attacking cop arrested for Groom, guests Aragon onJune 11,1928inMadridintoan aristocratic communities. Fabiola, whowasbornDonaFabiola deMoray force inacountrydeeplydivided betweenthetwolinguistic Belgium, wherethedevoutCatholic wasseenasaunifying funeral thatshedeliveredinboth FrenchandFlemish. Belgium’s currentKingPhilippe, saidinaspeechatthe for peace,”PrincessElisabeth, the13-year-oldheirto “King BaudoinandQueenFabiolaneverstoppedsearching she wasburiedinthecryptatroyalchurchLaeken. Michael andGudulainBrusselsforthefuneralservice,before took Fabiola’sflag-drapedcoffintotheCathedralofSaints who diedaweekago. Sirindhorn wereamongthemournersfor86-year-old, King CarlXVIGustafandThaiCrownPrincessMahaChakri Empress Michiko,Denmark’sQueenMargrethe,Sweden’s Sheikh NasserAl-MohammadAl-AhmadAl-Sabah,Japan’s Sheikh SabahAl-AhmadAl-JaberAl-Sabah’srepresentative als fromacrossEuropeandAsia.HHtheAmirofKuwait Baudoin, inarain-lashedfuneralceremonyattendedbyroy- former queenFabiola,thewidowofpopularKing BRUSSELS: late queenFabiolaattheCathedralofStMichaelandGudulayesterday.—AFP BRUSSELS: Kuwait’sformerprimeministerSheikhNasserAl-MohammedAl-Sabahleavesthefuneralserviceof SUBSCRIPTION Belgian queenFabiola’s Fabiola’s deathsparkedaweek ofnationalmourningin funeral drawsroyalty Soldiers onhorsebackaccompaniedthehearsethat 4 Belgium yesterdaylaidtorestitsmuch-loved 150 Fils AUDY EEBR1,21 SFR2,13 HNo:16371 SATURDAY, 1436 AH SAFAR DECEMBER13,2014 21, war reparationdelay Iraq seekingKuwait UN commissionmayconsiderrequest funeral,” aBuckingham Palacespokeswomansaid. —AFP. venting thepresence ofmemberstheroyal familyatthe Belgium. “Therearesomelong-standing commitmentspre- ing monarchs,wasrepresented byitsambassadorto whose QueenElizabethIIisone oftheworld’slongestserv- Morocco alsosentmembersof itsroyalfamily,butBritain, Juan Carlosrepresentingthe countryofFabiola’sbirth. European royalsturnedoutinforce, withSpain’sformerking metres awayforaserviceattendedbyaround1,000people. where ithaslaininstatesinceTuesdaynight. Belgian flag,beingtakenfromtheRoyalPalaceinBrussels with Fabiola’scoffin,coveredtheblack,redandyellow outside thecathedral.Adayofsolemnpageantrybegan Belgium’s unity,”mournerChristianHanneuse,61,toldAFP close tothepeople.Andbecauseroyaltyisimportantfor women Ifeltlikehadalwaysknownbecauseshewasvery rain towatchthecortegepass.“Icamepaytributea Baudouin, the“lonelyking”.Theyhadnochildren. best rememberedforbringingamuch-neededsparkto marriage in1960untilBaudouin’sdeath1993.Shewas Spanish family,wasthefifthqueenofBelgiansfromher California in yearsbatters Strongest storm The cortegemadeitswaytothecathedralafewhundred Hundreds ofmournersbravedhighwindsanddriving 7 was overthrownin2003andsanctions werelifted.—Reuters for-food dealin1996.Theportion was cutto5percentafterSaddam cent ofoilsaleswhenitresumed limited exportsundertheUNoil- “some breathingspace”,headded. pone thepayment.”Adelayofone ortwoyearswouldgiveIraq Geneva andNewYorkinordertopresentajointrequestpost- will besomehecticdiplomaticactivitybetweenBaghdad,Kuwait, olutions. “Thereisanunderstanding,”Zebarisaid.“Nextweekthere obligation topaythemoneyisenshrinedinUNSecurityCouncilres- need towinbroadinternationalsupportforadeferralbecauseits January 1991.Someofthemburnedfor10months.Iraqwouldalso retreating fromtheUS-ledoperationDesertStormtorecaptureitin facilities. compensation comesfromtheemirateitselffordamagetoitsoil delay paymentbecausethelast,andlargest,outstandingclaimfor would cutbackspendingplans.IraqneedsKuwait’sagreementto the latestoilpricefall,itscrappedadraft2015budgetandsaid and asharpincreaseinmilitaryexpenditure.Twoweeksago,after caused massdisplacementofpeople,destructioninfrastructure and theIslamicStatetakeoverinnorthwest,whichhas officials. Dec. 18inGeneva.TherewasnoimmediatecommentfromKuwaiti cial toldReuters,addingthatameetinghadbeententativelysetfor a specialsessionnextweek,”theoffi- Council willbeconsideringtheissueat the UNSecurityCouncil. which hassame15memberstatesas of theUNCC’sGoverningCouncil, change wouldrequiretheagreement sion hadyetbeenmade,andany UNCC officialinGenevasaidnodeci- present arealisticbudget.”Asenior least ayear,toallowsomespace... defer thepaymentfortwoyearsorat discussions withtheKuwaitis,tryingto conducted onThursday.“Wearein Zebari saidinatelephoneinterview paying thisontimeupuntilnow,” year. large chunkofthe2015budgettomakethatlastpaymentduenext ed morethanadecadeofsanctions,Iraqcanillaffordtodivert first timesincethe2003US-ledinvasiontoppledSaddamandend- Commission (UNCC).Butwithitseconomynowsettoshrinkforthe allocation of5percentcrudeoilexportstotheUNCompensation $52.4 billionreparationsbillhasbeenmetthroughIraq’sannual month occupationofKuwait. looting anddamageinflictedduringSaddamHussein’sseven- funds intoaUnitedNationsbodyoverseeingcompensationfor allowed toresumeoilsalesnearlytwodecadesagoithaspaid by fallingoilpricesandwarwithIslamicState.SinceIraqwasfirst Minister HoshiyarZebaritoldReuters,asitfacesacashcrisiscaused ment ofreparationsforits1990-91occupationKuwait,Finance BAGHDAD: slalom win to giant Maze storms 48 Iraq’s repaymentswerefirstset at 30percentandthen25per- More than700KuwaitioilwellsweresetonfirebyIraqitroops OPEC producerIraqissufferingfromthesharpfallinoilprices “We arehearingtheGoverning “We havebeenreallycommittedto More thanamillionclaimantshavebeenpaidandnearlyallthe Iraq isseekingtopostponeafinal$4.6billioninstall- Hoshiyar Zebari Max Min 24º 08º LOCAL SATURDAY, DECEMBER 13, 2014

Kuwait affirms commitment to regional security, stability

DOHA: Head of Kuwait National Security Bureau (KNSB) Sheikh Thamer Al-Ali Al-Sabah said on Thursday that rapid developments in a number of Arab countries prompted Kuwait to double efforts in order to the securi- ty and stability of the region. In statements to KUNA here following the NATO and Gulf Security Conference, Sheikh Thamer said that Kuwait and other GCC countries recognized the rights of Egyptian people to determine their own destiny and choose their own political system in accordance with national interest of Egypt. The GCC states believe that the solution to crisis in Egypt lies in improving the “eco- nomic and living conditions,” he pointed out. On Iran, Sheikh Thamer said that Kuwait made its stance clear at all regional and international conferences regarding Iran’s nuclear program, and welcomed the interim agreement between the P5+1 and Iran. He stressed importance of accurate and complete execution to the agreement under the supervision of the DOHA: NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg speaks during the opening of the NATO and Gulf Security conference. — AP International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA). On Iraq, Sheikh Thamer said that Kuwait will continue to be supportive of the unity and stability of Iraq, con- Security threats require more firming that the stability of Iraq will positively affect the stability of the entire region. Sheikh Thamer added that Kuwait has always been international efforts: Qatar Minister proactive in assisting and supporting the peoples in the region, without being biased to governments or sects, or DOHA: Qatari Minister of State for Defense Affairs Maj Gen more concerted efforts by the North Atlantic Council-Istanbul category, indicating that Kuwait expressed in various Hamad Al-Attiyah said Thursday that major threats the world Cooperation Initiative member states in order to find a solu- international and regional forums on the need to end and Middle East are facing at present require more interna- tion to ongoing conflicts hitting such countries, the Qatari the Syrian crisis politically to save innocent lives and in tional efforts. minister urged. “We are certain that the NATO and partnership support the stability of the region. In a keynote speech at the NATO and Gulf Security countries could play a main role in addressing such chal- Sheikh Thamer also stressed on Kuwait keenness to Conference, the minister said the threats posed by the IS and lenges,” he pointed out. ensure an end to the suffering of Palestinians, including other extremist groups necessitate military action, a clear-cut But, the minister warned that unless concerted efforts were the end of destruction, displacement, siege, and confis- strategy to restore stability in Syria and a transparent strategy exerted by international stakeholders in this regard, the situa- cation of land and property by Israel. Sheikh Thamer also to support Syrian opposition forces and to help in taking Syria tion would further aggravate, thus putting the world security expressed concerns over the latest developments in out of its current crisis. system in jeopardy. Yemen and its effects on security in Gulf states. — KUNA He emphasized that it is also necessary to rebuild Iraqi forces, stop the flow of foreign fighters to Syria and Iraq, cut Regional challenges off financial support to the IS and other terrorist organizations, For his part, NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg said increase financial and humanitarian aid to millions of Syrian the NATO and Gulf Security Conference is an opportunity to refugees and step up efforts to fight extremism in the region. discuss challenges the Middle East region is facing and to The tragic situations in Syria, Iraq, Yemen and Libya require explore ways to address them. Addressing the conference, he said there is much to cele- brate the 10th anniversary of the Istanbul Cooperation Initiative, adding that this initiative sent strong signs that the NATO is interested in the security and stability of the Gulf region. The NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg called for deeper political and practical cooperation with Gulf partners. “NATO’s relations with its Gulf partners have grown deeper and stronger,” the NATO chief said. “The more we cooperate, the safer we will be.” He added that Kuwait signed this year a cooperation pro- gram with the NATO as part of the partnership, noting that the NATO is on good terms with Saudi Arabia and Oman. He stressed the significance of cooperation to tackle shared secu- rity challenges, mainly including terrorism, extremism, mar- itime security and cyber security. Echoing the Qatari minister’s view, the NATO chief called for more international efforts to fight the IS and violations against civilians in Iraq and Syria. The Istanbul Cooperation Initiative (ICI) is an initiative launched during NATO’s 2004 Istanbul summit. During this summit, NATO leaders decided to elevate the Alliance’s Mediterranean Dialogue to a genuine partnership and to launch the ICI with selected countries in the broader region of the Middle East. The initiative is an offer to engage in practical security cooperation activities with states throughout the Greater Middle East. The ICI offers practical cooperation with interested nations in the Greater Middle East in such areas as: counter-WMD; counterterrorism; training and education; participation in DOHA: Head of Kuwait National Security Bureau NATO exercises; promoting military interoperability; disaster Sheikh Thamer Al-Ali Al-Sabah during his partici- preparedness and civil emergency planning; tailored advice DOHA: Qatar’s Defense Minister Maj Gen Hamad Al- pation at the NATO and Gulf Security on defense reform and civil-military relations; and cooperation Conference. — KUNA Attiyah speaks during the opening of NATO and Gulf on border security to help prevent illicit trafficking of drugs, Security conference in Doha, Qatar, Thursday. — AP weapons, and people. — KUNA LOCAL SATURDAY, DECEMBER 13, 2014

MANAMA: Bahrain’s King Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa (third from left), Kuwaiti Ambassador to Bahrain Sheikh Azzam Mubarak Al-Sabah (fifth from left) and other officials stand in front of a model for the ‘Marassi Al-Bahrain’ project at the reception. — KUNA Bahraini King lauds ties with Kuwait

MANAMA: Bahrain’s King Hamad bin Isa Al He also praised the project which he con- Khalifa commended on Thursday his country’s sidered among the economy-spurring ones, historic and distinctive ties with Kuwait and being in accordance with Bahrain’s Economic UAE in light of continued development and Vision 2030 which is based on diversifying progress of cooperation. sources of income and non-reliance on oil The Bahraini leader made the remarks dur- wealth only. ing his reception of a delegation from the Abu “The King expressed sincere appreciation Dhabi-based Eagle Hills Company - led by its to the delegation of the two companies for board member Mohammed Al-Abbar; repre- their joint efforts at all levels, and confidence sentatives of Diyar Al-Muharraq Company - an in Bahrain as a suitable host for such projects, affiliate of Kuwait Finance House - Bahrain; and a favorable destination for investments, Dean of Diplomatic Corps here Kuwaiti in general, and housing, tourism and leisure Ambassador to Bahrain Sheikh Azzam projects, in particular, wishing them every Mubarak Al-Sabah; and a number of Bahraini success,” noted BNA. ministers and senior officials on the sidelines The Diyar Al-Muharraq and Eagle Hills of inauguration ceremony of “Marassi Al- signed a major partnership agreement to Bahrain” project. develop the “Marassi Al-Bahrain” Project, one In light of Bahrain’s special relations with of the most prestigious projects in the eastern both UAE and Kuwait, joint ventures would coast of the Diyar Al-Muharraq City. remain successful and serve the desired aspi- The 864,484-square-metre project, the rations and common interests of these coun- first of its kind in Bahrain, will include luxuri- tries and their people, Bahrain News Agency ous hotels, restaurants, residential areas, (BNA) quoted King Hamad as saying. He business centers, a commercial mall, recre- added that “Marassi Al-Bahrain” Project will ational facilities, a port for cruise ships, a boost the Kingdom’s urban development central park, and heritage markets, said the march. official agency. —KUNA A side of the Marasi Al-Bahrain project. KAC building technical stations in Dubai, Medina

DUBAI: Construction works have been the KAC regional center, honoring the cor- underway to establish engineering stations poration’s partners, late on Thursday. for Kuwait Airways at Doha and Holy The KAC is hiking its technical potentials Medina airports, according to a KAC execu- in aircraft maintenance, he said, adding that tive. the corporation, through the regional center The construction of these facilities that provides a variety of highly-accredited engi- will provide technical maintenance and neering, aircraft maintenance services, con- back-up for the KAC aircraft is forecast to sultation and training. The gathering was finish early next year, said Abdullah Neshmi sponsored by the Kuwaiti General Consul in DUBAI: KAC Regional Director Abdullah Al-Enezi (left) and Kuwaiti General Consul in Al-Enezi, the director of the KAC regional Dubai, Thiab Al-Rashidi. It was attended by a Dubai, Thiab Al-Rashidi at the reception. —KUNA tasks, during the annual reception, held by number of UAE officials. —KUNA LOCAL SATURDAY, DECEMBER 13 , 2014

Statement from the Kuwait galvanizes support for Palestinian Embassy Palestinians’ abuse conference KUWAIT: The Ambassador of the Palestine to Kuwait Rami GENEVA: Kuwait has managed to galva- that National Assembly Speaker Tahboub and on behalf of the nize support and got the approval of the Marzouq Ali Al-Ghanim raised the issue Palestinian Community in Kuwait State Parties of the Geneva Convention during his recent Europe tour which and the Staff of the Palestinian IV to hold an international conference comprised Switzerland, France and Embassy mourns the Martyr on the Israeli violations of the conven- Germany. Minister Ziad Abu Ein, the Head tion and abuses against Palestinians, Ghunaim stated that Geneva-based of the Palestinian Authority said Kuwait’s Permanent Delegate to the Arab diplomats have expressed appreci- Committee against the UN Office and International ations of the Kuwait’s efforts to per- Separation Wall and Settlements. Organizations in Geneva Ambassador suade many countries to accept the idea He was killed on Wednesday Jamal Al-Ghunaim. and attend the conference. The Fourth December 10, 2014 after a brutal In statements to KUNA yesterday, Geneva Convention and abbreviated as attack against him by the Israeli Ghunaim said the conference would GCIV, is one of the four treaties of the Occupation Forces, during which kick off on December 17. He pointed out Geneva Conventions related to the pro- Palestinian Ambassador that the conference organization is the tection of civilian at the time of war. Martyr Ziad Abu Ein was leading Rami Tahboub a peaceful demonstration of fruit of strenuous efforts exerted by There are currently 196 countries party planting olive trees in the village of Turmsayya in the Kuwait, which holds the rotating presi- to the 1949 Geneva Conventions, Ramallah district. dency of the Arab Summit, in the past including this and the other three Ambassador Jamal Al-Ghunaim Condolences to be received by his Excellency today, months in an implementation to a reso- treaties. Under this Convention, civilians Saturday, December 13, 2014 at the Palestinian Embassy lution taken by the extraordinary meet- are afforded the protections from inhu- how occupiers are to treat an occupied in Bayan, Block 13, Str 7, Building 24. Between 11:00 am - ing of the Arab Foreign Ministers mane treatment and attack afforded in populace. 14:00 pm. Council on July 14. the first Convention to sick and wound- In 1993, the United Nations Security A condolences book will also be available. In this regard, Ambassador Ghunaim ed soldiers. Council adopted a report from the May the soul of the Martyr Ziad Abu Ein and all the highlighted the marathon talks held by Furthermore, additional regulations Secretary-General and a Commission of Martyrs of the Palestinian people and the Arab Nation Kuwait’s First Deputy Prime Minister and regarding the treatment of civilians Experts which concluded that the rest in peace. Foreign Minister Sheikh Sabah Al-Khaled were introduced. Specifically, it pro- Geneva Conventions had passed into Al-Hamad Al-Sabah with Swiss officials hibits attacks on civilian hospitals, med- the body of customary international law, and several countries and international ical transports, etc. It also specifies the thus making them binding on non-sig- organizations to rally support for the right of internees, and those who com- natories to the Conventions whenever idea of the conference. He also noted mit acts of sabotage. Finally, it discusses they engage in armed conflicts. —KUNA KYEC starts annual meetings in Paris

PARIS: Kuwaiti Young Engineers Committee (KYEC) at the World Federation of Engineering Organizations (WFEO) held its annual meetings at the headquarters of UNESCO in Paris with the attendance of representatives of some global youth organizations. In a statement to KUNA yesterday, Sheikh Salman Salah Al-Mubaraki the committee’s chairwoman Zainab Al-Humoud Al-Sabah Al-Qorashi said that the meeting reviewed the committee’s work and what was implemented from the youth Info undersecretary forum’s recommendations held in REFERRED for retirement Abuja. The gathering, she added, also focused on the committee’s efforts and KUWAIT: The dispute between Information Minister Sheikh future plans to participate in the global Salman Al-Humoud Al-Sabah and his undersecretary Salah Al- conference due in Japan next year. PARIS: The KYEC team during its annual meeting. —KUNA Mubaraki seems to have reached a dead end as the minister The committee announced that referred Mubaraki for retirement and assigned the assistant special youth engineering events in Kuwaiti committee, as a first youth-ori- youth at the international forums and undersecretary for foreign media Faisal Al-Motalqam to do his cooperation with UNESCO and the entated one at a global organization their interactions with their counter- duties as acting undersecretary. Notably, Sheikh Salman had WFEO would be organized, she said, that works under the supervision of parts from other countries. She added appointed Mubaraki over two years ago from outside the min- noting that these events will be UNESCO, she added, pointing out that that such interactions are in favor of istry to end speculations about the vacant position, said launched from Kuwait within the it was established four years ago. “our youth” by exchanging expertise informed sources, noting that Sheikh Salman is about to face a upcoming period. Qorashi underscored the signifi- and holding dialogues with other peo- grilling motion to be filed by MP Rakan Al-Nisf soon. — Alaan The conferees commended the cance of the active presence of Kuwaiti ple from other cultures. —KUNA Groom, guests arrested for attacking policeman

By Hanan Al-Saadoun

KUWAIT: A man was arrested on his wedding day along with nine others after attacking a police officer and stealing his gun. The incident took place in Mubarak Al-Kabeer, where a traffic patrol officer responded to an emergency call reporting a traffic congestion caused by a wedding procession blocking the road. While taking necessary action against the violators, the officer was attacked and had his personal effects, includ- ing his gun, stolen, according to the police report. The officer had to be taken to the hospital for treatment before a case was filed. The suspects were later arrested and recognized by the officer in a police lineup. Procedures are ongoing to retrieve the officer’s gun, the Interior Ministry’s Security Media Department said in a statement. KUWAIT: The suspects pictured after their arrest. LOCAL SATURDAY, DECEMBER 13, 2014

Crime Report Official chairs Multiple arrests in Farwaniya campaign security meeting

KUWAIT: Farwaniya security authorities arrested 25 KUWAIT: Interior Ministry quickly and take suitable decision absconding women, 16 expats without IDs, four homosex- Undersecretary Lieutenant General towards them and strictly confront uals and five tomboys in a campaign that covered industri- Suleiman Al-Fahd spoke about the those in violation of the law. He said the al Ardiya. Meanwhile, the municipality in Farwaniya closed importance of criminal security as an hardworking and sincere among those 16 stores for violations. A security source said a campaign important pillar at the Interior Ministry. in the ministry should be rewarded the was carried out Wednesday evening to check on the secu- Fahd was speaking as he chaired an minute they achieve something, so that rity situation in Ardiya, resulting in the above-mentioned expanded security meeting in the pres- it becomes a motivation for others to do arrests. Those arrested were sent to concerned authorities. ence of Assistant Undersecretary for their jobs well. He warned those who Criminal Security Affairs Maj Gen of harm the image of the security estab- Jahra campaign Criminal Detectives Maj Gen Mahmoud lishment and all those who exceed their Jahra security arrested 68 violators, issued 32 cita- Al-Tabbakh and acting chief of the authorities in dealing with citizens and tions and closed 10 grocery stores in two campaigns in Drugs Control General Department Maj expats regardless of their rank or posi- Sulaibiya and Qairawan. In Qairawan, two persons were Gen Saleh Ghannam. tion. arrested for visa violations, two without IDs and four Fahd said drugs, violence and crime Fahd added periodical meetings are citations were issued. are a general problem that requires the important to study the security situation security systems to carry out their duties and recognize all obstacles to undertake collectively, exchange information efforts to serve the security issue. —KUNA Lieutenant General Suleiman Al-Fahd Body found The body of a citizen was taken to the coroner on suspi- cion of foul play after finding the body in a Salwa flat. A case was filed at the area’s police station for investigations.

Dud cheque A citizen received goods worth KD 15,000 and gave dud cheques for it. The citizen bought the goods from a refreshment company and paid by three cheques, each worth KD 5,000. The company agent resorted to police to resolve the issue.

Teacher ‘photographed’ A man took pictures of a teacher without her consent. The teacher was surprised while standing in front of the school by a car pulling next to her. The motorist took sever- al pictures of her using his mobile phone. The teacher gave police the car plate number.

Terror suspect caught A 31-year-old Bahraini was arrested at Abdaly land border exit for suspected involvement in a recent ter- rorist attack in Bahrain, said security sources, noting that after receiving an Interpol warrant, the suspect was arrested moments before he crossed the border exit to Iraq. The sources added that the suspect had left KUWAIT: Kuwait Fire Services Directorate (KFSD) conduct- ed a mock fire drill at Sabah Al-Ahmed Heritage Village Bahrain through King Fahd bridge into Saudi Arabia, recently to check safety precautions there. then entered Kuwait through Khafji and Nuwaiseeb — By Hanan Al-Saadoun border posts. Security sources noted that moments after he entered Kuwait, Kuwait’s Interpol office received a warrant to arrest him and accordingly, his name was distributed to all border exits.

Property damage A female citizen was arrested for deliberately using her SUV to slam into and damage a Kuwaiti couple’s vehicles in Sabah Al-Salem, said security sources, noting that further investigations are in progress to determine the woman’s motives.

Conman nabbed An Egyptian wanted in fraud cases to the tune of KD 20,000 was arrested in Taima in Jahra, said security sources. Case papers indicate that a police patrol arrested the suspect when he started running when approached. Checking out on him, he was found want- ed for several fraud cases.

Warden fined The criminal court fined a central prison warden KD 1,000 for not bringing 20 detainees to court for special hearings for their cases though the central prison had been notified before hand, said security sources, noting that the judge had to adjourn hearing the case and fined the prison warden KD 50 per prisoner.

SATURDAY, DECEMBER 13, 2014 Security fears as Karbala Drone revolution Ukraine president finds pilgrimage nears climax 8 hovers on horizon 9 promise tough to keep 10

HEALDSBURG, California: A man who parked his car overnight in the Safeway parking lot on Vine Street finds it nearly completely submerged as Foss Creek topped its banks on Thursday. — AP Strong storm batters Calif ‘Pineapple Express’ knocks out power, disrupts flights

SAN FRANCISCO: A major storm pummeled California and pension bridge is engineered to swing in cross winds, so “the The Weather Service issued flash-flood, heavy-surf and the Pacific Northwest with heavy rain and high winds on concern we have right now is more about vehicles,” spokes- high-wind advisories, warning that torrential rains could lead Thursday, killing one man, knocking out power to tens of woman Priya David Clemens said. to mudslides in foothill areas of California scarred by wildfires thousands of homes, disrupting flights and prompting schools Further south, in the city of Santa Cruz, a tree fell at an ele- earlier this year. The storm was expected to provide only a to close. The inclement weather sweeping into the region was mentary school on Thursday morning, pinning an 11-year-old small measure of relief from California’s record, multi-year being carried on a current with the unlikely name “Pineapple student’s arm and shoulder until emergency workers could cut drought that has forced water managers to sharply reduce irri- Express” - an intense stream of moisture stretching from him free with chainsaws, police said. The child’s injuries were gation supplies to farmers and prompted drastic conservation Hawaii to the US West Coast. Some 240 departing and incom- not believed to be life threatening. The launch of an Atlas V measures statewide, weather officials said. ing commercial flights were canceled at San Francisco rocket was scrubbed from Vandenberg Air Force Base. To the As much as 1 m of snow is predicted this week for the high- International Airport and others were delayed for more than north in Washington state, roughly 135,000 customers were er elevations of the Sierra Nevada mountain range. But mete- two hours, airport managers said. San Francisco’s famed cable without power as of Thursday night, according to local utility orologists said many months of rainfall would be needed to car system was replaced by shuttle buses, a subway station companies. A commuter train that runs between Seattle and pull the state out of the drought. The Shasta Lake area of was shut down through the morning rush hour because of a Everett was canceled for two days beginning on Thursday Northern California received 13 cm of rain overnight, and up power outage and flooding and the city’s electrified bus sys- after a mudslide the day before, local transit officials said. to 10 cm were expected in California’s Central Valley, the tem was halted in many areas, transit officials said. In southern Oregon, a homeless man camping with his 18- state’s agricultural heartland, as well as in Sacramento, the The Embarcadero, the city’s popular waterfront walkway, year-old son along the Pacific Crest Trail in the Ashland area weather service said. was closed due to flooding and some ferries were also can- was killed early on Thursday morning when a tree toppled Pacific Gas and Electric Co reported that some 276,000 cus- celed, stranding commuters. Some streets and major intersec- onto their tent, the Jackson County Sheriff’s Office said. tomers lost power during the storm on Thursday, though tions were flooded in the San Francisco area, including the Portland General Electric Co and Pacific Power reported nearly roughly 90 percent had their energy restored by Thursday westbound lanes of Interstate 280 in the East Bay suburb of El 61,000 customers were without power on Thursday night, as a night. Several Bay Area school districts, including San Cerrito, according to the California Highway Patrol. The gusts storm system with wind-gusts of 129 kph moved through Francisco, Oakland and Berkeley, canceled classes due to the made motorists tightly grip their steering wheels on the Oregon. “In certain parts of the West Coast this could be the storm. The storm was expected to move into Southern Golden Gate Bridge, where managers created a buffer zone to most significant storm in 10 years,” National Weather Service California in time for the Friday morning commute, in what prevent head-on collisions by swerving cars. The iconic sus- meteorologist Eric Boldt said. would be the area’s second major storm in a week. — Reuters INTERNATIONAL SATURDAY, DECEMBER 13, 2014

Syria detainees endure ‘nightmare’ underworld

BEIRUT: Activist Mohsen Al-Masri spent two years being detainee myself, I discovered that there is such a world, and held for questioning, food, water and medication shortages dragged between prisons controlled by the Syrian security it is in Syria,” he says. “Nothing, no amount of reading or lis- are particularly extreme. Round-faced Masri weighed more services, enduring savage beatings and being hanged from tening to other people’s stories could have prepared me for than 100 kg when he was first detained. By the time he was the ceiling for hours at a time. But one of the worst horrors the horror of detention,” adds Samaan, who now lives in released he had lost more than half his body weight. he recalls came when his guards started spraying insect Beirut. Like most detainees, Samaan and Masri - who spoke to repellent around the cell. “Cockroaches started coming out Speaking quietly as he pulls on a cigarette, Samaan says AFP on condition their names were changed - were trans- of everywhere,” Masri says. “The cockroaches started to walk he was jailed twice for activism against Assad’s regime, ferred from secret detention in Damascus to the infamous on our faces. The wardens put them inside our clothes.” enduring physical and psychological torture on both occa- Adra and Saydnaya jails after trials they dismiss as farcical. Masri is one of thousands of former detainees in Syria’s sions. An interrogator at one of Damascus’s feared security Masri’s case was heard before a military court despite his sprawling prison underworld. He describes a litany of tor- branches told him: “We torture people because we are non-violent activism. “The regime doesn’t respect its own ture that has been not only barbaric but also systematic. sadists. We enjoy torturing people.” “He electrocuted me laws when it comes to the detainees,” says one Syrian Survivors and lawyers say there are now more than 100 and told me to write down everything I knew. He tried all he human rights lawyer, speaking on condition of anonymity detention centres holding around 200,000 people jailed could to break me. I have never been so terrified in all my for fear of repercussions. “There are four security agencies in since the revolt against President Bashar al-Assad began in life,” the brown-haired Samaan says. Syria, and each does all it can to prove it is more brutal than 2011. According to the Syrian Observatory for Human the next.” Rights, up to 12,000 people have died in these prisons. ‘Nothing is Arbitrary’ The lawyer described a hellish network of jails, security Mohammad Samaan, a 33-year-old activist from Masri, 36, says he also endured psychological torture. offices and secret detention centres across the country. “In Damascus, remembers reading George Orwell’s “1984”, the “They would insult my wife, and they would tell me they Damascus alone there are 30 to 40 security offices, which novelist’s dystopian vision of life under an all-knowing dicta- would go to the house and rape her,” he recalls. At the are illegal, as well as an unknown number of secret deten- torship, in the days before the uprising. “When I became a scores of security offices where detainees are usually first tion sites,” he says.—AFP

Palestinian shot after acid attack on Israeli family

JERUSALEM: A Palestinian described as men- tally unstable threw acid at a family of Israelis who gave him a ride in the West Bank yester- day before being shot and wounded, resi- dents and the army said. The incident came as tensions run high in the occupied territo- ries after months of unrest, and after the death of a senior Palestinian official in a con- frontation with Israeli troops. “A vehicle carry- ing a family with four girls picked up a hitch- hiker” near a checkpoint outside Bethlehem and close to the Gush Etzion settlement area, an army statement said. “The hitchhiker KARBALA: Iraqi Shiite pilgrims take part in Friday prayers at the shrine of Imam Abbas 80 km yesterday ahead of the Arbaeen religious threw acid on the passengers, injuring them festival. — AFP lightly.” The attacker got out of the vehicle and was shot in the leg by a civilian and arrested. Security fears as Karbala It was unclear how seriously he was wound- ed. Israeli public radio said a man and three children were injured in the attack. The Israelis were taken to hospital, an AFP pho- pilgrimage nears climax tographer said, and emergency services con- firmed they had suffered light wounds. Palestinians residents named the attacker as Jamal Ghayyada, 46, from the nearby village Mortar attack causes concern of Nahalin, saying he was mentally unstable and had received treatment at a mental KARBALA, Iraq: A deadly mortar attack yesterday near the Iraqi city of Karbala where Hussein was killed in battle and beheaded in 680 AD, entire fami- health clinic in Bethlehem. He had been stoked security concerns as millions of Shiite pilgrims gathered for one of the lies trekking for days on the roads and sleeping in the open. Central arrested before, they added. largest religious gatherings in the world. With a few hours to go until the Baghdad has been in lockdown mode much of the week as authorities The incident came at a time of high ten- Arbaeen commemoration reaches its climax today, a sea of black-clad devo- restricted access and movement in order to avoid a complete logjam sions in Jerusalem and the occupied West tees filled the streets, waving flags, beating their chests and chanting. “There and minimise the risks of major bomb attacks. Three people were killed Bank, where a senior Palestinian official died were one person killed and four wounded when mortar rounds hit an area on and four wounded earlier this week, according to security and medical in a confrontation with Israeli troops on the western side of the city” shortly after midnight, a police colonel said. “They sources, when a bomb went off in northeastern Baghdad near one of the Wednesday. The Palestinian leadership crashed into an area called Souk al-Basra, around seven kilometres from the city thousands of tents set up to serve food and beverages to marching pil- blamed Israel for Ziad Abu Ein’s death and centre,” he said, adding the victims were residents and not pilgrims. A medical grims. has threatened a response, amid speculation source in the holy city of Karbala confirmed the toll. Three people also died Friday in a stampede as they crossed the bor- the Palestinian Authority would suspend Record numbers of Shiite faithful have been converging on Karbala from der from Iran, a spokesman for the Iraq Red Crescent Haidar Al-Jaberi security coordination with Israel in the West across Iraq and other countries for Arbaeen, which marks the end of a 40-day said. However, given how exposed the pilgrims are and what a prime Bank. period of mourning following the anniversary of Imam Hussein’s death. target they are for IS fighters, very few incidents have been reported so Elsewhere in the West Bank, several Hussein is one of the most revered figures for Shiites, who are the largest com- far. Iraqi officials have stressed how crucial a recent military victory Palestinian protesters were lightly to moder- munity in Iraq and the overwhelming majority in neighbouring Iran. Defence against the jihadists in the Jurf al-Sakhr area has been in making the pil- ately wounded during clashes with Israeli Minister Khaled Al-Obeidi said on Thursday that more than 17 million pilgrims grimage possible. troops, Palestinian security and medical had come to Karbala for Arbaeen, which in a normal year is already considered The continued presence there of IS fighters would have exposed the sources said. Some 100 Palestinians demon- one of the largest religious gatherings in the world. millions of southbound pilgrims walking through an area which has seen strated outside the Ofer military prison near Brigadier General Qais Khalaf Rahim, head of operations command for the some of the worst sectarian violence of the past decade and been Ramallah, and troops shot live bullets at their Karbala area, said “the number of visitors is far greater than last year’s”. “We had dubbed the “triangle of death”. Shiite militias have played a leading role legs, wounding 10, medics said. In Hebron, to open more routes to Karbala and double the number of cars, buses and in the battle for Jurf al-Sakhr, an area between Baghdad and Karbala south of Bethlehem, youths clashed with sol- trucks transporting pilgrims to the city,” he told reporters. This year’s pilgrim- where jihadists were supplied from their strongholds in the western diers and were also shot in the legs, one with age has taken on a political dimension as it is the first since the devastating Anbar province and which has seen some of the fiercest fighting since live rounds and three with rubber bullets. offensive the Islamic State group launched in Iraq in June. The jihadist organi- June. Communications Minister Hassan Al-Rashed told AFP earlier this Israeli ministers called for calm after the zation - led by Sunni extremists - considers Shiites to be heretics and has made week that fighters who took over former IS positions in Jurf al-Sakhr death of Abu Ein, and US Secretary of State targeting the community one of its main objectives. found evidence that the jihadists had been planning to target Karbala. John Kerry is to meet Prime Minister The bombing of a revered Shiite shrine in the city of Samarra in Feb 2006 Benjamin Netanyahu in Rome Sunday as part Prime Target was the main trigger for a bloody sectarian war between Iraq’s Sunnis of efforts to defuse tensions. — AFP Millions of faithful have for days been converging on the holy city and Shiites. — AFP INTERNATIONAL SATURDAY, DECEMBER 13, 2014 Drone revolution hovers on horizon Drones used more and more in civilian roles

PARIS: Drones are about to have a big impact on our lives, even if they will not be delivering our orders from Amazon any time soon, say experts. Civilian drones DUBLIN: Maria Lynskey, niece of Joe Lynksey, who was began to make headlines in 2014, and last seen alive in Aug 1972 , throws a rose into the water hype aside, could soon be in everyday during a commemoration event for Ireland’s use, particularly in France and the United “Disappeared” victims on Dec 3, 2014. —AFP States, which are at the cutting edge of the technology. This developing sector is set to explode worldwide as the regula- Disappeared: N Ireland tors begin to catch up with the technolo- searches for closure gy, said Emmanuel de Maistre, boss of Redbird, a French start-up which makes drones for industry. WILKINSTOWN, Ireland: In remote bogland in Ireland, investi- Drones have up until now been mostly gators search the ground with radar and a cadaver dog for a vic- confined to the military, but are now tim of the IRA murdered and secretly buried in 1972. They mark being used more and more in civilian out grid areas and put down probes at half-metre intervals for roles that go far beyond simple reconnais- the dog to sniff underground on a grim mission to find the last sance. Light, adjustable and easy to oper- of the “Disappeared”. “We’re not just looking for the needle in ate, they often bring better results than the haystack. We’re actually looking for the haystack before we WASHINGTON: Captain Lee Moak, president of the Air Line Pilots Association, traditional means such as helicopters, stands behind a DJI Phantom 2 drone after testifying on Dec 10, 2014 before start,” lead investigator Geoff Knupfer told AFP on site near light aircraft and satellites, and could Wilkinstown this month. the aviation subcommittee of the US House of Representatives’ committee on “help us produce more and better, and in transportation and infrastructure. — AFP Many of the people taking part in the search are former certain cases, more cheaply,” according to police officers like Knupfer, a retired detective who worked in France’s Air & Space Academy (AAE). the $82 billion the US industry group players in the digital economy like the 1980s on the high-profile Moors Murders child killings in Drones are where aeronautics and hi- Unmanned Vehicle Systems International Amazon, Google and Facebook are so England. Their painstaking work is for a unique agency set up as tech meet and are regulated by the air (AUVSI) claims it will turn over in 10 years, interested in them, regularly making part of the Northern Ireland peace process that acts on anony- safety authorities, although they owe when it expects 100,000 people to be headlines with claims they would like to mous tip-offs from informants. “We’re trying to bring closure to more to new technology than they do to employed in the sector. France is one of use drones to make deliveries to cus- families who are in a terrible mess because their loved ones just aviation. “In a drone you will find every- the pioneers in the field, thanks to its lib- tomers’ homes. literally disappeared off the face of the earth,” Knupfer said, as thing that you have in your smartphone,” eral 2012 laws on drone use, which has That is still a distant prospect, howev- he zipped up his jacket from the bitter cold. said de Maistre. The public got its first allowed start-ups like Redbird to forge er, according to industry insiders, given Their latest search is for the body of Joe Lynskey, one of the taste of what drones can do in the TV cov- ahead. Around 3,000 people work in the the laws as they stand, which ban drones 16 people abducted by paramilitaries during a three-decades erage of big news events such as the sector in France, mostly in small compa- flying over inhabited areas, or flying at long conflict known here simply as “The Troubles”. Six of the Maidan protests in Kiev and the Tour of nies working overwhelmingly in image night and into “no-fly zones” around air- victims have still not been found. Shortly after a historic peace France cycle race, with viewers given new gathering. ports. Most see the home-delivery drone agreement in 1998, the Independent Commission for the and surprising camera angles on the hype as a part of a bid to speed up a new Investigation of Victims Remains (ICLVR) was established. The action as it unfolded. In Canada journal- Waiting on US Law law on private drones which is due to be search for Lynskey comes two months on from the Commission ism schools are now even giving specialist Redbird is going further offering large adopted in the US in 2015, and which finding another victim, Brendan Megraw, in nearby bogland courses in reporting with drones. industrial groups, including mining com- should give the sector a real boost. after 36 years. “You don’t wake up with a sense of wondering Manufacturers like Parrot have also panies and electricity and rail giants EDF Amazon’s founder Jeff Bezos claims that where he is or what we have to do to try and find him any- managed to grab a slice of the action with and SNCF, drones to help optimise their the main barrier in the US is not the tech- more,” said Brendan’s brother Kieran, speaking weeks after camera drones controlled by smartphone, use of their quarries and networks. They nology, but the regulation. Megraw was finally laid to rest beside his parents. “After he was a market that the American extreme are also being used to increase efficiency The Federal Aviation Authority (FAA) in agriculture and for improving the use launched an experimental drone study in found, we went down to the spot and we couldn’t help think sports camera maker GoPro would also like a part of. That said, the business is still of fertilisers, which could help the envi- six US regions in 2013, and predicts it will about what he was possibly thinking at the time - that he was only stuttering to life, worth around Ä500 ronment. Above all drones are tools for be able to allow 7,500 mini-drones in the never going to get back to his family - so there’s that relief that million ($620 million) in Europe - far from collecting information, which is why big skies between now and 2018. —AFP he’s home at last,” he told AFP. Lynskey and another two “Disappeared” victims are believed to be buried in the same area where Megraw was found in the Republic of Ireland around an hour and a half’s drive across the border from Belfast in Northern Ireland. Ble Goude faces trial for

Why Only Now? The legislation that underpins the Commission’s work, crimes against humanity enacted in both Britain and Ireland, is unprecedented. Informants cannot be identified and no evidence discovered THE HAGUE: The International Criminal according to the United Nations. The crisis Prosecutors said Goude commanded can be used in court. “Nobody has been prosecuted, arrested, or Court on Thursday ordered a close ally of was sparked after long-time Ivorian presi- men that murdered and raped and burned in any way convicted as a result of information passed to the former Ivorian president Laurent Gbagbo, dent Laurent Gbagbo’s refusal to concede alive hundreds of people during the post- Commission,” Knupfer said. On the bogland search, Mick Charles Ble Goude, to stand trial for crimes defeat at the polls against rival Alassane election violence that ended only after Swindells of Search Dogs UK plotted out an area, with his body- against humanity linked to a 2010-11 post- Ouattara. Gbagbo himself is to go on trial Gbagbo’s arrest following an assault on his detection dog, Ronnie, waiting patiently. “These kinds of election crisis. The decision comes a week before the ICC on similar charges in July fortress-like Abidjan compound by searches are very difficult because of the age of the body,” the after the Hague-based court’s chief prose- next year. Ouattara’s forces, backed by France and retired police dog handler said. The remote and swampy search cutor Fatou Bensouda dropped charges the United Nations. The ICC judges said on area is accessible only by windy narrow roads and was even against Kenyan President Uhuru Kenyatta, ‘Criminally Responsible’ Thursday: “In the light of the evidence... more inaccessible at the time of the killings. “It’s very sad, and and is seen as a minor victory to boost the As the leader of the “Young Patriots”, a the Pre-Trial Chamber concluded that sad that it has taken so long,” said Margaret Cummins, a local prosecution’s flagging fortunes. “The Pre- fanatical group of Gbagbo supporters, there is sufficient evidence to establish woman whose family once owned the land where the search is Trial Chamber confirmed four charges of Goude “bears responsibility for some of substantial grounds to believe that taking place. “Why is it only happening now?” she said. crimes against humanity against Charles the worst crimes” committed during the Charles Ble Goude is individually criminally Ble Goude and committed him to trial,” an showdown, prosecutors have said. During responsible for crimes against humanity.” ‘Just Want him Home’ ICC three-judge bench said in a statement. the conflict, Ble Goude - dubbed Gbagbo’s During a pre-trial hearing in October, The peace process has encouraged people to come forward Goude, 42, faces four counts including “Street General” - whipped up support for Goude told judges he was a believer in with information that can assist in solving the remaining mys- murder, rape, persecution and other inhu- Gbagbo with fiery speeches urging mass non-violence who did “everything to bring teries from a conflict in which 3,000 people died whose wounds mane acts for his role in a bloody stand-off mobilisation against what he called pro- Ivorians together.” He denied that there are still raw. Of the 16 victims under the Commission’s remit, that followed a presidential poll in the Ouattara “rebels” and their foreign back- was ever a joint plan to attack Ouattara’s the IRA claimed responsibility for killing 13.—AFP west African country leaving 3,000 dead, ers. supporters.—AFP INTERNATIONAL SATURDAY, DECEMBER 13, 2014 The year Putin tore up the rule book

MOSCOW: For years he played the part of tion to save Crimea from the “fascist junta” a series of propaganda victories. While the the frosty pragmatist, doggedly set on that had come to power in Ukraine. West hopes that currency fluctuations and restoring pride and power to a once-great His brazen denials of the facts on the economic sanctions will scare Putin straight, superpower. Then, on February 27, 2014, ground caught the world off-guard, but he takes a longer view, analysts claim. “In 50 President Vladimir Putin went rogue. The after a decade of controversial interventions or 100 years historians will not be interested decision to send unidentified soldiers into in the Middle East it was the West’s objec- in the ruble’s exchange rate,” says Ukraine’s Crimean peninsula leading to its tions that sounded hypocritical. The Konstantin Kalachev from the Political annexation by Russia was far more than an response at home was overwhelming. Experts Group in Moscow. act of aggression against a recalcitrant Putin’s approval ratings soared to 90 per- Like all nationalists, the story Putin tells is neighbour. It marked a direct assault on the cent as he oversaw an outpouring of one of strength mixed with victimhood: the foundations of an international system that nationalistic pride long buried under the EU is meddling in Russia’s backyard, NATO is has largely held since the end of World War humiliation of the Cold War’s conclusion. encircling the country, Western decadence II - reviving the idea of territorial conquest is corrupting Russian decency. And he is Defeats into Victory that most had consigned to the historical Vladimir Putin fighting back. At times, the rhetoric took on dustbin. With 15 years in power under his belt - quasi-religious tones. Crimea was so much Putin upended the global rules with three terms as president and two as prime any political opposition. 2014 could have more than holiday beaches and naval bases, considerable chutzpah, sowing just enough minister - the 62-year-old has seen world been a terrible year for Putin. The pro- but a “sacred land”, Russia’s “Temple on the uncertainty to keep the world unsure of his leaders come and go, including three US European protests in Ukraine threatened to Mount”. “He sees himself as an eternal leader intentions or his next move - or whether he presidents and as many French and British tear yet another ex-Soviet republic from with a mission to save Russia from the West,” had even done anything wrong in the first leaders. The controversies have piled up - Russia’s orbit. The bargain he had struck says Moscow analyst Maria Lipman. Many in place. Like the judo master he is, Putin used the vicious war against Islamic separatists in with voters at home - a weakening of politi- Europe were shaken, some even labelled the West’s rhetoric of human rights and self- Chechnya launched weeks after taking cal freedoms in exchange for economic sta- him a new Adolf Hitler. Others - particularly determination against it, deploying a bar- power in 1999; the war with Georgia in bility - was rattled by collapsing prices for those with an anti-American bent - looked rage of propaganda first to deny the inva- 2008; the suffocation of independent oil, on which Russia so heavily relies. But on starry-eyed at Putin’s manly refusal to toe sion and then to paint it as a rescue opera- media, and the steady marginalisation of instead he turned the looming defeats into the Western liberal line.—AFP

Germany’s new Ukraine president finds far-right populists rail against Islam promise tough to keep

BERLIN: They march in their thousands every Monday evening, wave German national flags and angrily protest against “criminal Chocolate King holds on to empire asylum seekers” and the “Islamisation” of their home country. In recent months, Germany has witnessed the emergence of a far- KIEV: The Chocolate King is finding it difficult to relinquish his throne. Executives at the two financial firms that Poroshenko has hired to right populist movement that has drawn support from hardcore Petro Poroshenko, one of Ukraine’s richest men and owner of a help sell his assets caution that deals, particularly in former Soviet neo-Nazis and also a small but growing anti-euro party, the AfD. sweets empire, made an unusual promise last spring while campaign- republics and eastern Europe, can often take a year or more. But they Germany was rattled this week when the latest in a series of ing to be president - if elected, he would sell most of his business also concede that their client’s timing is terrible. “It’s clearly not a good marches in the eastern city of Dresden by the “Patriotic assets. “As president of Ukraine, I only want to concern myself with time to sell,” said Giovanni Salvetti, managing director of Rothschild Europeans against the Islamisation of the Occident”, or PEGIDA, the good of the country and that is what I will do,” he told an inter- CIS, which is trying to sell Roshen. “I hope the situation will improve in drew over 10,000 people. The group’s name is in itself “a verita- viewer. Poroshenko won the election, but he hasn’t succeeded yet at the first or second quarter” of 2015. ble call to arms by far-right populists”, evoking echoes of keeping his campaign promise. Makar Paseniuk, a managing director at ICU in Kiev, which acts as Christian crusaders and Nazi propaganda, said Hajo Funke of With his country at war with Russian-backed separatists in the east, Poroshenko’s financial adviser, said there is an agreement to sell one Berlin’s Free University. “It’s about the mobilisation of resent- the economy faltering and its currency weakening, Ukraine’s 49-year- of his other assets. He declined to identify it but said the deal has not ment, about establishing an enemy. It becomes dangerous if it old president hasn’t sold any of his assets, including his most valuable closed and it’s not clear when or if it will. Besides Roshen, turns into contemptuous aggression and the awakening of mob one: A majority stake in Roshen Confectionery Corp, Ukraine’s biggest Poroshenko’s portfolio includes numerous other assets, including real instincts,” the political scientist told AFP. sweets maker. His promise appears to be a victim of the very prob- estate and investments in a bank, an insurance company and a ship- PEGIDA, launched in October, has grown and spawned small- lems that face him as president. yard in Crimea. He also owns a Ukrainian television station that he has er copycat groups nationwide, provoking much soul-searching said he will keep. in a country haunted by its history of Nazi terror and the In October, Novoye Vremya, a Ukrainian magazine, estimated that Holocaust. The protests have been fuelled by a sharp rise in Poroshenko was worth $816 million and ranked him 9th among the refugees seeking political asylum in Germany, which is scram- top 100 richest Ukrainians. In a disclosure statement he filed with the bling to house them in converted schools, office blocks and con- government, Poroshenko reported that in 2013 his income totalled tainer villages. In a further sign of backlash, three buildings about $6.3 million, largely from the sale of securities, dividends and reserved to house asylum seekers were set ablaze in the south- interest. He reported a salary of just $29,200. Poroshenko didn’t ern town of Vorra late Thursday, with Nazi swastikas and xeno- respond to requests for comment. phobic slogans scrawled on the walls at one site, police said. No Paseniuk said Ukraine’s president does not keep close tabs on the one was hurt. sale of his assets. “He has much better and more important things” to Germany has received more than 180,000 asylum applica- do than to ask about it, Paseniuk said. He speculated that Poroshenko tions since January, a 57-percent spike from last year, mostly made his campaign promise “because he didn’t want to be perceived from war-torn Syria, Afghanistan, Iraq, Eritrea and Somalia but as yet another oligarch.” He added, “I believe his asset base is not in also from several Balkan countries. any way dependent on politics and can hardly be influenced by his ‘Can’t Stay Silent’ position.” Some of Poroshenko’s predecessors have been accused of using Experts on Germany’s far-right have noted a new mainstream the office of president to enrich themselves. Ukrainian prosecutors character to PEGIDA, likening it to anti-foreigner movements in allege that Viktor Yanukovich, who fled to Russia in February, left the France, the Netherlands, Austria and Greece. Most of the country with billions of dollars. He has denied any wrongdoing. marchers are not jackbooted skinheads but disgruntled citizens, Several investment bankers who specialise in the consumer market raising fears especially among immigrant groups that a societal expressed scepticism in recent interviews that any company would taboo against expressing xenophobic sentiments on the streets invest in a Ukrainian company like Roshen, given the country’s current is vanishing. The home city of the protests, Dresden, was part of political climate. Many weren’t even monitoring the potential sale of communist East Germany, and the Saxony region in which it lies Roshen, with one saying he was “not sure it is actually real.” still lags western Germany in prosperity and jobs. It is also here Salvetti and Paseniuk countered that Poroshenko is serious about where the AfD has won seats in three state parliaments, spelling a selling. There have been some “preliminary discussions” about growing challenge as a political newcomer on the right of SYDNEY: Ukraine’s President Petro Poroshenko speaks at Roshen, Salvetti said. “Clearly the market conditions suggest to buyers Chancellor Angela Merkel’s conservative Christian Democrats. the Lowy Institute, an independent, international policy some cautiousness. We have had some discussions with potentially Her party congress this week vowed to boost domestic security, think tank, yesterday. Poroshenko is on a two-day visit to serious people. We will have to see how the market will evolve.” He crack down on foreign criminal gangs and pledged that “Salafist Australia with talks on the downing of MH17 over Ukraine declined to elaborate. Two potential buyers who already do business Islamic subversion will not be tolerated”.—AFP with the loss of 38 Australian citizens and residents high in Ukraine - Switzerland’s Nestle SA and Cadbury’s US parent, on the agenda. — AFP Mondelez International Inc - both declined to comment.—Reuters INTERNATIONAL SATURDAY, DECEMBER 13, 2014 China media says Hong Kong Pakistani Taleban blasts protest movement ‘defeated’

Malala over Nobel prize HONG KONG: Chinese state-run media tri- put the democracy movement on the map with ISLAMABAD: The Pakistani Taleban hit out at “Her father is using Malala as a soldier umphantly declared the Hong Kong pro-democra- Beijing and the local administration, after it teenage education activist Malala Yousafzai over against Islamic society and teachings of Islam.” cy movement “defeated” yesterday and warned brought parts of the city to a standstill and saw tens her Nobel peace prize yesterday, slamming her After she was shoot in the head at point blank domestic and foreign “hostile forces” against desta- of thousands on the street at its height. as a “soldier against Islamic society”. Malala range, Malala was taken to Britain for treatment. bilizing the city, after police swept away its main But it has achieved no political concessions became a global icon after she was shot and Her family moved to join her and she now goes protest site. Traffic streamed through the heart of from either Hong Kong’s leaders or the Chinese nearly killed by the Taleban in October 2012 for to school there, unable to return to Pakistan Hong Kong for the first time in more than two government, with both branding the protests “ille- insisting that girls had a right to an education. because of Taleban death threats. In her Nobel months after Thursday’s police swoop, which gal”. “With the traffic flowing and lives of people The 17-year-old vowed to continue her struggle acceptance speech, peppered with self-depre- cleared the sprawling camp and saw nearly 250 going back to normal, I believe Hong Kong resi- for every child’s right to go to school when she cating humour, Malala called not just for educa- arrests. “The defeat of the ‘umbrella revolution’ dents will be happy,” the city’s financial secretary collected her Nobel at a ceremony in Oslo on tion but also for fairness and peace.—AFP has... sent a clear message to hostile forces-both John Tsang said yesterday-the government’s first Wednesday. She is the youngest ever Nobel local and overseas,” the government-published official response since the operation ended. China Daily said in an editorial. peace laureate, and the first Pakistani to claim ‘New resistance’ the prize, but some in her home country con- “On matters of principle, the central govern- demn her as a Western agent-including the mili- ment will never make any concessions. “And in a The east-west artery through Hong Kong’s tants who shot her. free and prosperous civil society such as Hong Admiralty business district had been blocked Muhammad Umar Khorasani, spokesman for Kong, there is simply no soil for political schemers since September by the sprawling protest site in a to advance their agenda.” Protesters are calling for campaign that demonstrators say has changed the main faction of the Tehreek-e-Taleban fully free leadership elections for the semi- the city’s vexed relationship with Beijing forever, Pakistan (TTP) headed by Mullah Fazlullah said autonomous city in 2017, but the Chinese govern- and which has polarized public opinion. Protest that Malala had won the Nobel prize for “pro- ment has insisted a loyalist committee vet the can- leaders said they would continue to push for moting Western culture, not education”. didates. Campaigners say this would ensure the reform despite a lack of concessions. “If we win Pakistan’s patriarchal society often relegates selection of a pro-Beijing stooge. A British colony the support of the young people regarding women to subservient domestic roles, but until 1997, Hong Kong enjoys civil liberties not seen democracy... there is a greater chance to achieve Malala has praised her father Ziauddin, a school- on the Chinese mainland, but fears have been universal suffrage,” teenage student leader teacher, for encouraging her to pursue her growing that these freedoms are being eroded. Joshua Wong said yesterday. Many young people dreams. The militant spokesman singled him The China Daily editorial was echoed by Rita have engaged with politics for the first time dur- out for criticism. “Malala’s father Ziauddin has Fan, Hong Kong’s delegate to Beijing’s rubber- ing the mass protests. Benny Tai, leader of the made an agreement with the Western powers stamp parliament. “From the beginning to the end, Occupy Central campaign group, also warned of to destroy Pashtun culture and Pakistan,” OSLO: Nobel Peace Prize laureate Malala Yousafzai greets the audience at the I felt the idea of Occupy was wrong-to attain the more action to come. “If the problem of political Khorasani said, referring to the dominate ethnic goal it sets is impossible,” she said. “I hope the peo- reform is not handled appropriately I believe the group in the country’s northwest, where Malala Nobel Peace Prize Concert at the Oslo spectrum. — AFP ple taking part in Occupy think about who will ben- next phase there will be new resistance actions. is from. efit from the things they are doing now.” Would it be long-term occupation of streets? Demonstrators feel their lengthy occupation has Maybe not,” he said. —Agencies INTERNATIONAL SATURDAY, DECEMBER 13, 2014

Australian PM to ‘sweat blood’ for Aboriginal recognition SYDNEY: Australian Prime Minister Tony tive prime minister told a dinner in Sydney his office for almost a week to a tent in an back the cause of our country and the right- Abbott has declared himself ready to “sweat late Thursday. “I am prepared to sweat isolated Aboriginal community on the out- ful place of Aboriginal people at its heart, blood” to ensure that Aborigines are recog- blood on this. This is at least as important as skirts of Nhulunbuy on the northern tip of than a referendum that failed,” he said. nized in the nation’s constitution, hopefully any of the other causes that this govern- Australia, nearly 1,000 kilometers (620 Abbott said constitutional recognition- by 2017. Written more than a century ago, ment has been prepared to take on.” miles) east of Darwin. when it comes-would likely be a heartfelt Australia’s constitution does not recognize Aborigines are still the most disadvantaged pact between indigenous people and con- Aborigines as the nation’s first inhabitants, Australians, with significantly lower life ‘One united people’ servative Australia. “Indigenous people with one section also saying people can be expectancies than others and with many liv- A fierce monarchist keen to retain ties have to accept that any proposal put for- banned from voting based on race. ing in remote and poor communities. with Britain, Abbott said he supported con- ward is worth doing because it does suffi- Australian lawmakers formally recognized Abbott said he had not experienced stitutional recognition because he wanted ciently acknowledge them as the first indigenous peoples as the country’s first racial discrimination himself, saying “Anglo- the country to transcend the “them and us” Australians,” he said. “And conservative inhabitants last year, five years after an his- Australian males from middle-class families mindset. “But there is almost nothing that Australia has to accept that any proposal toric apology to the nation’s indigenous for tend to have had a magic carpet ride this generation of Australians could do that put forward really is completing our consti- past wrongs, including the forced removal through life”. “Still, this hasn’t stopped the would more impress posterity than tution rather than changing it.” The prime of children. ‘whispering in my heart’ that our most seri- enabling black and white Australians to minister said he hoped that consultation Abbott did not lock in a date but said a ous failure as a nation has been our difficul- walk forward together, forever, as one unit- from people from all walks of life on the referendum on constitutional recognition ty in acknowledging the people we dis- ed people,” he said. Abbott said that while issue would accelerate and intensify in the could happen on 27 May, 2017 - the 50th placed,” he said. Abbott vowed to spend a about 60 percent of the population sup- new year. Aborigines are believed to have anniversary of the 1967 referendum which week each year in a remote indigenous ported indigenous recognition in the refer- numbered around one million at the time of allowed indigenous peoples to be counted location when he was sworn in as leader in endum, it needed overwhelming support to British settlement in 1788, but there are in the census. “I am a strong supporter of 2013, seeking to be the “prime minister for pass. For this reason, the process should not now just 470,000 out of a total population constitutional recognition,” the conserva- Aboriginal affairs”. In September he shifted be rushed, “because nothing would set of 23 million.— AFP Ahead of election win, Japans’ PM pivots away from painful reforms Abe shifts debate from fiscal tightening to stimulus

TOKYO: Prime Minister Shinzo Abe is signaling that retooling Japan’s economy with painful structural reforms must take a back seat to reviving growth, even though he is poised to win a big referendum on his economic policies in an election tomorrow. In the three weeks since he delayed a sales tax increase and called the election, Abe has shifted the debate from curbing the gov- ernment’s runaway debt to finding ways to stimulate the econo- my and put more money in voters’ hands. For example, policy- makers say they are considering shopping vouchers for lower- income earners that would cover a portion of the cost of goods and services. Such handouts would resemble vouchers and tax breaks used during the global financial crisis that boosted sales of energy-effi- cient cars, appliances and housing, officials told Reuters. Those measures had a multiplier effect on spending but were followed by a pullback when the giveaways expired. Maintaining govern- ment spending and massive yen-printing by the Bank of Japan while putting off thorny economic reforms could mean Japan is left with an ever growing debt pile and little improvement in the economy’s long-term growth potential. Some investors are bet- ting that a seemingly endless postponement of reform could be calamitous, with a collapse in the yen and uncontrolled inflation. Abe’s coalition is on course to keep or even expand its two- thirds majority in the lower house of parliament, opinion polls KABUL: A wounded Afghan journalist lies on the ground after a suicide attack at the French Cultural Centre in Kabul, show. And while many investors hope he will use his mandate to Afghanistan.— AP press ahead with reforms ranging from easing labor market restrictions to cutting agricultural protection, the government is instead looking at ways to get people to spend. This suggests German citizen killed in Abe may double down on the first two “arrows” in his policy quiver, stimulus spending and printing more money, with little enthusiasm for the third arrow of deregulation and reform. Kabul school bombing A resounding election victory and the prospect of a long term in office would eventually make vested interests more prone to KABUL: A teenage suicide bomber Rahman Rahimi identified the victim as a friendly exchanges and because it is compromise on reform, said Eurasia Group analysts Scott Seaman attacked a French-run high school in Kabul man, without giving more details. The directed against those people who are and Ross Schaap. “That said, we still do not expect Abe to force on Thursday, walking into a packed audi- attack took place inside the auditorium of supporting the country in building a bet- rapid, near-term progress on structural reform,” they said in a torium during a theater performance and the French Cultural Centre, which is on the ter future,” Steinmeier said. Germany plans report. On the campaign trail, Abe says he remains committed to killing a German citizen, Afghan officials grounds of a high school known as Lycee to deploy up to 850 soldiers to the NATO- all three arrows. But while the summary of his party’s platform said. The Taleban claimed responsibility Estaqlal, run under contract by the French organized training and advisory mission in emphasizes economic recovery, promises fiscal reform and even for the attack, saying the performance government. German Foreign Minister Afghanistan from January, which will take prominently cites tourism promotion, there is no mention of underway was immoral. Ironically, the sub- Frank-Walter Steinmeier condemned the over after the alliance’s combat troops structural reforms. ject of the musical play was the aftermath “cowardly attack” but did not confirm that leave the country. To be sure, the Finance Ministry strongly opposes easing its of a bombing. It was the first attack on a a German was killed. Salangi said 10 The United Nations Security Council grip on spending. A promised supplementary budget is shaping foreign target in the Afghan capital in Afghan citizens were also wounded in the condemned the attack “in the strongest up to be small at 2-3 trillion yen ($17-$25 billion), an amount the more than a week and came after a series attack, including journalists covering the terms,” called for the perpetrators to be ministry can scrape together with unspent funds and money sit- of insurgent bombings in the past month event. The bomber, who wore explosives brought to justice, and reiterated that “no ting in various budget accounts. And Abe insists he remains com- targeted foreigners, killing a British hidden in his clothing, was probably terrorist act can reverse the path towards mitted to balancing the budget, excluding debt service and embassy security and three members of a around 16 years old, Salangi added. Afghan-led peace, democracy and stability income from debt sales, by the fiscal year to March 2021. His par- South African family. “The attack is particularly perfidious in Afghanistan.” French President Francois ty promises to outline by next summer how it will hit that goal, Acting interior minister, Mohammad because it happened at a cultural institute Hollande said he condemned the “odious which economists said was ambitious even before the tax-hike Ayoub Salangi said the person killed was where Afghans and helpers from the inter- attack” and extended France’s solidarity to delay.— Reuters German, while police chief Gen Abdul national community come together for the victims and their families.—AP INTERNATIONAL SATURDAY, DECEMBER 13, 2014 Defectors shine light on horrors of N Korean life

WASHINGTON: When Yeon-Mi Park was just ‘Stars to freedom’ nine, she and her North Korean village were “In 2004 my whole world came crashing forced to watch in horror as a friend’s mother down. My father, my hero, got arrested for his was publicly executed for the crime of watching illegal trading business.” He was sent to a hard illegal DVDs, she says. As a boy, Joseph Kim labor camp, and the family was marked. “We could only watch helplessly, he says, as he saw had no real future any more.” So, according to his father “wither and die” in the isolated coun- Park, she and her mother decided to sneak over try’s devastating famine in the 1990s, which led the border into China, where a trader spotted to the tragic disintegration of his once “loving” them. In exchange for not giving them away, he family. The two young defectors gave a rare and demanded sex with Park, then just 13. “My mom heartbreaking insight into what they described offered to be raped in order to protect me,” she as lives of deprivation, hunger and abuse in said simply. Later, after her father had rejoined North Korea during an event at the State them in China but died of lung cancer, Park and Department to mark Human Rights Day. her mother met up with a group heading to Park was born in Hyesan, the daughter of a Mongolia. “We walked and crawled across the government official, whose job provided the Gobi desert, evading Chinese police, kidnappers family with relative stability and protection. and wild animals. We followed the compass, but They also lived close to China, providing greater it broke, so we followed the stars to freedom... COLOMBO: A Sri Lankan Air Force soldier stands next to the Sri Lankan military transport air- exposure to the outside world than many others we wanted to live as human beings,” she said. craft which crashed near the capital Colombo yesterday, killing four people on board and in the isolated hermit state run by the dynastic During the 1994-98 famine hundreds of thou- injuring another crew member. — AFP communist family of its founder Kim Il-Sung. As sands starved to death. Ordinary North Koreans a young girl, Park thrived on illicit movies from focused their energies on scavenging to stay all over the world-Russian, Chinese, even alive. Sri Lanka military Hollywood blockbusters such as “Titanic,” which her resourceful mother would swap with ‘Hunger is hopelessness’ friends. It gave her a glimpse into another world. Among them was Kim, who was 12 when his plane crash kills 4 But also revealed the precariousness of her own father died of hunger in 2002, and his mother life when the “kind” mother of a friend was and sister left for China to try to find food. “This caught with a banned DVD and publicly put to isn’t just my story, but the story of millions of COLOMBO: A Sri Lankan military transport air- Colombo and headed to a nearby domestic air death. North Korean people,” said 24-year-old Kim, craft crashed near the capital Colombo yester- base when pilots reported poor visibility. There Then came the famine and to survive her telling how once orphaned he would wander day killing four people on board and injuring were no casualties on the ground, but at least father set up a small illegal trading business the streets rummaging through trash cans. another crew member, police said. The one house lost part of its roof as the aircraft smuggling goods into China, says Park, who “Hunger is humiliation, hunger is hopelessness,” Antonov AN-32 aircraft slammed into a rubber crashed. Civil aviation chief H M Nimalasiri said it faces a growing number of doubters-including said Kim. When his mother and sister left for plantation in the suburb of Athurugiriya in bad was too early to establish the cause of the inci- other defectors in South Korea-who say her sto- China, he never thought it might be for good. weather and burst into flames, police dent, but investigators were heading to the ry lacks credibility. “I think the market is very “My sister and I had never been separated spokesman Ajith Rohana said. “Four people crash site. The Sri Lankan airforce has lost four important because once you start trading for before and I always thought we would be onboard have been killed and the fifth crew other Antonov AN-32 type aircraft since 1995. yourself, you start thinking for yourself. And together forever. So when she was leaving I did- member survived with severe burns,” Rohana During the height of fighting between troops that’s a big threat to a totalitarian government,” n’t even say goodbye properly and I didn’t even said. and Tamil Tiger rebels, the military lost at least Park, 21, told an audience of diplomats in give her a hug,” Kim said. “I think this has been Airforce sources said the plane had taken off 35 aircraft in action and another 18 parked at an Washington. one of my biggest regrets in my life.”—AFP from the main international airport outside airbase during a rebel ground attack. — AFP INTERNATIONAL SATURDAY, DECEMBER 13, 2014

Torture report pits senator vs CIA chief yet again

WASHINGTON: Their disputes over who spied on no CIA personnel to ask, “What were you thinking?” longest-serving aides. And the CIA fared significantly whom and censoring the Senate’s scathing torture He called the investigation “flawed.” For the two better in a concurrent battle over what to black out report are history. But the personal feud between main protagonists in this week’s drama, bickering is in the torture report’s 500-page executive summary Sen. Dianne Feinstein and CIA Director John nothing new. In an extraordinary scene nine months and conclusions. Feinstein’s plea for Obama to inter- Brennan may only be getting worse. Relations ago, Feinstein took to the Senate floor to accuse the vene fell on deaf ears. The bad blood between the between the outgoing Senate Intelligence CIA of interfering with her investigation and trying to pair was there for all to see Thursday. After Brennan Committee chairwoman and America’s top spy intimidate the committee’s staffers by referring them credited detainees subjected to harsh interrogations appeared to hit a new low Thursday as Feinstein to the Justice Department. The California senator with producing information used in the operation to live-tweeted comments contradicting Brennan as he suggested criminal laws and the Constitution were find bin Laden, Feinstein said her report proved publicly addressed her panel’s sweeping allegations being violated. definitively that waterboarding and the like provid- of CIA wrongdoing. While Feinstein later praised Brennan fired back, denying his personnel spied ed no such help. Brennan for accepting many of her inquiry’s conclu- on Senate investigators and indicating they may When he declared it “unknowable” whether harsh sions, the damage was done. have committed a crime by improperly accessing interrogations were responsible for valuable intelli- “#ReadTheReport” was the refrain from Feinstein sensitive CIA documents. On Feinstein’s allegations, gence, she wrote: “CIA had info before torture.” Also as Brennan held a rare news conference at CIA head- he said, “We wouldn’t do that.” Months of testy back- among her two dozen tweets was a question to quarters in Langley, Virginia. She berated the CIA and-forth ensued. Feinstein seemed to emerge the Brennan about a waterboard and buckets found at a chief for suggesting, contrary to her report, that the victor as the Justice Department refused to launch a site where the near drownings never officially hap- agency’s “enhanced interrogation techniques” were criminal probe. An internal CIA review then faulted pened. When asked by a reporter on that point at the legal and may have helped lead to the killing of five employees at the agency for hacking into the news conference, Brennan said he was aware of no Osama bin Laden. intelligence committee’s computers and emails. undeclared waterboarding. By the end of the day, Brennan acknowledged CIA officers did “abhor- Brennan apologized to Feinstein and her colleagues. Feinstein struck a more conciliatory tone, conceding rent” things and were unprepared to run a detention But that was as far as the spat went. Democrats in a statement that Brennan’s remarks “were not program after the Sept 11, 2001, terrorist attacks. Yet who wanted Brennan reprimanded or even fired what I expected.” “They showed that CIA leadership he was hardly praiseworthy of Feinstein and fellow were rebuffed by the White House, which stood by is prepared to prevent this from ever happening Democrats, calling it “lamentable” they interviewed one of President Barack Obama’s closest and again - which is all-important,” she said. — AFP

US House approves $1.1 trillion spending bill, averts shutdown WASHINGTON: Facing intense pressure to avoid a government shutdown, the US House of Representatives narrowly passed a $1.1 trillion federal spending bill Thursday, sending it to the Senate after it was ushered through barely two hours before a midnight deadline. The 219-206 vote followed a bruising day of arm-twisting by the White House after dozens of Democrats revolted over pro-Wall Street and campaign-finance riders in the bill, dramatically splitting with President Barack Obama over the legislation that funds most federal operations through September. Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid said after the vote that his chamber will take up the must-pass legislation yesterday. Congress passed a two-day extension to keep government open beyond LONDON: Photo shows the headquarters of Britain’s MI6 intelligence agency in London. British spy agencies are under Thursday’s witching hour so that the Senate can debate and vote on growing pressure to reveal how closely they worked with their US counterparts following 9/11 after a damning US the measure. The spending package, which would fund most federal Senate report exposed how the CIA tortured terror suspects. — AFP operations through September 30, the end of the 2015 fiscal year, was the focus of extraordinary brinkmanship in Congress, a fitting CIA revelations put UK cap to one of the most polarized eras in Washington. The deal almost did not happen, forcing the White House and Obama, who came out in favor of the measure, into near-panic mode as they scrambled to get enough Democrats on board. House spies under scrutiny Speaker John Boehner was forced to suspend proceedings in the chamber when he realized he was short, fueling a rancorous Capitol LONDON: British spy agencies are under ment piece demanding the publication used by others”. Hill showdown. Progressive Democrats were furious over a clause growing pressure to reveal how closely of details about British involvement that Parliament’s intelligence and security buried deep in the 1,603-page bill that rolls back key financial regula- they worked with their US counterparts were “removed” from the US report. committee (ISC) then took over the reins tions on Wall Street. following 9/11 after a damning US Downing Street on Thursday admitted and is due to publish its conclusions at Bitter compromise Senate report exposed how the CIA tor- that the Senate had given British agen- the end of 2015, but that is unlikely to tured terror suspects. The revelations, cies “limited sight of some sections” and dampen calls for further action. “Once Top House Democrat Nancy Pelosi joined the revolt. In a stun- published on Tuesday, have dragged that they had “highlighted a small num- the police investigations are done, once ning rebuke of Obama on the House floor she blasted as “blackmail” Britain’s domestic spy agency MI5 and ber of issues in the proposed text where this report from the Intelligence and the effort to shred reforms in the so-called Dodd-Frank law that pre- its foreign intelligence counterpart MI6 changes would be necessary to protect Security Committee is done, we should vent big banks from making risky derivatives trades protected by back into the spotlight and led to calls UK national security”. keep an open mind ... about moving to taxpayer-insured funds. Pelosi and others argued that the change for a full judge-led inquiry. But it said that “there was no ques- a full judicial inquiry if there are any out- opens the door to another big bank bailout that rescued foundering Britain was Washington’s closest tion of the UK seeking redactions over standing questions,” Deputy Prime financial institutions during the worst of the Great Recession. That, partner in the “War on Terror” and ques- any allegations of UK involvement in Minister Nick Clegg, leader of the Liberal Democrats fear, could lead to a repeat of conditions that fueled the tions about British involvement in abus- activity that would be unlawful in the Democrats, said Thursday. financial crisis of 2007-2008. Democrats are also angered by a rider es have rankled for years, along with UK.” Prime Minister David Cameron “I, like everybody else, want the truth which would dramatically expand the amount that wealthy individu- doubts about the close alignment with admitted in 2010 that “there are ques- out there.” British intelligence services als can contribute to political parties-a move which would undercut US foreign policy. Tom Davies from tions over the degree to which British are particularly concerned by the case of campaign finance reforms from 2002. Amnesty International said Britain officers were working with foreign secu- the Ethiopian-born Binyam Mohamed, Senior House Democrat Steve Israel warned that the two provi- seemed “afraid to turn over the rock for rity services who were treating who was detained in Guantanamo for sions were poison pills “that Democrats can’t swallow,” and said he fear of what it will find underneath.” The detainees in ways they should not have more than four years before being trans- hoped Boehner would strip them out and start anew. Ultimately, 57 British-based rights group has launched done.” He then asked retired judge ferred to Britain in February 2009. Democrats joined most Republicans in supporting the measure. an online petition calling for the open- Peter Gibson to lead an independent Mohamed claims that a member of MI5 Democratic congresswoman Maxine Waters was furious about the ing of a criminal investigation that had investigation, which produced a prelim- provided questions to be asked during provisions, and suggested she was unimpressed by the White House received nearly 14,000 signatures. inary report that raised 27 serious an interrogation, which involved torture, dispatching chief of staff Denis McDonough to the US Capitol to per- Britain’s press has also been unusual- queries about the behavior of British at a secret site in Morocco. London is suade distressed Democrats about the bill. “We don’t like lobbying ly united in demanding that the public security officers. Specifically, Gibson also accused of complicity in the kidnap- that is being done by the president or anybody else that allows us know what the security services did on said he wished to investigate “whether ping of Abdelhakim Belhaj, a former to... give a big gift to Wall Street,” Waters boomed to reporters. their behalf. “America now knows the in some cases, UK officers may have jihadist who became military command- “We’re going to fight it. We’re fighting anybody who is lobbying to truth about what it did. We in Britain do turned a blind eye to the use of specific, er of Tripoli after the fall of Muammar tell people to vote for this bill.” — AFP not,” Jenni Russell wrote in a Times com- inappropriate techniques or threats Gaddafi in 2011, and his wife. — AFP Oil sinks below $63 Corporations winning fight India’s industrial output Businessto over 5-year low 16 over human rights lawsuits19contracts, inflation eases 20

SATURDAY, DECEMBER 13, 2014 Korean Air CEO apologizes for daughter’s ‘foolish act’ 17

ROME: Demonstrators hold balloons portraying Italian premier Matteo Renzi with a long nose as Pinocchio, during a protest in Rome yesterday. — AP Protests fill Italy’s piazzas Thousands take to the streets in boisterous protests ROME: Tens of thousands of Italians took to the streets yester- they term as insufficient efforts to stimulate economic growth yesterday. UIL leader Carmelo Barbagallo added: “Today we day in boisterous protests against government policies that against a backdrop of record unemployment, which for 15-25 have brought Italy to a standstill in order that we can start are struggling to haul the recession-bound country out of the year-olds now stands at over 43 percent. again in the right direction.” Renzi’s popularity has taken a hit economic mire. Labor unions said some 40,000 people had The strike and demonstrations were scheduled weeks over the last month as the debate over his reforms has rum- turned up in Rome to voice their opposition to Prime Minister before Renzi successfully fast-tracked the new labor market bled on with no sign of a turnaround in the economy. Matteo Renzi’s reforms, while many more had stayed away legislation through parliament, leaving yesterday’s events But he continues to enjoy approval ratings most other lead- from work across the country in response to their call for an with a largely symbolic feel. The strike was called by Italy’s ers would love to have and both polls and anecdotal evidence eight-hour general strike. biggest union grouping, the CGIL, and two smaller confedera- suggest most voters back the 39-year-old’s drive to shake-up The Rome demonstration was one of around 50 taking tions, the UIL and UGL. The Catholic-linked CISL group of Italy. At the end of October, when there was still a chance of place across Italy in what the unions intend to be a show of unions, which is the second biggest by membership, did not blocking the Jobs Act, there were hundreds rather than tens of anger over measures Renzi has defended as necessary to stim- back the strike call, saying it would be counter-productive in thousands of protestors on the streets of Rome. The Jobs Act is ulate the country’s moribund economy and remedy sickly the current context of an economy in recession for the third only the first stage of a broader program of reform for Renzi public finances in line with euro-zone rules. “Today there has time in seven years. which also includes an overhaul of the country’s snail-paced been an extraordinary response from workers opposed to the Although he is the leader of the Democratic Party, partly judicial system and electoral reform aimed at producing stable Renzi government’s policies,” Maurizio Landini, one of the rooted in Italy’s once mighty Communist Party, Renzi has been governments with clear parliamentary majorities. most best-known and most militant of Italy’s union leaders, willing to take on the unions over their defense of what he Renzi has often derided the unions as dinosaurs operating told a rally in the northern city of Genoa. “The piazzas are full, sees as an archaic labor market system. In a break with estab- in a world that no longer exists, notably saying last month: “If not just here in Genoa but in all of Italy.” lished tradition, he has also completely sidelined union lead- the unions want to negotiate (on economic policy), they Dozens of flights were cancelled or rescheduled and there ers from discussions on the country’s economic direction. should get themselves elected to parliament.” But in his only was only a minimum or partial service on most forms of public comment yesterday’s strike, he struck a more conciliatory transport. The main target of complaint is the Renzi-backed Popularity hit tone. “The general strike is a moment of protest of great “Jobs Act,” which seeks to stimulate job creation and new hir- That has increased social tensions with protests in October importance. We have a lot of respect for it even if I do not ing by making it easier for companies to lay employees off, and November occasionally spilling over into violence. “The agree with the reasons for it. Good work to those who are and cutting labor security and severance rights during the first government has to choose between conflict and dialogue,” working and good luck to those who decide to strike,” Renzi several years of a worker’s contract. Unions also decry what Susanna Camusso, the Secretary General of the CGIL, warned said in a statement on Thursday.—AFP BUSINESS SATURDAY, DECEMBER 13, 2014

Saudi to build Africa’s tallest skyscraper in Morocco

RABAT: A Saudi investor is to build Africa’s tallest build- Sheikh Tarek Binladen, and will cost an estimated $1 feel part of that tower,” the project’s website says. ing in Morocco, with construction of the 114-storey billion (800 million euros), he added. It will have 114 floors-the number of surahs or chap- tower to begin in June, the project’s manager said yes- The project’s working title is the “Al-Noor Tower” ters in the Koran-and the facade will be covered by pat- terday. The skyscraper in Casablanca will be 540 metres (Tower of Light in Arabic), but it is expected eventually terns representing Africa’s 1,000 languages. It will be built (1,782 feet) high, taller than the 223-meter Carlton to be named after King Mohamed VI. “We chose on a 25-hectare (61.77-acre) plot and will include a seven- Centre in Johannesburg which currently holds the title Morocco because it is the gateway to Africa and star hotel, a business centre and a shopping mall. for tallest building on the continent. “It will be Africa’s Europe, a modern country and politically stable,” Casablanca, Morocco’s commercial hub, already hosts the highest tower,” project manager Amede Santalo said. It Santalo said. The tower is due for completion in June world’s tallest minaret at 210 meters, at the Hassan II will be built by the Dubai-based Middle East 2018. “The hight of the tower is 540 metres to remind mosque. The world’s tallest tower is in Dubai, the 828- Development LLC, owned by Saudi businessman us that Africa has 54 countries. Everyone in Africa will metre Burj Khalifa, which opened in January 2010. — AFP

Gold set for biggest weekly rise as stocks and dollar slip

LONDON: Gold edged lower yesterday as some buyers cashed in recent gains, but remained on track for its biggest weekly rise since June as the dollar retreated and sliding oil prices hurt risk appetite and stocks. Gold is up nearly 3 percent so far this week, following a 2.1 percent jump the previous week. Falling stock markets have prompted some investors to buy the metal as an alternative asset, while a drop in the greenback made dollar- priced bullion cheaper for other currency holders. Spot gold was down 0.2 percent at 1302 GMT at $1,225.10 an ounce at 1302 GMT, while US gold futures for December delivery fell 30 cents to $1,225.30. “Gold and silver have both had a very good week, going against the trend seen elsewhere,” Saxo Bank’s head of commodity research Ole Hansen said. “We have reached levels which short sellers have been attracted to in the past and this may slow the positive momentum that has emerged during the past week.” “Overall there is a feeling out there that traders are now going defensive on their positions and this is weakening the dollar, there- by adding some support to precious metals.” The dollar index was down 0.4 percent on Friday and European stocks slid another 1.3 percent, with further declines in the price of oil hitting energy stocks and political concerns over Greece also curbing risk appetite. Benchmark Brent crude oil futures fell 1.3 percent to below $63 a barrel, the lowest since July 2009. Brent is down 8 percent this week, MOSUL: In this file photo, people shop at a market in the northern city of Mosul, Iraq. Itís becoming more expensive to live in and 45 percent below its June peak.—Reuters the self-styled caliphate envisioned by the Islamic State group as militant-held cities grow increasingly isolated, impeding access to basic goods and services. — AP Oil sinks below $63 to over 5-year low Oil price slide hits

LONDON: Brent crude oil slipped yesterday to below $63 a barrel, its lowest since July 2009, on persistent concerns over European stocks a global supply glut and weak demand outlook. Brent is down around 9 percent this week, some 45 percent below its June peak above $115 per barrel. Oil prices will likely come Safe-haven assets sought under further downward pressure, the International Energy Agency said as it cut its outlook for demand growth in 2015 LONDON: A relentless slide in crude prices kept pressure on Factory growth slowed more than expected last month to its and predicted that healthy non-OPEC output gains were energy stocks and currencies exposed to oil exports yesterday, second-worst reading since the global financial crisis and poised to increase global supplies. dampening appetite for riskier assets and encouraging investment expansion hovered near a 13-year low. The agency, which coordinates the energy policies of investors to seek safety in core government bonds. Brent crude industrialized countries, cut its outlook for global oil demand dropped to a 5-1/2-year low of $62.75 a barrel and was set for a Core govt bond yields fall growth for 2015 by 230,000 barrels per day (bpd) to 900,000 weekly loss of more than 8 percent. Falling oil prices have All those concerns about deflation and slowing output bpd on expectations of lower fuel consumption in Russia and pushed up volatility across asset classes. helped inflows into ultra-safe German government bonds. other oil-exporting countries. “It spells out the main scenarios The STOXX Europe 600 Oil & Gas Index fell 1.6 percent, drag- German 10-year yields-the euro zone benchmark-dipped to a that are in the market and said that stockpiles will be substan- ging down the pan-European FTSEurofirst 300 index which fell record low of 0.637 percent. Yields moved lower after weak tially bigger in the first half of 2015,” said Bjarne Schieldrop, 1.4 percent and was on course for its biggest weekly loss since demand for the European Central Bank’s cheap bank loans on chief commodity analyst for SEB in Oslo. The Organization of May 2012. Political concerns over Greece also hurt European Thursday highlighted the problems it faces in inflating its bal- the Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC), which accounts stocks, though the Athens general index edged higher after los- ance sheet towards its intended 3 trillion euro target. Earlier, for a third of world oil output, sees 2015 demand at the low- ing 20 percent in three days. Wall Street looked set to open low- Japan’s Nikkei stock average ended up 0.7 percent, extending est in more than a decade. er, according to stock index futures. The Norwegian crown, gains as robust US retail sales data lifted exporter shares, but “It’s following the trend lower. The market has reacted strongly linked to oil export revenues, hit an 11-year low against they still managed to book a loss of 3.1 percent for the week. strongly to the OPEC forecast cut, and it is focusing only on the dollar, while the Canadian dollar slumped to a 5-1/2 year One potential risk to the US economy was reduced, at least the negative,” said Hans van Cleef, senior energy economist trough against the greenback. There was no end in sight for the temporarily, as the Senate approved a two-day extension of at ABN Amro in Amsterdam. He added there was little techni- decline of the Russian rouble, which hit another record low. government funding late on Thursday to stave off shutdowns of cal support until $50-$55. Brent was down 78 cents at $62.90 “We’re reaching a point where there’s a risk of seeing corpo- federal agencies that otherwise would have begun at midnight. per barrel by 1258 GMT, having hit an intraday low of $62.75. rate and sovereign defaults in energy-producing countries, Spot gold slipped about 0.5 percent to $1,222.10 an ounce, US crude was down 79 cents at $59.16 a barrel, after falling to which could revive global systemic risks,” said Christophe though it was still on track for a gain of over 2 percent for a a low of $58.80, also the weakest since July 2009. The contract Donay, head of strategy at Pictet, which has $441 billion in week in which it reached a seven-week high, on Wednesday. has lost about 10 percent this week. Top energy consumer assets under management and custody. Global crude prices “Overall there is a feeling out there that traders are now going China released data yesterday showing near-record refinery have plunged in recent weeks on massive oversupply, raising defensive on their positions and this is weakening the dollar, runs in November, with factory output growth weaker than fears that deflation could hit economies around the world. A thereby adding some support to precious metals,” Saxo Bank’s expected.—Reuters spate of Chinese data triggered more concern for investors. head of commodity research Ole Hansen said. —Reuters BUSINESS SATURDAY, DECEMBER 13, 2014

China’s factory, investment growth flagging New lending jumps 56 percent

BEIJING: China’s economy showed further signs of year, buoyed by Beijing’s efforts to revive a sector on (PBOC) had instructed banks to lend more and had fatigue in November, with factory output growth slow- which so much of the economy depends. quietly relaxed the enforcement of loan-to-deposit ing more than expected and growth in investment near After September’s move to cut mortgage rates and ratios to further that end. “The lending numbers a 13-year low, putting pressure on policymakers to downpayments for some home buyers, the People’s give hope that investment will pick up now that unveil fresh stimulus measures. In a sign that banks Bank of China cut interest rates on Nov 21 for the first there is more funds available to pay for capital were already responding to Beijing’s instructions to time in two years. The surprise rate cut signaled policy- spending projects,” said Kowalczyk. reflate the economy, however, new lending jumped 56 makers’ growing concern that a sharper slowdown in Not all the new lending is being put to produc- percent in the month. the economy would raise the risk of job losses and loan tive use, however, as some will just replace existing Weighed down by a sagging housing market, defaults. Factory output rose 7.2 percent in November debt, and there is evidence that speculators are China’s economic growth had already weakened to 7.3 from a year earlier, down from October’s 7.7 percent, ploughing some of it into a wild stock market rally percent in the third quarter, so November’s soft factory the National Bureau of Statistics said yesterday, and of recent weeks. Other data this week showed and investment figures suggest full-year growth will missing analysts’ forecasts of 7.5 percent. Fixed-asset China’s export growth slowed sharply in November, miss Beijing’s 7.5 percent target and mark the weakest investment, an important driver of growth, grew 15.8 while imports unexpectedly shrank. And despite the expansion in 24 years. “The data bodes ill for GDP percent in the first 11 months from the same period last resulting expansion in the money supply, consumer growth in the fourth quarter, which is bound to slow year, slipping from 15.9 percent in the first 10 months. inflation hit a five-year low, stoking expectations further,” said Dariusz Kowalczyk, senior economist at that Beijing may move more aggressively to stave Credit Agricole CIB in Hong Kong. Growth in real estate Freer lending off deflation, including a cut to banks’ reserve investment also slipped for the first 11 months of 2014, The rise in new loans comes after sources told requirement ratio (RRR), which would allow them to though property sales registered their best month this Reuters on Thursday that the People’s Bank of China lend still more. —Reuters China angles for C America influence in US ‘backyard’ Canal project underlines China’s growing power

MANAGUA: With ambitious plans for a canal ‘Political interests’ through Nicaragua and a Honduran hydroelec- China’s presence elsewhere in Central tric dam, Chinese firms are increasingly testing America is already established, though invest- the waters in Central America, a region long con- ments remain modest. Panama is currently the sidered the United States’ backyard. The auda- main destination for Chinese investment in cious canal project, which would rival the US- Central America, according to a CLACDS study built Panama Canal, underlines China’s growing published in August. But China only accounted global power but has also highlighted the pitfalls for 2.5 percent of Panama’s foreign direct invest- that go with it. The $50 billion project, awarded ment in 2011. In Costa Rica and Guatemala, the to a Hong Kong-based company and scheduled figure was less than one percent. But experts say to break ground on December 22, has sparked the superpower may be angling to expand its protests and attracted a host of opponents, from role. “Aside from the canal, the investments SEOUL: A passenger (right) is helped by employees to buy tickets at a Korean Air ticketing naysayers who call it a future white elephant to aren’t major. But it allows them, in a gradual way, counter at Gimpo airport in Seoul, South Korea. Korean Air Lines has apologized for inconve- Nicaraguans who fear a land-grab and environ- to get to know a region they didn’t know,” said niencing passengers after the daughter of its chairman ordered a crew member off a flight for mental catastrophe. Gine. “It’s as if they were feeling the stones to serving bagged nuts in the first class cabin. — AP “Get out, Chinese!” shouted thousands of cross the river, as the Chinese saying goes,” he farmers and activists at the most recent protest added. “Now China wants to try to position itself Korean Air CEO apologizes Wednesday in the capital Managua. “If you add in the entire Central American and Caribbean up the 15 marches organized in the past two and region.” Its targets: energy, telecommunications a half months, we’ve had 40,000 people,” said and infrastructure. for daughter’s ‘foolish act’ lawyer and activist Monica Lopez Baltodano-not In Costa Rica, the China National Petroleum a trifling figure for a country of six million. “I have Corporation plans to build a $1.3 billion oil refin- SEOUL: Korean Air CEO Cho Yang-Ho publicly and arrogant, and prompted a state probe over a my doubts” about the feasibility of the project, ery. In Honduras, Sinohydro wants to build a apologized yesterday after his daughter triggered possible breach of aviation safety laws. Later, Cho said Jaume Gine, a China expert at Spain’s ESADE $350 million hydroelectric dam to match the one public anger and ridicule by kicking the head of bowed deeply before TV cameras as she appeared business school. it already has in Belize. Both projects have been cabin crew off a flight because of the way she had at the transport ministry to be questioned over the “When the Panama Canal was inaugurated placed on hold after being criticized locally, but been served some nuts. Addressing a televised incident. “I sincerely apologize,” she told reporters 100 years ago, it was the Americans’ canal. Now look set to resume. In another Honduras project, press conference, Cho apologized for his daughter in a voice barely above a whisper. Cho confirmed it seems the Chinese want to repeat that, saying the China Harbour Engineering Company is Cho Hyun-Ah’s “foolish act” and suggested he that she was giving up “all my posts” and added ‘We’re going to build the Nicaragua Canal’ with studying the feasibility of a $20 million railway to should share some of the blame for not bringing that she intended to apologize in person to the money from the potential superpower of the connect the Atlantic and Pacific Oceans, a proj- her up correctly. “I am making this apology as a crew members on last week’s flight. — AFP 21st century,’” he said. “So it’s an image-building ect that would also compete with the Panama father and as the head of Korean Air,” Cho said. As exercise, whether they finish the canal or not.” Canal. “There are also political interests at stake, well as being the boss’s daughter, Cho Hyun-Ah James Bosworth, an analyst at US consulting firm because we’re talking about the United States’ was a vice president of the family-run airline, but Southern Pulse, said the pharaonic project by backyard,” said Gine. “This enables China to rein- her father confirmed that she was being relieved of Hong Kong Nicaragua Canal Development force its geopolitical weight worldwide.” all her official posts. Cho Hyun-Ah has been front-page fodder in the (HKND) “still faces major hurdles,” including Cozying up to Central American nations South Korean media since forcing a New York- engineering challenges and local opposition. also bears political weight for China’s rivalry Seoul Korean Air flight to return to its gate last But the plan is “about much more than the with self-ruled Taiwan, which Beijing considers Friday to remove the chief purser, the most senior proposed canal,” he said. The project includes a as a part of its territory awaiting reunification. member of the crew. Cho, sitting in first class, took host of infrastructure schemes: ports, roads, a Central America is home to six of the 22 coun- exception to the arrival of some macadamia nuts tourist resort and a renovated airport. “Unlike tries that recognize Taiwan’s independence she had not asked for, and to the fact that they the proposed canal, those projects are certainly from China. “Long term, China also hopes to were served in a packet rather than a bowl. She economically viable and should be profitable for isolate Taiwan from its few remaining support- summoned the chief purser who, according to an the investors who back them,” Bosworth said. ers,” said Bosworth. Costa Rica, the seventh earlier Korean Air statement, replied with “lies and While Chinese firms currently have a small pres- Central American country, also recognized excuses” when challenged over his crew’s knowl- SEOUL: Cho Hyun-ah, who was head of cabin ence in Nicaragua compared to US and Canadian Taiwan until 2007. Since then, it has signed a edge of in-flight service procedures. service at Korean Air and the oldest child of companies, that will change if the canal gets 2011 free-trade agreement with China and Cho then decided the chief purser was “inca- Korean Air chairman Cho Yang-ho, arrives for built, said Ronald Arce, a researcher at the Latin cooperation deals worth $2 billion in 2013, pable” and the plane returned to the gate where questioning at the Aviation and Railway American Center for Competitiveness and equivalent to four percent of its economy. he disembarked, causing an 11-minute delay in Accident Investigation Board office of Sustainable Development (CLACDS) in Costa Together, Central America and the Caribbean arrival. Her behavior attracted heavy criticism in Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Rica. “The presence of Chinese firms across the have a total of 20 votes in the United Nations South Korea, where she was accused of being petty Transport in Seoul yesterday. — AP region would multiply,” he said. General Assembly. — AFP BUSINESS SATURDAY, DECEMBER 13, 2014 E Europe counts cost of a pipeline demise Transit countries counting on economic boost

BELGRADE: As recently as Nov 21, the Gazprom “And no one dared voice doubt in a promise from subsidiary tasked with building the Serbian leg of our Russian brothers,” he said. Serbian Russia’s South Stream gas pipeline issued a call Infrastructure Minister Zorana Mihajlovic, an for mechanics, builders and welders. Branko energy expert, told Reuters: “The Serbian side did Tasevski was among dozens of businessmen not protect its interests enough. The Russian side hoping to get a contract for his Veco Welding came to this market knowing clearly what it Company in the northern city of Zrenjanin, near wanted, and got what it wanted; we should learn the planned path of the 422-km stretch of the from them.” Prime Minister Aleksandar Vucic, pipeline. South Stream represented the biggest who expressed surprise at learning of South infrastructure investment in Serbia in the almost Stream’s cancellation from news reports, spoke 15 years since the former Yugoslav republic with his Russian counterpart, Dmitry Medvedev emerged from international isolation with the fall on Monday, and appeared to suggest Serbia RIO DE JANEIRO: People walk past Petrobras building in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. Brazilian prose- of late strongman Slobodan Milosevic. expected some kind of compensation. “Our cutors charged 35 businessmen in connection with the Petrobras corruption case on Thursday, the first wave of indictments arising from the investigation into the scandal sur- So Tasevski was disappointed when, just 10 experts are working and going through all the rounding the state-owned oil giant. — AFP days later, President Vladimir Putin announced in contracts,” Vucic told reporters. “We will try to Istanbul that the project was off, doomed by a resolve all eventual difficulties and problems on Oil slump sorts hedged legal dispute with the European Union that has the basis of partners.” its roots in a deepening standoff between the Mihajlovic said Serbia’s construction sector West and Russia. The cancellation deprives south- had directly lost out on 300 million euros-worth from the unhedged eastern Europe of an alternative supply of energy of work. In an interview with Reuters, she estimat- to the disruption-prone route through Ukraine, ed that the project would have raised gross NEW YORK: Oil’s slide to the lowest price in Steady pace but there was a financial cost too. States along domestic product (GDP) by at least two percent. more than five years is carving a divide between For the past several years, hedging was a the route with fragile economies were banking Taken together with the lost opportunity of US shale drillers who heavily hedged future pro- relatively minor consideration for investors. Oil on a big payday from construction, shipment fees cheaper gas supplies, “we’re talking about hun- duction and those who didn’t. While financial prices stayed fairly steady at about $100 a bar- and cheaper gas. “We thought we’d earn enough dreds of millions of euros (in lost earnings), some hedges are commonly required by many oilfield rel, meaning most hedged positions were nei- to sustain us for the next five or six years,” said say 700 million.” In Bulgaria, former energy minis- lenders, the industry’s mid-sized US-focused ther heavily in nor out of the money. Now that Tasevski. “We lost not only potential profits but ter Rumen Ovcharov estimated the loss in ship- shale field producers pursued varied strategies the crude price has almost halved in the past also references for future deals.” ment fees for Bulgaria at $600 million per year. when it came to protecting future revenues, six months, and predictions grow for a pro- For Serbia, which has long touted its ties with The investment in building the Bulgarian leg was according to a Reuters review of filings and longed slump in prices, investors are scrutiniz- fellow Orthodox Christian nation Russia, the blow forecast at 3.5-4 billion euros. interviews with bankers and experts. ing filings to understand which corporations is particularly bitter. In 2008, the country sold a Hungary’s section of the pipeline would have Those decisions are now coming back to were clever enough to have locked in prices majority stake in its state oil and gas company, run some 300 km. “The costs of the construction haunt some drillers. Best-known is Continental prior to the slump and therefore have enough NIS, to Russia’s Gazprom in what the government would have totalled several tens of billions of Resources, which lifted its hedges in early cash on hand to pay increasingly expensive said at the time was quid pro quo for Moscow forints, roughly around 100 billion HUF ($403- November, when oil was trading at around $83 service contracts. “The purpose of hedging is routing South Stream through Serbia. Gazprom 604 million),” said Attila Holoda, managing direc- a barrel, leaving it unprotected as prices slipped to secure cash flow regardless of price sce- paid what analysts said was a bargain 400 million tor of energy consultancy firm Aurora Energy Kft another $20, the most dramatic drop since the nario,” said Robert Campbell, head of oil prod- euros for the stake in NIS, for two refineries, a net- in Hungary. In Slovenia, the newspaper Delo 2008 crisis. Continental’s share price has been ucts research at Energy Aspects in New York. work of petrol stations, exploration rights and reported on Friday that state-owned Plinovodi, more than halved since late June. Apache Corp “The whole thing with (shale drillers) is cash other benefits. The accord, however, included no which manages Slovenia’s gas infrastructure and and Whiting Petroleum are also exposed to low- preservation.” explicit commitment that South Stream would says it has spent 150,000 euros in preparation for er prices and have underperformed some peers Most large-cap producers, unlike Devon, indeed be built. South Stream, would seek compensation from over the past two weeks. don’t hedge as a rule, and many such as Gazprom for the project’s cancellation. Asked to Oil producers typically hedge against lower Occidental Petroleum and ConocoPhilips have Compensation? put a price on South Stream’s cancellation, Novi prices by locking in some of their future produc- even outperformed Oklahoma City-based “We sold them the family jewels, as brothers, Magazin columnist Brkic said: “It’s like trying to tion at favorable prices through swap transac- Devon in recent months, aided in part by their without asking for any guarantee that they would calculate the damages from having two prover- tions sold by banks, or by buying options as refinery holdings, which generate additional make good on their promise,” said Misa Brkic, bial birds in the bush. The real damage is in ener- insurance against lower prices. Among major revenue when oil prices are down. Some ana- columnist for the Serbian weekly Novi Magazin. gy security.”— Reuters and mid-sized exploration and production com- lysts point to Apache as an example of the per- panies, some 35 percent of all 2014 oil produc- ils of not hedging. While Devon’s shares have tion was hedged at an average of $95.5 a barrel fallen by 32 percent since June, Apache’s have as of November, according to an analysis pre- dropped by 44 percent as investors raise Draghi to urge Europe’s leaders pared by RBC. Yet only 14.3 percent of 2015 pro- alarms about a potential cash crunch. “They’re duction was hedged. With OPEC kingpin Saudi basically naked and don’t have any cash flow to reform straggling economies Arabia refusing to cut supply and shore up protection,” said Leo Mariani, a senior analyst prices any time soon, firms face the prospect of at Capital Markets. FRANKFURT: The head of the European Central boost to confidence, but Draghi is convinced his lower revenues for months to come. US crude Bank is set to tell European leaders in stark terms efforts will be in vain in the longer run unless fell below $60 a barrel on Thursday for the first Revenue volatility at a summit next week that they need to reform countries make a more binding commitment to time since 2009. While hedging helps producers stem losses straggling economies or risk blunting an ambi- shake up rules such as those for employees or At Devon Energy Corp, the effect of tumbling when prices are low, it also caps their poten- tious monetary offensive to help revive the stag- taxation. “The agendas of the French and Italian prices “may not be nearly as large as you think” tial gains. Many lenders require their clients to nant euro-zone. As the central bank inches closer governments are the right ones but the imple- because of hedging, said Dave Hager, Devon’s place some hedges on future production in to printing money to buy government bonds, mentation is not complete,” one person familiar chief operating officer, at the CapitalOne Energy order to smooth out revenue volatility. But Mario Draghi has become increasingly worried with ECB thinking told Reuters. “Europe can help Conference on Wednesday. “We’re in outstand- others have much more flexibility. Whiting about slack reform in countries such as France through peer pressure.” ing shape as a company.” Devon, which Petroleum, which like its peer and rival and Italy, which he fears will undermine the pumped over 80 percent of its oil from U.S. shale Continental is heavily focused on the Bakken long-term boost from so-called quantitative eas- Cohesion at risk fields last quarter, stands out as the most shale fields in North Dakota, had hedged only ing (QE). In public, Draghi’s appeals have become aggressive hedger among the larger-cap U.S. oil about 3,000 bpd in 2015, according to the On Dec 18, Draghi will urge leaders including increasingly strident. He warned last month that drillers. It has hedged about 140,000 barrels per firm’s third-quarter SEC filings, or about four French President Francois Hollande and Italian failure to change could damage the “essential day (bpd) of crude for all of next year, equivalent percent of its current daily production. Its Prime Minister Matteo Renzi to step up reforms cohesion” of the euro zone, signaling that the to 80 percent of its third quarter output, accord- acquisition of Kodiak Energy Inc, expected to and hold down spending, people familiar with euro’s survival depended on it. But European ing to company filings. close early next year, will add another 6,000 ECB thinking say. He wants German Chancellor leaders, grappling with Eurosceptics who want If US crude prices were to remain at about barrels a day of hedged production through Angela Merkel, by contrast, to invest more in to scrap the euro currency and with vested inter- $65 a barrel next year, those hedges could net 2015, a spokesman said - still only 7 percent of infrastructure and boost domestic demand. Yet ests clinging to acquired rights, have little room Devon an extra $1.3 billion in revenue, accord- the combined company’s output at current French caution, Italian fragility and electoral to respond for now. ECB officials have discussed ing to Reuters calculations. Devon has been levels. That may explain why Whiting’s stock uncertainty in Greece mean Draghi is likely to with the European Commission, the EU’s execu- “very good at not drinking the Kool-Aid” in an has fallen almost 65 percent from all-time come away without a political “game changer”, tive, the idea of “structural reform pact”, a com- industry that had been counting on years of highs in late August, though the pending forcing him to press ahead with QE regardless to mitment signed by all 18 euro zone countries high prices, said Rick Rule, chairman of Sprott US acquisition and its exposure to the higher- avert a deflationary economic spiral. with benchmarks and peer pressure to encour- Holdings, an asset management firm that cost Bakken play are also likely considera- ECB bond buying may give a temporary age laggards.—Reuters doesn’t own stock in Devon. tions.— Reuters BUSINESS SATURDAY, DECEMBER 13 , 2014 Halliburton slashes 1,000 jobs in East hemisphere

NEW YORK: Halliburton, the world’s second an easy one, but necessary amid tumbling oil relation to the job cuts. “We are right now acquisition of Baker Hughes, which agreed to biggest oil services company, said Thursday prices. “The decision to eliminate jobs is nev- anticipating a restructuring charge in the be bought by Halliburton in November in a it is slashing 1,000 jobs in its eastern hemi- er easy. Our talented workforce is the foun- quarter, probably to the tune of about $75 $34.6 billion deal. Halliburton said news of sphere offices amid tumbling global oil dation of everything we accomplish,” million, as we trim out some headcount and the layoffs was not related to the acquisition. prices. The layoffs, which are effective imme- spokesman Chevalier Mayes said. “Yet, we activities around the world,” McCollum told “No layoffs have occurred or are presently diately, represent 1.25 percent of believe these job eliminations are necessary investors. planned as a result of the pending Baker Halliburton’s 80,000-person workforce. The in order to work through this market envi- Oil prices have dropped 44 percent since Hughes acquisition,” Mayes said. Analysts layoffs will take place in Europe, Asia, Africa, ronment.” At a conference Wednesday, June, forcing companies to scale back explo- say the deal could pave the way for more the Middle East and Australia, but jobs in the Halliburton’s chief financial officer Mark ration activities, which has reverberated with takeovers in the industry as falling oil prices Americas will not be affected. McCollum said the company expected a contractors such as Halliburton. The oil serv- put pressure on exploration companies to The company said the decision was not restructuring charge in its fourth quarter in ices company is in the midst of finalizing the cut spending.—AFP Corporations winning fight over human rights lawsuits US companies have successfully fend off lawsuits

WASHINGTON: A landmark US Supreme since the ruling came down in April 2013. force to displace the presumption.” Court decision in 2013 that made it all but In the 1990s and 2000s, up to half a Before the Kiobel ruling in April 2013, impossible to sue foreign companies in US dozen cases were filed every year against the law had been the primary vehicle for courts for alleged roles in overseas human US or foreign corporations. Paul Hoffman, a bringing human rights cases for more than rights abuses is proving to be a boon for US leading Venice, California-based human 30 years, not just in the United States but firms too, court documents show. In the rights lawyer who argued Kiobel for the globally. “Human rights litigators have lost roughly year and a half since the ruling in plaintiffs, said he has been fighting to keep a significant weapon,” said John Bellinger, a Kiobel v Royal Dutch Petroleum Co, US his existing cases alive rather than planning Washington-based lawyer at the Arnold & companies such as Chiquita Brands new ones. He has been presenting legal Porter law firm who has played a promi- International Inc, IBM Corp and Ford Motor arguments explaining why the Supreme nent role advocating for corporate defen- Co have successfully invoked the Supreme Court decision does not mean his lawsuits dants. Bellinger was the top legal adviser to MOSCOW: Pedestrians walk along a board listing foreign Court’s reasoning to fend off lawsuits alleg- should be dismissed. “People are waiting to the US State Department under President currency rates against the Russian ruble outside an ing they were involved in human rights see what the landscape is going to look George W Bush when it filed briefs in vari- exchange office in central Moscow yesterday.—AFP abuses in South Africa, Colombia and else- like,” he said. Lawyers on both sides of the ous cases arguing that the scope of the law where. issue say the Supreme Court might yet should be pared back. In the seven cases involving US compa- have to take another case to clarify exactly Ruble sinks nies that federal appeals courts have decid- when US companies can be sued. Other options ed since the Supreme Court rulings, corpo- The Supreme Court ruling means rate defendants have won five, according TORTURE, MURDER human rights lawyers now have to look to new lows to a Reuters review of the court documents. In the Kiobel case, the court unanimous- more seriously at alternative ways to seek Only one ruling was an outright win for ly threw out a lawsuit by 12 people from redress for alleged abuses. Human rights plaintiffs. A similar pattern has played out in Nigeria that accused British and Dutch- lawyers can sue multinational companies in MOSCOW: The ruble sank yesterday to fresh record lows as oil lower courts, with judges citing the Kiobel based Royal Dutch Shell Plc of aiding state- other countries, which has happened in prices plunged further, prompting apparent intervention from decision in favor of defendants in seven of sponsored torture and murder. The court Canada, the United Kingdom, and a hand- Russia’s central bank. The Russian currency weakened to 72.14 eight human rights cases involving US said the law under which the Nigerians ful of other countries, but that option is against the euro and 57.98 against the dollar, before trading companies that have been decided since brought the case, the 1789 Alien Tort usually only viable if the defendant is based in the greenback suddenly jumped-in what appeared to be the ruling. With rulings tending to favor Statute, was presumed to cover only viola- in one of those countries. Bringing suit in a action by the central bank to halt the ruble’s haemorrhage. companies, human rights lawyers are think- tions of international law occurring in the developing country where alleged viola- “The ruble’s fall continued yesterday morning... After this ing twice before filing new lawsuits. The United States. Violations elsewhere, Chief tions occurred is often less appealing to followed a new intervention from central bank, it pushed the Reuters review shows only one new human Justice John Roberts wrote, must “touch plaintiffs, as such countries often have trou- ruble rate down,” said Alexei Mikheyev, an analyst at VTB-24 rights lawsuit filed against a US company and concern” US territory “with sufficient bled judicial systems.—Reuters bank. The effect was shortlived, however. “About 80 percent of the fall in the dollar-ruble rate based on the intervention was won back in the next half hour,” Mikheyev said, criticizing what he called a “toothless” strategy from the central bank. KD26.5 million bond issued by Russia has spent over $5 billion so far this month alone on market interventions to shore up the ruble, and concern is ALARGAN secures BBB- rating growing at the rate of depletion of its foreign currency reserves, which are down a fifth since the summer of 2013. KUWAIT: Capital Intelligence affirms the but are also developing income produc- to ALARGAN team, to our partners and The central bank’s actions to shore up the ruble have so far investment grade (BBB-) rating with out- ing commercial properties to comple- other stakeholders for their commit- proved futile, with its latest one percentage point interest rate look stable of the KD 26.5 million five- ment our business model. We will also ment and continuous efforts that made hike on Thursday shrugged off by the market. Since the begin- year bond issued by ALARGAN continue to strengthen our financial ALARGAN what is today and will keep ning of the year, the ruble has lost 36 percent of its value International Real Estate Company fundamentals with a firm commitment driving the company for many years to against the euro and 42 percent against the dollar. At the “ALARGAN” in April 2012. Khaled to our stakeholders while adding contin- come.” heart of the problem is plunging oil prices, which, coupled Khudair Al-Mashaan, Deputy Chairman uous value to the community and with Western sanctions over the Ukraine crisis, have hurt the and Chief Executive Office of ALARGAN, improving shareholders’ return. Russian economy. Half of Russia’s revenues come from oil and said: “The rating by CI confirms the ALARGAN strong regional reach and gas. Replenishing its coffers is therefore proving to be more financial strength and robust fundamen- strategic partnerships positioned the difficult than expected. tals of the company. It also reflects company as a market leader in the seg- Analysts say the market is shunning the ruble yesterday investors’ confidence in our business ments and markets it is operating in. because the central bank had failed to take more decisive model, further denoted by our new ALARGAN brand name and track record action to help the currency. “The market is mainly being driv- growth strategy that we have initiated allowed the company to diversify its en by the disappointment of what is viewed as overly conser- earlier this year to enhance sharehold- investments across different projects in vative action on the part of the central bank of Russia in hiking ers’ value and returns.” various markets and business segments, the key rate only 100 basis points,” Alfa Bank said in a research Al-Mashaan said that ALARGAN con- which has significantly mitigated the note yesterday. Other analysts speculated that more drastic tinues to achieve growth across its dif- risks associated with its business. In its action may yet be applied. “The central bank responded by ferent markets and lines of business. press release, Capital Intelligence raising interest rates, but this failed to stem the ruble’s fall, “Strong growth in local and regional observed: “Alargan has a solid balance leading to speculation that capital controls may be intro- markets stimulated demand for residen- sheet with generally satisfactory finan- duced,” Capital Economics said. By raising interest rates, the tial and commercial property. We con- cial ratios, which is forecasted to remain bank was hoping to make the currency more attractive to tinue to be focused on the development so throughout the remaining life span of savers and help fight inflation, which is projected to reach 10 of affordable and middle income hous- the bond”. Al-Mashaan concluded: “I percent by the end of the year.— AFP ing in the region as our core business wish to extend my sincere appreciation BUSINESS SATURDAY, DECEMBER 13 , 2014 India’s industrial output contracts, inflation eases

NEW DELHI: India’s monthly industrial output contracted and inflation hit a near three-year low, official data showed yester- day, fuelling hopes of a rate cut next year. Production by India’s factories, mines and utilities was down 4.2 percent in October from a year earlier. Meanwhile consumer inflation fell to 4.38 percent in November, down from October’s 5.52 per- cent, after a weakening of global crude oil prices-a key driver of inflation in India. Bill Adams, senior international economist for PNC Financial Services Group, said the figures would make it easier for India’s central bank to cut rates. “Looking to 2015, India should be a big winner from the global decline in energy prices, which will support consumer spending power, damp- en inflation, and provide the Reserve Bank of India with room to loosen monetary policy,” he said. Finance Minister Arun Jaitley has indicated he would favor a cut in borrowing costs, held at 8.0 percent since last January, to boost investment and consumer spending. Consumer infla- tion was riding at over 10 percent last year but economists say Reserve Bank of India governor Raghuram Rajan’s aggressive policies to curb price rises appear to be paying dividends. November’s consumer inflation was the lowest since the gov- ernment introduced the current price index in January 2012 and well below the RBI’s target of eight percent for January 2015. India’s central bank kept interest rates unchanged last week despite growing calls to ease monetary policy, saying a Mustang paces Ford’s transformation reduction would be “premature”. But the bank indicated it may cut interest rates in the new year to boost flagging eco- nomic growth. India’s economy grew 5.3 percent in July- Exciting new Line-up at Sydney New Year’s eve September year-on-year, significantly slower than the previ- ous three months, adding to the pressure on the RBI. The cen- SYDNEY: Ford Motor Company, marking size sedan arrives early in 2015. The new Ford’s exciting future in Australia with a tral bank has forecast growth of 5.5 percent this year, slightly the company’s Australian transformation Mondeo will feature at least 10 advanced great line-up of new vehicles, including below the government’s target of 5.8 percent. India’s econo- and wave of stylish, innovative new prod- not available on the Camry, including a the re-introduction of Mustang, which is my has posted two years of sub-five-percent growth, the ucts, will place its globally iconic Mustang diesel model that will be more fuel effi- going global after 50 years as America’s longest slowdown in a quarter century.— AFP center stage at the world’s most spectacu- cient than Camry Hybrid. greatest motoring icon” said Graziano. lar New Year’s Eve event to punctuate a Ford is also giving Aussies the chance history-making year for the Blue Oval. The 2015 Ford Kuga to enter to win tickets to the exclusive City of Sydney today announced Ford as The newly launched Ford Kuga will be event. From tomorrow, fans are invited to Spain prices ease an associate partner for this year’s Sydney freshened in early 2015 with new head to the Ford Australia Facebook page New Year’s Eve. This completes a history- EcoBoost technology available, including and share their most adventurous anew amid European making year in which sat atop the Empire the 2L EcoBoost engine on high series NewYear’s resolutions by uploading a State Building in April - re-creating the which offers more power than Toyota’s photo on Facebook, Instagram or Twitter inflation concerns original Mustang’s debut 50 years ago - RAV-4. using the hashtag #FordNYE to win. Three and scaled the BurjKhalifa, the world’s cur- winners will receive flights, accommoda- MADRID: Consumer prices in Spain declined in November for rent tallest building in November. 2015 Ford Focus tion, and exclusive tickets for themselves the fifth month running, official data confirmed yesterday, To enhance the day-long event, Ford A freshened version of the popular car and three friends at the coveted location, fuelling growing concerns over slowing inflation in the euro- will bring music entertainment for the first nameplate arrives in the middle of the one of the best vantage spots to watch zone. Spain’s inflation rate was minus 0.5 percent in time ever to the crowds at key Sydney year and will include a refreshed perform- Sydney’s New Year’s Eve. In addition, one November on a seasonally adjusted basis, following a 0.2 per- Harbor vantage points. And, Mustang will ance model of the Focus ST. grand prize winner will also win the cent fall in October, definitive monthly figures from the make a surprise appearance to cap a big chance to help make his or her adventur- national statistics institute showed. The fall was driven largely year. “We are sending a message that Ford All-New Ford Everest ous resolution come true. Entries close by declines in transport and energy prices, the institute said. has an exciting future in Australia with a The Australian designed and engi- December 18. Australians are also encour- The inflation data for the euro-zone’s fourth-biggest economy great line-up of new vehicles, including neered Everest is a technologically aged to follow all the action from the confirmed preliminary figures from November 27, showing the re-introduction of Mustang, which is advanced, stunningly capable and refined evening by following #FordNYE and that consumer prices declined monthly from July to going global after 50 years as America’s seven-seat SUV that will be launched in #SydNYE. greatest motoring icon,” said Bob 2015. November. Other major European economies such as Graziano, Ford of Australia President and Global icon joins Australian family Germany and France have seen similar price declines as they CEO. “We could not take the all-new 2015 Ford Ranger The all-new Ford Mustang is the most recover from several years of economic turbulence. Mustang any higher, so now we will give A freshened version of the tough, capa- advanced version yet of the iconic pony Overall inflation in the 18 countries that share the euro cur- the world a view never seen from a car of ble and Australian-created Ranger will car, offering more advanced driver-assist rency slowed to 0.3 percent in November from 0.4 percent the Sydney’s spectacular New Year’s Eve fire- arrive in 2015 to build on its momentum technology than any other car in its class. previous month, according to official data last month which works.” after cutting Toyota Hilux’s sales lead by The sleek new design of Mustang fastback fed fears of deflation. Falling prices may sound good for the Scheduled to officially join the brand’s 38% since 2011. “The theme for 2014 and convertible is backed up by world- consumer, but they can trigger a vicious spiral where busi- Australian line-up in late 2015, the Ford Sydney New Year’s Eve is ‘Inspire,’ which is class performance from a range of avail- nesses and households delay purchases, throttling demand Mustang will be displayed to the public for a perfect fit for the future of our brand - able engines, including a new tur- and driving companies to lay off workers. In its battle against the first time on 31 December as part of especially with the arrival of Mustang as bocharged EcoBoost 2.3-liter and an such deflation, the European Central Bank has cut interest Sydney New Year’s Eve, which will be people see the car as a way to explore upgraded 5.0-litre V8 with more than 420 rates and offered special measures to pump liquidity into the attended by 1.6 million people and their dreams and the freedom of the open horsepower. In addition to state-of-the-art financial system. It has said it may take even more drastic viewed by more than a billion globally. road,” said Graziano. “Sydney is one of the connectivity systems, Mustang features action if required. Taking pride of place at a Mustang concert first major city to ring in the New Year so available track apps, launch control and For economic stability, the bank aims at inflation rates of stage under harbor-side, this marks the we want to help the city make the event more. just below 2.0 percent over the medium term. Spain emerged first time a car has been this close to the even more memorable.” Ford Mustang was revealed to the last year from its second recession sparked by a 2008 crash in Sydney Harbor Bridge, which offers views world with a television advertising cam- the construction sector. The unemployment rate is still close of the evening’s fireworks, including Crowd entertainment paign on the evening of April 16, 1964, to 24 percent and the government has pushed through tough incredible placement for the Midnight Ford will bring the soundtrack for the before being shown to the public at the reforms to stabilize the public finances. Spain’s central bank Fireworks Display’s ‘waterfall’ fireworks. evening to life, hosting a number of Aussie New York World’s Fair on April 17. The car said yesterday that the country’s public debt crept up to 96.8 Ford is introducing a wave of new music favorites and broadcasting music to officially went on sale that day, and Ford percent of output in the third quarter of this year. That figure products that will accelerate next year as tens of thousands of people around dealers accumulated a record 22,000 sales was calculated under new measures that count illicit activities the company plans to refresh its entire Sydney Harbor. “People show up early and and orders that first day on the way to such as drug-trafficking and prostitution. That increases the line-up by 2017. In addition to the new wait all day for the fireworks displays,” said more than 418,000 sales in the first year measure of output, making the debt figure proportionally Mustang, the new vehicles include: 2015 Graziano. “We are bringing the first-ever and 1 million sales in less than two years. lower. In 2007, before the crisis, the debt level was 36 per- Ford Mondeo: The all-new, stylish and soundtrack to help people enjoy the day In the past five decades, more than 9 mil- cent.—AFP technologically advanced Mondeo mid- even more. It’s also a chance to celebrate lion Mustangs have been sold. 13, 2014 SATURDAY, DECEMBER DECEMBER SATURDAY, www.kuwaittimes.net

Rihanna, left, and Salma Hayek arrive at the 1st Annual Diamond Ball on Thursday in Los Angeles. — AP

Rihanna’s first annual Diamond Ball SATURDAY, DECEMBER 13, 2014

Abigail Breslin calls Taylor Swift an ‘unstable cat lady’

he ‘Little Miss Sunshine’ actress appeared to criti- YouTube channel - includes the lyrics: “I hate your cise the pop star, as she tweeted a variation of the dumb tattoos/I wish you’d fly to the moon, where there Tlyrics to Taylor’s hit song ‘Blank Space’. In a per- are no girls to use or screw over.” She later told Teen ceived dig, the 18-year-old star wrote: “Cuz darling I’m a Vogue magazine: “This is a song I wrote about those nightmare dressed like an emotionally unstable cat guys who are players and use people and just generally lady.” While Taylor’s original line reads: “‘Cause darling aren’t really good people. “It’s about things I’ve wit- I’m a nightmare dressed like a daydream.” It’s not the nessed - it’s not OK when guys don’t have respect for first time Abigail has started a feud with another girls. I wrote it in the heat of the moment, and I think a celebrity. In November, the blonde penned the lot of people will relate to it.” scathing song ‘You Suck’ which seemed aimed at her ex-boyfriend, 5 Seconds of Summer rocker Michael Clifford, 19. The video - which is posted on her official

Adam Levine wants to have 17 kids with Behati Prinsloo

he Maroon 5 frontman has revealed isn’t planning on making any babies with his plan to have a big family with his Behati, 25, any time soon. Talking to E! TVictoria’s Secret model wife, News, Adam joked: “Yeah, we’re gonna although he noted it won’t be happening do it at some point in the not-so-distant- for some time yet. After discussing the slash-undisclosed-slash-I-really-have-no- subject with his fellow ‘The Voice’ coach idea-big-question-mark future. Is that Gwen Stefani, 45, - who has three sons ambiguous enough for you?” The 35- with her husband Gavin Rossdale, eight- year-old singer is known for his buff year-old Kingston, Zuma, six, and nine- physique but he insisted that having a month-old Apollo - Adam shared: “[I large brood won’t stop him from hitting want] like, 17. Is that reasonable? I love the gym. He quipped: “I’ll make them kids so much though. I love seeing kids work out with me!” on the set too.” However, the ‘Animals’ hitmaker was quick to emphasise how he

Mila Kunis feels ‘blessed’ to be a stay-at-home mum

he ‘Black Swan’ star - who has two- gested that girls are well behaved until month-old Wyatt Isabelle with her they become teenagers, Mila joked back: Tfiance Ashton Kutcher - is considering “That’s not my problem. That’s daddy’s it a “luxury” that she can have time off. She problem! “My sister-in-law had a little boy said: “I think it’s a luxury to be able to [take two weeks prior to us having our little girl time off]. Like I am able to be a stay-at- and it is completely different. Everything.” home mum with my kid and I do find that Meanwhile, Ashton recently shared that nowadays people can’t do that. “Everyone the pair are enjoying bringing up their little has to have a job; you have to have a two girl. He said previously: “We’re really privi- person household. And, so I was able to leged that we have time and can afford to take time off and actually raise my child, take time. So we don’t have a nanny or a which I consider myself blessed.” The 31- night nurse of any of that stuff. It’s just the year-old actress also revealed that Ashton, two of us.” 36, would be dealing with their child once she reached her teenage years. When ‘The Late Late Show’s host Craig Ferguson sug- SATURDAY, DECEMBER 13, 2014

Kris Jenner’s daughters wanted her to have a ‘fling’

he ‘Keeping Up With The Kardashians’ star - who has six chil- dren: Kim Kardashian West, 34, KhloÈ Kardashian, 30, Kourtney TKardashian, 35, Rob Kardashian, 27, Kendall Jenner, 19, and Kylie Jenner, 17 - was encouraged by Kim, Kourtney and her partner, Scott Disick to “hook up” with someone over the summer before she met Corey Gamble. Speaking in an episode of ‘Kourtney & KhloÈ Take the Hamptons’, as obtained by the US ver- sion of OK! magazine, Kourtney said: “I know the per- fect person. He’s coming to cook us up some sex on a platter. “We had an amazing chef when we first got to the Hamptons. He was talented, cute and young and I think my mum might really like him. “Why couldn’t it be a thirty year old if it’s just for a fling?” Kim added: “I will admit, food and a good chef will definitely turn her on.” Meanwhile, Scott, 31, even joked that he should put an advert for her on Craigslist. He said: “Should we put her up on Craigslist? I bet I could get a lot of money for your he 46-year-old actress - whose mum. “I mean, people would mother, Joan Rivers, died after pay. Like Hamptons Tsurgery complications in Craigslist, it’s probably the September this year - wishes her classiest part of Craigslist.” mother was respected whilst she was still alive. Quoting her mother, she wrote: “I’ll never get the respect that I deserve until I’m dead.” Before adding: “It feels s***ty because she was right. It’s sad. It is important for me to carry on my mother’s legacy, in my own unique way. “I would be letting her down if carrying the torch did not become part of my life - but it will not be all of my life.” The ‘Step Up’ actress - who has 14-year-old Edgar with her ex-husband John Endicott - also opened up about not only losing her mother, but her “best friend” too. Writing for The Hollywood Reporter magazine, she explained: “We’ve always been a family that laughed through the tears - even in Kourtney Kardashian the darkest moments, from my father’s death to my divorce. “I was in the ICU making jokes because that’s my coping mechanism. And ‘days away’ from giving birth wants to carry thank God that I have my father’s backbone and my mother’s tenacity he ‘Keeping Up With The Kardashians’ star - who already because I have to figure this out. “I has Mason, four and two-year-old Penelope with partner not only lost my mother, but my TScott Disick - is expecting a baby boy and his arrival is best friend and my parenting part- imminent according to Kourtney’s mother, Kris Jenner. ner. Who’s going to criticise my Speaking on Wednesday, the 59-year-old mum-of-six joked: “I parenting? Who’s going to tell me may be going from here to the hospital. We’re days away.” that what I’m doing is wrong? And KhloÈ, Kourtney’s sister, also revealed that the baby would be who is going to tell me in the next arriving soon. She shared: “[It’s] any minute [now]. “She called breath, ‘You’re doing a great job’? me yesterday, and - I don’t know why - I go, ‘Stop! Are you in “But it’s also a great creative loss - I labour?’ She goes, ‘No, why?’ I go, ‘I don’t know, you’re calling

on her late mother’s legacy was part of a comedy team. When me!’”Kris also joked about baby names, revealing that you heard ‘Joan and Melissa,’ you Kourtney and Scott had picked something out but were not knew what you were getting.” ready to tell everyone just yet. When asked if they had decid- ed yet, Kris joked: “Stuart! No, I’m kidding. I just made that up. “I think she knows and I’m not telling you.” Meanwhile, the tel- evision personality has revealed that her daughter, Kim Kardashian West - who already has 17-month-old North with her husband, Kanye West - is keen to have another child. She told E! News: “I think [Kim] would probably love it, but I think

Melissa Rivers right now we’re just concentrating on little miss Kourtney. Only one grandchild at a time.” SATURDAY, DECEMBER 13, 2014 Harry Styles doesn’t want to ‘sink’ to Taylor Swift’s level

he 20-year-old singer - who is part of his family whilst the band - which also chart-topping boy band One Direction - includes Niall Horan, Louis Tomlinson, Zayn Tis reportedly “laughing off” his ex-girl- Malik and Liam Payne - takes a break from friend’s new-found friendship with another their hectic touring schedule. The source con- one of his exes, Kendall Jenner. A source tinued to HollywoodLife.com: “Harry likes that revealed: “Harry is completely OK if his exes this year is all about family and he doesn’t are talking about him. He thinks it’s funny, have a girlfriend he has to bring everywhere. however, Harry doesn’t think that he should “He wants his next girlfriend to be something be bashed by them. He believes he was a special, but it doesn’t bother him that he’s great boyfriend while with them, but it just single. He likes the fact that he’s single and didn’t work out. “Whether there are songs or doesn’t have to report to anyone. Its refresh- just talks about him, he doesn’t want to grant ing!” it with jealousy and sink to their level. So he’s choosing to laugh it off and not let it get to him.” Meanwhile, the ‘Steal My Girl’ hitmaker is believed to be enjoying spending time with

Khloe Kardashian ‘sneaking Off’ with Lamar Odom he ‘Keeping Up With The Kardashians’ star - who filed for divorce from the professional basketball player last year - is reportedly rethinking Tthe couple’s split. A source shared: “KhloÈ’s not trying to be out and public with it right now because she doesn’t know what she wants to do when it comes to Lamar. “She knows her family would be absolutely livid if they got wind she was sneaking off with Lamar.” Meanwhile, Lamar, 35, has signed the divorce papers to “test” how much the 30-year-old television personality loves him. A source recently revealed: “He brought the divorce papers she filed and was like, ‘Khloe, you want me to sign these. I will. Here you go. Now what, we’re over?” “After that, he laid the papers in her lap and that was when KhloÈ lost it. She could not contain herself at all. She was lost and in tears.” There is a possibility that Khloe will chose not to submit the divorce papers as the whole situation is believed to have made her look at the pair’s relationship again. The source continued to HollywoodLife.com: “But yeah, KhloÈ has those divorce papers. She’s got them. They are in her possession and Lamar’s signature is on them. “She can have them filed offi- cially or tear them up. But she’s got them.”

Carrie Underwood not ready to name her baby he ‘Something in the Water’ hitmaker - while, especially around the holidays. “I like who is expecting a baby boy with Mike to cook, definitely. I love taking naughty food TFisher - has admitted that the couple and making it healthy.” Meanwhile, Carrie haven’t yet settled on a name for their first previously revealed that she feels “pressure” child. She revealed: “We’re just not even to sing well for her baby because he cannot there. We talk about it obviously because escape if her vocals aren’t good. She somebody will say a name or we’ll see a explained: “I feel like he kind of feels ... he name on TV, or whatever, on credits on the hears me singing whether he would like that end of a movie or something. “We’ll start or not. I mean, that’s what I do, he doesn’t throwing things out but it’s difficult. I think have a choice. “I do feel like I have to sing we’ll know when we know. It might even take good all the time. Like, if I’m just in my car meeting the little guy before we actually driving, I feel like I have to make it good decide on something.” The 31-year-old singer because he’s listening. He’s always in there.” also shared details about her pregnancy junk food cravings, insisting that the holidays are to blame. She told E! News: “I feel like every- body ‘falls off the wagon’ every once in a SATURDAY, DECEMBER 13, 2014

Jenny Thibault, 73, admires her Christmas tree, which she ordered online and was shipped Ralph Beaman looks for the family Christmas tree in the White Mountain National Forest in from Mountain Star Farms in New Hampshire to her home in Beverly, Mass. Waterville Valley, N.H. Finding the perfect tree is not easy, but families who cut their trees in the forest by an offer by the US Forest Service for $5 makes the outing a traditional family affair. Christmas tree shopping: Cost vs convenience

ome US consumers are going over the Internet or through be so picky about her Christmas tree that her family refused to two children, now 8 and 5. Sometimes, they make multiple trips the woods to find fresh Christmas trees this year, taking shop with her. But when the nearby farm she liked closed, she before finding a tree. Sadvantage of shopping options at opposite ends of the cost took a chance and ordered a tree from Mountain Star Farms. That “The pros are it’s very inexpensive - it’s $5 - we’re out in the spectrum. was about a decade ago, and she’s been a loyal customer ever woods as a family, and it’s a great activity for the kids to be out- In one camp are thrifty folks paying as little as $5 for trees they since. doors,” said Arpie Beaman. “The cons are we have to scout it out.” harvest themselves from national forests. In the other are con- “I saw their website, and every one of the trees looked awe- Unlike Proulx, who cut a short, young tree, the Beamans set sumers willing to spend significantly more on trees they order some,” she said. “The only thing I couldn’t do was smell it.” Most their sights higher when they ventured into the woods on a online and have shipped to their doors. of the country’s 154 national forests allow visitors to harvest recent Sunday in Waterville Valley. After trekking across a snow- New Hampshire offers both options: the U.S. Forest Service Christmas trees. Permit prices vary by location, as do restrictions covered beaver dam, they scanned the sky for a well-shaped tree- provides permits for cut-your-own Christmas trees in the 800,000- on tree sizes and harvest locations. top. They eventually cut down a roughly 20-foot Balsam then acre White Mountain National Forest, while several of the state’s New Hampshire has sold permits for at least 30 years, and the chopped off the top 9 feet or so to take home. farms ship trees all over the country. program is growing in popularity. Last year’s total - 660 permits - “It may look like a lot of hard work but it’s fun. We get some Chris Proulx, 39, of Conway snagged a tree from the forest the was more than triple the number sold in 2002. Nationally, the for- exercise doing it, and it’s only once a year,” said Ralph Beaman. “I weekend after Thanksgiving and set it up on his porch. On the est service sold nearly 196,000 Christmas trees. think the kids get a lot out of it and, hopefully, they’ll be able to advice of a forest ranger, he and his family trekked about half a Ralph and Arpie Beaman of Thornton used to cut a tree on a pass it on to their kids when they get older.” — AP mile into the woods to a clearing where they hoped to find young friend’s property but switched to the White Mountain National balsam firs, keeping an eye out for “back up” trees along the way. Forest several years ago to start a new family tradition with their Finding a good tree was a challenge, Proulx said. But in the end, it wasn’t about the tree. He compares it to taking his kids fishing in Swift River that runs through the forest in the summer. “You do it not because the best or biggest fish are there. It’s more about the experience. It’s the same thing with these trees. You’re not going to bag a trophy tree,” he said. “The average per- son who comes in might call you a block head and say, ‘Nice job, Charlie Brown, you picked out the perfect tree.’ “But if you know that it’s from the national forest and you know what it took to get it, it looks better to you than it will to everybody else,” Proulx said. The National Christmas Tree Association says US consumers purchased 33 million farm-grown Christmas trees last year. About a third shopped at big box stores, such as Wal-Mart or Home Depot; just over a quarter bought directly from farms, and just under a quarter purchased trees at retail lots. Internet sales accounted for less than 3 percent of total sales, though the association has heard anecdotal evidence that such purchases are increasing. In northern New Hampshire, only about 500 of the roughly 11,000 trees sold by Mountain Star Farms in Haverhill go to online customers, but that number is growing, said manager Ben Hoyt. Customers include busy businesspeople, city dwellers without cars who don’t want to drag a tree home from a retail lot, and for- mer New Englanders living in warmer climates who miss their tra- ditional trees. A 7-foot tree costs about $50, plus another $50 for shipping. The trees are boxed and shipped within a day or two of being cut, said Hoyt. He reserves his very best trees for his online cus- tomers, who are encouraged to make general suggestions about size, shape and fullness when ordering. “Christmas trees are such a personal and traditional thing that it’s really tough for people to relinquish that control over who picks out their Christmas tree for them, so the pressure on me is pretty extreme from time to time,” he said. FedEx driver Zachary Gilding packs fresh cut Christmas trees from Mountain Star Farm in Haverhill, N.H. to be shipped across Jenny Thibault, 73, of Beverly, Massachusetts, said she used to the country. The farm is one of just a few that uses the internet to ship fresh cut Christmas tress. — AP photos SATURDAY, DECEMBER 13, 2014

Trip Tips Reunion - the volcanic jewel of the Indian Ocean

link and you will miss it. On a map, that small dot in the tled in the Cirque of Mafate, is a great way to experience more Back in your car, don’t forget to stop to catch a view of the Riviere Indian Ocean between Madagascar and Mauritius is the rugged tourism. From Marla, the trekker can head to Trois Roches, des Remparts on the way. Head down to Cap Mechant, another Bisland of Reunion, created by the eruptions of a now dor- a stunning place to have a break and lunch. Don’t worry about beauty spot but also the name of a terrific restaurant in Saint mant volcano. This French overseas department is one of France’s being disturbed by noise. Mafate can only be accessed by foot or Philippe. The fresh palm heart salad is a delight, followed by “cari best kept secrets but for those willing to make the 10 1/2-hour air. There are no roads. poulet”, a chicken curry which comes with a spicy “rougail tomate” flight from Paris and happy not to just sit on a gorgeous beach, it Reunion’s third Cirque, Salazie, has its own character. Situated sauce and peas. For the afternoon siesta, head to the various offers rugged scenery, an occasional eruption from an active vol- to the east, it has set world records for rainfalls and is resplendent beaches. La Saline, plage de l’Hermitage, is a tranquil place to hang cano and memorable and distinctive cuisine. with lush vegetation. Going via the village of Hell Bourg, having out after any long walk. For the “aperitif”, feast on fried “bonbons- The date of the island’s discovery is a matter of conjecture. It stopped off at the Voile de la Mariee waterfall on the way, head for piments”, fried finger food made of dried peas, chilis, onions and wasn’t until 1663 that Reunion was permanently inhabited, with the forest of Belouve. While you could cheat and drive up to the spices. the population now reaching almost 900,000. The island is a melt- gate of Belouve, a walk through the forest is beautiful and reward- Also available are samosas and “bouchons”, Reunion’s version ing pot of culture and colours with many inhabitants descended ing. Once there, head for the Trou de Fer, or Iron Hole, which is of Chinese dumplings, as well “sarcives”, which is pork marinated in from Africans, Chinese, Indians and French. This in turn produces some 300 m (900 ft) deep and sometimes called “the Everest” of soy sauce, honey and the anise liqueur pastis. Follow this with chop some amazing cuisine, of which more below, that should not be canyons. suey or a “chouchou gratin”, a baked dish made with the gourd missed. But to build up an appetite for those taste sensations, called chayote or mirliton in English. If you have room, finish off Reunion offers some great treks. The volcano created three Across the land with a “bonbon-cravate”, a sweet fried dough in the shape of a “Cirques” - Mafate, Salazie and Cilaos, often described as natural For visitors seeking more sedate outings, a good way to see bow-tie, or a rolled, cream-filled “chemin de fer” cake. If you have amphitheatres - that surround the Piton des Neiges, the island’s much of the island is to drive from Saint-Denis to the Piton de la time, stay a night near the Observatory of Makes. The absence of highest peak. Walking or biking through the Cirques yields up Fournaise, Reunion’s active volcano, via the lush Plaine des light pollution makes Reunion one of the most breathtaking places some amazing views of the island, the sky and the countryside. The Palmistes and the dry and dusty Plaine des Sables, which looks like in the world to watch stars. There are so many, it seems like they Col du Taibit that straddles the Cirques of Mafate and Cialos is the something from a dystopian movie. have been painted on the dome of the universe. — Reuters ideal place to get a panoramic view of the two. Go for the sun rise, but wrap up as temperatures can plummet to minus territory. The climb to the top of the Piton can be haz- Get walking ardous but going to Formica Leo, a small volcanic cone at the bot- For sportier types, an overnight stay in the village of Marla, nes- tom of the Pas de Bellecombe, will feel like an achievement in itself. SATURDAY, DECEMBER 13, 2014 Art with a bang Portugal’s VHILS blasts through barriers ortuguese artist Alexandre Farto, known by the tag name dilapidated facades, abandoned warehouses and 1970s revolu- ers back to the surface.” VHILS from his graffiti days, literally shakes the foundations tionary murals now covered with layers of advertising and graffiti, The technique, which involves powder charges ranging from Pwhen he explodes powder charges inserted into stucco that inspired VHILS to swap the spray can for carving tools around 0.5 to 2 grams inserted into holes of varying depth drilled in facades, or drills and carves into bricks and concrete with power 2004 and later add explosives to his arsenal. cement and covered with stucco, took a year to develop. Faces he tools. As dust settles, stunningly lifelike pictures of rugged faces “I was always interested in those places that expose a bit of the portrays are of common folk “who just struggle to survive”. are revealed. Their vivid, deep eyes stare at passersby from walls city’s fragility, show that everything is ephemeral,” VHILS told “The idea is to make visible those who are practically invisible in Sydney and Shanghai, Moscow and London, Rio de Janeiro and Reuters in his Lisbon studio, once a garage. in the city, humanise public spaces,” he said. Honolulu, and many places in between. Taking his art to a museum meant overcoming a barrier The 27-year-old’s fame has recently outgrown the boundaries Exposing the entrails between street art and fine art. But he said “this separation, which of street art, with his first large personal exhibition hitting the His art is often described as destructive, but he considers it no is limiting to artists, will disappear... there’ll be more dialogue” museum circuit earlier this year. Just this week he launched a more destructive than poetry is to a clean sheet of paper. thanks to the rich visual content available to the new generation video crafted for the Irish band U2. Many of his more indoor-style works are made of layers of old via the Internet, even if they are not arts students. The video “Raised by Wolves”, filmed in slow motion to cap- posters, paint and plaster scraped off walls. “Digging into those Having staged his first museum exhibition this year at Lisbon’s ture VHILS’s explosive creations in the suburbs of Lisbon where layers, you expose the entrails of the city ... Walls reflected the EDP, VHILS is in talks to show his work abroad. But he says “the he was born, is part of the Films of Innocence project, “a visionary changes that were happening.” He says the 2010 financial crisis in street is still the biggest museum in the world”. — Reuters collection of 11 films by the world’s most vital urban visual Portugal and southern Europe, reminiscent of the pre-European artists”, according to U2’s website (http://www.u2.com). Union era, gave him the idea to use explosives: “Sometimes a It was Lisbon and its suburbs, with the decadent charm of spark is needed. Explosions show the historic cycle, bring old lay-

People watch a movie at a cinema in a shopping mall on the outskirts of Moscow, Russia. It’s the first movie theater in Russia which has beds instead of seats and its 15 beds are fully booked through its limited period until Dec 14. — AP Movie slumber party: Beds replace theater seats furniture store has taken over a Moscow cinema, allow- According to documents seen by Australian media, ID is ing theatergoers to enjoy what more closely resembles owned by Sun Xishuang a Chinese businessman with a per- Aan enormous slumber party than an afternoon at the sonal net worth of $1.3 billion. movies. This week the Swedish furniture giant IKEA replaced a Sun, who is chairman of property developer Dalian Yifang movie theater’s seats with beds in its Russian “Awake Love” Group, has close ties to Wanda, which is China’s biggest cine- campaign. The switchover took place in the Moscow suburb of ma operator and is also controlling shareholder in AMC Khimki, not far from a branch of the store beloved by many Theaters. Yifang and Wanda have previously collaborated on Russians. The campaign, which lasts until Dec. 14, is modeled several property and tourism projects. after a similar event in 2010 at a Paris music hall. Sun is understood to own a 6.3% stake in Dalian Wanda Meanwhile, a Chinese investor, and associate of Dalian Commercial Properties and a 4.2% stake in Wanda Cinema Wanda, is the front runner to buy Australian cinema chain Line, Wanda’s exhibition circuit which recently received Hoyts. approval for its own IPO. — Agencies Hoyts, which is currently owned by Pacific Equity Partners, had planned an $800-$900 million initial public offering but cancelled that last month. PEP has since revealed that it is in talks with private company ID Leisure International Capital. SATURDAY, DECEMBER 13, 2014

Miss World showdown in London in shadow of murder eauty queens from across the globe have descended on London for Sunday’s Miss World 2014 final, a com- Bpetition rocked by the murder of Miss Honduras. Some 121 contestants from Albania to Zimbabwe are tak- ing part in the pageant, but there will be no representative from Honduras following the fatal shooting of finalist Maria Jose Alvarado. The bodies of the 19-year-old national title-holder and her 23-year-old sister Sofia Trinidad were found buried on a remote riverbank near the northwestern city of Santa Barbara on the day Maria Jose was due to fly to London. Tears were shed when the Miss World contestants attend- ed a special remembrance service in London. They held candles and said prayers in their own lan- guages in front of a framed photograph of Alvarado. “We are devastated by this terrible loss of two young women, who were so full of life,” said Miss World chair- woman Julia Morley. The new Miss World will travel to crime- plagued Honduras to build a school in their hometown that will be named in their honour, the contest’s organisers (L-R) Dick Clark Productions’executive producer Barry Adelman, Miss Golden Globe Greer Grammer, actress Kate Beckinsale, announced. Police in Honduras accuse Sofia’s boyfriend of actor Jeremy Piven, actress Paula Patton, actor Peter Krause and Hollywood Foreign Press Association president Theo Kingma shooting the sisters in a fit of jealousy after seeing Sofia attend the 2015 Golden Globe Awards nominations announcement, on Thursday at the Beverly Hilton Hotel, in Beverly Hills, dancing with another man at a party. Three other people California. — AFP have appeared in court alongside him for allegedly helping him bury the bodies.

Oxford University challenge Female showrunners dominate The contestants arrived in London on November 20 for the 64th annual final, being held at the Excel exhibition cen- tre. The remembrance service was part of a series of events in Golden Globes’ TV comedy race the run-up to the televised extravaganza. here are many different firsts in this year’s Golden Globe nomina- with a particularly feminist slant on relationships, careers and growing The contenders visited prestigious Oxford University to tions, but among the most remarkable is one of the quietest: a up. “Orange” deliciously bobs and weaves between diverse storylines address the Oxford Union debating hall-where some of the subtle sea change in the best TV comedy series field. spotlighting characters of multiple races, sexual orientations, gender world’s finest minds have honed their ideas. T Not only are four of the five contenders first time nominees (sec- identities and economic backgrounds. “Jane” could qualify as US net- “Miss World is not a celebrity; she is an ambassador,” Miss ond season “Orange Is the New Black” was entered as a drama last year work television’s first bilingual weekly series and is built around a feisty United States Elizabeth Safrit told students. and missed the field), but four of the five are overseen by female heroine who not only insists on making her own reproductive deci- “She tells women all around the world that it’s OK to have showrunners. In addition to Jenji Kohan’s “Orange” from Netflix, this sions but also maintains her virginity without seeming like a prude. an opinion. She makes changes happen. She identifies prob- morning’s announcement also brought a third consecutive series nom And “Transparent” is positively earth-shattering in its thoughtful depic- lems and she finds solutions.” Students threw questions at for HBO’s “Girls” (overseen by Jenni Konner and star Lena Dunham) tion of the trans experience (as seen through the eyes of a seven- them, including if they thought there could be such a com- and recognition for critically praised freshmen “Transparent” (created tysomething protagonist-another ultra-rare choice in youth-obsessed petition with no beauty element at all. by Jill Soloway and available on Amazon Instant Video) and The CW’s US entertainment). “Some of us run very fast, some of us speak very well, “Jane the Virgin” (run by Jennie Urman). Only HBO’s “Silicon Valley” is “These are all totally different shows,” says Urman. “They all have some of us have received the gift of outer beauty that’s the literal odd man out. something to say too in comedy, which I really love. When I was start- being emphasised by inner beauty,” replied Miss South Africa “I love hearing people say, ‘I don’t think women are funny,’” says ing out there weren’t a lot of women in these positions. To see so Rolene Strauss. British bookmakers Ladbrokes have the 22- “Jane the Virgin” leading lady and first-time nominee Gina Rodriguez. many women in the category is awesome to me.” year-old medical student as their 2/1 hot favourite, followed “Well, clearly that’s not true! It’s nice for the world to be seeing that. I Meanwhile, the drama race can’t boast quite the same stats when it by Miss England and Miss India at 7/1, Miss Australia at 8/1 know personally, having an amazing and brilliant female showrunner comes to honoring femmes, though it does include Showtime’s “The and Miss Russia at 10/1. is so empowering and encouraging. Women are here and are making Affair” (co-created and overseen by Sarah Treem) and CBS’ “The Good “It’s always one of the hardest events to come up with an impact. Here’s the proof.” Wife,” run by married couple Robert and Michelle King. Other female- odds for,” Ladbrokes spokesman Alex Donohue told AFP. “It’s literally all my favorite shows on television,” says Dunham of run dramas that missed the cut include Showtime’s “Masters of Sex” “Fans think Miss South Africa ticks all the boxes and she the mix. “Something that’s so cool about the Hollywood Foreign Press and ABC’s “Scandal.”—Reuters has been the most popular bet to win, but Miss France at is that they recognize new and groundbreaking and forward-thinking 14/1 shouldn’t be discounted at all and she looks like a good programming.” That’s certainly true of this year’s line-up. “Girls” contin- outside bet to be crowned.” ues to explore the lives of twentysomething singles in the Big Apple Venezuela tops the all-time leader board with six titles, ahead of India and the United Kingdom on five titles each.

‘Beauty with a purpose’ While beauty has always been at the heart of the event, brains, skills and commitment to good causes also play a role. Contestants have to present their “Beauty With a Purpose” projects to the judges. Miss Serbia has been coaching a disabled volleyball team, while Miss India founded an organisation which teaches slum children the importance of washing their hands. Miss Bolivia has been helping to improve the lives of chil- dren living in prison with their jailed parents, bringing them books, other learning materials and even puppies to help them learn how to care for another living thing. The contestants have already been put through their paces on the fitness front, with Miss Finland coming out on top of a test that included a tug of war. Last year’s final was won by Miss Philippines Megan Young. It was held in Bali in Indonesia after switching from the capital Jakarta following protests by Muslim hardliners. Miss World began in 1951, a year before its chief rival Miss Universe. Former Miss World contestants include Oscar-win- ning US actress Halle Berry, a 1986 finalist, and 1994 winner Aishwarya Rai, the Indian movie star. Twelve have appeared in James Bond films. — AFP Hollywood Foreign Press Association president Theo Kingma (C) speaks at the 2015 Golden Globe Awards nominations announcement, at the Beverly Hilton Hotel, in Beverly Hills, California. From left are Miss Golden Globe Greer Grammer, Dick Clark Productions’ executive producer Barry Adelman , Kingma, actress Kate Beckinsale and actor Jeremy Piven. — AFP SATURDAY, DECEMBER 13, 2014

MOROCCO : Guest, Ena Koshino, Akuya Misawa and Kiki Sugino arrive on the red carpet for the Tribute to Japanese Cinema during the 14th Marrakech International Film Festival in Marrakech . — AFP photos Marrakesh film festival swings the spotlight on Japan

he 14th Marrakesh Film Festival in Morocco is paying trib- added the director and university professor who said he encour- ute to Japan by showcasing a retrospective of 27 movies at ages his students not to stick to “dogma” but to explore new Tan event traditionally dominated by Arab, French or methods. “They should not feel that they must produce an artis- American cinema. “Along with American, French and Italian cin- tic or a commercial film. They should explore intermediary ema, Japanese cinema is among the four that have established a tracks,” he said. Over the years, Japanese productions have cinematographic language,” festival director Bruno Barde said. earned major awards around the globe, and several have been “It is maybe even the biggest,” he added at the onset of the nominated for prestigious Academy Awards in the foreign lan- nine-day festival that wraps on Sunday. Takuya Misawa’s debut guage film category. feature “Chigasaki Story”, a romantic comedy, is among 15 films vying for the top prize to be decided by a jury headed by French World cinema influence actress Isabelle Huppert. A large Japanese delegation, led by Yojiro Takita’s “Departures” won the Oscar in 2009, and in the director Hirokazu Koreeda, has travelled to Marrakesh, and many early 1950s three Japanese movies won the Academy’s among them have expressed pride and also surprise that they Honorary Award, including Akira Kurosawa’s “Rashomon” in were being honoured. “This year, they paid tribute to Japanese 1952. cinema — 27 Japanese films have been shown here. I think it is Japan’s film industry was born in 1912 when several produc- really impressive,” said film-maker Hideo Nakata, who directed tion companies and theatre chains merged and set up the coun- the 1998 cult horror film “Ring”.Director Kiyoshi Kurosawa, who try’s first major film studio, the Nikkatsu Corporation. was honoured four years ago at Marrakesh with a personal trib- Marrakesh festival director Barde said Nikkatsu’s influence ute because of his work, remembers being told in 2010 that the helped world cinema to develop, despite later developing a self- festival planned to pay homage to Japanese film. destructive tendency. “The recent evolution of Japanese cinema is characterised by ‘Just being polite?’ this notion of fragility,” he said, citing influences on a country “I thought they were just being polite,” he added with a ravaged by two atomic bombs and the awesome power of smile. nature in the form of devastating tsunamis and earthquakes. Japanese films listed in the retrospective included Mikio In addition to honouring Japanese cinema, the Marrakesh Naruse’s 1955 black-and-white “Floating Clouds” and Naomi festival this year also paid tribute to industry stalwarts including Kawase’s 2014 release “Still the Water”. Japanese animation award-winning British actor Jeremy Irons and US star Viggo films, which have won the country kudos around the world, are Mortensen. also being showcased. Among them is manga artist Hayao At the launch of the event, a lifetime achievement award was Miyazaki’s 2001 fantasy movie “Spirited Away”, his greatest com- presented to Egyptian actor and comedian Adel Imam, who has mercial success. been in more than 100 films and is a goodwill ambassador for The tribute to Japanese cinematography comes at a time the United Nations refugee agency UNHCR. — AFP when its industry is facing a box office crisis and struggling to win the trust of the West. “In the past, Japanese cinema generat- MOROCCO : Sarah Barzyk arrives on the red carpet for the ed revenue,” said Kurosawa. “Today, this is no longer the case,” Tribute to Japanese Cinema during the 14th Marrakech International Film Festival in Marrakech . TECHNOLOGY SATURDAY, DECEMBER 13, 2014

High-speed Internet on its way to more schools

WASHINGTON: The Federal Communications Commission agreed Thursday to dramatically boost spending to bring high-speed Internet access to schools and libraries in poor or rural areas, a move that would likely increase Americans’ phone bills by about $2 a year. Educators hailed the 60 percent jump in spending to $3.9 billion as critical to making sure much of the nation’s population doesn’t get left behind, particularly as other countries invest heavily in broadband connec- tions. FCC Chairman Tom Wheeler said he estimates that two-thirds of American schools still don’t have access to high-speed connections, which can affect a child’s ability to do homework, research college scholarships and acquire basic job skills. “We are talking about a moral issue,” said Wheeler. “The greatest responsibility - the greatest moral respon- sibility - that any generation has is the preparation of the next generation,” and “16 cents a month is a small price to pay for that great responsibility that we all have.” The FCC’s E-Rate program provides discounted telecommunications and Internet access to qualifying schools and libraries. The program is paid for through a High Voltage of 2015: Kaspersky larger “universal service fund.” Service providers are required to contribute to that fund, but the cost is often passed on to consumers as a required monthly fee. Lab’s short-range predictions E-Rate spending had been capped at $2.4 billion a year, but the FCC says demand is much higher. In 2013, DUBAI: Cyber criminals are growing in confidence: before they ed attacks directly against banks. Once attackers get into a the regulatory agency said it received $4.9 billion in E- tended to attack users of banking services, seeing them as the bank’s network, they siphon enough information to allow them Rate requests from local communities. The latest vote weak link in the security chain, but next year Kaspersky Lab to steal money directly from the bank in several ways: increases spending by $1.5 billion for a total of $3.9 bil- experts anticipate high-stakes targeted cyber-attacks pinpoint- • Remotely commanding ATMs to dispose cash. lion a year. ing the banks themselves. And the fraudsters won’t stop here; • Performing SWIFT transfers from various customers The FCC’s two Republican commissioners voted we expect they will go for broke and try to develop new mal- accounts, against the plan because they said businesses, which ware that can take cash directly from ATMs. In addition to finan- • Manipulating online banking systems to perform transfers in often pay for employee phones, would bear the brunt of cial cybercrime, 2015 is also likely to bring even more privacy the background. the added cost. FCC Commissioner Ajit Pai said he concerns, security worries about Apple devices and renewed believes the program is plagued by waste that could be fears about connected devices to prevent hackers using tools ATMs are vulnerable fixed with fiscal reform. like network printers to penetrate corporate networks. Attacks against cash machines (ATM) seemed to explode this “The commission shies away from making any hard “Predictions” is the first of four parts of the Kaspersky year with several public incidents and a rush by law enforce- choices and instead just pours more money into a bro- Security Bulletin 2014. ment authorities globally to respond to this crisis. As most of ken system,” Pai said. these systems are running Windows XP and also suffer from frail The Obama administration endorsed the plan when Next year’s insights: what to expect physical security, they are incredibly vulnerable by default. “In Wheeler discussed the details last month. Education • Attacks against virtual payment systems, which could be 2015, we expect to see further evolution of these ATM attacks Secretary Arne Duncan called Thursday’s vote “a huge extended to the new Apple Pay with the use of targeted malicious techniques to gain access to step forward” in the administration’s program to expand • Attacks against ATMs the “brain” of cash machines. The next stage will see attackers digital learning resources in schools. • Malware incidents where banks are breached using methods compromising the networks of banks and using that level of Education advocates have long called for the FCC to coming directly from the targeted cyber-attack playbook access to manipulate ATM machines in real time”, comments authorize more E-Rate spending so that local govern- • More Internet-bleeding stories: dangerous vulnerabilities Alexander Gostev, Chief Security Expert at Global Research and ments could plan ahead for costly installations or appearing in old code, exposing the Internet infrastructure Analysis Team, Kaspersky Lab. upgrades. Bob Wise, president of the Alliance for to menacing attacks. Excellent Education and former governor of West • In-the-wild attacks against networked printers and other Attacks against virtual payment systems Virginia, said the vote was the “best holiday gift possi- connected devices that can help an advanced attacker to Kaspersky Lab Global Research and Analysis Team expect ble” for educators. maintain persistence and lateral movement within a corpo- criminals to leap at every opportunity to exploit payment sys- “Access to the Internet is as important to learning rate network. tems. These fears can also be extended to the new Apple Pay, today as traditional textbooks were fifty years ago,” said • Malicious software designed for OSX being pushed via tor- which uses NFC (Near Field Communications) to handle wireless Wise. “With increased funding for high-speed Internet rents and pirated software packages consumer transactions. This is a ripe market for security connections, U.S. teachers and students will spend more • A shift where the bigger, noisy cyber-threat actors splinter research and we expect to the appearance of vulnerability warn- classroom time teaching and learning rather than wait- into smaller units, operating independently of each other. ings about weaknesses in Apple Pay, virtual wallets and other ing for webpages and videos to load.” — AP This in turn will result in a more widespread attack base with virtual payment systems. more diverse attacks coming from more sources. “The enthusiasm over the new Apple Pay is going to drive adoption through the roof and that will inevitably attract many Vabanque: a groundbreaking change cybercriminals looking to reap the rewards of these transac- During a recent investigation, Kaspersky Lab’s experts dis- tions. Apple’s design possesses and increased focus on security covered an attack in which an accountant’s computer was com- (like virtualized transaction data) but we’ll be very curious to see promised and used to initiate a large transfer with a financial how hackers will exploit the features of this implementation”, institution. It represented the emergence of a new trend: target- added Gostev.

PS4 China sales to begin Jan 11

SHANGHAI: Sony Corp will sell its PlayStation 4 in China Microsoft Corp launched its Xbox in China in September. for 2,899 yuan ($468) starting from January 11, a company China may be a tough market to crack with strict cen- executive said on Thursday. sorship blocking many popular games. Gaming consoles WASHINGTON: In this October 8, 2014 file photo, This marks PlayStation’s official entry into China, the were banned until January this year, meaning PC and Federal Communications Commission (FCC) Chairman world’s third-largest gaming market, after Beijing lifted a mobile games dominate the Chinese market, where gam- Tom Wheeler speaks in Washington. — AP 14-year ban on foreign gaming consoles earlier this year. ing revenues hit $14 billion last year. — Reuters TECHNOLOGY SATURDAY, DECEMBER 13, 2014

Governments increase Internet censorship, surveillance

LONDON: The inventor of the Worldwide Web said on from 32 percent in 2013. “It’s time to recognize the freedom and openness, relevant content and social, Thursday access to the internet should be regarded as a Internet as a basic human right,” he said in a statement. economic and political empowerment. Media basic human right and criticized growing censorship by “That means guaranteeing affordable access for all, reports based on previously top secret documents governments and commercial manipulation. ensuring Internet packets are delivered without com- stolen by former National Security Agency contractor The World Wide Web Foundation created by Tim mercial or political discrimination, and protecting the Edward Snowden, a US citizen now living in Moscow, Berners-Lee said some 38 percent of states denied free privacy and freedom of Web users regardless of where laid bare the extent of US and British surveillance, internet use to citizens. they live.” including demands spies made to telephone and Laws preventing bulk mass surveillance were weak The countries that scored lowest in allowing peo- technology companies. or non-existent in more than 84 percent of countries, ple to benefit from the Internet were Yemen, Concerns have also been raised by some about up from 63 percent in 2013, it said. Moderate or exten- Myanmar and Ethiopia, while Denmark, Finland and monitoring of browsing patterns or manipulation by sive censorship was seen in 38 percent of countries, up Norway topped the rankings, which score access, commercial organizations. — Reuters

Ford reboots Gangnam becomes hot touch-screen system with spot for Korean startups new Sync 3 SEOUL: The uber-trendy Seoul neighborhood made famous by the He said being located in Gangnam helps hiring for little-known start- “Gangnam Style” K-pop hit is known for status-conscious people, plastic ups. Public transportation is among the most convenient in Seoul and surgery clinics and Ivy League prep schools. Now it’s making a name as a there are many hangout places like restaurants and clubs for after work DETROIT: Ford Motor Co hopes to get a fresh bustling center for tech startups. hours. start and erase bad memories for some owners Many young South Koreans, some educated overseas, are going to Gangnam’s startup boom reflects a shifting perception on risk taking in when it launches the new version of its in-car, Gangnam to start mobile or Internet businesses. Venture capitalists from South Korea, where the economy is dominated by big family-owned busi- interactive touch-screen system next fall. Silicon Valley and Japan are opening offices in the area to find promising ness groups. Ford said Sync 3 will be more intuitive, Korean services or apps to bet their money on. Hardly a day passes in Even just a few years ago, the word “startup” was unknown outside the sport improved voice-recognition software Gangnam without a meeting or event related to startup businesses. tech circles. That has changed as a growing number of South Korean start- and operate more like a smartphone than the As one of the most wired places on earth, Seoul has been a crucible for up entrepreneurs generate success stories of going public, selling their first two generations, the last of which prompt- several startup scenes. The government is even aiming to make a town companies or winning big investments. Last month, a Goldman Sachs-led ed customer complaints in Consumer Reports south of Seoul a Korean Silicon Valley. But it is in the 40 square kilometers consortium announced a $36 million investment in Woowa Brothers Corp., magazine for being distracting, clumsy and of land south of the Han river where the growth of Internet and mobile operator of a food-delivery app located in broader Gangnam. overly complex. startups has been most evident and the related culture most vivid. South Korea’s government is putting more taxpayer money behind Chief Technology Officer Raj Nair said Ford Despite its reputation as a beacon for the shallow and status-obsessed, young and risky entrepreneurs, not limited to Gangnam startups. The gov- put a lot of effort into finding out what cus- Gangnam has a special significance in South Korea as the place where a ernment plans to use a $181 million budget next year to make angel tomers wanted, including drawing on 22,000 globalized youth culture emerged from a generation that had opportuni- investments in early stage startups. consumer comments. ties to travel and study abroad. The present day Gangnam is still seen as Still missing in South Korea’s startup boom are big companies like Citing smartphone ownership of about 80 the place that brings foreign culture and ideas to the rest of the country. Google, Facebook and Yahoo that snap up local startups. percent by Ford customers, Nair said Sync 3 “Gangnam has the best of the New York city and Silicon Valley,” said Samsung, LG, SK and other South Korean conglomerates tend to over- will “perform more like today’s smartphones Steven Baek, a marketing director at FuturePlay, an incubator for startups. look local startups and believe paying big money to buy a startup is an and tablets but with specific details to make it Silicon Valley is “tech-centric, with a lot of nerdy and geeky people but admission of failure, said Flitto’s Lee. appropriate for travel.” It will also “seamlessly it doesn’t have much diversity,” he said. “Gangnam’s benefit is diversity. “Big companies do almost no M&As. They don’t want to admit they are integrate” with Apple Inc’s Siri virtual-assistant New York has lots of fun clubs and rich consumer-based culture like inferior to startups,” he said. — AP capability for iPhone users. Gangnam but it doesn’t have many engineers.” Getting connectivity right is important for Another common reason for startups going to Gangnam is that every- all automakers at a time when problems with one else is there, which makes networking effortless. infotainment systems are often the biggest Near Gangnam’s Teheran-ro boulevard, many Gangnam startups, ven- complaint about new vehicles, according to an ture capitalists and startup incubators have opened offices in the past annual quality survey released in October by year, with more arriving in coming months. All three major media compa- Consumer Reports. nies dedicated to covering startup stories are there too. Ford performed poorly in Consumer Around 2000, South Korea’s first wave of Internet companies dotted Reports’ survey just a few years ago because of this 4-kilometer-long street. After the dot.com bubble burst, most of the the Sync with MyFord Touch system. However, big Internet portals and online game firms that survived moved to the the complaints dropped significantly this year. south of Seoul, but left a legacy. Engineers and developers live near or in Ford said it has turned the corner on cus- Gangnam and older entrepreneurs from the dot.com era became angel tomer satisfaction on the current version of investors and startup mentors such as FuturePlay’s CEO Ryu Jung-hee. Sync, which was initially panned but is now Recent openings of two spaces for startups accelerated the startup receiving high marks from customers. Sync boom and revived the Internet scene on Teheran-ro. was introduced in January 2007. D.Camp opened in 2013 and Maru180 earlier this year a few blocks Nair said Sync 3 was the most heavily from Teheran-ro to rent cheap spaces to startup companies and investors. researched program in Ford’s history. The new These Silicon Valley-style communal work spaces regularly host meet-ups. version was developed over 18 months, and Maru even has showers and bunk beds. The spaces are designed to enable includes a simplified layout, larger fonts and serendipitous, accidental meetings in communal areas. bigger finger touch zones. The development Next year, Google is opening its first campus in Asia in Gangnam, giv- budget was undisclosed. ing mentorship and offering spaces for entrepreneurs to hang out. South IHS Automotive analyst Mark Boyadjis said Korean Internet giant Naver is also opening a startup accelerator center in the current MyFord Touch system still carries Gangnam early 2015. the stigma of early consumer complaints and For 35-year-old Johnny Oh, who grew up in a fishing town, Gangnam added that Ford was smart to drop the name was a foreign world that filled him with envy and insecurity. for upcoming models. Calling Sync 3 a likely Encouraged by rich cousins from Gangnam, he moved to the area a success, he said it will help that bad history decade ago and ran businesses dealing with Gangnam’s well-heeled resi- fade. The third generation of Ford’s connectivi- dents, hung out in Gangnam clubs and made Gangnam friends. ty system will begin to appear in new cars and When he quit a big telecom firm this summer to start a Cloud-based trucks in North America next fall for model year video editing app to challenge YouTube and Vine, setting up an office in 2016 and be available across its North Gangnam was a no brainer. American lineup by the end of 2016 for the “They are consumers with far-reaching influence,” he said. 2017 model year. Pricing will be similar on Many mobile apps and services that are developed in Gangnam are not Sync 3 to the current version, which costs just just looking within South Korea. under $1,000. Ford will offer the new system in Simon Lee, a 32-year-old entrepreneur, said his company’s namesake Europe and Asia, but has not announced the translation app Flitto, which uses volunteers to do translations within min- SEOUL: In this Thursday, November 20, 2014 photo, Maverick CEO timing. — Reuters utes, is taking on Google Translate. His two-year-old startup is planning Johnny Oh speaks during an interview at his office at the Gangnam expansion in China next year. district in Seoul, South Korea. — AP TV listings SATURDAY, DECEMBER 13, 2014

04:50 Chopped 23:25 All You Can Meat 18:20 Paddock To Plate 18:00 America The Wild 05:40 All You Can Meat 23:50 Pizza Cuz 19:10 Coronation Street 19:00 Mega Factories 06:05 Roadtrip With G. Garvin 19:35 Tales From Northumberland 20:00 Engineering Connections 06:30 Reza’s African Kitchen With Robson Green 21:00 Animal Mega Moves 06:50 Siba’s Table 20:30 I’m A Celebrity Get Me Out Of 22:00 America The Wild 00:20 American Guns 07:10 Sweet Genius Here! 23:00 Great Migrations 00:00 Necessary Roughness 01:10 The Fighters 08:00 Roadtrip With G. Garvin 21:50 Tales From Northumberland 01:00 Good Morning America 02:00 Fast N’ Loud 08:25 Roadtrip With G. Garvin With Robson Green 03:00 The Client List 02:50 Storage Hunters 08:50 Guy’s Big Bite 22:20 Coronation Street 04:00 Strike Back 03:15 Game Of Pawns 00:40 Ade In Britain 09:15 Chopped 22:50 Emmerdale 05:00 Good Morning America 03:40 Storage Wars Canada 01:30 Brendan’s Magical Mystery Tour 10:05 Barefoot Contessa - Back To 23:45 The Jonathan Ross Show 07:00 Emmerdale 04:05 How It’s Made 02:00 Emmerdale Basics 08:00 The Ellen DeGeneres Show 04:30 How It’s Made 02:55 Coronation Street 10:30 Chopped Canada 00:30 The Daily Show With Jon 09:00 24 05:00 Treehouse Masters 03:50 I’m A Celebrity Get Me Out Of 11:20 Recipes That Rock Stewart 10:00 Emmerdale 06:00 Wheeler Dealers Here! 11:45 Chopped SA 01:00 The Colbert Report 11:00 The Ellen DeGeneres Show 06:50 Extreme Fishing 05:15 May The Best House Win Abroad 12:35 Grandma’s Secret Cookbook 01:30 Louie 12:00 Castle 07:40 Fast N’ Loud 06:10 Paddock To Plate 13:00 Chopped 02:00 It’s Always Sunny In 13:00 Necessary Roughness 08:30 Storage Hunters 07:05 Brendan’s Magical Mystery Tour 13:50 Siba’s Table Philadelphia 14:00 24 08:55 Game Of Pawns 07:30 I’m A Celebrity Get Me Out Of 00:00 Adventure Wanted 14:15 Jenny Morris Cooks Morocco 02:30 Hello Ladies 15:00 Live Good Morning America 09:20 Storage Wars Canada Here! 01:00 Jurassic C.S.I. 14:40 Sandwich King 03:00 The Neighbors 17:00 Castle 09:45 How It’s Made 08:50 Tales From Northumberland 02:00 Helicopter Wars 15:05 Chopped Canada 03:30 Last Man Standing 18:00 Necessary Roughness 10:10 How It’s Made With Robson Green 03:00 Situation Critical 15:55 Roadtrip With G. Garvin 04:00 Back In The Game 19:00 24 10:35 Airplane Repo 09:20 The Jonathan Ross Show 04:00 Megastructures 16:20 Guy’s Big Bite 04:30 The Tonight Show Starring 20:00 Castle 11:25 American Guns 10:15 May The Best House Win Abroad 05:00 Knights Of Mayhem 16:45 Chopped SA 21:00 Necessary Roughness 12:15 Surviving The Cut 11:10 Emmerdale 06:00 Hard Time Jimmy Fallon 17:35 Chopped 22:00 The Client List 13:05 Storage Hunters 12:00 Coronation Street 07:00 America The Wild 05:30 Better Off Ted 18:25 Jenny Morris Cooks Morocco 23:00 Strike Back 13:30 Game Of Pawns 12:30 Ade In Britain 08:00 Adventure Wanted 06:00 Til Death 18:50 Diners, Drive-Ins & Dives 13:55 Storage Wars Canada 13:25 Paddock To Plate 09:00 Jurassic C.S.I. 06:30 My Name Is Earl 19:15 Diners, Drive-Ins & Dives 14:20 Extreme Fishing 14:20 Brendan’s Magical Mystery Tour 10:00 Helicopter Wars 07:00 Late Night With Seth Meyers 19:40 Siba’s Table 15:10 Wheeler Dealers 14:45 May The Best House Win Abroad 11:00 Great Migrations 08:00 Back In The Game 20:05 Grandma’s Secret Cookbook 12:00 Battleground Brothers 16:00 Fast N’ Loud 15:35 Tales From Northumberland 08:30 Better Off Ted 00:00 Stolen 20:30 Sandwich King 13:00 Armageddon Outfitters 16:50 How It’s Made With Robson Green 09:00 The Neighbors 02:00 The Howling: Reborn 20:55 Roadtrip With G. Garvin 14:00 Crash Science 17:15 How It’s Made 16:30 I’m A Celebrity Get Me Out Of 09:30 Mystery Girls 04:00 Beneath 21:20 Chopped Canada 15:00 Mega Factories 17:40 Treehouse Masters Here! 10:00 New Girl 06:00 Stolen 22:10 Chopped SA 16:00 Engineering Connections 18:30 Fast N’ Loud 18:00 Tales From Northumberland 10:30 My Name Is Earl 08:00 Ghostbusters II 23:00 All You Can Meat 17:00 Animal Mega Moves 19:20 Extreme Car Hoarders With Robson Green 11:00 The Tonight Show Starring 10:00 Vehicle 19 20:10 Game Of Pawns Jimmy Fallon 12:00 Taken 2 20:35 Garage Gold 12:00 Til Death 14:00 Stolen 21:00 Fast N’ Loud 12:30 Back In The Game 16:00 Jack Reacher 21:50 Philly Throttle 13:00 Better Off Ted 18:15 Ninja: Shadow Of A Tear 22:40 Classic Car Rescue 13:30 My Name Is Earl 20:00 Taken 2 23:30 Fast N’ Loud 14:00 Last Man Standing 22:00 Pitch Black 14:30 Mystery Girls 15:00 New Girl 15:30 The Daily Show With Jon Stewart 00:00 Kourtney And Khloe Take The 16:00 The Colbert Report Hamptons 16:30 Til Death 00:00 The Howling: Reborn-PG15 00:55 Extreme Close-Up 17:00 Late Night With Seth Meyers 02:00 Beneath-PG15 01:25 Keeping Up With The 18:00 The Neighbors 04:00 Stolen-PG15 Kardashians 18:30 Last Man Standing 06:00 Ghostbusters II-PG 08:00 Vehicle 19-PG15 02:20 E! News 19:00 The Goodwin Games 10:00 Taken 2-PG15 03:15 Giuliana & Bill 19:30 New Girl 12:00 Stolen-PG15 04:10 E!ES 20:00 The Tonight Show Starring 05:05 The E! True Hollywood Story 14:00 Jack Reacher-PG15 Jimmy Fallon 06:00 Kourtney And Kim Take Miami 16:15 Ninja: Shadow Of A Tear-PG15 21:00 The Daily Show With Jon 06:55 Kourtney And Kim Take Miami 18:00 Taken 2-PG15 Stewart 07:50 Style Star 20:00 Pitch Black-PG15 21:30 The Colbert Report 08:20 E! News 22:00 After Earth-PG15 22:00 Married 09:15 Giuliana & Bill 10:15 THS 22:30 It’s Always Sunny In 11:10 Beyond Candid With Giuliana Philadelphia 12:05 E! News 23:00 Legit 13:05 #RichKids Of Beverly Hills 23:30 Late Night With Seth Meyers 01:00 Look Who’s Talking Too-PG15 13:35 #RichKids Of Beverly Hills 02:30 Good Morning, Vietnam-PG15 14:05 #RichKids Of Beverly Hills 04:30 Hope Springs-PG15 14:30 Fashion Bloggers 06:30 Stephen Merchant: Hello Ladies 15:00 House Of DVF Live-PG15 16:00 Kourtney And Khloe Take The 00:00 Royal Pains 08:00 Cops And Robbersons-PG15 Hamptons 01:00 Top Gear (US) 10:00 Wild Hogs-PG15 17:00 Kourtney And Khloe Take The 02:00 Survivor: San Juan Del Sur 12:00 Parental Guidance-PG Hamptons 03:00 Supernatural 14:00 Home Alone-PG 18:00 E! News 04:00 Switched At Birth 16:00 Cops And Robbersons-PG15 19:00 Live From E! 05:00 The Flash 19:30 Eric And Jessie: Game On 18:00 It’s A Disaster-PG15 06:00 Royal Pains 20:00 Giuliana & Bill 20:00 Ingenious-PG15 07:00 Made In Jersey 21:00 Giuliana & Bill 08:00 C.S.I. 22:00 Bad Milo!-18 22:00 E! News 09:00 Switched At Birth 23:00 Live From E! 23:30 #RichKids Of Beverly Hills 10:00 The Flash 11:00 Top Gear (US) 12:00 Emmerdale 13:00 The Ellen DeGeneres Show 01:00 Inescapable-PG15 14:00 C.S.I. 03:00 Collaborator-PG15 15:00 Royal Pains 04:45 The Next Three Days-PG15 00:15 Siba’s Table 16:00 Emmerdale 07:00 Almost Christmas-PG15 00:40 Diners, Drive-Ins & Dives 17:00 The Ellen DeGeneres Show 09:00 The Runway-PG15 01:05 Chopped 18:00 C.S.I. 10:45 The Next Three Days-PG15 01:55 Marion’s Thailand 19:00 Switched At Birth 13:00 Everything Must Go-PG15 02:20 Recipes That Rock 20:00 Grey’s Anatomy 15:00 Robot & Frank-PG15 02:45 Marion’s Thailand 21:00 Devious Maids 17:00 The Runway-PG15 03:10 Marion’s Thailand 22:00 American Horror Story: Freak 18:45 The Butler-PG15 03:35 Siba’s Table Show 21:00 The English Teacher-PG15 04:00 Siba’s Table 23:00 Supernatural 23:00 The Paperboy-18 04:25 Charly’s Cake Angels STOLEN ON OSN MOVIES HD ACTION TV listings SATURDAY, DECEMBER 13, 2014

02:45 Los Campeones De LA Lucha 07:30 Live HSBC Sevens World Series Libre 20:00 Golfing World 04:30 Sleeping Beauty 21:00 NFL Gameday 01:30 True Confessions-18 06:00 Barbie In The Nutcracker 21:30 This is PGA Tour 03:30 No Country For Old Men-PG15 08:00 The Happy Cricket 22:00 Live PGA Tour 05:30 Annapolis-PG15 10:00 Soccer Dog: European Cup 07:15 Strictly Sinatra-PG15 11:45 Fred 2: Night Of The Living Fred 09:00 Timer-PG15 13:15 Los Campeones De LA Lucha Libre 11:00 Escape From Polygamy-PG15 03:00 Snooker UK Championship 15:00 Scooby-Doo! Adventures: The 12:30 Bully-PG15 07:00 Golfing World Mystery Map! 14:30 Cheerful Weather For The 08:00 Ryder Cup Official Film 16:00 Planet 51 Wedding-PG15 09:30 ICC Cricket 360 18:00 Soccer Dog: European Cup 16:15 Timer-PG15 10:00 Volvo Ocean Race Highlights 20:00 Dudley Do Right 18:00 Lincoln-PG15 10:30 European Tour Weekly 22:00 Scooby-Doo! Adventures: The 20:30 The Missing-PG15 11:00 Live Nedbank Golf Challenge Mystery Map! 23:00 Tar-PG15 18:00 Golfing World 23:15 Planet 51 19:00 WWE Superstars 20:00 WWE Smackdown! 22:00 Live Snooker Champion of Champions 00:45 Pacific Rim-PG15 00:00 Vehicle 19-PG15 03:00 The Chateau Meroux-PG15 02:00 Jack Ryan: Shadow Recruit-PG15 05:00 Vamps-PG15 04:00 Asterix And Obelix-PG15 07:00 Peace, Love & 06:00 Monsters University-PG Misunderstanding-PG15 08:00 The 7:39-PG15 09:00 Chasing Mavericks-PG15 10:00 Marvel’s Ultimate Avengers I-PG 00:30 ICC Cricket 360 11:00 Madagascar-PG 12:00 Jack Ryan: Shadow Recruit-PG15 01:00 ICC Cricket World Cup Tales 13:00 Marvel’s The Invincible Iron 14:00 Skyline-PG15 01:30 ICC Cricket World Cup Tales Man-PG 16:00 The 7:39-PG15 02:00 LG ICC Awards 2014 14:45 Pacific Rim-PG15 18:00 Dark Tide-PG15 03:00 Live Australia v India 17:00 Chasing Mavericks-PG15 20:00 Lay The Favorite-PG15 International Test 19:00 The Internship-PG15 22:00 Take This Waltz-18 11:00 ICC Cricket 360 21:00 Good Deeds-PG15 11:30 Australia v South Africa ODI 23:00 2 Guns-18 Highlights 12:30 Australia v South Africa ODI 01:00 International Rugby Union Highlights 03:00 Pool Mosconi Cup 13:30 Australia v South Africa ODI 07:00 Hero Indian Super League Highlights 01:00 Ploddy Police Car Highlights 14:30 ICC Cricket 360

HOPE SPRINGS ON OSN MOVIES COMEDY HD

15:00 Story of the World Cup 1992 02:00 Counting Cars Something New 16:30 LG ICC Awards 2014 03:00 Ice Road Truckers 06:25 Cake Boss 17:30 ICC Cricket World Cup Tales 04:00 Storage Wars 06:50 Cake Boss 18:00 ICC Cricket World Cup Tales 05:00 Pawn Stars 07:15 Cake Boss 18:30 ICC Cricket World Cup Tales 06:00 Ax Men 07:40 Cake Boss 19:00 ICC Cricket World Cup Tales 07:00 Storage Wars: New York 08:05 Your Style In His Hands 19:30 ICC Cricket World Cup Tales 07:30 Counting Cars 08:55 Your Style In His Hands 20:00 ICC Cricket 360 09:00 American Restoration 09:45 Randy To The Rescue 20:30 LG ICC Awards 2014 09:30 Pawn Stars UK 10:35 Say Yes To The Dress – 21:30 Bangladesh v Zimbabwe ODI 10:00 Storage Wars: New York Bridesmaids Highlights 10:30 Counting Cars 11:00 Say Yes To The Dress – 22:30 Bangladesh v Zimbabwe ODI 11:00 Pawn Stars Bridesmaids Highlights 11:30 Pawn Stars 11:25 Something Borrowed, 23:30 ICC Cricket 360 12:00 Storage Wars Something New 13:00 Counting Cars 11:50 Something Borrowed, 14:00 Mountain Men Something New 15:00 Ice Road Truckers 12:15 Something Borrowed, Something New 16:00 Counting Cars 12:40 Something Borrowed, 18:00 Pawn Stars 01:20 Shaft Something New 18:30 Pawn Stars 03:05 Lone Star-FAM 13:05 Something Borrowed, 19:00 Storage Wars 04:40 Reunion In France-FAM Something New 20:00 Counting Cars 07:00 The Prisoner Of Zenda-FAM 13:30 Oprah’s Next Chapter 21:00 Ice Road Truckers 08:40 King Solomon’s Mines-FAM 14:20 Oprah’s Master Class 22:00 Pawn Stars 10:25 Captain Sindbad-FAM 15:10 Little People, Big World 22:30 Storage Wars 11:50 Bad Day At Black Rock-PG 15:35 Little People, Big World 23:00 American Pickers 13:10 42nd Street-FAM 16:00 Little People, Big World 14:40 The Oklahoma Kid-FAM 16:25 Little People, Big World 16:00 Lassie Come Home-FAM 16:50 Little People, Big World 17:30 Designing Woman-FAM 17:15 The Next Great Baker 19:25 Cheyenne Autumn-FAM 18:05 Cake Boss 22:00 Splendor In The Grass-PG 00:45 Oprah’s Next Chapter 18:30 Secret Eaters 01:35 Oprah’s Master Class 19:20 Secret Eaters 02:25 I Didn’t Know I Was Pregnant 20:10 Ultimate Shopper 02:50 Family Fat Surgeons 21:00 Here Comes Honey Boo Boo 03:40 Long Island Medium 21:25 Here Comes Honey Boo Boo 04:05 Say Yes To The Dress 21:50 World’s Worst Mum 00:00 Ice Road Truckers 04:30 Say Yes To The Dress 22:40 Long Island Medium 01:00 Storage Wars 05:00 Toddlers & Tiaras 23:05 Mob Wives AFTER EARTH ON OSN MOVIES ACTION HD 01:30 Pawn Stars 06:00 Something Borrowed, 23:55 Family Fat Surgeons

HEALTH SATURDAY, DECEMBER 13, 2014 Don’t wreck climate deal, US warns

LIMA: The United States urged developing countries Thursday to ease objections to a world deal on climate change as deadlines loomed at a 12-day UN meeting in Lima. The talks, meant to pave the way to a landmark pact in Paris next year, are scheduled to conclude on Friday, but dele- gates reported deadlock and a souring mood as the final day neared. In a speech touching on one of the thorniest issues, US Secretary of State John Kerry called on developing nations to understand they too had to curb carbon emissions even if they felt it was unfair. “I know the discussions can be tense and decisions are dif- ficult and I know how angry some people are about the predicament they’ve been put in by big nations that have benefited from industrialization for a long period of time,” Kerry said. But, “we have to remember that today more than half of global emissions-more than half-are coming from developing nations. So it is imperative that they act too.” If the negotiations fail, “future generations will judge our effort not just as a policy failure but as a massive collective moral failure of historic consequence,” he warned. The envisioned pact would bring all the world’s nations into a single forum for cutting heat-trapping greenhouse gas- es blamed for damaging Earth’s climate systems. To be sealed in December 2015 and enter into force by 2020, it must ensure global warming does not exceed two degrees Celsius (3.6 degrees Fahrenheit) over pre-industrial levels. The Lima round began on December 1 on a hopeful note, following promises by China, the United States and the European Union-the world’s three biggest carbon polluters-to TOKYO: In this Tuesday, Dec. 9, 2014 photo, a shopper picks up a packet of butter at a supermarket where a notice advis- tackle their emissions. es shoppers not to buy more than one in Tokyo. —AP Money, too, began to flow into the Green Climate Fund, the main vehicle for channeling at least $100 billion (80 billion euros) in annual aid, promised by rich countries to climate- Japan runs short of butter vulnerable nations by 2020. But on Thursday the negotiations ground on with few signs of genuine horse-trading. UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon urged ministers to begin “real, as dairy farms dwindle serious negotiations.” “We have been talking over the last two decades,” said Ban. “We don’t have a moment to lose.” TOKYO: When Japanese pose for pictures, this resource- scarce island nation and for lion), or over 40 percent of total farm, fish- instead of saying “Cheese!” some say political reasons. Despite Abe’s vows to eries and forestry production. LOGJAMS “Butter!” These days, butter is more likely modernize farming and “drill deep” But a report by the US Department of Delegates pointed to two logjams. One is a draft blueprint cause for frowning, since it is rationing through the country’s bedrock of bureau- Agriculture questioned that figure, saying for guiding negotiations up to the December 2015 finale-a that comes to mind. cracy and vested interests, his government it does not take into account issues such document which has ballooned as countries filed more objec- As the Christmas Eve cake rush has made little headway apart from tinker- as supply constraints in other countries. tions and suggestions. “We have seen the laggards throwing approaches, grocery stores are limiting ing with land reforms. The USDA report estimated that market in language of all kinds into the negotiating document,” Tony customers to a maximum of two packages Tariffs on imports of farm produce liberalization for dairy products could de Brum, foreign minister of the Marshall Islands, told journal- of butter each. Last week the government average 23 percent. Overall, the govern- boost Japan’s butter imports by about ists. The other is a format for standardizing information by announced its latest plan for “emergency ment pays a subsidy to dairy farmers of half, to about 6 billion yen (over $50 mil- which countries will make carbon-cutting pledges at the heart imports” to ease shortages of the spread. 12.8 yen (11 cents) per kilogram for butter lion). Japan’s Agriculture and Livestock of the 2015 accord. The butter shortfall stems from several fac- and 15.41 yen (13 cents) per kilogram for Industries Corp., or ALIC, which is overseen Developing countries demanded pledges incorporate not tors including stressed out dairy cows, cheese. Dairy farmers like Shinjiro by the farm ministry, buys and sells prod- just action on reducing carbon emissions, but financial help aging farmers, rising costs and trade and Ishibashi, who is raising about 300 head of ucts through an open and online bidding and adaptation aid to shore up climate defenses. price restrictions. The official reason for cattle on his farm in Chiba, east of Tokyo, process, to help ensure stability of prices The sparring touched on a years-old source of friction-how short supplies of milk used to make butter count on the support. Japan’s farm lobby and supplies, in effect subsidizing loss- to apportion responsibility between rich and developing is lower output due to unusually hot remains a stronghold for the ruling Liberal making farmers and manufacturers. The nations for ramping up carbon action. weather last summer in the northern Democratic Party, which while talking up system, meant to ensure stable supplies, Known as differentiation, it is rooted in a division of island of Hokkaido, Japan’s dairy basket. sweeping reforms is also reassuring farm- appears to be failing to do that, at least for responsibilities enshrined in the United Nations Framework Fresh milk sells for more per ton than but- ers it will continue to look after their inter- butter. Convention on Climate Change at its birth 22 years ago. ter, so dairy producers are said to be giv- ests. “Mr. Abe says he will preserve our Japan’s raw milk output in the fiscal At the time, UN members were split into advanced ing butter short shrift and butter sections ‘beautiful Japan,’ and I expect him to do year ended in March was 7.45 million tons, economies, the first to burn fossil fuels to power their prosper- are often bare on shelves crammed with it,” said Ishibashi, alluding to Abe’s con- down from an industry peak of just over ity, and developing countries, which-until then-bore little various margarines and other spreads. But stant praise for Japan’s traditional farming 8.6 million tons in 1997. Butter consump- blame for carbon pollution. the worsening shortages are also a symp- lifestyle. tion per person has held steady, at about 2 Europe, the United States and other advanced economies tom of industry protections that limit farm Proteltion kilograms (4.4 lbs) for about a decade, accept that some form of differentiation remains valid today. imports and of deeply entrenched resist- Japan’s farm protection policies are while milk consumption has been falling. But they argue it is senseless to shape a post-2020 deal on the ance to a market-opening overhaul. Prime one reason the 12 nations negotiating a Apart from the emergency imports, basis of the world as it was in 1992. Voracious burners of coal, Minister Shinzo Abe will be struggling to US-led trans- Pacific trade pact have been four major local dairy companies were developing countries now account for more than half of glob- deliver on reform promises even if his par- unable to reach an agreement. ordered to increase output of butter for al emissions, a share set to rise, they argue. ty wins a stronger mandate for his Negotiators meeting in Washington this home use by 30 percent in early The UNFCCC’s meetings are notorious for textual battles “Abenomics” policies in an election tomor- week look likely to end another year with- December, reducing drinking milk and and delay, in some cases prolonging closure by more than a row. Apart from overworked cows and dif- out a consensus. cream production, the farm ministry said. day. Scientists are pounding an ever-louder drumbeat of ficulties growing enough forage to feed Among the countries negotiating the It said it would do everything possible, warning. Earth is on track, they say, for warming this century them, dairying is among many Japanese trade pact, Japan has the second largest beginning next year, to stabilize supplies. of about four degrees Celsius, cursing future generations with agricultural industries in decline. Farmers food market after the US and foreign dairy A victory for Abe in Sunday’s election species loss, rising seas, drought, floods and disease spread. are retiring without heirs willing to take and other farmers are eager for more could give him at least two more years, The head of the UN’s panel of climate scientists, Rajendra over their farms and prices for feed and access. But “sacred territory” issues such as and possibly more, to tackle such issues, Pachauri, warned Thursday that only about a thousand billion fuel have surged, cutting into profits. pickup trucks for the Americans and beef, said Uri Dadesh, an associate with the tonnes of carbon dioxide (CO2) can still be emitted before the Japan had 417,600 dairy farms in 1963. pork, dairy, sugar and rice in Japan have Carnegie Endowment for International targeted two degree limit is breached. “We are all on space- As of February, it had 18,600 despite heavy frustrated efforts to reach an overarching Peace. “Whether he will do the structural ship Earth. We are now sharing this space of a thousand giga- government subsidies. Japanese farmers, agreement. reforms is a different matter,” he said in a tons of CO2,” he said. like those in the U.S. and many other A Japanese government study estimat- conference call with reporters. “Let’s “We have to divide up this space equitably and in a matter countries, traditionally have been protect- ed that opening farm markets under the remember that this is a man who already of fair and ethical considerations because otherwise we are ed from foreign competition, both to trade pact could reduce domestic farm has a massive majority of the parliament going to exceed the two degrees.”—AFP ensure a degree of food self-sufficiency for output by about 2.7 trillion yen ($22.5 bil- on his side.” —AP HEALTH SATURDAY, DECEMBER 13, 2014

As Japan burns more coal, climate policies under pressure

TOKYO: Once at the forefront of the fight against global China’s expectation I think it is the expectation of the ment as part of long-term efforts to limit average tempera- warming, Japan is now facing calls from other big world,” said China’s delegation leader Su Wei at climate ture rises to 2 degrees (3.6 Fahrenheit) above pre-industrial economies such as China to set fresh emissions targets as talks taking place in Lima ahead of a 2015 UN summit in times. Countries are meant to announce plans for emis- Tokyo increases its use of dirty coal energy to replace Paris (COP21). sions reductions after 2020 by an informal deadline of nuclear. Japan is the world’s fifth-biggest emitter of CO2, Japanese delegates in Lima also said the government March 31, 2015. but has watered down emissions targets due to the shut- aimed to have targets as quickly as possible but gave no In November, China and the United States pledged to down of its nuclear plants after the 2011 Fukushima disas- timeline. China, the European Union and environmentalists set new limits on carbon emissions from 2025. Carbon ter, with utilities burning a record amount of coal for power criticized Japan last year after it threw out a plan to cut emissions in Japan rose 1.6 percent in the year through generation emissions by 25 percent from 1990 levels and diplomatic March to a record. Encouraged by eased environmental China and the United States, the world’s biggest sources say they are alarmed about its shift towards coal. rules, companies are planning to install about 14.8 economies and polluters, as well as the European Union, Japan was a leading proponent behind the 1997 Kyoto gigawatt of coal-fired capacity, an increase of 37 percent, in have committed to new targets in the last few months. Protocol that committed countries to binding emissions coming years. Japan now finds itself alongside India and Russia, the reduction targets and pushed for it to be named after its Japan’s appetite for cheap coal, to counter a soaring oil world’s third- and fourth-biggest polluters, by not yet former imperial capital. “Japan cannot excuse itself in Paris and gas bill after the nuclear shutdown, saw it import a declaring goals. Officials at Japan’s industry and environ- COP21 by saying ‘sorry we don’t have nuclear power so we record 109 million tonnes of coal in 2013. ment ministries denied any backsliding on climate policies can’t reduce CO2 emissions’,” said Nobuo Tanaka, an advis- Two nuclear reactors have cleared basic safety stan- and said by phone a joint committee was discussing new er at the government-affiliated Institute of Energy dards and may restart next year. But analysts and environ- emission cut goals and aimed to come up with proposals Economics, Japan. Prime Minister Shinzo Abe, who called mentalists say even with these utilities will not cut coal, as soon as possible. an election for Dec. 14, wants to restart reactors but is fac- which supplies about a third of power. “Japan is losing a But analysts say Japan’s room for manoeuvre is limited ing strong public opposition from voters wary of nuclear golden opportunity to reduce emissions by turning to coal after Tokyo eased rules for coal plants amid plans to raise power after Fukushima. to deal with nuclear power stoppages instead of building coal-fired capacity by nearly 40 percent. on its forte, energy savings, and developing modern ways “We expect Japan would certainly come up with an Record Japan emissions of efficiency and conservation,” said Aileen Mioko Smith, ambitious target for the post-2020 period. That is not just The Paris UN summit in 2015 aims to finalise an agree- Executive Director, Green Action. — Reuters

Bacon, pet psychic turn up zilch in search for dog

MONTPELIER: Rotisserie chicken, bacon, dog toys, more than a dozen volunteers and even a psychic have not been enough to find Murphy, an elusive golden retriever whose owner’s five- month search for the beloved animal has captivated one moun- tainous area of Vermont.Neighbors have pulled together to try to find Murphy since he was spooked by a car accident and ran off June 29, going door-to-door with posters, looking for tracks and setting out food and traps. He’s been spotted numerous times, in backyards and on trail cameras in Waterbury Center, about 8 miles from the crash. But any time someone gets close, the 3- year-old cagey canine darts off. “I definitely think he’s still in the fight-or-flight mode because he seems to run from everybody,” said his owner, 24-year-old Kirstin Campbell, of Morrisville. Campbell had Murphy with her when her vehicle went off the road and hit a tree in Stowe. She let the dog out after the crash and he ran away, traumatized. He was seen around the resort town in the summer but ended up MADRID: Veterinarian acupuncturist Edurne Cornejo inserts needles into a “Little owl”, or Athene Noctua receives acupunc- venturing south to Waterbury Center, apparently along the one ture treatment at Brinzal, an owl-rescue charity based in a park in the west of Madrid. — AFP main road between the towns. The search has gotten the attention of local media and mem- bers of a popular online community forum where Campbell’s Acupuncture helps sick grandfather Ed Hamel, 63, has posted weekly since Murphy dis- appeared. “We did the old, you know, put the clothing out, put the towels out, food out, treats out, walk around and walk owls return to wild in Spain around, leave our scent everywhere and that didn’t do any good,” said Hamel, who describes Murphy as “the best dog in the world.” At one point they enlisted a Massachusetts-based pet MADRID: The patient opens his yellow eyes wide but makes no species at various stages of recovery relax or practise flying again in psychic who claims to be able to communicate with animals. The sound as acupuncturist Edurne Cornejo pricks four fine needles into covered enclosures. Trays of dead chicks with fluffy yellow feathers psychic told them by phone that Murphy was on a parallel path his legs. It is hard to tell whether he is surprised, as his eyes are wide at are laid out for the predators to feed on. Inside one shed, live mice to a road where they had just lost track of him and that she was the best of times. He is an owl-and no newcomer to acupuncture ther- wriggle in the hands of staff preparing them for the owls’ lunch. seeing his name.—AP apy. Two months ago this 25-centimetre (10-inch) “little owl”, or Athene Noctua, hurt his back when he flew by mistake into a Owl psychology stovepipe at a factory in eastern Madrid. The city lies on a mountain- About 1,200 birds are brought to the centre each year, of which ous plateau teeming with such birds. He was sent to Brinzal, an owl- about 70 percent recover and can be returned to the wild, says rescue charity based in a park in the west of the city. Now he lies, his Brinzal’s co-ordinator, Patricia Orejas. speckled brown and white breast puffing in and out, as the acupunc- Brinzal’s centre opened in 1989 and has been providing acupunc- ture needles stimulate key points in his nervous system. ture for its owls for six years. Cornejo estimates that acupuncture has “When he first came, he couldn’t stand up. Then he started taking been used on animals in Spain at least since the 1980s. little steps. Now he is flying again,” says Cornejo. She has given the “We provide physical and psychological rehabilitation. But some unnamed owl 10 weekly acupuncture sessions so far. “It stimulates sadly cannot recover,” Orejas says. Some owls get too used to human self-curing mechanisms in the organism. It does not cause side- company and cannot re-adapt to the predator’s life in the wild. effects” as some medicines do, she says. The use of the ancient Among these is Eire, a plump seven-year-old tawny owl who sits Chinese technique in animals is growing worldwide, according to the on a branch in a spacious enclosure, blinking at visitors with big dark International Veterinary Acupuncture Society, a US-based body eyes. She was caught and kept as a pet when she was a baby and later formed in 1974. Acupuncturist vets recommend it in animals for mus- brought to the centre. Domestic life had already made her perma- cle and joint problems-such as the owl’s bad back-as well as for nerve, nently unfit for the wild. For other owls, Orejas and her team have MORRISVILLE: This 2013 photo provided by Kirstin Campbell, skin, breathing and gut complaints. training methods to revive their wild defences, teaching them which of Morrisville, shows her 3-year-old golden retriever Murphy, A family vet specialising in acupuncture for dogs and cats, Cornejo beasts are their predators, above them in the food chain. They show who bolted from her vehicle after she crashed into a tree on visits Brinzal as a volunteer to treat some of the hundreds of ailing them live rats, or models of falcons, and play recordings of the warn- June 29 in Stowe. Murphy was spotted around Stowe soon night birds brought there each year by the public. Elsewhere in the ing screech made by the owls themselves in the wild, to teach them after the crash but no one could catch him. — AP Brinzal centre, about 80 eagle owls, tawny owls, little owls and other that those animals pose a threat.—AFP HEALTH SATURDAY, DECEMBER 13, 2014 California battles wORST cough epidemic

SAN DIEGO: California officials are battling the That vaccine was replaced in the 1990s worst whooping cough epidemic to hit the state because of side effects, which included pain and in seven decades as a recent rebound in cases swelling from the shot and fever. The newer vac- raises questions about the effectiveness of the cine is part of routine childhood vaccinations as pertussis vaccine. well as adult booster shots. Doctors emphasize that the inoculation has Last year was the nation’s worst year for led to fewer deaths than in the past and in whooping cough in six decades- US health offi- instances where people do get sick, their illnesses cials received reports of more than 48,000 cases, aren’t as severe. But California officials say the lim- including 18 deaths. This year the number of ited protection of the vaccine introduced in the reported cases nationwide dropped to about 1990s has led to the rise in cases. Research has 20,000. shown it doesn’t last as long as the one it After the 2010 epidemic, California launched a replaced, and a new study suggests the vaccine campaign about the importance of rapid diagno- may not prevent the spread of the disease. sis and treatment, especially in young infants. The Whooping cough peaks every three to five state also started providing free vaccines for chil- years, and California’s last epidemic was in 2010. dren, pregnant and postpartum women. But despite an aggressive public health cam- Dr. Gil Chavez, epidemiologist with the KAYES: In this file photo taken Saturday, Oct. 25, 2014, a health worker, right, briefs another, paign in response, the current outbreak is worse. California Department of Public Health, said while left, on the use of their Ebola security gear before working with diseased Fanta Kone at a A total of 9,935 cases were reported to the more people, especially pregnant women, need Ebola virus center in Kayes, Mali. The last Ebola patient being treated in Mali has survived California Department of Public Health from Jan. to get vaccinated, he does not believe low inocu- the disease and been released, the Health Ministry said yesterday. — AP 1 to Nov. 26 - the highest number in 70 years. lation rates are the primary cause of the current The cases included one infant who died. epidemic: Of this year’s pediatric cases that had Elementary, middle and high school outbreaks information on the child’s vaccination history, Mali says has have occurred across the state. The bacterial only 10 percent of those infected in 2014 had not infection causes uncontrollable, violent cough- been vaccinated against pertussis. ing, which often makes it hard to breathe. Chavez says the new vaccine’s limitations and no Ebola cases People often take deep breaths which result in a better tests have led to the increase in cases. “whooping” sound. Cases are likely to continue going up as doctors BAMAKO: Mali has no remaining cases of the who died of the disease in October after arriving San Diego County is among the hardest hit do a better job at detecting the illness, officials Ebola virus as the last patient in the country has from neighbouring Guinea. Later that month, an areas with 1,819 cases reported so far this year. say. More than two years ago, Kathryn Riffenburg, recovered and left hospital, the Ministry of Health imam who also arrived from Guinea with the dis- “We’d have to go way back to the 1940s to find who lives outside Boston, said doctors told her said on Thursday. Six people have died of Ebola in ease died in Mali. He infected other people. more cases,” said Dr. Eric McDonald, medical that her newborn son, Brady, likely had a cold. A Mali, while two others have recovered. The coun- “The only remaining case in treatment has director of the epidemiology and immunization week and a half later, she took him to the emer- try is the sixth West African state to be hit by the recovered and has been released today so there branch for public health services in San Diego gency room as he struggled to breathe. worst outbreak on record of the haemorrhagic are no more people sick with Ebola in Mali,” said County. By the time, he was diagnosed with pertussis it fever.At least 6,533 people have died of the virus Ministry of Health spokesman Markatie Daou. That’s when whooping cough was common, was too late to save the 2-month-old boy. “It in Sierra Leone, Liberia and Guinea, the three West Mali is yet to be officially declared Ebola-free, a causing hundreds of thousands of illnesses annu- made us angry, because we felt more should have African countries worst hit by the disease, accord- status acquired by Nigeria and Senegal, two other ally and thousands of deaths. But after a vaccine been done,” said Riffenburg, who know advocates ing to the World Health Organization. countries that had cases of the virus earlier this was introduced in the 1940s, cases dropped to for pregnant women and anyone else in contact Ebola first entered Mali through an infant girl year. — Reuters fewer than 5,000 a year. with infants to get vaccinated. — AP SATURDAY, DECEMBER 13, 2014

Kuwait KNCC PROGRAMME FROM THURSDAY TO WEDNESDAY (11/12/2014 TO 17/12/2014)

SHARQIA-1 MARINA-1 KILL THE MESSENGER 11:30 AM THE HOBBIT: THE BATTLE OF THE FIVE ARMIES 12:15 PM THE HUNTED 1:45 PM KILL THE MESSENGER 3:30 PM KILL THE MESSENGER 3:30 PM THE HUNTED 5:45 PM KILL THE MESSENGER 5:45 PM KILL THE MESSENGER 7:45 PM THE HUNTED 8:15 PM THE HUNTED 10:15 PM KILL THE MESSENGER 10:15 PM KILL THE MESSENGER 12:15 AM THE HUNTED 12:30 AM MARINA-2 SHARQIA-2 GET SANTA 12:00 PM THE HOBBIT: THE BATTLE OF THE FIVE ARMIES 12:00 PM GET SANTA 2:00 PM THE HOBBIT: THE BATTLE OF THE FIVE ARMIES -3D 3:00 PM PENGUINS OF MADAGASCAR 4:15 PM ACCOMMODATION CHANGE OF NAME THE HOBBIT: THE BATTLE OF THE FIVE ARMIES 6:00 PM GET SANTA 6:15 PM THE HOBBIT: THE BATTLE OF THE FIVE ARMIES -3D 9:00 PM GET SANTA 8:30 PM Looking for room within an I, Bonam Venkatesu holder THE HOBBIT: THE BATTLE OF THE FIVE ARMIES 12:05 AM GET SANTA 10:45 PM apartment for a couple, of Indian Passport No. THU+FRI+SAT F6322758, Lagi Setty SHARQIA-3 THE PYRAMID 10:45 PM preferably A/C with attached GET SANTA 12:45 PM NO THU+FRI+SAT bathroom in the vicinity of Wandlapalli Sanypaya - PENGUINS OF MADAGASCAR 3:15 PM THE PYRAMID 12:45 AM Hawally. Contact: 99745402. Veeraballi, Kadapa, A.P. GET SANTA 3:15 PM (C 4881) 516130 hereby changed my NO FRI+SAT+MON MARINA-3 13-12-2014 name to Bonamsetty GET SANTA 5:30 PM PENGUINS OF MADAGASCAR-3D 11:30 AM Venkatesu. (C 4880) GET SANTA 7:45 PM THE HOBBIT: THE BATTLE OF THE FIVE ARMIES -3D 1:30 PM Full furnished 2 rooms attach 10-12-2014 THE HOBBIT: THE BATTLE OF THE FIVE ARMIES 10:00 PM THE HOBBIT: THE BATTLE OF THE FIVE ARMIES 4:15 PM bathroom available for KILL THE MESSENGER 12:45 AM THE HOBBIT: THE BATTLE OF THE FIVE ARMIES -3D 7:00 PM THE HOBBIT: THE BATTLE OF THE FIVE ARMIES 9:45 PM decent two bachelors or Prayer timings MUHALAB-1 THE HOBBIT: THE BATTLE OF THE FIVE ARMIES 12:30 AM small family. House is 3 BR + GET SANTA 11:45 AM 2 bath + living room + central Fajr: 05:08 GET SANTA 1:45 PM AVENUES-1 A/C. Salwa block 9, if needed KILL THE MESSENGER 3:45 PM THE HUNTED 1:00 PM one room also can be given Shorook 06:33 THE PYRAMID 6:00 PM THE HUNTED 3:00 PM to executive bachelor. 2 KILL THE MESSENGER 8:00 PM THE HUNTED 5:00 PM rooms rent KD 190. Tel: Duhr: 11:42 THE PYRAMID 10:15 PM THE HUNTED 7:00 PM 51066770, 98007972. KILL THE MESSENGER 12:15 AM THE HUNTED 9:00 PM (C 4879) THE HUNTED 11:00 PM Asr: 14:32 MUHALAB-2 THE HUNTED 1:15 AM 10-12-2014 THE HUNTED 11:30 AM Maghrib: 16:51 THE HOBBIT: THE BATTLE OF THE FIVE ARMIES 1:15 PM AVENUES-2 THE HUNTED 2:00 PM THE HOBBIT: THE BATTLE OF THE FIVE ARMIES 11:30 AM SITUATION VACANT Isha: 18:13 GET SANTA 4:00 PM THE HOBBIT: THE BATTLE OF THE FIVE ARMIES 2:30 PM GET SANTA 6:15 PM THE HOBBIT: THE BATTLE OF THE FIVE ARMIES 6:00 PM THE HOBBIT: THE BATTLE OF THE FIVE ARMIES 8:30 PM LINGAA - TAMIL 2:30 PM Required a part time maid to THE HUNTED 11:30 PM LINGAA - TAMIL 6:00 PM work one or two times per THE HUNTED 1:15 AM LINGAA - TAMIL 9:30 PM week in an apartment locat- THE PYRAMID 1:00 AM ed in Salmiya. Salary and tim- MUHALAB-3 ing are negotiable. Call AVENUES-3 THE HOBBIT: THE BATTLE OF THE FIVE ARMIES -3D 12:30 PM 66417504. (C 4878) THE HOBBIT: THE BATTLE OF THE FIVE ARMIES 3:30 PM PENGUINS OF MADAGASCAR-3D 11:45 AM 10-12-2014 112 THE HOBBIT: THE BATTLE OF THE FIVE ARMIES -3D 6:30 PM THE HOBBIT: THE BATTLE OF THE FIVE ARMIES -3D 2:00 PM THE HOBBIT: THE BATTLE OF THE FIVE ARMIES 9:30 PM THE HOBBIT: THE BATTLE OF THE FIVE ARMIES 5:00 PM THE HOBBIT: THE BATTLE OF THE FIVE ARMIES 12:30 AM THE HOBBIT: THE BATTLE OF THE FIVE ARMIES -3D 8:00 PM THE HOBBIT: THE BATTLE OF THE FIVE ARMIES 11:00 PM FANAR-1 GET SANTA 3:15 PM AVENUES-4 Sabah Hospital 24812000 GET SANTA 5:30 PM KILL THE MESSENGER 12:30 PM Amiri Hospital 22450005 THE PYRAMID 8:00 PM KILL THE MESSENGER 3:00 PM GET SANTA 10:00 PM GET SANTA 5:30 PM Maternity Hospital 24843100 THE PYRAMID 12:15 AM Special Show “DUMB AND DUMBER TO” 6:00 PM Mubarak Al-Kabir Hospital 25312700 KILL THE MESSENGER 8:00 PM FANAR-2 KILL THE MESSENGER 10:30 PM Chest Hospital 24849400 KILL THE MESSENGER 11:30 AM KILL THE MESSENGER 1:00 AM Farwaniya Hospital 24892010 KILL THE MESSENGER 2:00 PM KILL THE MESSENGER 4:30 PM 360º- 1 Adan Hospital 23940620 KILL THE MESSENGER 7:00 PM THE HOBBIT: THE BATTLE OF THE FIVE ARMIES -3D 11:30 AM Ibn Sina Hospital 24840300 KILL THE MESSENGER 9:30 PM THE HOBBIT: THE BATTLE OF THE FIVE ARMIES 2:30 PM KILL THE MESSENGER 12:05 AM THE HOBBIT: THE BATTLE OF THE FIVE ARMIES -3D 5:30 PM Al-Razi Hospital 24846000 THE HOBBIT: THE BATTLE OF THE FIVE ARMIES 8:30 PM Physiotherapy Hospital 24874330/9 FANAR-3 THE HOBBIT: THE BATTLE OF THE FIVE ARMIES 11:30 PM THE HOBBIT: THE BATTLE OF THE FIVE ARMIES 12:45 PM THE HUNTED 1:45 PM 360º- 2 THE HUNTED 3:45 PM THE HOBBIT: THE BATTLE OF THE FIVE ARMIES 12:00 PM Kaizen center 25716707 THE HUNTED 5:45 PM THE HOBBIT: THE BATTLE OF THE FIVE ARMIES 3:30 PM THE HUNTED 7:45 PM THE HOBBIT: THE BATTLE OF THE FIVE ARMIES 7:00 PM Rawda 22517733 THE HOBBIT: THE BATTLE OF THE FIVE ARMIES 9:45 PM LINGAA - TAMIL 12:00 PM Adaliya 22517144 THE HUNTED 12:30 AM LINGAA - TAMIL 3:30 PM LINGAA - TAMIL 7:00 PM Khaldiya 24848075 FANAR-4 LINGAA - TAMIL 10:30 PM Kaifan 24849807 THE HOBBIT: THE BATTLE OF THE FIVE ARMIES 12:00 PM THE HOBBIT: THE BATTLE OF THE FIVE ARMIES -3D 3:00 PM 360º- 3 Shamiya 24848913 THE HOBBIT: THE BATTLE OF THE FIVE ARMIES 6:00 PM NIGHTCRAWLER 11:45 AM Shuwaikh 24814507 THE HOBBIT: THE BATTLE OF THE FIVE ARMIES -3D 8:45 PM NIGHTCRAWLER 2:15 PM THE HOBBIT: THE BATTLE OF THE FIVE ARMIES 11:45 PM NIGHTCRAWLER 4:45 PM Abdullah Salem 22549134 NIGHTCRAWLER 7:15 PM Nuzha 22526804 FANAR-5 NIGHTCRAWLER 9:45 PM PENGUINS OF MADAGASCAR 12:30 PM NIGHTCRAWLER 12:15 AM Industrial Shuwaikh 24814764 Digital(2D) 2:30 PM Qadsiya 22515088 ACTION JACKSON-HINDI 6:00 PM AL-KOUT.1 LINGAA - TAMIL 2:30 PM THE HOBBIT: THE BATTLE OF THE FIVE ARMIES -3D 2:24 PM Dasmah 22532265 LINGAA - TAMIL 6:00 PM THE HOBBIT: THE BATTLE OF THE FIVE ARMIES 3:00 PM Bneid Al-Gar 22531908 LINGAA - TAMIL 9:30 PM THE HOBBIT: THE BATTLE OF THE FIVE ARMIES -3D 6:00 PM NORTHMEN - A VIKING SAGA 12:45 AM THE HOBBIT: THE BATTLE OF THE FIVE ARMIES 9:00 PM Shaab 22518752 THE HOBBIT: THE BATTLE OF THE FIVE ARMIES 12:05 AM Qibla 22459381 information SATURDAY, DECEMBER 13, 2014 DIAL 161 FOR AIRPORT INFORMATION

In case you are not travelling, your proper cancellation of bookings will help other passengers use seats

Arrival Flights on Saturday 13/12/2014 JZR 777 Jeddah 17:55 JZR 174 Dubai 10:10 Airlines Flt Route Time UAL 982 IAD 17:55 ETD 302 Abu Dhabi 10:20 PIA 205 Lahore 00:10 SVA 500 Jeddah 18:00 KAC 561 Amman 10:25 JAI 574 Mumbai 00:10 UAE 875 Dubai 18:00 JZR 356 Mashhad 10:30 JZR 239 Amman 00:25 JZR 177 Dubai 18:20 FDB 056 Dubai 10:35 JZR 267 Beirut 00:30 KAC 542 Cairo 18:25 IRM 1181 Mashhad 10:50 JZR 539 Cairo 00:40 KAC 118 New York 18:30 QTR 1071 Doha 11:00 KLM 413 Amsterdam/Dammam 00:40 FDB 063 Dubai 18:40 KAC 541 Cairo 11:05 THY 772 Istanbul 00:45 ABY 121 Sharjah 18:40 KAC 165 Rome/Paris 11:15 FDB 069 Dubai 00:55 CLX 856 Luxembourg 18:50 GFA 214 Bahrain 11:25 QTR 1084 Doha 01:00 QTR 1080 Doha 18:50 KAC 741 Dammam 11:45 RJA 642 Amman 01:05 KAC 774 Riyadh 19:15 RBG 554 Alexandria 11:55 DHX 172 Bahrain 01:10 KAC 618 Doha 19:15 KAC 501 Beirut 12:00 DLH 637 Dammam 01:15 KAC 674 Dubai 19:25 JZR 776 Jeddah 12:20 SAI 441 Lahore 01:30 GFA 217 Bahrain 19:30 MSC 402 Alexandria 12:25 PGT 858 Istanbul 01:35 KAC 176 Geneva/Frankfurt 19:45 UAE 874 Dubai 12:30 GFA 211 Bahrain 02:30 KAC 502 Beirut 19:50 SYR 342 Damascus 13:00 UAE 853 Dubai 02:35 IRA 669 Mashhad 19:50 IRM 1189 Mashhad 13:10 JZR 553 Alexandria 02:45 KAC 104 London 19:55 JZR 176 Dubai 13:45 JAI 526 Chennai/Abu Dhabi 02:50 KAC 614 Bahrain 20:00 MSR 611 Cairo 14:00 FDB 067 Dubai 02:55 JAI 572 Mumbai 20:00 UAE 872 Dubai 14:15 MSR 612 Cairo 03:10 MSR 618 Alexandria 20:05 IAW 158 Al Najaf 14:20 ETD 305 Abu Dhabi 03:10 JZR 189 Dubai 20:15 AGY 685 Sohag 14:40 KKK 6507 Istanbul 03:20 OMA 647 Muscat 20:20 KAC 785 Jeddah 15:00 OMA 643 Muscat 03:25 FDB 061 Dubai 20:20 KAC 673 Dubai 15:00 QTR 1076 Doha 03:45 KNE 474 Jeddah 20:25 QTR 1079 Doha 15:05 MIX 307 Dubai 04:00 ABY 123 Sharjah 20:35 FDB 058 Dubai 15:10 MSC 401 Alexandria 04:05 DLH 634 Frankfurt 20:50 KAC 617 Doha 15:15 KAC 546 Alexandria 04:10 KAC 786 Jeddah 21:05 TBZ 5484 Mashhad 15:20 JZR 503 Luxor 05:25 ALK 229 Colombo 21:10 KNE 473 Jeddah 15:20 THY 770 Istanbul 05:35 MEA 402 Beirut 21:20 JZR 188 Dubai 15:40 DHX 170 Bahrain 05:40 ETD 307 Abu Dhabi 21:30 GFA 222 Bahrain 15:45 BAW 157 London 06:40 FDB 073 Dubai 21:35 KNE 471 Jeddah 15:50 JZR 563 Sohag 06:45 UAE 859 Dubai 21:40 KAC 773 Riyadh 15:50 KAC 416 Kuala Lumpur/Jakarta 06:45 GFA 219 Bahrain 21:45 RJD 136 Abu Dhabi 16:05 KAC 412 Manila/Bangkok 07:10 QTR 1074 Doha 21:55 ABY 128 Sharjah 16:25 FDB 053 Dubai 07:45 KNE 480 Taif 22:00 KNE 463 Madinah 16:30 QTR 1086 Doha 07:50 JZR 135 Bahrain 22:05 KAC 613 Bahrain 16:35 KAC 352 Kochi 08:10 KLM 415 Amsterdam 22:15 KNE 481 Taif 16:50 KAC 382 Delhi 08:15 ETD 309 Abu Dhabi 22:15 SVA 9603 Jeddah 16:50 KAC 302 Mumbai 08:20 FDB 059 Dubai 22:30 FDB 052 Dubai 17:00 KAC 206 Islamabad 08:25 AIC 975 Chennai/Goa 22:30 JZR 266 Beirut 17:05 UAE 855 Dubai 08:40 MSC 403 Sohag 22:45 NIA 252 Alexandria 17:15 KAC 344 Chennai 08:45 JZR 157 Dubai 23:05 QTR 1073 Doha 17:40 KAC 362 Colombo 08:45 UAL 981 Bahrain 23:10 UAE 858 Dubai 17:45 ABY 125 Sharjah 09:00 JZR 185 Dubai 23:15 JZR 538 Cairo 17:45 ETD 301 Abu Dhabi 09:20 AGY 684 Sohag 23:15 ETD 304 Abu Dhabi 17:50 IRM 1186 Tehran 09:40 THY 764 Istanbul 23:35 RJA 641 Amman 17:55 FDB 055 Dubai 09:40 FDB 071 Dubai 23:45 IRM 1187 Tehran 18:15 QTR 1070 Doha 10:00 SVA 511 Riyadh 18:15 GFA 213 Bahrain 10:40 Departure Flights on Saturday 13/12/2014 GFA 216 Bahrain 18:20 UAE 873 Dubai 11:00 Airlines Flt Route Time JZR 156 Dubai 18:30 RBG 553 Alexandria 11:15 AIC 976 Goa/Chennai 00:05 JZR 184 Dubai 18:40 KAC 204 Lahore 11:25 JZR 562 Sohag 00:05 IZG 4162 Mashhad 18:45 MSC 405 Sohag 11:25 FDB 072 Dubai 00:45 JZR 238 Amman 18:50 JZR 165 Dubai 11:30 JAI 573 Mumbai 01:10 JZR 134 Bahrain 19:10 IRM 1188 Mashhad 11:45 PIA 206 Lahore 01:40 UAL 982 Bahrain 19:15 SYR 341 Damascus 12:00 KLM 413 Amsterdam 01:55 ABY 121 Sharjah 19:20 UAE 871 Dubai 12:50 KAC 203 Lahore 02:00 SVA 505 Jeddah 19:30 JZR 241 Amman 12:55 DHX 172 Bahrain 02:10 UAE 876 Dubai 19:40 MSR 610 Cairo 13:00 DLH 637 Frankfurt 02:15 QTR 1081 Doha 19:50 IAW 157 Al Najaf 13:20 KAC 283 Dhaka 02:25 FDB 064 Dubai 19:55 JZR 779 Jeddah 13:35 SAI 442 Lahore 02:30 GFA 218 Bahrain 20:15 AGY 680 Alexandria 13:40 THY 773 Istanbul 02:55 CLX 856 Hong Kong 20:20 KAC 672 Dubai 13:55 PGT 859 Istanbul 03:25 IRA 666 Esfahan 20:50 KAC 361 Colombo 20:50 QTR 1078 Doha 14:05 UAE 854 Dubai 03:50 JAI 571 Mumbai 21:00 TBZ 5483 Mashhad 14:20 FDB 068 Dubai 03:55 KNE 472 Jeddah 14:25 MSR 607 Luxor 21:05 ETD 306 Abu Dhabi 04:05 JZR 554 Alexandria 21:05 FDB 057 Dubai 14:30 MSR 613 Cairo 04:10 JZR 175 Dubai 14:45 KNE 475 Jeddah 21:10 KKK 6508 Istanbul 04:10 KAC 331 Trivandrum 21:10 KAC 742 Dammam 14:45 OMA 644 Muscat 04:15 SVA 3504 Jeddah 14:50 ABY 124 Sharjah 21:15 QTR 1085 Doha 04:30 KAC 351 Kochi 21:15 KNE 470 Jeddah 14:55 MSC 406 Sohag 05:05 RJD 135 Abu Dhabi 14:55 FDB 062 Dubai 21:20 QTR 1077 Doha 05:15 OMA 648 Muscat 21:20 GFA 221 Bahrain 15:00 THY 765 Istanbul 05:40 DHX 171 Bahrain 21:50 KAC 284 Dhaka 15:15 FDB 070 Dubai 06:30 KAC 381 Delhi 22:00 KAC 788 Jeddah 15:40 JAI 525 Abu Dhabi/Chennai 06:35 ALK 230 Colombo 22:10 KNE 462 Madinah 15:45 JZR 164 Dubai 06:55 ETD 308 Abu Dhabi 22:15 ABY 127 Sharjah 15:45 MIX 308 Sharjah 07:00 KAC 301 Mumbai 22:15 UAE 857 Dubai 15:45 RJA 643 Amman 07:05 MEA 403 Beirut 22:20 FDB 051 Dubai 16:00 GFA 212 Bahrain 07:15 FDB 074 Dubai 22:30 KNE 460 Riyadh 16:00 JZR 240 Amman 07:15 GFA 220 Bahrain 22:30 JZR 535 Cairo 16:10 THY 771 Istanbul 07:30 UAE 860 Dubai 22:50 NIA 251 Alexandria 16:15 JZR 778 Jeddah 07:55 KNE 461 Riyadh 22:50 KAC 562 Amman 16:20 FDB 054 Dubai 08:25 KAC 205 Islamabad 22:55 JZR 357 Mashhad 16:30 BAW 156 London 08:45 ETD 310 Abu Dhabi 23:00 QTR 1072 Doha 16:40 QTR 1087 Doha 08:50 QTR 1075 Doha 23:05 ETD 303 Abu Dhabi 16:55 JZR 534 Cairo 09:15 KLM 415 Dammam/Amsterdam 23:15 RJA 640 Amman 16:55 KAC 671 Dubai 09:25 KAC 544 Cairo 23:20 IRM 1180 Mashhad 17:00 ABY 126 Sharjah 09:40 KAC 543 Cairo 23:20 SVA 510 Riyadh 17:15 KAC 787 Jeddah 09:50 KAC 411 Bangkok/Manila 23:30 GFA 215 Bahrain 17:30 KAC 101 London/New York 09:50 MSC 404 Sohag 23:45 IZG 4161 Mashhad 17:45 UAE 856 Dubai 09:55 FDB 060 Dubai 23:55 Directorate General of Civil Aviation Home Page (www.kuwait-airport.com.kw) SATURDAY, DECEMBER 13, 2014

81. Produce ankylosis by surgery. Word Search Puzzles CROSSWORD753 82. Make amends for. DOWN 1. Large dark brown North American arboreal carnivorous mammal. 2. Naked freshwater or marine or parasitic protozoa that form temporary pseudopods for feeding and locomotion. 3. A flowering shrub bearing currants or gooseberries. 4. Buying or selling securities or commodities. 5. One million periods per second. 6. Any of various strong liquors distilled from the fermented sap of toddy palms or from fermented molasses. 7. (British) A linear measure of 16.5 feet. 8. A member of an Indian people formerly living along the Gulf coast of Louisiana and Texas. 9. The capital of Australia. 10. A flat wing-shaped process or winglike part of an organism. 11. Usually tropical slender-bodied long-legged moth whose larvae are crop pests. 12. An official language of the Republic of South Africa. 13. A small piece of anything (especially a piece that has been snipped off). 14. An informal term for a father. 22. (of tempo) Moderately slow n. 24. A guided missile fired from shipboard against an airborne target. 26. An island of central Hawaii (between Molokai and Kauai). 28. All the New World monkeys except marmosets and tamarins. 31. A town in central Kansas. 32. A tricyclic antidepressant drug (trade name Elavil) with serious side effects. 33. Roman statesman and philosopher who was and advisor to Nero (circa 4 BC - 65 AD). 35. The sensation that results when olfactory receptors in the nose are stimulated by particular chemicals in gaseous form. 36. The present occasion. 37. Small tropical American tree bearing edible plumlike fruit. ACROSS 42. A Russian river. 1. Relating to only part of a whole. 44. An audiotape recording of sound. 5. A percussion instrument consisting of a pair of hollow pieces of wood or bone 47. The occurrence of a change for the worse. (usually held between the thumb and fingers) that are made to click together (as 50. An alloy of copper and zinc (and sometimes arsenic) used to imitate gold in by Spanish dancers) in rhythm with the dance. cheap jewelry and for gilding. 11. An anxiety disorder associated with serious traumatic events and characterized 52. Someone who works (or provides workers) during a strike. Yesterday’s Solution by such symptoms as guilt about surviving or reliving the trauma in dreams or 55. A monarchy in northwestern Europe occupying most of the British Isles. numbness and lack of involvement with reality or recurrent thoughts and images. 56. A colorless odorless gaseous element that give a red glow in a vacuum tube. 15. An independent ruler or chieftain (especially in Africa or Arabia). 59. 1,000 baiza equal 1 riyal-omani. 16. Any of several lichens of the genus Parmelia from which reddish brown or pur- 60. Malicious burning to destroy property. ple dyes are made. 62. Lower in esteem. 17. A member of an extinct North American Indian people who lived in the Pit river 64. A United Nations agency created to assist developing nations by loans guaran- valley in northern California. teed by member governments. 18. Cubes of meat marinated and cooked on a skewer usually with vegetables. 65. On or toward the lee. 19. A city in southern Turkey on the Seyhan River. 66. In a murderous frenzy as if possessed by a demon. 20. A sudden short attack. 68. Type genus of the Apidae. 21. In bed. 69. Large genus of tropical subshrubs or herbs some of which yield fibers of 23. A unit of information equal to 1024 bytes. mucilaginous substances. 25. The craniometric point at the bridge of the nose where the frontal and nasal 70. A person regarded as arrogant and annoying. bones of the skull meet. 71. Displeasing to the senses and morally revolting. 27. Foul with waste matter. 73. A pass between mountain peaks. 29. A coenzyme derived from the B vitamin nicotinic acid. 77. A Mid-Atlantic state. 30. Land and buildings together considered as a place of business. 78. Conforming to truth. 34. A Nilo-Saharan language spoken by the Songhai people in Mali and Niger. 38. Someone who engages in arbitrage (who purchases securities in one market for immediate resale in another in the hope of profiting from the price differential). Yesterday’s Solution 39. (British) An open river valley (in a hilly area). 40. An artificial language that is a revision and simplification of Esperanto. 41. Beyond what is natural. 43. A resource. 45. A local computer network for communication between computers. 46. A member of a formerly tribal people in south central India. 48. A sock with a separation for the big toe. 49. (linguistics) Relating to the dative case. 51. A member of the Mayan people of the Yucatan peninsula in Mexico. 53. A recurring sleep state during which rapid eye movements do not occur and dreaming does not occur. 54. A unit of apothecary weight equal to 480 grains or one twelfth of a pound. 57. The arch of bone beneath the eye that forms the prominence of the cheek. 58. A loose sleeveless outer garment made from aba cloth. 61. Large brownish-green New Zealand parrot. 63. Waterfall in Canada is the Horseshoe Falls. 67. Tall feather palm of northern Brazil with hard-shelled nuts yielding valuable oil Maze and a kind of vegetable ivory. 72. Discrimination in favor of the able-bodied. 74. (music) The speed at which a composition is to be played. 75. (prefix) Coming before or being preliminary or preparatory. 76. An animal disease that can be transmitted to humans. 79. A unit of pain intensity. 80. A sweetened beverage of diluted fruit juice.

Daily SuDoku Yesterday’s Solution SPORTS SATURDAY, DECEMBER 13, 2014 Blackhawks edge past Bruins

BOSTON: Ben Smith assisted on the Blackhawks’ first goal and T.J. Oshie and Paul Stastny added insurance goals at 15:47 and scored their second to lead Chicago to its eighth consecutive vic- 17:48. Kyle Okposo scored his sixth goal for New York at 18:16, NHL results/standings tory, 3-2 over the Boston Bruins on Thursday night. before Jaden Schwartz ended any hopes of a comeback with an The Blackhawks lost captain and No. 2 scorer Jonathan Toews empty-net goal at 18:56. Chicago 3, Boston 2; Buffalo 4, Calgary 3; Philadelphia 4, in the second period when Dennis Seidenberg hit him from After surrendering just four goals during a three game win- New Jersey 1; Columbus 3, Washington 2 (OT); Los behind and sent him face-first into the boards. ning streak, the Islanders have given up 17 during their skid - Angeles 5, Ottawa 3; Tampa Bay 2, Carolina 1; St. Louis 6, Scott Darling made 32 saves for the Blackhawks, who have including six twice to the Blues. The Islanders tied it with a pair of NY Islanders 3; Colorado 4, Winnipeg 3 (SO); Nashville 5, won 11 of 12 and lost just twice in the past month. Tuukka Rask goals late in the second period. John Tavares scored his 12th goal Arizona 1; San Jose 2, Minnesota 1. stopped 18 shots for Boston. The Bruins have lost four of five and of the season at 16:03 to put the Islanders on the board. Mikhail six out of eight. Reilly Smith and Torey Klug scored for Boston. Grabovski’s unassisted goal at 19:55 tied it. The Bruins were boosted by the return of captain Zdeno Western Conference Chara, who missed seven weeks with a torn ligament in his left PREDATORS 5, COYOTES 1 Pacific Division knee. Klas Dahlbeck and Patrick Kane also scored for Chicago, and James Neal had a goal and an assist, Pekka Rinne stopped 31 W L OTL GF GA PTS Marcus Kruger had a pair of assists as the Blackhawks opened a 3- shots for his NHL-best 19th win, and Nashville sent slumping Anaheim 19 6 5 87 80 43 0 lead midway through the second period. Arizona to its eighth straight loss. Vancouver 18 9 2 88 81 38 Mike Fisher, Ryan Ellis, Calle Jarnkrok and Olli Jokinen also Calgary 17 11 2 93 80 36 FLYERS 4, DEVILS 1 scored in the Predators’ second consecutive win. Mike Ribeiro San Jose 16 11 4 88 82 36 Matt Read and Sean Couturier each had a goal and an assist to added his team-best 17th assist in a boo-filled return to Arizona Los Angeles 15 9 5 77 63 35 lead Philadelphia over New Jersey. Wayne Simmonds added a following a summer contract buyout. Antoine Vermette’s goal Arizona 10 16 3 67 95 23 power-play goal for the Flyers, and Jakub Voracek scored an emp- early in the first period was the only blemish for Rinne, who Edmonton 7 17 5 63 98 19 ty-netter late in the third period to seal the win. improved to 19-5-1. Central Division Martin Havlat scored for the Devils. The Flyers opened a four- Mike Smith had 33 saves as Arizona extended its longest home Chicago 20 8 1 91 57 41 game homestand with a needed win after dropping four of five skid since the team moved from Winnipeg in 1996. The Coyotes Nashville 19 7 2 78 55 40 on the road. Three of the four losses were by one goal. have lost four straight overall and nine of 11. St. Louis 19 8 2 86 68 40 The Devils have lost two straight. With Steve Mason 0-5 Winnipeg 15 9 6 72 70 36 against the Devils, Ray Emery got the start for the Flyers. Emery AVALANCHE 4, JETS 3 Minnesota 15 11 1 77 67 31 was 0-4 with a 4.12 GAA in his last four starts. But he was hardly Matt Duchene had a goal and an assist in regulation and tested against the Devils and earned his fifth win. scored the decisive goal in the shootout, Calvin Pickard had 30 Colorado 10 13 6 76 95 26 saves through overtime, and stopped two more shots with the Dallas 10 13 5 81 100 25 SABRES 4, FLAMES 3 game on the line as Colorado rallied to beat Winnipeg. Eastern Conference Matt Moulson scored twice and Jhonas Enroth stopped 42 Ryan O’Reilly and Jarome Iginla also had regulation goals for Atlantic Division shots as Buffalo beat Calgary. Zemgus Girgnsons and Marcus Colorado, which snapped a four-game skid. Mark Scheifele, who Tampa Bay 19 8 3 103 78 41 Foligno also scored for the Sabres, and Tyler Ennis had three had a goal and two assists, gave Winnipeg a 3-1 lead at 4:32 of Detroit 17 6 6 89 72 40 assists. Moulson’s second of the game, on a pass from Ennis with the third, but Iginla’s wrister with 7:05 left got the Avalanche Montreal 18 10 2 77 77 38 7:29 to go, broke the 3-all tie and gave the Sabres their second within a goal. O’Reilly tied it with 2:42 remaining in regulation. Toronto 16 9 3 95 81 35 straight win. Mark Giordano, Sean Monahan and David Jones After a scoreless overtime, Nathan MacKinnon and Duchene beat Boston 15 13 1 74 75 31 scored for Calgary, which outshot Buffalo 45-19. The Sabres have goalie Ondrej Pavelec with a couple of backhanders. Pickard Florida 11 8 7 58 68 29 won four straight at home, and are 4-4 against the Pacific stopped Mathieu Perreault and Blake Wheeler in the shootout to Ottawa 11 12 5 73 79 27 Division. get the win. Buffalo 11 16 2 52 88 24 Metropolitan Division BLUE JACKETS 3, CAPITALS 2 SHARKS 2, WILD 1 Pittsburgh 18 6 3 88 64 39 Nick Foligno scored a power-play goal at 4:41 of overtime, Joe Pavelski scored the tiebreaking goal early in the third peri- NY Islanders 19 10 0 93 85 38 Sergei Bobrovsky had 39 saves, and Columbus topped od and Alex Stalock made 18 saves against his hometown team Washington 13 10 5 81 77 31 Washington for its fifth straight victory. to lead the San Jose to its seventh win in eight games, beating NY Rangers 12 10 4 77 76 28 With Jason Chimera in the penalty box for interference, Minnesota. Brent Burns also scored and Joe Thornton had two Foligno put a slap shot from the right circle past goalie Braden assists for the Sharks, who have won five straight at home after a New Jersey 11 14 5 69 87 27 Holtby to give the Blue Jackets their only lead of the game. It was slow start at the Shark Tank. Christian Folin scored his first career Philadelphia 10 13 5 74 86 25 Foligno’s second goal of the game and team-high 13th of the sea- goal to tie it just 45 seconds before Pavelski’s goal, and the Wild Columbus 11 15 2 67 92 24 son. Kevin Connauton also scored for Columbus. Washington fin- lost for the 10th time in 11 games in San Jose. Darcy Kuemper Carolina 8 17 3 60 78 19 ished with a 41-23 advantage in shots, but Bobrovsky was the made 28 saves. After the teams combined for just one goal in the Note: Overtime losses (OTL) are worth one point in the equalizer. Eric Fehr and Troy Brouwer had goals for the Capitals, first 40 minutes, they each scored once in the opening 2 minutes standings and are not included in the loss column (L). whose three-game winning streak ended. of the third period. — AP

LIGHTNING 2, HURRICANES 1 Nikita Kucherov scored a pair of goals in the third period to lift Tampa Bay over Carolina. Kucherov scored the winner when his pass went off Carolina defenseman Ron Hainsey and into the net with 30.3 seconds to play. Lightning backup Evgeni Nabokov made 29 saves in his 353rd NHL victory, two away from tying Rogie Vachon for 17th place on the league’s career list. Justin Faulk scored for the Hurricanes, who have scored four goals during a four-game losing streak. Cam Ward stopped 25 shots.

KINGS 5, SENATORS 3 Trevor Lewis’ goal at 4:02 of the third period held up as the winner as Los Angeles beat Ottawa in Dave Cameron’s first game as Senators head coach. Cameron was promoted on Monday by Ottawa after Paul MacLean was fired. Matt Greene, Justin Williams, Anze Kopitar and Tanner Pearson also scored for the Kings. Jake Muzzin had three assists, and Jonathan Quick made 32 saves. Bobby Ryan, Mark Stone and Jared Cowen scored for the Senators (11-12-5). Craig Anderson stopped 31 shots. Trailing 2-1, the Senators got off to a solid start in the third period to tie the game, but in less than two minutes the Kings regained a two-goal lead. With 1:21 remaining, Cowen got a shot through traffic that eluded Quick, but Pearson scored into an empty net for his 11th goal of the season.

BLUES 6, ISLANDERS 3 NEW YORK: In this Oct. 13, 2010, file photo, Buffalo Sabres’ Cody McCormick (right) fights with New Jersey Devils’ Mark Alexander Steen scored two goals, and Jake Allen made 25 Fraser during the first period of an NHL hockey game in Buffalo. Fighting has been a part of the NHL for about as long as saves in St. Louis’ win against the suddenly slumping New York the sport has existed. The NHL has toughened penalties and imposed longer suspensions for cheap shots, undercutting Islanders. Steen’s goal at 4:34 of the third period broke a 2-2 tie. the players’ unwritten code of justice. — AP SPORTS SATURDAY, DECEMBER 13, 2014 ‘Better than ever’ Khan vows to destroy Alexander

LOS ANGELES: British boxer Amir Khan is snatched it from Porter in August. Even Mayweather’s fight against Marcos Maidana defense. “When I put an attack together desperate to make up for lost time when he though there is no title on the line this time and saw Khan quickly shake off any rust from there has to be a way out or there has to be a finally steps into the ring today in Las Vegas at the MGM Grand Hotel, Khan (29-3, 19 KOs) a 12-month ring absence in impressive fash- way to stay out of trouble during that to face the American southpaw Devon sees today as a stepping stone to bigger pay- ion. assault,” said Khan. Alexander. “Devon’s got me at my best time. days and a chance to show off his improved “You can still be exciting, throw a lot of I am going to be more ready than I was last defensive skills. “It didn’t happen last WHO WEARS GOLD SHORTS? punches, but you have to be careful at the year,” said Khan, who will wear boxing’s December because obviously we changed a Both have made some special plans for same time.” The 27-year-old Alexander “most expensive shorts”-white nappa few things and I was hoping for the big fight this fight. Khan will be wearing his $31,000 meanwhile looked impressive in beating leather, silk and featuring a waistband made against Floyd and that fell through,” said the trunks, while Alexander, who is from St. Jesus Soto Karass six months ago. of 24-carat gold thread. former IBF and World Boxing Association Louis, Missouri, will have as a guest the “I don’t see anything special with Khan,” Khan, who turned 28 on Monday and has light welterweight world champ. father of Michael Brown, the 18-year-old said the American. “He’s a little fast but among the fastest hands in boxing, was orig- “You can’t compare the Amir Khan 12 shot dead by a policeman in the St. Louis what else? Everybody’s fast. You’ve got to inally scheduled to fight the dangerous months ago to the Amir Khan now, I am way suburb of Ferguson. have something else in your arsenal at the Alexander for the International Boxing ahead. I am much better and much smarter.” Khan has been training in Oakland, top level.” Promoter Oscar De La Hoya has Federation welterweight title last December Khan and former two-division champion California, with Virgil Hunter since been billing today’s fight as a stepping in New York. Alexander (26-2, 14 KOs) will square off in a September. Khan says in 13 weeks of training stone to a Mayweather or Manny Pacquiao But the Briton scrapped the bout because 12-round non-title welterweight bout. he has sparred 162 rounds. world title bout. But asked earlier this he thought he had a chance at landing a Khan is coming off a victorious welter- Hiring Hunter as his trainer is the best week by reporters to be more specific, De blockbuster showdown with Floyd weight debut in May, when he looked sharp career move he has ever made, says Khan, La Hoya said: “I am just speaking as a pro- Mayweather that never came off. in a unanimous decision over former cham- resulting in three straight victories. moter... I don’t know if a Pacquiao and Alexander then lost the title to Shawn pion Luis Collazo. Khan’s critics say he has a glass chin so Mayweather fight’s going to happen. I Porter, and Khan’s fellow Brit Kell Brook That bout was on the undercard of Hunter has been trying to improve his have no idea.”—AFP

BHUBANESWAR: India’s hockey player Sardar Singh (center) dribbles past Belgium’s player John John Dohmen (right) during their Hero Hockey Champions Trophy quarter final match. —AFP India, Pakistan set for intriguing semi

BHUBANESWAR: Arch-rivals India and fought back from a 0-2 deficit to beat number his joy with a suggestion. “To make this for- medals at the Western-boycotted Moscow Pakistan return to centre stage in field hockey four Belgium 4-2. Eleventh-ranked Pakistan mat fair to everyone, a handicap of one goal Games in 1980. yesterday after a controversial format helped stunned the Dutch by a similar margin after should be given to the table-toppers,” he said. Dutchman Roelant Oltmans, India’s high them reach the Champions Trophy semi-finals losing all their three league matches. The performance director who is acting as coach in Bhubaneswar. Germans knocked out England 2-0 and FORMER MASTERS after Australian Terry Walsh was controversial- Instead of rewarding performances in the Australia ousted Argentina 4-2. Millions of fans across India and Pakistan ly axed last month, preferred to look ahead to preliminary league, all eight teams were Dutch coach Max Caldas had been wary of will tune in to what should be a rousing semi- the 2016 Olympics. “We need to play tough assured of reaching the quarter-finals-a round the format from the start. “If you lose all three final, a repeat of the Asian Games gold medal matches to prepare for the Olympics,” said which turned the tournament on its head, league games, you could still win the tourna- clash in South Korea in October which India Oltmans, who had earlier coached Pakistan. and left some teams quietly fuming. ment and I think that’s bad,” he had said earli- won in a penalty shoot-out. “And this tournament is as tough as it gets.” The top four teams in the league-England, er in the week. Once the masters of the sport, neither The other semi-final promises to be a the Netherlands, Argentina and Belgium-were In contrast, the surviving teams could not team has advanced to the final of a major classic between two young sides.Australia all knocked out in Thursday’s round of eight, hide their glee. “Although I am not in favour world competition since 1998, when Pakistan wear a new look in the absence of veterans while the bottom four sailed through to the of this (format), today I don’t mind it,” lost the Champions Trophy final to the Dutch Liam de Young and Rob Hammond, who semi-finals. Australian coach Graham Reid said on in Lahore. retired after the World Cup in June, and five- The format also helped new-look world Thursday. “I am so happy that both teams are in the time world player of the year Jamie Dwyer champions Australia, seeking a sixth succes- German captain Moritz Furste added: “In semi-final,” Shaikh said. “For fans it is a dream. and Mark Knowles, who are both injured. sive title, and Olympic gold-medallists this situation it is good for us. It has given us a For me, it is a good sign that Asian teams Germany, with seven junior World Cup win- Germany recover from shaky starts to line up lease of life. We can go on to win the tourna- have started to do well again.” ners from 2013 in their squad, are banking for Saturday’s other semi-final. ment from here.” India have not won a major title since bag- on Furste, the world player of the year in Hosts India, ranked ninth in the world, Pakistan coach Shahnaz Shaikh tempered ging the last of their eight Olympic gold 2012, to deliver.—AFP SPORTS SATURDAY, DECEMBER 13, 2014 Samuels, Smith Warner puts Aussies on confident top as Test turns feisty

ahead of Tests ADELAIDE: David Warner’s second cen- tury put Australia in control of the first BENONI: West Indian batsmen Marlon Samuels and Test against India but umpires twice had Devon Smith both expressed confidence on Friday after to intervene as tempers flared in the third and final day of the tourists’ match against a Adelaide. South African Invitation XI at Willowmoore Park was Warner’s batting again caused trou- abandoned without a ball bowled because of rain. ble for India, scoring 102 to go with his The West Indians were in a strong position with the emotional first-day 145 as Australia built Invitation XI due to resume their second innings at 17 for a healthy lead in the first of the four-Test no wicket, still 366 runs behind the West Indian first series. At the close, the Australians had innings total of 508. extended their overall lead to 363 runs Samuels hit 203 and Smith 174, with both batsmen at 290 for five, with an overnight decla- retiring. The pair put on 360 for the third wicket. ration expected. First-innings centurion “I basically paced myself. I am confident,” said Steve Smith was 52 not out and Brad Samuels. “I have been batting very well and I used that Haddin was on 14. The home side went momentum to bring me into this game. I am just enjoy- after runs late in the day and Mitchell ing batting at the moment and putting some good Marsh clubbed leg-spinner Karn Sharma scores on the board and helping out my team as much for three sixes and a four in one over, as possible”. before he was caught on the ropes for Smith, 33, who came into the Test squad as a late 40 off 26 balls while going after another replacement for the injured Chris Gayle, said he had six. The highest successful run chase at arrived in South Africa feeling confident after shining in the Adelaide Oval remains 315 for six by the West Indian domestic first-class competition. “I feel Australia against England in 1902. But it good. I think I was in good touch for the first round of was a day marked by confrontations, the first-class season. I had the most runs before I left and English umpire Ian Gould had to home so I think this trend continued from where I left step in as players exchanged terse off,” he said Smith. “I am a little more mature now so I words and pointed fingers at each other. think my game play is different than before”. The first spat came after Warner was The left-hander from Grenada said he had changed bowled by express paceman Varun his approach to batting and he intended to use the tour Aaron for 66 in the 34th over, only to be of South Africa as an opportunity to cement his place in recalled when replays showed Aaron the West Indies team. had sent down a no-ball. Aaron had giv- “I try to apply myself as long as possible to the wicket en Warner a loud send-off, but the pug- and I think I am a bit more selective in my shot playing.” nacious opener responded in kind when The first of three Tests against South Africa starts at he was recalled to the crease. Shane Centurion on Wednesday.—AFP Watson, Virat Kohli and Shikhar Dhawan all joined in, exchanging sharp words AUSTRALIA:India’s Mohammed Shami (right) plays a shot as Australia’s Brad before umpire Gould eventually calmed Haddin (left) looks on during the fourth day of the first Test cricket match. —AFP down the warring parties. “I don’t know if the temperatures got morning session. through 47 minutes into the morning Gulf Women’s to 40 degrees-plus but I think it was get- Lyon captured five for 134 off 36 session when he brilliantly caught Rohit ting to a few people out there, but that’s overs as India unravelled after resuming Sharma for 43 off his own bowling. Cricket Cup cricket, it happens,” Warner said. at 369 for five. The tourists lost five wick- Lyon dived across the pitch and “When some decisions don’t go your ets for 75 on the fourth morning, with snapped up a two-handed catch just off way and you get bowled off a no-ball, Lyon leading the way with his unpre- the ground to dismiss Sharma and KUWAIT: Kuwait National women’s cricket team is all set to it’s what happens. “They’re going to dictable turn out of the bowlers’ foot- enable the Australians to expose the take up the challenge and are fully geared up to take part in come at you and you just have to learn marks. Lyon, coming off a poor series Indian tail. the inaugural GCC women’s T20 cricket tournament being to bite your tongue a bit and sometimes against Pakistan in the United Arab “We’ve seen how much Nathan’s hosted by Oman Cricket Association from Dec 13-20, 2014 at you don’t.” Emirates where he captured three Test evolved in the last 12-18 months,” Oman. This tournament is well designed for women cricketers wickets at an average of 140, thanked Warner said. “He’s worked hard at his to show their skill and talent and since long many of the GCC UNPREDICTABLE TURN India paceman Ishant Sharma for creat- game, he’s now got a five-wicket haul in women’s team have not been playing International cricket Tensions again rose when Smith and ing demons in the Adelaide Oval pitch the first innings and there’s no reason and it is for the first time that a cricket tournament for women Kohli came together, prompting Warner with his bowling footmarks. why he can’t come out tomorrow with is being organized by Oman and 4 GCC teams to the likes of to run down from the other end of the It was an outstanding piece of cricket his tail up and help us take these 10 Kuwait, Qatar, UAE and host Oman are participating in this pitch and come face-to-face with the by Lyon that triggered the break- wickets.” —AFP prestigious tournament. Indian captain before Gould again Kuwait women’s team under the astute captaincy of restored peace. Indian batsman Ajinkya Mariyam Omar have been undergoing vigorous training and Rahane said the feistiness was not a SCOREBOARD are beaming with confidence as they have been eagerly wait- problem. ing to participate in an international tournament. The team “It was competitive and between ADELAIDE, Australia: Scoreboard at the close on the fourth day of the first Test between Australia and India at Adelaide Oval yesterday: consists of some experienced players who have ample expo- India and Australia it’s always competi- sure to International cricket and some young blood who has tive cricket and it’s good for cricket,” Australia 1st innings 517 for 7 declared (S. Bowling: Johnson 22-6-102-2 (2nb), Harris 21- been motivated into this game. Tariq Rasool, the coach along Rahane said. “I thought both umpires Smith 162 not out, D. Warner 145, M. Clarke 6-55-1, Lyon 36-4-134-5, Siddle 18.4-2-88-2 128; M. Shami 2-120) (1w), Marsh 11-4-29-0, Watson 5-1-13-0, Smith with Sandra Almedia and Mehaboob Khan the Manager of the handled the situations really well and team are both confident that the team would perform well India 1st innings (369 for 5 overnight) 3-0-19-0 that’s going to happen... it’s really good M. Vijay c Haddin b Johnson 53 and can be the dark horse of the tournament as they are capa- for the game.” S. Dhawan b Harris 25 Australia 2nd innings ble of upsetting any favorite team on a given day. Warner, dropped on 89, was finally C. Pujara b Lyon 73 C. Rogers c R. Sharma b K. Sharma 21 The inaugural GCC Women’s Twenty20 Championship will out in the 60th over when he was V. Kohli c Harris b Johnson 115 D. Warner b K.Sharma 102 be played in Oman this month. The five-day event will feature bowled around his legs by Karn Sharma. A. Rahane c Watson b Lyon 62 S. Watson b Shami 33 the hosts along with Kuwait, Qatar, and UAE. “It’s a wonderful The Indians also claimed the wickets of R. Sharma c and b Lyon 43 M. Clarke c Saha b Aaron 7 opportunity for the women to play some international cricket Chris Rogers (21), Watson (33) and skip- W. Saha c Watson b Lyon 25 S. Smith not out 52 after quite some time,” says ACC Development Officer Iqbal per Michael Clarke (7), but with each run K. Sharma b Siddle 4 M. Marsh c Vijay b R. Sharma 40 Sikander. The initiative has been taken by Oman and is mak- Australia were making the task even M. Shami c Watson b Siddle 34 B. Haddin not out 14 ing use of the funds allocated to women’s cricket by the ACC. more difficult for the tourists on a wear- I. Sharma c Smith b Lyon 0 UAE, the pioneers of women’s cricket in the Gulf, who have ing pitch heading into Saturday’s final V. Aaron not out 3 Extras (b1, lb6, w5, nb9) 21 been playing in ACC women’s events since 2007 have select- day. The Australians took charge after Extras (lb4, w1, nb2) 7 Total (5 wickets; 69 overs) 290 ed a strong squad from more than 40 hopefuls. Quoted in Gulf dismissing the tourists for 444 before Total (all out; 116.4 overs) 444 Fall of wickets: 1-38 (Rogers), 2-140 (Watson), News, team manager (and former national player) Manvi lunch to open a 73-run lead. Off-spinner Fall of wickets: 1-30 (Dhawan), 2-111 (Vijay), 3- 3-168 (Clarke), 4-213 (Warner), 5-266 (Marsh) Dhodhi says “many academies in the UAE are now producing Nathan Lyon claimed his sixth five-wick- 192 (Pujara), 4-293 (Rahane), 5-367 (Kohli), 6- Bowling: Shami 11-2-42-1, I. Sharma 14-3-41-0 women cricketers...it was an intense competition for the 15 et Test haul to bowl Australia into a 399 (R. Sharma), 7-406 (K. Sharma), 8-422 (6nb), K. Sharma 16-2-95-2, Vijay 6-0-27-0, R. member team. handy lead over India in the extended (Saha), 9-422 (I. Sharma), 10-444 (Shami) Sharma 12-2-35-1, Aaron 10-0-43-1 (1w, 2nb). SPORTS SATURDAY, DECEMBER 13, 2014 Cowboys and Eagles grapple for top spot

LOS ANGELES: Rookie Johnny Manziel makes his first start and top spot is on the line in Philadelphia as week 15 of the NFL season sees several teams trying to solidify playoff positions. The Dallas Cowboys, who are tied for first place in the NFC East Division with the Eagles, visit Philadelphia tomor- row. Philadelphia won the US Thanksgiving Day meeting 33- 10 but the Cowboys are a perfect 6-0 on the road this year after winning 41-28 in Chicago last Thursday. In the night game Thursday, Chandler Catanzaro boot- ed four field goals to help the Arizona Cardinals defeat the St. Louis Rams 12-6, for their 11th win of the season The Cowboys didn’t look past the Bears and now they must shift their attention to the Eagles and Lincoln Financial Field. Cowboys quarterback Tony Romo has been bothered by back and rib injuries but he still threw for three touchdowns against the Bears. The league’s leading rusher, DeMarco Murray, tallied 179 yards and a touchdown on a season-high 32 carries in Chicago. Murray has rushed for 100-plus yards 11 times this sea- son and is first in the league in rushing yards (1,606), yards per game (123.5) and carries (320). He also has nine rush- ing touchdowns. But Murray had a season-low 73 yards on 20 carries in a 33-10 loss to Philadelphia on Thanksgiving. “Obviously, I NEW YORK: St. Louis Rams quarterback Shaun Hill (14) is sacked by Arizona Cardinals’ Larry Foote (50) during the sec- hear about it, but I’m not thinking about it,” Murray said. ond half of an NFL football game. —AP “I’m just going out here and trying to win some games.” The Eagles stopped him once but Murray is ready.”We know what’s at stake. We can’t make it bigger than it is,” Cardinals beat Rams Murray said. “We’ve got to come out and not try to do too much ... just stick to our game plan, stick to our identity of what we’ve done in the past.” NEW YORK: The Arizona Cardinals posted their After visiting the Eagles, Dallas will host Indianapolis best record in the National Football League after NFL standings and visit Washington to close out the regular season. a dour 12-6 road victory over the St. Louis Rams Philadelphia’s high-powered offence was shut down in on Thursday. Sunday’s 24-14 loss to the defending Super Bowl champi- The Cardinals won a defensive contest in a American Football Conference on Seattle Seahawks. AFC East game devoid of touchdowns to improve to 11-3 W L T OTL PF PA PCT Running back LeSean McCoy had a death in the family on the season, tying the franchise mark for wins New England 10 3 0 0 401 267 .769 leading up to the game and said his focus was not there. in a season. Miami 7 6 0 0 314 260 .538 He had 50 yards on 17 carries and a costly fumble to open They consolidated their lead in the NFC West Buffalo 7 6 0 0 281 241 .538 the second half. ahead of defending Super Bowl champions NY Jets 2 11 0 1 214 349 .154 “It is a big, big game, a must-win type of game,” McCoy Seattle (9-4) and almost certainly secured at least AFC North said. “And there is nothing better than having them a wild-card playoff spot with two regular season Cincinnati 8 4 1 0 281 289 .654 games left. Pittsburgh 8 5 0 0 362 319 .615 (Cowboys) here, in Philly. I guess we will see this Sunday.” But it was not all good news for Arizona, who Baltimore 8 5 0 0 356 255 .615 Rookie quarterback Manziel will make his first NFL start lost quarterback Drew Stanton to a knee injury Cleveland 7 6 0 0 276 270 .538 when the Cleveland Browns host the Cincinnati Bengals. AFC South Manziel, one of Cleveland’s two first-round picks in the when he was sacked in the third quarter, Indianapolis 9 4 0 0 407 307 .692 replaced by third-string Ryan Lindley. Houston 7 6 0 1 314 260 .538 2014 draft, takes over for struggling veteran Brian Hoyer Arizona’s first-choice quarterback Carson Tennessee 2 11 0 0 220 374 .154 with the Browns trying to stay alive in the AFC playoff race Palmer had also suffered a season-ending knee Jacksonville 2 11 0 0 199 356 .154 at 7-6. injury in November. Stanton completed 12-of-20 AFC West With their playoff chances starting to fade, the Browns passes for 109 yards before departing and there Denver 10 3 0 1 385 293 .769 hope Manziel can give their offence a shot in the arm. “This was no immediate word on the seriousness of his San Diego 8 5 0 0 293 272 .615 decision is really not about Brian Hoyer or Johnny Manziel, injury. Kansas City 7 6 0 0 291 241 .538 Oakland 2 11 0 0 200 350 .154 it is about the Cleveland Browns,” said coach Mike Pettine. The loss eliminated the Rams (6-8) from play- “We are always going to make decisions that we feel are in off contention. After holding their opponents National Football Conference NFC East the best interest of the team.” scoreless the past two weeks, they again played Philadelphia 9 4 0 0 389 309 .692 strong defense, giving up just four field goals, Cleveland is last in the tough AFC North but just one Dallas 9 4 0 1 343 301 .692 game behind both Pittsburgh and Baltimore. The Carolina but on this occasion their offense did not do NY Giants 4 9 0 0 293 326 .308 enough. Washington 3 10 0 0 244 346 .231 Panthers are going to have to get along without quarter- “That’s one of the best wins I’ve ever been a NFC North back part of,” Arizona coach Bruce Arians told Green Bay 10 3 0 0 423 304 .769 Cam Newton in their game against Tampa Bay. Backup reporters after the first NFL game without a Detroit 9 4 0 0 265 224 .692 Derek Anderson will start in place of Newton, who suffered touchdown in two years. Minnesota 6 7 0 0 263 281 .462 fractures in his lower back as a result of a car accident on “Our defense was outstanding. Everybody Chicago 5 8 0 1 281 378 .385 Tuesday. He was released from hospital the next morning wanted to talk all that stuff about how great their NFC South Atlanta 5 8 0 0 328 342 .385 and will be re-evaluated next week. (St. Louis) defense is. I think they saw a good New Orleans 5 8 0 2 333 359 .385 The hard-luck Cardinals won their 11th game of the sea- defense tonight. It was in red-and-white (Arizona Carolina 4 8 1 0 269 341 .346 son on Thursday but they lost another quarterback to colors). I thought our defensive line whipped Tampa Bay 2 11 0 2 237 348 .154 injury in Drew Stanton. their offensive line pretty solid. NFC West Stanton exited Thursday’s game against the Rams with “I’m very, very proud of our guys. It was a Arizona 11 3 0 0 287 244 .786 great team victory. I love it when nobody says Seattle 9 4 0 0 322 235 .692 a right knee injury. Stanton started his fourth straight you’ve got a chance to win. There’s an 11-3 team San Francisco 7 6 0 0 244 268 .538 game after Carson Palmer tore the anterior cruciate liga- and a team that’s always 8-and-8. You figure it St. Louis 6 8 0 0 291 297 .429 ment in his left knee in a 31-14 win over the Rams on out.” —Reuters November 9. —AFP SPORTS SATURDAY, DECEMBER 13, 2014 Warriors down Rockets, Hawks soar

OAKLAND: Klay Thompson and Stephen at halftime before opening the third quarter The teams both shot only nine free which has lost six straight. Curry shook off slow starts to finish with a with an 11-4 run. throws, the first time this season each team The Pacers made a furious fourth-quarter flurry, and the Golden State Warriors extend- had fewer than 10. The Magic led 89-84 after charge after trailing 82-62 late in the third. ed their franchise-best winning streak to 14 WIZARDS 91, MAGIC 89 Harris’ dunk with 1:37 left in the game, but They opened the fourth on a 12-4 spurt, got games by beating the Houston Rockets 105- Bradley Beal converted a lob pass at the couldn’t score again. as close as five, but fell behind 95-87 with less 93 on Wednesday night. buzzer to lift Washington over Orlando. John than four minutes left. Indiana closed to 98- Thompson scored 21 points and Curry Wall led the Wizards with 21 points and 11 CLIPPERS 103, PACERS 96 96 on Allen’s midrange jumper with 2:00 to added 20 points, seven assists and seven assists, Nene added 12 points, Kris Jamal Crawford scored 18 points and play. rebounds to power an 11-0 run in the final minutes and turn a tight game into another BULLS 105, NETS 80 comfortable win. Golden State improved its Derrick Rose scored 23 points, Pau Gasol NBA-best record to 19-2 and helped Steve had 16 points and 16 rebounds, and Chicago Kerr became the first rookie coach to win 19 beat Brooklyn. Chicago had six players score of his first 21 games. in double figures, including all five starters. James Harden played through back pain Jimmy Butler had 18 points, Mike Dunleavy to finish with 34 points and eight rebounds scored 14, and Taj Gibson finished with 11 for the Rockets, who had won four straight points, 10 rebounds and six blocked shots. and seven of eight despite Dwight Howard Deron Williams led Brooklyn with 17 being sidelined. Howard (strained right knee) points, but the Nets dropped their third and Warriors center Andrew Bogut (right straight. Kevin Garnett scored 13 points, and knee tendinitis) both sat out. Harrison Barnes Alan Anderson had 12. Chicago grabbed con- finished with 20 points and seven rebounds, trol with a 17-3 run in the third quarter. Rose and reserve Marreese Speights had 15 points made a 3-pointer, and Gibson had a big dunk and eight rebounds for the Warriors. Trevor before Gasol capped the surge with four Ariza and Donatas Motiejunas each scored 18 straight points, including two foul shots that for the Rockets. made it 70-58 with 3:32 to go.

HAWKS 95, 76ERS 79 MAVERICKS 112, PELICANS 107 Kyle Korver and Paul Millsap each scored Donta Ellis scored 13 of his 26 points in 17 points, and Atlanta beat Philadelphia for the final 5 minutes, and Dallas outlasted New its eighth straight victory - the Hawks’ Orleans. longest winning streak in 17 years. New Orleans had a chance to tie it in the Korver sank five 3-pointers as Atlanta (15- final 6 seconds, but Ryan Anderson’s 3-point 6) posted its best streak since an 11-0 start to attempt bounced off the rim. Dallas’ Richard the 1997-98 season. DeMarre Carroll had 14 Jefferson grabbed the rebound, was fouled points and 11 rebounds for Atlanta. The and made both free throws to seal the win. Hawks averaged 104 points in their first sev- Dirk Nowitzki, Chandler Parsons and Devin en wins of the streak, but relied on defense Harris scored 20 points each for Dallas. against Philadelphia. Anthony Davis scored 31 points and added Alexey Shved had 13 points to lead the 11 rebounds before limping off the court in 76ers, who have won two of four since their the fourth quarter for the Pelicans. Jrue 0-17 start. Luc Mbah a Moute had 12 points, Holiday added a season-high 30 points and and K.J. McDaniels and Jerami Grant each 10 assists. had 10. TIMBERWOLVES 90, TRAIL BLAZERS 82 SPURS 109, KNICKS 95 Andrew Wiggins had 23 points, 10 Marco Belinelli scored a season-high 22 rebounds and four assists, and Minnesota points and short-handed San Antonio rolled stunned Portland. Corey Brewer had 19 to victory over the New York Knicks, who lost points, eight rebounds, five assists, and five their 10th straight. OAKLAND: Klay Thompson no. 11 of the Golden State Warriors drives on James Harden steals for the Timberwolves, who snapped a San Antonio, playing without its Big Four, No. 13 of the Houston Rockets at ORACLE Arena. —AFP six-game losing streak and won for just the was 10 for 19 on 3-pointers and shot 50 per- third time since Ricky Rubio went out with an cent overall. The Spurs had seven players in injured ankle on Nov. 7. They outrebounded double figures, getting 13 points from Danny NBA results/standings Portland 56-38 to overcome four key players Green and 12 from Boris Diaw. being out with injuries. San Antonio was without Tim Duncan, Oklahoma City 103, Cleveland 94; Houston 113, Sacramento 109 (OT). Damian Lillard had 23 points and seven Tony Parker, Manu Ginobili and Kawhi Eastern Conference Western Conference rebounds for the Trail Blazers. But LaMarcus Leonard. Parker (left hamstring) and Leonard Atlantic Division Northwest Division Aldridge managed just 10 points on 3-for-14 (bruised right hand) were injured, but W L PCT GB Portland 17 5 .773 - shooting, and Portland turned the ball over Duncan and Ginobili sat out to rest on the Toronto 16 6 .727 - Denver 10 12 .455 7 20 times while shooting 38.8 percent. The second night of a back-to-back. Tim Brooklyn 8 12 .400 7 Oklahoma City 9 13 .409 8 Blazers scored 16 points in the second quar- Hardaway Jr. scored 23 points on 9-for-18 Boston 7 13 .350 8 Utah 6 16 .273 11 ter and 15 in the third, their two lowest out- shooting for the Knicks (4-20). New York was NY Knicks 4 20 .167 13 Minnesota 5 16 .238 11.5 puts of the season and lost for just the sec- without Carmelo Anthony, who had soreness Philadelphia 2 19 .095 13.5 Pacific Division ond time in 16 games. Aldridge missed his Central Division in his left knee after playing 39 minutes in a Golden State 19 2 .905 - first six shots and went scoreless in the first Cleveland 13 8 .619 - loss Tuesday at New Orleans. LA Clippers 16 5 .762 3 half. Chicago 13 8 .619 - Phoenix 12 11 .522 8 Milwaukee 11 12 .478 3 HORNETS 96, CELTICS 87 Sacramento 11 12 .478 9 NUGGETS 102, HEAT 82 Al Jefferson had 23 points and 14 Indiana 7 15 .318 6.5 Wilson Chandler scored 17 points, Arron Detroit 3 19 .136 10.5 LA Lakers 6 16 .273 13.5 rebounds, and Charlotte withstood Boston’s Southwest Division Afflalo had 16 and Denver beat Miami to fourth-quarter rally to win. Kemba Walker Southeast Division snap a four-game losing streak. Chris Bosh Memphis 17 4 .810 - added 18 points, and Lance Stephenson had Atlanta 15 6 .714 - had 14 points to lead Miami, which has Houston 17 5 .773 0.5 13 for the Hornets, who led by 12 points in Washington 15 6 .714 - dropped four of its last five on the road after San Antonio 16 6 .727 1.5 the third quarter and were up 87-79 with 8:05 Miami 10 12 .455 5.5 starting the season 5-2 away from home. The Dallas 17 7 .708 1.5 left. The Celtics - led by Marcus Thornton’s 13 Orlando 9 15 .375 7.5 Heat are in the middle of a stretch of eight of New Orleans 10 11 .476 7 fourth-quarter points - pulled to 87-85 with Charlotte 6 15 .286 9 10 games on the road. 4:31 remaining. But Walker’s three-point play Denver has been streaky in the first quar- and back-to-back baskets by Jefferson Humphries scored 11, and Marcin Gortat had DeAndre Jordan grabbed a season-high 19 ter of the season. The Nuggets lost six pushed Charlotte’s lead to 94-85 with 1:19 10. Washington, which scored the final seven rebounds, helping the Los Angeles Clippers straight, won five in a row to go above .500, left. Rajon Rondo had a triple-double with 12 points, beat Orlando for the seventh straight hold off Indiana for their ninth straight win. but followed with the four-game slide. points, 10 rebounds and 10 assists for the time. Victor Oladipo had 17 points to lead the Los Angeles (16-5) ended a four-game skid The Nuggets led by 12 early but the Heat Celtics. Jeff Green and Thornton led Boston Magic. Tobias Harris added 15, Elfrid Payton against Indiana. CJ Miles scored a season- rallied to tie it at 48 at halftime. Denver with 16 points each, Tyler Zeller scored 13 had 12, and Channing Frye and Kyle O’Quinn high 30 points and made six 3-pointers. opened the final period on a 14-4 run to put and Brandon Bass 10. Charlotte trailed by five added 10 each. Lavoy Allen had 14 points for Indiana (7-15), it away.—AP SPORTS SATURDAY, DECEMBER 13, 2014 All change as United and Liverpool resume battle

LONDON: What a difference a year makes for Manchester United and Liverpool. As the bitter rivals prepare to resume hostilities at Old Trafford tomorrow, a reversal in fortunes has taken place that barely seemed possible at this time last season. Just 12 months ago, United’s title defence was in tat- ters and manager David Moyes was having to explain how he had managed to turn Alex Ferguson’s ferocious tiger of a team into an over-cautious kitten. Liverpool, meanwhile, could do no wrong. The goals were flowing freely as manager Brendan Rodgers adopted a system that allowed Luis Suarez and Daniel Sturridge to fill their boots and Anfield rejoiced as some long-lost swagger returned. In early December last year, United lost 1-0 at home to Everton and Newcastle United as the same players who had been runaway league champions the season before looked utterly shorn of belief. Their pain was heightened as their arch-rivals steamed ahead. A 3-1 win over Cardiff City courtesy of two goals from Suarez on Dec. 21 helped Liverpool go top of the ITALY: Manchester City players celebrate in this file photo. —AFP table playing a brand of entertaining football more com- monly seen at Old Trafford in recent seasons. Twelve months, however, is a long time in football and two transfer windows is sufficient to bring about a revo- European boost for City lution in an era when the stock of managers can rise meteorically and plummet like a stone after back-to-back LEICESTER: Manuel Pellegrini has told weeks with a knee ligament injury, while about time, because in the first part of wins or consecutive defeats. his Manchester City stars to build on captain Vincent Kompany could also still the season we did not play well. “We Now it is United who are starting to strut. With Moyes their impressive European escape act as be missing for the Leicester clash. have to forget what we did on a distant memory and the imposing figure of Dutchman they look to overhaul Premier League But they managed to beat Roma Wednesday by keeping in mind we have Louis van Gaal at the helm, United have returned to form. leaders Chelsea. City’s 2-0 victory at without Aguero, who has scored 19 the quality and if the focus is there I Five straight Premier League wins have lifted them to Roma on Wednesday allowed them to times this season, and Pellegrini has think it’s hard for any team to win third in the table, just as Liverpool suffered a stupefying secure an improbable place in the last- been at pains to point out that City are against us.” 0-0 draw at home to Sunderland last weekend that left 16 of the Champions League after they not a one-man team. Meanwhile, Leicester manager Nigel them ninth. had failed to win any of their first four “The same as Cristiano Ronaldo at Pearson has been charged by the Another lifeless draw at home to Basel in the group games. Real Madrid and Lionel Messi at Football Association with using abusive Champions League on Tuesday dumped them out of the But it is defending the Premier Barcelona, Sergio is a very important and/or insulting words to one of his own competition and left pundits to pick over the bones of a League title that is now top priority player,” Pellegrini said. “But we are not supporters in an outburst during the team who look the palest of shadows of last season’s out- Pellegrini. The City manager is deter- just one player. We are an important recent 3-1 home defeat by Liverpool. fit. Former Liverpool defender Mark Lawrenson called mined to keep the pressure on leaders team with good players.” And to make matters worse, them “rudderless” after their European failure, while Chelsea, who are only three points clear Leicester’s former City goalkeeper of the champions after losing their BACK TO THEIR BEST Kasper Schmeichel this week broke a another former stalwart Steve Nicol said the manager’s unbeaten record at Newcastle last week- City will look to maintain their win- metatarsal (foot bone) in training. The job was on the line. end. “The most important thing now is ning run at Leicester before facing Denmark international, 28, was due to CONTRASTING STRATEGIES to switch. We have finished with the Crystal Palace, West Bromwich Albion face surgery on Friday with Pearson Champions League and don’t have to and Burnley - who are all in the Premier admitting he would be out for at least a Contrasting transfer-market strategies in which worry about that until February,” said League’s bottom six - over the Christmas month and possibly even longer Liverpool looked to unearth hidden gems as United paid Pellegrini ahead of Saturday’s trip to period. depending on the outcome of the oper- big for established talents are being touted as a simple bottom of the table Leicester. “We have And City defender Gael Clichy ation. “Kasper will be having an opera- explanation for their differing situations. to play four more games in the Premier believes the team are finally getting tion tomorrow on a metatarsal he broke Liverpool sold Luis Suarez to Barcelona and replaced League in December which are very back to their best following an indiffer- this morning,” said Pearson, whose side him with nine players of potential for 130 million pounds important to try to continue to count ent start to the season. have gone 10 games without a win. “It’s ($204 million), whereas United recruited high-profile points up on Chelsea. “In the last three or four weeks we very unfortunate and clearly the lad’s names such as Angel Di Maria and Radamel Falcao from “We have 12 more points in have seen the real side that won the distressed about it. He will be a big miss the top drawer. December and that’s what our minds Premier League last year,” he said. for us. We have to deal with it. We can’t As well as buying big, Van Gaal has restored a winning must be focused on 100 per cent.” City “When we play like this we can only be change it. “An optimistic view would be mentality at United that has not been sighted at Old will have to try and get those points confident and hopefully we can do great four-six weeks but it could be longer. We Trafford since Alex Ferguson left the dug-out. Rodgers, by without leading scorer Sergio Aguero, things this year. don’t know. It will depend very much on contrast, seems uncertain of his best team, formation, or who is out for between four and six “I think we are improving. It was what the surgeon finds.” —AFP even tactical approach. The gung-ho outlook that propelled them to within an inch of last season’s title proved largely unsuccessful at Deila wants more from Celtic the start of the current campaign, while recently achieved defensive solidity has blunted attacking intent. GLASGOW: Celtic boss Ronny Deila has nity to win, that is the most disappointing many chances and conceded four goals. Part of the problem for Rodgers seems to be the urged his players to shake off their thing,” the Celtic manager said. “So we “You should win when you score three attacking players he signed bare little resemblance in the European disappointment when they take need to get back on track again on Sunday goals away in Europe but we got good way they play to the high-energy, high pressure game of on St Mirren in the league tomorrow. and I am looking forward to that because I answers individually and as a team.” The the departed Suarez and the injured Daniel Sturridge. The Hoops suffered a 4-3 defeat to don’t have a very good feeling in my body Hoops will welcome back several first Van Gaal, however, seems to have developed a system Dinamo Zagreb in their final Europa right now. team stars, including captain Scott Brown that mitigates for a lack of defensive steel and makes the League group match on Thursday, “It was a poor performance, we were and John Guidetti, for tomorrow’s match most of the startling array of forwards United have at although the Scottish Champions had not at 100 per cent and there was a lack of after they were rested for the game in their disposal. A series of injuries have also failed to mask already qualified for the final 32. intensity and aggression. “It was disap- Zagreb. the team’s obvious progress from last season, while the The Scottish champions rested several pointing that we weren’t up for the game. Deila hopes these players can give his manager’s stature ensured the panic button was not top team stars for the match in Croatia but “Individually there were some bad per- side some much needed drive for the pressed even when results were mixed at the start of the Deila warned his players that they must formances and as a team we dropped too game against St Mirren. “I’m disappointed season. Last March’s 3-0 victory for Liverpool at Old shape up as they aim to extend their seven deep in the second half. “We scored three that we didn’t have more energy in Trafford showcased all that was good about the match winning run in the Scottish goals, that was a positive and I think the Zagreb and it’s something that we have to Merseysiders and laid bare United’s shortcomings. A Premiership. substitutes were positive when they came get back again tomorrow,” the Celtic man- repeat result tomorrow looks highly unlikely. —Reuters “We were 2-1 up and had an opportu- on, but defensively we gave away too ager said.—AFP SPORTS SATURDAY, DECEMBER 13, 2014

Matches on TV (Local Timings)

FIFA Club World Championship Auckland v Entente 19:00 beIN SPORTS 7 HD Cruz Azul v Wanderers 22:30 beIN SPORTS 7 HD English Premier League Bromwich v Aston Villa 18:00 beIN SPORTS 5 HD Sunderland v West Ham 18:00 beIN SPORTS 6 HD Crystal v Stoke City 18:00 beIN SPORTS 8 HD Chelsea v Hull City 18:00 beIN SPORTS 1 HD Burnley v Southampton 18:00 beIN SPORTS 3 HD Leicester v Man City 18:00 beIN SPORTS 11 HD Arsenal v Newcastle 23:30 beIN SPORTS 1 HD beIN SPORTS 11 HD Spanish League SPAIN: Barcelona’s Uruguayan forward Luis Suarez celebrates in this file photo. —AFP Getafe v Barcelona 18:00 beIN SPORTS 2 HD Valencia v Rayo 20:00 Suarez happy in Messi’s shadow beIN SPORTS 6 HD Cordoba v Levante 22:00 BARCELONA: Luis Suarez is uncon- provide passes. I came because I had alongside the best player in the world,” beIN SPORTS 2 HD cerned at being overshadowed by scored a lot of goals in the my career the Uruguayan added. Lionel Messi’s scoring feats at Barcelona and above all at Liverpool but fortunate- “On his own and with his skill he has German Bundesliga but remains angry about being labelled ly I have more to my game than just ended all the doubts over the team and Augsburg v Bayern 17:30 a “racist” and a “cheat” in England. that. “We don’t just play for Messi but him.” Suarez, however, is unhappy at the The former Liverpool striker has for everyone. We have players that we way he was treated in England and the beIN SPORTS 4 HD made more an impact with his assists know can make the difference like eight-match ban he received at Hertha v Borussia 17:30 since returning from a biting ban at the Messi, Neymar and (Andres) Iniesta. Liverpool for racially abusing beIN SPORTS 11 HD end of October while Messi has become They are players that give you confi- Manchester United defender Patrice the top scorer in La Liga and Champions dence when they have the ball at their Evra. “For now I have to accept that I French League League history. “I have always been a feet.” Suarez said it was easy to play with was accused of being a racist without Nantes v Girondins 19:00 goal scorer but I also like to help set up Messi. “I am having a great time here. any proof over what happened with beIN SPORTS 9 HD goals,” Suarez told the Catalan newspa- Obviously I want to score more goals Evra,” added Suarez. “Also of being a Bastia v Stade Rennes 22:00 per Sport. but while the team is doing well then diver and throwing myself on the beIN SPORTS 5 HD “I came here to score goals and not there is no problem. It is fantastic to play ground. It is lies.”—Reuters Montpellier v Lens 22:00 beIN SPORTS 10 HD Stade de Reims v Evian 22:00 Roma trip a possible gift for Juve beIN SPORTS 6 HD MILAN: Roma return reluctantly to On the night Roma’s last 16 hopes fad- Lippi told Corriere Mercantile. domestic duty tomorrow with a tough ed, former Juventus midfielder and cur- A week after their 1-0 defeat away to trip to Genoa that has the potential to see rent club board member Pavel Nedved Genoa, Milan host Napoli at the San Siro leaders Juventus, at home to Sampdoria, stuck the boot in in timely fashion. looking for a win that would push them Augsburg bid to stretch their Serie A lead to six points. “They talk while we get on with the into the top five and closer to their target Roma’s hopes of ending a four-year hard work, and you can see the result of of a third-place finish. upstage Bayern wait to join the Champions League last 16 that,” Nedved said in Gazzetta dello Sport. If nothing else, it should at least were ended in a 2-0 defeat to Manchester Juventus defender Angelo Ogbonna is remind Milan coach Filippo Inzaghi of BERLIN: Modest Augsburg, enjoying their best ever start to a City at the Stadio Olimpico. expected to step in for suspended Giorgio what it’s like to play in the Champions season, will hope history repeats itself on Saturday when they Rudi Garcia’s men finished third in Chiellini for Sunday’s early game at home League. play host to the mighty Bayern Munich in a Bavarian derby. Group A to drop into the last 32 of the to fourth-placed Sampdoria, whose rela- The former striker scored twice in a 2-1 Last season Augsburg ended Bayern’s record 53-game Europa League, but amid their push for a tive success under Mihajlovic has not win over Liverpool, then coached by cur- unbeaten run when they beat Pep Guardiola’s side 1-0 at the first scudetto since 2011 a trip to Genoa gone unnoticed. rent Napoli handler Rafael Benitez, to could not have come at a worse time. Sampdoria sit 10 points behind Juve clinch Milan’s seventh and last trophy in SGL Arena in April thanks to a Sascha Moelders strike. Having beaten Juventus and Milan at and only one point behind Genoa, 2007. That result may have only come after Bayern had wrapped home, the latter victory coming last week, prompting interest in Italy strikers Stefano City rivals Inter have an arguably easier up the title, but it gives Augsburg reason to believe they can Genoa are up to a surprise third place Okaka and Manolo Gabbiadini from rival fixture away to Chievo, but the pressure is once again spring a surprise against the dominant force not above Napoli, Milan and struggling Inter. clubs. Okaka has been linked to both Inter on amid a three-game winless streak since just in the region, but in the whole country. Garcia is already thinking of next year’s and Milan, while Gabbiadini - co-owned Roberto Mancini took over last month. Midfielder Tobias Werner acknowledged that it will be “a campaign in Europe and admitted on by Samp and Juventus - could join Napoli Inter’s shock 2-1 home defeat to mammoth task” for his side, but added: “It’s one we’re looking Wednesday: “To make sure we qualify for during the winter transfer window Udinese last week left them in 12th place, forward to. We’ve already shown we can cause Bayern prob- the Champions League we need to have a according to recent reports. 18 points behind Juve and nine points lems.” great season and that starts with Sunday’s Sampdoria are unbeaten in five games behind Genoa in the last Champions Bayern make the short 70-kilometre trip fresh from wrap- game against Genoa. including last week’s 3-1 win away to League qualifying spot. ping up their Champions League group-stage campaign with “The Europa League is a good compe- Verona, prompting praise from former “We had a poor result against Udinese a routine 3-0 victory against CSKA Moscow in midweek. tition and we’ll try and go all the way, Italy coach Marcello Lippi, who spent 10 and we didn’t play well, but we’re work- The reigning champions have dropped just six points, and but our main objective is still Serie A.” years as a player with Sampdoria and five ing on turning things around,” said conceded only three goals, in an unbeaten start to the cam- Garcia has been defiant on Roma’s at the helm of Juventus. Mancini. Cash-strapped basement side paign and are seven points clear of VfL Wolfsburg at the top of intended challenge to Juventus, who “Right now Juventus are easily the Parma, meanwhile, host Cagliari looking the table. have won the last three titles and strongest team in Italy... but Sampdoria to bounce back only a few days after However, Augsburg, who were promoted to the top flight secured their ticket for the Champions are having an extraordinary season, they being docked a point by Italian for the first time in 2011, are enjoying a superb season in their League knockout phase on Tuesday, and can get any result against any team, Federation officials for failing to pay play- own right under Markus Weinzierl.—AFP it has not gone unnoticed. including the upcoming one this Sunday,” ers’ salaries.—AFP Warner puts Aussies on top as Test turns feisty 43 SATURDAY, DECEMBER 13, 2014 SATURDAY, SportsSports

ARE: Tina Maze of Slovenia competes on her way to win an alpine ski, womenís World Cup giant slalom. —AP Maze storms to giant slalom win

SWEDEN: Olympic champion Tina Maze consoli- tal globe last season, has 303. same venue and a women’s competition in on the Olympia course. Dopfer was .57 seconds dated her overall World Cup lead on Friday American superstar Lindsey Vonn sits sixth Courcheval, both slated for this weekend, had behind and American skier Ted Ligety trailed by when she produced a stunning second giant overall on 212pts thanks to her stunning Lake already been called off due to mild tempera- .81. Hirscher, who won the season-opening slalom run to clinch an impressive victory. Louise win last weekend. Maze, who was the tures and a lack of snow. giant slalom in Soelden, Austria, was looking to The Slovenian had trailed in seventh from Alpine skiing star at the Sochi Games after win- But the FIS said the women’s disciplines become the fifth Austrian to reach 25 World Cup the first leg earlier in the day in Are, but finished ning both the giant slalom and the downhill, would go ahead at Val d’Isere while a decision is wins. The race was moved from Val d’Isere to with a combined time of 2 minutes 23.84 sec- claimed she had been tired on the early run, but yet to be made on the men’s super-G and down- northern Sweden because of a lack of snow in onds, 0.2sec ahead of Sweden’s Sarah Hector woke up in time to save the day. “I only just got hill at Val Gardena in Italy on December 19-20. the French Alps. Ligety will still be confident and 0.28sec ahead of Eva-Maria Brem of Austria here from Canada (where she came third in the Following FIS tests, it was decided that the heading into the second run later Friday. in third Lake Louise super-G last weekend) and I’ve been Val d’Isere slopes could be maintained. It is only He was fourth after his first run in Beaver Brem had been fastest in the early run and staggering around half asleep,” she joked. over the last few days that temperatures in the Creek, Colorado last week, and still earned his looked set for victory before a late slip. But she “After the first run I thought I was out of it, Alps have dipped below freezing, something 23rd career win in giant slalom, meaning he can console herself with the overall lead in the but I went at it hard and aggressive in the early which is imperative in order to employ snow needs one more victory to move ahead of giant slalom World Cup standings after three part of the second run,” explained the 31-year- cannons. These latest cancellations have Switzerland’s Michael von Gruenigen and into events with 220 points, ahead of Mikaela Shiffrin old, who is also the 2011 world champion in the reopened the debate about transferring the ear- outright second on the all-time list in the disci- of the United States on 166, and Austria’s third giant slalom. ly season European events to the USA and only pline. Ligety had a rough start to the season, fin- placed Anna Fenninger on 162. The race had been due to be held at heading to Europe from the end of December. ishing 10th in Soelden and 18th in slalom at Fenninger was sixth in Are with 2min Courcheval, France but was moved to Are due The problem with that, though, is economic Levi, Finland, on Nov. 16. The following week, he 24.21sec and Shiffrin, who began the second leg to lack of snow at the original venue. Are, venue as many stations rely heavily on Christmas had four metal screws inserted into his left wrist like a bomb only to lose speed at a gate, was for the 2017 world championships has a fully tourism at the end of December. after a training accident. Germany’s Stefan Luitz tenth on 2min 25.20sec. floodlit piste for night-time racing. Meanwhile, Marcel Hirscher of Austria was was fourth quickest in the first run ahead of Leif The win in the fading Swedish winter light Meanwhile, falling snow has ensured that the fastest Friday in the first run of a World Cup Kristian Haugen of Norway and Austrian veteran puts Maze in an early season position of domi- women’s alpine skiing World Cup event at Val giant slalom raced under floodlights, finishing Benjamin Raich. nance in the overall, where she has opened up a d’Isere in the French Alps will go ahead on more than half a second ahead of Fritz Dopfer. Earlier Friday, overall World Cup leader Tina lead of 177 points on 480, second placed Anna December 20-21, the International Ski In increasingly cold conditions, the 25-year- Maze of Slovenia won the women’s giant slalom, Fenninger, who won the overall World Cup crys- Federation (FIS) said. The men’s event at the old Hirscher finished in 1 minute, 17.86 seconds which was switched from Courchevel.—AFP