Established 1961 T

FridayISSUe NO: 173413 RABI ALTHANI 4, 1439 AH FRIDAY, DeceMBeR 22, 2017

Niqashna holds debate on Mechanic saved in Trump tastes 7 ‘separation of religion and state’ 9 12-hour rescue mission 11 victory-at last

His Highness the Amir Sheikh Sabah Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah

Amir patronizes Gulf Cup opening today See Page 47 2 Friday Local Friday, December 22, 2017

Photo of the Day Christmas wishes

Local Spotlight

By Muna Al-Fuzai [email protected]

his article is dedicated to all our Christian friends celebrating Christmas - Merry Christmas and a TNew Year filled with love and peace! This happy occasion is not confined to Christians only - many Muslims share with their Christian friends the joy of this occasion because they remember that these Christians exchange greetings and congratulations with them on Islamic occasions. Joy is a universal sentiment and there’s no embarrassment or shame in it. After Christmas celebrations, we are approaching a new year. This occasion also makes us remember what we lack to complete our happiness, whether money, children, success or marriage. It is wishful thinking, but happy occasions are very few in the turbulent, volatile and wor- risome world of today. I believe social media has become a partner on these occasions and not only a transmitter. These days, social media is a yard through which any individual can express their opinion and present congratulations and wishes for various holidays and events, and this is clear on Twitter. For example, Egyptian newspaper Al-Dustour posted Christmas and New Year wishes with a hashtag on Twitter from various people. The diversity of wishes by Twitter users were funny, reflecting simple human wishes. The Street sweepers clean Shuwaikh beach while enjoying a golden sunset. — Photo by Jarrah Al-Harbash most prominent was ‘Love, iPhone X and Al-Aqsa Mosque’, while another person made a wish to fall in love and work outside Egypt. I met some friends recently and we were talking about Christmas and the New Year. We all agreed that praying Should I get a master’s degree? and hoping for peace is the goal of all people regardless of religion and origins. Security and peace are no longer in the first place, then good for you. By all means make the easy to have. It is good to see that many Muslims love to IN MY VIEW most of it. However, do not assume that the knowledge share this occasion with their friends by buying simple received during your master’s degree will far outweigh your gifts and decorating their homes with Christmas trees, knowledge in your bachelors, this is not a PhD. A master’s because it reflects the joy of an approaching new year. A degree is an incremental increase of knowledge to the base of friend said she is always keen to buy decorations and a By Salman Al Mutawa information that was built during your undergrad. It is nothing Christmas tree to cheer up the house during the end of more. Furthermore, some ask if doing a master’s degree the year, because it gives her hope to achieve her wishes. [email protected] straight out of undergrad is better than taking a few years off New Year celebrations are not only fun for Christians! to work then returning to study. Gift markets around the world witness large crowds ou only use 5 percent of the stuff they teach you in For the knowledge that you will receive, and for the poten- during Christmastime, New Year and seasons of love, school,” is a statement I have heard multiple people tial value that you can obtain, to maximize the usefulness of because young people, children and girls like to buy gifts “Yfrom different countries say. I have had younger the information you obtain in your masters it is ultimately bet- to celebrate the year and the occasion. I was recently at a students ask me, is it worth it to go for a master’s degree in my ter to work for a year or two and then return to your studies. market, and realized it is rare that there’s no objection major? The answer to this question is: it depends. Have you HOWEVER, many people who begin work with that idea from conservatives to displaying Christmas gifts. Is there decided to spend the rest of your working life in an academic experience the comfortable lifestyle and upgrade in standard a change in society? I find it positive. Last year, there was or research track? If so, then by all means yes. If you decide to of living that comes along with a paycheck. This acts as a a video of an extremist man who rejected the presence of get a job, like the vast majority of individuals, then the answer sedative and makes leaving your job to go back to school a Christmas tree in one of the markets and the minister of to that is no, with the exception of medicine. This isn’t to say especially difficult. Again, this is not the case for everyone. social affairs removed it. This led to a debate between that you will not learn or grow during your year or two getting People who choose to do this have also said that the “maxi- supporters and opponents. your master’s, you definitely will. This issue at hand is: has the mum value” mentioned earlier in this paragraph is not a large This year, everything is going quietly and smoothly, but amount of time and energy spent given you it’s worth? enough increment than the value they would have gotten I would like to say that Christians in Kuwait, both citizens Think of it this way. An average apple tree takes five to when they were fresh out of undergrad, filled with energy and and expatriates, have the right to celebrate and that the eight years to bear fruit. If you decide to plant an apple tree, still used to the study lifestyle. Kuwaiti constitution guarantees freedom of belief. The and put in the money and effort to take care of it for...say, 15 It seems to be that the main issue at hand with post-bache- state protects the practice of worship, which has been years. After year 15, it produces five very good apples. Was lor’s education is the pure effectiveness of the education itself. actively taking place for over half a century. I think that as planting the tree worth it? No. For the most part, given the opportunities in Kuwait and we defend our beliefs, it is the right of non-Muslims to To the apple planting community, please be advised that Middle East, it does not seem to always be worth it. The cur- defend themselves and their religion. But they do not have this is purely an analogy and is in no way, shape, or form an rent educational system is reaching a point of impracticality a strong voice, so we have to stand with them. The attack on your way of life. I also have not been paid by any and obsoleteness that is unheard of, and I am not bashing Christmas period shows our strong cohesion and accept- parties of interest to cast a shadow on any specific apples or Kuwait, this applies to western education as well. Join me next ance of the other in one nation. any initiative pertaining to the planting of said apples. week as I analyze what exactly is wrong with the educational The maximum a master’s degree can offer you in the job It is a joyful time. Happy holidays! system from a student’s perspective, and what the results this market is an interview opportunity. If that is what you wanted system has produced.

4 Friday

Local Friday, December 22, 2017

Story and photographs by Athoob Al-Shuaibi

ave you tried to count the number of times you skipped an ad on Snapchat, Instagram, or Facebook? HYou often feel weary when the ads get repetitive, and resort to the magical “hide this ad” button. It seems digital advertising on social media platforms has reached a point of saturation. Online advertising has proliferated due to the ease of the process and cheaper costs, but this could be counterproductive. Apparently, due to the large number of advertisements, it’s difficult to reach the target segments. Some ad campaigns have begun combining their digital with real life campaigns, especially those targeting the youth. Interesting and creatively new graffiti and posters can be found where the youth like to mingle and hang out, like Mayar Complex, Shuwaikh Market, Lilly Center, Seef restaurants area and Mubarak Al-Kabeer Street. Some of these commercial campaigns may seem like social and po- litical commentaries, while others are based on graphic de- sign and photography. Yet, they are all directing passersby, aka the target audience, to their social media accounts. The use of posters and graffiti is not new to the Kuwaiti culture. These have been used to stir public opinion by en- thusiastic individuals. But for some reason, individual efforts are virtually non- existent in the light of the emergence of commercial posters and graffiti work. Therefore, it’s early to say that there is a growing poster culture in Kuwait. Graphic and poster designer Tala Al-Maian said there has been a growth in the graffiti movement in Kuwait in the past few years, along with social acceptance of it. “I believe in the next three years, we will see more posters on walls than graffiti because they’re simple and easy to print. You can call it the cheap people’s art!” Friday 5

Local Friday, December 22, 2017

Some of these commercial campaigns may seem like social and political commentaries, while others are based on graphic design and photography. 6 Friday Local Friday, December 22, 2017 It’s A Scam!

By Nawara Fattahova Farah, 45, received a call from an African man two months ago, warning lthough various kinds of scams her of the great danger she might be through phone calls, text messages, facing if she didn’t pay a sorcerer to Aemails and other media have been break a magic spell cast against around for decades, people still believe in her. “The guy claimed to be a these scammers and fall in their trap. Email sorcerer and said some people scams were the first attempts at electronic who hate me have cast a spell fraud before there were smartphones. on me that will soon bring Scams took many different forms. Some on me or somebody from emails promoted money laundering. Other my family death or seri- were supposedly sent by multinational ous injuries. He asked companies telling the respondents they had for only $3,000 to won a luxury car or a cash prize and dispel the witch- demanding their personal information craft and rescue including contacts and bank details. Over time, the scammers changed their tactics. The emails shifted to humanitarian stories calling for help and offering huge sums of money in return. Senders usually presented themselves as relatives of a for- mer president or dictator who was killed or had died, claiming to have millions of dol- lars but unable to access it and looking for an intermediary. They requested bank account details to transfer the money for a 10 percent commission of the amount. Other senders claimed they had inherited a few million dollars and also needed to the Internet app Viber claiming she had transfer it for a certain percentage, as they me. I told him I will try to collect the won the main prize of some competition - live in a war zone and can’t handle the money and hung up. Initially, I was a brand new vehicle. “The sender asked money themselves. scared as he mentioned some events that for my name, civil ID number and bank But now many scammers try their account details. I told my son luck using phone calls, especially about it, who warned me not with What’sApp and Viber. People in to respond to this message as Kuwait are regularly targeted with it’s a scam,” she noted. such scams, usually people calling to Other people have received say they’ve won a prize and to col- Scammers turn up heat on calls through various applica- lect need to pay a small fee or give tions, with the callers claiming over their banking details. Here are a would-be victims by calling they are calling from a telecom- few of the scams circulating in the through mobile apps. munication company to inform region currently. them they have won a prize in a Merisel, 30, received a phone call draw and requesting their per- recently from a number starting with sonal information to transfer the the code +22. The caller claimed to money to their accounts. All be an employee of Dubai Duty Free, banks in Kuwait keep warning telling her she had won $20,000 in a their clients through messages monthly raffle draw. “The caller told me to had happened to me, although I knew and emails not to respond to any caller or go to the nearest exchange office to these were randomly said. But I realized sender demanding their bank account receive my prize, but before doing this, I it was a scam and didn’t pay him any- numbers or passwords. Yet the scammers had to buy two Cash-U cards and send thing and blocked his number,” she said. keep trying, and gullible people keep him the serial numbers. When I told him Ghanima received a message through believing in them. that I hadn’t traveled to Dubai, he insisted that my phone number had won in the raffle, and urged me to go immediately to the exchange office. I told him I would, but I didn’t go as I knew it was a scam since I hadn’t traveled to Dubai,” she told Kuwait Times. Abdulhadi, a 55-year-old expat, received three messages last month offer- ing him a master’s degree in various majors including engineering from an international university without studying, for just a small fee. “I didn’t even bother searching if the university was real or fake, as I’m already old and not interested in any degree. Also I know it’s a scam, as engineering can’t be learned through distance learning,” he remarked. Friday 7 Local Friday, December 22, 2017

Niqashna holds debate on Illegalities in ‘separation of religion and state’ social media

By Jeri Al-Jeri Secularism not a solution for Muslim majority countries: Sharia professor

By Faten Omar [email protected] KUWAIT: Niqashna held a civilized debate entitled ‘the separation of religion and state’ on Wednesday at promenade culture center in In Kuwait, everyone is vocal about their politi- Promenade Ball in Hawally. Niqashna (our de- cal disagreements, religious or ideological stand bate) is a community platform for open de- points. Naturally, the line between having a bates in Kuwait. It aims to tackle an array of public discussion and venting steam in the com- important social and political issues by engag- fort of our homes is clear to everyone, at least ing all members of society. The negative team in the real world. was represented by Dr Mutlaq Al-Jasser, who But when tapping on a screen, we tweet, is a Sharia Faculty professor at Kuwait Univer- post or reply with the awareness that we got the sity (KU). whole world’s attention, and our uploads and He stated that he is against the separation comment may stay as long as the internet. Per- of religion and state because Islam has the an- verts, extremists and zealots have a chance to swer to most laws, and the other issues are slander and disturb more victims than they can covered by civil laws such as work and traffic Mutlaq Al-Jasser Dalaa Al-Mufti possibly imagine. laws. “I am against secularism because it is a In response, many countries have passed failure to ignore your belief in God and the state and our lives. Muslims have no choice but want. She also suggested that religious people ‘cyber’ laws to fight these socially destructive prophet and follow people’s orders. Who cre- to reject secularism for it excludes the law of must keep their distance from politics, not to activities, but do they really work? And what ated me is the only one to control me. Secular- Allah,” he said. protect the politics but to protect the image of about the cyber laws in the Gulf states? Are ism cannot be a solution for countries with a religion as religion is a spiritual thing between people even aware of them? Muslim majority or even a sizeable minority, for Cannot be imposed a person and God, so one must avoid showing On Twitter, I have received multiple mes- it requires people to replace their God-given Supporters of the secular state argued that it off or take advantage of it. sages from various accounts of people calling beliefs with an entirely different set of man- the values of one religion cannot be imposed Mufti noted that people need to face the themselves “spiritual healers”, inviting me to made beliefs,” he said. on members of different religions that are pres- hard reality that even so-called moderate or break “the evil eye”, or to get the one I love to Responding to the sayings that there are no ent in our countries. They pointed out that mainstream Islam presents huge problems be- marry me only for KD 5, as if throwing away religious countries and Islam is not fair to all, under the law of Islam, other religions are not cause it calls for religion to have a major in- money would be helpful in trying to get married, Jasser affirmed that the Prophet Muhammad prohibited. At the same time, people are pro- fluence on political decision-making. “The or to tell me about the future. It is frustrating to (PBUH) was known for his fair leadership for vided with doctrines for legislation and running partnership of religion and government in me when I remember that not everyone is aware all religions where under his lead all religions of the state that will protect people of all faiths much of the world is troubling because it in- that they are able to report these tricksters who lived in peace. However, sharia is an all-encom- living in the state. volves government policies being influenced rob their hard earned money, both in Twitter passing program for every aspect of life, in- Writer Dalaa Al-Mufti, supporter of the by myth, superstition and supernaturalism and and in a real life court. Sexual extortion is an- cluding the governance of the state. separation of religion and state said, “We have an absurd argument about God. It is one thing other matter that needs to be discussed, as well. He argues that the separation of religion and to admit that there is no such thing as a reli- to believe that there is some kind of power or People talk about how funny and tragic it state is un-Islamic, adding that the world needs gious country. Countries do not pray; people source beyond our understanding and quite was, when an elderly man stripped himself for a the real version of Islam, not the Islam of ex- do. We cannot force the people to follow our another to believe that any religious hierarchy young girl’s webcam after she promised to do tremists like the Islamic State (IS) group. “Islam religion.” She explained that secularism is not should influence legislation or governance. the same, then it turned out to be a mischievous cannot be separated from the state because it a religion; it is neutral. It gives people the right The latter leads us down a dangerous path,” male teen from another continent, who guides us through every detail of running the to follow whatever religion and beliefs they she added. recorded all of that artless “humanity” that ap- peared on his screen. Ashamed and defeated, the 60 years old had to pay that youngster the equivalent of $10,000. Unfortunately, interna- tional laws are not yet fully aligned with each other to secure and protect social media users from such ordeals, yet within the borders of the Gulf Cooperation Council countries, if such a deal was made, the users will be fined heavily for posting or commenting any suggestive or explicitly sexual materials, other than these of educational purposes. What about politics? Everyone is talking about the head lining stories of this famous snapchat user going to jail for insulting official government members, or the instgrammer who intentionally wanted to mock a famous singer only to get fined thou- sands of dinars. Surely, it isn’t debatable that in- sults or verbal abuse should not be tolerated? But what if a comment simply challenges the status quo? What about these vague sexually oriented engagements that cannot be de- tected? And what about other kinds of trick- sters, who have degrees in psychology or cosmetics, yet do not sell or offer a legitimate service to their customers? Most of all, what about buying fake “likes” and “retweets”? Such inquires, will be satisfyingly answered in my next article. KUWAIT: A general view of people in attendance. — Photos by Yasser Al-Zayyat 8 Friday Local Friday, December 22, 2017 Lawyer not optimistic on lifting Olympic sports ban Kuwait Bar Association hosts symposium

KUWAIT: After two years of sports suspen- sion on Kuwait, the ban on football was finally NEWS IN BRIEF lifted recently by the International Football Federation FIFA, which approved a new Amir congratulates sports law that was passed by the Kuwaiti Saudi King on anniversary parliament. However, the suspension imposed on other sports is yet to be lifted by the In- KUWAIT: His Highness the Amir Sheikh Sabah Al-Ahmad ternational Olympic Committee (IOC). Al-Jaber Al-Sabah yesterday sent a congratulatory cable “The ban on football, which is the most to Saudi King Salman Bin Abdulaziz Al Saud on the third popular sport in Kuwait, was lifted, yet it was anniversary of his ascension to the throne. In the cable, His not lifted for the rest of the sports and I am Highness the Amir extolled the deep and firm fraternal re- not very optimistic,” said MP and lawyer Al- lations between Kuwait and the Kingdom, and lauded the Hamidi Al-Sibei during a symposium held at KUWAIT: Saqer Al-Mulla (left) speaks during a symposium with MP and lawyer Al-Hamidi prominent development renaissance involving various the Kuwait Bar Association on Wednesday. Al-Sibei (right) and lawyer Sultan Al-Qahtani. — Photo by Yasser Al-Zayyat fields under the leadership of the Saudi monarch. His High- “Sports is a very important issue and His ness the Amir also wished the Saudi King wellbeing and Highness the Amir has tried his best to solve success in pursuing development in the kingdom and serv- this problem. These problems started in 2007, “I believe that issues related to sports suspension. Kuwaitis were a part of it and I ing both Arab and Muslim worlds. Two cables of similar when the parliament in Kuwait started inter- should be solved by the sports bodies and not was one of them. The FIFA officials de- sentiments were sent to the Saudi King by His Highness the fering and changing the law. Few years later, the parliament,” stated Sibei. “In the 1960s, manded slight changes in the draft law that Crown Prince Sheikh Nawaf Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah sports clubs were dissolved and Kuwait was Kuwait faced sports suspension and the Min- was submitted in 2016. So, the new law is the and His Highness the Prime Minister Sheikh Jaber Al- suspended from participating in international ister of Social Affairs at that time resolved the modification of that law. FIFA also de- Mubarak Al-Hamad Al-Sabah. — KUNA competitions.” issue. Now that the ban has been lifted, work manded that court cases are dropped, and According to Sibei, the new law was not related to sports should be done without any changing the conditions of the general as- proposed by Kuwaitis. “We proposed a law interference from MPs. We have also heard sembly at the sports clubs and of the found- that would abide with the rules and regulation rumors of a possible return of the suspension ing members,” he added. Mulla also Speaker receives officials of FIFA, and gave some powers to the Public on football, and I hope they are not true.” disagreed with Sibei on the role of MPs in Authority of Sports (PAY), but it was not Saqer Al-Mulla, Teacher at the Education the sports suspension issue, saying the KUWAIT: National Assembly Speaker Marzouq Al- passed by the parliament. The new law which College, Physical Education section, dis- problem started from a complaint sent from Ghanem received yesterday First Deputy Prime Minister resulted in lifting the ban was formulated by agreed with Sibei, saying, “The negotiations Kuwait to the IOC by one person. He also and Minister of Defense Sheikh Nasser Sabah Al-Ahmad FIFA, I assume, which gives no power to and forming of the new law took place in called for cooperation between all authori- Al-Sabah. Speaker Ghanem wished Minister Nasser Al- PAYS,” he added. Qatar, which also participated in lifting the ties to solve the issue completely. Sabah all the success in his current post. Meanwhile, Ghanem received Iranian Ambassador to Kuwait Alireza Enayati, who handed him an invitation from Iranian parliament Speaker Dr Ali Larijani to the Parlia- mentary Union of the OIC Member States (PUIC), which Inflammatory is scheduled in Tehran mid-January. In other news, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of bowel disease State for Cabinet Affairs Anas Al-Saleh lauded yesterday the exceptional ties linking Kuwait and the United States. This statement came during Saleh’s reception of US Am- on the rise bassador to Kuwait Lawrence Silverman. According to a ministerial press release, Minister Saleh expressed to Sil- By Faten Omar verman Kuwait’s eagerness to bolster relations with the US on all possible domains. — KUNA KUWAIT: The Ministry of Health of Kuwait held a press conference to announce an KUWAIT: Officials pose for a group photo during a press conference to announce an awareness campaign for inflammatory bowel diseases. — Photos by Yasser Al-Zayyat awareness campaign for inflammatory Development achieves peace: Kuwait bowel diseases (IBD) entitled ‘Return to your life, live without restrictions’ yesterday Fahad Al-Ibrahim, tors have been identified. Genetic factors, NEW YORK: Kuwait stressed the importance of achieving at its premises in Sulaibikhat. The event was gastrointestinal abnormal responses of the digestive system development and protecting human rights to end conflicts held under the auspices of Minister of system and liver to non-pathogenic of harmless germs, and attain world peace. The statement was made by head Health Dr Basel Al-Sabah, and was spon- consultant at Amiri smoking, diet and oral contraceptives are of the State of Kuwait’s Mission to the UN Ambassador sored by AbbVie Pharmaceuticals Hospital, pointed often considered as risk factors but not Mansour Al-Otaibi during an open discussion session Dr Ahmad Al-Fadhli, consultant of gas- out that the most proven to be so in the development of in- chaired by Japan at the UN Security Council late Wednes- trointestinal system and liver and head of common symptoms flammatory diseases, and stress. day. The session is titled “resolving the complicated mod- digestive unit in Mubarak Al-Kabeer Hos- of the disease are The conditions and causes of which are ern challenges facing world peace and security.” Otaibi pital, said that there has been an obvious diarrhea, abdomi- currently poorly understood, progress by affirmed the need of serious cooperation among all coun- increase in inflammatory bowel disease pa- nal pain, cramps, episodes of sudden attacks and settle of tries and UN bodies in order to achieve the 2030 UN Sus- tients in the last 15 years. “It is time to pay weight loss, fa- the disease. The symptoms are primarily tainable Development Goals. Kuwait’s policy had always attention towards this disease and spread tigue, blood in gastro-intestinal, with abdominal pain and Dr Ahmad Al-Fadhli relied on peaceful resolutions to conflicts and crises, he awareness as it affects people between the stool, pale appear- diarrhea. They can have serious health con- noted. The country also supports protecting human rights, ages of 15 to 35 years,” he added. ance, fever, joint sequences such as significant weight loss mainly in conflict zones, he added. Otaibi meanwhile hailed Fadhli added that the campaign aims to problems and skin problems. under nutrition and growth retardation in the UN’s approval of a resolution to boost the work and focus on spreading awareness among peo- Inflammatory bowel disease can be sub- children. IBD often has an impact on daily, efforts of the UN Security Council to achieve global peace ple about the disease, develop medical divided into two types: Crohn’s disease and family and professional life due to its se- and security earlier Wednesday. The resolution is part of treatments and get local, regional, and inter- Ulcerative Colitis. Although the exact causes vere and chronic nature. Treatment and the UN Secretary General’s efforts to make the UN more national experts to speak about it in confer- of Crohn’s disease and Ulcerative Colitis are medical monitoring is very essential for transparent and effective in executing its duties. — KUNA ences that will be soon held in Kuwait. Dr not really known, certain contributory fac- IBD patients. Friday 9 Local Friday, December 22, 2017 Mechanic saved in 12-hour rescue mission Bogus domestic help office busted

By Hanan Al-Saadoun and Agencies False claims the girls over to their mother. drove a vehicle recklessly without license Hawally detectives uncovered the false plates in Qairawan area. In other news, a girl KUWAIT: A rescue mission was carried out to claims to a Ukrainian woman who attempted to Fugitives nabbed who was reported missing four year ago was ensure the safety of an Arab mechanic who was implicate her estranged husband in the fake- A Jordanian man was arrested in Sabah Al- arrested by police who busted her while she trapped under a 200-ton crane that collapsed in kidnapping of their children, as he had to travel Salem after police discovered that he is wanted was driving a car at dawn in Shuwaikh. She the wood scrapyard in Amgharah. Firemen had with them when the mother refused to take to serve five years in jail over drug charges, re- was sent to Sabah Al-Salem police station to secure the crane, before cutting the metal and them before he traveled, Al-Rai reported. The ported Al-Rai. The man was detained after where a missing person’s report was filed back rescuing the man who was later handed over to woman went to Salmiya police station and told showing strong resistance. Meanwhile, a in 2013. She was held for questioning before paramedics. The rescue operation lasted for 12 officers there that her divorced Egyptian hus- teenager was arrested after a car chase as he being handed back to her family. hours, and was carried out by teams from occu- band kidnapped her daughters, aged 3 and 4, pational Jahra, technical rescue and backup fire and left to his country. The husband was sum- stations. moned by Hawally detectives, and he went to them with his two daughters. He said he took Fake office busted the girls for visitation, then when it was time to Residency detectives busted a bogus domes- bring them back, he called the mother but she tic help office and arrested a number of people refused to receive them. Then as he had to who used it to run illegal activities. Detectives travel, and could not leave them in a safe place, received information about one of the suspects, he was forced to take them with him, then and then set him up in a trap in which he agreed brought them back when he returned to to provide a domestic helper to an informant in Kuwait. Detectives’ investigations revealed exchange of money. Police also arrested eight that he was saying the truth, and found out that women who confessed that they have ab- there are several complaints by the woman sconded from their original employers. against her divorcee who was ready to hand

nouncement by Al-Durra Domestic Help Com- Former MP pany, saying that it started receiving applications to hire female domestic helpers from Sri Lanka for KD 990 per application. The news has since decries high sparked a wave of public criticism as citizens were hoping that the newly-established firm would help control recruitment rates which has domestic help reached up to KD 1,200 in recent years Awadhi held the government and National recruitment fees Assembly responsible for such practices and keeping silent about it. He also lauded the quick moves made by Deputy Premier and Foreign By A Saleh Minister Sabah Al-Khaled Al-Sabah and Com- merce and Industry Minister Khalid Al-Roud- KUWAIT: Former MP Kamel Al-Awadhi ex- han, warning office owners to maintain pressed his disappointment over reports indicat- acceptable prices. He said the rates mentioned ing that a state-owned company established this by the company are totally different compared year to handle domestic help recruitment duties to the rates mentioned in official letters submit- was demanding high fees similar to those re- ted by Kuwait’s ambassadors in the largest do- quired by local recruitment offices. The former mestic help exporting countries such as India, lawmaker was commenting on a recent an- Philippines and Sri Lanka.

InternationalFriday FRIDAY, DECEMBER 22, 2017

Car ploughs into Catalans vote to solve independence crisis crowd in Melbourne Page 13 Page 18

WASHINGTON: US President Donald Trump speaks about the passage of tax reform legislation on the South Lawn of the White House in Washington, DC, yesterday. —AFP Donald Trump tastes victory-at last The greatest victory of tumultuous young presidency

WASHINGTON: Looking out over the South Lawn of the losing Republican control of Congress in the 2018 mid-term “President Donald Trump is a man of his word. He’s a man of White House, flanked by the lawmakers who had just handed elections. For the 71-year-old president, it was a day for re- action,” said Pence. “President Trump has been making his- him the greatest victory of his tumultuous young presidency, joicing, flanked by his daughter Ivanka and son-in-law Jared tory since the first day of this administration.” For the real es- Donald Trump drank in the scene. For this most unconven- Kushner-as well as Gary Cohn, Trump’s economic advisor, ex- tate magnate, elected president with no prior experience of tional of presidents-impulsive, unpredictable, so often frus- Goldman Sachs banker and chief architect of the tax reform. politics, it was a sweet victory indeed. trated by the exercise of power-it was payback time at last. When Trump first vowed to push through the Republican In the chill December air, under a pale sky dotted with ‘Always fun when you win’ tax reform before Christmas, it raised amused eyebrows in clouds, Trump was celebrating passage of the sweeping tax Trump had no speech as such to deliver-launching instead, Washington where many expected it to fall foul of president’s reform he promised to push through if American voters de- with gusto, into a series of off-the-cuff remarks. He spoke of inexperience and divisions within his own camp. But several livered him to the Oval Office. The much-anticipated event the “tremendous enthusiasm right now in this country,” lawmakers admitted-in no uncertain terms-that tax reform had been staged with care: lawmakers and advisors, primed cracked jokes about the ups and downs of power, how it’s “al- was a make-or-break issue for the Republican party ahead of to cheer and applaud, surrounded him at the lectern, and ways fun when you win.” “What does it mean? It means jobs, next year’s elections. “This will indeed be a very big day, packed the majestic staircases that framed the scene. But the jobs, jobs,” he quipped, promising the tax cuts will deliver a when people look back at our country,” Trump concluded, relief was plain to see in Trump’s face as the businessman- shot in the arm for the US economy. before heading back to the Oval Office. turned-president-whose need for recognition appears to The president dished out smiles, pumped lawmakers’ Earlier Wednesday Trump had promised a press confer- know no bounds-took the stand. hands-singled out this “friend” or that “special person.” And ence to celebrate the bill’s adoption. As it turned out, he took Forgotten, for now, was the bitter failure to repeal Oba- the Republicans returned the favor, taking turns to sing his no questions. The president’s team is hoping this could mark macare, his predecessor’s flagship health reform. Forgotten praises. Setting the tone, House Speaker Paul Ryan credited a turning point for a leader whose popularity rating lags far the vicious tweets and jabs pitting the president against Trump’s “exquisite presidential leadership” for the success of below any of his predecessors this early in his term. But for members of his own Republican family, who now stood united the contentious tax plan, assailed by Democrats as a giveaway now, the 45th president of the United States is preparing to behind congressional leaders Mitch McConnell and Paul to the wealthiest that risks blowing a hole in the national debt spend Christmas break at his Mar-a-Lago golf resort, the Ryan, slapping each other on the back. Forgotten the setbacks Not to be outdone, Vice President Mike Pence doubled “Winter White House,” basking in the Florida sunshine and of recent polls-chief among them the defeat of Trump’s can- down with a superlative description of Trump’s accomplish- the glow of his first legislative victory. As for 2018, that is an- didate in Alabama, Roy Moore-which raised the specter of ments-including a tax cut he dubbed “a middle class miracle.” other story. —AFP 12 Friday International Fraiday, December 22, 2017 Syria’s war-ravaged Homs relishes in Christmas spirit Scars of battles that gripped Homs still visible

HOMS: The metallic green Christmas tree tow- are still visible: partially-destroyed buildings, ers over the bombed-out heart of Syria’s third collapsed or pockmarked walls, and piles of city Homs, where residents are relishing a holi- sandbags can be found across the Old City. day cheer they haven’t felt in years. They have When Syria’s conflict began in 2011, mass been busy putting the final decorative touches demonstrations rocked Homs, which activists on the tree in Hamidiyeh, a neighborhood in the dubbed the “capital of the revolution”. But after ravaged Old City of Homs, where ferocious years of government siege and bombardment, street battles pitted regime forces against rebels rebels agreed in 2014 to a deal that brought between 2011 and 2014. One volunteer ham- most of the city under regime control. mered a metal platform in place ahead of a choir A second pact earlier this year put the rest of concert and children’s Homs fully in government shows, and the futuristic hands. Grinning, Yussefi artificial Christmas tree gestured to the volun- is to be lit up yesterday. The tree teers around him: “As you “In 2014, when we can see, all the neigh- had just returned to this gathers us bourhood’s residents are destroyed neighbor- working together, smiling hood, our Christmas tree all around it like little kids.” He asked was made of rubble,” one to snap a photo- said Roula Barjour, the graph of him near the executive director of Christmas tree to send to HOMS: Syrians walk past a Christmas tree being decorated in the Christian-majority neigh- charity NGO Bayti, or “My House,” in Arabic. his children, now living in Germany. “I want to borhood of Hamidiyeh. —AFP “But this year, with the return of residents and of ask them to come back, because happiness has life, people are finding cheer again,” the 46-year- come back to Homs,” Yussefi exclaimed. old told AFP, between delegating tasks to young Many of its 800,000 residents fled when war monastery, which has become a pilgrimage site because of the people that were killed and the volunteers. One stood out: Abdo Al-Yussefi was erupted, but tens of thousands have trickled for Syrians. destruction of the churches. We’d pray over rub- well into his sixties, but the local resident insisted back, including to the Old City. Across the street, ble,” said church caretaker Imad Khoury. “But on joining the holiday preparations. He pulled construction workers have been repairing dam- ‘End of mourning’ today, the church has been restored and the crates of Christmas decorations up to the tree, aged homes. A nearby wall was dotted with Homs’s Old City had a significant Christian decorations are back. Our celebration this year already spruced up with curling blue and silver posters bearing photos of men, young and old, population before the war and is home to several feels like those from before the war.” garlands. “The Christmas tree used to be a joy killed in the Homs fighting. ancient churches, including the celebrated St Clashes heavily damaged part of the Church just for children, but now it’s for everyone, young Some of the posters on the “Wall of Honor,” Mary Church of the Holy Belt, named after a of the Holy Belt and left another section burned, and old,” said Yussefi, wiping his brow with a as it is labeled, have been torn and faded by sev- venerated relic said to be a section of the belt of and the road leading to it remains punctured by white napkin “The tree gathers us all around it.” eral winters. But the picture of Dutch priest Fa- Mary, mother of Jesus. Inside the silver-stoned a huge crater. But inside, restoration is almost ther Frans van der Lugt, killed inside Homs’s structure, young people erect a nativity scene complete, with new wooden benches, a large icon ‘Happiness has come back’ Jesuit monastery by unknown assailants in April depicting the birth of Jesus. of the Virgin Mary perched in a corner, and dec- The scars of the battles that gripped Homs 2014, remains vivid. He was buried at the “There was always a sadness in past holidays, orative red stars dangling from the ceiling. —AFP

Relief and Rescue Organisation, Morteza Salimi, said 97 people were injured. Khaledi said Two die around 50 of those were admitted to hospital. The quake caused no major damage but tens of Obeida district of Marib province, east of the thousands of people spent the night outside for US drone kills capital Sanaa, tribal sources said. A separate in Iran fear of aftershocks. strike on a second vehicle killed two other Many of them did so in their vehicles with the Qaeda propaganda AQAP militants in the same area, they added. engines switched on for warmth in the wintry con- Washington says its strikes have killed a num- quake panic ditions, exacerbating the thick smog that has en- chief in Yemen ber of senior AQAP figures in recent months, veloped the capital all week. Petrol purchases in including Mujahid Al-Adani, who was killed the six hours after the quake reached 10 million on November 20. TEHRAN: An elderly woman and a young girl litres (2.64 million gallons), more than double the ADEN: The propaganda chief of Al-Qaeda in It considers AQAP to be the worldwide ji- died and nearly 100 people were injured as a 5.2 average full day sales even though it was in the the Arabian Peninsula was among six jihadists hadist network’s most dangerous branch. The magnitude earthquake sparked panic in the Iran- middle of the night, the national fuel distribution killed in two separate US drone strikes in Sunni extremist group has thrived in the chaos ian capital and neighboring areas, officials said company said. Yemen, tribal sources said yesterday. The of nearly three years of civil war between the yesterday. The epicenter of the quake, which Average airborne concentration of the finest Wednesday evening strikes came as Wash- struck shortly before 11:30 pm (2000 GMT) on and most hazardous particles (PM2.5) rose to 170 Saudi-backed government and Shiite rebels ington revealed that US forces have carried who control the capital. In addition to the air Wednesday, was just 40 kilometers west of the micrograms per cubic meter, with peaks of 194 out more than 120 air strikes against jihadists capital, according to the seismological centre of micrograms in some neighborhoods, Tehran mu- strikes, mostly carried out by drones, US spe- in Yemen this year as part of a long-running cial forces have conducted a number of the University of Tehran. nicipality said. That is some seven times higher campaign that has intensified since President “A 70-year-old woman died after suffering a than the World Health Organization recommended ground raids against AQAP. The Pentagon has Donald Trump took office. also been attacking a local branch of the Is- heart attack and a 10—year-old died of elevated maximum of 25 micrograms per m3 over a 24- Saudi-born Abu Hajar Al-Makki and three stress,” the head of Iran’s hospital emergency hour period. Iran sits atop several fault lines, and lamic State group, which it says has doubled other AQAP militants were killed when a in size over the past year. —AFP services, Mojtaba Khaledi, told the ISNA news Wednesday’s quake is the latest in a series to have drone blew up their vehicle in the Wadi agency. The head of the Iranian Red Crescent’s hit the country in recent weeks. —AFP Friday 13 International Friday, December 22, 2017 Catalans vote to solve independence crisis

BARCELONA: Catalans voted yesterday in a voters-that focused the world’s attention on crucial election that could mark a turning point the region. Some 5.5 million people are regis- for their region, just two months after a failed tered to vote in yesterday’s election which is secession bid triggered Spain’s worst political likely to see seven parties winning mandates in crisis in decades. High turnout was expected in the 135-seat regional parliament. Polls showed a vote pitting leaders of the wealthy northeast- that around a million voters remained unde- ern region’s separatist movement against par- cided on the eve of election day, with many ties that want to remain in Spain. Catalans exhausted of the crisis and yearning Will voters again hand victory to pro-inde- for a return to normality. pendence parties that tried to break Catalonia The Spanish government called the vote from Spain, one of whose candidates is in jail after stripping Catalonia of its treasured au- and the other in self-imposed exile in Belgium? tonomy, in response to a failed independence Or will they lose the absolute parliamentary declaration by the region’s parliament on Oc- majority of 72 seats they won in 2015? Cata- tober 27. But the secession bid was short-lived lans on both sides of the divide saw the day as as Madrid sacked Catalonia’s government, dis- a potential moment of truth for their region, solved its parliament and called snap elections. following weeks of upheaval and protests un- Crucially, however, even if the pro-indepen- seen since democracy was reinstated following dence camp wins, it is not expected to attempt the death in 1975 of dictator Franco. “Today’s another breakaway from Spain but rather try vote is about whether we say yes or no to in- to enter into negotiations with Madrid. dependence in Catalonia,” said Gloria Garcia, To separatists, the vote is in part an oppor- a telephone operator in Santa Coloma de tunity to strengthen their hand in the standoff Gramenet, a working class suburb of with Madrid. In the staunchly pro-indepen- BARCELONA: Center-right party Ciudadanos (Citizens) candidate Ines Arrimadas casts her ballot for the Catalan Barcelona. dence town of Vic, 49-year-old professor Alex regional election at a polling station in Barcelona yesterday. —AFP Arroyo said he had never really supported the What next for separatists? separatist cause. But he changed his mind “be- see the election as crucial, with the centrist and Ciudadanos can be the change we need to While the independence question is far cause of the Spanish state’s radical positions” Ciudadanos expected to win the most seats firmly maintain the unity of Spain,” said Garcia, from new, it was the banned referendum on and because of the “violence ... on referendum out of the anti-independence parties. the telephone operator, wearing the red-and- October 1 — and a heavy police crackdown on day”. Supporters of the pro-unity camp also “The issue for me is that we are all Spanish, yellow Spanish flag around her neck. —AFP 14 Friday International Fraiday, December 22, 2017 Man on trial for bomb on Dortmund team bus Elaborate bid to make a fortune on the stock market

DORTMUND: A German-Russian man went on staying in the same Dortmund hotel as the play- trial yesterday accused of carrying out a bomb ers, had a view of where the fragmentation attack on the Borussia Dortmund football team’s bombs went off and had bought the put options bus in an elaborate bid to make a fortune on the on the team’s shares on the day of the attack, stock market. The blasts eight months ago shat- prosecutors said. Dortmund, also known as BVB, tered the bus windows, leaving Spanish interna- is the only football club in Germany that is listed tional Marc Bartra, 26, with a broken wrist. A on the stock exchange. police officer also suffered inner ear damage in the April 11 assault. ‘Stock market manipulation’ The suspect-named only as Sergei W., 28 — For his money-making scheme, W. had ap- was arrested 10 days after he allegedly remotely parently taken out around 50,000 euros set off the three explo- ($59,000) of credit to fi- sive devices hidden in a nance the purchase of op- hedge as the bus was tions. They could have leaving the team hotel Set off the been sold at a pre-deter- for a Champions League mined price by June 17, match. His alleged mo- three explosive more than two months tive was greed. Prose- after the attack, when a cutors charge he had devices sharp fall in the share sought to profit from an price would have prom- DORTMUND: The German-Russian suspect, only known as Sergei W, (2ndR) who is accused anticipated plunge in ised a high profit. of having carried out a bomb attack on the Borussia Dortmund football team’s bus, waits the club’s stock market Prosecutors said “a next to his lawyers Christus Psaltiros (R) und Carl Heidenreich (L) for the start of his trial value after the attack, by cashing in on so-called significant drop in the price could have been ex- on December 21, 2017 at the district courthouse. — AFP put options. pected if, as a result of the attack, players had Investigators had first feared a jihadist link been seriously injured or even killed”. The suspect Game only a day later peroxide fuel mixture and around 65 metal bolts. after letters suggesting an Islamist motive were could have pocketed up to 500,000 euros in W. faces life in prison if found guilty, although W. drew attention at the hotel, reported Bild, found at the scene. But questions quickly arose profit if the plan came off, they believe. He how- in Germany parole is usually granted after 15 first by insisting on a window room facing the over their authenticity and an Iraqi man taken ever sold the options in the days after the attack, years. Citing unnamed investigators, Bild news- front and then, in the pandemonium after the into custody was soon cleared of involvement. making just 5,900 euros. The head of Germany’s paper said police believed the suspect was capa- blasts, by calmly walking into its restaurant to Days later, police swooped on the suspect, an federal criminal police, Holger Muench, said: “We ble of building a remotely-triggered bomb, having order a steak. Defence lawyers in their opening electrical technician, and charged him with 28 have never experienced such an attack that won an educational award in electronics and en- statement charged that media leaks of investi- counts of attempted murder, triggering explo- turned out in the end to be such a perfidious form gineering in 2005. Prosecutors say the bombs gation details had prejudiced the case against sions and causing serious bodily harm. He was of stock market manipulation.” each contained up to a kilogramme of a hydrogen their client. —AFP

Santa Barbara side of the fire, Battalion Chief Chris Childers of the Santa Barbara County Crews make Fire Department said during a community makes polemical remarks about Germany’s meeting on Wednesday night. “This has been German far-right Nazi past. progress a nightmare of a fire for a lot of people,” he said. “The wind test is coming tonight and it Protestant and Catholic institutions in Ger- will be the true test to see that we have done says churches many did not put up organized resistance to on California our job correctly.” the 1933-45 National Socialist regime, al- With progress being made against the ‘in Nazi era’ though individual pastors and priests opposed wildfire blaze-which has scorched the dry coastal the Nazi rise. In recent months, Christian mountains, foothills and canyons of Ventura leaders have urged AfD members to rethink BERLIN: Germany’s far-right AfD party fired and Santa Barbara counties northwest of Los their positions. Weidel asserted that the AfD LOS ANGELES: Strong wind gusts may chal- Angeles- officials said they had cut the num- back yesterday at criticism from church lead- “is the only Christian party that still exists” in ers charging them with taking on the same lenge crews battling a sprawling wildfire in ber of firefighters to 6,500 from a peak of Germany and criticized Merkel’s Christian De- Southern California which threatens to be- “disreputable role they played” during the 8,500 over the past few days. The Thomas mocrats (CDU) by charging that “the C of the come the biggest in state history. Firefighters Nazi era. Religious leaders have spoken out blaze, which became California’s second CDU has become absurd”. “Christian values have halted the spread of the so-called against the anti-migrant and anti-Islam Alter- largest wildfire on Tuesday, is nearly as large no longer matter there,” she said. Thomas fire at 272,000 acres and carved native for Germany party-remarks the AfD as the 2003 Cedar fire in San Diego County, The AfD came in third in Germany’s general containment lines around 60 percent of its which consumed a record 273,246 acres sees as collusion with Chancellor Angela perimeter over the last couple of days, fire and Merkel’s government. elections in September, with nearly 13 percent (110,579 hectares) and killed 15 people. of the vote. Although it began as an anti-euro police said. But wind gusts from the north More than 1,000 homes and other build- “We now know that the official churches, were expected to accelerate to 50 miles per party, its rhetoric has veered right to primarily ings have gone up in flames, and about 18,000 whether Protestant or Catholic, are politi- hour yesterday morning, creating extreme fire cised through and through,” Alice Weidel, rail against immigration and Islam. Key AfD danger conditions for Santa Barbara County, structures remained listed as threatened since the fire started on Dec. 4. The cause has not party co-chair, told weekly news magazine members have challenged Germany’s culture the National Weather Service said. been determined. One firefighter died last Focus. “The separation of church and state is of atonement over World War II and the Ventura County, which has taken the brunt Thursday near the town of Fillmore in Ventura no longer respected,” said Weidel in a pre- slaughter of six million Jews in the Holocaust. of the fire, is likely to experience 40 to 50 mph County. The Thomas fire was initially stoked released excerpt of an article to be published During its electoral campaign, the AfD rolled (64 to 80 kph) winds on Thursday and Friday, by hot, dry Santa Ana winds blowing with rare Saturday. “With a few exceptions, large parts out provocative posters declaring “Burkas? it said. Fire managers were cautiously opti- hurricane force from the eastern desert, of the churches play exactly the same disrep- We prefer bikinis” and “New Germans? Let’s mistic that they could protect populated areas spreading flames across miles of drought- utable role that they played in the Third make them ourselves”, featuring a heavily against the predicted return of stronger winds, but were not letting their guard down. parched chaparral and brush in California’s Reich,” added Weidel, whose party regularly pregnant white woman. —AFP Firefighters have been able to secure the rugged coastal terrain. —Reuters Friday 15 International Friday, December 22, 2017 Peru’s President Pablo to face Congress impeachment threat Highest-profile political figure to be punished

LIMA: Peruvian President Pedro Pablo Kuczynski ambassador. “The president ordered me to return is set to face his country’s Congress over allega- today and here I am, by the president’s side,” Viz- tions of graft and covering up ties to a disgraced carra said on arrival. Political analyst Luis Be- Brazilian construction group, with many lawmak- navente predicted the center-right head of state’s ers seeking to impeach him. If Peru’s Congress impeachment, telling AFP: “President Kuczynski’s sets the impeachment process in motion it would luck has run out.” Ecuador’s vice president, Jorge make Kuczynski the highest-profile political fig- Glas, was last week sentenced to six years in ure to be punished in the expanding scandal sur- prison for taking kickbacks in connection with rounding Odebrecht, a Brazilian engineering and Odebrecht. Investigations and court cases are construction firm that admitted to paying millions taking place in other countries. of dollars in bribes in several Latin American countries to secure public works contracts. ‘I am not corrupt’ “I will defend my moral capacity,” Kuczynski, The charges against Kuczynski revolve around 79, said of Thursday’s con- $5 million he received gressional session. “The from Odebrecht be- constitution, and democ- tween 2004 and 2013. racy are under attack. We Many lawmakers For part of that period, are facing a coup disguised Kuczynski was econ- as a couple of supposedly seeking to omy minister and head legitimate interpretations of cabinet for then- of the law,” he said, joined impeach him president Alejandro by his vice presidents Mar- Toledo, whom Ode- tin Vizcarra and Mercedes brecht said it paid $20 Araoz. Earlier he lodged a million in kickbacks to LIMA: People protest against Fujimorism and corruption. —AFP judicial appeal to try to prevent Congress from win a contract managing a highway project. Both moving ahead, arguing that “I have been convicted Kuczynski and the Brazilian company insist the Americas, to send observers to monitor the moves demanded that Kuczynski resign to avoid being in advance,” according to Peruvian media publish- $5 million was for legitimate consulting fees. towards impeachment. The head of the OAS, Luis impeached. ing a copy of his challenge. The outcome of the However, payment of fictitious “advisory fees” Almagro, said on Twitter he was looking to dis- However suspicions related to Odebrecht are appeal was not immediately clear. was one technique the Brazilian company has ad- patch a delegation. Analysts warn that the politi- also leveled at the head of the Popular Force, Meanwhile thousands of Peruvians took to the mitted to using to funnel bribes to officials. And cal uncertainty hanging over Peru could deal a Keiko Fujimori, daughter of a former president streets in Lima marching against corruption and Peru’s president, a former Wall Street banker who “strong impact” to its economy, Latin America’s imprisoned for corruption and human rights all those bribed by Odebrecht. The odds appear took office in July 2016, initially denied that he re- seventh-biggest. Kuczynski is due to make his crimes. She was to have given a statement to stacked against Kuczynski’s survival. The number ceived any money from Odebrecht. It was only defense before Congress at 9:00 am (1400 prosecutors on Wednesday, but postponed the of lawmakers demanding impeachment on when the Brazilian company revealed the pay- GMT). The legislature is dominated by opposi- testimony. Odebrecht, a Latin American power- grounds of “permanent moral incapacity” ex- ments that he acknowledged that he had taken tion deputies, making it seem all but certain that house, had its own dedicated corporate depart- ceeds the vote threshold needed in the 130-seat them, but denied any wrongdoing. “I did not lie. I an impeachment vote would be carried. ment to manage the bribes it paid. It ultimately Congress to pass the motion. am not corrupt,” Kuczynski has repeated. Such a step requires 87 lawmakers to back it- agreed to pay $2.6 billion in fines to the Brazil- Peru’s First Vice President Vizcarra flew back He has asked the Organization for American and 93 have already called for the process to hap- ian, Swiss and US governments for the corrupt to Lima on Wednesday from Canada, where he is States, a cooperative forum for nations across the pen. One opposition party, the Popular Force, had practice. -—AFP

daily lives and pranks they performed. In a deal with prosecutors, Perez agreed Prankster pleads Ruiz convinced Perez to shoot him with to serve three months in jail in one- a pistol as he held the tome in front of month increments over three years, and guilty to fatally his chest. He presented her another then serve the other three months under book with a bullet hole on one side and house arrest. She will also be subject to Bodies found hanging in no exit hole as proof his plan would 10 years of probation and a lifetime ban shooting work, police said. from possessing firearms. Mexico tourism hotspot “Me and Pedro are probably going Although Perez has already agreed boyfriend to shoot one of the most dangerous to the sentence with prosecutors, a LA PAZ: Six bodies were found hanging from bridges Wednesday videos ever,” Perez wrote on Twitter judge can ignore the deal and impose in Mexico’s Baja California, a region known for its pristine prior to performing the stunt. “HIS idea a longer sentence. In such cases, de- beaches and popular with foreign tourists, authorities said. Grisly CHICAGO: A YouTube prankster from not MINE.” With video cameras fendants usually have the right to re- killings were once rare in the country’s tourism hotspots but have the US state of Minnesota has admitted recording, Perez, who was pregnant scind their guilty plea and go on trial. risen in recent years as organized crime has grown. The bodies fatally shooting her boyfriend in a with the couple’s second child, pulled Ruiz was a railroad worker, who had were discovered along highways leading to international airports botched video stunt she hoped would go the trigger from about a foot away, ac- lived with foster parents before grad- in La Paz, San Jose del Cabo and Cabo San Lucas, nicknamed the viral. Monalisa Perez, a 20-year-old cording to authorities. The bullet uating high school, according to a Los Cabos area. mother-of-two, believed her husband pierced the book and fatally wounded published obituary. He met Perez in It is a massive international Pacific resort area popular with Pedro Ruiz would be shielded by a thick Ruiz. He died at the scene of a single 2012 and they had their first child two Americans, Canadians and Europeans. The bodies were spread book as she took aim from close range gunshot wound to the chest. years later. across three bridges, two on each, the local prosecutor said. The in front of onlookers. Family and friends said at the time “Everyone that knew him, knew that victims have not yet been identified. A total of 409 people were She pleaded guilty Friday to second- that the death was an accident and that he never hesitated to try something new, murdered in the area from January through October-more than degree manslaughter and agreed to Ruiz had been talking about performing always pushing things to their limits,” the double for all of 2016. Drug gangs are fighting over routes on serve a six-month sentence. She will the stunt for some time. obituary said. The couple’s YouTube which they move drugs to the United States, as well as over turf face a sentencing hearing in February. “I said, ‘Don’t do it, don’t do it,’” Clau- channel was still active and its 18 videos on which they sell drugs to tourists from overseas. More than Perez and Ruiz, 22, were recording the dia Ruiz, the young man’s aunt, told local have generated 4.7 million views. As 196,000 people have been killed in Mexico since late 2006 when stunt in June for their YouTube channel, TV station KVLY in June, adding that his part of her plea deal, Perez agreed to not the federal government launched a controversial military-led an- where they published videos of their response was, “We want more viewers.” seek financial gain from her case. —AFP tidrug offensive. —AFP 16 Friday International Fraiday, December 22, 2017 4 dead, 11 missing as ferry capsizes off Philippines Over 200 passengers and crew were plucked to safety

MANILA: Four people were killed and 11 others was no longer safe for the rescuers, but they will and crew when it left the port of Real for Polillo, usual to avoid heavy weather forecast to hit were missing yesterday after a ferry with hun- continue tomorrow,” Crisostomo said. a 2.5-hour trip. “We believe the weather was a ahead of the holidays. Another storm killed more dreds on board capsized in stormy weather off Janet Balili, a local council member, told ABS- big factor” in the accident, coastguard than 40 people in the central Philippines last the Philippines, rescuers said. Over 200 passen- CBN television 11 people remain missing. The spokesman Armand Balilo told a news confer- weekend. gers and crew were plucked to safety after the station aired footage ence in Manila. The ferry The Philippines, an archipelago of more than Mercraft 3 keeled over in heavy seas en route to of rescuers taking in- sailed as Tropical Storm 7,000 islands, is plagued by poor sea transport, a remote island, officials said. jured survivors to a Tembin loomed over the with its badly regulated boats and ships prone “The wind suddenly picked up and the boat hospital. Four body The weather southern Philippines, to overcrowding and accidents. The latest in- was forced to stop when the bow started taking bags were also seen nearly a thousand kilome- cident occurred 30 years after another Philip- in water. Passengers ran to the side just before it being laid out on the was a big tres away. pine ferry, the Dona Paz, collided with an oil tipped over,” student Donel Mendiola told floor. The boat tipped The vessel, which is li- tanker in a pre-Christmas accident that claimed DZMM radio. “Some of us swam, but I saw some over between the re- factor censed to carry up to 286 more than 4,000 lives in the world’s worst old people who were apparently already dead,” mote island of Polillo people, was allowed to sail peacetime disaster at sea. More recently, the Mendiola said. Two men and two women were and Real town, about as there were no storm Kim Nirvana ferry capsized shortly after de- killed, while the search for those still missing has 70 kilometers east of warnings at or around Real parture off the city of Ormoc in the central been suspended for the night, Ron Crisostomo, a Manila, shortly before noon (0400 GMT), the or Polillo, Balilo said. The government had ad- Philippines in 2015, killing 61 people. The acci- civil defence official in Infanta town near Real coastguard said. vised Filipinos planning to return to their home dent was thought to have been due to over- told AFP. “It was rainy and the wind was up. It It said the ferry was carrying 251 passengers provinces for Christmas to do so earlier than crowding. —AFP

N Korean soldier 18 dead in fitness defects to South SEOUL: A North Korean soldier escaped centre blaze in Seoul to the South yesterday across the heavily- guarded Demilitarized Zone that divides SEOUL: At least 18 people were killed and 24 injured yesterday the peninsula, triggering gunfire on both in a major blaze at a building housing a sports centre and public sides of the tense border in the second de- bath in the South Korean city of Jecheon, officials said. The fire fection in successive months. The “low- broke out around 4:00pm local time (0700 GMT) and quickly ranking” soldier was spotted by South engulfed the entire eight-storey building, leaving many trapped Korean soldiers using surveillance equip- inside. Sixteen victims were found at a public sauna and two else- ment as he crossed the land border near where in the building, the National Fire Agency said. Yeoncheon in thick fog and made his way Television footage showed the building consumed by flames to a guard post, a spokesman for Seoul’s and issuing dark plumes of smoke, as several people stood wait- defence ministry said. ing to be rescued from an outdoor terrace. The fire-believed to There were no shots at the time, he have started in a parking lot on the first floor-has been mostly said, but about 80 minutes later South put out, but the death toll may rise further as firefighters continue Korean troops fired around 20 rounds to search the building, an agency spokesman said. ‘The fire pro- from a K-3 machine gun to warn off duced so much toxic smoke so quickly, leaving many people un- Northern guards who approached the This file photo taken on November 27, 2017 shows North Korean soldiers staring at able to evacuate,’ the spokesman said. border apparently looking for their com- South Korean soldiers at the truce village of Panmunjom in the Demilitarized zone Jecheon is in central South Korea, about 120 kilometres (75 rade. Two bursts of gunfire were later (DMZ) dividing the two Koreas. —AFP miles) southeast of the capital Seoul.President Moon Jae-In heard in the North, the spokesman said, expressed regret over the accident and urged officials ‘utmost but there were no indications of any bul- (2.5-mile) -wide DMZ bristles with barbed of people defecting directly to the South efforts’ for rescue and search operations, his office said. The lets crossing the border. wire and is littered with minefields, making to 15, a Joint Chiefs of Staff tally showed- worst fire accident ever to hit the modern South Korea was an The incident came a month after a rare any crossing extremely hazardous. three times as many as in 2016. Around arson attack on a subway station in the southeastern city of and dramatic defection by a Northern sol- 30,000 North Koreans have fled repres- Daegu that killed 192 people in 2003. —AFP dier under a hail of bullets from his own Uncertain fate sion and poverty in their homeland to side at Panmunjom, the truce village where The latest defection was the fourth by a reach the South over the decades since the opposing forces confront each other soldier across the DMZ this year. But Kim end of the 1950-53 Korean War. across a concrete dividing line. On that oc- Dong-Yub, defence analyst at the Institute According to Unification ministry casion the defector drove to the heavily- for Far Eastern Studies at Kyungnam Uni- data, 1,418 did so in 2016, but in the first guarded border at speed and ran across versity in Seoul, said the sample size was 10 months of this year numbers fell 16.8 the border as North Korean troops fired too small to draw conclusions about a percent. Analyst Kim told AFP: “The at him. He was hit at least four times. trend. Two North Korean civilians also de- North’s chronic food shortages, which in Footage showed the badly injured man fected this week after being found drifting the past were the prime reason for North being pulled to safety by two South Ko- in a rickety engineless boat off the South’s Koreans to flee from the country, have not rean soldiers who crawled to reach him just eastern coast, Yonhap news agency re- been so bad in recent years.” The vast south of the demarcation line. He has since ported, citing the Unification Ministry, majority of defectors go first to China, been recovering in hospital in the South. which handles relations with the North. with which the North shares a long bor- Yeoncheon, where yesterday’s defection They were spotted by a South Korean der, and where they face the risk of being SEOUL: Flames and smoke billow from an eight-storey happened, is in the midwestern part of the surveillance aircraft and picked up by a repatriated to an uncertain fate if caught. building after a fire broke out. —AFP DMZ, in Gyeonggi province. Away from nearby navy vessel, it said. The develop- They travel on to the South later, usually Panmunjom, the rest of the 4-kilometre ments bring this year’s total for the number via another country. —AFP Friday 17 International Friday, December 22, 2017 India acquits ex-telco minister of corruption One of the country’s biggest-ever political scandals

NEW DELHI: India’s former telecoms minister India’s then-ruling Congress party was ac- was cleared yesterday of his alleged role in a cused of under-pricing licenses and favoring multi-billion dollar fraud that ballooned into one certain firms, seriously damaging the adminis- of the country’s biggest-ever political scandals. tration of former prime minister Manmohan A special court in New Delhi acquitted A. Raja Singh. In 2012, India’s top court cancelled 122 li- of corruption and also dropped charges against censes for eight firms amid allegations of bribery a slew of other bureaucrats and corporate ex- and wholesale fraud. Time Magazine in 2011 in- ecutives implicated in the 2008 scandal that cost cluded the scam on a list of historic scandals the state billions in lost revenue. alongside “Watergate”, which brought down US Judge OP Saini said president Richard India’s federal investiga- Nixon in 1974. tors, who brought the ex- Scandal that plosive charges against Political fallout the high-profile defen- cost the state Analysts say the dants, could not prove al- fallout weakened the legations of criminality. “I Congress party and have absolutely no hesita- billions contributed to its heavy tion in holding that (the) defeat at the 2014 gen- prosecution has miserably eral elections. Prime failed to prove any charge Minister Narendra against any accused,” Saini told a packed court- Modi and his right-wing Bharatiya Janata Party room. Raja, who appeared in court alongside the (BJP) won that poll in a landslide, campaigning in other accused, waved and smiled after the ver- part on a pledge to clean up corruption. Singh, CHENNAI: Indian Dravida Munnettra Kazhagam (DMK) party working President MK Stalin dict as his supporters let off firecrackers outside. who was not linked to the scandal but was ac- distributes sweets to party supporters at the home of party leader Karunanidhi. —AFP The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI), cused of turning a blind eye as prime minister, which brought the case, said it would appeal the said the Congress party finally stood vindicated. ruling BJP called for an appeal. Finance Min- aberration... This judgment will definitely be judgment in the Delhi High Court. “The court has “I am glad that the court has announced un- ister Arun Jaitley said Congress should not set aside,” he said. not appreciated (the) evidence in proper per- ambiguously that all this massive propaganda... treat the verdict as “a badge of honor”. Raja, a politician from southern Tamil Nadu spective. The CBI will be taking necessary legal was being done against the UPA (Congress- “That this was a corrupt, dishonest policy state, resigned as a minister in 2010 but always remedies in the matter,” spokesman Abhishek led alliance) without any foundation,” he told has already been held by the Supreme Court,” maintained his innocence. He was arrested the Dayal told reporters. The so-called “2G spec- reporters after the verdict. Senior Congress he told reporters. Subramanian Swamy, a sen- next year before being released on bail in 2012. trum scam” came to light in 2010 when a gov- politician Shashi Tharoor said it was clear that ior BJP politician whose legal challenge of the A lawyer by training, Raja argued his own case ernment auditor estimated it cost the treasury as “innocent people have been wronged”. “Jus- tender process sparked the criminal investiga- and questioned witnesses throughout the trial much as $39 billion in lost revenues — equal to tice has worked as it is supposed to work in tion, was confident the acquittal would be re- as it dragged on for years through India’s gla- India’s defense budget. our country,” he said. But top officials from the versed. “This is not a setback but an cial legal system. —AFP

doms unseen on the mainland since being issues. “The whole thing was unthinkable 10 years fied. Ties have become increasingly frosty since Backlash grows handed back to China by Britain in 1997, under ago, but now it’s happening,” Mo told AFP. DPP leader Tsai Ing-wen took office as presi- a “one country, two systems” deal. But there are dent last year. Taiwanese academics, campaign- rising concerns that those liberties are under Academics targeted ers and lawmakers have consistently declared over HK’s threat. The city’s mini-constitution, the Basic Rejected Taiwanese scholar Wu Rwei-ren public support for Hong Kong’s pro-democracy Law, stipulates immigration affairs are managed accused the Hong Kong government of having a camp, and the city’s high-profile young cam- immigration internally, but analysts say decisions over who is “blacklist” which was expanding to academics. paigners frequently visit the island. allowed in are increasingly arbitrary and non- Lawmakers from Taiwan’s ruling Beijing-sceptic Meanwhile Chinese authorities have issued transparent, sparking concern that immigration Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) and the is- warnings about challenges to its sovereignty, ‘blacklist’ is becoming a political battleground. “Things land’s leading anti-China activists have also pre- particularly incensed by an emerging independ- that were not considered a threat are now seen viously been rejected from entering Hong Kong. ence movement in Hong Kong. Hong Kong’s im- as threats,” said Edmund Cheng, assistant pro- “Taiwan’s academics have actively participated migration department said it could not comment HONG KONG: A string of figures critical of fessor of government and international studies in social movements,” Wu told AFP. on individual cases when asked about the Tai- China’s Communist Party say they have been de- at Hong Kong Baptist University. He believes Beijing wants to block commu- wanese scholars recently rejected, saying only nied visas to Hong Kong, sparking accusations of a secret “blacklist” that bears signs of Beijing’s In a controversial response to media ques- nication between Taiwanese groups and oppo- that it would “consider all the factors” when as- growing influence over the city. Taiwanese tions over the Rogers case, city leader Carrie sition forces in Hong Kong “to isolate its civil sessing an application. The department did not scholars Wu Rwei-ren and Wu Jieh-min of Lam refused to provide details about why he society and render it helpless”. Wu is co-author respond specifically to queries about allegations Taipei’s prestigious Academia Sinica, due to was refused entry but suggested that matters of of a book on Hong Kong nationalism and took of a blacklist. speak at a conference in Hong Kong Friday, were immigration can involve diplomatic considera- part in Taiwan’s Sunflower Movement in 2014, Taiwan’s Mainland Affairs Council, which the latest to say their visa applications had been tions, for which Beijing is responsible. “This re- which saw a dramatic occupation of parliament deals with cross-strait relations, expressed “re- rejected without explanation. defines some of the boundaries in ‘one country, to protest a China trade pact. He said he could gret and dissatisfaction” over the barring of its Their cases followed a high-profile incident in two systems’,” said Cheng of Lam’s comments. not get an entry permit when he applied online citizens. Taiwanese social activist and DPP sup- October when British activist Benedict Rogers, China banned a cross-party delegation of British to attend a seminar in Hong Kong this month, porter T.C Chang, who also says he was denied deputy chairman of the governing Conservative MPs from entering Hong Kong in 2014, at the although he had previously been permitted to entry at Hong Kong’s airport this month on his Party’s human rights commission, was turned height of the mass pro-democracy Umbrella visit the city. way to a cultural forum, recalls how he felt “hon- away by immigration after landing for what he Movement rallies. The other Taiwanese scholar rejected this ored” to edit a magazine in the city in the past said was a private trip. Rogers has previously That visit was part of a foreign affairs commit- month, Wu Jieh-min, is also critical of Beijing and and had frequently gone back and forth since. criticised the jailing of democracy campaigners tee examination of the former colony’s relations Hong Kong authorities, and participated in var- “It’s saddening if I can’t go to Hong Kong any- in Hong Kong, calling it “one of the most with the United Kingdom. Pro-democracy law- ious social movements. Taiwan is a self-ruling more,” he said in a Facebook post, but added he grotesque miscarriages of justice I have seen.” maker Claudia Mo said she believed Hong Kong democracy with a fully-fledged civil society, but would not be stopped. “My connection with Semi-autonomous Hong Kong enjoys free- was “giving up” its own authority on immigration Beijing sees it as part of its territory to be reuni- Hong Kong won’t be cut off by you.” —AFP 18 Friday

International Friday, December 22, 2017 19 hurt as car ploughs into crowd in Melbourne: Police ‘Deliberate act’ but not terror related

MELBOURNE: A car ploughed into a crowd in ‘Thump, thump’ Australia’s second-largest city yesterday injuring In a tweet, police appealed to members of the 19 people in what police said was a “deliberate public to upload any images they might have of act” but one they did not believe was terror re- the incident to help assist with their investigation. lated. Witnesses said people were thrown through A witness, named only as Sue, told Melbourne the air after being hit by the vehicle, which did not radio station 3AW that she heard screams and saw appear to be trying to stop as it “mowed every- “people flying everywhere”. body down” at a busy intersection in downtown “We could hear this noise, as we looked left, we Melbourne. saw this white car, it just mowed everybody Victoria state police said the 32-year-old down,” she said. “People are flying everywhere. driver, an Australian of Afghan descent, was known We heard thump, thump. People are running to authorities for traffic and “minor assault” of- everywhere.” Another witness, John, told ABC fences and had mental Radio Melbourne that he health issues. The car was saw an “SUV coming at driven “intentionally” high speed”. “(I) really just through the intersection heard the collision with and collided with a “large It just mowed people with bags and number” of pedestrians, everybody what must be shopping Acting Chief Commis- trolleys-and I hope not MELBOURNE: The street outside Flinders Street station is cordoned off by Australian police at the scene where sioner Shane Patton told down prams,” he said. “I’ve re- a car ran over pedestrians in downtown Melbourne. —AFP reporters in Melbourne. ally never seen anything The driver “has a his- like this before and I tory of drug use and haven’t stopped shaking.” is still being heard in court, had been pursued closed circuit cameras, and delaying ap- mental health issues... At The intersection is one of by police prior to the rampage after he had al- proaches such as trees and bollards to slow this time we do not have any evidence or intelli- Melbourne’s busiest, a local shop owner told na- legedly stabbed his brother. Canberra has be- down vehicles. Melbourne has also been in- gence to indicate a connection with terrorism” or tional broadcaster ABC, and is particularly come increasingly worried about homegrown stalling a public siren system and more security extremism, he said. The man was arrested after a crowded at this time of the year ahead of the extremism and officials say they have pre- cameras to warn people of a possible terrorist tussle with an off-duty police officer. Investigators Christmas break, with school holidays under way. vented 13 terror attacks on home soil in the past attack or other serious threats. were waiting to interview the driver, who was in few years. Andrews said there would an inquiry into the hospital under police guard. Victoria state Premier Vehicle attacks The Australian government in August un- incident, and whether any further changes to Daniel Andrews, called the incident an “evil, delib- The incident came after a car mowed down veiled a strategy aimed at preventing vehicle Melbourne’s security measures needed to be erate, cowardly act” that left 19 people hurt-four pedestrians in Melbourne’s busiest mall in Jan- attacks in crowded public places. Suggested made. Over the next few days, hundreds more of them critically. uary, killing six people. The driver, whose case steps include deterrent options like fencing and police would patrol the city, he added. —AFP

acknowledge the island as part of “one China sentences China”. Taipei has in the past accused Beijing of “abducting” Taiwanese sus- ers from forcing employees to wear Christmas pected of committing fraud abroad and Indonesia police clothing. “We will raid businesses in anticipation 44 Taiwanese for taking them to China. Taiwan’s Mainland of them being stubborn about this and we will be Affairs Council spokesman Chiu Chui- warn Islamists accompanied by police,” said Novel Bakmukmin, telecom fraud cheng expressed “deep regret and dissat- against Santa raids head of the FPI’s Jakarta chapter. Employers forc- isfaction” over the sentencing. ing staff to wear Christmas clothes were violating BEIJING: China sentenced 44 Taiwanese “We insist that Taiwanese suspects in- their rights. “Businesses should be aware that there JAKARTA: Indonesian police appealed yesterday to prison yesterday for telecom fraud fol- volved in cross-border telecom fraud should be no forcing,” he said. The Islamic Clerical lowing their extradition from Kenya, in a for tolerance and respect for other people’s reli- Council’s decrees are not legally binding but serve cases should return to Taiwan to face in- gious celebrations after an Islamist group threat- move likely to further sour cross-strait vestigation, trial and serve the sentence as guidelines for Indonesian Muslims. ties. The Taiwanese were among a group ened to raid businesses to check for Muslims being Christmas is widely celebrated across Indone- according to the law,” he said at a regular forced to wear Santa Claus hats or other Christmas sia and holiday decorations are ubiquitous, espe- sentenced to between 21 months and 15 press briefing yesterday. “We urge the garb. The hardline Islamic Defenders Front (FPI) cially at shops, restaurants and malls where many years in prison and slapped with fines, the Chinese side to communicate and negoti- said this week it would conduct “sweeping opera- enthusiastic workers - even Muslims - don Santa Beijing Second Intermediate People’s ate with us for the interests of the people tions” in the world’s biggest Muslim-majority Court said on its official account on hats or elf costumes. The FPI built its reputation to seek resolutions in terms of joint crime- country, and that forcing Muslims to wear Christ- China’s Twitter-like Weibo. with raids on restaurants and bars serving alcohol fighting to eradicate fraud groups.” mas attire was a violation of their human rights. during the Muslim fasting month of Ramadan. In The question of how to deal with Tai- The council has stated that it has intel- Indonesia is home to several religious minori- recent years, it has turned its attention to Chris- wanese arrested abroad has become a ties, including Christians, Hindus, Buddhists and tian celebrations. The group has also said it wants sensitive diplomatic issue, with Taipei ligence on “the key suspect behind the people who follow traditional beliefs. The consti- the Jakarta city government to stop sponsoring protesting that suspects should be re- crime” and called on China to cooperate tution guarantees freedom of religion in an offi- New Year celebrations, which attract many thou- with Taiwan security authorities “as soon cially secular state though tension between turned to the self-ruled island, rather than sands of people. the mainland. China and Taiwan split after as possible”. The telecom case is the latest followers of different faiths can flare. “There can About 90,000 police officers will be on duty to involve the international deportation of be no sweeping operations ... members of the pub- a civil war in 1949 and the island sees it- cross the country during the end-of-year holi- self as a sovereign nation, but Beijing Taiwanese suspects, and analysts see the lic should respect other religions that are carrying days, in an operation largely aimed at preventing out celebrations,” national police chief Tito Kar- considers it a breakaway province that is cases as part of Beijing’s bid to pile pres- militant attacks. Attacks on churches in Jakarta sure on Tsai. A Spanish court said last week navian told police during a security exercise in the and elsewhere on Christmas Eve in 2000, killed part of its territory-a stance that most capital, Jakarta. The FPI said it aimed to enforce a nearly 20 people. Ever since, authorities have countries around the world recognize. it had also decided to allow the extradition fatwa, or decree, issued by Indonesia’s Islamic stepped up security at churches and tourist spots Ties between Beijing and Taipei have of Taiwanese fraud suspects to China de- Clerical Council in 2016 prohibiting business own- for the holiday. —Reuters worsened since President Tsai Ing-wen spite protests by Taipei, which hoped to took office last year over her refusal to take back its citizens. —AFP LifestyleFriday FRIDAY, DECEMBER 22, 2017 www.kuwaittimes.net

A man dressed as Santa Claus rides a camel along Jerusalem’s Old City Ottoman walls. — AFP

Star’s suicide highlights dark side of the K-pop dream Page 20 20 Friday

Friday, December 22, 2017 Lifestyle | Features

A Thai fan of the late South Korean band SHINee singer Kim Jong-Hyun puts up a note for him during a Family members and friends of late SHINee singer Kim Jong-Hyun carry out his coffin during a funeral at memorial held by the boyband’s Thai fanclub at a Buddhist temple in Bangkok yesterday. —AFP photos a hospital in Seoul. Star’s suicide highlights dark side of the K-pop dream ‘inevitable outcome’

nown for its ultra-competitive, sleep and privacy. Kim Se-Jeong, a pressure-cooker society, popular K-pop singer, confessed of KSouth Korea has one of the once sleeping a total of one hour for world’s highest suicide rates. And this four days. “I had to perform on stage, week the even higher stresses in the appear in TV shows and shoot ad country’s lucrative showbiz industry commercials all at the same time,” she took their toll on a K-pop superstar. told a television interviewer earlier Kim Jong-Hyun, a 27-year-old lead this year. singer of the hugely popular boy band Kang Daniel, of the popular boy SHINee, took his own life in a Seoul band Wanna One, admitted that his hotel room on Monday, with his death biggest wish was “having just one day sending shockwaves through fans of rest”. “For months ahead of my around the world. Five-member SHI- debut, I usually woke up four or five Nee were at the forefront of the “Ko- in the morning... practiced until two or rean Wave” that has seen South three in the morning the following Korean pop culture sweep Asia by day,” Kang said in a television inter- storm in the past decade and lap at view aired in August. He was “grate- shores even further afield. ful” to get a chance at fame, he The band has found fame and for- added-but the grueling schedule tune with multiple chart-topping al- eventually affected his health and the bums and sold-out concerts at home 21-year-old cancelled all public ap- and abroad since their debut in 2008. pearances earlier this month. The hearse carrying the body of late SHINee singer Kim Jong-Hyun leaves as fans watch at a hospital. But a grittier reality lies beneath the glitz and glamour of the K-pop scene- cutthroat competition, a lack of pri- vacy, online bullying and relentless public pressure to maintain a whole- some image at all times and at any cost. Many stars like Kim are picked up by agencies at a young age, usually in their early or mid-teens, their lives then taken over by grueling singing and dancing training, with the ever- present risk of falling foul of a cut- throat screening process. Holidays are rare and privacy an unaffordable luxury as many live with other band mates in dorm-like apart- ments provided by their agents, who dictate everything from music styles and diet regimen to mobile phone use-and normally impose dating bans. Family members and friends of late SHINee singer Kim Jong-Hyun cry as they carry Fans of late SHINee singer Kim Jong-Hyun cry as the hearse carrying the body of Many struggle with a constant lack of out his coffin during a funeral at a hospital in Seoul. Kim Jong-Hyun leaves from a hospital. Friday 21

Friday, December 22, 2017 Lifestyle | Features

Fans of late SHINee singer Kim Jong-Hyun cry as the hearse carrying the body of Kim Jong-Hyun leaves Notes for the late South Korean band SHINee singer Kim Jong-Hyun are seen on a whiteboard during a from a hospital. memorial held by the boyband’s Thai fanclub.

Smiley happy face Many K-pop stars face tremendous pressure to look and behave perfectly in an industry pow- ered by so-called “fandoms”-groups of well-or- ganized admirers who spend enormous amounts of time and money to help their favored stars climb up the charts and attack their perceived ri- vals. In return, the stars are expected to tread carefully in an industry where today’s most-fer- vent fans can be tomorrow’s most vicious critics if their idols fail to meet their expectations-or “betray” them. Drug use or drunken driving are seen as ca- reer-breakers, while behavior that causes a “stir”-anything from a social media gaffe to a failure to smile ceaselessly at public appear- ances-could be criticized for years. Many are constantly chased by paparazzi and camera- touting fans who share or sell every single detail and images of the stars’ daily lives online for public scrutiny. “These ‘idols’ virtually live in a fishbowl and are pressed to put on a smiley, happy face while behaving nicely 24/7,” said cultural commentator Kim Seong-Soo, adding A Thai fan of the late the strain could “cripple them emotionally”. South Korean band Such challenges are common among celebri- SHINee singer Kim ties around the world, he told AFP, but are am- Jong-Hyun puts up a plified in the hyper-wired South, which has some note for him during a of the world’s fastest internet speeds and highest memorial held by the smartphone usage, and a society where pressure boyband’s Thai fanclub to conform is high. Taboos about mental illness at a Buddhist temple dissuade many from seeking medical help, in- in Bangkok cluding public figures, he added. yesterday. —AFP photos

Winner takes all ined by a jail term for drug abuse, did the same Actress Park Jin-Hee interviewed hundreds of petition in areas from education to workplaces Kim’s death is unusual for a K-pop musician at last year. In the most shocking series of suicides, actors and actresses for her master’s thesis in and a lack of safety nets, said commentator Kim, the height of his popularity, but is the latest in a actress Choi Jin-Sil - a household name - hanged 2009 and said that 40 percent had considered calling depression an “inevitable outcome” of liv- long list of showbiz suicides. In 2010, Park Yong- herself in 2008, her actions blamed on online bul- suicide at least once due to a lack of privacy, on- ing under such strain. “Our country has an ex- Ha, a top actor who had huge followings at home lying. Her brother, also an actor, killed himself two line bullying or unstable incomes. But celebrity treme form of winner-take-all system where those and in Japan and China, hanged himself, and for- years later, and her ex-husband, former baseball suicides are only a microcosm of South Korea’s who fail can hardly make a comeback, or even mer actor Kim Sung-Min, whose career was ru- star Cho Sung-Min, followed suit in 2013. wider social problems, including cutthroat com- survive.”— AFP Robot DJ puts the tech into techno for Czech clubbers

hese days artificial intelligence is so nightspot. The robot is shaped like a giant ager Adam Lipsansky told Reuters. records and also dances. While some club- advanced that robots trade shares, arm capped with a pincer, and has shared The DJ robot was created after the bers told Reuters that they enjoyed the Tmake restaurants suggestions and deck duties at the club with its human pro- club’s management challenged a robotics robot’s musical efforts, others remained diagnose diseases. But can a robot get a grammer in an hourly rotation each night firm to the task. Equipped with special unconvinced. “I don’t like the robot,” said dance floor jumping? It is a question that for the last three weeks. software to help it choose songs and Marcia Lopes, 24, a tourist from Mexico. Prague’s Karlovy Lazne Music Club has “People are excited (about the robot), mounted on a stage above the club’s dance “It can’t feel what the people want to endeavored to answer by employing a because they haven’t seen anything like this floor, the robot selects discs from nearby dance to. There is no emotion behind the specially adapted former automotive in- around Europe, and I am not sure if there is racks and puts them into one of three music. When there is a real person, they dustry robot as a DJ in the popular something similar in the world,” club man- music players in front of it. It can scratch know, what fun is like.” — Reuters 22 Friday

Friday, December 22, 2017 Lifestyle | Fe a t u r e s

Manuela Cutileiro, owner of the Doll A picture shows Hospital, dresses dolls and a doll up a doll in front house at the of drawers of Doll Hospital doll parts at the in Lisbon. Doll Hospital — AFP photos in Lisbon. A new lease of life for cherished toys at Lisbon doll hospital

n the heart of old Lisbon, there’s a “hospi- tal” that treats patients who are small and Ifragile, often mangled and battered, and sometimes more than 100 years old. This rare facility mends the cracked head, broken limb or missing eye of many a child’s favorite toy- their doll. The loving care given at Lisbon’s doll hospital has been going on for five genera- tions. “We have clients from all over the world and all ages. There are museums which ask us to restore pieces, also private collectors, but the vast majority of our clients are individuals- people who are sentimentally attached” to their dolls, says Manuela Cutileiro, 72, the hos- pital’s owner. The dolls all have a patient file and are painstakingly restored by the skilled hands of three women “surgeons”, who give them a new body part or hair, chosen from drawers full of pieces of dolls, a macabre collection of heads, limbs and eyes. The establishment, known as Hospital de Bonecas, was founded in 1830 and is described in the tourist guides to Portugal’s capital as one of the oldest doll hospitals still in operation. Drawers with different doll parts at the Doll Hospital. “They say we are among the last in the world to do this work,” says Cutileiro, a for- mer school teacher. But she shrugs off acco- lades. “We do our work in our little corner, without worrying about records or statistics.” Dolls are displayed at the Doll Hospital. Some 4,000 dolls can be found inside. There are 100-year-old dolls with porcelain heads, along with dolls dressed in costumes from dif- ferent regions of Portugal, as well as some modern Barbies. “For us a contemporary doll is 20 or 30 years old. The old ones are those which are al- ready centenarians,” says Cutileiro, carrying on the family enterprise. Its origins go back to the 19th century when “a little old lady”, Car- lota da Silva Luz, would make rag dolls, sitting in front of her herb shop in Praca da Figueira, where there was a large outdoor market. Over time, the aromatic and medicinal herbs gave way to shelves of dolls, which today fill a win- dow display at the entrance to the hospital, with a museum dedicated to them on the first A picture shows doll hands inside a drawer floor. And it seems as if the pace of times past at the Doll Hospital. continues at the doll surgery. No rush proce- dures here. “We make sure that time passes less quickly here than it does outside,” says A picture shows doll heads inside a drawer at the Doll Hospital. Cutileiro. “People have to wait.”— AFP Friday 23

Friday, December 22, 2017 Lifestyle | Feature

A mannequin A woman is displayed in repairs a front of shelves doll at the of doll parts at Doll Hospital the Doll Hospital in Lisbon. in Lisbon.

Several Barbie dolls and Action Man figures waiting to be repaired lie on a net.

Dolls inside a drawer at the Doll Hospital.

A tag with instructions is attached to the feet of a doll waiting to be A woman repairs a doll at the Doll Hospital in Lisbon. repaired at the Doll Hospital.

A picture shows doll heads inside a drawer at the Doll Hospital.

A doll is displayed at the Doll Hospital. A picture shows doll heads at the Doll Hospital in Lisbon. A picture shows doll heads at the Doll Hospital in Lisbon. 24 Friday Lifestyle Friday, December 22, 2017

Fashion mourns as cult Investor takes stake in Rolling Paris store Colette closes Stone, keeping on owner edia investor Jay Penske on Wednesday announced a hey may not yet be weeping in the tors across the globe. But for regular ken that she and her daughter Sarah An- stake in Rolling Stone to revive the financial health of the streets, but for French fashionistas, browsers like Chanel designer Karl Lager- delman would no longer be at the helm of Miconic magazine of music and counterculture, with Tthe closure Wednesday of Colette, feld, it was never bettered. “It’s the only what Vogue critic Suzy Menkes called “the founder Jann Wenner preserving a role. The investor’s Penske the concept store which has become a shop where I go because they have things coolest shop in town”. Ironically, the Media Corp. did not reveal terms of the deal but several media Paris style institution, ranks nothing short no one else has,” he said. building is being taken over by Saint Lau- outlets including Variety, one of his titles, said the media company of a national tragedy. “I cannot believe it is “If Paris is the center of the (fashion) rent, which once threatened to sue Colette was spending $100 million for a controling stake. closing,” said style commentator Melody world, Colette is the centre of Paris,” said over that cheeky T-shirt. “We are totally BandLab Technologies, a Singaporean start-up headed by Thomas in one of a blizzard of articles and fashion documentary maker and Twitter disappointed it is closing. It’s a mythic Kuok Meng Ru, the scion of one of Asia’s richest families, will keep blog posts mourning the passing of the wit Loic Prigent. “When Rihanna comes to place,” shoppers Gabriel and Kevin told its 49 percent stake in Rolling Stone bought last year, Penske said. mother of all lifestyle stores, where Paris she goes to Colette. It’s the same for AFP on the eve of its closure. Wenner launched Rolling Stone in 1967 through a family loan Madonna, Kim Kardashian and Katy Perry Beyonce and Madonna and the others. Co- “You come to Colette’s to find some- when he was a hippie student in Berkeley, California. Within years shopped for quirky objects of desire. The lette is a centrifuge,” he said. With the shop thing really exclusive,” said the Parisian he turned the magazine into a bible of rock music coverage and a three-storey boutique on chi-chi Rue still booming, the store announced in July friends who now live in Canada, recalling platform for left-wing politics and experimental journalism by Saint-Honore, founded by Colette Rous- that Roussaux wanted to bow out at the the tiny run of 1,000-euro ($1,180) trainers writers such as gonzo reporter Hunter S. Thompson. saux 20 years ago, was far more than a top. Chanel made with the singer Pharrell But even as Rolling Stone’s reviews remain among the most gadget or design store to its many ‘Coolest shop in town’ Williams. With only hours left before Co- closely watched in the music industry, the publication has strug- celebrity fans. gled in an era when independent magazines find it difficult to It pioneered limited-edition collabora- stay afloat. Rolling Stone suffered a major blow when it retracted People walk past the entrance of the colette concept store in Paris on December 16, 2017, a 2014 story about an alleged gang rape at the University of Vir- tions between luxury brands and street ahead of its definitive closure. — AFP fashion stars, and cheekily poked fun at ginia, with a review finding that the magazine ignored basic Saint Laurent with the T-shirt “Ain’t Lau- journalistic practices. Penske said he hoped to ensure that rent Without Yves” when the label stopped She had got to “the age to take your lette closed for good, shoppers thronged Rolling Stone “continues to ascend for decades across multiple using its founder’s first name. With a base- time-and Colette cannot exist without Co- the store, flitting between its trademark media platforms.” ment Water Bar where you could sip ice- lette,” the store said. “All good things come mix of humble and luxury wares-a novelty “Our interest in Rolling Stone is driven by its people, its cul- berg melt water or anti-ageing spirulina to an end.” While style lovers applauded sponge selling for four euros next to a tural significance and the globally recognized brand that has no seaweed cocktails, it soon sparked imita- her for not selling out, they were heartbro- 9,990-euro Saint Laurent jacket. —AFP peer in its areas of influence,” Penske said in a statement. Wen- ner will move from serving as Rolling Stone’s publisher to a new role of editorial director. Gus Wenner, Jann’s son, will keep his position of president and chief operating officer of Wenner Borsalino, Italy’s hatmaker to Media and join the advisory board of Penske Media Corp., the statement said. Jann Wenner called Penske “the ideal match for us to thrive the stars, declared bankrupt in today’s media landscape.” Founded by Jay Penske in 2003, his company has amassed major titles in entertainment and culture including Variety, one of the most influential outlets in Holly- amed Italian hatmaker Borsalino, the wood, the lighter film site Deadline.com and the fashion business company behind Humphrey Bogart’s trend-settler Women’s Wear Daily. Penske has also entered the Ffedora in “Casablanca” and Harrison Indian market with India.com, a portal with news on technology Ford’s lucky headgear in the “Indiana and Bollywood that is a joint venture with Mumbai-based Zee Jones” movies, was declared bankrupt on Entertainment. Wenner Media earlier this year sold two maga- Monday, a trade union said. A court in zines, US Weekly and Men’s Journal, to American Media, Inc., Alessandria in northern Italy threw out a the right-leaning publisher of The National Enquirer and other rescue plan for the legendary company supermarket tabloids. —AFP and put it into administration, Elio Bricola from the UIL labour union told AFP. He said that while “it is likely industrial activ- ity will continue” for now, “employees are angry and worried about their future”. Michael Jackson loved Borsalino hats, trend-setting music star Pharrell Williams is a contemporary fan and David Bowie opted for one of the Italian house’s black fedoras for what was to prove his final photo shoot. The 1970 French gangster This file photo taken on March 17, 2016 shows a hat in a “Borsalino” flag-ship store in film “Borsalino” was also named after the Florence. —AFP distinctive fedora-style hats worn by heartthrob actors Alain Delon and Jean- and its estimated 120 employees was such plan, presented a few weeks ago, Paul Belmondo. But even the endorsement later rejected by the court and a second was also thrown out. — AFP of film and music royalty could not pro- tect the 160-year-old company from the consequences of reckless management. The Haeres Equita investment fund took control of the ailing company in 2015 in the hope of turning the situation around, despite a debt of 30 million euros ($35 million). The hatter’s former boss French designer Marco Marenco, who was on the run Jean-Paul Gaultier from fraud and tax evasion charges, was (left) poses next arrested in 2015 in Switzerland. A judge to a wax sculpture initially approved Haeres Equita’s pro- of himself during posals for repaying Borsalino’s creditors, its inauguration at giving the green light for a new chapter the Musee Grevin in the history of a company that pro- wax museum in duced two million hats a year in the Paris. — AFP 1920s. But the plan to save the business Friday 25

Friday, December 22, 2017 Lifestyle | Features

A relative of Song Song-Hui (lower Song Song-Hui left) sings during (center) sings a family gathering during a family at her apartment gathering at her in Pyongyang. apartment in — AFP photos Pyongyang. Of Cabbages and Kims: Korea’s changing kimchis

orth and South Korea are radically different tic buckets to ferment on the balcony-in rural tra- societies, one ruled by the same family for dition the containers are buried-it would be ready Ndecades and the other a freewheeling to eat in a week, and at its best in a month. democracy and thrusting economy. But one thing “Korean people can eat rice only with kimchi,” unites them-their love of fermented cabbage. Kim- said Yu, adding a family of four could get through a chi, originally a means of preserving the vegetable kilo a day. A request to see a North Korean family during winter and which can vary from mild to fiery, in full kimjang mode had resulted in the visit to has been a staple part of virtually every meal on the Song’s apartment, which overlooks the giant statues now-divided peninsula for centuries. In the North, of founding leader Kim Il-Sung and his son and suc- where UN statistics say around 40 percent of peo- cessor Kim Jong-Il that dominate the capital. The ple are chronically undernourished, it flavors the rice Song family are undoubtedly members of the North that is the mainstay of the diet. In the South, it ac- Korean elite - Song’s father founded the Py- companies cuisines from American to Vietnamese. ongyang Glasses Factory before handing it over to But while authorities on both sides of the border the state, and it made the red glass torch that stands proclaim their commitment to reunification, after atop the Juche Tower monument in the city. Song’s more than 70 years of total separation without even piano was given to her by Kim Jong-Il, and a formal post or telephone links, the two countries are far group photograph in the living room shows her more different than were East and West Germany standing directly behind current leader Kim Jong- when the Berlin Wall fell. Un, the third of the dynasty to rule. And even their kimchis have changed. They were listed separately on UNESCO’s roster of the world’s Mother’s memory intangible cultural heritage, with the South’s in- Kimchi is not the only cultural component that di- scribed first, but in her central Pyongyang flat, Song vides Korean opinions. A few years ago The Econo- Song Hui offers a patriotic defense of the Northern mist caused a stir in the South by suggesting its beer variety’s superiority. “I have never tried kimchi from was inferior to those produced by the North’s Tae- the south but I think the Pyongyang kimchi is much donggang brewery. More fundamentally, seven Song Song-Hui (center) sits with relatives as gather at her apartment in Pyongyang. better than the kimchi from the south,” Song said. decades of political and economic division have seen linguistic divisions begin to emerge - North and Taste divides South spell and pronounce some Korean words dif- Kimchi has always had regional variations-it is ferently, and use different systems to transliterate into saltier and stronger in the South, says Park Chae- English. Some terms common in the North are no Rin, a researcher at grandly-named World Institute longer used in the South, where young people are of Kimchi (WIKIM) in Seoul, as the warmer climate constantly coming up with new words - so much so made cabbage harder to store. According to Park, that North Korean defectors are given language les- technological advances in the South-many house- sons as part of their assimilation course. As far as holds have specialized kimchi fridges-and greater kimchi goes, WIKIM’s Park believes debates on fla- access to spices and condiments have made the vor and quality are as much about memory as taste. North-South flavor gap more pronounced. “North “The kimchi that tastes most like their mother’s kim- Korean kimchi is similar to the kimchi eaten before chi, the one that they grew up eating, is what people modernization when there was no refrigerator and find most delicious.” a lack of ingredients,” she said. “In South Korea, that WIKIM is funded by the Seoul government and type of kimchi has completely disappeared.” has nearly 100 staff to promote the industry-al- Nevertheless, the kimjang-kimchi-making-sea- though the cabbage and spices for commercial South son remains a family tradition on both sides of the Korean kimchis actually come from China. Claims- border as temperatures fall towards zero. In Song’s sometimes outlandish-for the food’s health benefits flat, her cousin Yu Yang Hui-a chef by profession- are regularly made in the South, where authorities mixed together sliced radish, garlic, pieces of pol- organize giant kimchi-making festivals, but for Park lack, and a red pepper paste, before spreading the kimchi retains a role as a national identifier. “Kimchi concoction between the leaves of cabbages soaked carries a kind of common sentimental element that in salt water for 24 hours to soften. Packed into plas- Yu Yang Hui (center) makes kimchi at the apartment of Song Song-Hui (top center), in Pyongyang. ties together all Koreans,” she said. — AFP 26 Friday

Friday, December 22, 2017 Lifestyle | Food

Ingredients Two large petite beef filets 1/4 pound thin sliced prosciutto 1/4 cup pesto 1/4 cup thin red pepper strips 2 tablespoons olive oil 1/2 cup low-sodium chicken broth Succulent petite beef filet for a holiday dinner

By Sara Moulton in such a way that it becomes a big flat rectangle. egant and festive holiday meal. 3: Arrange half the prosciutto over the inside of Start by looking for the largest petite filets you Prosciutto and Red Pepper Stuffed Petite Filet each roast, leaving a 1/2-inch border on all sides. ant to serve a fancy roast for Christ- can find. They’re the easiest to slice and they Spread half of the pesto on top of the prosciutto mas dinner without breaking the hold more stuffing. Then, before commencing Preparation and arrange the red pepper strips down the mid- Wbank? Try a petite beef filet. Cut from your butterfly surgery, read the instructions sev- 1: Preheat the oven to 400 degrees. dle. Starting with the long end, roll up the beef the shoulder, long and thin, and weighing be- eral times. The goal is to avoid cutting a hole in 2: Butterfly the petite filet roasts: Working with to form a cylinder and tie it with twine at 1-inch tween 8-10 ounces, the petite filet looks like a the meat as you butterfly it, although it’s not a one filet at a time, place the filet on a cutting lengths. mini tenderloin of beef - one of the priciest and problem even if you do. board with one of the short ends facing you. 4: In a medium ovenproof skillet heat the oil over most popular of roasts. But it’s much less expen- The roast will still hold together after the Start cutting the roast along the left long side medium high heat, add the meat, seasoned all sive and more flavorful than the tenderloin. And meat is pounded, lined with prosciutto, rolled about 2/3 of the way down from the top of the over with salt and pepper and brown it on all tender, too. and tied. And tying it isn’t that difficult. If you filet, cutting through almost to the other side but sides, about 5 minutes. Transfer the pan to the Here we’ve rolled it up and stuffed it with need help, there are several terrific videos online stopping about 1/2 inch from the other side. Flip middle shelf of the oven and roast the filets for prosciutto, as well as with pesto and roasted that will take you through it step by step. the roast over so that the cut side is now on the 10 minutes for medium-rare meat. Transfer the red peppers. The latter two ingredients - one This recipe doesn’t need to be made at the right. Repeat the procedure on the left side roasts to a plate, cover them loosely with foil and green, the other red - echo the signature colors last minute. You can cut, roll and tie the roast again, slicing about 2/3 of the way down from let them rest for 10 minutes before slicing. of the holiday even as they delight the taste ahead of time and chill it for several hours. Then, the top of the filet, cutting to within 1/2-inch of 5: Meanwhile, add the chicken broth and any buds. And, bonus! You can buy them by the jar when you’re 25 minutes or so from sitting down the other side. Open up the two flaps that you juices from the resting meat and simmer for 3 in the supermarket, which makes the prep that to dinner, brown it, pop it in the oven and let it have just cut in the filet so it is the shape of a rec- minutes. much easier. rest for the requisite 10 minutes. Whip up the tangle. Pound the meat between two sheets of 6: To serve: Remove the strings, slice the meat The only tricky part of this recipe is double- sauce while the roast is resting. You will look like plastic wrap, sprinkled with water until it is and arrange it on four plates. Spoon some of the butter flying the roast - that is, cutting the filet a culinary genius as you plate up a singularly el- about 1/4-inch thick all over. pan juices over each portion. Friday 27

Friday, December 22, 2017 Lifestyle | Food Spanish-style crispy potatoes for New Year’s party

Ingredients 2 pounds medium Yukon gold potatoes, sliced crosswise 1/2-inch thick 1/2 teaspoon baking soda 4 tablespoons olive oil Kosher salt For the sauce: 1/3 cup mayonnaise 1/4 cup chopped roasted red pepper 2 teaspoons vinegar 1 teaspoon lemon juice 1/2 teaspoon smoked paprika 1/2 teaspoon minced garlic Pinch of cayenne

By Sara Moulton How to make crispy potatoes without fry- Preparation spoon oil and continue to toss until coated with ing? Here are a few tricks: First, partially cook Preheat the oven to 450 F. Adjust an oven a starchy paste. he classic New Year’s libation is cham- the potato slices in simmering water with a bit rack to the lowest position. In a Dutch oven or Carefully remove the sheet pan from the oven pagne, but what to eat is a matter of of baking soda, which makes the exteriors of large saucepan combine the potatoes and bak- and pour the remaining tablespoon of oil onto it, Tbroader choice. This year why not make it the potatoes slightly mushy and releases their ing soda with enough cold water to cover by 1 tilting the pan to coat the bottom. Add the pota- a tapas party - a feast of various little bites? starch and sugar. inch. Bring to boil, reduce to a simmer and cook toes and spread them out in one layer (the end And, if indeed that’s how you choose to roll, one Then toss the hot potatoes in a bowl with oil until the exterior part of the slices has softened pieces should be placed skin side up). Bake until of those dishes should be these crispy baked po- and salt, which encourages a starchy film to ac- but the centers are still slightly firm when the bottoms are golden brown, 20 to 25 minutes, tatoes with a garlicky red pepper mayo sauce. cumulate on the potatoes’ exterior. When the pricked with a knife, about 5 minutes. rotating the pan after 10 minutes. Flip the pota- Spanish Style Crispy Potatoes with Garlicky potatoes are roasted, all of that starch and sugar While the potatoes are simmering, place a toes and brown them on the second side, 15 to Red Pepper Sauce is a streamlined take on a on the outside helps to form a crispy brown rimmed sheet pan on the bottom rack of the 20 minutes. Sprinkle with salt to taste. Spanish classic called patatas bravas - deep- crust. As for the lip-smacking sauce - a mix of oven to heat up. Drain the potatoes and return fried chunks of potato with a spicy tomato sauce pureed red peppers, smoky paprika and garlic them to the saucepan. Cook over medium heat Make the sauce: In a blender puree the and/or aioli - sort of like the Spanish equivalent mayo - you can drizzle it on top of the potatoes a few minutes, shaking the pan until there is no peppers. Add the remaining ingredients and of french fries. But given that most folks aren’t or set it on the side as a dip. However, there’s no excess water on the surface of the potatoes. blend, scraping down the sides several times, keen on firing up a big vat of boiling oil, I’ve en- reason to reserve this recipe for a special occa- Transfer them to large bowl. Drizzle with 2 ta- until smooth. gineered a baked version. It’s not quite as crispy sion like New Year’s. It will make a very satisfy- blespoons of the oil and 1/2 teaspoon salt; toss To serve: Transfer the potatoes to a bowl and as the fried, but it comes close. ing side dish whenever you serve it. well to combine. Drizzle with another 1 table- drizzle with the sauce, or serve the sauce on the side. 28 Friday

Lifestyle Friday, December 22, 2017

Sudoku

DID YOU KNOW?

hen you see a snowy owl, it’s clear how tive at dawn and dusk. the bird probably got its name: they’re Snowy owl pairs usually mate for life. Female Wsnow-white. Males are generally whiter snowy owls lay from 3 to 11 eggs at a time, in a nest than females. As males grow older, they get whiter. built on the ground. When there is plenty of food The females never become completely white-re- available, snowy owls tend to lay more eggs than maining brownish with darker markings. when food is scarce. These large owls mainly live in the Arctic in open, Lemmings make up the main part of the snowy treeless areas called tundra. Snowy owls perch on owls’ diet, and lemming population numbers rise and the ground or on short posts. From there they pa- fall naturally. Sometimes, if there is not enough prey tiently watch for prey. Their favorite target is lem- around to feed baby owls, the adult pair won’t lay mings-small mouse like rodents-but they also hunt any eggs at all until the supply of food improves. for other small rodents, rabbits, birds, and fish. The female snowy owl sits on her eggs until Snowy owls have excellent eyesight, but they ob- they hatch. The male feeds her while she keeps viously can’t see their prey when it’s underneath their eggs warm and safe. After about one month, snow or a thick layer of plants. To capture those the eggs hatch. meals, the owl relies on its other keen sense: hearing. Babies are covered in soft white down when In flight, snowy owls generally cruise low to the they hatch. As new feathers replace the down, the ground. Once they spot their prey, they approach it birds become light brown. from the air, and snatch it up using the large, sharp The young leave the nest less than a month talons, or claws, on their feet. after they hatch. By the time they’re about a Most owls sleep during the day and hunt at night, month and a half old, the young owls can fly well, but the snowy owl is active during the day, espe- but their parents take care of them for another ten cially in the summertime. They tend to be most ac- weeks or more. Friday 29

Lifestyle | Kids Friday, December 22, 2017 CROSS WORD RECIPE Chicken Avocado Roll-Ups

INGREDIENTS: 2 avocados, cubed Juice of 1 lime 2 cup Shredded chicken 1 bell peppers, seeds and cores re- moved, chopped 1/2 small red onion, chopped 1/2 cup Shredded Monterey Jack 1/2 cup shredded Cheddar 2 tbsp. sour cream 2 tbsp. finely chopped chives 4 large flour tortillas

DIRECTIONS: In a medium bowl, combine avocado and lime juice and mash until only small chunks of avocado remain. Add chicken, bell pepper, red onion, Mon- terey Jack, cheddar, sour cream and chives and stir until evenly combined. Spread a thin layer of the chicken avo- cado mixture onto a large tortilla, leaving a small border around the edges. Roll the tortilla up tightly, then cut off the edges and slice into 1” rolls. Repeat with remaining ingredients. Serve cold or at room temperature.

Maze

JOKES

Q: What do you call a dinosaur with no eyes? A: Doyouthinkysaraus Q: What do you call a sleeping dinosaur? A: A dino-snore! Q: How do you know if there is a dinosaur in your refrigerator? A: The door won’t shut! Q: What dinosaur would Harry Potter be? A: The Dinosorcerer Q: How can you best raise a baby dinosaur? A: With a crane! Q: What did the dinosaur put on her steak? A: Dinosauce 30 Friday

Lifestyle | Book review Friday, December 22, 2017 Mysteries Unfold in a Land of Minarets and Magic Carpets

By Suzanne Joinson to exotic-sounding cities like Islamabad or Hyderabad and signals what comes . A. Chakraborty’s novel, The City next: the sound of the call to prayer, of Brass the first of a projected views of citadels and minarets, the bus- Strilogy, opens with a veiled tle of grand bazaars. To Nahri, who sees woman fortunetelling in what appears “a man pass by with an enormous to be 18th-century Cairo. We quickly python settled over his shoulders,” the learn that Nahri earns her money as a people of the city look “wild.” Its thief and a leader of zars (rituals for the streets are full of strollers in glowing exorcism of bad spirits), and speaks a robes wearing headdresses of glittering language, inherited from her long-dead stones; there are even shape-shifters parents, whose name she doesn’t know. among them. Chakraborty doesn’t hold It seems we are about to be plunged back on the Eastern glitz. into a cultural mash-up of “The Thou- The Muslim world is no stranger to sand and One Nights” and any number speculative fiction, though that label of young adult novels with plucky fe- wouldn’t be used there. Islamic folklore male protagonists, but when Nahri and narratives are full of flying ma- walks through Cairo’s spooky cemetery chines, impossible journeys, skewed things take a speculative turn. Puff! time frames and stories that illuminate A warrior in robes emerges from cultural or scientific theories. It’s clear among the gravestones, flashing his that Chakraborty has great fun alluding scimitar, bows and arrows aquiver. Next to these tales, though in storytelling come ghoulish zombies: “The tattered terms “The City of Brass” is standard, remains of burial shrouds hung from fast-paced fantasy fare. their desiccated frames, the scent of rot On the journey, Nahri gains access filling the air.” Nahri and the warrior to Dara’s memories and figures out that must escape, but how? A flying carpet, he’s a slave, even as her personal trajec- of course, and when Nahri responds, “A tory involves explorations of her own rug? How is a rug going to help us?” identity. Most enjoyable is the gusto it’s clear we’re in the hands of a playful with which everything is thrown into writer. The warrior is a type of spirit her story, from massacres to zombies to called a daeva, his name is Dara and, as djinns. If there are stereotypes, they’re luck would have it, he’s “frighteningly consciously acknowledged and mis- beautiful,” with the “type of allure Nahri chievously inhabited. imagined a tiger held right before it At the moment, speculative fiction ripped out your throat.” As kidnapper- has an exciting relationship with protest rescuers go, he’s hot as hell. fiction and feminist narratives, and while Also, he knows the answer to the “The City of Brass” doesn’t blow away mystery of Nahri’s origins: She’s a shafit, cultural notions of difference or recon- descendant of an ancient half-human, figure the male-female divide, it does half-magical tribe thought to have be- exploit the genre’s penchant for inclu- come extinct. A birdlike creature then sion. In fact, the novel feels like a explains that Nahri is in danger and that friendly hand held out across the world. her handsome protector must take her (I hope very much that it will be trans- away to the city of Daevabad. Thus their lated into Arabic and Farsi.) It reads like adventure begins, complete with snowy an invitation for readers from Baghdad plains, forbidding mountain ranges and to Fairbanks to meet across impossibly fierce confrontations. divergent worlds through the shared The city’s name, Daevabad, with its language and images of the fantastical. Persian suffix of -abad, makes reference Friday 31

Comic Friday, December 22, 2017

Word Search ject of a poetic idyll. 41. Jordan's port. CROSSWORD 1785 3. Having a toe or toes of a specified 44. Of or relating to a seizure or con- kind. vulsion. 4. The father of your father or mother. 47. A sudden numbing dread. 5. Water falling in drops from vapor 48. The branch of computer science condensed in the atmosphere. that deal with writing computer pro- 6. A person who organizes. grams that can solve problems cre- 7. A long projecting or anterior elonga- atively. tion of an animal's head. 49. An overwhelming feeling of wonder 8. A loss of will power. or admiration. 9. Remove offensive capability from. 50. A brittle gray crystalline element 10. A highly unstable radioactive ele- ment (the heaviest of the halogen se- that is a semiconducting metalloid (re- ries). sembling silicon) used in transistors. 11. (Irish) Mother of the ancient Irish 54. A fraudulent business scheme. gods. 57. A room or establishment where al- 12. A small cake leavened with yeast. coholic drinks are served over a 13. Large sweet juicy hybrid between counter. tangerine and grapefruit having a thick 58. A metallic element having four al- wrinkled skin. lotropic forms. 14. A unit of weight used in east Asia 62. Indian religious leader who founded approximately equal to 1.3 ounces. Sikhism (1469-1538). 20. A compartment in front of a motor 64. (Irish) Chief god of the Tuatha De vehicle where driver sits. Danann. 22. (prefix) Opposite or opposing or 66. Hit hard. neutralizing. 67. A standard or model or pattern re- 24. An utterance expressing pain or garded as typical. disapproval. 68. The elementary stages of any sub- 28. A colorless and odorless inert gas. ject (usually plural). 29. A tiny or scarcely detectable 69. Not only so, but. amount. 70. An amino acid that is found in the 33. A proud stiff pompous gait. 34. Made warm or hot. central nervous system. 35. A blood vessel that carries blood 71. The general activity of selling. 72. Someone who works (or provides ACROSS ple of Utah and Colorado and New from the heart to the body. workers) during a strike. 1. A case for containing a set of articles. Mexico. 37. Of or relating to Oman or its peo- 73. God of love and erotic desire. 4. A city in southeastern Spain. 52. Showing favoritism. ple. 11. Lie adjacent to another. 53. United States politician and orator 38. Antibacterial consisting of any of 75. Black tropical American cuckoo. 15. The capital and largest city of Japan. (1782-1817). several synthetic organic compounds 76. The shorter of the two telegraphic 16. Cheese melted with ale or beer 55. The basic unit of money in Iran. capable of inhibiting the growth of bac- signals used in Morse code. served over toast. 56. Lower in esteem. teria that require PABA. 80. A hard malleable ductile silvery 17. Kamarupan languages spoken in 59. A radioactive element of the ac- 39. The capital and largest city of metallic element that is resistant to cor- northeastern India and western Burma. tinide series. Ghana with a deep-water port. rosion. 18. Minor or subordinate. 60. A trivalent metallic element of the 19. A subsonic jet airliner operated over rare earth group. Yesterdayʼs Solution short distances. 61. A white linen liturgical vestment 21. A silvery ductile metallic element with sleeves. found primarily in bauxite. 63. A public promotion of some prod- 23. A Tibetan or Mongolian priest of uct or service. Lamaism. 65. Slender bristlelike appendage found 25. Aromatic bulb used as seasoning. on the bracts of grasses. 26. Unable to see. 74. The cardinal number that is the sum 27. The capital and largest city of of four and one. Kenya. 77. Aircraft landing in bad weather in 30. A hard gray lustrous metallic ele- which the pilot is talked down by Yesterday’s Solution ment that is highly corrosion-resistant. ground control using precision ap- 31. Pasture grass of plains of South proach radar. America and western North America. 78. A river in north central Switzerland 32. A law passed by US Congress to that runs northeast into the Rhine. prevent employees from being injured 79. A person who eats human flesh. or contracting diseases in the course of 81. A barrier constructed to contain the their employment. flow or water or to keep out the sea. 36. A group of trees and shrubs and 82. Rate of revolution of a motor. herbs mostly with polypetalous flowers. 83. Edible east Asian mushroom having 40. Chew the fat. a golden or dark brown to blackish cap 42. Any of various systems of units for and an inedible stipe. measuring electricity and magnetism. 84. A loose sleeveless outer garment 43. Baby bed with high sides. made from aba cloth. 45. The unit of measurement for the proportion of gold in an alloy. DOWN 46. A high-crowned black cap (usually 1. Cubes of meat marinated and cooked made of felt or sheepskin) worn by men on a skewer usually with vegetables. in Turkey and Iran and the Caucasus. 2. An episode of such pastoral or ro- 51. A member of the Shoshonean peo- mantic charm as to qualify as the sub-

Daily SuDoku Yesterday’s Solution 32 Friday TV Listings Friday, December 22, 2017

17:00 Grey’s Anatomy 07:00 Holby City 10:25 Bake With Anna Olson 18:00 Scandal 07:55 Death In Paradise 10:55 The Kitchen 19:00 Survivor: Heroes V. Healers V. 08:50 Death In Paradise 11:45 Cooking For Real Hustlers 09:45 Doctors 12:10 The Pioneer Woman 00:00 Falling Awake 21:00 This Is Us 10:15 Doctors 12:35 The Pioneer Woman 01:10 The Call Up 01:00 Cobain 02:00 Acceptable Risk 22:00 Falling Water 10:45 Doctor Who: The Return Of 13:00 Siba’s Table 02:50 The Net 03:15 The Challenger 03:00 The Code 23:00 Scandal Doctor Mysterio 13:30 Siba’s Table 04:55 Face/Off 05:00 An Inconvenient Truth 04:00 This Changes Everything 23:50 The Americans 11:50 Holby City 14:00 Diners, Drive-Ins And Dives 07:10 6 Ways To Sundown 06:45 The Inevitable Defeat Of Mis- 05:30 Countdown To Zero 12:45 Eastenders 14:30 Diners, Drive-Ins And Dives 08:55 The Net ter & Pete 07:00 United 13:10 Eastenders 15:00 Chopped 11:00 The Call Up 08:35 The Salesman 08:35 Salt Of This Sea 13:45 Eastenders 16:00 The Kitchen 12:35 Street 10:45 The Challenger 10:30 Burt’s Buzz 14:15 Eastenders 17:00 Bake With Anna Olson 14:05 Face/Off 12:30 The Better Angels 12:00 Don’t Stop Believin: Every- 14:45 Doctor Who: The Return Of 17:30 Bake With Anna Olson 16:30 Life On The Line 14:10 The Manchurian Candidate man’s Journey Doctor Mysterio 18:00 Chopped Junior 18:10 Kingsglaive: Final Fantasy XV 16:20 The Great Gatsby 13:50 Rounders 00:05 The Knick 15:45 Death In Paradise 19:00 Holiday Baking Championship 20:10 The Haunting 18:45 Rushmore 15:50 Proof 01:00 Girls 16:40 Death In Paradise 20:00 Extreme Cake Wars 22:10 Zero Tolerance 20:20 Margot At The Wedding 17:30 United 01:30 Girls 17:30 Doctors 21:00 Beach Bites With Katie Lee 23:45 Everly 22:00 Frankie And Johnny 19:05 Le Reste EST L’≈ìuvre De 02:05 Big Little Lies 18:00 Doctors 21:30 Beach Bites With Katie Lee L’homme 03:00 Richard Jeni: A Big Steaming 18:30 Doctor Who: The Return Of 22:00 Diners, Drive-Ins And Dives 19:25 Unauthorized: Harvey Wein- Pile Of Me Doctor Mysterio 22:30 Diners, Drive-Ins And Dives stein Project 04:05 The Words That Built America 19:30 The Detectorists 23:00 Chopped 21:00 Movie Talk Legends: Paul 05:00 Wartorn 1861-2010 20:00 Poldark Newman 06:15 Einstein And Eddington 21:00 Poldark 21:30 Movie Talk 07:55 Lackawanna Blues 22:00 Line Of Duty 00:40 Abducted 00:40 Quest For A Heart 22:00 English Patient, The 09:30 Living With Lincoln 23:00 War And Peace 02:15 Sugar Mountain 02:10 Twigson Ties The Knot 10:40 Lansky 23:45 I Want My Wife Back 04:10 A Kind Of Murder 03:40 Ethel & Ernest 12:40 Earthly Possessions 06:00 Big Sky 05:20 Teo: The Intergalactic Hunter 14:25 My House In Umbria 00:10 Who’s Doing The Dishes? 07:40 Abducted 07:00 Felix All Around The World 16:10 Confirmation 01:00 Emmerdale 09:15 Sugar Mountain 08:40 Funny Little Cars 18:00 Imposters 01:30 Coronation Street 11:15 A Kind Of Murder 09:50 Two Buddies And A Badger 00:15 Mom 18:50 Kareem: Minority Of One 02:00 Coronation Street 13:05 The Pack 11:15 Dinofroz - An Island In The Sky 00:40 Mom 20:20 Brillo Box 02:30 The Chase 14:50 The Hollow One 12:50 Twigson Ties The Knot 01:05 The Middle 21:00 Chance 03:25 The Family Chase 16:35 A Kind Of Magic 14:20 Ethel & Ernest 01:30 The Middle 22:00 Berlin Station 00:00 Island Life 04:20 Tonight At The London Palla- 18:15 Unbreakable 16:00 Swan Princess: Royally Under- 01:55 Bette! 22:55 Wanda Sykes: I’ma Be Me 00:30 Island Life dium 20:15 The Visit cover 02:20 Dr. Ken 01:00 Renovation Raiders 05:15 Murdoch Mysteries 22:00 Joy Ride 17:25 Two Buddies And A Badger 02:45 Powerless 02:00 Beachfront Bargain Hunt 06:10 Who’s Doing The Dishes? 23:50 The Hollow One 18:50 Ivan The Incredible 03:10 Late Night With Seth Meyers 02:30 Island Life 07:05 The Chase 20:20 Azur & Asmar: The Prince’s 04:00 The Tonight Show Starring 03:00 Caribbean Life 08:00 The Family Chase Quest Jimmy Fallon 03:30 Caribbean Life 09:00 Tonight At The London Palla- 22:05 Swan Princess: Royally Under- 04:50 The Ellen DeGeneres Show 00:00 Outlander 04:00 Island Life dium cover 05:40 Dr. Ken 01:00 Scandal 04:30 Island Life 10:00 Murdoch Mysteries 23:30 Funny Little Cars 06:05 Bette! 01:45 Good Girls Revolt 05:00 Caribbean Life 10:55 Who’s Doing The Dishes? 06:30 The Goldbergs 02:40 Lethal Weapon 05:30 Hawaii Life 11:50 The Chase 00:55 Further Adventures Of Profes- 06:55 Speechless 03:30 S.W.A.T. 06:00 Extreme Homes 12:45 Emmerdale sor Branestawn 07:20 Late Night With Seth Meyers 04:20 Outlander 07:00 House Hunters 13:15 Emmerdale 02:00 Little Loopers 08:10 The Ellen DeGeneres Show 05:20 Grey’s Anatomy 07:30 House Hunters 13:45 Coronation Street 03:35 The Wild Thornberrys Movie 09:00 The Tonight Show Starring 06:10 Law & Order: Special Victims 08:00 House Hunters 14:15 Who’s Doing The Dishes? 05:05 Pirates Who Don’t Do Any- 01:55 Hudson Hawk Jimmy Fallon Unit 08:30 House Hunters 15:10 The Chase thing 03:40 Concussion 09:50 The Simpsons 07:00 Good Morning America 09:00 Giada At Home 16:00 The Family Chase 06:35 Further Adventures Of Profes- 05:45 Zoolander 2 10:15 The Last Man On Earth 09:00 The View 09:30 Giada At Home 17:00 5 Star Family Reunion sor Branestawn 07:30 Little Man Tate 10:40 Dr. Ken 09:45 The Chew 10:00 Desperate Landscapes 17:50 Murdoch Mysteries 07:40 Little Loopers 09:15 Hudson Hawk 11:05 Bette! 10:30 Wanted 10:30 Desperate Landscapes 18:45 Emmerdale 09:15 Scooby-Doo! And WWE: Curse 11:00 Max 11:30 The Ellen DeGeneres Show 11:20 Grey’s Anatomy 11:00 Cousins On Call 19:15 Emmerdale Of Speed Demon 12:55 Concussion 12:20 The Goldbergs 12:10 Law & Order: Special Victims 11:30 Cousins On Call 19:45 Coronation Street 10:40 The Wild Thornberrys Movie 15:00 Spotlight 12:45 Speechless Unit 12:00 Flea Market Flip 20:10 The Chase 12:10 Hey Arnold! The Movie 17:10 Dan In Real Life 13:10 Mom 13:00 Scandal 12:30 Flea Market Flip 21:00 The Family Chase 13:30 Rio 18:50 13 Going On 30 13:35 Mom 13:45 Lethal Weapon 13:00 Tiny House, Big Living 22:00 5 Star Family Reunion 15:10 Pan 20:30 I Am Number Four 14:00 The Middle 14:30 The View 13:30 Tiny House, Big Living 22:50 Emmerdale 17:05 Step Dogs 22:25 Ex Machina 14:25 The Middle 15:15 The Chew 14:00 House Hunters 23:15 Emmerdale 18:35 The Sound Of Music Live! 14:50 Dr. Ken 16:00 Law & Order: Special Victims 14:30 House Hunters 23:40 Coronation Street 20:55 Hey Arnold! The Movie 15:15 The Simpsons Unit 15:00 Beachfront Bargain Hunt 22:25 Rio 15:40 The Last Man On Earth 17:00 Live Good Morning America 15:30 Beachfront Bargain Hunt 16:05 The Ellen DeGeneres Show 19:00 Grey’s Anatomy 16:00 The High Low Project 17:00 The Goldbergs 20:00 Scandal 16:30 The High Low Project 17:30 Speechless 21:00 Survivor: Heroes V. Healers V. 17:00 Renovation Raiders 18:00 Mom Hustlers 18:00 Going Yard 00:20 Trading Places 18:30 Mom 23:00 WWE Experience 18:30 Going Yard 00:00 Married At First Sight 02:15 Murphy’s Law (1986) 19:00 The Middle 19:00 Vacation House For Free 01:00 Married At First Sight 00:20 Rings 04:00 Hollywood On Set 19:30 The Middle 20:00 Beachfront Bargain Hunt 02:00 Mom vs. Matchmaker 02:05 Bleed For This 07:15 Trip To Bountiful 20:00 Life In Pieces 20:30 Beachfront Bargain Hunt 02:30 Mom vs. Matchmaker 04:05 Spotlight 08:46 Gone (2011) 20:30 Fresh Off The Boat 21:00 Yard Crashers 03:00 The Fashion Fund 04:30 Guardians Of The Galaxy Vol. 10:16 The Finest Hour 21:00 The Tonight Show Starring 21:30 Yard Crashers 04:00 Who Lives Here? 2 12:00 Days Of Our Lives S12 Jimmy Fallon 22:00 House Hunters 04:30 Who Lives Here? 06:45 Karen Kingsburry’s The Bridge 15:20 Napoleon Dynamite 22:00 Man Seeking Woman 22:30 House Hunters 05:00 House Of DVF 08:15 Spotlight 16:55 The Freshman 22:30 Girls 00:45 Zoombies 23:00 Giada Entertains 06:00 Married At First Sight 08:40 A Monster Calls 18:35 Ella Enchanted 23:00 Veep 02:20 The Magicians 23:30 Giada Entertains 07:00 Married At First Sight 10:30 Fantastic Beasts And Where To 20:10 Minority Report 23:30 Late Night With Seth Meyers 03:10 Riddick 08:00 Mom vs. Matchmaker Find Them 22:35 Trading Places 05:10 Warehouse 13 08:30 Mom vs. Matchmaker 12:45 Guardians Of The Galaxy Vol. 06:00 Stargate SG-1 09:00 The Fashion Fund 2 11:00 Smallville 10:00 Who Lives Here? 15:10 Finding Dory 15:10 Face Off 10:30 Who Lives Here? 17:00 Alice Through The Looking 16:00 Face Off 11:00 House Of DVF Glass 16:50 Ella Enchanted 00:00 Jenny And Reza’s Fabulous 12:00 Married At First Sight 19:00 Assassin’s Creed 00:40 Lethal Weapon 18:30 Dark Matter Food Academy 14:00 Mom vs. Matchmaker 21:00 The Space Between Us 01:30 S.W.A.T. 19:20 Wizard Wars 00:30 Jenny And Reza’s Fabulous 15:00 The Fashion Fund 23:05 Underworld: Blood Wars 00:15 Mrs. Miracle 02:20 Outlander 20:10 Wizard Wars Food Academy 16:00 Who Lives Here? 01:45 Get Over It 03:20 Grey’s Anatomy 21:00 The Mummy: Tomb Of The 01:00 Private Chef 16:30 Who Lives Here? 03:15 Runaway Bride 04:10 Law & Order: Special Victims Dragon Emperor 01:30 Private Chef 17:00 Mistresses 05:15 Love And Other Impossible Unit 23:00 Riddick 02:00 Diners, Drive-Ins And Dives 18:00 Project Runway Pursuits 05:00 Good Morning America 02:30 Diners, Drive-Ins And Dives 20:00 Making Mr. Right 01:10 What’s Your Number? 07:00 Find Me Guilty 07:00 The View 03:00 Man Fire Food 03:05 Jeff, Who Lives At Home 09:00 Foreverland 07:45 The Chew 03:30 Man Fire Food 04:30 Big Stone Gap 10:45 The Rewrite 08:30 Wanted 04:00 Chopped Junior 06:20 A Thousand Words 12:45 Tale Of Tales 09:20 Grey’s Anatomy 08:00 Fan Girl 05:00 Guy’s Grocery Games 15:00 Get Over It 10:10 Law & Order: Special Victims 00:00 Eastenders 06:00 Barefoot Contessa 09:35 The Family Fang 16:30 Heartbreakers Unit 11:25 Big Stone Gap 00:30 Holby City 06:25 Barefoot Contessa 18:30 Mrs. Miracle 11:00 Scandal 01:25 Stella: Christmas Special 2016 06:50 Bake With Anna Olson 00:20 Say Yes To The Dress UK 13:10 A Thousand Words 20:00 Scary Movie 2 14:45 Who Gets The Dog? 11:45 Lethal Weapon 02:55 Line Of Duty 07:15 The Kitchen 01:05 90 Day Fianc?: Happily Ever 16:25 Welcome Home Roscoe Jenk- 21:30 Tiptoes 12:30 The View 03:55 Doctor Who 08:05 The Pioneer Woman After? ins 23:00 Into The Woods 13:15 The Chew 04:40 Eastenders 08:30 The Pioneer Woman 01:50 The Spouse House 18:20 Outside Bet 14:00 Law & Order: Special Victims 05:10 Death In Paradise 08:55 Siba’s Table 02:35 Oprah: Where Are They Now? 20:05 Boomerang Unit 06:00 Doctor Who: The Return Of 09:25 Siba’s Table 03:20 Little People, Big World 22:05 Ted 2 15:00 Live Good Morning America Doctor Mysterio 09:55 Bake With Anna Olson 04:05 Toddlers & Tiaras Friday 33 TV Listings Friday, December 22, 2017

04:50 Dare To Wear 15:40 Wildest Islands Of Indonesia 06:20 I Almost Got Away With It 03:00 Science Of Stupid 21:20 How Do They Do It? 05:35 Say Yes To The Dress UK 16:35 Untamed & Uncut 07:10 American Monster 03:30 Science Of Stupid 21:45 Food Factory USA 06:00 Little People, Big World 17:30 Treehouse Masters 08:00 The Locator 04:00 Machine Impossible 22:10 Strip The Cosmos 06:45 Little People, Big World 18:25 Keeping Up With The Kruger 08:25 Deadline: Crime With Tam- 05:00 Crowd Control 23:00 You Have Been Warned 07:30 Little People, Big World 19:20 Wildest Africa ron Hall 05:30 Crowd Control 23:50 The Big Brain Theory 08:15 Outdaughtered: Busby Quints 20:15 Cats 101 09:15 The Locator 06:00 Supercar Megabuild 09:00 Say Yes To The Dress UK 21:10 The Wild Life Of Tim Faulkner 09:40 The Locator 07:00 X: The Generation That 09:25 Obsessive Compulsive Clean- 21:38 The Wild Life Of Tim Faulkner 10:10 American Monster 00:21 Ultimate Wheels Changed The World ers 22:05 Keeping Up With The Kruger 11:05 Forbidden: Dying For Love 01:11 American Pickers 08:00 Seconds From Disaster 10:10 Obsessive Compulsive Clean- 23:00 Wildest Africa 12:00 Evil Stepmothers 02:00 Swamp People 09:00 Crowd Control ers 23:55 Wildest Islands Of Indonesia 12:55 Deadline: Crime With Tam- 02:50 Counting Cars 09:30 Crowd Control 10:55 Love At First Swipe ron Hall 03:15 American Pickers 10:00 Airport Security: Colombia 2.5 11:17 Love At First Swipe 13:50 I Almost Got Away With It 04:05 Time Team 11:00 Kung Fu Motion 05:00 Bali 11:40 Love At First Swipe 14:45 American Monster 05:00 Counting Cars 12:00 Brain Games 05:15 Looped 12:02 Love At First Swipe 15:40 Forbidden: Dying For Love 05:25 Counting Cars 12:30 What Would Happen If 05:40 Om Nom Stories 12:25 Love, Lust Or Run 16:35 The Perfect Murder 06:00 Aussie Pickers 13:00 Supercar Megabuild 05:50 Kids Crafting 12:47 Love At First Swipe 17:30 Deadline: Crime With Tam- 06:50 Aussie Pickers 14:00 Seconds From Disaster 05:55 Boj 13:10 Oprah: Where Are They Now? ron Hall 07:40 Ultimate Wheels 15:00 X: The Generation That 06:10 Lucky Fred 13:55 Oprah: Where Are They Now? 00:00 Homicide: Hours To Kill 18:25 The Locator 08:30 Hunting Hitler Changed The World 06:25 Thomas And Friends 14:40 Cake Boss 01:00 The First 48 18:50 The Locator 09:20 Hunting Hitler 16:00 To Catch A Smuggler 06:40 Chirp 15:02 Cake Boss 02:00 Britain’s Darkest Taboos 19:20 I Almost Got Away With It 10:10 Hunting Hitler 17:00 Taboo 06:55 My Little Pony 15:25 Cake Boss 03:00 It Takes A Killer 20:15 American Monster 11:00 Aussie Pickers 18:00 The Long Road Home 07:20 Angelina Ballerina 15:47 Cake Boss 03:30 It Takes A Killer 21:10 Evil Lives Here 11:50 Aussie Pickers 19:00 Heroes Of The Long Road 07:35 Sandra, The Fairytale Detec- 16:10 Cake Boss 04:00 Homicide: Hours To Kill 22:05 Murder Calls 12:40 Alone: Lost And Found Home tive 16:35 Cake Boss 05:00 The First 48 23:00 American Monster 13:30 Pawn Stars South Africa 20:00 To Catch A Smuggler 07:50 Playdate 17:00 Big & Little 06:00 Britain’s Darkest Taboos 23:55 I Speak For The Dead 13:55 Pawn Stars South Africa 20:50 Taboo 08:00 Barney And Friends 17:50 Meet The Putmans 07:00 Homicide Hunter 14:20 Ice Road Truckers 21:40 The Long Road Home 08:30 64 Zoo Lane 18:50 Outdaughtered: Busby Quints 08:00 Nightmare In Suburbia 15:10 Ice Road Truckers 22:30 Heroes Of The Long Road 08:45 Transformers: Rescue Bots 19:40 Cake Boss 09:00 It Takes A Killer 16:00 Ice Road Truckers Home 09:10 Om Nom Stories 20:10 Say Yes To The Dress UK 09:30 It Takes A Killer 16:48 Billion Dollar Wreck 23:20 Brain Games 09:20 Kids Crafting 20:35 Say Yes To The Dress UK 10:00 Homicide Hunter 17:40 Billion Dollar Wreck 23:45 What Would Happen If 09:25 Littlest Pet Shop 21:00 Outdaughtered: Busby Quints 11:00 Cold Case Files 18:30 Ultimate Wheels 09:50 Franny’s Feet 21:50 The Boy Who Wants His Leg 12:00 Escaping Polygamy 00:20 Street Outlaws 19:20 Car Nation 10:15 Mouk Cut Off 13:00 Leah Remini: Scientology 01:05 Finding Escobar’s Millions 21:00 The Warfighters 10:30 Boj 22:40 My Giant Life And The Aftermath 01:50 Treasure Quest: Snake Island 21:50 JFK Declassified: Hunting 10:45 Kit ‘n’ Kate 23:30 Return To Amish 14:00 It Takes A Killer 02:35 The Wheel: Survival Games Oswald 10:55 What’s The Big Idea? 14:30 It Takes A Killer 03:20 Misfit Garage 22:40 Britain’s Bloody Crown: War 11:00 Transformers: Rescue Bots 15:00 Homicide Hunter 04:05 Deadliest Catch Of The Roses 00:20 Snow Leopard Of Afghanistan 11:25 Bali 16:00 Cold Case Files 05:35 How Do They Do It? 23:30 Hunting Hitler 01:10 Jobs That Bite! 11:40 My Little Pony 17:00 The First 48 06:00 Strip The City 02:00 Deadly Super Cat 12:05 Lucky Fred 18:00 It Takes A Killer 06:45 Boy To Man 02:50 Animal Fight Club 4.5 12:20 Thomas And Friends 18:30 It Takes A Killer 07:30 How Do They Do It? 03:45 My Life Is A Zoo 12:35 Angelina Ballerina 00:05 Chappelle’s Show 19:00 Homicide Hunter 07:53 How Do They Do It? 04:40 Photo Ark 12:50 Looped 00:30 Idiotsitter 20:00 Homicide Hunter 08:15 Boy To Man 05:35 Deadly Super Cat 13:15 Barney And Friends 00:55 Tosh.0 21:00 Homicide Hunter 09:00 Gold Divers 06:30 Animal Fight Club 4.5 13:45 64 Zoo Lane 01:40 Graves 22:00 Cold Case Files 09:45 Strip The City 00:45 Angelo’s Outdoor Kitchen 07:25 My Life Is A Zoo 14:00 Chirp 02:10 Chappelle’s Show 23:00 Killer Kids 10:30 Auction Kings 01:10 Food School 08:20 Photo Ark 14:15 What’s The Big Idea? 02:35 Real Husbands Of Hollywood 11:00 Auction Kings 01:40 Food Lover’s Guide To The 09:15 Snake City Compilations 14:25 Kit ‘n’ Kate 03:00 The Daily Show With Trevor 11:25 How Do They Do It? Planet 10:10 Siberia’s Wild Year 14:30 Playdate Noah 11:50 How Do They Do It? 02:05 Food Lover’s Guide To The 11:05 Secrets Of The Giant Manta Ray 14:40 Franny’s Feet 03:25 Idiotsitter 12:17 Auction Kings Planet 12:00 Shark Men 15:05 Thomas And Friends 03:50 Lip Sync Battle UK 12:47 Fast N’ Loud 02:35 Charlie Luxton’s Homes By The 12:55 Incredible Fangs 15:20 Mouk 04:40 Workaholics 13:37 Fast N’ Loud Sea 13:50 Animal Fight Club 4.5 15:35 Boj 06:50 I Live With Models 00:30 Destroyed In Seconds 14:27 Misfit Garage 03:30 George Clarke’s Amazing 14:45 My Life Is A Zoo 15:50 Sandra, The Fairytale Detec- 08:55 Punk’d (Bet) 00:55 Destroyed In Seconds 15:17 Street Customs 2008 Spaces 15:40 Secret Life Of Predators tive 09:45 Important Things With Demitri 01:20 NASA’s Unexplained Files 16:02 Street Customs 2008 04:25 Poh & Co. 16:35 Search For King Cobra 16:05 Littlest Pet Shop Martin 02:10 Tallest Tower: Building The 17:32 Fast N’ Loud 04:50 Cesar’s Recruit: Asia 17:30 The New Sperm Whale 16:30 My Little Pony 10:10 Important Things With Demitri Shard 18:22 Fast N’ Loud 05:20 Stepping Out 18:25 The Naked Superhero 16:55 Looped Martin 03:00 Ultimate Survival 19:12 Garage Gold 05:45 Stepping Out 19:20 My Life Is A Zoo 17:10 Barney And Friends 11:00 Kroll Show 03:50 Destroyed In Seconds 19:42 Garage Gold 06:15 Bad Trip 20:10 Secret Life Of Predators 17:40 Angelina Ballerina 13:05 Disaster Date 04:15 Destroyed In Seconds 20:10 Gold Rush 07:10 Food Lover’s Guide To The 21:00 Search For King Cobra 17:55 Lucky Fred 13:55 The Dude Perfect Show 04:40 How It’s Made 21:00 Street Outlaws Planet 21:50 The New Sperm Whale 18:10 Qumi Qumi 14:45 Ridiculousness Arabia 05:05 How It’s Made 21:50 Garage Rehab 07:35 Food Lover’s Guide To The 22:40 The Naked Superhero 18:25 Transformers: Rescue Bots 16:00 Important Things With Demitri 05:30 North America 22:40 Misfit Garage Planet 23:30 Shark Men 18:50 What’s The Big Idea? Martin 06:20 Science Of The Movies 23:30 Gold Rush 08:05 Charlie Luxton’s Homes By The 19:00 Bali 16:50 Lip Sync Battle UK 07:00 Destroyed In Seconds Sea 19:15 Kit ‘n’ Kate 17:40 Friends 07:50 North America 09:00 George Clarke’s Amazing 19:25 Littlest Pet Shop 19:45 Idiotsitter 09:30 Science Of The Movies Spaces 19:50 Sandra, The Fairytale Detec- 20:07 Workaholics 10:20 Ultimate Survival 09:55 Poh & Co. tive 20:30 Graves 11:10 Kids Do The Craziest Things 10:20 Cesar’s Recruit: Asia 00:40 Mythbusters 20:05 64 Zoo Lane 21:00 The Daily Show With Trevor 11:35 Kids Do The Craziest Things 00:00 Smartest Guy In The Room 10:50 Stepping Out 01:30 How Do They Do It? 20:20 Chirp Noah 12:00 Dynamo: Magician Impossible 00:30 Smartest Guy In The Room 11:15 Stepping Out 01:55 Food Factory USA 20:35 Mouk 21:30 Russell Howard’s Stand Up 12:50 How It’s Made 01:00 Ancient Discoveries 11:45 Bad Trip 02:20 Street Science 20:50 Playdate Central 13:40 Science Of The Movies 02:00 Clash Of Warriors 12:40 Seoul: Capital Of K-Pop (Inside 02:45 Street Science 21:00 Franny’s Feet 22:00 Sean Lock - Purple Van Man 14:30 Destroyed In Seconds 03:00 Brad Meltzer’s Decoded K-Pop) 03:10 Strip The Cosmos 21:25 Little Duck’s Dream 22:50 Comedy Central Roast: Justin 15:20 North America 03:50 Ancient Aliens: The Ultimate 13:35 Charlie Luxton’s Homes By The 04:00 The Big Brain Theory Bieber 16:10 Ultimate Survival Evidence Sea 04:48 Mythbusters 17:00 Kids Do The Craziest Things 04:40 Blood And Glory: The Civil 14:30 George Clarke’s Amazing 05:36 How Do They Do It? 17:50 The Carbonaro Effect War In Color Spaces 06:00 Food Factory USA 18:40 Science Of The Movies 05:30 Smartest Guy In The Room 15:25 Poh & Co. 06:24 Street Science 19:30 How It’s Made 05:55 Smartest Guy In The Room 15:50 Cesar’s Recruit: Asia 06:48 Street Science 20:20 Destroyed In Seconds 06:20 Ancient Discoveries 16:20 Maximum Foodie 07:12 Strip The Cosmos 21:10 Kids Do The Craziest Things 07:10 The Universe 16:45 Stepping Out 08:00 How Do They Do It? 00:05 Disney Mickey Mouse 00:50 Untamed & Uncut 21:35 Kids Do The Craziest Things 08:00 Clash Of Warriors 17:15 Bad Trip 08:26 The Big Brain Theory 00:10 Sabrina Secrets Of A Teenage 01:45 Treehouse Masters 22:00 he Carbonaro Effect 09:00 Brad Meltzer’s Decoded 18:10 Bad Trip 09:14 Mythbusters Witch 02:40 Cats 101 22:25 The Carbonaro Effect 10:00 Ancient Aliens: The Ultimate 19:05 Poh & Co. 10:02 Strip The Cosmos 00:35 Binny And The Ghost 03:35 The Wild Life Of Tim Faulkner 22:50 Ultimate Survival Evidence 19:30 Cesar’s Recruit: Asia 10:50 How Do They Do It? 01:00 Hank Zipzer 04:00 The Wild Life Of Tim Faulkner 23:40 North America 11:00 Your Bleeped Up Brain 20:00 Maximum Foodie 11:14 Food Factory USA 01:25 Alex & Co. 04:25 Whale Wars 12:00 Smartest Guy In The Room 20:30 Stepping Out 11:38 Street Science 01:45 Disney Mickey Mouse 05:15 Whale Wars 12:30 Smartest Guy In The Room 21:00 Bad Trip 12:02 Street Science 01:50 Evermoor Chronicles 06:02 Wildest Islands Of Indonesia 13:00 Ancient Discoveries 22:00 Bad Trip 12:26 The Big Brain Theory 02:15 Sabrina Secrets Of A Teenage 06:49 Untamed & Uncut 14:00 Clash Of Warriors 22:55 Seoul: Capital Of K-Pop (Inside 13:14 Mythbusters Witch 07:36 Meet The Penguins 15:00 Brad Meltzer’s Decoded K-Pop) 14:02 How Do They Do It? 02:40 Sabrina Secrets Of A Teenage 08:00 Meet The Penguins 16:00 Ancient Aliens: The Ultimate 23:50 Charlie Luxton’s Homes By The 14:26 Food Factory USA Witch 08:25 The Wild Life Of Tim Faulkner Evidence Sea 14:50 Strip The Cosmos 03:05 Binny And The Ghost 08:50 The Wild Life Of Tim Faulkner 17:00 Your Bleeped Up Brain 15:38 The Big Brain Theory 03:30 Binny And The Ghost 09:15 Treehouse Masters 00:50 Guilty Rich 18:00 The Universe 16:26 Street Science 03:55 Hank Zipzer 10:10 Cats 101 01:45 Pandora’s Box: Unleashing 19:00 Ancient Discoveries 16:50 Street Science 04:15 Disney Mickey Mouse 11:05 Wildest Islands Of Indonesia Evil 20:00 Clash Of Warriors 17:14 Mythbusters 04:20 Hank Zipzer 12:00 The Wild Life Of Tim Faulkner 02:40 Murder By Numbers 21:00 Brad Meltzer’s Decoded 18:02 Strip The Cosmos 04:45 Alex & Co. 12:28 The Wild Life Of Tim Faulkner 03:35 Reasonable Doubt 22:00 Ancient Aliens: The Ultimate 18:50 The Big Brain Theory 05:10 Alex & Co. 12:55 Whale Wars 04:30 Guilty Rich Evidence 00:10 Machine Impossible 19:40 Mythbusters 05:35 Sabrina Secrets Of A Teenage 13:50 Whale Wars 05:25 The Locator 23:00 Cowboys & Outlaws 01:00 Supercar Megabuild 20:30 Gamechangers: Inventing The Witch 14:45 Cats 101 05:50 The Locator 02:00 Airport Security: Colombia 2.5 World 06:00 Sabrina Secrets Of A Teenage 34 Friday

Stars Friday, December 22, 2017

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

Afghanistan 0093 Jordan 00962 Albania 00355 Kazakhstan 007 Haste does indeed make waste, and you've definitely been known Algeria 00213 Kenya 00254 to act hastily from time to time. Try to slow down now and get If you've been looking for fresh inspiration, here it comes! It Andorra 00376 Kiribati 00686 your bearings before taking any action. You need to take all the may nothing at all like what you expected it to be -- in fact, Angola 00244 Kuwait 00965 something (or someone!) rather ordinary could transform into Anguilla 001264 Kyrgyzstan 00996 input available into account. In particular, you need to balance Antiga 001268 Laos 00856 the effects of your demanding intuition and your equally de- something that can challenge you in a life-changing way. It Argentina 0054 Latvia 00371 manding intellect. How can they both be right? Sort that out and may more than a little rattling at first, but once you get used Armenia 00374 Lebanon 00961 you're on your way. to it, you feel incredible. Australia 0061 Liberia 00231 Austria 0043 Libya 00218 Bahamas 001242 Lithuania 00370 Bahrain 00973 Luxembourg 00352 Bangladesh 00880 Macau 00853 Barbados 001246 Macedonia 00389 Taurus (April 20-May 20) Belarus 00375 Madagascar 00261 Scorpio (October 23-November 21) Belgium 0032 Majorca 0034 Belize 00501 Malawi 00265 Benin 00229 Malaysia 0060 Those who think of you as a stick-in-the-mud are getting really Bermuda 001441 Maldives 00960 While those around you are losing their heads, yours is firmly Bhutan 00975 Mali 00223 surprised right now. Your ability to think outside the box is quite planted right where it belongs. What seems insurmountable to Bolivia 00591 Malta 00356 impressive, and so is your unique way of expressing your ideas - mere mortals just whets your appetite for discovering amazingly Bosnia 00387 Marshall Islands 00692 - and then putting them into action! Cultivate these innovative ap- creative solutions using your intense determination, penetrating Botswana 00267 Martinique 00596 proaches -- at work, at home, on dates, everywhere -- and you Brazil 0055 Mauritania 00222 intelligence, investigative probing and, of course, all your secret Brunei 00673 Mauritius 00230 should soon be reaping some pretty amazing rewards. talents. Everyone else is trying to retreat -- you're the only one Bulgaria 00359 Mayotte 00269 ready to move forward. Burkina 00226 Mexico 0052 Burundi 00257 Micronesia 00691 Cambodia 00855 Moldova 00373 Cameroon 00237 Monaco 00377 Canada 001 Mongolia 00976 Cape Verde 00238 Montserrat 001664 Cayman Islands 001345 Morocco 00212 Gemini (May 21-June 20) Sagittarius (November 22-December 21) Central African Republic 00236 Mozambique 00258 Chad 00235 Myanmar (Burma) 0095 Chile 0056 Namibia 00264 Those who think of you as a stick-in-the-mud are getting really China 0086 Nepal 00977 Get out your list of places you must visit in this lifetime and add Colombia 0057 Netherlands (Holland)0031 surprised right now. Your ability to think outside the box is quite a few new ones -- those in your personal zeitgeist, which keep Comoros 00269 Netherlands Antilles 00599 impressive, and so is your unique way of expressing your ideas - coming up over and over and sound simply amazing. Now is the Congo 00242 New Caledonia 00687 - and then putting them into action! 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Health Friday, December 22, 2017 US woman delivers baby from embryo frozen for 24 years

MIAMI: An American woman has given birth to some measures, that would make the embryo added. There remain two more cryopreserved previous record-holder was believed to be a a healthy baby girl from an embryo that was that became Emma Wren only about a year embryos from the same biological parents. The baby boy frozen for 20 years, born to a New frozen a quarter century ago, in what hospital younger than her mother. “We could have been case marks the “longest-frozen embryo to suc- York woman in 2011. The embryo was stored by officials say may be a world record. best friends,” said Gibson, now 26, in an inter- cessfully come to birth,” said the NEDC, citing the NEDC, a Christian organization that de- The baby, named Emma Wren Gibson, was view with local television WBIR. the research staff at the University of Tennessee scribes itself as “the world’s leading comprehen- born November 25, according to the National Gibson said she wasn’t told by doctors until Preston Medical Library as a source. However, sive embryo adoption program,” with 686 babies Embryo Donation Center (NEDC) in Knoxville, she was pregnant that the embryo had been some experts expressed caution about pro- born to date. Tennessee, which revealed the birth announce- frozen more than 24 years earlier. “I just stared claiming such a record. Its mission is to “protect the lives and dignity ment this week. at them, I was like, what? Are you kidding?” US companies are not required to report the of frozen embryos that would not be used by The embryo was conceived by another cou- Mellinger said Gibson and her husband se- age of the embryos, just the outcome of the their genetic parents and to help other couples ple and frozen on October 14, 1992. Tina Gibson, lected the embryo based on a profile of genetic pregnancies, Zaher Merhi, director of IVF re- build the families they have longed for via do- the woman who just gave birth to Emma Wren, characteristics, but was not told how long the search and development at New Hope Fertility nated embryos.” Gibson and her husband were was born in 1991, NEDC marketing director embryo had been frozen. Gibson was implanted Center in New York, told CNN. unable to conceive a child on their own, and are Mark Mellinger told AFP on Wednesday. By with three embryos, and only one survived, he “Nobody has these records,” he said. The thrilled with their new baby. —AFP ClassifiedsEstablished 1961 Friday, December 22, 2017

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FRIDAY, DECEMBER 8, 2017 Business

US Q3 economic growth EU okays Lufthansa buyout US hopes tax plan will bring 38 slashed; jobless claims rise 39 of Air Berlin assets 41 corporate profits home

CAIRO: This file photo shows an elevated view of Al-Attaba district on the edge of downtown Cairo, Egypt. Egypt is the most populated country in the Arab world with some 96 million inhabitants and the numbers are rising by 1.6 million every year. —AFP Egypt battles population ‘catastrophe’ Country’s population to hit 119 million in 2030

CAIRO: Ali Abdelaziz sees children as a “gift per square kilometer, or nearly 10 times that of free of charge, from the centre’s doctor, like census, described the current rate of population from God”, so much so that he has 10 of his own, London. many others in her village. growth as a “catastrophe”. He said the annual even as Egypt’s government struggles to stem a “Education is expensive, and life has become rate accelerated between 2005 and 2014, before “catastrophic” population boom. ‘Two are enough’ difficult with the rising prices.” Fardous Hamed, stabilizing in 2016 at around 2.6 percent. Abdelaziz works in the capital as a doorman, President Abdel Fattah Al-Sisi has said pop- a doctor at the center, told AFP that the number The rate must be at least three times lower but his children stay in a village with their ulation growth is “a challenge as critical as that of people seeking its services has risen with the than economic growth for people’s living stan- mother in the southern province of Minya where of terrorism”. The government launched a new latest round of price increases since authorities dards not to deteriorate, according to Gendy. life is cheaper. Egypt’s overpopulation is adding family planning cam- floated the pound in No- But “the more poverty increases, the more the pressure on the economy. paign this year under the vember 2016. reproduction rate increases because parents With 96 million inhabitants-and 9.4 million slogan “two are “Awareness grew consider children as a source of income,” with expatriates-the Arab world’s most populous enough”, to try to con- Overpopulation among people here,” many children joining the labor market at an country adds 1.6 million people every year to its tain the phenomenon. said Hamed. Following early age, he said. population. At the current rate, Egypt’s popula- “Children are protection: adding the currency flotation, Magued Osman, the head of Baseera, a pri- tion will reach 119 million in 2030, according to they care for their par- the pound lost more than vate public opinion research center, said Egypt’s a May report by the United Nations Population ents when they grow pressure on half its value and infla- population growth amounts to “collective sui- Fund. With 95 percent of Egypt’s land uninhab- older,” said Abdelaziz, economy tion jumped to 33 per- cide”. It is the result of “politicians neglecting itable desert, the population is concentrated the doorman, uncon- cent in September. “If I the issue since the middle of the previous around the narrow Nile valley and Nile Delta, vinced of the campaign. give birth to five or six decade”, said Mona Abu el-Ghar, an obstetrics with smaller numbers along the Mediterranean But Hayam Mohamed, a children, I won’t even be and gynecology professor at Cairo University. and Red Sea coasts. mother of three, does not want more children able to provide them food,” said Mohamed. “The problem needs to be taken more se- A fall in mortality rates in the early 1970s fur- and uses a government family planning center in riously with constant media campaigns on ther boosted the population growth. In Cairo, a Umm Khenan village of Giza province. “I don’t Soaring prices radio and television to raise awareness on megalopolis of nearly 20 million inhabitants, the want my children to feel deprived,” Mohamed, Abu Bakr el-Gendy, the head of Egypt’s state the importance of family planning,” said Abu population density is around 50,000 inhabitants 32, said after receiving her contraception pills, statistics bureau which carried out the latest el-Ghar. — AFP 38 Friday

Business Friday, December 22, 2017 US Q3 economic growth slashed; jobless claims rise Business spending on equipment revised higher WASHINGTON: The US economy grew at its measure of economic growth, increased at a 2.6 Robust spending said initial claims for state unemployment ben- fastest pace in more than two years in the third percent rate instead of the previously reported Growth in the third quarter was also efits rose 20,000 to a seasonally adjusted quarter, powered by robust business spending, 2.9 percent. Republicans in the US Congress this boosted by an accumulation of unsold goods 245,000 for the week ended Dec. 16. Last and is poised for what could be a modest lift week approved a broad package of tax cuts in and a rebound in government investment. week marked the 146th straight week that next year from sweeping tax cuts passed by what was the largest overhaul of the tax code in Growth in business investment in equipment claims remained below the 300,000 threshold, Congress this week. 30 years, handing President Donald Trump a was raised to a 10.8 percent pace, the fastest which is associated with a strong labor market. Other data yesterday showed a jump in the major legislative victory. Trump is expected to in three years, from the previously reported That is the longest such stretch since 1970, number of Americans filing for unemployment soon sign the legisla- 10.4 percent. when the labor market was smaller. benefits last week. The underlying trend in job- tion, which has $1.5 Growth in consumer The labor market is near full employment, less claims, however, remained consistent with a trillion in tax cuts. spending, which accounts with the jobless rate at a 17-year low of 4.1 per- tightening labor market. Gross domestic product Economists are Consumer for more than two-thirds cent. Labor market tightness and a strengthen- expanded at a 3.2 percent annualized rate last forecasting a modest of the US economy, was ing economy encouraged the Federal Reserve quarter, the Commerce Department said in its economic boost from spending revised down by one- to increase interest rates last week for a third third GDP estimate for the period. While that was the overhaul, which in- tenth of a percentage time this year. The U.S. central bank has fore- slightly down from the 3.3 percent reported last cludes slashing the growth slows point to a 2.2 percent rate cast three rate hikes for 2018. month, it was the quickest pace since the first corporate income tax in the third quarter. Con- Last week, the four-week moving average of quarter of 2015 and was a pickup from the sec- rate to 21 percent from sumer spending increased initial claims, considered a better measure of ond quarter’s 3.1 percent growth rate. 35 percent. The fiscal at a robust 3.3 percent labor market trends as it irons out week-to- It also marked the first time since 2014 that the stimulus will come while the economy is at full em- rate in the second quarter. The government said week volatility, rose only 1,250 to 236,000. economy experienced growth of 3 percent or ployment, which raises the risk of it overheating. after-tax corporate profits surged at a 5.7 per- The claims data covered the survey period more for two straight quarters. But the expansion “Longer run, the tax cuts will add little to the cent rate last quarter instead of the previously for December’s nonfarm payrolls. The four- in the July-September period likely overstated the economy but will add significantly to the govern- reported 5.8 percent. Profits rose at only week average of claims fell 4,000 between the health of the economy. An alternate measure of ment’s deficits and debt load,” said Mark Zandi, chief a 0.1 percent pace in the second quarter. November and December survey weeks, sug- growth, gross domestic income, rose at a 2.0 per- economist at Moody’s Analytics in West Chester, Undistributed profits jumped at a 13.9 percent gesting another month of strong job growth. cent rate in the third quarter. GDI was previously Pennsylvania. Prices of US Treasuries mostly held rate after declining for two straight quarters, The economy added 228,000 jobs in No- reported to have increased at a 2.5 percent rate. steady at higher levels after the data, while the dollar suggesting that companies were anticipating vember. It needs to create 75,000 to 100,000 The average of GDP and GDI, also referred to pared gains against the yen and euro. US stock deep tax cuts. jobs per month to keep up with growth in the as gross domestic output and considered a better index futures were trading slightly higher. In a separate report, the Labor Department working-age population. —Reuters

Ryanair says US House unveils formally stop-gap funding recognizes Irish bill to avert shutdown pilots’ union

WASHINGTON: Republicans in the US Congress yesterday DUBLIN: Irish no-frills airline Ryanair said advanced legislation to keep the federal government operating yesterday that it is formally recognizing an past Friday when funding expires, adding some “emergency” Irish pilots’ trade union in a bid to resolve money for the military in a bid to gain the support of conser- a long-running row, but still faces strike vatives in the House of Representatives. threats elsewhere. House Republican leaders unveiled a new version of a bill “Ryanair has this morning written to the they hope to pass before Friday’s midnight deadline and keep Impact union confirming in writing that it federal agencies humming along at current funding levels is recognizing Impact and its Ryanair com- through Jan. 19, averting a shutdown that would create political pany pilot council,” the carrier said in a havoc in Washington. But as of early yesterday, it was unclear statement. “Ryanair has also submitted a whether House Speaker Paul Ryan had secured enough votes set of proposals on pay and conditions, for passage. Any measure approved by the House would then procedures and dispute resolution for its DUBLIN: This file photo shows a Ryanair plane parked on the tarmac at Dublin have to be considered by the Senate. Irish-based pilots, and looks forward to Airport.—AFP Representative Steny Hoyer, the No. 2 House Democrat, de- concluding an early agreement on these is- scribed a paralyzed Congress during early-morning testimony sues with its Irish Ryanair pilot company to a House committee. “You have 36 hours to keep the govern- council.” pected management to reach agreement with Impact on Tuesday evening. Those ment open,” he said. “We don’t have the votes to keep the gov- Impact added in a separate statement on procedures quickly so that the parties were the first since Ryanair had offered on ernment open. We don’t have the votes to shut it down.” that it would meet with management on could move on to negotiate “substantial is- Friday to recognize trade unions, prompt- The House also was aiming to approve an $81 billion disas- January 3 to hammer out a “comprehensive sues” around pilots’ pay and working con- ing the suspension of strike action planned ter aid bill to help Puerto Rico, the US Virgin Islands and sev- recognition agreement”. And the union ditions. On that basis, the company’s over the busy festive period-when many eral states recover from this year’s hurricanes and wildfires. added that the danger of strikes by Irish confirmation meant the danger of indus- travellers head abroad for Christmas and The House bill, released online by the House Rules Committee, pilots had now receded for the time being. trial action had “receded for the present,” New Year celebrations. calls for an additional $4.7 billion for the Department of De- “Ryanair management has today con- the union added. The Dublin discussions marked the fense to be used for missile defense and ship repair. firmed in writing that it now recognized Impact official Ashley Connolly wel- opening of a season of talks for Ryanair Many House Republicans were pushing for a much more Impact as the representative of the airline’s comed what she described as a “break- around the region. The airline is also meet- significant increase in military funding, despite staunch oppo- pilots for collective bargaining purposes, through”. “This is good news for Ryanair ing German pilots this week before other sition in the Senate, which wants to leave that fight for early with immediate effect,” Impact said in a pilots, passengers and shareholders,” she appointments around Europe, including next year.—Reuters statement. The union cautioned that it ex- said. Ryanair had held initial discussions Italy, in early 2018. —AFP Friday 39 Business Friday, December 22, 2017 Mexico, EU push back new trade deal to 2018 Bloc fails to take stand against Trump policies

BRUSSELS: Mexico and the EU yesterday pushed deal,” said Guajardo, who headed a team of about back an agreement on a revamp of their 17-year- 50 negotiators from Mexico. old trade deal to 2018, missing a chance to make a “We need a little more time to make sure that stand against the protectionist policies of Donald we get it right,” he said, though he refused to set a Trump. The two sides have been in talks on updat- new deadline. Mexico, which sends some 80 per- ing the trade deal since May 2016 and had set the cent of its exports to the US, is looking to diversify end of this year as deadline to seal the accord. its trading partners to cope with the new political Hopes were raised after rapid progress on is- reality across the border. EU-Mexico trade has sues including market access and intellectual nearly tripled to $61.7 billion under the deal. But property during talks in Mexico earlier this month, that is still dwarfed by US-Mexico trade, which but high-level negotiators could not close the deal. came in at $523.8 billion last year. “We are very close to a deal but we are not re- Meanwhile leaders of the South American ally there yet,” said EU trade bloc Mercosur met Trade Commissioner Ce- yesterday in greater po- cilia Malmstroem at a litical unity following the news conference with expulsion of Venezuela, Mexican Economy Minis- Mercosur gains but their biggest aim of a ter Ildefonso Guajardo. strength, free trade deal with the BRUSSELS: Mexico’s Minister of Economy Ildefonso Guajardo (left) and European Union (EU) Trade Commis- “It’s in sight but we do European Union still sioner Cecilia Malmstrom give a joint press conference after their meeting focused on trade relations between need some additional misses EU deal eludes them. the EU and Mexico, yesterday at the European Commission in Brussels. —AFP work at the beginning of A shift from leftist to next year.” Both sides are right-of-center govern- eager to come to terms ments in Argentina and of authoritarian actions of President Nicolas the South Americans presented their offer cover- and mark a contrast with the bumpy negotiations Brazil has given the group that also includes Maduro in delaying elections and jailing opposi- ing 90 percent of goods traded. between the United States, Mexico and Canada on Paraguay and Uruguay greater ideological coher- tion leaders. Not everything is rosy within Mercosur. At updating the North American Free Trade Agree- ence and it has focused more on trade and less on Negotiations with the European Union gained Wednesday’s ministerial meeting, there was dis- ment (NAFTA). politics. “We have revitalized Mercosur by recov- speed and were almost concluded this month after agreement on adopting a common policy for gov- Uncertainty over the future of that 1994 deal- ering its original vocation as a trade bloc based on nearly two decades of wrangling, but stumbled on ernment procurement of goods and services, with which US President Donald Trump has made a rit- solid democratic and human rights foundations,” a EU delay in presenting improved offers for im- Paraguay adamantly opposing the proposal. ual of attacking-is weighing on the Mexican Brazilian Foreign Minister Aloysio Nunes told a ports of Mercosur beef and ethanol. “There is very A move by Uruguay to slap a customs duty economy, which depends heavily on trade with the news conference on Wednesday. little left to do. We are very close,” Nunes said. But on all imports except oil and capital goods as of United States. “A strong objective (of a deal this Mercosur triggered its democratic clause he made clear the ball was in the European court Jan. 1 annoyed its partners, not least because year) has put us where we are, which is close to a earlier this year and expelled Venezuela because and that Mercosur is waiting for an EU reply after trade with Mexico was exempted. —Ageneies EU okays Lufthansa buyout of Air Indonesia wins Berlin assets Fitch ratings BRUSSELS: German carrier Lufthansa clinched EU approval yesterday upgrade for its scaled back bid to snap up assets of bankrupt Air Berlin, a Eu- ropean Union statement said. Responding to signals that the EU would JAKARTA: The Fitch ratings agency raised In- donesia’s sovereign rating to its second-lowest veto its initial plans, the German behemoth last week ditched its bid investment grade yesterday, providing a wel- to buy Air Berlin’s Austrian unit Niki, focusing instead on the acquisi- come boost to reform efforts in Southeast tion of the failed airline’s smaller LGW subsidiary. Asia’s largest economy. The move reflected “Our job is to make sure that mergers do not make European con- This file photo shows an airplane operated by German airline Air Berlin rolling on the tarmac past a Lufthansa plane at Duesseldorf airport. —AFP Indonesia’s improved ability to weather exter- sumers worse off,” EU Competition Commissioner Margrethe Vestager nal shocks, after years of slowing economic said. “Lufthansa has put forward improved remedies that make sure growth hampered by falling global demand for the effects of its LGW acquisition on competition are limited,” she losses, triggering bankruptcy proceedings. the country’s key commodities exports, the added. In the ensuing carve-up Germany’s second-biggest airline, it was agency said. Fitch lifted Indonesia’s long-term, Lufthansa also accepted to forgo some of Air Berlin’s prized Dues- Lufthansa’s attempt to claim the lion’s share of the assets that most foreign currency-denominated debt ratings to seldorf airport slots in order to win the greenlight from Brussels. The worried competition authorities. “BBB” from “BBB-”, with a stable outlook. It more modest offer, which won the EU’s backing, will see Lufthansa Lufthansa-which already owns low-cost Eurowings as well as noted in a statement that Indonesia’s “macro- acquire the operations of LGW, a regional carrier employing some Swiss, Austrian and Brussels Airlines-initially set its sights on scooping economic policies have consistently been 500 people. That includes taking over the roughly 30 planes flown up 81 aircraft from Air Berlin’s 140-strong fleet, including all of Niki’s geared towards maintaining stability”, with by LGW but leased from other companies, a source familiar with the planes plus its valuable slots. But fearful of the dominant position that strong foreign cash reserves also a key factor. bid has told AFP. could give Lufthansa on some routes, the Commission stated “deep The upgrade comes after Standard & The European Commission, the EU’s anti-trust authority, earlier this competition concerns” about the Frankfurt-based carrier’s plans and Poor’s raised Indonesia’s sovereign credit rat- month approved the purchase of Air Berlin’s operations at the German the effect on ticket prices. Lufthansa then announced last Wednesday ing from junk status to investment grade in capital’s Tegel Airport by British low-cost carrier easyJet. that it was dropping its plan to buy Niki. May. President Joko Widodo has been seeking Under the deal, easyJet will spend some 40 million euros ($47 mil- The shock move meant Niki lost the bridge financing that had kept to attract more foreign investment and lion) to enter into leases for up to 25 aircraft and take over slots in it flying in anticipation of the Lufthansa acquisition, forcing it to file strengthen economic performance despite the Berlin. The fire sale began in August when Air Berlin suddenly lost a for insolvency. Lufthansa is also eyeing a chunk of struggling Alitalia’s commodities downturn. —AFP cash lifeline from main shareholder Etihad Airways after years of fleet, in the latest sign of consolidation in the industry. —AFP 40 Friday Business Friday, December 22, 2017 Bank of Japan holds rates as inflation remains low Japan-EU trade deal seen boosting Japan’s GDP by 1%

TOKYO: The Bank of Japan kept its ultra-loose to stay on. However, Kuroda was coy on this The deal will remove the EU’s 10 percent monetary policy in place yesterday as inflation subject, saying he was not in a position to tariffs on Japanese cars and 3 percent typically remains stubbornly low in the world’s third- comment on personnel issues. applied to car parts. biggest economy, bucking a trend of gradually Meanwhile, A free trade deal with the Eu- The agreement will also scrap Japanese du- tighter policy in major economies. The bank ropean Union would boost Japan’s gross do- ties of 30 percent on EU cheese and 15 percent said it would purchase 10-year government mestic product (GDP) by 1 percent annually on wines as well as allowing it to increase its bonds so that long-term interest rates would once the benefits fully kick in over 10-20 years, beef and pork exports. remain “at around zero percent”. a government estimate showed yesterday. The Cabinet Office also estimated the 11- The BoJ will also keep charging a negative Prime Minister Shinzo Abe has been pro- nation Trans-Pacific Partnership - which re- interest rate on some accounts held by finan- moting free trade as a pillar of his growth strat- quires more works after the United States cial institutions at the egy. Japan and the EU, pulled out of it early this year - would boost central bank in a bid to which concluded nego- Japan’s GDP by about 1.5 percent annually, or prompt lending by tiations on the trade 8 trillion yen, and create 460,000 jobs. commercial banks. pact, hope that it will go In November, the countries remaining in the BoJ chief Haruhiko BoJ to buy into effect early 2019, TPP agreed on the core elements to move Kuroda later yesterday 10-year media reports say. The ahead without the United States but more gave few clues about Cabinet office estimated work need to be done before it is finalized. The any timeline for pulling govt bonds that the trade pact Cabinet Office also showed the TPP 11 would back the bank’s huge would lift Japan’s GDP cut Japan’s farm production by 90 billion to asset-buying program. by 5 trillion yen ($44 150 billion yen. “We won’t raise in- billion) per year, or In 2015, the government predicted the 12- terest rates just because our economy is doing about 1 percent, and create an additional nation TPP, including the US, would increase well ... We’ll consider further easing if there’s a 290,000 jobs, according to the estimate by the Japan’s GDP by 2.6 percent, or 13.6 trillion risk that the momentum (towards achieving the Cabinet Office. yen, and would add 795,000 jobs. It would two-percent inflation target) isn’t maintained,” However, Japan’s farmers would be hit as also lower farm output by as much as 210 bil- he told reporters. tariffs on wheat, beef and other food imports lion yen. Japan’s economy grew an annual- Investors were also watching out for possi- will be slashed, intensifying competition with ized 2.5 percent in the third quarter to mark TOKYO: Bank of Japan (BOJ) Governor Haruhiko Kuroda ble indications on whether Kuroda will stay on domestic producers. The Cabinet office esti- a seventh straight quarter of expansion gestures during a press conference at the BOJ headquar- as he nears the end of his five-year term. Prime mated that domestic farm production would thanks to a business spending splurge and ters in Tokyo yesterday. —AFP Minister Shinzo Abe has reportedly asked him drop by 60 billion to 110 billion yen. buoyant exports. —Agencies

the ministry said in statement yesterday. Ukraine says “The state has already spent almost 140 billion hryvnyas (around $5 billion) on recapitalization of PrivatBank to JP Morgan ‘seriously London court cover the losses caused by the extrac- tion of money from the bank and poorly breached anti-money freezes top secured loans given out before national- laundering rules’ ization,” it said. tycoon assets “These 140 billion hryvnyas are the ZURICH: JP Morgan Chase’s Swiss unit “se- money of each Ukrainian citizen, each riously breached anti-money laundering reg- Ukrainian taxpayer and these funds must ulations” in its dealings with Malaysian KIEV: Ukraine yesterday welcomed a be returned to the state budget.” sovereign wealth fund 1MDB, the Swiss fi- decision by a London court to freeze the Late on Wednesday, PrivatBank, which nancial markets watchdog found yesterday. The scandal has rocked the administration assets of billionaire Igor Kolomoyskiy holds more than a third of Ukraine’s de- The US bank’s subsidiary “failed to ade- of Malaysian Prime Minister Najib Razak, posits and whose takeover by the state quately identify the increased money laun- following a high-profile case that led to the founder of 1MDB, who must call elections the state’s takeover of the country’s was welcomed by the West, said it had dering risks in some of the business by mid-2018. He has responded by purging relationships related to this case”, the largest bank. begun legal proceedings in the High critics from his government and curbing do- Court in London against former owners FINMA body said, referring to a money- mestic investigations. Celebrities have been Kolomoyskiy, the ex-Soviet country’s laundering scandal that has shaken the sucked into the scandal, with the Justice De- second-richest man worth $1.3 billion Kolomoyskiy and Bogolyubov. Malaysian political establishment. partment alleging stolen 1MDB money was according to Forbes’ 2016 ratings, was “The freezing order was granted on “The bank seriously breached anti-money used to buy jewelry worth millions of dollars the owner of Ukraine’s largest lender the basis of detailed evidence put to the laundering regulations by failing to screen for Miranda Kerr as well as gifts for PrivatBank. court that Kolomoyskiy and Bogolyubov adequately transactions and business rela- Leonardo DiCaprio. The lender was nationalized last De- have extracted almost $2 billion from the tionships booked in Switzerland associated Authorities in several countries as still in- cember after authorities blamed Kolo- bank through a particular series of dis- with the Malaysian sovereign wealth fund vestigating the complex deals involving the honest transactions,” the lender said. 1MDB and one of its business partners,” moyskiy and other PrivatBank owners for Malaysian fund and other entities. In April issuing bad loans to cronies and having PrivatBank added that through the FINMA said in a statement. 2016 1MDB defaulted on $1.75 billion in Despite its findings, FINMA said it would insufficient capital to stay afloat. legal proceedings it was seeking to re- bonds after missing an interest payment of cover over $2.5 billion. not seek legal proceedings against any indi- $50 million. “The ministry of finance of Ukraine viduals and there would be no fines against While JP Morgan Chase’s Swiss unit welcomes the English High Court order Kolomoyskiy, who has fought to chal- JP Morgan. The US Justice Department al- has escaped fines, FINMA said yester- on worldwide asset freezing against lenge the nationalization, stressed the leges in civil lawsuits that $4.5 billion was day it will now conduct an in-depth re- Kolomoyskiy and (Gennadiy) Bo- ruling was a temporary measure. “This is looted from 1MDB in an audacious campaign view of the bank’s anti-money laundering golyubov, as well as against six compa- a temporary arrest for the time of the of fraud and money-laundering. systems. —AFP nies they are believed to own or control,” trial,” he told local media. —AFP Friday 41 Business Friday, December 22, 2017 US officials hope tax plan will bring corporate profits home Tech, pharmaceutical firms accumulated profits offshore

WASHINGTON: The sweeping tax cuts The incentive remains? adopted Wednesday by US lawmakers while re- Businesses will have to make a one-time pay- ducing rates on corporations, also aim to en- ment of eight percent or 15.5 percent, on repa- courage multinational businesses to repatriate triated foreign profits, depending on whether the huge earnings amassed abroad. US corpora- assets are cash or investments. This could bring tions, notably in the tech and pharmaceutical $220 billion to the Treasury, according to the sectors, have for years accumulated profits off- Joint Committee on Taxation. But Eric Toder, co- shore to avoid the comparatively high US tax director of the Tax Policy Center, this particular rates of 35 percent, although most companies in policy measure would reward overseas invest- reality pay much less. ment. “We are taxing them less on their foreign The stockpile of cash now stands at about profits than on their US profits if they invest in $2.5 trillion, according to the congressional Joint low-tax countries,” he told AFP. After the tax bill Committee on Taxation. In 2016, for example, is enacted, foreign profits will be taxed at a min- Apple stashed more than $200 billion abroad, imum of 10.5 percent-including amounts col- while Microsoft parked $100 billion, and Cisco, lected by local authorities-a level well below the Oracle and General Electric all followed suit. 21 percent US rate. Some firms resorted to so-called corporate Toder said congressional scorekeepers were inversions, reverse mergers allowing them to be assuming the lower taxes would result in higher incorporated in low-tax countries, avoiding the revenues, given the larger volume of repatriated US tax system altogether. profits. But this still encourages companies to in- Last year, several inversion efforts, including vest abroad, he said. “They have an incentive to the merger attempt by drug companies Pfizer report and invest income in low tax countries.” and Allergan, drew the ire of American officials. Industrial companies, such as makers of semi- WASHINGTON DC: US President Donald Trump speaks about the passage of tax reform legislation By dropping the top corporate rate to 21 percent conductors, an industry prone to off-shoring like on the South Lawn of the White House in Washington, DC, on Wednesday—AFP from 35 percent and taxing only profits earned many that trade in intellectual property, welcome US territory, the reform represents an effort to the new rules. “We would have preferred lower make the United States more enticing to major repatriation rates but overall it’s a strong bill for if they were earned by foreign subsidiaries, at a ment,” Caroline Harris, vice president for tax corporations. the semiconductor industry,” Joe Pasetti, a sen- rate of 10.5 percent rather than the new corpo- policy at the chamber, told AFP. However, crit- “Money frozen overseas and in parts of world ior lobbyist at the Semiconductor Industry As- rate rate of 21 percent. ics are skeptical the higher profits will be used and some of them don’t even like us,” President sociation, told AFP. “It’s really competitive, much more com- for those purposes. In 2004, under then-pres- Donald Trump said Wednesday in remarks cel- petitive than the current system,” Pasetti said. ident George W. Bush, Congress approved a ebrating the tax bill’s passage. Will it work? The US Chamber of Commerce believes the similar tax break to encourage the repatria- “And they had the money. Now they won’t The tax plan also aims to encourage compa- benefits will be shared widely following the tion of profits, and companies brought back have the money long.” To help encourage earn- nies to be active again on US soil, in particular disappearance of the “outdated” former tax about $312 billion, subject to a 5.3 percent ings repatriation, the tax package includes a those in IP-reliant industries, he explains. US system. “Our tax system will now welcome rate. But studies showed these funds were in one-time, across-the-board tax break for com- revenues derived from foreign sales of patented capital within our borders for myriad uses large part used for share buybacks rather than panies that bring the cash back. products will be processed for tax purposes as such as job creation, wage growth, and invest- for investments. —AFP

the value of its products to patents and way for patents held overseas to be re- Apple wins big other intellectual property such as trade- turned to the United States without being marks. Apple then assigns some of that IP, taxed. Congress “screwed it up,” said Ed proportional to overseas sales, to sub- Kleinbard, a tax professor at the University Spanish bond yields with US tax bill sidiaries in countries with low tax rates and of California and former chief of staff of the assesses substantial patent royalties on US Congress’s Joint Committee on Taxa- but faces snag sales. Those royalties then flow back to tion. “It’s kind of weird that they created nudge lower as Catalonia those low-tax locations, like Ireland. the patent box, but didn’t give a pass to The bill has a pair of provisions designed bring things back.” goes to the polls on patents to make that maneuver less alluring. One For those patents that remain overseas, creates a minimum tax on foreign patent in- the minimum tax on foreign patent profits LONDON: The premium investors demand for holding Span- come that is expected to come to about 13 means Apple might actually face higher WASHINGTON: The US Republican tax ish bonds over top-rated German peers held close to its nar- percent, said Gavin Ekins, a research econ- cash taxes abroad. “I’m willing to bet a overhaul passed by Congress this week will rowest levels in three months yesterday, as Catalonia holds an omist with the Tax Foundation. At the same dollar that 13.1 percent is higher than allow Apple Inc to bring back its $252.3 bil- election that Spain’s government hopes will end the wealthy time, a tax break for patents held in the Apple’s actual non-US tax rate,” said lion foreign cash pile without a major tax region’s independence bid. hit - a long-standing company goal. United States will lower the tax on licensing Kleinbard. “It’s entirely possible their cash income from the standard corporate rate of tax bill going forward would go up based After two days of heavy selling in US and European bond Other provisions of the bill, namely the markets, euro zone bond yields held near multi-week highs as cut in the corporate tax rate from 35 per- 21 percent to 13.1 percent - about the same on this alone.” as if the patents were held abroad. Apple Chief Executive Tim Cook has the US House of Representatives approved a sweeping over- cent to 21 percent, are also a big boon for haul of the U.S tax code. Spain’s government hopes that the Apple. But not everything went the com- Congressional Republicans “don’t want said the company intends to bring some Catalonia election will strip pro-independence parties of their pany’s way. A critical difference between the tax rate to be a consideration in where overseas cash home, but the company de- control of the Catalan parliament and end their campaign to the Senate version of the bill and the final you put your intellectual property,” Ekins clined to comment on precisely how much version could actually raise the amount of said. “The whole intention (of the meas- or how it would use the funds. Gary Huf- force a split with Spain. cash taxes that Apple pays on profits from ures) is to bring back that intellectual bauer, a fellow with the Peterson Institute But while final polls showed separatist and unionist parties patents held abroad, tax experts said. property to the United States.” for International Economics, said the tax running neck-and-neck, an effective pro-independence ma- The treatment of foreign patent profits Parts of the scheme are similar “patent cut is not likely to spur Apple to start build- jority remains a likely outcome. “It (the election) cannot be ig- is important to Apple because shifting boxes” employed in countries like the ing iPhones in the United States. However, nored going into year-end,” said Orlando Green, European those profits overseas was a cornerstone United Kingdom to encourage firms to Apple’s U.S. suppliers, which the company fixed income strategist at Credit Agricole. “But the secession of its tax practices for decades. In effect, generate and keep their innovations at said it spent $50 billion with in 2016, will movement has been significantly diminished and would need the company attributes a large portion of home. But the final bill omits any explicit also see lower taxes. —Reuters a decisive move to revive it.” —Reuters 42 Friday Sports Friday, December 22, 2017 Birmingham named as 2022 Commonwealth Games host city Next year’s Games will be staged on Australia’s Gold Coast

LONDON: The English city of Birmingham was rival bids from Canada and Malaysia, both of yesterday confirmed as the host of the 2022 which failed to materialise. But Martin thanked Commonwealth Games after a troubled bidding the two countries-and Australia-for their inter- process. “We warmly congratulate Birmingham est in hosting future Games and said all three and England on today’s announcement-it is a countries had expressed interest in staging ei- defining moment for this truly Commonwealth ther the 2026 or 2030 event. city,” Commonwealth Games Federation presi- The budget for the 2022 Games, which is dent Louise Martin told a press conference at expected to run from July 27 to August 7, is re- Birmingham’s Arena Academy. ported to be £750 million ($1 billion, 845 mil- The Games were originally awarded to Dur- lion euros). The existing Alexander Stadium ban in 2015, but the South African city had the will be re-developed and will host the athletics event taken away earlier event. this year for financial “The vast majority reasons. The quadren- It is a defining of the Games venues nial multisport event, in- moment for are in place and with volving members of the extensive experience in British Commonwealth this truly the UK of hosting suc- of Nations, last took Commonwealth cessful major events- place in the United including Manchester Kingdom in Glasgow in city 2002, London 2012 and 2014. Glasgow 2014 — the After Durban was CGF looks forward to a taken out of the running, Birmingham defeated truly spectacular Games that delivers not only a rival British bid from Liverpool to secure the for the 2.4 billion citizens across the Com- support of the government in September. But monwealth, but the wider world, too,” Martin the Midlands city has had to wait almost three added. months to have its victory confirmed. “Today is a fantastic day for Birming- BIRMINGHAM: Commonwealth Games Federation President Louise Martin announces the winning bid for the The CGF extended the deadline for bids ham, global Britain and our resurgent Com- 2022 games in Birmingham, Britain yesterday. until the end of November, saying Birmingham’s monwealth Sports Movement.” British candidacy was “not fully compliant”, and then sports minister Tracey Crouch said: “The been selected to host the 2022 Common- to countries that are members of the Com- announced a further delay as it sought guaran- UK has a brilliant track record for putting wealth Games.” monwealth, a collection of nations and ter- tees from the city and government. on the biggest sport events in the world Next year’s Games will be staged on ritories that were mainly once part of the The CGF is believed to have encouraged and it is great news that Birmingham has Australia’s Gold Coast. The Games are open British empire. —AFP Hamilton scores in Premiership third period to lead strikes landmark Flames over Blues LOS ANGELES: Dougie Hamilton scored at 7:57 of China TV deal the third period to lead the Calgary Flames to a 2-1 win over the St. Louis Blues at the Scotiabank Sad- LONDON: The English Premiership will be- dledome on Wednesday night. Michael Frolik also come the first club rugby union tournament scored for the Flames, who have won two games in a to air on Chinese national television after a row, and Mike Smith made 21 saves. Brayden Schenn four-year deal with free-to-air sports broad- scored for the Blues, while goalie Carter Hutton fin- caster CCTV5+ was announced today. Be- ished with 31 saves. ginning with Sunday’s clash between Leicester and Saracens, CCTV5+ will show FLYERS 4, RED WINGS 3 at least 25 Premiership matches a season in Sean Couturier scored his career-high 16th goal China, along with the semi-final and final. Pre- early in the third period and it stood up as the game- viously, the 2015 Rugby World Cup was the winner in Philadelphia’s victory over Detroit. Dale only rugby tournament to have been broad- Weise, Wayne Simmonds and Robert Hagg also cast on Chinese television. “This is a very significant day in the history scored for the Flyers, who won for the seventh time in of Premiership Rugby,” said Dominic Hayes, eight games following a 10-game losing streak. Mar- commercial director at Premiership Rugby, in tin Frk, Mike Green and Gustav Nyquist scored for a press release. “Launching on free-to-air TV the Red Wings, who lost in regulation for the first time NEW YORK: File photo shows Dylan Larkin #71 of the Detroit Red Wings skates against the New York Islanders at in China is part of our strategic goal of increas- in five games (2-1-2). Jimmy Howard stopped 27 the Barclays Center on December 19, 2017 in the Brooklyn. —AFP ing the global impact of Premiership Rugby shots. and helping to grow the game in new countries also was credited with an assist on Pierre-Luc Columbus lead with a third-period goal, and Cam around the world. “CCTV5+ reaches 400 mil- BLUE JACKETS 4, MAPLE LEAFS 2 Dubois’ second-period goal. In the past four games, Atkinson contributed two assists. —Reuters lion households and this will lead to a huge in- Seth Jones scored an unassisted goal and assisted Jones has three goals to give him six for the season The Maple Leafs’ goals came from Jake Gardiner crease in rugby’s exposure, in a new and very on a rare Columbus power-play goal to help the team and 19 points. Lukas Sedlak scored the Blue Jackets’ in the second period and Mitch Marner in the third exciting market.” —AFP end a two-game losing streak with a victory over first goal in the opening period with an assist from period of Toronto’s second game in two days. Gar- Toronto. Jones’ goal came in the first period, and he Matt Calvert. Alexander Wennberg expanded the diner also had an assist. —Reuters Friday 43 Sports Friday, December 22, 2017 Lakers end Rockets’ 14-game winning streak with a 122-116 upset victory Warriors limit Memphis to 10 field goals

LOS ANGELES: Rookie Kyle Kuzma scored 38 thony Towns also scored 25 and grabbed 10 re- points, and the Los Angeles Lakers snapped the bounds, Jamal Crawford had 20 points and seven Houston Rockets’ 14-game winning streak with a assists, and Jeff Teague contributed 16 points 122-116 upset victory Wednesday night. Houston and eight assists for Minnesota, which overcame had its streak end despite James Harden pouring a 14-point deficit. Denver’s Nikola Jokic re- in 51 points and adding nine assists. The Rockets turned to the starting lineup after coming off the also lost for the first time with guard Chris Paul in bench the previous two games. He finished with their lineup. Paul de- 22 points but also com- parted early in the fourth mitted 10 turnovers. quarter with a sore left Jamal Murray led Denver leg and did not return Utah ends with 30 points, and after posting eight points, six-game Mason Plumlee had 13 five assists and five re- points and 10 rebounds. bounds over 25 minutes. road trip with Los Angeles snapped its SPURS 93, TRAIL three-game skid by another loss BLAZERS 91 torching Houston’s de- LaMarcus Aldridge fense, with Kuzma scor- had 22 points and eight ing 24 of his 38 points in rebounds, and Pau Gasol the first half on 9-for-9 shooting. The Lakers, play- collected 20 points, 17 rebounds and five assists as LOS ANGELES: Mike James #55 of the Phoenix Suns scores on a layup between Willie Reed #35, ing without starters Brook Lopez (ankle) and Ken- San Antonio seized a victory over Portland. Montrezl Harrell #5 and Sam Dekker #7 of the LA Clippers during a 108-95 Clipper win at Staples tavious Caldwell-Pope (personal reasons), had six Aldridge sank 1 of 2 at the line to give the Spurs a Center in Los Angeles, California. —AFP double-digit scorers, with reserve forward Corey 93-91 advantage with 15.4 seconds left before CJ Brewer tallying a season-high 21 points. McCollum missed a pair of shots in the closing sec- Nikola Vucevic led the Magic with 18 points and missing Tuesday’s comeback win in Philadelphia onds. Damian Lillard scored 17 points for the Trail 10 rebounds while Elfrid Payton and D.J. Au- with an illness. Spencer Dinwiddie led the Nets WARRIORS 97, GRIZZLIES 84 Blazers, who lost for the fifth straight time at home. gustin finished with 14 points. Orlando was play- with 16 points while DeMarre Carroll added 15 Golden State limited Memphis to 10 field ing without three opening-night starters. as Brooklyn lost its fourth straight game. goals in the second half, allowing the defending MAVERICKS 110, PISTONS 93 NBA champs to gradually pull away for a hard- Dennis Smith Jr. scored 15 points in his return KINGS 104, NETS 99 RAPTORS 129, HORNETS 111 earned victory, their 10th win in a row. Klay to spark Dallas to a win over Detroit. Smith, who Zach Randolph scored 21 points and became DeMar DeRozan led the way with 28 points Thompson had a game-high 29 points and Kevin added five assists and five rebounds in 21 min- the 39th player in NBA history to get 10,000 ca- despite not playing in the fourth quarter, Serge Durant added 22 for the Warriors, but the duo utes, missed the previous six games with a hip reer rebounds as Sacramento nearly blew a 21- Ibaka scored 24, and Toronto routed Charlotte. combined for just nine points in the second half, strain, and the Mavericks had lost three straight. point lead before holding on for a victory over OG Anunoby added 20 points, including 6- when Golden State’s defense dominated the Mavs forward Harrison Barnes led all scorers Brooklyn. It was the second milestone this month of-7 shooting from 3-point range for the Rap- game. Memphis lost for the 16th time in 18 with 25 points. Anthony Tolliver paced Detroit, for Randolph, who shot 8 of 11 and finished with tors. Jeremy Lamb led the Hornets with a games. Marc Gasol overcame 5-for-15 shooting which had won three straight, with 18 points. eight rebounds. On Dec. 2 at Milwaukee, he be- career-high 32 points. Kemba Walker and to score a team-high 21 points for the Grizzlies. came the 11th active player with 18,000 points. Dwight Howard finished with 15 points apiece Pacers 105, Hawks 95 George Hill led the Kings with 22 points after for Charlotte, which has lost 11 of 14. —Reuters HEAT 90, CELTICS 89 Bojan Bogdanovic, who made the errant pass Kelly Olynyk scored a career-high 32 points that cost Indiana a victory against NBA East- to lead undermanned Miami to a stunning upset leading Boston on Monday, scored 19 points in of Boston. Celtics star Kyrie Irving missed an the win over Atlanta. The Pacers were led Victor NBA results/standings open 20-foot jumper at the buzzer. He helped Oladipo with 23 points, including three 3-point- Golden State 97, Memphis 84; LA Clippers 108, Phoenix 95; San Antonio 93, Ortland 91; Min- Boston recover from a late 11-point deficit and ers. Oladipo scored 13 points in the second half. nesota 112, Denver 104; Dallas 110, Detroit 93; Chicago 112, Orlando 94; LA Lakers 122, Hous- finished with 33 points. Olynyk, who had 25 Myles Turner added 20 points. The Hawks were ton 116; Oklahoma City 107, Utah 79; Indiana 05, Atlanta 95; Miami 90, Boston 89; points in the second half, played the first four led by rookie John Collins with 18 points and Sacramento 104, Brooklyn 99; Toronto 129, Charlotte 111. years of his NBA career with the Celtics before nine rebounds. Marco Belinelli and Kent Baze- signing a four-year, $50 million contract with the more each scored 13. Eastern Conference Western Conference Heat. Josh Richardson added 19 points for the Atlantic Division Northwest Division Heat, who were playing without four starters. CLIPPERS 108, SUNS 95 W L PCT GB Minnesota 19 13 .594 - Austin Rivers scored 21 points, while Lou Boston 26 8 .765 - Portland 16 15 .516 2.5 THUNDER 107, JAZZ 79 Williams had 18 off the bench as Los Angeles ran Toronto 21 8 .724 2.5 Oklahoma City 16 15 .516 2.5 Russell Westbrook finished three assists shy away with a victory over Phoenix. The Clippers NY Knicks 16 14 .533 8 Denver 16 15 .516 2.5 of his 11th triple-double of the season — 24 held Phoenix to 31.9 percent shooting in the first Philadelphia 14 16 .467 10 Utah 14 18 .438 5 points, 10 rebounds and seven assists-and Okla- half and 36.1 percent for the game. Los Angeles’ Brooklyn 11 19 .367 13 homa City defeated Utah to move over .500 for DeAndre Jordan hauled down 20 rebounds and Pacific Division the first time since Halloween. Carmelo Anthony added 12 points. TJ Warren finished with 22 Central Division Golden State 25 6 .806 - and Paul George finished with 18 points each for points and 10 rebounds, while Josh Jackson had Cleveland 23 9 .719 - LA Clippers 12 18 .400 12.5 the Thunder, whose eight wins through the first 17 for the Suns, who saw their two-game win Indiana 18 14 .563 5 LA Lakers 11 18 .379 13 three weeks of December match their total streak end. They have yet to win three consec- Milwaukee 16 13 .552 5.5 Sacramento 11 20 .355 14 through the first two months of the season. Rod- utive games this season. Detroit 17 14 .548 5.5 Phoenix 11 22 .333 15 ney Hood scored 17 points to lead the Jazz, who Chicago 10 20 .333 12 have lost seven of eight. Utah ended a six-game BULLS 112, MAGIC 94 Southwest Division road trip with another loss-its 13th in 16 games Denzel Valentine scored 16 points and Southeast Division Houston 25 5 .833 - away from home this season. grabbed 10 rebounds, Kris Dunn and Nikola Washington 17 14 .548 - San Antonio 22 10 .688 4 Mirotic each scored 15 points, and Chicago never Miami 16 15 .516 1 New Orleans 15 16 .484 10.5 TIMBERWOLVES 112, DENVER 104 trailed in defeating Orlando for its seventh Charlotte 11 20 .355 6 Jimmy Butler had 25 points, including nine straight win. The Bulls’ Bobby Portis finished with Orlando 11 21 .344 6.5 Memphis 9 22 .290 16.5 during a key stretch of the fourth quarter, and 14 points, Jerian Grant had 13, and Robin Lopez Atlanta 7 24 .226 10 Dallas 9 23 .281 17 the Minnesota rallied to beat Denver. Karl-An- scored 10. Mirotic also grabbed 10 rebounds. 44 Friday Sports Friday, December 22, 2017 Protect England tail from ‘bodyline’, former captain Atherton tells umpires

Smith calls it ‘over-the-top’

MELBOURNE: Umpires should invoke batsman’s skill. “Test cricket or not, the Law cricket’s laws and protect England’s tailenders and the playing conditions are there to protect from Australia’s relentless “bodyline” bowling batsmen incapable of protecting themselves,” in the ongoing Ashes series, former England Atherton added. captain Michael Atherton has said. “Cricket is an odd game in that it has three Australia have reclaimed the urn with an distinct disciplines and, within that, you have unassailable 3-0 lead in the five Test series, the unusual situation where someone who is their fiery pace battery totally useless in one of Mitchell Starc, Josh area can face a world- Hazlewood and Pat Batsmen who class performer in an- Cummins singeing Eng- other - with potentially land’s frontline batsmen cannot bowl are harmful consequences. in Brisbane, Adelaide “Batsmen who can- and Perth. not required to not bowl are not re- The pace trio have bowl to great quired to bowl to great not spared the tailen- players, but the oppo- ders. England’s number players site is obviously the 10 batsman Jake Ball case - precisely why was subjected to a the Law is framed as it bouncer barrage in the Brisbane opener and is, as built-in protection for the incompetent. number 11 James Anderson suffered a sickening “No one wants to see the game sanitised, but blow to the side of his helmet in the third Test the Law is there for a reason. The umpires at Perth. should make use of it,” added Atherton, who Atherton conceded Australia were clearly played 115 tests between 1989-2001. the better team and that any side with such Australia captain Steve Smith found Ather- ammunition would have attacked the tailenders ton’s claims “a bit over the top.” “No doubt, if for practical and psychological reasons. “That they had the kind of pace that our bowlers can said, I did wonder aloud at the time why the generate, they’d probably do the same thing,” MELBOURNE: Tennis player Milos Raonic of Canada (R) and Australia cricket team captain Steve Smith pose umpires were so reluctant to act to protect Smith said at Melbourne Park where he had a for photos during a media call for the upcoming Australia Open tennis tournament in Melbourne. —AFP Ball,” Atherton wrote in the Times newspaper. hit with tennis’ former world number three The law states that short pitched bowling is Milos Raonic. in 2013.” Smith returned a few of Canadian feels,” joked Smith, the leading scorer of the dangerous if the umpire considers it likely to “We were (always) going to bowl a lot of Raonic’s serves but struggled with one aimed ongoing series which resumes in Melbourne on inflict physical injury when measured against a short stuff to those guys, much like we did back at his body. “Now I know how Jimmy Anderson Tuesday. —Reuters

as fast as he could along a set of rails from a stand- Push for ing start. “We never really push this thing over the winter because we’re normally away (competing),” 196 all out, with only the experienced Hamilton Pyeongchang the Montreal-born athlete told Reuters. “I can tell Steyn plays Masakadza playing a substantial innings. you it’s far better during the summer. “(But) the Masakadza survived an early dropped starts on concrete Olympics are definitely the end goal and it does chance against Steyn and went on to make 79. drive you on,” added the 25-year-old. “It could be worse, I could be on a rugby field getting beaten down hopes of The next highest score was 26 by the uncapped BATH: The push for Winter Olympic glory be- up for 80 minutes.” Rod Burl. Steyn bowled 12 overs in four spells, comes concrete right from the start for Britain’s including one with the new pink ball, conceding wickets record aspiring bobsleigh and skeleton athletes. The dry TEST EVENT 16 runs. He started by bowling three consecu- push-start track at Bath University in south-west tive maiden overs with the new ball, having a Blanchet raced the two-man bob at last Feb- PAARL: Dale Steyn doesn’t want to talk about England gave Amy Williams, skeleton gold medal- ruary’s world championships in Koenigssee, Ger- the possibility of becoming South Africa’s all- confident appeal against Solomon Mire turned list at the 2010 Vancouver Games, a first taste of down and then having Masakadza dropped at many, and has also competed on Pyeongchang’s time leading wicket-taker, he said during a the sport and Sochi 2014 champion Lizzy Yarnold Olympic track. His immediate focus now is a test steady comeback to long-form cricket on point on one. has honed her technique there. Steyn said he was fully fit and pain-free. He push at the Bath track at the end of the month Wednesday. Shelley Rudman, 2006 Olympic skeleton silver had not tried to bowl at express pace on that he hopes could put him back into contention Steyn was not among the wickets for a South medallist, also graduated from the undulating 140- Wednesday, concentrating on finding his for Korea. African Invitation team on the first day of a metre run, on the campus edge alongside muddy “As a brakeman, you’re ranked on how well three-day day-night match against the touring rhythm without revealing too much to the Zim- babweans in case he was picked for the Test. playing fields and across the road from a cats and you start a bobsleigh. So if I was to go out for the Zimbabweans at Boland Park, but was happy dogs home. second half of the season, I’d have to do well in with his rhythm ahead of an expected Test That, though, seems likely because Steyn will only play the first two days of the current On a dank December morning, under a steady the push starts,” explained Blanchet. “There’s still comeback against Zimbabwe in a day-night drizzle and occasional hail bouncing off the con- a lot to do.” clash in Port Elizabeth, starting on Tuesday. game before joining the South African Test squad in Port Elizabeth. “I am still fitter than the crete surrounds, a group of athletes practised their Built in 2001 with lottery funding, the push- Steyn, 34, needs just five wickets to overtake starts in circumstances far removed from the icy start track was refurbished in 2015. “Because we Shaun Pollock’s record of 421 Test wickets-but youngest guys in the side,” he said. “It was just about getting through this year and trying to World Cup venues. don’t have our own sliding track, this is the place it has been more than a year since he took his Sam Blanchet, a former rugby professional who where we spend seven months of the year, in the 417th wicket, shortly before breaking down decide whether I still wanted to do it... I’ll play played for the Exeter Chiefs and Bedford Blues as gym, grinding all the training out,” Yarnold told with a freak shoulder fracture against Australia until I’m not good enough or someone’s better than me.” well as England in the 2014 Hong Kong Sevens be- Reuters on Wednesday. in November 2016. “The dry push track that we have here at the It was his third major injury in just over a “Every time someone talks about a record fore falling out of love with the contact sport, was I get injured,” he added. “So I’m not both- one of them. university is only practising the start element, year. He has only played in four of South Africa’s where you are running next to the sled and jump- last 25 Tests. The Zimbabweans struggled to ered. Let’s just go play. Let’s see what hap- Working his way back from a recent injury sus- pens.” —AFP tained in a bobsleigh crash in Whistler, Blanchet ing on. Then we come back up to the top and do it pushed a makeshift welded metal sled on wheels all again.” —Reuters Friday 45 Sports Friday, December 22, 2017 Birthday boy Mbappe stars as PSG down Caen in Ligue 1

Mbappe, sporting dyed white hair for his birthday

PARIS: Kylian Mbappe celebrated his 19th birthday on Wednes- mental as PSG surged in front midway through the first half, burst- day with a goal and an assist as Paris Saint-Germain cruised to a ing down the right wing before crossing for Cavani to flick ma- 3-1 victory over Caen in Ligue 1. The French teenager has enjoyed jestically beyond Remy Vercoutre. a stratospheric rise in 2017 and rounded out a memorable year in style by setting up Edinson Cavani to fire PSG ahead on 21 min- IBRA RECORD IN SIGHT utes, before adding a goal of his own on the hour. Spanish left- It was the Uruguayan’s league-leading 19th goal of the season back Yuri Berchiche netted his first goal for the club since arriving and drew him to within one of Zlatan Ibrahimovic’s club record of from Real Sociedad as PSG strolled to a 156 — achieved in just four prolific sea- 10th straight home league win despite sons in the French capital. conceding a late Ivan Santini penalty. Giovani Lo Celso, filling in for the Unai Emery’s team head into the win- banned Marco Verratti in central midfield, ter break nine points clear of defending created the hosts’ second goal on 57 min- champions Monaco and Lyon, with both I think the team utes, getting to the byline and delivering of those sides claiming 2-1 wins over a cross for Mbappe to confidently sweep Rennes and Toulouse respectively. “It’s a has had a very home. Neymar went close to adding a good win to finish with 50 points, but the third when he broke clear of the Caen de- goal we conceded is something we want good season fence, but the Brazilian was denied by a to work on after the holidays,” Emery terrific low stop from Vercoutre as the said. “I think the team has had a very veteran goalkeeper tipped the ball onto good first half of the season,” he added. “We’ve accomplished the post. Berchiche put the game beyond reach on 81 minutes DOHA: Paris Saint-Germain’s French forward Kylian Mbappe holds a our goals of being first in our Champions League group and being after collecting a pass from Neymar and hammering low into the press conference in Doha yesterday, during a winter training camp top of the league with a sizeable cushion.” Marseille responded far corner, although Croatia striker Santini pulled a goal back from in Qatar. — AFP to losing their 12-match unbeaten run at the weekend by coming the spot late on after Silva was penalised for a handball. from a goal behind to defeat Troyes 3-1 at the Velodrome to stay Radamel Falcao struck for the 15th time this campaign as within three points of the Champions League spots. Monaco won at home to Rennes thanks to an 81st-minute goal finish on the podium and to carry on in the second half of the sea- PSG captain Thiago Silva returned from injury at the Parc des from Keita Balde after Wahbi Khazri had levelled for the visitors. son like we finished the first,” Lyon captain Fekir said. Bryan Pele Princes to solidify a defence without the suspended Dani Alves Nabil Fekir converted a first-half penalty and former Manches- put Troyes ahead at Marseille, but Rudi Garcia’s men roared back and Presnel Kimpembe, while Neymar shrugged off a bout of ill- ter United full-back Rafael scored in stoppage time as Lyon beat with goals from Dimitri Payet, Luiz Gustavo and Valere Germain, ness that forced him to miss training on Tuesday. Toulouse despite a last-gasp spot-kick from Max-Alain Gradel. while Emiliano Sala grabbed a 92nd-minute winner for Nantes in Mbappe, sporting dyed white hair for his birthday, was instru- “PSG are setting a fairly high pace. For us the main goal is to a 1-0 victory at Amiens. —AFP

counter-attacking. “I’ve always said that the coach has Firing the coach to find the team for his players, not the other way round,” said Oddo, 41. “This team is very different team from the one I had pays dividends at Pescara with different characteristics. There is a great deal of power, physical presence and stamina, so I try Brazil-Argentina for Italian pair to make the most of that.” Udinese host Verona on Sat- urday although Oddo warned against getting carried clubs to clash in Copa away. “We are getting great results but the worst thing MILAN: Having lost their unbeaten record and Serie A we can do now is to start dreaming,” he said. leadership in defeat to Udinese last week, Inter Milan Sassuolo, meanwhile, have won two out of three Sudamericana must face another team who are enjoying a new lease league games since swapping Cristian Bucchi for the of life after changing coach when they visit Sassuolo wily and much-travelled Giuseppe Iachini, who is at LUQUE: Brazilian and Argentinian clubs will lock horns once more in the tomorrow. his 11th Italian club but has yet to coach any of the opening round of the 2018 Copa Sudamericana it was confirmed Wednes- Inter will have further reason to be wary of Sassuolo, top teams. day, a week after the violence-marred finale to this year’s competition. the team from the smallest town ever to be represented They won 1-0 at sixth-placed Sampdoria on Sunday The pick of the first phase ties will see Argentina’s San Lorenzo-the first in Serie A - they have lost four of their last eight meet- despite missing the fifth penalty of seven they have winners of the tournament in 2002 — take on 2013 champions Atletico ings against them. Udinese and Sassuolo both made been awarded this season. “We’ve only been together Mineiro from Brazil. poor starts to the season and opted for the time-hon- for three weeks,” said Iachini. “I’m convinced that if we Other ties involving Argentinian and Brazilian clubs include Newell’s Old oured solution of firing their coaches in order to turn continue to work like this, with this intensity in both at- Boys against Atletico Paranaense and Rosario Central’s meeting with Brazil- their respective campaigns around. tack and defence, we can make further progress. ian giants Sao Paulo. Proud owners of one of the most modern stadiums “Everyone has shown great willingness and we’re The draw followed last week’s stormy conclusion to the 2017 Copa Su- in Serie A, Udinese gave Luigi Delneri his marching or- improving but I know we can do better. We haven’t damericana, which was won 3-2 on aggregate by Argentina’s Independiente ders in mid-November after losing eight of their first 12 been so good with our final passes.” Sassuolo made after a second leg 1-1 draw with Brazilian side Flamengo. The final witnessed games and brought in the relatively inexperienced Mas- their top flight debut in the 2013/14 season and were fighting both inside and outside the Maracana Stadium in Rio. Riot police simo Oddo. thumped 7-0 at home in their first meeting with Inter. used tear gas and stun grenades to quell the violence. Brazil and Argentina Although Oddo’s only previous stint in Serie A ended But in seven meetings since then, Inter have won only have six teams each in the opening round of the Sudamericana, which is the abruptly when he was fired by Pescara in February with three to Sassuolo’s four. junior continental club competition in South America after the more presti- his side bottom of the table, he has transformed Udinese Inter, who went through their first 16 games un- gious Copa Libertadores. by making the most of his team’s physical strength. beaten, are third with 40 points, two behind leaders The identities of three teams in the opening round-one from Chile, and They have responded by winning three of their four Napoli, who host Sampdoria. Titleholders Juventus, who two from Bolivia, are still to be decided. The 2018 edition will kick off on games under him, capping their run with a 3-1 win at host fourth-placed Roma on Saturday, are second with February 14 with the final to be played over two legs on December 5 and 12. Inter last Saturday when they gave a lesson in quick 41 points. — Reuters 46 Friday Sports Friday, December 22, 2017 Bristol City dump holders Man Utd out of League Cup Bristol have beaten four Premier League sides

LONDON: English Championship side Bristol City that winner set off were unbelievable. My dad al- dumped Manchester United out of the League Cup ways says he’s the most successful Bristol City man- on Wednesday, scoring with seconds remaining to ager so I have maybe pushed him close tonight.” The beat the holders 2-1 as Chelsea also progressed to home side took the lead after an even first half, Joe the semi-finals after late drama of their own. Bryan firing the home side ahead in the 51st minute United, second in the Premier League, made 10 with a left-foot shot that arrowed into the net past changes from their weekend victory against West the despairing dive of Sergio Romero. Brom but still boasted a star-studded line-up includ- United were only behind for a few minutes before ing a fearsome front three of Marcus Rashford, Zla- Ibrahimovic blasted the ball through the wall after a tan Ibrahimovic and Anthony Martial against the softish-looking free-kick awarded for a foul on Paul second-division high-flyers. But as the match ap- Pogba in a central position. Manager Jose Mourinho peared to be drifting towards extra time with the threw on even more attackers as he pushed for vic- score at 1-1, unfancied Bristol dug deep to fashion tory, with Romelu Lukaku replacing Daley Blind one last chance and Korey Smith’s strike sparked while Henrikh Mkhitaryan came on for Ibrahimovic. scenes of wild celebration But despite pressure at Ashton Gate. Bristol, from the away side, Bristol third in the Championship, held their nerve, taking ad- have now beaten four Pre- We played vantage of some sloppy mier League sides on their defensive play from United march to the last four of brilliantly like to score deep into injury the League Cup and their we have all time through Smith, who reward is an even-more burst into the area, chested daunting-looking two- season the ball down and finished legged tie against run- coolly with his left foot. BRISTOL: Bristol City`s Joe Bryan (L) vies for the ball with Manchester United`s Matteo Darmian (R) during the away Premier League United surged forward English League Cup quarter-final football match between Bristol City and Manchester United in Bristol. —AFP leaders Manchester City. for one last push but it was The other semi-final next month sees an all-Lon- too late and at the final whistle joyous fans streamed the runs forward, I was gutted with the one in the 36, made his first start since damaging knee liga- don clash between Chelsea and Arsenal. “It’s an onto the pitch. first half but it was a great tackle to be fair. ments in April. Mourinho said Bristol were lucky but overwhelming feeling of pride, to beat Manchester “I joined when we were in League One with three praised them for their performance. “They played United is incredible,” said manager Lee Johnson. ‘UNBELIEVABLE’ stands. We have been brilliant this season.” United brilliantly, they fought like it was the game of their “They are a special group. It has been a long time “Unbelievable, I don’t know what to say,” said welcomed midfield general Pogba back into the side lives which probably it was,” he said. “A beautiful day since we had a result like that at Ashton Gate. “The matchwinner Smith. “We played brilliantly like we after the three-match suspension he picked up for football. A team from the lower division won. A lads didn’t want to go into extra time and the scenes have all season. I wasn’t being tracked when I made against Arsenal earlier this month and Ibrahimovic, big day for them. —AFP

thing we wanted to do as a club,” said Struggling Swansea City chairman Huw Jenkins in a statement. Minutes later, Bayern doubled their lead in Swansea sack “We had three different managers last sea- Mueller helps style. Played through by Robert Lewandowski on son and as a result we all wanted to give Paul the right wing, Mueller sent an elegant chip over as much time as possible to turn things around. Buerki and into the far corner. Two brilliant saves manager Clement “But we felt we couldn’t leave it any longer and Bayern battle from Buerki kept Bayern from running riot just needed to make a change to give us the best after half-time, but Bayern looked ever more com- LONDON: Swansea City sacked manager chance of an uplift and a turnaround in for- fortable as the game wore on. When Franck Paul Clement on Wednesday after less than a tunes with the club bottom of the Premier past Dortmund Ribery was substituted off on the hour mark, the year at the helm as the Premier League’s bot- League.” win appeared to be secure. tom club desperately search for a way out of Jenkins praised Clement’s role in helping BERLIN: Thomas Mueller scored the decisive Bayern were shocked into life on 76 minutes, the relegation mire. As the season approaches keep the club in the English top flight last sea- goal as Bayern Munich fought to a 2-1 victory though, when Yarmolenko pulled a goal back for its halfway point, the Welsh side are already son. He took over at Swansea in January, re- over rivals Borussia Dortmund to reach the Ger- Dortmund. Shinji Kagawa whipped in a cross, four points adrift of safety following Monday’s placing Bob Bradley, with the club bottom of man Cup quarter-finals on Wednesday. Goals and home goalkeeper Sven Ulreich couldn’t deny 3-1 defeat at Everton, with just three wins in the Premier League and tipped as odds-on from Jerome Boateng and Mueller gave Bayern a the Ukrainian at the far post. their first 18 Premier League matches. “We favourites for relegation. But he master- comfortable lead before half-time, but Andriy Dortmund could muster little more than a can confirm that the club has tonight parted minded four wins from his first six games, in- Yarmolenko’s second-half header made it a nervy handful of half-chances as they pushed for the company with head coach Paul Clement,” the cluding an impressive victory at Liverpool, to last 15 minutes for Bayern. equaliser. Only in injury time did they create a club said on its Twitter account. Clement is earn himself the Premier League manager of “We’ve stumbled into the quarter-finals,” said golden opportunity, as Alexander Isak’s shot was the sixth Premier League manager to lose his the month award for January. Bayern defender Boateng. “We played well in the deflected just inches past the post. “If we had job so far this season, following the dismissals Swansea lost last season’s leading scorer first half, but we should have decided it earlier.” played the whole game like we did in the last half of Frank de Boer (Crystal Palace), Craig Fernando Llorente and midfielder Gylfi Sig- After several gilt-edged chances in the opening an hour, we might have taken something away Shakespeare (Leicester City), Ronald Koeman urdsson during the summer transfer window, minutes, Boateng headed Bayern into the lead on from this game,” said Dortmund defender Marcel (Everton), Slaven Bilic (West Ham) and Tony severely weakening their squad. Former Derby 12 minutes. Niklas Suele guided a James Ro- Schmelzer. Pulis (West Brom). manager Clement arrived at Swansea with a driguez free-kick onto the bar, before Boateng Elsewhere, Leon Bailey netted the winner as Swansea’s owners will be banking on fresh wealth of experience after working with some emerged to nod the ball past Roman Buerki. Bayer Leverkusen beat Borussia Moenchenglad- impetus from a new boss to lift the team up the of the biggest teams in Europe as assistant With star striker Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang bach 1-0 to book their place in the quarters. table, with the likes of Leicester and Everton manager to Carlo Ancelotti at Real Madrid, out injured, it wasn’t until the 35th minute that Goalless until the 71st minute, the game burst into boosted by new appointments in recent Bayern Munich, Chelsea and Paris Saint-Ger- Dortmund created a significant chance. Stand-in life when Bailey broke down the left to pick up weeks. main. Former West Brom boss Pulis and Man- front man Yarmolenko found space in the box, only Kevin Volland’s through ball and fire past Yann “To change the manager, especially at only chester United legend Ryan Giggs are among to see his shot cleared off the line by David Alaba. Sommer. —AFP the halfway point of the season, is the last the favourites to replace him. —AFP Friday 47 Sports Friday, December 22, 2017 All-time Gulf Cup champions Kuwait seeks 11th title

Al-Jabri asks sectors to harness all potentials for Gulf Cup Amir to attend Gulf Cup inauguration ceremony today

KUWAIT: His Highness the Amir Sheikh Sabah Al- Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah- will patronize and attend the opening ceremony for the 23rd Gulf Cup for football today at 5:15 pm at Jaber In- ternational Stadium. Football fans and enthu- siast from region and the world will set their gaze at the opening of 23rd Gulf Cup football tourna- ment today. The prestigious tour- nament, held until January HH the Amir Sheikh Sabah 5, will see Kuwait, Saudi Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah Kuwait national team training at the Al Yarmouk sports club. Arabia, Qatar, Oman, Iraq, Yemen, Bahrain and the UAE competing for the title. KUWAIT: Despite a short preparation pe- Kuwaiti fans, in particular, are ready to see their team riod, Gulf Cup hosts and all-time champions compete again after lifting the FIFA ban. The tournament, Kuwait are hungry to win the illustrious foot- held under the auspices of His Highness the Amir Sheikh ball title for a record 11th time. Kuwait enters Sabah Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah, will have Kuwait and its first competition after a two-year compet- Saudi Arabia face-off at 05:30 pm local-time in first match itive ban was lifted by football’s world gov- of Group 1. erning body FIFA earlier this month. The Saudi-Kuwaiti match will be followed by another Al-Azrag, led by Serb manager Boris Bunjak, encounter pitting the UAE against Oman. The Group 2 have been undergoing extensive training matches will kick start tomorrow with a match between over two periods a day, a senior team official Qatar and Yemen and another match between Bahrain told a news conference on Wednesday. “The players are ready to give their all in and Iraq. order to take the national team badge to the Kuwait previously hosted the tournament in 1974, 1990, top of the podium for an 11th time,” said and 2003. The Kuwaiti team won 10 Gulf Cup titles since Fahad Awadh. Kuwait SC winger Fahad Al- the tournament’s inception in 1970. —KUNA Enezi, who has won 43 caps for his country, said the mood was high in the dressing room, and the fact that the competition is being held on home soil will be a huge boost for the Matches on TV squad. (Local Timings) The event’s opening match at Jaber Inter- national Stadium will witness a mouth-wa- ENGLISH PREMIER LEAGUE tering Group A encounter between the hosts and World Cup qualified nation and three- Arsenal v Liverpool 22:45 time Gulf Cup winner, Saudi Arabia. beIN SPORTS HD 2 Group A is arguably the tougher of the dual-group competition, which also includes SPANISH LEAGUE PRIMERA the United Arab Emirates and Oman, while Group B comprises champions Qatar, Real Betis v Athletic de Bilbao 21:30 Bahrain, Iraq and Yemen. All four Group A beIN SPORTS HD 3 nations hold a total 16 cups amongst them while inspecting Jaber al-Ahmad Interna- broadcast the encounters, in addition to 250 Espanyol v Atletico de Madrid 23:30 over 22 competitions held thus far. tional Stadium. He noted that the political HD cameras, Al-Jabri revealed. He ex- beIN SPORTS HD 3 Meanwhile, Minister of Information Mo- leadership provided all potentials for the pressed his thanks and appreciations to the hammad Al-Jabri directed all the ministry’s success of this important sports event. There ministry’s staff for their efforts in prepara- sectors to harness all capabilities to transmit is close cooperation among the ministry, the tion of a wonderful coverage of the tourna- ITALIAN CALCIO LEAGUE matches and events of the 23rd Gulf Cup to organizing committee, the Kuwait Football ment. The event comprises two groups: Chievo Verona v Bologna 20:00 be launched today. Association and all relevant bodies in order Group A is arguably the tougher of the beIN SPORTS HD 4 The ministry will work to ensure a distin- to ensure the success of the championship, dual-group competition, which also in- guished transmission of the event in a man- the minister stressed. cludes the United Arab Emirates and Oman, Cagliari Calcio v Fiorentina 22:45 ner, which reflects Kuwait’s stature and There are 20 outside broadcast vehicles while Group B comprises champions Qatar, beIN SPORTS HD 4 heritage, Al-Jabri told reporters in remarks equipped with the latest technology to Bahrain, Iraq and Yemen. —KUNA Established 1961 h i il i h bi lf

FRIDAY, DECEMBER 22, 2017 www.kuwaittimes.net

All-time Gulf Cup champions Kuwait seeks 11th title Page 47