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MONDAY, JANUARY 18, 2016 RABI ALTHANI 8, 1437 AH www.kuwaittimes.net We would do Islamic State Experts on Liverpool it again in a ‘brand’ course to unravel felled by heartbeat: US spreading secrets of Rooney Gulf war2 vets worldwide7 Egypt15 pyramids sucker-punch20 Rouhani, Obama hail nuke Min 07º Max 20º deal as sanctions lifted High Tide 05:25 & 18:01 US slaps new missile sanctions after prisoners leave Iran Low Tide 11:00 40 PAGES NO: 16759 150 FILS TEHRAN: The US and Iranian presidents yesterday Gulf shares plunge after oil rout, Iran deal hailed the implementation of Tehran’s nuclear deal as KUWAIT: Share prices in the energy-rich Gulf states historic, but new American nosedived yesterday following the sharp decline in oil sanctions threatened fresh prices as Iran prepares to resume crude exports after tensions. The UN’s atomic the lifting of sanctions. The plunge in the first day of watchdog confirmed in trading also follows heavy losses in global bourses on Vienna late on Saturday that Friday, when Gulf exchanges were closed for the Iran had complied with its weekend. The price of oil, which contributes more obligations under last sum- than 80 percent to Gulf states’ revenues, shed more mer’s accord, leading the Barack Obama than 20 percent this year to drop below $30 a barrel. United States and the This follows a plunge of 65 percent in the past two European Union to lift sanc- years. tions. The expected return of Iran to the oil market, fol- Iran’s President Hassan lowing the implementation Saturday of its historic Rouhani, a moderate whose nuclear deal with world powers, will only worsen the 2013 election victory production glut that has been the main reason for the helped launch a huge diplo- oil price dive. All seven Gulf bourses saw a wave of matic effort toward the deal panic selling, sending indices to multi-year lows. Big struck on July 14 in Vienna, investors joined small dealers in dumping shares in said the implementation fear of a further slump. was a crucial moment for “The majority of Gulf firms depend on their govern- his country. “We Iranians Hassan Rouhani ments, which depend on oil revenues. No one knows have reached out to the the bottom of oil prices,” Kuwaiti analyst Ali Al-Nemish world... have opened a new said. “The Iranian impact on the markets appears to be chapter in the relations of Iran with the world,” the offi- somewhat inflated because Iranian crude exports will cial IRNA news agency quoted him as saying. not be huge initially,” Nemish told AFP. In Washington, President Barack Obama said engage- ment with Iran had provided a “unique opportunity”. But Continued on Page 15 KUWAIT: Traders follow stock market activity at the Kuwait Stock Exchange yesterday. — Photo by Yasser Al-Zayyat Obama also noted that “profound differences” with Continued on Page 15 Amir orders slashing Amiri Diwan budget

By B Izzak assigned MP Yousef Al-Zalzalah to coordinate with finance minister and acting oil minister Anas Al-Saleh to hold a KUWAIT: HH the Amir Sheikh Sabah Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber joint Assembly-government meeting to discuss measures Al-Sabah yesterday ordered HH the Prime Minister Sheikh to face the budget deficit. The meeting will take place at Jaber Al-Mubarak Al-Hamad Al-Sabah to take measures the Assembly bureau and will debate specific measures to needed to restudy the Amiri Diwan budget and that of boost non-oil revenues. affiliated bodies as well as rationalize it, said Deputy Amiri Saleh has said that the government will discuss all the Diwan Minister Sheikh Ali Jarrah Al-Sabah yesterday. measures with the Assembly before adopting them and MPs welcomed and praised the Amir’s order. MP Madhi Ghanem has said that the government promised not to Al-Hajeri said such an important decision can only come take any unilateral decision. The meeting is expected to from an important leader like Sheikh Sabah. He said the discuss reducing subsidies on petrol and on other heavily- Amir has realized the difficult economic situation result- subsidized services like electricity. Kuwait is the only Gulf ing from the drop in oil prices and accordingly ordered Cooperation Council (GCC) state not to raise the price of the revision. He called on all state agencies to follow suit. petrol following the sharp fall in oil prices. Saudi Arabia, MP Talal Al-Jallal called on all ministers to follow the deci- United Arab Emirates, Oman, Qatar and Bahrain have all sion in order to cut spending in the next year’s budget. He increased the price of fuel and other commodities after asked the government to provide the National Assembly recording budget deficits. Kuwait has only increased the with the details of amounts saved by various ministers. price of diesel and kerosene. Meanwhile, Speaker Marzouq Al-Ghanem yesterday Continued on Page 15 Muslim scouts balance faith, American values

GETTYSBURG: In a bus taking them to Gettysburg, Pennsylvania - site of the US Civil War’s most famous News battle - the members of Boy Scout Troop 114 are all ears. in brief “Listen up during the trip! This is a rewarding trip - if you pay attention, it will help you get the merit badge,” booms one of the scout leaders. “We are going to Contractor dies at Gettysburg!” says one of the 20 teenagers excitedly. Ahmadi refinery “Alhamdulillah!” he cries, Arabic for praise God. KUWAIT: The Kuwait National Petroleum Company Troop 114 is like any other in the scouts, except in (KNPC) said yesterday that an Indian contractor at Mina one important respect: They are Muslim. For these boys, Al-Ahmadi refinery fell to his death during maintenance combining their Islamic faith with an organization that work. The accident occurred on Saturday afternoon and was long a rite of passage for many young Americans is the contractor was provided with first aid, then trans- the best response to growing Islamophobia in the ferred to Adan Hospital. He underwent surgery but died United States and the rhetoric of Donald Trump. The later in the evening of the same day, KNPC told KUNA in Republican presidential frontrunner wants a ban on statement. The company expressed sorrow over the Muslims entering the United States in the wake of death of the worker and said that it will look into the attacks in Paris in November and the one that followed causes of the incident. in California one month later. Like all scouts, the members of troop 114 - created in Fairfax, Virginia in 2012 - pledge: “On my honor, I will do Kuwaiti abducted my best.” But these scouts also hope they can “serve the in eastern Lebanon Muslim community and help the kids become better BEIRUT: Unidentified gunmen abducted a Kuwaiti citizens,” says Abdul Rashid Abdullah, who is in charge citizen in the Lebanon’s eastern Bekaa valley, the of the troop of 35 scouts, most of whom are Americans Kuwaiti ambassador to the country said yesterday. of Arab origin. “Muslim boy scouts are not common, it’s Abulaal Al-Ginaee, in a statement to KUNA, said true,” concedes the 43-year-old American, who convert- the Kuwaiti diplomatic mission was in constant ed to Islam in 1990. “But there are more and more of us. contact with Lebanese security apparatuses to We get lots of support from the Boy Scouts. The only look into the circumstances of the kidnapping of difference is how we pray.” the Kuwaiti national and seek to free him as soon The Saturday outing to Gettysburg aims to drive as possible. Local official media reported that home to the scouts the turning point in the American unidentified gunmen snatched the Kuwaiti from Civil War. And the goal is not just to underscore the his farm in the town of Qebb Elias in the Bekaa val- importance of American history - but to hammer home ley. He was taken away at gunpoint. that American history is also their history. Continued on Page 15 LOCAL MONDAY, JANUARY 18, 2016

KUWAIT: His Highness the Amir Sheikh Sabah Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah meets His Highness the Crown Prince His Highness the Crown Prince Sheikh Nawaf Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah meets Deputy Prime Minister and Sheikh Nawaf Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah. — Amiri Diwan and KUNA photos Minister of Defense Sheikh Khaled Al-Jarrah Al-Sabah, accompanied by Kuwait Army Chief of Staff Lieutenant General Mohammad Khaled Al-Kheder. Amir, Crown Prince receive state officials

KUWAIT: His Highness the Amir Sheikh Marzouq Al-Ghanem, His Highness the Meanwhile, His Highness the Crown Khaled Al-Jarrah Al-Sabah, who was accom- Minister of State for Youth Affairs Sheikh Sabah Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah Prime Minister Sheikh Jaber Al-Mubarak Al- received Ghanem, Sheikh Jaber Al- panied by Kuwait Army Chief of Staff Salman Sabah Al-Salem Al-Humoud Al- received His Highness the Crown Prince Hamad Al-Sabah and First Deputy Prime Mubarak, Sheikh Sabah Al-Khaled, Deputy Lieutenant General Mohammad Khaled Al- Sabah, along with Minister of State for Sheikh Nawaf Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs Prime Minister and Minister of Interior Kheder. Cabinet Affairs, and Acting Minister of at Seif Palace yesterday. His Highness the Sheikh Sabah Al-Khaled Al-Hamad Al- Sheikh Mohammad Al-Khaled Al-Hamad Al- His Highness the Crown Prince also Electricity and Water Sheikh Mohammad Al- Amir also received Parliament Speaker Sabah. Sabah, as well as Defense Minister Sheikh received Minister of Information and Abduallah Al-Mubarak Al-Sabah. —KUNA Horeca Kuwait 2016 kicks off today Participants, sponsors partners in success: Anjeri

KUWAIT: Under auspices of complete. “The exhibition is a good Minister of Information and chance for ambitious young peo- Minister of State for Youth Affairs ple who intend to start new restau- Sheikh Salman Sabah Al-Salem Al- rant and hotel-related projects,” Humoud Al-Sabah, the Horeca she said in a press statement, not- Kuwait 2016 exhibition opens ing that Horeca Kuwait is a scientif- today at Badriya Ballroom in the ically specialized exhibition where Jumeirah Messilah Beach Hotel and experts in the hospitality, food Spa, with participation of over 60 industries, hotel equipment, companies specialized in hospitali- tourism, shipping and storage ty, catering and hotel equipment. fields would take part. The three-day event is organized Anjeri thanked all participants by the Leaders Group Company for and sponsors of the event, noting Consulting and Development in that their cooperation has been KUWAIT: Lord Mayor of London Jeffrey Evans arrived in Kuwait yesterday on an offi- collaboration with the Hospitality the base of Horeca Kuwait’s suc- cial visit. He was received by Hawalli Governor Sheikh Ahmad Nawaf Al-Ahmad Al- Services Company. cess, and enabling enabled it to Sabah. —KUNA Speaking on the occasion, achieve a leading position in Nabila Al-Anjeri, Leaders Group’s Kuwait, the Gulf Cooperation General Manager, stressed that Council (GCC) region and the Sheikh Salman preparations for the exhibition are Middle East. Al-Humoud Al-Sabah Nabila Al-Anjeri Speaker meets Yazidi We would do it again in a survivor of IS attacks KUWAIT: Parliament Speaker Marzouq Ali had to endure at the hands of IS in the city Al-Ghanem met yesterday with a Yazidi girl of Sinjar, which had fallen under IS’ control. who has survived aggressions by the so- Ghanem extolled Murad’s valiancy, vowing heartbeat: US Gulf war vets called Islamic State (IS) in the northern Iraqi that the Arab Inter-parliamentary Union city of Mosul, where she had spent months (AIPU) would vigorously pursue the issue. WASHINGTON: Several US Gulf War Veterans honored to be a part of this momentous war, we of all the coalition and educates in one of the most in captivity. Nadia Murad, who is on a visit Murad had recently visited the United expressed their honor to take part in the liberation did the right thing, I am proud to make a difference important and most swiftly won wars that the US to Kuwait at the invitation of Ghanem, gave Nations (UN) and Egypt as part of efforts to of Kuwait, reiterating that they would do it again ‘in in Kuwaiti people’s lives, giving them a future.” have partook in the 20th century. the Parliament Speaker the minutia of the shed light on female detainees held captive a heartbeat.’ Exactly twenty-five years ago today, Stump added that knowing what the Kuwaiti peo- It was an ultimate success, “what it was sup- adversity she and her ethnic community by IS.— KUNA the United States Army, backed by an international ple have endured during the seven-month inva- posed to be and what it ended up being were so coalition of 34 countries, began the Desert Storm sion urged the half a million US troop to combat different,” Stump noted about the offensive opera- mission, an operation that lasted 41 days, resulting the “terrorism” that was inflicted upon them. tion, Desert Storm, that began its aerial and naval in the liberation of Kuwait from Saddam Hussein’s bombardment of occupying Iraqi forces for five occupying troops. Gulf War memorial weeks and a ground assault on the February 24th, In several interviews with Kuwait News Agency The NDSWM is designing and lobbying to place only two days before the official liberation of the (KUNA), the Army veterans said that they are proud a Gulf War memorial on the National Mall in the State of Kuwait. to have partaken in ‘something very significant,’ lib- heart of the US capital Washington DC to highlight Stump visualized the dark black smoke that erating and returning a forcefully occupied land to the 292 US servicemen who gave their lives for the came out of Kuwait oil fields as it was set on fire its rightful owner. two operations in the war, Desert Storm and “desperately” by Iraqi forces as they were fleeing Scott Stump, a Gulf War Veteran and the Desert Shield. out of Kuwait’s north boarder. “We have a responsi- President and CEO of the National Desert Storm They are in the process of choosing the ground bility to our fellow man,” Kent Shively, a US Marine War Memorial (NDSWM) committee, said that “I am and designing in a way that highlights the efforts infantry during the Gulf War, told KUNA and that “nobody has a desire to leave their family and home, but when you see snippets of what has occurred to your people (Kuwaitis), you go on ahead.” “To be a 19-year-old kid and write your own Fouzi Al-Sager Eid Al-Otaibi.—Photos by Fouad Al-Shaikh will,” Shively said who was married for 3 and half weeks at that time, but the swift victory gave them “an enormous sense of relief, as we believed this Candidates for by-elections mission was a one-way trip.” in 3rd constituency reach 30 Finish the job On the other hand, Stephen Venneman who By Meshaal Al-Enezi Al-Maosherji stressed that Kuwait was was a Firefinder Radar Operator during the war going through a new era that calls for said that “I only wish we would have been able to KUWAIT: The total number of candidates more work, accomplishments and letting finish the job and remove Saddam Hussein from running for by-elections in the third con- bygones be bygones. “We need to have power,” however; he added “we met out objective stituency rose to 30, while no female can- youth play more significant roles in deci- to liberate the people of Kuwait from an illegal didate has yet registered. Speaking after sion-making”, he underlined. occupation.” “I knew i wanted to go as soon as we filing his nomination, candidate Abdullah Candidate Essa Abdullah said that he heard about the Iraqi invasion,” Venneman reiterat- Al-Kandari said that there was fierce com- would focus on housing and health servic- ed “I felt that the invasion was wrong, unjustified, petition in the constituency. He also es. Candidate Fuhaid Al-Ajmi said that he and deserved a swift and decisive response from slammed talking about the short period would focus on serving citizens, educa- the international community,” which it did. Gulf War veteran Cee Freeman’s brigade in 1991. remaining in the current parliament’s tion, health, housing and women’s causes. On the reaction when he returned to the US after the victory he explained “I was treated like a tenure, noting that a year has 365 days The Interior Ministry’s Directorate of conquering hero,” noting that “I treasure the and that much could be done once law- Elections Affairs had announced yester- Liberation of Kuwait medal I received from the makers pinpointed citizens’ concerns and day that nine more Kuwaitis have regis- Kuwaiti government.”A fourth US Army Veteran needs. tered to run for by-elections in the third Cee Freeman also told KUNA that “I had to say Candidate Fouzi Al-Sager stressed that constituency. The decision to accept more goodbye to my parents,” but when asked if he his main concern if he makes it to the par- candidacy requests is in line with Law 112 would do it again; he and the other veterans liament would be domestic stability of the year 2016, issued by Deputy Prime jumped and said “in a heartbeat.” “We were riding because development basically depends Minister and Interior Minister Sheikh along with a full army brigade when the news of on security. Candidate Faisal Al-Saleel said Mohammad Khaled Al-Hamad Al-Sabah, the ceasefire broke and Kuwait’s liberation. Miles of that his electoral program mainly focuses Director General of Election Affairs Salah vehicles halted, soldiers came out of their vehicles on supporting security forces in view of Al-Shatti told KUNA. and started jumping like kids,” Freeman recalled. the threats surrounding Kuwait and Candidacy requests will be accepted “We have accomplished the mission.” endangering national identity and loyalty until January 22, Shatti announced. Starting January 17th, 1991, the international to the nation. He added that he would Moreover, on January 12, Parliament coalition back-then lead by the United States also focus on issues like disabled rights, Speaker Marzouq Al-Ghanem has launched an aerial campaign dropping over 88 tons of bombs destroying Iraqi military infrastruc- educational development, improving declared vacant, the seat of deceased MP ture, targets and Scud missile launchers. More than health services and activating youth roles. Nabil Al-Fadhl. His Highness the Prime 900,000 troops participated in Operation Desert Candidate Eid Al-Otaibi said that his Minister Sheikh Jaber Al-Mubarak Al- Storm that continued two days after announcing electoral program would focus on three Hamad Al-Sabah has been notified to Kuwait’s free on the February 26th ending the main issues - decent dialogue, modera- ensure proper action in line with constitu- WASHINGTON: Gulf War veterans Scott Stump, Kent Shively and Cee Freeman. —KUNA around seven-month occupation. — KUNA tion and development. Candidate Mezyad tional law. MONDAY, JANUARY 18, 2016 LOCAL Department authorized to transfer Legalese Protecting your work permits under seven conditions intellectual property By Meshaal Al-Enezi and employer accepting it, cases included of the private labor law. as ‘one of Saddam’s judges.’ Duaij had earli- in articles 48 and 50 of the private labor er filed a complaint against Dashti for KUWAIT: In a bid to do both employers law number 6/2020 and employees having KD 250 insurance insulting judges after a court passed sen- By Attorney Fajer Ahmed and workers justice, acting director of the worked for over three years for the same Chairman of Kuwait Businessmen tences against suspects accused in the Public Authority for Manpower Ahmad Al- employer, provided employers are given Society Anwar Al-Meshaal bin Ajween ‘Abdaly cell’ case last week. Notably, the ith technology within hands reach, a major- Moussa authorized the authority’s labor proper legal notice in unlimited contracts praised Social Affairs and Labor Minister court sentenced two suspects to death ity of us now have Instagram accounts, relations department and its units to and waiting for contract expiry in limited Hind Al-Subaih’s response to the society’s and 20 others to various prison terms. Wordpress blogs, Snapchat and other plat- accept or reject work permit transfer appli- ones. Moussa added that transfers would appeal to cancel ministerial decree num- W cations. According to the decision, the be rejected in five cases including the ber 19/2015 pertaining with paying KD No compensation forms that have made us “publishers” in a sense. department and all labor units will allow validity of limited contracts without any 250 insurance per worker on issuing work A civil court yesterday decided against Online platforms have also made it easier for us to transfers in seven cases including proving violations on the employer’s side, private permits and restricting it to employers compensating those who had been rent- market our business ideas. Before technology, pub- that employers had violated law 6/2010, school teachers desiring to transfer in the having contracts with the government. ing Amghara land plots for damage result- lishing your work was something only a few fortu- banning employees from travelling, if the middle of the school year, working for less ing from the huge occasional tire fires at nate people had the opportunity or the means to do employee’s relation with the employer is than three years on employer-issued work MP sued the Amghara scrap market. The fire hap- but now you could easily publish a short story, that of a partner, terminating employees permits who insist they continue working Chancellor Mohammed Al-Duaij yester- pened a few years ago before the market showcase your photography and even establish your by employers without violating article 41 for them, employees registered on govern- day filed another complaint against MP was relocated in Naayem along the Salmi own small company online. of law 6/2010, the employee’s resignation ment contracts and violating article 44 (a) Abdulhameed Dashti, who described him highway. We are very fortunate in Kuwait and the GCC that there is a lot of encouragement from governmental entities as well as communities to encourage the youth to become writers, painters, photographers, Roads leading to Sabah Al-Ahmad and to pursue any other talent or business idea they have. I hope this article helps you in pursuing your City to be developed: Minister talent. With technology though, new laws had to be implemented for to protect our rights. Today I will be By A Saleh Housing units answering questions about Intellectual Property The Public Authority for Housing rights. KUWAIT: Public Works Minister Ali Al- Welfare (PAHW) stressed that it would Question: What is included under Intellectual Omair said that his ministry will soon start distributing housing units in Property Rights? What can I protect? develop Wafra highway and all roads Khairan City in 2019 once the construc- Fajer: According to the World Intellectual leading to Sabah Al-Ahmad City. The tion of Mutlaa, South Saad Al-Abdullah Property Organization, “Intellectual Property refers ministry also offered a tender to study, and South Sabah Al-Ahmad cities was to creations of the mind, such as inventions; literary design and supervise improving the concluded. and artistic works; designs; and symbols, names and roads between Sabah Al- images used in commerce”. This definition is very Ahmad and Al-Khairan cities Oilfields development wide and includes so many different things, to for public bidding, he added. Kuwait Oil Company understand better lets break it down. (KOC) stressed continuing There are three main categories under intellectu- ‘Flying pebbles’ to develop the traditional al property as follows: Meanwhile, MP Faisal Al- northern oilfields through 1) Copy Right - this is of important to anyone that Kandari called for publishing a three main programs “Produces” work. This includes literary work, art report made by a special com- including building three work, photography, any theater plays, and any musi- cal productions. mittee on the ‘flying pebbles’ crude oil collection cen- ters, a facility to inject 2) Patents - This refers to inventions. They have to issue Omair had promised to be “new” and capable of industrial applications. As People arrested yesterday for gambling. investigate. “Those responsible water and boost northern fields daily production can be used, unlike copyright this refers to material- must be held accountable,” he istic work. capacity to one million underlined. Kandari also criti- 3) Trade Marks - these are usually logos of com- Seventeen expats Ali Al-Omair barrels compared to the cized officials’ talk about recon- mercial entities, used as a quality of origin and to sidering the materials used on current rate of 600,000 inspire customer loyalty arrested for gambling various streets, noting that the barrels only. KOC also said Question: How do I register my Intellectual problem prevailing over the past two that a tender was signed to develop the Property? By Hanan Al-Saadoun ment carried out a campaign on Seventh first phase of heavy oil to get to a 60,000 Ring Road and Kabd Road, resulting in years had never happened since Kuwait Fajer: The answer to this question depends on started paving streets in the 1960s and barrel per day production rate by 2018- what you are trying to protect. For copy rights KUWAIT: Residency affairs detectives impounding 95 cement mixers because of 2019. arrested 17 expatriates while gambling and concrete leaking on the streets. Another 1970s. “MPW takes full responsibility for unfortunately unlike neighboring GCC countries you cannot do so easily online, but you can through the betting. Detectives received information campaign took place in the Capital gover- the problem because we had warned last Sports’ suspension Kuwaiti courts, from experience though most people about several expats engaged in this crimi- norate, resulting in impounding 20 vehi- year of resuming contracts with contrac- The parliament’s committee for youth do so only after someone has infringed their right, ie nal act, so the place was put under surveil- cles, while 20 persons were arrested for tors who do not respect contract condi- lance and after making sure about their and sports is due to meet today to dis- they claim property rights to their work after some- using their vehicles to ferry people for tions and ministry engineers do not do cuss the letters that had not reached the activities, a team was formed to arrest their jobs properly,” he underlined. one has used their work without permission. them. The 17 were arrested with cash, mon- money and were sent to concerned author- committee from the Public Authority of For patents it is much easier than copy rights as ey transfers, account records and gambling ities. Youth and Sports (PAYS) concerning there is a central body for the Gulf Cooperation Deportation center cards. All 17 confessed to the charges, and sports unions and other sports organiza- Council for the Arab States located in Saudi Arabia. It it was found out that an Asian man was Municipality campaign The Ministry of Education (MoE) yes- tions such as the Olympic committee. is called “The Patent Office of the Cooperation running the place. All were sent to con- Ahmadi municipality public cleanliness terday renewed allocating the Saad bin Committee chairman Abdullah Maayouf Council for the Arab States of the Gulf” and they cerned authorities. and road occupancy department carried Elyas intermediate school building to be said that the committee needs the origi- accept online submissions at http://www.gccpo.org/ out a field campaign in Industrial Fahaheel, used as a temporary center to accommo- nal documents to investigate those For Trademarks there is a relatively new regula- Vehicles impounded resulting in the removal of 10 abandoned date expats arrested pending deporta- responsible for suspending sports activi- tion for the Gulf Cooperation Council for the Arab The supervision and inspection depart- cars and warning 13 others. tion until March 31, 2018. ties. States, the law was passed in 2014 and the countries are working closely to apply the law, making it easier for business owners across the gulf to protect their commercial rights. In Kuwait you can apply through the Ministry of Commerce, after fulfilling certain requirements and filling out hard copy forms (not available online yet), you will receive a “temporary” Trade Mark, this usually takes around 30 days. The Trade Mark will then be printed in the local newspa- per the Kuwait Gazette and if no one appeals or claims that the Trade Mark is similar to their own within 90 days, then the trademark will become a permanent right. Question: How long can one person own a cer- tain Intellectual Property Right? Fajer: In Kuwait and most countries copyrights are given to the “producer” for their lifetime and for 50 years after their death. This explains why anyone can now produce something written by Shakespeare. In the GCC trademarks are now being passed for 10 years since the day of registration, and can be renewed accordingly. Question: Sometimes going through the proper channels for copyrights can take a while, how can I protect myself until then? Fajer: There is no right or wrong way to do this. The best way is to go through the proper channels but as you mentioned they take a while and some- times it’s more efficient not to do so. The important thing though is for you to protect your rights in the long run and you are able to do so by always being able to prove that your work is yours. If you have produced work, let’s say a short story for example, my suggestion is before publishing it, send it to yourself via email, this way if something does come up in the future you can prove that you wrote it first. I would also advice that you always read or research about the terms and conditions on online platforms before “publishing” your work on them. Some platforms can be very sneaky by making you agree that anything you publish through them is owned by them.

Security campaigns non-discriminatory, target lawbreakers: Interior Ministry

KUWAIT: Security campaigns conducted by the Ministry of Interior (MoI) are non-discriminatory and are aimed to tar- get those wanted for violations of state laws, irrespective of nationality, the MoI said in a press statement released yes- terday. All expatriates are subject to the same law, one that is designed to uphold peace and security, the statement added. The country’s security apparatus will not in any way, shape or form undermine the liberty of nationals and expa- triates alike, the statement stressed, adding that this is “a commitment affirmed by the MoI leadership.” Moreover, the statement added that a designated secu- rity force has been dispatched to the country’s borders to deal with potential mass displacements. The MoI will do “everything in its power” to investigate and pursue any- KUWAIT: Kuwait National Guard (KNG) hosted a first aid course recently for employees of the Public Authority for People with Special Needs, in order to improve their skills thing that could have a detrimental effect on peace and in helping patients and dealing with cases of emergency. security in the country, the statement said. — KUNA MONDAY, JANUARY 18, 2016 LOCAL

In Brief Ghanem presides over AIPU’s Executive Army chief lauds parliament meeting Committee meets ties with Jordan KUWAIT: Officials from the National Assembly convened BEIRUT: The Executive Committee of the Arab Inter- KUWAIT: Army Chief of Staff Lieutenant General Mohammad for a meeting yesterday, presided over by Parliament Parliamentary Union (AIPU) started its 18th session in Beirut Khaled Al-Kheder yesterday hailed deep cooperative relations Speaker Marzouq Ali Al-Ghanem. During the meeting, yesterday, chaired by Undersecretary of the Kuwaiti between Kuwait and Jordan. Speaking at a meeting with a some letters pertaining to impending visits by parliament Parliamentary Caucus MP Faisal Al-Shaya. The agenda of the visiting Jordanian military delegation, Kheder said Kuwait and speakers of friendly nations were discussed, Parliament 18th session includes a host of items, topped with hand-over Jordan enjoy deep cooperation, especially in the military Secretary Adel Al-Jarallah Al-Kharafi said. A number of of the AIPU Secretariat from outgoing Secretary General field, the Defense Ministry’s Directorate of Moral Guidance security related issues and decisions were also reviewed, Nour Eddine Bouchkouj to elected Fayez Al-Shawabka, and Public Relations said in a statement. Several high-ranking Kharafi added. —KUNA Shaya told KUNA on the sidelines of the gathering. —KUNA army officers were present in the meeting, it added. —KUNA Photo of the day

KUWAIT: Kuwait’s 4th Arabian Horse Beauty Contest came to an end on Saturday, after 295 horses from Kuwait and Arab countries competed for most beautiful horses. —KUNA

In my view The Israeli-Palestinian conflict

By Labeed Abdal

[email protected]

ecent criticism by the US government of Israel’s plans to expand a Jewish settlement in the West Bank on grounds Rthat this would jeopardize the two-state solution to end the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, as well as considering continuous set- tlement expansion, raise much skepticism about Israel’s long terms plans and is something that really threatens UN resolutions KUWAIT: A man places a donation during a fund-raising campaign to rescue People register to make donations during the fund-raising campaign. in this regard. It also raises a great deal of skepticism about solving residents of Madaya, which was opened by the Kuwait Red Crescent Society one of the longest and most complicated disputes of land that yesterday. —KUNA photos belongs to the followers of three heavenly religions. The US expression of ‘deep concern’ towards Israel’s attitude over expanding the Gush Etzion settlement would eventually lead KRCS begins fund-raising campaign for Madaya to building one over an area of 10 acres in the West Bank, which indicates Israel’s indifference, especially towards the end of Obama’s presidency when the US and its parties are very busy KUWAIT: Kuwait Red Crescent Society (KRCS) launched out that the society is interested in sponsoring humani- with electing a new president, who is most likely going to be a a fund-raising campaign yesterday, receiving donations tarian aid, locally, and internationally. KPC staff offered goods Republican in favor of more wars in case he wins. to rescue residents of Madaya town in Syria who have Meanwhile, Director of Public Relations and media in Maintaining the current situation stems from a fixed vision set been stricken by hunger and poverty due to the ongo- KRCS Khalid Al-Zaid told KUNA that the campaign will at competitive prices during World War I by major countries at that time, which explains ing conflict in that country. KRCS Chairman of the Board help gather necessities and foodstuff for people in KUWAIT: The Kuwait Petroleum Corporation (KPC) introduced yes- Israel’s keenness on expanding its settlements by all means over Dr Hilal Al-Sayer told KUNA that the campaign will Madaya, in cooperation with other humanitarian organ- terday plans to launch an initiative to provide oil sector employees the past century. This raises fear of more violent Israeli-Palestinian reflect the bright image of Kuwaiti generosity, pointing izations in Syria. —KUNA with goods and services for competitive prices, the latest in exten- conflicts in view of a state of despair, stagnancy and broken peace sive privileges enjoyed by members of the sector. promises despite the fact that settlements are deemed by the UN Dubbed ‘Excellence,’ the unprecedented initiative comprises an as illegal, undermining peace efforts and in violation of its resolu- electronic program that merges KPC with a number of commercial tions. companies, Head of the Public Relations Department of KPC Jamal Recurring of the very same incidents and reaching dead ends Al-Sanousi said in a press conference. The initiative is expected to for over 70 years is very saddening in view of the multitude of vic- be in full effect by February, he announced. tims, injured and killed, despite many moderate groups on both The measure seeks to cement KPC values while giving employ- sides that truly seek peaceful, joint, legitimate and fair solutions. ees an incentive in a highly distinguished sector to which more Accelerating violence between Israelis and Palestinians than 20,000 employees belong, Sanousi said. When news of the ini- through stabbings, shootings and running people over with vehi- tiative first emerged, more than 920 employees registered, possi- cles has resulted in killing 23 Israelis so far and considerable num- bly a harbinger of the initiative’s expected success, the Head of bers of Palestinians on the other hand, which emphasizes how KPC’s Public Relations Department noted. The facilitation of the hateful both peoples are towards each other and calls for chang- purchasing process for registered users of the “Excellence” program ing the international methodology on handling the conflict with is the primary aim, he said. —KUNA the aim of reaching solutions to unsolved issues. Dr Hilal Al-Sayer Khalid Al-Zaid MONDAY, JANUARY 18, 2016 LOCAL ‘Sada El-Samt’ play wins top prize at Arab Theater Festival

KUWAIT: Minister of Information Sheikh Salman Al-Sabah on Saturday congratulated His Highness the Amir, His Highness the Crown Prince and His Highness the Prime Minister on the honoring of the Kuwaiti the- ater at the eighth Arab Theater Festival. Sheikh Jaber Al-Mubarak Al-Sabah The honoring came in recognition of the role of Kuwait’s political leadership in pro- Al-Qurain Festival, moting culture and arts, the minister told reporters following a prize-giving ceremony Kuwait Capital where the arbitration panel of the festival announced ‘Sada El-Samt’ (echo of silence) of Islamic Culture play as winner of the fifth version of Sheikh Dr Sultan bin Hamad Al-Qassemi theatrical kicks off today prize for 2015. The play, offered by Kuwait Theater Troupe, is written by late Iraqi play- wright Qassem Matroud directed by Faisal KUWAIT: Celebrations of Al-Qurain Cultural Festival and ‘Kuwait Al-Ameeri, and starring Al-Ameeri, Samah Capital of Islamic Culture 2016’ will start today, sponsored by His and Abdullah Al-Turkmani. Highness the Prime Minister Sheikh Jaber Al-Mubarak Al-Hamad Al-Sabah. Al-Qurain ceremony includes distribution of the State Initiatives Encouragement and Appreciation Awards, honoring veteran Sheikh Salman, also Minister of State for actor Abdulhussain Abdulredha, Assistant Secretary General of Youth Affairs and President of the National the National Council for Culture, Arts and Letters (NCCAL) Council for Culture, Arts and Letters Mohammad Al-Asousi said in a statement. He added that the KUWAIT: Minister of Information Sheikh Salman Al-Sabah is pictured with honored celebrities at the closing cere- (NCCAL), spoke highly of Qassemi, a mem- Grand Imam of Al-Azhar Sheikh Ahmad Al-Tayyeb is the digni- mony of the eighth Arab Theater Festival. —Photos by Fouad Al-Shaikh ber of the UAE Federal Supreme Council and tary of this year’s ceremony. Ruler of Al-Sharjah Emirate, for his role in Ismail Abdullah has also made praiseworthy Fruitful Al-Nabhan, Hayat Al-Fahad, Khaled Al- The event will be used to emphasize how Islam is a religion efforts to ensure the success of the festival. Meanwhile, head of the arbitration Obaid, Suad Abdullah, Saad Al-Faraj, of peace and tolerance, amid the current events in the region, founding the Arab Theatre Institute (ATI) in 2009 and the promotion of the Arab theatri- Sheikh Salman renewed Kuwait’s commit- panel Mokhlad Nusair Zayoud commend- Suleiman Hezami, Suleiman Al-Yassin, as well as highlighting Kuwait as a ‘Humanitarian Center,’ ment to promotion of cultural exchanges ed as fruitful the cultural exchanges and Abdulhussain Abdelredha, Abdulrahman Asousi said. The NCCAL official pointed to the UN honoring of cal arts. Qassemi, the co-founder and president and artistic activities as a means of bringing cooperation between NCCAL and the ATI. Al-Aqel, Abdulaziz Al-Haddad, Abdulaziz His Highness the Amir Sheikh Sabah Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al- the Arab peoples close to each other. “The themes of war, violence and terror- Al-Sarayye’, Abdullah Al-Hubail, Awatef Al- Sabah as a ‘Humanitarian Leader’ and Kuwait as a of the ATI, made several initiatives to advance the march of Arab theater, includ- Abdullah meanwhile paid homage to the ism featured prominently in the plays Bader, Fuad Al-Shatti, Mohammad Al- ‘Humanitarian Center.’ The celebrations will also focus on the pioneers of the Kuwaiti theater for their con- offered at this edition of the festival,” he Mansour, Mohammad Abdulaziz, role of culture to get people closer to each other, shedding ing the offering of the ATI award - the most tributions to the Arab theatrical movement. noted. Mohammad Jaber, Maryam Al-Saleh and light on Kuwait’s efforts in cultural work. Asousi offered a prestigious Arab theatrical prize which is The ATI Secretary General also appreciated The closing ceremony saw the honor- Hayfa Adel. The festival, which opened on video on the activities to celebrate “Kuwait Capital of Islamic named after him. the efforts made jointly by NCCAL and the ing of number of celebrities who influ- Sunday, January 10, was co-organized by Culture 2016” that will run through the whole year, with par- “Dr Qassemi’s presence at this festival ATI in setting the state for the festival and enced the Kuwaiti theater and were nomi- NCCAL and the Arab Theatre Institute ticipation of government bodies and public benefit societies, shows his keenness on the advancement of thanked all participants for contributing to nated by NCCAL. (ATI). It gathered 415 Arab theatrical fig- such as the Ministry of Awqaf and Islamic Affairs, the Kuwait the theatrical arts,” Sheikh Salman said, not- the success of this annual event. These include Ibrahim Al-Sallal, Jassem ures and featured 15 plays. —KUNA University and the Kuwait Writers Association. —KUNA ing that the ATI Secretary General Al-Sayed

ATI Secretary General Al-Sayed Ismail Abdullah Veteran actor Abdulhussain Abdelredha is Veteran actress Maryam Al-Saleh is honored. Actors perform on stage during the ceremony. speaks at the event. honored. MONDAY, JANUARY 18, 2016 FROM THE ARABIC PRESS

Al-Anbaa Biometrics in MoH facilities soon A second wife?! KUWAIT: Well-informed health sources said that the By Sami Al-Khorafi Ministry of Health (MoH) is planning to use two more accurate punch-in and out systems for employees he moment you ask a group of young people, assuming I working in all its facilities and administrations in a bid am still one of them, about their opinion of taking a sec- to have more control over employees’ performances Tond wife and the replies will race to you as they are in a and to avoid faking fingerprints in signing in and out. 100-meter race where everyone is keen on winning. They all The sources explained that the two new systems use roll up their sleeves to take part in this ‘interesting’ discussion. I Prices facial and eye recognition and that concerned min- wonder what makes this particular question very appealing to istry officials are currently meeting to discuss using every man and provocative to women! them in all MoH facilities instead of the fingerprint sys- One of the guys said that his wife does not understand him tem, especially after the recent discovery of employ- and quickly gets angry over the most trivial things. “I try to Increase ees using fake fingerprints. — Al-Anbaa keep calm and let her vent steam as she pleases while I am boiling inside, because I heard a specialist advise men to do so on a radio program,” he said, noting that the expert advised husbands to avoid wives’ anger rages by leaving the house to Union’s school fee avoid problems. “I would marry another one if only I could,” he added, explaining that such a step needs much guts and mon- request rejected ey. Another said that the question he hates most from his wife KUWAIT: Education Minister Bader Al-Essa said the ministry is when she calls asking him: Where are you? “I then have an rejected a request by the private schools union to grant it urge to get into the phone to tell her that I am bathing in the the freedom in deciding fees for private schools, adding

water tank on the roof!” he said, pointing out that his wife sus- Al-Anbaa “the ministry alone decides the fees for those schools, be pects all his moves. On his part, Bu Saad said that what really they Arab or foreign, through a technical committee gets on his nerves is that his wife usually purchases the most formed for this purpose”. He expected the committee to elegant and expensive clothes only to wear them in front of complete its work soon and will announce the fees for each her family and friends, while she only wears cheap garments school. bought from public stores for him as if he was nothing but a Meanwhile, Essa said graduates from non-education col- worthless insignificant shepherd, though it is he who pays for leges will be accepted for educational jobs in American and all her purchases. “What a fool I am!” he said. British schools, through interviews and selection of those I elicited many reactions and intend to publish them in fur- qualified, as part of efforts to solve the problem of bringing ther articles. However, another responder said that he would foreign teachers from abroad that private schools are fac- immediately get married to another woman if only he had ing, and a lack of Kuwaiti graduates who are able to work in enough money, because he was fed up with his wife. these schools because the higher education ministry is lim- “Whenever I inquire about her whereabouts, she says that she iting education and philosophy specialties to Kuwait is going shopping, on a family visit or going to a restaurant. University only, and not allowing private universities in She is always out of the house. The same applies to the chil- Kuwait to open education streams to graduate qualified dren. She is very sick with the ‘let me be’ syndrome and I am teachers who are able to meet school’s needs. — Al-Rai fed up with that!” he explained. I believe that my female readers would kill me for this arti- cle, but kindly hold your horses and read on. On the other Procedures threaten hand, many men stay at home waiting long for their wives to return from beauty salons to put on the best makeup for them, to halt installment but shockingly meet them with silly questions such as: What loans for expats kept you so long? Don’t you have a husband or kids to tend to? You are too old to do that, aren’t you ashamed of yourself? What’s the difference? Nothing has changed after makeup - we KUWAIT: Supervisory instructions to the banking sec- only lost the money you spent on it. tor led to banks ceasing to grant expats installment Such questions are very disappointing for women and may loans up to KD 70,000, limiting their financial transac- drive some of them to shout back. Some other men know tions to car loans and some consumer needs, nothing about their houses and show no care for its needs. although there are no specific supervisory instructions They only care for their diwaniyas or ranches. So what do such in this regard. Instructions by the Central Bank set the husbands expect from their wives, who in most cases, keep maximum limit of consumer loans at 15 times the silent and patient only for the sake of the kids. salary, but should not exceed KD 15,000, and the total Finally, I would like to highlight that the holy Prophet VIVA visites Kuwait installments should not exceed 40 percent of the (PBUH) advised us to take very good care of women as they salary. Meanwhile, an installment loan may reach KD are very fragile creatures. He taught us that mutual under- 70,000 and has to be paid back in 15 years. standing is the base of marital relations and that it would be Sports Club for Deaf Banking sources said supervisory instructions and normal to have family disputes between couples and that this banking policies do not differentiate between citizens should not make husbands consider having second wives and expats, but “installment loans” are exclusively for because of some silly complaints like the ones the guys men- KUWAIT: VIVA, Kuwait’s fastest-growing and most devel- ble role in the community by spreading the spirit of good- private residences in Kuwait including constructing, tioned above. oped telecom operator, announced that its corporate ness amongst Kuwaiti society. We believe at VIVA in taking renovation and purchase, and cannot be used for trad- Dear fellowman - your first wife is the mother of your chil- team paid a visit to the Kuwait Sports Club for the Deaf in a holistic approach to our CSR activities, one that engages ing in residential real estate or development for invest- dren. You should treat her nicely, put up with her faults and Sulaibikhat area. Special offers and gifts were distributed our employees, and creates goodwill in our communities ment purposes. Banks used to grant installment loans change a little for her. The same applies for you, dear wives. and showcased among the club’s members. with a focus on helping to grow and develop the State of to expats and they used the amount as they liked with Take good care of your husbands and be like they wish. May VIVA’s presence at the Kuwait Sports Club For The Deaf Kuwait. a commitment to pay it back, and this was possible Almighty Allah bestow happiness on you all. When a woman reaffirms its continued commitment to the society VIVA’s Corporate Social Responsibility ‘CSR’ activities can because the client was not required to present any was asked about what she needs from a man, she said: I need through communication with various Kuwaiti institutions be reviewed on the company’s website at invoices or proof for the money was used for. But start- security rather than love, deeds rather than words, kindness and committees, promoting its products and services https://www.viva.com.kw/csr . This offers a description of ing from October, the customer had to submit invoic- rather than cruelty and a man rather than a male!” while meeting the clients’ needs and aspirations. each CSR initiative that VIVA has supported, or taken on es within six months, so some banks stopped granting — Translated by Kuwait Times VIVA is keen to continue its ongoing socially responsi- since its inception. installment loans to expats. — Al-Rai Cabinet unifies railway 340 nurseries project responsibility sue government KUWAIT: Chairman of the Road and Transportation Public KUWAIT: Following the Cabinet’s decision to transfer Authority Abdullatif Al-Dakheel stressed that the delay in supervision of private nurseries from the Ministry of the railway project was due to endless paperwork and hav- Social Affairs and Labor (MSAL) to the Ministry of ing to refer matters to various bodies. He added that, Education (MoE), a number of private nursery owners accordingly, the Cabinet decided solving the problem by vowed to file lawsuits against the Cabinet as they unifying the project’s responsibility with the road authori- deemed the decision as being against nurseries and ty. Dakheel added that the real problem facing the project their employees’ interests. The owners of 340 private was not the farms on its route, but signing contracts with nurseries added that they would go to court to sus- qualified companies. He also noted that Kuwait’s railway pend the Cabinet’s decision until a final one was would be connected to the GCC one by 2018. Further, issued by the court. “This decision will allow all private Dakheel added that the project would cost KD 1 billion schools to establish their own nurseries that will sure- and that the partnership authority had already signed a ly work as schools as well, which violates several contract with an international office to prepare the proj- rules,” stressed the owners. — Al-Anbaa ect’s documents pending inviting companies and contrac- tors to take part in the three-year project. — Al-Jarida New forgery case: Man receives Kuwaiti citizenship twice

KUWAIT: It may no longer be strange for filed a pedigree complaint to enable his ing Kuwaiti nationality, and got it while The Jaber Hospital someone to get Kuwaiti nationality in son to get Kuwaiti nationality, but a DNA waiting for the verdict of the personal exchange of money to become a citizen test failed him. status courts’ ruling, after another MoH mulls international with all advantages after being without The man did not give up and filed a Kuwaiti added him to his file, and by this a “nationality,” or become a Kuwaiti with complaint at the personal status court he became a Kuwaiti with a different the power of money and add this to that took many years to decide, until he name and different tribe, and this way admin at Jaber Hospital another to use the advantages of the received three rulings that the person he benefited from the full advantages of first one, that is be a dual citizen. who failed the DNA test was his son, the nationality through his “new person- Yet to become a Kuwaiti twice with after preparing foolproof documents ality”. KUWAIT: Well-informed sources said the health ministry is to run the hospital, that is yet to be handed over by MPW, the two different names and two identical and testimonies in exchange of money, Sources said Bahraini security author- considering a proposal made to have an international admin- same way Dasman Diabetes Research Center is run, by get- pictures with a beard as the only differ- and so the “fake” son received Kuwaiti ities detained the “fake Kuwaiti” after istration run the new Jaber Hospital in South Surra and sub- ting all medications from MoH and having an independent ence is a different issue and an unprece- nationality and benefited from its suspecting his identity because the birth ject it to a governmental body like the investment authority. administration,” explained the sources. dented one. The hero of the new inci- advantages. date on his ID could not be right due to The sources added that MoH committees have already Notably, MoH expects to gradually launch the hospital dent is a bedoon who sought to get The case, as discovered and followed changing it by at least 12 years, then reviewed similar experiences in Dubai and Qatar and that by mid-2017 and Minister Ali Al-Obaidi has spoken about nationality in the name of a Kuwaiti who up by the public funds crimes fighting found he was wanted to serve a five- such a procedure might ‘liberate’ the new hospital from the studying reserving the new hospital entirely for Kuwaitis. became notorious for selling nationali- department, said the person who failed years jail sentence, and was handed to bureaucracy found at public hospitals. “There is a tendency — Al-Jarida ties and claimed to be his son, so he the DNA test did not lose hope in gain- Kuwait authorities.

heavy oil tenders? many years, as it is considered one of the Interview with Kuwait Oil Hashim: KOC continues to develop the biggest fields not in Kuwait but at the conventional northern fields, and as said global level. Burgan field is characterized before, KOC is working on three main pro- by containing huge reserves and has a Company CEO Hashim Hashim grams to develop the fields in the north. large production capacity. It plays a basic As for the development of heavy oil, KOC role in achieving the strategic goal of KOC KUWAIT: The following are transcripts capital budget for 2016/2017, it is estimat- reservoirs that were considered to be at awarded the tender of developing the first to reach 3.65 million bpd by 2020. from an interview conducted with Kuwait ed at KD 1.7 million and it is part of the the start of their productive age then. stage which aims to build a production Oil Company CEO Hashim Hashim, which five-year capital plan which aims at raising capacity of 60,000 bpd in 2018/2019, and Question: Where have you reached was published by Al-Rai yesterday: KOC’s production capacity to 3.65 million Question: Do you have a certain there are several qualified companies and in new discoveries that you announced bpd in 2020. mechanism to qualify private compa- opportunities to cooperate with KOC. earlier? And when are they expected to Question: What are the operational nies to work in company projects? be included in production plans? and capital budgets of Kuwait Oil Question: What is the production Hashim: Yes, KOC has a mechanism to Hashim Hashim Question: How do you see the con- Hashim: Discovery programs aim at Company for 2016-2017? capacity of KOC? qualify private companies to work for dition of the major Burgan field follow- compensating for oil and gas production Hashim: We would like to explain that Hashim: The current production projects, and this mechanism was placed ital projects for the next five years is the operational and capital budgets are capacity of KOC is 3 million bpd, and the on the basis that guarantees the qualifica- around KD 17 billion, which includes proj- ing more than 80 years of production? and increase reserves. These programs still under approval. The operational company achieved this level in 2015. It tion of competent companies and con- ects under construction, projects that are And where is its production now, and also include seismic surveys that cover all budget for KOC in 2016/2017 is estimated should be noted that KOC reached this tractors. being awarded and future projects. what are the new projects to raise its Kuwait land and sea areas, as discovery at KD 1.68 million, and the budget was level in an experimentation phase in 2010, production? programs aim at discovering and devel- prepared based on an expected produc- and actual production in the ‘70s, but the Question: What is the cost of expect- Question: How far have you got in Hashim: First, we would like to con- oping nearly 700,000 bpd and one million tion capacity of 3.15 million bpd and actu- ‘70s production was of easy oil as it did ed budgets during the next five years? the northern fields? And what is the firm that Burgan field contains a strategic cu ft of gas daily by 2030 as part of the al production of 3 million bpd, As for the not have accompanying water and from Hashim: The budget of proposed cap- fate of qualified companies for the reserves that enable it to produce for 2030 strategy. — Al-Rai MONDAY, JANUARY 18, 2016 Security forces hunt surviving Burkina Trump treads among evangelicals for Christian votes hotel attackers Page 9 Page 10 Islamic State ‘brand’ spreading worldwide Jihadists rallying other groups under their banner PARIS: The Islamic State group may be losing recent months, claiming attacks or posing on ground in its strongholds of Iraq and Syria but the Internet with the group’s black flag. “There as the attack in Indonesia this month showed, are breakaway local militant groups seeking a the jihadists are rallying other groups under new identity who are joining IS,” Pakistan- their banner, analysts say. In most cases, these based analyst Hasan Askari said. groups have no direct contact with the leader- “The IS ideology already exists in Pakistan, ship of IS’s self-proclaimed caliphate, but the it is an extreme Salafi tradition and people are group is happy to claim responsibility for the now following them for a new identity, (even blood spilled in its name, the experts say. though) they might not have direct links with “From the start, Islamic State has vowed to the real IS leadership,” he said, referencing a take its fight globally, but until recently it has strict form of Islam. He said there was no evi- been focused on managing its caliphate in dence to suggest that the IS leadership had Iraq and Syria,” said Michael Kugelman, of the visited the groups in Pakistan and Woodrow Wilson Center in Washington. With Afghanistan, which are both strongholds of Al- the Iraqi army re-taking some of the territory Qaeda. the group had taken, IS “has re-dedicated Amedy Coulibaly, the French jihadist who attention to focusing on a more global killed four Jews in a kosher supermarket in approach”, he said. Paris in January 2015, pledged allegiance to IS, “The big question, after the Jakarta attacks but the investigation has so far found no evi- and all of these attacks around the world in dence that he had ever been in contact with recent months that have been claimed by ISIS the organization, apart from viewing its propa- is-are these militants only inspired by ISIS or ganda videos on the Internet. have they been directly managed by ISIS?” he said, using another name for the group. ‘This is new’ Kugelman, like all of the experts ques- Indonesian police investigating Thursday’s tioned by AFP, believes that IS is for now con- attack on a busy street in Jakarta lined with tent to take credit for the attacks, using the shopping malls, luxury hotels, and foreign “brand recognition” of its name that has embassies that left five assailants and three spread across the world, partly through social other people dead, have pointed the finger at media, without necessarily dedicating Katibah Nusantara, a militant unit of Malay- resources or manpower to these groups. speaking IS jihadists. Yet Kugelman said: “In “What you have here are disillusioned, Indonesia, I heard no indication before these alienated militants, who have been fighting attacks of any form of formal ISIS presence. SURABAYA: In this June 18, 2014, file photo, a man wears a headband showing the Islamic State group’s symbol during a protest calling with a different organization, who are interest- This is new.” for the closure of a local prostitution complex. Experts say it is difficult to know how much of a foothold the Islamic State group has ed in identifying themselves with a more IS has put on record its allegiance with established in Indonesia. — AP dynamic cause. And they see ISIS as a very extremist groups in eight countries-in Algeria, ment, which since 2009 has wreaked havoc as attacks,” said Peter Pham, of the Atlantic spreading into Libya, where affiliated groups dynamic cause — they are in the media all the Nigeria, Libya, Egypt, Saudi Arabia, Yemen, it seeks to impose Islamist rule in northern Council in Washington, suggesting that the IS have profited from the anarchy in that country time and commit spectacularly brutal attacks.” Afghanistan and Pakistan-and claims it has Nigeria. In May last year, IS accepted a pledge planners are having some influence. to take control, and to secure the considerable directed or inspired attacks in at least 17 coun- of allegiance from the group. Pham is worried by IS’s advance into the oil reserves in some areas. “We have to bear in ‘Seeking new identity’ tries, killing around 1,000 people. Security “For Boko Haram in Nigeria, there is no Sahel region of North Africa. Pummelled from mind that Sahel is a very permeable region, so That is why in Afghanistan and Pakistan services have long feared that IS will work with clear evidence of operational contacts, but the air by a US-led coalition and by Russian it’s really a concern for the continent,” Pham groups claiming to be IS have appeared in the equally bloodthirsty Boko Haram move- there has been a clear sophistication in its jets in Syria and Iraq, IS has been rapidly said. — AFP Japan marks 21st anniversary of deadly Kobe earthquake TOKYO: Japan yesterday marked the caster NHK at the pre-dawn memorial. eration? That’s an issue that the city that 21st anniversary of a devastating earth- Participants held a candlelight vigil and recovered from the disaster must face,” quake in the western city of Kobe that observed a moment of silence at the the Yomiuri editorial said. NHK echoed killed more than 6,400 people, as park, which served as an evacuation cen- the sentiment and said: “The city faces a bereaved families looked to keep memo- tre after the 1995 jolt. But over time, challenge of providing support to those ries of the victims alive. memories of the quake have faded in the who experienced the disaster while also An estimated 9,000 people gathered community. passing on the memories and lessons for an annual early-morning commemo- A total of 59 civic events were learned to the next generation.” Japan ration at a public park in the port city, planned this year for the anniversary, suffers about a fifth of the world’s most where a 7.2 magnitude quake hit at 5:46 roughly half as many as a year ago, when powerful tremors. am on January 17, 1995. It killed 6,434 the nation marked two decades since A 9.0 magnitude quake struck the people and leveled much of the city, the disaster, the Yomiuri Shimbun said in nation’s northern area in March 2011, forcing the quake-prone nation to con- its editorial. About 40 percent of Kobe’s triggering a huge tsunami that smashed duct major upgrades of its disaster pre- residents were either born after the into the country’s northeast coast, killing paredness. quake or moved to the city in the years around 16,000 people while some 2,600 “Sadness never heals. But everyone is following the disaster, according to the people remain missing. The disaster also doing his or her best to continue living,” top-selling daily. “How can the memories triggered the world’s worst nuclear an elderly woman told national broad- of that day be passed on to the next gen- emergency in a generation. — AFP

KOBE: This overhead photo shows candles indicating “Future 1.17” during a memorial service to mark the 21st anniversary of the “Great Hanshin Earthquake” at a park. — AFP Sri Lanka turns to social media to help with new constitution COLOMBO: Sri Lanka’s prime minister yesterday written proposals from the public for the new constitu- announced officials would use social media to seek tion. public opinion on a proposed new constitution aimed Wickremesinghe travelled to the former war-torn at preventing a return to ethnic war. Ranil zone of Jaffna in the north Friday to pledge to devolve Wickremesinghe said Sri Lanka will use social media to political power to minority Tamils. He has also promised help draft a new statute to devolve more powers to to prosecute both state forces and Tamil rebels accused minority Tamils and ensure unity after decades of war. of war crimes in the final stages of the island’s 37-year- “Sri Lanka could be the first country to get views old separatist war, in line with pledges to the UN Human expressed on social media (to contribute to) drafting a Rights Council last year. new constitution,” he said. “We want to seek the view Sri Lanka’s year-old government has begun drafting and opinions of young people. Participate in this a new constitution aimed at resolving the drawn-out process.” ethnic conflict which ended in 2009 and claimed Sites such as Facebook and Twitter played a key role 100,000 lives. The issue has been fraught, however, with in supporting Wickremesinghe’s election in August as hardline members of the Sinhalese majority opposing a well as during the January 2015 presidential election at federal system that would ensure more political power which he supported Maithripala Sirisena. for minority Tamils. Some minorities fear a “unitary” con- Since coming to power, the new government has set stitution would see them lose out while moderate up free wi-fi zones in many public places to encourage Tamils who want to remain in a single union have the use of web-based services. The government is open- pressed for greater power in areas where they are in the ing a new office in Colombo Monday to start receiving majority. — AFP MONDAY, JANUARY 18, 2016 INTERNATIONAL Jerusalem church hit by anti-Christian graffiti

JERUSALEM: Anti-Christian graffiti has occurred. It was previously hit in 2014, prominent suspected Jewish extremist been sprayed on a wall of a Jerusalem when furniture and wooden crosses attack recently was the July firebomb- abbey built where tradition says the were burned. ing of a Palestinian home in the West mother of Jesus died, police said yester- “This time it amounts to a real call to Bank that killed a toddler along with his day, in an incident similar to previous murder Christians,” said church mother and father. acts blamed on Jewish extremists. The spokesman Wadi Abu Nassar. Jewish On January 3, an Israeli court graffiti written in Hebrew on an outside extremists have targeted Palestinians, charged two suspected Jewish extrem- wall of the Dormition Abbey included Christians and even Israeli military ists over the firebombing, including the phrases such as “kill the pagans” and property in “price-tag” attacks-a term minor accused in the 2014 arson at the “death to the Christian unbelievers, ene- that indicates there is a price to be paid Dormition Abbey. Vatican efforts to mies of Israel”, a spokesman for the for moves against Jewish settlers. negotiate greater rights at the neigh- Catholic Church in the Holy Land said. Earlier this month, two Israelis, boring Upper Room, where the Last Police said the graffiti had been dis- including a minor, where charged over Supper is believed to have occurred, covered during a patrol and an investi- the 2014 incident at the Dormition have sparked opposition from national- gation had been opened. The Abbey as well as an arson attack at the ist and Orthodox Jews, who revere part Benedictine abbey is located on Mount Church of the Multiplication on the Sea of the building as the tomb of King Zion across from east Jerusalem’s Old of Galilee. That church is located where David. Pope Francis celebrated a mass JERUSALEM: Father Nikodemus Schnabel spokesperson of the Dormition City and next to the site where Christians believe Jesus performed the at the Upper Room during a visit in Abbey points towards anti-Christian graffiti in Hebrew, daubed on the Church Christians believe Jesus’s Last Supper miracle of loaves and fishes. The most 2014. — AFP of the Dormition, one of Jerusalem’s leading pilgrimage sites. — AFP Nuclear deal will intensify Iranian US Senate to take up bill for infighting but relax foreign policy more Arab refugee scrutiny WASHINGTON: The Senate will consider new surged and their confidence in the govern- rigorous screening procedures for Syrian and ment’s ability to defeat IS and other extremist Restoring ties with ‘Great Satan’ not on agenda Iraqi refugees seeking to enter the United groups has plummeted, according to a nation- States as national security looms large for vot- al survey conducted in December by the Pew ANKARA: Iran’s success in winning an end to inter- ers in an election year. Propelled by the Islamic Research Center. “I think there’s a sense we national sanctions will only intensify a power strug- State group’s attacks in Paris, the GOP-backed need to do everything we can to demonstrate gle among the faction-ridden elite, and President legislation raced through the House last we take seriously the responsibility to protect Hassan Rouhani cannot count on domestic political November with 289 votes. That veto-proof mar- the country,” Republican Sen. John Thune of support from the supreme leader before two critical gin included 47 Democrats despite the Obama South Dakota, a member of the GOP leader- elections. However, Tehran’s leadership has now administration’s opposition to the measure. ship, said last week at a party retreat in decided on a less confrontational foreign policy The legislation will have a much harder time Baltimore. than in the past, although a restoration of full ties making it through the Senate in the week with the “Great Satan” - the United States - remains ahead. Majority Leader Mitch McConnell, R-Ky., A promise to veto out of the question, officials say. needs at least six Democrats to join all 54 The White House said Obama would veto The scrapping of most US, European Union and Republicans to approve a motion clearing the the House bill. The legislation “would provide United Nations sanctions on Saturday under a bill for final passage in the 100-member cham- no meaningful additional security for the nuclear deal with six major powers should strength- ber. The Senate’s top Democrat, Harry Reid of American people,” it said in a Nov. 18 state- en both the economy and Shi’ite Iran’s hand in a Nevada, said last year that was not going to ment. Refugees of all nationalities, including Mideast region torn by sectarian strife. Rouhani, a happen. Even if it did, President Barack Obama Syrians and Iraqis, already face a demanding pragmatist whose 2013 election cleared the way for has pledged to veto the bill if it got to him. screening process, and the legislation “would the thaw in relations with the outside world, owes The upshot may be more of the same on unacceptably hamper our efforts to assist his success to Iran’s top authority: Supreme Leader Capitol Hill: A war of words, with Republicans some of the most vulnerable people in the Ayatollah Ali Khamenei endorsed the nuclear blasting Obama for failing to do what they see world,” the statement said. The White House agreement, overriding hardliners who oppose deal- as necessary to secure the United States and said more than 2,100 Syrian refugees have ing with Washington. Democrats accusing the GOP of fear monger- been admitted to the United States since 2001 “Every move by the government was approved ing to score points with voters. Some of the key and not one has been arrested or deported on by the leader. The leader protected us against hard- points to know about the Syrian-Iraqi refugee terrorism-related grounds. liners’ pressure,” said a senior Iranian official, legislation: After the House passed the bill Nov. 19, involved in the talks with the six powers which led Reid predicted it would die in the Senate. to Tehran curbing its nuclear program in return for What the house bill does “Don’t worry, it won’t get passed,” Reid told an end to the sanctions crippling its economy. But TEHRAN: Iranian President Hassan Rouhani speaks during a press conference yes- terday in the capital after international sanctions on Iran were lifted — AFP IS controls territory in Syria and Iraq. As a reporters. A final decision on how the hardliners, wary of Rouhani’s growing influence and result of the extremists’ harsh, uncompromis- Democrats will proceed is expected on popularity, have already taken off the gloves to dis- ing rule, people in those areas have tried to Wednesday at their weekly caucus meeting. Khamenei controls the judiciary, the security forces, after detaining them aboard their two patrol boats play the limits of the president’s power at home flee and make it to the United States. The Without support from Democrats, the math public broadcasters and foundations that control in the Gulf. “It was a decision made by Iran’s top where they oppose any political liberalization. House-passed American Security Against doesn’t work for McConnell. He needs a half- much of the economy. authorities. It shows that there is a consensus over They fear that voters, hopeful living standards Foreign Enemies Act is rooted in concerns the dozen Democrats to pass a motion to proceed The hardliners are likely to resort to a tactic they foreign policy among our decision-makers,” said a can rise with the end of sanctions, will reward pro- current process of screening refugee is inade- and eventually allow a vote on the legislation. have successfully adopted in the past: finding senior security official. Rouhani candidates in elections next month to par- quate and could allow a terrorist to be admit- Thirteen more Democrats would be needed to grounds to disqualify pro-Rouhani candidates. “I Similarly hardline and pro-Rouhani authorities liament and the Assembly of Experts, a clerical ted into the United States. reach a veto-proof tally. Despite Reid’s opti- expect stormy days before the elections. Pressure alike have condemned the storming of Riyadh’s body with nominal power over the supreme leader. The legislation would order FBI background mism, the House vote demonstrated that will mount on Rouhani and his allies, including embassy in Tehran early this month by protesters “Rouhani has gained even more popularity com- checks for Syrian and Iraqi refugees and opposing the legislation can be dicey for moderates’ mass disqualifications,” said political reacting to the execution of Shiite Sheikh Nimr Al- pared to 2013 because of his nuclear success. This require that the FBI, Homeland Security Democrats facing tight 2016 elections. Before analyst Saeed Leylaz. Nimr, an outspoken opponent of the ruling Al Saudi will help his allies greatly to win a majority in the Department and the director of National the House vote, White House aides went to the Hardliners have stepped up their calls to sup- family. Dozens were arrested, according to state elections,” said another senior official. “People know Intelligence certify that each refugee is not a Capitol to win over Democrats. Rep. Sean press dissenting voices since September, when media. that Rouhani’s policy ended Iran’s isolation and security threat. The bill’s requirements would Patrick Maloney, D-NY, told them, in a forceful Khamenei warned of “infiltration” by Iran’s enemies. “Iran has already adopted a moderate foreign their economic hardship. He is their hero.” effectively suspend admissions of Syrian and exchange, that voting “no” could hurt They may also target political campaigners and policy. Even the hostility with the US has trans- The elections to the Assembly of Experts are Iraqi refugees. Democrats at the polls. reporters sympathetic to the president. “They will formed to a controlled one,” said Leylaz. “We wit- likely to be crucial in determining the future path of Republicans pointed to the arrest this Sen Jack Reed, D-RI said other steps should compensate for Rouhani’s victory by more arrests of nessed it during the sailors’ capture and the Saudi Iran, the top Shiite Muslim power which plans to month of two Iraqi refugees with suspected include addressing illegal immigration more activists and more journalists will be summoned by embassy storming.” With Rouhani willing to pour large amounts of crude oil on to the global links to terrorism as one more example of the broadly and barring the sale of guns to people the courts,” said a pro-reform journalist, who asked improve ties with the United States, Tehran and market now that the sanctions are gone. Khamenei flawed vetting system. Over the past few on federal terrorism watch lists - a move the not to be named for security reasons. Washington will continue to cooperate on the underwent prostate surgery in 2014 and should the months, voters’ concerns about terrorism have Senate recently rejected. — AP 76-year-old supreme leader be unable to continue Opposition leaders Mirhossein Moussavi and regional crisis including the rise of Islamic State, through illness, the Assembly would have to select Mehdi Karoubi remain under house arrest following often known to its enemies by the Arabic name of his successor. street protests against what activists say was a Daesh. rigged presidential election in 2009. Rights groups “Iran and America need to work together in the Leaders at loggerheads and the United Nations have accused Iran of region ... the taboo is broken and this channel of Rouhani’s growing clout could put him at log- severely restricting freedom of expression, religion communication will remain open between the two gerheads with Khamenei, and any change in the and the media as well criticizing its high number of countries,” said the second senior official. Tehran balance of Iran’s complex power structure might executions. Some analysts say Rouhani, who repre- and Washington cut ties shortly after Iran’s 1979 force the supreme leader to cut the president’s sented Khamenei at the Supreme National Security Islamic revolution and radical students stormed the domestic claws. Council for over two decades, lacks the will to resist US embassy in Tehran, taking 52 Americans hostage “Rouhani’s political power will increase because hardliners’ pressure preventing the kind of social for 444 days. of economic advances and this balance will be reforms that many young Iranians demand. The official made clear there were limits to the restored by more domestic pressure,” said political Rouhani has occasionally criticized the crackdown rapprochement between Iran and the United analyst Hamid Farahvashian. “Without Khamenei’s but has done little to stop it. States. “They have common interests and enemies blessing, Rouhani cannot confront his rivals.” ... Iran’s fight against Daesh in Iraq and Syria is a Khamenei - who took over in 1989 from Ayatollah Foreign policy moderation clear example of it.” However, the official added: Ruhollah Khomeini, the founder of the Islamic Iran’s internal struggle is unlikely to be fought “Full restoration of ties will not happen.” The elite Republic - has always made sure that no group, out over foreign policy, where the leadership Revolutionary Guards and its affiliated Basij militia including among his own hardline allies, gains appears to have agreed on a less confrontational forces have been leading Iran’s effort against Islamic enough power to challenge his authority. line. Its decision to release five Americans, including State in Iraq and Syria. “In his public speeches and “On the nuclear issue, Rouhani and Khamenei a Washington Post reporter, a few hours before the in private meetings with the government officials, are in the same boat. But Khamenei will back hard- lifting of sanctions displayed this change of Khamenei has made it very clear that the US was liners in their political disputes against moderates,” approach. and will remain Iran’s foe,” said Farahvashian. Under WASHINGTON: In this Sept 16, 2015 file photo, Senate Majority Leader Sen Mitch said a former official. As well as the Guardian Tehran also swiftly ended an incident on Iran’s constitution, Khamenei, and not Rouhani, has McConnell of Ky, (center) accompanied by Sen John Thune, R-SD (left) and Sen Roy Council, which vets laws and election candidates, Wednesday when it freed 10 US Navy sailors a day the last say on all state matters. — Reuters Blunt, R-Mo speaks during a news conference on Capitol Hill. — AP IS abducts over 400 in Syria after assault Pakistan PM to visit Saudi BEIRUT: Jihadists from the Islamic northwest. members of the Sunni Shaitat tribe civilians, it says. More than 3,700 IS and Iran ‘to ease tension’ State group have abducted more The monitor said at least 42 IS in Deir Ezzor province after they jihadists have also been killed in than 400 Syrian civilians after cap- fighters had been killed in the opposed the jihadists. And in US-led coalition strikes that began turing new ground in a major attack, adding that fighting was August 2014, the group massacred in Syria in September 2014. ISLAMABAD: Pakistan Prime Minister between the two countries,” a third assault on the city of Deir Ezzor ongoing yesterday, with regime some 200 Syrian soldiers when it Yesterday, the Observatory said Nawaz Sharif will lead a high-level government official told AFP, request- that left dozens dead. The shock forces backed by Russian air strikes overran the Tabqa military base in 40 civilians including eight chil- delegation to Saudi Arabia and Iran ing anonymity. Sunni Muslim Saudi attack comes despite a Russian air trying to recapture lost ground. Raqa province. dren had been killed in strikes on this week to try to ease tension Arabia and Shiite Iran are already campaign targeting the group that Syria’s state news agency SANA The jihadists have also carried the IS bastion of Raqa city. The between the Muslim countries, a min- fighting a proxy war in Yemen and began in September, and more said at least 300 civilians, “most of out mass abductions before, seiz- monitor said it was unclear if the ister said yesterday. Information min- support opposing sides in the Syrian than a year of strikes by a US-led them women, children and elderly ing more than 200 civilians from strikes were carried out by regime ister Pervez Rashid told AFP Sharif conflict. But tensions have reached coalition against the jihadists in people,” had been killed in the central Homs province in August or Russian planes. In recent would travel to Riyadh today and new heights in the past two weeks. Syria. assault. It denounced the deaths 2014, and at least 220 Assyrian months, IS has come under pres- Tehran on tomorrow and would meet Saudi Arabia and a number of its The Britain-based Syrian as a “massacre”. Christians from villages in the sure particularly from Kurdish Saudi King Salman bin Abdulaziz and Sunni Arab allies cut diplomatic ties Observatory for Human Rights said northeast of the country months fighters backed by US strikes, and Iranian President Hassan Rouhani. with Iran after protesters angry at IS had killed at least 135 people in History of mass murders earlier. more recently regime forces sup- Foreign ministry spokesman Qazi Riyadh’s execution of a prominent the multi-front attack that began The IS assault puts the group Some of those abducted in ported by Russian air raids. Khalilullah said Sharif would Shiite cleric on January 2 sacked its on Saturday. The dead included 85 in control of around 60 percent of those incidents have been freed in On Saturday, at least 16 IS fight- exchange views on regional and inter- embassy in Tehran. Local media said civilians and 50 regime fighters, Deir Ezzor city, which is capital of small batches, in some cases ers were killed in a failed attack on national issues and try to reduce ten- Pakistan’s powerful army chief according to the monitor, which the surrounding province of the reportedly in exchange for ran- a government position in Aleppo sion between the two countries. General Raheel Sharif would accom- said yesterday that IS had also kid- same name, an oil-rich region that soms. The assault came despite a province, where loyalist troops “Pakistan is deeply concerned at the pany Premier Sharif. Pakistan is a napped more than 400 civilians borders Iraq. The jihadist group Russian air campaign that began and pro-regime fighters have been recent escalation of tensions between majority Sunni country but 20 percent from captured territory. already controls most of the in September in support of the advancing towards the group’s the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and the of the population is Shiite. Its decision “Those abducted, all of whom province, but regime forces have government, which Moscow says stronghold of Al-Bab. Regime Islamic Republic of Iran,” the this month to join Saudi Arabia’s 34- are Sunnis, include women, chil- clung onto part of the city and a targets IS and other “terrorist” forces are now within 10 kilome- spokesman said in a statement. country coalition against extremism dren and family members of pro- neighboring air base despite groups. ters of Al-Bab, and are seeking to He said the prime minister has sparked a domestic protest by the regime fighters,” Observatory repeated IS attacks. sever IS-held territory in Aleppo called for the peaceful settlement of main opposition parties, who called chief Rami Abdel Rahman said. If confirmed, the death toll in IS under pressure province from that held by the differences in the larger interests of for negotiations between Riyadh and He said they had been taken to the assault would be one of the The Russian strikes have so far group in neighboring Raqa. More Muslim unity. “The purpose of the visit Tehran and put Islamabad under pres- areas under IS control in the west highest in a single attack by IS, killed at least 808 IS fighters, than 260,000 people have been is to mediate and to end the standoff sure to mediate. — AFP of Deir Ezzor province and to the though the jihadists have carried according to the Observatory, killed in Syria since the conflict border with Raqa province-the out mass murders before. In 2014, though they have also killed mod- began in March 2011 with anti- main IS stronghold in Syria-to the its fighters killed hundreds of erate and Islamist fighters and government protests. — AFP INTERNATIONAL MONDAY, JANUARY 18, 2016 Czech leader: EU Muslims ‘impossible to integrate’

PRAGUE: Czech President Milos said in a televised interview. Ukrainian communities had been able uses money from several states to in 2015, most of them refugees fleeing Zeman, known for his fiery anti- “Let them have their culture in their to integrate into Czech society. finance it in a bid to “gradually control war and violence in Afghanistan, Iraq migrant comments, said yesterday that countries and not take it to Europe, Zeman, a 71-year-old left winger Europe”. and Syria, according to the United it was almost impossible to integrate otherwise it will end up like Cologne,” and the first-ever directly elected pres- Late last year, Zeman called the Nations refugee agency. But few asy- the Muslim community into European he added, referring to the mass New ident of the Czech Republic, has surge in refugee numbers “an organ- lum seekers have chosen to stay in the society. “The experience of Western Year’s Eve assaults on women in repeatedly spoken out against the ized invasion,” urging young men from largely secular Czech Republic, an EU European countries which have ghet- Germany and elsewhere. “Integration surge of migrant and refugee arrivals Iraq and Syria to “take up arms” and NATO member of 10.5 million tos and excluded localities shows that is possible with cultures that are simi- in Europe. Earlier this month, Zeman against the Islamic State (IS) group people, with the majority heading to the integration of the Muslim commu- lar, and the similarities may vary,” claimed the influx was masterminded instead of running away. More than wealthier Germany and other western nity is practically impossible,” Zeman pointing out that the Vietnamese and by Egypt’s Muslim Brotherhood which one million migrants reached Europe EU states. —AFP Prisoner release helps Obama blunt criticism

WASHINGTON: The surprise release of five in front of the cameras. The White House Americans held in Iran has helped a vulner- and its allies gamely pointed to the sailors’ able President Barack Obama put his politi- quick release as evidence that diplomacy is cal foes on the back foot. On a day when working. the White House took the politically It was an argument they reprised upon unpopular step of unfreezing up to $100 news that five more Americans would be billion dollars in Iranian assets, the adminis- released. “For all the bluster and bombast tration pulled an ace from its sleeve. fashionable in some quarters, today’s After 14 months of stop-start secret events underscore how important-and talks between senior Iranian and US offi- under-appreciated-diplomacy is,” said cials, Tehran announced the release of four David Axelrod, a long-time Obama advisor. Americans in exchange for seven Iranians Democratic presidential hopeful Martin being released in the United States. A fifth O’Malley sent his own “memo” to American, identified as Matthew Trevitick, Republican candidates. “Diplomacy beats was also released as a separate but “associ- carpet bombing,” he said. ated goodwill gesture.” A senior US admin- istration official said the timing of the two ‘Problematic aspects’ developments was coincidental. The Republicans responded to the prisoner swapped group included Americans Jason release with slightly more tempered criti- Rezaian, a Washington Post journalist, and cism than had been seen in recent days. Saeed Abedini, a Christian pastor from “We don’t know the details of the deal that Idaho. is bringing them home. It may well be that there are some very problematic aspects to Republican air horns this deal,” said Cruz, referencing Abedini by Both men have become causes celebres name. Florida Senator Marco Rubio said he for Republicans who oppose Obama’s strat- was happy for the families of the captives, egy of engagement with Iran. When a deal but accused the Obama administration of was reached last summer to significantly “incentivizing” the detention of Americans SOUTH CAROLINA: Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump speaks at the South Carolina Tea Party Convention, Saturday, Jan. 16, scale back Iran’s nuclear program in return by agreeing to a swap of seven Iranians 2016, at the Springmaid Beach Resort in Myrtle Beach. — AP for sanctions relief, Obama was pilloried for imprisoned in the United States. leaving Rezaian and others languishing. “It tells us all we need to know about Republican hopeful Ted Cruz - a Christian the Iranian regime, that they take people Trump treads among evangelicals conservative has long demanded Abedini’s hostage in order to gain concessions and release as one precondition for talking to the fact that they can get away with it with Tehran. In a sign of how successful this administration,” he said. “I think this in search for holy Christian votes Republican criticism has been, ahead of created an incentive for more governments “implementation day” much of the focus to do this around the world.” Republican was on sanctions and Iran’s return to the frontrunner Donald Trump, who has long Real estate mogul can’t recite single Bible verse global economy. portrayed himself as a master negotiator, WASHINGTON: Manhattan billionaire Donald stressed his own faith as he stepped up efforts to for president. This strategy to play offense is Critics argued that the windfall would questioned whether it was a good deal. Trump, a pro-abortion Republican until recently, reach out to this critical Republican voter group. already paying dividends. be used by Tehran to fund militants like With both Iranians and Americans heading appears to have little in common with evangeli- “I am an evangelical. I’m a Christian. I’m a An early January NBC News/SurveyMonkey Hezbollah or Yemen’s Houthi rebels. Less to the polls this year, it may be too early for cal Christians. But he is increasingly gaining their Presbyterian,” he said last month. And when poll gave Trump 35 percent support among noted was a report from international either side to declare victory. support as he openly courts this key voting bloc. asked recently about his favorite book, Trump evangelicals, just behind Cruz but well ahead of inspectors, also on Saturday, that precipi- According to Richard Nephew, a former Just two weeks out from the Iowa caucuses, simply responded: “the Bible.” But the real estate retired neurosurgeon Ben Carson, a Seventh Day tated sanctions relief. The IAEA reported US diplomat who negotiated with Iran, Trump will speak today at Liberty University, a mogul can’t name a single verse. Winning over Adventist. Trump is taking advantage of the lack that Iran, after decades of massive invest- hardliners on both sides will be trying to private school in Lynchburg, Virginia and an the evangelical voting bloc could set Trump on a of unity among evangelicals, whose leaders have ment, had hobbled its own nuclear pro- “demonstrate that they remain ‘tough’ on evangelical bastion. The visit coincides with a path to become the Republican Party’s presiden- been unable to publicly choose a candidate gram. Republican attacks on Obama’s poli- their adversaries in the other capital and to holiday commemorating civil rights leader tial nominee. among a crowded Republican field that also cy of engagement had intensified this appease their domestic hardliners.” At the Martin Luther King. Speaking at the university includes Florida Senator Marco Rubio and ex- week as 10 American sailors were detained same time there are multiple points of pos- has been a rite of passage for conservative presi- Ready to say anything pastor Mike Huckabee. in the Gulf by Iran’s hardline Revolutionary sible friction between Tehran and dential candidates from Ronald Reagan in the About 70 percent of Americans describe The evangelical voter base feels forgotten by Guard Navy, but not before being paraded Washington. —AFP 1980’s to Ted Cruz, Trump’s main Republican rival, themselves as Christian, and among Christians national leaders in Washington and is attracted who launched his campaign there in March. Cruz, one in four say they are evangelical Protestants, by anti-establishment candidates like Cruz and a Texas senator whose father is a Cuban-born according to a Pew Research Center study on reli- Trump. Trump has an especially high anti-estab- evangelical preacher, already enjoys strong sup- gion. “It’s quite mandatory for a Republican to lishment ranking as he has never served in any port from the evangelical community. get the support of the evangelicals,” said Baylor public office or in the military. Trump and Cruz are locked in a tight race in University professor Lydia Bean, author of “The Cruz may have fought the Republican estab- Iowa, which on February 1 becomes the first Politics of Evangelical Identity.” lishment but he remains a US senator-in other state to vote for party nominees. News that Trump, she said, “has absolutely no argu- words, a much-criticized Washington politician. Trump, known more for womanizing, an extrava- ments. That’s what is interesting.” The reality TV Trump’s anti-Muslim diatribes find resonance gant lifestyle and bombastic rhetoric than for star “has zero claim to be a Christian leader, among evangelicals, a group that according to piety, will speak on campus triggered threats of absolutely zero. Behind the scene, I think that a the Pew Research Center has the least favorable student protests. Evangelical voters typically sup- lot of leaders don’t want to support him, they’d opinion of Muslims in the United States. port candidates that are conservative on social rather prefer Ted Cruz,” she said. “That’s why he “It’s an advantage” for Trump, Bean said. issues, an area of weakness for Trump. has to attack. Donald Trump doesn’t care, he can “Unfortunately, for most of the evangelicals, According to polls, nearly two-thirds of evan- literally say anything to get what he wants.” attacking Muslims is the moral thing to do and it gelical Republicans say a candidate’s position on Trump is ready to battle Cruz on his own turf, is a very good point for him. So yes, we can imag- abortion is the most important issue driving their and is not shy about launching personal attacks. ine that he will give some new comments on voting decision. But Trump, 69, who during his In late December, Trump proclaimed: “Not a lot of that.” And if evangelical leaders don’t necessarily political life has been a Democrat and an inde- evangelicals come out of Cuba,” a thinly veiled want him to represent Republicans come the pendent, is only a recent convert to the “pro-life” attack on Cruz and his father, Rafael Cruz. Trump November general election, many “are afraid to anti-abortion position prevalent among evangel- has also questioned whether Cruz, who was born attack Donald Trump because he’s popular with ical Christians. In recent weeks Trump has to an American mother in Canada, can even run the base,” Bean added. — AFP

WASHINGTON: US Secretary of State John Kerry pauses while speaking to journal- Nanny nightmare: ists about his negotiations with Iran upon his arrival from Vienna at Joint Base Andrews. —AP Chinese pair in court over brutal murders PARIS: It started with a nannying job and ended with the par- ents chopped up in the bathtub: A Chinese couple go on trial in France Tuesday for a double murder worthy of a film plot. The baffling case first came to light in June 2012 when two women jogging in the Vincennes forest east of Paris stumbled upon a human leg “cut off at the ankle”, according to a judicial source. Two days later, a dog dug up part of a human torso. Efforts to find the rest of the bodies were in vain, and all investigators could determine was that the body parts belonged to an Asian woman and man. The discovery of the remains in the popular park came at the same time as Luka Rocco Magnotta, a Canadian convicted of killing and dismem- bering a Chinese student, was reported to have fled to Paris. In an unusual twist, a Chinese couple turned themselves in to police just over a week after the macabre discovery, and admitted killing another Chinese couple, Ying Wang and her husband Liangsi Xu. The woman, Hui Zhang, said she had been the couple’s nanny. She told police how one night several weeks earlier, she had found their two-year-old son Lucas dead, asphyxiated in his sleep. She and her partner Te Lu decided to offer the child’s parents money to try to get them not to report the boy’s death. They invited the parents to their home, but said their plans quickly went awry faced with the fury of the grieving couple. A fight broke out and the nanny said she grabbed a small axe and slashed at the couple, who eventually fell to the floor, dead. Hui Zhang and Te Lu argue their actions were self- defense, saying the parents had attacked them with a butch- er’s knife. Te Lu was seriously injured in the fight. Hui Zhang said she put the two bodies in the bathtub and cut them up with an electric saw, putting the washing machine on to hide any noise. Then she and her partner got rid of the body parts, hidden in dustbin bags, and carefully cleaned the apartment. The couple’s confession led police to find further human remains in a dustbin bag in the forest, but not the body of the child, Lucas. Hui Zhang said she threw his body, as well as the rest of the remains, into dustbins. The couple-both aged 34 — arrived in France in 2004. Psychological experts say Te Hu had no criminal leanings and Hui Zhang was “extremely intelli- gent” and dominated her husband.— AFP INTERNATIONAL MONDAY, JANUARY 18, 2016

Pakistan arrests imam after boy cuts hand off in blasphemy error

ISLAMABAD: Pakistani police have anyone did not love the Prophet After returning home, the boy cut his should not be allowed to deliver speech- Islam in the majority Muslim country. The arrested the imam of a mosque for incit- Mohammad (PBUH). hand off, an act welcomed by the boy’s es. His arrest is under the National law does not define blasphemy but stip- ing violence after a 15-year old boy who Mishearing the question, the 15-year father who told police he was proud of Action Plan that hate speeches inciting ulates that the penalty is death, although was told by the cleric that he was a blas- old boy raised his hand. Ahmed quickly his son and did not want the cleric violence are no longer allowed in this a death sentence has never been carried phemer went home and cut off his own singled him out and called him a “blas- arrested. Police filed anti-terrorism country,” Ali said. out. Human rights activists say accusa- hand. Shabbir Ahmed was delivering a phemer” in front of the congregation, charges against Ahmed and arrested Blasphemy is a highly controversial tions of blasphemy are sky rocketing sermon at a village in the east of Punjab Nosher Ali, the head of the local police him on Saturday, police chief Ali said. issue in Pakistan, and angry mobs have because the law is often abused to settle province when he asked the gathering if station, told Reuters yesterday. “Such illiterate imams of mosques killed many people accused of insulting personal grudges.—Reuters Jakarta attack toll rises to 8: Police

JAKARTA: The death toll in the Jakarta police spokesman Muhammad Iqbal told extremist attack has risen to eight, includ- AFP, confirming the latest death. He named ing four civilian victims and four militants, him as Rais Karna, 37, an Indonesian who after a wounded Indonesian bystander worked at a nearby bank and who died died overnight, police said yesterday. Police from severe gunshot wounds to the head. had earlier put the toll of victims from The fourth victim, who was initially Thursday’s assault at two, but raised it with thought to be an attacker, was identified as the latest death and confirmation that an Sugito. Many Indonesians go by a single Indonesian man originally suspected of name. Police previously confirmed a being a militant was actually a civilian. Canadian citizen was among the dead. All The coordinated bomb and gun attack the others were Indonesian. Authorities in along the capital’s central thoroughfare has Southeast Asian countries with significant been claimed by the Islamic State (IS) Muslim populations say hundreds of their group. Indonesian authorities blame it on citizens have gone to join the IS jihad in an IS faction made up primarily of Malay- the Middle East, and have repeatedly speaking Indonesians and Malaysians warned that extremist violence could involved in the extremist group’s ruthless boomerang back home. Indonesia is the fight for a self-proclaimed caliphate in Syria world’s most populous Muslim-majority and Iraq. country. Police said Saturday they had The Jakarta attack also left two dozen arrested 12 people in raids across people injured-including some foreigners- Indonesia, including a man they believe several of them in serious condition. handled financing for the Jakarta attacks, “Another victim who was in a coma since money that authorities allege came from the beginning died last night,” Jakarta the Islamic State group. —AFP

Merkel’s migrant issues flare but chancellor stands firm

BERLIN: Chancellor Angela Merkel’s tic critics over recent months - renewed OUAGADOUGOU: A policeman stands guard in front of the Splendid hotel yesterday following a jihadist attack by Al-Qaeda linked gunmen late migrant troubles have reignited in the New their drive for tougher border controls and on January 15. —AFP Year but the German leader is sticking to for a cap. The party’s leader, governor Horst her guns, insisting her country will manage Seehofer, suggested an annual figure of the challenge and that diplomacy can 200,000 asylum-seekers, and grumbling Security forces hunt down possible bring solutions. Germany registered nearly has resurfaced in Merkel’s own party. 1.1 million asylum-seekers last year, and Yet Merkel isn’t budging and won’t say 2,000 to 3,000 are still arriving daily even in by when she aims to get the numbers surviving Burkina hotel attackers mid-winter. down.”It wouldn’t be right to name the A surge of robberies and sexual assaults exact day,” she said. “We are working at on New Year’s Eve in Cologne - and the fact high pressure on a sustainable reduction.” Regional jihadists expanding in West Africa that some of the suspects were asylum- Her finance minister, Wolfgang Schaeuble, seekers - have highlighted the difficulty of said Europe has only “finite” time to secure integrating so many newcomers. With pres- its external borders but wouldn’t give a OUAGADOUGOU: Security forces were hunting by French Special Forces, battle militants who ing the onslaught, which echoed another Al- sure mounting for the government to man- date. The daily Sueddeutsche Zeitung yesterday for any possible surviving gunmen stormed the four-star Splendid Hotel, which is Qaeda attack last year on a luxury hotel in neigh- age the influx, Merkel’s Bavarian allies are argued in an editorial that if things don’t from an attack on a top hotel in Burkina Faso that popular with foreigners and United Nations staff. boring Mali where 20 people were killed, mostly once again pushing for a cap on asylum- change by midyear, Merkel will have to left at least 29 people dead and showed the At least 13 foreigners are among the dead, foreigners. seekers. declare a partial, temporary halt to admit- expanding reach of regional jihadists in West according to a government toll. Burkina Faso has Al-Qaeda in the Islamic Maghreb (AQIM) Public opinion toward refugees has ting migrants. Africa. The drama saw Burkinabe troops, backed declared three days of national mourning follow- claimed the latest attack on behalf of an affiliate, been souring for months in Germany, The first electoral test since the refugee saying the gunmen were from the Al-Murabitoun although polls suggest political support for crisis escalated last summer comes on group of notorious one-eyed Algerian extremist Merkel’s conservatives is down only slight- March 13. In principle, there’s much to gain Mokhtar Belmokhtar. It is still not clear how many ly. While Germany doesn’t hold a national for Merkel’s party in three state elections. It Suicide bomber kills 14 attackers took part in the onslaught-the bodies election until late 2017, smaller votes this aims to win back a traditional stronghold, of three have been identified, but some witness- year - starting with three state elections in the southwestern state of Baden- in eastern Afghan city es reported seeing more. March - will offer a test of the mood. Wuerttemberg, after five years under a lib- Burkina Faso’s Interior Minister Simon “The events of New Year’s Eve have eral government. In neighboring KABUL: A suicide bomber targeting a gather- An attack last week on the Pakistani con- Compaore said search security forces were carry- again shone a spotlight on the challenges Rhineland-Palatinate, it hopes to end the ing in a volatile eastern province of Afghanistan sulate in Jalalabad, which is close to Shinwari’s ing out careful searches, while at the scene of the we face, made them clear from a new side center-left Social Democrats’ 25 years at the killed 14 people, including seven members of a home, was claimed by the IS affiliate, which attack a security cordon was widened yesterday. we had not viewed so far,” Merkel acknowl- helm; and in eastern Saxony-Anhalt, it looks prominent pro-government clan, Afghan offi- refers to itself as Khorasan Province and was Investigators wearing white protective gloves edged. Within days, her government pro- well-placed to keep the governor’s office. cials said. Another 14 people were wounded in recently listed as a terror group by the US gov- were seen in the streets around the Splendid and posed legislation to make it easier to Still, lackluster conservative results or a the attack on the home of Obaidullah Shinwari, ernment. Ghani condemned the attack, saying the Cappuccino cafe, which was also attacked. deport criminal foreigners. strong performance by the upstart a scion of the clan and member of the in a statement that as “terrorists lose their abil- “People are afraid. Anyone who’s not afraid isn’t On the refugee influx itself, however, Alternative for Germany party could Nangarhar provincial council who was not ity to fight Afghan forces on the battlefield, normal-this is guys with guns,” said Souleymane Merkel is standing firm - sticking to her increase the pressure on Merkel. harmed in the attack, the officials said. now they are carrying out terror attacks on Ouedraogo, who lives near the scene of the vio- much-criticized mantra that “we will man- Alternative for Germany appeared to be The attack came a day before a second residential areas.” lence. age it.” The woman chosen as Time’s person fading last summer after its founding round of international talks aimed at reviving Representatives of Afghanistan, Pakistan, of the year insists that the solution is not to leader was ousted amid a switch from a the peace process between the Afghan gov- the United States and China are due to meet Violence spreading unilaterally close borders, but to work with euro-skeptic to an anti-immigration stance. ernment and the Taleban. No one immediately in Kabul on Monday for the second time this Until recently Burkina Faso had largely reluctant European partners, Turkey and It has since been bolstered by the huge claimed responsibility for the attack. A Taleban month to formulate a roadmap for peace talks escaped the tide of Islamist violence spreading in others to secure Europe’s frontiers and migrant influx. spokesman tweeted that his group was not between Kabul and the Taleban. The Taleban the restive Sahel region and the hotel assault will share the burden of hosting refugees. That involved. The head of the council, Ahmad Ali are not taking part in the talks. An official in heighten fears that jihadist groups are casting has been the central plank of her approach ‘We will manage it’ Hazrat, told The Associated Press that the Kabul from one of the countries involved in their net wider in search of targets in West Africa. even as the government has tightened pol- “While Merkel lulls the population with bomber mingled with a crowd at the family the talks said that another two rounds of President Roch Marc Christian Kabore, who took icy at home - taking steps to make it easier the empty phrase ‘we will manage it,’ it is office just last month, said Saturday that the event in the provincial capital of Jalalabad “preparatory meetings” were likely to take to send migrants from Balkan nations now clear that she is not even able to pro- country was in shock. before setting off his payload. place as they worked out the details of a home and making clear that not all tect women from attacks in public places,” “For the first time in its history, our country Malik Osman, the head of the family and a future dialogue. Afghans will be allowed to stay. deputy leader Alexander Gauland said. The has fallen victim to a series of barbaric terrorist respected community elder in the Shinwar “There are different opinions about the Whether Merkel will have any more suc- direct impact on opinion polls of the attacks,” he said, adding that the people of district near the Pakistan border was wounded methodologies and approaches in resuming cess in Europe in 2016 than last year is Cologne assaults appears so far to be limit- Burkina would nevertheless “emerge victorious”. and flown to Kabul for treatment, Hazrat said. these talks,” he said. The roadmap would questionable. Slovak Prime Minister Robert ed, though one survey showed Merkel’s The attack began around 7:45 pm on Friday The family has strongly supported President include “who do they want to talk to, on what Fico, an outspoken opponent of compulso- popularity sliding again. National polls in when an unknown number of attackers stormed Ashraf Ghani’s efforts to bring peace to the timetable, what incentives are to be offered, ry refugee quotas, said after the Cologne the past week have put support for the 147-room Splendid Hotel in the heart of country after almost 40 years of war and 15 and what kind of action will be taken with assaults that migrants can’t be integrated Alternative for Germany between 9 and 11 Ouagadougou. and “we don’t want what happened in percent, at most a point or two higher than years of Taleban insurgency. those people who want to talk and those who The hotel and surrounding area became a Germany to happen here.” late last year, with Merkel’s Union bloc at 37 The family and guests had gathered to do not want to talk,” the official said. battleground as Burkina Faso troops, backed by or 38 percent - its losses so far within the mark the release of another of Osman’s sons, The official was not authorized to speak French forces based in the city under a regional Specific limit margin of error. Still, Carsten Linnemann, a Samiullah, eight months after he was kid- with reporters about the talks so spoke on counterterrorism initiative, launched an attempt Merkel has pledged to reduce the influx lawmaker with Merkel’s Christian napped and held by the Taleban. Samiullah condition of anonymity. The first meeting of to retake the hotel around 2:00 am. was wounded in the attack, but not seriously, the four-nation group took place in the Among those killed were six Canadians, two but resisted calls to set a specific limit on Democratic Union who has been critical of according to Zabiullah Zamaray, another Pakistani capital, Islamabad, on Jan 11. The French nationals, two Swiss, an American, a the number of refugees Germany can take. her open-ended approach, says “the mood provincial council member. The day before the meetings seek to revive a process that was Portuguese and a Dutch person, according to the She rallied her conservative party behind among the grassroots is dreadful.” A tele- attack, hundreds of residents of Achin district - derailed last July after the first and only face- prosecutor’s office. Interior minister Compaore her stance a month ago, heading off calls phone survey of 1,203 people conducted where Shinwari’s nephew Nasim is governor - to-face meeting between Afghan government said the bodies of three “very young” jihadists for a cap by conceding that an unabated Jan. 12-14 for ZDF television found that 33 held a demonstration calling on authorities to and Taleban representatives in Islamabad. had been identified, all of them men. Several influx would “overburden” the country in percent said the assaults had significantly rid the region of insurgents, including a newly That initiative collapsed after Kabul guests managed to escape from the hotel the long run. But after a few weeks’ peace, changed their attitudes toward asylum and formed Islamic State affiliate that recently announced that the insurgent group’s leader through side entrances, including labor minister her allies in the Bavaria-based Christian refugee issues, while 66 percent said they seized parts of the province after a summer of had died in a Pakistani hospital more than two Clement Sawadogo, who emerged unscathed. “It Social Union - her most prominent domes- hadn’t.—AP fierce fighting with the Taleban. years earlier. —AP was horrible... there was blood everywhere. They were firing at people at close range,” Yannick Sawadogo, one of those who escaped said.

Australians kidnapped Highlighting the fragile security situation in Burkina Faso, an elderly Australian couple was kidnapped on Friday in the northern Baraboule region, near the border with Niger and Mali. Malian militant group Ansar Dine told AFP the couple was being held by jihadists from the Al- Qaeda-linked “Emirate of the Sahara”. The pair had been running a surgical clinic in the north of the country since 1972, and no rea- son has been given for their kidnapping, a state- ment from their family said. The hotel attack was the first of its kind in Ouagadougou and came as people were tentatively enjoying a return to sta- bility after November elections which ended a shaky transitional period since veteran leader Blaise Compaore’s 2014 ouster, including a failed coup. Al-Murabitoun had already begun to move into the impoverished country of around 17 mil- JALALABAD: Afghan men inspect the site of a suicide bombing at the home of a promi- lion. In April, it claimed the abduction of the nent politician. — AFP Romanian security chief of a mine in the coun- BERLIN: In this Jan. 23, 2014 file picture German Chancellor Angela Merkel arrives for try’s north. — AFP a press conference after a cabinet meeting at the Meseberg palace.—AP

MONDAY, JANUARY 18, 2016 INTERNATIONAL China’s Arab Policy 2016

riendship between China and Arab states ing all-round cooperation and common develop- ported China in peaceful development of cross- We will strengthen monetary cooperation support to China-Arab friendship associations. We dates back to ancient times. Over two thou- ment, and safeguard peace, stability and develop- Straits relations and the great cause of national between central banks, discuss the expansion of encourage and support orderly exchanges of var- Fsand years ago, land and maritime Silk ment of the region and the world at large. reunification. China appreciates all these. cross-border currency clearing and currency swap ious forms between non-governmental organiza- Roads already linked the Chinese and Arab arrangements, and increase financing insurance tions and social groups. nations. In the long stretches of history, peace Part II China’s Arab Policy 2. Investment and Trade Cooperation support. We will strengthen coordination and We will actively promote China-Arab youth and cooperation, openness and inclusiveness, Arab states are China’s important partners in 2.1 “The Belt and Road” Initiative cooperation in international financial organiza- communications, and enhance exchanges learning from each other, mutual benefit and following the peaceful development path, Joint efforts will be made by China and Arab tions and mechanisms, improve and reform the between departments of youth affairs and young win-win results have always been the main theme strengthening unity and cooperation among countries to promote the “Belt and Road” initia- international financial system, and increase the elites from all walks of life of the two sides. of exchanges between China and Arab countries. developing countries and establishing a new type tive under the principle of wide consultation, voice and representation of developing countries. We will continue to strengthen China-Arab The founding of the People’s Republic of of international relations with win-win coopera- joint contribution and shared benefit. China and China welcomes the Arab countries to join the exchanges and cooperation on gender equality, China and the independence of Arab countries tion at its core. China has always approached the Arab countries will adopt the “1+2+3” coopera- Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank and their encourage and support high-level dialogues, created a new era for China-Arab friendly China-Arab relations from a strategic height. It is tion pattern to upgrade pragmatic cooperation active role in it. seminars, cultural exchanges and capacity-build- exchanges. From 1956 to 1990, China established China’s long-held diplomatic principle to consoli- by taking energy cooperation as the core infra- ing activities between departments and organi- diplomatic relations with all 22 Arab countries. date and deepen China-Arab traditional friend- structure construction and trade and investment 2.10 Development of Economic and Trade zations in charge of women’s affairs. China firmly supports Arab national liberation ship. China will adhere to the right approach to facilitation as the two wings, and high and new Cooperation Mechanisms and Platforms movement, firmly supports Arab countries’ strug- justice and interests and promote peace, stability technologies in the fields of nuclear energy, space We will give full play to the role of the inter- 4.4 Cooperation on Tourism gle to uphold sovereignty and territorial integrity, and development of Arab states while seeking satellite and new energy as the three break- governmental economic and trade joint commis- We encourage tourism departments and busi- pursue and safeguard national interests, and better development of China, to achieve win-win throughs”. sions, the China-Arab Joint Chamber of nesses to introduce tourism resources and prod- combat external interference and aggression, and cooperation, common development and a better Commerce and other bilateral or multilateral ucts to each other and carry out tourism coopera- firmly supports Arab countries’ cause of develop- future of the China-Arab strategic and coopera- 2.2 Cooperation on Production Capacity mechanisms, make full use of China-Arab States tion. The Chinese side welcomes Arab states’ ing the national economy and building up the tive relations. Following the principle of market-oriented Expo and other platforms, and promote the application for the Approved Destination Status countries. Arab countries have given China strong China upholds the Five Principles of Peaceful business operation in which enterprises serve as exchange of visits and communication between for outbound group tours by Chinese tourists. support in restoring its lawful seat at the United Coexistence, namely, mutual respect for sover- the main player and government as the facilitator, governments and enterprises of the two sides. Nations and on issues like the Taiwan question. eignty and territorial integrity, mutual non- we will combine China’s advantage of production 5. Cooperation in the Field of Peace and In 2004, China-Arab States Cooperation Forum aggression, mutual non-interference in each oth- capacity with demands of Arab states, carry out 3. Social Development Security was set up. Since then, it has developed into a col- er’s internal affairs, equality and mutual benefit, with Arab states advanced, suitable, effective, lective cooperation platform covering many fields and peaceful co-existence. China supports the employment-oriented and environment-friendly 3.1 Health Care 5.1 Regional Security and with more than ten mechanisms. In 2010, Middle East peace process and the establishment production capacity cooperation, supporting We will strengthen exchanges and coopera- China calls for a concept of common, compre- China and Arab countries established the strate- of an independent state of Palestine with full sov- Arab states in their efforts to realize industrializa- tion in traditional and modern medicine, pay hensive, cooperative and sustainable security in gic cooperative relations of comprehensive coop- ereignty, based on the pre-1967 borders, with tion. attention to the prevention and control of com- the Middle East, and supports Arab and regional eration and common development, and China- East Jerusalem as its capital. China supports the municable and non-communicable diseases, countries in their efforts to build an inclusive and Arab collective cooperation entered a new stage Arab League and its member states’ efforts to this 2.3 Investment Cooperation especially to cooperation on information sharing shared regional collective cooperation security of comprehensive development and upgrading. end. On the basis of equality and mutually benefi- and monitoring of epidemics, and promote mechanism, so as to realize long-term peace, President Xi Jinping delivered an important We will enhance people-to-people cial cooperation for win-win results, we encour- exchange of visits by experts from both sides. We prosperity and development in the Middle East. speech at the opening ceremony of the Sixth exchanges, strengthen cooperation in such areas age and support the expansion and optimization will advance cooperation between medical insti- Ministerial Conference of China-Arab States as science, education, culture, health, radio, film of mutual investment by enterprises from the two tutions and enhance exchanges on clinical tech- 5.2 Military Cooperation Cooperation Forum, identifying key areas and pri- and television, deepen understanding and friend- sides. We will expand cooperation areas, diversify nology. We will continue to send medical teams We will deepen China-Arab military coopera- ority directions of China-Arab collective coopera- ship between the two peoples, promote mutual cooperation methods, broaden investment and and continuously improve service. tion and exchange. We will strengthen exchange tion, and providing guidance for the develop- learning and integration between the two cul- financing channels and strengthen cooperation of visits of military officials, expand military per- ment of the China-Arab relations and the Forum. tures, build a communication bridge between the on two-way investment and financing through 3.2 Education and Human Resources sonnel exchange, deepen cooperation on Since the establishment of diplomatic ties two peoples, and jointly contribute to the equities and debts as well as the use of loans, Development weapons, equipment and various specialized between China and Arab countries 60 years ago, progress of human civilization. mezzanine financing, direct investment and We will strengthen cooperation on education technologies, and carry out joint military exercis- cooperation in all fields has been constantly China is willing to strengthen consultation funds. China is ready to continue to provide for- and human resources development, expand the es. We will continue to support the development deepened. China has built comprehensive strate- and coordination with Arab states, and jointly eign-aid loan on favorable terms to Arab coun- scale and innovate the ways of cooperation. We of national defence and military forces of Arab gic partnership, strategic partnership or strategic uphold the purposes and principles of the UN tries, as well as export credits and overseas invest- encourage colleges and universities from both States to maintain peace and security of the cooperative partnership with eight Arab coun- Charter, implement the United Nations 2030 ment insurance. We will push for the signing of sides to carry out joint scientific research in histo- region. tries, and has set up a strategic dialogue mecha- Agenda for sustainable development, safeguard agreements with Arab countries on avoiding dou- ry and culture, scientific and technological appli- nism with the Gulf Cooperation Council. Arab international equity and justice, and make the ble taxation and tax evasion, thus creating a cation, region and country-specific studies. 5.3 Anti-terrorism Cooperation countries as a whole have become China’s international order more fair and just. On major sound investment environment, providing con- We resolutely oppose and condemn all forms biggest supplier of crude oil and the 7th biggest international issues, such as the United Nations venience to investors from both sides and pro- 3.3 Cooperation on Science and Technology of terrorism, and oppose coupling terrorism with trading partner. China’s proposed initiatives of reform, climate change, food and energy security, tecting their legitimate rights and interests. We will accelerate the development of China- any specific ethnic group or religion as well as jointly building the “Silk Road Economic Belt” and both sides respect each other’s core interests and Arab inter-governmental science and technology double standards. We support the efforts of Arab the “21st Century Maritime Silk Road”, establish- major concerns, support each other’s justifiable 2.4 Trade innovation cooperation mechanism. We will States in countering terrorism and support their ing a “1+2+3” cooperation pattern (to take energy demand and reasonable propositions, and We support the entry of more non-oil prod- implement the China-Arab partner project of sci- counter-terrorism capacity building. The Chinese cooperation as the core, infrastructure construc- staunchly safeguard the common interests of ucts from Arab states into the Chinese market. We ence and technology and continue to improve side believes that counter-terrorism needs com- tion and trade and investment facilitation as the developing countries. will continue to improve the trade structure and the science and technology capability of Arab prehensive measures to address both the symp- two wings, and three high and new tech fields of push for sustained and steady development of states. Through the China-Arab technology trans- toms and root causes, and counter-terrorism nuclear energy, space satellite and new energy as Part III Strengthen China-Arab Cooperation in two-way trade. We will strengthen exchanges and fer center, we will establish a China-Arab collabo- operations should comply with the purposes and the three breakthroughs), and industrial capacity an All-around Manner consultations between Chinese and Arab trade ration network of integrated technology transfer. principles of the Charter of the United Nations cooperation, are well received by Arab countries. 1. Political Cooperation authorities, complete China-GCC FTA negotia- We will implement the “Outstanding Young and international norms, and respect sovereignty, Both sides have broad consensus on safe- 1.1 High-Level Exchanges tions and sign a free trade agreement at an early Scientist Coming to China Project” and encourage independence and territorial integrity of all coun- guarding state sovereignty and territorial integri- We will keep the momentum of high-level date. We will oppose trade protectionism and the exchanges between young scientific talents tries. ty, defending national dignity, seeking political exchanges and dialogues, make full use of meet- actively remove non-tariff trade barriers, properly of China and Arab states. We will jointly establish China is ready to strengthen anti-terrorism resolution to hotspot issues, and promoting ings between high-level officials to guide the resolve trade disputes and frictions through a batch of joint national laboratories, joint exchanges and cooperation with Arab countries peace and stability in the Middle East. We share development of China-Arab relations. We will friendly consultations, and gradually establish research centers and specialized science parks, to establish a long-term security cooperation similar views on issues such as reform of the strengthen communication on bilateral relations bilateral and multilateral mechanisms of early set up platforms for enterprises to go global and mechanism, strengthen policy dialogue and intel- United Nations, climate change and Doha Round and important issues of mutual concern, increase warning for trade disputes and cooperation on encourage hi-tech Chinese enterprises to inno- ligence information exchange, and carry out tech- trade negotiations, and maintain sound coordina- exchanges of experience of governance and eco- trade remedies. We will step up cooperation on vate, start businesses and establish R&D centers nical cooperation and personnel training to joint- tion and cooperation. Cultural and educational nomic development, consolidate political mutual inspection and quarantine, speed up the align- in Arab States. ly address the threat of international and regional exchanges are more frequent and people-to-peo- trust, broaden common interests and boost prac- ment of standards, enhance personnel exchanges terrorism. ple ties are getting closer with enhanced mutual tical cooperation. and training and jointly crack down on fake and 3.4 Agricultural Cooperation understanding and friendship between the two shoddy goods in exports and exports. We will strengthen China-Arab bilateral and 5.4 Consular, Immigration, Judicial and Police peoples. 1.2 Intergovernmental Consultation and multilateral cooperation in such fields as arid Cooperation The Chinese government has issued the first Cooperation Mechanisms 2.5 Energy Cooperation zone agriculture, water-saving irrigation, muslim We will earnestly safeguard the safety and China’s Arab Policy Paper on the basis of review- We will further improve the mechanism of We will carry out cooperation on the basis of food, food security, animal husbandry and veteri- legitimate interests of enterprises and citizens of ing and summarizing the experience in the devel- China-Arab intergovernmental consultation and reciprocity and mutual benefit, promote and sup- nary medicine. We encourage agricultural science China and Arab states in each other’s countries, opment of China-Arab relations. It stipulates the cooperation, make the best of bilateral and multi- port investment cooperation with Arab countries and technology personnel from the two sides to and actively make institutional arrangements for guiding principle for developing China-Arab rela- lateral mechanisms, such as the strategic dia- in the field of petroleum and natural gas, in par- increase exchanges. We will continue to set up bilateral personnel exchanges. We will consoli- tions, offers the blueprint for China-Arab mutually logue and political consultation, and enhance ticular, investment cooperation on oil prospect- demonstration projects of agricultural technolo- date the results of bilateral cooperation in mutual beneficial cooperation, and reiterates the political exchanges and communication, in order to real- ing, extraction, transportation and refining, and gy in Arab countries, scale up agricultural man- legal assistance, extradition and repatriation, fugi- will of commitment to peace and stability in the ize common development. advance the synergizing of oilfield engineering agement and technology training, and strength- tive repatriation and asset recovery, and set up Middle East, in order to promote China-Arab rela- technology service, equipment trade, and indus- en project follow-up and evaluation. cooperation on the signing of treaties on legal tions to a new and higher level. 1.3 Exchanges between Legislatures, Political trial standards. We will strengthen cooperation on assistance, as well as fighting transnational organ- Parties and Local Governments renewable energy such as solar energy, wind 3.5 Cooperation on Addressing Climate ized crimes and corruption. Part I Deepen China-Arab Strategic On the basis of mutual respect, deepening energy and hydropower. We will jointly build the Change, Environmental Protection and Cooperative Relations of Comprehensive understanding and expanding cooperation, the China-Arab clear energy training center and Forestry 5.5 Non-Traditional Security Cooperation and Common Development National People’s Congress of China is willing to develop all-round cooperation in related areas. We will vigorously promote communication We will jointly enhance the capability to cope The world is experiencing profound and com- further expand multi-level and multi-channel and coordination with Arab states within the with non-traditional security threats, support the plex changes. The trend toward a multi-polar exchanges and cooperation with legislatures of 2.6 Infrastructure Construction framework of the United Nations Framework international community’s efforts to combat pira- world and economic globalization is deepening, Arab states. We encourage and support broader participa- Convention on Climate Change, Convention on cy, continue to send warships to the Gulf of Aden and cultural diversity and the information society In the principle of independence, equality, tion by Chinese companies and financial institu- Biological Diversity and United Nations and waters off Somalia to maintain international continue to move forward. Changes in the inter- mutual respect and non-interference in internal tions in the cooperation with Arab countries in Convention on the Prevention and Control of maritime security, and conduct cyber security national configuration and international order are affairs, the Communist Party of China is willing to such areas as railway, highway, ports, aviation, Desertification. cooperation. accelerating. All countries in the world are seizing further enhance exchanges with friendly political power, communications, Beidou Navigation the opportunity to readjust their development parties and organizations in Arab countries, con- Satellite, satellite ground stations and other infra- 4. Culture and People-to-people Exchanges Part IV China-Arab States Cooperation Forum strategies, promote reform and innovation, speed solidating the political foundation of China-Arab structure development fields and more extensive 4.1 Exchanges Among Civilizations and and Its Follow-up Actions up economic transformation and open up new relations. cooperation on project operation. According to Religious The China-Arab States Cooperation Forum development horizons. At the same time, the We will continue to boost exchanges between the priority areas of development and needs of We will promote dialogue between civiliza- was established 11 years ago with dialogue, world economy is still in a period of deep trans- local governments, strengthen the mechanism of Arab countries, we will be actively engaged in tions and promote exchanges between different cooperation, peace and development as its pur- formation, with geopolitical factors becoming China-Arab City Forum, support the establish- cooperation on major projects in Arab countries religions. We will build bilateral and multilateral poses. The mechanism has been gradually more prominent, regional turbulences rising one ment of more sister cities or provinces, and pro- to constantly improve Arab countries’ infrastruc- platforms for religious exchanges, advocate reli- improved, and covered an increasingly wide after another, non-traditional security and global mote exchanges and cooperation on local devel- ture. gious harmony and tolerance, explore coopera- range of areas. It has become an important plat- challenges increasing and the gap between the opment and administration. tion on eradicating extremism, and jointly contain form for collective dialogue and pragmatic coop- North and the South widening. It remains an 2.7 Space Cooperation the breeding and expansion of extremism. eration between the two sides based on equality arduous journey to advance mankind’s noble 1.4 Cooperation on International Affairs We will further develop space cooperation and mutual benefit. cause of peace and development. We will strengthen consultation in internation- with Arab countries, actively explore joint proj- 4.2 Cooperation on Culture, Broadcasting, China will remain committed to the develop- China is the largest developing country in the al affairs, maintain communication and coordina- ects in such fields as space technology, satellites Film, Television, Press, Publication and Think ment of China-Arab States Cooperation Forum, world and is working hard to realize the two cen- tion on major international and regional issues, and their application, space education and train- Tanks and together with the Arab countries, further tenary goals and the Chinese Dream of national support each other on issues of core interests or ing, accelerate the applying of the Beidou We encourage regular exchange of visits of enrich China-Arab cooperation, make innovative rejuvenation, which is to build a strong, prosper- major concern. We will keep closer cooperation Navigation Satellite system in Arab countries, and cultural officials, friendly partnership between efforts on cooperation models and upgrade the ous, democratic, culturally-advanced and harmo- and coordination in international organizations promote exchanges and cooperation on manned cultural institutions and experience sharing level of cooperation, put into play the leading role nious modern socialist country. China will contin- and defend the common interests of the two spaceflight, so as to enhance the level of coopera- between the two sides. We encourage mutual of the ministerial meeting, and constantly enrich ue to uphold the banner of peace, development sides and all developing countries. tion in this field. establishment of culture centers, and support and improvement cooperation mechanisms in and win-win cooperation, be committed to We will jointly uphold the international order holding culture years and participating in art fes- trade, culture, media, non-governmental peaceful development, pursue a win-win strategy and international system with the purposes and 2.8 Civilian Nuclear Cooperation tivals hosted by the other side. We will fulfill the exchanges and other fields, so as to promote of opening up and promote the formation of a principles of the UN Charter at its core. We are We will strengthen China-Arab cooperation on plan of “China-Arab exchange of visits by 10,000 China-Arab exchanges and cooperation across new type of international relations featuring win- actively involved in building a new type of inter- the design and construction of nuclear power artists,” strengthen cultivation of cultural profes- the board. win cooperation. national relations featuring win-win cooperation plants and nuclear technology training. We will sionals and cooperation of culture industries. Arab states are situated in the converging area and jointly promoting world peace and develop- be actively engaged in cooperation covering the We will enhance China-Arab news media dia- Part V Relations Between China and Arab of the Asian and African continents, characterized ment. We support the UN in playing a leading role whole nuclear industrial chain, and promote logue and cooperation, deepen business Regional Organizations by religious and cultural diversities, time-honored in maintaining peace, promoting common devel- cooperation between the two sides in basic scien- exchanges, news articles exchange and personnel China attaches great importance to its rela- culture and history, unique resource endowment opment and enhancing international coopera- tific research, nuclear fuels, research reactors, training. We will support joint interviews, joint tions with the Arab League, and respects the and great potentials for development. Currently, tion. We support the UN to undergo necessary application of nuclear technologies, nuclear secu- productions and joint operation of media institu- efforts by the Arab League in maintaining Arab states are independently exploring the and reasonable reforms and increase the repre- rity, disposal of radioactive wastes, emergency tions. The two sides will boost cooperation on regional peace and stability and promoting development paths suited to their own national sentation and voice of developing countries, responses and nuclear safety. We will accelerate broadcasting, film and television exchanges, and regional development. We support a bigger role realities. They are committed to pursuing industri- including Arab states, at the UN Security Council. the joint efforts of building an Arab training cen- will continue to hold China-Arab broadcasting of the Arab League in other regional and inter- alization, enhancing employment and improving ter for the peaceful use of nuclear energy, and and television cooperation forum, conduct trans- national affairs. China is willing to continue to people’s livelihood. They are active in promoting 1.5 The Taiwan Question upgrade the level of cooperation in the nuclear lation and authorized broadcasting of television strengthen consultation and cooperation with peace and stability in the region and are playing The Taiwan question concerns the core inter- field. programs and carry out broadcasting and televi- the Arab League in various fields. important roles in regional and international ests of China. The one China principle is the sion technology and industry cooperation. China appreciates the active role played by affairs. important basis for China to establish and devel- 2.9 Financial Cooperation Arab sub-regional organizations such as the China will continue to carry forward China- op relations with Arab states and regional organi- We support the establishment of branches in 4.3 Exchanges Between Non-governmental Gulf Cooperation Council in maintaining region- Arab traditional friendship, enrich and deepen zations. Arab states and regional organizations each other’s countries by qualified financial insti- Organizations, Youth and Women al peace and promoting development, and our all-round, multi-layer, wide-ranging coopera- have always been committed to the one China tutions from both sides, and multi-sector opera- We will continue to enhance non-governmen- stands ready to strengthen friendly exchanges tion, promote sustainable and sound develop- principle, refrained from having any official rela- tion cooperation, as well as strengthened tal exchanges, improve the mechanism of China- and cooperation with these organizations. ment of our strategic cooperative relations featur- tions or official exchanges with Taiwan, and sup- exchanges and cooperation between regulators. Arab friendship conference, and provide more — Embassy of the People’s Republic of China MONDAY, JANUARY 18, 2016 INTERNATIONAL

Hong Kong ‘Umbrella’ leaders seek closer ties with Taiwan

TAIPEI: Student leaders of Hong Kong’s unseen on the mainland, but there are tiny. We need to have stronger alliances in pro-democracy Umbrella Movement said fears those freedoms are being lost. The all areas,” said Alex Chow, another key yesterday they would seek closer ties with pro-democracy rallies in Hong Kong were Umbrella leader speaking in Taipei yester- Taiwan after the island elected a new presi- sparked when Beijing insisted on vetting day. He called for more dialogue, whether dent who pledged to stand up to China. candidates for the city’s next leader. through civil groups or the new govern- Tsai Ing-wen of Taiwan’s main opposition Self-ruling Taiwan split from China in ment. The calls for unity come in the wake party won by a landslide Saturday as voters 1949 after a civil war on the mainland. But of the disappearance of five Hong Kong expressed their discontent over warmer Beijing still sees it as part of its territory booksellers from a publishing house relations with China under the ruling awaiting reunification, by force if necessary. known for titles critical of the Chinese gov- Kuomintang (KMT). The KMT’s Beijing-friendly strategy brought ernment-the latest incident to exacerbate “Whether it is the issue of Taiwan’s sov- trade deals and a tourist boom but sparked fears over the city’s autonomy. ereignty or the future of Hong Kong, we fears that China was trying to erode Sunflower activists gained seats in both face the China factor,” said Joshua Taiwan’s autonomy through economic ties. Taiwan’s legislature in Saturday’s parlia- Wong, the teenage face of the Umbrella mentary vote, standing for the New Power Movement which brought parts of Hong Own identity Party (NPP) which grew out of the protest Kong to a standstill in 2014 seeking fully Support for Tsai surged as Taiwanese movement. In Hong Kong, former free leadership elections. “I think more sought to assert their own identity and Umbrella protesters also took seats in exchange is very much needed,” Wong told reject China’s influence. The island saw its recent district elections. Wong said the a press conference in Taipei. own mass protests in 2014 when student- NPP was an inspiration. “How they can The 19-year-old was in Taiwan as part of led demonstrators occupied parliament turn street protests to power within the a pro-democracy group observing over a trade pact with China, in what legislative system, I think that can serve as Saturday’s elections. Hong Kong is semi- became known as the Sunflower a very good reference for those in post- TAIPAI: Joshua Wong (center), the teenage face of Hong Kong’s Umbrella autonomous since being returned to China Movement. “We face the same threat, we Umbrella student or civil movements in Movement which brought parts of the city to a standstill in 2014, walks into a press by Britain in 1997 and enjoys freedoms have to guard our places, to own our des- Hong Kong,” he said. — AFP conference. — AFP

China, economy tests await ‘Sunflower’ activists turn new Taiwan president Tsai lawmakers in vote victory TAIPEI: Beijing not only has to contend with a new president in Taiwan who is Managing relations with China will be tricky wary of relations with China, but a fresh batch of activists-turned-lawmakers TAIPEI: Taiwan’s presidential election victor Tsai Ying- from the island’s boisterous Sunflower wen will enjoy a broad mandate from her commanding Movement. victory and her independence-leaning party’s new leg- Protesters from the student-led islative majority, but managing the island’s delicate relations with China will be tricky. Already, Beijing movement that dramatically occupied warned following her Saturday night victory that it will the island’s parliament in 2014 over a not budge on its bottom line that Taiwan’s leader must trade pact with Beijing took their first agree that the communist mainland and self-govern- step into mainstream politics after win- ing island democracy are part of a single Chinese ning seats in parliamentary elections nation. The sides could be in for a lengthy wait as China Saturday. The activists’ success came on assesses whether it feels it can trust Tsai. the night Taiwan voted in its first “To handle cross-Taiwan Strait relations after Tsai’s female president, Tsai Ing-wen of the election will be difficult, not just for Taiwan but also for main opposition Democratic mainland China,” said Huang Jing, a China expert at Progressive Party, which has tradition- Singapore National University’s Lee Kuan Yew School of ally campaigned for the island’s inde- Public Policy. Tsai, who will be Taiwan’s first female pres- pendence. ident, won by 56 percent of the vote to 31 percent for Both Tsai and the protesters’ victory her closest rival Eric Chu of the China-friendly is symbolic of growing public resist- Nationalist Party, which has held the presidency for the last eight years. Her Democratic Progressive Party won ance to Beijing after a rapprochement 68 of 113 parliamentary seats, giving it its first majority under outgoing president Ma Ying- in the assembly long-dominated by the Nationalists. jeou of the China-friendly Kuomintang “I wasn’t surprised a bit by the outcome. The which has sparked fears Taiwan’s sover- Nationalists had to go. Now Tsai just needs to focus on eignty is being eroded. “It’s our first the economy so I don’t expect she’ll do anything to rile election battle and we have a long way TAIPAI: Huang Kuo-chang, an academ- up China,” Taipei tour bus driver Tan Kuang-jung said as ahead of us,” said Huang Kuo-chang, an ic and leader of the Sunflower a constant drizzle fell over the capital yesterday. The BEIJING: Visitors look at souvenir plates bearing images of Chinese President Xi academic and leader of the Sunflower Movement, listens during a press con- reasons for the massive win were many. Jinping and his wife Peng Liyuan on display for sale at a shop near Tiananmen Movement who became a lawmaker ference. — AFP Square. — AP Saturday. His New Power Party grew by force if necessary. Stagnate wages, jobs out of the protests and won five seats Resentment towards the KMT over Outgoing President Ma Ying-jeou had been grow- the entertainment field. This is something most Kai-shek moved his Nationalist government to the in parliament-making it the third- its China policy and Taiwan’s economic ing increasingly unpopular among Taiwan’s 23 million Taiwanese find unacceptable,” Chou said. The size of the island. largest in the legislature. woes saw it hemorrhage seats people, largely due to perceptions that his push for win could also put additional pressure on Tsai and the Reflecting public opinion on Taiwan and mindful “The NPP will not forget the princi- Saturday. The DPP gained a majority for closer economic ties with China was benefiting just a DPP, said Larry Diamond, a senior fellow at the Hoover of US and other countries’ concerns about cross- ples of the Sunflower Movement. We few and the futures of young Taiwanese who have seen the first time, surging from 40 to 68 Institution who closely follows Taiwanese politics. strait tensions, Tsai has pledged to maintain the sta- will never compromise,” Huang, 42, seats out of a total 113. The KMT went wages stagnate and good full-time jobs harder to find. “When you do as well, as decisively as the DPP has tus-quo of de-facto independence without taking said. Rock star Freddie Lim, 39, was also from 64 to 35. Fearful of their original candidate’s poor reception done, there are no excuses” for failure, Diamond said. steps that might provoke China. In her remarks among the successful NPP candidates, among voters, the Nationalists dumped her in favor of While China had largely refrained on commenting Saturday, she referred to Taiwan by its formal name, Among the beleaguered party’s suc- Chu, but even he proved unable to raise their about the election beforehand, its Taiwan Affairs Office the Republic of China. However, unlike Ma, she has unseating a veteran KMT lawmaker in cessful candidates was Chiang Wan- prospects. He resigned as party chairman immediately responded swiftly to the result with a statement reiter- refused to endorse Beijing’s “one China principle” - Taipei. The tattooed death metal singer wan, great grandson of former KMT after Saturday’s defeat. Newly politicized young people ating that it would deal only with those who agree that although she hasn’t publicly repudiated it either - and grabbed headlines with his screaming, leader Chiang Kai-shek, who set up had coalesced in opposing yet another trade agree- the “two sides of the strait belong to one China.” told supporters Saturday night that she would work to head banging campaign concerts government in Taiwan after defeat by ment with China and are believed to have voted heavi- strengthen Taiwan’s status abroad. ahead of the vote. Mao Zedong’s Communist troops. ly for the DPP. A further backlash against the party’s Territorial integrity Deprived of formal diplomatic relations with the Chiang, 37, campaigned on a broad pro-China stance was prompted by a viral video of 16- That was followed by another statement from the world’s major nations, Taiwan relies on its stable of 22 ‘First rocker’ domestic platform promoting every- year-old Taiwanese entertainer Chou Tzu-yu bowing in Foreign Ministry stating that “China’s sovereignty and allies, mostly small, poor states in the Pacific, Africa and “I’m the first rocker in Asia to go to thing from care for the elderly to busi- apology for waiving the Taiwanese flag on television. territorial integrity brook no division. The result of the Central America and the Caribbean. Chinese pressure parliament,” said Lim after the victory. ness start-ups. Her apology was triggered by her South Korean man- election in Taiwan will not change the basic fact and has barred Taiwan from the United Nations and Beijing “This election shows anyone has the For Huang, victory is a chance to agement company’s fears that China would cancel the consensus of the international community.” strictly limits the island’s participation in other groups right to go into parliament to promote appearances and endorsement deals. stand up for Taiwan. “I call on China “On such a major issue as safeguarding state sov- or requires it to participate only under the name a better Taiwan.” Taiwan is a self-ruling that if it wants to push forward ties “What happened surrounding Chou Tzu-yu, that ereignty and territorial integrity, the Chinese govern- Chinese Taipei. Depending on how it interprets Tsai’s democracy since splitting with China in with Taiwan ... they have to respect whole controversy, made it almost a given (Tsai) would ment has rock-solid determination and never toler- actions, Beijing could ratchet up the pressure by luring 1949 after a civil war on the mainland, get over the 50 percent mark,” said Raymond Wu, man- ates any separatist activities aiming at ‘Taiwan inde- away Taiwan’s remaining diplomatic allies or further Taiwanese people who want to main- aging director of Taipei-based political risk consultancy pendence,’” said the statement, quoting ministry shutting it out of international organizations. It could but has never formally declared inde- tain their way of life, and respect e-telligence. “It’s an indication that someone would spokesman Hong Lei. Taiwan was a Japanese colony also seek to exact economic costs, possibly by limiting pendence. But Beijing still sees it as Taiwan people’s right to decide their continue to bully Taiwan, at all different levels, even a from 1895 to 1945, and split from the mainland amid Chinese tourism to the island or reducing Taiwanese part of its territory awaiting unification, future,” he said. — AFP 16-year-old who’s trying to make a name for herself in the Chinese civil war in 1949, when leader Chiang imports. — AP MONDAY, JANUARY 18, 2016 ANALYSIS

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Focus Prisoner swap puts Reps in a tough spot

By Kathleen Hennessey

ran’s release of five Americans gives President Barack Obama the opportunity to deliver a harsh reminder to the IRepublicans wanting to succeed him: You can promise to pull back the hand I’ve extended to Iran and Cuba - nations the US once cut off - but it won’t be easy and it may be lonely. As Republican candidates vow to rewind Obama’s rapprochements on their first day in office, many US allies and business interests have pressed forward with outreach to Iran. The next president may find Iran has established itself as world player, a useful diplomatic power broker and a potential market for US busi- nesses. Vowing to isolate Tehran may only isolate the US from many of its allies. Similarly, in Cuba, where Obama reversed decades of Deal marks US-Iran thaw, but Saudis sulk Cold War policy, American businesses are eyeing a new market while US tourism is on the rise. Reversing the tide may prove as difficult as un-ringing a bell. “It’s easy to reverse the policies, it’s By Dave Clark and Nicolas Revise hearing from his ally, but Kerry made it clear hard not to be isolated in the process,” said Jon Alterman, Middle going in to the meeting that there were issues to Sanctions go, but doubts East analyst at the Center for Strategic and International Studies. he implementation of the Iran nuclear deal discuss. Kerry did not say so, but officials in “Can you force the rest of the world to see things the way you marked a major step forward in Washington have made it clear that the adminis- in Iran about better times do? That’s a big question.” TWashington’s cautious rapprochement with tration was dismayed by Sheikh Nimr Al-Nimr’s The diplomacy with Iran after decades of a divide fulfills Iran, but will further strain ties with Saudi Arabia. execution, which dramatically worsened the cri- Obama’s first inaugural promise “to extend a hand if you are will- While President Barack Obama’s government sis. “The United States will stand with our allies By Ali Noorani mean anything to us. It’s the people who feel the pain ing to unclench your fist.” But Republicans argue Obama insists its goal was simply to halt the spread of and friends in the region, and we do. But we also because prices will never go back to what they were.” reached out well before Tehran eased its grip. Its missile program atomic weapons, experts detect an effort to bring want to see diplomacy work,” Kerry told ohammad Ehsani has just about had Inflation has been slashed to 13 percent during has violated existing UN prohibitions, it supports terrorist a new balance to its Middle East relationships. reporters ahead of the talks. enough. A trader in Tehran’s ancient Grand Rouhani’s presidency. It hit more than 40 percent groups and it has remained a key ally of Syrian President Bashar That bore fruit this week with the quick release of MBazaar, he doesn’t think the lifting of interna- under his hardline predecessor Mahmoud Al-Assad, they say. 10 US sailors captured in the Gulf by Iranian ‘Destruction’ tional sanctions on Iran will benefit him at all. “Business Ahmadinejad, eroding people’s savings and spending But Saturday was a clear reminder of the forces working forces, the freeing of five US prisoners in Iran and For his part, Jubeir was keen to remind Kerry will become even worse,” he said, as one of his few cus- power. But the possibilities remain vast, according to against the Republican contenders on Iran. The release of the formal implementation of the accord. how Saudi Arabia had worked closely with its US tomers haggled for a $2 towel to be sold even cheaper. Faranak Asgari, chief executive of tourism business Americans - four of them negotiated as a prisoner swap along- But, inevitably, with Tehran and Riyadh dag- partner in the past, and had tough words for the His frustration obvious, Ehsani surrendered, selling the ToIran.com, which is aiming to cash in on an influx of side nuclear talks and one worked out separately - removed a gers drawn, the thaw in ties with Shiite power- Iranian leadership Kerry is courting. Asked item at a barely breakeven price. To him, an opening foreign travellers. “This is the best news Iran has had in key argument that the US should not lift sanctions while house Iran can only feed paranoia in the Sunni whether he was worried the windfall that Iran is up of Iran’s economy after the nuclear deal with the 37 years,” she said, a reference to the Islamic revolution Americans are being held. Meanwhile, the US and other Western Gulf monarchies, traditionally close US allies. about to enjoy as trade sanctions are lifted, Jubeir West spells disaster. “It will take a couple of years and a of 1979, which ushered in clerical rule and a changed nations declared Iran had kept up its end of the landmark “One of Obama’s visions for this region, at least in told Sky News: “Every country in the world is wor- lot of local companies will go bankrupt during the tran- political and business environment. “Right now we nuclear agreement completed last summer, triggering the the Gulf, is equilibrium. He uses that phrase a lot,” ried about this.” “Iran’s record has been one of war sition,” he said, complaining of taxes of $7,000 a year, have very low international investment. It may take a removal of the billions of dollars in economic sanctions and said Frederic Wehrey of the Carnegie and destruction, terrorism, destabilization, inter- against sales of around $100 a day. “Customers will few years but it brings great opportunities for a large beginning to open up the gates for international businesses. Endowment for International Peace. ference in the affairs of other countries,” he insist- seek foreign brands. Domestic goods don’t have a untapped market like ours. It will help the people eco- “Today marks the first day of a safer world,” Secretary of State ed, speaking after talking with Kerry. chance. I plan to quit.” nomically,” she said. John Kerry said. ‘Equilibrium Shattered’ Last week, Jubeir could be forgiven for seek- Nuclear-related sanctions on Iran were lifted Beyond ongoing wars in Syria and Yemen, ing to underline what he sees as the Iranian Saturday in Vienna, after UN inspectors said the Islamic ‘They are Terrorists’ ‘Propaganda’ where Saudi-backed forces are fighting Iran- threat to America: Iranian forces seized two boat- republic had met commitments given under a deal last The lifting of sanctions, the main reason Iran’s Republicans did not see the moment of as an achievement. backed forces, broader regional peace can only loads of US sailors in the Gulf. Instead, the sailors July to scale back its atomic program. With 79 million supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei backed Rouhani’s While they gently praised the return of the Americans, they come when if the two build a working relation- were released within 16 hours and the State people, Iran’s economy has much potential if it government in the nuclear talks, could also mark a psy- blasted the release of Iranian prisoners by the US as part of the ship. But, whatever Washington’s ambitions, the Department chalked up the resolution of the cri- becomes more accessible, as promised by President chological shift among sceptical foreigners. “When under swap. “While we celebrate their return,” Texas Sen Ted Cruz said rival powers are far from that. In fact, the US out- sis to Kerry’s relationship with Iran’s foreign min- Hassan Rouhani, a moderate elected in 2013 on a sanctions people think ‘they are terrorists’,” Asgari said of of the released Americans, “this deal serves as piece of propa- reach to Iran over the nuclear deal has only ister. Many in Washington, never mind Riyadh, pledge to end the nuclear crisis. The United Nations some perceptions of Iran. “The world is afraid. Sanctions ganda for both Iran and the Obama administration.” Cruz served to make Saudi Arabia more anxious. At are furious - alleging that the White House is first imposed economic sanctions in 2006 after Iran are not just economic. They also intimidate people.” Deep reprised his promise to “rip to shreds this catastrophic Iran the New Year, Riyadh executed a Shiite cleric for soft-pedaling Iranian provocations to protect the was suspected of trying to develop an atomic bomb problems, however, must be addressed. Iran needs bil- nuclear deal”. sedition, provoking protests in Iran that led to Iran nuclear deal, despite the loss of face. under the guise of civilian energy production, some- lions of dollars of investment. Plummeting oil prices - gross Former Florida Gov Jeb Bush said he saw “weakness” in the the sacking of the Saudi embassy and a break- thing it has always denied. domestic product fell to $415 billion in 2014 from $576 bil- Obama administration’s dealings with Iran. “Let’s take a step down in diplomatic relations. Junior Partner lion in 2011 - has led Rouhani to seek a less oil-based econ- back here,” Bush told a town hall meeting in New Hampshire. Wehrey said Obama had hoped that if the “In my opinion what’s paramount for Obama ‘Doesn’t Mean Anything’ omy. Only 25 percent of next year’s budget is forecast to “The bigger issue is that we’ve legitimized a regime who shows rivals could, “if not reach some detente or rap- is to protect the Iran deal,” said Karim Not only did sanctions bar many companies it also come from selling crude. no interest in actually moving toward the so-called community prochement, at least be balanced and to sort of Sadjadpour, Iran expert and another senior asso- stifled those who did business from operating freely. In But last November the government outlined 50 oil of nations.” In truth, the US has not been alone in shifting its get along” then US focus could turn to Asia. “Of ciate of the Carnegie Endowment. “You could 2012, the United States and the European Union ratch- and gas projects, inviting international oil and gas com- pose toward Iran, which is part of what would make undoing it course that ambition of equilibrium has been argue it’s not only the top of his agenda for the eted up the pressure, slapping punitive measures on panies to invest $25 billion under improved contractu- difficult. The nuclear deal was negotiated alongside France, shattered,” the Oxford University academic Middle East but arguably what his administra- Iran’s energy and banking sectors. Re-admission to the al terms. Other industries in need of Western technolo- Britain, Germany, Russia and China, a coalition that managed to added. Experts predict that after the dust settles tion believes to be the crowning foreign policy SWIFT system of international transactions is likely to gy and modernization, such as aviation, auto produc- hang together through lengthy discussions and difficult following implementation of the Iran deal, achievement.” Before Iran’s Islamic revolution, be transformational for liquidity - being shut out tion and tourism, are expected to make similar offers. A domestic politics. Since then, Iran has joined in international Obama will arrange a visit to the Arabian penin- former US presidents like Richard Nixon had a caused the economy to tank as cash dried up. But talk Western diplomat based in Brussels insisted the talks seeking an end to the Syrian civil war. White House offi- sula to mollify skeptical Saudi and Emirati leaders. two-pillar strategy of maintaining ties with both of a boom - foreign business delegations, particularly nuclear deal was a security decision and not business cials say they see those talks as a test of whether other conver- And Secretary of State John Kerry preempted the shah’s Iran and Saudi Arabia. After the United from Europe, surged after July’s final nuclear deal - based, yet it aimed to ensure there are no legal barriers sations are possible. the signature by flying to London on Thursday States cut its own ties with Tehran in 1979 in the seems a world away to Ehsan Ahmadi, a 30-year-old to investing in Iran. “But we have to be realistic, and not Some Republicans have acknowledged it may be difficult to for talks with the angry Saudi foreign minister, wake of the embassy hostage drama, Riyadh salesman, browsing in the bazaar. “Removing sanctions expect that on the first day everything will be smooth,” cut off these ties. Bush has said “maybe we should check with Adel Al-Jubeir. Jubeir, a former ambassador to became the preferred partner, and with the oil will only benefit the government,” he said. “It doesn’t he said. —AFP our allies” before shredding the deal. Donald Trump, playing up Washington, is used to getting a sympathetic boom a rich one. —AFP his skills as a boardroom broker, has suggested he would rene- gotiate the nuclear deal. But others, including Marco Rubio and Cruz, have put tearing up the deal on their Day 1 to-do list. What Deal win may be short-lived for Rouhani would happen on Day 2 is unclear. In a global economy, impos- ing unilateral US sanctions would have limited impact on Iran By Arthur Macmillan June 2017, remains exposed to such a shock. “Many Republicans than before. They need to see a positive,” Mohebbian said. and could serve to disadvantage US businesses. Iran has sug- were against the Iran talks from the beginning,” Izadi said. “If they get And if Rouhani cannot exploit the nuclear deal’s benefits his gested businesses are waiting at the gates to engage - indeed, t is the hard-fought central pillar of his presidency, an election their way Rouhani may not get a second term as president.” opponents may be able to use it against him. “If I was him I would the transport minister on Saturday announced a deal with the pledge delivered, but Hassan Rouhani may yet find it difficult to Such a result would be a first since the Islamic republic’s forma- let the population know that after the nuclear agreement the European consortium Airbus to buy 114 passenger planes after Icapitalize on Iran’s nuclear deal with world powers. The agree- tion in 1979. Rouhani is its seventh president. The first one fled and economic situation will be better,” Mohebbian said. “If people are sanctions are lifted. ment, finally implemented Saturday in Vienna, consumed Rouhani’s the second was assassinated, but the four who preceded disappointed now it shows Rouhani does not look at this closely Rubio has warned US businesses not to “gamble” on Iran, say- first two-and-a-half years in office but it will lift sanctions that had him each served two consecutive four-year enough. Without good perception management maybe he ing Tehran will inevitably violate the agreement, and if he’s in the crippled Iran’s economy. Having ended the 12-year international cri- terms. Amir Mohebbian, a moderate will be the first president in Iran to serve one term only.” White House he’ll ensure a harsh punishment. He’s made similar sis over Iran’s nuclear program, Rouhani wants to bolster his position conservative political analyst and Iran’s supreme leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, had warnings about Cuba, cautioning US companies that doing at home, where Iranians want to see concrete economic improve- strategist close to Foreign Minister the final word on the nuclear agreement, backing business under the current leadership would be difficult and ments. Mohammad Javad Zarif, said Rouhani because he wanted sanctions to end. But expensive. Cuban officials have raised concerns about the If candidates aligned with the moderate president make gains in Rouhani’s government remains Khamenei said in October that any new sanctions - Republicans’ promises to backtrack, saying that casts uncertain- parliamentary elections on February 26 they could shift the balance vulnerable to public opinion. even Obama’s White House has threatened penal- ty over negotiations. But there’s little sign that the GOP rhetoric of power away from conservatives, allowing him to enact some ties over Iran’s ballistic missile program last month on Iran is slowing down Tehran’s increasing role as a player on social and political reforms. In Rouhani’s favor is a high approval rat- Managing People’s - could constitute a breach. the world stage. —AP ing - more than 60 percent, analysts say - but his fate remains tied to Perceptions Ellie Geranmayeh, an Iran specialist at the the nuclear deal. A win for a Republican in November’s US presiden- The biggest potential European Council on Foreign Relations, said get- tial election could see the agreement fall apart. weakness is that Iran’s presi- ting the deal implemented is “perhaps a bigger “If sanctions are removed with no problems, Rouhani will benefit dent has offered hope of bet- victory” for Iran’s president than the original agree- All articles appearing on these as he will be seen as a good politician who kept his promise,” Foad ter times yet the economy is ment. “It was important for Rouhani that sanctions pages are the personal opinion of Izadi, a politics professor at Tehran University, told AFP. “But if what is flat. Rouhani has managed to be lifted before the elections, even if the tangible happening in Congress continues, and the deal unravels without cut inflation to 13 percent from impact in the next month is nominal,” she said, the writers. Kuwait Times takes no positive results, Iranians will reconsider what Rouhani did. They will above 40 percent under his agreeing that the vote’s outcome remains unpre- responsibility for views expressed be able to ask him: what happened?’” Only in the United States have hardline predecessor Mahmoud dictable. therein. Kuwait Times invites read- politicians spoken of ripping up the agreement. The other five pow- Ahmadinejad, but growth But Rouhani and his allies can push the nuclear ers involved - Britain, China, France, Russia and Germany - remain remains weak. Iran’s currency, deal as a solid victory, which also saw seven ers to voice their opinions. Please squarely behind it. the rial, has lost ground against Iranians jailed in America exchanged for four dual send submissions via email to: opin- the dollar since the nuclear deal citizens held in Tehran in an apparent goodwill ges- [email protected] or via snail Republican in the White House? was struck on July 14 last year. ture. “He has proved both domestically and to the The Republican-majority House of Representatives has proposed And income from oil sales has West that he can deliver,” Geranmayeh said, allowing mail to PO Box 1301 Safat, Kuwait. a bill that would bar President Barack Obama from lifting some sanc- plummeted because of the falling him “to contrast his pragmatic diplomacy” against The editor reserves the right to edit tions. Although Obama can veto the measure, it shows the potential price of crude. “Ordinary people’s Ahmadinejad’s antagonism. “He will ask the people who any submission as necessary. pitfalls for the nuclear deal - no Republican candidate running for short term memories are awake. served Iran’s national interests better?” Geranmayeh president has pledged to keep it. Rouhani, facing a re-election race in They still see the situation as worse added of Rouhani. —AFP NEWS MONDAY, JANUARY 18, 2016 Iran moves from pariah state to regional power

Tehran-US thaw may undermine Riyadh’s leading role BEIRUT: Iran’s release from sanctions testifies to its new rela- Tehran could be crucial in the fight against Islamic State in tionship with the United States as it moves from pariah state Iraq and Syria. The same goes for the search for ending the to regional power, a status that could come at the cost of civil war in Syria. There Iran kept President Bashar Al-Assad in Saudi Arabia, Washington’s chief Arab ally. Enemies and allies power as his sole foreign ally offering battlefield help until alike must adjust to Iran becoming an uninhibited power bro- Russia arrived with its air force last autumn. ker in the Middle East after its nuclear deal with world powers and Saturday’s lifting of sanctions that bring it to the top table On the Defensive of international politics. The swift release last week of US Navy While Iranian confidence grows, Riyadh appears defensive sailors after they drifted into Iranian waters marked the new - and unpredictable since last year’s succession of the King era in relations following decades of hostility with the West. Salman, who has vested vast power in his young son, Prince After the 1979 revolution that brought Shiite clerics to Mohammed bin Salman, Saudi watchers say. “There is a wide- power, Iran would typically use hostages to extract conces- spread perception that Saudi Arabia is pursuing chaotic, sions from its western adversaries. Early on, it held 52 counter-productive policies,” said Gerges. “The Saudis are real- hostages taken from the US embassy in Tehran for 444 days. ly behaving with a sense of siege, reacting to events as if each That incident ranked alongside Iranian-backed suicide bomb- was the end of the world,” Gerges said, “lashing out angrily ings against Western embassies and troops in Lebanon, the and recklessly, with no long-term perspective”. hijacking of planes and the kidnapping of Western hostages Iran, by contrast “believes it is a rising power, that the world in the country. needs it”. Tehran also appears to have grasped that the huge All this left deep scars and incited hostility towards Iran as increase in US shale oil production has freed America from its an outlaw, in the region and the world. Yet last week’s naval dependence on Saudi crude. Saudi officials say their regional incident contrasted to 2007 when Iran captured British sailors policy is coherent, not ideologically or religiously motivated. in similar circumstances, but accused of them of spying and “We will not allow Iran to destabilize our region. We will not held them for two weeks. The hiccup over the American allow Iran to do harm to our citizens or those of our allies and sailors was easily contained by the new rapprochement and so we will react. But it is a reaction in response to Iranian “summarizes the emergence of a new relationship between aggression,” Foreign Minister Adel Al-Jubeir told Reuters this Washington and Tehran”, said Fawaz Gerges, a Middle East month. expert at the London School of Economics. Farhang Jahanpour of Oxford University argues that the Saudis need to agree a regional security structure with Iran No Longer a Spoiler? and all other Gulf states, as well as Sunni powers Egypt and Washington remains far from enamored of the mullahs rul- Turkey. “They should cooperate because if the present state of ing in Tehran, and is formally committed to Iran’s archrival, antagonism continues they will be the losers, and we will be Saudi Arabia. But Iran’s attractions are both political and eco- witnessing wars for decades in the entire region and beyond,” nomic: A country that is “a potential regional superpower, and Jahanpour said. an emerging market with huge potential along similar lines to Turkey”, said Gerges. “There is a new relationship based on a New Dilemmas new understanding of Iran’s pivotal role in the region - that Rivalry between Sunni and Shiite Islam goes back many Iran is here to stay,” he said. So, for Washington, Iran would no centuries. In modern times, this often translated into a strate- longer be a spoiler state, but one that could play a positive gic contest between Saudi Arabia’s Wahhabi version of Sunni role in stabilizing the region and “help put out the fires”. orthodoxy and the Shiite theocracy of Iran. The 2003 over- A musher and his sledding dogs race a stage during the 12th edition of ‘La Grande Odyssee’ sledding race Saudi Arabia, however, remains implacably at loggerheads throw of Sunni minority rule in Iraq by the US-led invasion across the Alps yesterday in Val Cenis Lanslevillard. — AFP with Iran. Its rigid Wahhabi Sunni Muslim clerical leaders treat and its replacement by a Shiite government under the sway Shiites as heretics, not far short of how Islamic State jihadis of Iran has rekindled the sectarian firestorm. regard Shiites as idolaters to be exterminated. The Saudis Ali Al-Amin, a Lebanese analyst and researcher, says Riyadh Muslim scouts balance faith, American... have been badly rattled by Iran’s success in forging a Shiite seems to believe the real threat comes from Sunni rivals such axis stretching from Iraq through Syria to Lebanon, where as Islamic State and a restive young Saudi population indoctri- Continued from Page 1 back to the bus for lunch - fast food. Along the way, Tehran’s paramilitary ally Hezbollah is also the strongest politi- nated with Wahhabi prejudice against Shiites. “The fight with Rashid distributes postcards. “Write a postcard for the cal force. Iran strengthens it internally, it strengthens its nerve,” says “It’s important to transmit the American values, the veterans, they’ll like it,” he tells his charges. After eating, Riyadh says Iran is also behind unrest in neighboring Amin. “Its purpose is to protect the regime and rally all Sunnis values Lincoln fought for,” says Rashid. “They have to the group stops at a mosque on the edge of a highway Bahrain, which has a Shiite majority, as well as the insurgency behind it.” learn the history of this land. You have to get them con- to pray. of Shiite Houthis in Yemen, where the Saudis launched an air But Iran, too, has its vulnerabilities. It faces the dilemma of cerned by American history,” chimes in Jamal Amro, the Then it’s on to Amish Country, the community of tra- war last year. It also believes Tehran is stirring up Saudi how far to liberalize once its economy reconnects to world owner of the bus and a Palestinian who emigrated to ditionalist Christians in Pennsylvania known for their Arabia’s Eastern Province, which contains nearly all the king- markets and investment creates new power groups. Its suc- the United States in 1977. simple living and reluctance to adopt modern conven- dom’s oil and most of its marginalized Shiite minority. The cesses in countries such as Lebanon, Iraq and Syria have come Troop 114 had the chance to attend the second inau- iences. It’s a chance for Amro to grab the microphone execution this month of Sheikh Nimr Al-Nimr, a dissident as these states were cracked open by war or invasion, leading guration of Barack Obama in 2013, and the scouts hope once more and to describe to the teenagers how the Saudi Shiite cleric, has further poisoned relations with Iran. to de facto partition. Tehran has advanced its interests by to be present again in 2017 when the new president is Amish left persecution in Europe to settle in the United Yet for the United States and its European allies, getting bypassing state institutions with unstable alternatives such as Iran on-side is likely to be vital to their interests. In particular, militias, its principal weapon of influence. — Reuters inaugurated - even if it is Trump. But Rashid cannot dis- States, to find “religious freedom”. guise his anger at the provocative billionaire real estate Chalinine, an Algerian woman who has lived in the tycoon, who leads in the polls among likely Republican United States since 1994, volunteered to accompany voters. “Those boys are born here, they are American. the group. She enrolled her two children, a son and a Experts on course to unravel They can’t take it away from us. The one who is anti- daughter, in scout troops “because they do a lot of vol- American is the one who says such things,” he says, unteering”. “It’s the same values as Islam,” she says. But secrets of Egypt pyramids referring to Trump’s ban call. she cannot hide her concern at the sometimes harsh Izzuddin, his 17-year-old son, will vote for the first focus on Muslims in America and says she cancelled the CAIRO: Experts revealed yesterday new findings at two Maybe, but it’s interesting,” he said, adding that the dif- time this year after turning 18. “Trump scares a lot of family’s subscription to cable television at home so her of Egypt’s famed pyramids, boosting efforts to unravel ference in temperature was of three to six degrees people. But also, he motivates people - you have to do children hear as little from Trump as possible. “I hope whether the ancient world’s iconic monuments contain Celsius. something about it,” he says, defiantly. After visiting the my children will feel more American than I do,” she whis- secret chambers. For the past three months a team of A video projection of the data recorded by the ther- museum and the Gettysburg battlefield, the teens head pers. — AFP researchers from Egypt, France, Canada and Japan have mal cameras showed hues of red on the blocks where been scanning four pyramids with thermal cameras to heat was detected and blue and magenta for the cooler see if they contain unknown structures or cavities. ones. Klein said two anomalies were also located on the Operation ScanPyramids began on Oct 25 to search for northern flank of Khufu, where experts have previously hidden rooms inside Khufu - also known as the Great found similar “points of interest” on the monument’s Pyramid - and Khafre in Giza and the Bent and Red pyra- eastern face. Experts say they will carry out more inves- mids in Dahshur, all south of Cairo. tigations to include further data analysis of the anom- The project is expected to continue until the end of alies detected so far. 2016, and applies a mix of infrared thermography, “The primary result tells us that we have some news, muon radiography imaging and 3D reconstruction - all some good news,” Antiquities Minister Mamduh Al- of which the researchers say are non-invasive and non- Damati said. “We will have some secrets to solve in the destructive techniques. Yesterday, experts revealed new pyramids, but it’s very early to say what they are.” At 146 findings on some of the limestone blocks that make up m tall, Khufu pyramid, named after the son of pharaoh the western flank of the Red pyramid and northern Snefru, is considered one of the seven wonders of the flank of Khufu. “There is a clear separation of tempera- ancient world, built some 4,500 years ago. It has three ture on the west face of Red pyramid. The bottom is known chambers, and like other pyramids in Egypt was colder than the top,” Matthieu Klein of Canada’s Laval intended as a pharaoh’s tomb. The Red pyramid, built by University told a news conference. “It’s interesting. We Snefru, is 105 m tall and located to the north of the Bent have no answers yet... Could it be because of the wind? pyramid at the Dahshur necropolis. — AFP Rouhani, Obama hail nuke deal... GETTYSBURG, Pennsylvania: Scouts from Troop 114 pose with their parents and organizers at the Continued from Page 1 ly, to dramatically spur growth to eight percent. Iran can Gettysburg Museum of the American Civil War on Jan 9, 2016. — AFP now increase its oil exports, long the lifeblood of its econ- Tehran remained over its “destabilizing activities”. In a omy though Rouhani has moved away from relying on sign of those differences, Washington announced it had crude. The nuclear deal will also open up business in the Amir orders slashing Amiri Diwan budget decided to target the Islamic republic’s ballistic missile 79-million-strong country. US Secretary of State John program with new measures. Five Iranian nationals and a Kerry said yesterday that the United States was to repay Continued from Page 1 has exempted any of the companies of the fees. network of companies based in the United Arab Emirates Iran a $400 million debt and $1.3 billion in interest dating In the meantime, the Assembly’s interior and defense and China were added to an American blacklist, the US to the Islamic revolution. The repayment, arranged after In a related development, liberal MP Rakan Al-Nasef committee discussed the issue of naturalization with Treasury Department announced. an international legal tribunal, is separate from the tens of questioned the finance minister about the government’s Interior Minister Sheikh Mohammad Al-Khaled Al- The White House had threatened to impose the meas- billions of dollars that Iran can now access after the end of procedures in collecting charges imposed on companies Sabah. Head of the committee MP Sultan Al-Shemmari ures last month but withdrew them after Rouhani hit out nuclear sanctions. that utilize government land. The lawmaker asked if any said the minister informed the committee that the files at both their timing and intent. Missiles were not part of The Vienna agreement was nailed down after two of the companies failed to pay the charges and demand- of 155 children of Kuwaiti widows and divorcees are the nuclear agreement. Asked before the new sanctions years of rollercoaster negotiations following Rouhani’s ed a list of the names of such companies. Nasef asked ready and will be issued soon. Shemmari said that the were announced how Iran would react to fresh measures election. It drew a line under a standoff dating back to about if the government has taken legal measures head of the bedoon apparatus Saleh Al-Fadhalah told against it, Rouhani yesterday had said: “Any action will be 2002 marked by failed diplomatic initiatives, ever-tighter against companies that have not paid and inquired if the the committee that the files of 32,000 bedoons are met by a reaction.” sanctions, defiant nuclear expansion by Iran and threats of government has taken measures to stop these compa- under evaluation and citizenship will be granted to The new sanctions came after three Iranian-Americans, military action. International Atomic Energy Agency chief nies from using the land. He also asked if the ministry those who deserve it. including Washington Post reporter Jason Rezaian, left Yukiya Amano was also due in Tehran yesterday for talks Tehran following their release in a prisoner swap with the on the UN watchdog’s enhanced inspections to ensure United States. The prisoner swap involved Rezaian, Iran’s continued compliance with the deal. Gulf shares plunge after oil rout, Iran... Christian pastor Saeed Abedini, former US Marine Amir The steps taken so far by Tehran extend to at least a Hekmati and a fourth man, Nosratollah Khosravi-Roodsari. year - from a few months previously - how long Iran Continued from Page 1 down 4.64 percent on 2,684.9 points, a three-year low. Iranian state television said they departed on a special would need to make one nuclear bomb’s worth of fissile Blue chip properties giant Emaar shed 4.0 percent and plane to Bern in Switzerland but US officials told American material. They include slashing by two-thirds its uranium The bourses of Saudi Arabia, Qatar and Abu Dhabi the leading construction firm Arabtec sank the maxi- media that Khosravi-Roodsari was not on board. The Swiss centrifuges, reducing its stockpile of uranium - enough have already lost in the past two weeks more than they mum allowed 10 percent. Since the beginning of this foreign ministry confirmed that three US prisoners before the deal for several bombs - and removing the core dropped in the whole of 2015. The Saudi Tadawul All- year, Dubai has dropped 15 percent. released by Tehran were due in the country. Washington of the Arak reactor which could have given Iran weapons- Shares Index, the largest Arab market, fell by over 7.2 The Abu Dhabi Securities Exchange also slumped Post publisher Frederick Ryan said in a statement: “We are grade plutonium. Iran has always denied wanting nuclear during trading but recovered slightly to finish down 4.24 percent but remained above the 3,700-point mark. relieved that this 545-day nightmare for Jason and his weapons, saying its activities are exclusively for peaceful 5.44 percent on 5,520.41 points, close to a five-year low. All sectors were down with banks and real estate shed- family is finally over.” purposes including power generation and medical The leading petrochemicals sector dipped 5.1 percent, ding above 5.0 percent. Dubai and Abu Dhabi bourses Under the exchange, Washington said it had granted research. while banks lost 3.7 percent. Since the start of 2016, the are the lowest since Sept 2013. The Kuwait Stock clemency to seven Iranians, six of whom were dual US- Critics, including Obama’s Republican opponents, have TASI has dropped 20.1 percent, more than all of its loss- Exchange dropped 3.2 percent to just above the 5,000- Iranian citizens, and dropped charges against 14 more. poured scorn on the deal, saying it fails to do enough to es last year. point mark, levels only seen in May 2004. The small mar- Obama welcomed the Americans’ release, saying: “When ensure Iran will never acquire the bomb. Israel, widely The Qatar Exchange, the second largest in the Gulf ket of Oman dropped 3.2 percent to below the 5,000- Americans are freed, that’s something we can all cele- assumed to be the Middle East’s only nuclear-armed state after Saudi Arabia’s, plunged 7.2 percent to close trad- point mark for the first time since mid-2009. Bahrain brate.” For a decade the sanctions, imposed in condemna- and Iran’s arch-foe, has repeatedly slammed the agree- ing just above the 8,500-point mark, last seen in April dropped 0.4 percent. tion of Iran’s disputed nuclear program, had crippled the ment. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said Iran had 2013. All the listed firms were in the red and the bourse Since the beginning of 2016, the seven stock markets country’s economy. Rouhani, who has promised that 2016 not given up its hope of obtaining a nuclear weapon. has so far dipped 18 percent this year, more than the 15 have shed more than $130 billion of their market capital- will be a “year of prosperity” for Iranians, told lawmakers “Israel’s policy has been and will remain exactly what has percent it lost in 2015. ization, which now stands at about $800 billion. All Gulf on Sunday that following the lifting of sanctions Iran been followed: to not allow Iran to acquire nuclear The Dubai Financial Market dropped 6.0 percent at stock exchanges ended 2015 in negative territory, led by would seek foreign investment of $30-$50 billion annual- weapons,” Netanyahu told cabinet yesterday. — Agencies the opening but recovered slightly to close the day Saudi Arabia, after the sharp decline in oil prices. — AFP MONDAY, JANUARY 18, 2016 SPORTS

For Mercedes-AMG, Dubai 24-hour race marks the start of a new era

DUBAI: With the first competitive outing of Mercedes-AMG GT3 will be delivered to AMG on the organiser’s website the Mercedes-AMG GT3 by AMG Customer Customer Sport Teams for competitions all (www.24hseries.com). Sport Teams, an extensive phase of testing over the world. Based on the great demand for Tobias Moers, Chairman of the Board of and development is coming to an end. the new car, production capacity was signifi- Management of Mercedes-AMG GmbH: “We Following the car’s world debut at an exhibi- cantly increased. are delighted that we can hand over the first tion in March, 2015, the first tests in competi- Additionally, a total of eight SLS AMG GT3s Mercedes-AMG GT3s to our customer teams tive conditions were carried out at the occa- will also be on the grid in Dubai. AMG after an intense and successful time of testing sion of the VLN endurance championship. Customer Sport Teams Gravity Racing and development. We are certain that our new After successful outings on the N¸rburgring- International, Hofor-Racing, V8 Racing, Preci- car will enable the teams to build on the great Nordschleife and an extensive 30-hour-test at Spark, SPS automotive-performance, IDEC achievements of the SLS AMG GT3. For us, the Portimao, the car now has to prove its poten- Sport Racing and GDL Racing are running one Dubai 24-hour race is the first benchmark for tial in the demanding conditions of the 24- gullwing each. Next to its pair of Mercedes- the new racing season.” hour race in the Dubai desert. AMG GT3s, Black Falcon is also running an SLS Jochen Bitzer, Head of AMG Customer With Black Falcon and RAM Racing, two of AMG GT3. AMG Customer Sport Teams will Sports: “We wish all the AMG Customer Sport the most successful AMG Customer Sport also be scoring points for the AMG Customer Teams a good start into the new season. For Teams are responsible for running the new Sports Championship in Dubai. The internal us, the Dubai 24 Hours always have been a Mercedes-AMG GT3. Since 2012, Black Falcon championship, held for the second time in highlight at the start of the new year in the has won the Dubai 24 Hours on three occa- 2016, rewards the most successful AMG past couple of years. With three Mercedes- sions. RAM Racing came second overall with Customer Sport Teams and drivers. AMG GT3s and eight SLS AMG GT3s, we have a the SLS AMG GT3 last year and won the GT3 The 24-hour race in Dubai got underway on very strong line-up in Dubai. Moreover, we are class teams’ title in the 24H Series. In the Friday, 15 January, at 14.00 hrs (local time). delighted to welcome a new AMG Customer upcoming weeks and months, further Live streaming and live timing were available Sports Team with IDEC Sport Racing.” Coe says trust may take over four years to return

LONDON: Sebastian Coe, the head of ath- came out from the report relatively letics’ crisis-hit governing body, says trust in unscathed, told the BBC on Sunday. the sport may not return until “way “It may be the case that trust does not beyond” his four-year term as president of return until way beyond my term in office.” the IAAF. The WADA report’s co-author Dick An independent commission of the Pound said he thought Coe was the best World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) said in man to reform the sport. the second part of a damning report on The Briton, a double Olympic 1500 Thursday that “corruption was embedded” metres champion who was elected presi- at the International Association of Athletics dent in August, said he took some comfort Federations. that the report found that the IAAF’s sys- The report, whose first part was pub- tems were not chronically broken and that lished in November, said Coe’s predecessor, officials were not “asleep on the job”. He Lamine Diack, ran a clique that covered up said he understood that people would be organised doping and blackmailed athletes sceptical that the IAAF’s council, of which while senior officials looked the other way. he had been a member since 2003, did not “Trust is not going to come over night, it know about doping cover-ups, and added is not as if you make five changes and trust that his own focus had been “limited” due will follow in two weeks’ time,” Coe, who to his other commitments. —Reuters Clarke ‘still has much to learn’ after EurAsia win KUALA LUMPUR: Victorious EurAsia Cup “At the end of the day if your players captain Darren Clarke admitted yesterday don’t perform you can be the best captain he still had much to learn ahead of leading in the world but you’re not going to win. Europe in September’s Ryder Cup against “But this week belongs to the players as the US. Clarke led his team to an emphatic they have just done fantastic. The quality of 13-point demolition of an Asian Tour team golf they have played has been impressive.” to win the EurAsia Cup in Kuala Lumpur Right from the outset each of Clarke’s yesterday. dozen players have been praiseworthy of His 12-man team was never headed his captaincy including his two picks in Lee over the three days leading by three points Westwood and Ian Poulter. Clarke indicated after Friday’s opening fourballs, six points earlier in the week the veteran English pair after the second day foursomes before win- will be a part of his Hazeltine Ryder Cup ning nine of the singles and sharing one in side whether competing or as one of five an 18.5-5.5 points triumph at the non-playing vice-captains. Glenmarie Golf and Country Club. “I have enjoyed this week immensely WENGEN: From left, second placed Italy’s Giuliano Razzoli, first placed, Norway’s Henrik Kristoffersen and third placed Italy’stefano S Gross cel- It was Clarke’s first taste of team leader- and it’s been a wonderful learning experi- ebrate at the finish line at the end of a men’s Alpine Skiing World Cup slalom in Wengen, Switzerland yesterday. —AP ship victory. The Northern Irishman joins ence,” said Clarke. “As everyone knows I recent European Ryder Cup captains Paul have been around the game for a long time McGinley (Seve Trophy 2009, 2011) and and done most things in the game. Colin Montgomerie (Seve Trophy 2002, “But this week has been different with Kristoffersen wins 2003, 2005, Royal Trophy 2010) in having the guys seemingly keen to listen to what I led a team to victory ahead of captaining in have had to say and if my little part in this the Ryder Cup. week has helped them along then well be “There are a lot of things I have learnt it. “We will now go back after this week and this week-time being one of them that I sit down with the European Tour what I did World Cup slalom didn’t have an awful lot of,” said Clarke. well as a captain and what I could have “But there are a lot of positives I can take done better, and then work on those areas from this week and... hopefully I will do a so that we can get the whole package even better job when it comes to September. better come September.” — AFP WENGEN: It was Norway all the way, all Italy. Another Italian, Stefano Gross, was .68 downhill course rather than the adjoining weekend at Wengen. back in third. slalom hill that was too difficult to prepare Henrik Kristoffersen won a World Cup The 21-year-old racer’s surge down the during recent warm weather with little snow. slalom yesterday to follow teammates Aksel final section, after slipping .05 behind On an uphill section of gates, Kristoffersen Lund Svindal and Kjetil Jansrud in making Razzoli’s time split, carried him through the preferred to use a skating-style move while Switzerland’s signature Alpine ski meeting a finish area and almost over a protective some rivals chose an aerodynamic tuck posi- three-race Norwegian sweep. airbag at the back. tion typical of downhill racers. Kristoffersen’s fourth win this season, all in “I told the coaches, ‘If I’m behind on the “I haven’t done that much (cross-country slalom, was also a record 12th for Norway in a last steep, don’t worry, I’m going to get it skiing) in my life, but I’m from Norway so I men’s World Cup campaign. This one is still back,’” Kristoffersen said. guess it’s in my body,” the 21-year-old only 19 races old, and has two months and 24 Hirscher made a surprise exit in the sec- Kristoffersen told The Associated Press after scheduled races to go. ond leg, though he was only 10th fastest in his first run in the morning. “It’s pretty unique, it doesn’t happen every the morning on a flat course that did not suit “This is maybe a little bit too flat. But it’s year,” said Kristoffersen, who also won last him. better to have a race than not.” yesterday at nearby Adelboden. “I don’t think “It could be that everything is over, the While Wengen welcomed the Norwegians it’s a secret. The work that the individual ath- slalom and the overall globes,” Hirscher said. this weekend, it was unkind to Hirscher yet lete does makes the difference.” “Now others are the favorites.” again. He has 36 career World Cup wins - tied A bonus for Norway was Austrian Marcel Kristoffersen made it four straight wins for for sixth in the circuit’s 50-season history - Hirscher’s failure to finish the race, meaning Norway in eight days after Svindal won but none at Wengen in nine tries. the four time defending overall World Cup Saturday’s downhill and Kjetil Jansrud took Sunday’s race was also the first time this champion missed the chance to take back the combined event on Friday. season that Kristoffersen and Hirscher did not the standings lead from Svindal. Norway is typically a cross-country skiing combine to finish 1-2 in slalom. Kristoffersen added to his first-run lead to nation and Kristoffersen showed some Nordic The World Cup now moves on to Austria’s SUBANG: Malaysian Prime Minister Najib Razak, right, presents the winning trophy to finish .30 seconds faster than Guiliano skills on the flat course. The race was run in season highlight, the four-event Team Europe’s captain Darren Clarke of Northern Ireland during the EurAsia Cup golf tour- Razzoli, the 2010 Olympic champion from steadily falling snow on the lower part of the Hannenkahm meeting at Kitzbuehel. — AP nament at the Glenmarie Golf and Country Club in Subang, Malaysia, yesterday. — AP MONDAY, JANUARY 18, 2016 SPORTS England’s Broad on top of the world

LONDON: Stuart Broad found himself bowler to get to the top of the ranked as the number one Test bowler in International Cricket Council rankings, in the world after leading England to victory 2004, with Ian Botham also achieving the over South Africa in Johannesburg. number one spot back in 1980. Broad’s best overseas innings figures of Broad now sits on 880 points and leads six for 17, including a spell of five for one in Ashwin by nine points. England’s win 31 balls on Saturday saw England to a knocked South Africa off the top of the Test series-clinching win. The England pace- team rankings, with their place being taken man’s haul saw him replace India off-spin- by India. Joe Root’s 110 at the Wanderers ner Ravichandran Ashwin and South Africa saw him return to second place in the Test fast bowler Dale Steyn, who didn’t play at batting rankings, above New Zealand’s the Wanderers because of injury, into top Kane Williamson and South Africa’s AB de spot. Villiers, but with Australia captain Steven Stephen Harmison was the last England Smith still on top.

NZ beat Pakistan by 10 wickets in 2nd T20

HAMILTON: Martin Guptill made 87 and ing an outstanding ability to punish even a Kane Williamson 72 in an unbroken record fragmentary lapse in length or line. partnership of 171 that steered New Zealand to a 10-wicket win over Pakistan in BACKBONE the second Twenty20 cricket international The boundaries at Seddon Park are rela- yesterday, leveling the three match series tively short, particularly square on the off at 1-1. side and Williamson punched anything New Zealand took four leg byes from short to boundaries that could not be ade- the fourth ball of the 18th over to win the quately guarded. Williamson reached his MELBOURNE: Australia’s batsman Glenn Maxwell (R) plays a shot as India’s wicketkeeper MS Dhoni looks on during the third one-day interna- match with eight balls to spare. In doing so half century from 35 balls and finished with tional cricket match between India and Australia at the MCG in Melbourne yesterday. — AFP Guptill and Williamson surpassed the 72 from 48 balls with 11 fours. Twnety20 record partnership for all wickets “I think we made those improvements against all nations that had been held for that we wanted to from the last game,” South Africa by Graeme Smith and Loots Williamson said. “I thought the bowling Maxwell heroics guide Bosman at 170. effort was pretty good considering that Pakistan won the opening match by 16 short side and the wind pushing the ball to runs on Friday, defending a total of 171-8 the long side, so it wasn’t easy. and left itself in a similar position at “The Pakistan score was perhaps par Australia to victory Seddon Park when it made 168-7 after win- and it was just good to get off to a good ning the toss and batting. start in the second innings and watch While New Zealand botched its run (Guptill) bat at the other end.” MELBOURNE: Glenn Maxwell blasted 96 from IN CONTROL right back in the game. chase in the first match, losing seven wick- Pakistan seemed to have posted a more- just 83 deliveries to lead Australia to a thrilling Australian openers Shaun Marsh and Aaron However, Maxwell stayed in control and grad- ets for 48 runs after Williamson had made than-competitive total when it came in three-wicket win over India in the third one-day Finch attacked from the outset and cruised in the ually lifted the scoring with a mixture of auda- 70 and Colin Munro 56, the two New after batting on winning the toss with 168- international yesterday and a series victory. first few overs, punishing some wayward Indian cious boundaries and quick running. Earlier, Kohli Zealand openers made no mistakes Sunday 7, just short of its winning tally in the open- After Australian captain Steve Smith won the bowling. Australia raced to 48 before Finch was in magnificent touch as he smashed his runs in steering their team to victory. ing match. toss at the Melbourne Cricket Ground and sent edged Umesh Yadav to wicketkeeper Mahendra off just 117 balls, hitting seven fours and two Williamson ran out Guptill for 2 in one of Umar Akmal provided the backbone of India in to bat, the visitors made 295 for six from Singh Dhoni for a quickfire 21. Marsh (62) and towering sixes to the delight of the huge contin- the most serious blunders of the first match the innings with a superb 56 from 27 balls their 50 overs thanks largely to a superb 117 Steve Smith (41) continued the assault, but left gent of Indian supporters at the MCG. at Eden Park and there seemed a clear that included four fours and four sixes. He from Virat Kohli. arm spinner Ravindra Jadeja got the vital break- In the process Kohli became the fastest man determination from both batsmen to avoid had support from Shoaib Malik who made The Indians were well in contention for their through when he had Smith caught at slip by to reach 7,000 runs in one-day internationals, similar missteps this time around. 39, Mohammad Hafeez with 19 and Shoaib first win of the series when they had Australia in Ajinkya Rahane. Jadeja managed to extract some taking 161 innings to reach the milestone-four Guptill and Williamson controlled New Maqsood with 18. trouble at 215 for six. But Maxwell, who was out turn from the otherwise placid wicket and struck fewer than South Africa’s AB de Villiers. Zealand’s chase, posting their century part- New Zealand took an innovative just one run short of victory, combined with again when he got a ball to spin past the edge of The 27-year-old from Delhi came in with India George Bailey’s bat. Dhoni whipped off the bails on 15 for one after in-form opener Rohit Sharma nership in 12 overs to ensure the home approach to containing the Pakistan bats- James Faulkner to guide Australia home. to leave the Australians on 150 for three. edged Kane Richardson to wicketkeeper team remained ahead of the required run men, opening the bowling with left-arm “The wicket was quite slow so I had to try and Shaun Marsh then edged a ball to Dhoni off Matthew Wade for six. hit the ball in front of square,” Maxwell said. “I rate and to leave Pakistan with few defen- spinner Mitchell Santner and allrounder Ishant Sharma and when Mitchell Marsh (17) and Kohli played superbly to notch up his 24th tried to hit them as clean as I could over cover sive options. Corey Anderson. While the tactic didn’t Matthew Wade (6) both fell cheaply, India were ODI century. — AFP Outstanding bowling by Pakistan cap- work emphatically, it helped curb Pakistan’s and luckily enough they came off the middle. “I tain Shahid Afridi and Wahab Riaz in the total. feel like I’ve been making big strides over the last first match sowed panic among the New “We wanted to mix it up and I guess few months,” he added. SCOREBOARD Zealand middle order after Williamson and when you play to spinners you want to “The way I’m hitting the ball and approaching Munro were out but Williamson ensured share the seam overs throughout,” the game is different to what I’ve been doing MELBOURNE: Scoreboard from the third one-day international between Australia and India at the Melbourne Cricket Ground yesterday: there was no repeat of that indecision. Williamson said. “That was a small plan. I over the last few years.” The win gives Australia an unassailable three-nil lead in the best-of-five There were moments during the New guess it didn’t come off today but that’s India Australia series, but the match was much more of a con- Zealand innings when Pakistan seemed set Twenty20 cricket.” R. Sharma c Wade b Richardson 6 S. Marsh c Dhoni b I. Sharma 62 test than the first two encounters in Perth and to slow New Zealand’s scoring and when The teams next head to Wellington for S. Dhawan b Hastings 68 A. Finch c Dhoni b Yadav 21 Brisbane. Guptill showed signs of concern. But the deciding match of the series on V. Kohli c Bailey b Hastings 117 S. Smith c Rahane b Jadeja 41 Indian captain Mahendra Singh Dhoni said G. Bailey st Dhoni b Jadeja 23 Williamson helped him and New Zealand Thursday. “I think I don’t have any words to A. Rahane c Maxwell b Hastings 50 poor fielding had again cost his side. “It’s tough G. Maxwell c Dhawan b Yadav 96 through those moments and eventually describe the match but I think they played M.S. Dhoni c Maxwell b Hastings 23 to take,” he admitted. “We didn’t field well M. Marsh run out 17 Guptill became the more vigorous of the outstanding cricket,” Pakistan captain G. Singh b Faulkner 8 tonight. There were at least three boundaries we M. Wade c S. Dhawan b I. Sharma 6 two, reaching his half century from 40 balls Shahid Afridi said. “Especially Guptill and R. Jadeja not out 6 J. Faulkner not out 21 should have easily stopped.” R. Dhawan not out 3 J. Hastings not out 0 and finishing with 87 from 58 balls with Williamson, they played very well, they Australia successfully chased down 309 and nine fours and four sixes. played extraordinary. “I was happy, the Extras (lb5 w9) 14 Extras (lb3 w5 nb1) 9 308 in the opening two matches. On a lifeless Total (6 wickets, 50 overs) 295 Total (7 wickets: 48.5 overs) 296 Williamson’s innings was just as influen- team was happy with our total but the one MCG wicket, 295 did not look substantial enough Fall of wickets: 1-15 (R. Sharma), 2-134 (S. Dhawan) 3- Fall of wickets: 1-48 (Finch), 2-112 (Smith), 3-150 tial. He had been the more productive of thing, we didn’t bowl with enough variation to challenge the strong Australian batting line- 243 (Rahane), 4-265 (Kohli), 5-274 (Singh), 6-288 (Bailey), 4-167 (S. Marsh), 5-204 (M. Marsh), 6-215 the two for much of the partnership, show- and that was the thing we missed.” — AP up. (Dhoni) (Wade), 7-295 (Maxwell) “The batsmen are working hard but we’re Did not bat: K. Richardson, S. Boland Did not bat: U. Yadav, I. Sharma, B. Sran Bowling: Yadav 9.5-0-68-2 (1w 1nb), Sran 8-0-63-0 always talking about 10-15 extra runs,” Dhoni Bowling: Richardson 10-0-48-1 (2w), Hastings 10-0- (2w), I. Sharma 10-0-53-2 (1w), R. Dhawan 6-0-33-0, said. “This was a slightly different wicket but 58-4 (1w), Faulkner 10-0-63-1 (3w), Boland 9-0-63-0 Singh 5-0-27-0, Jadeja 10-0-49-2 (1w). there was not much the batsmen could have (1w), Maxwell 9-0-46-0, Marsh 2-0-12-0. Result: Australia won by three wickets. done — 295 was a good total.” Bangladesh win 2nd T20 by 42 runs to lead series 2-0

KHULNA: Bangladesh tightened its grip on the four-match T20 series against Zimbabwe, securing a comfortable 42-run win in the second SCOREBOARD game yesterday. The hosts scored a competitive 167-3 after opting to bat first, and a KHULNA, Bangladesh: Scoreboard of the second Twenty20 interna- disciplined bowling display then restricted Zimbabwe to 125-8. tional between Bangladesh and Zimbabwe at the Sheikh Abu Naser Sabbir Rahman was key to Bangladesh’s victory with a brilliant all- Stadium in Khulna yesterday: round performance. He first hit an unbeaten 43 and then claimed 3-11 off 2.1 overs to rattle Zimbabwe. Bangladesh Opener Soumya Sarkar also contributed 43 off 33 balls to give his Tamim Iqbal c Vitori b Muzarabani 23 side a fluent start. Shakib Al Hasan added 27 not out. Zimbabwe started Soumya Sarkar c Waller b Cremer 43 well but Bangladesh’s bowlers hit back to stall progress. Opener Sabbir Rahman not out 43 Hamilton Masakadza resisted with 30 while Malcolm Waller made 29. Mahmudullah c Mutumbami b W. Masakadza 1 Bangladesh leads the series 2-0. “Our goal was to win each and every Mushfiqur Rahim retired hurt 24 match,” Bangladesh captain Mashrafe Mortaza said. “We played well as a Shakib Al Hasan not out 27 HAMILTON: Corey Anderson of New Zealand bowls during the second Twenty20 bowling unit. Batting wasn’t that bad but we need more improvements. Extras (b2,lb1, w3) 6 cricket match between New Zealand and Pakistan at Seddon Park in Hamilton yes- Those who get set should play a long innings.” Total (for three wickets) 167 terday. — AFP Soumya and Tamim Iqbal combined for 45 runs in six overs in a Fall of wickets: 1-45 (Tamim), 2-75 (Soumya), 3-76 (Mahmudullah) boundary-filled start for Bangladesh but Tamim, who scored 23 off 17 Did not bat: Shuvagata Hom, Nurul Hasan, Mashrafe Mortaza, Al-Amin balls, was dismissed before the first powerplay ended after a top edge Hossain, Mustafizur Rahman SCOREBOARD off a slower delivery from Taurai Muzurabani. Bowling: Vitori 4-0-29-0, Madziva 3-0-30-0, Muzarabani 4-0-35-1 (w2), Soumya continued hitting out but his aggressive mood led to his dis- W. Masakadza 4-0-32-1, Cremer 4-0-29-1 (w1), Williams 1-0-9-0 HAMILTON, New Zealand: Completed scoreboard in the second Twenty20 between New missal, caught while trying to hit leg spinner Graeme Cremer over the Zealand and Pakistan in Hamilton yesterday: deep mid-wicket boundary. Zimbabwe Mahmudullah (1) was caught behind after trying to cut a delivery V. Sibanda b Mortaza 21 Pakistan 0-23-2 (w1), Astle 1-0-13-0, Elliott 4-0-36-1 H. Masakadza c Mahmudullah b Sabbir 30 Mohammad Hafeez c Astle b Santner 19 that didn’t rise as he expected. Mushfiqur Rahim brought some calm to R. Mutumbami c Soumya b Sabbir 7 Ahmed Shehzad c Williamson b Anderson 9 the crease, while Sabbir hit three sixes in three overs as Bangladesh New Zealand S. Williams lbw b Shuvagata 7 Sohaib Maqsood c Santner b Elliott 18 M. Guptill not out 87 gained the momentum. While Sabbir was clearing the ropes effortlessly, Rahim smartly rotat- M. Waller c Soumya b Al-Amin 29 Shoaib Malik b McClenaghan 39 K. Williamson not out 72 ed the scoreboard with a series of singles and made 24 before retiring P. Moor b Mustafizur 9 Umar Akmal not out 56 Extras (lb6, w6) 12 with a right hamstrong injury, having added 52 runs with Sabbir. N. Madziva b Mustafizur 0 Shahid Afridi c Williamson by Milne 7 Total: (no wickets; 17.4 overs) 171 Imad Wasim c Milne b McClenaghan 8 Shakib accelerated the scoring with Sabbir to ensure Bangladesh set G. Cremer c & b Sabbir 8 Did not bat: Colin Munro, Corey Anderson, Sarfraz Ahmed run out (Milne) 1 Zimbabwe a challenging total. The tourists also had a good start as W. Masakadza not out 6 Ross Taylor, Grant Elliott, Luke Wahab Riaz not out 0 Masakadza and Vusi Sibanda brought up 50 in seven overs. Mashrafe Extras (lb5, w2, nb1) 8 Extras (b1, lb3, w7) 11 Ronchi, Mitchell Santner, Todd Astle, Adam broke the partnership by dismissing Sibanda for 21 and Sabbir Rahman Total (for eight wickets) 125 Total (7 wickets; 20 overs) 168 Milne, Mitchell McClenaghan. struck a bigger blow by removing in-form Maskadza after he looked set Fall of wickets: 1-50 (Sibanda), 2-55 (H. Masakadza), 3-65 (Williams), 4- Fall of wickets: 1-29 (Shehzad), 2-34 (Hafeez), 3- Bowling: Umar Gul 2-0-18-0 (w1), Mohammad to hit out. Masakadza scored 30 off 28, leaving Zimbabwe at 55-2. 68 (Mutumbami), 5-105 ( Waller), 6-108( Madziva), 7-109 (Moor), 8-125 67 (Maqsood), 4-130 (Malik), 5-137 (Afridi), 6- Amir 3-0-34-0, Imad Wasim His dismissal sparked the collapse with Waller the only non-opener to (Cremer) 161 (Wasim), 7-163 (Sarfraz) 4-0-32-0, Shahid Afridi 4-0-38-0, Wahab Riaz 3- make double figures. Left arm fast bowler Mustafizur Rahman had 2-19. Did not bat: T. Muzarabani, B. Vitori Did not bat: Umar Gul, Mohammad Amir 0-30-0 (w1), Shoaib Malik “The bowlers did well to restrict them to 160-odd. We just needed a bit Bowling: Shuvagata 3-0-18-1, Shakib 4-0-26-0, Al-Amin 3-0-21-1, Bowling: Santner 3-0-29-1 (w2), Anderson 4-0- 1.4-0-13-0 more with the bat than we managed,” stand-in captain Masakadza said. Mustafizur 3.5-0-19-2 (w1), Mortaza 4-0-25-1 (nb1), Sabbir 2.1-0-11-3 (w1) Result: Bangladesh won by 42 runs, lead four-match series 2-0. 26-1 (w3), Milne 4-0-37-1 (w1), McClenaghan 4- Result: New Zealand won by 10 wickets. The third T20 is on Wednesday. —AP MONDAY, JANUARY 18, 2016 SPORTS Fans, rivals keen for Hewitt farewell to play out

MELBOURNE: Lleyton Hewitt embarks the 2005 final to Russian Marat Safin. hopefully many matches at this year’s time Grand Slam-winner, said he would Duckworth is one of Hewitt’s proteges in on his emotional farewell tournament Record Grand Slam champion Roger Australian Open. “We all want Lleyton to be in a unique situation playing an Australia’s Davis Cup squad, of which the with rivals and fans hoping for a deep Federer said he has always admired win. It’s going to be an amazing match,” Australian for only the second time at veteran player is now captain. run at the Australian Open in his 20th Hewitt’s work ethic and fighting spirit. Tomic said. “Then again, James is also his home Grand Slam in two decades. “It Duckworth, 23, finds himself in an and final attempt starting tomorrow. The “We always got along well. It was some- Australian. It’s a bit strange. But I think is a unique situation. It’s something that invidious situation being in a position of Aussie warhorse, renowned for his all-or- times feisty on the court, but it was James is also looking at this, if he can I haven’t had to deal with, playing possibly ending Hewitt’s career and nothing fighting spirit, is pitted against always respectful,” said fellow 34-year- win this match, he knocks off Lleyton in another Aussie on Rod Laver Arena,” playing the spoiler. “It’s not something young compatriot James Duckworth in a old Federer. “I always admired his work his last match in his career, it’s also a big Hewitt said. “Yeah, it’s awkward, but in that I’d like to do. But sort of been put in likely night match on Rod Laver Arena ethic, his on-court fighting spirit, even opportunity for him. “I’m excited. I’m another way it’s fun to go out there with this position now,” Duckworth said. with the threat that every match could though it annoyed me sometimes going to be watching it. ‘Ducks’. I’ve been helping him the last “Yeah, I guess if I win, I’ll apologise to be his last. Adding poignancy to his last because in the beginning it was more All of Australia is going to be watch- few years. He’s been part of the Davis him. But, yeah, I’m going to have to sort hurrah is that the 34-year-old has not crazy than now.” Rising home star ing it. It’s going to be a very, very excit- Cup squad on a number of occasions. of put that out of my mind and go out won his home Grand Slam in two Bernard Tomic said all of Australia would ing match to watch.” For his part Hewitt, He’s a great kid. “I’ll just try to go out there and try to play my game, give it decades, although he came close, losing be cheering on Hewitt in the first of a former world number one and two- there and put on a good show.” my best shot.” —AFP Halep keeping Aussie expectations in check

MELBOURNE: World number two of the Sydney International last week but Simona Halep said yesterday she is deter- is not getting her hopes too high of mined to taste Grand Slam glory but is breaking her Grand Slam duck over the keeping her expectations in check after next fortnight. an injury-marred build-up to the “I come here without expectations. I Australian Open. have only one tournament before this The Romanian is enjoying her highest Grand Slam,” she said. “Actually I feel ever ranking after a stellar 2015 in which good, I feel confident. You never know. I she won titles at Shenzhen, Dubai and just have to go on court and take my Indian Wells, raking in more than US$4.5 chances every time.” million in prize money. Halep, now coached by Australian The ultimate goal is Grand Slam glory, Darren Cahill, has failed to get beyond with world number one and 21-time the quarter-finals in five previous major winner Serena Williams scheduled attempts at Melbourne Park. Her best to meet her in the final if the seedings go Grand Slam showing was reaching the to plan. 2014 French Open final. “I think to win a Grand Slam,” she said She gets her tournament underway when asked about her season’s focus. “I tomorrow against Chinese qualifier don’t know if it’s going to happen this Zhang Shuai with a potential quarter- year, but this is my biggest goal. And to final looming against veteran eighth have good matches, have good tourna- seed Venus Williams, who has been play- ments, and to play everything I want, ing the Australian Open since 1998. that I scheduled already.” “I think the tournament is open,” Halep’s chances of landing her first Halep said, with most of the women’s top major in Melbourne could be hindered 10 having their Grand Slam build-up by an niggling achilles injury that forced hampered by either illness or injury. her out of the lead-up Brisbane “Everyone has a chance to win this title, I International. mean from top 10. I think every tourna- She recovered to make the semi-finals ment is open.” —AFP

MICHIGAN: Golden State Warriors guard Klay Thompson (11) towers over Detroit Pistons guard Reggie Jackson during the first halfof an NBA basketball game, Saturday, in Auburn Hills, Mich. —AP Pistons deny Warriors share of NBA win-loss record

AUBURN HILLS: Kentavious Caldwell-Pope Conference. Millsap, who has scored at least scored five points. The Lakers have lost six of held his own against Stephen Curry for most 18 points in 11 straight games, reached the seven since a season-high three-game win of the night, scoring 20 points as the Detroit career milestone on a layup in the second streak. Pistons handed the Golden State Warriors quarter. Thaddeus Young led the Nets with 18 their second loss in three games, 113-95 on points. Only two other Brooklyn players were CELTICS 119, WIZARDS 117 Saturday. Much of the pregame talk centered in double figures. Jae Crowder had a go-ahead layup with 3.9 around how well Caldwell-Pope might be able seconds left off a pass from Marcus Smart, lift- MELBOURNE: Romania’s Simona Halep smiles during a press conference, ahead of to defend Curry. The Golden State star scored 76ERS 114, TRAIL BLAZERS 89 ing Boston to the road win. Isaiah Thomas the Australian Open tennis championships in Melbourne, Australia, yesterday. — AP 38 points, but Caldwell-Pope gave the Pistons Jahlil Okafor had 25 points and 10 scored 32 points for the Celtics, who earned a boost offensively. The Warriors (37-4) rebounds to help Philadelphia snap a four- their third consecutive victory. They had reached the midway point of the regular sea- game losing streak. Richaun Holmes added 17 dropped their last three road games. Crowder son a win short of the best 41-game start in points and Ish Smith and Robert Covington added 22 points for Boston, which had five Djokovic, Serena hot to trot NBA history. The 1971-72 Los Angeles Lakers scored 16 apiece for the Sixers, who enjoyed a players in double figures and trailed by as and 1995-96 Chicago Bulls started 38-3. rare blowout victory. They improved to 5-37 many as 11 before halftime. John Wall scored on day one in steamy Melbourne Detroit retired Ben Wallace’s No. 3 jersey at with their most lopsided win of the season. a season-high 36 points for Washington, but halftime, and by that time the Pistons led 65- Damian Lillard scored 14 points for the missed a potential tying runner at the buzzer. MELBOURNE: Defending champions match on Rod Laver, is more open to ques- Novak Djokovic and Serena Williams will be tion. The American has barely swung a rack- 49 on a raucous night at the Palace. Andre Blazers, who dropped to 18-25 as their three- He also had 13 assists and seven steals in 44 hoping to get the Australian Open off to a et since the semi-final defeat to Italy’s Drummond had 14 points and 21 rebounds, game winning streak ended. C.J. McCollum minutes. Washington was missing Bradley sizzling start when they play back-to-back Roberta Vinci at last September’s U.S. Open and Reggie Jackson scored 20 points for finished with 13 points, and Mason Plumlee Beal, who sat out the second of back-to-back on Rod Laver Arena today. The weather also denied her a shot at the single season Detroit. The Pistons had six players in double and Miles Leonard had 12 apiece. games. looks set to do its part in keeping tempera- grand slam. The 21-times grand slam cham- figures, while Golden State had only three. tures high from the off at Melbourne Park pion said on Saturday the knee inflamma- Klay Thompson scored 24 points for the JAZZ 109, LAKERS 82 BUCKS 105, HORNETS 92 with peaks of 37 Celsius (98.6 Fahrenheit) tion that has bothered her recently was no Warriors. Rudy Gobert had 18 points, 18 rebounds Khris Middleton scored 24 points on 11-of- forecast for the opening day of the year’s longer a problem and she was “at 130 per- and five blocked shots, leading Utah to the 16 shooting, leading Milwaukee to the road first grand slam. cent” for her first round tie. Whether or not GRIZZLIES 103, KNICKS 95 easy win. The Jazz used a 26-5 spurt in the win. Greg Monroe had 19 points and 10 The two dominant players of last year, her comments can be taken at face value, Memphis beat New York in the first game first quarter, including three baskets by Trey rebounds for Milwaukee, and Giannis Djokovic and Williams are no strangers to writing off Williams for whatever reason is a between the teams since the NBA suspended Burke, to run away with the game. The Lakers’ Antetokounmpo finished with 14 points and the heat of the Australian summer, of dangerous business and it would be no sur- Grizzlies forward Matt Barnes for two games last lead came at 7-4. Gobert recorded his first 11 boards. Jabari Parker scored 15 points. course, but sweltering conditions might prise at all if she swatted Giorgi aside as she for his fight with Knicks coach Derek Fisher in double-double since returning from an MCL Milwaukee shot 54.2 percent (39 for 72) from help expose any flaws in their early season embarks on her bid for a seventh singles October. Barnes finished with two points and injury. Gordon Hayward added 14 points for the field in its fourth win in six games. The form or fitness. title. Her fellow 34-year-old Roger Federer, nine rebounds in 26 minutes. Despite the Utah, and Trey Lyles finished with 17 points Bucks also had a 46-35 rebounding edge. That looks less likely to be the case with 17-times a grand slam winner, takes centre buildup to the first game between the sides, and nine rebounds. Lou Williams led the Charlotte has lost nine of 10. Jeremy Lin led Djokovic, who opens his campaign to stage in the evening session on Rod Laver there were no incidents between Barnes and Lakers with 20 points and D’Angelo Russell the Hornets with 15 points on 6-of-13 shoot- match Roy Emerson’s record tally of six Arena as he embarks on his quest for a fifth Fisher. Marc Gasol had 37 points and eight added 13. Kobe Bryant played 15 minutes and ing. —AP men’s singles titles against South Korea’s Melbourne Park crown against Georgian rebounds to help the Grizzlies to their fourth Chung Hyeon. Coming off a year in which Nikoloz Basilashvili. Another former cham- win in five games. He was 15 for 29 from the he won 11 tournaments and three of the pion, women’s fifth seed Maria Sharapova, NBA Results/Standings four majors, the 28-year-old Serbian iron- takes on Japan’s Nao Hibino in the prime- field. Kristaps Porzingis led the Knicks with 17 points, while Kyle O’Quinn added 15 points. man should safely negotiate his opening time match on Margaret Court Arena but LA Clippers 103, Sacramento 110; Washington 117, Boston 119; Atlanta 114, Brooklyn 86; match whatever the weather. The condition local eyes might be more on Hisense Arena Detroit 113, Golden State 95; Philadelphia 114, Portland 89; Utah 109, LA Lakers 82; Memphis KINGS 110, CLIPPERS 103 of Williams, who faces unpredictable Italian where Australian young gun Nick Kyrgios 103, New York 95; Charlotte 92, Milwaukee 105. Camila Giorgi in her opener in the second plays Pablo Carreno Busta. — Reuters DeMarcus Cousins had 19 points and 13 rebounds, Omri Casspi added 17 points and Eastern Conference Western Conference the Kings stopped the Clippers’ 10-game win Atlantic Division Northwest Division streak. Casspi went 5 for 8 from 3-point range. W L PCT GB Oklahoma City 29 12 .707 — J.J. Redick scored 22 points, hitting five 3- Toronto 25 15 .625 — pointers, and reserve Jamal Crawford added Utah 18 22 .450 10.5 20 points for the Clippers, who were tied with Boston 22 19 .537 3.5 Portland 18 25 .419 12 the idle Spurs for longest active win streak in New York 20 22 .476 6 Denver 15 25 .375 13.5 the NBA. Cole Aldrich had 19 points and 10 Brooklyn 11 30 .268 14.5 Minnesota 12 29 .293 17 rebounds in his second start for the Clippers, Philadelphia 5 37 .119 21 who never led in the second half. Pacific Division Sacramento’s Rudy Gay added 18 points and Central Division Golden State 37 4 .902 — Darren Collison had 17. Cleveland 28 10 .737 — LA Clippers 26 14 .650 10.5 Chicago 23 16 .590 5.5 HAWKS 114, NETS 86 Sacramento 17 23 .425 19.5 Indiana 22 18 .550 7 Paul Millsap scored 21 points and went Detroit 22 18 .550 7 Phoenix 13 28 .317 24 past 10,000 for his career, leading Atlanta to a LA Lakers 9 33 .214 28.5 dominant second half. Brooklyn scored the Milwaukee 18 25 .419 12.5 first seven points of the third quarter, tying it at 55. The Hawks pulled away from there, Southeast Division Southwest Division pushing the lead to 84-68 by the end of the Atlanta 24 17 .585 — San Antonio 35 6 .854 — period and as many as 33 in the final quarter. Miami 23 17 .575 0.5 Dallas 23 18 .561 12 Atlanta stopped a two-game losing streak and Orlando 20 19 .513 3 Memphis 23 19 .548 12.5 reached the midpoint of the season at 24-17. Washington 19 20 .487 4 Houston 21 20 .512 14 MELBOURNE: Serbia’s Novak Djokovic plays a forehand return during a practice session A year ago, the Hawks were 33-8 on the way Charlotte 18 22 .450 5.5 New Orleans 13 26 .333 21 ahead of the 2016 Australian Open tennis tournament in Melbourne yesterday. — AFP to claiming the top seed in the Eastern MONDAY, JANUARY 18, 2016 SPORTS Monaco win 2-0 at Lorient to go 2nd in French league PARIS: Monaco moved up to second “It was a tough game against a good but trails runaway league leader Paris quarterfinals. But Spanish coach Michel’s the 60th, latching onto a pass from mid- place in the French league after winning 2- passing side,” Monaco center half Andrea Saint-Germain by a massive 21 points. PSG team got off to a good start when Belgium fielder Barrada and setting up winger 0 at Lorient yesterday, with both goals Raggi said. Lorient played better in the won 1-0 at Toulouse on Saturday thanks to striker Michy Batshuayi put the visitors Georges-Kevin Nkoudou. coming in an improved second-half per- first half but striker Benjamin Jeannot a late header from Zlatan Ibrahimovic. ahead in the 12th minute, finishing from But Marseille’s defense fell asleep formance. failed to muster a shot on target. Elsewhere, Marseille moved provision- close range after good work from mid- moments later and forward Ronny Rodelin Promising midfielder Thomas Lemar “I don’t know how we lost this game, ally up to seventh place with a much- fielder Abdelaziz Barrada. was left unmarked to head in Julien Feret’s put Monaco ahead with a shot that they created absolutely nothing in the first needed 3-1 win away to Normandy side Having grabbed his 12th league goal of free-kick Marseille rallied and, after crashed in off the underside of the cross- half,” Lorient defender Francois Bellugou Caen. the season, Batshuayi missed a great Nkoudou and Sarr both missed chances in bar in the 54th minute, and Portugal mid- said. “Once they scored early in the second Marseille had drawn its previous four chance to make it 2-0 in the 28th when he quick succession, Sarr wrapped up the win fielder Joao Moutinho curled in an excel- half we were all a bit stunned.” Monaco is league matches, and also lost 2-1 at volleyed wide from Bouna Sarr’s in the 83rd when he volleyed in a cross lent free kick four minutes later. two points ahead of third-place Angers Toulouse midweek in the League Cup cross.Batshuayi then turned provider in from midfielder Alaixys Romao. —AP

Neville still winless in Liga after Valencia draw

MADRID: Valencia coach Gary Neville this immediately.” called his side’s first-half performance Valencia, who last won La Liga in 2004 “unacceptable” after they were held to a 2-2 under Rafa Benitez, are struggling in their draw at home to Rayo Vallecano in La Liga domestic league but still have a chance of on Sunday but said he was confident they silverware in the Europa League and the could turn things around soon. King’s Cup. Neville is still without a win in six They play Las Palmas home and away in Spanish top flight games in charge since the quarter-finals of the Spanish Cup this taking over from the sacked Nuno Espirito month and the first leg of their Europa Santo last month and Valencia are stuck League tie against Rapid Vienna is at the down in 10th place after four draws and Mestalla on Feb. 18. two defeats during the former Manchester Neville, whose contract runs until the United and England defender’s tenure. end of the season, said there were two pos- The ambitious Singapore-owned club itives from Sunday’s setback, which are in danger of missing out on a berth in prompted whistling from disgruntled continental competition for 2016-17 and home fans: are eight points adrift of the European “Our response in the second half and places with just over half the season the fact that the players showed a will to played. fight,” he said. “It’s hard to explain what happened in “I have confidence in the work that we the first half, it was a very disappointing are undertaking and I agree that the results performance,” Neville told a news confer- aren’t what we had hoped for. ence after Valencia twice had to come from “It isn’t due to a lack of effort from the behind to rescue a point at the Mestalla. players. We’ve got a point, we will carry on “In football you have to win and enjoy working tomorrow and I’m sure that if we yourself and we didn’t show any of that,” apply ourselves as we did in the second added the 40-year-old. “We have to correct half we will get more points.” — Reuters

Villarreal draw to pull level with Real Madrid in Liga

BARCELONA: Villarreal’s scoreless draw scoring in the 88th. with Real Betis was good enough for it “We played more with heart than UDINE: Juventus’s Kwadwo Asamoah, center, and Udinese’s Molla Wague, left, challenge for the ball during the Serie A soccer match between to provisionally pull level on points with with good football, now we must start Udinese and Juventus at the Friuli Stadium in Udine, Italy, yesterday. — AP third-place Real Madrid in the Spanish winning games,” Levante goalie Diego league on Saturday. Villarreal’s best scor- Marino said.Manuel “Nolito” Agudo ing opportunity came just moments watched from the stands amid specula- after kickoff of the evenly contested tion of a transfer to Barcelona, as his Juventus beat Udinese, match at El Madrigal Stadium, when Celta broke a three-game losing streak Roberto Soldado sent the ball off the far to remain in fifth place. Sevilla stayed in upright. sixth after striker Kevin Gameiro scored Fourth-place Villarreal’s winning two goals just before halftime to help Roma held by Verona streak ended at six straight rounds, but it beat Malaga for its ninth consecutive equaled Madrid on points, and moved home win. MILAN: Juventus beat 10-man Udinese 4-0 to accept, but there are things to take from it, like son. Alex Sandro netted his first in Serie A three within four points of leader Atletico Gameiro ran onto a long free kick by move back into second spot in Serie A yesterday, the great work rate and the disappointment of minutes from halftime, firing into the far corner Madrid and two points of Barcelona Adil Rami and lifted the ball over goal- while Luciano Spalletti’s second spell in charge the team when they came back into the dressing from the edge of the area to complete the before all three title rivals play. keeper Carlos Kameni to open for the of Roma began with a 1-1 draw against bottom room. We have to work.” embarrassing rout. “Those were a lot of victories, but hosts before halftime. side Hellas Verona. Elsewhere, Lazio fought back from two goals Udinese almost got a consolation in the sec- they covered up how we were playing. He made it 11 league goals this sea- Paulo Dybala scored twice, including a 25th- down to draw 2-2 at Bologna after home ond half but Juventus goalkeeper Gianluigi We need to rest our minds and then get son just two minutes later when Sevilla minute penalty after Udinese defender Danilo defender Adam Masina was sent off, while rele- Buffon fingertipped Francesco Lodi’s free kick back to training,” Villarreal coach struck on the break, this time using a was sent off for bringing down Mario gation-threatened Carpi beat Sampdoria 2-1 for onto the post. Marcelino Garcia said. “This can help us deft flick with the inside of his boot to Mandzukic. Dybala also provided two assists for a second successive win. Chievo Verona drew 1-1 Spalletti, who first coached Roma from 2005- to improve.” beat Kameni. Sami Khedira and Alex Sandro as Juventus domi- against Empoli and Genoa beat 10-man Palermo 09, returned to the club this week after Rudi Elsewhere, Celta Vigo got two goals Charles scored in the second half for nated the first half. 4-0 in the lunchtime kickoff. Garcia was sacked following just one win in its from John Guidetti to earn a 4-3 win Malaga, which had its first defeat in With its 10th consecutive league win, Udinese had beaten Juventus on the opening last 10 matches in all competitions. Juventus moved two points behind Napoli after day and was looking for a similar result to cele- But Roma’s struggles continued against after weathering bottom-side Levante’s eight rounds. “This team needs confi- the Serie A leader’s 3-1 win over Sassuolo on brate the inauguration of the Nuovo Stadio Verona, which hasn’t won a match all season. spirited second-half rally, while Sevilla dence and Kevin showed that today,” Saturday. Inter Milan, which drew at Atalanta on Friuli, where all 25,000 seats were sold out. Radja Nainggolan broke the deadlock four downed Malaga 2-1. Guidetti turned in Sevilla manager Unai Emery said. “He Saturday, was two points further back. minutes from halftime with his first league goal Iago Aspas’ back pass to break through has a knack for scoring and it’s our job to “There are still 18 games to go, we need to EMBARRASSING ROUT of the season after a brilliant backheeled assist in the first half, and five minutes later the create chances for him.” Sevilla’s Vicente get a lot more wins to get to the right amount However, Juventus took the lead in the 15th from Daniele de Rossi. striker chipped home his second. Iborra and Malaga’s Arthur Boka were for the title,” Juventus coach Massimiliano Allegri minute when Dybala curled a free kick over the The goal came moments after Edin Dzeko Aspas added a third from a solo sent off for two yellow cards each. Also, said. “Napoli is on an extraordinary run, it is the wall and matters grew worse three minutes later. had hit the post, prompting hope of a better effort, but Celta staggered after Real Sociedad midfielder Xabi Prieto favorite at the moment, but the top five in the Udinese failed to clear a corner and Dybal second half for the hosts. Levante’s Deyverson and Pedro Lopez earned and converted a penalty in the table all have the chance to win it.” nodded the ball across the six-yard box for an Both sides hit the woodwork after the break scored twice in a three-minute span 75th to salvage a 1-1 draw at home with Fiorentina can leapfrog above Inter with a unmarked Khedira to head home. before Verona levelled just after the hour when with 20 minutes left. Deportivo La Coruna, after Luis Alberto win at AC Milan later. Roma is nine points behind Any hope Udinese had of rescuing something Leandro Castan brought down Pawel Wszolek Fabian Orellana’s goal appeared to put the visitors in front. Sociedad hit the Napoli. from the match evaporated in the 25th. Stephan and Giampaolo Pazzini fired the resulting penal- have finished Levante off, until Jose crossbar twice in the final minutes, and “We didn’t do very well, even if we tried to Lichtsteiner sent Mandzukic clear and he was ty in off the underside of the crossbar. Dzeko and created chances which we then didn’t make brought down by Danilo, who was duly sent off. should have won it for Roma in stoppages but Morales added drama to the end after settled for a point. — AP the most of,” Spalletti said. “It’s a difficult result to Dybala converted for his 11th goal of the sea- headed over the bar from close range. —AP Higuain hits 20 from 20 as Napoli stretch lead

MILAN: Gonzalo Higuain took his tally to 20 under Rafael Benitez last season, but he was goals in as many Serie A games this season as quick to praise his players. “This was a good Napoli went four points clear of Inter Milan and important win for us,” he said. “It wasn’t after a thrilling 3-1 win over Sassuolo on easy to come back into the game but the reac- Saturday. tion the lads gave showed that they are a real Until Saturday’s clash in Naples, impressive team.” Sassuolo had gone unbeaten against five of Napoli had the worst possible start, Nicola this season’s title challengers having claimed Sansone earning an early penalty after being wins over Napoli, Juventus and Inter and fouled by Raul Albiol and Falcinelli stepping drawn with Roma and Fiorentina. up to wrong-foot Pepe Reina in the Napoli But Higuain, who is well on his way to this goal after just three minutes. season’s Capocannoniere (top scorer) award, If memories of Napoli’s defeat to Sassuolo did brilliantly to give Napoli a 42nd minute on the opening season floated back, they lead after Jose Callejon’s 19th-minute header were soon put to rest as Napoli replied in posi- cancelled out Diego Falcinelli’s opener from tive fashion. the spot. When Insigne ran half the length of the Even before his second goal, he had already pitch to set up Higuain the Argentine’s drive done enough to earn the praise of Sassuolo sailed off target while under pressure. The coach Eusebio Di Francesco. “For 41 minutes threat of pacey front man Insigne finally came my defenders made sure he didn’t get a touch. good on 19 minutes when he got deep, wait- Then on his first touch of the ball he showed ed for Callejon’s call and watched as the all his class,” said Di Francesco. Spaniard flicked a near post header past “You don’t need me to explain how good Consigli to claim his first league goal of the he is.” Just as Napoli were hanging on to a 2-1 season. lead, Higuain beat Andrea Consigli with a Napoli immediately took the momentum, fierce shot from inside the area in the third and although Reina had to look sharp to palm minute of added-on time to wrap up the win. Matteo Politano’s angled drive to safety the Napoli’s 13th win of the campaign leaves hosts saw Insigne hit the upright with a curler them top on 44 points with a four-point cush- after he had nutmegged a defender. ion on Inter, who scraped a 1-1 draw away to The stadium erupted three minutes before Atalanta to drop points for the second consec- half-time when Higuain put his predator’s NAPLES: Napoli’s Argentinian-French forward Gonzalo Higuain (R) kicks and scores a goal during the Italian Serie A football match utive match after last week’s defeat to instincts on display to give the hosts a 2-1 between Napoli and Sassuolo Calcio at the San Paolo stadium in Naples on Saturday. — AFP Sassuolo. lead, throwing Lorenzo Ariaudo to the ground It means champions Juventus, in third at and off his scent before rushing in to pounce Insigne came close again when he curled from Lorenzo Pellegrini go wide. erally, in the final minute of added-on time. five points off the pace, can move back up to on Hamsik’s pinpoint delivery. an effort just over, minutes before being Reina wasn’t helping to settle nerves either, Callejon did well chasing to stop the ball second and two points clear of Inter with a Napoli enjoyed a bright start to the second replaced by Dries Mertens. Napoli, however, the Spaniard scuffing a clearance that he going out of play and found Higuain win away to Udinese yesterday. half and twice Higuain came close inside the remained under threat and Pepe Reina did chased down and swept from the feet of unmarked inside the area to beat Consigli Napoli coach Maurizio Sarri has been cred- opening six minutes, his second effort notably well not to panic when he desperately pushed Falcinelli 35 metres out from his goal. down low in what was the final kick of the ited with transforming a side that finished fifth flashing inches wide of Consigli’s upright. away a cross before seeing a diving header But Sassuolo took their eye off the ball, lit- game. — AFP Clarke ‘still has Juventus beat much to learn’ after Udinese, Roma EurAsia win held by Verona

MONDAY, JANUARY 18, 2016 16 19

Maxwell heroics guide Australia to victory Page 17

LIVERPOOL: Manchester United's English striker Wayne Rooney (R) tackles Liverpool's Spanish defender Alberto Moreno (L) during the English Premier League football match between Liverpool and Manchester United at Anfield yesterday. — AFP Liverpool felled by Rooney sucker-punch

football’s two most successful clubs. it’s not that good but they won. I feel really frustrated. A United and Liverpool kicked off lying in sixth and ninth “I am a happy coach,” said Van Gaal, who has won all lot of the things we did were good but our finishing place in the standings, respectively, and the first half Liverpool 0 four games against Liverpool since joining United in wasn’t good.” showed just why. There was plenty of energy and snappy 2014. “I think this game will give a big boost to players, tackles but little quality, especially from United. fans, everyone in the environment of Manchester BEST FORM The teams were involved in thrilling 3-3 draws in mid- United. We have to continue this ... we can do it (win the Rooney appears back to something close to his best week. They went from feast to famine a few days later. Man Utd 1 league).” United stayed two points behind fourth-place form after a disappointing first half of the season. He was Liverpool carved out some openings, for lone striker Tottenham in the race for Champions League qualifica- even dropped for the Dec. 26 match against Stoke, but Roberto Firmino, Jordan Henderson and James Milner, tion, and moved up a place to fifth thanks to only a sec- was recalled for the next match - against Chelsea at home but De Gea wasn’t tested once and the shots were from ond win in nine league games. With leader Arsenal two days later - and has scored in every game since then. long range. At the other end, opposite goalkeeper Simon LIVERPOOL: It was only three weeks ago that drawing 0-0 at Stoke, United is only seven points off first “A striker who scores is always very important,” Van Gaal Mignolet was little more than a bystander. Manchester United was on an eight-match winless place. said. “And now he is scoring in a row and we are winning “I admit, we survived the first half,” Van Gaal said. streak, Wayne Rooney was so out of form he was Playing at Anfield without a recognized striker and a in a row. I am very happy for him.” De Gea stepped up for United in the second half, dropped to the bench, and manager Louis van Gaal starting lineup containing only six league goals this sea- Rooney was isolated for much of this game, feeding off though. He saved with his feet a low shot from Can, who appeared to be contemplating resigning. son, Liverpool largely dominated its biggest rival but scraps, but took his chance well with a true strike after then brought a superb diving save out of the Spain inter- Now, United is unbeaten in 2016, Rooney can’t stop only created half-chances - the two best falling to mid- Fellaini rattled the crossbar with a header following a national with a fierce drive. scoring and Van Gaal is talking optimistically about win- fielder Emre Can. United goalkeeper David de Gea kept short corner. “Scoring a winning goal at Anfield, it’s been a In between those chances, Anthony Martial finally got ning the Premier League after a 1-0 victory at fierce rival out both shots, again demonstrating his importance long time since that happened for me,” said Rooney, who in behind Liverpool’s defense and flashed a left-foot shot Liverpool on Sunday. and Liverpool’s need for a top-quality striker to finish off last achieved that feat in 2005, “so I will be a bit selfish just past the far post - United’s first genuine effort. Rooney grabbed his fifth goal in four games since good build-up play. today and enjoy that one.” Many global football fans mark It meant Rooney’s goal came against the run of play for the turn of the year, rifling home a volley from close “It’s a derby and you only have one job to do: To win this fixture as one of the games of the Premier League United, which maybe made it even sweeter for the cele- range after Marouane Fellaini’s header rebounded off it,” Liverpool manager Juergen Klopp said. “I think Man season - the rivals have 38 league titles between them - brating visiting fans, including injured United players Phil the bar to settle a poor-quality game between English United, if they talk about this performance, they will say but the two powers have struggled this campaign. Jones, Marcos Rojo and Michael Carrick. — AP Bale injured as Zidane’s Arsenal on top again tious effort flew high into the Arsenal fans behind Cech’s goal. Madrid hit five again Stoke City 0 The game finally came to a semblance of life in the 20th minute when Glen MADRID: Zinedine Zidane’s dream start to life Bale scored his seventh headed goal of the Johnson and Jonathan Walters found space as Real Madrid boss continued as Los Blancos season from Toni Kroos’s corner on seven min- on the Stoke right to pick out Joselu on the scored four times in the opening 18 minutes utes to get the hosts off to the perfect start. edge of the area. His deft flick teed up Arsenal 0 on their way to a 5-1 rout of Sporting Gijon Ronaldo showed his frustration at not getting Ibrahim Afellay, whose long-range effort yesterday. However, Madrid’s joy was tem- on the scoresheet against Deportivo last week- flew a yard wide of the target. pered as Gareth Bale and Karim Benzema both end and made amends moments later by Arsenal immediately broke and created had to be replaced due to injuries. smashing Benzema’s through ball into the roof STOKE-ON-TRENT: Arsenal returned to the an opening of their own thanks to a fine Bale limped off with what looked like the of the net. top of the Premier League but their pass by Joel Campbell and an equally recurrence of a calf problem just before half- Benzema then produced a special finish of Britannia Stadium hoodoo was extended clever run by Olivier Giroud. The time having scoring his 11th goal in eight his own as he acrobatically swivelled to volley with a goalless draw against Stoke City yes- Frenchman found himself one on one with games. Benzema and Cristiano Ronaldo also home Bale’s cross. And another flowing terday. A point was enough to take Arsene Butland but the England international scored twice in the first-half before the former Madrid move saw Ronaldo sweep home Dani Wenger’s side clear of Leicester City on goal spread himself well to make an important picked up a knock in a collision with teammate Carvajal’s cross at the near post two minutes difference but it was another afternoon of stop. The game remained disjointed but, James Rodriguez. Madrid have now scored 35 later. frustration in the Potteries for the veteran when Stoke failed to clear their lines in the goals in six games at home since losing to 4-0 There was some brief respite for Sporting as French manager. 28th minute, Ramsey had a goal-bound to Barcelona in November. Zidane’s men waited 23 minutes to add the His side have now failed to win at shot deflected wide for a corner which was Victory takes Madrid above Barcelona and fifth when brilliant play from Isco freed Stoke’s home ground in six attempts-a dealt with easily by the Potters. to within a point of leaders Atletico Madrid at Benzema to roll in his 20th goal in 19 appear- sequence that dates back to a 3-1 success Ten minutes before half-time Arsenal failed to deal with Erik Pieters’s dangerous the top of La Liga. However, Atletico and Barca ances this season. in February 2010. That victory became infa- mous for the sickening broken leg suffered cross but Joselu headed straight at Cech. are in action later when they face Las Palmas However, Madrid suffered a setback when The Gunners then handed cheap pos- and Athletic Bilbao respectively. Bale pulled up seconds before the break and by Gunners midfielder Aaron Ramsey, who MADRID: Real Madrid’s Raphael Varane, was again singled out for some unsavoury session to Stoke, for whom Bojan fired just “We played very well in the first-half. We had to be replaced by Jese Rodriguez for the wide. Just over a minute into the second were concentrated and up for the game from second period. Without the Welshman, top right, jumps over Sporting Gijon’s play- abuse by Stoke fans during his 250th Arsenal appearance. half, Butland denied Arsenal what looked the start. We prepared well and are happy with Sporting managed to restore some pride after ers to head the ball during the Spanish La The bad blood from the injury and like a certain goal. The goalkeeper reacted how the match went,” said Zidane. half-time and were rewarded when Isma Liga soccer match between Real Madrid and Sporting Gijon yesterday. — AP Ramsey’s refusal to accept Ryan superbly to dive low to his left and turn “Karim just has a knock, which isn’t so bad. Lopez rounded off a fine team goal just after Shawcross’s apology for the challenge that away a free header from Giroud, who had Gareth is a little more complicated because it the hour mark. Rayo side that has lost six of their last seven caused it remains for Stoke fans, who taunt- been left unmarked to meet Ramsey’s cor- is his calf and in his left leg which is a problem. Benzema also then had to be replaced after league games-conceding 23 goals in the ed Ramsey throughout on Sunday with ner. Then Stoke were denied as the tempo “He will have a scan tomorrow and we hope it colliding with Rodriguez on the edge of the process. boos and a chant about the damage of the game was raised a notch. Arnautovic is nothing serious.” Having thrashed Deportivo box, but the Frenchman was able to walk off However, they twice had to come from caused to his leg. advanced and fed Joselu, whose shot was la Coruna 5-0 in his managerial bow at the the field and his problem seems less of a con- behind as Alvaro Negredo’s sensational strike Arsenal could not silence the home clawed away superbly by Cech. Bernabeu last weekend, Zidane made just one cern than the injured suffered by Bale. Earlier, from just inside the Rayo half and Paco crowd as Stoke held their own, with both The former Chelsea star then reacted well change with Raphael Varane replacing injured Gary Neville’s winless streak as Valencia boss in Alcacer’s late equaliser cancelled out goals Potters goalkeeper Jack Butland and to scramble Bojan’s follow-up around the captain Sergio Ramos.Sporting had surprising- La Liga stretched to six games in a disappoint- from Jozabed and Diego Llorente for Rayo. A Arsenal counterpart Petr Cech in good post. Arsenal needed Cech again in the 66th ly held Madrid to a 0-0 draw on the opening ing 2-2 draw at home to relegation threatened point means Valencia remain closer to the rele- form. After a scrappy opening littered with minute as he turned a shot from Joselu day of the season, but were powerless to stop Rayo Vallecano. gation zone than the Champions League fouls and poor passes, it was Stoke who around the post. The game became scrappy Real’s rampant ‘BBC’ frontline of Bale, Benzema Los Che were heavily favoured to end a places, still 16 points behind Villarreal in fourth carved out the first chance through Marko once more but it was Arsenal who made and Ronaldo early on. two-month run without a league win against a and eight ahead of Rayo. — AFP Arnautovic. The Austrian wandered in off most of the running in the closing stages the left flank to collect possession in a cen- and Campbell tried his luck from a tight tral area 30 yards from goal, but his ambi- angle with five minutes remaining. — AFP Multinationals ready to jump into Iran market Page 22

Optimistic Naimi says Business it will take time to stabilize oil market MONDAY, JANUARY 18, 2016 Page 23 Nigeria tackling poverty and unemployment BTC wins prestigious award from HINO with tomatoes Page 26 Page 25 Airbus plan heralds Iran boom as sanctions lifted Rouhani says economy now ‘free of chains,’ eyes $30-50bn in FDI

DUBAI: A purchase of more than 100 aircraft from Europe’s supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, Iran’s ultimate Airbus may be one of Iran’s first big deals in a trade and authority. “Reaching eight percent growth requires attract- investment boom that could reshape the economy of the ing $30-$50 billion in foreign investment each year,” he said. Middle East. Iran’s budget had been ready and printed for weeks, but “The legs of Iran’s economy are now free of the chains of Rouhani decided not to present it until the nuclear deal was sanctions, and it’s time to build and grow,” President Hassan implemented because it was based on sanctions being lift- Rouhani tweeted yesterday, a day after world powers lifted ed. sanctions on Tehran in exchange for curbs on its nuclear pro- gram. Potential Hours earlier, his transport minister Abbas Akhoondi told But the Airbus plan underlined Iran’s potential: with the Tasnim news agency that Iran intended to buy 114 civil about 80 million people and annual output of some $400 aircraft from Airbus - a deal that could be worth more than billion, it is the biggest economy to rejoin the global trading $10 billion at catalogue prices. Airbus said yesterday it had system since the Soviet Union broke up over two decades not yet held commercial talks with Iran, and businesses ago. The nuclear deal removed restrictions that stifled Iran’s operating in the Islamic republic will continue to face big economy for most of this decade - on banking, money trans- obstacles for the foreseeable future. fers, insurance, trade, transport and procurement of technol- Risks include indebted Iranian banks, a primitive legal ogy. This will allow Iran to satisfy pent-up demand for goods system, corruption and an inflexible labor market. Many for- and services that it had trouble obtaining at affordable eign companies will remain wary of investing in Iran prices under sanctions, from aircraft to factory machinery, because of concern that the sanctions could “snap back” if medicines and some consumer goods such as cosmetics Tehran is later found not to be complying with the nuclear and branded clothing. agreement. Iran will immediately have more money to pay for imports, as the government gains access to tens of billions Output boost of dollars of its assets that were frozen abroad by the sanc- Iran is ready to increase its crude oil exports by 500,000 tions. US officials have estimated the amount of funds to be barrels a day, the deputy oil minister said yesterday, hours unblocked at over $100 billion. Iran’s central bank has said after international sanctions on Tehran were lifted, removing TEHRAN: Iranian President Hassan Rouhani, center, gestures as he is greeted by lawmakers at the parliament to the total is much smaller at $29 billion, but that would by an obstacle to exports. present draft of the country’s next year budget and sixth development plan in Tehran yesterday. — AP itself still cover several months of imports of goods and serv- The Islamic Republic emerged from years of economic ices. Iran will also gain financial strength from an increase in isolation on Saturday when world powers lifted sanctions Rouhani told parliament, a day after the implementation of price and exports of 2.25 million barrels per day-a doubling oil exports, as it becomes able to sell freely into the global after confirming that Tehran had curbed its nuclear program. the historic deal, that the collapse in global oil prices meant of current sales. market once again - though ultra-low oil prices, and the “With consideration to global market conditions and the sur- the government had to look to abroad to boost the econo- Even at that level Iran’s budget would be less than 25 per- need to repair ageing oil facilities, mean the rise in revenues plus that exists, Iran is ready to raise its crude oil exports by my. cent reliant on oil sales, with a much higher 68 percent of may initially be small. 500,000 barrels a day,” Deputy Oil Minister Amir Hossein “Untapped potential in many industries indicates that revenues coming from taxes. A 75 percent drop in oil prices, Iran’s trade with the European Union totalled 7.6 billion Zamaninia was quoted as saying by the Shana news agency. domestic demand cannot solely push the economy toward from $110 to $30 meant “oil revenues would not be consid- euros ($8.4 billion) in 2014. In 2011, before banking sanctions Iran’s return to an already glutted oil market is one of the eight percent growth,” he said, signalling a shift in policy. erable,” Rouhani said. hit, it was 27.8 billion euros - a measure of the ground that may factors contributing to a global rout in oil prices, which fell “Attracting foreign investment will be the best way of using “Such drastic drop in oil prices has been unprecedented be recovered. US companies look set to lag rivals from other below $30 a barrel this week for the first time in 12 years. the opportunity of sanctions relief to boost the economy in the past decades and we cannot base economic growth countries in restoring trade with Iran, because Washington will and security.” Low oil prices and years of US and European and employment on optimistic estimations.” The retain broad sanctions that predate the nuclear crisis and were FDI inflow Union sanctions that barred much of Iran’s foreign oil sales International Atomic Energy Agency confirmed Saturday imposed over other issues such as terrorism and human rights Iran needs annual foreign investment of $30-$50 billion hammered its income from crude. But despite global prices that Iran had carried out measures agreed under last July’s abuses. But US business with Iran may still increase, after the to reach an eight percent growth target and cash in on a falling below $30 Iran intends to increase production after nuclear deal, ensuring sanctions would be lifted. As well as US Treasury said on Saturday that it would permit foreign sub- nuclear deal with world powers, Rouhani said. Laying out the nuclear deal to recoup lost market share. next year’s budget Rouhani submitted the Islamic republic’s sidiaries of American companies to trade with Iran - a channel the budget for the next Iranian year which starts March 20, Rouhani’s government used a projected $40 per barrel sixth five-year development plan, based on policies set by that big multinationals may be able to exploit. — Agencies MONDAY, JANUARY 18, 2016 BUSINESS News in brief US dollar stable against Kuwait dinar at 0.303 KUWAIT: The exchange rate of the US dollar against the Kuwaiti dinar yesterday was stable at KD 0.303, while the euro went up to KD 0.331 compared to the exchange rates for Thursady, said a statement by the Central Bank of Kuwait (CBK). According to the CBK, the exchange rate of the Sterling pound went down to KD 0.432 while the Swiss franc went up to KD 0.302. Exchange rate of the Japanese Yen remained the same at KD 0.002.

Egyptian pound steady at forex sale CAIRO: Egypt’s central bank kept the pound steady against the dollar at its official foreign currency auction yesterday, and the currency also held steady on the black market. Egypt, which depends on imported food and energy, is facing a dollar shortage and increasing pressure to devalue the pound. The central bank sur- prised markets when it strengthened the pound on Nov 11 by 20 piasters against the dollar and has bucked expectations by holding it steady ever since. The central bank sold $39.1 million at a cut-off price of 7.7301 pounds to the dollar, unchanged from the pre- vious auction.

Saudi’s Almarai Q4 DUBAI: Traders sit at the Dubai bourse as prices of shares are reflected on screens in red above them yesterday. Share prices in the energy-rich Gulf states nosedived following the sharp decline in oil prices and the expected rise in Iranian crude exports after the sanctions imposed on it were lifted under profit rises 13% Tehran’s historic nuclear deal with global powers. — AFP DUBAI: Saudi Arabia’s Almarai, the Gulf’s largest dairy company, reported a 13 percent increase in fourth-quarter net profit yesterday, in line with analyst estimates as sales grew faster than costs. Almarai made a profit of 483.7 mil- lion riyals ($129.06 million) in the three months to Dec. 31, Multinationals ready to up from 428 million riyals in the year-earlier period, it said in a bourse statement. Five analysts polled by Reuters had forecast on average Almarai would make a quarterly profit of 480.2 million riyals. Almarai said its fourth-quarter sales were 3.58 billion riyals, versus 3.33 billion riyals in the same jump into Iran market period of 2014. “(The) cost of sales increased at a lower rate due to improving in-put costs and better cost manage- Business execs from Germany, France, Italy heading to Tehran ment,” Almarai’s statement said.

PARIS: With global growth moribund, multina- ing sanctions. Deputy Foreign Minister Zhang with the country holding the world’s fourth- like France’s Total and Italy’s Eni, are after joint Qatari developer Barwa signs tional firms have been waiting with bated Ming of China, the top buyer of Iranian crude, largest oil reserves and currently pumping a venture contracts where their Iranian partner $157.1m Islamic loan breath for the lifting of international sanctions said during a recent visit Beijing intends to fully million barrels per day less than it did before will retain majority control. DUBAI: Qatar’s Barwa Real Estate has signed a $157.1 against Iran for access to a country in desperate exploit the potential for cooperation with Tehran sanctions, the Iranian energy sector is still “We will be well placed to examine the million sharia-compliant five-year loan, the developer need to modernize. in the manufacturing sector and construction of attractive for foreign firms and Tehran is looking opportunties in the gas, oil and petrochemicals said yesterday. Barwa said it would use the money to After nearly a decade of limited access to the infrastructure. US companies like Boeing and for $25 billion in investment in the oil and gas and fuel distribution sectors, but all of that will refinance an existing Islamic financial liability but did outside world, many sectors of the Iranian econ- General Electric are also interested by the sectors. “The infrastructure and energy sectors be subject to good contractual conditions,” said not provide further details. The company on Thursday omy need new equipment including the oil and opportunities in Iran, but are handicapped by offer the best opportunities for our firms”, Italy’s Total’s chief executive Patrick Pouyanne recently. announced it had signed a $444.3 million sharia-com- gas industry, railways, and airlines. Plus there are the fact Washington has not had diplomatic economic development ministry said recently. pliant loan with Islamic bank Masraf Al-Rayan. 80 million Iranian consumers, many of them relations with Tehran for 35 years and will keep Russia, which has maintained close relations ‘Promising market’ keen to buy cars and other goods. Access is certain sanctions in place. with Iran, has a leg up on the competition and The automobile sector is also attractive as expected to begin opening up, now that the Meanwhile the Iranians are looking for for- is willing to put money on the table to achieve the rate of car ownership in Iran is just 100 per International Atomic Energy Agency has issued eign firms to help modernize the country’s infra- its goal of boosting its annual trade turnover 1,000 people-six times less than in Europe-and UAE’s RAKBANK to a report concluding that Iran has fulfilled its obli- structure, which has suffered from a lack of with Tehran from $1.6 billion currently to $10 consumers have had limited access to new cut up to 250 jobs gations under a nuclear deal reached last year investment and technology as the economy was billion. Russian President Vladimir Putin offered vehicles under Western sanctions. France ABU DHABI: National Bank of Ras Al-Khaimah (RAKBANK) with world powers. largely cut off from the outside world for the to open up a $5 billion credit line to Iran during Renault has already negotiated a minority stake will cut up to 250 jobs as part of a review of the lender’s Since that deal was reached in July, delega- past decade. A resumption of trade should also a visit to Tehran in November. Not only has in Iranian auto manufacturer Pars Khodro, organizational structure, a spokeswoman for the Abu tions of officials and business executives from help put the Iranian economy, which suffers Russia recently sold long-range S-300 surface- according to Iranian officials. “Iran is a very Dhabi-listed bank said yesterday. Banks in the United Arab Germany, France and Italy have headed to Iran from high unemployment and hyperinflation, to-air missiles to Iran, but it has received orders promising market,” Renault chief executive Emirates have been adjusting staffing levels in recent to prepare the ground to win back some of the back on its feet. to build two new reactors at the Bushehr Carlos Goshn said on the sidelines of the Detroit weeks as they react to deteriorating market conditions and market share lost to emerging nations like China nuclear power plant. auto show last week. “Today it’s more than one tighter liquidity caused by lower oil prices. “RAKBANK revis- and Turkey, or countries like Russia and Japan Oil sector still attractive State-owned Russian Railways is after work million cars, it has the potential to go to 1.5 or 2 ited the organization structure of select departments and which kept friendly nations with Tehran. The slump of global oil prices to under $30 electrifying Iranian rail lines. Russian gas giant million.” In the food and agriculture sector it made changes where necessary to improve synergy and Germany’s BGA foreign trade federation per barrel-partially due to expectations of Gazprom and the country’s number two oil firm may be harder going due to the “strong involve- efficiency across the bank. We are confident the new struc- believes that country will have a difficult time Iranian crude flooding back onto markets-is not Lukoil are looking not only for production ment of public firms and semi-public owners of ture is better positioned for continued success,” the bank reclaiming its former status as Iran’s largest trade good news for Tehran as it means less money opportunities, but to stocking and transporting farm land,” according to a French agriculture said in a statement. The spokeswoman confirmed the num- partner as Chinese firms have swooped in dur- flowing into government coffers. Nevertheless, energy as well. Certain western oil companies, ministry report. — AFP ber of job losses in response to questions from Reuters. US manufacturing stalls, Banks losing share in forex business

LONDON: Small and medium-sized British much tighter “spreads” between buy and The survey showed Barclays, HSBC and cutting fuel consumption companies are increasingly looking outside sell prices than the rates banks give each Lloyds all still enjoy double-digit percent- banks for foreign exchange in search of bet- other and their biggest clients, the brokers age shares of the spot trading market, at LONDON: Excess inventories at every percent, according to the US Census troubled energy sector, US industrial pro- ter rates and services, a survey showed yes- have been instrumental in making forex respectively 14.7 percent, 13.6 percent and stage along the supply chain are weigh- Bureau. The ratio of seasonally adjusted duction was up less than 1 percent in terday. Research company East & Partners’ trading as a whole more competitive. 10.8 percent. Citi and Deutsche dominate ing down business activity as well as inventories to sales has risen from 1.32 in November and December compared survey of more than 2,200 UK firms with The biggest brokers say they have on options with 11.9 and 11.1 percent depressing freight demand and diesel November 2014 to 1.38 in November with the same months a year earlier, annual revenues of up to 100 million grown strongly by watching over the cur- respective shares. consumption in the United States. 2015. Inventory ratios have risen at all according to the US Federal Reserve. pounds ($143 million) showed roughly 10 rency needs of company managers too “While high street banks continue to Businesses have made little progress stages of the supply chain from manufac- Growth in industrial production out- percent use at least one of the dozens of busy to notice that, say, the dollar has hit perform strongly, there are clear examples in reversing the unwanted buildup in turers through wholesalers to retailers, side the energy sector has been slowing brokerages specialising in payments in and levels where they would like, or need, to of other FX providers gaining market share, inventories that occurred during the sec- according to Census Bureau data. since the start of 2015 and is now run- out of foreign currencies. buy or sell. That has made millions for a particularly in the Micro and SME seg- ond half of 2014 and early 2015. Stocks of Freight shipments have fallen for the ning at some of the slowest rates since It listed the top six brokers in the space generation of forex entrepreneurs but has ments,” said Graham Buck, senior analyst at finished items, raw materials and work first time in almost three years as busi- the recession. Sluggish freight and indus- by market share as Western Union, Monex, also begun to draw a response from banks. East & Partners. progress held by manufacturers, distribu- nesses try to reverse overstocking, so far trial output are weighing on demand for CMC, American Express, Alpari and A number have tightened the spreads “Newer market entrants that differenti- tors and retailers were $28 billion or 1.6 without success. Destocking, as well as distillate fuel oil, where consumption UKForex. More than 8 percent of those that offered on ordinary corporate transfers and ate their offerings by service quality or val- percent higher at the end of November poor export demand as a result of the growth has been weakening since the trade in the more sophisticated currency some, such as German lender Deutsche ue for money can capitalize on any compla- than the same month a year earlier. strong dollar, is also weighing on manu- start of 2015 and became negative in options market also use brokers instead of Bank, have invested in new client service cency from their more established competi- Sales were down $37 billion or 2.8 facturing output. Even excluding the October. — Reuters banks, the survey showed. centres in cheaper locations outside tors and gain ground across market, mind By offering companies currency at London to help address the challenge. and wallet share,” he said. -— Reuters

EXCHANGE RATES

Al-Muzaini Exchange Co. GOLD Saudi Riyals 81.960 US Dollars Mint 0.300800 0.304800 20 Gram 226.690 Jordanian Dinar 429.370 10 Gram 116.040 Asia ASIAN COUNTRIES Egyptian Pound 38.814 5 Gram 58.700 Sri Lankan Rupees 2.123 Bangladesh Taka 0.003524 0.004124 Japanese Yen 2.601 Indian Rupees 4.563 Chinese Yuan 0.044655 0.048155 Indian Rupees 4.507 Pakistani Rupees 2.902 Hong Kong Dollar 0.037174 0.039924 Pakistani Rupees 2.901 UAE Exchange Centre WLL Bangladesh Taka 3.877 Indian Rupee 0.004225 0.004615 Srilankan Rupees 2.122 Philippines Pesso 6.470 Indonesian Rupiah 0.000017 0.000023 Nepali Rupees 2.819 CURRENCIES TELEX TRANSFER PER 1000 Cyprus pound 580.550 Japanese Yen 0.002527 0.002707 Singapore Dollar 212.870 Australian Dollar 203.08 Japanese Yen 3.595 Kenyan Shilling 0.003164 0.003164 Hongkong Dollar 39.064 Canadian Dollar 218.17 Syrian Pound 2.380 Korean Won 0.000241 0.000256 Bangladesh Taka 3.878 Swiss Franc 310.48 Nepalese Rupees 3.850 Malaysian Ringgit 0.066139 0.072139 Philippine Peso 6.381 Euro 335.10 Malaysian Ringgit 69.735 Nepalese Rupee 0.002886 0.003056 Thai Baht 8.391 US Dollar 304.45 Chinese Yuan Renminbi 46.740 Pakistan Rupee 0.002640 0.002920 Sterling Pound 444.75 Thai Bhat 9.355 Philippine Peso 0.006345 0.006625 GCC COUNTRIES Japanese Yen 2.63 Turkish Lira 101.100 Sierra Leone 0.000067 0.000073 Saudi Riyal 81.217 Bangladesh Taka 3.881 Singapore Dollar 0.208549 0.214549 Qatari Riyal 83.661 Indian Rupee 4.560 Bahrain Exchange Company South African Rand 0.012504 0.021004 Omani Riyal 791.060 Sri Lankan Rupee 2.118 Sri Lankan Rupee 0.001766 0.002346 Bahraini Dinar 808.820 Nepali Rupee 2.850 Taiwan 0.008975 0.009155 Pakistani Rupee 2.901 UAE Dirham 82.920 CURRENCY BUY SELL Thai Baht 0.008081 0.008631 UAE Dirhams 0.08285 Europe Bahraini Dinar 0.8091 ARAB COUNTRIES British Pound 0.435506 0.438506 Arab Egyptian Pound - Cash 39.800 Egyptian Pound 0.03879 Czech Korune 0.004358 0.016358 Jordanian Dinar 0.4330 Bahraini Dinar 0.800536 0.808536 Egyptian Pound - Transfer 38.942 Danish Krone 0.040705 0.045705 Omani Riyal 0.7906 Egyptian Pound 0.035165 0.039504 Yemen Riyal/for 1000 1.421 Euro 0.327400 0.335400 Qatari Riyal 0.08394 Iranian Riyal 0.000084 0.000086 Tunisian Dinar 150.690 Norwegian Krone 0.030724 0.035924 Saudi Riyal 0.08115 Iraqi Dinar 0.000201 0.000261 Jordanian Dinar 429.130 Romanian Leu 0.087320 0.087320 Jordanian Dinar 0.425434 0.432843 Lebanese Lira/for 1000 2.029 Slovakia 0.009099 0.019099 Kuwaiti Dinar 1.000000 1.000000 Syrian Lira 2.170 Dollarco Exchange Co. Ltd Swedish Krona 0.031628 0.036628 Lebanese Pound 0.000153 0.000253 Morocco Dirham 31.061 Swiss Franc 0.297700 0.307900 Moroccan Dirhams 0.021558 0.045558 Rate for Transfer Selling Rate Turkish Lira 0.096113 0.106413 Nigerian Naira 0.001259 0.001894 EUROPEAN & AMERICAN COUNTRIES US Dollar 304.800 Omani Riyal 0.784229 0.789909 US Dollar Transfer 304.400 Canadian Dollar 216.885 Australasia Qatar Riyal 0.082900 0.084113 Euro 435.450 Sterling Pound 443.575 Australian Dollar 0.201249 0.212749 Saudi Riyal 0.080287 0.081237 Sterling Pound 437.270 Euro 334.510 New Zealand Dollar 0.191101 0.200601 Syrian Pound 0.001290 0.001510 Canadian dollar 210.800 Swiss Frank 304.295 Tunisian Dinar 0.146471 0.154471 Turkish lira 99.920 Bahrain Dinar 806.370 America Turkish Lira 0.096113 0.106413 Swiss Franc 306.850 UAE Dirhams 83.225 Canadian Dollar 0.204376 0.212876 UAE Dirhams 0.081896 0.083045 Australian Dollar 212.320 Qatari Riyals 84.445 US Dollars 0.300300 0.304800 Yemeni Riyal 0.001376 0.001456 US Dollar Buying 303.200 MONDAY, JANUARY 18, 2016 BUSINESS Optimistic Naimi says China growth slid to it will take time to stabilize oil market 25-year low in 2015

RIYADH: Saudi oil minister Ali Al-Naimi Naimi made a reference to the Asian Authorities struggled to stop market crash said yesterday it would take “some time” financial crisis of 1998-1999 when oil to restore stability to the global oil mar- crashed and Riyadh helped organise a BEIJING: China recorded its away from reliance on exports Off target hide capital flight, was responsi- ket in the midst of a glut but he production cut with other non-OPEC pro- lowest growth in a quarter of a and infrastructure investment The 2015 forecast in the AFP ble. remained optimistic about the future. ducers, including Mexico, to support century in 2015, an AFP survey towards consumer spending. poll was close to the official The world’s biggest trader in Naimi’s comments come at a time prices. has forecast, projecting a fur- Even so some analysts growth target of “around 7 per- goods saw its two-way business when OPEC member Iran is preparing to Meanwhile, Iran is ready to increase its ther slowdown in the world’s believe that markets have over- cent” for the year-but questions fall eight percent year-on-year raise oil exports after international sanc- crude oil exports by 500,000 barrels a second-largest economy this reacted to negative factors and have repeatedly been raised to $3.96 trillion, the figures tions were lifted on Saturday. Brent day, its deputy oil minister said yesterday. year. Official gross domestic underestimated the fundamen- about the accuracy of official showed, far below the govern- LCOc1 plunged to $28.94 a barrel on Such comments could put Iran on a colli- Friday, its lowest in 12 years, on the sion course with Saudi Arabia and other product (GDP) statistics for tal resilience of China, whose Chinese economic statistics, ment’s target of six percent prospect of additional Iranian barrels. Gulf members, who have been resisting 2015 will be announced tomor- official growth rates still far which critics say can be subject annual growth. “As you know, the oil market has wit- cutting production to shore up prices. row, and the median prediction exceed those of the developed to political manipulation. Even At a meeting of G20 officials nessed over its long history, periods of For the past 18 months, oversupply in the poll of 18 economists put world. In the AFP survey, econ- Premier Li Keqiang reportedly this week, China’s top diplomat instability, severe price fluctuations, and has been the main factor responsible for expansion at 6.9 percent-down omists forecast 2015 fourth once expressed doubts, telling Yang Jiechi warned that “it is petro-economic cycles,” Naimi said in a dragging down prices by two-thirds, after from 7.3 percent the year quarter growth of 6.8 percent, the then-US ambassador in not possible to completely dis- speech at an energy event in Riyadh Saudi Arabia led OPEC in a shift of its poli- before. attended by the Mexican president and cy in November 2014 by deciding against The Asian giant is a key driv- energy minister. “This is one of them. cutting production to support prices. er of the world economy, affect- Market forces, as well as the cooperation Naimi said that Saudi Arabia and ing businesses and employ- among the producing nations, always Mexico were to sign on Sunday “a petro- ment across the planet, and lead to the restoration of stability. This, leum cooperation agreement between worries about its health have however, takes some time,” he said. the two countries, covering several areas roiled global markets in recent “I am optimistic about the future, the including the exchange of experts, estab- return of stability to the global oil mar- lishment of joint ventures and encour- weeks and months. kets, the improvement of prices and the agement of mutual investments.” Naimi The figure would be the cooperation among the major producing declined to make any further comments weakest growth in the People’s countries,” he added. to reporters after the event. —Reuters Republic since the 3.8 percent of 1990, a year after the bloody Tiananmen Square crackdown rocked the country and isolated German businesses put on it internationally. Growth will slow further this brave face amid China crisis year, the survey forecast, with the median projection for 2016 FRANKFURT: German companies are trying firm EAC, some of the major players listed coming in at 6.7 percent. One not to let themselves be spooked by the on the Frankfurt stock exchange generated bank, Nomura, forecast a pre- economic slowdown in China, even if they combined turnover in China of 131 billion cipitous drop to 5.8 percent. concede they are currently seeing a drop in euros in 2014, an increase of nearly 10 per- “The real economy will con- demand for their products there. “Of course cent over the previous year. tinue the downturn because of we’re experiencing a fall-off in demand in So it hardly comes as a surprise that the destocking, the reduction of China at the moment,” said Franz Hampel, market turbulence in China has left its mark overcapacity and deleveraging,” head of Garant-Moebel, a furniture whole- on Germany’s blue-chip DAX 30 index, too. its economist Zhao Yang told saler. It has lost more than seven percent since “Our Chinese partners have become January 1. AFP, citing in particular declin- jumpy. Business has been good for them Nevertheless, China’s “enormous growth ing investment in property, a the past few years. But they’re now asking potential remains,” said Block of Getriebebau key sector. “I don’t think eco- BEIJING: A waitress waits for customers outside a restaurant in Beijing yesterday. China recorded themselves what the future will bring,” Nord. nomic growth will bottom out its lowest growth in a quarter of a century in 2015, an AFP survey has forecast, projecting a further Hampel said. “Currently, more than 5,200 German in 2016,” he added. “It will be slowdown in the world’s second-largest economy this year. —AFP Employing a workforce of around 230 companies are active in the People’s under rather big downward and active in around 20 countries, Garant- Republic, employing a combined workforce pressure for the next two to down from 6.9 percent in the 2007 that some Chinese data card the possibility that an eco- Moebel opened an office in Hong Kong two of more than one million there,” said three years.” previous three months-when was “man-made” and thus unre- nomic crisis could once again years ago where it employs a dozen people. Alexandra Voss, head of the German US growth stood at 2.0 per- liable, and pointing to power take place, and the problem However, the strong fluctuations in the Chamber of Commerce in China. Equity slump cent. consumption and rail cargo vol- should not be neglected.” Chinese currency, the yuan, resulting from “The economic slowdown in China will Chinese authorities strug- “In spite of the strong global ume as better indicators of the Unexpected moves in the the country’s recent financial woes, are certainly not be painless. But the huge gled to keep control of a buck- market response to the rout on true health of the economy. yuan exchange rate-after a sur- leading Chinese furniture retailers to roll growth potential remains,” Voss told AFP. back business, Hampel said. ing stock market last year, China’s equity market, we do But now that the services prise devaluation in August- Garant-Moebel is not alone in watching Exaggerated fears weakening investor confidence not expect the equity slump to sector has grown to 51 percent have disturbed investors in economic developments in People’s A number of companies are hoping to in policymakers’ ability to have a major impact on China’s of GDP, economists are divided recent weeks, who worry that Republic with a wary eye. “It seems obvious benefit from the massive investment pro- implement reform and manage real economy,” Louis Kuijs, an over what alternative measure- the real picture is worse than that the period of double-digit growth is gramme launched by Beijing to transform the transition to a more market- economist with Oxford ments to use. Two months ago, portrayed and authorities are behind us,” said Jan-Christoph Block, head China from the world’s biggest factory to driven economy. Economics in Hong Kong, told state media proposed a “new trying to boost the competitive- of international sales at drive systems spe- the world’s leading market place for innova- An oversupply of empty AFP in an email. “Indeed, we Keqiang index” focused on ness of domestic manufacturers. cialist Getriebebau Nord in Bargteheide, tion in services and technology. And the housing in second-tier cities think that global markets have measurements of employment, Analysts forecast a rocky year north Germany. sectors covered by German companies and stubborn overcapacity in overreacted.” income, and energy consump- ahead. “The on-going delever- “It’s still possible to achieve growth, but were “particularly well placed” to take industries dominated by legacy The company expects tion per unit of GDP. aging process, sluggish external it’s become more difficult,” he said. Both advantage of this, said Voss. state-owned enterprises contin- growth to slow to 6.3 percent December export figures trade outlook, and soft domes- companies can be seen as representative of UniCredit economist Erik Nielsen also ue to weigh on growth. this year, again pointing to the that came in ahead of expecta- tic demand will continue to the mostly family-owned small and medi- argued that “concerns over China are over- The expansion slowdown has property sector, but added: tions this week prompted weigh on growth,” Louis Lam, um-sized enterprises (SME) that form the done.” China’s “real economy leaves no par- backbone of the German economy and ticular reason to worry, at least not in the stalled Beijing’s efforts to move “Those pressures remain cush- doubts about whether over- China economist from ANZ were quick to establish a foothold in China. short term,” Nielsen said. the country’s economic model ioned by robust consumption.” invoicing, which can be used to Research, said. —AFP It is not just big companies like “Recent indicators suggest economic Volkswagen, BMW and BASF that are suffer- activity has stabilised and, if anything, it has ing from China’s woes, the SMEs are feeling probably picked up in the last few months.” the pinch too. In November, German factory orders, a key Warba Bank launches a first of its measure of demand for goods in Europe’s ‘Enormous potential’ top economy, beat expectations, driven by China’s economic growth is projected to rising demand both inside and outside kind salary program in Kuwait slow to 6.7 percent in 2016 — its lowest Germany. “It would be virtually impossible growth rate since 1990 — from 6.9 percent for German companies to report these KUWAIT: Warba Bank, one of the every KD 100 of their salary and will have not previously obtained Qard it rate of 2.5 percent for one year. in 2015, according to the latest forecasts numbers if China was slowing dramatically,” fast-growing banks in Kuwait receive between 10 and 25 elec- Hasan. Rules and regulations apply. from the World Bank. Nielsen argued. offering the entire spectrum of tronic coupons. Each coupon enti- Account holders can also select The sixth final option is three The slowdown is worrying for German Despite China’s current woes, Garant- world-class Sharia-compliant tles them to prizes of KD 5, KD 10 or the fourth prize which offers a free of charge cards for a period of exporters, since China is their most impor- Moebel chief Hampel remains confident. banking and investment services KD 100. financing option of up to KD 50,000 three years. These cards include a tant market after Europe and the United “China remains an opportunity, thanks to in Kuwait and the region, has For customers willing to have over five years. This is the equiva- full payment platinum card, a sup- States. In 2014, Germany exported a total rising incomes and the fact that more and announced the launch of a state- profit free loans, they can select ‘Al lent of taking a five-year loan and plement full payment platinum 74 billion euros ($81 billion) worth of goods more people there are able to buy con- of-the-art new campaign offering Qard Al-Hasan’, another prize paying the profit on four years only. card and a pre-paid card. to China, not including the sales generated sumer goods,” he said. “Our sales grew in an all new unparalleled salary included in the salaries’ campaign, Financing terms are based on the Warba bank is also still running by companies’ local subsidiaries in China. 2015 and we expect them to do the same in package program for the first time offering up to KD 5,000 which must credit regulations policy. its cash back campaign encourag- According to the specialist consultancy 2016,” he concluded. —AFP in the market. be settled within 18 months, with- As for the fifth prize, customers ing customers to use their credit Based on the campaign, when- out profits or management fees. As can choose to open a fixed deposit cards. Upon each usage of their ever an account holder transfers his per the credit policy, this option is Wakala of up to KD 30,000 which is pre-paid or post-paid cards at any IMF resists a return to salary to Warba Bank, they will get only available for customers who expected to offer an expected prof- Point of Sale, customers will have to select one of six exclusive gifts. the chance to enter the monthly still-struggling Greece The first gift consists of customers draw which offers them to get back to be classified as Al-Safwa cus- up to 100 percent for each KD100 WASHINGTON: The Europeans want it and IMF’s involvement a primary condition of tomers. This classification comes spent. Athens is resigned to its presence. But the their deal. And the Greeks, who have alleged with a number of exclusive perks Salary account holders also ben- International Monetary Fund has still not that the Fund bears “criminal” responsibility such as a concierge service that efit from a number of other perks decided whether it will participate in the for their suffering under the first two pro- provides access to lounges, and a such as instant card issuance from third financial bailout for Greece, and contin- grams, which failed to stabilize the economy, personal assistant, a dedicated RM, the bank’s branches, free SMS serv- ues to set out its conditions. have also accepted the idea. “The IMF’s par- an initial welcome gift as well as an ice, and competitive profit rates on “We have not decided anything in the ticipation is planned. We are sticking to this annual gift, and preferential rates Investment Savings Accounts. financial sense on a possible participation,” commitment,” Finance Minister Euclid on financing. For more details about the bank’s IMF Managing Director Christine Lagarde Tsakalotos told the German newspaper While the second gift is about products and services as well as its said in an interview published Friday. Handelsblatt this week. cash prizes starting from KD 50 to branch locations, exclusive offers, In 2010 and again in 2012, the world’s cri- So far the IMF has remained unmoved by KD 2500 deposited into the cus- terms and conditions and customer sis lender was a key member of the “troika” the appeals. Before it gets involved again, tomer’s account. Each customer is rights, visit www.warbabank.com or behind the rescue plans for Greece, together the Fund is pressing Greece to implement entitled to an electronic coupon for Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram. with the European Commission and the more tough austerity measures. European Central Bank. It also insists that the European institu- Deeply worried over a meltdown of the tions cut Greece’s debt burden, which has Memories of Swiss franc eurozone, the IMF had gone so far as to cre- reached nearly 200 percent of the size of its ate a special “systemic exception” that economy. “We need both legs,” IMF allowed it to go beyond its loan limit rules in spokesman Gerry Rice said this week, refer- crisis linger one year on special situations. It then committed its ring to the two conditions. He stressed that largest loan in history to Athens, eventually the Fund remains in talks with the other par- LONDON: Switzerland’s notorious Swiss franc gains. The SNB’s decision last year to abandon close to 50 billion euros ($55 billion) in total. ties. crisis, which rocked markets one year ago and the franc’s exchange rate floor was felt globally The IMF then took a central role in setting But the IMF also appears desirous of mov- sent the currency spiking, could return to haunt as the franc immediately strengthened by 30 the terms for Athens’s rescue, dictating eco- ing beyond the controversial chapter in its traders, some analysts warn. percent against the euro. nomic reforms and instituting financial disci- history, which saw it twisting its own rules to The nation’s central bank stunned foreign Share prices of Swiss companies heavily pline, which included a harsh dose of austeri- lend huge sums to Greece before, the coun- exchange and other financial markets on dependent on exports took a nosedive. The cri- ty, in return for its involvement. try had stabilized its finances, or made its January 15, 2015, when it unexpectedly sis also wiped out at least two international for- debt “sustainable,” as is usually required for a scrapped efforts to stop the franc rising against eign exchange brokers-London-based Alpari UK IMF wants to move on Fund loan. the European single currency. The Swiss and Global Brokers NZ in New Zealand-which But the times have changed, even as the “There are a lot of people at the IMF, partic- National Bank (SNB) decided to abandon the both declared insolvency after clients’ losses country remains in recession after five years ularly in the emerging markets, who are say- minimum rate of 1.20 francs against the euro were passed on. under the stewardship of the troika. The IMF ing, ‘What’s going on here? The IMF has got that it had been defending for more than three “2015 started with a bang,” said Simon does not appear now so willing to join the one set of rules for the emerging markets years. Following the announcement, the Swiss Smith, chief economist at currency broker Europeans, who agreed last summer on a where they’re tough, and when it comes to the national currency immediately spiked in value, FxPro, describing the Swiss franc crisis as a new 86-billion-euro plan to support Greece. Europeans, they don’t mind that the country sparking turmoil on global financial markets. “black swan” moment, or extremely rare and Yet, under pressure from the Germans, doesn’t meet the conditions,’” said Desmond However, fast forward one year, and the Swiss unexpected event that alters the markets land- the European institutions have made the Lachman, a former IMF official. —AFP franc has erased a large part of those hefty scape. —AFP MONDAY, JANUARY 18, 2016 BUSINESS Chinese GDP to worry CBs at home and abroad GLOBAL ECONOMY WEEKAHEAD

FRANKFURT: China is set to report its weakest full- cuts seen since November 2014 and suggest that cle than can but lead to further depreciation of the tional capital flows and tighten systemic regula- Still, economic activity is holding up well in year growth figure in 25 years tomorrow on the back more currency depreciation is coming to prop up cor- currency,” Nordine Naam, an analyst at brokerage tion so the central bank can cut rates further the euro zone for now, with domestic consump- of slowing output and sagging investments, troubling porate profitability, bad news for advanced Natixis, said. without exerting further downward pressure on tion and factory activity supporting growth, off- news that will likely dominate discussion at the economies. “Concerns over the extent of the slowdown in the currency, also known as renminbi. setting weakening export prospects. European Central Bank and Bank of Canada policy An even weaker yuan will export China’s deflation- Chinese growth risk fuelling capital outflows and in But Albert Edwards, a strategist at Societe And the ECB has barely had any time to meetings. ary pressures to advanced economies that are already turn a further depreciation of yuan, to which the Generale known for his bearish stance, has big- gauge the impact of its most recent set of meas- Economists said the expansion of the Chinese struggling with anaemic price growth, amplified by a People’s Bank of China seems resigned,” Naam said. ger fears: “Investors are coming to terms with ures, suggesting the central bank could wait economy was held back by sluggish domestic and fall in oil prices to 12-year lows. The Chinese government is expected to target what a Chinese renminbi devaluation means for until mid-year before acting again. “We expect external demand, weak investments, factory overca- China’s annual fourth-quarter GDP likely slowed to economic growth of at least 6.5 percent in 2016, but Western markets. It means global deflation and the ECB to ease policy further in 2016 as defla- pacity and high property inventories, which exacer- 6.8 percent from 6.9 percent in the third quarter, the that could require more rate cuts, increased govern- recession,” he said. “The western manufacturing tionary pressures worsen,” Barclays said. bated deflationary pressures in the economy. The weakest reading since the global financial crisis, while ment spending on infrastructure and easing curbs on sector will choke under this imported deflation- “However, we think new measures are unlikely poor figures bolster arguments for more Chinese full-year growth is seen at a 25-year low of 6.9 percent. the cooling property sector. ary tourniquet. Indeed U.S. manufacturing to be deployed before June, unless we see monetary policy easing on top of the six interest rates “The Chinese yuan has been caught up in a vicious cir- ING expects Chinese authorities to restrict interna- seems to be suffering particularly badly already,” another bout of euro appreciation or a further Edwards added. significant drop in inflation expectations.” Canada’s central bank will have a tougher CENTRAL BANKS time deciding. Although most analysts expect Although China was a fading concern for rates to remain on hold at 0.5 percent, markets central banks in recent months, market turbu- see a bigger chance of a cut to 0.25 percent on lence at the start of the year will likely propel it lower growth prospects, falling oil prices and a back on top of the agenda, particularly after poor Bank of Canada survey. another plunge in oil prices, a factor of weak “The decision remains an exceptionally close emerging market demand. call,” TD Securities said. “On one front, the eco- Meeting for the first time since it cut interest nomic uncertainty has risen enough to fully sup- rates and extended quantitative easing in port a cut, and the additional insurance would December, the ECB is expected to remain on be wise.” “On the other hand, the Bank may hold on Thursday but will likely express serious want to wait and see how the temporary factors concern about emerging market prospects as weighing on late-2015 growth evolve,” it added. the euro area inflation and growth outlooks Bank of Canada Governor Stephen Poloz fade. At the previous policy-setting meeting the also cast doubt on the cut recently when he ECB was already worried that its inflation fore- praised the effect of the weaker Canadian casts may be too optimistic and said it needed dollar, which trades at a close to 13-year to maintain firepower if risks materialize. low. — Reuters MONDAY, JANUARY 18, 2016 BUSINESS Fed in tightening mode amid Asian meltdown

NBK MONEY MARKETS REPORT KUWAIT: Interest rates hike expecta- about one another’s counterparty risk. the changes in the price of oil, ‘one cir- these “downside risks reflect contin- The ECB meeting minutes cent on a monthly basis in December. tions in the US have created a new In all this meltdown, Chinese authori- cumstance where one may be con- ued headwinds from weakness with- The minutes of the latest ECB For now, the continuation of the world where consumers refuse to ties waged war on speculators cerned is when inflation expectations in countries that represent many of meeting released this week highlight- global meltdown has supported the return to the debt-fueled demand defending the Yuan offshore and themselves begin to change due to our major trading partners, and only ed that policy action was widely seen Yen, as well as Japan’s balance of pay- growth of the previous years. After a Onshore continuously. the changes in crude oil prices’. limited data to support the projected as warranted and a ‘reassessment ments. On the trade side, although massive expansion of its balance After continuous attempts of stabi- After ruling out a January rate path of inflation”. could made in the future’ about the trade deficit has shrunk to close to sheet, the Fed is now in a tightening lization, Asian stock markets continue move, he said that no decision on Last but not least, Chicago Fed increasing the size of monthly pur- zero, falling energy import prices mode, where Fed members are prob- to bleed into the weekend with conta- March can be made until we “get President Evans reiterated his view chases. Highlighting a split amongst have offset the export drag from the ably wondering if they acted too fast gion spreading globally. Year to date, more information and see how things that “we are likely headed toward a the board, the minutes notes in the lower in Asia. and what to do in the next FOMC global indices are down almost dou- play out”. The probability of a March lower resting point” for the fed funds text were that ‘going beyond the ulti- meetings. As the world was waiting ble digits with Shanghai index down hike has fallen from as much 52 per- rate relative to the past, while also cit- mately agreed 10bp cut would, in the Australia’s Job data for the first rates hike in 2015, the almost 20%, the Japanese Nikkei cent at the start of the year to just 33 ing that the policy of normalization view of some members, raise issues On the data front this week, problem today is in the interest rates down 8%, while US and Europe percent now. should be “very gradual” to bring about increase side effects over time’. employment declined by 1,000 since path going forward. indices down almost 8.5%. Another Fed member, president of inflation to target in a reasonable The minutes also reiterated that November against expectations of Since the later part of 2015, we On the currency front, the drop San Francisco Fed John Williams amount of time. these issues concerned the profitabili- 10,000 drop while unemployment have seen carnage in emerging mar- continues in commodities currencies, admitted this week that “the Fed got ty of banks and other financial institu- was at 5.8 percent versus expecta- kets currencies and equities. Since the with year to date, Australian dollar it wrong when it predicted a drop in Europe & UK tions whereby banks could try to tions of 5.9 percent. We believe that beginning of 2009, as funds were down by 5.6 percent Canadian by 5 oil prices would be a big boom for the German 2015 GDP growth came recoup possible losses by increasing Australia continues to be mostly vul- cheap, the Fed quantitative easing led percent, South African by -6 percent lending margins and so leading to a nerable to the Chinese currency to massive emerging market inflows, and the list goes on. tightening instead of a further easing weakness. If the depreciation of the which led to years of foreign Being the funding currency of in financing conditions. Yuan remains aggressive in 2016, it is exchange intervention in an attempt choice, the Euro and the Yen are up likely to generate additional stress for for countries to keep their currency against most of their counterparts. Dim forecasts for UK the Australian economy. Indeed, the pegged or fight the increase relative Euro closed the week at 1.0916 The Bank of England kept rates longer the crisis prolongs in Asia, the to the Dollar. This phenomenon trans- against the USD while the Japanese unchanged once again this week after more difficult it would be for new lated into a large investment in com- Yen closed the week at 117.00. The an 8-1 majority vote. Officials said the mining investment to take place. modities which ultimately resulted in sterling Pound remains in a no man’s near-term outlook for UK growth and The latest trade numbers were the burst we are currently witnessing. land after investors remain on the inflation has weakened further. released with the data better than The current situation is forcing sideline while the UK decides to In the minutes of the January expected this week. In yuan terms, consumers and investors to change remain or leave the Eurozone in 2016. meeting, published this week, offi- exports were up +2.3 percent on a their behavior as the old carry trade On the commodities side, this week’s cials said they needed time to assess yearly basis in December against. -4.1 mechanism, where people used comments from Nigeria’s Oil Minister the implications of recent market percent from - 3.7 percent in cheap funding currency to invest in suggesting that a few OPEC member volatility. With inflation far below the November. It was the first positive higher yielding vehicles seems to be countries wanted to request an emer- BOE’s 2 percent target, officials also reading since June last year. Imports completely broken. gency meeting saw the price of oil noted that pay growth remains printed at -4.0 percent on a yearly The drama is mainly hitting Asia, attempting to move higher. “restrained” and has dipped in recent basis, against expectations of -7.9 per- and mostly China. Even with Chinese Nonetheless, his comments were months. The expected pickup in the cent, from -5.6 percent the prior authorities attempting to turn the quickly downplayed by his counter- headline rate would be “a little more month. country into a consumer driven socie- part in the UAE who said that the modest than previously assumed,” When translated in USD terms, ty, it remains primarily an export ori- OPEC will not change its policy economy. It turned out the world had in at +1.7 percent on a yearly basis, while business surveys point to a exports rose to -1.4 percent against ented economy. With the Chinese despite the latest price collapse. Oil is changed; the US has a lot of jobs con- which was as expected and slightly slower pace of growth. The minutes expectations of a 8.0 percent drop export dropping significantly, authori- now down 50 percent from its peak in nected to the oil industry”. Now that better than 2014, 1.6 percent. The also highlighted that the falls in ener- from -6.8 percent the previous ties had no choice than to start June last year, or over 72 percent from gas prices have been low for over a outcome is in line with the expecta- gy prices meant that the increase in month, while imports came at -7.6 devaluing the currency. the highs of June 2014. Brent ended year, consumers will finally change tions of the German government and inflation is now expected to be slight- percent against expectations of -11.0 Having been pegged to the Dollar, the week down over 20 percent since their behavior having expected the the Bundesbank. Preliminary GDP ly more gradual in the near term than percent. With the devaluation of the the Yuan suffered major drawbacks the beginning of the year at $29.42, gas drop to be temporary. Consumer data for Q4 signaled a slight loss in forecast in the committee’s Yuan, that data is likely to provide a relative to its competition. We are like- while West Texas crude closed below spending that has been growing momentum in the second half of the November Inflation report, although lift to the PBoC. Taken together, the ly to witness a continuation of a drop the $30 level the first time since 2003 faster last year will eventually stop, year. Germany’s GDP expanded the comments were somewhat bal- data suggest a favorable impact from in the Chinese Yuan into 2016, which at $28.94. making the Fed realize that the world around 0.25 percent in the final quar- anced out with the reference to currency depreciation. ultimately will keep volatility elevated wasn’t ready for a major lift off as ter of 2015 from the previous period. potentially being positive for con- With the December trade data, into emerging markets for the short Worried Fed planned Europe continues to steal growth sumer spending. China’s is attempting to reassure mar- term. President of St Louis Fed, James Boston Fed President Rosengren from its major partner with the help kets despite the turmoil on the stock Since the start of 2016, China limit Bullard who is seen to be a hawkish also attracted some attention this of a falling Euro. A week ago, the Bank of Japan and FX markets. Despite taking long down was reached twice before member of the FOMC committee, week making reference to the fact eurozone PMI came at 54.2, This week, Japan machine orders time to materialize, Chinese authori- authorities decided to scrap the newly commented this week, saying that that “policy makers should take seri- unchanged from November, but up dropped this week by 14.4 percent on ties are betting the strategy is moving adopted mechanism. Hibor rates ‘with renewed declines in crude oil ously the potential downside risks to from the prior 53.9. Firms in Europe as a monthly basis, worth 773.8 billion in the right path. which stand for interbank lending prices in recent weeks, the associated their economic forecasts and man- well continue to add new jobs at the yen. The headline figure missed fore- rates in Hong Kong have also explod- decline in market based inflation age those risks as we think about fastest rate since May 2011 anticipat- casts for a drop of 7.3 percent, follow- Kuwait ed higher for two days this week in a expectations measures is becoming the appropriate path for monetary ing better business this year. The ing the 10.7 percent increase in Kuwaiti dinar at 0.30355 sign that banks are desperate for liq- worrisome’. Bullard noted that while policy”. employment sub-index was 52.8 in October. Bank of Japan said that pro- The USDKWD opened at 0.30355 uidity and are extremely concerned Central Bankers tend to ‘look through’ Rosengren continue saying that December from 52.2 ducer prices were also down 0.3 per- yesterday morning. Vietnam sees reform opportunities, labor challenges in TPP

HANOI: After organizing communist relies heavily on exports, is projected to Vietnam’s first peaceful mass strike at a see the biggest percentage boost to the shoe factory, labor activist Do Thi Minh economy of any country in the TPP-about Hanh was arrested, beaten bloody by 10 percent by 2030, mostly thanks to tex- police, and jailed for four years. tiles and apparel, according to World Bank Authoritarian Vietnam does not allow the figures. Last year the economy grew at millions of workers in its export-orientated 6.68 percent, its fastest pace in five years, factories, which are driving impressive eco- partially thanks to record foreign invest- nomic growth, to form independent trade ment. unions. But in order to attract new high-quality But this should change with the coming TPP-linked investment, the communist into force of the Trans-Pacific Partnership country, which has the lowest GDP per (TPP), a deal that has been touted as a capita and competitiveness ranking of the foundation for “21st century trade” by US group, will have to introduce wide-ranging President Barack Obama. The TPP seeks to reforms. liberalise commerce in some 40 percent of “It requires a lot of effort for Vietnam to the global economy, and if ratified would develop a full market system and define oblige signatories-be they the US, Japan, better the role of the state,” said economist Canada or Vietnam-to allow independent Pham Chi Lan. From brewing to baby for- trade unions. mula, often inefficient state-run compa- KANO: A trader sorts a basket of tomatoes at the Yankaba vegetables market in northern Nigerian city of Kano, yesterday. —AFP But activists like Hanh say the one-party nies still have their fingers in every sector state is a long way from concretely commit- of the economy, and restructuring will be a ting to that kind of change. “Vietnam still long and painful process, she said. Nigeria tackling poverty and wants to maintain its monopoly on trade But when the country signed on to the unions,” said Hanh, who was released from TPP it showed “they are serious about prison in 2014 but lives under constant changing the system,” she said. unemployment with tomatoes police surveillance. Currently, all unions are part of the Vietnam Confederation of Geopolitical victory Labour, which is older than the ruling com- Vietnam’s participation in the TPP Africa’s richest man Dangote hoping to boost output, create jobs munist party. reflects a “new consensus” among the coun- Such official unions are “established to try’s ruling elite about their foreign policy KANO, Nigeria: It’s a situation that mirrors the Supply boost market for our tomatoes, which is a perishable control workers, not to represent them,” direction, said Jonathan London, a Vietnam giant oil industry, where Nigeria has abundant Nigeria grows some 1.5 million tons of toma- produce. But now we have a market close to us,” activist Hoang Dung said. The lack of expert at City University of Hong Kong. resources but has lacked the capacity, will or toes every year, making it the 14th biggest pro- he said. meaningful representation is counterpro- The communist country wants to move ability to exploit it, forcing a reliance on ducer in the world. But it’s forced to rely on ductive as it leads to more wildcat strikes, close to the US and Japan, but is also eager imports. imports of tomato puree, mostly from China, Challenges said labor activist Nguyen Ngoc Nhu not to antagonize its current largest trad- But Africa’s richest man Aliko Dangote is hop- because of a lack of processing plants. Dangote’s President Muhammadu Buhari is keen to Quynh. ing partner Beijing, he said. “Hanoi recog- ing to change tomato production with a giant factory, built by Switzerland-based Syngenta, diversify Nigeria’s economy away from an over- “Workers demonstrate as they cannot nizes the TPP for what it is: a once in a gen- factory that will boost domestic output, create will directly employ 120 people and 50,000 reliance on oil as revenues have been severely negotiate,” she said. Quynh is not opti- eration opportunity to bolster the coun- jobs-and even, indirectly, fight Boko Haram. farmers have been engaged to grow the toma- depleted by the global slump in crude prices. mistic about the TPP as “who can ensure try’s standings, economically and strategi- For the past five years, the Dangote Group toes required for the process of making concen- Former agriculture minister Akinwumi Adesina, that the trade union is really independent cally,” he said. The TPP will help Vietnam’s conglomerate he heads has been working to trate. The Central Bank of Nigeria has provided now head of the African Development Bank, in and will listen to workers’ concerns?” domestic reform by putting “structure and build a $20-million (18.4-million-euro) tomato technical assistance such as soft loans for seeds 2013 described the sector as “the new oil”. Some direction” into long-running efforts to processing plant outside the northern city of and fertilizer. The factory will then buy the pro- 30 percent of Nigeria’s estimated 170 million Company vs worker rights overhaul the state sector, but while the Kano. The city and state of the same name has duce at competitive rates, said Kaita. people are employed in agriculture, mostly at a The TPP contains a controversial pact offers tremendous opportunities to been blighted by poverty and unemployment, Currently, about half of the local tomato crop subsistence level, although moves have been investor-state dispute settlement mecha- Vietnam, it is no magic bullet, said Virginia seen as key drivers to radicalisation fuelling the rots because of a lack of storage facilities, poor made to commercialize production. Erratic pow- nism which allows companies to take gov- Foote of Bay Global Strategies. Islamist insurgency in the wider north since pricing and access to markets, which has er supply, which Nigeria has been grappling ernments to court if they feel their rights “Companies look at the overall picture, if 2009. But it’s hoped the giant factory the size of prompted many farmers to stop cultivation, said with for more than two decades, and lack of are violated. But the deal has no equiva- the only thing that is better is tariff levels, 10 football pitches, set alongside 17,000 the CBN. import controls remain the factory’s main chal- lent enforcement mechanism to make sure you might not move your factory or supply hectares (acres) of irrigated fields, will help by The improved seed varieties to increase lenges. member states live up to their commit- chain (there),” she said. At the Garment tapping a potential agricultural goldmine. yields, access to chemicals, more up-to-date The factory will have to rely on diesel-hungry ments on labor or the environment. Textile Corporation factory on the outskirts The country’s agriculture ministry puts annu- farming techniques and a ready market for the generators for electricity, adding to production Oxfam’s Andrew Wells-Dang notes that of Hanoi, the company has been planning al current demand for tomato puree at 900,000 produce is designed to entice farmers back. costs and reducing competitiveness with cheap- Vietnam has signed up for numerous eagerly for a post TPP era, said deputy tons. When the Dangote factory opens from “Once we start production the factory will be er imports. rights and labor agreements in the past director Than Duc Viet. It has nearly dou- next month it will provide 430,000 tons of paste providing employment to farmers and (the) Both issues contributed to the collapse of but failed to implement them. The TPP bled production capacity and is busy secur- that is used widely in Nigerian dishes from jollof tomato paste packaging industry, traders, hundreds of factories in Dangote’s home state of “could contribute to opening up space on ing local supplies to take advantage of a rice to fiery soups. “Nigeria is such a huge market haulage operators and many others to support Kano in the past two decades, including his tex- labor issues... but what happens if it provision which rewards member states for for tomato paste that we will find quite chal- the tomato value chain,” said production manag- tile and wheat flour factories.But the vice-presi- doesn’t?” he said. using yarn from other TPP countries. lenging to satisfy,” the factory’s general manager, er Ashwin Patil. Plans to increase production-and dent of Nigeria’s manufacturers union, Ali The risk is the deal will simply “replace The deals new labor standards are no Abdulkarim Kaita, said. acquire an idle tomato paste factory in neigh- Madugu, said the future still looked bright. one set of (local) state owned actors with concern, he added, as his company already “Already local tomato paste packaging com- boring Kaduna state-are in the pipeline, he “Once the government can place restrictions another set of international corporate invests heavily in perks to help retain panies have placed orders with us which we will added. on the import of Chinese tomato pastes... the actors,” and do little to benefit workers or skilled workers. “With or without TPP, we have to work hard to satisfy. “We are set to begin For farmers such as Yusuf Ado Kadawa, it’s a sky’s the limit for the Dangote tomato paste farmers. will certainly be bankrupt if workers don’t operations. We are only waiting for the tomatoes lifeline. “We really incur heavy losses from our because the market is there for them to exploit,” Vietnam, whose low-wage economy want to stay,” he said. —AFP which are ripening in the fields.” yield, which rots away due to lack of (a) ready he added. —AFP MONDAY, JANUARY 18, 2016 BUSINESS KIPCO repays KD 80 million bond ‘Our prudent funding policies have served us well: ‘ Group CFO

KUWAIT: KIPCO, the Kuwait markets, and will continue to do tion, KIPCO’s Group Chief investment community, togeth- billion as at 30 September 2015. Projects Company, has so with the aim of diversifying Financial Officer, Pinak Maitra, er with its prudent financial The Group has significant own- announced that it has repaid its its investor base and providing said: “Our prudent funding poli- practices, ensures that the com- ership interests in over 60 com- KD 80 million ($264 million) the company with financial flexi- cies have served us well and pany can always make true on panies operating across 24 coun- bond. The bond, which was bility. KIPCO is also on schedule KIPCO’s liquidity remains strong. its promises and distinguishes tries. The group’s main business issued in January 2012, was the to repay its $500 million bond in We ended 2015 with one billion KIPCO as a role model in the sectors are financial services, largest local bond issued by a October 2016, issued under its dollars in cash, which will allow region.” media, real estate and manufac- Kuwaiti corporate. international bond program. us to comfortably cover our The KIPCO Group is one of the turing. Through its core compa- As part of its strategy, KIPCO The company will have no debt commitments in 2016. The biggest holding companies in nies, subsidiaries and affiliates, regularly raises money in the repayments to make in 2017. excellent reputation that the Middle East and North Africa, KIPCO also has interests in the Pinak Maitra local and international debt Commenting on the transac- KIPCO’s enjoys in the global with consolidated assets of $31.4 education and medical sectors. Has the demand for oil peaked?

By Hayder Tawfik important point and that is the devel- oped world has been very effective in he recent big falls in oil price may saving energy. So, maybe there is an Tbe justifying a peak in demand underestimation of the actual demand rather than just a supply and for oil in the developed economies and demand issue. May be the assumption at the same time an overestimation of that the demand for oil will continue ris- the future demand for oil from the ing is wrong or has been wrong for a emerging economies. while. At some point in the future global The developed economies have been oil use will start to fall. in the forefront of introducing measures We have that have led to being more effective in always been told using oil or energy. Most countries have that population in place energy taxes some are very high growth and a ris- and some are going up every year. The ing global mid- technological breakthroughs has result- dle class guaran- ed in a peak in oil demand in the most tee the steady industrious economies such Japan, US Bahrah Trading Company wins demand for oil and Europe. According to the latest and other ener- energy research Europe’s oil use last year gy. This will lead hit its lowest level since the mid-1990s. prestigious award from HINO to rising prices in The U.S. Energy Information the future. This theory has been univer- Administration declared 2007 as the sally accepted by literally everyone. peak year for oil use in the U.S., with KUWAIT: Bahrah Trading Company Investors, governments and industries demand expected to fall by between 1.8 (BTC), one of the Al-Sayer Group alike. But maybe we should start ques- million and 2.7 million barrels a day by Holding Companies has won top hon- tion this theory for the sake of better 2035 based on improvements in auto- or at the Middle East and Africa Region understanding why oil price has been motive efficiency and demographic HINO Service skill contest recently held falling. I strongly believe that the world trends. at Hino Sharjah Training Center. economy is going through a massive Also, there are signs that slowing oil Scripting a remarkable achieve- change when it comes to oil consump- demand even in China, which has been ment Jonathan Galvez Mariano, tion. This will dramatically change the the biggest source of growth in con- Specialist Technician - BTC Hino service patterns of energy use in the near future. sumption over the past decade. China won the Champion Award at the event. 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The increased political turmoil in key cient too. “This contest was to recognize the Kenichi Sekine, Chief Representative Kuwait are in place at the warehouse. regions of the developing world, and The new trend of massive urbaniza- abilities of our technicians and to of Hino Middle East Office and Hino Appropriate maintenance arrange- large bets on renewable energy are tion will more likely reduce the viability encourage continuous improvement in Middle East Parts Depot in UAE lauded ments are also in place including spe- among the many factors that will com- of private car ownership. Old and new our after-sales service. This annual the achievement and heaped compli- cial tools and diagnostic equipment bine to slow the previous breakneck cities around the world are seeking event is an initiative of Hino as part of ments on Joe; he also praised Bahrah and instruments to assist the service growth for oil. 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Aging population in the Top Training Put To Test, Best Of The the skills training attended by the tech- Ahmadi were present at the venue of support the service and parts opera- changing very fast and the global US, Japan and Europe drive far less and Best Battle For Top Honors: nicians. Based on the knowledge, the contest which encouraged Joe aim tions. demand for oil demand will peak within use buses and trains more than ever. At Crediting BTC on winning this understanding and education they higher with confidence. Hino has maintained a proven the next two decades. the same time, increased turmoil and award Mubarak Naser Al-Sayer, CEO Al- attained, they were able to compete “Joining us in 2007 as Technician, record as one of the world market lead- The geopolitical and economic impli- low oil prices are crippling economic Sayer Group said “This achievement is successfully and showcase their expert- heavy equipment service, by dedica- ers with representation and presence cations of peaking demand will be huge activity in some parts of the oil produc- all the more heartening and significant ise”, said Yoshihiro Koyama, General tion and sincere efforts rose steadily in in GCC and Africa since 1960’s with for some oil producing countries. As ing countries and Africa. 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Food, pearing. new products by Bahrah’s technical Manager BTC said “Joe had faced tough exemplary” added Mr. Hamza For the year 2015, HINO marked water and natural commodities that Over the past few years, the cost of cadre. The HINO Service Skills Contest competition from veteran technicians Melakandy. record growth in Kuwait since BTC offi- help in generating energy away from oil. producing renewable energy being is an important event for the brand’s from other distributors, quite a few of Reliable Service from BTC for World cially re-launched the brand in Those who argue against the peak in wind power, solar or electric cars have continued success. We aim to gain the whom won laurels in earlier contests Leading Brand HINO: All HINO techni- November 2014. Hino’s recognition as demand for oil uses the ever-increasing fallen dramatically. They are now very best competitive advantage for sales yet, prevailed to secure the champion cians receive skill training at HINO facil- the largest manufacturer of trucks and world middle class in places like China, promising than expected. China’s com- and service and such world-class train- award by making the best use of highly ity in Sharjah. BTC ensures availability buses in Japan rightfully proves that India, Indonesia and some part of Africa. mitment to an industrialization program ing and assessment is vital to the skilled professional approach, knowl- of sufficient inventory at warehouse the company’s technicians are among It has always been in the interest of the pushing itself to be the world’s major growth of our business” edge and impeccable preparation.” considering the Units in operation in the best. oil industry to promote such argument. exporter of solar panels and advanced We know that the growth of the middle vehicles, including the production of class mean more cars on the road and five million electric vehicles a year, is Asia will continue to outperform more fuel consumption. Officially, the another source of caution to those who International Energy Agency forecasts oil forecast oil demand will rise exponen- demand rising to 104 million barrels a tially forever. other emerging regions day by 2040 from 90 million barrels a Obviously none of this is for sure but day in 2013, as surging demand in the the signs are there already. A lot could developing world dwarfs the demand happen in the future and changes bound By Jordi Rof almost 14 percent in the 1970s to 27.5 ratios remained below 50 percent, and Latin America- also contributed to the declines expected in the industrialized to occur. Future, changes in politics, eco- Asiya Capital Investments Company percent of global GDP in 2014, mostly primary deficits under 2 percent, in the weak performance. Trade is not only countries. nomics and technology could easily alter at the expense of European and North last 15 years. Foreign investment less prominent in Latin America than I believe these forecasts misses one the demand for oil. - Rasameel KUWAIT: 2016 has started with a dra- American economies. The improve- flocked in, averaging over 3 percent of in Asia, but exports are more com- matic selloff in equities across the ment was not only quantitative but GDP in the 1990-2010 period. modity based. Low sophistication of globe. The erratic performance of qualitative, as GDP per capita at current Investment levels are even more strik- exports in the region is also shown by Chinese stock markets has been point- prices improved from 4.9 percent to ing, as they remained consistently the percentage of high-tech exports Benefits of cheap oil will ed at as one of the trigger of the global 17.3 percent measured as a percentage above 30 percent of GDP since the 70s over merchandise exports, 10 percent correction, and investors look with con- of the same measure in the United and above 40 percent in the last five in 2014, compared to 25 percent in come, but not soon cern at emerging markets, including States. years. Emerging Asia. Asia. Indeed, the combination of What made Asia different? Research Back in the 1960s, Latin America A combination of appropriate fiscal WASHINGTON: With petroleum investment and has far exceeded what we originally expected, diverging policy cycles in the United and monetary frameworks, effective the manufacturing sector sagging and the stock and the longer it persists, the harder it is to argue States and the rest of the world, declin- industrial policies, which targeted sec- market in free fall, many Americans are wonder- that decline will ever be a net positive for the US ing oil prices, decelerating growth and tors with high value added, and high ing when they will begin to see the benefits of economy,” he said. policy fatigue constitutes a sobering levels of investment made the Asian cheap oil. Crude oil prices have tumbled by 70 “Lower prices should have boosted real eco- context to invest, in which no asset or awakening possible. The foundations percent since mid-2014, dropping this year below nomic growth in the US. Instead, the hit to region seems attractive. In moments of these fast, stable and sustainable $30 a barrel, a price unimaginable as recently as domestic investment has been unrelenting, like this, it is useful to think long term, development remain unchanged so 18 months ago, when they were at $110 a barrel. while households still haven’t spent any of their and resource to economic fundamen- far. Capital formation (41 percent of The technological breakthroughs of hydraulic savings.” tals. Historically, macroeconomic per- GDP), trade levels (63 percent of GDP) fracturing-or fracking-have revolutionized the US financial authorities, starting with Fed formance remains the best explanatory remained high compared to other market for black gold, making the United States chair Janet Yellen, insist that lower gasoline factor for investment returns. What are emerging regions in 2014. A high real the world’s leading petroleum exporter. prices should free consumers’ purchasing power. the global macro trends? GDP growth (6.8 percent) in a context So why do things feel so bleak to many Premium gas at the pump is now below $2 a The weight of most regions in terms of low inflation in 2014 (2.7 percent) are Americans? It may be just a question of timing, gallon on average (0.48 euros a liter), a seven- of GDP barely experienced any still contributing to attract large some economists say. “On a net basis, the decline year low. changes in the last 40 years. Latin amounts of inwards investment. In of oil prices is or will be positive for the US econo- And yet few signs of impact on consumer America and the Caribbean accounted 2014 the region received a record 40 my,” said Angel Ubide, a senior fellow at the spending seem to have materialized, even if the for 6% of GDP in 1970 versus 8% in suggested that circumstances such as was the most promising region, but it percent of global investment. Peterson Institute for International Economics. American consumer remains the locomotive of 2014. Sub-Saharan Africa’s contribution the colonial legacy and institutional did not live up to the expectations. Moreover, the latest slump in com- Because the negative impact is “faster and more today’s modest levels of US growth. Retail sales to global output remained steady at quality could have played a significant From 1980 to 2014 real GDP growth modity prices could have positive concentrated in time,” people are already feeling rose only 2.1 percent in 2015, according to official 2.2% in the same period. Middle East role. However, macroeconomic expla- averaged 2.9 percent, less than half of implications for the region, while hurt- it, Ubide told AFP. “If we look at it in two or three figures published Friday, down from a yearly aver- and North Africa (MENA) improved nations stand out. For instance, from Asia’s (7.4 percent), and significantly ing other emerging commodity- years’ time, we’ll be able to conclude that the age of 5.1 percent from 2010 to 2014. Murphy substantially, from 1.3 percent to 4.5 1970 to 2010 East Asia registered sub- more volatile. Inflation was higher, and exporting economies in South decline in oil prices on net was positive. But we said Americans have saved $115 billion thanks to percent of global GDP, but mainly due stantially lower inflation rates than most investment lower averaging about 21 America, Africa or the Middle East. In need some time for that.” cheap gas over the past 18 months, but rather to the rise of oil-exporting economies. other developing regions. Fiscal pru- percent of GDP from 1970 to 2014. spite of the deceleration that the Steve Murphy of Capital Economics sounded than spending it, “Personal saving has increased Emerging Asia is the only undisputable dency created an ample fiscal space Other factors such as financial instabili- region is experiencing, economic fun- a note of caution, however, saying much will by US$120 billion, suggesting that households story of successful development which allowed the implementation of ty -27 banking crises between 1980 damentals remain strong in Asia, and depend on how long oil prices remain low. “The have saved every last dime from lower pump among developing economies. The counter-cyclical stabilizing fiscal poli- and 2000- and lower trade levels -62 the region is expected to keep outper- magnitude and duration of the slump in oil prices prices.” —AFP region almost doubled its weight, from cies. In fact, in the region, debt to GDP percent of GDP in Asia vs. 50 percent in forming other emerging economies. technology MONDAY, JANUARY 18, 2016 New Nikon D5 brings sheer imaging power to the hands of photographers

MIDDLE EAST & AFRICA: The next-gener- the capability to generate 4K UHD time- with a maximum ation flagship model that expands photo- lapse movies in-camera. range of approxi- graphic possibilities for professional pho- mately 200 m*8. tographers, the Nikon D5, is announced by Advanced specifications for Communications Nikon Middle East FZEtoday. This latest on-site demands, efficient workflow are significantly Nikon-FX format DSLR camera is devel- A high-resolution 3.2-inch, approxi- faster with sup- oped with advanced specifications that mately 2,359k-dot touch screen LCD moni- port for the new include significantly improved moving tor: Adoption of a touch screen for the dis- IEEE 802.11ac subject acquisition capabilities, and com- play monitor enables nimble confirmation (2◊2 VHT80) pelling image quality at high sensitivities and high-speed navigation of a large num- standard. to enable excellent response to a wide ber of images using a frame advance bar, Wireless control variety of scenes and subjects. and supports an efficient workflow with over the camera “We understand the importance of a text input and the like. The high-resolution from a computer millisecond when it comes to capturing a monitor enables extremely clear display is also possible remarkable competitive sporting moment with live view photography, even when the using Camera Control Pro 2 (available sep- or the intensity of a ground-breaking news display is enlarged, for fast focus confirma- arately). With the WT-6 connected to a D5, piece. The camera companion has to out- tion. the combination also serves as a wireless perform the expectations by delivering a Greatly increased communications per- LAN access point, enabling possibilities potent fusion of extensive image capturing formance with both wired and wireless ofdirect connection to a computer or power alongside a detailed and immediate networks:The communications system has smartphone. acquisition performance, regardless of the been significantly improved to support environment,” said Takashi Yoshida, communications at least twice as fast as 1- Possible in Continuous high speed Managing Director, Nikon Middle East with the D4S, with both wired networks (CH) release mode with shutter speeds of FZE.”Following this train of thought, Nikon using the Ethernet connector built into the 1/250 seconds or faster presents the new FX-format flagship DSLR, D5, and wireless networks when the new 2- When used with the Wireless the Nikon D5. Engineered with all of the complete overhaul of the D5’s AF system movie capability: The D5 supports 4K Wireless Transmitter WT6 (available sepa- Transmitter WT-6 (available separately) mentioned, and housed in a camera body with an adoption of the Multi-CAM 20K movies, which offers higher resolution rately) is used with the D5. 3- The camera is available in two ver- of exceptional reliability and operability, autofocus sensor module. The AF sensor than HD or Full-HD movies, capable of Versatile image storage options:Two sions, one that uses two XQD cards and the D5 is a professional’s formidable pho- module offers 153 focus points, 99 of recording 4K UHD (3840 ◊ 2160)/30p, 25p, versions of the D5 are available. Both are one that uses two CompactFlash cards tography partner. Nikon D5, I am vision which are cross-type sensors, for broad 24p movies to a memory card inserted in equipped with double memory card slots 4- When used with the Speedlight SB- outperformed.” and dense coverage of the image area. The the camera. Alternatively with a simultane- supporting a single media type, one being 5000 (available separately) Photographers on the beat, needing to centre focus point has a detection range ous HDMI output, movies can also be dis- for XQD cards and the other for 5- At ISO 100, 20 ∞C/68 ∞F keep up with the constant change of pace beginning at an incredible ?4 EV, and played on an external monitor or recorded CompactFlash cards. 6- When Lexar Professional 2933◊ XQD of a subject under a variety of conditions, detection with other focus points begins at as uncompressed video to an external 2.0 memory cards are used will enjoy the new 153-point autofocus ?3 EV*5, enabling autofocusing even under recorder. With the maximum standard sen- Bridging the gap of networks 7- The Wireless Transmitter Utility (avail- (AF) system and a stable viewfinder image extremely dim lighting, and with subjects sitivity of ISO 102400, as well as even high- The Wireless Transmitter WT-6, available able for download from Nikon’s website) that makes tracking moving subjects easy, exhibiting very low contrast. In addition, er sensitivity settings up to Hi 5 (equivalent separately, comes handy for high-speed must be installed on the computer even with high-speed continuous shooting equipping the camera with a dedicated AF to ISO 3280000), superior picture quality is wireless network communications: When 8- With a large antenna at the wireless at approximately 12 fps*1. Visual aesthetics engine capable of high-speed calculation still assured even when recording movies connected to the D5, high-speed transfer LAN access point. Range varies with signal are heightened with the collaboration of a and collaboration with the 180K-pixel RGB at these high sensitivities. Rounding off the of image data to a computer*7 or an FTP strength and presence or absence of new Nikon FX-format CMOS sensor and a sensor have ensured that extremely reli- spectacular movie-making experience is server over a wireless network is possible obstacles. new EXPEED 5 image-processing engine, able AF performance is demonstrated with both developed by Nikon, producing the a variety of scenes. highest standard ISO sensitivity in Nikon history with up to an ISO of 102400. This Incessant clicks without Seeing Machines technology in helps to expand photographic possibilities missing a beat by liberatingphotographers from lighting High-speed continuous shooting at demand from crash-proof car makers restrictions, not only with the capture of approximately 12 fps with a stable still photos, but also with recordings of 4K viewfinder image that makes tracking NEW YORK: The first public pictures of and algorithms to track drivers’ face, eyes what is happening outside the car, and UHD (3840 ◊ 2160) movies, the latter being moving subjects easy: Photographers will Seeing Machines’ display prototype of and eyelids to monitor their attention and smart enough to know what the driver is a new feature introduced with the D5. find their new photography companion technology developed with Samsung. alertness levels in real time. capable of doing through all sorts of tech- Workflow is notably amplified in time being capable of approximately 12 Icons are activated with the driver’s eyes. Seeing Machines chief executive Ken nologies.” and function, as more new, improved fea- fps*1continuous shooting with AF and AE Photo: Supplied Kroeger says the company has 160 people, Seeing Machines is working with tures and functions are introduced with tracking in all image quality modes, and In future, cars will be watching their including 23 engineers, working on crash- Samsung converting a windscreen into a the 20.8-megapixelD5. A high-resolution across all ISO sensitivity settings. drivers more closely than any police high- proof car technology, and cannot meet all transparent television screen. The road touch screen LCD monitor, fast communi- Theaddition of a new mirror drive mecha- way patrol officer. the requests from car manufacturers. scene in the picture is from another televi- cations with both wired networks via built- nism achieves a more stable viewfinder sion in front of the car. in Ethernet connector and wireless net- image that makes constant tracking of rap- Still five or six years away from produc- works*2, alongside double memory card idly moving subjects easy. Matching to the tion, the technology will enable drivers to slots*3 make for a highly efficient work- pace is the accessibility of capturing up to operate icons on the screen with their flow. 200*6 12-bit lossless compressed RAW eyes, to access a phone and contacts and Contributing to greater autofocus (AF), images with a single burst. other devices. auto exposure (AE) and auto white balance Seeing Machines’ technology is being Expressions unbound with (AWB), is the incorporation of a new 180K- integrated with other innovations in a bold image storytelling pixel RGB sensor forthe Advanced Scene central safety brain in the car of the future. Recognition System.The winning combina- Higher standard ISO sensitivities that Mr Kroeger says it is this integration into tion of these features and functions comes ensure superior image quality within the newly available, advanced driver assis- fitted with a design that consumes less most frequently used high sensitivity range: tance systems that will make a difference. power and adoption of a highly precise The potent combination between the new “Imagine a world where your car knows and durable shutter, while increasing cam- Nikon FX-format CMOS sensor and the new how able, or available, you are to properly era reliability in terms of control precision, EXPEED 5 image-processing engine have operate your vehicle, and automatically strength and durability. The D5 also sup- enabled the highest standard ISO sensitivity compensates by seamlessly taking away ports the new Nikon Creative Lighting in Nikon history of up to ISO 102400. High- and handing back control to you on a con- System functions, Radio-controlled sensitivity image quality at these never- tinual basis, without you even knowing Advanced Wireless Lighting (AWL) and before-seen levels achieves superior imag- that it’s happening,” he said. Unified Flash Control. ing quality, even within the high ISO 3200 Mr Kroeger hopes that within the next to 12800 range that is often used with five years the Australasian New Car D5Primary Features sports photography and the likes. In addi- Cars will have a safety brain that can In the United States, a car is coming to Assessment Program’s safety rating and 1. Swift response, astounding tracking tion, the image sensor’s broad dynamic look at their driver’s eyes and assess their market later this year that will allow its the Australian Government will consider * New AF system that demonstrates range enables rich and natural expression ability to handle whatever is happening driver to take their hands off the wheel. mandating crash-proof technology, as is excellent response to moving subjects and of tones for accurate reproduction of the outside of the moving vehicle. The car will watch the driver to make sure happening now in Europe. tracking performance, even under a variety finest details, even extremely vivid subjects Crash-proof cars coming closer to pro- he can take control of the vehicle if need- He expects technology will become of circumstances: Pivotal moments happen with difficult texture expressions. duction will integrate technology con- ed. “Thirteen car companies are paying us crucial in future in allowing older drivers in the blink of an eye, and photographers ceived at the ANU, Canberra, and now to do something, to go to the next stages to continue to driving into old age. “Now Taking the director’s seat are constantly on their toes to capture the commercialised throughout the world by of autonomy,” Mr Kroeger says. my mother should not be driving, but in in ultra high definition action regardless of the lighting condi- the spin-off company Seeing Machines. “Two years from now, the car will be three years time I won’t be so worried tions. These needs are addressed with a Cinematic brilliance with 4K UHD (30p) Seeing Machines uses smart cameras smart enough in what it knows about about her driving,” he said. Build a better weather network? New York takes the dare

ALBANY: Counting every raindrop or measur- moisture, and solar radiation. Each site even snow. His claim that the weather service was ing every gust of wind is impossible, but New transmits pictures every five minutes. “off” in its own snow forecast turned out to be York is getting closer with a uniquely extensive Select data from the working stations is fighting words to meteorologists who had statewide system of automated weather sta- already being posted to the Web. spent days warning about a major storm. tions that should paint a dramatically clearer Slightly more than half the states have Actually, the National Weather Service will picture of developing storms. some kind of network of stations augmenting take the data into their own system and use it Described as the new “gold standard” of those the federal government relies on. But for their own forecasts. Raymond O’Keefe, automated systems, the long-planned net- the dense and sophisticated network being meteorologist-in-charge at the service’s work of 125 weather stations stretching from built in New York will surpass the sophistica- Albany bureau, said forecasters have already the shores of Lake Erie to the tip of Long Island tion of the current “gold standard” system in used data from the existing stations to check is expected to be completed by the end of the Oklahoma, according to Curtis Marshall, the on whether local ground was frozen before a year. National Mesonet program manager. recent soaking rain as a way to forecast runoff. Fourteen stations are already transmitting Oklahoma Mesonet manager Chris Fiebrich The attraction to O’Keefe is simple: more data temperature, pressure and other data every said that state’s 120-station network, which going into models, better data coming out. five minutes. When all the stations are operat- dates to the early ‘90s, provided crucial infor- “Better observations, better predictions, ing, forecasters, emergency officials and ordi- mation for public safety officials and meteorol- better forecasts, better warnings,” he said. nary weather wonks will be able to get a fine- ogists last year, the wettest in Oklahoma’s his- Utilities and other businesses wanting the grained look - a million data points a day - that tory. data sent to them will pay a fee. New York’s will hopefully lead to better predictions. “Every season, at least, the Mesonet proves Mesonet is temporarily housed in a sub-base- “That’s the problem with the current net- its value in just recording incredibly extreme ment at the University at Albany until newer work. There are serious gaps and so you can’t weather,” Fiebrich said. space is ready elsewhere around the campus. see enough of the weather as it’s evolving,” Discussions about a New York Mesonet The automated stations will look pretty much ALBANY: In this Monday, Jan. 11, 2016 photo, Professor Chris Thorncroft, chairman of said Chris Thorncroft, chairman of the began in earnest after the Catskills were del- the same, with 30-foot metal towers topped the Atmospheric and Environmental Sciences Department at the University at Albany University at Albany’s atmospheric and envi- uged by the remnants of Hurricane Irene in by wind sensors. Most are being built in open and co- principal investigator for the New York State Mesonet, poses in the Mesonet ronmental sciences department. 2011, Thorncroft said. Record-setting rain had fields, though five New York City stations will operations center at the university in Albany, N.Y. Described as the new “gold standard” Thorncroft is helping lead the development fallen in areas without a gauge, leading to be on rooftops. Some of the stations, mostly in of automated systems, the long-planned network of 125 weather stations stretching of the New York State Mesonet, which is being delayed information, he said. A year later, the Adirondack Mountains and the adjacent from the shores of Lake Erie to the tip of Long Island is expected to be completed by the funded with a $23.6 million grant from the Superstorm Sandy sent a surge into the New Tug Hill Plateau, will measure snowfall. end of the year. Thorncroft is helping lead the development of the New York State Federal Emergency Management Agency. The York City area and killed 53 people in the state. Significantly, 17 stations will be able to Mesonet, which is being funded with a $23.6 million grant from the Federal Emergency new system will augment the 27 stations now Gov. Andrew Cuomo has been promoting measure conditions in the atmosphere miles Management Agency. — AP used by federal forecasters. the weather detection system since 2014, above, a job done now on a much more limit- People in New York will never be more than though not always in a welcoming way. The ed basis now by weather balloons. Marshall, at ing them. dimensional aspects of the atmosphere. 25 miles from a station. The new system will governor mentioned the coming forecast the National Weather Service, said such “verti- Thorncoft called the array of profilers a “Knowing what’s happening now will allow also take in types of data that the current sta- improvements that November as the Buffalo cal profiling” is done in some other areas, but “game changer,” since they will provide much you to say something intelligent about the tions do not, such as soil temperature and area dug out from a jaw-dropping 7 feet of not in the systematic way New York is deploy- more real-time information about three- next few hours,” he said. — AP MONDAY, JANUARY 18, 2016 HEALTH & SCIENCE Pregnant women told to avoid countries with Zika outbreaks

NEW YORK: Pregnant women should It causes only a mild illness in most peo- tions - Brazil, Colombia, El Salvador, from Zika have not been reported. What’s the advice? avoid traveling to Latin America and ple. But it’s been spreading around the French Guiana, Guatemala, Haiti, Last month, the Centers for Disease Caribbean countries that have out- world, and there’s mounting evidence Honduras, Martinique, Mexico, Panama, Why is it a concern now? Control and Protection advised US trav- breaks of a tropical illness linked to linking it to a terrible birth defect, espe- Paraguay, Puerto Rico, Suriname and Two reasons. First, there’s been grow- elers to take protect themselves against birth defects, health officials said Friday. cially in Brazil. Late Friday, US health Venezuela. ing evidence linking Zika infection in mosquito bites if they visit places in Latin The illness is caused by the Zika virus officials said pregnant women should They also advised women who are try- pregnant women to a rare condition America or the Caribbean where Zika has which is spread through mosquito bites. consider postponing trips to 14 destina- ing to get pregnant or thinking of getting called microcephaly, in which the head been spreading. The advice includes pregnant to talk to their doctor before is smaller than normal and the brain has wearing long sleeves and long pants and traveling to those areas, and to take extra not developed properly. US health offi- using insect repellent. On Friday, the precautions to avoid mosquito bites. cials are heading to Brazil, where there’s CDC came out with an alert asking preg- been a recent spike in the birth defect, nant women - at any stage of pregnancy What is Zika? to further study the actual risk to preg- - to postpone travel to 14 destinations in Zika (ZEE’-ka) is the name of a virus nant women. More than 3,500 cases Latin America and the Caribbean. discovered in a monkey in the Zika forest have been reported in Brazil since In Brazil, most of the mothers who of Uganda in 1947. It is native to tropical October. had babies with the condition - called Africa, Southeast Asia, and the Pacific Second, the threat seems to be mov- microcephaly - were apparently infected Islands. But infections have exploded ing closer. Infections are occurring in our during the first trimester, but there is recently in Latin America and the southern neighbor, Mexico, and the kind some evidence the birth defect can Caribbean. It is spread through bites of mosquitoes that can carry the virus occur later in the pregnancy, said the from the same kind of mosquitoes that are found along the southern United CDC’s Dr Cynthia Moore. can spread other tropical diseases, like States, too. Experts think it’s likely the Another CDC official, Dr Lyle Petersen, chikungunya and dengue fever. pests may end up spreading the virus said the virus seems to remain in the here, though probably on a smaller scale blood only about a week or two. Why What are the symptoms? than what’s been seen in the tropics. hasn’t a link between Zika and the birth Experts think that only about 1 in 5 defect been noted earlier? Previous out- people who are infected with the Zika Have there been cases in the US? breaks were much smaller, and the prob- virus develop any symptoms. For those At least 26 Americans have been lem may have occurred less often - and that do, Zika illness usually involves diagnosed with Zika since 2007, all of so was harder to recognize, he said. fever, rash, joint pain, and red eyes - them travelers who are believed to have There’s another travel alert for pregnant NEW YORK: This 2003 photo provided by the Centers for Disease Control which usually last no more than a week. caught it overseas. In addition, a person women already in place, discouraging and Prevention shows a female Aedes albopictus mosquito acquiring a There is no medicine or vaccine for it. in Puerto Rico who had not traveled was travel to areas where malaria is spread- blood meal from a human host. —AP Hospitalizations are rare, and deaths diagnosed with the illness last month. ing. —AP S Leone puts over 100 people in quarantine after new Ebola death

FREETOWN: Sierra Leone’s govern- that a 22-year-old woman who died free. Sierra Leone had received the yet to be located, Ishmael Tarawally, ment on Saturday urged the public after falling ill near the Guinean bor- all-clear last November, and Guinea the national coordinator of the not to panic as it announced that der last week had tested positive for in December. Office of National Security, said at a more than 100 people had been the tropical fever. The announce- Health officials in Freetown said press conference. quarantined following a new death ment came a day after west Africa they had placed a total of 109 peo- “We are worried and concerned from Ebola just as the country was celebrating the end of the out- ple who had been in contact with about this new development but seemed to have overcome the epi- break after Liberia became the last the student before her death in iso- call on the general public not to demic. The World Health of the three worst-hit countries in lation. Of those, 28 were considered panic and more than ever before, all Organization on Friday confirmed the region to be declared Ebola- “high risk” and three contacts had Sierra Leoneans must work togeth- er to prevent further infection,” he said. The woman died in the northern Magburaka township in the district of Tonkolili but Tarawally said “active case investigations” were ongoing in all the districts where the victim was known to have recently travelled. MINNEAPOLIS: In this Jan 14, 2016 photo, Dr John Hick, a Hennepin County Those include the districts of Kambia, Port Loko, Bombali and Medical Center emergency physician and a national expert in disaster plan- Freetown. “The source of infection ning, demonstrates preparation of an injection at the Hennepin County and route of transmission is being Medical Center in Minneapolis. —AP investigated and the government urges all Sierra Leoneans to contin- States hone health crisis plans ue being vigilant,” Tarawally added. The country’s chief medical officer, to activate in catastrophes Dr Brima Kargbo, said that when the woman arrived at Magburaka ST PAUL, Minnesota: The scenarios are grim: A lator, do you reallocate it or is it first-come, first- Government Hospital she showed pandemic influenza swamps the availability of serve?” Marchetti said. But some doctors consider “no signs or symptoms that fitted hospital ventilators. A chemical spill exhausts anti- the conversation misguided, find the terminology the case definition of Ebola”. dote supplies and decontamination abilities. A ter- about differing standards worrisome and chafe at “She had no fever or redness of ror attack overwhelms ambulances and trauma the idea that physicians would need special the eyes when she was examined at centers. A big earthquake, wildfire or hurricane instructions to handle calamities the right way. the outpatient ward. What was throws emergency rooms into crisis. At the prod- Dr Carl Schultz, director of the Center for detected was dizziness. We are now ding of the federal government, state health Disaster Medical Services at the University of going to revisit the Ebola case defi- departments nationwide are hurrying to complete California at Irvine, sees it as a move to shield nition,” he added. The Ebola out- “Crisis Standards of Care” plans to guide medical providers from liability for actions during disasters break, which began in Guinea in professionals in such catastrophes and determine - even if the prospect of being successfully sued is MONROVIA: This file photo taken on August 31, 2014 showing children walk past a slogan paint- December 2013, killed more than what should trigger them. It’s no easy task: Plan small. “Bad medical care is worse than no medical ed on a wall reading “Ebola”. —AFP 11,000 people and was the deadliest architects must navigate the ethical and legal care at all,” Schultz said, adding, “Even disaster vic- outbreak of the virus yet. —AFP minefields that would arise if there are more tims can be mismanaged. Just because it is a disas- patients than providers at hospitals, clinics and ter does not mean you throw out any responsibili- other medical settings are set up to handle in usu- ty.” At the request of federal agencies, the Institute al fashion. of Medicine developed a framework to guide Hawaii reports first US case “When they are facing these decisions the last states in making their plans. Federal money tied to thing you want to do is make it up as you go along,” the effort sets a mid-2017 deadline for completion. said Dr John Hick, an emergency physician at Hennepin County Medical Center in Minneapolis Possible update of Zika-linked brain damage and a national expert in disaster planning. “Don’t Arizona completed its 148-page plan in leave this on the shoulders of the caregiver at the February. Andrew Lawless, who led the project for bedside.” Major emergency response planning isn’t the Department of Health Services, said it was WASHINGTON: The United States has reported can impair normal intellectual development in (fever, headaches and joint pain) as well as skin new, but this process is focused on catastrophic tough to create a plan that meshes with ones that its first case of a newborn suffering from brain newborns, has affected several thousand babies rashes and conjunctivitis. Those symptoms events that would go beyond the ability of individ- hospitals and emergency managers already have damage linked to the mosquito-borne Zika virus in Brazil in recent months. appear within three to 12 days of the mosquito ual hospital systems to manage. The Ebola out- in place for care surges. Lawless’ team held an that has caused birth defects in Latin America. The case in Hawaii was confirmed by the fed- bite. break that killed thousands in Africa and put about exercise in May to hunt for gaps that might be The baby, born in a hospital in Oahu, suffers from eral Centers for Disease Control and Prevention In 80 percent of cases, the infection goes a dozen patients in US. hospitals focused new addressed in a possible update. “We asked our microcephaly, a rare condition that means its (CDC). “We are saddened by the events that have unnoticed, and it is very rarely fatal. In Brazil, attention on the wider health system’s readiness to stakeholders to come in and try to kick holes in the brain and skull are abnormally small, the affected this mother and her newborn,” said more than 3,500 cases of microcephaly were handle something so dramatic. Closer to home, the plan,” Lawless said. Other states aren’t even at that Hawaiian state health department said late Sarah Park, a Hawaiian state epidemiologist. She recorded between October and January, just as examples used are Hurricane Katrina and the dead- point. Minnesota’s health agency expects to hire a Friday. The mother was probably infected with said it underscored the warning issued Friday by the Zika epidemic was spreading. Tests indicated ly 2011 tornado in Joplin, Missouri. special facilitator soon and wants to have a version the virus early in her pregnancy while living in the CDC for pregnant women to avoid traveling that in at least four cases, the fetus developed by December. Brazil in May 2015 and transmitted it to the fetus, to regions or countries where Zika has been the malformation during pregnancy because of Hospital admission Texas got going in June 2013 and originally set the health department said. It added that neither found. Most are in Latin America, including Brazil, the virus, the CDC said. It said that 26 cases of Once a disaster like those imagined by the a Jan 31 deadline, but that won’t be met. The mother nor child is still infected and that there is and the Caribbean. The Zika virus, which is trans- Zika infection have been diagnosed in the United planners is designated a crisis by a state official or Department of State Health Services is examining no danger to anyone in Hawaii. There is no vac- mitted by mosquitos, cannot spread between States since 2007 among people who contracted a panel, care would shift from focusing on individ- “the best way to move forward considering the cine to prevent the disease. The Zika virus, which humans. It often produces flu-like symptoms the disease outside the country. —AFP ual patients to sharing “limited resources” so that size, scope and diversity of the state,” said spokes- there are “best possible health outcomes for the woman Christine Mann. Kentucky also has slowed population as a whole,” as described by the its planning, citing in part a drop-off in 2014 in fed- Man dies after being left Institute of Medicine, a national advisory body. eral funding for the project. “We recognize the That could mean people without acute conditions importance of Crisis Standards of Care plans in a are denied hospital admission, scarce antiviral health emergency,” said Dr Kraig Humbaugh, sen- brain-dead in French drug trial medicine is distributed more selectively, medical ior deputy commissioner at the Department of equipment is substituted with other devices and Public Health. Until a statewide plan comes RENNES: A man who was left brain-dead the development of a drug, which begins people judged unlikely to survive don’t get typical together, he said the agency “has developed a after suffering serious side-effects during in the laboratory before being animal interventions. template that hospitals can use to formulate their a drugs trial in France died yesterday, tested and then three phases of human Such trade-offs are unimaginable to some in own plans.” Hick said the public should be com- according to the hospital which had been trials before it can be brought to market. modern medicine, according to Judy Marchetti, an forted that discussions of worst-case scenarios are treating him. Five other volunteers hospi- France’s public body ONIAM, which is emergency preparedness manager helping write occurring. But, he acknowledged, “it’s time-con- talized a week ago when the drugs trial responsible for compensating the victims the Minnesota Department of Health’s plan. “Five suming planning for an event that may not hap- went wrong were “in a stable condition”, of medical accidents, said it had in its files people need a ventilator and you have one venti- pen.” —AP the hospital in the western city of Rennes only around 10 cases of accidents during said in a statement. The private laborato- drugs trials over the past 15 years, and ry Biotrial was testing a new pain and “with consequences infinitely less serious” Dog bless you: Pets head mood disorder medication for than the case in Rennes. Portuguese pharmaceutical company Although a rarity, there have been to church in Spain Bial on humans for the first time, in what precedents in other countries. A compara- is known as a Phase I trial, to test the ble accident took place in 2006 in London MADRID: Dogs, cats, rabbits and even iguanas, ing with their owners barked in the background. drug’s safety. RENNES: In this file photo French Health Minister Marisol when six people taking German drug many decked out in colourful sweaters to keep Aceves said he has come to the church every year to A total of 108 volunteers took part in Touraine, left, and Professor Gilles Edan, the chief neuroscien- manufacturer TeGenero’s TGN1412, which warm, trooped into Spanish churches yesterday for a have his pets blessed since he moved to Madrid the trial, 90 of whom received the drug at tist at Rennes Hospital, address the media during a press con- it was developing to treat certain types of blessing on the Day of Saint Anthony, patron saint of from Mexico 16 years ago. He dressed his dog in a varying doses while the rest were given ference held in Rennes, western France. —AP cancer and other immunological diseases, animals. Pet-owners lined up around the block of red and white sweater, while other pet-owners placebos. The six men who were hospital- fell seriously ill, with one suffering from the Church of San Anton in central Madrid to wait for brought their dogs in brightly-coloured coats or ized were the group which received the the drug” have been contacted, said the stance tested. Bial is cooperating with the multiple organ failure. Two of the volun- a priest who stood at the entrance of the building to with bows in their fur. One woman brought a grey highest dose. Pierre-Gilles Edan, head of hospital. Ten of them came in to be exam- investigation and vows it followed “inter- teers were in a critical condition and one sprinkle holy water on their animals. “For those of us rabbit inside a red gym bag to be blessed, an elderly the neurology department at the Rennes ined and did not have the “anomalies” national best practice” in developing the lost all his fingers and toes. The victims who are believers we believe it provides health and man cradled a white dove in his hand and a young hospital said Friday that three of the men seen in the hospitalized patients. The inci- drug. “Our principal concern, at the said they had the impression that their well-being to the animal as well as their owner,” said man took an iguana in a shoebox. were suffering a “handicap that could be dent is the worst of its kind ever to have moment, is taking care of participants in brains were on fire and that their eyes 40-year-old waiter Francisco Javier Carvajal Aceves Blanca, a 54-year-old decorator, waited for half an irreversible” and another also had neuro- taken place in France, which has launched the trial,” Bial said in a statement on Friday. were coming out of their sockets. as he waited in line with his 13-month-old hour for her turn to have her Labrador Retriever logical problems. The sixth volunteer had three separate probes to determine Although they all survived, experts said at Chihuahua Lula cradled in his arms. blessed by a priest. “You always have to wait because no symptoms but was being monitored. whether the tragedy was caused by an Damaged for life the time that their immune systems “Animals also are beings created by God and a lot of people in Madrid have pets and everyone “The 84 other volunteers exposed to error in the trial’s procedures or in the sub- Such serious mishaps are rare during would be damaged for life. —AFP deserve to be blessed,” he added as other dogs wait- wants to come to have them blessed,” she said. —AFP MONDAY, JANUARY 18, 2016 HEALTH & SCIENCE Kuwaiti Mohammad Al-Khalaf discovers a new study

KUWAIT: A new study from the researched areas of molecular needed to allow cells to transform tissue. The Megeney group has the most important lesson I had Ottawa Hospital Research biology, one being Stem Cell from stern-like states, into mature long been interested in uncover- during my years in university and Institute and University of Differentiation and the other is differentiated cells”. The ultimate ing the molecular pathways in the lab!” Ottawa, at the Dr Megeney DNA Damage Response”. The goal of this research has tremen- responsible for muscle develop- Original journal article refer- Regenerative Medicine program study uncovers the role of X-ray dous potential in the emerging ment. Now moving forward, they ence: laboratory, recently published at cross-complementing protein 1 health field of Regenerative are looking into discovering all Mohammad H Al-Khalaf, Nature Cell Discovery 2016, (XRCC1) in early myoblast differ- Medicine. the potential genes being target- Leanne E Blake, Brian D Larsen, uncovers a fascinating link entiation. There is a need to coor- The role of XRCC1, the study ed for repair and activation dur- Ryan A Bell, Steve Brunette, Robin between the process of muscle dinate repair of DNA breaks with- shows, is limited to a short win- ing early muscle differentiation. J Parks, Michael A Rudnicki, Peter J generation and DNA damage in genes involved in the process dow during early differentiation Al-Khalaf concludes by saying McKinnon, F Jeffrey Dilworth, and repair within newly developing of transforming muscle progeni- of the progenitor cells. When the “The nature of science is that we Lynn A Megeney. Temporal activa- cells. tor cells into mature myofibers, researchers inhibited or com- can only move one step at a time, tion of XRCC1-mediated DNA Lead author of the study, and XRCC1 is shown to be the pletely deleted the XRCC1 gene, we can’t skip over or take short- repair is essential for muscle dif- Kuwaiti PhD candidate protein responsible for repairing they were able to halt the fusion cuts. We have to be Patient and ferentiation. Cell Discovery, 2016. Mohammad Al-Khalaf, describes these DNA breaks. Al-Khalaf says of individual muscle cells to form we have to let the data guide us DOI: 10.1038/celldisc.2015.41 the results as “exciting link “we are one step closer to under- the long muscle fibers that make in whatever direction it leads. http://www.Nature.com/articles/c Mohammad Al-Khalaf between two independently well standing the integral processes up the structure of adult muscle Learning to be patient might be elldisc201541 When to stop mammograms tricky issue as US ages

WASHINGTON: Lost in the arguing over Marion Jones was 84 and active when a mammogram within two years, compared whether women should begin mammo- mammogram spotted breast cancer. with 41 percent of the 85-plus group, grams at age 40 or 50 or somewhere in Surgeons removed a small tumor but dur- according to 2013 government figures. between is the issue they’ll all eventually ing follow-up chemotherapy Jones devel- Mammograms bring pros and cons for face: when to stop. “There’s a point at oped pneumonia and blood clots. She the oldest women like they do for middle- which everybody begins to scratch their needed a portable oxygen tank for a year aged ones, the possibility of reducing head and say how much longer do you until her lungs healed. For Jones, mammo- breast cancer death versus false alarms, have to keep doing this?” said American grams were “just a habit” that she didn’t unneeded biopsies and detection of a Cancer Society specialist Robert Smith. It’s question when a new doctor said she was tumor so small or slow-growing that it nev- an increasingly complex balancing act as due, and she’s grateful her cancer was er would have posed a threat. older women are living even longer. The risk of breast cancer rises with age. But so do the odds of other serious illnesses that WASHINGTON : Smithsonian’s youngest giant panda cub Bei Bei makes his pub- may be more likely to kill in a senior’s lic debut following his birth last August at the National Zoo. —AFP photos remaining life span - or to make them less able to withstand the rigors of cancer treat- ment. “If we pick up a cancer in someone who’s 75 and they die at 76 of something else, did it really matter? That’s really the question here,” said Dr Susan Boolbol, breast surgery chief at Mount Sinai Beth Israel Medical Center in New York. Medical guidelines don’t agree. The cancer society’s advice: Women should continue mammograms as long as their overall health is good and they have a life expectancy of at least 10 more years. Last week, guidelines issued by the US Preventive Services Task Force said there’s not enough evidence to recommend for or against mammograms at age 75 and older, because that age group just hasn’t been studied enough to tell. WASHINGTON : Two years old Watson Grace from Durham, NC chooses one of the Panda hats at a store. Start discussing Getting such evidence is “critical, given SILVER SPRING, Mary Land: Marion Jones, who was treated for breast cancer, poses for the graying of America,” said Dr Jeanne picture beside her painting “Street in Provence” at her house in Silver Spring, Md. —AP Washingtonians, meet Mandelblatt, an expert on cancer and aging at Georgetown University. Indeed, Bei Bei the giant panda some in the 80-and-beyond crowd are as detected. But now 86 and healthy again, Georgetown’s Mandelblatt used math spry as 60-somethings. “People are taking the Silver Spring, Maryland, woman recent- models to analyze that balance, and esti- WASHINGTON: Washingtonians got their worked to get him used to people by having better care of themselves,” said Yale ly told her oncologist that if her cancer ever mated that healthy older women could first close-up look Saturday at the giant pan- zoo employees and reporters stop by to see University pathologist Dr Fattaneh returns, she doesn’t want chemo. benefit from regular screening through age da cub Bei Bei, the new star of the National him. The official media debut was a month Tavassoli. “If we don’t start discussing it, it’s 78 or 80. But among women who already Zoo. Until now, the cub could be viewed only ago. Bei Bei has already been fussed over by going to be more difficult to come up with Analyze that balance had other moderate to severe illnesses, the through the so-called Panda Cam, a video two first ladies-Michelle Obama and her management approaches for these “She said, ‘Marion, at your age you prob- harms of screening could outweigh bene- hookup that has allowed people to watch the Chinese counterpart Peng Liyuan-during a patients.” She recently reported that Yale’s ably won’t die of breast cancer anyway. It’ll fits as early as 68, she said. now five-month-old cub since its birth. A line state visit to Washington in September. medical center is diagnosing more breast be something else,’” Jones recalled. “That’s If cancer is found in the frail, Mount formed outside the panda enclosure Bei Bei means precious in Mandarin. Like his Saturday morning before opening time to big sister Bao Bao and their older sibling Tai cancer at 90 and older, averaging about nice to hear.” About 26 percent of breast Sinai’s Boolbol notes there are less aggres- get a look at the ball of fur inside its sound- Shuan, Bei Bei will be handed over to China at eight diagnoses a year since 2000, com- cancer deaths each year are attributed to a sive options that aim to stop a tumor’s proof glass enclosed pen. age four. (Bei Bei’s twin brother died shortly pared with one a year during the 1990s. diagnosis after age 74, according to the growth rather than eradicate it. She wants Some wore hats, sweaters and gloves with after birth.) Their parents, Mei Xian and Tian Many were diagnosed after the woman or American Cancer Society. “The question we doctors and patients to have frank discus- pandas on them. Visitors came into the pen in Tian, are on loan from China and will remain in doctor detected an abnormality, not from have not really studied very carefully is sions about the woman’s overall health in groups of 50 at a time and were allowed about Washington at least until 2020 under a recently routine mammograms, Tavassoli said. But what fraction of those deaths is truly avoid- deciding how long to continue mammo- 10 minutes to view the panda, an endangered renewed agreement. Under that accord, the she’s asked if other hospitals see a similar able,” Smith said. Mammography does grams. “It really needs to be based on their species. Upon leaving, some got right back in zoo pays $500,000 a year to support conserva- trend and also wants to study what treat- decline as women get older. About three- health status, and not your age,” Boolbol line to see Bei Bei again. His keepers had tion efforts in China.-—AFP ment they underwent. quarters of women age 50 to 74 have had a said. “Because it’s not one-size-fits-all.” —AP WHAT’S ON MONDAY, JANUARY 18, 2016

Kuwait’s BOOKR project wins first place in AMC in Algeria

he small projects group Brilliant Lab recently concluded the competitions of the 3rd Arab Mobile Challenge (AMC) in Algeria where Kuwait’s project BOOKR won the first place in addition to a financial reward of $ 20,000. The competition was held under auspices of the Algerian minister of higher Teducation and scientific research, Taher Hajjar and with the attendance of the Algerian minister of youth and sports, Al-Hadi Weld Ali, Kuwait’s ambas- sador to Algeria, Mohammed Al-Shabo and Arab diplomats designated to Algeria. Notably, 24 teams took part in the competition and the jury panel included experts from Russia, USA, Kuwait, Qatar, Jordan and Algeria. Customers continue to win big at Malabar Gold & Diamonds Festival

alabar Gold & Diamonds, the get 1 gm free gold coin. prominent jewelry retailer unfurled To add customer’s delight, the group also Mdetails of the5th edition of ‘Malabar offers ‘Zero Deduction Exchange’ scheme Gold & Diamonds Festival’ in GCC, through which customers can update their old Singapore& Malaysia. The festival that runs ornaments to the latest collection of Malabar from 16 December 2015 to 31 January Gold & Diamonds without any loss. Any 22 ct 2016will display distinctive pieces of jewelry old gold ornaments can be exchanged with from across the world and offers massive the latest Malabar Gold & Diamonds designs gifts and irresistible offers. by paying only making charges ensuring they This much-awaited festival is one of the don’t lose any value on the rate of gold. biggest jewelry events in GCC and the cus- Furthermore, 8 gm gold coins can be bought tomers get unprecedented opportunities to from their outlets with absolutely no making win a total of 250,000 gold coins. Customers charge during this period. have already won over 90,000 gold coins Keeping up with customer demands, the through this promotion with the successful jewelry chain offers a fabulous collection of completion of the 25 days of the festival; the gold, diamond and platinum jewelry to suit customers continue to win big across all the the tastes of both resident and international outlets of Malabar Gold & Diamond. This customers, skillfully crafted by jewelry spe- great winning has created excitement cialists from Italy, Singapore, Turkey, Bahrain among customers. and India. This is in addition to their exclu- Malabar Gold& Diamonds Festival will sive branded jewelry - Mine- Diamonds captivate the customers by exhibiting eye Unlimited, Era- Uncut Diamond Jewelry, catching designs in gold, platinum, dia- Ethnix- Handcrafted Designer Jewelry, monds and precious stones from different Divine- Indian Heritage Jewelry, Precia- parts of the world to flaunt any occasion or Precious Gem Jewelry and the unique jewel- event and are well priced too. The festival ry for kids- Starlet. stands apart from the usual jewelry exhibi- Operating 144retail outlets globally, the tions and promotions and as the tag line group is always at the forefront when it indicates- ‘Everyone Wins’, ie every customer comes to promotions and celebrations. The gets a chance to be a winner through this last four editions of the ‘Malabar Gold & festival. Diamonds Festival ‘elicited tremendous For every purchase of gold jewelry above response from jewelry lovers from all over KD150, the customers get a ‘Scratch & Win’ the Gulf. This time also the customers are coupon through which they can win a guar- excited to be a part of this much awaited anteed gold coin or up to 100 gold coins festival to witness the rarest collection of instantly. With every diamond jewelry pur- jewelry from across the world and to avail chase worth KWD 250, the customers will fabulous offers. 13th magnificent mega carnival at ICSK

he Indian Community School Kuwait held a spell- Jatly Al-Azemi from the Salmiya Police Station, Manager of Elders, members of the Ex-Students Association, members Mubarak, the renowned Kuwaiti singer, along with our binding and magnificent 13th mega carnival on 15th Activity Department of the Ministry of Private Education of the Parent Advisory Council, principals, vice-principals ICSK singer Julia put the crowd in rhapsody. The parents TJanuary, 2016. A bright sunny day, fun-activities on Ali Jawhar, Deputy Chief of Mission of the Indian Embassy and staff members graced the event. The inaugural cere- and 7,500 students of ICSK enjoyed the annual fun and the stage, dances, songs, battle of bands, couple-show, Subhashis Goldar, ICSK Board of Trustees Chairman S K mony was based on the theme of rustic India with the frolic event. talent show and so much more made it a mega successful Wadhawan, Vice-Chairman Bobby Mathew, Secretary Vijay grand entry of a beautifully crafted bullock cart. The pro- The proceeds of the mega carnival; with the help of show. The ICSK carnival is the most-awaited event among Karayil, Treasurer Sunil C, Joint Secretaries Santhosh grams that followed entranced the audience. sponsorships, advertisements and ticket sales; build the the Indian Community of Kuwait. Mathew and Sherin Mani, Carnival Convener George The master of ceremonies for the day kept the audi- school endowment fund which is used for the noble cause The Indian Ambassador to Kuwait Sunil Jain, Lt Col Faris Mathew, other members, members of the Council of ence entertained throughout the day. Performance by of paying the fees of needy children. WHAT’S ON MONDAY, JANUARY 18, 2016

The Ambassador Mohammad Al-Kayed with his wife Khawla Al-Abdllat. IWG holds Jordanian cultural event

By Faten Omar Khawla Al-Abdallat welcomed the tition in the medical field. Jordanian Kuwait and Jordan are strong and were some new members who joined organization are entertained by vari- guests and thanked the attendees for Muslims and Christians are living there is an excellent relationship the IWG, as new ambassadors were ous cultural activities and cross-cul- s part of their monthly activi- their support. together in a harmony. In Jordan, between the two countries. appointed to their posts. tural programs that aim to introduce ties, the International Women’s “Jordan is a small country with some Muslims celebrate Christmas The event included a short film The activities of this event were the different cultures of the organiza- AGroup (IWG) held a Jordanian limited national resources but it is and some Christians fast during showing the touristic places of part of the regular meetings and tion’s members. The IWG has a regu- cultural and traditional event yester- welcoming to all religions and Ramadan as a show of solidarity. Jordan. This was followed by a dance activities held by IWG members. larly scheduled monthly meeting on day at the Radisson Blu Hotel, which nationalities. Jordan is known for its Today, we are facing the Syrians performance by Jordanian girls, These events include cultural activi- the first Sunday of every month. was attended by IWG members. The health tourism sector and we are refugee crisis and we are hosting where they presented a traditional ties which are presented by diplo- Apart from these meetings, they also Jordanian Ambassador to Kuwait receiving a lot of patients from GCC around 1.5 million Syrians.” He said. Jordanian dance wearing the tradi- mat’s spouses from their respected organize trips to museums and vari- Mohammad Al-Kayed and his wife countries because of our good repe- He added that the relations between tional costume. At the event, there countries. The members of the ous touristic places around Kuwait. MONDAY, JANUARY 18, 2016 TV PROGRAMS

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News 15:00 Live Good Morning America 21:00 Bugsy 13:30 The Liquidator 19:00 Keeping Up With The 17:00 The Ellen DeGeneres Show 23:15 Northern Soul 13:55 Storage Wars Canada Kardashians 18:00 Witches Of East End 14:20 Yukon Men 20:00 House Of DVF 19:00 Scandal 15:10 Wheeler Dealers 21:00 Christina Milian Turned Up 20:00 How To Get Away With 16:00 Misfit Garage 22:00 WAGs Murder 16:50 What Happened Next? 23:00 Sex With Brody 21:00 Quantico 17:15 How Machines Work 23:30 Fashion Bloggers 22:00 Rosewood 23:00 Allegiance 01:00 The Courier-PG15 17:40 Gold Rush 03:00 Robot & Frank-PG15 19:20 Ed Stafford: Into The 04:45 The Fault In Our Stars-PG15 Unknown 07:00 Admission-PG15 20:10 The Liquidator 09:00 Alexander And The Terrible... 20:35 Storage Wars Canada Very Bad Day-PG 21:00 Gold Rush 00:00 The Ellen DeGeneres Show 10:30 Before I Go To Sleep-PG15 21:50 Gold Divers 00:00 Diners, Drive-Ins And Dives 01:00 Franklin & Bash 12:15 HairBrained-PG15 22:40 Catching Monsters 01:00 Rev Run’s Sunday Suppers 02:00 Good Morning America 14:00 Billy Elliot The Musical-PG15 23:30 Wheeler Dealers 02:00 All Star Academy 03:00 Downton Abbey 17:00 Alexander And The Terrible... 03:00 Australian Food Adventures 04:00 Grimm Very Bad Day-PG With Matt Moran 05:00 Franklin & Bash 18:30 Divergent-PG15 04:00 The Freshman Class 06:00 Good Morning America 21:00 Beneath-PG15 05:00 Chopped 07:00 Coronation Street 23:00 Wild Card-18 06:00 Diners, Drive-Ins And Dives 07:30 Coronation Street 07:00 Man Fire Food 08:00 The Ellen DeGeneres Show 08:00 Chopped 00:35 What Could Possibly Go 09:00 Supernatural 09:00 Grandma’s Secret Cookbook Wrong? 10:00 Coronation Street 10:00 The Kitchen 03:42 Food Factory 10:30 Coronation Street 11:00 Barefoot Contessa: Back To 07:37 How Do They Do It? 11:00 The Ellen DeGeneres Show Basics 08:23 Mythbusters 12:00 C.S.I. 01:00 Cher Ami 11:30 Barefoot Contessa: Back To 09:08 How The Universe Works 13:00 Shark Tank 02:45 The Adventures Of Don Basics 09:53 Mega Builders 14:00 Supernatural Quixote 12:00 Chopped 10:38 How It’s Made 15:00 Survivor: Cambodia 04:30 Goat Story 2 13:00 Guy’s Big Bite 11:23 Strangest Weather On Earth 16:00 The Voice 06:00 Memory Loss 14:00 Diners, Drive-Ins And Dives 12:08 What Could Possibly Go 18:00 Shark Tank 08:00 Marco Macaco 15:00 Man Fire Food Wrong? 19:00 Supernatural 10:00 The Heart Of The Oak 16:00 Chopped 12:53 Mega Builders 20:00 Resurrection 11:30 Minuscule: Valley Of The 17:00 The Kitchen 13:38 Mythbusters 21:00 Shark Tank Lost Ants 18:00 Siba’s Table 14:23 How It’s Made 22:00 Downton Abbey 13:00 The Adventures Of Don 18:30 Grandma’s Secret Cookbook 15:10 How The Universe Works 23:00 Blood & Oil Quixote 15:57 Strangest Weather On Earth 19:00 Chopped 14:30 Blackie And Kanuto 16:44 What Could Possibly Go 20:00 Guy’s Grocery Games 16:00 Jungle Shuffle Wrong? 21:00 Staten Island Cakes 18:00 The Heart Of The Oak 17:31 Prototype This 22:00 Mystery Diners 20:00 Blue Elephant 2 18:18 How The Universe Works 22:30 Mystery Diners 22:00 Blackie And Kanuto 19:05 Mythbusters 23:00 BBQ Crawl 00:00 Kiss The Girls 23:30 Jungle Shuffle 19:50 Strangest Weather On Earth 23:30 BBQ Crawl 02:00 Comedown 20:40 What Could Possibly Go 04:00 Northmen: A Viking Saga Wrong? 06:00 Toxin 21:25 How It’s Made: Dream Cars 08:00 I, Frankenstein 22:15 How The Universe Works 10:00 Falcon Rising 23:00 Strangest Weather On Earth 12:00 Northmen: A Viking Saga 00:00 Fatal Instinct-PG15 23:45 What Could Possibly Go 14:00 Superfast 02:00 Vamps-PG15 Wrong? 00:10 The Chase: Celebrity 16:00 I, Frankenstein 04:00 Searching For Sugar Man- Specials 17:45 Star Trek PG15 FALCON RISING ON OSN MOVIES ACTION HD 01:05 Emmerdale 20:00 Falcon Rising 05:45 Shaolin-PG15 02:00 Coronation Street 21:45 RoboCop 08:00 Free Birds-PG 09:00 Surveillance Oz 08:00 Calimero 22:50 Gummi Bears 16:55 Gamers Guide To Pretty 02:30 Murdoch Mysteries 23:45 Let The Bullets Fly 10:00 Beast Of The Bering Sea- 10:00 Frenemies 08:10 Zou 23:20 Lilo And Stitch Much Everything 03:25 Safe House PG15 10:30 Frenemies 08:25 Loopdidoo 23:45 Cars Toons 17:25 K. C. Undercover 00:40 Scorned: Crimes Of Passion 04:20 The Syndicate 12:00 Wish I Was Here-PG15 11:00 Crimes That Shook Britain 08:40 Jake And The Never Land 23:50 Zou 17:50 K. C. Undercover 01:30 California Investigator 05:15 The Chase 14:00 A Stranger In Paradise-PG15 12:00 Crime Stories Pirates 00:05 Henry Hugglemonster 18:15 Lab Rats 01:55 California Investigator 06:10 Paddock To Plate 16:00 Free Birds-PG 13:00 Homicide Hunter 09:05 Sofia The First 00:20 Calimero 18:40 Mighty Med 02:20 Deadly Affairs 07:05 Coach Trip 17:45 Need For Speed-PG15 14:00 I Survived 09:30 Miles From Tomorrow 00:35 Zou 19:10 Annedroids 03:10 True Crime With Aphrodite 07:30 Grantchester 20:00 Devil’s Knot-PG15 15:00 Frenemies 09:55 The Hive 00:50 Loopdidoo 19:35 Star vs The Forces Of Evil Jones 08:25 The Syndicate 00:00 Comedown-PG15 22:00 Outlaw Prophet: Warren 15:30 Frenemies 10:05 Mickey Mouse Clubhouse 01:05 Art Attack 20:00 Kirby Buckets 04:00 Deadline: Crime With Tamron 09:20 Murdoch Mysteries 02:00 Northmen: A Viking Saga- Jeffs-18 16:00 Crimes That Shook Britain 10:35 Doc McStuffins 01:30 Henry Hugglemonster 20:25 Gamers Guide To Pretty Hall 10:15 The Chase PG15 17:00 Crime Stories 11:00 Sofia The First 01:45 Calimero Much Everything 04:45 Scorned: Crimes Of Passion 11:10 Coach Trip 04:00 Toxin-PG15 18:00 The First 48 11:30 Jake And The Never Land 02:00 Zou 20:55 K. C. Undercover 05:30 California Investigator 11:35 Grantchester 06:00 I, Frankenstein-PG15 19:00 I Survived Pirates 02:15 Loopdidoo 21:20 K. C. Undercover 05:55 California Investigator 12:30 Paddock To Plate 08:00 Falcon Rising-PG15 20:00 Homicide Hunter 12:00 Miles From Tomorrow 02:30 Art Attack 21:45 Lab Rats 06:20 The Will 13:25 Emmerdale 10:00 Northmen: A Viking Saga- 21:00 Crime Stories 12:25 Special Agent Oso 02:55 Henry Hugglemonster 22:10 Mighty Med 07:10 The Will 13:50 Coach Trip PG15 22:00 Crimes That Shook Britain 12:40 The Hive 22:40 Super Matrak 08:00 Dr. G: Medical Examiner 14:20 Coronation Street 12:00 Superfast-PG15 03:20 Foreign Body 23:00 Killer Kids 12:50 Handy Manny 23:05 Super Matrak 08:50 On The Case With Paula 14:45 Murdoch Mysteries 14:00 I, Frankenstein-PG15 05:10 Punks 00:00 Ms. Homicide 13:15 Jungle Junction 23:30 Boyster Zahn 15:35 Pick Me! 15:45 Star Trek-PG15 06:45 The Man In The Iron Mask 01:00 Born To Kill 13:30 Mickey Mouse Clubhouse 00:00 Programmes Start At 7:00am 09:40 Fatal Encounters 16:30 Endeavour 18:00 Falcon Rising-PG15 08:55 Miracles 02:00 The Haunting Of... 14:00 Sofia The First KSA 10:30 Murder Shift 18:20 Cook Me The Money 19:45 RoboCop-PG15 10:20 Modern Girls 14:25 Doc McStuffins 11:20 Deadly Affairs 19:10 Coronation Street 21:45 Let The Bullets Fly-PG15 11:45 Island Of The Lost 14:50 Henry Hugglemonster 07:00 Star vs The Forces Of Evil 12:10 True Crime With Aphrodite 19:35 Pick Me! 13:15 The Man In The Iron Mask 15:15 Zou 07:25 K. C. Undercover Jones 20:30 Endeavour 15:25 Seven Years In Tibet 15:30 Mickey Mouse Clubhouse 07:50 Supa Strikas 03:00 Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles 13:00 The Will 22:20 Coronation Street 17:40 Agent Cody Banks 15:55 Loopdidoo 08:15 Lab Rats 03:24 Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles 13:50 I Almost Got Away With It 22:50 Emmerdale 19:20 Agent Cody Banks 2: 16:10 Miles From Tomorrow 08:40 Annedroids 03:48 Henry Danger 14:40 California Investigator 23:15 Cook Me The Money 03:05 Calimero 00:00 High Road Destination London 16:35 Jake And The Never Land 09:10 Kirby Buckets 04:12 Nicky, Ricky, Dicky & Dawn 15:05 Dr. G: Medical Examiner 03:20 Zou 02:00 When In Rome 21:00 Fear The Walking Dead Pirates 09:35 Penn Zero: Part Time Hero 04:36 The Haunted Hathaways 15:55 Fatal Encounters 03:30 Loopdidoo 04:00 Mousehunt 22:00 Ricochet 17:00 Sofia The First 10:00 Rocket Monkeys 05:00 Winx Club 16:45 On The Case With Paula 03:45 Art Attack 06:00 UHF 23:50 Fear The Walking Dead 17:25 Jungle Cubs 10:25 Ultimate Spider-Man 05:24 Sanjay And Craig Zahn 04:10 Henry Hugglemonster 08:00 Simon Birch 00:50 FX 17:50 Aladdin 10:50 Boyster 05:48 Sanjay And Craig 17:35 Murder Shift 04:20 Calimero 10:00 Mousehunt 02:40 The Hunting Party 18:15 Gummi Bears 11:20 Boyster 06:12 SpongeBob SquarePants 18:25 I Almost Got Away With It 04:35 Zou 02:30 The Big C 12:00 When In Rome 18:40 Jake And The Never Land 11:45 Pair Of Kings 06:36 SpongeBob SquarePants 19:15 The Will 04:45 Loopdidoo 04:30 The Tonight Show Starring 14:00 Mr. Wonderful Pirates 12:10 Pair Of Kings 07:00 Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles 20:05 Deadly Affairs 05:00 Art Attack Jimmy Fallon 16:00 Simon Birch 19:05 Miles From Tomorrow 12:35 Lab Rats 07:24 Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles 20:55 True Crime With Aphrodite 05:25 Henry Hugglemonster 05:30 Young & Hungry 18:00 Tooth Fairy 19:30 Sofia The First 13:00 Lab Rats 07:48 Sanjay And Craig Jones 05:35 Calimero 06:00 Til Death 20:00 Life Of Crime 19:55 Doc McStuffins 13:30 Phineas And Ferb 08:12 Harvey Beaks 21:45 California Investigator 05:50 Zou 07:00 Late Night With Seth Meyers 22:00 Let’s Be Cops 20:15 Jake And The Never Land 13:55 Phineas And Ferb 08:36 Breadwinners 22:10 Who On Earth Did I Marry? 06:00 Loopdidoo 08:30 Young & Hungry Pirates 14:20 Kickin’ It 09:00 Get Blake 22:35 Who On Earth Did I Marry? 03:00 Killer Kids 06:15 Art Attack 11:00 The Tonight Show Starring 20:45 Sheriff Callie’s Wild West 14:45 Kickin’ It 09:24 Rabbids Invasion 23:00 True Crime With Aphrodite 04:00 Killer Kids 06:35 Henry Hugglemonster Jimmy Fallon 21:05 Mickey Mouse Clubhouse 15:10 Disney Mickey Mouse 09:48 Henry Danger Jones 05:00 The Haunting Of... 06:50 Calimero 12:00 Til Death 21:35 Sofia The First 15:15 Rocket Monkeys 10:12 Nicky, Ricky, Dicky & Dawn 23:50 California Investigator 06:00 I Escaped My Killer 07:00 Zou 13:00 Young & Hungry 22:00 Jungle Cubs 15:40 Penn Zero: Part Time Hero 10:36 The Haunted Hathaways 01:00 InSight-PG15 07:00 The FBI Files 07:20 Loopdidoo 16:30 Til Death 22:25 Aladdin 16:05 Star vs The Forces Of Evil 11:00 Winx Club 17:00 Late Night With Seth Meyers 03:00 Jamie Marks Is Dead-PG15 08:00 Surveillance Oz 07:35 Art Attack 16:30 Kirby Buckets 11:24 SpongeBob SquarePants 11:48 SpongeBob SquarePants 12:12 Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles 12:36 Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles 00:00 Violetta 13:00 Breadwinners 00:45 The Hive 13:24 Breadwinners 00:50 Sabrina Secrets Of A 13:48 Get Blake Teenage Witch 14:12 Rabbids Invasion 01:15 Sabrina Secrets Of A 14:36 100 Things To Do Before Teenage Witch High School 01:40 Wolfblood 15:00 Nicky, Ricky, Dicky & Dawn 02:05 Wolfblood 15:24 SpongeBob SquarePants 02:30 Violetta 15:48 SpongeBob SquarePants 03:15 The Hive 16:12 Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles 03:20 Sabrina Secrets Of A 16:36 Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles Teenage Witch 17:00 Sanjay And Craig 03:45 Sabrina Secrets Of A 17:24 Harvey Beaks Teenage Witch 17:48 Breadwinners 04:10 Wolfblood 18:12 Henry Danger 04:35 Wolfblood 18:36 Nicky, Ricky, Dicky & Dawn 05:00 Violetta 19:00 100 Things To Do Before 05:45 The Hive High School 05:50 Mouk 19:24 Max & Shred 06:00 Lolirock 19:48 SpongeBob SquarePants 06:25 Sofia The First 20:12 Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles 06:50 That’s So Raven 20:36 Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles 07:15 Gravity Falls 21:00 Breadwinners 07:40 Jessie 21:24 Breadwinners 08:05 Shake It Up 22:12 Sanjay And Craig 08:30 Shake It Up 22:36 SpongeBob SquarePants 08:55 That’s So Raven 23:00 SpongeBob SquarePants 09:20 That’s So Raven 23:24 Henry Danger 09:45 Austin & Ally 23:48 Nicky, Ricky, Dicky & Dawn 10:10 Austin & Ally 00:12 Max & Shred 10:35 A.N.T. Farm 00:36 100 Things To Do Before 11:00 A.N.T. Farm High School 11:25 Jessie 11:50 Jessie 12:20 Hank Zipzer 12:45 Fish Hooks 13:10 Good Luck Charlie 03:00 Marvin’s Room 13:35 I Didn’t Do It 04:40 Andrea Bocelli: Child 14:00 Dog With A Blog Destined To Sing 14:30 H2O 05:35 Movie Talk 14:55 Girl Meets World 06:00 Rake 15:20 Liv And Maddie 07:00 Miss Fisher’s Murder 15:45 Jessie Mysteries 16:10 Violetta 08:00 Theatreland 17:00 The Next Step 08:30 A Sea Turtle Story 17:25 Liv And Maddie 08:45 Nick Nolte: No Exit 17:50 Jessie 10:00 Big Star: Nothing Can Hurt 18:15 Austin & Ally Me 18:40 I Didn’t Do It 11:55 Manito 19:05 First Class Chefs 13:10 Miss Firecracker 19:30 Violetta 14:50 Vernon, Florida 20:20 The Next Step 15:50 Mary Is Happy, Mary Is 20:45 Good Luck Charlie I, FRANKENSTEIN ON OSN MOVIES ACTION HD Happy Classifieds

MONDAY, JANUARY 18, 2016

Kuwait KNCC PROGRAMME FROM THURSDAY TO WEDNESDAY (14/01/2016 TO 20/01/2016)

SHARQIA-1 NANNAKU PREMATHO-Telugu 3:30 PM KUNG FU STYLE 1:00 PM NANNAKU PREMATHO-Telugu 6:30 PM AVENUES-1 360º- 1 KUNG FU STYLE 3:00 PM NANNAKU PREMATHO-Telugu 9:45 PM DILWALE - Hindi 12:45 PM THE REVENANT 11:30 AM FORECLOSURE 5:00 PM DADDY’S HOME 1:00 AM DILWALE - Hindi 3:45 PM NANNAKU PREMATHO-Telugu 1:45 PM THE HATEFUL EIGHT 7:00 PM SOGGADE CHINNI NAYANA -Telugu 3:45 PM THE REVENANT 2:30 PM FORECLOSURE 10:15 PM FANAR-2 DILWALE - Hindi 6:45 PM THE REVENANT 5:45 PM THE HATEFUL EIGHT 12:15 AM THE HATEFUL EIGHT 11:30 AM SOGGADE CHINNI NAYANA -Telugu 6:45 PM THE REVENANT 9:00 PM FORECLOSURE 2:45 PM DILWALE - Hindi 9:45 PM THE REVENANT 12:15 AM SHARQIA-2 THE HATEFUL EIGHT 4:30 PM SOGGADE CHINNI NAYANA -Telugu 9:45 PM THE 5TH WAVE 11:30 AM FORECLOSURE 7:45 PM THE 5TH WAVE 12:45 AM 360º- 2 FOR SALE RIDE ALONG 2 1:45 PM FORECLOSURE 9:45 PM CHALK N DUSTER - Hindi 11:30 AM RIDE ALONG 2 3:45 PM THE HATEFUL EIGHT 11:45 PM AVENUES-2 CHALK N DUSTER - Hindi 2:00 PM White Cherokee 2003 in RIDE ALONG 2 5:30 PM KUNG FU STYLE 11:30 AM DILWALE - Hindi 4:45 PM THE 5TH WAVE 7:30 PM FANAR-3 KUNG FU STYLE 1:30 PM DILWALE - Hindi 8:00 PM good working condition RIDE ALONG 2 10:00 PM KUNG FU STYLE 12:15 PM KUNG FU STYLE 3:30 PM DILWALE - Hindi 11:15 PM only for KD 680. Mobile THE 5TH WAVE 12:05 AM KUNG FU STYLE 2:15 PM KUNG FU STYLE 5:30 PM 99333160. (C 5112) KUNG FU STYLE 4:15 PM KUNG FU STYLE 7:30 PM 360 º- 3 16-1-2016 SHARQIA-3 THE REVENANT 6:15 PM DADDY’S HOME 9:30 PM EXTRACTION 12:00 PM THE REVENANT 12:30 PM THE REVENANT 9:15 PM DADDY’S HOME 11:45 PM THE HATEFUL EIGHT 2:15 PM THE GOOD, THE BAD, AND THE DEAD 1:30 PM THE REVENANT 12:15 AM THE HATEFUL EIGHT 5:30 PM CHANGE OF NAME THE REVENANT 3:30 PM AVENUES-3 THE HATEFUL EIGHT 8:45 PM NANNAKU PREMATHO-Telugu 3:30 PM FANAR-4 THE 5TH WAVE 1:15 PM THE HATEFUL EIGHT 12:05 AM THE REVENANT 6:30 PM RIDE ALONG 2 12:15 PM EXTRACTION 1:45 PM Akil, holder of Indian NANNAKU PREMATHO-Telugu 6:45 PM RIDE ALONG 2 2:15 PM THE 5TH WAVE 3:45 PM AL-KOUT.1 Passport No. K2095732, THE REVENANT 9:30 PM RIDE ALONG 2 4:15 PM THE 5TH WAVE 6:15 PM RIDE ALONG 2 11:45 AM NANNAKU PREMATHO-Telugu 10:00 PM RIDE ALONG 2 6:15 PM THE 5TH WAVE 8:45 PM RIDE ALONG 2 1:30 PM address: Seffipura Bada, THE GOOD, THE BAD, AND THE DEAD 12:30 AM RIDE ALONG 2 8:15 PM THE 5TH WAVE 11:15 PM RIDE ALONG 2 3:15 PM Partapur, Banswara (Raj), THE GOOD, THE BAD, AND THE DEAD 1:15 AM RIDE ALONG 2 10:15 PM RIDE ALONG 2 5:00 PM hereby change my name to RIDE ALONG 2 12:15 AM AVENUES-4 RIDE ALONG 2 7:00 PM Akil Fakhruddin. (C 5113) MUHALAB-1 THE REVENANT 11:30 AM RIDE ALONG 2 9:00 PM KUNG FU STYLE 1:00 PM FANAR-5 THE REVENANT 2:45 PM RIDE ALONG 2 11:00 PM 16-1-2016 KUNG FU STYLE 3:00 PM THE 5TH WAVE 11:30 AM DILWALE - Hindi 5:45 PM RIDE ALONG 2 1:00 AM KUNG FU STYLE 5:00 PM THE 5TH WAVE 1:45 PM THE REVENANT 9:00 PM NANNAKU PREMATHO-Telugu 7:00 PM THE 5TH WAVE 4:15 PM THE REVENANT 12:15 AM AL-KOUT.2 DILWALE - Hindi 7:00 PM DILWALE - Hindi 6:45 PM THE 5TH WAVE 1:00 PM NANNAKU PREMATHO-Telugu 10:15 PM THE 5TH WAVE 9:45 PM AVENUES-5 DADDY’S HOME 1:30 PM THE GOOD, THE BAD, AND THE DEAD 1:30 AM THE 5TH WAVE 12:45 AM RIDE ALONG 2 12:30 PM DADDY’S HOME 3:30 PM 112 RIDE ALONG 2 2:30 PM DADDY’S HOME 5:30 PM MUHALAB-2 MARINA-1 RIDE ALONG 2 4:30 PM THE 5TH WAVE 7:30 PM THE 5TH WAVE 12:45 PM FORECLOSURE 1:00 PM RIDE ALONG 2 6:30 PM THE 5TH WAVE 10:00 PM THE GOOD, THE BAD, AND THE DEAD 1:30 PM THE 5TH WAVE 3:00 PM THE 5TH WAVE 8:30 PM THE 5TH WAVE 12:30 AM THE REVENANT 3:30 PM FORECLOSURE 5:30 PM RIDE ALONG 2 10:45 PM SOGGADE CHINNI NAYANA -Telugu 3:30 PM THE 5TH WAVE 7:30 PM RIDE ALONG 2 12:45 AM AL-KOUT.3 THE REVENANT 6:30 PM FORECLOSURE 10:00 PM THE REVENANT 11:45 AM SOGGADE CHINNI NAYANA -Telugu 6:30 PM THE 5TH WAVE 12:05 AM AVENUES-6 THE REVENANT 2:45 PM SOGGADE CHINNI NAYANA -Telugu 9:30 PM DADDY’S HOME 12:00 PM THE REVENANT 5:45 PM MARINA-2 DADDY’S HOME 2:15 PM THE REVENANT 8:45 PM MUHALAB-3 RIDE ALONG 2 12:45 PM DADDY’S HOME 2:00 PM THE REVENANT 11:45 PM RIDE ALONG 2 11:30 AM RIDE ALONG 2 2:45 PM DADDY’S HOME 4:30 PM THE REVENANT 1:30 PM RIDE ALONG 2 4:45 PM NANNAKU PREMATHO-Telugu 4:00 PM AL-KOUT.4 NANNAKU PREMATHO-Telugu 1:30 PM RIDE ALONG 2 6:45 PM NANNAKU PREMATHO-Telugu 7:00 PM KUNG FU STYLE 12:30 PM Prayer timings THE REVENANT 4:30 PM RIDE ALONG 2 8:45 PM NANNAKU PREMATHO-Telugu 10:15 PM KUNG FU STYLE 2:30 PM NANNAKU PREMATHO-Telugu 4:45 PM RIDE ALONG 2 10:45 PM THE GOOD, THE BAD, AND THE DEAD 1:30 AM KUNG FU STYLE 4:45 PM Fajr: 05:20 RIDE ALONG 2 8:00 PM RIDE ALONG 2 12:45 AM FORECLOSURE 6:45 PM RIDE ALONG 2 9:45 PM AVENUES-7 FORECLOSURE 8:45 PM Shorook 06:43 RIDE ALONG 2 11:30 PM MARINA-3 FORECLOSURE 12:00 PM FORECLOSURE 10:45 PM RIDE ALONG 2 1:15 AM KUNG FU STYLE 11:45 AM FORECLOSURE 2:00 PM FORECLOSURE 12:45 AM Duhr: 11:58 KUNG FU STYLE 1:45 PM FORECLOSURE 4:00 PM FANAR-1 KUNG FU STYLE 3:45 PM FORECLOSURE 6:00 PM BAIRAQ-1 Asr: 14:54 DADDY’S HOME 11:30 AM THE REVENANT 5:45 PM FORECLOSURE 8:00 PM RIDE ALONG 2 12:15 PM Maghrib: 17:14 DADDY’S HOME 1:30 PM THE REVENANT 8:45 PM FORECLOSURE 10:00 PM RIDE ALONG 2 2:00 PM THE REVENANT 3:30 PM THE REVENANT 11:45 PM FORECLOSURE 12:05 AM RIDE ALONG 2 4:00 PM Isha: 18:35

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

Arrival Flights on Monday 18/1/2016 AXB 393 Kozhikode 14:20 Departure Flights on Monday 18/1/2016 KAC 785 Jeddah 13:00 Airlines Flt Route Time SVA 500 Jeddah 14:30 Airlines Flt Route Time FDB 076 Dubai 13:10 MSC 415 Sohag 00:05 KAC 284 Dhaka 14:45 AIC 988 Hyderabad/Chennai 00:05 JZR 786 Riyadh 13:10 JZR 239 Amman 00:25 KAC 672 Dubai 14:45 FDB 072 Dubai 00:40 KAC 791 Madinah 13:25 JZR 267 Beirut 00:30 KAC 788 Jeddah 14:50 JAI 573 Mumbai 00:55 SAW 702 Damascus 13:35 JZR 539 Cairo 00:40 GFA 221 Bahrain 15:00 MSC 416 Sohag 01:00 JZR 176 Dubai 13:45 FDB 069 Dubai 00:55 KNE 472 Jeddah 15:05 KAC 283 Dhaka 02:10 MSR 611 Cairo 14:00 RJA 642 Amman 01:05 OMA 645 Muscat 15:30 THY 773 Istanbul 02:30 UAE 872 Dubai 14:15 THY 772 Istanbul 01:05 KAC 562 Amman 15:40 DLH 635 Frankfurt 02:35 KAC 673 Dubai 15:00 ETH 3402 Addis Ababa/Riyadh 01:30 ABY 127 Sharjah 15:45 ETH 621 Addis Ababa 02:45 FDB 058 Dubai 15:10 DLH 635 Doha 01:35 UAE 857 Dubai 15:45 ETH 3403 Addis Ababa 03:05 QTR 1079 Doha 15:10 ETH 620 Addis Ababa 01:45 JZR 535 Cairo 16:10 KAC 381 Delhi 03:30 AXB 394 Kozhikode 15:20 PGT 858 Istanbul 02:00 QTR 1072 Doha 16:10 JZR 555 Alexandria 02:25 JZR 787 Riyadh 16:25 UAE 854 Dubai 03:45 SVA 503 Madinah/Jeddah 15:45 UAE 853 Dubai 02:30 FDB 051 Dubai 16:30 PGT 859 Istanbul 03:55 GFA 222 Bahrain 15:45 GFA 211 Bahrain 02:30 ETD 303 Abu Dhabi 16:40 OMA 644 Muscat 03:55 KAC 617 Doha 15:45 OMA 643 Muscat 02:55 RJA 640 Amman 16:55 FDB 068 Dubai 04:00 KAC 773 Riyadh 15:50 FDB 067 Dubai 03:05 KAC 542 Cairo 16:55 MSR 613 Cairo 04:10 KAC 741 Dammam 15:55 MSR 612 Cairo 03:10 SVA 510 Riyadh 17:15 ETD 306 Abu Dhabi 04:15 KNE 473 Jeddah 16:05 CEB 7694 Manila 03:15 GFA 215 Bahrain 17:30 KKK 6508 Istanbul 04:20 ABY 128 Sharjah 16:25 QTR 1076 Doha 03:15 KAC 678 Muscat/Abu Dhabi 17:50 PGT 861 Istanbul 04:55 OMA 646 Muscat 16:30 KKK 6507 Istanbul 03:20 MSR 614 Cairo 17:50 QTR 1077 Doha 05:00 JZR 266 Beirut 17:05 ETD 305 Abu Dhabi 03:25 JZR 777 Jeddah 17:55 LMU 511 Cairo 05:05 ETD 304 Abu Dhabi 17:30 KAC 544 Cairo 03:35 UAE 875 Dubai 18:00 THY 765 Istanbul 05:15 JZR 238 Amman 17:30 LMU 510 Cairo 04:05 KAC 502 Beirut 18:00 CEB 7695 Manila 05:20 FDB 052 Dubai 17:35 PGT 860 Istanbul 04:15 FDB 063 Dubai 18:05 JZR 560 Sohag 06:10 QTR 1073 Doha 17:40 DHX 170 Bahrain 05:40 KAC 792 Madinah 18:10 FDB 070 Dubai 06:30 UAE 858 Dubai 17:45 THY 770 Istanbul 05:55 JZR 177 Dubai 18:20 JZR 164 Dubai 06:55 JZR 538 Cairo 17:45 QTR 8511 Doha 06:10 KAC 786 Jeddah 18:30 RJA 643 Amman 07:05 RJA 641 Amman 17:55 FDB 5061 Dubai 06:30 ABY 123 Sharjah 18:45 THY 771 Istanbul 07:05 SVA 511 Riyadh 18:15 BAW 157 London 06:40 QTR 1080 Doha 18:55 FDB 5062 Dubai 07:10 GFA 216 Bahrain 18:20 KAC 412 Manila/Bangkok 07:20 KAC 742 Dammam 19:05 GFA 212 Bahrain 07:15 JZR 184 Dubai 18:40 FDB 053 Dubai 07:25 KAC 774 Riyadh 19:25 QTR 1086 Doha 07:40 GFA 217 Bahrain 19:30 QTR 8512 Doha 07:40 MSR 615 Cairo 18:50 KAC 302 Mumbai 07:50 KAC 166 Paris/Rome 19:30 FDB 054 Dubai 08:10 JZR 124 Bahrain 19:10 SVA 512 Riyadh 07:50 KAC 618 Doha 19:35 JZR 174 Dubai 08:25 FDB 064 Dubai 19:20 OMA 641 Muscat 08:00 JZR 483 Istanbul 19:35 QTR 1087 Doha 08:40 ABY 124 Sharjah 19:25 KAC 354 BLR 08:15 KAC 674 Dubai 19:45 BAW 156 London 08:45 UAE 876 Dubai 19:30 KAC 206 Islamabad 08:25 KAC 102 New York/London 19:55 SVA 513 Riyadh 08:50 GFA 218 Bahrain 20:15 KAC 352 Kochi 08:30 FDB 061 Dubai 20:20 OMA 642 Muscat 08:55 KAC 361 Colombo 20:45 KAC 346 Ahmedabad 08:30 OMA 647 Muscat 20:20 KAC 171 Frankfurt 09:05 QTR 1081 Doha 20:50 UAE 855 Dubai 08:40 MSR 606 Luxor 20:45 JZR 534 Cairo 09:15 KAC 351 Kochi 20:50 KAC 332 Trivandrum 08:50 FDB 5053 Dubai 20:50 KAC 787 Jeddah 09:25 OMA 648 Muscat 21:20 KAC 362 Colombo 08:50 JAI 572 Mumbai 20:55 ABY 126 Sharjah 09:40 FDB 062 Dubai 21:20 ABY 125 Sharjah 09:00 DLH 634 Frankfurt 20:55 UAE 856 Dubai 09:55 MSR 619 Alexandria 21:45 ETD 301 Abu Dhabi 09:20 QTR 1088 Doha 21:00 KAC 117 New York 09:55 DLH 634 Doha 21:45 QTR 1070 Doha 09:25 MEA 402 Beirut 21:20 KAC 541 Cairo 09:55 DHX 171 Bahrain 21:50 FDB 055 Dubai 09:40 ETD 307 Abu Dhabi 21:20 KAC 561 Amman 10:00 FDB 5054 Dubai 21:50 IRA 665 Shiraz 09:40 ALK 229 Colombo 21:25 KAC 671 Dubai 10:05 JAI 571 Mumbai 21:55 IRC 528 Ahwaz 10:00 UAE 859 Dubai 21:40 ETD 302 Abu Dhabi 10:25 QTR 1089 Doha 22:00 GFA 213 Bahrain 10:40 GFA 219 Bahrain 21:45 KAC 501 Beirut 10:30 JZR 502 Luxor 22:00 UAE 873 Dubai 11:05 QTR 1082 Doha 22:00 FDB 056 Dubai 10:35 ETD 308 Abu Dhabi 22:10 SYR 341 Damascus 11:25 JZR 125 Bahrain 22:00 JZR 482 Istanbul 10:35 KAC 301 Mumbai 22:10 JZR 165 Dubai 11:30 KLM 417 Amsterdam 22:05 AGY 682 Asyut 11:40 AIC 981 Chennai/Ahmedabad 22:25 IRA 664 Shiraz 10:40 MEA 403 Beirut 22:20 MEA 404 Beirut 11:55 ETD 309 Abu Dhabi 22:25 KAC 677 Abu Dhabi/Muscat 10:50 ALK 230 Colombo 22:25 SAW 701 Damascus 12:20 FDB 059 Dubai 22:30 QTR 1071 Doha 11:00 GFA 220 Bahrain 22:30 FDB 075 Dubai 12:25 KAC 172 Frankfurt 22:35 IRC 529 Ahwaz 11:00 UAE 860 Dubai 22:55 JZR 561 Sohag 12:45 MSC 501 Alexandria 23:00 GFA 214 Bahrain 11:25 QTR 1083 Doha 23:05 UAE 871 Dubai 12:50 JZR 239 Amman 23:05 JZR 776 Jeddah 12:20 KLM 417 Dammam/Amsterdam 23:05 JZR 175 Dubai 13:00 JZR 185 Dubai 23:15 SYR 342 Damascus 12:25 KAC 205 Islamabad 23:10 MSR 610 Cairo 13:00 PIA 205 Lahore 23:40 KAC 103 London 12:25 ETD 310 Abu Dhabi 23:15 KAC 382 Delhi 13:50 FDB 071 Dubai 23:45 UAE 874 Dubai 12:30 FDB 060 Dubai 23:35 QTR 1078 Doha 14:10 THY 764 Istanbul 23:50 AGY 683 Alexandria 12:40 KAC 411 Bangkok/Manila 23:35 FDB 057 Dubai 14:10 JAI 574 Mumbai 23:55 MEA 405 Beirut 12:55 KAC 415 Kuala Lumpur/Jakarta 23:40 DIAL161 FOR AIRPORT INFORMATION stars34 MONDAY, JANUARY 18, 2016 CROSSWORD 1141 STAR TRACK

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

A stay-at-home morning gives you the opportunity to catch up on some This is a lucky day for making plans or decisions and finding your way of the little odd jobs that need your attention. Community affairs may surface today but through just about any problem you may uncover. Do you suppose it is your attitude the time for action is not quite yet. This afternoon, you and your friends could enjoy the that is changing you will feel successful and feel able to cope with most any situation. fun of just being together with the opportunity to express yourselves freely. Your out- Good advice from a guide or older person may be in the making; listen. When some- ward and social success is highlighted now, a kind of peak, after which you should turn one pushes your temper buttons, remember that they are your buttons and you have your attention to concentrating on what you have set in motion up to this point. A power over whether you become emotional or not. Agree to disagree, because that is short trip this evening, perhaps with family members, will create a different atmosphere a very growth-oriented action. Tact and wisdom are things that someone asks you to to enjoy. Your frame of mind is quite improved over a year ago. You may enjoy a bit of teach them. You are a loyal friend and will often go the extra mile to help others; you music that is different from the usual. may be helping to paint, move or any number of other things today.

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

Focus in on the things that really need accomplishing this morning and While shopping today, you may have your patience tested. You may have then the rest of the day is yours. Sexual need is just one of life’s pleasures emphasized found a desired piece of furniture . . . Only thing is you have to put it together. This after- for you at this time. There are lots of energies available to do as you please for now. noon the boxes and instructions may have you stumped for a while-but not too long. Don’t be too surprised when you find relatives dropping by later this afternoon. There While looking for tools to put together this piece of furniture, you may find a lost item seems to be plenty of requests for your time and your opinion. You express your opin- that you did not think you would ever see again. You have always had a magical way in ion when you have an understanding of a situation. Sympathy and understanding are finding or bringing things back into your life that you have lost. Think ahead and keep emotional qualities that take on importance. A strong urge for a change in scenery an even pace with your activities; rushing may not be as important as you think. may bring about the suggestion of a movie in the evening. If the weather is good, a Perhaps you are trying to push too much into one day. Relax tonight and enjoy the walk to identify the stars and enjoy a bit of fresh air would be an excellent choice. young people that are around you-they will create in you a grateful spirit!

Gemini (May 21-June 20) Sagittarius (November 22-December 21) There are some confusing circumstances, paperwork or issues that have This morning you may gain some insight into some political news in the gone unresolved and can be resolved now. Take a little trip or get outside country. Starting with your own town, you could make your own thoughts known by ACROSS 3. Not only so, but. today. You may want to break with your standard activities and try something new or dif- writing the editor of your city newspaper or in publishing your own website with your ferent. You may discover some insights that will be of great value later. Someone will be 1. Humorously sarcastic or mocking. 4. Attractive especially by means of smallness personal slant to the news. There could be some ideas that you will want to submit to repaying a debt or a family member is ready to support your plans. A few tasks and lots of 4. A small container (as one holding electronic or prettiness or quaintness. the media through your voice or in writing. A love relationship blossoms this afternoon. interaction with friends make this wonderful day. Coming to the aid of an older person or You reach out to every opportunity that comes your way in order to keep this relation- equipment). 5. (Babylonian) The sky god. a handicapped individual will satisfy a deep emotional need. Communicating feelings ship close. You find some wonderful rewards for your efforts in many ways. Now may 11. An Iranian language spoken in 6. Low stingless nettle of Central and South becomes more important as you find yourself laughing and talking about things you be a good time to add a little spice to your love relationship-use your imagination and have in common with others. Keep practicing your talent. Afghanistan. America having velvety brownish-green perhaps a party can be planned or a short vacation for just you two. 15. Step on it. toothed leaves and clusters of small green 16. Lacking fresh air. flowers. 17. Norwegian mathematician (1802-1829). 7. Characterized by iniquity. Cancer (June 21-July 22) Capricorn (December 22-January 19) 18. Title for a civil or military leader (especially 8. A mountain range in western Russia in Turkey). extending from the arctic to the Caspian Sea. Imagination and creativity are in full swing today. This, together with the You have a quick wit about you and may find yourself talkative with clever ideas and remedies to most situations. You may be able to converse with an 19. A tax imposed on ships that enter the US. 9. A human limb. ability to put your thoughts into words, allows you to captivate and spell- bind. You have been thinking of writing a book and today would be a good time to start elder member of your family and have little difficulty. This person may have been very diffi- 20. Excavation in the earth from which ores 10. Swelling from excessive accumulation of an outline, if you have not done so already. Have you taken a writing course you could cult in the past. All of this healing and talking with people may make you expressive of your and minerals are extracted. serous fluid in tissue. consider a writing course through your community college now. Just breaking away appreciation regarding surroundings and family. Others have plans for your birthday cele- 21. Shrubby tree widely distributed along 11. The occurrence of a change for the worse. from the usual is something you may look forward to doing: perhaps a play or a movie, brations-go with the flow and allow others to pamper you. If you have been expressive, tropical shores. 12. A promontory in northern Morocco oppo- the theater, a special showing at a museum. You will be surprised to find some money they will know exactly what you want. There is a bit of luck or good fortune this afternoon as you make a discovery or hear a positive sound. 23. A federation of North American labor site the Rock of Gibraltar. that you had forgotten you had. unions that merged with the Congress of 13. A city in western Nevada at the foot of the Industrial Organizations in 1955. Sierra Nevada Mountains. 24. (trademark) An antacid. 14. A large genus of dicotyledonous trees and Leo (July 23-August 22) Aquarius (January 20- February 18) 27. Primitive chlorophyll-containing mainly shrubs of the family Aquifoliaceae that have Everything comes around to value and bring out your dramatic, unique and The temptation to spend money is strong today. Hold back a bit longer- aquatic eukaryotic organisms lacking true small flowers and berries (including hollies). unusual qualities. You may find that someone close to you understands and is supportive you will find a much better bargain soon. You have wanted to put a story to paper and stems and roots and leaves. 22. Large African forest tree yielding a strong of your eccentricities. You could come up with new solutions or inventions as your creative to try your hand at becoming published. Saying and writing things with style counts for 28. Small swift bat with leathery ears and a hard yellow to golden brown lumber. mind is working well. A clear-minded insight into your own plans and methods is available. a lot now-this tends to bring out the social butterfly in all of us. A college writing course long tail. 25. Type genus of the Alcidae comprising You could be helping young adults in some decision-making process toward their future could help to keep you on the right track and give you constructive ideas on ways in goals. Some guidance in creating a resume would be a good start for these young people. If 31. A ductile gray metallic element of the lan- solely the razorbill. which to reach your goal. You may also meet someone today that could be a big help you want to enjoy your friends in a quiet environment later, you might invite them for an thanide series. 26. The honeycreepers. in this area. A friend needs your advice today. You are sincere and considerate and your after-dinner get-together this evening. If you have children, you may want to hire a sitter for 34. A fabric with prominent rounded cross- 29. Small genus of mediterranean shrubs. optimism is upbeat-your friend cannot help but be influenced in positive ways. the kids and go out for dinner with friends. wise ribs. 30. (possibly Roman) Goddess of horses and 35. Being ten more than one hundred ninety. mules and asses. 36. Aircraft landing in bad weather in which 32. A trite or obvious remark. Virgo (August 23-September 22) Pisces (February 19-March 20) the pilot is talked down by ground control 33. Someone given to teasing (as by mocking using precision approach radar. or stirring curiosity). It might be easy to be a bit bossy today-careful. If you are dieting, eat You might feel that some avenue of support has been cut off or blocked. 39. A member of the Siouan people inhabit- 37. A communist state in the Caribbean on plenty of protein-often. Balance is the word for now. Lovers, children and other people Arguments of an emotional kind could be easy to find. However, you are learning to ing the valleys of the Platte and Missouri the island of Cuba. or things dear to your heart are emphasized. The powers of persuasion is working in expand your vision-accepting the things you cannot change. Keeping a balance in mind, your favor and you will have the last word on whatever activities you and your friends body and soul means that if frustrations come up, your own outlook will remain positive. rivers in Nebraska. 38. A share of something. or family enjoy today . . . The choice is yours. You are enthusiastic and optimistic about Through this balance, you will be able to help many people. Independence, as well as any- 40. United States writer noted for his droll epi- 41. An honorary degree in science. any sort of challenge. Much of your strength arises from the creative side of you. One thing unusual or different, is valued now. Depending on your family’s wishes, you may grams (1902-1971). 42. Hard white substance covering the crown way to have a more fulfilling relationship is to stay aware of the differences between want to invite some friends over this evening. There is a chance to understand those 43. A local computer network for communica- of a tooth. your needs and the needs of others. around you and to have a special time with someone you love. You could feel real support and harmony at this time. tion between computers. 44. The capital of the Democratic Republic of 45. A nonstandard form of American English the Congo on the Congo river opposite spoken by some American Black people. Brazzaville. WORD SEARCH PUZZLE Yesterday’s Solution 47. Not based on fact. 46. An organization of countries formed in 50. Any member of Athapaskan tribes that 1961 to agree on a common policy for the migrated to the southwestern desert (from sale of petroleum. Arizona to Texas and south into Mexico). 48. (Greek mythology) Goddess of the earth 51. A white metallic element that burns with a and mother of Cronus and the Titans in brilliant light. ancient mythology. 52. Type genus of the Anatidae. 49. Standard time in the 5th time zone west of 55. An independent ruler or chieftain (espe- Greenwich, reckoned at the 75th meridian. cially in Africa or Arabia). 53. (electronics) Designating sound transmis- 57. The third canonical hour. sion from two sources through two channels. 59. A religious belief of African origin involv- 54. Spiritually reborn or converted. ing witchcraft and sorcery. 56. The hair growing on the lower part of a 62. A Tibetan or Mongolian priest of Lamaism. man's face. 66. The cry made by sheep. 58. The act of remitting (especially the referral 67. A fatty deposit in the intima (inner lining) of a law case to another court). of an artery. 60. Any of numerous local fertility and nature 71. Someone who is morally reprehensible. deities worshipped by ancient Semitic peo- 72. An implement used to propel or steer a ples. boat. 61. A group of cattle or sheep or other domes- 73. A cut of pork ribs with much of the meat tic mammals all of the same kind that are trimmed off. herded by humans. 74. A master's degree in fine arts. 63. The highest level or degree attainable. 75. Late time of life. 64. A Chadic language spoken south of Lake 76. Thin-shelled freshwater mussels. Chad. 77. The sense organ for hearing and equilibri- 65. The sixth month of the civil year. um. 68. Administration of a nutritionally adequate solution through a catheter into the vena DOWN cava. 1. Hit hard. 69. 10 hao equal 1 dong. 2. Port city that is the capital and largest city 70. A loose sleeveless outer garment made of Latvia. from aba cloth.

Yesterday’s Solution

Daily SuDoku Yesterday’s Solution MONDAY, JANUARY 18, 2016 information

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

Afghanistan 0093 Luxembourg 00352 GOVERNORATE PHARMACY ADDRESS PHONE Albania 00355 Macau 00853 Algeria 00213 Macedonia 00389 Ahmadi Sama Safwan Fahaeel Makka St 23915883 Andorra 00376 Madagascar 00261 Sabah Hospital 24812000 Abu Halaifa Abu Halaifa-Coastal Rd 23715414 Angola 00244 Majorca 0034 Amiri Hospital 22450005 Danat Al-Sultan Mahboula Block 1, Coastal Rd 23726558 Anguilla 001264 Malawi 00265 Maternity Hospital 24843100 Jahra Modern Jahra Jahra-Block 3 Lot 1 24575518 Antiga 001268 Malaysia 0060 Madina Munawara Jahra-Block 92 24566622 Argentina 0054 Maldives 00960 Mubarak Al-Kabir Hospital 25312700 Capital Ahlam Fahad Al-Salem St 22436184 Armenia 00374 Mali 00223 Chest Hospital 24849400 Khaldiya Coop Khaldiya Coop 24833967 Australia 0061 Malta 00356 Austria 0043 Marshall Islands 00692 Farwaniya Hospital 24892010 Farwaniya New Shifa Farwaniya Block 40 24734000 Ferdous Coop Ferdous Coop 24881201 Bahamas 001242 Martinique 00596 Adan Hospital 23940620 Modern Safwan Old Kheitan Block 11 24726638 Bahrain 00973 Mauritania 00222 Ibn Sina Hospital 24840300 Bangladesh 00880 Mauritius 00230 Hawally Tariq Salmiya-Hamad Mubarak St 25726265 Barbados 001246 Mayotte 00269 Al-Razi Hospital 24846000 Hana Salmiya-Amman St 25647075 Ikhlas Hawally-Beirut St 22625999 Belarus 00375 Mexico 0052 Physiotherapy Hospital 24874330/9 Hawally & Rawdha Hawally & Rawdha Coop 22564549 Belgium 0032 Micronesia 00691 Ghadeer Jabriya-Block 1A 25340559 Belize 00501 Moldova 00373 Kindy Jabriya-Block 3B 25326554 Benin 00229 Monaco 00377 Ibn Al-Nafis Salmiya-Hamad Mubarak St 25721264 Mishrif Coop Mishrif Coop 25380581 Bermuda 001441 Mongolia 00976 Kaizen center 25716707 Salwa Coop Salwa Coop 25628241 Bhutan 00975 Montserrat 001664 Rawda 22517733 Bolivia 00591 Morocco 00212 Bosnia 00387 Mozambique 00258 Adaliya 22517144 Botswana 00267 Myanmar (Burma) 0095 Khaldiya 24848075 Brazil 0055 Namibia 00264 Brunei 00673 Nepal 00977 Kaifan 24849807 Bulgaria 00359 Netherlands 0031 Shamiya 24848913 Burkina 00226 Netherlands Antilles 00599 Burundi 00257 New Caledonia 00687 Shuwaikh 24814507 Cambodia 00855 New Zealand 0064 Abdullah Salem 22549134 Cameroon 00237 Nicaragua 00505 Canada 001 Nigar 00227 Nuzha 22526804 Cape Verde 00238 Nigeria 00234 Industrial Shuwaikh 24814764 Cayman Islands 001345 Niue 00683 Central African 00236 Norfolk Island 00672 Qadsiya 22515088 Chad 00235 N. Ireland (UK) 0044 Dasmah 22532265 Chile 0056 North Korea 00850 Bneid Al-Gar 22531908 China 0086 Norway 0047 Colombia 0057 Oman 00968 Shaab 22518752 Comoros 00269 Pakistan 0092 Qibla 22459381 Congo 00242 Palau 00680 Cook Islands 00682 Panama 00507 Ayoun Al-Qibla 22451082 Costa Rica 00506 Papua New Guinea 00675 Mirqab 22456536 Croatia 00385 Paraguay 00595 Cuba 0053 Peru 0051 Sharq 22465401 Cyprus 00357 Philippines 0063 Salmiya 25746401 Cyprus (Northern) 0090392 Poland 0048 Czech Republic 00420 Portugal 00351 Jabriya 25316254 Denmark 0045 Puerto Rico 001787 Maidan Hawally 25623444 Diego Garcia 00246 Qatar 00974 Djibouti 00253 Romania 0040 Bayan 25388462 Dominica 001767 Russian Federation 007 Mishref 25381200 Dominican Republic 001809 Rwanda 00250 W Hawally 22630786 Ecuador 00593 Saint Helena 00290 Egypt 0020 Saint Kitts 001869 Sabah 24810221 El Salvador 00503 Saint Lucia 001758 Jahra 24770319 England (UK) 0044 Saint Pierre 00508 Equatorial Guinea 00240 Saint Vincent 001784 New Jahra 24575755 Eritrea 00291 Samoa US 00684 West Jahra 24772608 Estonia 00372 Samoa West 00685 Ethiopia 00251 San Marino 00378 South Jahra 24775066 Falkland Islands 00500 Sao Tone 00239 North Jahra 24775992 Faroe Islands 00298 Saudi Arabia 00966 Fiji 00679 Scotland (UK) 0044 North Jleeb 24311795 Finland 00358 Senegal 00221 Ardhiya 24884079 France 0033 Seychelles 00284 Firdous 24892674 French Guiana 00594 Sierra Leone 00232 French Polynesia 00689 Singapore 0065 Omariya 24719048 Gabon 00241 Slovakia 00421 N Khaitan 24710044 Gambia 00220 Slovenia 00386 Georgia 00995 Solomon Islands 00677 Fintas 23900322 Germany 0049 Somalia 00252 Ghana 00233 South Africa 0027 Gibraltar 00350 South Korea 0082 Greece 0030 Spain 0034 Greenland 00299 Sri Lanka 0094 PRIVATE CLINICS Grenada 001473 Sudan 00249 Guadeloupe 00590 Suriname 00597 Guam 001671 Swaziland 00268 Guatemala 00502 Sweden 0046 Ophthalmologists Plastic Surgeons Paediatricians Endocrinologist Guinea 00224 Switzerland 0041 Dr. Abidallah Al-Mansoor 25622444 Dr. Mohammad Al-Khalaf 22547272 Dr. Khaled Hamadi 25665898 Guyana 00592 Syria 00963 Dr. Abd Al-Naser Al-Othman 25339330 Dr. Samy Al-Rabeea 25752222 Dr. Abdal-Redha Lari 22617700 Dr. Abd Al-Aziz Al-Rashed 25340300 Haiti 00509 Serbia 00381 Dr. Masoma Habeeb 25321171 Dr. Abdel Quttainah 25625030/60 Dr. Zahra Qabazard 25710444 Dr. Ahmad Al-Ansari 25658888 Holland (Netherlands) 0031 Taiwan 00886 Dr. Mubarak Al-Ajmy 25739999 Family Doctor Dr. Sohail Qamar 22621099 Honduras 00504 Tanzania 00255 Dr. Mohsen Abel 25757700 Dr. Kamal Al-Shomr 25329924 Dr Divya Damodar 23729596/23729581 Dr. Snaa Maaroof 25713514 Hong Kong 00852 Thailand 0066 Dr Adnan Hasan Alwayl 25732223 Physiotherapists & VD Hungary 0036 Toga 00228 Psychiatrists Dr. Pradip Gujare 23713100 Dr. Abdallah Al-Baghly 25732223 Dr. Zacharias Mathew 24334282 Dr. Deyaa Shehab 25722291 Ibiza (Spain) 0034 Tonga 00676 Ear, Nose & Throat (ENT) Dr. Esam Al-Ansari 22635047 Iceland 00354 Tokelau 00690 Dr. Ahmed Fouad Mouner 24555050 Ext 510 Dr Eisa M. Al-Balhan 22613623/0 Dermatology Dr. Musaed Faraj Khamees 22666288 India 0091 Trinidad 001868 Dr. Abdallah Al-Ali 25644660 Gynaecologists & Obstetricians Dr. Mohammed Salam Rheumatologists: Indian Ocean 00873 Tunisia 00216 Dr. Abd Al-Hameed Al-Taweel 25646478 DrAdrian arbe 23729596/23729581 Bern University 23845955 Indonesia 0062 Turkey 0090 Dr. Sanad Al-Fathalah 25311996 Dr. Verginia s.Marin 2572-6666 ext 8321 Dentists Dr. Adel Al-Awadi 25330060 Dr. Mohammad Al-Daaory 25731988 Iran 0098 Tuvalu 00688 Dr. Fozeya Ali Al-Qatan 22655539 Dr Anil Thomas 3729596/3729581 Dr. Ismail Al-Fodary 22620166 Dr. Khaled Al-Jarallah 25722290 Iraq 00964 Uganda 00256 Dr. Majeda Khalefa Aliytami 25343406 Dr. Shamah Al-Matar 22641071/2 Dr. Mahmoud Al-Booz 25651426 Ireland 00353 Ukraine 00380 Dr. Ahmad Al-Khooly 25739272 Dr. Anesah Al-Rasheed 22562226 Internist, Chest & Heart General Practitioners Italy 0039 United Arab Emirates 00976 Dr. Abidallah Al-Amer 22561444 Dr. Mohamme Y Majidi 24555050 Ext 123 Dr. Salem soso 22618787 DR.Mohammes Akkad 24555050 Ext 210 Ivory Coast 00225 United Kingdom 0044 Dr. Faysal Al-Fozan 22619557 General Surgeons Dr. Yousef Al-Omar 24719312 Dr. Mohammad Zubaid Jamaica 001876 Uruguay 00598 Dr. Abdallateef Al-Katrash 22525888 Dr. Tarek Al-Mikhazeem 23926920 Dr. Amer Zawaz Al-Amer 22610044 MB, ChB, FRCPC, PACC Japan 0081 USA 001 Dr. Abidallah Al-Duweisan 25653755 Dr. Kathem Maarafi 25730465 Dr. Mohammad Yousef Basher 25327148 Assistant Professor Of Medicine Jordan 00962 Uzbekistan 00998 Dr. Abdallah Ahmad Eyadah 25655528 Dr. Bader Al-Ansari 25620111 Internists, Chest & Heart Head, Division of Cardiology Kazakhstan 007 Vanuatu 00678 Dr. Nabeel Al-Ayoobi 24577781 Neurologists Mubarak Al-Kabeer Hospital 25339667 Dr. Adnan Ebil 22639939 Kenya 00254 Venezuela 00582 Dr. Dina Abidallah Al-Refae 25333501 Dr. Sohal Najem Al-Shemeri 25633324 Dr. Mousa Khadada 22666300 Consultant Cardiologist Kiribati 00686 Vietnam 0084 Urologists Dr. Jasem Mola Hassan 25345875 Dr. Latefa Al-Duweisan 25728004 Dr. Farida Al-Habib 2611555-2622555 Kuwait 00965 Virgin Islands UK 001284 Dr. Ali Naser Al-Serfy 22641534 Gastrologists MD, PH.D, FACC Dr. Fawzi Taher Abul 22639955 Dr. Nadem Al-Ghabra 25355515 Kyrgyzstan 00996 Virgin Islands US 001340 Dr. Sami Aman 22636464 Inaya German Medical Center Dr. Khaleel Abidallah Al-Awadi 22616660 Dr. Mobarak Aldoub 24726446 Laos 00856 Wales (UK) 0044 Dr. Mohammad Al-Shamaly 25322030 Te: 2575077 Dr. Adel Al-Hunayan FRCS (C) 25313120 Dr Nasser Behbehani 25654300/3 Latvia 00371 Yemen 00967 Dr. Foad Abidallah Al-Ali 22633135 Fax: 25723123 Dr. Leons Joseph 66703427 Lebanon 00961 Yugoslavia 00381 Soor Center Liberia 00231 Zambia 00260 Psychologists [email protected] Tel: 2290-1677 Kaizen center Noor Clinic William Schuilenberg, RPC 2290-1677 Libya 00218 Zimbabwe 00263 /Psychotherapists www.soorcenter.com Zaina Al Zabin, M.Sc. 2290-1677 Fax: 2290 1688 25716707 23845955 Lithuania 00370 MONDAY, JANUARY 18, 2016 lifestyle

MUSIC & MOVIES

DS Action: Sporty action and precidrive accuracy quipped with a three-row timepiece is water-resistant up to a brushed stainless-steel bracelet, pressure of 30 bar (300 m) and the Ethe new DS Action is an impres- presence of the historical Certina tur- sive timepiece. Its broad bezel, over- tle logo on its case back is a faithful sized indices and skeletonized hands reminder of the DS Action’s outstand- make reading the time a quick and ing quality and reliability. Other ver- easy task under all conditions. Those sions of the DS Action are available to sporty attributes are enhanced by the suit different tastes. A three-row stain- uncompromising accuracy of its cut- less-steel bracelet version, another in ting-edge precidrive movement. The full titanium, and a model with a rub- DS Action’s bold dial comes in a vari- ber strap, all three of which are ety of different colors, black, blue or equipped with the same twin-push- green, to match the preferences of button buckle with diver extension, Mexican actress and producer Salma Hayek poses for pictures during a news conference to promote her new movie “The Prophet,” in Mexico every watch lover-gentleman or lady. for highest safety. City. Hayek produced and voices a character in the animated film adaptation of Lebanese writer Kahlil Gibran’s 1923 book of prose poetry.—AP The brushed 316L stainless-steel Reliability, precision and innova- case of the new, precidrive-equipped tion have underlined the Certina phi- Certina DS Action is slightly oversized losophy since 1888, year of the foun- at 41 mm, to ensure a comfortable fit dation of the company by the Kurth Celine Dion’s brother dies on both masculine and feminine Brothers. In 1959, Certina developed wrists. Its broad, polished unidirec- its famous Double Security DS tional bezel wears large, highly-visible Concept, to bring to its watches numerals, as well as Superluminova exceptional sturdiness and outstand- days after death of her husband markings around the first quadrant, ing water resistance. Certina has a from 12 to 3 o’clock. Behind a sap- long-standing commitment to sport, he 59-year-old brother of award-win- phire crystal treated with anti-reflec- and motor racing in particular. It has ning Canadian singer Celine Dion died tive coating on both faces, the black stood next to an ever-growing list of Tafter a long battle with cancer on dial carries a date window conve- great sport stars such as Mike Saturday, two days after the death of Dion’s niently placed at 3 o’clock. Additional Doohan, Alex Criville, Petter Solberg, husband, her representatives said in a state- Superluminova has been applied to Sete Gibernau, Thomas Luthi, Robert ment. Daniel Dion, the eighth oldest of 13 the skeletonized HM hands, red- Kubica and also boxing legend siblings, “passed away peacefully” surround- tipped central second hand, large Muhammad Ali. Since 2005, Certina ed by family at the La Maison AdhÈmar- dots at each five-minute mark and has been Official Partner of the Sauber Dion care center in QuÈbec, Canada, the inside the bold triangular indices at F1 Team and since 2013 Official statement posted on the singer’s website 12, 6 and 9 o’clock, to ensure optimal Timekeeper of the FIA WRC World said. underwater readability. Rally Championship. A subsidiary of Celine Dion, 47, asked for privacy after The multiple safety features and the world’s largest international she announced on Thursday the death of famous DS Concept (Double Security) watchmaking organization Swatch her husband and long-time manager, RenÈ assembly make the DS Action espe- Group, Certina is currently world AngÈlil, at the age of 73 after fighting throat cially well-suited to demanding envi- leader in the sport watch segment, cancer. AngÈlil, who discovered Dion when ronments. A screw-on case back, as and is represented in more than 60 she was 12 years old and drove her career well as a protected screw-in crown countries. to stardom, married her in 1994. The couple inscribed with the letters “DS”, allow a have three sons, RenÈ-Charles, 14, and 5- This July 26, 2013, file photo shows Canadian music star Celine Dion, right, and husband Rene very high level of protection. The year-old twins Nelson and Eddy.—Reuters Angelil posing for photos after being decorated with the Order of Canada in Quebec City.—AP Prince reschedules piano shows, but at studio rince has rescheduled aborted concerts featuring the maverick pop star alone on piano, but this time he will Pperform at his home studio instead of Europe. After days of hints on social media, Prince announced that he will play two back-to-back shows Thursday at his Paisley Park complex in a suburb outside Minneapolis. Prince had initially In this photo provided by Paramount Pictures shows Pablo Schreiber, from left, as planned a tour of Europe in November and December which Kris “Tanto” Paronto, John Krasinski as Jack Silva, David Denman as Dave “Boon” the Purple One would sing and play piano without further Benton and Dominic Fumusa as John “Tig” Tiegen, in the film, “13 Hours: The Secret adornment, in a first since his rise to stardom three decades Soldiers of Benghazi” from Paramount Pictures and 3 Arts Entertainment/Bay Films. ago. The movie releases in US theaters.—AP Acclaimed as a guitar virtuoso and dancer, Prince had explained that he had grown accustomed to favorable reviews and wanted a musical challenge. But Prince abruptly postponed ticket sales minutes before they were due to start Director Bay: Benghazi for the first European dates, outraged that resellers were already offering tickets at prices far above face value. He later movie steers clear of politics canceled the whole tour, which would have taken him to at least 11 countries, as he cited the November 13 attacks on he very word “Benghazi” screams politics just saying, we show what was out there, and Paris that included an assault on the Bataclan concert hall. to most people - especially in this election that’s what we did. I’m not pointing fingers, I’m Prince announced the Paisley Park concerts on Saturday Tyear. So, is it even possible to make a just giving the facts, I’m showing what was out over social media, with tickets quickly selling out. Prince, on a movie about the deadly 2012 attacks in there. dedicated website for the concerts, said there would be no Benghazi, Libya, that’s NOT political? Director AP: Do you think the movie will influence actual tickets and that Paisley Park would instead keep a list Michael Bay says it is - by focusing on what he the election? of buyers at the door with name changes forbidden. Built calls the “great human story” that’s never been Bay: No, no. What this is is an inspirational after the huge success of Prince’s 1984 album “Purple Rain,” really told, that of the security contractors who human story. And this is a classic nightmare sto- Paisley Park has been the Minneapolis-born star’s primary fought through the night of the deadly ry. It’s a story when you have a nightmare, you center of creative output with state-of-the-art studios, a con- Benghazi attacks on a US diplomatic com- want heroes like this to rescue you from your cert space and a secure vault for his master recordings. pound, in which four Americans died - includ- nightmares. And this is a movie - because I Paisley Park looms large in the imagination of Prince fans ing Ambassador Christopher Stevens - but worked with so many special operators in the as well as many ordinary people in Minneapolis and adjacent many others were saved during a 13-hour siege. military, I worked in the military for so long, I’m St. Paul, for whom a chance to see the reclusive pop star’s Bay, known best for his blockbuster personal friends with so many of them, I want- inner world can be a once-in-a-lifetime experience. Prince has “Transformers” series, sat down with the ed to give integrity to the story, I wanted to tell nonetheless been opening up Paisley Park with growing fre- Associated Press in Miami recently to discuss the story because there’s a positive message in quency. In September he welcomed fans for a three-day “13 Hours: The Secret Soldiers of Benghazi,” it, in the human spirit. ... It’s a movie that honors Turkish Jewelry festival “international dance party,” and in November announced his which opened Friday. (The interview has been all first responders, from firemen to policemen European tour with a pajama party for journalists that report- edited for length and clarity). to the men and women in the military that do edly culminated in a screening of the latest James Bond film AP: How is this movie not political? this. “Spectre” at a nearby cinema he rented out for the occasion. at Joyalukkas Bay: How is it not political? Because listen, AP: Was it important to leave out the name Prince has in recent years battled ticket scalpers by announc- we all think we know Benghazi. But there was a of Hillary Clinton? orld’s favorite jeweler has Zenina collection will offer a choice of ing his concerts only a few hours before taking stage.—AFP announced a Turkish jewelry mid range and premium Jewellery to make great human story, that got buried. And that’s Bay: It wasn’t even on the radar for this WFestival across its showrooms to it accessible to all types of customers. The the story I’m telling: the guys who were on the movie. I was telling their story on the ground launch their refreshed brand, Zenina. Zenina range of Jewellery is a spectacle of ground. The men and women that were stuck in from these guys’ point of view. Under Zenina Collections, Joyalukkas will rare designs and beautiful works of art that the CIA annex, and how they fought for 13 AP: What kind of reaction do you hope from offer spell binding designs created by mas- will appeal to every Jewellery lover. hours to get out of there alive. We worked very the military community? ter craftsmen in Turkey. The Zenina range “We are proud to relaunch Zenina, hard to get the facts right from the research of Bay: People who have seen it have said it’s will showcase never before designs and Jewellery inspired by Turkey. Our designs the book that (author Mitchell Zuckoff) did to one of the finest, most accurate military movies collections crafted in 22 K gold. have a contemporary look with intricate the amazing access I have from working 20 they’ve seen - that was a direct quote from “Turkey is renowned for its Jewellery ethnic art embedded to create a fusion years with the military, from the boots on the somebody. One of the best friends of Tyrone and their exquisite designs are a rage that is breathtaking. Our Turkish Fest is a ground, the people who were in country to the Woods (a security team member who died) across the world. Under Zenina, we will grand celebration of incredible Turkey and CIA at a high level meeting to get just the facts said, ‘I want to thank you so much, you did my now offer the best of Turkish Jewellery to their amazing craftsmanship.” said John right, the recently released emails. We just had friend justice and honor. our discerning customers who are con- Paul Joy Alukkas, Executive Director, to get it right. AP: What do you hope viewers will take stantly looking for new and trendy Joyalukkas Group. AP: Who do you think was to blame for what away from this film? happened? Bay: Just the great human story that you designs,” said Joy Alukkas, Chairman & MD, During the Turkish Jewellery Fest, cus- Bay: Listen it was 13 hours, 13 hours. There’s never are told. It just wasn’t covered. I mean I Joyalukkas Group. tomers are also being offers are opportuni- a pink elephant sitting in the room when you’ve watched every news station. I’m a news junkie. Turkish Jewellery Festival was inaugu- ty to purchase 8 gms gold coin with Zero got the most powerful country in the world, AP: Will this movie appeal more to conserva- rated by Kerim Doganay, Commercial Making Charges. This is a first time event bases. I mean when I sat with the CIA I said tives or liberals? Counselor of Turkish Embassy to Kuwait, on which every Jewellery lover should surely ‘C’mon guys,’ I started naming Aviano, Sigonella Bay: I think it’s even, because at the heart, January 14, 2016 at Joyalukkas Panasonic not miss. This June 30, 2011 file photo shows US singer and (bases), really? It’s an F16 flight, its 50 minutes - it’s a human story. That’s what shines here. Tower, Kuwait City branch. musician Prince performing on stage at the Stade de flight time overhead is 30 minutes. Listen I’m France in Saint-Denis, outside Paris.—AFP 37 MONDAY, JANUARY 18, 2016 LIFESTYLE

Fashion

Models wear creations for Versace men’s Fall-Winter 2016-2017 collection, part of the Milan Fashion Week, unveiled in Milan, Italy, Saturday. — AP/AFP photos Milan menswear designers pay tribute to David Bowie ilan designers paid tribute to music course night black. Versace has taken her Under pressure Mand fashion icon David Bowie as shows out of the relative security of her tra- Costume National creator Ennio Capasa Milan Fashion Week menswear pre- ditional showroom into new, more spacious titled his menswear preview for the next views for next fall and winter continued on venues, this time a modernistic theater in cold weather season “Under Pressure,” for Saturday. Costume National designer Ennio one of Milan’s newly gentrified districts. The the Bowie hymn, for the state of the world Capasa and Roberto Cavalli’s Peter Dundas change of venue appears to be part of the amid repeated violent attacks and for the both said that the musician had often been a brand’s transformation into something more condition of a fashion industry being con- font of inspiration, apparent also in these disciplined and urban, less Miami pool party sumed by fast-fashion. The collection fea- collections previewing just a week after than in the recent past. The designer even tured feminine touches for men that embod- Bowie’s death. Donatella Versace saluted the introduced a new motif, if not logo, seen ied early Bowie, from silken scarves tied singer with a single burst of Bowie’s hit here as a metallic V overlaying an elliptical loosely below the neck, to concentric silver “Ground Control to Major Tom” at the end of galaxy. The Medusa was replaced, at least beading on jackets and deep scoop neck- her futuristic, outer-space-inspired runway temporarily, by a Pegasus. lines on soft velour tops. Yet at the same show. Some highlights from Saturday’s time, Capasa underlined the converse, the shows, including collections from Dolce&Gabbana, Marni and Jil Sander.

Celestial Versace Donatella Versace drew inspiration from the stars for her latest collection. The results are sleek and futuristic looks, appealing to the urban gentleman, international adven- turer and even, should the occasion arise, interstellar traveler. The Versace man starts his journey dramatically enough, running through the darkness in a lit-up track suits, as futuristic as ever a runway show opening. Pound, pound, pound. Many of the looks had an active, if not athletic, silhouette, with snug-fitting knitwear trousers worn with bomber jackets or soft mohair sweaters. There were also sleek silvery day suits and bomber jackets with matching pants for an out-of-this-world impact. Backpacks often mimicked the color or print of the coat, and outerwear was adorned with shiny spare electronic parts, standing in for studs of the past, for a robotic effect. Calming monochromes were central to the collection’s mood: gray, silver, white Italian fashion designer Donatella Versace acknowledges the applause of the offset by celestial purple, sky blue, and of audience at the end of the Versace men’s Fall-Winter 2016-2017 show.

Models present creations for fashion house Dolce & Gabbana. 38 MONDAY, JANUARY 18, 2016 LIFESTYLE

Fashion

Sicilian spaghetti western and shirts. Some models filmed the runway The invitation to the Dolce&Gabbana and fashion front-row as they displayed their show came with its own soundtrack, playing wears, with the designers again upping their adaptability of men’s fashion for women. A Ennio Morricone’s “A Fistful of Dollars” when social media engagement by live streaming red velvety three-piece suit was worn in turn opened, clearly foreshadowing that the the films. Models in silken pajamas swarmed by both a male, then a female, model. designers Domenico Dolce and Stefano the runway for the finale, bringing sleepwear Booties finished all the looks. Capasa said Gabbana had applied their Sicilian lens to out of the bedroom and onto the street. breaking gender barriers is an idea that drew the Spaghetti Western. The cinematically Silken trousers were worn with thick-knit him into fashion in the 1990s “and I think it is styled collection, titled “Sicilian Western” and sweaters and pajama tops were tucked into coming back.” inspired by Sergio Leone’s popular 1960s straight trousers, completed with a bandan- Bowie, he said, has always been one of his films, had flashes of both of whimsy and na knotted around the neck. icons. On Capasa’s story board backstage danger. Light-hearted repeating motifs of was a Costume National photograph of cacti, crossed revolvers, a mustachioed cow- Super hero Bowie from the early 2000s flanked by two boy and a saloon dancer were embroidered German designer Philipp Plein taps the wild wolves, looking, said the designer “like a or printed on sweaters and shirts, as well as superhero in all men for next fall and winter. Roman emperor. Even the wolves are sub- tailored jackets and suits, three-piece and There’s Bruce Wayne in an elegant tuxedo dued.” “The magic, beside the incredible tal- double-breasted. jacket with a not-so-discreet batman logo, ent of his music, is that everything he A bit more backcountry, a big furry brown carrying a leather backpack strapped to a touched became an icon. That is the mean- coat recalled Leonardo DiCaprio clad in the skateboard. He soon transforms himself into ing of a true artist,” Capasa said. Capasa said skin of the bear that mauled him in “The Batman proper with a gold-embossed he is fighting to protect his own creations Revenant.” There were also bushy lambs- Batman logo on a sweatshirt with quilted against the “vampires” of fast-fashion that wool pants, worn with scoop-neck sweaters shoulders. Luxurious backpacks carry the copy innovation, losing one battle against a or thermal tops. Embroidery is emerging as logos of Captain America and Super Man, copycat’s powerful lawyers. “The only an early trend in Milan, and the designers while Spiderman graces a leather coat. defense I have is creativity,” he said. featured needlework on denim jeans, jackets Models carried leather-clad skateboards

Italian designers Stefano Gabbana (right) and Domenico Dolce greet the audience at the end of their show.

Models wear creations for Philipp Plein men’s Fall-Winter 2016-2017 collection. 39 MONDAY, JANUARY 18, 2016 LIFESTYLE

Fashion

German designer Philipp Plein acknowledges the applause at the end of his men’s Fall-Winter 2016-2017 collection. Models wear creations for Roberto Cavalli.

down a runway dotted with ramps traversed over Norwegian-patterned scarves and clashed with each other, thick over thin on pre-show by professional skateboarders and sweaters, to rich reptile-skin coats and jack- coats and shirts. BMX bikers. ets in contrasting stripes of color worn with Castiglioni used casual necklines, favoring The collection was heavy on leather jack- jeans. V-necks. A castorino fur stole provided seri- ets and trousers, alternating with comfort- A long, sweeping coat draped casually ous closure to a suit. Winter colors included able, textured knitwear. The looks were fin- cool over the shoulders, flowing down into calming blues, military greens, burgundy ished with brimmed hats and studded open-slit arms, both evoked superstars of and mustard. Shoes were neat leather high- footwear. Plein is the master of spectacle, 1960s and ‘70s rock and contrasted pointed- top or low-top sneakers with pronounced and this season invited Lil Wayne to sere- ly with the crystal chandeliers and Canaletto treads in contrasting red and go-anywhere nade the fashion crowd backed by an originals in the Napoleon-era Crespi Palace tan. orchestra and laser show. where the show took place. Discordantly fit- ting, sneakers finished the looks. Repurposed uniforms Rock ‘n roll femininity Rodolfo Paglialunga has reinvented the Peter Dundas’ menswear debut at Easy intimacy uniform for Jil Sander’s next collection. A Roberto Cavalli embraced feminine touches Marni creative director Consuelo high-collared olive-colored wool coat drapes in ways familiarized by Bowie, tempered Castiglioni provided a carefree, easy informally, taking its rigor from a cross-body with masculine features. Sheer shirts menswear silhouette for next winter. Big harness that appears also on suits. Leather adorned with silver beading were paired overcoats had deep slits on the sides to cre- tunics, snapped together in panels, give a with a tweed jacket, or silken floral scarves ate movement, while others were so wide futuristic look, while sleeveless sweaters with knotted below the neck with an open front they recall ponchos. Painter’s shirts provided oversized scarves hint at fragility. The color- polka-dotted shirt and suede jacket, and whimsy with their gathered necklines, unfin- scheme is a disciplined range of khaki, mili- even an embroidered black velour jacket ished hems, and button-down backs, left tary green, gray and black, while fabrics are over corduroy flairs. Winter was a parade of open to reveal layers, and worn with wide stiff, providing definition. — AP luxury, from oversized animal-print furs worn pants that narrow at the ankle. Pinstripes

Models wear creations for fashion house Marni.

Models present creations for fashion house Jil Sander. Dion’s brother dies days after death of her husband

MONDAY, JANUARY 18, 2016 36

JAPAN: Japan’s car accessory company Garson displays the demo car Luxury Crystal Benz, the Mercedes-Benz SL600 with Swarovski crystals on the whole body, at Tokyo Auto Salon 2016 at Makuhari Messe in Chiba on January 15, 2016.—AFP West Bank city’s only church keeps the faith in turbulence ather Eliseev enters the cavernous church, here,” he smiles. Dmitry Dub, a 29-year-old priest, room enough for 200 people, yesterday. explains they rarely have reason to leave the FBut he won’t be giving a sermon today, nor compound. any week in the foreseeable future. Eliseev is “I occasionally walk into town for a shawarma head of the only church in a city where there are (sandwich) or ride my bike,” he said. It wasn’t almost no Christians. His Russian Orthodox Oak always that way. After the church was bought by of Mamre Church is in Hebron in the Palestinian the Russian church in 1868, a small number of West Bank, a city holy to both Muslims and Jews, pilgrims would come-from Russia but also else- but which holds less significance for Christians. where. After the Russian revolution of 1917, reli- Hebron has also been among the areas hardest gion was suppressed and the church fell into the hit by a wave of deadly violence that began in hands of the Russian Orthodox church overseas. October, putting the church even further out of In the late 1990s, after a decades-long dispute consideration for pilgrims who might otherwise between the two rival Russian Orthodox church- be enticed to see the site where tradition says es, Palestinian security forcibly evicted the A general view shows the Oak of Mamre, where Abraham’s Abraham met three angels. monks and nuns and handed it back to repre- mystical meeting is believed to have occurred, outside the But Eliseev, 46 with a round face and beard, sentatives of the Russian Patriarch in Moscow. (PBUH) Russian Orthodox Oak of Mamre Church. argues the lack of Christian interest in the city is mistaken, pointing out that the church’s gardens Christmas at war Larisa Loukianova, a Russian Orthodox woman who married a contain the Oak of Mamre, where Abraham’s On the night of January 6, a Wednesday, Palestinian Muslim and moved to the West Bank city of Hebron 25 mystical meeting is believed to have occurred. Father Eliseev did finally have a rare occasion to years ago, decorates her Christmas tree inside her home in “This is a very sacred place to me,” he says, wear- lead a communion service as the Russian Hebron.—AFP photos ing a long black robe and traditional black Orthodox Church celebrated Christmas. But it klobuk on his head. “The relationship with this came at a fraught time for Hebron. Since monastery is like a relationship with God.” October 1, 152 Palestinians and 23 Israelis have Hebron is in particular known for the site Jews been killed in violence across Israel and the refer to as the Cave of the Patriarchs and Palestinian territories. Over half the Palestinians Muslims as the Ibrahimi Mosque, where the bib- killed have been attackers in a spree of lone-wolf lical Abraham is believed to be buried. assaults, mainly with knives and mostly carried Around 500 Israeli settlers now live near the out by frustrated youths. Around a third of all site protected by an army buffer zone in the incidents have occurred in and around Hebron, Palestinian city of over 200,000, a constant and the Ibrahimi Mosque/Cave of the Patriarchs source of tension and violence. site has seen multiple attacks. Both Israel and the Palestinian territories are In response, Israeli forces have periodically dotted with Christian communities, small pock- stepped up their restrictions on movement, with ets in most cities. But in Hebron that isn’t the night-time raids relatively common. “We are case-Bethlehem, 20 kilometers (12 miles) north, scared,” said Larisa Loukianova, a Russian and Jerusalem, a further eight, are Christianity’s Orthodox who married a Palestinian Muslim and holiest sites, but Hebron has far less importance. moved to Hebron 25 years ago, in front of her Eliseev compared the church’s continued pres- family Christmas tree a few minutes from the ence to some of Abraham’s visits to the city, church. Unlike other churches in the West Bank, Dmitry Dub, one of the six Russian priests living at the Russian including when he overpaid for land where he which are mostly attended by Palestinian Orthodox Oak of Mamre Church. intended to bury his wife Sarah. “People said (to Christians and have often overtly criticized Abraham) ‘Are you crazy, where are you going?’” Israel’s occupation of the territory, Eliseev takes an apolitical line. Speaking before Christmas, he Foreign pilgrims admitted celebrations would be smaller this year The church itself is behind a gate on a “because of the situation”. “But should we (aban- bustling main road. A guard swings it open and don) Christmas? That is wrong. But also to cele- a road winds past the oak to the church-an brate in a big way would be wrong,” he says. imposing stone building with two cross-adorned “You need a middle way, like a Christmas in a domes. Its famous oak looks nearly dead- war.” They needn’t have worried. On the night of propped up by a metal structure behind a fence. the mass, six priests prepared the church for While outside Hebron bustles, on the grounds their guests. Three turned up.—AFP there is near silence. It is called a church, but is closer to a monastery. Neither Eliseev nor the five other Russian priests speak more than a few words of Arabic. They rely on Mohammed, a local Hebron resident who lived in Russia, to translate. Eliseev, who has been at the site since 2010, admits it can feel like they are forgotten. “People forget what this place is and why Father Eliseev, one of the six Russian priests living at the Russian Abraham came here.” But he will remain there Dmitry Dub, one of the six Russian priests living at the Orthodox Oak of Mamre Church. until the church says otherwise. “Maybe I will die Russian Orthodox Oak of Mamre Church.