Sudden school Pakistani kids Sevilla join Real fee hike causes test positive for in King’s Cup outrage in HIV after blood last 16; Barca Kuwait 2 transfusions35 thrash47 Huesca

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www.kuwaittimes.net NO: 16363- Friday, December 5, 2014 UAE woman arrested for killing US teacher

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See Page 11 US teacher Ibolya Ryan seen with her two children. Local FRIDAY, DECEMBER 5, 2014

KUWAIT: Photos show Indian schools in Kuwait. A recent decision by the Education Ministry to raise the fees of Indian, Pakistani and Filipino schools has left parents angry and frus- trated. — Photos by Yasser Al-Zayyat Sudden school fee hike causes outrage Fees made retroactive, will salaries be retroactive too?

By Shakir Reshamwala by this sudden hike. As it is our salaries are low and rents are high, so we cannot bear this KUWAIT: A recent decision by the Education additional burden,” she complained. Ministry to raise the fees of Indian, Pakistani When asked about the legality of issuing and Filipino schools has left parents angry retroactive school fee hikes, attorney Labeed and frustrated. Not only have the fees been Abdal delved more on its social aspect. He raised without any discussion with parents said the schools must consider the financial but they have also been hiked retroactive situation of parents and not use the decision from the beginning of the 2014-15 school to put pressure on them. “The schools must year, which means that parents will have to show goodwill and consider the effect of this make up the difference and pay that along sudden decision. The Ministry of Education with the third term fees. must be considerate too and not side with the At Filipino schools, kindergarten fees were schools,” he said. Abdal labelled the schools set at KD 492, primary fees KD 516, intermedi- private companies that look to maximize prof- ate fees KD 568 and secondary fees KD 590. it rather than provide an education, which Kindergarten fees at Indian schools were set should be their main purpose. “An amicable at KD 320, primary fees KD 356, intermediate solution must be reached and the decision fees KD 410 and secondary fees KD 460. At must not be a tool to cause harm to parents in Pakistani schools, kindergarten fees were set the middle of the school year. Ultimately, we at KD 345, primary fees KD 375, intermediate look for better education and not profits,” he fees KD 430 and secondary fees KD 475. said. Most parents were blindsided by this sud- den decision. “I have four children at school. Will teachers be compensated? How can I afford to pay hundreds of dinars in The new fee regime came along with schools that have hiked their fees retroactive- schools want kids to buy all books, even if a additional fees?” one parent asked, speaking another decision to also raise the salaries of ly will also raise the salaries of the staff sibling had it already and is in good condi- to the Kuwait Times on the condition of school employees. The salaries of kinder- retroactively as well. It remains unclear if tion,” she fumed. Other parents have com- anonymity. “What I cannot understand is why garten teachers at Filipino schools will be KD these schools will pay the backdated differ- plained that many private schools are now this decision is effective from the beginning 200, elementary teachers KD 250, intermedi- ence in wages this academic year. of the school year? We have already paid the ate teachers KD 275 and KD 300 for secondary using uniforms as another revenue stream. fees for the first two terms, so this extra bur- teachers, the ministry added. For both Indian Some have begun requiring winter uniforms Quality of education den in the third term is unfair,” he added. and Pakistani schools, the decision set the - for considerable sums including KD 20-KD A mother of three school-going children, salaries of kindergarten teachers at KD 250, 25 for shirts and pants and KD 2 for a pair of who also wished to remain anonymous, Money-Making Ventures primary teachers KD 263, intermediate teach- socks - which is unreasonable given Kuwait’s Many schools have deferred implementa- ers KD 284 and secondary teachers KD 341. blasted the fee hike as “outrageous”. She incredibly short and typically warm winters. tion of the decision until next year, but some Librarians, social workers, computer tech- also found the hike unjustified compared to Some parents, though, have resigned them- schools immediately sent circulars to parents nicians, accountants and nurses at these the quality of education offered by the selves to the situation. “The decision has been informing them about the decision, asking schools will get KD 250, while student affairs schools. “Teachers have stopped teaching in made and there is nothing we can do about it,” them to sign and send back tear-off slips clerks, treasurers, secretaries, storekeepers, class as they mint more money by taking pri- said a father of a school-going daughter. acknowledging the new fee regime. These receptionists, administrative supervisors, sec- vate tuitions. If the kids do not go to them, Abdal, the attorney, called for moderate schools are absolving themselves by claiming tion supervisors, data entry clerks, assistant they give them lower marks, and actually voices to prevail. “We must come together. that this is a ministerial decision and there is teachers and accounting clerks will get KD hand out the question papers to those who The decision must be reviewed to consider nothing they can do about it. 200. All these decisions are also effective from go,” she alleged. the pain and suffering of parents and not But a parent of two school-going children the beginning of the 2014-2015 scholastic “It’s all about kids being taxed and tough attack their capabilities. This sudden said many families are considering sending year, the ministry said. exam papers being set that do not help stu- change will badly affect parents and chil- their children back home. “The parents of 30 Schools that haven’t raised their fees told dents achieve anything. Modern teaching dren, as any decision should have come at out of 40 students in my children’s class Kuwait Times salaries will be raised along with aids should have lessened the need to buy the beginning or end of the school year,” he refused to send back the slip. We are shocked the fees next year, but it is not clear if the books that are very expensive, but certain told Kuwait Times. Local FRIDAY, DECEMBER 5, 2014

Local Just kiddin’, seriously Spotlight Fueling expat woes in Kuwait From Dubai to Kuwait

By Muna Al-Fuzai

By Sahar Moussa [email protected]

ast week I made a quick trip to Dubai for a day, and bought an economy [email protected] class ticket. It cost me around KD 50. I was not being miserly or cheap, as I Lthink flying first or business class for a short distance is showing off, which I hate to do. I believe all the fun and action is happening in the economy class with its great mix of people of all ages, backgrounds and stories too! his week I received many emails from peo- the price of petrol and diesel because of fuel Where else would you find people occasionally fighting over bathrooms, ple, commenting on my column last week smuggling? While expats are wondering how to seats and the cheap, cold meals? Can you think of any other place where people Ttitled ‘Another expat in Kuwait’. Needless to react to this latest development, citizens have can and will talk to complete strangers other than a plane? Where else would say, I was really touched. Many people sent me nothing to worry about. According to sources, a you learn about human behaviors under the stress of waiting and anxiety? letters and shared their stories, problems and meeting was held with a PACI official to discuss Where else would you find the scene of people with big bellies trying to squeeze experiences as expats eking out a living in Kuwait. means to provide citizens with petrol subsidies themselves in tiny economy seats and yet seem relaxed? and the idea of providing them with KD 30 in sub- On economy class, especially when flying to Dubai, you can easily find and These emotional emails only made me wish and chat with workers and maids who are being sent back home on vacation or for hope harder for things to change. As I see it, sidies every month was also floated. In all fairness, good. This is a golden chance for them to talk openly and freely with anyone things are changing indeed - but for the worse. this is fine because at the end of the day, this is about their sponsors and what they experienced in Kuwait at the hands of How I wish it was for the better. their country. But is it right to put expats in the fir- Kuwaitis and expatriates too, as not only Kuwaitis have maids, but rich expats are One of the biggest changes that is set to take ing line just because Kuwait cannot combat smug- also allowed to sponsor maids and some of them are really mean and nasty. place early next year concerns gasoline. The prices gling? If fuel costs more, it will have a domino I believe that listening to these people interprets the real image they will hold about Kuwait all their lives and transfer it to their families too - good or bad. This are set to rise by 25 percent to 35 percent. The effect on everything else and rents are already unbearable. is the price we all have to pay as long as we want to import humans to work for government’s Subsidies Committee met at the us as servants, no matter what we call this kind of act or how legal it is. Finance Ministry and decided to remove subsidies If fuel prices skyrocket, restaurants, supermar- While we were waiting for boarding, I noticed how easy it was for maids to from petrol, cooking gas and diesel and has kets, taxis, and food won’t be far behind. It’s a get together and exchange long talks just because they happen to be from the vicious cycle. The only thing that will not be affect- referred it to the Cabinet for approval during the same county and sharing a flight back home. Their voices were loud, but I felt ed is our paycheck. I doubt if companies will sorry for them - they were like prisoners enjoying the taste of freedom for the first quarter of 2015, according to a recent report empathize with expats and consider giving them first time after many years of incarceration and away from their sponsors’ eyes in the Kuwait Times. raises to answer the escalating financial situation. and ears. Good for them. Sources quoted in the report added that the If this doesn’t happen, I don’t know how anyone Next to me was a young British couple. They seemed very much in love and plan recommends reducing fuel and gas subsidies kept holding hands the entire trip. They were also seated next to my seat in the can survive in this country. gradually. The suggested new price of cooking plane but their luck was short. They ordered a snack and wanted to pay for it by It is true that crude oil prices are plummeting gas cylinders is set to rise over a short period of credit card. Their cards did not work for some technical reasons, and the airhost- worldwide and this is both good and bad news. It’s ess gave them that dirty look which they usually give when your cards don’t time from a current KD 0.750 to KD 1.5. Sources good news for the import industry and bad for work. They seemed embarrassed and searched for change. The amount was only also revealed that the price of ‘Premium’ petrol exports. If oil prices don’t look up soon, it will end a few dinars, and while I was thinking of paying for them to save them from will jump from 60 fils to 100 fils per liter, ‘Super’ up hitting the Gulf Cooperation Council states’ unnecessary humiliation, the young lady found some British pounds and paid for petrol will cost 130 fils instead of 65 fils and ‘Ultra’ economies hard. Christine Lagarde, International them. That girl was surely smart, so my tip to all of you - don’t rely on your credit cards only on these flights and keep some change with you. petrol will jump from 90 fils to 170 fils per liter. In Monetary Fund Managing Director says that there a previous report, a well-informed oil sector offi- On my way back home, I thought I will witness a murder. Three Kuwaiti will be winners and losers, but on a net basis, it’s teenagers were behind my seat. They had a big fight over a mobile charger. I cial justified the government’s decision to end good news for the global market. know this sounds silly. One of them seemed to have used that charger and lost it subsidies of diesel and kerosene by blaming it on As I see it, the only losers are the expats living in somewhere, and his two friends were angry because they failed to charge their fuel smuggling to neighboring GCC countries. Kuwait - if everything goes up except for their mobiles and could not contact their families. I was worried that they might kill salaries. May God help us all. their friend because for one hour and twenty minutes they did not stop cursing Let me get this right and saying bad words to each other. I wondered where I could go. I thanked An oil-rich country like Kuwait wants to raise Allah when the captain announced it was time for landing. It was certainly a short flight, but filled with stories and tips to learn in life.

KUWAIT: Cleaning workers take food during a break in a park. — Photo by Joseph Shagra Vintage cars still own the road

By Nawara Fattahova

hough being an expensive hobby, collecting old and vintage cars is Tpopular in Kuwait, and there are tens of collectors here. Nasser Al-Treiji is a young car collector who owns 15 vintage vehicles of various brands and models. He is also the president of the Old Car Team, which was founded by his father and now has about 330 members. Local5

FRIDAY, DECEMBER 5, 2014

e admitted that this hobby requires a lot of effort and money to maintain this huge number of vehicles. “I first Hstarted collecting in 2001 when my father gave me my first vintage car - a 1954 Chevrolet - and since then I’ve collected many more. I’m storing these vehicles in different places includ- ing my house, renting a space in one of the public parking lots and even at my friends’ houses,” he told Kuwait Times. Collecting cars is a passion for him. “I consider these vehicles as my family. I spend all my time taking care of them. Although storing these cars is somehow an obstacle, yet I cannot even think of selling any of them. I’m always looking for more cars to buy, and I even want to own a series of different models of one brand. Collecting old cars is a passion and not a business, and most collectors are the same, although a few do buy and sell these cars to make profits,” stressed Treiji. Vintage vehicles are internationally respected and have special licenses and technical checking, but in Kuwait the collectors always face problems. “Unfortunately, the traffic department is not applying special rules for vintage cars when we take them for technical checking. The unprofessional testing technicians demand the same requirements as modern cars, which is not logical. For instance, many old models from the 1950s didn’t have seatbelts, so how can I fix them there? Also, some vintage cars had only one side mirror on the driver’s side, and only later factories Local6

FRIDAY, DECEMBER 5, 2014

start putting another one on the right side,” he explained. “Not only are the testing technicians not professionals, many policemen also make our life hard. For instance, the Pontiac Trans- Am has a decal of an eagle on the hood from the factory, yet some policemen are ticketing us and considering it as a sticker, which is forbidden. Also, some hand us fines claiming that the vehicle is modified and it produces noise, while in fact it’s the stock setting of the vehicle, as it was originally manufactured in this way,” added Treiji. There are also problems in importing vehicles. “We are only allowed to import one vehicle every two years. Then there is the restriction on the year of manufacturing, so we are only allowed to import vehicle of models 1974 and older, and those from 1975 to 2010 are not allowed,” he said. Most people don’t know about some great functions that were available in the vintage cars. “For instance, the sensor that is now available in modern cars and seems like a new invention was already available in the 1950s in some American vehicles. Also, the starter switch installed during the last few years was available in some vehicles even 50 years earlier. Also, some old cars had functions not available now, such as switching or controlling lights and the radio by pedals, or the anti-theft safety fuel pedal. This is the reason behind the saying that an old Cadillac has the value of a house,” Treiji pointed out. “In general, cars in the past were more solid and stronger as their body was made of metal, so they were more resistant to accidents and didn’t get easily damaged as modern ones do. Also, many of them had strange designs inspired from the war with Japan at that time, such as the Cadillac which was similar to a rocket or the Chevrolet 1957 which had the design of a tank, while in 1959 it had the design of a bat,” said Treiji. His old vehicles are not only for display - he actually drives them. “The oldest vehicle in my collection is a Ford Class A model from 1937, and it’s functional. All the cars in my collection are in good condition and I drive them. I even drove to Bahrain for a gathering that we held there,” he noted. The team gathers every Saturday at the seaside in front of the TGIF restaurant only during the winter season. “We can’t drive the vehicles in summer as many of them, especially the European ones, are not equipped for the hot weather and don’t even have a radiator. The team also held and is holding various activities such as many visits to the orphanage, the old-age homes and centers for the disabled among others. There are no special conditions for joining the team except observing safey driving,” concluded Treiji.

They Car Team can be found on Instagram: @q8oldcar_team. Local7 FRIDAY, DECEMBER 5, 2014

By Ben Garcia

f you haven’t heard of key money, get ready for a shock. A growing practice in Kuwait for small busi- Inesses, key money is the price you pay for access to any suitable location. It’s not a deposit and you won’t get it back. It’s not rent - you still have to pay that each month. Instead, key money is the amount you pay up front to the landlord or owner of a shop or space that you want to rent. Key money can run anywhere from KD 20,000 to KD 50,000 or more. It is not the ‘purchase’ price of the shop as you are not buying the shop but only renting it and the owner can at any time cancel the contract or throw you out and take key money from a new renter. “For a small baqala in Hawally, I was asked to pay KD 15,000 in key money. How can I afford or manage the baqala after paying this amount? I thought I only have to rent the place and that’s it,” said Derek, a would-be small business owner and expatriate. There are marathon obstacles that would-be small business owners must overcome to open a new business in Kuwait. To obtain a license for a small baqala, for example, the Ministry of Commerce and Industry requires a bank deposit of KD 5,000. Expats, of course, must have a Kuwaiti partner and there is a year’s worth of paperwork, stamps, ministries’ approval and other requirements. Moreover, in order to obtain a license, any business must also have a place, and that means renting a shop or office somewhere. For companies in the service sector that need a location where customers can easily find and access the busi- ness, that means key money. In Jleeb-Al Shuyoukh, landlords want an astounding KD 20,000 to KD 30,000 in key money for a small shop. “This place is very crowded, so you’ll never run out of customers here for whatever business you might want to set up. I bought the rights from the owner, so I must sell the rights too. This price is even smaller compared to the amount I paid to the previous owner,” a renter told Kuwait Times. A 4x4 square meter shop in a low traffic loca- tion in Mubarakiya seeks KD 10,000 in key money plus KD 650 in monthly rental. There is no commercial law which governs the key money issue. It is a tradition for businesses in Kuwait but has grown exponentially and risen dramatically in price in recent years. Key money is never returned, but a renter with a valid contract can sell the space to another renter who will pay him key money and take over the lease. “Key money in Kuwait is never an issue - it is a fact in the black market and in many commercial establishments elsewhere,” said Aamir Mohammad, CEO of the International Institute of Computer Science and Administration (ICSA) in Kuwait City. “If you want a busi- ness, you must have a reasonable amount to start a new venture and plan, and some luck too,” he noted. The Ministry of Commerce and Industry requires businesses to deposit the following amounts as a prerequisite to getting their business license: Small restaurant (KD 5,000), baqala (KD 5,000), fresh poultry shop (KD 3,000), meat shop (KD 3,000), gift shop (KD 3,000), garment shop (KD 5,000), diamond and gold shop (KD 50,000), tailoring shop (KD 2,000) and salon (KD 2,000). Some businesses such as advertising and travel agencies must be prepared to put down a security deposit (bond) of KD 25,000 to KD 50,000. The security bond will be used for emergency purposes such as paying employees’ salaries, and in case the owner commits a Money serious mistake, a penalty will be imposed and automatically deducted from the security KEY bond. Sample of key money requirements for different locations in Kuwait.

The key to doing Area Key Money (in KD) Monthly Rental Type of Space Jabriya KD10,000 KD500 Office Salmiya KD10,000 KD750 Baqala business Hawally KD15,000 KD500 Baqala Jleeb KD20,000 KD700 Baqala Shuwaikh KD15,000 KD700 Baqala/shop in Kuwait Mubarakiya KD15,000 KD350 Baqala/shop Local FRIDAY, DECEMBER 5, 2014 Crime Report Forged Italian passport

KUWAIT: Two Syrians have been arrested for forgery. The two suspects entered Kuwait with forged Italian passports and spent weeks in Kuwait before their arrest. They were arrested while trying to leave the country, following an investigation by criminal detectives. The suspects said they bought the passports in Italy and used them to enter Kuwait.

Bedoon girl threatened A bedoon girl has reported to police about a threat to her life. She said that her ex-boyfriend (also bedoon) has been threatening her life - and asked detectives to protect her. When the officer met the young lady, the suspect and his friends Kuwait’s Ministry of Interior Undersecretary Lieutenant General Sulaiman Al-Fahad visits various security institutions in attacked the officer, while another man took pic- Ankara. tures of the incident and threatened to publish them - claiming that the officer was caught red- handed with the girl. The officer followed the cul- Kuwait takes part in military prits after they escaped, and found out where they were hiding. He then took some detectives and medical convention - 1st time rounded them up - for threatening a police officer. Official visits various security institutions in Ankara

WASHINGTON: Kuwait is taking part (for the first time) in a con- ferees were examining other issues such as supplies and logistics. Smuggle attempt foiled ference organized by the Association of Military Surgeons of the Lieutenant General Tami Savoy, of the US Air Force, lauded the Shuwaikh customs officers have foiled an attempt to United States (AMSUS) to tackle a host of issues such as averting information given by the participating Kuwaiti delegation. The smuggle two fireworks containers that worth KD accidents-which started on December 2. Major (Dr) Abdullah conference, she said, focuses on military medical sectors of armies 200,000. Authorities are working to identify the own- Meshaal Al-Sabah, chief of the Kuwaiti Army medical ground across the world, particularly the Kuwaiti armed forces “with ers in order to question them. forces unit said on the convention margins that Kuwait had been which we have worked in a number of major military training pro- invited to the event after it hosted an international meeting, grams.” February last year, during which the Kuwaiti Army presented a Blackmailing police? study about the GCC Peninsula Shield force. Security official in Ankara An Egyptian expat has threatened to defame a The study had features the Kuwaiti Army methods in dealing In another development, Kuwait’s Ministry of Interior detective and accuse him of beating and torturing with accidents during training. AMSUS was established in 1891 Undersecretary Lieutenant General Sulaiman Al-Fahad visited has him if he does not drop charges against him. The with aim of exchanging expertise among nations of the globe in a number of departments affiliated to the Turkish Interior case began when a detective went to help one of military medicine. Maj Dr Abdullah, in the remarks to KUNA, Ministry, as a step to boost joint security cooperation between his relatives who was being harassed in a Salmiya affirmed necessity of such conventions for experience swap, indi- both countries. Lieut Gen Al-Fahad visited Police Special mall. When he arrived, he asked security men to cating that muscle injuries was a among topic under discussion Operations Department and was briefed about nature of work in arrest suspect. The detective later received a during the conference. this unit, and the personnel readiness to run dangerous and high- phone call from a person who claimed to be the Meanwhile, Captain Ali Al-Zankawi, the Kuwaiti Army head of risk operations. He also discussed with the Turkish side possibility Egyptian’s lawyer. The ‘lawyer’ told him to drop the medical unit of independent formations, told KUNA that such of exchanging expertise in this particular sector. He also visited charges otherwise he will accuse him (through conferences are an opportunity for Kuwait to present its experi- shooting ranges, and viewed a number of drills for encountering social media) of being malicious towards him. ence in this sector, particularly the experience resulting the par- armed actions by terrorist organizations, besides freeing hostages ticipation in the Peninsula Shield’s training, adding that the con- and arresting armed criminals. He later visited forensic laboratories and met the director of this department at the Turkish Interior Ministry, who explained to Undersecretary Al-Fahad means of investigating crimes through Kuwait a great examining samples picked from the crime scene, besides forensic photography, as well as Labs of fraud, sound, image and cogni- tion. Al-Fahad met Turkish Police Academy Director and dis- example of ‘religious cussed means of cooperation with Saad Al-Abdullah Al-Sabah Security Sciences Academy. He attended a visual display of the tolerance’ Turkish academy various departments, its curriculums, besides its special trainings. — Agencies KUWAIT: President of the Islamic Chiefdom in Albania Sheikh Iskandar Bruchai praised the level of religious tolerance Kuwait enjoys, saying it is an example to fol- low for all Arab and Islamic countries. Albania’s religious authority is working on developing cooperation with Kuwait’s humanitarian and Islamic organizations to sup- port religious tolerance in Albania, the official told Kuwait News Agency (KUNA) yesterday. Bruchai hailed the UN’s honoring of His Highness the Amir Sheikh Sabah Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah as a Humanitarian Leader and Kuwait as a Humanitarian Center. Meanwhile, the official also said that he had seen some serious efforts to cooperate with Albania during his three-day visit to Kuwait, where he took a tour in the Ministry of Awqaf and Islamic Affairs, the General Secretariat of Awqaf and the Zakat House. The Islamic Chiefdom is the only legal authority which runs religious, educational and cultural events in Albania, said Bruchai. The body also executes economic and President of the Islamic Chiefdom in Albania Sheikh humanitarian projects through donations received from Iskandar Bruchai (right) seen during his visit to Kuwait. inside and outside the country, he added.— KUNA Local FRIDAY, DECEMBER 5, 2014

KUWAIT: Photos show some volunteers cleaning the beach and other voluntary works as Kuwait marks the UN assigned International Volunteer Day (IVD) today to underline the importance of voluntary work in societies. — KUNA photos Kuwait marks International Volunteering Day

KUWAIT: Kuwait and the whole world will mark the UN assigned These organizations have so far reached at least 55 whose activi- Foundation (EVF), Waleed Al-Fadhel, said that the team along International Volunteer Day (IVD) today to underline the impor- ties cover all domains headed by the Kuwait Volunteer Work with other bodies in the country achieves voluntary work and tance of voluntary work in societies and to nations’ progress and Center (KVWC). The KVWC chaired by Sheikha Amthal Al-Ahmad activities and projects relating to naval environment protection. prosperity. The United Nations announced on December 17, Al-Jaber Al-Sabah, is a landmark in the civilized history of Kuwait Meanwhile, Managing Director of the Scientific Center Mijbil 1985, that the IVD falls on December 5 every year and urged the as it supports voluntary work in the regional and international Al-Mutawa said that Kuwaitis have been practicing voluntary governments across the globe to mark this day and raise aware- forums, Deputy Chief of the Centre Ahmed Al-Murshid said in a work for many years as they believe that such works serve socie- ness toward contributing to voluntary services. Kuwait has been statement. ty. He added that the center launches many initiatives including contributing to voluntary work for many years, represented in He added that the voluntary work always expands to cover organizing programs of voluntary work every summer to establishing Al-Mubarakiya School by volunteers in 1911, the first varied domains including environment and human ones, noting Kuwaitis and encouraging them to participate in that work. For Arab charity society in 1913, Al Ahmadiya School in 1921, literary that there is a specialized team caring for people with special her part, Wejdan Al-Oqab, Secretary General of the Kuwait club in 1922 and National Library of Kuwait in 1926. needs and mentally disabled. He pointed out that voluntary work Environment Protection Society (KEPS), said Kuwait was the first In 1961, Kuwait allowed people to establish non-profit organi- plays a pivotal role in developing society, establishes the concept Arab country that established a society interested in environ- zations. Since that date, these organizations along with the state’s of humanity into the mind of volunteers and making use of capa- mental affairs in 1974. She stressed that Kuwait has been sup- institutions have been contributing to developing the country bilities effectively to serve society. On his part, the head of the porting voluntary work, noting that Kuwaitis search for con- under the supervision of Ministry of Social Affairs and Labor. Kuwait Dive Team, affiliated to the Environmental Voluntary tributing to that work. — KUNA

Kuwait distributes ‘Juice mixed with liquor’

aid packages By Hanan Al-Saadoun Intoxicated, confused man An ‘intoxicated’ and confused Kuwaiti has been detained to 9,200 displaced KUWAIT: Policemen raided a grocery store that sells liquor by police. The suspect was taken to Salhiya police station. mixed with juice after receiving a tip off. The grocery store The security operatives noticed that he could not sit, so they Syria families in Mina Abdallah mixes juice with locally-made liquor. A searched him and found Tramadol tablets, a piece of team from Kuwait Municipality stormed the store and hashish and a pistol. When detectives inquired about him, AMMAN: The Kuwaiti Joint Relief Committee (KJRC) has arrested the owner. they found out that he owes KD6,000 to car companies. Also started the second phase of distributing $385,000-worth of the citizen was previously convicted on drugs charges. relief aid to Syrian refugees in different parts of Jordan. The 3 injured as car crashes first phase was completed in August through cooperation A car flipped over on King Fahad Road. Three persons with a number of Kuwaiti charities under wise leadership of were injured in the crash. Nuwaiseeb Firemen freed victims His Highness the Amir Sheikh Sabah Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al- who were trapped inside the vehicle. Sabah, said Head of KJRC delegation Tamer Al-Saheeb. As a part of this phase, food packages will be distributed to 9,200 Syrian families across Jordan, he added. Al-Saheeb praised Kuwait and its people for helping alleviate the suf- fering of Syrian people, as well as backing the host country Jordan which opened its doors wide to Syrian refugees. On their part, Jordanian officials lauded Kuwait’s important humanitarian role in the world. The KJRC consists of institu- tions and Islamic organizations headed by Advisor of Diwan Al-Amiri, UN Secretary General’s Envoy for Humanitarian Affairs and Board Chairman of the International Islamic Chartable Organization Abdullah Al-Maatouq. Kuwait is keen on hosting Arab events and activities to strengthen Arab joint action, Mohammad Al-Awash, assistant undersecretary for media planning and knowl- Fire in South Surra edge development at Ministry of Information, Fire broke out in Sheikh Salem Al-Sabah quarter mile stressed.—Agencies track in South Surra. Mishref and Sabhan fire centers rushed to the scene and battle the blaze. No injuries were reported. FRIDAY, DECEMBER 5, 2014 Kurds doggedly Gun battles in Protests erupt defend town Chechen after decision from IS capital leave in US chokehold 12 19 dead14 death15

DAMASCUS: Orphaned Syrian children, who lost their parents in the three and a half year conflict ravaging their country, play with balloons at a school for orphans during a party organized by a non-governmental organization called “Douma Society” which was created in 1960 in the besieged rebel bastion of Douma, northeast of the Syrian capital Damascus yesterday. — AFP IS attacks govt airbase in eastern Syria Kerry says any Iran strikes against IS ‘positive’

BEIRUT: Islamic State militants launched an attack overnight on a capture the air base, the Syrian government may be forced to meeting of officials from 60 states in the coalition that a cam- major military air base in eastern Syria in what looked to be a push decide how much to invest in holding onto the outpost in terri- paign of around 1,000 strikes had made a “significant” impact to eliminate the last significant government outpost in the extrem- tory otherwise dominated by the jihadi group. Earlier this sum- on the Sunni extremist IS group, which declared a caliphate ist-dominated region, activists said yesterday. The airfield just out- mer, IS militants captured a series of Syrian military bases out- across parts of Syria and Iraq in June. “Our commitment will side the city of Deir Al-Zour is a key military facility for President side the northeastern city of Raqqa, giving them full control of most likely be measured in years,” he told the meeting at NATO Bashar Assad, giving his warplanes a hub from which to bomb IS- the eponymous province. The extremists then killed hundreds headquarters, adding that the partners would “engage in this held cities and towns across much of eastern Syria. For the Islamic of Syrian troops captured in those battles, shooting many in campaign for as long as it takes to prevail”. But, in a sign of the State group, capturing the airport would eliminate the main pocket mass killings while beheading others and parading their bodies deepening complexity of the regional conflagration, Syria’s of resistance in the area and provide a major morale and propagan- through IS-held towns and cities. The government came under Iranian-backed President Bashar Al-Assad criticized the Western da boost after a string of setbacks in recent weeks. The assault unusually heavy criticism from its supporters following those and Arab air strikes for having no effect. against the air base began under the cover of darkness with a sui- losses. The fight against the Islamic State emerged as a major cide car bombing against a Syrian military position on the airfield’s regional and international crisis after the militants seized control ‘Understanding’ with Iran outskirts, the Britain-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights of much of northern and western Iraq this summer, adding to Kerry denied there was any military coordination with Iran said. “They are trying to take the airport,” said Observatory director the territory they already controlled in Syria. after the Pentagon said that Iranian F-4 Phantom jets-acquired Rami Abdurrahman. “This is a bigger attack from IS.” The Local In July, the group declared the establishment of a proto-state from the United States before the 1979 Islamic revolution-had Coordination Committees, an activist collective, also reported the ruled by a violent interpretation of Islamic law, and named IS deployed against IS fighters in Iraq’s eastern Diyala province. fighting. Both groups said heavy clashes raged amid government chief Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi the leader, or caliph. Meanwhile, US He suggested, however, that there was an understanding shelling on the villages surrounding the airfield. Secretary of State John Kerry welcomed any Iranian military between mainly Shiite Iran and the US to tackle a common The Observatory, which relies on a network of activists on the action against Islamic State jihadists in Iraq as “positive” after threat. “If Iran is taking on (IS jihadists) in some particular place... ground, said at least 19 government troops and seven IS militants the Pentagon said Tehran had carried out air strikes against the and it has an impact, then it’s going to be net effect (that) is pos- were killed in the fighting. Syrian state TV said that armed forces had group. Kerry, hosting a meeting of an anti-IS coalition in itive,” Kerry told a press conference after the meeting. In carried out several concentrated attacks against IS fighters in Deir Al Brussels, said international air strikes were finally stopping the Washington, US defence officials said the Iranian air raids were Zour, killing large numbers of them and destroying their equipment. advance of the jihadists across Iraq and Syria, but said it could part of a pattern in which Iranian or American military advisers It also said the military seized vehicles and heavy weapons. take years to defeat them. A top US military officer, General have carved out separate spheres in Iraq. “There’s a tacit under- David Rodriquez, also warned that IS had set up training camps standing we’re not going to operate in the same space. And Mass killings in eastern Libya, although he said they were not an immediate they’re not targeting American forces,” a defense official, who If the attack does indeed mark the start of a major IS push to target as activity there was “very small”. Kerry told the Brussels spoke on condition of anonymity, said. — Agencies International FRIDAY, DECEMBER 5, 2014

Spate of attacks on Westerners raises concern UAE woman arrested for killing American teacher Suspect placed a bomb outside the home of American

ABU DHABI: UAE authorities said yesterday they had arrested a added. gloves and a niqab-a Muslim veil that conceals the face except woman for the “unprecedented” murder of an American teacher in The United Arab Emirates hosts millions of foreigners and has for the eyes. a shopping centre and a foiled plot to bomb a US doctor’s home. remained largely unscathed as unrest swept other Arab coun- Meanwhile, the victim of Monday’s killing has been identified Police said the suspect was a 38-year-old Emirati whom they have tries. In CCTV footage released on Wednesday, the assailant is by ABC News and other US media as kindergarten teacher Ibolya dubbed “The Reem Island Ghost” after the location of the mall seen entering the shopping mall shortly after 1:00 pm and then Ryan, the Romanian-born mother of 11-year-old twins. ABC said where the attack by a suspect in a veil took place on Monday in rushing from the restroom about 90 minutes later, as shoppers she previously taught at a school in Colorado. They initially said the ladies toilets. scrambled in panic. The footage was accompanied by pictures of the woman was 37 years old but yesterday said she was 47. The She is also accused of attempting to plant a makeshift bomb in a bloodied kitchen knife and trails of blood on the floor of the victim’s 11-year-old twins were taken into police care until their front of the home of an American doctor, a Muslim of Egyptian ori- restroom. father arrived from abroad. gin, in Abu Dhabi. Police said she had confessed to the crimes. New footage released yesterday shows a fully covered “The suspect targeted her victims based only on their nationalities woman entering a building in Abu Dhabi, pulling a wheeled lug- ‘Spit on their faces’ and not over a personal dispute,” said Interior Minister Sheikh Saif gage case, in which she was allegedly hiding a bomb. The device A recording was released this week attributed to Abu Bin Zayed. He described the attacks as “an attempt to create was planted at the door of one of the apartments in the building. Mohammed Al-Adnani, the spokesman of the extremist Islamic unrest, undermine security, and terrorize people in the UAE”. “We Police said the resident of the apartment is a 46-year-old doctor State group, that urged Muslims to attack Westerners by any are witnessing an unprecedented, heinous crime in the UAE,” he and father of three, and that the bomb was discovered by one of means, even if only to “spit on their faces”. The attacks come lit- his sons as he was “heading down to a mosque for prayer.” The tle more than a month after US embassies in the Gulf, including doctor told police that the woman came a few days before the the UAE, called for vigilance when a post on a jihadist website incident to his residence to confirm the family’s presence and encouraged attacks on American and other international schools had quickly fled before they could identify her. there, specifically on teachers. The UAE in September joined the US-led coalition carrying Bomb-making materials out air strikes against IS in Iraq and Syria. On Saturday it The footage also shows a raid on a house where the woman, issued a list of 83 Islamist groups which it classified as “terror- dressed in pyjamas, was with a man, whom the police hand- ist organizations”. Violent crime is relatively rare in the UAE cuffed. The ministry did not give details on the fate of the man or although there have been attacks on foreigners elsewhere in say if he had a role in the attacks. It showed several knives and the region. In Saudi Arabia on Saturday, an assailant stabbed bomb-making materials, as well as traces of blood on the steer- and wounded a Canadian while he shopped at a mall in ing wheel of the suspect’s car. Police said Wednesday that the Dhahran on the Gulf coast. Last month, a Dane was shot and divorced American woman, who worked at an Abu Dhabi kinder- wounded in Riyadh-an attack IS claimed Monday was carried garten, was stabbed by a person wearing a black robe, black out by its supporters.— Agencies

Makeshift bomb Apoliceman arrests the suspect. Bloodstains on the car steering. International FRIDAY, DECEMBER 5, 2014 Kurds doggedly defend town from IS Once a town of 50,000 now virtually deserted except fighters

KOBANIE: The men and women of Kobani call In a surprising display of resilience, the one another “heval” - Kurdish for ‘comrade’ - and Kurdish fighters in the frontier town have held fight with revolutionary conviction, vowing to lib- out against the more experienced jihadis more erate what they regard as Kurdish land from than two months into the militants’ offensive, Islamic State group militants. Amid the wasteland hanging on to their territory against all expecta- and destroyed buildings, a sense of camaraderie tions. “We are fighting for freedom,” said a has developed among the town’s defenders who Kurdish sniper who goes under the nickname have for more than two months doggedly fought Zinar, Kurdish for “The Rock.” “Freedom isn’t off the advances by the extremists. Often, mem- something you can easily get or something that bers of the same family can be found on the front someone just gives to you,” he said. “Freedom is lines. Nineteen-year-old Shida’s father was a only achieved when you go out and get it your- fighter before her. After he was killed, she gave self.” up hopes of becoming an artist and decided she The militants’ advance was part of the Islamic must follow in his footsteps to honor his exam- State group’s blitz this year that overran large ple. She says her mother supports her decision. parts of Syria and neighboring Iraq. Kobani, once One of her six brothers is also fighting, the rest of a town of about 50,000 people but now virtually her siblings are living in Turkey. deserted except for the fighters, has seen some “I will not allow the enemy to take away my of the fiercest urban warfare in the Syrian civil land and its soil,” she said. “I will not leave my war, now in its fourth year. Abu Layla, command- land.” An exclusive report shot by videojournalist er of a Free Syrian Army-linked group in Kobani Jake Simkin who spent a week inside Kobani late called Shams al-Shamal (Sun of the North) last month offered a rare, in-depth glimpse of the Brigade, said he is proud of what the FSA and the men and women fighting to expel the IS extrem- Kurdish fighters have achieved together in ists from Kobani, a predominantly Kurdish town Kobani so far. in northern Syria by the Turkish border. Backed Their alliance is called “Burkhan al Furat,” by small numbers of Iraqi peshmerga forces and which translates as Volcano of the Euphrates. Free Syrian Army rebels, the Kurdish fighters, Abu Layla’s group has over a hundred fighters, whose political founders espouse a firm left-wing mostly ethnic Arabs and Turkmens from Abu ideology, are locked in fierce battles to push back Layla’s hometown of Minbej. He said he is not the Islamic State group, which swept into the fighting for the Kurds, Arabs or Turkmens, or for KOBANI: A Kurdish fighter peers at an Islamic State group position in Kobanie, Syria. — AP town in mid-September. Christians or Muslims.— AP Britain to review 25 Lebanon holding IS chief’s daughter, ‘Fake Sheikh’ convictions ex-wife: Minister LONDON: Twenty-five convictions secured through evidence “We are now considering past cases which resulted in a con- given by British reporter Mazher Mahmood-nicknamed the viction in criminal courts in England and Wales based on evi- BEIRUT: Lebanese authorities are holding a daughter and an ex- Fake Sheikh will be reviewed due to doubts over his reliability dence provided by Mr Mahmood, and have identified 25 cases,” wife of the head of the Islamic State jihadist group, Abu Bakr Al- as a witness, prosecutors said yesterday. Infamous for often the CPS said in a statement. In the Contostavlos case, Baghdadi, the interior minister said. It was initially reported that a reporting undercover posing as a wealthy Arab dressed in Mahmood had posed as a wealthy film producer offering the wife and son of the self-proclaimed “caliph” had been arrested robes and a keffiyeh, his evidence has helped secure convic- former talent show judge a major role in a Bollywood film. last month. The woman, who has been named as Saja Al-Dulaimi, tions in several high-profile cases including on drug charges Mahmood was suspended from The Sun on Sunday news- was travelling with two sons and a daughter, Interior Minister involving celebrities and sporting figures. His methods, though, paper, owned by Rupert Murdoch’s News UK British newspaper Nouhad Mashnuq told the Lebanese MTV channel late have been criticized and several of his targets have complained arm, in July following the trial’s collapse. He had previously Wednesday. of entrapment. worked for Murdoch’s News of the World newspaper before it He said DNA tests showed that the girl was Baghdadi’s child. In July, a case against pop star Tulisa Contostavlos, who was was shut down in the wake of the phone hacking scandal. The “Dulaimi is not Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi’s wife currently. She has accused of offering to procure cocaine for Mahmood, collapsed Sun on Sunday and parent company News UK were not imme- been married three times: first to a man from the former Iraqi after the judge said he had “strong grounds to believe” diately available to comment. Mahmood’s story on cricket spot- regime, with whom she had two sons,” he said. “Six years ago Mahmood had lied at a hearing before the trial started. A fixing in 2011 led to the convictions of three Pakistan players she married Abu Bakr Al-Baghdadi for three months, and she had Crown Prosecution Service spokesman said this had prompted for their involvement in the betting scam. His investigative a daughter with him. Now, she is married to a Palestinian and she the body to look again at convictions secured through evi- work earned him a Reporter of the Year award at the 1998 is pregnant with his child,” Mashnuq added. dence supplied by Mahmood. British Press Awards. — AFP “We conducted DNA tests on her and the daughter, which showed she was the mother of the girl, and that the girl is his (Baghdadi’s) daughter, based on DNA from Baghdadi from Iraq,” the minister said. He gave no details on Dulaimi’s nationality, but a security Ex-Bourguiba minister source said she was believed to be Iraqi. Mashnuq offered no fur- ther information about her current husband, although he said investigations showed the woman had ties to extremists in Lebanon. Dulaimi’s children were at a children’s care centre while elected Tunisia speaker she was being interrogated, he said. Mashnuq also confirmed the arrest of the wife of Anas Sharkas, a leader in Al-Qaeda’s Syrian affiliate Al-Nusra Front. TUNIS: Tunisia’s first parliament since the 2011 revolution in a presidential election runoff due to be contested by the Dulaimi was among a group of female prisoners released from yesterday elected veteran politician Mohamed Ennaceur, end of this month. Syrian jails in March, in exchange for 13 nuns from the ancient 80, of anti-Islamist party Nidaa Tounes as house speaker. Ennaceur served as social affairs minister under Habib town of Maalula held by Al-Qaeda’s Syrian affiliate Al-Nusra Front. Ennaceur, the sole candidate, won 174 votes from the Bourguiba, Tunisia’s “father of independence”, during the The Islamic State (IS) group has yet to comment publicly on 214 MPs in attendance, announced Ali Ben Salem who as 1970s and 1980s. Nidaa Tounes won 86 seats in the Dulaimi’s detention, but Al-Nusra, despite a feud with Baghdadi’s doyen of the house chaired the session. The vote had ini- October parliamentary polls, beating moderate Islamist group, issued a statement of condemnation. It described her as tially been expected on Tuesday during the newly elected movement Ennahda into second place with 69 seats. “sister Saja al-Dulaimi” and said the arrest of women and children parliament’s inaugural session but was delayed for consul- Under the North African country’s electoral system, the was evidence of the “weakness” of the Lebanese state. tations on a consensus candidate. Ennaceur is deputy party with the most votes has a mandate to form a coali- Sources said the detention of Dulaimi and Sharkas’s wife leader of Nidaa Tounes, which won a landmark legislative tion government. Nidaa Tounes has said it will not form a could help the Lebanese as they struggle to negotiate the release election in October-the first since the overthrow of long- government before the presidential runoff, in which of 27 members of the security forces held by jihadists from IS and time strongman Zine El Abidine Ben Ali nearly four years Essebsi faces incumbent Moncef Marzouki after neither Al-Nusra. The soldiers and police were abducted when militants ago. candidate secured an absolute majority in a November 23 from the two groups briefly overran the Lebanese border town of Nidaa Tounes head Beji Caid Essebsi, 88, is frontrunner first round. —AFP Arsal in August. —AFP International FRIDAY, DECEMBER 5, 2014

Gunmen target Pakistan lawyer defending blasphemy accused LAHORE: Gunmen opened fire at the residence of a Pakistani lawyer defending a university lecturer accused of blasphemy and dropped a letter warning him to withdraw from the case, police said yesterday. Shahbaz Gormani escaped unhurt after gunmen riding motorbikes attacked his residence in the central city of Multan late Wednesday. Gormani had been appointed defense lawyer in the case after gunmen shot dead Rashid Rehman, a defense counsel for Junaid Hafeez in May. Hafeez, a lecturer at Bahauddin Zakariya University, was accused of making derogatory remarks against the Prophet Mohammed (PBUH) in March last year. Hafeez was known at the university for his liberal views and the blasphemy case was registered after pressure from right-wing student groups. “Gunmen riding motorbikes fired indiscriminately outside the residence of Gormani and threw a pamphlet... warning him of serious conse- quences if he continues to pursue the case,” senior police official Muhammad Salim said. — AFP

JOHANNESBURG: A framed image of former South African president Nelson Mandela as people pay tributes fol- Afghanistan seeks support lowing his death, in Johannesburg. South Africans will mark today the first anniversary of Nelson Mandela’s at London conference death. — AFP LONDON: Afghanistan’s leader was asking interna- tional politicians yesterday to stand with his country Russia is ‘strategic problem’ for EU: Juncker amid the withdrawal of most foreign troops and a surge in Taleban attacks. BRUSSELS: Russia is now a “strategic problem” for the EU premier who took over as head of the European Council of Afghan President Ashraf Ghani and British Prime amid the crisis in Ukraine, European Commission chief Jean- EU leaders on Monday, who was quoted by the Financial Minister David Cameron jointly hosted a conference in Claude Juncker said yesterday, but he insisted Brussels would Times as saying Russia had become a strategic problem. London attended by US Secretary of State John Kerry, not be blackmailed by the cancellation of a huge gas After the Cold War, Russia and the EU signed a strategic Pakistani Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif and diplomats pipeline. Juncker said that the huge South Stream gas partnership agreement in 1994 but that has been thrown from some 50 countries. Talks focused on nurturing pipeline to Europe could still be built, despite Russian into doubt by Moscow’s intervention in Ukraine. The 28- civil society, curbing corruption and encouraging President Vladimir Putin unexpectedly cancelling the multi- nation EU and the United States have imposed a series of political reform at a meeting that was less about prom- billion-dollar project on Monday. economic sanctions on Russia over the crisis. ising new money than about stiffening resolve in “Yes, Russia is a strategic problem for the time being and I The latest blow to relations came with Putin’s cancellation Kabul and around the world at a critical moment for hope that tomorrow Russia will be a strategic partner,” of South Stream which was meant to pump Russian gas into Afghanistan. Juncker said after talks with Bulgaria’s Prime Minister Boyko Europe without going through Ukraine-on the grounds that The 13-year international combat mission ends Dec 31, though Ghani has signed security agreements with Borissov, whose country is one of those worst affected by the Brussels was blocking the project. Washington and NATO permitting a continued inter- pipeline cancellation. “Everything the Commission can do in “South Stream can be built. The conditions have been national military presence. — AP that respect will be done,” he told reporters. Juncker was clear since a long time, there is nothing new. The ball is in the asked about comments by Donald Tusk, the former Polish court of Russia,” Juncker said. — AFP International FRIDAY, DECEMBER 5, 2014

Patient who may have Ebola arrives in US

ATLANTA: An American health-care worker who may Details about the patient were not released. least 6,000 deaths this year. Six of those treated in the have been infected with the Ebola virus in West Emory houses a specialized isolation unit that han- US were Americans infected while providing medical Africa has arrived at a hospital near Atlanta. Emory dled four of the 10 Ebola patients previously treated aid there. The hospital says that as in previous cases, University Hospital spokeswoman Holly Korschun in the US. the patient was transported from West Africa aboard says the patient arrived around 5.45 am (1045 GMT) West Africa is suffering the worst Ebola outbreak a specially equipped jet operated by Cartersville, yesterday. in history, with more than 17,100 illnesses and at Georgia-based Phoenix Air Group Inc. — AP

Obama: Xi consolidated power quickly, worrying neighbors

WASHINGTON: US President Barack Obama said on Wednesday Chinese President Xi Jinping had consolidated power faster than any Chinese leader in decades, raising human rights concerns and worrying China’s neighbors. Obama, who met Xi last month in Beijing, told the Business Roundtable group of US chief executives that the Chinese leader had won respect in the short time since he had taken over. “He has consolidated power faster and more comprehensively than probably anybody since Deng Xiaoping,” Obama said, refer- ring to the man who led China from 1978 to 1992. “And everybody’s been impressed by his ... clout inside of China after only a year and a half or two years.” But Obama said there were negative sides to Xi’s rise. “There are dangers in that. On issues of human rights, on issues of clamping down on dissent. He taps into a nationalism that worries his neighbors,” Obama said, noting maritime disputes in the region. “On the other hand, I think they have a very strong interest in maintaining good relations with the United States. And my visit was a demonstration of their inter- est in managing this relationship effectively.” Obama said the United States wants to show China that it wants a constructive “win-win” relationship while also insisting on fixing problems such as commercial cyber theft. “It is indisputable that they engage in it, and it is a problem. And we push them hard on it.” Obama encouraged the chief executives to speak out when they were being “strong-armed” on those issues despite risks that their businesses could be penalized in China for doing so. The pres- ident said he was confident the United States could manage its relationship with China in a way that was productive for the world. Chinese Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Hua Chunying said the steady development of ties suited both countries. —Reuters MISSOURI: Protestors lay down in Grand Central Station during a protest on Wednesday after a grand jury decided not to charge a white police officer in the choking death of Eric Garner, a black man, days after a similar decision sparked renewed unrest in Missouri. — AP Protests erupt after decision in US chokehold death ‘No charges against officer involved’ NEW YORK: The cellphone video of the last moments of Eric duct their own investigation of Garner’s July 17 death as officers Garner’s life was watched millions of times on the Internet, were attempting to arrest him for selling untaxed cigarettes on clearly showing a white police officer holding the unarmed the street. The New York Police Department also is doing an inter- black man in a chokehold, even as he repeatedly gasped, “I nal probe which could lead to administrative charges against can’t breathe.” But despite that visual evidence, and a medical Officer Daniel Pantaleo, who remains on desk duty. examiner’s ruling that the chokehold contributed to the death, The grand jury’s decision prompted emotional protests MISSOURI: Rev Al Sharpton (center), President of the National a Staten Island grand jury decided Wednesday not to bring any around New York and in cities from Atlanta to California. In Action Network, Esaw Garner (right), widow of Eric Garner, son charges against the officer involved, prompting protests across Manhattan, demonstrators laid down in Grand Central Terminal, Emory Garner (second right) and mother Gwen Carr (left) hold the country and sending thousands onto New York’s streets, walked through traffic on the West Side Highway and blocked the a press conference on Wednesday in New York. — AFP where they marched, chanted and blocked traffic into the next Brooklyn Bridge. A City Council member cried. Hundreds con- morning. verged on the heavily secured area around the annual Rockefeller Garner’s widow: No While legal experts note it’s impossible to know how the Center Christmas tree lighting with a combination of profession- grand jurors reached their conclusion, they say the Garner case, al-looking signs and hand-scrawled placards reading, “Black lives faith in prosecutors like Michael Brown’s death in Ferguson, Missouri, once again matter” and “Fellow white people, wake up.” And in the Staten raised concerns about the influence local prosecutors have over Island neighborhood where Garner died, people reacted with NEW YORK: The widow of Eric Garner says that from the begin- the process of charging the police officers they work with on a angry disbelief and chanted, “I can’t breathe!” and “Hands up - ning she’s had no faith in prosecutors on Staten Island, the bor- daily basis. “The video speaks for itself,” said Jeffrey Fagan, a pro- don’t choke!” ough where a police officer placed her unarmed husband in a fessor at Columbia Law School. “It appears to show negligence. Police Commissioner William Bratton, in an interview Thursday chokehold that resulted in his death. Esaw Garner said in an inter- But if we learned anything from the Brown case, it’s the power of on Fox-TV’s “Good Day New York,” said 83 people were arrested. view Thursday on NBC’s “Today” “there was no sincerity from day prosecutors to construct and manage a narrative in a way that The department said most were for disorderly conduct. one” from Staten Island police or the district attorney. can shape the outcome.” The demonstrations were largely peaceful, in contrast to the A grand jury on Wednesday decided not to bring any Ekow N. Yankah, a professor at Cardozo School of Law, agreed widespread arson and looting that accompanied the decision charges against the officer involved. Garner says she hasn’t had that, “It is hard to understand how a jury doesn’t see any probable nine days earlier not to indict the officer in Brown’s death. any kind of encouragement, remorse, or compassion from the cause that a crime has been committed or is being committed Staten Island District Attorney Daniel Donovan said the grand borough’s authorities. The grand jury’s decision prompted when looking at that video, especially.” Another observer, James jury found “no reasonable cause” to bring charges, but unlike the protests across the country and sent thousands onto New York’s A Cohen, who teaches at Fordham University Law School, went chief prosecutor in the Ferguson case, he gave no details on the streets, where they marched, chanted and blocked traffic. Police further, saying, “Logic doesn’t play a role in this process.” grand jury testimony. The district attorney said he will seek to say 83 people were arrested. — AP US Attorney Eric Holder said federal prosecutors would con- have information on the investigation released.—AP International FRIDAY, DECEMBER 5, 2014

End of the road for Modi refuses to fire minister Delhi’s old cars for attack on non-Hindus as India battles smog Parliament adjourned for third day after minister’s tirade

NEW DELHI: An Indian court has banned all vehicles older NEW DELHI: Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi sought yesterday forced an adjournment of the upper house as they swarmed to the than 15 years from the streets of the capital, New Delhi, in a to draw a line under a row sparked by a minister’s derogatory com- centre of the chamber shouting slogans. bid to clean up air that one prominent study this year found ments about non-Hindus, urging angry parliament deputies to accept Jyoti, who is from Uttar Pradesh state, India’s most populous, is to be the world’s dirtiest. The ruling hits up to a third of the her apology and move on. But opposition lawmakers in the upper one of scores of BJP first-timer deputies elected in Modi’s landslide 8.4 million motorbikes, trucks, cars and auto-rickshaws that house held firm on their demand that Sadhvi Niranjan Jyoti be fired victory this May. Many are drawn from hardline Hindu affiliates such ply the traffic-choked roads of Delhi and its surrounding for the speech, threatening to derail Modi’s plans to pass a raft of leg- as the Vishwa Hindu Parishad who were given tickets to mobilise the areas, transport officials estimate. islation including a long-delayed insurance reform. The opposition religious vote. Cities across the world are ordering older vehicles off the commands a majority in the upper house. road or restricting private car use to tackle growing air pol- The saffron-clad Jyoti, a former preacher, told voters at a campaign HINDU RIGHT lution. Mexico City introduced a ban on older vehicles driv- rally in Delhi this week that they must “decide whether you want a Emboldened by their stunning election victory, some of these ing on Saturdays this year, while in March, France briefly government of those born of (Hindu god) Ram, or those born illegiti- leaders have taken a stridently pro-Hindu line, reigniting fears that enforced the most drastic traffic curbs in 20 years. mately”. Critics say that Modi’s Hindu nationalist Bharatiya Janata Modi’s broader development agenda will be hijacked by divisive reli- “It is undisputed and in fact unquestionable that the air Party (BJP) has a deep-seated bias against Muslims and that Jyoti’s gious politics. “How can you have a minister of the government of pollution of ... Delhi is getting worse with each passing day,” speech reflected a broader plan to promote a Hindu-dominant agen- India speak like this?” Congress leader Anand Sharma said. the National Green Tribunal ruled in a judgment last week da in a country of 1.2 billion people with a very large population of Modi needs the support of the opposition to pass a bill to liberalize banning older vehicles from city streets. religious minorities. investment in the insurance sector during the session of parliament Vehicular emissions are the cause of close to three-quar- Jyoti, a high school graduate and a first-time member of the feder- ending later this month. The bill, first championed by the last govern- ters of Delhi’s air pollution, the Delhi government esti- al parliament, apologized a day after her remarks prompted calls that ment, enjoys broad backing with just a few details left to iron out. mates, and a World Health Organization study of 1,600 she be prosecuted for violating the secular spirit of India’s constitu- But the new row over the minister’s remarks has given the opposi- cities released in May found India’s capital had the world’s tion. Yesterday, Modi weighed in briefly, urging the upper house of tion a platform to unite and fight back after their defeat in the elec- dirtiest air. India rejected the report. parliament to accept the minister’s apology amid a third straight day tion. Derek O’Brien, a leader of the Trinamool Congress, one of the The ban in Delhi lacks incentives to encourage drivers to of protests. “I request the house that now that the minister has given largest regional parties in parliament, said the upper house would not trade in their older vehicles but eventually could boost an apology, and there is a message in it for all of us - let us get on with resume functioning unless the minister resigned. “The key is with the sales for carmakers like Maruti Suzuki India and Tata Motors, our work in the interest of the country,” said Modi. government, they must decide how to open the Rajya Sabha,” O’Brien as the capital accounts for 17 percent of India’s new car Opposition deputies were not satisfied with Modi’s remarks and said, referring to the name of India’s upper house. — Reuters sales, said IHS automotive analyst Puneet Gupta. In Russia, sales of the Lada car have grown thanks in part to a state scheme that provides cash incentives to buy new cars if people sell their old ones for scrap. Critics of the Delhi ruling say it is largely unenforceable, and will do little to tackle pollution in a city where 1,500 new vehicles roll onto the roads every day. “Polluting vehi- cles occur in all different vintages, not just older cars,” said Anumita Roychowdhury at the Delhi-based Centre for Science and Environment. She said authorities should introduce testing of vehicles for pollution levels, and raise taxes on more polluting vehi- cles to discourage their use. “You really need to scale up public transport and you need to reduce the overall volume of vehicles on the road,” she said. — Reuters

A Pakistani border guard stands alert as an excavator digs a trench along Pakistan Afghanistan border at Chaman post in Pakistan. — AP Pakistan trench along border enrages Kabul

KANDAHAR, Afghanistan: In the dusty badlands along its disput- destabilize its neighbor to extend its regional influence. It already ed border with Afghanistan, Pakistan is carving out a massive considers Pakistan as the source of the Taleban insurgency it has trench to keep out separatists, smugglers and militants in an been battling with US and NATO support for the past 13 years. “The attempt to bring order to a lawless, tribal region. But like the Berlin people here have never accepted the Pakistan-Afghanistan border Wall or Israel’s West Bank barrier, the planned 485-kilometer (300- in the first place,” said Gen Abdul Raziq, the police chief of mile) trench is giving physical form to a border that locals have Afghanistan’s Kandahar province, which borders Baluchistan. long seen as artificial, dividing families and crippling trade. And it is “Pakistan is not doing anything to stop terrorism. If they want to adding to simmering tensions between Afghanistan and Pakistan, stop it, they should stop producing it,” said Raziq, who has long US allies which have long accused each other of turning a blind eye had a reputation for ruthlessness in battling the Taleban. “This to insurgents. The trench runs along part of the 2,640-kilometer trench is simply to draw a border with Afghanistan and claim our (2,640-mile) Durand Line, named for British diplomat Mortimer land as their own,” he said. Durand, who drew the now internationally recognized border in an Pakistan insists it is committed to fighting extremist groups and agreement with Afghan ruler Abdur Raham Khan in 1893. But the points to a massive offensive it launched in the tribal region of modern Afghan government has never accepted the border, and North Waziristan along the Afghan border over the summer. But neither have the mainly tribal communities that straddle it. They analysts have long said Islamabad differentiates between the are accustomed to moving back and forth freely and in some cases Pakistani Taleban, with which it is at war, and the Afghan Taleban, own land on both sides. The trench is being built in Pakistan’s which it quietly tolerates and views as a means of preserving its Baluchistan province, where Baluch rebels have been battling influence in Kabul. In that context, the trench is not seen by Islamabad for decades, demanding greater autonomy and a larger Afghans as a counterterrorism measure, but as an affront. share of the region’s oil, gas, copper and gold. It’s an eye-sore of “This can never be acceptable for the Afghans,” said former construction - a massive furrow 10 feet (three meters) wide and 8 Afghan Tribal and Border Affairs Minister Akram Akhbelwak, who feet (2.4 meters) deep that already snakes 180 kilometers (110 was removed from his post this week while President Ashraf Ghani miles) across the desert landscape. finalizes his new Cabinet. “The trench and the tribal border are NEW DELHI: Employees of the Indian Delhi Metro Rail Pakistan’s Frontier Corps said in a recent statement that the completely illegal. Such actions on the border are creating prob- Corporation (DMRC) work at an underground construction trench would “not only help in effectively controlling the move- lems among the tribes and will never be a solution to the problems tunnel site between Kalkaji Mandir and Okhla Phase 3 in New ment of drug and arms and ammunition smugglers, but also will between the two countries,” he said. Afghanistan’s Ghani signed Delhi yesterday. The Delhi Metro Rail Corporation (DMRC) is help in stopping the intrusion of terrorists and illegal immigrants.” security agreements with Washington and NATO immediately after in the process of constructing a tunnel under an operational Pakistan fears that arms could make their way to any number of taking office in September, permitting an enduring international metro line in New Delhi, using the New Austrian Tunneling insurgent groups, including the Taleban. military presence after the combat mission formally ends on Dec. Method (NATM) to carry out tunneling work between Kalkaji But Kabul sees the trench as the latest move in a new incarna- 31. The insurgents have meanwhile stepped up their war against Mandir and Okhla Phase 3 metro stations. — AFP tion of the colonial-era Great Game, in which Pakistan hopes to his government with a series of high-profile attacks in Kabul.—AP International FRIDAY, DECEMBER 5, 2014

S African president begins visit to China BEIJING: South African President Jacob Zuma kicked off a state visit to China yesterday, months after his government refused the Dalai Lama a visa as trade and political ties between Pretoria and Beijing grow closer. China is South Africa’s single largest trading partner, while South Africa is China’s largest trading partner on the continent. Zuma held talks with Chinese Premier Li Keqiang, with Li congratulating Zuma on his re-election in May as South Africa’s president. “You have always attached high importance to South Africa’s relations with China and you have made unrelent- ing efforts to grow China-South Africa relations,” Li said. During the apartheid era, Zuma’s African National Congress was supported by Moscow while Beijing backed the rival Pan Africanist Congress, but in recent years South Africa has maintained a strongly pro-China foreign policy. In the last five years Pretoria has thrice declined a visa for the Dalai Lama, the exiled Tibetan spiritual leader and Nobel Peace Prize winner. In September, dozens of Nobel laureates boycotted a meeting in Cape Town following the latest refusal, which was widely regarded as a sign of South Africa’s deference to Beijing. — AFP

HONG KONG: Flags of China (left) and Hong Kong fly over pro-democracy protesters’ tents in the occupied area outside government headquarters in Hong Kong yesterday. — AP Hong Kong student leaders consider protest retreat Public support for movement wanes HONG KONG: Hong Kong’s student leaders said yesterday A third smaller site blocks a busy road in the Causeway they would decide in the coming days whether to leave Bay shopping area. Tommy Cheung, also of HKFS, told protest sites they have occupied for more than two reporters the group would consider tactics “including months, following violent clashes. The rallies for fully free whether to retreat or to stay” in the next few days. Teenage BEIJING: South African President Jacob Zuma (left) and leadership elections drew tens of thousands at their protest leader Joshua Wong of the Scholarism group, also Chinese President Xi Jinping attend a signing ceremony at height, but numbers have dwindled as public support for at the forefront of the street demonstrations, said they the Great Hall of the People in Beijing yesterday. — AFP the movement has waned. One prominent protest leader would work with HKFS on the next step. said the students would decide “within a week” whether to “Internal discussions will be made and we will stay in leave two remaining camps in the centre of the southern touch with HKFS, exchange ideas and coordinate,” he said On first ‘Constitution Chinese city after authorities cleared a third last week. in a Facebook post. Day’, China blocks protests Their announcement came after the three leaders of “I hope that we do not put the focus on whether to protest group Occupy Central handed themselves in to retreat, but focus on whether the government will talk.” BEIJING: China marked its first national Constitution Day police Wednesday in a symbolic move to get demonstra- Wong began a hunger strike on Monday night in a bid to yesterday with readings at schools across the country, tors off the streets, after violent confrontations with police force new dialogue with the government over political activities promoting the rule of law, and the blocking of outside government headquarters at the weekend. reform and has been joined by four other student protest- protests at Tiananmen Square. China insists that candidates for the vote for chief exec- ers. The National People’s Congress, China’s rubber-stamp utive in 2017 must be vetted by a loyalist committee, He vowed yesterday to continue, despite city leader legislature, last month designated December 4 as National which demonstrators say will ensure the election of a pro- Leung Chun-ying rejecting the hunger strikers’ call to Constitution Day to promote the document adopted in its Beijing stooge. relaunch talks, adding that he felt “dizzy”. “My sugar level current form on that date in 1982. State broadcaster China Student protest leaders have remained adamant that dropped to a low level,” Wong said, speaking near the tent Central Television showed footage of judicial employees staying on the streets is their only option to force reform. outside government headquarters where the hunger strik- swearing an oath to the constitution at Beijing’s high But they said yesterday that the decision to retreat was ers are sleeping. Occupy Central leaders Benny Tai, Chan court. now an option. Kin-man and Chu Yiu-ming were released by police On Wednesday, President Xi Jinping said China’s consti- “There needs to be a decision that is made about Wednesday after turning themselves in for “participating in tution “guarantees the socialist path with Chinese charac- whether to leave or stay,” said Yvonne Leung, of the Hong unauthorized assembly”. teristics”, according to the state-run Global Times newspa- Kong Federation of Students, which has spearheaded the The police said they would conduct follow-up investiga- per. Schools across China were to hold readings of the con- mass street protests. “Within a week’s time, we definitely tions. Analysts say the move is a bid to take the moral high stitution, according to an education ministry directive, and will have to have a decision,” she told local radio. Leung ground and engender renewed public sympathy-the trio tables were set up on some central Beijing streets with said the main reason for considering a retreat was the have encouraged other supporters to give themselves up posters and materials promoting the document. police violence on Sunday that left dozens injured, includ- as a sign of their commitment to the rule of law. Yet at Tiananmen Square, the vast public space in the ing police officers, as well as public pressure for protesters Police said 65 people had handed themselves by heart of the city, citizens seeking to protest were blocked to leave. Wednesday night but did not immediately have a figure for by police from doing so. A middle-aged man was stopped yesterday. Washington meanwhile gave its strongest back- and got into an altercation with officers at a security check- Hunger strike continues ing yet to the protesters, calling for “competitive” leader- point after he attempted to enter the square with briefcase Protesters poured onto the streets on September 28 ship elections for the semi-autonomous Chinese city. containing a pile of flyers. demanding political reforms, blocking three major junc- “The legitimacy of Hong Kong’s chief executive will be One officer videotaped as another yelled at the man, tions across the financial hub. One site, in the busy com- greatly enhanced if the promise of universal suffrage is ful- grabbed him by the front of his coat and thrust him into a mercial district of Mongkok, has since been cleared by filled,” the top US diplomat for Asia, Daniel Russel, told US chair. Half a dozen people were also seen being bundled police. But the main Admiralty camp outside government lawmakers. “This means allowing for a competitive election by police into a van at the centre of the square on headquarters in central Hong Kong still takes up a long in which a range of candidates with differing policy Thursday morning, although it was unclear whether they stretch of a multi-lane highway through the heart of the approaches are given an opportunity to seek the support were seeking to demonstrate. — AFP business district. of eligible Hong Kong voters.” — AFP International FRIDAY, DECEMBER 5, 2014

Australia mulls temporary visas for refugees

CANBERRA: Australia’s Parliament yesterday appeared close to passing a bill creating a new class of temporary visas for refugees that will allow them to stay and work in the country for three to five years but prevent them from making Australia their permanent home. More than 30,000 asylum seekers who arrived on Australian shores since August 2012 have yet to have their refugees claims assessed because the government doesn’t want them to stay permanently. The asylum seekers, who fled persecution and fighting in the Middle East and Asia, live in immigration detention camps or in the community under bridging visas that do not permit them to work. The government of Prime Minister Tony Abbott wants the Senate to pass legislation that would create a temporary three-year visa for the gen- uine refugees among them. They could be sent back to their homelands if the threat of persecution had dimin- ished by the time their visas expired. Refugees could get a five-year visa if they agreed to live and work in areas that are struggling with labor shortages. Critics argue that such temporary visas would deprive refugees of certainty and stability in their lives because they would still have to move after their visas expire. Until recently, the government was six votes short of passing the bill. Australian media reports Thursday said the government had obtained the support of five senators and HIROSHIMA: Japanese Emperor Akihito (left) and Empress Michiko (right) offer flowers at the cenotaph for victims needed just one more to get a majority in the 76-seat of the 1945 atomic bomb, at the Hiroshima Peace Memorial Park in western Japan yesterday. The emperor and Senate. empress also met people affected by mudslides in August during their two-day trip in Hiroshima. — AFP Clive Palmer, head of the small Palmer United Party, said one of his political allies, Ricky Muir, also supported the legislation, but Muir had not confirmed that. The government has wooed the senators with a conces- sion to allow asylum seekers on bridging visas to work and Abe’s coalition may keep a promise to increase Australia’s refugee intake. — AP Woman appointed super-majority: Survey chief pilot in Projected poll win could let Abe claim fresh mandate TOKYO: Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe’s ruling party experts, however, worried that Abe might use the victory Australian first may increase its seats and his coalition keep its two-thirds to focus less on the economy than a conservative agenda majority in parliament’s lower house, media projections that includes easing the limits of the pacifist constitution SYDNEY: Jetstar yesterday announced the appointment of showed, allowing him to claim a fresh mandate for his eco- on the military’s ability to fight overseas in aid of allies and a woman as its chief pilot-the first to hold such a position nomic revival policies. The conservative premier called the recasting Japan’s wartime past with a less apologetic tone. in Australia and one of the few in the world. Dec. 14 election after just two years in office as a referen- “If Abe wins by too much, it’s possible that he’ll focus Georgina Sutton, currently Qantas’ Boeing 767 Fleet dum on his “Abenomics” strategy, following his decision too much on the things he really wants to do ... instead of Captain, beat off stiff competition and will take up the job last month to postpone a planned rise in the sales tax to 10 the economy,” said Masayuki Doshida, a senior market ana- in February. “We are delighted that Captain Georgina percent from 8 percent. lyst at Rakuten Securities. Sutton will join us early next year as chief pilot after being Abe’s Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) is on track to take Economic issues are overshadowing security and other successful against a num- 300 or more of the chamber’s 475 seats, according to the matters, such as restarting off-line nuclear reactors, in the ber of high calibre internal projections in the Asahi, Nikkei and Yomiuri newspapers campaign. Abe also needs to draft a new fiscal consolida- and external candidates,” yesterday. The LDP’s alliance with the small Komeito party tion plan to curb what is already the worst public debt said Jetstar Australia and may win more than the 317 seats needed for a “super among advanced nations. New Zealand chief David majority” that enables the lower house to override the “In policy terms, at best we’ll be back where we were Hall. upper house, two surveys showed. before Abe called the election,” said Tobias Harris at politi- “Georgina has demon- The projected landslide - echoing the win that returned cal risk consultancy Teneo Intelligence. “He still has to strated strengths in leader- Abe and the LDP to power in 2012 - would make it easier come up with a credible fiscal consolidation plan, you still ship, technical expertise, for the premier to silence dissenters inside the party to his have the nuclear issue and ... the LDP is still capable of operations and shares our three-pronged growth strategy that combines hyper-easy making life difficult for it’s own leaders,” Harris said. strong focus on safety.” monetary policy, government spending and structural The LDP held 295 seats and the coalition 326 in total Sutton will become one reforms. The likely victory comes despite the fact that a when the premier dissolved the 480-seat lower house. The of the few women in the large chunk of voters say Abenomics is not working and number of seats will decline by five because of electoral world to reach such lofty Abe’s own support slipping. Experts said it was largely due reforms. heights, following in the to the opposition’s failure to regain public trust after a The survey results indicated the coalition would easily footsteps of Davina Pratt at 2009-2012 term by the novice Democratic Party of Japan beat the 266-seat goal that would allow control of all key Captain Georgina Sutton Aer Lingus, the national car- that was marred by policy flip-flops and infighting. committees in the lower house, smoothing parliamentary rier of Ireland. “The LDP will be stronger than it has been at any time in business. Abe has said he would resign if the LDP and its Sutton first took to the sky as a 16-year-old when she its entire history,” said Columbia University professor Gerry junior coalition partner fail to win a simple majority of 238 flew gliders in South Australia. She has piloted Boeing Curtis, of the party founded in 1955. “It’s a vote of no-confi- seats, a low bar that experts said the ruling bloc would eas- 747s and 767s, and previously said one of her career high- dence in everyone else.” ily clear. The Democrats are expected to add to their 62 lights was flying Queen Elizabeth II and and her husband In a sign of voter disaffection, turnout could hit a new seats but struggle to hit the 100 seats it has unofficially tar- Prince Philip from London to Singapore in 1992. low, while the Japan Communist Party is expected to make geted, the projections indicated. Its leader, Banri Kaieda, Some 900 pilots will report to Sutton, who joined gains on its eight seats. was facing a tough fight to retain his seat, some media Qantas in 1989. Earlier this year she told reporters she did said. not find the male-dominated atmosphere among pilots TOO BIG A WIN? Some members of Abe’s cabinet could also face tight tough to deal with as she had previously worked as a Tokyo stock prices jumped to a near 7-1/2 year high and races. Among those are Yasuhisa Shiozaki, who as health police officer, and “had exposure to a broad range of the yen weakened on expectations that Abe would stick to and welfare minister oversees reforms of the $1.2 trillion demographics”. — AFP his economic policies after the election. Some market Government Pension Investment Fund (GPIF). — Reuters FRIDAY, DECEMBER 5, 2014

Madonna returns as face of Versace (From left) Mod- els Joanne, Vivien Page 21 and Nina pres- ent fashion cre- ated by students of the Magdeburg School of Fashion and Design at the Christmas market in Magdeburg, eastern Germany. The holiday finery was themed “Paper Collection”.—AFP Lifestyle FRIDAY, DECEMBER 5, 2014 AC/DC drummer back in court after scuffle

C/DC drummer Phil Rudd was back in He said Rudd launched punches and kicks, court yesterday, with a judge reportedly but the man brushed him aside and “he literally Aordering him to keep off drugs after a fell away like a fly”. Rudd, who denies all the scuffle on a New Zealand street. The 60-year-old charges against him, is due in court again on was taken into police custody after the fracas February 10. Threatening to kill carries a poten- broke out around 10.30am (2130 GMT) in the tial jail term of seven years under New Zealand North Island coastal town of Tauranga. law. He was originally also charged with Television footage showed officers bundling the “attempting to procure murder” but it was rocker, who is already facing charges of threat- dropped after prosecutors examined police files ening to kill and drug possession, into a squad and decided there was insufficient evidence to car in handcuffs. proceed. Fairfax Media reported that he did not face Australian-born Rudd has lived in Tauranga fresh charges, but judge Paul Geoghegan tight- for several years since first moving to New ened his bail conditions to include a specific Zealand in 1983. AC/DC, one of the world’s top restriction on the taking of illegal drugs. Local selling bands, this week released their latest stu- reports described the man Rudd was fighting as dio album “Rock or Bust”. Rudd’s legal woes a witness in the criminal case he is facing after have cast doubt on whether he will stay with File photo shows US singer Lady Gaga attending the NBA Global Games Berlin 2014 friendly police raided his waterside mansion in Tauranga the band, which is planning a world tour to pro- basketball match Alba Berlin vs San Antonio Spurs at Berlin’s o2 World Arena. — AFP last month. “I saw him following a taller, bigger mote the album. — AFP guy trying to punch the guy,” cafe owner Leo Rojas told New Zealand Newswire. Lady Gaga reveals rape as teenager ady Gaga has revealed that she was raped outfits and outspoken social commentary, said as a teenager and said that it took her that she did not report the rape. She said she Lyears of therapy to acknowledge and start saw her aggressor once more when she ran into to recover from the trauma. “I don’t want to be him at a store and that she became “paralyzed defined by it,” the pop star said. “I’ll be damned by fear.” if somebody is going to say that every creatively Lady Gaga revealed the rape as she dis- intelligent thing I ever did is all boiled down to cussed her song “Swine” from her 2013 album one dickhead that did that to me.” Lady Gaga, “Artpop.” She performed the song at this year’s 28, said that the rape took place when she was South by Southwest festival, where she rode a 19 and that she has gone through years of ther- mechanical bull in a suggestive fashion and had apy. She did not go into detail but said that the a collaborator vomit on her. “The song is about aggressor was 20 years older than her. rape. This song is about demoralization,” Lady “It happens every day. It’s really scary and it’s Gaga said in her radio interview Tuesday. “I want sad and it didn’t affect me as much right after as this chick to throw up on me in front of the it did about four or five years later,” she told world, so that I can tell them, you know what? radio host Howard Stern. “I didn’t tell anybody-I You could never, ever degrade me as much as I didn’t even tell myself for the longest time,” she could degrade myself and look how beautiful it said. “Then I was like, you know what, all this is what I do.”— AFP drinking and all this nonsense, you have to go to the source, otherwise it won’t go away.” The Phil Rudd singer, who later became known for her gaudy

‘Gangnam Style’ gallops Radiohead in the studio beyond YouTube counter working on ninth album ust how big a hit was “Gangnam Style”? So mammoth t’s official-Radiohead have begun recording their ninth stu- that the Internet literally wasn’t ready to handle it. dio album. On Wednesday, producer Nigel Godrich tweeted JYouTube said that the 2012 song by South Korea’s Psy- Ia photo of lead singer Thom Yorke with Jonny Greenwood in accompanied by a horse-riding-like dance that became a the studio experimenting with modular synthesizers, a hint that global sensation-this week reached the maximum number of the Grammy-winning rockers are returning to electronic territo- views that its counter had imagined to be conceivable. The ry. Earlier this year, the group suggested that recording on their video-sharing site shows that the official version of the video follow-up to 2011’s “King of Limbs” would start in September has had more than 2.15 billion views-the equivalent of one- but this black and white image is the first confirmation that third of the world’s population, although of course many peo- Radiohead are, indeed, working together again. ple watched more than once. Greenwood, in a recent interview with The Sunday Times, The problem: YouTube designed its counter with what is said there were no official plans for the album’s release. known in computer science as a 32-bit integer, meaning that “Release? No, no idea. No,” he said. “Our plan is to start mak- the maximum number of countable views was 2,147,483,647. ing music soon. We’ve just got to get the inertia back.” In the “We never thought a video would be watched in numbers meantime, members of Radiohead kept busy working on greater than a 32-bit integer,” YouTube, which is owned by their own individual music. Yorke released his solo effort, search engine giant Google, said in a posting on Google+. “Tomorrow’s Modern Boxes,” in September while Greenwood YouTube engineers anticipated the problem and upgraded recently scored Paul Thomas Anderson’s new film “Inherent to a 64-bit integer. That means that “Gangnam Style” or future Vice.” Drummer Phil Selway also issued his second LP in mega-hit videos can now go beyond nine sextillion views-a October. It’s unclear how Radiohead intends to release the feat that, at least according to conventional wisdom, would new material. The UK group stunned the music industry be impossible to break.—AFP when they self-distributed their last two albums, “In Rainbows” and “King of Limbs,” in an effort to bypass corpo- rate labels. — Reuters Lifestyle FRIDAY, DECEMBER 5, 2014 After topless coup, Madonna returns as face of Versace adonna, still toned at 56 and riding a wave of “Madonna is one of the true icons of Versace,” designer fourth time since 1995, taking over the baton for this sea- acclaim for a recent topless photo shoot, was Donatella Versace said in a statement. “I am thrilled to have son from Lady Gaga. The Versace deal comes hot on the Mnamed yesterday as the face of Versace’s my friend and the most powerful and directional artist as heels of Madonna’s topless appearance in the December spring/summer 2015 collection. Extending a long-standing the face of Versace for Spring 2015,” she said. Decked out edition of Interview magazine which has been greeted relationship with the Italian fashion house, the American in a laser-cut leather dress, Madonna shoots the viewer a with near universal acclaim and interpreted as an act of singer was snapped for the new campaign by photogra- smouldering look framed by the flowing blonde locks seen empowerment for women in their 50s. — AFP phers Mert Alas and Marcus Piggott, who captured her in on previous Versace faces, from Lady Gaga to Christina black and white, standing showing off her lean frame and Aguilera. sitting poised on the edge of a chair. She is starring in the luxury brand’s campaigns for the

File photo shows US star Madonna after visiting the Queen Elizabeth Central Hospital (QECH) in Blantyre. — AFP

British vlogger beats JK Rowling with bestseller

British video blogger has sold more than 78,000 copies of her first book in a week, beat- Aing established authors like JK Rowling and Dan Brown. “Girl Online” by 24-year-old Zoe Sugg set a record for sales of a debut novel in Britain, the media reported on Wednesday, citing records that have been kept by Nielsen BookScan since 1998. Sugg, better known as “Zoella”, started out in 2009, handing out beauty and fashion advice on YouTube to a legion of fans via her video blogs or “vlogs”. Her account has six million followers, mainly teenagers. One of them, a 13-year-old girl, persuaded her publisher father-Penguin Random House director Tom Weldon-to give Zoella a two-year contract. The result is a novel about the feelings of a young adoles- cent with a blog. The rights for the book have been sold in 25 languages. “I’m legit blown away by this. I never in a million years thought that so many of you would pick up a copy of Girl Online. Almost wanna cry,” she tweeted. — AFP Lifestyle FRIDAY, DECEMBER 5, 2014

(Left) Tattoo artists Tiplo Tsotetsi, 28, and Dawid Smith work on tattoos representing Nelson Tattoo artist Tiplo Tsotetsi starts a sketch representing Nelson Mandela and a bridge prior to start Mandela on Mpumelelo Masinga, 27 and Macel Bosthumus, 21, at the Black and White Tattoo stu- the tattoo on the upper back of Mpumelelo Masinga. dio on November 27, 2014 in Johannesburg, South Africa. — AFP photos South Africans keep Mandela’s memory alive with tattoos pumelelo Masinga takes a deep drag from his ciga- rette, his hand trembling with apprehension. MMasinga is preparing to spend three hours at Black and White Tattoo Studio in Johannesburg getting Nelson Mandela’s face tattooed on the centre of his back. “I’m very, very nervous,” he explains with a sheepish smile. “It’s a big Dawid Smith cleans the leg of South African student Marcel piece and I’m starting on a new canvas, my back.” A year ago Bosthumus after he tattooed a portrait of Nelson Mandela. when Mandela died, Masinga decided he would pay tribute by getting a tattoo of the anti-apartheid hero. “It’s art and a memory that stays with me forever,” said the sinewy 27-year- old, who wore Nike trainers and a black beanie embroidered with the word “DOPE” in capital letters. “One day I’ll explain it to my kids.” He isn’t the only one getting inked for Mandela. As South Africa prepares to commemorate the first anniversary of the statesman’s death on December 5, tattoo studios in the coun- try are reporting an ever-growing demand for Mandela- inspired tattoos. From Johannesburg to Cape Town, portraits of Mandela and famous quotes from the great man-most of them lifted from his best-selling autobiography, Long Walk to Freedom-are in demand. “It’s really becoming popular nowa- days,” said Chris De Villiers, a tattoo artist at The Body Architects Tattoo Studio in Cape Town. “It’s not something that just happened overnight, it slowly but surely got popu- South African tattoo artist Dawid Smith starts to work on a tattoo lar.” Nadia Smith, an assistant at Jaded Ink, another studio in representing Nelson Mandela on the leg of South African student Johannesburg, said the big fashion is for clients to request an Marcel Bosthumus. “abstract, graffiti-style” tattoo of Mandela. “The graffiti one is a little bit more rustic,” said Smith, who estimates her studio has done more than five tattoos of Mandela since his death. Those with a Mandela marking use it as a reminder to follow his example of forgiveness. Leeshan Ramasamy said his tattoo, a portrait of Mandela in a suit with his trademark benevolent smile, could not be better.

‘He lives on, on my skin’ “It’s a real ice breaker,” said Ramasamy, a gregarious, 42- year-old businessman from Johannesburg, who fought Marcel Bosthumus looks at his tattoo representing Nelson against the apartheid regime as a student. “The most impor- Mandela. tant lesson he has given me is you have to forgive to move for- on my skin.” In a testament to the former president’s power to ward.” Ramasamy believes that by tattooing the human rights transcend race, blacks and whites alike are lining up to go icon on his body he is immortalizing Mandela. “You grow old under the needle. and he is still there,” he said, taking a long look at his tattoo. “I Tattoo artist Tiplo Tsotetsi puts the final touch to a tattoo repre- Back at the tattoo studio, Masinga was joined by his friend can carry him around and give him life, basically he’s still living senting Nelson Mandela and a bridge . Marcel Bosthumus, a 21-year-old Afrikaner from Randfontein, a mining town about 40 minutes west of Johannesburg by car. Bosthumus chose a portrait in the style of an oil painting on his leg, with Mandela wearing one of his colorful shirts. “I’ve always been a fan of him,” said Bosthumus. “He went through a hard time, and after going through that hard time he kept going.” Three gruelling hours later, each man has Mandela tat- tooed into his skin. Masinga looks over his shoulder at his back in a full-length mirror, rubbing his goatee as he appraises the work. Then he gives his tattoo artist a high-five. “It’s exact- ly the way I wanted it,” he says. “It was worth it.”— AFP

South African businessman Leesha Ramasamy (42) shows off his South African Mpumelelo Masinga, 27, grimaces for the pain as tattoo representing Nelson Mandela. tattoo artist Tiplo Tsotetsi, 28, starts to work on a tattoo repre- senting Nelson Mandela and a bridge.

24 FRIDAY, DECEMBER 5, 2014

bestShortcut produces fluffiest, sweet potato pie By ELIZABETH KARMEL

uch as I love a classic pumpkin pie, I have to be honest: My heart belongs to sweet potato pie. Both are rich and warmly spiced. Both go wonderfully with whipped cream. And both ooze Mwarmth and family celebration. But for me, sweet potato pie is just a bit more complex, a bit more satisfying, and a whole lot more Southern. The only trouble with sweet potato pie is that it can be a bit more trouble to make, and the night before Thanksgiving that can be a problem. So I set out to make a 1-2-3-easy sweet potato pie that tastes every bit as good as the most complicated versions I’ve made in the past. The key to a great sweet potato pie is using fresh sweet potatoes. You can’t skip this step. Canned sweet potatoes do not work well in this pie. Furthermore, don’t boil your sweet potatoes. Boiling produces a pie filling that is watery and diluted. You want to roast the potatoes, which concentrates the natural sugars and intensifies the flavor. Once the potatoes are baked, they need to be processed in order to produce a silky texture. In the past, I peeled the hot sweet potatoes and ran them through a food mill to remove all the tough fiber. But these days few people own food mills. I also thought that it was a pity to remove the nutrient-rich fiber from the potato. So I decided to try the food processor, which also let me add the other filling ingre- dients at the same time. It was so easy and fast, I loved it. Not only was the pie filling made in no time, the fiber was intact, but pureed so that you didn’t notice it. Better yet, the food processor created an ethereal fluffy texture, and it was the best sweet potato pie I’d ever eaten or made! Fluffy sweet potato pie with gingered whipped cream and toasted pecans

Ingredients 2 to 3 large sweet potatoes (1 ½ to 2 pounds) 5 tablespoons unsalted butter, melted 3 large eggs ¾ cup heavy cream 1 generous teaspoon vanilla extract ¼ cup granulated sugar ½ cup packed dark brown sugar 1 teaspoon cinnamon ¼ teaspoon kosher salt ¼ teaspoon grated nutmeg ¼ teaspoon ground dry ginger Pinch ground cloves 10-inch graham cracker pie crust, homemade or store-bought For the topping: 1 cup heavy cream 2 tablespoons granulated sugar ½ teaspoon ground dry ginger Toasted pecans, to garnish

Preparation Heat the oven to 425 F. Wash and dry the sweet potatoes, then pierce them on top with a fork. Set the sweet po- tatoes on a baking sheet and roast until soft, about 1 hour, or until you can see juices bubbling where you pricked the potatoes. Set aside until cool enough to handle. Once the sweet potatoes have cooled, peel and roughly chop the potatoes. Measure out a generous 2 cups of the flesg, then transfer to a food processor. Process for 2 minutes, or until very smooth. With the processor running, add the melted butter, eggs, cream and vanilla. The mixture should begin to look light and fluffy. Scrape down the sides of the bowl, then add both sugars, the cinnamon, salt, nutmeg, ginger and cloves. Process again to combine and fully incorporate the final ingredients. Place the prepared pie crust on a baking sheet, then transfer the sweet potato mixture into it. Bake for 50 to 60 minutes, or until the filling jiggles just slightly at the center. Let cool to room temperature. When ready to serve, prepare the gingered whipped cream. In a large bowl, combine the cream, sugar and ginger. Use a whisk or electric mixer to whip until stiff peaks form. Mound the whipped cream over the cooled pie, then sprinkle with toasted pecans.—AP 25 10 ways to dress mashed potatoes BY ALISON LADMAN

ruth is, mashed potatoes don’t need a whole lot of love to come out pretty darn amazing. A little butter (OK, a lot of butter), a little cream or milk (OK, a Tlot of cream or milk), a bit of salt and pepper, and some muscle really are all it takes to convert boring potatoes into one of our favorite comfort foods. And yet, we always feel tempted to tinker, tempted to tart up our taters, as it were, particularly around Thanksgiving. Luckily, potatoes are an easy canvas to work with, playing so well with so many flavors. To help you mix things up a bit this year, we came up with our 10 favorite ways to doctor mashed potatoes. We also offer one bit of advice about making mashed potatoes, no matter how you plan to season them. After you boil and drain them, return them to the pot and set it over low heat for just a minute or so, shaking the pot now and again to prevent sticking. The heat helps dry out the potatoes, and dry potatoes are tastier potatoes (because the water doesn’t dilute all that delicious fat you’re about to add). 10 fresh ways with mashed potatoes:

Start with 3 pounds of potatoes of your choice, peeled (if desired), then halved and boiled until tender. Drain well, mash, then follow one of the ideas below.

Browned butter and Loaded baked potato: Caramelized onion: Ranch: Stir in ½ cup but- sage: Melt 6 tablespoons Stir in 1 cup sour cream, Slowly cook 3 large sliced termilk, 1 tablespoon Dijon 1butter in a small saucepan 21 cup crumbled cooked 3yellow onions in 2 table- 4mustard, ½ teaspoon each over medium-high heat. Cook for bacon, 1/3 cup chopped fresh spoons of butter over medium of onion powder, paprika and 5 minutes, then add a handful chives and 1 cup shredded ched- heat until deep golden brown, garlic powder, and 1 tablespoon of fresh sage leaves and cook dar or Jack cheese. Season with about 20 minutes. If the pan each of chopped fresh chives, for 3 to 4 minutes more, or until salt and black pepper. begins to darken too much, add a chopped fresh dill and chopped the sage leaves are crisp and the couple tablespoons of water and fresh parsley. Season with salt butter is toasty smelling. Stir into continue cooking. Stir into the and black pepper. the potatoes and season with salt potatoes with ½ cup sour cream, and black pepper. salt and black pepper.

Parmesan-truffle: Stir in Chili-corn: Stir in ½ cup Sausage and fennel: In Curry: In a dry skillet, ½ cup half-and-half, 1 cup sour cream, 1 cup thawed a large, deep skillet, brown combine 1 tablespoon cori- 5freshly grated Parmesan 6frozen corn kernels and ¼ 71 pound of loose Italian 8ander seeds, 1 tablespoon cheese and an ample amount of cup pickled chopped jalapenos, sausage with 1 tablespoon of cumin seeds, 1 teaspoon turmeric black pepper. Season with either then season with salt and cay- crushed fennel seed and a diced and ¼ teaspoon cayenne pepper. salt and a drizzle of truffle oil, or enne pepper. leek (white part only). Stir into Toast until fragrant, then crush with just truffle salt. the potatoes with ½ cup half- with a mortar and pestle (or a and-half. Adjust seasoning with spice grinder). Stir into potatoes salt and black pepper. with 1 cup green peas (heated), ½ cup sour cream, 1 teaspoon garlic powder, and salt and black pepper.

. Horseradish: Stir in .Four cheese: Stir 3 tablespoons prepared in ½ cup half-and- 9horseradish, more or less to 10half, ½ cup grated taste, along with ½ cup butter- sharp cheddar cheese, 4 ounces milk, ½ cup sour cream and salt. cream cheese at room tem- perature, ½ cup shredded Asiago cheese and ½ cup shredded Parmesan cheese.—AP 26

FRIDAY, DECEMBER 5, 2014 Fresh selection of holiday picture books for kids

ooking to keep the kids entertained during long holiday car rides or din- Lners? Tell all your gift-buying elves to wrap up a book. Among this year’s Christmas selections:

This book cover image released by G.P. Putnam’s BOARD BOOKS Sons shows “The Animals’ Santa,” by Jan Brett. “Maisy’s Christmas Tree,” by Lucy Cousins: Maisy the mouse and pals Cyril and Tallulah prepare for the holiday, from trimming the tree to singing carols. One side of the book is cut out in the shape of a tree, something little ones might appreciate. Candlewick Press, ages 2-5. “Dinosaur vs. Santa,” by Bob Shea: A smiley little dino wears a bright orange snowsuit, makes gifts for his parents and sneaks downstairs on Christmas Eve only to scurry back to bed due to This book cover image released by Candlewick Press shows someone in red ho, ho, ho-ing in the dark. Disney- “Maisy’s Christmas Tree,” by Lucy Cousins.—AP photos Hyperion, ages 3-5.

This book cover image released by Ecco shows “CC Claus: A Baseball Christmas Story,” by Ray Negron, pictures by Laura Seeley. SNOWY BOOKS “Blizzard,” by John Rocco: based on Rocco’s childhood experience during the blizzard of 1978, when 40 inches of snow fell on his Rhode Island town. From the first flake right before recess to delivering groceries via sled on day six and the ar- rival of snowplows. Disney-Hyperion, ages 3-5. “The Animals’ Santa,” by Jan Brett: Meticulously drawn forest creatures await the arrival of this special Santa. The animals recall gifts of Christ- mases past. There was a puzzle for the crows hanging from their tree branch and a brush to fluff his tail for the arctic fox. A magnificent finish from the beloved Brett with a snowy owl in a star- ry Santa’s cap and a basket full of booty strapped to his breast. G.P. Putnam’s Sons, ages 3-5. This book cover image released by Simon & Schuster shows “A Little Women Christmas,” by Heather Vogel Frederick, pictures by Bagram This book cover image released by Atheneum Ibatoulline: This adaptation of a portion of Louisa shows “Star Bright: A Christmas story,” by Alison May Alcott’s “Little Women” is a good introduc- McGhee and Peter H. Reynolds. tion to the March family. 27

FRIDAY, DECEMBER 5, 2014 CAT LOVERS “Pete the Cat Saves Christmas,” created and illustrated by James Dean, story by Eric Litwin: In this retelling of “The Night Before Christmas,” the can-do kitty is called upon to deliver gifts when Santa falls ill. The feline’s “minibus flew, just like in a movie” and “Pete the Cat cried, ‘This is totally groovy!’” Harper, ages 4-8. “Here Comes Santa Cat,” by Deborah Under- wood, pictures by Claudia Rueda: There are jet pack mishaps and dead fish gifts for children as a wily but mute cat holding placards on sticks to communicate impersonates Santa Claus to ensure he gets a gift after a particularly naughty year. Dial Books for Young Readers, ages 3-5.

This book cover image This book cover image released by Harper shows “Pete the Cat released by Dial Books for Saves Christmas,”created and illustrated by James Dean and Young Readers shows “Here story by Eric Litwin. Comes Santa Cat,” by Debo- rah Underwood, pictures by Claudia Rueda.

CHRISTMAS SPIRIT “CC Claus: A Baseball Christmas Story,” by CC Sabathia, written with Ray Negron, pictures by Laura Seeley: Star Yankees pitcher CC Sabathia enlists the help of George Steinbrenner and baseball stars of yore to help two boys in need of balls and gloves for Christmas after their letter to Santa lands in Sabathia’s fan mail. Ecco, ages 5-up. “Star Bright: A Christmas story,” by Alison McGhee and Peter H. Reynolds: The newest angel, a girl in a pilot’s cap and goggles, tries to come up with a gift for baby Jesus. She hurtles down to Earth and becomes This book cover image released by Disney- the star that lights up the night sky. The book con- Hyperion shows “Blizzard,” by John Rocco. trasts a futuristic heaven with old-world illustrations for the birth of Jesus. Atheneum, ages 4-8. CLASSICS “A Little Women Christmas,” by Heather Vogel Frederick, pictures by Bagram Ibatoulline: This ad- This image released by Disney-Hyperion aptation of a portion of Louisa May Alcott’s “Little shows Dinosaur vs. Santa,” by Bob Shea. Women” is a good introduction to the March fam- ily. Mother and the girls are alone for the holiday while Father recuperates in a hospital after hard service as a Union Army chaplain. Jo has cut off her hair to earn money as she vows there WILL be PUFFIN HARDCOVER CLASSIC BOX SET gifts. Simon & Schuster, ages 4-8. A gifty set of hardcovers with color- ful, textured bindings. Includes “A Little Princess,” “Anne of Green Gables,” “The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn,” This product image re- “The Secret Garden,” “The Wind in the leased by Puffin Classics Willows” and “Peter Pan.” Puffin Clas- shows the Puffin classic sics, ages 8-up.—AP box set including classics “A Little Princess,” “Anne of Green Gables,” “The Adven- tures of Huckleberry Finn,” “The Secret Garden,” “The Wind in the Willows” and “Peter Pan.” 28

TravelFRIDAY, DECEMBER 5, 2014

This undated photo provided by Mount Norquay shows ski- ers on the mountain in the Canadian Rockies, just 15 Satellite minutes from the town of Banff, Al- berta.—AP photos resorts Skiing lesser known mountains

ig-name ski resorts might give you bragging rights when you go back to the office, but lesser-known mountains can give you something else: less crowded slopes, Bshorter lift lines and even outlets for Crock Pots. Some of these hidden gems are located near their famous rivals, so visitors can enjoy the same choice of lodging, restau- rants and off-the-slope activities. Suzanne Greenwood, 49, an experienced skier from Nashville, happened upon one of these satellite resorts last March. Travel29 FRIDAY, DECEMBER 5, 2014

Although she’d skied the big resorts in Colorado and Utah with her erally cost less and the food isn’t as pricey, though there are fewer options. husband for years, this trip was different. They were introducing their two And, “No one gives a fig about what you wear, how you ski or what children, ages 14 and 25, and their two friends, to skiing. Their plan for you’re skiing on. It’s an authentic experience,” he said. “There’s a real value to spring break was to use the home they’d rented in Breckenridge as a base that.” Colorado has a wealth of smaller resorts, sometimes marketed as the for the week while visiting several mountains in the area: Breckenridge, Vail, “Gems,” but so do other ski states. Beaver Creek, Keystone and Arapahoe. They’d even bought a type of pass In Vermont, Mad River Glen is a half-hour away from Stowe and 10 min- good at multiple areas. utes away from the Sugarbush Ski Complex. In Utah, Solitude is about 45 The first three days they skied Breckenridge, dropping $1,000 on private minutes from Deer Valley, which recently announced plans to purchase the lessons. Then they headed 20 minutes down the road to Arapahoe Basin. smaller resort. The locals’ resort of Brighton is also nearby. “The kids got there and loved it,” she said. Her discovery wasn’t unusual. The Mount Rose Ski Tahoe resort near Reno, Nevada, is within 45 minutes Smaller resorts are often favored by families and beginners who don’t mind of both Squaw Valley and Northstar California Resort. During the holidays, having less terrain to choose from. Greenwood’s children felt more comfort- it attracts skiers from the Bay area, who bring their rice cookers, electric able on slopes that weren’t crowded. They also found the people friendlier. kettles and occasional Crock Pot to make noodles or soup in the lodge. She said Breckenridge had better apres ski, but, “The fact is that the kids felt they were getting skiing that was just as good” at Arapahoe. The Enough terrain two resorts are about equal in the makeup of beginner, intermediate and “We’re a lot more lax with folks doing that,” than some of the big resorts, advanced slopes, but without a doubt, there are differences. said Mount Rose spokesman Murray Blaney. In the Canadian Rockies, Arapahoe has 109 trails on 960 skiable acres (388 hectares), while Mount Norquay is just 15 minutes from the town of Banff, Alberta, far closer Breckenridge has 187 trails on 2,900 acres (1,173 hectares). The lift capacity than Sunshine or Lake Louise. “Because the resort is small, it only really pro- at Arapahoe is 10,700 people per hour on six chairlifts, while Breckenridge vides enough terrain to keep people interested for a day or two, unless they carries four times as many people on 19 chairlifts and a gondola. In addi- are beginners, are taking lessons or race training,” said Banff resident Diane tion, Breckenridge has more vertical: 3,400 feet (1,036 meters) compared to Volkers, 58. But even advanced recreational skiers enjoy it if they are mixing Arapahoe’s 2,270 feet (692 meters). their time with other activities. “You can ski an incredible amount of groomed vertical in an hour,” said Lift tickets Volkers. “It’s very handy to go for a partial day.” Visitors can shop, cross- Nonetheless, Greenwood and her family were so happy at Arapahoe country ski or do some work in the afternoon. Greenwood’s group enjoyed that they didn’t bother skiing anywhere else, writing off the higher-priced Arapahoe so much they are planning on returning this season. And this lift pass they’d purchased. Greg Ditrinco, editor of SKI Magazine, said the time, it’s the only place they plan to ski. “At the end of the day for the savings on lift tickets can vary from good to nonexistent depending on the kids it’s the snow and the lifts,” she said. “They are less interested in the resort and how savvy the purchaser is. Still, lessons at satellite resorts gen- glitz.”—AP

A snowboarder on the moun- tain in the Canadian Rockies. Travel30 FRIDAY, DECEMBER 5, 2014 Gifts for travelers, from bags to gadgets

hat’s the best travel bag out there? What’s the must-have gadget for travelers? AP Travel asked seven people who travel Wfor a living — from Lonely Planet founder Tony Wheeler to the CEOs of Norwegian Cruise Line and Marriott hotels — what they can’t leave home without. Their answers may be of interest if you’re looking for holiday gift ideas for people who love to travel — or if you want to treat yourself. Norwegian cruise line CEO Kevin Sheehan: Sheehan travels so much that he’s rarely in one place long enough to actually plug a charger into a wall. So he relies on portable chargers to keep his devices charged on the go. Mophie has a number of universal external batter chargers that can recharge cellphones, iPods, iPads and other electronics when their batteries run out. Mophie has just launched a powerstation plus product with built-in cables. Frommer’s guidebook founder arthur Frommer: Frommer says he can’t travel anywhere without a laptop that has a keyboard; he writes so much that a tablet just won’t do. His “indispensable choice” is the “ultra- This product im- cheap, ultra-light” Acer Chromebook. You can find one for under $200, This product age released by so it “doesn’t present the anxiety of loss or theft that a thousand-dollar image released Mophie shows a MacBook Air would.” Chromebooks are designed for use with Wi-Fi, with by Eagle Creek powerstation plus. most data stored in the cloud, but Frommer says that isn’t a problem in shows the Eagle his travels because Wi-Fi is “so ubiquitous around the world that you are Creek Packable seldom without it.” Daypack. Lonely planet founder Tony Wheeler: Wheeler often recommends a fold-up bag, “something that you can carry along for those occasions when unexpected shopping, gifts, whatever, overloads your usual bag.” But lately he’s suggesting a refinement on the concept: a fold-up daypack like the Eagle Creek packable daypack. Wheeler is working on a new book that he bills as an update on Paul Theroux’s classic “The Great Railway Bazaar,” but instead of taking trains across continents, Wheeler Acer is traveling entirely on low-cost air carriers. On many of these airlines, non-touch C720 you’re only allowed one carry-on, so he squirrels the fold-up daypack into Chromebook.—AP the larger carry-on, then hauls it out for daily use while in the destination. photos

Marriott CEO Arne M. Sorenson: Sorenson needs an adapter that not only works with different voltage systems and outlets around the world but also has more than one USB charging port. Walkabout Travel Gear sells a universal adapter that not only boasts of working with every volt- Rimowa Salsa age system “on the planet” but also has two USB power ports and can Deluxe luggage. support high-powered devices like iPhones and iPads. Yahoo travel editor Paula Froelich: Froelich, who chronicles her fre- quent trips in online videos and at ABroadAbroad.com, tried out a lot of bags before settling on her favorite: Rimowa Salsa Deluxe. “It’s the most perfect luggage,” she said. “It’s lots of money and worth every cent. I did my research and this was perfect.” Salsa Deluxe options range in price from $450 to $895. They’re made of lightweight but durable polycarbon- ate, with a trademarked Multiwheel system, an extendable telescopic handle and an add-a-bag holder built into the case shell. Travel channel’s ‘Hotel Impossible’ host Anthony Melchiorri: Melchiorri never knows what he’ll need “traveling all over the country, in all differ- ent climates and circumstances.” His go-to bag is a leather Tumi wheeled briefcase: “The bag allows me to pack almost anything I may need on the road.” “The insatiable traveler” blogger Susan Portnoy: Portnoy, whose interests range from photographic African safaris to cool places around the US like Brooklyn Bridge Park, has a few must-haves that also make great stocking stuffers. Among them: the Mini Cree LED Flashlight Torch, compact but with a powerful, adjustable beam and a clip so she can at- tach it to her bag or belt; the soft, warm Cabeau Fold ‘n Go blanket with portable case, which she also uses for back support on long flights, not being a fan of neck pillows; and Coleman Toilet Paper Campers, which stay neat in their own plastic carrying cases, fit in a pocket or small bag, Alpha 2 Deluxe Wheeled Leather and last much longer than a tissue pack, whether you have a runny nose Briefcase with laptop case. or are roughing it in wild places.—AP TV listings FRIDAY, DECEMBER 5, 2014

04:25 Charly’s Cake Angels 23:00 All You Can Meat 18:20 Paddock To Plate 18:00 America The Wild 04:50 Chopped 23:25 All You Can Meat 19:10 Coronation Street 19:00 Mega Factories 05:40 All You Can Meat 23:50 Pizza Cuz 19:35 Tales From Northumberland 20:00 Engineering Connections 06:05 Roadtrip With G. Garvin With Robson Green 21:00 Animal Mega Moves 06:30 Reza’s African Kitchen 20:30 I’m A Celebrity Get Me Out Of 22:00 America The Wild 00:20 American Guns 06:50 Siba’s Table Here! 23:00 Great Migrations 00:00 Necessary Roughness 01:10 The Fighters 07:10 Sweet Genius 21:50 Tales From Northumberland 01:00 Good Morning America 02:00 Fast N’ Loud 08:00 Roadtrip With G. Garvin With Robson Green 03:00 The Client List 02:50 Storage Hunters 08:25 Roadtrip With G. Garvin 22:20 Coronation Street 04:00 Strike Back 00:40 Ade In Britain 03:15 Game Of Pawns 08:50 Guy’s Big Bite 22:50 Emmerdale 05:00 Good Morning America 01:30 Brendan’s Magical Mystery Tour 03:40 Storage Wars Canada 09:15 Chopped 23:45 The Jonathan Ross Show 07:00 Emmerdale 02:00 Emmerdale 04:05 How It’s Made 10:05 Barefoot Contessa - Back To 08:00 The Ellen DeGeneres Show 02:55 Coronation Street 04:30 How It’s Made Basics 00:30 The Daily Show With Jon 09:00 24 03:50 I’m A Celebrity Get Me Out Of 05:00 Treehouse Masters 10:30 Chopped Canada Stewart 10:00 Emmerdale Here! 06:00 Wheeler Dealers 11:20 Recipes That Rock 01:00 The Colbert Report 11:00 The Ellen DeGeneres Show 05:15 May The Best House Win Abroad 06:50 Extreme Fishing 11:45 Chopped SA 01:30 Louie 12:00 Castle 06:10 Paddock To Plate 07:40 Fast N’ Loud 12:35 Grandma’s Secret Cookbook 02:00 It’s Always Sunny In 13:00 Necessary Roughness 07:05 Brendan’s Magical Mystery Tour 08:30 Storage Hunters 13:00 Chopped Philadelphia 14:00 24 07:30 I’m A Celebrity Get Me Out Of 00:00 Adventure Wanted 08:55 Game Of Pawns 13:50 Siba’s Table 02:30 Hello Ladies 15:00 Live Good Morning America Here! 01:00 Jurassic C.S.I. 09:20 Storage Wars Canada 14:15 Jenny Morris Cooks Morocco 03:00 The Neighbors 17:00 Castle 08:50 Tales From Northumberland 02:00 Helicopter Wars 09:45 How It’s Made 14:40 Sandwich King 03:30 Last Man Standing 18:00 Necessary Roughness With Robson Green 03:00 Situation Critical 10:10 How It’s Made 15:05 Chopped Canada 04:00 Back In The Game 19:00 24 09:20 The Jonathan Ross Show 04:00 Megastructures 10:35 Airplane Repo 15:55 Roadtrip With G. Garvin 04:30 The Tonight Show Starring 20:00 Castle 10:15 May The Best House Win Abroad 05:00 Knights Of Mayhem 11:25 American Guns 16:20 Guy’s Big Bite 21:00 Necessary Roughness 11:10 Emmerdale 06:00 Hard Time Jimmy Fallon 12:15 Surviving The Cut 16:45 Chopped SA 22:00 The Client List 12:00 Coronation Street 07:00 America The Wild 05:30 Better Off Ted 13:05 Storage Hunters 17:35 Chopped 23:00 Strike Back 12:30 Ade In Britain 08:00 Adventure Wanted 06:00 Til Death 13:30 Game Of Pawns 18:25 Jenny Morris Cooks Morocco 13:25 Paddock To Plate 09:00 Jurassic C.S.I. 06:30 My Name Is Earl 13:55 Storage Wars Canada 18:50 Diners, Drive-Ins & Dives 14:20 Brendan’s Magical Mystery Tour 10:00 Helicopter Wars 07:00 Late Night With Seth Meyers 14:20 Extreme Fishing 19:15 Diners, Drive-Ins & Dives 14:45 May The Best House Win Abroad 11:00 Great Migrations 08:00 Back In The Game 15:10 Wheeler Dealers 19:40 Siba’s Table 12:00 Battleground Brothers 08:30 Better Off Ted 16:00 Fast N’ Loud 15:35 Tales From Northumberland 00:00 12 Rounds 2: Reloaded 20:05 Grandma’s Secret Cookbook 13:00 Armageddon Outfitters 16:50 How It’s Made With Robson Green 09:00 The Neighbors 02:00 Dead In Tombstone 20:30 Sandwich King 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 Escape From L.A. 20:55 Roadtrip With G. Garvin 15:00 Mega Factories 17:40 Treehouse Masters Here! 10:00 New Girl 06:00 American Warships 21:20 Chopped Canada 16:00 Engineering Connections 18:30 Fast N’ Loud 18:00 Tales From Northumberland 10:30 My Name Is Earl 08:00 Chain Reaction 22:10 Chopped SA 17:00 Animal Mega Moves 19:20 Extreme Car Hoarders With Robson Green 11:00 The Tonight Show Starring 10:00 The Last Stand 20:10 Game Of Pawns Jimmy Fallon 12:00 Escape From L.A. 20:35 Garage Gold 12:00 Til Death 13:45 Live Free Or Die Hard 21:00 Fast N’ Loud 12:30 Back In The Game 16:00 Avengers Confidential: Black 21:50 Philly Throttle 13:00 Better Off Ted Widow & Punisher 22:40 Classic Car Rescue 13:30 My Name Is Earl 18:00 The Call 23:30 Fast N’ Loud 14:00 Last Man Standing 20:00 The Last Stand 14:30 Mystery Girls 22:00 Safe 15:00 New Girl 15:30 The Daily Show With Jon Stewart 16:00 The Colbert Report 00:00 Kourtney And Khloe Take The 16:30 Til Death Hamptons 00:00 Dead In Tombstone-18 17:00 Late Night With Seth Meyers 00:55 Extreme Close-Up 02:00 Escape From L.A.-PG15 18:00 The Neighbors 01:25 Keeping Up With The 04:00 American Warships-PG15 Kardashians 18:30 Last Man Standing 06:00 Chain Reaction-PG15 02:20 E! News 19:00 The Goodwin Games 08:00 The Last Stand-PG15 03:15 Giuliana & Bill 19:30 New Girl 10:00 Escape From L.A.-PG15 04:10 E!ES 20:00 The Tonight Show Starring 11:45 Live Free Or Die Hard-PG15 05:05 The E! True Hollywood Story Jimmy Fallon 14:00 Avengers Confidential: Black 06:00 Kourtney And Kim Take Miami 21:00 The Daily Show With Jon Widow & Punisher-PG15 06:55 Kourtney And Kim Take Miami Stewart 16:00 The Call-PG15 07:50 Style Star 21:30 The Colbert Report 18:00 The Last Stand-PG15 08:20 E! News 22:00 Married 20:00 Safe-PG15 09:15 Giuliana & Bill 22:30 It’s Always Sunny In 22:00 Dredd-18 10:15 THS Philadelphia 11:10 Beyond Candid With Giuliana 23:00 Legit 12:05 E! News 23:30 Late Night With Seth Meyers 13:05 #RichKids Of Beverly Hills 00:00 The Food Guide To Love-18 13:35 #RichKids Of Beverly Hills 02:00 Straight Talk-PG15 14:05 #RichKids Of Beverly Hills 04:00 The New Guy-PG15 14:30 Fashion Bloggers 06:00 Grown Ups 2-PG15 15:00 House Of DVF 00:00 Royal Pains 08:00 Keeping The Faith-PG15 16:00 Kourtney And Khloe Take The 01:00 Top Gear (US) 10:15 The Incredible Burt Hamptons 02:00 Survivor: San Juan Del Sur Wonderstone-PG15 17:00 Kourtney And Khloe Take The 12:00 Timer-PG15 Hamptons 03:00 Supernatural 04:00 Switched At Birth 14:00 Barbershop-PG15 18:00 E! News 15:45 Keeping The Faith-PG15 05:00 The Flash 19:00 Live From E! 18:00 Undercover Brother-PG15 06:00 Royal Pains 19:30 Eric And Jessie: Game On 20:00 Along Came Polly-PG15 07:00 Made In Jersey 20:00 Giuliana & Bill 22:00 Not Suitable For Children-18 21:00 Giuliana & Bill 08:00 C.S.I. 22:00 E! News 09:00 Switched At Birth 23:00 Live From E! 10:00 The Flash 23:30 #RichKids Of Beverly Hills 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 16:00 Emmerdale 07:00 Almost Christmas-PG15 00:15 Siba’s Table 17:00 The Ellen DeGeneres Show 09:00 The Runway-PG15 00:40 Diners, Drive-Ins & Dives 18:00 C.S.I. 10:45 The Next Three Days-PG15 01:05 Chopped 19:00 Switched At Birth 13:00 Everything Must Go-PG15 01:55 Marion’s Thailand 15:00 Robot & Frank-PG15 02:20 Recipes That Rock 20:00 Grey’s Anatomy 17:00 The Runway-PG15 02:45 Marion’s Thailand 21:00 Devious Maids 18:45 The Butler-PG15 03:10 Marion’s Thailand 22:00 American Horror Story: Freak 03:35 Siba’s Table Show 21:00 The English Teacher-PG15 04:00 Siba’s Table SAFE ON OSN MOVIES HD ACTION 23:00 Supernatural 23:00 The Paperboy-18 TV listings FRIDAY, DECEMBER 5, 2014

02:45 Los Campeones De LA Lucha 07:30 Live HSBC Sevens World Series 15:00 Story of the World Cup 1992 02:30 Counting Cars 02:50 Family Fat Surgeons Libre 20:00 Golfing World 16:30 LG ICC Awards 2014 03:00 Ice Road Truckers 03:40 Long Island Medium 04:30 Sleeping Beauty 21:00 NFL Gameday 17:30 ICC Cricket World Cup Tales 04:00 Storage Wars 04:05 Say Yes To The Dress 01:30 True Confessions-18 06:00 Barbie In The Nutcracker 21:30 This is PGA Tour 18:00 ICC Cricket World Cup Tales 04:30 Storage Wars 04:30 Say Yes To The Dress 03:30 No Country For Old Men-PG15 08:00 The Happy Cricket 22:00 Live PGA Tour 18:30 ICC Cricket World Cup Tales 05:00 Pawn Stars 05:00 Toddlers & Tiaras 05:30 Annapolis-PG15 10:00 Soccer Dog: European Cup 19:00 ICC Cricket World Cup Tales 05:30 Pawn Stars 06:00 Something Borrowed, 07:15 Strictly Sinatra-PG15 11:45 Fred 2: Night Of The Living Fred 19:30 ICC Cricket World Cup Tales 06:00 Ax Men Something New 09:00 Timer-PG15 13:15 Los Campeones De LA Lucha 20:00 ICC Cricket 360 07:00 Storage Wars: New York 06:25 Cake Boss Libre 20:30 LG ICC Awards 2014 07:30 Counting Cars 06:50 Cake Boss 11:00 Escape From Polygamy-PG15 03:00 Snooker UK Championship 15:00 Scooby-Doo! Adventures: The 21:30 Bangladesh v Zimbabwe ODI 08:00 Counting Cars 07:15 Cake Boss 12:30 Bully-PG15 07:00 Golfing World Mystery Map! Highlights 08:30 Counting Cars 07:40 Cake Boss 14:30 Cheerful Weather For The 08:00 Ryder Cup Official Film 16:00 Planet 51 22:30 Bangladesh v Zimbabwe ODI 09:00 American Restoration 08:05 Your Style In His Hands Wedding-PG15 09:30 ICC Cricket 360 18:00 Soccer Dog: European Cup Highlights 09:30 Pawn Stars UK 08:55 Your Style In His Hands 16:15 Timer-PG15 10:00 Volvo Ocean Race Highlights 20:00 Dudley Do Right 23:30 ICC Cricket 360 10:00 Storage Wars: New York 09:45 Randy To The Rescue 18:00 Lincoln-PG15 10:30 European Tour Weekly 22:00 Scooby-Doo! Adventures: The 10:30 Counting Cars 10:35 Say Yes To The Dress – 20:30 The Missing-PG15 11:00 Live Nedbank Golf Challenge Mystery Map! 11:00 Pawn Stars Bridesmaids 23:00 Tar-PG15 18:00 Golfing World 23:15 Planet 51 11:30 Pawn Stars 11:00 Say Yes To The Dress – 19:00 WWE Superstars 12:00 Storage Wars Bridesmaids 20:00 WWE Smackdown! 12:30 Storage Wars 11:25 Something Borrowed, 22:00 Live Snooker Champion of 13:00 Counting Cars Something New Champions 01:00 City Slickers II 00:45 Pacific Rim-PG15 00:00 Vehicle 19-PG15 13:30 Counting Cars 11:50 Something Borrowed, 03:00 The Village 03:00 The Chateau Meroux-PG15 02:00 Jack Ryan: Shadow Recruit-PG15 14:00 Mountain Men Something New 05:00 Simon Sez 05:00 Vamps-PG15 04:00 Asterix And Obelix-PG15 15:00 Ice Road Truckers 12:15 Something Borrowed, 06:30 Chimpanzee-FAM 07:00 Peace, Love & 06:00 Monsters University-PG 16:00 Counting Cars Something New 08:00 Bolt-PG Misunderstanding-PG15 08:00 The 7:39-PG15 16:30 Counting Cars 12:40 Something Borrowed, 09:45 Garage Sale Mystery-U 09:00 Chasing Mavericks-PG15 10:00 Marvel’s Ultimate Avengers I-PG 17:00 Counting Cars Something New 00:30 ICC Cricket 360 11:15 The Village 11:00 Madagascar-PG 12:00 Jack Ryan: Shadow Recruit-PG15 17:30 Counting Cars 13:05 Something Borrowed, 01:00 ICC Cricket World Cup Tales 13:15 Casanova 13:00 Marvel’s The Invincible Iron 14:00 Skyline-PG15 18:00 Pawn Stars Something New 01:30 ICC Cricket World Cup Tales 15:15 Armageddon Man-PG 16:00 The 7:39-PG15 18:30 Pawn Stars 13:30 Oprah’s Next Chapter 02:00 LG ICC Awards 2014 17:45 Thorne: Sleepyhead-FAM 14:45 Pacific Rim-PG15 18:00 Dark Tide-PG15 19:00 Storage Wars 14:20 Oprah’s Master Class 03:00 Live Australia v India 20:00 Scream 4 17:00 Chasing Mavericks-PG15 20:00 Lay The Favorite-PG15 19:30 Storage Wars 15:10 Little People, Big World International Test 22:00 Reign Of Fire 19:00 The Internship-PG15 22:00 Take This Waltz-18 20:00 Counting Cars 15:35 Little People, Big World 11:00 ICC Cricket 360 23:45 The Rookie-PG 21:00 Good Deeds-PG15 20:30 Counting Cars 16:00 Little People, Big World 11:30 Australia v South Africa ODI 23:00 2 Guns-18 21:00 Ice Road Truckers 16:25 Little People, Big World Highlights 22:00 Pawn Stars 16:50 Little People, Big World 12:30 Australia v South Africa ODI 22:30 Storage Wars 17:15 The Next Great Baker Highlights 01:00 International Rugby Union 23:00 American Pickers 18:05 Cake Boss 13:30 Australia v South Africa ODI 03:00 Pool Mosconi Cup 18:30 Secret Eaters 07:00 Hero Indian Super League Highlights 01:00 Ploddy Police Car 19:20 Secret Eaters 14:30 ICC Cricket 360 Highlights 00:00 According To Jim 20:10 Ultimate Shopper 00:30 Castle 21:00 Here Comes Honey Boo Boo 01:30 Grey’s Anatomy 21:25 Here Comes Honey Boo Boo 02:30 Army Wives 21:50 World’s Worst Mum 03:30 MasterChef Australia 00:45 Oprah’s Next Chapter 22:40 Long Island Medium 04:30 Private Practice 01:35 Oprah’s Master Class 23:05 Mob Wives 05:30 According To Jim 02:25 I Didn’t Know I Was Pregnant 23:55 Family Fat Surgeons 05:55 According To Jim 06:30 No Ordinary Family 07:30 No Ordinary Family 08:30 Castle Spotify foe Swift 09:30 According To Jim 10:00 Grey’s Anatomy at No. 1 with 11:00 Army Wives 12:00 MasterChef Australia streaming-backed chart 13:00 Private Practice 14:00 According To Jim 14:30 According To Jim aylor Swift has accused Spotify of harming the music 15:00 No Ordinary Family industry, but she returned to number one 16:00 No Ordinary Family TWednesday as the benchmark US album chart for the 17:00 According To Jim first time factored in streaming. Swift’s “1989”-which last 19:30 Fit For Fashion month had the biggest debut of any US album in 12 years- 20:30 The Walking Dead returned to the top spot on the Billboard 200 for the seven 21:30 Happy Endings days through Sunday after slipping for one week. 21:55 Happy Endings As part of the chart’s biggest revamp since 1991, track- 22:30 Melissa & Joey ing company Nielsen SoundScan is including streaming in 22:55 Melissa & Joey its measurements amid the rapid growth of services such 23:30 According To Jim as Spotify which allow music fans to listen to unlimited music on demand. Swift benefited from another change as part of the Billboard 200’s revamp digital downloads of songs, with 10 purchases equivalent to one album sale. She sold 339,000 “album equivalent units” in the week, with 83 percent of the sales still traditional album sales either in 01:20 Shaft physical or digital format. 03:05 Lone Star-FAM “1989” also gained ground due to the lack of a new 04:40 Reunion In France-FAM blockbuster debut. British boy band One Direction’s “Four,” 07:00 The Prisoner Of Zenda-FAM which dethroned Swift when it came out, slipped in its sec- 08:40 King Solomon’s Mines-FAM ond week to, incidentally, number four. New release 10:25 Captain Sindbad-FAM “Shady XV,” a compilation double-album by Eminem and 11:50 Bad Day At Black Rock-PG affiliated rappers, entered at number three. Number two 13:10 42nd Street-FAM was a Christmas album by the Texas a cappella group 14:40 The Oklahoma Kid-FAM 16:00 Lassie Come Home-FAM Pentatonix. 17:30 Designing Woman-FAM The clearest beneficiary of the chart’s changes was 19:25 Cheyenne Autumn-FAM teenage star turned pop singer Ariana Grande, whose “My 22:00 Splendor In The Grass-PG Everything” shot up from number 39 to number seven, with one-third of equivalent album sales made up of track sales or streaming. Under the new formula, an artist regis- ters one album sale for every 1,500 streams of songs from that single work. Swift caused a stir by pulling her whole catalog last month off Spotify, accusing the Swedish com- pany of devaluing music by insufficiently compensating 00:00 Ice Road Truckers artists. Swift’s work-minus “1989”-remains on rival services 01:00 Storage Wars such as Google Play, Apple-owed Beats Music and 01:30 Pawn Stars Rhapsody which require payment.—AFP THE NEW GUY ON OSN MOVIES COMEDY HD 02:00 Counting Cars Stars FRIDAY, DECEEMBER 5, 2014

Aries (March 21-April 19) COUNTRY CODES Libra (September 23-October 22) Afghanistan 0093 Lithuania 00370 You find your taste in artistic things and appreciation in Albania 00355 Luxembourg 00352 general is keen this monday. This may be the perfect time for you to pick You may find much of your energy being used on romance and Algeria 00213 Macau 00853 out furnishings, colors and so forth–the finer things in life. Your invest- creative pursuits this monday. This is not a waste of time as whatever results Andorra 00376 Macedonia 00389 ments from this tuesday will be showing results soon–patience! Figuring happen will be beneficially used in the workplace as well as in your personal Angola 00244 Madagascar 00261 things out is just the thing that takes on a special significance. A career life. You are extremely resourceful this tuesday and can find a way for you to Anguilla 001264 Majorca 0034 plan that you have been thinking about recently can now be put into make a little extra money at doing practically anything. You might also teach Antiga 001268 Malawi 00265 action. Projects and people should keep you very busy this wednesday. others your ideas or techniques. Impatience could cause you to feel in a bit of a Argentina 0054 Malaysia 0060 You could find this a time of unwavering study and thought, as you are rush this wednesday. Take care not to try to make up for any amount of lost Armenia 00374 Maldives 00960 not prone to take people’s opinions to heart, without first investigating time–better to be late. Communications are excellent–all day long. Because of Australia 0061 Mali 00223 their motives. Mental practice should come easily this thursday, so put a very strong urge to feel good about yourself and the way that you get things Austria 0043 Malta 00356 your mind to work and take care of any details you may have. Problems done this thursday, you could be looking seriously at much improvement in Bahamas 001242 Marshall Islands 00692 and obstacles should find some easy explanation. Bahrain 00973 Martinique 00596 your physical wellbeing. Bangladesh 00880 Mauritania 00222 Barbados 001246 Mauritius 00230 Belarus 00375 Mayotte 00269 Belgium 0032 Mexico 0052 Belize 00501 Micronesia 00691 Taurus (April 20-May 20) Scorpio (October 23-November 21) Benin 00229 Moldova 00373 Bermuda 001441 Monaco 00377 Your emotional direction is toward taking care of business Bhutan 00975 Mongolia 00976 this monday–you want an organized and practical outcome with the Taking care of business could be one of your major themes Bolivia 00591 Montserrat 001664 effort you put forth. This tuesday you may figure out how to proceed this monday. Much of your emotional support and security comes from Bosnia 00387 Morocco 00212 with plans and decisions with respect to your professional world. If you your friends, moral integrity and social involvement during this time. Your Botswana 00267 Mozambique 00258 patience is rewarded this tuesday as you work to solve a problem or busy Brazil 0055 Myanmar (Burma) 0095 have given any thought to committing your thoughts and deeds to a Brunei 00673 Namibia 00264 book or journal, this wednesday would be the appropriate time, as you yourself to get things accomplished. This wednesday is a time when you will have to give yourself time to make decisions. Moving too quickly could Bulgaria 00359 Nepal 00977 will be full of imagination. Your ideas and thinking, together with your Burkina 00226 Netherlands 0031 talent for putting your thoughts into words, would allow you to capti- find you making some wrong choices. Your focus will be best served on Burundi 00257 Netherlands Antilles 00599 vate others. Things are definitely happening this thursday and your things that are ordinary this evening. Mentally, you are very perceptive this Cambodia 00855 New Caledonia 00687 vocation or path will depend upon your own ambition and effort–which thursday. This afternoon could find you engaged in some in-depth discus- Cameroon 00237 New Zealand 0064 are strong now. sions and exploratory conversations–especially in the workplace. Canada 001 Nicaragua 00505 Cape Verde 00238 Nigar 00227 Cayman Islands 001345 Nigeria 00234 Central African 00236 Niue 00683 Chad 00235 Norfolk Island 00672 Chile 0056 N. Ireland (UK) 0044 Gemini (May 21-June 20) Sagittarius (November 22-December 21) China 0086 North Korea 00850 Colombia 0057 Norway 0047 You have many projects developing this monday and your Comoros 00269 Oman 00968 People’s opinions are not quite enough for you this mon- Congo 00242 Pakistan 0092 professional progress is running smoothly. Now you have the ability for sus- day, they must be backed up by authority or evidence and that is what Cook Islands 00682 Palau 00680 tained work that allows you to coordinate events and complete tasks like you will be receiving. Those in authority take notice and you will be Costa Rica 00506 Panama 00507 never before. You may find yourself more involved in getting things and rewarded for your successes soon. Conditions are perfect this tuesday for Croatia 00385 Papua New Guinea 00675 people organized this tuesday. You are not willing to accept the opinions of self-expression and work very well with your special way of guidance. You Cuba 0053 Paraguay 00595 others strictly on their say-so, unless they have some proof or authority. You stay focused on your responsibilities, even though there are many inter- Cyprus 00357 Peru 0051 may realize that this wednesday would be a perfect time to get a program of ruptions. There is the danger of foggy thinking and of your being misled Cyprus (Northern) 0090392 Philippines 0063 self-help started, especially dealing with your work habits, diet and exercise. or getting too carried away with some plan or idea this wednesday morn- Czech Republic 00420 Poland 0048 The bottom line to all of this is simply that you want to feel energetic and Denmark 0045 Portugal 00351 proud of yourself. This thursday is a super day to get things accomplished. ing. Being with and working with others is most pleasurable this thursday. Diego Garcia 00246 Puerto Rico 001787 Good hand and eye coordination and a concentrated effort make most tasks Someone in charge of a special task could be seeking you out to take on Djibouti 00253 Qatar 00974 run well. important responsibilities in the workplace. Dominica 001767 Romania 0040 Dominican Republic 001809 Russian Federation 007 Ecuador 00593 Rwanda 00250 Egypt 0020 Saint Helena 00290 El Salvador 00503 Saint Kitts 001869 Cancer (June 21-July 22) Capricorn (December 22-January 19) England (UK) 0044 Saint Lucia 001758 Equatorial Guinea 00240 Saint Pierre 00508 Eritrea 00291 Saint Vincent 001784 Circumstances may increase an appreciation and enjoy- There is a great feeling this monday that comes with Estonia 00372 Samoa US 00684 ment of your life situation this monday. Co-workers may find you especial- the ability to make successful and wise decisions and to use your Ethiopia 00251 Samoa West 00685 ly dynamic and assertive; you have an abundance of energy and drive at skill to help others. Time is moving much too quickly and when Falkland Islands 00500 San Marino 00378 your fingertips. You may find it easy to make some clear evaluations that asked, you find just the thing that will make a particular customer Faroe Islands 00298 Sao Tone 00239 affect others this tuesday. Your ability to make common sense decisions happy. Work conditions this tuesday may be active and possibly Fiji 00679 Saudi Arabia 00966 will be valued. There could be a change in work plans this wednesday and stressful. Not to worry . . . You will succeed in accomplishing what- Finland 00358 Scotland (UK) 0044 you will have to help make some temporary adjustments so that the side- ever you set out to do this day. The planetary energies this France 0033 Senegal 00221 wednesday are perfect for your type of self-expression and work French Guiana 00594 Seychelles 00284 tracked job will have a successful outcome. There is probably a lot on your French Polynesia 00689 Sierra Leone 00232 mind this thursday. You may find work issues have gained your attention well with your progress in the workplace. You find yourself most Gabon 00241 Singapore 0065 most of this day. Overhearing conversations of co-workers, you may gain persuasive with others. You will benefit from perceptive insights Gambia 00220 Slovakia 00421 some smart ways to handle difficult projects. this thursday and getting to the heart of a matter. Georgia 00995 Slovenia 00386 Germany 0049 Solomon Islands 00677 Ghana 00233 Somalia 00252 Gibraltar 00350 South Africa 0027 Greece 0030 South Korea 0082 Leo (July 23-August 22) Aquarius (January 20- February 18) Greenland 00299 Spain 0034 Grenada 001473 Sri Lanka 0094 It may be necessary to do some penetrating analysis, par- Guadeloupe 00590 Sudan 00249 Financial knowledge and a practical turn of mind are quali- Guam 001671 Suriname 00597 ties that take on greater importance in your life this tuesday. As a wheeler- ticularly with a group or in relation to your situation this monday. Others Guatemala 00502 Swaziland 00268 dealer, you have a knack of knowing how to put people, ideas and things may come to you for help in understanding or psychoanalyzing their Guinea 00224 Sweden 0046 together profitably. Those in authority this wednesday know of your ability predicament. This could be a time when it would be beneficial to make Guyana 00592 Switzerland 0041 to manage and direct other people and could be seeking you out to take some changes in your environment. Those around you will have no prob- Haiti 00509 Syria 00963 the responsibility for a particular job requiring this talent. You are deter- lem in knowing just where you are coming from this tuesday. You aim for a Holland (Netherlands) 0031 Serbia 00381 mined to stick with the important professional issues this thursday. There balanced life. The idea of value or a greater appreciation for things of value Honduras 00504 Taiwan 00886 is right up your alley this wednesday. You may find yourself gaining a great Hong Kong 00852 Tanzania 00255 seems to be a big need to make some changes, breaking with the old Thailand 0066 worn-out patterns from the past. Beating others out in the heat of competi- deal materially. Expect an upgrade soon in your job identity and pay. To get Hungary 0036 Ibiza (Spain) 0034 Toga 00228 tion and taking on a position of authority are important to you this friday. If the necessary things accomplished this thursday, you will probably have to Tonga 00676 possible, refer and delegate jobs with which you would rather not be take the lead, particularly in a group situation. A career goal is close to Iceland 00354 India 0091 Tokelau 00690 involved–remain focused. being realized this friday. Trinidad 001868 Indian Ocean 00873 Tunisia 00216 Indonesia 0062 Turkey 0090 Iran 0098 Tuvalu 00688 Iraq 00964 Uganda 00256 Ireland 00353 Ukraine 00380 Virgo (August 23-September 22) Pisces (February 19-March 20) Italy 0039 United Arab Emirates 00976 Ivory Coast 00225 United Kingdom 0044 This monday there could be some very important matters Everything is coming together to show you off at your Jamaica 001876 Uruguay 00598 that require your attention and have you serving as a guide to someone finest in the workplace this monday. You may be teaching or lecturing dur- Japan 0081 USA 001 younger than yourself. You may, at long last, figure out new ways to pro- ing the day. A very active day is forecasted this tuesday. You are under a bit Jordan 00962 Uzbekistan 00998 Kazakhstan 007 Vanuatu 00678 ceed with plans and decisions that affect some business concerns. You may more pressure this morning than you have been recently, but that’s okay; you are finishing up a lot of overdue projects as a result. Care must be taken Kenya 00254 Venezuela 00582 take heart in realizing just how appreciated or valued you are for your feel- Kiribati 00686 Vietnam 0084 ings or your ability to take action and get things done this tuesday. This this wednesday to steer clear of overextending your services or your ener- gies. There seems to be a sense of testing the limits at this time. New Kuwait 00965 Virgin Islands UK 001284 wednesday is a time for forging ahead, a time that you can combine busi- Kyrgyzstan 00996 Virgin Islands US 001340 friends and associates may develop into partnerships and lend assistance in Laos 00856 Wales (UK) 0044 ness and pleasure and a time to enjoy your career. Your ambition is strong long-term goals. You will have space this thursday for something new, dif- and your achievements are many. Self-expression is at a high this thursday, Latvia 00371 Yemen 00967 ferent and unique to come into your life and help you obtain a new per- Yugoslavia 00381 you should find acceptance for your particular ideas and thoughts. You Lebanon 00961 spective on things. Seek a better understanding on what you are told this Liberia 00231 Zambia 00260 could be most convincing in your speech and communication. friday. Follow instructions. Libya 00218 Zimbabwe 00263 HEALTH FRIDAY, DECEMBER 5, 2014 Panel fails to lift ban on gay blood donors

WASHINGTON: A panel of experts convened by US health regulators failed Wednesday to decide whether a lifetime ban should be lifted on gay men donating blood, following two days of heated deliberations. The US Food and Drug Administration, which takes into account the 17-member committee’s suggestions, did not indicate when it would make a decision. “The meeting provided valuable information and perspectives that will help inform the FDA’s delibera- tions,” spokeswoman Jennifer Rodriguez said. “The FDA’s pri- mary concern as we continue to review our blood donation policies will be assuring the continued safety of blood and blood products for the patients who receive these products.” The FDA does not have to follow the panel’s advice but typically does. Some panel members said they were hesitant to change the ban dating back to 1983, despite intense debate in recent years. Others said they favored easing it. “The blood bank community has looked at the data and feels they can scientifically and medically support the change,” said PESHAWAR: A Pakistani Thalassaemia patient receives blood at a treatment center in Peshawar yesterday. Ten Pakistani panel member CSL Behring senior medical director Toby children, from the cities of Islamabad, Rawalpindi and Lahore, have been infected with HIV after receiving tainted blood Simon. Others worried that a relaxed policy could increase risk transfusions, officials said, in a ‘shocking’ case highlighting the abysmal state of blood screening in the country. — AFP of transmission during blood transfusions. “Even if this leads to one or two cases of HIV infection, Pakistani children test positive that’s not acceptable,” said Kenrad Nelson, professor of epi- demiology, international health and medicine at the Johns Hopkins Medical Institutions. A growing number of medical for HIV after blood transfusions and legal experts say that the restrictions are outdated, and that sophisticated tests for human immunodeficiency virus ISLAMABAD: At least 10 Pakistani children who received think these cases are probably the tip of the iceberg. It is a (HIV) exist that can make blood donation by gay men a much blood transfusions have tested positive for HIV, officials scandal.” safer practice. Opponents of the ban say it stigmatizes gays said yesterday, with a leading medic predicting the discov- Many children would require transfusions on a biweekly and dates to a time when the AIDS epidemic was spreading ery could be just the “tip of the iceberg”. The children were basis, he said, increasing their exposure to infected blood. quickly in the gay community, sparking widespread fear receiving regular transfusions for the blood disease thalas- He said he was aware of 16 children receiving transfusions about the deadly infection, which was then poorly under- saemia, said Professor Yasmin Rashid, the secretary general who had tested positive for HIV so far. The Ministry of stood. of the Thalassaemia Federation of Pakistan, a consortium of Health could not be reached for comment. Rashid said her An advisory committee to the Department of Health and charities that offer transfusions to 22,000 children. organization was told that at least 10 children had tested Human Services recently recommended replacing the ban Pakistan’s health system is notoriously fragile and under- positive for HIV last week. She did not know how many chil- with a 12-month deferral period for men who have had sex funded. Laws require blood to be screened for diseases, but dren had been tested so far. “These children are desperate with men in that time. In that case, sexually active gay men enforcement is very lax, said Javed Akram, vice chancellor for blood, they go to multiple centres,” said Rashid. Most would still be prohibited from donating blood, but those who of the Pakistan Institute of Medical Sciences. “Most of the blood banks in Pakistan are privately operated and the have not engaged in sex with other men in the past year professional blood donors are drug abusers,” he said. “I quality, age and price of blood varies widely. — Reuters would be allowed to donate.—AFP FRIDAY, DECEMBER 5, 2014

Kuwait KNCC PROGRAMME FROM THURSDAY TO WEDNESDAY (04/12/2014 TO 10/12/2014)

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FRIDAY, DECEMBER 5, 2014 Putin orders cash from Saudi non-oil economic growth slows to new low SWF to support banks PAGE 38 page 39

AHMEDABAD: Indian workers unload cotton from a truck at a cotton processing and packaging industry in Kadi, also known as ‘Cotton City of India’, some 50 km from Ahmedabad on Wednesday. Farmers associated with cotton crops are protesting in many parts of Gujarat state demanding that the central government raise the minimum support price (MSP) to overcome the loss owing to climate change and rise in the prices of other products. — AFP Oil forecasts dive after OPEC decision Analysts slash Brent 2015 price forecasts by $11.20

Oil price forecasts have collapsed in the wake of OPEC’s decision not ABN AMRO, who kept a $90 Brent forecast for 2015. The poll forecast further, slipping to below $68 on Monday, the lowest since 2009. to cut output despite a global glut, Reuters monthly poll showed yes- US light crude would average $78.00 a barrel next year, down $10 Iraqi Oil Minister Adel Abdel Mehdi expressed concern about low- terday. The survey of 31 economists and analysts, conducted after the from October’s consensus. WTI has averaged $96.00 in 2014. Brent’s er prices on arrival for the meeting, but later told reporters Iraqi Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries meeting on Nov premium to US crude will narrow to $4.50 a barrel in 2015 from $6.85 exports would rise in 2015 to an average of 3.2 million bpd including 27, forecast North Sea Brent crude would average $82.50 a barrel in so far this year and $10.58 in 2013, the poll said. Kurdistan. Before the meeting, OPEC delegates cited Iraq’s rising pro- 2015, down $11.20 from last month’s poll. That is the biggest down- duction, as well as a lack of willingness by non-OPEC producers such grade in average forecasts since the global economic crisis in 2008 Iraq exports as Russia, as a reason against other OPEC members cutting supply. and compares with an average price of $102.70 for Brent so far this Iraq’s plan for higher oil exports in 2015, emerging in detail just “If you are going to cut production and Iraq is going to increase year. The poll forecast Brent would average $87.40 in 2016. Oil prices days after OPEC shunned any output cut, will add to global over sup- with others from non-OPEC, then you will achieve nothing,” said one. have fallen by more than a third since June with Brent reaching a five- ply and is likely to entrench the reluctance of other OPEC members to year low on Monday of $67.53 a barrel and US crude touching $63.72. curb their own supplies. Iraq’s government on Tuesday reached a ‘UNACCEPTABLE’ Twenty-one of the 29 analysts who contributed for both the temporary agreement with Kurdish regional authorities, preparing Kuwait’s Oil Minister Ali Saleh Al-Omair on Wednesday criticized October and the latest poll slashed their forecasts. Fifteen analysts the ground for flows of 300,000 barrels per day (bpd) of Kirkuk crude unnamed OPEC members for boosting output and said maintaining said they changed their forecasts after the OPEC meeting. exports to resume, on top of 250,000 bpd from the region’s own supplies was the appropriate response. “All of them ask you to cut “OPEC’s decision to maintain its production entrenches a surplus,” fields. The increase could cause unease for other members of the your production, however they increase theirs. This is unacceptable,” said Gareth Lewis-Davies, strategist at BNP Paribas. “At current levels Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries unable to boost the official Kuwait News Agency cited him as saying. “So we should of OPEC crude output, the market faces 1.5 million to 2 million barrels exports and receiving lower revenues for crude sales following a 40 maintain our marketing quotas and production to meet our needs.” per day of surplus.” In Reuters monthly oil price poll in June, analysts percent drop in prices since June. Extra Iraqi crude is set to reach a Iraq is expanding its oil industry with the help of Western oil compa- had forecast Brent would average $104.80 in 2015. Italy’s Nomisma market forecast to need less OPEC oil globally in 2015 because of ris- nies and has argued it should be exempt from OPEC supply restraint Energia had the lowest 2015 Brent forecast in the latest Reuters poll at ing supply of US shale oil and other competing sources, and no signif- as it is recovering from years of sanctions and conflict. $69.18 a barrel, while US based brokerage Sanford C Bernstein had icant increase in world demand growth. “In purely volumetric terms, Exports have been held back for most of 2014 because of the clo- the highest forecast at $104. “OPEC’s abandoning of oil market man- it’s a rather unfortunate time for prices that this is coming on,” said sure in March of Iraq’s northern pipeline, which flows to the Turkish agement last Thursday feels like one of those seminal points in the Eugene Lindell, analyst at JBC Energy in Vienna, who added that the port of Ceyhan from the Kirkuk fields, due to attacks from Sunni mili- history of oil,” said Credit Suisse analyst Jan Stuart, who cut his 2015 oil would be a “game changer” for the local Mediterranean crude mar- tants from Islamic State, which controls much of the north and west of Brent price forecast by $16.25 to $75.25. ket. Iraq. At present, Iraq is exporting about 2.50 million bpd from its But some analysts were more cautious. “I think we should not When OPEC met on Nov 27, Saudi Arabia and its Gulf allies southern fields - which have kept pumping and remained secure jump into conclusions and adjust forecasts already when markets are opposed calls from poorer members including Venezuela and Algeria despite battles in other parts of Iraq - and an estimated 250,000 bpd in such a panic mode,” said senior energy economist Hans van Cleef of for production cuts, sending prices plunging. Crude has since fallen of Kurdish shipments. Smooth progress is not certain. —Reuters Business FRIDAY, DECEMBER 5, 2014

Saudi non-oil economic News in brief

growth slows to new low Kuwait crude oil price down to $66.01pb UAE business activity growth slows sharply KUWAIT: Price of Kuwait crude oil per barrel went down by 83 cents to settle at $66.01pb in Wednesday’s trading RIYADH: Growth in Saudi Arabia’s non-oil private sector Emirates’ non-oil private sector cooled in November from compared to $66. 84pb on Tuesday, Kuwait Petroleum slowed to a six-month low in November as output and new October’s record high as new orders and output slowed Corporation (KPC) said here yesterday. The oil prices are orders softened, but activity remained robust overall, a survey sharply, a survey showed yesterday. The HSBC UAE Purchasing fluctuating in the oil markets, as the Brent crude futures of companies showed yesterday. The seasonally adjusted Managers’ Index, which measures the performance of the went below $70pb, while the US crude went up to more SABB HSBC Saudi Arabia Purchasing Managers’ Index slipped manufacturing and services sectors, fell to 58.3 points in than $67. to 57.6 points in November from 59.1 in the previous month. November from 61.2 in October, which was the highest level A score above 50 points shows growth in activity while lower since the series began in August 2009. scores show contraction. The adjusted index remains above the 50 mark which sepa- Dollar stable at KD 0.291 Companies surveyed said demand had slowed and compe- rates growth from contraction, the survey of 400 private firms against Kuwaiti dinar The exchange rate of the US dollars against tition had increased, but market conditions were still positive showed. “The PMI is showing a little softness, suggesting KUWAIT: the Kuwaiti dinar was stable at KD 0.291 yesterday, overall. Growth in Saudi Arabia’s economy is closely tied to weaker oil prices and poor global demand are starting to while the euro dropped to KD0.359, compared to government spending, which has been rising in recent years. weigh,” HSBC’s chief economist for the Middle East & North yesterday’s exchange rates. The Sterling went up to New orders growth fell to 64.7 points from 65.4 points in Africa Simon Williams said. KD 0.457, the Swiss franc went down to KD 0.298 and October, while output dropped to 60.3 points from 64.1 “But the score is down only from its very high base and the Japanese yen was unchanged at KD 0.003, said points. The rise in new orders and output were the slowest remains firmly in expansionary territory. We remain upbeat on the Central Bank of Kuwait in its daily bulletin. since May and March respectively. near term growth prospects in both Dubai and Abu Dhabi.” Staffing hires increased for an eighth successive month, UAE firms saw output growth decelerate to 62.8 points but at 52.5 points represented the slowest rate since July. from an all-time high of 66.1 points in October. New orders However, new export orders accelerated to 59.3 points in growth fell to 65.5 points in November from 69.9 points in the Saudi Maaden $1.5bn November from 58.1 points in the previous month. previous month, also the highest level on record. issue gets 93.97% take-up Output price inflation was modest, with the index down at But growth in new export orders rebounded to 60.1 points DUBAI: Saudi Arabian Mining Co (Maaden) said the 51.2 points in November from October’s 52.8 points, while in November from a nine-month low of 57.4 points in take-up on its 5.6 billion riyals ($1.5 billion) rights issue input costs edged up slightly to 53.8 points from 53.5 points. October, the survey showed. Job creation across the UAE’s was 93.97 percent, with the remaining shares to be Detailed PMI data is only available under license from Markit non-oil private sector slowed sharply, to 53.3 points from 56.1 offered to institutional investors next week. and customers need to apply to Markit for a license. in October. Output price growth decelerated to 51.2 points Shareholders subscribed to shares worth 5.26 billion Meanwhile, business activity growth in the United Arab from 52.8 points in October. — Reuters riyals during the offer period, according to a statement to Saudi’s bourse. Institutional investors can subscribe to the unallocated shares for a 24-hour period from 0700 GMT on Sunday, with shares allocated to the highest bids and on a pro rata basis if there are matching bids.

Growth in Egyptian business activity stalls CAIRO: Business activity in Egypt expanded in November for a fourth month but growth slowed almost to a standstill, a survey showed yesterday, suggesting the economy is more stable but still frag- ile. The HSBC Egypt Purchasing Managers Index (PMI) for the non-oil private sector stood at 50.7 points in November, down from 51 points in October and a near-record 52.4 points in September. Readings above 50 indicate expansion while those below 50 point to contraction. “Another month with the PMI running above 50 provides further evidence that the Egyptian economy is stabilizing,” said Simon Williams, Chief Economist for the Middle East at HSBC. “There are a raft of difficult policy issues still to LIMA: A photo made available by the International Monetary Fund shows IMF Managing Director Christine Lagarde (left), address, but we continue to look for a pick-up in Peru’s First Lady Nadine Heredia (center) and Minister of Economy and Finance of Peru Alonso Segura Vasi (right) posing with growth in the year ahead.” local people during a tour of their community of Ayacucho, southeast of Lima on Wednesday. — AFP Oil steadies around $70, New Saudi-Sinopec oil refinery to delay exports to 2015 further fall possible LONDON: Brent crude oil steadied around $70 a in 2011 to 2013. Some analysts expect prices to SINGAPORE/KHOBAR: The first fuel exports ing, with crude units running and producing barrel yesterday as investors searched for a sta- fall further after bearish comments from key from a major new joint-venture refinery in intermediate feed, although there was a small ble price range after a near 40 percent fall since OPEC members. The Wall Street Journal, citing Saudi Arabia will be delayed to early next year delay to a secondary unit, one of the sources June. Oil has been volatile since the people familiar with the situation, reported on from late this year, sources close to the matter said. It was not clear what caused the delay but Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Wednesday that the cartel’s largest exporter said. The 400,000 barrels-per-day (bpd) Yanbu it was now under control and oil products Countries (OPEC) said last week it would not and producer, Saudi Arabia, now believes oil Aramco Sinopec Refining Co (Yasref) refinery, a might be exported in January, the source lower output despite an oversupplied market. prices could stabilize at around $60 a barrel. joint venture between Saudi Aramco and added. Yasref is the second refinery to start up Brent was up 26 cents at $70.18 a barrel by But poorer OPEC members are not happy. China’s Sinopec in Yanbu, started trial runs in in Saudi Arabia in the past two years and will 1040 GMT. US crude rose 12 cents to $67.50 a Venezuela’s President Nicolas Maduro said the September and had originally planned its first complete state company Saudi Aramco’s barrel, after a 50-cent gain in the previous ses- “fair price” for oil was around $100 a barrel even exports by November, later pushed back to transformation into a leading exporter of sion. “If you look at what has happened in the though it could fall further in coming days. December. diesel. The first oil product shipment will likely last few days, we seem to be sitting around $70 Nigeria has lowered its oil price budget assump- But the refinery will now only offer oil prod- be off-specification high sulfur gasoil, sources a barrel,” said Olivier Jakob, oil analyst at tion by 11 percent to $65 a barrel in its 2015 ucts early next year, according to the sources, have said. Sinopec will target Europe and East Petromatrix in Zug, Switzerland. “Crude is now budget, from $73 a barrel, a Finance Ministry who declined to be named because they were Africa for diesel shipments from the refinery, hesitating, trying to find that next 10-dollar spokeswoman said yesterday. not authorized to talk to the media. The refin- with the first clean diesel cargo due in the first range.” Jakob said Saudi Arabia was targeting a $60 ery was now in the final stages of commission- quarter of next year.—Reuters Brent hit a five-year low below $68 a barrel to $70 price range and the kingdom hoped a fall on Monday after averaging around $110 a barrel below $60 would be brief. —Reuters Business FRIDAY, DECEMBER 5, 2014 China sees surge in new stock investors

SHANGHAI: Chinese brokers have seen a surge of new stock investors and a dramatic spike in turnover on soaring local bourses, some risking borrowed money in response to government policy measures aimed at supporting a faltering economy. The flood of small investors suggests Beijing is finally persuading people to allocate capital more broadly to the economy, instead of betting it all on property, though the last policy-led stock rally ended in a brutal crash. Encouraging individuals to plough some of their $8.2 trillion of bank deposits into stock markets is critical if China’s companies are to have reliable access to equity financing and wean themselves off excessive debt. Official data showed Chinese retail investors, who conduct 60-80 percent of stock trades in China, opened over a million new brokerage accounts in November, up 280 percent year-on-year, after years of stagnation. “Before this year we had to actively go find clients and tell them to trade stocks, but they MOSCOW: Russian President Vladimir Putin (below) delivers a speech during his annual address to the Federal council wouldn’t,” said Xiong Yepeng, sales associate in Beijing at China (the two houses of the Russian parliament) in the Kremlin in Moscow yesterday. — AFP Securities. “We’d open on average three or five customer accounts per day. But now we average 20 or 30.” Transaction levels have hit new highs. Trading volume on the Shanghai Composite Index closed Putin orders cash from at 56.1 billion shares on Wednesday, up 20.66 percent from the previ- ous record on Friday; 7-day average volumes are up 165 percent since Oct. 28, 459 per- SWF to support banks cent for the year. The CSI300 index of the largest companies in Shanghai and Shenzhen rose 4.6 percent yesterday, their biggest Russian economy hit by sanctions, oil price fall one-day gain since July 2013. The index has surged 20 percent since the central bank unexpectedly cut interest rates on Nov. 21 to count- er the country’s slowest growth in decades. MOSCOW: Russian President Vladimir Putin said yesterday Stocks had been a poor choice for local investors - the 2013 China that money collected in one of the country’s two “rainy day” Household Finance Survey showed that the average investor saw funds should be used for supporting domestic banks, as part triple-digit returns from property, but took net losses on shares - but of broader efforts to help Moscow to overcome its economic that should change now domestic bourses are on course to outper- woes. Broadly shut out of external funding due to western form the S&P 500 for the first time since 2009. sanctions over Moscow’s role in the Ukraine crisis, Russia’s largest banks such as VTB, Gazprombank and Russian PUSH AND PULL Agriculture Bank are betting on the state support. The revival of interest in shares is part pull but also part push from “We have a large amount of internal savings, they should the alternatives. Beijing took action to cool the property market this become effective investments,” Putin told in his union annual year and also cracked down on high-yielding but opaque wealth speech to members of parliament and other top officials in management products, allowing high-profile defaults on trust prod- the Kremlin. “Using our reserves, firstly, the National Wealth ucts and bonds. Meanwhile the China Securities Regulatory Fund, I propose to ... recapitalize leading domestic banks with Commission allowed IPOs to resume after a year-plus freeze, and sup- funds offered ... to use for lending to the most important proj- pressed initial valuations, giving retail investors in newly listed com- ects in the real sector of economy.” panies double-digit and even triple-digit returns. As of Nov. 1 the National Wealth Fund, aimed at covering November’s launch of the Shanghai-Hong Kong stock connect programme also sparked buying of mainland blue chips ahead of an future pension shortages, stood at $81.7 billion. Several anticipated flood of foreign capital via Hong Kong.—Reuters Russian banks hit by sanctions such as VTB, Russia’s No.2 bank, and Gazprombank already received state support earlier this year. VTB and Gazprombank, the country’s third-largest by assets, have asked for up to 250 billion rubles ($4.7 billion) and Nigeria slashes up to 100 billion in additional support to meet increased loan demand. Putin is under pressure to show he has a prescription oil price to cure Russia’s rapidly growing economic ills in his annual state of the union address yesterday. Western sanctions over assumption by 11% the Ukraine crisis, sharp falls in global oil prices and the ruble’s slide against the dollar culminated in an acknowledgement by government officials this week that Russia will enter recession Nigeria has slashed the oil price assumed in its 2015 ABUJA: next year. budget by 11 percent to $65 a barrel from $73, in light of lower world oil prices, a Finance Ministry spokeswoman said Putin’s popularity ratings are sky high and he has not faced yesterday. It was the second time in a month the benchmark any big protests over the economic decline, but questions are has been cut, after initially being lowered from $78 a barrel. being asked about whether he has a plan to pull the $1.4 tril- Other oil exporting countries including Russia and Mexico lion economy out of crisis. “The greatest danger for the presi- have said they expect oil prices to be lower next year than dent is the economy, under the double pressure of sanctions ping up patriotism, including by annexing the Crimea penin- assumed in their budgets, which may be revised. The spokes- and falling oil prices,” commentator Kirill Rogov wrote in the sula, and blaming the United States and the European Union woman gave no further details but said Finance Minister business daily Vedomosti, which said this week the economy for many of Russia’s problems as well as the crisis in Ukraine. Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala was working on a statement. No time was seriously ill and Russia’s leaders were refusing to admit it US President Barack Obama has said the tough economic situ- was given for when the statement would be issued. or do anything about it. ation could eventually help change Putin’s course in other Nigeria depends on oil for around 75-80 percent of gov- The annual state of the union address which Putin will areas. ernment revenues and its finances have been hammered by deliver in the Kremlin at 0900 GMT to members of both cham- The 30 percent slide in oil prices has blown a hole in state a steep drop in oil prices since June. Its oil money is distrib- bers of parliament, the government and other top officials finances and the ruble has lost more than 30 percent against uted between three tiers of government-local, state and fed- provides the 62-year-old leader with a chance to answer his the dollar this year. Russian companies and banks have large eral, with the federal portion being used to fund finance critics. Opponents say that in previous years the speech has debts. Capital flight is expected to soar far above $100 billion ministry budgets, along with tax receipts. The budget produced more promises than substance. this year and some analysts expect capital controls though the assumes a benchmark price that is usually conservative, so government denies this. Meanwhile central bank interven- money over and above that is deposited into an oil savings EMPTY PROMISES? tions to help the ruble have drawn on reserves. account to cushion against shocks. The minister has often Pledges to wean the economy off its dependence on oil Analysts say Putin has avoided budget cuts in some areas, wrestled with parliament to keep the benchmark low and and natural gas exports, responsible for about half of federal such as social spending and defense, because he does not accumulate more savings, but the Excess Crude Account budget revenues, have come to little. Putin has given little want to look weak internationally or provoke unrest. He is (ECA) is all too easily raided for spending. It has declined by billions of dollars to around $4 billion over the past two years hint of what he might do next, often preferring to send the mindful of street protests against him in the winter of 2011- even while oil prices were at record highs. —Reuters message that Russia will “tough it out.” 12, which critics say led to a clampdown on the opposition, He has also diverted attention from the economy by whip- and will be anxious to avoid more. — Reuters Business FRIDAY, DECEMBER 5, 2014

UK house Back to basics: Making a car for Africa prices rise at Kenya’s Mobius strips extras to keep it cheap, reliable NAIROBI: On the edge of Kenya’s capital, two doors down from a gleam- preneur, Joel Jackson, a Briton, who saw a niche for such a car when work- slowest rate ing display of Germany’s luxury Porsche cars, another showroom offers ing in rural Kenya in 2009. The company could make two vehicles a day at Africa’s answer to the continent’s potholed roads.It’s called the Mobius. It its existing plant and plans other versions including one with four-wheel in 9 months has no flashy dials, alloy wheels or electric windows. In fact it has no win- drive. dows at all except for the front windshield. Instead, the square car-cum- LONDON: British house price growth pickup with its aluminium panels has been stripped of extras to make it NEW ENTRANT slowed again in the three months to sturdy and cheap. “We are not trying to reinvent the wheel, we are just try- Mobius is not the only aspiring car producer in east Africa. In neighbor- November as prices rose by 8.2 percent ing to make ... one that is a bit tougher,” says sales manager Aman Ghai in ing Uganda, the Kiira Motor Project - soon to be a corporation - aims to compared with the same period last year, the showroom, where engineers are also at work. produce between 300 and 840 saloons and other models a year from mid- their smallest increase since February, mort- Mobius Motors hopes to succeed where many others have failed: 2018, all designed and produced locally. gage lender Halifax said yesterday. In designing, building and selling a product in Africa, which has long provid- Unlike Mobius, Kiira plans to target mainly office workers or executives. November alone, prices rose 0.4 percent, ed the raw materials to feed the world’s factories but struggled to create a The basic petrol model will cost about $20,000, Musasizi said, adding it recovering from a 0.4 percent fall in manufacturing base at home. Mobius faces prodigious challenges, not would be in a similar class to a vehicle like a Toyota Camry. “The citizens of October, Halifax said. Economists had least a popular perception that Africa can’t produce a quality product on east Africa deserve the right to own premium automotive products made expected prices to rise by 8.0 percent and its own. in east Africa,” Paul Isaac Musasizi, chief innovation and technology officer, 0.3 percent, according to a Reuters poll. The It has also had to weave through government bureaucracy, a perennial told Reuters by telephone. Kiira has an initial commitment from the gov- Bank of England has welcomed signs that complaint for businesses. Many companies resort to slipping bribes to ernment worth $70 million. It will need a total of $350 million to build an Britain’s housing market is cooling off after truculent officials to ease the way. Mobius, which says it has a “zero toler- assembly plant on land it now has, Musasizi said, and is looking for a glob- double-digit price gains earlier this year, ance” policy on corruption, believes neither obstacle is insurmountable - al partner. restrained at least in part by new controls evidenced by the fact it believes it will have government approvals to The Mobius II model, designed in Kenya, will have about 45 percent on mortgage lending. The annual price deliver the first vehicles on Dec 11. Fifty cars are being built in the first local content, although the engine and some other parts are imported, a gains measured by the Halifax index peaked batch, each selling at 950,000 shillings ($10,500) before tax. Starting the practice common in the industry, particularly for new entrants. Kiira this year at 10.2 percent in July. In October, project on African soil also had benefits, enabling the engineering team in engines will also come from abroad. But Africa’s attempts to build its own prices were up 8.8 percent. Kenya to focus on what rural Africans need. The car’s back seats run along cars have a chequered past, illustrated most recently by the fate of the Price growth was likely to slow further in the sides and fold away to create space for goods, while heavy duty sus- Nyayo Pioneer - built in response to the urging of Kenya’s then president, 2015 as the prospect of higher interest rates pension copes with bumpy tracks and minimal electronics mean there is Daniel Arap Moi, to make a car “however ugly or slow it may be”. and the scale of recent gains discouraged less to break down. It rolled off the production line in 1990 but then both car and project some buyers, Halifax said. “The challenge is basically overcoming that fear that Africans can’t stalled. The model never reached mass production. Mobius is aware of the Halifax economists expect prices nation- manufacture,” says Ghai, a Kenyan who worked for foreign dealers in the pitfalls, but has far surpassed that abortive initiative. Enquiries for its vehi- ally increase in a range of 3-5 percent in past. “We have all the resources here. We have the talent pool here. It is cle have come from neighboring states, West Africa and beyond, and the 2015, although a spokeswoman for the just getting over the fear.” Mobius is the brainchild of 29-year-old entre- company says its business model is as sturdy as its car.—Reuters lender said the forecast had been made before the overhaul of taxes on property purchases announced by finance minister George Osborne on Wednesday.

Gold eases back ahead of ECB meeting

LONDON: Gold retreated yesterday ahead of a European Central Bank meeting that could lead to further monetary stimulus, after the dollar’s rise to two-year highs versus the euro prompted investors to cash in some of the previous day’s gains. The metal held onto the $1,200 an ounce level, however, as consumers in Asia continued to buy and on uncertainty ahead of the ECB meeting and the release of US payrolls data on Friday. Spot gold was down 0.6 percent at $1,201.40 an ounce at 1104 GMT, while US gold futures for December delivery were down $7.00 an ounce at $1,201.70. The euro fell to less than $1.23 for the first time in more than two years on Thursday, finding few friends in a market that is wagering the ECB will be forced to inject even more stimulus into a mori- TOKYO: Money dealers call orders under the foreign exchange rate board at the foreign exchange market in Tokyo yesterday. — AFP bund euro-zone economy. It later steadied, but remained depressed, keeping up pressure on gold.“Generally European easing has played out Euro hits new dollar-low before ECB meeting on gold via a stronger dollar (and) weaker gold prices,” Citi analyst David Wilson said. “(Though) it LONDON: European stock markets rose while the euro hit a two-year low Japan and the United States have done. Falling prices may sound good for seems to me that there is a decent physical floor against the dollar yesterday as the European Central Bank prepared to the consumer, but they can trigger a vicious spiral where businesses and which is going to prevent gold from dipping too announce the outcome of its key policy meeting. The Bank of England was to households delay purchases, throttling demand and causing companies to low.” also give its latest interest-rate decision. Approaching midday in the British lay off workers. Demand from Asian consumers has been firm capital, London’s benchmark FTSE 100 index edged up 0.05 percent to “We have rate verdicts from both the Bank of England and the ECB-no sur- this week. India, the world’s second-biggest con- 6,720.15 points. prises expected at the former but (ECB head) Mario Draghi still has a moun- sumer of the metal, last week scrapped a rule man- Frankfurt’s DAX 30 rose 0.49 percent compared with Wednesday’s close tain to climb in terms of dragging the currency bloc out of its current eco- dating traders to export 20 percent of all gold to 10,020.95 points and the CAC 40 in Paris won 0.41 percent to 4,409.67. The nomic malaise,” said Tony Cross, market analyst at trading group Trustnet imported into the country. After the ECB European single currency sank to $1.2296, the lowest point since August Direct.After pulling back from its low, the euro stood at $1.2315, up from announcement yesterday, then today’s US payrolls 2012, before pulling higher. Asian stock markets closed higher yesterday fol- $1.2308 late in New York on Wednesday. While the euro has been sold ahead data will help investors gauge the strength of the lowing record close overnight on Wall Street, as investors cheered an upbeat of the meeting, expectations are that the ECB will hold fire but signal a move US economic recovery and how it will impact report on the economy from the US central bank. The European Central Bank in the new year. interest rates. “We expect gold to be supported and Bank of England will both announce their latest monetary policy deci- “Even if it does not step up its actions just yet, it will choose language for should the US payroll number disappoint and sions yesterday. The BoE is widely expected to keep it key interest rate at 0.50 the statement that makes additional easing a near certainty for the first quar- weaken if it exceeds expectations,” HSBC said in a percent, where it has stood for almost six years, while the ECB will likely prime ter of 2015,” said Berenberg Bank economist Christian Schulz. Elsewhere yes- note. A run of upbeat US data has supported the markets for new anti-deflation measures, according to traders. Given the terday, the dollar struck a fresh seven-year high of 119.98 yen. view that the Federal Reserve will tighten mone- A alarming drop in euro-zone inflation in recent months, the heat has risen on On the London Bullion Market, gold fell to $1,204.26 an ounce from tary policy before other central banks.—Reuters the ECB to undertake massive stimulus measures like central banks in Britain, $1,204.75 on Wednesday. — AFP Business FRIDAY, DECEMBER 5, 2014 Ryanair raises profit forecast after rise in passenger numbers

DUBLIN: Ryanair raised its profit forecast for the percent rise in net profits this year to 732 million second time in a month yesterday after passenger euros, according to Thomson Reuters data. Shares numbers jumped 22 percent in November, a rise in Europe’s largest low-cost carrier were 7.9 percent which it said was due in part to the improvements higher at 9.42 euros by 0858 GMT, up almost 60 it has made to its much-criticized customer service. percent in the past 12 months. Since a pledge last year by outspoken Chief Ryanair said that despite increasing its seat Executive Michael O’Leary to stop “unnecessarily capacity by 13 percent in the month and opening a pissing people off,” Ryanair has slashed penalty large number of new routes designed to appeal to charges such as for excess baggage and not having business customers, it also increased its load factor, a boarding pass, overhauled its web site, tripled its an indication of the number of seats sold as a per- marketing budget and launched business class centage of capacity, by seven percentage points to fares. It attributed the stronger than expected initial 88 percent. It added that its final full-year profit winter performance to the newfound focus on cus- would still be heavily reliant on bookings and fare tomer service, a stronger forward booking strategy yields in the January-March quarter over which it and substantial fare and unit cost advantages over said it “presently has very little visibility”. other European airlines. The Irish airline, which only The improved focus on service by Ryanair and last month raised its after-tax profit forecast for the budget rival easyJet has increased the pressure on year ending next March by almost 20 percent to higher cost “full-service” airlines like Air France-KLM 750-770 million euros, said it now expects to make and Lufthansa. The German airline’s board a profit of between 810 million and 830 million approved plans on Wednesday to expand its budg- euros. et flight operations against the backdrop of strikes Analysts have on average been predicting a 40 by staff. — Reuters Europe goes grey Business must tackle taboos about ageing

BERLIN: A boom in the number of older Europeans could spell products for incontinence. big business for companies that cater to their changing needs - “The market is growing,” Lehmann said from her offices in if they can tackle taboos and overcome outdated views of what Gothenburg. “We are staying healthy longer but unfortunately “old age” looks like. One in three Europeans will be 65 or over there are still limited treatments available,” she added, noting by 2060. They are not just living longer, but are also staying that incontinence affects about one in four women and one in active and independent, only to find a dearth of products to fit eight men, rising in prevalence with age. their different lifestyles. After her “fiercely independent” mother became malnour- UNDERESTIMATED ished because she could not cook or chew the products in her Companies are also too often squeamish about appealing well-stocked larder, Elizabeth Jones realized there was a need directly to older people because they’re still thinking of the for meals in small but nutritious portions that are easy to open, over-65s as limited and not “cool” - overlooking the potential of heat and eat. a still-vibrant demographic that has money to spend. She now sells 2,000 a week in Co-op supermarkets, mostly Christa Hoehs, who runs a “senior” modelling agency in “meat, potatoes and gravy” fare - avoiding things like rice that Munich with models as old as 87 on its books, said that beyond can get snagged in dentures - and fruit-based desserts. what she cheerfully calls the “ailment sector” - for rheumatism “If you look at the statistics, the percentage increase here relief and the like - many advertisers worry that elderly models over next 20-30 years is far greater than any other demographic will detract from the image of the products they promote. in the market,” said Jones, founder of On the Menu, a British While banking, insurance and even car adverts sometimes firm making meals for elderly people living at home. “Life use silver-haired models, these are rarely over 60, she said. But expectancy is rising and we have customers driving to the Co- in fact, “We are seeing disability and frailty particularly among op who are 95,” said Jones. “So the barrier of old age is being middle-class, educated professionals being pushed back to pushed back.” their 70s,” says Sarah Harper of the Oxford Institute of Overcoming awkwardness about the requirements of older Population Ageing, adding that these same people have signifi- bodies in that big chunk of the demographic will mean tackling cant spending power as many of them free up assets and more, and bigger, taboos. downsize homes. that keep them looking fabulous, which maybe a 20-year-old That’s a familiar task for Margareta Lehmann, president of “I think a really underestimated market is mid-life or older can’t afford,” said Harper. “Those are the growth areas.” incontinence care in Europe for Swedish firm SCA which sells women in their 50s and 60s who can afford to buy the products Some firms are starting to get it: airlines and hotels now look for retirees to fill off-season seats and beds, while gyms offer discounts to “best agers”. Major European carmakers are look- ing at the challenge of more 90-year-olds behind the wheel.

RETHINKING FUNERALS One obvious beneficiary of the ageing process would seem to be funerals. But in fact the industry - worth over 5.1 billion euros a year in Europe, according to industry estimates - is suf- fering as the rising number of customers push down prices and people rethink their final ceremony. Rolf Lichtner of the European Federation of Funeral Services said there was a trend towards cremation instead of burial, with more people having their ashes scattered in the wild. Others are increasingly buying their own funerals in advance because “people think they shouldn’t be a burden on their rela- tives”, said Lichtner. At Berlin’s only coffin maker Lignotec, win- ter will as usual be peak season and employees know better than to ask for time off around January. But boss Michael Jagdt is not expecting a long-term boost to sales as attitudes to death change. “Many people don’t realise how important this ritual is for getting through mourning,” he said, bemoaning a decline in the appreciation of a process because “money issues prevail”. — Reuters Sports FRIDAY, DECEMBER 5, 2014

Richardson leads Harrington in Indonesia Open

JAKARTA: Australia’s Kalem Richardson fired an eight- close to the capital Jakarta. are going. You really need to rely on the yardage book under-par 63 to lead by one shot over Padraig Harrington Australia’s Adam Groom battled through a leg infec- and good advice from your caddy,” said the 26-year-old. of Ireland after the first round of the Bank BRI Indonesia tion to score a 67 and tie in third place alongside India’s Leading scores after round one of the Bank BRI Open yesterday. Arjun Atwal, Thanyakon Khrongpha of Thailand and Indonesia Open: Richardson, who has achieved two top-five results in Bryce Easton of South Africa. 63 - Kalem Richardson (AUS) his last three events, rolled in eight birdies to steal the Starting from the 10th tee, Richardson stayed sharp 64 - Padraig Harrington (IRL) limelight from Harrington, who is making his debut at the on his first nine holes, which he said was because he had 67 - Adam Groom (AUS), Bryce Easton (RSA), Arjun $750,000 Asian Tour event. not played that stretch during the practice round, and Atwal (IND), Thanyakon Khrongpha (THA) The three-time Major champion produced his best was rewarded with four straight birdies. 68 - Danny Chia (MAS), Rahil Gangjee (IND), Sam score in 2014 with a 64 after birdieing his first two holes “I guess when you haven’t played the back nine, you Brazel (AUS), S.S.P Chowrasia (IND), Daniel Chopra (SWE), from close range at the Damai Indah Golf-PIK Course concentrate more because you don’t know where you Carlos Pigem (ESP), Blair Wilson (AUS). — AFP

Bach’s IOC reforms: We want ‘fresh wind coming in’

LONDON: A revised bidding process. A flexible sports program. More affordable games. Creation of an Olympic television channel. IOC President Thomas Bach’s reforms may not represent a radical rev- olution, but they herald the most sweeping changes in the Olympic movement since the cleanup of the Salt Lake City bid scandal in 1999. Bach’s “Olympic Agenda 2020” is a package of 40 measures designed to modernize the Olympics, protect the brand and con- vince potential bid cities that hosting the games is worth the multi- billion-dollar price tag. The IOC executive board meets Friday and Saturday in Monaco, reviewing Rio de Janeiro’s efforts in tackling delays, water pollution and uncertainty over the golf course for the 2016 Olympics. The board also will discuss South Korea’s bumpy preparations for the 2018 Winter Games in Pyeongchang, where a local funding dispute has raised concerns over the project. The full International Olympic Committee will meet Monday and Tuesday to vote on the reform proposals. The recommendations are all expected to win approval from the 100-plus members, giving Bach a strong endorsement and putting a firm stamp on his presidency just 16 months into office. WINDERMERE: Tiger Woods hits a shot during the pro-am prior to the start of the Hero World Challenge at the Isleworth Golf & “We want to show that the IOC is opening up,” Bach said. “We are Country Club on Wednesday in Windermere, Florida. — AFP opening a window and we want to have fresh wind coming in.” The IOC is trying to make the Olympics more attractive and less costly at a time when many Western European countries are turning their backs on the games. Tiger Woods brings Spooked by the reported $51 billion overall price tag associated with the 2014 Sochi Games, a half dozen cities abandoned plans or pulled out of the bidding for the 2022 Winter Olympics, leaving only a buzz back to golf Beijing and Almaty, Kazakhstan, in the race. A look at the key changes:

Bidding process WINDERMERE: Tiger Woods didn’t even have a club in his hand That was when many believe Woods was at his best. He won sev- The system will become more of an invitation rather than a tender when he passed an important test Wednesday at Isleworth. en majors in a four-year stretch from 1999-2002, and no one was close application, introducing an “assistance phase” where cities discuss After hitting a fairway metal off the 10th tee, Woods gingerly to him in the game. Woods turns 39 at the end of the month, and he their plans with the IOC to tailor the games to suit their own needs. stepped through a flower bed and then hopped down a 4-foot wall joked Tuesday that “Father Time remains undefeated.” He physically is “We need a completely different approach,” Bach said. “In the and trotted to the clubhouse to use the bathroom. It was that kind of not the same player he was at age 24. past, it was more the IOC being the instructor and the judge of the leap - from a bunker at Firestone - that jarred back muscles and ulti- What Stricker noticed was a swing that appeared more natural candidate cities. Now, if all this is adopted, the IOC will be more the mately forced yet another injury-induced layoff. His golf Wednesday and less technical. “Looked like the swing was going through a lot partner of the bidding cities.” wasn’t too bad, either. Woods swung freely and easily during the pro- freer, like it was on a better path,” Stricker said. To cut down on costs and avoid white elephants, cities will be am at the Hero World Challenge, his first time walking 18 holes since How long it takes for it to translate to low scores or even trophies urged to make the maximum use of existing and temporary venues. he missed the cut Aug. 9 at the PGA Championship. remains to be seen. It took Woods at least a year before he was up to In one of the most radical changes, cities will be allowed to hold “It felt good to be out there,” Woods said. “I took that much time speed on wholesale changes under Butch Harmon, Hank Haney and events in the Summer Olympics outside the host city or country, off right after the PGA and built up my body and made a few adjust- Foley. “notably for reasons of geography and sustainability.” This opens the ments on my swing and hit some good shots today.” “This is what, his fourth teacher?” Stricker said. “I’m sure he’s still door to joint bids by cities, neighboring countries or regions - includ- The real test is today in the first round of an unofficial event with going to have some issues going forward.” ing, for example, games held in different Gulf nations. 18 elite players from the top 50 in the world, and one big buzz The tournament has moved from Sherwood Country Club in The host city contract will be made public and include clauses on because of the tournament host. Woods has slipped to No. 24 in the California to the course that Woods called home for 16 years. non-discrimination and environmental and labor protection. world. He never lost his ranking as golf’s biggest draw. “I think if he Isleworth is considered a tough golf course, though there are more starts swinging it better and starts feeling good about what he’s forward tees in play to help with gallery movement. Woods is used to Sports program doing again, it won’t take long for him to be at the top of the game playing it all the way back and smashing driver. He wound up in a few The IOC will apply limits of 10,500 athletes, 5,000 accredited again,” Steve Stricker said. bunkers Wednesday that typically are not in play for him. coaches and officials and 310 medal events for the Summer Games, This is the fifth time in five years Woods has returned from an The field is missing the new No. 1 - Rory McIlroy - along with Adam and 2,900 athletes, 2,000 accredited personnel and 100 medal events injury, and the second time this year. He came back too early from Scott, Phil Mickelson and Sergio Garcia, who rarely play. for the Winter Olympics. back surgery in June and missed two cuts in the three events he Zach Johnson beat Woods in a playoff last year at Sherwood after The IOC will scrap the current limit of 28 sports in the Summer played. Health no longer seems to be the issue. The biggest question holing out for par from a drop zone on the 18th hole. Hard to imagine Games and move from a sports-based to an “event-based” program. is the swing. that would be the last time Woods had a top-10 finish. Then again, no The new system would allow flexibility to add new events and disci- Woods parted with swing coach Sean Foley and has brought on one expected the back pain that led to surgery, and recovery issues plines, especially those that resonate with younger audiences. Chris Como, who walked the pro-am with him and occasionally chat- that kept him out of golf the last four months. Host cities will be allowed to propose the inclusion of one or more ted with him in the fairway. Woods said he looked at tape dating all His appearance has led to the most media interest in golf since the events for their edition of the games. the way back to his amateur days and described his goal for a new Ryder Cup. All 50 seats were occupied for Woods’ news conference on This should clear the way for Japanese organizers to request the swing as “new, but old.” Tuesday, with 30 more people lining both sides of the tent. “As a fan inclusion of baseball and softball in the 2020 Tokyo Olympics. Both Stricker saw him briefly on the practice range earlier in the week of the game and a guy that admires what he’s done, I would be inter- sports, dropped after the 2008 Beijing Games, are highly popular in and felt as though he was looking back in time. “Looks a lot similar to ested to see what he does this week,” Johnson said. “Just glad he’s Japan.—AP early 2000s to me, from the side when I was watching,” Stricker said. playing and I hope he’s healthy. That’s the main thing.” — AP Sports FRIDAY, DECEMBER 5, 2014 Philadelphia 76ers win for first time after 0-17 start MINNEAPOLIS: The Philadelphia 76ers avoided tying the record for the worst start to a season in NBA history, ending their 0-17 skid with an 85-77 victory over the Minnesota Timberwolves on Wednesday night. Michael Carter-Williams had 20 points, nine rebounds and nine assists and Robert Covington added 17 points to keep Philadelphia from tying the 0-18 start by the New Jersey Nets in 2009-10. The Sixers shot just 39 percent against the worst defense in the league and turned the ball over 19 times. They scored only nine points in the second quarter, but in the end there were smiles and hugs for the first time this season. Gorgui Dieng had 15 points and 16 rebounds for the Timberwolves. But Minnesota shot just 35.7 percent and turned the ball over 19 times to lose for the 11th time in 13 games.

Celtics 109, Pistons 102, OT Jeff Green scored 32 points, including a 3- pointer as Boston opened overtime with eight straight points, and snapped a five-game losing streak. The loss was the 10th in a row for Detroit. Greg Monroe scored 15 of his 29 points after the 3:13 mark of the fourth, when the Pistons erased an 11-point deficit. But Detroit never recovered after giving up the first three baskets - including a pair of 3-pointers - to start the extra period. Andre Drummond had 27 points, 14 rebounds, four steals and five blocked shots, including Green’s potential game-winner at the end of reg- ulation, for Detroit. Brandon Jennings had 12 assists and one point on 0-for-11 shooting. Kelly Olynyk had 20 points and seven rebounds for Boston, which had lost six in a row at home.

Nets 95, Spurs 93, OT Mirza Teletovic had a season-high 26 points and a career-best 15 rebounds starting in place of Kevin Garnett, and Brooklyn snapped San Antonio’s eight-game winning streak. The Nets LOS ANGELES: Los Angeles Clippers’ Blake Griffin, center, loses the ball as he dribbles past Orlando Magic’s Elfrid Payton during the first regrouped in overtime after blowing a 14-point half of an NBA basketball game Wednesday, in Los Angeles.— AP lead in the final 5 minutes of regulation and beat and committed 17 turnovers that the Clippers Trey Burke had 15 and eight assists for the Jazz, starters, including Dwight Howard who missed a team with a winning record for the first time converted into 19 points. who trailed through the final three quarters. his seventh straight game with a strained right this season. Danny Green had 20 points, 10 knee. rebounds and the tying 3-pointer with 2.4 sec- Mavericks 107, Bucks 105 Rockets 105, Grizzlies 96 onds left in regulation for San Antonio. The Spurs Monta Ellis hit a wild, fallaway jumper at the James Harden scored 21 points, and Trevor Wizards 111, Lakers 95 endured poor shooting nights from their starting buzzer, lifting Dallas past Milwaukee. A night Ariza and Jason Terry added 16 each to help Bradley Beal scored 27 points, John Wall had frontcourt and fell to 2-1 on a road trip that ends after Ellis starred in a double-overtime win at short-handed Houston cruise past Memphis. The 17 points and 15 assists, and Washington beat Friday at Memphis, which entered play Chicago, he scored 23. He had eight in the final Grizzlies had won five in a row, and their two pre- Kobe Bryant and the Lakers. The Wizards won Wednesday tied for the best record in the two minutes on what otherwise had been a bad vious losses this season had been by a combined their third straight and prevented the Lakers league. shooting night for the Mavericks’ top scorer, five points. Memphis jumped out to an 8-0 lead from getting their first three-game winning playing against his former team. The Mavericks in this one but couldn’t do much after that. streak in more than a year. Bryant finished with Hawks 112, Heat 102 won their fifth in a row while resting Dirk Houston didn’t trail after the first quarter. The 29 points - including 15 in the first quarter when Jeff Teague scored 27 points, Kyle Korver Nowitzki because of a sore back. Coach Rick Rockets led by 12 at halftime and scored the first he shot 6 for 11. He missed nine of his final 11 scored 18 and Atlanta handed Miami another Carlisle called it a “precautionary” move. Brandon 10 points of the third quarter to put the game shots. Former Wizards player Nick Young helped home loss. Dennis Schroder scored 16 and Paul Knight scored 25 points and Khris Middleton out of reach. The Rockets led 94-68 entering the keep the score relatively close by scoring a sea- Millsap finished with 14 for the Hawks, who beat added 21 for the Bucks in their third straight loss. fourth quarter and neither team’s starters played son-high 21 points. Marcin Gortat added 21 the Heat for the second time in two meetings much after that. Houston played without three points and 11 rebounds for Washington. — AP this season. An 18-5 run to end the third quarter Bulls 102, Hornets 95 was the deciding blow for Atlanta, which led by 10 in the first quarter, 14 in the second and Pau Gasol had 19 points and 15 rebounds, pushed the margin to 88-72 going into the final Joakim Noah and Nikola Mirotic each posted NBA results/standings 12 minutes. The Hawks have now won four double-doubles, and Chicago handed Charlotte straight and six of seven. Dwyane Wade scored Chicago 102, Charlotte 95; Washington 111, La Lakers 95; Boston 109, Detroit 102 (OT); Brooklyn 95, San its 10th straight loss. Noah had 14 points and 10 28 points and Chris Bosh finished with 27 points Antonio 93 (OT); Atlanta 112, Miami 102; Houston 105, Memphis 96; Dallas 107, Milwaukee 105; Philadelphia rebounds, and Mirotic added 11 points and 12 and 11 rebounds for Miami, which has lost six of 85, Minnesota 77; Toronto 123, Utah 104; LA Clippers 114, Orlando 86. rebounds as the Bulls bounced back from a dou- its last eight home games. Mario Chalmers fin- ble- overtime loss to Dallas on Tuesday night. Eastern Conference Western Conference ished with 19 points and 11 assists for the Heat. Atlantic Division Northwest Division Kirk Hinrich, who had the costly foul on a 3-point W L PCT GB Portland 14 4 .778 - shot in the loss to the Mavericks, came up with Clippers 114, Magic 86 Toronto 15 4 .789 - Denver 9 9 .500 5 two big 3-pointers in the final three minutes to Blake Griffin scored 21 points and J.J. Redick Brooklyn 8 9 .471 6 Oklahoma City 5 13 .278 9 help the Bulls improve to 10-3 on the road. It is had 20 before both sat out the fourth quarter, Boston 5 11 .313 8.5 Utah 5 14 .263 9.5 the fifth straight game the Bulls have scored at NY Knicks 4 15 .211 11 and the Clippers won their sixth straight. Chris Minnesota 4 13 .235 9.5 least 100 points. Kemba Walker had 23 points, Philadelphia 1 17 .05613.5 Paul had 19 points and 10 assists for the Clippers, Pacific Division and Lance Stephenson had a season-high 20 Central Division who have won their last four by an average mar- Golden State 15 2 .882 - points to lead the Hornets, who have lost 12 of Chicago 12 7 .632 - LA Clippers 13 5 .722 2.5 gin of 21.6 points. DeAndre Jordan finished with 13. Cleveland 9 7 .563 1.5 Phoenix 11 8 .579 5 Milwaukee 10 10 .500 2.5 16 rebounds and blocked three shots. The two- Sacramento 9 9 .500 6.5 time defending Pacific Division champions, who Indiana 7 11 .389 4.5 Raptors 123, Jazz 104 LA Lakers 5 14 .263 11 finished with a total of 32 assists, are 84-14 when Detroit 3 16 .158 9 Kyle Lowry scored a season-high 39 points on Southwest Division they get 30 or more since Paul joined the club. Southeast Division 13-of-22 shooting as Toronto sent Utah to its Memphis 15 3 .833 - Tobias Harris scored 16 points for the Magic, who Washington 12 5 .706 - seventh straight loss. Greivis Vasquez and Lou Atlanta 11 6 .647 1 Houston 14 4 .778 1 had only four offensive rebounds and no sec- Williams each had 17 for the Raptors. Derrick Miami 9 9 .500 3.5 Dallas 15 5 .750 1 ond-chance points through the first three quar- San Antonio 13 5 .722 2 Favors and Enes Kanter scored 19 points apiece Orlando 7 14 .333 7 ters. They lost for the sixth time in seven games New Orleans 8 8 .500 6 for Utah. Gordon Hayward added 16 points and Charlotte 4 15 .211 9 Motorsport race comprising of Jet Skis and Quad Bikes Bar Bahr starts today

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FRIDAY, DECEMBER 5, 2014

KUWAIT: The first ever Red Bull Bar Bahr event will kick start today at 1:30 pm at the Khairan Pearl. It is a unique motorsport relay race comprising of teams of two (one Jet Ski rider & one Quad Biker). The teams will race against each other on their high powered machines on specially constructed tracks on land and in the sea. The contestants will be required to negotiate a challenging track of man- made obstacles such as ramps, mud, bumps and curves. The first quad racer crossing the finish line will hand his teammate the key of the jet-ski in order to start racing on water. The Quad bike track was designed by famous UAE Motocross rider Mo- hamed Al Balooshi with the help of famous Qatari quad biker Mohamed Abu Issa who will be the event director. The water course was designed by Hus- sein Dashti, Supervisor of Marine Sports at the Kuwait Sea Sport Club. Born in 1990, Mohamed Abu Issa has had a passion for quads since he can remember. At an early age, he began to develop his talents to become a professional Quad Racer. In his early years, Mohamed reached the podium multiple times in Enduro and Quad Cross on a national level, but his true sights were set on the international stage. In 2013 he participated in the FIM Quads Cross Country Rallies World Cup where he finished his debut world cup in a groundbreaking 2nd position! Mohamed went on to become the first Qatari rider to finish the infamous Dakar Rally on a quad, coming 4th overall and leading the junior category in his class. This was a career highlight for Mohamed and it enabled him to continue into the 2014 World Cup with confidence. So far, 2014 has been unforgettable for Mohamed, with 3rd place in the Abu Dhabi Desert Challenge and 1st place in his home country at the Sealine Cross Country Rally Qatar. Internationally recognized, he has been ranked as 2nd in the men’s world rankings and 1st in the world junior rankings and he is only at the beginning of his career. In 2014, Mohamed Abu Issa won 4th place at the Dakar Rally, while riding the finest deserts in South America with leading racers and navigators.

Newest breakout star Now he has set his sights on The Dakar Rally 2015. Mohamed, who is as determined as he is skilled with a quad bike, is set to become the newest breakout star of the quad rallying world. 2009 was his year of success, in Balooshi’s own words, as he clinched his first Arab Motocross championship title bringing him one step closer to his dream of riding with the world’s greatest motocross riders. 2010 was another rewarding year for Balooshi, as he was crowned Arab motocross champion for the 2nd year in a row. In 2011, Balooshi won the Bahrain championship, as well the Tunisia Cup. He won the UAQ (Umm Al Quwain Championship League) and the Kuwait championship. In 2012, he was the first Emirati to participate in Dakar Rally, 9 days into the endurance race. The event is organized by Basel Salem Al Sabah Motor Racing Club and is sponsored by Ford Middle East, Kawasaki Kuwait, Road Emergency, Sabah Al Ahmad Sea City and Public Authority for Youth & Sport. First place winner will win a Kawasaki Jet Ski Ultra LX. For more informa- tion visit www.redbull.com/barbahr. Spectators are welcome to attend the two sections of the event free of charge. The event will start at 1 pm and finish at 4 pm. Sports FRIDAY, DECEMBER 5, 2014

Cook gets one-match ban for slow over-rate

COLOMBO: England captain Alastair Cook was yes- in a statement. ban hanging over him, if he had one more time slow terday suspended for one match and fined 20 per- Cook was also in charge in similar circumstances on our over-rate.” cent of his undisclosed match fees for his team’s against India at Cardiff last summer, and two such Moores added: “Eoin Morgan will captain the slow over-rate in the third one-day international offences in any 12-month period bring a mandatory next game. He’s a good player, crikey. “He’ll have against Sri Lanka. one-match ban. been through periods when he’s not quite hitting it Match referee David Boon ruled that England “Cook pleaded guilty to the offence and accept- (as he’d like). But he’s the sort of player we’re very bowled one over short in the stipulated time frame ed the proposed sanction, so there was no need for excited about. during Wednesday’s rain-curtailed game in a formal hearing,” the ICC statement added. The rest “The key is to believe in yourself, and go out and Hambantota which the tourists won by five wickets. of the team was fined 10 percent of their match play - and Eoin will do that, I’m sure.” Despite Cook’s Cook will miss Sunday’s fourth match in fees. Left-handed Cook has scored just 66 runs in unscheduled absence, England can celebrate a Colombo with Sri Lanka leading 2-1 in the seven- the first three matches, leading to calls from former much-needed victory after just their second success match series. Eoin Morgan will take over as captain England players like Kevin Pietersen and Ian Botham in nine ODIs and one which reduces their deficit in for the game, England coach Peter Moores con- for him to step down. “It’s a shame for Alastair. I this seven-match series to 2-1. firmed. thought he played beautifully last night... he timed “It’s great to wake up when you’ve had a win,” It was the second time in the last 12 months that the ball really well,” said Moores. Moores said. “Sometimes, the morning after is the Cook had been found guilty of the “minor over-rate “But one thing is that it cleans the slate for him, time you really feel wins and losses. So it’s great to offence,” the International Cricket Council (ICC) said before we go to a World Cup - because he had that know we’re back in the series, at 2-1.” — AFP

NHL results/standings

Minnesota 2, Montreal 1; Chicago 4, St. Louis 1; Winnipeg 3, Edmonton 2 (OT); Anaheim 5, Philadelphia 4 (SO).

Western Conference Pacific Division W L OTL GF GA PTS Anaheim 16 6 5 76 72 37 Vancouver 17 7 1 79 69 35 Calgary 16 8 2 83 66 34 Los Angeles 13 7 5 67 57 31 San Jose 12 10 4 70 71 28 Arizona 10 13 3 64 81 23 Edmonton 6 15 5 58 90 17

CENTRAL DIVISION Nashville 16 6 2 65 48 34 St. Louis 16 7 2 67 55 34 Chicago 16 8 1 78 49 33 Winnipeg 13 9 4 55 58 30 Minnesota 14 9 1 67 56 29 Dallas 9 11 5 73 89 23 Colorado 9 11 5 67 79 23

Eastern Conference Atlantic Division Tampa Bay 17 6 3 92 69 37 Montreal 17 8 2 70 68 36 WINNIPEG: Jacob Trouba #8 of the Winnipeg Jets collides with Andrew Ference #21 of the Edmonton Oilers in third peri- Detroit 14 6 5 77 65 33 od action in an NHL game at the MTS Centre on Wednesday in Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada. — AFP Toronto 13 8 3 81 72 29 Boston 14 11 1 63 63 29 Blackhawks beat Blues Florida 10 7 6 50 58 26 Ottawa 10 9 5 63 66 25 Buffalo 9 14 2 45 77 20 to close on Central lead

Metropolitan Division CHICAGO: Chicago’s Patrick Kane score twice to help the the Wild beat the Montreal Canadiens 2-1. Left winger Jason Blackhawks beat St Louis 4-1 on Wednesday, moving within a Zucker and right winger Jason Pominville both scored unlike- Pittsburgh 17 5 2 82 55 36 point of the Blues and the NHL Central Division lead. In ly goals as the Wild improved to 8-2-1 at home. Kuemper NY Islanders 18 7 0 80 67 36 another game, Anaheim’s Jakob Silfverberg and Corey Perry allowed four goals in each of his two previous starts for NY Rangers 11 9 4 71 70 26 scored in the shootout as the Ducks beat Philadelphia 5-4, Minnesota, which won seven of its last 10. For the Canadiens, Washington 10 10 4 68 69 24 handing the Flyers a ninth-straight road loss. Winnipeg’s goalie Carey Price was busy all night. He finished with 33 Mathieu Perreault scored 17 seconds into overtime to give saves but did not get enough offensive assistance the lone New Jersey 9 12 4 58 72 22 the Jets a 3-2 victory over Edmonton, which has lost 11 Montreal goal scored by center Alex Galchenyuk. Philadelphia 8 13 4 66 81 20 straight games. Carolina 8 13 3 56 69 19 Jets 3, Oilers 2 (OT) Columbus 7 15 2 54 84 16 Wild 2, Canadiens 1 Winnipeg center Mathieu Perreault scored just 17 seconds Thrust into a starting role for a playoff contender, into overtime to lift his team to victory over Edmonton. Minnesota Wild second-year goalie Darcy Kuemper is riding Defenseman Jacob Trouba and right winger Dustin Byfuglien Note: Overtime losses (OTL) are worth one point in the stand- the ups and downs of the game. On Wednesday, he hit one of scored in regulation for Winnipeg. Center Ryan Nugent- ings and are not included in the loss column (L). the ups. After struggling in his previous two starts, Kuemper Hopkins, with his sixth of the year, and left winger David had an impressive bounce-back game, stopping 18 shots as Perron, with his fourth, scored for Edmonton. — Agencies Sports FRIDAY, DECEMBER 5, 2014

Phenomenal Aguero playing like one of the gods

LONDON: Manchester City’s Argentine titions already this season and 30 in his to go. “What is in our favour is that City games. striker Sergio Aguero was named last 33 Premier League games and his know how to catch teams we’ve done City coach Manuel Pellegrini said Player of the Year in a vote by 250,000 unstoppable rocket from 20 meters it in the past and can do it again.” after the Sunderland victory: “At this English fans this week-and it probably which pulled City level at Sunderland Aguero himself is hitting top form moment, it is difficult for defences to won’t be the last honour he picks up on Wednesday left Sunderland substi- with a phenomenal run in recent stop him. He is playing a very high per- this season. tute Jozy Altidore exclaiming “Oh My weeks starting at the end of October formance but there are so many years The 26-year-old, who won the God!”. when he scored all four in City’s 4-1 left for him to strengthen. Premier League title with City in May Aguero has been playing like one of win over Tottenham Hotspur. “Even before he started scoring in and reached the World Cup final with the gods all year and after being hon- He followed that with two against these games in a row, I thought he was Argentina in July, topped the Football oured by the FSF at its annual gala din- Queens Park Rangers in a 2-2 draw and in the top five players in the world. I am Supporters Federation poll, ahead of ner in London on Monday, he said that a match-winning hat-trick in City’s 3-2 very happy for him.” City team mate Yaya Toure, Liverpool’s the title race was far from over even win over Bayern Munich in the A candidate for the FIFA World XI Raheem Sterling, Morgan Schneiderlin though City trailed leader Chelsea by Champions League last week. and the FIFpro World XI, Aguero is also of Southampton and the Chelsea duo six points. His two goals in City’s 4-1 win at the front-runner for the English of Eden Hazard and Branislav Ivanovic. “We are two games behind them, Sunderland on Wednesday rook his tal- Footballer of the Year award at the end He has scored 19 goals in all compe- six points, but there is still a long way ly to 11 goals in his last nine league of this season. — Reuters

Drogba rolls back years as Chelsea power on LONDON: Nothing, it seems, can deflect Chelsea from their pursuit of the Premier League title, not even the absence of their leading striker Diego Costa. Wednesday’s 3-0 victory over Tottenham Hotspur was achieved without the Spain international who was suspended, but then again, the man filling his boots was Didier Drogba. The Ivorian, who scored 157 goals in his first spell at the club, returned on a one-year deal this season and despite being 36, showed just why he and Chelsea boss Jose Mourinho, who first signed him in 2004, are apparently inseparable. Drogba set up Eden Hazard for Chelsea’s first goal after 19 minutes with a superb one-two and three minutes later powered through to belt his side’s second past Spurs keeper Hugo Lloris. Even when he was substituted later, Loic Remy took his chance to score Chelsea’s third and crush any hope Tottenham had of mounting a come- back. “Drogba is a team player ... he has an old-time mentality, he’s not selfish, he’s not vain, he’s humble and he fights for the team,” Mourinho told reporters. “He hasn’t surprised me at all (since returning). I played against him with Real Madrid and I played against him with Chelsea against Galatasaray. “I could see the potential he still has and I was expecting exactly this, I had no doubt about him. From a mental point, for not starting every game, I knew he would adapt to this new role.” HUESCA: Barcelona’s forward Munir (L) vies with Huesca’s defender David Morillas (R) during the Spanish Chelsea were second-best for the opening 20 minutes when Tottenham’s Copa del Rey (King’s Cup) round of 32 first leg football match S.A.D. Huesca vs FC Barcelona at El Alcoraz Harry Kane headed against the crossbar, but once ahead they never looked stadium in Huesca on Wednesday. — AFP like surrendering their unbeaten start to the season or their six-point lead over Manchester City. They go to Newcastle United on Saturday when they will be without mid- fielder Nemanja Matic who picked up a fifth yellow card against Tottenham. Sevilla crush Sabadell Mourinho shrugged that off, such is his confidence in a squad bulging with quality and experience. “We don’t cry about it, we give confidence to the others and they respond in the best way,” he said. “No problem....we 11-2 on aggregate play another one. “No one remembered Diego Costa tonight. We don’t cry.” Mourinho still has not lost a Premier League London derby at Stamford Bridge and has only suffered three defeats in 46 league clashes against Barcelona beat third-tier Huesca 4-0 London rivals, while Tottenham have not won in the league at the ground since 1990 when Gary Lineker scored the winner. MADRID: Sevilla joined holders Real Madrid in the last Real’s participation in the Club World Cup this month as “To be fair, many of our players don’t know and I believe that many of the 16 of the King’s Cup when a quickfire Iago Aspas hat- European champions and the resulting disruption to Spurs players don’t know that, I think it doesn’t play a part,” Mourinho said. trick helped secure a crushing 11-2 aggregate victory the La Liga calendar caused by the tournament in “But yeah it’s a long time. I think Lineker is happy.” — Reuters over second-division Sabadell on Wednesday. Morocco. Sevilla romped to a 6-1 win in their last-32, first leg at In last-32, first leg games, La Liga champions Sabadell at the end of October, when Aspas also netted Atletico, who beat Real 2-1 after extra time in the 2013 a treble, and after winning the return 5-1 they will play Cup final at the Bernabeu, won 3-0 at third-tier Andalusian rivals Granada or Cordoba next month for a Hospitalet. place in the quarter-finals. The winner of a probable tie between Real and Sabadell took a surprise lead in the 22nd minute at Atletico is likely to meet record winners Barcelona in the Sanchez Pizjuan stadium in Seville when Juan the quarter-finals. Collantes converted a penalty before Kevin Gameiro A second-string Barca, missing most of coach Luis struck for the home side 10 minutes before halftime. Enrique’s regular starting 11 including Lionel Messi and Aspas, who is on loan from English Premier League Neymar, thumped Huesca, another third-tier club, 4-0. club Liverpool, scored three goals in four minutes mid- Ivan Rakitic opened the scoring in the 12th minute way through the second half to underline Sevilla’s dom- with a splendid free kick, Andres Iniesta struck on his inance and substitute Gerard Deulofeu completed the return from injury four minutes later, Pedro made it 3-0 rout in the 81st. six minutes before halftime and a deflected effort from “Let’s see if this can become a habit,” Aspas, who has Rafinha completed the scoring in the 72nd. been unable to nail down a regular starting place in Police were on high alert for Atletico’s match, as well coach Unai Emery’s side, told reporters. “These three as for Deportivo La Coruna’s first leg at home to Malaga, goals will do me good to keep on gaining in confi- following the death of a Deportivo fan in fighting near dence,” added the 27-year-old. Atletico’s stadium on Sunday before the two teams met LONDON: Tottenham Hotspur’s Paulinho, left, competes for the ball Real set up a likely last-16 clash against city rivals in La Liga. Malaga took an early lead at Deportivo’s with Chelsea’s captain John Terry during the English Premier League Atletico Madrid when they secured a 9-1 aggregate Riazor stadium before the home side levelled midway soccer match between Chelsea and Tottenham Hotspur at Stamford success against third-tier minnows Cornella on through the second half and the match ended 1-1. The Bridge stadium in London, Wednesday. — AP Tuesday. Both ties were brought forward because of return legs are in two weeks. — Reuters FRIDAY, DECEMBER 5, 2014

Bar Bahr starts today Page 44