CIA chief expects more IS attacks in 'pipeline' - Kuwait Times

BEIRUT: Facing military setbacks in itsself-declared caliphate in Syria and Iraqand intensified air strikes from a US-ledcoalition, Islamic State may have decidedin September to take the fight to Franceand elsewhere. The ultra-hardline grouphas frequently threatened to strike insideWestern countries since it establisheditself amid Syria’s civil war and thenspread to northern Iraq last year, but onefighter reached inside Syria said itsspokesman Abu Mohammad Al-Adnanihad issued an instruction to act abroad.

“He sent a written order to all sectors

and security brigades to start moving,including in Lebanon and Turkey,” theSyrian IS fighter said via social mediafrom northern Syria. “Lebanon and Franceand other places are all part of the opera-tions ordered two months ago.” IslamicState has said it was behind Friday’skillings of at least 132 people in Paris inrevenge for France’s air strikes against itas well as twin suicide bombings whichkilled 43 people on Thursday in a Beirutstronghold of Lebanon’s Shiite Hezbollah,which is fighting the group in Syria.

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Govt health insurance for expats to stop in three years?

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No pay, less power: Bahrain sheikh’s FIFA presidency pitch

Marriott buys Starwood Hotels for $12.2 billion

CIA chief expects more

IS attacks in ‘pipeline’US states shun Syrian refugees after Paris carnage

WASHINGTON: CIA director John Brennan warned yes-terday that the attacks in Paris were likely not a “one offevent” and that he expects the Islamic State group hasmore operations in the pipeline. “Security and intelli-gence services right now are working feverishly to seewhat else they can do in terms of uncovering it,” he saidat a Washington think tank. The CIA chief said Fridaynight’s attacks by gunmen in suicide vests in the heart ofthe French capital were carefully planned and executed.

“This was not some-thing done in a matterof days. This is some-thing that was carefullyand deliberatelyplanned over thecourse of severalmonths in terms ofwhether they had theoperatives, theweapons, explosives,suicide belts. I wouldanticipate that this isnot the only operationISIL has in the pipeline,”he said, using an alter-nate acronym for IS,the militant group thathas seized large areas of Syria and Iraq.

At least 129 people were killed in the attacks carriedout by at least eight gunmen nearly simultaneously at astadium, a concert hall and restaurants as throngs ofParisians were enjoying a night out. The attacks were thelatest in a burst of horrific attacks attributed to IS - fol-lowing the apparent bombing October 31 of a Russianairliner over the Sinai with 224 people aboard and twinsuicide bombings that killed 44 people in Beirut onThursday.


John Brennan

PARIS: President Francois Hollande unveiled France’sriposte to Islamic State yesterday after its atrocities inParis, vowing tough new anti-terror measures andintensified bombing of Syria in a historic speech toparliament. Describing the coordinated attacks thatkilled 129 people as “acts of war”, Hollande urged aglobal fightback to crush IS and said he would holdtalks with his US and Russian counterparts on a newoffensive.

Friday’s “acts of war... were decided and plannedin Syria, prepared and organised in Belgium (and)perpetrated on our soil with French complicity,”Hollande told an extraordinary meeting of bothhouses of parliament in Versailles. “The need todestroy Daesh (IS) ... concerns the entire internation-al community,” he told lawmakers, who burst into anemotional rendition of the La Marseillaise nationalanthem after his speech - only the second time inmore than 150 years a French president hasaddressed a joint session of parliament.

On the domestic front, Hollande called for anextension of the state of emergency by three monthsand announced 8,500 new police and judicial jobs tohelp counter terrorism. France and Belgium stageddozens of raids on suspected extremists as the man-hunt continued for an eighth jihadist, including in aknown radical hotspot in Brussels where some of theattackers are thought to have lived. With emotionsrunning high, thousands paused in the streets ofParis for a minute’s silence to remember those killedat nightspots and at the national stadium in theworst-ever attack on French soil.


Hollande outlines fightback against IS

VERSAILLES: French President Francois Hollande and members of parliament sing the French nationalanthem during an exceptional joint gathering of parliament yesterday. — AFP

Newsi n b r i e f

US approves $1.29bn sale of bombs to Saudi Arabia

WASHINGTON: The US government has approved arequest from Saudi Arabia to buy more than 19,000bombs and smart bombs for its air force, the StateDepartment said yesterday. Congress will have to greenlight the deal, but the $1.29 billion sale is likely to gothrough, with Saudi jets in action against rebel forces inYemen. The Defense Security Cooperation Agency saidthe Saudi air force’s arsenal is low “due to the high oper-ational tempo in multiple counter-terrorism operations”.The order includes 5,200 Paveway II laser-guided bombsin their GBU-10 and GBU-12 variants, along with 1,100of the more modern, longer range GBU-24 Paveway III.There are 12,000 general purpose bombs weighingbetween 500 and 2,000 pounds and 1,500 devastating2,000-pound “bunker busters,” the BLU-109 penetrator.These are designed to smash hardened concrete struc-tures. In addition to the bombs themselves, the Saudiswill receive thousands of “tail kits” to convert dumbmunitions into satellite-guided smart bombs.

Some Saudi schools close ahead of rains

RIYADH: Saudi Arabia’s Civil Defense crews haveraised their preparedness levels ahead of expectedheavy rains and thunderstorms as some schools sus-pended classes in some areas along the kingdom’sRed Sea coastline. The schools were closed yesterdayand today. The US Embassy in Riyadh also warnedAmerican citizens that heavy rainfall, high winds andrough seas are expected to last until tomorrow. Thestatement said dust storms could make for danger-ous driving conditions. Areas most likely to be hit bysignificant rainfall include the western regions ofMakkah and Madinah and the northern regions ofTabuk and Jawf. Severe thunderstorms are alsoexpected in southwestern Iraq and eastern Jordan.

40 Islamists on trial in UAE linked to Nusra

ABU DHABI: Forty Islamists charged with attempting tooverthrow the Emirati regime are linked to SyrianIslamist militants and have smuggled in weapons forattacks, a court heard yesterday. The defendants include38 Emiratis, the English-language Gulf News dailyreported in its online version, without giving othernationalities. The trial of the group known as Al-Manaraopened in August at the state security court in AbuDhabi, but the international press is barred from attend-ing. The group smuggled in weapons, ammunition anddetonators “obtained in collaboration with Syria’s AlNusra Front”, an Al-Qaeda affiliate, as well as militants inIran, witnesses told the court, quoted in the daily. Theysaid the suspects planned to overthrow the govern-ment, assassinate leaders, attack malls and hotels andto declare an Islamic state in the Gulf country.

IS takes war to foes after setbacks

This undated image from the Islamic State’s English-language magazine Dabiqshows Belgian national Abdelhamid Abaaoud, who was identified by French authori-ties yesterday as the presumed mastermind of the terror attacks in Paris. — AFP

By B Izzak

KUWAIT: The cassation court yester-day upheld the rulings of the lowerand the appeals courts upholding thegovernment decision to shut down Al-Watan newspaper for failing to fulfillfinancial requirements. The ministry ofcommerce and industry revoked thecommercial license of the newspaperin January after it lost more than 75percent of its capital. The action wasfollowed by the information ministrywithdrawing the media license of thenewspaper after it lost its commercialstatus.

The lower court supported the gov-ernment’s decision and this was con-firmed by the court of appeals. Ownersof Al-Watan then challenged the rul-ings at the cassation court, whose rul-ings are final. The newspaper is ownedby former oil and finance ministerSheikh Ali Al-Khalifa Al-Sabah, a mem-ber of the ruling family. Since its clo-sure in January, the daily stopped pub-lishing its print edition and has been

updating its electronic website aftersubstantially reducing its content.Authorities in June also shut down Al-Watan satellite TV, which is part of thesame organization, citing similar rea-sons.

In another development, NationalAssembly Speaker Marzouk Al-Ghanem said yesterday that thegrilling filed by MP Saadoun Hammadagainst Minister of Public Works andElectricity and Water Ahmad Al-Jassaris constitutional. He said the grillinghas been placed on the agenda of theDec 1 session for a possible debate.Jassar has tendered his resignation tothe government, which has not yetmade any decision on it, but the minis-ter has been away from office. Ghanemsaid the government has three optionsto deal with the issue. It can eitheraccept his resignation and the grillingends, the minister ends his holiday andcomes back, or he can ask for thegrilling to be delayed for a certainduration.


Top court affirms

closure of Watan

MP asks about surplus funds

DUBAI: Banks in the United Arab Emirates are work-ing together to try to stem the number of small busi-ness owners fleeing the country with unpaid debt, atrend that has already reached around 5 billiondirhams ($1.4 bln) this year, a senior banking officialsaid. Small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) havecome under pressure in recent months amid a gradualdrying up of liquidity in the banking system due tothe weak oil price and slowing economic growth.

As a result, some business people have chosen to“skip” the country, leaving behind unpaid debt, a situ-ation that bankers say has grown significantly fromlast year, although they did not provide precise fig-ures. In a country where under existing legislation, abounced cheque risks landing the issuer in jail, many

of those absconding fear the consequences if theystay.

“We want to take coordinated action on risk man-agement,” UAE Banks Federation chairman Abdul AzizAl-Ghurair told reporters on the sidelines of a bankingconference yesterday. “The idea is to allow the cus-tomer to pay for his debt and stay in town if they havea good intention. If they don’t have a good intention,then it is no good (the bank) spending time (withthem), it doesn’t help.”

In recent years, the UAE government has beenkeen to encourage banks to lend to SMEs, whichaccount for around 60 percent of the country’s grossdomestic product. But third-quarter earnings fromsome of the smaller lenders pointed to problems in

these loans. UAE central bank governor MubarakRashid Al-Mansouri, at the same conference earlieryesterday, said the government was keen to pressahead with a new bankruptcy law to help supportSMEs.

Current bankruptcy rules are considered bylawyers to be outdated and largely untested, withfew struggling companies using the legislation. Thecabinet approved a draft law in July but it still needsthe support of the Federal National Council, thecountry ’s legislative body, and the president.Mansouri also said the UAE would set up a creditguarantee scheme to help reduce the risk of defaultfor potential lenders. He didn’t elaborate on the spe-cific details of the plan. — Reuters

More than $1bn in ‘skips’ hit UAE banks

L O C A LTUESDAY, NOVEMBER 17, 2015

KUWAIT: For the third consecutive year,Microsoft was a key participant of the E-Government Forum (EGOV3). Microsoftwas Platinum Sponsor of the forum, heldfrom 15th to 17th November 2015 atArraya Ballroom, Courtyard Marriotthotel, Kuwait.

During EGOV3, the Microsoft teamshowcased how Microsoft is helpingclients plan for, endorse, and benefitfrom the trends affecting the way busi-ness is done and phenomena’s like cloudcomputing, big data and analytics,mobility, and social networking along-side its technology partner Diyar UnitedCompany.

Commenting on this participation,Charles Nahas, General Manager,Microsoft Kuwait, said, “Microsoft’s com-mitment to EGOV3 stems from our com-mitment to Kuwait, and the fact that wesee ourselves as business enablers to thegovernment, businesses, and individualsin the nation. EGOV3 is a trigger formany information technology initiativesand programs that will aid the Kuwaitigovernment’s transformation plans intothe digital era. At Microsoft, we areproud to participate with our best tech-nical and leadership teams, are excitedabout our partnership with CAIT to makeEGOV3 a success.”

He further added: “This is by far oneof the most notable IT event in Kuwait.We hope that we can make EGOV3 aknowledge sharing platform where we,as an industry, can exchange ideas andbuild connections. Our customers arethe key drivers of our innovation, and itis our responsibility to showcase tech-nology advances and educate each oth-

er on trends and industry directions.”During the Forum, Diyar United

Company showcased its cloud comput-ing services including disaster recovery,device management (on mobiles, tabletsand PCs), and backup solutions usingMicrosoft platforms. Diyar also show-cased a selection of its self-serviceskiosks using smart civil ID, which canenable innovative, safe, easy-to-use serv-ices for all segments of society. Apartfrom the showcase, Diyar conducted asession focused on Public KeyInfrastructure (PKI) for E-GovernmentServices and its benefits.

One step aheadBashar Atout, CEO, Diyar United

Company said: “Along with Microsoft, weat Diyar United Company are very proud

to be a part of this EGOV3 Forum for thethird consecutive year. In order to adaptto changes of technologies’ fast-pacedenvironment, leaders of technological

industries and entities must stay a stepahead. The forum is an event we lookforward to every year as the value ofknowledge gained cannot be taken forgranted. Our sponsorship demonstratesour committed support to help developand progress national information andcommunication security in Kuwait. Weare looking forward to continue our suc-cessful partnership with the governmentof the state of Kuwait through identify-ing the trends that are evident in the ITindustry now.”

EGOV3 tracks Information manage-ment and Information Security which arethe two essential ingredients of e-gov-ernment programs and any automationpractice. Microsoft has a strong legacy ofrobust technologies, consulting services,and business practices around informa-

tion management and security to helpgovernments and enterprises. Microsoftis proud that Kuwaiti government agen-cies have endorsed Microsoft technolo-gies for e-government programs beingdeveloped by the Central Agency forInformation Technology. A number ofgovernment departments in Kuwaitalready use Microsoft Cloud Azure andOffice365 platform as their office collab-oration and messaging systems. Thoughthis step is aligned with future technolo-gy trends, it only came after rigorousdue diligence exercise through whichthe government departments couldascertain the robustness and relevanceof Microsoft’s cloud offering, and that itnegates any IT security uncertainties thathave traditionally accompanied cloudimplementations.

Microsoft, Diyar United outline game changingtechnologies for gov’ts, enterprises during EGOV3

Sanjay Jacob is awarded during the event. Sanjay Jacob, Global Head, Cloud and Enterprise, Worldwide Public Sector at Microsoft

Charles Nahas, General Manager,Microsoft Kuwait

KUWAIT: As the modern states are growinglyreliant on information technology to provide betterand timely services, Kuwait is intensifying efforts tobuild its information society, His Highness the PrimeMinister Sheikh Jaber Al-Mubarak Al-Hamad Al-Sabah said.

Building information society paves the way forsignificant development in different aspects ofmodern life and helps states secure decent life fortheir citizenry, so Kuwait is forging ahead with itsplans for the development of the information sec-tor, Sheikh Jaber said in a speech read out on hisbehalf by Minister of State for Cabinet Affairs andthe Chairman of the Central Agency for InformationTechnology Sheikh Mohammad Abdullah Al-Sabahat the inaugural session of the Third E-governmentForum (EGOV3 Forum).

He went on to say that e-government programsare one of the main tools of modern states toupgrade their services. He added that the forum,held under the patronage of His Highness the PrimeMinister and themed “Information Managementand Security,” focuses on the security threats facingthe information society due to the growing infor-mation systems hacking and piracy problems.

Any breakdown or hacking of the informationsystems of the security and border crossings or thewiretapping of the phone calls is a major threat tothe whole state and should be prevented, hestressed. The forum provides a great chance to putin place and develop Kuwait’s e-government pro-grams, he said. He promised that the governmentwould offer support and meet all the requirementsto materialize the forum goals. He urged participat-ing agencies to do their best to help make Kuwait’sfuture more secure and prosperous.

Information societyMeanwhile, the Forum Chairman Abdullateef Al-

Suraie said that working to build an informationsociety is one of the main signs of the real develop-ment in modern states. Information security is animportant element for securing Kuwait society andthe state development march, he said, stressing theneed of beefing up efforts to counter the piracy andhacking operations. The e-government programsfocus on information management and availabilityof information in the required time which have agreat impact on the decision-making process in anyinstitution, he said. He reiterated that informationsecurity is important for the state national securityas well as economic and social stability. It is of agreat importance to address systems loopholes toavoid any hacking and stealing of personal, bank-ing, health information or the state secrets, he said.

Suraie underlined the need for cooperation andcoordination among all state agencies to addressthe growing challenges in this regard.

World-class services Mike Weston, CISCO’s Vice President and Middle

East Regional Director also spoke at the event. Hesaid that Kuwait is well-placed and qualified forachieving the optimal benefit from the internet inproviding world-class services to various domains.

Kuwait also is able to take effective initiatives touse the new generation of internet services, he saidin a speech. Weston pointed out that the use ofsmart technology would help the Kuwaiti govern-ment cut spending, increase productivity, diversify-ing income resources and providing distinguishedservices to citizens. Weston also advised govern-ment agencies to develop software applications toprovide better, time and cost-effective services.

Meanwhile, EMC Vice President and Gulf andPakistan Regional General Manager HabibMahakian said the cloud service and big data arethe main pillars of the smart cities across the globeas they boost efficiency and availability of e-gov-ernment services.

EMC is a global leader in enabling businessesand service providers to transform their operationsand deliver information technology as a service(ITaaS). Mahakian noted that the e-governmentservices help create job opportunities, harness theskills of human resources and boosting economicdevelopment plans.

General Manager of IBM Middle East andPakistan Amr Refaat said that the investment incloud computing, big data analysis, and socialnetworking systems would improve efficiencyand creativity of public and private companies. Hepointed out that the world is undergoing a pro-gramming revolution that necessitates hugeefforts to cope with.

Manpower developmentMeanwhile, General Manager of Microsoft

Kuwait Charles Nahas stressed that Microsoft is

committed to cooperation with Kuwaiti govern-ment to develop information technology infrastruc-ture and encouraging invention and creativitythrough the technological solutions it offers. Hestated that Microsoft help Kuwait develop the skillsof national cadres in charge of information technol-ogy sectors.

In the meantime, Regional Vice-President-MEFortinet Alain Penel said that the information secu-rity threats to the government agencies is one ofthe major challenges facing the governmentaround the world. He underlined the urgency offinding effective solutions to such threats.

Penel cautioned that these threats are no longeraccidental, but rather deliberate and smart as manyare trying to infiltrate into the stored data for differ-ent purposes. Failing to discover such hacking oper-ations at the appropriate time has grave ramifica-tions, he added.

The three-day forum, themed “InformationManagement and Security,” focuses on the securitythreats facing the information society due to thegrowing information systems hacking and piracyproblems. It lured a large number of informationmanagement and security experts and representa-tives from diverse government agencies to mullrange of information management and securitytechnologies and solutions to help governmentsprovide leading-edge, thought-leadership, and avaluable information-sharing opportunity on BigData, Data Warehousing, business Intelligence.

The conferees will also explore new informationmanagement and information security develop-ments that will impact E-Government programdevelopment and deployment; means to improveproductivity, efficiency and effectiveness with cur-rent technologies and best-practice solutions, andthe best practices to protect information assets; andpresent new approaches and solutions for informa-tion management and security. — KUNA

Kuwait forging ahead towards buildinginformation society: Prime Minister

‘Kuwait well-placed for optimal provision of e-services’

KUWAIT: VIVA, Kuwait’s fastest-growing andmost developed telecom operator, announcedits sponsorship of the 51st annual nationalconference of the National Union of KuwaitiStudents (NUKS) - United Kingdom and Irelandbranch (UK), under the patronage of PrimeMinister, His Highness Sheikh Jaber MubarakAl-Hamad Al-Sabah. The event will be held atthe Queen Elizabeth Hall, Southbank Centre inLondon on 20 and 21 November 2015.

VIVA sponsors the national annual confer-ence of the NUKS - UK and Ireland branch, for

the third year in a row. This event gathersyoung Kuwaitis studying abroad in variousBritish and Irish cities in a fun academic, cul-tural, and social atmosphere. VIVA endeavorsto support and sponsor various events and ini-tiatives that interest students and enrich theirexperience and knowledge.”

Kuwaiti celebrities and public figures willattend the annual conference working in cul-ture, sport and art domains that gathers morethan five thousands students in UK andIreland.

VIVA sponsors the 51st NUKSUK, Ireland Annual Conference

Yousuf Al-Marzouq, General Manager of NoufEXPO, the event’s organizers (center), honorsSheikh Mohammad Al-Abdullah Al-Sabah.

KUWAIT: Sheikh Mohammad Al-Abdullah Al-Sabah delivers a speech on behalf of HisHighness the Prime Minister Sheikh Jaber Al-Mubarak Al-Sabah at the inaugural session ofthe Third E-government Forum. — Photos byYasser Al-Zayyat and KUNA

KUWAIT: This file photo shows an activity from Kuwait’s Fifth Heritage Festival heldlast year at Sabah Al-Ahmad Heritage Village. — KUNA

KUWAIT: Kuwait ’s SixthHeritage Festival, patronizedby His Highness the AmirSheikh Sabah Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah, kicks off todayat Sabah Al-Ahmad HeritageVillage, with participation ofheritage devotees from Kuwaitand other Gulf states.

The General Supervisor ofthe festival, Amiri DiwanAdvisor Mohammad DhaifallahSharar, in press remarks yester-day, expressed pride of HisHighness the Amir’s sponsor-ship for this event, expressinggratitude to His Highness theAmir for the great support andcare “to one of the most impor-tant rallies of heritage admirersin Kuwait and the Gulf region.”

The festival witnesses thisyear a quantum leap withdiverse activities and competi-tions of beauty and enduranceof goats, horses, falcons,besides the marine heritageheld at fishermen “diwans”, headded.

Vice Director of theFestival’s Higher committeeand head of the festival’s com-petitions committee, SheikhSabah Fahad Sabah Al-Sabah,said the jury of each competi-tion were chosen according tohigh qualifications of efficiencyand integrity. — KUNA

Kuwait’s Sixth HeritageFestival kicks off today

Mohammad Dhaifallah Sharar

Sheikh Sabah Fahad Sabah Al-Sabah

KUWAIT: Kuwait’s first social networks con-ference ‘#Kuwait ’ will be an excellentopportunity to allow prominent experts inthe field of social media to shed light onthe growing importance of social media onday-to-day life, Minister of Information andMinister of State for Youth Affairs SheikhSalman Sabah Salem Al-Humoud Al-Sabahsaid yesterday.

Sheikh Salman told KUNA that the con-ference will take place on December 6-7under a sponsorship of his Ministry and asupport from the public sector. The confer-ence will be the avenue for discussing thepositive utilization of social media andtechnology to serve the society

The event will include workshops andinteractive seminars on electronic mediarole in dealing with crises, social networks

in marketing, online volunteerism, andextremism, electronic crimes and freedomof speech. — KUNA

‘#Kuwait’ conference utilizessocial media to serve society

Sheikh Salman Al-Humoud Al-Sabah


KUWAIT: Deputy Foreign Minister Khaled Al-Jarallah said that the series of terror attacks thatrocked the French capital Friday have provedthat terrorism is a global phenomenon andinnocent people anywhere are targets for terror-ists.

“Paris terror attacks vindicated our convictionthat all of us are targeted and that terrorism is aglobal phenomenon,” Jarallah said in a state-ment to reporters on the sidelines of his partici-pation in the Palestinian Embassy’s celebrationof Palestine’s 27th Declaration of Independence.

“The world is in an open war with terrorismand that war will not stop till defeating it,” hesaid, pointing out that Kuwait has expressed itsheartfelt sympathy over the tragedy and solidar-ity with the friendly country France.

“Such attacks will only increase French peo-ple’s resolute and determination on combatingterrorism,” Jarallah said. He recalled that HisHighness the Amir Sheikh Sabah Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah and Saudi King Salman binAbdulaziz Al-Saud have underlined the need tointensify international efforts to eradicate terror-ism in their cables to the French PresidentFrancois Hollande following the attacks.

Vienna talksMeanwhile, Jarallah said that Vienna-hosted

talks on Syria have reached some kind of com-promise over the future of Syria. “What wasleaked about the outcome of the talks indicatesthat there was some sort of joint vision amongparticipants on the future and solutions of theSyrian crisis,” Jarallah told reporters. He, however,said that resolving the conflict requires moreconsultations to persuade various parties of anycompromise. He pointed out other meetingswould be held to build up on the achievementsof the two previous ones.

On His Highness the Amir Sheikh Sabah Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah’s recent visit to Russia,Jarallah said that it was “historic and an impor-tant step in the Kuwait-Russian relations.” “TheRussian side was “eager to listen to the view andvision of His Highness the Amir regarding thedevelopments in the region, and they indeed lis-

tened very carefully to this view,” he said, addingthat “the Kuwaiti side also listened to the visionof the Russian side which was headed byPresident Vladimir Putin.”

Jarallah said Kuwait and Russia shared theview that the Syrian conflict should be resolvedpeacefully. He said last week’s visit to the Russianresort city of Sochi was “constructive and fruit-ful,” resulting in the signing of cooperationagreements in diplomatic, military, oil, cultural,investment and transport domains. The visit wasan opportunity to exchange views over thethreat of terrorism, said Jarallah.

Palestinian causeDuring the event, Jarallah reaffirmed Kuwait’s

firm support to the fair cause of Palestine, andthe legitimate struggle of Palestinians for self-determination and statehood.

“Kuwait always stands by the Palestinian peo-

ple in their political struggle, supported thePalestinian revolution and contributes to theefforts being made to revive the Middle Eastpeace process and reach a fair, permanent andcomprehensive solution to the Palestiniancause,” he said.

“The leaders of the Palestinian revolutionstarted their drive from Kuwait and continuedtheir legitimate struggle for liberation over thelast decades,” he pointed out. He added thatpreparations are underway for holding the ses-sion of the Kuwaiti-Palestinian joint commissionwhich will discuss a host of political issues,including the Arab lobbying for Palestinianstatehood. The Palestinian Declaration ofIndependence was proclaimed by late presidentYasser Arafat during the 19th PalestinianNational Council - the legislative body of thePalestine Liberation Organization (PLO), onNovember 15, 1988. — KUNA

Paris attacks prove ‘all of us aretargets for terrorists’ - Jarallah‘Vienna talks reached some sort of agreement over Syria’s future’

KUWAIT: Deputy Foreign Minister Khaled Al-Jarallah (right), Palestinian Ambassador to Kuwait RamiTahboub (center) and the ambassador’s wife Rima Al-Khaledi attend the Palestinian Embassy’s cele-bration of Palestine’s 27th Declaration of Independence. — Photos by Fouad Al-Shaikh

KUWAIT: His Highness the Prime Minister Sheikh Jaber Al-Mubarak Al-Sabah chairsyesterday’s cabinet meeting. — KUNA

KUWAIT: The cabinet yesterday sharplycondemned recent attacks in Paris, whichleft 129 people killed and 352 otherswounded. At its weekly meeting chaired byHis Highness the Prime Minister SheikhJaber Mubarak Al-Hamad Al-Sabah, thecabinet offered sincere condolences toFrench President Francois Hollande and thepeople of France over the victims of theattacks that targeted several sites in Paris,Minister of State for Cabinet Affairs SheikhMohammad Abdullah Al-Mubarak Al-Sabah said in a press statement followingthe meeting.

The cabinet denounced such criminalacts that run counter with all heavenly reli-gions and human values, while reiteratingKuwait’s support to France’s measures tomaintain its security and stability. It alsocondemned recent attacks in Beirut, andsupported all measures taken by theLebanese government to ensure the coun-try’s security and stability. It reaffirmedKuwait’s condemnation of all forms andmanifestations of terrorism, wishing thoseinjured in the attacks swift recovery.

Amir’s visitAt the onset of the meeting, the minis-

ters welcomed His Highness the Amir’sreturn following his recent official visit toRussia where he had held official talks withPresident Vladimir Putin. In this context,First Deputy Prime Minister and ForeignMinister Sheikh Sabah Al-Khaled Al-HamadAl-Sabah briefed the ministers on the out-comes of talks which focused on existingeconomic, investment, oil and militarycooperation, the Middle East and anti-ter-rorism efforts.

The cabinet lauded mutual under-standing, friendship and existing goodrelations between Kuwait and Russia,voicing willingness to raise them up tothe level that could fulfill the ambitions ofboth countries’ people.

His Highness the Prime Minister thenapprised the cabinet of the outcomes ofthe fourth Arab-South America summitrecently held in Riyadh, noting that bilat-eral relations have been largely devel-oped over the last 10 years in all realms.He said bilateral economic, cultural, edu-cational and technological cooperationhad been discussed during the Riyadhsummit. His Highness the Premierthanked Saudi King Salman bin Abdulazizfor hospitality and the proper and suc-cessful organizing of the summit.

Jaber StadiumAfterwards, First Deputy Prime Minister

and Foreign Minister Sheikh Sabah Al-Khaled Al-Hamad Al-Sabah briefed the cab-inet on a recent inspection tour made by aministerial committee he leads, to theJaber Al-Ahmad International Stadium inorder to check on preparations for theopening of the stadium officially. He hailedthe stadium as a sports edifice that fulfillsworld development specifications andstandards, and appreciated the efforts ofthe Amiri Diwan, Public Authority forSports and other concerned state bodies inthis regard.

The cabinet congratulated Omani SultanQaboos bin Said on the occasion of hiscountry’s National Day, hailing the distin-guished achievements accomplished underhis leadership in all fields. — KUNA

Cabinet condemnsParis, Beirut attacks

KUWAIT: The Health Ministry will contin-ue sending patients to France to receivemedical treatment despite the latest Parisattacks, Ministry of Health UndersecretaryDr Khaled Al-Sehlawi stressed yesterday.The Ministry of Health has not receivedany instructions for stopping sendingpatients to France, Sehlawi told the press,after attending a parliamentary commit-tee for social and health affairs, notingthat there are still patients receiving treat-ment in France at the moment.

On the spread of swine flu at schools,Sehlawi clarified that according to WorldHealth Organization (WHO) swine flu ismerely a seasonal flu. He added that it isnormal that flu swiftly spreads amongstudents, reassuring that there is nothingto fear. The committee meeting also dis-cussed health insurance for retirees,pointing out that there are two insurancecompanies that will take over this file andit will be completed within the next fewmonths. — KUNA KUWAIT: Minister of State for Cabinet Affairs

Sheikh Mohammad Al-Abdullah Al-Mubarak Al-Sabah said yesterday that a big sports event wouldbe held at Jaber Al-Ahmad International Stadiumby year-end at the behest of His Highness the Amirand His Highness the Crown Prince.

Speaking to KUNA on the sidelines of yester-day’s cabinet meeting, the minister said: “We areplanning to hold a sports event at Jaber Al-AhmadInternational Stadium by year-end.”

A ministerial committee, chaired by First DeputyPrime Minister and Foreign Minister Sheikh SabahAl-Khaled Al-Hamad Al-Sabah inspected on Sundaythe international stadium, which fulfills high speci-fications and technology and is supplied withsophisticated equipment, facilities and safety andsecurity systems.

T h e c o m m i t t e e s a i d a g r a n d c e re m o nywould be organized for the opening of theKuwaiti stadium. The committee comprisesMinister of Information and Minister of Statefor Youth Affairs Sheikh Salman Sabah SalemAl-Humoud Al-Sabah, Minister of State forCabinet Affairs Sheikh Mohammad Al-AbdullahAl-Mubarak Al-Sabah, Director-General of thePubl ic Authorit y for Spor ts Sheik h AhmadM a n s o u r A l - A h m a d A l - S a b a h a n d s e n i o rauthority officials.

Latest technologyOn Sunday, Sheikh Sabah Al-Khaled said Jaber

International Stadium was built in line with interna-tional standards and was equipped with latesttechnology. Sheikh Sabah Al-Khaled, who chaired aministerial committee inspecting the stadium, toldreporters that he was happy with what he has seenin the venue, which was equipped with modernsafety and security systems. He thanked the AmiriDiwan, Minister of Information and Minister ofState for Youth Affairs Sheikh Salman Al-Sabah andthe Public Authority for Sports (PAS) for contribut-ing to the Jaber stadium.

Sheikh Salman Al-Humoud Al-Sabah said mean-while that the political leadership was keen on sup-porting the sport sector through the developmentof sport facilities. He thanked all authorities fortheir efforts to make Jaber stadium, named afterlate Amir Sheikh Jaber Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah, ready to host sport events.

Sheikh Salman said that Kuwaitis “can beproud that the stadium was among the best inthe Middle East technically wise.” He said the sta-dium encountered some technical and adminis-trative problems “but this chapter is over now.”Minister of State for Cabinet Affairs SheikhMohammad Abdullah Al-Sabah said “once theinternational ban on Kuwait sport is lifted, we will

seek to host international teams to play in thisstadium.”

9 out of 10PAS Director General Sheikh Ahmad Mansour

Al-Sabah expressed gratitude for His Highness theAmir, His Highness the Crown Prince and HisHighness the Prime Minister for their relentlesssupport for sport and sport projects. He said a del-egation from the world’s football governing body(FIFA) rated the Jaber stadium nine out of 10. PASDeputy Director General Dr Hmoud Fulaiteh saidthe authority’s sport facilities sector completed themaintenance of the Jaber stadium which has thusbecome ready to host games. Jaber InternationalStadium, 12 kilometers southwest of Kuwait City, isbuilt over 400,000 square meters and can house60,000 fans. The stadium, which looks like a sailship from the outside, is equipped with LEDscreens and spider cams, and is the only stadium inthe Middle East with a Goal Control technology.

Fans will be able to select their seats when theybuy the tickets, and the stadium is equipped withscreening machines for bags, monitoring camerasof parking lots and seating areas, as well as specialrooms for firemen, policeman and paramedics. Thestadium has 300 seats for the disabled, rooms forthe press and news conferences. — KUNA

Big sports event to be held at JaberStadium by year’s end: Cabinet minister

Sheikh Sabah Al-Khaled commends stadium

KUWAIT First Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister SheikhSabah Al-Khaled Al-Sabah (fourth from right) and senior governmentofficials are pictured during a tour at Jaber Stadium Sunday night.

Minister of Information and Minister of State for Youth Affairs Sheikh SalmanAl-Humoud Al-Sabah drives a golf cart carrying senior government officialsduring a tour at Jaber Stadium Sunday night. — Photo by Fouad Al-Shaikh

Health Ministry continues to sendpatients to France despite attacks

KUWAIT/ABU DHABI: National AssemblySpeaker Marzouq Al-Ghanem yesterday reit-erated his strong condemnation of the ter-rorist attacks that targeted Paris on Friday. Hesaid that His Highness the Amir SheikhSabah Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah was oneof the first world leaders to condemn the ter-rorist attacks.

Ghanem added in a press statement atthe Assembly that he was among the world’sfirst parliament speakers who condemnedthe attacks, disapproved by all faiths, notonly as a National Assembly Speaker, butalso as a President of the Arab Inter-parlia-mentary Union (AIPU). The speaker pointedout that it is “unfair and unacceptable” to linkterrorism to the religion of Islam.

Most leaders are certain that the Parisattacks had nothing to do with Islam andthat Muslims, especially in France, will bearthe brunt, the Speaker said, noting that“Zionist media” is promoting lies and allega-tions throwing responsibility of the terrorist

attacks on Islam and Muslims. Islam decriessuch acts, he said, stressing the necessity offurther global cooperation to counter terror-ism. Failure to combat terrorism in the regionwill lead to explosions that will be felt inworld capitals, Ghanem said. Terrorism is across-border industry and nowhere aroundthe globe is safe from it. A series of concur-rent attacks hit the French capital late onFriday killing 129 people and wounding 352others.

UAE visitLater yesterday, Ghanem met with Abu

Dhabi Crown Prince, Deputy SupremeCommander of the UAE Armed ForcesMohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan in AbuDhabi yesterday. During the meeting, theydiscussed several regional issues of mutualinterest and Kuwait-UAE relations, theassembly’s secretariat said in a statement.Ghanem arrived in the UAE earlier in the dayfor a short visit. — KUNA

Parliament Speaker renewscondemnation of Paris attacks

ABU DHABI: National Assembly Speaker Marzouq Al-Ghanem meets with Abu DhabiCrown Prince, Deputy Supreme Commander of the UAE Armed Forces Mohammedbin Zayed Al Nahyan. — KUNA

KUWAIT: National AssemblySpeaker Marzouq Ali Al-Ghanem expressed yesterdaydeep sorrow and grief over thedeath of the iconic parliamen-tary personality Yousef KhaledAl-Mekhled Al-Mutairi, the for-mer member of theConstituent Assembly-the firstlegislative body to be formedin the country.

The deceased was one ofprominent Kuwaiti figures wholoved their country and servedit sincerely, Ghanem said in astatement, emphasizingMekhled’s unforgettable serv-ices for Kuwait. History willalways remember Mekhled’s persistent effortsand hard work for his country, he said, notinghis demise “is a loss for Kuwait for his longrecord of national and political services forthe homeland.

Mekhled, one of Kuwait’s veteran legisla-

tors, passed away yesterday.The deceased was an iconicparliamentary personality whohad worked with fellowactivists, many years ago, forlaying the country’s basis ofdemocracy and ‘constitutionallife.’

One of his major initialpolitical activities was his par-ticipation in the formation ofthe “constituent council,” fol-lowing Kuwait’s Independence.He had served in up to five leg-islative assemblies. Mekhled,born in Sharq in 1923, was amember of the first legislativebody, the “constituent council”

between 1962 and 1963. When the NationalAssembly (the Parliament) was establishedreplacing the council, Mekhled served asmember in the 1963-1967, 1967-1970, 1971-1975, 1975-1976 and 1985-1986 legislativeterms. — KUNA

Parliament Speaker eulogizesformer Constituent Assembly MP

The late Yousef Khaled Al-Mekhled Al-Mutairi


By Hanan Al-Saadoun

KUWAIT: Two people sustained burns andbruises after an explosion shattered theirapartment in Salmiya. Their conditionswere later described as stable. A prelimi-nary investigation indicated that a gas leakcaused the explosion. The tenants hadreportedly switched the lights on, whichprovided the spark that set apartment onfire, according to investigations. The build-ing was evacuated before firefighters man-aged to extinguish the flames. A team ofspecialists later arrived to the scene anddetermined that the building needs to

remain evacuated for at least a month forsafety reasons, saying that the explosionmay have damaged its foundations. Basedon that, all tenants were told to stay awayfrom the building until further notice. In aseparate incident, Hawally and Salmiya firecenters responded to a call about a fire in aJabriya apartment. The fire was put outquickly and no injuries were reported.

Vice crimesElectronic crimes’ combating police

arrested an Iraqi man for uploading videoclips on YouTube that include insults andurging the commitment of vice crimes.

KUWAIT: The picture shows a fourth-storey apartment heavily damaged fol-lowing an explosion yesterday.

Explosion forces tenantsout of Salmiya buildingTwo people injured in fire

Firefighters tackle a blaze reported in Jabriya yesterday.

By Meshaal Al-Enezi

KUWAIT: Acting director of the ManpowerPublic Authority Ahmed Al-Mousa said that hehad recently met Interior Ministry’s AssistantUndersecretary for Passports and ResidencyAffairs Major General Sheikh Mazen Al-Jarrah Al-Sabah, adding that they both agreed on a num-ber of suggestions to organize the labor market.Moussa explained that the suggestions includ-ed allocating police detective offices at somelabor departments with the aim of having morecontrol over visa issuance and detecting anyviolations. He added that the suggestions alsoincluded following up on suspended companiesto set special mechanisms to deal with theworkers registered with them, in addition toabsconders.

In another development, informed sourcessaid that on instructions from Minister of SocialAffairs and Labor, Minister Hind Al-Subaih,Kuwait Municipality’s Acting Director Ahmad Al-Manfouhi visited the Hawally labor departmentto handle the problem of lack of staff, by trans-ferring some employees from other over-staffeddepartments.

Court orderThe criminal court yesterday acquitted for-

mer MP Mubarak Al-Duwailah in a state securitycase and charges of slandering Egypt. The courtalso decided abstaining from punishing NasserAl-Duwailah and Dr Tareq Suwaidan over thesame charges. Meanwhile, lawyer Mutlaq Al-Jed’ee recently filed a case against journalistBader Al-Musa’eed, accusing him of slander.

Camping sitesKuwait Munic ipal i t y ’s Ac t ing Direc tor

Ahmad Al-Manfouhi said that four new camp-ing locations would be open for campingafter coordinating with relevant authoritiesto make sure they were not close to any oil,mi l i tar y or power faci l i t ies. Notably, themunicipality had stressed that camping wasopen for both citizens and expats accordingto regulations.

Municipal CouncilThe Municipal Council once more reduced

the number of its committees’ members fromnine to seven in order to achieve the quorumneeded for each committee to convene,especially in view of the withdrawal of somemembers.

Manpower authority, interiorministry discuss labor market

Citizenship withdrawalcould happen to anyone: Bargash

By A Saleh

KUWAIT: Protesters held a sit-in at the diwaniya offormer MP Abdullah Al-Barghash on Sunday night toexpress solidarity with him and protest the with-drawal of Kuwaiti citizenship from him and his familymembers. The sit-in was attended by a number offormer MPs who stressed that withdrawingBarghash’s citizenship was unlawful. “Somebodyclaimed that our citizenships were fake...I am readyto be executed or go to jail, but my family has noth-ing to do with it,” said Barghash, noting that whathappened was the result of a dispute and that thismeans that any citizen could lose his citizenshipbecause of disputes. The appeals court last weekoverturned a lower court verdict ordering the gov-ernment to reinstate Barghash’s citizenship and ruledthat it was not competent under the law to handlesovereign issues. The government revoked the citi-zenship of the former Islamist lawmaker along with56 members of his family.

Investing in co-opsThe Fatwa and Legislation Department approved

a request by the Ministry of Social Affairs and Laborto allow private sector companies to invest in someco-op stores. Informed sources said that once theneeded procedures are completed, the new projectwould be experimentally put into practice at Jleeband Dasma co-ops that were already having finan-cial problems and are indebted by millions.

Jabri in YemenSpeaker of the Arab Parliament MP Mohammed

Al-Jabri visited the Arab coalition troop headquartersin Aden in Yemen after it was liberated from theHouthis. “We are here today to express full support tothe ‘Restoring Hope’ operation led by Saudi Arabia tohelp subject all Yemeni territories to Yemeni sover-eignty,” he said, expressing strong belief that Yemenwould come out this dilemma victorious.

CorrectionKUWAIT: The picture above was published in Kuwait Times’ November16th issue under ‘Photo of the day,’ and the caption mistakenly referred toJamal Abdul Nasser Road shown in the picture as ‘Jahra Road.’ We apolo-gize for the error.

ABU DHABI: Kuwait ’s Deputy Pr imeMinister and Minister of Interior SheikhMohammad Al-Khaled Al-Hamad Al-Sabah met with Kuwaitis studying in dif-ferent universities in the UAE. During themeeting late Sunday, Sheikh Mohammadconveyed the greetings of His Highness

the Amir Sheikh Sabah Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah, His Highness the CrownPrince Sheikh Nawaf Al-Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah and His Highness thePrime Minister Sheikh Jaber Al-MubarakAl-Sabah to the Kuwaiti students.

Sheik h M ohammad ca l led on the

s t u d e n t s t o e xe r t h u g e e f fo r t s t oachieve success in their studies, addingthat students in military schools have ahigher responsibility in representingK u w a i t i n t h e b e s t w a y s p o s s i b l e .Moreover, the minister also discussedthe di f f icul t ies fac ing students and

means of resolving them.Sheikh Mohammad is visiting the UAE

to participate in the second internationalsummit on protecting children againstc yber abuse held on Monday andTuesday with the participation of repre-sentatives of about 50 countries. —KUNA

ABU DHABI: Kuwait’s Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Interior Sheikh Mohammad Al-Khaled Al-Sabah meets Kuwaitis studying in different universi-ties in the UAE. —KUNA

Interior Minister meets Kuwaiti students in UAE

KUWAIT: The 6th Islamic and Financial InstitutionsConference kicked off here on Monday, seeking torestore the leading role of Islamic economy,President of the event Dr Ojail Al-Nashmi told theopening session. The conference will also try hardto counter the challenges facing the application ofIslamic financial tools as a “top priority,” he added.

According to Nashmi, Islamic economy has tran-scended the introduction and the social entrystages, as well as that of rivalry with traditionalbanks to attract accounts. It has reached an area ofcoexistence and competition.

He referred to several leading world economistswho consider the crisis of the global economy, ledby wild liberalism, puts it on the “brink of a volcano.“ Thus, the economy is likely to collapse under thebrunt of a doubling crisis, namely debts and unem-ployment.

The two-day conference is co-hosted by ShuraSharia Consultancy Company and the IslamicDevelopment Bank, under patronage and atten-dance of Governor of the Central Bank of KuwaitDr Mohammad Al-Hashel. The event is attendedby a multitude of sharia scientists and experts of

Islamic financing. Addressing the conference,Hashel reiterated the CBK’s keenness on playing itscontrol and supervisory role objectively and pro-fessionally, in line with the world’s best practices.Hashel referred to the comprehensive manual forIslamic banks the CBK had issued, comprisingdetailed policies, criteria and disciplines thatembody the application of advanced controlmethods. He said that estimates suggest that theglobal market for Islamic financial services, asmeasured by sharia compliant assets, has exceed-ed $2 trillion by the end of 2014, compared to $1.8

trillion a year earlier, marking a rise of 16.6 percent.Total value of Islamic banking assets hit a

growth rate of 17.9 percent over the period 2009-2013, reflecting a rising strength of Islamic financeworldwide, he said. He also underlined the priorimportance of sharia control and monitoring forpromoting the business and activities of the Islamicfinancial and banking institutions so that they couldachieve their goals and deliver their message. TheCBK Governor emphasized the fact that Kuwaitguarantees independence of the sharia control andmonitoring bodies, by law. —KUNA

KUWAIT: The attendees at the 6th Islamic and Financial Institutions Conference are pictured in a group photo. —KUNA

6th Islamic financial conference underway

BEIRUT: Kuwait Red Crescent Society hascontinued delivering relief aid to Syrianrefugees settled in the country. Ahmad Al-Fegaan, an envoy of the society, toldKuwait News Agency (KUNA) yesterdaythat 250 food rations and 250 cartons filledwith detergents have been distributed toSyrian families in the town Hasbaya, locat-ed in southeastern Lebanon.

The society has provided the refugeeswith various kinds of assistance includ-ing, dialysis for kidney patients. The num-ber of Syrian refugees in Lebanon hasreached more than 1 million-most ofthem in northern Lebanon. There are noofficial Syrian refugees in Kuwait, whichhas decided not to open its borders toaccept them.

Kuwait Red Crescent continuesdelivering aid to Syrian refugees

Kuwait keen on supporting Gulfrelief efforts in

Yemen: KRCSRIYADH: The State of Kuwait is so keen on supporting theefforts exerted by relief organizations and Red Crescentsocieties in GCC States in providing humanitarian and reliefaid in Yemen, the Kuwait Red Crescent Society (KRCS)affirmed yesterday. “The aid reflects the keenness of HisHighness the Amir and the Kuwaiti government and peo-ple on backing the Yemeni people,” KRCS’ Deputy ChairmanAnwar Al-Hasawi stated to KUNA.

Hasawi made his remark after the conclusion of a work-shop on determining relief needs for Yemen, which wasorganized by the GCC General Secretariat with participa-tion of various Gulf relief and Red Crescent bodies. He alsocommended the efforts exerted by Deputy Premier andDefense Minister Sheikh Khaled Al-Jarrah Al-Sabah inorganizing and sponsoring relief trips to Yemen.

Kuwait has provided a number of donations and reliefprojects to Yemen under the supervision of the KuwaitRelief Society, including food baskets, medical relief, andwater, in addition to urgent aid in facing Chapala hurri-cane. —KUNA

RIYADH: KRCS’ Deputy Chairman Anwar Al-Hasawi attends a workshop on determining reliefneeds for Yemen, organized by the GCC GeneralSecretariat. —KUNA

‘Security personnel capable of maintaining

security nationwide’KUWAIT: Interior Undersecretary Lieutenant GeneralSulaiman Al-Fahad said Sunday security personnelwere capable of maintaining security and stabilitynationwide, and were vigilant vis-a-vis any threat.Fahad, in a meeting with senior Ministry officers, urgedimportance of cooperation among different sectorswithin the ministry, as well as providing full services forthe citizens and expatriates, a ministry statement said.He said the public should be encouraged to interactmore with the security institution and to feel free toreport anything to the operations room. —KUNA


By Ahmad Jabr

KUWAIT: Nearly 3 million expatriates may face difficult healthcare chal-lenges in three years’ time under a proposed government plan to closeaccess to public health services. Government officials recently suggest-ed that a timetable has been established for the creation of expat-onlyhospitals accessible by higher-cost private health insurance. The shiftwould create a cascade of consequences for expatriates and citizens inKuwait as well as the local public and private health sector.

Plans on paperThe Health Ministry is already making plans for a possible eventu-

al ban on expats using public health facilities. “There are two cate-gories of expatriates in Kuwait,” said Dr Khaled Al-Sehlawi, the min-istry’s undersecretary was quoted in a local Arabic daily yesterday.“The first includes nearly 2 million foreigners working in the privatesector. If the current health insurance is canceled, they will be treatedat the health insurance hospitals that will be built within three years.”Already there are plans in the works to establish expat-only hospitals.In 2014, the government established a shareholding company tobuild three 700-bed hospitals and 15 polyclinics to provide integratedmedical services to foreigners in Kuwait. The company was estab-

lished according to the public-private-partnership (PPP) model with aKD 230 million capital. The government owns 24 percent of the com-pany’s shares, while 26 percent are owned by strategic investor, ArabiHolding Group. The remaining 50 percent will be offered in an initialpublic offering. A second class of foreigners, those who work in thepublic sector as well as domestic servants, will possibly fall under analternative health plan. This group, approximately 1 million foreignersin Kuwait fall into this category, would be treated in private medicalfacilities. The exact mechanism for providing them health insurancecoverage, however, is unclear. Last week’s news also raised questionsregarding the capability of the private health sector in Kuwait toabsorb the large number of expatriates expected to be shifted thereonce health insurance is canceled. Sehlawi reassured that the privatemedical sector is ‘well prepared’ for that task.

TimetableThe three-year timetable that Sehlawi mentioned seems to give

an indication of when the government might seriously consider clos-ing access to the public health services to expatriates. When the newhospitals are established, expatriates’ annual health insurance fee isexpected to triple to not less than KD 150 compared to the current KD50. Furthermore, the current plan indicates that foreigners will have topurchase the health insurance policy from the same company in

order to have access to medical services at the three hospitals, unlessplans change. Whether buying this specific policy would be mandato-ry or expatriates would be given the choice to purchase policies fromother insurance companies is not yet known.

The recent developments come as the cabinet has reportedlyassigned the finance ministry, oil ministry, commerce ministry,General Secretariat of the Supreme Council for Planning andDevelopment, Fatwa and Legislation Department and the privatiza-tion bureau to study a recommendation made by the SupremeCouncil for Planning and Development (SCPD) to cancel subsidizationof health services for expatriates.

The recommendation came in a recent study for the SCPD on waysto reduce the government budget in light of the drop in oil internation-al prices. The report has described expats’ health insurance as ‘harmfulsubsidies’ to the state budget, and suggested imitating an example fol-lowed in the 1990s when the Kuwaiti government scrapped free edu-cation for expatriates, thus banning foreigners from studying at publicschools and forcing them to enroll in private schools.

The action led to a boom in the private sector and the skyrocket-ing of private school tuition fees. The consequence of this, however,impacted both locals and expats as many citizens also send their chil-dren to Kuwait’s private schools.

Government health insurance for expats to stop in three years?Insurance hospitals, private sector to cover foreigners’ treatment

Oil revenue management challenge facing

Kuwait’s economy: ExpertKUWAIT: The main challenge facing the Kuwaiti econ-omy lies in “how to manage oil revenues and preparefor the post-oil era,” an international economic expertsaid in remarks published on Monday.

The budget deficit for the current and next years isnot a real problem, but the real challenge is in thepost-oil period that “we must prepare for with a clearvision,” Shanta Devarajan, Chief Economist of the WorldBank’s Middle East and North Africa Region, told theKuwaiti Arabic-language daily newspaper Al-Qabas,which published his remarks in its yesterday’s edition.

Kuwait’s economy needs further reforms in theinfrastructure, as the local market is dominated bymonopoly, he said, and stressed the need for “openingwider prospects in the market, leading to diversity indifferent sectors.”

The business environment in Kuwait is relativelylimited where the “solution is similar to what some ofGulf Cooperation Council (GCC) countries are doing toopen the doors for competition and give small andmedium companies the opportunity to grow,”Devarajan said.

Kuwait’s economy needs to re-direct the nationallabor where 90 percent of the jobs are concentrated inthe government apparatuses, “ which is not correct,” hesaid, noting that Kuwait has to create a competitiveeconomy for the involvement in the private sectorrather than the public.

He also called for matching graduates’ specialtieswith the national economy requirements, adding that“Kuwait spends more on education but should look atthe efficiency of the output for enhancement of theeconomy with skilled employees.”

The banking sector needs more real competitionwith allowing foreign banks to open several branchesinstead of one branch, which will reduce competitionin the market, he said, calling to facilitate the proce-dures for obtaining adequate funding for small andmedium projects. —KUNA

KUWAIT: Four Arab researchers and fourKuwaiti ones have been awarded the 2015Kuwait Prize and Scientific Production Prize,the Kuwait Foundation for the Advancementof Sciences (KFAS) announced yesterday.

His Highness the Amir Sheikh Sabah Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah has endorsed rec-ommendations of KFAS board of directorson winners of the two prizes 2015, KFASDirector General Dr Adnan Shehab-Eddinetold KUNA.

Four Arab researchers were awarded theKuwait Prize this year; Syrian Huda FakherAkel, Syrian, Basic Sciences; EgyptianHesham Mohammad Al-Tuni, AppliedSciences (water); Palestinian SariAbdulrahman Hanafi, Economics and SocialSciences, and Mona Al-Said Baker, Art andLiterature, Shehab-Eddine said.

Four Kuwaiti researchers were offeredthe Scientific Production Prize 2015;Abdulazeem Mohammad Marafi,Engineering Sciences; Dina Musa’ed Al-Mailm, Biological Sciences; Fahd Rashed Al-Mullah, Medical Sciences and OsmanHumoud Al-Khedr in Social Sciences andHumanities.

The Kuwait Prize was established in 1979,in line with KFAS goals to support scientificresearches in various fields, and to encour-age Arab scholars and researchers. KFAS hasdedicated prizes in five fields; four are

announced annually - Basic Sciences,Applied Sciences, Economics and SocialSciences, Art and literature- while the fifthfield, Arabic and Islamic Scientific Heritage, isannounced every three years. The topics of

the fields are subject to change annually.As for the Scientific Production Prize, it

was established in 1988 in response to aninitiative by His Highness the Amir to honordistinguished Kuwaitis holding a doctoratedegree in various fields of knowledge. It is

intended to encourage the elite of theKuwaiti scientific community to further pur-sue research for the benefit of the society.

KFAS offers the Prize in each of the follow-ing six areas in accordance with the require-

ments approved by its Board of Directors:Physical Sciences and Mathematics,Engineering Sciences, Biological Sciences,Medical Sciences, Social Sciences andHumanities, and Administration andEconomics. —KUNA

Four Arabs, four Kuwaitis win Kuwait,Scientific Production Prizes 2015: KFAS

Dr Adnan Shehab-Eddine

Justice minister affirms approach to cut paperwork

KUWAIT: Minister of Justice and Minister of Awqaf and IslamicAffairs Yaqoub Al-Sane has affirmed his quest to minimize timewasting paper work, on basis of relevant legislations and execu-tive resolutions. The laws regulating judicial disclosures, along

with signing the regu-lating rules for elec-tronic announce-ments as well as otherlegislations related tothe disclosures,would be made in thecoming days, MinisterSane said on the side-lines of a ceremony toinaugurate the litiga-tion center of theMinistry of Justice atheadquarters ofKuwait Society ofLawyers, late onSunday. He affirmed

that the judicial disclosures, in the conventional methods, havebeen time consuming. The newly-erected litigation center willprovide services to all litigators through their representatives atthe courts, namely lawyers. “Slow justice is one of the worstinjustices,” he said, affirming the approach to use all possibleand available electronic means in the sector, following enact-ment of the necessary legislations. Litigators and lawyers, withthe new improvements, can now use SMSs for inquiries andapplications. —KUNA

KUWAIT: In collaboration with the World Health Organization(WHO), Abdullah Yusuf Al-Abdulhadi Health Center is organizing atraining workshop for leading officials of the family medicine and pri-mary health centers in the Middle East.

Addressing the opening ceremony at the center - based in Al-Yarmouk Area - on Sunday, Assistant Undersecretary of the Ministryof Health Dr Mohammad Al-Khashti voiced joy for the WHO selectionof the center as a model provider of primary healthcare service in theregion. He said the Ministry of Health is looking forward to organiz-ing similar workshops at other primary health centers in the future.

Meanwhile, Director of the center Dr Huda Al-Duwaisan the host-ing of this regional event materializes the care of the political leader-ship of Kuwait to healthcare as backbone of human development.“Kuwait has always been a main contributor to sustainable develop-ment at the regional and international levels,” she said.

Dr Duwaisan noted that the workshop will see the launchingof a new program of cooperation between WHO and Al-Abdulhadi Health Center geared to organize training courses forleading officials of the family healthcare and primary health

centers in the Middle East.“The new program will open new horizons for cooperation with

WHO meant to realize the common goals, give quantum leap to pri-mary health services in the Arab countries, ensure high quality ofhealthcare and build the capacity of medical personnel,” sherevealed.

Meanwhile, Director of the Primary Health Dept. of the MinistryDr Rehab Al-Watyan said the workshop followed the endorsement ofthe Post-2015 Sustainable Development Agenda by the world lead-ers at the UN in last September.

“The agenda set forth 17 goals for global sustainable develop-ment until 2030 among which 16 goals focus on health,” she said,noting that the Kuwaiti Ministry of Health played a clear role in iden-tifying the third target relating to quality health and welfare for all.

Dr Watyan urged developing a new vision for primary and familyhealthcare for 2015-30 in keeping with the UN Development Goalswith emphasis on the improvement of maternal health and childhealth, and the sixth goas which is to combat HIV/AIDS, malaria andother diseases. —KUNA

Regional workshop on primary,family health opens in Yarmouk

KUWAIT: Minister of Justice andMinister of Awqaf and IslamicAffairs Yaqoub Al-Sane speaks atthe event. —KUNA

DUBAI: Head of Kuwait Association for Children in Hospital (KACCH)at Bayt Abdullah Dr Hilal Al-Sayer said Sunday winning the ‘award ofexcellence’ in health and children was fruit of efforts, and persistence,exerted over 25 years.

In a news conference held for the winners of the “Takreem ArabAchievement Awards’ distributed in a ceremony held late Saturdayattended by UAE’s Minister of Culture, Youth, and SocialDevelopment Sheikh Nahyan Al-Nahyan, Sayer said Margret Al-Sayer,his wife and the association’s director, contributed greatly to estab-lishing Bayt Abdullah and winning the award of excellence. Sayer,who is also Board Chairman of the Kuwait Red Crescent Society,

added that Bayt Abdullah started its work with one room in a hospi-tal and evolved until it has become a matchless institution in theMiddle East. He earlier added that His Highness the Amir SheikhSabah Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah provided a plot of land on whichthe house (or bayt in Arabic) was built and inaugurated under hispatronage in 2012.

Bayt Abdullah is specialized in alleviating suffering of childrenpatients and providing them with medical care in their last days.Bayt Abdullah consists of wards to help mothers stay with theirsick children, and offers 24 hour medical care including in-homeservices. —KUNA

Bayt Abdullah chief: Awardfruit of efforts over 25 years

CEF, Arab Fund to host seminarwith NYT’s Thomas Friedman

By Ben Garcia

KUWAIT: Thomas Friedman, PulitzerPrize winning author and columnist atthe New York Times, will visit Kuwaittomorrow to attend an economic sym-posium. This was announced byOussama Kanaan, Director of the IMFMiddle East Center for Economics andFinance (CEF), at an event held at theCEF headquarters at Symphony Mallyesterday. Kaanan said this year’s sym-posium, titled ‘The World is Fast: How toUnderstand it and Thrive in it’, will tackleeconomic and social implications ofeconomic reforms in Arab countries.

The symposium, which is the secondpart of a new series organized by theCEF, will be jointly presented by the ArabFund for Economic and SocialDevelopment. Friedman was invitedsince he is the most prominent econom-ic writer in the world today and his opin-

ions matter in many countries. He hasbeen tasked to discuss issues related toeconomic challenges in the world today.

“With Friedman, we want to encour-age a debate on many economic issuesat hand. We want to have somebodyhere with us to discuss issues whichwill benefit us and share with the peo-ple in the region,” Kanaan said.Discussing the role of CEF, Kanaan not-ed the institution has been providingeducation and training in economicsand finance to officials from all Arabcountries since 2011.

“We don’t make any recommenda-tions, but what we want is to get some-thing from our speakers and ignite adebate that will enrich ideas. We do notgo to governments in the Arab worldand tell them that this is best for theircountries - CEF is more into research,”Kanaan explained. The CEF curriculumcontinues to provide great benefitswith courses in areas to which Arab pol-icymakers are according greater atten-tion, such as health and education.

KUWAIT: Oussama Kanaan, Directorof the IMF Middle East Center forEconomics and Finance (CEF), speaksat the event yesterday.

—Photo by Yasser Al-Zayyat

F r o m t he A r a bic pr e s sTUESDAY, NOVEMBER 17 2015

Various officials have recently made statementsabout expats living in Kuwait and massivelyinsulted them. The last of these statements

was the one about ‘free dinners at wedding halls’which was made in an even worse way by pointingsuch ‘accusations’ only to marginal laborers. Test bal-loons occasionally announcing increasing fees andstiffening penalties against expats are no less insult-ing, at least when approaching them in a way thatclaims those people have been ‘devouring’ Kuwait’swealth and calls to deport masses of them as if theyhad appeared in Kuwait out of the blue!

Most officials have been using insulting phrasesthat indicate Kuwait has been supporting bothexpats and bedoons for free. A few days ago, a newsstory about cancelling health insurance was denied.Earlier, there was dreadful talk about allocating JaberHospital only for Kuwaitis. A year ago, some weirdinstructions were given to deport expats molestingwomen. Things even went as far as restricting camp-ing to citizens.

Sweden has a population comprising of peoplebelonging to over 200 nationalities who all receiveclear written and printed instructions about thefavored and most desirable conduct they ought tofollow in Sweden, including taking a number to beserved on doing certain transactions so that theycould learn some patience and undergoing the SFIcourse to learn Swedish. Such measures seem to haveslipped the minds of our immigration officials here inKuwait, and consequently, we see that many new-comers act like ‘Kuwaitis’ do in terms of wasta, violat-ing traffic rules and forgery, which are all phenome-nal indicators of weaknesses in law enforcement.Some Kuwaiti sponsors also contribute to breakinglaws if they are imposed on laborers working forthem like drivers and others. That is why they are‘raised by us’, after all!

Some people might argue that I have gone too farin the comparison with Sweden. Well, I have everyright to do so because my government alwaysdescribes itself as ‘wise’ in all public addresses. Wehave been complaining about the growth of somecommunities forgetting that they are 100 percentKuwaiti-made. Expats do not get into Kuwait by force.They come in accordance to its laws with documentssigned by its officials. Nowadays, Indians andEgyptians alone form 48 per cent of manpower inKuwait (454,000 Indians and 419,000 Egyptians).These huge numbers are not matched with othernationalities and pose both demographical and secu-rity threats. Despite such facts, we are still the ones toblame because of the many illusionary companies,the enslaving sponsorship system and forgingstamps and visas.

Expats’ role in building modern Kuwait has beenso essential since the beginning of the oil era. Wecannot do without them as long as Kuwaitis refrainfrom doing certain jobs. Any talk about being fed upwith their growing numbers should be directed tovisas traffickers and forgers instead. They are the onesbehind flooding Kuwait with laborers we do not actu-ally need. So, let us stop talking with racial discrimina-tion about them! —Translated by Kuwait Times

Expats wereraised by us

Al-Jarida

By Mudaffar Abdullah

In a recent TV interview, my interviewer Ammar Taqiinsisted on asking me whether I was for normalizingrelations with Israel based on an article I wrote a few

days earlier about China and Taiwan, in which I com-pared the ways the Chinese treated Taiwan to that of theArabs with Israel. In the article, I argued that althoughChina possesses mighty powers, nuclear weapons, apopulation of over a billion and the fact that those whorecognize Taiwan are only a handful, China neverthought of invading the island of Formosa that won itsindependence from China in 1949, nor threatens tothrow its people in the sea. It never allowed a ‘freedomfighter’ like Abu Ammar to embrace the cause then passit down, along with millions collected in its name, to hiswife in inheritance.

As usual, it is difficult to comment on part of an arti-cle. What is even harder is to comment on a commentmade according to how the commentator perceivedwhat he read. To start with, I would like to point out thatI have paid several visits to Jerusalem, the West Bank andGaza over the past few years. Therefore, I am talkingaccording to firsthand experience with the changes tak-ing place in the occupied Palestinian territories. Anexperience that those wishing to ‘remotely’ fight Israeluntil the last drop of blood in the last Palestinian child’sveins and to the last stone in a house inhabited by awretched Palestinian family know nothing about.

The disaster about the Palestinian cause is that somepoliticians have been addressing our emotions andopenly demanding to wage war only to make personalgains, but they would secretly confide to some people

that they are incapable of achieving what they say andcall for. Actual visits and mingling with the people thereenables one to see for himself that destructive victoriesthey had been declaring were cursed by Palestinian citi-zens who lost their houses without the least hope torestore or repair them.

Citizens who have lost family members and cannotspeak about it because they would be accused of trea-son and executed. Those citizens wonder if that was ‘vic-tory’, what would ‘defeat’ look like. They eventually keepsilent because silence is gold.

On the other hand, due to being neighbors to ourcountries for long enough, the Israeli people shiftedfrom liberalism, secularism, communism and leftism ofthe Israeli Labor party to supporting more radical reli-gious parties that elect more radical leaders, makingNetanyahu seem moderate compared to them. SomeIsraeli thinkers and politicians argue that the Israeli peo-ple lean to moderation and elect moderate parties thatcall from withdrawal from Palestinian territories, estab-lish an independent state in return for having anembassy there that could be closed down at anymoment or in return for a peace paper that can beannulled or torn by some angry slogan-focused leader-ships.

Those Israeli peace advocates see normalization asthe only alternative to shift public opinion and electmoderate parties instead of repeatedly electing radicalones that call to Judaize the state and transfer Arabs tothe lands between the river and Jordan and Sinai!

— Translated by Kuwait Times

Cause, normalization and remote freedom fighters

Al-Anbaa

By Sami Al-Nisf

CrimeR e p o r t

Body foundA man was found dead in his apartment recently.

The man was identified as a 27-year-old Jordaniannational. His body was taken to the coroner, and anautopsy was ordered to determine the time andcause of death.

InsultA Hadiya detective accused two brothers of

insulting him although he showed them his ID. InMubarak Al-Kabeer, a female citizen accused awoman of beating her after a domestic dispute.Another citizen in Jabriya accused an Arab malenurse of insulting her at Mubarak Hospital.Meanwhile, a Kuwaiti housewife told Khaitan policeshe was threatened by phone at the gas cylinderbranch of Khaitan co-op. She said the threat camethrough WhatsApp Thursday evening.

Family feudJahra police received a call about firing in

Nahdha, and when they arrived, the caller, a Kuwaiticitizen, said he had differences with his father-in-law, who fired two rounds in the air from a pistol.Investigations are underway.

— Al-Anbaa and Al-Rai

KUWAIT: Rumaithiya police arrested a man after mak-ing a false police report. The man who just finished pro-cessing a transaction at the service center found his carblocked by another, so he called the police. Police calleda tow truck to remove it, but it was late in arriving, sothe man ran to the police station and told them his carwas on fire. Policemen rushed with their fire extinguish-ers but found out that there was no fire. The man toldthem he acted this way to draw their attention.

Phone stolenA man who works for the information ministry told

Farwaniya police that two men on a motorcycleapproached and hit him on the neck, causing hisiPhone 6 to fall on the ground. They snatched thephone and sped away. Meanwhile, a bedoon man whoworks for the defense ministry told police that twounidentified persons stopped him at dawn. One ofthem stabbed him with a sharp object, while the othertook two phones in addition to KD 30 before escaping.

Public drunkennessJahra police sent a Gulf national and an Arab girl to

Qairawan police station for public drunkenness. Policenoticed a car being driven erratically and was stopped,and the two were arrested.

God bless Kuwait

Al-Qabas

By Ahmad Shamseddien

Iwent to Marina Mall in Salmiya on Friday. Thisbeautiful commercial complex faces, rathercradles our magnificent blue sea and the fan-

tastic panoramic scene on which the marina sitson, where there are restaurants and ships andseagulls fly amidst the clear skies, screechingwith a beautiful sound whenever they touch theseawater with grace and beauty that add to theimages of pleasure and happiness that areapparent on the faces of many patrons who fillthe place and restaurants that stretch all over theplace.

It was 4:30 in the afternoon, when I took aplace, like others, next to the fence that sepa-rates the beautiful lake, so I was happy for theamount of smiles on all faces (citizens andexpats) during those wonderful moments whilethe sun was about to set, and telling us goodbyewith the hope of another meeting in the countryof love, security and peace.

Such locations like Marina Mall, and the fan-tastic panorama attached to it, the wonderfulsea view and towers, must be used as touristicand entertainment areas, as much as they arecommercial, frequented by the lovers of shop-ping and spending great hours with their fami-lies who inhale the clean breeze that is free ofimpurities and smell of killer smoke.

We, at the beautiful juncture, propose toMinister of Information and State Minister forYouth Affairs Sheikh Salman Al-Humoud, who isconcerned with tourism issues in the country, toinclude the Marina lake and the area facing thesea as a touristic destination, so smallsteamships get active and make family sea toursfor those wishing to spend a few minutes orhours in the sea, going out of the Marina Mall toKuwait Towers, for example, or even to Kuwaitiislands here and there. We also propose that hisexcellency create a touristic program in the samelocations to seek opinions and views, throughmeeting Marina Mall patrons, especially in such abeautiful atmosphere.

We also propose to Sheikh Abu Sabah, withthe agreement of the Marina administration, tocreate sites near the lake for lovers and keepersof Kuwaiti heritage and antiques in general todisplay them for the crowd at the weekend, thenwe will hit more than one bird with just a stone,your excellency the minister.

This is Kuwait, may Allah keeps its pride, andkeep it always shrouded with peace and security,and may He keeps the evils of the lovers of divi-sion among citizens of the country. May He pro-tect our dear Amir, Crown Prince and the rulingfamily. — Translated by Kuwait Times

Man arrestedfor making false

police report

Al-Jarida

International terrorism

KUWAIT: Ooredoo Kuwait, a member of the internationalOoredoo Group, has organized an internal initiative to con-tribute to the global awareness campaign on WorldDiabetes Day, offering its employees complementary dia-betes testing and consultation, in collaboration withSalhiya Clinic and Kuwait Medical Lab.

In collaboration with both organizations, OoredooKuwait has arranged for diabetes testing for all employeesin its headquarters in Kuwait city on Sunday, 15 November2015, as well as special rates on dentistry, dermatology,general medicine, dietitian services and one to one consul-tation and fat analysis from Salhiya Clinic for Ooredooemployees, and discounted rates on all blood tests and labwork for them from Kuwait Medical Lab.

Mijbil Alayoub, Director of Corporate Communicationsat Ooredoo Kuwait stated: “Pleased to support such a vitalglobal initiative which is the World Diabetes Day, aiming atraising awareness of diabetes around the globe. We docare about our employees and feel responsible for theirwell-being; we believe that this session created the neededawareness on diabetes and the right lifestyle everyoneshould follow in order to live a healthy life.”

Ooredoo’s support to the event comes in line with itscontinuous contribution to international causes whichcome in line with its corporate social responsibility towardsthe community.

Ooredoo Kuwait Contributes to the GlobalAwareness Campaign on World Diabetes Day

An Ooredoo employee at the blood testing session

KD 6.2 billion specialdefense budget proposed

KUWAIT: The government plans to presenta proposed law to withdraw KD 6.2 billionfrom the state’s general reserve in order tocreate an exceptional budget for 10 con-secutive years allocated for defense. Thebudget would cover the defense ministry’sneeds of arming and equipment, provided

that the annual allocations agree with thecountry’s financial status, Al-Qabas dailyreported yesterday quoting sources.

The Higher Defense Council authorizesthe necessary amounts for each fiscal yearfor a period of 10 years starting with the2015/2016 fiscal year. — Al-Qabas

Children with revokedcitizenships allowed toenroll in public schools

KUWAIT: The education ministrydecided to allow children of peoplewhose nationalities were revoked toregister in public schools and receiveeducation unti l the end of highschool. An educational source saidthe ministry followed the legal pro-cedures in this matter before makingits decision, and sought the opinionof the Fatwa and Legis lat ionDepartment which allowed them to

complete al l school stages.Education Ministry’s UndersecretaryDr Haitham Al-Athari had issued acircular in which he said that chil-dren of Kuwait i women wil l beallowed to register in public schoolsand complete all stages. But in casethe mother was not Kuwaiti, thenher registered chi ldren wi l l beallowed to complete their schoolstages. — Al-Qabas

KUWAIT: The Interior Ministry held a cerebration recently to mark the InternationalDay for Tolerance, attended by senior ministry officials.

Needing ‘clean cash,’ mobsters hungry for Rome’s eateries

Page 9

Israelis kill 2 Palestinians in clashes to raze homePage 8

TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 17, 2015

World leaders to stepup efforts to fight IS

G20 backs drive for Paris climate deal

ANTALYA, Turkey: A family photo, signed by the leaders, is displayed at the Group of 20 (G20) summit yesterday. — AFP

ANTALYA, Turkey: World leaders yester-day committed to join forces to bringpeace to Syria and destroy the IslamicState jihadist network, hoping to curbthe extremist menace after the Parisattacks. Leaders of the Group of 20 topeconomies meeting in Turkey describedthe Paris gun and bombing assaults asan “unacceptable affront to all humani-ty”, according to a rare separate state-ment accompanying the final commu-nique after their annual summit.

Concretely, they will share intelli-gence to crack down on the movementof foreign fighters across borders, thestatement said. They also urged “allstates” to come to share the burden ofrefugees, with hundreds of thousandspouring out of war-torn Syria to take theoften dangerous path to Europe.Western leaders sought in particular tonarrow important differences withRussian President Vladimir Putin onresolving the conflict in Syria and fight-ing the Islamic State group.

G20 leaders showed “our resolutestance in the fight against terrorism,”said host Turkish President Recip TayyipErdogan at a news conference wrappingup the summit. The urgent need tocoordinate action on Syria after the Parisattacks that killed 129 people dominat-ed the summit’s agenda, but leadersalso pressed ahead with a drive to staveoff catastrophic climate change.

‘Still a Big Gap’ British Prime Minister David

Cameron said the split between theWest and Russia on Syria narrowed dur-ing talks in Vienna this weekend butmore work needed to be done to unifypositions. “There is still a very big gapbut I think there is still some hope thatthis process could move faster in thefuture than it has in the past,” he saidafter a bilateral meeting with Putin. Buthe lamented how the “body count hadpiled up in Syria” over the course of sev-eral international summit meetingssince the start of the war. “The faster wecan degrade and destroy (IS) the saferwe will be,” he said.

Russia has refused to abandon itssupport for Syrian President BasharAl-Assad in the four-year civil war,which has claimed more than a quar-ter of a million lives and displacedmillions. Moscow recently stepped upits involvement in Syria with a bomb-ing campaign of i ts own that hasbeen welcomed by the regime but

greeted with suspicion in the West.

Coffee Table Summit US President Barack Obama on

Sunday held one of his most intimatediscussions yet with Putin, both menseen hunched over a coffee table in ani-mated, impromptu talks on the sidelinesof the summit. US officials said the twoleaders agreed on the need for a politi-cal transition for Syria that would be setup by a ceasefire and UN-brokered talks.The Kremlin said the two sides sharedthe same goal of fighting Islamic Statebut differed on tactics.

The stepped-up diplomacy cameafter world powers agreed in the Viennatalks at the weekend on an outline forpolitical transition for Syria, but cruciallynot on what should happen to Assad.Erdogan on Monday reiterated histough stance against Assad “who mas-sacred his own people”, saying theSyrian leader had “no place” in the coun-try’s future. In the special statement atthe end of the G20 gathering, worldleaders raised the alarm over an “acuteand growing flow of foreign terroristfighters”. They vowed to share intelli-gence, track border crossings and boostaviation security to halt the movementof jihadist fighters.

German Chancellor Angela Merkelcalled for “intensive cooperation”between intelligence agencies as well asthe military in the fight against terror.Britain is to host a major donor confer-ence in London in Feb 2016 to rally aidfor Syrian refugees, she added in com-ments confirmed by Cameron. Despitethe heavy shadow cast by the attacks inParis, world leaders pressed on withtheir original agenda, pledging in a draftto agree legally-binding goals on cli-mate change at a conference in Paris lat-er this month but making no mention ofwhether they will help developingcountries meet the targets.

Negotiators haggled into the earlyhours as Saudi Arabia and India initiallyrefused to include specific goals such aslimiting global warming to less than twodegrees Celsius above pre-industrialisedlevels, sources said. France, backed bythe European Union, is working furious-ly to make the climate talks a successand Paris officials bristled at the reluc-tance of some countries to include itsbasic objectives in the statement.

“Climate change is one of the great-est challenges of our time,” said thecommunique marking the end of the

summit in Antalya. “We reaffirm thebelow 2C degree climate goal,” it said,underlining a “determination” to adopt adeal with legal force. The blockbusterclimate meeting will assemble 195countries outside Paris from Nov 30 toDec 11 in a bid to reach a post-2020pact to try to stem global warming. The2C goal has guided the long-runningtalks - held under the auspices of the UNFramework Convention on ClimateChange - since 2009.

‘Elephant in the Room’ France is eager to avoid the fate of

the Copenhagen talks in 2009 that alsosought to craft a world climate rescuepact, but ended in near-fiasco amidsplits between rich and emerging coun-tries. “At a certain point there was a feel-ing that we were not living on the sameplanet,” an exhausted European negotia-tor told reporters after more than 20hours of talks with his G20 counterparts.“The idea was to just state that the G20countries will be committed to a regularprocess, to get to the numbers of thetarget, with regular steps, that was theidea. This is common sense,” he said.

Activists said the statement stilloffered nothing new and criticised aworrying lack of leadership just twoweeks ahead of the Paris talks. “Theyhave done nothing to bring the 20 mostpowerful countries in the world closerto consensus,” said John Kirton, co-director of the G20 Research Group atthe University of Toronto. Observersdenounced the failure of the G20 lead-ers to offer details on financing fordeveloping countries to make the tran-sition to clean energy.

Developing nations are looking torich countries to show how they intendto meet a promise made in 2009 tomobilise $100 billion per year in climatefinance from 2020. The funds will helppoorer economies make the shift fromcheap and abundant fossil fuels torenewable energy sources, and shore upnational defences against climatechange-induced superstorms, drought,floods and sea-level rise. France insiststhis will be key to getting an agreementin December. It is “difficult” to see suc-cess in Paris “without climate finance onthe table,” said Tristram Sainsbury, ana-lyst at Lowy Institute in Sydney. “That isthe big elephant in the room for theG20,” he said. The G20 summit next yearmoves to China, followed by Germany in2017. —Agencies

I N T E R N AT ION A LTUESDAY, NOVEBER 17, 2015

CAIRO: The Great Pyramid in Egypt wasbathed Sunday in French, Lebanese andRussian colours in homage to the vic-tims of attacks in Paris and Beirut andthe Sinai plane crash. The GreatPyramid of Khufu, the only one of theSeven Wonders of the ancient worldstill standing, was illuminated by pro-jectors reproducing the flags of France

and Russia and the green cedar ofLebanon. Young Egyptians were stagingan overnight candle-lit vigil at the footof the more than 4,500-year-old giantmonument on the Giza plateau on theoutskirts of Cairo.

The tourism and antiquities min-istries organised the ceremony to“mourn the innocent lives lost around

the world”, paying tribute “to the vic-tims of the crash of the Russian airplaneand attacks in Lebanon and France”.Late Friday, gun and bomb attacks inParis claimed by the Islamic State groupkilled 129 people and wounded 350. OnThursday in Beirut, twin bombingsclaimed by IS killed 44 people in south-ern Beirut, a stronghold of the Shiite

Hezbollah organisation that backs theembattled Syrian regime.

The jihadist group has also said itwas behind the Oct 31 crash in thenorthern Sinai of a Russian MetrojetAirbus A-321, killing all 244 people onboard. London, Washington, Moscowand many experts believe the disasterwas caused by a bomb, but Cairo has

refused to rule on the cause until theinvestigation is complete. In Dubai,meanwhile, the world’s tallest build-ing the Bur j A l -K hal i fa was l i t upSunday in the colours of the Frenchnational flag. Elsewhere in the Gulf,Kuwait City’s landmark towers werealso illuminated in the red, white andblue of France. —AFP

Great Pyramid bathed in national colors of victims

(Left) Cameramen stand in front of the great pyramid of Khufu illuminated with the French, Lebanese and Russian flags in Giza on the outskirts of Cairo on Sunday. (Right) The world’s tallest tower, BurjKhalifa, is lit in the colors of the French flag in Dubai on Sunday. —AFP/AP

QALANDIYA: Israeli forces shot dead at leasttwo Palestinians when heavy clashes eruptedyesterday during an operation to destroy theWest Bank home of an alleged attacker, the lat-est in a series of punitive demolitions. In a bid tohalt a wave of knife, gun and car-rammingattacks since the start of October, Israeli authori-ties have moved to expedite demolitions of sus-pects’ homes, a controversial measure meant toact as a deterrent.

Confrontations and clashes have erupted inthe past over such demolitions, but they haverarely been as deadly as yesterday’s at theQalandiya refugee camp, just beyond a check-point leading from east Jerusalem to the occu-pied West Bank. According to the Israeli military,hundreds of Palestinians threw rocks and fire-bombs at security forces, while some openedfire. A resident who gave his name as Abu Amrsaid he heard noises at around 2:00 am andopened his window to check. “There were hun-dreds of soldiers everywhere,” he told AFP. “I toldmy children not to move. Later there was anexplosion, then afterwards there was shooting.The shooting lasted about 30 minutes.”

Israeli forces shot three Palestinians, with twoconfirmed dead by Palestinian hospital sources.Israeli military spokesman Peter Lerner spoke ofa third death, but Palestinian hospital sourceshad not confirmed it. Palestinian medics identi-fied those killed as Ahmed Al-Ayesh, 28 and afather of three, and Laith Manasra, 21. Residentssaid those in the building were forced to leave toallow for the demolition, which went aheaddespite the clashes. The home on the top floor ofa three-storey building was destroyed withexplosives, residents said, causing damage tothe other floors and nearby residences.

‘15 Minutes to Get Out’ The home targeted was that of Mohammed

Abu Shahin, accused of shooting dead DannyGonen, a 25-year-old Israeli hiker, in June. Hiswife and two daughters were living there, resi-dents said. Crumbled concrete was later piled onthe ground and onlookers arrived to view italong Qalandiya’s densely populated and narrowstreets. Hundreds also gathered for the funeralfor the two Palestinians killed nearby. The broth-er of the alleged attacker who lived in the nextbuilding said that “after midnight Israeli forcescame and told my family we have to leaveimmediately because of a court decision todestroy (the house)”. “They gave us only 15 min-utes to get out,” said the brother, who gave hisname only as Abu Shahin.

The camp, established in 1949 in the wake ofthe creation of Israel and which has grown into atown, includes 11,000 registered refugees. TheUN says nearly one in five residents is unem-ployed and around 60 percent are under 25.Adnan Al-Husseini, the Palestinian governor ofJerusalem, blamed Israel’s occupation for theviolence. “I am sure if they are continuing withthese processes, there will be reactions like this,”he said.

The shooting dead of Gonen, in an attack thatalso wounded another Israeli, led to outrageamong Israelis. The two victims were not settlersbut hikers who had come from Lod in centralIsrael. Shahin’s arrest was announced in July,with Israel alleging he belonged to an armedgroup linked to Fatah, the party of Palestinianpresident Mahmud Abbas.

Deterrent or Collective Punishment? The shooting occurred before the current

wave of violence that began in October, butIsrael has sought to expedite demolitions for arange of attacks on Israelis. Violence since thestart of October has killed 83 people on thePalestinian side - including one Arab Israeli - and12 Israelis. Many of the Palestinians killed havebeen alleged attackers, while others were shotdead during clashes with Israeli forces. Israelargues that the demolition policy is effective as adeterrent, but critics say the main victims are rel-atives forced to pay for others’ actions.

On Saturday, Israeli troops razed the WestBank homes of four Palestinians accused ofattacking Israelis, hours after an Israeli father andson were shot dead near the flashpoint city of

Hebron. Those operations also sparked clashesin which nine Palestinians were wounded.

“I am distressed by reports of punitive demo-litions carried out by Israeli security forces of fivehomes in the Jerusalem, Nablus and Ramallahgovernorates in the last few days,” Robert Piper,UN coordinator for humanitarian aid for theoccupied Palestinian territory, said in a state-ment. “Werecognize Israel’s serious security chal-lenges today, but any law enforcement responsemust be consistent with international law.

Punitive demolitions are inherently unjust, pun-ishing innocent people for the acts of others.”

Israeli Defence Minister Moshe Yaalondefended the demolitions yesterday and saidthey would continue, adding that “our forces act-ed professionally” during the operation inQalandiya. He cited the case of a Palestinianarrested over Friday’s murders, after Israeli secu-rity forces said the suspect’s father and brotherturned him in, fearing their home would berazed. —AFP

Israelis kill 2 Palestinians in clashes to raze home

UN slams punitive demolitions

QALANDIYA: Palestinians carry the bodies Ahmed Abu Al-Aish, 28 and Laith Manasrah, 21,during their funeral in this refugee camp on the outskirts of the West Bank city of Ramallahyesterday. —AFP

WASHINGTON: The United States has trans-fered five detainees from Guantanamo Bay tothe United Arab Emirates, the Pentagon saidSunday, another step in a long-delayed plan toclose the controversial military prison. Themove means that 107 detainees remain atGuantanamo Bay, the Pentagon said in a state-ment, adding that it was “grateful to the gov-ernment of the United Arab Emirates for itswillingness to support ongoing US efforts toclose the Guantanamo Bay detention facility.”

The men were “lower-level” Yemenidetainees and each had been held for nearly 14years without charge, The New York Times said.The UAE had previously taken in just one for-mer Guantanamo detainee - a citizen of its own- in 2008, the newspaper said. The Pentagonnamed the five as: Ali Ahmad Mohammed Al-Razihi, Khalid Abd-al-Jabbar MohammedUthman Al-Qadasi, Adil Said al-Hajj Ubayd Al-Busays, Sulayman Awad Bin Uqayl Al-Nahdi andFahmi Salem Said Al-Asani.

The United States opened Guantanamo tohold terror suspects following the Sept 11,2001 attacks, and photos of shackled men inorange jumpsuits became a defining image ofUS foreign policy in the early 2000s. Inmateswere called “enemy combatants” and deniedstandard US legal rights, meaning many wereheld for years without charge or trial. TheGuantanamo population has dwindled, andprisoners no longer deemed a risk have eitherbeen repatriated or sent to a host country.

The Guantanamo prison costs the US tax-payer around $400-450 mill ion annually,according to estimates. “The United Statescoordinated with the government of theUnited Arab Emirates to ensure these transferstook place consistent with appropriate securityand humane treatment measures,” the

Pentagon added, saying the five had beencleared for transfer after thorough securityreviews.

The US keeps a “very close eye” on thosewho have been released, but some figures haveestimated that up to 30 percent return to mili-tant groups with the aim of carrying out attackson Western targets. But a US official has saidthat figure includes both confirmed and sus-pected cases. He said 16 percent of freedinmates were confirmed to have returned tothe battlefield, while about 12 percent are sus-pected of having done so.

Election Pledge The latest transfers come with the Pentagon

poised to release a much-anticipated report onshutting down Guantanamo Bay, even asCongress battles to block the transfer of themilitary prison inmates from eastern Cuba toUS soil. President Barack Obama made closingGuantanamo a key election pledge, but law-makers have repeatedly thwarted him. Thereport’s findings are sure to fuel debate on thefate of dozens of longtime captives fromAmerica’s “War on Terror” who may well spendthe rest of their lives behind bars.

The Pentagon this year sent a team ofexperts to review US sites that could housedozens of the most dangerous detainees fol-lowing the closure of the prison. Guantanamostill houses five accused plotters of the Sept 11,2001 attacks. Among them is the self-pro-claimed mastermind, Khalid SheikhMohammed. Guantanamo is also home to theman accused of masterminding the attack onthe USS Cole in 2000, Abd al-Rahim Al-Nashiri.He was captured in 2002 and transferred toGuantanamo in 2006. All six face the deathpenalty if convicted. —AFP

US sends 5 Gitmo detainees to UAE

SANAA: Director of the United Nations Office for Humanitarian Affairs John Gingattends a meeting with Yemeni officials and human rights organizations in theYemeni capital yesterday.—AFP

ADEN: Yemeni loyalists and Saudi-led coalitionforces launched an offensive Monday to retakethe key battleground province of Taez fromIran-backed rebels, as uncertainty surroundedthe fate of UN-brokered peace talks. At least 30fighters were killed yesterday, including 16 sol-diers after their vehicle hit a landmine, militarysources said. Taez is seen as a gateway to thecapital Sanaa, which has been held by theShiite Huthi rebels since September last year. Itis located at the crossroads between Sanaa,Yemen’s second city and main port of Adenand Mocha on the Red Sea coast.

Forces loyal to President AbedrabboMansour Hadi have been pressing to recaptureparts of Yemen seized by the Houthis and theirallies, including forces loyal to ousted ex-presi-dent Ali Abdullah Saleh. They have beenbacked by a Saudi-led coalition that launchedair strikes in March and began a major count-er-offensive in July that has since reclaimedfive southern provinces.

“The military operation to liberate Taez hasbegun after the arrival of military reinforce-ments from the Arab coalition, resistanceforces and the national army in the south andwest of Taez province,” General Ahmed Al-Yafie,commander of the fourth military region, toldAFP. The region includes Taez as well as Adenin the south. Clashes in Waziaa, southwest ofTaez, left nine rebels and five loyalists dead,while pro-Hadi forces advanced backed by airstrikes, military sources said.

The rebel-controlled Saba news agencysaid the insurgents repelled attempts to

advance on four fronts towards Waziaa.Military officials have said the coalition sentmajor reinforcements before they advancedtowards Taez, Yemen’s third-biggest city.Armoured demining vehicles and other rein-forcements arrived in the Shuraija region,between the loyalist-controlled Lahj provinceand Taez in the southwest, said the officialsbased in Aden. Dozens of coalition armouredvehicles were taking part in the three-prongedoffensive, the sources said. Arab coalitionplanes carried out several strikes against rebelpositions and checkpoints in the regions ofRahida, south of Taez, and Mocha to facilitatethe advance of the ground troops.

Uncertainty over Peace Talks Sudanese forces from the strategic Al-Anad

airbase in Lahj were taking part in the Taezoperations, according to the sources. Taez hasseen heavy fighting in recent months betweenthe Huthis and forces fighting for Hadi’s inter-nationally recognised government. Loyalistforces are inside Taez, where they have beenbesieged by rebels who control the main roadsinto the city.

Along the coast, coalition troops deployedin Dhubab in a bid to advance onto rebel-heldMocha, which also lies in Taez province, thesources said. On Sunday, military officialsspoke of major coalition reinforcements oftroops and equipment arriving in Taez fromAden. A 400-strong Sudanese force arrived inAden this month in support of loyalist forces,joining 500 who arrived in October. —AFP

Yemen, allies inTaez offensive

WASHINGTON: The bloody attacks in Parisare putting the Syrian refugee crisis at cen-ter stage in US politics as migrants fromthat war-torn comtry surge toward theWest and security concerns rise.Republican presidential contender MarcoRubio on Sunday said the United Statesshould no longer accept Syrian refugeesbecause it’s impossible to know whetherthey have links to Islamic militants - anapparent shift from earlier statements inwhich the Florida senator left open theprospects of migrants being admitted withproper vetting.

“It’s not that we don’t want to, it’s thatwe can’t,” Rubio said Sunday on ABC’s “ThisWeek.” “Because there’s no way to back-ground check someone that’s coming fromSyria. Who do you call and do a back-ground check on them?” The question ofadmitting Syrian refugees has for monthsbeen part of the national security discus-sion among 2016 candidates that cuts tothe heart of the American identity as arefuge. Former Florida governor Jeb Bushon Sunday told NBC’s “Meet the Press” that

the US should admit Syrian Christians,after proper vetting. Other Republicancandidates have called for a ban on allow-ing Syrians into the US All threeDemocratic presidential candidates havesaid they would admit Syrians but onlyafter thorough background checks.

But Friday night’s mass killings in Paris,which left at least 129 people dead,offered evidence that may have backed upwhat many, including Rubio, had beenwarning: People with secret ties to Islamicmilitants could flow across borders withinthe waves of refugees. Authorities said aSyrian passport found near one of the Parissuicide bombers that had been registeredlast month and traveled through threeEuropean countries along a busy migrantcorridor known for lax controls. It was notclear whether the document was real orforged, or whether it belonged to the sui-cide bomber. Officials on Sunday were stilltrying to identify people involved in theconspiracy. They said as many as three ofthe seven suicide bombers who died in theattacks were French citizens.—AP

Syrian refugee policy takes focus in US race

I N T E R N AT ION A LTUESDAY, NOVEMBER 17, 2015

BOSTON: The number of internationalstudents studying at US collegesincreased by 10 percent last year, mark-ing the largest single-year gain in 35years, according to new federal data.Meanwhile, the number of Americansstudying abroad grew by only 5 percent,falling short of expectations. The find-ings were released yesterday from anannual study by the nonprofit Instituteof International Education and the USDepartment of State.

Of almost 1 million students thatcame to the US in the 2014-15 schoolyear, about a third came from China, themost from any country. But much of lastyear’s growth is credited to a surge inthe number of students who came fromIndia, drawn by strong research pro-grams, experts say. In all, the number ofIndian students in the US grew by 30percent to more than 130,000, thebiggest jump since the nonprofit startedcollecting data in 1954.

“That increase has been primarily atthe graduate level, and we know thatIndian students have always been veryattracted to the availability of excellentscience and research facilities on UScampuses,” said Rajika Bhandari, thenonprofit’s deputy vice president for

research and evaluation. Numbers com-ing from Brazil spiked, too, from 13,000to 23,000, but Brazilians still made uponly 2 percent of international studentsin the US

For the second consecutive year, NewYork University hosted the largest num-ber of international students, at morethan 13,000. I t ’s followed by theUniversity of Southern California,Columbia University and Arizona StateUniversity, which each hosted more than11,000 international students last year.At the University of Southern California,the number of Indian students has gonefrom 1,300 to more than 2,000 since2012. At other schools like HarvardUniversity and the MassachusettsInstitute of Technology, populations ofIndian students have increased overtime but held steady in recent years.

The Institute of InternationalEducation reported that internationalstudents contributed $30 billion to theUS economy last year. The US remainsthe top destination for international stu-dents, but relatively few Americansstudy abroad. About 300,000 US stu-dents left the country to study in the2013-14 school year, the most recentyear for which figures for Americans are

available, a number that has risen steadi-ly but still accounts for less than 2 per-cent of all US undergraduate students.“This rate of growth is not good enough,”Bhandari said. “We really do need todouble or even triple this rate ofgrowth.”

To boost those numbers, the USDepartment of State said it’s opening anew study abroad office offering infor-mation on programs and scholarships.“We are going to be working very active-ly on outreach to explain the benefits ofstudy abroad and encourage moreAmericans to participate,” said MarianneCraven, the acting deputy assistant sec-retary of state for academic programs.The office plans to launch its websitethis week, Craven said.

In particular, the office hopes to helpmore low-income and minority students.About 75 percent of US students whostudied abroad last year were white, anumber that has decreased only slightlyover the past decade. Black studentsmade up 6 percent of students whostudied abroad last year. Top destina-tions for US students are the UnitedKingdom, Italy and Spain. Europeancountries drew half of all US studentswho studied abroad.

Colleges, too, have been pushing stu-dents to study abroad for years, citingthe benefits of cultural exchange.Dozens have signed on to a nationalcampaign encouraging all students toget passports. Universities have also

ramped up efforts to recruit internation-al students, especially in growingregions. “ They know that attractinginternational students to their campusesmakes for a better student body,” Cravensaid. -— AP

US adds foreign students, but few Americans study abroad

LONDON: This March 12, 2012 file photo shows Timothy P White, Chancellor ofthe University of California, Riverside, visiting UCR students who are studyingabroad. — AP

ROME: In this photo taken on Nov 4, 2015, Gianfranco Romeo speaks to AP as he sits a table of Il Barroccio restau-rant. — AP

ROME: Gianfranco Romeo sits at a tableat his trattoria off the Pantheon, castingscorn over the idea that he’s a frontmanfor a feared mafia clan. “I always had apassion for restaurant work, I began as adishwasher,” Romeo told AP at IlBarroccio, as pizza-makers prepared tofire up the oven and shovel in the pies forthe evening crowd of tourists. Romeo isamong several people under investiga-tion for suspected false property registra-tion in one of a growing number ofinvestigations in which mobsters are sus-pected of systematically buying upRoman tourist restaurants to laundercocaine profits, allegedly installing peo-ple like Romeo as figurehead owners.

Romeo contended bitterly that inves-tigators were targeting him and othersmerely because they are natives ofCalabria, the southern region that ishome to the ‘ndrangheta, one of themost feared global crime syndicates. Inseizing restaurants from hard-workingpeople like himself, he said, authoritiesare essentially alleging that all Calabriansin Rome are crooks. He’s looking forwardto his day in a court so he can ask prose-cutors: “Why do you say I’m a figureheadwhen I paid with my own money?”

Prosecutors are confident they’ll havethe right answer. Along Rome’s narrowVia dei Pastini, a street thronging withtourists in search of quaint restaurants,authorities raided three trattorias, includ-ing Il Barroccio, this year as alleged frontsfor money-laundering operations for the‘ndrangheta. Authorities say the finan-cially savvy ‘ndrangheta is hungry forlegitimate businesses to launder the bil-lions it rakes in from cocaine trafficking.Elsewhere in Rome, the Naples-basedCamorra is allegedly following a similarrecipe, prosecutors say.

The restaurants and cafes targeted inthe probes still operate. Many are nearlandmarks such as Trevi Fountain andPiazza Navona. As chefs dish out pastaand waiters pour wine, anti-Mafia investi-gators - huddled in their offices - scruti-nize tax returns and property deeds andleases. Beyond mob-owned restaurants,tourists also stand a good chance ofsleeping in hotels where more thansheets are being laundered. In one case,prosecutors alleged that a conventturned into a hotel was acquired by the‘ndrangheta just in time for the 2000Holy Year - when millions of devout pil-grims poured into Rome. “We can seize10 businesses a day,” said anti-Mafia pros-ecutor Michele Prestipino. “And they canbuy up 10 more in a day.”

What’s more, the restaurants don’tsuffer any hit to their business from themafia taint, since most tourists are bliss-

fully unaware of the probes. Romeorecounted how police roused him fromsleep the morning two Via dei Pastinirestaurants were seized. Two days later,the doors reopened, and tourists flockedback. That, however, hasn’t been the casewith the lawmakers at parliament, ashort walk away from Il Barroccio. “Thepoliticians used to come here,” saidRomeo, his face glum. “Now they saythey can’t come any more.”

Connections While a few lawmakers might be

avoiding the trattoria, Rome’s status asthe Italian political and administrativecapital is an added attraction for themob. “You make connections, importantfriendships,” Prestipino, the anti-Mafiaprosecutor, told The AP in his Romeoffice. And Rome offers the right ingredi-ents for mobsters, being hundreds ofkilometers from their centuries-old pow-er bases. “It’s a place where even conspic-uous wealth blends in with other wealth,”said Prestipino. Restaurants and hotels inMilan, Turin and other northern cities,including in the prosperous regions ofVeneto and Emilia Romagna, are alsobecoming ‘ndrangheta properties,according to Prestipino, who used tofight the ‘ndrangheta on its home turf inimpoverished Calabria, the toe of Italy’sboot. Alfonso Sabella, a former Sicilianmagistrate who battled Cosa Nostra, hasurged Rome to create a mechanism tohelp spot anomalies like frequent owner-ship changes. Sabella recently served asRome’s first “legality commissioner” tohelp City Hall root out corruption anddiscourage infiltration by mobsters in thecapital’s economic fabric.

The lobby group for Rome’s 15,000restaurants is alarmed by organizedcrime infiltration, saying that mobsters -unlike honest restaurateurs - have nearlyunlimited funds to make establishmentssuccessful as eateries, not just fronts fororganized crime. “There are localesseized in the past years that were flour-ishing,” Fabio Spada, president of the FIPEConfcommercio Roma lobby, told AP.“They raked in a lot, independent of theirvocation as money-launderers.”

Technique Indeed, in recent years, organized

crime has been increasingly aiming to“make clean money from dirty money”by investing illicit revenues into legiti-mate sectors of the economy, said Lt ColGerardo Mastrodomenico of the organ-ized-crime squad of Italy’s tax police. Thefirst two Via dei Pastini trattorias - LaRotonda and Er Faciolaro - were seized inMarch. Il Barroccio was seized in July.

Money for laundering is usuallymoved through several often sophisticat-ed financial channels, to make it harderfor investigators to keep up with themoney trail. To sniff out possible front-men, accountants and other financialexperts who work for a special anti-orga-nized crime unit of Italy’s tax police siftthrough property sale and lease records,comparing the profession and incomedeclared on tax returns.

That technique led to what so far hasbeen the most high-profile anti-launder-ing seizure - the 2009 sequester of Cafede Paris, a Via Veneto hangout madefamous in “La Dolce Vita”, FedericoFellini’s classic film. The owner on proper-ty deeds was a modestly-earning barberfrom a tiny hamlet in the Aspromontemountains of Calabria, an ‘ndranghetastronghold.Fanning out from that probe,investigators checked out friends, andfriends of friends - anyone who had anyconnections with those thought to bereally running the Cafe de Paris. One manwho caught investigators’ attention wasa Calabrian-born Rome businessman,Salvatore Lania. Intercepted phone callsindicated that he has links to suspectedmembers of a powerful ‘ndrangheta clan,said Carabinieri Col Renato Chicoli, with aspecial anti-Mafia investigative unit inRome. When police started looking intoLania’s background, they found that hisincome tax returns declared “almostnothing”, Chicoli said in an interview. Sohow, investigators wondered, could thisman suddenly start snapping up restau-rants, and even a building, along priceyVia dei Pastini?

Lania, 47, is being investigated forfalse registration of property ownership.But he isn’t suspected of belonging tothe ‘ndrangheta, said Chicoli. Accordingto court documents filed in connectionwith the first Via dei Pastini seizures,none of those under probe are suspect-ed of actually being an organized crimemember. In these documents, Romeo isdescribed as being a “hidden” partner inrunning Er Faciolaro, while his shares areofficially in the name of a brother-in-law.The court document ordering the seizurealso describes Romeo as “physically rep-resenting Salvatore Lania inside therestaurant, in running the business activi-ty, in which he’s listed as an employee.”

Lania, Romeo and more than a dozenothers, including family members, aresuspected of playing roles in the allegedscheme to hide the real owners of therestaurants. According to investigators, a29-year-old Egyptian waiter and 22-year-old Ukrainian waitress agreed to benamed as the owners of one restaurant,Chicoli said.—AP

Needing ‘clean cash,’ mafia hungry for Rome eateries

Tourists unaware of money laundering moves

MINNEAPOLIS: A Minnesota agency isinvestigating the shooting by aMinneapolis police officer of a blackman suspected in an assault, an incidentthat sparked protests and prompted acommunity forum with the mayor andpolice chief. Accounts from some wit-nesses that the man was handcuffedwhen he was shot early Sunday morn-ing led to outrage. Police said their pre-liminary investigation shows the manwas not handcuffed, but the investiga-tion is ongoing.

A large, agitated crowd gathered atthe scene and demonstrations enduredthroughout the day. Witnesses saidpolice used a chemical irritant to sub-due the protesters. About 10 protestersspent a rainy and windy Sunday nightoutside a police precinct station not farfrom the scene of the shooting, andvowed to stay until the officer wasarrested or indicted.

Jason Sole, chair of the MinneapolisNAACP’s criminal justice committee,said Sunday that many black residents

of north Minneapolis are upset. “Wehave been saying for a significantamount of time that Minneapolis is onebullet away from Ferguson,” he said,referring to the police shooting last yearin the St. Louis suburb that promptednationwide protests. “That bullet wasfired last night. We want justice immedi-ately,” Sole told Minnesota Public RadioNews.

The shooting happened after policesaid they were called to northMinneapolis around 12:45 a.m. Sundayfor a report of an assault. When theyarrived, the man had returned and wasinterfering with paramedics who wereassisting the victim, police said. Officerstried to calm him, but there was a strug-gle. At some point, an officer fired atleast once, hitting the man, police said.Authorities have not released any infor-mation on the officer, including nameand race. Authorities have also declinedto release the name of the man whowas shot, but the Minneapolis NAACPcited family members and witnesses in

identifying him as Jamar Clark.

Life SupportMartez McKnight, 22, told AP that

Clark, his uncle, was put on life supportafter he was taken to a hospital. “Thefamily is heartbroken and traumatizedby the whole event,” McKnight said. Astatement Sunday night from state RepRaymond Dehn, who represents thearea, said Clark was on life support.Police and a spokeswoman for theHennepin County Medical Center saidthey could not comment on the man’scondition. Protesters organized by thegroup Black Lives Matter Minneapolismarched through the streets Sundayafternoon. Some beat drums and otherscarried banners. The group went to apolice precinct, where they banged onthe door and demanded to be allowedinside. Raeisha Williams with theMinneapolis NAACP told the AP protest-ers plan to stay at the precinct until thenames of the officers involved arereleased.— AP

Protests after police shoot black man in Minneapolis

I N T E R N AT I O N A LTUESDAY, NOVEMBER 17, 2015

BRUSSELS: Prosecutors on Sunday dis-closed a growing Belgian connection tothe Paris attacks as Premier Charles Michelconceded that a Brussels neighborhood isa “gigantic problem” given its past links tointernational terrorism. Belgian prosecu-tors cooperating with their French coun-terparts said two assailants killed inFriday’s attacks were Frenchmen who hadlived in Brussels, that two cars tied to theattacks found in Paris were rented inBelgium, and Belgian police have detainedseven people. At least one of the deadassailants and five of the people arrestedin raids Saturday had spent time in thepoor immigrant Brussels district ofMolenbeek, officials said.

Belgium also issued an internationalwarrant for the arrest of Salah Abdeslam,who lived in Molenbeek, while his brotherMohammed, who was arrested in thisneighborhood while returning from Paris,is still in custody, officials said. A thirdbrother Brahim died after having set offhis explosives-laden suicide belt near acafe in Paris’ 11th district, investigatorssaid.

The trail led to the three brothers fol-lowing the discovery of two cars regis-tered in Belgium, one of them near theBataclan concert hall where 89 peoplewere gunned down, and the other in aParis suburb, Belgian prosecutors said. Theresults of the probe so far highlight how

Molenbeek has for two decades lodgedIslamist extremists who have fought orsupported wars in Algeria, Afghanistanand Bosnia as well as in Syria and Iraq, ana-lyst Claude Moniquet told AFP.

Jihadist ‘hotbed’ “It’s not the only one in Belgium, it is

certainly not the only one in Europe, but itis a hotbed for jihadism,” Moniquet said.Belgium as a whole has spawned nearly500 jihadists for Syria and Iraq from a pop-ulation of only 11 million-the highest fig-ure per capita in the European Union,security services said. What is striking isthat Belgium and more specificallyMolenbeek remain a haven for extremistsdespite the toughening of anti-terroristlegislation as well as the dismantling ofrecruitment networks since the 1990s.

“Europe no longer has borders and it istherefore logical that (extremists) benefittoo,” Brussels mayor Yvan Mayeur saidSunday. “But we must stop being a basefor those who make war in Europe,” hesaid. Molenbeek, where a large Muslimcommunity lives, including a radicalminority, is more than ever in the eye ofthe storm.

“Among this small minority, there arefigures known at the European and inter-national levels,” according to Moniquet,CEO of the Brussels-based EuropeanStrategic Intelligence and Security Center.

They lure people online, he added, com-paring the neighborhood’s jihadist influ-ence to that of Finsbury Park in Londonabout 15 years ago. Part of the reasonMolenbeek became such a hotbed isbecause local politicians failed for years toface up to extremism in order to keep“social peace” and continue getting elect-ed, Moniquet said. Belgium’s PremierMichel acknowledged the problem on

Sunday. “I have noticed there is almostalways a link to Molenbeek, that there is agigantic problem there,” he said. “In thelast few months, many initiatives havebeen launched in the fight against radicali-sation, but there should be a greater crack-down,” Michel added. “We are going towork more intensely with the local author-ities. The federal government is ready toprovide more means.”

‘Anonymity easier’ In 2001, it was in Molenbeek where the

assassins of Afghanistan’s anti-Talebancommander Ahmad Shah Massoud hadstayed. It was also home for a while forHassan El Haski, who was found guilty ofbeing one of the masterminds of the 2004Madrid train bombings.

Mehdi Nemmouche, the main suspectin the Jewish Museum attack in Brussels inMay last year, also stayed there. Ayoub ElKhazzani, the perpetrator of the foiledattack in August on the Paris-bound trainfrom Amsterdam, stayed in Molenbeekwith his sister before boarding the loco-motive in Brussels.

Belgian authorities have also estab-lished links with the jihadist cell thatpolice smashed in the eastern Belgian cityof Verviers in January. “They do not allcome from here, and most of the time,they are just travelling through,” accordingto Molenbeek Mayor FrancoiseSchepmans, a member of Michel’s liberalparty MR. “In some districts, the popula-tion is very dense, with 80 percent of thepeople of north African origin. Anonymityis easier for people passing through withvery bad intentions,” she said.

“They also land in districts which arebreeding grounds for radicalization,” shesaid, before taking a dig at her socialistpredecessor: “One should have beenfirmer from the start.” — AFP

Belgium connection under spotlight after Paris attacks

ROME: People mourn during a Europe-wide minute of silence to honor the victims ofthe terror attacks in Paris, in front of the French Embassy, in Rome, yesterday. — AP

MANILA, Philippines: Tensions with China and theParis attacks could upstage trade issues at the AsiaPacific Economic Cooperation summit, being heldunder extra-heavy security in the Philippine capitalthis week. President Barack Obama and the leadersof China, Japan, Mexico and other nations in the 21-member APEC bloc are converging with 7,000 offi-cials, CEOs and other participants at a conventioncenter by Manila Bay.

The meetings culminate in a 2-day summit ofleaders beginning tomorrow. Russia’s president,Vladimir Putin, is skipping the Manila meetings,partly to focus on an investigation into the Oct. 31crash of a Russian passenger jet in Egypt that killedall 224 people on board. He will be represented byPrime Minister Dmitry Medvedev. IndonesianPresident Joko “Jokowi” Widodo will likely stay hometo deal with domestic problems, according toPhilippine officials.

Founded in 1989 in Canberra, Australia, APECaims to demolish barriers to trade and investmentthrough nonbinding accords. The unwieldy group-ing of countries and self-governing territories thatrange from liberal democracies to dictatorshipsaccounts for 3 billion people, half of global tradeand 60 percent of world GDP. Critics say APEC, whichhas focused mainly on economic and trade issues,has few concrete achievements because of its non-binding status. They dub it a talk shop and joke theacronym means “A Perfect Excuse to Chat.” But pro-ponents believe those qualities are its strengths.

“That’s exactly the beauty of APEC, you don’thave to worry about committing yourself to any-thing because it’s non-binding,” said PhilippineFinance Secretary Cesar Purisima. “It gives leadersthe freedom to bounce ideas, new ideas.”

Though members tend to shy away from divisivesecurity and geopolitical issues, rifts and politicalstrife often overshadow the annual show of unitythat is symbolized by the photo-op of leadersdressed in quirky or traditional shirts provided bythe host country. Friday’s attacks in Paris that killedat least 129 people have already created a dilemmafor APEC. The Islamic State group claimed responsi-bility for the attacks on a stadium, a concert hall andParis cafes.

Behind closed doors, senior diplomats weredivided over whether to issue a statement on theattacks or let each leader speak on his or her own.The compromise: a paragraph on terrorism is beingadded to the APEC summit statement. One diplo-mat rejected any mention of the attacks in the state-ment, fearing it would draw the Islamic State group’sattention to APEC, said a Southeast Asian diplomatwho attended the meetings. The diplomat spoke oncondition of anonymity because the conversationswere not intended to be public.

The diplomat said the United States wanted astrongly worded response and APEC’s responsecould still change when the leaders meet. They havea precedent. APEC leaders issued a statement inShanghai in October 2001 to condemn the attacksin the U.S. the month before and vowed to helpcombat terrorism.

Including any security-related topic in APEC’s for-mal talks is touchy for China, which fears that couldpave the way for discussion of territorial conflicts inthe South China Sea. Beijing says the disputes are anAsian problem that outsiders such as the US have nobusiness dabbling in.

The Philippines has been the most outspokenamong five APEC governments that have formal ter-ritorial disputes with Beijing in the South China Sea.Yesterday, as economic ministers met ahead of thesummit, anti-Chinese protesters burned a Chineseflag to vent their anger over the territorial standoff.

“Boycott all China products,” said a banner at theprotest, which took place outside the US Embassy inManila - not in front of the Chinese Embassy. China’stop diplomat, Wang Yi, visited Manila last week andasked the Philippines not to raise such contentiousissues during the APEC summit for the sake of the“political dignity” of Xi’s visit, Philippine diplomatssaid.

China and the US are constantly jockeying foreconomic and political clout in the region, duringAPEC summits and other occasions, and at themoment Xi is battling headwinds given the frictionover territorial spats. Massive Chinese constructionwork aimed at turning seven disputed South ChinaSea reefs into islands that could be used militarilyhave raised alarm. In contrast, two US militarypatrols in seas claimed by China, including flights

last week by a pair of B-52 bombers near the artifi-cial islands, were welcomed by America’s allies inAsia.

“The US image in the region is again on the riseand China’s has taken a bit of a battering due to itsactions in the South China Sea, the slowing growthof its economy,” said Malcolm Cook of the Institutefor Southeast Asian Studies in Singapore. The recentsuccess in wrapping up protracted talks on a free-trade deal called the Trans-Pacific Partnership has

also boosted Obama’s prestige, said Ernie Bower,director of the Southeast Asia program at the Centerfor Strategic and International Studies.

The deal includes the US and 11 other Pacific Rimcountries, but not China. “Obama and the WhiteHouse have done everything they need to do to bewell prepared for a strong Asia trip,” Bower said.“Obama will be received in Manila as an Americanleader who ‘gets Asia’ and is emphasizing US long-term interests.” — AP

US-China rivalry, Paris attack in focus at APEC

Leaders meet under extra-heavy security in Manila

MANILA: Delegates attend Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) Ministerial Meeting(AMM) in Manila yesterday. The Philippines put its military and police on full alert and vowedto upgrade security for world leaders meeting in Manila after gunmen killed more than 120people in Paris. — AFP

MANILA: A woman stands in front of police as Filipino laborers clash with police in theMakati section of Manila yesterday during protests to raise issues as world leaders arrivefor the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) Summit this week. — AFP

BELGRADE: The focus on a Syrian passportfound near the body of a suicide bomber in theParis attacks highlights an uncomfortable reality:European authorities are completing few checkson the hundreds of thousands of people movingacross their territory fleeing war and poverty.

Paris prosecutor’s office said yesterday thatthe man who blew himself up outside thenational soccer stadium was found with a Syrianpassport with the name Ahmad Al Mohammad, a25-year-old born in Idlib. It said fingerprints fromthe attacker match those of someone whopassed through Greece in October.

Besides Greece, the passport was registeredin October in Serbia and Croatia, all three coun-tries on the corridor that crosses the Balkans andis known for lax controls and ease in obtainingtransit documents. The owner was allowed toproceed because he passed what is essentiallythe only test in place - he had no internationalarrest warrant against him, police in the statessaid.

It was not clear whether the passport was realor fake, but trafficking in fake Syrian passportshas increased as hundreds of thousands of peo-ple try to get refugee status, the chief of theEuropean Union border agency Frontex has said.Most of those who enter countries on the so-called Balkan corridor for migrants - Greece,Macedonia, Serbia and Croatia - are registeredwith authorities. Their data are checked againstInterpol records, and their fingerprints and pho-tos are taken. But, many people tell officials thatthey’ve lost their identity papers, and they cangive false names and other information, includ-ing their country of origin. A large majority ofmigrants declare themselves as Syrians from thewar-torn country, although they have no docu-ments to prove it, Serbian police say. Syrianrefugees have a better chance of getting asylumin Germany than those classified as economicmigrants from Afghanistan, Iraq or Pakistan.

In Serbia, some 490,000 migrants have passedthrough this year, and many say they don’t havedocuments - making it impossible to check forterrorist connections or criminal histories, to veri-

fy their backgrounds, Serbian officials saidSunday. There are no recorded cases of peoplebeing turned away after random checks any-where in the Balkan migrant corridor. That maybe because the corridor states want migrants topass through quickly, without getting stuck intheir territory for a long time before reaching richEU states such as Germany, Sweden or France.

“No one can know for certain where theycome from, their true identity or if their docu-ments are genuine,” Serbian labor ministerAleksandar Vulin said. “The Paris suspects havenot been registered anywhere as terrorists, soSerbia could not have known that they representa danger.” Frontex spokeswoman Ewa Moncuretold The Associated Press that “among some500,000 people, you will find some with falsedocuments.” “There is always a certain percent-age of false Syrian passports and identity docu-ments revealed on the Greek border,” she said.

The holder of the passport found next to thebomber’s body is registered as entering Greeceon Oct. 3, Greek officials said, adding that thepassport owner entered the country throughLeros, one of the eastern Aegean islands thattens of thousands have been using as a gatewayinto the European Union.

The owner of the passport then formallyrequested asylum in Serbia Oct. 7, according to aSerbian police statement. The document allowedhim three days to pass through the country onhis way to Croatia. Police did not give a name,identifying the passport’s owner only as A.A.

The passport-holder entered Croatia fromSerbia on Oct 8, Croatian police spokeswomanHelena Biocic said Sunday. The owner was notflagged as suspicious and then proceeded toHungary and Austria. The passport was foundafter Friday’s attack on France’s national stadium,next to the body of one of three suicide bomberswho blew themselves nearby. In all, 129 peoplewere killed in Paris in the violence, the worst inFrance in decades. Authorities said three teamsof attackers were involved in the gun and bombattacks on the stadium, a concert hall and Pariscafes. — AP

MANILA: US President Barack Obama will todayvisit the Philippine Navy’s flagship, the WhiteHouse said, seeking to highlight American com-mitment to regional maritime security.

Obama will board the US-made Gregorio delPilar shortly after arriving in the Philippine capi-tal of Manila for annual trade talks with Asia-Pacific leaders, including China’s Xi Jinping.

“In the afternoon, the president will tour theBRP Gregorio del Pilar,” a White House statementsaid on Monday as it detailed Obama’s plans forhis first of three days in Manila.

Obama’s aides had earlier said the presidentplanned an event that showcased “US maritimesecurity assistance to the Philippines and theregion”. The White House statement detailed thevenue, with the frigate a symbolic choice as itwas formerly a US Coast Guard cutter that wasacquired by the Philippines in 2011.

Obama’s move risks irking China, which isembroiled in a bitter territorial row over theSouth China Sea with the Philippines and someof its other Asian neighbors. China had madeclear it hoped the focus of the two-day APECsummit, which starts on Wednesday, wouldsolely be on trade talks and not touch on theSouth China Sea.

But US National Security Advisor Susan Rice

said in Washington last week that the SouthChina Sea would be a “central issue” duringObama’s time in Asia. After Manila, Obama willtravel to Malaysia for another regional summit.In the same briefing as Rice, national securityaide Ben Rhodes said Obama’s visit to the then-unnamed maritime facility was aimed at com-forting nervous Asian allies.

“Clearly, in our alliance with the Philippinesand our focus in the region, we have been com-mitted to maritime security, to principles likefreedom of navigation, and to the peaceful reso-lution of disputes,” Rhodes said. “This event willbe an opportunity for the president to showcasesome of that maritime security assistance.”

China claims nearly all of the South ChinaSea, even waters approaching the coasts of itsneighbours. China’s building of artificial islandsin waters close to the Philippines, a longstandingUS ally, prompted the American military torecently deploy a missile destroyer and B-52bomber planes to the area.

China regularly insists the United States hasno role to play in the territorial dispute.Washington says it takes no sides, but that free-dom of navigation must be maintained in thesea, which is home to some of the world’s mostimportant shipping routes. — AFP

PARIS: The rector of the Great Mosque of Pariscalled yesterday on all French imams to lead thefaithful in Friday prayers for the victims of thecountry’s worst ever terror attacks.

“I appeal to imams to take part in a solemnprayer to show our compassion and share in thefamilies’ sorrow,” rector Dalil Boubakeur toldreporters. He was speaking after a minute ofsilence was observed across France and Europein honour of the 129 victims of the gun and sui-cide attacks that rocked Paris at the weekend.

Boubakeur voiced “horror” at the “unspeak-able acts” which had targeted “absolutely inno-cent” Parisians. “We, Muslims of France, can onlyinsist on the need for national unity in opposingthis misfortune which has afflicted us and which

attacks indiscriminately,” he said. “We are all vic-tims of this barbarity,” he said, repeating a callmade by religious and political leaders after aseries of jihadist attacks in January for peoplenot to tar all Muslims with the same brush ofextremism. The suicide bombers behind Friday’sattacks on the national stadium, a packed con-cert hall and bars and restaurants were “peoplewho call themselves Muslims but who should,by rights, be called barbarians”, he said.Boubakeur observed the midday minute ofsilence on the steps of the Great Mosque,together with a handful of worshippers.Afterwards, they said a prayer before listening insilence to a rendition of the Marseillaise, theFrench national anthem. — AFP

Focus on passport highlights lack of migrant checks in EU

Obama to visit PhilippineNavy flagship

French Muslim leader calls onmosques to pray for Paris victims

LIVERPOOL: The French flag flies at half-mast above the Town Hall in Liverpool, northwestEngland yesterday in memory of those killed in the November 13 Paris terror attacks. — AFP

I N T E R N AT ION A LTUESDAY, NOVEMBER 17, 2015

SIT T WE, Myanmar: Noor Bagumwould have liked to have voted forAung San Suu Kyi’s National League forDemocracy (NLD) but, like the majorityof Myanmar ’s persecuted RohingyaMuslim minority, she took no part in thehistoric election the Nobel laureate wonby a landslide.

Stripped of their right to cast ballotsby the current government, manyRohingya now hope that, with the NLDable to rule largely on its own, a Suu Kyi-led government will work to restoretheir lives and many of the rights theyhave lost. “I hope that things will get alittle bit better,” said Noor Bagum, a 28-year-old mother-of-five, whose villagewas destroyed during violence betweenBuddhists and Muslims that sweptthrough Myanmar’s western RakhineState in 2012.

Dealing with the Rohingya will beone of the most controversial - andunavoidable - of a long list of issues SuuKyi will inherit from the current govern-ment. Feted by many in the West for herrole as champion of Myanmar’s pro-democracy movement during longyears of military rule, she has been criti-cized overseas, and by some inMyanmar, for saying little about theabuses faced by the group.

When an NLD government takespower in March, she will come undermounting international pressure to takea definitive stance in their defense. Butspeaking out for the Rohingya would

carry a political cost at home. The groupis widely disliked in Myanmar, wherethey are seen as illegal immigrants fromBangladesh - including by some in SuuKyi’s party. She risks haemorrhagingsupport by taking up the cause of thebeleaguered minority.

LOCAL RIVALThe NLD also faces a powerful local

rival - the Arakan National Party (ANP) -that has been accused of stoking anti-Muslim sentiment and has called for thedeportation of Rohingya. The ANP won22 of 29 national level seats in Rakhineand took 22 of the 35 elected seats inthe state’s regional assembly, one of thestrongest showings by an ethnic partyin the election.

“We’ll be damned if we do, and we’llbe damned if we don’t,” said Win Htein, asenior NLD leader, adding that standingup for the Rohingya would give the ANP“ample reason to criticize the NLD”.Although many have lived in Myanmarfor generations, the Rohingya are notone of the 135 ethnic groups recog-nized under the country’s citizenshiplaw and are thus entitled to only limitedrights. Many Rohingya held temporarycitizenship documents, known as “whitecards”, that allowed them to vote beforethey were nullified by President TheinSein this year. “We won’t be able to solvethe problem as long as the internationalcommunity is supporting and standingfor the Bengalis,” said ANP vice-chair-

man Phone Minn, using the govern-ment’s term for the group, which insinu-ates they are illegal immigrants fromBangladesh. Phone Minn was elected toa Rakhine regional parliament seat onSunday. Noor Bagum, and thousands ofother Rohingya are now kept as virtualprisoners outside the state capital ofSittwe in refugee camps l ike ThaeChaung, a dusty sprawl of listing bam-boo huts covered with patchworks oftarps and relief agency rice bags.

“This time, we would have voted forthe NLD,” she said, a sentiment widelyreflected across the camp.

CITIZENSHIP LAWSo far, the NLD has offered little in

the way of concrete policy that wouldtackle Rohingya citizenship status ortheir resettlement and integration backinto the communities they were forcedto flee. But the first post-election com-ments by the party’s senior leader WinHtein on the 1982 Citizenship Act thatdenied Rohingya full citizenship rightsshowed that their hope may be justified.

“It must be reviewed because it’s tooextreme...review that law and make nec-essary amendments so that we considerthose people who are already in ourcountry, maybe second generation, sothey will be considered as citizens,” WinHtein told Reuters.

Win Htein said that he wanted theNLD administration to allow theRohingya to settle anywhere in the

country to “lessen the burden onRakhine State”. It was not clear if WinHtein, one of the most influential politi-cians in the party, was speaking onbehalf of the party or giving a personalview.

ANP’s Phone Minn has a differentview. He said that the law was “the solu-tion”. “If they followed that law, theproblem will be solved...if these Bengalipeople deserve citizenship according tothe law, they can get it,” said PhoneMinn. Suu Kyi has never visited the

refugee camps that house some140,000 people, mainly Rohingya. Still,many believe her government will bemore sympathetic than the outgoingUnion Solidarity and DevelopmentParty, which was created by the coun-try’s former junta and led by retired mili-tary officers.

Mohammed Solim, 32, who likemany camp residents was angry atbeing deprived of the right to vote, said:“We hope that since the NLD won, wewill get freedom.” —Reuters

Persecuted Rohingya see a ray of hope in Suu Kyi win

Winners and losers return to Myanmar parliament

Election losers can still make laws for 21/2 months

YANGON: Myanmar opposition leader Aung San Suu Kyi receives flowers as she signs on the registration book upon arrival at parliament toattend a regular lower house session yesterday.—AFP

KABUL: Last year, Hamid Rostami, a 28-year-old from Wardak in westernAfghanistan, was expelled from Denmarkafter years trying to stay in Europe. Joblessand cut off from his family, he now sits inwintry Kabul wondering how to go back.

Jobless and unwilling to go home to adistrict where he says a dozen people fromthe Hazara ethnic minority to which hebelongs have been killed by Taleban mili-tants in recent weeks, his choices are bleak.“If I can get enough money I’ll go again. It ishard to survive here,” he said. “The situationis bad in Kabul. There is no security, no job.If you go out of your house it’s unclearwhat may happen to you. You can’t go any-where.”

Rostami’s predicament underlines theproblem for European countries that prom-ised to send back failed asylum seekers inthe face of growing public alarm at thenumbers arriving.

“The truth is that most Afghans who areforced to return will try to leave again,whatever policy makers intend,” said CeriOeppen, from the University of Sussex inBritain, who has worked extensively on theproblems of Afghan migrants.

Accurate statistics on the number ofAfghan migrants and asylum seekers toEurope are hard to come by. But since thestart of the year, almost 150,000 havearrived in Greece, the usual entry point toEurope, the second largest number of anycountry after Syria, according to the UnitedNations refugee agency.

Despite billions of dollars in aid to sup-port Afghanistan over the past 14 years, inthe first six months of 2015, around 40,000Afghans applied for asylum in theEuropean Union, according to EU statisticsagency Eurostat.

“Aside from the very wealthy, the onlyones who are not thinking of leaving arethe destitute,” said Liza Schuster, a migra-tion specialist at City University in London,who has just completed three years’ field-work at Kabul University.

“Part of it is driven by an unrealistic ideaof life in Europe, but a huge part is drivenby how difficult it is in Afghanistan,” shesaid.

BLEAK PROSPECTSEven before Friday’s attacks in Paris

increased sensitivity around the issue, pres-sure was rising on European governmentsto limit numbers allowed to stay. Germanyand Sweden, among the most liberal coun-tries towards refugees, have signalled atougher stance in the face of growing pub-lic disquiet.

The Afghan government has been tornbetween the need to satisfy aid donors thatit is trying to keep citizens from emigratingen masse, and alarm at the prospect of hav-ing to resettle thousands of returnees sentback from Europe.

This week, Foreign Minister SalahuddinRabbani and Sayed Hussain Alemi Balkhi,Minister for Refugees, met EU ambassadors

to plead for generous treatment of refugeeapplicants given unstable security and theapproaching winter. Behind the requestslies a stark reality, said Abdul Ghafoor, a for-mer migrant who runs an information serv-ice in Kabul for Afghans thinking of leavingor returnees trying to adjust.

“Afghanistan is simply not ready to takeall the returnees back,” he said. “It’s not justbasic security, it ’s about work andprospects for the future.”

The economy has been hit by a sharpfall in aid money, and jobs are in short sup-ply. Security has also worsened since NATOallies ended combat operations, with theinsurgency spreading to a point where theTaliban briefly seized the northern city ofKunduz in September.

Bomb attacks regularly hit Kabul, andaccording to United Nations figures fromAugust, 1,592 civilians were killed and3,329 wounded in fighting since the start ofthe year.

KABUL OVERCROWDEDA large demonstration in Kabul last

week, sparked by the gruesome executionof seven Hazaras by Islamist militants,underlined the fear and anger thatPresident Ashraf Ghani has been unable toease.

With more of the country under Talebancontrol, returnees end up stuck in an over-crowded Kabul, far from family networksessential to survival in Afghanistan.European governments have devotedmajor efforts to helping returnees resettle,providing travel assistance, cash bonusesand retraining opportunities for those will-ing to go back.

Many observers who work on Afghanmigration say repatriation aid can gotowards financing fresh efforts to leave, butMasood Ahmadi, who heads the resettle-ment program operated by theInternational Organization for Migration,said tight controls on how the money isused limit that risk.

“There are a lot of reasons for us tobelieve that reintegration support will notfinance remigration,” he said in his Kabuloffice. With the cost of a single trip around$7,000-8,000, the price of migration is high,but the promise of a better life in Europe isa powerful attraction, despite well-knownrisks of the voyage and the grinding strug-gle that awaits those who make it.

Ahmadi said the expectations of manymigrants were unrealistic and more effortshould go towards persuading peoplethere are better opportunities at homerather than accepting emigration isinevitable. “With $7,000 or $8,000, you canmake a good business in Afghanistan.”

For Rostami, however, the lure of Europeis already too strongly anchored and mostof his friends have left. “If I tell my storyabout how I was deported to other people,they don’t believe me. If you tell them thatliving conditions are very bad in Europe,they won’t believe you.” — Reuters

Sent back from Europe, some Afghans prepare to try again

YANGON: Novice Buddhist nuns line up after walking the streets to collect almsin central Yangon.—AP

NAYPYIDAW, Myanmar: Myanmar’s AungSan Suu Kyi returned to parliament yesterdayalong with dozens of rivals freshly hammeredby her pro-democracy party’s landslide elec-tion victory as the legislature begins oversee-ing the country’s delicate transition.

Suu Kyi is constitutionally barred from toppolitical office but has vowed to rule “above”the next president, who she will select follow-ing her National League for Democracy’s for-midable win in the November 8 polls. TheNLD bulldozed the current army-backed rul-ing party in polls set to dramatically reshapethe country’s political landscape.

But it will be the lawmakers from the mili-tary proxy Union Solidarity and DevelopmentParty-still smarting from their election drub-bing-who will continue to dominate parlia-ment as the pre-election legislature returnsfor a final session that will last until at leastthe end of January.

Suu Kyi was mobbed by dozens of journal-ists as she arrived at the parliament yesterday,but declined to make any comment as shetakes a low profile approach to victory. She isbanned from becoming president by the jun-ta-era constitution because she married andhad children with a foreigner. The Nobel lau-reate has nevertheless pledged to rule an NLDgovernment through a puppet president,without revealing a candidate or setting outhow the arrangement would work.

Suu Kyi has the power to select a presidentbecause of her party’s parliamentary majority,with the candidate chosen in a vote of thenew NLD-dominated legislature in February.Observers predict a fevered period of politicalhorse-trading, centered on the uncertaintyover the presidency as the country creeps outof the shadow of the military.

NLD spokesman Win Htein told AFP thatthe party was acutely conscious that the size

of its victory mirrors its success in 1990 elec-tions, which were ignored by the then rulinggenerals who clung to power for another twodecades. “This time, although we are quiteglad that we won, we worry that history mayrepeat itself. We don’t think the transition willbe 100 percent perfect,” he told AFP.

Path to power Suu Kyi, 70, has sought to take a conciliato-

ry approach following the elections, dampen-ing victory celebrations and requesting talkswith President Thein Sein, army chief MinAung Hlaing and parliament speaker ShweMann-heavyweights from the former junta.

All three have accepted the invitation butonly Shwe Mann, whose eagerness to workwith Suu Kyi made him enemies among themilitary elite, has already set a date for hismeeting-Thursday.

On Sunday Thein Sein, whose quasi-civiliangovernment has opened the hermit nation tothe world since taking power in 2011, said theelections were the result of his sweepingreforms and sought to reassure Myanmar’snervous populace that the handover of powerwould be smooth.

Myanmar’s complex political system is thebrainchild of the former junta, which hasincrementally loosened its suffocating grip inrecent years with stark changes, includingreleasing political prisoners and welcomingforeign investment. The army, which retains aquarter of parliamentary seats and otherpolitical and economic privileges, has alsopledged to support the transition. Suu Kyi hascriticized the long handover process, callingthe constitution that proscribes it “very silly”.

“This is quite incredible; nowhere else inthe world is there such a gap between theend of the elections and the forming of thenew administration and certainly it is some-thing about which we should all be con-cerned,” she told reporters ahead of the elec-tions. —AFP

SEOUL: South Korea said yesterday it was“closely watching” for any signs of an immi-nent North Korean missile test afterPyongyang reportedly issued a no-sail zoneoff its east coast. The South’s Yonhap newsagency had quoted a government source onSunday as saying the North had imposed theno-navigation zone off the coastal city ofWonsan from November 11 to December 7.

The Defence Ministry in Seoul said no for-mal notification had been filed with SouthKorea or the International MaritimeOrganization, suggesting that the advisorywas for domestic shipping only.

The Japanese government also said it hadreceived no official warning. Similar advi-sories in the past have not always been fol-

lowed by a missile test, but Seoul said it wasremaining vigilant.

“We are closely watching the situation ...and closely monitoring related factors from amilitary standpoint,” a defense ministryspokesman said, without elaborating. The iso-lated, nuclear-armed North regularly test-firesshort-range missiles into the East Sea as partof scheduled military drills, or as a show offorce at times of heightened tensions. TheNorth is banned from tests using any ballisticmissile technology under UN Security Councilresolutions. The North claims it has devel-oped long-range missiles capable of hittingthe US mainland, but many experts sayPyongyang is still years away from obtaininga credible ICBM capability. — AFP

S Korea on alert for sign of North’s missile test

MAZAR-I-SHARIF: Afghan laborer Dawod, 7, harvests cotton as he works on his fami-ly’s farm on the outskirts of Mazar-i-Sharif.—AFP

N E W STUESDAY, NOVEMBER 17, 2015

Continued from Page 1

“They are looking abroad to have these spectacular attacks tofurther their narrative that the caliphate is growing and is suc-cessful,” Brennan said.

Intelligence services were aware that IS was planning attacksoutside their strongholds in Iraq and Syria, particularly targetingEurope, Brennan said. “I can tell you it was not a surprise that thisattack was carried out, from a standpoint that we did have strate-gic warning, we knew plans, plotting by ISIL was underway, look-ing particularly at Europe as a venue for carrying out theseattacks,” he said.

But the large numbers of individuals who have gone to Syriaand Iraq and then returned to Europe, he said, has strained thecapacity of European intelligence services to monitor them all.The fact that such a complex plot was carried out without beingdetected also shows IS has “gone to school on what they need todo in order to keep their activities concealed from the authori-ties”, he said.

Brennan made a pitch for reviewing curbs placed in recentyears on the intelligence services’ surveillance capabilities, saying“unauthorized disclosures” and “handwringing” had made inter-national efforts to track down terrorists “much more challenging”.The Paris attacks show IS is shifting its sights to the West, raisingquestions about a US-led strategy that has focused on air strikeson its strongholds in Syria.

Brennan, however, argued that containing the group in theregion remains the most effective strategy, and said there havebeen notable successes in disrupting the flow of people andmaterial needed to carry out attacks. Likewise, he cautioned thatclosing borders either in Europe or the United States was incon-sistent with western values and “not sustainable”. “We don’t wantto have these terrorists succeed in taking away the freedoms andliberties that we pride ourselves on, whether it be here in theUnited States or in Europe.” But he said no country was “immunefrom ISIL’s touch”.

Meanwhile, at least eight US states are seeking to block a pro-gram to resettle Syrian refugees within their borders, citing secu-rity fears in the wake of the Paris attacks. The movement swelledSunday and Monday, prompting President Barack Obama topush back by urging the United States to “step up and do its part”to help those fleeing war-torn Syria. The discovery of a Syrianpassport near the body of one Paris assailant, has revivedEurope’s debate on how hard a line to take on record migrantinflux from Syria.

In the United States, Republican presidential hopefuls Marco

Rubio and Jeb Bush said outright America must not take in Syrianrefugees because they might include Islamic State militants. AndRepublican state governors lined up to reject plans to resettleSyrians on US soil. “Given the tragic attacks in Paris and thethreats we have already seen, Texas cannot participate in any pro-gram that will result in Syrian refugees - any one of whom couldbe connected to terrorism - being resettled in Texas,” GovernorGreg Abbott of the large southern state wrote yesterday in a let-ter to Obama.

Abbott urged the president to halt his plans to resettle thou-sands of Syrian refugees in the United States, arguing the govern-ment could not provide safety guarantees. “As such, opening ourdoor to them irresponsibly exposes our fellow Americans tounacceptable peril,” he said. Mississippi Governor Phil Bryantissued a similarly blunt statement, saying “I will do everythinghumanly possible to stop any plans from the Obama administra-tion to put Syrian refugees in Mississippi.” Obama’s policy of wel-coming such individuals “is not only misguided, it is extremelydangerous.”

Alabama and Michigan announced their opposition to Syrianrefugees on Sunday. In addition to Mississipi and Texas, they havebeen joined by Arkansas, Indiana, Louisiana and Illinois. All eightstates are led by Republican governors. Alabama GovernorRobert Bentley opposed Democrat Obama’s plans, saying “I willnot stand complicit to a policy that places the citizens ofAlabama in harm’s way.”

Governor Rick Snyder, whose state of Michigan is home toone of America’s largest concentrations of Middle East immi-grants, said he had decided to suspend arrivals of Syrian refugeesunder Obama’s program until the Department of HomelandSecurity completes a “full review” of security clearances and pro-cedures. Michigan’s leading newspaper, the Detroit Free Press,reported that between 1,800 and 2,000 refugees have resettledin the state over the past year, about 200 of whom were fromSyria.

Another US governor, Louisiana’s Bobby Jindal who also isrunning for the Republican Party’s 2016 presidential nomination,wrote Obama Saturday expressing “grave concern” about allow-ing Syrian migrants into the country, and saying it would be “pru-dent to pause the process”. “Authorities need to investigate whathappened in Europe before this problem comes to the UnitedStates,” Jindal wrote. Jindal complained he was kept in the darkabout Syrian refugees as they began arriving in New Orleans ear-lier this month. “It is irresponsible and severely disconcerting toplace individuals, who may have ties to ISIS, in a state without thestate’s knowledge or involvement,” he said. — — Agencies

CIA chief expects more IS attacks in ‘pipeline’


The ultra-hardline militants have also claimed responsi-bility for bringing down a Russian airliner over the SinaiPeninsula on Oct 31 which killed all 224 people on boardafter Russia began its own campaign of air strikes in Syria.Turkish authorities suspect a high-profile British jihadistdetained in Turkey last week may have been planningattacks in Istanbul similar to those in Paris, two securitysources told Reuters on Sunday. The group has also threat-ened to attack Saudi Arabia, United States and Russia.

It was not immediately possible to verify the reportedorder, which Islamic State supporters and fighters said wasgiven to dormant cells in several places. “Their messages tous are sent by blood and carnage so we send them theirmessages back in the same way, it is simple,” the northern-Syria-based fighter said.

The group operates in a very secretive way and has acomplicated structure. In general, its Caliph Abu Bakr Al-Baghdadi is the ultimate decision maker but his deputy isalso powerful. They both consult a Shura Council which iscomprised of military, religious and other leaders who giveadvice to Baghdadi on strategy and military plans. It prac-tices a strict version of Islam which considers all thoseopposing it as infidels who should be killed.

The younger jihadi generation looks up to Baghdadi as a

powerful leader who will help establish a greater IslamicState that will conquer the world to spread Islam. It hasdrawn thousands of jihadists from across the world includ-ing Europe. But tighter security restrictions imposed by sev-eral European countries have prevented would-be jihadistsfrom traveling and joining the group in Syria and Iraq.

To overcome this, the group has established contactsfrom its bases in the Middle East with these jihadists andencouraged them to operate as “lone wolves” or in smallcells to carry out individual attacks inside countries wherethey live or work. According to one of the fighters, the dor-mant cells have no contact with each other but all answerto a special apparatus in charge of “foreign operations”,from which they take orders to attack. He did not elaborate.

Little is known about the head of this apparatus, whothe fighter said is a Jordanian national who works closelywith the leadership in Syria and Iraq and travels betweenthe two countries. He is only known by a nickname. “Hemasterminds these operations, gets in touch with the fol-lowers and supporters there, guide them in training andoperations and targets,” said a jihadi source close to thegroup. His account could not be independently verified. TheNew York Times cited officials on both sides of the Atlanticsaying that the attackers in France had communicated atsome point beforehand with known members of IslamicState in Syria. — Reuters

IS takes war to foes after setbacks


Meanwhile, MP Askar Al-Enezi yesterday sent a seriesof questions to the finance minister about the size of sur-pluses amassed by Kuwait due to high prices of oil sincethe 2009/2010 fiscal year. The lawmaker asked the minis-ter about the amount of the surplus in each year andwhat has the government done with it. He asked if thegovernment has embarked on development projects uti-lizing the budget surplus when oil prices rose above $100

a barrel. He demanded a list of those development proj-ects if they exist, otherwise he asked the minister to pro-vide him with an explanation about the fate of the funds.

The Assembly’s health and labor committee yesterdaygave the government two weeks to send answers on anumber of questions on the proposed health insurancescheme for citizens and the medical insurance policy forexpatriate visitors. Head of the committee MP SaadounHammad said the panel discussed the health insurancescheme for all citizens.

Top court affirms closure of Watan

Emirati children practice a traditional dance for the celebrations of the upcoming 44th anniversary of the establishment of the United Arab Emirates in Sharjah yesterday. — AFP


Investigators identified two more extremistsinvolved in the assault, including a Frenchman previ-ously charged with planning a terror attack and a sui-cide bomber found with a Syrian passport, which hasyet to be authenticated. Russia’s President VladimirPutin, speaking at a G20 conference in Turkey, said theattacks proved the need for an international anti-terrorcoalition. “I spoke about this at the United Nations... andthe tragic events that followed have confirmed that wewere right,” he said. US President Barack Obama, also inTurkey, said a new deal had been agreed with France tospeed up intelligence sharing.

During predawn raids in the southeastern French cityof Lyon, police found “an arsenal of weapons,” includinga rocket launcher and Kalashnikov assault rifle. Morethan 100 people have been placed under house arrest,23 arrested and 31 weapons seized, Interior MinisterBernard Cazeneuve said. As authorities scrambled tofind those responsible, the grieving French tried toreturn to the humdrum of daily life. Mountains of flow-ers and candles have been laid at the scenes of theattacks and in front of businesses that lost loved ones.

“We need to understand how this barbarism canexist and why France is paying this heavy price,” DavidBoy, a 52-year-old advertising agency boss said, his lipstrembling as he lingered at one of the memorials on his

way to work. Metro trains were packed with commuters,pupils returned to schools and museums reopened,although a national state of emergency remained inplace. A social media campaign urged everyone to visitcafes and bars tonight. In the face of “barbarism... cul-ture is our biggest shield and our artists our bestweapon,” said Culture Minister Fleur Pellerin.

Prime Minister Manuel Valls steeled the nation formore bloodshed, telling RTL radio that more operations“are still being prepared, not only against France butother European countries too”. Late on Sunday, Frenchplanes bombed the stronghold of the Islamic Statejihadists. French jets hit an IS command post, a recruit-ment centre, a munitions depot and a training camp inRaqa, northern Syria, and more raids were reported onMonday.

The manhunt continued for 26-year-old SalahAbdeslam, one of the three brothers linked to theattacks. One brother blew himself up in the Bataclanand was identified from a severed finger, while the thirdwas arrested in Belgium but released without charge.The brothers lived in the rundown Brussels neighbour-hood of Molenbeek, which has a reputation as a hotbedof Islamic militancy and where police have made severalarrests. Abdelhamid Abaaoud, 27, a Belgian ofMoroccan descent also from Molenbeek and thought tobe fighting with IS in Syria, is considered a possible mas-termind of the attacks. — AP

Hollande outlines fightback against IS

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A N A L Y S I STUESDAY, NOVEMBER 17, 2015

How the West should respond to the threat posed by theIslamic State in the wake of the attacks in Paris appearslikely to become the dominant question of the next

phase of the 2016 race for president, perhaps for no one morethan Democratic frontrunner Hillary Rodham Clinton. Theattacks that killed 129 people, fueling a fresh wave of anxietyabout the threats posed by Islamic State militants, highlightClinton’s tenure as a former secretary of state and her argu-ment that she is the 2016 candidate most ready to sit in theOval Office. But in her role as President Barack Obama’s topdiplomat, Clinton was deeply involved in crafting the MiddleEast policy that critics say contributed to the rise of IslamicState extremists. That dual dynamic played out Saturday nightduring the second Democratic presidential debate, whichbegan with a moment of silence and 30 minutes of questioningfocused exclusively on the attacks and unrest in the Middle East.Clinton cast herself as a strong leader in a scary world, attribut-ing the chaos in the Middle East not to US policy failures but adecades-long “arc of instability, from North Africa toAfghanistan.” Yet she also grappled with tough criticism of herapproach to more than a decade of unrest across the region.Vermont Sen Bernie Sanders blamed her 2002 vote for the warin Iraq for the rise of Al-Qaeda and the Islamic State group, say-ing the decision to invade “unraveled the region completely.”Former Maryland Gov Martin O’Malley offered his own con-demnation, painting a picture of a world in flames and anObama-led strategy that’s been “not so very good at anticipat-ing threats”. “Libya is now a mess. Syria is a mess. Iraq is a mess.Afghanistan is a mess,” he said.

Differences While Clinton has highlighted her differences with the

Obama administration on their approach to the civil war inSyria in the past, she now largely declines to criticize his strate-gy. After using her opening statement to make the point thatthe Islamic State group “cannot be contained, it must be defeat-ed”- a dig at Obama’s description of the group as “contained” inan interview a day before the attacks - Clinton was quick toalign herself with administration policy. She passed up oppor-tunities to mention her support for a more aggressive strategyin Syria that includes a no-fly zone, a policy backed by herRepublican rivals and opposed by the Obama administration.Disputing a charge the White House repeated the mistakes ofthe war in Iraq in Libya, she argued the administration had aplan for the ousting of Muammar Gadhafi. And she supportedthe White House’s argument that the president does not needa formal declaration of war from Congress to go after theIslamic State militants, disagreeing with some prominent con-gressional Democrats who’ve split with Obama over whetherhis constitutional powers cover the new conflict. When askedwhether Obama underestimated the threat of Islamic State mil-itants, she dodged the question, saying simply, “what the presi-dent has consistently said, which I agree with, is that we willsupport those who take the fight to ISIS”. Obama remains apopular figure in the Democratic Party and Clinton’s ability tocapture the White House will depend in large part on whethershe can win over the coalition of minority, women and youngvoters that twice catapulted him to victory. But his foreign poli-cy remains deeply unpopular. An Associated Press-GfK pollreleased earlier this month found more than 6 in 10 Americansreject his handling of the threat posed by the Islamic State.Republicans are eager to tie Clinton to the legacy of her formerboss. “The president has admitted he does not have a strategyas it relates to ISIS. Hillary Clinton last night said that it’s not ourfight,” said former Florida Gov Jeb Bush in a Sunday morninginterview on CNN’s “State of the Union.” “It is our fight.”

WeaknessThey jumped on her refusal, like Obama, to label the efforts

to fight terrorism as a war against “radical Islam”, a rhetoricalchoice Republicans frequently cite as a sign of weakness. “Thatwould be like saying we weren’t at war with Nazis, because wewere afraid to offend some Germans who may have beenmembers of the Nazi Party but weren’t violent themselves,” saidFlorida Sen Marco Rubio said in an interview on ABC’s “ThisWeek”. Republicans are in for their own reshuffling in the wakeof the attack. For months, GOP primary voters have favoredoutsider candidates with little public policy experience, mostnotably billionaire businessman Donald Trump and retiredneurosurgeon Ben Carson. New worries about future attacksmay prompt them to reassess the field. There’s little questionthe West will take a more aggressive stance against the IslamicState group, a shift described by White House national securityadviser Ben Rhodes as an “intensification of our efforts” and bya stunned French President Francois Hollande as being “unfor-giving with the barbarians”. —AP

Focus

Paris highlights Clinton foreign

policy record

By Robert-Jan Bartunek and Alastair Macdonald

“Abreeding ground for violence” the may-or of Molenbeek called her borough onSunday, speaking of unemployment

and overcrowding among Arab immigrant families,of youthful despair finding refuge in radicalism. Butas the Brussels district on the wrong side of thecity’s post-industrial canal becomes a focus forpolice pursuing those behind Friday’s mass attacksin Paris, Belgian authorities are asking what makesthe narrow, terraced streets of Molenbeek differentfrom a thousand similar neighbourhoods acrossEurope.

Three themes emerge as Molenbeek is again ina spotlight of Islamist violence, home not just to mil-itants among Belgium’s own half a million Muslimsbut, it seems, for French radicals seeking a conven-ient, discreet base to lie low, plan and arm beforestriking their homeland across the border. Securityservices face difficulties due to Belgium’s local devo-lution and tensions between the country’s French-and Dutch-speaking halves; the country has longbeen open to fundamentalist preachers from theGulf; and it has a thriving black market in automaticrifles of the kind used in Paris.

“With 500-1,000 euros (dollars) you can get amilitary weapon in half an hour,” said Bilal Benyaich,senior fellow at Brussels think-tank the ItineraInstitute, who has studied the spread of radicalIslam in Belgium. “That makes Brussels more like abig US city” in mostly gun-free Europe, he said. Twoof the attackers who killed over 130 people, 270 kmaway in Paris on Friday night were Frenchmen resi-dent in Belgium. Belgian police raided Molenbeekaddresses and seven people have been arrested inBelgium over the Paris attacks.

“Almost every time, there is a link to Molenbeek,”said 39-year-old centrist prime minister CharlesMichel, whose year-old coalition is battling radicalrecruiters who have tempted more than 350Belgians to fight in Syria - relative to Belgium’s 11million population, easily the biggest contingentfrom Europe. But “preventive measures” of the pastfew months were not enough, Michel said, describ-ing Molenbeek as a “gigantic problem” and saying:“There has to be more of a crackdown.”

His interior minister, Jan Jambon, vowed to“cleanse” the district personally. Conservatives

blamed lax oversight on left-wing predecessors,nationally and in Molenbeek town hall, and duelledover whether Dutch-speaking Flanders or mainlyFrench-speaking Brussels and the south did more tocurb the radicals. Such differences, which havetranslated into a profusion of layers of governmentand policing in an effort to appease centrifugalforces that long threatened to break Belgium apart,have created problems for intelligence and securityservices. Jambon has complained himself of a pro-fusion of police forces across state and languagelines, including six in Brussels alone, a city of just 1.8million.

Police Lack ‘Grip’“Belgium is a federal state and that’s always an

advantage for terrorists,” said Edwin Bakker, profes-sor at the Centre for Terrorism and Counterterrorismat the University of Leiden in the Netherlands.“Having several layers of government hampers theflow of information between investigators.”Contrasting Belgium with its centralised Dutchneighbour, he added: “It’s much more difficult forgroups to disappear from the radar just by moving10 kilometres.”

Given the difficulty of gathering intelligence inplaces like Molenbeek, a borough of 90,000 wheresome neighbourhoods were up to 80 percentMuslim, any gaps in the information chain wereproblematic, Bakker said: “In parts of Brussels thereare areas on which the police have little grip, verysegregated areas that don’t feel they’re a part of theBelgian state.

“In such a case it’s very difficult to get feedbackfrom the community. That means while the neigh-bours may have seen something going on, they’renot passing it to the police. Then it becomes verytough for intelligence agencies as only relying onthem and not local police is not sufficient.”

Political complication is also blamed for slowingthe passing of new laws, for example to rein in thepreaching of hate in mosques or recruitment forand travel to the Syrian war. While some ofMolenbeek’s old factories - it once enjoyed theindustrious nickname “Petit Manchester” - havemade it a smart address for bohemian loft living,areas tumbling out from the ship canal, offeringhalal butchers, street stalls and backstreet mosquesare some of the poorest in northwest Europe.

The 25 percent jobless rate, rising to 37 percentamong the young, is significantly higher than otherparts of Brussels, also home to a thriving, cosmopol-itan middle class drawn by the European Unioninstitutions on the other side of the city. Belgian offi-cials are also increasingly concerned about theinfluence of radical versions of Islam. They remain aminority taste; the Muslim Executive of Belgium, anumbrella group, spoke of its support for democraticvalues and condemned “barbarism”. Molenbeek,which notably in 2012 saw street protests againstenforcement of Belgian law on Muslim face veils,has, however, been among areas where fundamen-talist preachers have flourished.

Fundamentalist PedigreeGeorge Dallemagne, a centre-right opposition

member of the federal parliament, traces someproblems back to the 1970s when resource-poor,heavily industrial Belgium sought favour with SaudiArabia by providing mosques for Gulf-trainedpreachers. These brought with them fundamental-ist teachings then alien to most of Belgium’sMoroccan immigrants. Pointing at Molenbeek,Dallemagne said: “The very strong influence ofSalafists ... is one of the particularities that putsBelgium at the centre of terrorism in Europe today.”

Molenbeek is not unique in Belgium. The high-est profile radical group taken on by the state hasbeen sharia4belgium, a social media savvy organi-sation whose leader and dozens of members wereconvicted early this year in the Flemish city ofAntwerp of recruiting dozens to fight in Syria. But,as Prime Minister Michel said, a Molenbeek connec-tion keeps coming up in cases of Islamist attacks inEurope going back at least to the 2004 train bomb-ings in Madrid, where one of those jailed for plan-ning them was a Moroccan from the borough.

Over little more than a year, it has figuredrepeatedly. In August 2014, a Frenchman ofAlgerian origin was living there when he gunneddown four people at Brussels’ Jewish Museum. InJanuary, when Belgian police killed two men in theeastern town of Verviers, foiling what they said wasa plot to kidnap and behead a policeman on cam-era, many leads led back to Molenbeek. Frenchpolice investigating after the shootings in Januaryat Paris magazine Charlie Hebdo and a kosher gro-cery suspect one of the killers acquired guns via

Molenbeek. So too, prosecutors say, did theSpanish-based Moroccan overpowered on aBrussels to Paris train in August. He had an AK-47and nearly 300 bullets.

‘Airbase for Jihadists’“Molenbeek is a pitstop for radicals and crimi-

nals of all sorts,” said Benyaich, of the ItineraInstitute. “It’s a place where you can disappear.”Dallemagne added: “Terrorists are radicalised inFrance, go to Syria to fight and when they comeback they find in Molenbeek the logistical supportand the networks they need to carry out terroristattacks, be it here in Belgium or abroad. “It’s like anairbase for jihadists.”

One of the main attractions, investigators say,is weaponry. Some of that, said Nils Duquet, aresearcher at the Flemish Peace Institute, datesback to before 2006 when Belgium, whose state-owned FN Herstal sidearm manufacturer suppliedmany of the world’s armies, also had a relaxedapproach to gun ownership. “With the right con-nections, it’s quite easy to find illegal weapons inBelgium,” Duquet said. “Criminals used to come tobuy weapons legally. And they kept comingbecause they found the right networks and peo-ple here to get weapons, even after 2006.”

Kalashnikov assault rifles of the kind used inthe attacks in Paris in January and on Friday, weremostly from stocks left after the war in the formerYugoslavia and mostly reached western Europe inthe back of a car, he said. Investigators are lookinginto links between the Paris attacks and a manfrom Montenegro arrested with guns in his car inGermany this month.

European Union interior ministers will holdan emergency meeting in Brussels on Friday atFrance’s request and will deal yet again withlongstanding concerns about traffic in firearms.However, just as a lack of coordination amongthe EU’s 28 states is blamed by many for a flour-ishing trade across their open borders,Belgium’s extreme form of decentralised gov-ernment makes it hard to crack down on deal-ers even in one small state. “In Belgium, there’sa problem with data management. Nobodyknows how many illegal weapons there are inBelgium,” said Duquet. “The reality is we haveno idea.” —Reuters

Guns, God, grievances in Islamist ‘airbase’

By Paul Taylor and John Irish

French President Francois Hollande is underpressure to change policy in Syria’s civil warand work more closely with Russia after a wave

of deadly attacks in Paris but he seems determinedto stick to his guns and escalate military action.France has become arguably the most exposedWestern nation to Islamist militants because of itsactivism in the Middle East’s many conflicts, and itsrigorous secularism at home, while the United Statesand Britain - burned by their experience in Iraq -have taken a more cautious approach.

Hollande’s response to Friday’s attacks was todeclare that France is at war with Islamic State, whichclaimed responsibility for the Paris carnage, and tolaunch a major air strike on IS targets in its Syrianstronghold of Raqqa. While vowing national unity,his conservative opponents criticised the Socialistpresident for ostracizing Russia, shunning Iran andinsisting that President Bashar Al-Assad must go as apre-condition for any Syrian peace settlement. Hehas also faced criticism from within his own party.“We must draw the lessons on the situation in Syria,”ex-president Nicolas Sarkozy, leader of the main cen-tre-right Republicans party, said after meetingHollande on Sunday, calling for “an inflection of ourforeign policy”. “We need everyone’s help to extermi-nate Daesh (Islamic State), notably the Russians.There cannot be two coalitions in Syria,” Sarkozy toldreporters.

Within the French foreign policy establishment,some veteran diplomats accuse Hollande of pursu-ing a “neo-conservative” foreign policy at a timewhen the United States and Britain have pulled backfrom foreign adventures. Like other Western powers,Paris has distanced itself from Russian PresidentVladimir Putin and joined sanctions against Moscow

over its annexation of Crimea last year and its role indestabilising eastern Ukraine. Hollande scrapped thesale of two warships to Russia which Sarkozy had ini-tiated while in office. Putin’s intervention in the Syriaconflict last month with air strikes on anti-Assadforces, including “moderate” Islamist groups armedand trained by the West, wrongfooted the Frenchand U.S. governments.

High and DryThe renewed policy debate in Paris echoes simi-

lar arguments being thrashed out in Washingtonand London. Republican US presidential candidatesare demanding much tougher action against IS than

President Barack Obama has undertaken so far,while British Prime Minister David Cameron is strug-gling to convince lawmakers to authorise British par-ticipation in air strikes in Syria. Unlike the UnitedStates, France has generally had a bipartisan consen-sus on foreign policy and the differences over Syriapolicy may be less deep in France than they appear.

French officials say Paris was left high and drywhen Obama reversed course and cancelled a planto strike Assad’s forces in Aug 2013 over the use ofchemical weapons. French warplanes were ready onthe runway when the word came from Washingtonthat the U.S. president had decided against action.“We wanted to go all the way in 2013, but in the end

we got slapped by Barack Obama and we foundourselves alone,” a senior official said, speaking oncondition of anonymity. “We lost influence and nowwe don’t really see how to move forward there.”

Paris recently joined coalition air strikes in Syriaafter more than a year of bombing in Iraq. But untillast night it had carried out just five strikes, mostly totry to ensure a seat in any negotiation, officialsacknowledge. Just before the Paris attacks, Hollandeordered the aircraft carrier Charles de Gaulle to theeastern Mediterranean. When it arrives in earlyDecember, it will treble French air power in theregion to 36 aircraft. In a sign of how Hollande mayproceed in the coming weeks, some 10 French fight-er jets struck multiple targets at Islamic State’s Syrianbastion Raqqa on Sunday night. Officials say it’sunlikely Paris will put boots on the ground, althoughit could, like the United States, deploy special forces.The government’s critics say France should be work-ing with Moscow, Tehran and Damascus for a politi-cal compromise.

Former centre-right Prime Minister FrancoisFillon said it was time for France to “get over itsvapours about Russia, understand that we needto work with Iran and even agree to work for awhile with the Syrian regime”. Veteran experts inthe ruling Socialist party, such as former ForeignMinister Hubert Vedrine, are also urging Hollandeto shift to a more “realist” approach. “The princi-pled position that Assad must go because of theatrocities committed since the start of the civilwar... is understandable and respectable, but per-haps it can be turned into a form of leverage inthe (diplomatic) process which is just starting,”Vedrine said before the Paris attacks. “Let’s not for-got that when we fought Hitler, we had to makean alliance with Stalin who had killed more peo-ple than Hitler.” —Reuters

Hollande pressed to amend foreign policy

French President Francois Hollande arrives for a speech at an exceptional jointgathering of parliament in Versailles yesterday. —AFP

By Lisa Lerer

LOS ANGELES: Broncos quarterback Peyton Manning surpassed Brett Favre asthe NFL’s all-time passing yardage leader on Sunday with a four-yard toss in thefirst quarter of yesterday’s game against Kansas City in Denver.

Manning connected with Ronnie Hillman to boost his career yardage total to71,840 surpassing former Green Bay great Favre’s record of 71,838. The contestwas stopped momentarily to acknowledge Manning’s feat. Hillmanreturned the ball to Manning as a keepsake and it was takenout of the game. Manning, the NFL’s only five-time MostValuable Player, is in his 18th season in the league.

He spent his first 14 years in the league withIndianapolis, where he won a Super Bowl as a member ofthe Colts.

The passing yardage mark was not the only record with-in Manning’s reach yesterday. He is tied withFavre for most career regular-season winswith 186. Apart from Manning and Favre,Dan Marino is the only other quarterback inNFL history to have topped 60,000 careerpassing yards. — AFP

S P O RT STUESDAY, NOVEMBER 17, 2015

HANOVER: The 2016 European Championship soccer tournament will take placein France despite Friday’s deadly attacks in Paris, which could have happenedanywhere, Germany coach Joachim Loew said today. The German, whose teamwere playing France in a friendly international in Paris when at least 132 peoplewere killed in attacks across the French capital, said he expected the tournamentto go ahead as planned. “I am certain that the Euro will take place in France,”Loew, whose team have qualified for the June 10-July 10 finals, told reporters. “Iam sure the (French) government and security forces will provide security, it willmake sure the event is safe.”

Loew said moving Euro 2016 to another country would not guarantee thesafety of the event as attacks have been staged in other countries as well. “Itmakes no sense to start talking about different countries now. What happened inParis is something that can happen in any other country as well. We expect theEuro 2016 will be in France and that everything will be done to safeguard thetournament.” Loew and his players spent Friday night inside the stadium as theattacks took place before leaving straight for the airport on Saturday morning.Islamic State claimed responsibility for the attacks, in which more than 350 peo-ple were also wounded, saying it sent militants strapped with suicide bombingbelts and carrying machine guns to various locations in the heart of Paris. Therewas one bombing near the Stade de France, killing three people, during thegame inside the venue, site of the Euro 2016 final. — Reuters

Euro 2016 will not be moved from France

Manning breaks all-time passing yardage record

MADRID: Juventus forward Alvaro Morata has not considered a possiblereturn to Real Madrid despite reports in Spain claiming the La Liga heavy-weights were keen to lure him back. Morata, who turned 23 last month,joined the Italian champions in July last year for a fee of 20 million euros($21.5 million) and scored some crucial goals as Juve won a domestic doubleand reached the Champions League final. Real have been struggling to find

the net under new coach Rafa Benitez and CristianoRonaldo’s run of poor form together with KarimBenzema’s legal problems have prompted speculation

they could move for Morata in January. It is unclearwhether any repurchase clause was included in the

deal for the Spain international, whose Juve con-tract runs until 2019. Speaking on Spanish radiolate on Sunday, Morata said the only communica-tion he has had with Real were messages of sup-port from club director Emilio Butragueno.

“A return to Madrid is something I cannot thinkabout,” he told Onda Cero. “It would be showing a

lack of respect to Juventus, they paid a very highprice for me. — Reuters

Morata not thinking about Real return

Shortened race endsEdwards’ Chase

dreams at PhoenixPHOENIX: Carl Edwards drove around in a holdingpattern as the rain started to fall, ready to wash awayhis Chase chances at any second. “We can’t let it endlike this,” Edwards told his team on the radio.

Unfortunately for them, it did. Five points fromearning a spot in the finale of the Chase for the SprintCup championship, Edwards came up just short lastnight at Phoenix International Raceway when therace was called after 219 laps due to rain.

Instead of racing for a long-awaited championshipnext week in Miami, Edwards will be playing out thestring on a solid-just-not-great season. “Just very dis-appointing for this whole Stanley Toyota team, howhard they’ve worked all year to come down to some-thing as simple as a rain out,” said Darian Grubb,Edwards’ crew chief. “We feel like we could haveraced our way back in there and had a shot at it.”

Edwards entered the Phoenix race fifth in theChase standings behind Jeff Gordon, Kyle Busch,Kevin Harvick and Martin Truex Jr. Gordon wasalready in the finale at Homestead-Miami Speedwayafter winning at Martinsville two weeks ago.

That left seven drivers vying for three spots. Arain delay that lasted nearly seven hours includednumerous trips back and forth from the garageadded to the pressure of the race and the Chase.Edwards started fourth Sunday and lingered aroundthe lead most of the night until a caution came outwith about 120 laps left. Crews took a while to getthe track cleaned up, leading to an extended cau-tion, and NASCAR officials kept the drivers circling ina yellow-flagged holding pattern as more rain start-ed to move into the area.

Tough situationThe race was red-flagged after several laps and the

cars were parked on pit road, with NASCAR officialstelling the drivers not to go too far in case the trackcould be dried quickly. Instead, a downpour followedand the race was called with 93 laps left to the sched-uled finish. Dale Earnhardt Jr won the race, withHarvick second, Joey Logano third and Kyle Buschfourth. Harvick, Busch and Truex, who finished 14th,advanced on points.

Edwards and his team were left wondering whatmight have been had the race continued. “We werestill five points out, just like we were five points com-ing in,” Grubb said. “We knew that was going to be atough situation, but it ended up that it bit us and Ijust hate it for these guys.”

Team Penske was left out in the cold rain afternearly locking both drivers into the finale the pasttwo weeks. Brad Keselowski had his berth into thefinale snatched away last week at Texas when he waspassed by Jimmie Johnson in the closing laps andentered yesterday’s race sixth in the standings.

Starting 18th yesterday, he lingered around thetop 10 most of the night and was ninth when the racewas called. That left him eight points out of the finalfour. “I don’t think it matters what’s fair,” Keselowskisaid. “It matters what entertains the fans and if thefans are happy, that’s what it’s all about.”

Logano had hoped to entertain them with a victo-ry after being intentionally wrecked by Matt Kensethwhile in the lead at Martinsville two weeks ago. Hehad a strong run at Phoenix, putting himself in posi-tion to win, right behind Earnhardt and Harvick. Henever got a chance to track them down on the restart.

“That’s the way this game is played,” Logano said.“That’s the way this Chase is.” Busch put himself into atough spot at the drop of the opening green flag,sent to the back for jumping the start. He worked heway toward the front and was seventh when the racewas called, but need a win to advance. “I had no rea-son to jump the start, no reason to get excited,” Buschsaid. “We had 312 laps to go race today.” — AP

SHANGHAI: Rory McIlroy still has his nosein front in the Race to Dubai but the 2015European Tour season is set for a sprint tothe line after his challengers closed in atthe weekend. Second-placed Danny Willettnarrowed the gap yesterday to an almostnegligible 1,613 points after McIlroy’s deci-sion to skip Shanghai’s $7 million BMWMasters, the last event before this week’sseason-ending DP World TourChampionship in Dubai.

“It’s going to be close, but regardless ofwhat happens I guess I have to beat Rory inDubai,” said Willett, whose bogey on thepar-three 17th at Lake Malaren Sunday lefthim tied 28th and cost him the chance totee up on Thursday as the race leader.

Willett’s fellow Englishman Justin Rosemoved up to third in the standings after afinal day five-under 67 in Shanghai enabled

him to finish tied seventh, two strokesbehind playoff winner Kristoffer Broberg ofSweden. “Close but no cigar around thiscourse,” said world number six Rose, who is650,999 points adrift of McIlroy with1,333,330 available to the winner in Dubai.

“Tied seventh is obviously a decentweek but I don’t know if it makes it easieror harder next week,” added Rose, who wonthe old European Tour Order of Merit andthe Harry Vardon Trophy in 2007, two yearsbefore it reincarnated into the Race toDubai. “I caught up a bit of ground on Roryand Danny. I think I’m going to have to winin Dubai now to have a chance.” McIlroy willbe hard to beat around Dubai’s Earthcourse on which he has finished in the topfive in all but one of his six appearances,winning the title in 2012.

“Yeah, I’m going for a Dubai double after

winning earlier in the season (at the DubaiDesert Classic),” McIlroy told AFP beforeleaving Shanghai at the end of the WGC-HSBC Champions a week earlier. “I love thegolf course and, yeah, I’ve done well therebefore.” The world number three, who hastopped Europe’s standings since April 12when he took fourth place in the USMasters, has already arrived in Dubai toprepare, flying in on Saturday.

‘Regroup, chill out’ Willett was clearly disappointed with his

week’s work in Shanghai. “Putted prettypoorly for four days. Never really got any-thing going,” Willett said. His two-underpar 70 left him on seven-under for the tour-nament, 10 shots behind the winner. “I’vegot a day-and-a-half off to regroup andchill out, and I know I’m going to have a

chance next week,” he said. Others whocan still win the Race to Dubai missed agolden opportunity to go top in McIlroy’sabsence.

Ireland’s Shane Lowry and South Africa’sLouis Oosthuizen needed second places,but they never got in the mix, finishing welldown at 56th and 37th in the 78-playerfield. Branden Grace needed to win to takeover at the top but ended up 22nd. SouthKorea’s An Byeong-Hun gave himself anoutside chance with tied third in the BMWMasters to move to seventh in the stand-ings, 1,254,567 behind McIlroy.

A victory for any of them could securethe Race to Dubai title next Sunday, butthey would also need McIlroy and Willett tofinish well down the elite 60-player field.Their biggest problem is that McIlroy rarelydoes. — AFP

AVONDALE: Kurt Busch waves to the crowd duringdriver introductions before the NASCAR SprintCup Series auto race at Phoenix InternationalRaceway, Sunday, Nov. 15, 2015, in Avondale, Ariz.Busch is one of seven drivers looking to clinch aspot in the final Chase for the Cup Championshiprace in Homestead, Fla. — AP

SHANGHAI: Martin Kaymerof Germany hits the ballfrom the bunker on the 18thhole during the third roundof the BMW Masters golftournament at the LakeMalaren Golf Club inShanghai, China. — AP

McIlroy-chasers close in as season heads for finale

MEXICO CITY: Park In-Bee capped her final round withback-to-back birdies yesterday to win the Lorena OchoaInvitational, setting up a tantalizing showdown with worldNo. 1 Lydia Ko in next week’s LPGA Tour Championship.

The 27-year-old South Korean fired a 64 to reach a 18-under 270 total and finish three strokes ahead of playingpartner Carlota Ciganda for her fifth title of the year.Spain’s Ciganda closed with a nine-under 63 while USLPGA Tour rookie-of-the-year Kim Sei-Young (66), who wasthe other player in the final group, finished third, fivestrokes behind Park.

“It was close to a perfect day,” Park said. “I didn’t makemany mistakes and I was able to focus on my game.” Parkis playing her first event since withdrawing from the BlueBay tournament on Hainan Island in China earlier thismonth because of a cyst on her left hand.

Park needed to finish eighth or better at the Club deGolf Mexico course to remain in the Player of the Yearchase. She is aiming to take top honours for the LPGA sea-son and to do that she needs to regain the number oneranking from New Zealand’s Ko.

Park also is chasing Ko for the most money won on theTour this season. Ko did not play this week. She and Parkwill square off at the season-ending Tour Championship inFlorida, where Ko will be defending her 2014 title. “It is abig motivation,” Park said of going for the Player-of-the-Year award. “You love to have it when you finish your sea-son but if I don’t get it, it is still a great season as I havetwo majors.

“This is my ninth year on the tour. I have definitelyachieved a lot of things. It has been a thrill.” Park rolled ina four foot putt on the 72nd hole for the win. Her bogey-free round included eight birdies.

“My putter was really good this week. I made some 30footers out there,” she said. Ciganda got off to a hot startwith an eagle and four birdies in her first seven holes. Heronly blemish on the day was a bogey at the par-three 16th

which came as she was trying to chase down Park for thelead. Like Ciganda, Kim eagled the par-five second hole. Shealso had three straight birdies around the turn, beginningat the ninth. Kim was coming off her third win of the season

at the Blue Bay event which saw her clinch rookie-of-the-year honours. South Korea’s Ryu So-Yeon finished solofourth after shooting a 67 for a 11-under 277 while Japan’sSakura Yokomine was alone in fifth at nine-under. — AFP

Park holds off Ciganda to claim Ochoa Invitational

MEXICO CITY: South Korea’s Inbee Park kisses the trophy at the end of the LPGA Lorena Ochoa Invitational inMexico City, Sunday, Nov. 15, 2015. Inbee Park won the Invitational, holding off Carlota Ciganda for her fifth victo-ry of the season and 17th LPGA Tour title. —AP


LAHORE: Pakistan’s talented but controversial bats-man Umar Akmal yesterday denied any wrongdoingin a party which led to his axing from the Twenty20team for the three-match series against England laterthis month.

Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) last week said Umarwas in contention for the 16-man squad but wasdropped over an incident in Hyderabad in which hewas alleged to have “misbehaved” with women at a

party. The PCB has also served a show cause noticeto the 25-year-old batsman whose career has beenchequered with disciplinary problems.

Umar, younger brother of Kamran and AdnanAkmal who also played for Pakistan, Mondayresponded to the PCB show cause notice.

“I attended a dinner party after being granted offi-cial permission by my team manager,” said Umar inhis response to the PCB notice. Last year Umar was

jailed in Lahore after he had a scuffle with a trafficwarden over running a red light.

He was also left out of the team after the 2015World Cup, with head coach Waqar Younis complain-ing about his insubordination during the event. PCBchairman Shaharyar Khan last week said Umar wouldbe given an opportunity to defend himself. Umarmeanwhile has labelled the allegations baseless.

“I am not answerable to anyone apart from the

department I am playing for,” Umar told reporters.“Cricket is my love and I want to represent Pakistanfor a long period of time.” Pakistan’s Twenty20 captainShahid Afridi has also reportedly backed theembroiled batsman, asking the PCB to clear Umarand then reinstate him in the squad.

Pakistan play England in a three-match T20 serieswith matches in Dubai (November 26 and 27) andSharjah on November 30. — AFP

Under scrutiny Umar Akmal denies wrongdoing

Perth: Australia’s Steve Smith plays a shot against New Zealand during their cricket test match in Perth, Australia, yesterday. — AP

PERTH: Steve Smith and Adam Voges scoredthe fifth and sixth centuries of the second testto give Australia a lead of 193 after RossTaylor’s epic 290 brought New Zealand backinto the contest on day four yesterday.

Smith hit his eighth century in 13 tests overthe last 12 months, and his fourth in five testsas captain, while western Australian Vogesdelighted the WACA crowd with his first onhome soil to take the hosts to 254 for two.

The skipper will resume on 127 not out andVoges unbeaten on 101 in a partnership of208 that steadied the innings after NewZealand had removed openers Joe Burns (0)and David Warner (24) cheaply.

That drove home the tourist’s advantageafter Taylor’s mighty 374-ball knock, which fea-tured 43 fours, had dragged his side back intothe match with a first-innings lead of 65.

Although he fell 10 runs short of the triplecentury, the 31-year-old’s innings was thehighest score by any visiting batsman inAustralia, bettering the previous record of 287set by England’s Tip Foster in Sydney in 1903.

It was also the third highest innings by anyNew Zealand batsman in a test match andeclipsed the 253 contributed by Warner toAustralia’s first innings tally of 559-9 declared,which had looked almost unassailable on daytwo.

MAJOR BREAKTHROUGHJust before lunch and after more than nine

hours at the crease, Taylor miscued a slog-sweep to substitute fielder Jonny Wells off thebowling of Nathan Lyon to bring an end toNew Zealand’s innings on 624.

Breaking Australia’s opening partnership,which had put together century stands in thefirst three innings of the series, was anachievement in itself but also removingWarner with just 46 runs on the board was amajor breakthrough.

Southee had Burns caught at first slip byTaylor, while Warner, who also scored cen-turies in both innings in Brisbane, fell toTrent Boult and a sharp catch from TomLatham at cover.

Smith came out at number three becauseof the hamstring injury to Usman Khawaja,who will miss Australia’s next two tests, andquickly showed his desire to get in on theWACA run-fest, which has seen 1,441 scoredon the first four days.

He raced to his half century in 57 balls and,after being dropped by New Zealand wicket-

keeper BJ Watling on 96, reached his 12th testcentury with a four behind point, the 13th ofhis innings.

Voges, who hit a century on debut againstWest Indies earlier this year, scored at a morepedestrian pace and reached the milestonewith his 15th boundary in the penultimateover of the day. — Reuters

Australia strike back after Taylor’s epic 290 Australia 1st innings (559-9 declared)

New Zealand 1st innings:M. Guptill lbw Starc 1T. Latham c Smith b Lyon 36K. Williamson c Johnson b Hazlewood 166R. Taylor c sub b Lyon 290B. McCullum b Marsh 27B.J. Watling c Lyon b Starc 1D. Bracewell c Neville b Johnson 12M. Craig c Johnson b Lyon 15M. Henry b Starc 6T. Southee c and b Starc 21T. Boult not out 23Extras (b7, lb11, w5, nb3) 26Total (all out, 153.5 overs) 624Fall of wickets: 1-6 (Guptill), 2-87 (Latham), 3-352 (Williamson), 4-432 (McCullum), 5-447

(Watling), 6-485 (Bracewell), 7-525 (Craig), 8-554 (Henry), 9-587 (Southee), 10-624 (Taylor)Bowling: Starc 37-7-119-4, Hazlewood 32-2-134-1 (1nb), Johnson 28-2-157-1 (1w), Lyon37.5-6-107-3, Marsh 15-1-73-1 (2nb), Smith4-0-16-0.Australia second innings:J. Burns c Taylor b Southee 0D. Warner c Latham b Boult 24S. Smith not out 131A. Voges not out 101Extras (w1, nb1) 2Total (2 wickets, 63 overs) 258Fall of wickets: 1-8 (Burns), 2-46 (Warner)Bowling: Southee 13-3-40-1, Boult 10-0-50-1, Bracewell 10-3-34-0, Henry 12-3-45-0 (1w),Craig 17-0-81-0 (1nb), Williamson 1-0-8-0.

SCOREBOARD

PERTH, Australia: Scores at the close on the fourth day in the second Test between Australiaand New Zealand at the WACA Ground in Perth yesterday.

PERTH: New Zealand’s Ross Taylor raises his batas he leaves the field after being dismissed for290 runs on day four of the second cricket Testmatch between Australia and New Zealand inPerth yesterday. — AFP

Pakistan rejectsIndia offer,

series in jeopardyNEW DELHI: Next month’s scheduled series betweenIndia and Pakistan remains in doubt after both sidesagain failed to reach an agreement on where thematches should be played.

The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) wants to stage thematches in the United Arab Emirates, which has beenthe team’s “home” base since 2009 because of ongoingsecurity concerns in their homeland that preventsinternational teams from visiting. But the Indian crick-et board (BCCI) said the Indian government would notpermit its team to play Pakistan in the UAE, so theseries would have to be played in India. The two coun-tries, bitter rivals on and off the cricket field, signed amemorandum of understanding in 2014 that Pakistanwould host their next series after India had stagedtheir previous two meetings.

The PCB chairman Shaharyar Khan, speaking toESPNcricinfo yesterday, said he was still waiting for anexplanation as to why the Indian government wasopposed to its team playing in UAE but was adamantthat Pakistan would not go to India. “There is no ques-tion of playing in India. I’m still awaiting the reason ofnot playing in UAE,” Khan said. “We went there in 2007and 2012. This time not again. It is our series and wewill play at our home venue which is the UAE. “What isthe problem playing in UAE as they had also playedtheir IPL (Indian Premier League) there as well so whynot Pakistan series?”

The BCCI did not immediately respond to the PCB’scomments yesterday. — Reuters

BANGALORE: The second Test between Indiaand South Africa in Bangalore was headed fora tame draw after bad weather washed outplay for the second successive day yesterday.The umpires called off the scheduled third

day’s play, without a ball being bowled, dur-ing the lunch break as incessant rain left largepuddles of water on the outfield at theChinnaswamy stadium.

The entire second day’s play was also

abandoned on Sunday and more wet weatheris forecast over the southern city, caused by acyclonic depression over the Bay of Bengal.

On the rain-free first day, South Africa wereshot out for 214 after being sent in to bat in

overcast conditions and India replied with 80 forno loss by stumps. India lead the four-matchseries after securing a 108-run win in the firstTest in Mohali last week. The third Test is to beplayed in Nagpur from November 25. — AFP

Rain ruins India, S Africa Test again

BANGALORE: Groundsmen walk over plastic sheets covering the pitch area andoutfield near the empty stands displaying portraits of Mahatma Gandhi, left, andNelson Mandela, center, after the play for the third day of second cricket testmatch between India and South Africa was called off due to persistent rains inBangalore, India, yesterday. — AP


LONDON: Australia coach Michael Cheika insistedyesterday he had no interest in taking over thevacant England position as he joined a growing listof high-profile figures in ruling himself out as a suc-cessor to Stuart Lancaster.

Last week saw Lancaster quit as England coachas he paid the price for a poor World Cup which sawEngland become the first host nation to fail to getout of the group phase.

“No one from there (England’s governingRugby Football Union) has contacted me and theyknow they can’t contact me because I am commit-ted to Australia,” Cheika, who led the Wallabies tolast month’s World Cup final at Twickenham, toldreporters in London.

“That’s where I want to be coaching.” With RFU

chief executive Ian Ritchie making it clear hewanted a coach of “proven international experi-ence” to replace Lancaster, Cheika’s name wasmentioned following his success in guiding theWallabies to the southern hemisphere RugbyChampionship title and the World Cup final inbarely a year since taking charge.

Ritchie also made it clear that money was noobject. However Cheika-back in England for thetemporary role of coaching the Barbarians in themulti-national invitational side’s matches againstGloucester and Argentina later this week-wasadamant nothing could tempt him away from theWallabies.

“I’m an Australian coaching Australia-it’s likethe dream,” he said. “There’s nothing that would

make me change my mind.” New Zealand’s Steve Hansen and fellow Kiwis

Warren Gatland and Joe Schmidt, in charge of Walesand Ireland respectively, have also said they are notinterested in the England job.

Graham Henry, New Zealand’s World Cup-win-ning coach on home soil four years ago, is anotherto insist he has no interest in the England role, withcompatriot Wayne Smith-who helped the All Blacksto World Cup glory this year-equally emphatic thatthe Red Rose post is not for them.

Meanwhile Australia’s Eddie Jones, the manbehind Japan’s stunning World Cup win over SouthAfrica last month, has insisted he is committed tohis new role with the Western Stormers.

The only major overseas coach to declare his

interest in the England job is South Africa’s JakeWhite, who hasn’t been in charge of a Test sidesince guiding the Springboks to World Cup glory in2007. Cheika, whose current contract with theAustralia Rugby Union expires in 2017, made itclear he was determined to stay with the Wallabiesfor as long as possible.

“I never thought I’d be coaching Australia,” saidCheika, who as a player never won a Test cap for theWallabies. “I’m enjoying that and I want to do thebest I can in that role for as long as I can.

“You want to make sure that you give everythingwhen you have the opportunity,” he added. “Whenthe chance comes to coach Australia, you don’t sayno to that. I’ve enjoyed the first year of doing it, it’sbeen fantastic.” — AFP

Australia’s coach Cheika rules out England job

LONDON: Novak Djokovic looked unstoppablewhen trouncing Kei Nishikori but for sheer swag-ger Roger Federer remains unrivalled as hedemonstrated again when dismantling TomasBerdych as the ATP World Tour Finals began onSunday. World number one Djokovic extendedhis latest winning sequence to 23 with a 6-1 6-1hammering of world number eight Nishikori whowas powerless to stop the rampant Serb. Far fromeasing up with the finish of his best ever year aweek away, Djokovic clearly wants to lay down amarker for next year’s assault on the top silver-ware and showed Nishikori no mercy.

“No question, it felt like the best tennis I playedthis year,” the 28-year-old, aiming for a fourth con-secutive title at the O2 Arena, told reporters. “Iwas at my best and it was an incredible perform-ance.” Djokovic and Nishikori had stood headsbowed before their match to respect a minute’ssilence in a darkened arena for the victims of

Friday’s Paris attacks. Following his immaculateperformance he was presented with a trophy forthe year-end number one ranking he hasachieved for the fourth time in five seasons.

Home fans were given some early excitementwhen Jamie Murray, older brother of Andy,marked his debut at the tournament when heand Australian partner John Peers beat Italianduo Fabio Fognini and Simone Bolelli in a thriller.But the atmosphere was subdued later asDjokovic snuffed out any chance of a shock whenhe thrashed a helpless Nishikori. “He playedunbelievable tennis. I’m very ashamed with thisscore,” second-time qualifier Nishikori, who willhope for a better showing in his next two roundrobin matches, said.

DAZZLING SHOWFederer will provide Djokovic with a far stern-

er test when they meet in the “Stan Smith”

Group today, if his level for most of a 6-4 6-2defeat of Berdych was anything to go by. The34-year-old, cheered on by a sizeable army ofSwiss fans in various sorts of red and whiteattire, made a mess of his opening service game,falling 0-2 behind after serving two consecutivedouble-faults to gift Berdych a break. But heresponded with a break to love and then from 3-4 down in the opening set he produced a daz-zling show reel of his favourite tricks to win sev-en games in a row-throwing in a couple of histrademark half-volleyed returns for good meas-ure. “Was one of the worst starts I’ve had inyears,” Federer told reporters. “No first serves,two double-faults, nothing coming from thebaseline. So it was rough. “But thankfully I wasable to pick it up.” Play begins in the Ilie NastaseGroup yesterday with Andy Murray up againstDavid Ferrer and Rafael Nadal taking on FrenchOpen champion Stanislas Wawrinka. — Reuters

Djokovic and Federer stroll to easy wins

LONDON: Switzerland’s Roger Federer reacts after being present with two awards, the Fans’ Favourite award, and the Stefan EdbergSportsmanship award, following his victory over Tomas Berdych in their men’s singles group stage match on day one of the ATP World TourFinals tennis tournament in London. Federer won the match 6-4, 6-2. — AFP

PRAGUE: Maria Sharapova failed to lift the FedCup as Russia lost to defending champions theCzech Republic in Prague on Sunday, but she didher patriotic duty and said she enjoyed it. Inonly her fifth Fed Cup appearance, world num-ber four Sharapova won both singles matches,beating 11th-ranked Karolina Pliskova in straightsets on Saturday and sixth-ranked Petra Kvitovain a three-set thriller on Sunday. “Personally it’san incredible achievement for me because I’venever been in a Fed Cup final and I won two ofmy matches,” Sharapova said. After winning fiveGrand Slam titles, Sharapova is still seeking twoother global trophies-the Fed Cup and Olympicgold. Next year, she will be in contention for theOlympic title, after winning bronze in London2012 — representing Russia despite having livedin Florida since age seven. “There’s no betterfeeling than being out on the court having somany people fly here from Russia to supportyou,” Sharapova beamed on Sunday as the FedCup final was under way.

“In an event like this you’re just not playingfor yourself, you’re playing for your teammates,for your country. “It’s a very unique feeling andit’s so special.” Yet questions over her team spiritcontinue to follow her. She has played only fiveFed Cup ties since earning professional status inApril 2001, two of which were this year.

A decade ago, she was involved in a rift withher teammate and now Russia captain AnastasiaMyskina, who threatened to boycott the FedCup if Sharapova was selected for the Russianteam, complaining about her father’s behaviourin the stands.

Myskina, the 2004 French Open champion,also slammed Sharapova for being “moreAmerican than Russian,” accusing her of speak-ing Russian “with a coarse accent.”

END OF THE STORYFormer fellow Russian player Elena

Dementieva once said that Sharapova “grew up

in America and trains there, so we don’t haveanything in common.” This week, Myskina wavedthe spat aside, saying she was happy to haveSharapova on the team. “Definitely it’s veryimportant to have Maria on the team and I wantto say thank you,” Myskina said. But after the FedCup final, she declined to comment onSharapova’s presence on the team.

“We lost. That’s the end of the story,” she said.Adding fuel to the fire, Czech media saidSharapova had shunned the rest of the teamand stayed in a different Prague hotel to the oth-ers. “Is that a serious question? Next question,”Sharapova snarled at a local reporter when

asked to comment.On court, she was all smiles, and not only

because she won twice. “The team supportedme so well today,” she said. “I really felt like Iwould look over to them and every time they arestanding up and that’s the meaning of thisevent.” On Sunday, her previous problemsappeared to be behind her with the star joiningher teammates for a post-final dinner.

“Love my team,” tweeted teammate AnastasiaPavlyuchenkova who posted a photo of all thesquad, name-checking the rest of the Russiansquad for good measure. “Girlzzzz,” tweetedSharapova in reply. — AFP

‘Unique’ patriotic chore for team player Sharapova

PRAGUE: Czech Republic’s Fed Cup team players (l-r) Tereza Smitkova, Lucie Safarova, Petra Kvitova,Denisa Allertova, captain Petr Pala, Barbora Zahlavova Strycova, Karolina Pliskova and Lucie Hradeckapose with the trophy after the International Tennis Federation Fed Cup after the International TennisFederation Fed Cup final match between Czech Republic vs Russia in Prague. — AFP

LOS ANGELES: The World Anti-DopingAgency ( WADA) is expected to ruleagainst Russia’s anti-doping body at akey meeting in Colorado tomorrowwhich will aim to map out future strate-gies for the global war on drugs. WADA’shierarchy meets to assess the findings ofits independent panel, which uncovereda wide-ranging state-supported dopingprogram in Russia that has plunged ath-letics into the biggest crisis in its history.The IAAF on Friday provisionally sus-pended Russian athletes from interna-tional competition, potentially puttingtheir participation at next year’s Rio deJaneiro Olympics in jeopardy.

WADA’s executive committee willmeet in Colorado Springs, outsideDenver on Tuesday before a full meetingof the agency’s foundation board onWednesday, where officials are expectedto rule that Russia’s anti-doping body(RUSADA) has been non-compliant withits code.

The board will also consider a range ofrecommendations made by the inde-pendent panel to strengthen WADA. Theglobal anti-doping body had already sus-pended Moscow’s main drug-testing lab-oratory, whose director resigned lastweek. WADA President Craig Reedie saidin a statement on Friday the currentscandal represented the “tip of the ice-berg” and that a new approach wasneeded to keep drugs cheats firmly onthe defensive.

“To truly tackle the scourge of dop-ing, the anti-doping community mustfurther improve the approach that hasbeen employed to date; and, above all,the resources that are attributed to it,”he said.

‘PUNCHING ABOVE WEIGHT’ Reedie said while WADA had

“punched above its weight” in the first 16years of its existence, there was broad

recognition that the body requiredgreater resources to tackle doping effec-tively.

WADA obtains its funding equallyfrom the International OlympicCommittee and state governmentsaround the world.

However the level of annual funding-around $26.8 million in 2015 — hasremained largely flat over the pastdecade, barely keeping pace with infla-tion and leaving WADA struggling tokeep up.

WADA director general DavidHowman has repeatedly complainedthat funding has failed to reflect the vastamounts of cash pumped into all sportsover the past decade, and recently con-trasted the rise in salaries paid to topfootballers over the same period.

“When I started at WADA, WayneRooney was being paid $4 million a yearby Manchester United,” Howman told theBBC in an interview. “He’s now beingpaid something like $30 million. We weregetting $20m when he first started, we’renow getting $30m. Sport is saying to us‘Your money should be increased’ butthey are not doing it in the same propor-tion.” As well as the funding issue, WADAofficials this week will also discuss waysof strengthening its international investi-gations unit and improving the systemset up to encourage whistleblowers.

The independent panel last week rec-ommended that greater protectionneeded to be offered to anonymoussources that may be willing to come for-ward. The panel also took aim at the“inherent conflicts of interest” that exist-ed between WADA’s ExecutiveCommittee and larger Foundation Board,which includes many government repre-sentatives. The panel recommendedWADA consider setting up a separate dis-ciplinary body with the power to makerulings on non-compliance. — AFP

Future of doping war in spotlight at WADA meeting

MOSCOW: Russian track and field starsincluding pole vault star YelenaIsinbayeva yesterday denounced as “com-pletely unfair” the decision by theInternational Association of AthleticsFederations (IAAF) decision to provision-ally suspend Russia.

“Why do people like me have to suf-fer from the mistakes of irresponsibleathletes?” three-time Olympic medallistIsinbayeva told reporters. A World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) independentcommission last week published adamning report that alleged Russianathletics were plagued with state-spon-sored doping and large-scale corruption,and recommended that track and fieldathletes be barred from internationalcompetition. The IAAF on Friday handedthe Russian athletics federation a provi-sional suspension, sparking indignationamong the country’s brightest track andfield stars.

Isinbayeva, 33, for whom the upcom-ing Rio Olympics would be her fifth and afinish of her career, wrote Saturday onInstagram she was “shocked” by the deci-sion, after having implored world athletis’governing body for leniency. Russiansporting officials have announced athree-month plan to revamp athletics intime for track and field stars to participatein the Rio de Janeiro Games in August

2016. Former WADA head Dick Pound-who served as the head of the independ-ent commission-said that Russia’s partici-pation in Rio would depend on its abilityto promptly clean up its act. “Pound saidit was a shame that I was a victim of thesystem,” Isinbayeva said. “But I am not avictim of the system. I am outside it.”Isinbayeva’s coach, Yevgeny Trofimov,told Russian press on Saturday that thefour-time Olympian could ponder com-peting as an independent athlete underthe Olympic flag, a prospect theInternational Olympic Committee (IOC)president Thomas Bach dismissed as“speculation.”

“There are discussions going on aboutthis in sporting circles,” Isinbayeva said ofthe prospect of Russian track and fieldathletes competing as independents inRio. “But I don’t know whether this is evenpossible.” World champion hurdler SergeiShubenkov-the 25-year-old son of promi-nent Soviet heptathlete NatalyaShubenkova-deplored he could relive hismother ’s exclusion of the 1984 LosAngeles Games, which the Soviet Unionboycotted.

“What have I done?” asked Shubenkov,the two-time European champion whoclocked a national record of 12.98 to takegold at the IAAF World Championships inBeijing in August. — AFP

Russian stars slam ‘unfair’ suspension

MOSCOW: Russia’s high jump athlete Anna Chicherova answers journalists’ questionsduring a press conference in Moscow yesterday following Russia’s provisional sus-pension from athletics by the International Association of Athletics Federations(IAAF). — AFP


CAPE TOWN: Morocco and theDemocratic Republic of Congo bothadvanced towards another World Cupfinals appearance on Sunday but withoutmuch conviction as they booked places inthe final phase of African qualification forthe 2018 tournament in Russia.

Morocco lost 1-0 away to EquatorialGuinea in Bata but qualified 2-1 on aggre-gate after winning the first leg on

Thursday. This keeps them on course for afifth World Cup finals appearance buttheir first since France in 1998. They arejoined in the final group phase by Guinea,Uganda, Zambia and the Congolese, who,as Zaire, played at the 1974 finals in WestGermany.

DR Congo qualified despite being held2-2 at home by tiny neighbours Burundiin a disappointing result on their return to

Kinshasa’s newly-refurbished MartyrsStadium. Two late goals gave theCongolese a 3-2 away win in Thursday’sfirst leg and they were expecting an easyreturn match, scoring first throughFrench-born Jordan Nkololo. But strikerDieumerci Mbokani, back to help defenda corner, skewed the ball into his own netfor an equaliser that suddenly offeredBurundi some hope. Yannick Bolaise’s

77th minute penalty put the Congoleseback ahead but Burundi ensured an anx-ious finish when they equalised near theend with a spot kick of their own, con-verted by Fiston Abdul Razak.

Seventeen-year-old Farouk Miya net-ted two of Uganda’s three first-half goalsin a 3-0 win in Kampala, ensuring a 4-0aggregate triumph, while WinstonKalengo’s 81st minute goal sealed

Zambia’s 2-0 win over Sudan in Ndola toadvance 3-0 over the two legs.

Guinea, forced to host their tie againstNamibia in Morocco because of the Ebolaban, were 2-0 victors in Casablanca toalso advance in convincing fashion.Gabon qualified on Saturday with theremaining 14 places to be decided onTuesday at the conclusion of the secondround of knockout matches. — Reuters

DR Congo, Morocco advance in World Cup qualification

NEW YORK: A moment of silence is observed for the victims of the French terrorist attacks, before an NHL hockey game between the New YorkRangers and the Toronto Maple Leafs, Sunday, in New York. — AP

CHICAGO: Patrick Kane continued his torridpoint-scoring streak with a goal and an assistas the Chicago Blackhawks used a second-period offensive barrage to beat the CalgaryFlames. Chicago goaltender Scott Darlingmade 25 saves.

Calgary grabbed a 1-0 lead less than fourminutes into the second period when rightwinger David Jones pushed a shot underDarling, who made the start after CoreyCrawford made 29 saves in the Blackhawks’ 4-2 win over St. Louis on Saturday. TheBlackhawks responded by scoring three timesin a span of just under two minutes to take a3-1 lead, with Kane scoring a goal for the sev-enth successive game and extending hispoints streak to 13 games.

Right winger Marian Hossa followed upabout a minute later before Artemi Panarinfinished off the scoring flurry with a goal atthe 8:32 mark of the period. Blackhawkscenter Jonathan Toews capped the scoringwith an empty-net goal with 38 secondsremaining.

Rangers 4, Maple Leafs 3Right winger Mats Zuccarello capped a

three-point performance with a goal with lessthan a minute left in regulation as the NewYork Rangers beat the Toronto Maple Leafs.Defenseman Ryan McDonagh and centers

Derek Stepan and Derick Brassard also scoredfor New York, who have won nine successivegames. Goaltender Antti Raanta stopped 23of 26 shots. Center Peter Holland, left winger

Joffrey Lupul and defenseman Dion Phaneufscored for Toronto, who had a three gamewinning streak end. Goaltender JonathanBernier made 26 saves. — Reuters

Struggling Blackhawks douse Calgary Flames

NAIROBI: Kenya finally left Nairobi yesterdayfor their 2018 World Cup qualifier in CapeVerde after settling a pay dispute with thenational football federation.

The Harambee Stars were scheduled toleave on Saturday and will now arrive only 24hours before Tuesday’s second round returnleg tie. The players had boycotted training fol-lowing the Football Kenya Federation’s (FKF)failure to pay their outstanding allowances

and refund expenses for the overseas-basedplayers.

A special flight carrying the team left theKenyan capital Monday afternoon for theeight-hour trip to the capital of Cape Verde,Praia. “It is good that we shall arrive late inCape Verde. The players will not affected bythe weather changes before the match,” teammanager Willis Waliaula told AFP.

Kenya coach Bobby Williamson has made

two changes to the team which beat CapeVerde 1-0 in the first leg in the Kenyan capitallast Friday.

He has brought in Zambia-based strikerDavid Keli and defender Brian Mandela of theSouth African premier league side MaritzburgUnited to replace Allan Wanga, who is unavail-able and suspended Teddy Okumu. Kenyaneed a draw in Praia to reach the World Cupgroup qualifying phase. — AFP

OKLAHOMA CITY: Marcus Smart scoreda career-high 26 points to lead theBoston Celtics to a 100-85 victory overthe Oklahoma City Thunder. Smart, whoalso had to guard Oklahoma’s RussellWestbrook, was still able to shoot 9-of-14from the field and haul in eightrebounds. Guard Isaiah Thomas scored20 points and handed out eight assists.Westbrook had a game-high 27 points.

Knicks 95, Pelicans 87The New York Knicks, aided by strong

play from their bench, won for just thesecond time at home this season, with a95-87 victory over the New OrleansPelicans. The Knicks are now 2-4 atMadison Square Garden. New York wereled by forward Carmelo Anthony’s 29points and 13 rebounds, but it was theirreserves who made the difference.Backup point guard Langston Gallowayscored 15 points and power forwardKevin Seraphin added 12 points. ForwardAnthony Davis showed no ill effects froma hip contusion that kept him out for twogames as he scored 36 points, pulled in11 rebounds and blocked four shots.

Grizzlies 114, Timberwolves 106Forward Jeff Green led the Memphis

Grizzlies with 21 points in a 114-106 winover the Minnesota Timberwolves. MikeConley added 20 for Memphis, who hadsix players in double figures. Guard ZachLaVine scored 25 points while AndrewWiggins finished with 21 but theTimberwolves could not match theMemphis shooters, falling to 0-5 at homewith their fourth consecutive loss.

Hornets 106, Trail Blazers 94Guard Nicolas Batum and center Al

Jefferson combined for 62 points as theCharlotte Hornets built a big lead andheld on for a 106-94 victory over thePortland Trail Blazers.

Charlotte used a dominating perform-ance from Jefferson (29 points, five

rebounds) and Batum (33 points) to seizea lead in the second quarter they wouldnot relinquish. The Hornets had built a71-45 advantage by halftime and led byas many as 29 points, before Portlandused a 16-0 run in the fourth quarter toclose the gap.

Jazz 97, Hawks 96Forward Derrick Favors scored 23

points and grabbed nine rebounds tolead the Utah Jazz to a 97-96 win overthe Atlanta Hawks. Favors, who grew upin Atlanta and played one season atGeorgia Tech before turning professional,gave the Jazz a five-point lead at 93-88, amargin from which the Hawks could notrecover. He scored 17 points in the sec-ond half.

Kings 107, Raptors 101DeMarcus Cousins scored a game-

high 36 points, and guard BenMcLemore’s acrobatic layup with under aminute left lifted the Sacramento Kingsto a 107-101 victory over the TorontoRaptors. Cousins produced his third con-secutive game of at least 30 points, whileSacramento held Toronto to 12 pointsover the final 10:23 to win for the thirdsuccessive game. Kings forward RudyGay added 27 points and forward OmriCasspi contributed 14.

Lakers 97, Pistons 85 Forward Kobe Bryant compiled 17

points, nine assists and eight rebounds,and the Los Angeles Lakers snapped afour-game skid with a 97-85 victory overthe Detroit Pistons at Staples Center.Guard Jordan Clarkson also had 17points for Los Angeles (2-8). Bryant madejust 6-of-19 shots from the floor but waseffective in involving his team mates.Guard Nick Young came off the bench toscore 13 points for the Lakers, whoseonly other victory was over the BrooklynNets. Center Roy Hibbert chipped in 12points and seven rebounds. — Reuters

Western ConferenceCentral DivisionW L OTL GF GA PTS

Dallas 14 4 0 65 47 28Minnesota 10 3 3 48 43 23Nashville 10 3 3 50 38 23St. Louis 11 5 1 47 41 23Chicago 10 7 1 49 44 21Winnipeg 8 8 2 48 59 18Colorado 7 9 1 49 45 15

Pacific DivisionLos Angeles 11 6 0 43 36 22Arizona 9 7 1 48 49 19Vancouver 7 6 5 52 46 19San Jose 9 8 0 45 43 18Anaheim 5 8 4 29 45 14Calgary 6 12 1 45 72 13Edmonton 6 12 0 47 58 12

Eastern ConferenceAtlantic Division

Montreal 13 3 2 63 39 28

Ottawa 8 5 4 51 53 20Tampa Bay 8 8 3 46 48 19Boston 8 7 1 52 49 17Detroit 8 8 1 37 42 17Buffalo 8 8 1 40 46 17Florida 7 7 3 48 45 17Toronto 5 9 4 41 54 14

Metropolitan DivisionNY Rangers 14 2 2 57 32 30Washington 11 4 1 50 37 23New Jersey 10 6 1 44 40 21NY Islanders 9 6 3 49 42 21Pittsburgh 10 7 0 36 37 20Philadelphia 6 8 3 33 50 15Carolina 6 9 2 34 49 14Columbus 6 12 0 45 62 12

Note: Overtime losses (OTL) are worth onepoint in the standings and are not included inthe loss column (L)

NHL Results/Standings

NY Rangers 4, Toronto 3; Chicago 4, Calgary 1.

Kenya leave for Cape Verde after pay dispute deal

Celtics get Smartto silence Thunderin Oklahoma City

Eastern ConferenceAtlantic Division

W L PCT GBToronto 7 4 .636 -Boston 5 4 .556 1NY Knicks 5 6 .455 2Brooklyn 1 9 .100 5.5Philadelphia 0 10 0 6.5

Central DivisionCleveland 8 2 .800 -Chicago 6 3 .667 1.5Indiana 6 4 .600 2Detroit 5 5 .500 3Milwaukee 5 5 .500 3

Southeast DivisionAtlanta 8 4 .667 -Miami 6 3 .667 0.5Charlotte 5 5 .500 2Washington 4 4 .500 2Orlando 5 6 .455 2.5

Western ConferenceNorthwest Division

Oklahoma City 6 4 .600 -Utah 5 5 .500 1Denver 5 5 .500 1Minnesota 4 6 .400 2Portland 4 7 .364 2.5

Pacific DivisionGolden State 11 0 1.000 -LA Clippers 6 4 .600 4.5Phoenix 5 4 .556 5Sacramento 4 7 .364 7LA Lakers 2 8 .200 8.5

Southwest DivisionSan Antonio 7 2 .778 -Dallas 6 4 .600 1.5Memphis 5 6 .455 3Houston 4 6 .400 3.5New Orleans 1 9 .100 6.5

NBA Results/Standings

NY Knicks 95, New Orleans 87; Memphis 114, Minnesota 106; Charlotte 106, 94; Utah97, Atlanta 96; Boston 100, Oklahoma City 85; Sacramento 107, Toronto 101; LA Lakers97, Detroit 85.

OKLAHOMA CITY: Boston Celtics guard Isaiah Thomas (front) passes in front ofOklahoma City Thunder guard Russell Westbrook in the second quarter of an NBAbasketball game ON Sunday. Boston won 100-85. — AP


TOKYO: More famous for its sun-kissed beachesand coral reefs than its football, the tiny Pacificisland of Guam is making waves in Asian qualify-ing for the 2018 World Cup. Coached byEnglishman Gary White, Guam have put the rug-by-score losses of the past behind them withsome giant-killing performances and face Iran onTuesday determined to preserve a remarkableunbeaten home record.

“Mathematically we’re still in it,” White told AFPby telephone on Monday, defiant despite lastweek’s disappointing 1-0 defeat by India.

“We need to get a minimum of four pointsfrom the next two games to have a sniff but infootball anything is possible. This is not an easyplace for anybody to come. We’ve won two anddrawn one at home so we want to try to keep itas a fortress.” He added: “We’ve already achievedone of our team goals by reaching the final roundof 2019 Asian Cup qualifiers, which is an amazingachievement.”

Guam’s population is just 170,000 but White’s“Matao”-a name derived from the noble classes of

Micronesia’s ancient Chamorro society-have con-sistently punched above their weight, with victo-ries against Turkmenistan and India, a country of1.2 billion. By far the smallest of Asia’s 47 nationaland territorial teams, the state of football in thetiny United States territory was so precariousbarely a generation ago that the islanders did noteven bother entering the World Cup qualifiers.And when they did, they would often lose in anavalanche of goals.

Before their 1-0 victory over Turkmenistan athome in June, the last time Guam played a WorldCup qualifier was in 2000 against Tajikistan whenwere hammered 16-0. Three days earlier, Iransmashed 19 goals past them.

“We’re not going into games to sit back andhope we don’t get beat by 10,” said White, whotook charge of Guam in 2012. “That’s not how thegame’s supposed to be played.”

Top of Group D after their first two games, a 6-0 defeat in Iran brought Guam down to earthwith a bump before they held Oman to a goallessdraw. Narrow defeats in Turkmenistan and India

saw White’s side slip to fourth on seven pointsfrom six games.

ANCIENT CULTURE “The only way to approach it is to go for it,”

said the 41-year-old, looking ahead to Tuesday’srematch with Iran. “I’d prefer that if we are goingto go down, we go down fighting-rather than sit-ting back and being cowardly.”

White, who formerly played for English non-league club Bognor Regis, began coaching in1998 when he was living on a council estate inLuton, north of London, and faxed every nationalassociation in the world looking for work.

After spells with the British Virgin Islands andBahamas, White has worked a minor miracle onthe palm-fringed honeymoon island of Guam,located 1,600 miles (2,600 kilometres) south ofJapan.

“A lot of coaches come into these environ-ments and look at it as an obstacle. I look at it as abenefit,” said White, whose methods have helpedtease some sparkling form from captain Jason

Cunliffe and winger Ryan Guy.“You have to find something that pulls at the

heart strings of a country and its culture and his-tory, you can utilise that because it’s bigger thananybody,” he added.

“We use the Chamorro background, the deephistory of Chamorro people, who have been herefor thousands of years and survived numeroustakeovers from other countries, whether it’s theSpanish or the Americans.”

At 155th in the FIFA world rankings, Guam willlook to psyche out Iran, Asia’s top-ranked team at43rd, before a ball has been kicked when theyperform the traditional “inifresi” war cry, theisland’s version of the New Zealand haka.

Win or lose, White’s team have already lefttheir mark on the World Cup qualifying competi-tion. “What’s funny is the fact that a country of170,000 people went to a massive country likeIndia with a population of 1.2 billion and werecompletely devastated because we lost 1-0,” saidWhite. “That really shows exactly how far we’vecome.” — AFP

Pacific islanders Guam bare teeth in Russia quest

HEMPSTEAD: Spanish soccer star Raul (R) holding trophy celebrates with his teammates after the NASL Championship Final match between theNY Cosmos and the Ottawa Fury Saturday in Hempstead, NY. Raul has planned to retire after the match. — AFP

ZURICH: World soccer body FIFA announcedyesterday it had banned two officials from Nepaland Laos for taking cash during FIFA elections,extending moves to root out corruption that hasshaken the international game. Ganesh Thapa,president of the All-Nepal Football Association(ANFA), was banned for 10 years and fined20,000 Swiss francs ($19,870), while ViphetSihachakr, president of the Laotian FootballFederation, received a two-year ban and 40,000franc fine.

FIFA was thrown into turmoil in May by USindictments of 14 football officials, including twoFIFA vice-presidents and sports marketing exec-utives, for alleged corruption. President SeppBlatter has been suspended ahead of Februaryelections for a new leader who will face the taskof cleaning up the game. FIFA’s ethics commit-tee said Thapa, during 2009 and 2011 electionsfor the FIFA Executive Committee at the AsianFootball Confederation (AFC) congress, “commit-ted various acts of misconduct ...including thesolicitation and acceptance of cash paymentsfrom another football official, for both personaland family gain”.

Sihachakr solicited and accepted a paymentfrom another football official during 2011 elec-tions, it said. Thapa denied wrongdoing in astatement. “I am very disappointed and I do notbelieve that justice has been served. I have fullycooperated with FIFA during their investigationssince the last four years,” he said, adding he wasseeking the reasons for FIFA’s step and would fileappeals.

COURT BATTLEIn Nepal, ANFA Chief Executive Indra Man

Tuladhar said: “We must accept the decision ofFIFA. An ANFA executive meeting will meet with-in the next 14 days and take a decision about its

future course.”Ganesh Thapa, a member of parliament from

the pro-monarchy Rashtriya Prajatantra Party(Nepal), is brother of Kamal Thapa, a new deputyprime minister and minister for foreign affairs.Karma Tsering Sherpa, a vice president of ANFAwho has been fighting a court battle againstThapa over the way ANFA is run, saw the ban asan opportunity for change. “Now is the time forus to take Nepali football in a new direction. Webegin with the meeting of the executive com-

mittee but there is a lot of work ahead,” he said.In October Nepali police arrested five former andcurrent national team players, including the cap-tain, on match-fixing charges.

They remain on bail and a trial date has notbeen set. Suspended FIFA President Blatter isfacing criminal investigation in Switzerland overa 2 million Swiss franc payment from FIFA toUEFA head Michel Platini. Both men have beenprovisionally suspended and have deniedwrongdoing. — Reuters

FIFA ethics committee bans executives from Nepal, Laos

KATHMANDU: In this March 8, 2012 file photo FIFA President Joseph S. Blatter, left, and AllNepal Football Association President Ganesh Thapa, right, applaud during the AFC ChallengeCup football tournament opening ceremony in Kathmandu, Nepal. FIFA’s ethics committeeyesterday announced that Thapa has been banned for ten years from all football activities atboth national and international level. — AP

BERLIN: Joachim Loew says Germany’sfriendly against the Netherlands today will be“a symbol of freedom”, with the result of littleconsequence in the wake of the Paris terrorattacks. The German Football Association(DFB) had been considering cancelling thefriendly in Hanover, but took the decisionover the weekend to go ahead with GermanChancellor Angela Merkel and her cabinet setto attend the match. The shaken Germanteam spent Friday night in the Stade deFrance stadium after playing a friendlyagainst the French the same night when 129people died and 350 were injured in a seriesof violent attacks across Paris. Loew sayssecurity will be top priority in Hanover, butthe political importance of the match, as a

statement against terrorism, outweighs thefixture’s sporting value. “It’s a clear messageand symbol of freedom and a demonstrationof compassion, as well as sorrow, for ourFrench friends-not only in France, butthroughout the world,” said Loew.

Loew has stood six players down for thegame. Germany captain BastianSchweinsteiger, Lukas Podolski and ManuelNeuer are rested, while Jerome Boateng andJonas Hector are injured and Leroy Sane willplay for Germany Under-21.

Schweinsteiger wrote that he is “speech-less” on Twitter and Facebook on Sunday andcalled for unity in the wake of the Parisattacks. “No matter where you come fromand what religion you follow-we are united,”

he wrote. Team manager Oliver Bierhoff saysthe DFB are considering ways to show solidar-ity with France, but could not confirmwhether the French national anthem, ‘LesMarseillaise’, will be sung in the Hanover sta-dium. “We have had a few ideas, but we wantto talk to the Dutch about them first,” addedBierhoff. Against the background of Friday’sevents in Paris, Loew said “the much-toutedsporting rivalry between Germany andHolland fades into the background”.

‘WE WERE AFRAID’ The head coach looked drawn during yes-

terday’s press conference and brushed offquestions of a sporting nature, but spoke atlength about why the Germans want the

friendly to go ahead.“We want to play the game and behave

very professionally, but I believe that theresult will not be an important factor,” saidGermany’s World Cup-winning coach.

“During the terrible, shocking night, whichwe experienced in the dressing room (inParis), came the question: ‘can the game onTuesday take place?’ and we talked about it tothe players “I had the feeling when we arrivedback on Saturday that the game couldn’t, andshouldn’t, take place.

“We had to get over the shock and wewere afraid. “But we talked about it again onthe Sunday and it was clear that the gamehad to take place. It’s a clear statement aboutfreedom and solidarity. “Clearly, we will be

thinking of the victims and their families.”With Merkel set to attend, the DFB has saidsecurity will be a high priority and Loew saidthere was no fear in the team of a repeat ofwhat they experienced in Paris.

“I believe everything will be done to makethe game as safe as possible,” said Loew. “Ihave already spoken to our psychologist. Wehave to be sure that when we stand on thepitch, we are all fully concentrated, but sportwill take a bit of a back seat.

“This game won’t be the yardstick it wouldnormally be for me.” Loew was very clearwhen asked if the game would be a celebra-tion of life after the horror scenes in Paris: “Aparty atmosphere wouldn’t be appropriate”he said tersely. — AFP

Friendly will be ‘symbol of freedom’: Germany’s Loew

DHAKA: Australia’s national football teamarrived in Dhaka yesterday to play a WorldCup qualifying match amid “unprecedented”security as fears of militant attacks escalate inthe Muslim-majority country.

“The team has landed and was taken to ahotel with heavy security,” Abu NayeemSohag, general secretary of the BangladeshFootball Federation, told AFP. The match,scheduled for Tuesday, was thrown intodoubt after Australia’s national cricket teamcancelled their tour of Bangladesh over secu-rity concerns.

Australian football officials also flaggedtheir concerns to world football governingbody FIFA and the Asian FootballConfederation. Two Football FederationAustralia security officials, in Dhaka sinceNovember 9, and a FIFA security official metBangladesh’s home affairs minister and lawenforcement agencies before giving thematch the go-ahead.

The chief of the police station at Dhaka air-port Kamal Uddin told AFP that more than100 armed policemen and officers weredeployed at the airport to ensure security forthe visitors and “four layers of protection”were provided when the team departed theairport for their hotel.

“The Australian team got a level of security

that is specially reserved for a visiting head ofstate or the Bangladesh Prime Minister,”Uddin said. “They are pleased with the securi-ty arrangements.” Dhaka’s deputy police chiefon Sunday announced “unprecedented” secu-rity measures for the Socceroos match, sayingmarkets would be sealed off and sniffer dogsand bomb disposal units deployed atBangabandhu National Stadium where thematch will be held.

The match is crucial for Australia who aresecond in their group-one point behind lead-ers Jordan-and cannot afford to forfeit threepoints by failing to fulfil a fixture.

Australia thrashed Bangladesh 5-0 inSeptember ’s home qualifier in Perth.Bangladesh are at the bottom of their groupwith just one point from six matches.

Australia’s cricketers had been due to playa two-Test series in Bangladesh in Octoberbut the tour was scrapped after a securityalert was issued by officials. The alert was fol-lowed by the killings of two foreigners anddeadly blasts at a Shiite shrine-attacksclaimed by the Islamic State group (IS).

Although local officials have steadfastlyrejected the presence of foreign jihadistgroups including IS, the US State Departmenthas issued a travel alert, warning that foreign-ers could be targeted in attacks. — AFP

Socceroos land in Dhaka amid heavy security

MANAMA: A Bahraini sheikh is going for sim-plicity and fan-appeal with headline pledgesto transform a discredited FIFA: Relinquishmuch of the power Sepp Blatter built up over17 years at FIFA and take no salary. SheikhSalman bin Ibrahim Al-Khalifa was a late,seemingly reluctant candidate to lead FIFA’srecovery from a corruption crisis that is likelyto see fresh revelations of wrongdoing emerg-ing long after election day in February. “I don’twant too much power with the president - thepower has to be shared,” Sheikh Salman said inan interview with AP. “I believe in doing thingsin a different way, not being centralized wherethe president has to do every detail in runningthe business.”

That means taking no money for being theface of FIFA. “I don’t want to be an executivepresident,” the sheikh said. “And if I’m not anexecutive president I don’t see how I dodeserve to be paid.” Rather than a bitter elec-tion fight until Feb 26, the sheikh hopes thereis a smooth succession, with the five candi-dates currently vying to run football whittleddown before election day. “I’d like to see mostof the continents agreeing on a single candi-date but we have to work for this in the nextfew weeks,” the sheikh said during an hour-long interview in the Bahraini capitalManama.

Had it not been for Michel Platini injudi-ciously claiming 2 million Swiss francs ($2 mil-lion) from FIFA four years ago, this ManchesterUnited-supporting member of Bahrain’s royalfamily would not now be a front-runner tobecome the first Arab leader of FIFA. Havingbeen among Platini’s early campaign champi-ons, Sheikh Salman entered the race once itbecame clear the UEFA president’s suspensionover that 2011 payment made the electionoutcome far more uncertain. The AsianFootball Confederation president would nothave wanted Prince Ali bin Al-Hussein ofJordan to have a clear path to the presidency.

Platini is out of contention while awaitingthe full verdict from FIFA’s ethics judge whichcould result in a long ban for the formerFrance captain. “I think damage has beendone,” Sheikh Salman said. “But he has theright as well to defend himself. We cannotjudge.” The sheikh has already faced the judg-ment of many. With little name recognitionprofile among football fans outside the Asianregion he has led for barely two years, his

international spotlight usually comes whenchallenged on human rights abuse allegationshe denounced as lies. Despite complaintsagainst his candidacy from rights groups, thesheikh was last week approved as a candidateby FIFA’s election watchdog alongside fourother men: Prince Ali, UEFA General SecretaryGianni Infantino, former FIFA official JeromeChampagne and apartheid-era formerRobben Island prisoner Tokyo Sexwale.

Agreement How many names are on the ballot paper

in Zurich in February could depend onwhether Platini defies expectations and iscleared before election day. “If he comes backand he still wants to run, I think we wouldhave to sit together ... and assess the situa-tion,” Sheikh Salman said. “I am sure there willbe an agreement. At the end of the day we allneed to support each other ... (and) come witha compromise to hopefully have a good solu-tion for everybody.”

Whether that agreement could include the49-year-old sheikh quitting the campaign isunclear. “Anything is a possibility if it’s for thegood of the cause,” he said. “But I didn’t go inand commit myself to give a full presumptionI might withdraw. I’m in to go for the election.”The sheikh had expected to gain Europe’s sup-port until UEFA surprisingly endorsedInfantino on candidate deadline-day lastmonth. Infantino, who will stand aside forPlatini if his boss his cleared before electionday, has been touted for a potential role run-ning the FIFA administration under a SheikhSalman presidency. “I’d like to feel like we areworking together, not against each other -working for one cause to make that change,”the sheikh said. “We have to sit and talk andcome to a solution of what’s best.”

A Salman presidency would look very dif-ferent from Blatter’s reign, potentially blanderin terms of public statements. Expect fewerrash pronouncements on changes to thegame and awkward asides in speeches. Thesheikh is yet to produce his manifesto, butsaid he would consult the confederationsbefore emulating Infantino and pledging toexpand the World Cup by eight teams to 40.Discussing whether the use of technologyshould be expanded beyond ruling on disput-ed goals, the sheikh said: “The simple it is thebetter it is.” —AP

No pay, less power: Bahraini sheikh’s FIFA presidency pitch

17Djokovic andFederer stroll to easy wins


FIFA ethics committee bans executives fromNepal, Laos

Australia strike back after Taylor’s epic 290 Page 16

BUDAPEST: Orjan Nyland, left, of Norway and Gergo Lovrencsics of Hungary clash during the Hungary vs Norway soccer European Championship qualification playoff second leg match in Groupama Arena in Budapest,Hungary, Sunday. — AP

BUDAPEST: Hungary’s 30-year wait to play on themajor championship stage will end in France next yearafter their 2-1 victory over Norway ensured that one offootball’s most storied nations qualified for the Euro2016 finals.

The triumph, which sealed their 3-1 victory on aggre-gate in front of an ecstatic crowd in the GroupamaArena, guaranteed Hungary’s first appearance in anychampionship finals since the 1986 World Cup inMexico.

“I have to congratulate my team, the associationpresident Sandor Csanyi, and also Pal Dardai, who I took

over from and he left this team for me,” said Hungary’sGerman coach Bernd Storck who took charge in July.

“The players’ approach was fantastic during thosetwo games, they fought well and deserved to qualify toFrance.” The Hungarians built on their first-leg win inOslo when Tamas Priskin curled in a delightful 14th-minute opener and Markus Henriksen’s own goal on 83minutes made the tie safe. Henriksen atoned with a lategoal but it was scant consolation for the Norwegians asthe home side celebrated qualifying for the EuropeanChampionship finals for the first time since 1972.

The toast of Budapest was Hungary’s 39-year-old

Gabor Kiraly, who made a series of superb saves overthe two legs. Ferencvaros’s home ground eruptedalmost like never before when Priskin curled in a fabu-lous strike from 16 metres after a quick counter-attackto put Hungary ahead. Kiraly had to make a fine savefrom Haitam Aleesami’s low shot in the 27th minuteafter a flowing passing move from the visitors andNorway came even closer when Even Hovland’s headerfrom a corner hit the post in the 45th minute.

Balazs Dzsudzsak’s deflected shot struck the crossbarin the 58th minute after a rare counter-attack by thehosts, who dropped deeper to defend their overall two-

goal advantage. Kiraly made another excellent save inthe 76th minute when he parried Marcus Pedersen’sclose-range shot before the tie was effectively sealedseven minutes from time as Dzsudzsak’s corner wasbundled under pressure into his own net by Henriksen.The AZ Alkmaar man then pulled one back for Norwayin the 87th minute but it was too little, too late.“Congratulations to Hungary, they were better than usover the two legs,” said Norway coach Per-MathiasHogmo. “I am deeply disappointed with our perform-ance, we could not score in Oslo, that was a big setback.All in all, we came up short.” — Reuters

Hungary qualify for Euro 2016

BARRANQUILLA: Troubled Argentina, without talis-man Lionel Messi, will look for a victory againstColombia today like the one four years ago thatlaunched them on the road to the 2014 World Cupfinal. Argentina return to the hot and humid Caribbeanport city of Barranquilla desperate for a win after theirworst start to a World Cup qualifying campaign withtwo points from three games. They stand second-bot-tom of the 10-team South American group, sevenpoints behind leaders Ecuador who have nine. CopaAmerica holders Chile are two points off the pace insecond ahead of their highly-charged visit to Uruguay,who are a further point back in third.

In November 2011, former coach Alejandro Sabella’sside arrived at the Metropolitano stadium with fourpoints from three matches fresh from a humiliating 1-0defeat in Venezuela. Down 1-0 at halftime, and withdefender Nicolas Burdisso sent off, Sabella threw cautionto the wind, took off a midfielder and sent on SergioAguero to partner Messi and Gonzalo Higuain up front.The trio inspired a 2-1 victory. “This team was born inBarranquilla,” midfield general Javier Mascherano, whoagain stands in for Messi as captain, said before they metGermany in the final in Rio de Janeiro. “Now, again, we’reobliged to win in Barranquilla,” he said on Friday afterArgentina’s 1-1 draw at home to Brazil gave GerardoMartino’s side their second point. The difference thistime is that neither Messi nor Aguero, the scorers inBarranquilla in 2011, are there to help Higuain andColombia are a better side, having enjoyed their ownrenaissance after that match.

Colombia sacked coach Leonel Alvarez and replacedhim with Jose Pekerman, Argentina’s 2006 World Cup

coach, and qualified for their first finals in 16 yearsbefore reaching the last eight in Brazil.

DANGERMAN JAMESRadamel Falcao was Colombia’s danger man then,

before a knee ligament injury two years later put himout of the World Cup. Now their main threat comesfrom forward James Rodriguez, who equalised in the 1-1 draw away to Chile on Thursday. “Everyone wants toplay against Argentina, it’s match that motivates,” hesaid. “Messi isn’t here and neither is Aguero, but theyhave a very good squad. The standard of our opponentsdoesn’t change, we have to go out to win.” Argentinaalso have to contend with the heat, which can top 30degrees Celsius and which Colombia try to benefit fromby staging the match in mid-afternoon (1500 GMT).Unbeaten Chile face Uruguay in Montevideo for the firsttime since June’s Copa America quarter-final in Santiagowhen Edinson Cavani was sent off for striking atGonzalo Jara after the Chile defender stuck his finger upthe forward’s backside. Uruguay captain Diego Godin,playing down any suggestion of targeting Jara, said:“We haven’t talked about the issue or any specific Chileplayer... All we have talked about as a group and withthe master (coach Oscar Tabarez) is how to beat Chile.”Uruguay welcomed striker Cavani back from suspensionfor their visit to Ecuador on Thursday and although hescored they lost 2-1 as the Ecuadoreans continued tosurprise everyone with their perfect, best-ever start tothe qualifiers. Ecuador visit bottom team Venezuela,fourth-placed Brazil are at home to Peru and Paraguayhost Bolivia in the rest of Tuesday’s qualifying pro-gramme. — Reuters

SANTIAGO: Colombia’s James Rodriguez misses the ball and kicks Chile’s Matias Fernandez between his legsduring a 2018 World Cup qualifying soccer match in Santiago, Chile. Rodriguez went on to score in the 67thminute to lift Colombia to a 1-1 draw. — AP

Argentina hope to kick-start

campaign in Colombia heat

BusinessTUESDAY, NOVEMBER 17, 2015

Kuwait inflation eases to 3.1% in September

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G20 approves crackdown on tax avoidance

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Japan dips into recession in stumblefor ‘Abenomics’

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Crude prices fail to sustain upswingPage 26

NEW YORK: The logo for the W Hotel, owned by Starwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide, is seen in New York’s Times Square. Marriott International (inset) announced yesterday, it is buying rival hotel chain Starwood for $12.2 billion ina deal that will secure its position as the world’s largest hotelier. —AP

Marriott becomes world’s largest hotelierMarriott International buys rival Starwood for $12.2bn

NEW YORK: Marriott International is buying rival hotel chainStarwood for $12.2 billion in a deal that will catapult it tobecome the world’s largest hotelier by a wide margin. Thestock-and-cash deal, if completed, will add 50 percent morerooms to Marriott’s portfolio and give it more unique, design-focused hotels that appeal to younger travelers.

The new company would have 5,500 properties with morethan 1.1 million rooms around the world, uniting Starwood’sbrands, which include Sheraton, Westin, W and St. Regis, withMarriott’s two dozen brands including Marriott’s Courtyard,Ritz-Carlton and Fairfield Inn.

The deal is supposed to close in the middle of 2016. Thenext-largest hotel company is Hilton Worldwide with 4,500properties and about 735,000 rooms.

“To be successful in today’s marketplace, a wide distributionof brands and hotels across price points is critical,” StarwoodCEO Adam Aron said on a call with Wall Street analysts. “Itappeals to travelers wherever they may go, leverages marketingand technology spend and strengthens frequent traveler loyal-ty. Today, size matters.” Marriott and Starwood - like other hotelchains - own very few individual hotels. Instead they manage orfranchise their brands to hundreds of individual owners, oftenreal estate development companies. Those individual hotelowners are responsible for setting nightly room rates. It isn’t

uncommon for a developer to own a Marriott, Hilton, Hyatt andSheraton in the same city.

More leverageThe merger will give Marriott 30 brands and more leverage

with corporate travel departments who often look for one giantchain to house all of their employees. Frequent business travel-ers will also be closely watching the deal. Starwood has abeloved frequent guest program with partnerships withAmerican Express, Delta Air Lines and Uber. Marriott has a muchlarger program with partnerships with Chase and UnitedAirlines.

Back in April, Starwood announced its board was exploringstrategic options for the hotel company. The Stamford,Connecticut, company has struggled to grow as fast as its rivals,particularly in “limited service hotels,” smaller properties whichdon’t have restaurants or banquet halls. They are often locatedon the side of the highway, near airports or in suburban officeparks. There was speculation in the markets about a potentialdeal with Holiday Inn owner Intercontinental Hotels Group andmore recently Hyatt Hotels Corp. But in the end, it was Marriottwho prevailed.

Starwood’s strong international presence will aid Marriott. Inthe past few years, Starwood has made a strong push to grow

in China, India, the United Arab Emirates as well as more-estab-lished European destinations. Marriott, in turn, has a well-estab-lished network of hotels including deep coverage of smalltowns and cities with its Fairfield Inn, Courtyard and ResidenceInn brands.

The deal comes at a time of record hotel occupancy and

rates. During the first nine months of this year, guests filled 67.3percent of the available rooms in the US, according to researchfirm STR. That’s the highest level since STR started collectingdata in 1987. Guests paid an average of $120.35 a night so farthis year. The prior record, adjusted for inflation, was $119.70 in2008. Marriott, based in Bethesda, Maryland, has been aggres-sively growing. In April, it acquired Canadian chain Delta Hotelsand Resorts, helping it become the largest hotel company inCanada.

The boards of both companies approved the acquisitionunanimously, which now must be approved by investors inboth hotel chains. Arne Sorenson will be president and CEO ofthe combined company and the headquarters will be inBethesda. Marriott’s board of directors following the closing willincrease from 11 to 14 members, with the expected addition ofthree members Starwood’s board.

Marriott said it expects to deliver at least $200 million inannual savings in the second full year after closing. Last month,Starwood announced the sale of its timeshare unit to IntervalLeisure Group, with its shareholders retaining a 55-percentstake in the company. That deal is expected to close before theMarriott acquisition, with Starwood shareholders receivingadditional compensation for their stake in the timeshare busi-ness. — AP

DUBAI: Markets in Saudi Arabia and the United ArabEmirates rebounded yesterday as some investors boughtback stocks at lower prices following a broad sell-off a dayearlier, but Egypt extended declines to hit a new 23-monthlow. Saudi Arabia’s benchmark had tumbled to a 35-monthlow on Sunday and Dubai’s close was its lowest since lastDecember following an 8 percent decline in crude bench-marks the previous week that deepened a prolonged oilprice rout.

Gulf investors seem to have belatedly realized that theconsequent hit to state finances would also impact listedcompanies’ earnings, especially as most blue chips are atleast partly government-owned, but a slight rebound in oilprices then convinced some to buy back regional equities.

“For long-term investors and stock pickers, markets havestarted throwing up interesting investment opportunities,”said Shakeel Sarwar, head of asset management at Securities& Investment Co (SICO) in Bahrain. Dubai’s index rose 0.9percent. Contractor Arabtec jumped 8.4 percent, although itremains 84 percent below a May 2014 peak. The firm’s chair-man said yesterday it had proposed building 13,000 homesin Egypt. Abu Dhabi’s index rose 1 percent. Aldar Properties ,which has reported higher profits in nine of the past 10quarters, was the main support with a 3.3 percent gain.

“I think it’s a bit of a dead cat bounce; the fundamentalshaven’t improved from yesterday but people just felt thedrop was too steep,” said Sanyalaksna Manibhandu, head ofresearch at NBAD Securities. “It’s a temporary relief. If any-thing negative happens by tomorrow morning, we couldsee more selling.”

SAUDI RALLYThe Saudi benchmark rose 1.1 percent to trim its 2015

losses to 16.5 percent. Manibhandu said the trigger for therecent drop in Gulf markets was Standard & Poor’s down-grade of its ratings on Saudi Arabian sovereign debt on Oct.30 and Fitch Ratings’ revision the following week of its out-look for three Saudi banks to negative.

“There’s a lot of concern the agencies will now turn toother Gulf countries including the UAE,” added Manibhandu.Heavyweights Saudi Basic Industries Corp (SABIC) andNational Commercial Bank rose 3.3 and 1.5 percent respec-tively.

Egypt’s benchmark fell 0.6 percent to its lowest closesince December 2013 despite gainers outnumbering losers19 to eight. Commercial International Bank, the Cairobourse’s largest listed company with a market value threetimes that of its nearest rival, fell 2.8 percent. — Reuters

LONDON: In their first response to the attacks in Paris, whichkilled 129 people, markets proved to be more resilient yester-day than many analysts had anticipated. Though Friday’satrocities on the streets of Paris could hurt consumer senti-ment across Europe in the short-term and raise concerns overlonger-term geopolitical risks, investors are so far managing tohold their nerve. “In a sign of resilience, there is no sign of thepanicked trading that could have been justifiably expected,”said Connor Campbell, financial analyst at Spreadex.

After opening modestly lower following the earlier retreatin Asia, most stock markets in Europe were trading higher.Germany’s DAX was up 0.1 percent at 10,722 while the FTSE100 index of leading British shares rose 0.4 percent to 6,144.Even the CAC-40 in Paris had clawed back most of its earlylosses to trade just 0.2 percent lower on the day at 4,796.

Travel and tourism stocks were faring worst - Germany’sTUI AG was down 4 percent, while Britain’s Thomas Cook fell4.6 percent. Wall Street was poised to open modestly higher,with Dow futures and the broader S&P 500 futures up 0.2 per-cent.

Though stocks are holding up overall, there are some signsthat investors are concerned about the longer-term geopoliti-cal ramifications, particularly in the Middle East, from which alarge part of the world’s oil comes from. Gold, which investorstraditionally buy as a safe haven, was in demand - the price ofan ounce was up 1 percent at $1,091. And a barrel of bench-mark New York crude oil was up 2.5 percent at $41.76 a barrel.

The attacks could also have an impact on the fragile econ-

omy of France and Europe by discouraging people fromspending on nights out, travel and entertainment. The eurowas down 0.4 percent at $1.0733. “While not wanting to sec-ond guess the effect of the events of the weekend the closureof France’s borders, along with other security measures, theimpact on consumer confidence could well be considerable inthe coming days and weeks,” said Michael Hewson, chief mar-ket analyst at CMC Markets.

Consumer spending was the main driver of economicgrowth for the 19-country eurozone in the third quarter. Thecurrency bloc grew by a mere 0.3 percent, leaving it exposedto shocks.

Analysts say the Paris attacks make it even more likely thatthe European Central Bank will expand its stimulus program atthe conclusion of its December meeting. There’s even specula-tion that the attacks may be enough to put a brake on a ratehike from the US Federal Reserve in December, which wouldbe its first in more than nine years.

“At this juncture, it is easy to see that the Fed’s intentionsto ‘normalize’ monetary policy could be derailed by a combi-nation of adverse domestic economic and external events,”said Neil MacKinnon, global macro strategist at VTB Capital.Earlier, the selling was more pronounced in Asia, Earlier inAsia, Japan’s benchmark Nikkei 225 fell nearly 1 percent toclose at 19,393.69. Australia’s S&P/ASX 200 lost nearly 1 per-cent to 5,003.80. Hong Kong’s Hang Seng fell 1.7 percent to22,010.82, while the Shanghai Composite added 0.7 percentto 3,606.96. - AP

Global markets resilient in face of Paris attacks

Saudi, UAE markets rebound after crash

MIDEAST STOCK MARKETS

Arne Sorenson, President and CEO of MarriottInternational Inc.

NBK ECONOMIC REPORT

B U S I N E S STUESDAY, NOVEMBER 17, 2015

EXCHANGE RATES

Bahrain Exchange Company

Al-Muzaini Exchange Co.

Dollarco Exchange Co. Ltd

ASIAN COUNTRIESJapanese Yen 2.488Indian Rupees 4.606Pakistani Rupees 2.888Srilankan Rupees 2.152Nepali Rupees 2.882Singapore Dollar 214.540Hongkong Dollar 39.310Bangladesh Taka 3.855Philippine Peso 6.454Thai Baht 8.480

GCC COUNTRIESSaudi Riyal 81.283Qatari Riyal 83.730Omani Riyal 791.710Bahraini Dinar 809.490UAE Dirham 82.988

ARAB COUNTRIESEgyptian Pound - Cash 39050Egyptian Pound - Transfer 38.974Yemen Riyal/for 1000 1.422Tunisian Dinar 150.630Jordanian Dinar 429.300Lebanese Lira/for 1000 2.031Syrian Lira 2.172Morocco Dirham 30.960

EUROPEAN & AMERICAN COUNTRIESUS Dollar Transfer 304.650Euro 327.960Sterling Pound 465.050Canadian dollar 229.660Turkish lira 105.780Swiss Franc 304.040Australian dollar 218.280US Dollar Buying 303.450

COUNTRY SELL CASH SELLDRAFTEurope

British Pound 0.456399 0.465399Czech Korune 0.004125 0.016125Danish Krone 0.039821 0.044821Euro 0.320895 0.328895Norwegian Krone 0.031047 0.036247Romanian Leu 0.087392 0.087392Slovakia 0.009111 0.019111Swedish Krona 0.030926 0.035926Swiss Franc 0.295568 0.305768Turkish Lira 0.101225 0.111525

AustralasiaAustralian Dollar 0.20829119791New Zealand Dollar 0.19254002040

AmericaCanadian Dollar 0.223208231708US Dollars 0.300550 0.305050US Dollars Mint 0.301050 0.305050

AsiaBangladesh Taka 0.003512 0.004112Chinese Yuan 0.046442 0.049942Hong Kong Dollar 0.037207 0.039957Indian upee 0.004411 0.004801Indonesian Rupiah 0.000018 0.000024Japanese Yen 0.002407 0.002587Kenyan Shilling 0.003166 0.003166Korean Won 0.000250 0.000265Malaysian Ringgit 0.066035 0.072035Nepalese Rupee 0.002919 0.003089Pakistan Rupee 0.002741 0.003021Philippine Peso 0.006411 0.006691Sierra Leone 0.000068 0.000074Singapore Dollar 0.210688 0.216688South African Rand 0.015155 0.023655Sri Lankan Rupee 0.001803 0.002383Taiwan 0.009209 0.009389Thai Baht 0.008171 0.008721

ArabBahraini Dinar 0.800879 0.808879Egyptian Pound 0.037467 0.040297Iranian Riyal 0.000084 0.000086Iraqi Dinar 0.000211 0.000271Jordanian Dinar 0.425697 0.433197Kuwaiti Dinar 1.000000 1.000000Lebanese Pound 0.000153 0.000253Moroccan Dirhams 0.020683 0.044683Nigerian Naira 0.001260 0.001895Omani Riyal 0.784878 0.790558Qatar Riyal 0.082968 0.084181Saudi Riyal 0.080603 0.081303Syrian Pound 0.001292 0.001512Tunisian Dinar 0.147165 0.155165Turkish Lira 0.101225 0.111525UAE Dirhams 0.081964 0.083113Yemeni Riyal 0.001377 0.001457

UAE Exchange Centre WLL

COUNTRY SELL DRAFT SELL CASH Australian Dollar 203.63Canadian Dollar 233.24Swiss Franc 307.65Euro 330.39US Dollar 304.95Sterling Pound 463.23Japanese Yen 2.51Bangladesh Taka 3.902Indian Rupee 4.599Sri Lankan Rupee 2.160Nepali Rupee 2.873Pakistani Rupee 2.887UAE Dirhams 0.08298Bahraini Dinar 0.8104Egyptian Pound 0.03789Jordanian Dinar 0.4337Omani Riyal 0.7919Qatari Riyal 0.08408Saudi Riyal 0.08128

Rate for Transfer Selling RateUS Dollar 304.900Canadian Dollar 232.105Sterling Pound 463.020

Euro 329.150Swiss Frank 307.005Bahrain Dinar 809.245UAE Dirhams 83.310Qatari Riyals 91.340Saudi Riyals 82.030Jordanian Dinar 429.635Egyptian Pound 37.861Sri Lankan Rupees 2.153Indian Rupees 4.601Pakistani Rupees 2.890Bangladesh Taka 3.883Philippines Pesso 6.450Cyprus pound 580.745Japanese Yen 3.475Syrian Pound 2.610Nepalese Rupees 3.860Malaysian Ringgit 70.705Chinese Yuan Renminbi 48.285Thai Bhat 9.485Turkish Lira 104.935

GOLD20 gram 223.5610 gram 114.475 gram 57.92

KUWAIT: Inflation in consumer prices slowed inSeptember, from 3.8 percent year-on-year (y/y) in Augustto 3.1 percent y/y, as inflation in most of its components,including housing, retreated. Housing inflation eased forthe first time in a year. As a result we saw core inflation(excludes food) slip from 3.4 percent y/y to 2.8 percent y/yduring the same period. Food price inflation also reversedits upward trend in September. Slowing inflation in mostcomponents and a stronger dinar against major currencies(excluding the US dollar), are poised to keep any significantgains in headline inflation in check. Thus, we expect annualinflation to average close to 3.5 percent in 2015 and toease towards 3 percent in 2016.

Inflation in food prices fell from 5.6 percent y/y inAugust to 4.4 percent y/y in September as global foodprices continued to decline. Local food inflation receded asfish prices were lowered following sharp hikes over thesummer, and as international food prices remained indecline. According to the Commodity Research Bureau’sglobal commodity index, international food prices weredown by around 16 percent y/y in September. With inter-national food prices set to soften further in the near-to-

medium term, upward pressures on local food inflation willbe limited.

Inflation in housing services eased for the first time in ayear, sliding from a six-year high in June of 6.5 percent y/yto 5.7 percent y/y in September. After witnessing stronggains for a year, particularly in 4Q14 and 1Q15, inflation inthis component (mostly comprised of rents) appears tohave peaked and we may see it continue to soften in themonths ahead.

Inflation in clothing & footwear, and furnishings &household maintenance continued to edge lower inSeptember. Clothing & footwear inflation fell for the sixthconsecutive month in September. Inflation in this compo-nent continues to see a large correction, following a highbase around the same period last year. The stronger dinaris also helping keep inflationary pressures down in thiscomponent (most goods in this component are imported).Inflation in furnishings & household maintenance slowedfrom 3.8 percent y/y in August to 2.6 percent y/y inSeptember.

Inflation in the ‘other goods & services’ segment alsoreceded further in September. Inflation in this segment,

which includes prices of personal care products and jewel-ry and certain business charges, is witnessing a downwardcorrection. The slowdown can also be explained by thestronger dinar, as most of the items in this segment areimported.

Wholesale price inflation eased in the third quarter ofthis year, mainly as upward inflationary pressures from itsmanufacturing component subsided. Inflation in thewholesale price index (WPI) fell from 3.4 percent y/y inJune (its last update) to 2.6 percent y/y in September, as aslowdown in inflation in its manufacturing component off-set inflationary gains in its agriculture, livestock & fishingand mining & quarrying components. WPI inflation isupdated once every quarter. The agriculture, livestock &fishing component gained some ground in 3Q15 on theback of a hike in fish & seafood prices during the sameperiod. However, inflation in this segment is forecast tosubside in 4Q15 after fish & seafood prices were lowered.

Inflation in the WPI components is forecast to be mod-erate in the near-to-medium term. This will help keep infla-tion in the consumer price index in check and lead to anannual average close to our 3.5 percent projection in 2015.

Kuwait inflation eases to 3.1% in September

Mumtalakat to buy 49% stake in Aleastur

MANAMA: Mumtalakat plans to buy a 49 percent stake inSpanish aluminum products group Aleastur, an executiveat the Bahraini sovereign fund said yesterday. “We are tak-ing a minority stake and helping the company to expandinto the Gulf,” Joseph Kirikian, head of industries and serv-ices at Mumtalakat, told Reuters on the sidelines of an alu-minum conference. He declined to give a value for theinvestment but said the deal would hopefully close soon.

US dollar stable against KD at 0.303

KUWAIT: The US dollar was stable vis-a-vis the Kuwaitidinar yesterday exchanging at KD 0.303 while the eurowas down to 0.325 as compared to Sunday’s rates, theCentral Bank of Kuwait said. The sterling pound was sta-ble at KD 0.462 and the Swiss franc at KD 0.301 whilethe Japanese yen remained at KD 0.002.

Newsi n b r i e f

Orascom Telecom posts 9-month net loss of $383m

CAIRO: Egypt’s Orascom Telecom Media and TechnologyHolding reported a net loss of 3 billion Egyptian pounds($383.14 million)in the nine months ending Septembercompared with a net profit of 603 million a year earlier, itsaid in a statement on the Cairo bourse yesterday.

Telecom Egypt posts 360%jump in Q3 net profit

CAIRO: Telecom Egypt, the country’s state-owned landlinemonopoly, posted a 360 percent jump in third-quarter netprofit, the company said in a statement yesterday, attribut-ing the increase to corporate tax changes. Telecom Egyptachieved a profit of 1.2 billion Egyptian pounds ($153.3million) in the three months through September, com-pared with 262 million in the same period a year earlier.“We experienced a significant increase in net profit, whichwas primarily attributable to amendments to the corporatetax law,” the statement said. “As a result, the company hadto reverse a deferred tax liability amounting to 613 millionpounds,” it added.

DUBAI: The economy of the United ArabEmirates is expected to grow 3 percent in2015, the central bank governor said yester-day, adding the country would reconsiderany investments considered unnecessary.

“The government is still continuing withits spending, though they will rationalize anyunnecessary investments,” Mubarak RashidAl-Mansouri told reporters on the sidelinesof a banking conference in Dubai.

The central bank had said in July that theUAE government was expected to trim statespending by 4.2 percent this year in responseto reduced revenue because of the lower oilprice. Economists polled by Reuters expectthe Gulf Arab state to grow by 3.6 percent.

There would be an “appropriate adjust-ment” in interest rates in the United ArabEmirates following any hike in rates in theUnited States, the governor of the centralbank said.

Al-Mansouri also told a banking confer-ence in Dubai it was closely monitoring thebanking sector to ensure risks, including low-er oil prices and customer deposits, do notescalate into a wider problem. Speaking oninterest rates, Mansouri said the “immediateimpact on our side will be an appropriateadjustment of our ... rates, especially at theshort end.” Upward pressure on rates wasexpected to increase if and when the USFederal Reserve starts tightening monetarypolicy in coming months.

Gulf Arab states including the UAE tietheir currencies to the US dollar, limiting theirroom to pursue independent monetary poli-cies, and the UAE governor reiterated its“continued commitment” to the peg yester-day.

Not all countries in the region have beenas explicit in following US moves as the UAEthough: Qatar’s central bank governor said

last month it saw no reason to imitate any UShike due to rising liquidity in the local bank-ing system. Three-month money marketrates in the UAE have been rising due to low-er liquidity in the system, hitting its highestlevel since at least mid-2013 last week.

BANKING SYSTEMMansouri also said the central bank was

watching the local banking system for signsof stress.

“With the major stakeholders, the centralbank is closely monitoring the financialsoundness indicators for the banking sectorto make sure potential vulnerabilities areidentified and appropriate measures are tak-en on time to hedge against risks that couldescalate to a full-blown crisis as our experi-ence has taught us,” Mansouri said.

UAE banks at the end of the last decadewere hit by a local real estate crash and a

debt crisis at Dubai state-linked companies,which forced them to set aside significantcash for bad loans, crimped profits for a num-ber of quarters, and increased loan rates.

Mansouri added that among the mainchallenges for the banking system were aglobal economic slowdown, lower oil prices,which could lead to further fiscal consolida-tion, and further tightening in bank liquiditydue to a slowdown in customer deposit lev-els. While system-wide deposits continue togrow-rising 1.6 percent year on year inSeptember, according to the latest centralbank data-a number of local banks haveseen a decline as lower oil revenue hasreduced the amount of cash being placedon deposit. National Bank of Abu Dhabi, theUAE’s largest bank by assets, said last monthgovernment deposits dropped by 48 billiondirhams ($13.1 billion) in the past 12months. — Reuters

UAE economy to grow 3% in 2015: CB

LONDON: Oil prices edged up yesterday on geopoliticalconcerns after Friday’s deadly attacks in Paris claimed byIslamic militants, but gains were muted due to a globalcrude glut.

France carried out large-scale air strikes against IslamicState sites in Syria overnight, giving oil market investorsreason to step up buying activity after a week in whichcrude benchmark prices fell as much as 8 percent. “Somerisk premium is factored into the market after the terrorattacks in Paris. We had an oversold market, so it is a tech-nical recovery as well,” said Frank Klumpp, oil analyst atStuttgart-based Landesbank Baden-Wuerttemberg.

Front-month Brent crude prices were up 34 cents at$44.81 a barrel at 0915 GMT. U.S. futures traded 36 centshigher at $41.10 a barrel.

An OPEC delegate from a Gulf producing country saidhe believed that in the mid-term oil prices could get somesupport due to rising tensions especially if the internation-

al community takes more steps to reduce smuggling of oiland hits oil facilities under Islamic State’s control in Syriaand Iraq. But oil and other commodities could also comeunder renewed pressure on fears the attacks will furtherslow the global economy. Many analysts also continue tobelieve prices will remain under pressure due to abundantstocks of oil and slowing economic growth.

“Our outlook is skewed negative into (the first half ofnext year). Macro headwinds remain, crude oil inventoriesare building,” Morgan Stanley said.

Oil prices have dropped more than 60 percent sinceJune last year as high production and inventories havecoincided with an economic slowdown in Asia, particularlyin China but also Japan, which slipped back into recessionin the third quarter.

“The fact that both crude oil and combined crude andproduct stocks are near record levels is a reason for con-cern,” Barclays bank said in a research note. —Reuters

Geopolitical worries lift oil, but glut weighs

Interest in selectshares buoys KSE

KUWAIT: KSE session yesterday witnessed trading in selectshares, cheap stocks in particular, along with liquidity hike aswell as the investors’ anxiousness for possible emergence ofstimulus. Profit fall by some companies for Q3 (2015) con-tributed to the market instability, along with targeting of bro-kers’ chips. The indices varied since the session opening till itsclosure due to investors’ wait-and-see attitude for positivemotives following the quarterly financial disclosures and pricestability of most stocks.

Speculations were noticeable till the pre-closing two-minute auction. The market was affected with geopoliticalevents and such interaction was recorded among companieswith regular performance, namely those enlisted in the Kuwait-15 index. The KSE closed yesterday’s session with the threeindices posting gains. The benchmark rose 3.09 to 5,703, whilethe weighted index inched up by 0.26 and the Kuwait-15 indexput on 2.85 points. Value of traded shares amounted to KD 14.6million, volume of exchanged stocks reached some 165.8 mil-lion, done in 4, 191 transactions. —KUNA

KARACHI: Pakistani stockbrokers monitor the latest share prices duringtrading at the Karachi Stock Exchange (KSE) in Karachi yesterday. Asian mar-kets mostly fell following the deadly weekend terror attacks in Paris — withairline stocks taking a beating on concerns over the tourism industry. —AFP


B U S I N E S S

ANTALYA: German Chancellor Angela Merkel (left) arrives for the Working session-1 on the “Inclusive Growth: Global EconomyGrowth Strategies, Employment and Investment Strategies” during the G20 Turkey Leaders’ Summit yesterday in Antalya. —AFP

World leaders agree to close multinationals’ tax loopholes

G20 approves crackdown on tax avoidanceANTALYA, Turkey: World leaders yesterdayapproved a crackdown on tax avoidance bymultinationals such as Google, Apple andMcDonald’s whose rock-bottom tax bills haveprovoked widespread outrage.

Heads of the Group of 20 top economiesput their final seal on a plan to close loopholesthat let some big companies shift profits tolow-tax nations so as to slash their bills, leavingordinary tax payers fuming. It comes a yearafter the “LuxLeaks” revelations that some ofthe world’s biggest companies-including Pepsiand Ikea-had lowered their tax rates to as littleas one percent in secret pacts with tax authori-ties in Luxembourg.

US President Barack Obama, Chinese leaderXi Jinping, and Britain’s Prime Minister DavidCameron joined fellow leaders in endorsing aclampdown drawn up by the wealthy nations’Organization for Economic Cooperation andDevelopment. In a joint statement deliveredafter a two-day summit at the Turkish

Mediterranean resort of Antalya, leaders

declared that they “strongly urge the timelyimplementation of the project and encourageall countries and jurisdictions, including devel-oping ones, to participate”.

The OECD calculates that national govern-ments lose $100-240 billion (89-210 billioneuros), or 4-10 percent of global tax revenues,every year because of the tax-minimizingschemes of multinationals.

Its 15-point plan, adopted after years ofnegotiations, seeks to oblige multinationals topay tax in the country where their main busi-ness activity is based.

‘Step forward’ The package represents “the first substan-

tial-and overdue-renovation of the internation-al tax standards in almost a century,” the 34-nation, Paris-based OECD says.

The OECD says its scheme will: Stop compa-nies exploiting differences in national tax rulesand bilateral treaties, for example to win no-tax status in two places at once.

Prevent companies from shifting profits tolower-taxation countries where their foreignsubsidiaries are based, or from using technical-ities to declare they are based in low-tax juris-dictions.

Close loopholes that let companies shiftdebt within a group towards higher-tax coun-tries, allowing them to declare lower profitsthere. Oblige multinationals to detail theirbusiness country by country to the tax authori-ties. The British-based charity Oxfam said theplan was a “step forward”.

“ B u t u n t i l t h e G 2 0 s u p p o r t s a re fo r mprocess that truly tackles harmful tax compe-tition, tax havens and multinationals willcontinue to gain most from this system, andthe poorest countries will be the biggest los-ers,” Oxfam said in a statement. The charityu rg e d t h e G 2 0 to wo r k w i t h t h e U n i te dNations, International Monetary Fund andWorld Bank along with the OECD on a sec-ond generation of tax reforms to build onthe crackdown. —AFP

TOKYO: Japan has expressed concern to Chinaabout the pace of capital outflows from thecountry and has suggested Beijing moves veryslowly in reforming its currency system toavoid repeating Japan’s past mistakes.

After a summer of market turmoil, Chinanow appears to be at a critical juncture as capi-tal outflows reach hundreds of billions of dol-lars and Beijing draws down heavily on its,albeit large, currency reserves to offset theimpact of the money moving offshore.

The stocks slump of more than 40 percentin a matter of a few months and the shockdevaluation of the yuan acted as a reminder ofhow quickly Beijing could lose control of itsmarkets if it moves too quickly to open up tomarket forces, Japanese officials say.

“The pace of capital outflows is alarming,” saida senior official with knowledge of Japan’s cur-rency diplomacy. “If China’s financial system isdestabilised, the effect on Japan and the rest ofAsia would be enormous.” Publicly, Japanese offi-cials have urged China to proceed with reformand expressed confidence that Beijing has thetools and expertise to manage. But privately,they have adopted a different tone, cautioningBeijing against moving too quickly to free up theyuan when large capital outflows could make thecurrency a target for speculators.

Japan has conveyed its concerns to Chineseofficials at various meetings this year, includ-ing at the G20 financial leaders’ meeting inTurkey in September.

China took a big step towards internation-alising its currency on Friday, when IMF staffand the institution’s head Christine Lagardeendorsed the inclusion of the yuan in thefund’s benchmark foreign exchange basket,known as Special Drawing Rights (SDR).Analysts estimate inclusion could lead todemand for the yuan worth more than $500billion.

“It should be the other way around,” said aJapanese official, who declined to be identifiedbecause of the sensitivity of the matter.“Reforms come first, then you debate whetherthe yuan can join the SDR.” China is trying toengineer a shift in the economy away frommanufacturing and towards consumption andservices while promising to fully liberalise theyuan by 2020 - a goal some Japanese officialsfeel is to ambitious.

Japan’s cautious tone is at odds with themore robust calls from Washington - under-lined last week with comments from USTreasury Secretary Jack Lew urging Beijing topress ahead with its reform plans. But Japan’sviews carry weight with Beijing, which haslong taken a close interest in how Japanemerged in the past three decades as a globaleconomic power.

It views Japan’s handling of capital flowsand the yen as key factors that led to its assetbubble blow-up in the early 1990s that led tonearly two decades of deflation Japan is stillstruggling to eradicate.

For decades, China’s main concern was the

amount of foreign currency coming into theeconomy as it built a huge export engine. Butsince China surprised world markets bydevaluing its currency around 2 percent inAugust, net capital outflows have reached$200 billion, while Beijing appeared to havespent $229 billion in foreign exchange inter-vention to prop up the yuan in the third quar-ter, a US Treasury Department report showedlast month.

“WORST THING IS TO MOVE TOO QUICKLY”Japanese policymakers are not suggesting

there is an immediate risk of a financial crisis,but they say China’s heavy intervention in mar-kets to offset the capital outflows showsBeijing is worried.

If China liberalises its currency too quicklyand before it fixes other problems in the econ-omy, such as high debt, Beijing may struggleto contain capital outflows and that may take atoll on its $3.5 trillion in currency reserves,Japanese officials say. “Market liberalisationsounds nice. But it could cause various prob-lems,” said Eisuke Sakakibara, who as a seniorJapanese finance ministry official wrestled tocontain volatile yen swings with heavy inter-vention in the late 1990s.

“When an economy moves from fast-growth to stable growth, you’re bound to havesome market turmoil. The same thing couldhappen in China, so the worst thing to do is tomove too quickly to a free-floating currencyregime.” China said the devaluation of the yuanreflected market forces, but the move joltedglobal markets on fears it meant the economywas in worse shape than previously thought.China is Japan’s biggest trading partner and itsmarkets have become susceptible to bigswings caused by Chinese policy decisions.Any repercussions to Asia also affect manyJapanese firms and banks operating in theregion.

Such impact was highlighted when China’syuan devaluation sent Japanese and globalstock prices tumbling, as investors initiallystruggled to understand Beijing’s motives.

“There was lot of second guessing overChina’s policy intention and that was becausethe communication was poor,” said a China-based Japanese government official.

BANKING WOES LOOMBoth Prime Minister Shinzo Abe and

Finance Minister Taro Aso have called on Chinato address structural problems in the econo-my, such as bad loans and excess industrialcapacity, and to provide transparency of poli-cymaking.

If China fails to tackle these problems, therisk is that it will not be just China that will feelthe impact. “The biggest risk for Japan is a hard-landing in China,” said Naoyuki Shinohara, a for-mer IMF deputy managing director who retainsclose contacts with incumbent Japanese poli-cymakers. “China’s real ‘black swan’ is its bad-loan problems.” —Reuters

LONDON: Gold rebounded yesterday fromlast week’s six-year low as the attacks inParis prompted a bout of global risk aver-sion. Spot gold rose as much as 1.4 percentto a 10-day high of $1,097.90 an ounce,with US gold futures gaining more than 1percent to a session high of $1,097.40.

In the first 10 minutes of yesterdaytrade, nearly 3,000 lots changed hands,almost 10 times the 300-lot average for theopening 10 minutes over the past twomonths, Reuters’ calculations showed.

“Gold opened higher early this morningon the back of what happened over theweekend on perceived geopolitical risk,but it seems to be already short-livedbecause the bigger macroeconomic issuesare the dollar’s strength and the (expected)US rate hike,” Citi strategist David Wilsonsaid.

Prices were up 0.2 percent at $1,085.81at 1433 GMT. “The metal is struggling tomake it back above $1,100,” Saxo Bank sen-ior manager Ole Hansen said.

Before Monday’s gains, gold had fallenfor 12 sessions out of 13 on increasing bets

that the Federal Reserve would raise USinterest rates next month, which wouldincrease the opportunity cost of holdingthe non-yielding asset. It hit a near-six-yearlow of $1,074.26 on Thursday.

European shares steadied, althoughtravel and leisure stocks slumped, while theeuro was pinned near seven-monthtroughs against the dollar, as investors con-cerned about the economic impact on theeuro zone from Friday ’s Paris attackssteered clear of the common currency.

Gold is typically seen as a safe refugeduring times of uncertainty. However, therehas not been an increase in demand fromretail investors since the Paris attacks,German coin dealer Degussa said in anemailed statement. “(Buying was) alreadyrelatively high throughout last week, butthe reason for that was clearly the mostrecent price drop,” it said.

Tracking gold, other precious metals allgained. Silver rose 0.2 percent to $14.27 anounce, platinum was up 0.3 percent at$858.90 and palladium climbed 1.6 percentto $544.50. —Reuters

Japan urges China to go slow on yuan reform

LONDON: European shares were steady yesterday, sup-ported by gains in the energy sector that helped offseta slump in travel stocks following Friday’s attacks in Paristhat killed at least 129 people. Energy shares outper-formed the broader market because of a rally in oilprices that followed French air strikes against IslamicState targets in Syria.

French shares slightly underperformed as marketsopened for the first time since the co-ordinated attackson Friday evening in Paris by Islamist militants. Around2.6 billion euros ($2.79 billion) were wiped off theSTOXX 60 Travel & Leisure index amid fears that the sec-tor could be impacted by loss of consumer confidence.

Shares in French hotel group Accor fell 5.1 percent,Air France fell 6.5 percent while shares in Eurotunneland Aeroports de Paris, the operator of Paris’ Charles deGaulle and Orly airports, were down more than 4 per-cent. Luxury stocks were also under pressure. Hermes,LVMH and Kering, which get a large part of their salesfrom foreign tourists in Paris, were all down more than 1percent. “Paris is one of the most important cities world-wide in terms of luxury spending and the timing is notgood too - a few weeks before Christmas, the mostimportant period for retailers,” said Gregoire Laverne,fund manager at Roche Brune Asset Management.

“Those attacks will definitely have a long-term neg-ative impact on the tourism sector in France, and allsectors (which depend) on tourists, but it cannot bemeasured yet although the market tends to forecast

the worst case scenario.” Some highlighted France’sShowroomprive.com as an outperformer in the fash-ion sector, up 0.3 percent, with Internet-only retailersseen as more insulated from the drop in confidence.

“Companies that retail over the web could outper-form,” said Clairinvest fund manager Ion-Marc Valahu.Outside of retail and travel stocks, European stockmarkets were broadly resilient to the fallout from theattacks, and it was seen as strengthening the case forthe European Central Bank to provide further mone-tary stimulus. The pan-European FTSEurofirst 300index edged up 0.2 percent and France’s CAC wasdown 0.1 percent.

ENERGY SHARES FIRMEnergy stocks were the leading sectoral gainers,

rising 2 percent, as crude oil prices edged up afterFrance launched large-scale air strikes against IslamicState in Syria. Basic resources stocks also firmed. KBCrose more than 3 percent after the Belgian financialgroup posted a bigger-than-expected net profit, as astrong performance in its traditional banking andinsurance businesses made up for a weaker showingof its dealing room. Among outstanding losers,Sonova fell 7.5 percent as the hearing aid maker cutits sales and profit forecasts after weak cochlearimplant sales, sluggish business with US veterans anda squeeze on overseas earnings from the strong Swissfranc. —Reuters

Nearly $3bn lost from travel shares after Paris attack

Gold rebounds on flight to safety

NEW YORK: Specialist John McNierney (center) works with traders at his post on the floor of the New York Stock Exchangeyesterday. —AP

Bangladesh asked to raise infrastructure spending to $12 billion annually

DHAKA: Bangladesh should raise spending on infra-structure to $12 billion annually, particularly in ener-gy, transport and ports, development partners havetold it, Finance Minister Abul Maal Abdul Muhith saidyesterday. Bangladesh currently spends just 3 percentof GDP in this sector. About 40 representatives oforganizations including the World Bank, theInternational Monetary Fund, the US Agency forInternational Development (USAID) and theEuropean Union attended a two-day meeting ondevelopment issues in Bangladesh.

Muhith told reporters: “Our aim is to raise eco-nomic growth to 8.0 percent by 2020 from 6.5 per-cent now, to become a middle-income country.” Hesaid several new projects would be reflected in thebudget for the next fiscal year beginning in June2016. Jin Liqun, president-designate of the China-backed Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank, said:“Bangladesh is our new, important member and ouraim will be to support it to boost the economy.” Buthe said Bangladesh needed better infrastructure toachieve industrial growth.

Wencai Zhang, Vice-President of the AsianDevelopment Bank, told reporters the bank wouldprovide $5 billion in assistance to Bangladesh. Themeeting also called on Bangladesh to reduce itsdependence on foreign aid, to work more closelywith the private sector on major projects and toensure good governance to maximize the use ofresources. —Reuters


Bloomberg News. The situation inFrance is “still quite uncertain now, soinvestors seem to be broadly risk-offtoday.”

Regional stock indexes were alsomostly lower, with Hong Kong 1.6percent off in the afternoon, whileTokyo fell more than one percent andSydney gave up 0.9 percent. “There isno doubt that the attacks in Paris willcontribute to short-term investornervousness,” Shane Oliver, Sydney-based strategist at AMP CapitalInvestors, said.

However, he said he expected theParis-linked losses to be brief andpointed out that markets hadbounced back from initial selling fol-lowing past terror attacks.

Euro selling Selling also hit the euro, which was

already under pressure from expecta-tions the European Central Bank willloosen monetary policy to shore upthe euro-zone. High-risk emergingmarket currencies such as the SouthKorean won and Indonesian rupiahalso fell as investors looked for saferbets such as the dollar and yen.

The search for lower risk also saw ajump in the price of gold. Adding to sell-ing pressure in Tokyo Monday was datashowing the Japanese economy hadslipped into recession for the secondtime in three years, throwing into ques-tion the government’s much-vaunted

drive to kickstart growth and inflation.The news comes as the central

bank prepares for a policy meetingthis week. The soft results continue toflow despite Prime Minister ShinzoAbe’s big-spending three-year plan-dubbed “Abenomics”-to revitalize thetorpid economy and end years ofdebilitating deflation.

Taro Saito, director of economicresearch at NLI Research Institute,told AFP: “Companies are reluctant toinvest despite their sound profits.” Headded that while consumer spendingimproved “ its overal l trend st i l lremains weak”.

In China, authorities doubled thedeposit required for investors to bor-row funds to trade stocks-known asmargin trading-as they try to limit apractice that led a massive marketbubble and summer rout. The mini-mum requirement for margin tradingwas hiked to 100 percent from 50 per-cent, meaning traders must have thesame level of funds in their accountsas the amount they want to borrow.

Margin trading was behind a stockmarket rally that sent the Shanghaiindex up 150 percent in a year, beforeit crashed in June.

The move comes as Shanghairebounds from the summer volatility,with the benchmark index now up 22percent from its August low. Yesterdayit reversed early losses to end the day0.7 percent higher. —Reuters

HONG KONG: Asian markets mostly fellyesterday following the deadly weekendterror attacks in Paris-with airline stockstaking a beating on concerns over thetourism industry.

The late-night assault on Friday in theFrench capital, which killed 129 people,also sent the euro tumbling on fears forsecurity in Europe and its effect on thealready struggling euro-zone economy.

It added to uncertainty in already nerv-

ous markets, which ended last week on alow owing to increasing worries about thestate of the global economy.

While losses rippled across Asian stockmarkets, airlines were among the worsthit. Japan Airlines sank almost three per-cent and rival ANA was 3.5 percent off,while in Sydney Virgin Australia plunged6.5 percent. Indonesian flag carrier Garudafell 1.3 percent.

In Shanghai there was big selling in

China Eastern Airl ines, Air China andChina Southern Airlines, while touristfirms also retreated, with China CY TSTours Holding and China InternationalTravel Service each down more than onepercent.

“There will definitely be a negative psy-chological impact in the short term intourism-related sectors. Airlines are partic-ularly affected,” Zhang Qi, a Shanghai-based analyst with Haitong Securities, told

Asia markets retreat, Airlines tumble


TOKYO: Japan’s economy slipped into recessionfor the second time since Prime Minister ShinzoAbe came to power nearly three years ago, datashowed yesterday, dealing a fresh blow to hisdrive to kickstart weak growth and end years ofdeflation. Abe has staked his reputation on apolicy blitz of fiscal spending, aggressive mone-tary policy easing and structural reforms-dubbed Abenomics-aimed at reviving theworld’s third-largest economy Japan’s economy,once Asia’s biggest, has been overtaken by rivalChina, while it struggles with a challengingdemographic outlook that is expected to see itspopulation shrink by the tens of millions in com-ing decades.

Still, it boasts some of the world’s biggestcompanies, including in the automotive sector,and banks, and its domestic technology plays akey role in powering a wide array of globalindustries, including vehicles, electronics andhigh-end machinery.

But the Cabinet Office said Monday that grossdomestic product (GDP) shrank 0.2 percent inthe July-September period, or an annualizedcontraction of 0.8 percent, marking the secondstraight quarterly decline-considered a technicalrecession.

It was also below the 0.1 percent forecast ina Bloomberg News survey.The economy con-tracted in 2014 after consumers tightened theirbelts following an increase in the country’s con-sumption tax, which put a dent in a nascentrecovery. That downturn spurred the Bank ofJapan to sharply increase its already massivebond-buying program, effectively printing mon-ey to spur lending. In a bright sign, the govern-ment slightly improved its April-June data to a0.2 percent contraction from 0.3 percent shrink-age previously estimated.

The latest figures will turn attention back tothe BoJ ahead of a policy meeting this week tosee whether it adds to its 80 trillion yen ($653billion) annual stimulus program.

‘Economy at standstill’ The data offer a mixed snapshot of the

economy, with improving consumption coun-tered by weakening corporate investmentcaused by uncertainty over the global outlook,particularly China, experts said. “The real econ-

omy is at a standsti l l , even though otheraspects of ‘Abenomics’-corporate earnings andstock prices-are improving,” Taro Saito, directorof economic research at NLI Research Institute,told AFP.

“Companies are reluctant to invest despitetheir sound profits,” he said, adding that whileconsumer spending improved “its overall trendstill remains weak”.

Akira Amari, the government minister incharge of revitalising the economy, put a large-ly positive spin on the result, saying that the

“business climate is expected to recover gradu-ally”, citing rising wages as a bright factor. Buthe openly voiced frustration towards business-es that have shied away from fresh invest-ments.

“Having made record profits, with theirequipment becoming older, what kind of busi-ness decision is it to still forgo investment?”Amari told a news conference. Amari said thegovernment was drafting an extra budget, notas a “pure” stimulus, but to offer social pro-grams and deal with the 12-nation Trans-Pacific Partnership free-trade deal.

He declined to discuss the size of the budg-

et, however. The benchmark Nikkei-225 stockindex fell 1.04 percent by the end of trade,with the Paris terror attacks adding to investorunease in Asia. Still, analysts broadly expectthe economy to pick up in coming quarters,with the BoJ seen further loosening monetarypolicy and Abe tipped to unveil fresh stimulus.

“Details are not as bad as the figures mightsuggest,” Junichi Makino, economist at SMBCNikko Securities, said in a note, citing declinesin inventories and increasing imports.

For technical reasons those results nega-

tively affect GDP but can actual ly implyincreasing demand.

But Marcel Thieliant, economist at CapitalEconomics, said any recover y should beviewed with caution. “Looking ahead, theeconomy should start to recover this quarter,but we think that growth in the current fiscalyear will be closer to 0.5 percent rather thanthe 1.2 percent projected by the Bank of Japanat its end-October meeting,” he wrote in a noteto clients.

Thielient said he expected the BoJ to holdoff further easing for now but expand it earlynext year. —AFP

TOKYO: This picture shows the Tokyo’s Shinjuku skyscrapers (top) and the planned construction site (bottom) for the new nation-al stadium for the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games in Tokyo yesterday. Japan’s economy slipped into recession for the second timesince Prime Minister Shinzo Abe came to power nearly three years ago on a vow to revive growth and end chronic deflation, gov-ernment figures showed yesterday. —AFP

Japan dips into recession in stumble for ‘Abenomics’

TOKYO: Pedestrians walk past a share prices board of the Nikkei 225 at the TokyoStock Exchange in Tokyo yesterday. —AFP

MANILA: APEC does not want to see aUnited States-led free-trade agreementbecome a “rich-economy club”, a seniorforum official said yesterday. Speakingahead of an Asia-Pacific EconomicCooperation (APEC) summit in thePhilippine capital Manila, Alan Bollard,executive director of the APEC secretariat,said the organization’s 21 members hadalready entered into a “noodle bowl” ofabout 150 trade agreements and the TTPneeded to be compatible with those deals.

The proposed Trans-Pacific Partnership(TPP) would be the world’s largest, groupingthe US with 11 other APEC member coun-tries including Japan, Australia, and Canada.

“APEC... has not been involved formallyin TPP but of course we’ve observedprogress and of course we’ll all be pleasedto see the text out in the public arena nowso that we can judge that,” Bollard told anews conference. “And I think it’s fair to saythat APEC doesn’t want to see differenttrade agreements going off in differentdirections, wouldn’t want to see TPP as arich economy club going off like that.”

The terms of the TPP, which alsoincludes Brunei, Chile, Malaysia, Mexico,New Zealand, Peru, Singapore and Vietnam,

were released earlier this month.Fellow APEC members South Korea and

Indonesia have also both signalled interestin joining.

However the deal excludes APEC mem-ber and US rival China. Beijing is seeking topush its own vision of an Asia-Pacific tradepact, and began campaigning for a FreeTrade Area of the Asia-Pacific (FTAAP) whenit hosted the APEC summit last year.

Last week Chinese Vice CommerceMinister Wang Shouwen said in Beijing thatChina would “actively work for the estab-lishment of the FTAAP”. APEC accounts formore than half of global economic outputand nearly half of world trade. Bollard saidAPEC was studying how all these tradeagreements in the region impact on eachother and how they could be integrated.The study is being led by the US and China.“Progress will be reviewed by ministers thisafternoon and tomorrow. This report willbe finalised next year,” he said.

“We see (the) study as the way wherewe’ll be able to judge where all those aregoing, how they fit together, could theyconfl ic t with one another, and whatmight come to help integrate all that,” headded. —AFP

APEC wary trade pact could become ‘rich-economy club’

WASHINGTON: Factory activity in NewYork state contracted for the fourthstraight month in November, as a strongdollar and slow overseas growth contin-ued to drag down manufacturers. TheNew York Federal Reserve’s Empire Statemanufacturing index, released Monday,edged up slightly to minus 10.7, fromminus 11.4 in October. Still, any figurebelow zero indicates contraction.

The survey found that factories cutjobs for the third straight month. Neworders also fell, though at a slower pace.US manufacturers have been hammeredthis year by a slowdown in China, theworld’s second-largest economy, weakgrowth in Europe and a stronger dollar,which makes US goods pricier overseas.Falling oil prices have also cut into ordersfor steel pipe and other drilling equip-ment.

There are signs the manufacturingslowdown could be bottoming out. The

overall index and measures of shipmentsand new orders rose last month, even asthey stayed in negative territory. Otherrecent data have also suggested that fac-tory output could turn around. TheInstitute for Supply Management, a tradegroup of purchasing managers, said earli-er this month that its measure of neworders received by US manufacturersjumped in October. And a gauge of pro-duction rose for the first time since July.

In the Empire State report, a measureof employment ticked up slightly tominus 7.3, from minus 8.5.

A separate category showed that NewYork manufacturers are cutting backsharply on their stockpiles, which canslow production in the short run. Butreducing excess goods in warehousesand on store shelves can set the stage fora future rebound if customer demandstays high, forcing companies to restockgoods. —AP

Manufacturing in New York shrinks for fourth month

BENGALURU: Insurance software makerEbix Inc said it made a 450 million-pound($684 million) takeover approach forXchanging Plc, making it the latest companyto show an interest in the provider of servic-es to the insurance industry. Xchanging’sshares rose as much as 9.8 percent to 185pence, a six-month high, after Ebix’sannouncement yesterday. They later gaveup some gains to trade up 5.2 percent at177.25 pence. Ebix said it made a potentialcash offer valuing Xchanging at 175 penceper share, representing a 3.9 percent premi-um to the stock’s close on Friday.

Xchanging had last month agreed to a

takeover offer from outsourcing companyCapita Plc worth 160 pence per share, or 412million pounds. Xchanging has also been thesubject of interest from private equity firmApollo Global Management LLC and technol-ogy consulting services provider ComputerSciences Corp. Computer Sciences made a170 pence proposal to Xchanging last week,a week after Apollo dropped out of the race.Under UK takeover rules, Ebix now has threeweeks to make a firm approach forXchanging. Xchanging’s shares have risenmore than 50 percent since the company firstmade public Capita’s and Apollo’s offers inearly October. —Reuters

Insurance software maker Ebix approaches Xchanging

KABUL: The World Bank has formallysigned off a $250 million grant toupgrade roads crossing Afghanistan’sHindu Kush mountains, crucial tradelinks that are often closed in winter bysnow. The money will be used toimprove the Salang highway, which con-nects Kabul and northern Afghanistan toCentral Asia. The highway, an importanttrade route with neighboring Tajikistan,cuts through the mountains of the HinduKush and rises to 3,400 meters. The WorldBank grant will also fund work to theroad linking Baghlan to Bamiyan, also innorthern Afghanistan.

Both roads “will be accessible duringall four season of the year including thewinter time with minimum interruption,”World Bank official Raouf Zia told AFP.

“Harsh winters often force closures of

the Salang pass,” Bob Saum, World Bankdirector in Afghanistan, said when thegrant was approved in October. “And soupgrading alternative roads at lower alti-tudes, such as from Baghlan to Bamiyan,is important to secure traffic flows andeconomic activities throughout the year,”he added. The $250 million will be deliv-ered in March to upgrade the 152-kilo-metre Baghlan to Bamiyan highway,which will be paved with asphalt, and toimprove an 87-kilometre section of theSalang highway, including the 2.6-kilo-metre Salang tunnel.

The deal between the Afghan govern-ment and the World Bank’s InternationalDevelopment Association arm wassigned on Sunday. In February 2010, aseries of avalanches along the Salanghighway killed 169 people. —AFP

LONDON: New Director-General of The Confederation of British Industry(CBI), Carolyn Fairbairn poses for a photograph during a photo-call in cen-tral London yesterday. —AFP

WB signs $250m deal to upgrade Afghan highways

NYSE-owner ICE tobuy commoditiestrading platform

for $650mNEW YORK: Intercontinental Exchange Inc, theowner of the New York Stock Exchange, said itwould buy commodities trading platform Trayportfrom BGC Partners Inc and GFI Group Inc for about$650 million in stock. ICE said the deal would helpit to provide new services to the European over-the-counter energy markets, including power, nat-ural gas and coal.

The exchange and clearing house operator saidit also planned to extend the platform to cater toover-the-counter energy markets in Asia. GFI willreceive 2.5 million ICE shares as part of the deal.ICE may substitute cash for part or all of the stockconsideration, BGC said in a statement.

ICE, which began as an energy exchange in2000 and expanded through acquisitions of com-panies including the New York Board of Trade, saidthe deal would not have a material impact on its2016 earnings. Trayport is a subsidiary of GFIGroup, which was acquired by BGC Partners inMarch.

ICE’s financial adviser is Goldman Sachs & Coand its legal adviser is Shearman & Sterling LLP.Cantor Fitzgerald & Co is financial adviser to BGC,while its legal adviser is Wachtell, Lipton, Rosen &Katz. —Reuters

NAIROBI: Kenya’s anti-graft commissionarrested 20 people yesterday, includingthe heads of two state-run companiesand the suspended head of a third, inone of the biggest sweeps in the com-mission’s three-year history, the com-mission said.

Another seven individuals, includinga regional governor, have not yet beenarrested, but are being sought for “cor-ruption-related charges.” Fresh cases ofgraft have led to public and media callsfor resignations and put further pres-sure on President Uhuru Kenyatta totackle Kenya’s rampant corruption. Lastweek, Kenyatta convened a joint gov-ernment and privatesector team todraw up strategies to fight corruption.

The Ethics and Anti-CorruptionCommission (EACC) said most of the 27individuals had turned themselves in onMonday and are expected to appear incourt on Tuesday and Wednesday.

The 27 included Silas Simiyu, themanaging director of the GeothermalDevelopment Company, along witheight other people from the company,and Evans Ngibuini , the managingdirector of the National WaterConservation and Pipeline Corp, andfive others from that company.

It also included Charles Tanui, thesuspended managing director of the

Kenya Pipeline Company, and three oth-er officials from the company.

Most of those accused work in pro-curement, the EACC said.

Attempts to reach the GeothermalDevelopment Company, the NationalWater Conservation and Pipeline Corpand the Kenya Pipeline Company wereunsuccessful.

The EACC said the Isiolo GovernorGodana Doyo - who the commissionhad sought to arrest on charges relatedto the county’s budget - “has gone intohiding.” But a spokesman for the gover-nor denied Doyo was at large, saying hewas in fact in the capital Nairobi andintended to appear in court in the com-ing days. “Of course he is saying he isinnocent,” the spokesman said.

Last week, the United States, Britainand nine other countries pledged tohelp Kenya fight corruption, promisingto step up efforts to prevent funds leav-ing the country and pushing for thoseinvolved in graft to be prosecuted. EACCsays 70 percent of all corruption in thecountry relates to procurement, espe-cially in government ministries anddepartments.

During a visit to Kenya this July, USPresident Barack Obama said corruption“may be the biggest impediment toKenya growing faster.” —Reuters

Kenya arrests company heads,procurement officers


KUWAIT: Mohamed Naser Al- Sayer & SonsCo.(MNSS), one of the Al Sayer Group ofCompanies held the first draw to select the win-ners for “Save & Be Safe” promotion at theYokohama Center in Canada Dry, on 9 November2015. The draw was organized in the presence ofAbdul Aziz Ashkenani - Representative from theMinistry of Commerce & Industry - for Consumer

protection affairs along with Krishna KumarGeneral Manager Tires, Oil and Paint (TOP)Division MNSS, Inderpal Singh Senior Manager,Tire Sales from Al Sayer Yokohama andMohammad Amin Nasimi Senior Manager After-Sales Marketing. Yokohama tires are the finestoffering responsiveness, dependability anddurability. The leading Japanese technology that

goes in to the design and build means you getno unwanted surprises on road, just great grip,stability and tread life.

According to Krishna Kumar GM TOPDivision “The success of Yokohama promo-tions is backed by the high quality and dura-bility of Yokohama tires. They are designedwith superior Japanese technology to offer a

safe and stable drive at all times. Yokohama isprotected against the extreme summer heatand remains cool throughout the season”.

Yokohama “Save & Be Safe” promotion isvalid from 4 October 2015 to 4 January 2015.During the offer period for every KD 20 spent onpurchasing Yokohama tires customers will get acoupon entitling them to enter one of the three

monthly draws to win fabulous cash prizes. All Yokohama models are included in the

promotion. Customers can take advantageand benefit from the two remaining draws ofthis promotion which will be held on 9December 2015 and 7 January 2016 respec-tively. Last date to enter the draw is the 3rd ofeach respective month.

Yokohama ‘Save & Be Safe’ Promotion

Mohamed Naser Al-Sayer, Yokohama announce winners of first draw

KUWAIT: Ahli United Bank held its week-ly draw of Al-Hassad Islamic Saving pro-gram on November 11, 2015. This pro-gram offers the biggest prize amount tothe largest number of winners. The prizeprogram succeeded in becoming thefirst and only prize account in Kuwaitcompliant with the Islamic Shari’a princi-ples. The program has been developedto fulfil the needs of the Bank customersand increase their opportunities in win-ning sizeable and attractive prizes inaddition to enjoying the latest bankingadvantages that Ahli United Bank pro-vides.

On this occasion, the bank issued thefollowing press release: Al-HassadIslamic Saving program offers the high-est amounts of prizes which amount toKD 3.4 million per year. This Program alsooffers 26 weekly prizes, with the highestnumber of weekly winners. The IslamicHassad Saving Account may be openedby the lowest amount to open anaccount, which is KD 100.

The winner of the weekly grand prizein the amount of KD 25,000 is: Aliaa M AAl-Houli. The winners of the KD 1,000prize each Murtaza Mohamad Husein,Talal Othman Khalid, Eyad Fawaz Al-Mahmoud, Jaber Ahmad Al-Sarraf ,Mohammad Saud Al-Ajmi, Fahad Eissa Al-Khudhur, Yousef Ahmad Al-Mailam,Yaqoub Yousif Al-Meshari, BaderMansour Al-Safar, Emad Hassan Ali Al-Asousi, Ahmad Khaleefa Al-Khader ,Abdulla Mohammed Al-Qoud, ShafeiMohammad Al-Awadhi, Hanadi

Fakhruddin Adenwala, Jassem MohdAhmed, Jaman M H Al-Azemi, Talal MohdAl Shemallan, Mohamed Essa Al Rasheed,Mona Husxsain Ali, Ghallah KhalafShebeeb, Husain Abdulla Saud, FaisalAbdulla Hashim, Hanan MohammedAhmed , Ahmed Tawfiq Hasan.

The Prize program of “Al- HassadIslamic Saving” from Ahli United Bankoffers a weekly grand prize worth KD

25,000 in addition to 25 weekly prizesworth a total of KD 25,000 distributed to25 prizes, KD 1,000 for each winner.

In addition, prizes of Al-HassadIslamic saving program from Ahli UnitedBank offer 4 quarterly grand prizesannounced in quarterly draws. Each is a“Salary for Life” prize which is worth KD25,000/-.

In general, Ahli United Bank contin-ues to offer innovative tools and meansto meet the needs of its customers tomatch the Bank’s long history of distinc-tive services which extend over 73 yearsduring which the Bank managed to takethe lead among local banks. For furtherinformation about “Al-Hassad IslamicSaving” account , customers may call atany Ahli United Bank branch.

AUB announces winners of Al-Hassad program

KUWAIT: Oil prices went spiraling down duringOctober-15 and November-15 after a number ofreports showed a sharp increase in oil inventoriesand a rising inventory glut in the global oil mar-ket. Oil market had a strong start in October-15.During the first week Brent touched the psycho-logical important mark of $ 50/b and closed at a10-week high level of $ 52.13/b whereas OPEC oilreached $ 48.79/b during the same time. As theinventory data was released, prices started declin-ing, and in November-15 it recorded the worstweekly decline in over eight months for the weekending 12-November-15, barely holding abovethe $ 40/b level. Both Brent and WTI fell 8 per-cent during the week, the highest weekly declinesince mid-March-15.

According to the US EIA, commercial crude oilinventories in the US increased by 4.2 million bar-rels during the week ending 12-November-15 toreach 487.0 million barrels primarily due to higherimports. Although refiners in the US unexpected-ly increased their output by almost 0.8 percent-age points to the highest point recorded at thistime of the year as they came out of maintenanceshutdowns, this could only have a temporaryimpact on oil prices. In a related development,inventory data released by the AmericanPetroleum Institute (API) surprised investors as itreported 6.3 million barrels increase in invento-ries. Furthermore, rig count data released byBaker Hughes showed that US oil rig count rosefor the first time in 11 weeks, although marginally,by two to a total of 574 rigs, adding more pres-sure to oil price.

Average monthly OPEC oil price saw marginalgains during October-15 after four consecutivemonths of decline. The average for the monthstood at $ 45.02/b as compared to $ 44.83/b forSeptember-15 recording a gain of 0.4 percent.However, during November-15 average OPEC oilprice stood at a much lower $ 43.02/b by 11-November-15 after it reached $ 41.53/b, the low-est point in over two months. Kuwait Blend SpotPrice FOB also declined for the fifth consecutivemonth and averaged at $ 43.6/b during October-15, a decline of 0.8 percent as compared to theprevious month’s average. The decline continuedduring November-15 as average month-to-dateprices reached $ 41.55/b, a decline of 6.9 percentas compared to the average in October-15.

World oil demand Total world oil demand growth for 2015 was

kept unchanged from the last month at 1.5 mb/dto reach 92.86 mb/d as trends continue to pointtowards the same factors of growth. According tothe latest data, oil demand in the US grew byapproximately 0.4 mb/d until October-15 primari-ly led by higher demand for gasoline. In terms ofoil demand in the OECD Americas region, Mexicorecorded solid demand growth for the third con-secutive month in September-15 recorded at 0.05mb/d or 3 percent year-on-year. Demand forgasoline and jet fuel has seen an increase primari-ly due to the improving economy as well as dueto lower fuel prices. On the other hand, Canadasaw a fall in oil demand in August-15 as gains in

LPG demand was more than offset by decline indemand for gasoline, gasoil and fuel oil. In OECDEurope, oil demand growth in Germany, France,UK and Italy was small at 0.03 mb/d inSeptember-15 as the decline in demand inGermany was offset by higher demand in Italyand UK. Nevertheless, European auto salesremained upbeat in September-15 with anincrease of 10 percent year-on-year. Expectationsfor oil demand for the remainder of the year haveimproved since last month led by faster economicgrowth, low historical baseline and low fuel priceenvironment. In Latin America, oil demand con-tinued to shrink during September-15 with adecline of almost 5 percent or 0.13 mb/d. In theMiddle East, oil demand remained particularlystrong in Saudi Arabia and Iraq. Saudi Arabia sawa demand growth of nearly 8 percent or 0.21mb/d driven by transportation fuels as travelactivity increased during the summer vacationthat coincided with the Hajj season. On the otherhand, Iraq benefited from the low baseline effect.In Asia, oil consumption in China remainedupbeat with a growth of 0.49 mb/d mostly on theback of higher diesel consumption. Oil demandgrowth in 2016 was also kept unchanged fromthe last month and is expected to reach 1.25mb/d to average around 94.14 mb/d. The growthwould be primarily on the back of higher demandin non-OECD countries (expected to be at 1.1mb/d) whereas OECD countries are expected to

post a marginal demand growth of 0.15 mb/d.OECD Europe and Asia Pacific are expected topost a decline in oil demand in 2016, whereasMiddle East, Other Asia and China are expected toshow strong growth.

World oil supply Non-OPEC oil supply growth in 2015 was kept

unchanged from the last month is expected togrow at the same rate of 0.72 mb/d to average at57.24 mb/d. There were small changes to oil sup-ply projections for the remainder of the year forOECD, Developing Countries, China and the FSU.An expected fall in US tight oil production owingto persistently low oil prices is expected to be thebiggest factor for the decline in supply from theregion. However, overall world oil supply was pos-itively impacted by higher-than-expected pro-duction from non-OPEC producers outside of theUS during 2Q-15 and 3Q-15. Oil supply fromOECD Americas saw a downward revision of0.2mb/d and is now estimated to average at 20.56mb/d in 2015. US total crude oil productiondecreased by 45 tb/d to average 9.32 mb/d inAugust-15 led by a decline in Texas. Meanwhile,oil supply from OECD Europe is expected toexpand by 60 tb/d to 3.66 mb/d led by highersupply from UK and Norway. Oil supply from theMiddle East is expected to decline by 0.09 mb/dto average at 1.25 mb/d in 2015 as increase insupply from Oman is expected to be offset by adecline in supply from Bahrain and Yemen.

Non-OPEC oil supply was also kept unchangedfrom the last month and is expected to contractby 0.13 mb/d as compared to 2015 levels to aver-age at 57.11 mb/d. According to the OPEC’smonthly report, almost 5 mb/d of projects havebeen deferred or cancelled globally due to thelow oil price environment in addition to capexreduction at existing fields. The total decline incapex cutbacks is pegged at $ 200bn for 2015 and2016 that would lead to a supply hole in the com-ing years.

OPEC oil production & spare capacity OPEC oil production increased during

October-15 by 74 tb/d or 0.2 percent to 32.21mb/d after a decline during the previous month.The increase in production was primarily on theback of higher production in Libya and SaudiArabia that increased production by 80 tb/d eachfollowed by 53 tb/d increase in production in Iraq.This increase was partially offset by decline in pro-

Crude prices fail to sustain upswingKAMCO RESEARCH REPORT

duction in Kuwait by 120 tb/d and in Iran by100 tb/d. In its monthly report, theInternational Energy Agency (IEA) said thatOPEC’s oil production is almost 1.1 mb/dhigher than a year ago led by Saudi Arabiathat pumped oil at more than 10 mb/d forthe eight consecutive month. Moreover, an

expected fall in non-OPEC oil supply growthas producers cannot sustain production atsuch low oil price has provided a positivepush to demand forecast for OPEC’s crude in2016. The IEA said that instead of cuttingproduction, the OPEC could increase totalproduction by the group to accommodateIndonesia that has applied to rejoin thegroup.

Meanwhile, in its monthly report, OPECsaid that surplus oil inventories are at thehighest level in at least a decade owing toincreased global oil production. OPEC saidthat inventory in developed economies are210 million barrels higher than their five-year average, much more than the glut thataccumulated in early 2009 after the financialcrisis. However, a slowdown in non-OPECsupply and rising demand for winter shouldtake away some of the inventory build-upand support prices. In a separate event, thesecretary general of OPEC said despite Irancoming to the oil market, global demand forcrude would bring more balance to the oilmarket as early as next year. Supporting thisview, the vice chairman of IHS said that oilmarket will rebalance in 2016 or 2017 asdemand grows between 1.2 mb/d and 1.5mb/d till 2020. Similarly, the IEA alsobelieves that the oil market will rebalance at$ 80/b price level in 2020.

During October-15, OPEC produced at88.4 percent of its capacity, an increase of 20bps from the previous month. Saudi Arabiacontinued to account for the lion’s share ofthe total output by the group, pegged at32.2 percent followed by Iraq at 13.3 percentand UAE at 9.2 percent. Meanwhile, thedecline in monthly production in Kuwaitduring October-15 (-120 tb/d) came as aresult of less number of rigs in operation ie40 rigs during October-15 as compared to43 rigs during September-15.

T E C H NOLO G YTUESDAY, NOVEMBER 17, 2015

By Islam Al-Sharaa

KUWAIT: EMC is participating in thethird E-Government Forum (EGOV3)that is being held in Kuwait from Nov15-17 to discuss the future of effectiveand secure government services. Heldunder the patronage of HH the PrimeMinister Sheikh Jaber Mubarak Al-Hamad Al-Sabah, the third edition ofthe largest e-government event inKuwait brings together over 3,500prominent senior dignitaries, ministersand government officials in addition tovisionary heads of enterprise, decisionmakers and CEOs from across theregion to share ideas and best prac-tices to build a sound foundation forthe advancement of government serv-ices.

Hosted in collaboration with theCentral Agency for InformationTechnology (CAIT), EGOV3 features aseries of keynotes and presentationsby a series of prominent speakers tooffer insights that are aimed at helpinggovernment entities in Kuwait rein-force service strategies in an era of dig-itization and heightened connectivity.

Kuwait Times spoke to HabibMahakian, Vice President, Gulf andPakistan, and Samer M Saber, CountryManager, Kuwait.

Kuwait Times: How do you view EMC’sparticipation in the third E-Government Forum (EGOV3) inKuwait?

EMC: We are very excited to partici-pate as a diamond sponsor in thisevent, because a lot of government

services need to go to the next leveland EMC is offering solutions. I believethis platform is the best place to pres-ent the new transformation happeningin IT. Our participation here is mainlyabout smart cities. We discussed that alot of cities, especially in the GCCregion, are leading the way in theMiddle East and even outside theMiddle East when it comes to smartcities’ initiatives, and in this forum wecan help show governments and citiesacross the region and in Kuwait whatto do in a different way to incubatesuch ideas.

KT: What is EMC’s role in the creationof smart cities and how is it going tohelp Kuwait government in itsefforts to build a sound foundationfor the advancement of government

services?EMC: Firstly, we tell them what is

the best way to plan for this, which hasthree perspectives - infrastructure, theplatform and the application layer. Thisis where we can help the Kuwaiti gov-ernment, followed by the implementa-tion of the project. Hopefully we willbe announcing certain new initiativesvery soon about smart cities inside andoutside Kuwait.

KT: What are the cornerstones ofsmart cities and how are they help-ing local governments’ needs forinnovations?

EMC: The main thing is to have theright strategy and laws to help thegovernment put the right data lawsand how to share the data, so this isthe first milestone in setting up the

right platform or the blueprint of theplatform, and then the execution. Thethree main layers of the platform asmentioned are the infrastructure layer,the platform layer and the applicationlayer, and the three should worktogether, which EMC provides for.

KT: What are the potential chal-lenges enterprises face today inbuilding smart cities?

EMC: Having the right laws to regu-late all what has to do with smartcities, because it has to be smart butalso has to be controlled. It has to havethe right discipline, and these are relat-ed to security, so we have to be inno-vative. In addition to this, you have tohave the right infrastructure in thecountry or in the place where youwant the smart city initiative. You have

to have the telecom infrastructure,connectivity infrastructure and the ITinfrastructure, so it’s a mix betweencommunication and IT infrastructure.

KT: How do you look at the impact ofgrowing social media adoption inthis context?

EMC: Social media is a great sourceof data, and smart cities mainlydepend on how big the data that isavailable is and the diversification ofthe data. According to IDC reports, by2020, you will have 40+ zettabytescoming from different sources like tra-ditional systems and from socialmedia, so all this mix of data is themain base for taking the decision in asmart city, like healthcare and trans-portation. All of these are connectedand communicated over social media,so our role here is to help the govern-ment and the cities because of thisdata, whether it’s coming from officialtransactional data of the organizationsof the citizens in that city.

EMC in Kuwait took the decisionlong time ago to give more dedicationand investment in Kuwait, and we havea big team and all kinds of EMC servic-es serving our customers here. We workwith different sectors, whether govern-ment or private, and EMC decided tobe more committed to Kuwait as a mar-ket to see the potential in Kuwait. Wesee that Kuwait already took the deci-sion to grow the IT business. That’s whya company like EMC has opened itsoffices in Kuwait and with a goodamount of resources with the bestquality of people in the region.

EMC participates in third e-govt forum

Habib Mahakian Vice President, Gulf and Pakistan Samer M Saber Country Manager, Kuwait.

REDWOOD CITY: In this photo taken Friday, Oct. 9, 2015, a crowd of people watch the MegaBots 15-foot tall, piloted Mk.II robot in action at thePioneer Summit in Redwood City, Calif. Let the giant robot wars begin. A team of American engineers challenged a group in Japan to a battlefor robot supremacy, and the Japanese said bring it on. —AP

OAKLAND: They’ve been popularized in movies,television and video games, but giant fightingrobots still haven’t left the realm of science fiction.That will soon change. Megabots Inc., an Oakland,California-based startup, has built a 15-foot (4.5-meter) mechanical gladiator called the Mark II andchallenged a Japanese firm to an international bat-tle for robot supremacy.

Tokyo-based Suidobashi Heavy Industries, mak-er of the 13-foot (4-meter) Kuratas, accepted thechallenge, setting the stage for the first giant robotbattle of its kind next year. The exact date and loca-tion are yet to be determined.

Win or lose, it’s all part of Megabots’ plan by tomake gladiator-style robot combat into big-timeentertainment - a mix between Ultimate FightingChampionship and Formula One auto racing -while developing new industrial technologies andinspiring a new generation of engineers.

The Megabots founders envision a sportsleague where teams from around the world buildhuge humanoid robots that throw each otherdown in stadiums filled with screaming fans.

“Everyone wins as long as there is robot car-nage,” said Megabots co-founder Matt Oehrlein, anelectrical engineer. “People want to see thesethings fight. They want to see them punch eachother, they want to see them ripped apart andthey want to be entertained.”

Megabots was launched in 2014 by Oehrlein,Gui Cavalcanti and Brinkley Warren, who grew upplaying video games like “MechWarrior” and“BattleTech,” and wanted to fulfill their dreams ofwatching massive machines fight.

“We want to bring the giant robots from sciencefiction and movies and video games to life becausenow we have the technology,” said Cavalcanti, arobotics engineer. “It’s really about: How do we puton the best show? How do we make the coolestfight?”

Inside a cavernous Oakland workshop, theMegabots founders built the Mark II - a 12,000-pound (5,443 kilograms) behemoth with tanktreads, two-pilot cockpit and missile launcher thatfires canon ball-sized paintballs.

Then Oehrlein called out Suidobashi in aYouTube video: “We have a giant robot. You have agiant robot. You know what needs to happen. Wechallenge you to a duel.” Suidobashi’s founderKogoro Kurata accepted in his own video: “We can’t

let another country win this. Giant robots areJapanese culture. Yeah, I’ll fight. Absolutely.”

Kurata also taunted the Megabots team: “Comeon guys, make it cooler. Just building somethinghuge and sticking guns on it, it’s super American.”

The Megabots robot isn’t quite ready to take onKuratas, a more polished fighting machine with abig, agile hand that mimics the movements of thepilot’s hand. “Our current robot, the Mark II, lookspretty intimidating,” Oehrlein said. “The truth is, it’spretty slow. It’s top-heavy. It’s rusty, and it needs aset of armor upgrades to be able to compete inhand-to-hand combat,”

That ’s why Megabots launched an onlineKickstarter campaign and raised more than$550,000 from robot fans to turn the Mark II into a

real fighting machine - faster, tougher, more bal-anced and equipped with detachable weaponssuch as a giant chain saw or punching fist.

The startup has enlisted the help of engineersfrom NASA, software maker Autodesk, the TVshows “Mythbusters” and “BattleBots.” “We’reabsolutely confident that Team USA can beatJapan. We’ve assembled the best of the best of thiscountry. We’re not going to let our country down,”Calvalcanti said.

Robot enthusiasts like Gordon Kirkwood areeagerly anticipating the fight. “I think it’s going tobe a smash hit,” said Kirkwood, a robotics engineerin San Francisco. “This has the potential to be afantastic spectator sport that people would reallypay good money to see.” — AP

US startup challenges

Japan to robot battle

NAIROBI: At the Lighthouse GraceAcademy in Nairobi’s downmarketKwangware suburb, yellow school t-shirtscarry the slogan ‘To Fear God is Wisdom’,but in their hands pupils clutch a moreworldly path to knowledge: tablet comput-ers.

The hand-sized tablets are part of the‘Kio Kit’, a digital classroom in a suitcasedesigned by local technology companyBRCK, which two years ago launched thehard-wearing, brick-sized modem thatworks as a wifi hotspot.

“The Kio Kit is a way to turn any class-room into a digital classroom,” said NiviMukherjee of BRCK Education, the sub-sidiary that launched the product inSeptember.

“You open the box and there are 40tablets inside, there is a BRCK inside and onthe BRCK there is a Linux [open-source]server - so we can locally cache educationalcontent, and serve it up to the tablets.”

In her crowded cement-floored, tin-walled classroom with a stopped clock onthe wall, seven-year-old Blessing taps awayon her new tablet, learning to spell.Unusually for a child in school, she’s smil-ing. “It’s fun,” she said.

Her teacher Josephine Boke, who hastaught primary school for 12 years, saysthe kit “is nicely designed for the younghands, and it’s easy to use and easy toadapt to the technology.” “To the kids, theyget excited when they are using it. It givesme an easy time as a teacher.”

Kenyan problem, Kenyan solution Kenya has a thriving tech start-up scene,

including the enormously successful M-Pesa mobile money transfer system whichallows clients to send cash with their tele-phones.

The tablets and the BRCK are symbiotic:the modem is fixed into a watertight, hard-ened-plastic wheeled suitcase which hasslots for the tablets and acts as a wirelesscharging station for both.

New digital learning materials areuploaded to the BRCK wirelessly duringquiet times of the night when more band-width is available, and then shared with thetablets during classes.

Thieves with an eye on the bright yel-

low, tough and dust-resistant tablets willbe disappointed, as they cannot browsethe internet nor be charged independently.

Like the BRCK, the tablets are designedto solve Kenyan problems. “Intermittentpower, intermittent internet connectivity,those are just the realities of our infrastruc-ture, so we have to build solutions for thoserealities, rather than import solutions fromother places,” said Mukherjee.

At $5,000 (4,500 euros) a piece the priceof the kit seems high, given the ambition toprovide access to quality education to all insome of the world’s poorest places.

But with many schools lacking electrici-ty, let alone facilities to teach computing,Mukherjee says it is not only intended forthe private and donor-backed schools inwhich it is currently being used.

“We see this kit being rolled aroundfrom one classroom to the next throughoutthe day, throughout the week, childrensharing it, having access to the kind of con-tent and e-textbooks they wouldn’t other-wise have access to,” she said. “We don’tthink it ’s beyond the reach of publicschools to spend $5,000 giving digitalaccess to 400 children.”

Just five primary schools and librariesare currently using the Kio Kit, but BRCKEducation already has 300 pre-orders andMukherjee hopes to be producing “thou-sands each month by next year”.

In South Africa, the continent’s mostadvanced country, Gauteng provincewhich houses Johannesburg and Pretoria,started rolling out tablets to 375 highschool pupils earlier this year.

The plan is to hand out 17,000 tablets topupils in their final year of high school, andswap teachers’ chalkboards with smartinteractive boards targeting especially thepoverty-stricken township and ruralschools.

The tablets come with free data bundlewhich is active between 5:00am and 9:00pm while access to social networks isblocked. The scheme was initially hit bytheft in the crime-ridden country, forcingauthorities to install tracking devices onthem, officials said.

And authorities came under fire for giv-ing ICT a priority when some schools stilllack basics such as flush toilets. —AFP

In Kenya, a digital

classroom in a box

NAIROBI: Teacher Josephine Boke assists pupils from the Light House Grace academyin using the Kio tablet created by the local technology company BRCK Education,during a class sesssion in Kawangware, Nairobi, on October 16, 2015. -—AFP

NEW YORK: For most of its 100-year history,when Boeing turned out more planes,employment soared and the Seattle-areaeconomy prospered. When the rate of pro-duction fell, layoffs followed and the localeconomy crashed.

The cycle was so predictable that Boeingworkers had a phrase for it: “Headcount goesby rate.”

Now that longstanding cycle has brokendown.

The world’s largest plane maker is in themidst of its biggest peacetime boom, churn-ing out 20 percent more planes than whenthe last big cycle peaked in the 1990s. But it isdoing so with one-third fewer workers. Intheir place, Boeing is turning to robots andoutsourcing.

In the past year, Boeing installed fourbanks of two-story riveting machines at thefactory that makes its 737 aircraft in Renton,Washington. When it switched them on inMay, the age-old clatter of hand-held rivetguns gave way to the whispery hiss of the 60-ton robots, which Boeing says can work twiceas fast as people, with two-thirds fewer

defects. At its sprawling plant in Everett,Washington, Boeing has installed roboticarms to drill and rivet together fuselages forthe 777 jetliner.

The machines are “taking what is in theneighborhood of 50,000 to 70,000 fastenersin the 777 fuselage that are today applied byhand and automating them,” Boeing ChiefExecutive Dennis Muilenburg said in a speechat an aerospace trade fair in Seattle inSeptember.

It’s a “huge transformation in how webuild airplanes.” Boeing says automation isessential to improve quality and worker safe-ty, lower costs and keep up with its Europeanrival Airbus, which also is automating andchurning out more planes to meet worldwidegrowth in air travel.

But while Boeing says the robots have notcaused any layoffs, the company is not pre-dicting significant job growth either.“Increased automation means we can gohigher in rates with a stable workforce,” BarryLewis, head of wing manufacturing opera-tions at Boeing’s 737 plant, said during arecent factory tour.—Reuters

As Boeing booms, robots

rise and job growth lags

H E A LT H & S C I E NC ETUESDAY, NOVEMBER 17, 2015

TAYBEH, Lebanon: Syrian refugee women and children sit under a tent as they attend a class on family planning organized by Doctors WithoutBorders (MSF) at a makeshift camp by Taybeh village, in Lebanon’s eastern Bekaa Valley.—AFP photos

TAYBEH, Lebanon: In a tent in Lebanon’s BekaaValley, Sanaa Al-Absi extracts a condom from itswrapper in front of a group of giggling Syrianrefugee women and begins explaining its use. Itis the first time some of the women have seenthe contraceptive, which they are learning aboutas part of a rare program teaching Syrianrefugees family planning in Lebanon. The sub-ject is a sensitive one, strewn with cultural, reli-gious and even political landmines. In much ofthe Middle East, large families are seen as ablessing from God, and contraception is regard-ed with skepticism or outright hostility. And inLebanon, where an influx of 1.1 million Syrianrefugees has strained resources and tempers,family planning can be misconstrued as a way tostem the growth of the displaced population.

Absi, herself a 30-year-old Syrian refugeefrom southern Daraa province, is careful butconfident as she talks the women through differ-ent contraceptives in a tent used as a classroom.She is a volunteer with Doctors Without Borders(MSF), which provides the women with free con-traceptives as well as pre- and post-natal care. Inthe tent in the makeshift camp by Taybeh villagein eastern Lebanon, the women listen with vary-ing degrees of engagement and embarrass-ment. “Why are you laughing? It’s just like a bal-loon, right?” Absi jokes with them as sheexplains how to use a condom. “Many menrefuse to use it because they say it ruins the feelof sexual intercourse, but that is purely psycho-logical,” she insists. Psychological perhaps, butevery one of the 16 women attending say their

husbands will not use condoms, and are moreinterested in other contraceptive methods.

Clearing up misconceptions Absi shows them different varieties of the pill,

as well as the contraceptive injection and theintrauterine device (IUD), aiming to clear upsome misconceptions along the way. “Somepeople come to me and say, the IUD trapped myhusband’s penis! But that’s not possible,” shesays, explaining how the device works. “Don’tworry,” she adds, holding up an example of thedevice, sealed in plastic in its case. “Not all of thisgoes inside of you, that would be a disaster!”Given the sensitivities of the subject, Absi’s pitchfor birth control is delicately calibrated, with ref-erences to religious, economic and health justifi-cations for family planning.

“You can have 10 children if you want, butyou should space them out,” she says.“Remember in the Koran they talk about breast-feeding a child for at least two years, whichmeans spacing out your children,” she adds. “Andwe’re in a situation now where things are differ-ent and you have to think about the crisis andthe circumstances.” Those circumstances are pre-cisely what attracts many of the women to thesession.

Most have been in Lebanon for years now,some since the Syrian conflict began with anti-government protests in March 2011. They scrapeby with aid and occasional work, and their chil-dren have patchy access to education. The campthey call home is searingly hot in the summerand covered with snow in the winter. “In Syria,everything was easy, everything was cheap, buthere we have to rely on aid, and it’s not cominganymore,” says 35-year-old Shamsa, a mother of11, whose smile reveals two gold teeth. “Peoplesay that when a baby comes it’s a blessing andGod will provide for it, but the reality is that it ishard to provide for them, so family planning is amust.”

‘My husband says it’s forbidden’ Shamsa opted for tubal ligation after her last

child was born, nine months ago. “If the situationwas good, I would have continued having chil-dren, but under the circumstances, I decided tostop.” Her husband was opposed but eventuallyconsented. He wanted more boys, since of her11 children nine are girls. MSF has been offeringfamily planning sessions since April 2013 in fourareas, mostly in around 15 makeshift campsites.The sessions are also available for men, andsome women say their husbands support spac-ing out children. Fatima Al-Abdullah, an 18-year-old who married six months ago, is trying for herfirst child, but eventually plans to decide on acontraceptive method with her husband. “Wewant four or five children, but he doesn’t want achild year after year,” she says. But other women’shusbands are less supportive. “My husband saysit is religiously forbidden, and that what Godgives is good,” says Huriyeh, a 27-year-old who isfive months pregnant with her fifth child. Shehas four girls, and had a boy who was disabledand died as a toddler. I’m hoping this pregnancywill be a boy, I think if it was a boy I would stopafter that.” As she speaks, her husband wandersover and laughs, dragging on a cigarette. “Don’tbelieve her, she wants at least a dozen children!”he says.—AFP

Futures unclear, Syrian refugees in Lebanon start family planning

TAYBEH, Lebanon: A child sits under a tent with Syrian refugee women attending a class onfamily planning.

TAYBEH, Lebanon: A Syrian refugee girl stands at a makeshift camp by Taybeh village.

LONDON: People across the world arealarmingly confused about the role of antibi-otics and the right way to take them, and thisignorance is fuelling the rise of drug-resistantsuperbugs, the World Health Organizationsaid yesterday. “The rise of antibiotic resist-ance is a global health crisis,” WHO Director-General Margaret Chan told reporters in atelebriefing from the organisation’s Genevaheadquarters. She said the problem was“reaching dangerously high levels” in all partsof the world and could lead to “the end ofmodern medicine as we know it”.

Antibiotic resistance happens when bac-

teria mutate and adapt to become invulnera-ble to the antibiotics used to treat the infec-tions they cause. Over-use and misuse ofantibiotics exacerbates the development ofdrug-resistant bacteria, often called super-bugs. Publishing the results of a survey ofpublic awareness, the United Nations healthagency said 64 percent of those askedbelieved wrongly that penicillin-based drugsand other antibiotics can treat colds and flu,despite the fact such medicines have noimpact on viruses. Around a third of peoplesurveyed also wrongly believed they shouldstop taking antibiotics when they feel better,

rather than completing the prescribed treat-ment course, the WHO said.

“The findings ... point to the urgent needto improve understanding around antibioticresistance,” said Keiji Fukuda, the WHO’s spe-cial representative for antimicrobial resist-ance. “One of the biggest health challengesof the 21st century will require global behav-ior change by individuals and societies.”Superbug infections, including multi-drug-resistant typhoid, tuberculosis and gonor-rhoea, already kill hundreds of thousands ofpeople a year, and for now the trend is stillgrowing.

Worrying misconceptionsFukuda described it as a “race against the

pathogens”, adding that if everyone stepsinto action now, it will probably take five to 10years to turn the situation around. The WHOsurveyed 10,000 people across 12 countries-Barbados, China, Egypt, India, Indonesia,Mexico, Nigeria, Russia, Serbia, South Africa,Sudan and Vietnam-and found many worry-ing misconceptions. Three-quarters ofrespondents think antibiotic resistance meansthe body is resistant to the drugs, for example,whereas in fact it is the bacteria themselvesthat become resistant to antibiotics, and their

spread causes hard-to-treat infections. Some66 percent believe individuals are not at riskof a drug-resistant infection if they personallytake their antibiotics as prescribed. And nearlyhalf of those surveyed think drug resistance isonly a problem in people who take antibioticsoften. In fact, anyone, anywhere, of any age,can get a superbug infection. Chan urgeddoctors to dissuade patients from demandingantibiotics for infections they can’t treat, andpersuade them to use the drugs strictlyaccording to their prescription. “Doctors needto treat antibiotics as a precious commodity,”she said.—Reuter

Misunderstanding of antibiotics fuels superbug threat, WHO says‘Drug resistance could end modern medicine as we know it’

DHAKA: Conjoined twin girls have died inBangladesh less than a week after theywere born, the hospital treating them saidyesterday. Thousands of people had flockedto visit the twins, who were born with twoheads and two hearts but just one body,after news spread of the “miracle newborn”last week. They were taken into intensivecare at the Dhaka Medical College Hospital,Bangladesh’s biggest public hospital, whichset up a team of specialists to treat them.But the head of the intensive care unit saidthey died late on Sunday after apparentlysuffering from heart failure. “She was not ina stable condition since she was born. Shedied before we could intervene,” said AbidHossian Molla.

“She was a rare conjoined twins withtwo heads. She had two hands and twolegs like any normal baby, but inside shehad two hearts, two sets of lungs andshared pelvic organs.” The twins’ fatherJamal Mia said he had buried her at a pub-lic graveyard in Dhaka. “I can’t afford to hirean ambulance to take her back home. Sothe doctors gave me some money to buryher in Dhaka,” Mia said. “I feel sad for her aswe could not do much to save her.” Mia saidhe had not yet told his wife of the twins’death because she was still “very sick” aftergiving birth by Caesarian section.

Conjoined siblings are identical twinswho in rare cases are born with their skinand internal organs fused together, accord-ing to the University of Maryland MedicalCentre website. About half are stillborn,and the survival rate is between five and 25percent. They develop from a single egg,which splits in the case of healthy twins,but not fully in the case of conjoined sib-lings.—AFP

Conjoined twinsdie in Bangladesh

DHAKA: In this photograph taken onNovember 12, 2015, Bangladeshi con-joined twins receive medical care at ahospital in Brahmanbaria, some 120 kmseast of Dhaka.—AFP

LONDON: Some 2.4 billion people aroundthe world don’t have access to decent sani-tation and more than a billion are forced todefecate in the open, risking disease andother dangers, according to the UnitedNations. Launching its World Toilet Daycampaign for Nov 19, the UN said poor san-itation increases the risk of illness and mal-nutrition, especially for children, and calledfor women and girls in particular to beoffered safe, clean facilities. “One out ofthree women around the world lack accessto safe toilets,” UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon said in a statement. “As a result theyface disease, shame and potential violencewhen they seek a place to defecate.”

Even where there are toilets around theworld, some hardly warrant the name, asillustrated by Reuters in a photo essay from

around the world. In a Syrian refugee set-tlement camp in Lebanon’s Bekaa Valley, forexample, toilets surrounded by graffiti-cov-ered corrugated sheet sit right up againstflimsy tents. In the Marcory district ofAbidjan, Ivory Coast, a “private” stall is sim-ply built of spare bits of lumber and metal.

The UN says that while there is sufficientfresh water on the planet for everyone,“bad economics and poor infrastructure”mean that every year millions of people -most of them children - die from diseaseslinked to poor sanitation, unhygienic livingconditions and lack of clean water supplies.“We have a moral imperative to end opendefecation and a duty to ensure womenand girls are not at risk of assault and rapesimply because they lack a sanitation facili-ty,” Ban said.—Reuters

On World Toilet Day,one billion people have

nowhere to go

AMES, Iowa: Fresh from the secondDemocratic presidential debate, HillaryRodham Clinton has suggested that BernieSanders would raise middle-class taxes and“scrap” President Barack Obama’s health carelaw, in an escalating critique of the Vermontsenator. Joined by her husband, formerPresident Bill Clinton, at a fall barbecue, thefront-runner said Sunday that middle-classfamilies “need a raise, not a tax increase” andshe was the lone Democrat in the debate tocommit to raising wages “and not your taxes.”

Without mentioning her main rival byname, Clinton said Democrats should work tobuild on Obama’s health law and not suggest“we scrap it and start all over again.” Duringthe debate, Clinton questioned Sanders’ 2013health care legislation, saying it would dis-mantle the law and empower Republicangovernors like Terry Branstad of Iowa toadminister the health care system in eachstate. Sanders envisions a “single-payer” sys-tem that would be run by the states underfederal rules. Sanders, in a brief interview fol-lowing a town hall meeting at SimpsonCollege in Indianola, said he could pay for hisagenda without raising taxes on middle-classfamilies. “Our agenda is the most progressivein terms of demanding that Wall Street, largecorporations and the wealthy finally startpaying their fair share of taxes,” he said.

During the event, he said he had helpedwrite Obama’s health care law. “We are theonly major country on earth that does notguarantee health care to all as a right. Wehave got to end that embarrassment,” he said.Even as the field responded somberly to thedeadly attacks in Paris, the debate Saturdaynight marked a feistier phase in theDemocratic campaign. Helped by a strong

autumn, Clinton has built a small lead in Iowaand is trying to stave off Sanders in the Feb. 1presidential caucuses.

Shamefully hidingSanders put Clinton on the defensive in

the debate when he said Wall Street had beenthe major contributor to her campaigns inorder to get support in return. Clintonresponded that Sanders was trying to“impugn my integrity” and said that as a NewYork senator, she helped New York City’sfinancial hub rebuild after the Sept 11 attacks.Her invoking of 9/11 received an incredulousresponse on social media and Republicansaccused her of shamefully hiding behind theattacks to deflect attention from her ties toher wealthiest donors. Taking the stage inAmes, former Maryland Gov. Martin O’Malleysaid Clinton brought up 9/11 to try to “maskher proximity to Wall Street and the hugeamount of contributions and the dollars shehas received personally from the major banksof Wall Street.”

“She doesn’t have to mask it. It is what itis,” O’Malley said. “That is the sort of company,that is the sort economic advice that shewould follow.” Sanders campaign managerJeff Weaver said following the debate that thesenator’s proposals would be paid for withhigher taxes on the wealthy and large corpo-rations. “He’s raising taxes to pay for relief formiddle-income and working people,” he said.Sanders noted his support of legislationbacked by Sen Kirsten Gillibrand, Clinton’ssuccessor as New York senator, to provide 12weeks of paid family and medical leave. Hesaid it would be paid for by adding about$1.38 a week to payroll taxes for the averageworker. —AP

Clinton, digging at Sanders,says don’t scrap health law

H E A LT H & S C I E NC ETUESDAY, NOVEMBER 17, 2015

Cotopaxi, ECUADOR: View of the Cotopaxi volcano spewing ashes onOctober 30, 2015 in Cotopaxi province, Ecuador.—AFP photos

Cotopaxi, ECUADOR: The director of the Geophysical Institute of EcuadorMario Ruiz (center) and technicians install monitoring equipment inCotopaxi province.

Cotopaxi, ECUADOR: View of the Cotopaxi volcano spewing ashes onOctober 29, 2015 in Cotopaxi province.

COTOPAXI, Ecuador: Since it awoke in Augustfrom a 138-year slumber, Ecuador’s Cotopaxivolcano has become one of the most-watchedin the world, holding wary locals and fascinat-ed scientists in thrall. Cotopaxi, whose snowypeak rises majestically from the patchworkquilt of central Ecuador’s high plains, rumbledto life on August 14, belching a column of ashin its first major eruption since 1877. PresidentRafael Correa declared a state of emergency asauthorities warned the volcano was one of themost dangerous on Earth because of its bigsnow cap and the relatively large populationnearby.

So far, the fiery explosion of lava and cata-clysmic snow-melt the government fearedhave not materialized. But scientists are keep-ing a wary eye on Cotopaxi. A team fromEcuador ’s Geophysics Institute recently

climbed to the last shelter before the craterand installed wind-powered generators tokeep their monitoring equipment running incase it gets covered by volcanic ash. “This isthe most monitored volcano in SouthAmerica. We can’t rule out any scenario,” saidthe institute’s director, Mario Ruiz.

Touring the ruddy terrain around the vol-cano’s base, where herds of wild horses runamid the meadows and lakes, Ruiz pointed outthe deep grooves carved by the 1877 erup-tion. “In the 10 kilometers (six miles) immedi-ately surrounding Cotopaxi there’s almost noone and nothing,” Ruiz told AFP. “But there’s apossibility the volcano could generate pyro-clastic flows-a mix of gas, ashes and rock frag-ments-that could melt the glacier and formrivers of mud and debris, or lahars, whichcould affect the surrounding population for

dozens of kilometers.”A powerful eruption is unlikely, he said. But

if it happened, it would have a devastatingimpact on an area that is home to 325,000people, an oil pipeline and a key agricultureindustry and sits just 45 kilometers south ofthe capital Quito.

‘Marvelous’ but scary During the August eruption, authorities

evacuated hundreds of people and closedtens of thousands of hectares (acres) of thenational park that surrounds the 5,897-meter(19,347-foot) volcano. President Correa alsodecreed a controversial “prior censorship”measure that barred the media from releasingany unauthorized information on the volcano.Residents who live near the volcano havegrown used to living in a state of “yellow alert,”

the second scale on Ecuador’s four-level warn-ing system. They go about their days asCotopaxi spits large volumes of ash and gasinto the sky. “I live with the joy of having thismarvelous volcano nearby, but with the fearthat it could turn destructive,” said RobertoVeloz, who lives in the small town of ElPedregal, 10 kilometers from the volcano. Thethree states considered to be at risk-Cotopaxi,Napo and Pichincha periodically organizeeruption drills. But they have not released esti-mates of the economic impact an eruptionwould have.

‘Reducing uncertainty’ Visitors to the Geophysics Institute’s head-

quarters in Quito are greeted by a map ofmainland Ecuador’s 84 volcanos, color-codedas dormant, potentially active, active or erupt-

ing. A monitoring room receives real-time datafrom 60 stations installed around Cotopaxi,which is analyzed 24 hours a day by a team of80 experts. “Volcanic processes developunderground. We can’t measure them directly,”said Ruiz as he watched a panel of six largescreens with data from instruments likeinfrared cameras and level gauges.

“We measure the number and the intensityof seismic events, the deformation or leak ofgases... and try to establish a scenario of how itcould evolve,” he said. Ruiz, a 30-year veteranof the Institute, said there was little time for abreather even though Cotopaxi’s risk level wasrecently downgraded from moderate to low.“We’ve entered into the stage of uncertainty.Our work now is to reinforce what we knowwith more data to reduce that uncertainty,” hesaid.—AFP

Fear and beauty at foot of Ecuador’s Cotopaxi volcano

NEW YORK: A volunteer firefighter badlyburned in a 2001 blaze has received themost extensive face transplant ever, cover-ing his skull and much of his neck, a NewYork hospital announced yesterday. Thesurgery took place in August at the NYULangone Medical Center. The patient, 41-year-old Patrick Hardison, is still undergo-ing physical therapy at the hospital butplans to return home to Senatobia,Mississippi, in time for Thanksgiving.

The surgery has paved the way for himto regain normal vision, and in an inter-view last week he said that will let himaccomplish a major goal: “I’ll start drivingagain.” More than two dozen face trans-plants have been performed worldwidesince the first one in France in 2005. DrEduardo Rodriguez, who led the surgicalteam that did Hardison’s transplant andrecently wrote a review of the field, saidHardison’s is by far the most extensive per-formed successfully in terms of theamount of tissue transferred.

The transplant extends from the top ofthe head, over Hardison’s skull and down tothe collarbones in front; in back, it reachesfar enough down that only a tiny patch ofHardison’s original hair remains - its colormatched by the dark blond hair growingon his new scalp. The transplant includesboth ears. The surgery began Aug. 14 andlasted 26 hours. It left no scars onHardison’s new face because the seam ofthe transplanted tissue runs down the backof his skull.

Skin graftsThe donor was 26-year-old New York

artist and competitive bicyclist David PRodebaugh. He had died of injuries from abiking accident on a Brooklyn street.Hardison was burned Sept 5, 2001, inSenatobia in northwestern Mississippi. A27-year-old father of three at the timewho’d served for seven years as a volunteerfirefighter, he entered a burning house tosearch for a woman. The roof collapsed,giving him third-degree burns on his head,neck and upper torso. He spent about twomonths at a Memphis, Tennessee, burncenter. Doctors used a layer of skin from hislegs to cover his wounded head, but hehad lost his ears, lips, most of his nose andvirtually all of his eyelid tissue. Since hecould not blink, doctors used skin grafts toreinforce what remained of his eyelids andsewed them nearly shut to protect his eyes.That left him with only pinhole vision. “Iwas almost totally blind,” he recalled. “Icould see just a little bit.”

His face was “one huge scar,” Rodriguezsaid. Hardison still went to baseball gamesand did other things outside, althoughpeople stared. He playfully told curiouschildren that he had fought a bear. Still, hesaid, life was hard. He endured 71 surger-ies. Eventually a church friend of his wroteto Rodriguez, who had performed a 2012face transplant at the University ofMaryland Medical Center. The doctor saidhe would try to help, and in August 2014Hardison was placed on a waiting list.

Ideal donor“We were looking for the ideal donor,”

one who matched Hardison on biologicaltraits to minimize the risk of his body’s

rejecting the new tissue, as well as thingslike skin and hair color, said Rodriguez,who by then had moved to NYU Langone.A year later, Rodebaugh was identified as apotential donor by LiveOnNY, the nonprof-it organization that seeks transplantorgans and tissue in the New York Cityarea. A native of the Columbus, Ohio, area,he had signed up to donate organs. Hismother gave permission to use his face,noting that Rodebaugh had always want-ed to be a firefighter, said LiveOnNY presi-dent Helen Irving.

The hospital paid for the transplantoperation, which included attaching fourbone segments to Hardison’s skull, asanchors to prevent the face from droop-ing. Now, three months later, the lowerpart of his face remains swollen, butRodriguez said that will go away in a fewmonths. With his new eyelids and moresurgery, he’s expected to regain a normalfield of vision for the first time in morethan a decade. He will have to continuingtaking medications to prevent his bodyfrom rejecting the transplant. Eventually, “acasual observer will not notice anythingthat is odd” in Hardison’s new face, whichwill blend features of his original face andthe donor’s, Rodriguez said. Hardison saidhis new face has already made a differencewhen he goes outside. “I used to get staredat all the time, but now I’m just an averageguy,” he said. He’s been told he can’t returnto firefighting because of insurance con-cerns, but he has another plan: motiva-tional speaking or something similar, per-haps for wounded veterans. His message?“Just how there is hope.”—AP

NEW YORK: This combination of Aug 15, 2015 to Nov 11, 2015 photos provided by the New York University LangoneMedical Center shows the recuperation of Patrick Hardison after his facial transplant surgery.—AP photos

Transplant gives new face, scalp to burned firefighter

NEW YORK: This combination of photos provided by theNew York University Langone Medical Center shows PatrickHardison before and after his facial transplant surgery.

NEW YORK: This 1999 family photo provided by Lori Taylorshows her brother Patrick Hardison, with his two daugh-ters, Averi, left, and Alison.

W H AT ’ S ONTUESDAY, NOVEMBER 17, 2015

By Sajeev K Peter

The inaugural session of the two-day Islamic Students Conference(ISCON) witnessed an overwhelm-

ing participation of students and gener-al public in which eminent Kuwait dig-nitaries participated as key speakers.Inaugurating the conference on Fridayat Ihyauthuras Hall in Qortoba, SheikhDawood Al-As’oui, Assistant undersecre-tary, Awqaf ministry said, Islam advo-cates peace and it disseminates themessage of peace and tranquilityamong people. “Islam never encouragesterrorism or extremism but a harmo-nious life. But unfortunately, Islam ismisunderstood by many today. It is yourduty to spread the true message ofIslam among the expatriate communityin Kuwait. It is the only way to spreadthe great message of Islam,” he told the

student community. The conference, organized by

Kuwait Kerala Islahi Center (KKIC) washeld under the patronage of Ministry ofAwqaf in cooperation with GrandMosque. The motto of the conference is‘Knowledge for Peace.’

Sheikh Tareq Al-Essa, chairman ofIhyauthuras Al-Islami felicitated theconference said: “It is necessary toimpart education for the developmentof growing children. Only then, the chil-dren will grow up learning the essenceof holy Quran and the teachings ofProphet (PBUH).” He appreciated theactivities of Islahi Centre.

Awards have been distributed to thetop winners of madrassa for the finalyear examinations. Sheikh Tareq Al-Eissa released a souvenir on the occa-sion giving a copies to Saad Al-Shuwaib, the Grand Mosque supervisor

and FIMA president SiddiqueValiyakath. Sheikh Dawood Al-As’ouireleased a ‘wisdom book pack’ handingover a copy to Saad Al-Shammari,Managing Director of Al-SumayyaEducational institution. Amjad Madani,Prof Haris bn Saleem and MujahidBalussery delivered lectures on varioustopics.

A session on ‘An effective parenting’has been presented by well-knowntrainer Prof Jouhar Munawar and‘Kalichangadam’ for children below 10years has been conducted under KISMorganizers. PN Abdullatheef Madanipresided over the function and TPAbdul Azeez delivered a welcome note.Sakeer Koyilandi, Abdul Azeez NarakotTP. Anwar, Sunash Shukoor,Abdussamad AM, Azhar Atheri, PNAbdulrahman and Aslam Kapad werein the presidium.

KKIC holds Islamic students conferenceDisseminate true message of Islam: Al-As’oui

Canon Middle East, a leader in imaging solu-tions, was part of the Broadcasting Film andMusic Awards (BFMA) held from October 27-29

in Nairobi, as it organized a film-making workshop totrain aspiring film-makers in new African marketsusing its latest technologies.

BFMA is the continent’s only business and tech-nology event to serve the creative content and elec-tronic media industry through an integrated educa-tional and marketing platform. Office Technologies(OTL), Canon’s local distributor in Kenya, also sup-ported the event, which was organized by AITEC.

Creative talentThe two day videography workshop which was

conducted by Raul Gabat, Business DevelopmentManager, Canon Middle East, and Danilo Rodriguez,a Dubai- based film director and producer, had over70 participants and is testimony to Canon’s commit-ment to training creative talent in new African mar-kets. Gabat introduced the audience to the technical-

ities of professional videography, and conducted asession on hardware and software, in an effort tostrengthen awareness of Canon’s services and solu-tions amongst media and production houses, gov-ernmental and non-governmental institutions. Othersessions included filmmaking, live shooting andpost-production by Rodriguez

Anurag Agrawal, Managing Director, CanonMiddle East said: “Canon is keen to introduce newand exciting technologies in African markets andtrain aspiring filmmakers across the region. The tech-nology we develop for our cameras has highlyadvanced features. With our professional video work-shops, emerging communities have an opportunityto enhance their skills and learn more about film-making.”

Greater awarenessBasil Serrao, Managing Director, Office

Technologies said: “We are delighted to work with ourpartner, Canon, to spread even greater awareness

about their professional video cameras. This is a grow-ing market and we look forward to being a part of thelarger region’s success as a creative hub.”

In keeping with Canon’s Kyosei philosophy of liv-ing and working together for the common good,Canon Middle East has built a primary school inSenegal as part of its wide range of community activ-ities addressing the environment, healthcare, sportsand personal development. The company has beenawarded for its CSR efforts by the Dubai Chamberand has also received the CSR Label for the third con-secutive year.

Canon Middle East serves as an active partner inthe communities it operates in, by working with gov-ernments, scientific, academic, humanitarian, andarts and culture organisations, to integrate corporatesocial responsibility across all elements of the busi-ness.

For further details of Canon Middle East, globaloperations, products and services visit www.canon-me.com

Canon Middle East trains filmmakers atBroadcasting Film and Music Awards

Thursday 5 November 2015was not just another work-ing day at the Indian

Learners Own Academy Kuwait(ILOA Kuwait), but it was a schoolday with a very pleasant, colorfultwist to it.

As more than 200 studentsassembled in the school auditori-um under the guidance of LOA’sdynamic and brilliant Principal,Asha Sharma, LOA Art teacher andinternationally acclaimed worldart specialist Sasikrishnan, in thepresence of Suhail, the MarketingManager of Faber-Castell, thescene was set for an active partici-pation by the students in an artworkshop held under the patron-age of Faber-Castell, world leadersin the manufacture of art supplies,pens, pencils, high-end writinginstruments, luxury leather goodsand office supplies.

Asha Sharma, inaugurated theWorkshop and what followed

were a few hours of sheer creativeindulgence, learning and funusing Faber-Castell ConnectorPens under the guidance of ArtistSasikrishnan who explained the

different techniques of drawingusing Connector Pens. Through aninteractive session, the art maes-tro not only educated the littleartists in the art of creating artistic

masterpieces but also explainedthe importance of art educationas a tool to remove fear in childrenand instill confidence in them. Heshed light on various art tech-niques through which concentra-tion and focusing ability can beimproved in youngsters, in orderto enhance their academic per-formance. Within the short span ofthe Workshop the Master sharedpriceless knowledge gainedthrough more than two decadeslived as an artist and art educatorwho has travelled all over theglobe as an art spokesperson atvarious vistas.

Sohail, introduced to the stu-dents and teachers, the differentproducts of Faber-Castell that canbe used for doodling, squiggling,drawing etc. The workshopwound up with a question andanswer session for the studentsand winners were rewarded withgifts sponsored by Faber-Castell.

Splash of colors at ILOA

All roads led to Indian Community School,Khaitan, venue of Kala(Art) Kuwait “MetroMedical Care - NIRAM 2015” Children’s Day

Painting Competition on Friday, 13th November2015. There was a festive air prevailed over and thesunny and serene weather with cool breeze wasalso a great blessing to the event. A world filledwith colors and lines were blooming.

“NIRAM-2015” the popularly known paintingcompetition on the occasion of Children’s Day cel-ebration by marking the 126th birth day of PanditJawaharlal Nehru, the First Prime Minister of India.Kala(Art) Kuwait is delighted to celebrate 11thAnniversary of “NIRAM” Painting Competition withelegance and glory which is opened for all stu-dents of Indian Schools in Kuwait. There weremore than a Total of 2400 entries out of which2115 children took part in the competitions. Theparents actively participated in the open canvasand Clay Sculpture was also a competition item forthe students. Various Gift items were distributed toall participants immediately after the competition.

A. K. Shrivastava, Second Secretary, IndianEmbassy Kuwait, inaugurated the program.Kala(Art) President K. Jaison Joseph, GeneralSecretary Ragesh P.D., Program General ConvenerSivakumar, Indian Community School HonorarySecretary, Vijayan Karayil, Indian CommunitySchool Principal Gangadhar Shirshad, MetroMedical Car C.E.O. Hamza Payyannur, ProminentCommunity Leaders Ramdas Chilamban, RajuSakriya, Chacko George Kutty, Fathah Thayyil,Basheer Batha, Sathar Kunnil, Arun, IqbalKuttamangalam, C. Bhaskaran, Mukesh V. P., SharifThamarassery, Rishi Jacob, Najeeb and A. Samuelwere also attended the inaugural function.

Well Known Artists John Mavelikkara, SasiKrishahan, Shammy John, Nikesh and Sunil weresupervised the competition. The program wascontrolled by Rathidas, Aboobacker, Sameer,Samkutty Thomas, Hassan Koya, Johney, SunilKumar, Babu, Shyjith, Santhosh, Aneesh, Shamsu,A. Mohanan, Vipin, Priyesh, Haneef, Ramakrishnan,Mustafa, Renuka, Biji, Thasleena, Aneecha, Vani,

Safreena, Ambili, Jothi, Bindhu, Sneha, Shahana,Rani, Santhosh Joseph, Bharathan, Anil V., Rijo,Nitin, Sarath, Naithan, Sajeesh, Kanakaraj,Kunjiraman, Ullas, Shibin Rajan, Sunil chacko,Sanju Mathew etc. Divya Kiran and Nisha Dileepdid the Compeering. The result of the Competitionwill be announced by organizing committee aswell as the judging committee on 1st December2015 through leading newspapers and also web-sites. Prize Distribution Ceremony will be held atIndian Community School Khaitan on 11thDecember 2015 at 2:30pm.

Kala(Art) Kuwait, highlights the exclusive prizesfor the winners as first place with gold medal, sec-ond place with silver medal and third place withbronze medal along with memento and certifi-cate. Besides the 1st, 2nd, and 3rd, there will beMerit Prizes and Ten (10) percent of the partici-pants will be awarded with consolation prizes.

In addition to those prizes Metro Medical Careoffered free consultation for all participants, oneyear free treatment for 1st place winners and sixmonths free consultation for the parents of mainwinners. The organizers have expressed theirentire satisfaction on the successful completion ofthe Competition and take this opportunity tothank all Children, Parents, Management andTeachers of all Indian schools in Kuwait,Representatives of various Indian socio-culturalorganizations in Kuwait and all our Sponsors fortheir active participation and wholehearted sup-port for making the event as a grant success.Kala(Art) Kuwait has once again proved beyonddoubt that it upholds the interests of all Art loversin Kuwait and will continue its support for promo-tion of Art (Kala). Students and parents are famil-iar with ‘NIRAM’, and they can no longer be hood-winked, as this is the 11th consecutive yearKala(Art) Kuwait has been successfully conductedthis prestigious painting Competition on theoccasion of Children’s day.

A large number of prominent leaders of variousIndian socio-cultural organizations, media personsand sponsors were also witnessed the competition.

Kala Kuwait holds Children’sDay painting competition

W H AT ’ S ONTUESDAY, NOVEMBER 17, 2015

Kuwait University’s College of Engineering and Petroleum celebrated its 40th anniversary in a recent ceremony held under the patronage of His Highness the Crown Prince Sheikh Nawaf Al-Ahmad Al-Sabah.Oil Minister Dr Ali Al-Omair represented His Highness at the event.

Gulf University for Science andTechnology MBA Program organized aseminar yesterday entitled “Leading

Change”, presented by former CEO of ZainTelecom, and Chief Executive Officer of ILAGroup, Dr Saad Al-Barrak, on its campus. Theseminar discussed various types of changewithin an organization, along with its bene-fits and possible pitfalls.

The aim of the seminar was to link the the-ories students learn in the classroom to reallife situations. This would enable students to

gain more insight into those theories, andhave the ability to apply them into differentsituations in the workplace.

Dr Saad Al-Barrak, Chief Executive Officerof ILA Group, said: “My participation in thisseminar stems from my belief that it’s impor-tant for businessmen to interact with thecommunity, and in particular, in the field ofeducation. I chose this topic because I amconvinced that leading change is one of themost crucial and most important tasks of anymanagement position”.

He started the seminar by explaining awell-established change model calledKotter’s 8-Step Change Model. This model,developed by Harvard University ProfessorJohn Kotter, was applied by Zain Telecom totake it from the local to the internationalplaying field. Dr Al-Barrak went through themodel in detail and also highlighted impor-tant elements for companies to apply inorder to change successfully.

Dr Antonis Simintiras, GUST MBA Director,said, “We are always delighted when we get

the opportunity to share unique businessexperiences from world renowned figuressuch as Dr Saad Al-Barrak. Our program hasbeen developed to ensure direct relevance totoday’s changing world of business andexposure to such forward thinking seminarshelps us to cultivate tomorrow’s businessleaders.”

Dr Saad Al Barrak is a Kuwaiti business manand investor. He is best known for his role asthe CEO of Zain Group, where he was instru-mental for the growth of the company and its

expansion into new markets. Following histenure at Zain, Dr Al-Barrak started ILA, anadvisory firm in December 2010.

The MBA Program at GUST has beendeveloped to ensure that it meets the high-est international standards, and ensure thegrowth of its students to reach their fullpotential. The program also plans to organizemore seminars and events with renownedspeakers of vast experience, which will notonly benefit students, but the community asa whole.

GUST MBA organizes seminar by Dr Saad Al-Barrak

KIPCO - the Kuwait ProjectsCompany - has announced itsPlatinum Sponsorship of the

32nd Conference of the NationalUnion of Kuwaiti Students - USABranch (NUKS-USA). The event, spon-sored by KIPCO for the fifth consecu-tive year, will be held on November25-28 in San Diego, California. Thisannual conference, the largest gath-ering of Kuwaitis outside of theirhomeland, is being held this yearunder the slogan ‘Awakening Kuwait’sDream’.

Eman Al-Awadhi, KIPCO’s GroupCommunications Director, said:

“With more than 3,700 studentsparticipating in last year’s NUKS-USAConference, KIPCO’s sponsorship ofthis event has become increasinglyimportant. Every year, representativesof our Group companies share theirexperiences with the students toencourage them to seek a career inthe private sector. This year in partic-

ular, we will be increasing efforts toactively seek and recruit promisingyoung Kuwaiti talents into our Group

companies. We are looking forward tothis year’s conference and to interact-ing with the students in the different

events in which we will be involved.”As a Platinum Sponsor, KIPCO will

be addressing students during theOpening Ceremony and will also bethe sponsor of the Closing Ceremony.

Burgan Bank - KIPCO’s largestinvestment - and United FacilitiesManagement - KIPCO’s property man-agement arm and a subsidiary ofUnited Real Estate - will be interview-ing select students for positions inthe two companies.

KIPCO and Burgan Bank will betaking part in the Job Fair. Besideshighlighting the career opportunitiesfor graduating students, this year’sJob Fair promises to be more engag-ing for the students.

To prepare students to embracetheir careers after graduation, KIPCOis holding a workshop entitled‘Campus to Corporate’. The workshopis co-organized by Burgan Bank andthe Center for Continued Educationat the American University of Kuwait.

KIPCO announces Platinum Sponsorshipof NUKS-USA Conference for fifth year

Eman Al-Awadhi

The sports committee at the council of the Jordanian community in Kuwait recently organized an open day at the Public Authority for Youth and Sport’s fields in Bayan. The event took place under the patron-age of Jordanian Ambassador to Kuwait Mohammad Al-Kayed. Deputy Ambassador Shakir Al-Amoush attended the event on his behalf. —Photos by Yasser Al-Zayyat

The Commercial Bank of Kuwait (CBK) celebrated the graduation of staff members from a specialnew employees development program, during a recent ceremony attended by bank a number ofbank officials.

00:50 Gator Boys01:45 Call Of The Wildman02:15 Call Of The Wildman02:40 Bondi Vet03:35 Tanked04:25 Ten Deadliest Snakes05:15 Gator Boys06:02 Treehouse Masters06:49 Gangland Killers07:36 Call Of The Wildman08:00 Call Of The Wildman08:25 Dog Rescuers09:15 Ten Deadliest Snakes10:10 Treehouse Masters11:05 Tanked12:00 Dog Rescuers12:55 Bondi Vet13:50 Bondi Vet14:45 Ten Deadliest Snakes15:40 Treehouse Masters16:35 Tanked17:30 Gangland Killers18:25 Austin Stevens:Snakemaster19:20 Biggest And Baddest20:15 Tanked21:10 Shamwari: A Wild Life21:35 Shamwari: A Wild Life22:05 Treehouse Masters23:00 Biggest And Baddest23:55 Austin Stevens:Snakemaster

T V PR O G R A M STUESDAY, NOVEMBER 17, 2015

THE ASSAULT ON OSN MOVIES HD ACTION

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00:00 Violetta00:45 The Hive00:50 Sabrina: Secrets Of ATeenage Witch01:15 Sabrina: Secrets Of ATeenage Witch01:40 Wolfblood02:05 Wolfblood02:30 Violetta03:15 The Hive03:20 Sabrina: Secrets Of ATeenage Witch03:45 Sabrina: Secrets Of ATeenage Witch04:10 Wolfblood04:35 Wolfblood05:00 Violetta05:45 The Hive05:50 Mouk06:00 Lolirock06:25 Hank Zipzer06:50 Girl Meets World07:15 H2O: Just Add Water07:40 Jessie08:05 Wizards Of Waverly Place08:30 Wizards Of Waverly Place08:55 Sabrina: Secrets Of ATeenage Witch09:20 Sabrina: Secrets Of ATeenage Witch09:45 Austin & Ally10:10 Austin & Ally10:35 H2O: Just Add Water11:00 H2O: Just Add Water11:25 Jessie11:50 Jessie12:20 Hank Zipzer12:45 Gravity Falls13:10 Good Luck Charlie13:35 I Didn’t Do It14:00 Dog With A Blog14:30 H2O: Just Add Water14:55 Lolirock15:20 Austin & Ally15:45 Girl Meets World16:10 Violetta17:00 The Next Step17:25 Mako Mermaids17:50 Girl Meets World18:15 Dog With A Blog18:40 Gravity Falls19:05 H2O: Just Add Water19:30 Violetta20:20 The Next Step20:45 Good Luck Charlie21:10 Good Luck Charlie21:35 Wizards Of Waverly Place22:00 Binny And The Ghost22:25 Sabrina: Secrets Of ATeenage Witch22:50 Sabrina: Secrets Of ATeenage Witch23:10 Wolfblood23:35 Wolfblood

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00:00 E! Entertainment Special00:55 The Grace Helbig Show01:25 Kourtney And Khloe TakeThe Hamptons02:20 E! News03:15 Escape Club04:10 E! Entertainment Special05:05 E! Entertainment Special06:00 Keeping Up With TheKardashians06:55 Kourtney And Kim TakeMiami07:50 Style Star08:20 E! News09:15 Giuliana & Bill10:15 Giuliana & Bill11:10 #RichKids Of Beverly Hills11:35 #RichKids Of Beverly Hills12:05 E! News13:05 House Of DVF14:05 Fashion Bloggers14:30 Fashion Bloggers15:00 Kourtney And Khloe TakeThe Hamptons16:00 Kourtney And Khloe TakeThe Hamptons17:00 Giuliana & Bill18:00 House Of DVF19:00 WAGs20:00 Hollywood Cycle21:00 Keeping Up With TheKardashians22:00 E! News23:00 Dash Dolls

01:05 Harry At 3002:00 Emmerdale02:25 Eggheads02:55 Coronation Street03:25 Agatha Christie’s Partners InCrime04:20 The Jonathan Ross Show05:15 Take On The Twisters06:10 Harry At 3007:05 Coronation Street07:30 Agatha Christie’s Partners InCrime08:25 The Jonathan Ross Show09:20 The Chase: CelebritySpecials10:15 Harry At 3011:10 Ant & Dec’s Saturday NightTakeaway12:30 Take On The Twisters13:25 Emmerdale13:50 Eggheads14:20 Coronation Street14:45 The Chase: CelebritySpecials15:35 Seven Days With‚Ä¶16:30 I’m A Celebrity...Get Me OutOf Here!17:50 Eggheads18:20 Take On The Twisters19:10 Coronation Street19:35 Seven Days With‚Ä¶20:30 I’m A Celebrity...Get Me OutOf Here!21:50 Eggheads22:20 Eggheads22:50 The Chase: CelebritySpecials23:45 Ant & Dec’s Saturday NightTakeaway

00:00 Salem01:00 Quantico02:00 Homeland06:00 Parenthood12:00 Emmerdale12:30 Coronation Street13:00 The Ellen DeGeneres Show16:00 Emmerdale16:30 Coronation Street17:00 The Ellen DeGeneres Show19:00 The Voice21:00 Blood & Oil22:00 Downton Abbey23:00 Tyrant

00:40 Storm Chasers01:30 You Have Been Warned02:20 Home Factory02:45 Home Factory03:10 NASA’s Greatest Missions04:00 Mythbusters04:48 NASA’s Unexplained Files05:36 Home Factory06:00 Home Factory06:24 NASA’s Greatest Missions07:12 You Have Been Warned08:00 Storm Chasers08:50 Food Factory09:15 Food Factory09:40 How It’s Made10:05 How It’s Made10:30 NASA’s Unexplained Files11:20 Race To Escape12:10 NASA’s Greatest Missions13:00 Mythbusters13:50 How It’s Made14:15 How It’s Made14:40 Food Factory15:05 Food Factory15:30 Race To Escape16:20 NASA’s Greatest Missions17:10 You Have Been Warned18:00 How It’s Made18:25 How It’s Made18:50 Food Factory19:15 Food Factory19:40 You Can’t Lick Your Elbow20:05 You Can’t Lick Your Elbow20:30 What Could Possibly GoWrong?21:20 Mythbusters22:10 NASA’s Unexplained Files23:00 You Can’t Lick Your Elbow23:25 You Can’t Lick Your Elbow23:50 What Could Possibly GoWrong?

00:00 The General’s Daughter-1802:00 Son Of Batman-PG15

11:30 Barefoot Contessa: Back ToBasics12:00 Chopped13:00 Guy’s Big Bite13:30 Guy’s Big Bite14:00 Diners, Drive-Ins And Dives14:30 Diners, Drive-Ins And Dives15:00 Guy’s Grocery Games16:00 Chopped17:00 The Kitchen18:00 Jenny And Reza’s FabulousFood Academy18:30 Trisha’s Southern Kitchen19:00 Chopped20:00 Guy’s Grocery Games21:00 Diners, Drive-Ins And Dives21:30 Diners, Drive-Ins And Dives22:00 Man Finds Food

03:14 Grojband03:35 Johnny Test05:05 Total Drama: All Stars05:27 Total Drama: All Stars05:50 Regular Show06:00 The Amazing World OfGumball

07:00 Uncle Grandpa07:25 Adventure Time07:50 Teen Titans Go!08:35 Ninjago: Masters Of Spinjitzu09:00 Ben 10 Omniverse09:45 Regular Show10:30 Clarence10:55 Dreamworks Dragons:Riders Of Berk11:20 Total Drama World Tour11:40 Total Drama World Tour12:05 Johnny Test12:50 New Steven Universe13:02 Steven Universe13:15 Uncle Grandpa13:40 Regular Show14:25 Adventure Time15:10 New The Amazing World OfGumball15:21 The Amazing World OfGumball15:35 The Amazing World OfGumball16:00 Ben 10 Omniverse16:45 Ninjago: Masters Of Spinjitzu17:10 Ninjago: Masters Of Spinjitzu17:30 Teen Titans Go!18:20 Regular Show19:05 New The Amazing World OfGumball19:16 The Amazing World OfGumball19:30 The Amazing World OfGumball19:51 Adventure Time20:15 New Steven Universe20:27 Steven Universe20:40 Uncle Grandpa21:00 Teen Titans Go!21:50 Ben 10 Omniverse22:40 Adventure Time00:10 Regular Show01:40 Total Drama: Revenge Of

03:10 True Crime With AphroditeJones04:00 California Investigator04:25 California Investigator04:45 Who On Earth Did I Marry?05:10 Who On Earth...05:30 The Haunted06:20 Forensic Detectives07:10 True Crime With AphroditeJones08:00 Nightmare Next Door08:50 On The Case With PaulaZahn09:40 Fatal Encounters10:30 Murder Shift11:20 Forensic Detectives12:10 True Crime With AphroditeJones13:00 The Will13:50 I Almost Got Away With It14:40 California Investigator15:05 Nightmare Next Door15:55 Fatal Encounters16:45 On The Case With PaulaZahn17:35 Murder Shift18:25 I Almost Got Away With It19:15 Forensic Detectives20:05 True Crime With AphroditeJones20:55 California Investigator21:20 The Will22:10 Who On Earth...22:35 Who On Earth...23:00 Deadly Affairs23:50 Deadly Women00:40 Who On Earth...01:05 Who On Earth...01:30 The Haunted02:20 Ghost Lab

03:05 Calimero03:20 Zou03:30 Loopdidoo03:45 Art Attack04:10 Henry Hugglemonster04:20 Calimero04:35 Zou04:45 Loopdidoo05:00 Art Attack05:25 Henry Hugglemonster05:35 Calimero05:50 Zou06:00 Loopdidoo06:15 Art Attack06:35 Henry Hugglemonster06:50 Calimero07:00 Zou07:20 Loopdidoo07:35 Art Attack08:00 Calimero08:10 Zou08:25 Limon And Oli08:35 Jake And The Never LandPirates09:05 Sofia The First09:30 Miles From Tomorrow10:00 Mickey Mouse Clubhouse10:30 Doc McStuffins11:00 Sofia The First11:30 Jake And The Never LandPirates11:55 Miles From Tomorrow

12:25 Doc McStuffins12:55 Loopdidoo13:10 Mickey Mouse Clubhouse13:35 Sheriff Callie’s Wild West14:00 Sofia The First14:30 Henry Hugglemonster14:45 Calimero15:00 Doc McStuffins15:30 Zou15:45 Mickey Mouse Clubhouse16:15 Sofia The First16:45 Jake And The Never LandPirates17:10 Aladdin17:40 Adventures Of The GummiBears18:10 Chip n Dale Rescue Rangers18:40 Jake And The Never LandPirates18:55 Cars Toons19:00 Miles From Tomorrow19:30 Sofia The First19:55 Doc McStuffins20:15 Jake And The Never LandPirates20:45 Sheriff Callie’s Wild West21:05 Mickey Mouse Clubhouse21:35 Sofia The First22:00 Aladdin22:30 Adventures Of The GummiBears23:00 Chip n Dale Rescue Rangers23:30 Lilo & Stitch00:00 Nina Needs To Go00:05 Henry Hugglemonster00:20 Calimero00:35 Zou00:50 Loopdidoo01:05 Art Attack01:30 Henry Hugglemonster01:45 Calimero02:00 Zou02:15 Loopdidoo02:30 Art Attack02:55 Henry Hugglemonster

07:00 Penn Zero: Part Time Hero07:25 Supa Strikas07:50 Supa Strikas08:15 K.C Undercover08:40 Lab Rats09:10 Star vs The Forces Of Evil09:35 Kirby Buckets10:00 Annedroids10:30 Phineas And Ferb10:55 Rocket Monkeys11:20 Boyster11:45 Super Matrak12:10 Super Matrak12:40 Mighty Med13:05 Ultimate Spider-Man13:30 Supa Strikas14:00 Kickin’ It14:25 Pokemon: XY14:50 Phineas And Ferb15:15 Rocket Monkeys15:40 Penn Zero: Part Time Hero16:10 Star vs The Forces Of Evil16:35 Kirby Buckets17:00 Mighty Med17:25 K.C Undercover17:55 Supa Strikas18:20 Lab Rats: Bionic Island18:45 Mighty Med19:10 Annedroids19:40 Kickin’ It20:05 K.C Undercover20:30 Supa Strikas20:55 Lab Rats21:25 Kirby Buckets21:50 Kickin’ It22:15 Mighty Med

03:45 Predator CSI04:40 Animal Fight Club05:35 The Pack06:30 Dangerous Encounters07:25 Predator CSI08:20 The Incredible Dr. Pol09:15 Unlikely Animal Friends10:10 Expedition Wild11:05 Swamp Men12:00 Monster Fish12:55 World’s Deadliest Animals13:50 Dangerous Encounters14:45 Predator CSI15:40 The Incredible Dr. Pol16:35 Unlikely Animal Friends17:30 Expedition Wild18:25 Swamp Men19:20 Predator CSI20:10 The Incredible Dr. Pol21:00 Unlikely Animal Friends21:50 Expedition Wild22:40 Swamp Men23:30 Monster Fish00:20 World’s Deadliest Animals01:10 Dangerous Encounters02:00 Brutal Killers02:50 World’s Deadliest Killer Three

03:40 Ultimate Shopper04:30 Jon & Kate Plus 805:00 Little People, Big World05:30 Cake Boss06:00 Say Yes To The Dress06:25 Bakery Boss07:15 Toddlers & Tiaras08:05 Perfect Look08:55 Our Little Family09:20 Our Little Family09:45 Jon & Kate Plus 810:10 Little People, Big World10:35 Sister Wives11:25 Cake Boss11:50 Perfect Look12:40 Bakery Boss13:30 Oprah: Where Are TheyNow?14:20 Oprah’s Master Class15:10 Jon & Kate Plus 815:35 Little People, Big World16:00 Toddlers & Tiaras16:50 Sister Wives17:40 Cake Boss18:05 Say Yes To The Dress18:30 Ultimate Shopper19:20 Say Yes To The Dress:Randy Knows Best19:45 Say Yes To The Dress:Randy Knows Best20:10 Bakery Boss21:00 Diagnose Me21:50 My Baby Has Two Heads:Body Bizarre22:40 Psychic Matchmaker23:05 90 Days To Wed23:55 Diagnose Me00:45 My Baby Has Two Heads:Body Bizarre01:35 Psychic Matchmaker02:00 90 Days To Wed02:50 Sister Wives

04:00 Born To Race: Fast Track-PG1506:00 Man Of Tai Chi-PG1507:45 Percy Jackson And TheLightning Thief-PG1509:45 The Bag Man-PG1511:45 Absolute Killers-PG1513:30 Man Of Tai Chi-PG1515:30 Days Of Thunder-PG1517:30 The Hunger Games:Catching Fire-PG1520:00 The Assault-PG15

The Island02:03 Total Drama: Revenge OfThe Island02:26 Total Drama: Revenge OfThe Island02:51 Grojband

22:40 Phineas And Ferb23:05 Penn Zero: Part Time Hero23:30 Phineas And Ferb00:00 Programmes Start At 7:00amKSA

p32.qxp_Layout 1 11/16/15 7:41 PM Page 1

ClassifiedsTUESDAY, NOVEMBER 17, 2015

Fajr: 04:51

Shorook 06:13

Duhr: 11:33

Asr: 14:32

Maghrib: 16:52

Isha: 18:12

Kuwait

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

DIAL161 FOR AIRPORT INFORMATION

Arrival Flights on Tuesday 17/11/2015Airlines Flt Route TimeBBC 143 Dhaka 00:05MSC 405 Sohag 00:05KLM 411 Amsterdam/Dammam 00:20JZR 267 Beirut 00:30JZR 539 Cairo 00:40FDB 069 Dubai 00:55THY 772 Istanbul 01:05DLH 635 Doha 01:35ETH 620 Addis Ababa 01:45PGT 858 Istanbul 02:00UAE 853 Dubai 02:30GFA 211 Bahrain 02:30OMA 643 Muscat 02:55FDB 067 Dubai 03:05RJA 644 Amman 03:05MSR 612 Cairo 03:10QTR 1076 Doha 03:15KKK 6507 Istanbul 03:20ETD 305 Abu Dhabi 03:25THY 1464 Istanbul 03:25ICV 673 MXP 04:20JZR 503 Luxor 04:25THY 6376 Istanbul 05:05DHX 170 Bahrain 05:40THY 770 Istanbul 05:55THY 764 Istanbul 05:55FDB 5061 Dubai 06:30BAW 157 London 06:40KAC 416 Jakarta/Kuala Lumpur 07:15KAC 412 Manila/Bangkok 07:20QTR 1086 Doha 07:40FDB 053 Dubai 07:45SVA 512 Riyadh 07:50KAC 302 Mumbai 07:50KAC 382 Delhi 08:00OMA 641 Muscat 08:00KAC 354 BLR 08:15KAC 352 Kochi 08:20KAC 206 Islamabad 08:25UAE 855 Dubai 08:40KAC 332 Trivandrum 08:50ABY 125 Sharjah 09:00KAC 362 Colombo 09:00KAC 284 Dhaka 09:10ETD 301 Abu Dhabi 09:20QTR 1070 Doha 09:25FDB 055 Dubai 09:40GFA 213 Bahrain 10:40IRA 675 Lar 10:40UAE 873 Dubai 11:05JZR 165 Dubai 11:30MEA 404 Beirut 11:55FDB 075 Dubai 12:25MSC 401 Alexandria 12:30UAE 871 Dubai 12:50MSR 610 Cairo 13:00FBA 831 Al Najaf 13:15QTR 1078 Doha 14:10FDB 057 Dubai 14:10KAC 514 Tehran 14:10

AXB 393 Kozhikode 14:20SVA 500 Jeddah 14:30KNE 472 Jeddah 14:35KAC 672 Dubai 14:45KAC 788 Jeddah 14:50GFA 221 Bahrain 15:00OMA 645 Muscat 15:30KAC 562 Amman 15:40ABY 127 Sharjah 15:45UAE 857 Dubai 15:45QTR 1072 Doha 16:10FDB 051 Dubai 16:30ETD 303 Abu Dhabi 16:40RJA 640 Amman 16:55KAC 542 Cairo 16:55SVA 510 Riyadh 17:15GFA 215 Bahrain 17:30KAC 502 Beirut 17:30MSR 614 Cairo 17:35JZR 325 Al Najaf 17:50JZR 777 Jeddah 17:55UAE 875 Dubai 18:00FDB 063 Dubai 18:05UAL 982 IAD 18:15JZR 177 Dubai 18:20KAC 680 Muscat 18:25KAC 786 Jeddah 18:30ABY 123 Sharjah 18:45QTR 1080 Doha 18:55KAC 742 Dammam 19:05KAC 614 Bahrain 19:10KAC 774 Riyadh 19:25KAC 166 Paris/Rome 19:30GFA 217 Bahrain 19:30KAC 618 Doha 19:35KAC 104 London 19:40KAC 674 Dubai 19:45MSR 618 Alexandria 20:05FDB 061 Dubai 20:20OMA 647 Muscat 20:20FDB 5053 Dubai 20:50DLH 634 Frankfurt 20:55JAI 572 Mumbai 20:55ETD 307 Abu Dhabi 21:20MEA 402 Beirut 21:20ALK 229 Colombo 21:25UAE 859 Dubai 21:40GFA 219 Bahrain 21:45QTR 1082 Doha 22:00JZR 125 Bahrain 22:00KLM 415 Amsterdam 22:05AIC 987 Chennai/Hyderabad 22:25ETD 309 Abu Dhabi 22:25FDB 059 Dubai 22:30PIA 239 Sialkot 22:35JZR 239 Amman 23:05JZR 185 Dubai 23:15UAL 981 Bahrain 23:25JAD 301 Amman 23:30FDB 071 Dubai 23:45JAI 574 Mumbai 23:55MSC 403 Asyut 23:55

Departure Flights on Tuesday 17/11/2015Airlines Flt Route TimeAIC 976 Goa/Chennai 00:05JAD 302 Amman 00:15FDB 072 Dubai 00:40MSC 404 Asyut 00:55JAI 573 Mumbai 00:55MSC 406 Sohag 01:00BBC 143 Chittagong/Dhaka 01:35KLM 411 Amsterdam 01:35THY 773 Istanbul 02:30DLH 635 Frankfurt 02:35ETH 621 Addis Ababa 02:45UAE 854 Dubai 03:45PGT 859 Istanbul 03:55OMA 644 Muscat 03:55FDB 068 Dubai 04:00MSR 613 Cairo 04:10ETD 306 Abu Dhabi 04:15KKK 6508 Istanbul 04:20QTR 1077 Doha 05:00THY 765 Istanbul 05:15ICV 673 Hong Kong 05:50FDB 070 Dubai 06:30THY 6376 Dubai/Istanbul 06:35JZR 164 Dubai 06:55THY 1465 Istanbul 06:55RJA 645 Amman 07:05THY 771 Istanbul 07:05FDB 5062 Dubai 07:10GFA 212 Bahrain 07:15FDB 054 Dubai 08:30QTR 1087 Doha 08:40BAW 156 London 08:45SVA 513 Riyadh 08:50OMA 642 Muscat 08:55KAC 787 Jeddah 09:25ABY 126 Sharjah 09:40KAC 513 Tehran 09:45KAC 101 London/New York 09:55KAC 541 Cairo 09:55UAE 856 Dubai 09:55KAC 561 Amman 10:00KAC 501 Beirut 10:00KAC 671 Dubai 10:05ETD 302 Abu Dhabi 10:25FDB 056 Dubai 10:35QTR 1071 Doha 11:00KAC 165 Rome/Paris 11:00GFA 214 Bahrain 11:25IRA 674 Lar 11:40JZR 776 Jeddah 12:20UAE 874 Dubai 12:30MEA 405 Beirut 12:55KAC 785 Jeddah 13:00KAC 411D Bangkok 13:00KAC 679 Muscat 13:00FDB 076 Dubai 13:10MSC 402 Alexandria 13:30JZR 176 Dubai 13:45MSR 611 Cairo 14:00UAE 872 Dubai 14:15

FBA 832 Al Najaf 14:15JZR 324 Al Najaf 14:25KAC 673 Dubai 15:00FDB 058 Dubai 15:10QTR 1079 Doha 15:10AXB 394 Kozhikode 15:20KNE 473 Jeddah 15:35KAC 617 Doha 15:45SVA 501 Jeddah 15:45GFA 222 Bahrain 15:45KAC 613 Bahrain 15:50KAC 773 Riyadh 15:50KAC 741 Dammam 15:55ABY 128 Sharjah 16:25OMA 646 Muscat 16:30JZR 266 Beirut 17:05JZR 238 Amman 17:30ETD 304 Abu Dhabi 17:30FDB 052 Dubai 17:35QTR 1073 Doha 17:40JZR 538 Cairo 17:45UAE 858 Dubai 17:45RJA 641 Amman 17:55SVA 511 Riyadh 18:15GFA 216 Bahrain 18:20MSR 615 Cairo 18:35JZR 184 Dubai 18:40JZR 124 Bahrain 19:10FDB 064 Dubai 19:20ABY 124 Sharjah 19:25UAE 876 Dubai 19:30UAL 982 Bahrain 19:30GFA 218 Bahrain 20:15KAC 283 Dhaka 20:35QTR 1081 Doha 20:50KAC 351 Kochi 20:55KAC 343 Chennai 21:00MSR 607 Luxor 21:05KAC 331 Trivandrum 21:10OMA 648 Muscat 21:20FDB 062 Dubai 21:20DLH 634 Doha 21:45DHX 171 Bahrain 21:50FDB 5054 Dubai 21:50JAI 571 Mumbai 21:55KAC 381 Delhi 22:00KAC 301 Mumbai 22:10ETD 308 Abu Dhabi 22:10KAC 203 Lahore 22:10MEA 403 Beirut 22:20ALK 230 Colombo 22:25GFA 220 Bahrain 22:30UAE 860 Dubai 22:55KAC 345 Ahmedabad 23:00QTR 1083 Doha 23:05KLM 415 Dammam/Amsterdam 23:05KAC 205 Islamabad 23:10ETD 310 Abu Dhabi 23:15KAC 411 Bangkok/Manila 23:35FDB 060 Dubai 23:35PIA 240 Sialkot 23:35

SHARQIA-1ATOMIC EDEN 12:15 PMATOMIC EDEN 2:15 PMARBA’A KOTCHINA 4:00 PMATOMIC EDEN 6:00 PMARBA’A KOTCHINA 8:00 PMATOMIC EDEN 10:00 PMARBA’A KOTCHINA 12:05 AM

SHARQIA-2SPECTRE 12:30 PMHOTEL TRANSYLVANIA2 1:30 PMSPECTRE 3:30 PMSPECTRE 6:30 PMSPECTRE 9:30 PMSPECTRE 12:30 AM

SHARQIA-3GOOSEBUMPS 11:45 AMSPECTRE 2:00 PMPREM RATAN DHAN PAYO 5:00 PMPREM RATAN DHAN PAYO 8:15 PMSPECTRE 11:30 PM

MUHALAB-1ATOMIC EDEN 12:45 PMARBA’A KOTCHINA 2:45 PMATOMIC EDEN 4:45 PMARBA’A KOTCHINA 6:45 PMATOMIC EDEN 8:45 PMARBA’A KOTCHINA 10:45 PMATOMIC EDEN 12:45 AM

MUHALAB-2PREM RATAN DHAN PAYO 1:00 PMSPECTRE 1:30 PMAKHIL 4:15 PMPREM RATAN DHAN PAYO 4:15 PMPREM RATAN DHAN PAYO 7:30 PMSPECTRE 11:00 PM

MUHALAB-3SPECTRE 12:00 PMSPECTRE 3:00 PMSPECTRE 6:00 PMSPECTRE 9:00 PMSPECTRE 12:05 AM

FANAR-1STEVE JOBS 12:45 PMATOMIC EDEN 1:30 PMSTEVE JOBS 3:15 PMATOMIC EDEN 5:45 PMSTEVE JOBS 7:45 PMATOMIC EDEN 10:15 PMATOMIC EDEN 12:15 AM

FANAR-2BLUNT FORCE TRAUMA 12:30 PMARBA’A KOTCHINA 2:30 PMBLUNT FORCE TRAUMA 4:30 PMARBA’A KOTCHINA 6:30 PMARBA’A KOTCHINA 8:30 PMARBA’A KOTCHINA 10:30 PMBLUNT FORCE TRAUMA 12:30 AM

FANAR-3PREM RATAN DHAN PAYO 11:45 AMPREM RATAN DHAN PAYO 3:00 PMPREM RATAN DHAN PAYO 6:15 PM

PREM RATAN DHAN PAYO 9:30 PMPARANORMAL ACTIVITY: THE GHOST DIMENSION 12:45 AM

FANAR-4SPECTRE 12:30 PMPARANORMAL ACTIVITY: THE GHOST DIMENSION 1:30 PMSPECTRE 3:30 PMSPECTRE 6:30 PMSPECTRE 9:30 PMSPECTRE 12:30 AM

FANAR-5SPECTRE 11:30 AMSPECTRE 2:30 PMSPECTRE 5:30 PMAKHIL 6:00 PMSPECTRE 8:30 PMEVERYDAY I LOVE YOU 8:30 PMSPECTRE 11:30 PM

MARINA-1UNCONSCIOUS 12:30 PMARBA’A KOTCHINA 2:30 PMUNCONSCIOUS 4:30 PMUNCONSCIOUS 6:30 PMARBA’A KOTCHINA 8:30 PMARBA’A KOTCHINA 10:30 PMUNCONSCIOUS 12:30 AM

MARINA-2SPECTRE 12:00 PMSPECTRE 3:00 PMSPECTRE 6:00 PMSPECTRE 9:00 PMSPECTRE 12:05 AM

MARINA-3ATOMIC EDEN 12:15 PMATOMIC EDEN 2:00 PMATOMIC EDEN 4:00 PMATOMIC EDEN 6:00 PMATOMIC EDEN 8:00 PMSPECTRE 10:00 PMATOMIC EDEN 1:00 AM

AVENUES-1STEVE JOBS 12:15 PMSTEVE JOBS 2:45 PMSTEVE JOBS 5:15 PMSTEVE JOBS 7:45 PMSTEVE JOBS 10:15 PMSTEVE JOBS 12:45 AM

AVENUES-2PREM RATAN DHAN PAYO 1:00 PMHOTEL TRANSYLVANIA2 4:15 PMVEDHALAM 6:15 PMEYAL HAREEFA 9:15 PMPREM RATAN DHAN PAYO 11:30 PM

AVENUES-3ARBA’A KOTCHINA 12:30 PMARBA’A KOTCHINA 2:30 PMARBA’A KOTCHINA 4:30 PMARBA’A KOTCHINA 6:30 PMARBA’A KOTCHINA 8:30 PMARBA’A KOTCHINA 10:30 PMARBA’A KOTCHINA 12:30 AMAVENUES-4SPECTRE 1:15 PM

ATOMIC EDEN 2:00 PMSPECTRE 4:15 PMSPECTRE 7:15 PMNO THUSPECTRE 7:15 PMSPECTRE 10:15 PMATOMIC EDEN 1:15 AM

AVENUES-5UNCONSCIOUS 12:00 PMPREM RATAN DHAN PAYO 2:00 PMPREM RATAN DHAN PAYO 5:15 PMPREM RATAN DHAN PAYO 8:30 PMPREM RATAN DHAN PAYO 11:45 PM

AVENUES-6ATOMIC EDEN 11:30 AMATOMIC EDEN 1:30 PMATOMIC EDEN 3:30 PMATOMIC EDEN 5:30 PMATOMIC EDEN 7:30 PMATOMIC EDEN 9:30 PMATOMIC EDEN 11:30 PM

AVENUES-7BLUNT FORCE TRAUMA 1:30 PMBLUNT FORCE TRAUMA 3:45 PMBLUNT FORCE TRAUMA 6:00 PMBLUNT FORCE TRAUMA 8:15 PMEVERYDAY I LOVE YOU 8:00 PMBLUNT FORCE TRAUMA 10:30 PMBLUNT FORCE TRAUMA 12:45 AM

360º- 1GOOSEBUMPS 11:30 AMPREM RATAN DHAN PAYO 1:45 PMPREM RATAN DHAN PAYO 5:00 PMPREM RATAN DHAN PAYO 8:15 PMPREM RATAN DHAN PAYO 11:30 PM

36º- 2ARBA’A KOTCHINA 11:30 AMARBA’A KOTCHINA 1:30 PMARBA’A KOTCHINA 3:30 PMARBA’A KOTCHINA 5:30 PMARBA’A KOTCHINA 7:30 PMARBA’A KOTCHINA 9:30 PMARBA’A KOTCHINA 11:30 PM

360º- 3PREM RATAN DHAN PAYO 12:00 PMHOTEL TRANSYLVANIA2 3:15 PMHOTEL TRANSYLVANIA2 5:15 PMPREM RATAN DHAN PAYO 7:15 PMPREM RATAN DHAN PAYO 10:30 PM

AL-KOUT.1SPECTRE 12:15 PMSPECTRE 3:15 PMSPECTRE 6:15 PMSPECTRE 9:15 PMSPECTRE 12:15 AM

AL-KOUT.2BLUNT FORCE TRAUMA 12:00 PMUNCONSCIOUS 2:45 PMBLUNT FORCE TRAUMA 4:45 PMUNCONSCIOUS 6:45 PMBLUNT FORCE TRAUMA 8:45 PMUNCONSCIOUS 10:45 PM

KNCC PROGRAMME FROM THURSDAY TO WEDNESDAY(12/11/2015 TO 18/11/2015)

Prayer timings

112

MATRIMONIAL

CHANGE OF NAME

SITUATION VACANT

I, Varikkody Nazar,Varikkody House, P.OVengalam, Kozhikode hold-er of Indian Passport No.H8465519 hereby changemy name as Abdul NazarVarikoly with immediateeffect. (C 5078)17-11-2015

I, NAGOOR GANI AHAMADSALIH, S/o Thiru. NagoorGani, Muslim, born on 21stApril 1960, Passport No.J5551958 (native district:Thanjavur), residing at No.158, Kandiyan Street,Chakkarapalli Post,Papanasam Taluk,Thanjavur Dist - 614211,shall henceforth be knownas N. MOHAMED SALIH S/oNagoor Gani Ahmad Salih.(C 5073)15-11-2015

I, Abdul Rasheed UsmanWalile changed to new

Wanted Indian female cookfor a small Kuwaiti family.Contact: 99574355 (C 5077)17-11-2015

Seeking for MarthomanGroom, Alliance invited forKerala Marthoman familyfor their daughter, 26 years,165 cm, Bsc Nurse, MOHKuwait, from Marthomanboys from Kuwait orWestern countries andEurope age limit 28 to 31years, Btech, MBA etc, fromGod fearing family. Contactemail:[email protected](C 5074)15-11-2015

Accountant (Indian) having23 years of experience inMiddle East doing all kindsof Accounts up toFinalization & AuditReporting, looking for aplacement with transfer-able Iqama. Contact:97934610. (C 5075)16-11-2015

SITUATION WANTED

name as Rasheed UsmanWalile, Indian Passport No.G5617919, VPO Rajawadi TK.Mahad, Raigad DT. MS.(C 5071)14-11-2015


Smoother sailing in your interactions with others today sets the stage for what’sto come next — and you may already be dreaming about the future. You can’thelp but envision so many wonderful possibilities ahead. Unfortunately, troublearises pretty quickly if you’re not focusing on your current obligations. Slowdown; even if you have moved on in your mind, you will still need to be patientwhile reality catches up to your fantasy.

Aries (March 21-April 19)

STAR TRACK

Although you sometimes can be quite obstinate in your communication withothers, you might be tempted to bring inflexibility to a whole new level ofexpression today. Unfortunately, your unwillingness to bend may create moreproblems than solutions, even if your intentions are pure. The most effective tac-tic now is to state your position clearly and then negotiate as needed. Meeting aworthy opponent halfway also demonstrates your respect for someone else’spoint of view. Common ground is better than no ground at all.

Taurus (April 20-May 20)

You’re tempted to keep all your great ideas to yourself todaybecause you believe it will take too long to justify your plans. You might evenassume that others will reject your logic while interactive Mercury rubs friendlyVenus the wrong way. Nevertheless, it’s a bad idea to overreact and go silentwhen you could be busy improving your delivery. Don’t waste this opportunity;breaking down your recipe for success into bite-sized pieces will move youalong in the direction of your goals.

Gemini (May 21-June 20)

You are so wary about everyone’s reactions to what you share now that it’s trickyto get your tone to match your intent. No matter how much you try to fine-tuneyour delivery, you may feel as if you’re overstating your case or not sayingenough. Still, you’re determined to get it right. If you don’t give up and walkaway, the cosmos just might surprise you and give you what you want.Thankfully, your tenacity is working in your favor now.

Cancer (June 21-July 22)

Your peers seem set in their own ways today, leaving you with little room toexpress your opinion. If you say what you really feel, a conflict could ensue; but ifyou don’t speak your piece, you may end up dealing with misplaced anger orresentment later on. Handling your emotions calmly in the here and now is a lessstressful strategy than pretending all is well for the sake of expediency. Do whatit right, not what is easy.

Leo (July 23-August 22)

Although you wish you could take the day off, there are just too many tasks foryou to finish. You could try to forget about your responsibilities and not showup, but it’s not your style to leave everyone else high and dry. There’s really nopoint in running away since you won’t be able to stop thinking about yourchores until they are done anyway. Bite the bullet and get to work. The fun canwait and will be even more enjoyable if you’re free of your obligations.

Virgo (August 23-September 22)

At first blush you may feel uncomfortable and doubt your abilities,but as the day wears on you begin to believe you can set your mind to nearlyanything and accomplish it. In fact, your spirits soar today as the Moon dancesinto your 5th House of Creativity, even if you have an intense situation unfoldingin your life. You have the gift of gab on your side now, enabling you to talk yourway through almost any crisis. Use your infamous charm to work through anypotentially embarrassing moments and don’t let up until you see your magicbeginning to work.

Libra (September 23-October 22)

You must be methodical in your communication today or your plans maybackfire on you. Think through everything you want to say before you openyour mouth. The less you leave up in the air, the better it will be for every-one involved. Although you might be tempted to reveal your feelings, try tobe as logical and rational as possible. A cool, calm and collected approachisn’t your normal style, but will work wonders for you now.

Scorpio (October 23-November 21)

Your subconscious mind is releasing powerful images now, but itcan be all too easy to miss the show because of the activity in your immediateenvironment. You must block out the distracting noise so you can sink into thelanguage of myth and symbol. In order to tune into this subtle dimension today,you need to set more practical thoughts aside. Relying on your intuition to inter-pret the messages allows you to discover new ways to maximize your currentpotential.

Sagittarius (November 22-December 21)

You may take your own beliefs a bit too seriously now, but your friends willappreciate your honesty, nonetheless. You are at the top of your game whencommunicating with your peers while the Sun-Mercury conjunction lights upyour 11th House of Social Networking. Don’t water down your message to makeit more palatable. Saying exactly what you feel today is the most effective pathto move toward the success you seek.

Capricorn (December 22-January 19)

Although you are more than willing to drift into your dreams, it’s better to focuson the existing circumstances today as much as possible. However, the Moon ismeandering through your 12th House of Escapism, confusing your thoughtswith fantasies. Nevertheless, incorporating your imagination into your personallife can be rewarding. Each time you catch your mind wandering, bring yourattention back to the here and now. Exploring your subconscious is fine as longas you take care of business in the present moment.

Pisces (February 19-March 20)

There’s something about your interactions with others that helps you maximizeyour current capabilities. You have the sense to know what you want to do, but itis the back and forth of collaboration with your peers that can turn a good ideainto a great project. Instead of presenting a finished product, share a bit of yourvision and then let everyone jump in with their thoughts. Helen Keller wrote,“Alone we can do so little; together we can do so much.”

Aquarius (January 20- February 18)

CROSSWORD 1082

ACROSS1. A person regarded as arrogant and annoy-

ing.5. Tree of the genus Catalpa with large leaves

and white flowers followed by long slen-der pods.

12. A United Nations agency to promote tradeby increasing the exchange stability of themajor currencies.

15. An informal term for a father.16. (of reproduction) Not involving the fusion

of male and female gametes reproduc-tion".

17. (Irish) The sea personified.18. Someone who copies the words or behav-

ior of another.19. A basketball shot made with one hand

from a position under or beside the bas-ket (and usually banked off the back-board).

20. A facial expression characterized by turn-ing up the corners of the mouth.

22. Covered with paving material.25. Cubes of meat marinated and cooked on a

skewer usually with vegetables.26. A painter or drawer of portraits.27. A member of an agricultural people in

southeastern India.32. Fermented alcoholic beverage similar to

but heavier than beer.34. Type genus of the Amiidae.38. A member of an agricultural people of

southern India.41. Ctenophores lacking tentacles.42. A special way of doing something.43. (of champagne) Extremely dry.44. A bachelor's degree in music.47. A region of southern Italy (forming the

instep of the Italian `boot').51. A green transparent form of beryl.52. A person who acts and gets things done.53. (meaning literally `born') Used to indicate

the maiden or family name of a marriedwoman.

54. Remote and separate physically or socially.56. (Babylonian) God of wisdom and agricul-

ture and patron of scribes and schools.58. The second largest city in Tunisia.61. A resident of Iowa.63. Open-heart surgery in which the rib cage

is opened and a section of a blood vesselis grafted from the aorta to the coronaryartery to bypass the blocked section ofthe coronary artery and improve theblood supply to the heart.

67. The sense organ for hearing and equilibri-um.

71. Psychoactive substance present in mari-juana.

72. Oldest known reptiles.74. A defensive missile designed to shoot

down incoming intercontinental ballisticmissiles.

75. Hormone secreted by the posterior pitu-itary gland (trade name Pitressin) and alsoby nerve endings in the hypothalamus.

76. Stone post at side of a road to show dis-tances.

77. A watery solution of sugars, salts, and min-erals that circulates through the vascularsystem of a plant.

DOWN1. (trademark) A tinned luncheon meat made

largely from pork.2. Plant with an elongated head of broad

stalked leaves resembling celery.3. An organization of countries formed in 1961

to agree on a common policy for the saleof petroleum.

4. United States writer of poems and playsabout racial conflict (born in 1934).

5. West Indian tree having racemes of fragrantwhite flowers and yielding a durable tim-ber and resinous juice.

6. Small terrestrial lizard of warm regions ofthe Old World.

7. A branch of the Tai languages.8. An Asian river between China and Russia.9. Cut off from a whole.10. A radioactive transuranic element that is

similar to uranium.11. Attack someone physically or emotionally.12. An ancient city in Asia Minor that was the

site of the Trojan War.13. English writer of stories for children (1882-

1956).14. God of earth's fertility and peace and pros-

perity.21. A woman sahib.23. Locate and correct errors in a computer

program code.24. A public square with room for pedestrians.28. An automatic signal (usually a sound)

warning of danger.29. Reason by deduction.30. Large recently extinct long-horned

European wild ox.31. A unit of absorbed ionizing radiation equal

to 100 ergs per gram of irradiated materi-al.

33. Large African antelope having a head withhorns like an ox and a long tufted tail.

35. United States naval officer and historian(1840-1914).

36. Complacently or inanely foolish.37. Be in accord.39. A drug (trade names Atarax and Vistaril)

used as a tranquilizer to treat anxiety andmotion sickness.

40. A promontory in northern Morocco oppo-site the Rock of Gibraltar.

45. An unaccompanied partsong for 2 or 3voices.

46. An aggressive remark directed at a personlike a missile and intended to have atelling effect.

48. A period of time spent sleeping.49. An artificial language.50. Any of various edible seeds of plants of the

family Leguminosae.55. A small hairpiece to cover partial baldness.57. Fiddler crabs.59. King of Saudi Arabia since 1982 (born in

1922).60. (of persons) Highest in rank or authority or

office.62. A White Protestant of Anglo-Saxon ances-

try.64. Type genus of the Anatidae.65. A small cake leavened with yeast.66. (British) Colloquial terms for an umbrella.68. Preserve of crushed fruit.69. Black tropical American cuckoo.70. The seventh and last day of the week.73. An honorary degree in science.

Yesterday’s Solution

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inf or m at ionTUESDAY, NOVEMBER 17, 2015

Ahmadi Sama Safwan Fahaeel Makka St 23915883Abu Halaifa Abu Halaifa-Coastal Rd 23715414Danat Al-Sultan Mahboula Block 1, Coastal Rd 23726558

Jahra Modern Jahra Jahra-Block 3 Lot 1 24575518Madina Munawara Jahra-Block 92 24566622

Capital Ahlam Fahad Al-Salem St 22436184Khaldiya Coop Khaldiya Coop 24833967

Farwaniya New Shifa Farwaniya Block 40 24734000Ferdous Coop Ferdous Coop 24881201Modern Safwan Old Kheitan Block 11 24726638

Hawally Tariq Salmiya-Hamad Mubarak St 25726265Hana Salmiya-Amman St 25647075Ikhlas Hawally-Beirut St 22625999Hawally & Rawdha Hawally & Rawdha Coop 22564549Ghadeer Jabriya-Block 1A 25340559Kindy Jabriya-Block 3B 25326554Ibn Al-Nafis Salmiya-Hamad Mubarak St 25721264Mishrif Coop Mishrif Coop 25380581Salwa Coop Salwa Coop 25628241

OphthalmologistsDr. Abidallah Al-Mansoor 25622444Dr. Samy Al-Rabeea 25752222Dr. Masoma Habeeb 25321171Dr. Mubarak Al-Ajmy 25739999Dr. Mohsen Abel 25757700Dr Adnan Hasan Alwayl 25732223Dr. Abdallah Al-Baghly 25732223

Ear, Nose & Throat (ENT)Dr. Ahmed Fouad Mouner 24555050 Ext 510Dr. Abdallah Al-Ali 25644660Dr. Abd Al-Hameed Al-Taweel 25646478Dr. Sanad Al-Fathalah 25311996Dr. Mohammad Al-Daaory 25731988Dr. Ismail Al-Fodary 22620166Dr. Mahmoud Al-Booz 25651426

General PractitionersDr. Mohamme Y Majidi 24555050 Ext 123Dr. Yousef Al-Omar 24719312Dr. Tarek Al-Mikhazeem 23926920Dr. Kathem Maarafi 25730465Dr. Abdallah Ahmad Eyadah 25655528Dr. Nabeel Al-Ayoobi 24577781Dr. Dina Abidallah Al-Refae 25333501

UrologistsDr. Ali Naser Al-Serfy 22641534Dr. Fawzi Taher Abul 22639955Dr. Khaleel Abidallah Al-Awadi 22616660Dr. Adel Al-Hunayan FRCS (C) 25313120Dr. Leons Joseph 66703427

For labor-related inquiries and complaints:

Call MSAL hotline 128

Sabah Hospital 24812000

Amiri Hospital 22450005

Maternity Hospital 24843100

Mubarak Al-Kabir Hospital 25312700

Chest Hospital 24849400

Farwaniya Hospital 24892010

Adan Hospital 23940620

Ibn Sina Hospital 24840300

Al-Razi Hospital 24846000

Physiotherapy Hospital 24874330/9

Kaizen center 25716707

Rawda 22517733

Adaliya 22517144

Khaldiya 24848075

Kaifan 24849807

Shamiya 24848913

Shuwaikh 24814507

Abdullah Salem 22549134

Nuzha 22526804

Industrial Shuwaikh 24814764

Qadsiya 22515088

Dasmah 22532265

Bneid Al-Gar 22531908

Shaab 22518752

Qibla 22459381

Ayoun Al-Qibla 22451082

Mirqab 22456536

Sharq 22465401

Salmiya 25746401

Jabriya 25316254

Maidan Hawally 25623444

Bayan 25388462

Mishref 25381200

W Hawally 22630786

Sabah 24810221

Jahra 24770319

New Jahra 24575755

West Jahra 24772608

South Jahra 24775066

North Jahra 24775992

North Jleeb 24311795

Ardhiya 24884079

Firdous 24892674

Omariya 24719048

N Khaitan 24710044

Fintas 23900322

GOVERNORATE PHARMACY ADDRESS PHONE

Plastic Surgeons

Dr. Mohammad Al-Khalaf 22547272

Dr. Abdal-Redha Lari 22617700

Dr. Abdel Quttainah 25625030/60

Family Doctor

Dr Divya Damodar 23729596/23729581

Psychiatrists

Dr. Esam Al-Ansari 22635047

Dr Eisa M. Al-Balhan 22613623/0

Gynaecologists & Obstetricians

DrAdrian arbe 23729596/23729581

Dr. Verginia s.Marin 2572-6666 ext 8321

Dr. Fozeya Ali Al-Qatan 22655539

Dr. Majeda Khalefa Aliytami 25343406

Dr. Ahmad Al-Khooly 25739272

Dr. Salem soso 22618787

General Surgeons

Dr. Amer Zawaz Al-Amer 22610044

Dr. Mohammad Yousef Basher 25327148

Internists, Chest & Heart

Dr. Adnan Ebil 22639939

Dr. Mousa Khadada 22666300

Dr. Latefa Al-Duweisan 25728004

Dr. Nadem Al-Ghabra 25355515

Dr. Mobarak Aldoub 24726446

Dr Nasser Behbehani 25654300/3

Paediatricians

Dr. Khaled Hamadi 25665898

Dr. Abd Al-Aziz Al-Rashed 25340300

Dr. Zahra Qabazard 25710444

Dr. Sohail Qamar 22621099

Dr. Snaa Maaroof 25713514

Dr. Pradip Gujare 23713100

Dr. Zacharias Mathew 24334282

Dermatology

Dr. Mohammed Salam Bern University 23845955

Dentists

Dr Anil Thomas 3729596/3729581

Dr. Shamah Al-Matar 22641071/2

Dr. Anesah Al-Rasheed 22562226

Dr. Abidallah Al-Amer 22561444

Dr. Faysal Al-Fozan 22619557

Dr. Abdallateef Al-Katrash 22525888

Dr. Abidallah Al-Duweisan 25653755

Dr. Bader Al-Ansari 25620111

Neurologists

Dr. Sohal Najem Al-Shemeri 25633324

Dr. Jasem Mola Hassan 25345875

Gastrologists

Dr. Sami Aman 22636464

Dr. Mohammad Al-Shamaly 25322030

Dr. Foad Abidallah Al-Ali 22633135

Endocrinologist

Dr. Abd Al-Naser Al-Othman 25339330

Dr. Ahmad Al-Ansari 25658888

Dr. Kamal Al-Shomr 25329924

Physiotherapists & VD

Dr. Deyaa Shehab 25722291

Dr. Musaed Faraj Khamees 22666288

Rheumatologists:

Dr. Adel Al-Awadi 25330060

Dr. Khaled Al-Jarallah 25722290

Internist, Chest & Heart

DR.Mohammes Akkad 24555050 Ext 210

Dr. Mohammad Zubaid MB, ChB, FRCPC, PACC Assistant Professor Of Medicine Head, Division of Cardiology Mubarak Al-Kabeer Hospital 25339667

Consultant Cardiologist

Dr. Farida Al-Habib 2611555-2622555 MD, PH.D, FACC Inaya German Medical Center Te: 2575077 Fax: 25723123

Soor CenterTel: 2290-1677Fax: 2290 1688

[email protected]

Psychologists/Psychotherapists

PRIVATE CLINICS

William Schuilenberg, RPC 2290-1677Zaina Al Zabin, M.Sc. 2290-1677

Kaizen center25716707

Noor Clinic23845955

INTERNATIONALCALLS

Afghanistan 0093

Albania 00355

Algeria 00213

Andorra 00376

Angola 00244

Anguilla 001264

Antiga 001268

Argentina 0054

Armenia 00374

Australia 0061

Austria 0043

Bahamas 001242

Bahrain 00973

Bangladesh 00880

Barbados 001246

Belarus 00375

Belgium 0032

Belize 00501

Benin 00229

Bermuda 001441

Bhutan 00975

Bolivia 00591

Bosnia 00387

Botswana 00267

Brazil 0055

Brunei 00673

Bulgaria 00359

Burkina 00226

Burundi 00257

Cambodia 00855

Cameroon 00237

Canada 001

Cape Verde 00238

Cayman Islands 001345

Central African 00236

Chad 00235

Chile 0056

China 0086

Colombia 0057

Comoros 00269

Congo 00242

Cook Islands 00682

Costa Rica 00506

Croatia 00385

Cuba 0053

Cyprus 00357

Cyprus (Northern) 0090392

Czech Republic 00420

Denmark 0045

Diego Garcia 00246

Djibouti 00253

Dominica 001767

Dominican Republic 001809

Ecuador 00593

Egypt 0020

El Salvador 00503

England (UK) 0044

Equatorial Guinea 00240

Eritrea 00291

Estonia 00372

Ethiopia 00251

Falkland Islands 00500

Faroe Islands 00298

Fiji 00679

Finland 00358

France 0033

French Guiana 00594

French Polynesia 00689

Gabon 00241

Gambia 00220

Georgia 00995

Germany 0049

Ghana 00233

Gibraltar 00350

Greece 0030

Greenland 00299

Grenada 001473

Guadeloupe 00590

Guam 001671

Guatemala 00502

Guinea 00224

Guyana 00592

Haiti 00509

Holland (Netherlands) 0031

Honduras 00504

Hong Kong 00852

Hungary 0036

Ibiza (Spain) 0034

Iceland 00354

India 0091

Indian Ocean 00873

Indonesia 0062

Iran 0098

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Ireland 00353

Italy 0039

Ivory Coast 00225

Jamaica 001876

Japan 0081

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Laos 00856

Latvia 00371

Lebanon 00961

Liberia 00231

Libya 00218

Lithuania 00370

Luxembourg 00352

Macau 00853

Macedonia 00389

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Majorca 0034

Malawi 00265

Malaysia 0060

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Malta 00356

Marshall Islands 00692

Martinique 00596

Mauritania 00222

Mauritius 00230

Mayotte 00269

Mexico 0052

Micronesia 00691

Moldova 00373

Monaco 00377

Mongolia 00976

Montserrat 001664

Morocco 00212

Mozambique 00258

Myanmar (Burma) 0095

Namibia 00264

Nepal 00977

Netherlands 0031

Netherlands Antilles 00599

New Caledonia 00687

New Zealand 0064

Nicaragua 00505

Nigar 00227

Nigeria 00234

Niue 00683

Norfolk Island 00672

N. Ireland (UK) 0044

North Korea 00850

Norway 0047

Oman 00968

Pakistan 0092

Palau 00680

Panama 00507

Papua New Guinea 00675

Paraguay 00595

Peru 0051

Philippines 0063

Poland 0048

Portugal 00351

Puerto Rico 001787

Qatar 00974

Romania 0040

Russian Federation 007

Rwanda 00250

Saint Helena 00290

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Saint Vincent 001784

Samoa US 00684

Samoa West 00685

San Marino 00378

Sao Tone 00239

Saudi Arabia 00966

Scotland (UK) 0044

Senegal 00221

Seychelles 00284

Sierra Leone 00232

Singapore 0065

Slovakia 00421

Slovenia 00386

Solomon Islands 00677

Somalia 00252

South Africa 0027

South Korea 0082

Spain 0034

Sri Lanka 0094

Sudan 00249

Suriname 00597

Swaziland 00268

Sweden 0046

Switzerland 0041

Syria 00963

Serbia 00381

Taiwan 00886

Tanzania 00255

Thailand 0066

Toga 00228

Tonga 00676

Tokelau 00690

Trinidad 001868

Tunisia 00216

Turkey 0090

Tuvalu 00688

Uganda 00256

Ukraine 00380

United Arab Emirates 00976

United Kingdom 0044

Uruguay 00598

USA 001

Uzbekistan 00998

Vanuatu 00678

Venezuela 00582

Vietnam 0084

Virgin Islands UK 001284

Virgin Islands US 001340

Wales (UK) 0044

Yemen 00967

Yugoslavia 00381

Zambia 00260

Zimbabwe 00263


l if e s t y l eG o s s i p

Kerry Katona feels like “there has been a death” inher family following the breakdown of her thirdmarriage. The Atomic Kitten singer recently

called time on her marriage to George Kay - who wascharged with assault by beating and unlawful posses-sion of a stun gun last month - and is in mourning butfeels responsible for the end of their union. She said: “Iam heartbroken... George was with me 24/7. It’s likesomebody has died. He was my best friend. “I just feellike there’s been a death and I feel like it’s my fault.Like I’ve done something wrong.” The 35-year-old star -

who has kids Molly, 14, Lilly, 12, Heidi, eight, and Max,seven, from past relationships and 19-month-oldDylan-Jorge with George - will “always love” herestranged husband but thinks it’s for the best theirmarriage is over. She said: “I think there will always bea part of me that will love George. I think the hardestthing is walking away from somebody you love somuch, but it’s the right thing to do... “I have workedhard to get my life back on track. I really wanted ourmarriage to work. I miss him every day but I know it’snot healthy.” The ‘Whole Again’ singer feels “embar-

rassed and ashamed” at the end of her marriage and isparticularly uncomfortable that it has been so public.She told the new issue of OK! magazine: “I feel com-pletely embarrassed and ashamed. “It’s so hard. I justwanted the marriage to work... “I wish it wasn’t so pub-lic. I know I’m sat here doing an interview but I wish itwasn’t so out in the open.”

Katona mourning marriage

Kris Jennerexplains ESPY absence

Kris Jenner didn’t support Caitlyn Jenner at the ESPYAwards because it would have been “awkward”. The60-year-old matriarch decided against joining her

five daughters at the awards show - where her formerspouse picked up the Arthur Ashe Courage Award - earlierthis summer because she didn’t want their first meetingsince the ‘I Am Cait’ star’s transition from Bruce to takeplace at such a high-profile event. She explained: “I haven’tmet Caitlyn yet and I think it would be so awkward to meether under these circumstances.” And the situation was alsotough on Kim Kardashian West, Khloe and KourtneyKardashian, and Kendall and Kylie Jenner but they felt theirloyalties were divided. As a compromise, the sisters agreedto attend the ESPYs but not the dinner afterwards, optingto take Kris out instead. Kim explained on the premiereepisode of the new season of ‘Keeping Up With theKardashians’: “We want to go to the ESPYS. We want tosupport her. “I also am really sensitive to my mom, though,because Caitlyn just did a Vanity Fair article that wasn’t sonice to my mom. But I just have to balance out both peo-ple so they both feel supported.” And though Kris washappy with the decision, Caitlyn wasn’t so impressed.Kendall told Kim and Kourtney: “Dad and Mom put me andKylie into this weird position of choosing between them.“Dad wouldn’t talk to me.” Meanwhile, Khloe has admittedshe had a “hard time” processing the news of Caitlyn’s tran-sition because she only learned while filming the realityshow what her stepfather was planning to do. She told talkshow host Ellen DeGeneres: “I had a hard time because Ifound out on camera like while we were filming and I feltlike we kept asking him, ‘Bruce, like what’s going on? We’rehearing all these rumours.’ “And he kept telling us onething, but really he knew he was transitioning andwouldn’t be honest with us. “So we felt like we were kindof the last to know so that was hard for us. Especially me.”

Chris Hemsworthfeels like he has six kids

The ‘Thor’ actor - who has daughter India, three, andtwin sons Tristan and Sasha, 19 months, with wifeElsa Pataky - admits raising “three under three” means

life is incredibly hectic but has finally taught him the “fullgamut” of emotions. He explained to Australia’s Daily Lifenewspaper: “It feels like I have six. They’re non-stop, activekids. The biggest thing I’ve learned by having kids is thatnow I know what love is. I know what frustration is. I knowthe full gamut of emotions, good and bad. I feel I had justscratched the surface prior... “Each time you add one, itfeels like three more.” The 32-year-old actor and his 39-year-old wife keep their family out of the spotlight by liv-ing in Byron Bay, Australia and appreciate being able tohave a “very normal” existence where people are happy toleave them alone. He said: “We have a very normal exis-tence. “Here, if someone recognizes you, it doesn’t tend tobe as big a deal. People are like, ‘Oh yeah, cool,’ thenonward with the day. “If you are living in Hollywood, peo-ple have travelled from around the world to see people inthe entertainment business and they’ve got the camerasready and a bigger deal is made of it. “Here, we have a verynormal existence, people are very respectful, and that waswhy we chose to come here.”

Disick’s sonupsEt by split

Scott Disick’s son worried his dad was “gone for thewhole wide world”. The 32-year-old star split fromlong-term partner Kourtney Kardashian - with

whom he has kids Mason, five, Penelope, three, andReign, 11 months - earlier this year and his children arefinding the situation tough. Kourtney’s sister, KimKardashian West told her mother Kris Jenner than Masonhad asked her: “Is [dad] ever coming home? Is he gone forthe whole wide world?” Though Kourtney insisted she is“so done” with Scott and his wild partying, she vowed hewould always be around for the sake of their children.Speaking on the premiere of the new season of ‘KeepingUp With the Kardashians’, she said: “We’re trying to be thebest that we can to be a team living apart.. “He’s going tobe in our lives. We have three kids together.” But the 36-year-old beauty admitted there is “nothing” she can do tohelp Scott, who is currently undergoing treatment inrehab. She said: “This is what he wants to be doing, sothere’s nothing I can do at this point. “I just want to carefor my kids.” And Kourtney is trying her best to embracethe positive side of single life. She quipped: “Let’s look onthe bright side. Now I have a huge closet... “There’s actual-ly a lot of bright sides. The closet is number one.”

Jennifer Hudson speaks to her dead mother “all thetime”. The 34-year-old singer was left devastated in2008 when her mom Darnell Donaldson, brother

Jason and seven-year-old nephew Julian King weremurdered by her sister’s estranged husband WilliamBalfour, but she still tries to retain a connection to herlate family members. Asked in an interview by CBSNews if she ever has conversations with her mother inher head, she said: “All the time. And my brother, if hewas here, if I was sitting up crying, he’ll say, ‘Jenny,knock it off. Knock it off!’” Jennifer - who has six-year-old son David Jr. with fiance David Otunga - testifiedduring the murder trial, and attended every day of thecase, though she admits it was the “toughest thingever”. However, the ‘Spotlight’ singer had the strengthto attend court because God “came to her” and told herto “keep going”. She said: “I remember God came to me,like, right when everything happened, because I waslike, ‘What do I do?!’ And He said, ‘I want you to get upand keep going.’ “And you don’t question God. I said,‘Okay, let’s go.’ “ And the Grammy Award-winning starhas learned to accept waves of grief when they comealong. She said: “It’s one of those things where it comesin flashes.” “I try to allow myself to let it do, be, bringwhatever it brings. Because it’s too much. And when it’smore than one person, you don’t know who to grievefor first, or how. So when it comes, it comes.”

Hudson speaks to dead mother

Payne buys HarryPotter’s flying car

Liam Payne paid a six-figure sum to buy a flying car that featured in‘Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets’. The 22-year-old singer is aself-confessed ‘Harry Potter’ fanatic, having celebrated his most

recent birthday with a Hogwarts-themed bash, and has revealed thelengths his obsession has stretched to. Liam - who is the proud owner ofthe battered Ford Anglia 105E used in the 2002 film - shared: “I boughtthe Harry Potter car and I put it in my garden. “You know the blue car, theflying car? I bought one because I’m a bit of a geek.” Liam also revealedhe’s a fully fledged member of Harry’s famous school house, Gryffindor,after taking an online exam. He told BBC Radio 1: “I did the test on thewebsite. “My friend got Hufflepuff and I got Gryffindor. He was soannoyed.” However, Liam isn’t the only member of One Direction who isobsessed with the ‘Harry Potter’ stories, as his bandmate Niall Horan pre-viously admitted after taking a tour of the studios where the films wereshot. He wrote on Twitter: “Not gona lie, I’m obsessed with Harry potternow, I’ve watched 5 movies in 3 days since I’ve been to the studio tour!(sic)”

Bieber wins HALO Hall of Fame Award

Justin Bieber was the inaugural winner of the HALO Hall of Fame Award onSaturday. The 21-year-old singer was honored at the Nickelodeon HALOAwards in New York, where he used his acceptance speech to pay tribute to

the victims of the Paris attacks on Friday, in which 129 people died. He said:“There’s been some sad things happening in the world right now, and I thinkthat we should all honor that and just take one moment of silence for that, ifyou guys could.” The awards honor young people in the US who are responsiblefor “helping and leading others” and Justin was chosen for his work with theMake-A-Wish foundation and Pencils of Promise, a charity which builds schoolsand increases educational opportunities in the developing world. It was recent-ly revealed that Justin has made over 250 wishes come true so far throughMake-A-Wish. Nick Cannon hosted the ceremony and previously explained whyJustin was chosen for the prestigious award. He told Variety: “There’s no betterway to begin the holiday season than by celebrating the amazing work of theseteens and our first HALO Hall of Fame recipient Justin Bieber at the NickelodeonHALO Awards. Justin’s commitment to granting wishes for kids is unparalleled,and his ability to inspire and lead others through his positive actions is at thecore of what HALO is all about.” Joe Jonas and his band DNCE performed at theceremony, which will air on Nickelodeon on November 29.

Miranda Kerr: I changemy fashion depending

on the city I’m in

Miranda Kerr changes her fashion depending on the city she is in. TheAustralian model has revealed she loves wearing winter clothing inNew York, but in Malibu and at home in Sydney, her style is so much

more “relaxed”. She said: “In New York I feel like anything goes. In LA, it’s defi-nitely a lot more casual. “In New York, I love to dress up for the winter seasonand really embrace the layers and have over-the-knee boots, where if I worethat in Malibu, people would think I was crazy. “So in Malibu I try to keep it real-ly simple. I honestly wear a lot of tights and sneakers. Australia is also very quiterelaxed - kind of like the Malibu vibe - depending on if I have a business meet-ing.” Meanwhile, the brunette beauty also revealed her top beauty secret ishaving cold showers. She told PEOPLE magazine: “I put coconut oil all over mybody and have a cold shower. It’s a really great way to wake up and get the cir-culation going.” Miranda also revealed she puts coconut oil in her mouth tocleanse. She added: “You put cold-pressed, organic coconut oil in your mouthand swish it around for ten minutes - don’t ever swallow it - and then spit it out.“I spit it into my garden, rinse my mouth out, brush my teeth, then you domouthwash after.” “It’s really, really good for the body. I love anything to dowith health and wellness - and trying to live a balanced life.” — Bang Showbiz


G o s s i p

l if e s t y l e

Saeed Jaffrey, one of the best-known faces ofBritish-Indian cinema and television, has died atthe age of 86, his family said. The Indian-born

British actor appeared in the biopic “Gandhi” as well asmany Bollywood films and British television produc-tions Among his screen credits in a career spanningmore than 50 years, were roles in director John Huston’s“The Man Who Would Be King” and Indian director

Satyajit Ray’s “The Chess Players”, as well as the BBC tele-vision series and the film versions of “A Passage to India”.

Other roles included parts on the long-runningBritish soap opera “Coronation Street” as well as starringroles in the British series “Tandoori Nights” and “LittleNapoleons”. Jaffrey was born on Jan 8, 1929 into aMuslim family in Malerkotta, Punjab, and started his act-ing career by setting up his own theatre company in

New Delhi. His death was announced on Sunday by hisniece, Shaheen Aggarwal, in a posting on Facebook inwhich she said: “Today, a generation of Jaffreys haspassed away. Saeed Jaffrey has joined his brothers andsister and is rejoicing in the lap of his Heavenly Father,eternally.”— Reuters

Veteran Indian-British actor Saeed Jaffrey dies aged 86

Saeed Jaffrey

Jay Leno to hostNobel Peace Prizeconcert on Dec 11

Former “Tonight Show” host Jay Leno is set to host theNobel Peace Prize concert next month. Organizers forthe event announced yesterday that Leno will host the

Dec 11 event at the Telenor Arena in Oslo, Norway. The Tunisian National Dialogue Quartet was named the

2015 winner of the Nobel Peace Prize for its “decisive contribu-tion to the building of a pluralistic democracy in Tunisia in thewake of the Jasmine Revolution of 2011,” the Nobel PeacePrize jury said last month. For a first time, the concert will belive-streamed and available on YouTube. — AP

Israel will present to the public for the first time thisweek an “impressive” mosaic accidentally discovered inwhat was a wealthy neighborhood in Roman and

Byzantine times, officials said yesterday. The colorful mosa-ic measuring some 11 by 13 meters (36 by 43 feet) discov-ered in Lod in central Israel is believed to have been thecourtyard pavement of a “magnificent villa,” the IsraelAntiquities Authority said. It is the second such mosaicfound in the area, following another uncovered in the1990s that was the floor of the villa’s living room 1,700years ago and has since been exhibited in prestigious

museums worldwide. The authority called the first mosaic“breathtaking” and “among the most beautiful” in Israel. Itdepicts roaring lions, elephants in battle, giraffes and dol-phins.

The recent excavation in 2014 was to prepare for theconstruction of a visitor center to house the first mosaic,currently on display at the Palazzo Cini Gallery in Venice,when it returns. Scenes in the newly discovered mosaicinclude hunting and hunted animals, fish, flowers in bas-kets, vases and birds. “The quality of the images portrayedin the mosaic indicates a highly developed artistic ability,”

Amir Gorzalczany, excavation director, said in a statement.The authority said that numerous fragments of frescoes

discovered also “reflect the decoration and the meticulousand luxurious design, which are in the best tradition of thewell-born of the period”. It said that “in light of the new dis-coveries, this part of the villa will also be incorporated inthe visitor center”. Lod was known as Diospolis at the time,and served as a district capital. Today it is located near TelAviv’s Ben Gurion international airport. — AFP

In this Thursday, Aug 13, 2015, file photo, Jay Leno partici-pates in the “Jay Leno’s Garage” panel at the The NBCUniversal Summer TCA Tour at the Beverly Hilton Hotel inBeverly Hills.—AP

Israel accidentally finds‘impressive’ ancient mosaic

Egyptian authorities sought to project anupbeat tone as the country yesterdaymarked the 113th anniversary of its famed

Egyptian Museum, the home of the world’s largestcollection of Pharaonic-era antiquities, amid aslump in tourism and massive tourist cancellations.Battered by years of political turmoil, Egypt’stourism sector took another blow after the Oct 31Russian passenger plane crash in the SinaiPeninsula that killed all 224 people on board, most-ly Russian vacationers returning home from a RedSea resort. An investigation into the crash, whichWestern officials say may have been caused by a

bomb, is still ongoing.As celebrations got underway outside the land-

mark museum building in the heart of the Egyptiancapital, Cairo, officials, band players and performersoutnumbered the tourists. As he spoke to local TVstations, Antiquities Minister Mamdouh El-Damatyoffered a traditional greeting for visitors: “Welcometo Egypt.” He promised there will be more attrac-tions and breakthroughs, referring to last week’sministry announcement that thermal scanningresults on the Great Pyramid in Giza revealed someanomalies that could lead to new discoveries aboutits construction.

“We always have new things when it comesto antiquities,” El-Damaty said. El-Damaty saidthe new, Grand Museum of Egypt, which is stillunder construction, will partially open in May2018. The sprawling complex, being built adja-cent to the Pyramids in Giza, is now scheduledto be finished in November 2022. It’s meant tohouse ar t i fac ts , inc luding the famed K ingTutankhamun’s full collection. The new museumwas initially slated to open this year but theproject has been delayed.—AP

Egyptian Museum marks 113th anniversary amid tourism slump

The Dixie Chicks are ready toparty in the USA. The Grammy-winning group will kick off its

“DCX MMXVI World Tour” on June 1 inCincinnati. It wraps up the tour Oct10 in Los Angeles. Tickets go on saleFriday. The group will visit more than40 cities, including New York,Chicago, San Francisco, Detroit,Dallas, and Toronto.

The Dixie Chicks are NatalieMaines, Emily Robison and Martie

Maguire. Their last album - “Takingthe Long Way” - was in 2006. Robisonand Maguire, who are sisters, teamedup to form the duo Court YardHounds and released two albums.Maines released a solo album in 2013.The Dixie Chicks’ North American tourwill follow the group’s European tourthat begins in April. — AP

The Dixie Chicks to launch US tour next summer

The Dixie Chicks, Emily Robison, left, Natalie Maines, center, and MartieMaguire, who earned five Grammy nominations, arrive for the 49th AnnualGrammy Awards in Los Angeles. — AP

British fans of the US rock band Eaglesof Death Metal, which was playing ata Paris concert hall targeted in

Friday’s attacks, have started a social mediacampaign to push one of its songs to num-ber 1. “Get Eagles Of Death Metal to theNo.1 this week as a statement of supportand peace,” read the description of thecampaign @EODMforNo1 on Twitter yester-day. A Facebook page calling on supportersto download the song “Save a Prayer”, acover of Duran Duran’s hit single of thesame name, had more than 6,500 “likes”.

Campaign organizers said that thedownloads would be “a nice gesture” andstressed they were not representing theband, who escaped unharmed, and theirinitiative was not being done for profit. Thesong is at number 96 in Britain’s charts and

climbing, with a new ranking set to bereleased later yesterday ahead of the offi-cial ranking on Friday. The campaign “hasstarted gathering momentum,” the OfficialCharts Company said in a statement. Thesong is already at number three on theAmazon UK singles chart and number 1 onthe iTunes rock chart. It was at number 35on the main iTunes chart.

Gunmen attacked an Eagles of DeathMetal gig at the Bataclan in Paris on Friday,gunning down fans and blowing them-selves up as police stormed the building.The attack claimed 89 lives-by far the worstloss of life of the night. The band, whichwas formed in 1998 in Palm Desert,California, was celebrating the Octoberrelease of their album “Zipper Down” with aEuropean tour. The band’s previous highest

UK single’s chart position was number 73with 2006 record “I Want You So Hard (Boy’sBad News)”. The video featured JoshHomme-frontman of Queens of the StoneAge-along with former Nirvana drummerDave Grohl and Hollywood comic actorJack Black, all of whom have made livecameos with the band. Messages about thecampaign were being retweeted on theofficial account of the British band DuranDuran. It was unclear who would receivethe royalties from the increased sales of thesingle. — AFP

UK fans try to push Eagles of Death Metal to No 1

US rock bandEagles of Death

Metal.

A worker of the Israel Antiquities Authority cleans a 1,700-year-old mosaic, which served as pavement for the courtyard in a villa during the Roman and Byzantine periods, as it is pre-sented to the public and the press for the first time yesterday, in the Israeli central city of Lod. — AFP photos

French architect Jean-Pierre Houdin, right, and Egypt’s Antiquities Minister Mamdouh El-Damaty, second right, stand near the limestone rocksthat are displayed on the screen showing varying temperatures represented by different colors with live footage from a thermal camera, infront of the Khufu pyramid in Giza, Egypt, yesterday.—AP


l if e s t y l eF e a t u r e s

Kuwait’s National Council for Cultural Arts andLetters and the Ministry of Culture of theRussian Federation Embassy of the Russian

Federation in Kuwait present the Igor Moiseyev Balletby artistic director Elena Shcherbakova. The event willtake place at the Abdulhusain Abdduridha Theatre inSalmiya on November 24th and 25th at 7 pm. KuwaitTimes interviewed Shcherbakov to learn more aboutthe event. Excerpts from the interview.

Kuwait Times: You are a legendary and an inter-nationally acclaimed dance company that wasestablished in 1943. Could you please explain thesecret of your success and the role you played inthe development of the company?

Elena Scherbakova: The State AcademicEnsemble of Popular Dance was founded by the greatRussian choreographer Igor Moiseyev back in 1937. Atthat time it was the first and the only ensemble ofpopular dance in the entire world.

Given the success of the first five years of its exis-tence, Moiseyev came up with the initiative of open-ing a special ballet school for training talented youth.This initiative turned out to be a smart strategic moveas 95 percent of the Igor Moiseyev ballet team hasalways been made up of its school graduates, includ-ing myself by the way.

In our days, the Igor Moiseyev Ballet has become ahousehold name in Russia. Being an artistic directorof the ensemble, my goal is to treasure and preservethe traditions of Moiseyev and ensure that the bar setby the maestro is held up high.

KT: This is your first time in Kuwait. Why Kuwaitand what are your expectations from the upcom-ing event?

Scherbakova: The word “Kuwait” itself soundsmysterious and attractive to Russians. So when wereceived a phone call from the Russian embassy inKuwait with the proposal to organize a performancehere under the auspices of the National Council forCulture, Arts and Letters, it did not take us long tomake up our minds and accept the invitation.

We have always proceeded from the belief that themore countries we cover, the more experience we getand the more nations we make familiar with theRussian unique culture.

We really hail the support provided by theNational Council for Culture, Arts and Letters alongwith the Russian Ministry of Culture in cooperationwith the Russian Embassy in Kuwait that helped tofulfill our plans.

In light of the recent visit of His Highness the AmirSheikh Sabah Al-Ahmed Al-Jaber Al-Sabah to Russiaand his meeting with Vladimir Putin, we consider theupcoming show in Kuwait as a next step forward indeveloping friendly ties between our two countries.

KT: What program the Igor Moiseyev Ballet willshow in Kuwait?

Scherbakova: We will be holding two shows inKuwait - Nov 24 and Nov 25. both at the SalmiyaTheatre, which is also known as the AbdulhusainAbdulridha Theatre.

We have prepared a special program for the occa-sion, which is titled “The Classics of Igor Moiseyev”.The program is made up of a bunch of terrific dances.I am not going to disclose the whole of it, but for surethe Kuwaiti audience will be much impressed by thetraditional Russian dance “Summer”, the dance ofBessarabian gypsies, the Greek “Sirtaki”, the dance ofArgentinian cowboys “Gaucho” and the fascinatingRussian marine dance “Yablochko”.

I do not want to go further into details as I wouldrather suggest people come and see it.

KT: How many national dances do you currentlyhave in your repertoire? And how do you get yourinspiration for choreography of traditional dancesfrom various countries?

Scherbakova: Our repertoire is the personalchoreographic works of Moiseyev. He was a realgenius. He used to travel a lot around the world withhis ballet. Whichever country he went to, he wouldspot the specifics of its people, dress and traditions, inparticular the specifics of its basic dance moves. Onhis return back home, he would develop these basic

moves into a comprehensive choreographic work. As a matter of fact, Moiseyev would only stage a

dance of the nation that would really impress him byits energy and passion. For instance, the French or theBritish folk dance would have never drawn his atten-tion because of its slowness in comparison to theMexican, Argentinean or even Arabian ones.

For his great success and the achievements inworld choreography, Moiseyev was awarded withmore than thirty orders and medals of different coun-tries.

KT: How many hours do your dance companymembers train daily?

Scherbakova: We start at ten in the morning withthe so-called one-hour “classical choreography”warm-up. Then we proceed to the studio and carry onfor another four hours. After that we have a break andmeet again in the studio at seven in the evening foranother two-hour practice. I really make our dancerspush hard as it is the only way to be a professionaland to achieve something valuable in one’s career.

The same system existed at the time whenMoiseyev was the director of the ballet. Nothing haschanged since he passed away in 2007.

KT: Where have you toured with the dance com-pany this year? And where are you going afterKuwait?

Scherbakova: We try to tour a lot. Actually theinternational tour records of our ensemble boasts 65countries including experiences in Great Britain,France and USA in the late 1950s when the “Cold War”was in full swing.

This year we have toured a lot around Russia. Wealso had a great success at Expo Milano in September,had five full-houses in Poland and enjoyed a heartywelcome in Jordan in October. After Kuwait, we willbe heading to Latvia and will end this year with per-formances in Saint Petersburg and Moscow.

KT: What is your personal goal as the director ofsuch a legendary ensemble?

Scherbakova: It is to do my best for this legend tolive forever. To ensure that the new generations of ourdancers well realize the importance and the unique-ness of the Igor Moiseyev Ballet and maintain thehigh level of its professionalism.

And in a short term - it is to come back to Kuwaitwith a new program. I really hope to see Kuwait Timesreaders on Nov 24-25 at the Salmiya Theatre. No onewill regret.

For more than a century visitors havemarveled at the Hermitage Museum’sprecious collections, and for just as long

dozens of cats have prowled the SaintPetersburg palace’s sprawling cellars. Thefelines has one main task-to root out unwant-ed guests: rodents. The 70-odd brigade havetheir claws so deep into the history of Russia’slargest museum-and one of the world’s old-est-that there is even a special feline unit ded-icated to their welfare. “Our cats are as well-known as our collections,” beamed IrinaPopovets, who runs the unit.

Every morning, art lovers from the worldover arrive at the gates of the Hermitage com-plex on the Neva River housing a collectionthat spans ancient Egyptian and Renaissanceart to modern masters like Cezanne, Gauguinand Degas. Meanwhile, 45-year-old Popovetsheads down below to feed her purringcharges, a mixed batch of colors, breeds andtemperaments who are always overjoyed tosee her. Some days, she brings along threeassistants to help her vaccinate new arrivalsand treat the sick.

As with humans, love alone is not alwaysenough. “Most of them are in bad shape,”Popovets admits, adding that many havebeen brought in by people who can no longertake care of them. Her office is located nearthe massive underworld inhabited by the catsand its walls are hung with portraits of thebeloved animals. “People very often discreetlybring us their cats,” she said, and the museumsometimes struggles to keep the ever-expanding feline staff. Cats first found a homeat the Hermitage long before it became amuseum open to the public in the 1850s.

In 1745, Peter the Great’s daughterEmpress Elisabeth issued a decree orderingthat “the finest cats of Kazan (a city on theVolga river) be found, the biggest, the onesbest-suited to catching mice, so that they canbe sent to Her Majesty’s court.” By the timeCatherine the Great took power in 1762, the

felines had become official residents. Theywere even dubbed the Winter Palace cats,after the royal residence that has now becomepart of the museum. They survived successivewars, invasion by Napoleon’s forces and eventhe revolution that overthrew Tsarist rule.

The cats, however, did not make it duringthe 1941-1944 Nazi siege of Leningrad, thecity’s name under Soviet rule. The city’s fam-ished population had no choice but to eat alltheir pets in order to survive. Legend has itthat the palace’s feline guard was broughtback to life when World War II ended, whennew recruits were brought in by train from allover Russia. By the 1960s, there were so manycats at the Hermitage that the authoritiesdecided it would be best to abandon them.

Holidays and postcards Yet the rat population proliferated and a

few years later the cats again found theirplace. Though they are no longer allowed intoany of the museum’s 1,000 halls showcasingmore than 60,000 masterpieces, staff say thecats have won the fight against the rodents.And they have become stars in their ownright, hugely popular with some three milliontourists who visit each year and snap up sou-venirs and postcards adorned with cat pic-tures on sale in the museum’s shops. “Giventhe Hermitage cats’ popularity, we have decid-ed to kickstart a process to copyright theirname,” museum director Mikhail Piotrovskysaid. There is even an annual holiday in thefelines’ honor once a year, as well as a websiteinviting residents of Saint Petersburg to adoptone. Popovets picks up her office phone toanswer queries from a man keen to takehome a kitten whose picture he has seenonline. “You’re right, it is an honor to adopt aHermitage cat,” Popovets tells him. — AFP

Igor Moiseyev Ballet vows to wow Kuwait

The cats at the State Hermitage Museum in St Petersburg guard the artworks frommice and are hugely popular with some three million tourists who visit each year.

A cat is seen in front of the State Hermitage Museum in St Petersburg. — AP photos

The nine lives of Russia’s Hermitage cats

India Cattle Fair

Indian camel traders arrive with their herd for the annual cattle fair in Pushkar, in the western Indian state of Rajasthan, Saturday. Pushkar is a popularHindu pilgrimage spot that is also frequented by foreign tourists who come to the town for its annual cattle fair. —AP photos


l if e s t y l eF a s h i o n

The Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation summits, which drawthe US president and 20 other regional leaders, are some-times memorable for just one moment: The leaders posing

for a group photo in unexpected attire. Former President BillClinton started the tradition in 1993, when he handed out leatherbomber jackets similar to those worn by American fighter pilots.The US leader apparently wanted his fellow VIPs to feel relaxed atthe meetings.

Dubbed the “silly shirts” photo by some, the occasionally awk-ward ceremony became a signature event at most annual APECgatherings, elevating native garb of the host countries to a briefmoment of world fame. The 21 APEC leaders have posed fortogether in batik shirts (Malaysia in 1998), Chinese jackets(Shanghai 2001), flowing ponchos (Chile 2004) and in Vietnamese“ao dai” - elegant silken tunics in which several of the leaders werevisibly ill at ease - in 2006.

The tradition had a three-year hiatus - in Yokohama, Japan, in2010, Hawaii in 2011 and Vladivostok, Russia, in 2012 - when theleaders donned regular Western business attire. Then Indonesiaand China revived the group photo in traditional garb at the lasttwo APEC summits. The Philippines’ barong tagalog, a partiallysee-through shirt sewn from pineapple fiber and silk that wasused at the 1996 summit, may have a re-run when Manila hostsAPEC this week. — AP

In this Nov 14, 2009, file photo, US President Barack Obama poses with APEC leaders in traditional shirts for a group photo atthe APEC summit in Singapore. — AP photos

In this Nov 23, 2008, file photo, wearing traditional Peruvian ponchos, Thailand’s Prime Minister SomchaiWongsawat, top left, US President George W Bush, top center, Vietnam’s President Nguyen Minh Triet, top right,Japan’s Prime Minister Taro Aso, bottom left, and South Korea’s President Lee Myung-bak, bottom right, wave dur-ing the official group photo of the APEC summit, in Lima, Peru.

In this Nov 19, 2005, file photo, dressed in Korean traditional “durumagi” silk robes, APEC leaderspose for an official group photo in Busan, South Korea.

In this Sept 8, 2007, file photo, US President George W Bush, right, wearsa Drizabone jacket with APEC leaders during a photo opportunity at theSydney Opera House in Sydney, Australia.

In this Nov 25, 1996, file photo, APEC leaders wearing the traditional “barong tagalog” from thePhilippines wave during a group photo in Subic Bay, west of Manila.

In this Nov 21, 2004, file photo, US President George W Bush,left, and Russian President Vladimir Putin wave to photogra-phers prior to the leaders’ group photo at the APEC summit inSantiago, Chile.

In this Nov 19, 2006, file photo, wearing traditional “ao dai,” USPresident George W Bush, top row left, Russian President VladimirPutin, top row center, Thai Prime Minister Surayud Chulanont, toprow right, Chinese President Hu Jintao, bottom row left, and ChileanPresident Michelle Bachelet wave during a group photo with APECleaders in Hanoi, Vietnam.

In this Nov 16, 2000, file photo, Russian President Vladimir Putin, left, greets USPresident Bill Clinton, second right, as Singapore Prime Minister Goh ChokTong, second left, and Taiwanese representative Perng Fai-nan watch as theywear traditional shirts during the APEC group photo session at Jerudong PoloClub in Bandar Seri Begawan, Brunei.

In this Oct 21, 2003, file photo, US President George W Bush, center top row,smiles with other leaders during a group photo session of the APEC summit inBangkok, Thailand.

In this Oct 27, 2002, file photo, US President George W Bush waves as he posesfor a group photo along with Singapore’s Trade Minister George Yeo, back left,Prime Minister of Russia Mikhail Kasyanov, front left, Lee Yuan-tseh of Taiwan,front center, and Prime Minister of Vietnam Phan Van Khai, far right, during theAPEC summit in Cabo San Lucas, Mexico.

In this Nov 25, 1997, file photo, APEC leaders, wearing matching jackets, laugh during a group photoopportunity on the campus of the University of British Columbia in Vancouver, Canada.

In this Nov 18, 1998, file photo, dressed in traditional Malaysian batik shirts, from left toright: Russian Prime Minister Yevgeny Primakov; Singaporean Prime Minister Goh ChokTong; Taiwan Chairman of the Council for Economic Planning and Development, ChiangPin-kung; Thailand Prime Minister Chuan Leekpai; and US Vice President Al Gore,applaud after the reading of the declaration at the conclusion of the APEC summit inCyberjaya, Malaysia.

In this Oct 21, 2001, file photo, AustralianPrime Minister John Howard, left, and USPresident George W Bush, wear traditionalChinese jackets as they chat during a groupphoto session at the APEC summit inShanghai, China.

Shirt photos offer sometimes awkward moments of APEC unity

39Shirt photos offer

sometimes awkwardmoments of APEC unity


After huge fashion events heldrecently in New York, Paris and Milanwhere designers showcased their

fall/winter 2016 designs, the KuwaitFashion Week kicks off next Monday,November 23, featuring the biggest fash-ion houses and elite designers from Kuwaitand the Arab World who will showcase abrand new selection of creative designs inan unprecedented event in Kuwait.

The three-day event, organized byMerril Lynch under the patronage ofSheikha Bashayer Nayef Jaber Al-Sabah,takes place from the 23rd to the 25th ofNovember at Symphony Style Hotel,becoming a stable in the calendar of main

fashion weeks in the world.Commenting on this event, Sheikha

Bashayer Nayef Jaber Al-Sabah says: “Thisinternational event will have a deep impacton Kuwait’s fashion industry. It is well-known that Kuwaiti women are alwayskeen on carefully selecting their apparel,and standing out in their choices of uniquedresses from local and international fash-ion houses, especially that the Kuwaitiwoman is known for being well up-to-datewith fashion.”

“Fashion shows for designers’ groupswill be organized in the presence of localand international media, while the designswill be presented by international models.Kuwait Fashion Week’s organizing commit-tee is keen on organizing the event on parwith the same standards of famous fashionweeks in Paris, London and Milan,” sheadded.

“Kuwait has always been a pioneer infashion in the Gulf region, and we believethat Kuwait is capable of participating inthe fashion industry, and even becoming afashion exporter,” she said.

The event is covered by internationalfashion media outlets including Fashion 4KTV and Fashion One TV, and features partic-ipation of fashion houses and beautysalons including , TM Fashion Group (TariqEdez, Saied Qubaisi), Gosacci, Atelier Lab(Nizar Romani), Atelier Lioness, Juliette andWhite, Fadi Nahlah, Atelier Al-Sultana (HayaAl-Bughaili), Anfal AL-Saleh, Brigitte Salon,Elham Shalabi Salon.

The autumn art auction season has wrapped upin New York with successful sales of just over$2 billion albeit in a more cautious market

than the bonanza records chalked up in the spring.The star of the season was an Amedeo Modiglianinude, “Nu Couche”-which went for an eye-watering$170.4 million at Christie’s. The second most expen-sive piece of art ever sold at auction, the Modiglianinude was bought by Chinese taxi driver turned bil-lionaire Liu Yiqian, one of his country’s biggest artcollectors. The record, also set by Christie’s earlierthis year, is held by Pablo Picasso’s “The Women ofAlgiers (Version 0),” which fetched a staggering$179.4 million in a record-breaking spring season.

The fall’s second highlight was Roy Lichtenstein’siconic pop art “Nurse,” which Christie’s sold for$95.37 million in the same auction. Sotheby’s partedwith $1.15 billion of Impressionist, modern, post-warand contemporary art, narrowly beating Christie’s$1.1 billion, but there were fewer star lots than inMay and a smattering of empty seats.

The rival houses, both founded in 18th-centuryLondon, claimed success and dismissed talk that theart market was in jeopardy due to a flaggingChinese economy and a plunge in world markets inSeptember. But on Friday Sotheby’s announced itwas offering staff voluntary severance packages fol-lowing a summer review that decided “the company

would benefit from a lower and more flexible coststructure.” “We elected to begin limited cost reduc-tion with voluntary separation programs that enablestaff who choose to leave to do so with enhancedbenefits,” it said in a statement. Sotheby’s paid trib-ute to the “tremendous talent” within the firm andsaid it looked forward “to entering the promisingnew year fresh, optimistic, and ready to invest torealize even more success.” After the company’sevening sale of post-war and contemporary art onWednesday that well surpassed conservative esti-mates, Sotheby’s auctioneer Oliver Barker rejectedtalk of a stagnating industry.

Bit of readjustment “A lot of money has traded hands over the last 10

days and I think actually in many ways, that is proofenough that the market is still very strong andresilient,” he told AFP. The November sales set newauction records-for Modigliani, as well as for a stringof 20th century artists including Cy Twombly, LucioFontana, Louise Bourgeois and Lichtenstein. “Themarket is strong,” Christie’s auctioneer and globalpresident, Jussi Pylkkanen, told CNBC television. “Butthere’s also a little bit of readjustment,” he said.“People are a little bit more rational, perhaps a littlebit more cautious, which I think is a very goodthing.”

Among the other big sellers were Picasso’s “LaGommeuse” and a Vincent van Gogh, “Paysage sousun ciel mouvemente,” which sold for $67.4 millionand $54 million respectively at Sotheby’s. But theweek began and ended with a whimper. Sotheby’slaid on great fanfare, donning black tie and offeringdrinks and canapes before the sale of art collectedby its late chairman, Alfred Taubman, who servedtime in jail for price fixing in 2002. The two and a halfhour auction saw strong bidding but it just scrapedthe bottom end of its pre-sale estimate, and top lotsfailed to sell-an Edgar Degas and a Jasper Johns,both valued at $15-20 million.

Christie’s final Impressionist and modern art saleon Thursday scored no records and exacted somecriticism for not including any lots with estimateprices in the $10 million or above category. Butmuch of the most dynamic bidding of the seasonwas at the lower end of the market, where someworks valued $1-3 million or less went for way overtheir pre-sale estimates. “Clearly, there is a longer,stronger” clientele at the lower value range, Barkersaid. — AFP

‘Kuwait Fashion Week’ kicks off next

Monday at Symphony Style HotelUnder the patronage of Sheikha Bashayer Nayef Jaber Al-Sabah

New York art season chalks up solid sales

Dancers Matthew Baker and Jeremy ‘Jae’ Neal with Abraham performing a scene from‘The Gettin’ during a dress rehearsal before opening night at the Joyce Theater in NewYork. — AFP

Afghan boys run as they hopes to sell colored balloons on a street in Kabul, Afghanistan, yesterday. — AP

Photo shows Sheikha Bashayer Nayef Jaber Al-Sabah (center), Rabab Mouhamad, Marketing and Public Relation Manager and event consultant of‘Kuwait Fashion week’(right), Tarek Ammar, Director of Sales and Revenue Generating at Symphony Style Hotel (second left) and Peter Sculler, GeneralManager of Symphony Style Hotel at a press conference in Symphony Style Hotel on Sunday. — Photos by Joseph Shagra

Photo shows media attending the press conference in Symphony Style Hotel.

Photo shows Sheikha Bashayer Nayef JaberAl-Sabah at a press conference in SymphonyStyle Hotel on Sunday.

CIA chief expects more IS attacks in 'pipeline' - Kuwait Times

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