 THY 770 Istanbul 05:35 AFG 415 Kabul 18:30 RJA 643 Amman 07:05 SVA 511 Riyadh 18:15 DHX 170 Bahrain 05:40 ABY 121 Sharjah 18:40 GFA 212 Bahrain 07:15 GFA 216 Bahrain 18:20 BAW 157 London 06:40 FDB 063 Dubai 18:40 JZR 240 Amman 07:15 JZR 184 Dubai 18:40 JZR 563 Sohag 06:45 KAC 786 Jeddah 18:45 THY 771 Istanbul 07:30 JZR 238 Amman 18:50 KAC 412 Manila/Bangkok 07:10 QTR 1080 Doha 18:50 KAC 537 Sohag 08:20 JZR 134 Bahrain 19:10 TAR 327 Tunis 07:45 KAC 618 Doha 19:15 FDB 054 Dubai 08:25 UAL 982 Bahrain 19:15 FDB 053 Dubai 07:45 KAC 774 Riyadh 19:15 TAR 327 Dubai/Tunis 08:35 ABY 122 Sharjah 19:20 QTR 1086 Doha 07:50 AXB 393 Kozhikode 19:15 BAW 156 London 08:45 AFG 415 Jeddah 19:30 IRA 673 Ahwaz 07:50 KAC 542 Cairo 19:25 IRA 672 Ahwaz 08:50 UAE 876 Dubai 19:40 SVA 512 Riyadh 07:55 KAC 674 Dubai 19:25 QTR 1087 Doha 08:50 QTR 1081 Doha 19:50 IRA 667 Esfahan 08:10 GFA 217 Bahrain 19:30 SVA 513 Riyadh 08:55 FDB 064 Dubai 19:55 KAC 352 Kochi 08:10 KAC 176 Geneva/Frankfurt 19:45 JZR 256 Beirut 09:05 AXB 393 Kozhikode 20:15 KAC 302 Mumbai 08:20 KAC 104 London 19:55 IRA 668 Mashhad 09:10 GFA 218 Bahrain 20:15 KAC 206 Islamabad 08:25 KAC 614 Bahrain 20:00 JZR 534 Cairo 09:15 KAC 361 Colombo 20:50 KAC 332 Trivandrum 08:30 KAC 742 Dammam 20:00 KAC 787 Jeddah 09:25 KAC 343 Chennai 20:55 UAE 855 Dubai 08:40 JAI 572 Mumbai 20:00 KAC 671 Dubai 09:25 JAI 571 Mumbai 21:00 KAC 362 Colombo 08:45 MSR 618 Alexandria 20:05 ABY 126 Sharjah 09:40 MSR 619 Alexandria 21:05 ABY 125 Sharjah 09:00 JZR 189 Dubai 20:15 KAC 101 London/New York 09:50 JZR 554 Alexandria 21:05 ETD 301 Abu Dhabi 09:20 OMA 647 Muscat 20:20 UAE 856 Dubai 09:55 KAC 331 Trivandrum 21:10 FDB 055 Dubai 09:40 FDB 061 Dubai 20:20 ETD 302 Abu Dhabi 10:20 ABY 124 Sharjah 21:15 QTR 1070 Doha 10:00 ABY 123 Sharjah 20:35 KAC 561 Amman 10:25 KAC 351 Kochi 21:15 GFA 213 Bahrain 10:40 DLH 636 Frankfurt 20:50 JZR 778 Jeddah 10:30 FDB 062 Dubai 21:20 UAE 873 Dubai 11:00 ALK 229 Colombo 21:10 FDB 056 Dubai 10:35 OMA 648 Muscat 21:20 IZG 4161 Mashhad 11:10 MEA 402 Beirut 21:20 RBG 553 Alexandria 11:15 ETD 307 Abu Dhabi 21:30 JZR 174 Dubai 10:45 DLH 636 Dammam 21:35 MSC 405 Sohag 11:25 FDB 073 Dubai 21:35 QTR 1071 Doha 11:00 DHX 171 Bahrain 21:50 JZR 165 Dubai 11:30 UAE 859 Dubai 21:40 KAC 165 Rome/Paris 11:15 ALK 230 Colombo 22:10 JZR 561 Sohag 11:45 GFA 219 Bahrain 21:45 GFA 214 Bahrain 11:25 ETD 308 Abu Dhabi 22:15 TBZ 5483 Mashhad 11:50 QTR 1074 Doha 21:55 RBG 554 Alexandria 11:55 KAC 301 Mumbai 22:15 MEA 404 Beirut 11:55 KNE 480 Taif 22:00 KAC 541 Cairo 12:05 MEA 403 Beirut 22:20 SYR 341 Damascus 12:00 JZR 135 Bahrain 22:05 IZG 4162 Mashhad 12:10 FDB 074 Dubai 22:30 UAE 871 Dubai 12:50 KLM 417 Amsterdam 22:15 JZR 776 Jeddah 12:20 GFA 220 Bahrain 22:30 JZR 241 Amman 12:55 ETD 309 Abu Dhabi 22:15 MSC 402 Alexandria 12:25 UAE 860 Dubai 22:50 QTR 8646 Doha 12:55 FDB 059 Dubai 22:30 UAE 874 Dubai 12:30 KNE 461 Riyadh 22:50 MSR 610 Cairo 13:00 AIC 981 Chennai/Hyderabad/Ahmedabad 22:30 TBZ 5484 Mashhad 12:50 KAC 205 Islamabad 22:55 MIX 9090 Sharjah 13:00 UAL 981 Bahrain 23:10 MEA 405 Beirut 12:55 ETD 310 Abu Dhabi 23:00 KAC 382 Delhi 13:45 JZR 185 Dubai 23:15 SYR 342 Damascus 13:00 QTR 1075 Doha 23:05 KAC 672 Dubai 13:55 AGY 684 Sohag 23:20 KAC 785 Jeddah 13:00 KLM 417 Dammam/Amsterdam 23:15 QTR 1078 Doha 14:05 THY 764 Istanbul 23:35 JZR 176 Dubai 13:45 KAC 543 Cairo 23:20 AGY 680 Alexandria 14:15 PIA 205 Lahore 23:40 MSR 611 Cairo 14:00 KAC 415 Jakarta/Kuala Lumpur 23:25 THY 766 Istanbul 14:20 FDB 071 Dubai 23:45 UAE 872 Dubai 14:15 KAC 411 Bangkok/Manila 23:30 KNE 472 Jeddah 14:25 QTR 8647 Doha 14:25 FDB 060 Dubai 23:55 DIAL161 FOR AIRPORT INFORMATION stars34 THURSDAY, JANUARY 1, 2015 CROSSWORD 772 STAR TRACK

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

Being calm, cool and collected may take a lot of effort from you today as You should find your timing almost perfect to do just about anything that your energies may seem a bit high strung. Some of the circumstances that you find your- your heart desires. Those around you should find you very natural and vital. self in seem to create a great deal of competition. You are challenged by your own Communicating and getting your message across to others is an important factor in your expectations yet you achieve more than you thought possible at this time. This may life just now. This is a really super time to be in the company of other people, personally mean some athletic contest or possibly an art showing is in the works. Rest at home this and perhaps in a work situation. Your ability to manage and direct others puts you in a evening helps you to renew your energy and focus on your next goal. You may find your- good situation to assume the responsibility for a special job. Someone in authority may self reading about the latest techniques or styles of other competitive people. be calling on you to make use of your talents. A truly sustained effort, along with your Friendships and family members come to you via phone calls and you enjoy the commu- hand and eye coordination, makes just about any task run well. This is a great day for get- nications. Learning new things and communicating them to others delights you. ting things accomplished. Emotions are existent but well within your control.

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

Your independence will be showing today and you will find value in any- You may find that there are some sensual needs that require additional thing that is new, unusual or different. Your routine is beginning to wear a little thin and attention, either your own or those of another. It’s essential that you feel in total control may have you looking for ways to change some things in your life. You want anything of most situations in your life at this time. You will want to be the leader of your own that is different for a change. Others should enjoy your company and you theirs-both in band, in the literal sense-perhaps even the star performer. This could all lead to some social and work situations. A superior could be coming to you to ask that you take on the interesting encounters in healing and investing and possibly the mysterious aspects of responsibility for a particular job next week. You may be flattered but should give this life and death. After looking at some of your circumstances a little closer, you may some thought before you say yes too quickly. Some sort of compromise may be in order. observe the need to resort to some reorganization, being a little more conservative in the You may find it easy to reflect and understand your own situation, just how you feel process. This should all work out for the positive. Your tendency to be a little more about yourself. This is a most pleasant day. reserved is valuable just now. Love and appreciation surround you tonight.

Gemini (May 21-June 20) Sagittarius (November 22-December 21) To feel cared for and needed is a comforting thing and to not feel this could You see a need to make some changes in some of the old habit patterns cause you uneasiness. You will find that the relationships you hold closest that have remained for such a long time. Variety can be the spice of life and are more important now. Being alone and lonely is just not your cup of tea just now-you may be essential to your progress and growth. Becoming complacent is conducive to ACROSS DOWN need people around you to help reinforce the feeling of caring and sharing. You could staying in one place too long. Accruing new information and expanding your way of 1. An operating system that is on a disk. 1. Evergreen tree of eastern Asia and Philippines easily find yourself looking for something in the romance department today, or at least doing things will be like a breath of fresh air-once you become acclimated to the changes finding enjoyment from friends. Your brilliant ideas can inspire others. Feelings and move- 4. Encrusted with sugar or syrup. having large leathery leaves and small green- you make. It’s a really good time to get in touch with your inner self and really understand ment are appreciated. You could find a great deal of satisfaction from just getting out and 11. A sock with a separation for the big toe. white flowers in compact cymes. how you feel about who you are and what type of future changes you will want to be about and walking or exercising. Your ability to communicate with others may be very 15. Old World vine with lobed evergreen leaves making. Your ideas are accepted and supported by loved ones. Change may be easier to 2. Rounded like an egg. strong at this time. Now is a most positive time. and black berrylike fruits. 3. Make synchronous and adjust in time or man- handle than you had previously thought possible. 16. The Japanese art of folding paper into ner. shapes representing objects (e.g., flowers or 4. A pirate along the Barbary coast. birds). 5. A unit of surface area equal to 100 square Capricorn (December 22-January 19) 17. (computer science) A graphic symbol (usual- Cancer (June 21-July 22) meters. ly a simple picture) that denotes a program or a Modern thinking comes naturally to you. Use that inventive and innovative 6. A quantity of no importance. A greater regard for things of value and even the idea of value itself is the thinking of yours to create answers and thereby, you find many followers; per- command or a data file or a concept in a graphi- order of the day. You may find yourself gaining materially, as it is a time when material 7. 1/10 gram. haps you write or lead in some community organization. You can dispense with all that is cal user interface. things have a great deal of importance for you. You may find an interest in antiques or 8. A state in midwestern United States. unsound or superficial at this time and consider a new personal project. Your earning power 18. Norman leader in the First Crusade who some type of art work as a hobby. Whatever you choose, it should appreciate in value over is in an upward motion and you will find an opportunity to fund a special project soon-per- 9. To fix or set securely or deeply. the years. One of your friends has a use for your talent and this may mean that you take played an important role in the capture of haps community oriented. This could be a positive move on your part and will increase your 10. One species. out a contract to paint a picture or refinish a piece of furniture, etc. All of this should work Jerusalem (1078-1112). standing in the community. Spending quality time with loved ones takes priority all day. out to your advantage. Your more reserved qualities are present and serve you very well. 20. (in baseball) The batter's attempt to get on 11. Old master of the Venetian school (1490- Share your goals and dreams with your loved ones. A big fun party is coming up soon. This is a very profitable time. base. 1576). 22. Elk or moose. 12. Harsh or corrosive in tone. 23. A very poisonous metallic element that has 13. A city in western Germany on the Rhine three allotropic forms. River. Leo (July 23-August 22) Aquarius (January 20- February 18) 25. New Guinea echidnas. 14. Any tree or shrub of the genus Inga having There is time this morning to enjoy the sunrise and a good breakfast. This is 26. Lacking in rigor or strictness. pinnate leaves and showy usually white flowers. You might like to pretend that your responsibilities do not exist. You want to go out and do some socializing, but the reality of the situation is probably going to going to be a busy day. There is so much energy around you now, it cannot help but rub off 28. A member of an agricultural people in 19. A large stringed instrument. insist that you take care of business and forget your buddies for the time being. Later this on you. If you do not start a new project now-you will probably plan one. You enjoy solving a southeastern India. 21. A bachelor's degree in theology. afternoon you make time for play. You love comfort and the interaction of friends. You riddle, playing a word game or learning something new. When you choose a friend or a part- 30. Of or related to a musical scale. 24. (computer science) A standardized language may even find a friend’s inquiries to be flattering and caring instead of meddlesome or ner, you choose with your head as well as your heart. This makes for secure and loving rela- 33. A unit of information equal to one million for the descriptive markup of documents. prying. This afternoon you may cook up one of your specialties that you know your friends tionships. Considering that your friends or family members will usually follow your lead, (1,048,576) bytes. cannot resist. Harmony and balance with lots of enthusiasm creates warmth. You enjoy lis- make your steps count. You are surrounded by some of your favorite people today. Plan 27. Being one more than ninety. something special to show them how much you care. Perhaps you will decide to have an 34. (Babylonian) God of wisdom and agriculture tening to others and their variety of conversations. 29. The blood group whose red cells carry both impromptu party at your place. and patron of scribes and schools. the A and B antigens. 38. (heraldry) Of or relating to heraldry or 31. A disease of infants and young children. heraldic arms. 32. A leisurely walk (usually in some public Virgo (August 23-September 22) 41. A room or establishment where alcoholic Pisces (February 19-March 20) place). drinks are served over a counter. 35. A promontory in northern Morocco opposite Anything uncommon or extraordinary will be what captures your interest. This is a really happy time. You place value on that which is principled and 42. An orange-brown antelope of southeast the Rock of Gibraltar. You may have always been interested in flying model airplanes but never actually did it. forthright and have a particular dislike for things that are secret, intense or private. You may Africa. This is your day of opportunity to do some flying-or something similar. Allowing your cre- be helping someone today who had many difficulties. With your help, dramatically positive 45. Eurasian perennial bulbous herbs. 36. A member of an agricultural people of ative and intuitive nature to awaken will be rewarding in many ways. New solutions to situations can develop. You may enjoy teaching others how to release emotional stress. 50. A drug (trade names Calan and Isoptin) used southern India. long-held problems may be but one of the benefits. Something very inventive may also People listen when you talk, because of your persuasiveness and eloquent way with words. as an oral or parenteral calcium blocker in cases 37. The bivalent radical UO2 which forms salts surface. Allowing variety into your life is certainly a way to shake up the old routine. Self-expression works well for you just now, lending itself to your ideas and thoughts. This is the day that you can get a special project off the ground. You have been involved in charity of hypertension or congestive heart failure or with acids. Change is inevitable, but in your case, it may be necessary for self-preservation. You do groups before, but now you seem to have the need to jump in with both feet. Special inter- 39. A public promotion of some product or serv- not allow yourself or your interests to stagnate or loose touch with what is happening in angina or migraine. your world. Enjoy shopping this afternoon. est groups enhance your place in the community. 51. A medicinal drug used to evoke vomiting ice. (especially in cases of drug overdose or poison- 40. An informal term for a father. ing). 43. With no effort to conceal. WORD SEARCH PUZZLE Yesterday’s Solution 52. Wearing or provided with clothing. 44. Of or relating to or near the sacrum. 54. Showing self-interest and shrewdness in 46. The United Nations agency concerned with dealing with others. civil aviation. 55. An associate degree in nursing. 47. Low stingless nettle of Central and South 57. A river in north central Switzerland that runs America having velvety brownish-green northeast into the Rhine. toothed leaves and clusters of small green flow- 59. A silvery ductile metallic element found pri- ers. marily in bauxite. 48. A radioactive element of the actinide series. 60. A constitutional monarchy on the western 49. A narcotic that is considered a hard drug. part of the islands of Samoa in the South Pacific. 53. An official prosecutor for a judicial district. 63. A soft white precious univalent metallic ele- 56. A compartment in front of a motor vehicle ment having the highest electrical and thermal where driver sits. conductivity of any metal. 64. An interest followed with exaggerated zeal. 58. Noisy quarrel. 66. Title for a civil or military leader (especially in 61. Small terrestrial lizard of warm regions of the Turkey). Old World. 67. A state-chartered savings bank owned by its 62. Having many worn or threadbare spots in depositors and managed by a board of trustees. the nap. 74. Derived from, or resembling, tan or tannin. 65. (Irish) Chief god of the Tuatha De Danann. 76. Aircraft landing in bad weather in which the 68. The act of scanning. pilot is talked down by ground control using 69. Exhibiting or restored to vigorous good precision approach radar. health. 77. A graphical record of electric currents associ- 70. Wading birds of warm regions having long ated with muscle contractions. slender down-curved bills. 78. Annual and biennial herbs of Mediterranean 71. Sheet glass cut in shapes for windows or to central Asia. doors. 80. A barrier constructed to contain the flow or 72. Someone who works (or provides workers) water or to keep out the sea. during a strike. 81. Time for Earth to make a complete rotation 73. God of love and erotic desire. on its axis. 75. A logarithmic unit of sound intensity equal 82. An island northwest of Wales. to 10 decibels. 83. A loose sleeveless outer garment made from 79. 1/1000 gram. aba cloth. Yesterday’s Solution

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A Bhutanese film crew converses during the shooting of a film scene in Bhutanese independent filmmaker, Tashi Gyeltshen Bhutanese film goers gather ahead of a screening outside a cinema in Thimphu. —AFP phtos Wangyel gestures as he speaks during an interview Thimphu. with AFP. Mountains, makeshift cinemas: Bhutan’s battle to make movies

hen Bhutan’s top director Tshering Wangyel fin- melody from a popular Indian film and convincing his lama, have found critical and commercial success over- ishes a film, he and his staff take to the cousins to serve as backup dancers. He released the flick, seas, viewers at home prefer movies with a dose of song WHimalayan countryside for months at a time “Rawa” (Hope), in Thimphu’s only cinema, the crumbling, and dance. “If a film is too artistic or realistic, it won’t armed with a projector, tent, screen and tickets. Movie rat-infested Lugar, currently under renovation. By the work. Our audiences like a formula - it must include making in the isolated kingdom is strenuous business. time he made his second, he realised that while produc- songs, dances, humor and tears,” Wangyel said. Not only do you have to teach yourself the filmmaking tion was a challenge, distribution was an ordeal, requiring Critics blame Bhutan’s isolation, which only allowed basics, but you must lug a makeshift cinema from village filmmakers to carry generators, fuel and screening equip- access to television in 1999, and its limited exposure to to village to reach Bhutan’s movie-loving population. ment from village to village. Forty movies later, he says world cinema for the formulaic but commercially suc- Despite the lack of infrastructure, Bhutan’s 25-year-old distribution continues to be a slog, handicapping the cessful productions. “The sad part is we say we are so industry is thriving, with audiences in one of the most industry’s growth. The long wait for screenings has also proud of our culture but then you look at our films, it’s remote countries on earth flocking to homegrown fuelled a thriving piracy industry, with impatient audi- like we have picked up a broken piece of mirror from movies that blend Bollywood with traditional Buddhist ences eager to watch illegal copies of the Dzongkha-lan- Bollywood’s vanity case,” said independent filmmaker teachings. guage films. Despite these challenges, however, the Tashi Gyeltshen. “Currently, it takes us a year to cover the country for industry has expanded substantially, with annual output But with movies based on Buddhist legends and screenings. I used to do it myself all the time, now I send jumping from three films a decade ago to 15 films this actors usually dressed in traditional clothing-the wrap- my staff,” Wangyel told AFP in the capital Thimphu. “Last year. around “gho” for men and fitted ankle-length “kira” for year, my boys took a car, a screen, a tent, a projector, women-Bhutanese cultural identity lies at their heart. tickets - they went from district to district, setting up a Bollywood influence Plotlines often portray a clash between tradition and makeshift cinema in each venue or using school audito- Each year, it attracts new entrants like aspiring direc- modernity, with conservatism getting the last word as riums.” Many of the industry’s directors and actors also tor Killey Tshering, who turned a friend’s bungalow into a characters hold forth on the importance of prayer and have to juggle their passion for cinema with day jobs as film set and secured funds from a cousin, all to make his background chants urge viewers to be good Buddhists. soldiers, monks, even politicians. debut venture, “Nga Dha Choe” (You and Me). Gyeltshen, whose short film “The Red Door” screened at Wangyel began his career in government, but the avid “Filmmaking in Bhutan is a community enterprise-friends the Rotterdam film festival this year, told AFP the relent- Bollywood fan, who grew up in a country where Indian lend their houses, relatives give you money, everyone less push to promote tradition while imitating musicals were a staple, always had movies on his mind. “I helps out on set,” Tshering, 27, told AFP on the sidelines Bollywood formula risked creating “a cultural desert” for was living this mundane 9-to-5 life when I decided to of his shoot. The popularity of local films has seen fans future generations. “We are wallowing in past glory...we make my first film: a love triangle about two college kids give the boot to Bollywood productions, which are rarely are not creating anything in terms of leaving a legacy,” falling for the same girl,” Wangyel said. Three of his shown these days in Bhutan’s handful of cinemas after Gyeltshen said. “Everyone in Bhutan talks about the friends acted in the 1999 production and contributed dominating screens for decades. However, the influence preservation of culture - but if you don’t create, what $5,000 each towards the shoestring budget. Wangyel, of the Mumbai-based industry on its Bhutanese counter- will you preserve?” —AFP then an official in the ministry of agriculture, wrote the part is unmistakable. screenplay and handled the camera, sound and lighting. Although a small number of Bhutanese films, includ- He also made Bhutan’s first musical number, lifting the ing 1999’s “The Cup”, directed by a Tibetan Buddhist Bhutanese make up artist brushes an actresses. The 13 most disappointing movies of 2014 any Hollywood executives Eastwood’s adaptation 7. “Men, Women basically ripped from a “Mad About probably want to forget that was pitchy. He should & Children” You” episode, where Paul and Jamie M2014 ever happened. The stu- have cast movie stars Box office: $705,908 Buchman accidentally returned a sex dios overstuffed the summer multiplexes in the lead roles-rather It’s hard to believe tape to the video store and race with sequels-yet another “Spider-Man,” than banking on the that the same Jason around town to retrieve it. In the “X-Men,” “Planet of the Apes” and stage actors like John Reitman who directed 2014 bigscreen version, the married “Transformers”-which resulted in audi- Lloyd Young, who won “Up in the Air” and couple (played by Cameron Diaz and ence malaise at the box office (5% down the Tony for playing “Juno” is responsible Jason Segel) upload their dirty video from last year). The indies might have Frankie Valli. Another for this stilted medita- on the cloud by mistake, and visit been better in terms of quality, but no problem: Eastwood tion on how technolo- their friend’s homes to delete it from title caught fire the way they used to, downplayed “Jersey’s” gy disconnects us their iPads. such as when sleepers like 2006’s “Little musical-theater ele- from each other. Told Miss Sunshine” grossed $60 million. And ments. These are in “Crash”-like 3. “Inherent Vice” the latest fad in filmmaking-crowdfund- words I never thought vignettes, the movie Box office: $967,000 (opens wide in ing-turned out to be a bust with the I’d write, but I wonder speaks down to the January) release of two high-profile Kickstarter what Rob Marshall would have done Facebook generation rather than illu- Paul Thomas Anderson, like J.D. projects (“Wish I Was Here” and “Veronica with the production. minating any new truths. And it earns Salinger in the later stages of his writ- Mars”) that barely registered with audi- the dubious title of the lowest-gross- ing career, has abandoned narrative. ences. If Hollywood wants the movie 10. “A Million Ways to Die in the ing movie of Adam Sandler’s career. Instead, we’re left with beautifully business to thrive against unprecedent- West” shot scenes that feel like wandering ed competition (TV, video games, etc), Box office: $43.2 million 6. “Wish I Was Here” in the dark, vaguely connected by a the industry needs to do better, especial- How do you make people forget Box office: $3.6 million trippy performance from Joaquin ly when it comes to original storytelling. you bombed as host of the Oscars? You Zach Braff took to Kickstarter to ask Phoenix. I don’t know what “Inherent Here are the 13 most disappointing films direct a movie that is even less witty his fans to chip in $3 million so he Vice,” based on the Thomas Pynchon In this image released by A24 Films, Jessica Chastain, left, and Oscar Isaac I saw in 2014. than the lyrics to “We Saw could make a follow-up to “Garden novel, is trying to say, but I do wish appear in a scene from “A Most Violent Year. —AP Your Boobs.” Seth State” on his own terms. But this indul- the director of “Magnolia,” “Boogie 13. “Magic in the MacFarlane’s parody of gent, meandering Nights” and “There Moonlight” Westerns-an idea as time- comedy about a thirty Will Be Blood” would Oscar Isaac on the hustle Domestic box ly as its 1882 setting- something dad expe- return to telling sto- office: $10.5 mil- squandered all the riencing a midlife cri- ries with a beginning lion movie-making capital he sis is proof most film- and an end. of acting and ‘Star Wars’ Woody Allen’s earned from “Ted,” which makers need studio 49th time in the grossed $219 million supervision. 2. “Transcendence” rom playing a struggling folk Abel Morales, the people tend to director’s chair domestically. Somebody should Box office: $23 mil- musician to an ambitious heating admire Abel a lot more, and it’s very resulted in his most have reigned Braff in, lion oil entrepreneur, actor Oscar Isaac telling that they pick the person who’s lackluster film since 9. “Grace of Monaco” especially during the The least satisfy- F 2001’s “The Curse “Ally McBeal”-like ing studio project of is all about the hustle. After his break- ambitious, goal-orientated, hyper capi- Box office: N/A out in 2013’s “Inside Llewyn Davis,” talist. I think there’s been a shift. I’m in of the Jade The Cannes Film montages of him in a 2014 stars Johnny Scorpion.” The Festival kicked off with space suit. Depp as an artificial intelligence sci- Isaac’s profile is on the rise with roles in “Star Wars” and going to be in “X-Men,” I script, which had this biopic starring Nicole entist who gets swallowed into a the upcoming “Star Wars” and “X-Men” believe people can say that I’ve sold Colin Firth investigating the practices of Kidman as Grace Kelly. But the screen 5. “Veronica Mars” computer (allowing him to collect a films. Isaac, 35, spoke to Reuters about out, but I think there’s a different feel- a phony clairvoyant (Emma Stone), felt legend’s extraordinary life story some- Box office: $3.3 million reported $20 million paycheck for the notion of ambition in his latest film ing nowadays about ‘hey man, you’ve forced even by Allen’s standards, and he how felt small compared to all the This was another Kickstarter project very little screen time). The script, “A Most Violent Year” and those pesky got to hustle.’ This country is based on did his film no favors by casting romantic backstage bickering between director that went off the rails. Director Rob which was once featured on the Black “Star Wars” questions. the hustle, hustle for your dollar, what- leads who are 28 years apart in real life. Olivier Dahan (“La Vie en Rose”) and US Thomas collected $5.7 million from List, is incoherent in the hands of Q: Did Abel Morales’ ambitions in “A ever you’ve got to do, and you give distributor Harvey Weinstein, who 91,585 loyalists to finance a movie first-time director Wally Pfister Most Violent Year” resonate with your props to the person that hustles the 12. “Big Eyes” couldn’t agree on a final cut of the based on his cult TV series that was can- (Christopher Nolan’s longtime cine- own? most. There is a sense of whatever you Box office: $4.4 million (still in release) movie. Dahan’s version, which played celled by the CW in 2007, but the fin- matographer). “Transcendence,” This biopic about painter Margaret at Cannes, was tedious. As a result, ished product-shot so darkly, it was which bombed at the box office, is A: These tales of ambition are fasci- can get away with, more power to you. Keane was hyped as a return to Tim “Grace of Monaco” has yet often hard to tell this year’s “47 Ronin,” only not as nating, and the rise to power, what Q: How are you planning to dodge Burton’s ‘90s prime (think “Ed Wood”), to open in the United what was hap- entertaining. power means. For me, I’ve never been “Star Wars” questions for a year? Are and bloggers were predicting it could States, and it probably nev- pening-played interested in that, although ultimately you allowed to drop any tidbits to satis- finally win Amy Adams her Oscar. But er will. like an inside 1.”Lost River” it’d be great to find a story and be able fy curiosity? “Big Eyes” is so bland, it doesn’t even feel joke. “Veronica Box office: N/A to make it and to some extent, you do A: No permission to satisfy curiosity. like a Tim Burton movie. The story col- 8. “Deliver Us From Evil” Mars” made the Ryan Gosling’s directorial debut need a sense of power to be able to We finished shooting (in November), lapses under an over-the-top perform- Box office: $30.6 million “Sex and the premiered to the biggest jeers at have that happen. But what I’m trying and there’s a trailer out already so that’s ance from Christoph Waltz, who plays Jerry Bruckheimer pro- City” movie look Cannes, which prompted Warner Bros. to do is not be so goal-orientated, Abel just a testament to JJ (Abrams, the dishonest husband Walter Keane like he’s duced this horror movie that like “Casablanca.” to slate it for only a day-and-date lim- channeling a Quentin Tarantino villain. was in development for years ited US theatrical release. The bleak is very goal-orientated. For me, it’s less director) and how much he loves what and underwent numerous 4. “Sex Tape” drama set in the future felt endless (at about a goal and more about a state of we’ve made. And it’s also how much he 11. “Jersey Boys” script revisions. Eric Bana Box office: only 105 minutes) and plotless. But mind. loves the fans, that after three weeks Box office: $47.0 million (who needs better material) $38.5 million “Lost River” committed the worst Q: Is there an aspect of “selling out” being done shooting, he releases a trail- Hollywood has been trying to get plays a New York cop fighting The idea of crime of all by taking Gosling out of as you become more successful in your er and it’s so representative of what the this Four Seasons musical on the demons, but he couldn’t this R-rated the leading man business, where his own career, and take on bigger roles? movie’s going to be, which actually has bigscreen for almost a decade, but Clint bring this dreck to life. comedy was talents are most needed. —Reuters A: Between my Llewyn Davis and an intimacy, a vitality to it. —Reuters LIFESTYLE37 THURSDAY, JANUARY 1, 2015 Features Seven tips to reduce eye puffiness

e’ve all gone through ups and downs which can affect your wellbeing in the future. Salt Water: Now, a few of you might feel hes- the fridge for about 30 minutes, then cut them with our skin. We sometimes realise Ever noticed your eyes being puffy first thing itant trying this, because you can simply burn into thick pieces or have them whole and place Wthat we are exhausted and overwork- in the morning, or at the end of the day? This is your eye, but it really isn’t that scary! Salt water them on your eyes for as long as you want. ing ourselves by noticing the changes in our definitely a sign of exhaustion. First thing you gets rid of fluid retention (this is when fluid is They smell and feel good so doing this daily skin and overall appearance. That’s when you can do about this is figure out a way to organ- absorbed in your tissues, causing swelling), isn’t harmful either. know you are definitely overwhelmed. Having ise your time and day better. We all need some which means less puffiness. All you have to do At the end of the day, all of these remedies enough sleep and drinking enough water are “me time” every now and then. Pampering your- is, mix half a teaspoon of salt in warm water. can improve your appearance for a day or two, essential to having good energy levels, and self is never something you should feel guilty Soak cotton balls with the salt water and place however, taking care of yourself and actually about, if you love yourself you can love others. them on your eyes (closed of course!). listening to your body is what will improve your If you’re healthy and well, you can take care of Aloe Vera: Aloe Vera is known its many pur- overall health in the far future. I am probably others. Always start with yourself! (Since this is poses in the beauty world. I’ve even used it to the worst person to type about this because I the beginning of a new year, add this to your reduce any burns from tanning. The Vitamin E too sometimes exhaust myself till I don’t even list of resolutions!) and antioxidants also reduces wrinkles and fine look like the same person! But, no one will take lines. Use aloe vera gel under your eyes to make care of you other than yourself, and being How to reduce under eye puffiness the swelling go away, make sure it doesn’t go healthy is the most important thing in life. We The easiest way to get rid of under eye puffi- into your eyes. sometimes take advantage of the fact that we ness is water. Drinking more water will not only Strawberries: Look smoother and younger are healthy and well, forgetting about those get rid of the toxins in your body, but it will also with strawberries! The acid in the strawberries who are less fortunate. So, let’s make it a priori- reduce the swelling by hydrating your body. 8- helps you get healthier skin too! This is also fun ty this new year to put us first, if not, always 10 glasses of water a day is considered a good to do, because I usually do this and end up eat- make time for ourselves. amount of water to drink daily. ing the strawberries! Put some strawberries in Cold spoons: Grab two spoons and let them chill in the fridge for about 10 minutes, then place them on your eyes for a few minutes till the spoons get warm. This will relief the puffi- ness as well as tighten the skin around your eyes for a more fresh and awake look. Tea Bags: Green or plain black tea bags both do well for puffy eyes. They also relief the red- ness and are anti-irritant. You can do this by soaking tea bags in hot water for 10-15 minutes then lay down and place them on your eyes. You can do this a few times a day. ( Also works for any eye infections) Cucumbers: We’re used to seeing those at spas, but you should also try these at home. Cut up some chilled cucumbers to help you tighten the skin around your eye and reduce inflamma- tion, place them over your eyes for 10-15 min- utes, you can also do this several times a day. Cold Water: After a sleepless night, splash your face with ice cold water throughout the day. You can also crush up some ice and put it in a plastic bag, wrap it in a washcloth or towel and place it on your eyes to reduce swelling by constricting your blood vessels.

Marsala top color How to Get Party-Ready Red Lips of the new year et’s hear it for Marsala, the wine-influenced, red-kissed color of 2015, as chosen by Pantone. “Hardy, robust, satisfying, ful- Lfilling. At the same time there’s a certain glamour that’s attached to this color,” offered Leatrice Eiseman, executive direc- tor of the Pantone Color Institute. Pantone’s yearly picks can her- ald a marked presence of a color in fashion, beauty, housewares, home and industrial design and consumer packaging, though some years the influence is stronger than others. The 2014 color of the year from the forecasters and industry consultants was Radiant Orchid, a deep tropical purple. The year before that it was Emerald green. Tangerine Tango had legs in 2012. The idea, Eiseman explained in a recent interview, is not to choose a color that will necessarily “overtake the world.” In Marsala’s case, she said, the shade is complex but grounding - brown-red with blue undertones for a dark blush effect. Eiseman and her team travel the world to observe color at play. For Marsala, they see an accent wall in a living room or office, a swipe of eye shadow mixed with bronze for a metallic look, a throw pillow, the exterior of a car or a bit of jewelry evoking the 1950s. There’s a natural earthiness to the shade, announced Thursday, a full-bodiness like the cooking wine it is named for, without overpowering. “It really does embody a certain amount of confidence and stability,” Eiseman said. olor bleed be damned. There’s a red lip- And there’s no better time than the holi- Ted Gibson Charice is. And she’s not afraid to show that.” The hue isn’t a risky one, whether in a nail polish, a frock on a stick for everybody nowadays. You days to get creative with red for the lips, the For a touch of orangey undertone, Gibson runway or a pattern of stripes in a men’s tie or florals for table Cknow how celebrity beauty guru Ted two agreed, noting how well the color goes picked his own line in a shade he calls Scarlett Johansson placemats or bedding. Eiseman noted the versatile shade was Gibson found that out? “My mother has just with holiday gold and urging a breaking of Charice. The selling point: it’s rich but opaque The Dolce & Gabbana brand ambassador among colors Pantone flagged as spring/summer trends for 2015 now been wearing red lipstick since I turned traditional skin complexion rules. Go for what and will stay put. Reds, he said, are no longer is a fan of red. Her fave is the company’s Devil earlier this year, as evidenced on the runways of Herve Leger by her on to it over the last two years. Before, she feels and looks right on you alone. Even bet- just for “Hitchcock blondes,” meaning all the in the Classic Cream Lipstick line. “This red lip- Max Azria, Dennis Basso and Creatures of the Wind, among other thought red meant you were kind of easy,” he ter, pick up a tube or two as a gift or stocking platinum-haired stars in Alfred Hitchcock stick is the perfect shade,” she said through a designers. As they did with Radiant Orchid, the cosmetics giant laughed. Red no longer evokes sexpot alone, stuffer. Some suggestions from Gibson, movies. spokesman. “Not too orange and not too Sephora plans a limited-edition collection of beauty products and it doesn’t have to lead to severe chap- Parnass and others: “There was a time that darker-skinned blue. It’s bright and bold without being loud. based on Pantone and its latest pick, Eiseman said. Marsala has ping. Shades of red can be had in balms, women wouldn’t necessarily wear red It feels iconic, like the sleek, gold case it been widely used in lipstick and hair color for years. One of the glosses, creamy mattes or a combination of Burt’s bees because they were a little afraid of it,” he said. comes in.” color’s strengths, she said, is the ease in combining it with gray, care and color? or CC as they say in the beau- Parnass raved about the natural Burt’s tint- Not anymore? Lupita Nyong’o got her red on black, beige and other neutrals. “It’s a color that you can mix with ty biz. ed balm in Red Dahlia. “It is absolutely one of recently against a white outfit at the Glamour Prabal Gurung what you already own,” Eiseman said. “You can add just a touch of If you’re unsure of shade, swipe a bit on my favorite products in the world,” she said. “It Awards. The designer is a longtime fan of the red it. That’s the intent and purpose. It is not the color that swallows the inside of one arm the next time you’re in a is just the perfect sheer red. I have given it to lip. As a boy in Nepal, he told W magazine, he the world.” —AP store, then step outside into natural light for a hundreds of friends and everybody who tries Nars lip pencils recalls watching his mom apply the shade. better idea of how it will look. And if you’re it loves it.” To beef up the color, use a liner Gibson also recommends these for lining Then along came Paloma Picasso in ads with traumatized by lip color seeping into lines underneath. But the best part of wearing it and all-over color in matte and gloss. As for a red kisser beaming from magazines. Now, and crevasses beyond where it’s supposed to alone: “You don’t even need a mirror to put it the rest of the face when red is under consid- Gurung has a cosmetics capsule collection for be, use a primer underneath or a lip liner as a on. It is the easiest red lip color of all time.” eration, all bets are off for hair style, Gibson MAC that includes red for the lips in three barrier. Apply concealer around the outside said. No longer does red require a dramatic shades? With glosses. of the mouth for extra protection against Giorgio Armani rouge ecstasy Hollywood updo. He does urge restraint for “The colors we created are great when bleed. There are 36 shades of red here across the the eyes if a bold red is used on the lip. applied lightly for day or darkened and dram- “What’s great right now is that there are spectrum. They, too, tout lip care like a balm And there are no age restrictions for who atized with a gloss on top for the evening,” he some really creamy dense highly pigmented and color hold for every day. Parnass likes No. wears red. “What’s funny is you’re seeing girls told The Associated Press. “The lipstick in red lipsticks that are fantastic for people who 400. “It is just that perfect classic red. If you in their early 20s who are wearing lipstick. Carmine Rouge is definitely a favorite. I love a really want to go for that power pout look. asked someone to create a red that suits Girls are wearing a little more lip color, a little red lip? It’s such a powerful statement. It There are also sheer reds for those of us who everybody this would be it,” she said. “And it is more of a stain to the lip. You have to have a exudes confidence and makes for a bold don’t feel so comfortable or who may feel like the farthest thing from drying, yet it’s a very little bit more confidence to wear that,” he look.” —AP a clown with a big red mouth,” said Alexandra pigmented red that just looks beautiful. said. “The girl who wears red is independent, Parnass, beauty director at Harper’s Bazaar. very self-assertive and certain about who she lifestyle THURSDAY, JANUARY 1, 2015

Features

Tourists relax at the Hotel National, overlooking Morro Castle in Havana, Cuba. In this Sunday, Sept 7, 2014 photo, 1 World Trade Center towers above the lower Manhattan skyline in New York. — AP photos Destinations for 2015: Milan, Cuba, Queens and more

ee Cuba before it changes. Check out the World Expo in the ancient Romans, have been named 2015 European Capitals in September and the 75th Sturgis Motorcycle Rally in August. industrial-chic ambience of Long Island City. But the borough is Milan. And if you’re heading to New York City to see the of Culture. And Norway made a number of “where to go in not quite on tourist radars yet - though the Lonely Planet pro- Sview from 1 World Trade Center’s observatory (scheduled 2015” lists, thanks to its connection to Disney’s blockbuster Cuba nouncement may change that. to open late spring), take the subway to Queens and see if you “Frozen” film. The news that the US intends to normalize relations with can figure out why it topped Lonely Planet’s “best in the US” Cuba could lead to a rush of travelers hoping to experience the Theme parks destinations for 2015. Several major anniversaries will be Anniversaries island before it loses its frozen-in-time culture to an onslaught Universal Studios Hollywood debuts two new attractions in marked by a variety of events, including 70 years since the end Singapore celebrates its golden Jubilee - 50 years since inde- of US chain stores, hotels and tourists. But don’t pack your bags 2015: Springfield, an immersive area opening in spring sur- of World War II, the 60th anniversary of the opening of pendence from Great Britain. Vietnam celebrates 70 years since just yet: For the near future, the only way you can legally visit rounding The Simpsons Ride, and Fast & Furious_Supercharged, Disneyland and 10 years since Hurricane Katrina hit New independence from France and 50 years since the first US com- Cuba as an American citizen is to take a “people to people” cul- a thrill ride opening in summer based on the film series. Orleans. bat troops arrived at Da Nang, which some historians say tural exchange tour licensed by the US government. The tours Disneyland opens “Frozen Fun” in January in Anaheim, marked the start of the Vietnam War - even though Americans are expensive and itineraries are limited. California, with a sing-along, “Olaf’s Snow Fest,” and meet-and- Europe had been sent to the country in prior years. greets with Anna and Elsa, among other attractions. The The Milan Expo opens in May for six months and is expected A number of US museums and historic sites will be hosting New York City California theme park also celebrates its 60th anniversary this to draw 20 million visitors. The Expo is the modern incarnation exhibits and events to mark 150 years since the assassination of Two big openings take place in the Big Apple in 2015: the year, with celebration details to be revealed at the end of of the old World’s Fairs that thrilled 19th- and 20th-century Abraham Lincoln and the end of the Civil War. The new year observatory at 1 World Trade in late spring and the new January. Disney World near Orlando, Florida, has several 2015 guests with new products and technology. The theme of the also marks 70 years since the end of World War II, both the Whitney Museum of American Art in May in Manhattan’s openings, including a new Italian restaurant, Trattoria al Forno; Milan Expo is food and nutrition, and dozens of countries will defeat of Nazi Germany and the atomic bombing of Japan that Meatpacking District near the High Line and the Hudson River. an Africa Marketplace at Disney’s Animal Kingdom; and at the be participating. The US will be doing its part by sending six ended the war in Asia. Hiroshima and Nagasaki are planning The city also got a Christmas gift from Lonely Planet, which new Disney Springs complex, three restaurants, STK, Morimoto authentic food trucks to Italy featuring regional American and memorial services on the August anniversaries of the bomb- named the borough of Queens as “best in the US” destination. Asia and The Boathouse. — AP ethnic fusion menus. Milan’s famous opera house, La Scala, nor- ings, along with numerous arts projects and peace-themed Manhattan has been giving ground to trendy Brooklyn in mally closed in the summer, will host performances daily during events throughout the year. recent years, but the elevation of Queens as the next big thing the Expo. In New Orleans, Aug 29 is 10 years since the devastation of was a bit of a surprise. Not that New Yorkers and tourists alike Elsewhere in Europe: Jan 1 marks the day Lithuania officially Hurricane Katrina. “Come see the new New Orleans” is a mantra don’t love Queens attractions like the 1964 World’s Fair adopts the euro as its currency. Pilsen, in the Czech Republic - in the tourist industry there for showcasing trendy emerging grounds, the hipster beach scene in the home to pilsner-style drink and a Gothic cathedral - and Mons, neighborhoods and a vibrant restaurant scene. South Dakota Rockaways, Chinatown in Flushing, the Asian and Latin Belgium, known for history ranging from World War I back to expects crowds for the 50th Custer State Park Buffalo Roundup American ethnic mix in Jackson Heights and the emerging

In this file photo, Phill Randall of Custer, S.D., carries the American Flag during A plate of duck confit with rice and citrus gastrique is displayed at Herbsaint In this file photo, food is displayed on a table during the groundbreaking cere- the Custer State Park Buffalo Roundup near Custer, S.D. Restaurant in New Orleans. mony of the US Pavilion Expo 2015, in Pero, Italy. Living in and decorating a 100-year-old Craftsman By Solvej schou “In the 1980s and ‘90s, the value of these faux-Craftsman, geometric mica glass, wood and antique pieces went through the roof,” she says. “It metal living room table lamp we snagged on sale y love of 100-year-old California Craftsman has dropped off since then, but the value of origi- for $150 at retailer Lamps Plus to perch on top of a bungalows - those low-slung, early 20th nal pieces is still very high.” Since Dave and I, like Wildon Home mission-style, espresso-hued end Mcentury Arts and Crafts-era homes known many, can’t afford the prized brand, we searched table for not much more. for their clean, horizontal lines and sturdy wood- for much less pricey, though not necessarily hand- work - runs long and deep. I grew up in one in made, furniture and decorations for our place. Glass vases Hollywood, outfitted with dark, wooden, built-in There are strong connections between the Bought at a nearby sofa store, our couch is cabinets and exposed beams, and my family lives Craftsman and midcentury modern movements made out of chocolate-brown wood and tweed, a in one in South Pasadena, northeast of downtown when it comes to simple functionalism, says midcentury modern reproduction called “The Los Angeles, with a swooping Japanese-style roof. Mossman. My Craftsman rental is a mixture of Draper.” Our vintage living room rug is a ‘60s My fiancÈ, Dave, and I rent a small, century-old both. striped blend of warm orange, green, pink and Craftsman house here in Pasadena’s landmark dis- We found a modestly priced, tan 1963 Lane white. We also picked up glass vases, Arts and trict Bungalow Heaven, home to more than 1,000 Acclaim walnut wood coffee table with dovetail Crafts-style wooden frames and dinnerware from historic bungalows, most of them Craftsmans. edges at an antique store to fit in with the earthy flea markets and online through Etsy and eBay. Call Why do I appreciate them? One word: unique- Craftsman color scheme in our living room. Our it Craftsman flair with a dash of “Mad Men” thrown ness. Each traditional Craftsman house is different, in. “Even if it’s a reproduction, people who appreci- with its own personality (in our rental, the toilet is ate the character of their house will be able to pick in a separate room from the bathroom sink and things that suit that same personality,” notes Photo shows the living room of writer Solvej Schou and her fiance’s century-old bathtub) and an emphasis on natural materials and Mossman. Craftsman rental house. colors, from slate gray to clay brown. Architectural Inspiration especially came in the form of a trip twists such as sleeping porches, wide-open to the custom-furnished, three-story Gamble entrances, and pillars made out of stone were built House, Pasadena’s premier example of California as a minimalist reaction against industrial design Craftsman architecture. It was designed by the and as an ode to warmer weather and (then) fresh- architectural firm Greene & Greene in 1908 as a er air. Decorating a Craftsman is also a labor of love. roomy winter home for David and Mary Gamble, of “The whole Craftsman movement was about Procter & Gamble. Inside, we stood surrounded by rediscovering handmade things,” says Sue curved stairway banisters, smooth surfaces, and Mossman, executive director of the preservation wooden pegs all made out of soft mahogany, teak, non-profit Pasadena Heritage. “There’s a natural oak, maple and cedar. ‘form follows function’ approach. Everything has a “Craftsman style has a casual but clean simplici- purpose to it as well as a beauty.” ty to it that can be dressed up or dressed down,” notes Alvin Huang, an architect and University of Traditional Craftsman Southern California School of Architecture assis- Gustav Stickley, who started making Arts and tant professor. Crafts-style furniture and accessories in the late Afterward, in the gift shop, Dave and I bought a 19th century, has long represented the pinnacle of clay tile, similar to those in the Gamble House, dec- Craftsman design. Antique Stickley hand-finished, orated with a light yellow and white frog. It sits on solid-wood armchairs, tables and couches, defined our end table, next to the lamp, with more by a sleek vertical-lined “mission” style, can run Craftsman-worthy knickknacks to come. — AP upwards of $5,500 today. Mossman, who lives in a traditional Craftsman and says she owns a couple of “fine Stickley pieces,” views the furniture, like Photo shows a reproduction Craftsman style Craftsmans themselves, as having lasting appeal. lamp, clay tile and mission style end table. A home in the “Bungalow Heaven” district in Pasadena, Calif. lifestyle THURSDAY, JANUARY 1, 2015 Features

A sign advertising New Year’s rituals is seen at a stand of Paloquemao market in Decorated wheat ears, used for New Year’s rituals, are displayed for sale at a A vendor sells incense and decorations of wheat ears, used for New Year’s ritu- Bogota, Colombia, on December 30, 2014. — AFP photos stand of Paloquemao market. als. With colored undies, potatoes, LatAm readies for 2015

ut on your yellow underwear, toss your potatoes under the bed and grab your suitcase for a walk around the Pblock: as the clock strikes midnight on New Year’s Eve in Latin America. From the northern deserts of Mexico to the southern glaciers of Patagonia, the region has a host of color- ful New Year’s traditions and superstitions, some of them holdovers from colonial times, some homegrown and some blending cultures and customs in Latin Americans’ unique style. In many countries, revelers ring in the new year by walking around the neighborhood with a suitcase, a ritual that is meant to guarantee a year of journeys. “In 2012, I ran around carrying my suitcases and I ended up traveling to Europe. I did the same in 2013 and I went to Argentina. So I’m definitely doing it again this year,” said Carla Romero, a communications specialist in the Ecuadoran capital Quito. Other Latin Americans sweep the floor or clean house to get rid of bad vibes. In Mexico, the custom includes washing the doorstep. In much of the region, revelers eat 12 grapes, cramming one in with each toll of the clock at midnight-a ritu- al inherited from Spain. The grapes must be divided into six red and six white, according to some keepers of the tradition. “In my family, we put them in little packets so everyone can make their wishes,” said Tatiana Ariza, a Colombian housewife. The wishes must be kept strictly secret “or they won’t come true,” she added. In Cuba, which had to give up on grapes dur- ing a period of severe shortages, people throw buckets of water out their windows to wash away evil-a ritual also fol- lowed in Uruguay, which like the communist island usually has hot weather this time of year. Other people put money in A cyclist buys a bouquet of yellow flowers. their shoes or tie three Chinese coins together with a red rib- bon to ensure a prosperous year. For New Year’s decor, many place stalks of wheat, a symbol of prosperity, alongside images of angels or the Virgin Mary. “Changing seasons requires rites. From Central America to Italian-Venezuelan 27-year-old Orne Gil, owner of ‘Nowhere Patagonia, these rites to mark the end of the year are inherited Land Tattoo Studio,’ tattoos Egyptian-American 30-year-old from pagan traditions, from Ancient Rome, from the Zayn Amer, a teacher based in Iraq. Egyptians, combined with indigenous American traditions and African culture,” said Fabian Sanabria, head of the Carreno, a Colombian shopkeeper. “I put them under the bed Colombian Institute of Anthropology and History. and at midnight I grab one at random. If I grab the one with Though the rise of secularism has weakened the hold of rit- the whole skin everything will go well for me. But if I grab the ual on people’s lives, the uncertainties of today’s world have peeled one I’m going to have a tough year.” In Peru, women left more individuals from all social classes grasping for the shoppers snap up New Year’s underwear in yellow, a color comfort of superstition. “It’s the zenith of astrologers and associated with happiness and friendship. horoscopes,” Sanabria told AFP. In Uruguay and Argentina, the preferred color is pink, which is supposed to bring luck in love. In Colombia, many Pink undies for love women choose red, the color of passion. The first bath of the After noticing the abundance of New Year’s traditions, year is another key rite. In the Colombian capital Bogota, herb Colombian entrepreneur Santiago Delgado decided to round sellers at the Paloquemao market offer bitter- and sweet- up seven of them in an “Omen Box,” which he sells for $13. The smelling bundles to make a purifying bath. Others use cham- box includes materials to carry out regional rituals, plus a copy pagne. Douse your body in bubbly and let it dry for a year full of Psalm 91, a biblical passage traditionally read on New Year’s of happiness and success, they say. — AFP Day. He has sold some 2,000 of them this month. Other ingre- dients are easily found at the supermarket, from lentils to put in your pocket to potatoes to place under the bed. “I usually have three potatoes: one I peel completely, one I View of bottles for purification baths, used for New Year’s A man sells grapes, used in New Year’s rituals. peel a little bit and another one I leave the skin on,” said Victor rituals.

People buy bundles of bitter and sweet herbs for purification baths. A girl holds wheat ears, used for New Year’s rituals. A woman sells crafts made with wheat ears. New Year celebrations

ew Year festival, any of the social, cultural, and religious the year begins on Rosh Hashana, the first day of the month of eaten, and elaborate dishes feature ingredients whose names observances worldwide that celebrate the beginning of Tishri, which falls between September 6 and October 5. The or appearance symbolize long life, happiness, wealth, and good Nthe new year. Such festivals are among the oldest and Muslim calendar normally has 354 days in each year, with the fortune. the most universally observed. new year beginning with the month of Muharram. Because of the belief that what a person does on the first The earliest known record of a New Year festival dates from day of the year foretells what he will do for the remainder of the about 2000 bce in Mesopotamia, where in Babylonia the new Symbolic foods year, gatherings of friends and relatives have long been signifi- year (Akitu) began with the new moon after the spring equinox The Chinese New Year is celebrated officially for a month cant. The first guest to cross the threshold, or “first foot,” is signif- (mid-March) and in Assyria with the new moon nearest the beginning in late January or early February. Other Asian cul- icant and may bring good luck if of the right physical type, autumn equinox (mid-September). For the Egyptians, tures celebrate the day at various times of the year. In southern which varies with location. Phoenicians, and Persians the year began with the autumn India the Tamil celebrate the new year at the winter solstice; Public gatherings, as in Times Square in New York City or in equinox (September 21), and for the early Greeks it began with Tibetans observe the day in February; and in Thailand the day is Trafalgar Square in London, draw large crowds, and the count- the winter solstice (December 21). On the Roman republican celebrated in March or April. The Japanese have a three-day cel- down to the dropping of an electronic ball in Times Square to calendar the year began on March 1, but after 153 bce the offi- ebration January 1-3. signify the exact moment at which the new year begins is tele- cial date was January 1, which was continued in the Julian cal- Many of the customs of New Year festivals note the passing vised worldwide. The first Rose Bowl Game was played in endar of 46 bce. of time with both regret and anticipation. The baby as a symbol Pasadena, Calif, on Jan 1, 1902, and college football games have In early medieval times most of Christian Europe regarded of the new year dates to the ancient Greeks, with an old man come to dominate American television on New Year’s Day. The March 25, the Feast of the Annunciation, as the beginning of representing the year that has passed. The Romans derived the Tournament of Roses parade, featuring floats constructed of the new year, although New Year’s Day was observed on name for the month of January from their god Janus, who had live flowers, and the Mummers’ Parade in Philadelphia are pop- December 25 in Anglo-Saxon England. William the Conqueror two faces, one looking backward and the other forward. The ular New Year’s Day events. decreed that the year begin on January 1, but England later practice of making resolutions to rid oneself of bad habits and Many people mark the new year with religious observances, joined the rest of Christendom and adopted March 25. The to adopt better ones also dates to ancient times. as, for example, on Rosh Hashana. Buddhist monks are present- Gregorian calendar, adopted in 1582 by the Roman Catholic In the West, particularly in English-speaking countries, the ed with gifts on the day, and Hindus make oblations to the Church, restored January 1 as New Year’s Day, and most nostalgic Scottish ballad “Auld Lang Syne,” revised by the poet gods. In Japan visits are sometimes made to Shint? shrines of European countries gradually followed suit: Scotland, in 1660; Robert Burns, is often sung on New Year’s Eve. tutelary deities or to Buddhist temples. Chinese make offerings Germany and Denmark, about 1700; England, in 1752; and Symbolic foods are often part of the festivities. Many to gods of the hearth and wealth and to ancestors. Russia, in 1918. Europeans, for example, eat cabbage or other greens to ensure — www.britannica.com Those religions and cultures using a lunar calendar have prosperity in the coming year, while people in the American continued to observe the beginning of the year on days other South favor black-eyed peas for good luck. Throughout Asia than January 1. In the Jewish religious calendar, for example, special foods such as dumplings, noodles, and rice cakes are With colored undies, potatoes, LatAm readies for 2015

THURSDAY, JANUARY 1, 2015 39

This photo taken on December 30, 2014 shows guides in a Chinese park posing with balloons that read ‘Happy 2015’, to give out new year wishes to tourists at the park in Yangzhou, in eastern China’s Jiangsu province. — AP/AFP photos

This photo taken on December 30, 2014 shows a college student with paintings of a sheep on their hands to welcome the new year, and to mark the coming “Year of the Sheep”, in Liaocheng, in eastern China’s Shandong province.

Indian students form numbers representing the year 2015 during a function to welcome the New Year at a school in Ahmadabad, India.

A sea lion paints a Chinese character for “sheep” in calligraphy as part of a New Year’s Day attraction at the Hakkeijima Sea Paradise aquarium in Yokohama, suburban Tokyo. The event, marking the forthcoming Chinese lunar calendar “Year of the Sheep”, is part of the aquarium’s New Year’s attractions until February 1. The actually 2015 lunar new year will Thousands of biodegradable balloons are released by members of the Sao Paulo’s com- begin on February 19. mercial association at Patio do Colegio, the site of this Brazilian city’s foundation in 1554.

Workers plant flowers and trim the garden around New Year decorations at a public park in downtown Hanoi. A woman hangs a paper bearing her New Year wishes to a tree in Seoul, South Korea.